Mating Season’s August Edition Attracts a New Species of Nightlife and Buzz!

The rapidly-growing popularity of  the party called “Mating Season” is building buzz and momentum throughout the NYC nightlife landscape. The party has been able to attract top models, dj’s, promoters, prime.mates, and an overall hip crowd.

Jerry T with NYCgrind.com was at the August edition of Mating Season to put together a short promo vid for all of the party animals who couldn’t make it out. See the video below.

H&L’s “Love Muffins” also are a staple at the Mating Season event!

The faithful and unpretentious crowd gathers at the artsy Gallery Bar, for each event… where “Mating Season” has found its home.

The environment and vibe is safe, friendly, fun and has a sensuality that is unique unto itself. The “August Edition” of Mating Season proved to attract a new species of nightlife, called party animals. As Time Out NY has noted…  you should bring your animal masks to the Mating Season Party, for all “Party Animals” to get in free. So what is a party animal, from Mating Season’s perspective?

Party Animal = Mask + Skin

The event was founded by DJ AK and has the support of model/designer Brittan LeFils as well as a dedicated group of promoters helping set the stage for one of the hottest parties in NYC. DJ AK is one of the hottest up and coming DJ’s in the underground NYC scene, and continues to look to push the envelope in his craft. DJ AK has also brought together two other hot DJ’s… DJ Full Time Fun and DJ MessKid to bring an added dimension of dynamism to the event.

Next month’s Mating Season is September 23rd, which promises to be extra feral….The party will be expanded to two levels, feature an entire pack of DJs (approx 5 or 6), and a bamboo cage for the Prime.Mates…rumor has it there will also be a few live performances. Stay tuned for further details. This is not to be missed.

Read on for the full story, and upcoming party you don’t want to miss!

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Rooftop Films to Conclude Their Summer Series This Friday

Image courtesy of www.cartoonsaloon.ie

As summer is coming to a close, so is Rooftop Films’ 2010 Summer Series.  In closing their 14th year of presenting groundbreaking films from unique rooftop locations in the scorching summer months, Rooftop Films will be showing eight short films on Friday, August 20… all sharing some common themes.

Read on to learn more about the lineup of films in this showing… the last chance to check out Rooftop Films this summer!

AF

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Friday, August 20th
ROOFTOP SHOTS
The official Closing Night of Rooftop Films 2010 Summer Series includes short films all about endings. Films so sharp we call them shots, fired from the roof one last time this year.

There’s nothing sadder than saying goodbye to something you cherish. Nothing more painful than the loss of something personal, or the death of a loved one. Rooftop Films isn’t dying (or even leaving for long; thanks to donations from our audience we will have special new shows in September), but on the official Closing Night of our 14th Annual Summer Series, we finish an amazing summer of cinema with a powerful, poignant program of films about transitions, departures, and disappearances.

This year Rooftop has hosted 44 screenings in 13 different outdoor locations, showing 22 feature-length films and over 120 short films. But we’ve saved some of the best for last, as the spectacular films in our grand finale remind us that sometimes you don’t know a great thing till it’s gone. Come out to Rooftop and come celebrate the conclusion with us.

Where:

On the roof of The Old American Can Factory
232 3rd St. (Gowanus/Park Slope, Brooklyn)

When:

Friday, August 20th
8:00 Doors open
8:30 Live music
9:00 Films begin
11:00 After Party in the courtyard with free open bar

Tickets are $10, online or at the door. Tickets and more information at:
http://www.rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/34-rooftop-shots

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Rooftop Films to Feature “Capucine: Filmmaking Monkeys and Other Renegades” This Week in Brooklyn

Specializing in bringing unique independent films to unusual outdoor venues, Rooftop Films continues to show New Yorkers what they’ve been missing in the film scene.  And unsurprisingly, this week Rooftop is taking the unusual to a new level.

From the roof of the Brooklyn Technical High School in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on Thursday, July 29, Rooftop Films will be presenting a series of groundbreaking short films by by filmmakers who have thrown convention out the window and make their own set of “rules”… as bizarre as they may seem.

Along with this series of six short films, the creator of one of the feature films, Professor Luis Nieto (known as the world’s first mad scientist filmmaker) will be performing a special live experiment for the audience.  Following the experiment,  Rooftop Films will present “Capucine”, Nieto’s film documenting the story of a genuine filmmaking monkey from Japan.

