Saturday, December 20, 2008

Club, PDT and Studio B


The New York Nights Club Report for December 20th, 2008
Complied by Gamal Hennessy

Opening
Club
Urban Daddy
Go here for your poker game instead of Atlantic City…

PDT (Please Don’t Tell)
New York Magazine
Sample this season’s trend (the small “secret” speakeasy) in the East Village

Closing
Studio B
(Gothamist)
Money troubles mean NYE will be the last night for this Greenpoint club

Opinion
Best Looking New Bars
(Sheckys)
Feast your eyes on 2008’s best looking venues
Have fun.
Gamal

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Les Caves, Knitting Factory and CBGB



The NYN Club Report for December 11, 2008

Compiled by
Gamal Hennessy

Opening
Les Caves Des Fondues
(Urban Daddy)
It’s a perfect place for a secret rendezvous, until everyone finds out about it.

Closing
Knitting Factory Downtown
(Highbrid Nation)
The legendary music venue will get one last legendary hip hop show before it closes its doors.

Rebirth
CBGB
(Pollstar)
Is the estate of Hilly Kristal planning a comeback?

Opinion
10 Biggest Rip Offs in Nightlife
Sheckys
The places to avoid when times are hard

Have fun
Gamal

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Macao, Sweetiepie and Sortie



NYN Club Report for December 4, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Places where you can celebrate Repeal Day without getting shot in the leg.

Opening
Sweetiepie
(Urban Daddy)
Absinthe and dessert mix well in the West Village

Macao(Urban Daddy)
Spiced cocktails and an underground vibe in Tribeca

Closed
Sortie
(The Feedbag)
Clinton has one less after work drinks spot

Have fun.
Gamal

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Beekman, Elsa, Greenhouse, Marquee and Rick’s



The NYN Club Report for November 19, 2008

Opening
Beekman Bar and Books
(Thrillist)
High class libations and a strict dress code are at home here.

Greenhouse
(Urban Daddy)
Meet the latest fad in eco-consciousness…the green nightclub.

Elsa
(Martini Boys)
The Lower East Side takes another step toward respectability.

New Year’s Eve
Marquee
(New York Observer)
The Chelsea staple won’t be able to stay open past 4:00 AM on Jan. 1.

Financial Reports
Rick’s Cabaret
(Earth Times)
Sex sells…even in a recession.

Have fun.
Gamal

Thursday, November 13, 2008

RDV, Hog Pit and Zagat


The NYN Club Report for November 13, 2008

Opening
RDV
(Urban Daddy)
A “secret” underground lounge opens up in the Meatpacking District.

Moving
Hog Pit
(Shecky’s)
Will the grimy biker bar be more comfortable in Flatiron than in Meatpacking…probably not.

Reviews
Zagat
The first name in restaurant reviews offers its annual nightlife guide.

Have fun.
Gamal

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Where’s My Holiday Party?


By Gamal Hennessy

Last year I was offering advice on
how to survive your office holiday party. This year the question is “will your office holiday party survive?” As companies fail and the market sinks, the lavish holiday party seems out of place this year. How can you keep the recession from ruining your holiday?

No one is surprised that companies are cutting back on holiday festivities. Event planning firms claim that
81% of all firms are planning an end of the year event. While this is a significant majority of all companies, it marks a 20 year low in end of the year activity, worse than both the period after 9/11 and the bursting of the internet bubble. This decrease in entertainment spending parallels a drop in bottle service that hit the nightlife industry this year as finance firms (one of the largest consumers of bottles) began to fail. Corporate perks are being cut on every level by large and small companies. It is only natural that the holiday party also gets hit.

While the majority of firms are planning a party, that party will not have the same level of extravagance as last year’s party. Many
venues that host corporate parties are offering substantial discounts in order to lure budget conscious planners through their doors. Last year I was hired to be the DJ at an ad agency party. I spun in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton on 6th Avenue, ate like a dog and made more money in a couple hours than I do playing all night at a bar. Something tells me that this year I’ll only be making bar money…if I get hired at all. And all those parties I wandered into even though I didn’t work there…that probably won’t be happening very much either.

