OLGA TAÑON OPENS THE DOORS TO THE NEW CONGA ROOM
- Dec 5, 2008
Olga
Tañon was the first special artist invited to
perform at the new Conga Room, which opened its doors this week at L.A.
Live, in downtown Los Angeles.
Attentions were divided
on Friday night between the Puerto Rican merenguera on stage,
vibrant in leather pants and an off the shoulder pink tunic, and the
aesthetics of the elegant new club, with its dance floor three times the
size of its predecessor on Wilshire Blvd.
While the singer
delighted with new merengues infused with reggaeton sounds, as
well as thirteen-year-old boleros to which her fans sang along, 924
people stood on the smooth wooden dance floor of the venue primped by
the art of Sergio Arau, enjoyed a drink from one of three bars
surrounding the floor, or a smoke out in the balcony overlooking a
festive, bright L.A. Live plaza and the Staples Center.
Spanish television’s
Channel 34 covered the event from the mezzanine area, which affords a
clear view of the floor, while the audience was at times distracted by
actor Amaury Nolasco, of Prison Break and Max Payne, who
sat with his date, actress Jennifer Morrison, of House, in one of
the VIP areas, and often danced, rather well, to the rhythms of Tañon.
When the concert ended, around
midnight, the party continued to the music provided by DJ Mikee, who
will do so at all future Conga Room national acts.
While it was not the cheapest of
evenings, with Tañon’s concert tickets ranging from $60-$100, and a $15
parking fee, no one inside the club seemed to regret their attendance.
“It is nice to come to a place that everyone has to dress up for,” said
a concert attendee. “This place is just beautiful,” said another.
The Conga Room is part of the L.A.
Live project, which expects to infuse life into the Los Angeles downtown
area and perhaps become the Times Square of the West Coast. If it can
be judged by the activity outside the club Friday evening, with people
walking between trees lit for the holidays and gardens of poinsettias,
or enjoying a drink at Wolfgang Puck, success is on the way.
The Conga Room will officially open
its Salsa Thursdays on December 11th, when the Conga Room All
Star Orchestra will entertain, led by respected musician Oscar
Hernandez, also the musical director of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
On Thursday, December 18th, the Conga Room will welcome a
second tropical music performer, Dominican salsero Jose Alberto “El
Canario.”
The venue is also open on Friday
nights for “The Beat Down,” an evening of Top 40, Hip Hop, and R & B
provided by select DJs and percussionist Ravi.
The Conga Room
L.A. Live
800 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles CA
$15 cover on Thursday
$25 cover on Saturday
$30 to “El Canario” concert until 12/9 by
emailing
ana@congaroom.com / $40 thereafter
