MIDNITE HOUR - 01 November 2019

BANGKOK EYES PRESENTS -

Maps & Histories About Us Movies Community Archives

William R. ''Will'' Morledge
News page correspondent
(Midnite Hour) and contributing
editor - book reviews

MONTHLY NEWS
COLUMN

Bangkok,
01 November 2019
William R. Morledge

November's Nightlife News
Bangkok's Bars - 20 Years Ago
A Smile in the Land of Smiles.
Reader's Corner: The 'Ginza Effect'
Bangkok's Graffiti Update - #164

SOFT OPENING 28 OCTOBER 2019

t would be folly to mistake Bangkok's new Patpong Museum as just another excursion through A Go-Go bars of past times. Patpong Road's newest addition to the Nightlife Scene is a tour de force, historically speaking, of the Patpongpanich family and their influence on Bangkok's early and recent development - literally putting Bangkok on the World Map. A most unlikely history unfolds, from the area's earliest beginnings as a banana plantation, to the Patpong family's singular, pivotal influence in the creation of Bangkok's Central Business District ...and then, in the middle of all that, the spontaneous eruption of the most notorious Night Entertainment Capitol the world would ever know. The Patpong Museum will be an eye-opener to new arrivals to the Kingdom, as will it be to the jaded 'Old Hands' who think they 'know Bangkok'.

Visit also Patpong Museum On-line <LINK>

The plot of land, the banana plantation, was purchased by Senior Patpongpanich in 1946, just after the war. The potential : connecting two main arteries, Silom Road and Surawong Road, was not lost on him, and he went to work networking his many local and foreign wartime contacts; convincing them that the area was ripe for development as a centralized business district. And it is fair to say the success of that budding Business District growing up in and around Patpong Road was no accident of fate - it was a direct result of the Patpong family's commercial instincts and perseverance.

The very first ticket to the Patpong Museum (and the Patpong Museum Passport). A collector's item...

PATPONG 2

And this growing centralization of international and local businesses, of course, attracted a commensurate number of restaurants. One of those restaurants, Mizu's Kitchen, commenced construction scarcely a decade after the Senior Patpongpanich purchased those banana plantations. Mizu's opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1957 in the new 'Patpong Road'. But what differentiated Mizu's from the others is it became a 'meeting point', or as Bernard Trink would say, 'a Constellation', of expats in the community, eventually becoming the ad-hoc 'go-to' place for foreign correspondents. -Some crediting Mizu's as the birthplace of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Bangkok (FCCT). As a result, Mizu's would stay open long hours after the closure of the airlines and banks and other offices in the area. And Mizu's 'till-late success' was not lost on other intrepreneurial types - soon a number of 'lounge' bars began to open in Patpong Road. Mizu's is credited with being 'the match that lit the torch'...

VIDEO CLIP

A life-like full sized "A Go-Go dancer". One of several realistic '''hologram-type''' displays. There is much more to see here...

PATPONG 2

While the Business District continued to grow in Patpong and the Surawong - Silom Road areas, the Night Entertainment Scene grew like mushrooms after the rains in Patpong 1 & Patpong 2 Roads. And what a mix - this unique combo of Business Center / Entertainment Center became a 'magnet' - drawing in foreign businessmen, journalists, remnants of the OSS and its follow-on organizations, overseas construction workers on work breaks, US soldiers on R&R, the onslaught of European sex tourists... And along with this group of strange bedfellows and one-off characters came the visiting entertainers, sports figures and movie-makers... And, inevitably, the histories, the stories, the legends and the myths would build, one on the other - all of which 'History' will remember collectively as "Patpong". There is absolutely no way, not in a million years, this website can do justice to this grand story of light-and-dark, this kaleidoscopic microcosm called Patpong. The best we can do is visit, once again, the Patpong Museum and take up where we left off last time, searching out the 'jewels' we missed last visit.

PATPONG 2

If we are to make a single recommendation on the Patpong Museum, it would be that anyone interested in Bangkok's broader, comprehensive history should pay a visit. This would include a mandatory visit by those visiting Bangkok for the first time.

There is a story that goes with the vivacious smile of the Pink Panther dancer - in the 1980's the young lady would dance and jump around (really dance - as in days gone by), eventually causing a wardrobe failure, which she would pretend not to notice for a while. A crowd-pleaser to say the least.

PATPONG 2

An entire wall of Bernard Trink's Nite Owl columns (1986). A lot more to be seen at the Museum. Take your time - read at your leisure...

PATPONG 2

The iconic Grand Prix neon (real neon!).... We also miss the Amarit beer...

PATPONG 2

A reproduction of the Deer Hunter poster - in Thai !

PATPONG 2

Nope...   We won't be able to reveal what this is all about....

PATPONG 2

...Just in case you forget where you are....   An authentic reproduction of a Patpong Road sign.

PATPONG 2

* "It's a gas, gas, gas" -Jumpin' Jack Flash
                  -The Rolling Stones

TOP

November's Thai Smile is a quick study...

BOOKS ...worth a read !

( Click on book covers to order. )

TOP

? Old
BANGKOK NIGHT SCENE
PHOTOS ?

