this is fyf

Going out tonight?

For those of you going out for more tonight on this extended holiday weekend, we salute you. There are lots of things to do, but maybe a trip to Westside Tavern for the Third Annual New Year's Day Potluck and DeeJay Showcase would be in order? And since you're in the neighborhood, stop into The Eagle as all you survivors can enjoy the beer blastings of Mister Paul Ferrer. Then skip (literally as it's good skipping weather out) down to Vandam for basemental shenanigans with Mister Michael Magnon. And do head upstairs to see what Susanne Barsch is wearing (since you can't always ready her amazing fashion diary in the Times every week). Or just go all the way east to Nowhere where the long running Beetlejuice carries tonight.

But seriously, Happy New Year. Let's get to the gym.

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!

Going out? Here's some things you might do...

Like Rod, who feels empowered to do anything this weekend (by Cher), last week, people felt they could "be" anybody...or at least look like them. You could be Snooki (and were hopefully punched if you were? Though you gotta admit, Vinny dressing as Snooki is kind of meta?) or Daphne from Scooby-Doo or even a fucking graffiti artist's comment on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict!? The possibilities were endless!

Tonight too, you can do nearly anything and be nearly anyone if you so desire. This IS New York and, while the ability to blend in and/or remain anonymous and thus change up your personality at will isn't limited to ONLY this city, it's certainly a place where that option is readily available to you.

Sure the aftermath of Tuesday is, and will be, a bitch, but let's end this week on as high a note as possible, shall we? And I mean high in spirits, just to be clear (though what you do with your money, your time and your chemical receptors is entirely up to you, as is all this other we're mentioning.).

So...here's some stuff going down this weekend:

TONIGHT (Friday) -

A comedy about Muslim terrorists opens tonight at Angelika Film Center and the director, Chris Morris, will be in attendance at evening performances (7:20 and 9:45) both tonight and tomorrow. Sounds a mite offensive, no? Rumor is, Mr. Morris started to make a drama and was given access to tapped calls made by alleged terrorists plotting to bomb different targets and ended up making the film a comedy after having heard how often the plans were unbelievably absurd and hilariously stupid. Check FYF's Calendar for a link to the trailer, etc.

Clubber Down Disco and Snaxx make it a one-two punch on West 23rd Street again. Clubber Down's under the Chelsea Hotel (now up for sale!?) while Snaxx is across 8th Ave under the Westside Tavern. Fun stuff, either one.

Downtown a bit, DJ James Anderson returns to the city with a regular gig at The Monster, every Friday. 

Many more to be found by checking the FYF Calendar, including FriskyDisco, Mister Saturday Night (tomorrow night, obviously), Banzai!!! (kooky fun, also tomorrow), Vandam with Lady Miss Kier (Sunday), 718 Sessions (Danny Krivit spins on Sunday), Griffin Sundays (scream it, girl!), Beetlejuice (Sunday), etc.

Whatever you do, have a great weekend!

What are you doing for Hallowe'en?

Yes. That IS a Labryinth t-shirt!

What are you going to be (I still haven't a clue, but it's not likely to be either Luke Perry or David Bowie in Labyrinth.)?

Ancient Celts believed the membrane separating this world and the underworld, or afterlife, became thin and was breached by various spirits on All Hallow's Eve (they traditionally called it Samhain, I believe?). See, Samhain is believed to have marked summer's end (the word derives from the phrase for that in Old Irish, supposedly.), and the border between the "light" part of the year and the "dark" part may have seemed related to a thinning of this barrier between worlds.  The spirits who came through could be harmless, but were also potentially harmful. Costumes were worn both as a means to confuse the harmful spirits and - by young men - to symbolize the spirits of family who had crossed over, that viewers might remember those who had passed and respect their memory.

So...what are you going to wear?

Regardless, here's what you might want to do:

FRIDAY (Tonight):

Ladyfag's new Clubber Down Disco returns for its second night with Honey Dijon DJing and Tai Chi, One-Half Nelson and Casey Spooner hosting. Ryan Smith at the door, whore! Word to the wise? Arrive on the early side. There's more than one reward (i.e. - entrance) awaiting you if you do.

Similarly, Mr. Rich King and Mr. Gustavo Motta offer incentive to arrive to their Snaxx shindig early. They'll be wigging out (as you should be!) but the beer will be free (from 10pm - 11pm)! Also popcorn, peanuts and a surprise!

Uptown at mine and Tai's (well, EVERYone's) old haunt - Rebel - Peter Rauhofer and the WORK! crew (DJs Corey Craig & Nita Aviance spin upstairs and Ms. Roze BLACK is BACK hosting the party!) throw a night of Hallo-weenie craziness.

