EDGE New York City

For those of us with long memories, the old Octagon nightclub on the Far West Side (since destroyed as part of the West Side Yards plan) was once the place to be on the Sunday night after the 18-hour Black Party. There, Susan Morabito held us in thrall as only a great DJ can. Even more than her Pavilion gigs on Fire Island, these parties were the very definition of the signature Morabito "journey." (Hmmm ... come to think of it, maybe the post-Black Party is a bit like the ’60s: If you can remember anything, you weren’t there.)

Since then, of course, the big-room party has devolved on Alegria Xtreme, which fittingly is moving to the last big-room nightclub left in land-starved Manhattan, Pacha.

Meanwhile, for those who want an immediate wind-down to the Black Party; or who might want a warm-up to Alegria; or just to keep on dancing, XL is presenting Morabito in "Eclipse" on March 25. XL is, of course, the legendary nightclub that is the baby of another New York gay nightlife legend, John Blair. It is located at 512 W. 42nd St, between 10th and 11th Avenues in Hell’s Kitchen, and is part of the Out, the gay hotel that opened earlier this month.

The evening begins at 6 p.m., and since the Black Party is expected to end sometime between 3 and 4 p.m., this will provide a nice respite for those who, like the heroine of Hans Christian Anderson’s "The Red Shoes," just can’t stop dancing. The party will extend, according to Morabito, until closing time, which is when Alegria will really be heating up.

Incidentally, the two clubs are within four short blocks of each other. Convenient!

The very name, "Eclipse," is meant to evoke the legendary Morabito post-Black Parties at Octagon and then other venues. Morabito began doing her own party after the legendary Roseland extravaganza back in 1995. Variously named "Equinox," "Souvenirs," and "Odyssey," "Eclipse" seems a nice choice.

Appropriate, too. Morabito promises to continue the just-ended vibe 12 blocks Uptown at Roseland with a "dark and sexy" sound. "It’s not going to a ’classics event,’" Morabito said, lest anyone confuse it with the "Classic Teas" Christina Visca has been presenting on Sundays at XL.

"It will be progressive, enticing, alluring, fun," she said. Morabito also pointed out that, at $15 before 8 p.m. and $20 after, this is a bargain in what for many of us is going to be a very expensive weekend. (Of course, you can just do this party ... amateur!)

But then again, as they say, you can’t take it with you. Black Party Weekend (as it has essentially become) is the one time when New York’s gay community lets down its guard, sheds most of its clothes and gets sexy.

Look to Morabito to keep you heated up during a very hot weekend. You can RSVP on Morabito’s Facebook page. Or just show up at XL "day of" with your I.D. and your stores of energy.