Night Lights: Weekend Wrapup Oct. 15-18
It’s times like this, when a new place opens in town, I don’t know the people running it and I’m not automatically on the guest list, that I kind of miss working for The Advertiser.
What really surprised me about Crazybox, The Edition hotel’s brand-new nightclub (aside from the relative hush surrounding their soft opening) was that I had to talk my way in to the supposedly public grand opening, bypassing a small, bewildered crowd at the door (including some local promoters) who had come to check the place out, but found themselves unable to enter because they didn’t meet certain criteria. Tipoff: this place is going to be way different.
After I’d met Nightlife Director Laura Modica (who’s also worked as bar director at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood and manager at Mondrian Hotel’s Skybar in LA,) and made it past the drop-dead gorgeous NYC-style supermodel door girl, I climbed the steps to the main club, where I found a mixed crowd of hotel guests, older folks, surfers, socialites, Chinatown hipsters and service industry.
Here’s the gallery:
Undeniably, celebs will come to party here. Christina Aguilera, producer Tricky Stewart, Vanessa Hudgens, Bijou Phillips, Danny Masterson. Daniel Dae Kim, Ryan Kwanten and others have already been spotted at The Edition, due in part to the star power of its designer, legendary NYC hotelier and Studio 54 founder Ian Schrager.
But what do the locals think?
It’s amazing the kind of insight people will give you when you ask them what they think. Out of eight or nine people, I got a very mixed response, from “OMG, this place is amaaaazing!” to the distinctly unimpressed “well… it’s a box, all right.” My reaction falls between the two extremes. Star-chasing aside, there are things I really like (the sound system is great; the ceiling with all of its little light bulbs is mesmerizing; the bartenders are friendly; the signature drinks, even if they are pricey, are subtle and decadent; parking is relatively easy and affordable), but I can’t say I’m in love with it. Modica has brought some great people from the local nightlife scene on board, but I can’t help feeling like other elements are just plain out of touch with how Hawaii does things. Maybe that’s not a bad thing… maybe we need a new kind of attitude in town. Ultimately, it’s up to you.
On the same night, Lotus Soundbar threw its official closing party, with the extremely popular DJ Kaori hitting the decks about half an hour after midnight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the place so incredibly packed. It was so hot in there I almost passed out.
FYI, the new location will be between PYNK salon and The Manifest in Chinatown. Can’t wait to see what Paul and his crew do with the new space!
Saturday was hectic as… well, heck. From HIFF at Dole Cannery…
Oh hi, Ryan Kwanten. Has anyone told you that you’d make a sexy werepanther on “True Blood”?
to Bar 35’s Fifth Anniversary celebration…
to the HIFF Music Video Showcase at NextDoor with live bands…
Two of three members of Clones of the Queen, performing at NextDoor Saturday night.
to Mercury Bar’s relief fundraiser (because somebody at the Liquor Commision has been giving owner Andrew Bugreyev a hard time and I love that place & had to show support)…
to the “Ecila” Launch Party at SoH…err, I mean, Queen’s Nightclub (seriously, check out the redesign in the background of some of these pics, or check out Daniel Gray’s twitpic feed ). Being in here was probably the most fun I had all weekend.
Congrats to Darieus Legg, Robert Campbell and the rest of the cast & crew of ““Ecila”” for finally launching at HIFF this year! Apparently the first showing of the film sold out, so if you still want to see it, buy tickets RIGHT NOW for the Oct. 24 screening.
Is that all that happened this weekend? Really? I think so. Have a great week, everybody!
