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Arts & Entertainment

This New App Will Tell You If A Bar Is Packed, Dead Or A 'Sausage Fest'

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A new app recently launched in Los Angeles aims to tell you which bars are happening and which are, well, not so much. Katie Weinstock and Andrew Wagner-Trugman have created a new app called Roo. This app uses crowd-sourced data to let you know how a particular bar or nightlife spot is at the moment. In that way, it's similar to Waze, where users can report driving hazards, such as traffic conditions or speed traps. These missives are called "roo-ports," and the app definitely skews on the cute side of design.

I downloaded Roo to see what news it had for me. The bar closest to me where I can have the most fun is apparently Sassafras in Hollywood. People have roo-ported that it's frequently busy, and often has live music and dancing. It's rated an 8.9/10 on the fun scale, and that's based on 50 reviews. Bars can be viewed via a map, or you can search for something specific.

When it comes to documenting your own experiences, bars can be rated 'lame,' 'meh,' 'fun,' or 'awesome.' Users can also note if the bar has a line outside the door, live music, dancing, celeb sightings or if the bouncer is making it hard to get inside. You can also choose what type of music is playing, if there are a lot of men or women there, or if the bar has 'chill vibes.' If you're really into it, you can share photos of the bar, too.

This app probably has a lot of practical applications, like finding a bar that has lots of dancing singles if you're looking to meet someone new, or finding a 'chill vibe' spot if you're going out with a friend to catch up.

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Roo is currently available for iOS. It's free.

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