My baby left me for a mocha grande

SHAWN CHENG/YH The Blues Café has good music, good food, good fun.

The Blues Café refutes all notions that older is better. Anticipating the smoky, clandestine atmosphere of the legendary New York haunts, or the stormy and sultry character of a Southern sanctuary where true men of the blues gathered to share the emotion of living on the wrong side of the tracks, this recent addition to the New Haven entertainment scene makes the soulful blues accessible to all walks of life. The Blues Café's hybrid of blues tradition combined with modern practicality establishes it as the new hotspot for the true Cats of Yale.

As we tramped down the deserted Whitney Avenue, it was clear that the inviting and mellow light of the Blues Café's neon sign was the beacon of our destination. Although from its façade it appears to be just another window front in this no man's land in the outskirts of the Yale campus, the gentle and dulcet blue of the exterior sign is just one facet of the vibrant life within. This is a personal club of comfort, where cushy, recluse booths line the walls and intimate tables are almost tucked away in the darkness. As you gaze upon the sprawling room, the carpeted floor almost makes you feel like you're part of some trendy underground, yet it maintains the familiarity of one's own basement. The Blues Café at first appears to be simply a laid-back music scene where one can come to relax and be comforted by the soothing interplay of bass, guitar, drums, and sax.

However, as we took our seats center stage beneath the aura of the pinks and purples that lit up the room, it was clear that this is more than a place for those who are down on their luck. Surveying this lair for the blues, one can not help but notice the diversity of those who relish in and savor the Café's offerings. It's not just the power and complexity of the music that are so appealing, but the coolness of the scene itself. On our left were men in business suits who had come for their evening meal of beer battered catfish and steamed crawdads, to take a load off after work. On our right was a group decked out in their finest SKA, from Tommy two-toned shows right down to 1920 lapels. These guys were straight out of Swingers—determined to make the most of Tuesday night with round after round of martinis and vodka tonics. Behind us was a group of Yalies who were taking a break from their studies to have a truly interesting and hip experience, and procrastinated in true college fashion.

Yet across the dance floor in the back of the room was an elderly gentleman who was simply content sitting by himself deep within the darkness. Over the course of the night, an entire cast of crazy characters made their way through the club from the sleek, fully equipped hardwood bar to every corner of the blues lounge. The Blues Café offers something for everyone—a lively nightclub, or even a hole of meditation to help take the edge off life.

Following a blues jam, patrons tried their own hands at the blues on this open mic night. Sure, not all of them sang with the inspiring power of the greats, whose pictures adorn the walls, but it was a night of camaraderie in which the audience made all the performers feel as if they had that magic touch. Conversations broke out between perfect strangers at adjacent tables. We enjoyed chili spiced to perfection and an altogether great time.

The Blues Café offers an extensive menu, live music every night all night long, and, most importantly, a solid night of fun. If you're looking to spice up a weeknight or simply craving a Saturday of sophisticated entertainment, make your way to the Blues Café—you won't regret it.

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