After a Fashion
Stephen goes to a Mega bash and wonders if window dressings can be plagiarized.
By Stephen MacMillan Moser, Fri., Aug. 16, 2002
PARTY CENTRAL Saturday brought Mega 93.3's First Anniversary Party at the new Zero Degrees on Seventh Street. The always-fabulous Miss Kitty presided over the festivities, and DJ Nick Matthews set the pace inside. I loved meeting Mega and 101X Promotions Director Jennifer Vocelka -- she's a good South Austin girl. We visited with Programming Director Jay Michaels, and hung out with the elusive Tara, along with other VIPs present. The club itself was very nice, an attractive renovation with a very nice patio. The staff was uniformly pleasant, with the major exception of a bar-back that was a complete asshole. He seemed to have a chip on his shoulder a mile wide, rudely pushing guests aside, and at one point he even grabbed me by the arm and jerked me out of his way. A simple "Excuse me," or "Coming through" would have been sufficient. It's unfortunate when a rude staff member mars an otherwise pleasant experience. But otherwise, it was a terrific party. One of my favorite people to see there was the handsome Bobby Cook from the Boyz Cellar. He told me, "I love your column, but why do you say such awful things about my club in it?" I'd done nothing of the kind, I protested. "But you said it was 'trashy'!" My jaw hit the ground. "Bobby!" I shrieked. "I love your club! It is trashy! That's why it's my favorite!" It's true, although I guess I can understand how it can be misconstrued when I say something is trashy. The fact is it is my favorite club. What I like most about it is that there's very little pretense about it, yet has an ambiance all its own. It's sexy and fun and gets right to the point with great music, lights, attractive dancers, and a gregarious staff. Needless to say, we wound up there after Mega's party. Though they seemed to be missing some of their starpower in the form of Paris Chanel and DJ Filthy Rich on Saturday, we had a blast, with fab music by DJ Breck. So, dear Bobby, forgive me if I gave you the wrong impression. I adore you and the club. Closing that place, we wound up at an entertaining little after-hours party in Travis Heights, whooping it up and pressing the flesh, as it were. After that, another dozen or so of us made our own little after-after hours party, at my good friend Kenneth's beautiful home, yakking until it was bright and sunny out.
FUELING THE FIRE Unfortunately, the window will have been changed by the time you read this, but if you didn't see the most recent display at Diesel launching their new line, then you missed an interesting sight. Featuring the tagline "We have something you want to possess ..." they have unveiled their new all-black collection ... called "Blackmail." Of course, everyone knows we have our own fabulous boutique that features its own all-black collection, and the place is called ... Blackmail. Now, it's entirely possible that those clever folks at Diesel thought of the idea all by themselves -- Blackmail owner Gail Chovan and husband Evan Voyles readily admit that. It is an interesting coincidence, nonetheless. Think it's a stretch for Diesel to have seen Blackmail before? Nonsense. The idea-people for these companies comb the world for ideas ... and they comb magazines such as Jane, YM, and Lucky for ideas ... magazines that our own Blackmail has appeared in. Now, of course, I'm stopping waaay short of making any kind of rash statement. I'll stay on the safe side with Gail and Evan, who say, "We do not think, at this time, that Diesel deliberately appropriated our name and our concept. As such, we are flattered by their imitation, and we are thankful that they are advertising for us." I thought they should simply go to the Diesel window and spray-paint "1202 S. Congress" under Diesel's Blackmail logo. But they are much more clever than I. Instead of crying foul and making a fuss, they very quietly put up their own window: a tribute to gas stations of yore, with an antique gas pump, and huge oil drums stenciled "Regular," "Diesel," and "Blackmail," with the words "Fuel Your Fashion" painted on the glass. Very imaginative, very understated, and very funny.
