Amnesia is a New York City club on steroids. Unlike the antiseptic resort-like interior of some of Ibiza's other clubs, Amnesia has the proper level of gothic darkness that would make an NYC vampire feel at home. The brilliance of this gargantuan building is that the darkness and grime is simulated through nothing more than use of color and architectural effects. One can actually make it through a night of clubbing in white pants and not worry about the cleaning bill.

Amnesia is separated into two major areas. The first is a massive warehouse with a real airy feel provided by ultra high ceilings and a top-notch AC system. At the front of the huge dance floor is a movie theatre-sized screen with the obligatory visuals. A large simulated torch blazes in front of the screen. The back has some nooks and crannies for chilling out and reloading on the party favors. Towards the back, sore clubbers plop down on massage tables and get rubbed down by professional masseuses. The right side of the dance floor has a mini fair with crafts vendors and what is perhaps the single greatest invention for rolling clubbers, the "Angel Fingers." What this consists of is clubbers lounging in chairs while girls dressed as angels run something resembling a hair brush with soft metal prongs through their hair.

Adjacent, is the second part of the club. This area is much darker and has a lower ceiling to give it that traditional club grittiness. The DJ booth looms over the main dance floor and has a huge graphic EQ pulsing in sync with the beat. Every so often, perhaps the most powerful dry ice cannon around blasts the entire floor with dense billowy smoke. This sends the crowd into a frenzy, dancing harder than anywhere else on the island. When the sun rises, its rays beam down through the glass roof in an alcove to the right of the main floor. At this point vampires and New Yorkers scurry across the floor to another nook under the DJ booth. This one has director's chairs strewn about and the proper level of darkness to maintain one's spirits.

Some advice: While architecturally superb, the Amnesia Experience depends on the night one chooses to attend. Check the DJ listings before you go. The crowd varies with the type of music played. Cream is a safe bet, unless your cup o'tea is a bunch of rowdy drunken Brit kids. If that's the case pick a foam party night or go to Es Paradis.

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