To be honest, though the opening parties are over, Miss W is (shhhhhh!) absolutely shattered. Tired. Needs some time to escape. Wants some secret hours in the sun. So the minute the wonderful team at Blue Marlin mentioned that there was a vacant sun bed on a Sunday, I literally leaped at the offer!
And considering the fact Miss W was responsible for entertaining a couple of Australian journalists for the weekend, it seemed there was no better place to pull up pew (and show off just a little) than Blue Marlin - it’s like maximum effort minimum gain - fun, sun and games all round. So to speak!
Today, Miss W and her crew couldn’t have been more impressed - Ibiza turned on her charm, to incorporate crystal clear warm waters and the sunniest skies imaginable, not to mention the most attentive service from the Blue Marlin crew… all the way down to ensuring my beach umbrella covered my face but not my shoulders. Way to tan guys, thank you!
With a new menu courtesy of Planet Sushi, Miss W was in heaven - sushi is my favourite food in the world you know - and continued to graze all day on the tuna and salmon sashimi on offer, whether in a roll, as part of a tartar salad or simply raw. There’s just something about the beach that pairs so well with sushi, no? Not too heavy, not too light… I almost felt like the Ibiza Goldilocks… juuuuuust right!
Of course, once the sun goes down, Blue Marlin starts to heat up - many of Miss W’s friends seemed to be arriving by the minute to sample the delectable dinner menu, while others were taking note of the Balearic beats supplied courtesy of none other than island Flamenco fave Paco Fernandez - joined on the PA by his son, an experience Miss W was ever-so-happy to have witnessed - make sure you head down there and check it out for yourself next week!
For me, Blue Marlin is the ultimate day out - beach, sunbathing, dining, dancing - what else could a girl want? My journalist friends left the venue with raving reviews (and in fact, one of them was contemplating changing their flight just to come back the next day) and I am 100% in agreeance - this my friends, is A-list Ibiza at its best.
THE GOOD: Location, location, location. Need we say more?
THE BAD: The number of girls who think it’s appropriate to dance topless at a beach restaurant. Maybe Miss W is too much of a prude, but while I’m all for no tan lines, there’s something about jiggling breasts on a dance floor (complete with long beaded necklaces as an accessory) that doesn’t agree with my sangria. Bikinis are a fabulous tw- piece fashion item after all…
THE GOSSIP: There were whispers that a ‘very famous international DJ’ was going to grace the decks today, however it was not to be. Perhaps the PR staff need to tone it down just a notch?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The PBF, shopping and the new addition to Miss W's family
So…. Miss W has been sooooo busy of late heading to all the club openings that she’d almost forgotten to blog about anything other than a dance floor - my most sincere apologies! However a certain White-ette made a point of pointing out - so to speak - that my Potential Boyfriend seems to have escalated up the ranks to be officially a Boyfriend (ahhh - the term makes me so nervous) and that I seem to have spent my entire salary on fashion items between Vara De Rey and the Croissant Show - which basically mean I’ve got some explaining to do!
Right. Well. Where do I start? The PBF? Well, yes, it seems since the special secret Azuli Beach Party a few weeks ago that we have indeed been seeing a lot more of each other exclusively. Dinners, drinks, VIP rendezvous at club openings, strolls along the beach - aaaah! Yes folks, I think it is time to finally admit that Miss W is off the market. Though I cannot reveal the name of my beloved - you’ll find some subtle references to him in some past entries and I’ll give a prize to anyone who can guess his identity, I can say that I am liking the transition thus far. Keep you posted, I promise!
But apart from that HUGE announcement, the only other thing that seems to been occupying my time between 'actual' boyfriend and club openings is… well… shopping! Well, with this many opening parties, I couldn’t possibly be seen in last season’s frocks!
Speaking of which, but have you checked out Ibiza town lately? Fringed suede sandals, cheesecloth white playsuits, denim vests - it’s like Kate Moss came into town and emptied out her wardrobe. By the way, did you hear that Kate was here last week? In the Rock Bar no less, holding court at the bar with fabbo owners Nick and Bev all night. Why she didn’t call me to catch up for a drink I’ll never know!
Oh that’s right - there’s just one more thing. Miss W has become the proud parent of a 12-week old Ibicencan kitten. She looks like a miniature white tiger, with the most amazing blue eyes - ALMOST enough to make me stay home at night. I’m sure you’ll be hearing more of her…
But then again…. You know Miss W! So what are we doing tomorrow night?
Right. Well. Where do I start? The PBF? Well, yes, it seems since the special secret Azuli Beach Party a few weeks ago that we have indeed been seeing a lot more of each other exclusively. Dinners, drinks, VIP rendezvous at club openings, strolls along the beach - aaaah! Yes folks, I think it is time to finally admit that Miss W is off the market. Though I cannot reveal the name of my beloved - you’ll find some subtle references to him in some past entries and I’ll give a prize to anyone who can guess his identity, I can say that I am liking the transition thus far. Keep you posted, I promise!
But apart from that HUGE announcement, the only other thing that seems to been occupying my time between 'actual' boyfriend and club openings is… well… shopping! Well, with this many opening parties, I couldn’t possibly be seen in last season’s frocks!
Speaking of which, but have you checked out Ibiza town lately? Fringed suede sandals, cheesecloth white playsuits, denim vests - it’s like Kate Moss came into town and emptied out her wardrobe. By the way, did you hear that Kate was here last week? In the Rock Bar no less, holding court at the bar with fabbo owners Nick and Bev all night. Why she didn’t call me to catch up for a drink I’ll never know!
Oh that’s right - there’s just one more thing. Miss W has become the proud parent of a 12-week old Ibicencan kitten. She looks like a miniature white tiger, with the most amazing blue eyes - ALMOST enough to make me stay home at night. I’m sure you’ll be hearing more of her…
But then again…. You know Miss W! So what are we doing tomorrow night?
Saturday, June 21, 2008
20/06/08: MANUMISSION OPENING PARTY
Manumission has long been considered a bit of a travelling sideshow - though they’ve never really strayed far from the fair shores of our island - so this year’s theme of Coney Island Review seems rather apt, considering team Manumission is made up of a cast of the weird and wonderful. Not my words by the way, that’s how they describe themselves.
