Saturday, May 31, 2008

31/05/08: PRIVILEGE OPENING PARTY

It seems the entire island has decided to throw open its doors to the public tonight, which meant Miss W needed to keep a constant eye on the time so she didn’t miss the action at any of the parties.

When a club is officially named ‘The World’s Biggest Club’ by none other than the Guinness Book Of Records and boasts a capacity of 10 000 people, it can seem like quite a daunting task to attend. Especially in the torrential rain Ibiza seems to be quite fond of turning on these days.

But Miss W and one of her trusty White-ette companions are troupers if nothing else, and wouldn’t let a little water get in the way of having a good time, so it was off to San Rafael to meet up with 9 998 of our closest friends!

One thing is for sure at Privilege - it is just so big that it seems virtually impossible that you’ll bump into your friends on the heaving dance floor or just hanging by the pool - yes, the pool beneath the DJ booth! But Miss W, being the experienced Ibiza club type she is, knows that the REAL action takes place in the Coco Loco room so hotfooted it there, where I instantly spotted at least four of the major club promoters towards the back of the room - when you’re at an event of this magnitude, it makes sense to stick together!

Miss W didn’t get a chance to check out the VIP area as she had a hot date at another club opening on the other side of town, but it’s safe to presume that with opening week for each individual promoter just a mere week away - I’ll be back!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The amazing visual displays and performances in the cavernous main room - good to see all of that space being put to good use!!!
THE BAD: Invited guests being forced to stand in a queue in the pouring rain, despite the fact shelter was a mere two metres away and not being used. Shame on you, security…
THE GOSSIP: Having lost Manumission in 2007, all eyes are looking to Privilege to see how they’ll bounce back this year. Miss W overheard a reliable source saying Madrid promoters Supermartxe - who now host Friday nights - have secured Jamiroquai as a special guest amongst others and just might be looking to fill that gap…

31/05/08: IBIZA ROCKS HOTEL OPENING PARTY

Miss W is going to make a confession. I’m not really into bands. While I can appreciate a good one and I’m a big fan of rock chick fashion (and the odd geeky band boy here and there), going to see live bands just isn’t my thing. I live in Ibiza - the centre of the clubbing universe - so it’s only natural that I lean towards the dance side of the music world.

But with all the hype and fuss surrounding Ibiza Rocks over the past few years and the huge hype on the island regarding the opening of the new Ibiza Rocks Hotel, I thought it was only fair that I put my pre-conceived ideas about the whole band thing aside and check it out!

Walking up to the enormous façade of the hotel, I felt like I was heading into Wembley Stadium, with the black and white lettering declaring that I had indeed reached my destination. Once through the front, for those still in doubt, the name flashing up in lights along with the ultra-branded signage everywhere and the throbbing sounds of the band within confirmed we had arrived!

I must admit - I was impressed. Ibiza Rocks Hotel is like a GIANT stadium/theatre/cinema - a gimmick that will no doubt go down well with the target market. Not one to be snobbish about such things, Miss W grabbed a beer (in a plastic cup of course) and headed outside to check out the band. Who by the way, I had never heard of, but quite enjoyed! Maybe it was the beer buzz, maybe I got caught up in the moment - either way, not bad for a night in the depths of San Antonio!

On my way out I whizzed past the world’s most famous rock-kid, Jade Jagger and gave a nod to Pete Tong and his glam ex-model wife Carolina and as I did, I had the realisation that bands aren’t just for kids after all.

Hey, if it’s good enough for Jade…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The clever marketing and branding of the entire complex - there’s no doubt this will be one of the San An success stories in 2008.
THE BAD: Having to purchase drinks tickets and then join the very long queue at the bar for a beer in a plastic cup! Miss W is used to icy mojitos and table service you know.
THE GOSSIP: Super cool Ibiza tattoo parlour Inkadelic have opened a franchise inside the Ibiza Rocks merchandise store - but we can’t help but wonder how ‘arty’ the types of tattoos requested here will be. Pacha cherries and guitar pick logos anyone?

31/05/08: EDEN OPENING PARTY

Just when you thought it wasn’t possible to squeeze another opening party into one night, Eden have come along and done just that! And with press releases declaring it’s a new season and a new Eden, Miss W just had to go along and check it out for herself - despite her aching feet!

