BIG PARTY REPORT!!!! :: neon

Blanca's birthday party was big, lush and overflowing with the beautiful people of NYC's bellydance and world music demimonde. Even though Blanca commanded the spotlight as the birthday girl, I seized some attention by hosting her party at my place. OMG, it was so incredibly cool to see all our fancy and gorgeous bellydance friends circulate around a table laden with wines and hors-d-oeuvres on a late Tuesday night - all of them in one place.
Actually, it was not one place, but two places: My place consists of two lofts in a Garment District department store converted into a residential building. We've been talking about breaking down the wall between the two lofts for over a year, but on one side the wall is mirrored, and it's my rehearsal studio, so....we keep postponing the merger of the two apartments until I can live without the mirrors for some days or weeks, and it never happens.
So, space #1, candle-lit and unfurnished featured Blanca greeting our friends, pouring them wine under branches of cherry blossoms and relieving them of the birthday gifts they brought for her. Meanwhile, in the dark red-and-black kitchen of space #2 a clique of absintheurs presided over by Jeniviva indulged in absinthe rites and rituals, and watched "Honey & Spice," a new World Dance New York burlesque instructional DVD by Jo Weldon.
The photo report follows. You can see more photos here!

Elsa Leandros, Sherene, Cindy Dunaway, Blanca. Blanca is wearing a crown Cindy created for her.

Amy Staub, Neon, Pete List, Hanna Nour

Tanna Valentine, Blanca

Absinthe

Blanca makes a speech before destroying the birthday cake!

Jeniviva & Neon in the absinthe den

Ranya decorates her famous Groundhog Day cookies; Richard, Dennis Danaway, Frank

Richard, Blanca, Elisheva, Dennis Dunaway, Anasma

Sarah Skinner and Darshan

Tanna Valentine & Andy Troy

Amy Staub, Mariyah, Darshan, Hanna Nour, Sarah Skinner

Caught gossipping!!!! Anasma, Blanca, Richard

Frank & Anasma

Fayzah & Richard

Not fair!!!! Someone is having fun at my expense! They extracted my octopus cans from the refrigerator to count them! What's wrong with eating octopus for breakfast, lunch and dinner?!! And btw I am TIRED of all these jokes about my growing tentacles! Gimme a break already.

Brenna, Neon

Comments

[Blanca]

OMG That was the best party ever, in both known and unknown universes!!! Look at all those beautiful, happy faces and those gorgeous apartments :)

I am so so grateful and humbled for all your outpouring of love and delicious treats, gifts, flowers!!!! Thank you to our gracious hosts Neon and Shoostie... you are the best :) and please the busy bees who couldn't attend... mark your calendars for next year ;)

[Blanca]

PS Neon is growing tentacles, I saw one.

[Richard]

As Blanca would say, "OMG that party was so beautiful". And on a TUESDAY NIGHT!!! I also noticed Neon's tentacles. They're subtle, but can clearly be seen in the Love Potion cover photo.