Once upon a time, there was a weekly called the Chemistry Lounge.

It went down on Tuesday, the most unholy night of the week for casual nightcrawlers outside of Sunday and Monday. It filled the tiny confines of Auntie Pasto's on Kapahulu Avenue with beautiful twentysomethings sporting more Volcom, Hurley and Roxy wear than an Island Snow outlet.

Notorious B.I.G., Digable Planets and Dr. Dre kept heads ringin' on a tight, sweaty dance floor. And Chemistry's overall vibe was always chill and mellow.

A couple of late-2003 relocations — first to now-defunct Meritage, and then to now-renamed Velvet Lounge — messed with that vibe, hastening Chemistry's closure in April 2004. So a few weeks ago, I was surprised to find creators Matty Liu and Doug Silva mixing Chemistry anew at the Sheraton-Waikiki's poolside and oceanfront Esprit Lounge.

The biggest changes are a new weekend-welcoming night (Fridays) and largish (fans of the old Chemistry might say too large) venue with more room to kick back or explore. Beautiful twentysomethings remain (though they're now dressed a bit more evening-casually and occasionally elbowed by curious thirty- to fiftysomethings). Dre, Biggie and the Planets still drop the beats, but 50 Cent, The Game, Da Brat and, uh, George Benson are dropped in for good measure.

I appreciated the variety of seating choices for folks arriving early enough: votive-lighted tables in dark corners near Esprit's front entrance; bar-area seating on an alcove overlooking the entire room; torch-lit lanai tables with views of Waikiki Beach and the sound of lapping waves; and outdoor poolside seating.

Opening-night crowds aren't the best way to judge a party's success — sheer curiosity factor and free VIP invites all figure in — but the Chemistry Lounge was clearly jumping from 11:30 p.m. and beyond. After a slow start, the dance floor eventually found its takers.

A woman sporting a beret, tight cleavage-baring top, low-slung jeans and a penchant for unapologetically placing her drink on our table while giving out her phone number sang Black Eyed Peas' "Don't Phunk With My Heart" without the added benefit of DJ Mr. INC. spinning it in his Chemistry set. A guy with flaming red hair struck out on getting those digits, appropriately enough, over Snoop Dogg's "Aint' No Fun (If The Homies Can't Have None)."

And you just know a party is getting serious when Japanese sailors in uniform arrive 'round midnight and drop anchor near the go-go dancers.