Best Places To Say "I Was Retro Before Retro Was Cool"

TIE: Carousel Lounge; Ego's

Back in the early Eighties, the Carousel was still an old-folks bar and Ego's... well, we don't remember much about Ego's -- we were way too drunk, but something kept us coming back. Since then, each place has exploited its seedy ambiance and produced a hyper-hip hangout extraordinaire. Oh, the Ego's Christmas light-shrine thingy and the big screen cartoons -- yum! The Carousel has added avant-garde film screenings to its already surreal blind piano player, Jay Clark. While these spots may have lost their quiet edge, the alluring piquant flavor remains, with a little extra modern spice to spare.

Carousel Lounge
1110 E. 52nd, 512/452-6790
www.carousellounge.net

Ego's
510 S. Congress, 512/474-7091
egos-karaoke-bar.business.site