NY Mirror

Yet more dish: Susanne Bartsch's Halloween bash at Avalon was canceled too—less than halfway through! I got to the party (which is always legendary) shortly after midnight, only to find a long line of festively dolled-up people being told, "You can't come in!" The only ones being allowed entrance were in an extremely dour-looking stream of cops—or maybe they were people in cop costumes—who clearly found whatever violation they were looking for and emerged to announce, "Everyone go home!" The club was shuttered for the night—one of the biggest party nights of the year!

And so the New York police state wins again in the fight against fun, exciting, gay-themed nightlife. (Sidebar: Avalon had recently been closed twice, once for nonpayment of taxes.) Bartsch tells me there really was no reason for the raid—"It was just harassment. They want to turn everything into condos."

Yet more nightlife tragedy, 11.03.06: Happy Valley—the sexy, medium-sized East 27th Street dance club that was completely over the top—had gone completely under the bottom. It's kaput.

musto@villagevoice.com