SceneTracker Washington DC

Insomniac and EMM Group Partner for EDC NY VIP Experience

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:37:00 -0400

It's down to just a day away and just like that, Electric Daisy Carnival New York is here. As it's the first to kick off the summer festival season in NYC, EDC NY will top last year's event and the festival's producer, Insomniac made sure of that. They have teamed up with nightlife gurus EMM Group, the team behind FINALE in NYC, where the two powerhouses will create the ultimate VIP experience for fans on May 17th and 18th at Citi Field.

“The VIP experience is a special part of the festival which allows fans to enjoy the sights and sounds of the event in the comfort of high-end surroundings with excellent service provided by our partner, FINALE,” said Insomniac, founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella. “If you’re looking for an exclusive club experience at prime locations within EDC New York our VIP packages are the best way to go.”

So if you're ready to get the party started, the VIP table packages will be pretty legit. Fans will be able to experience everything from an exclusive VIP viewing deck overlooking the fest's main stages, Kinetic Field and Circuit Grounds, along with a private bar and lounge area in the midst of a trendy, upscale nightclub atmosphere.

Reservations begin at $1,500 and include access to a full bottle service menu with attentive wait staff on-hand from the nightlife venue. Guests will also receive gift bags including limited edition FINALE branded merchandise. For more information and to purchase VIP packages, please contact info@finalenyc.com, call 212-627-1235, or visit here.

Girls’ Weekend: 10 Fun Getaways to Take with the Girls This Spring

Mon, 06 May 2013 12:32:00 -0400

Quality time with the girls is something we all need. Our schedules may be incredibly tight leading up to the summer months, but with warmer weather and spring in the air, a girls' weekend getaway is a great opportunity to relax, unwind, and sip a cocktail or two. Here are ten affordable and fun for everyone ideas for planning your next girls’ trip.

Catch Rays at the Shore: Pack your bathing suit and head down the shore for some R&R with the girls. Sip a cocktail on the sand and catch some rays, while dishing the dirt. At night, hit up a nightclub or local bar for some socializing and dancing.

Book a Spa Treatment: Book a luxe spa retreat or spa day full of massages, facials, manis, and pedis. Treat your body and mind, while clocking quality girl time.

Visit a Winery: Tour a vineyard and explore a wide array of wines. The experience of being in the outdoors and sampling new wines with your girlfriends is great bonding, not to mention you’ll be able to expand your repertoire of wines.

Take an Outdoor Adventure: Whether it’s hiking, yoga, whitewater rafting, or some other type of outdoor activity, doing something physical with the girls is great for bonding (and for exercise). Pack a sleeping bag and a tent and plan on staying overnight if there’s a camping spot nearby.

Explore a Nearby City: Shopping, dining, theater, parks, and museums; the options for things to do in a city are endless. Find out what your group is into and plan your activity in advance (especially if it involves reserving tickets or making a reservation).

Check-in to a Casino: Gambling, dining, nightlife, concerts, pools, and spas; casinos offer a wide array of fun for everyone. Casinos also offer many incentives for previous visitors, so check ahead of time to see if anyone in the group has comps available to cut down on costs.

Rage at an Outdoor Music Festival: Great for catching your favorite bands, not great for socializing. These festivals tend to get a bit crazy, but what better way to share the experience than with your girls?

Enjoy Brunch & Dancing: Mimosas, omelets, and socializing are one of the best ways to spend a Sunday, in my opinion. Many brunches now offer sit-down dining, pre-set menus, and unlimited drinks. They also may feature DJs, dancing, and other entertainment.

Book a Bed & Breakfast and go Site-Seeing: Take a tour of a quaint town rich in history and book a B&B to complete the experience. Many historic towns offer ghost tours, horse and buggy rides, and other theme-inspired tours. Look into options pre-trip since these probably require a reservation.

Good Old Fashioned Sleepovers: Chances are since middle school, you haven’t been to a sleepover party hosted at someone’s home. Order some pizza and plan a girl’s night in (the adult version) with alcohol and adult games to make the experience unforgettable.

Everyone seems to have a jam-packed schedule with work, school, families, hobbies, and other responsibilities devouring our time, so oftentimes coordinating plans with our group of girlfriends is difficult to nearly impossible. Make your plans far in advance, say, at least a month. The more girls in your group, the more difficult it will be to accommodate everyone’s schedule, so send out invites four to six weeks in advance to give everyone a heads up on all the fun that is to come.

