Muscat finally gets a decent dance gig? VICE Halloween Event Ticket Giveaway - exclusively for Muscat Confidential Readers

In a another first for Muscat Confidential, you, dear readers, have the chance to win a free night out at an upcoming dance/techno spectacular on Oct 29th!



A group of internationally seasoned dance music aficionados, tired of the offerings in the standard Muscat night clubs, wanted an alternative: The result is BMB Events - "the finest house + techno parties this side of the hajar mountains", according to ex-New York DJ Bakh Inamov, who sounds like a pretty cool dude.

Their inaugural event is VICE: a "Halloween Costume Party fueled by House and Techno", this October 29th, at the Ramee Guestline Hotel, above the infamous Rock Bottom bar.

Their website is here: http://www.bmboman.com/
we'reThey are also on Twitter and Facebook, but I won't hold that against them.

Music will be spun by BMB's founders:
DJ CEE.J (Muscat)
DUB BASS (Muscat)
BAKH INAMOV (NYC)

The party is taking place at the specially decorated Mirchi Ballroom, which is on the 2nd floor of the Ramee, with a very, very, loud sound system.

A stocked bar of alcoholic beverages will be open until 2:30am, serviced by the Ramee Hotel staff. A Special Halloween dress code will be enforced: NO COSTUME = NO ENTRY

Entry fee is 10 Rials for the ordinary people, but the Dragon has wangled free VIP entry and tickets for 2 lucky couples, and we're giving them away here on Muscat Confidential.

Just email me your name, along with a short explanation of what costume you'll be wearing, and you'll be entered into the draw. The 2 lucky winners of a pair of VIP tickets will be announced here on Friday October 23rd, so get in to win. The draw will be supervised by the ROP, ISS, and Ms Dragon.

Send your emails to undercover(dot)dragon(at)gmail(dot)com

US Embassy bans staff from Rock Bottom cafe after altercation

Rock Bottom is a nightclub in Muscat, part of the rather downmarket Ramee Guestline Hotel in Qurm (apparently 4 stars tho').



Although in theory it's an 'American themed' restaurant/bar, they usually have a good band and a dance floor, and its been a popular drinking place, for youngsters especially. The ages of the girls (usually 'expat brats' - kids of expat workers here) has always been well under the legal age of 21, with all of the teenagers having fake IDs. (And lets face it, having scantily clad 17-19 yr old white girls in a bar is something the management probably don't want to try too hard to stop, as they bring in the guys, especially the local lads.)

But the place has always had a reputation for super-aggressive bouncers, and for fights occurring pretty much every weekend between the bouncers/Expat guys/Omani guys in some combo, often 3 way. There are always a lot fewer ladies than men (typical for all night spots here - not a lot of local girls...), and when the guys get a few drinks under their belts, testosterone starts to kick in as they try to get the girls.

It does seem that many of the younger local boys have difficulty holding their drink and can't resist the occasional harrassment of the girls, who then get 'protected' by the other guys, and.. well.. this sort of thing seems inevitable.


Photo: A typical Thursday night in Rock Bottom, Muscat

So it was interesting to see the message sent out this morning that the US Embassy have banned their personnel from Rock Bottom, after one of their staff got into some action with the bouncers.

Warden Message - Rock Bottom Café Off-limits to Official American personnel

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Muscat would like to inform American citizens residing in or traveling in Oman that the Rock Bottom Café in Muscat is temporarily off-limits for official U.S. Embassy personnel due to safety concerns.

The U.S. Embassy Regional Security Office (RSO) has designated this establishment in Muscat off-limits to all official American personnel. Early the morning of Thursday, July 2, 2009, a U.S. Embassy employee was assaulted by an employee of this establishment. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) is currently investigating the incident. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the RSO will reevaluate the situation.

The U.S. Embassy in Muscat advises Americans to always exercise caution when visiting bars or nightclubs, particularly late at night or in the early morning hours.

...
Tracey Thornton
Consular Section Chief
U.S. Embassy Muscat

US Expat blogger Mean Reds in Muscat mentioned the bouncers here last year. Jet Driver commented that the bouncer came off a little worse for wear when trying to manhandle a US Special Forces guy. LOL. Maybe they were trying to get their own back last weekend...