Mr. Black

• Address:
  35 E 21st St
  New York, NY 10010
• Visit website

The underground dance club that pumped new life into New York’s gay nightworld when it first opened in Soho is back! Spawning many already legendary parties (Jonny McGovern’s “Boys gone wild”, Tubway, Gary 49…), the same creative bunch is at the helm at their new Chelsea location.

Never mind the roomier and sleeker space, the new Mr. Black is as sleazy and underground as ever, throwing rocking queer parties all week long with the same unique ambiance, blending edgy electronic music, freaky go-go boys, colorful nightlife personalities and avant-garde gender bending characters into a tasty mix of sweat, beats, liquor, sperm and debauchery.

Mr. Black is undeniably the current epicenter of New York’s gay club scene, and the place where today’s breed of club kids congregate to break new grounds in dance music and get laid.

The many colorful personalities hosting, working, or simply appearing at the club include the gay pimp Jonny McGovern and his entourage (Linda James, Erica Toure Aviance, Maxine Iniss, Adam Joseph and their innumerable gogo boys), the fearful iconic creature Sophia Lamar, and many ballroom kids, runway divas and house children.

Their Saturday nigh party, Tubway is an experience in itself quite hard to describe. Although two of its residents DJ’s, Gant Johnson and Nita Aviance, are undeniably white, the party is drenched in black soul and driven by black house beats. Conceptual and irresistible, puzzling and mesmerizing, the strange energy which emanates from the speakers and permeates the minds of the dancers drives everyone into an odd frenzy. It causes, among the crowd, spontaneous outbreaks of voguing battles, riveting scenes of runway show-downs, sudden episodes of break dancing, and other cases of manic possession.

Hosted by the colorful Xander Aviance, Tubway is patronized by many children from the houses of Aviance and Xtravaganza. With so many creative spirits congregating in one room, it is hard to foresee what kind of turn the event may take.

The only sure thing is that the beats will be fierce, the mix will be bold, and the crowd eclectic. Only in New York!

We wish a long run to the Mr Black crew at their amazing new venue, and urge all visitors who want to experience what the future of nightlife is about to check out this landmark club which is already defining its era.