Makati nightlife (Mars Disco Reopens)

[Clyde Adkins]

From: ©1996 The Manila Times
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Mars rising

By Marie T. Dimapilis
Reporter

GET ready for the "realignment" of the planets.
When Mars (is disco still an appropriate term for this party place?)
reopens tonight, expect a different kind of invasion to take place.
Suffice it to say Makati nightlife is going to get the jolt of its life.
Workers were still feverishly adding to the "work-in-progress" last
Monday night, but one already has an inkling of what to expect. The
new look is decidedly industrial, give or take a few concessions to the
age of cyberspace: steel, glass, metal, fiberglass and cement.
Entrepreneur Kenneth Tuazon, 28, decided renovation had to be
done as "(the place) was already getting old," he reasons. Hence, the
temporary adieu mid-March this year. "It was really time for a
change. You know, reorganize the old structure."
Not that it mattered much to the 1,000-or-so weekend habitues of
Mars. But with newer, bigger (better?) dance clubs opening every so
often, it's hard to keep up with the clubby types. Any self-respecting
establishment would have to think up gimmicks to bring in the
customers.
Obviously inspired by underground clubs abroad he has visited (he
doesn't want to mention specifics), there's no outdoor signage.
"People know where the (old) Mars is, anyway," he says.
In the reception area, stream-like wire flooring with 15 "alien egg"
silos of fiber- reinforced plastic (inspired by the movie trilogy Aliens )
greets guests. Past the opaque glass doors, the interiors are a case
study in monochromatic detail--predominantly silver. Futuristic, as
Kenneth and his dozen partners like to describe it.
Infinitely bigger than the old Mars, the 400-square-meter area has
your basic dancefloor, some room for tables, a videowall, a large
propeller-cum-exhaust with strobe lights, and a black-topped bar.
These, plus the egg-shaped wire mesh cage situated near the bar.
There's no designated VIP Room, as Kenneth believes that
everybody's a VIP in their eyes. Capacity is "450, sardines."
Still, the focus will be the state-of-the-art Martin Intelligent Lighting
System from Denmark, which is said to be the best in the world.
Three in-house deejays and two light orchestrators will guarantee the
party-hardy the music will be nonstop and
Says Kenneth, "Our main thrust is the music, since we want it to be
a high-energy dance club. Nonconformist." Also, "we want to stress
here the club culture, the lifestyle."
House music purchased during research in Ibiza, Spain (said to be
the club capital of Europe) and Lisbon, Portugal, is going to be the
nightly staple of the place. How up-to-the-minute trendy? Unless you
frequent Europe's dance clubs, you've probably never heard of them.
And unlike in the past when it was mistakenly labeled as a club for
the rich, young and restless, this is going to be a more people-friendly
party place. "We wanted to erase the misconception that only young
people frequented our place. We want people of all ages to
come--fun-seekers, people who want to party."
Cover charge is P200 (weekdays; P300 on weekends), and
"fashionable club wear" will be the dress code. "It's the total look that
counts," says Kenneth. Yes, they'd be able to discern who has
fashion savvy or not, but they're not just going to turn away a
possible revenue-generating client.
Last week, the club organized a dry run that brought in the likes of
Mars friends like Ana Buenaventura, Nanette Medved, and Keren
Pascual.
Soon, plans to go online will truly push the futuristic, "cyberpunk"
image they want to project, with computer terminals for Internet
surfing and all that. Kenneth and company are even mulling the
possibility of a web page.
What to expect tonight? Filipino-Canadian group Kulay will bring
the house down, there's going to be a Helmut Lang fashion show,
and more than an eyeful of celebs to keep the night truly
constellation-worthy.
Party hours are 9 p.m. until the last person leaves the place.
In case things become too heated, "panic doors" are strategically
located to allay one's fears.
Let's see if Mars lives up to its "cutting edge" promise.