Bana is back, but they've been kicked out of their Downtown Fulton Street baths location at the last minute so are moving the VIP portion of the party out to Brooklyn to the site of the original banya party several years ago that kicked the whole shebang off. The baths there are SITTing, is all I'll say. Oh and transportation is provided (via go-go equipped...or equipped go-go? party bus.) from 15th and 8th Avenue (in front of Starbucks) three times: 11pm, 12am, and 1am with two return trips at 3am and 4am. I think you may have to already have a ticket to ride the bus, so hit up the website for full information and the ticket purchase link.

There's (what seems like) a thousand other options, as well. Find the FYF Calendar for those.

This weekend (Too much to fit in!*)...

 

---Tonight (Friday):

New photographic works by Jeremy Kost and others at Winkleman Gallery through June 12. (Opening tonight, 6-8pm)

Snaxx hosts a birthday party for DJ Paul Ferrer (remember?). (Westside Tavern @ 10pm)

Unisexi's been doing it for a year already (Le Royale @ 10pm), while Skittles is giving High School and going out with a (New Wave) Prom. (The Outpost @ 10pm)

Josh Sparber and Jiggly Caliente turn (white?) Sugarland out (Sugarland @ 10pm), while Mark Louque (really) guest DJs downstairs at Black Cock (The Cock @ 11pm).

---Tomorrow night (Saturday):

Kenny Kenny's solo photography show, 'Bon Vivant in New York', opens at Collective Gallery (View a small selection of photographs from the show after the jump.) (Opening is from 6pm - 8pm at the Gallery), and  Family Function hosts the after party. (Woody's @ 10pm)

Meanwhile, across town, Crisis celebrates Vandam door goddess Cynthia Powell's birthday with nightlife legends Johnny Dynell and Leee Black Childers guest djing. The Legends and Nightlife Gods/Goddesses theme also ties in to Crisis' role as  supporter of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center where a special Studio 54 anniversary edition of Dance 208 takes place just prior to Crisis.

Last but not least, San Francisco art collective HomoChic makes their debut visit to New York to team up with SPANK for Interlace NYC, part of Earl Dax' week long Queer Conscience happening. (The Loft @ 10pm) 

They have a (truly) lovely video flyer here. More info on HomoChic here, and on Queer Conscience here.  This is heady stuff, kids...our CPR (Civilization Progress Report) is boosted by their CPR (Center for Performance Research).

---Sunday night:

Josh Woods presents Rooftop Bares! at Hudson Terrace. FYF - this is affiliated with Broadway Bares and not next weekend's Urban Bear Weekend. Josh's summer Sunday shindig at Hudson Terrace, Rooftop, begins May 23rd. (Hudson Terrace @ 6pm)

* -- I lied...I WAS able to fit it all in.

Note: Check out the FYF calendar for more information/events.

This Weekend...

 
 Malcolm McLaren

...Snaxx returns as if from the heavens (Friday, 10pm, Westside Tavern basement), DJs Bill Coleman and Lina were birthed at F Word where they're The Ones (Friday, 10pm, Rebel), Sparber and Ladosha are giving me a banjee effeck when they Move It (Friday, 11pm, Sugarland), Ricardo Studmuffin brings a dance party to the Eagle (Saturday, 10pm, The Eagle), Amanda Lepore is/is not in CRISIS (Saturday, 10pm, Elevate) Family Function continues to DYS all haters (Saturday, 10pm, Woody's), House's roots are showing at Trippin' on the Moon 4 (Saturday, 10pm, Santos Party House) while its legends continue to age (Danny Krivit's Birthday/718 Sessions - Sunday, 6pm, Santos Party House) and sister homo-pub GAYLETTER enters "midlife" to tunes from Michael Magnan and Telfar (Sunday, 10pm, Hiro),  

Other things happening this weekend (and just slightly less obviously gay/cruisy?): 

• Dunno him well, but Mr. John J. Zullo has a dance company that's performing at a festival happening in Long Island City this weekend (who knew?) and - shallowly - he's hot and looks extremely flexible (Saturday, 8 - 9pm, Green Space Studio) 
• Malcolm McLaren's death this week sent me down the Wiki rabbit hole after details of his life and others of his ilk. There, I learned a lot more about Jayne County ("Legendary!" was the previous extent.) that only increased my respect for her. I'll leave you to trace the degrees of separation, but a weekend long event at the Chelsea Hotel is named in her honor and is displaying some of her artwork. (Friday - Sunday, Chelsea Hotel - Opening event at 8pm on Friday)
• Speaking of queer rock and post-punk...QxBxRx may be showcasing the next wave this weekend? (Saturday, 10pm, Cake Shop)
• Girlfriend Greg Lockard and co-creator Mike DiMotta are debuting their new comic book  "Miss Thing Werk" at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art Fest 2010 this weekend. Hi-larious! Congrats, boys! (Saturday & Sunday, 11am-6pm, 69th Regiment Armory)

And to all your birthday boys out there, Happy Birthday!

