November 19, 11 p.m. Slake, 251 West 30th Street, Manhattan.
Holy Mountain, a monthly party started by the legendary queer nightlife impresario Ladyfag in 2014, is a chance for a diverse group of revelers to come together, drink, dance, and exhibit fantastical outfits. The party takes place in the labyrinthine Slake nightclub in midtown, where each of four chambers features its own play-list and is presided over by a resident DJ, including Michael Magnan and Joey Labeija. Each month, the night takes on a different theme. November’s was “Dead Queens”; some attendees spent several days working on their costumes to go with it. It’s a celebration of hedonism and self-expression, where hundreds of people of all genders, sexualities, and races can liberate themselves. “At Holy Mountain, you can be anyone you want,” said one guest.
Text by Sophie Weiner; Photos by Luis Nieto Dickens for the Village Voice