Mar 24-25 - Weekend of Black

I try and try to prepare. I workout, I stay hydrated I plan wardrobe and arrival times weeks in advance. No matter what the unexplained can still occur. An allergic reaction to vitamin supplements can cause you much drama. The morning of is kind of late to have to deal with drama but all of the preparation sets you up for better response to the strangeness that occurs. I spent the day taking my medicine and traveling to the drug store to buy cream and I was able to recover enough to be mostly presentable by nightfall. I had decided my outfit already so besides making sure the time to rest up was factored in before dinnertime and then the final clean up was done. I was all dressed up from swat boots, black cargo shorts, the new backpack suspenders and the dog tags. Russ had his tags, the new black pants and his comfortable shoes. We called for the car service and the car came quickly, the driver was one I had about a week before whom I had discussed parking issues and Uncivil Servants where people complain about bad parking by city employees.

We arrived at 52nd street and were surprised there was no line. It was nice but still surprising. I said hello to the security I did know and was inside nice and easy. Downstairs the coatcheck was clicking right along as the promoters made sure to hire people who knew what they were doing this year and were on top of things. The line moved so fast I was all done with the coatcheck in just over 5 minutes and I said hello to the staff that I knew from previous events and then I was back upstairs to find Russ and Steve as well. I had already seen Pat and the other Steve and Darren before I had even come upstairs and then delved into the party with both feet. We hit the main floor got drinks from Jose and then hung out near the seats talking with Steve and seeing our friends as they passed by. Pretty soon it was onto the dancefloor to groove to the sounds of DJ Michael Marx who was hitting the perfect tunes at the right time to keep the crowd into it. Of course the freaky shows were a little distracting as the dancers were cool until the fisting started and I had to look away. Even Russ thought it was a bit much and we decided it was time to get a drink. After last call and the DJ turned over to DJ Tony Moran the music was still good but lost that hard edge. I was surprised to Christina Aguilera at the Black Party (Hurt) but even the song was good it was strange to hear nevertheless. I was not too many Red Bulls into the after cut off when Russ told me that he was not going to be staying too late so I made my way towards the stage, found my moment and when the security was distracted by some sketchy person I made my way onto the stage and danced with both green lights right next to the flagger that was about to fall over and couldn't keep the flags straight. After the song was over I climbed back down the walkway runway and asked Russ did he see me up there (He did) and then we journeyed downstairs to the coat check. It was as drama free as could be expected and though I did not get to say goodbye to anyone else I knew I would see them again soon. It was time to head home after the first night. I did not even put the pants back on over my shorts but just went outside with the coat and shorts. The taxi stopped for Russ as usual and then we headed downtown and back to BK.


Breakfast, resting, TV Watching and not too much until nightfall. Dinner was over around 9pm and I had programmed the DVR to start taping the first episodes of Planet Earth on Discovery HD. I just maxed and relaxed until 11:30pm when it was time to shower up and get dressed. I was ready to leave the house around 12:45 and I got the car service to pick me up right away. The driver was the same one I had the night before but this night he was quiet and I got to listen to my iPod Music on the way into the city. He dropped me off, I picked up my bottle of Fiji water at the deli and then walked back to entrance on 27th street. I finished the bottle of water just before I headed inside and made it through the pat down, the vip check, the ticket check and the coat check. After a quick onceover of the dance floor and saying hello to Tres, Bob and Rob I headed upstairs to the VIP. Alegria Extreme was in full effect and the crowd was just getting to its max but as I first arrived the VIP was not too packed (it did not get too bad until around 5am) Upstairs I ran into DJ Michael Marx where via his translator friend I told him I enjoyed his set at the Black Party and hope to see him in his home space in Paris. I also saw promoter Lisa and Jennifer who I had not expected to see so soon after the Roxy closing party. Anyway I journeyed back down to the main floor and hung out with Pat, Steven, Eric and the boys for a while and even said hello to Jun who I knew from the speakers at Roxy. Back up in the VIP I said hello to DJ Brett Heinrichsen as well as Big Kim before heading back downstairs to surf the crowd while watching the various shows on the stage and the listening to the great music washing over the crowd from DJ Abel. I even heard "Flesh" which was on my Black Ice 4 CD. I watched the crowd thin out some but did make sure to dance on the speaker for Ralphi Rosario remix of "World Hold On" before I climbed down into the crowd and said goodbye to my friends before heading out of the club at 8:50am. This time I remembered my sunglasses and I walked down to 23rd street before I gave up on getting a taxi home and just walked to the F train to take the subway home. I had a book to read after all. Of course the book was too much to read after partying all night to I waited for the train to pull into the station at 9th street so I could switch to the R train and continue my way home. I got home before 10am and even though I did not expect it I did get to say Good Morning to Russ before I went to bed myself.