Cinco de Mayo Survival Guide

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:43:00 -0400

On St. Patty’s Day we’re all Irish and on Cinco de Mayo we’re all Mexican. It’s that time of year to be Mexican again. Are you ready for tequilas, cervezas, fish tacos, and sombreros? Joonbug loves a well-made tequila cocktail and also loves sipping on some good tequilas. You can't beat a day of Mexican food, drinks, and culture as I’m sure many of you embrace on this festive day. Cinco de Mayo started with Mexican-Americans on the west coast celebrating democracy and freedom at the start of the American Civil War. So how do we survive celebrating the holiday? Well Joonbug doesn’t want you to just survive. We want you to relish. So here are some tips on what to include in your celebrations:

Margaritas, obviously, but not just any. Try some of the bangin’ recipes from Sauza Tequila for a delicious combination of flavors from pineapple lime cilantro to kumquat.

Fish tacos are the best kind of tacos. We don’t know why but fish tacos over any other type of taco seems fitting for Cinco de Mayo. Perhaps because the warm weather elicits a desire for seafood? Throw in some jalapenos and cilantro to add some sassy Mexican flavor to your day. Want even more Mexican flavor, try out these recipes!

Wear a sombrero. Not only will you protect your skin from sun, but you’ll be festive! Besides, we find that props are excellent conversation starters when you make new friends at bars so throw in a fake mustache or some maracas if you feel so inclined.

Most of all…enjoy you, enjoy the weather, and enjoy the company.

Celeb-Studded Film-Lover Expierences

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:30:00 -0400

The Tribeca Film Festival wrapped up over the weekend after another successful year of premiere films, many of which will generate buzz once again during awards season. While the entire city was swarmed by A-list actors, the after-parties post film screenings were without a doubt one of the hottest places to be during the TFF. On Friday evening, deep below the crowded Ace Hotel lobby bar movie buffs, beer drinkers, and party-goers alike gathered in the green-lit Liberty Hall space to celebrate director David M. Rosenthal’s film A Single Shot. The film stars Sam Rockwell, Jeffery Wright, William H. Macy, Kelly Reilly, Jason Isaacs, and Joe Anderson and tells “a personally driven father-daughter fable” that is “an engaging and suspenseful piece of work that is indie genre at its most spirited.”

Sponsored by Heineken, revelers mingled and chatted on leather couches with personalized Heineken pillows in the intimate space washed in kelly green lighting along with large, 3D Heineken signs. Those in attendance enjoyed ice cold bottles of beer, provided by Heineken, as well as mixed well drinks at the two open bars at opposite ends of Liberty Hall while DJ Goldie Gareza spun classic ‘90s rewinds. Celebs spotted at the after-party included Justin Long, Sam Rockwell, director David M. Rosenthal, NY1's resident film critic Neil Rosen, and others.

Over the course of the two week film festival Heineken also sponsored private Green Room Sessions at select venues throughout Manhattan. The events gave ticket holders the opportunity to get to know the creative minds behind five select films featured at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The films that participated in the intimate Q&A forum were Flex is Kings, Lenny Cooke, The Moment, Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia, Alias Ruby Blade: A Story of Love and Revolution. Meant to bring film lovers closer to filmmakers, the Green Room Sessions featured passed hor d’oeuvres presented by the host venue.

Missed out on the Green Room Sessions? Check out the videos on Heineken’s YouTube channel.

Below is the Q&A with the director of Flex is Kings.

HQ Beach Club Ready to Heat Things Up This Summer!

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:34:00 -0400

This summer people of the Tri-state area will have a sexy, trendy and fun new place to party right next to the ocean. Jump into the pool, enjoy a cocktail, catch a nice tan, party in the hot sun during the day and then party even harder at night. The place is the new HQ Beach Club at Revel Resort in Atlantic City.

Slated for a May opening, the remnant of highly successful HQ Nightclub will bring the first poolside, day-into-night party of its kind to the Northeast. Inspired by the beautiful Greek island of Mykonos, this 45,000 square foot adults-only, ocean side haven, will hold parties alongside the iconic Atlantic City boardwalk every weekend. Revelers will surely love the surroundings to which their summer days will turn into nights.

