Dina Marie

(Jonny Mack, Corey Craig and JJ Mack @ La Pomme)
 
At last night’s Colt Video event at Apple Jack we caught up with host Jonny Mack while DJ Corey Craig spun for the furry and fashionable crowd. “Matt [Tratner] had worked on a TV show with a producer who also worked for Colt,” said Mack of the collaboration. “He was especially excited after having seen the party last week. [Apple Jack] opened beautifully... we watched online as the overall reaction to the photos and word-of-mouth just got out of control, which created a huge build-up to tonight. I had more than 700 people on my guest list alone” Mack mused.

FULL STORY >> continue reading »

(Amanda Lepore @ Arena)

Arena's Backstage at last night’s Pill Awards was not only hot temperature wise, but also with gossip. The entertaining awards show, an annual best of of George Lyter's cable access program ADD-TV, featured presenters and performers including the Kiki Twins, Junior Vasquez, Cazwell, Black Peter Group, Sherry Vine, Dallas DuBois, Gazelle, The Ones (video below) and was hosted by Hedda Lettuce and Colton Ford.

Much of the backstage dish seemed to surround Amanda Lepore and her new underwear-clad “posse.” When asked about it, Lepore said that “These are my new dancers. I’m trying this out for a while.” At recent events she has been travelling with the duo of dancers who intermittently grind up on the petite trans-diva throughout the night. “We all worked at The F Word together,” said Lepore, but from sources backstage there’s more to the story.

FULL STORY, VIDEO + WINNERS AFTER THE JUMP continue reading »

(Michael T & Dina Marie @ 200 Orchard)
 
We took the opportunity to grill Michael T about the possible resurgence of his party Motherfucker while at his birthday at 200 Orchard on Friday. With so many revivals of parties such as The F Word thriving, we were curious if rumors floating around that he could bring it back had any validity. “No comment,” said the nightlife impresario. “People loved that party and I loved that party but I just don’t know if I’m ready to bring that back into the foreground,” he continued.
 
“That being said, I’m determined to keep the spirit of downtown, old school New York parties, that are rock and roll based, [alive] where everyone can come—as long as they’re not an asshole,” said T. "New York has sort of become this oasis of model assholes and I’m completely opposite of that and opposed to that. As long as people, not to sound cliché, ‘keep the faith’ then I think I’ll be OK.”
 
Chiming in was the fabulous Ms. Dina Marie saying “Almost all of my career has been based off of Michael T. It’s because the type of parties he throws are about no-judgment,” said the longtime friend. “Rated X, Motherfucker; they were all about letting go and having fun and that’s gorgeous. You can’t get that in New York anymore. Everything feels so regimented now.”
 
 “I’m feeling better about 2010 and we have a couple of new parties with new spaces and new faces,” said T of the year ahead. “Out with the old and in with the new!” –Christopher Dilley

(Amanda Lepore @ Rebel)
 
 

• As we had previously reported,Vlada is taking on a brand new schedule which will not include The Blonde Leading the Blonde with Sherry Vine and Epiphany. Vine tells us the show will continue but they are currently moving to a different venue. Part of the new lineup will be a Tuesday night party hosted by Dina Marie commencing January 26th with Greek DJ Styliano.

• Sources involved with Tight at Amnesia which previewed this past weekend said that the party suffered in attendance due to the insistence of having gimmicks such as aerial artists. Our tipster said they felt that the money spent on securing the artists would have been better spent on promoting the nearly-West Side Highway club's party. As we hear it, in this period between preview and opening on February 7th, a handful of the party's long list of prominent promoters have already dropped out.

• Amanda Lepore herself assured us that there has been a complete turnaround at Bonbon which has relieved the owners of Juliet over their bar-return woes and helped Susanne Bartsch avoid implementing a cover at either of her parties.

• MORE ROXY RUMOURS! The long rumored re-opening of the famed club is edging closer toward a new life. Our sources claim that the return of Roxy could really give parties like Club 57, who were able to scoop up a lot of the Chelsea boys left without a club, a run for their money. That's if these rumors ever come to fruition...

(Mike Dreyden & Sherry Vine @ Amnesia)
 

One of nightlife's newest offerings, Tight, blew on to the scene last night with an myriad of hosts and DJs covering every demographic of gay nightlife. Hosted in the spacious and gorgeous new West Side spot Amnesia, hosts such as Chris Ryan, Dina Marie, King Ralphy, Jane Lane, Yuhua Hamasaki and Mike Dreyden crowded around the plush circular booths adorned with a hot go-go each dancing to the electro tracks of Sammy Jo and Ricardo.

Above the crowd, aerial performers soared (video below).

The weekly party will have its official opening on February 7.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP continue reading »

(Amanda Lepore & Dina Marie @ Amnesia)
 

 
“Due to the success of tonight, Josh and I are hoping to make this into a weekly party”  Dina revealed. “I can’t disclose where it will be held yet but this space worked really well for us for tonight.”
 
The champagne diva herself, Lepore, invited us to the dance floor for a spin (see video below!). Feeling the heavy beats, she began removing pieces of jewelry and handing them to a nearby friend. Before we knew it, Lepore had taken off her sheer dress, replaced her jewelry and had a huge circle of revelers around. And we alwayst thought Miss Amanda was such a wallflower! —Christopher Dilley

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP continue reading »

Vandam’s one-year anniversary truly took the cake Sunday night with a crowd raging to DJ Johnny Dynell’s beats in the upstairs and a pulsating downtown crew grooving to soul, disco and house beats in the downstairs. Spotted in the crowd were Ladyfag, host Dirty Martini, Dina Marie, Charles Winters, Ronnie B., One-Half Nelson, Demanda Darling and table maven Myra. Winters commented on the Trevor Project fundraiser he and Steel Gym’s Ken Hunt hosted at Vlada the previous Friday saying “It was great to see the elite of nightlife taking the opportunity to give back. We raised a lot of money and it was an overall success.”
 
The energy generated by the appropriately named venue Greenhouse was a big theme when talking to the varying nightlife regulars. Host and proprietor Susanne Bartsch said, “The energy when you walk in here. The people, the makeup, the music. They make the party last. Happy Valley went for over a year and we’re well on our way.”

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The crowd at Ken Hunt's fundraiser for the Trevor Project Friday night at Vlada got quite the show as young bachelors were auctioned off by the lovely and spirited Dina Marie. The fundraiser benefitted the suicide prevention hotline who has,  since 1998, provided a toll-free hotline for young people coming to terms with their sexual orientation.
Mr. Hunt has hosted similar events privately, but this was his foray into hosting at a nightlife establishment in New York. “The response has been great," says the Steel Gym owner as the bachelor auction was being prepped and donors sipped on beverages compliments of Akvinta Vodka." We've been very lucky. Many people who could not come tonight have already offered money"
“These are kids, and they’re on the verge of contributing beautifully to the world" adds Dina Marie. "That is so tragic, I’ve lost so many friends to HIV and we don’t need to lose anyone to suicide. Especially now with a lot more gay-bashing occurring, kids are afraid. Kids in Middle School are afraid of being gay.”
Also working the event was Charles Winters of GaySocialites.com. continue reading »