Any old PHOTOS of
Bangkok's Nightlife ?

Please CLICK HERE to email us for publication.

Many Thanks,
William R Morledge

TOP

MIDNITE HOUR MAIL BOX

Join the 'Comments' page...

*CLICK * here to email us at bangkokeyes@gmail.com ...

HONOLULU's CHINATOWN RECOLLECTIONS

   READER :
   Quite a series of write ups in your "Bangkok Eyes".   I haven't been down in Honolulu's Chinatown at night and have rarely been back in years.   My understanding is that it's now a sleazy place, lot of drugs and taken over by the homeless at night with it's share of problems.   The Vietnamese of Honolulu that had many of the business's for the last 30 years, except for the Bars, back in the 80's now want out and pretty much have abandon it as they have aged and the attachment to the homeland faded.   My (Vietnamese) wife goes maybe once a month and says it's a sorry place, all the people she knew that used to go are no longer there or favor Ala Moana or other spots, says nobody there is making and money.

   MIDNITE HOUR:
   While I was in Honolulu, friends from our years in Viet Nam during the '60s & '70s gave me the 'Cook's Tour', during which I took a lot of photos (some of which appear in my Chinatown articles this month and last).   On first take, I had no intention of doing an article on Chinatown, because I wasn't going to be there long enough to get to really know what was going on.   (-I recall our days in Viet Nam during the war when US Congressmen would come to Saigon and spend three days (only in Saigon), then go back to the US as instant "experts".   We used to call them the "Three-Day Wonders".   So, I didn't want to be a '3-Day Wonder' writing about Honolulu's Chinatown.)   But because my friends are Honolulu residents since the '80's, and knew the area, I was able to get at least some general idea of the comings and goings in Chinatown and its history.   I also spent many days on the Internet researching Chinatown - mainly to avoid (as much as possible) screwing things up with inaccuracies.   Your input on Chinatown is most relevant; I wish I had more time to discuss with you while I was on Oahu.   Not coincidentally, a couple of areas (subjects) I stayed away from were the 'homeless problem' that you mentioned (which is bad in some parts of Chinatown) and the Vietnamese community of Chinatown (which I would have loved to write about, but I knew there was no way I could do a decent job in the time I had).   Thanks for writing in.

   READER :
   We went to see Deep Throat at the Risque Theater in the 70s...

   MIDNITE HOUR:
   What better way to celebrate Old Chinatown than this?

   READER :
   Your Chinatown piece last month was tops. I saw your reference to "Jake", did you also reference the movie classic "Chinatown"?

   MIDNITE HOUR:
   At the very bottom line in the article we did pay homage with the actual quote...

Comments ?-*Click HERE * & Email Us ...

THE "GINZA EFFECT"

   READER :
    It is disappointing about Bangkok's disregard for us, we who built them.   I have been going to BKK since I was in my 20's, before the new stupidly large 'Airport-With-Mass-Confusion'.   -And its just not a good airport to relax before a flight, once you get there...   BKK used to be a very friendly place, and was cheap.   Now they have placed themselves at Tokyo rates; and the little brown shaved rats are nowhere near what Japanese girls are.   And in Japan you don't get sick.   Now it seems one cannot take a holiday to Bangkok without an 'interruption' of some kind, be it holiday closures, rip offs or being drugged.   What a shame.   But maybe another country will take their place.   Living in Japan I can see most of Asia, and be just as relaxed.   While an exciting and, yes, cheap place is needed, most who go to Bangkok surely have the money - they just do not want to feel cheated.   Unless Thailand sees this, they may find themselves just a maid for other Asians and Arabs.   Well, just venting, but I know you live there and may deeply disagree.   I can understand that.   Either way, I'm not old yet and will give BKK another shot, and spend too much money, but it is a break from work and drama here.   Hope I'm lucky, and there are no closed days (for holidays).   Once again, have a great weekend.

   MIDNITE HOUR:
      "A long time forgotten" (1975 to be exact) - way before the commencement of this website - I and fellow street-crawling flat-mates prophesied the end of Bangkok as we knew it.   (Those years now wistfully remembered by many as 'Bangkok's Golden Years'.)   Our prophesy was summed up as "The Ginza Effect".   It meant, of course, comparing Tokyo's riotous Ginza just after WW-II with the Ginza of today.   The short-take: today's Ginza has gone way 'Uptown' and has become unreasonably expensive.   Ditto, Bangkok, since the end of the Viet Nam conflict.
         While they yet exist (in ever-shrinking numbers), gone are the days when A Go-Go's, and 'Steam-and-Cream' massage parlors, and lounge-bars, and 'freelancer coffee-shops' ruled the day.   Now we are inundated with Pubs and 'Clubs' and discos, and open Bar Beers, and single-shophouse specialty massage parlors, and bar-restaurants and Pool / Sports Bars.   Now we have black-suited, hard-eyed bouncers with military brush-cuts outside -and inside- Nitespots (where none were, or are, needed), and snooty 'up-market Clubs' with dress codes.   And we need not belabor endlessly the disproportionate rise in the prices of absolutely everything.   Yes, this is the anticipated, inevitable, dawning of "The Ginza Effect".   And we who have elected to stay are 'living it'.   The overarching adage prevails, "The only 'Constant' is 'Change'."

