Issue 55 - noiZe Magazine

Transcription

TM
8
The Premier Guide to
Dance, Festival and
Circuit Events Worldwide
From the Publisher
10 A New Way To Masterbeat
Download and Dance
by D. Michael Taylor
14 Flava
by Steve Kleine
20 RIO: Belos Bichas em A Cidade Maravilhosa
Masterbeat
 10
by Tom Whitman
26 City Spotlight: Washington, D.C.
34 Promoter Spotlight: Tom Whitman
40 Book Excerpt:
Advocate Guide to Gay Health and Wellness
by Frank Spinelli, MD
46 The Queen's English
A Glossary for the Gay Wannabe
by Mickey Weems
Flava
 14
50 The EarZ Have It
52 Music Reviews
by Jamie Nicholes
54 Zingles
by Jamie Nicholes
56 Winter Photo Album
68 Spring Forecast - Event Calendar
D.C. Spotlight
 26
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Tribute to
Mel Cheren
‘Godfather of Disco’
“This is the story of my gay generation, the world
we built and the world we lost.” With those words
Mel Cheren began his memoir, Keep on Dancin’: My
Life and the Paradise Garage. He was being modest.
Record producer, nightlife impresario, muse, philanthropist, artist: “The Godfather of Disco” as the
full-length documentary on his life is titled, virtually
single-handedly invented the Circuit.
Cheren, who died late last year at age 74, was born into a humble Jewish
immigrant Boston family. After college and a stint in the Army (where he acted
on his newly discovered sexuality), he arrived in New York City and worked
his way up the ranks of the recording industry. In 1976, he co-founded West
End Records, which helped spread the gospel of the disco sound in the ‘70s
through hits like Taana Gardner’s “Hot Shot” and “Work That Body,” Garrett
Scott’s “Nah Nah Kiss Him Goodbye” and B.T. Express’ “Do It Till You’re
Satisfied.” He was also the godfather of hip-hop: his “Sessamato” became the
first record scratched by Grandmaster Flash.
With his life and business partner Michael Brody, Cheren built the first gay
megadisco, the proto club for the Saint and every big-box space that came
after. Its lights, sound and layout immediately became the standard against
which any other club set itself. In a day when Downtown Manhattan’s gay
scene was limited to “clones,” Paradise Garage welcomed black queens,
Hispanic homies and women (of all genders). Cheren discovered and nourished the Garage’s house DJ, Larry Levan, who in turn mentored the first
generation of great gay club DJs, including Frankie Knuckles, Junior Vasquez,
Manny Lehman and Danny Krivit. Through them, Cheren helped birth dance
movements like House, Electroclash and Electropop. As for Levan, Cheren
became his acknowledged “adopted father” and helped him through his many
rough spots as well as helping produce his landmark compilation CDs.
When a strange new disease decimated his crowd, Cheren didn’t hesitate to
donate his own home to a fledgling organization. Thus, his Chelsea brownstone became the first headquarters of Gay Men’s Health Crisis, still the largest
private AIDS services provider in the world. But that wasn’t enough: Through
his own group, 24 Hours for Life, Cheren became the founder of LIFEbeat, the
music industry’s AIDS fund-raising arm.
Cheren always kept busy with his painting, which eventually included many
record covers. And he could always be found on the dance floor, usually the
last one to leave. On Jan. 17, 2008, an overflow crowd packed into St. Peter’s
Church in Midtown Manhattan to pay tribute to his protean genius and generous spirit. Perhaps the best tribute of all was the crowd itself—a rainbow of
colors, sexes, ages and sexualities.
Friends from an old college chum to Taana Gardner bid Cheren a fond adieu.
“Save a Place on the Dance Floor for Me,” co-written by Cheren, was performed—an entirely appropriate song for a man who will live on as long as we
celebrate our lives and spirit in bodily movement set to the pulsating beats
that Cheren innovated.
Keep on dancing, Mel: We’re down here, but grooving to the same beat mix.
—Steve Weinstein
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
Sometimes, good things do come to those who wait. In the last issue of noiZe I
danced around the subject of how important DJs and music are to our dance event
experiences. But as we move into the close of the new millennium’s first decade,
we’re witnessing the final nail in the coffin of the compact disc, and the meteoric rise
of the mp3.
Tower and Warehouse Records have gone belly up while iTunes continues to thrive;
meanwhile a wide array of mp3-based components are flooding the market. Yet when
dance and electronica enthusiasts go online looking for new music, all we seem to be
finding are pop, country, and rock-‘n’-roll to buy for our iPods.
This year, all that changes. Masterbeat recently stopped all production of their CDs
and are going completely digital with the launch of Masterbeat.com. We’re ecstatic
to have an exclusive inside look at the what, how, and why of Masterbeat’s dramatic
leap into virtual music. Finally, all the dance and electronica you crave is in one convenient place, just a click away.
Integrity Is the Key
Looking through the editorial selection for this issue, I was struck by a wide variety
of articles covering music, dance, entertainment, travel, and health—and started to
wonder if there was a central theme. Then it hit me.
Integrity.
There is a consistent honesty and humility to the success of each of our featured artists and events found in the pages of this issue. The idea of competition within the
Circuit has always struck us as a rather silly notion, as it doesn’t help build community.
Winter Party does not compete with Ascension. Black & Blue does not compete with
White Party. Each event has its own place in time, its own beneficiary, and a limited
number of attendees to draw from. Only by working together to get boys off their
butts and onto the dance floor can events continue to thrive. Where there is integrity,
success is sure to follow. That is what makes us such a fierce tribe.
Which leads me to Mickey Weems, our calendar editor, who will release a book later
this year covering the history of the Circuit, and all that it was and has become. Dr.
Mickey’s view of history—it was his doctoral thesis, no less—will be accurate, if not
a bit controversial – as always. The Fierce Tribe will be available in bookstores and
reviewed at noiZemag.com.
What better way to kick off the first issue of 2008 than with someone who has
embodied integrity in the gay press for over a decade? Meet our new editor-inchief, Steve Weinstein. Steve edited the New York Blade and currently oversees
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the online news and entertainment websites
of EdgePublications (EdgeNewYork.com,
EdgeBoston.com, EdgeDallas.com, etc.) His own
writing has been widely published in publications
from the Village Voice and New York Magazine to
Out and the International Herald Tribune. He is
also the author of The Q Guide to Fire Island.
Publisher
Stephen Ceplenski
stephen@noiZemag.com
As noiZe continues to expand and grow, Steve is
a welcome addition to our already strong editorial
staff of Jeffery Taylor and D. Michael Taylor. Along
with our solid stable of writers and photographers,
this team will help fuel our coverage of a continuing music and dance revolution.
Managing Editor
Jeffery Taylor
jefferytaylor@noiZemag.com
… Flava, D.C. & Rio, too!
We’re very excited about our cover girl for this
issue. Flava is wildly entertaining on stage, and you
can’t help but be energized after one of her shows.
Flava is a staple at events with high production
values where top-shelf entertainment is expected,
and we are proud to showcase her talent and
integrity.
MySpace Editor
Rudy Coblentz
rudy@noiZemag.com
www.myspace.com/noizemagazine
Tom Whitman is featured in our Promoter
Spotlight, with his trip to Rio Pride representing
noiZe on behalf of the Brazil Tourism Bureau. The
usual dazzling array of hunky Brazilian boys fill the
clubs and streets for Rio Pride, and we know Tom
had a rewarding time gathering information and
taking photos for this issue.
With so many gay clubs across the nation closing, 2008 finally brings a new addition to the
scene. Town recently opened to great fanfare in
Washington, D.C.—and is featured in our city spotlight. With great DJs such as David Knapp, Randy
Bettis, and Wess, Town is getting D.C. boys out of
their bedrooms and back on the dance floor. Those
traveling to Cherry will find that D.C. is once again
a fabulous gay destination.
So grab your iPod and get ready to enjoy Winter
Party Festival and White Party Palm Springs.
Whether you are sunning yourself by the pool or
on the beach, nothing goes better with your Gucci
sunglasses and the bulge in your Speedo than the
sound of the future.
Associate Publisher
Advertising Sales
Gary Steinberg
818-769-9390
gary@noiZemag.com
Editor-in-Chief
Steve Weinstein
sweinstein@noiZemag.com
Senior Editor
D. Michael Taylor
dmichaeltaylor@noiZemag.com
National Advertising Sales Director
Jimmy Wood
jimmy@noiZemag.com
Art Director
Anke Mackenthun
Calendar Editor
Mickey Weems
Music Editor
Jamie Nicholes
Cover Photo and Flava Photos
Tony DiMaio
Event Photos
GreatPartyPics.com
Joe Pessa
Eva Stassart @ mademoisellecollector.com
Tom Whitman
The Week Magazine, Rio
Writers and Contributors
Joshua Carter
Steve Kleine
Christopher Murray
Rami Ramirez
Frank Spinelli, MD
Mickey Weems
Tom Whitman
Founder
Steve Kammon
East Coast Office
954-636-8647 (voice)
West Coast Office
11333 Moorpark St, #386
Studio City, CA 91602
818-769-9390 (voice)
818-232-7047 (fax)
E-mail: information@noiZemag.com
Websites:
www.noiZemag.com
www.partyfinder.com
www.myspace.com/noiZemagazine
Subscribe: www.noiZemag.com/subscribe
noiZe Magazine is ©Copyright 2008
of Circuit Noize Magazine, LLC. All
rights reserved. Contents may not be
reproduced without permission from the
publisher. Publication of name or photo
of any person or organization in noiZe is
not to be construed as any indication of
the sexual orientation of that person or
organization.
Published in February, May, August, and
November
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A New Way To Masterbeat
The premier dance music compilation label is pioneering a
new online downloading service
by D. Michael Taylor
Being a record executive used to be glamorous. Crisscrossing the world in company jets, wining and dining celebrities on an expense account, living out the
rock-‘n’-roll dream in high style. But after years of steadily declining album sales,
the multi-billion dollar music industry is having a crippling identity crisis.
In a dramatic sign of change to this
once lavish executive lifestyle, EMI’s
new chairman sent out a memo
late last year detailing many of the
former regime’s excesses. Notable
offenses included a $10 million
London penthouse that was used
only one night every two weeks,
and $40,000 spent on candles for
an LA apartment used to entertain
artists.
In May of last year, Warner Music
Group, home to heavyweight labels
such as Atlantic, Sire, Bad Boy, and
Elektra, laid off 400 of their employees. In January, Alicia Keys had the
#1 selling album in the world, yet
it sold a little more than 60,000
copies—the second-worst sales of
all time for a #1 album, after the
Dreamgirls soundtrack a year previous. In the heyday of the pre-digital
world, a #1 album was expected
to sell hundreds of thousands of
units. In 2000, the Top Ten albums
sold 60 million copies, but by 2006
that number dropped to 25 million.
Total album sales declined by 16%
in 2007 alone. It’s enough to turn a
once-coveted career into a fate you
wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.
The major labels tried to blame Internet
piracy and file-sharing sites like Napster
for this depressing spiral, but evidence
seems to point away from a direct link
between illegal downloads and plummeting album sales. Certainly the iPod
revolution has made one of the largest dents in the traditional music market, but even accounting for digital purchases, there is still a general decline
in consumer activity when it comes to
album sales. There are larger trends at
‘People go out, they hear a
track and they want to download it that night—not wait for
the CD to come out.’
work that no one seems to be able to
fully comprehend yet, but it is becoming
increasingly clear that the old methods
of distributing and promoting music are
on the way out, and if you snooze, you
will lose in a big way.
One major player that definitely hasn’t
fallen asleep at the wheel is Masterbeat.
As the clock struck midnight on New
Year’s Eve, Brett Henrichsen and his
team launched the beta version of
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Dow
and nloa
Dan d
ce
their exciting new online portal
for dance and electronic music.
Masterbeat.com is an ambitious
project two years in the making and
promises to become the premier
resource for those seeking the best
in mainstream dance music.
$120. So I was making CDs for all my
friends of all my favorite dance music.
And that’s how Masterbeat got started.” With so much great music at his
fingertips, Brett tried his own hand at
DJing, and quickly became a fixture
on the Circuit.
Masterbeat has had a loyal following in the dance world for over a
decade. But the brand is more than
compilation CDs. By throwing parties and promoting world-class DJs,
artists, and producers, “Masterbeat”
became synonymous with quality and a lifestyle that obviously
means a lot to everyone involved—
none more so than President and
Founder Brett Henrichsen.
Now Brett sees another gap in the
marketplace. “People go out, they
hear the new Kristine W. track and
they want to be able to go home that
night and download it. They don’t
want to wait for the CD to come out.
