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Entries tagged with 'Nightlife'
Posted May. 22, 2008,
Girls! Girls! Girls! Party Starting Sunday!
By Mickey Boardman
If you're a gay lady who loves the girl group sound of the '60s, there's a new Sunday night party coming that's just for you. Downtown superstars Miss Guy and Michael Economy are doing Girls! Girls! Girls! starting Sunday, June 1st and promising the Shangri-Las, the Ronettes, the Marvelettes and bonus nuggets by the likes of Mae West and Carol Burnett. Sign me up!!!
Girls! Girls! Girls!
Bowery Electric
327 Bowery
Starts 9 p.m.
Free
Posted Apr. 10, 2008,
Bar of the Week: Bowery Electric
By Elizabeth Thompson
Bowery Electric is the newest addition to the Bowery's recent bar boom, and, rest assured, it's one that comes from a good lineage. BE is brought to us by the long-time East Village rock bar proprietors Mike Stuto (HiFi), musician Jesse Malin, and Johnny T (both of Niagara and Black & White). Located where video voyeur den Remote Lounge once was, the three gave the new digs a good gutting, replacing the former tenant's surveillance cameras and day-glo color scheme with navy hues, bare vintage bulbs, steam trunks and black wainscoting. All that gives the space a sleeker, decidedly more sophisticated charm than the owners' other ventures. Sorry, HiFi jukebox fans, this joint comes without an epic music selection, but there is a DJ booth next to the bar. Although unmanned the night we went, the mix of Luscious Jackson, the Four Tops, and Iggy Pop playing over the stereo had clearly been selected by discerning ears (finishing touches are also being put on a downstairs space for live music). The drink menu's no frills, and includes the usual top shelf suspects plus a dozen $6 beers on tap (standouts include Old Speckled Hen and Victory Prima Pilsner). Those looking to get fancy, however, need only ask -- the night we visited, our bartender was cool enough to take our vague request for "something with vodka" and whip up a refreshing concoction of fresh lime juice, soda water, sugar and Absolut Pear ($10). She wasn't too cool, however, to suggest it be called an "Absolut Pear-adise." Overall, Bowery Electric is good news: a space that subtly reflects the neighborhood's high-end makeover without falling prey to cheesedom and certainly without taking itself too seriously. 327 Bowery, (212) 228-0228
Posted Sep. 27, 2007,
Upstairs = Old PAPER Offices
By Gary Pini
Though we haven't been there, we just realized that the bar Upstairs is in PAPER's old office! The summer's supposedly "hot celebrity hangout" is located above Cafe Bari at 529 Broadway at Spring Street in SoHo. We have many fond memories of that space and hope all the celebrities still feel our presence. If you're interested in starting a trendy club, we suggest looking a little further downtown to 365 Broadway where we moved after 529.
Posted Jun. 29, 2007,
Bar of the Week: R Bar
By PAPERMAG Editors
Across the street from the famous and historic Bowery Mission, a different breed of supplicant tends to gather. For these more fortunate parishioners, a $10 cocktail is a sacrament, and R Bar, the newest installation on the ever more glittery Bowery, is happy to oblige. The atmosphere is equal parts Francophilic decadence and punkish swagger. Crystal chandeliers dangle above the bar and sparkle against the red velvet walls, but the paintings and photos of Debbie Harry, Mick Jagger and friends remind the demimonde that CBGB was, after all, just down the block. The house cocktail, the White Stripe (an unlikely mix of Ketel One, Tequila Rose, Baileys, grenadine, and milk finished off with a peppermint stick, $10), may put you in mind of childhood amoxicillin, but for more standard fare, the bartenders are happy to pour out generous doses and even a stray flute or two of champagne. No one could mistake R Bar for a Bowery flophouse or dive, but reserve the private back room, outfitted with its own full bar and four gleaming stripper�s poles, and you�ll be reminded that, dress it up however you may, the spirit of the old Bowery is alive and well. Turns out you really can go home again. 218 Bowery, (212) 334-0484. Matthew Schneier
Posted Jun. 22, 2007,
Bar of the Week: Honey
By PAPERMAG Editors
Scads of pedestrians stomp along 14th Street, but usually to get somewhere else -- dinner at Pastis, say, or to rummage through the boots at DSW. There�s little to tempt along the way. But the owners of Honey, a 3,000-square-foot eatery, bar and lounge that has housed a slew of failed restaurants, are hoping to change that with a handful of specialty cocktails and eats from Victor Rodriguez, former chef at Dos Caminos. Although the brick walls and chocolate-brown banquettes are warming, there�s something soullessly generic about the space. At the bar, as the music shifted from the Bee Gees to the White Stripes to the St. Elmo�s Fire theme song, we let the pretty bar staff whip us up strong $10 drinks: a muddled strawberry lychee punch, heavy on the rum; and their signature libation, A Taste of Honey, with refreshing 42 Below Manuka Honey Vodka and ginger beer. The limited menu is heavy on pricey entrees and short on finger foods, but if it�s just a nosh you�re after, quinoa chicken strips with blackberry Chipotle ($9) or Kobe sliders and homemade pickles ($17) should do the trick. 243 W. 14th St., (212) 620-0077. Alia Akkam
Posted Jun. 15, 2007,
About Last Night... Cocktails with United Bamboo and onto a Birthday Party
By Carol Lee
Last night, my old friends Thuy Pham and Miho Aoki of United Bamboo hosted an intimate summer cocktail party (with Nicolas Feuillatte champers, Sapporo beer and some finger foods) at their new-ish space on Centre St. The best (food-wise) was this mini raw skewer thing with jicama, radish, basil and mango that you dip into herbed salt. It was both refreshing and savory! I'm a big fan of UB for their simple classic lines and a dash of avant-garde twist. Rising to the occasion, I wore my UB linen trench that I love so much. The soirée was just what you'd want on an early summer evening -- food, booze and good company with room to move around. Singer Joanna Newsom stopped by before heading over to the Gucci party. She was rocking a Chloé necklace as a head piece which matched her Louis Vuitton tote and looked just adorable.
