brazilian carnaval 2008

the mayor of rio de janeiro already presented the key of the city to the "rei momo", so it is official, party time until ash Wednesday.

I have posted the schedule of some party suggestions to your right, and added a reminder above, party and be safe.

...if you are in london this weekend...

don't miss the return of David Morales to the Ministry of Sound - February 2 - first time in 5 years.

Rio Carnival Cruise 2008 - Atlantis - February 3 - 15, 2008

Just wishing a super trip to all Montrealers that will be part of the 3rd Atlantis South American Cruise. Some of you have already done an Atlantis cruise and know what to expect, and some haven't and you guys are for the ride of your lives.

Good change in the itinerary, the last 2 cruises have started in Buenos Aires and ended in Rio right before the Carnival, this time departure is from Rio de Janeiro and leaves at the end of Carnival.

Ports of Call: Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Parati, Santos, Porto Belo, Florianopolis, Punta del Este, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

Make sure to pack your outfits for the theme parties, do not forget decoration for your door, and make sure to have those "business cards" with your information to distribute to your new friends.

"The Week" might be offering special pricing for Atlantis' guests, and if you are not interested in doing the "Sambodromo" or the other Carnival parties around Rio, here is "the Week" schedule:

February 1 - Stephan Grondin
February 2 - Peter Rauhofer
February 4 - DJ Isasc Escalante
February 5 - DJ Brett Henrichsen

and if this is not enough, the following DJ's will be on board of the Atlantis cruise: Abel (Miami), Paul Goodyear (Barcelona), Brett Henrichsen (Los Angeles) and Douglas Penido (São Paulo). Last but not least, Pam Ann will be also performing, and she is the most hilarious flight attendants I have seen in my life.

Happy Australia Day - January 26

To all Aussies of the world, happy Australia Day, and I'm sure Whistler was the place to be in Canada for this celebration.

have you seen less gay people in Montreal this week?

I'm still checking if it is true, but I've been informed that around 800 people from Montreal find themselves back in Miami today, after having spent a week of pure entertainment aboard of one of the most popular gay cruises hosted by Atlantis Events, called the largest gay cruise in history - Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Cruise - January 19 - 26.

This cruise was scheduled to have 3700 guests, so we are talking about around 22% of them being from Montreal. If it is true, I don't blame these boys, I just returned home and it is cold outside.

Below you will find some of my pictures from the Largest Gay Cruise of 2005 - Navigator of the Seas - which took place from January 29 to February 5, it departed from Miami to the Caribbean.



edit: not sure if this is true, because last night Parking was really happening, and Stéphan Grondin did an incredible job with the crowd. Grondin just returned from his Taipei gig, and next week is going to be rocking Rio de Janeiro and Florianopolis.

DJ Ana Paula - The Week Rio Resident @ Parking - February 16, 2008

thanks to Parking, Ana Paula should be performing again in Montreal on February 16, for the Red party. Last time she was off the hook, and I highly recommend to be there if you haven't seen her yet. Those who have, for sure won't miss this party.

Earth Hour 2008

Saturday, March 29, 2008
8:00pm-9:00pm
Montréal
Turn Off The Lights


"At 8pm on the 29 March 2008 millions of people in some of the world's biggest cities including Copenhagen, Toronto, Chicago, Melbourne, Brisbane, Tel Aviv and Manila will unite and switch off for Earth Hour.

Earth Hour 2007 was a Sydney event. Earth Hour 2008 is a global movement.

Earth Hour is about individual action and how together we can make a difference. Visit Earthhour.org and add your name to the Earth Hour movement."

Earthhour.org
myspace.com/earthhour

Montréal is not an official participant city yet, but we can make it official, just turn turn off the lights for an hour. I'll keep reminding you about Earth Hour in the weeks to come.

what to do tonight in montreal?

Picture removed by hosting site

Westboro Baptist Church

I'm sorry. I know this has nothing to do with music or traveling, but how is it possible that people like those from the Westboro Baptist Church, are allowed to reproduce? I keep my mind open to many things, but .... anyway, there is no explanation for their actions. Patius.

"Westboro Baptist Church
3701 SW 12th St. Topeka, Kansas 66604
785-273-0325

Religious Opinion and Bible Commentary on Current Events
Tuesday, January 22, 2008

NEWS RELEASE

'Brokeback Mountain' star
- Heath Ledger - is dead.
WBC will picl(et his funeral.

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with
womankind; it is abomination." Lev. 18:22.
"For because of these things cometh the wrath
of God upon the children of disobedience."
Eph.5:6.

Yes. WBC will picket this pervert's funeral, in
religious protest and warning: "Be not
deceived; God is not mocked." Gal. 6:7.