Sadly, the rain continued to put a dampener on the proceedings, practically flooding the streets in San Antonio and making for a very un-glamorous entry point to the club - Miss W can see the potential for summer, but tonight it was a case of ‘wish I wore my wellies!’

Once inside the club however, there was a real ‘old school Ibiza’ vibe going on, with Ibiza veterans Brandon Block and Charlie Chester holding court in the VIP area, while DJ Jo Mills gave the crowd a taste of what to expect from her residency at Pete Tong’s all-new Wonderland night - though tonight she was perched in the main DJ booth rather than the Looking Glass room on the top floor of the club.

Miss W had to admit, it was nice to be invited into the new VIP area, as her feet were aching from the earlier Privilege dance-athon, so she welcomed the relaxing chance to actually sit down in a club for once.

Traditional podium dancers seemed to be replaced with a rather interesting ‘water feature’ complete with bikini-clad dancers who managed to perform their entire routine without getting their hair wet - must pay attention next time and see if there’s a special trick to that, as I’d love to be able to swim at the beach without hair going frizzy at the first sign of salt water!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The amazing new VIP area, right behind the DJ booth - you’re so close it actually makes you feel as if the crowd are all there to see you!
THE BAD: Men with their shirts off inside a club - we REALLY don’t need to see that.
THE GOSSIP: Although tonight was the official unveiling of the new Eden, the club wasn’t exactly filled to the rafters - we think it may be a case of people waiting for the opening of Wonderland before checking it out.

Friday, May 30, 2008

30/05/08: BLUE MARLIN FILM FESTIVAL CLOSING

It was probably just as well for Miss W that the IMS closing party wrapped up quite early, because no sooner had she finished the final sip of Ibizkus then it was back into the car - accompanied by the White-ettes of course - to head to Cala Jondal’s Blue Marlin, who were throwing an über-swish invitation only event to mark the end of the week long Ibiza and Formentera International Film Festival.

Of course, Miss W and the White-ettes were on the exclusive guest list and sashayed straight into the venue alongside the famous guests, style-setters and film makers alike, with Miss W even stopping on the red carpet for a picture or two - though she must admit they were more like happy snaps to send home to her mum!

The ultra professionalism of the Blue Marlin team meant canapés were constantly at our fingertips and our glasses were constantly filled - from cleverly crafted cocktails to amazing wines and a delicious sangria-style punch, the bartenders were certainly put to good work tonight! Miss W noticed Blue Marlin owner Yelle holding court at the beachside bar ensuring things ran smoothly, while manager Mattia - looking very sharp in a tailored white blazer - worked the floor to perfection.

While Miss W is no stranger to working a room herself, she had to admit there were a lot of unfamiliar faces in the room. I couldn’t help but wonder - was one of these folks going to spot me in the crowd, pluck me from obscurity and make me a star?

Wishful thinking… though I guess there’s always next year!

THE GOOD: Blue Marlin really know how to put on a party - from exquisite canapés to free flowing delectable punch and strategically placed heaters to stop the inevitable late night chill. Ten out of ten to Yelle and his crew!
THE BAD: We know that the film industry is full of arty types, but white jeans should never be tucked into black biker boots. On a man, no less - you know who you are!
THE GOSSIP: Oscar winner Mira Sorvino was in town to promote her flick Leningrad, but Miss W was disappointed to note she wasn’t in attendance at the party - perhaps she didn’t make the guest list cut?

30/05/08: PIKES HOTEL IMS CLOSING PARTY

It seems a little bit strange to Miss W to have a closing party a mere three days after you’ve popped corks at the opening celebrations, but an event like the International Music Summit only comes around once a year (we hope!) and who am I to argue?

So it was off to the legendary Pikes Hotel tonight to gather round the iconic pool where Wham’s Club Tropicana video was filmed w-a-a-a-y back in the eighties (the days when Miss W still thought she had a chance with George Michael) with the who’s who of dance music - or so I thought! Upon arrival we were greeted with the site of hundreds of cars cramming the available spaces near the hotel, indicating that an intimate soiree this was not to be.

