THE NIGHT STUFF
Studio 55 at Hard Rock needed more punch
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Hard Rock Cafe has been experimenting with a handful of after-hours experiments. Some have worked, some haven't.
Studio 55, the disco night we tried out one Saturday, is teetering on the brink.
It was designed as a weekly disco-and-'80s after-hours event, but after two weeks, the Saturday party bowed to soft attendance and was gone for re-tooling.
I'm not surprised. When I checked it out, Studio 55 wasn't playful or over-the-top enough to justify its reference to Manhattan's legendary epicenter of '70s nightclub and celebrity excess, Studio 54.
Additions to the decor were miniscule afterthoughts: silver floor-to-ceiling tinsel near the DJ booth that barely captured the beams of a few portable lights on one side of the dance floor. That may have been part of some kind of low-key design plan. But the results would've barely passed muster with "54" sophisticates like Bianca, Liza or Halston.
The only connection to the real Studio 54 nightclub we could find was the music mix: a frothy (though rarely surprising) blend of mirrorball-era favorites from the likes of Sister Sledge, Bee Gees, Chic and others.
The $10 cover seemed a bit steep for a new event trying to attract a crowd — $5 to $7 would've been more tolerable.
Nevertheless, on the night I visited, 100 or so people floated about the cafe's indoor and outdoor areas at 11 p.m. The dance floor was empty, except for a trio of young women sporting lei and clingy cocktail dresses, who took to the otherwise empty dance floor as a unit for Stevie Wonder's classically funky "Superstition."
Save for its booths, the cafe's indoor seating was removed to make space for mingling and dancing. The plan proved a misfire, though, as patrons largely abandoned the cafe's interiors en masse for the courtyard, which had tables and more seating. With nothing much happening inside at 11:30, we opted for the outdoor courtyard as well.
"We'd really like some buttery nipples," a woman with a tossed mane of red curls flirtatiously begged the poor sap who'd been macking her for a less-than-fruitful 15 minutes. (Relax, a buttery nipple is a drink!)
Her two friends giggled, watching him squirm, while their friend curled her lip and pouted.
"Um ... three?" he inquired.
"Um, what do you think?" she finished. Nasty!
By the time we departed, the main room and its dance floor were largely deserted. The courtyard, on the other hand, still held appeal for a cocktail party-like crowd of about 150.
Studio 55's problems (most of them easily repairable) could hardly be blamed on the cafe's rock 'n' surf memorabilia-heavy environs or on employees. With its spacious wood-accented atrium design, collection of valuable and semi-valuable kitsch, and dimmed lighting, the Hard Rock would've been an excellent venue had the event been better thought out.
The cafe's staff — from servers to security to valets — was attentive and friendly. Drinks — though somewhat pricey — were strong and delicious.
Hard Rock Honolulu manager Mike Griffith told Night Stuff that other after-hours experiments the cafe has been trying out have worked just fine. Split 101 with Stone Groove Family still kicks on Wednesdays. Others flopped: Chemistry Lounge, a summer weekend event, eventually relocated.
Hard Rock Saturday nights for the rest of September have been turned over to Myth Party, a mix of live musicians (this weekend it's Pati) book-ended by DJ dance music. Griffith wouldn't promise a return of a weekly Studio 55, but hinted at the possibility of a re-tooled monthly version. He did guarantee more after-hours Hard Rock experiments.
And honestly, we can't wait for an excuse to go back.
Know a night spot or club event we should check out? Reach Derek Paiva at 525-8005 or dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.
• • •
What: Studio 55 (on hiatus, replaced by Myth Party)
When: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturdays
Where: Hard Rock Cafe, 1837 Kalakaua Ave., 955-7383
Under 21 OK?: No
Age of crowd: mid-20s to mid-40s
Dress code: No slippers, no tank tops (on men)
Attire we saw: Casual to dressy on both sexes. On men: aloha shirts, dress shirts, polos, sweaters, solid tees, jeans, dress shorts, dress slacks, baseball caps. On women: cocktail dresses, miniskirts, tank tops, camisoles, halter tops, jeans, pants, hot pants.
Our arrival/departure: 11 p.m./1 a.m. on a Saturday night
What we drank: Bombay Sapphire martini, white Russian ($13.02 for both)
Peak crowd while there: About 150 to 175
Queue?: No.
Sample music: "I Want Your Love" (Chic), "Stomp" (Brothers Johnson), "Night Fever" (Bee Gees)
Dancing?: Yes
Overheard line of the night: "I think my dad has that suit." — A twentysomething female patron to her friend after a thirtysomething guy walked by in a baby blue polyester suit, white dress shirt and polished white dress shoes.
