NIGHTLIFE
New Orleans will be getting its yearly dose of Halloween weekend madness with this year’s VOODOO Experience. An annual celebration of music, art, and the Big Easy nightlife, VOODOO 2011 will make its way down to Louisiana from Oct. 28-30.
The weekend’s biggest names will take to the stages of Le Ritual in New Orleans’ City Park. Famous for featuring a melting pot of the hottest artists from past and present, this year’s lineup includes Blink-182, Soundgarden, Snoop Dogg, and Fatboy Slim. House heads can make their way over the Le Plur, VOODOO’s space for electronic dance music where acts such as Claude VonStroke, Craig Richards, Tanner Ross, and Wolf+Lamb will keep crowds entranced throughout the night. Last but not least, Le Flambeau will be the place to go to pay tribute to the roots music that helped shape NOLA into the musically rich city it is today. Every night of the sensory-assaulting weekend will be capped off by Deja Voodoo is Verboten, a series of after-show parties that will feature prominent DJs spinning from midnight to 6 a.m. including Cassy, Danny Howells, Deniz Kurtel, Lee Burridge, Maya Jane Coles, Soul Clap, and Voices of Black.
If you haven’t taken a cue from the candy aisle at CVS, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that Halloween is fast approaching. Practically a month away, and we have to say, this Halloween is going to be the ghoul-fest yet. But before you stock up on those awesome tickets, or fill your schedule with endless costume parties, you need to read up on what to do to ensure the greatest night possible in this jungle of a city. Here are your survival tips for Halloween 2011.
Brando's Speakeasy, the quaint downtown establishment, boasts an intimate lounge with an unyielding supply of dancing, drinking, and karaoke. The doors open at 10:00am daily and don’t close until 2:00am (3am on Saturdays). Between those hours, the friendly staff tentatively welcomes patrons of every background into their warm, cozy, and dim atmosphere. The bar is the perfect setting for reunions, a girls' night out, or, if you're brave, you can finally live those fantasies of singing "Don't Stop Believing" outside the shower.
One of Brando’s most notable attractions is their raised platform and well-tuned karaoke machine at the head of the speakeasy. The machine is plum-loaded with 250,000 songs: lyrics and music loaded for anything from 1960’s ballads to present day hits. When you decide to take a seat, the MC/DJ plays a rotation of dance-inducing music and nod-worthy soundtracks.
Sitting across from Brian Thurm, aka DJ FLO, at posh hookah lounge, Le Souk, you’d never suspect that you were talking to an upcoming worldwide sensation. Wearing a Throbbing Gristle t-shirt and fitted jeans, FLO is far from most of the pretentious disc jockeys found in New York City. And with his down to earth attitude, gorgeous green eyes and cute smile, his success was, well, inevitable.
He began his career in the 6th grade, with DJ Jonesy! after realizing how much he loved hip hop. “In the late 90s, the hip hop movement was huge and because I grew up listening to it, I’ve always had beats in my head. Even at a young age, I remember beating on things.”
New Release Single "So In Love"
After touring in places like Los Angeles and Atlanta, celebrated R&B singer Jill Scott brings her amazing croon down to Dallas for a block party that is bound to have you swaying.
Saturday, August 27th, Scott is performing outside at the Gexa Energy Pavilion with Mint Condition and Anthony Hamilton. Jill Scott will be singing from both her new album and her classics. You’ll hear a range of songs from “Is It The Way” to “So In Love.” R&B lovers of Dallas cannot miss the chance to dance to Jill Scott’s multi-platinum winning classics, and the rumors are that her new album, The Light of the Sun, is just as incredible.
As the end of summer quickly approaches, you may find yourself kissing goodbye those hopes of escaping to the Hamptons for a mini-vacay. If it’s the beach you’re looking for, then no worries. Water Taxi Beach at Governor's Island has got you covered. With a great location just minutes off the coast of Lower Manhattan, a seaside daycation is close and possible. It is as easy as a four minute ferry ride from the Battery Maritime building in the Financial District. A ferry will bring you across the glistening Hudson River to Governor’s island. The ride is free so be prepared to wait in line for up to twenty minutes.
Dance. Here. This Weekend. With the 4th of July and a three day weekend ahead, New Yorkers can enjoy some of the best DJs in the business without sitting in treacherous holiday traffic. The Dance.Here.Now. Festival will be held July 1st-4th on the 172-acre grounds of Governor’s Island. Popular NYC promoters Rob Fernandez and Benny Soto teamed up with the city’s dance music big-wigs such as Pacha New York, Cielo, Massive Event, AG Light and Sound, and Glo Friday to bring their brain-child to life, showcasing various genres of electronic dance music from deep house to uplifting trance at the first ever Dance. Here. Now. Festival.
Noah Tepperberg can be described as no less than a nightlife mogul. He and The Strategic Group are responsible for opening some of the hottest spots ever; including Avenue, Marquee and Artichoke Pizza in NYC and TAO and LAVO in Las Vegas.
Their latest project, Dream Downtown had a launch party on June 15th, which was described as simply, "Epic." Quite a crowd came out to celebrate the much anticipated opening, including singer Eve, Solange Knowles, Tyson Beckford, Shenae Grimes, Kellan Lutz, and Kara Dioguardi, just to name a few. The new spot hasn't officially opened its doors to the public, but it's already being touted as the "next big thing." We got a chance to chat with Noah about Dream and what's to come for the new lavish hot spot.
So, last Thursday night I went to a charity boxing event called Box NYC, hosted by Darryl Strawberry. I think my girlfriends and I were there only women there -it was def a man meat fest. Not sure why, but I kind of enjoy watching men beating the crap out of one another. We had the table right in front of the ring, it costs 10k, but you get a three course dinner and endless drinks....bargain. It was for a charity called Sophie's Voice, which raises money for people with Spina Bifida in Ghana. I honestly don't know anything about Spina Bifida and no one I spoke to at the event knew what it was either. The main event had boxer Ruiz and some other guy fight. I only remember Ruiz because he had the these perfectly waxed eyebrows that Pauly D would be jealous of. The other guy won.
My name is Whitney Gustafson and I've been terrorizing NYC for the past 5 years. I live a pretty crazy life and I'm a little eccentric! I'm excited to be able to share with you all my adventures and my life. I grew up in Glastonbury, CT and went to about five different colleges (no I don't have a doctorate or anything good like that) and lived in Boston before I moved to the big apple because I fell in love, and well, that was a disaster....I wish him and his hair transplants the best. I really do.
Anyways! Hope you love watching my life through my musings and pictures. I'm living it and let me tell you I'm freakin' loving every minute of it. Who knows, maybe our paths will cross someday! If not, well you're probably lucky. Live everyday to the fullest because you never know when you're gonna go!!! I live by that motto. And since some bible thumpers out there predict the world ending on May 21, 2011, now is the time to start checking things off your bucket list!
 |
 |
 |
 |