And as for swanning about like an extra in a Wham film clip? Not tonight! We were herded - in a very sophisticated fashion of course - onto the Pikes tennis court, where what seemed like a cross between a rave and a rock festival was taking place, with a bar in the centre, a DJ booth at one end and amazing décor adorning the gates.

But it was the electric atmosphere of the event that impressed Miss W the most - it seems Pikes hasn’t lost the ability to throw a party over the winter! I know I keep saying this, but it really felt like the Ibiza social set were making the most of the opportunity to party together before getting their teeth stuck into the summer season, which is looming ahead with the weekend’s calendar of opening parties.

Or maybe I’m just confused and the Ibiza social set are always partying together, despite their hectic summer schedules!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Ibizkus creator Laurent Fresard using the event as a clever way to introduce his delicious rosé into the Ibiza market - Miss W’s glass was kept topped up all night!
THE BAD: The fact the party had to end so early… midnight seems like the time everything should be kicking off to us!
THE GOSSIP: While Pete Tong and Rob Da Bank provided an awesome soundtrack to the evening, there was a lot of talk about the ‘interesting’ selection of an obscure Swedish act who performed between the two Radio 1 jocks - wasn’t this supposed to be a dance music event?

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

28/05/08: ATZARO IMS OPENING PARTY

They said the International Music Summit was all about business, but when Miss W received an invitation to the opening soiree at her favourite Agroturismo, Atzaro, she couldn’t help but wonder whether the business all the PR material had been referring to was the business of throwing a party!

But seeing that this is the business Miss W excels at, I certainly won’t complain!

Atzaro - as always - turned on the charm, adapting the décor to suit its music industry clientele with the addition of a giant video screen and sleek Pioneer branded DJ booth. Miss W was particularly impressed with the sounds of Jason Bentley - the perfect chilled accompaniment to the proceedings - well, his music AND a glass of chilled rosé of course!

A very relaxed affair, I suddenly realised that this could well be one of the last times for the next four months that this particular group of people would be gathered together in the same room (though there will be the IMS closing party at Pikes on Friday night) due to the fact that the summer season ‘officially’ kicks off this coming Sunday, at the Space opening fiesta.

So in true Miss W style, I did the rounds and managed to speak to everyone - and by this I mean REAL conversations - before their hectic summer begins and we go back to the routine of waving at each other across a crowded dancefloor!

Given the fact this party was part of a business-related conference, it was all wrapped up by the very civilised hour of midnight. Which was handy really, considering we all had was the opening of Aura to get to, just down the road…

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The amount of talk generated by the forums during the day - the movers and shakers of Ibiza’s club scene aren’t shy in voicing their outspoken opinions - but Miss W thinks that’s a good thing.
THE BAD: Lack of food! While the non-delegates were all making their appearances at around 9pm - early by Ibiza standards - the actual attendees had already left the building in search of sustenance.
THE GOSSIP: A few of the event founders were no-shows at the party. We know it’s been a long week and there are two more days (and hence two more parties) to come, but we thought catching up on beauty sleep happened in winter?

28/05/08: AURA OPENING PARTY

Well, tonight proved that the White-ettes do not turn into pumpkins at the stroke of midnight, simply change party venues! No sooner had the lights been dimmed and the music faded out at the swanky IMS opening bash, than we were bundled into our cars and heading down the road to check out the all-new and COMPLETELY revamped Aura.

To say Aura has undergone a makeover over the winter would be a major understatement - it was more like the equivalent of a teen-movie metamorphosis from the girl-next-door to a foxy minx all the boys are drooling over. Though in venue terms, it was more like casual, cosy, comfy and cool restaurant becomes sleek, chic and oh-so-sexy cocktail lounge that everyone who’s anyone will be making a major pit stop on their Ibiza calendar.

Miss W and the White-ettes were on hand to sample Aura’s new custom designed cocktails (though we didn’t get to sample any of the much talked about tapas - next time perhaps?) as we perched on the enormous day-bed style lounges, while being treated to a smooth house grooves from resident DJ Nima Gorji.

Without those enormous leather couches filling up the room, it feels like Aura has almost tripled in size, and even though the official text message said to arrive early to avoid missing out on entry, it felt like half the island were present and yet there was still plenty of space for more to arrive, even long after the clock had struck 12.

