Rising from the ashes of the former Egyptian-themed nightclub Thoth, Carpe Diem centers most of its action on its dance floor, which appears to suit clubgoers who throng there just fine. The ultralounge, open since May, regularly attracts a friendly and boisterous crowd.
It's a devoted bunch, too – everyone seems to know the words and accompanying dances to every club banger, which adds to the fun, carefree feel of the place. But there are other corners of Carpe to enjoy, too.
The "living room" portion of the club is where the party's usually hopping, what with the VIP spaces surrounding the dance floor. Guests raise their glasses, leaning over to see who's got the hottest moves.
The VIP "bedroom" represents the most dramatic change to Thoth's setup. Beyond the velvet rope, seats and benches have been replaced with tan-and-black king-sized beds, which add a sexy touch to the space. Plasma-screen TVs, a small bar and gauzy curtains round out the decor.
Carpe Diem has a healthy sense of fun, which is unusual for an ultralounge. One recent evening's theme was "Hot as Hell," and liquor-and-fruit infused sno-cones were sold at the front door. Jell-O shots are always available at the bar. Might as well seize the day and have one.The scene: A statue of an animal-headed Egyptian god – an obvious leftover from Thoth – greets you as you enter the club's central space, where all eyes – and most feet – are on the dance floor. Revelers in the bottle service areas either spill out into the center of the room to dance, or just hang back near their sofas and sway. The DJ mixes away in a perch overlooking the dance floor. That's pretty much the entire evening: hoofing or watching.
The vibe: Since most everyone is here to dance, or watch others dance, Carpe Diem staves off that meet market-y feel.
The music: Straight-up hip-hop, with Dirty South tracks dominating the lineup.
What people are wearing: Sexy shorts or jeans and revealing tops, and shirt-length dresses seem to be the ladies' uniform of choice. Guys opt for button-down shirts and jeans. And, in the case of a couple brave guys in this dark space, sunglasses.
The smoke factor: You'll have to take it outside.
The drink: The Seize the Day is a refreshing and fruity cocktail starring Chambord, vodka, sweet and sour and pineapple. Even more delicious is a bubble gum shot highlighted by the sticky-sweet taste of X-Rated liqueur. It sure tasted better than the gum in my mouth.
Parking: This is downtown, so if you're really lucky – or early – you can snag a metered spot on the street. Parking garages and lots are within one to three blocks, and valet will cost you $10.
Seen and heard: Taking sexy dance sandwiches – where two gals dance with a guy in between them – a step further, a group of about six friends created a less-sexy sextuplet. Amazingly, none of the filling fell out as everyone squeezed closer together.
Carpe Diem.
Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. (also Thursdays starting Sept. 10). 1301 Main St. $10 cover. 214-653-1301.
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