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The family-friendly vibe of Paradise Island's Atlantis resort takes a vacation at Aura, Pure Management Group's first venue outside Las Vegas, but still in a luxury hotel. The single-room club boasts a design by Jeffrey Beers, and an immersive lighting system with both LEDs and sweeping digital light projectors. But, says PMG managing partner Steve Davidovici, "the experience" trumps the opulence of the space itself. "Anyone can build a beautiful nightclub. We pride ourselves on the V.I.P. treatment of every guest." The club's consistent crowd is comprised of Bahamanians, thankful for their first upscale venue; and the traveling royalty who dock their yachts at the nearby port. -KLM |
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Opening a club in a church may be nothing new - those who remember Limelight NYC can tell you that - but the Bar Of Modern Art has a little more up its sleeve. Integrating a four-star restaurant, two art studios and a sculpture garden into its design, BoMA has demonstrated its versatility numerous times as a multipurpose nightclub, eatery and customizable cultural event space. Indeed, few clubs can mix a future-forward video system (also nominated this year), lighting and sound systems, while still preserving century-old stained glass and tin ceilings. But at BoMA, everything old becomes excitingly new again. -JH |
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Peter Gatien's reemergence into the club world received as much hype as the second coming of that other messiah. Since getting wind of Circa's opening, circa 2005 (when Club Systems got a sneak peak), the typical and not-so-typical setbacks plagued the 55,000-square-foot mega. But after teasing and being teased by the press, Circa finally opened in 2007. The delays didn't hamper the buzz at all, and the club, naturally, did not disappoint. From technology like the motion-sensor Sensacell bar to avant-garde art like a handpainted life-sized horse or a conveyor belt of Kid Robot bunnies, the club is sure to engage patrons beyond its debut stage. -CM
www.circatoronto.com
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Designer Thomas Schoos ditched LAX's Cali-based sister club's airport theme, and instead created a two-story space that's part European opera house, part post-modern labyrinth, and all original. While the Pure Management Group-run venue (its flagship, Pure, is a Best Superclub nominee) often books celeb hosts like Britney Spears' tabloid-splashed grand opening appearance, it also delivers name jocks like Bob Sinclar. (His performance there earned him a Best DJ Set nomination). Add Best Resident DJ nominee Vice and investor and former Best Resident DJ nominee AM to the mix, both literally and figuratively, and clubland's got a new category-five storm forming in its waters. -KC |
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Its debut certainly turned a few heads: After all, Set is a 10,000-square-foot venue run by Opium Group (Mansion, Opium Garden, Privé) and it was opening on Superbowl Sunday in Miami with a Hollywood theme. With Swarovski crystal chandeliers and baby croc finishes the interior channels old school Tinseltown glamour. And with plasmas and Plexiglas screens it evokes a new school approach to showcasing the film set results. Tapping the celeb ring to create a buzz in its first year, Set markets toward the beautiful people, but also takes care of the music fans booking DJs like Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold and Bob Sinclar to rock its Funktion-One sound system. -CM
www.setmiami.com
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If 2007 was the year of the pool party in the Vegas scene, then Tao Beach was at the top-literally. Located on the Venetian's roof, the 18,000-square-foot venue skipped the Spring Break-style antics of its competitors by running a tight door, allowing only the well-heeled and well-toned to enjoy its tricked-out cabanas (plasma screen TVs, X-Boxes, etcetera), and lounge on its day beds. Besides playing host to celebs such as Jay-Z, and jocks such as Paul Oakenfold, the Thomas Schoos-designed oasis (it's part Bali beach resort, part exotic island) also hosted one of the year's best weekly parties: Sunset Sessions Sundays, a house-centric luau punctuated by the rhythms of a venue secure in its exclusivity, massive tourist hordes be damned. -KC |
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