If it weren’t for nightclubs, we wouldn’t have disco, Lady Gaga, or a BRAT summer. And behind every popular after-hours venue is a fabulous in-the-know staff keeping it up and running. V hit the dancefloor to find out more about Brooklyn and Queens’ hottest spots and the tastemakers defining them.

RASH

Left to right:
Jen, owner of Rash
Lilith, booker, DJ, and artist
Angel, bartender, DJ, rapper, and host of the Money Talks podcast
Jacob, graphic designer
Kip, lighting designer and owner of Inner Light production studio
Ivan, bartender, door person, and pizza maker
Chuki, resident DJ, performance artist, and sculptor
Jelani, bartender and professional dancer
Tyler, bartender and owner of Byroads catering company
Enzo, Rash mascot
Zk, bartender, rock musician, and perfumer
Cleo, bartender and library worker
Joaquim (AKA DJ Sour), resident DJ

Not pictured: Claire, Nell, Miss Cleo, Rock, Rose, Umru, Nana, Redd, Daniro, Ivana, Renata

Can you give us the backstory behind the name?

I like people’s theories behind the name too much…I’m obsessed with the lore, so I don’t think I’ll ever reveal the origin 😉

When was Rash founded?

Rash was founded in March 2021, doors opened in October that same year. After the arson in 2022, we opened again in April of 2024.

What’s the busiest day and time of the week for you?

Mondays, because that’s when we start cleaning and restocking everything to do it all again next weekend.

What are you known for?

I think we were the first venue in NYC to embrace what was happening online in the club, it left people with really strong memories of our space.

What was the opening night act?

It’s a Rash tradition now, all of our major moments are warmed up by a local jazz quartet organized by Kevin Eichenberger. This spring, we had SCRAAATCH and Drumloop play opening night.

What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened here?

Besides the arson? Isabella Lovestory parked an LED truck out front and transformed the whole club into a psychedelic operating room for her video premiere. AG Cook’s show was so crazy, we had to briefly empty the venue out so people could get some oxygen.

Best drink on the menu?

Midori Sour. Try it how we do it: with freshly juiced melon and citric acid.

What do you look for in a staff member?

Our staff is a family. You could have all the accolades in the world on your resume and I’m still like, ‘Do I see you working and collaborating with us week in and week out?’

3 words to describe this place?

Live Laugh Love.

NOWADAYS

Left to right, top to bottom:
Katja (AKA DJ Raw Uncut), bartender and DJ
Aaron, door person, safer space, and DJ
Taryn, light engineer
Chucky, security supervisor
Mo, head of security
Alberto, barback
Evie, safer space and coat check
Slainee, bartender
Sevyn Love, safer space and DJ
Devante Melton, bartender, set designer, and performer
Marwan Shalaby (AKA Solofan), safer space and DJ
Kurt Gregory, safer space and painter
Cai Crosby, bartender and model
Maxwell Vice, door manager, DJ, and photographer
Josue, safer space and model

Can you give us the backstory behind the name?

I say it’s called Nowadays because we’re the only club that cares about our customers Nowadays.

When was Nowadays founded?

It was established in 2015.

What’s the busiest day and time of the week for you?

Sunday morning, 3 a.m. About 1,500 people inside, and normally around 200-300 waiting outside.

What are you known for?

Our 24-hour Nonstop Party and our Harm Reduction (Safer Space) Team.

What was the opening night act?

Justin Carter & Eamon Harkin.

What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened here?

Malia Obama (Barack Obama’s Daughter) came on a random Thursday to “decompress.”

Best drink on the menu?

Spiked Cucumber Agua Fresca.

What do you look for in a staff member?

Someone who cares about queer and trans people of color, and has proper descalation and harm-reduction skills. They should also be okay with loud techno, and not easily shaken by rowdy customers at the door. (Bonus if they’re a cutie because we have a cute staff.)

3 words to describe this place?

DJ’s Favorite Club.

PARAGON

Left to right, top to bottom:
Stephen, incoming owner and programmer
John, owner of PARAGON
Michael, manager and audio producer
Edward, manager
Evan Korn, bartender and pole dancer
Ariana, bartender and modern dancer
Steven, booker, vocalist, and songwriter
Sabs, security and partyer
Candido, porter
Bunni, bartender, DJ, and stylist
Luna, resident videographer and partyer
Husky, head of security and full-time dad
Louis, busser, barback, and songwriter
Jupiter, door person, actor, and DJ
Juno, barback and vinyl DJ
Nkosi, barback, DJ, and photographer
Giovanny, bar manager and DJ

Can you give us the backstory behind the name?

We were kinda going for a shiny/glamorous discotheque theme and we were thinking something diamond-oriented might get the point across. We came across this diamond named “Paragon” that is supposedly the largest flawless diamond in the world… Felt absurd yet subtle.

When was Paragon founded?

We’ve been working on this project for half of our lives in one form or another but we officially opened to the public about 2.5 years ago.

What’s the busiest day and time of the week for you?

Generally Friday and Saturday after 11 p.m.

What was the opening night act?

Our top-secret unofficial invite-only night was part of Dweller Festival and featured Juliana Huxtable, CrysTallmess, and DJ Miss Parker.

What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened here?

Eric Adams was here once.

Best drink on the menu?

We have a great house red.

What do you look for in a staff member?

Nice and dependable people who can handle a lot of stress.

3 words to describe this place?

Enchanting. Flamboyant. Fun.

BOSSA NOVA CIVIC CLUB

Left to right, top to bottom:
Candido, porter
Mikaela, door person and cunt
Sowa, door person and cutie
Juno, barback and vinyl DJ
Amran, door person, pilot, and model
Michael, bartender and underground bar manager
Edward, manager
Madeline, bartender and experimental musician
Nickarel, bartender
Andrew, bartender, artist, and exotic dancer
Kash, bartender and yoga enthusiast
Giovanny, bartender and DJ
Christian, barback, cook, and owner of exotic pets
Luna, bartender and partyer
John, owner of BOSSA NOVA CIVIC CLUB
Rogelio, bartender, barber, and DJ
Dada Cozmic, bartender and DJ
Karen, security and paralegal

Can you give us the backstory behind the name?

At the time we opened (in 2012) the Cabaret Law was still in effect and it was literally illegal to dance. NYPD was raiding everything that appeared to be even vaguely dance music-oriented, so we wanted to pick a name that sounded both mature and low-key in order to avoid being shut down. We named the bar “Bossa Nova” after the relaxing vacation music genre and the NYPD shut us down anyway.

When was Bossa Nova Civic Club founded?

2012.

What’s the busiest day and time of the week for you?

Late night weekends but the best time to visit, in my opinion, is weeknights anytime after 11.

What was the opening night act?

Kim Ann Foxman, Steve Summers, Umfang.

What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened here?

Lots of psychotic events have taken place here but one of my personal favorites was our opening month when this rabid lady covered our bathrooms in all of this notably passionate Anti-Lena Dunham graffiti and then went on Yelp and accused us of being essentially in cahoots with Lena Dunham. As far as I know, no one who has ever worked at Bossa has been affiliated with Lena Dunham.

Best drink on the menu?

The Tropical Goth: Jamaica and vanilla-infused mezcal, honey, and fresh lemon juice topped with White Label Yerba Mate Soda.

What do you look for in a staff member?

Nice and dependable people who can handle a lot of stress.

3 words to describe this place?

Rambunctious. Bushwick. Affordable.

This story appears in the pages of V150: now available for purchase at shop.vmagazine.com!

Photography Sean Davidson

Editor Savannah Sobrevilla

Discover More