Club Control

On the eve of his world-famous dance party’s 10th anniversary, Ric Sena dishes on his big anniversary celebration, the evolution of the Alegria brand and his favorite parties along the way.
 
New York at the dawn of Alegria was a very different place. Many of the city’s biggest clubs were beginning to shutter and the golden age of circuit parties was dying. But Brazilian-born theater producer Ric Sena had a creative vision to bring a sexy excitement back to dance floors. continue reading »

After a sold-out New York debut during pride, European party sensation matinée returns for take two with a sexy white party just in time for fashion week.
 
When 26-year-old Boston import Jake Resnicow first met mega-club owner Tommy Marinelli, he knew he wanted to work with him. After several pitches for parties and events, Resnicow suggested they bring the decadent mixed dance party Matinée—a phenomenon in Europe—to New York. Marinelli was into the idea, and after a whirlwind of work they pulled off Matinée’s debut on Governors Island during Gay Pride Weekend. The party was a hit, with over 4,000 revelers in attendance. continue reading »

The summer-ending beach party gained legendary status with last year’s appearance by Kelly Rowland. Producers are ready to top that in 2010

The sun was blazing, the music was blaring and Kelly Rowland—with the gay anthem of the summer in tow—was ready to make a surprise appearance. This formula was perfect at last year’s Ascension beach party. But how can Eric von Kuersteiner and his Fund in the Sun team follow that act this weekend? With renewed focus on the party after selling his Pines properties and a successful Bay Dance on his heels, von Kuersteiner  and his producers are ready to blow expectations out of the water with a bigger and badder party, headlined by the Freemasons. Event producer Sean Patrick Ryan shone some light on this year’s festivities. continue reading »

Brooklyn loses a piece of its queer history with the closing of the starlite lounge.
 
On July 31, New York’s gay firmament dimmed somewhat as Crown Height’s Starlite Lounge served its final drink. The closing heralded the loss one of New York’s historical queer watering holes and, by its owners reckoning, the oldest African-American gay bar in the city. continue reading »

Fire Island Black Out takes over Cherry Grove for a weekend celebrating diversity and gay ol’ fun in the sun.
 
Fire Island is truly an escape for everyone. And that’s never more apparent than during Fire Island Black Out, or FIBO, an annual weekend welcoming gays of color and their friends to the gay island paradise for performances, parties, and plain old fun in the sun. However, Philadelphia promoter and FIBO organizer James Wellons notes that FIBO is not just an all-black event. “The original organizers of FIBO chose the name due to the event’s locality and as a reflection of the majority of its initial attendees,” he explains. “As FIBO progresses so does its ethnic composition.” We chatted with Wellons about this year’s event and what guests of all colors can hope to find. continue reading »

Poseidon: Pines party 2010 rises from the nightlife seas with a greek-god theme and an all-star lineup.
 
Forget Atlantis, because the Fire Island Pines is about to top that underwater kingdom in legendary fashion. Joining forces with Josh Wood Productions for the second year in a row, this year’s Pines Party—an annual benefit for the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association Charitable Foundation and the Stonewall Community Foundation—will take to the seas for an underwater-themed beach spectacle featuring DJs Moto Blanco, Corey Craig and Warren Gluck, performer Alexis Jordan and the party’s signature tented surroundings. We spoke with Josh Wood about his plans for this year’s aquatic affair. continue reading »

Adonis afterhours, the new saturday night/sunday morning party at greenhouse, take the fun into the wee hours.
 
They may call New York the city that never sleeps, but finding a place to party after last call ain’t easy. Nightlife entrepreneur/promoter Shelby Stone saw a need for an after-hours party where the gays could dance till dawn—and beyond. Her brainchild, Adonis Afterhours, debuted in the Times Square Art Center earlier this year, but didn’t really click until she teamed up with DJ Eddie Baez and moved the early-Sunday-morning jam down to Soho’s eco-friendly Greenhouse, home to Suzanne Bartsch and Kenny Kenny’s legendary Vandam. We chatted with Baez about his style, his partnership with Stone and what he hopes to bring to Adonis. continue reading »