Philadelphia Style, Swept Away at Zee Cirque by Sarah Schmalbach

Even though Zee Bar is still just a baby (marking its one year anniversary last night), the spectacular Zee Cirque presentation it produced showed that its already all grown up. The private social club opened its doors to a sea of supporters who braved driving rain and possibly Friday-morning desk naps to ring in the club's first year in style. The show literally began while waiting in line to enter. Fire breathers, fire throwers and a man on stilts with a hypnotizing crystal ball eased the wait time and once inside, the show heated up. The main attractions were performed in the sunken table-service area in between bars on the first floor. A trapeze swing was suspended from the ceiling and the fire dancers were careful with their movements, as to not draft their flames onto a nearby Belvedere martini. Beats from Madonna and JT spiced up the intermissions between the world-fusion music driven dance routines and hoop performances. Aside from Cirque actually coming back to Philadelphia, this was the closest we're going to get to intriguing masquerade, genuine seduction and swankiness for a while.