After stuffing myself and spilling drinks, I headed over to my dear friend Glynnis McDaris's birthday party at Nicole Lombardi's house in Tribeca. It was a continuation of more fun times with fun people. I love this night -- it was everything that I love about living in New York!
Picture on top: Miho Aoki, Joanna Newsom & Annabel Mehran
Posted Jun. 15, 2007,
Bar of the Week: Village Pourhouse
By PAPERMAG Editors
Beware of a visual barrage on the corner of 11th Street and Third Avenue: flashing yellow and red Broadway lights, a giant neon hand lifting a giant neon mug and a running ticker reading, "Over 80 Beers." A bar hasn't had this much neon since Homer invented the Flaming Moe. Despite the tacky turnoffs, a loud post-work crowd fills Village Pourhouse on White Trash Mondays for 25-cent wings, $8 Bud Light pitchers and $2 Natty Light cans (in brown bags!). Rumor has it there's a crowd on Saturday afternoons when the bar's numerous huge flat screens play to football-hungry Virginia Tech and Georgia alums. It does seem like a college bar (cute co-eds and loud groups of friends) and isn't without those people that smart New Yorkers avoid (is that guy sitting alone with five Bud drafts?). Village Pourhouse is from the same owners who brought us the trashy Proof, so it's no surprise to find the same lowbrow set here. Unless you crave their most exotic brew, Chimay, skip this scene and head over to someplace like d.b.a. (41 First Avenue), where they rotate the taps and the crowd is less annoying. 64 Third Ave.,, (212) 979-BEER. Nina Weiss
Posted Jun. 7, 2007,
Eight Items or Less: Twilo Folds in Miami, Cocaine Gets Cheaper and One Person Didn't Like Knocked Up
By PAPERMAG Editors
1. When the world famous New York club Twilo folded in 2001 the owners tried to re-establish the venue in Miami last year. Now the Miami branch has also folded. Located in the downtown Miami 24-hour nightlife district, the club encountered many of the same problems currently being felt on West 27th Street in New York’s nightlife district. The cities' original concept of keeping all the clubs in one zoned area has backfired by also bringing all the attendant problems to one neighborhood -- and then blaming the clubs. In a recent posting on burlingtonnights.com, regular Twilo DJ Danny Tenaglia observes that "Miami is being completely taken over by hip-hop, reggaeton, VIP rooms and non-intelligent teenage drop-outs with gansta tattoos."
2. The next time your favorite house-music anthem exhorts you to "Jack your body, ja- ja- jack your body!" your feet might be doing more than just making you sweat. British newspaper The Independent reports that Enviu, a nonprofit organization for eco-projects, and a Dutch architectural firm called Doll have teamed to create a Sustainable Dance Club. Though still in the planning stages, the dancers will eventually "squeeze a surface membrane in the dancefloor which works a flywheel to generate voltage, which is then fed back into the system to light it." If you can't see your date, just dance harder and brighten up the room. (via The Wall Street Journal).
3. Must be the Shoes (part III): The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported this week that Heelys (shoes with wheels in the heels) caused 1,600 emergency room visits, 64 injuries and one death from September 2005 through December 2006. Wear your helmet, Mr. Mickey!
4. According to the Atlantic, the price of cocaine is falling dramatically. Perhaps diverted by the hunt for terrorists, the DEA claims that the price of a gram in New York City was $20 to $25 in 2005.
5. When you're to trying come down, consider a Mediflow pillow. Its inventor claims that the "patented water-based design therapeutically relieves chronic neck pain" and that you will wake up feeling "rejuvenated, soothed and energized."
6. Or, better yet, skip the powder and the pillow and go to www.i-doser.com where you can download 30 minutes of aural stimulation for $3.75. Their version of "cocaine" supposedly induces a "simulated state achieved through the use of advanced binaural methods." And, like rap music, it comes with a warning: "This one comes close." Sgt. Pepper comes close enough for us.
7. Apparently, someone doesn’t like Knocked Up.
Posted May. 25, 2007,
Bar of the Week: Blind Tiger Ale House
By Alexis Swerdloff
Blind Tiger Ale House, the much-loved Village beer bar, has had a rough time of late. First, a Starbucks took over its Hudson Street home in 2005, at which point it moved to new digs on Bleecker and Jones. Then, due to a drawn out back-and-forth with the New York State Liquor Authority, Blind Tiger was forced to operate as a coffee shop for a year. Finally, as of late March, Blind Tiger, as we knew it and loved it, is back in business. Built with the beams and floors of a 19th-century farmhouse, the new space feels newly old in a non-forced kind of way. There's something precious about the spot, as patrons sit by the wood-burning fireplace, sampling deviled eggs, grilled-cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Though the floor is cleaner and the crowd a little less rough around the edges, Blind Tiger is still what it first set out to be: a bar for beer lovers. With 28 beers on tap, you can throw down everything from an Ommegang Witte to a Southampton Double White Ale. There are also about 60 bottled beers, a slew of rare vintage beers and a gravity keg on hand. Now that Chumley's is indefinitely out of service, this is one of the last spots for good, old Norman Mailer-style Village beer-swigging. 281 Bleecker St., (212) 462-4682. Alexis Swerdloff
Posted May. 18, 2007,
About Last Night... Fergie Squared and Other Glamour Girls
By Mickey Boardman
Last night two of our favorites came together. We're talking about a little Fergie on Fergie fun! Last year when we had Fergie (the former Stacy Ferguson) perform at our Nightlife Awards, it was our fantasy to have Fergie (the former Duchess of York) introduce her. Well that didn't happen. Until last night at Cipriani Wall Street at the party Deutsche Bank hosted for Cipriani's concert series to benefit Unicef and Sarah Ferguson's Foundation.
