Don’t you hate it when you want to hit a club for a fun night out, or to see one of your favourite DJs to only find out the cover charge is crazy high that you find yourself questioning whether it’s worth the mascara?

Read the full story

Tis the season for over indulgence on everything, It’s the excuse to stay out late, dress up, eat whatever you want, never mind what your waistline tells you. And to drink, drink and drink.

I could make this really short and tell you what cures a hangover is to simply not to cause one, but who are we kidding you’re not going to do that! Tis the season to be naughty!

Read the full story

I want you to think for a minute of the Walkman you may have once owned. Or maybe you still do. Was it a Sony?

Read the full story

Until I started working in TV I didn’t realize how much noise surrounds us on a daily basis. I now know why production companies get permits to shoot. And deliver those notices to your door, place them on your windshield, drop them off at your work, or to wherever a film or TV crew will be shooting within your vicinity.

A small simple noise we normally would dismiss such as the whirring of a fridge for example can ruin, and slow down a shot. Even a simple two minute take can take a lot longer to shoot than need be.

Read the full story

Let’s be real who hasn’t tried some form of drug; alcohol, weed, cocaine, E, G, K, prescription, whatever your flavour. This leads me to the recent incident of Paris Hilton once again getting caught for illicit behaviour. I love that title “illicit behaviour”, don’t you?

I tweeted once I heard of this news that half, if not more of those reporting this story were high and/or drunk while reporting this news. In my opinion I feel this wasn’t far from the truth.

Read the full story

In one of my past blogs I questioned whether I should work at Pride or just go for personal enjoyment. I was siding with personal enjoyment when I got the call asking me to host the Central Stage once again. I had to say yes. I love doing it, I love Pride and believe in what it truly stands for no matter how commercial it has gotten. It still has its purpose; freedom to be who you are!

Read the full story

A good party doesn’t have to be in a large venue, it also doesn’t need hundreds of people. It only requires a good vibe, friendly folks, great music and enough room to dance, and no long line-ups for the washrooms.

This is one reason the College Street and the Bathurst and Bloor areas are the places to hit. These locals have always had nightlife, just not always dance nightlife.

Case in point I went with one of my BFFs Lauren and her man, and my fellow Scenester writer/DJ Samhouse to hit a private birthday party held in a rented loft. DJ Charles G, the birthday boy is a long time friend and affiliate. He was the first to hire me to write his bio back in the day.

The Loft where he had his birthday was on Bloor at Bathurst (Studio 56). It was very dark and the few cement steps within this small gallery loft could’ve used some lighting, but other than that this was a night when hearing music from DJs who I don’t get to experience that much. In a venue hand-picked for a party such as this reminded me why I love this scene, and electronic music so much.

The DJs at Charles G’s birthday were Audio Creeps who both took me on a bumpy, joyous dancefloor ride; O-God delivered some fresh beats as did Hubert K who’s been bringing his beats for years to dancefloors. Hotmess DJs who I never heard of before this night got me dancing without a care in the world, and dropped one kick-ass “Happy Birthday” track which no DJ should do without. Sorry at time of this blog I didn’t have the name, but Samhouse got it! I just need to get it from him!

We tend to pay attention to large venues putting on large events which are spoon fed to us through social networks and promotional advertising which only the fat cats can afford. Then of course there’s the popularity issue, but the one common complaint I hear is these events always have the same DJs booked pretty much all the time.

Since I was released from a “club political hold” three years ago I’ve been breathing fresh musical air thanks to the vast array of small venues booking talent who play with passion.

Scenester will be putting on a small event inside the Loft of MOD CLUB (yes I know MOD CLUB isn’t a small venue, but the Loft is!) Saturday April 10. It’s called “Scenester Soundz” and it’ll showcase Toronto’s Cam Maxwell, Samhouse, Mike Colas and Ryan Carlucci.

Then of course the little event which grew is fast approaching, JaXx HouZe 9 – The Enchanted Tribal Platoon Friday April 23^rd. The barracks are Footwork Bar & Afterhours (425 Adelaide St. W, Toronto).

The musical Platoon is D-Unity, irGO playing an all vinyl set! Cam Maxwell and Samhouse. Dress in your army best, win prizes courtesy of Cinelli Hair, Stag Shop, Scenester, bpm:tv and more….Ooops! Now all that sounded like a fat cat, no?

Nonetheless I’m only trying to say to go out and hit places you never have before and hear DJs you’ve never heard before. You just might like the experience.

To get on the JaXx HouZe 9 – The Enchanted Tribal Platoon Soldier Guestlist by emailing [email protected].

See you on the dancefloor!

Deko-ze’s birthday is one of my favourite events to host, as hectic as events such as this may be it’s the urgency which keeps me going. This year his birthday was held at Footwork Bar & Afterhours on March 5^th, 2010 with Adam K, Mark Falco and Deko-ze on deck.

