[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/8555435[/vimeo]
Sophisticated luxury
Party goers at the Park Hyatt enjoying their neon (Photo by Anchyi Wei)
No crowds, no New Year’s madness, just the cool and modern chic charm of the Park Hyatt lobby where sexy patrons and the gourmet delicacies of Blue Duck Tavern executive chef Brian McBride created a refined way to welcome in 2010. What I liked most about the hotel’s New Year’s Eve event, which included a six-course especially-crafted dinner followed by dancing to tunes throw down by DJ Neekola, was that it was so chilled and sophisticated – much like the Park Hyatt itself. It was a close knit group of Washington influencers enjoying a subdued NYE in the comfort of the hotel’s signature warm wood and glass decorum. Spending the new decade in Park Hyatt style: Angie Goff and her husband Brian, Ernie Arias, Walter Brindell, Renee Sharrow, Kathy Martens of Make a Wish Foundation (which the Park Hyatt regularly partners with) and DC Modern Luxury’s Peter Abrahams with his wife with their two adorable boys.
Ernie Arias, Angie Goff, Anchyi Wei, Michael Clements, and Renee Sharrow at the Park Hyatt Washington. (Photo by Anchyi Wei)
New Year's Eve revellers at the Park Hyatt Washington. (Photo by Anchyi Wei)
Jazz and Wow at the W
It was time to turn the volume up, so I hopped a cab and headed to the W Hotel Washington for one of the most anticipated New Year’s Eve parties in the city. It didn’t disappoint. Sure, the views are amazing and POV drips of in-crowd coolness highlighted by low lit sexiness, but the entertainment on New Year’s Eve notched it up even more. DC’s own Marcus Johnson kept crowds entertained in POV with his awesome jazz while a DJ rocked the main room off the terrace lounge. (Note to the DJ: next NYE, don’t forget the countdown!) One thing is for sure, the W became a “place to be” in 2009 – New Year’s Eve only further cemented that. The property is continuing to establish its identity, which is turning into a cross between a White House and Hill staffer haunt, international jet set hub, and K Street party spot. All were on display this night. “W”ow! What a way to ring in 2010!
Jeff Dufour and Jayne Sandman at the W Hotel. (Photo by Anchyi Wei)
Ringing in '10 in style in POV at the W Hotel Washington. (Photo by Anchyi Wei)
Tatoo'ed in 2010! (Photo by Anchyi Wei)
Adrian Lovings with a fellow New Year's Eve guest at the W. (Photo by Anchyi Wei)
An early Chinese New Year lion dance at the W Hotel. (Photo by Anchyi Wei)
U Street is always for U!
Erik and Lisa Huey ring in 2010 at the W Hotel. (Photo by Anchyi Wei)
After the stroke of mid-night, I braved the W elevators and crowds hailing taxis and made it in time to catch Thievery Corporation DJ and restaurateur Eric Hilton, who was killing on the decks at always happening U Street hot spot Marvin. I was greeted outside by manager Sheldon Scott, who is as much of a fixture here as the funk-tastic Marvin Gay mural in the dining room. But the big news tonight, besides a vicious set by Hilton, was the soft opening of the DJprenuer’s latest property, Patty Boom Boom – a Jamaican-themed joint that combines a jerk patty kitchen downstairs with a bass speaker-lined dance floor above that definitely does go “boom boom” (as you can hear in my video). But by 4 am, my head was going boom boom as well, so it was time to finally put the past year to bed.
My findings? Is New Year’s Eve over-rated in Washington? No way! It was great because the B&T crowd wasn’t in the city as much as a regular weekend, and I got to sample some of the best party spots in the city without the typical weekend madness that can make going out in the city on a Friday or Saturday night a hassle. So, here’s to a great start to 2010 and my going out resolution – find the right nights to enjoy our fair city’s hotspots with my friends sans the bus loads. Viva 2010!
