News & Notes

Parking Policies Change Downtown (DC): This is actually a re-post from Midnight Scott => In case you haven't heard, D.C. has made some changes to its parking policy & this affects most people attending events in the downtown, Adams Morgan, U Street, & G-town areas. The city now requires you to pay meters on Saturdays & until 10:00 p.m. Equally annoying, the rate in these sections has increased to $2.00 per hour. Other restrictions (such as max. time allowed in a space) are now enforced on Saturday until 10:30 pm.

TRONIK Posts an Impressive Schedule for the Months Ahead (TronikDC.com):  2009 saw a resurrection to the overall scene & Tronik was one night to help lead the way. Driving off this momentum they've recently posted an awesome schedule for events in the coming months. March brings Project Tronik: an Underground Fashion Show presented by Kit Psychotic. April offers a "Big in the Scene" theme party. But perhaps most importantly, Sunday May 23rd is scheduled to bring you GOTH PROM w/ Covenant Live!  Tronik is held at TOWN Dance-boutique (8th & Florida, NW DC).

Dunkelheit Moves to New & Better Digs (www.myspace.com/dunkelheitdc): Phoebe & crew were on hiatus for most of winter, but have since returned to a new & better location w/ a fantastic night. Still offering the same great music & a more intimate night for friends to gather, mingle, & dance all night long, their recent premiere at 2010 Lounge saw a full house w/ a high energy crowd. A night not to be missed!  Located at 2010 9th St. NW DC (between V & U St). $5 cover.

Bound Makes a Triumphant Return to Form (DC.Bound.org):  In case you haven't heard, Bound has recently moved to The Loft Warehouse just off New York Avenue (same location as SMB). Even more, the change of venue has indeed created in a true resurgence for the club. What was once dying a slow & painful death, has now witnessed a return to form. Good crowds w/ fresh faces have become the mainstay & the days of Bound have once again risen from the dead. Congrats to Johnny Panic, Phoebe, & Todd for their efforts to bring such a mainstay back from the brink.

Deep3 & 3D Productions Enter the Stage w/ a New Industrial-EMB Night (www.deep6.com): Located at Club 24, DJ's RasDna, Dirty-B, & Mindcage have joined forces to bring hard industrial back into the scene. This is a FREE event for all.

"III" (Three) Returns: One of DC's latest additions to the Goth-Industrial pantheon is hosted by DJ's Vlad & Javier. With their inaugural nights ranked as a true success, Vlad & the crew now press forward to build off their momentum & develop a night of fun diversity to the overall scene. Held on the THIRD Sunday of each month at Cobalt (1639 R St. NW DC - on the corner of 17th & R St), it offers a state-of-the-art venue, great music, & fun crowd, & a great night! Doors open at 9pm. Cover is $5 ($3 before 10pm).

Baltimore's VolGothic becomes VolGo & Moves to a New Location (www.volgoparty.com): Now back from hiatus, they've expanded their format & moved to a beautiful new location at The Haze Lounge in Club MIST (124 Market Place, Baltimore). Providing one of Baltimore's BEST venues for the alternative club circuit, they're indeed a night not to be missed. Their March event had a great crowd w/ a lot of energy & this promises to carry even better momentum well into spring.

Resurrection Rises (www.myspace.com/resurrectiondc): Weekly Thursdays are back with the premier of Resurrection. Hosted at DC Star (2135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE DC), they offer a strong mix of EBM, Darkwave, Ambient, & Classic Goth. Their main focus, however, will be to feature the best live acts available in the local goth/industrial scene. Of special note is the complete turnaround regarding DC Star. With a beautiful renovation, safe parking, & capable staff, they've truly cleaned up their act & have done a complete turnaround from the days of mayhem & hassle after the closing of Nation. It's also worth mentioning that the promoters do not want to conflict w/ Tronik & will not be holding events on the Third Thursday so as to make way for Tony, Dirty-B & the gang over at TOWN.

VNV Nation Posts Their 2010 Concert Schedule (vampirefreaks.com/vnvnation): Touring w/ special guest SITD, they're scheduled to play live in Towson at the Recher Theater on March 22nd. See website for details.

Commander Salamander of Georgetown Closes - Sadly, long time staple to the underground & alternative scene, Georgetown's Commander Salamander will finally close it's doors after 30 years in business. Reported by both WTOP & The Georgetown Voice, this is only one of 52 prominent businesses to close their doors in the Georgetown area. 