Another party weekend completed and plenty of partying was to be had and was completed by all. Thank goodness I have two days off from work (Mon-Tues) to rest up before completing the week. There is always another one to look forward to. Until next time...

3/17 - Out in the cold but it does get hotter..

I was planning on going out on Saturday, just a little earlier than usual since I was going to have to travel into the city by myself but was meeting friends once I was out and about. Steve had already texted and let me know that he was already at the bar and ready to buy the first round. I made sure I had all of the gift CDs (Vernal Equi-Vox) in pocket and after grabbing a can of Enviga it was out into the night and down to the car service. After a 10 minute wait in was on my way into the city and discussing the sanitation department and snow removal as well as illegal parking by the police. There was not too much traffic in the city for a Saturday Night (must have been the snow and the brisk night air) and I got to the club in pretty short order. Once inside Splash I looked around a bit and then Steve found me and we headed over to the bar to get a drink. With a Stoli Orange and Red Bull in hand we circled the bar and listened to the beats from DJ Superdave. Kimberly Locke finally came on the stage around 1:45am and sang 3 songs including "Change" and "Eighth World Wonder" before saying goodnight to the crowd. Back downstairs we got another drink from Garrett before we headed back upstairs to dance next to the stage. Security kept me from the boxes but I still had a good time. Steve finally had to leave and get some pizza so I walked him over to the pizzeria where I got another iced tea while he picked up two slices. Back inside I ran into Rob and Tres who invited me over to Studio to hear Victor Calderone spinning for his Birthday. After thinking it over very briefly I decided to go ahead and extend my night. At 3:45am I grabbed my coat and the magazines the coatcheck guys were holding for me and we headed out to the Mini and headed uptown from there. After stopping at Mickey D's for a soda we headed over to 11th ave and found a parking space and then headed over to Studio. After checking our coats we were down to the dancefloor and listening to the beats. Pretty soon we were joined by Eric and the rest of the crowd as the place was packed with well wishers and dancers all following every beat that VC laid down. The Reed Room had been cleared of all of the obstructions but emptied out by 6:30am with all of the people packed into the main floor. I stayed out with the guys until 8:50am before calling it over and heading out to pick up a car. I was able to flag down a car on 10th ave a few blocks down from the club and the driver very nicely brought me back to BK.

Too bad I have to go to work tomorrow but I have a long weekend waiting for me next weekend. Coolness.

March 10 - Yes, It's Over..

The last night has happened, but I was there at Roxy.

Arrived at 10:50 and the line was down the block. The security was involved in bringing the police barriers to block the line. We also had the security guard who was taking bribes to let people cut the priority line. Not that it mattered much since the people who were cutting were behind me. But Even after the 30 min. wait in the rain to get to the front of the line and then head inside we had another 25 to get up the stairs inside to the cashier window. Aisha was nice enough to take coats for Russ and I and we headed insde to find the Jimmy (lost him in the crush to get up the stairs) and also meet Steve who had come back from VA for good. The place was already packed with the lounge area in the back all taken up and just big dancefloor across the entire space. The bar was packed but I was able to see Louis in the back and Jose in the front and check out James Anderson in the booth playiing "Tranzient" by V. Calderone before we heard Offer Nissim take to the stage playing "Summer Night City" and "Be My Boyfriend". Russ left early but I still got to hang with Steve and The Jimmy as we I continued moving throughout the place feeling and remembering the final vibe and dancing when I had the opportunity. Around 4:30am we were dancing to DJ Peter Rauhofer "Shackles" by Mary Mary and still feeling the groove. I said goodnight to various friends as the night progressed and finally said goodbye myself at 9am, heading out into the daylight and heading home.

Hopefully I will see everyone again at the end of the month in the home of the new party...

