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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 19, 2007

THE NIGHT STUFF
Tequila time all the time at Cancun

Photo galleryPhoto gallery: Tequila time at Senor Frog's

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Cancun Thursdays at Señor Frog's in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center drew a huge crowd a few weeks back. The Frog after hours turns into a laid-back nightclub-ready version of its early-evening uber-kitschy Mexican chain restaurant. The cantina's first after-hours weekly appeals mostly to the dance-crazy twentysomething crowd.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Señor Frog's opened its Waikiki branch in August with Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman in attendance. Now promoters Flash & Matty Boy and Vertical Junkies have pooled their e-mail lists for Cancun, the party-ready cantina's first after-hours weekly.

CANCUN

Where: Señor Frog's, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, third floor

When: 9 p.m. Thursdays

Cover: $10

Got parking? Yes. Free in center's garage with validation.

The appeal: An unpretentious weekly angling for a tequila bar/house party vibe, and kids who dance. First-ever weekly at new local outlet of this designed-for-this-stuff Mexican chain restaurant.

I'm under 21: See ya when you're not.

The crowd: Mostly twentysomething, blending promoters Flash & Matty Boy and Vertical Junkies' e-mail lists and tourists.

What to wear: It ain't Skyline. Dress down for comfort. Very casual is OK. (The Frog after hours, after all, is a laid-back nightclub-ready version of its early-evening uber-kitschy, chain restaurant/cantina.) More than a few patrons were sporting shorts, slippers or baseball caps.

Libations: Señor Frog's full menu of signature cocktails (big and chock full o' spirits, though a bit too everything-in-the-bar-cabinet-except-the-Spañada for my sensitive tastes); specials include $6 beer pitchers, $3 margaritas and $3 shots.

The soundtrack: Seriously mainstream, dance-ready mash-ups and mix-ups of Top 40 hip-hop, R&B and party classics. "Stronger" — Kanye West, "Be Faithful" — Fatman Scoop, "Got Your Money" — Ol' Dirty Bastard, "Genius of Love" — Tom Tom Club, "Hollaback Girl" — Gwen Stefani

Chances of hearing Soulja Boy? Crank that.

Chances of hearing Cafe Tacuba? It ain't that kind of fiesta.

Single and looking? So are lots of others here.

What I liked: Patrons at Cancun seemed more refreshingly interested in grooving seriously on Cancun's gymnasium-size hardwood dance floor than comparing designer T-shirt labels or searching for a nonexistent VIP section. Tables were abandoned and the dance floor was full by midnight.

What I didn't like: Walking in from the parking garage and proceeding to the Frog's third-floor entrance only to be told at the door that I had to go down to the restaurant's first-floor elevator entrance off Kalakaua Avenue and ride up from there. A sign in the parking garage elevator would've helped.

Swing bar swings gone: Señor Frog's famous bar swings are taken down for Cancun, probably so passers-by don't get unexpectedly clocked.

Web sites for info/guest list: www.flashandmattyboypresent.com, www.verticaljunkies.com.

THE NIGHTSHIFT ...

AYA TURNS 5

The kids at AYA celebrate their fifth birthday on Saturday by winging in well-traveled U.K. house turntablist Lee Burridge for a late-night set at Lotus Soundbar. Also swinging upstairs: AYA crew members Ramyt, Miklos, Jimmy James, Rayne and Akio. Hip-hop spins downstairs from D-Box, Packo and guests. The party kicks off at 9 p.m. at 2301 Kuhio Ave.

SUCH TEASES

The girls of Cherry Blossom Cabaret host another edition of their monthly Speakeasy party Saturday at Mercury Bar. Expect new burlesque skits and teases, burlesque auditions and live tunes from The Malcognitas. From 9 p.m.; 21 and older. $8 before 10 p.m., $10 after.

HOMECOMING PARADE

NextDoor's midweek Acid Wash brings the '80s vibe to yet another Saturday this weekend with its '80s Homecoming party. Wear greed-decade "homecoming attire" and get in free. DJs Vegas Mike, Nocturna, Quiksilva and G-Spot hold it down from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.