Talk of the Town - Fashion victim December 30 2000

Christmas has come and gone.
I didn't ask Santa for much, 'cause the season for supposed giving just isn't my scene. But I thought, what the hell, Santa, can I have some new platform boots? I got them, and I got a lot more, too. But not from Santa. It seems that I've upset some people that I really care about so I have to get serious for a second here.
For the record, I have to say that in no way did I intend to imply that the Crescent Room practices a racially biased policy toward its patrons. The owners Brian Bratton and Steve Cook run a tight, friendly club and they do make sincere attempts at supporting and accommodating a diverse patronage and staff. For those of you who thought I was tagging the club as a prejudice space were incorrect. However, I still stand by my initial report about experiencing a shocking lack of respect (for whatever reason that has yet to be satisfactorily explained). But guess what? Life goes on.
If you don't believe me, check this out. I went to Crescent on Dec. 20 and ran into Timothy deGroot, producer of a groundbreaking documentary on the rave scene, which had screened there earlier in the evening. Best known around town as a DJ, deGroot shot the Crescent party with a digital camera and later we talked about the rave movies that have hit the mainstream so far (Human Traffic, Go, Groove), none of which give a true account of the subculture. He claims his film will tell it like it really is (or was).
The days leading up to Santa's big one offered plenty of opportunity to get those last fashion shows in before New Year's Eve. The takers were Kaya Bistro & Nightclub, which hosted a celebrity fashion show Dec. 16 brought to us by The Chronicle, Da Da Footwear and Remy Martin to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The show was hosted by V-103's Greg Street, who introduced the clothes by designers like Da Da Footwear, Envy, Mack's Cab Co., Exquisite Fazion, Dea Genie, Meoshe and Players University by Kenlo and worn by local celebs, including rap groups Jagged Edge, the Youngbloodz and Jim Crow; record producer Rico Wade; V-103's Tosha Love; and professional boxer Vernon Forrest. The Chronicle performed a live set (Kaya seems to be their second home) and DJ Talib Shabazz was there to fill in the musical gaps.
You couldn't call it a traditional fashion show at Karma on Dec. 20, but there were plenty of fashion conscious people making their way inside for the weekly Cream event, or was it the MTV commercial that was supposed to be shot there later that evening? The Ruff Ryders and Def Jam South were responsible for getting the crowd psyched up for stardom. Hey, in this day and age, who gives a poot if you get 15 minutes or 15 seconds? Ludacris was rumored to be among the Creamers, but if he was there, he kept the lowest profile I've ever witnessed.
Style was a little less present, tastewise, at Karma on Dec. 22 for the Playboy party. What I guess was supposed to be a sexy event was just plain ol' cheesy. I suppose if I were a man I'd have a whole other opinion all together. Karma doesn't need the Playboy name to be sexy; if you've been to their Skin parties, you'd know what I mean.
Earlier in the week, on Dec. 18, I stopped by Nickiemoto's in Midtown for my first glimpse of E.J. Aviance's drag show, presented every Monday night. Now, what E.J. does is a lot more complicated than drag and is definitely closer to performance art. Near the end of the show, E.J. made the rounds, chatting up and teasing the guests. When it came my turn to be taunted, E.J. at first called me Trina Saxxon, a host of the public access show "Mouth of the South" and a drag queen. Then I was renamed Trina Blaxxon, which I can certainly live with. I feel just a few steps away from my own blaxploitation flick.
Later that evening at Kaya, Metrotain-ment, the group responsible for the restaurants Joe's on Juniper and Einstein's, had their holiday party. Of all the holiday parties I've been to, only the service industry knows how to throw the kind that make you moan the next morning. I can't wait to see what New Year's Eve will bring. After a year of ups and downs and a hectic holiday season, a simple gathering of friends and some good music is the only mixture I will require. Is it too late to ask Santa for serenity?