Naomi Campbell Fashion Show Benefit for Haiti - Bryant Park: I texted, emailed and called everyone I could for the most anticipated Fashion Week event tonight, and turns out that it is one that everyone can attend—for a price. For a mere $100-$150, you can check out Naomi Campbell’s fashion show at Bryant Park tonight. It starts at 7pm, and anyone who is anyone will be there. You can find tickets at Ticketmaster.com, and if not, they are sure to be on sale by some scumbag on eBay. The proceeds are going to benefit the people of Haiti via the Fashion for Relief charity that Campbell will give the proceeds to. In case you’re wondering what will be on display, Campbell’s show will feature designs from a host of her own hand-picked designers, whose work will be available for purchase sometime in March on Net-a-Porter.com.

Empire Rooftop Fridays – Afterwork
Empire Hotel (44 West 63rd Street): Come join Skyz Da Limit Entertainment at Empire Hotel for one of the city’s best afterwork parties. Here you can sip on your Rum & Coke or your apple martinis while enjoying the view of the Upper West Side with some of your best friends and/or coworkers. Getting in is completely free, so you’re better off skipping out on the last few minutes of work if you’re not trying to wait in line. There will be nothing but hip-hop and house music on the playlist; so rest assure that your weekend wind down music will be in full effect tonight at Empire Hotel.

F♥CK YOU x F♥CK ME
Iven.tory (237 Lafayette Street): Let Fashion Week’s creative intrusion begin! This is going to be one of the most eccentric art exhibits of the month. Seasick Mama is putting on a display that will present the work of Casey Randerson through photo prints, apparel and sleeping fixtures. So what are the subjects of these photos? What else but people having orgasms! That’s right! Randerson took pictures of people having orgasms and made them art. You can take in this “breathtaking” exhibit from 7-10 at Inven.tory.

The House Party
Katra Lounge (217 Bowery): Come to one of Black Oak Night’s old stomping grounds and enjoy what is sure to be yet another beautiful Friday, afterwork party at Katra Lounge. Here you can get your sip on and your hookah on right after work and with 150+ strangers to boat. There is absolutely no cover charge to get in, but you better come dressed correct, because they are going to be very strict at the door. Hip-hop, R&B and 90’s music is all they ever play on Friday nights, with DJ Doc Martin handling the music for an extended period of time, you can be assured that this party won’t grow old, even as it extends from 5 in the evening to 5 in the morning.

Friday Takeover
Fashion 40 (202 W. 40th Street): If you’re wondering where all of the young, black professionals will be at tonight, look no further than Fashion 40’s Friday Takeover just south of Times Square. You do have to dress to impress to get in, but once you do, you will still be overwhelmed by the sexiness circulating this fine establishment. This is a weekly event, and the club goers are pretty loyal to this venue. I recommend getting here early, because they will get funny with the door as the night progresses. Other than that, if you’re looking for a good time, this is the place to be. The music is good every week, the atmosphere is not nearly as snooty as some of the other parties in midtown, and they have a 2-for-1 martini special from 11 to midnight that is sure to get the party going early on.

Strictly the Best Fridays
BLVD (199 Bowery Street): There’s nothing like a happening Friday night at BLVD. Tonight the infamous DJ Norie will be on the 1’s and 2’s; so if you are looking for good music, this is the place to be. There is no cover before midnight if you say you are on the “Nitelife Entertainment” guest list, and you can get some insurance on that by calling 646-294-3455 for an official RSVP. But make sure you don’t show up at BLVD with anything less than your Weekend’s best, because you may get in with your normal attire, but you won’t fit in unless you’ve got your swag turned on.

Fridays @ Providence
Club Providence (311 W. 57th Street): Naturally, you can’t go to Providence and not expect to here a slew of Merengue, Bachata and Reggaeton on the track; however, DJ Chulo is on the 1’s and 2’s, and he plays his fair share of hip-hop, reggae and R&B. Plus, there’s nothing but R&B and Top 40 music on the main floor of the club, where DJ Direct will be on the turntables. Of course, Providence on a Friday will run you; but no more than the usual $20 you’re use to paying elsewhere. However, ladies are free before midnight, and you can get a genuine reduced entry fee if you say you’re on the Showtime Entertainment guest list. Doors open at 10pm.

Touch Me Fridays
Touch (240 W. 52nd Street): What is this? Touch’s 3rd appearance on the rundown this week? Clearly, they’re trying to run this city in 2010, and so far, they are doing a good job. As if the theme of the night isn’t apparent in the name “Touch Me Fridays,” this party is set to be one of the sexiest venues not attached to the variety of Fashion Week parties going on this weekend. DJ Suhel will be running the turntables tonight, which means you will get all of the hip-hop, R&B and classic music you need to have the kind of Friday night you deserve after five days of working for the man all week long.

Related Posts

1. Friday Rundown: February 26, 2010
2. Friday Rundown: March 5, 2010
3. Friday Rundown: March 12, 2010

The night features an arrangement of specially laid out art displays. The last time I went, there was a collection of portraits of black, historical figures; all the way from Martin Luther King to Oprah. Those who gathered around the collection talked intimately about what some of the people featured in the portraits meant to them, and the cups of beer in their hands made the conversations even more lively.

Outside of still art, there are plenty of live performances that occur every month. Often, there will be a band playing right by the entrance way, where you can hear some of the best underground and cultural music there is in New York City. There have been plenty of spoken word performances, including the upcoming performances of Urban Word NYC and Alexis Marie. And you can even catch the occasional independent film, which is generally shown in the Museum’s Cantor Auditorium on the 3rd floor.

On the upper level, there is a dance floor created out of a staging area. It was absolutely ridiculous. It was the equivalent of throwing a toga party in the 16th Chapel. People were dancing, shouting, mingling and just acting a fool—in sophisticated way though! With the lights dimmed and the cocktails flowing, peopled danced to a mix of hip-hop and some more culturally diverse tunes, right there on the pristine floor of the Brooklyn Museum. There were at least 500 people on the dance floor alone, and some people even came dressed to impress, as if they thought they were going to a club in Manhattan.

Downstairs though, it was much more relaxed, with a ranging mixture of different personalities and professions kicking back in seats that had exquisite views of artwork and/or the grounds of the Museum. The Museum Café is open throughout the event, so you can have a sandwich or salad while you sip your cocktail and wonder the museum—it’s like Starbucks, only with art and it’s actually fun.

However, it’s not like Starbucks, in that it’s 100% free every first Saturday of the month. The event goes from 5pm to 11pm, but often, it takes the Museum a lot longer to get everyone out of the building. Once again, the event is completely free with the help of their sponsors, Target, the New York Times, and WNYC Radio. There is a suggested contribution, but believe me, if you do not have it, or just don’t want to contribute, there is absolutely no pressure to do so.

Related Posts

1. Ladies Free Open Bar This Friday, September 28, 2007 at Opus!
2. Ladies’ Free Open Bar, This Friday @ Opus 22: September 21, 2007
3. Saturdays at Sol