It was also the first party Miss W ever attended when she arrived in Ibiza many years ago, so she has a bit of a soft spot for the antics of Mike and Claire - not to mention a not-so-secret desire to become a Manumission girl (a goal that is very unlikely to be fulfilled in this lifetime)! Which meant there was no way she was going to miss a minute of the 2008 debut.
Having made the permanent and official move to Amnesia and with the terrace being reconstructed over the winter in order to accommodate the spectacular shows, all eyes were on the stripey circus style posters that kept popping up all over town to try and decipher just what tricks Mike and Claire would pull out of the bag this year.
Of course, we weren’t disappointed with four acts telling a tale of Coney Island and it’s fabulous freaks and misfits set in the ‘20s with a modern Manumission twist. As per usual, Mike and Claire were kidnapped - this time with the intent to be cloned by the evil Fraudster and the Dandy Doctor, while they were trapped in a dangerous drag room full of transvestites.
Sound confusing? Miss W has to admit that she was glad she’d read the press release before watching the shows, as the relevance of some characters may have been lost on her otherwise. While the sets, costumes, styling, make-up and dancing were - as always - amazing, Miss W couldn’t help but wonder if the audience missed the point.
But does it really matter? By all accounts, everyone in the venue had a fabulous time, particularly those being entertained by the Jezebel clad hostesses in the VIP area, and even moreso, those lucky enough to still be on the terrace towards the very tail end of the night when Mylo dropped his Ibiza classic anthem, Drop The Pressure.
The fact that Manumission is and always will be one of my favourite parties means I’ll be going back week after week - stay tuned for further reports of the Coney Island ‘Freak Of The Week’ a band of guests including Lucky, the World’s Most Tattooed Man, Baby with her Extraordinary Acrobatic Vagina (yes, you read correctly), The Amazing Sculpted Bodies of the Dynamite Boys and many many more.
See you at the front of the stage next Friday!
THE GOOD: It was goodbye Pacha and hello Amnesia for Jade Jagger and her Jezebel brand, who played host on the exclusive VIP area on the terrace, giving Manumission an extra burst of Ibiza cool factor.
THE BAD: While the new home of Amnesia is more than adequate for the Manumission girls (and boys!) it’s sad to see the end of the infamous Coco Loco room and legendary back room sets from the much-loved resident Colin Peters.
THE GOSSIP: Sir Richard Branson’s name was at the very top of the guest list, but it remained questionable as to whether he actually came to the club - Amnesia is notorious for it’s secret VIP entrances and mirrored private VIP rooms, and not even Miss W could find out the answer to this one!
It was also the first party Miss W ever attended when she arrived in Ibiza many years ago, so she has a bit of a soft spot for the antics of Mike and Claire - not to mention a not-so-secret desire to become a Manumission girl (a goal that is very unlikely to be fulfilled in this lifetime)! Which meant there was no way she was going to miss a minute of the 2008 debut.
Having made the permanent and official move to Amnesia and with the terrace being reconstructed over the winter in order to accommodate the spectacular shows, all eyes were on the stripey circus style posters that kept popping up all over town to try and decipher just what tricks Mike and Claire would pull out of the bag this year.
Of course, we weren’t disappointed with four acts telling a tale of Coney Island and it’s fabulous freaks and misfits set in the ‘20s with a modern Manumission twist. As per usual, Mike and Claire were kidnapped - this time with the intent to be cloned by the evil Fraudster and the Dandy Doctor, while they were trapped in a dangerous drag room full of transvestites.
Sound confusing? Miss W has to admit that she was glad she’d read the press release before watching the shows, as the relevance of some characters may have been lost on her otherwise. While the sets, costumes, styling, make-up and dancing were - as always - amazing, Miss W couldn’t help but wonder if the audience missed the point.
But does it really matter? By all accounts, everyone in the venue had a fabulous time, particularly those being entertained by the Jezebel clad hostesses in the VIP area, and even moreso, those lucky enough to still be on the terrace towards the very tail end of the night when Mylo dropped his Ibiza classic anthem, Drop The Pressure.
The fact that Manumission is and always will be one of my favourite parties means I’ll be going back week after week - stay tuned for further reports of the Coney Island ‘Freak Of The Week’ a band of guests including Lucky, the World’s Most Tattooed Man, Baby with her Extraordinary Acrobatic Vagina (yes, you read correctly), The Amazing Sculpted Bodies of the Dynamite Boys and many many more.
See you at the front of the stage next Friday!
THE GOOD: It was goodbye Pacha and hello Amnesia for Jade Jagger and her Jezebel brand, who played host on the exclusive VIP area on the terrace, giving Manumission an extra burst of Ibiza cool factor.
THE BAD: While the new home of Amnesia is more than adequate for the Manumission girls (and boys!) it’s sad to see the end of the infamous Coco Loco room and legendary back room sets from the much-loved resident Colin Peters.
THE GOSSIP: Sir Richard Branson’s name was at the very top of the guest list, but it remained questionable as to whether he actually came to the club - Amnesia is notorious for it’s secret VIP entrances and mirrored private VIP rooms, and not even Miss W could find out the answer to this one!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
18/06/08: EL AYOUN 10TH BIRTHDAY
Nothing beats an invite to an exclusive birthday bash in Miss W’s book, and when the exclusive birthday bash takes place at El Ayoun - nothing less than their very own tenth birthday soiree thank you very much - well, this means a new outfit and hairstyle are in order for the occasion.
No sooner had I finished at the salon (boho-style wavy locks courtesy of the ultra cool Antonio B in Ibiza’s old town if you must know) than I was whisked off to San Rafael for the amazing invitation only dinner at El Ayoun - and boy was I glad I’d made that early appointment, because I would not have missed a minute of this event, even if you had paid me!
I must admit that even I had to gasp as I walked through the infamous entrance, as the legendary bronze camel on the red carpet had been replaced by THE REAL THING (yes folks, I mean real live camel), flown into Ibiza specially for the occasion (and yes I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming!). It seems all the stops were pulled out for this auspicious occasion.
The theme for guests was to wear black and white, so the restaurant, bar and dance floor were a veritable stylish chess board of monochrome - Miss W would like to note that most of the (über-tanned) female guests had opted for an LWD (yes, that’s little white dress as opposed to little black dress) and the guys were feeling very comfortable with their choice of open necked white shirts.