2/24-2/25 - Last Rox Dance before the Last Dance

Saturday I spent on the phone with friends, finishing up latest Tech CD (Technical Ice 3, IceBreak) and making sure my laundry was put away and the dishes washed. I journeyed outside just to pick up my 2 slices of pizza from Lenny's for lunch. Dinner was delivered around 8pm and after that was finished I cleaned up, haircut and made ready for the night. The Jimmy arrived around 10:30pm and He and Russ played backgammon while I finished CD mastering before we headed out around 11:10pm. We got into the city fairly easily, chatting about cars and such before finding parking on 20th street before I headed down the block and met up with my sister who had come from a baby shower uptown. We were very much looking forward to hanging out and after saying hello to Derek we headed inside to the cashier and then the security and coat check. Once inside Roxy we got our drinks at the bar and the night truly began. My bartender for the eve was Jose and despite the crowds at the front (no back bar) we were able to get pretty good service and I was able to enjoy the party as it built around us. As the second to last party before closing it was not too busy but busier than 2 weeks prior. DJ Merritt put on a nice mix of old and new and the crowd enjoyed all the way through the evening. We did some stops upstairs in the crystal room as we danced to "Dirrty" by Miss Aguilera before heading back down. Over the course of the night we hung out with Eddie, TJ and a friend they had visiting from London. Along with DeAndre and Octavio and the usual people dancing in the periphery as we stayed until 4:45am dancing and having ourselves a grand time with the great cross section of beats. We were able to get a taxi right on 10th ave and said goodnight to my sis before heading back to BK.

Sunday was time to wake up, hydrate, take vitamins and then it was off to the gym to meet Nathan and work out some before heading back home for a costume change. Then it was back into the city to have brunch with Seema and Nathan at our now regular Sunday spot at Croxley Ale in the East V. The food was good with a burger for myself and the conversation as always a great cross section of discussions about men and women and some good moments with our waitress for good measure. We stayed until around 7:20pm as we had to be home for the Oscars and we dropped Seema off before picking up something at the drivethru at KFC before heading back towards home. The Oscars was long but was still good to watch. I tired of it by the end and just kept returning to the living room to catch the winners of the final awards. Another good night and then some. Next week no big plans but plenty to do. Until then.

02/16-02/18 - Into the long weekend. Partying with the Presidents.

A three day weekend means more time that has to be filled and more possibilities that branch ahead of me and mine. Friday morning I had shopped and the Vitamin Shoppe for my missing supplements (stuff I had already run out of) and finally redeemed my points from last year. I really think I got robbed and that they used some bogus claim number to steal my points and give me just 25 dollars after I spent more than $700 dollars in that store last year. But that is besides the point. I will just make sure I redeem my points at more reputable location with a better checkout person next year. On the way home from work I stopped at J&R and got my blank CDs and slim line cases for the new CDs. For some reason they didn't have the blank CDs I usually get so I was forced to pick up some Memorex printable CDs. Hopefully they work out. Anyway I read my Laurell K Hamilton book on the way home and then once in the house I awaited the italian dinner delivery and made my plans. I had already texted Michael and made sure my Saturday Night was set up but now I had to work on the Friday. Stephan called and got the directions to where I am in Brooklyn since he was taking mass transit instead of driving. The dinner was good and watching INHD was entertaining enough before I began the cleanup of both the house and then fixed myself up with the haircut the shower and then the outfitting. I finished up some more copies of my house party CD and then made sure I had all things ready before we could head out. The Jimmy and later Stephan arrived and the boys played backgammon and discussed SUVs. Once the hour was late enough and they boys had played enough games we finally headed out into the night and piled into the Explorer. We avoided a disabled vehicle on the BQE and headed over the Brooklyn Bridge and up Lafayette until we got to 17th street.

After parking on 18th street I got my own bottle of water before I caught up with the guys inside on the coat check line inside of Splash. We headed over to the bar and we got our first round and the night began. Soon one of our friends from Roxy, Eric showed up and we talked some downstairs right next to the bar and then Eric and I headed back upstairs to dance in the middle of the crowd and then I headed up to the stage. After dancing for bit on the stage it was back downstairs to hang with the guys some before I heard DJ Alex Lauterstein playing some more beats that were guaranteed to get me moving. Of course when he played Mariah and "We Belong Together" it got me up on the box in front of the stage and with hands lit I danced to the whole song and felt truly happy to be there for the night. But of course it got even better. I stayed up there for 2 more songs and even danced without the lights just to put on a dance for the remix of "My Love" by Mr Timberlake. I was happy that the DJ was actually enjoying his B'day celebration with happy music and the crowd was reacting to it the way they were supposed to, by getting up and dancing. Later on I hung out with Shawn and Rick as well as Rob and Tres and we kept on having fun all the way up till it was time to head out. Russ and I had another day to look forward to as well as another night with our friends on Saturday so we said goodbye to our friends at 2:45am and got ourselves a taxi out front. Through the slush and snow we piled in and headed back to BK. The ride was relatively painless and the driver got us to our building tout-de-suite.

