SITE: Bimbo's 365 Club
ADDRESS: 1025 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133
PHONE: 415/474-0365
WEB SITE: www.bimbos365club.com
VISUALS & VIBE: The historic late-night hot spot, which opened in 1931, moved to its current location in 1951 and retains many original art deco elements. The venue features a curved stage and dance floor surrounded by tables atop terraced dining platforms; red tablecloths and custom vintage china complete the look. In addition to corporate events and fund-raisers, the venue is a popular spot for musical acts and stand-up comedians, including Robin Williams, who regularly performs there.
EVENT AREAS: With 6,800 square feet, the space can accommodate up to 450 for a seated banquet, 600 for receptions and 700 for concerts.
BAR STARS: Classic cocktails such as martinis and Manhattans share the menu with newer favorites such as Cosmopolitans.
VIP LIST: Oracle Awards Banquet; PeopleSoft; Lucas Arts; Courteney Cox and David Arquette wedding reception.
“When people walk into the room they feel as if they've stepped into a bygone era of art deco elegance and glamour. [However], the in-house lighting and sound system is state-of-the-art, and our staff is extremely accomplished. Comedians and '80s cover bands have been a trend for event entertainment recently.”
— Erin LeMoine, events marketing manager
SITE: Avalon New York
ADDRESS: 660 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10011
PHONE: 212/807-7780
WEB SITE: www.avalonnewyorkcity.com
VISUALS & VIBE: Avalon is housed in a former church and features sleek metallic decor elements that highlight the structure's natural stone, soaring ceilings and gothic arches. The cutting-edge dance venue attracts the world's top DJs and is a chic choice for fashion shows, corporate events and after-parties.
EVENT AREAS: The entire multi-level venue can be bought out for events, as well as any of the various event areas: the 800-guest-capacity main floor; the 300-capacity Chapel room, and the outdoor courtyard, which can accommodate 200 guests. The ultra-exclusive, 150-guest Spider Club, located at the east end of Avalon, is the newest space.
BAR STARS: Vodka tops the request list, especially martinis and Cape Cods.
VIP LIST: Playboy Magazine, Sports Illustrated, BMG, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue.
“Avalon offers both the experience of a mega-club and the comfort and privacy of an intimate lounge with its newest venue, Spider Club, which [is] simple, elegant and accented with Moroccan flourishes.”
— Yehoram Houri, event coordinator
SITE: STIR at ThirteenFortyFive
ADDRESS: 1345 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, ON M6E IC3
PHONE: 416/690-1345
WEB SITE: www.clubstir.com
VISUALS & VIBE: Located in Toronto's lively Corso Italia neighborhood, the bi-level nightclub features bold colors, a sleek lounge, and a painted rock mural that was uncovered during renovations. The space contains two bars, a dance floor, state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment, and a stage for live entertainment.
EVENT AREAS: The 3,800-square-foot space has two separate areas: The top-level Stir Up has a maximum capacity of 150 guests; downstairs, Stir Down can accommodate 120 guests.
BAR STARS: The Stir Cocktail mixes white rum with cranberry and raspberry juices and a hint of lime, garnished with a frozen cranberry; the Coco St. Clair features coconut-flavored rum and pineapple juice, served in a glass rimmed with coconut shavings.
VIP LIST: Accenture; charity fund-raisers.
“We worked hard to create a very versatile space with custom lighting and sound. We can go from a corporate feel to a sexy martini lounge to a wild dance club. Venues need to reinvent themselves constantly to keep up with the demand for fresh ideas.”
— Dana Zita, CSEP, owner
