Tuesday, January 17, 2012

GOOD TIMES: ALDO'S TASTY TREATS

Once upon a time I shopped at an awesome New York City record shop named Throb. At last Wednesday's Good Times party at Eastern Bloc, Throb owner Aldo Hernandez, once known for his raunchy downtown parties called Meat and Click & Drag, guested with me and proved that his music tastes are still as impeccable as ever.


The cub scout gang, aka Robinson, Rob, Jeb and Kyle (from left), got off to an early start, maybe cuz Rob was leaving for Chicago the following day or maybe because Robinson really likes to get his drink on as early as possible.


Guest DJ Aldo (left) goes waaaaaaay back with bartender Darren (center) and Michael T. Aldo even recognized Darren's ceiling decor from an old club maybe in the meatpacking district. Needless to say, this reunion moment needed to be captured on camera.


Creative ways to tip the coat checker.


Your Good Times staffers Rob (left) and Marc (center) and another dude who was stand-up napping over at coat check.


Blue shirts, black hats. You know the one on the left took his glasses off for this photo so they wouldn't look like full-on twins.


Former Good Times DJ Kevin, also known as DJ Down-E back in San Francisco where he DJs an awesome Friday night party at the Stud called Some Thing, partied with us till 4am last Wednesday before hopping a 6am flight back west. Last time he did this, the check-in girl totally called him out for "smelling like he had a good night."


You've truly made it when you are finally the topic of graffiti in a bathroom stall!


Anddy and Miss Tara Miso Rice, who we also kiki-ed with late night on New Year's Eve back in Chicago. We love us some Tara and wish her the best 2012 ever with all her drag pageantry undertakings.


Another happy pole dancing participant.


Kevvy (left) and his handsome Welsh friend who may or may not also live in California. Speaking of California, I'm in Los Angeles this Friday, January 20th, at a Faultline party called Raunch and we promise that it will live up to its name.


Major Yeah Yeah Yeah's shirt, major titty twister and major drunk face all happening in unison.


More adorable boys in adorable Navajo print sweaters. Sadly I was using a replacement camera this particular week which was less vibrant and had a real crappy flash. Still searching for a weekly Good Times cameraman too if you know of any young and hungry party men with a working index finger.


Daddy Chasers Anonymous.


PLAZA QUEEN! Mike Diamond has been blowing up the internet of late with his Shit Rancid Gay Guys Say parts one and two and frankly I can't get enough. He promises to make another if anyone starts an online petition and gets 10,000 signatures so get it on, pla-tha queens!


I wear my sunnnnnnnn-glasssses at night.


So next week, Rich (center, with Michael and Roberto) is guesting along with me and Nita for the illustrious Michael T.'s Good Times birthday bonzana. Ms. T. will be 45 and still alive on the actual night of his birthday, Wednesday January 18th, and we can think of no better way to celebrate "it" than with fun sets and guest performances by Erickatoure Aviance and Stephanie Stone. NOT TO BE MISSED.


La da dee, la da dah, la da dee, la da daaaa....


Another January baby celebrated his birthday this week as well and his name is Thomas and he is gifting someone near the bar the smell of his sweet scented armpit.


Other items of interest near the bar.


Sweethearts in stripes and vests but I can't help thinking that that platinum blonde in the back corner is unintentionally stealing the limelight.


This hunk who is half-hugging bartender Darren here was totally wild in a way we really love over at Good Times, though apparently not everyone loved it judging from the side eye he's getting at the bar.


Speaking of hunks, Hi Eliot! That's Eliot with one L and one T for anyone else who needs to type his name up on a weekly basis.


My Henley friend, sporting yet another awesome Henley at another awesome Good Times.


You've been bunny eared.


Newsflash: it has gotten really really really really cold here in New York City. It also drizzled rain last Wednesday bringing our official rainy Wednesday count in 2012 up to one. (It was something like, 27 in 2011. I swear).


Bartender Sam in reflective wear, just in case you can't spot him with your camera flash at the bar.


So nice to welcome back our resident Janet Jackson fanatic Sean, who is looking as cute and cozy as ever.


DANCE PARTY! Aldo played a really major set of Janelle Monae remixes and other awesome stuff. He did play one Gaga track too but we won't hold it against him.