Shadowland Closes - Philadelphia's long standing Saturday Goth/Industrial dance night held its last event on November 14th. It's promoters have moved on down the road, & as far as we know they have no immediate plans to start up a replacement.

Unfortunately, the "Undgerground" in Bethesda isn't so Underground Anymore  (BritishLuckyPaul.com): Apparently, a couple neighbors had issue with Lucky Paul's Parties & problems ensued as 'The Castle' was soon made public. It started with complaints for the usual zoning stuff, but since DC loves a good sex scandal Paul ended up all over the news - even making it to national media. We're sorry such issues have befallen Paul, but fear not as he's landed on his feet & the situation has since turned around (DC also has a knack for good spin).  N.C.F.S. has taken up his cause & the party palace will continue to throw some of the area's best events. To which, YES his awesome event will continue but have bee subsequently moved to an off-site location.

DXS Rapture Plans to Return from Winter Hiatus in March - D~X~S Rapture was on hiatus for the Winter Season, but we're looking forward to their return in March. Upon which time we understand that they plan to return to their normal monthly schedule of third Saturdays. They are currently securing a commitment on a stable location & will announce soon. See 'Groups' for contact info.

Fetish First Friday Launches in Baltimore (myspace.com/joineclipse): From the people who bring you Eclipse, Club Orpheus is now host a new night for Baltimore. And although we list it as a fetish club, we believe it will definitely be more of a goth & alt. dance night w/ a fetish oriented theme (as it is clearly a public venue & nightclub event).

Ian Black Premier's Spanktuary - Located DOWNSTAIRS in Philadelphia's Club Risque (5921 Tacony Ave. Philly), he launched his new night in conjunction w/ Risque's Cardiac Arrest Valentine's Party on February 12th. Doors at 9pm. $15 Cover.

DCBDSM Launches (www.dcbdsm.com): offering a concise layout for calendars & events specific to the DC BDSM Scene, this recent effort uses a google calendar application & provides a more familiar format than the more expansive scroll provided by The Metro. 

DC Starz & Rites of Bacchus have merged into the "Crucible Lifestyle" (cruciblelifestyle.com): In a continuing effort to carry the scene under the Crucible flag, Fraizer purchased all rights to both DC Starz & Rites of Bacchus sometime ago. He's now merged both into one organization called "Crucible Lifestyle" & has folded all events into one monthly night. Affairs will thus be hosted at The Crucible, to which the group's mainstay will remain the first Saturday of each month (basically replacing the Starz monthly social).

Silk & Skin Parties "Might" Take a March Hiatus (www.SilkAndSkin.com): Hosted by the ever wicked "Wild Thing" at a discreet location in Springfield, Silk & Skin parties represent a unique concept for the scene. In operation since 2004, on site play parties are formatted to men in nude while women wear lingerie. Facilities provide full bar (BYOB), more than enough space to play, pool, hot tub, & more. Due to recent issues in the scene w/ regard to Lucky Paul & others, they may take a March hiatus but will return to a monthly schedule in April. So stay tuned!

Virginia Couples Club says Adieu (www.virginiacouplesclub.com):  Formally Hampton Roads Couples, then reformed into Va. Couples Club, the organization hosted an on-premise social club for M/F couples. After celebrating w/ a final send off, they have recently packed up & closed their doors for good.

'Having Parties' has Changed Their Name & Website to Open Minded Events (OpenMindedEvents.Blogspot.com): Apparently, a bot took over their website & started spamming millions. As a result, the site was consequently shut down. But taking things in stride, the promoters seized this as an opportunity & decided to update their whole identity. As a result, "Having Parties" is now Open Minded Events. They are the only group we know of that sponsors bisexual & bi-curious male, female, & trans group parties in the area. Additionally, they host all male play parties in Dupont. See website or listing under 'groups' for more information. 

KINK Enters Its Second Year (www.kinktheplayparty.com): It began as one woman's dream to offer a series of special parties specifically for women & the transgender community - a concept fairly unique in DC. Now it's grown into a group which is building in numbers & offering 2 distinct parties: one for women & the TS Community, the other for men. Each is held at a dedicated space in DC. Self-described as down-to-earth & welcoming, they offer a great venue for those who identify as kinky, kink-curious, leather-dykes, leather-bois, & all levels of gender identity with leather desire. We offer congrats & wish them well in their second year!

The Washington Blade Closes Out Its Publication - One of the premier publications serving the gay community for news & the local scene, the parent company of the combined Blade newspapers recently stopped all publication & abruptly ceased operation. Even long time employees went to work only to find the offices closed. The website has been shut down & word is the company is in receivership.

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