Glocally Newark

I run my fingers through my long dark hair, down the curve of my breasts, in the dip of my waist and back over my hips. My breathing is heavy and I’m glistening with just a hint of sweat. My heart is racing, body moving in an almost primal way. I’m in extacy… And it is all because of one man. His name is Pookie and no I’m not in bed with him this Friday night. I’m dancing at Adega Lounge, and he is mixing live. You see Pookie is actually DJ Pookie Johnson, and I don’t know if it is his charming good looks or his sexy music, but women want to drop their panties whenever he drops beats. Tonight I’m lucky enough to meet this man and find out what causes this reaction in women all over Newark, and hopefully find out what the illustrious Pookie’s real name is.

Pookie spinning live at Adega lounge

Rocking his signature fitted and matching kicks I saw Pookie as soon as I walked through the doors. With almost surgeon like precision he worked a huge board of turntables buttons and knobs… Clearly the man is skilled. I promised to meet him in the DJ booth later, but for now it is time to check out the scene and have a drink, after all I’m single and deserve to have fun after a long week. Standing at the front of the long bar, waiting for my french martini, I realize that this place is full of the who’s who of Newark. Beautiful and prominent people everywhere, all sipping champagne. Not 30 seconds inside and already I have two guys standing on either side of me. I go to pay for my drink, and learn what they call the first rule of Adega’s. “Sexy-ass women do not pay for their drinks,” a thirty something year old guy tells me, “the men buy the drinks,and the women go home with them.” I am instantly turned off. I decline his offer and pay for it myself, making my way down the bar and as far away from him as possible. This is where things get interesting. I run into a very prominent, and very married, city worker, who makes it clear that he is there to have a good time…sans the wife. We chat for a bit and while I notice everyone in his entourage is fun, attractive and the exact kind of people you want to spend a Friday night with, he is not. After a few attempts to “frisk” me, I politely excuse myself to go smoke. It is about this time that all the business types clear out and the young and sexy of Newark show up. In the few minutes it took me to finish my cigarette, the vibe in the room instantly changes and I find that I’m starting to have a fabulous time.

I run into a group of friends, and after dancing to the perfect mix of Hip-Hop, House, Reggae, Reggaeton and some awesome Classics. I joined Pookie in the DJ booth. Despite the fact that he is kind of a local celebrity, he is also a total gentleman. He greeted me with a quick hug and told me I looked pretty, offered me a drink and even showed me how to work his mixing board. I didn’t know these men existed on planet earth, let alone in my own backyard. The night turned into a smashing success. Between DJ Pookie Jay’s music and Lil Cee of 92.3 NOW amping up the crowd, the time flew! Everyone said goodbye to Pookie as they left, and a few girls stuck around to the very last moment clearly trying to talk to him. It was like he had his own little fan club! Well sorry ladies, but Pookie was all mine… well at least for an interview.

A group of us, some of his DJ friends and my crew, traveled back to his “bat cave” which was more like a “bat penthouse”, where I met his adorable and chill dog Prince (Don’t they say dogs resemble their owners?) and had a more formal interview. Pookie is a bit shy, and it took him a little while to warm up, but once he did, he had us all laughing and enjoying ourselves. Maybe that’s why he does so well behind the booth; because he claims he’s not big on dancing, he instead enjoys controlling the vibe of the room. We talked about everything from his turn-ons, pretty smelling brunettes with nice butts, to the sexiest song a girl can give her boyfriend a lapdance to, Pony by Ginuwine . But he isn’t just all about DJ-ing. For the past 10 years he has worked with High School students across New Jersey, teaching diversity awareness. He also aspires to get into politics, so he can touch peoples lives with more than just music. Who would have ever guessed that the guy rocking out in the DJ booth has such a heart of gold? I couldn’t help but wonder how many other guys like this were hiding in Newark.

As dawn reared its head in Brick City, Pookie cracked open some Red Bull and Belvedere, his signature drink, and that is when the real fun began. Fun that unfortunately I cannot disclose dear readers. It is a secret between him and I. Ok well maybe I can divulge, it is my journalistic duty after all… Pookie set up his gear and gave us all a sneak peak at some of the new beats he is working on. He may or may not have even done a quick little two step. (Who says he can’t dance?)

As we all cleared out, I had a renewed hope that maybe Newark is actually full of people like Mr. Johnson – fun, attractive, talented, successful ones, and maybe I’ve just been looking for them in the wrong places. You better believe that I will be back at Adega Lounge next Friday, losing myself in Pookie’s music and enjoying the best of what Newark has to offer.

Oh and for those of you who are wondering if I ever found out the man’s real name… I did, but that is secret that i just can’t divulge.