Loading ...Adventures in Clubland: Pearl Ultralounge [PICS]
By Jason Genegabus
jason@starbulletin.com
When Pearl Ultralounge first opened last year, owner Beau Mohr told me he would keep his party planning in-house and wouldn’t work with any outside promoters.
Guess he’s changed his mind, because Flash Hansen and Matty Hazelgrove launched “The Candy Bar” last Friday. Both Mohr and general manager Alvin Yeh didn’t respond to repeated requests for comment, so I’m not too sure what caused the change in attitude.
But I did get a chance to stop by last week, so I’ve got more pictures from the new party after the jump.
After I snapped a couple pictures (including the one above), a woman walked up and asked if I was taking pictures of her and her friends.
“Nope,” I said. “I’m getting crowd shots.”
So she asked if I could take another picture, then walked back to her table and grabbed…
Andy Baldwin! Back from deployment! Last time I saw this guy was at the Honolulu Academy of Arts’ “Starlight Ball” in January.
Happy Birthday!
There was a SMART sighting, too. Hi Molly:
Jay Park is a pretty big deal at KGMB. Like their morning news show? You can thank this guy.
This guy looked like he was having fun:
I still think it’s pretty amazing that the door staff at Pearl will nitpick when it comes to guys’ footwear, but these “designer” T-shirts are okay. Strange.
Gotta love the dude peeking through, trying to get some camera time amidst his two photogenic friends:
And last, but definitely NOT least… two of my favorite door girls on this rock. Elaine and Veronica always seem happy and ready to party. It’s definitely a good look:
Jason, you are so funny! Nice to have writers that state it like it is and not hold back on their feelings and opinions because they’re scared to piss people off. Your comment about the two guys’ designer T-shirts just classic and you nailed it. If I have to see another guy (especially the ones hitting their 40s) wearing another one of those “retro/grafitti/whatever they’re called” type of T-shirts anywhere, I think I’m gonna vomit. It’s ALMOST as bad as seeing people still sporting their Ed Hardy wear. And wow, it amaze me how many camera hungry “look at me” types are out there. Also good comment about the door girls Elaine and Veronica. I don’t know the gals personally but it’s refreshing to see front/door girls like that that are always sincerely friendly, stylish, and aren’t sporting fake boobs like I’ve seen in other door girls.
Molly is so adorable. On another note, enough of the Flash and matty boy parties already. Their parties are always the same, the crowds are always the same, music the same, fashion shows are always the same. It’s all very uninspiring. What to do for the 28-year-olds on this island who want something to do at night after dinner without having to go to these club promoter parties? And Vertical Junkies parties are worse for our age group since their parties are geared toward sloppy drunk teenagers. Yet these two promoter groups seem to dominate the Hawaii scene (don’t know why, but they do). Jason Mr. Guru of nighlife and Hawaii scene, any suggestions for those in my age bracket that want to have fun without hitting the clubs or these typical party circuits?
Thanks, Sandra and Star, for the comments.
Star, you might be over F&M parties, but there are lots of other people who aren’t. It’s pretty significant that they were the promoters asked to come in and be the first outsiders to throw a party at Pearl.
Plus, the guys pull a pretty packed crowd no matter where their parties are. All that said, nobody is forcing you to patronize their events. Personally, I tend to hit up a F&M party every month to six weeks, unless they have some sort of special event (e.g. Doraku, Pearl, RumFire).
As far as after-dinner cocktail spots go, I kinda like Bar 35, The Dragon Upstairs, Hank’s and even Indigo (early, though) in Chinatown.
Kochi is an up-and-coming spot that not everybody knows about yet. And the Amuse wine bar at the Honolulu Design Center is decent if you’re into drinking wine.
And I did a Barfly about Therapy Sportsgrill out in Hawaii Kai. If you’re willing to drive, it’s a nice place to visit.
Oh… and it’s out of my price range, but dinner and drinks at town in Kaimuki is a good choice, from what I’ve heard.
Oh, one more thing.
There are more “promoters” than ever in Clubland. If it seems like you’re only hearing from one or two, it’s because they have the biggest budgets and work the hardest at pushing their parties on the streets.
But don’t forget about folks like the Architechs, Level H Promotions, Tantriq, Double-O-Spot, Good Life Entertainment, Rick Rock Productions, Partymasters Hawaii, Terren Zorne, etc.
I’m sure I’m forgetting a bunch of people, but my point is that there are a LOT of people throwing parties these days. And Honolulu residents are better off because of it. There are more choices now than there were five or six years ago.
Hi Jason, your comment about F&M parties well taken. They have been good for the party-goers that like their kind of parties so can’t knock them for that. I too like Hank’s, Bar 35 and the Dragon Upstairs, as well as Ferguson’s (though not been there in awhile) and Mercury, but I work in downtown six days a week so sometimes I need a break from downtown drinking which I’ve done a lot of. Thanks so much for the Kochi, Therapy Sportsgrill, and Amuse wine bar suggestions - never been to any of those and am desperately seeking something new. If town is out of your price range then it’s definitely out of mine. Thanks again. Look forward to reading more of your stuff!
