logo
Come early, leave early: a gen X dance party that ends at 10pm is taking off across the US

Come early, leave early: a gen X dance party that ends at 10pm is taking off across the US

Yahoo08-02-2025

The signature tequila cocktail is called a Hot Flash. The playlist skews towards nostalgic hits from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Cis men are politely asked to just stay away.
Founded in Chicago by two friends in their 40s, the Earlybirds Club is a party designed for women and trans and non-binary people who have jobs and responsibilities that start early in the morning – but who still want a chance to dance crazily with their friends.
The dancing starts at 6pm and ends around 10. Just a year after Laura Baginski and Susie Lee threw their first early-evening party in Chicago, the event has already started touring the country, from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. And the founders, whose clever idea has become a full-time business, keep getting more requests, from as far away as Dubai, Mumbai and Vancouver, as well as across the US, Baginski said. Earlybirds Club's first anniversary party this weekend quickly sold out a Chicago venue that holds 1,000 people, she said.
'Everyone is smiling and screaming lyrics at the top of their lungs. It's an experience that, especially in these times, feels so necessary and therapeutic,' Baginski said.
By their 40s and 50s, many women are caretakers for others. 'It's important for us to remember to create joy for ourselves – because in this age group, we don't do that,' Lee said.
The two women, both 49, have known each other since high school, when they both worked on the school paper and were, in their words, 'dorks', though Lee also identified as a 'goth new wave kid'. Neither has a background in party promotion: Lee was a makeup artist for 20 years, while Baginski was a journalist and then worked in marketing for non-profits.
Both founders are definitively gen X; their DJ is a millennial, 'so she understands what millennials want', Baginski said. But their party has attracted a much wider range of generations than they expected.
'We've had people bring their daughters,' Baginski said. 'We've also had women in their 60s, sometimes in their early 70s, coming, which is so cool. I think younger women love to see that – I know I do.'
They also did not expect just how enthusiastic partygoers would be about a chance to dress up, the founders said – devoting time to finding vintage outfits and doing their hair in decades-old styles. 'We did a 90s prom where people bought prom dresses in a 90s style to wear,' Baginski said. 'One woman wore the same dress that she wore to her 1989 prom, which is like, kudos, you win.'
While the primary goal of the party is offering a fun night out that focuses on friends, not flirtation, the dancefloor experience often ends up being cathartic, the founders said. Lee is a cancer survivor still dealing with health challenges, and when the founders share her story at events, they often hear from participants who are also cancer survivors or in treatment.
The Earlybirds Club's first foray into Los Angeles in January ended up being disrupted by wildfires, but some partygoers showed up for the pair of parties anyway. 'Was not feeling up for a dance party last night … but it turned out to be therapeutic and maybe exactly what people needed,' one woman at posted on Instagram after the event. 'I saw ladies crying while dancing and it just made sense.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Spoilt for choice with six brand new gardens to visit
Spoilt for choice with six brand new gardens to visit

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Spoilt for choice with six brand new gardens to visit

A good few Christmases ago now, my mum bought me a wild plum tree as a present in a gift box. It has been planted in a large container on the patio ever since and seems to have flourished well. It looks stunning in the garden and is so pretty with its abundance of pale pink flowers, which blossom in early spring. In autumn the deep-red, sweet plums can be eaten straight from the tree! This deciduous tree naturally sheds its leaves every autumn and will remain in its dormant phase all winter. Fresh, new leaves will grow in spring and it's well worth the wait. This year I have been surprised to find some small fruit growing on it too for the very first time. Across Sussex this weekend, there are actually six brand new gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme. Kotamaki in Broad Oak, The Old Manor and Shorts Farm in Nutbourne, 8 Rushy Mead in West Broyle, Swallow Lodge and Talma in Horsham. Spoilt for choice! Look out the full details on the scheme's website at A couple of others you could visit are Alpines in High Street, Maresfield, near Uckfield, opening today (Saturday) from 11am to 5pm with entry £6. It is a largely level, one-acre garden, incorporating the ornamental and the edible. It offers a riot of colour and scent over many months, especially early summer with large and rampant mixed borders containing many scented roses. The other is Farleys Scuplture Garden in Muddles Green, Chiddingly, near Lewes opening especially for the scheme today from 10am to 4.30pm with entry £5. Designed as different themed rooms for sculpture, Farleys garden presents their permanent collection of works chosen by photographer Lee Miller and surrealist artist Roland Penrose alongside works by contemporary guest sculptors. Over the years, giants, goddesses, mythical creatures and Roland's own work has populated the garden in the company of work by their artist friends. You may recognise part of the garden as having been featured as the view through the window in the movie 'Lee' starring Kate Winslet. A really pretty plant in the garden is Chiastophyllum oppositifolium, it is an alpine succulent, closely related to sedum but more suited to shady gardens. It is a clump-forming perennial, and is ideal for using in pots too, as you can see from the one growing at Driftwood. Its unusual dangling yellow flowers contrast beautifully with the fleshy leaves, which change colour from mid-green to red. Also known as Lamb's Tail, Chiastophyllum oppositifolium is easy to grow and is also suitable for growing in rockeries and rock walls. A great statement plant. A couple of months ago, I mentioned a new plant that I'd recently added to the garden is Loropetalum chinense 'Fire Dance', which I've read is rarely seen in gardens. This handsome spreading shrub deserves to be much better known in my book. Its evergreen purple-bronze foliage provides fabulous year-round colour, and contrasts beautifully with the spidery, raspberry-red spring blooms, which are delicately scented and only adds to its charms. This magnificent hardy shrub is ideal for sheltered borders and woodland gardens where it makes an eye-catching specimen in spring and provides a beautiful backdrop for colourful summer perennials. Mine have both been planted in containers and are now looking radiant in the June sunshine. We have certainly had a tremendous number of birds visit the garden this year, with many nesting in the border hedging, two in particular are a pair of pigeons and many blackbirds, both of which are quite tame. The pigeons are often seen washing and drinking in the bird baths and corten steel pond. The love to perch on the rusty metal sculpture and one of the three arches across the central path as you can see. This year, the beach garden is a little wilder than it would be normally. I kept it neat and tidy up to the end of April when my surgery took place, but throughout May, I was really unable to get out there, while recovering from the knee replacement. To be honest, I'm not sure visitors will really notice but I certainly do and I like to keep all the plants in check. You can see the ballota, growing beneath the metal sphere, is about to take over. Also called false dittany, it is a small, bushy shrub that thrives in hot, sunny and dry conditions. It's aided by a covering of felty, silver hairs that reduce water loss. In late summer it produces flowering spears that bear whorls of small pink flowers and is perfect for growing in sunny gravel gardens, like mine, where it'll inhibit weed growth and combine well with plants like bearded irises and phlomis. Read more of Geoff's garden at of book a visit before 3rd August by emailing visitdriftwood@

