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Birth of a nightclub
TheStar.com - WhatsOn - Birth of a nightclub
A cursed location, a controversial owner, a political live wire. Could the cutting-edge venue revive the Entertainment District? Our verdict: Toronto’s never seen anything like it
October 04, 2007
Raju Mudhar
Entertainment Reporter
Why it will work
1. It’s new — Big clubs get a six-month grace period in this town while they’re still the hot new thing. Everyone will want to check out the space, and considering all the hype for Circa, it’s only going to be magnified. But there are also some things we’ve never seen before. The “Sensacell” bar — with lighting that reacts to touch — is like partying in a Tron future world. The “Washroom” zone features a bar that looks like a giant toilet bowl. It’s this attention to detail that will wow clubgoers.
2. Peter Gatien — Despite some negative publicity, he wasn’t New York’s club king for nothing. He’s supremely confident, but even with a string of club successes all over the U.S., this is probably the most important. His first club in the Toronto market signals his path to redemption — and a chance to help remake the Entertainment District.
3. Putting the art in party — Gatien has forged ties with local and international artists to create a culturally relevant nightclub. All the walls are covered with murals, installations, mannequins in fetish wear and other art installations. Kidrobot, the renowned pop-culture toy manufacturer, is opening its first Canadian showroom/bar in the space. There are enough touches that make a space that used to seem too cavernous visually appealing.
4. Good promoters — With Jeff Rogers formerly of the Drake, A.D/D. and some other known club commodities (like general manager Orin Bristol, formerly of System Soundbar), the club already has connections with tastemakers who should have the smarts to fill the venue with interesting shows. While everyone is excited about opening weekend, the real bangin’ night to look forward to is ultra-hot French dance act Justice, whose Oct. 18 show was moved to Circa from nearby Republik.
5. It’s about time — Things change or they fade away. The Entertainment District has been on life support for too long and is too important for this city to let languish.
Over the past few years, many partiers have moved to other areas like Kensington, King and Queen West to shake their money-makers. If any nightclub can rejuvenate the area, it’s Circa, which will hopefully raise the bar for neighbouring clubs.
Why it won’t work
1. The appeal — In six weeks’ time, Circa faces an appeal of its liquor licence. While anyone who has read the original 27-page licence decision knows it was strongly in the club’s favour, all eyes are on the club — there are some who are looking for a reason to shut it down. The next six weeks are crucial, where nothing too big, too bad or too noisy can happen. Which brings us to.....
2. The authorities — When Circa originally planned to open for last month’s film festival, but was delayed, inspectors still showed up on Sept. 7. The bar had to fight to get its license, and local councillor Adam Vaughan is on record as saying the area simply cannot handle a new club. The kind of scrutiny that the bar is under — and how it reacts — has a good chance of affecting its future.
3. The area — Circa plans on going after an older, more sophisticated audience than the average Entertainment District club. Can it draw that crowd on a regular basis? Won’t it need youngsters? The hope is that Circa sparks a renaissance in the area, causing other clubs to reload in the face of new competition. But with decisions like putting a homeless shelter around the corner (at Richmond and Peter Sts.), and increasing condo-fication, conflicts between residents and club owners will likely continue.
4. Cursed location — First Playdium, then Lucid. Two business ventures with high ambitions have already failed in the same space. Is the third time the charm? Lucid caused problems because of its lineup, which was hard to manage and extended across the street. Circa has made room for an indoor lineup, but it could still have problems on a really busy night.
5. Changing tastes — Does the sophisticated audience Circa is after really want to go to a mega-club? With a capacity of 2,800, Circa is going to need all kinds of attractions to fill the space — since there are few things worse than a giant club that feels empty.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Circa: First impression
Based on looks alone, Circa is clubbing taken to the next level. The intricacy of the design, and the intimacy of the spaces within the larger space is impressive. And despite some possible opposition ahead, Peter Gatien is someone we wouldn’t bet against.
