Equinox Soft Launch & Grand Opening

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EQUINOX

Soft Launch

Setting

What used to be a simple American fare dining atmosphere has been completely transformed. The sign above the restaurant is elegant and ornate. EQUINOX spans the space with a glittering, gemmed sun above it. The doors are made with metal and glass, following the color scheme of blues, greens, browns, and golds. The glass itself almost resembles sea glass--clear enough to allow light and movement, but not clear enough to show full details.

Inside, the space is sprawling. Greens hang and sprawl along the walls. The wait staff is pristine and greets each guest by name. What would usually be tables spread apart is instead many tables pressed together to make a horse shoe so that people may sit together, but apart.

Notably absent is the bar. Drinks are delivered by the wait staff, but anyone curious enough to look for it will find it's simply not out in the open. Instead, stepping into an out-of-place phone booth will reveal a lush bar, lacking seating, with an impressive selection and a bartender slinging drinks like it's her job. (LOL, it is.)

The restrooms are all gender neutral. So pick whatever works for you! Outside of the dining area, there's a spacious lounge with velvet-soft couches, ergonomic chairs, and a dedicated staff for offering coffee, tea, etc. This area is well isolated from the clanking of silverware or the bustle of the kitchen.

Aesthetics

Soft Launch Overview

The doors to Equinox open promptly at 6:30pm in case anyone decides to arrive a little early. They’re greeted by name and given a small welcome gift, (assorted truffles, assorted cookies, a bottle of fruit wine, a gift card, a handwritten thank you letter personally addressed, and an art deco corkscrew), while being directed to their assigned tables by the wait staff.

While the restaurant’s code of conduct officially requests–but won't enforce business casual for both guests and employees (please no flip-flops, denim, or lack of clothes entirely), the staff is all attired in black and white: black pants, white, long sleeved button down tops, black ties with almost invisible art deco designs.) There are no name tags–anyone can serve them.

Once seated, the place setting includes the night’s planned dinner with a menu stating the date, the dinner options, and a list of charities (on the back) that will receive any proceeds from the night’s events. There are two tasting menus: the intended and a vegan variation, though any other dietary needs have been anticipated and can be taken care of. They need only let their server know their preference.

All in all, the night goes splendidly. There is one mishap with a mixed up dinner with an carnivore receiving a vegan entree, but the drinks are good and the plating is excellent. It’s a quiet, fun time with close friends and family.

At the end of the night, Cole brings out the kitchen staff to introduce them, Leon first, followed by the rest, though the previous chef of Food Here, Rusty, is noticeably absent.

The entire staff receives polite applause before Cole thanks Hypatia, Parson, Auggie, and Whit for their assistance in the coordination of the rebrand. He gives them each a personalized, but wrapped, painting. They also receive a handwritten letter thanking them profusely for their help. The letter includes tickets for a show that might interest them in Boston/NYC. OOC: Literally pick anything that interests them. Cole would’ve done his research to pick something thoughtful.

Cole announces that over $25,000 was donated directly to Colchester’s CAT–-Chittenden Agriculture Trust--which facilitates grants and partnerships among farms in NW Vermont. CAT also focuses heavily on community education, training, and research. Likewise, there will be portions of every night’s proceeds continually donated to rotating charities.

After his speech, Cole gestures for the staff to return to serving drinks and food before disappearing into the back.

At the end of the night, all guests will leave with six warm chocolate chip cookies and a bottle of cold milk.

EQUINOX

Grand Opening

NEW AREAS FOR EXPLORATION

For the grand opening of Equinox, the restaurant is staged as it should normally be. Centerpieces on each table. Every room is open and ready to go. Unlike last night, there are two more spaces available for exploration!

THE ART GALLERY
Unique compared to the rest of the restaurant, this area is stark white with the exception of dozens of paintings, in all shapes and sizes, hanging from the walls. Most of them are almost exact dupes for famous paintings, only different in one small way, a ghost can be found somewhere in the background of each. The largest paintings are of Tom, Ophelia, and several friends. It’s here that Cole has waffled–Gavin’s portrait is still hung, as it should be, a picture of the man he knew as one of his closest friends at Enodia, mid-laugh, hero-esque. This room does allow for seating, though it looks as if it’s set for private parties or meetings.

THE CHEF'S TABLE
Surely to become a much coveted place to sit, the Chef’s Table is a long table that seats ten near the kitchen. This table is protected, thankfully, from the racket that’s sure to come from the grill area, but receives a beautiful view of the final touches placed on desserts and appetizers!

This section has a dedicated server that only attends them. Usually, this table will require a reservation, but any seating is up for grabs tonight. Enjoy!

THE TERRACE
Just outside the back doors, right behind the bar(!), is a sprawling terrace. The seating is every bit as soft and plush as the lounges in the restaurant. This area is perfect for those that wish for a little bit of peace and quiet. A firepit toward the edge is stocked with s’more components, though good luck with anything store bought. Those are housemade graham crackers and marshmallows. Chocolate bars come from Marcy’s Chocolates from Colchester!
Torches are set up around the perimeter which provide light and protection from any really annoying flying critters!

