December 9, 2011
Mike Ruiz's Birthday Wish Comes True
JC Alvarez READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Everyone enjoyed a special night at the event celebrating the birthday of one of the community's most popular and gifted artists. Mike Ruiz brought to the stage some of the most spectacular dance music divas to blow out the candles on his birthday cake and make his wish come true.
Ruiz gathered every pop diva this side of the hemisphere as well as some that were imported specifically for the amazing event at Industry Bar in Midtown Manhattan. Nightcrawler and NYC club personality Amanda Lepore opened up the evening and even "Marilyned" for Mike with her rendition of "Happy Birthday". R&B's lead make singer Chris Willis shook the foundation with his soulful vocals, as premiere DJ Peace Bisquit's own Bill Coleman commandeered the turntables.
Clubland mainstay Ultra Nat� was joined by former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams and both treated the crowd to new material of their own - some of which will be featured on Ultra Nat�'s upcoming album project. But the evening was signed, sealed, and delivered when super star vocalist Deborah Cox brought out the birthday cake and treated Ruiz to a very special version of "Happy Birthday" bringing the big guy to tears and the house down. "It was so surreal," Ruiz commented. "I'm still in a daze."
With his partner Martin Berusch by his side and their celebrity friends, including Lance Bass, Colton Ford, Kristine W and a menagerie of nightlife's more colorful personalities, the evening was dedicated to raising awareness to those sometimes forgotten and uncounted within our community - homeless youth, who this holiday season may not have some of the luxuries we take for granted. But, through the efforts of Ruiz, who declined gifts preferring donations to The Ali Fornay Center one of the many charities he supports, the evening was beyond celebratory and full of generosity.
If you'd like to donate to The Ali Forney Center and support housing for homeless LGBT and join Mike Ruiz and the rest of us dedicated to inspiring change and hope for all members of our community go to www.aliforneycenter.org. Make Mike Ruiz's birthday wish come true.
Native New Yorker JC Alvarez is a pop-culture enthusiast and the nightlife chronicler of the club scene and its celebrity denizens from coast-to-coast. He is the on-air host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Out Loud & Live!" and is also on the panel of the local-access talk show "Talking About".
