C: Is for out of this world clubs

My friend Maria has been trying to drag me to the hottest new club around "The Box". "The Box" is the newest destination on the Lower East Side for fine dining and theater. Located at 189 Chrystie Street, a 1935 two-story brick building between Stanton and Rivington Streets, with a stage door on Freeman Alley. One hundred years ago, this area was legendary for its vaudeville palaces, theaters and dime museums; THE BOX is bringing back the excitement and energy of those concert saloons and burlesque halls back to the neighborhood. A pedigreed crew is behind this surrealistic showplace. Owners include Simon Hammerstein, the 28-year-old grandson of Oscar; Randy Weiner, the “Donkey Show’’ writer; and Serge Becker, the night life impresario. The actors Jude Law and Rachel Weisz sit on the board of the opera house-cum-concert saloon. The entertainment is eccentric: Thai fighters one night and opera singers in Mexican wrestling masks the next. In an intimate setting a restaurant and theater, with two bars and a stage. A flexible design and top-notch sound system allow them to present all types of live entertainment: bands, shows, parties, private functions, and special events. It is hailed as "Completely Fabulous!" The show playing there now is PANDORA and is hosted by Cirque Du Soleil star MC Raven O. The show features 20 international variety acts, lavish production numbers in the spirit of Ziegfeld and Busby Berkley starring the Hammerstein Beauties, and live music from The Box orchestra, The Str8ts. The show runs every Friday and Saturday. Specialty acts change regularly and currently include: The James Gang, 3 singer-dancers who blend hip-hop lyrics with a Harlem renaissance style and look. Lombard Twins, internationally renowned tap stars, from Argentina. Dani Lou, 6 foot, stunning, supermodel burlesque superstar who pulls a string of pearls from a completely shaven ----- (fill in the blank), Chris McDaniel, lasso and 1996 World Texas skip champion, in the Will Rogers tradition. Acantha, world’s most gorgeous chanteuse from New Orleans. Erik Sanko, an original member of John Lurie's Lounge Lizards, and his troupe of marionetteers doing original puppet shows created for The Box. Reggie Watts, one man orchestra. Flambeaux, Guinness world record holder for longest fire eating, master of fire arts. Amanda Topaz, aerialist from down under. Ravi, scorpion mystic contortionist from Bombay. Vassily, beatboxing flautist from St Petersburg. There's a complete list of fine wines and champagnes to complement the night. This is one celebrity filled venue and from what I understand unless you have cash and lots of it or are hot as hell getting in is extremely difficult. I can't tell you as I have yet to have been, but I am invited there to a Fashion Week after party next week with Maria so I will write a follow-up article. Expect debauchery and that is a F.A.C.T.