The Gate

Hey, what’s up?

Not entirely a whole lot going on here today. You know, it’s been kind of nice today because I haven’t really been thinking much in the way of “deep thoughts.” I suppose the reason for that is that the lottery jackpot is up to $101 million. Do I actually expect to win that? No, not realistically. Although SOMEONE is gonna win it eventually, so I do have a chance, even if it is ever so slim.

Back when I was a kid I used to live in my imagination. Seriously. I would be alone in my room for hours on end just imagining that I was someone else, or that my life was different than it really was, and things like that. So I suppose this is just kind of my little fantasy.

About a year ago I had an idea of something I would do if I ever won a lottery jackpot big enough to accomplish my idea with. The idea was to build a club. Not just “a” club, but the most killer club on the planet. And I don’t really think about it too much except when the lottery jackpots get up high enough that I could do it if I won, and so each time I keep on adding to or changing the plan that I have in my head. So this is how it’s gonna be so far…

It’s gonna be called The Gate and hopefully I can build it just across the street from the Mall of America where they have a big unused parking lot right now. Well it’s not totally unused, but they only really use it like once a year.

It’s going to look like a big old cathedral. I’ve seen my share of cathedrals and stuff when I was in Europe, but the ones that looked the coolest were the ones that had rotundas (the big round parts) on top. It won’t look new though, it’ll look old and weathered. It’s gotta have a ton of cool looking gargoyles on the outside though, and maybe a bunch of torches too. Like something you’d see in a twisted nightmare or something.

I think it’d be cool to have a restaurant that is separate from the actual club, so that could be on the back side. I’d stick a garden back there too so people could eat outside during the summer. I could use a bunch of those stone cemetery vaults for tables and stuff, and I’d stick a bunch of cool statues and stuff out there. It’ll look like the garden scene from Interview With The Vampire, only better.

Inside the place (the club and the restaurant) it’s gonna be as high tech as any club on earth. I wanna find a special effects company and rig up the place to do some really cool stuff (like make holographic critters fly around the room like at Disney World and stuff like that) and make it a total sensory experience.

The décor is going to be a bit hard to describe. All the cathedrals that I’ve ever been in always have a weird, kinda spooky, kinda mysterious vibe that I wanna add to. I think it’d be really cool to get Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson to do a bunch of the artwork for the place (like the ceiling of the rotunda, the walls, etc.). But ideally I guess I kinda want a really dark, mysterious, sensual, intriguing vibe going (even without the music and lights) that makes people want to come back again before they even leave.

For the music and lights, I’m going to make that place rock. Cathedrals naturally have good acoustics, but with good sound equipment that can be more of a curse than a blessing, so I’m gonna have to find a way to keep the place from echoing and sounding bad. I’m gonna load the place up with lights though. Everywhere. I’m kind of a light freak and I guess that’ll show.

Up front I’ll design a big altar area like lots of European cathedrals have, but I’ll make it so it can convert into a stage for live stuff when big bands come.

I might put a basement in too that I can use for private parties or for live, intimate performances from different bands. I don’t think the basement (probably call it The Crypt) will be as aesthetically cool as the main floor, just because it can’t have the high ceiling and stuff, but it’ll still rock and I’ll find a way so it can hold it’s own.

Somewhere in there I’ll put a few bars and stuff. People can hang out at the bars, or order appetizers and go to some tables around there and just hang out. Ever see those incense holders that are glass bottles that you hang the incense in upside down, so the bottle smokes(I know my pals in IL have, cause I have one in my car)? I’ll stick those on all the tables (kind of a cool way to keep the place from stinking too bad).

I guess that’s about it. I’ve got way more in my head, but a lot of it is just small, uninteresting details. I better win the lottery so I don’t waste a good idea.

I think it would be really cool to open on Halloween too. Or maybe a little before, and then have a huge Grand Opening bash on Halloween.

As far as specials go, I don’t really wanna do the same thing as other places (ladies night, 2 for 1 drinks Wednesdays, naughty underwear contests, etc.). I’m trying to think of original things to do, but I’ve only thought of one so far. I can do my part in getting people to go to church by charging no cover on Sunday nights for anyone who brings in a church bulletin from that morning. How about that? Hehe.

That’s about the jist of my idea. In my head I can totally see how it all is, like one of those computer programs where you can design a house and then can “walk” through a 3D model of it.

By the way, if anyone who reads this wins the lottery instead of me and steals my idea, I honestly will hunt you down.

“Will you walk me to the edge again? Shaking, moaning, and I am drinking again. Woke up tonight and no one’s here with me…I’m giving in.” Adema