The Dome

The dome is the source of nearly all my examples of why I don’t like to go to clubs.
Basically if you find yourself in Halifax and want to go dance you can ALWAYS find a better place to go!

WARNING: I was assaulted here.
Here is my story and experience at The Dome:
To begin, I’ve lived in DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and Madrid. I’ve been to amazing clubs, bars and lounges in major cities throughout the US and abroad and I’ve never had a bad encounter– not once. So, needless to say, this was a first for me. I was visiting my family in Halifax on my annual summer trip. I’ve been to several bars/​restaurants/​clubs in downtown Halifax and have had wonderful experiences. I’ve even been to the Dome prior to this last visit and have had a fine time. But, after my experience last weekend, I will never return…
I was at The Dome on Friday, July 31^st. I was walking through the dance floor to get to the other side of the room. If you are wondering, no I was not intoxicated. I only had 1 beer. As I was walking, a young man reached out, grabbed and squeezed my left nipple — yes, this actually happened. I was shocked and stunned. I immediately went to the first bouncer I saw and told him what had transpired. He was a nice guy (large, glasses and had a half pony tail/​man bun) I’m not sure of his name but, he was the only bouncer who seemed to care that night. He went to the floor, took the guy aside and brought over other bouncers. At this point, I walked away as I didn’t want to cause myself harm. About 10 minutes later, another bouncer came up to me (he was brunette, short, chubby, had a trimmed beard) and said «the man said he meant to squeeze your shoulder. He comes here often. Let’s not make this a big deal. I want everyone to have fun.» Again, I was shocked. Firstly, there was no mistake in my assaulter’s actions. He knew what he was grabbing. Secondly, it makes me believe that something else is going on at this club– drug running, perhaps? The assaulter was with a large group of shady looking characters so, this isn’t a far fetched idea. Thirdly, if you have a sister, mother, girlfriend or any female who is important in your life, would you be okay that this man was allowed to stay in the club after a physical assault? I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It’s a terrible feeling that someone in a security role refused to amend a situation. So, I left. And, like I said before, I will never return.
I truly felt violated and helpless after my experience at The Dome. I want to warn any patron considering going to this place to quickly run far, far away.

Like many others, I was warned not to waste my time going to The Dome. It honestly isn’t as bad as I thought. Granted the layout of the club could have been a lot better, the actual atmosphere of is pretty good. I’ve been there mostly on Saturdays and I think the music and energy is at its best then.
I did see my fair share of body parts and questionable behavior, but hey. From the times I’ve been there, the security guards do their job no doubt. Saw them kick couple guys and girls out for their behavior.
Drink are so-​so. The bartenders could improve on mixing drink specials. I get that sometimes its busy but… after all the Bar Rescue I’ve seen, it ain’t impossible to fix that.
Bottom line: Go with a group of friends to keep it interesting. The imperfections of the club seem less noticeable that way ;)

My friend dean (big d) and I ended up at the dome one fine evening and let me tell you, this place was crawling with foxes. Being from California I never expected Halifax of all places to have the generous supply of good looking peeps. Everyone we met was ridiculously nice. Like almost to nice that it scared us (sorry). Moments later, a swarm of American kids it turned out piled in the joint and now the party really started and it escalated very quickly. About 30 dudes and 50 gals entered the dome in the matter of 10 minutes and I had never seen so many drunk college kids. Poor locals. Anyway, great place to go if you’re from out of town if you’re in the mood for some dancing and fist pumping. If not, you’re also in luck because the dome has like 4 other bars/​clubs/​lounges attached which was something I’ve never seen in my life yet probably the norm in Canada since it’s so cold. Long story short, this place got pretty nuts, has great variety, and these locals are just too damn nice. Plus there’s a pita pit around the corner so what else could you possibly ask for. Btw, don’t hope over the hand rail to the dance floor or you’ll get tossed out in a quick minute (good looking out bouncers).

I have been here once a few years ago and I may or may not be back, I find the bouncers a bit rude at times and need an attitude adjustment for sure. As a security guard myself I know my people skills, as I have plenty and they have non. When it comes to the occasional bar fight, as I have witnessed myself, it does not take 5 roid eating bouncers for one guy and through him out like yesterdays garbage. I MIGHT be back this summer MIGHT. And I heard that coat checks are thieves and won’t give you, your coat back, even if you have the chit that they give you

