Celebrate 2005: Asian Heritage Row Review

December 31 2005, Kuala Lumpur – For the first time, Asian Heritage Row (AHR) together with SmoovePinch.net.ms presented Celebrate 2005, a week-long celebration from December 23, 2005 to January 1, 2006. They ushered in the New Year with the fun, party folks along the Asian Heritage Row, on Jalan Doraisamy, beside Sheraton Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The now infamous street with its many outlets was filled with activities. There were back-to-back parties and special promotions at the various outlets throughout the AHR with the crowd enjoying an all-out party on New Year’s Eve.

Celebrate 2005 was a 10-day festive event covering lunch, dinner and afterdark promotions over the period of Christmas and New Year on AHR. The idea was to promote AHR as the preferred destination for the festivities with various promotions from the individual outlets as the main attraction. “The concept will eventually expand into other lifestyle themed events on AHR thorough out the year as more outlets opens, making it ideal for advertising and branding due to the diverse demographics the row already caters to”, said the organisers.

With more than 15 outlets having varying promotions and items on offer, there was something for everyone. From great value lunch and festive season dinner packages to parties to dance the night away covering live bands, local and international DJ's or drink promotions for chilling out after work. Whatever your flavour, AHR is sure to have it and have it, it did on NYE.

“The Asian Heritage Row is part of a plan to create Heritage Village KL, a cluster of old houses converted into upmarket and hip food and beverage outlets,” – Asian Heritage Row Sdn. Bhd.

Nestled in the middle of Kuala Lumpur, the AHR is the new hot spot for everything food, fun and fashionable. With over 15 outlets ranging from restaurants to clubs to bars to even foot reflexology, one is spoilt for choice. The venue was the obvious choice for “Celebrate” to fuse the various outlet offerings, cultural and heritage elements.

The popular venue bars and clubs – including Mojo’s, Bar Savanh, W Wine Room, Bar Blonde, Ivy’s, Cynna and The Loft - all ran entertaining danceable music from retro to contemporary R&B, house and jazz music.

Last Friday, Dec 30, Mojo’s featured DJ’s JD and it’s resident Nesh (previously from Nouvo and DV8 residencies) whose repertoire will include sexy soul classics like Shalamar, Diana Ross, Kool & the Gang, Chaka Khan and Earth Wind & Fire. It was great to see the crowd relishing and doing the disco hustle. The crowd was transported back to the golden KL clubbing days of 70’s through early 90’s striking a memory chord with every tune. Nesh also hit the decks at Mojo’s for the New Year’s countdown with his funky wizardry on the mixers with R&B and Hip-hop tunes also popular with the regulars that didn’t leave the dance floor.

Upstairs Club Lounge at The Loft featured Camelia for their countdown and foreign DJ Marco whose sexy pumping house beats kept the packed crowd going till the early morning. The stunning view of KLCC from Upstairs also meant that it was one of the best places to be on NYE. Cynna featured resident DJ’s Gregoire and Funkie Junkie with the special appearance of DJ Glynn Tandy playing to a trendier crowd. DJ Kumar rocked Bar Blonde down on Dec 30 while DJ Partyman, spun commercial R&B and Hip-hop tunes with a dash of groovy house on NYE. Being one of the “no cover charge” outlets on AHR, it was packed with those who wanted a great time without the price.

The Ivy was also filled with people being entertained through dinner all the way till post countdown with DJ John Dave to the tunes of soulful up tempo R&B. Bar Savanh was not to be left out and had DJ’s De Sash and De Rajj taking their guests through the decades with a medley of tunes fitting for the occasion. The W Wine Room featured Booty Boys on live band entertaining to a more posh and elderly audience who still knew how to have a great time. They also launched the newly opened extension of the outlet which was previously the upper floor of the now closed Turkish Restaurant, Saray.

The Christmas weekend also had songstress Camelia doing a live PA at Cynna and DJ Najee from Traxx FM dropping the retro R&B classics from yesterday at Mojo’s. Party packs were given away to those visiting the outlets on the row to add to the festivities.

The restaurant outlets like Kristao, That Indian Thing and Senja also didn’t miss out on the fun by keeping the patrons stomachs nicely filled with their delicious food and beverages. Even Palacio restaurant at the end of the row had people dancing after dinner. Patrons to the AHR certainly happily enjoyed the celebrative offerings, festively decorated outlets, balloons and party packs and promotions packages. All in all, with seven venues to choose from to dance and party as well as a host of food outlets with international flavours to feast, AHR was a very popular place to be on NYE obvious from the traffic still pouring in onto the row even after 2.30am. There is surely more on offer from AHR in 2006.