The Twelve Major Stories in Nightlife Culture for 2011

Complied by Gamal Hennessy

As you get ready to dive into the madness that is New Year’s Eve in New York, consider the rising stars, emerging trends and artists we lost in 2011. After all, if nightlife culture didn’t evolve and change every year, there wouldn’t be any nightlife for you to enjoy this weekend…

January
The New Club Kids
The New York Times takes a look at some of the newest tastemakers in New York nightlife.

February

Everyone knows that a drunken friend or stranger can ruin your night of fun. Not everyone knows these tips that can help you get through the drama.
Dealing with Drunks: Strangers
Dealing with Drunks: Friends

March

Nightlife Music: Adam Alpert, the founder of the successful 4AM DJ Company, discusses the importance of the music to the nightlife experience 

April

The Art of Clubbing: The New York Museum of Art and Design has a new program that presents nightlife as a form of art. 

May

Are You the Problem with New York Nightlife?: There is a certain type of nightlife patron that tries to prove his superiority by expressing a disdain for modern nightlife. I wrote about this type of patron in my 2009 piece If Nightlife is Dead, then You Killed It. Late last year, I described them in my series On Retros, Realists, and Rebels. Good Night Mr. Lewis confirms some of the same ideas in this recent piece.

June

What role did nightlife play in marriage equality? The Marriage Equality Bill was signed into law in New York this summer. Saying marriage equality came about because of nightlife might be going too far. But nightlife is a part of that story, so it is a part of our collective story as a society.

Beer Gardens: Along with rooftop bars, tiki bars and speakeasies, the beer garden has been a growing trend in New York nightlife for the past three years. This summer gave us six new locations in spots as diverse as Chelsea, Harlem, Grand Central and Midtown West.

Are Pop up Clubs the Next Big Thing?: In a response to both NIMBY community boards and fickle patrons, operators are taking the pop up model that has worked for retail stores and translated it into nightlife. Now dim sum parlors, strip clubs, Midtown offices, vacant warehouses, waterfront parks, and school playgrounds could be your next venue.

September

Measure Twice, Cut Once: Paul Seres, the head of NYNA and a prominent member of community board 4, speaks out on the relationship between City Hall and nightlife.

October

Why Should You Care about Nightlife Culture? Because it is central to the quality of life of a city and the people who live in it  

December

The Yale Nightlife Culture Course: NYU takes a long hard look at Madison Moore and his nightlife culture course at Yale. 

Obituaries

Don Hill The iconic operator passed away earlier this year. The venue that bore his name shut down a few weeks later.
Heavy D: One of the most exuberant MC’s from the Golden Age passed away from deep leg vein thrombosis a few weeks ago.

Nick Ashford: The Motown songwriter, signer in the classic group Ashford and Simpson and owner of New York’s Sugar Bar passed away over the summer after a battle with throat cancer.

Fire Island The center of gay nightlife on Fire Island was destroyed in a fire. Because it happened after the summer season, no one was injured. 

Have fun in 2012

G