Whether the stars are aligning or out of sight, Friends NYC has something super sexy and powerful coming. Welcome V FOR VENUS II: HADES & GENTLEMXN, a Pop Up Valentine’s Day event happening at Friends NYC — feat. some badass womxn collaborations and smokin’ hand made products. Join us for the kick off party on Friday, February 8 at Friends. Free natural wine, DJ Maddison Murphy of Puppy Teeth Records, and a raffle to raise money for the HOTT program, Callen-Lorde’s Health Outreach To Teens. The Pop Up will be going, and drinks flowin, all weekend long (February 8-10).
By now you should know how much we love featuring the genius individuals that work with us to create such energizing and engaging events. We caught up with each of the collaborators to learn more about their background and individual journeys in NYC.
Meet the collaborators below:
Merica Lee x Raging Bush | Insta: @mericalee, @ragingbush
“WE HATE TO WATCH YOU GO BUTT WE LOVE TO WATCH YOU LEAVE.”
Merica Lee and Cameron Sheedy from Raging Bush are both from Greenpoint, Brooklyn. They joined forces to bring to the masses the perfect mesh panty, hand embroidered with “cheeky” imagery. As they like to say, “It’s as if The Burning Bush ignored Jesus and spoke directly to Mary Magdalene.” Their mesh panties for sale combine a variety of hand-embroidered images with feminine edge and sexuality. Sizes xs through 2x will be available. A note from the designers: “The image is actually a stick of burning Palo Santo, not a spicy chicken wing.” LOLLLL.
Lylynn Pham | Insta: Lylynn got kicked off the ‘gram (so lame), so be sure to show her some extra love!
“ALWAYS A PLEASURE, NEVER A CHORE."
Lylynn describes herself as a very opinionated and sassy 30-year-old woman living in Greenpoint with her dog, Toki. Lylynn started painting and drawing a few years ago after a massive heart-wrenching break-up. What was once so painful, led this powerful womxn to begin illustrating a work-in-progress book of nudes that she sent during her relationship. Since then, Lylynn has continued illustrating her own sexual experiences and fantasies. The subject of Lylynn’s work is always centered around female sexuality. Lylynn was was recently featured in the latest issue of Bitch Magazine. At the end of the day, Lylynn hopes that her work turns you on and if it doesn't, “thank you for looking anyway.” (Thank you, next!)
Loren Kathe | Insta: @earth_trauma
“Dick today, gone tomorrow.”
Loren Kathe is the mind behind earth_trauma, handmade leatherware. After working as a sex educator for many years, Loren wanted to make leather pieces and fetish wear for a wider range of bodies, identities, and uses that also incorporated new aesthetics and attitudes. (Ranging from casual fashion to functional fetish wear to home goods) All earth_trauma objects are designed and handmade by the babe herself in Brooklyn, NY, from top-quality sustainable materials. Made from a queer and trans perspective, Loren said earth_trauma was created for “people to feel how they want in their bodies.”
Robin Hilleary | Insta: @fleurotica
“since the thing perhaps is to eat flowers and not to be afraid.”
Robin Rose Hilleary runs Fleurotica, a floral art and design atelier from who likes to say that her shop is “Where Always It’s Spring And Everyone’s In Love And Flowers Pick Themselves.” Robin’s beautiful bouquets will be available for purchase in three different sizes, no matter how large the gesture (or how much trouble you’re in). Fluerotica is available for delivery in the NYC area. You can find more info on her website at https://www.fleuroticaflowers.com/. Side note: These bouquets are “not-your-grandma’s (bless her heart tho).
Quote: “since the thing perhaps is to eat flowers and not to be afraid.”
Jenny Patterson | Insta: @corpusritual
"intense autobiography. mutual aid, light touch. land-escape / soundscape. a charged space. building the dream house that is the body, where we live. self-organization as a devotional act. poetry as radical organizing. What forms do we create in crisis, from crisis? What forms nourish us, heal us, free us to live?" -Eleni Stecopoulos
Jennifer Patterson is a grief worker who uses plants, breath, words to explore survivorhood, body(ies) and healing. A queer and trans affirming, trauma-informed herbalist and breathwork facilitator, Jennifer offers sliding scale care as a practitioner through her own practice Corpus Ritual and is a member of The Breathe Network and Breathwork for Recovery. You can find Jennifer’s herbal remedies at healing centers and shops across the U.S. Jennifer is the editor of Queering Sexual Violence: Radical Voices from Within the Anti- Violence Movement (2016), speaks across the country, and has had writing published in places like VIDA, OCHO: A Journal of Queer Arts, Nat. Brut, The Establishment, HandJob, and The Feminist Wire with new publications forthcoming. Jennifer is also the creative nonfiction editor of Hematopoiesis Press, a graduate of Goddard College’s MA program, and a soon-to-be author. You can learn more about Jennifer at ofthebody.net.
Join us for this pre-Valentine, self-love weekend @ 56 Bogart St. starting February 8, 6pm-9pm for the kick off party. Pop up runs through February 10. Here's to finding love through purpose in 2019!
