Level 3 Bar

aka «The Four Seaons Pool Party»… This party started last year and was well received (at least from what i heard). So there was much hype surrounding this year’s opening. But some things have changed. According to a few Four Season’s employees earlier this year, the pool party last year starting attracting some undesirable clientele. To fend off these people, the Four Seasons decided to charge a cover of $ 10 for guys, implement a dress code (not sure what it is specifically as I’ll describe later), make two lanes for traffic: VIP and regular. I’m not sure what the purpose of the «changes» is unless maybe to intimidated a normal crowd of people who just want a drink on Thursday night and not all the hoopla of some more «ladies night» friendly places (if you get what i mean).
So last year I went and had a great time. The drinks are ridiculously expensive, $ 12+, but good. We walked through the hotel, up to the party and straight to the bar. We weren’t hassled or put through the wringer to get in. Normal, Thursday happy hour experience. The crowd was a mix of young professionals and some not so young professionals (who can afford the drinks) and some other slightly less professional, party types. Overall a good people watching experience.
Then i go last Thursday and boy what a difference a year and a couple changes makes! I am in the lobby waiting for a friend and get a chance to do some outfit watching. My first thought is something along the lines of Victoria’s secret «work» clothes mixed with full on Saturday night party dresses. My friend arrives and we head up stairs. We get to the entrance of the pool and find two lanes of traffic as noted above. We aren’t VIP so we go through the normal lane at the same time as a bunch of girls going through VIP. We are clearly not the priority and the «bouncer» stops us by putting his hand out (btw… we aren’t in Miami dude) and directs his attention to the other group. After all 10 go through, he comes back to us, check our ids and lets us through.
The people watching gets more interesting as the night goes on. We arrived at 630 and the place was packed by 830. The crowd is so unusual I don’t know where to start. As one person put it «elways concert series crowd has moved to downtown Denver». It is a pretty desperate scene. It appeared to be a crowd of mostly 40+… Totally fine except if you are late 20’s and dont’ want a guy with a pinky ring to by you a drink or chat you up. We stood in a corner and watched a ton of fake body parts, pumped up lips and hungry going out shorts strut past. There are a couple words to describe these people, but i won’t go there. In terms of dress code… I saw guys in flip flops, shorts and a hat… Girls in dresses with visible cheek hanging out… Nothing wrong with either just sayin’.
Be prepared to wait on the street after 730ish… The hotel won’t let people waiting to get into the pool party wait inside the hotel. Be prepared to wait in line once you get up to the third floor and if you aren’t VIP (didn’t buy bottle service) be prepared to wait even longer. It seems to be the place you’ll get in a lot faster if you have some extra cash to pass along to the «bouncers».
In closing… If you want a total s$%-show, this is the place for you.