The Sweet Spot — Season Opener
Nectar Social Club
408 15th St.
Oakland
April 7, 2024
Instead of trying to forge a reputation as the next new hot spot for clubbing, Nectar Social Club almost seems to have grown organically out of the sidewalk like a rose through concrete. This is in part thanks to the city of Oakland reinstating their Flex Street Initiative from June 2020, which allowed businesses to expand their commerce to the outside on sidewalks and streets during the pandemic.
On Sunday, Nectar’s block of 15th street between Broadway and Franklin filled with the fabulousness of queer femme freedom for “The Sweet Spot,” a day party in downtown Oakland.
I ordered a beer at the Black-owned, LGBTQ-friendly bar The Hatch, next door to Nectar, and sat in the parklet outside while I waited for the party to ramp up. Adjacent to the parklet of Nectar, a woman wearing a “Filipino for Black Lives” T‑shirt whipped up delicious smells alongside a younger Black woman behind a banner that read, “The Lumpia Ladies.”
Queer Oakland bees were abuzz with camaraderie as we vibed to a chill hop remix of Whitney Houston’s “Somebody Who Loves Me.” Small groups made up the larger hive. I marveled at the party guest who swept in on rollerskates while wearing big beefy headphones, simultaneously talking to someone on speaker phone.
Magnificent to see some of the most marginalized groups and individuals, like a Black trans woman in her heels (later switched out for Crocs) and Asian American and Pacific Islander trans men with their sharp barber fades laughing and thriving on the Oakland city sidewalk.
With a touch of liquid confidence, I ventured into the Nectar parklet with its string lights and club speakers and felt comfortable perched on a stool in the corner to properly take in the stylings of DJ MTOORAY (@M2Ray_ on Instagram). When she spun the “Big Poppa (Amapiano Remix),” my hip hop-adoring middle school self and my Amapiano-loving adult self-high-fived.
Just like queer femininity itself, the interior of Nectar was compact, gorgeously decorated, and full of possibilities.
Club owner Jeremy Redford was kind and positive even as he was in the weeds behind the bar, the drinks line forming the length of the venue. There weren’t any beers on draft, but I didn’t miss them. There was intentionality in the “NWA ‘Nothing With Alcohol’” section of the drink menu, and the calamansi lime nectar over ice served as the perfect party beverage.
In case the vibes weren’t already hyped enough, the powerhouse Grammy-nominated (Alphabet Rockers) rapper, RyanNicole came through with a short set to pump us up even more, supported by DJ Lady Ryan.
There was some feedback during the changeover, and the microphone signal was not very clear which made it hard to receive the introductory words from the activist rapper. That didn’t stop her energy, symbolized in a song called, “Small But Mighty.”
“Despite the fact that we are but one individual, together we are mighty.”
M2Ray was the appetizer, DJ Lady Ryan and RyanNicole were the main entree, and DJ Emelle the dessert — so indulgent and saccharin you know you shouldn’t eat, but it tastes too dang good.
DJ Emelle spun the early 2000s party classics at the booth in her cool black shades and oversized leather jacket. We couldn’t help but throw our hands up and shake our behinds to Tweet’s “Oh My,” Unk’s “Walk it Out,” and especially the Atlanta club classic, “Knuck If You Buck.”
It was hard to walk away from the aptly named “The Sweet Spot” season opener because it was a truly inclusive block party. It was unclear to me how long “The Sweet Spot” parties, hosted by Dennise Chakra-kan & LadyRyan, have been going, but what was clear was that Nectar Social Club has built business from an authentic community instead of the other way around. As someone who hasn’t always felt included in the average gay bar scene, I found “The Sweet Spot” felt truly inclusive towards every flavor of queer. Lumpia, talented BIPOC femme rappers and DJs, and the space to be free are a perfect party formula.