I always have fun at their signature event skyline parties. Flash and matty always hard at work making sure we all having good fun. But this candy bar party at Pearl was just So So (the kind you wished you just stayed home watching TV instead). I think maybe it’s just Pearl which look like it trying to be Las Vegas nightclub but failing to. Pearl just doesn’t have a good vibe and the staff there not so people-friendly. One thing I liked about the pearl candy bar party you called it man! Elaine and Veronica! Something about those two girls. The something is natural beauty with edge AND personality. didn’t realize that combo still existed with girls nowdays.
Doraku party was better than candy bar.
Only good thing about pearl club is location.Some of us lazy townies don’t even like to drive into Waikiki.
Maybe flash was brought into the club to help them stop losing money. If anyone can do it it’s them.
Flash guys had many a door girls at Skyline many many years and other parties but yeah Veronica is the best above and beyond the other girls. Flash, if you reading this hire more girls like her.
Elaine can shake what her mama gave her like no one’s business.
Jason you have one of the best jobs on this island.
You keep us posted at the speed of light.
i went. i saw. i left after an hour. junk candy.
star, jason: town isn’t really that pricey, it’s about the same as bar35 no? i mean, i always go there for lunch and it’s never over $20 for two ppl.
star i’ve been hearing people make comments similar to yours recently. even from fellow niche-breakers like myself that are constantly checking out all ends of the spectrum in search of something different so as not to get bored.
i think you should try these:
last friday of the month - soul clap at thirtynine. very cool, no dress code, throwbacks and fun music, hip hop but older, trendy but not stuck up.
art after dark: never boring. NEVER! also last friday of the month. ages range from late 20s to early 40s.
wednesday acid wash at next door. always free. people our age (late 20s early 30s) and ridiculously fun.
ya, if you feel like vj and f&m are dominating the scene it’s very much because they invest lots of $$ in it. very well respected in their field tho. i’m down with both.
and i totally agree with donovan. doraku blew it. flash and matty were perfect for their friday night. pearl is UGH to me but i guess i’ll have to check our a friday there now.
Yeah, lunch would probably be cheaper at town. But I think they jack the prices up for dinner, and if you roll like I do (and I know YOU do, Christa!), you gotta budget for one or two or FIVE drinks per person on top of the food. lol
Soul Clap and Acid Wash are definitely must-try parties, if you haven’t already.
But I gotta admit, I liked them more when they weren’t so popular. Meaning the rooms weren’t as crowded and it was easier to get a drink at the bar.
ARTafterDARK is okay. I’m still not sold on it, but I did have a good time at the Starlight Ball a couple months back.
Doraku didn’t blow anything, though.
I’ve talked to just about everyone involved, and it was F&M wanting that weekly slot at Pearl. Not Doraku dropping the ball, and Doraku’s owner is still open to working with F&M in the future.
At least that’s what I was told.
Besides, Doraku is doing just fine with Buddha Khan every first and third Thursday and Naked Rhythm every Saturday (with K-Smooth on the decks, no less). The restaurant is also working on a new Friday night promotion.
jason try artafterdark this friday! it’s manga so all rad kinds of japanese pop art or something. come right 6 with me. you’ll love it! exactly like the starlight ball except you don’t have to wear that suit. i mean, you should tho– you looked so debonair!
ps: oooooo k smooth! love that guy.
Cannot… I gotta review the 50 Cent concert for Sunday’s paper.
I think.
Might be Monday. But I’m pretty sure it’s Sunday.
Mr. K-Sizzle, evvvvvverybody seems to adore that dude. For good reason, too.
Hi cw, thanks so much for your suggestions & comments.I really really like Thirty Nine and Acid Wash were pretty fun the times I went but been searching for places not in downtown since I work there live there, etc.for many many years and need some breathing room from the area. Would be nice to find a dozen+ options for our age group where you can have a fun night on a budget since I tend to be sober even after 6 drinks so cash is an issue and I like to go to places where you don’t have to stand in a long line and deal with the “if you’re not on the guest list because you’re not friends with the promoters then stand in the line from hell.” Also like to find places where you don’t have to wait forever at the bar for a drink when its just too crowded and where you can meet NEW people/faces. Jason, my friends and I had dinner at town and whoa our bill was pretty steep considering how little we drank and how small the food portions were.
OOOOO! i know just the thing. saturday if you go to the living room right at ten you can drink for free for an hour. pick up passes to get in free at the candy shop. i tried it myself this past weekend and wound up staying well past 2am, which is crazy for me.
it seems like starting early is the easiest and cheapest way. next door on tuesday nights has $3 drink specials i think– and wednesday at 0 lounge has $3 drinks all night and now that they have that 21+ area it’s actually really fun.
ya town for dinner sounds pricey.