Dec 13, 2007

Gold-plated Bubbly, Celebrities Aplenty

Lil Jon at Enclave

Liquid gold

As if we don't already spend enough on drinking, here comes a new record-breaking bottle, just in time for New Year's Eve: a three-liter jeroboam of 1995 Dom Pérignon, dipped in white gold, for a whopping $35,000. Only 17 such bottles will be sold in the United States; Chicago's single example will be housed at Manor—at least until some poor sucker drops the cash to impress a girl. At Tuesday's media and VIP party for the bottle's arrival—yes, there was a party for one bottle of Champagne—bartenders weren't pouring the guest of honor, but the 1999 vintage flowed all night for the 380 attendees, who included Dom Pérignon international senior brand manager Ludovic du Plessis, from Paris, and Mookie Lee from Survivor: Fiji.

If you're curious how much we spend annually on adult beverages, check out my story “Raising the Bar (Bill)” on page 32 of the January issue of Chicago magazine, on newsstands today (and coming online in the next few weeks). 

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While celebrating Hanukkah and The Boyfriend's birthday last weekend, I missed a few good celebrity sightings: My spies tell me the rapper Lil Jon made an appearance Friday at Enclave, where he spun in the club's new state-of-the-art DJ booth (Kid Rock also spun there a few weeks ago). "He jumped on the mic and rapped a few songs for the crowd," my spy says. The celebfest continued at Enclave on Saturday, when DJ AM mashed things up for a packed house.

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There should be no shortage of celebrities in town this weekend. Get your cameras ready:

Friday, December 14th
• Duran Duran plays 101.9 FM's Miracle on State Street 9 concert at the Chicago Theatre, in support of its latest album, Red Carpet Massacre. Tickets are sold out, but the band is slated to stop by The Underground for an official afterparty. Maybe Patrick Swayze's recent dirty-dancing performance at the club has set a precedent, and Duran Duran will play one of its eighties hits.

• On the heels of The Hills finale this week, Lauren Conrad hits town to host Dreams for Kids' Holiday for Hope fundraiser at Crobar. Bring a new, unwrapped children's gift and get into the club for free (no gift means you'll pay a $20 cover; proceeds go to Dreams for Kids). Doors open at 9 p.m.; Conrad is expected to do the red carpet dance at 11 p.m.

Saturday, December 15th
• Perhaps it's just a coincidence that Conrad's former love interest and The Hills heartthrob Brody Jenner is also in town this weekend, hosting an open casting call at Enclave for the new face of Archangel, his jewelry and clothing line. Doors open at 9 p.m.; cover is $20; and Jenner is expected to arrive around 11:30 p.m. There will be a roped-off VIP section for “qualified” candidates (aka girls who’d like a chance to see Jenner up close and personal).

• Kilo Kai Rum presents the seminal rappers Wu-Tang Clan at Metro. It's the group's first stop on a tour supporting latest album 8 Diagrams, which dropped Tuesday. We're told all current members will be in the house: Method Man, RZA, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Cappadonna, and Mathematics. Tickets are still available.

New lounge alert!

As reported in Dish, West Town is home to an intimate new wine bar and small-plates restaurant. Connoisseur launched quietly a couple of weeks ago, but management is finally ready for a grand opening this weekend, Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th. Make a reservation, and you'll get a few samples and sips, plus a gift bag, on the house; call for details. Specialties include fresh-fruit martinis made tableside and an expanding selection of wines and Champagnes, plus eats by executive chef Phillip Viti, formerly of Tru.

Photography: (Lil Jon) Courtesy of Enclave

Posted at 04:17 PM in Nightlife | Permalink