Comments ?-*Click HERE * & Email Us ...

'RUMOR-CONTROL' THEN & NOW

   READER :
      We hear elsewhere that the Queen's Park Plaza is closing.   Your website, however, not only hasn't reported this yet, but it seems to us you are implying it might not close.   While we hope you are right, is there something you are not telling us?

   MIDNITE HOUR:
      Well, first a bit of background.   During the Viet Nam War, each Headquarters had a fictitious and most facetious 'Section' called 'Rumor Control'.   Its function and effect was to put a lid on the never-ending stream of Bullshit that passed through channels as supposed fact.   Our old issues of Bangkok Eyes used to have a section inspired by this tongue-in-cheek 'Rumor Control' called: Rumor of the Month - Where there's Smoke there's Mirrors'.   See a facsimile below...

Rumor of the Month

Where there's

'Rumor' is defined as "no-fault confabulation, chain-reaction speculation...."    Nevertheless MIDNITE HOUR again presents the most outrageous / prevalent rumor to cross our desks this past month:

      We discontinued our Rumors section for two reasons : the first being - many misread our monthly rumors as 'fact' - and caught us up on our 'error', pointing out that our 'fact' didn't come true (...really).   The second reason was the equation hasn't changed - exceedingly few rumors do see the light of day, and as an historical news site, we didn't want to get into 'Speculative Journalism', even by implication or misunderstanding.   As to the Queen's Park Plaza "closing" rumor, when we see the 'closing' notifications being nailed up, we will report on those signs.   When we see all the bars close, we will report that.   When they tear the place down, we will report that.   As we are wont to say, "A good rumor and 65 Baht will get you an iced coffee at the Thermae".

Comments ?-*Click HERE * & Email Us ...

Thanks for reading and for writing in.

Don't hesitate to send your questions and comments - always welcome.

Note: Text may be edited for brevity and/ or clarity.

'Reader's Corner' moderator -

'Boge' Hartman
Historical Research
*   Zootramp Publications

TOP

BANGKOK EYES

Let the November 2019 Follies begin-

PATPONG 1

MAP

It was a big night out on Patpong 1 on 1 November (and we couldn't miss the party...). Exactly 50 years ago, the Madrid opened its doors to the public. And not only is it the oldest bar on Patpong 1, it has had but a single owner, Khun Daeng. May they be good for another 50...

Khun Daeng, the ever-cheerful 'Matriarch' of Patpong 1's oldest bar was there to greet 'old hands' and new. Daughters Khun Janie and Khun Annie, both 'dressed to the 9's', were also an integral part of the ongoing celebrations.

VIDEO CLIP

PATPONG 1

Two ghouls staked out the entrance to King's Castle 1 on Halloween. The King's Group always has great Halloween participation...

PATPONG 1

Superboys closed its doors (for good?). Leaving, now, none of the 3 boy-bars originally opening on Patpong 1. Begs the question, are they going to move to Patpong 2 in the largely gay Suriwong end? A wait and see item...

PATPONG 1

Although it looks like they are trying to get it together for some kind of an opening, Flares is not open. If they do eventually open, we shall shout it out...

PATPONG 1

The 2nd level Powerpuff Girls Bar has opened in what was a rip-off bar called Pussy Magic. Remains to be seen what kind of a bar Powerpuff ends up being.

PATPONG 1

PATPONG 2

MAP

The Patpong Museum opened, softly, on 28 October 2019. And it was much more than we at MIDNITE HOUR anticipated (see our lead article above.) Although all will enjoy (guaranteed...), those with a penchant for 'the historical' will spend long hours and several visits there. A perfect place start off with those curious out-of-town visitors who are pestering you to 'show them the Bangkok Nightlife'.

PATPONG 2

The Triple XXX Lounge opened in what was, historically, a number of successful A Go-Go bars - the most recent being the Electric Blue. Opening night was packed, and the line-up was worthy. The interior much the same as the Electric Blue and the Rififi before it. May they continue to rock 'n roll...

The Door Art Of The Month goes to Triple XXX Lounge this month - a balance of everything - lighting, signage, and a sense of 'energy'.

PATPONG 2

SOI COWBOY

MAP

It looks like the Nitespot replacing the now-relocated Sahara will in fact be called Oasis. What is still up in the air is the modus operandi. It looks like they may open sometime before December...

SOI COWBOY

NANA PLAZA

MAP

For some, this will be the first look at Nana Plaza since the removal of the awnings in front of the ground-level bars (now not needed with the new overhead roof). What haven't been removed are the raised platforms and the 'fences'. Perhaps when the fire department comes around again in another ten to fifteen years, they will raise the usual complaints of accessibility & egress (in the hypothetical case of a fire)...

NANA PLAZA

SOI NANA

MAP

The 4 Bar has closed, and renovations are proceeding rapidly on what will be, well, something different. We will keep an eyeball peeled and get back atcha.

