Next time Janet Jackson comes to town, look no further than Venus Nightclub if you want to catch a glimpse of the star. Jackson takes her
post-show party to VenusBy Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.comThe 35-year-old diva, who on Saturday night performed the two-hour "All for You" taped-for-HBO concert at Aloha Stadium, apparently shunned the HBO after-concert reception at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel in favor of a late-night outing at the 1349 Kapiolani Blvd. nightclub.
Jackson visited Venus three times while in Honolulu for her 1999 concert. This time around, she arrived about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, about three hours after her concert, in a green Jeep Cherokee followed by an entourage of about 40, including her dancers and their family members, said Venus owner Doosun Yoo. Also accompanying Jackson was rapper Missy Elliott, who performed at the HBO concert.
"We had a red carpet for her, and the 450 people inside applauded her when she entered," Yoo said.
The club's usual $5 cover charge was waived for Jackson and company.
In one of her three 1999 club visits, Jackson held a private party for 250 crew members and dancers. The singer and friends shared three bottles of Italian red wine at $200 each, Yoo said.
This time around, Jackson, wearing tight golden-beige pants and a "very open" V-neck top, drank several bottles of Crystal Geyser spring water.
Jackson and company stayed in the glass-enclosed Venus VIP room "talking story" until 4:30 a.m., some 30 minutes after the club closed.
Jackson didn't eat at the club, which featured a buffet of kalbi ribs, chicken dishes, seafood noodle and salads, though the dancers finished all of it, Yoo said.
In addition to Jackson's two bodyguards, there were 17 security guards on the premises hired by Yoo.
"Missy (Elliott) and (rapper) Da Brat sat with (Jackson) talking story, laughing and relaxing," said Yoo, who had attended the Saturday night concert at the invitation of Hawaii-born Gil Duldulao, who is one of Jackson's backup dancers.
"Gil and Janet are good friends; she trusts him," Yoo said. "Anywhere Gil goes, she goes."
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