Destinations: Dances of Vice - City Lights at Players Club on Sept 17th

Loungerati's own Fredo will be mixing up an Autumnal Punch for the VIPs at tomorrow night's Dances of Vice & Midnight Follies "City Lights" show at the historic Players Club. The punch is complimentary for attendees with VIP tickets. The line up is terrific with the likes of vaudevillians Gelber & Manning, naughty burlesque non-conformist Kiki Valentine, and the ubiquitous Dandy Wellington to name a few.

Here is the skinny:

Dances of Vice & Midnight Follies invite tomorrow's starlets, film divas and leading men to The Players to celebrate Broadway's
Golden Age in a glamorous evening of big band bombast, swing dancing, burlesque, and delicious cocktails!

"CITY LIGHTS" features the swinging music of JC Hopkin's Biggish Band and hot jazz and ragtime by Gelber & Manning with your dazzling hosts Dandy Wellington, Kiki Valentine and special musical guests... Shayna Steele, Justin Bond, Kristen Minsky and Shien Lee. Dances of Vice is also pleased to present a calvacade of glitzy burlesque performances by the sensational Gal Friday and Kristen Minsky of The Minsky Sisters! Also Lucy Woodward, Sasha Dobson and Leah Seigel.

ADMISSION: $20 In Advance - $25 Doors - $30-35 VIP Tix

Limited Qty VIP Ticket: $30 In Advance, $35 Doors - Includes early 7PM admission, complimentary Autumnal Punch cocktail hour (designed by Fredo of Loungerati), desserts and portraits by Steven Rosen Photography until 8PM, private musical revue by Gelber & Manning, and more TBA.

http://www.dancesofvice.com/

Players Club

16 Gramercy Park South

New York, NY

Destinations: Raven Page and JC Hopkins Quintet at China 1 June 11th

Newsflash: Biggish Band leader JC Hopkins teams up with songbird Raven Page and blat boy J.Walter Hawkes for a special performance! The place to be this Friday night is the China 1 Restaurant in Alphabet City.

Picture a Shanghai circa 1930s vibe, delicious Chinese food, a crowd in vintage attire, and strong drinks! So gals, put on that sexy Cheongsam silk number and fellas dust off your linen dinner jacket, dimsum and Raven Page are being served.

Doors at 6pm
Show from 7-10pm
$5 or FREE w/ dinner reservation (Call 212-375-0665)
Tables are limited, advance reservations strongly recommended
Dine before the show and enjoy delicious cocktails and dimsum to live music all night!

China 1
50 Avenue B @4th Street
East Village, NYC

Destinations: Pandora and JC Hopkins at Duane Park, June 3rd

An Evening with Pandora and the JC Hopkins band featuring Plum Manchego

Come join Pandora, the Greek Goddess of Burlesque and The JC Hopkins Biggish Band  a classic jazz, swing ensemble. JC Hopkins/Amie Amis Trio is a combination of two of NYC's hottest and most original jazz, swing talents. JC leads the incomparable JC Hopkins Biggish Band, which plays the hottest and swinging-est music in the city. Amie Amis is an elegant, sexy chanteuse and French horn jazz virtuoso; Louise Brooks meets Louis Armstrong. Together they create a lush, romantic, scintillating sound. 

Special Guest Star for the evening, Plum Manchego, we will bump and grind while you wine and dine. 

Duane Park is a beautiful dinner cabaret in the heart of Tribeca with an exquisite menu for the discerning palate.

There is no cover, reservations are strongly recommended.

Duane Park

157 Duane St.

btwn West Bdway and Hudson

www.duaneparknyc.com

212 732 5555

Destinations: Midnight Follies May 7th at Players Club

The Players Club, the Slipper Room, and band leader JC Hopkins collaborate to throw the first gala of the spring called Midnight Follies on May 7th. There will be dancing, there will jazz, there will be free mint juleps from 8-9pm! This event will have a mid-century theme so think "The Apartment" or "Mad Men"  when picking out your pocket square and cocktail dress.

