Through the Looking Glass
The hyper-surreality of Alice in Wonderland makes you wonder what the book's author, Lewis Caroll, smoked before picking up his pen.
Wonderland, Dolce Group's new club on the Cahuenga Corridor with a blatant down-the-rabbit hole motif, makes you wonder why you didn't smoke something before braving the door. Like Les Deux--Dolce Group's flagship club--in its prime, Wonderland's front door is a crowded shouting match of people who swear that they're on the list.
But once inside, the patrons are actually friendly, the bartenders quick and each ladies room stall has it's own full-length mirror. Score.
All in all, Wonderland isn't quite as special as Alice's unique story. But it is a good spot to throw a few back, listen to Jay Z dance remixes and pretend to peer through the looking glass if only for a few hours.
The buzz: The 4,200-square-foot space is the newest nightspot from the Dolce Group (Les Deux, Ketchup and Geisha House), taking over the defunct Shag nightclub, which was owned by Shereen Arazm, the lone Dolce dame. Currently open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays starting at 10 p.m., the club also serves Italian dishes including linguine with clam sauce and fettucine Alfredo. Curious, considering there are no real dining tables to be found, the place is pitch black and, you know, its a dance club and all.
The scene: Standard Hollywood fare -- 22 year-old trust-funders mixed with straight-off-the-plane Kansas transplants angling for their shot at reality-show stardom. But oddly enough, everyone came with a good attitude. Guys asked girls they didn't know to dance, girls made conversation with strangers and, most importantly, people didn't trample, shove or spill. A rarity at "hot" L.A. clubs.
The sightings: Though the tabloids tell us that Gerard Butler has been by, we only saw Frankie Delgado, Brody Jenner's little buddy on The Hills. Uh no, we didn't ask for his autograph.
The visuals: Designer Tony Schubert of Event Eleven (the event firm behind Milla Jovovich's wedding, Ketchup restaurant's decor and the Catwoman premiere party) transformed the dimly-lit space into his version of a low-key rabbit hole. Nothing strays far from the Alice and Wonderland theme, with oddly skewed wall hangings, intricately crafted indoor topiaries and a glass case full of the pocket watches and decanters likely found on a Mad Hatter's nightstand. But instead of the psychedelic visuals one would expect from Alice's over-the-top tale, this club looks relatively tame. Minus the bunches of mushrooms sprouting from the ceiling, of course.
The dress code: If Wonderland were a gender war, the guys would come out on top. Think plaid button downs, dark, slim jeans and Converse, paired with of-the-moment nerd glasses and a cleanly shaven baby face. If you own a leather hoodie, break it out and fit right in. And if you've always dreamed of being a mad hatter, now is your chance-- when we stopped by, more guys than not were sporting their coziest wool skullcap. While the dudes are decidedly young Hollywood, the ladies are a bit harder to pin down. We spotted Nylon readers in cut-offs, wispy tanks and grunge boots. While other bleached-blonde beauties donned their favorite Forever 21 rayon masterpiece and the heels they likely wore to their prom. If you happen to have a stack of cheap bangle bracelets laying around, add them to your outfit to fit in with the masses. And when choosing a handbag, be sure to grab whatever you wore three years ago-- we counted four Marc Jacobs Stam bags, more than we've ever seen outside his boutique.
The hot seat: The most action happens by the group of booths that circle a small, makeshift dance floor in front of the DJ post. But to get in on said action without having a table is like trying to speed on the 405 during rush hour. If you're smart, you'll stay away from the area entirely. High rollers are better off at one of the more spacious tables lining the club's left side, a non-crowded crevice that also gives standers space to breathe. But a small, secluded group of oversized leather chairs to the immediate right of the entrance was by far our favorite place to park. The fellow firing up a doobie on the next chair over seemed to be into it, too.
The drink: Since Alice in Wonderland reads like one big acid trip, we expected a selection of strong, exotically-mixed drinks that would turn us into Tweedledum after just one sip. What we got instead was an extensive menu of creatively-named libations that didn't pack a very innovative punch. A Mad Hatter ($12) is merely a dirty martini in disguise while a Rabbit Hole ($12) is a cleverly named mojito. A bright spot does exist in a Red Queen ($12), a sweet concoction of Tanquery, triple sec, lime, cranberry and pineapple juices and a splash of champagne. But if you really aim to end your night with slurred words and humiliating text messages, try a Tweedledee ($12), a simple shot of Jack and a beer.
The door: Like any proper Hollywood hot spot, you'll be waiting in line unless you have an "in." Steve the Bouncer, who you'll recognize by his bitchin' newsboy cap, is not easily amused and doesn't care to converse unless you look like a Playmate. Even if you happen to be on the list. Our advice? Grin like a cheshire cat, wear your highest-grade push-up bra and pray.
The parking: Tonight's $10 valet could be tomorrow's $10 lunch, so we circled the busy Hollywood block multiple times before finally ceding to the pay-parking Nazis. Instead of valet we opted for the $7 lot in the strip mall next door, which left just enough moola for tomorrow's iced tea.