New Year’s Evolution
As most party people know, January tends to slow down after the hectic holiday season. But as we kick-start 2008, there has been no downtime for this fashionable girl, what with new bar openings and a quick Jamaican retreat with the BF—but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Before heading to Montego Bay for some much-needed beach time, West Queen West was slowly becoming my new haunt (again!), with raging parties at Tattoo Rock Parlour and the opening of the aptly named Kitchen. On one unusually mild winter’s eve, Tattoo was filled to the brim with the American Apparel crowd, for a show by DJ Steve Aoki and Canadian group MSTRKRFT. During his raucous set Aoki even decided to do a bit of crowd surfing. Also spotted at Tattoo in January: Vancouver rockers Nickelback and local hockey boys Tie Domi and Doug Gilmour.
Further down the street: The plush leather banquettes and graffiti art in the basement of Kitchen, from the same boys who own Two Cats on King West, is an alluring locale to assemble with your besties almost any night of the week. The grand opening was a success with its packed-to-the-rafters, stylish crowd.
Looking for some great food and somewhere to lounge après work? Head to the lower level of Jacobs and Co. Steakhouse on Brant Street, with its cozy fireplace, nightly jazz pianists and scrumptious bar menu (think: pulled turkey and cheese-stuffed baked potatoes!) —it’s not just the cheap martinis that will have us going back.
Photography by Maria Chavez
