HOT SPOTS: Kama Sutra

Nothing stays in the spot for long.

Kama Sutra is the most recent club to try. Located next to the Hop Tung Chinese restaurant and across 10th Street from Buffalo Wild Wings, the place opened in September.

It opened in the spot where Pure and Suite 701 failed. Where Light Lounge died. Where Plush bombed. Where, well you get the idea.

So what does fate hold for Karma Sutra? Will this Eastern-themed club buck the trend? It remains to be seen.

KAMA SUTRA
4801 N. 10th St., St. 700, McAllen
For reservations call (956) 569-2555
Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Cover: $8 and up, more expensive if you're younger than 21
Ages: 18 and older
Dress code: No cut off shirts or baseball caps. Guys should wear collared shirts. Sneakers are ok.

NIGHTS TO GO: Thursday ranks as Kama Sutra's best night. The club hosts a college theme, allowing anyone with a college ID in free. Wild 104 broadcasts a live feed from the club all night. Also check out Saturdays, which draw a decent crowd. Friday falls a bit short, but the owner says he has hired promoters to fix that.

DRINK PRICES: Kama Sutra hits this one out of the park. Our group ordered three beers and Smirnoff Ice. They charged us $10. That's tough to beat.

STYLE OF MUSIC: Great dance tunes, but pretty similar to other local dance clubs. You'll hear the usual mix of top 40 R & B stuff, house music and techno. You'll probably find the same play list at El Antro or Sapphire Club.

DECORATIONS: Kama Sutra strives for an Asian feel, mounting the walls with Buddha statues and other staples of the Far East. But if feels like the idea died half way, which is a shame because it would have made the club more unique. The raised dance floor has serious potential. The club intended for it to be a shark tank, but the owners will tell you caring for salt water sharks is not easy. So they've drained the tank for now, intending to fill it later with fresh water fish. When that happens, it'll be the best dance floor in town.

LOCATION: Awesome. Nolana has exploded into the main drag of clubbing lately, what with Cin Cin, Kafs and Dolce grabbing so many people. And Kama Sutra is right by the intersection of 10th and Nolana. It's also a quick drive from Sapphire Club, Dubai and McClain's, all of which may attract a somewhat similar crowd.

THE VERDICT: Kama Sutra should rank high on your list for a night of dancing. Lower cover would be ideal, but the drink prices make up for that. The music is decent. The decorum needs improvement, but ownership has promised they're working on it. Right now Kama Sutra feels like a work in progress. But if it avoids its locations curse for the next three months, it could be one of the best dance clubs in town.

Zack Quaintance covers features and entertainment for Festiva. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.