Hip-Hop is For Lovers Mixer Recap

Last night, I attended the Hip-Hop is For Lovers Mixer at Therapy Wine Bar in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. The event was hosted by the lovely ladies of HH4L, Uche, Lenee, and Jakema, and boasted a nice, mixed crowd of music lovers, tastemakers, jetsetters, and liquor enthusiasts.

Uche held things down on the music front, playing the role of DJ and spinning everything from classics (Biggie’s “One More Chance/Stay With Me”) to more recent jams (Big Boi’s “Tambourine”).

I had a few adult beverages, including the concoction for which Hip-Hop is For Lovers is infamous: the Slow Motion. It features a sweet mélange of tropical flavors that will sneak up on that ass and then leave you on your ass.

Bar Review: Randolph Beer

Last night, I was invited by my buddy Topher and the good folks at Google to drink and dine at new Nolita watering hole Randolph Beer. It’s owned and operated by the same folks that run the Randolph cocktail bar just a few doors down.

First off, I loved the decor — it’s all wooden booths, half barrels masquerading as chairs, and antique hardware accents. The staff was pretty chill, as well. Everyone was helpful, knowledgeable, attentive, and (thankfully) swift. My bartenders answered questions about the different selections before allowing me to try the Southern Tier, a delicious IPA with a sweet tinge to it. And the Southern rock soundtrack certainly kept things lively.

Finally — and, dare I say, most importantly — they have a decent selection of craft beers and wine. It’s like Pokemon: gotta try ‘em all. Okay, that was somewhat lame, but you get the gist!

All in all, I was pretty pleased with Randolph Beer. It’s certainly a spot I plan on visiting again. Oh, and shout out to the very lovely Angela, who recommended the delicious Cheesy Brat, seen above!

Randolph Beer
343 Broome St
(between Bowery & Elizabeth St)
Canal Street, NY 10013
Neighborhoods: Little Italy, Nolita
(212) 334-3706
http://www.randolphnyc.com

Bowery (J)
Grand St (B, D)
Spring St (4, 6, 6X)

Why I Wrote GUESTLIST (Part Two) #GLIST

A few weeks ago, before the release of my novel GUESTLIST, I was having drinks with the lovely and amazing Emily Cavalier of Mouth of the Border and the conversation shifted to the topic of my novel.

Ms. Cavalier asked the question that everyone asks: “How much of it is autobiographical?”

“Twenty percent,” I said.

But you know, even that’s not true. GUESTLIST is most assuredly not autobiographical. The novel is not about me. And, despite what some will inevitably think, I am not any particular character in the story. In fact, the entire storyline is complete fiction.

With one exception.

And that exception, Dear Readers, is what inspired GUESTLIST.

GUESTLIST by Jay Fingers Book Release Party Recap #GLIST

As you should already know, GUESTLIST is finally released. To celebrate the novel’s release, we held a book release party this past Monday at cocktail bar Hanson Dry in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

The party was a grand success – friends, colleagues, co-workers, drinking buddies, women I lust after adore, everyone came out to celebrate, and it was a good time.

GUESTLIST Official Mixtape by DJ SAGE – FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD #GLIST

Awww yeeeaaaahhh! The long awaited GUESTLIST Official Mixtape is finally here! From the official press release:

Be Cool Entertainment Holdings, in association with AEIOU Records and Vagabonds Music Group, is proud to present the highly anticipated GUESTLIST Official Mixtape, available for free download at www.becoolent.com. The collection is meant to serve as an audio companion for the upcoming novel GUESTLIST from author Jay Fingers.

Miami’s DJ Sage mixed the entire project, which features songs curated by Jay Fingers. The mixtape offers an eclectic collection of party-rocking songs across a variety of genres, including hip-hop, rock, and pop. Featured artists include The Vagabonds, Brian Grosz, W-I-Z, Mala Reignz, Beejus, Alex Walker, The MC Faceman, Lil Heat, G. Brown, and more.

Tracklisting and download links below.

Totally Overhyped 2012 New Year’s Eve Party

I saw this posted on Teh Facebook this morning and shared it with my friends over there, but it’s too hilarious not to post here as well. The above mock flyer is for your archetypal New Year’s Eve party, and, hoo boy, is it ever on point.

From the promoters name (“Rohypnol Productions”) to the ticket price (“six months’ rent and your dignity”), everything about this flyer is sadly accurate. Thankfully, I’ll be spending this New Year’s with friends at a private gathering. No super-douchy dance club for me this year.

The New Year’s party scene, with its riotous antics, spirited dancing, wanton spending, and voluminous vomiting, is one with which I am very familiar. Remember, I worked in nightlife for years. Those experiences were what led to my penning my debut novel GUESTLIST, which will be available in February 2012. (You had to have known I was gonna tie #GLIST into this somehow.) While it is a world I certainly miss, I also recognize it’s a world I had to leave behind. I’m a grown ass man now.

Okay, @JayFingers, What the Hell is #GLIST?

For the past month or so, you may have seen me post some mysterious tweets or Facebook status updates with the hashtag #GLIST attached. One reads, “A bunch of beautiful people doing some very ugly things.” Another one says, “People will talk about it. People will be upset. People will be shocked. People will hate. Hey, don’t look at me. I only wrote it.”

Rest assured, I’m not sitting at my desk punching “submit” each time you see these. This is an automated process. But I’ve been doing it because I’ve been trying to pique your curiosity. Judging by some of the responses I’ve gotten, it looks like I was successful.

I’ve been threatening promising that my debut novel would be arriving soon. I’ve been doing this for, oh, about the past two years. Believe me when I tell you that I thought it was ready back then. Things did not work out as initially planned, however, so my novel had to be placed on the back burner. During that time, I learned a lot of things, met a lot of people, got a ton of feedback, and made significant changes. It was all worth it.

That’s what #GLIST is all about, Dear Readers. #GLIST is the hashtag I’m associating with my debut novel. It’s already a somewhat popular hashtag as it’s used by party promoters the world over. If you haven’t figured it out yet, #GLIST is short for Guestlist, which is the title of my novel.