Go To Here: The Black Party 2011
NYC's most anticipated nightlife event of the year is almost here. Are you ready to step into the blackness?
by John Russell
Picture yourself in a sea of sweaty, nearly naked, leather-clad men, all exquisitely muscled and moving, almost in unison to the driving beats echoing around you. The music builds and crests, and the crowd works itself into a frenzy, dancing as if in frantic, ecstatic worship of some forgotten dark god.
Welcome to The Black Party.
This dark vernal bacchanal has been one of New York’s most anticipated annual nightlife events—if not the most anticipated event—since it was founded at the legendary night club, The Saint, nearly three decades ago. This weekend, when The Saint at Large takes over Roseland Ballroom for Rites XXXII, there will be, as the saying goes, only two kinds of people in New York: Those who are going to the Black Party, and those who aren’t.
By now you’ve probably already started seeing the out-of-towners out at the millions of unofficial Black Party Week pre-parties—everyone piggybacks on this thing! They the gays literally come from all over the world for this party. They’re out there taking in the NYC shopping during the day, buying new leather harnesses and chaps and other kinky accoutrements for their Black Party looks. They’ve probably already ransacked Nasty Pig and The Leather Man, and made their pilgrimage to The Eagle.
But the surest place to get a preview of the—how shall I put this—talent that will be on display at Roseland on Saturday night is The Saint at Large’s Black Party Expo. All day Friday and Saturday Roseland Ballroom will make room for the vendors, performers, and entertainers that make The Black Party so unique. Fetishwear and porn companies will be selling their wares. The gay adult industry’s biggest stars will be on hand to meet fans. New York’s hottest nightlife celebrities and performers will be there to entertain. And best of all, you can scope out the boys before diving into the dance floor on Saturday night.
And as for the main event itself? Expect electro from Berlin’s 80R15 early in the evening, followed by Many Lehman’s hard-hitting tribal, with house courtesy of Danny Tenaglia taking you deep into Sunday afternoon. Up in the Love Lounge NYC’s own DJ Josh Sparber takes the decks, turning them over to Mark Louque at 5am. What can we say about The Black Party’s fabled “strange live acts?” Expect safe, sane and consensual fetish demos in the party’s specially equipped dungeon, and performances by some of New York’s hottest go-go boys, boylesque stars, performance artists and drag queens.
This isn’t a party for the faint of heart, but if you’re not afraid of the dark, go ahead—step into the Blackness!
Rites XXXII: The Black Party, Saturday March 19 at Roseland Ballroom, 239 W 52nd St., blackparty.com, 10pm–Sunday afternoon, $120.
