Attendees of Ace of Spades concerts frequently visit the nearby bars in the R Street Corridor for drinks before or after their shows. Now, the venue is eager to join in on the fun.

Good Luck Lounge is the new cocktail lounge adjoining Ace of Spades, opened on October 4th at 1421 R St. This second-floor bar is accessible to the public but offers a distinct advantage for those holding tickets to the evening performance: immediate access to the pit without needing to wait outside.

The latest addition to Sacramento’s bar scene boasts emerald green walls, cerulean velvet stools, and an array of gambling-themed decor, featuring faux dice and a mural reminiscent of face cards, crafted from thousands of glimmering pennies. Its cocktail offerings pay tribute to the Gold Rush saloons and Jerry Thomas, revered as “the father of American mixology” in the 1850s.

Thomas is renowned for creating classic cocktails like the Martinez (considered the predecessor of the martini, made with sweet vermouth), which is included on the menu alongside time-honored beverages such as Corpse Revivers. The bar’s signature cocktail is a contemporary twist known as a Gold Rush, a whiskey sour variation featuring honey syrup in place of simple syrup, and adorned with honeycomb.

The cocktails at Good Luck Lounge were expertly crafted by Sean Kenyon, a talented mixologist affiliated with Live Nation, the parent company of Ace of Spades. Kenyon is also the co-founder of Williams & Graham in Denver, which was recognized as one of the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2015. Additionally, he has established a more laid-back bar, Occidental, noted as one of Esquire’s top 18 bars in the U.S. in 2016, as well as the two-story whiskey venue American Bonded.

Currently, Kenyon is focused on developing bar programs for Live Nation, each one infused with a sense of local identity, as seen in Good Luck Lounge.

“Our cocktails are modern interpretations of classics, with some recipes tracing back to the Gold Rush cocktail era,” Kenyon remarked. “We drew significant inspiration from our local surroundings in Sacramento, aiming to incorporate a touch of the city into our offerings.”

Sacramento’s music landscape features everything from small venues to the expansive Golden 1 Center, leaving a gap in the middle. With a capacity of 1,000, Ace of Spades falls on the smaller side for a mid-tier venue, yet it has continued to flourish, partly due to its position as one of the few venues that can accommodate moderately popular performers. It’s noteworthy that Channel 24, a concert hall currently under construction at 24th and R streets, is expected to boast a capacity of 2,150 when it opens early next year.

There’s a compelling need for Ace of Spades to carve out a unique identity. The Good Luck Lounge welcomes visitors from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 5 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays, along with all other evenings when Ace of Spades features a performance.

I wrapped up one of Sacramento’s last scorching 100-degree days (hopefully) by visiting Sumer Nights, an Iraqi dining establishment by Abbas Allaftah located in Arden Arcade. Having opened its doors last June in a spacious venue at Country Club Plaza, it took over from a previous Cajun seafood restaurant, with remnants of nautical ropes and decor still visible on the wood-paneled walls.

<p/I have a pretty hearty appetite, which has enabled me to tackle a local fast food joint’s 10×10 smashburger earlier this year, and even to secure second place out of 12 competitors in a Jimboy’s Tacos-eating contest last month.

So let me assure you: the entrees at Sumer Nights are generously portioned, perfect for sharing among at least two diners. Each dish is accompanied by a rich yellow lentil soup, a selection of four sides including options like tabbouleh or baba ghanoush, along with khubz, a delicious round flatbread that overflows from the serving basket.

Moving on to the entrees, the dolma plate ($35) is anything but a simple starter. It features substantial grape leaf wraps filled with rice and ground lamb, simmered in a rich tomato broth, and accompanied by lamb ribs, zesty pickled vegetables, pomegranate molasses, along with additional rice served on khubz.

The Quzi ($35), recognized as one of Iraq’s signature dishes, is similarly impressive. With two succulent lamb legs perched atop a delicate combination of rice, vermicelli, raisins, and almonds, the meat is so tender that it easily separates from the bone with just the slightest touch. Drenched in saffron for a vivid yellow hue but retaining a perfect pink center, it is garnished with cumin and paired with a comforting tomato-white bean soup known as fasolia.

Beyond the extensive kebab and shawarma selections, smaller dishes are available—think falafel wraps, chicken burgers, and lamb tikka sandwiches. Even starters like shwandaria ($7), featuring julienned pickled beets garnished with parsley, provide ample servings. Thankfully, leftovers taste just as delightful the following day, as do most main dishes when warmed up again.

Location: 2316 Watt Ave., Sacramento

Operating Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Contact Number: 916-750-5088

Official Website: sumer-nights.com

Beverage Selection: Offering a variety of tea and sodas.

Vegetarian options: Falafel dishes or wraps, along with several appetizers

Noise level: Tranquil during weekdays, more energetic on weekend evenings

Outdoor seating: A patio next to the parking lot, enhanced with synthetic turf and palm trees

• Lucky’s Drive-In commenced operations on October 3 at 2565 Franklin Blvd., taking over the Curtis Park location that once housed the Hideaway Bar & Grill. This nostalgic fast food spot has been offering burgers, shakes, fries, and more since 2015 at a sister establishment located near Tacoma, Washington.

▪ Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has launched its sixth location in the capital region on Tuesday, situated at 8055 Madison Ave. in the southeastern area of Citrus Heights. Established in 1945, this Ohio-based chain now serves frozen desserts at approximately 125 sites across 12 states, with other parlors located in North Natomas, Folsom, Roseville, Elk Grove, and Rancho Cordova.

▪ Shorebirds Brewing Co., the only brewery in Sacramento County focused on hard kombucha production, announced its closure via social media last Thursday. The owners, Randall Echevarria and Monte Hudock, will throw a farewell party on October 19 at 11327 Trade Center Drive, Suite 355, located in Rancho Cordova’s Barrel District, and are hoping to partner with another local brewery to continue brewing their kombuchas.