The time has come to celebrate the Kazakhstan tourism boom. Tonight in NYC, head to Cake Shop for a free screening of the newly-released Borat DVD. We love Cake Shop's free parties, and tonight's $0 screening co-hosted by the Village Voice should be no exception. Should you get bored waiting for the film to start, you can grab a drink at the full bar downstairs, or head upstairs to shop for records.
Say you're going alone and looking to chat up a Kazakhstan-loving partygoer. What could be your pick-up line? We wouldn't be surprised if "jagshemash" works on the superfans. But we hear travel buffs melt when you ask them if they think Kazkahstan is the next Macau. And when they can already name the two cities which Kazakhstan is hoping to turn into gambling tourism meccas, you'll know it's true love.
Though it supposedly has holy roots, the Jewish holiday of Purim has also been expertly distilled into the perfect excuse to party. Purim party tradition includes dressing up Halloween-style, gorging on hamantaschen, and getting crazy drunk. The religious component comes in when you pray to keep the hamantaschen down and not wake up with a brutal hangover.
So where should you celebrate over the weekend? Chabad of San Francisco's annual Purimpalooza ($20) takes place this Sunday, March 4, at 12 Galaxies. Chabad of Bucktown/Wicker Park in Chicago beckons "Hassids and hipsters" to Wicker Purim this Saturday at AllRise Art Gallery ($12 if you wear a costume), while in New York City, Heeb sponsors a karaoke party at Lit ($5). Unfortunately for Londoners, it doesn't seem that the infamous PunkPurim (pictured above) by Jewdas will be returning this year.
Love stinks! If you're already cringing inside thinking about this Wednesday, you're not alone. Single people everywhere are declaring their right not to wear red and buy chocolate for Valentine's Day -- and marketers are listening, according to the AP. Here's how you can celebrate with like-minded people if you aren't already partied-out from that party Kevin Federline event in Boston:
Washington, D.C.: Turn your vitriol into cold hard cash at the Mothertongue Anti-Valentine's Day Poetry Slam, A $200 cash prize is in the offing for the person who can best command the mike with his or her rendition of, "It's Always The Ex-Girlfriend's Fault: An Epic Poem." The Black Cat, 1411 14th Street NW. 8:30PM, $10.
San Francisco: The monthly Be Nice Party was created by a couple of Burners (attendees of the Burning Man festival) who didn't understand why we all can't get along. For V-Day they're combining their usual low-key meet-and greet with a dance party that starts at 11PM. Pick the event you like best, or stay all night. Catalyst Cocktails, 312 Harriet Street. 6PM, 21+
Austin: Your last boyfriend couldn't be dragged to anything involving the words "performance art," so thank goodness he's not around to see the art-rock band Tuna Helpers perform at Room 710. It's the three vixens' final show, and they've pulled out all the stops (including getting a Joy Division cover band to open while the $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon special still holds). 710 Red River Street. 8PM, $6.
If you have a reason to celebrate Valentine's day, you probably already have plans of some sort. If you only have a reason to mourn, however, you could still be contemplating: bar with friends? movie at home? shooting range? Well, here's one option for you singles in the Boston area. Kevin Federline will be hosting an Anti-Valentine's Day party on February 9 at Gypsy Bar. Friday night partygoers can bring photos of their exes to shred or simply enjoy a drink with "the biggest EX of the year."
For a bit of pampering to fill the void of romance in your life, you could opt for a stay at the Four Seasons Boston, which is close by on Boylston Street. It won't come cheap though: weekend rates are sold out, and standard rates are $625.
The club is promoting the party with a line on the website that reads "Are you among the most jaded? Come party with America’s Most Hated, Kevin Federline (yes – for real)." Oh, we don't doubt it's for real. What else does he have to do?
We think the best way to spend New Year's is at a friend's house, but if none of yours are opening their homes to complete destruction, you'll have to head outside. If you want to sweat into the New Year with a bunch of drunk hipsters, Cake Shop is where you'll want to go in Manhattan.
The venue is billing its party as the only free one in the neighborhood. We can't verify that--and yes, house parties are usually free--but it sounds about right, considering similar venues are charging (Pianos: $20, Sin-e: $15). We also have a soft spot for Cake Shop because when Syd Barrett died, they kept a candle burning next to a picture of him at the bottom of their staircase. So respectful.
The drink specials will start at 5 p.m., when everything's 2-for-1 until 8 p.m. After that, it's $3 sake bombs, then $1 Bud Selects, and so on. Happy drinking! If you're just dying to see the ball drop, you can always try and crash Ultragrrrl's apartment for TV access.
Ever wonder how the other half gets down? You know, hotel room service crews? Well, at the Kuwait Crowne Plaza at least, they don't mess around! Above is a video of a room service staff party held last month.This excellent photo montage set to a live, high-energy version of the Backstreet Boys' "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" will truly get you pumped for Friday, if you you aren't already.
The definition of what constitutes a good party can change over time. When we were little, a good party involved cake and possibly a gummi bears theme. In high school, it was anywhere there was beer, or even peach schnapps and a water pistol. Many adults expect something more from a party, though. That's why they head to events like Burning Man or the Love Parade. They're "ultimate" parties.
It's tough to keep track of them all, and to know which of them are lame. It's also way harder to bail on thoes big events when you've planned out a weekend away to get to them. Rough Guides is taking it upon themselves to catalog the festivals of the world, using whatever correspondents they can get, (read: they're looking for submissions, and you can get in the book and/or win a trip to Mardi Gras if you're party tales are good enough.) combining them into a book to be released next January.
What parties are coming up? There's the Festa de São João in Porto on the 23rd of June--that's a street paty of the highest order--and the world famous Palio in Siena, Italy on July 2nd. The Palio shows that many of the best festivals are steeped in tradition: it's been a "World's Best Party" since about 1590.
With Mardi Gras/Carnival here, it's the perfect time to figure out what parties to hit this time next year. On Forbes' list of the World's 12 Biggest Parties, the biggies are all represented, but one that was new to us was the Carnival in Binche, 40 miles from Brussels. Not so much with the naked flesh at this medieval celebration, but there are "roving Mam'selles" --men in drag -- and thousands of oranges being hurled through the air. Throw in the possibility of lots of good, good beer, and you've got yourself a party, cher.
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by djk
With Mardi Gras/Carnival here, it's the perfect time to figure out what parties to hit this time next year. On Forbes' list of the 