But down to business… Each time one of exceptional wait staff lingered by my seat with a tray of delectable entrees, I had to hold myself back from helping myself to more than one - no this is not a Miss W weird diet tip, it’s simply a manners thing. This is how good the new El Ayoun sushi lounge really is - proof is in the pudding as they say… or sashimi as the case may be.
But it wasn’t just the entrees that tickled my tastebuds - Moroccan flavoured lamb chops, chicken cous cous and sensational desserts were an also an absolute hit. After a very cold spell in spring, El Ayoun finally threw open the doors to their divine terrace - alfresco is back baby!
THE GOOD: Angel Cielo - can the ever-faithful El Ayoun resident DJ put a foot wrong? We think not.
THE BAD: A huge birthday cake was wheeled out into the club however it seemed revellers were slightly too self-involved to sing the obligatory ‘cumpleanos feliz’ to El Ayoun’s Charles and crew. Hmmmm….
THE GOSSIP: For VVVIPs (and yes, this includes Miss Miss W) a special wristband meant drinks were free flowing and a plenty all night… and special privileges like these aren’t to be abused - you know who you are!
No sooner had I finished at the salon (boho-style wavy locks courtesy of the ultra cool Antonio B in Ibiza’s old town if you must know) than I was whisked off to San Rafael for the amazing invitation only dinner at El Ayoun - and boy was I glad I’d made that early appointment, because I would not have missed a minute of this event, even if you had paid me!
I must admit that even I had to gasp as I walked through the infamous entrance, as the legendary bronze camel on the red carpet had been replaced by THE REAL THING (yes folks, I mean real live camel), flown into Ibiza specially for the occasion (and yes I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming!). It seems all the stops were pulled out for this auspicious occasion.
The theme for guests was to wear black and white, so the restaurant, bar and dance floor were a veritable stylish chess board of monochrome - Miss W would like to note that most of the (über-tanned) female guests had opted for an LWD (yes, that’s little white dress as opposed to little black dress) and the guys were feeling very comfortable with their choice of open necked white shirts.
But down to business… Each time one of exceptional wait staff lingered by my seat with a tray of delectable entrees, I had to hold myself back from helping myself to more than one - no this is not a Miss W weird diet tip, it’s simply a manners thing. This is how good the new El Ayoun sushi lounge really is - proof is in the pudding as they say… or sashimi as the case may be.
But it wasn’t just the entrees that tickled my tastebuds - Moroccan flavoured lamb chops, chicken cous cous and sensational desserts were an also an absolute hit. After a very cold spell in spring, El Ayoun finally threw open the doors to their divine terrace - alfresco is back baby!
THE GOOD: Angel Cielo - can the ever-faithful El Ayoun resident DJ put a foot wrong? We think not.
THE BAD: A huge birthday cake was wheeled out into the club however it seemed revellers were slightly too self-involved to sing the obligatory ‘cumpleanos feliz’ to El Ayoun’s Charles and crew. Hmmmm….
THE GOSSIP: For VVVIPs (and yes, this includes Miss Miss W) a special wristband meant drinks were free flowing and a plenty all night… and special privileges like these aren’t to be abused - you know who you are!
Monday, June 16, 2008
16/06/08: COCOON OPENING PARTY
‘This is the year 2008, and what once was called Science Fiction has now arrived in the present. The Amnesia pyramid continues sending out its signal, and the signal says Disco Invasion! We will travel through the Techno universe, in order to bring you the revolution - the Disco Invasion, that blends everything together and leaves behind old categories. 'The sky is the limit' on planet Minimal Techno Funk, Ibiza is our International Spaceport and Sven gives us the command for take-off!’
At least, that’s how the promotional material described it to Miss W, and when that much effort goes into hyping up what was easily last year’s techno success story’s return to the island, well it would be rude not to slip into my disco shoes, sequinned hotpants and get into the spirit right?
While DJs Sven Vath and Ricardo Villalobos (aka Commander Darth Vather and DJ Chebaca) weren’t in their Disco Invaders finery (to be fair, those head pieces would make DJing just a little difficult) as seen in the promotional trailer, there were plenty of stunning Cocoon dancers - complete with amazing diamante encrusted face paint and Barbarella style ponytails - on hand to wield Light sabers a lá Star Wars as they grooved to the decidedly non-disco sounds of Cocoon!
The Cocoon terrace has long been the place where the island comes together after a long week of work, play and anything in between and the opening party was no exception. With a decidedly Spanish and Italian crowd on the terrace, while the club kids stuck to the thumping laser-filled main room, Miss W was happy to bump into old friends, new acquaintances, visiting DJs and ex-workers who’d made the trek back to the island specifically for this party.
My favourite element of the evening though? Checking out the amazing costumes worn by the dancers, mainly the platform sequinned 70s style knee high boots. For next week’s disco extravaganza, I plan to get myself a pair somehow! While they’re not exactly the type of thing you can pick up at Las Dalias, I’m thinking I might be able to customise something from the Sant Jordi car boot sale on Saturday morning!
It might not be very techno, but if Sven and co can get into the spirit then Miss W doesn’t see why she shouldn’t be allowed to sparkle too!
THE GOOD: The way the Cocoon crew throw themselves wholeheartedly into their Disco Invader theme - who’d have thought the über serious German techno brigade had a sense of humour like this? To get a glimpse behind the scenes, check out this clip before heading to the club next week!
THE BAD: The guest list queue. While Miss W is lucky enough to be on a first name basis with the door staff and can waltz straight to the front of the queue, many of her friends were stuck in a pushing, heaving queue and waited for up to an hour to get inside. Surely VIPs and invited guests are entitled to a speedy and trouble free entrance?
THE GOSSIP: The renovations to the Amnesia terrace have certainly opened up the area and allowed plenty more room to manoeuvre the floor - and dance of course - but we couldn’t help but notice the many people - including one famous DJ and a costumed-up Cocoon dancer - tripping over the large bronzed camel statue sitting on the floor. In a darkened club environment, surely this is a bit of a hazard?
At least, that’s how the promotional material described it to Miss W, and when that much effort goes into hyping up what was easily last year’s techno success story’s return to the island, well it would be rude not to slip into my disco shoes, sequinned hotpants and get into the spirit right?
