| If Miss Cleo herself
had told me at the beginning of October that I’d come
face-to-face with three gay icons before month’s end,
I would have called her a crazy bitch and hung up the phone.
Yet that’s exactly what
happened.
But it’s not like I should be that surprised. This
is New York City, after all, and if such fabulous things didn’t
happen here, what would be the point in paying such astronomical
rents?
While she may not be the most famous of the three divas (yet),
Kristine W was definitely the most entertaining and inspiring.
Thanks to the Fly Life PR team -- Martha, Peter & Carmen
-- I caught Kristine’s comeback performance at the glamorous
Tribeca Grand on Tuesday, Oct 21.
After chatting and posing for pictures with friends and members
of the press, the former Las Vegas performer and Miss America
contestant took to the stage in the hotel’s lounge sporting
a slinky leather dominatrix-like ensemble and funky black
wig. Backed by a live band, the divine Miss W belted out 10
songs, including classics like “Feel What You Want,”
“Land of the Living” and “One More Try,”
as well as material from her gorgeous new album, “Fly
Again,” which was released on the Tommy Boy label that
same
day.
The album’s title track serves as its first release,
and will likely become Kristine’s seventh No. 1 hit
on the Billboard dance charts thanks to the remix talents
of the Scumfrog (it was No. 4 at press time). Junior Vasquez
mixes are also forthcoming, but make sure you check out the
album version too as the song is quite riveting in its original
form.
“Fly Again” is not only an artistic triumph for
Kristine, but also a medical one as well. Arjan Timmermans’
profile and album review in the Oct 17th issue of the Blade
(www.nyblade.com/2003/10-17/arts/music/dance.cfm)
recounts the resilient singer’s harrowing battle with
cancer after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in
2001. Thankfully, the cancer is now in remission and Kristine’s
feeling (and looking) better than ever.
We are all fortunate that Kristine W is still in the land
of the living, so let’s make sure we continue to support
this remarkable artist who has given so much of herself to
our community over the years. In other words, treat yourself
to the album (buy it, don’t download it!), and keep
up with the flamboyant chanteuse online at KristineW.com.
Delta at Elmo; Britney at SBNY
Rounding out the trio of superstar celebrity encounters are
Delta Burke and Britney Spears. Next magazine hosted a private
reception for the former Designing Woman and current star
of Broadway’s “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
at Elmo on Thursday, Oct 16. She was later crowned -- literally,
with a
glittery tiara -- Queen of Barracuda 2003 by Cashetta during
her weekly
Star Search show.
A steady flow of complimentary cosmos (thanks to party sponsor
VOX vodka) and local celebrities kept us engaged until Ms.
Burke made her grand entrance. After settling in at a corner
booth with a cosmo of her own, the charming and ageless beauty
(she represented Florida in the 1974 Miss America pageant
-- notice a theme emerging here?) greeted and graciously indulged
fans by posing for photos with her many admirers.
Perhaps not quite as accessible, but still fabulous nonetheless
was Britney Spears’ who gave a “surprise”
performance at SBNY the following night. After an introduction
by Lady Bunny around 1:30 a.m., the perky pop tart and her
troupe of back-up dancers filed onto their custom built stage
igniting an earsplitting frenzy of cheers from the tightly
packed crowd.
Britney proceeded to lip-synch her way through a medley with
two songs from her new album, “In The Zone” (Jive
Records) -- an unidentified track and “Me Against the
Music” (sans Madonna, unfortunately) -- and “I’m
a Slave for You.” No one really seemed to mind that
she wasn’t singing live either.
But at least the infamous choreography and considerable cleavage
were authentic (relatively speaking). And you have to admit
the idea of Britney Spears performing in an intimate venue
like SNBY is pretty darn cool. Congrats to Larry Bullock and
the rest of the Splash crew for pulling it off.
NBC’s Dateline even ran a few clips of the “racy”
performance, but only identified the venue as a “Manhattan
nightclub.”
Attention Nightlife Cynics
Crobar is finally opening (!) on Friday, Dec 5. And guess
who’s returning
for his long-awaited Saturday night residency?
That’s right, the incomparable Victor Calderone. The
master manipulator of
music will debut his regular biweekly party in late January.
In the
meantime, fans can catch him during a teaser event at the
club on New
Year’s Eve. Visit VictorCalderone.com for further updates.
In other news, congratulations to DJ Billy Carroll and his
partner Mitchell
Greenberg who recently celebrated 23 years together. You are
an
inspiration to us all.
Until next time: Be Smart. Be Safe. Be Yourself.
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