Mello Mondays

Have You Ever Been Mello?

By BY RAINA MCLEOD

For the past couple of months, your Mondays have been moody, miserable, and muddled. More than once you've wondered, Where have my sexy vibes and happy feelings gone? You've even found yourself in the midtown area, looking for the cool kids who used to run to the District for a reprieve from the week that had only just begun. Now you can wipe that malcontented look from your face and sport the peaceful Mona Lisa smile again, because Mello Mondays are back to save you from the blues.

The groove of this spoken-word dinner party has moved a little farther north, to Bluster, but other than the locale, everything else has remained the same. It's still the best spot to vibe with an eclectic crowd while the rhythms of hip-hop and the lyricism of poetry float around you; there's still better-than-bar food for you to nosh on, and you'll still wash away the madness and end up feeling Mello. HBO Def Poet Asia will host, and local and national artists will hit the stage all night — politically conscious rappers Dead Prez just rocked the mike for the grand opening. Tickets start at ten bucks before 10 p.m. Doors open at 8.

Price: Tickets start at $10

This sultry nightlife destination provides a new type of atmosphere for the Downtown Hollywood area. Sleek in style and design, the open space is adorned with a modern, art deco feel. White couches provide luxurious comfy seating opposite the bar and VIP area; white fabric stretches along the ceiling and drapes down the walls. Paper lanterns dangle throughout, illuminating the dim nightclub. A mid-20s to 30s crowd occupies the dance floor, grinding up against one another to the DJ's beat. From hip-hop dance nights to exclusive fetish parties, there is no shortage of events to attract a different type of crowd each night of the week.