What Are You Doing New Years Eve? Zooey Deschanel + JGL

This is too cute! "What are you doing New Year's Eve?" by Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. They are perfect.

Playlist: The "Memories of Summer" Mix-Tape

As late as the middle of November it still felt like summer here in Los Angeles. With that in mind here's my latest seasonal Playlist...

The "Memories of Summer" Mix-tape!

I have a wide range of musical taste so you will find some surprises in there! About 50 tracks including old favorites like Albinoni and Sinatra and new ones like MGMT and Lady Gaga. Look for variations on a theme this time. ;)

You can listen continuously while you surf the web using the Pop-Out Player.

Add me as a Playlist buddy at Playlist.com/Aman, and check out my previous playlists here:

• Winter "Seven Years Went Under The Bridge" Mix-tape!
• The "Spring Ends / Summer Begins" Mix-Tape

Christina Aguilera Sings "Beautiful" on CNN Heroes

FUN: Franny & Manny Boggie Down!

Why don't we lighten the mood with a video clip of me and my pal Francesca gettin' down! Actually these are our alter egos, "Franny & Manny." This was inspired Rebecca from Hebrew School Dropout home of The Jew Fro Bro:

"Oh My Eponine!" and Other Spins on "Les Miz"

I bring you Eponine... through the lens of pop-culture. Even if you're not a fan, you will enjoy this stuff!

• "Oh My Eponine!" by Ozma.
  
• Chis Dilley singing "On My Own" with surprise lyrics!
  
• The Anime "Les Miserables" with the best Eponine death scene ever.
  
• And a Fantine/Valjean fan-vid set to "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight" because of the '80s awesomeness.
  

While enjoying a staged concert of "Les Miserables," Abbie, Brian and I bond over our love for Eponine and conclude that she stands out as the fan-favorite amongst the gays. The reaction of the audience at The Hollywood Bowl to Lea Michele's performance confirms this.

After the performance, Abbie, Heather and I go dancing at Akbar. Heather's favorite is Cosette, and we love her anyway!

Venice Beach Penthouse Jazz Party

It's a magical night up at the Venice Beach Penthouse. My friend Thais and I have come for a "closing party" thrown by owner Brad Neal. I met Brad and his wife Shannon on the train back from San Diego, and they are the most awesome hosts!

We can view the gorgeous beach and boardwalk below right through the glass balcony. The warmth of the fire-pit perfectly balances the chill of the breeze coming off the ocean. The Plant Man arrives and has brought an eclectic circle of friends to add to the already-present collection of fine folk and free spirits. And to top it all off, the band is no-kidding, off-the-hook amazing!

See the rest of my photos on Flickr and Facebook!

Bootie LA - Independence Day!

It's a grand old time at Bootie LA's Independence Day party. It's Joanne's first time, and she is having a blast! Dahni's short red shorts are very popular especially with the ladies. The guys bring their friend Justin. (See all my pix here.)

Meanwhile I catch up to the truly mysterious, Mysterious D! Olivier, Chandler and Dahni show off their patriotic spirit. For the rest of my pix from the Bootie Independence Day Party go here.

Playlist: The "Spring Ends / Summer Begins" Mix-Tape

Happy First Day of Summer! Here's my latest seasonal Playlist...

The "Stick It Out 'til The End... of Spring" Mix-tape!

About 60 songs that I've listened to through Spring, old and new favorites. Enjoy it during warm summer nights and days by the pool! And here is a secret detail about my playlists: Each and every song is meant for someone specific. ;)

For continuous play while you surf the web, please listen using the Pop-Out Player.

You can click here for last season's:

• Winter "Seven Years Went Under The Bridge" Mix-tape!

Crowd Goes GaGa as Smash-Up Derby RAIDs Bootie LA

The Bootie LA "Pirate Ball" has me wondering how these guys can possibly top themselves? When Lady GaGa makes a surprise appearance voguing to a mash-up of her hit, "Just Dance," I imagine that might be the highlight of the evening.

But following her, Smash-Up Derby, the world's only live mash-up band takes us to new heights of musical genius including Rihanna vs. The Cure - "Fascination Umbrella" and Bootie LA favorite "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey mashed up with Smashing Pumpkins' "1979."

Please click here for all the photographs from the Pirate Ball!

The completely unexpected surprise: Ramie Becker and Random Acts of Irreverent Dance (RAID) give a performance that has to be seen to be believed. Friends of mine Keoki, Sam, and Andy who have never been to Bootie LA are there for the first time and love it to pieces. And I run into the ultra-fabulous Clint Catalyst.

