Tucked away, in the recesses of The Standard, Hollywood, there is a glossy black room, with disco balls submerged halfway through dropped ceilings, and sumptuous black banquettes and booths that beckon from its edges. mmhmm (for that is its name — and has there ever been a more fierce sobriquet for a nightlife venue?) is accessible only by traversing the kitchens of the hotel, and upon entering one’s eyes take a moment to adjust to the black-on-black-on-black palate, lit only by pin-spots and laser beams, made more full for the smoke being billowed into their beams.

It is here, at mmhmm, that a revolution has occurred. Well, less of a revolution, perhaps; and more of a renaissance — and it is disco that has risen here, like the fabled phoenix from the ashes, at the weekly dance party known as Giorgio’s. Back in 2013, at the behest of hotelier Andre Balazs, producer Bryan Rabin partnered with Adam Bravin (aka DJ Adam 12), and a movement was (re)born. The musical format was strictly disco, period. If it was produced after 1986, it isn’t played, here. And they called it Giorgio’s — a tip of the Treacy to the man who had produced some of the greatest songs of that or any subsequent era.

And the people came. And not just people, mind you, but those beautiful people that nightclubs have sought-out and fought-over for decades. And while I could regale you, for hours (or certainly, dozens of column-inches) with tales from Giorgio’s; it is this past weekend’s 2 Year Anniversary Party celebrating the release of Giorgio Moroder’s new album, Déjà Vu — featuring a live DJ-set by Moroder, as well as a surprise bathtub burlesque performance by the legendary Dita von Teese — that I’m writing about, today.

It should go without saying that my 45-minute flight took roughly two hours, because that’s just the way my life works; and likewise, Uber wasn’t available at LAX — but since my life also has a remarkable way of evening things out, there was no line at the Taxi Stand, and my incredible driver got me all the way to the Sunset Strip in 25 minutes, so things were looking up! After checking-in, I raced to my room, and following a quick wardrobe change, jewelry selection, deodorant application, and a thorough perfuming — I was ready.

I left my room (dressed in black skinny jeans; black Gucci loafers with a stacked cha-cha heel; a black t-shirt with the face of Debbie Harry emblazoned upon it, in shiny gold; a couple of gold and diamond rings; and over it all, a black Saudi Arabian abaya, with gold trim), crossed the lobby of The Standard, and made my way to the Pool, where the VIP Reception was well underway. “Of course, Mr. Shulman; come right in!”

I very nearly tripped over Mr. Rabin (who was giving me a cross between Roxy Music and Duran Duran that evening, nattily attired in a head-to-toe ensemble by Paul Smith with his golden locks done by Lorri Goddard), who instructed me to “Stand here. Don’t move.” Followed two quick seconds later with “Francisca and Giorgio Moroder, this is my friend, Michael Shulman.” What the frack??? Start at the top, and never look back, eh? “Oh my God! It’s so lovely to meet you! I’m a huge fan [to him]; and aren’t you just divine [to her]?”

After I’d risen from kissing Francisca’s hand, Giorgio looked at me, looked at my t-shirt, pointed and said “That’s my favorite singer, you know.” (I knew.)

Giorgio's 2 Year Anniversary
mmhmm at The Standard, Hollywood
Click HERE for info

Get into it!

[This article originally ran, in its full form, at Medium.com/cuepoint on July 1st, 2015]