Tag: retro factory

The Task Force and Retro Factory Raise $20K to Combat Violent Rhetoric and Anti-LGBTQ Legislation

Post author By sidewalkkilla
Post date December 14, 2022

THE NATIONAL LGBTQ TASK FORCE

& RETRO FACTORY:

REVENGE OF THE NERDS

BOXERS HK

NIGHTLIFE

12-08-22

Last Thursday night a group of nerds and nerd-lovers descended on Boxers HK to raise money for the National LGBTQ Task Force that directly combats violent rhetoric and anti-LGBTQ legislation. The Task Force teamed up with an event organizer Retro Factory to put on an exciting party filled with dance flash-mobs, raffles, an auction, and performances by a Brooklyn-based drag king Sweaty Eddie. The goal to raise $16,000 was superseded by the night’s end.

Queens-based drag artist Glow Job who closely works with the Task Force and Retro Factory explains why this fund-raiser is so timely and important: “After the shooting at Club Q, we need to step up even more and continue to protect ourselves . . . hopefully, our donations will help to end these attacks on our community.”

Evan Davidoff, a yoga instructor and a senior manager for major gifts at the Task Force says: “The National LGBTQ Task Force and Retro Factory teamed up for a queer radical holiday fundraiser with a nerdy twist: Revenge of the NERDS! Together they launched the first event of the Task Force’s NY Emerging Leaders Network: a group to engage LGBTQ folks in NYC who want to be a part of the Task Force’s radical queer fundraising efforts. The National LGBTQ Task Force is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary! They have been the voice of the progressive movement in the LGBTQ community and the LGBTQ voice in the progressive movement since 1973. To support their work to advance liberation, justice, and equality for queer people everywhere we came together and raised approximately $20,000!“

Participants and attendees may download their photos for personal use ONLY through this LINK. Please credit @sidewalkkilla if posting on social media.

* {
box-sizing: border-box;
}

.row2 {
display: -ms-flexbox; /* IE10 */
display: flex;
-ms-flex-wrap: wrap; /* IE10 */
flex-wrap: wrap;
padding: 0 4px;
}

/* Create four equal columns that sits next to each other */
.column2 {
-ms-flex: 50%; /* IE10 */
flex: 50%;
max-width: 50%;
padding: 0 4px;
}

.column2 img {
margin-top: 8px;
vertical-align: middle;
width: 100%;
}

/* Responsive layout – makes a two column-layout instead of four columns */
@media screen and (max-width: 800px) {
.column2 {
-ms-flex: 50%;
flex: 50%;
max-width: 50%;
}
}

/* Responsive layout – makes the two columns stack on top of each other instead of next to each other */
@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {
.column2 {
-ms-flex: 100%;
flex: 100%;
max-width: 100%;
}
}

Alexey Kim

Founder

For image use or to request to see the full album of the event e-mail

[email protected]

If you enjoy our work, please consider donating:

Tags Alexey Kim, alexey-kim_, carlos armesto, ell.mccullars, glow job, matthew conrado, retro factory, shaun kessler, Sweaty Eddie, the national lgbtq task force

Nightlife Timeline

Retro Factory Revives Studio 54 During Its 4th Installment

Post author By sidewalkkilla
Post date February 7, 2020

Retro Factory

NIGHTLIFE

Le Freak

Retro Factory throws its 4th party titled “Le Freak” at 3 Dollar Bill, giving a distinct nod to the heyday of Studio 54.

* {
box-sizing: border-box;
}

.row2 {
display: -ms-flexbox; /* IE10 */
display: flex;
-ms-flex-wrap: wrap; /* IE10 */
flex-wrap: wrap;
padding: 0 4px;
}

/* Create four equal columns that sits next to each other */
.column2 {
-ms-flex: 50%; /* IE10 */
flex: 50%;
max-width: 50%;
padding: 0 4px;
}

.column2 img {
margin-top: 8px;
vertical-align: middle;
width: 100%;
}

/* Responsive layout – makes a two column-layout instead of four columns */
@media screen and (max-width: 800px) {
.column2 {
-ms-flex: 50%;
flex: 50%;
max-width: 50%;
}
}

Alexey Kim

Founder

Tags Alexey Kim, carlos armesto, glow job, new york city, retro factory

Nightlife Timeline

Retro Factory On Uplifting Queer Marginalized Communities

Post author By sidewalkkilla
Post date December 11, 2019

NIGHTLIFE

Retro Factory’s Journey On Uplifting Queer Marginalized Communities With A Series Of Throwback-Themed Parties

Carlos Armesto and Zach Job are the team behind Retro Factory – the retro-inspired immersive parties that are held roughly twice in a year. Retro Factory is fairly new to the party-throwing game, but Zach and Carlos believe they have a niche to fill.

With the first event launched right before Pride, during summer 2018, Carlos – who is Producing Artistic Director of Theater C – was looking to bring his form of hybrid theater to nightlife, while Zach – who may be better known to some as his drag queen alter ego Glow Job – was looking to make his mark as a party host/producer, as well as introduce his drag persona to more people.