I can't forget to mention the... wait for it... Pirate Blow-up Doll Mosh Pit. The few photographs here can't do the night justice so please click here to check them all out.

Sea Slug Sex & Fol Chen Draw a Crowd at Machine Project

I am standing in a crowd outside Machine Project in Echo Park wondering if they are all really there for Patrick Krug's lecture on Sea Slugs. It could be!

But after Fol Chen comes on, I can also declare that if you're not into hearing about the mating habits of Alderia willowi (named for Willow on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as I learn in the lecture) it is well worth sitting through said lecture to see this band. Amazing stage presence, great vocal, songs with catchy hooks could make them the next big thing, and they even throw a trumpet and some maracas in there.

I also run into my old pal Josh Kamensky, former Director of Communications for our very own City of Angels, and now writer and front man for another awesome East Side band, Captain Automatic, with his fiancée, Heather. Click here to see all my photographs from this event!

Bootie LA Video Peek plus Kay Sedia & Party Ben!

On a packed dance floor, I manage to capture some clips of Bootie LA now at The Echoplex. DJ Paul V is holding down the fort with San Francisco's Party Ben and guest DJ Axel.

The crowd, enthusiastic as ever, sport less pirate costumes, but perhaps everyone is gearing up for next month's 3rd Anniversay Pirate Ball! Click here to see all my pix from the party!

The hilarious Kay Sedia performs a midnight show. Kay is one of my all-time favorite local dragsters, and I was there when she made her debut at Dragstrip 66 back in the day.

You can tell from the picture why the boys and girls all drool over Party Ben. (It's his godlike halo.) And there's me with Tripp Roberts aka DJ Rawburt of the other fantastic mash-up club, BLENDER, at The Faultline.

Click here to see all my pix from the party!

Previous Bootie on AAT:

Mar '08 - Party Ben Visits Bootie LA!
Jan '08 - Bootie LA: Hot Mashed-Up Fun!

Madonna "Hard Candy" CD Release Parties in WeHo

Click here to see all 50 pictures from this night in my Flickr photoset.

DIVA + Warner Bros. = A CD Release Party at O-bar for Madonna's latest offering "Hard Candy" where I run into a bunch of old and new friends. There's Elliott Elsner aka Mr. Gay LA 2007 snuggling up to Anthony Fagiano whom I met at the launch of Lucky Devil Burlesque.

Mr. WeHo nightlife himself, Hector Monserratte shows up with Keoki Tavares, soon to open his store RIOT on Melrose! Sharing a drink with Onch of Onch Movement! I see my old and dear friend Michael Agulnek. We've known each other since Madonna's big hit was Like a Virgin! (And stayed in touch long before folks needed Facebook to find their childhood friends.)

Diana "Dirty Diana" Coney, winner of the 2007 Outstanding Friend of the Community WeHo Award, and I discuss her love for tall men and mine for short ones. Though I think we both agree that Mike Wilson is one hot property! And the night is brought to us by DIVA's main man, Nelson Melegrito.

Michael Berman, owner of O-Bar cozies up to Jovy Janolo whose new party "Thank GLAAD It's Friday" premieres tonight at The Abbey. Afterwards we all follow Jonathan "Woody" Woodbeck to his regular Wednesday night club "Garage" at HERE Lounge for much dancing.

Here's a treat for readers of AAT, you can listen to all of Candy Shop right here using the player above! Enjoy. :o)

And check out all the pictures from the night in my Flickr photoset!

Party Ben Visits Bootie LA!

DJs Mysterious D, Adrian and Paul V brought Bootie LA back to The Echo. This time Party Ben came along from San Francisco to do a special midnight set of mash-ups that turned the crowd inside out! I took over 60 pictures, which you can check out by clicking here.

Two crowd-favorites were "Don't Stop Believin' In Planet Rock" (Journey vs. Afrika Bambaataa) by A Plus D and "Paid For My Doorbell" (Eric B. & Rakim vs. White Stripes) by Party Ben. I might be biased, since these happen to be my favorites too, and I am listening to them even as I type this.

The line was so super long there was a 30 minute wait starting at midnight! Luckily, my friend Chandler, (aka Tauren from Luck Legendary) was already inside and got DJ Adrian and Mysterious D to intervene on my behalf. Next month they're moving it downstairs to The Echoplex which is much larger.

See all the photos on Flickr!

There were a lot more people in costume this time around. Not a requirement, but it sure makes things a lot more fun. So if you come next time, at least wear a bandanna. That last photograph, was one of my favorite moments, Chandler's friend, Manders, singing along to "Don't Stop Believing." She really is holding on to that feeling!