So this week I was tasked with finding a birthday venue for my best girl Dre and her 100 friends within four days. Her past birthday spots have included everything from Brennan’s to the Golden Gopher and she wanted something entertaining that could contain her bazillion friends but still have room to move. Although Dre requested something with a theme that would be fun, like bowling or burlesque, it’s not like we can book lanes at Lucky Strikes for that many people or pack ’em in at Forty Deuce, especially on a busy Saturday night. It looked hopeless but I was able to scrounge up a list of potentials where we wouldn’t have to do bottle service or put a $1,000 down payment:
Air Conditioned Supper Club: I had gone here once on an off-night but it looked like it could be a lot of fun. The main room had a huge bar, lots of space for dancing, a dj most nights and in the back was a lounge with many sofas and ottomans. An intercontinental cocktail menu with tuna tartar sliders, artichoke and spinach fondue, etc. is available to sate post-dancing hunger. And since it’s a hot spot, things will pick up as the evening goes on so party guests can people watch and meet someone outside the circle of friends. Thing is, we just have to get early enough like around 8 or so to claim the good seats. Bonus is that it’s near home.
625 Lincoln Boulevard
Venice, California 90291
(310) 230-5343
Bar 107: Sunglass-wearing deer heads, a jukebox, disco ball and a photo booth, this kitschy downtown bar which will be hosting a fundraiser for the Derby Dolls sounded like a fun venue for a party. It seemed spacious enough for a crowd with 20-foot-high ceilings, four rooms, a smoking patio and large booths. With ice-cold PBR and Schlitz tall boys and nightly drink specials, Bar 107 calls itself the place to go to if you like to drink — perfect for Dre’s buddies.
107 West 4th Street
Los Angeles, California 90013
(213) 625-7382
The Edison: My friend Hawaiian Ryan told me about this hot, new venue also located downtown. It’s definitely spacious with four rooms available for varying sizes of private parties. Judging from the club’s Web site, it looks so classy inspiring “the nostalgia of such legendary nightspots as The Cocoanut Grove and Ciro’s.” Only problem is it’s not open yet but Ryan said that it’s supposed to open sometime this month.
Second Street and Main Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
(213) 613-0044
The Royale: Another chic spot to evoke historic L.A. as it’s situated inside the 1920s Wilshire Royale Hotel. Here, you get “a cool cocktail lounge, a black slate bar, a 30-seat circular booth, and lush patio. The dining room’s soaring columns offset original white Italian marble and hand-carved French oak.” (Citysearch) Since this spot just opened up there isn’t much info about it yet but the few online reviews rave about it as another great downtown place to socialize and get your swanky drink on.
2619 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90057
(213) 388-8488