Elks Pratt Lodge

The Elks is a terrific place to have a fun evening with friends listening to music over a drink. The historic nature of the building adds to the ambiance. This place is so Ann Arbor, I love it.

Friend «Elks Ann Arbor Mi» on Facebook and you’ll be invited to all the dance parties with the phatest beats. I’m a fan of Funky Kingston– the reggae doesn’t stop all night long. But depending on the night, you could luck out with some sweet old school hip hop or trippy electronica.
The scene is the best in Ann Arbor because it’s come as you are. Old towny men, hipsters, and the dressed to the 9s after dinner crowd mingle on the dance floor without pretentiousness. In fact, there’s no pretentiousness and no hats allowed. Don’t come for the décor; there is none. But that’s part of the charm. Drinks are simple, bar is cash only, DJs rock, dance floor is packed. Minimal cover charge.

Elks Frat Lodge — that’s what it feels like. With its dank basement local that’s cut up into weird little corridors, this is the closest I’ve felt to being at a frat party since college.
Except that instead of douche-​y frat guys, this place is packed to the gills with hipsters. That and a few more elderly gentlemen around the bar. Females will from time to time order a drink, only to find one of these friendly gentlemen has already taken care of it. It’s up to your individual discretion on what the quid pro quo is there should this happen to you.
Two important things: I may have been a wee intoxicated, but I think the DJ was pretty kick ass (but again, I can’t say that with much voracity) and while the drinks are served in what would appear to be a slightly larger version of a double shot glass, you get your money’s worth. Plan accordingly.

I put together an event here over the spring along with American Apparel and it was a lot of fun. However, I feel like I’ve outgrown this scene, so I didn’t make it a habit of going here.
The best part about this place is the location. I can’t stand Ann Arbor. No offense. But this Lodge sits atop a hill in a neighborhood, away from downtown, way far away from S. University and it’s little Bubble Island crowd. It overlooks the town and you can see the twinkle of lights and stars. It’s gorgeous. You almost feel like you’ve escaped.
Until you walked into the party and you find every barista and art history major dancing to a deejay that describes himself as eclectic.

This is one of the hippest venues for parties in Ann Arbor!
If someone is throwing a party here, its pretty much hands down gonna be a good one. In general the crowd shows up pretty late here, not until well after 11pm.
The bartenders are cool old dudes who don’t care about the crowds and move slowly (maybe they are drunk or high). But its all great, part of the what makes the Elks Lodge what it is.