Ask most people what an Italian Soda is and they’ll usually describe a combination of flavour syrup and carbonated, or seltzer, water. If you search its origin on the Internet, the majority of the results describe it as an invention created by two Italian immigrants, who made the drink popular in San Francisco around 1925. But the reality is very different, and I find it odd that Americans have allowed one of their core culinary strengths (drinks) and truly unique inventions to be taken…

If you happen to be residing in Europe, or loitering around the area on vacation or other such adventure, there is a little event happening in Amsterdam on August 23rd at Vesper. Philip Duff has offered to host this intimate soiree and introduce attendees to some lost drinks and interesting soda fountain ingredients from the book Fix the Pumps. Philip has provided all the entertaining details below.

Fix the Pumps Amsterdam
19th Century…

Very rarely do I post PR material, but in some cases the information is actually interesting and useful. This one isn't even about a product, more about a TV show on PBS looking into the world of seltzer and the people / companies that sell it the old fashioned way, in glass syphon bottles. For anyone who liked Fix the Pumps or is interested in using real seltzer water behind the bar / starting an in-house soda program, this might be something you should set your PVR to catch. Now I'm…

The title of this post may sound like something out of a fictional tabloid you get at the grocery store checkout, but it comes from the Los Angeles Times (February 25, 1902 edition). I’ve posted the newspaper article because it is an excellent example of what soda fountains were really like at the turn of the 20th century. Plus it is a very interesting read when compared to the “evils” of the saloon. If you’ve read Fix the Pumps,…

There is an interesting post over at the Bartending Magazine blog about the new complex nature of cocktails. To summarize the post, the author laments the fact that progress is interfering with “classic cocktails”, like the Rum & Coke and Screwdrivers, because these newfangled cocktails require things like egg whites and uncommon liqueurs. From the post one thing is apparent, he’s…

Acid Phosphate may have been all the rage during they heyday of the soda fountain but that didn’t mean it was the only alternative beverage acidulent. There were actually a number of competitors, most of them trying to cash in on Acid Phosphates popularity. Some used hydrochloric acid, a not so great drinking option. Another one was called Lactart and it was a much better option for consumption because it was made from lactic acid. It was popular enough that Lactarts became a class of drink…

The most popular drink in the world was once made using Acid Phosphate. Today, Coca-Cola no longer uses this unique ingredient, instead they have simplified their formulation by using phosphoric acid, which still makes it a phosphated soda, but not the classic version. The “phosphate” was the most popular drink at soda fountains for over 70 years, but once Acid Phosphate disappeared the real phosphated soda disappeared…

Wow, what a week. This year was bigger and better than last year. In fact there were so many people I wanted to have a drink with that there just wasn’t enough time. But I did manage to drink my fair share and chat with a lot of people. This year I went as a presenter and not media. I presented 3 sessions, plus helped out on Andrew Nicholls Essential Oil session so I was busy. I tend to feel obligated to do what I’ve agreed to do, and as a media blogger I would have felt compelled…

:: : NEW YORK CITY : ::

Saturday, September 4th
Top Labor Day Weekend Party in New York City: End of Summer Midnight Dance Cruise @ Paddle Wheel Queen
The weather isn?t going to stay nice for much longer, so why not spend the official end of summer aboard a dance cruise! With three levels to party, and NYC?s elite DJs the Midnight Dance Cruise aboard the Paddle Wheel Queen is a great way to say goodbye to summer. Click here for more information and tickets.

Saturday, September 4th & Sunday, September 5th
Top Labor Day Weekend Party in New York City: Electric Zoo 2010 @ Randall?s Island Park
You?ve heard all the hype surrounding New York City?s biggest electronic music festival, and now Electric Zoo 2010 is finally here! The two-day event features dozens of DJs and electronic music acts from around the globe including the Chemical Brothers, Pretty Lights, Axwell and more. The talent is pretty well split up between the two days, so you?ll probably want to just make Electric Zoo your entire Labor Day Weekend event. Click here for more information and tickets.