I was hydrated and dinner was good (the old standby of Chicken Caesar salad) but when the hour rolled around I found out that Russ had to work so I would be heading out alone. After I was outfitted and ready to go I at least had a ride into the city so off we went. I got into the city fairly quickly and noted the pretty much finished building on the corner of West Street and 18th Street showed off very trendy design with all flowing curves which was pretty trendy for an office building. Russ dropped me off at the door and I said hello to Derek and the rest of the security outside headed inside. Aisha was at the coatcheck and I handed over my latest Dancehall mix before heading inside the main room.

Roxy filled up quickly as the opening DJ James Andersen took us on a retro groove that journeyed from some house classics until around 12:40 we were within the past 6 months with a nice line of grooves and good beats leading up to 1:40 when DJ Peter Rauhofer finally took over the decks. James got me up on the box near the stage to dance to "Low Frequencies" and with Louis at the back bar and plenty of friends in attendance I was in a good mood despite my arrival without a ready made entourage. Over the course of the night I did get to talk with Erica, Eddie, TJ, Rick, Shawn, Rob and Tres and said hello to a few others. Suzanne Palmer came onto the stage around 3:15 am just around the time a gaggle of drunk boys were trying to carry their friend to the back of the club. Security kept the two sides apart and we watched Suzanne perform hits such as "Free My Love" and "Fascinated" and even did an encore with "Hide U". After the performance however came the dreaded announcement of a final date for our Roxy party. March 10th would be the last night we would all be at this same space. After that I made sure to get not one but 2 more drinks before the last call and I stayed at the party dancing until 4:40am when I finally headed out into the night and towards BK. I walked over to 9th Ave and got a taxi immediately who knew where I was going and I was able to go home quickly and easily.

Sunday I woke up to delivery breakfast and hung out watching TV until it was around 3:30pm and we headed into the city to do the midafternoon brunch with Nathan and Seema. The Croxley Ale house was much less busy than the last time we attended during football festivities and we all enjoyed the laid back atmosphere as we talked over our many mimosas. When we finally ordered our dinner fare the food was still very good and we finally wrapped things up and headed out to Nathan's place to check out his new LCD TV and then we brought Seema back to BK and dropped her off before heading deeper into the Slope. After watching the All-Star game and Family Guy I let the weekend catch up to me and fell asleep until after midnight. I woke up and watched some DVR programming of Avatar and Naruto before I finally headed off to sleep like a good person. No big plans for Monday just staying in and transferring music between computers before transferring to my iPod and various household chores.

Whatever will I be doing. The time for change is upon us. Let's see what happens.

02/10-02/11 - Slow Day, Upbeat Night, Preparation is Key...

Spent Saturday reviewing music online then mixing my newest CD "DanceHall Party" which has the kind of music I would expect to to hear at a House Party or at places like "Murmur" at the Borgata. Anyway after that I made sure to catch up on my leftover lunch of roasted chicken and Mac and cheese. I also watched my DVR episodes of "Avatar the Last Airbender" as well as scanning various daytime television shows and DVRd some programs for Russ to watch (Totally Outrageous People on G4) since "Cops" was pre-empted for NASCAR programming.

After my dinner of Chicken Caesar I was ready to clean up and get ready. Haircut, showered, outfitted and with all of the accouterments and I was ready to head out with Russ in the newly returned Murano. I also debuted 3 CDs to the car since it had been out of circulation for so long. We listened to the Dancehall CD on the way into the city and were able to find a freshly opened parking spot on 20th Street.

After saying hello to Derek we headed inside Roxy and said hello to BobH. After saying hello to Louis and Jose as well as Nick we warmed up near the heater near the exit by the bar. After 1am though I needed to warm up and dance so when DJ Joe Gauthraux segued into songs I recognized I headed over to the speaker near the stage and danced to "Diskoteka" and "World, Hold On" before returning over to the bar and Russ. It was a pretty good night and I even shook hands with Peter Rauhofer who was standing near the entrance side of the bar and just hanging out with friends (with his coat on) (a little shorter than me) A very nice guy and gracious too. I had put my shirt back on to say hello to Peter (to look somewhat respectable) but once I got heated up once again I shed the shirt again and danced some more. Many drinks later I was on the speaker near the front and dancing for 3 whole songs before stepping down at 4:25am to retrieve Russ at the coat room and head home. I was upset that they did not give out any magazines but I already have plans for next weekend anyway. And friends to go with too.

Always a good thing.