As a drag queen, Glow Job felt that she had to use her platform to start conversations about bigger issues than herself. “Here I saw an opportunity to create something that isn’t addressed in nightlife: intersectionality in our queer spaces and real support for the marginalized communities within our LGBTQIA+ family,” Glow Job says.

The very first party was called “1983.” Glow Job goes on, “It was a pre-Pride party and an homage to the Pyramid Club. Our first event set out to create something missing in New York City nightlife: a space for queer people of every demographic that could be celebrated and who could witness their story reinterpreted through dance and a party with a throwback twist. In this one we had pop-up performances that reinterpreted music videos from the ‘80s with queer leads instead of the heterosexual story lines we were given at the time.”

Since then, Retro Factory has had three more editions: another “1984”-themed party, a Moulin Rouge-themed “Voulez Vous?,” and the most recent ode to Studio 54, “Le Freak.”

“We like going back in time and using some key moments in history and allow a queer voice to be heard,” Glow Job expands on why the fascination with the past. “It’s powerful seeing and feeling a story we know but now through a queer lens. What if we had witnessed that kind of a history? What if these stories were told back then? The thing is, the stories were there, they just weren’t shared and uplifted. Now is our chance to celebrate our community and bring to the forefront OUR story. And not just the white cis-gendered kind of story. That is why it is super important that we involve our queer and marginalized family in the production, the crew, the talent, and our audience. This is powerful to witness as an art form, but also it creates a space where we own that world, and we can feel safe and supported truly. The honesty and openness that I see at our parties is truly breathtaking. Watching our guests dress up, express themselves, and twirl with total abandon is the beauty we strive to create.”

Zach cites Riis Beach as one of the spaces that inspires the mood and energy for his events:

“People there are free. That love, that feeling of safety and freedom to be your authentic self, that radiant energy – to me, this is what we are striving to create in nightlife.”

And that showed during “Le Freak.” The party was thrown at 3 Dollar Bill, on an off-kilter Thursday night, managing to bring out a colorful lot of people. The first thing that greeted you once you walked inside the venue was a wall covered in a reflective material and a flattering ring light, allowing guests to take photos without having to use Facetune. There was a stripper pole and a mini lifting crane doubling as a platform for go-go dancers.

From 9 pm until 12 am, drag numbers were alternating with flash-mob dances that would interact with the crowd every half hour on the dot. At some point Glow Job walked around with a huge bowl of sour candy, giving it out to anyone who needed half a carb to keep drinking.

The organizers pulled no punches on the entertainment level, and they spared no expense in creating the ambiance. It was almost like your extravagant friends throwing an over-the-top, well-produced, lavish birthday party in their dad’s shipping container warehouse. It’s rare to see a party where most of the people are throwing it down on the dance floor and almost no one is standing around feeling left out.

Thee Suburbia, Iman Le Claire & Glow Job post performance

FULL COVERAGE

Alexey Kim

Founder

Tags Alexey Kim, candy warhol, glow job, j rosa, new york city, queen robert, retro factory

Nightlife The Mixer

Photographer Mike Sullivan On Why Retro Factory Is One of His Favorite NYC Parties

Post author By Mike Sullivan
Post date December 11, 2019

THE MIXER | NIGHTLIFE

Photographer Mike Sullivan On Why Retro Factory Is One of His Favorite NYC Parties

This past Thursday saw another installation of one of my favorite NYC parties, Retro Factory.

This creative and unique event never disappoints. What makes this party unlike any other are the flash mob performances that happen abruptly throughout the night â€¦ with no warning or announcement, professional dancers flood the crowd and bring you a choreographed production.

The immersive experience turns partygoers into audience members in an instant. The energy is so inviting itâ€™s hard to remain apart from the performances; I found myself nodding to the numbers despite squinting through my camera lens the whole time. The spontaneity keeps us on our feet â€“ one always needs to keep an eye out not to miss another performance. However there is plenty of creativity to enjoy outside of the dance floor â€“ many folks came sporting attire that reflected the Studio 54 theme.

The iconic club gave inspiration to the evening in more ways than one. The performances, the looks, and the essence of the night paid homage to the disco era, which fed our sense of nostalgia perfectly. Parties like Retro Factory remind me why I fell in love with nightlife in the first place â€“ it encourages the freedom of creative expression and provides a palpable sense of adventure.

* {
box-sizing: border-box;
}

.row2 {
display: -ms-flexbox; /* IE10 */
display: flex;
-ms-flex-wrap: wrap; /* IE10 */
flex-wrap: wrap;
padding: 0 4px;
}

/* Create four equal columns that sits next to each other */
.column2 {
-ms-flex: 50%; /* IE10 */
flex: 50%;
max-width: 50%;
padding: 0 4px;
}

.column2 img {
margin-top: 8px;
vertical-align: middle;
width: 100%;
}

/* Responsive layout – makes a two column-layout instead of four columns */
@media screen and (max-width: 800px) {
.column2 {
-ms-flex: 50%;
flex: 50%;
max-width: 50%;
}
}

Le Freak Mike Sullivan - Sidewalkkilla.com

THE MIXER

Tags glow job, mike sullivan, mike-sullivan_, new york city, retro factory