noizemagazine - Index

noizemagazine - Spring 2008 Issue # 55 - Index

for anyone who doesn't work on
one, and Wonderland has quickly
become one of the most anticipated
events on the LA. boys' party
schedule each year.
Ferris wheels, fireworks, racks of
speakers with go-go boys on top,
outside dancing…yes, it's all been
done before. But what's fun and
so special about Wonderland is the
fact that it could only happen here
in LA. Sure, we have some great
party spaces here, and world-class
clubs. Leave it to a movie guy,
though, to bring the Circuit to
Hollywood. There's a "road" version
of Wonderland, too, a New
Year's Eve event held on the roof of
the Ipanema Plaza Hotel in Rio de
Janeiro. Not quite as "Hollywood,"
but you do get to party in Rio with
all of those drop-dead gorgeous
Brazilian men.
One LA nightlife regular calls
Wonderland “without question,
the best event in LA in years.” This
jaded partygoer, who has earned
his Circuit gold star many times
over, says Wonderland “ranks with
the best events in the world. What
made this particular party memorable,
was not only the way it flowed
seamlessly, or the music, or the
lighting, which were all stellar, but
the way he became the heart of the
event, bringing to mind Studio 54
in its heyday, or promoters such as
Suzanne Bartsch, who becomes the
star of her parties.” Tom appeared
at the last Wonderland in a "Mad
Hatter" costume, was hoisted above
the dance floor and welcomed the
crowd with a message about having
fun safely. It was a magical moment,
and the already happening event
took off.
It’s another sign that Tom lives out
his claim that he produces events
that he would enjoy himself. Unlike
some promoters, he can often be
seen out on the dance floor. One
regular LA partygoer describes him
as a “surprisingly great dancer. He’s surrounded
by boys at the clubs, and acts
as though he’s one of them,” he adds.
“He’s truly one of the most popular guys
in town—who just happens to be a professional
event planner. No wonder one
of his lounge nights is called ‘Popular.’”
A WANDERER AT hOME
Recently, Tom made a splash with the
“Lucky Devil” burlesque show at hot
Melrose Avenue club Forty Deuce,
billed as the first such all-male burlesque
in the country.
Each winter, Tom lures the crowd outside
the city and into the great outdoors.
Attendance at Elevation Ski
Weekend in Mammoth has been nearly
doubling in size each year, with 2,000 or
so party-hardy skiers and snowboarders
expected this year, making it the thirdlargest
gay ski event in the world. This
is high-altitude, no-attitude fun; why is it
that everyone is so much friendlier when
you get them out of the city?
On top of all the fun, Tom also gives
back to the community. He is on the
Board of Directors of AIDS Project Los
Angeles and has produced events for
it along with many other local charities,
including the local HRC chapter, The
Trevor Project, The LA Gay & Lesbian
Center, among others.
Tom probably gets his out-of-the-box
attitude from his wandering childhood.
An Air Force brat, he was born in Hawaii
but spent most of his childhood in
Europe. He first came to California to
attend UCLA, then shuttled between
the two coasts. Wherever he is, the one
thing you can expect is to see Tom in
the middle of the party, having as great
a time as any of his guests.
Visit myspace.com/tomwhitman,
or www.tomwhitmanpresents.com
for dates, times and locales of Tom
Whitman's parties.
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