Has the most powerful man in the world become a nightclub owner? Nope. It looks like some folks in China have jumped on the Obama bandwagon. The Obama Entertainment Club in Shanghai, China will have a soft opening on April 26, 2010. No word yet on whether Mr. & Mrs. Obama will be in attendance. From the looks of the logo, perhaps it would be better if the First Lady stayed at the White House.

SmartShanghai

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This video shows an illegal underground nightclub in Kuwait, where such venues go against the country's religious beliefs. The title of the video roughly translates "Disco in righteous Kuwait buried underground".

According to a report last month in the Al Watan Daily, the nightclub was demolished:

"The illegal nightclub, which made the rounds last week in a leaked YouTube video, displayed a basement disco hidden within a large tent, concrete flooring, and alcohol endorsements on the walls. The night club has been rooted out by the police, who demolished it immediately without the assistance of the Demolition Committee''s machinery."

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The issue of rooting out these illegal nightclubs is something the Kuwaiti government takes very seriously. A 2007 article entitled "Call to investigate 'night club' house issue" in the Kuwait Times reported:

"KUWAIT: MP Dr Faisal Al-Muslem recently urged the First Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense cum Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to order the formation of a special committee to investigate recent press stories concerning a Mangaf house that had been allegedly turned into a 'night club'for Americans where they had liquor and various illegal stuff. Informed sources noted that special body guards had been placed in the house's surroundings to prevent any of the neighbors from approaching it.

This is a social disaster that needs immediate attention," stressed Al-Muslem noting that such an act was a clear violation of Kuwait's sovereignty, religious beliefs, and constitutional rights to have a peaceful and secure residence."

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One thing is for certain. These illegal nightclubs give an entirely new meaning to the term "underground house music."

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Ministry of Sound London ("MOSL"), an iconic nightclub which was been open for 18 years in Southwark, England, recently launched a petition to save itself from closing. As a result of certain proposals from Oakmayne, a developer who wants to build a residential building opposite the venue, MOSL is objecting to the Southwark Council based on fears that if future residents complain about noise levels its entertainment license could be in jeopardy. When asked about his project's potential interference with the world-famous venue, Oakmayne chairman Christopher Allen stated simply that "nightclubs come and go."

MOSL responded to that comment in their statement:

"When Oakmayne told us that 'nightclubs come and go', we were horrified. Ministry of Sound is not just any nightclub; it's the most famous nightclub in the world and the heart of a global entertainment business. "These developers have cut corners at every stage and counter to their claims, they do not have the best interests of the local community at heart. We must do everything in our power to save our club and our business."

However, Oakmayne responded further by saying they're prepared to offer £400,000 (or approximately $618,000 U.S.) to MOSL for soundproofing, along with reserving the ground floors of the development for commercial use and making prospective residents fully aware that they'd be buying a property within ear thumping distance of a 140dB(A) sound system. MOSL has countered by saying that the soundproofing work would force the club's closure for nine months, and are refusing to withdraw their objection to the project.

DJ Dave Pearce reacted to the news by saying: "As we know we're in difficult financial times, and a lot of Ministry's business over the years has switched to that tourism, there are people all over the world, they all visit the venue, so to move it or close down for 9 months would be a nightmare."

MOSL was ranked sixth in the 2009 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2009. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt. If MOSL ends up closing as a result of the future housing development, it would be another in a long string of quality London clubs which have shut down: some of those include Turnmills in 2008 and The End in 2009.

Meanwhile, a report has recently popped up that police are lobbying Hackney Council against the forward-thinking nightclub Plastic People in Shoreditch. It is not clear why its license is currently under review for reasons of “prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance basis”.

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Ruth Flowers, a 69 year old from Bristol, England, is heating up Parisian nightlife with electronic music. Her DJ name? Mamy Rock.

"I've got no intention of retiring - unless I drop dead. And I'd much rather go out with a bang than linger."

That's the spirit.

Links:
Guardian UK
Mamy Rock (Official Site)

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Since 2006, a small gathering of electronic music artists, promoters, night club owners, record labels, radio and TV presenters, booking agents, and other nightlife lovers have come together every winter in Sochi, Russia for the Sochi Winter Music Conference ("SWMC"). The SWMC is Mother Russia's answer to Miami's Winter Music Conference. The only difference is it is smaller in scale and scheduled when the temperature in Sochi is a mild 40°F to 50°F versus a warm 70°F to 80°F in Miami. While the temperature may not attract many foreigners looking for warmer climates, the SWMC has become an essential gathering for the electronic music industry in Russia and neighboring countries. According to the organizers, the conference will have a two day business forum and a three day music program involving several clubs in Sochi. Approximately 100 Russian and foreign DJs and musicians will perform during the event.

