Wednesday, January 28, 2009

TONIGHT AT GOOD TIMES

Tonight we welcome back England's finest export, Christopher Miller (below), for an evening of Britpop at Eastern Bloc's Good Times party.


GOOD TIMES: HAPPY BIRTHDAY AALIYAH. R.I.P. BABY GURL

In honor of what would have been R&B soulstress Aaliyah's 30th birthday, we slowed it down at last Wednesday's Good Times and gave the good kids of Eastern Bloc something to make them feel like more than a woman.


There's a new South African in town (right) and I can't remember his name but he's handsome and I spotted out and about with Aly (left) not once, but twice this week.


Sub-arctic temperatures in New York City have brought the heavily-furred hood and scarf look into the bars and clubs. Sidenote: coatcheck only costs $2 and is run by the charmer that is Ned.


If at first you don't succeed at upside down pole gymnastics, dust yourself off and try again.


Early bird Mike Vassi, with adverts for Eastern Bloc's three-year anniversary party. Which reminds me - Good Times' two-year birthday is right around the corner. Ideas for anniversary performances? Chicken costume volunteers?


Some is already rockin' the boat and workin' the middle.


Dude on the right can stroke it for me, stroke it for me anytime he'd like.


Jason (center, with the ginger beard) is already quitting New York for a few months in New Zealand. Say it ain't so Jason! Your drug is a heartbreaker.


Cheers, beers and queers.


Living for Gary's Justify My Love tie-dyedness. Have you noticed that EVERYONE in these pics sort of has on the same dark frames? Spooky.


Brendan (right) was living for the Aaliyah party, while his horizontal friend was mostly concerned with getting on his back and rocking back, back, forth and forth.


Windy night, huh?


Shaquanda and her makeshift wig, begging for a Dutty Wine set so she could bend her back and lift her head up.


Kurt, Sampson and Valdez (from left), all looking Extra Smooth.


The handsomeness that is Peter (left), who had to be reassured that my downstairs Cruising party at this Saturday's Bootleg (with Junior Vasquez upstairs!) at Santos' Party House will indeed be fun for the whole darn fam. Promise.


Gray hoodie gays, which is kind of like a outfit color gang akin to the bloods and the crips. But for gays.


He needs a resolution. And another drink, stat.


Jason (left, with friends), singing along to the baby's WAH in Are You that Somebody.


Rolling Stones tongue-out impression. And speaking of Brits and tonuges, next week is Britpop! night in honor of my friend Chris Miller's homecoming to New York. Come lick him.


Thank the Mexican stars that Gerardo (right) is back in town since he ups the hotness factor by like, 200.


Charles (left) and Michael, who are both truly one in a million. Wait. Maybe that makes them two in a million. But they're both very very special. Love ya babes.


David (right) and friend, demonstrating that Italians clearly do it better.


Shane (left), squeezing a new squeeze perhaps? Or maybe its his squeeze of the evening.


Someone get that lady a drink NOW!


Martin (left), prowling on the man-meat that is Christopher S.


Nick and Nick, probably around the time that Aaliyah turned into Ciara night because I couldn't stop playing Promise, the most amazing track ever recorded at like, 55 bpm.


If your girl only knew...how much I love when Greg G. (right) comes and parties with us.


Moustache? Check. Leather coat? Check. Longish hair under a knit cap? Check. It's offical - winter in Brooklyn is in effect.


What's his name Shane and where can we find one of our own?


Red tshirt clan, battling it out with the Gay Hoodie Gays (or GHG, as I like to call him) since back in the day.


Danny, bringing gym shorts and sweatpants back into formal eveningwear.


Demonstrating that age clearly ain't nothin' but a numba.


Number one Soul Train dance master Enrique, getting the crowd going to the tune of a little Bjork here, a little Royksopp there.


Haaaaaayyyyyyy!


Chris got Chilean take-out that night but next week is all about Marmite sandwiches and Britpop. See you there.

Monday, January 26, 2009

GET INTO IT

Bootleg is this Saturday. Here's the promo video that I missed out on due to another DJ gig :(

Sunday, January 25, 2009

ILL-CONCEIVED DUETS THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED


Johnny Cash Remixed arrived in the mail yesterday and I actually popped it in and gave it a listen because sometimes these dead-but-not-forgotten compilations can be surprisingly good (see Nina Simone: Remixed and Reimagined). This one is not.

Leave it to executive producers Snoop Dogg (of Doggystyle fame), John Carter Cash (his only son with June) and Mathew Knowles (Beyonce's dad!) to cash in on the man in black's legacy in such a horribly conceived way. I mean, track four says it all: I Walk the Line, QDT remix featuring Snoop Dogg. WHAT. THE. FUCK.

Luckily, most of the tracks are neither good nor bad, much like the DJs who remixed them. The only two standouts are Big River, remixed by Count De Money and Ellen Allien's ex-boyfriend Apparat's take on I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow. Counting de money indeed.

If anyone wants my copy, along with bonus dvd documentary, let me know.

I Walk The Line (QDT remix ft. Snoop Dogg) - Johnny Cash
I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow (Apparat Remix) - Johnny Cash

FANTASY HOUSE PARTY

Last night, Mike, Mike and I ended up at a lower 5th Avenue house party, where the hostess told us how her parents placated her with Reeses Peanut Butter cups (!) since the tender age of 2 (!!). She had a fridge full of the goodies...


...and a matching throw pillow as well!


Closest thing to dying and flying to peanut butter and chocolate heaven all winter. I hope I don't get salmonella.

