In the heart of downtown Clarkdale is the 10-12 Lounge, a comfortable stop for an afternoon drink and a board or card game or a place to meet up with friends and unwind after a long day. (The lounge has scrabble, dominos, chess and checkers and plenty of decks of cards.) It’s also an exciting venue in which to hear live music every weekend and to participate in Wednesday’s open-mic night.
The upscale, nonsmoking lounge is very inviting. Everyone feels right at home--whether they are coming alone or with friends and whether they are wearing overalls and a bandana or a cashmere sweater and pearls.
Many locals have adopted the lounge as a second home and stop by after work to have a beer. “It’s a place to go and have fun,” says Bluff. There are black-and-white historic photos on the wall, adding a bit of hometown flavor.
Although the lounge dates back to 1959, it has recently been rebuilt. Owner Kerrie Bluff renovated the building with a lot of attention to detail, such as different types of seating, stained glass accents and flat screen televisions for Diamondback games and other popular shows.
Customers have the choice of cushy leather booths roomy enough for six people; wide, armchair-style chairs around low tables; a gorgeous wooden bar with plenty of stools, and tall tables for games or intimate conversation. Eighty people can easily fit into the well-designed space.
Bluff also made sure to balance the room’s acoustics, adding acoustic ceiling tiles and a combination of soft and hard surfaces. She built a performance stage that is couple of steps higher than the rest of the floor so everyone can get a good view of the entertainers. “I didn’t want the musicians to be buried by people dancing,” notes Bluff. And many people do enjoy coming up to the stage to dance.
For those preferring to sit under Arizona’s clear blue skies, there is a large, landscaped outdoor patio with eight tables; half with umbrellas. The patio is used year-round because it has cool shade in the summer and heaters in the winter.
The 10-12 Lounge, located at 910 Main Street, is open every day. If you remember the name of the lounge, you will know the hours: it opens at 10 a.m. and closes at midnight. \
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