And if they can’t find a legal site to
download it on, they’ll go find an illegal site. Our goal is to create the ultimate legal site to be able to download everything.”
HENRICHSEN AT THE HELM
Kerri Mason, who covers dance and
electronica for Billboard, said that
distributing dance music online is
“the difference between surviving
and not. I don’t even think it’s a trend,
it’s just reality. Most dance fans want
to download. I think most dance fans
do, even when it’s not legal, so you
have to rush options to them where
they can get things in a legal way.”
Working at IBM in the early ‘90s, he
believed no one was releasing the
kind of top-notch club tracks that
he enjoyed when he went out in a
consumer-friendly format. “I always
loved music,” he said. “I would get
the vinyl and rip it into my computer. At that time, a CD burner
was $9,000, and a blank CD was
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BUT WILL IT WORK?
The shift away from CD production
doesn’t just lower overhead costs, it
speeds up the process of getting music
into the hands of the consumer to a
fraction of the time. As Brett explains,
“One of the things Masterbeat will have
is a backend control system for DJ's
to enter their charts and playlists, and
for labels and artists to add new content and remixes–allowing them to make
their new music available immediately
with no delay–something no other site
has ever done.
Of course, iTunes dominates legal
downloading but has to adhere to
strict street dates. This makes the
lag between hearing a new remix
at an event and being able to listen
to it on your iPod excruciating—
not to mention their spotty, limited selection of remixes. The only
serious corollary to Masterbeat.
com currently is Beatport.com, a
site designed for wonky enthusiasts
that Kerri Mason refers to as “’prosumers,” such as a DJ looking for
tracks. Beatport can be overwhelming for the average person.
Masterbeat hopes to fill the gap
between iTunes and Beatport—
making this service more appealing
to mainstream consumers and in
touch with the larger dance world.
They’re signing agreements with
major and independent labels and
have secured the help of Hosh
Gurelli, who ran A&R at J Records
under Clive Davis, and is regarded
as an industry heavyweight.
Licensing every track that makes a splash
at a particular event used to mean producing the event CDs beforehand, which
made getting the freshest, most exciting
material impossible. Now they can simply hand out cards that allow people to
go directly to the site after a big party
and download an up-to-date playlist of
everything they just heard.
Is there a huge profit margin to be made
here? No one is sure yet—even huge
acts like Radiohead are experimenting
with giving their music away for free and
focusing on live performances and merchandising.
So far, so good: In the first two weeks
after the beta launch, hundreds of copies
of the new Alegria CD sold online. “The
number of people who have signed up
and bought one or two tracks just in
the first two weeks is astounding,” Brett
said in late January. The major launch
will take place in March at the Winter
Music Conference. If you can’t catch
any of the sets in Miami, just log onto
Masterbeat.com and get the party started.
For more information on
Masterbeat.com, read the extended version of this story @ noiZemag.com.
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Or, how mild-mannered Mark
Martinez morphs into pure
diva fierceness
by Steve Kleine
It is 3 a.m.; the party is off the hook.
The dance floor is packed and the
energy of the crowd is through the
roof. You hear the DJ transition to
the next song. Suddenly, a spotlight
hits the stage. Will the performer be
a dance diva or drag queen?
The answer is both. Brilliant, glitter-filled makeup leaves no question as to her fierceness. Mascara
flares from her eyes like wings. Her
“cleavage” consists of well-rounded
pecs pouring out of her skintight
outfit. No wig, just a headpiece
around her shaved head.
She (yes, “she,” dammit!) and her
backup dancers take over the stage
with athletic gyrations that would
make Bob Fosse weep with pride.
Her lips move in perfect synch to
the latest diva anthem. The crowd
always responds with cheers and
continues to groove to the music.
She leaves as quickly as she came,
with the DJ mixing into the next
track. There is no loss of energy; in
fact, the level is higher than before.
You ask yourself, “What the hell was
that?”
“That” was Flava.
Flava is the creation of Mark
Martinez, an in-demand choreographer who has worked with the
likes of Janet Jackson, Prince, and
Michael Jackson. NoiZe recently sat
down with Mark to find the true
essence of Flava.
noiZe: Tell us about the birth of
Flava.
FLAVA: I am a choreographer and
was doing a show in Amsterdam. I was
also a go-go boy at a club called It. The
group I was dancing with started saying,
“Let’s add lashes and pumps. I liked the
direction we were going because it was
so avant-garde. But I didn’t want to be a
drag queen. Someone who had seen me
said, “Oh my God, you bring so much
flavor to the clubs! What’s your name?”
noiZe: When did you bring it Stateside
to the Circuit?
FLAVA: I started working at a straight
club for two years on the Sunset Strip
called Billboards ten years ago. I was
afraid I was not going to make it in the
gay clubs because I did not have the
boobs and the hair. But one night Manny
Lehman came to the show and asked if I
would do a performance at one of his
gigs. I did, and the crowd was blown
away. So he invited me to perform during his set at White Party Palm Springs.
It just exploded after that.
noiZe: What was your fiercest moment
onstage evah?
FLAVA: I ripped my groin a few days
before this year’s Palm Springs White
Party and could barely walk. I ride horses and when I realized I had to come up
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with a new routine, my trainer suggested I ride the horse on stage.
That was when Mark and Flava
morphed for the first time. I was
not able to really go fully into Flava
mode, because I had to be Mark
with the horse and do all these
tricks. I’ve never seen a crowd get
that quiet at a party that big. They
literally started to clap one by one
because they were so shocked.
noiZe: How long does it take to create a number?
FLAVA: One day. I’ve been performing for so long that I can do it in my
sleep.
for his upcoming movie on Harvey Milk.
Dan is like, “Oh. My. God. I know the
perfect person for that role!” I sent Gus
some videos, and he said he loved it.
noiZe: Does this open up doors for Mark
to do stuff without Flava?
FLAVA: This role will be a combination
of Flava and Mark. Sylvester did not go
fully there as much as Flava does, so
there is an in-between. Sylvester paved
the way for Flava to be Flava; so to play
such an amazing role, it is like, “Wow!”
And <ahem> Sean Penn is playing
Harvey Milk.
noiZe: Are you still doing a lot of work
noiZe: How much of Flava is in
Mark’s daily life? Does Flava pop
out at Starbucks?
FLAVA: I really keep them separate.
Flava is over-the-top, boundless,
fearless. Mark stays in the corner and does not really say much,
although Mark has really stepped
out in the past two years.
noiZe: So who are you seeing?
Dating anyone?
FLAVA: I am totally open to dating
someone. It is hard for me. They
either love Flava, but just like Mark,
or they love Mark and are not too
sure about the Flava thing.
noiZe: If you could wake up next
to anybody in bed who would it be?
FLAVA: Kenny Chesney!
noiZe: How did you score a role in
director Gus Van Sant’s upcoming
film bio of gay icon Harvey Milk?
FLAVA: My friend Dan Jinks, who
produced American Beauty, was
talking to Gus who mentioned that
he needed someone to do Sylvester
with Manny Lehman?
FLAVA: I’ve been doing music with
Manny! (Editors note: yes, Flava sings
too!) We are releasing a second single
called “Raise Your Hands,” which will be
on his next CD. Manny has been such
a great person in my life. He has been
such a great help for me to be who I
am.
noiZe: Are you rooting for Britney or
Amy to get her act together first?
FLAVA: I plead the Fifth. (laughs)
Visit noiZemag.com to read the full
interview with Flava including her biggest influences, her most tragic moment
onstage, and who she loves, loves,
loves!
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Photos courtesy of Joe Lazo
by Tom Whitman
I’m jaded. I’ve lived in LA and
New York for fifteen years, so my
“impress me” attitude is as overdeveloped as a steroid queen’s shoulders.
Carnivalesque drag queens. Picture one
of our Pride parades minus the political stuff, with an extra 100,000 watts
of sound on each float. It is loud. Very
loud.
But I have to admit…Rio knows
how to throw a party. And in Rio de
Janeiro, the big three are Rio Pride,
New Year’s Eve, and Carnival.
Unlike in the States, the whole city
seems to be there. Drag queens
and muscle boys cavort with straight
Cariocas (Rio natives). As if that weren’t
enough, unlike New Year’s and Carnival,
you won’t run into fourteen people you
know from the States. You will, however,
meet Brazilians from all over the country,
but especially the cosmopolitan boys
from Sao Paulo, who exit the city en
masse that one weekend in October.
Rio Pride
In Rio, everyone comes out for
Pride—gay, straight, whatever.
A million people line the famous
Copacabana Beach for the parade,
which lasts for hours and is filled
with huge eighteen-wheelers outfitted with gigantic sound systems,
topped by scantily clad boys and
During Pride, Andre Almada’s The
Week Rio is the club of the moment.
The club is state-of-the-art, and has more
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bathrooms than Madison Square
Garden. More than two thousand
guys pack the gargantuan dance
floor, and you are likely to hear both
local and international DJs.
Sao Paulo Pride, which occurs in
June, is the largest Pride in the
world, with more than three million people attending the parade.
Size is sometimes important. Okay,
always.
New Year’s Eve in Rio
New Year’s Eve (“Reveillon” in
Portuguese) remains a predominantly Brazilian party, but with plenty guys from around the world. You
will run into people you know, but
you won’t hear English on every corner the way you do during Carnival.
A few years ago, Rio’s NYE party
scene was much smaller. Now,
Reveillon boasts four days of huge
parties, almost equaling the party
scene of Carnival.
Ric Sena kicked off the 2007 NYE
weekend on Friday, in traditional
Alegria style—with DJ Abel in the
booth, Ross Berger on lights, and
some set pieces from NYC Alegrias.
The space was one large dance
floor: crowded and sweaty in a
more industrial space than the NYC
Alegrias.
The Week Rio was filled to capacity on Saturday night with DJ Chris
Cox anchoring the central dance
floor, while great local talent such as
Felipe Lira and Joao Neto spun the
second dance floor outside around
the pool area. Yes, I said pool area.
The brand new “Doca” area (the
Dock) featured a huge tiered wooden dance floor open to the sky, with
a pool along one edge.
In general, Brazilian DJs tend to spin a
sound similar to our big city American
clubs, but always with a bit of Brazilian
samba beat mixed in. And yes, there
is an amazing remix of “Girl from
Ipanema.”
Promoter Dudi Cotrim’s Zero Zero
is a lounge/restaurant/nightclub that
reminds me of Hiro in New York, or Here
Lounge in LA. It is the long-running
Sunday party that everyone goes to.
The highlight of Zero Zero is the outside
patio, a beautiful and stylishly modern
lounge space that would impress even
the most jaded NY/LA style queens.
The food is contemporary, mostly trendy
plates with a focus on European flavors,
but there is also a small sushi menu. (I
don’t need sushi in Brazil when I live in
LA. It seems wrong, like eating Mexican
in NY.)
The small dance floor inside is tight,
but if you absolutely must leave the
patio to get your groove on with your
future Brazilian ex-boyfriend, residents
DJs Tzo and Rafael Calvente spin a mix
of deep and tribal house with a healthy
dose of Brazilian drums.
One note about the club experience:
On any given night, the Brazilian crowd
loves short sets from multiple DJs.
While most American DJs prefer to
take you on an extended journey (think:
marathon sets from Junior or Susan or
Manny), the Brazilian crowd is more
impressed if they get three or even four
DJs in a night, each playing a short set.
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Prior to the opening of The Week
Rio, Sunday’s X-Demente was the
undisputed anchor party for both
NYE and Carnival. A tri-level industrial space with an outdoor roof
patio, X-Demente is huge, but with
the competition of The Week Rio,
it doesn’t always draw the same
crowd it used to.
On New Year’s Eve night, you want
to see the fireworks. Whether you
join the three million people in traditional white clothing congregating
on Copacabana Beach, or escape
to a small rooftop party at one of
the hotels, don’t miss the thirty minutes of fireworks that are the pride
of the city.
I threw the first Wonderland Rio
with Rio promoter Dudi Cotrim
on the roof of the Ipanema Plaza
Hotel. Three hundred guys (70%
Brazilian, 30% American) danced
the night away to LA DJ Josh
Peace and Rio DJ Rafael Calvente
on a poolside rooftop overlooking Ipanema. Similar private events
happen all around town such as
at the Copacabana Hotel or the
Fasano Hotel. And when the first
moment of the New Year hits, you
hug your friends, look out over the
cityscape and beaches below, and
remember how lucky you are to be
in one of the most beautiful cities in
the world.
Rio’s samba schools, a gigantic party
marathon, and a spectacle of costumes,
floats, and music. Each samba school
spends the entire year in production and
millions of dollars for their sixty minutes
of marching.