Saturday, September 4th
Top Labor Day Weekend Party in New York City: KGB ft CoCo LoCoS @ Sullivan Room
On Saturday, September 4th, KGB presents CoCo LoCoS along with Samsara, Arana, Danielle Nicole and Mikey G. With the addition of an opening set by Ilshim, this party will have Saturday of Labor Day weekend covered as far as partying goes. Click here for more information and tickets.

Saturday, September 4th
Top Labor Day Weekend Party in New York City: The Martinez Brothers & Cristian Arango @ Dream Nightclub
This Labor Day weekend, come out to Dream Nightclub to see the international DJ duo, The Martinez Brothers, play their first gig in the Hamptons! The guys will be playing along with Cristian Arango and Rizzi will get the crowd warmed up with an opening set. Click here for more information and tickets.

Sunday, September 5th
Top Labor Day Weekend Party in New York City: 5-Alarm Blaze ? Mister Cee?s Annual Pre Labor Day Extravaganza @ Webster Hall
Party with the superstars this Labor Day weekend at Webster Hall! The event will be starring Elephant Man, Serani, Mr. Vegas, Bunji Garlin, Alison Hinds, Fay-Ann Lyons, Ding Dong, JW & Blaze, Shaggy, Ricky Blaze, Demarco, Tallpree, Lady Saw and more to be announced! Mr Cee and over 10 other musical acts will be providing the jams to keep you on the dance floor all night long. Click here for more information and tickets.

Sunday, September 5th
Top Labor Day Weekend Party in New York City: Dance.Here.Now with Chus + Ceballos @ Cielo
Since there's no work on Monday, there's no reason to stay in on Sunday night, so get up and head out to Cielo for their famed Dance.Here.Now party. This Sunday night, Chus + Ceballos will be in the building for "10 Years in Stereo." We can expect to see a crowd full of partiers from Electric Zoo looking to keep the party going as well as others just looking to get the most out of the three-day weekend. Click here for more information.

:: : ATLANTIC CITY : ::

Saturday, September 4th
Top Labor Day Weekend Party in Atlantic City: AOE Presents Victor Calderone @ Resorts Atlantic City
On Saturday September 4th, head out to the Superstar Theatre at Resorts Hotel & Casino to see Victor Calderone kill it from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. The event is presented by Art of Electronica (AOE) who is heading the Nervous Beach Party on Sunday (featuring Chus & Caballos and Saeed Younan) at the Atlantic City Hilton as well. If you love electronic dance music, and you?re planning to spend Labor Day weekend 2010 in Atlantic City, then this one is not to be missed. Click here for more information and tickets.

Saturday, September 4th
Top Labor Day Weekend Party in Atlantic City: Mickey Avalon @ Casbah Nightclub at Trump
This event marks night #1 of the Labor Day Weekend festivities at Casbah Nightclub at Trump. Throw down Hollywood Style with Mickey Avalon, DJ Eddie Edge, DJ Yan, DJ Gerald Thomas and host, MC Ringo. Click here for more information and Lolita's Cantina and Tequila Bar Opening Party

It?s that time of year again: back to school. More specifically for the 21 and over crowd, it?s back to collegiate life, balancing school work, internships, library hours and of course, the all-important nightlife. There should be a textbook for such a thing! 

Luckily, we have DJ Hevan, who has put together a guide for the nightlife-challenged, college newbies and simply put, party junkies in Boston. Considering there are roughly 52 institutions of higher education in Boston proper, including seven junior colleges, eight universities and 23 specialized schools, who better to be your party guide than the Boston-based DJ who can be seen and heard at many of the city?s most popular nightclubs, special events and major concerts?

DJ Hevan?s Tips for a Great Night Out:

1. Go as a group. For safety sake, make sure you're not alone and have a way of contacting friends in case you get separated. Becoming separated from the group is an easy way to ruin a fun night.

2. Grab the right friends. A downer friend, c*ck blocker or inept wing-man can ruin the night. 

3. Dress right (or at least try to). Put some effort into your look and you might just get lucky...Or you could do what I do, which is only go to venues where you know people and can get away with wearing jeans and sneakers.

