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DANCE CARD
Shits & Giggles: Breathing Life Back Into Downtown L.A.
BY STEPHAN HORBELT
While West Hollywood and Silver Lake have long been Los
Angeles' own meccas of gay nightlife, there has lately been
a pronounced trend of promoters packing up their clipboards
and moving things off the beaten trail. In the case of downtown,
promoters are finally returning to the grid, which at one
point was the center of a fabulous gay time in the city.
While one can find things to do downtown on any given night,
Friday nights particularly offer a good time. One of Los
Angeles' newest nightlife ventures, Shits & Giggles brings
out a New York vibe for the gay L.A. elite.
Hosted by DJs Victor Rodriguez and Chris Bowen, the two also
switch off behind the soundboard, playing a mix of old disco
rarities, and the newest and hardest to find tracks. The
crowd eats it up every week, packing the dance floor with
warm bodies until 2 a.m. arrives. While you might not have
heard some of the more obscure tracks, everything played
is danceable, evidenced by the shaking of the venue's third
level. In addition to the music, recent weeks have also featured
performances by some of L.A.'s most talented drag divas.
The crowd at Shits & Giggles is comprised of various
cliques from L.A.'s wide-ranging gay culture. With a fan
base that travels downtown from literally all over this huge
city, a diverse cross section is inevitable. Drag queens
and performers dance next to twinks and rough trade, and
while it is possible that no one is the wiser, it is more
likely that simply no one cares. Much of the crowd is imported
from the streets of West Hollywood, but when everyone is
wearing eyeliner and skinny jeans, who could tell?
The party takes place in a hard-to-find gallery space on
Spring St., an amazing venue that adds to the fun of the
night. The space consists of four-levels, with a bottom level
that is reminiscent of your grandparents' living room, and
a top that is downright haunted. A huge dance floor and large
wooden bar fill up the other levels, both of which are visible
from nearly every square foot of the gallery. Drinks are
super cheap, but bring plenty of cash to cover parking in
a nearby lot and the cash bar. Get there early to avoid the
door charge and take advantage of the $2 vodka before 11.
Vital Info
Shits & Giggles
519 S. Spring St.
When: Every Friday
Cover: $5 after 10:30
The Scene: New York-style underground
party set in downtown L.A.
 MIXOLOGY
DJ: Jack Jones
Aside from being a popular resident DJ at MJ’s in Silver
Lake, this handsome, multi-talented, 27-year old, 5’11”,
175lbs, single, Washington state native also plays circuit
parties around the country and nightclubs in cities like
San Francisco, Seattle, and Atlanta. When he’s not
spinning in a crowded nightclub he loves going to the gym,
catching the latest blockbuster with friends, watching his
favorite TV shows—Scrubs and Project Runway, or going
camping and cross-country skiing with his family back home.
A graduate of California Institute of the Arts, Jones is
also a classically trained cellist and an accomplished theatrical
lighting designer. —TONY MIROS
DJ Jack Jones Top 5 Singles
1. Believe Me (T & B Mix) - Tognarelli & Bertani
2. Activate (Original Mix) - DJ Fist
3. Another Cha Cha (Peter Rauhofer Mix) -
Offer Nissim ft. Santa Esmeralda
4. Don’t Stop The Music (Jody Denbroeder Big Room
Dub) - Rihanna
5. Stay Around ( DJ Delicious & Till West Remix) - Milk & Sugar
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