Besides the Samba Parade, each neighborhood has its bandas and blocos—
marching street carnivals, with thousands
of people marching, playing music,
performing, drinking, and celebrating.
Banda de Ipanema is the most famous
and is part of the official cultural heritage of Rio, and it includes every Rio
drag queen sober enough to put her
eyeliner on.
The gay parties during Carnival are too
numerous to mention. You may never
go to sleep before daybreak. All of
the big ones, including The Week and
X-Demente, will do their best to get you
in the door.
Guys in Brazil
Guys in Brazil are hot. And it’s not like in
Italy or Spain, where the average straight
guy walking down the street is stunning,
and then in the local gay bar you are …
less than impressed. Gay guys in Brazil
are gorgeous, whether in the club or on
the beach.
Carnival
Carnival is the biggest party in the
world. And the Samba Parade, held
in the Sambodrome, is the most
impressive spectacle you will ever
see. Seeing the Samba Parade—or,
better, marching in it—is something
you won’t soon forget. It is simultaneously a competition between
Brazilian gay men are not shy or inhibited. If you’re not careful (and please
avoid being careful!), the traditional
greeting of “Oi” is often followed up
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with an extended kiss. What happens after that is worked out in broken English and Portuguese.
Beaches
There are two gay beaches in
Ipanema where the boys congregate. The larger and tourist-heavy
area is where Farme D’Amoeda
meets the beach at Post 8. A smaller, more mixed and more local
crowd is at the “Coquierão” (the
tall palm tree) between Post 9 and
10.
No matter how much you go out
in Rio, Ipanema Beach should be
the focus of your afternoons. The
locals don’t go to the beach until
later in the day, at 2 p.m. or later,
because you want to stay for the
sunset. Sipping caipirinhas on the
beach as the sun goes down is one
of the great pleasures in life.
The superlatives used to describe
the forested mountains dropping
Useful Brazilian Phrases / Slang
“Oi.”
“Hi.” In a gay setting, often followed
up with a surprise tongue in your
mouth.
“Bicha” or “B”
The gay version of “Dude.”
“Bunda”
“Ass.” As in “Nice bunda.”
“Caralho”
“Pau” - “Pica” - “Rola”
According to my friends, Brazilians
have more than 20 words for
"dick." Kinda like the Eskimos and
“snow.”
precipitously into the long golden curve
of the beach hardly do the dramatic
setting justice. It is breathtaking. And
on clear days, the beach crowd turns
Photo courtesy of Joe Lazo
to watch and applaud as the sun dips
below the horizon.
Tourist Stuff
Yes, there are a couple of tourist things
you have to do, no matter how many
clubs you go to. Ride the funicular up
to Corcovado and the statue of Christ
the Redeemer. It deserves the new
designation as one of the New Seven
Wonders of the World, and on a clear
day it provides the second-best panoramic view of the city.
For the best view, ride the cable car to
Sugarloaf (Pão de Açúcar), where you
can see each neighborhood, Ipanema
and Copacabana beaches, and Christ
the Redeemer opening his arms to the
city.
If you have any carnivorous tendencies,
eat at the churrasceria Porcão, if only to
experience the staggering procession
of meats.
Take a guided tour of one of the favelas
(poor neighborhoods) in the hills over
Rio. It sounds strange, but it is both safe
and a fascinating look into the other
side of Brazil.
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As the country gears up for the upcoming presidential election, one thing
is certain—change is in the air and in the White House. So what better way to celebrate the political climate than to focus on its epicenter,
Washington, D.C.? America’s power city is undergoing a major change
not only in the administration but also in something really important: the
gay nightlife scene. Megaclubs have closed (alas, poor Nation), but more
loungey venues like Town blaze a new trail in the lettered streets of the
nation’s capital. To take us on a tour of nightspots from Adams Morgan
to Georgetown to Southeast, we asked local spinner DJ Wess to act as
our guide for an inside look at where the gay elite play when they’re not
crafting legislation in America’s power city.
Cherry photo courtesy of Moodypics.com
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drinks
Be Bar
1318 9th Street NW
www.bebardc.com
This neighborhood lounge with
a small dance floor features local
DJs throughout the week. Nightly
events with names like “stripped,”
“easy,” and “pop rocks,” as well
as too-too adorable theme parties
such as “be: madonna,” and “be:
britney” offer fun for the locals and
tourists alike. Cute-but-naughty
bartenders often run around in
underwear or Speedos, depending
on the theme of the party. This is
the place to be before you go out
or after you’ve been somewhere.
JR's Bar and Grill
1519 17th Street NW
www.jrswdc.com
This is D.C.’s gay answer to Cheers,
where everybody knows your
name. The boys loosen their ties
and blow off steam playing pool
in the upstairs loft or rub elbows
with the crowd downstairs. This
Dupont Circle spot is also known
for the videos that play on screens
throughout the bar. Catch funny
clips interspersed between pop
song remixes. Best Sunday postbrunch watering hole—can’t beat
the $2 Skyy Vodka drink special.
Nellie's Sports Bar
900 U Street NW
www.nelliessportsbar.com
This new establishment, located in
the Shaw neighborhood at the corner of Ninth and U, is D.C.’s only
gay sports bar. Housed in what was
once Addison Scurlock’s photography studio, this 5,000-square-foot
space has two levels and a rooftop deck. Gather with friends to
watch the Redskins or cheer on the
Nationals on huge flat-screen TVs.
Typical wings and beer, as well as
out of the ordinary empanadas and
arepas that hit it out of the park.
Halo
1435 P Street NW
www.halodc.com
Subtle colored lighting illuminates
the space in this stylish martini bar
where it’s more about the conversation
on the leather couches than the downtempo music played at a low volume.
Try the raspberry, pineapple, or blueberry mojitos, or sample the 24 kinds of
vodka. Great for happy hour.
EATS
Ben's Chili Bowl
1213 U Street NW
www.benschilibowl.com
Housed in what was once a silent movie
theater, this place has been the talk
of the town since it opened in 1958.
The legendary chili dog purveyor in
the Shaw neighborhood has become
as much of a D.C. landmark as the
Jefferson Memorial. Everyone from Bill
Cosby to Ella Fitzgerald to Martin Luther
King, Jr. has gassed up at Ben’s. Try the
half-smoke, but expect a line—at 3 a.m.
Duplex Diner
2004 18th Street NW
www.duplexdiner.com
From the outside, this diner looks like
it came straight out of Happy Days, but
the newly-renovated interior serves nouveau chic to happy gays. This colorful,
eclectic space is filled with plenty of
tables and chairs as well as booths next
to a fully stocked bar that runs along
one side of the room. Gay-owned and
operated, this is always a great place
for boy-watching. Recently featured in
Out Magazine’s “50 Best Gay Bars,” the
Duplex is hoppin’ on Thursday nights
when the pin-striped set take off their
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& Cheese as well as a full bar. Great
prices, good food, all sorts of people.
Best brunch in town.
Logan Tavern
1423 P Street NW
www.logantavern.com
This establishment is a little more
upscale, for those who want a sit-down,
all-out dinner. Located in the Logan
Circle neighborhood in what has recently become the new gay area, this sister of the popular restaurant Grillfish is
sophisticated without being pretentious.
Unique dishes such as ginger calamari
and wassabe-crusted meatloaf make
their reasonably-priced menu eclectic
as well as delicious. Try the crab-andshrimp mac-n-cheese.
rep ties and down fishbowl-sized
martinis. The menu features such
typical, homestyle American eats
as pigs-in-a-blanket, meatloaf,
and tater tots. Try their cheddar,
pepperjack and parmesan mac-ncheese. It’ll be lethal on your waistline but worth every inch.
Annie's Paramount Steakhouse
1607 17th Street NW
This gay-friendly eatery is your
typical steakhouse—except way
later. “Dinner and a show” takes
on a whole new meaning as drag
queens and assorted club folk
table-hop at the end of their shifts.
Located on “Ye Old Gay Strip”
(17th Street used to be the gay
strip before 14th Street took over),
Annie’s takes to heart the creed
“All men are created equal” and
has become a landmark in the gay
community. Highly recommended:
“Bull In The Pan.”
The Diner
2453 18th Street NW
www.trystdc.com/diner
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, this
coffeehouse/bar/lounge in Adams
Morgan serves “early birds, night
owls, and everyone in between.”
Although it features a quaint simple
diner atmosphere, this is not your
typical greasy spoon—more a slice
of New Yawk, with unusual menu
items like Ginger Lime Glazed
Swordfish and Gruyere Macaroni
SHOPS
Universal Gear
1529 14th Street NW
www.universalgear.com
Nothing says “gay” so loudly and
proudly. Recently moved from 17th to
14th Street, this gay staple remains at
the center of the gayborhood. Onestop shopping for tank tops, sunglasses,
overpriced jeans, and every fun-to-wear
brand of underwear.
Georgetown
www.georgetowndc.com
Located in the Northwest quadrant of D.C. amidst hills overlooking
the Potomac, this famous townhouse
district is home to great shopping as
well as fine dining. The intersection of
Wisconsin Avenue and M Street forms
the commercial epicenter of this charming area, which features such gay favorites as Puma, Adidas, H&M, FCUK,
Lucky Brand Jeans, Diesel, and Energie
stores.
SIGHTS
International Spy Museum
800 F Street NW
www.spymuseum.org
Mission impossible meets museum in
this homage to the world of espionage.
Spy gadgets, bugs, and buttonhole
cameras are just some of the fun things
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you’ll find on display here. Climb
into a hole in the wall feeding into
an air conditioning duct and spy on
other museumgoers. Learn about
the world’s second oldest profession. Gives “undercover” a whole
new meaning.
Great Falls National Park
Montgomery County, MD
Enjoy the natural beauty of the
region just twenty minutes outside
the nation’s capital near Potomac,
Maryland. Hike along the miles
of trails that encompass the park
and follow the "Billy Goat Trail."
A Potomac different from the tranquil waterway that snakes through
Washington proper runs through
this national park. Go whitewater
rafting or rock climbing or pack a
picnic basket. Just don’t feed the
bears—although nipple pinching is
encouraged.
National Mall
www.nps.gov/nama
From the steps of the Capitol
B u i l d i n g t o t h e Wa s h i n g t o n
Monument and further west past
the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln
Memorial, this two-mile expanse
of land includes many of the most
recognizable landmarks of our
country as well as the National
World War II Memorial, the Korean
War Veterans Memorial, and the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Yes,
you must. This is the tourist D.C.
but if you don’t see it, you’ll regret
it. It’s even more impressive in person than on the nightly news.
United States Botanic Garden
Garfield Circle
www.usbg.gov
Located at the foot of the U.S.
Capitol on the Capitol Grounds,
this outdoor plant conservatory
features a variety of living exhibits, some seasonal. The building
itself, which includes the massive
Lord & Burnham Greenhouse, is
divided into separate rooms, each
one simulating a different habitat.
Everyone’s as green as Kermit here.
The Smithsonian Institute
1000 Jefferson Drive SW
www.si.edu
There’s no place like it. Click your heels
three times and see the world's largest
museum complex and research organization, composed of nineteen museums
and nine research centers. Ten of the
D.C. Smithsonians span an area from 3rd
to 14th Streets between Constitution
Avenue and Independence Avenue
(approximately 1 mile) so leave your
ruby slippers at home and wear sensible
shoes.
National Gallery of Art
4th and Constitution Avenue NW
www.nga.gov
A world-class art collection, with multiple artworks by brand name masters
from Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, and
da Vinci to Picasso, Matisse, Pollock,
Warhol, and Lichtenstein. Give yourself
plenty of time to feast your eyes and
brain.
PARTIES
Cherry Weekend
www.cherryeventsdc.com
More than a decade ago, a group of
local activist/dancers formed the allvolunteer organization Friends Being
Friends and planned a weekend of
dance, music, and celebration to help
raise much-needed funds. The Cherry
Fund, a non-profit organization formed
three years later to help manage the
annual fundraising effort, has raised
$877,000 for local and national gay and
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legendary behemoth Nation closed last
year, D.C.’s dance scene was thrown into
turmoil. In retrospect, many believe that
in the age of the Internet and sky-high
real estate in urban centers, large-scale
dance clubs may eventually go the way
of the dinosaur discos.
“There are big clubs in every city, but
you'd be hard-pressed to find one that
would say that they're exceeding expectations right now, and that's why I'm
shocked,” Ed Bailey explains.
Bob Mould and Richard Morel of Blowoff
lesbian beneficiaries in the D.C.
area and across the country.
