I dragged my cookies to Hollywood at 7:30 a.m. this morning to attend the official opening of the hotly anticipated W Hotel at Hollywood Blvd. and Vine — expecting at least a hot cup of coffee.
What I found instead (no coffee, seriously) was a giant lobby teeming with suits: city and transit authority officials and private developers heralding the new mixed-use development as Hollywood’s second-coming.
“Hollywood is back, baby!” shouted a perky Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa from the podium (he was obviously given scads of gratis coffee). “There were a lot of people who said this project wouldn’t happen — wake up!”
The Mayor, who switched to Spanish at the end of his speech, was one of what felt like dozens of dudes spouting the same message: Isn’t this hotel amazing and aren’t we lucky to have such a huge, privately-funded project open in our dingy little city-center.
The only bright spots in the sea of congratulatory speeches came from event MC Jimmy Kimmel — who confirmed that the Mayor was, indeed, bilingual, “especially when he gets drunk.” (Another Kimmel zinger: “I’d like to congratulate those of you who accepted the champagne being passed around at 8 in the morning — that’s a real commitment to partying.”)
After the speeches, a group of dancers dressed in what can only be construed as naughty-nurse costumes, performed a rather raunchy dance routine (again, it’s 9 a.m. at this point), which was followed by a stellar performance by soul-master Robin Thicke, who alternately sat at a piano and milled around the small stage. (Note: I don’t care how much you’re getting paid — to have to perform at 9 a.m to a bunch of blue suits is just brutal).
As for the hotel (from the little I was able to see), it’s beautiful. The sunken foyer includes a huge loungey bar area, featuring a massive circular chandelier, a swirling staircase, a grey-and-red color scheme and plenty of cushy leather seating. The 20,000-square-foot “club,” Drai’s isn’t open yet, but it’s already destined to be to the city what the Sky Bar was to L.A. in the late 90s: a trendy, see-and-be-seen haven for power players and douchebags alike.
Outside the hotels main doors is a major motorcade area, tented by twinkling lights, that leads right out to the newest metro station in the city. But what I’m most jazzed about is the Bliss Spa opening on the grounds Feb. 8. There aren’t many serious spas east of La Cienega, so it will be a very welcome addition in my world.
Photos, from top: Jimmy Kimmel giving us a laugh; Robin Thicke bringing the goods at a nearly indecent hour. Photos courtesy of W Hotel.
