Art After Dark, A Single Guy’s Playground, Skin Tight Dresses, & Cougar Haven

Oahu’s young, hip, professionals look forward to every month’s ARTafterDARK at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.  Over the years this Friday party dedicated to the arts has become quite popular and is a must go to event for Oahu’s 20, 30, and 40  somethings. 

Art show? Well, maybe some go to look at the art, but those who go know that most of the attendees go to look at all the good looking people, not the newest art galleries.  ADD has become the single guy’s playground, where women can show off their newest skin tight dress, and the hot spot for those over 40. 

I am a ADD regular and don’t have any bad blood for my ranting and raving about the obvious spectacle that is now ADD, but am just trying to shine light to it for those who haven’t been.  Newbies need to know what to expect and for those who are regulars they will agree with me and hopefully get a little chuckle in. 

For first time ADD attendees, below are a couple things you may want to know before you go!

ARTafterDARK 101: 

• GO EARLY. Doors open at 6 pm and by 7:30 pm it can get super packed and a line begins to form out front.  Go early to avoid standing in a long line.  It really does end at 9 pm, and they will kick everyone out by 9:15 pm, so go early to get your monies worth. 
• To AVOID CROWDS VISIT SMALLER AREAS OF ACADEMY. ADD can become a sea of people and if you want to avoid the mass crowds hang out in the wings and the various courtyard areas.  These areas even have benches and tables to sit at.
• TO SEE THE CROWD GO TO THE MAIN MIDDLE COURTYARD AREA.  I am not talking about the area right when you first walk in, but walk to the right of it, and it will lead you to the area I am talking about.  This is where the large bar is, a happening DJ, all the action, and from the stairs there is an excellent view of all the women in tight dresses. 
• WHERE LIGHT/BREATHE-ABLE CLOTHES, NO JACKETS! All the crowd talk above is a clue about how crowded it can get and even though ADD is mostly outdoors, it gets super hot and humid here! I guess the ladies in skin tight dresses and barely anything on have got the right idea because if you wear more than that, you will be sweating from all the body heat. 
• BE CAUTIOUS OF THE BOOZE. My biggest complaint about ADD is the alcohol.  While they have very inexpensive drinks, but they usually (I say usually because not always) have “headache” wine, well liquor, and unusual specialty cocktails.  The beer is the safest thing to spend your money on. 
• BE CAUTIOUS OF THE FOOD. I love Town and Downtown, and they are the food caters, but my experiences in eating food here is a hit or miss.  Either the food is way to expensive ($10 for a tiny plate of so-so food) or not too good (I’ve had bland popcorn and a weird musubi). Not sure what the food quality control is, but better have your friend buy their food first, so you can taste it before you get anything.