I’ve been warned everywhere that this club is quite the maze. I’ve heard that you see unwanted… erm… body parts. I’ve heard there’s glass on the floor everywhere you step; almost like those movies.
So my fellow Unilocalies, I boldly walked into the legend of the Dome… with a group of friends.
The Dome is a maze.
FACT: when I first entered, I won’t lie, I was saying: PFFFFFT, confusing? ya right! But you know… the more you walk around… hey! let’s grab a drink… more walking… cheers? let’s get a beer… let’s see what’s over there… SHOTS… you’ve GOT to see this… WHERE THE HECK ARE WE?! It’s great that if you purchase your cover charge you get access to all three places, but maybe they should make it less confusing.
Certain Human Parts Are Exposed
MYTH: I didn’t see any!
Glass everywhere.
FACT: I thought out of EVERYTHING, this was gonna be the biggest lie ever. No sir Bob. It’s not uncommon to have people drop bottles and not have any of the staff clean the up. Wear protective shoes Unilocalies!
But I soon realized… that the DJ literally has 10 songs on his playlist. That’s it. And they are on constant repeat. So you hear the same song at least 10 times during your stay here.
My friends and I found a secluded bar section where no one was buying drinks. The woman said that our total for 3 drinks was 10.50 which is a great deal! So we forked over a 20 and she gave us back 15 in change. Great for us… not so great for the owners!

Ah yes, the Dirty Dome — What can I say about this place that everyone hasn’t already said? Well, might as well go with the flow. :)
Its super packed every time I go there, elbow to elbow on the dance floor and it feels like it’s the only club in the city that’s constantly busy (or still open for that matter). Drinks are average downtown bar prices — although with the new connection to Taboo you’ll be paying $ 0.50 more per drink if you go to that section. I guess the guy flipping the bottles charges a premium for showing off his skills.
Music is usually pretty great if you’re into dancey music and they always seem to put on some throwbacks which are always appreciated.

First off, I hadn’t been to the dome in over 2 years. I would like to give the Dome 0 stars if I could.
It is exactly like what Erin F said below. It’s overpriced, dirty, and dangerous. I also got kicked out. while waiting in line at the ATM. About 30 mins and 2 drinks after I waited in line to get in, these two goons come to me and say «you have had to much to drink and you need to leave». .and was escorted out the door by these juice monkey morons. The only reason they gave me was; «I was too drunk to talk», not true. So I would really like to know why I was targeted.
Either 1: I wasn’t dressed slutty enough (or perhaps because I wasn’t grinding with the college kids).
Or 2: THEY KICK PAYING PEOPLE OUT FOR FUN!
Either way, I stood in line, paid my cover had 2 drinks inside and got kicked out 30 mins later. Save your money folks, you won’t get it back.

«Hey! I have a great idea — let’s connect six bars all together using a series of confusing hallways, doors and stairs that all look the same so that groups of 19-​year-​old frat boys and sorority girls can get separated from the herd while navigating their first experience with tequila!»
«AMAZING! It would be like one big SUPER bar where kids can start down the path that leads to great college experiences like pregnancy scares, waking up next to your girlfriend’s boyfriend, picking glass out of your big toe, and projectiling on your way to Intro to Sociology!»
«Totally! And there can be a dress code too. Like… let’s not let people wear hats because that could feed into theoretical Haligonian gang wars, but let’s DEFINITELY encourage mini dresses that show off the hooha.»
«And popped collars! So many popped collars!»
«If there’s going to be really young students coming, we should probably make the drinks as cheap as humanly possible so that they can go from zero to faceplanting in the bathroom by the end of a ten-​minute remix of This Is How We Do It.»
«Oh totally. The wait in line should definitely be at least 40 minutes too. We want to make sure people think everyone’s dying to get in instead of just standing in the cold hating their lives and reevaluating their choices.»
«This is the best idea we’ve ever had, bro.»
«Shit yes!»

I’m going to cop out on this review and just say «what pretty much everybody else has said» about this place. Just no.

My god, it’s like stepping backwards into my first year of university when I’d be surrounded by people participating in sloppy make-​out/​grope sessions on the dancefloor. I never got involved in such filth, definitely not.
Located on Argyle Street, at The Dome you pay one cover price and you have access to 6 different bars. The age range in these bars is between 18 – 19. My first time inside, I was immediately accosted by a bunch of youngsters who asked me to sign their shirt and then told me I was beautiful.
The layout is confusing as hell, especially under the influence of alcohol, and coat check is something like $ 5. I’ve gotten lost at least 5 times between the bathroom and the bar… and yes, for someone who despises the place so much, I’ve spent a fair amount of time there. I’m a sucker for punishment and being flattered by pretty men.
I wouldn’t discourage someone from coming here entirely, I think anywhere is worth a look, and the club is open far later than many others in the city… but The Dome certainly caters to a certain age range.