But our recession does give us the chance to rediscover a fact that all nightlife natives intrinsically know; the price of the party has no relation to having a good time, and having a good time is the point of the party. Maybe you can’t drink so much free Grey Goose and Cranberry that you pass out in your cubicle, but can still enjoy time out of the office with your co-workers and friends. You can still appreciate the things you have instead of regretting parties of the past. And maybe this year you’ll be able to remember everything the day afterward.

Have fun.
Gamal

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Citrine, Vero, and Donnybrook



The NYN Club Report for November 6, 2008

Opening

Citrine
(Thrillist)
A high end luxury bar opens in Flatiron just in time to celebrate the election or the recession.

Vero Wine Bar
(Shecky’s)
An upscale wine bar invades the land of sports bars in Midtown West.

Donnybrook
(Shecky’s)
The new LES neighborhood bar fights the recent trend in that area.

Have fun.
G

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Cain, Imperial, Limelight and Meet


The NYN Club Report for October 30, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Opening
Imperial: Street art gets a new home in Flatiron.

Meet: Another SoHo townhouse becomes available for events from corporate meetings to strip poker.

Re-Opening
Cain: The West Chelsea den gets a makeover and returns as Cain Luxe.

Stillborn
Limelight: The previous reports of the club’s revival were premature.

Have fun.
G

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

NYC Poised for Growth in the Nightlife Industry


By Gamal Hennessy

Despite the gloom in the economic press there good things that can come out of the recession for nightlife natives. In spite of the bottle service decline and the community board moratoriums there is opportunity for a revitalized club scene. If
recent history is any indicator, an infusion of new thinking can be the bright spot in an otherwise dark period.

From Problem to Playground
To understand the potential for growth, it makes sense to look at a previous crisis. In the late 1970’s America’s dependency on foreign oil spiked and the price of a barrel of oil jumped from $5 to $17 (which doesn’t seem that bared when compared to the price of crude today). That
oil crisis contributed to economic malaise of the early 1980’s.

It was during this period that megaclubs opened and flourished. Between 1977 and 1985 legendary venues like
Studio 54, Limelight and the Palladium defined nightlife culture. Entrepreneurs from other sectors understood that people need release and escape during periods of economic struggle. The result was a playground for the excessive 80’s that was imitated all over the world.

Fast forward
Today it is housing and credit that is causing the headaches instead of oil. AIG, Merrill Lynch and other investment banks are being torn down and sold for scrap creating a pool of finance, insurance and real estate (FIRE) workers looking for a new start. The
fall of bottle service is a direct effect of this situation. The closing or repositioning of clubs that relied on this trend is the indirect effect.

But it is in these ashes that a new era in clubs can rise. The credit crunch has had a
direct impact on real estate expansion in the city. Many people in the field see an inevitable drop in prices per square foot. As property prices fall and people look to take money out of the stock markets and put them into other investments, you also have a potential pool of talent coming out of the FIRE industries who can translate their skills into the hospitality industry. Rounding out the equation, you still have patrons who have the need for temporary escape from their daily lives. Some experts think that this combination will lead to a new period of growth in the nightlife industry.

Obstacles
Of course, the next Studio 54 isn’t going to just magically appear. Every new spot that opens is still going to have to find a way to get credit, deal with the community boards and police, overcome the jaded malaise of many veteran nightlife natives, compete with all the other clubs in the city and find a way to make money. There are sure to be a lot of failures but there is room for success. It will take creative thinking, personality and financial skill to make the next great spots work, but we have been in this situation before.

In the last few months, promoters have approached me asking my opinion on looking for the best club to buy and different ways invest. The advice I gave them isn’t original but I believe it to be sound. First, find someone who has experience over the long term that you can work with. Second, contribute your expertise and bring your people into the venue. Third and most important, learn how the whole business works. Those steps, a lot of work and some luck can revitalize nightlife in New York.

