About Last Night... PAPER's Fifth Annual Nightlife Awards
By Alexis Swerdloff
Photos by Caroline Torem Craig
For the fifth year in a row, New York nightlife's luminaries, freaks and everyone in between headed en masse to PAPER's Nightlife Awards. The festivities, presented by Svedka, held at Chelsea mega-venue M2 (with special thanks to Perrier and KidRobot), kicked off with a rollicking DJ set by Cassie and Harley (they mixed the Cardigans' "Love Fool" with Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" and Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind"). DJ Jon Jon Battles took over the decks during the ceremony, and he was amazing as well. We are not just saying this because they sponsored the event, but the Svedka-based Fembot Fatale, which essentially tasted like a strawberry smoothie, was a delicious and dangerous addition to the evening. Even Bunny Kinney, who claims to only drink vodka sodas, found them irresistible. These drinks were so good in fact that we are having a slightly difficult time remembering what happened last night! But we're going to try. Here are some of our favorite moments. (And check back a little later for a list of all the winners.)
James Murphy (he of LCD Soundsystem fame) pulling not one, but TWO Kanye Wests, leaping on stage during the best DJ awards, and claiming "no disrespect," but that Justine D deserved to win.
Patrick McMullan coming up to get his award for best nightlife photographer during the People's Choice awards portion of the evening, and presenter/Hall of Fame inductee Michael Musto asking, "why is my second best friend up on stage right now?"
The Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic introducing the "designer with Influenza."
Sally Singer being just generally wonderful.
Amanda Lepore, presenting the award for the Future Face of Nightlife, saying she'll look like the Svedka bot in 2033.
Taylor Hanson and Poppy Delevigne presenting the award for Best New Party. Both of them were GLISTENING with attractiveness.
Jonathan Ames, presenting with Harriet Holloway, riffing on the merits of marijuana versus cocaine.
Andre Balazs, stoically accepting his awards on behalf of The Standard.
The Midwestern charm of the Rehab kids from Chicago, winners of America's Best Party.
The Drums, pulling a solid, and subbing for the Ting Tings at the last minute. They were an adorable, surfy-dancey end to the evening.
James Murphy (he of LCD Soundsystem fame) pulling not one, but TWO Kanye Wests, leaping on stage during the best DJ awards, and claiming "no disrespect," but that Justine D deserved to win.
Patrick McMullan coming up to get his award for best nightlife photographer during the People's Choice awards portion of the evening, and presenter/Hall of Fame inductee Michael Musto asking, "why is my second best friend up on stage right now?"
The Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic introducing the "designer with Influenza."
Sally Singer being just generally wonderful.
Amanda Lepore, presenting the award for the Future Face of Nightlife, saying she'll look like the Svedka bot in 2033.
Taylor Hanson and Poppy Delevigne presenting the award for Best New Party. Both of them were GLISTENING with attractiveness.
Jonathan Ames, presenting with Harriet Holloway, riffing on the merits of marijuana versus cocaine.
Andre Balazs, stoically accepting his awards on behalf of The Standard.
The Midwestern charm of the Rehab kids from Chicago, winners of America's Best Party.
The Drums, pulling a solid, and subbing for the Ting Tings at the last minute. They were an adorable, surfy-dancey end to the evening.
Your Comment
Posted at 1:22 on Dec 10, 2009
what happened with the ting tings?
Posted at 1:23 on Dec 10, 2009
and the ting tings?
Posted at 1:30 on Dec 10, 2009
I vote Quel White '10!!!!!!!! nextintheboudoir.blogspot.com
Posted at 6:02 on Dec 10, 2009
Peoples choice: James Murphy!
Posted at 6:24 on Dec 10, 2009
i'm sorry but it all seemed a bit tired...maybe it's the recession but nothing felt new...
Posted at 6:45 on Dec 10, 2009
Yeah, there are 3 of us commenting: so can someone please tell us how Paper, that's supposed to be indie/cool/real NYC voted The 18th Floor at the Standard as best new place when the coolest club kids (meaning us and our friends) aren't rich enough to get in. Paper, you lost our vote. We'll take Santos any day...but your pandering to the Standard makes us sad. very very sad.
Posted at 11:18 on Dec 11, 2009
um...what's up with the wrong picture for the Rehab crew?
Posted at 12:03 on Dec 11, 2009
Michael, Krystyna and Deb- which club do you think should have won for Best New Club? Yes the door policy at the Standard is exclusive and the drinks are pricey but that type of scene is a staple of NYC nightlife. Remember Studio 54? Area? The Beatrice? I love both the Standard AND Santos. They're totally different and totally fabulous and they both won awards.
As for the Ting Tings- Katie from the band was in the hospital in Ohio so they had to cancel at the last second and the Drums stepped in. We'll be doing something else with the Ting Tings in 2010 so keep an eye out for that.
Posted at 6:14 on Dec 11, 2009
I think (le) poison rouge should have won
Posted at 9:22 on Dec 12, 2009
So is the 18th Floor of the standard a club?
thought was more of a lounge ? do people dance there ? and how do u get compared to studio 54 ?
Just saying