My first and only Dome experience came many years ago during my second year of university. I was visiting Halifax with some friends and new to the city’s late night specials…
We’d just spent hours dancing in the pouring rain at an outdoor concert. What a time! But the night was young, and after stopping back to the apartment for a change of clothes, we were ready to carry on with the evening.
Well now. Looking back, I was but a young and innocent child. Nobody could’ve prepared me for the scene I was about to step into. And after the many hours of being water soaked outside, I’d opted to bundle into some warm and casual attire. First mistake.
From start to finish, my time here was just a horrid experience. This place was bar-​star central, with stripper poles and boys made of hair gel and American Eagle collars. I couldn’t help but feel a little awkward in my jeans, sneakers and basic cotton thermal. I guess I didn’t get the memo: Hair extensions and silk shirts required.
Boys oh boys, this wasn’t my kind of place– and judging by the other reviews– it still isn’t my place. If you like Kesha and picking up, then maybe you’ll have a good time.

Why must every top forty song be remixed, dear Dome?
Why must glass enter into the soles of my shoes, dearest Dome?
Oh, and why must I protect my bottom from undesired touching, dear Dome?
If you would have asked me ten year ago about the Dome, I would have said that this place is «awesome,» «super cool,» and «the best.» Fortunately for me, I’m no longer a moron and I can see the problem with severe intoxication mixed with frothing at the mouth bouncers, topped with far too many sexually charged people piled into a dirty space.
Sometimes going to the Dome seems like a funny idea, a larf, an ironic escapade. But then you get in there and remember that unsafe feeling, like you might me grabbed or punched at any given moment. I’ve seen bouncers step way out of line, witnessed violence, not to mention severely distasteful dance moves.
This joint is maximum ick. I’m at a loss for redeeming qualities.

I don’t know why everyone has a problem with The Dome, I mean what did The Dome ever do to anybody?
Oh, you say The Dome gets people fondled by middle aged drunks, gets your camera stolen while you dance and makes you wake up regretting every memory you made prior to getting into a cab at 3:30am…
Fair enough.
That pretty much sums up a typical night spent at The Dome. What do you expect from a place that has two stripper poles on the dance floor and sells water at the bar for a jacked up price? Water should be free for designated drivers in my opinion, but at The Dome the water costs more than the drink specials. That’s pretty lame.
Hot Hint: Don’t go to The Dome. Especially don’t go to The Dome if you plan on drinking. You will need to be sober to properly defend yourself from sleazebag advances.

The Dome… Many late nights on the dance floor for many. Like others have said if the walls could talk. Many changes over the years have taken place from having a bouncer to having someone almost frisk you. I know times have changed but I know other locations do not do that.
The Dance floor is WAY to small, tyring to dance on that floor is dam near impossible. On a Saturday night it is standing room only. Normally when I am at the Dome I stay within the walls of Cheers and do not venture out in to the kinder-​garden bars where they are supposed to be 19 yeah ok.
Dome does have some great bands to enjoy and it is always excitement when you do down.

Ahh, the dirty Dome… If these walls could talk… they’d probably ask to be cleaned.
If you’re heading to The Dome, you are either too young to have learned your lesson, or enjoy skeezy bars and everything that goes with them. This place isn’t rough around the edges like your local favorite dive bar, it actually tries to go for a somewhat (no not polished… definitely not classy… cool? look) which manages to make things worse.
On Wednesdays and Sundays you used to be able to get in with your student ID for free and power hour entailed $ 1 shots of either well vodka, rum, whiskey, gin (with mix). In other words: trouble. If drinks served with one part sleaze, 2 parts diluted alcohol are your thing, the Dome’s a spot you should look into!

Let me relay a story to you of the last time I stepped foot in this magical spot. I had been in Cheers, a bar I actually enjoy from time to time, and decided to step down into the depths of the Dome. I don’t know why I made this choice, but I did and that is that.
I descended the steps on to the dance floor and had a brief laugh… then things got a little out of hand. I dropped a five dollar bill on the dance floor. When I bent down to pick it up I came across something out of Fear and Loathing. There was a little person humping a girls leg. This is not a joke — this actually happened. Then she proceeded to pick him up and put him on a speaker box so she and her friend could dirty dance with him. He was loving it and doing things I can not repeat here, but needless to say, it was shocking.
I quickly turned around (legitimately fearing somebody had spiked my drink) and bumped into the lead singer of Nickleback. Yes… Chad Kroger, Canada’s biggest disappointment.
At this point I decided it was paramount that I leave the Dome and never return. It’s just too ridiculous for my mind to process. Since this day, not so long ago, I have kept this promise to myself. Dome… you will never see me again, I have learned my lesson.
My advice? Unless you are drunk and willing to make an absolute fool of yourself or the singer of the worst Canadian band of all time making a quick stop at the meat market, avoid like the plague (which you may very well catch in one of the Dome’s beautifully maintained bathrooms).