This Is It: The Movie

In A Theatre Near You

 

If you haven’t heard by now, “This Is It” is the new Michael Jackson movie chronicling the rehearsals and lead up to MJ’s 50 scheduled London performances, which were set to begin in early July, shortly after the performers untimely death in June.  The movie begins with the main back-up dancers just after they found out that they had been selected for the show.  The entire movie cuts in and out of dress rehearsals, practice, and the special effects design process.  Different points of view from everyone from director, Kenny Ortega, to Jackson’s revolutionary wardrobe design team, all of whom have a place in this film.

The movie wasn’t nearly as sad as I thought it would be, actually Michael Jackson raw is a pretty funny guy.  Of course the end was sad and there were plenty of tears, but, it’s not like it was a surprise ending; and I think the end of the movie is when most people will have heard his new song, “This Is It,” which is beautiful and fun.  Actually I was a little annoyed at some points in the film because it was clear, that had these shows taken place, this would have been the most AWESOME concert ever, and we had tickets…  I miss Michael Jackson.

I think “This Is It” is good closure for fans that just want a little more.  It was tastefully done and really showcases what a genius Michael Jackson really was and will live on as forever.  The original plan was just a two week run, which because of it’s popularity, has been extended through Thanksgiving (go figure…).  If you’re a true fan go see it: you will love it, and since I’ve never met anyone who hates MJ music, for everyone else I think it’s a great family pick for Thanksgiving weekend.

 

Check out the official trailer on YouTube and buy tickets:

TRAILER

TICKETS

BY:  LAUREN BROWN

Purgatorio

268 W. 47th Street (corner of W. 47th St and 8th Ave)

NYC

Last night was the opening of “The Box Presents: Purgatorio,” a two week fright fest leading up to Halloween and NYC’s first haunted house nightclub. All of the staff was invited to check it out and show support on opening night and it was AWESOME.

When you enter at first you are greeted with a shot of Absinthe and none other than Rosewood, The Box’s legendary tranny, looking spectacular as always…

The theme of the haunted house is a funeral and it is soooo scary.  I don’t want to give it away because I am going back next week with a big group of friends, but in the beginning, the main haunted house part, you have to go alone and “view the body.”  There’s a coffin, you are alone, and it’s freaking scary…

The haunted house/funeral part lasts about 15 minutes, after which, you enter Hell, where Satan’s angel, Jonny Fayva, also a favorite Box performer, does a lounge performance with Hitler backing him up on the piano. I’m not sure how she even got there, but there was a virgin in hell that may or may not have been sacrificed…

Next is Purgatory, where the club theme starts going… In Purgatory there are lots of “S&M-type” dancers wandering around and mini-shows in creepy corners.  After hanging out in Purgatory for about a half hour the show starts… The show is very box style, just with a Halloween twist and familiar Box performers like Acantha and Kenichi.  The show is great and lasts about 20 minutes. After that…

Heaven… bright, white, angels…this is the club.  Not so sure my heaven would be a nightclub, but on the top floor of the building, there is a beautiful outside roof patio, which means: Heaven is the only place in Purgatorio that you are “technically” allowed to smoke… nice touch.

Guests are allowed to go up and down to party between Purgatory and Heaven- I think I prefer Purgatory… Heaven is a little too cold.

Actually getting in at the beginning seems to be a bit of a wait, but it’s a haunted house… I don’t think it would be haunted if you didn’t have to wait in line.

I think that Simon and the whole Box crew has done an amazing job pulling this off… It’s creative, unique, and a crazy fun huge production, everything that The Box is year round, just in monster proportion for our favorite holiday.

Happy Halloween!

BY: LAUREN BROWN

Skyline Studios and Gallery

465 10th Avenue (@ 36th Street)

NYC

I recently went with a couple of friends to see our friend Jonny Wilson, part of Eclectic Method, play at Skyline Studios and Gallery.  Skyline Studios is a new event and gallery space in midtown, Eclectic Method is a group of British AVDJs (audio visual disc jockeys).  Jonny’s show was on the roof of the building, absolutely gorgeous.  The roof of the building is set up to host outdoor parties and Jonny’s show was meant to showcase the space’s capabilities.  For his performance, huge projector screens were set up behind a raised DJ booth displaying his live “Audio-Visual-DJ-ing” style.  Looking out over the skyline, the New Yorker on one side, and screens showcasing fun music on the other.  It was really cool… actually a bit too cold and windy that night, but a really cool “New York” posh place to be.