Taint at DC9
1940 9th Street NW
www.taintdc.com
Frequented by D.C.’s hipsters and
alterna-gays, this new monthly
indie-rock and electro-pop party
serves it up. Usually held on holiday
Sundays.
Blowoff at 9:30 Club
815 V Street NW
www.blowoff.us
Two of the music industry’s heavyweight producer/remixers combined
more than their beats when they
created Blowoff. Richard Morel and
Bob Mould’s joint DJ venture fuses
alternative-rock, punk, funk, pop,
electronica, and deep house for the
bear and cub crowd.
TOWN TALK
It’s evident that nightlife is in flux.
Major gay dance venues across the
country are closing as smaller bars
and lounges take over. When the
Bailey had been at the helm of the
long-running Velvet Nation party at the
D.C. megaclub. After Nation closed, he
started investing his time and attention
into the martini bars that have become
popular among Beltway gays. Then fate
tapped him on the shoulder and made
him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Just when Bailey and business partner
John Guggenmos had given up on the
idea of opening another dance club,
they got a call out of the blue from a
real estate agent with a perfect space
in a perfect location. A former nightclub
just the right size had come available in
the burgeoning Shaw neighborhood on
8th Street. Within walking distance for
a large majority of the D.C. gays, but in
an area that is not heavily residential,
the 20,000-square-foot space is “big
enough to have a huge party, but small
enough to not be overbearing.” Already
outfitted with items required to open a
nightclub—plumbing, electrical, proper
exits—Bailey and Guggenmos were able
to invest their money into the décor,
lights, and sound.
Lo, on the sixth day, Bailey and
Guggenmos opened Town, and it was
good. Despite the current climate of
nightlife—with long-time megaclubs like
Twilo in Miami and the Roxy in New York
closing—Bailey appears to riding the
zeitgeist. So far, Town has been a major
success, with big crowds of cute young
guys (and their real girl girlfriends).
Having worked at clubs like Nation and
Tracks, as well as spinning around the
country for the past two decades, Bailey
took what he learned sitting in the lofty
DJ booth and applied it to the myriad rooms, nooks, and dance floors that
comprise Town. "It really is a culmination
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DAVID KNAPP:
Daddy Goes to Town
Despite being a full-time dad to two
young kids, David Knapp manages
to work nearly every weekend as a
DJ. He is currently alternating his
regular twice-monthly gig at Town
with regular appearances at Splash in
NYC and other dates.
The busy superstar has played every
major club here and overseas, but
he’s still impressed by Town. He
considers it a perfect space for D.C.
“Some of the boys have come up to
me and said, ‘We’ve been waiting
for someplace like this.’” The local
scene would have trouble supporting
a megaclub, so Town’s size is perfect
for the new generation of clubbers
the Atlanta-based DJ sees there.
DJ Wess turns it out at Town
of having done a lot of different
spaces over the years and seeing
what works and what doesn't work.
You pick up everything you can that
makes sense and try to roll it all up
into one big ball and throw it out
there.”
“The kids,” he says jokingly, “like
different music. Their identity isn’t as
separate from their straight friends.”
They like Britney but also Timbaland.
Knapp happily accommodates them
with a mix that mashes up a Beyoncé
remix with Timbaland’s “Apologize”
in a set he calls “pop music adapted
to the dance floor.”
The club averages over a thousand
people on a Friday or Saturday
night, although their legal capacity
is 692, so you might find yourself
waiting in line outside if you don’t
get there early enough. “We have
held the lines outside because we
don't want to get to a point where
we are overcapacity,” Bailey says.
“We don't want to create any kind
of uncomfortable situation. I just
think people who come want to
have a good time and relax and
be comfortable. We're not trying to
pack everybody in there and make it
too hot or too crowded or create situations where you get drinks spilled
on you or your feet stepped on. You
ought to do everything you can to
make the night the best experience
it can be for the people who are in
the club.”
And it works. Here’s what one young
D.C. clubgoer had to say about
one of Knapp’s recent sets: “David
takes the current songs we all know
and love, and then selects some of
the best mixes of these songs that
will work for the crowd—and spins
them.”
Aside from playing DJ and Daddy,
Knapp has been busy in the studio
working on another of his successful compilation CDs for Centaur and
planning an extensive marketing
tour.
Town is open only on Friday and
Saturday nights for now, although
they do plan to add formats on
other nights. Fridays are 18-andover. You’ll hear Bailey himself spin
retro on the first floor (at least until
he finds the right DJ to take over),
while upstairs, resident DJ Wess on
the main dance floor mashes up
funky pop and electro tailored for a
—Steve Weinstein
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Photo courtesy of Moodypics.com
younger audience. It’s not the typical "thump-thump-thump" you'd
find at the megaclubs of old. "We're
trying to do something that's different for an audience that clearly doesn't want that,” Bailey says.
“They just want to have fun, like
they're at a really fun, funky house
party."
RANDY BETTIS:
Big-City Beatmaster
New York-based DJ Randy Bettis finds
Town “amazing. They really planned
it right,” he says. “The megaclubs are
struggling, especially gay ones. This
is a more intimate environment that
still feels large but not uncomfortable.”
Saturday is more traditional—the
über-gay, hands-in-the-air, anthemstomping, big homo party where
you’ll want to take your shirt off.
Upstairs you'll find David Knapp
and Randy Bettis, who rotate regularly as Town's resident DJs, as
well as some other big names like
Manny Lehman, Junior, and Abel.
Downstairs, Wess spins a more
alternative mix.
Bettis would know. His DJ gigs straddle intimate Fire Island house parties
and super-gigs like New York’s Pier
Dance and Black Party. He especially
enjoys being on the roster at Town
because of its wide-ranging crowd,
in terms of age, sexual identity and
gender. He compares it to the old,
much-lamented Tracks for its “eclectic” dance floor.
For Bailey, Town represents the next
generation of clubbing. “This is not
Nation again or, for that matter, any
other club,” he says. “This is a new
day. It was time to say, we're gonna
do this in a different way. Not so
different as to shock everybody, but
different enough to take it away
from the deep, dark, hard house
thing that was going on. It's about
having a fun, happy experience. The
club is not dark and cavernous; it's
happy and bright and colorful and
has a character and a feeling and a
soul.”
“Every time I’m here, I see people
with buttoned-up shirts, Latinos,
blacks and lots of girls,” he says. “It
makes for a fun party.”
Musically, he leans toward an Old
School, happy-happy playlist with
lots and lots of vocals. As the night
progresses, he moves into a more
progressive groove, maybe even
sampling a little hip-hop—but no
pots-and-pans, what he calls “demon
music.”
—Steve Weinstein
—Jeffery Taylor
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Promoter Spotlight:
Local LA Hero Tom Whitman
In LA, is there any night of the
week when Tom Whitman’s name
doesn't figure somewhere into the
schedule? His events run the entire
spectrum of gay-fabulous, but they
all have one thing in common: "I
try to produce events that I want
to go to,” he says. “I want to hang
out with fun, flirty, unpretentious
people. I want to go to an upscale
event and dress up one night, and
get sloppy in a pitcher of margaritas in the afternoon on another
day.”
Tom says his events are geared to
conversation, not attitude. Take
aptly named “Drunk and Horny,”
Tom’s Friday nights at FUBAR.
"Wear something tight," says the
ad. "If you go home alone, you
aren't really trying." Or just turn on
your mojo at "Smack," Thursdays
at O-Bar, the home of the selfproclaimed "world's fastest open
bar." Three times during the night,
drinks are free for a few minutes—
and after some lubrication, the hottie you've been eyeing across the
room becomes soooo much easier
to talk to. In addition to “Saturday
On Sunday” nights, the line snakes
around the block in front of “here”
Lounge for the jock-themed night
“Player,” and in winter months for
“Size,” a surfboards-and-margaritas
celebration of Southern California’s
famed beach culture.
"Before I produced events in the
gay world," says Tom, "I produced
concerts and television, so I love
the production aspects of events."
Yes, Tom has worked in what we
here on the Left Coast call “The
Industry”: He wrote and directed two
animated shorts that have toured the
international film festival circuit. Before
moving to LA, he worked in NYC for five
years as a producer at MTV Networks,
and even now, he frequently returns to
Gotham. So he knows the scene on both
coasts. But Tom says that LA no longer
plays Second City to NYC, although he
acknowledges that LA nightlife is changing.
“It’s transitioned from being centered on
big, Circuit-type events to more spreadout, smaller events in bars and nightclubs,” he says. “The younger crowd
likes to do different things. It’s not just
about staying out until 7 a.m.”
A Hollywood Wonderland
Nowhere is his producing experience
more evident than at Wonderland, a big
Circuit dance event held on the backlot
of Paramount Studios the weekend of
West Hollywood’s Gay Pride. Wandering
around a movie studio is a cheap thrill
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n
for anyone who doesn't work on
one, and Wonderland has quickly
become one of the most anticipated events on the LA. boys' party
schedule each year.
Ferris wheels, fireworks, racks of
speakers with go-go boys on top,
outside dancing…yes, it's all been
done before. But what's fun and
so special about Wonderland is the
fact that it could only happen here
in LA. Sure, we have some great
party spaces here, and world-class
clubs. Leave it to a movie guy,
though, to bring the Circuit to
Hollywood. There's a "road" version of Wonderland, too, a New
Year's Eve event held on the roof of
the Ipanema Plaza Hotel in Rio de
Janeiro. Not quite as "Hollywood,"
but you do get to party in Rio with
all of those drop-dead gorgeous
Brazilian men.
One LA nightlife regular calls
Wonderland “without question,
the best event in LA in years.” This
jaded partygoer, who has earned
his Circuit gold star many times
over, says Wonderland “ranks with
the best events in the world. What
made this particular party memorable, was not only the way it flowed
seamlessly, or the music, or the
lighting, which were all stellar, but
the way he became the heart of the
event, bringing to mind Studio 54
in its heyday, or promoters such as
Suzanne Bartsch, who becomes the
star of her parties.” Tom appeared
at the last Wonderland in a "Mad
Hatter" costume, was hoisted above
the dance floor and welcomed the
crowd with a message about having
fun safely. It was a magical moment,
and the already happening event
took off.
It’s another sign that Tom lives out
his claim that he produces events
that he would enjoy himself. Unlike
some promoters, he can often be
seen out on the dance floor. One
regular LA partygoer describes him
as a “surprisingly great dancer. He’s surrounded by boys at the clubs, and acts
as though he’s one of them,” he adds.
“He’s truly one of the most popular guys
in town—who just happens to be a professional event planner. No wonder one
of his lounge nights is called ‘Popular.’”
A Wanderer at Home
Recently, Tom made a splash with the
“Lucky Devil” burlesque show at hot
Melrose Avenue club Forty Deuce,
billed as the first such all-male burlesque in the country.
Each winter, Tom lures the crowd outside the city and into the great outdoors. Attendance at Elevation Ski
Weekend in Mammoth has been nearly
doubling in size each year, with 2,000 or
so party-hardy skiers and snowboarders
expected this year, making it the thirdlargest gay ski event in the world. This
is high-altitude, no-attitude fun; why is it
that everyone is so much friendlier when
you get them out of the city?
On top of all the fun, Tom also gives
back to the community. He is on the
Board of Directors of AIDS Project Los
Angeles and has produced events for
it along with many other local charities,
including the local HRC chapter, The
Trevor Project, The LA Gay & Lesbian
Center, among others.
Tom probably gets his out-of-the-box
attitude from his wandering childhood.
An Air Force brat, he was born in Hawaii
but spent most of his childhood in
Europe. He first came to California to
attend UCLA, then shuttled between
the two coasts. Wherever he is, the one
thing you can expect is to see Tom in
the middle of the party, having as great
a time as any of his guests.
Visit myspace.com/tomwhitman,
or www.tomwhitmanpresents.com
for dates, times and locales of Tom
Whitman's parties.
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Book Excerpt
Advocate Guide to Gay
Health and Wellness
by Frank Spinelli, MD
Dr. Frank Spinelli is a prominent New York City physician who specializes in HIV.
This work, published by Alyson Books, is the first comprehensive guide for gay
men to staying healthy, feeling great, remaining sexually active, and looking good.
Being harassed as a child, for whatever reason, leads to issues of low self-esteem.
Many gay men develop depression and social anxiety because of the years of
torment they endured as children. It was during adolescence that I became
depressed. I did not want to go to school, and my grades suffered. I would often
try to avoid school by getting sick. I would wash my hair in the sink before going
to bed and sleep with my head on the open windowsill, hoping to catch a cold.
