Home > Baltimore Bars & Clubs > Bar Review > Inside: Shorty's Martini Bar

Vibe: There's no other way to say it -- Shorty's is a cool place to hang. The low couches in the back room, the artfully restored tin ceiling, the red-colored walls, the cobalt-blue light fixtures, the fancy martini glasses, the local artwork on the walls and the funky, purple, felt-covered pool table all say one thing about Shorty's: "This place is hip. This place is amazing. What is this place doing in Baltimore?" There. I said it.

The club is owned by local DJ/national recording artist/founding father of Baltimore's electronic music and rave scene Charles "Feelgood" Fields. Even he says that cool clubs like Shorty's can be found in cities like New York and San Francisco, but struggle to survive in places like Baltimore. This is really a shame, because while there are many clubs around town that provide performance space to up-and-coming bands, there are few places for budding DJs (and more specifically, DJs spinning electronic music) to set up shop in town.

Crowd: Depending on when you go, there may not be much of a crowd. The party at Shorty's doesn't really get started until around midnight. Get there at 8 p.m., and you might find yourself feeling a bit lonely. The night I was there, DJ WarmFuzzy was spinning from 8 to 11 p.m., and even though it was ladies' night, I was the only female in the place. Sure, that has its advantages, but it was still a little weird. I kept wondering if I missed the "Ladies, stay home tonight" memo. In general, the bar caters to your typical Canton bar-hopper. But, its proximity to Brewer's Hill and Highlandtown also attracts folks from the neighborhood.

Libations: If you fancy a martini or concoctions involving Red Bull, then this is your kind of bar. The fun drinks can be a little pricey -- approximately $8 to $12 -- but they're delicious. There are also drink specials like $1 Pabst on Tuesdays; $3 martinis, $2 Sam Adams, $5 Knocked Up Shirley Temples on Wednesdays; and Happy Hours on Thursdays and Fridays. Except for the occasional Jager Bomb, I'm not a big fan of Red Bull drinks, but I did have the Wednesday night special, the Knocked Up Shirley Temple. That includes Red Bull, Vodka and cranberry juice. I was worried that it might be super sweet, but it wasn't. My only complaint was that, with a name like Shirley Temple, I thought the least they could give me was a maraschino cherry. No such luck. Once Shirley gets knocked up, I suppose that cherry's gone forever.

Sounds: With a DJ for an owner, the focus of Shorty's is obviously going to be on the music. Not only does Shorty's provide an opportunity to see established DJs like Feelgood, or local faves like Chris Bulla, it also allows rookie talent a turn on the decks. The club used to host a "Battle of the Local DJ" contest, and some of those past winners still appear at the club on a semi-regular basis. And even though the unofficial dance floor is now occupied by a pool table, the folks at Shorty's still manage to dance in the peripheral areas, depending on the night, the DJ, the crowd and the amount of alcohol everyone ingested that evening.

Service: There was only one guy working the bar the night I was there, and he had to do everything -- pour beer, mix drinks, haul ice, wash glasses, stock the cooler, go down to the cellar for more beer, etc. Still, he was good about noticing empty glasses, and he was quick to take care of thirsty guests.

Bottom Line: Support your local DJ. Go to Shorty's. Seriously, if you have an appreciation for electronic music and listening to some of the sickest mixes around, Shorty's puts a spin on the neighborhood that's all the rave.

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