"This reminds me of New Jersey," a friend observes, surveying the scene at the Ivory Room Piano Bar, 116 W. Mifflin St. And when I say "observes," I mean "screams into my ear," because the music is cranked to ear-splitting decibels. It's nine o'clock on a Saturday, just like the Billy Joel song says, and the room is wall-to-wall with popped collars and Aqua Net. A man old enough to be my father leans into my friend's face and purrs, "Your glasses make you look sexy." And by "purrs," I mean "screams into her ear."
At 25, Jack Sosnowski, co-owner of the new Ivory Room piano bar at 116 W. Mifflin, is hardly a member of the core demographic for the music of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. But he admits he's always had a soft spot for the golden throats of the Rat Pack and the songs they helped cement in the standard repertoire of club and lounge performers everywhere.