Once my mother walked in on me in the middle of the night and became enraged
by what she found. The next day she went to my school and spoke to my teacher
in order to find out why I was trying to avoid school. My teacher offered her
no insight, even though she knew very well that I was being picked on in class.
Instead, she gave my mother rhetorical advice and suggested that I needed to
study harder. I remembered feeling angry and abandoned. After that, there was
not even a remote chance of ever getting out of going to school.
“Coming out” was my most important life-changing experience. I was in college
when I truly realized I was gay, and I decided to stop dating women completely. By
this time, I had only had sex with men indiscriminately and usually “by accident”
after getting drunk, but I had not dated any man. In medical school, I was almost
completely celibate and concentrated solely on my studies. It was only after I had
graduated from medical school and began my residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital
and Medical School – which, coincidentally, was in the heart of Manhattan’s West
Village – that I began to experiment with the gay community.
In 2000, when I moved into Manhattan, the gay bar scene was a liberating and
enthralling experience for me. I was not “out” at work. Despite the fact that the
hospital was considered to be the epicenter of the AIDS crisis, the surgical program was not tolerant of homosexuals. I remained closeted at work and to my
family, but slowly integrated myself into the gay social scene with the aid of my
cousin Paul, who is seven years my junior and completely and utterly gay. His
attitude toward being gay was devoid of the guilt that plagued me. His ability to
come out to our family at the age of sixteen was inconceivable to me, because
we both grew up in such similar households. The only major difference between
us was our age, so it was this generation gap, I hopefully concluded, that was the
basis for why we had such different views about being gay.
Needless to say, it was not a complete surprise to my family when Paul came out
at sixteen years old. What made me so envious of his coming out was that he did
it with no remorse or any sense of apology. Even as my aunt smacked her head
repeatedly against the living room wall, I could see in Paul’s eyes that he did not
think that he was to blame. He was gay, and that was just the way it was. It would
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take me five more years to get up enough
courage to follow suit.
My plan was to tell my parents on my next
visit back home to Staten Island. It was
customary for them to drive me back to
Manhattan after a visit. On this occasion,
I offered to drive myself. I didn't want the
news to startle my father into an accident.
As we passed over the Verrazano Bridge,
I locked the car doors so that neither parent could escape. As we passed the first
of the two powder-blue towers, I looked
into the rear-view mirror as my old hometown faded away. It was time. Without
pause, I calmly and succinctly revealed
to them that I was gay. There was a long
moment of silence. I could not bear to
look at my parents so I stared at the road
ahead of me. Breathless with anticipation
of their response, I felt a weight had been lifted. For better or for worse, I had
been freed from this guilt, and now it was in their hands and hearts, to make their
own peace with it.
My father was silent, which was not unusual. My mother and I talked calmly, which
was unusual, but all in all we were communicating. Looking back now, I know
that had I not been an adult, they might not have accepted my - “coming out”
- as easily as they did. That is not to say that they were happy. They were very
concerned and somewhat disappointed, but that was understandable. What did
these two Italian immigrants know about gays, other than the negative images
that had been reinforced by the media and their church? To my parents, being
My second adolescence was filled with the traditional rites of passage:
parties, drinking, and sex.
gay meant getting AIDS and burning in hell. I was their only son. I was supposed
to get married and have their grandchildren. How could I blame them for being
so disappointed? The remorse over not living up to my parents‘ expectations was
something I had to struggle with for years.
I was introduced to the gay party scene after I moved to Manhattan in my early
twenties. Initially, I went to gay bars just to be around other gay men. Eventually
I made friends and realized that there was a whole new set of governing rules by
which I had to learn to conduct myself. It was just like high school, all over again.
Coming out had pushed me into some kind of gay puberty, and I found myself
living through “gay adolescence.”
This second adolescence was filled with the traditional rites of passage: parties,
drinking, and sex. Suddenly, I was body conscious and had to join a gym. I wore
tight T-shirts to show off my new muscles and took my shirt off, without hesitation,
whenever we went dancing at clubs. I drank in crowded bars pressed up against
other men and then danced alongside them in clubs until dawn. Along with the
all excessiveness of the gay party scene came the realization that my subculture
knew no class division. The wealthy partied right alongside the poor, and as long
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as you were young and beautiful, life was fabulous. I felt such a strong desire to
be part of this world, however after I came out, it was clear to me how foolish a
notion this was. When I realized this, it marked the first time in my life that I had
taken up my own personal authority. I was no longer my parents‘ son or what they
wanted me to be. I was my own person. I was gay.
My private practice is located in Chelsea, which is an area of Manhattan that has a
high concentration of gay men. I am openly gay, and although my patients know
this, there is still a certain degree of shyness when I try to get them to discuss their
sexual history. Obviously, not everyone is comfortable with talking about sex, but
I feel that a man’s sexual history is just as an important part of a patient’s history
as any other. I try my best to approach the matter as someone who is non-judgmental. My feeling is that I would rather know the truth so that I am better able to
serve my patients. The majority of my patients appreciate this approach, although
it takes a period of adjustment. A certain level of trust has to be established.
For example, I had a patient named John who was fifty years old. On his initial
visit, I asked if he was sexually active. He confirmed that he was. I followed up
this question with, do you engage in sexual activity with women or men? I feel it
is more appropriate not to label patients as gay or straight. Labeling patients can
be perceived as judging them. John was hesitant to answer, although he eventually did confirm that he engaged in sexual activity with men. I sensed his timidity
and concluded his sexual history by making sure he practiced safe sex by using
condoms.
On John’s follow-up visit two weeks later, he appeared guarded. As we sat down
to discuss his labs, he interrupted me by saying he had something urgent to discuss. John informed me that he was very angry when I asked him about his sexual
history. His sexual practices were a private matter, he said, and he did not want
this information in his chart. I reassured John that under New York State law, his
chart was confidential and any information in it could not be divulged without his
written consent. John seemed more at ease after our discussion, but I later found
myself thinking that, clearly, John was not comfortable with his sexuality, and harbored a certain amount of internalized homophobia.
Internalized homophobia is a source of conflict that can translate into shame for
many gay men: shame about loving the same sex and shame over wanting sexual
pleasures that are regarded as unnatural. Shame is one of the reasons why gay
men find it difficult to talk about sex. It is so important that all gay men understand the fundamental facts about gay sex because, by and large, many of the
daily problems for which I treat gay men are predicated upon the fact that they
are ignorant about sexual issues. This is completely understandable because gay
men do not learn about the birds and the bees from their fathers – they learn on
their own, talking with their gay friends, or from watching porno.
All gay men should be empowered with enough knowledge about their health,
sexuality, and lifestyle in order to enable them to make informed decisions about
their own well being. Gay health encompasses following a plan that will allow you
to live your life to the fullest without the constraints of homophobia. Since the
average life expectancy for all men has increased, contemporary gay men need to
educate themselves in order to maintain the same healthy lifestyle that they had in
their twenties and to disprove the tired myth that life ends at forty. There is a journey to be traveled and lived with as much vitality to last well into your seventies,
eighties, and beyond.
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the queen's english
a glossary for the gay wannabe
It has become increasingly acceptable for straight people to sound
and act gay. Metrosexuals, priests,
and anyone British all seem to be
sending confusing signals that can
jam even the best Gaydar.
Most of us have straight friends
who, given the right context, can
play gay with the best of us. I’m
not talking about the frat boy who
discovers his secret yearning for
bratwurst after one too many beer
bongs. I mean those folks who know
us and love us (and maybe wish
they were us), except that they have
the right plumbing, but the pipes
run the other way.
by Mickey Weems
to say that in many a black, white, or
rainbow-tinted gay man there is a black
woman struggling to get out.
The following glossary deals with terms
that normally mean one thing but can
mean something very different in the
Queen’s English.
HEART
The mark of a true pretty-in-pink fag
is anyone who uses "heart" as a verb,
as in "I heart my new boyfriend!" This
term is g-g-g-gay. (Originally from the “I
Love NY” campaign with a heart for the
“love” word.)
So as a public service, noiZe gives
stag hags and other hangers-on a
guide to fitting in while hanging at
the local gay bar. Some words are
no longer ours alone: e.g., "fuck
buddy" (a friend with benefits);
"fisting" (a hand’s dark journey into
the Tunnel of Love); and "vanilla"
(sexually unadventurous). I can’t tell
you how many times I’ve heard a
straight guy say, “I’ll have your ass
in a sling.” They picked that one up
from us years ago.
PACKAGE
Everybody is using the word
"queen" these days, as in "drama
queen,” “size queen,” "label
queen,” "muscle queen,” and
"drag queen." Much of the language, in fact, comes to us by way
of African-Americans, who in turn
picked it up from the vogue balls
or at their mother’s beauty salon.
It is tempting and perhaps truthful
HONEY
A container of a nice surprise when it’s
been wrapped in gift paper. Big things
come in small packages, but sometimes,
the object inside is tragically much smaller. Synonymous with “basket,” and in
some circles, “lunchbox.”
TRAGIC
Think train wreck, like Britney Spears at a
custody hearing.
This word, often abbreviated as "hon,"
is a term of endearment for waitresses.
But when we say it, it can mean "bitch."
MISS THING
See “Honey.” Often abbreviated as
"Missy” (refer to Mommie Dearest)
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BITCHES
May be a perverse term of endearment. When used in second person
plural ("I heart you bitches"), it is
definitely affectionate.
CUNTY
Superbitchalicious. “Cunty” can
refer to a song, a fierce queen, or a
strong drink.
FIERCE
When used in conjunction with
"bitch," it is always fabulous: "That
bitch is fierce."
LATE
Since queers ignore the tyranny of
the clock, calling us “late” in the
usual sense of the word is somewhat redundant. But our real homo
phobia is to be out of fashion, a
step behind the times. Hence the
following: “That faux-hawk she’s
sporting is late!” Almost as bad as
“busy.”
SHADE
Not a cool place away from the
burning heat of the sun, but something to throw at people you don’t
like — pure spiteful negativity. May
also be used as an adjective, such
as "shady queen."
BETTY FORD
Anyone in rehab or any rehab center. The gay version of a country
club.
CRACK WHORE
Synonymous with "cracker." As a
verb: "We cracked on at a fierce
after-hours." (translation: “We were
waaaay too tweaked to go to bed.”)
FALLING OUT
Not feuding with somebody, but anyone who can’t handle a downer drug.
People who fall out are definitely tragic.
"That tragic bitch grabbed John’s package at Skye’s birthday party and then
fell out. Miss Thang’s next stop is Betty
Ford."
TWEAK
Definitely does not mean to fix something for maximum efficiency—well,
maybe the same thing, if by “efficiency”
you mean, “can’t sleep, eat, or shut
up.”
KIKI
To chat and cut up with your friends.
Can also mean “disaster,” as in,
“Girlfriend got up to lip-sync ‘I Will
Survive’ in six-inch stilettos, tripped over
a go-go boy and fell flat on her face!
Total kiki.”
CHILDREN
Fierce bitches serving drama on the
dance floor.
PROSPEROUS
“You’re looking rather prosperous,
hon!” really means “Bitch, you better
get to Betty Ford or start tweaking, ‘cuz
your fat ass needs its own zip code!”
FESTIVE
One’s appearance/interior design/car/
haircut is terminally tragic. Or not.
Mickey Weems, who got a PhD studying
the Circuit (honest!) can often be seen
on the dance floor taking notes for his
forthcoming dictionary of gay folklore.
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“I'm gonna have a sex
change at 50, so I don't
have to worry about being
an old troll.”
“Well, with those abs it's
obvious he's never had
children."
"What planet are you on?"
"Uranus, I hope."
"He's a straight DJ,
but he plays gay."
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"What time is it?"
"Why, you got an
appointment?"
"Soda pop?!? How can
you put that poison in
your body?...Here, you
want another bump?"
"Can you believe we're
still dancing at 10 o'clock
Monday morning?"
"Sweetie...it's Tuesday."
“You’re breaking up with me?”
“Yes, but it’s not you, it’s me.”
“All my friends said you were
the one who was fucked up.
Thank you for realizing it and
letting me move on to something better.”
Submit your own “overheards” to us at editor@noiZemag.com
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MUSIC REVIEWS
by Jamie Nicholes
WARM UP
Jason Walker Flexible
Flexible is right. The delicate white boy with Aretha’s power releases
his sophomore full-length and stretches in some funky new directions. In contrast to his initial release, which was a fierce but homogenous sample of sexy 1 a.m. Circuit anthems, Flexible is a more
mellow, eclectic drama club of ten unique atmospheres that explore
myriad ways to say something musically while getting a butt or two
on the dance floor.
