29/12/08: The White New Year Style Guide

Five foolproof steps to dressing for New Year’s Eve – a method tried, tested and totally recommended by White Ibiza’s very own social butterfly Miss W…

1. Wow the room with your ensemble.
There’s nothing worse than turning up to a party to find another girl wearing The Same Fabulous Frock as you. Avoid such mortification at all costs by making your selection from the incredible collection on display at Kurru Kurru. The modern day equivalent of Cinderella’s ballgown, Marinela Cifteli has a showroom full of couture creations that will inspire gasps of envy from other guests when you dramatically remove your coat upon entering a room – from floor-length ethereal gowns to flirty and fun baby doll dresses, the choice is yours…

2. To accessorise or not to accessorise?
Oh, that is a silly question! One step down into the amazing space that houses IBZcode and you’ll be more than spoilt for choice when it comes to accessorising – you’ll be overwhelmed with desire! A one-stop shop for stunning handmade leather shoes and boots, luscious leather bags, eclectic jewellery selections and those ever essential sunglasses for the morning after, IBZcode is like the proverbial pot of gold (silver, bronze and diamonds) at the end of a rainbow, adding the perfect finishing touches to your outfit.

3. Cover up in style.
When you go to all that trouble dressing up for an occasion, it would be a shame to put it all to waste by covering with anything less-than-special – thankfully the amazing selection of coats, hats and scarves on offer at Histericomplements are designed to make as much a statement as your party frock. From sensational metallic macs and tactile rich woollen shrugs to floppy felt winter hats so great you’ll never want to take them off, it’s enough to make you want to spend more time travelling to and from your party destinations. Hailing a taxi has never been so glamourous.

4. Always have a back-up outfit.
Just because midnight heralds the dawn of the New Year, it certainly doesn’t mean the party is over. With plenty of party options scheduled for the first day of the year, it’s imperative you have your outfit planned before heading out the night before – after all, one can never make sensible ibiza fashion choices with a fuzzy head and you can guarantee there won’t be any stores open for impulse purchases on the day. A trip to Gisela G ensures yet another one-of-a-kind party look to impress your friends – whether you opt for cashmere, shimmering silk or a sparkling sequinned affair, one thing is for sure: the first New Year Ibiza style crisis is averted!

5. Plump that pout.
All girls know that hair and make-up is as an essential part of one’s ensemble and on no other occasion is the prepping of the lips more essential than New Year’s Eve, the one night of the year that it’s virtually impossible to avoid a bit of a kiss at midnight! Miss W’s personal view on hair and make-up is that less is more – I like the simplest of applications, just a dab of tinted moisturiser (foundation really only seems to make one look older, don’t you think?), a quick swipe of rosy pink blush, a rim of black kohl around the entire eye plus lashings of mascara. Finish with a slick of nude gloss – my personal favourite is ModelCo Liplights in Summer Nectar, a nifty little gloss that I generally refer to as my disco gloss (available in mainland Spain or on any jetsetting trip to the UK or Paris). Why? Well apart from the fact it’s an ultra glossy and long-lasting formula, it comes complete with a miniature mirror on the side of the tube and – here’s the best bit! – LED lights concealed inside the lid, to illuminate your lips as you touch up meaning no need to make multiple visits to the bathroom. And there’s nothing wrong with putting the spotlight on your pout if you ask Miss W!

Now the next step is to start thinking about just who is it you’re going to kiss at midnight - I know who I've got my eye on... Do you?

20/12/08: Cardamom Club Christmas Market & Party

The festive period is starting to feel a little bit like the opening and closings to Miss W at the moment – seeing the same faces, the daily what-to-wear dilemma and that slightly fuzzy morning after feeling… But that’s what we love about living in Ibiza isn’t it? Well, apart from the fuzziness perhaps!

It’s also what keeps people coming back to the island, some to live permanently, some for annual holidays, some for monthly jaunts and some to celebrate the festive season, which is what the island collective were all doing this weekend, despite the fact that Santa – or Papa Noel as he’s known in Spain – hasn’t even started packing his sleigh yet. Kicking off the weekend’s proceedings was the annual Christmas market and soiree at our favourite Bollywood-meets-Ibiza haunt, The Cardamom Club in Santa Eulalia.

With Ibiza’s glorious sunshine high in the sky, Miss W and the White-ettes hit the road early in order to make the most of strolling around the gorgeous orchards and sitting in the courtyard devouring chef Craig Collligan’s divine Indian delights as if it were just another summer afternoon. Sadly for us, we weren’t the only people with this idea as the courtyard was already completely packed before we arrived!

Not one to let that dampen the shopping-meets-party spirit, we simply spent more time indulging in last minute Christmas treats – think homemade brownies, Florentines and sesame snaps, luxury crackers, those last important decorations for the tree, amazingly adorned cards and divine handmade jewellery – before moving indoors to take our place in the communal bar dining area with faces from many of the island’s most important establishments joining us – think Ibiza Rocks, Icon Ibiza, The Shop, Bacchus, Wonderland, We Love… and Pacha and you’ll realize it was a very busy space indeed!

As the afternoon turned into evening – and the chill quickly set in – all market stalls were packed away and the action moved indoors. With DJs Jo Mills and Tomas Hedberg providing the entertainment (an awesome opportunity for lucky guests to witness intimate sets from the island’s finest local talent) and every seat in the house full (and some with kids on their laps even!), Miss W couldn’t help but wonder how hostess with the mostess Navine managed to keep her cool all night – it’s a tough job when everybody knows your name and are all vying for your attention at once – so hats off to the hostess, we say!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Getting to see one of our favourite establishments really show us what they’re made of – to be able to simultaneously manage a market, live music in the courtyard, a busy bar, DJs and decks plus offer a full a la carte service in the peak of the festive season is a feat second to none. Cardamom Club crew, we salute you!
THE BAD: At one point in the afternoon, the kitchen actually ran out of food! While this was clearly good for business, it was bad for Miss W, who left without being able to indulge in all her favourite dishes before the kitchen – who seemed to barely have a spare second to breathe – got the chance to do further preparation. Oh well, all the more reason to return!
THE GOSSIP: Although Miss W went home at a relatively tame hour – a girl needs her beauty sleep this time of year you know – her spies say the party continued well into the morning hours before relocating to Aura. A good indication we think, as to which way the Cardamom Club’s New Year’s Eve bash may go…

12/12/08 Does Ya Mama Know? It’s cocktails at Grial…

When two of the island’s most well-known and well respected residents-slash-professional-party girls (and I mean that in the best sense of the term – chances are they’ve had a hand in many of the best parties you’ve attended in Ibiza) decide to throw a winter soiree, it should come as no surprise that almost everyone on the island – plus a few very special flown-in-for-the-occasion guests – would be in attendance.

But do their Mamas know?

Given the ultra-sexy leopard print-meets-red fringing and feather boudoir style décor, smooth Bossanova sounds and ludicrously delicious cocktails on offer, Miss W would gamble her red Gucci stilettos that Mama doesn’t have a clue, and it’s probably better if it stays that way!

From the very respectable hour of 8pm tonight, the cocktail bar at Grial reopened for the winter season, complete with happy hour until 11 – practically unheard of in Ibiza – and a cocktail list packed full of classics that were a welcome alternative to overpriced spirits and lacklustre wines.

Of course, Miss W couldn’t go past a Cosmopolitan – all that cranberry juice has amazing anti-oxidant and detoxifying properties you know – and while initially I was a little upset to be served my drink in a wine glass rather than the oversized martini glass I’m used to, I had to eventually admit that the room was so busy it was probably better this way. Martini glasses are really only suited to sitting down at a bar, otherwise you slosh it all over the place at the slightest jostle. Unless you’re James Bond of course, but that’s another story…

From hoteliers (who finally get to surface now the high season is over) and property magnates (who say they are busier than ever despite the economic climate) to the dance music fraternity and some snap happy photographers, the mix of clientele was definitely 50/50 Spanish to English, always a sure sign that you’re onto a good thing on this island…

Breakfast At Tiffany’s was being projected onto the wall – a lovely visual to be entertained (not to mention fashionably inspired) by - and classic tunes piped through the bar while the hoi polloi and their hosts caught up and compared Christmas and New Year plans over a cocktail or three - Miss W overheard more than one group of revelers declaring how happy they were to find yet another winter watering hole to whet their whistles. Three cheers to that!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Happy hour. There’s a distinct lack of places to go in the limbo hours between eight and midnight (unless you’re happy to stay at a restaurant or a café) in Ibiza at the moment, and this night filled the gap to perfection. Not only that, but when cocktails are two for the price of one, it’s all the more reason to splash your cash on a round of Christmas Cosmopolitans for your mates, considering the credit crunch and all that jazz…
THE BAD: The smoke! I’m not usually one to complain if someone lights up beside me but the ventilation in Grial leaves a lot to be desired. I know the idea of a dim-lit smoke-filled jazzy bar is sexy, but in reality, it just makes your eyes sting and your throat hurt. Ouch.
THE GOSSIP: It was a little like Grial had revolving doors come midnight with the amount of comings and goings that were happening. Where did they all come from or where were they going? Was it Pacha? Bombay Lounge? Aura? Ocho? Or heavens forbid, bed? Either way, it was difficult to walk through Grial without seeing a familiar face, no matter what hour you were there.

06/12/08: Dreaming of a White Christmas…

The first few days of December in Ibiza were a little wet and soggy, even included some snow, which by all accounts is extremely rare - but there’s something kind of magical about seeing the normally lush green countryside covered in white powder so the sudden chill was very welcome.

Speaking of magical, it’s the festive season where Ibiza really comes alive. ‘Whaaaaat?!’ I hear you exclaim, probably thinking there is enough life on the island during summer to last the entire year, however Miss W is here to inform you that Ibiza has done the equivalent of getting a haircut and splashing out on a new party frock, undergoing a makeover for the occasion.

A stroll through Ibiza town – and Santa Gertrudis, Jesus, Sant Jordi and Santa Eularia among other villages – shows off this amazing transformation. Every street, lamp post, square, park and even shop windows are adorned with the most amazing Christmas displays, from dazzling lights and striking trees to quaint decorations and markets aplenty. It’s enough to make you think you’ve stumbled across Santa’s hometown – or his holiday getaway at the very least!