Meanwhile, around town, the kids lined up around the block for the Rembrandt tooth whitener party. Confusing I know, but it was worth it to hear the fabulous DJ stylings of Samantha Ronson and to chat with hostess Rashida Jones who's so cute and fun. Honestly Samantha gets cuter every time I see her. Rashida was in town for the TV Up Fronts and talked about the 'fun' of basically being on a receiving line as boozed up guys in suits come up to her and are obnoxious. The glamour of show biz!
Posted May. 16, 2007,
Kylie Minogue Out on the Town!
By Mickey Boardman
Mr. Mickey is too much of a slacker to call this post About Last Night because it happened on Sunday. MM sadly had run the battery on his camera way down and couldn't download the photo of Miss Aimee Phillips with Queen of Pop Kylie Minogue. The girls were hanging out at Cuckoo Club at Maritime Hotel, which is a gorgeous party for the gays!!! Kylie is so beautiful and super sweet and fun to talk to! MM interviewed her years ago and she hasn't changed a bit. She danced and carried on like a normal gay-loving glamourpuss!!!
Here's a bonus photo of two new cuties about town: Hector and Summer. Keep an eye out for these two!!!
Posted May. 11, 2007,
Bar of the Week: GoldBar
By PAPERMAG Editors
Upon entering the latest Manhattan disco bunker, my shocked companion said, “It looks like Bungalow 8 went to the bank!” She's right. Like Bungalow 8, the place Amy Sacco made famous, GoldBar is long and thin and could comfortably accommodate about 100 people; unlike it, GoldBar is painted gold and has so many artful design flourishes referencing metal that it resembles a Bond villain's lair. This isn't soothing, but it does feel like money, so if that sounds sexy to you, go with it. The hysteric decor includes hundreds of gold skulls lining the walls, curtains of gold chains that separate the front bar from the back lounge area and mock oil portraits of fictitious but vaguely threatening figures of Italian nobility. (In-joke alert: The bar's owners are among those featured in the paintings.) Despite offering a potentially fabulous backdrop for a fashion shoot, the experience of GoldBar is neither kitschy enough to be amusing nor exclusive enough to be special. It's really just expensive. True, the specialty cocktails, $17 each, are tasty. The Gold Rush (fresh lemon, honey, bourbon) comes with an enormous, rough-hewn chunk of ice; the Pomegranate Gimlet (fresh lime, grenadine, vodka or gin) smells like a club and turned my insides into a party; and the Bee's Kiss (honey, cream, aged rum) is comprised of wonderful ingredients that look great on the menu. GoldBar also offers light Italian fare, captain's chairs at the bar and graffiti on the bathroom walls (arty, self-conscious graffiti, not the real stuff). Even if the interior has to be seen to be believed, you can have the theme-bar experience elsewhere and you'll probably find it reminds you less of waiting in line at the bank. 389 Broome St., (212) 274-1568. Jonathan Durbin
Photo from Eater.
Posted May. 9, 2007,
About Last Night... Mr. Mickey Goes to the Spotted Pig
By Mickey Boardman
You MMbloggers know that Mr. Mickey really only goes to Indochine, the chicest restaurant in Manhattan. Otherwise it's Rice to-go or Burritoville for MM. Consequently, MM was excited to be invited by the ultraglamorous Kate Schelter, Bettina Zilkha and David Gruning to the Spotted Pig for a lovely dinner. All the hipsters LIVE for the Spotted Pig and MM can see why. The food was DELICIOUS. The carrot salad was sublime! The crowd was packed with cuties like Luigi Tadini, Anouck Lepere, Matthew Marchak, Joey Jalleo, Lisa Salzer (of Lulu Frost jewelry) and Todd Eberle. Here are some cute shots. Kate wanted to show off her Lulu Frost earrings. A gorgeous hunk came in dressed as an old-fashioned newsboy because he was giving out giftbags at some Gin launch in the other room. Then he changed into his street clothes and was all in motorcycle leather. This dude was HOT. Ah, the glamour never ends in the Naked City!!!!
Pictured above: Kate Schelter and Luigi Tadini
More photos after the jump.
Posted May. 8, 2007,
About Last Night... Kirsten, Cameron & Jessica at the Met's Costume Institute Gala
By Alexis Swerdloff
Here's a report and photos from our nightlife photographer Caroline Torem Craig, who was out till 4 a.m. (!) last night covering the celeb-studded Costume Institute Gala at the Met....
The spectacle of a huge birdcage filled with living peacocks (and -- thank God -- not disco dancers) greeted the fabulous fashionistas at the annual spring gala last night.
A massive tent to end all tents housed photographers, reporters and videographers, who were all clamoring to record and report the arrivals of our current kings and queens of Fashion.
As the red carpet was fast and furiously polluted with publicists, it was such a challenge to photograph this rapidly moving feast. If one was concentrating on Cameron Diaz or a voluptuous, brunette Jessica Simpson (pictured above, with Roberto Cavalli), one was inadvertently ignoring the camera-shy Kate Moss or Donatella Versace.
It wasn't until a whole bank of photographers booed and screamed at Kirsten Dunst that she stopped for a brief moment, to allow a few photos to be taken.