While DJs Sven Vath and Ricardo Villalobos (aka Commander Darth Vather and DJ Chebaca) weren’t in their Disco Invaders finery (to be fair, those head pieces would make DJing just a little difficult) as seen in the promotional trailer, there were plenty of stunning Cocoon dancers - complete with amazing diamante encrusted face paint and Barbarella style ponytails - on hand to wield Light sabers a lá Star Wars as they grooved to the decidedly non-disco sounds of Cocoon!
The Cocoon terrace has long been the place where the island comes together after a long week of work, play and anything in between and the opening party was no exception. With a decidedly Spanish and Italian crowd on the terrace, while the club kids stuck to the thumping laser-filled main room, Miss W was happy to bump into old friends, new acquaintances, visiting DJs and ex-workers who’d made the trek back to the island specifically for this party.
My favourite element of the evening though? Checking out the amazing costumes worn by the dancers, mainly the platform sequinned 70s style knee high boots. For next week’s disco extravaganza, I plan to get myself a pair somehow! While they’re not exactly the type of thing you can pick up at Las Dalias, I’m thinking I might be able to customise something from the Sant Jordi car boot sale on Saturday morning!
It might not be very techno, but if Sven and co can get into the spirit then Miss W doesn’t see why she shouldn’t be allowed to sparkle too!
THE GOOD: The way the Cocoon crew throw themselves wholeheartedly into their Disco Invader theme - who’d have thought the über serious German techno brigade had a sense of humour like this? To get a glimpse behind the scenes, check out this clip before heading to the club next week!
THE BAD: The guest list queue. While Miss W is lucky enough to be on a first name basis with the door staff and can waltz straight to the front of the queue, many of her friends were stuck in a pushing, heaving queue and waited for up to an hour to get inside. Surely VIPs and invited guests are entitled to a speedy and trouble free entrance?
THE GOSSIP: The renovations to the Amnesia terrace have certainly opened up the area and allowed plenty more room to manoeuvre the floor - and dance of course - but we couldn’t help but notice the many people - including one famous DJ and a costumed-up Cocoon dancer - tripping over the large bronzed camel statue sitting on the floor. In a darkened club environment, surely this is a bit of a hazard?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
15/06/08: WE LOVE OPENING PARTY
Celebrating their tenth year this year are Ibiza stalwarts We Love… And the team behind the island’s most successful party have asked themselves why throw one birthday party when you can throw 16? That’s one per week for the duration of the season and today marks the beginning of the festivities - and Miss W plans to be on hand for each and every one of them so she doesn’t miss a second of the action.
Gone was the car park arena and stilt-walking entertainers of the Space opening party and in their place, a plethora of acid house themed décor adorning the club, from enormous oversized smiley face balls hanging from the roof to illuminated flashing fluoro lights and even t-shirts declaring ‘We Love… Acid House’. We Love… have been notorious for steering clear of pomp and ceremony over the years and focusing solely on the music, but when thousands of smiley faced yellow balloons were dropped from the ceiling, we couldn’t help but get even more carried away in the moment.
For Miss W, again it was all about the Discotek. With house-master DJ Pierre at the helm of the DJ booth, banging out an amazing two-hour set packed with acid house classics, rave anthems and futuristic techno beats, it was no surprise that the room was packed to the rafters - one entire corner was packed full of the island’s finest DJ talent paying homage to the legend - from We Love’s very own David Phillips to Manumission’s Colin Peters and the Underground’s Justin Field, plus a posse of the Ibiza Rocks crew and local audio visual producers FR4M3 and last but not least, a handful of influential bar, restaurant and local business owners from across the island, it felt like the whole population was feeling the ‘We Love…’
In the new terrace (also packed to the rafters by all accounts) however, Miss W heard whispers that Ben Watt was giving DJ Pierre a run for his money, with those on hand to witness his set calling it awe-inspiring. Followed by mash-up heroes 2ManyDJs, it definitely felt like no one was using the exit doors until the lights went up at 6am,
But for Miss W, it was fantastic to note a lot of up and coming talent being given a chance to shine - the funky El Salon room was treated to an amazing two hours of funk-house meets percussion with Mr Doris, the rooftop Premier Etage played host to local deep house legend Jon Howell, the Sunset Terrace moved to the beat of Café Mambo’s own Andy Baxter and London’s Chew The Fat! crew returned to give the Red Box and injection of their classic breakbeat sound - all in all, combined with the masters working the two main arenas, the perfect mix of music across all six rooms, with something to suit everyone. Which is what We Love are renowned for really… We’ll be seeing you again next weekend!
THE GOOD: This year sees We Love… go green. Using recycled paper for all of their promotional flyers, posters and even CD covers, along with vegetable based ink to reduce their impact on the Ibizan environment. Miss W encourages other clubs on the island follow suit so our beautiful island can continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.
THE BAD: Everyone’s favourite 22-hour party marathon has now been cut to 13.5 thanks to the new laws regarding daytime clubbing. When a promoter such as We Love… have successfully been running daytime parties for ten years, surely there should be some exceptions to the rule?
THE GOSSIP: After the DC10 terrace being incredibly empty upon opening at 4.30pm the previous week, many speculated that the Space Sunset Terrace would suffer a similar blow. With queues outside before the club had opened, this proved not to be the case and it was business as usual, with Andy Baxter delivering a superb set that got punters straight onto the dance floor the minute they stepped through the doors.
Gone was the car park arena and stilt-walking entertainers of the Space opening party and in their place, a plethora of acid house themed décor adorning the club, from enormous oversized smiley face balls hanging from the roof to illuminated flashing fluoro lights and even t-shirts declaring ‘We Love… Acid House’. We Love… have been notorious for steering clear of pomp and ceremony over the years and focusing solely on the music, but when thousands of smiley faced yellow balloons were dropped from the ceiling, we couldn’t help but get even more carried away in the moment.