Of course, being the shopaholic that I am, it was the markets that peaked my interest so the minute the weather cleared up – and you’ll be pleased to know it’s now all blue skies – I donned my festive finest and headed to Vara de Rey to get amongst the action.

It was the covered marquee, housing the most beautiful array of Christmas trees, decorations and lighting, which put the first dent in Miss W’s Fendi wallet, where I opted for a faux (but very lifelike) tree with gold and pink themed decs. Then it was onto some stocking filler-type goodies from the rows of mini-market stalls lining the square. Of course I can’t actually tell you what I bought or it wouldn’t be a surprise come Christmas day, but I just think knitted scarves, hand made trinkets, embossed leather belts and strings of pretty coloured lights and you’ll get the idea.

After indulging in some fairy floss, a hot dog and a Nutella crepe along with some Gluhwein (similar to mulled wine) from the stalls surrounding the kiddie fun fair, it was next stop, Las Dalias. The infamous hippy market throws open it’s wooden gates for winter, complete with decorations and festively themed gift ideas – the difference to summer is that the stalls are in indoors and with plenty of Gluhwein to go round, it was retail therapy indeed – in fact at one point, I must admit I got so into the spirit of shopping I seemed to have purchased more gifts for myself than those on my list.

Well, I had to make sure there’d be something under the tree for myself in case Santa decides I’ve been naughty…

MISS W’S CHRISTMAS WISHLIST
1. The gorgeous bronze silk sports jacket in Kurru Kurru – the perfect lightweight accessory to throw over a little black dress or team with jeans.
2. A whimsical Morrocan tea set from KsaR – makes me feel all Alice In Wonderland and will inspire me to have a tea party.
3. Black Superfine jeans from reVolver – the perfect fit. And if they’re good enough for Kate Moss…
4. The amazingly soft over-the-knee grey suede boots in Histericomplements – flat, so ideal for dancing all night long on NYE.
5. A membership to the Gran Hotel’s Open Spa – all this winter food means Miss W really needs to practice some serious yoga.

29/11/08: Funky Party @ Pacha

While the ever-so-slight chill in the air at the moment makes the idea of party-hopping seem less than desirable, we’re here to assure you there is one party hop in Ibiza that doesn’t require a scarf and coat between venues – and that’s the swift hop (across the road), skip (down the path) and jump (over the velvet rope) from Bombay Lounge to Pacha. Though if you’re looking for an opportunity to show off your new season’s wardrobe – a là Miss W – chances are you’ll don the winter warmers for the 30-second strut anyway.

After a bit of schmoozing with the hoi polloi at Kama Night, Miss W decided it was time to make the switch to Pacha’s Funky Party, where DJs Graham Sahara and Andy Baxter were bringing the sounds of the Funky Room – which has an incredibly huge cult following in summer – to the main room of the club for one night only.

As per the summer tradition, it was the small crowded space and stairs behind the DJ booth where the REAL action was taking place. Thankfully, Miss W’s special privileges apply all year round so she was there to witness firsthand the festivities.

From bottles of hierbas passing the lips of otherwise refined islanders and couples sneaking off up the darkened stairs for a reason I could never possibly guess - only to be sent back down in shame by the switched on security staff to a gaggle of glam girlies (or should we call them groupies?) dominating the space behind the booth, it was Pacha party central – no surprise given that one half of the DJ duo was celebrating his birthday and half the island had turned out to celebrate.

At 3am, the place experienced a surge of new partygoers (as nearby Bombay Lounge closed its doors I suspect) and the dance floor was packed. I took it upon myself to manoeuvre through the club more than once and can report that while it was a local-heavy crowd, the summer standards of frocking up had not fallen at all – Pacha is one of the only clubs that has a cloakroom and while it may not be needed in the warmer months, it sure is getting a workout these days.

THE GOOD: While the lengthy guest list queues of summer are no more, there is definitely a spectacle of sorts taking place outside the club – albeit an amazing spectacle. The famous palm trees that dominate the clubs exterior are now dripping with decorations – huge glowing red baubles hanging from the leaves and thousands of sparkling fairy lights adorning the trunks – Cherry Christmas indeed!
THE BAD: The amount of people who had promised to come and show their support and celebrate the birthday of their good friend DJ Andy Baxter that were no-shows on the night - you know who you are! Just because the previous night was rather extravagant on the party front doesn’t give you license to play hooky – plenty of others managed to perform for the double header.
THE GOSSIP: Miss W heard a whisper that the music wasn’t quite as ‘funky’ as the general style of the Funky Room in the summer and that at one point a certain man in a Very Big Hat - notorious for creating the original room – stepped behind the booth to have a quiet word in the DJs’ ears about getting back to their roots.

29/11/08 Kama Night @ Bombay Lounge

When the news of a fledgling events company - born in Ibiza during the winter months rather than the slew that pop up throughout summer - promoting weekly parties in a venue that has undergone a recent, and may we say amazing renovation reached her ears, Miss W has to admit that her interest was peaked.

Within just a few short weeks, Sanskrit Events – the brainchild of Pacha Magazine ad-man Massimo Shadi Saab, inspired by Indian culture and driven by the Kama Sutra’s sultriness according to its promotional material – has gone from hosting one weekly party at the newly revamped Bombay Lounge to three. Thursdays give you Vatsyayana with Jazz Music, Fridays Funky Sutra being (as the name suggests) funky house flavoured and Saturdays play host to Kama Night – and tonight, Miss W was going to find out just what all that was about.

Upon entering Bombay Lounge, the first thing that struck me was what a modern and international appeal this place has gained with its makeover – a chic space decorated in multiple shades of rich and earthy warm brown tones, from lush leather couches and glossy wooden tabletops to pile upon pile of comfortable cushions and impressively regal columns. Add some strategically placed bronzed Buddhas, flattering soft lamps complemented by plenty of candlelight and a cosy fireplace and it looks like the new kid in town is certainly making a dramatic entrance.

Beyond the daybed style booths was the crowded bar area – it seems Ibiza’s locals don’t like to be restricted to just one booth, sofa or table, preferring to hop from group to group since everyone knew practically everyone and everyone who was anyone was here anyway – and the DJ booth, where island fave Angel Cielo was spinning some smooth house grooves with a constant smile on his face. No surprise given the reaction he was getting from the crowd, who seem quite enamoured of their new watering hole and its entertainment.

The good news for those girls who like to travel light on a night out is that Bombay closes at the incredibly tame hour of 3am, meaning there’s no need to pack your sunglasses… unless you head across the road to Pacha of course!

THE GOOD: The amazing transformation from the old Sante Fe to its current incarnation as Bombay Lounge – this is a bar that wouldn’t be out of place in any of the major cities around the world.
THE BAD: While the venue is notably attracting a good crowd, the quality of drinks being served didn’t quite live up to its glamorous surrounds or clientele. I don’t know about you, but Miss W certainly doesn’t like her vodka and tonic served in a jumbo-sized chunky glass without a straw and very little ice – or am I just being overly fussy?
THE GOSSIP: As the neighboring corner plays host to one of the island’s biggest high-glamour heavyweights – that’s right folks, Pacha is located directly opposite Bombay Lounge – one has to wonder how the competition will affect both venues. But then again, sometimes a little competition is healthy, don’t you think?

23/11/08: The Geisha - The Boat Charter Company

Take one 18-metre sailboat, fitted with teak and adorned with striking black sails, add an incredible gourmet picnic spread made up of the finest Spanish wines, traditional ham, cheese and enough delectable canape style treats to tempt a pirate, then introduce the team of White-ettes, a couple of Token White Males and the wonderful crew of The Boat Charter Company (including a very cute co-captain of the canine variety) and you’ve got the makings for an amazing day of sailing in Ibiza.

Donning my very best nautical attire for a day on the high seas and remembering to pack a scarf and sunscreen because it does indeed get a little chilly despite the glorious sunshine, it was all aboard the good ship Geisha, the pride and joy of The Boat Charter Company. Really an incredible vessel, featuring three bedrooms plus a kitchen and living space for those who can’t bear to go onto dry land once the sun goes down – this is true luxury on the water and an afternoon experience Miss W is looking forward to indulging in more over the course of the coming winter months.

At the helm was captain Len Hall and hostess with the mostess Mandy Gregory, ready to prove that a drop in temperature does not mean a trip to Es Palmador and Formetera is any less cool! In fact, as we sailed out of Marina Botafoch and headed across to our neighboring islands, with the sun on our faces and slightly windswept hair, I couldn’t help but imagine how glamorous we looked as we sailed past those on ferries or smaller little boats. If you ask me, it was like a scene right out of a movie – and we all know Miss W would be casting herself in the lead role!

Of course, my co-stars were equally as glamorous – particularly one Token White Male who was very adept at assisting with sails and ropes while the girls simply gazed on in admiration (subtly and behind sunglasses of course – though they’ll probably deny it after the fact) and imagined him to be our very own pirate of the Mediterranean for the day.

The crystal clear waters sparkled with clarity and the tranquil beaches looked divine without the sun beds and umbrellas they’re peppered with in summer while all hands on deck seemed to be consistently be holding a glass of wine just to add to the ambience of our own personal movie set!

I don’t know if it was a case of sea legs or if the free-flowing vino tinto had anything to do with it, but Miss W certainly noticed more than one of the guests walking with a bit of a sailor worthy swagger once on dry land…

THE GOOD: Amazing winter weather makes for the perfect day of smooth sailing. Sure you won’t be diving off the boat for a swim (unless you’ve packed your wetsuit) but the gorgeously sunny conditions are perfect for smooth sailing, sightseeing and sipping on vino...
THE BAD: Daylight savings means the sun goes down earlier so you don’t get to experience as many hours on the water – unless you get up super early that is, and Miss W is definitely NOT a morning person!
THE GOSSIP: Miss W hears that the instant success of the new Ryanair direct flights from London and Milan to Ibiza means the demand for chartering weekend yacht trips in Ibiza is on the rise. While The Boat Charter Company has plenty of options available, there’s only one Geisha so we think you should make a reservation pronto!

15/11/08: Sushipoint Saturdays

If you thought the action in Ibiza slowed down just because we’ve slipped into the colder half of the year, you obviously haven’t been party hopping with Miss W on a Saturday night yet.