The skinny from JC Hopkins, aka the man who knows where Hoffa is buried:

Landmarked NYC Jewel THE PLAYERS Opens to Public for “Spring Spectacular” 

Swing Dance, Burlesque and Jazz

With the JC Hopkins Biggish Band

featuring Champian Fulton and DeWitt Fleming Jr.

Performances by  Martha Wainwright, Jolie Holland, Shien Lee 

and NYC “It” Artists Highlight the Event

Friday, May 7th, 8pm-1am

Complimentary cocktails from 8 to 9pm

The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South

$20 w/RSVP, $25 at the door

RSVP at midnightfollies@gmail.com

 New York, NY - April 1, 2010 - The historical landmark The Players of Gramercy Park opens its private doors to the public for SPRING SPECTACULAR, a night of elegance harkening the rich history of Manhattan’s legendary entertainers with a Kennedy-era flair.  This star-studded evening will feature big band, swing dancing, burlesque and jazz while bringing together a staggering array of talent demonstrating the city’s diversity.  The event will be held Friday, May 7th at 8pm.  Guests are encouraged to dress in swing, beatnik or mid-century modern attire (Mad Men).

This rare occasion celebrates the spring season through an evening of the exuberant entertainment of yesteryear with a modern, independent edge. Special guests include vocalist Martha Wainwright performing a selection from her album “Martha Wainwright Sings Piaf” in addition to the “velvet voice” of Jolie Holland, the independent artist who counts none other than Tom Waits as one of her biggest fans.  Accompaniment  for the night's performances as well as live jazz and swing provided by the acclaimed JC Hopkins' Biggish Band along with tap-dancing sensation DeWitt Fleming Jr. (called "an amazement" by The NY Times) and singer Champian Fulton (who The New Yorker touts as having a “galvanizing voice”). Singer Shien Lee (of Dances of Vice) will perform with pianist Bryan Reeder in the club's Sergent Room.

The cabaret atmosphere reaches crescendo as some of the best burlesque dancers in NYC step on to the stage to delight and entice: winner of the 2009 Golden Pastie Award for “Most Sensual Performer in Burlesque” Peekaboo Pointe, Miss Coney Island Ekaterina, and, in band breaks, 1920s tap sensation The Minsky Sisters.

The entire evening is presented by Midnight Follies and hosted by James Habacker, illustrious owner of downtown’s The Slipper Room and with Kiki Valentine, actress and producer of The Sunday Show. Valentine explains, "The Players has an incredible history and energy...to open the doors to the public and create a happening like this seems to wake the spirits of Frank Sinatra and Sarah Bernhardt. It's like they're giving us their blessing. Plus, they always loved a good party."

 

The legendary Players, boasting Twain himself in its luminary roster along with Nobel-prize-winners Eugene O'Neill, Ernest Hemingway and numerous others, is a social club founded by the famed 19th century Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth. The Players' history-steeped home is a magnificent Victorian mansion with dozens of paintings, marble fireplaces, and a wrought iron balcony overlooking Gramercy, the only remaining private park in Manhattan. 

RSVP at midnightfollies at gmail dot com

www.facebook.com

www.jchopkins.com

www.playersnyc.org

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from your friends at Loungerati!

Tonight's suggested itinerary:

GMT New Year's Eve party at Campbell Apartment
This is a Lounger tradition ten years in the making. A bunch of folks show up to Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Station just before 7pm EST and celebrate the New Year Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)! So put on your best duds and head over now for the early show!

Campbell Apartment
Grand Central Station,
New York, NY


2010 NEW YEAR'S EVE FORMAL BALL
Once your lips are wet with the first champagne of the evening, cab it to Brooklyn for the New Year's Eve Ball at the venerable Montauk Club. Festivities kick off at 9:00PM. Featured performers include Loungerati's 2009 Best of Lounge winners of Best Burlesque act and Best Musical act, the Minsky Sisters and Michael Arenella's Dreamland Orchestra. $75 PER PERSON - OPEN BAR

The Montauk Club
25 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY
www.montaukclub.com


PLAYERS CLUB NEW YEAR'S EVE
The entire clubhouse will be transformed into the setting of one of the most elegant parties in New York!Food Stations Open All Night!Open Bar All Night Long!