And as with previous years, Aura certainly doesn’t disappoint when it comes to doling out the good looking bar staff awards though I can’t say Miss W was looking, what with Potential Boyfriend being on hand and all - I was merely thinking of my friends! What I can say is this: Aura has officially stepped up and joined the ranks of the über-stylish cocktail lounges of Ibiza - actually, hold that though, not just Ibiza, but the world.

Wonder if they’d let me borrow one of those amazing light fittings for my apartment?

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The ‘mixologists’ and their amazing creations. Miss W was particularly fond of a raspberry creation in a very tall glass… must remember to return to Aura and find out the official name so I can let you know!
THE BAD: Finding a parking space! With the increase to the capacity of the venue, we’re wondering if Aura should invest in a multi-level car park to accommodate its extra guests?
THE GOSSIP: While the refurbishments are absolutely gorgeous, previous fans of Aura could be heard whispering that the venue had lost it’s cosy restaurant atmosphere - embrace the change, we say!

Friday, May 23, 2008

23/05/08: Downtime for the first time!

Wow. What a month - May has literally flown by for Miss W, the White-ettes and our Token White Male, but thankfully for us, the Chief White-ette decided it was time to ensure we all took a breather (and got some sun on our faces) so booked us a lovely long table in the sun at Yemanja to enjoy a l-o-n-g lunch on the sand.

Thanks Chief.

Starting with delicious jugs of Yemanja’s trademark Sangria De Cava, the good times rolled on from there. Think paella, ensalada de gambas (Miss W’s Spanish word tip of the day - gambas equals prawns!) and chilled rosé… and a very satisfied Team White indeed.

Of course, seeing as we were in the neighbourhood, we thought it would be rude not to pop to Blue Marlin, so once we’d managed to pry ourselves from our seats, we practically rolled ourselves next door and took up residence on one of the divine white (of course!) day beds. Topics of conversation included Miss W’s Potential Boyfriend (is she in love or isn’t she?), whether it would be appropriate for the newest White-ette to dance on the daybed like a podium (consensus was no) and how to ensure your arms get the perfect tan by swapping seats with the person opposite you every half an hour. You learn something new every day on this island, I tell you…

On the rest of the island, the major thing I’ve noticed is the arrival of summer. Not just all the seasonal workers returning to their jobs, the scent of fresh paint emanating from shops and cafes and groups of tourists eagerly posing for photos, but sadly also the return of peak hour traffic - because businesses close for the siesta hours of two til five pm, this means Ibiza actually experiences four sets of peak hour traffic a day. Miss W thinks this is a sign it’s time to invest in a convertible car, simply to make the most of her time spent in said traffic by working on her tan, and getting ‘naturally’ sun-kissed highlights of course!

For once, the weekend actually looks relatively quiet on the social scene - must be the calm before the storm as next week all of Ibiza’s famous clubs finally throw open their doors for four months of parties, mayhem, madness and above all, fun. Which makes me think I’ll spend this weekend chilling out at home and save myself for next week’s action.

Then again, have you ever known Miss W to stay in?

Thursday, May 22, 2008

22/05/08: Hello sunshine: CAFÉ MAMBO OPENING

The San Antonio I entered today was a totally different world to the San An I experienced at the Savannah opening party three weeks ago - the entire paseo (that’s the new boardwalk area) was absolutely packed! It looks like the summer has well and truly arrived, with an abundance of holidaymakers sporting their holiday finest - and just a few token sunburnt faces!

So why exactly was Miss W back on the boardwalk? Well, tonight was the long awaited re-opening of everyone’s favourite sunset bar - Café Mambo and there was no place I would rather be. It’s easy to see why this is one of the most famous sundown destinations in the world, with its gorgeous trademark mosaic décor, pretty sails above the terrace seating and of course, the opportunity to listen to the world’s most famous DJs do their thing to the stunning sunset backdrop.

Tonight, it was all smiles behind the DJ booth as special guest DJ Nic Fanciulli took to the decks to keep the huge crowd entertained after Mambo residents Andy Baxter and Alex Wolfenden set the scene for sunset - which sadly was slightly obscured by some clouds, though the crowd still managed to give it the official clap at the moment it finally sank into the sea. Lenny Ibizarre followed, with a trademark eclectic set - those in the know officially call it Balearic beats!

