Finally the Ol' Yule Log has something to get hot about: Imagine your 48 inch flat screen filled with the Yule Log's flickering flames and thirteen beautiful women dancing burlesque to twelve newly recorded Go-Go-tastic versions of your favorite holiday classics: It's the instant holiday party maker. Yule A Go-Go is, without a doubt, an original holiday release. The two disc set: DVD and music only CD are packaged in a double embossed designer box featuring red, silver and green foil - it's a holiday gift, wrapped to go. It's the perfect stocking stuffer! Yule A Go-Go is a classy, tasteful production from start to finish. It is classic burlesque: As we like to say "PG-13 for Pasties and G-strings and 13 hot ladies" appropriate for any adult party. All our beautifully costumed dancers are professional burlesque dancers with many of them being multiple award winners. Our original music arrangements are by Brian "The Fisherman" Lease; a staple in the Burlesque / Lounge and Tiki worlds. Like a well-seasoned Maple, Yule A Go-Go will supply the heat for any holiday party. With a mix of the classic Yule log, classic burlesque and classic holiday songs, Yule A Go Go is destined to become a holiday classic. Includes: -Continuous party loop! -Fireplace only option (for when the parents swing by) -Special Effects! -Behind the Scenes! -Performer photos & bios -13 saucy ladies -12 song cd -collectors box

Continue reading "the yule log + burlesque = Yule a Go Go (get it on DVD) "

photos by Tim Griffin

Between matches we were treated to a bit of burlesque, all of it wonderful, but I am proud to say that at the end of the day the girls from New York outshone their Los Angeles counterparts with audacity and grit.

During the intermission, L.A.-based Lux LaCroix--who had earlier in the evening made her star turn doing a reversedrag striptease as a Purple Rain-era Prince -- told me, "New York burlesque is more performance art, L.A. is more rockabilly."

This made little sense coming from a girl sporting a Zorro moustache. Fortunately, in this case, the "performance art" was local gogo heroes the Wau Wau Sisters, whose trapeze act set to a Guns 'N Roses song featured not only death-defying stunts but also a giant baggie filled with drugs. Never let it be said that I am not an appreciator of fine art.

By the end of the night there had been enough high-flying grappling, giant Day-Glo insects, booby-shaking and gender-bending to satisfy even purists like myself, and certainly the curiosity seekers had something to text each other about on their way back to the L train. [NY Press]

Continue reading "Lucha VaVOOM (wrestling, comedy & burlesque) came to Webster Hall in NYC - pics (NSFW)"

Mexican Masked Wrestling + Burlesque + Comedy

Lucha VaVOOM is a non-stop, action-packed scream-a-thon, where Mexican Masked wrestlers flip and fly, performing breathtaking acrobatic feats. It's good vs. evil played out in a one fall, Lucha Libre exhibition-style match for maximum enjoyment.

In between matches, the finest, handpicked burlesque acts from around the world astound us; at Lucha VaVOOM, we like a little sexo with our violencia. Raucous aerial acts, Pogo-stick peelers, hula-hoop hotties; we've got it all.

But wait there's more! Our color commentary is handled by comedians Tom Kenny, Dana Gould and Blaine Capatch. Other guest commentators include Fred Armisen, Brian Poussein, Patton Oswalt, Jeffrey Ross, Chris Hardwick and Bobcat Goldthwait. Even Jack Black sat in, proclaiming "Lucha VaVOOM is the sh*t!

Continue reading "Lucha VaVOOM is Mexican Masked Wrestling + Burlesque + Comedy. Sunday night it's @ Webster Hall (win tix) "

The 7th Annual New York Burlesque Festival will be taking place Thursday, October 1st to Sunday October 4th. Festival venues include the Bell House, BB King's and Le Poisson Rouge.

The fest is being organized by NYC burlesque aces the Pontani Sisters (who performed June 25th at Santos) and Thirsty Girl Productions' Jen Gapay. Applications are currently being accepted for performers.

Three day VIP passes are on sale now. More info, with a video trailer of the 2008 fest, below...

Continue reading "NY Burlesque Festival (Oct 1-4, 2009)"

More info on the Brooklyn show @ the websites of Lady Circus & Fuct.

photos by Ryan Muir

Jordann Baker

Lady Circus is a performing arts troupe in New York City composed of nine ladies who perform solo, in small groups, or in a variety show setting in their entirety. Founded by New York based Anya Sapozhnikova in 2007.