4. Bring a card or cash for drinks. I don?t care how fine a chick is, it?s so obvious (and such a turnoff) when she?s only there to get on a guys ?tab.? If you?re a private-schooler, have lots of daddy?s money to spend, go VIP! Get a table and make sure you have a security guard close to fend off the hood rats trying to scheme on your bottles.

5. Don't be that person. The one that never has any money and refuses to drink (or have any fun) until whomever they?re with caves in and picks up the tab.

6. Don't make dumb music requests. The DJ is not going to play Miley Cyrus just because your girlfriend wants to hear it.

Boston Hot Spots (by major):

Plan a night out according to area of study?! Yup. It might sound odd at first, but this guide can really help eliminate a wasted night out.

Liberal Arts
If they?re not sucking down flavored tobacco at a local Hookah bar, you can most likely find them somewhere in Cambridge mixed in with the hipsters dancing to music you DON'T hear on the radio. Try Enormous Room (569 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge) or Middlesex Lounge (315 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge).

Public Relations
They love to be seen and heard!  If there?s a red carpet somewhere, they?ve somehow found it and placed themselves on it. Try Royale (279 Tremont Street, Boston) or Revolution Rock Bar (200 High Street, Boston).

Art History
Architectural sophistication, dim lights and a charitable twist. The ?artsy-fartsy? crowd should stick to the South End overall and try The Beehive (541 Tremont Street, Boston) where they have both dining and funky musicians or Scullers (400 Soldiers Field Road, Allston).

Science and Math
I hate to call them ?geeks? but those that are style-challenged love the dive bars and bowling alleys. Harvard Square is for these guys. Try Redline (59 JFK Street, Cambridge) or King?s Bowling (50 Dalton Street, Boston)

Music
Join your fellow ?Gleeks? for a night of Karaoke. Try An Tua Nua (835 Beacon Street, Boston) or Courtside (291 Cambridge Street, Cambridge).

Women?s Studies
Ok, so they?re not all lesbians; but if you?re a woman that likes to study other women, Providence is the place for you. Try Gallery (150 Point Street, Providence, RI)

Jocks
I don?t care what you?re actually studying, if you?re a proud student athlete, you want a place where you can wear a hat. Try Greatest Bar (262 Friend Street, Boston) or Hurricane O'Reilly's (150 Canal Street, Boston).

Here at Clubplanet we take our clubs seriously, but covering so many hotspots all over the country can be a little exhausting at times. With that said, we?ve decided to look at the bigger picture and take note of what we think are the top 25 clubs in the U.S. From Miami to Los Angeles, New York to Las Vegas, we?ve selected 25 nightclubs that we think are the top hotspots deserving of your attention should you be in their vicinity. If you?re a big clubber like we are, you?re definitely going to want to take some notes.

#1 Top Club in the U.S. ? TAO
3355 Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Las Vegas receives an insane amount of visitors on a daily basis, and it?s pretty fair to say that a majority of these guys want to visit TAO, one of the best nightclubs in the U.S. There are an insane amount of options in Las Vegas, but TAO sets itself apart in service and décor. The 10,000 square foot club is nothing but nightlife energy, enticing options to indulge in any mood.

#2 Top Club in the U.S. ? LIV
4441 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
LIV nightclub is quite possibly the biggest club that Miami has to offer, but it?s also one of the most elegant. It?s all about rubbing elbows with Miami?s A-list socialites at this venue, and prepare to spend some serious cash at the bar. The VIP experience at LIV is the quintessential party experience for anyone looking to build great memories, making this one of the best clubs in the U.S.

#3 Top Club in the U.S. ? Mansion
1235 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Once you land in Miami and start filling out your itinerary, the first thing you should mark on there is Mansion nightclub, one of the top clubs in the U.S. The most popular nightclub in Miami since its doors opened, it attracted names like Paris Hilton, Diddy, The Kardashians and many more. This place is always a hit regardless of the night you choose to attend, and that definitely makes it one of the best clubs in the U.S.