Of course, a destination as essential as Mambo in Ibiza is bound to attract its fair share of VIPs and Miss W spent most of the night behind the big, tough security guard with the who’s who of Ibiza. So who are the who’s who? Think representatives from Pacha, Space, The Shop, Eden, Pioneer, Icon Ibiza, Ibiza Med Yachting, Pikes Hotel, La Grand Bouffe and of course the White-ettes, who couldn’t help but think it was a little like watching the White Ibiza website come to life before our eyes!

There were television cameras left, right and centre documenting the evening too, so Miss W hopes to see herself on the small screen soon!

THE LOWDOWN
The good: Mmmmm, the delicious canapés served in the VIP section and the overall generosity of Mambo owner Javier - Miss W was never once short of a fresh drink!
The bad: The low cloud covering that averted the perfect sunset moment - lucky there’s always tomorrow.
The gossip: There were whispers surrounding the rapid weight loss of a certain DJ who returned to the island after a winter detox. Miss W thinks they were nothing more than jealous rumours as the man in question looks in great shape and 100% healthy - and we applaud him for that!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

18/05/08: An experience indeed: ES VIVE OPENING PARTY

Miss W knows from experience that a night spent at Es Vive hotel can literally define the word party. So when the night in question is the opening party, well, let’s just say it adds a whole new meaning to the word.

The Smirnoff Experience, a glamorous mini-club hidden deep inside the hotel is where the action took place and Miss W - wearing her new All Saints dress for the occasion - found it difficult to stop flitting from room to room to room to catch up with everyone - which suits her just fine.

In the red corner, we had the island’s club promoters, local DJs and music enthusiasts talking about summer’s recently announced club line-ups. In the black corner, we found the socialites and schmoozers doing what they do best and in the white corner, there was a mish mash of workers and tourists getting chummy in the limited space there was left. In the final corner - if you can call a DJ booth that - Es Vive resident DJs Ben Santiago and Dazzla were enticing the rest of crowd into the ring. Erm, I mean dance floor - the boxing reference was merely because I just love the three plush rooms all decked out in different colours, like a gorgeous Christina Aguilera film clip or something!

By the way, you’ll notice Miss W often compares things to film clips - well, when your life sometimes feels like a 24 hour MTV-meets-Fashion TV marathon, the comparisons are inevitable - and there’s nothing wrong with that!

But back to the Es Vive action - owner Jason Bull, showed no signs of slowing down after the previous week’s Base Bar shenanigans, busting moves on the dance floor and greeting his guests with such enthusiasm you’d never guess he’d seen them all just a week previously! The famous cocktails were flowing and it was definitely crowded enough to be called ‘intimate’ - it looks like the good times at Es Vive are officially back!


THE LOWDOWN
The good: Seeing all the White-ettes - plus our Token White Male - on the dance floor at the same time! Yay to team bonding!
The bad: The following day’s headache!
The gossip: The Smirnoff Experience is soundproof, and as it’s officially part of a hotel, the word on the street is that it is exempt from the 6am closing rule all other clubs on the island have been hit with. Miss W doesn’t want to start any rumours of course, but she will say that the sun was definitely up when she emerged from those infamous turquoise gates…

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

14/05/08: Rock chic boutique: ALL SAINTS OPENING PARTY

While she would hate to get a reputation as someone who goes to the opening of an envelope, Miss W has to admit that getting invitations to exclusive opening parties does give her a bit of a buzz! Especially when the opening in question - today anyway - is for one of my favourite stores, All Saints, in Ibiza Town.

And I’m pleased to announce (though it may come as no surprise to some of you) that Miss W was of course, All Saints’ very first paying customer of the season, scoring herself a gorgeous - and very figure flattering - beige slip dress with loads of script printed onto it. Very Galliano-esque actually.

The store itself has undergone a bit of a revamp since last summer, and now includes a huge accessories cabinet, packed full of amazing statement jewellery pieces and über-cool sunglasses - so very Sienna Miller if you ask me! And the theme continues well into the store, loads of VERY Ibiza style printed flowy tops, skinny jeans and rock-chick t-shirts.

