So last night I headed Alfred Preisser and Randy Weiner’s theater production, Caligula Maximus, which is currently playing at the Ellen Stewart Theatre – 66 E. 4th St, through April 10th.

Co-written by Alfred Preisser (Co-Founder, Classical Theatre of Harlem) and Randy Weiner (owner of the notorious night spot, The Box) and directed by Preisser, Caligula Maximus, is set on the last night of the infamous dictator’s life.  The modern interpretation includes Ryan Knowles as Caligula, adult film star and Penthouse Pet Justine Joli, Lady Circus troupe aerialist Anya Sapozhnikova, award-winning competitive bodybuilders Myra Adams and Roxanne Edwards, Coney Island Sideshow tattooed muscleman Tim Dax, and an outrageous collection of over two-dozen circus performers, wrestlers,  showgirls and freaks.

With Randy Weiner behind the scenes, you can expect the show to resemble a 70 minute version of  The Box’s nightly routines, combining the best elements of raunchy entertainment with classic theater. Caligula offers a little something for everyone – girl-on-girl, guy-on-guy, group sex, bestiality and vulgarity, mixed in with a little bit of musical theater, comedy, and circus acts.  Sounds fab, right?!

In the beginning, there’s so much going on – it’s hard to take it all in and wrap your head around the storyline.  However as the show goes on, you become blind to the fact there’s a random girl pole dancing and another girl completely naked except for a blue painted heart above her lady bits, dancing around in front of a large gold penis.

Overall, the whole production was filled with creativity and randomness.  I was in to it.  The entire theater, including the foyer, was set to theme; making you feel like you’re really a part of the show (in some points throughout, you actually are.)  The audience was of all ages and races – appealing to everyone and anyone who enjoys semi-weird shit.  Trust me, seeing the reaction to a penthouse pet sitting on the lap of an elderly woman was straight up priceless. While the song and dance numbers tended to drag on a bit and I was left yearning for more acts involving the aerialist and trapeze(ist?),  the show was packed with memorable moments including an appearance by Jesus Christ himself.

I don’t want to give too much away…for a true ‘Only in New York” experience, you definitely should def see Caligula for yourself.   If you’re feeling fancy – hit up Gemma at the Bowery Hotel afterwards.

Scheduled performances are on Thursday and Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 8pm and 10pm, through April 10th.  Get tix before it’s too late!!!!   Tickets are $30, $25 for students and can be purchased online at www.lamama.org or by calling the box office at 212-475-7710. For more information, visit www.caligulamaximus.wordpress.com.

All pics courtesy of Lia Chang.  NSFW.

Ellen Stewart Theatre
66 E. 4th St., between 2nd Ave and Bowery
The box office is located at 74A E. 4th St.

Thursday and Friday at 8:00 pm
Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

It’s been over a week, and people are still talking about it…success!  As a nightlife blogger, the question of where to have your birthday party is not an easy one to answer.  I couldn’t just have my party at any Joe Shmoe dive bar.  Although, I did slightly miss my annual BK Blowout party. I needed a place where all my friends could go – the door wouldn’t be that big of an issue.  A place where I knew for a fact would have good music – I couldn’t leave anything to chance. And I needed a place that embodied The Downtown Diaries brand – A place where low-brow and high-brow can mix and mingle.

My Birthday fell on a Sunday so it was only natural that GoldBar for Sunday Funday would be the perfect fit.  I also wanted to host an intimate dinner within walking distance for close friends to attend who couldn’t be boozing with me all night because that had work in the morning.  People work? I used to party in the backroom of Cafe Select and always wanted to eat there – so I figured my birthday would be the night.

We started off at Cafe Select, the perfect place for a birthday dinner.  Swiss-themed, it’s quaint and cozy- yet trendy and modern.  As Time Out New York states, “The restaurant’s scuffed retro decor features classic creaky bistro tables and chairs, art posters as wallpaper and an oversize clock that might’ve been swiped from the central train station in Basel.” All-in-all it’s super cute and the perfect place to take people and host large parties. I had ten people and it wasn’t an issue. The staff was extremely accommodating and even hooked us up a little due to the fact they ran out of chicken prior to our reservation.  I have to give a shout out to Ben, Doug, and Orlando for the amazing service and hospitality.    I must recommend the ‘Ski Wasser’ cocktail – I had FIVE! The Hanger Steak and the Affogato for dessert.