That night was a press party with a lot going on:  Eclectic Method’s interactive set, a graffiti artist creating art in one corner, wait staff walking around with mini versions of American junk food favorites to groups of people huddled around outdoor space heaters, and lots of red wine.  The crowd there was young and in the know… lots of writers, artists, and professionals, but as I said… it was a press party.  The space is meant to be rented out for private events.

The building itself has 3 floors, all of which are set up as blank canvases, customizable for events party rentals.  I expect there will be many interesting functions going on in the future here, as Reebok and Windows have already played host to private events.  Throwing a party at Skyline Studios and Gallery is not cheap though… in my nosing around I found out that nightly rentals start in the 10 thousands… add on staffing and catering and you’re in the 20 thousands.  Maybe not attainable for the average individual, Skyline Studios is a perfect place for a gaudy company Christmas party or extravagant wedding reception.

In conclusion:  If you get invited to an event at Skyline any time soon- Go… It’s cool and trendy.

BY: LAUREN BROWN

Hotel Griffou

21 West 9^th Street (Btwn 5^th and 6^th)

New York City

212-358-0228

I had drinks a few weeks ago with friends at Hotel Griffou.  We thought the atmosphere was really cool and on Wednesday we went back and tried the food.

I’m not sure that Hotel Griffou is actually hotel, but walk down the stairs of its discreet awning on 9^th street and you enter an old world sepia-tinted drinking parlor with multiple side rooms and cozy tables.  In the dining area we were in the theme is a messy art studio: unfinished looking paintings and jars full of paintbrushes.  The general feeling inside kind of reminds me of a smaller version of The Jane Street.

Before going for dinner I mentioned it to a few friends who gave bad reviews of the food, so I was a little nervous, but I have to say that I completely disagree.  We tried a few things and shared everything. Some highlights were the lobster thermidor fondue appetizer and the scallop entrée.  I personally ordered the “Steak Diane,” which was lovely.  My friend next to me had bone marrow with his meat, and sorry for the cheesy pun, but I didn’t have the guts to try it.  Everyone was very happy with the food and we were all a bit uncomfortably full afterwards.  The wine list at Griffou was great but I would stay away from their specialty cocktail list.  They’ve tried too hard to be unique on this and it’s not working… one of the drinks tasted more like a wheat grass shot and my friend told me the spicy tequila one gave him heartburn for the rest of our night!

As far as the history of Hotel Griffou and its name, I recently read that in order to be a success in NYC, there has to be history, and if there is none, create it.  So the word on the street is that Hotel Griffou used to be a brothel run by Madame Griffou and they have based their menu around this with clever names for “Mamma’s recipes” and “trophy wife” drinks.

I have a theory about why I heard bad reviews, they came from models and I have been full from that dinner for the past two days… I’m not sure they even ate the food.  Hotel Griffou is owned by the people from Freemans, Waverly Inn, and Pastis and I love it, which seems to be a unique opinion on the Web.  I will definitely go back… The food is good, just a bit too heavy, and the eclectic staff is nice and knowledgeable.

BY: LAUREN BROWN

Abe and Arthur’s

409 West 14^th Street

New York, NY 10014

646-289-3930

Last night I had the pleasure of dining at the meatpacking district’s new hotspot Abe and Arthur’s.  Not officially open yet, last night was friends and family night and I was the guest of my best friend Jamie Dunn, who is bartending at the restaurant.  I went with her boyfriend Peter and it was pretty cool the way they did it.  We started at the bar and Jamie served us up a couple really tasty “Hemmingways,” the signature cocktail of the night.  Then when we sat down the menu had been pre-highlighted with menu items they wanted us to eat… The chef had done it this way so that the kitchen could practice making everything at different times and also so that we could have a variety of foods we wouldn’t normally choose.  On our menu: Kobe beef sliders, goat cheese salad, branzino, filet mignon, zucchini fries, corn and bacon salad, and PB & J desert… PRETTY SWEET!!!