But down to the important stuff - shopping, socialising and champagne. It was a small and select few who’d been invited to the ‘official’ opening, which makes sense really considering the size of the store, however the super-nice All Saints crew (who really look like a team of extras out of an MTV film clip) happily welcomed any lucky pedestrian who happened to stumble upon the party with a glass of Cava and their best styling advice to boot.

If only we could shop like this every day!

THE LOWDOWN
The good: Fashion, fashion, fashion sweetie! That’s the White-ettes opening party weekend wardrobes sorted out then.
The bad: There’s only one change room in All Saints - which means a lot of waiting around if you want to try before you buy - especially if you’re in queue after Miss W, who insists on trying on each style in every colour - sorry!
The gossip: It was interesting to note a lot of the guys on hand for the opening could do with a bit of a fashion makeover - have they ever actually shopped in All Saints or were they simply there for the champagne?

Sunday, May 11, 2008

11/05/08: Medieval madness: EIVISSA MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL

It’s a common misconception that Ibiza is all about parties, lazing on the beach and long lunches, and while Miss W certainly does have a tendency to indulge in all of the above, she also likes to get a bit cultural every now and again - just to make sure her brain is still stimulated (and to avoid getting mis-cast as a party girl too!)

So this weekend, to celebrate the fact that our city was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1999, Ibiza town has come over all medieval on us - it’s not hard when you’ve got the ancient fortress, castle and cathedral of Dalt Vila as a setting, but I mean SERIOUSLY medieval. Think market stalls selling all types of herbs, spices, teas and organic produce, handmade jewellery and traditional Spanish shawls, thousands of different cheeses and all sorts of artsy craftsy stuff… and then, there was the amazing food market!

The entire top platform of Dalt Vila was transformed into a Medieval masterpiece, with everything from cous cous and felafels (Miss W ate three over the course of three days they were THAT good) to barbequed steaks, ribs and squid - there were enough tantalising smells wafting through the air that you could follow your nose to find exactly what to tickle your tastebuds.

Of course, there were plenty of market stalls offering local wines and chilled ales to wash the feast down with and as the afternoon wore on, it became THE place to be scene, even if you did have to weave your way through street performers, bungy jumping displays and crazy parades to find your friends. Miss W and the White-ettes claimed poll position at the top of the hill, meaning we were close to the bar and could also watch all the action unfold beneath us

THE LOWDOWN
The good: The amount of effort gone into organising the three-day event by the council of Ibiza and Mayoress Lurdes Costa - if only it could happen every weekend!
The bad: The rain - again! I thought Ibiza was supposed to have 300 days of uninterrupted sunshine per year - can only hope this marks the end of the 65 other days!
The gossip: A certain few of Ibiza’s well known blokes-about-town chose to leave the festival in all its glory early to watch the football. Oh well - to each their own, Miss W always says…

Friday, May 9, 2008

09/05/08: Back to basics: BASE BAR OPENING PARTY

They say the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plains. Well, Miss W would like ‘them’ to stand corrected tonight - the rain was well and truly falling on Ibiza!

Tonight was the opening of the infamous Base Bar in the port of Ibiza, a bar that is primarily made up of a huge outdoor terrace, a terrace that Miss W has spent many an hour on whilst sipping vodka cranberries in the humid summer breeze, people watching (and passing fashion judgement on) the hordes of visitors to our fair isle. But on this very evening however, it was not to be the case as the heavens well and truly opened - though those who live in the campo will tell you it was needed due to our current state of drought, Miss W will tell you that it would have been more welcome the following morning when she was nursing her resaca - that’s hangover in Spanish (see, I have been learning!)

Because although it may have been monsoonal on the terrace, it certainly didn’t mean the Base Bar opening was a washout. What it meant was, getting cosy with those brave enough - and loyal enough - to venture out form their homes and squeeze themselves inside the tiny corridor like bar that is Base. Just one big happy Ibiza-style family really! Thanks to Jason and manager Tony’s generosity there were plenty of chupitos passed around throughout the course of the night (which may have been the cause of my resaca) and as always the staff were such good eye candy there was really no reason to leave in any hurry! Who’d want to risk getting any more wet after all!

