{"id":2639,"date":"2013-07-01T15:33:45","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T15:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ajdancelegacy.com\/~ajdance\/?p=2639"},"modified":"2013-07-08T19:03:56","modified_gmt":"2013-07-08T19:03:56","slug":"house-on-a-boat-29-06-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ajdancelegacy.com\/~ajdance\/house-on-a-boat-29-06-13\/","title":{"rendered":"HOUSE ON A BOAT 29.06.13"},"content":{"rendered":"

1st<\/sup> Annual House On A Boat<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

18:30<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A bead of sweat rolls down his bald head.\u00a0 \u201cMan it\u2019s hot out here.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

At that moment, a tranquil breeze blows to the rescue.\u00a0 The eastwardly wind cools the brow.\u00a0 The nose tingles with a mingling of scents: fresh morning dew and magnolias meets fish.\u00a0 Stand on the dock that sways more than the waves.\u00a0 Look, northeast.\u00a0 Across the sleeping bay Bambi sneaks onto a grassy knoll but once spotted, disappears into the dense forest. \u00a0Trees vibrantly burst with hues of green, gold, copper and orange that tricks the eyes into seeing harvest season instead of summer solstice.\u00a0 Listen to chirps sing from trees.\u00a0 Touch a flowery branch.\u00a0 It wiggles.\u00a0 A flock of feathers appear that soar into the azure.\u00a0 As the sun plays a game of peek-a-boo, wispy cirrus hide the star\u2019s face until it is ready to smile rays of light.\u00a0 Mother Nature provides the entertainment.\u00a0 She adjusts the temperature to a balmy 81 degrees Celsius with low humidity. The view is nice and all.\u00a0 However for the smiles arriving, by the minute, to one of the largest freshwater docks in the world\u2026\u2026<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Where is the boat?\u00a0 The boat is nowhere to be found.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps the event\u2019s attendees were purposely told to arrive early so no one would miss the launch.\u00a0 Damn you CPT.\u00a0 Or perhaps the delay is naturally out of anyone\u2019s control.\u00a0 Whatever the reason, there will be no house music without a boat.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Someone\u2019s finger points north.\u00a0 \u201cHere she comes.\u201d A New York accent announces.\u00a0 Hopefully the boat\u2019s late arrival does not foretell the luck to come.\u00a0 No one knows what to expect on this 1st<\/sup> annual boat ride.\u00a0 House on a Boat will either be the best or a bust. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

19:00<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

She arrives!\u00a0 Her majesty shimmers in all her glory.\u00a0 She measures 53 ft by 14 ft, is painted all white, is a double decker and appears ready to host the event of the year. \u00a0Names are checked, then crossed off a list.\u00a0 Ticket stubs exchange hands.\u00a0 One by one the people disappear into the grandeur vessel.\u00a0 Once indoors, warm smiles greet the passengers who are pointed upstairs to join the festivities.\u00a0 On the upper tier awaits two spacious decks, one at the boat\u2019s front and the other in the rear.\u00a0 The upper tier\u2019s midsection is covered where underneath sits the bar.\u00a0\u00a0 Thus far, the bar in setup sees the most action.\u00a0 People gather.\u00a0 Soon, every seat at the bar is occupied with butts.\u00a0 Voices chatter, gossip and laugh.\u00a0 Also, they grow impatient.\u00a0 \u201cI need a drink.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hawaiian flower necklaces are passed out to the lovelies.\u00a0 The ladies wear the pink, green, purple or orange arrangements around their neck.\u00a0 Thirty minutes later most of the necklaces have turned bracelets wrapped around wrists.\u00a0 Summer dresses showcasing bold colors and displaying dazzling prints decorate the deck.\u00a0 Wedge heels catwalk the carpeted floor.\u00a0 Sculpted hairdos, fresh from salons, wow.\u00a0 Brimmed fedoras sit atop heads.\u00a0 One warrior appears stunned.\u00a0 \u201cPeople are, actually, dressed up.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