SOI NANA - (SOI 4 SUKHUMVIT)

The King Indian Night Club, located on the 2nd level of the Rajah Hotel outbuilding, was closed down (again). We'll check back, and provide our 'update' -if there is anything to update- but the prognosis is dire...

SOI NANA - (SOI 4 SUKHUMVIT)

SOI KATOEY

MAP

G's Bangkok has stood the test of time, and remains the most popular spot on the Soi for the growing number of non-gay patrons. Must be the good food, good beer. May they persevere...

SOI KATOEY

SOI 22

MAP

The Footjoy House has replaced the Miss Beauty, which replaced the Miss BS, which replaced the Miss BJ - all in about 4 months. Someone is not his / her "Business Plans For Dummies"... We wish them good luck - they obviously need it....

SOI 22

The Lan Massage is the latest Nitespot to find its way into Sub-Soi Titanium. Welcome them to the slippery slope.

SOI 22

The Yuuka Snack Bar (Japanese 'Snack Bar', not Western...) was closed down tighter than a tsuzumi drum when we passed by the other evening. We'll check back again, but it looks like it's 'sayonora'...

SOI 22

The diminutive The Flower Club, usually with a cat asleep on one of the tables, looks to be closed down for the long haul. Located in Sub-Soi Starlight. Greener grass, ladies...

SOI 22

SOI AMBASSADOR

MAP

Last month we noted the Market Rooftop had opened, finally answering what sort of a Venue it was going to be. This month we stopped up to sample the wares - and we were surprised, not once, but a couple of times. First, it was not on the 2nd level as we had thought : it was on the 3rd level (after a Herculean stair-climb). Secondly, it was literally on the roof... (what were we thinking?). It was half-under a rooftop 'awning', and half-outdoors, and had three kiosk outlets - two for ordering food, one (a counter bar) for ordering drinks. Pick up your order and seat yourselves (waiters/ waitresses were hard to find). A DJ corner (no DJ, no music)?! It was decorated throughout in a faux-graffiti motif - most eye-catching. May they persevere.

SOI AMBASSADOR (Sukhumvit Soi 11)

Replacing the Spice Bar & Restaurant on the 2nd level above The Australian is the brand new Bafros Bar & Lounge Welcome them to the neon circus...

SOI AMBASSADOR (Sukhumvit Soi 11)

It looks like the Liquid Elephant and Soul Salt will be replacing the Cordonnier and 'The Bar Upstairs', both having closed a couple of months ago. Located next door to Apoteka.

SOI AMBASSADOR (Sukhumvit Soi 11)

We don't normally comment on 'restaurants', per-se, but should you find yourself on Soi Ambassador wandering between bars -and feeling hungry, the pizza at the Cantina can't be beat. Peroni craft beer by the glass...

Good Pizza !

...IS HARD TO FIND...

SOI AMBASSADOR (Sukhumvit Soi 11)

QUEEN's PARK PLAZA

MAP

Nutz & Booze, the tiny bar beer adjacent to the Baan Beer closed temporarily last month, as Baan Beer busily usurped half their real estate. Never mind, they have reopened yet again, just a little bit smaller than small... Welcome back to the fray...

QUEEN's PARK PLAZA

The White Bar, closed last month, has sprung from the crypt, and has rolled out the red carpet once again. While looking good, it doesn't have the same 'look-and-feel'... New owners? Hmmm....

QUEEN's PARK PLAZA

SOI DEAD ARTISTS

MAP

The Mask Tattoo, a multi-purposed Nitespot, has opened up next door to Po Massage and Teen (massage) deep in Soi Dead Artists. May they keep on keeping on (doing what ever they do do...).

SOI DEAD ARTISTS (Sukhumvit 33)

A for-the-archives pic for Daisy Dream, a rather-Japanese-priced massage parlor located in Sub-Soi 3.

SOI DEAD ARTISTS (Sukhumvit 33)

SOI EDEN

MAP

The Down Under was decked out for Halloween a day or two early... We've been noticing this at several locations - is Halloween going to keep stretching until it becomes another Songkran holiday? (Don't get us wrong, we are NOT suggesting this...)

SOI EDEN (Sukhumvit 7 / 1)

The Pickled Liver Pub is not 'dead', in spite of the many eyewitness reports... We have noticed snail-paced progress this last month in the renovations - they put up some of the electrical wiring...

SOI EDEN (Sukhumvit 7 / 1)

TOP

A PAGE FROM Bangkok's NIGHTSCENE HISTORY....

20 YEARS AGO

November

With thanks to Cool Text -cooltext.com

Bangkok Eyes goes back in time to see
Who was New - And Who was Through
in the Expat Night Entertainment World
How many of these old 'Oases'
Do you remember ?

Patpong I

November 1999

   *  The King's Castle II reopened after a month's renovations.   It is still at that location today.

Patpong 2

November 1999

   *  The tiny second-level Pou-Pee closed its doors for good.   It was located above today's Bangkok Massage.   No Nitespot exists at the Pou-Pee location today.

Soi Cowboy

November 1999

   *   No changes that month / year.

