LISTEN
This Memorial Day weekend was pretty darn fun, and the warm weather collectively lifted everyone’s spirits. Thursday at 6pm I head over to the Silver Room for the Leela James listening party with Ron Trent followed by our weekly residency Urban’s House at Betty’s Blue Star.

Ron Trent @ the Silver Room.

FAKE BIRTHDAYS ARE GOOD BIRTHDAYS
Friday I get a mysterious package from family, and there’s a card that says “Happy Birthday!” My birthday isn’t until September, and my family is spot on with remembering each other’s birthdays so I was extra confused. But oh my what a lucky day it was for me….a gorgeous (and very real) Louie Vuitton bag was in the package!!! I’m not exactly sure whether the “mistake” was real, a joke or what, but I’ll be sashaying down Michigan Avenue with that baby like a little cunta to get my bitch walk on!!!

ALL WET
Saturday early morning I take my nephew dog Benny (he lives upstairs now with my biz partner Terry after one too many fights with my dog Luigi) to the dog park up by Lawrence for some exercise and doggie social hour. It was so hot that he plopped down in front of the drain and open sprinkler hose, giving me the honor of having the really wet, long-haired dog running around trying to play with everybody.

Benny after playing in front of the sprinkler in the dog park.

SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY
Saturday evening it was time for both work and fun, as I had to hit up a couple of parties to take footage of the DJs. We began the night at Frankie Knuckles’ new monthly residency at Crimson Lounge. I had an absolute blast, the crowd was not your typical House crowd (more weekend folks really) which was fine by me. We sat in the back with D/E Entertainment’s Frederick Dunson (Frankie’s manager) and got to mooch off the free liquor Crimson generously gave their star DJ. Frederick and his company were quite full by the time we got there, and he graciously poured us glasses of Patron. They also had this cool champagne holder, which was a spinning half disco ball. I was contemplating how I could innocently walk out with it, but decided it might not be such a good look to try and steal the club’s paraphernalia.

Frankie Knuckles @ Crimson Lounge for his new monthly residency

With Rees, David Sabat & Frederick Dunson @ Crimson

3am after the Crimson party closed, we head on down all the way to 71st to Da House Spot to film Mike Dunn. The place was steaming hot, but thankfully they had fixed up the back garage into this nifty living room area complete with airconditioner and separate sound system. The promoters were in a generous mood because we got some booty to take home: A Mike Dunn hat, an Andre Hatchett hat and AN OBAMA BOARD GAME. How do you like them apples??

The Obama board game.

PIE HOLE PIZZA CLOSES DOWN
On the sad news front, My good friend Doug Brandt’s (remember he used to be the DJ for our original 5 Magazine Radio Shows?) awesome pizza joint and cultural hotspot Pie Hole Pizza in boystown had it’s last day on Sunday. Open for 3 lively years with the most eccentric cast of employees, Doug made it more than just a pizza place. It had karaoke nights, a really cool open mic night called ‘Soul in the Hole’ and served as a welcoming haven to the LGBT youth of color. Without a doubt Pie Hole had the most diverse clientele down that whole strip, which inevitably led to problems with a neighborhood supposedly based on acceptance of people regardless of sexuality and color. Quite a few articles and blogs have been written about their closing, this one in particular is quite illuminating.

So Sunday evening me, Rees, Lito & his boy Alex have our last meal at their very hectic closing night. I order my favorite White Party Pizza with 2 cans of Diet Coke, and watch as the line to get a slice goes out past the door. I had spent many a night in this crazy place, and we were all sad to see it go. Between this place and Cuatro, we’ve lost two really good restaurants that loved House music and had lots of originality and character.

Pie Hole Pizza Doug holding the flowers and card I gave him, looking very beauty queen-ish.