Discover Walla Walla

Walla Walla finally has an upscale night club with dancing. Ladies and Gents, may I present to you . . . The Red Monkey! - I know, I know, the name does not reflect the major upgrade in night clubbing that "The Monkey" represents. But let's excuse the owners for their strange taste in names and, rather, applaud them for opening a true dinner dance club that does not cater solely to the 24-and-under crowd and their rap music.

In fact, before 9:30 on a Friday night, "The Monkey" more closely resembles a classy Sports Bar than a Dance Club with its multitude of large flat screen televisions strategically placed throughout the establishment. The dinner menu is solid. Everyone in my gang seemed to be happy with their burgers, barbequed pork and salads. I had the chicken quesadilla which was tasty and not too salty . . . a good thing.

As the night progressed, the Happy Hour crowd and early dinner couples began to dwindle and were replaced by the younger crowd. Not a problem. There's actually a dress code and young ladies entered dressed to the nines, wearing a myriad of sultry pant and skirt ensembles, instead of the usual jeans falling off the hips or pajama bottoms. And the lads looked nice, too: Collared shirts, dress shoes and jeans, instead of the normal oversized hockey jersey, the ball cap to the side and unlaced monster sized basketball sneakers. 

As a male in his mid 40's, I felt quite at home. It's the type of place folks in their 30's to mid 50's have been aching for since I moved here in 2003 -- a place to go dancing that plays music we recognize and makes you feel like you're having a "night out" instead of getting in the way of the drinking duels of 22-year-olds who didn't have the time to comb their hair before making their motley appearance. The constant presence of security folks shows that "The Monkey" doesn't want to be a haven for macho man fights. God bless them.

"The Monk" is a throw back to the bar-clubs of the 80's and 90's. Wood and brass are featured and it's not pitch black like so many clubs today where you're bumping into someone every two seconds, never knowing if you're on the dance floor or going the wrong way on a people mover. At "The Monk" you can see the nice parquet dance floor and the people who inhabit it with you. What a nice change! Why didn't someone think of this before!

Whether you're up for watching Sports on the weekend or looking for a good "Happy Hour" home or want to partake in Walla Walla's night life, "The Monkey" should be at the top of your list. I applaud the owners for putting the necessary money into the club and bringing the city a tasteful, classy establishment that appeals to a broad base of the population. As far as the name . . . well . . . what's in a name anyway?