19:15<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The coordinators of the auspicious event work hard.\u00a0 The Puerto Rican bartender with a broad smile and warm eyes is all too lovely.\u00a0 She pulls her shoulder length hair to one side as she waits for bags of ice.\u00a0 Later she volunteers a lovely, dressed in white from head to toe, from Uruguay to assist with mixing drinks.\u00a0 The two create party bowls of mixed chips and pretzels.\u00a0 Sugar Groove<\/a> represents with bowls of sugary candy.\u00a0 Menus advertise: one dollar bottled water, four dollar Sangria (crafted the correct way and not watered down) and five dollar mix drinks.\u00a0 Bottles of Coca Cola, coolers of \u201cThat Drank\u201d and jugs of Arroz con Gandules appear behind the bar.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to be one happy man, once the bar is setup.\u201d\u00a0 One man announces ready to get his drink on.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The action continues at the fore as DJs plug cable chords into inputs.\u00a0 A DIY light structure appears next to the boat\u2019s driver\u2019s seat.\u00a0 After a quick sound check, the boat has yet to launch.\u00a0 However, the late start does nothing to dampen the festivities.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

19:35<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Drinks pour.\u00a0 \u201cCheers.\u201d\u00a0 Toasts are made.\u00a0 People appear genuinely happy.\u00a0 Movement is felt.\u00a0 Could this mean?\u00a0 Yes it does.\u00a0 The boat has launched.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOooh! Ahhhh!\u201d\u00a0 Fingers point at and cameras click at the breathtaking beauty as the boat travels northbound.\u00a0 Officially Lake Sydney Lanier is named after Macon, GA born poet and musician, Sidney Clopton Lanier for his inspiring \u201cSong of the Chattahoochee.\u201d\u00a0 The man made body of water completed in 1956, was built and is controlled by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.\u00a0 The lake, positioned in the Blue Ridge Mountain region of the state, lays 36 miles (57.92 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta.\u00a0 Just in case someone feels homesick.<\/em>\u00a0 However, the urbanites are all too busy marveling at the lake that contains 59 square miles of water, 540 miles of shorelines and spreads into four counties.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cDinner Is Served.\u201d\u00a0 Hungry passengers waste no time rushing downstairs to the full kitchen, yes full-size kitchen equipped with working appliances: oven, stove and sink.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Guests gobble on fried chicken, lemon pepper chicken wings, meatballs, rice and beans, mash potatoes, toss salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, chips and salsa, crackers and tuna, a fruit tray of melons, green grapes, purple grapes, strawberries and watermelon, desserts piled high of chocolate chip cookies, red velvet butter cream frosted mini cupcakes, and chocolate mousse mini cupcakes.\u00a0 D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s!\u00a0 Adjacent the kitchen is a spacious plush carpeted living area with contemporary furnishings that aim to please.\u00a0 A thirty-inch plasma with satellite services sits on display in the entertainment center.\u00a0 People sit and mingle on two comfy couches.\u00a0\u00a0 Bar stools positioned at cabinets allow for additional sitting.\u00a0 The most impressive view is the outdoor fore deck.\u00a0 People seated at the table eating are afforded a panoramic view of the boat treading through open waters.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>20:00<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hands clap.\u00a0 Arms fly into the air.\u00a0 Mouths open wide.\u00a0 Feet shuffle on the tattered carpet.\u00a0 Hoots and hollers accompany the music.\u00a0 Grins turn to full smiles.\u00a0 Heads bop up and down.\u00a0 Bodies rock from left to right.\u00a0 And so does the boat.\u00a0 \u201cWhoa.\u00a0 People hold steady.\u201d <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A sizeable crowd writhes to the polarized pulling of afro futurism.\u00a0 DJ BE plays the soundtrack to the most magnetic sunset.\u00a0 Cameras capture snapshots of nature\u2019s majestic splendor as the ball aglow disappears behind black waters and shaded trees. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