TheStar.com - WhatsOn - Birth of a nightclub
A cursed location, a controversial owner, a political live wire. Could the cutting-edge venue revive the Entertainment District? Our verdict: Toronto’s never seen anything like it
October 04, 2007
Raju Mudhar
Entertainment Reporter
Why it will work
1. It’s new — Big clubs get a six-month grace period in this town while they’re still the hot new thing. Everyone will want to check out the space, and considering all the hype for Circa, it’s only going to be magnified. But there are also some things we’ve never seen before. The “Sensacell” bar — with lighting that reacts to touch — is like partying in a Tron future world. The “Washroom” zone features a bar that looks like a giant toilet bowl. It’s this attention to detail that will wow clubgoers.
2. Peter Gatien — Despite some negative publicity, he wasn’t New York’s club king for nothing. He’s supremely confident, but even with a string of club successes all over the U.S., this is probably the most important. His first club in the Toronto market signals his path to redemption — and a chance to help remake the Entertainment District.
3. Putting the art in party — Gatien has forged ties with local and international artists to create a culturally relevant nightclub. All the walls are covered with murals, installations, mannequins in fetish wear and other art installations. Kidrobot, the renowned pop-culture toy manufacturer, is opening its first Canadian showroom/bar in the space. There are enough touches that make a space that used to seem too cavernous visually appealing.
4. Good promoters — With Jeff Rogers formerly of the Drake, A.D/D. and some other known club commodities (like general manager Orin Bristol, formerly of System Soundbar), the club already has connections with tastemakers who should have the smarts to fill the venue with interesting shows. While everyone is excited about opening weekend, the real bangin’ night to look forward to is ultra-hot French dance act Justice, whose Oct. 18 show was moved to Circa from nearby Republik.
5. It’s about time — Things change or they fade away. The Entertainment District has been on life support for too long and is too important for this city to let languish.
Over the past few years, many partiers have moved to other areas like Kensington, King and Queen West to shake their money-makers. If any nightclub can rejuvenate the area, it’s Circa, which will hopefully raise the bar for neighbouring clubs.
Why it won’t work
1. The appeal — In six weeks’ time, Circa faces an appeal of its liquor licence. While anyone who has read the original 27-page licence decision knows it was strongly in the club’s favour, all eyes are on the club — there are some who are looking for a reason to shut it down. The next six weeks are crucial, where nothing too big, too bad or too noisy can happen. Which brings us to.....
2. The authorities — When Circa originally planned to open for last month’s film festival, but was delayed, inspectors still showed up on Sept. 7. The bar had to fight to get its license, and local councillor Adam Vaughan is on record as saying the area simply cannot handle a new club. The kind of scrutiny that the bar is under — and how it reacts — has a good chance of affecting its future.
3. The area — Circa plans on going after an older, more sophisticated audience than the average Entertainment District club. Can it draw that crowd on a regular basis? Won’t it need youngsters? The hope is that Circa sparks a renaissance in the area, causing other clubs to reload in the face of new competition. But with decisions like putting a homeless shelter around the corner (at Richmond and Peter Sts.), and increasing condo-fication, conflicts between residents and club owners will likely continue.
4. Cursed location — First Playdium, then Lucid. Two business ventures with high ambitions have already failed in the same space. Is the third time the charm? Lucid caused problems because of its lineup, which was hard to manage and extended across the street. Circa has made room for an indoor lineup, but it could still have problems on a really busy night.
5. Changing tastes — Does the sophisticated audience Circa is after really want to go to a mega-club? With a capacity of 2,800, Circa is going to need all kinds of attractions to fill the space — since there are few things worse than a giant club that feels empty.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Circa: First impression
Based on looks alone, Circa is clubbing taken to the next level. The intricacy of the design, and the intimacy of the spaces within the larger space is impressive. And despite some possible opposition ahead, Peter Gatien is someone we wouldn’t bet against.