Heath Ledger thought it was great fun defying God
Almighty and His plain word; to wit: God Hates
Fags! & Fag-Enablers! Ergo, God hates the
sordid, tacky bucket of slime seasoned with
vomit known as 'Brokeback Mountain' - and He
hates all persons having anything whatsoever
to do with it.

Heath Ledger is now in Hell, and
has begun serving his eternal
sentence there - beside which,
nothing else about Heath L~dger is
rerevant or consequential."

Cape Town, South Africa

Decided to bring back those great memories from my trip to Cape Town.

If you want to read my "review", just follow the links below:

Read First Impression

Read Second Impression

Read Third Impression 

Read Fourth Impression

Read Fifth Impression

Read Final Impression

Sydney Blu & Danny Torrence - Climaxxx @ Stereo - January 12, 2008

I'm so glad I went to this party because Danny Torrence just blew my mind away - the transition from Sydney to Danny was just okay, I've seen him done better entrances, but the rest of the night was full of different and incredible sets, and each one very refreshing.

Several song I haven’t heard before and I liked them, oh my gosh, I'm still smiling. Sydney Blu was okay, just not sure if it was the perfect fit as the openning act for Danny Torrence. Danny started slow, but quickly moved into known and characteristic party mood. He actually took over the decks around 4:30am, and I really started to feel it by 5:30am.

He was just incredible, and he was playing the perfect song at the perfect moment, even the minimal tunes he gave us were perfectly timed to how I was feeling.

The crowd was straighter at the beginning and gayer at the end, which is kind of interesting. I also enjoyed the view of two straight beautiful guys making up with a girl - not sure if it was sensual beacause there were two straight guys and one girl, or because both guys were good looking and they were also touching each other while kissing the girl.

I only lasted until 11:00am or so, and really wanted to stay longer, but that would had been just torture because I like to dance to the music. Once again, another great party by Danny, and happy birthday buddy.

Carnaval 2008: Sampa, Rio or Floripa?

It looks like Brazil will get invaded, not only by foreign tourists during the Carnival 2008, but also by several international DJs. They have been booked to play in either São Paulo (Sampa), Rio de Janeiro (Rio), Salvador or Florianopolis (Floripa), but mostly will ended up in Floripa, and I'm loving the flyers from "the Week".

Carnival will take place at the beginning of February this year, and even our beloved Stéphan Grondin is scheduled to play in both Rio and Floripa.

Although Rio is the most famous city, Floripa is becoming the super hot gay spot, so much that even "The Week" and "Flexx Club" are opening branches in the city - I just don't know if these new spots are going to stay open during the whole Brazilian Summer, or if they are open just for carnival. Obviously we cannot forget to mention the local clubs (Warung and Clube Green Valley), which are also bringing heavy weights in both house and trance music.

Among the DJs that will find themselves in Brazil between February 1 and 5 are: Deep Dish, Peter Rauhofer, Offer Nissim, Chris Cox, Sander Van Doorn, Stéphan Grondin, Fatboy Slim, Booka Shade, Marky, David Guetta, Tony Moran, Tiesto, Mischa Daniels, Brett Henrichsen, Sasha, Eric Entrena and others.

have you been here?

I have no idea how many hours have I spent dancing at this place, but let me tell you, it has been worth it.

now feel the vibe with DJ Vibe at Stereo

what to do tonight in montréal?

Last time I saw her was at Stereo (read review), and she play hard, the way I like it, and to tell you the truth I wasn't expecting it.

Victor Calderone :-(

My deepest condolences to Victor Calderone and his family, for the passing away of his mother this week, and his brother last month.

Big hugs.

myspace.com/victorcalderone

Bal en Blanc - 14th edition - March 23, 2008

It's taken place in March this year, kind of early you might think, but it is because Easter is also in March. Two big rooms, and I have a confession to make, until now my main interest has always been the house room. Not sure if it is because my taste is changing, but more and more I'm feeling attracted by the other room as well.

Who is going to be spinning in the house room? I have been checking and so far I have only found Victor Calderone, David Guetta and Offer Nissim as confirmed DJs.

I don't want to start speculating, so once I have another confirmed name, I'll let you know.

Other confirmed names: Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Menno de Jong, and Infected Mushroom.

and here some videos from Bal en Blanc 2007:

armin van buuren


more tech room

.. and if you are in taipei this weekend...

picture removed by hosting site

David Morales, La Vie en Stéréo @ Stereo - January 1, 2008

La Vie en Stéréo with David Morales, and it is the day after new year’s eve? There is no way in hell I would miss this party. I only regret not have gone earlier as I had planned. Nevertheless, while waiting in line I got to see a spectacular display of power by mother nature, when kilos of snow felt from the roof of the building on top of the gel prepared heads of the Stereogoers.

Once inside I quickly forgot about the time spent outside and moved to claim my own space. It was a phenomenal sight, hundred of men and women dancing to the anthems chosen by David Morales.

