Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & Nightlife

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Sex The Stranger's 12th Annual Valentines Day Bash

Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 1:30 PM

aa0d/1232572996-candyhearthammer.jpgEvery year on Valentine's Day the Stranger hosts a very special event for the heartbroken, the recently dumped, the bitterly divorced. Single people bring mementos of failed relationships to our Valentine's Day Bash and we invite them up on to the stage, we listen to their sad stories, we boo their awful exes, and then we destroy their mementos live onstage in front of a cheering crowd. Over the last 12 years we've burned wedding photos, weve smashed engagement rings to smithereens, shattered sex toys after dipping them in liquid nitrogen, had gay boys beat off on the favorite t-shirts of homophobic ex-boyfriends, and taped pictures inside urinals and broadcast live, streaming video of live, streaming urine running down the faces of lying, cheating, scheming, heartless ex-girlfriends.

The Bash is coming up fast—did you know that Valentine's Day is on February 14 this year?—and you could consider this your save-the-date notice if you weren't, you know, GOING TO BE ALONE ON VALENTINE'S DAY, seeing as you don't have a date to save the date for BECAUSE YOU JUST GOT DUMPED. So instead consider this your personal invitation to start looking around for a memento to bring to the Bash. We don't want to get all woo-woo about this, but we've heard from past Bash participants that they were truly moved by the experience and it did, on some level, help 'em heal. And, hey, if you're single on Valentine's Day, what better place to be than a room full of drunk, single people on the serious rebound?

And if anyone out there has any great new ideas for how we can destroy stuff at this year's bash, share 'em in comments!

Share via

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Newsvine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • del.icio.us
  • Email
 

Comments (41) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
I feel compelled to comment on this post in order to get it on the most commented list.
Posted by Urgutha Forka on January 21, 2009 at 1:33 PM
2
where is this at?
21+?
Posted by ebon on January 21, 2009 at 1:37 PM
3
Steal your ex's most treasured possession and have Will in Seattle handle it.
Posted by Fnarf on January 21, 2009 at 1:41 PM
4
Best. Idea. EVER.
Posted by QRT on January 21, 2009 at 1:44 PM
5
But more importantly, are other brokenhearted saddies there willing to get drunk and make out at the end of the night? That'd really clinch it for me. I'm a cute girl who likes boys, so yall better be there too.
Posted by saddy sad on January 21, 2009 at 1:45 PM
6
I think some of Dan's private stash of nude pics of Fnarf would work best, actually.
Posted by Will in Seattle on January 21, 2009 at 1:45 PM
7
Tell you what: I will rub my nude pictures of Fnarf all over Will. Everybody happy now?
Posted by Dan Savage on January 21, 2009 at 1:48 PM
8
I'd like to destroy a song I wrote about the man who used to love me so good. How exactly do we destroy a song?
Posted by (without bashing my brains out) on January 21, 2009 at 1:49 PM
9
This laughing combines with the sunshine like a most delicious cocktail.
Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale on January 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM
10
random bodily fluids flying around mixed with booze and a fair amount of drugs. is this a broken-hearted party or a rock concert. i am some how compelled to call Gallaghar.
Posted by General Jack Ripper on January 21, 2009 at 1:51 PM
11
I think someone should film the T-shirt desecrations for Xtube. Or HUMP. Or both.

Or just send me the files privately ...
Posted by GrammarCop on January 21, 2009 at 1:51 PM
12
@8: Enter it into the karaoke rotation at the Crescent. That should kill it pretty effectively.
Posted by GrammarCop on January 21, 2009 at 1:52 PM
13
@8: have Paris Hilton sing it?
Posted by Lily Fluffbottom on January 21, 2009 at 1:53 PM
14
Sounds like crazy, yet healing fun. Too bad I'm not single and heartbroken.
Posted by kim on January 21, 2009 at 1:56 PM
15
Wait, isn't Valentines Day on February 14th EVERY year? So yes, I did know that.
Posted by Calendar Girl on January 21, 2009 at 2:01 PM
16
@7 - yeah, that will do.

Any chance we can get Dick Cheney's industrial shredder, now that he's not using it?

Or some big pink pinking shears? with a bow on it.

Burn the song onto a CD or DVD and put a big red heart on it - way more fun to destroy than a flash drive.
Posted by Will in Seattle on January 21, 2009 at 2:03 PM
17
Ordinary photographs are not large enough to contain my enormous nudity.
Posted by Fnarf on January 21, 2009 at 2:07 PM
18
how about destroying stuff with one of those blendtec blenders? will it blend?

also, please no burning of records this year.
Posted by gcm on January 21, 2009 at 2:11 PM
19
God, has it been a year already? Where does the time go?

