When it comes to creating unusual spots to grab a drink or a bit of nosh in Memphis, Chef Karen Carrier takes the prize. She is, after all, the woman who brought us Mollie Fontaine Lounge - the supposedly haunted, super-chic hot spot that's housed in an old Victorian house and teems with all the cool people until the wee hours of the morning.
And she's the woman who started the foodie revolution in town with her Beauty Shop restaurant, where patrons can actually dine sitting in one of those vintage hair dryer chairs - almost as much of a draw as the food.
So when word got around that Carrier was planning a new Cooper Young nightspot, the city cheered - and the result was cheer-worthy, indeed.
Bar DKDC is the latest nightspot to open in Cooper Young — Photo courtesy of Justin Fox Burks
Part lounge and part eatery, Carrier's latest venture - Bar DKDC - is a small space decorated with everything from Mexican masks and textiles to vintage seating. There's a scattering of tables on the sidewalk, too.
The bar features a fine menu of cocktails crafted with a twist. Cocktails are served up in Mason jars or juice glasses, and there's a nice selection of wines and beers.
Most evenings, there's some kind of music - either a live band or single performer, and sometimes a DJ spinning dance tunes. The music generally gets going after 10 p.m.
The crowd is pretty much young and hip, although those with a few more notches in the decade column are always part of the mix.
The smaller space means a smaller crowd, and that's a treat in Cooper Young, where larger spaces dominate the nightlife scene.