Nana Plaza

November 1999

   *   To make it official, the second level Hollywood Stars added "Bar" to their signage.   Today Angel Witch occupies those premises.

Soi Katoey
( Silom Soi 4 )

November 1999

   *  Film Mix reopened for business that month.   Today those digs are occupied by Bas Living Room.

   *  The other half of Rome Club closed (the remaining half on the right-hand side going in).   Today those digs are occupied by The Balcony.

Buckskin Joe Village
(~ December 1988 to 9 June 2006) -dates corrected this month

(Also known -originally- as Tobacco Road or Soi Rot Fai or, 'The Tracks', and later as Machim [Thai] and Soi Zero)

November 1999

   *   Som's Place Beer Bar - CLOSED -
   *    U & I Bar - REOPENED - after a brief closure.
   *    Turtle Bar - NEW - next door to Species Bar & Internet.

Washington Square
(~ April 1999 to April 2014)

November 1999

   *  The Cat's Meow - NEW - in the ex-No Probl'm bar digs. -

"Clinton Plaza"

(Was ''Entertainment Plaza'')
[ ~February 1999 to June 2003 ] (Dates corrected this month.)

November 1999

      *   Saloon Bar - NEW    - 2nd Level - Main Building-
      *   Bill's Bar (no sign) - NEW     - Against main bldg.-
      *   Yahoo Bar - NEW    - Against main bldg.-
      *   Lek's Boozer - CLOSED    - Against side wall - move next door to 13 Night Market.-

''13 Night Market'' Entertainment Area"

(Was 'Old Thermae Compound')
[ April 1999 - March 2005 ] (dates corrected this month)

November 1999

      *   Arcadia - CLOSED
      *   Rib Shack - CLOSED
      *   Lek's - NEW (from Clinton Plaza - no sign)

LINK TO US

Oce Upon
A Time
In
HollywooD

FILM
REVIEW
Click Here

! ORDER
NOW !

Latest
VINCENT
CALVINO
Novel
OUT NOW !

*Click Here*
A
Christopher G. Moore
Novel

TOP

VICARIOUS ART CRIMES #164

MIDNITE HOUR's

But is it ....ART ?

New to the 'World of Graffiti'?
*CLICK* here for our "INTRO"
"The ART and the CONTROVERSY"

Check out Bangkok's dedicated page at "BKK Graf.com" <link>

GRAFFITI IN THE NEWS

Last month we noted we would be covering the graffiti murals of Honolulu. The murals shown here are part of a graffiti beautification program taken up by the Honolulu Municipality, which was a part of a larger program to revitalize the old downtown areas (primarily 'Old Chinatown' and surrounds) .

A 'graffiti beautification' program sounds like an oxymoron, but Honolulu's Powers-That-Be decided to flip the paradigm - using graffiti murals to draw attention to the otherwise drab and (historically) notorious Night Entertainment Area and surrounds, (instead of writing-off graffiti as a plague-of-vandals). They called it "Graffitification" - a portmanteau of Graffiti + Beautification, of course...

-And the system worked... The Old Chinatown area has seen a number of old historic buildings become 'heritage sites' - brandishing their own bronze plaques and an 'Historic Area' complete with 'tour walk' plans. Additionally, the private sector is gradually moving back in, opening new Nitespots and restaurants.

Old Chinatown (at least some parts of it) are coming back to life - (to include the 'Nitelife Scene'). Goes to show you never can tell...

Below are additional samples of the graffiti murals of Honolulu.

Bangkok Eyes is an historically based news outlet, and as such, all graphic excerpts herein are considered, under current legal precedents and
prevailing interpretations, 'Fair Use' under Copyright Law. Copyright of any original artwork and photographs resides exclusively with the creators.

With thanks to Cool Text.com

Graffiti #1130
Tree Spirit
5 ft high x 3 ft

Graffiti #1131
Crop Top
6 ft high x 9 ft

Graffiti #1132
Shining Through
5 ft high x 3 ft

Graffiti #1133
White Dalmatian
6 ft high x 12 ft

Graffiti #1134
Braidz 'O Black
6 ft high x 13 ft

Graffiti #1135
Flower-Power Zero Zero
38 ft high x 38 ft

Graffiti #1136
The Eyes Have It
11 ft high x 10 ft (central pic)

Bangkok's original site !

The
MIDNITE HOUR
Graffiti Page is prepared by Staff Contributor "Boge" Hartman.

