Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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DANCE CLUBS
The momentous popularity of Latin dance and swing has resulted in the opening of new
clubs dedicated to both, taking some of the pressure off the old standbys. DJ club culture
is also on the rise locally, featuring noteworthy shows at some enjoyable clubs; such dance
clubs, however, can come and go as quickly as y ou can say “jungle rave.” Mere whispers
of a happening thing else where can practically relegate a club to a been-ther e-done-that
status. Check the
L.A. Weekly
for updates on specific club information.
Bardot
Above the Avalon theater—entrance is up a flight of stairs alongside the side
of the building—this club has r einvented itself numer ous times since it first opened in
1927. Today the club hosts burlesque nights to live jazz to DJs spinning everything from
classic rock to dance music. There's a bar and lounge, an outdoor cour tyard, and “tent
room” filled with plush fabrics and low-lit sconces. You'll need a dinner reservation to get
in, which is much better than a cover charge or bottle service minimum.
1737 N. Vine St.,
Hollywood.
&
323/462-1307.
www.bardothollywood.com.
The Derby
This class-A east-of-Hollywood club has been at ground zero of the swing
revival since the v ery beginning. Located at a former B rown Derby site, the club was
restored to its original luster and detailed with a heavy 1940s edge.With Big Bad Voodoo
Daddy as the one-time house band and regular visits from Royal Crown Revue, hip guys
and dolls knew that the Derby was money even before
Swingers
transformed it into one
of the city's most happenin' hangs. But if you come on the weekends, expect a wait to get
in, and once y ou're inside, dance space is at a pr
emium.
4500 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz.
&
323/663-8979.
www.clubderby.com. Cover $7-$10.
El Floridita
Finds
This tiny Cuban restaurant-and-salsa club is hot, hot, hot. Despite
its modest strip-lot locale, it draws the likes of J ennifer Lopez, S andra Bullock, Jimmy
Smits, and Jack Nicholson, in addition to a festiv e crowd of Latin-dance dev otees who
groove well into the night. The hippest nights continue to be M ondays, when J ohnny
Polanco and his swinging N ew York-flavored salsa band get the dance floor jumpin
10
'.
1253 N. Vine St., Hollywood.
&
323/871-8612.
www.elfloridita.com. Cover $10.
The Kress
This former historic department store (and Frederick's of Hollywood head-
quarters after that) is now a four-story entertainment complex in the heart of Hollywood.
After a $7-million renovation, it's very opulent and Art Deco-y, the kind of place wher e
Paris Hilton would want to hold a masquerade par ty (she did in 2008). There's a night-
club in the basement, an Asian-inspired restaurant on the ground floor—which basically
Dinner & a Movie & DJs & Dancing
If your big night on the town involves dinner, a movie, DJs, and dancing,
Cine-
Space
has got it all covered. Every Thursday through Saturday this stylish, inti-
mate Hollywood supper club serves contemporary American cuisine—and stiff
cocktails—while screening recent hits, indies, classics, and shorts. When the (free)
film's over, the DJ party starts at around 10pm and goes until 2am. Check the
CineSpace event calendar online to see what's playing, and then call to make a
reservation. It's located in the heart of Hollywood at 6356 Hollywood Blvd. at Ivar
Street on the second level (
&
323/817-3456;
www.cine-space.com).
