njdionysus Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 Disco fever With a dozen new nightclubs and lounges set to open, New York is funky town againBy CHRISSY PERSICO Swilling and chilling: Elmo Lounge was opened downstairs from a popular Chelsea restaurant. Polish up your dancing shoes and pickup lines and practice doing the Bump and the Hustle. New York has disco fever again and, though you won't see polyester suits and Qiana dresses, you will find the neon lights and pulsating beats that have been missing for a while. After years of mostly sedentary nightlife, it's time to get down at one of Manhattan's new clubs. At least 12 hot spots will open by early next year, from intimate sup-and-shimmy venues to sprawling three-story deejay emporiums with VIP rooms. Even the Copacabana, the legendary feathers-and-sequins dinner-show club dubbed "the hottest spot north of Havana" in the Barry Manilow song, is reopening tonight at a new W. 34th St. location."We want to get back to the excitement of New York," says James DiZazzo, an owner of Powder, the soon-to-be-opened Chelsea space. While the sudden disco influx might look like a response to Mayor Bloomberg's nightlife-friendly administration, that's not the case. In fact, club owners say his anti-smoking push and "Operation Silent Night" program against noise could lead to trouble for dance halls. The real reasons for this fall's club boom, they say, range from "It just seemed like a good time" to "People want to go out again after 9/11."Many of the new venues will offer more than dancing. Some have spectacular views, while others will house theaters, photo studios and kitchens for events. So whether you choose to rhumba on the Copa's 6,000-square-foot dance floor or just sway to the music in one of the cozy new lounges, plan to enjoy yourself. Here's a guide to disco's new addresses:Ava210 W. 55th St., (212) 956-7020.Between the panoramic view of midtown's skyscrapers and the large outdoor space, Ric Addisson's Ava is a scenic draw. Peter Sibilia designed the space to look like a Rat Pack hangout, with sleek decor in blue, white and gold. Ava attracts a eclectic crowd, from executives grabbing an after-work drink to twentysomethings drawn to the dramatic setting and the mix of sounds, from Led Zeppelin to Stevie Wonder. Buddha Bar75 Ninth Ave., no phone yetRaymond Visan is transplanting his glamorous (and expensive) Parisian haunt to the happening Chelsea Market just north of the Meatpacking District. If the New York version is anything like the original, it will have a giant gold Buddha sitting the middle, surrounded by throngs of models and starlets and the men aching to date them. Visan plans to open the Asian-themed space early in the new year.Copacabana560 W. 34th St., (212) 239-2672.Get tropical at a new Copa, which opens tonight with much fanfare and palm-frond waving. "My idea was to make it the biggest, grandest nightclub in the world," says owner John Juliano. Tonight, leggy Copa girls inaugurate the giant dance floor, as guests shimmy to the sounds of the fabulous Fania Allstars, a collection of Latin music's biggest stars, led by the legendary Johnny Pacheco. On any given night, you can salsa to live music and enjoy table service or groove to house and classic tunes in the disco on the lower level. Only men over 25 and ladies over 23 will be admitted.Crobar530 W. 28th St., no phone yetIf you're bored with modern design and muted colors, prepare to see spots when this pumping, neon dance hall opens on W. 28th St. in early spring. The warehouse building is "awe-inspiring," according to owner Kenny Smith, who has opened clubs with the same name in South Beach and Chicago. It remains to be seen if the Miami vibe will cross over to New York, but the 35,000-square-foot, four-story loft space is sure to draw dance fanatics.Deep16 W. 22nd St., (212) 229-2000.Are you in a club or a millionaire's mansion? This luxurious three-story house of happiness (formerly Ohm), slated to open next month, will feel like the latter, with its private nooks and large U-shaped bar (all designed by Sibilia). Venture down to Deep's lower level, and you'll find logo decor perfect for label-lovers. As for the VIP room, the lucky few will gain access by a secret revolving door with private passages to the bar.Elmo Lounge156 Seventh Ave. (212) 337-8000.Swanky '50s style was the inspiration for this lounge, downstairs from the popular Chelsea restaurant. Owners Robert Pontarelli and Stephen Heighton, who are also behind Leshko's on Avenue A, found light fixtures and lamps from Miami's original Eden Roc Hotel and added sexy patent-leather U-shaped booths, glossy black wood floors and hot pink and orange backlighting. The well-groomed Gen-X crowd dresses "Sex and the City"-style.Harem47 Avenue B, (212) 777-5454.See belly dancers gyrate and hear the bubbling of hookahs at Harem at Shameless Sunday, a weekly house party that starts at 5 p.m. New this month from Marcus and Sam Jacob, owners of