Mr.Wizard
1,000+ Posts
Douchbag Central or good for Austin?
The Link
Michael Ault — a self-effacing, self-made offspring of New York gentry, raised on the international charity gala circuit known for celebrity-magnet hot spots and a ubiquitous presence on the New York Post's gossipy Page Six — is spending, along with his partners, almost $3 million to turn the former Alamo Drafthouse at 409 Colorado St. into a concept lounge known as Pangaea.
Named and designed after the geologic "first continent" of scientific theory, Pangaea is expected to attract the curious and the celebrated, as did Ault's earlier creations, especially Spy in New York and Chaos in Miami Beach, where Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Moss might have found themselves on the wrong side of a velvet rope during the mid 1990s before they hit super-celebrity status.
Pangaea joins existing lounges in the Warehouse District, including Michael Girard's threesome — Imperia (a mix of Asian restaurant and lounge), Cuba Libre and Speakeasy – as well as 612 West, Foundation, Red Fez and J. Black's, and the clubs owned by Lucky.
"At the end of the day, we all sell the same product," said Girard, whose Cuba Libre shares the lower floor of the building with the foyer of the 8,000-square-foot Pangaea, which will feature a long upstairs room with two bars and a capacity of about 450. "So what differentiates you is your theme. I'm a big fan of concept."
At Pangaea, it's the sex and danger of couples on an African safari. (sounds douchey)
How will Austin respond to the velvet-rope treatment, de rigeur in Los Angeles and New York but confined to just a few local clubs here on the busiest nights?
"Some people won't like it, no matter how respectful or responsible we are about it," Ault said. "But we want diversity in the club, not just all the same type every night. You have a responsibility to mix the room."
Ault speaks of an almost ideal blend of races, genders and sexual orientations, without denying his industry's preference for celebrities, models and, of course, the young and the beautiful. And with bottles — wine, liquor — going for between $150 and $1,000, reserved in advance, not everyone will want to cross the velvet line. (even douchier)
The Link
Michael Ault — a self-effacing, self-made offspring of New York gentry, raised on the international charity gala circuit known for celebrity-magnet hot spots and a ubiquitous presence on the New York Post's gossipy Page Six — is spending, along with his partners, almost $3 million to turn the former Alamo Drafthouse at 409 Colorado St. into a concept lounge known as Pangaea.
Named and designed after the geologic "first continent" of scientific theory, Pangaea is expected to attract the curious and the celebrated, as did Ault's earlier creations, especially Spy in New York and Chaos in Miami Beach, where Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Moss might have found themselves on the wrong side of a velvet rope during the mid 1990s before they hit super-celebrity status.
Pangaea joins existing lounges in the Warehouse District, including Michael Girard's threesome — Imperia (a mix of Asian restaurant and lounge), Cuba Libre and Speakeasy – as well as 612 West, Foundation, Red Fez and J. Black's, and the clubs owned by Lucky.
"At the end of the day, we all sell the same product," said Girard, whose Cuba Libre shares the lower floor of the building with the foyer of the 8,000-square-foot Pangaea, which will feature a long upstairs room with two bars and a capacity of about 450. "So what differentiates you is your theme. I'm a big fan of concept."
At Pangaea, it's the sex and danger of couples on an African safari. (sounds douchey)
How will Austin respond to the velvet-rope treatment, de rigeur in Los Angeles and New York but confined to just a few local clubs here on the busiest nights?
"Some people won't like it, no matter how respectful or responsible we are about it," Ault said. "But we want diversity in the club, not just all the same type every night. You have a responsibility to mix the room."
Ault speaks of an almost ideal blend of races, genders and sexual orientations, without denying his industry's preference for celebrities, models and, of course, the young and the beautiful. And with bottles — wine, liquor — going for between $150 and $1,000, reserved in advance, not everyone will want to cross the velvet line. (even douchier)
