Speed Dating Gets Faster; Party at Eugene with Free Gin; MJ Pulls Out All the Stops at First Concert in a Decade;

| 11 Nov 2014 | 11:06

    HurryDate will be organized in two rounds, where you’ll talk to 25 single people for three minutes at a time. You’ll indicate on a "SCOREcard" whether or not you’d like to see each person again, and Shecky’s will calculate the results and e-mail you your matches a few days later. If you’re interested in attending, RSVP to 732-2277 now (have a credit card ready). These get-togethers are extremely popular–they come to Boston, Toronto and South Florida later this month–and space is limited to 50 men and 50 women.

    Part of the fuss is that HurryDate isn’t exclusively for Jewish singles, as many speed dating programs are, so all those random Episcopalians can join in. And part of it is the free drinks; the people behind Shecky’s Bar, Club & Lounge Guide are naturally able to pull in favors and get sponsorship rackets going, with Wednesday’s festivities brought to you by Tanqueray No. 10 gin.

    Do remember, before you set out on your HurryDate, to polish up on humor and self-presentation skills. The swift encounters encourage lightning wit, flashing eyes and maybe some dexedrine. If sitting down with 25 potential partners in 75 minutes isn’t enough pressure for you, look for the television cameras, which will be in to capture this hip new trend firsthand. HurryDate costs $24, but that includes complimentary Tanqueray No. 10. The proceedings begin at 7 p.m. and more information is available at www.hurrydate.com.

    ...Another option on Wednesday night (this is why you need to pick up New York Press every Tuesday afternoon, people, so you can catch these things) is the Workhouse Publicity Fifth Anniversary party at Eugene (27 W. 24th St., betw. 5th & 6th Aves., 462-0999). Publicists are people too–just ask Lizzie G.–and they need to unwind and wallow in their accomplishments from time to time. In Workhouse’s case, the accomplishments include a healthy relationship with Grey Model Management, which will provide models for Wednesday’s proceedings (word is, they will walk around looking pretty). Other sponsors include Plymouth Gin (another night of free gin, is there a glut?), Kangol and Francis Ford Coppola’s literary magazine Zoeotrope: All Story.

    Admission to the party is $0, which means you’d better dress nice–on a night with no cover and complimentary drinks, the Eugene doormen have to be dicks to keep out gin-hungry riff-raff. The venue is known for staff rudeness anyway, so an RSVP to 334-1919 might be prudent. Once you’re inside, Eugene will treat you to 1930s decor, comfortable couches and a live performance by the Bootleg Remedy, some of the best bluegrass revivalists in America today. They’ll make you want to toss bottles off your porch at cars with New York license plates and they’ll jibe perfectly with Eugene’s retro interior. The festive happenings begin at 8.

    ...Speaking of retro interiors, Michael Jackson may not have his original nose or skin tone, but what he does have is tremendous balls. To wit: his last album was called HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book 1, which seemed kind of stupid when it came out, but which is now the clear predecessor to rap titles like The Dynasty: Roc la Familia and P Diddy & The Bad Boy Family: The Saga Continues… And Michael’s new album? It’s called Invincible, a clever jab at another aging superstar’s Supernatural. Which would you rather be?

    It doesn’t stop there. Despite the fact that NSYNC initially balked, Michael got Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, the complete Jackson 5 and, according to some sources, Kenny Rogers signed up for his first continental show in 11 years. Now he’s set to perform his hits at a two-hour, star-studded bash this Friday, and NSYNC