Whether it’s a mixed crowd or a mixed drink, MIXology hopes to attract those looking for a different nightlife scene – one that is totally relaxed, a bit eccentric, with yummy cocktails and fun music. Owner John McNeill, with the duly noted help of friend Barton Crowell, has dreamed up a groovy getaway that has got to be seen to be believed (see background). John is a professed lighting nut. While waiting for the liquor license (for six months), he spent his time tinkering around the place – hooking up vintage lava lamps, plugging in hidden rope lights, and installing mini spot lights, colorful mood projections and even a fog machine that douses the whole tavern in a wash of glowing mist (on special occasions). While this sort of ambiance might sound like a tragic collision between a Jimmy Buffet beachside performance and a Pink Floyd arena show, it somehow works wonders.
The first time that I ever walked in to grab a beer at MIXology, Freddie Mercury was playing over the sound system. That was a good omen. Next came the shots. Steve, our bartender, lined up about ten miniature martini glasses and proceeded to pour a smooth nip for everyone who was seated at the bar. I’m not talking about anything super fancy here – the shots that we sampled throughout the evening were fairly simple, flavorful, and thankfully did not knock us on our butts. The tiny offerings were meant for aesthetic flare as much as they were meant to be flavorful. Nothing showy. No performance. Just good old fashioned ‘barmanship’.
MIXology is a wonder. If you take a walk around the bar you will find bits and pieces of quirky decor that will make you stop and think. There’s a cozy, small back room with pillows and cushions that customers can call ahead to reserve. There are booths with individual volume controls for the music – there are soji screens for added privacy. One corner of the bar can be dismantled for live music performances, and then reassembled for lounging again. There are just as many light switches as lava lamps, and even John tends to forget about them all. I’m not sure if he will ever find all of his hidden lighting contraptions, but he sure has fun trying. John hopes that the customers will also add to the ambiance. When the Sabres aren’t playing, he plans on featuring video slide shows of Buffalo and is asking that people submit their own shows for consideration. It’s funny… as much as I always thought that I would miss The Royal Pheasant, I feel that I have found a bar after my own heart.
While MIXology might be located a short ways from the beaten path, it’s also what I like most about the place. It’s not Elmwood or Allentown… it’s its own thing. “MIXology is bar that celebrates artistic expression, diversity and a great cocktail,” John told me. “We’re hoping people will appreciate the photography and send us their own photos – it’s the extra effort we are going to take to make MIX a neighborhood bar…’where everybody knows your name’ similar to Cheers. And our upcoming patio… did I mention our view of the Richardson Towers…?” As cliché as it sounds, by the end of the night everyone did know our names. The view of the up-lit towers across the street surely adds to the overall interest of MIXology (or as John calls it, MIX).
Almost every night MIX offers drink specials, games, shows… it’s always different. Even a night without one of the fun-time specials is a production that is somehow not over the top. Just sorely needed in a lone urban environment, away from the din of mainstream businesses. Eventually the plan is to incorporate food too – see original BRO article. MIX will be an ever-evolving sort of place, as John is fond of playing off the enthusiasm of customers. In a tavern where even the kitchen is mood-lit, on a street that houses the Richardson Complex, in the City of Light, MIXology has found a suitable home where all are welcome.
MIXology
443 Forest Ave,
Buffalo, NY 14203
716-464-3880