For Miss W, again it was all about the Discotek. With house-master DJ Pierre at the helm of the DJ booth, banging out an amazing two-hour set packed with acid house classics, rave anthems and futuristic techno beats, it was no surprise that the room was packed to the rafters - one entire corner was packed full of the island’s finest DJ talent paying homage to the legend - from We Love’s very own David Phillips to Manumission’s Colin Peters and the Underground’s Justin Field, plus a posse of the Ibiza Rocks crew and local audio visual producers FR4M3 and last but not least, a handful of influential bar, restaurant and local business owners from across the island, it felt like the whole population was feeling the ‘We Love…’
In the new terrace (also packed to the rafters by all accounts) however, Miss W heard whispers that Ben Watt was giving DJ Pierre a run for his money, with those on hand to witness his set calling it awe-inspiring. Followed by mash-up heroes 2ManyDJs, it definitely felt like no one was using the exit doors until the lights went up at 6am,
But for Miss W, it was fantastic to note a lot of up and coming talent being given a chance to shine - the funky El Salon room was treated to an amazing two hours of funk-house meets percussion with Mr Doris, the rooftop Premier Etage played host to local deep house legend Jon Howell, the Sunset Terrace moved to the beat of Café Mambo’s own Andy Baxter and London’s Chew The Fat! crew returned to give the Red Box and injection of their classic breakbeat sound - all in all, combined with the masters working the two main arenas, the perfect mix of music across all six rooms, with something to suit everyone. Which is what We Love are renowned for really… We’ll be seeing you again next weekend!
THE GOOD: This year sees We Love… go green. Using recycled paper for all of their promotional flyers, posters and even CD covers, along with vegetable based ink to reduce their impact on the Ibizan environment. Miss W encourages other clubs on the island follow suit so our beautiful island can continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.
THE BAD: Everyone’s favourite 22-hour party marathon has now been cut to 13.5 thanks to the new laws regarding daytime clubbing. When a promoter such as We Love… have successfully been running daytime parties for ten years, surely there should be some exceptions to the rule?
THE GOSSIP: After the DC10 terrace being incredibly empty upon opening at 4.30pm the previous week, many speculated that the Space Sunset Terrace would suffer a similar blow. With queues outside before the club had opened, this proved not to be the case and it was business as usual, with Andy Baxter delivering a superb set that got punters straight onto the dance floor the minute they stepped through the doors.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
13/06/08: WONDERLAND OPENING PARTY
It’s been hyped up for months, and to Miss W, the Wonderland opening party couldn’t have come any sooner. I’d seen the posters around town, I’d glimpsed the all-new Eden at the opening party and I’d even been chatting to Mr Tong himself throughout the week about what to expect from his new extravaganza. And finally, the big night had rolled around.
Starting with a swish press dinner at the Eden-owned Kanya with visiting journalists from the UK, Miss W was wined and dined by the fabulous crew at The Shop, who have been responsible for making the Wonderland concept come to life. Complete with a performance from the Burlesque themed Wonderland dancers and a fireworks display from an almost sinister sequin-clad warrior by the sparkling pool just after sunset, it gave us an alternative - and entirely pleasant - start to our night in San Antonio.
Miss W has to admit she had just a teensy little bit of trepidation regarding the crowd heading into Eden, but from the minute she was whisked through the fairy light studded VIP entrance (complete with enormous framed pictures of Pete from the Wonderland artwork) and into the exclusive candlelit area behind the DJ booth, she knew that this wasn’t just another night at Eden.
As I sipped on chilled Moet - thanks Pete, you do know Miss W loves a glass of bubbles or two - Rob Marmot warmed up the rapidly expanding crowd in the main room, followed by a classic set from Groove Armada, who were broadcasting live for BBC Radio 1. Then it was time for the man of the hour to step up and show the world just exactly what he’d been plotting and planning for the majority of the year.
It was now that the crowd seemed to literally erupt - throngs of younger, clubby types swarmed the front of the DJ booth making it almost like a mosh pit, while the beautiful people in the VIP area - including Pete’s stunningly gorgeous wife Carolina - all got out of their seats to start dancing - a true party atmosphere.
The most amazing element of Eden’s revamp for Wonderland was the installation of a multi-million dollar visual displays, thanks to acclaimed production company Microchunk. With huge curtains made up of LED balls - which looked a little like oversized light globes to Miss W - and enormous almost cinema-like screens beaming with colourful lights, laser beams and moving projections that morphed and made the inside of the club like a giant video game, this was a whole new ball gamer for the club and certainly made it stand out from its competitors in terms of modernity and ‘wow’ factor.
Best of all, for The Looking Glass upstairs, the room hosted by local favourite promoter and DJ duo Charlie Chester and Jo Mills, these visual displays were hung from the roof of the club and backed onto the glass encased room - which meant the DJs playing in the third room had their very own visual showcase going on behind them the entire night, adding a whole new dimension to the room - in fact, we think the visuals were even more spectacular when viewed from this height - on the main dancefloor you had to crane your neck to look up at them!
THE GOOD: ‘The Looking Glass’ was jam packed all night. If they weren’t behind the DJ booth, VIPs were sneaking up here to hang out and dance with the many island faces on hand show support to Jo and Charlie - we think the old school ‘back room’ party vibe will be making a comeback in this room.
THE BAD: There’s been a lot of talk about Groove Armada making the transition from their coveted We Love Space Sundays slot to their own personal ‘Lovebox’ in the Funky Room at Eden on Fridays - sadly, the room remained quite empty for the majority of the night - we think this may have been due to the fact they also played the main room and then started in the Lovebox time as Pete hit the main floor - just a glitch in the programming, we hope!
THE GOSSIP: Apparently the VIP area behind the DJ booth wasn’t quite ready by the time the club threw open it’s doors for the 11pm curtain call, due to the fact that the über chic - and some might say very expensive - new furniture ordered especially for Friday nights had arrived in the wrong colour scheme and needed to be re-covered. So simple deck chairs stayed in place - not that anyone actually sat in them anyway, as most people were mingling and dancing!
Starting with a swish press dinner at the Eden-owned Kanya with visiting journalists from the UK, Miss W was wined and dined by the fabulous crew at The Shop, who have been responsible for making the Wonderland concept come to life. Complete with a performance from the Burlesque themed Wonderland dancers and a fireworks display from an almost sinister sequin-clad warrior by the sparkling pool just after sunset, it gave us an alternative - and entirely pleasant - start to our night in San Antonio.
Miss W has to admit she had just a teensy little bit of trepidation regarding the crowd heading into Eden, but from the minute she was whisked through the fairy light studded VIP entrance (complete with enormous framed pictures of Pete from the Wonderland artwork) and into the exclusive candlelit area behind the DJ booth, she knew that this wasn’t just another night at Eden.
As I sipped on chilled Moet - thanks Pete, you do know Miss W loves a glass of bubbles or two - Rob Marmot warmed up the rapidly expanding crowd in the main room, followed by a classic set from Groove Armada, who were broadcasting live for BBC Radio 1. Then it was time for the man of the hour to step up and show the world just exactly what he’d been plotting and planning for the majority of the year.