Aesthetics

Throughout the Evening

On arrival, guests will be hand stamped if they’ve come in costume. Those that have will receive free drinks and food the entire night. Those that haven’t will have to pay for their drinks, but receive 50% off of their dinner! Additionally, anyone in costume will be entered into a contest to win dinner for a year. (One dinner for themselves per week for 12 months, not including alcohol.)

The wait staff wanders the main dining area with silver platters carrying smaller portions of their appetizers. All tables are open for seating. Once someone settles in a chair, a server will approach them and offer a menu. With the amount of people attending the open, service takes a little longer than usual, but the food is the appropriate temperature and the portions are generous. (Don’t worry! There are to-go boxes if you need them!)

Around 9pm, unoccupied tables are shuffled backward to allow for space as the floor lights up and a few swing dancers take their spots. They start the dancing–but anyone is welcome to join them!!

DRINKS

Tonight’s drink menu includes an addition that won’t normally be served, so take advantage of them while you can!

Fizzinoglia's Luxury Liminal Flavorizers may be familiar to those Enodia workers who rub elbows with the upper crust. In spite of its hokey name, this brand is nevertheless high end and hard to get. Dr. Fizzinoglia, the Liminal owner-operator of this artisan company, has been using their powers to produce "flavor" syrups guaranteed to improve your night without severely impairing your cognition for ten years now.

Sorry, despite what Gweneth Paltrow says, their vape juices are not FDA approved. Yet.

DRINK MENU

The Perfect Martini (gin, Maraschino, dry & sweet vermouth, bitters, Fizzignolia's giggle water drops, lemon twist)

A classic martini with an extra twist -- it loosens the drinker up, making them a bit more amenable to laughing at just about everything, even the worst jokes.

Bee's Knees (honey, lemon, gin, Fizzignolia's honey syrup)

A balance of sweet and herby that'll leave anything else you eat or drink tasting like honey.

Grasshopper (mint ice cream, crème de menthe, crème de cacao, Fizzignolia's fancy feet drops)

A refreshingly chilly mint shake with a few drops of Fizzignolia's signature fancy feet syrup, a flavorless addition to drinks that puts a bounce in your step. Hit the dance floor!

Old Fashioned (fresh orange, maraschino cherries, aromatic bitters, bourbon, Fizzignolia's Sepia Drops)

This old fashioned gives your vision a mellow sepia tone to match the drink's warm amber hue.

Mary Pickford (white rum, fresh pineapple juice, grenadine, maraschino liqueur, Fizzignolia's Beautifying Edible Gold Dust)

A sugary sweet drink that seems to give everything a faint gold, old Hollywood shimmer. The people you interact with look somehow softer, prettier, as though you're seeing them through a greased lens. TikTok filters wish they were this good.

Last Word (gin, Chartreuse, Maraschino liqueur, lime juice, Fizzignolia's Musical Drops)

This sour and sweet slow sipper turns your world into a momentary musical -- any sound you hear seems to be a note in a song, and the words of friends and fellow party-goers autotuned to music that only you can hear.

Volunteer Spots

The night is young and VOLUNTEER 1 has it all planned out. That is, until VOLUNTEER 2 manages to spill their drink all over their outfit. Was it intentional or is VOLUNTEER 2 just really clumsy?

VOLUNTEER 3 snags the attention of one of the wait staff to see about bartering for food, as they’re not wearing one of those hand stamps. To their surprise, it seems that nothing is truly off limits. Do they spread this information around?

Caught up in the luster of their Mary Pickford’s magic, VOLUNTEER 4 finds [PERSON OF CHOICE] to be exceptionally beautiful tonight. They make it a habit to let them know an alarming amount of times. VOLUNTEER 5 finally tells them to make like Elsa and Let it Go.

The room full of art catches VOLUNTEER 6 off guard. They have no idea what it’s doing here or why it is. They’re particularly enthralled by [PAINTING OF CHOICE]. It’s remarkably similar to one they’ve seen elsewhere. The ghost lurking in the background of another gives them pause. Does this mean it’s haunted?

VOLUNTEER 7 and VOLUNTEER 8 feel particularly silly and find themselves joining the dancers on the dance floor. As they dance, they realize each square changes to different shades of gold when touched. They don’t seem to mind that they’re not dancing quite like the swing dancers–they’re having fun and that’s all that matters!

It’s getting later than VOLUNTEER 9 expected, but they’ve been having fun. After stepping through the phone booth, they find the bar. And then they find the terrace. What! Outdoor seating?! They spent the rest of their night with the fire pit and an endless supply of s’mores. No one told them there would be s’mores!

VOLUNTEER 10 decided to skip the whole thing until the very end. They’re the first to find that there’s a Late Night Bites window. They’re pleased to realize they can get whatever they want from the menu to go and that the menu will be available from 11pm to 3am. Wow!

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