Sound intriguing?  Read on to learn more and click here to view a summary of all of the films to be featured at this event.

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The 4th Edition of “Mating Season” featuring DJ AK and Special Guest DJ Mess Kid Brings out the Hottest Party Animals in NYC

The 4th installment of “Mating Season” continues to build buzz and momentum, as it’s June 24th party brought the wildest party animals together for a fun, friendly and yes… wild party.

DJ AK, model/designer Brittan LeFils as well as a dedicated group of promoters helped set the stage for one of the hottest parties in NY, which has found it’s home at the Gallery Bar in NYC.

The Gallery Bar is located at 120 Orchard Street in NYC… in the heart of the popular, unpretentious LES nightlife scene.

Mating Season was recently featured in Time Out NY, and continues to drive interest from both party animals and mere humans.

Time Out NY’s article notes that you should bring your Animal masks to the Mating Season Party, for all “Party Animals” to get in free. So what is a party animal, from Mating Season’s perspective?

Party Animal = Mask + Skin

Mating Season features burlesque and go-go dancers from the tri-state area (both established and aspiring) that wear animal masks, and show a lot of skin. The dancers are all incredibly talented and their performance is a fusion of art and innate animal sex appeal. The dancers are called the Prime.Mates, and each dancer brings their own unique style and flair.

Check out the promo video below, from the June 24th event, produced by Jerry T, NYCgrind.com.

DJ AK is the resident Mating Season DJ and founder, but the show has also welcomed several feature acts and guest DJs. Underground breakthrough artist Jane Bang recently put on an awesome performance at Mating Season, along with special guest DJ Mess Kid. We hear DJ ARQ is next up on the docket for July 22nd’s renditon

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Celebrate America’s 1st Amendment at “The Inspired Word” This Thursday

By NYC Grind Contributor, Alison M. Fischer

In the season where we celebrate what it means to be an American, I find it also a great time to reflect on the basic rights that we are afforded as U.S. citizens.  And if you are looking for exemplars of the First Amendment, granting us right to exercise free speech, you will find it in the poets and spoken word performers at Mike Geffner’s weekly “Inspired Word” events.

Every week, a host of NYC’s most talented and acclaimed poetic lyricists gather to share the ideas that they find most pressing.  Although their topics may not always be popular, easy, or simple, they bring them to this forum irregardless.  However, the “Inspired Word” events are not a place for judgement, they serve as an open venue for expression.

Coming up this Thursday, July 8th, “Inspired Word” will feature a lineup of three of NYC’s premier female spoken word performers with diverse backgrounds: Corrina Bain, Sara Brickman, and Brandi MacDonald, along with space for 10 more poets in the open mic slots.  You can see them live on Thursday night at Le Poisson Rouge (on Manhattan’s Lower West Side), starting at 7pm and going through 10pm.

To learn more and view photos and videos from previous events, visit www.InspiredWordNYC.blogspot.com and www.LePoissonRouge.com.

Read on to learn more about this week’s feature performers…

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New York’s Premier LGBT Film Festival “NewFest” Takes the Stage in Chelsea

Enriching New York’s tradition of unforgettable film festivals, NewFest, is now in its 22nd year.  The mission of NewFest, New York’s LGBT Film Festival, as per its website NewFest.org, is to “…empower, educate, entertain, and provoke the culturally-rich and diverse communities of the greater metropolitan region. Through our annual film festival and year-round programming, NewFest showcases international, US, and local filmmakers, fostering a greater sense of awareness and community among LGBT and LGBT-friendly audiences.”

After meeting several of this year’s staff who help make film festival a reality, it is clear that they have a top-down paradigm of equality and appreciation.  The appreciation for the work and passion of the festival’s contributors and leaders by the volunteers and audience members is palpable.

The home of NewFest, which began on June 3 and is ending on June 13, in the School of Visual Arts Theater in Chelsea. This annual festival has grown steadily in terms of numbers, as well as community support, and it’s safe to say that there is a definite buzz within the film community as well as the gay, bisexual, and transgender communities about this film festival.

This year’s festival showcases over 100 films from more than 20 countries, as well as several live music and art performances.  NewFest’s presenting sponsor Marc Jacobs, and Showtime’s new show, “The Real L-Word“, have been doing a lot to help support the festival.

