Friday, June 27, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Technology: Homeland Security Company Hits the Clubs
Technology
Homeland Security Company Hits the Clubs
(Press Release)
Last weekend the New York Bar Show gave liquor makers, bar managers and industry professionals the chance to sample new products and roam around the Javits Center. One of the more unique exhibitors is trying to replace the scrutiny of bouncers by pushing a technology that would make it easier for nightclubs and bars to catch fake ID’s.
Intelli-Check - Mobilisa is a technology company that has built a business in ID verification. They produce wireless handheld devices that read and analyze the data in barcodes on government issued ID (drivers licenses, passports, etc.). While their products were once confined to military bases, government installations and industrial parks, Mobilisa is now planning to provide the same technology to clubs so they can keep underage drinkers out.
While this might seem like another infringement of big brother into nightlife, systems like this are already developed and there might be a logical reason for clubs to adopt the Mobilisa system. With today’s technology, fake ID’s are not difficult to acquire. Dram shop laws traditionally hold clubs liable for serving drinks to minors and there has been an increased crackdown on fake ID’s in the past year (See Nightlife News Crime 10/19/07) so clubs need something to combat the increased sophistication of forgery. A system like this will work within the new guidelines that the NYPD worked out with the New York Nightlife Association late last year (See Nightlife News Crime 10/19/07).
With all the pressure to keep kids out of clubs, it might make sense to put less trust in a bouncer staring at thousands of ID’s in the dark (and maybe hooking up his friends) and more trust in the barcode. As long as the system doesn’t get abused by the police, telemarketers or hackers, it might help everybody.
And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.
Opinion: The Evolution of Gay Sex Clubs
Opinion
The Evolution of Gay Sex Clubs
(Steve Weinstein Village Voice)
This year’s New York Pride Week marks a turning point in the relationship between heterosexual and homosexual culture in America. California has recently started issuing same sex marriage licenses and the political climate might be right for other states to follow suit.
This year could also see a change in the relationship between homosexuals and nightlife. As the social system changes, staples of gay culture begin to fade away. Gay sex clubs might be one of those staples. It is not necessarily government persecution or disease that’s fueling this trend. A certain segment of the gay community doesn’t seem to want those kinds of parties anymore. The argument is that because coming out doesn’t automatically lead to social isolation anymore, gays and lesbians are less likely to seek release in public sex venues and are therefore less likely to seek out gay sex parties.
While there might be some merit to this argument, there is evidence that the city is helping the trend along by exerting pressure on local gay sex clubs (See Nightlife News Health 4/29/08: “City Cracks Whip on Gay Sex Clubs”) and HIV is still a major concern (See Nightlife News Health 1/8/08: “HIV Cases on the Rise”). Maybe it’s the combination of all three factors, plus the rise of the internet as a source of sexual contact, that are killing off the gay sex parties. This combination could lead to lower HIV rates and further social acceptance between straight and gay communities. It could also be another sign of the homogenization of nightlife in New York, where more and more things are the same and the unique flavor of the city is harder to find.
The Evolution of Gay Sex Clubs
(Steve Weinstein Village Voice)
This year’s New York Pride Week marks a turning point in the relationship between heterosexual and homosexual culture in America. California has recently started issuing same sex marriage licenses and the political climate might be right for other states to follow suit.
This year could also see a change in the relationship between homosexuals and nightlife. As the social system changes, staples of gay culture begin to fade away. Gay sex clubs might be one of those staples. It is not necessarily government persecution or disease that’s fueling this trend. A certain segment of the gay community doesn’t seem to want those kinds of parties anymore. The argument is that because coming out doesn’t automatically lead to social isolation anymore, gays and lesbians are less likely to seek release in public sex venues and are therefore less likely to seek out gay sex parties.