It was now that the crowd seemed to literally erupt - throngs of younger, clubby types swarmed the front of the DJ booth making it almost like a mosh pit, while the beautiful people in the VIP area - including Pete’s stunningly gorgeous wife Carolina - all got out of their seats to start dancing - a true party atmosphere.
The most amazing element of Eden’s revamp for Wonderland was the installation of a multi-million dollar visual displays, thanks to acclaimed production company Microchunk. With huge curtains made up of LED balls - which looked a little like oversized light globes to Miss W - and enormous almost cinema-like screens beaming with colourful lights, laser beams and moving projections that morphed and made the inside of the club like a giant video game, this was a whole new ball gamer for the club and certainly made it stand out from its competitors in terms of modernity and ‘wow’ factor.
Best of all, for The Looking Glass upstairs, the room hosted by local favourite promoter and DJ duo Charlie Chester and Jo Mills, these visual displays were hung from the roof of the club and backed onto the glass encased room - which meant the DJs playing in the third room had their very own visual showcase going on behind them the entire night, adding a whole new dimension to the room - in fact, we think the visuals were even more spectacular when viewed from this height - on the main dancefloor you had to crane your neck to look up at them!
THE GOOD: ‘The Looking Glass’ was jam packed all night. If they weren’t behind the DJ booth, VIPs were sneaking up here to hang out and dance with the many island faces on hand show support to Jo and Charlie - we think the old school ‘back room’ party vibe will be making a comeback in this room.
THE BAD: There’s been a lot of talk about Groove Armada making the transition from their coveted We Love Space Sundays slot to their own personal ‘Lovebox’ in the Funky Room at Eden on Fridays - sadly, the room remained quite empty for the majority of the night - we think this may have been due to the fact they also played the main room and then started in the Lovebox time as Pete hit the main floor - just a glitch in the programming, we hope!
THE GOSSIP: Apparently the VIP area behind the DJ booth wasn’t quite ready by the time the club threw open it’s doors for the 11pm curtain call, due to the fact that the über chic - and some might say very expensive - new furniture ordered especially for Friday nights had arrived in the wrong colour scheme and needed to be re-covered. So simple deck chairs stayed in place - not that anyone actually sat in them anyway, as most people were mingling and dancing!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
12/06/08: JASON BULL’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
When a local taxi driver WON’T take you to a venue because it’s too off the beaten track, you instantly get the feeling that the destination is DEFINITELY worth the trip, no matter how complicated the journey.
At least, that’s how Miss W feels, and when she discovered the location of Es Vive and Base Bar main man Jason Bull’s annual birthday bash - S’Estanyol - she quickly roped in the assistance of a friend with a jeep and hot-footed it to the hills behind Talamanca to get in the thick of the action.
PK2, the restaurant perched on the edge of the tiny beach cove only accessible by a dirt track has long been a favourite of in-the-know islanders, party promoters and after-hours aficionados - as much for its seclusion as its stunning surroundings. With a camouflage-net covered terrace accessorised with draping white curtains, rustic wooden furniture and amazing home-cooked food along with a powerful Funktion 1 sound system, it’s the ideal place to throw a party for a few hundred of your closest friends.
For the effervescent Mr Bull, an enormous paella was lovingly crafted to feed the masses - a predominantly English crew Miss W was quick to note - who mainly chose to linger on the sands while the sun was still high in the sky before milling onto the terrace after dark. Despite opening party week work commitments for many of the invited guests, the 4pm kick-off time was definitely not too early, and before we even knew it, it was time to relocate the party to none other than the infamous Es Vive hotel.
Who was still on hand to keep the fire burning? The who’s who of Ibiza’s party scene of course - while we won’t spill the beans on who was still hard at play once the rest of us had arrived in the office the following morning, we will say that the party lived up to its wild reputation as one of Ibiza’s finest non-clubbing social events of the year.
THE GOOD: The birthday boy of course! With that much charisma and energy to spare, it’s no surprise that guests flew in from all over the world to help celebrate Jason’s big day.
THE BAD: We love S’Estanyol but have to admit it is an absolute nightmare for transport. It’s all well and good if you have a designated driver, but when a party of this magnitude happens, we’d like the option of leaving the car behind.
THE GOSSIP: When you’re the owner of one of the island’s coolest party hotels, it’s only natural that the party kicks on in the ‘privacy’ of your establishment long after all other venues on the island have closed for the night. Miss W heard reports that a certain well known island DJ was still MIA at 4pm the following afternoon… lost in the depths of Es Vive we expect!
At least, that’s how Miss W feels, and when she discovered the location of Es Vive and Base Bar main man Jason Bull’s annual birthday bash - S’Estanyol - she quickly roped in the assistance of a friend with a jeep and hot-footed it to the hills behind Talamanca to get in the thick of the action.
PK2, the restaurant perched on the edge of the tiny beach cove only accessible by a dirt track has long been a favourite of in-the-know islanders, party promoters and after-hours aficionados - as much for its seclusion as its stunning surroundings. With a camouflage-net covered terrace accessorised with draping white curtains, rustic wooden furniture and amazing home-cooked food along with a powerful Funktion 1 sound system, it’s the ideal place to throw a party for a few hundred of your closest friends.
For the effervescent Mr Bull, an enormous paella was lovingly crafted to feed the masses - a predominantly English crew Miss W was quick to note - who mainly chose to linger on the sands while the sun was still high in the sky before milling onto the terrace after dark. Despite opening party week work commitments for many of the invited guests, the 4pm kick-off time was definitely not too early, and before we even knew it, it was time to relocate the party to none other than the infamous Es Vive hotel.
Who was still on hand to keep the fire burning? The who’s who of Ibiza’s party scene of course - while we won’t spill the beans on who was still hard at play once the rest of us had arrived in the office the following morning, we will say that the party lived up to its wild reputation as one of Ibiza’s finest non-clubbing social events of the year.
THE GOOD: The birthday boy of course! With that much charisma and energy to spare, it’s no surprise that guests flew in from all over the world to help celebrate Jason’s big day.
THE BAD: We love S’Estanyol but have to admit it is an absolute nightmare for transport. It’s all well and good if you have a designated driver, but when a party of this magnitude happens, we’d like the option of leaving the car behind.
