Their respective kiosks gave new meaning to the word “interactive”, but the
experience was tantalizing for sure, and opened the door to cross promote The
Hookies: The International Escort Awards which were hosted on March 19, by
none other than late-night legend Raven O. At the expo, the contenders of the
various categories strutted their virility for an equally vigorous audience.
Dominic Ford adult film studio introduced and wowed the crowd with the
(slightly) innovative look at hardcore adult films in grand-spanking new 3D, but
James Cameron hasn’t anything to worry about. Avatar and it’s ten-feet tall
blue jungle folk may be leaps and bounds beyond what the porn industry may
have in mind, but audiences can at least feel like you’re part of the action -- and
keep a safe distance when this film climaxes! That sample of Boy Butter that was
professionally sampled and applied by a charming and informative vendor did
not go to waste!
The Black Party Expo not only brought together exhibitors ranging from Spank
Magazine and The Village Voice, but it also gave artists like celebrity
photographer Joe Oppedisano and fashion-craftsmen like The Leather Man an
opportunity to service a captive audience. The event also benefited awareness
of the (Men’s) Sexual Health Project providing free HIV & STD testing and
emergency exposure referral as well as the distribution of safe sex paraphernalia.
But for those 5,000 expected party revelers that were preparing themselves for
the 31st Annual event which this year provided music by renowned DJ’s Hector
Fonseca, Paulo and Ana Paula, the biggest draw of the expo was a preview of
the evening’s theme and the going-ons backstage as muscly, sweaty crews
prepared the Roseland Ballroom for it’s transformation!
Choosing an aesthetic for perhaps the sexiest
dance party of the season was the daunting
task of scenic designer Adam Koch.
Accustomed to outfitting Broadway and opera
stages with his modernistic approach, Koch and
experience was tantalizing for sure, and opened the door to cross promote The
Hookies: The International Escort Awards which were hosted on March 19, by
none other than late-night legend Raven O. At the expo, the contenders of the
various categories strutted their virility for an equally vigorous audience.
Dominic Ford adult film studio introduced and wowed the crowd with the
(slightly) innovative look at hardcore adult films in grand-spanking new 3D, but
James Cameron hasn’t anything to worry about. Avatar and it’s ten-feet tall
blue jungle folk may be leaps and bounds beyond what the porn industry may
have in mind, but audiences can at least feel like you’re part of the action -- and
keep a safe distance when this film climaxes! That sample of Boy Butter that was
professionally sampled and applied by a charming and informative vendor did
not go to waste!
The Black Party Expo not only brought together exhibitors ranging from Spank
Magazine and The Village Voice, but it also gave artists like celebrity
photographer Joe Oppedisano and fashion-craftsmen like The Leather Man an
opportunity to service a captive audience. The event also benefited awareness
of the (Men’s) Sexual Health Project providing free HIV & STD testing and
emergency exposure referral as well as the distribution of safe sex paraphernalia.
But for those 5,000 expected party revelers that were preparing themselves for
the 31st Annual event which this year provided music by renowned DJ’s Hector
Fonseca, Paulo and Ana Paula, the biggest draw of the expo was a preview of
the evening’s theme and the going-ons backstage as muscly, sweaty crews
prepared the Roseland Ballroom for it’s transformation!
Choosing an aesthetic for perhaps the sexiest
dance party of the season was the daunting
task of scenic designer Adam Koch.
Accustomed to outfitting Broadway and opera
stages with his modernistic approach, Koch and
www.ambiente.us APRIL | ABRIL 2010
Getting Your Gear On at the Black Party Expo!
by JC Alvarez
New York City. Every spring the most red-blooded and robust, ruggedly built of
the male persuasion ascend on New York City to celebrate the rites of spring
for the Saint at Large® legendary affair The Black Party. For those who hungrily
follow the circuit party scene and prefer their testosterone of only the Grade A
variety, this is the hard-gripping, boot-licking, leather-wielding event that gets
the boys (and the bears) out of hibernation and ready for the sweat lodge of
the dance floor! This year attendees, and the daringly curious, were given a
rare peak behind-the-curtain of what goes into putting this event together, as
well as benefiting some of the city’s most worth while causes.
The Black Party Expo allowed visitors to pick up a few party necessities (not
what you’re thinking) like a set of properly fitted and well crafted leather arm
bands, get their biker boots polished to pristine perfection by an eager and
willing shoe shiner, acquire the perfect technique for delivering that perfect
pat on the back, and of course meet some of the industries most lusted after
adult film stars, but overall it was an opportunity to check out the epic space
inside the Roseland Ballroom as it begins it’s transformation into the sexiest
place on the planet!