X-Press 2 Makeshift Feelgood
Not that they needed the company, but it seems the experimental
approach of Basement Jaxx suddenly has some. On their sophomore album, X-Press 2 takes the aggressive beats of their debut,
puts ‘em through a food processor, adds whatever it finds in the
dumpster out back, and creates a danceable chunkiness that references way too many influences to list here. Singles from the first
album were all vocalist collaborations, so it’s no surprise that this
time around every track includes some words, and the format is
more pop-centric than the other’s club orientation. The disc’s initial
single, “Give It,” which was originally release over two years ago,
has been re-released with additional mixes by Friscia & Lamboy.
HANDS UP
Abel Alegria Universo
Ever since releasing the first in this three-part series, Abel has
expanded the audience of tribal house exponentially with his
hooky, vocal presentation of the genre and a meticulous selection
of truly intoxicating tracks and remixes. Take his trademark blend
of anthemic beats and tribal percussion on Disc 1. Add tribal house
interpretations of dance artists like Tamia, Jeanie Tracy, Karen Young
and Bob Sinclar. And bake to keep the listener forever wondering
where Abel will take them next. As a counterpoint, Disc 2 is composed of “Morning Music,” a lighter, more vocal companion to
the heavy, complicated rhythm that dominates the night. To match
the blown-out blue-and-yellow light of the hour, artists like Ultra
Naté, Southside Hustlers, Tamara Wallace, Karen Young and Frankie
Knuckles form a continually brightening mood that ends with the
sax and strings of the Freemasons’ “Pacific,” extending the Alegria
into the day ahead.
Peter Rauhofer I Love Montreal
Continuing the I Love… series, Peter ventures this time to Michael
Moore country and nestles in amongst the moose and free health
care et voila! The mixmaster’s interpretation of Montreal’s unique vie
en rose. Joining the usual cast of Star 69 artists and producers are
Dangerous Muse, Dave Audé feat. Jessica Sutta, Kaskade, Axwell,
Nelly Furtado and Noir’s re-rub of the classic jingle “My MTV.”
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STAY UP
Paul Oakenfold Greatest Hits & Remixes
Oakie’s career has included underground raves, hyper-publicized
stadium massives, ultra-trendy urban hotspots and sold-out nightclub world tours. His body of work, both as an artist and a producer,
has spanned nearly as many years as his name has syllables, and
earned him the Guinness World Record title of “Most Successful
DJ in the World.” This compilation attempts to frame that body of
achievement. That intention may seem impossible to accomplish
with shiny plastic and binary code, but the enormous diversity of
the tracks included serves to outline his vast musical ingenuity. That
in mind, it should come as no surprise that the album is available in
one-, two- and three- disc versions, all of which contain multiple new
2008 Oakenfold mixes of selected favorites.
Tiesto In Search Of Sunrise 6
Few series have ever made it to a sixth volume with the same eager
anticipation and continuous critical acclaim like Tiesto’s In Search
Of Sunrise. With every release, Tiesto carefully cross-sections the
ever-morphing genres of trance and progressive house. The worldclass DJ calls attention to the newest roster of artists and producers
that are defining and challenging the hallmarks and standards of
ambient dance music. Here the flying Dutchman presents cultural
shifts like the blend of electro and trance, and African tribal percussion atop rounded beats. He also underlines vocalists like Jes, Julia
Thompson, Anita Kelsey and Jennifer Rene. And this is the only
place you’re gonna find Tiesto’s own ISOS remix of the indie hit
“Hide & Seek” by Imogen Heap.
LEGS UP
Sia Some People Have Real Problems
Sia is a vocalist and songwriter of inimitable integrity and individuality. She is also one of the few people in the world who immediately
renders me a girl of thirteen face-to-face with her ultimate idol—I
ran into her at a tanning salon in LA and acted like a teeny-bopper
backstage at a Justin Timberlake concert. Until recently, Sia was
the voice of Zero 7’s biggest singles. Then overnight she achieved
her American breakthrough as the artist responsible for the musical
capstone of the Six Feet Under series when her song “Breathe Me”
closed out the finale. On her third solo album, Sia combines the jarring lyrical intimacy of her debut Healing Is Difficult with the whispersoft instrumentation of her second album, “Colour The Small One”,
and creates pop-friendly chill-out with her brazen voice and a lush,
layered acoustic sound.
Summer of Space Summer of Space
Haley Gibby, the voice of Summer of Space, seems to be an artist
with a true intention and an indomitable will. When she was recognized by Warner Bros. and offered a contract, she declined, deciding instead to continue pursuing her musicality without Big Brother
steering the wheel. In 2001, she met producer Finn Bjarnson and
explored the musical course she chose instead of commercial success. Later, along with Ryan Raddon (Kaskade), a group was formed,
and following the success of their initial single an album was completed and the result is nothing short of aural bliss. Haley’s vaporous
voice atop emotion-sodden instrumentation plays like a gorgeous
footnote to life–quiet, saturated commentaries floating like fog over
hills, commanding your attention in the most delicate way possible.
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by Jamie Nicholes
FEATURED
end, OK, it’s just another radio single
with some risks taken to create a stir.
And that VMA performance couldn’t
have worked better if it were planned,
as the album sales soared on a hurricane
of sympathy (that, or schadenfreude).
Britney Spears
Gimme More (Remixes)
All the media coverage and custody battles aside, “Gimme More”
is one of her catchiest songs ever.
I give her props for trying out a
more urban sound courtesy of
Timbaland’s production team.
If anything, this move makes her
even more of a Madonna acolyte
in her willingness to adapt to contemporary trends—and to pull it
off. The remix A&R efforts backing
this release were legendary; buying
island property in Dubai would be
cheaper than what the label spent
to ensure this song’s good reception and multi-genre appeal. While
it does not contain all, this German
release includes mixes by Kaskade,
Junkie XL and StoneBridge. In the
Leona Lewis
Bleeding Love (Remixes)
Just when it seems we've run out of
metaphors for heartbreak, X Factor
contestant Leona Lewis comes up with
another in her debut single "Bleeding
Love,” a danceable torch-song-turned
disco-flavored peak-hour anthem courtesy of production team du jour Moto
Blanco. The operative line "You cut me
open and I keep bleeding, keep keep
bleeding love" will burn itself into your
brain like your future ex-boyfriend’s
Dear John email and gives you the perfect way to revel in the beautiful agony
of love lost.
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Cascada
What Hurts The Most
Absolutely the gooiest guilty
pleasure since the Macarena,
Cascadas's Euro NRG cover of
country superstar Rascal Flatts'
beautifully written epiphany of
misunderstood love has had me
blaring it in the car with the windows rolled up tight for weeks. On
paper, country music and Cascada
should cohabitate about as well as
Margaret Cho and the Republican
Party, but somehow they form this
hideously delicious monstrosity that
has me hitting “Repeat 1” while
furiously scrubbing the shame off
the finger that just did it.
Danielle Bollinger
Surrender Me
One of the many original anthems
created for Tony Moran's The Event
compilation that have slowly been
trickling out as individual releases
since last summer, "Surrender Me"
is the best thing Danielle's done
since her initial single "When The
Broken Hearted Love Again." Her
granite voice aptly fires commanding lines like "Give back the world
I gave to you... I'll be the one to
surrender me," and when mixed
Moran & Riggs' trademark showstopping production, the result
delivers multiple waves of goosebumps.
Billie Ray Martin
Undisco Me
Billie's been a milestone and innovator
in the world of dance music for nearly
20 years now and remains one of the
few artists who can take a multi-year
hiatus from its relentlessly paced, fickle
consciousness and pull off a return that
challenges the genres current royalty.
"Undisco Me" is a clever cry for help
concerning the stagnation in electronic
music and proclamation of the Messiah
that took her up and undisco’ed her.
The original mix sounds like early Pet
Shop Boys meets Giorgio Moroder, and
is accompanied by multiple mixes from
a pack of underground disciples.
Alucard & Solarstone
Late Summer Fields
“Late Summer Fields” begins with the
intoxicating line "Let's spend the day
in bed, encase me with your armor,"
words that instantly touch anyone who’s
been deep in love. Together Alucard &
Solarstone (who also did his own vocals
on this one) have created one of those
tracks that demonstrates just how beautiful and emotion-soaked vocal trance
can be. Listening to this unrestrained
confession of the cataclysmic emotions
that flood in with love and lust, all you
can do is let your defenses and reservations come crashing down. Anyone with
a big heart will eat this up.
Read even more of the latest Zingles
reviews on www.noiZemag.com!
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Winter
Photo Album
Over 1,400,000 Photos Viewed!
@ noiZemag.com
Photo: The Week
Event: Pride!
Location: Rio, Brazil
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m
Check out noiZe's Online Photo Gallery
www.noiZemag.com
Send any photo as a FREE postcard to your friends.
57
2/5/08 1:26:08 PM
Rio Pride
58
2/5/08 1:26:14 PM
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2/5/08 1:26:19 PM
60
2/3/08 10:22:42 PM
RAPIDO
Amsterdam
Photos: Eva Stassart @ mademoisellecollector.com
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2/3/08 10:22:51 PM
Muscle Beach
@ White Party
Miami
Photos: GreatPartyPics.com
100's More
White Party Vizcaya Photos
@ noiZemag.com
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2/5/08 5:09:16 PM
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2/5/08 5:09:20 PM
Industry
MLK Weekend
San Francisco
Photographer: Joe Pessa
Fresh
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Sweat
Sanctuary
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2/3/08 10:23:15 PM
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T
SPRING FORECAST 2008
www.partyfinder.com
February 24-March 3, 2008
Sydney, Australia
SYDNEY MARDI GRAS
This month-long national festival ends in a huge blowout—party after party of
incredible settings in beautiful summer sunshine and outstanding venues. Among
the countless things to do are three major dance events: Sol y Luna in the Royal
Botanic Gardens overlooking Sydney Harbour, Homesexual in Home Nightclub
on Darling Harbour and the Mardi Gras Party at the Royal Hall of Industries.
In restoring a Sydney icon to its former glory, Mardi Gras announces Sol y Luna
for Harbour 2008 on February 24. Picture dancing throughout the afternoon in
the lush surrounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens and watching the sun set over
a sparkling Sydney Harbour. Then as darkness falls, raising your hands to the
moon, surrounded by 5,000 of your Sydney friends and some of the world’s most
beautiful people.
If you think you’ve seen it all before, think again. This year’s Mardi Gras Party
(March 1) is going to be big and bold! A line-up of international and Aussie DJs
and out-of-this-world shows and entertainment will see you through the night well
into the next afternoon. But you can’t rest now. The next week, Homesexual, Oz’s
largest regular mega-party’s superheroes theme—is set in Sydney’s spectacular
harbor, with four dance floors, outdoor areas, awesome production and big
shows. Where else can you party with 20,000 mates?
Info: www.mardigras.org.au
February 27-March 3, 2008
Miami, Florida
WINTER PARTY
Coming at the end of the long winter’s chill, an early March party in this tropical
paradise means goodbye to snow, slush and subzero temperatures and hello to
South Beach bikinis, muscles and models. This outdoor beachfront extravaganza
brings out the best DJs, entertainers and attendees from all points on the
compass.
Launched in 1994 as a one-time charity dance overlooking the Atlantic Ocean,
an entire Winter Party Festival has evolved to become a six-day arts festival,
club dance, and swanky cocktail marathon, all benefiting gay groups locally and
The Task Force, the national advocacy organization. Over 10,000 guests from all
over the United States and abroad attend at least one of the 20 events, including
music, fashion, art, comedy and more—all taking on the Miami mainland or on
that fabled strip of land, Miami Beach.
The Festival climaxes with the Winter Party Beach Party, an all-day event right on
the sands of South Beach that draws more than 5,500 revelers. No matter where
your interests lie, the Festival offers something for you. Winter Party Festival—it's
much more than a day at the beach.
Info: www.winterparty.com
For recent changes or updates to this schedule, please visit us online at:
www.partyfinder.com
Search 100’s of events by city, state, date or DJ.
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www.partyfinder.com
CELEBRITY CARIBBEAN CRUISE
CELEBRITY MILLENIUM
March 2-9, 2008
Fort Lauderdale - Key West Turks and Caicos-Labadee
Let Atlantis pamper you next winter aboard the top-rated Celebrity Millennium
from Ft. Lauderdale to four magical Caribbean islands. Discover a new side of
the Caribbean as the new version of the Love Boat (wait until dark!) sails from
gay-friendly Ft. Lauderdale to four exotic islands. Spend a full day exploring
Key West’s rich history and ultra-gayola Duvall Street with an overnight stay
to experience their diverse gay nightlife. (Did someone say “drag queen”?)
