this is fyf

What to do: this weekend

This.

First? It's cold. Bundle up...and I'm not even saying that 'cuz I'll be doing coat-check at Snaxx (Westside Tavern. All the way to the back. See you at 10pm? 10:30? 11? Come when you're ready.).

Not this.

Earlier, there's a Toys for Tots thing that's not Toys for Tots -- however that works (The organizers were scolded by the Marines for calling it that, apparently?), and this Toys for Tots thing that's not allowed to be called Toys for Tots is THE place to see and be seen from what I hear...sort of like Cherry's in Cherry Grove?

Like Cherry's, it's a wonderful place to get a drink - the event is one long open bar...though every open bar I've ever been to has actually been a pretty fucking miserable place to get a drink because of all the queens crowding, elbowing and generally giving all kinds of entitled realness effeckssscksckss trying to get their measly shot glass of juice w/ splash of vodka.

Wait...did I mention there's an open (beer) bar at Snaxx from 10-11pm? No? Well there is and...ignore what I just said about open bars, 'k? Seriously, if there's an open bar I WILL go to, it's Snaxx'. 

Also, I've never been to the Not-Toys-for-Tots-"Toys for Tots" event myself, so you really shouldn't base any of your expectations about the event or the attendees on anything I've said. Clear?

Ok. So there's NTFTTFT, Snaxx...and Clubber Down Disco under the Chelsea Hotel with Ryan Smith at the door and my partner-in-crime(s committed long ago) Tai Chi inside. I'm not sure who's spinning tonight, but it doesn't really matter cuz they'll play disco and it'll be cute and that's that.

What else? Let's see...there's Paul Alexander (The Ones) MC-ing again (you know he was one of the MC's for the famed Jackie 60 parties back in the day at Mother?) at a party at Sugarland with DJ Emjay (He of Wonderbar and Starlight fame). 

Also in Williamsburg, Mondo returns just in time for FYF Friend and Fashion contributor Kiger Hansen's birthday. He'll be celebrating Mondo-style (does he do anything any other way?).

If you walk for body, head over to Splash and enter to win $250 at the F*Word in their stripper contest. James Anderson has a new(-ish...I think it's the second one?) party at The Monster, and Gumbo hosts the first of two parties this weekend - this one in DUMBO, Sunday's down in Miami!

There's stuff tomorrow, including Cheryl at Brooklyn Museum's Free Saturdays, a coat/clothing drive at Excelsior in Park Slope, a Hanukkah Pink Mafia for media networking at Julius', Xanadude on Ice at Public Assembly Loft and FYF Contributor Dave Huge's A Very Collider Christmas at Stonewall, and Sunday...but I really don't have to tell you about them, do I? You know to look at the FYF Calendar for more/details by now, surely!

Regardless, stay warm and have a great weekend!

Don't forget, check the FYF Calender for what's on for the weekend.

Click the pic here, or click the "Calendar" at the top of the page for the FYF Calendar and everything that's going on nightlife-wise and many other kinds-of-wise around the City this weekend. Most are things we'd go to (or are going), but not all are "gay"...aside from our presence there. Some are fairly conventional bar nights in Hell's Kitchen or Chelsea or elsewhere for drinking a cocktail or two, cruising the dance floor or bathroom and hopefully hooking it up that night with someone you'll then make your husband, while others are bit more free-spirited, unconventional or unique or maybe not so oriented around alcohol or music or dick. It all just depends on what you're feeling for.

Tomorrow, for example, I'll be co-hosting with my partner-in-crime, Tai Chi, at Sprocket 2 - a "happening" as much as it is a party - presented and DJed by the SPANK boys (DJ Will and Sean B.) and the Rocket crew (Ryan Smith and Ron Like Hell) in a warehouse space (read: endless possibilities?) out in Brooklyn. It runs from 2pm - 10pm and there's a BBQ element to it, an outdoor dance floor as well as an indoor one, a giant art installation by Deputy and a dance performance by Backspace.  There will definitely be cute boys in attendance, but - in addition - there'll likely be some cute girls. Maybe some fugly boys...some smelly ones I'm almost certain; dark ones, light ones; hung ones, sly ones; skinny ones, bear-y ones...in other words, a true mix. Got it? RSVP to spankparty@gmail.com to get the address and - regardless of where you end up or what you do - have a great weekend!

