It seems the Wedge is going through a growth spurt, at least in terms of fresh watering holes. Platinum Lounge opened not too long ago (at the corner of Gregory and South Clinton), and now The South Wedge Colony Bar & Grill (503 South Ave)hasopened where Dashen restaurant used to be, at the corner of South and Alexander. We stopped by last Friday around 1:30 a.m. to check out the vibe, and were surprised by the size of the place. There's plenty of room for dancing (to music provided by the wall-mounted digital jukebox), though no one took advantage of the space while we were there. There's a cushioned bench, and tables and chairs line one wall, where you can sit at votive-adorned tables to take it all in. The bar faced us, and seemed small in comparison to the rest of the place. There's a pool table out back, where a group of people were hanging out; others trickled in and out of the back door, getting their nicotine fix.

The bar stools were occupied by what my guy and I agreed looked like a very East End crowd; the girls wore shiny tops and jeans, the boys button-up shirts, polos, and baseball caps. The place so far seems to lack personality, but then again, it just opened at the end of May. There's a grand opening tentatively scheduled for June 27, and while the grill side of things isn't up and running yet, it should be by the end of the week.

It'll be interesting to see how the Colony ends up fitting in with the rest of the South Wedge establishments, and what crowd it ultimately attracts. At the moment it feels more like an extension of the East & Alexander scene, rather than part of the South Wedge.

Thirsty Thursday

Lux (666 South Ave) is one of our favorite South Wedge stops, and it's practically written in stone that our Thursday happy hour takes place there. The lovely Amanda is behind the bar serving cocktails, there's dinner (well, if you consider handfuls of Chex Mix a meal, like I do), and the atmosphere is more family-like than on weekends.

For the second year in a row, there's another reason to swing by Lux on Thursdays. It's the neighborhood's Third Thursday event, when you can wander over to Star Alley (the outdoor space next to Lux, where the sides of the brick buildings are painted like an old shoot ‘em up ghost town) where you can catch free shows through October. When we happened by last month, the Lucky Cats were playing: Sara Purr's vocals floated out over the Wedge in the warm summer air. Now, a stage is in the works, and this week, in addition to the live music schedule, the Parking Meter Totem project is being unveiled. Check lux666.com for details. (Full disclosure: your humble author is performing this week.)

Star Alley isn't the only spot you'll find something happening in the South Wedge on Thursdays. According to Christina Jones at BASWA (Business Association of the South Wedge Area), plans are in the works to bring musicians to Nathaniel Square Park, at the corner of Alexander and South. Check baswa.org for updates. And, if you feel the need to express yourself rather than listen to someone else do it, head over to the The Mez (389 Gregory St), where there's an eclectic open mic night every Thursday.

Got a tip for our Nightlife reporter? E-mail jgraney@rochester-citynews.com.