SKULLZIE SEZ:

Once upon a time, in a dark land not too far away, the event known as Salvation lived happily at its gracious venue named Rafifi's. Times were good! The people danced what the DJs played, and the people drank what the Bartenders poured. All was right with the world every other Saturday night...that is...until...a horrible old hag that lived in her cat infested dwelling just above Rafifi's decided to put and end to everyone's merriment with a swift and mighty phone call to the Wizards of the State Liquor Authority! The old hag had complained of the noise and about the evil, unruly hooligans amassed outside her door. But she was wrong, because it was she that was evil! In that fateful phone call she convinced the wizard elders to terminate the existence of poor Rafifi's right to serve any magical elixirs forcing it to shut down forever, and thus leaving Salvation to search for a new home, and, saddest of all, leaving a number of Rafifi's employees to search for new jobs. It was a sad day, indeed!

But Salvation was not to be silenced by such evil! Dark knights Cyn and Patrick search high and low across the distant realm determined to secure a new lair for their loyal followers. They searched and searched until they befell upon the Kingdom of Don Hill's. This would do nicely, they thought, but will the people follow them here? Yes...yes they did follow, and soon Salvation would feel at ease in its new home, and continued to thrive as one of the N.Y.C. Goth scene's most beloved events...and we all lived happily ever after! The End.

Wasn't that a fun bedtime story? YAY! But enough about the past...let's talk about Salvation in the present day! First, Salvation is still the scene to be seen in the Goth world of N.Y.C., and, in essence, remains a definitive fixture thanks mostly to the longtime following of DJs Cyn and Patrick. They've been doing this for quite a while now and are regarded as masters or their craft. As for the venue of Don Hill's...it is rather bigger than Rafifi's, and the increase in size is quite welcome to those that have ever attended a tightly packed, sweaty night at the former venue. The space is really comprised of one large room separated in two by an arched wall in the middle. The first room holds a small elevated sitting area for those with old bones, and a very long bar. The second room holds a moderate stage for bands, the dance floor surrounded by some additional seating and tables, the DJ booth, and the restrooms (*NOTE: the coat check room is located downstairs in the dungeon). It should also be noted hear that Don Hill's is also host to the monthly Deconstructed, and Salvation's offspring event Legion. The only major complaint I hear about the venue is its location. It's nestled amid several Day-Crawler hipster bars by the entrance of the Holland Tunnel and a tad too far West and away from the nearest subway station (C,E Spring St.) And granted, they are right...it is a bit of a schlep. but Salvation is always worth it!

As for the music...that pretty self explanatory! As I mentioned before, DJs Cyn and Patrick are experts at what we want to hear, but more importantly they also host guest DJs that never fail to pack the dance floor with eager dancers. For the lighting, it's kept to a basic minimum as to not take away from the aural experience.
 
The real draw of Salvation, however, is again its patrons. A literal "Who's Who" of the Goth scene! And if you too are part of the scene, then bring your "Who" there and party with the rest of the "Who's!" 

"But, Skullzie," you might be asking yourself right now, "whatever happened to the mean old that shut down Rafifi's?" Well, as rumor has it, the last anyone heard of her she was attacked and eaten alive by her 40+ cats that lived with her...and her bloody skeletal remains were found a full week later...ironically enough on Salvation's opening night at Don Hill's, last February. So, you see? A true happy ending for all!!!