#4 Top Club in the U.S. ? XS
3131 Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
There?s something about cabanas that really gets the nightlife crowd interested in a club, that?s why when the makers of XS in Las Vegas decided to put in 30 cabanas, it was just a recipe for success. Now one of the top clubs in the nation, XS is a common stop for anyone looking to have a great time in Sin City.

#5 Top Club in the U.S. ? Cielo
18 Little W. 12th Street
New York, NY 10014
For years, Cielo has been one of the toughest doors in the NYC scene. But having a tough door isn?t the reason why this place is ranked on our list of the top 25 clubs in the world. From 2004 ? 2009 the posh party haven has racked up tons of titles, including ?Best Deep House Club? (New York Magazine, 2006), ?Best Club? (ClubWorld, 2008) and ?Best Party? for Dance.Here.Now (ClubWorld, 2009). Perhaps it?s the world-famous DJs this club attracts or perhaps it?s the reputation that continuously propels Cielo?s success. Either way, the nightclub has gained a reputation that makes it easily one of the best clubs in New York. And you know what they say, ?Once you?ve made it in New York City??

#6 Top Club in the U.S. ? Avalon Hollywood
1735 Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA 90028
If there?s one place where everyone in Los Angeles could agree is a great nightlife venue, it?s Avalon Hollywood, one of the biggest nightclubs in California, and one of the top clubs in the U.S.  It?s a big face that packs in a lot of bodies, but most importantly it brings in the best talent in the city, from bands to world class DJs.

#7 Top Club in the U.S. ? Pacha
618 W 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
With locations around the world, Pacha already has a reputation for hosting the best big-name DJs, so it comes as no surprise that Pacha NYC gets great talent and packs the house week in and week out. The 30,000-square-foot nightclub is split into four levels, each decorated in their own unique way (dancers grinding in showers, for example). When the night falls and the DJ takes the stage, Pacha turns into a maze of crazy characters all geared-up for a night of dancing until the early morning hours.

#8 Top Club in the U.S. ? Rain
Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas, NV 89103
There?s nothing like a big nightclub in Las Vegas, and Rain always comes to mind first for us. First brought to fame by MTV?s The Real World, Rain is the quintessential nightclub, big, lavish, great sound, awesome lighting. They bring in some of the best entertainment in the world, as well as some of the biggest crowds on a consistent basis.

#9 Top Club in the U.S. ? Tryst
3131 Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
There?s a waterfall inside of this nightclub, if that isn?t enough to get you interested, then pair it up with the lagoon that sits below collecting all of the water. Tryst is truly a magical club, with 84 VIP tables inside and outside catering to the true party people that are looking to make their Las Vegas experience top-notch.

#10 Top Club in the U.S. ? SET
320 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL 33139
SET nightclub is without a doubt one of the most attractive nightlife venues in all of Miami. While it may not stack up in size like other clubs in South Beach just around the corner, it makes up for it in its aesthetics. The décor at SET nightclub is impeccable and transports you into a chic atmosphere like none other, which is why we chose it as one of the best clubs in the U.S.

#11 Top Club in the U.S. ? Santos Party House
96 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10013
As far as nightlife goes, Santos seems to have done the impossible: attract all sorts of music, all sorts of people, and house them all under one roof. This never works out when you try to please everyone, but when you ditch the schemes and just try to throw a good party (which isMore

DFA Records is one label that just does not put out bad music. Between LCD Soundsystem, Holy Ghost!, Hot Chip, Shit Robot, The Juan Maclean? (the list goes on and on), DFA gets our vote for one of the best electronic music labels out there.

When we heard that DFA Records was teaming up with the Hudson Hotel on a new Wednesday night party, we knew immediately that this was going to be a hit. The guys behind DFA (James Murphy, Tim Goldsworthy and Jonathan Galkin) are not only known for giving us great music, but also for throwing wild parties where the unexpected is to be expected. We suggest you make Wednesday nights at the Hudson Hotel a priority.

