IT: WEEKND 02/06-02/08

1)HAPPY 21rst to my princess;

SO my beloved younger sister turned 21 and I had blast showing her how I do. I got her a fabulous suite at the quaint and romantically beautiful Hotel Lombardy. (I love my hook-up power!) I took her to my friend Tony Villa and his friend Dance Diva Rachel Panay ( not Phillipino!) get down glam fest at my fav Bar BEbar. I never had the chance to wshow her my lifestyle and wanted so bad for her to enjoy. SHE Lived! The queens never disappoint! Drunken Linda Evangenotso, Beyonce's mini- me Drag Star Epiphany, and the variably dressed sundry clubbers, Thank You.My sister was tickled paisley with the shenanigans which full filled every stereotype while shattering them. Nightclubs are participatory theater, and Tony and RP give you a show where being backstage, onstage, and in the audience are one & the same! We hopped in the stretch and made our way over to Fly Lounge. I love the red carpet. The staff ( especially Italian It GM P) at the underground spot made my little sister feel right at home. The DJ Chuck Koch blended the nowest hip-hop with danciest Electro. Fly takes you there! Thank you for living up to my hype! While there I ran into the Amahzing D'Maz. This man is on the path to It boy Hall of Fame. Check out his TV show www.hitspotmedia.com . My little sis will be making appearances more often. Attention Must Be Paid!

After working the morning after no sleep; my functional haze dragged me to the Vagina Monologues. Eve Ensler's one woman show made into a fabulous ensemble piece starring 5 of the most intriguing Black womyn stars of stage, TV, and radio. Queen Ayaisha emceed in a relatable sisterfriend/Diva fashion. She took all the anxiety out of the audience. She joked about  all of our fears and wants. Even the First Lady Michelle got a shout out as Queen jokingly portrayed a conservative White House striptease. She was a good lubricant for the next two hours of vagina stories. The biggest surprise of the night came from Deelishis ( who cares what her real name is). The woman can hold your attention with a whisper. She held her own and a few other persons to. Kitten Queen Lisa Raye made a turn as a multitude of womyn she has versatility for your nerves. Mama Ella Joyce of Roc fame performed the most emotional of the monologues. She never lets you down. her emotional range and clear diction more than overcompensate for her black Rebecca D'mornay carta. I live, no shade. Dick Gregory's progeny Ayana is a force of nature. She emoted all over the place delivering the monologues of the War Rape Camp survivor and an Arabic woman trapped in the archaic world of the Taliban. My friend Dr.Ro acted as the help guide for the show. She closed the show with her strong and instructive demeanor. There were more performers , of course.

The one thing I noticed was the disconnect with some of the material for the largely African American audience. There were allot of Cultural references that just failed. The next day, while explaining my concern to a friend from Spain, I discovered that it had no resonance with her either. If Miss Eve got all these stories, she needs to create more culturally appropriate texts for the various women. As a one woman show the diversity is great. But six revered black women beatboxing out C U N T is not the ticket. I have never heard a black woman say that word.  It is just not appropriate for the majority of the audience. I don't care how many b0oks are written about it, Cunt does not matter to Black Women. Here is my advice to any future producers: If it does not Resonate! You must Translate!.

Sundays are my favorite and this one was one of the best. We checked out of the hotel and i went bopping around in the sunshine gift hunting for the sisters Birthday dinner. I made my way over to the Josephine Butler House ( A gorgeous home located adjacent to Malcolm X Park). My girls were crafting and DJing it up at the in house fair. The one thing I notice about the crafty set is their classic disregard for pleasantries. They are usually adorable, but they have the personalities of Daria. Think Juno. My girls Mother Sheister Darby, and RAT work the front corner to a tizzy .  RATs very IT screenprints of female rock legendistas are  so now they will be big in Japan next year. The Grace Jones Members only jacket is the underground fashion alarm ringer for the summer. 

Made it to dinner in PG county at the scrumptuous Topolino's. Then, Back to Dupont for a Grammy viewing party with Tony and Rachel at Level One. The Grammys were boring and I was tired of being the odd Black Girl out around cheerful Martini drinking duponters. I mean honestly honey you aren't at the Grammy's.My chocolate martini, delish, the company interesting, ambience modern ikea homey. Overall the experience should be recreated with a livelier crowd. 

* My picks Adele, Duffy, Estelle, and the new Lil one thats not Bow Wow took their categories!.

What did you do this weekend! (Leave a comment)

Its not just a fucking party!

This is my first post and, it was supposed to be a manifesto,but this post is far more important! I have made a career out of partying. Bon vivant, liver of the good life,  citizen of the leisure society, etc. partying has taken up most of my young life. It was not until now that I realized just how important a party can be.

Last winter, my fledgling DJ career began.  A friend asked me to come and play music for the early part of his , now defunct, weekly hip-hop party catering to the young black all boy crowd. Although I hadn't a clue about mixing , he trusted my taste, and I figured it was a safe way to learn.A few months into the gig, I lamented to a fellow DJ and housemate how hard it was.  The promoters were flaky. There was never a consistent crowd. Bar management and staff were moody  and the drifters (who made up most of the business) were oblivious that they were crashing a party. Nobody seemed to care about what the poor DJ was going through, trapped in the middle.

Lesson# 1: A party is complicated!

To paraphrase my knowledgeable comrade replied " A party means allot. The party-goers are there to relieve stress. Bars are trying to sell liquor and keep there space. Promoters are in it for all sorts of reasons. A party is a fucking big deal!" I went in that week with a mission. I was performing a service and it was a duty to make the atmosphere live! I tried not to be annoyed by requests,but take them as learning tools. Building up my collection to go with what I heard asked for most. Playing songs that made the most people happy. It was a shaman like position, not a vulnerable one as I believed.

Over the next year I experienced many highs and lows. Many due to promoters.

Lesson#2: Promoters are flaky.

I have been linked to over a dozen promoters.  Foolishly I allowed myself to be tied to events that were underpromoted, overexaggerrated, but mostly plain dumb. Business is about assurity, and DJing would have to take a backseat to this reality. Loving something does not mean you have to suffer for it. 

I got a backbone eventually. 

Lesson#3: The space is the key.

Late in 2008 there was a murder near one of the venues I spun at regularly.Washington DC Hub -- (Gay Washington DC?) Towleroad, blog with ...

It sent shock waves through my little community. I got calls from friends all over the country asking if I know the victim. I did not, but had seen him out at local bars. The soap opera that followed enlisted a cast of community activists, church leadership, city councilman, and the venue. The bar itself was only implicated due to proximity. Apparently/allegedly the gentleman was on his way to the venue at the time. Vilification ensued as the daggers flew. It was a shameful/learning/pitiful/beautiful experience. 

Lesson#4: Safety is a premium

So here it is a year later and I am still learning to Party. Learning the constant negotiation of public safety and carnal desires. Getting to know what I once thought was just a fun hobby, has transformed me.  Responsibility is a muthafucker!