Have fun.
Gamal

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Aspen Social, Beast and Scores


The NYN Club Report for October 23, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Events
Halloween (Friday, October 31)
Use these guides and find a place to get your scare on.
Clubplanet
Going
Martini Boys

Opening
Aspen Social Club
(Thirllist)
If you’re in Midtown West and you need a rustic bar, go here.

Beast
(Urban Daddy)
An underground art lounge opens in Chinatown.

Changes
Scores
(New York Observer)
Owners of the rival strip clubs are moving in to take over the struggling strip joints.

Have fun.
G

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Milk and Honey, Ono, and Southside


The NYN Club Report for October 22, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Events
CMJ Music Festival (October 21-25)
The music marathon sweeps through the city celebrating its 27th year.

Opening
Southside
(Urban Daddy)
A new dance spot moves into the LES.

Closing
Ono
(Down by the Hipster)
Halloween is the last scheduled night for the Meatpacking Garden.

Changes
Milk and Honey
(Gothamist)
The exclusive club will go private in an attempt to control the noise.

Have fun.
Gamal

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Houndstooth, M Lounge and the New York Comedy Festival


The NYN Club Report for October 16, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Events
The New York Comedy Festival (November 6-9)
A-list comics take over venues across the city next month

Opening
Houndstooth
(Shecky’s)
A new neighborhood bar and event space opens in the Garment District

M Lounge
(Thrillist)
A late night lounge opens above Megu

Personalities
David Rabin
(Black Book)
An interview with the President of the New York Nightlife Association that coincided with the New York Food and Wine Festival

Sex
Hawaiian Tropic Zone
(UPI)
Supervisors at the midtown tourist spot are accused of forcing female employees into sex.

Have fun.
G

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Tequila: The Mexican Treasure




By Gamal Hennessy

A libation lesson brought to you courtesy of the
New York Food and Wine Festival.

Four things come to mind when we usually think of tequila: margaritas, worms, shots and hangovers from the depths of hell. The margarita association is accurate, the others are not. If you put down the lemon for a minute and take a closer look at tequila, you will discover a refined spirit with a rich history, a complex taste and an often expensive price tag.

The back story
The history of
tequila is rooted in necessity and linked to Spanish conquistadors invaded Mexico in the 16th century. I guess since raping, pillaging and subjugating populations requires a certain amount of inebriation, because the invaders ran into a problem when they finished all the brandy they brought with them from Europe. To solve this problem, they began distilling the local agave plant as a substitute, creating North America’s first native liquor.

The varieties
If your only experience drinking tequila involves licking the back of your hand and slamming a shot, you might not realize that there are subtle flavors in tequila. You might have also missed the fact that there are different categories of tequila in the same way there are different blends of whiskey and rum. This short lesson will solve that problem.

· Blanco or "white" tequila has a strong pepper and spice taste and is often used in cooking.

· Reposado or "rested" tequila is aged for three months to a year in oak barrels and usually offers a smoother drink than the blanco.

· Añejo or "vintage" tequila is aged for one year to three years in oak barrels which gives it the smoothest and most complex taste. Añejo is the tequila that is usually used in bars unless you ask for another type.

The Drink
Los Dados hosted the tequila tasting in the Meatpacking District during the festival. During the presentation, the chef explained that shooting tequila (aptly referred to as tequila cruda) is the juvenile method of drinking. Mexican importers originally introduced this technique to gringos in an effort to lure unsuspecting consumers into drinking large quantities and spending a lot of money. Only in the last few years has the main use of tequila been discovered in America.

