Revamped European-style nightclub Luxx Lounge been showing late-night revelers the red-carpet treatment.
A couple of Luxx Lounge cuties
ATLANTIC CITY — Last May’s grand opening of the Diving Horse Cabaret & Steakhouse was among Atlantic City’s social events of the spring, touting a sort of who’s-who list of the resort’s top executives and dignitaries with a swagger that was certainly justifiable.
What prominent developer Tom Sherwood did with the former property to that point was impressive, but there was plenty more to unveil of the 55,000-square-foot complex in stages in the ensuing months.
Probably the most anticipated piece of the whole pie is what would be named Luxx Lounge, an ultra-modern nightclub that debuted Oct. 15 and is sited where past social-scene kingpin Studio Six had been. The five-month wait was well worth it, as Luxx’s luxuries include a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, multiple private European bottle-service areas, two bars including a martini/champagne bar near the main entrance, and a spacious dance floor.
“The whole complex is really taking off. I couldn’t be happier right now,” says general manager Mike DiCarlo. “The grand opening went well but I think what really put us on the mark was our [three-day] Halloween party. That was insane. We had the [NYC-based house-techno duo] Disco Fries at Luxx, which was awesome, we had [local punk-rock band] Jumpship playing at the Diving Horse, which was pretty unique — bringing a punk-rock band into a high-end gentleman’s club — but it worked out really well.
“We have a big Thursday night industry night at Luxx, Fridays have been a lot of fun, and on Saturdays we’ve had wall-to-wall people waiting to get in. And let me tell you, the sound system is ridiculous. I’ve worked at all the best clubs in the area and the way they have it set up is just amazing. Everybody comments on it as soon as they walk in. Maybe it’s the structure of the room and the way the acoustics work out, but it’s really something special.”
Since Luxx debuted there have been a slew of special events and celebrity appearances, including many professional mixed-martial-arts fighters. DiCarlo (who’s an amateur MMA fighter himself) has connections to the pro fighters through an MMA clothing line he co-runs called Bone Yard Industries. DJ talent is top-shelf at Luxx as well, often combining the best in local party hosts (such as Paul Castro, a house DJ at Borgata’s MIXX who will be spinning at a Thanksgiving Eve bash at Luxx Wednesday, Nov. 23) and those from the New York City-based Blue Monster Talent (bluemonstertalent.net) run by Jim Rolfe (a.k.a. DJ Prime, who hosted Luxx’s grand-opening party).
“[Blue Monster’s] DJ Licious has hosted a lot of our events and everybody seems to like her a lot, and DJ Kevin Rogers has been our resident on Saturday nights,” says DiCarlo.
“We’ve got a lot of national and international DJs lined up for future events at Luxx,” says DJ Prime. “With the incredible light and sound system there, it’s a perfect fit for the European-style dance-club DJs.
“Crowd-wise we’ve seen a pretty good mix of younger and older folks,” adds DJ Prime. “The younger ones flock to the venue after the traditional clubs close around 4am since Luxx is open till 7, so lots of staff and party goers looking for that extra party time have been going there.”
A big hit with the ladies, according to DiCarlo, has been the Hunk-O-Mania male revue show Fridays and Saturdays, 9-11pm.
“We usually draw anywhere from 70 to 100 or more girls on a Friday and Saturday night,” he says. “We pack the place and it’s a nice combination. When we open up the club [for regular hours] at 11 o’clock, the guys come in and there’s already 100 girls in there. You can’t beat the combination.”
“I personally have been at Luxx since the first weekend that it opened,” says DJ Rogers. “As a DJ it’s always exciting to be part of a new club, especially one with as nice of a sound and lighting system as Luxx has. Each week gets busier as word of the club spreads throughout Atlantic City with new crowds of people coming to check the place out, both during regular hours and after hours when the other places in town close.
“It’s a mixed crowd and I wouldn’t say that there is one age group that sticks out, which makes it fun ‘cause you can get creative in the way that you try to entertain everyone with a variety of music. Music-format wise, it is a dance-based open format where you read the crowd, keep it fun and play to their tastes.”
The Thanksgiving Eve party (Nov. 23) will offer free admission to those with college ID, and drink specials all night including $3 PBR pounders and $5 blueberry teas.
The ceremony, which runs from 7-9pm, with an after-party to follow at the venue, will bring together the best bartenders and bar teams in the Atlantic City region (both casino and non-casino representatives) as voted by our readers at acweekly.com.
“I do a lot of business in Seattle, New York and other parts of the country, and whenever I’d host clients in A.C. I kept hearing ‘where is there a gentleman’s club?’ There are strip clubs, but no gentleman’s clubs and I wanted to open an upscale place where businessmen can enjoy themselves in a clean, safe environment without the strip-club mentality.”
John Schultz is quick to point out that the Brass Rail, a 12-seat bar sited off a one-way side street in midtown Atlantic City, was not the catalyst to what was once a thriving social scene for the area’s gay community. That existed long before he purchased the bar in 1971, he says.
ATLANTIC CITY — Paint the town rainbow — the gay community is flocking full force back to the city that’s always turned on! Recently Atlantic City's first in-casino gay bar, Prohibition nightclub at Resorts, opened its doors to tremendous hoopla, and with that club’s success came the emergence of another GLBT-themed establishment — one that had been a pioneer during the first giant wave of gay clubs that helped spawn a thriving GLBT community in the seaside resort during the 1970s and 1980s. Can lightning strike twice? The Brass Rail — once part of the Club Tru complex created by John Schultz and partner Gary Hill — will have its formal grand re-opening in a weekend-long affair starting Friday, July 29, with an invite-only party from 7-9pm Friday. After 9pm the club opens to the public, and the fun doesn’t end until Monday, Aug. 1, at 6am. Presented by Stoli vodka, the gala will include an appearance by Claudia DuMont, who will be accompanied by the New York City Strippers, starting midnight Friday. On Saturday at midnight “Faresa” performs, and on Sunday from 9pm-1am guests will be treated to the outlandish antics of Lady La Belle — one of the popular contestants from the recently resurfaced...
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1. joe skats said... on Nov 20, 2011 at 03:45PM
“one of the best party spots!!!!!! love it there!!!!”
2. Pete said... on Nov 28, 2011 at 11:26AM
“Dj Paul Castro he did his thing on the 23rd...Excellent night of music and dance. Keep Castro in the lineup and life will always be good!!!!”
3. Ace City Promotions said... on Jan 15, 2012 at 04:46AM
“Guest List Access to Luxx Lounge Every Monday - FREE, Wednesday - $5 and Saturday 1/2 Off, Text/Call: 973-879-3975 www.LuxxMonday.Eventbrite.com”
4. Ace City Promotions said... on Jan 15, 2012 at 04:49AM
“Guest List Access to Luxx Lounge Every Monday - FREE, Wednesday - $5 and Saturday 1/2 Off, Text/Call: 973-879-3975”