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FOMO

FOMO is a glowing new champagne lounge on Adelaide that is straight off of a Tokyo side street. The spot is a fairly radical change from the edgy Up and Down Lounge that used to occupy the space. The brews have been switched for bubbly, though, and the decor transformed into a neon, space-age champagne lounge.

"We're looking for a special mix of fun, cool people," Says Eve (pronounced Eva) Fiorillo, "But not too cool for school. I mean genuine, creative and cosmopolitan." Fiorillo is a co-owner and designer of the club, and the brains behind CiRCA's popular Randomland event.

And there are touches of Randomland all over FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). I briefly feel like I'm in a galactic Playboy space shuttle. Eve and her bartenders are as bubbly as the drinks - one wears cat ears and a Jetsons hairdo. The place is upbeat and open-minded, with high quality soul and tribal house music.

The narrow space has comfortable lounge seating along the left wall to offset the stiff, cheap plastic chairs on the opposite side of tables glossed over with futuristic black and white tribal designs. The space is lined with neon lights that are reflected off of every chair, table and wall. TV screens play strange video collages - one on what looks like an enormous digital watch. High ceilings make the area feel larger than it is, but on a busy night it can get cramped. A staircase leads up to the DJ booth and a nice washroom area with individual rooms.

The menu consists mainly of fruity Prosecco cocktails, with names like Fantasy Future, Starlight Energy, Liquid Moonbeam and Spacedisco Universe. Other than the Lucid Hologram (a blend of orange and cranberry juice, Triple Sec, Amaretto and Cassis, topped with Prosecco), the drinks are subtle, but tasty - a nice substitute to martinis and traditional cocktails (though you can get those here, as well). Unfortunately, they're overpriced; costing between $10 and $15.There's also a small selection of imported beer bottles, but this isn't the spot for a beer buff - bottles look out of place.

The crowd ranges from early twenties to thirties, with a diverse style. There's no dress code, and with a tolerant, cosmopolitan vibe; it's difficult to feel out of place.

As interesting as the place is, I'm not sure what sort of function FOMO will have. It's a perfect socializing atmosphere, but it feels more like a jump-off point, or, like the Up and Down lounge, a spot to cap off the night. The music is great, but it's the dancing sort, and there's no dance floor for you to get it out of your system.

The crowd's mood, though, makes me optimistic for FOMO's future. Everyone's enjoying the atmosphere, which makes me suspect that they've been looking for something different, and they seem to have found here whatever they had in mind. If word gets around, and prices are lowered; this spot may draw city-wide attention.


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