Nightlife Kingpin Matt DeMatt Reveals Plans for HBO Show

Matt DeMatt at Lucky Strike Lanes

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
Nightlife guru Matt DeMatt dished last night on the TV show about life behind the velvet ropes that he is penning for HBO.

"It's basically all true experiences," the owner of Meatpacking staples Gaslight and G2 said during his birthday bash at Lucky Strike Lanes in Manhattan Wednesday night. "There's a moral to every story on the show too -- mostly about how to make yourself a better person."

The club owner, who claims to have helmed more than 50 venues in his lifetime, is working on the project with fellow nightclub guru Nick Kardaras. The show, which is still in the works and does not yet have an air date, is about two guys from Queens working in the industry.

DeMatt is also producing a show called "Woodstock -- You should've Been There" for Jimi Hendrix percussionist Gerardo Velez and is trying to bring regular shows to Caesar's Palace and Harrah's in Atlantic City.

"I always told people this is what I was going to do," DeMatt said of the cutthroat nightlife industry. "I love what I do and I think you should do things you love and then the money follows, not the other way around."

DeMatt had a back injury that caused him to not be able to do as much as he wants to but that doesn't stop him from going forward.

"I've had a really good life," DeMatt said.

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

New York's Royal Families: Meet the City's Top Heiresses

Here's a gallery I've been working on for the past week that is now live on NBC:

New York's Royal Families: Meet the City's Top Heiresses

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Olympic Boxer Eric Kelly Starts a New Fight

Eric Kelly and me at Lucky Strike Lanes

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
USA Olympic boxer Eric Kelly may have put down the boxing gloves, but he's taken on a new fight.

"I like to teach the things I've learned along the way," Kelly told NiteSide at the birthday celebration for Noel Ashman at Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge in Midtown earlier this week.

"I'm very much about giving back to the community."

Kelly is speaking to high school students in his native Brooklyn, where he tells kids to stay in school and away from drugs. He also hopes to inspire.

"I just tell them if you believe in yourself and you've got a goal, stick to it, no matter what you do," Kelly said. "We're from a tougher neighborhood, but there are options and you can be the best ever."

Kelly said that he is also going to be working with Charitybuzz.com, an online celebrity charity auction site, later this summer to raise funds for Haiti.

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

"Housewives" Star Danielle Staub Dishes on Her New Love

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
"Real Housewives of New Jersey" reality star Danielle Staub dished on her new love last night: creating music.

"I am excited to start a new adventure," Staub told NiteSide at the birthday celebration for New York City nightclub owner Noel Ashman at Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge in Midtown on Wednesday night.

"I have realized that I love doing this."

Joining the growing ranks of "Real Housewives" starlets who have produced singles, Staube said she's excited for the mid-July release of her duet single "Real Close" with singer Lori Michaels and that the project happened "simply and organically."

"It was almost by accident really," Staub said. "I was just listening to a demo of hers [Lori Michaels] and humming along to it and then it all went from there."

Staub, 47, said there will also be a music video released.

"It's going to be quite beautiful," she said. "But it's definitely going to be something people won't expect."

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

Inside Village Vines' Rooftop Terrace Bash at the Thompson

The amazing view of the city from the rooftop of the Thompson Hotel.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

My gallery from the Village Vines rooftop celebration:

NitePics: Inside Village Vines' Rooftop Terrace Bash at the Thompson

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Meet New York's Top "It" Girls

My latest gallery went live today. I put a lot of work into this one with the research for the captions. I think it turned out pretty well!

They're chic, elite, and socially superior. Meet the women who run in the city's top social circles while watching their lives play out in the pages of the society section and under the scrutiny of the flashbulbs. Meet New York's Top "It" Girls

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Inside the Official NBA Draft After Party at the 40/40 Club

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

Here's the photo gallery I created from the NBA Draft After Party at 40/40.

NitePics: Inside the Official NBA Draft After Party at the 40/40 Club

NBA No. 2 Draft Pick Evan Turner Parties at Jay-Z's Club

Evan Turner on the red carpet at Club 40/40.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
Recent Ohio State grad Evan Turner said last night that the thrill of being the No. 2 pick in the first round of the NBA draft -- and being grabbled by the Sixers -- had yet to sink in.

"I'm just so tired right now because I've been going all day," the 21-year-old hoops phenom told NiteSide at the Official NBA Draft After Party at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in Manhattan last night.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I can relive this whole thing with my friends and family."

Friends, fans, and fellow NBA ballers -- including Chris Bosh -- attended the bash sponsored by Skullcandy/RocNation Aviators &Ace of Spades. Turner, who will play for the 76ers, said his rise to fame has been a whirlwind.

"This has been fun times," Turner said. "I'm making great memories and am trying to enjoy it all."

Turner is not only looking forward to tomorrow, but also for what his future now has in store for him.

"Coach told me I need to be ready to play hard," he said. "That's what I'm gonna do."

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.


Update: This story got picked up by NBC Philadelphia and ran on their homepage!!! It ran under the headline "Sixers New Star Parties at Jay-Z's Club"

Inside the Sunset Cruise Benefit Aboard the Yacht Atlantis

New York City skyline at night, taken from the Yacht Atlantis

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

Last night, I was lucky enough to attend a benefit for the Friends of Animal Rescue. It was aboard the Yacht Atlantis, which was docked on the East River and then took off for a cruise, bringing all of us to see the sparkling lights of the city and the Statue of Liberty all light up at night. It was stunning and an outstanding experience.

I created a photo gallery, which was leading the NBC New York website today.

NitePics: Inside the Sunset Cruise Benefit Aboard the Yacht Atlantis

Meet the Party Captain: Luxury Cruise Helmsman Fred Ardolino

me and Captain Fred Ardolino at the yacht's helm.

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER

Capt. Fred Ardolino has been at the helm of his luxury yacht The Atlantis for countless number of formal events -- but the swank sunset cruise held on board the sleek vessel last night was among his favorites. 

Last night, the Friends of Animal Rescue hosted a cruise around Manhattan where patrons sipped cocktails and bid on a silent auction to benefit animals as Capt. Ardolino navigated the East River alongside the glittering skyline. 

"I'm an animal lover, too," Ardolino said during the cruise. "I have enough of my own: three turtles, two dogs, fish all over the place and a bird."

The 150-foot custom cruiser was designed by Ardolino and boasts three massive decks, a dining salon that can fit 300 guests and amenities that include a Jacuzzi, VIP suite, and custom fish aquarium. He has hosted weddings, benefits and even events for the USA Olympic basketball team aboard his ship. But this benefit was different. 

"The people that are here are animal lovers and they wanted to do what they can to find a quality home for them and many times it's out of their own pockets," he said. 

He added, "An animal is a true friend. He doesn't care about what you look like or where you are. He's just going to be loyal to you."

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

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Miami:

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1000 Awesome Things Blog Author Neil Pasricha Mulls TV Gig

Neil Pasrichas at the 14th Annual Webby Awards

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
Blogger Neil Pasricha, the mind behind the positive-thinking site 1,000 Awesome Things, said his blog has already inspired book and now he's in the process of creating a TV show.

"I think it's just awesome that something like the Internet, that costs no money, can reach millions," Pasricha said on the red carpet before the Webby Awards Monday night to close out Internet Week.

The blog author began the site in June 2008 during a turbulent time in his life that included his wife filing for divorce and his best friend committing suicide.

Now, Pasricha posts one positive post per day and bases each entry on personal experiences and those of friends and strangers alike. He had no idea the popularity of the site would skyrocket.

"I now get letters from people saying that my site helped them when they were thinking of committing suicide," Pasricha said.

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.