The Best of Nightlife 2008
Drum roll, please-and a trumpet fanfare as well-for 2009 was a trying year all around, but in spite of economic adversity and bureaucratic hassles that would test the mettle of even the most diehard promoters, producers, deejays, and revelers, the nightlife world still managed to show the diurnal world that creativity and magic flourish when the sun goes down.
And now, without further ado, the 2009 BEST OF EDGE: NIGHTLIFE Awards-in which all that is good about the nightlife industry is duly commended and celebrated.
CLICK
Omar Gonzalez/Dustin Reffca
South Beach, FL
Because even with a forced change of venue, CLICK maintained its hypnotic mystique and packed its shiny, new locale at Aero Bar with a Sunday night weekly dose of Miami-style debauchery, madcap fun, and louche living. With an entourage of the Beach’s most flamboyant hosts, door people, and personalities, CLICK is Miami Beach nightlife distilled to its most divine essence.
www.oagproductions.com
Mr. Black
New York, NY
Because in face of all challenges, Mr. Black has persevered and become the epicenter of New York gay nightlife. This underground dance club continues to pump new life into the club scene, spawning many already legendary parties (Jonny McGovern’s "Boys gone wild", Tubway, Gary 49). Only here does this edgy, eclectic destination blend hot go-go boys, avant-garde performances, tasty sweat, beats, liquor and debauchery all-in-one.
The fashion, the attitude, one-of-a-kind personalities, and the music, all combine to make Mr. Black the place to be. Residents Johnny Dynell and Sammy Jo (Fridays) and Nita Aviance and Gant Johnson (Saturdays) take you on musical journeys that often lead to voguing battles and timeless runway show-downs. This is one venue that DJs, such as Hex Hector and Hector Fonseca, come thru to dance, and add their name to the list of legendary DJs aching for the opportunity to spin here. Don’t be surprised to find the likes of Junior Vasquez and Peter Rauhofer behind the decks.
Mr. Black, at their new location, has raised the bar for what a weekly party should be. And if you’re from out of town, you may have to do some research to find Mr. Black’s current location, but trust: It pays off. For those who wish to experience what New York nightlife is all about in its prime, Mr. Black is a must.
www.mrblacknyc.com
The Saint-at-Large
New York, NY
Because even though the party gods weren’t smiling favorably on New York this year, what with shutdowns, cancellations, security and permit issues, the Saint-at-Large still managed to pull off a pair of extraordinary parties at Roseland, and because both the Black Party (The Dangerous Black Party for Boys) and the Halloween Party (Salem) were marked by extraordinary attention to detail and production values, hallmarks of the Saint-at-Large-and because the Saint-at-Large is an extraordinary operation that draws upon its illustrious history for extraordinary entertainment to insure that there’s never anything ordinary about a Saint-at-Large party.
www.saintatlarge.com
Evolve - Victor Calderone/Pacha
Because they say imitation is the best form of flattery. And if that’s the case, then Victor Calderone’s record case must be covered in a trail of kisses. And in a world where everybody knows somebody who claims to be a "deejay", Victor continues to inspire, push the envelope, and evolve dance music. Like the song, "it doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight, white or black, male or female," because this party was created especially for YOU. The success of the EVOLVE parties lies in Calderone’s ability to blend the old and the new, the crowd favorite with the obscure, and to span genres from banging tribal to techy minimal with grace, the right amount of sexiness and loads of energy.
