You'll Never Believe Me Release Party Recap
Strippers, and drag queens, and kimchi, and cannabis, and community, oh my!
First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the destruction and devastation that is taking place in Los Angeles due to numerous wildfires. It feels trite to do book promo at the moment, but the main tenets of the event (community, solidarity, shopping local, supporting unions, fighting for a better society) are the same ones that are most important to combatting the climate crisis, the genocide in Gaza, and myriad disasters the whole world over.
On Tuesday, January 7th my book, You’ll Never Believe Me, came out and I threw the release party of my dreams.
Thank you to everyone—attendees, sponsors, performers, speakers, staff, friends, family, ex-girlfriends, victims (two of them were there!)—who came through for me in so many ways! The event at POWERHOUSE Arena was a raging success, and it was a true honor to be able to bring such a diverse and eclectic group of people together.
Before our descent into madness, The Weed Auntie herself, Solonje Burnett, led us through an edible + breath work exercise. We took a few minutes to ground ourselves, connect with one another, and set our intentions for the new year and this new chapter.
The Travel Agency, my favorite dispensary (BIPOC-founded!), came up to speak about their purpose-driven business model, and how when you shop with them you help transport everyone to higher ground. Their Downtown Brooklyn and Fifth Avenue stores are owned by those who have experienced cannabis-related injustices, and the Union Square store directs over half of the profits to The Doe Fund. (Conveniently, you can find Hudson Cannabis, Flamer, and Miss Grass there.)
Black & Pink NYC, an abolition mutual aid group dedicated to helping those currently and formerly incarcerated in the LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS community, let everyone know how they could become involved and reminded them that all proceeds from the raffle would be donated to them.
A couple of days before the event, I got a surprise call from tech CEO Jason Blaze, entrepreneur and creator of the Digiverse. He wanted to know if he could test his newest proprietary invention on the audience, promising that it would “change the way book readings are done forever.” I happily agreed to volunteer my guests as subjects, and prepared my public apology in case things went wrong.
Fortunately, all went as hoped and thanks to the test sub—guests, we were able to enter the You’ll Never Believe Me Digiverse and arrived at our first destination…
GLASSLANDS! The iconic and sorely missed DIY venue in Williamsburg that was where I met my first unsuspecting NYC-based victim.
Youngmi Mayer, comedian and author of I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying, graciously blessed us with her antagonistic presence (complimentary) and read pages from my book recounting the aforementioned scene.
Next, we traveled back in time to SALT LAKE CITY, where we met up with Emily Kirkpatrick (one of the best culture writers around and person-in-charge at I <3 Mess) where she read a section from my book about sneaking NSYNC erotic fanfic into church camp.
Emily then read her own original NSYNC fanfic that got everyone’s juices flowing—there wasn’t a dry seat in the house!
Though the audience could have listened for hours, we had to move on because time in the Digiverse moves far slower than time in the real world and we were running late!
Hastily, we zoomed to our next destination: SUGARLAND. This certainly wasn’t the first gay bar I had been to, but it was the first gay bar I had been to, if you know what I mean. Sadly, another location that was taken from us too soon. Thankfully the Digiverse let us relive the glory days and we were greeted by fabulous AAPI queen, Kekoa.
After Kekoa’s boots slayed the house down, Jason Blaze wanted to take a moment to remember other Williamsburg mainstays that, uh, stay no more.
But not every part of the neighborhood has turned into a VC-backed dentist. Our next destination has fortunately survived decades of gentrification, a global pandemic, and an Agent Orange presidency. Thanks to the universe for letting us keep PUMPS.
Sativah and Sunny, strippers and sex workers (with a zine) whose brains match their butts in that they are both fine and fit, exhibited athletic prowess that was properly awe-inspiring.
It was getting far too hot to handle, so it was time for intermission! Some went to get some air and take a j to the dome, others ran to get in line for tooth gems compliments of a-morir studio, while others decorated birthday cards for Black & Pink inside members, made kimchi with Mama O, read the best book ever, and visited the photo booth (I swear these pics are coming).
After intermission, we heard from Amazon Labor Union organizer and activist, Chris Smalls. He implored us to recall a time, not long ago, where we didn’t expect 2-day shipping, and if we needed something we supported local mom-and-pop businesses. Chris hit us with the truth, and clearly explained how our allegiance to capitalism was destroying both ourselves and the world—all so people who don’t give a fuck about us can line their pockets and abscond from the planet as soon as they have the chance.
After Chris’s inspiring words, we headed back to SUGARLAND and PUMPS for two more numbers from our death-drop-defying performers!
The night was coming to a close, and there was only one thing left to do before it was over—select the raffle winners! We gave away a Vitamix, a beautiful handwoven tapestry by Brenda Weaves, Piecework puzzles, and a sick bong. Most importantly, we raised $355 for Black & Pink in raffle sales alone!
Jason Blaze (AKA brilliant comedian, actor, and filmmaker Yoni Lotan) brought us out of the Digiverse and back to the present—a group of freaks in a bookstore feeling whole and beautiful and really fucking special thanks to the collective efforts of so many.
Shout out to all of my friends, but especially the following who really made this shit happen: LeighAnn Loftus, Zach Mack, David Hitchner, Erick Mancebo, Hanna Furey, Tony Poles, Liz VanVoorhis, Alison Flood, Fae, Megan Mass, Chuck, Brenda Scanzillo, and Katie Klein.
Thank you to my amazing team: Byrd Leavell, Lily Dolin, Lauren Hochhauser, Isaiah Telewoda, Liz DeCesare, Jill Kaplan, Hannah Phillips, Michelle Cashman, Sallie Lotz, Katie Bassel, Jill Schuck, and everyone at Macmillan. This book has been such a labor of love for so many. I will never be able to properly express my gratitude.
Thank you to photographer Megan Rainwater (all party photos here) and videographer Kaylee Hippensteele.
Thank you POWERHOUSE ARENA!!!
So much love and respect for my partner, Elliot Ensor. Thank you for manning the bar all night, making money so I can “be a writer,” and taking care of me. What and who would I be without you?
Proud of you, thug. This was a blast.