This year's Garage party space at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction promises to be even swankier, as a new nightclub partnership brings added cachet to the see-and-be-seen destination for post-bid mingling.
The party tent is where all the after-hours celebrating, drinking, dancing and hooking up takes place. And with the Fairmont Scottsdale's Stone Rose Lounge as a partner, the Garage will go from partying pit stop to luxurious lounge.
"We came up with a very high-end and comfortable concept so it's not just a tent over cement," said Richard Enderlin, general manager for Stone Rose. "We will have very comfortable couches and tables, bottle service, and there are going to be private cabana-like areas with white flowing curtains around them."
Organizers wanted to provide more exclusive areas especially for the big bidders and consigners. Tall tables will be scattered throughout the all-white space, and bartenders will serve up specialty cocktails.
The lounge atmosphere takes full effect starting at 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, featuring Bar Smith resident DJs Senbad and Benjamin Cutswell, along with house and techno DJ Maurice Tamraz.
(A noise ordinance forces organizers to close at 11 p.m. so revelers are encouraged to head to the after party at the Stone Rose.)
Attendees will notice a few other upgrades, as well.
Last year, the somewhat risqué Scottsdale boutique Fleur't hosted the Garage's designer fashion show, which featured topless models in the season's latest club and eveningwear.
This year, the boutique's creative-operations director, Anjuli Morse, was asked to tone it down, and, well, cover up the women. Instead, she hopes to keep the show edgy (read: sexy) with a British punk-rock vibe, complete with plaid and patent leather.
Also, last year featured three back-to-back runway shows, including Tommy Bahama and Saks Fifth Avenue, during which audience members were ushered in and out of the tent between the shows to wait in the cold during setup. This year will be more of a relaxed and cohesive evening.
"There is going to be a cocktail reception before and after the show, so it feels more like an event," said Morse.
Barrett-Jackson's Phil Neri said other stores did not sign up to participate this year mainly because of the poor economy and expenses of putting on a fashion show.
While a bit nervous, Morse said she is honored to be the only boutique with a fashion show.
"It's really interesting and exciting to be the only ones this year," said Morse. "Last year, we were under some limitations . . . but we want to push the envelope again this year. We want to be a little sexier and edgier, and I think it's something we have become known for, good or bad . . . We love being able to top ourselves each year."
There will also be a fashion show dedicated to kids Sunday at the Garage.
Neri believes these changes will continue to make the party tent the place to be.
"I really believe that (the Garage) is basically the center stage to WestWorld throughout the auction," he said. "We found an atmosphere that worked last year . . . and we are going to take a chapter out of what we thought went really well and build on it with Stone Rose as the focal point."
