The Alley

The Alley
906 Victorian Ave. | Sparks
775.358.9991 | www.thealleysparks.com

Night life in the city of Sparks just keeps getting better. Most people know about the Knitting Factory, but just seven minutes away, a whole new venue has opened up in the heart of the Rail City. From the ashes of the former Vixen’s on Victorian Ave. comes The Alley, but dirty, dingy, and dark are OUT inside these walls. Owners Chapin and Jeremy Abts have taken lifetimes of experience in booking, promotion and bartending and have poured their knowledge and a WHOLE lot of cash into creating a great new destination.

Vixen’s brushed steel bar and the funky animal print booths remain, but everything else has been renovated, replaced, moved and improved. Upgraded lighting and sound on a whole new stage plus a well-designed green room show just how much The Alley cares about creating a quality experience not just for the crowd, but for performers as well. The message, Chapin says, is that everyone matters in their bar – no rockstar bartenders or snooty bouncers – everyone wants to have a good time and they know everyone will.

Bartenders are encouraged to experiment and develop their own drinks and specials to serve alongside the generous Happy hour specials. From 3pm-7pm Monday through Friday, you can get $2 domestics, $3 micros, imports and wells, $4 call drinks, and a house favorite, $5 vodka and Red Bull. The drinks are just the beginning- the Alley is looking to help the Truckee Meadows have a good time without breaking the bank. Concert tickets average $10-$12 and can be found a local outlets like Recycled Records or Out of Bounds Board Shop or online at www.inticketing.com.

The new attitude, new bathrooms, and new paint are complemented by new ideas from the creative and eager ownership team. You can expect to see The Alley giving plenty of competition to The New Oasis for popular bands, but you will also see lots of original and unique acts from all corners of the musical world. The Alley has a great, easy-to-navigate website, so you can stay informed about all the upcoming shows and fun promotions they have throughout the week and can get links to their social networking sites as well. The bar is regularly hemmed by a fun, outgoing staff including Dereck, formerly of Fritz’s, one of the area’s most well-known bartenders.

For The Alley, location isn’t everything, but it certainly counts. Starting soon, Wednesdays will be guest bartender nights, and every Thursday they’re hosting free Farmers’ Market after party shows with bands like Larry and His Flask and Hellbound Glory. Their outdoor seating and access to parking make them the perfect summer chill spot, so be sure to stop in and help them develop some signature cocktails to go with their signature style.

By Becca Donato
Photos by Court Leve