The Atmosphere:

In describing the atmosphere of Highland Grounds I quickly get dragged into the thought of building a collage in high school with my cardboard shoebox and a box of crayons. Expressive murals of city life and people are uniquely placed along the base of the counter and another reaching to the wall as a balcony, but not for patronage.

When you enter Highland Grounds from the front you'll have to walk around the service counter and into the main seating area. There's quite a bit of seating available inside and they have an adjoining patio section with more seating for the busy nights. Inside the venue is the small stage with a piano and some lighting. The high ceilings give the inside it's an almost outdoors feel.

Outside on the patio there's a fire pit and seating. A mural on the wall depicts the oceanfront, palm trees and sparsely clouded sky through a broken wall. You won't be able to hear the music from the patio but you can get hints of what's going on from the windows facing the stage area.

The menu is good, the food is healthy and they have coffees along with a fairly generous selection of beers. So whether you're looking for a hot chocolate or a Guinness, you should find your vice.

What you should know:

Highland Grounds is well known for its long-standing open mic (Open Mind) night. Through open mic, the club books their regular acts, which results in an eclectic and talented selection of artists. The downside; they miss some phenomenal acts that can't make it out to the club on a Wednesday night.

Parking Situation:

There's parking in the back of the venue and parking along the streets, but the available spaces fill up quick. On a busy night you should expect to walk. Keep a good look out for the street signs because they are strictly enforced.