Chapter 3: Settings

O’Leary’s on Main
Despite the street name, Main was located in a poor community area that decades past was the center of town. The front of this well-known New Haven dive bar was plain and is located on Main Street, sandwiched between a New Age Wellness Center and Rite Aid convenience store. Neon lights in the small windows of the building showed nothing of the inside and flashed popular domestic and imported beers. The door itself was black with twisted iron grating to stop the tinted glass from being broken by a drunk.

Entering the bar anyone would notice that the bar was bigger then the outside seemed allude to, as it stretched to the back of the building. The smoky atmosphere hung in a permanent haze that reeked of cigarettes and cigars. Many unsavory types lined the long bar to the right, while through the main floor were cheap round tables easily replaced in case a fight broke out. The walls were plastered with framed pictures of various Irishmen, landscape from the Island and various comical portrayals of Scotsmen along with the odd animal trophy. At the far end of the bar was a more open space were two beat up pool tables occupied the more jittery of customers, and a hallway that led to the bathrooms. In the far corner, at the end of the bar, was a single jukebox with a varying library of music.

The barman was an older gentleman with steel gray, whipcord thin, with a sharp tongue and was rumored to keep a shotgun under the bar in case things got too hairy. He takes no shit from his customers and has very little in the way of people skills; he even squeezes every penny out of his regulars. There are two waitresses who run the rounds, a middle-aged woman who is a shadow of her former beauty named Molly, and a bright-eyed college student trying to pay off her loans named Casey.

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The Hidden Temple
In the heart of commercial New Haven, hidden amongst the office buildings and coffee stands, lies the Hidden Temple a traditional Japanese Garden in the Karesansui style. The garden was enclosed by high stone walls and during “business hours” the large, heavy wooden doors into the Hidden Temple are kept open. A wide sandstone path leads visitors into the garden itself, flanked on either side by stone lanterns. On either side are large seas of sand, intrinsically raked into hypnotic designs, dotted with rocks of varying sizes some only enough for a foot to stand on others as large as boulders. One large boulder in particular is near the walking path, nearly split in half, with a very old bonsai growing out from the top.

The path ends at the foot of steep steps cut out of a natural hill that is the focal point of the garden, which is covered in various Japanese trees and hedges that are well kempt and manicured. At the top visitors find an open-air temple, made of wood, in traditional Japanese style where they may pray to the gods and make offerings. There are slips of parchment and sticks of charcoal for those who wish to write down their prayers and hang them. There are usually two Buddhist monks ever present around the garden. One who tends the shrine and temple area, sweeping or replacing the parchment, while the other attends to the sea of sand with his rake moving from each island rock to the next.

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The New Haven Colosseum
The Colosseum is a unique museum and has brought New Haven a small amount of fame. It is technically a triple threat in the fact that it is an award winning Museum of Natural History, a museum for fine arts, as well as a historic open-air museum. The building itself is a reconstruction of the Colosseum in Rome; complete with chambers, slave pens and the underground rooms. There is a wing that connects to the Colosseum, called the North Wing, which is an interactive walk through of Greek-Roman history with several artifacts on display. The South Wing of the Colosseum is ever changing with various displays of historical artifacts, whether on tour after their findings or borrowed from other Institutions for a themed week.

Once a day there is a theatrical showing of the gladiatorial arenas at 2 o’clock, which is a two-hour performance of various gladiatorial bouts; from mass melee combat to a chariot battle, all performed by able actors. There are rumors running around about trying to get the Colosseum replica to hold water and have one of the famous water battles that the arena was renowned for in ancient times.

Located a mile outside of New Haven.
Colosseum tour tickets - $15.00
Museum Areas (North and South Wing) only - $5.00
Gladiatorial Performance tickets - $25.00
Full family package (Tour, performance and museum) - $50.00

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Cathedral of the Epiphany
If ever there was a monument to the grandeur of Christianity, this massive structure would be it. From the inside out it was a work of art and testament of Christian faith. Twin gothic towers framed the front of the arched face of the Cathedral and the twin doors, looking to made of heavy wood, were daunting. If that weren’t enough, there was a relief of the Saints carved along the roof line of the mighty edifice and any sinner would cringe from there judging stares. The foyer was large, the floor laid with marble, and a statue of the Virgin Mary greeted every visitor as the main fixture of the room. If one waited long enough, a Priest would see to them for direction, or need of Confession.

