Those still mourning the ending of the Scene parties can take solace when a new similarly styled LGBT party opens its doors next week.
Pulse Events will launch its first party starting 10 p.m. May 12 at Smokin’ Betty’s, 116 S. 11th St.
The monthly party is spearheaded by Ashley Gagnon and partner Karina McIntyre.
After Scene party creator Tracy Buchholz announced she was ending the event earlier this year, Gagnon and McIntyre, who had attended Scene for a number of years, approached Buchholz about keeping the drive behind Scene going.
“There was a concern that the party had created this fabulous momentum and we didn’t want it to die,” Gagnon, 23 a law student at Rutgers University, said. “So Karina and I met with Tracy about continuing the party and expanding on it, and it just went from there.”
The pair selected the name and went scouting for a new location, eventually deciding Smokin’ Betty’s provided the ideal space.
“We really liked it because of the trendy, hip upstairs lounge but also because of the duality of the space,” Gagnon said. “You have the upstairs with the DJ and the dance music that you typically see out at clubs in the community but then, after 12, we’ll have the downstairs, which provides a really low-key space for people to take a break from dancing and get to know other people.”
Like Scene, Pulse is expected to be women-dominated and attract partygoers who are looking to mix and mingle with new and old friends, for which Gagnon said Smokin’ Betty’s will be well-suited.
“It’s not just for women looking for a club but also for those who want a lower-key, more loungey-type environment,” she said.
DJ Kash, of Scene and Stimulus parties, will spin hits upstairs and partygoers can enjoy specials like $3 Miller Lites and Coors Lights all night.
Once Pulse gets on its feet, Gagnon said she expects the group to host happy hours and expand its reach to capture the diversity of the LGBT community.
“We’d like to see it go in a really inclusive direction so that it’s a place for both men and women to come and party together and really be inclusive of the whole community,” she said.
Gagnon said she anticipates the inaugural party will set the tone for a successful new addition to the Gayborhood nightlife scene.
“We’re looking for an alternative to what’s being offered out there right now,” she said. “We want people to come out and see what we’re setting in motion and be a part of that. Ultimately, the people will be what makes the party.”
The cover charge for Pulse is $5.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/pulseeventsbiz.