While there were plenty of options on the plate for tonight, Miss W was most looking forward to heading over to Marina Botafoch for Sushipoint Saturdays. While the name itself doesn’t give too much away about the nature of the event – Is it dinner? Drinks? Dancing? – the fact those left on the island have been buzzing about it all week meant it was definitely the number one option on my dance (or drinks or dinner!) card tonight.

Inside the cosy and stylishly lit surrounds of Sushipoint I caught up with some friends I’d hardly had a chance to see since the closing of Space more than a month ago (as they say, time really does fly…) for the chance to sample the specialty sushi prepared lovingly and expertly by chef Pablo – who scored extra points at Miss W’s table on account of him being quite the hottie!

As we settled in and made our difficult choices from the special menu – three courses for a mere 20€ and all sounded spectacular – the room seemed to fill up within a flash. Seriously. Faster than Pablo can speed-slice sashimi, it seemed every table was full with a lot of über-chic types lingering at the bar and outdoors on the comfy sofas. With a cross-cultural and cosmopolitan crowd like this, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in New York or London. Thankfully for us, this was all happening in downtown central Ibiza. Well, slightly left-of-centre but you know what I’m talking about.

The atmosphere was that of a cool lounge bar, thanks to the fabulous early-evening stylings of DJ Olli Odd – think deep house meets chilled classics with an extra sprinkling of soft and melodic techno. By midnight, it was definitely a case of drinks and dancing taking precedence over the menu, as more and more guests arrived to fill up the cosy space and as Olli gave the music an up-tempo turn, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was ever going to come out from behind the DJ booth for a quick drink break to say the least. Nope – it seems the resident DJ is quite happy manning the decks for the duration of his party, as I saw him sneaking quick bites of sushi in between mixes – it could be said this is the Ibiza way to sing for your supper!

Dinner? Check. Drinks? Check. Dancing? Check mate! Now if only someone had warned Miss W she needed to keep her sunglasses tucked in her handbag, it could have made the taxi ride home more bearable.

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: It seems this side of the marina is where it’s at on the weekends in the winter, where it’s easy to nip back and forth from one venue to another – Sushipoint, Pacha and Kama Night at Bombay Lounge here we come!
THE BAD: Unfortunately for Miss W – who has a weakness for chocolate brownies – the sheer volume of people in attendance meant that the flustered-yet-incredibly-apologetic Sushipoint staff had trouble keeping up with the orders at our table, resulting in us missing dessert. While a complimentary bottle of wine was much–appreciated, I’m still craving that brownie…
THE GOSSIP: Whispers doing the island rounds at the moment are that the weekend Sushipoint soirees have been continuing well into the daylight hours – it’s lucky they serve breakfast then, we say!

07/11/08: Summing up the season

So yet another summer has just passed us by – although passing by probably isn’t the right way to express it. Another summer has crashed headfirst into our lives, put on a spectacular performance and then danced on out again like the whirlwind it was.

Well, at least that’s how it was for Miss W anyway.

So how do I sum it up? A couple of parties here, a bit of clubbing there and a lot of nail polish, mascara and lip gloss (always a creamy nude thank you very much!) slicked on in between – not to mention sunscreen on those sultry summer afternoons on the beach! There have been many a faithful pair of boots and stilettos re-heeled after all the action on the dance floor and I can’t even begin to imagine the amount of fresh mint plants I have slaughtered in the name of a good mojito – for research purposes of course!

There’s been some talk in the White Ibiza Studio that perhaps Miss W should nominate some of her season highlights, like best DJ, favourite beach, favourite club night, best looking bartenders and the like – but you know, I just can’t play favourites with my babies (cough Luciano splutter Cala Jondal gulp We Love… Sundays erm Base Bar). It wouldn’t be fair, you know?

But what I can do is relive a few of my own personal highlights.

1. Bumping into Luciano (and flicking my hair accordingly) on the red carpet at Ocean Drive – in front of That Person Formerly Known As Potential Boyfriend. My finest hour indeed.

2. Dancing with Kate Moss in the makeshift VIP area at Space as The Chemical Brothers rocked the Discoteca at We Love… Sundays’ 10th birthday bash. Oh OK, I was just dancing NEXT to her. But it looks like we’re mates in the photos!

3. Inadvertently taking part in a protest along Vara De Rey against the closure of DC10 and other after-hours parties – the critics may have shunned it but I was totally having my very own Angelina Jolie-esque freedom fighter moment. Libertad!

4. Dancing on the sand at Groove Armada’s not-so-secret live concert at S’Estanyol – world-class production, sensational music and quite possibly one of the most spectacular locations on the island.

5. Welcoming a gorgeous little blue-eyed stripey kitten into my Ibiza family – the essential accessory to snuggle up to after any event. It’s not always about parties you know!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Summer. Ibiza. Is there anywhere else in the world I would rather would I rather be? Not a chance.
THE BAD: While the law is the law and if you’re not abiding by said law then it’s true you have to pay the penalties, Miss W was incredibly saddened about the closure of DC10. Those were the days…
THE GOSSIP: Of course, at the end of the season the gossip is always about who went well, who will survive, who is planning what for next year, but I have to say, the one thing that I am most interested in is the future fate of Manumission. Have they jumped ship from Amnesia? Will there even be a Manumission club night next year? Are Mike and Claire opening a burlesque restaurant after all? Will there be the long-awaited world tour? Only time will tell… and you can rest assured Miss W will be here to tell you all about it when the time comes.

31/10/08: Halloween, Ibiza style…

Miss W would love to tell you all about the annual Bambuddha Grove Halloween party in Ibiza style. She’d love to tell you all about the amazing décor, from cobweb-encrusted ceilings to buddhas in hockey masks, oversized spiders hanging from the roof and skeletons in every corner. She’d love to talk about the amazing spookily-themed cocktails and how it was so busy it made getting to the bar quite a challenge. She’d love to talk about the special guest DJs and their amazing music getting the crowd on the makeshift dancefloor til the early hours of the morning.

And most of all, she’d love to tell you about the phenomenal effort made by every man, woman, child and even dog on the island to dress up for the Halloween occasion. From not one but two sets of Ghostbusters and many a gruesome fanged vampire – including one saucy schoolgirl vamp with a creepy matching vamp-esque dolly by her side – to skeletons, witches, warlocks, pirates, Bollywood babes, the Joker, a ladybird, KISS characters, a life-sized pumpkin, several Grim Reapers, a Tinkerbell and a couple of X-Men thrown in for good measure.

BUT! Sadly… Miss W can’t. She can tell you all of these things as hearsay – from Very Reliable Sources I might add – however when it came to the Halloween action, it seems Miss W’s Halloween was more of a trick than a treat.

Yes folks, tonight Miss W was off her game. By trying to spread myself thin and attend as many pre-Halloween bashes as possible, I’d opted to bypass the dinner part of the festivities at the Grove and just attend the ensuing party.

Big mistake. Big, big mistake. Big, big, biiiiiiig mistake – and I’m not afraid to admit it!

Why? Because by the time I had party-hopped my way around Ibiza Town – including an extended stop-off at Base Bar’s spooky special event – and then made my way up to the Grove, it seemed The Authorities (not content with just making Their Presence known throughout the summer) had intervened and pulled the plug. No amount of begging, pleading or phoning a friend could help Miss W get inside the party, and I guess I had no one to blame but myself. Not one to throw a ‘don’t-you-know-who-I-am?’ style tantrum, I simply hotfooted it over to Pacha, where all trick-or-treaters were welcome.

Apparently it was something to do with the venue being over capacity, as Bambuddha Grove really is a restaurant, not a bar. It seems a shame to end the season without even one exception being made to the rule, but them’s the brakes. Or are they?

They say rules are made to be broken, and if gossip is to be believed (see below), it looks like the guests of the party really got the last spooky laugh tonight…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Missing out on Bambuddha Grove didn’t mean the end of my Halloween – it simply meant I got the chance to check out the intimate Pacha winter set-up (along with all the other ghouls and goblins who missed out on a place inside the Grove) for the first time this season – and now I’m looking forward to spending a lot more quality weekend time on that dance floor.
THE BAD: Missing out on all the action of course! Looks like skipping dinner certainly didn’t do Miss W any favours on this occasion as it was definitely a case of first in, first served.
THE GOSSIP: Although the non-official word was that Bambuddha Grove had been closed down by the police – who had definitely made an appearance – and the doormen were certainly not letting any more guests inside, there are plenty of partygoers who will testify to the fact that the party went on until well after 4am.

25/10/08: Making new friends

One of the best remedies to help deal with the sadness of bidding your friends farewell for another season in Ibiza is to make some new friends. Sometimes you’ll meet them at a party, other times in a bar, sometimes they’ll be friends of a friend and others may just turn up completely unexpected. For all you know, they could well be strolling along beside you as you walk through town.

The latter is exactly the way Miss W made her New Best Friend today. After a brief stroll through the slightly soggy Sant Jordi market this morning – a girl will cross any terrain to nab the type of amazing vintage silver earrings I picked up this morning – Miss W decided it was high time she spent a little less time shopping and a little more time socialising so she headed back to Ibiza Town, where all the action was taking place in Boulevard Matutes de Vila, the pedestrianised section of the new town.

Rather than cruise about the place chit-chatting to everyone, today Miss W took a more carefully considered approach to making new friends – she lingered around the outskirts, checking out the looks of everyone but it wasn’t too long before she was approached by a very big, dark and handsome type, in town on somewhat of a business trip.

He wandered right up to me, sniffed me – very forward don’t you think? - then seemed to nod his approval. Then his minder made me an offer I couldn’t refuse – not that Miss W is shallow or easy - and he was just so good looking I had to follow his lead.

My NBF, as you may have guessed by now is of the four-legged variety, a gorgeous-yet-homeless shepherd dog named Pelut, one of the many dogs in Ibiza living in a shelter and looking for a new home. Today marks the first ‘Day Of Responsible Adoption’, a promotion that takes these furry friends out of their cages and onto the streets, with the objection to place them in new homes, staffed completely by volunteer helpers and veterinarians.

There were big ones, small ones, teensy tiny baby ones, fluffy ones, scruffy ones, stray ones and even adorable old ancient ones – the only trouble was how do you pick which one? Thankfully Miss W’s NBF made her decision easy and chose her.