‘Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop' Director and Subject Talk New Prime Video Documentary
‘Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop' Director and Subject Talk New Prime Video Documentary

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

‘Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop' Director and Subject Talk New Prime Video Documentary

One of Prime Video's latest documentaries, Lee Soo Man: King of K-pop, follows the career of Korean music executive Lee Soo Man, founder of SM Entertainment. Spanning several years, the documentary chronicles some of his time at the company he built, featuring artists from the labels, leading to his eventual not-so-friendly exit from SM and the founding of his new A2O Entertainment. More from The Hollywood Reporter Jimmy Buffett's $275 Million Estate Sparks Sprawling Margaritaville Legal Battle Jessie J Reveals Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis Aging CEOs, Ambitious Nepo Babies and a Tech Revolution: Succession in the Music Biz Ahead of the film's premiere last month, Lee and an assortment of guests, including his new company's girl group A2O May, and former and current SM Entertainment talent such as SHINee's Taemin, Super Junior's Choi Siwon and Girls Generation's Tiffany, Sunny and Hyoyeon gathered to screen the film. Lee told The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the screening that he was approached and met the film's director, Ting Poo, and thought he could do the project. 'I'm so worried right now to see the film,' he said, standing amongst the gathered artists for a photo at the screening's red carpet. 'Maybe they'll be scared,' Lee said when asked how he thought people would react. He added he wasn't sure and that he had to see the film. A2O May, the first Chinese girl group from Lee's new endeavor, had just days before the screening performed at Wango Tango. The group said they were both 'nervous' and 'excited' about the experience to play at the U.S. festival. The group, along with young trainees from A2O, performed at the screening following the film. The five-member group also gushed about getting to meet members of K-pop group Girls Generation, saying they listened to the group growing up and meeting them was 'magical.' Poo, director of Val Kilmer documentary Val, spoke with THR about the film, including about the backlash to the film's decision to include video from the funeral of late SHINee member Jonghyun in the trailer. The director, who explained she was attracted to the story because she didn't know much about the world of K-pop prior to taking on the film, said she can 'understand why people were triggered by that footage' when asked about the trailer. 'It was a tragedy for the whole community. My intention of using [the footage] in the trailer was not anything salacious or to cause any harm, but merely to point out that the film tackles not just the good parts, but also the more difficult topics,' Poo said. 'I hope that when people see the actual film, they'll see that we dealt with it with the gravity and seriousness that it deserves.'Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now

Birmingham Public Library to host ‘Treasures from the Stacks' book sale
Birmingham Public Library to host ‘Treasures from the Stacks' book sale

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

Birmingham Public Library to host ‘Treasures from the Stacks' book sale

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library will host a book sale at the Central Library location later this month. 'Treasures from the Stacks: A Booksale for the Discerning Collector' is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10. This event is separate from the Friends Bookstore Spring Booksale, which is scheduled for June 12-14. 'Forget your average used book sale; this is an opportunity to discover truly exceptional pieces, from unique literary artifacts to exquisite leather-bound editions and breathtaking art volumes,' Sandi Lee, President of the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library said in a statement. Birmingham Public Library to host Bards and Brews Open Mic at East Village Arts The 'Treasures from the Stacks' sale will include one-of-a-kind books, leather-bound collector books, art books and more. This is more than just a book sale; it's an event for those who appreciate the rare, the beautiful, and the unique,' Lee added. 'Prepare to be captivated, to be inspired, and to find that perfect addition to your collection. We can't wait to see you there!' 'Treasures from the Stacks' will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. June 10. More information on this event, as well as the Birmingham Public Library's other programming this summer can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store