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Deko Lounge: A New Take on NJ Nightlife The tide seems to be turning in the nightlife realm. Last fall and winter, we witnessed the near collapse of the Manhattan nightlife we all know. Traffic snarls and terror scares kept many people from visiting their favorites venues. This coincided with droves of people venturing into the tri-state area's suburban clubs and lounges. Many of these suburban spots had record years for both attendance and profits. The tide continued in this direction over the summer months, as the Jersey Shore bars and clubs seemed to obliterate the Hampton locations. Housing rentals and nightlife revenue suffered as the events of 2001 severely impacted the finances of most club goers. As we enter autumn 2002, both sides of the Hudson seem to be fighting harder than ever to win the early battles of the winter nightclub war. Manhattan, with smoking policies aside, seems to be facing slightly easier times in the Bloomberg administration as opposed to the Giuliani administration. This is evident in the fact that several large venues are doing extensive makeovers and several new top spots are gearing to open later this season. At the same time, however, New Jersey clubs are building off the state's summer success and holding on to its newfound clientele. What I feel has been the standout new spot of the last few months is Deko Lounge in Sayerville, New Jersey. Providing what Jersey spots have failed to offer in the past, Deko Lounge prides itself on its unique character and upscale ambience. Deko's thoroughly modern décor throughout makes it an ideal lounge suitable for any mood or situation. Taking cues from some of Manhattan's more unique venues, Deko can be likened to places such as Spa and Centro Fly. The interior is appropriately lit and never too bright or dark, allowing one to choose whether to melt into the corners or be the spectacle of the room. The décor lends itself to the atmosphere of Deko Lounge, which can best be compared to a New York City Fashion Show. Deko's attractive crowd completely reinforces this comparison. The staff is also well dressed and well mannered to keep with the overall vibe. As for music, Deko Lounge features it all. Each night the lounge is open provides a unique experience. Thursday nights are the mellowest nights of the four that Deko is open. The crowd is a beautiful mix of weekend club goers looking to get a jump on the weekend and the more laid back types that want a more cool than crazy night out. Music on Thursdays is most often provided by Unique on the main floor, spinning much more than his usual hip-hop heavy set. He mixes up a terrific mix of soulful house music, classic dance tracks, and a nice one or two hour set of hip-hop favorites to close the night. I have had the pleasure of experiencing Deko's Thursday night party on several occasions so far and have never been disappointed with any aspects of the party. Those who choose to arrive early may even get treated to some music gems that one might never expect to hear in a trendy lounge. The other night I feel is worth discussing in detail is the recently started Saturday night party entitled "Sessions." Richie Santana works the turntables as the resident DJ. Richie is relentless as he drops driving beats from the moment he begins his set to the moment the lights come on. The music begins subtly, with a deep tribal flair. As the night progresses, Richie builds to a climax of new and classic tracks that has the crowd going wild. One night a month, Denny Tsettos takes over the booth. Denny is known for tearing up the Jersey Shore (along with many other spots) every summer and brings his intense style to the more intimate Deko Lounge to the delight of his many fans. Deko works well for these two outstanding DJs for the same reason Vinyl has always worked well for Danny Tenaglia. The more confined club gives DJs the opportunity to play for their die-hard fans and avoid the restrictions imposed upon them by some of the large megaclubs. Deco Lounge, despite being smaller than most clubs, has a pounding sound system accommodating a fairly small dance floor. Despite its size, patrons make use of all available floor space for dancing, as they do at Deko's big brother, Club Abyss, located just across the street. Lighting is adequate for a club its size as well. Bars are located throughout the venue, making it simple to grab a very reasonably priced drink despite the large crowd. Deko Lounge also features a lower level with a separate DJ and sound system. Music downstairs tends to always contrast that which is being played on the main floor, allowing one to add some variety to the night. Prices at Deko are very reasonable as well, both at the door and the bar. Table reservations with bottle service are also available upon request. Deko Lounge's age restrictions vary by night, so call ahead to confirm. As the situation in the nightlife world continues to unfold this season, one can take each new opportunity as it comes. In the coming months, we can expect to see a resurgence of the Manhattan club scene. When the new winter parties get under way, it will be interesting to see if New York can lure back the following it lost last year. Places such as Deko Lounge are sure to keep the former city crowd tempted to remain in the suburbs. Also, if the trend continues as it has, we may see both areas benefiting. I say this because the majority of the die-hard clubgoers have been hitting the Jersey clubs for the early part of the night and then, due to their early closing times, heading into Manhattan for the after hours parties. I am sure that both areas don't mind the possibilities that arise from a situation such as that. In the meantime, as we wait to see what develops, I'd advise you to check out Deko Lounge for what I consider to be the best of the small to midsize venues to arise in quite some time. DEKO LOUNGE, 1979 ROUTE 35, SOUTH AMBOY, NJ
by Jay Matassa
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