You’ve gotta love a dog with a nose for Marc Jacobs perfume!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: 17 of the dogs were successfully adopted out to new families today, a testament to the volunteer workers and veterinarians who worked to oversee the event all day. If you’re interested in helping out or adopting your very own perrito, head to www.ibiza4patas.com for further information.
THE BAD: Sadly, Miss W lives in an apartment with two bossy felines, which meant there was no way she could take Pelut home with her. The good news is, she can volunteer to walk him until he finds a new home, meaning her newfound friendship can continue.
THE GOSSIP: The ominous rainclouds overhead almost threatened to ruin the event (imagine that many soggy wet dogs trying to seduce new owners?) but the heavens must have been smiling on the dogs as it managed to stay dry until the end of the event.

19/10/08: A case of the Closing Party Blues

Just yesterday I found myself wondering whether I could possibly attend another closing party. I mean, seriously, haven’t we been to enough already? Must we really keep saying goodbye? It seems Miss W has caught a serious case of the Closing Party Blues.

Of course it was only for a few minutes. Then I had a serious word to myself to help snap me out of my misery. I mean, why would anyone lament the fact there are so many reasons to go out, so many parties to attend, so many friends to see and so much fun to be had?

The source of Miss W’s CPB can be attributed to the fact that she doesn’t really understand why people would actually voluntarily CHOOSE to leave Ibiza. While she’s staying put on the beautiful white isle for a Fabulous Winter (and very happy about her decision thank you very much!), many of her wonderful friends will be leaving to go on fabulous adventures, experience new parts of the world, meet new people and party in different places.

And before you start thinking this is a case of the lonelies, envy or even just all about me, me, me, let me stop you right there. I totally respect my friends’ lifestyles and choices - after all, Ibiza is all about accepting one another for who we are, live and let live and all that – it’s just that I just want them all to live and let live in Ibiza to experience the seasonal differences!

You see the thing is, I know a secret. Want me to let you in on it? You sure? Promise you won’t tell a soul? Just between you and me, right? OK, here goes. Ibiza in the winter is even more spectacular – and more fun - than in the summer.

Yes, you read correctly. Come November, the island sheds her summer façade and becomes a veritable playground for those in the know. We have gorgeous weather, tranquil beaches, delectable gourmet restaurants, outdoor festivals aplenty, spectacular shopping, unique markets, stunning countryside, a thriving nightlife, intimate parties, thrilling romances (well, a girl can only hope!), a close-knit and like-minded community… I could go on and on forever. Don’t even get me started on Christmas and New Year – quite simply, it’s the best place I’ve ever spent the festive season in the world.

You’ll have to excuse me for sounding like a representative of the tourism board, but I love Ibiza so much, I want to share her with the world.

But please don’t all rush here at once will you? I need to get some sleep before all the fun starts…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The winter opening parties are just around the corner. These are undoubtedly the cure for CPB – and are just as exciting (if not more) than the summer openings. Stay tuned…
THE BAD: The tearful goodbyes of course – I’ll miss you all so much!
THE GOSSIP: The gossip at this time of year on the island is all about who is staying on the island… and just occasionally, how long they’ll last. Obviously Ibiza in the winter isn’t for everyone, otherwise it would be incredibly overcrowded all year long - it helps if you know the right people and have the right connections – thankfully, Miss W will be on hand to continue reporting on what’s going on where and with whom!

15/10/08: Underground Closing Party

Congratulations residents and guests of Ibiza! We’ve reached the middle of October, we’re still in one piece and we still have more parties to attend. It seems the season is getting longer and longer… and Miss W doesn’t think that’s a bad thing.

Tonight marks a very important date on the Ibiza party calendar and that’s the closing party of San Rafael haunt, Underground. Ask many a long-time island resident where their favourite place to go out in Ibiza is and the answer is usually a resounding ‘Underground.’ Then there are those lucky tourists who stumble across the venue by accident who make a point of returning again and again.

Being a venue where you can sit in a corner entrenched in a deep and meaningful conversation or get lost in the thick of the (not-so-huge) dance floor or simply hang out at one of the bars bumping into everyone you’ve ever met on the island, it’s easy to see why this is such a popular place. Speaking of everyone I’ve ever met – well actually, it was more like speaking TO everyone I’ve ever met – they were all here tonight.

From my yoga teacher to my hypnotherapist, my favourite waiter and all those bartenders who’ve been dutifully crushing the mint and sugar in my mojitos all summer, the DJs who’ve been kept me dancing every night plus all my island friends and family, it was difficult to walk more than a metre without bumping face-first into your new best friend/long-lost cousin/ex-boyfriend’s sister’s roommate.

Even with her leg in a cast, one islander – who Miss W thinks must be the only person in the world who can make a broken leg look glamorous –set up camp in the heated courtyard. Now that’s dedication.

This was quite possibly the most crowded I’ve seen the Underground this summer which made it a little difficult to get a drink, a little difficult to get to the bathroom and a little difficult to find any space on the dance floor. But did I hear any complaints about this? None whatsoever!

A standing ovation must go to special guest DJ Valentino Kanzyani who – if you squint your eyes looks just a little like Luciano - along with Underground residents Justin Field and Don Juanito. At once point, Miss W couldn’t help but notice there seemed to be every single DJ on the island all crammed behind the booth at once – don’t these guys ever want a night off?

Thankfully for us, no they don’t!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Feeling safe in the knowledge that after a well earned break, Underground will be back to give the island’s winter residents one more reason to get out of the house.
THE BAD: On their website, they say ‘It’s not for everybody’, however Underground was so crowded that it felt like literally EVERYBODY who was still on the island was here tonight! So much for it remaining our little secret…
THE GOSSIP: While a lot of guests (Miss W included) left the premises at the respectable hour of 6am when the music was turned down and the lights turned up, a very reliable rumour has it Underground hosted a very exclusive on-premises after party which carried on until 1pm that day.

13/10/08: Circo Loco Closing Party @ Privilege

There’s a been a bit of a sombre shadow cast over the island this week, noticeable when the words ‘DC10’ and ‘Circo Loco’ are mentioned. The two, intrinsically linked, have gone from being the absolute ethos of the Ibiza underground to summing up all that is negative in terms of changes made by The Authorities in an attempt to dampen the Ibiza party spirit.

Miss W has never really considered herself a freedom fighter, however when it comes down to it, after much careful consideration, she has decided to pledge her allegiance to the ‘Save DC10’ cause. I believe we should have the right to dance in the daytime, in the sunshine and the open air. I believe that venues should be regulated, of course, in an attempt to provide a safe environment in which to dance, however I feel by simply taking a venue away, the authorities are driving parties even further underground, into the unsafe and unregulated environments of villas, illegal sites and even apartments which are not equipped to deal with any emergency situations should one arise.

Now raise your right hand and repeat after me:

‘I pledge allegiance to the flag of Circo Loco at DC10 and to the Island of Ibiza for which it stands. One island under dance, indivisible, with Luciano and Tania for all.’

That being said, tonight could mark the end for the legendary party after ten years of incredible after hours shenanigans, influential and groundbreaking music and putting bigger smiles on dials than any other party to date. So rather than take their beloved venue’s one-year forced closure on the chin, the organisers of Circo Loco relocated tonight’s scheduled closing party to Privilege, taking up residence in the Coco Loco and La Vaca rooms.

Tonight it seems, the show must go on… While the venue had been replaced by her understudy, the stars of the show were still firmly in place. From the doormen to the bar staff, dancers and DJs alike, if you squinted hard enough (and imagined the walls of Privilege painted yellow), you could almost believe you were actually at DC10. Even moving between the two rooms of the club and their differing musical styles felt like the transition between the terrace and inside at DC10. Sigh…

While the numbers seemed a little down on the previous week – not surprising given many UK workers have headed home this week – the atmosphere was still as energetic, electric and enthusiastic as the opening party. It seems in the eyes of those present, Circo Loco never dies.

From 6pm to a-l-m-o-s-t- 6.30am, doom and gloom was forgotten and the business of partying was the name of the game. Miss W discovered there is life beyond Luciano – the Romanian duo of Pedro and Rhadoo had me swooning for the final two hours of the party – and you KNOW I’m talking about their music, right?

When it came time for the final curtain call, the last bows and the standing ovation, it was a bittersweet affair – happiness at having pulled off one final renegade party and sadness that this may be the very last time the Circo Loco flag flies in Ibiza.

I have my fingers, toes and even my hair crossed that it’s not.

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Circo Loco founders agreeing to throw one last party in a new venue, despite the fact promoter Andrea Pelino has publicly declared ‘There is no Circo Loco without DC10.’ Why? According to a statement on their website, the decision to move the party to Privilege tonight (as with the previous week’s party) was due to an overwhelming response from the public and out of respect for the many people who had booked flights and accommodation specifically this party and for the residents of Ibiza – and for this bold move, Miss W says a huge R.E.S.P.E.C.T. to the Circo Loco crew!
THE BAD: Is the party really over? Is this really, really well and truly the end of an Ibiza era? I know they say all good things come to an end, but Miss W – and the rest of the party-going population – just isn’t ready to let this one go yet. Feel the same? Fight for your right to party and send your opinions to protocol@santjoseptalaia.cat and let’s see if together we can make a difference.
THE GOSSIP: It’s a well-documented fact that Miss W is quite possibly Luciano’s biggest fan so it’s no surprise that gossip regarding the Chilean superstar DJs movements make their way to her ears. Today’s big gossip? That in the absence of Circo Loco next summer, Luciano will commence a new residency at Pacha – news which has come to Miss W from TWO Very Reliable Sources. Hmmm. Let’s wait and see what happens in 2009…

12/10/08: Atzaro Summer Closing Party

Depsite last night’s antics (err, and the night before!), Miss W managed to get out of bed at a reasonable hour today as she had vowed to take her visiting friends on a tour of the island that didn’t involve night clubs, however the ominous rainclouds and accompanying sprinkles seemed to be doing their best to thwart her best laid plans.

Starting with lunch at Café Benirras – squid to die for and roast chicken that would be at home in a five-star ibiza restaurant – and a quick stroll on the sand, it was then onto the Hotel Hacienda for a sunset cocktail or two. Sadly, the sunset was not meant to be as the aforementioned clouds completely shrouded the skyline. While the icy wind stopped us from sitting on the striking deck in full view of the incredible Na Xamena cliffface, it didn’t stop us from making the most of the classic cocktail menu and feeling as though we were movie stars in disguise in the ultra luxurious settings of the hotel’s bar and restaurant. If only!

