Wow, BED has been in existence for five years? In a world where bars come and go, especially in the PLU scene, BED achieving it’s fifth year is quite a rare thing. So, to celebrate this milestone, BED has thrown a three-day lineup of parties this weekend from April 10 to 12.
Among all the places PLU people patronize, BED holds a special place in my heart. I first stepped inside its doors in 2003 during its first year, back when it had less than half the size it has now. That night was my first taste of the public gay scene outside the comforting anonymity of Internet chats that had been my only outlet before. (Yep, I never did get to experience the heydays of Mint, Mr. Piggy, and Joy.) I consider myself a home boy and a Web junkie and going to a place like BED was quite a huge step outside my comfort zone. I’m glad I had friends to show me the way.
I actually miss the old hole-in-the-wall BED, where you literally had to squeeze your way between hot guys just to go somewhere. There, I met some good friends with whom I still keep in touch with. I also learned to humor the advances Doc Tony (BED’s perennial paparazzi and partner of one of the owners) makes at me (he always gravitates to the young and cute guys). Hehehe.
Two of BED’s original DJs, Cocoy Puyat and Travis Monsod, have gone on to Alchemy (an Embassy-like club in Pasig City) while their protege Toy Armada still headlines in BED along with several other DJs. It was in BED that I learned to appreciate electronic and dance music and I still have nostalgic memories of dancing to the heavy sets of DJ Travis.
While the new “Queen-size” BED has lost the intimacy it had when it expanded, it’s still no less an institution among the PLU population. I haven’t been there as often as I used to, but I still go once in a while for the music, the fun, and the people.
To the people behind BED—Jay, Anthony, Dennis, Ronnie and the others—congratulations on your fifth year! May your club continue to have success!
Photo above by Doc Tony.
7 comments:
I was there during BED's opening night five years ago. Too bad, I've outgrown the place. Hehe.
Bed is still fun, but not as fun as before...for some reason, pretentious people are beginning to populate the place... Nevertheles,I love seeing old friends there whenever I get the chance to be awfully drunk with them. Or maybe, its just the fact that if you have a serious partner already, you tend to go there less often as you used to when you were single and soooo available or simply, you have just outgrown the oversized place.nevertheless--it is an institution in the PLU community:) hehe. slight correction, though--I don't think two of the names you mentioned are still part of bed (they now migrated)--there's a long ligering and nasty rumor involving money-mongering in the circle of (former) owners. not sure how true this is, but it's somehting quite juicy...hmmmm.
Mugen, I guess going to the club is a phase many PLUs go through. I know a lot of people that don't go to Bed anymore either.
Urkyules, well, I think that the other club has more pretentious people. ;) Anyway, I agree that when you have a partner, going to the club has less appeal. As for the owners, all I know is that Jay is in California; I just assumed that they still have investments in Bed.
hi vince,yes i agree.the other club has way moooore pretentious people. hehe. the new interiors are nice, though.i have great friends hanging out in both places, but I am more at home in bed:) nice to have the comforting feeling that the place is still very much alive--and you can always run to the place one a dreadful weekend night:)
are there a lot of cute waiters in bed? i dig cute waiters...
Urkyules, I agree. I feel more at home in Bed.
Kai, well, most of the waiters and staff have nice buff bodies. Several have some face value. Take your pick!
yep the old bed was so much better. although you were packed like sardines inside (the heat sometimes got so unbearable that undressing felt like the most natural thing to do), it had that alternative venue feel (exactly like an off beat hole-in-the-wall). somehow that feel got lost in today's queensize venue. it's now a sort of "must be(seen)there" place for manila's gay set so you've got more pretentious people hanging out there. unlike before when I guess people just went there to let their hair down and have fun(i remember bringing along a friend from hk once. we were standing on the ledge when she suddenly noticed that the guy beside us was giving head right there on the ledge). but i still go there from time to time...so many memries...the confetti, bubbles, the tranny that used to man the door, and that aquarium in the cr...oh boy, those were the days...hehehe.
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