Peter and I shared everything and it was all very good, cooked well and served in a trendy way. We thought the most interesting thing was the PB & J dessert, which was bread pudding with raspberry sorbet and a peanut sauce on the side… It really tasted like the sandwich we all loved so much when we were 5!  We thought it was such a clever idea for a desert.  The servers were all very friendly and knowledgeable and I know from Jamie that they have all been having intense training and tastings for the past few weeks now in preparation for opening. Owners Mark Birnbaum and Eugene Remm have done a good job done a kind of American bistro menu the fancy way, which is pretty fitting for this trendy neighborhood.  It was so nice to go there and have a complimentary meal; the vibe is just all around good.

The space itself is very cool also.  Abe and Arthur’s is in the space that we used to know and love as Lotus and has been completely redesigned.  Everything is very modern but with an old world classy feel.  Everything is top tier, from the marble floors to the gold engraved $5,000 front door.  Downstairs is the main dining room, with about 20 tables and huge glass encased fabric panels lining 3 of the walls.  We snuck a peek upstairs, where there are more dining tables, an additional bar, and plenty of room for a private party.

The prices at Abe and Arthur’s are pretty expected for the neighborhood.  Not outrageous, but I think for a meal and drinks it would be hard to get out for under $80/person.  And you want to have drinks… my hot best friend is making them and once you start getting saucy you will definitely want to meander your way into the new “SL” (Simyone Lounge) club downstairs…

Abe and Arthur’s officially opens next Thursday, October 1^st.

Another suggestion:  get there early and take a stroll on Manhattan’s new Highline… Peter and I checked it out for the first time and it’s pretty nice… Romantic sunset walk with my best friend’s boyfriend… score!

BY: LAUREN BROWN

Los Feliz

109 Ludlow St (btwn Rivington and Delancey)

Last night a couple of my friends and I checked out the Lower East Side’s new tequila and taco den, Los Feliz, which opened just under two weeks ago and is owned by the same people as Spitzers Corner. After reading about it and walking by the other day, it looked like a trendy new place to have dinner and taste some of the good stuff.

We were a little disappointed… I know they have only been open for just over a week, but first of all there was no tequila or drink list and the actual menu only had a choice of three margaritas. The waitress was not knowledgeable whatsoever about Los Feliz or its menu, and when we asked her about one of the tacos she told us she was a vegetarian. (I’m sorry but when someone at my job asks me about a champagne they are thinking about I would never tell them that I don’t really care for champagne and a vodka soda would do me just fine.) Also, for the prices ($10-$12 for tacos) the food is really small, more like an appetizer.

One interesting thing on the menu is their salsa… It’s not salsa but a spicy sauce squeezed out of a tube onto chips, apparently that’s how it’s done in Mexico. Basically for two drinks and an appetizer, we each spent $50… not super outrageous but I think it is a little pricey for the LES. However, it was pretty tasty, the jalapeño margarita had just the right kick, and the bartender’s recommendation for añejo was delicious.

The venue itself is actually really cool also and an awesome place to have drinks. Upstairs seems like a regular small restaurant but head to the back and cement sided passages wind down to two lower level drinking dens with high ceilings and oversized antique mirrors. The first lower level is pretty big, with tables and candlelight and the bottom level is a small secret basement bar.  What I thought was really cool was the DJ booth above and behind the bar with a secret staircase going up to it, kind of a cement tree house underneath NYC.

(Hallway to lowest level)

(DJ Booth: Stairs on the left…)

The whole place seems like a maze and I heard a lot of people joking that they felt like they were in a video game. We had a really good time down there, the bartenders were nice and had a heavy hand, the music was trendy and fun. The crowd was young and cool, we actually ran into several friends from The Box, and Moby was having his birthday there- just incase anyone is interested.

I think overall my review of Los Feliz is mixed: no to the restaurant, yes to the downstairs drinking hole. I will definitely stop by Los Feliz for a drink again in the future and I think the two downstairs rooms would make a great place to throw an intimate, wild drinking bash.

Just one last thing though, and I’m sorry, but for a tequila lounge to not have a tequila list… is retarded.