Once we were certain the rain had done its dash, it was next stop, Atzaro. While the hotel and spa remain open until the end of November, today was a special occasion for the venue to bid farewell and say thank you to those who are leaving the island before then.

Offering a buffet-style Sunday roast (gone was the open air seating, though the inside of the restaurant itself looked quite empty) there was the distinct feeling that winter had begun to set in despite the humidity in the air, which made Atzaro’s special ‘Wine Corner’ look all the more appealing – looks like vino tinto season is definitely upon us.

With a slightly older and more selective crowd than last night’s fiesta, there was a family vibe about the event with babies, toddlers, kids, teens and even dogs present. Speaking of which – and I mean kids not dogs – have you ever noticed how every single child in Ibiza seems to be blessed with incredibly good looks? I’m certainly not clucky but it seems to me that the Ibiza gene pool is the ideal environment to wade in if you want your brood to be Ibiza’s Next Top Models.

DJ Jon Sa Trinxa was on hand to provide the musical soundtrack, which seemed a little more classic rock and roll than the chillout the venue is known for – think Jimi Hendrix and AC/DC bootlegs pleasing the parents, if not the kids anyway.

As we left Atzaro tonight, I was absolutely blown away by the spectacular hanging light display from a pagoda as you enter the venue (I had walked in though reception so missed it the first time around). I suspect this could be the handiwork of the ultra-talented Roseline De Thelin – do you think they’ll let me borrow it for my balcony while the hotel is closed for winter?

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The fact it’s still nice enough to sit outdoors enjoying a wine without having to get too rugged up just yet. A light scarf or jacket is honestly all you need for now… surely another great boost for winter tourism if venues continue to extend their seasons next year.
THE BAD: Events like these would do well to be clearly signposted – as you enter the sprawling venue (unless you’ve been there many times before like Miss W) it can be difficult to work out where to go or even who to ask, let alone find the right bar or restaurant area. Just a thought for next season…
THE GOSSIP: Where were all the people? This was definitely one of Atzaro’s more quiet events and although it could be put down to the poor weather, Miss W couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps the end-of-season hangovers had actually finally started to set in for the island’s party people?

11/10/08: KM5 Closing Party

Miss W was convinced it would be freezing cold under the stars tonight when she started to get ready for one of the most highly anticipated end-of-season events in Ibiza, the annual KM5 closing party. But what she forgot to bank on was the fact that each and every person remaining on the island would be in attendance, meaning the body warmth alone would more than make up for the fact there was a slight chill in the air.

Bad wardrobe choices aside – well actually it was a great wardrobe choice to tell you the truth, just not entirely appropriate given the circumstances – from the very minute my car was directed away from the KM5 car park and about half a kilometre down the road to park, it was clear that that this was going to be a very busy soiree indeed.

Whizzing through the gallery and briefly stopping to try a few things on for size in the boutique, the dance floor was the next stop where DJ Graham Sahara was already living up to the reputation he earned for himself at last year’s closing party – that is, for playing the best set of his life, with a packed and grooving dance floor to prove it. Alongside him were the FR4M3 VJs providing visual effects however Miss W had to admit that she wasn’t really looking at anything other than the many beautiful people on show!

Once outside, it was more of a milling-around-and-chatting type crowd – you know the type, ‘How was your summer? What are you up to in the winter? When are you leaving the island?’ Before repeating herself a hundred times for the second time in two days (‘Summer was amazing! Staying on the island for winter of course. I would never dream of leaving – things are just getting started!’) Miss W grabbed the White-ettes and headed straight for the bar – a girl can’t make possibly small talk without one of KM5’s divine mojitos to help loosen her lips.

It was nice to notice many of the club’s staff, security, managers and promoters – think Pacha, Space, Underground, Es Vive and more - finally out and about and making the most of the last days of the season- Miss W has often wondered whether these guys preferred to simply chill after the clubs have closed or are ready and waiting to spring into action on the other side of the bar. Looks like it was the latter.

As the clock struck three, KM5 literally turned from a lovely chilled bar into a crazy club in seconds – from people whistling and cheering each time a new song was played to the chaos of trying to make the move from inside to outdoors (it reminded Miss W of trying to move from the terrace to inside at DC10 at one stage – hectic indeed), incredibly long and arduous bathroom queues and virtually no chance of getting table service as the bar was so mobbed. Thankfully the specially created VIP areas were comfortable AND well looked after, a credit to the staff as managing to carry a tray of cocktails through this crowd was more than a feat, it was a miracle.

There were no sightings of Miss W’s new crush at KM5 tonight however it didn’t stop That Person Formerly Known As Semi-Boyfriend from popping into in my periphery view – looking very much the suave man about town - no matter where I chose to mingle, making Miss W wonder whether she’d made the right decision when choosing to end their relations. So of course rather than behave like a grown-up, I made a swift exit without saying goodbye and spent the rest of the night umming and ahhing over the lack of romance in my life. To be continued…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: It seems that hangovers just don’t exist in Ibiza, as every single person I’d seen indulging last night at Aura was experiencing a case of Groundhog Day and doing it all again tonight at KM5! Whether it’s something in the bottled water, something we can attribute to the magical energy of the island or simply just hair of the dog, one thing’s for sure – the residents of this island could win an Olympic gold medal for stamina hands down.
THE BAD: Discovering about half a dozen different fashion items in the boutique – including a hot pair of studded heels, a gorgeous cream leather cuff and a hippie-esque satchel with an embossed red stone love heart bag -that I seriously HAVE to have. What’s so bad about that? Well, manoeuvring a bunch of shopping bags through the hectic crowd and on the dance floor just isn’t Miss W’s style so I didn’t snap them up at the time, but now the store has closed for the season, I just can’t stop lusting after them! Waaah!
THE GOSSIP: It’s probably here that I should note: in Ibiza, even when your six inch heels dictate how far you can actually walk to reach your destination, it’s always wise to find a legal parking space as Miss W noticed the Grua (that’s the tow truck) and Policia working hand in hand tonight to generate as much revenue as possible by towing away every vehicle that was illegally parked. It’s just not worth the hassle – get dropped off at the door to avoid foot injuries and let your designated driver do the walking!

10/10/08: Danz Closing Party @ Aura

It only feels like five minutes ago that Miss W was waxing lyrical about the amazing renovations that happened over the winter at Aura… and here we are now, saying sayonara to the summer season of their Friday night special Danz. Wow.

Wanting to make the most of the whole experience, Miss W rounded up a group of White-ettes and island friends to head in to the venue early, taste the much talked about tapas and get into the spirit from start to finish, which is how she found herself sat at a beautiful candlelit round table on the terrace with her closest friends, talking for hours about the season wrap ups and the very few parties that were still on the agenda.

The thing about sitting at one of the cosy outdoor tables, complete with standing heaters to avoid the oncoming chill is that it’s just so comfy you never ever want to leave. But after about two hours of intense conversation, I realised that there was actually a major party taking place inside and thought perhaps it was time to mingle… and headed indoors accordingly.

It never ceases to amaze me the way Aura has the ability to practically become a nightclub after dinner and tonight the soundtrack came courtesy of Ibiza Sonica’s Andy Wilson. A dance floor high point? The mega Trompeta by Sis, a track that practically defines the Ibiza summer and had the crowd grooving and moving like it was a major club. Just when you thought it was safe to think clubbing was over for the season…

As usual on a Friday night at Aura, everyone who is anyone was there – club promoters, publicity mega-managers, art dealers, international and local DJs, party planners, concierge queens, marketing gurus, restaurant managers, visiting diplomats... Oh alright, the diplomat part may be a slight exaggeration but you get my drift. This was THE place to be tonight.

And Miss W and the White-ettes were on hand to get all the gossip – both on and off the record. Stay tuned for further updates before Aura officially closes its doors for the summer – there’s still at least another week plus Miss W hears Team Aura are contemplating staying open on weekends until Christmas.

What else can I say? Yes please!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The mixologists, as always. Miss W couldn’t help but notice how the two exceptionally good looking bar staff (aren’t they always at Aura?) seemed to have the perfect aesthetic balance, one with short hair, one with long hair, one shaking, one stirring – was this a cleverly executed
THE BAD: While Miss W isn’t one to complain if a menu item isn’t what she expected – you win some you lose some right? – she has to admit, when three out of four dishes don’t really live up to expectations, perhaps there’s an issue or two in the kitchen? Perhaps it can be blamed on the overwhelming amount of patrons turning up in droves and placing extra stress on the kitchen?
THE GOSSIP: Spotted wheeling and dealing on Aura terrace was the combination of one of the island’s most notorious promoters and a very well known local identity, rumoured to soon be opening his own venue. While Miss W would never name names, this is surely a killer combination to look out for next summer.

10/10/08: Café Mambo Closing Party

An ominous looking sky wasn’t enough to hold back the celebrations at Café Mambo tonight, as the crew, residents, workers and faithful patrons gathered together one last time before the beautifully mosaic-ed doors were officially nailed shut (or at least, boarded up and fenced off) at the end of another very successful season for what is perhaps the island’s most legendary sunset bar.

With special guest Jose Padilla – dubbed ‘godfather of the sunset session’ by Team mambo - there to kick off the sunset proceedings, the party began in the traditional chillout style it’s known for. Clapping off the sunset has become nothing less than a nightly Mambo tradition and tonight was no exception – though the sunset itself left a lot to be desired thanks to the low cloud cover and mist.

Well, the Café Mambo family may be able to control many things when it comes to throwing a fabulous closing party, but the weather isn’t one of them!
Pacha and El Ayoun resident Angel Linde continued the musical journey as the night began to settle, followed by the Mambo residents themselves, the boys responsible for setting the ambient mood all summer long, Alex Wolfenden and Jason Bye – sadly for us (but not for him!) Andy Baxter wasn’t on deck duty tonight as he was busy taking part in a Pacha tour of Brazil however the boys were joined by Dan Ward aka Negghead, no stranger to the Mambo DJ booth himself.