Snorkel or go scuba diving at some of the best sites in the world, or just relax on
the white sand beaches of the Turks & Caicos Islands. Or take that new special
someone and find your own undiscovered beach around unspoiled Samana and
then pretend you’re Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity.
Enjoy the pleasures of having your own private island at Labadee, where every
queen is a king.
Info: www.atlantisevents.com
THE LORDS OF THE DRUMS
March 8, 2008
Los Angeles, California
Calling all Hobbits! “One Beat to rule them all, One Beat to find them, One
Beat to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.” You take Frodo; I want
me some Legolas, baby. Evenstarpresents is having a Tolkien-esque fantasy with
its “Sword-and-Studs” party, featuring five DJs in two rooms for 12 hours at the
Factory/Ultra Suede in WeHo. Enjoy the Middle Earth décor courtesy of RKM and
plenty of fine performances throughout the evening.
Info: www.evenstarpresents.com
March 12-16, 2008
Mammoth Lakes, California
ELEVATION 2008
Tom Whitman continues one of the West Coast’s most unique events. Elevation
brings together people from across the country and from around the world.
More than 2,000 people show up for a week of events that celebrate diversity,
fun, and the best spring skiing and snowboarding in North America. Seven major
parties and altitude without the attitude. Now the third-largest gay ski week in
the country, it features giant après-ski events and spectacular nighttime parties.
World-class DJs spin so be sure not to break a leg on the slopes.
One highlight is the “Party @ 10,000 Feet,” where you ride a dark gondola up
the mountain to the highest party above sea level on the continent. You’ll have
to really work to catch up with this peak, overlooking the majestic Sierra Nevadas
under a stunning starscape. New to the mountain is the new Westin Monache,
which adds to the luxury accommodations. You haven’t lived until you’ve been in
a hot tub surrounded by snow—and a few well-chosen new friends.
Info: www.mammothgayski.com | www.tomwhitmanpresents.com
www.circuiticket.com
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March 15, 2008
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
RAPIDO FRESH
The Netherlands has always been known as being sexually and socially
progressive, from same-sex marriage to “coffee bars” (hash, cannabis, and,
yes, coffee) and in-your-face legalized prostitution. But there is so much more
to Amsterdam than dikes, dykes, fine art, fetishes and hashish. The city also
boasts one of the best dance scenes on the Continent. With international DJs
on three dance floors, This is the hottest event in Amsterdam—which is really
saying something. So go to Holland and prepare to be dazzled. Wooden shoes
definitely not necessary.
Info: www.clubrapido.com
March 20-23, 2008
Houston, Texas
JUNGLE 16
They say that everything’s bigger in Texas—and you’d better believe it.
Wondering what to do this Easter? Do an act of charity, compassion, and have
loads of dance-floor fun surrounded by cuties. Head on down to the Gulf for a
massive party fundraiser, featuring your fave DJs and a brand-new venue. The
fine people who throw this party have been doing it for 16 years, so expect
state-of-the-art sound and lights, friendly staff, Western hotties, and great crowd
energy for a party that has raised the better part of a million dollars for HIV/AIDS
organizations. Put on the 10-gallon hat, click on the spurs, and say “Howdy!”
Info: www.junglehouston.com
March 20-24, 2008
Montreal, Canada
BAL EN BLANC
That’s “white party” to you, Anglo, but in any language, this six-day festival
will bring a new hop to the Easter Bunny. Montreal is famous for being a
peaceable kingdom where all kinds of people come together, regardless of
sexual orientation. They do, however, have one thing in common: They’re hot.
Bal en Blanc brings over 15,000 people into a series of events, about 20% of
them will be gay (and the rest trés gay friendly). That means there will be 3,000 of
us and about 6,000 gorgeous Quebeçois to hit on! Our tribe is easy to find; just
look for the massive shirtless pack on the floor playing grinding House music. Or
as some of the boys are prone to do, you can go watch the hetero hotties. From
my own personal experiences in Montreal, a mixed Quebeçois crowd is a really
fun, flirty, and sexy group!
Info: www.balenblanc.com
www.partyfinder.com
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INTERNATIONAL
ESCORT AWARDS
March 22, 2008
Hosted by the "Gay Pimp" Jonny McGovern (you know him from Logo’s Gay
Sketch Comedy Show or maybe just from a backroom encounter), this underworld
answer to the Miss Teen USA Pageant promises to give you your money’s worth,
both during the show and whomever you choose to give a private award to
later in your hotel room. You saw the finalists in Las Vegas at Hustlaball. Now is
your chance to check out the winners. And yes, they take Visa or MasterCard.
Everyone from “The Industry” will be here, ready to check out the new talent
that shows up in droves, giving new meaning to the term “cattle call.” Aa-wooo!
By the way, if you're up for pushing your wares, you can get one month free on
rentboy.com. Use promo code: NOIZE08. And call me “Sir”!
Info: www.rentboy.com/awards
MR. LOS ANGELES
LEATHER X-POSED
March 23-30, 2008
Put on your cock ring and second skin—spring is in the air. The birds are
singing, flowers are blooming, and it’s time to break out the chaps, tit-clamps,
and harnesses for the annual fun frolic of one of the nation’s premier leather
competitions. The fun surrounding the central pageant includes the “Kinky Film
Fest” on March 26, “Hell on Wheels” leather roller skating on the 27th, the
contest and show on the 29th, and a street festival on the 30th.
Info: www.mrlaleather.com
WINTER MUSIC
CONFERENCE
March 25-29, 2008
Miami Beach, Florida
The largest industry electronic music festival in the world, WMC has grown into
a music-industry behemoth in which executives mix with hoi polloi, everyone
keeping one eye and two ears keyed to the Next Big Thing. When 50,000 people
from all over the world converge for a week-long extravaganza of workshops
and to witness the latest innovations in sound and lights, you can expect
some incredible parties. And, thanks to Miami’s big boxes, you get ‘em. Clubs
throughout SoBe and Miami pull out the stops to impress in-the-know visitors
by presenting every kind of electronic music imaginable with marquee names
spinning. Hundreds of cutting-edge, internationally renowned DJs will be among
the crowds, and keep an eye peeled for the offbeat venues where up-and-comers
try to woo a label deal.
Info: www.wmcon.com | www.wintermusicconference.com
BLACK PARTY RITES XXIX
March 29, 2008
New York, New York
This is it. The Big Kahuna. The Mother Ship. You’ve heard the rumors. The
legends. The one about the adult castration onstage. The “accident” last year
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on the dance floor. The FTM sex show. The hot-wax fisting scene. This isn’t one
of the most intense experiences you’ll ever have on a dance floor. It’s the most
intense experience you’ll ever have in your entire life. Held at the venerable
Roseland Ballroom—the biggest dance floor in all of Gotham—you’ll be dazzled,
astounded and turned on by the sight of several thousand of the hottest men
you never thought existed celebrating the many moods of leather in all its guises,
from leather pants to jocks to … socks and boots. Once you go upstairs and
adjust your eyes to the transfixing light show emanating from the domed dance
floor, you’ll feast on the thousands of fellow revelers, some doing things you
won’t be telling the folks back home, and some doing things you won’t be telling
anyone back home. But most people are dancing—this is, above all and before
everything, a dance party that traces itself back to 1979 and the old Saint, the
most fabulous and famous gay dance club of all time. Held every year around
the Vernal Equinox, this hearkens even further back to Druid rituals whereby men
donned animal skins and danced all night to ensure a good planting season.
Even if you’re not doing any farming, you may end up planting plenty of seed at
a party that stretches from early evening well into the next afternoon.
Info: www.saintatlarge.com
March 30, 2008
New York, New York
ALEGRIA EXTREME 8
OK, you’ve just had the raunchiest time of your life dancing your ass off at the
Black Party. Hard to top that, huh? Well, just in case you’re not completely
satisfied, or whether the night before only whetted your appetite for some
serious dancing (you machine, you!), head over to the revamped megaclub that
serves as the space where party impresario Ric Sena tops even his own high
standards with his sexiest party of the year. The aptly named Alegria “Xtreme”
is a sexy night-into-afternoon dance event that will take everything to the next
level—you included. Expect wall-to-wall musclemen, even hotter bodybuilders in
spectacular shows that will leave you panting, and breathtaking décor.
Info: www.alegriaevents.com
April 18-20, 2008
Dallas, Texas
PURPLE PARTY
Purple Party has a great reputation as a festival of dance, spectacle, community,
and togetherness. If you’ve ever run into the Dallas party posse, you know
that these boys and girls are Fabulous with a capital F. Any event that they are
sponsoring is well worth attending. And it’s always more fun to get crazy with a
good conscience: the beneficiary will be AIDS Services of Dallas. This year, the
party will be held at the new House of Blues. So as not to conflict with Fiesta in
San Antonio, Purple Party also has a new date. That’s how they do it in the Lone
Star State—friendly like.
Info: www.dallaspurpleparty.org | www.myspace.com/dallaspurpleparty
Visit noiZemag.com and read the Benefit Spotlight article online.
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April 19, 2008
Birmingham, Alabama
RITES OF SPRING
Deep in the Heart of Dixie there beats a tribal drum that lures you down South
and will have you stomping yo’ feet. For the past 14 years, this party has
benefited local AIDS service organizations. This year, it will be held at Sloss
Furnace, an old steel mill that will be swarming with men from all over the Old
Confederacy and not a few visiting Yankees. With its many nooks and crannies,
the Furnace is a great space for dancing and engaging in chance encounters.
As usual, there will be an open bar at the main event, complete with friendly
bartenders and sexy visuals. This year, superstar DJ Tony Moran will whip the
boyz and grrrlz into a frenzy amongst the steel and heat.
Info: www.myspace.com/rightsofspringbham
WHITE PARTY
SPRING BREAK
April 18-21, 2008
Palm Springs, California
The most fabled party on the Circuit calendar has made a big change in 2008.
Palm Springs’ most famous annual event will no longer be tied to Easter
Weekend, thus giving you no excuse not to sit and eat your mother’s ham this
year. 2008 marks the 18th anniversary of White Party Palm Springs. What we do
know is that super-impresario Jeffrey Sanker, who has masterminded it since the
beginning, is re-imagining the White Party as a “spring break” for young and
older alike. This also means a shift in emphasis from late-late-night events to
daylight ones. Don’t miss the ultimate all-out high-energy, head-spinning, sweatdripping, power-surging, purely uncensored extreme outdoor dance party. Get
a bird’s-eye view of all the action from the White Party Ferris wheel—one of the
traditions that will continue. Take in special live performances on the massive
center stage. Going from daylight to nightfall, the mega-party wraps it all up
with the ultimate Xtreme fireworks display. Don’t worry: There’s still plenty to do
around the pool and on the dance floor, too much to list here.
2008 will also see the comeback of the underwear party. Boxers or briefs? The
choice is yours at this all-new event that dares to let it all hang out. It’s an
evening of skin and sin, so strip down for the fun. Secure clothes check available.
The world-famous pool parties are also in effect at a reasonable price. To bring
the generations together, White Party 2008 will have the theme, “Thirty Years of
Dance Music.” Take a step through time as the Palm Springs Convention Center
is transformed into a vision of Studio 54, featuring the largest disco ball you’ve
ever seen. Expect the same sterling quality of shows, design, and music that has
been the hallmark of this signature event.
Info: www.jeffreysanker.com
April 18-20, 2008
Washington, DC
CHERRY
Cherry has been making waves since it started in 1996, and its sexiness even
became a topic for Congressional debate, entered into the Congressional Record
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no less. In the spirit of rebirth and renewal, Cherry is going back to its roots in the
cherry blossom season. See DC at its most beautiful, and enjoy a town whose
nightlife is making a major comeback, with new clubs, producers, boys, and
energy added to the faithful pioneers who started the cherry rolling. Cherry is a
product of its volunteers, its DJs, and participants. Cherry Weekend includes both
men’s and women’s events. So come on down to DC and dance the weekend
away to the hottest DJs while supporting an important cause.
Info: www.cherryweekend.org
QUEEN'S DAY FESTIVAL
April 29 - May 4, 2008
It’s not what you think. Koninginnedag (aka Queen’s Day) is Holland’s most
popular national holiday. Amsterdam is quite famously a party town even on the
quietest of off-weekends, so imagine what it’s like when the entire country dons
orange (as in House of Orange) and observes the birthday of the Netherlands’
beloved Queen Mum who ruled from 1948 to 1980. Not surprisingly, a holiday
fit for a Queen has been enthusiastically embraced by the gay community
in much the same way the welcoming country has embraced us. It’s just one
big ol’ hugfest. Seriously though, Amsterdam is known for tolerance and
acceptance and the gay community is so socially integrated here that it’s difficult
to distinguish a gay/lesbian “style” or “scene” (but we keep tryin’). An impressive
array of gay parties and events accompanies the general mayhem in the streets.