For those of you unfamiliar with Sochi, you won't be for very much longer. This Russian resort city situated in Krasnodar Krai, just north of the southern Russian border, will be hosting the XXII Olympic Winter Games and the XI Paralympic Games in 2014. This will be the Russian Federation's first time hosting these internationally renowned events.

Moussa Clarke, a DJ and producer who attended last year's SWMC, remarked on his blog:

"The conference itself was very interesting from a local dance music industry aspect and from a networking point of view. The daytime forums seemed to be little more than self-promotional platforms for the guest speakers, but then this is the norm for music forums (and I do have a slightly cynical viewpoint, and maybe a touch of conference fatigue, having done the rounds of Midem, WMC, Popkomm and ADE during my tenure as A&R at a large indie during the late 90s). The real action (as always at these kinds of events) takes place in the hotel lobby or during the night-time events. Particularly fun was a vodka and khimkal'naya fuelled get together at the local stalovka, with Agent Smith, Bobina, Denis A and a whole crew of DJs and promoters. I also played a great little party for Dewar's on the friday night, and a short but sweet set at 8Nebo on saturday. Also managed to check out Plotforma, a really cool club on a seafront pier."

Moussa was kind enough to take some time off his busy schedule to give EF some additional insight into Sochi, Russia and the SWMC:

EF: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.
MC: No problem. Food and music are two of my biggest passions, so I can definitely relate to your blog. [EF Note: MC smiled after this answer.]

EF: Now in its fifth year, what do you think is the SWMC's influence on electronic music in Russia, its neighbors and the world?
MC: The SWMC is well attended by the clubbing industry in Russia and certainly has a big following throughout the CIS (the Commonwealth of Independent States, i.e. Russia and it's neighbors). I'm not sure it has so much influence outside of that sphere as yet, although that's not to be taken lightly. The CIS has 300 million inhabitants with a growing middle class, and it's become one of the major clubbing and electronic music event markets in the world.

EF: How is the nightlife different in Sochi than other locales, such as London and Miami?
MC: Russian clubs, the good ones anyway, are fantastic. Partying is a defining national characteristic, and electronic music is hugely popular. If you get a good crowd, they can be some of the most fun-loving and musically open-minded people in the world.

EF: How many electronic music clubs would you estimate are in Sochi? And can you also name a few of the best?
MC: I couldn't give you the precise number, but I've visited 8Nebo and Plotforma, both wicked in their own right. The latter is on a pier into the Black Sea. During the SWMC, a lot of non-club venues like restaurants/bars get transformed into party spots.

EF: Do you think the SWMC would attract more foreigners if it moved its dates to the summer when the weather in Sochi is a warm 70°F to 80°F? What do you think a move like that would do to the production as a whole? Russia is widely known for its cold weather.
MC: Sochi isn't usually cold at all in the winter, in fact the weather there is very mild, much like southern parts of Europe or Turkey. Sochi is a seaside resort on the Black Sea, and has been a holiday spot since Soviet times. Russia is a vast country with wildly differing climates across its seven time zones. To view it as purely a cold country (which admittedly it is in some parts, at least during the winter!) is a pretty simplistic preconception. But I suppose they need to advertise that fact more to uninformed Westerners. [EF Note: MC smiled after this answer.]

EF: Have there been any big name DJs who have performed at the SWMC?
MC: In terms of internationals, there have been people like me, Mark Doyle, Luke Brancaccio and Roland Klinkenberg in previous years, and I'm sure there are some surprises in store for 2010. Russia has its own locally famous DJs like DJ Grad, DJ Groove, Alexey Romeo and Fonar, who are pretty much superstars in their native country. And of course the big Russian trance jocks like Bobina and DJ Feel have made massive inroads into the DJ Mag top 100 in the last couple of years, and are now globally recognized.

EF: SWMC vs. WMC: Which one would you rather go to if everything (airfare, hotel, food, club entrance, etc.) were free?
MC: I'm afraid I'll have to say SWMC (Disclosure: my wife is Russian!) although admittedly I would sorely miss Tenaglia's legendary WMC sets.

