Image via STG54

+++UPDATE+++

Good news everyone!!!!!!  Sunday Best will return this summer at BKLYN Yard! Residents Justin Carter, Eamon Harkin & Doug Singer will be joined by special guests every Sunday from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend.

More details coming soon.

———

My favorite place to be during the summer months is the Brooklyn Yard.  What was once the home solely to Eamon Harkin and Justin Carter’s killer party, Sunday Best, shared the wealth with the MeanRed girls last summer.  MeanRed confirmed they will be back again this summer, but no word if ‘Sunday Best‘ will return to The Yard for their long running weekly party.   I sure effing hope they do.  Sunday Best is by far the best party slash ultimate hang session BK’s ever seen.  People be getting DOWN at The Yard.

PS: There is also no word if MeanRed will be letting me host a party there this summer, but I sure as hell hope so!

Image via Grub Street

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I went to Ralph’s Italian Ice yesterday, located on Graham Ave and Conselyea St, to find out it was CLOSED and turning in to a DELI.  Yes, that’s right, a DELI.  Who’s bright idea was that?

I was forced to go to Uncle Louis G’s – the new place that opened last year- who’s existence I cursed because it moved in on my dear Ralph’s.  As I waited in line, I heard my thoughts vocalized by other patrons, “What happened to Ralph’s?! I love Ralph’s!!”   That’s what I’m saying.  I stared at the menu searching for my normal order – Coconut Cream – or in Louis’ language – Coconut Crave. In the taste test comparison, Louis’ did okay in comparison to Ralph’s, the ice is a little less creamy and more hard – but still delicious overall.

When I got home, I turned to Yelp for some answers – it looks like the transition from Ralph’s to All Star’s Deli went down last month.  Booooooooo.

I’m so pissed – I looked forward to Ralph’s every summer! Louis G’s it is… I guess.

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via Wooster Collective:

As we head into the April 16th opening weekend of Exit Through The Gift Shop in New York, San Francisco and LA, Banksy has started to release a series of exclusive videos on the film’s official Youtube channel.  Until today, the only footage online was the trailer which intentionally makes it clear that Banksy doesn’t want to give too of the film’s storyline away.  Banksy says in the clip: “The film is the story of what happens when his guy tried to make a documentary about me but he was a lot more interesting than I am, so the film is now kinda about him.”  In an extended five minute teaser for the film released today, Banksy for the first time sets up the film’s storyline.  That guy is a French filmmaker named Terry Guetta. What happens to him in the film is a true case in which truth is stranger than fiction. The film opens in cinemas across the United States beginning April 16th. For exact cities and theaters check the film’s official website here.

There was lots of action over at 366 Metropolitan Ave this weekend, home of the late Black Betty.  The Williamsburg staple closed it’s doors last June and the space remained pretty silent until a few weeks ago.

The new owners go by the Dow Young Group and the restaurant/ potential lounge now has a blue-grey exterior.  No official word on the future of the space – but I pray that it is not yet another Asian restaurant.

++++UPDATE++++

Joseph Foglia, the local designer best known for his work on Saltie and Dressler, is working on this space.  I’m excited to hear more about the progress – although I am really surprised he didn’t decide to do more with the exterior.  It could really use a little more than a fresh paint job.

Thanks @mikepeguero for the tip!

Sky Room, a new hotel rooftop bar located in Times Square which opens later this spring, boasts 360 degree views of Manhattan and the Hudson River.  It will be the city’s highest roof deck lounge. Craziness!!!

The Sky Room will host an Open Call to choose an in-house event photographer for the venue.  The winner will be determined by a panel of celebrity judges including society photographer Rob Rich, fashion photographer Tom Concordia, celebrity and society photographer Jerritt Clark, Claudine Gumbel of CaravanGirl.com, Kirill Bichutsky of Kirill Was Here,  ME!!!!! and fashion blogger Daniel Saynt of FashionIndie.com The winner will receive a paid photography position with the venue.

