With women in charge, every night is ladies’ night

HOLLYWOOD’S latest decadent playground is all about girl power.

Shag, the sexy new nightclub at the former Concorde, at the northern tip of the Cahuenga corridor, has sugar and spice and everything nice -- and just the right dashes of feminine mystique. The opulent club is owned by a woman, designed by a woman and its hottest promoter just happens to be a daughter of Eve.

“I decided it was time for me to step up and do this,” says owner Shereen Arazm, who got her start in the business slinging cocktails before working her way up the food chain to become a partner in such Hollywood venues as Geisha House, Concorde and El Centro. “I’d been working so hard for everyone else, it was time to take the leap and work for myself.”

Her leap of faith is paying off. Shag made its debut in April with a Vanity Fair blowout, followed quickly by Janet Jackson’s birthday party and then a multitude of other star-studded events.

Clubbers say they’re drawn to the warmth and whimsy of Shag, which is open nightly and already booked up with A-list promoters.

“This is my third time here,” says Rose Taylor, who waited patiently in line on a recent Friday. “I love the music they play, and something about the club just turns me into the biggest flirt. I act scandalous every time I come here.”

Maybe it’s the name, which is British slang for having sex. Or maybe it’s the lamp behind the club’s outdoor bar. The fixture features dozens of delicately sculpted breasts illuminated by a glowing bulb. It could also be the leopard-print booths or the full-length mirrors inside each bathroom stall. Seems each detail is aimed at eliciting a smile.

Designer Tracie Butler clearly had fun mixing and matching a 1940s glam aesthetic with Postmodern sense and sensibilities. Butler, an interior designer with a star-drenched clientele, had only eight weeks to pull off the club’s transformation, and she managed it with style.

A key highlight is Shag’s 600-pound Venetian crystal chandelier, which shimmers above the club’s VIP room.

“We actually flew out the craftsman from Italy to handinstall it piece by piece,” Arazm says.

The $70,000 marvel is composed of 1,080 crystals, and it’s positioned in the center of a tufted gold headboard that is attached to the ceiling. Another hot score is in the roomy outdoor patio, where you’ll find a half dozen Swarovski crystal lighting fixtures that once glowed aboard Aristotle Onassis’ yacht.

Shag’s black terrazzo dance floor is backed by a wall made of antique convex mirrors, allowing guests to shake their groove thang while making sure everything stays in place.

THE club’s premiere is Monday, when veteran Hollywood promoter Pantera Sarah hosts “Hotel Californicate,” an off-the-hook bash that attracts Hollywood’s elite week after week.

Another part of the allure is the club’s menu. Created by John Gladish (Regent Beverly Wilshire, LAX), nighttime noshers can dine on such fine fare as grilled lamb chops, Kobe beef and mini ice cream cones.

“It’s the full package,” says Steve Hardin, a scenester who makes Shag his last call on Friday nights. “You can bring a lady here and know she’s going to love it. It’s all class.”

Arazm says it’s just the beginning. She’s already brewing up multiple new properties and plans to leave a lasting imprint on Hollywood.

“I don’t think there’s too many women doing this,” she says, “so I’m trying to set a good example.”

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Heidi Siegmund Cuda may be reached at [email protected].

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Shag

Where: 1835 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood

When: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. nightly

Price: Cover charge varies

Info: (323) 465-4400