While there might be some merit to this argument, there is evidence that the city is helping the trend along by exerting pressure on local gay sex clubs (See Nightlife News Health 4/29/08: “City Cracks Whip on Gay Sex Clubs”) and HIV is still a major concern (See Nightlife News Health 1/8/08: “HIV Cases on the Rise”). Maybe it’s the combination of all three factors, plus the rise of the internet as a source of sexual contact, that are killing off the gay sex parties. This combination could lead to lower HIV rates and further social acceptance between straight and gay communities. It could also be another sign of the homogenization of nightlife in New York, where more and more things are the same and the unique flavor of the city is harder to find.
And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Opinion: The Anti-Club Police
Opinion
The Anti-Club Police
(Steve Lewis: Good Night Mr. Lewis)
In 2007, the NYPD asked the city council for expanded ability to enforce the Nuisance Abatement Law. This law gives the police the right to close an establishment where violent crimes, drug sales, prostitution, gambling, are going on or where building, health or zoning laws are being violated. Proponents of this law claim that it is in the interest of the public to close or regulate establishments where criminal activity is being carried out. The nightlife industry as a whole and the New York Nightlife Association in particular doesn’t argue the merits of the law. However Steve Lewis, and other nightlife experts, think the current enforcement of this law is a problem.
In a recent posting on his blog Steve Lewis explained how the NYPD manipulates the system to the detriment of the nightlife industry. When a club or bar is closed, it is invariably closed on a Friday. This has two effects. First, the club cannot respond the charges until the courts re-open on Monday. Second, the club can’t open until it responds. Since the weekend is where most of the money is made, the police have effectively killed the business of the club for that weekend. Keep in mind the police can close a club that is charged with violating the nuisance law. It doesn’t have to prove the law has actually been broken. While the losses that the nightlife industry suffers might be more than enough to justify a lawsuit, club owners are reluctant to start a case that will draw the animosity of the police department. This reluctance gives the elements in the police department that have initiated this plan (Mr. Lewis makes it clear that he is not accusing the entire NYPD of this abuse) a free hand in targeting nightlife.
There are some clubs that break laws when they are open. They need to be controlled and the police need to control it. But the solution to this problem is not attacking the entire industry. That makes about as much sense as punishing every driver in the city because a few people drive drunk. The practice of abusing the Nuisance Abatement Law, and the liquor license struggles we have described in Can We Keep Clubs Open and Last Call are simply the latest examples of attacks on clubs. We are the people who appreciate and enjoy New York nightlife. Up to this point we have also been the silent majority, unable or unwilling to speak out against things done allegedly for our benefit. If we continue to be silent, nightlife will suffer and ultimately, so will we.
And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.
The Anti-Club Police
(Steve Lewis: Good Night Mr. Lewis)
In 2007, the NYPD asked the city council for expanded ability to enforce the Nuisance Abatement Law. This law gives the police the right to close an establishment where violent crimes, drug sales, prostitution, gambling, are going on or where building, health or zoning laws are being violated. Proponents of this law claim that it is in the interest of the public to close or regulate establishments where criminal activity is being carried out. The nightlife industry as a whole and the New York Nightlife Association in particular doesn’t argue the merits of the law. However Steve Lewis, and other nightlife experts, think the current enforcement of this law is a problem.
In a recent posting on his blog Steve Lewis explained how the NYPD manipulates the system to the detriment of the nightlife industry. When a club or bar is closed, it is invariably closed on a Friday. This has two effects. First, the club cannot respond the charges until the courts re-open on Monday. Second, the club can’t open until it responds. Since the weekend is where most of the money is made, the police have effectively killed the business of the club for that weekend. Keep in mind the police can close a club that is charged with violating the nuisance law. It doesn’t have to prove the law has actually been broken. While the losses that the nightlife industry suffers might be more than enough to justify a lawsuit, club owners are reluctant to start a case that will draw the animosity of the police department. This reluctance gives the elements in the police department that have initiated this plan (Mr. Lewis makes it clear that he is not accusing the entire NYPD of this abuse) a free hand in targeting nightlife.