Each year, there are a few sights that "shall remain" and this year, one was Lucy Liu in a Zac Posen creation. Liu's train, hand manipulated at every other step by Zac himself, turned into a walking portrait. It was poetry in motion.
(from left to right) Cameron Diaz; Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy; Kirsten Dunst and Johnny Borrell.
Posted May. 4, 2007,
Bar of the Week: Donna Da Vine
By PAPERMAG Editors
If dipping a slice of chorizo into a puddle of mustard and washing it down with a glass of Medici Ermete Lambrusco Solo ($9) sounds appealing, then head to Boerum Hill's friendly new wine bar Donna da Vine. Perch yourself at the bar for an intimate modern-day Cheers feel, or if you prefer to engage in a more private setting, plenty of quiet and cozy tables are available both inside and out. Brick walls display photographs of the Eiffel Tower, an Oregon waterfall and an elephant from the Serengeti as a tribute to the diverse regions from which the various wines are imported. Owner Alyssa Becker, a former Wall Street bond trader, who became grape savvy by working at an Upper East Side wine shop in her off-hours, guides you through the list, and her cleverly named groupings offer great variety. “Do You Know the Way to San Rosé?” ($20) showcases the best refreshing, mysterious rosés with generous pours of Cristalino Cava Brut, Renardat-Fâche Cerdon du Bugey NV and Renard Rosé. Donna da Vine's “tastes” and “bites,” like spicy pig shrouded in puff-pastry blankets ($5) and a tangy duck-and-goat-cheese pizzelle ($11) make for a lovely dinner. 378 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, (718) 643-2250. Alia Akkam
Posted May. 2, 2007,
About Last Night... Drew Elliot's Birthday Party at Mr. Black
By Mickey Boardman
Friday night, downtown gay hotspot Mr. Black hosted the birthday party of nightclub superstar (and former PAPER Marketing Director) Drew Elliott. One third of the party promoting team, the Trinity, Drew is a host of the long-running Sunday night Cuckoo Club at the Maritime Hotel, Friday nights at Mr. Black and a substitute host at the legendary Beige Tuesday night party at B Bar. Drew's partners in crime are his boyfriend Mack Dugan and their gorgeous sidekick Aimee Phillips, who sadly, was on tour with the Scissor Sisters on Friday and had to miss Drewpsie's birthday celebrations.
They always pack em in like sissy sardines on Friday night, and this special occasion was no different. Guests included nighlife empresario Erich Conrad, Drew's (tor)mentor, Brazilian bombshell Luigi Tadini, Drew's childhood friend Trip Zanitis, window display king Eric Vidmar, Village Voice columnist Michael Musto and a cavalcade of cute gays, fashion freaks and generally fabulous cuties. Mr. Mickey's favorite look was the shorty suit which is a perfect look for the hot summer to come!!!
Photographs by Mr. Mickey.
Posted May. 2, 2007,
About Last Night…Murakami, Golf and “Ankle Injuries.”
By PAPERMAG Editors
Here's a report from PAPER special correspondent Gary Pini...
The limos were lined up on Madison Avenue last night for the opening of Takashi Murakami's first show for the Gagosian Gallery. Lots of Japanese media and Upper East Side $$$ (plus several members of the Scissor Sisters) contemplated the artist’s latest work -- paintings that seemed specifically geared for the high-brow crowd. Those expecting more of his familiar cartoon style, as cleverly used by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, may be disappointed. The exhibit is on view until June 9 at 980 Madison Ave.
Stopped at Rockefeller Center to check out the temporary one-hole golf course with a big water trap set up by The Players Championship. You can try it beginning May 4th (until the 13th) or just watch other people embarrass themselves. Walked by the Apple Store on 59th and was quickly admonished by a security guard for getting too close to the glass structure. They have a guard posted at each corner 24/7. I guess it saves on Windex.
Had good potato salad and a cheeseburger at Stand (24 E. 12th St.) before heading over to Webster Hall for Peter Bjorn and John + Fujiya & Miyagi. The latter currently have the #5 tune on the latest "music discovery" site CriticalMetrics.com with a catchy song called "Ankle Injuries."
Posted Apr. 30, 2007,
Boozed up Beatrice of York
By Mickey Boardman
Normally, Mr. Mickey, being a devoted royalist, tries to steer clear of these kinds of stories and photos but in this case, it's to editorialize a bit. Princess Beatrice of York was spotted all boozed up coming out of the London club Boujis at 3:15 a.m. according to the Daily Mail. Drunkeness aside, Beatrice looks pretty great. Now Mr. Mickey understands that the kids want to have a good time, but it looks bad for the family business to get hopped up in public and create a scene. Beatrice is certainly not giving Prince Harry a run for his money. Harry's behavior has been pretty shocking with his drunken attack on paparazzi. Yes the photographers overstep their bounds and are practically stalkers. Still, if these royals want to get drunk or carry on, they can do the dirty work in private. Mr. Mickey is not saying they don't deserve to have fun, MM just wishes they wouldn't be a mess in front of the cameras.