As premium brands like Casa Noble, Jose Cuervo and Patron become staples in local nightlife and shots easily go for $25-50 a glass in clubs, tequila cruda makes even less sense than it did before. This is liquor created to be sipped over conversation and enjoyed with quality Mexican cuisine. It’s doesn’t have to be a one way ticket to a hangover if you don’t treat it that way…

Have fun.
Gamal

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The Studio, Naya and the New York Food and Wine Festival


NYN Club Report for October 9, 2008


Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Events
The New York Food and Wine Festival
Gourmet food, vintage wine and celebrity chefs take over the Meatpacking District this weekend.


Opening
The Studio at Webster Hall
(NME.com)
The B&T mecca gets an intimate performing space just in time for CMJ

Naya
(Thrillist)
A futuristic Mediterranean lounge opens in Midtown East.

Have fun.
G

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Why is New York Dating So Hard?


By Gamal Hennessy

New York is teeming with singles who want to date but dating in New York is often described as a complicated and stressful process. Like other aspects of city living, dating here can be ultra competitive, expensive and full on mental, emotional and physical turmoil. What is it about dating in general and the New York dating scene in particular that makes it so difficult? Is this something we can change?

Personal Issues: Before you can go out there and enjoy the dating scene, you need to take a look at what you bring to the table in terms of expectations, goals and personal baggage. Lindsay Gebhart, a columnist for The New York Examiner says that if you have a superiority complex or you don’t do well in social situations or you are in any other way a “
hot mess”, you can’t expect dating to go well for you. And even if you have your life together, you have to deal with potentially obnoxious, socially inept or overbearing individuals once you’re out there and separating the wheat from the chaff can become an occupation in its own right.

Uncontrolled Social Stress: Women engaging in modern courtship have developed certain defense mechanisms to ward off undesirable suitors. Personally, you have learned ways to discourage and reject men who don’t appeal to you. A girl’s
social circle can also provide powerful protection from approaching men. Finally, the insecurity and nervousness within men often prevents an initial meeting from even being attempted. Authors like Neil Strauss have made a career out of teaching men to bypassing these social walls. While these defenses are necessary to survive in the modern dating scene, they are often used out of reflex, not out of actual need. You might not be able to turn them off, even if you wanted to.

Economic Issues: If personal issues and your social defenses weren’t enough to worry about, money also provides a big challenge in New York dating. Recent studies from Forbes have suggested that New York suffers as a city for singles to date in because the
cost of living and dating is so high. The current economic slowdown only intensifies this situation. Whether you are dating for love, money or fun, a lack of disposable income from both people’s perspective can have a major effect on your dating options.

Safety Issues: Finally, in rare occasions dating in New York can be dangerous. HIV rates are up.
Condom use is down here. Although crime is down overall in New York City, personal safety is always an issue, especially with a person that you actually know. It’s hard to let your hair down if you feel that you need to constantly looking over your shoulder.

The New York Dating Mind: Issues of psychology, social barriers, economics, and safety are a part of dating everywhere and the situation becomes even more complex when religion, family interaction, career, pre-existing children and past relationships enter into the picture. But New York might be different primarily because of the perception that many of us bring to it.

New York is the business capital of the world. This mentality spills into our dating scene, making the whole process less about pleasure and more about business. If you go into it from a business mentality, as if every date was a due diligence assignment for a possible merger or acquisition, then dating is work. If you don’t like work, then dating this way is hard.

If you go out on a date to enjoy yourself, then you can enjoy yourself. Yes, dating will still be complicated. Yes, there are things to watch out for. No, every date won’t be fun. But it can be a part of your life that you enjoy instead of being another job. You can’t change the factors that make New York dating complex, but you can change the way you look at the experience and doing that can change how much you enjoy it.

Have fun.
G

Tell us what you think about this article. Leave a comment and speak your mind…

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Oktoberfest, Catch 22 and Lucky Strike


The NYN Club Report for October 2, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Events
Oktoberfest Spots
Suggestions on where to dive into your river of beer from
Shecky’s and NY Barfly

Opening
Catch 22
(New York Magazine)
High class foosball (if there is such a thing) comes to Flatiron

Lucky Strike
(Urban Daddy)
High class bowling (if there is such a thing) comes to Midtown West.