THE GOSSIP: When you’re the owner of one of the island’s coolest party hotels, it’s only natural that the party kicks on in the ‘privacy’ of your establishment long after all other venues on the island have closed for the night. Miss W heard reports that a certain well known island DJ was still MIA at 4pm the following afternoon… lost in the depths of Es Vive we expect!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
05/06/08: F**K ME I’M FAMOUS AT PACHA OPENING PARTY
The runaway success story of last year, F**k Me I’m Famous - the French party de jour - has returned to Pacha and this year, we’re lucky enough to get the chance to head to the tongue in cheek soiree every week! Tonight, marked the official opening party and Miss W wasn’t going to miss a single minute of the action.
In order to get the full opening party experience, I decided to start the evening at the exclusive Café Mambo pre-party. As Miss W and her companions discovered, the sunset strip doesn’t exactly flourish in the rain - there wasn’t even a hope of seeing the sunset through those heavy clouds and the crowded terrace quickly cleared when the downpour eventually hit.
For those who managed to secure some Space inside Mambo, a further disappointment came with the news that David Guetta’s flight was delayed and he wouldn’t be able to play his pre-party slot - trying to use her ‘glass half full’ perspective, Miss W thought it was just all the more reason to visit the club later!
And visit the club she did - after numerous costume changes, finally settling on the all-purpose weather-proof option of skinny jeans and a camisole top - thankfully Pacha -unlike many of the other clubs - has a great cloakroom for storing those jackets and brollies (and at this stage I’m wondering if I can include wellies!)
The club was absolutely heaving to capacity, and Miss W had to admit that even though she loved the main room - particularly the performances and the décor - it was nice to take a breather on the roof (when the rain finally stopped of course). Those in the know understand that this is where a lot of the real Pacha action takes place, with the head honchos spending a lot of time up here, shaking hands, signing deals, and doling out the drink tickets - Ibiza’s very own ‘How to win friends and influence people’ type currency!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The Pacha dancers. There’s hot and there’s smoking, but these guys are steaming!
THE BAD: Maybe it’s just me, but are the FMIF billboards featuring a smooching David and Cathy Guetta just a little too OTT?
THE GOSSIP: Ticket sellers were suggesting the rain actually would keep people away from this party - but Miss W can tell you that was not the case at all.
In order to get the full opening party experience, I decided to start the evening at the exclusive Café Mambo pre-party. As Miss W and her companions discovered, the sunset strip doesn’t exactly flourish in the rain - there wasn’t even a hope of seeing the sunset through those heavy clouds and the crowded terrace quickly cleared when the downpour eventually hit.
For those who managed to secure some Space inside Mambo, a further disappointment came with the news that David Guetta’s flight was delayed and he wouldn’t be able to play his pre-party slot - trying to use her ‘glass half full’ perspective, Miss W thought it was just all the more reason to visit the club later!
And visit the club she did - after numerous costume changes, finally settling on the all-purpose weather-proof option of skinny jeans and a camisole top - thankfully Pacha -unlike many of the other clubs - has a great cloakroom for storing those jackets and brollies (and at this stage I’m wondering if I can include wellies!)
The club was absolutely heaving to capacity, and Miss W had to admit that even though she loved the main room - particularly the performances and the décor - it was nice to take a breather on the roof (when the rain finally stopped of course). Those in the know understand that this is where a lot of the real Pacha action takes place, with the head honchos spending a lot of time up here, shaking hands, signing deals, and doling out the drink tickets - Ibiza’s very own ‘How to win friends and influence people’ type currency!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The Pacha dancers. There’s hot and there’s smoking, but these guys are steaming!
THE BAD: Maybe it’s just me, but are the FMIF billboards featuring a smooching David and Cathy Guetta just a little too OTT?
THE GOSSIP: Ticket sellers were suggesting the rain actually would keep people away from this party - but Miss W can tell you that was not the case at all.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
04/06/08: BEACH AZULI AT SOL DEN SERRA
Being the Ibiza social butterfly that she is, Miss W is privy to a lot of ‘classified’ information about top-secret parties, very special guest DJs and stylish island locations and today saw all three elements come together to create an amazing event that we think will be talked about for years to come.
Sol Den Serra played host to Beach Azuli, for the first in a series of four secret summer parties and you couldn’t have asked for a more stylish location if you ask Miss W! The entire lower level, complete with day beds and deck chairs was transformed into a seaside dance floor, with beautiful pink feathers suspended from the roof and blowing delicately in the breeze to set the scene.
Those lucky enough to have received one of the exclusive pink invites - which were distributed by some of the island’s most well connected social types - were treated to smooth grooves courtesy of international guests Andy Cato of Groove Armada and Crazy P, along with Azuli head honcho David Piccioni. A troupe of amazingly fit Brazilian Capoeira dancers provided a visual feast for our entertainment before the sun went down
With a mouth watering barbeque sizzling away all afternoon and jugs of icy cold mojitos making the rounds of the smiley-faced and stylishly attired crowd, it felt like every need was catered to before we had a chance to contemplate it. Miss W and her Potential Boyfriend enjoyed lazing on the exclusive VIP day beds, giving the White-ettes plenty of opportunities to meet and greet the man in question - their verdict? Well, I’ll share that with you when they spill the beans!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Who said dancing in the daytime couldn’t be done in Ibiza anymore? This was the party to prove to authorities that private open-air events can be done, and can be done very well indeed.
THE BAD: The giant rain cloud that threatened to ruin the day! While it conveniently stayed away from Cala Llonga, we think it may have deterred a few guests from heading to the party.
THE GOSSIP: Miss W spied the police having a walk through the venue, however the rumours that the party would be closed down soon proved to be false - it was simply a routine sound check!
Sol Den Serra played host to Beach Azuli, for the first in a series of four secret summer parties and you couldn’t have asked for a more stylish location if you ask Miss W! The entire lower level, complete with day beds and deck chairs was transformed into a seaside dance floor, with beautiful pink feathers suspended from the roof and blowing delicately in the breeze to set the scene.