Alluringly sordid and popular websites
Manhunt and Rentboy were on hand to
proliferate the crowds with their offerings --
Getting Your Gear On at the Black Party Expo!
by JC Alvarez
New York City. Every spring the most red-blooded and robust, ruggedly built of
the male persuasion ascend on New York City to celebrate the rites of spring
for the Saint at Large® legendary affair The Black Party. For those who hungrily
follow the circuit party scene and prefer their testosterone of only the Grade A
variety, this is the hard-gripping, boot-licking, leather-wielding event that gets
the boys (and the bears) out of hibernation and ready for the sweat lodge of
the dance floor! This year attendees, and the daringly curious, were given a
rare peak behind-the-curtain of what goes into putting this event together, as
well as benefiting some of the city’s most worth while causes.
The Black Party Expo allowed visitors to pick up a few party necessities (not
what you’re thinking) like a set of properly fitted and well crafted leather arm
bands, get their biker boots polished to pristine perfection by an eager and
willing shoe shiner, acquire the perfect technique for delivering that perfect
pat on the back, and of course meet some of the industries most lusted after
adult film stars, but overall it was an opportunity to check out the epic space
inside the Roseland Ballroom as it begins it’s transformation into the sexiest
place on the planet!
Alluringly sordid and popular websites
Manhunt and Rentboy were on hand to
proliferate the crowds with their offerings --
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his team had to turn the cavernous Roseland Ballroom into a den of decadence. “The producer
and director always come in with what they want to see and have an idea for the evening, but as
a designer I have to take parts of that for inspiration. Whatever we do has to work for the entire
evening. We went for a more cinematic environment.” Upon entering the VIP room, those gifted
and special enough to get past the velvet rope are bathed in a red neon glow simulating a Latin
back-alley bordello. “I wanted it to feel like an abandoned, underground Argentinian cabaret and
tango hall,” Koch excitingly explains. With plush couches for relaxed lounging or any other given
nocturnal activity, the room invitingly kicks off the start of the event!
As the night progresses, the tone of the party shifts. The Black Party is known for it’s more moody
and dense, bass-thumping; the type of music that encourages revelers to bump and grind into the
wee hours of the morning. Koch describes, “The larger night’s theme evokes a stylized prison
brutality motif inspired by Kiss of the Spider-Woman.” Guards later march in evoking a fascist take
over of the grand space as banners descend from the ceiling supported on metal girders, into
what Koch can only describe as a “Nazi-Disco” -- no offense meant, but that customizable
definition ideally enforces the supremacist and über-masculine appeal of the elite crowd that
attends the Black Party every year almost religiously.
“In theatre you control one view -- what’s on the stage, but here at the Black Party it’s a 360
degree, inter-active experience.” Koch’s favorite fixture is the ultra-modern, steel welded disco
ball that hovers over the main dance floor. “It evokes this feel of an end-of-times -- again Nazi-
Disco!” And there is no denying the main player of the evening: “It helps that the Roseland
Ballroom is in of itself very dark, and sort of crumbling; it enhances the dark theme of the evening.
It becomes like one big brush stroke.”
The Black Party Expo is a fascinating view of this annual event and is sure to draw the eager
aficionado and the uninitiated braving the rites of the spring equinox. Door proceeds went
directly to benefiting continued community health and addiction support services sponsored by
The Center: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York.
CLICK HERE for more JC Alvarez
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE.Do not reproduce without citing these sources.
and director always come in with what they want to see and have an idea for the evening, but as
a designer I have to take parts of that for inspiration. Whatever we do has to work for the entire
evening. We went for a more cinematic environment.” Upon entering the VIP room, those gifted
and special enough to get past the velvet rope are bathed in a red neon glow simulating a Latin
back-alley bordello. “I wanted it to feel like an abandoned, underground Argentinian cabaret and
tango hall,” Koch excitingly explains. With plush couches for relaxed lounging or any other given
nocturnal activity, the room invitingly kicks off the start of the event!
As the night progresses, the tone of the party shifts. The Black Party is known for it’s more moody
and dense, bass-thumping; the type of music that encourages revelers to bump and grind into the
wee hours of the morning. Koch describes, “The larger night’s theme evokes a stylized prison
brutality motif inspired by Kiss of the Spider-Woman.” Guards later march in evoking a fascist take
over of the grand space as banners descend from the ceiling supported on metal girders, into
what Koch can only describe as a “Nazi-Disco” -- no offense meant, but that customizable
definition ideally enforces the supremacist and über-masculine appeal of the elite crowd that
attends the Black Party every year almost religiously.
“In theatre you control one view -- what’s on the stage, but here at the Black Party it’s a 360
degree, inter-active experience.” Koch’s favorite fixture is the ultra-modern, steel welded disco
ball that hovers over the main dance floor. “It evokes this feel of an end-of-times -- again Nazi-
Disco!” And there is no denying the main player of the evening: “It helps that the Roseland
Ballroom is in of itself very dark, and sort of crumbling; it enhances the dark theme of the evening.
It becomes like one big brush stroke.”
The Black Party Expo is a fascinating view of this annual event and is sure to draw the eager
aficionado and the uninitiated braving the rites of the spring equinox. Door proceeds went
directly to benefiting continued community health and addiction support services sponsored by
The Center: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York.
CLICK HERE for more JC Alvarez
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE.Do not reproduce without citing these sources.