Run by Angel Management Group and EMM Group, the L-shaped playground will wrap around the exterior of Revel and have a triangular pool in the middle with day beds scattered all around it. Individual plunge pools separate six bungalows from the main area. To keep guests coming back for more, HQ Beach Club will provide several luxuries such as elite VIP service, lavish amenities, A-list artists, and last but not least beautiful models to serve your needs. The bungalows, in teakwood-clad alcoves with white marble columns will be equipped with HDTV screens, overhead fans, couches, and two king size tufted-white beds.

Elevated from the pool, will be the DJ booth and dance floor level. A marble-lined perimeter walkway will guide guests through additional daybeds, cabana areas, and two juxtaposing bars. At the Veranda Bar, guests can mingle and enjoy cocktails beneath glass raindrop chandeliers. At the opposite end of the club is the Sunset Bar. With its glass lanterns and honeycomb façade, guests looking for a more relaxed, laid-back environment can escape the madness of the pool party. Want to relax without having to go to the bar every time you need a drink? Bottle service will be available for table, daybed, and bungalow reservations. A turbo sound system throughout each of its bars, cabanas, bungalows, and pools has been installed to ensure guests hear every second of the soundtrack provided by any of the first-rate DJs sure to be spinning at HQ Beach Club.

After Hurricane Sandy many were concerned the Jersey Shore will never be the same. HQ Beach Club will not only bring people back to the boardwalk, but will undoubtedly make it one of the hottest summers the shore has ever seen!

Derby de Mayo Weekend DC

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:49:42 -0400

Cinco de Mayo maybe not be Mexican Independence Day and you may not know anything about purebred racing horses for The Kentucky Derby but that doesn’t mean you don’t want an excuse to head out to best spots in the city to celebrate! BarCrawls.com has spiced up the weekend so raise your margaritas and your tin-cupped mint juleps and join in on the fun with three distinct parties and a bar crawl. Check out the details below and click the party links to purchase your tickets!

Kentucky Derby Party at Public Bar—Main: Tickets are $10 and allows you to celebrate the ‘greatest two minutes in sports’ on Saturday, May 4th. From 2pm until 9pm you’ll enjoy food and drink specials!

Cinco de Mayo Party at Public Bar—Rooftop: On Saturday, May 4th for $10 you can shake your maracas at one of the most festive fiestas to happen all year with food and drink specials from 2pm-9pm.

If you can’t decide between the Kentucky Derby or Cinco de Mayo for the first party weekend of May, BarCrawls.com offers a Derby de Mayo All Access Pass for $15 that gives you access to both amazing parties at Public Bar (Main & Rooftop) but remember to arrive early to reduce you wait time! Whether you were sipping mint juleps or tequila shots the night before, the party doesn’t end on Saturday!

On May 5th, join in on another day of red hot fun with one of BarCrawl.com’s infamous bar crawls! Tickets for the fiesta-style Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl are $10. After registering at Front Page you’ll crawl through the city's best spots with drink specials of the Mexicano variety from noon until 6pm.

Don’t want to miss out on a single tequila shot or the chance to rock your derby hat all weekend? Purchase the BarCrawl.com Three Day All Access Pass for $20. The All Access Pass lets you attend the Derby de Mayo Kick Off Party at Public Bar on Friday, May 3rd from 5pm to close, access to the Derby and Cinco de Mayo Parties, and a ticket to the Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl!

You must be 21+ to attend the events listed above.

Hakkasan and Light—Get Ready to Rumble!

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:14:00 -0400

In typical Vegas fashion, these two heavyweights will go head-to-head when the multi-million dollar nightclubs celebrate their grand openings a week apart. Hakkasan at the MGM Grand will open its nightclub portion of the venue April 18th with Grammy nominated Deadmau5 performing, while Mandalay Bay's Light will weigh in with Interscope Records’ Zedd just 6 days later on April 24th. For a more in-depth look at both of these new heavy hitters, let’s go to the tale-of-the-tape.

Hakkasan Restaurant & Nightclub at MGM Grand is a breathtaking new concept in dining and entertainment. While there are other Hakkasan venues worldwide, this will be their first venture on the Las Vegas Strip. This unique fusion of delicious Asian cuisine and exhilarating nightlife spans over 75,000 square feet and five levels. Envisioned and created by Hakkasan Ltd. and partners at Angel Management Group, the venue holds more than 7,000 people.