Posted Apr. 29, 2007,
Bar of the Week: The Bar at the Bowery Hotel
By PAPERMAG Editors
There is a certain hubris in calling your new posh hotel the Bowery. For about the past 400 years, the street has primarily been associated with lowlife, heavy drinking, homelessness and Joey Ramone. Now, Sean MacPherson and Eric Goode have set up shop, and if anyone can change the Bowery's reputation, it's them. The two are the media-blitz sophisticates behind the Waverly Inn, the Park and the Maritime Hotel, Chelsea's converted Covenant House. The latter's nautical-themed and opium den-decorated basement has made it incredibly popular over the years. Like the Maritime, the Bowery is rumored to feature an Italian restaurant, but this time the overall theme is 19th-century Black Forest hunting lodge. It's beautiful. And, by the way, it makes Freemans seem minimalist by com-parison. (Freemans honcho Taavo Somer is an architect of the restaurant, and it looks like he's really indulged himself here.) If you like taxidermy, deep woodsy colors, smoky oil paintings and a real live fireplace, look no further. As of press time, the hotel is still under construction, although it is definitely open for business. On a recent visit, even the waitstaff seemed impressed. “If you like this, you should see the bar upstairs,” my waitress said breathlessly. “It's gorgeous." 335 Bowery, (212) 505-9100. Jonathan Durbin
Posted Apr. 27, 2007,
About Last Night... The Party for Slim: A Fantasy Memoir by Cynthia Rowley at Bergdorf Goodman
By Mickey Boardman
The cuties came out last night to celebrate New York's most popular fashion designer Cynthia Rowley. Her new book Slim: A Fantasy Memoir is just that -- fantasy, but entertaining fantasy featuring fun drawings by the designer. A parade of fun types rubbed elbows on the fifth floor at BG including Anne Slater and John Cahill, Vanessa Carlton, Waris, Arden Wohl, PAPER's Hunter Hill, Kim Vernon, Daniel Benedict, Patricia Velazquez, Ryan McGinness and Emma Snowdon-Jones.
Photographs by Caroline Torem Craig
Posted Apr. 27, 2007,
About Last Night... Lambchops and Jazzy Jeff
By PAPERMAG Editors
By special PAPERMAG correspondent Gary Pini:
Upfront full discloser: We went to the after-party but not to the film screening. More on the missed film in a second, but first back to the start of the evening. Carlo McCormick and I went to an artsy SoHo party for the latest issue of Zing magazine at the Grand Street loft of the magazine's publisher Devon Dikeou. Devon is also an artist and chef who had prepared some delicious lamb chops (see photo above). We got into an argument/discussion about whether or not a chef could be an artist when I announced that the curators for this year's version of Documenta. in Germany had invited the acclaimed Spanish chef Adria Ferran to participate. I say it's valid.
Posted Apr. 27, 2007,
Reporting from the Front Lines of the Vanity Fair Tribeca Film Fest Party
By Alexis Swerdloff
PAPER nightlife photographer Caroline Torem Craig is the nightlife photographer to end all nightlife photographer. Here's her report from the Vanity Fair's Tribeca Film Festival opening night party the other night:
On a warm and breezy Monday evening, celebrities ascended the beautifully-dressed Supreme Court steps (I am referring to hundreds of tiny candles and orange lights). It was the Vanity Fair opening party for the Tribeca Film Festival. Every year it is THE challenge to catch a flick of of Robert DeNiro as he makes one last grimace and races by the red carpet. David Bowie usually leaves the "posing " to Iman but this year, to our delight, he was incredibly animated and shared with us the fact that this was their 12th year anniversary. As he neared my camera, I asked if they were "still spiders from Mars." I truly don't know if he heard me, but this little dance move occurred out of the blue.
It was such a TRIP to see Narciso Rodriguez direct Jessica Seinfeld to pose for PAPER.
While it is common knowledge that Whoopi Goldberg can be cranky, this evening she told ET (as she glanced at nearby guest Kerri Washington), "See, I lost her in weight -- I lost 43 pounds and that's just about what she weighs."
Some of the other guests were Minnie Driver, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, Harvey Wenstein, Amy Sacco, Amy Fine Collins, Christy Turlington and Ed Burns, Walter Cronkite and host Graydon Carter. Interesting note: these were all loyal attendees last year and the year before.
One of the most bizarre questions posed to Kerri Washington was what she thought about Alec Baldwin's tirade and inappropriate phone call to his daughter. Without skipping a beat, she replied she was not a parent so couldn't comment except to say anything that took our minds off the war in Iraq was a good thing.
(Photos by Caroline Torem Craig. From left to right, Robert DeNiro, Grace Hightower, Iman, David Bowie, Jessica Seinfeld, Narciso Rodriguez and Kerri Washington.)
Posted Apr. 26, 2007,
Happy Birthday Nicole Miller!
By Kim Hastreiter
I went to a really fun dinner on Tuesday night in honor of the wonderful woman Nicole Miller's 25th year in the biz. I love Nicole and it was great to sit down with 200 "close friends" (I know it sounds absurd but it was kind of true that these people have all known/knew each other over the past 25 years in our crazy city) who felt the same way. It was at Chinatown (the old Time Cafe) and it turned out to be so fun, because I saw so many old friends there, including my dear friend Paige Powell who flew in from Portland for the evening.
My table was super cute. I sat next to my old friend Ross Bleckner, the painter, who I adore, and across from the old school chef Kerry Simon, who was a doll (he just opened a new restaurant in Times Square called Spotlight). Lots of other old schoolers were there at our table including the fun Tama Janowitz, who I hadn't seen in ages, the amazing jewelry designer Janis Savit (she is one of the greats), my new BFF Mary Boone (I kid you not -- I've never met her, but she was so nice to me I was suspicious), this cute young scruffy photog named Sam Bassett, and of course my fave person in the world Paige.
Lots more fun folks were there... Cindy Crawford, Allison Sarofim, Bobby Kennedy, Andre Balasz, Karen Duffy (my neighbor who I adore!), Tony Shafrazi, Sara Wynter, Jay McInerney, Zac Posen, the list goes on. The thing about this particular dinner was that it was not an "event." (I go to millions of "events" where people are there for no reason.) It just felt good and fun because everyone was there to have fun and celebrate this person that they all really love -- Nicole who is a super good friend to tons of people. Good vibes. Congrats to her!
