Twin Palms Swings and Sways

Despite what you might think on first impression, the clientele at Twin Palms isn’t universally plastic. Or trendoid. Or on the hunt.

Indeed, if you stay late enough at this chichi restaurant and club, you’ll see much of the posturing replaced by a coalescent will to work off stress and boogie down. Even musicians leave the stage to bump and wriggle with whomever. Twin Palms draws a multiracial crowd, to boot.

One recent Thursday, the club’s hottest night of the week, about 500 mostly tanned, beautiful people endured a moderate wait at the door to mingle, dance and dine. The cramped dance floor fits only about 40, but the R&B-style; Groove Society kept the motion going with such ‘70s hits as “Jungle Boogie” and “The Cisco Kid.”

Things reached a funky peak after 11 p.m., when a slap-happy jock climbed onstage, turned around and patted his behind to the beat. Jumping down, he was encircled by a group of revelers unmindful that sweat can stain. Suddenly, annual incomes didn’t matter.

Still, if you can’t abide a place where most patrons are more in sync with the club regular wearing white western boots, white slacks and a white jacket--with nothing but chest hair beneath it--then skip this nightspot.

Twin Palms is a sprawling, open-air bistro situated beneath a white, circus-style big top. Busy bartenders serve martinis to designer-label-clad attorneys, CPAs and media buyers in their 30s and 40s.

The stylish venue’s midsection is taken up with tables for diners. The earth-toned decor is a mix of upscale coffeehouse gothic (simple chandeliers with strings of clear beads) and Art Deco. Potted greenery, including a pair of palm trees, is aglitter with little white lights.

The concrete (ouch!) dance space is sandwiched between the stage and another dining area, which is easy viewing distance from the busy-busy main bar. (An additional, slightly larger bar occupies the back of the restaurant.)

Here is where some serious scamming goes on. Said one cigar-puffing suit to another: “That chick over there in the jumpsuit? Homeboy’s going for her.” Also overheard: “A very tall blond to my left here.”

Those martinis they’re drinking go for $5 to $6; imported and domestic beers run $4.25 and $3.75 respectively, and well and call drinks run $4.50 and $5. A full (high-end) dinner menu also is served at the bar.

Bands play danceable classic rock, Top 40, blues, reggae, salsa and R&B; Thursday through Saturday. Big bands, which attract East Coast swing dancers, play Wednesdays, and gospel singers entertain during Sunday brunch. Twin Palms also books better-known acts, such as Frank Sinatra Jr. and War, the latter coming up Feb. 28.

Stargazing can be an added attraction. A bow-tied Dabney Coleman was spotted one recent night. Management says basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain, Chicago Bulls star (and O.C. resident) Dennis Rodman and soap actress Jackie Zeman have stopped in too.

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BE THERE

Twin Palms, 630 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. (714) 721-8288. Dancing to live music 8-11 p.m. Wed., 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Thur.-Sat.; dinner jazz played 6-10 p.m. Fri.-Wed.; Sunday gospel brunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Cover: only during once-a-month Friday night concerts--usually $15, waived if dining before 9 p.m.