And in true spirit, 2009 was ushered in at Roseland Ballroom with the ultimate Victor Calderone sound that kept the children grooving on the dancefloor through New Year’s day and into the night.
www.victorcalderone.com
www.pachanyc.com
Score Bar
South Beach, FL
Because this year was Score’s ten-year anniversary, and rather than rest on their laurels, owners Billy Kemp and Luis Moreira completed a comprehensive transformation of the Beach’s most beloved club. Amidst the renovating and remodeling, they reinvigorated the roster with a rotating crew of deejays including Abel, Tracy Young, Peter Rauhofer, Drew Tribe, Ralphi Rosario, Roxx, and Oren Nizri. The result? A club with a vast array of themed parties and special events that packs in the locals as well as the myriad internationalists who come to the Beach to play.
www.scorebar.net
Town
Washington, DC
Because with the shuttering of (Velvet) Nation, D.C. was in need of something new and improved, and along came Town to raise the bar on D.C. nightlife. Boasting state-of-the-art sound and lighting and massive video screens that project stunning visuals and "animated wallpaper," Town has quickly become a national destination for club-goers. Run by the same folks who did Nation (as well as Ozone and Tracks among others) Town Danceboutique features two floors and even a chic quiet lounge to escape the heated energy of the club. With David Knapp as the resident DJ -- alongside monthly special guests such as Manny Lehman, Brett Henrichsen, Randy Bettis, and Tony Moran -- Town hosts such annual bacchanals as Blackout, Halloween, and the Red Party. With over twenty years in the nightclub business, the owners of Town have given D.C. a plush new playground.
www.towndc.com
Chris Harris & Rafael Sanchez
Boston/Providence
Because with the razing of 15 Lansdowne Street (home to countless incarnations of Boston’s Sunday night boy bash over the past thirty years), Beantown was in desperate need of something-and because Chris Harris and Gay Mafia Boston stepped up to the plate and created Epic Saturdays at 279 Tremont Street, a weekly bash crammed with Boston beauties, all werking it out with deejays such as Alyson Calagna, Richie LaDue, Manny Lehman, and Craig Mitchell-and because Boston has a beat again, thanks to Chris Harris and Rafael Sanchez
www.chrisharrispresents.com
www.gaymafiaboston.com
Betty Kang
Because party attendance is shrinking globally and it’s increasingly more difficult to stand out in a world where everyone and their brother is a deejay, publicists that master the art of nightlife are vital to success. In the world of Nightlife PR & Communications, there are a slew of respectable and well-connected Publicists that can be that driving force for an Artist, Venue or Organization. None of them, however, come close to the delivering the results of Betty Kang and her team at Plexi PR. Public relations, artist development, parties and online marketing are just a small part of the complete package. Since 2003, Plexi PR has amassed a client list that would make even the most experienced nightlife personalities weep. Legendary NYC super-club Pacha, Cielo, Ultra Records, Made Events and rhythmism.com are just a few of the A-List clients this highly-sought after publicist reps. And it doesn’t stop there. With over 300 successful events produced in New York City alone, her team swiftly established themselves as global event producers during Winter Music Conference, throwing what have become known each year by industry insiders as THE hottest parties of the week (Made Event). It’s simple: Plexi PR is the investment anyone who’s anyone in nightlife must consult.
www.plexipr.com
"There Is Only One" - Alan T.
Because there is only one legendary recording artist that can blow up any dancefloor in any given part of the world, Alan T. is well-deserving of this award. One of the most talked about songs during Winter Music Conference, DJs from Boris to Peter Rauhofer instantly turned out this slamming track. This Kult Records collaboration with Lula lit up dancefloors and even broke a few speakers in 2008... Check out the video here.
www.alan-t.com
Kevin Aviance
Because he is the definitive nightlife phoenix, persistently rising, and because he is instantly recognizable for his talents, and because he serves as an example of overcoming adversity, and because he lives the legend and brings it to the children.
Kevin Aviance on MySpace
Temptation @ Apple
665 N. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
Because there is nothing more enticing than a fabulous party in West Hollywood, Jeffrey Sanker and Paul Nicholls take it to the next level every Thursday with world class DJs, 3 rooms of fun, and a chic outdoor patio for lounging. At this new Edenic destination, there’s something for everyone. A downstairs lounge provides for a seedier atmosphere, where you’ll catch men getting lap dances from strippers and the occasional performance by a porn star guest. A large upstairs dining room finds boys and girls indulging themselves in the restaurant’s haute cuisine, and a large room in the back, complete with a stage and a huge bar, lends itself perfectly to burlesque shows and other performances. Indoor and outdoor seating for dinner begins around 6 p.m., and the bar opens for cocktails and debauchery around 9. Nothing beats the VIP service, live entertainment, and the scene: It’s the West Hollywood triathlon�"drinking, dancing and people watching.