20:45<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

At nightfall, the dance, drinks, eats and laughs continue.\u00a0 A figure standing well over six feet tall wearing a red baseball cap, a red shirt and white pants shifts the music to old-school disco house.\u00a0 The grown and sexy crowd rush to the dance space.\u00a0 The DJ\u2019s name, Elliot Ness, illuminates in lights on his own DJ coffin.\u00a0 To all you DJs, this is how you advertise.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A familiar voice sings, \u201cI Heard You Say.\u201d\u00a0 The crowd sings the rest.\u00a0 The all too familiar kick drum punches from two speakers positioned between the DJ coffins.\u00a0 The sound maybe clear, crisp and overly clean but the song is old, stale and tired.\u00a0 Hey, it\u2019s time for a bathroom break.\u00a0 A walk downstairs and a right turn later, reveals there is more to this boat than meets the eye.\u00a0 This is not just a boat this is a luxury house boat.\u00a0 The master bedroom is a behemoth to behold.\u00a0 A king-size bed is elevated by three black platforms.\u00a0 The room\u2019s furnishings are wood grained-a rustic yet modern appeal.\u00a0 The bedroom contains a half bath that\u2019s occupied.\u00a0 Across the carpeted hall is the full bath with a, very slow, flushing toilet, sink and shower.\u00a0 There is a line to use the bathroom, a very long line, that stretches down the hall to the closed off additional bedrooms and closet space.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

B<\/span>ack upstairs, behind the DJ setup, NYC\u2019s DJ Ruben Toro is seen canoodling the bartender\u2019s mother who appears to have discovered the fountain of youth.\u00a0 She blushes.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome to the Red Room, honey, I can\u2019t sell you what you already own, \u201ca drunken voice calls from the wild.\u00a0 Where the previous track played lacks vision, the follow-up track challenges.\u00a0 Dennis Ferrer\u2019s risqu\u00e9, \u201cRed Room\u201d revs up the amps.\u00a0 Timmy Regisford and Lynn Lockamy\u2019s, \u201cAt the Club,\u201d Jill Scott\u2019s \u201cCrown Royal\u201d (Shelter Mix) and the latest smash, \u201cOver\u201d (Josh Milan Honeycomb Mix) by Joy Jones keep the dance floor rocking.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

21:00<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The music fades into a whisper.\u00a0 DJ Elliot Ness\u2019 wife grabs the microphone and with the voice of angel makes an important public service announcement.\u00a0 No one is sure of what to think.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The music starts.\u00a0 A voice hums a few notes.\u00a0 Peculiarly, the smokey alto sounds as if it is singing live.\u00a0 Surely that can\u2019t be the case.\u00a0 The disco-esque gospel-tinged vocals command attention.\u00a0 Heads turn.\u00a0 Bodies swivel 180 degrees.\u00a0 Fifteen plus has gathered in front of the DJ setup.\u00a0 Additional bodies rush front and center.\u00a0 There stands a woman singing.\u00a0 She wears a black lace top and black skintight pants decorated with crosses.\u00a0 Her left wrist is wrapped with spring green Hawaiian flowers. Minds ponder.\u00a0 Who is she?\u00a0 What is the name of this song?\u00a0 Inquiries can\u2019t stop a slew of digital point and clicks that snap pictures and digital phones that record the spectacle.\u00a0 Still the people remain totally clueless of who performs before their eyes.\u00a0 The attendees were promised a surprise but this is no surprise.\u00a0 Minutes pass, the song ends and the next song starts.\u00a0 Familiar music explodes like fireworks in the peaceful night\u2019s air.\u00a0 The music time travels back to 1993.\u00a0 The crowd screams.\u00a0 They jump up and down.\u00a0 They yell at the top of their lungs.\u00a0 They get it.\u00a0 Folks, this is Robin S commanding her all out only top 40 hit.\u00a0 After the crowd of 30 years and plus composes themselves, or so they would have Robin to believe, she allows them to sing the hook, \u201cShow Me Love.\u201d\u00a0 And love is what the crowd shows her.\u00a0 They sing.\u00a0 They dance.\u00a0 They give her a heartfelt applause.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Then the \u201citus\u201d attacks.\u00a0 Bellies budge; the dance floor empties.\u00a0 The party ebbs to a slow burn.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A baseball cap and a brown graphic tee with cupcakes on the front appear behind the coffin.\u00a0 Sugar Groove\u2019s DJ Swift takes the musical reins.\u00a0 He summarizes the mood best when he plays the lyrics, \u201cDeep. Deep Where The Sun Don\u2019t Shine.\u00a0 Deep is the Place I Call Home.\u201d\u00a0 The air is dark.\u00a0 The water is deep.\u00a0 The people can definitely call this boat home.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