the adjacent Moroccan restaurant Le Souk, the lounge has an outdoor area shrouded in fabric and stacked with comfy pillows. A bohemian East Village crown packs this dark, sexy space, which has a cruise-y co-ed rest room. Move to the music on Mondays and Thursdays, when deejays spin a blend of Moroccan and American tunes.Lobby330 W. 38th St., (212) 465-2200.Lobby will look like a — you guessed it — hotel lobby when it opens in November. This makes sense, given that owner Jeremy Casilli helped open the Tribeca Grand. The two-level, 8,000-square-foot space will feature several VIP areas, including a mini-hotel room that can be rented for the evening.Powder431 W. 16th St., (212) 229-9119.This big, brash pleasure palace opens next month in Chelsea, and co-owner DiZazzo has lined up some major talent. Dimitri from Paris and Karl Kennedy are set to be the deejays, and hot industrial designer Karim Rashid designed the pink, purple, orange and green space. Even more impressive: You'll never have to wait for a drink. If things go according to plan, the three large bars will have 10 bartenders to serve you and every section will be well-staffed with waitresses and busboys. No VIP area here, but deep-pocketed patrons can reserve a mezzanine table with its own 8-foot-wide dance space. Deep Studios, a fully equipped photo studio for shoots, videos and commercials is on Powder's lower level. Republic @ Limelight47 W. 20th St., (212) 807-7780.The notorious Limelight nightclub — scene of drug busts in the 1990s — is under new ownership and getting a makeover. Promoter John Blair will open Republic @ Limelight in the former Episcopal church in November. The gothic structure will feature three dance floors with three separate entrances, as well as a theater space for Off-Broadway productions. And if you expect VIP treatment, Republic will have four separate areas with their own sound systems, rest rooms and buttons to alert waiters when you need a fresh round.Society 559 Fifth Ave., (212) 242-9709.Brian Gefter and Michael Romer opened Society 5 during Fashion Week with a designer-studded party, and last weekend found it packed with a youthful crowd dancing wildly to '80s rock. Society 5's bottle-service menu sets them apart from other high-end lounges: Instead of buying one pricey bottle that might not appeal to the whole table, you can order three different, smaller bottles. Deejays scheduled to spin include Paul Sevigny, Stretch Armstrong and DJ Reach.Vue151 E. 50th St., (212) 753-1144.The only remnant of Vue's former incarnation — a 1920s opera house — is the remarkable 40-foot domed ceiling, onto which 3-D videos are projected. Despite its midtown location, Vue's chocolate, orange and white interior has a downtown vibe. Patrons can dine at the restaurant, strike poses on the dance floor or watch the action from the upstairs VIP lounge (which has a soundproof glass wall). Trendy young things show up for Noel Ashman's Friday-night techno, '80s, hip-hop party, while anything goes on Saturdays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nycchic24 Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 i am not familiar with all the locations but at least two are just remodeled, and "new ownership clubs' (vue used to be 151 and republic)as for Crobar... the last i heard, definite plans for opening were very sketchy if existent at all. opening dates keep being pushed back.. i am starting to think this is like glowbana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LatinaZee Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 GOOD LUCK FOR CROBAR TO OPEN UPI WOULD LOVE TO WORK THERE.....THATS SO ME!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPYGIRL3 Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 Originally posted by nycchic24 as for Crobar... the last i heard, definite plans for opening were very sketchy if existent at all. opening dates keep being pushed back.. i am starting to think this is like glowbana I heard they were having some problems.....Some of the new places sound really good, but ya never know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleplay1970 Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 i think crowbar sounds ok other than that ill stick to factory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystify Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 i definitely plan on checking out the vue and deep.... i miss saturday nights in the city! i mean, i love our clubs around here, but it's like you see the same people everywhere... so it'll be a nice change! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdionysus Posted October 19 Author Report Share Posted October 19 Its all about....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPYGIRL3 Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 Originally posted by njdionysus Its all about....... Crobar in South Beach is awesome.....I don't if they can duplicate that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.