BY: LAUREN BROWN

LYDM

Little Yellow Dance Machine

Sullivan Room

218 Sullivan St
New York, NY 10012
(212) 505-1703

Last Monday I went to the LYDM (Little Yellow Dance Machine) party at Sullivan Room.  This was my first time going, but it’s a weekly party that started in August thrown by one of my good friends, and favorite house DJ, DJ Exacta. Sullivan Room is in Soho; kind of a discreet underground bar with a great sound system and cheap drinks…  From the outside it just looks like a door with a bouncer standing outside, but go in and twist down some old cement stairs and you are in a music charged dungeon of dance…

When I went last week, I ran into a bunch of friends and old acquaintances, which was really nice, but because this party is new, and I think that a lot of people don’t know about it yet, the crowd was kind of small.  However, from what my friends are saying, there are more and more people every week and as word starts spreading it is only getting better and better…

The best part about LYDM:  THE MUSIC.

Because these are my best friends doing the party, of course my opinion is a bit more biased than my other blogs, but the music really is great.  AND, even though I’ve been a little sick of house lately, I always love Exacta. His music is fresh, creative, and fun.  Whenever and wherever I go see him spin I have an awesome time and leave happy.  Also, the atmosphere at Sullivan is unpretentious and friendly, which makes it even better.

The reason I hadn’t gone to LYDM before was because I was traveling, but it’s a cool party with great music and I plan on going on a regular basis.  I think this party has a lot of potential to become a cool on-going place for the club industry to unwind and/or windup on our night off!  The party is every Monday night and kicks off around 11 PM.

BY: LAUREN BROWN

IBIZA IBEETHA

I want to preface this entry by saying: if you are from a place where deliveries are impossible after 11 PM, alcohol isn’t sold on Sundays, and in general being out until 4 AM on a Monday night is considered inappropriate… DON’T READ THIS- GO TO IBIZA, IT’S CRAZY, YOU WILL LOVE IT.

If you are used to city nightlife, Ibiza’s scene is pretty unimpressive: huge mega clubs just filled with a lot more amateurs than usual.

During the day the sea is beautiful and the weather is gorgeous.  I’m not sure if I’m just getting over the whole thing, or it’s because my job is working in a club, but the daytime lounging and being lazy in the Mediterranean sun, something I can’t do in New York, was what was really vacation for me.

BUT:  I did go out in Ibiza, so here’s what’s up…

As far as describing the décor for any of these places, I’m just going to do it once because they’re all pretty much the same:

Dance floors packed with a shoulder to shoulder mostly white, mostly male crowd ,all facing wherever the DJ booth is.  DJ is GOD in Ibiza.  The bottle service “VIP” tables are up higher, overlooking the dance floor.  All of the clubs have stores with their merchandise in it… everything from underwear to a Pacha motorcycle helmet!  And, if you don’t get to buy your club t-shirt while you are actually there at the club, don’t worry the “club-stores” also have outposts in Ibiza town center and the airport…

Amnesia

Ridiculous- and not in the good way… We went there twice; on my first and last night.  The first night we went because our friend Ronny was DJing.  There are two rooms at Amnesia, and Ronny was spinning in the larger of the two, which turned out to be a gay party, no problem… but some of the things the male go-go dancers were doing with each other was shocking, but I guess that’s the point, so… diggin’ it.

One cool thing about Amnesia is that in the VIP, you can also rent a private secret room behind your table.  You get the key and a security guard stands outside- inside you have a private bathroom, couches, and a chance to get away from the crowd/music.  AND: if you didn’t catch that… IT’S YOUR OWN PRIVATE ROOM INSIDE A CLUB THAT YOU CAN LOCK WITH A KEY.

When we went the second time, it was a party called “Cacoon,” in the smaller room.  It was a typical crowded club party… nothing special.

I feel like I’m leaving something out if I don’t at least mention how expensive these clubs can be:  Our first night at Amnesia was €10,000, night 2 we got out for a measly € 3000.

PACHA

Pacha put Ibiza on the map and is probably the most famous club here.

I stayed there for 15 minutes.  I have nothing much to say about Pacha… it’s a big club with extra loud house music and very overcrowded.

I will say it was one of the prettier clubs on the inside, and if it is something new for you it would be pretty cool to go to because it is so infamous—but we have Pacha in New York.