…are you sensing a theme?


Have fun.
Gamal

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Ella, Burger Shot Beer, and the Box


NYN Club Report for September 25, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Don’t worry. McCain won’t show up at any of these places either…

Opening
1,2,3 Burger Shot Beer
(Urban Daddy)
A new spot to ride out the economic bailout…

Ella
(Shecky’s)
The new lounge brings the roaring 20’s to Alphabet City…

Opinion
New York is the Best Travel Destination
(Travel and Leisure Magazine)
New York scores highest marks in America in nightlife and other categories.

Controversy
The Box
The LES Den is ‘working with the neighbors to save its embattled liquor license

Friday, September 19, 2008

The Right Price for Your Party

By Gamal Hennessy

A wild week is over and you need a drink…or three. The good news is that the federal government paid off billions of dollars of your company’s bad debt, so you still have a job. The bad news is that using the corporate card to order bottle service is not a good idea right now. So how can you put together a party in a club without taking out a second mortgage?

''


And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for
NYN Insider. It's free.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Char, Chloe 81, and Heath Ledger…


NYN Club Report for September 18, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Go worry about your investments at these new spots…

Opening
Char
(Urban Daddy)
Carroll Gardens gets a whiskey spot of its very own…

Chloe 81
The next LES speakeasy…

Five Leaves
(Urban Daddy)
Find out why Dark Knight wasn’t Heath Ledger’s last project…

Reopening
21
(New York Times)
The historic hideaway for the three martini lunch is back…

Controversy
Lola
After winning the right to offer live music, the lounge might lose its lease…

Thursday, September 11, 2008

230 Fifth, Mr. West, and Scores East


NYN Club Report for September 11, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Controversy
Scores East
(United Press International)
The infamous strip club has lost its license and may not reopen…

230 Fifth
(Earth Times)
Workers are suing the rooftop bar for unpaid wages…

Hot Lap Dance Club
(AM New York)
Owner of unlicensed strip club arrested for prostitution

Opening
Mr. West
(Down by the Hipster)
Opus 22 is reborn to service thirsty drivers on the West Side Highway…

Friday, September 5, 2008

Drinking at 500 Feet

By Gamal Hennessy

We’ve done several stories about the threats to New York clubs and bars
. A lot of these issues revolve around a club getting or keeping its liquor license. NYN started investigating the process to give the public a better idea of what goes on behind the scenes. I found out two important things at my first hearing…




And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for
NYN Insider. It's free.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

The Fashion Week Club Report


September 4, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Fashion Week Guide
The 50 Most Powerful People in Fashion

(Daily News)
A visual guide for the taste makers you might see under the tents…

Opening
The Eldridge
(Shecky’s)
It’s small, it’s exclusive, and it’s expensive…just like a model.

Opening
Moon Warriors Exhibit at Bloomingdale’s SoHo
Shop and party at Nigel Baker’s latest photo exhibit…

Events
Minitek
A new electronic music festival hits New York from the 12th to the 14th…

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Bobo, McCarren Pool, and the West Indian Parade


NYN Club Report for August 28, 2008
Compiled by Gamal Hennessy

Closing
McCarren Pool
(New York Sun)
The huge open air concert space will go back to being a pool…

Coming Soon
Madame Geneva
An Imperialist inspired lounge is coming to the Bowery with Double Crown…

Events
The West Indian Carnival
The annual soca, calypso, reggae party takes over Brooklyn on September 1st

New York Craft Beer Week
As close as you’re going to come to an upscale bar crawl..

Opening
Bobo
(Urban Daddy)
A townhouse opens for upscale dinner parties in the West Village…

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Beerfest, Judge Cal, and Dreamland


The New York Nights Club Report for August 21, 2008

Events
The 3rd Annual New York Beerfest
(Canadian Press)
100 different craft brewers will be offering samples of their work on September 12th, 2008

Obituary
Judge Cal
(New York Times)
A fixture in New York nightlife since the 1980’s dies mysteriously in his apartment.