Did you know that when you google Homothugs for photos, Danilo's photo comes up in the first first row? Thank you twerking.com.


Me, Chaz (left) and Michael. Thank you for the free breast cancer exam Michael!


He won beard of the evening by a long shot though I'm not sure who gave him his prize.


Did you know that in England, they call flat-brimmed hat wearers Supreme Queens?


Aldo was singing and dancing along to his set in the DJ booth and was really letting the children have it. Good Times hearts Aldo Hernandez.


My Avenue C neighbors, who I met last Wednesday on their first but hopefully not last visit to Good Times at Eastern Bloc.


Dustin Z., PLA-THA QUEEN!


Tobin and Michael sitting in a tree.


#NewYorkNecessities


Absolutely loving everything about her, from the leopard wrap to the purple bangs to the furry wrap. I can only imagine what her footwear was looking like.


Speaking of footwear, you know Michael T. loves a boot so if you are in a hurry and unable to bring "it" a gift next Wednesday at his birthday, I'm sure a pair of cowboy or motorcycle boots will suffice.


An incredibly shy Australian named Tim who rarely likes to be photographed but loves a Wednesday Good Times party. Come on down and meet him.


All black everything, courtesy of Frankie S.


SURPRISE! DJ James Cerne from Boston's Foxy party mentioned that he MIGHT just be in town this week so we were delighted when he strolled in at 3am for a late night beer and chat. If only his move to LA coincided with our DJ gig there next week.


EXTREME LATE NIGHT CLOSE UP.


Late late night portraiture from the DJ booth. Not mad at the view either.


Even though the bar cleared out, Chaz and I lasted till 4am and began dreaming of later nights of DJing and partying once he moves to Berlin in March. As for the rest of you, thanks for coming and see you next week for Michael T.'s big birthday throwdown. xo, Sparber

Monday, January 16, 2012

I LOVE BIG ANG

SERENADES


While we patiently wait for something new from the Knife or Fever Ray, I present to you this Knife-esque track (minus Karen's voice, which always seals the deal) by Serenades that is posted on rcrdlbl today here.

TRAIN ME

Sunday, January 15, 2012

IS THAT A SAM GOODY'S?



Sort of surprised that CD shops like this still exist in the world but that said, I'm feelin' her flow and look, both of which are vaguely reminiscent of Remy Ma.

TITANTIC 3D PR STUNT!


RIP to the deceased passengers aboard the Italian cruise ship that ran into rocks this past Friday evening. A true tragedy that is reminiscent of the Titanic, a famous 1912 disaster that inspired the 1997 box office hit film which just so happens to be coming out in 3D this April. COINCIDENCE???

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

GOOD TIMES: YOU'RE MY MAGICIANS

Straight off the plane from Chicago and straight to work I went last week for the first Good Times party of 2012. To kick off the New Year, I invited an old friend and former Good Times guest DJ, Sugartitz, who hadn't partied with us in ages due to one of those day job things that sometimes keeps him from coming out on a Wednesday. We've resolved to encourage friends and strangers alike to shed such restrictions on their lives, especially if 2012 is the end of it all.


A handsome duo of heebs in Henleys, also known as Shahar (left) and Elliott.


Charlize told me that our marriage is now "open" since I've been traveling so much even though I'll still always be wifey.


Right before this photo was taken of these Israelis moteks, Shahar and Idan, another Israeli friend told me he had just flew in from "Tel Aviv for the weekend," which first made me think, wow, I just weekend in Tel Aviv more often before realizing that Tel Aviv is like, halfway around the world.


Guest DJ Sugartitz (right) and a happy Mexicana mama named Pailo, who told me I'm going to have the best time in Puerto Vallarta later this month but to travel outside the city unless I was in the mood for a lil' decapitation.


My soul sister Mikey L. turned up (yes, I was taking all the photos from the DJ booth since we are now in need of an amateur Wednesday photographer. Free drinks and lots of men! Email me) with long blonde hair. That's right. She's gone blonde just to prove that blondes DO have more fun and stay up way way later than you. Or at least Mikey does.