(Photos: Mary Boone, Kerry Simon and Paige Powell; Nicole Miller flanked by Andre Balasz and Tony Shafrazi; Me and Ross Bleckner)
Posted Apr. 20, 2007,
Drunken Nightclub Confessions TV
By David Hershkovits
The quest to develop ever more entertaining reality-based TV may have reached another lowpoint with the development of Nightclub Confessions, the first original programming created specifically for the web by FOX TV.
"Confessional booths for the first series have been placed in several clubs across Los Angeles, Long Beach and Orange County and will travel across the country in future series, to capture confessions of bar patrons, bartenders, DJ’s and even club owners. 30 web episodes (8 – 10 minutes each), with all the mischief and excitement exploding Saturday, June 30 in the exclusive one-hour televised event, will give reality fans the opportunity to hear scandalous confessions from the minds of club-goers."
Surely the sight of the shit-faced looking into the camera, slurring their words and bearing their souls is bound to create a ratings juggernaut, but I won't be one of them.
party people photo by Cobrasnake
Posted Apr. 11, 2007,
Introducing "About Last Night..."
By Alexis Swerdloff
Though it's not a requirement, its certainly encouraged here at PAPER to sample the fruits of New York City's delicious nightlife. And then some. There's usually some fabulous event or another that one of us is attending on any particular evening. And sometimes us PAPER folk like to just order in Vietnamese food and watch America's Next Top Model. PAPER people are just like you from time to time! In any case, we're bringing you this new feature, "About Last Night..." in which we'll recount the events of the previous night. What went down, with whom and where. For our first installment, Mr. Mickey, one of PAPER's most nighlife-friendly, recounts his action-packed Tuesday night. So without further ado, Mickey?
Last night felt like a tour of Manhattan. I started with Kim Hastreiter at the GORGEOUS new Tom Ford (top left) boutique. This store is outrageous. It's like the chicest old school European department store. I spent some time in the Parfumerie and was living for Japan Noir. The only thing more good-looking than the store was Tom himself. He's fucking hot. The party was filled with VIPs from all Tom's past incarnations.
Then it was off to the Bald Ego launch party at Home. Glenn O'Brien and his crowd is always very intellectual. Gary Indiana, who has contributed to every issue of Bald Ego did a reading.
Then finally to the Box. Nightclub legend Steven Lewis did some guest door work with the Box's sexy Sadako (whom I first met when she was a hostess at Indochine). The party was celebrating the fifth anniversary of Tricia Romano's Village Voice column "Fly Life." It was a very nightlifey crowd with people like Larry Tee, Thomas Onorato and DJ Tommie Sunshine (pictured with girlfriend Daniela). You might not recognize Daniela with her clothes on. She's the bikini-clad model on the cover of Tommie's CD and the posters that are wheatpasted all over town.
Photo of Tom Ford by Caroline Torem Craig and photo of Tommie Sunshine and Daniela by Mickey Boardman
Posted Mar. 30, 2007,
Bar of the Week: The Anchor
By PAPERMAG Editors
If you’ve been a fixture on the New York nightlife scene since your teens and you’re starting to feel like you want a mellower vibe than those fully fabulous Bungalows and Marquees, you might just have to open up your own place. That’s what the three friends (and now business partners) Amanda Silverman, Chrissie Miller and James Cruickshank have done with The Anchor. Silverman, one of the most powerful celebrity publicists in town, says with a laugh, “We’re getting old, and we wanted our own place to get drunk at.” The Anchor has the cozy and relaxed vibe of your friend’s basement, and is the kind of place where you never know what you’ll stumble onto. One night it’s a bunch of cute JAPs chilling; the next, a birthday party hosted by supermodel Jessica Stam, featuring an alarmingly well-endowed male stripper. Or it might be all boldfaced Hollywood names like Bosworth, Olsen and Dunst or the street-cred crowd with Eve, Drea de Matteo and Damon Dash. It’s equal parts hipster, hip-hop and high-end all brought together for cheap drinks in a regular hangout. 310 Spring St., anchornewyork@gmail.com. Mickey Boardman
Posted Mar. 28, 2007,
Beautiful People Party!!
By Alexis Swerdloff
Our Beautiful People issue is always one of the most fun issues to put together and, as such, one of the most fun issues to celebrate. Last night proved no exception as Guess hosted our annual Beautiful People party at Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel. Svedka, Nicolas Feuillate and Dos Equis provided the bevies. Beautiful People/DJs Donna D’Cruz and Jacques Renault spun the tunes. And BPs Cazwell and Tippy performed.
Like excited atoms bumping into each other and triggering chemical reactions, all the up-and-coming talents packed together in one big room created their own kind of energy -- of a more fabulous variety. “I just ran into these fashion designers -- they said they’d style our music video,” I heard a skinny-trousered man say to his friend, as he brushed passed me.
Among the bold-faced: John Waters, Colin Cowie, Erin Fetherston, Jennifer Venditti, Cheryl Dunn, Richie Rich, Traver Rains, Tommy Saleh, Jauretsi Saizarbitoria, Zaldy, Sally Singer, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Jesse Peretz, Angel Chang, Andrew Andrew, Mirabelle Marden, Melissa Bent, Kimball Hastings, Fancy Nancy, Hanna Liden, Mamie Gummer, Annelise Peterson, Carlos de Souza, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Babydaddy (from the Scissor Sisters), The Cobra Snake and Tommy Boy founder Tom Silverman among many others stopped by.
