On Air Studio

If you’re looking for a new place in CLE to get your dance/​drink on that’s not sleazy and super crowded, check out On Air Studio on the East Bank of The Flats. Some friends and I went for my birthday this past Saturday and its hidden gem status was really refreshing. Think the antithesis of W. 6^th in the best possible way.
Location: Positioned directly next to Crop Rocks, it’s the oddball venue/​non-​restaurant capping off the stretch of waterfront businesses including Alley Cat, Crop Sticks, and the future Costal Tacos. I was super surprised that the boardwalk wasn’t crawling with people on a 50 degree night in late January, but it is sort of around the corner/​off the beaten path from current social hubs Big Bang Piano Bar, Beerhead, and Punch Bowl Social.
Overview: It was very clear that the place is still relatively unknown. Like a speakeasy, it’s existence can easily be overlooked if you don’t know it’s already there. Friends trying to meet up with us texted: «Idk where I’m going,» and «I think I’m here???» We all felt a little lost before, during, and after walking in, but it’s definitely worth checking out.
We had a blast bustin’ a move to nostalgia jams, throwback hits, and current crowd-​pleasers spun by 107.9’s DJ Knyce with only about 25 other people tops. And it was neither college, douche-​y, hipster, or geezer city. I can’t speak on drink prices because mine were all bought for me (SCORE), but the bartenders were friendly and the wait time was nonexistent.
Pros: No cover. No wait time for drinks. Big space. Great music. Dancing encouraged.
Cons: Not a lot of people there, which ended up being kind of awesome.
Bottom line: Capitalize on this place being off the grid. It won’t last forever.