The weekly event started last Wednesday and will be held every Wednesday until at least the end of September from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. in the Hudson Hotel?s private park. Listen to DJs from the DFA family spit out those infectious disco-punk songs we can?t get enough of while partying in a beautiful outdoor park surrounded by ivy-covered walls. James Murphy is slated to perform a set on September 15th (along with special guests), while Justin Miller, DJ Kaos, Matt Cash and who knows who else, will grace us with their DJ skills throughout the month of September.

The icing on the cake? All shows are free and open to the public. Enjoy!

Carnival hosts a Wednesday night festival of fun called "Amanda Lepore's Big Top." Because my new Russian girlfriend is wild in bed, I suspected she would be open to and enjoy a gay extravaganza in New York, so off we went to my old stomping grounds. Carnival and Bowlmor Lanes are both housed in the same building on University Place between 12th and 13th Streets. I had attended law school in the neighborhood many years ago when only the neon-lit bowling alley was open in the building.

But now, on Wednesdays only, it?s the gayest carnival on Earth. With Kenny Kenny working the door (the most androgynous and recognizable door person in New York) and Amanda Lepore (the most famous transsexual in the world) working the floor, I knew my date and I were going to be entertained with tons of flamboyant energy. I was not disappointed. To enter, you literally walked through the mouth of a giant clown face, not knowing where you were going to wind up. After zigging and zagging through the funhouse-like clown head, you exited in front of a long row of carnival games. The lucky players left with stuffed animals. We enjoyed the DJ, the clowns, the jugglers, the dancers and the energy only 1,000 gay men and drag queens can create. My date and I, along with everyone in the room, celebrated the joy of being kids again. Popcorn, cotton candy, candy apples, hot pretzels and a fun crowd? send in the clowns! Especially the ones with big, swollen, red? fill in the blank? (noses of course, you pervert!)

Life at best is short. PARTY TILL YOU DIE! 
-Sir Ivan aka Peaceman
?The Party King of the World?

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September 1st, 2010 is already here and where does the world of nightlife and hospitality stand? This week I received an email from Brian Gordon of Miami Marketing Group (MMG) with a link to an article entitled ?Dolphins SoBe Style.? The article outlines how Miami Marketing Group, the proprietors of LIV Nightclub, are clearing out 400 seats and 17 suites of Dolphins Stadium with new owner Steve Ross, to bring South Beach nightlife to the NFL. The space will be complete with table service, dance floor, and DJ booth, as well as models, celebrities, and some of the biggest DJs in the world. The ownership made a multi-year commitment because, according to team CEO Mike Dee, ?We want to see it grow and build. Starting with two prime-time night games we think will be red hot from day one.? Additionally Dee is quoted as saying, ?A lot of times teams design around a lounge or space, but in this case this is a more cutting edge project because we are talking more about the experience, the vibe. And why we partnered with these guys is because they bring the rest of the equation, the vibe, the programming, the celebrities, the feeling that you get when you go to LIV.? They have a stadium and franchise worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and the thing they want is the ?feeling? you get from LIV?quite the complement.

With this in mind, I would like to take this, my last column prior to my departure on holiday, to point out to everyone and anyone who will listen, that nightlife is becoming the leading source of entertainment in the world. The Miami Dolphins deal (similar to the Hyde Lounge at the Staples Center in LA) is an incredible idea that I believe we will see duplicated throughout the world with sporting events and stadiums. It is a prime example of how nightlife culture, is being assimilated into every part of the modern entertainment business. The culture and business of the night has exploded out of the backroom and into the boardroom. An educated person cannot argue the profound effect that nightlife has had on our culture in the modern era (post 1970). The culture and business of the night pervades all areas of our day-to-day life from music and art to hotels and advertising/marketing. We have gone from an underground counter-cultural movement, to a multi-billion dollar industry controlling the tastes and employment of millions of people. Let?s go to the videotape.

