At the exclusive Opening Party on July 21, I had the chance to experience this new incarnation: Vista Lounge at Wombi Rock. It's the same rock. The same planetarium dome. And yet, there's a whole new vibe once you wander inside. It's not just the beverage menu, which now features bubbly potions like the oh-so-drinkable blood orange signature cocktail (Prosecco, Lillet, Pama, Solerno, Fresh Lime Juice), cosmos and dessert-inspired concoctions like Tiramisu (Van Gogh Double Espresso, Butterscotch Schnapps, Hazelnut, Splash of Irish Cream) and Pineapple Upside Down Cake (Van Gogh Vanilla, Di Saronno Amaretto, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine). Nor is it the addition of two custom-designed blackjack tables. What really alters the atmosphere inside this casino fixture is the sound system.
The specs say it's a state-of-the-art, near-field, bi-amped, 60-thousand-watt monster of a sound system. That might not mean much to you, either, but what I can tell you is this: I can't fathom how the evening's celebrity host, Playboy model Jenny McCarthy, resisted the dance floor. She opted instead to sequester herself behind her entourage in corners of the club--or "plush coves," as the casino calls them. I, for one, couldn't resist the beat, and I even convinced my About.com colleague, Bob Curley, to bust a move with me.
Vista Lounge is a 21 and over nightclub (ID required) open nightly from 5 p.m. until close (1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday). Dress to draw looks (most of the women were in short skirts). "Fashionable and dressy" is the official dress code.
For more information about Vista Lounge at Wombi Rock, call 860-862-1966.