EF: What's the cuisine like in Sochi and what were some of your favorite Russian dishes and/or restaurants?
MC: Well, Japanese Sushi is absolutely everywhere in Russia, a bit like our Indian restaurants here in the UK, and Sochi is no exception to this rule. In terms of Russian food, I'm a big fan of Pelmeny (delicious ravioli-like meat parcels) and Seledka Pod Shuboi (a type of herring salad). My advice, mix everything up with Smetana (Russian sour cream), rinse it down with Vodka and you can't go far wrong.

EF: When are you planning on performing and dancing at the SWMC again?
MC: I won't be there this year sadly, but I hope to go back there in 2011. I should be in Russia for some shows in March though.

EF: What does the future hold for Moussa Clarke? Any upcoming productions or remixes?

MC: I've got two singles being promoed right now for imminent release. My track "Love Key" featuring Fisher is getting the 2010 remix treatment from an international cast of producers including Arbre Blass & Adam Reeves (Albania), Peter Brown (Spain), Vadim Soloviev (Russia), Zedd (Germany) and Peter Haze (USA) and is due out on Slammin Muzik from Germany. Also there's "And The Beat Goes On" with John Ashby, an update of the Whispers' 1980 classic, with remixes from Swanky Tunes (Russia) and Funk L'Amour (UK). It's coming out on Dirty Funker and Dylan Rhymes' Cubrik label and looks set for big things. Apart from that, lots more remixes and productions in the pipeline - people can check my website or Twitter for updates [http://moussaclarke.com and http://twitter.com/moussaclarke].

EF: Thanks again for your time, Moussa.
MC: A pleasure!
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The SWMC 2010 will take place at the Sochi Marins Park Hotel conference hall from February 4 to 7, 2010. Detailed information on SWMC 2010 program, together with advance participant registration and ticket sales can be found on the official site.

Sochi Winter Music Conference [Official Site]:  www.swmc.ru
Twitter: http://twitter.com/swmc_2010

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The New Orleans Saints will take on the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, Florida on Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. EST. Halftime entertainment will be provided by The Who. It will be the first time since Super Bowl XXVIII that both number one seeds will face each other in the Super Bowl. In addition, this will be the first Super Bowl for the Saints in their 43 years as an NFL team.

We've put together a mini nightlife guide of sorts, listing the electronic music events and foodie hot spots that will take place in Miami on Super Bowl Weekend.

Electronic Music Nightclubs:

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Where: Club Space, 34 NE 11th Street, Miami, FL
Who: Crosstown Rebels (Rebel Rave Tour 2010)
Tickets: Wantickets
Website: Club Space

Where: Set Nightclub, 320 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL
Who: Sebastian Ingrosso (Saturday night) & Steve Angello (Sunday night)
Tickets: Wantickets
Website: Set Miami
Notes: Tickets cost $85.00, which gets you admission to both Saturday and Sunday night's events. Sebastian Ingrosso plays Saturday, and Steve Angello plays Sunday.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Where: Set Nightclub, 320 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL
Who: Sebastian Ingrosso (Saturday night) & Steve Angello (Sunday night)
Tickets: Wantickets
Website: Set Miami
Notes:  Tickets cost $85.00, which gets you admission to both Saturday and Sunday night's events. Sebastian Ingrosso plays Saturday, and Steve Angello plays Sunday.

Where: Mynt Lounge, 1921 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida
Who: Sharam
Tickets: At the door. Cost not stated.
Website: Mynt Lounge
Notes: Doors open at 11:30 p.m.

Papa John's, Various Locations
Website: www.papajohns.com
As a proud sponsor of Super Bowl XLIV, Papa John’s will offer special deals meant for football watching parties, from now until the Super Bowl, including the Super XLIV pizza, an extra-large pizza with up to four toppings for only $11.99. This super-sized pizza is 10 large slices and 30% larger than a large pizza.

Morton's The Steakhouse, Various Locations in South Florida
Website: www.mortons.com
Morton's will be featuring specialty team drinks and a $5 Bar Bite menu at all seven South Florida locations — from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale to Coral Gables. The game will be broadcast on LCD screens in each bar and nine-foot drop-down screens will be set up in the restaurants' private dining rooms.

Bokamper's Sports Bar & Grill, 1280 S. Pine Island Rd., Plantation, FL 33324
Website: www.bokampers.com
Along with the usual beer and food specials, there might be an appearance by the Miller Lite girls and maybe even a pig roast in back of the 500-seat restaurant. It'll be impossible to miss the action with more than 50 TVs and two giant screens about 10 by 12 feet.

