CLUB REVIEW : New Century Club in Step With Multicultural Beat

As of tonight, the dreaded Tripps is officially dead and the new kid on the swanky Century City block is the Century Club, possibly the most ambitious Southland club unveiling since the House of Blues opened in May, 1994.

Renovations began last November, and the Century Club has been operating four nights a week during its $2.5-million face lift. Gone are Tripps’ dental-office pastels and generic showroom motif; remaining are the ubiquitous buxom bartenders and the burly, pony-tailed security guards. But the new promoters are making an effort to give the club a multicultural purpose and range. A live music stage has been added to one of the 25,000-square-foot venue’s three dance areas, and there are patios for wining and dining under Constellation Boulevard’s stars.

But perhaps the most enterprising change is in the variety of music. Tonight and Friday feature performances by Kid Creole & the Coconuts and Dionne Warwick, respectively. Promotions will change from week to week but are a varied lot--”Jewish Singles Night” on Wednesdays, country music on Tuesdays. Look for an upcoming promotion of live and deejayed music from Asia each week.

It’s still a very Westside affair. With the demise of Tatou, Monday’s China Club schmooze fest had to end up somewhere, and that somewhere is here. And at times you’ll get severe “Melrose Place” flashbacks, half expecting to find Jake behind the bar, serving up shooters to Jo, Allison, Amanda and Billy.

* The Century Club, 10131 Constellation Blvd., Century City. 21 and over, cover varies. (310) 553-6000.

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Club Buzz: One of the original owners of Club Vertigo, the Downtown nightclub that ruled much of the ‘80s dance scene, is attempting to revive some opulence in his old stamping ground. Mario Oliver, who moved on to such hot spots as Tryst and the Gate after Vertigo closed, officially opened Olivers Restaurant & Club on Saturday on Temple Street. The 400-capacity venue, which features live and deejayed music with a “European” bent, will be open Fridays and Saturdays for dancing and dining from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. . . . Dance club promoters Jeffrey Hilburt and Enrique Marie Presley have been livening up the Garage in East Hollywood by offering Hai Karate on Fridays and a Sunday afternoon affair titled Sucker. At Karate, they promise “crappy pop and new wave slop, hip-hop and funk, and headbanger junk” along with a midnight burlesque show. Hilburt calls Sucker, which begins at 3 p.m., L.A.’s only “truly alternative queer tea dance.”

* Olivers Restaurant & Club (213) 977-0888. Hai Karate and Sucker (213) 960-5732.