From the minute the boys began their back-to-back bonanza it was clear the chill out vibe was over and the party had well and truly begun. Spotted getting their groove on by the booth? The Mambo boys (as they’ve come to be known as) Alan and Christian plus head honcho Javier, Pacha’s Danny Whittle and his team and those Manumission and Cocoon dancers still on the island, all soaking up the vibe.

At one point the soundtrack took a turn for the cheesier when a certain Mambo manager began making requests and got even more err, shall we say, interesting when the person in question jumped behind the booth and began mixing themselves.

Thankfully, Alex and Dan returned to save the day – or more appropriately night, as it was 2am – and kept the eager crowd going until the very last cerveza was poured… and drunk of course.

Miss W has to wonder though, are all these people aware that the sun actually continues to set even though Café Mambo is closed?

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Over the past few years Miss W has noticed the vibe at Mambo just getting better and better and tonight it really showed with the loyal crowd remaining on the premises right up until closing time.
THE BAD: Finding the right place to linger proved a little difficult for Miss W as it after dark it was freezing outside yet very cosy, warm and perhaps just a little too humid indoors. Here comes the drama of trans-seasonal dressing again.
THE GOSSIP: The police turned up at one point – for no apparent reason – causing whispers through the crowd of a potential shut down or noise pollution fine but Mss W can report it was nothing of the sort. The lovely law enforcement boys were simply enjoying the atmosphere and the view for themselves.

06/10/08: El Ayoun Closing Party

Is anyone else sick and tired of having to wear wristbands that declare their right to party in Ibiza or is it just Miss W? I mean, I totally see the point but quite often the bold colours really just don’t match my outfit and the sharp plastic edges tend to snag my clothes. So tonight as I reached the teensy tiny entrance to El Ayoun, I must admit I was totally thrilled at the fact the wristbands were at least slimline and black – totally in keeping with the Rock Chic dress code.

A strictly invite only affair, El Ayoun’s closing is renowned as one of the best parties of the season and after today’s bad news that DC10 had indeed been closed for one year by the authorities, the blow was softened a little for many people upon hearing that tonight’s special guest DJ at El Ayoun would be none other than Circo Loco (and Miss W’s) fave Luciano. Judging by the amount of people milling about outside the venue and trying to talk their way inside, not to mention the crammed dance floor, packed terrace and busy bars, this was a draw card that seemed to turn tonight’s closing party into one of THE events of the century.

With the entire terrace and restaurant cleared of tables, it was clear from the minute I stepped inside that this was set to be one enormous party indeed. We managed to shimmy our way through the heaving dance floor of Privado to check out the swish sushi lounge only to discover that GASP! It had been turned into a super-exclusive VIP area not even Miss W was allowed access to. Humph...

My consolation prize? The doorway to the sushi lounge is situated directly behind the DJ booth, where the ever-so-gorgeous Luciano was already well and truly into his set and to be honest, when I took a step forward I felt like I was literally standing in the booth with him. Sigh… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If only he wasn’t a happily married man…

But I digress! Once Miss W managed to drag herself away from pole position beside the decks, it was the business of people watching that had her attention. And if you couldn’t indulge in a good spot of people watching tonight at El Ayoun, well then I think you must have been blind!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: People watching of course! From Ibiza's infamous Pippi the Panda Lady, resplendent in her gowns and with white teddy bear in to Cocoon dancers, local socialites, a gaggle of superstar DJs including Dan Ghenacia, Pedro and Steve Lawler, the gorgeous Base Bar and Es Vive crew and the eclectic French jet-set, tonight had more eye candy than a day at Blue Marlin - wow! Even That Person Formerly Known As Semi-Boyfriend was there - well, even I have to admit he's still cute...
THE BAD: While Miss W was actually the designated driver tonight (a girl’s got to help out her friends every once in a while) it didn’t stop tales of ruthless bartending reaching her ears – refusing to serve anyone they didn’t recognise, spending more time talking than serving and even keeping change before it had the chance to be offered as a tip. It may be the last party guys but it’s certainly not the time to lower El Ayoun’s normally very high standards – last impressions are as important as first ones in my book.
THE GOSSIP: If one thing can be said for Luciano, it’s that he’s a certainly superb party DJ. But just how far into his record bag did he have to dig to please a crowd of whom probably 70 per cent had never been on a DC10 or Cocoon dance floor in their lives? Blackwater? Show Me Love? God Made Me Funky? While Luciano’s made a name for himself adding 70s, 80s and 90s acapellas over his mixes, Miss W couldn’t help but wonder if the singalong ‘greatest hits’ style finale of his set tonight was a little TOO reminiscent of a school disco?

03/10/08: Space Closing Party

You know one of the (many) things I love about Ibiza is that you can potentially go to the same club, seven nights in a row and have a completely different experience each time. But after a season of indulging in such behaviour on a nightly basis, even I have to admit that it starts to get just a little same old same old after 18 weeks, give or take a few.

But the Space closing party is a completely different kettle of fish, or dance floor of clubbers or whatever metaphor you’d like to insert here. Forget décor and DJs – today (and tonight) is all about dance floor. One huge, gigantic, colossal, mammoth, enormous, epic dance floor. As was the case with the opening, the Space car park ditches its regular look of asphalt and vehicles in favour of stages, bars, DJs, dancers and of course, an 18 000 person capacity dance floor.

So it comes as no surprise that the Space Closing is the hottest ticket in town this week and when the rainclouds that had been lingering over Ibiza town for the past few days seemed to magically clear as Space threw open its doors at the special time of 12pm, Miss W had to wonder whether the powers that be at Space had sold their soul in order to guarantee the perfect party.

The blue skies and warm weather ensured the car park filled up fast, as people made the most of their last chance to dance in one of the world’s best clubs – for eight more months at least. The Space Closing is also traditionally the one day of the year that pretty much each and every worker on the island (except the Space staff, obviously!) is given the day off and encouraged to party. It’s also the last time many of them will see each other, as island numbers start dwindling from tomorrow, so it’s like a giant farewell of sorts and there were so many Ibiza faces on hand, I'm not even going to begin to try and list them!

With a line-up to end all line-ups – and by this I mean the who’s who of every club on the island, not just those who’ve played at Space – there was something for everyone, from the most die-hard minimal tech fan to those who love funky vocals or old school classic progressive style. Miss W has to give big props to Steve Lawler, who wowed the car park with an electrifying set, despite the fact he had a troupe of dancers dressed in gorilla costumes dancing beneath him at one point – surely a big distraction!

Though Miss W was given one of the rare access all areas wristbands meaning she could hang out behind the DJ booth or to the side of the stage, today she decided to get among the thick of things, front and centre of the outdoor dance floor – I mean, that’s what clubbing is all about isn’t it? While it’s nice to get preferential treatment and rub shoulders with the VIPs and artists, sometimes you just can’t beat a proper eight hour rave session with your pals…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The amazing live displays from Ibiza performance group – and Space regulars - Foc I Fum. Moving amongst the dance floor as well as on stage and in the air, it was such a refreshing change to have something to watch other than lasers. We loved the adorable elves with their glittering heart padlock and the cute bear who performed aerial tricks on a BMX – not sure how fitting this is for a nightclub but regardless, it worked a treat!
THE BAD: While Miss W doesn’t want to badmouth a certain DJ who recently won the award for best international DJ in his category, she has to wonder about whether he may have been slightly ‘off’ tonight? The makeshift mega-dance floor in Space’s car park seemed to suddenly clear out after about 15 minutes of banging, raucous music after a mind-blowing set from the previous DJ. Hmmm… or maybe he just wasn’t in his element?
THE GOSSIP: There were hushed whispers amongst the Space Closing veterans that numbers were down on previous years (although it still felt incredibly crowded to Miss W), blaming it on the fact the mammoth Amnesia closing had continued until after three in the afternoon, a week after it’s original scheduled date, meaning there weren’t as many fresh-faced punters fronting up at Space’s doors upon opening.

28/09/08: We Love Closing party

It feels a little bit like ‘another one bites the dust’ each time I leave the house at the moment. I mean seriously, how many more times can we say goodbye? But tonight marks a pretty important closing milestone in the Ibiza clubbing calendar, and that is the night we say adios (for another season at least) to We Love… Sundays at Space.

This is the party that pretty much everyone who visits Ibiza makes a beeline for, the party people plan their holidays around, the party that is like a mini-festival every Sunday and the party that Miss W has been in attendance at every single week this year. And now it’s all come to an end…

But before Miss W starts getting all nostalgic, let’s talk about the party itself shall we?

With a huge line-up including We Love stalwarts James Zabiela and Nic Fanciulli playing back to back, deep house legend Ben Watt, master of techno ceremonies Jeff Mills and Balearic genius Alfredo, it’s no surprise that the queues outside the club were lengthy in the early hours of operation – thankfully Miss W was whisked in the side door to avoid her extra special party frock getting crumpled!

The sunset terrace, as always, was full of happy, smiling Ibiza faces (and I mean on the dance floor, not the ones hanging from the roof) and long-time residents Jonathan Ulysses and Jason Bye recieved a hugely appreciative reception as they churned out quality arms-in-the-air house music as the sun went down over the club.

The discoteca was a similar story – filling up very early to the sounds of resident David Phillips – remaining packed until the very last notes of music echoed from the booth. On the inside terraza glitter and confetti was being sprayed on the eager crowd who couldn’t have been more excitable if they tried.

For Miss W, it was hard to choose which room to spend the most time in, as all were boasting fantastic programming. In the end, it was the discoteca, where the who’s who of Ibiza clubbing were gathered behind the DJ booth to get their last dose of We Love before the season’s out.

Speaking of the who’s who of Ibiza clubbing, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Miss W seems to have developed a new crush on a Certain Boy… Bet you can’t guess who – and I’ll never tell…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: We Love had been running a ‘Fresh Blood’ competition all summer to unearth some hot new DJ talent and Mark Murphy was the well-deserved winner and was rewarded with an opening set on the new terraza. Three cheers to We Love for taking a risk on a newcomer on one of the biggest nights of the year – keep your eyes peeled for this talented DJ in the future.
THE BAD: Seeing the Certain Boy dancing extremely closely with Another Girl – it seems all the good ones are taken no matter where you live in the world these days!
THE GOSSIP: Pete Tong was spotted by the DJ booth watching DJ Hell perform his disco set and when a We Love staffer was overheard apologising for the lack of free drinks tickets on offer, the superstar DJ replied ‘I think I can afford to pay for some drinks myself.’ Hear hear… it’s a refreshing change to many of the other guests in the booth we suspect!