Friday, January 23, 2009

THREE YEARS AND COUNTING


Three years ago, a little gay bar opened in the space once occupied by the legendary Wonderbar, another gay bar that had funky DJs (Sharee, Will, etc.) and an intimate backroom. Then Wonderbar closed and Duck Duck opened, soon to be replaced by Satellite Bar.

Thank god for Darren, Gabe and Antoine/Benjamin, who restored 505 e. 6th st. to its original gay glory hole-in-the-wallness and have given a home to Good Times, as well as Gant's Tricky Tuesdays party and that random, short-lived quiz night thing.

Join them this Saturday for their third anniversary, with free booze till 11 and Kelvin as his alter ego drag persona Myrna Boots! I'll be off the clock and knockin' em back.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

SHAMELESS PRODUCT PLACEMENT


Disclaimer: Author Bill Van Meter is a friend of mine. That said, he passed me a galley of his book Bluegrass: A True Story of Murder in Kentucky shortly before I flew off to Croatia last summer which turned out to be the perfect travel companion. Actually, maybe not perfect cuz it's one of those true crime courtroom books that I couldn't put down so I finished it in like, one day, but that's good right. Anyways, you can buy it HERE.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

TONIGHT AT GOOD TIMES

Tonight at Eastern Bloc, we remember the talent that was Aaliyah, who would have turned 30 last Friday. R.I.P.


GOOD TIMES: KEVIN FERNANDEZ'S ELECTROCLASH BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Our dear friend, loyal patron and favorite jew-ban Kevin Fernandez turned 25 last week and celebrated to the sounds of an electroclash throwback night at our Wednesday Good Times party at Eastern Bloc. Sadly, you won't spot Kevin till the very last photo so wait for it!


Little known fact about Michael D. - he loves saki bombs...and most other 18-year-old teenage girl drinks.


Andy (right) and Mike, who has some delicious gossip to dish to me tonight if he is still able to speak audible english by the time I arrive to DJ at 10pm.


Purported "straight" dude and his main squeeze. He's actually in the army or attends military academy so don't ask, don't tell y'all till Obama repeals that nonsense.


The de-lovely, delectable deee-Lina (left), who turned me out at 1Oak on Sunday by getting this diva to the dancefloor in a mayjah way.


For many many months, I suspected Troy (right) existed only in cyber space, haunting facebook, DList and the like. He obviously proved me wrong and proved to be way handsome as well.


Ricky (left), grabbing on Luke's pelvis as Luke sings Oooh I Like It.


All is full of love for Enrique, left, and friend.


Ooooooooh! I pretend to make a big deal every time Kyra (left, with Jacob) shows up at Good Times since her big scene last summer but she kept it pretty mellow this week.


Enrique is not Verne Troyer size, though he looks it in this here picture. OPTICAL ILLUSION PEOPLE!


Feeling my electroclash Felix da Housecat realness - speed seduction in a magazine.


Chicks on speed.


Kevin (left) and Rob (right) were way concerned when my weekly email failed to send last week. Blame it on stupid spam prevention software my email server started using. Hate that.


Charles, Mikey and Ned (from left), wishfully thinking that this dead 70s porn star will rise from the grave and walk into Eastern Bloc if they perform enough gay voodoo.


Where's Waldo and Waldetta? Oh, here they are. Loving the matching stripes Scotty (left) and Tony.


Kevin Fernandez's besties all turned out, including Willie (left) and Yarng, who are two of the few people who haven't been requesting every Lady Gaga track ever recorded.


As Miss Kittin once sang, motherfuckers are so nice, suck my dick, kiss my ass...


In limousines we have sex!


Scarf season is in full effect! Some scarves are more weather-appropriate than others, if you know what I mean.


BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG.


Spencer (left) and one of those chicks from the Hills. Or is it the City. They all look the same.


Twerk it out, Robert P.! (left)


It Kills! (not just W.I.T. song but also an anti-smoking message, brought to you by Larry Tee.)


Eagerly anticipating next week's birthday celebration, which will be in loving memory of the late, great Aaliyah. Rest in peace, baby gurl.


Mark (left) and James, who brings kabbalah necklace fashion to a whole new level.


I can't decide if I should be looking at them kissing or his New Mexican winter sweater attire. Both are kind of amazing.


Don't ask. And don't tell.


Do I look like a slut? Uh huh. Shut up.


Valdez (right) and friend, still loving the Cut Copy which is still in heavy rotation after all these months. In fact, I'm really getting back into the early stuff a la Saturdays.


In lieu of photographer Kelvin not taking any pictures of birthday boy Kevin (not pictured), I present to you more of Kevin's besties, including Mike (right) and James in the center who is almost walking like an egyptian at this point in the night.


NY Mag video correspondant Tim Murphy (right) and a hot hunk of bear meat, demonstrating what happens when bears and foxes collide.


Matt (right) baked the most divine triple chocolate cake with a salty carmel topping last week. Please bring future tastings to our Good Times party pretty please. xo, Josh


They only want you when you're 17, when you're 21, you're no fun.


Patches has been psyching me up for my trip to Argentina next month since he pretty much knows every gay that lives there. But helpful trip suggestions are always appreciated.


LOVE HER! And her leopard-spotted pants! And her pole-dancing gymnastics!


AB-TASTIC. Even if he is straight-but-not-narrow, he's welcome back at Eastern Bloc any old time. For reals.


Wait. When did this turn into a straight bar?


Not sure when and where she went for an outfit change but miss thing definitely needs to come back and party with us (to the soundtrack of Aaliyah) next week.


KEVIN! (bottom left.) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY! YOU ARE THE BEST! See you next week.