Members Only

After months of relentless invitations, my first “VIP” experience included a bottle of vodka a Russian grandma wouldn’t touch, a table that belonged to someone else, and a promoter who was nowhere to be found once he had promptly collected a cover charge from each of my friends that lacked the “look” the club encourages (the only thing they lacked, in reality, were boobs). The NYC club scene should honestly win a prize for its predictable pretension: everybody is a nobody and a somebody at the same exact time. It’s actually quite impressive.

To me, exclusivity means that I should not be able to get in. That is where I want to spend the night. Not a place where a thousand person guest list constitutes as elite. After a few years of general disdain for NYC nightlife, my wishes were granted when I was allowed into The House of Blues’ Foundation Room, located in the Showboat Atlantic City Casino.

A membership is needed to enter the premises, but it also buys you access into any of their 9 locations across the nation (besides AC, there’s Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas,  Houston, Las Vegas, the Sunset Strip, and New Orleans.)  An antique wonderland dedicated to preserving ancient artifacts from the world over, The Foundation Room combines fine art with fine dining (I ate so many tapas that I had to forgo dinner and double up on my alcohol intake.) Speaking of alcohol, The Foundation Room boasts a fully stocked bar equipped with a cheeky bartender, Coleman, who’s more than willing to make even the least impressive of his guests (me) feel right at home.

Private “prayer rooms” are available for rental once you’re a member; each adorned in the ancient art of Asia, India, and Africa. Hand carved doors and wall mountings, statues, and ceremonial masks give each room unique authenticity, plus there’s the added bonus of pretending you’re boozing inside of a glass showcase at the Met (eat it, Ben Stiller.) Oh yeah, the couches are unlike anything you’ve ever sat on before, and there’s huge flatscreens in each of the prayer rooms (don’t let the godly undertones fool you– there is only room for sin at this lounge.) If you’re feeling crammed in one of the prayer rooms, there’s a huge balcony with an ocean view for cig breaks, make out sessions, and good old fashioned fresh air.

If you’re tired of your weekend playing out like a sorry adaptation of Groundhog’s Day, The Foundation Room is a refreshing change of pace sure to ween you off of the club scene for good. Dust off your Member’s Only jackets, it’s time to get busy.