There's been a recent surge of big dance clubs in New York, and far west Chelsea is bustling with new nightspots. One of the largest venues is Spirit, 35,000 square feet of stunning space.
Initially conceived as a "multi-level venue to transform New York nightlife with entertainment for body, mind and soul," Spirit has had to reposition its vision just a bit. Their restaurant was to be a raw foods establishment, but evidently that did not jive with Manhattan's appetite; it is now serving organic, vegetarian dishes. And while the intention of dressing their security staff in white blazers to create a more "chill" atmosphere is certainly commendable, unfortunately the clothes don't make the man. Burly bouncers can still be aggro regardless of the color of their coats.
Overall, the space is quite spectacular. The wrap-around VIP mezzanine offers bottle service with a great view if the evening's event allows for it. The top floor, with the bar and restaurant, has sliding glass doors that can offer an alternate space with a separate sound system while still providing a view of the stage and dance floor. The entryway art gallery features works by Alex Grey, and there are numerous screens for projected art.
Robbie Wooton, owner and creator, describes his vision: "We are entering a new age, one in which people need to reconnect with the natural world, the important things in life, and their souls. Spirit is a place that facilitates and inspires this connection." The Manhattan Spirit reproduces his concept, originally executed in the UK, and the new age touches are a step in the right direction as well as a point of differentiation from the other enormous clubs in the area.
Body, the main dance floor, is a 10,000 square foot space that seats 600 with room for 1,200 to stand and a three-sided mezzanine that seats an additional 250. Soul, the top floor, is where you'll find the 180-seat restaurant, the VIP area, two bars and entry into Mind, the chillout zone with treatment rooms where skilled practitioners offer massage, reflexology, chakra balancing, aura photography and other new-agey experiences. New Yorkers may recognize this as one more scheme to part them from their money, but it does offer a transformative opportunity in a quieter, more subdued environment. And it's certainly a switch from the "transformative experiences" offered by the previous tenant, Twilo.
Spirit also offers their space for the extended creative community to hold meetings and classes, host special events such as the 2004 Black & Blue Ball, the Opening Cast Party for Broadway's Bombay Dreams, recurring glam rock event Motherfucker and political fundraisers. The club attracts internationally renowned DJs such as Paul Van Dyke and Roger Sanchez and has been a live venue for bands, including The Psychedelic Furs and The Alarm.
At present, Spirit is only open on a regular basis for Friday and Saturday nights. On Fridays, Satoshi Tomiie and Hector Romero rock the main dance floor and DJs Unique and Stretch Armstrong keep the Soul Room and the VIP Area alive with the best of classics and hip-hop all night. On Saturday nights, DJ VIBE, best known for his spinning with Danny Tenaglia and the Winter Music Conference, spins your favorite beats all night on the main dance floor while DJs Finesse and Big Ben spin classics and hip-hop in the Soul Room and the VIP Area.
On both evenings, the Mind Room is a chillout zone with masseuses and tarot card readers keeping everyone relaxed and offering them a peek into their future. Drinks aren't outrageous, unless you opt for bottle service. An imported beer will run you $7 and a well cocktail only $8. An array of sub-promoters bring their varied flavors and friends for an interesting mix of people. And obviously, everything is subject to immediate and unannounced change.
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