Bryan was already off greeting another guest, (but not before introducing me to Paul Denman from Sade), and after a blinding 40 seconds for the photographers, I bid the couple adieu, and entered the fray of the party. Adam came over, and he too was especially chic, and dressed to the proverbial nines, in a hand-tied bowtie, bowler hat, and a tuxedo with a boutonniere fastened to his lapel.

From here it was a series of Hellohowareyous with friends, both old and new (and the occasional photo with) the likes of PAPER co-Founder, Kim Hastreiter, fashion scribe Merle Ginsberg, RuPaul Charles, Christos Garkinos, the original reality-star Pat Loud with daughter Michele, drag legend Constance Cooper, and artist/actress/model Cuba Scott (who, being only sixteen, would not be in the club, later; although her father, director Jake Scott was). On and on this went, until my eyes finally settled on the sublimely beauteous vision that is my darling Annabel Schofield, wearing a simple jersey dress in ivory, with a matching turban-like head-wrap by designer Julia Clancey, and looking like something out of a photo by the artistic lovechild of Slim Aarons and Roxanne Lowit!

All of a sudden, Rabin descended upon us (well, Annabel, actually — I was just standing there and had the foresight to grab on to her delicate hand) and declare “With me. At the front door. Now!” So we followed, hand-in-hand-in-hand and made our way back across the lobby, to the “door” of Giorgio’s, where we were handed off to a host, who then led through the kitchen, past the dishwashers, and into mmhmm, where Adam was DJing and the lasers were lighting up the air.

Bryan had put us on “the Bench” the only banquette on the dancefloor proper, facing the DJ booth and stage, and adjacent to the Exit door, leading to the smoking patio. In other words, the best seats in the house. Of course, not knowing the nomenclature of the tables, I ended up in the big booth in the back, and walked right into Francisca Moroder, who invited me in that graceful way of hers, to join her and Giorgio. In any other circumstance, I’d have copped a squat before you could say “star-fucker” but I was here to dance, and Adam was wasting no time serving some fabulous disco anthems by Chic and Diana Ross; so I thanked Mrs. M and made my way back to the dance floor, nearly tripping over house photographer, Tyler Curtis (who kindly informed me that “the Bench” was right in front of me).

After a few trips to the patio, and answering a few “We’re here. Where are you?” text messages (to which I replied “On the Bench” naturally), it was 11:30pm, time for Giorgio Moroder’s live set, and wouldn’t you know it? As I made my way through the crowd, and up to the stage, there was Francisca Moroder, gesturing for me to join her, against the DJ booth, next to Bryan; where we watched Giorgio and Adam, unobstructed.

And then it happened. Moroder began his set with that song he’d produced, full of hope and promise and inspiration, “Flashdance… What a Feeling” by Irene Cara. As one would expect, the crowd went nuts, and the energy that coursed through the room was nothing short of electrifying. Moroder then played a trio of songs by Donna Summer, including “Hot Stuff,” “On the Radio,” and “I Feel Love” before taking the mic and charming the pants off of even the most jaded guest with his sheer exuberance and his delight in the recently passed Marriage Equality bill, saying that it would only be a matter of time before his native Italy caught-up to the United States, quipping “We’ve already got the Pope!”

From here, the maestro played Daft Punk’s “Giorgio by Moroder,” followed by Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” and “Bad Girls,” and Blondie’s “Call Me” (and me in my Debbie Harry t-shirt!).

Giorgio's 2 Year Anniversary
mmhmm at The Standard, Hollywood
Click HERE for info

Get into it!

[This article originally ran, in its full form, at Medium.com/cuepoint on July 1st, 2015]