(Boge's photo, above, is not a graffiti per-se, although there are those who have insinuated....
- Ed)

--- Datzit Fernow

William R. Morledge

Click
for
LEGAL

TOP

"The Archives" - All Our Back Issues Here

- 2020 - 01 JAN -	- 2019 - 01 JAN - Soi 71 + "W District" 01 FEB - Back to Soi 26 01 MAR - Soi 1 & Soi 3 01 APR - Mizu's of Patpong 01 MAY - Mississippi Twins 01 JUN - Gay Patpong ? -Twilight Gone 01 JUL - Bars - 50 Years On 01 AUG - Soi 8 Reviste 01 SEP - Copyright & the 'Net 01 OCT - Historic Honolulu - Chinatown 01 NOV - The Patpong Museum 01 DEC -
- 2018 - 01 JAN - The Pub Crawl 01 FEB - Bobby Passes On 01 MAR - Nana - The Plaza - The Soi 01 APR - Soi Dead Artists - Downsizing? 01 MAY - Soi's 5, 7, 7/1 Eden 01 JUN - Soi 24 - Going Nowhere 01 JUL - Street Bars - They're Back 01 AUG - Udorn in the 60's & 70's 01 SEP - Potpourri - Odds 'N Ends 01 OCT - Khao San + Rambutri Rds. 01 NOV - Night Market Sri Nakarin 01 DEC - Soi 23 - Running Hot	- 2017 - 01 JAN - Soi 22 - the Survivor 01 FEB - Hua Hin Nights 01 MAR - Hooking-Up 01 APR - Soi Than Tawan 01 MAY - Our Saloon-Count Surveys 01 JUN - Soi Bua Khao 01 JUL - Soi 8 - Work In Progress 01 AUG - NO PHOTO (more or less) 01 SEP - Stickman Calls 'Time' 01 OCT - Sweet Black Angel 01 NOV - Thai King At Rest 01 DEC - The Dark Arts
- 2016 - 01 JAN - Railway Bazaar 01 FEB - Sukhumvit Square Justice 01 MAR - Paint the Neon Night 01 APR - Udom Suk Reviste 01 MAY - Soi Thaniya 01 JUN - Soi Thonglor Re-up 01 JUL - Massage Parlor Row 01 AUG - Check Inn 99 01 SEP - Pattaya A Go-Go 01 OCT - Bangkok's Nitelife Maps 01 NOV - Nitespot Demographics 01 DEC - Pattaya's Soi 6	- 2015 - 01 JAN - A Go-Go Bar Ratings 01 FEB - Are Cops Gouging Nitelifers? 01 MAR - Bad Company 01 APR - LK Metro - Pattaya 01 MAY - Soi 33 goes East 01 JUN - Rachada Fades 01 JUL - Freelancers 01 AUG - Nana Plaza Map 2015 01 SEP - Soi Nana Map 2015 01 OCT - Walking Street - Pattaya 01 NOV - Rachada - The Giant 01 DEC - A Go-Go's Story
- 2014 - 01 JAN - Bangkok's Got The Blues 01 FEB - Soi 26 - Stayin' Alive 01 MAR - Nightscene rues Mob 01 APR - My Friend owns a Bar... 01 MAY - Soi's 3, 5 and 7 01 JUN - Curfew's Costly Cut 01 JUL - Soi 13 Makes It's Move 01 AUG - Pattaya Does The Twist 01 SEP - Soi's 18 & 20 - Quieter is Better 01 OCT - Soi's 10 & 14 - Lesser known Sois 01 NOV - A Good Old Boy... 01 DEC - Lang Suan & Sarasin	- 2013 - 01 JAN - Not Fade Away - The Survivors 01 FEB - Rare Old Photos 01 MAR - Copa Reprise 01 APR - Arise, Soi 22 01 MAY - Where to Next ? 01 JUN - Bangkok Noir 01 JUL - MAPS - The Major Update 01 AUG - Lamai Lamai Lamai 01 SEP - Tim 'Wanchai' Young 01 OCT - Soi Wall Street 01 NOV - Little Thonglor - Soi 11 01 DEC - Mississippi Queen
- 2012 - 01 JAN - Mama-San 01 FEB - Our 10th Anniversary Issue ! 01 MAR - How Gay Nana ? 01 APR - Sukhumvit' Soi 23 - The Big Picture 01 MAY - Khao San Road - Unique Bazaar 01 JUN - Ekamai - It Used To Be Too Far 01 JUL - Nightlife Pioneers 01 AUG - The New Puritans 01 SEP - Nana - On It's Own 01 OCT - FAIL - War on Nitespot Drugs 01 NOV - Patpong Unbroken 01 DEC - Drugs & the Nightscene in History	- 2011 - 01 JAN - Patpong's 'Glory Days' 01 FEB - Nightlife In A Digital Age 01 MAR - Co-Co Walk Plaza 01 APR - Soi 33 Decemberes On 01 MAY - Nightlife Permissiveness 01 JUN - Ghosts of Nitelife Past 01 JUL - STATE - The Cinema, Soi & Area 01 AUG - Soi Darling 01 SEP - Sri Nakarin South 01 OCT - Soi 8 Reprise 01 NOV - Floodless in Bangkok 01 DEC - Soi Udomsuk