Photos by Caroline Torem Craig
Beautiful Person/DJ Donna D'Cruz and John Waters
Beautiful Person Fancy Nancy and friends
2006 Beautiful Person Julia Restoin Roitfeld
Posted Mar. 28, 2007,
Mercury Lounge to Maybe Probably Shut Down
By PAPERMAG Editors
I'm sitting at home with two horrible earaches (one in each ear!) but this late breaking news just couldn't wait! A coworker and close personal friend just texted me the alarming rumor that the world renowned Lower East Side music venue, The Mercury Lounge, will be closing it's doors in the near future. According to New Media Feed, the reason for the shut down is linked to real estate development. Raises in rent and plans for high-rise luxury condos have already forced out other key venues in the neighborhood such as the Luna Lounge (which re-located to Brooklyn) and Sin-e (which will shut its doors soon).
Say it isn't so! The Mercury Lounge is my favorite venue by far and has always been seen as the spot for upcoming bands to perform. Many have gotten their start there, including The Strokes. I mean, sure, it's not as historically devastating as the end of CBGB's, but it's definitely in my top 5 list of The Worst Possible Things That Could Happen.
While I'm kinda skeptical that this rumor is true -- due to the fact that Bowery Inc., which owns the Merc, brings in so much money – the shutting-down of this Houston Street venue could also account for why Bowery Inc. bought out North Six last year and are in the process of renovating that space. Shanon Kelley
Posted Mar. 27, 2007,
Nacotheque!
By Shanon Kelley
What's that, you ask? "Nacotheque is a made up name combining the words naco and discotheque. Naco in Mexico is a way to describe the Latin American hard-drinking, jalopy-tinkering working class – whom Americans would consider cheesy white trash." But in New York it's quite possibly the coolest Saturday nght party I've been to in a really long time. And you guessed it, it's an all Spanish dance-athon! I would even go so far as to dub it, "The Spanish MisShapes," but the DJs are more animated, the attendees are more fun, and the whole thing takes itself nowhere near as seriously as that other Saturday night staple. Plus it's at the little known bar/club, Fontana's, in the LES/Chinatown region. Aside from the cute boys and girls in the basement for Nacotheque, this place draws more of a bridge and tunnel type crowd.
Anyhoo, it's a party "where Latino and Anglo hipsters alike pogo-bop to Spanish-language, nouveau-eighties electropop, vintage rock, and cumbia. The Nacotheque hosts and resident DJs, Marcelo Cunning and Amylulita (pictured here), bring back old school Latino hits from the 60's, 70's, and 80's as well as introduce you to new Latin-alternative music coming from Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Columbia, and even the United States." In other words, it's the bees-knees.
Learn more at their website (where you can even download a Nacotheque mix) and on their myspace page. See you there on Saturday!
Posted Mar. 26, 2007,
PAPER Parties With K-Y
By Shanon Kelley
Last Thursday the hard-working PAPER staff put together a party at Stereo for K-Y Intrigue (with delicious libations provided by Svedka and Dos Equis). There was free lubricant aplenty and The Colour and Kudu came out to perform for a screaming crowd.
Hailing from Los Angeles, The Colour is quite possibly the dreamiest band ever. Caroline Torem Craig dubbed the lead singer (and Jim Morrison look alike), "The Lizard King" due to his serpentine dance on stage. But all sexual innuendos aside, The Colour were actually quite good. Think Cold War Kids meet Stellastarr.
The Brooklyn-based trio, Kudu, took the stage after. I had no idea what to expect from this band, but as soon as I saw lead singer Sylvia wearing royal blue lamé leggings I realized I didn't give a shit what they sounded like because I loved them already. It was merely an extra bonus, then, when they turned out to be fabulous. It's dance electronic with Debbie Harry-esque rapping. Loved it! Plus the kids were going crazy for it. Check out the picture below of the audience in a trance.
Photos by Caroline Torem Craig
The lovely Sylvia:
Posted Mar. 23, 2007,
Bar of the Week: Pravda
By PAPERMAG Editors
A recent Friday-evening visit to Pravda yielded no clandestine encounters with former KGB agents and zero sightings of stray oligarchs, although some of the more expensive caviar on the menu seemed priced exclusively for a Khodorkovsky or an Abramovich. The pre-glasnost design of the decade-old vodka bar from Keith McNally (Balthazar, Pastis) still evokes Russia’s aesthetically rich Soviet past, augmented by the Cyrillic writing on the walls, the gunmetal tables and the thickly accented beauty who served us that night. She called the $22 appetizer sampler “Russian sushi,” a delightfully mixed metaphor that somehow served to describe the Zakouski platter’s selections admirably: smoked salmon on potato pancakes, roasted eggplant dip, and spinach and cheese pastries. But Pravda’s charms lie in its $12 cocktails, despite their kitschy names. The Bohemian (vodka, passion-fruit puree, wild berry) was thick, rich and just a tad cheeky; the Leninade (house-infused citrus vodka, lemon juice, fresh mint) was bright, fresh and utterly convincing; and the Russian Mary is perhaps the best Bloody Mary south of 14th Street (fresh, spicy horseradish makes all the difference). If those are too theme-parkish for your taste, then try the $9 vodka infusions—a tumbler filled with ice, vodka and flavoring. Those with a sweet tooth might want to go with the black currant, but for a winning combination, try the chili and horseradish. It comes with three olives and tastes bitter and crisp, a little how one might imagine winter in the Gulag Archipelago. 281 Lafayette St., (212) 226-4944. Jonathan Durbin
Posted Mar. 22, 2007,
Caroline Torem Craig's Crazy Outfit #1
By Carol Lee
You may have seen our resident party shutterbug Caroline Torem Craig out at parties, in the tents during Fashion Week or somewhere on Upper East Side where she resides. It's hard not to notice this tough-as-nails lady in her ever-present sunglasses (even at night), rows of chunky Vivienne Westwood rings, piles of bangles, DIY embroideries of Hello Kitty or the Rolling Stones' tongue and a mishmash of things hanging from her neck. Believe us, we've seen 'em all! CTC (as we sometimes call her) is not one for subtlety. But when she showed up at the PAPER office to drop off a 2-GB memory stick full of party snaps in a head-to-toe leopard print outfit, to borrow Mr. Mickey's expression, we gagged! It's kind of great, no?
