Attendees of Ace of Spades concerts frequently make their way to the bars in the nearby R Street Corridor for drinks before or after a show. Now, the venue is seeking to join in on the excitement.
Good Luck Lounge is the new cocktail lounge connected to Ace of Spades, which opened its doors on Oct. 4 at 1421 R St. This second-story bar welcomes the public, but it also offers a special advantage for those holding tickets to that evening’s performance: a direct path to the pit, eliminating the need to wait outside.
The newest addition to Sacramento’s bar scene features striking emerald green walls, luxurious cerulean velvet stools, and an abundance of gambling-themed decor, including faux dice and an impressive mural resembling a face card made from thousands of shimmering pennies. The lounge’s cocktail offerings are inspired by the Gold Rush saloons and the original American mixologist, Jerry Thomas, who toiled in the 1850s.
Jerry Thomas is known for creating cocktails like the Martinez, a precursor to the martini made with sweet vermouth, which can be found on the menu at Good Luck Lounge alongside classic drinks like the Corpse Revivers. The bar’s signature cocktail is a modern creation known as a Gold Rush, a twist on the whiskey sour that incorporates honey syrup in place of simple syrup, all topped with a piece of honeycomb.
The cocktails at Good Luck Lounge were crafted by Sean Kenyon, a skilled mixologist associated with Ace of Spades’ parent company, Live Nation. Kenyon co-established Williams & Graham in Denver, honored as one of the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2015. He also launched the more relaxed Occidental, recognized among Esquire’s top 18 bars in the U.S. in 2016, along with a two-story whiskey bar, American Bonded.
Currently, he concentrates on developing Live Nation bar programs that resonate with their surroundings, such as Good Luck Lounge.
“It’s modern interpretations of classic cocktails. Each drink is either inspired by or directly from the Gold Rush cocktail era,” Kenyon mentioned. “We drew a lot from our neighborhood and aimed to infuse a bit of Sacramento into our offerings.”
Sacramento’s music scene offers a spectrum of venues from intimate spots to the expansive Golden 1 Center, yet there’s a notable gap in between. Ace of Spades, accommodating up to 1,000 guests, may be on the smaller side for a mid-sized venue, but it has prospered partly due to its unique capability to host moderately popular acts. Additionally, it’s important to highlight that Channel 24, a concert hall currently being built at 24th and R streets, will feature a 2,150-person capacity when it opens early next year.
There’s an even greater incentive for Ace of Spades to discover a unique way to distinguish itself. Good Luck Lounge operates from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 5 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays and all nights when Ace of Spades hosts a show.
I wrapped up one of Sacramento’s last days of sweltering heat for the year by visiting Sumer Nights, an Iraqi restaurant created by Abbas Allaftah located in Arden Arcade. It opened last June in a spacious venue at Country Club Plaza, taking the place of an old Cajun seafood establishment, remnants of which—like nautical ropes—still adorn the wooden walls.
<p As someone with a sizeable appetite, I've managed to tackle a 10×10 smashburger from a local fast food favorite this year and even secured second place among 12 challengers in a contest at Jimboy’s Tacos last month.
With that said, you should know this: the dishes at Sumer Nights are generous enough to share among at least two diners. Each dish is accompanied by a rich yellow lentil soup, along with a selection of sides such as tabbouleh or baba ghanoush, and khubz, a round flatbread that overflows from the basket.
Next, let’s explore the standout dishes. The dolma plate ($35) is far from a simple appetizer; it’s a hearty offering featuring grape leaf wraps filled with rice and ground lamb, all simmered in a rich tomato broth. This dish is accompanied by lamb ribs, zesty pickled vegetables, pomegranate molasses, and more rice served over khubz.
Another notable dish is the Quzi ($35), a beloved national staple of Iraq. This impressive plate includes two lamb legs resting atop a savory combination of rice, vermicelli, raisins, and almonds. The lamb is so tender that it practically falls off the bone with just a gentle nudge. Colored a vibrant yellow by saffron yet maintaining a perfectly pink interior, it is seasoned with cumin and paired with a comforting tomato-white bean soup known as fasolia.
Beyond the kebab and shawarma offerings, the menu features smaller items like falafel wraps, chicken burgers, and lamb tikka sandwiches. Even the starters, such as shwandaria ($7), which consists of pickled beets julienned and garnished with parsley, come in generous portions. Thankfully, many of the main dishes taste just as delightful the next day when reheated.
Address: 2316 Watt Ave., Sacramento
Business Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays.
Contact Number: 916-750-5088
Official Website: sumer-nights.com
Beverages Offered: Tea and a variety of sodas.
Vegetarian choices: Falafel entrees or wraps, along with several appetizers
Sound ambiance: Peaceful during weekdays, more energetic on weekend evenings
Patio seating: A patio next to the parking lot enhanced with synthetic grass and palm trees
▪ Lucky’s Drive-In made its debut on October 3 at 2565 Franklin Blvd., taking over the space in Curtis Park that was once the Hideaway Bar & Grill. This nostalgic fast food establishment has been delighting customers with burgers, shakes, fries, and more since 2015 at its sister location near Tacoma, Washington.
▪ Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has opened its sixth store in the capital region, located at 8055 Madison Ave. in the southeastern part of Citrus Heights. Founded in 1945 in Ohio, this popular ice cream chain now serves delightful frozen desserts at approximately 125 locations across 12 states, including additional spots in North Natomas, Folsom, Roseville, Elk Grove, and Rancho Cordova.
▪ Shorebirds Brewing Co., the only brewery in Sacramento County dedicated to hard kombucha production, has announced its closure via social media last Thursday. Owners Randall Echevarria and Monte Hudock are set to host a farewell party on October 19 at 11327 Trade Center Drive, Suite 355, in Rancho Cordova’s Barrel District, while also seeking another local brewery to continue brewing their kombucha creations.