The return of Detroit's darkest bar, this time right downtown

Last year, talented local drink-slinger Evan Dawber parted ways with Detroit City Distillery to pursue his new bartending project, a 30-seat spot in Harmonie Park called "the Keep," underneath Harmonie Park's Tokyo Club. Really, all the guy wants is a nice dark space where he can serve classic and contemporary cocktails and spin rock 'n' roll records. Yup, he's that real. The experimental space under the Tokyo Club was temporary, but he's back.

Essentially, it's the same three guys: Dawber, Leonard Lopp, and Jason Frenkel (of Rubbed and Alley Taco). They're taking over the cigar bar next to Greenwich and Checker Bar. It has patio seating and a basement that might become a dance space. The soft opening is this weekend, on June 19. The only question is, will it be dark enough?

Dawber's a good guy, and the perfect mouthpiece for this effort. As a bartender he has said it's his goal to create "fucking chaos, offering dirty martinis next to vieux carré, sazeracs, and a list of originals that are nuts," all while being sure "not piss on someone when they want vodka cran, and to always have a rotating $5 beer and a shot."

See what's happening starting this Friday at 140 Cadillac Square, Detroit.