The District Tavern
The District a relaxed Downtown tavern
By Erin White
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.26.2005
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It's midnight on a Thursday, but most patrons at The District Tavern are dressed like it's a Saturday afternoon.
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There's a man in his mid-40s, in navy sweats and a baseball cap, legs swung up on a black bench and back against the wall.
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Across the bar, a pretty blonde in her late 20s sits, feet tucked underneath her, in a green tank top, capri jeans and flip-flops.
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Relaxed and open - but still hip - is the vibe.
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The District is a neighborhood pub for the Downtown crowd.
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There's not much of a barrier to getting inside The District, 260 E. Congress St. The large, glass door stands wide open, and people walk in and out freely, sometimes stopping in for a moment or two as they walk down Congress Street.
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The clientele doesn't seem to match up to the Art Nouveau décor of plump pinup girls and Paris scenes that hang on the high walls.
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The open-spaced, softly lit atmosphere speaks to a crowd different from that in the previous incarnation of the space - 7 Black Cats.
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Rob Burns, 28, dressed in a plaid shirt and khaki shorts, says the tavern has a classier feel than the old club.
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"But the liquor selection is about the same," he adds, tipping back a shot of high-end tequila.
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The District, which Noel Chester and Lisa Mollina opened April 13, is so new that small spots still show on its shiny floor, and patrons feel a bit guilty about spilling a beer.
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But getting too worked up wouldn't really jive with the atmosphere.
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"It's a really low-key pub - casual," says 29-year-old Amril Fladoos, who frequented 7 Black Cats before the switch.
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"It's definitely not a bar yet," he adds. There aren't enough people packed onto the open floor to earn that label, in his view.
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He comes here to chat with friends, because it's not so loud that he has to yell, and he digs the music.
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The jukebox, one of the tavern's selling points, doesn't reflect the "I'm-just-trying-to-chill" attitude of the bar. It's full of varied music that doesn't often find its way into laid-back bars.
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The unusual selections include Prince, Uncle Tupelo, Outkast, The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age and the "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack.
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The bar only takes cash, but there's an ATM beside the jukebox. For those who enjoy drinking amid a little competition, the bar offers two dart boards and a pool table.
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