27/09/08: Groove Armada Live Concert @ S’Estanyol

Only a matter of hours after we’d bade farewell to Wonderland, a special text message arrived in Miss W’s inbox declaring that the party was not yet over for Groove Armada, who would be performing a very special one-off concert at one of my favourite places on the island, S’Estanyol.

Oh well - no rest for the wicked right?

Miss W has to hand to it to the crew from The Shop, who – after successfully closing the Wonderland season at Eden – managed to pull off organising the full-scale Groove Armada live band, stage show (lasers and all) right on the beach, and managed to keep it a secret until now. Credit where credit’s due… and a round of applause is certainly due here.

From the minute I arrived, I have to admit I was über-impressed. Although we had to leave our car quite far back up the steep hill and walk down – and indication as to how many people had caught wind of the event and arrived early – from the first beat of the music carrying itself on the wind to the spectacular set up and lighting displays projected onto the rocks, you got the feeling that you were about to take part in something special.

With three overseas visitors in tow tonight, Miss W was pretty proud to be able to show her guests a glimpse of ‘The Real Ibiza’ – a secret party, heavyweight line-ups and a spectacular setting. Even the ominous rainclouds managed to stay away for the duration of the event – phew!

Of course, it was all about the music and from the minute Groove Armada took to the stage, the entire crowd got their groove on, dancing in the sand, arms in the air, girls hoisted up on shoulders, little kids bopping around (yes, this was a very chilled family affair) and a lot of singing and hugging (think: ‘Whenever I’m down, I call on you my friend’). Oh, I feel all teary and emotional just thinking about it now.

From old classics (Superstylin’ will NEVER get old) to some new songs, this was a concert that will be talked about in Ibiza for years to come. Something out of the ordinary, something unexpected and something very special indeed. In fact, this could be Miss W’s favourite event in Ibiza this summer.

But don’t quote me on that!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The music pumping from the incredible sound system both before and after the event was absolutely rave-tastic and had guests dancing on the sand for hours. Miss W asked around on the night to discover exactly which DJ was doing such a fantastic job (she couldn’t see for herself because the booth was well-hidden) and it wasn’t until the following evening that the ever-so-humble Andy Baxter admitted that he was the man responsible. Makes me look forward to his winter residencies at Pacha and Grial...
THE BAD: The event promised free paella however the guests must have been incredibly hungry as it was completely gone by the time Miss W arrived! There was a gourmet BBQ sizzling away, so we lined up for more than half an hour to order, only to discover that food tickets needed to be purchased at the bar. However when we enquired at the bar, they said we should pay at the BBQ. Needless to say, Miss W had to suffice with a liquid dinner… not the end of the world!
THE GOSSIP: Had Groove Armada’s Andy Cato (who was wearing sunglasses for the entire show) or any of our good friends from The Shop been to bed since the previous night’s extravaganza at Wonderland? Fair play to them all – they managed to pull it off to perfection if that was the case!

26/09/08: Wonderland Closing @ Eden

Whaddya mean Wonderland is closing? Wasn’t it only yesterday Miss W was speculating about Eden’s revamp (ummm, amazing), whether the club would pull any punters (wellllll, just a few consistent thousand week in, week out) and whether or not the night would be a success (err, no brainer really)? And here we are, celebrating the closing already…

Why is it that we celebrate a closing party anyway? Miss W thinks it should be like a mourning ceremony, given the fact we have to wait another whole eight months before we can experience it again!

But it would be rude of me to let my sadness spoil the party spirirt so it was off to Eden for one last time this summer to say farewell to Pete Tong, Groove Armada, Jo Mills and co at the end of their hugely successful debut season of Wonderland.

Feeling a little bit apprehensive, I entered through the hallowed VIP entrance – something that’s become a bit of a ritual over the last three months – to the sounds of Rob Marmot filling the main room. Considering the hype this party’s received over the last few days, I was surprised to see the dance floor looking sparse, but perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that Pete and Jo were both playing a free pre-party just up the road at Kanya, where many clubbers were eagerly getting a first taste of what was to come.

My prediction soon proved to be correct as the room filled up fast – just in time for Groove Armada’s first set of the evening. That’s right folks, Andy and Tom just can’t seem to get enough of Wonderland and thus two set times were in place – once in the main room and again later in their own room, The Lovebox. Belting out the rave-esque sets Miss W has come to look forward to each Friday one last time…

Upstairs in The Looking Glass it seemed it was resident’s rules, as Jo Mills and Tomas Hedberg DJed back to back for four solid house-flavoured hours, throwing in a few new tracks of their own creation – expect to hear more on this as the year progresses.

And of course, at the end of the night, it was all down to one Mr Tong to wrap up the ceremonies to the thrill of the heaving crowd – saying sayonara to the burlesque dancers, the incredible LCD screens and globe displays, the oversized W-shaped chairs and everything else that made Wonderland the success of the season. I’m sure I heard Miss W’s mentioned in the thank you speech at least once…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The man of the hour, day, week, month and year, Pete Tong was spotted doing the rounds of each room, giving the nod to his faithful residents, much-loved guests and the behind-the scenes crew that make a good night like Wonderland come together – just the way it should be.
THE BAD: Outside at the entrance there was a striking Flamenco dancer doing her thing atop one of the oversized W chairs when sadly, one of the neighbours (yes, nightclubs do indeed have neighbours) complained about the noise of her stamping her feet. Oh come on neighbours… it was the last time this year, give the girl a break!
THE GOSSIP: The vodka was free-flowing tonight though it seemed the bar staff were not too happy about the number of drinks tickets coming across the bar, choosing to serve paying customers over the VIP invited guests. Miss W hears this even resulted in certain staff members being dismissed on the night. Come on girls, surely a measly tip or two wasn’t worth the hassle?

25/09/08: 2008 Ibiza DJ Awards @ Pacha

From the minute Miss W stepped a stiletto-shod toe onto the red carpet at the pre-event cocktail party at Ocean Drive tonight, she knew this was going to be no ordinary night out to say the least.

Why? Well, firstly the reason for the gathering was to celebrate the 2008 Ibiza DJ Awards, which are voted for by the public so a very important night on the Ibiza social calendar indeed. Secondly, Miss W had caught a glimpse of That Person she had previously considered a Semi-Boyfriend up until a few weeks ago so she felt the need to flick her freshly blow-dried hair a lot as she chatted to super-hot Chilean DJ Luciano on the red carpet, acting as if he was asking her on a date (despite the fact he is happily married and we all know Miss W would NEVER be a home wrecker), not simply discussing his current predilection for dropping old school house classics on the dance floor.

Well, you can’t blame a girl for wanting to look popular in front of an ex, can you?

Anyway, back to business. After grabbing one of the delicious cocktails on offer to soothe my flustered nerves, I finally managed to relax and work my way through the room. From the Mambo family through to the Pacha crew, the German techno-lords, local media magnates and the gorgeous Italian television crews, there was no shortage of schmoozing and air kissing for at least an hour. Then it was on to the main event, moving just down the road to Pacha, where the awards ceremony would be taking place.

I must say it was quite strange to walk into Pacha and be able to actually see the floor – quite a different experience to the usual Thursday nights, but it certainly made balancing a glass of wine – which was free flowing right up until the clock struck 12 – and a delicious Japanese flavoured canapé much more of an easy task than it would be on a crowded dance floor.

With a huge stage set up in the centre of the floor, Miss W picked a prime position high above the VIP area so she could get the perfect view of the action. Starting with the always amazing Pacha dancers posturing on the stage, resplendent in white wedding-esque costumes the only thing that seemed slightly (dare I say?) un-glamorous about the night was the err, interesting alien decorations and fluoro green netting swathed about the stage.

Obviously it tied in with the fact that each winner received a small statue of ‘Kryptonite’ as their award but the relevance was completely lost on me - wasn’t Kryptonite actually Superman’s weakness anyway?

Moving right along, it was time for the awards to begin and the dance floor was now completely full in time for the big announcements – hosted in English by Des Paul of MTV and Capitol Radio and in Spanish by Mariana Ribelo – whose frock seemed to have been designed to coordinate with the alien!

So with no further ado, please allow me to introduce to you, the winners: Tiesto, David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Richie Hawtin, Steve Lawler, David Guetta, Adam Beyer, Sasha, Jazzanova, Ricardo Villalobos and Luciano. Special awards were presented to Bill Kelly, co-founder of the Miami Music Conference, Beatport founder Jonas Tempel for their contribution to the dance music industry and as for the biggies? Song of the year went to Mark Knight and Funkagenda’s huge re-working of Laurent Garnier’s Man With The Red Face and Best Ibiza Night went to Cocoon at Amnesia, an award which Miss W thought was very well deserved given it’s huge success for yet another season.

And after the awards? Well the business of an after party is a very important one indeed and when the after party is hosted by a certain Mr & Mrs Guetta – yes, that’s David and Cathy of F*** Me I’m Famous for those who don’t know – in a place like Pacha, well, that’s another whole story indeed.

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Seeing the island's movers and shakers descend upon a venue, dressed up to the nines and with the intention of letting their hair down together after a long and busy summer. Smiles all round...
THE BAD: While the quality of sound at Pacha musically is amazing, the acoustics of the room didn’t seem to lend themselves to the presenter’s voices as it was difficult to hear them speak – though the winners certainly managed to hear their names being called so all was not lost.
THE GOSSIP: Although the event itself is clearly not a strictly Pacha event, it didn’t stop tongues wagging over the noticeable absence of any nomination for Wonderland and its residents. Surely one of the most successful new club nights on the island deserved a look in?

23/09/08: Laurent Garnier @ Space

As the season is winding down, you’d think that people – like Miss W for example – might be a little sick of heading to nightclubs. Again. And again. But then again, this is Ibiza and as we residents (and faithful visitors of course!) realise we have but a mere few weeks left to enjoy the super clubs – except for Pacha, which remains open all year long thankfully – so it makes us even more likely to head out each and every night for one last dose of DJs, dancing and disco extravaganzas.

