While the District is known as the political capital of the United States, over the last decade, it has also earned the designation as the nightlife capital. “D.C. nightlife is undefeated,” partygoer, Sonia Henkels, stated. Wayne Johnson and Tony Perry, Jr are two leading figures in furthering this reputation. On May 28th at Felt Lounge in the MGM Resort and Casino, the duo hosted a celebrity-studded joint birthday bash to prove Henkels’ point. While their parties are certainly “lit,” the economic development and innovation demonstrated by the duo are what keep their star shining bright.
The mood was lively, and attendees trickled into the venue, beginning at around 9 pm. By 11 pm, the intimate lounge was noticeably less spacious. While the invitation read 9 pm, the frequenters of DC’s nightlife scene knew better. By midnight, the party was well underway, and other notable attendees, such as Dre the Mayor, and several Washington Wizards players, were spotted by the Bridge.
The party, headlined by Travis Scott’s DJ, Chase B, and Jerome Baker III, was also attended by creative entrepreneurs, nightlife operators, and local party frequenters. “I love these two black men. They’ve been holding me down since forever,” shared Chase B. Chase attended Howard University and built relationships throughout the city before expanding his global career. The gravity of Johnson and Perry’s stature is underscored by the international DJ playing for a relatively intimate crowd of DMV notables.
Cultural icons in the business and nightlife community also echoed Chase B’s sentiment. “One thing about Wayne and Tony, they’re always going to do it the best,” Rosebar partner, AJ Zimmerman, explained. Cultural architect and Sandlot co-founder, Ian Callendar, was also in attendance. Callendar supported Zimmerman’s claim but expanded on how Johnson and Perry are so transformative for the city. “Social media and the digital era are amplifying the culture in DC. [Johnson and Perry] are the pioneers,” Callendar explained.
Once again, Johnson and Perry have coupled their digital edge and celebrity reach to help navigate the city’s nightlife industry beyond its dark pandemic period. For nearly 15 months, the COVID-19 pandemic crippled nightlife in the District. District government attempted to aid by providing various grants and programming, but the closure of establishments and how it transformed the industry was unparalleled. “[Johnson and Perry] provided opportunities for everybody… taking chances and putting people in rooms that aren’t normally in rooms together,” explained 12-year collaborator DJ Jerome Baker III. Beyond simply being great operators and promoters, Johnson and Perry have served the District, and their peers’ remarks bore witness to that.