Posted Mar. 21, 2007,
Restaurant of the Week: Papatzul
By PAPERMAG Editors
The moment I had the first taste of my margarita ($9) at Papatzul, I knew I was in good hands. Smooth Herradura Silver tequila, triple sec and fresh lime juice made for a tart, fresh, invigorating icebreaker to any conversation. Before moving to a table in the white-brick dining room—which looks more like a SoHo bistro than a Mexican cantina—it’s fun to start your buzz at the intimate bar while surveying the dozens of excellent sipping tequilas on display. On the menu, freshness prevails, featuring a big molcajete (stone bowl) of lush guacamole ($8), supple octopus with smoky-sweet chipotle sauce and thinly sliced avocado ($10) and a trio of crunchy quesadilla pockets stuffed variously with wild mushrooms, chorizo, poblano peppers and cheese ($9). The warmth of owner-chef Thierry Amezcua comes through in his homespun dishes like the budin al pasilla ($15), a tortilla casserole laced with shredded chicken, black beans and pasilla chiles. Originally from Mexico City, Amezcua is a longtime New Yorker who has worked in the kitchens of Savoy and Il Buco. He’s hired a sweet staff, and it’s apparent that this restaurant, nestled next to Toad Hall and Lucky Strike, is a dream realized. The food has depth, especially the duck enchiladas ($18) coated with fabulous almond mole and a patterned drizzle of thick crema. Papatzul’s food is creative but doesn’t overreach or try to dazzle. It has a quiet confidence that’s very attractive. 55 Grand St., (212) 274-8225. Julie Besonen
Posted Mar. 20, 2007,
Mr. Mickey Wants to Make Friends With: Maggie Betts and Lyle Maltz
By Mickey Boardman
Welcome to Mr. Mickey's new feature: "MM Wants to Make Friends With," where we'll introduce you to cuties on the scene that seem super fun to such a degree that MM is dying to get their information into his Sidekick -- despite the fact that one of the hippest young ladies in NYC (who is in the Beautiful People issue's social group!) told Mr. Mickey that 'no one in NYC has a Sidekick' making MM feel like a sexy L.A. teenaged girl!!
Anyhoo say hi to Maggie Betts and Lyle Maltz who seem to be having a ball in this shot from Style.com. MM has seen these kids out and about at all the parties but has yet to bond and become BFFs (best friends forever). So if you see Maggie and Lyle out and about, tell them Mr. Mickey sends his overly-accessorized love!!
Posted Mar. 19, 2007,
Lindsay Lohan Loves Her Some "Rehab"
By Whitney Spaner
On Thursday night at the The Plumm, Lindsay Lohan didn’t seem to be taking her stint in rehab too seriously when she was there DJing ( I use this term loosely seeing as she was just standing behind pal and DJ partner Samantha Ronson, dancing around occasionally) and partying it up. Samantha played Amy Winehouse’s tune "Rehab" (Samantha happens to be the sister of Mark Ronson, who produced Winehouse's album) and Lindsay started punching her gloved fists in the air and everyone cheered.
Back at the table she was surrounded by champagne and was holding a glass of something -- I can’t say what it was, but judging from the glazed-over look I saw in her eyes, it sure wasn't water! But with all the kids pushing and shoving to get near her and snapping constant pics with their camera phones, I don’t blame her for needing a drink! 21 or not!
If she is back on the juice it’s not affecting her style. She looked very cute and a little punkish sporting her newly blond hair, a short black and white dress and black gloves with open fingers. She and Samantha didn't stay long and snuck out the back door. Maybe Lindsay was going to meet Jude Law, whom she alledgedly hooked up with last week in New York...?
Here's a pic of Lindsay getting a huge smooch from May Anderson while DJing at The Plumm.
Posted Mar. 15, 2007,
Restaurant of the Week: Brooklyn Label
By PAPERMAG Editors
A little bit neighborhood diner, a little bit welcoming café, Brooklyn Label is serious about breakfast. During packed weekend brunches, the communal counter attracts good-looking, just-rolled-off-the-futon types, who sip velvety honey cardamom cappuccinos ($2.75) and iced French sodas ($2.50) topped with whipped cream, suggesting a modern-day version of yesteryear's convivial drugstore hangouts. Those waiting to score a table console themselves by filling up on free cups of Raven's Brew coffee and ogling the baked goods from Balthazar. Although the short menu is far from adventurous, its simplicity is stellar. French toast ($7), made with thick slices of fresh challah from neighborhood bakery Warsaw, gets slathered in cranberry-pecan butter. Savory palates looking for something more exciting than a three-egg omelet will gravitate toward a mess of curried tofu cubes and crispy potatoes baked with provolone and salsa ($7.50). Dense homemade sausage patties ($3), resembling mini-hamburgers, are almost a meal. During the week, early birds can conduct breakfast meetings over stacks of "from scratch" waffles, while lunchtime and twilight noshers find salvation in tuna melts and Tempeh Reubens. Look out for a smattering of dinner specials: They're paving the way for a full-fledged evening menu. 180 Franklin St., Brooklyn, (718) 389-2806. Alia Akkam
Posted Mar. 9, 2007,
Bar of the Week: The Big Lug
By PAPERMAG Editors
The thriving downtown bear scene that prowls