A trip down memory lane…
In case you’re new to my blog or to New York City nightlife in general, let me tell you about THE OPEN PARTY. It was the Summer of 2008, Q-TIP and I decided to start something new at SANTOS PARTY HOUSE with RICH MEDINA after our short stint at CLUB LOVE. SANTOS had just opened up for business and the decor was so reminiscent of old New York that Q-TIP and I knew this had to be our home. Our aesthetic for the party would be a welcome mat of sorts; no dress code, no VIP, no bottle service…come as you are. The name “OPEN” summed it up perfectly.
That first night in July 2008 garnered a dream mixed crowd for us; Tribe  Fans, European Party Tourists, Downtown Artists, Voguing Boys, Celebrity Guests, B-Boys, Hot Girls and much much more.
Without Twitter or much viral promotion, the party became an instant hit. Our first night brought out all kinds of interesting characters. Here are some of my favorite photos taken by me. Most of the celebrity guests who came through didn’t get photographed by me as I wanted to let them live and have fun…
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JULY 2008
Special Guest: Nas & Busta Rhymes
*YOUNG SCOOZLE, OSCAR 1992 and VASHTIE
*JAVON FLOYD, VASHTIE, RAUL LOPEZ
*ELLE CLAY, VASHTIE, Q-TIP
*VASHTIE & MIKE (FRANK 151)
*My dear friend, DAVID RUSINOVICH
*NAS & ELLE CLAY
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NOVEMBER 2008
Special Guest: Solange Knowles, Mick Jagger & L’Wren Scott
A view from the stage
*A-RON THE DON & JR
*OSCAR 1992 (Rocking Violette Season 1) & SHAYNE OLIVER
*SOLANGE KNOWLES & VASHTIE
*L’WREN SCOTT & MICK JAGGER in the DJ BOOTH
*Q-TIP DJ’ing
*JAVON FLOYD & ELLE CLAY (Rocking Violette Season 1)
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NOVEMBER 2008 (ELECTION NIGHT) PHOTOS BY MEL D.COLE
Special Guest: Diddy, Mark Ronson, Kid Cudi (Performance)
We played the live coverage on a projector
*DIDDY & KID CUDI
*BOBBY WALTHZER, SCOTT WILLIAMS aka YOUNG SCOOZLE, HARRY MCNALLY & SEBO (PEGLEG NYC)
*MARK RONSON, VASHTIE & DJ SOUL
*OSCAR 1992
*KID CUDI, DIDDY & VASHTIE
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NOVEMBER 2008
*VASHTIE & HARRY MCNALLY
*SABEL BOO (and ELLE CLAY’S hand)
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DECEMBER 2008
Special Guest: Ebro Darden
*PHILLIP BBC, VASHTIE, EBRO DARDEN
*Original SSUR shirt…
*DEE TWIN
*JANELLE KOLA & VASHTIE KOLA (my actual cousin and not a play cousin)
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DECEMBER 2008
Special Guest: Ralph McDaniels, Funkmaster Flex, Grandmaster Flash
*GRANDMASTER FLASH
*Q-TIP & FUNKMASTER FLEX (BEVERLY BOND in the back)
*Q-TIP, RICH MEDINA & RALPH MCDANIELS
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JANUARY 2009
*ELLE CLAY & GREG KUBIE
*RICH MEDINA, Q-TIP & VASHTIE
Wish I knew why I was making this face, so I could never make it again.
*ERIN & ALLSION
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JANUARY 2009
Special Guest: LL Cool J, Faith Evans, Jadakiss, Rosie Perez, Beverly Bond, DJ Scratch, Don C.
*ROSE PEREZ & Q-TIP
*EMILE, KID CUDI & PLAIN PAT
*SADE, STELLA & ANGIE DUTCHES (ALIFE)
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JANUARY 2009
*ELLE CLAY & VASHTIE
*SABEL BOO, ELLE CLAY & CARMELA
It was the night I wore Pegleg Pajamas to the club.
*RICH MEDINA
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JANUARY 2009
Special Guest: Diddy, Jay-Z, O’Neal McKnight, Dawn (Danity Kane), Grand Puba
*Q-TIP & DIDDY
*GRAND PUBA
*O’NEAL MCKNIGHT & DAWN
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JANUARY 2009
Special Guest: Consequence, Chromeo, A-Trak, AJ Calloway
*VASHTIE, CONSEQUENCE, OSCAR 1992
*VASHTIE & CARLINE
*ELLE CLAY & VASHTIE
*RICH MEDINA & AJ CALLOWAY
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FEBRUARY 2009
Special Guest: Tracy Morgan, Lil’ Penny, Kid Capri
*ROB YOUNG, VASHTIE, ELLE CLAY
*TRACY MORGAN & Q-TIP
*OSCAR 1992 & LIL PENNY
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FEBRUARY 2009
Special Guest: Drake, Taz Arnold,
*SABEL BOO & AMARIS
*TAZ ARNOLD
*MISTER MORT & YOUNG SCOOZLE
*DRAKE & ROB YOUNG
More to come…