- 2010 - 01 JAN - Street Bars II - The Triple-Dip 01 FEB - Our Kind Of Art - II - Chris Coles 01 MAR - The Dead Artist Bars - Soi 33 01 APR - "Soi Ginza" - Thaniya Road 01 MAY - Night Scene Blues (Red Shirts 1) 01 JUN - Nitespots Recover Slowly (Reds 2) 01 JUL - World Cup Special 01 AUG - Those Old Photos 01 SEP - The German Invasion 01 OCT - Racism & Prejudice 01 NOV - Soi 11 Revisited 01 DEC - Soi 22 Updater	- 2009 - 01 JAN - The Santika Fire 01 FEB - Salt & Pepper 01 MAR - Nana Plaza - Update & Maps 01 APR - Soi Nana Update 01 MAY - The Nightscene & The Riots 01 JUN - "19" Re-Focus 01 JUL - Rain Dogs - The Underground 01 AUG - Soi Thonglor - A bridge-too-far 01 SEP - Ban Chang - Our Little Secret 01 OCT - The "Ginza Effect' 01 NOV - Royal City Avenue (RCA) 01 DEC - Sutthisan & The Inthamara's
- 2008 - 01 JAN - 2007 - Looking Back 01 FEB - Owning A Bar 01 MAR - Expat's Bangkok 01 APR - Nude Dancing 01 MAY - After Midnite 01 JUN - Night Scene In Flux 01 JUL - Our Kind Of Art 01 AUG - Trendy Plaza Reprise 01 SEP - The Elephants Are ....Back 01 OCT - Grand Prix Intro 01 NOV - Grand Prix - Rick's Story 01 DEC - "Old Bangkok Hand"	- 2007 - 01 JAN - Bombs Blast Bangkok 01 FEB - Bangkok's Nightscene Websites 01 MAR - Prasitipol Dance Bar To Fall 01 APR - Soi 5 Neon Review 01 MAY - A Go-Go Bangkok 01 JUN - Arise ! Soi 11 01 JUL - Anatomy Of A Bar Area 01 AUG - Soi 26 - Too Far ? 01 SEP - Chuwit Guilty 01 OCT - Daytime Nana Plaza 01 NOV - Cowboy - All Of It 01 DEC - Another Nitespot Area Falls
- 2006 - 01 JAN - Pattaya Ascending 01 FEB - A Go-Go Then & Now 01 MAR - ' Madrid ' 01 APR - White Heat 01 MAY - Politics & Nightlife 01 JUN - Fagin's Bratpack 01 JUL - King Bhumibol's 60th Anniversary 01 AUG - Soi 10 - The Final Shaft 01 SEP - Pattaya's Soi Bua Khow 01 OCT - Rachada's Other Face 01 NOV - Soi 22s Other Bars 01 DEC - Soi Eden Goes A Go-Go	- 2005 - 01 JAN - Asoke Plaza Crushed 01 FEB - The 'Nana Scene' 01 MAR - Asoke Plaza Smashed Again 01 APR - Sukhumvit 1 Plaza 'Arrives' 01 MAY - Welcome 'Soi Eden' 01 JUN - Bangkok's Bareback Riders 01 JUL - Soi 22 - A Macro View 01 AUG - Nana's Slide 01 SEP - Cowboy Street Scene 01 OCT - The Pattaya Run 01 NOV - Soi 19 In Focus 01 DEC - Bad Girls
- 2004 - 01 JAN - Bangkok's Darkest Year 01 FEB - Where Is trink ? 01 MAR - Soi 33 Just Won't Stop 01 APR - Cracks In The Crackdown 01 MAY - In The Zone 01 JUN - "Night-Scene Jumbos 01 JUL - Easy Square 'On The Map' 01 AUG - Soi 1 Entertainment Plaza 01 SEP - Khlong Toey Revisited 01 OCT - Koh Samui's Night Scene 01 NOV - Soi 1 Opens 01 DEC - The Bangkok Pub Scene	- 2003 - 01 JAN - Cowboy Crackdown 01 FEB - Sukhumvit Square Smashed 01 MAR - Soi 10 Survivors 01 APR - War & The Night Scene 01 MAY - Entertainment Blues 01 JUN - '13 Night Market' Reborn 01 JUL - Clinton Plaza Falls 01 AUG - Soi 24 Nightscene Review 01 SEP - Does Soi Nana Measure Up? 01 OCT - Patpong - Legend & Myth 01 NOV - Easy Square 'Launched' 01 DEC - Soi Cowboy Urine-Swoop
- 2002 - (OUR 2002 TEST COLUMNS :) 01 FEB - January: Big Changes In Bar Scene 09 JUN - Sukhumvit Square 'Explosion' (OUR REGULAR COLUMNS BEGIN :) 20 JUN - Soi 22's Queen's Park Plaza 01 JUL - Clinton Plaza - Already Dead? 01 AUG - Bar Beers Now "Major Players" 16 AUG - July: Bar Beers Gaining Ground 01 SEP - A Go-Gos A-building 17 SEP - Virtual Bars 01 OCT - A History In The Making 01 NOV - Pool Bars Come Of Age 01 DEC - November's Night Follies 15 DEC - Genesis: Sukhumvit's Night Scene 01 JAN - Seminal Survey -Paradisio Closes	- 2001 - 01 JAN - Baccara opens in Cowboy 01 FEB - Club Habanos Closes - PP1 01 MAR - farang Connection Closes - Nana 01 APR - Rock Hard BB Open - Clinton Pl. 01 MAY - Las Vegas Opens - Cowboy 01 JUN - 'Wall Street' Opens - Soi 33 01 JUL - Vixens Closes - Nana 01 AUG - 6 A Go-Go's Shut - Clinton Pl. 01 SEP - Pussy Collection Opens - PP1 01 OCT - Girl Friend Closes - PP1 01 NOV - Rainbow III Opens - Nana 01 DEC - White House Reopens - Clinton Pl.
