(Credit: Molly V. Strzelecki)
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Lounge in the front area, where a sedate crowd eagerly shares Mediterranean tapas and converses with fellow fashionistas. Mingle toward the back, and you'll encounter more low tables as well as an hypnotic, color-changing bar, before eventually descending a staircase to Red Maple's high-energy dance floor and thumping DJ booth. For those who prefer their conversation al fresco, the furnished atrium (just beyond the dance floor) mutes the house music, and the red maple tree adds a welcome naturalistic touch.
Crowd: Red Maple attracts an eclectic, international crowd: couples seeking romance, suited-up business men, sleekly-attired Europeans and even the occasional handful of college students out for some glamour. Be warned, however, that weekends get very crowded, and, as one staffer said, "obnoxiously busy." So as far as intimacy is concerned, you can pretty much write it off Friday or Saturday nights. Also, recognize that the bar's dress code makes athletic shoes, hats, sweatshirts and basically anything you'd wear to the dog park strictly verboten.
Libations: If you're looking for drinking games, look elsewhere. The bar offers a small beer list of mostly imports, a multitude of wines and an array of sake for your drinking pleasure. Additionally, you can order specialty cocktails such as the Socialite and the Red Mojito.
Sounds: What is it that Janet Jackson said at the beginning of "Nasty Boys?" Oh, right: "Gimme a beat!" Red Maple does, though it's not so much hip-hop/R&B as it is a combination of Euro-techno-house beats. It can vary, though. Wednesday nights, for example, embrace a Mediterranean flair with accompanying belly dancers. Salsa, flamenco and Latin dancing are also featured throughout the week.
Service: Swanky and chic bars can be intimidating. Add a swanky and chic staff, and ordering a simple glass of pinot noir can become a test of confidence. Not so at Red Maple, where the staff is indeed swanky and chic, but also friendly, talented and very efficient.
Bottom Line: If you're in the mood to dress up a little and paint the town, why not paint it Red Maple?