After dinner we headed over to GoldBar. At first I was nervous, because the day prior I had come down with a terrible cold, and was afraid I was not going to be able to handle my big night ahead.  However, once we got started the rest of the night was one big blur, although I am sure the copious amounts of booze getting thrown our way had something to do with that. We got there on the early side -around 11:30 and by 12:30 the place was packed.  DJ Theory and Morse Code were on decks.  Chloe Sevigny (LOVE HER,) Emile Hirsh, and Lupe Fiasco were in the house – although some claim Kid Cudi sightings.  Nightlife impresarios, Daniel Koch and Noah Tepperberg also made an appearance, prior to NT throwing a fit after Justin Ross Lee (the self proclaimed ‘jew-jetter’ heir of Lee Jeans) named him one of the ‘Top 10 Most Hated People in Nightlife.’  Honestly, Noah seemed like a really nice guy.

I love birthday parties for the simple reason that is one of the only occasions where you can combine every crew of friends you have and get them in one room.  It’s the best feeling to look around and see all your friends, old and new, hanging out having a good time.  We all partied our asses off, as any person does on a Sunday night, and good times were had by all.  My birthday was a total banger -  I even got interviewed! (leave me love pahlease.) Funday resident photographer and good friend, Kirill Bichutsky, was snappin’ pics all night, while my friends and I rang in 26 in 2010 – the year of the Diary. Much thanks to Jonny Lennon and Gabrielle Richmond for making my birthday one for the books.

All pictures via Kirillwashere and NBC Niteside

Cafe Select
212 Lafayette Street (between Kenmare St & Spring St)
http://www.cafeselectnyc.com/

GoldBar
389 Broome St (between Centre Market Pl & Mulberry St)

This weekend is the weekend of all weekends.  Map out your schedule because there are a lot of parties to hit up.

Thursday

WHIPPED: Hot Chip Album Release Party with BOY CRISIS vs. DAS RACIST DJ Set @ Baddies // 20 Greenwhich Ave @ W10th St // 10PM+

OBLITERATI: Social Media Week @ R Bar // 218 Bowery btwn Prince and Spring // 6PM-10PM

RethinkPopMusic Presents: B-Sides Live @ The Village Lantern // 167 Bleeker // 8PM-12AM

BAM “Sounds Like Brooklyn” Music Festival presents Kelli Rudick @ The Knitting Factory // 361 Metropolitan Ave // 8PM-12AM //  Cover Alert: $10

Almost Famous Presents: Dash Speaks’ Geography Album Release Party @ Gallery Bar // 120 Orchard btwn Rivington & Delancey // 10PM+

Good Peoples x Runaway (DFA) with Vin Sol @ subMercer  // 147 1/2 Mercer St // 10PM+

Circa @ Darkroom (Open Bar 11-12) // 165 Ludlow btwn Houston and Stanton // 11PM+

Friday

Girls and Boys: Kill The Noise, Klever, Nick Catchdubs, Alex English, and rekLES [TRASH in the Basement] @ Webster Hall // 125 E 12th Street btwn 3rd & 4th Av //10PM+ //  RSVP

Germs: Cubic Zirconia, Jesse Jamz, Danzie, and more @ Europa (Open Bar 11-12)// 98 Meserolve Ave [Greenpoint]  // 10PM+ // Cover Alert $10 or FREE with RSVP

Sup Mag Issue Release Party @ subMercer // 147.5 Mercer St // 10PM+ // RSVP

GalaGalatic @ Hudson Terrace // 621 W 46th St // 10PM+

Saturday

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Nick Baxter and Fred Harper Opening Reception @ Last Rights Gallery // 511 W. 33rd St  // 7PM-11PM

The Loom Party @ The Loom // 100 Thames St nr. Knickerbocker [Bushwick] // 10PM+

Donuts are Forever @ The Bell House // 149 7th St [Gowanas] // 10PM+ // Cover Alert $5 minimum donation

Cheap & Dirty @ Savalas // 285 Bedford Ave [Williamsburg] // 10PM+

Mardi Gras @ The Grace Hotel // 125 W45th St [Up there]// FREE with RSVP (put “Mardi Gras Pool Party and number of people coming” in the subject line)

Cleverly Clothed @ Trinity Place // 115 Broadway // 11PM+ //  Cover Alert $5 & You Must RSVP

