Shaken, not stirred

From October 21 to December 16, Sofitel Philippine Plaza is hosting themed parties at its luxurious 7Pecados by the Bay bar and club. Last Wednesday's theme was "Casino Royale" and I think even James Bond would have approved of the booth that my husband and I chose. Instead of seats, it has a lounge chair for two. And don't you just love those crystal-beaded walls?



The cover charge, amazingly tiny at only 200 pesos (about US$4), not only gives you entrance to the club. You also get two drinks of your choice, peanuts and wasabi peas are already on your table, and servers with trays laden with various hors d'oeuvre walk around the room offering more filling treats to all the guests. The theme was also applied to the drinks—you have to choose your drinks from the bar list at the entrance and instead of drink stubs, you're given playing cards which correspond to your choices. I used my 6 for the Mai Tai (dark and white rum, curacao, grenadine, pineapple juice, orgeat syrup and lime juice) and the 10 was for a Long Island Iced Tea (sweet and sour mix, vodka, tequila, rum, gin, triple sec and Coca-Cola).



The smaller aces of spades in the photo above, each labeled with a face value of 1000 pesos, was for one of the night's main attractions: casino games. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) lent 7Pecados a Black Jack table with two dealers (cute dude—I like his dimples)…



and two slot machines. Of course, this was all just for fun so no real money was involved.



The casino games were very popular that night. I'm glad I got photos before the crowds arrived. The handsome 27˝ iMacs were quite popular too. Just for World Wide Wednesdays —WWW@7Pecados, which is the party series' name—the bar also becomes a mini internet hub.



And what's a party without music? The band was good—they had everyone swaying to the beat even as they were playing games or chatting away with friends. I asked the girl at the reception table their name, but my liquor-soaked brain didn't retain it. (Thanks to a friend in Sofitel, I now have their name: Blind Curve.)



I couldn't resist this next shot. The ceiling of 7Pecados is completely covered with mirror tiles and I found it fascinating. So now I have an unusual portrait of me and my husband. And the guy in the next booth.



The next World Wide Wednesdays themed party at 7Pecados by the Bay is on November 4: Knock Out Night. (I just hope that's not what I'll be like—knocked out—at the end of the evening.) Who wants to come? Everyone's invited!