Opened
Lola Staar’s Dreamland
(New York Times)
A classic roller rink opens on Coney Island…

Opinion
Cocktails
(Gridskipper)
Nine locations to sample art in a glass…

World Music
(About.com)
10 spots that can take you on a musical vacation.


And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Marquee, Braai, Vintage Irving and Galapagos

The NYN Club Report for August 14th 2008

''


And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for
NYN Insider. It's free.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Brooklyn Bowl, Cipriani and Roxy

The Club Report for August 7, 2008

Complied by Gamal Hennessy

''


And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Whiskey and Sake in the Summer…

The New York Nights Club Report for July 31, 2008

''


And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free. http://www.newyorknightsonline.com/newsletter.html

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Country Club, Kingswood and Lola…

The Club Report for July 24, 2008

''


And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

40/40, Kitting Factory, Mad 46 and the Siren Festival…

The New York Nights Club Report for July 17, 2008

''


And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free. http://www.newyorknightsonline.com/newsletter.html

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Bijoux, Macondo, Frying Pan and Barcade

The NYN Club Report for July 10, 2008

''



And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for
NYN Insider. It's free.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

July 4th, All Points West and Kalua


The Club Report for July 3, 2008

Events
July 4th Fireworks
(Dan Avery: Time Out New York)
Random explosions dot the city from Jones Beach, Coney Island and Midtown…

Events
July 4th Parties
(Going.com)
New York Nightlife has hundreds of ways to celebrate your independence…

Events
All Points West
Tickets for the August music and arts festival are getting hard to come by…

Closed
Kalua
(Mark Hampton: Queens Chronicle)
The site of the Sean Bell murder is closed by the Department of Health…

And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for
NYN Insider. It's free.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Pride Week: A View from the Outside…

…or Why I Can’t Be a Lesbian

By Gamal Hennessy

I’m not a lesbian. I spent time among lesbians, in their bars and at their parties. I submitted an application and studied for the entrance exam. I had good recommendations from respected and accomplished lesbians. I loved women and I was eager to learn more. I didn’t know it at the time, but I even
shared the same brain structure with lesbians.

Even with all this going for me…I failed.

Some would assume I was rejected based on anatomy. I actually think I just couldn’t handle the social pressure.

Some would assume I was rejected based on anatomy. I actually think I just couldn’t handle the social pressure.


There are internal pressures in the lesbian community that I refer to as the “small town” effect. It’s like dating someone in your office, or dating someone in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. The only difference here is that you really can’t quit your job or move out of this town.

Let me clarify; there are only so many lesbians and only so many places lesbians go to meet other lesbians. The community isn’t large, even in a city as big as New York. So if you’re a lesbian, almost every girl you meet already has a connection to you, even if you have never heard of them. They’re already friends, enemies, current lovers or ex-lovers of one your friends, enemies or current lovers or ex-lovers. There is no clean slate. You can’t separate her from her social situation. When you meet her, you have to quickly try and figure out where she fits in the fluid and Byzantine arrangement of women.

If you hook up or date, you might start to share friends and enemies, which can be disconcerting if former friends are no longer welcomed or former enemies are now OK. If and when you break up, the whole structure shifts. New barriers go up, former friendships are strained and who is going to show up at what party now becomes a source of stress as everyone tries to adjust to changing circumstances. Multiply this several hundred times and my little brain can’t handle all the permutations.

Before I submitted my application, I took for granted my ability to date someone who had no connection to me. I could project whatever persona would appeal to her without my past indiscretions getting back to her from someone else. When we broke up, my circle of friends was intact. That doesn’t work here.

Now you can see why I’m not a lesbian. I’m just not smart enough.