On the boat\u2019s rear lower floor is an open deck, minus any guardrails, or protective fencing.\u00a0 Another blast of fresh air billows the brow.\u00a0 The breeze feels serene, not to boisterous and not too faint.\u00a0 The temperature is not too hot but the right amount of cool.\u00a0 Mother Nature yet again provides the ultimate setting to a perfect night.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lounge chairs recline and conversations kick into full gear.\u00a0 Topics range from the cost of next year\u2019s boat ride to Robin S on the \u201cmofo\u201d boat.\u00a0 Romantic couples hold hands.\u00a0 The sound of the boat\u2019s motor soothes.\u00a0 Take off your sandals.\u00a0 Dip your feet into the cold waters.\u00a0 This is living that champagne life.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Upstairs, Ruben Toro delivers with \u201cAin\u2019t No Mountain High Enough\u201d that brings two former Paradise Garage dancers who entertain with dance moves not seen this side of the century. \u00a0\u00a0For everyone sitting down and watching, all eyes appear to be tired.\u00a0 Eye lids close.\u00a0 One dancer takes a disco nap.\u00a0\u00a0 Others recline in chairs.\u00a0 Their body language reads: ready for bed.\u00a0 Warm cups of coffee and strawberries are served to keep the guest energized.\u00a0 One thing is for sure the party people will sleep well tonight.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

01:00<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The boat picks up speed.\u00a0 She lands safely at the dock. You don\u2019t have to announce twice it\u2019s time to leave. After a round of bear hugs and heartfelt goodnights are exchanged, the people dash to their parked vehicle.\u00a0 Vroommm.\u00a0 In less than ten minutes the completely dark parking lot sits completely empty.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

03:00<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Zzzzzzz.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0House on a Boat sealed its permanent position in the city\u2019s historic archives of house music.\u00a0 Expectations were exceeded and preconceived notions crushed.\u00a0 Besides the boat being tardy to the party, the event was fully executed with finesse.\u00a0 Kudos to everyone involved: to those who envisioned, who seized the opportunity to create such a purposeful outing in these parts, the laborers who financially sacrificed, to the many DJs who rocked the boat, to the surprise special guest singer who re-launched her career, to the dinner buffet, to the drinks served at the bar, to the extra helper who volunteered at the bar, to the boat\u2019s staff: greeter; Stephanie, kitchen server, Tacara, to the boat\u2019s driver, Terry, who kept everyone safe and sound and a massive shout out to everyone who attended the first ever annual event.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Next go round, interest will skyrocket.\u00a0 Tickets will sell out in record time.\u00a0 Attendees will appear in droves.\u00a0 House on a Boat will only grow from here.\u00a0 Get ready!!!\u00a0 Atlanta now has two must attend house music events each year: the region\u2019s largest outdoor house music annual park party and House on a Boat.\u00a0 Honestly everyone must experience, at least, one boat ride trekking an alluring lake while grooving to the sounds of soulful house music. \u00a0See ya on the next.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\t