Pal's Lounge keeps Sweet Auburn alive

Photo credit:

?
Scott Henry's current Creative Loafing cover story, Atlanta's forgotten black history, details the history of Atlanta's once-thriving Sweet Auburn district along with many other black Atlanta landmarks.  Sweet Auburn, a business district just east of downtown, still bears the signs of a past life; the stoic brick storefronts stand boarded up but buzzing with potential.  Among the recent attempts to revive the neighborhood is Pal's Lounge, a black-owned bar and restaurant at the corner of Auburn and Bell.  Last Friday night, the bar was filling up with couples quietly chatting, occasionally taking time to head-nod or hip-sway to the funky selections from the dj booth.

?
It's Cozy Shawn and Brett Eclectic's weekly party, "The Happening," and the ’70s grooves coming through the speakers make you wonder if you've stepped back into the swinging Sweet Auburn Henry writes about. Cozy and Brett were recently released from their decade-or-so long residency in MJQ's backroom Cafe, and have brought their sureshot party recipe into a new kitchen.  A regular cast of characters from the old haunt visit frequently, including Atlanta singer and Dungeon Family collaborator Joi Gilliam, who stopped by with a CD-R of new material for the deejays.  She wouldn't give the goods on any release dates, but Joi does perform regularly on Mondays and Saturdays at Pal's.

?
Pal's Lounge,  254 Auburn Avenue.  Open nightly, cover varies.

?
(Photo courtesy Pal's Lounge MySpace)