By quickly checking out the Newfest Lounge at “The Cell“, you can get a feel for what’s hot in the rapidly-growing arena of independent film, where filmmakers push the traditional boundaries of what most are accustomed to seeing on the big screen. In my opinion, there is no doubt that the combined efforts of highly-creative and open-minded people will continue to help bring about greater a greater sense of community, while continuing to push art, film, and music in a positive way.  The School of Visual Arts lobby is tricked out by Tekserve, and also serves as a gathering area for like-minded members of the film community.

Read on for the film show schedule, presented by Marc Jacobs:

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Rooftop Film Introducing a Special Sneak Preview of Neistat Brothers, a Gender Busting Series of Short Films

Join Rooftop Films Wednesday, June 2nd, for an exclusive sneak preview of The Neistat Brothers, a genre-busting, eight-episode series consisting of experimental short films from the art-world brothers of the same name. Rooftop Films have been showing the hilarious and innovative short films by Casey and Van Neistat for years, and they hope New Yorkers can all come out to celebrate the premiere of their new show with them along the water at Solar One. To see their short films, visit: neistatbrothers.com There is no charge for admission, but please RSVP here or by emailing neistatrsvp@rooftopfilms.com to reserve your spot, and head to Solar One for complimentary food, wine, Radeberger Pilsner, live music and the chance to meet and congratulate The Neistat Brothers in person. Prior to the episodes, the band Keepaway will perform live. Pitchfork says of their indie-hit “Yellow Wings,” ” it takes clear eyes and a crafty set of musical minds to create a song that’s both this deliciously heady and instantly engaging.” Read more

The Brown / Hawk Syndicate Presented by Revive Music Group Tonight May 25th!

The New York debut of The Brown / Hawk Syndicate featuring drummers, Justin Brown & Dana Hawkins.

If you don’t know about these two drummers–get in the know! If you’ve seen a live performance by ESTELLE in recent months, then you have seen drummer Dana Hawkins bless the set with a rapturous, firework-like performance that is unforgettable!

Drummer Justin Brown has been traveling the world performing with jazz great Kenny Garrett for the last couple of years… so if you’ve been to one of Kenny’s shows, then you have seen the masterful brilliance of Justin’s drumming.

Both drummers in their own right have collaborated and performed with the world’s top commercial & jazz artists and tonight they come together to perform side by side to give you one of the most frenzied live performance that I don’t think even I am ready for… so come see this first time collaboration TONIGHT at SULLIVAN HALL.  More info below…

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Breakthrough Artist Jane Bang Rocks “Mating Season” at the Gallery Bar

Emerging gender-bending artist Jane Bang get’s the cameras and bottles popping at the Gallery Bar. Mating Season II was the title of a collaborative effort to bring together a unique expression of art and music.

The party and live performance took place at the downtown NYC hotspot on Thursday, April 15th. DJ - AK had the Gallery Bar rocking, before breakthrough artist Jane Bang’s feral sound took things to the next level.

NYCgrind.com produced  2 video spotlights for Mating Season II, which you can see below.

Be sure to watch the whole video to see Jane Bang perform Live.

The party was wild!

Jane Bang: Camera’s Poppin (Live Performance)

Jane Bang: She’s Hott (live performance)

Read the story to check out an exclusive Jane Bang interview!!!

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Music Spotlight: Breakthrough Artist Florence and the Machine Takes on Two NYC Hotspots This Week

Every day of the week, music halls and clubs in NYC are filled with the sound of artists hailing from coast to coast and every continent.  And this week, audiences at two of the city’s top spots for music will be treated to one of the most talented young voices to come out of England in the past decade.

Florence Welch, known on stage as “Florence and the Machine” will be performing at the Village hot spot, Le Poisson Rouge, on Thursday, April 8th at 7:30 pm, along with Terminal 5 on Friday, April 9th.   In just a few short years, Florence went from playing small clubs in London in 2006 to touring worldwide at the age of 23, where her ground-shaking beats and, soulful voice will be heard across the U.S. and Europe in 2010.

Florence made her first appearances in New York in November, 2009 on The Late Show with David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and was awarded Critic’s Choice at the 2009 BRIT Awards after her debut album Lungs was released.

You can check out Florence and the Machine on Myspace at www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachine

Watch her video for the song “Rabbit Heart” below…

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