| I remember the first time I took MDMA, about three years ago in the underground remnants of a Berlin public pool (“Stattbad” or “Stadtbad” if you want to google images). The surroundings were almost steampunk, with old pipes and boilers going each very way. Or maybe a WW2 submarine, but larger. Anyway, I remember an /extremely/ /interesting/ chat (as one is want to have under the influence) with someone working there, in which he assured me they had passed all fire inspections. I had inquired because the only ways out were two extremely steep staircases, barely fitting two people side-by-side each. Came back a week later only to find it closed. Turns out they never had any permits for the club, only for art exhibits on the ground level. It became a minor political scandal. IIRC there were two authorities who each assumed the other had jurisdiction. This was underground by location only. It was among the top ten on residentadvisor, in travel guides, etc. Maybe a few hundred people on a Saturday night. I was there with a friend who did press for the mayor. Sort of hiding in plain sight. FWIW, this was sort of a singular incident as far as I can tell. All the clubs in this town are repurposed, but I haven’t seen any other death traps, and I do tend to try the exits. It also helps that pyrotechnics aren’t big in the scene here, and that LED lighting has taken over. |