Rebel Rebel, Your Place Is a Mess

Today's title paraphrases the Thin White Duke as word comes from a strange source that Rebel nightclub may be changing hands. I was asked to be involved with the renovation, so it just might be true. If so it will mark the end of an error and quite possibly the beginning of a new one. As a rock mecca back in the day, the space had a mediocre run as Downtime. I went to a few goth nights there cause they're always great fun for 15 or 20 minutes. I might have caught a long-forgotten band fronted by one of my waitrons as well. Downtime/Rebel was/is located on a "seam" block smack dab in the middle of the city at 30th Street and 8th Avenue. Although not far from anything and real easy to get to, the location was just never sexy. It always felt like I was in Jersey -- or worse, Philadelphia.

Maybe its proximity to Penn Station and the Garden turns off the partiers. Maybe it was stepping over legions of homeless people that hang under scaffolding which seems to have been up since the 80s. Anyway, except for a moment when Mr. Black resided in its actually cozy confines, the space always seemed irrelevant. I won’t be getting involved with the design, as they made an offer that I could refuse. Steve Ballinger, who owns the joint, is a real nice guy. I hope he lands on his feet; the rest of his clan who own and operate Webster Hell, can land on their heads as far as I’m concerned

Indochine is the other side of the coin. The restaurant celebrates its 25th anniversary tonight. This milestone represents 25 years of unconditional excellence. Most joints strive for 5. I have said many times over the years that spaces rarely get tired or old; it’s the energy and efforts of the owners that wane. A great location, great service from an intelligent on-their-way-to-someplace meaningful staff, brilliant and fun food, and decor that makes you smile and feel like you’re in a Hollywood movie make Indochine the success story it celebrates tonight. The decor is simply chic. Rachelle Hruska pointed out in her Guest of a Guest homage to the great joint that they did imitation palm fronds on the wall long before Bungalow 8 or more recently Southside. I remember talking business in the back of Steve Rubell’s Mercedes while he was whisked to Indochine to hang with Brooke Shields, Liza, or some other boldfaced names. He once explained to me how celebrities had to eat, and that’s an advantage a restaurant has over a club. Indochine is a place I don’t visit enough and every time I do go, I swear I’ll be back tomorrow. Indochine and Odeon still thrive, while all else from then are dusty memories or altogether forgotten. Indochine opened in 1984, so here’s a list of the top 10 songs of that year . As Sinatra once said, it was a very good year.

1. “When Doves Cry,” Prince
2. “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” Tina Turner
3. “Say Say Say,” Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
4. “Footloose,” Kenny Loggins
5. “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now),” Phil Collins
6. “Jump,” Van Halen
7. “Hello,” Lionel Richie
8. “Owner Of A Lonely Heart,” Yes
9. “Ghostbusters,” Ray Parker Jr.
10. “Karma Chameleon,” Culture Club

I’d like to congratulate my pal Lelaine Lau, who has, along with DJ Jason Angola, started “Shake and Pop” at USL, the lounge underneath Union Square institution Coffee Shop. This event will be every Thursday, and yes they will serve food as well as great music. DJ Angola annoyed me the first 20 times I heard him. I wanted to throw him in the pool more than a few times at Fanny Chan’s summer pool party at the Thompson LES. Well, I was wrong. Lately everywhere I go he’s been manning the Serato, and he is killing it. I love his eclectic house-based set, and will go out to hear him. Promoter-type and all around nice guy Michael Gogel seems to be fronting the show over at USL.

Lastly but not leastly, Emma Cleary is not just another pretty face to be seen around hotspots and trendy boites. She is a talented artist as well. Her opening at the Mindy Wyatt Gallery last night was a can’t-miss event that I was not in town for. I’m going to swing by later today to check it out. Emma Cleary is a winner.