Lady Circus, self-described as "an intoxicating cocktail of riot and glamour," considers themselves to be, "a mix of sideshow, brooklyn grit, and 1920's gilded decadence finished off with a modern edge." Their performances use circus arts to entertain and address political and social issues. Members have been sighted using stilts, hula hoops, fire fans, poi, aerial silk, lyra, trapeze, contortion, glass walking, sword swallowing, fire eating, rhythmic gymnastics and combinations thereof across a variety of venues including warehouse parties, galas, benefits, parades, art openings, and private events presenting a diverse skill-set.

Lady Circus performed traditionally one gig at a time, tailoring their acts to each performance space and purpose. As their rehearsal space at The House of YES became rebuilt after a devastating fire in April 2008, their ability to create a full stage show came to fruition.

January 2009: Lady Circus completes first full stage production for The Sky Box Aerial Theatre that operates at the new House of YES. The show is titled "Lady Circus and The Mickey Western Band Present: The Rusted Gun Saloon" A tumultuous tale of love, jealousy, greed, and violence. Including live music and circus in the sky and on the ground!
[Wikipedia]

Continue reading "pictures from Lady Circus & the Mickey Western Band's 'The Rusted Gun Saloon' @ the House of Yes"

Legendary pinup queen Bettie Page died of pneumonia at the age of 85 in a Los Angeles, California, hospital Thursday, a week after suffering a heart attack, according to her agent.

"She captured the imagination of a generation of men and women with her free spirit and unabashed sensuality," said agent Mark Roesler in a written statement. "She is the embodiment of beauty."

Page, said to be one of the most photographed people of the past century, became a recluse in recent decades. Yet, her images continued to be used around the world to market Bettie Page action figures, clothing lines and other merchandise. [CNN]

Continue reading "Bettie Page, RIP "

photos by Eric M Townsend

Eric stopped by the ball after the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island on Saturday (June 21, 2008). More pictures below....

Continue reading "photos from the 2008 Mermaid Parade Ball in Coney Island"

Tickets are now on sale for a show by the Fiery Furnaces at Music Hall of Williamsburg on December 8th - just more than a month after the NYC show they just played at Hiro Ballroom.

Widow City is out now. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Fiery Furnaces - November & December 2007 Tour Dates"

Rififi (a NYC comedy, music, burlesque and dance venue located on 332 East 11th Street) recently sent this letter to the Apiary:

Hi guys,

We recently saw your piece on our liquor license, the rumors of our closing and the future of the establishment in general and decided you were the place we would reveal the truth and our plans.

The license situation is an easy one. Every liquor license for all bars and clubs expire every two years. The renewal process is simple and quick and must be undertaken every two years, it's a checks and balances system. Rififi's license has been renewed and we plan on continuing to bring you the best comedy shows in the Village.

Unfortunately you are correct, there is a smear campaign being perpetrated against Rififi by some of the tenants in the surrounding buildings. They are intent on ousting Rififi during this period of license renewal, soliciting surrounding tenants to make complaints, abusing the SLA complaint webpage, and invoking archaic and racist cabaret laws (please refer to this site for a history of the cabaret laws in New York City). Many of these people seem to believe it is illegal for people to eat, drink and make merry.

Rififi seeks to nurture a copacetic relationship with our community and many tenants who live in the very same buildings as our opponents attend our shows, patronize Rififi on the weekends and are keeping us up to date in the neighbors efforts to taint the police and SLA against us. There is also talk of a luxury highrise building being erected across the street and this campaign may well be an effort to cleanse the block of 'undesirable' business. Wouldn't it be nicer for everyone if Rififi became a Build-a-Bear?

Of course in this situation our future is unsure, but from our end, we plan to stay open. We believe we are a vibrant and historic part of the East Village community and that nightlife in New York should be encouraged, it is after all an engine that employs 19,000 city residents and generates 100 million dollars in tax revenue every year. We'll do our best to keep you all updated on our situation, in the meantime please contact the community board in our neighborhood (Edwin Chan at CB3- echan@cb3manhattan.org) if you wish to support Rififi as a place to see wonderful and diverse shows every night.

Yours in service,

Rififi