You know a party’s off the hook when none other than local flaneur and gadabout (and WIRE Publisher) Thomas Barker greets you, gasping, “It’s out of control.” Score’s entrance foyer and front room was bathed in bordello red light, reflecting off mirrors and shades—but there was no shade in this house. Everyone was way too happy. This was BLAST OFF, the official Winter Party Festival kick off party, and Brett Henrichsen piloted his passengers with Mary Mary’s admonition, “Get up, don’t sit back. Get up, if you want to get there.” Truer words rarely ever spoken—and this was a crowd of boyz cutting loose. We’re talking supreme specimens—and maybe particularly because Blast Off is also the Winter Party Festival Volunteer event—and those WPF volunteers are one pulchritudinous mass of deliciousness. These were whooping and hollering boyz, singing “Hey Mister.” Such beautiful volunteers, both gorgeous and polite—and if that isn’t an unbeatable combo… But then that’s the vibe at Score, thanks to owners Billy and Luis, the epitome of gorgeous and polite. Good karma is a boomerang. And you could see Brett was having fun, smiling down from the booth—radiating, really—and sending out “Feedback”—or rather transfusing Miss Jackson’s signature with an entirely new life force. And then there was “Just Can’t Get Enough” (Jock Remix)—and off we continued, galloping through the galaxies.

Everyone was there. Everyone gorgeous and polite—like that scorcher Omar Gonzalez, and yummy Leo, and the face of Winter Party Festival, Matt, and then there was Sauci Bernaise, complete with a dance corps of six bodacious boyz, all of them werking it out to “Le Freak (C’est Chic).” The confetti rained down; the nitrogen blasted—and the party hit Mach two. This was the “Rhythm of the Night” and everyone was having it. Dale Stine was having it, and lighting wiz Ross Berger was having it, and WPF committee honcho Dave Cook and Task Force bigwig Michael Bath and WPF Chair Chad Richter were all giddy with good times, and Alex B. Euphoria was at the door, and as for Flavio—he was most definitely having it. And in fact, if you were at Blast Off, there’s no question that you were having it too—and you’re better for it today—and ready and willing and able for more Winter Party Festival 2009. Serve it up; we’re there!