Hot Chip Afterparty: DJ Set by Hot Chip and We Are Wolves Live @ Brooklyn Bowl // 61 Wythe Ave btwn N11 & N12 (Wburg) // Cover Alert $10 WITH RSVP

Late Night Loft Party @ Terminal // 343-B Broadway // 2AM+ // Cover Alert $10

Totally Freakin Awesome @ House of Yes //342 Maujer St [Wburg] // 8PM+ // Cover Alert $10-20

Sunday

Thrillist Superbowl Bash @The Bentley Hotel Penthouse // 500 E 62nd St [Way up there] // 5:30+ // RSVP – maybe you will be lucky to get in.

The Blocgroup Super Bowl Party @ Johnny Utahs // 25 W 51st St [Way up there] // 4PM+ // RSVP

Superbowl Sunday @ Pop Burger MePa // 58-60 9th Ave // 6PM-9PM

(A) I love tatts. and (B) I love men with tatts even more.  *readers take note!*

NYC Launch Reception of GritCityInc’s Tatted and Brooklyn Royalty Fall 2010 Menswear Presentation

WHO

• Brian Jacobson, president of GritCityInc and publisher of Tatted
• Bob Bland, designer and founder of independent streetwear label Brooklyn Royalty
• Marianne Bernstein, Tatted photographer, award-winning filmmaker and curator
• Terry D and DJ Never Forget, members of Brooklyn-based DJ duo Fingers on the Pulse, and producers of IFC’s new hit show Dinner with the Band
• Dozens of tattooed men and women pictured in Tatted *hotttttttttt*
• Tattooed models previewing Brooklyn Royalty’s Fall 2010 menswear collection and limited edition Brooklyn Royalty x GritCityInc T-shirts

WHAT

• NYC Launch Reception of GritCityInc’s Tatted and Brooklyn Royalty Fall 2010 Menswear Presentation
• More than 300 original images of Philadelphia’s thriving tattoo culture curated by GritCityInc and photographed exclusively by Bernstein provides an up-close look at Philadelphia’s thriving tattoo culture featured in Tatted.
• Attendees will also join the fashion and art industry in a first glimpse of Brooklyn Royalty’s latest collection from NYC’s Fall 2010 Men’s Fashion Week.
• This event is free and open to the public. The first edition of Tatted ($19.95) and limited edition Brooklyn Royalty x GritCityInc T-shirts ($32) will be available for purchase for one night only.
• I will be meeting my future husband

WHEN

• Tonight, 7PM-Midnight.
  • 7-8PM: Media and VIP open bar reception sponsored by Sailor Jerry rum and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer; Brooklyn Royalty menswear preview
  • 7-10PM:  DJ Set by Finger On The Pulse
  • 8PM-12AM:  Public exhibition and Brooklyn Royalty fashion presentation
  • 11PM:  Special live musical performance

WHERE

• Cameo Gallery (in the back of the Lovin Cup)
• 93 N. 6th Street (b/w Berry and Wythe) [Wburg]

Meet Eclectic Method. Many of you probably know what they are all about, many of you probably do not. I have been hearing about them for quite some time, but was not able to finally peep them until this past Sat.   So, although I was dying a slow death, and my liver was screaming for me to call Dr. Drew ASAP, I was able to drag my ass out of bed and head over to Public Assembly for NYC WTF to catch them play.  And I am glad I did.

Eclectic Method, made up of London natives Jonny Wilson, Ian Edgar and Geoff Gamlen, describe themselves as…

a trio of video remix artists who rearrange the sights AND sounds of music videos, motion pictures, and video games to the thrill of live audiences around the globe. Their cutting edge remixes have served as promotional tools for global brands and artists. You can view their work online, on television, or at the club.  Eclectic Method’s live, improvised audiovisual mash-up sets feature television, film, music and video game footage sliced and diced into a blistering post-modern dance floor extravaganza.

Case in point.  I was quite hypnotized watching the screen and then watching them play, wondering how the fuck they were even doing all of that.  It was craziness.   Check out the video below and tell me on a scale of 1-10 how hard that looks – that’s like a 15.5.  And imagine watching them do this live – on the fly.  Pretty sick.

[vimeo id="2967311"]

And for you Wu Tang fans out there – they just release a new video today.

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You can check out all their shit on Vimeo and on their website.