The fact that everyone was indoors meant they got a good taste of resident DJ Ben Santiago’s signature eclectic house sets, merged with classic funk, rock and soul - talk in the bar is that Ben’s going to be a very busy boy this summer indeed, with main room sets lined up at some of the island’s biggest clubs, along with his Es Vive and Fierce Angel residencies. Of course, Miss W will be on hand to report further - in fact, the opening party for Es Vive (Jason’s über-successful hotel) is just around the corner...

THE LOWDOWN
The good: Owner Jason Bull, who’d never let a bit of bad weather (torrentially) rain on his parade - we’re glad his enthusiasm was contagious.
The bad: Obviously the rain - it’s not like Ibiza’s bathrooms are equipped with hairdryers in case of a White-ette hair emergency!
The gossip: There were some catty whispers about the number of no-shows tonight, but give them a break - not everyone owns an umbrella in Ibiza you know!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

01/04/08: Spectacular, spectacular!: HOVI 08 CAN VENTOSA

Miss W has a bit of a confession to make - quite a bit of tonight’s performance was lost in translation for me. Though I was seated with a White-ette whose Spanish is flawless (and please let me take this opportunity to mention the fact that I AM taking lessons), I thought it would be a bit rude to whisper over the top of the performance in order to find out what was going on. Kind of like those annoying people in cinemas who turn around and ask, ‘What did they just say?’

So, for quite possibly the first time in her life, Miss W remained silent.

To be perfectly honest, while I may have missed a lot of the point, with so much else going on, I still didn’t miss the fact that there were two v-e-r-y cute boys in the centre of the stage making it all happen - oh wait, that’s right, I’m supposed to be talking about culture here!

Back to my original point then. With so much going on, I felt like it was ok to tune out of the script and into the action - with live actors on stage complementing the images splashed across five screens and the soundtrack that fell somewhere between a Sofia Coppola film and a Chemical Brothers live show, I was actually kind of sad when it was over, knowing that unlike a film, I couldn’t just pop back and see it tomorrow, or hire it on DVD on a rainy day.

But that’s art for you isn’t?

THE LOWDOWN
The good: Seeing Ibiza’s creative types out and about and supporting local talent - it’s nice to see there is life outside of club promoting for some!
The bad: The language barrier - my bad, I know! Ibiza may often seem very international, but we are in Spain after all. Back to the book and tapes then…
The gossip: The White-ettes wondered why the FR4M3 boys didn’t phone ahead and coordinate their outfits before the show - the matching trilby hats were just a little too boy band for our liking. Or perhaps that was the point?

01/05/08: Welcome back dahl-ings! CARDAMOM CLUB SUMMER OPENING

Though it’s been open during the majority of the off-season, The Cardamom Club know the importance of declaring yourself officially open for the summer in Ibiza, so an opening party they threw!

Oh, and what an amazing day! Miss W - in case you haven’t noticed - has been moaning about the weather quite a lot of late, as it really does seem that summer is coming later this year, which does NOT do wonders for my lack-of-tan. But it seems Navine and Craig have a pact with someone up there (there are so many Indian deities I don’t know where to start!), because the sun was shining gloriously through the citrus trees, meaning guests could enjoy their lunch out in the garden and even feel the tops of their shoulders tingling after a bit too long beneath the rays.

Or was that just Miss W?

The relaxed vibe was exactly what I needed - no need to book, a super casual open house affair, which included a local artisan’s market with lots of lovely stalls to browse through. Miss W went home with a floaty new summer frock, some organic skincare, a handcrafted necklace and a funny (and kinda kitsch) little incense burner in the shape of a house with a chimney! There was plenty to gawk at, and there was even a special market menu for only 7€.

Of course, washing down the divine Indian taste sensations with a chilled vino blanco was essential and when all the action seemed to have died down, there was nothing left to do but return home for an afternoon siesta. Oh, I just love the Ibiza lifestyle, don’t you?

THE LOWDOWN
The good: While all the food was sensational, Miss W loved the starters so much she could have eaten three servings all to herself.
The bad: The slight sunburnt tinge to Miss W’s nose after the event - maybe a dose of organic sun cream should have been on the menu!
The gossip: Miss W thought she spied her Potential Boyfriend sitting at one of the tables, and then when she went over to say hola, he seemed to have mysteriously disappeared.