Dance to the music of the JC HOPKINS BIGGISH BAND featuring QUEEN ESTHER special guest JOLIE HOLLAND

PARTY BEGINS AT 9:00 p.m.

MENTION JC AND GET TICKETS FOR $125
MEMBERS: $185 plus tax
NON-MEMBERS: $225 plus tax

BLACK TIE OPTIONAL

For Cocktail Lounge options, please visit The Dizzy Fizz. Selena Ricks highlights the main attractions for New York. One addition, Dutch Kills in Long Island City is throwing a New Year's fete, $65 open bar, Giuseppe Gonzalez and Richie Boccato behind the stick.

Finally, we are retiring the term "behind the stick" for 2010, that was the last time,no really. We promise!

(Image courtesy of Michael Arenella)

Destinations: Nouvelle Époque at the Players Club

JC Hopkins and Gemini & Scorpio present the Nouvelle Époque party at the historic Players Club on July 17th. Fredo from Loungerati has crafted a specialty cocktail menu for the soiree.

The Players

The legendary Players, boasting such luminary members as Mark Twain, Eugene O'Neill and Ernest Hemingway,is a members-only social club founded by the famed 19th century Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth. The Players' landmarked home is a magnificent Victorian mansion with a wrought-iron balcony overlooking Gramercy Park.

The Cabaret

The Slipper Room's illustrious owner James Habacker presents (and hosts, in guise of Chester Mackerel, charming professor of abnormal psychology), a night of exuberant entertainment to ignite the senses. JC Hopkins' Biggish Band plays rollicking hard bop swing all night featuring guest vocalists tap-dancing sensation DeWitt Fleming Jr, velvet-voiced Jolie Holland, and Tony-nominated downtown icon Justin Bond, in addition to JC's resident front-woman Queen Esther. The always-surprising Julie Atlas Muz (Miss Exotic World 2006), the jaw-droppingly stylish MsTickle, and hilariously naughty Trixie Little & Evil Hate Monkey perform feats of burlesque to live accompaniment by the band all night. In band breaks, 1920s tap sensation The Minsky Sisters amuse and titillate you. The cabaret runs 9pm-1am in the formal Dining Room, preceded at 8:30pm by a complimentary dance class. After the cabaret, DJ Shakey spins a most unique mix of vintage + modern beats to keep you dancing.

After 9pm, the Sargent Room across The Great Hall, named after its three John Singer Sargent portraits (he was an early member), is your salon for cocktails and conversations, as jazz pianist Jesse Gelber sets the elegant mood. A custom cocktail menu will be crafted for Nouvelle Époque by Fredo of Loungerati.com.

VIP Reception

The Sargent Room and its park-facing balcony are reserved for VIP guests 7-9pm for a cocktail reception and a private performance by San Francisco opera diva Marisa Lenhardt, as stylish cigarette girls treat you to hand-rolled cigars and hand-dipped chocolates, courtesy of Velvet Cigars and Desserts by Michael Allen.

Dress code

Belle Epoque - late 1800s to WWI, evening glamour, top hats + tails, feathers + gloves, outdo yourself at your most fabulous.

The Players private club, 16 Gramercy Park S bet Park Ave S & Irving Pl, 21+
July 17th - VIP admission: 7-9pm cocktail reception + regular admission, $30 w/RSVP, $35 door
Regular admission: 8pm-late, $20 w/RSVP, $25 door
Late admission: 12am-late, $10 w/RSVP, $15 door

Destinations: Weekend of June 13-14

Painting the town red this weekend? Why not try these events for the weekend of June 13-14:

STAUNCH! The Ultimate Grey Gardens Festival
Friday, June 12, 2009 through Sunday, June 14, 2009

"But you see, in dealing with me - the relatives didn't know that they were dealing with a Staunch Character. And I tell you - if there's anything worse than a Staunch Woman. S-T-A-U-N-C-H There's nothing worse, I'm telling you. They don't weaken! No matter what." -Little Edie

We decided to get in the act and bring it all back to the house that Grey Gardens built. STAUNCH! is going to be a tribute to the film that spawned it all and to its many, many fans. Come hang out in our living, breathing diorama of Big and Little Edie's bedroom as recreated by artists and designers, with ephemera, specialty foods and sound booths with rarely heard audio of the Beales and their friends.

