Sibylla

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Sibylla (Hellene reformed: Σίβυλλα) is a nightclub in Mişeyáke. Founded in 1964, it is one of Mişeyáke's most famous establishments, known for its bohemian character and attendance by numerous Gylian artists and celebrities.

History

Jana Friedman and Jane Russell

The club was founded by Jana Friedman and Jane Russell in 1964. The name came from the Hellene term for oracle, inspired by a statue of Pythia in a nearby square. They envisioned an establishment that would attract the foremost representatives of the new society built by the Golden Revolution, and one which would create an atmosphere of socialised luxury without elitism or class differences.

The Beaties were supporters of the club, and the association helped popularise it. L'Petit Écho described the club's interiors as having "a feeling of under-decoration", while the walls were decorated with Gauchic and psychedelically-tinged artwork, making it "an embodiment of 1960s cool".

Sibylla soon became one of Mişeyáke's most famous establishments. It established itself as a favourite meeting place for leading figures of Groovy Gylias, and formed part of Mişeyáke's "magic tetragon" together with Annemarie Beaulieu's studio L'Usine, Ludmila Canaşvili's salon, and the Mişeyáke Metro Mail building, all located nearby.

Jana and Jane, as founders and owners, were crucial to the success of Sibylla, in particular its atmosphere of uniting aristerokratia and the "psychedelic revolution". They were accomplished and charismatic hosts, with complementary styles: Jana represented aristocratic allure, while Jane was a larger-than-life raconteur who welcomed and attended to customers graciously. They created a colourful and welcoming ambiance at Sibylla, where offbeat residents could mix with some of Gylias' best-known artistic figures.

Jane earned fame for personally serving customers and joining them for conversations, as well as humorously prodding customers to have at least one drink or dose of psychedelics on arrival. Liisa Salmela commented that "Jane had a real talent for figuring out exactly how much was enough to get somebody pleasantly loosened up, and she was a lovely, warm presence." Jana handled the club's newsletter and catered to reporters and photographers, ensuring a good relationship with the press and exposure by word of mouth.

As a result of their stewardship of Sibylla, Jana and Jane earned a high reputation in Mişeyáke and became part of the Mişeyáqueens, described by columnist Esua Nadel as "one among many flamboyant tastemakers to emerge in the Golden Revolution", including the Tessai, Samantha Thompson, and Sima Daián.

Sibylla remains one of Gylias' preeminent nightclubs and a significant tourist attraction in Mişeyáke. It has served as a key inspiration for other nightclubs such as The Haçienda and The Pump. The club has diversified, offering non-alcoholic drinks, switching to a mainly vegetarian and vegan menu in the 1990s, and obtaining a sex work license in the 2000s.

Clientele

Notable guests and regulars at Sibylla have included The Beaties, The Watts, Julie Legrand, Doortje Koelewijn, Annemarie Beaulieu, Brigitte Nyman, Esua Nadel, Ranyi Sesyk, Carmen Dell'Orefice, Audrey Epstein, Eleanor Henderson, Birgit Eckstein, Marie-Hélène Arnaud and Janet Randy, Liisa Salmela, Mana Kirishima, the Lynettes, Sima Daián, Isabel Longstowe, Samantha Thompson, Sara Thomas, Amanda Leloup, Moana Pozzi, Chikageki, Stella Star, Tsubasa Akiyama and Kotomi Nakamura, Saira Telyn, Kanna Miyashita, Marie-Agnès Delaunay, and Frauke Stark.

Doortje used to joke that she wrote "The Talk of the Town" mainly by "taking a table at Sibylla and listening". The Watts concived many of the humorous jingles from Transmissions "in various states of intoxication at Sibylla", according to their biographer.

Jana and Jane famously supported colourful political parties by lending Sibylla's premises to events by kindred spirits such as the LSD Party, Love, Nature, Democracy, People's Party for a Flourishing Nightlife, and Pirate Party.