- 2000 - JAN - 'Cowboy Annex' Starts Up FEB - Agogo 2000 new at Nana MAR - Flowers - Clinton's 1st A Go-Go APR - Angel Witch new at Nana MAY - Dubliner now at Washington Sq JUN - Coco Loco opens at Clinton Pl. JUL - Bottoms Up new at Nana AUG - Crack House opens at Clinton Pl. SEP - Doll House / White House open at Clinton OCT - Rock Hard to open at Clinton Pl. NOV - Big Dogs opens at Nana DEC - Lolita opens in Cowboy Annex	- 1999 - JAN - Masquerade Closes @ Nana FEB - "Entertainment Plaza" Start-Up MAR - SuperStar is PP SuperBar ! APR - Washington Square goes Critical MAY- New Klymaxx closes (Cowboy) JUN - 'Wet Lips opens (Cowboy) JUL - Sam 2000 opens (Cowboy) AUG - Monica's opens (Clinton Plaza) SEP - Muzzik Cafe open on PP1 OCT - No Probl'm now Cat's Meow NOV - Titty Twisters opens at Nana DEC - Londoner Brew Pub new on Soi 33
- 1998 - JAN - Nancy Bar opens on Floor 2, Nana FEB - Tabasco Charlies opens - (NEP) MAR - Cowboy 2 is a 'Pizzaria' - Soi Cowboy APR - New A Go Go Duck opens - Cowboy MAY - Raw Hide opens on Cowboy JUN - Para Disio opens - Floors 2 & 3 - NEP JUL - Patpong Cafe opens - PP2 AUG - 'Funny Girls' becomes 'Girlfriend' - PP1 SEP - Masquerade opens on 3rd Floor - NEP OCT - Virgo opens on Cowboy NOV - Obsession, Beverly Hills, Red Lips open DEC - Lucifer Disko Tk opens atop Radio City	- 1997 - JAN - 'Hot Rods' opens @ Nana FEB - Crazy Lady closes (Nana) MAR - 3 Lounges closed - 'The Ramp' APR - Blue Sky Bar closes - PP1 MAY - Crackdown at Nana JUN - Crystal Palace opens - PP2 JUL - Limelight closes - PP1 AUG - Rainbow II opens @ Nana SEP - Cowboy's Butterfly Gone OCT - Shadow drops Crazy Jack (Cowboy) NOV - Hollywood 2 now on 3rd Floor (NEP) DEC - Susies opens @ Buckskin Joe Village
- 1996 - JAN - Shooters opens on 3rd Floor (NEP) FEB - XTC Closes, then Reopens (NEP) MAR - Tapas back on line (Soi Katoey) APR - Long Gun expands (2X) [Cowboy] MAY - Apache reopens on 'The Boy' JUN - Pink Panther "upstairs" closes JUL - Iconic Mile's Place gone... AUG - Upstairs Touch Bar closes (PP1) SEP - Pharaoh opens in NEP carpark OCT - Spirit House opens in NEP NOV - Crazy Lady opens in NEP DEC - Long Gun 2 opens (now Rawhide)	- 1995 - JAN - PP1 Butterfly Closed FEB - Camelot Castle Opens MAR - NEPs Bubble Gum gone... APR - Tiny 'Imagine' Closed MAY - (Quietest month on record) JUN - NEPs Mon Cherie axed JUL - Play Skool opens (NEP) AUG - Opium Club new on The Ramp SEP - D.L Irish Pub (ex: Bamboo's) OCT - NEP 3rd Floor Opens NOV - Klymaxx 2 opens on Cowboy DEC - Chick's opens upstairs (PP1)
- 1994 - JAN - Takara Bar opens upstairs FEB - Big Blue 1 now on Cowboy MAR - Playboy opens ex: Takara Bar APR - Pretty Girl opens in Nana MAY - Smile Club opens at last JUN - Sawasdee Club opens in PP2 JUL - Bumble Bee new in Cowboy AUG - Queen's Castle II axes Suzie Wong SEP - Voodoo opens in Nana OCT - SuperStar closes then reopens NOV - Radio City takes over Smile Club DEC - Marina becomes Montana on Ramp	- 1993 - JAN - - FEB - - MAR - Saloons - More Areas Added APR - Saloons -Adding "Nana" MAY - Red Diamond Closed JUN - Saloons - Tomatohead Closes JUL - Pretty Lady A Go Go AUG - Mars Party House closed SEP - Matterhorn & Star Pub OCT - Sawasdee Cocktail Lounge - New NOV - Thigh Bar name change DEC - Smile Club to open...
- 1990 - JAN - Buckskin Joe - Initial Survey	- 1989 - 01 JAN - (Coming Soon)