The District Tavern

It's midnight on a Thursday, but most patrons at The District Tavern are dressed like it's a Saturday afternoon. 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. 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. Relaxed and open - but still hip - is the vibe. The District is a neighborhood pub for the Downtown crowd. 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. 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. The open-spaced, softly lit atmosphere speaks to a crowd different from that in the previous incarnation of the space - 7 Black Cats. Rob Burns, 28, dressed in a plaid shirt and khaki shorts, says the tavern has a classier feel than the old club. "But the liquor selection is about the same," he adds, tipping back a shot of high-end tequila. 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. But getting too worked up wouldn't really jive with the atmosphere. "It's a really low-key pub - casual," says 29-year-old Amril Fladoos, who frequented 7 Black Cats before the switch. "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. He comes here to chat with friends, because it's not so loud that he has to yell, and he digs the music. 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. The unusual selections include Prince, Uncle Tupelo, Outkast, The Killers, Queens of the Stone Age and the "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack. 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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