In Ibiza, the sun shines until 10PM and I woke up every day to a beautiful sea view and an infinity pool… I think I will save my all-night dancing at Pacha/ sleeping all day for the crappy winter weather in New York.

SPACE

Space was my favourite club in Ibiza.  We went there at midnight and stayed until 7AM.  The music was house, but with a little popular, old rap, and fun music mixed in to lighten it up… this is my favourite kind of fun. David Guetta headlined and Grace Jones performed… The dance floor was typical but the VIP was great, there was plenty of room for us to jump around, and the bathroom was around the corner with no lines (at least not the kind that you have to wait in…). If you go to Ibiza and go out only one night, make it Sunday at Space.  This place was pretty cool… I bought the T-shirt.

BY: LAUREN BROWN

We Beat Banksy

This weekend in England my friends and I decided to take a drive out to Bristol to see graffiti artist, Banksy’s, exhibit at the Bristol museum.  We read online that there would be long lines at the museum, so we left really early and got to Bristol around 9:30 AM.  When we got to the museum, the line was longer than we could have ever expected, and the museum workers outside said it would be a 6-7 hour wait.  We decided there was no way were going to do that and instead see what we could accomplish in Bristol in 6 hours…

Here’s what we did for 6 hours instead of waiting in line… we had a LOVELY day:

1. Ate lunch (and had a Bloody Mary)…

2. Visited the Clifton Suspension Bridge…

3. Climbed down a cave to a beautiful outlook…

4. Took pictures of funny signs…

5. Took a boat ride around the canals and saw the S.S. Great Britian…

6. Rode bumper cars…

7. Ate ice cream…

8. and… went shopping a bit…

So, we had a great day in Bristol and it’s a really fun town to spend a beautiful sunny day around and I think seeing all of the people lining up to see the exhibit is probably Banksy’s biggest installation yet.  He is from Bristol and walking around the city all day, we saw several of his original pieces in their natural habitat. Banksy has even been quoted saying “This is the first show I’ve ever done where taxpayers’ money is being used to hang my pictures up rather than scrape them off.”  So, in my opinion… to all of the public who wants to wait for 7 hours instead of enjoying such a quaint city, the joke is on you, good job Banksy.

Some original art we saw on our boat trip:

Here is a picture of the line:

BY: LAUREN BROWN

Vice Photo Exhibition

The Printspace

74 Kingsland Road

Hoxton and Shoreditch

E2 8DL 


Tel: +44 20 7739 1060

Yesterday I went and check out the Vice Photo Exhibition at the Printspace in the Hoxton and Shoreditch area of London.  The exhibit features photos from some of Vice’s longtime contributors like Terry Richardson, Ryan McGinley, and Richard Kern.  The show has been put on to showcase 15 years of Vice photography and their annual/upcoming photo album.  It was pretty cool but a small exhibit in what is really more of a working studio then a “museum.”

One installation that I found interesting was a set of prints by Angela Boatwright titled “Models Sans Tattoos.”  The project started out because Angela was photographing nudes on a regular basis and noticed that they always had tattoos.  She decided to do a series of “sans tattoos” nudes, and when she set out to look for un-tatted models, she found it harder than expected to find a clean canvas. They ended up having to cover the girls’ tattoos with full body make-up… The works turned out that while these girls are completely naked, the viewer is still left guessing: What are they hiding?  Ummm… Angie- I don’t have any ink.

Another set I liked was “Chubs” by Jamie Lee Curtis Taete.  I was amused by this set of nudes just because they are gross and offensive… What do you think?  Nice work Jamie.

I would recommend stopping by this exhibit if you have a few minutes to kill and ONLY if are already in the area.  I took the tube over from west London and it took about an hour… not sure it was worth it.  However, I did have a really nice time walking around the area.  Hoxton is a pretty cool part of London with lots of cafes and trendy-looking bars.  I went out here once a few years back and remember having a blast, but I was told that if you venture out of the main bar/shop area it’s not the safest area of night… it’s east London, basically speaks for itself.

Here are some neighborhood shots I took:

The exhibit is supposed to end this week, so if you do decide to check it out, I would call first to see if it is still up.  But, The Printspace seems like the kind of  place that won’t take this down until something new has to go up…

BY: LAUREN BROWN