Spin the Deejays - Ryan Smith & Ron Like Hell

Ron Like Hell (l) and Ryan Smith (r) met the way all deejay duos should - bonding over records at an honest-to-god record store. Their chemistry led to their collaboration with Ashton Anders at the Rocket party at the late, lamented Hose (sob).  At their newest offering, Soffitta70 (tonight, in the anything-goes loft above Public Assembly in Williamsburg), they bring their love of timeless music as well as an aesthetic borne of their passion for all things Italian from the 1960s and 1970s. Last time was totally dope.  We chatted with Ryan and he hit us with some classics. 

How do you organize your music collections?  Ron has over 20,000 records which are organized by genre.  Ryan is just a big ol' mess when it comes to organization but tends to buy music and throw it in his CD book.

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time? Ron seldom uses iTunes and my hard drive recently crashed so it's not completely accurate.  By our own account we'd say:

1. Thompson Twins - "If You Were Here"
2. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - "Hard Times"
3. John Martyn - "Big Muff"
4. Mato - "Drifting (Yuzo's Congas Mix)"
5. Marvellettes - "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" [click through for amazing record nerd intro]

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out?   Ron has Technic 1210s at home with a Pioneer DJM500 while I have CDJ100's and Numark Pro DXM Battle Mixer.  When playing out - unfortunately in this city, you have to take what you get.   

What requests won't you take? Anything we don't have with us.  

You're bombing.  What's the next track? Ron: anything by Chic, while I'd bust out an irresistible classic.  

Who should play your funeral?   We both live in the moment with a lot to look forward to.  There's too much great music to hear while we're alive!

What are you when you're not a DJ?  Ron is a buyer and sales lady at Permanent Records in Brooklyn.  Ryan does freelance marketing and promotion and is working on a gay tee-shirt line with the homochic boys from SF which will be launching in the coming weeks!

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat?  Princess Toadstool with pineapples on her bitties.  

Ryan and Ron's current top ten:

1. Stereo Total - "Tour De France"
2. Rapination & Kim Mazelle - "Love Me The Right Way (New York Blizzard Mix)"
3. Sheena Easton - "101 (Steve Travolta edits)" 
4. Serge Gainsbourg - Marabout (Bob Sinclar mix)
5. Caribou - "Bowls"
6. Norma Jean Bell - "Mystery (Original Mix)"
7. Donkeyboy - "Sometimes (Of Norway Version)"
8. Street Hero - "End of the World (Honey Soundsystem Remix)"
9. Zander VT - "Changes"
10. Deee-Lite -  "Build The Bridge"

If you can't make it tonight, fear not - Soffitta70 is set for a second-Fridays residency, and the duo will also be playing the Pride edition of Sugar Daddy next Saturday night. You can also check out their stylings on Mister Smith's Soundcloud. ("I Brought My Problems to the Dance Floor" is Mister Smith solo, and "Fire Island Tops" is the matched set). 

Mister Dave Hughes has lived in Chinatown, the East Village, Tribeca, Long Island City, and Harlem, and he currently hangs his hat in Williamsburg. He likes politics, disco and whiskey. His writing has also appeared in Slant, New York Magazine, and other fine publications.

Tuesday bringing you down? Short-week stress? This mix might be a good cure.

 
 This week!  It's only Tuesday and people are at each other's throats!  (This could be industry-specific, but I'm assuming you all have preholiday-induced artificial deadlines that you're dealing with, too.)  Have no fear, Ryan Smith is here!

An FYF Friend and local deejay, Ryan Smith is in town this summer.  We'll have more about his parties later, but for now, here's his newest undergroundy dance mix to lift the spirits.         

I Brought My Problems to the Dance Floor by mistersmithnyc                               Track List

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