Potential contestants are required to bring examples of their work to the Open Call and can get a jump start on the competition by visiting Sky Room’s Twitter (www.twitter.com/skyroomnyc) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/skyroomnyc) accounts for further information and to upload your work.

The open call is This Wednesday, April 14th from 4PM-6PM:

598 Broadway (@Houston) 6^th Floor

Alma in Williamsburg via RG's camera phone

I almost died today when reading the following in Gothamist:

If you were around Williamsburg’s Southside last night and wondering what those giant swirling searchlights were all about, here’s the answer: The lights were rented to herald the arrival of a new lounge called Alma on Roebling and South 3rd. As you can see, Alma comes fully equipped with velvet ropes, a red carpet, and what appears to be a thick haze of Axe body spray. Conveniently located near the BQE and the Williamsburg Bridge, the lounge also offers VALET PARKING, and is thus clearly poised to become a definitively bangin’ nightlife destination. Our source, local resident Ryan Griffin, didn’t have the stones to venture inside (do you?), but tells us, “I always wanted to live near the meatpacking district—particularly a younger, less rich meatpacking district.” We’ll send an intern over later to get a full report (or lose his/her soul). In the meantime, eat your heart out, Production Lounge!

This is absurd on so many levels.  I used to work with Ryan back in the day which also gave me a good chuckle.   I’ll have to scope out the scene tonight.  It will be cheesetastic.

++++UPDATE++++

Here is the invite for last night’s party.  Don’t feel bad if you didn’t attend.  It was “By Invitation Only”

Want more?! Visit their Facebook page.

Not gonna lie though – I do love Mega 97.9.

So back to life as I know it…

Tuesday night I went to this party – The Darker Side of Green at the Skylight Studios in Chelsea.    I have been so inundated with party invites, press releases, and other shit, I can barely keep track of my plans every night.   I didn’t even remember what the event was for – all I knew was Paul Sevigny and the Misshapes were DJing, and a ton of promoters were affiliated with the event.  When I got there I was so thrown off to find out that (A) it was a Lexus event and (B) Sarah Silverman had something to do with it. I missed the “debate” and the abundance of celebrities *ugh WTF I missed the Gyllenhaals* in attendance but I did get to see the randomness which ensued after they all left.

Pretty much this party consisted of really hot fashion types and a bunch of ummm…not really hot fashion types.  You could definitely tell who was there because some nightclub promoter invited them and who was not.  The scene at the party was basically a bunch of scenesters sipping on their Patron cocktails, getting their picture taken, and wondering why it was so bright in there standing off to the side.   In the middle of the ‘dance floor’ random people were dancing like fools, grinding on each other, standing on a platform like it was Spring Break Cancun.  Overall the party was really weird and confusing; while the debate and earlier part of the evening definitely had clear messaging- the after party did not.   Word of the wise to brands, if you are going to hold a corporate event, don’t have nightclub promoters involved. Unless you are a liquor brand, or perhaps a fashion label, it just throws everything off.

And PS: I know the Misshapes (Note: Leigh Lezark only made a 5 minute appearance before leaving) are famous DJs and all… but really!? I could have did a better job with an iPod and the Mad Decent App. Please tell me why one song came to a complete stop, there was a 30 second pause of nothingness, and then a new song began.  Was the CD player changing discs? I don’t get it.   The fact of the matter is if you are already at the “top,” then chances are you’ve played at many, many venues with shit sound systems and you know how to handle the situation of music cutting in and out. Get it together.  For real.

Anyways – a picture is worth a thousand words so here are 23 courtesy of Nicole Wasilewicz.  Check out the party in all it’s glory.

If you never heard of Patra, I recommend you Google her.

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Sigh.  These were the days.

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She should have kept with the singing.

The video was filmed in downtown Dallas all in one shot with no crew, or no sett.  The video shows Badu stripping down running through the streets… and let me add she looks damn good doing it. Watch and enjoy.

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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.