Author: Austin Vegas

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Reason #2 to love DC: The Pecs on the President?

The Washtonian magazine seems to think that a shirtless President is reason enough to love thy neighbor:

“The Obamas are the center of attention here and the whole world is looking to Washington now in a way we haven’t seen in years,” Garrett Graff, editor at The Washingtonian said, calling it “a real golden age of Washington.”

ABC Comments on the gossip with “Political Punch“. In the interest of being fair and balanced, I’m calling for a shirtless pic of vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin as a response.

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NYPD Gets Lesson in Photographer’s Rights

I read this a while back and am quite happy to report that the NYPD is finally getting some “training” in how to deal with terrorist plotters photographers in New York. Reported in NY Post:

Faced with complaints from photographers and tourists alike, the NYPD has issued a department order reminding cops that the right to take pictures in the Big Apple is as American as apple pie.

“Photography and the videotaping of public places, buildings and structures are common activities within New York City… and is rarely unlawful.” the NYPD operations order begins.

It further states that the NYPD has no right to forcibly take the camera of a photographer, demand that the photos be destroyed or deleted, or request to view photos taken by an individual.

The Gothamist asks if this will help Arun Wiita a south Asian Columbia grad student who was detained by police for taking photos of a subway entrance.

There is no ban on photography in the subways in New York, yet there continues to be arrests and infringement on civil liberties by the NYPD for photographers trying to sample visuals of real and surreal life around NYC.

I keep a copy of the photographer’s bill of rights and hope that this new “training” that actually should have been taught in Policy Acadamey, helps but only time shall tell.

photo credit: Ryan Brenizer

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Failure to Launch in Trump’s World

Privé literally translated to English from French is “Private” but for me the association of Privé has always been with the Opium Group, and their first (?) club in south beach by that name. I went nearly when it first opened in late 2002, and several times since, the last being in 2006. The club was hot, music bumping the underground and always a line even up till it’s closure just recently. The OG crew have gone on to create some of the best high end clubs in America with Mansion Miami and Privé Las Vegas.

Recently I received and invite to a “Launch Party” for Privé NYC:

Accompanying the invite was the pitch, this was “at the Trump Towers” and “will be posh and selective meaning, a strict door policy with New York’s upper echolon in attendance” (misspelling intact). Further, instructions were included on proper dress attire, as typically the “upper echolon” have trouble deciding on wardrobe. Videographers, ballet dancers, tabla men, and musicians in sync were all to be included (although I didn’t see em). DJ’s were to play a mix of contemporary electro/house, which aside from the “contemporary” part appealed to me, and that I was invited by a good friend. If the RSVP invite description sounds more of the antithesis of “contemporary” then you’re not alone.

The World Bar opened 2001, in the Trump Towers residential building across from the UN near the East River in Midtown (owned by Mark C. Grossich who coincidentally also owns one of my favorite business cocktail lounges The Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Terminal). The World made news when it was featured in Forbes as one of the spots bankers go to blow their bonus (on the World Cocktail for $50 a glass), which everyone in New York, knows is shit; bankers blow their bonuses on escorts and yeyo. Even on paper this doesn’t sound original, let alone chic.

I with two ladies arrived early at 10:30 and was expecting free for the ladies and myself on the discounted list, which neither were offered we rolled through. Being a promoter before I understand there’s a few glitches, so I asked to negotiate with Sanjay regarding our earlier arrangement and with reluctance agreed to my compromise for the ladies free if I paid. My first impressions were, “What the Fuck is that huge pillar doing in the middle of the room” and “are the speakers big enough for this room?”

After checking my coat with the DJ (apparently coat check guy was on a break), I got a $12 jack n coke and settled in the corner to take in the crowd….Nice! I’ll give the crew this much: It was all women. However, unfortunately the women didn’t find it that appealing as the vibe felt more like an Indian or High School dance than a party – cliques of girls grouped in corners, at tables and guys looking around nervously wondering which women they should attempt to talk to.

My last and biggest pain being a DJ was the sound was shit…. I spoke with Francis and he too admitted it If you’re going to promote and dj a gig like this, you need to be on top of your game and the sound for both the DJ and the audience needs to be right…. having garage speakers with shitty acoustics turned up loud to compensate for the bad mids is just a horrible decision. Please, Please, Please, go buy or rent some Mackies next time!

It’s a first party so I’ll give them a hall pass. The space size was appropriate, all be it not conducive to dancing, and they had the hot crowd down (my single friends would have been shootin fish in a barrel) but if they are going to play in the exclusive party game, this needs to come together in the details better.