Image via

Spin the Deejay - Rich King

 

The details are a bit hazy now (there may have been reefer involved), but at some point DJ Rich King disclosed to me that in a past life he was a teacher. Given that he’s got his hands in so many NYC nightlife pies (he’s closed the Black Party last weekend, and his new party CRISIS, with Michael T, Paul Short, Cynthia Powell, Chris Ryan, Daniel Nardicio and other assorted luminaries begins tomorrow night) it can be hard to picture Mr. King in front of a blackboard. Then again, listening to him lace together tracks can be like hearing someone learned profess.

How do you organize your record collection? Horizontally, arranged alphabetically in boxes sorted by decade.  Plus the heavy rotation which inches into the center of the room.  Plus overflow boxes under the kitchen table.  Vertical is coming very soon. 

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time? My iTunes library is very different from my stacks: 

1. Angela, "I Got a Little Love"
2. Portishead, "All Mine"
3. Cal Tjader, "Soul Burst"
4. Money Mark, "Push the Button"
5. Feist, "Honey, Honey"

What's your current typical tech set up for playing out? At home?  Hi-Fi, Lo-Tech:  Technics and a mixer.  If I must, I can get with the new compact disc technology.

What requests won't you take?  Those I cannot fulfill. 

You're bombing. What's the next track?  Gino Soccio, "Try It Out" is hot, even if you're not bombing.

Who should play your funeral?  The Big 8 Brass Band will perform Marvin Gaye’s "Sexual Healing."

What are you when you're not a DJ? A renaissance man.

You're trapped on a desert island. Which diva have you brought along to eat?  Duane Roggendorff

Rich’s top ten right now, in no particular order…

1. Simian Mobile Disco – “Cruel Intentions (Greg Wilson re-edit)”
2. DJ Hell f. Brian Ferry – “U Can Dance (Carl Craig remix)
3. Dirty Channels – “African Democrazy (Rame Eight Deer Mix)”
4. Runaway – “Canyons (Jungle Mix)”
5. Komposite – “Show B”
6. Abe Duque – “Let’s Take It Back (King Roc Mix)”
7. Best Mate – “Situation Go Bang (Austin Downey Mix)”
8. Lime – “On the Grid”
9. Dirt Crew – “Deep Cover (Vincenzo Remix)”
10. Space – “Carry On, Turn Me ON (AN2 Remix)”

If you didn't catch him at last weekend's Black Party, you can catch Rich regularly at Snaxx (with Gustavo Motta) every other Friday at the Westside Tavern.  Or you can head out to his new party at Elevate Saturday:  CRISIS on Eighth Avenue.

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, and other fine publications.

Image via Mister Isauro Cairo

Spin the Deejay - Gustavo Motta

 
 

As half of the brain trust behind nightlife institution Snaxx, DJ Gustavo Motta is no stranger to New York crowds. But his plans this weekend are still probably more exciting than yours. He’ll be playing the closing set of the Saint at Large’s Black Party with his Snaxx partner in crime Rich King, starting at 12:45 PM. It’s a high point in a career that began in 1979, at the Lagoa Roller Skate Center in his native Rio de Janeiro. We caught up to him to get some insight into his craft:

What are the top five tracks in your iTunes, all time?
I don't have the play count on, but on my top 25 most played list I have this :

• Mary J. Blige – “I Can See in Color”
• Gusgus – “Bremen Cowboys”
• Sade – “The Moon and the Sky”
• Peter Kruder – “After the Dawn”
• Alice Russell – “All Alone (Captain Planet Remix)”
• Acid Girl featuring Frankmusik – “Wake Up”
• Al Usher – “Silverhum (John Talabot’s Wilderness Remix)”
• Amanda Blank – “DJ”
• Billie Holiday – “But Beautiful”
• Chaka Khan – “Clouds”

Westside Tavern, Snaxx

Overheard this weekend regarding regular Snaxx deejay Rich King:

Don't get me wrong, I adore Rich, but I can never recognize him.  One week it's an afro and the next he has a full beard.  And he'll just stand in front of you and expect you to recognize him. ... And how is it that his hair grows so fast?

There is a Snaxx this Friday at Westside Tavern.  Stop by to see the consistent-looking Gustavo Motta and Rich "Chameleon" King.

Yes, there is a Snaxx this weekend.

It's more than just the free beer from ten to eleven, but it will be back this weekend.  Our new calendar is coming together, and Snaxx is on it.

Westside Tavern

• 360 West Twenty-third Street, near Ninth Avenue    Map   Website