The night started off with me ensuring a film crew was organized who were coming to shoot for an upcoming documentary, but at 8pm it started to get hairy; my phone was ringing off the hook, texts were flying in to the sound of my “knock-knock” tone, emails poured in all wanting guest list. Read the full story

My Valentine’s sucked! That’s right my man didn’t get me anything! But than again many straight guys just don’t get Valentine’s Day. All I wanted was a card, a box of chocolates, or flowers. Even a “Happy Valentine’s Day” would’ve have sufficed.

To be honest who am I kidding I didn’t come home till 3:30pm on the 14^th after my events I had to host at, and chillin with my friends. So, in his defense I may not have gotten me anything either.

What didn’t suck were the Valentine events. The Scenester Showdown at The Barn on the 12^th was great! Jamal had the DJ booth set up on the dancefloor on the main floor of the venue which makes for far better interaction with the DJ.

I’ve seen one laptop set up during a set, maybe two while the next DJ is setting up, but never three alongside two CDJs, seriously! That’s a mad set up. Word on the dancefloor was that DJTK was the Showdown hands down!

And let me mention the sweet gift bag for the winner, Johnny T. He sure got a lot of goodies to make his Valentine’s complete alone or with that special someone courtesy of Stag Shop.

CiRCA’s “Love, Sex & Magic” was also great. Damn! My Scenester Radio producer and BFF gave me chocolates and even CiRCA brought tasty chocolate, strawberry treats to our table.

Joe Ghost who opened for Behrouz and Addy totally got me; his beats were bumpy and awesome. Yet I didn’t get a chance to see him. Hence the Ghost maybe?

All was good till the fire alarm went off. That’s right around 3am just as we were headed to the DJ booth area to get our dance on, the music shut off and firemen came in. Yes some were hot (no pun intended), but since it would be a bit for them to sort this fire thing out in a venue the size of CiRCA we decided to call it a night and head back to the studio.

My Valentine’s had no spark, and ended in a false alarm. Good times!

Now that it’s over I move into March hoping for warmer weather and some crazy parties upon us. I’ll be a host at Deko-ze’s birthday at Footwork on March 5^th with Adam K and Mark Falco also on the bill.

March 6^th is DJ Bliss’s “Elevate 1-year Anniversary” at LOL Lounge with Addy, DJ Saeed, Matt Gracie and more…

Let’s not forget infamous JaXx HouZe 9 – The Enchanted Tribal Platoon will detonate April 2010. Talk about sexy men in army fatigues gyrating to tribal house. Yummy!

For guestlist for any of these events please email [email protected]

See you on the dancefloor!

Here we go with traditional Valentine’s Day and the somewhat new Family Day holiday upon us. I remember my first Family Day weekend it was when I was a host at the infamous Comfort Zone and it was just after the overly publicized Project White Rabbit raid. The club was so empty and clean I could actually smell bleach, yet it was great to be in that place only with those who genuinely loved the music and weren’t there for any other reason.

Three years later I’ll be celebrating this holiday with a buffet of beats with what will be packed dance floors, with music supplied by some of Toronto’s finest, and one American finest, Behrouz at CiRCA.

First up is The Scenester Showdown Friday February 12^th at The Barn featuring four of The Village’s favourite DJs all battling it out on the decks; Jamal vs. Jeff Kirkwood vs. Rhubix vs. DJTK. It’s free till 12am and only $5 after. You can’t get a better Valentine’s deal than this!

And if you’re into winning sexy, luscious prizes Scenester is holding a contest to win a Valentine’s Day prize bag filled with sweet treats courtesy of Stag Shop, Scenester Magazine, The Barn and Hype energy drink. (Here’s how to enter). Maybe for some this might be the only chance of getting a Valentine’s Day gift.

I’ll only be getting a box of chocolates from one of my BFFs, and that’s cuz we already planned on buying each other a box of chocolates. Let’s face it, it’s really it’s an excuse to have chocolate!

Its time for some Love, Sex & Magic at CiRCA on Saturday February 13th with Behrouz and Toronto’s deep beat devil DJ Addy. Also on the bill are Chris Fresque and Joe Ghost.

Advance tickets are only $20 with guestlist being $25. For tickets or guestlist you can contact Scenester at [email protected].

As I wrote this I was trying to think of my most memorable Valentine’s Day and I have to say it was with another one of my BFFs. It was about four or five years ago. We left Comfort Zone on Valentine’s Day in the evening, her with a shiny glass decorative figurine her boyfriend bought her that lit up when she put it together showcasing a glass statue couple in the middle of it. Yes it was intricate and different, yet somehow strangely lovely.

I on the other hand had a rose my boyfriend gave me earlier in the day which by this time was wilted and crunchy. My BFF and I ended our sad Valentine’s Day with each other (no boyfriends they were bouncers and had to work) taking our somewhat paltry gifts back to her place, but not before buying a pint each of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Happy Valentine’s Day!