If you don't know the lay of the land, the rusty sign for the Baptist church next door and the low-hanging brush might make you miss your turn into Sahara Lounge's gravel parking lot. If the venue's vibe isn't already apparent from the wonderful folk art murals or righteously faded Black Lives Matter banner, the string of five or six A/C window units foreshadow both figurative and literal hot times inside.
Every Saturday, the $12 door might actually be the best deal in town for music and the open buffet of spicy halal meatballs and chicken with vegan sides of rice and beans, all with Afro-Caribbean flavoring. These dishes are all personally prepared by the heart and soul of, the French-trained cook has been serving up variations of these dishes as a goodwill opener to the two sets of music he typically conducts and plays – with a middle slot filled by different artists every week. With food served at 7pm and bands kicking off at 7:30, the West African musician doesn't have much time to savor a meal. He swiftly exchanges his metaphorical chef's hat for a kor