Friday June 12
@8pm Grey Gardens, Dir. Albert and David Maysles (1976) 94 min.
Unpacking Grey Gardens: Panel with fashion, gender, sexuality and film personalities and director Albert Maysles.

Saturday, June 13th
@1pm: Grey Gardens, Dir. Albert and David Maysles (1976) 94 min.
@4pm: Book signing of the new Grey Gardens book - authors Rebekah and Sara Maysles, with the one and only Albert Maysles!
@8pm Live Grey Gardens inspired cabaret and burlesque, sing alongs, contests, prizes! Come perform, join in, or if need be sit on the side lines! Grey-Gardens-revolutionary outfits optional but highly suggested.

Sunday, June 14th
@2pm: The Beales of Grey Gardens, Dir. Albert and David Maysles (2006) 91 min.
@5pm: Grey Gardens, Dir. Albert and David Maysles (1976) 94 min.

*a limited number of early reservations are available. Call or email to reserve.

more info: www.mayslesinstitute.org
Maysles Cinema
343 Malcolm X Blvd
New York, NY


The Mode Merr Fashion Show Spectacular!
Witness the premiere of designer ANGELA ZAMPELL’S newest collection at BROOKLYN’S BELL HOUSE with a show that promises to be bigger and better then ever! Merging a runway fashion show, live music, hot rods, a full shopping boutique and cavalcade of performances from NYC’s A-List burlesque performers, this will be one sizzling Sunday afternoon you won’t want to miss.

Settling into it’s new home at Brooklyn’s indie hip and hot spot, THE BELL HOUSE, this years fashion spectacular will expand to new heights with live music from THE FISHERMANS XYLOPHONIC ORHESTRA plus performances from the MISS EXOTIC WORLD 08 ANGIE PONTANI, THE WORLD FAMOUS BOB, DIRTY MARTINI, HELEN PONTANI, DELIRIUM TREMENS, LITTLE BROOKLYN, PEEKABOO POINTE, THE LADY AYE, GIGI LAFEMME and THE WORLD FAMOUS PONTANI SISTERS. As if it couldn’t get any better, THE RUMBLERS CAR CLUB will decorate 7th Street with a dazzling array of ultra hot hot-rods!

The Bell House
149 7th St
Brooklyn, NY


Hopkins and Hawkes at Duane Park
Biggish Band leader JC Hopkins and Trombone Blat boy J.Walter Hawkes wow the supper club crowd in Tribeca.
7-9pm on Sunday June 14th
3 course prix fixe $25 and jazz only on Sunday evenings!

Duane Park
157 Duane Street
New York, NY
map

The Salon at Galapagos Art Space on Oct 30th.

Featuring the
JC Hopkins Biggish Band
With KARLA MOSLEY, DEWITT FLEMING JR, QUEEN ESTHER & TODD LONDAGIN
including vignettes from the Jazz, Swing, Burlesque Musical "Underneath A Brooklyn Moon"

SUGAR SHACK BURLESQUE with Legs Mallone and RunAround Sue.

DJ Swank - spinning classic & modern lounge, swing, and trippy go-go electronica for your aural pleasure.

VERGE – a group show of visual artists currated by Tiffany Hunold. Artists include: Dylan DeWitt, Loie Hollowell, Yui Kugimiya, Theresa Marchetta, Hayley McCulloch, Dio Mendoza, Leslie Smith & Katayoun Vaziri.

Additional performances by an eclectic array of some of the best musicians & performers from around town.

Specialty cocktail menu by Fredo from Loungerati and Giuseppe Gonzalez.
Guest Mixologist & Bartender: Giuseppe Gonzalez (8-11pm)

7pm art opening. Live Music starts at 8pm

Galapagos Art Space
16 Main St, DUMBO Brooklyn
www.galapagosartspace.com

$15 at door -- $12 in advance.