Keep in mind I’m not even including the external social pressures on lesbians or the normal issues of education, money, religion, family upbringing and social standing that make any long term relationship difficult. It is a wonder that anyone lasts for any amount of time in this system. This situation might be similar with gay men and bisexuals, but I don’t have any first hand observation of this.

I have witnessed ways around the small town effect, although they are not universally effective. She can find someone hundreds of miles away from where she lives. This will remove her from the network and allow for a relationship to grow without the pressure I just described. The only problem here is the pressure of a long distance relationship replaces the small town effect. She can go online, but the online and offline worlds overlap. The small town effect might just invade her laptop so she can’t escape even if she stays home.

There are girls who make this work and are enjoying the lesbian dating scene in spite of the pressure that we put on them and that they put on themselves. I applaud them for being able to do it. I know I’m just not qualified.

Happy Pride Week
G



''

Friday, June 20, 2008

Clover Club, Lotus and the Best Dance Clubs




The New York Nights Club Report for 6.20.08

Closed
Lotus
New York Magazine
The Meatpacking District loses one of its staples.

Opening
The Clover Club
Yelp
The creators of the Flatiron Lounge bring Old World drinking back to Brooklyn

Opinion
Best New Dance Clubs
Shecky’s
Sharon Feiereisen offers a list of new spots to get your dance on…

And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for
NYN Insider. It's free.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Summer Solstice: The Party with a Purpose



Interview by Gamal Hennessy

Not every club night is an excuse to lose your mind on the dance floor and get hammered for no good reason. Sometimes, there is a very good reason.

This June 21st, will give you a good reason to party. The longest day of the year is going to set the stage for the
Summer Solstice Party, a nine hour benefit for muscle disease research. DJ Haze, the organizer of the event took some time to speak with New York Nights about the party and his connection to it.

NYN: First, tell us about your music and how you became a New York DJ.

DJ Haze: In college I was in a ska & reggae band and when we all graduated we went our separate ways – I didn’t have the time during my 1st job out of school to go to rehearsals and gigs so I started producing music on the computer where I could be the entire band and on my own time. From there I started finding other producers who were making compelling house music and naturally progressed to spinning my own tracks along with the stuff I was discovering. After a while I realized that the other producers were much better than I was and that I was much better at blending records. That was when I made the switch over to DJ.

NYN: What is your connection to the Keith B. Hayes Foundation for Muscle Disease Research and what is your connection to Keith?
DJ Haze: My brother Keith passed away last september at the age of 20 as a result of an undiagnosed neuro-muscular disease in the family of diseases known as Myopathy. In order to carry on Keith’s legacy of giving my family and I founded the charity in his memory in the hopes that one day people with similar ailments and disabilities can be treated.

NYN: What can people expect at the Summer Solstice Party in terms of music, activities and atmosphere?
DJ Haze: The fundraiser is a loft party in a really cool penthouse space with 2 roofdecks and will feature an open bar sponsored by Right Gin and Kubler Absinthe. So there will certainly be a festive vibe. The music will range from hip hop and funky in the early evening and during this time there will also be a silent auction. After midnight, the music will turn to deep and electrohouse and will definitely be dancing.

NYN: How will the donated money be used?
DJ Haze: Donations from the event will be used for 3 immediate goals: first it will help fund an academic scholarship for a deserving disabled student at Ramapo College in NJ (where Keith was attending). Secondly it will provide support for families and young people with muscle disease and similar disabilities in their lives such as the donation of wheel chairs, psychological support, and social awareness. Most importantly, the money will be added to the fund to provide medical grants for doctors and scientists who are researching muscle diseases. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation and therefore all gifts are tax-deductible under the extent of the law.

NYN: What else do you have planned for the Foundation after Summer Solstice? Will this be an annual event?
DJ Haze: The solstice has always been a day of importance to people throughout the ages from ancient egypt to the builders of stonehenge to the Inca, Maya and Aztec. Keeping with this theme we are planning a winter solstice party benefit to celebrate the longest night of the year – and hopefully these solstice parties will become annual events that draw bigger and more diverse crowds.

