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See2Alpes

From beach party mayhem to jive lessons

Live music, dancing and restaurants

featured in Nightlife reviews Author Christa Jackson, 2 Alpes Reporter Updated

Not the busiest week in the world, but the apres events tootle on regardless, and there are more than enough people in resort to get together a decent party, which is all you need.

Smithy’s kicked off their week on Sunday with the usual multiple promo night, boasting a new drinks promotion every 10 minutes – if you don’t see anything you like, stick around for another 10 minutes and find out what’s next. They’re bound to come up with your favourite sooner or later.

Their Tuesday Seasonnaire Beach Party with its wet t-shirt competition prompted a nostalgic chortle, not because I have ever personally had anything to do with wet t-shirts in public (perish the thought), but because it took me back to a previous existence involving tour ops and school groups, when an enterprising 14-year-old snuck out of the hotel and won the wet T-shirt competition in the Secert Bar along the road. Much scandal, grounding of all concerned and adolescent drama in the corridors. I have no idea how she explained the new snowboard to her mother.

Fellow seasonnaires used to throw up their hands in horror at the idea of school groups, but they have no idea what they’re missing – mobs of teenagers are much more entertaining than your average guest. Granted they don’t tip much, but they definitely have comedy value. You can shout at them for walking upstairs in their ski boots as well – come on, how often have you wanted to do that to your adult guests and had to bite your tongue?

A regular spot for Wednesday nights is the all-new Secret Bar’s Musical Democracy night, kicking off at 16:00 and running through until 02:00 on Thursday morning. Bring your iPod/Pad/Phone/Widget of choice and be a DJ for the evening. JC fancies a go at this, so if you find yourself in a watering hole regaling you with Ozric Tentacles through Eminem to French café accordion music via Caro Emerald and Cat Stevens you’ll know who to blame.

The tourist office and its often rather eclectic official animation programme tends to go into a bit of hibernation in January, but they’re offering an introduction to rock ‘n’ roll dancing in the Maison de Montagne this Thursday – go on, it might be a giggle. Makes a change from your run of the mill bars and vin chaud at any rate.

Finally, it occurs to me that an occasional restaurant recommendation might be in order for those of you looking to treat yourselves. This week I point you all at La Grange at the Place des 2Alpes between Brun Sports and the ice rink. Sample the usual montagnard fare plus a good range of pizzas and a very nice steak tartare. Check out the café gourmand for dessert – coffee plus a taster selection of mini-desserts, ideal for those who just can’t decide between the chocolate pud the crème brulée or the tiramisu. That’d be me then.