Hot Shots Sports Bar, 3868 N. University Drive, Sunrise, FL
Website: www.hotshotsbar.com
This classic American bar has 17 pool tables and darts. It's also the South Florida home of Dallas Cowboys fans: the bar packs in 300 people for every game. While the Cowboys won't be playing, the Super Bowl is so popular that they're going to charge a $10 cover. There will be complimentary hamburgers and hot dogs and anyone who's dressed in the jersey of the two competing teams will get free shots when the team scores.
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If you know of any other electronic music events or foodie hot spots happening in Miami on Super Bowl weekend, please leave us a comment with the details.

Go Saints!

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Technorati: EHJDP443CPTT

We came across this article that may be helpful to female clubgoers. It stems from a female clubgoer's perspective and outlines the five types of men to avoid in nightclubs: The Drunken Hazard; The Creeper; The Dance Floor Groper; The Boring Conversationalist, and; The Cheater.

Do you think another type of man should be added to this list? Do you disagree with the article? Sound off in the comments section.

Postscript: For all the men out there, EF has its own list of five women to avoid in nightclubs coming soon.

Words: Electronic Foodie

Paula Sladewski, an aspiring 26 year old model, was found burned to death in a dumpster this past Sunday night. She reportedly had an altercation with her boyfriend, Kevin Klym, at Club Space in Miami on Sunday morning and was last seen there. A missing persons report was filed by Mr. Klym hours after the body was found.

We have found what might be the Facebook page of the "person of interest", Kevin Klym. We believe this is his Facebook page because one of his friends is named "Paula Angela Sladewski". What are the chances of that happening? However, her profile does not have a photo. This information is exclusive to EF and has not been reported by the media to our knowledge. Mr. Klym's Facebook profile and photo can be found here.

Here are the updates to this post:

Update #1 [At 2:50 a.m. E.S.T. on 1/8/2010]: Fox News is reporting that her stepfather, Richard Watkins, stated that Ms. Sladewski would text her ex-boyfriend, 'help me, I’m in trouble, he’s trying to kill me'. There still isn't a confirmation of this from the ex-boyfriend. He also told Fox News that he can't understand why Klym would leave her at the nightclub alone. "He left her alone in a bar full of predators and I blame him for doing that. How could he do that? How could he just leave her alone? I can’t wrap my mind around why he would do that."

Update #2 [At 12:40 p.m. E.S.T. on 1/8/2010]: According to CBS 4 News Police are checking with Club Space to see its surveillance system saw Ms. Sladewski leave with anyone. There was no surveillance near the the dumpster where she was found. According to her stepfather, Richard Watkins, the boyfriend "left [her] alone with wolves, the wolves in that club."

Update #3 [At 8:20 p.m. E.S.T. on 1/8/2010]: According to CBS News, a warrant has been issued for Mr. Klym in Michigan after he didn't show up to court to hear charges that he broke his girlfriend's nose in a fight.

Update #4 [At 3:50 p.m. E.S.T. on 1/9/2010]: New surveillance video has been released showing Miss Sladewski leaving Club Space. The grainy video shows Miss Sladewski leaving with a black man. The victim's sister has confirmed that the video shows her sister based on her hair color and what she was wearing. There are also doubts that the person of interest, Mr. Klyn, had any involvement in her murder because he did not have any means to transport a dead body. Further, authorities have confirmed that he was kicked out of the club and left in a taxi to his hotel in South Beach.

Update #5 [At 12:30 p.m. E.S.T. on 1/13/2010] Police are now looking for an unidentified black man who was seen leaving Club Space with Ms. Sladewski. Investigators are looking for a "black male" who eyewitnesses say walked away from the front of the club with Sladewski, Detective Cuevas told FoxNews.com. The North Miami Police are warning that the killer may strike again. "This was obviously a very brutal, sadistic murder," Lt. Neal Cuevas of the North Miami Police Department told Fox News Monday. The North Miami Police Department asks anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

David Wasser, a private investigator hired by Mr Klym, said he spoke to one of the bouncers from the club. 'He did not see where the black male came from, but a black male came up, took her hand and they were hand and hand, and walked across the street,' he claimed. The CCTV footage does not show the blonde woman talking to either of the men, or any indication that she was aware of them.

Kelly Farris, Miss Sladewski's sister, has stated that the woman in the film was her younger sister. Farris said she does not consider Klym as suspect in the killing. She said he did not have rental car while in Miami and would not have been able to transport the body to where it was found. Farris said the killer would have scratches on his face as her sister had long nails and would have put up a fight for her life.

Words: Electronic Foodie