Hotels:

Well this one is sort of easy. Ian Schrager created the boutique hotel with partner Steve Rubell during the ?80s. They combined the design, art, music, and marketing they learned in nightlife and revolutionized the hotel experience. Enter W Hotels, Andre Balazs, Thompson Hotels, Kimpton Hotels, Ace Hotels, SLS Hotels, and so many more its hard to name; and we arrive at today. Marriot Hotels, the largest US hotel owner, has partnered with Schrager to develop Edition Hotels. "We're interested in getting into the market as fast as we can and with as many as we can," Marriott Chief Executive J.W. "Bill" Marriott said of the boutique segment in a recent interview. Boutique Hotels can charge 12% more on average than other properties on the same market for providing nothing more than design and ?experience,? both of which can, in most cases, be provided at little or no additional cost. There are currently 55 W Hotels and Resorts around the world, which have been developed since 1998, and this trend is quickly seeping into residential real estate. Enough said.

Casinos:

Casinos are, in my mind, the modern day precursor to the development of the nightlife industry. They were, for the most part, shady operations until the late 1970s. Once corporate America realized how much money was being made, they took over, cleaned up, and made it into one of the biggest industries in the world. Is nightlife so different? Are there many businesses where you can make 20-30% profit on a drink or 150% profit on a bottle and charge a cover for access? We?ll leave it to the precursors, the casinos, to be the first to realize how much money there was in nightlife. We can argue that New York or Miami is the nightlife capital of the country, but the truth is Las Vegas is where the real scratch is made. From daytime pool parties to vibe dining restaurants to nightclubs, Las Vegas spends the most building the venues and makes the most profit from them. I don?t know the exact figures, but there is no way that nightlife isn?t a top 10 driver of visitation to Las Vegas (reason people visit). From what I am told, it is one of the only things keeping the city afloat as hotel and gaming revenues decrease. As Rande Gerber said, ?When times are good people drink, but when times are bad they drink even more.? Who am I to argue with Cindy Crawford?

Restaurants:
All of the other critics may complain, but the writing is on the wall. Why aren?t there any restaurants to review in New York? Because people in New York, although they want great food, would prefer good and consistent food with some action. I am not saying that this is the correct approach, but the modern diner seems to be so much more about the overall experience than just the food. That is why bistros, brassieres, trattorias, wine bars, and cocktail lounges dominate the dining front. Yes, there are some exceptions such as Momofuku or Aldea, but for the most part people want to get drunk, listen to great music, be in a warm environment, meet the opposite sex, and eat salty, but not overly filling foods. Who did this?  Sorry to say, but nightlife guys. Stephen Starr of Buddakan, Marc Packer of Tao, Sam Nazarian of every restaurant in Los Angeles, the Meatball Shop guys, Jeffrey Chodorow of China Grill Management, Richie Notar of Nobu, Bagatelle Group, George V (Buddha Bar/Barrio Latino); they all have roots in the world of nightlife and vibe dining. The modern restaurant business is not profitable unless you can do a few things: sell liquor, bring in the customers, create energy, and generate BUZZ. Vibe and experience dining came out of the lessons learned from the world of nightlife. Abe & Arthurs, Kenmare, The Lion, Gemma, Griffou: they are good restaurants to eat in, but they are great restaurants to drink in.

Art, Music & Fashion:

Universal Music Group/Interscope reached out to my business partner a few years ago about a new artist they were trying to break. She had a new single and wanted to do some free shows at nightclubs in Manhattan. Josh set her up at Tenjune and the Hamptons Magazine party at Mansion. Her name: Lady Gaga. Look through pictures of Studio 54, Max?s Kansas City, Mudd Club, and Palladium. Andy Warhol, Halston, Michael Jackson, Keith Haring, Basquiat, Mick Jagger, Barishnakov, Diana Ross, Julian Schnabel, Truman Capote, Betsey Johnson, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Ross Bleckner, Vincent Gallo, and so many more.  Fast forward to our generation and the regulars include Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Damien Hirst, Zack Posen, Marc Jacobs, Julian Schnabel, Heidi Klum, Britney Spears, Giselle, the Olson Twins, Axl Rose, Katy Perry? the list goes on and on.

Clubplanet Pick of the Week: The Bell House