A night of Lounge hopping includes a bevy of new hangouts. At the top of the list is the Lava Lounge with its bamboo lined bar, cozy booths and live music. The club's popularity has exploded in the two years it's been open. It feature live bands and music from a variety of classic lounge to surf, acid jazz and 70's funk. Owner Michelle Marini describes it as "a paradise in the middle of Hell. I wanted to do a real exotic retreat and somewhere to get out of Hollywood and forget about what's happening on the outside."
Thursday night at The Viper Room is Mr. Phat's Royal Martini Club. DJ Dean R. Miller says the idea of elegance is where popular music is going, "With the
music and the whole scene, it's cool and smooth and it's classy, that's why I think it's coming back so big." Of course, never underestimate its power, Miller who favors the more swingy dance lounge, says that era created music's first rebels, "If you think about it, the music, is like the original punk music, very upbeat. People just didn't want to hear it, it was something for kids to go dance to. Frank Sinatra is considered the first punk, the first rebel, he had all the girls screaming!"
