Queerest Dance Party

Living Room at the Oakland Noodle Factory

Living Room is more than just a queer party. It's an art, performance, and lounge space -- second Friday of each month, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. -- that pushes the boundaries of what can be considered art. Held in a West Oakland warehouse known as the Oakland Noodle Factory, the party features underground vibes, art, and fashion from local designers and gives expression to diverse community voices. The colorful space, lit by cans and lanterns, is frequented by in-the-know hipsters, but the party is for everyone who pays the $8 admission, including gays, lesbians, transgender freaks and divas of all ethnicities, and even -- gasp! -- daring straight people. The action orbits around DJ Trinity, a community organizer and one of the event's founders, who spins and greets the folks who are dancing and generally hanging out. She says she is "practicing the arts of turntablism, as a way of supporting revolution through music, art, and community engagement." She mixes hip-hop, jungle, and drum 'n' bass with "consciousness raising" samples. All the DJs are people of color, and the crowd so far has been mostly women. But despite the social agenda, it isn't just about politics -- people are there to groove!