Didn’t pay attention to the decoration, but I did notice the great mood coming from the decks. Morales played anything and everything, making difficult for anyone not to enjoy his set because there was always something there that you liked. He would shift from Techno to Electro, then to Vocals from Minimal, then fro Hard tunes to deeper and sexy sounds, to classical house songs from whatever else he had decided to drop at the moment. All transitions were smooth, and he really made the night a magic experience for me.

There was a moment around 5:00am when he started to play music that felt as if you were in the ocean, and if you looked around you could see a wave of people moving accordingly. I remember just closing my eyes and letting the music to take my mind and body to the shores, and this is when I felt someone hugging me.

I asked someone, that had been at Stereo the night before, how the crowd compare, and he answered “like day and night”. Although I enjoy the DJ’s that were schedule to spin on December 31, for whatever reason I felt as if it was tailored to a more straight crowd. I could be wrong, but I was looking for a more mix party, and you can’t go wrong with Morales. You know the party will have representatives from all walks of life, and that is exactly what I got for my party on January 1, 2008.

The crowd was just beautiful, and friendly as usual, everywhere you looked there was candy for your eyes, and too funny some people didn’t recognize me because my long hair - it is back to short now. Saw many people I haven’t seen in a long time, and it was nice to catch up for a bit, and share the floor with a good dance.

What a great party, and some people kept telling me Morales wanted to break the record, by spending I don’t know how many hours spinning at the temple. I still don’t know what time it finished, but it was 6:00pm and he was still there. I left the place around noon, and really left because I had to, otherwise I could had spend a couple of more special moments.

Morales you rock man.

Igloofest (Piknic Electronik)

Igloofest is back, brought to you by the Piknic Electronik people. Do not worry about the cold weather, it is a lot of fun if you cover yourself and find someone to hug.

"Piknic Electronik et Les Quais du Vieux-port présentent:
Vend. 18 janvier : Josh Wink (USA), Misstress Barbara (CA), Arsen (CA)
Sam. 19 janvier : MUTEK @ Igloofest : Abe Duque (USA), Derek Plaslaiko (USA), Lee Curtiss (USA), Pheek (CA)
Vend. 25 janvier: Ninja Tune @ Igloofest : Ghislain Poirier (CA), Devlin & Darko de Spank Rock (USA), Deadelus (USA), Ghostbeard (UK)
Sam. 26 janvier : Thomas Schumacher (DE), Matéo Murphy (CA), Millimétrik (CA)

Quai Jacques-Cartier, au Vieux-port de Montréal, 18h00 à minuit

5$ avant 20h / 10$ après 20h"

if you are in new york city ...

you must not miss this party, and I'm seriously thinking about going down to the big apple for this event.

I wouldn't mind if the promoters were to bring this talented DJ to Montreal - maybe the Bal en Blanc?

check this amazing party - NYE 2006 Skopje



and if you cannot make it to NYC, then here is his schedule for the next couple of weeks:

Fri Jan 11th Hi Tek Soul@Pacha, New York.
Fri Jan 18th Gravity@Club Maxim, Paris.
Sat Jan 19th Hi Tek Soul@Ministry of Sound, London.
Fri Jan 25th Hi Tek Soul@Pressure, Glasgow.
Sat Jan 26th Electrick Shock@Tivoli, Dublin.
Fri, Feb 1st Hi Tek Soul@Digital, Newcastle.
Sat, Feb 2nd Hi Tek Soul@Shine, Belfast.
Sat, Feb 16th Hi Tek Soul@Florida 135, Barcelona.
Sat Feb 23rd Hi Tek Soul@ Fabrik, Madrid.
Fri Feb 29th F-Scope@The Best, Zagreb.
Sat Mar 1st Groove is in the Heart@Msters, Split.
Thu Mar 6th Rex Club, Paris.
Fri Mar 7th Spiraal, Rijkevorsel.

Danny Torrence (The End) @ Unity - December 31, 2007

Perfect way to celebrate the arrival of the new year, with some great friends having dinner, chatting and dancing. Later on we decided it was time to go partying with the rest of the people, and there were many choices in Montreal: Peter Rauhofer at Parking, Resurrection or Resolution (or whatever name was) at the Bell Center, Stereo, Circus, etcetera and etcetera.

Many choices, but when you have Danny Torrence spinning at Unity, and you are looking for happy tunes, all other choices become irrelevant (no offense to anyone). Although Unity tends to attract a younger crowd, I did not pay attention or cared about it last night.

The music was happy house at its best, exactly what I was looking for, vocals to sing or scream, build ups with good ends, and a DJ having the time of his life. My friends dragged me to the upstairs room, but I escaped in 30 seconds, and went back to Torrence's dance floor.

The place had a constant flow of people leaving and arriving, which was nice because there was always room to dance. Great way to spend the first dance of 2008.