District L

Has fall finally fallen – or is summer here to stay? Despite the unpredictable weather forecast, we harvested our festive spirit on Saturday for an afternoon of brunch, shopping, and pumpkin “picking” at the Chelsea Market.

Heading west for this weekend’s ID Pop Shop, we first stopped to grab a bite to eat at La Bottega in The Maritime Hotel. After an odd combination of food and beverage orders, we crossed the street and braved the weekend crowd to visit Lois Eastlund at the Independent Designer’s pop-up shop. Also making stops at Vernakular Photo Designs and ATTITUDE by Jeanne, we finished our Westside Story with a bottle of champagne from the Chelsea Wine Vault.

Just after the sun set, it was time to journey uptown for Ladytron at Terminal 5. VHS or Beta opened around 8:30pm, stirring the crowd for a Night on Fire -- and by 11pm, we were already Destroying Everything We Touched.

So, before gravity became the seducer, we trekked back downtown for a birthday-turned-soft-opening-party at Parlor New York. We toasted our final few drinks of the night to celebrate 25 fabulous years of Sarah Frances Cagianese -- one-half of the talented sibling duo, Frances Rose.

Post by Amanda LaMela

Imagine this: A sunken ship is resurrected, gutted, and packed with booze and debauchery. Maintaining all of the adornments that makes the place... well, a sunken ship... the Starboard Hudson ringleaders threw the aforesaid event.

Last night, Starboard's wild Soft Opening Party and Concert successfully impressed us - which is not easy to do. With never-ending nooks and abandoned quarters, the night also doubled as a makeshift DL photoshoot. And as one might suspect from these photos, Starboard Hudson wasn't the only vessel that was wrecked last night.

We'll be sure to return... once we find everyone.

Post by Amanda LaMela

MePa has long been dead, Brooklyn is too far, and you can’t go out in the LES every night. So what’s a girl to do? Troll around the East Village? No! You’ll never get that smell of college out of your hair.

It’s time to head towards the Hudson. You’ve already taken the westward route to Frying Pan, and weren’t you happy you did? Now the air is getting cooler and it’s time to take that party a few floors below deck.

An old acquaintance happened to stumble upon just the place – Starboard Hudson, a former nightclub located in the hull of a docked lightship, complete with a DJ booth, massive dance floor, performance stage, and two bars. Enthusiastically described as having a “really authentic, enchanted feel,” the ‘hidden gem’ aspect lies in the fact that this boat had actually been submerged underwater for three years. Talk about New York-cool.

To unearth the revelry, a couple crazy fashionistas are pulling together a Soft Opening Party on November 13, 2010 at 9pm. Join District L and a whole crew of fabulous people to celebrate the coolest new thing that’s washed ashore.

Post by Amanda LaMela