From the outside, NOVA 535 Art Lounge looks like a run-of-the-mill storefront: a brick exterior and nifty neon sign amidst a string of shops on St. Petersburg's Ninth Avenue. But don't let this art and event space fool you: the deceptively tame exterior gives way to a hip, trendy night spot finished with dark wood, soft lighting, high ceilings, and exposed beams and brick. Recent events like the Size Matters opening reception have been drawing local party people in droves — and for good reason.

NOVA's got a new culture collaboration nearly every night of the week, and last Friday's Some Like It Hot show was no exception. After a rousing game of shuffleboard, my friends and I decided to ditch our flippy-floppies for heels and walk to the party (which I regretted after a few blocks).

We arrived around 10:30 p.m. to a packed house. The crowd gathered on the second-floor patio to drink, smoke and be merry have a perfect vantage point for judging you before you even walk in the sidedoor street entrance — so do as the fliers say and "dress to impress, " lest ye be cast out with the rest of the tragically un-hip.

This article appears in Aug 19-25, 2009.