A single door on each side of the Virgin, funneled people into the congregation room. The room was easily two stories high and the ceilings peaked and vaulted. Along each wall were elaborate and large stain glass pictorials of the various states of Christ, from birth to death to resurrection. Two sets of pews lined the huge hall to the altar. Numerous candle stands were set up, lit and extinguished by young acolytes, giving a sacred atmosphere when not in use for Mass or sermon. An organ was embedded into the back wall and its pipes dominated one side. The altar was covered in embroidered cloth with symbols of faith; a chalice and plate always adorned it, as well as an elaborate cross. There was a pulpit for the Priest’s sermons, as well as a large area for the choir.

A door led back into the Priest’s chambers.

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Smiling Buddha Restaurant (Chinese Restaurant)
The front of the Smiling Buddha was modeled after a Chinese Pagoda, complete with red paper lanterns, tassels and charms for luck and fortune. Gold gilded writing above the door welcomes those who enter. Two sets of doors allow diners entrance where the hostess area is and a small lobby, in which a large aquarium is set up with several exotic fish who swim to and fro, as well as a small bank of quarter operated candy machines line part of the wall. There are numerous booths, as well as movable tables for large parties of people. The staff is all Chinese, family run, and courteous though their English isn’t the best. Each table is lit by a low hanging red paper lantern, giving a dim ambiance, while each place mat has the Chinese zodiac printed on it.

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Amphitrite Resort (Court)

Like something out of a Stephan King novel, this large Victorian mansion looms on the side of a cliff, threatening to topple over and down below to the rocky, watery grave that awaits. -- The mansion was reconstructed into a very large and very profitable hotel and was in business for nearly 50 years up until this past year, when a private investor bought out all the stock in the company and purchased the building itself for personal use.

The hotel has an eccentric appearance, though kept very much up to date on the technology within. High Speed internet, a large heated indoor swimming pool, a fully functional gym. It boasts one of the more prominent ball rooms and dining galleries along this coast. A good majority of the furnishings within the hotel are not replicas but actual Victorian aged furnishings, as well as drapery and bedding. The bar contains several stores of vintage wines as well as a few bottles of "something" else, tucked away.

The front of the hotel displays a very welcoming and relaxed setting upon driving into it's drop off area as there are several statues and water fountains. Most of which display the goddess Amphitrite or the god Neptune, as well as various sea creatures and mermaids. The salty mist from the ocean below the cliffs only add to the mystery that is the Amphitrite Resort.

The Victorian Ballroom, boasts a romantic theme of Victorian and Italiante style ambiance. The warm and inviting hues of burgundy, cream, and deep greens compliment the open, inviting atmosphere. The Ballroom comes complete with a full stage, large dance floor, and a unique pub setting with an European fireplace.

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THE BLACKLIGHT UTOPIA

Utopia was taken over in the late 1930's by Ron Jordan, a central figure in the music history of Magid. A rock n roll legend, Ron had a chain of venues covering America, England and Canada. He took over the building, then known as the Bison Club, in a run down state and transformed it, though the building has seen better days than it’s current condition.

It now stands as Magid’s longest running alternative club dealing in industrial, power-noise, cyber-synth, ebm, cyber-goth, darkwave, trad + modern goth, plus crossover and related alternative sounds. The club has never been featured in listings magazines, but has a membership base of around 10,000. It is also probably the most well known club of its type in 3 states, with a wide and varied mixture of nationalities in attendance on any given week.

The Blacklight Utopia has a membership scheme which entitles you to reduced price entry and the ability to sign in up to two guests. Sometimes non-members have to be signed in by a member, but as long as you look the part (ebm / goth / darkwave / black scene etc) it is not a problem to get in even if you don’t know any members.

Once through the large, cathedral style double doors (and the security you have to get past before that), Utopia opens out into a large lobby. The threadbare crimson carpet and peeling paint on the walls lend a sense of decayed elegance in stark contrast to the thumping bass that can be felt more than heard. Past the toilets and staffed cloakrooms (one either side) and up the sweeping stairs, doors lead into onto the balcony of the main chamber. A large, square room, with the DJ enclosure on the far wall, flanked by cages filled with dancing girls adorned with more piercings than clothing, and bars taking up the rest, allowing just enough room for the spiral staircases in the corners to reach the dancefloor. Every surface is matte black, with the strobe lighting (and strobed UVs), smoke machines, and chains hanging from the ceiling, swaying in the breeze of the AC, making the place feel a lot smaller than it actually is, all combining to give a claustrophobic, somewhat surreal feel, like you’re being drowned in the seedy underbelly of the city’s nightlife.

To the left and right doors lead off from the balcony, opening into rooms catering to varying tastes in music, each with a bar, seating area and dance floor.