Did I mention that this was a Lime-themed party? Not the kind of lime that in the bottom of his vodka soda but Lime as in the Canadian electro synth / italo husband and wife duo also known as Denis and Denyse.


Globetrotter Robertro P. was also in Tel Aviv "for the weekend," but only because he's dividing his time now between London and Tel Aviv rather than London and Rome. Tough life, huh?


SALAD IS THE NEW BLACK!


I actually met Tony (right) when I was 16 years old and visiting my best girl friend up at Boston University, where she lived with Tony. So in theory, he is one of the very first gays I ever met, though I hadn't seen him since then, which was a long, long time ago.


You're my magicians!


That funny optical illusion where it looks like his arm is going straight down the Henley and into god knows where.


So being a bit pooped from flying, I asked for a volunteer photographer and James B. (in the purple) came through and took a ton of the following photos (thanks James!) before our trusted Good Times camera went kaput.


The frenchies!


I don't even know where to find Marlon now (on the right) since his stint at the Chelsea Hotel has ended much like the club downstairs and everything else Chelsea Hotel related ever since it was sold. I suppose there's always that backroom at Paddles that he hangs out in.


Sugartitz turned it as usual with his eclectic mix of divine tracks and Divine tracks.


I thought that the holiday crowds at our weekly Wednesday party would have settled by January but apparently I was wrong. #sweatybettys


Insert some witty caption about the male gaze here.


Mica (left) flew in from San Francisco to guest host in a boy look, since he was also working on a theatre project while here in New York and did have enough time to transform into his alter ego we all know and love, VivvyAnne ForeverMORE!


DIRK! Our superstar barman's husband, Dirk, popped in to say guten tag and auf wiedersehen all at once since he headed back to Berlin shortly after our party but we're hoping he comes back soon or that we travel and DJ in Berlin even sooner.


Shake whatcha mama gave ya.


New York's number one ginger, Sean, was digging on the Katy B. Gigamesh remix that I played when he wasn't fielding questions about his own downtown ginger-themed party, Fire in the Hole.


Christian hasn't been to a Good Times party in eons, which left me delightfully surprised when he came by to say hey. Then I realized that our guest DJ, Sugartitz, is actually his boyfriend.


Babe we're gonna love tonight (in our Henleys).


Living for that varsity band jacket.


Former Good Times coatchecker Kevin F. (left), who still seems to gravitate toward the coat check area when he comes by for a visit, though in this photo he's standing at a part of the bar we like to call "the game room."


Shy silver foxes abound.


It would be odd to not mention a very good friend of ours, Mike Hamm, who should be hugging onto Steven's other arm in this here photo. Sadly, Mike suffered an aneurysm over the holidays and passed away this past week. Mike was a Good Times regular and truly loved by everyone who knew him or even met him once. A super duper sweetheart who will be sadly missed.


We love you Mike Hamm and we're still thinking about you and your pornstache and cheeky photo comments at our weekly parties. Gone but not forgetten. xoxoxoxxo


Since the party must go on, we're looking onwards and upwards in 2012 with handsome men like these and guest DJ Aldo Hernandez at the next Good Times, who used to own Throb Records and was the resident DJ at Meat and Click & Drag and other famous New York parties that you should learn about.


Me and the boys of summer, now in the dead of winter.


Good Times, starring Chris as the superstar scat queen pig. That sounds about right?


It actually wasn't even 2am yet when this photo was taking. It was just the second to last picture on the camera before it went to that digital junkyard in the sky (or Fresh Kills on Staten Island). Don't worry though - we have a backup camera for next week and will hopefully find a backup cameraman too.


Annnnnnnnnd we're out (even though there was a huge wave of late night partiers who were lucky enough to evade the camera...FOR NOW). Thanks for coming and RIP Mike, our awesome, beloved friend. See everyone else next week for another Good Times with Aldo and me. xoxo

BORN TO DIE, GUCCI STYLE

Saturday, January 07, 2012

KIKI KLYMAXX



I'm not feeling her flow as much as her production and her name, which is maybe the most major hip hop / drag name ever: Kiki Klymaxx. Get it Kiki!

Friday, January 06, 2012

I WENT TO A PARTY LAST SATURDAY NIGHT


...I didn't get laid, I got in a fight.