Heck, a year ago, Fnarf and Will were still speaking to each other. Well, mostly.
Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on January 21, 2009 at 2:13 PM
20
my favorite record was smashed at last years event...broke my fucking heart
Posted by yup on January 21, 2009 at 2:26 PM
21
@8: Give it to a filker to cruelly parody, transforming it from a paean to your erstwhile beloved into a screed against his shortcomings.
Posted by breklor on January 21, 2009 at 2:30 PM
22
my brother and i have enjoyed this even together before, but can i still go even if no longer single? i have to ask because we're still very much lovey-dovey. even in public. in fact, i think he's getting a tatoo of my name done today... i know, i know.
Posted by kate on January 21, 2009 at 2:51 PM
23
@22: You're no longer single ... with your brother?
Posted by Gloria on January 21, 2009 at 2:56 PM
24
@18: No. You can't.
Posted by everyone on January 21, 2009 at 3:07 PM
25
pardon me. i meant @22: No. You can't attend. as far as @18, I have no idea if it will blend.
Posted by everyone @24 on January 21, 2009 at 3:30 PM
26
@22 are you with your brother. is that technically a relationship or and abomination?
Posted by General Jack Ripper on January 21, 2009 at 3:37 PM
27
Will CARL be there?
Posted by kim on January 21, 2009 at 3:39 PM
28
I have no feelings of animosity towards any of my ex's. Is that weird? And I recently got dumped too (well sort of)
Posted by biju on January 21, 2009 at 4:16 PM
29
@17 for the win.
Posted by Will in Seattle on January 21, 2009 at 4:26 PM
30
Can people send in stuff from other places to be destroyed there? A few months back I got dumped hard by my partner of 3 1/2 years, which also meant that I lost my residency in my country of choice because it was through our relationship. I'm far, far away from Seattle, but there aren't any parties like this where I am and I'd be happy to supply my story and an artifact for someone else to shred on my behalf.
Posted by Yoshi on January 21, 2009 at 6:42 PM
31
All saddies in one room sharing stuff...*applause*
Posted by B (who wants share her stuff) on January 21, 2009 at 6:55 PM
32
wait... only ex-girlfriends? can i still come if i have an ex-boyfriend to smash?
Posted by k.l.bee on January 22, 2009 at 2:44 AM
33
upon further investigation: apparently i can't read. sorry. i must be blacked out.
Posted by k.l.bee on January 22, 2009 at 2:45 AM
34
Yay, I'm finally date-free on Valentine's Day and can attend one of these! :D

All I have to add is: more fire = better
Posted by violet_dagrinder on January 22, 2009 at 11:20 AM
35
Wow sounds really fun!!! oxox,,,Catherine
Posted by Catheirne S. on January 26, 2009 at 4:41 PM
36
Wow sounds really fun!!! oxox,,,Catherine
Posted by Cath S. on January 26, 2009 at 4:42 PM
37
I've been to two, and they rocked. I just got the same question as #30 from a friend in the midwest. I would be happy to dramatically (and briefly) retell my friend's story and deliver his memento to be destroyed and post video of the destruction if the rules of the event allow it.
Posted by Luke Baggins on January 30, 2009 at 8:10 PM
38
i am retarded but i really have no idea where this is this year. can someone please let a lame broken hearted girl know? that would be most awesome.
Posted by bitter mcbitterson on February 6, 2009 at 12:24 AM
39
here ya go (lame broken hearted girl) is the low down on the times and location for this event.

Sat.Feb.14.09 The Stranger's 12th Annual Valentine's Day Bash
The Stranger's 12th Annual Valentine's Day Bash :: Doors at 8PM :: $5 At the door :: 21+:: Bring a token, we'll get it broken!:: Presented by The Stranger and PBR:: Hosted by Dan Savage
Posted by Mr. LAX on February 12, 2009 at 5:54 PM
40
Hopefully Dan remembers the blowtorch. I need to melt down some silver.
Posted by Luke on February 12, 2009 at 7:01 PM
41
Neumos, 9:30pm
Posted by charlie on February 13, 2009 at 12:38 AM

Add a comment

 

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC
1535 11th Ave (Third Floor), Seattle, WA 98122
Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use