That new black magic: Night life in the island's downtown is getting more interesting. First, Scott Arnold has opened Voodoo Lounge, 201 26th St., just south of the Railroad Museum. Arnold is the owner of the Balinese Room pier, a seawall venue destroyed a year ago by Hurricane Ike.
Arnold describes his latest venture as “dark and sexy, with an intense dance floor, kissing lounge, scary movie screening room and a cool outdoor patio.”
Arnold traveled to Bali in February and purchased a 40-foot freight container full of Balinese statues, custom fabrics, carvings, fountains, furniture, 14 stone temples, art, antiques and custom lighting — all for Voodoo Lounge.
The lounge, with a 3,000-square-foot patio, is in the former Zeak’s Hotel. Zeak Dillingham ran the island’s most successful brothel for 35 years after the close of the Postoffice Red Light district in the late 1950s, Arnold said.
Voodoo Lounge will serve up a custom-drink menu, upscale liquors and wines.
One intriguing Voodoo drink is flaming absinthe, an anise-flavored alcohol set afire.
Absinthe was banned in the United States for nearly a century because it was believed to cause hallucinations.
But in 2007, absinthe became available again in the states when federal regulators allowed two European distillers to begin selling the alcohol stateside, according to Time Magazine.
Apparently, absinthe was thought to have inspired artist Vincent Van Gogh to cut off a piece of his ear.
But I digress. Arnold is going for an exotic, mysterious vibe at Voodoo Lounge.
For information, call 409-515-5454.
Balinese please: So what about the return of the Balinese? Arnold still is in lease negotiations with the Texas General Land Office, which enforces laws to keep beaches open to the public, to rebuild the Balinese Room on the seawall, he said.
“If not there, then I’ll build it somewhere else,” Arnold said. Stay tuned.
21-club salute: Meanwhile, 21 has made a post-Ike return, reports Randall Pettit, an owner of the elegant nightspot, 2102 Postoffice St. on the island.
The club, which sustained storm damage, returned Labor Day weekend.
Open seven days a week, 21 will feature live entertainment on weekends and during special events.
Owners have added a little more space to the club, and the décor is similar to what it was before the storm.
But because 21 took in about 8 feet of storm surge, a complete redo was in order, Pettit said.
Designer Amber Felts gave the newly renovated 21 an upscale and contemporary look, Pettit said.
For information, call 409-762-2101.
T-bone’s on TV: Remember that report that Kemah’s popular T-Bone Tom’s Steakhouse, 707 state Highway 146, would be featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives?” We now have a viewing date. A reader reports the landmark hangout known for T-bones, chicken fried steak, barbecue and live entertainment will be on the show Nov. 23.
Kemah kudos: The 40-acre waterfront entertainment complex Kemah Boardwalk was recently named to forbestraveler.com’s 10 Top American Boardwalks list.
That’s Golden: Meanwhile, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island’s heated, indoor waterpark was honored this month by being voted the “World’s Best Indoor Waterpark” during the 2009 Golden Ticket Award ceremony in Carlsbad, Calif.