Even though it feels like the Carl Cox closing was just yesterday, two weeks have actually passed and rather than let the coveted Tuesday night slot at Space remain empty, the good folk at Safehouse have taken over the club for two more weeks and tonight are presenting a very special evening with none other than Laurent Garnier.

Having witnessed the legendary DJ and producer perform at We Love… Sundays just a few weeks ago, Miss W couldn’t pass up the chance to see him one more time this summer. Arriving quite late – fashionably late of course – Miss W sadly missed out on Monsieur Garnier’s first set on the sunset terrace but was just in time to catch the second set in side the discoteca.

And what a way to end the season – a completely packed club, everyone and anyone from Ibiza, including Miss W and the White-ettes, off-duty DJs, out-of-work Manumission girls and even an Australian contingent in the form of Pacha resident DJ Sarah Main and sister Emma and their visiting troops – perhaps on hand to support Aussie drum & bass heroes Pendulum who were thrashing it out with a DJ and MC set in the inside terrace til the wee hours.

But it was the discoteca where the main action was taking place – when Laurent Garnier unleashed his classic Man With A Red Face on the dance floor, it could have been a scene from a late nineties rave documentary, with the amount of arms in the air reaching for the spectacular lasers combined with screams and whistles coming from the rapturous audience – what an atmosphere and what a way to say sayonara to Tuesday nights…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The amazing production in the Space discoteca and the chance to witness another epic set from Laurent Garnier (make that two if you were one of those lucky enough to arrive at the club in time to catch the first set) before the season comes to a close.
THE BAD: Saying adios to Tuesday nights at Space. Sob sob!
THE GOSSIP: Rumours were flying around the island via email, text message and Chinese whispers (Ibiza style) that his dance music highness Moby would be making a very special appearance tonight, as a ‘secret’ guest. However rumours proved to be untrue… unless Moby was disguised as someone else?

18/09/08: We Love Boat Party with Ibiza Med Yachting

There’s nothing better than a day on a sailboat heading across to Formentera – that is, until you spend a day on a sailboat heading across to Formentera with the who’s who of Ibiza DJs, on board to help toast the end of the season for We Love… Sundays as part of their ten-year anniversary celebrations – which is exactly how Miss W spent the better part of this fine Thursday in Ibiza.

Setting sail from Ibiza port on the vessel La Princesa Del Mar – a 25-metre yacht managed by Ibiza Med Yachting – or the Good Ship We Love as it could have been renamed today, the guest list to this soiree was kept extremely tight at a mere 35 people and thankfully Miss W was one of those lucky enough to receive an invitation.

With gorgeous glossy brown wooden decking, comfortable and stylish navy blue mattresses aboard the top deck perfect for lazing around and sunbathing, a fully-stocked bar, gourmet buffet lunch and even a makeshift dance floor (one would expect no less from those experienced in throwing one of the world’s biggest and best parties every week), the party seemed to get started before the ship had even left the port.

After a few difficulties with the sound system, requiring a generator to be sent out to meet the boat via Zodiac – it was time for the We Love… residents to step up to the plate (or decks as the case may be) and battle the rocking of the boat in the fight to stay upright behind the makeshift DJ booth and treat guests to exclusive chill-out sets. All Miss W can say is thank goodness the DJs weren’t using vinyl as the Mediterranean was certainly putting on an impressively rocking display of her own talents!

Beginning with a funk based set courtesy of Mr Doris, followed by an impressive array of bootlegs by Jon Sa Trinxa (even Madonna was heard at one point!) and a deep house selection from Jon Howell, it was left to long-time We Lover David Phillips to finish off with an eclectic party mix that impressed the tough audience on board – must be difficult when you’re playing to a room that’s 70 per cent DJs, 15 per cent promoters, 15 per cent music lovers and 5 per cent Miss W.

As for the rest of the day? Entertaining antics (as always) from the Café Mambo crew – Alex Wolfenden, Jason Bye and Andy Baxter – plenty of sunshine meant lots of time spent diving off the boat to swim and snorkel, delicious food, great service and a good time was had by all.

The verdict? We love… We Love…!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Mooring just off Es Palmador and being treated to exclusive one hour chill-out sets from the residents of We Love… Not a bad life, eh?
THE BAD: A serious bout of seasickness caused by very rough waters saw one We Lover jump ship (not literally of course) and return to dry land before the boat had even passed Las Salinas beach while several others were seen clutching their tummies or even the side of the boat to try and hold on to their lunches!
THE GOSSIP: A few notable absences from well-known island DJs who had RSVP’d yes to the event had tongues wagging as to whether the previous night’s festivities had caused them to oversleep – Miss W suspects the early curtain call of 11am must have been painful more than one of the night creatures on board!

17/09/08: Kumhara’s Wax Da Beach with Radio Sonica

It was a sad day when alternative sunset hangout Kumhara’s in San Antonio Bay closed its doors (well, more like it’s wooden shutters but you get my drift) for a forced two-month closure after battling with the authorities for the past year and Miss W shed a tear or two, having watched many a beautiful sunset there in her time.

Which meant it was an even happier occasion when the venue reopened for business just over a week ago – and what better way to celebrate than with a live broadcast on Radio Sonica featuring Nightmares on Wax and the Wax On crew, for the aptly named three-hour Wax Da Beach show.

Miss W is a devoted listener of DJ E.A.S.E’s (aka George Evelyn, the man behind the mighty Nightmares On Wax project) weekly radio show Wax Da Box on Ibiza Sonica (from 6pm every Thursday for those who’d like to tune in and hear it themselves) so it didn’t take much to entice her into Kumhara’s when she heard the news – throw in a couple of glasses of chilled rosé, one (or two) of the infamous Nutella crepes and some chilled-out tunes courtesy of the Wax On crew and we were in business.

For one of the first nights this season it was chilly enough to actually wear jeans and a light scarf but thankfully the weather didn’t deter a healthy crowd from forming around the area where George was doing his thing – assisted by just a few of his talented friends including Negghead, Guts and some extra special help on the mike provided by his gorgeous daughter Mali (who struggled to see over the decks it must be said, but managed to pull off the sweetest guest vocals ever heard in Ibiza.

Think trip-hop tastic, laidback melodies and smooth grooves in a hippy-esque environment, with Ibiza Sonica on hand to broadcast the entire event to everyone who couldn’t make it to the actual event and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect sunset experience. Though Miss W must admit she stayed long after the sun went down, along with the Sonica and Wax On crews and a handful of their closest friends.

Nightmares? More of a dream-like state if you ask Miss W!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: With the three-hour Wax Da Beach spectacular being broadcast live on Ibiza Sonica (and coming to you live from White Ibiza’s home page), it meant that no matter where in the world you’re based, you didn’t have to miss out on the action completely. Miss W would like to request a re-run of the show please… or a download so she can relive the moment.
THE BAD: The slightly overcast weather made the sunset moment just a little bit non descript (though thankfully the good tunes coming from DJ E.A.S>E made up for it). I guess you can’t control every single aspect of planning an event – at least it wasn’t rained out!
THE GOSSIP: Miss W hears whispers of a Wax Da Beach sequel taking place at on Friday October 3rd so keep your eyes peeled, your dial tuned to 95.2fm or stream it live from the web as it’s guaranteed to be a great wind down as the summer season comes to a close (sob sob!).

12/09/08: Manumission Closing Party

I know, I know, I know. Miss W has a slight obsession with Manumission and a tendency to go on and on about them whenever occasion allows. Well, please bear with me one last time as I wax lyrical about the final occasion for Ibiza’s favourite performance artists, as tonight marks the farewell for 2008 – and if you listen to the rumours on the island, it could well be the farewell forever – of Manumission.

Rather than listen to rumours, Miss W thought it was best she got into the spirit of things herself and had one last dance at Amnesia on a Friday (for this summer at least), one last chance to witness the shows… and let’s not forget, once last chance to mingle upstairs in the exclusive VIP area with the who’s who of Ibiza society – otherwise known as friends of Manumission.

While the action for most people took place on the stages on the famous Amnesia terrace (I must admit, I don’t really see the point of the main room being open – why go in here when the shows are in the terrace?), for Miss W, the action happens on the raised balcony looking down on the shows. Practically every single bar and restaurant owner – plus their staff members, friends and invited guests) in Ibiza had turned out to show their support of one of the original and best parties on the island. Add to that a host of island characters, DJs, party promoters, club owners, dancers, ex-Manumission staff and you’ve got a melting pot of islanders set to create a party atmosphere more like a New Year’s Eve party than a closing!

Thankfully, the balcony affords full view of the shows and Miss W got her final fix of the Coney Island Review – for the record, may I say that Baby Pin Up and her interesting interpretation of flying the flags most definitely steals the show (no less shocking-yet-impressive the more times you see it) , Mike and Claire still reign as island style icons and that the ever smiling long-standing Manumission girl Giulia’s glossy red smile will be firmly imprinted on many a clubber’s brain after they’ve left the venue tonight, having been tossed a gift from her hands out of the Manumission dress-up box, whether it be a wig, feather boa or mask. And yes, given the chance I would still don the obligatory corset, sky-high stilettos and add a feather to my hair to run away and join the Manumission circus if I could.

Guess that gives me motivation to start that detox, diet and exercise regime I’ve been contemplating soon right? Well, once we’ve passed the rest of the closings that is – this week is only just the beginning of the end…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: What can I say? Mike, Claire, Johnny Golden, and the Coney Island Review - Manuel Albarran, Polly Fey, Elise Caluwaerts and not forgetting the unique and spectacular Baby Pin Up – thank you all for a wonderful season and we’re looking forward to see happens next!
THE BAD: In the past, the Manumission closing party has practically caused a roadblock in San Rafael (including at previous home Privilege) but tonight Miss W had no problem finding a parking space in the Amnesia car park. While some may say this is a good thing, Miss W worries that it spells a decline in the numbers attending the closing parties – surely not a good sign?
THE GOSSIP: Was this SERIOUSLY the last Manumission party ever? Say it isn’t so? The island is awash with gossip about the future of the party – from a world tour to moving clubs to branching out into film, there’s no firm answer from anyone in the Manumission camp as to whether they will continue next summer – you can trust Miss W to keep you posted on this particular topic over the next few months and give you the news as and when it comes to hand.