You don’t have to be in Europe to celebrate Eurovision, y’all. On Saturday November 16 Eurovision fans all over New York will grab their national flags, put on their tightest pants and head to The Stellan Lounge on W 35th Street for “Europhoria”. Those Americans may be far away from all the national selection drama in Europe, but they are ready to throw down.
Gilad Mandelboim, an Israeli living in New York, started cranking up the Eurovision music in NYC after Eurovision 2012. “When I got back from Baku I tried to fight my Post Eurovision Depression,” he says. “When I entered my first bar in New York post-Eurovision it hit me! I’m out of the bubble, not in Baku anymore. Let’s bring the bubble to NYC!”
Up to 200 people have attended his Eurovision events on Monday evenings. He’s expecting an even larger turnout for the Saturday event on November 16. Don’t expect folks to just stand in the corner. He says that plenty of Eurovision songs get New Yorkers on the dance floor. “‘Waterloo’ for sure, everybody knows it. ‘Euphoria’ is also a big hit in NYC. Dana International is a crowd pleaser. Many enjoy their Swedish treats: Carola, Afrodite, Charlotte and more!”
Below you can check out photos from their 2013 live screening party. All the party people on the dance floor could text comments to a phone number which would then display their messages on the screens. Apparently watching Silvia Night gave someone herpes.
Tickets cost $10 at the door, and less if you book online. Visit the Europhoria Facebook page for more details!
You can keep up-to-date on the latest Eurovision news and gossip by following the team on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.
Photos: Courtesy of Gilad Mandelboim / Europhoria