The first two levels comprise the restaurant portion of the venue. The first level is the main dining area with intimate, latticed woodwork cages. The second floor boasts a private dining room overlooking the main dining area. Specializing in modern Cantonese cuisine, Michelin-starred Executive Chef Ho Chee Boon and his dim sum chefs take center stage. Atop the restaurant level is the Ling Ling Club, an intimate 10,000 square-foot lounge where DJs Vice, Eric D-Lux, and ?uestlove are scheduled for the opening weekend, April 18–20.

The fourth level houses the main nightclub and The Pavilion, an Asian garden with a bar and DJ space.

The fifth and uppermost level has a panoramic view of the nightlife described as a re-imagined Las Vegas version of contemporary classic Chinoiserie. The main nightclub and the venue itself made such an impression on Tiesto, that he was willing to abandon his residency in Ibiza, Spain in order to perform more dates at Hakkasan. In addition to Tiesto, the DJ residencies that Hakkasan has acquired will undoubtedly be of impressive quality. Along with Deadmau5 and Tiesto, Grammy award winning DJ\producer Calvin Harris will perform 46 dates. Steve Aoki will also have six dates and a party called Neon Future, which will be sure to have fans packing this highly anticipated venue. Other notable acts performing at Hakkasan will be Hardwell, Bingo Players, Laidback Luke, and Tommy Trash. Tickets for events can be purchased, here.

And in this corner we have…

Light at Mandalay Bay—opening April 26th. Created by The Light Group, Cirque du Soleil, and MGM Resorts International, the nightclub will be the ultimate theatrical nightlife venue. The chic 38,000 square foot venue will feature state of the art theatrical production and world renowned DJs. Along with Zedd, Light has lined up an amazing group of DJs that can rival any of the major music festivals. This includes 2012 breakthrough star Nicky Romero, the Grammy nominated Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia member Sebastion Ingrosso, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Axwell, Thomas Gold, Mat Zo, Bass Jackers, Andy Caldwell…plus many more. Light—turned on by Cirque du Soleil will offer more than the traditional nightclub. Upon arriving at Light, guests will be dazzled by the theatrics, ambiance, and fanfare of the venue as everyone in the club will feel like part of the show. This 'show' includes revolutionary video mapping, lighting, sound and special effects, as well as the innovative and unique choreography, aerial stunts, and costumed performers that Cirque du Soleil has always been known for. At Light, no two nights will ever be the same. Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil said, “This new creative challenge is exciting for us. We have the opportunity to re-think the nightclub experience and apply our creative and artistic signature to different audiences and live experiences.” Light will not just be a place to dance to the best DJs in the world, it will be a visually stimulating experience like none other on the Vegas strip. Tickets to events at Light can be purchased, here.

Unlike the boxing matches audiences have been subjected to lately, this is shaping up to be one contest where everybody wins, especially the fans.

Kelly Rowland Gets Behind Courvoisiology with Kick-Ass Concert

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:07:09 -0400

Last night, award-winning singer Kelly Rowland, kicked off Courvoisier Cognac's latest program, Courvoisiology, with a live performance. The event took place at SIR Stage 37 in New York City and the former Destiny's Child singer promoted her upcoming album, Talk a Good Game. Joonbug is no stranger to Courvoisier's new concept, Courvoisiology—read all about their New York City launch here.

Attendees of the event munched on cognac-infused hors d'oeuvres by Roble & Co.and craft cocktails by mixologists Duane Fernandez, Jr. and Moses Laboy. Kelly Rowland wasn't the only notable at the event. The star was joined by guests Melanie Fiona, Elle Varner, among others. Kelly's exclusive performance included new singles off her album such as "Kisses Down Low," "Motivation," and her mega club hit "Love Takes Over," as well as Destiny's Child classics and her hit with rapper Nelly, "Dilemma."

Kelly is wearing a Wolford top, La Perla bra, Rachel Zoe pants, YSL shoes, and Lorraine Schwartz diamond rings.

Tribeca Film Festival

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:13:00 -0400

Film lovers across from the around the world will gathering in lower Manhattan April 17-28th for the 11th Annual Tribeca Film Festival. The festival helps filmmakers to reach the broadest audience possible and enables the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema. The festival which supports both emerging and established directors also helps to promote New York City as a major film making center. This year’s Tribeca Film Festival will hold free events and movie screenings throughout the community.

