25/10/08: Making new friends

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15/10/08: Underground Closing Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thankfully for us, no they don’t!

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

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

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

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

Now raise your right hand and repeat after me:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12/10/08: Atzaro Summer Closing Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11/10/08: KM5 Closing Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/10/08: Danz Closing Party @ Aura

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

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

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

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

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

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

What else can I say? Yes please!

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

10/10/08: Café Mambo Closing Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

06/10/08: El Ayoun Closing Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

03/10/08: Space Closing Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28/09/08: We Love Closing party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh well - no rest for the wicked right?

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

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

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

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

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

But don’t quote me on that!

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

26/09/08: Wonderland Closing @ Eden

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23/09/08: Laurent Garnier @ Space

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The verdict? We love… We Love…!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12/09/08: Manumission Closing Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/09/08: Beach Azuli @ S’Estanyol

This summer Miss W has come to look forward to the monthly ‘secret’ Azuli parties on the beach – guaranteed to deliver good music, a host of beautiful guests and above all, the opportunity to dance on the sand, beneath the sparkling Ibiza sunshine, something that has become somewhat of a rarity these days thanks to the ever-changing laws and noise restrictions on the island.

So when September rolled around, one of the first things on my mind was what, when, where and who? What date would it happen, when would I find out, where would it be held and who would be the guest DJs? Add in another who – who would be attending?

Well, today I got the answers I’d been looking for when at 12pm I was notified by text message that Beach Azuli would indeed be happening today at one of my favourite places, the gorgeous cove of S’Estanyol. With special guest DJs David Piccioni, Rob Marmot, Antz, Oliver Lang and Ian Blevins – island DJs (all very easy on the eye if Miss W may say so herself) happy to donate their time to a good cause, supporting the Danny Torres Foundation – the charity that profits from today’s event will go to. Awww bless…

As per usual, Azuli didn’t fail to impress me – in a week of uncertain weather, it was blue skies and high temperatures aplenty, with the sunbeds on the beach booked out just minutes after the party started and the jugs of sangria being refilled faster than you can say ‘salud’ as is the custom in Spain! Add to that a combination of Balearic classics and disco party favourites, a sandy dance floor that filled up the minute the sun went down, super cool guests including James Blunt (who was only too happy to make a more than generous donation to charity), local DJs and plenty of clued-up residents and you’ve got yourself a foolproof recipe for a fabulous Ibiza beach party.

Will there be another? Miss W hears that there will be an extra instalment in the Beach Azuli sessions at the end of September – stay tuned for a full report!

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Azuli boss David Piccioni proved that people in Ibiza really do have a heart and party for pleasure, not profit by donating all profits from the event to ASPANADIF, an association for parents with disabled children from Ibiza and Formentera. Three cheers to David and let’s hope more DJs and promoters of his calibre follow suit.
THE BAD: Although the Azuli party is by invitation and word of mouth only, guests were asked to make a ‘suggested’ 20€ donation to the charity. Miss W was surprised to hear that many island residents only donated their loose change – or worse still, promised to come back and donate ‘later’ with the idea that ‘paying’ to get into an event was something they shouldn’t have to do. You know who you are – and you should be ashamed of yourselves.
THE GOSSIP: Tongues were wagging all over the island when Beach Azuli DIDN’T happen on the first Wednesday of the month as it has for the previous three months. Was it due to the fact their previous venue has been temporarily closed due to an incident involving a very Swish London nightclub threw a party on the premises? Or was moving it to the second week it a clever ploy to keep authorities off the scent of what has become a very successful day-meets-night party?

09/09/08: Carl Cox Closing Party

Here we go, here we go, here we gooooo... That’s the tune Miss W had on her lips tonight, as we headed towards Space to bid farewell to Carl Cox & Friends, who were wrapping up their incredibly successful ninth season on the island and at Space. To quote Dorothy in the Wizard Of Oz, ‘People come and go so quickly around here, don’t they?’

With the briefest of all club nights, at a mere 10 weeks long, it’s no wonder that crowds flock to this popular night – you’ve gotta get in there quick! Though it may be the shortest season, in terms of line-ups, as I’ve said before, it’s definitely one of Ibiza’s finest. From underground techno heroes and breakbeat wizards to drum and bass über-stars and acid house pioneers, the night is one for party lovers and enthusiasts alike.

Miss W falls somewhere between the two categories, so wasn’t about to miss the final show. Carl Cox & Friends is notorious for long queues and generally the wait to even enter the hallowed doors of Space can take up to an hour (generally this is put down to low ticket prices before midnight, a move the promoters should be congratulated on) but thankfully Miss W knows how to wink her way to the front of the queue, so catching the tail end of Carl Cox’s sunset terrace set wasn’t a problem!

The it was into the dark discoteca, where Loco Dice – one of the DJs on the island that Miss W thinks would be a very good Potential Boyfriend, if only she could actually met him face to face – was playing his trademark bouncy techno, carnival style music that could make even the most stubborn dance-hater (not that there are any in Ibiza) get a wiggle on. And he’s just so darn good looking, how could anyone not want to be up close to the DJ booth!

Bushwacka! entertained with an eclectic tech/house set on the indoor terraza, including a remix of Bille Jean that sent the crowds into a frenzy. Production wise, the white face painted Space stilt walkers did their thing, sending the crowd into hysterics, a giant white sheet was flung over the entire terrace like a parachute then swept off to a roar of approval, the stunning Space dancers did their thing one last time with extra gusto and the spectacular laser show was more dazzling than Tiffany & Co diamond ring.

Miss W thinks a very big round of applause must go to the Filthy Gorgeous crew, who hosted the jam-packed El Salon room and a standing ovation to Mr Doris who played to a very crowded Premier Etage for over seven hours – wow!

With friends like these… it’s no wonder this finale was such a success.

THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The enthusiasm and energy of the big man himself hasn’t waned after all these years, which is nice to see in an industry that can sometimes seem a little jaded. What a nice guy indeed…
THE BAD: What? You mean it’s over so soon? Miss W can’t help but think that if Carl and his buddies extended their season, Ibiza’s September tourism numbers might get more of a boost. If the government is encouraging longer seasons, then surely the clubs hosting the nights should give the promoters a bit of a friendly nudge in the right direction too?
THE GOSSIP: German techno legend Sven Vath was spotted in the DJ booth, high fiving Carl Cox for a few minutes as guest Loco Dice finished his set, but didn’t hang around to watch any of the other acts. Perhaps he was just tired after the previous night’s Cocoon party?