There are some clubs that break laws when they are open. They need to be controlled and the police need to control it. But the solution to this problem is not attacking the entire industry. That makes about as much sense as punishing every driver in the city because a few people drive drunk. The practice of abusing the Nuisance Abatement Law, and the liquor license struggles we have described in Can We Keep Clubs Open and Last Call are simply the latest examples of attacks on clubs. We are the people who appreciate and enjoy New York nightlife. Up to this point we have also been the silent majority, unable or unwilling to speak out against things done allegedly for our benefit. If we continue to be silent, nightlife will suffer and ultimately, so will we.
And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.
Are You Ready for Everyday Drinking?
DRINKING
Every Day Drinking: A Preview
(Dwight Garner: New York Times)
When you imagine a man who consumes a lot of liquor, you might imagine a sloppy mess of a man who talks a lot but doesn’t say anything that makes sense and falls over a lot before kneeling over a toilet to pay for his overindulgence. A literary classic about the virtues and charm of regular drinking might seem counter intuitive…how can a drunk stay awake enough to write a book? The only way you can find out is by reading Everyday Drinking by Kingsley Amis.
Sir Amis (1922-1995) was a British poet and novelist. He was also obviously well versed in the art of drinking. He was so enthusiastic about liquor that he wrote not one but three books on the subject; On Drink (1972), Everyday Drinking (1983) and How’s Your Glass? (1984). The out of print books have recently been compiled and re-released as Everyday Drinking. The new work is part practical guide (“Serving good drinks, like producing anything worth while, is troublesome and expensive”) part recipe book (it includes, among other things, instructions for a tequila based Bloody Mary that serves as a “pick-me-up, throw-me-down, and jump-on-me” kind of drink) and part philosophical treatise (“humor and drinking are connected in a profoundly human, peculiarly intimate way”)
In a city of $20 cocktails, bottle service and a “liquor brand as a status symbol” culture it might be nice to take a step back now and then to enjoy drinking for its own sake. Instead of elbow wrestling 200 people at the bar to get that shot of Cuervo down your throat as fast as possible, maybe its time to gather good friends and sit down to some quality liquor. Maybe then we can have a few more nights of enjoying our drinks and a few less nights kneeling in front of the toilet.
And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.
Every Day Drinking: A Preview
(Dwight Garner: New York Times)
When you imagine a man who consumes a lot of liquor, you might imagine a sloppy mess of a man who talks a lot but doesn’t say anything that makes sense and falls over a lot before kneeling over a toilet to pay for his overindulgence. A literary classic about the virtues and charm of regular drinking might seem counter intuitive…how can a drunk stay awake enough to write a book? The only way you can find out is by reading Everyday Drinking by Kingsley Amis.
Sir Amis (1922-1995) was a British poet and novelist. He was also obviously well versed in the art of drinking. He was so enthusiastic about liquor that he wrote not one but three books on the subject; On Drink (1972), Everyday Drinking (1983) and How’s Your Glass? (1984). The out of print books have recently been compiled and re-released as Everyday Drinking. The new work is part practical guide (“Serving good drinks, like producing anything worth while, is troublesome and expensive”) part recipe book (it includes, among other things, instructions for a tequila based Bloody Mary that serves as a “pick-me-up, throw-me-down, and jump-on-me” kind of drink) and part philosophical treatise (“humor and drinking are connected in a profoundly human, peculiarly intimate way”)
In a city of $20 cocktails, bottle service and a “liquor brand as a status symbol” culture it might be nice to take a step back now and then to enjoy drinking for its own sake. Instead of elbow wrestling 200 people at the bar to get that shot of Cuervo down your throat as fast as possible, maybe its time to gather good friends and sit down to some quality liquor. Maybe then we can have a few more nights of enjoying our drinks and a few less nights kneeling in front of the toilet.
And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.
Does New York Nightlife Need to Offer Condoms?
