DJ Craze, a three-time DMC World Champion, can't go anywhere in Western Europe or Japan without getting pelted by panties. (I'm not making this up.) But those are his weekends abroad. Tuesdays in his hometown are a laid-back affair. And he loves it that way. Nobody's grabbing at his bite-size frame during his puff breaks.
Craze's Trueschool Tuesdays is just one breath of the fresh air breezing out of the Marlin. Graziadei and one of nightlife's funkiest cats, Joe "Budious" Gray of Aquabooty fame, have transformed the venerable hangout into a 21st-century boho destination. Could be the only one east of Biscayne Bay. Also on board is rising jungle DJ Merly B, who disarms me with her adorable Spanish accent (very Penelope Cruz); and a gorgeous, naturally blond, tough chick behind the bar who has me going va-va-va-va. Some of hip-hop and house's finest producers like King Britt and Rich Medina have dropped in. Chris Blackwell, the founder and former owner of Island Records who also owns the Marlin Bar, has given the green light to worthwhile music rather than chic promoters and platinum people. So they don't worry about numbers, just concepts, and I'm told that more multimedia stuff is on the way. This might start a revolution someday.
