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BHP VII
1997: Crowbar, East Village, NYC

Former host Christina leaves for Budapest and doesn’t come back. Marc, Aimee, Gigi, Bonnie, and Darryl recruit Ian and Marc’s boyfriend Alan as new co-hosts, and move the party into New York, to the East Village’s notorious Crowbar. The hosts learn of a much larger, older party in the city that’s also called The Black Party. But this other Black Party has less to do with Valentine’s Day and more to do with lots of men, drugs, and sex. Despite the similarities the hosts change the name to The Black Hearts Party to avoid confusion.

Precious Memories:

Over 200 people show up to the unfortunately small space, as is evidenced by the long line of shivering people waiting in subzero temperatures to get in.

The Black Hearts Party’s first and only attempt at live entertainment comes in the form of Kiki and Herb performing their signature rendition of "Smells Like Teen Spirit". It’s not that we don’t adore Kiki & Herb, but when people are trying to get laid they don’t like to be interrupted by anybody.

The advent of the "Kiss Me Now" tags prompt intoxicated, desperate partygoers to forsake both taste and better judgement to make out with total strangers. Multiple couplings and an orgy nearly result. Needless to say the tags become a party mainstay.

Halfway through the night somebody uncovered peepholes into the bathrooms.

Black condoms are distributed for the first time and instantly become popular items for future parties.

By the end of the night invitation cover model "Buttons the Black Hearts Bear" is found brutally torn, shredded, armless, and charred almost beyond recognition.

By the end of the month, Crowbar, the first New York club to host the Black Hearts Party, closes its doors forever.