And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.

Editors Note: New York Nights is indirectly involved in Summer Solstice because I’m one of the featured DJ’s for the night.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Can We Keep Clubs Open? A NYN Special Report

By Gamal Hennessy

Behind the scenes of New York’s constant nightlife party there is a struggle for control. The outcome of this conflict will dictate where and how you enjoy New York bars and clubs. A few weeks ago, we published Last Call to explain this situation from the point of view of the bars and clubs. This article will bring other influential groups into the debate. While NYN maintains its position as an advocate for nightlife, we feel our readers need to understanding the perspective of the other players involved will make all of us better informed about the issue.

''

Can We Keep Clubs Open? Part II

By Gamal Hennessy

This is the second part of our Special Report on Community Boards and New York Nightlife.


''

Can We Keep Clubs Open? Part III

By Gamal Hennessy

On Tuesday and Wednesday we started looking at the discord between New York nightlife, local community boards and the role that the State Liquor Authority plays between them. Today we’re going to try and provide some editorial context for all of this and a suggestion for what should happen next…

''

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Origine, Baggot Inn and Antik

The NYN Club Report for May 28, 2008

''


Check out http://www.newyorknightsonline.com/newsletter.html to get free weekly updates from New York Nights

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Nightlife vs. Real Life

Real life and nightlife are two different worlds that we inhabit. Part of the magic about nightlife is that you can be the person you want to be there. The identity that society imposes on you in real life doesn’t have to apply. Money, looks, personal connections and audacity mean a lot in both areas, but things are more fluid and flexible in nightlife….

''

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Talking with Knowledge

NYN is proud to bring back its interview series by talking to one of the guardians of classic hip hop…

Knowledge Allah


''

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Learning from Sean Bell: How to Survive a Police Encounter

By Gamal Hennessy

There is an element of the Sean Bell case that resonates directly with the nightclub community. How many of us have gone to celebrate a birthday, promotion or bachelor party at a bar or a club? How many of us could easily find ourselves in the same situation as Mr. Bell after a night of partying? What can we do differently to avoid Mr. Bell’s fate? Find out from New York Nights…


''

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Last Call: The Latest Threat to New York Nightlife

A New York Nights Special Report
By
Gamal Hennessy

Part III: The Future

Recent events have created tension between the nightlife industry and the community boards. Those tensions have fueled a sneak attack on clubs in the form of a 2 AM closing stipulation. How this situation going to affect the clubs and the people who like to go there? Find out in the last installment of our special report…

''

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Putting New York to Sleep (Part 2)

Putting New York to Sleep: The Latest Threat to New York Nightlife

A New York Nights Special Report
By
Gamal Hennessy

Part 2: The Present

In our
first article we showed how the increased power of local community boards, their desire to recreate the suburbs in middle of the city, and the noise generated from the smoking ban have combined to create animosity between the boards and the nightlife industry. Today we’ll look at how that tension has prompted a new attack on the city’s clubs.

''

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Putting New York to Sleep: The Latest Threat to New York Nightlife

A New York Nights Special Report
By
Gamal Hennessy

New York is one of the few cities on earth that has a constant nightlife presence. One of the main reasons tourists and new young residents come here is because we have more clubs that are open later than almost other city in the country. The continuous energy of New York nightlife pumps millions of dollars into the city every year and helps make us the city that never sleeps.

But all of the money, energy and prestige that comes from New York nightlife will disappear if the clubs themselves are forced to shut down. How could that happen? How could a city that holds more than 1,500 bars, lounges and nightclubs be reduced to a fraction of that? If clubs are uniformly forced to close at 2 AM instead of the normal 4 AM time, it could have a ripple effect on not only the nightlife industry but the overall New York economy. New York Nights is going to take a look at this issue in a special three part series.


''