Illegal COVID Parties , Speakeasies and Raves are Defying Lockdowns and Curfews

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, it’s starting to sound like the roaring 20’s with “speakeasies” popping up all over the place.  In Newark two women who served alcohol to over 200 people at an illegal “makeshift bar” in New Jersey were arrested over the weekend. According to Newark’s Department of Public Safety , a 26-year-old Denisse Tinizaray and 28-year-old Katherine Tinizaray were unable to provide paperwork that proved they had a license to sell alcohol at a warehouse on Libella Court where people ate, drank and gambled illegally.

The women were arrested and charged with maintaining an illegal alcohol establishment, illegal possession of alcohol and illegal sale of alcohol, police said.

Three other people were also arrested Saturday in Paterson for allegedly selling alcohol without a permit at a large party inside a hookah lounge. The owner and operators of La Café Hookah hosted over 50 inside the establishment, above Gov. Phil Murphy’s limit of 10 people for indoor gatherings and after 10 p.m. curfew, according to Paterson police. Jamahl Carter, Jamahl Carter Jr. and Erica Bush face several charges including selling alcohol without a license, no entertainment license, smoking indoors and recklessly creating and maintaining a condition endangering public safety. Not only that but none of the employees or customers were wearing any PPE and they were not properly distanced.

And it’s spreading , Beverly Hills celebrity hotspot La Scala is under fire Sunday for inviting some of its customers to a “discreet” New Year’s Eve party in violation of the city’s and state’s strict coronavirus lockdown measures, preventing indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants. The “speakeasy”-style get together was meant to take place Thursday, and La Scala’s staff had been including paper invites to the bash in select takeout orders, according to Los Angeles’ ABC affiliate.

Some lock down critics say the era of the ‘Rave” is back . A rave is an organized dance party at a warehouse, forest, cave or other private property or public space, typically featuring performances by DJs, playing a seamless flow of electronic dance music. The word also means excellent, great, or brilliant, and can be used to describe any genre of music and entertainment.

In the UK , the growing number of illegal raves sweeping the UK is down to young people feeling frustrated that nightclubs are still closed – despite lockdown lifting, a top DJ has told Sky News. DJ Carl Cox says the illegal scene is thriving during the coronavirus crisis because there is still no timeline on clubs and festivals reopening.