After Queensday, the party still goes on through Sunday, May 4. The Queensday
Leatherpride Special sees its highlight on Saturday, with “Playgrounds,” an
international leather and fetish party. Reflexxx, the happy powerhouse event on
Friday May 2nd, in Escape will be the showcase of fine dance music and men,
men, ,men. “Rapido” on Sunday, May 4, as the Dutch Memorial Day will once
again turn into a boy’s heavenly paradise from 3 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Info: www.queensdayamsterdam.eu | www.clubrapido.com
BLUE BALL
ILLUMINATE (MEN), EMERGE (WOMEN)
April 30 - May 4, 2008
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the birthplace of so many good things—American democracy,
cheesesteaks, the US Marine Corps, and Blue Ball. In conjunction with Equality
Forum’s week-long human rights forum, which includes a street festival, film
festival, live entertainment, and workshops, Blue Ball is the weekend festival that
gives the 50,000-plus attendees something to celebrate. Blue Ball also proves
a party weekend doesn’t have to be only about the boys. Besides having great
venues and DJs for the guys (and the girls who love us), there are also events
for women that are growing in popularity. For the boys and their allies, there is
“Evolution” on May 1, “Illuminate” (main event) on Saturday, and “Release” on
Sunday. For women and their admirers, there is “Black and White” on May 2 and
“Women’s Closing Party” on Sunday.
Info: www.blueballphilly.com | www.emergephilly.com
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May 15-19, 2008
Montreal, Canada
HOT AND DRY
All by itself, May is a romantic month. Think of how much more romantic a
special weekend in May would be if the boys around you were speaking French
and looked as though they just stepped out of Men’s Fitness. Now open your
eyes. You’re in Montreal. In 1991, a group of bons amis decided they wanted to
create a big party that would raise money for a good cause. Since then, the Bad
Boys Club Montreal has created five parties, including “Hot and Dry” for Victoria
Day Weekend in May. “Hot and Dry” is the second-biggest party on the BBCM
calendar after Black and Blue. Those of us who have been to a BBCM event know
that they are consistently good, and that Montreal is a great city for partying.
May is mating season in Quebec when warm weather revisits the land, so get
there while the Montreal men are ready to wrangle.
Info: www.bbcm.org
INTERNATIONAL MR.
LEATHER IML XXX
May 22-26, 2008
Chicago, Illinois
The world's hottest leathermen will come together to compete for the title of
International Mr. Leather 2008, as IML celebrates its 30th anniversary. Over 400
leathermen gathered in Chicago in 1979 for the first International Mr. Leather
contest. Today, the event has grown to be an annual tradition for thousands in
the leather community, drawing contestants and attendees from around the
globe. Once an event for hardcore leathermen, IML has expanded in recent years
to include a more diverse crowd - from the experienced to the curious. And, oh
yeah, there’s now a whole weekend of dance parties surrounding the contest.
Visit the exhibit halls and contest between parties. The notorious IML Victory
Celebration is the highlight.
Info: www.imrl.com
MEMORIAL DAY PENSACOLA
May 23-25, 2008
Pensacola, Florida
Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer, and what better place to be than
the beach? Especially on a beach as pristine as the one in Pensacola that comes
equipped with a great club like Emerald City. Sand as white as sugar, blue-green
ocean, and Gulf Coast hospitality are the hallmarks of Memorial Day Pensacola.
With both boy and girl parties, top-notch music, and plenty of Southern hotties in
various states of undress on the beach and off make this event a real treat. And,
since the weekend is in producer Johnny Chisholm’s hometown, you know it will
be nothing short of fantastic.
Info: www.memorialweekendpensacola.com
www.partyfinder.com
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MEMORIAL WEEKEND
FIRE ISLAND
May 23-25, 2008
Fire Island, New York
Fire Island has two communities that follow our own set of rules: Fire Island
Pines and Cherry Grove. In between them there’s the Meat Rack. Fire Island has
everything—natural beauty, a diverse coastal ecology, friendly deer, beautiful
beaches, and a zone for fresh-air sexcapades. The world’s most famous gay
resort, Fire Island also has dance venues and house parties that continue to make
it the center for festive expression and man-on-man dance-a-thons. Memorial
Day Weekend marks the beginning of the glorious summer in a tradition of erotic
and aesthetic recreation that goes back 80 years. Come be a part of history and
make some of your own in this exclusive enclave.
Info: www.thepinesfireisland.com
ALEGRIA MEMORIAL DAY
May 25, 2008
New York, New York
Alegria has turned most weekend Sundays in NYC into celebrations. You can
always count on Ric Sena to provide the best of everything at his parties, and
Memorial Day Sunday will be no exception. People from all over the USA,
Canada, and Europe make it a point to arrange their travel plans to New York so
that they coincide with Ric’s extravaganzas. Props and costumes custom-made in
Rio and the sexiest men in the world set the stage for an extraordinary evening.
And morning. And afternoon.
ONE MIGHTY WEEKEND
June 5-8, 2008
Orlando, Florida
The nearest thing to gay homecoming, this marathon brings together the full
rainbow, including those of us who like good parties. Sometimes going to a party
weekend is much like living nocturnally inside a series of big black boxes. Not
this one. There are daylight events for socializing and dancing in the sunlight, and
some of the major events during the evening hours are held outdoors. Gay Days
is an all-over-town, something-for-everyone vacation extravaganza. Some people
come to Orlando during Gay Days just to enjoy the company of 135,000+ other
gays and lesbians, but most are looking to fill their itineraries with fun, fun, fun.
It’s the biggest, brightest, loudest, most action-packed weekend on the Circuit.
There’s a dizzying array of events. See and be seen! Wear something sexy. Your
jet lag will get lost in all the shuffle. Ride the rides and enjoy the entertainment as
well as the largest fireworks display at any such event. Since its inception thirteen
years ago, One Mighty Weekend has become the signature event for Orlando’s
annual gay and lesbian celebration, attracting visitors from thirty countries around
the globe. For those who might actually want to sleep, daytime pool parties at
the host hotel Buena Vista Palace go from noon to 6 p.m. Reunion Pool Parties
are not be missed, so get the details about admission. Arabian Nights after-hours
are consistently fun; but pace yourself. Some of the parties can go on without
you!
Info: www.onemightyweekend.com
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LA PRIDE wonderland
June 7, 2008
Lights, camera, action: the biggest party of LA Pride returns each year to the
historic backlot of Paramount Studios. A location unrivaled anywhere in the
world, it is truly a Wonderland, the standard by which all Los Angeles parties
are measured. This is the party that put LA Pride back on the map. Witness a
dance event of Hollywood-sized proportions beneath the stars. Fireworks shoot
up high, right above your head. Aerialists—carnival rides—stiltwalkers—surprise
performances—go-go boys four stories above; you really feel like you’re on a
Hollywood set. Join more than 3,500 guys dancing and celebrating on a night
unlike any you have ever experienced.
Info: www.tomwhitmanpresents.com
June 12-17, 2008
Boston, Massachusetts
BOSTON PRIDE
Boston Pride is shaping up to be one of the best ever. Promoter Chris Harris,
Rise Nightclub, and Boston Pride have all teamed up to create a week-long
celebration featuring block parties, a parade, festival, and dance parties featuring
some of the best DJs on the scene including Abel, Junior Vasquez, and Tracy
Young.
Info: www.bostonpride.org | www.chrisharrispresents.com
www.riseclub.us
RAPIDO ON THE BEACH
June 14, 2008
Rapido presents the largest beach party in Europe on Saturday, June 14, at the
largest and fanciest beach club location on the Netherlands’ coast: Beachclub
Vroeger. At Bloemendaal aan Zee, 20 kilometers west of Amsterdam, the beach
will be turned into a boy playground for one day and will attract party boys
from London, Cologne, Paris, and of course the Low Countries. Expect loads
of gorgeous Northern Europeans and spectacular performances. No matter
what the weather will be, this event is guaranteed: A huge outdoor area will be
covered with a roof, just in case. More than 3,000 people will be enjoying Ibizastyle fun with a Dutch twist.
Info: www.clubrapido.com
June 27-29, 2008
New York, New York
NEW YORK PRIDE
New York City is the home of Stonewall, the event that marked the start of
the modern gay liberation movement. As befits the birthplace of our struggle
for equality, NYC’s march down Fifth Avenue holds pride of place among the
world’s Gay Pride events. But this being New York, there are plenty of parties
surrounding the last Sunday in June. Pier 54 jutting into the Hudson River will
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host the Saturday night event for women, and the gargantuan Sunday Pier Dance
that caps the Pride March. Expect a superstar diva to perform. (Whitney, Maria
and J Lo are just some of the past entertainers.) And you know the clubs will be
pumping with great DJs and plenty of cuties from all over the world in the city
that never sleeps.
Info: www.nycpride.org
June 29, 2008
New York, New York
ALEGRIA PRIDE
With all the celebrating going on all weekend, it is essential that you blow off
steam one last time before returning to reality. What better to finish what you
started at the Pier Dance than to enter the fantasy world created by Ric Sena?
This party has become a must-do for the weekend and always sells out.
DAVID FLOWER’S
SUMMER CAMP
July 1-5, 2008
Provincetown, Massachusetts
For nine years, David Flower has put P-Town on the party map. This year marks
a decade of making this world-famous gay town a destination for the Fourth of
July. Stunning settings, world-famous DJs and tons of magnificent men. It’s all
here. Start with the Night Cruise on July 2, everyone's favorite weekend event.
Dance aboard the enormous open-air top deck of The Provincetown II, Boston's
biggest passenger cruise ship. This historic ferry, which accommodates 1,000
people, is twice the size of any other party boat on Cape Cod at four stories high
and with two expansive levels of dancing. On July 3, board The Provinctown II
once more for the Late Night Boat Party and keep dancing long after everything
else on the mainland has closed. But save some energy for Pier Dance on July 4,
which begins with in the afternoon sunshine and ends at sunset.
Info: www.davidflower.com
INVASION OF THE PINES
July 4, 2008
Fire Island, New York
Once upon a time, a beautiful queen traveled by sea from her palace to a
nearby province so that she could converse with its locals and drink libations
in their honor. When she arrived in that strange land, however, she was denied
service at the local watering hole. So she gathered her fellow fabulous citizens,
commandeered a boat and invaded the offending space. Imagine her surprise
when she was greeted with smiles instead of scorn. Thus was born on July 4,
1976, the Invasion, the most famous annual event on all of Fire Island. And it’s all
true. This story about a drag queen denied a drink in Fire Island Pines, her return
by water taxi with other drag queens and the hearty welcome given to them
when they arrived, is re-enacted every July 4. Expect lots of men and women in
drag, as well as muscle boys who have come to join the daytime fun and nightly
dance festivities. It’s fun, it’s sloppy, it’s unique, it’s liberating, and it’s … well, it’s
the true spirit of Fire Island.
Info: www.fireislandinvasion.com | www.thepinesfireisland.com
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THEO
NEW YORK CITY
myspace.com/theofanisf
noiZe is proud to announce our newest noiZe boy in New York City: Theo.
Few people will tell you that the only thing that matters in life is to be a good
human being. Even fewer will tell you that kissing until you are out of breath is
incomparable. That is why there are few people who qualify to be a noiZe boy as
Theo does. Splitting his time betwen Greece and NYC, this sexy, unassuming and
humble man epitomizes the sensual, sexual, smart and witty spirit that inspires us
all to be all that we can. Welcome aboard, Theo.
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PREPARE FOR ACTION
View our entire fleet of
premium personal lubricants at
www.EmpoweredProducts.com
Europe.
With 3200 of Your Friends.
Introducing Europe’s Largest All-Gay Cruise. Ever.
Barcelona to Rome Cruise | July 5–13, 2008 | Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas
Atlantis brings the energy and excitement from our famous Caribbean cruises to Europe for the first time next
summer. Sail with 3200 guests from around the world through the best of the Med, including an overnight in
legendary Mykonos. It’s Europe’s biggest party, onboard the largest and most innovative ship sailing the Med.
Discover more of Europe than ever before, starting at just $1599 for 8 spectacular nights.
For reservations or more information about this or our other all-gay
vacations, see your travel agent, visit our website,
or call us today at 800-6-ATLANTIS.
CST# 2033720-40
photos: David Morgan NYC

Issue 55 - noiZe Magazine

Transcription

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