I came for family fun and we got more than that. I came for food (and drinks) and I was more than satisfied. I came for the place and I was treated marvelously well.
Solaire North was our family’s weekend getaway to celebrate my wife’s birthday and our wedding anniversary just recently.
But more than the fun, feast and fascination, there was a lot more.
Something that you would not usually find in a hotel, even luxurious ones. But Solaire North proved that luxury can indeed be had in many forms.
Display of rare music equipment and instruments is one.
Solaire North’s Italian restaurant Tratoria has this Rocket jukebox, a 1950-ish looking jukebox that was infused with modern technology like bluetooth and infra red. It holds 70 single vinyl records (45rpms) where both sides can be played (meaning 140 total selections can be made at a touch of a button).
What makes this really unique is that the vinyls are played vertically. This is made possible with its tone arm that holds the cartridge and stylus designed to press against the record. What a genius design!
Rocket is a customizable jukebox made by Sound Leisure, a British company that started manufacturing these nostalgic music machines in the 1970s.
A visit to its website, Sound Leisure listed the Rocket at $£10,595 (yes, that’s British pounds). In peso, that is about ₱800K. Add shipping, handling and taxes, that may reach ₱1.2 million more or less.
As a collector of vintage audio equipment myself, I found this an extra special treat.
How it made the food taste even a lot more delicious. Did I have fun? To the max!
