Circuit Party Spotlight
A Series of In-Depth Party Backgrounds

The Fall of 1980 was a very special time in New York City. On the site of the legendary Fillmore East in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a dance club opened that over night revolutionized gay nightlife.  Three distinct floors comprised the interior; however the heart was on the second floor ... a mega-dance floor constructed under a planetarium dome, where the stars and the moon and occasional bolts of lightning moved across the domed roof.  A space where over 2000 lighting fixtures mesmerized the throngs of men below.  It was The Saint.  There was never anything like it, and there will never again be anything to compare.

Until its closing in 1988 The Saint was ground-zero for some of the most decadent events in New York City.  Typically, nights that started as innocent dance parties would morph into full-blown orgies under the spell of the celestial beings.  DJ legends such as Robbie Leslie and Warren Gluck honed their skills under the dome, where it was the norm for a single DJ to spin 18-hour sets, controlling the mood of the entire night and subsequent morning.  The most spectacular of the annual events was The Black Party, celebrated in March to coincide with the vernal equinox.

Since the closing of The Saint, the tradition has been carried on by The Saint At Large organization, a collaboration of four of the original organizers.  The annual Black Party is a heavy event, with a deliberately dark and ominous ambiance, characterized by sexual abandon.  For the thousands that are brave enough to venture inside of The Black Party, the reward is a long night of fantasy, void of reality and sunlight.  Once you walk into this event, you are no longer in Kansas, Dorothy.
 

It all started as a small cocktail party at the beautiful Vizcaya to raise a little money.  Now in its 20th year, The White Party phenomenon in Miami has changed dramatically since it first appeared on the scene in 1984.

The demographics of attendees (no longer mostly in their 30's) and the schedule of events (the extravaganza at Vizcaya is now on Saturday rather than Sunday) are just two of the obvious evolutions.

The week long series of events is produced by Care Resources, and they endeavor to offer a variety of events that cater to the broad diversity of attendees. Morning parties are offered for the younger group, elegant events for the more mature crowd.  And in 2004 there is the addition of a first-ever theatrical event, It's A Fabulous Life.  Organizers say that the many changes made for 2004 are only the beginning, and that the event will continue to evolve as they continue to reach out to the entire community.