The Scenestress

It’s Monday morning — okay it’s 1 p.m. — and I’m staring bleary-eyed at a computer screen, trying to frame and recall the weekend that was. I definitely remember asking you all in my column last week to vote online and decide what event I would attend. So many things were going on it was simply impossible for me to decide. On Friday when the voting closed, I was looking at a three-way tie: Big Blu House, S/ART/Q and The Punk Party all received an approximately equal number of votes (and Saturday’s Chillounge trailed close behind).

What’s a Scenestress to do but saddle up and hit them all; starting with the CL sponsored S/ART/Q opening at G.WIZ. The group transformed the top floor of the science museum into high-end art show representing 14 local contemporary artists and their “process.” Giving the visitor a look inside the artist’s world, the guys (and girl) display everything from sketches and materials samples to actual easels and living room furniture . The reception has great turnout and I particularly enjoy fingering the mountain of foam sheets artist Nathan Skiles constructs his sculptures from (photo at right by Daniel Perales — Process is open at G.WIZ through April 25 if you didn’t make it this weekend).

Flipping the art script and jaunting across town, I’m excited to see hip-hop group Big Blu House in Gulf Gate. Pastimes Pub is always a great venue for a live show and I have a feeling the Haus will live up to the hype. Their smooth and sincere jams make the masses move and J-Blu on the mic spits with precision and power. I’m also happy to see my girl Carrie, who used to bartend at Cabana, now slinging at Pastimes, and because I always drink PBR in Gulf Gate, order a cold one from the hot mama while I enjoy the show.

Break for a few hours of rest, work, and then more parties:  Read the rest of this entry »

I’m in Miami (bitch) for Super Bowl XLIV and started the weekend off on Thursday night with dinner at STK, where the Kardashian sisters also happened to be dinning, dressed in Herve Leger. Wow, short, tight dresses on Kardashians? Who’da thunk it?

While the ‘Dash sisters headed to neighboring hotspot Coco Deville, I bopped down the street to the GQ Party at the Bud Light Hotel, where what’s usually the Doubletree Surfcomber Hotel has been taken over by the Budweiser marketing gurus and turned into a beery extravaganza, down to the monogramed towels and mints. The party was a bit of a sausage-fest, aside from the paid hostesses shakin’ it in little tiny shiny dresses. Chart-topper T-Pain arrived shortly after I did with a twelve-deep blinged-out posse, and I am sad to report that I did not recognize the singer and failed to snap a photo. I thought he always wore a big stupid top hat.

Anyway, I watched T-Pain “DJ” from the VIP lounge with retired footballer Clayton “Vince” Holmes and his big shiny diamond Super Bowl ring until I couldn’t stand the hype man cutting into the beats anymore and got the hell out of there. Check out all my photos from night one after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve gone through a lot together in ’09. Looking back at my first year as your resident night-life-style writer, I must say it’s been quite a ride. I’ve discovered some fun at local watering holes, rubbed elbows with celebrities and (arguably) mastered the art of iPhone photography. Way back in January my column debuted with a visit to Soap, the monthly indie dance party, which set the tone for what I would be doin’ for y’all: seeking out the coolest and craziest stuff Sarasota has to offer. I was surprised to find no shortage of cool and crazy in this town, despite our rep as an over-sized seaside retirement community.

Regular faves like Horsefeathers’ biweekly Drag Queen Bingo never failed to entertain, with a barrage of inappropriate language alongside a healthy dose of gambling, and the other corners of Sarasota’s own little Bermuda triangle also kept me busy (including one memorable ladies’ night at the now-defunct Esca). In May I familiarized myself with all Southside Village has to offer, making some new friends and crawling into the office the next day with one helluva hangover. I also hit the beaches for margaritas at the little-known Lido Key Tiki Bar and a Sunday pool party at The Colony organized by Klauber dynasty offspring. Read the rest of this entry »