Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/78062
Empire Asian Restaurant & Lounge. Outside at latest waterfront spot to draw big crowds. Empire is the Emerald Lounge's lighting system has 16 million combinations. entertainment. Sox baron John Henry and his wife, Linda Pizzuti Henry, for example, were spotted at the Empire opening, as were pitcher Josh Beckett and the Bruins' Shawn Thornton. While Empire is still waiting on its DJ license at press time, expect to see stiletto-wearing crowds bouncing in the restaurant's expansive bar soon. One Marina Park Drive, 617-295-0001; empireboston.com PRIME PROWL HOURS: Between 7 and 9 PM for dinner and 10 PM for the lounge GO-TO GOODIES: Tuna tartare POSH POUR: Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, $445 BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Three private dining rooms can be divided or combined to accommodate intimate dinners and large events with a dedicated bar VIP SPEED DIAL: Johnny Cammarata, Director of VIP Services FRIDAY Emerald Lounge B lame state blue laws for Boston clubs' generally crummy bottle-service experience: Patrons aren't permitted to pour their own drinks in the Hub, forcing staffers to shuttle magnums back and forth to tables for every top-off. To preserve the ritual glitz, this glowing ultralounge in the Theater District's new Revere Hotel delivers the goods to patrons in gorgeous custom-made silver lockers, which servers graciously tend throughout the night. That's hardly the most glam touch, however. The club's pricey LED lighting system can change into 16 million (yes, million) combinations and pulse in concert with the $500,000 sound system by Infinite, which has outfitted hot properties by Gansevoort, Morgans Hotel Group, and the Palms Casino Resort. Clad in black patent leather, mirrors, and neon LED lights, the club's vibe is a late- '80s party, attended by fedora-wearing aspiring actresses from nearby Emerson and young Middle Eastern magnates living at The Ritz-Carlton or nearby The Residences at the W with cash to burn. From Wednesday to Sunday, a rotating lineup of hot, local DJs keep the energy extra high. Revere Hotel, 200 Stuart St., 800-395-7046; emeraldultralounge.com PRIME PROWL HOURS: 9 PM to 2 AM GO-TO GOODIE: Orange-glazed duck confit spring rolls with chili- garlic sauce POSH POUR: Table service with a magnum each of Belvedere Unfiltered and Armand de Brignac Champagne ($1,600) BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Reserve the "secret" interior bar Ruby for groups of up to 30. It's also open to guests in the know... VIP SPEED DIAL: General manager Aggelos Panagopoulos SATURDAY Gem Restaurant & Lounge T aking inspiration exclusive English supper clubs, this sister restaurant to Empire, Shrine, High Rollers, Scorpion Bar, The Estate, and Red Lantern has an entirely different look and feel: a little racy, a little gothic, with fringed lampshades, rich damask upholstery, and carved quatrefoil patterns on the doors. The crowd skews younger the ever-popular DJ Uptown) spin in the Club Room. You might spot a celeb or two—Corinne Grousbeck threw a party here for husband Wyc, a Celtics VIP, not long ago—but then again, it's hard to tell who's who among the dressed-to-kill crowd in the sexy, moody lighting. Mystery, it seems, is part of Gem's intrigue. 42 Province St., 617-482-1213; gemboston.com siblings, and it's at its lively best on Saturday nights, when beautiful, twenty-something internationals and slicked-back Financial District movers and shakers pour in to hear local star DJs (the stunning Liz Ladoux, PRIME PROWL HOURS: 11 PM to close GO-TO GOODIE: Tater tots with green onion and Russian dressing POSH POUR: '08 bottle of Opus One ($350) BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Book a table in the Club Room to enjoy the incredible sound system VIP SPEED DIAL: Christie Leigh Bellany for private dining; Johnny Cammarata for VIP service BC BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 129 than at Gem's