For more info and advance tickets visit:
http://www.thesalon.biz

THE GRAND PARADISE LOST COSTUME BALL AND SWING DANCE

Excellent news from our pal JC Hopkins! Summer may be coming to close but the Autumn fun is just around the corner.

THE GRAND PARADISE LOST COSTUME BALL AND SWING DANCE
Saturday, September 27th
8pm to midnite
“Assinfully delicious as ‘Man’s first disobedience’ and the most fabulousextravaganza since Adam & Eve had to cover their nakedness!”

The unrivaled arts festival honoring Milton’s birthday and ParadiseLost, the greatest poem in the English language

Featuring the Swinging JC Hopkins Biggish Band with Nicole Nelson

Tickets $40.
Williamsburg Art and Historical Center
135 Broadway, Brooklyn NY 11211

If you can't wait until the leaves turn brown to check out JC and the gang, then head on over to Red Hook for a scorching hot summer performance:

JC Hopkins Sextet, featuring Queen Esther and the provocative Burlesque of Miss Tickles.
Saturday, August 16th, 10 pm and 11:30 pm (two sets)
Annabelle's Bar and Nightclub--- 44 Beard @ Dwight (across from IKEA)
Red Hook Brooklyn
Subway: F,G to Smith/9th St. Bus: B61
Phone: 718-643-1500
Great Food!

The Return of The Salon

by Fredo


ITEM: After a year and half hiatus, The Salon is back to celebrate lounge culture, jazz, burlesque, dance, and good old fashioned cocktails.

ITEM: Loungerati honchos Fredo and Jee Jee Giles (reknown for the infamous Piano Store parties from the turn of the 21st Century) team up with the Salon's Fratelli Soluri and Biggish Band leader JC Hopkins to bring back lounging in style.

ITEM: The result is a noir-ish affair at the legendary Player's Club on Gramercy Park.

THE SCUTTLEBUTT:

The Salon at the Player’s Club

Featuring the notorious, the noir-ish

JC Hopkins Biggish Band

with Nicole Nelson and special guest Jolie Holland

Hosted by the irrepressible Mel Frye, dilapidated denizen
of the Slipper Room and featuring the illustrious, the talented, Headmistress of the
New York School of Burlesque, Jo Boobs

Tickling of the ivories by Jesse Gelber
accompanied on trombone and tap by Todd Londagin

Friday, June 27, 2008
8:30p.m. – 1:30A.m.
The Players Club
16 Gramercy Park S. (20th St., off Park Ave), NYC

The setting
The legendary Player's Club, founded in 1888 by Edwin Booth, located on the edge of idyllic Gramercy Park.

The scene
Hard-swingin' big band playing all original tunes for dancing, special guests vocalists, piano interludes, and burlesque breaks. Dress to play — sequins, feathers, bow ties and skinny ties, spats, backless dresses and finger-curled tresses welcome.

The characters
Past members of the Player's Club include Cole Porter, Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Ernest Hemingway, and Harry Belafonte… Feel up to the part?

The Salon
Lounging and dancing with style since 2001.

$20 advance purchase / $25 at the door
www.thesalon.biz

Sponsored by Patrick Soluri, Andre Soluri, Loungerati, and Prohibition Productions

Specialty cocktails by Loungerati

See you all there!

ROSE DOES RICO

Loungerati friend and musician J.C Hopkins sends word that a staged reading of his play ROSE DOES RICO will be performed THE PLAYERS CLUB in New York City on Tuesday, February 12, 2008.

THE PLAYERS PRESENTS A STAGED READING OF

ROSE DOES RICO
by JC Hopkins

Directed by Domenica Cameron-Scorsese

with Jeff Pucillo and Karla Mosley

Program: 7:00 pm
Free Admission
Reservations
(212) 475-6116
reservations@theplayersnyc.org
THE PLAYERS
16 Gramercy Park South
New York, NY 10003

A three act, noir-tinged romantic tragedy
touching on issues of race, sex, and incest;
frank sexual situations and language.
Set in 1966 San Francisco.