Health
Herpes Cases on the Rise in NYC
(Dan Mangan: New York Post)
Fortunately one of the underlying motivations in nightlife is sex. From the music to the clothing to the liquor, sexual overtones range from subtle to blatant. Unfortunately this atmosphere might contribute to a higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) in the city. One study has determined that herpes is more widespread in the city that in other parts of the country.
The 2004 report from the city’s Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 1 in 4 New York adults, or 26%, carry the herpes simplex 2 virus. Since only 15% of the carriers will develop visible symptoms, most of the people who have it don’t know it and are more likely to pass it onto others.
This does not mean that New Yorkers are having too much sex. But it is worth mentioning that getting herpes makes you more vulnerable to HIV. HIV cases are also on the rise in New York among certain demographic groups, which correlates to the city’s findings on herpes. The solution is simple; better sex through condom use. Condoms protect against herpes, HIV and other STD’s so using them will help curtail the spread of both viruses. There might not be such a thing as too much sex, but there might be such a thing as too much unprotected sex.
Unfortunately, condom use is down in New York, especially among at risk groups. Is access the answer? In some schools, condoms are already available and it has arguably helped. Is it time for condoms to become available in bars and clubs, close to the mints and cologne that the bathroom attendant hovers over or sitting at the end of the bar with the club logo on it? Some might claim that condoms in clubs might encourage people to have sex in clubs, but this is ignoring the reality of clubs. Condoms in clubs won’t encourage people have sex. Dark lighting, pounding music, strong drinks and a room full of barely dressed people who want to have sex encourage people to have sex. And club security already clamps down on dancing that gets too dirty, so it’s not as if condoms are going to suddenly remind people about sex. The only thing that condoms can do in clubs (if they get used) is to make the whole process safer for everyone involved.
And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.
Herpes Cases on the Rise in NYC
(Dan Mangan: New York Post)
Fortunately one of the underlying motivations in nightlife is sex. From the music to the clothing to the liquor, sexual overtones range from subtle to blatant. Unfortunately this atmosphere might contribute to a higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) in the city. One study has determined that herpes is more widespread in the city that in other parts of the country.
The 2004 report from the city’s Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 1 in 4 New York adults, or 26%, carry the herpes simplex 2 virus. Since only 15% of the carriers will develop visible symptoms, most of the people who have it don’t know it and are more likely to pass it onto others.
This does not mean that New Yorkers are having too much sex. But it is worth mentioning that getting herpes makes you more vulnerable to HIV. HIV cases are also on the rise in New York among certain demographic groups, which correlates to the city’s findings on herpes. The solution is simple; better sex through condom use. Condoms protect against herpes, HIV and other STD’s so using them will help curtail the spread of both viruses. There might not be such a thing as too much sex, but there might be such a thing as too much unprotected sex.
Unfortunately, condom use is down in New York, especially among at risk groups. Is access the answer? In some schools, condoms are already available and it has arguably helped. Is it time for condoms to become available in bars and clubs, close to the mints and cologne that the bathroom attendant hovers over or sitting at the end of the bar with the club logo on it? Some might claim that condoms in clubs might encourage people to have sex in clubs, but this is ignoring the reality of clubs. Condoms in clubs won’t encourage people have sex. Dark lighting, pounding music, strong drinks and a room full of barely dressed people who want to have sex encourage people to have sex. And club security already clamps down on dancing that gets too dirty, so it’s not as if condoms are going to suddenly remind people about sex. The only thing that condoms can do in clubs (if they get used) is to make the whole process safer for everyone involved.
And if you want to find out more about what's going on in New York nightlife, sign up for NYN Insider. It's free.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Smoking, Drinking and Dancing...
Nightlife News for June 10, 2008
Smoking: Will the Smoking Tax Make New Yorkers Quit?
Drinking: Why Should You Love Your the Hangover?
Dancing: Can You Sell a Dance Style?
Find out in Nightlife News
Smoking: Will the Smoking Tax Make New Yorkers Quit?
Drinking: Why Should You Love Your the Hangover?
Dancing: Can You Sell a Dance Style?
Find out in Nightlife News
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