raves

As the sun sets over the Hudson, New York city’s night-time residents rise and reemerge into the slowly dissipating streets. Commuters, visitors and assorted city diaspora depart as the night-time players and partiers retake an alternate urban landscape hidden and invisible during the day. While there are the clubs and public venues, there’s a lot more going on in the nighttime underground world which can be impossible (even for long-time residents) to locate. One way to get started is via a regularly updated list of the most current “hottest” nightclubs, a few good ones can be found at Gothamist and 10best.com. An alternate route is the explore a variety of specialized bars, clubs and “locations.” New York city’s nightlife is constantly evolving, so to keep current, here is a list of our top five information sources.

Get started here — Top 7 Guide — Great Website Resources for Underground parties & Events in NYC

Secret New York by Time Out : A good guide to get started with

Meet up Groups : Parties in multiple cities

NYC Go Calendar : A go-to list for established parties/clubs

Thump : A very thorough multi-city New Year’s Eve guide and list of promoters

Resident Advisor : Current list with updated groups and events

Gothamist : Great too, it offers lots of information on the latest happenings and events in NYC.

The NY Observer : Again, great resource.

Best Parties of 2015 – Secret Warehouse Hologram Rave

Nightlife in New York City is as unique and diverse as the city itself. Big clubs advertise and promote venues which may or may not be worth the hefty ticket price; smaller bars and other locals may be too crowded to enjoy or filled with people you’d pay not to see. But every now and then, there’s a party that restores your faith in nightlife subculture. One such phenomenon is Shade — an underground rave run by Ladyfag and Seva Granik. Shade belongs to the underground scene of nomadic raves– parties that move from venue to venue, exact details kept secret with ever-changing locations, as followers move against the tide of commercialism and money-driven venues. Besides being visually stunning and authentic, Shade manages to create a balanced non-judgmental environment where everyone feels free to be themselves, critical stares are absent, the crowd ranges across genders and sexual orientations, and best of all there is no pressure to do or be anything except to exist. New Year’s theme was a dark dystopian vision of the year 2084 called “SHADE: 2084” where conceptually the last of humanity gathers as the external world deteriorates into a dystopian state (à la Blade Runner, The Matrix etc). Shade:2084 was fittingly held at an undisclosed location inside an industrial waterfront warehouse in Greenpoint Brooklyn; LED panels displayed flashing futuristic themes and messages as the crowd danced to DJ’s Egyptrixx, Morgan Louis & Nita Aviance and Physical Therapy beneath a hologram laser installation that was a techno work of art reminiscent of a dark pulsing & glowing futuristic Blade Runner -esque landscape. The party went through the night until dawn broke and Shade:2084 came to its cataclysmic end as the last few groups departed exhausted and stumbling into the outside world of 2015.

A Dystopian Installation – SHADE : 2084

Underground Parties & Events : Top 7 Guide

World’s Best Parties : Shade 2084 Hologram Rave NYE