FILMS:

Of the 216 films to be screened at the festival here are a few that are creating the most buzz in the film world. In the Spotlight Section is the film Adult World starring Emma Roberts and John Cusack, Almost Christmas starring Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti, Before Midnight, starring and written by Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, and At Any Price with Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid, and many more. Documentaries that caught the eyes of the Tribeca Film Festival 2013 include Teenage directed by Matt Wolf, written by Jon Savage and Matt Wolf, explores how "teenagers" did not exist before the 20th century and the historical origin of the term and culture of said demographic throughout history and Red Obsession, directed and written by David Roach and Warwick Ross, and narrated by Russel Crowe, an Australian documentary about the impact China’s wine obsession has on French vineyards. Viewpoint films that are making waves includes Flex is Kings, directed by Deidre Schoo and Michael Nichols, follows the story of Brooklyn competitive dance performers, Kiss the Water directed by Eric Steel, takes viewers on a trip to the northern highlands of Scotland to explore the life of fishing-fly maker extraordinaire, Megan Boyd.

Tickets for the screenings have yet to be released but are slotted to go on sale soon.

A full listing of films featured at the Tribeca Film Festival can be found on their website.

EVENTS:

The Tribeca Film Festival also features lots of fun free events for film lovers to enjoy. Among the free events is the popular Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day taking place on Saturday, April 27th. The event allows guest to enjoy sports-related activities that includes games, demos, and prize giveaways. Throughout the day popular New York athletes, mascots, and sports personalities are set to make guest appearances. Also on April 27th is the Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair that “brings storytelling and film making to life” with a day full of talented performers including dancers, stilt walkers, Broadway performers, arts and crafts, face painters, puppet shows, live music, games, and loads more. The Street Fair will also include a new event, the Tribeca Food Feast with cake icing, meatball baking, and taste testing. Festival attendees can sample foods from neighborhood restaurants and select food vendors from around the city. This year the Tribeca Drive-In will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller The Birds, Tim Burton’s beloved 1988 comedy Beetlejuice, and “the most famous cat on the internet,” Lil Bub. The festival will also of course include a lineup of panels for the Tribeca Talks series which includes conversations with Clint Eastwood, Darren Aronofsky, Ben Stiller, Ellen Page, and more. Besides all of this, don't forget about all of the star-studded after parties that are sure to take over the neighborhood throughout the ten day event.

For exact locations and more details about the free events at the Tribeca Film Festival head to their events page.

1 OAK To Make Los Angeles Debut In The Fall

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:02:00 -0400

From NYC to Mexico to Vegas, 1 OAK has made its mark in each city and now has plans for a new location on the historic Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. The Butter Group, New York’s preeminent hospitality company and owners of renowned restaurants, The Darby and Butter; lounges and nightclubs, The Darby Downstairs, 1 OAK and 1 OAK Las Vegas announced today plans to unveil the first California outpost of hot spot, 1 OAK. Located at the former Key Club (9039 Sunset Boulevard), 1 OAK Los Angeles will open its doors in the space that once housed the likes of legendary musicians, including The Doors, Van Halen, Tom Petty, Tina Turner, Guns N’ Roses, and Bon Jovi.

The Butter Group, helmed by restaurateurs and nightlife business originators Richie Akiva and Scott Sartiano, along with their business partner Ronnie Madra, have partnered with Bartelier Group’s Darren Dzienciol (Trousdale) to introduce the 1 OAK brand to the Los Angeles market this fall.

“We are thrilled to be expanding 1 OAK into the Los Angeles market. We’ve been approached with many offers to bring our hospitality concepts to LA, but we’ve been waiting for the right project to come along...and this was it,” said Sartiano.

The exclusive nightlife niche will enliven Los Angeles’ nightclub arena with its NYC exclusivity and cutting-edge style, as 1 OAK’s signature design elements—Da Vinci Code walls, Brazilian wood counters and Gatsby-esque atmosphere—set to captivate West Hollywood party-goers while they immerse themselves in the stylish scene.

“In partnering with The Butter Group, we look forward to working with some of the industry’s top creative minds as we draw on one another’s expertise in our perspective markets to provide West Hollywood with a nightlife experience unlike any other in Los Angeles,” said Bartelier Group’s Darren Dzienciol.