www.jeffreysanker.com
LIV
Miami Beach, FL
Because they hit Miami Beach tastemakers with a bang in November, VIPs and celeb flocked to the grand opening of LIV after the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which taped at the Fontainebleau re-grand opening weekend. Miami’s hottest new nightclub located at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach offers a 30,000 square foot high energy, DJ-driven atmosphere to see and be seen. With three full-service bars, main room playing a variety of hip hop, house and rock music, and state-of-the-art audio and lighting systems, LIV attracts celebrities and Miami’s local party crowd. For guests seeking ultra-VIP treatment, the nightclub offers six private skyboxes, each featuring European bottle service, a mini-bar and banquettes with secured purse drawers. Can you ask for anything more? Both Elvis and Frank Sinatra have performed in this legendary space; now, A-List DJ’s like Tiesto and Sharam fill the space with the hottest beats.
www.fontainebleaumiamibeach.com
Masterbeat
Because Masterbeat continued the music revolution brought about by the MP3, the iPod, and the podcast, unveiling the latest online phenom with a website that enables every dance music aficionado the means to recreate what was heard the night before, and because Masterbeat managed to market themselves in a fashion that caught the notice of the big boys (and girls), who realized the next big thing when they saw it and quickly jumped onboard.
Launched in January 2008, the new digital download site brought dance and electronic music to a higher level. Combining the hottest club tracks and dance remixes from both independent and major labels, Masterbeat.com has become the "dance remix of iTunes". With a search engine and strong catalog -- only boosted by its most-recent partnership with Universal Music Group -- Masterbeat is here to stay.
www.masterbeat.com
Bal En Blanc
Montreal, Canada
Because there is no more massive, more extraordinary a party, Montreal plays perfect host to the ultimate 12-hour destination event. Attracting over 16,000 attendees and prominent international DJs such as Offer Nissim, Peter Rauhofer, and Victor Calderone, this is one White Party you can’t miss.
www.productionsplayground.com
Kidd Madonny
Miami Beach, FL
Because Kidd has paid his dues, and paid them with heart and soul and integrity-and most of all, perseverance. Having sat at the feet of luminaries such as Junior Vasquez, Abel, and Eddie X, Kidd got his deejay break at Lauderdale’s Coliseum, opening for Victor Calderone in 2005- and now, with residencies at South Beach’s CLICK and Reflex in LA, and gigs at Score, Miami’s Discotekka, Amsterdam’s Rapido, Town in D.C., as well as playing parties for One Mighty Weekend, White Party, and Winter Music Conference, DJ Kidd Madonny has made it unmistakably clear that his talents go well beyond the visionary gifts he’s displayed as the proprietor of RKM Futureboys.
www.kiddmadonny.com
www.rkmfutureboys.com
Edison Farrow - Sobe Social Club
Miami Beach, FL
Because in a town that has never suffered from a dearth of parties, Edison Farrow pushed the envelope in 2008 and gave South Beach not only his two long-running weekly events, Martini Tuesdays and Simple Life Thursdays, but also initiated the wildly-successful Miami Beach Gay Bowling League, as well as concerts from the likes of Miss Coco Peru, and a sunset gambling cruise on the Aquasino. And because he co-hosted Susanne Bartsch’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza at the Raleigh Hotel. And because he launched a series of popular t-dances at the beloved club Amnesia (now Opium Garden) and because he re-invigorated Martini Tuesdays to the tune of 1,400 patrons at the brand-new Ganesvoort Hotel and again the next week at the swank new Mondrian Hotel-and because, most of all, Edison Farrow is always looking around for the next best thing to keep the boys happy on the world’s most glam sandbar.
www.sobesocialclub.com