Those lucky enough to have received one of the exclusive pink invites - which were distributed by some of the island’s most well connected social types - were treated to smooth grooves courtesy of international guests Andy Cato of Groove Armada and Crazy P, along with Azuli head honcho David Piccioni. A troupe of amazingly fit Brazilian Capoeira dancers provided a visual feast for our entertainment before the sun went down
With a mouth watering barbeque sizzling away all afternoon and jugs of icy cold mojitos making the rounds of the smiley-faced and stylishly attired crowd, it felt like every need was catered to before we had a chance to contemplate it. Miss W and her Potential Boyfriend enjoyed lazing on the exclusive VIP day beds, giving the White-ettes plenty of opportunities to meet and greet the man in question - their verdict? Well, I’ll share that with you when they spill the beans!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Who said dancing in the daytime couldn’t be done in Ibiza anymore? This was the party to prove to authorities that private open-air events can be done, and can be done very well indeed.
THE BAD: The giant rain cloud that threatened to ruin the day! While it conveniently stayed away from Cala Llonga, we think it may have deterred a few guests from heading to the party.
THE GOSSIP: Miss W spied the police having a walk through the venue, however the rumours that the party would be closed down soon proved to be false - it was simply a routine sound check!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
01/06/08: SPACE OPENING PARTY
It’s the party that ‘officially’ kicks off the summer season and the one that Miss W has been eagerly counting down the days to!
Thankfully for the 18 000 plus clubbers who flocked to Playa Den Bossa for the long-awaited Space Opening Fiesta, Ibiza turned on her famous sunshine and blue skies. The car park - which was turned into a huge festival style arena for the occasion - was awash with glorious warm rays of sunlight while dancers in futuristic air hostess costumes entertained the masses by performing inside a giant clear ball, to the soundtrack of Fatboy Slim and as the sun began to set, Steve Lawler.
While the addition of the outdoor area is a novelty, I have to admit I just absolutely adore the inside of the club, so I was eager to get back in there and out onto the dance floor - it’s been almost eight months since Space and I were last together you know! Plus, I have learned from previous year’s experience that when the car park arena closes and you have around 10 000 or so eager clubbers all trying to get inside it’s a squishy situation (that really doesn’t go with my footwear) that can easily be avoided by heading inside before that happens!
Inside the club was every bit as amazing as I’d remembered - better in fact! The biggest problem was trying to decide which room to spend most of my time in - with the world’s best DJs holding court in every room, it was an extremely difficult choice.
Thankfully Miss W has very special access privileges at Space, which meant I could use the secret ‘staff only’ back passageways to manoeuvre my way through the labyrinth of a club and check out the action in every room before settling in behind the DJ booth in the Discotek for Sasha - where every experience I have ever had in a club in my life was eclipsed. From a laser show so amazing you felt like you could feel one of the thousands of streams of light filling the club to acrobats and stilt performers dressed as giant butterflies dropping from the roof to an amazed audience, this was a visual display like none other.
Of course, an opening party wouldn’t be complete without the obligatory start of season catch-up conversations and Space was no exception. Miss W spotted the ever-so-lovely manager of Space, Juan Arenas cruising around the club with none other than Danny Tenaglia while Erick Morillo was schmoozing David and Cathy Guetta, not to mention the many familiar island faces crowding the most of the free flowing drinks supplies and the air conditioning surrounding the DJ booth. The club’s name seemed to be quite ironic really, given there certainly wasn’t any space on the night!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: What an amazing party! Space once again proved why they are leading the way for the world’s clubbing elite. If only it was open all year round…
THE BAD: The sheer volume of people - while the numbers were certainly good for Space, it made queuing up for the bathroom a nightmare!
THE GOSSIP: The large area to the right of the DJ booth in the terraza was roped off to accommodate a very small group of about six people, who paid a premium sum to secure the space as the original VIP area was completely booked out. Miss W thinks it’s tacky to talk about money but she did hear a figure whispered that wouldn’t get you much change from 100K - wow!
Thankfully for the 18 000 plus clubbers who flocked to Playa Den Bossa for the long-awaited Space Opening Fiesta, Ibiza turned on her famous sunshine and blue skies. The car park - which was turned into a huge festival style arena for the occasion - was awash with glorious warm rays of sunlight while dancers in futuristic air hostess costumes entertained the masses by performing inside a giant clear ball, to the soundtrack of Fatboy Slim and as the sun began to set, Steve Lawler.
While the addition of the outdoor area is a novelty, I have to admit I just absolutely adore the inside of the club, so I was eager to get back in there and out onto the dance floor - it’s been almost eight months since Space and I were last together you know! Plus, I have learned from previous year’s experience that when the car park arena closes and you have around 10 000 or so eager clubbers all trying to get inside it’s a squishy situation (that really doesn’t go with my footwear) that can easily be avoided by heading inside before that happens!
Inside the club was every bit as amazing as I’d remembered - better in fact! The biggest problem was trying to decide which room to spend most of my time in - with the world’s best DJs holding court in every room, it was an extremely difficult choice.
Thankfully Miss W has very special access privileges at Space, which meant I could use the secret ‘staff only’ back passageways to manoeuvre my way through the labyrinth of a club and check out the action in every room before settling in behind the DJ booth in the Discotek for Sasha - where every experience I have ever had in a club in my life was eclipsed. From a laser show so amazing you felt like you could feel one of the thousands of streams of light filling the club to acrobats and stilt performers dressed as giant butterflies dropping from the roof to an amazed audience, this was a visual display like none other.
Of course, an opening party wouldn’t be complete without the obligatory start of season catch-up conversations and Space was no exception. Miss W spotted the ever-so-lovely manager of Space, Juan Arenas cruising around the club with none other than Danny Tenaglia while Erick Morillo was schmoozing David and Cathy Guetta, not to mention the many familiar island faces crowding the most of the free flowing drinks supplies and the air conditioning surrounding the DJ booth. The club’s name seemed to be quite ironic really, given there certainly wasn’t any space on the night!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: What an amazing party! Space once again proved why they are leading the way for the world’s clubbing elite. If only it was open all year round…
THE BAD: The sheer volume of people - while the numbers were certainly good for Space, it made queuing up for the bathroom a nightmare!
THE GOSSIP: The large area to the right of the DJ booth in the terraza was roped off to accommodate a very small group of about six people, who paid a premium sum to secure the space as the original VIP area was completely booked out. Miss W thinks it’s tacky to talk about money but she did hear a figure whispered that wouldn’t get you much change from 100K - wow!
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…
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?
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.
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?
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?
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?
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!
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?
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!
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
