Inside: Luckie's Tavern

(Credit: Michael Cook)

Photos:

Luckie's Tavern in Power Plant Live! has lots of bar space, an accessible stage for live performances and a name that invokes Las Vegas and wanton debauchery. Inspired by thoughts of excess, Metromix decided to go inside and see if we could get lucky.

Vibe: Power Plant Live is basically a Disneyland of themed bars. (Does Mex make anyone else want to puke jalapeño poppers?) We give props to bars that dive full into their shtick, and wish Luckie's did, too. A gambling wheel, spun to determine hourly drink specials, is the closest Luckie's gets to Vegas. Putting a picture of Sinatra on the wall doesn't cut it. The lighting is just a little too bright and doesn't feel like Vegas at all.

Crowd: At certain times, the crowd in Power Plant skews to the super-trendy and trying too hard. Luckie's doesn't have this problem. The mix is always eclectic here, as all manner of Baltimorean tries it out. We like the fact that we don't have to contend with a purely frat-boy crowd.

Libations: Luckie's selection and prices are standard for Power Plant. Nothing special, but nothing to gripe about. Our only complaint: When we walked in, a chalkboard outside advertised $3 domestics from 8 to 10 p.m. Somehow, our Clipper City Golds cost $5.50. Apparently, Baltimore isn't domestic enough for Luckie's.

Sounds: During down hours, of which there are few, a jukebox controls the tunes. Normally, though, a DJ spins or hands over control to live bands, which play most weekends, usually without a cover charge. The bands might be great crowd pleasers, such as Love Seed Mama Jump, or gimmicky cover bands, such as The Amish Outlaws.

Service: We have a soft spot in our hearts for hooched-out waitresses. The staff at Luckie's is friendly, efficient and good looking, though we can't say they're any more friendly, efficient or good looking than at any of the neighboring bars.

Digs: The multi-tiered room makes for an interesting place to roam. We prefer the bar on the raised platform that's straight ahead after you've first walked in. We like looking down on people. Unfortunately, the small sets of stairs and pillars that make the room interesting when not crowded become a pain in the ass when packed. Even though Luckie's affords more bar real estate than most Power Plant bars, we had trouble getting a drink on a busy night. Get the hell out of the way! We're thirsty over here!

Bottom line: Luckie's will please the 21-year-old Towson University kids (after all, they've been drinking in Towson's shitty, preppy underage dives for years), but it doesn't have much you can't find next door, across the street or anywhere else in Baltimore.

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