A Chainsmokers Concert In The Hamptons Was A Total Clusterf*ck

As we approach the five-month mark on social distancing and quarantine regulations, it’s fair to say that people are getting restless. While many people understand that things can’t really go back to normal right now, others are getting more and more creative about how we can safely get out and do things in the age of COVID. This has led to a renaissance for drive-in events, which mostly just made me think of Grease prior to this summer.

Drive-in movie theaters around the country (yes, they still exist) have been doing solid business showing classic blockbusters like Jaws and Jurassic Park, and recently, many outdoor concert venues have reimagined their lawns as drive-in friendly venues. Earlier this month, Brad Paisley headlined a three-city “Live From the Drive-In” concert series organized by Live Nation, and they’ve announced more shows in more cities. These concerts went smoothly, but this weekend, a drive-in charity concert in the Hamptons proved that not all drive-ins are equally safe.

As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the Southampton concert was headlined by The Chainsmokers, but it wasn’t just your average EDM show. The event was in support of numerous local charities including No Kid Hungry and the Children’s Medical Fund of New York. And in the name of raising money, tickets for the event came at steep prices—$850 for the cheapest package, all the way up to a $25,000 package that came with its own RV for the night. And opening for The Chainsmokers was none other than Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon (aka DJ D-Sol). Yes, really.

Not to knock DJ D-Sol’s um, skills, but it’s pretty clear who this event was catered to. With ticket prices like that, it’s no big surprise that the concert drew a who’s who of the Hamptons summer set. Notable attendees included major influencers like Danielle Bernstein and Melissa Wood, along with Conor Kennedy (American royalty and, more importantly, Taylor Swift’s ex). Even Arielle Charnas’ parents left the house for some much-needed EDM.

Besides the audience area being divided into drive-in spaces, event promoter In the Know Experience spoke to Buzzfeed and outlined additional precautions, including temperature checks upon entry, free hand sanitizer and masks provided to all concertgoers, and “dividers separating individual parties in the pit area.” Sorry, but you could not pay me enough money to be in a “pit area” right now. The concert happened on Saturday night, and it didn’t take long for a video from the show to make the rounds on Twitter, calling into question the safety of the event.

The video is dark and very brief, so it’s hard to see exactly what the situation is, but that certainly looks like a packed crowd. Whatever precautions were taken, people clearly weren’t social distancing. One concertgoer told Buzzfeed that she “felt super safe and it was tons of fun,” but when it comes to this pandemic, feeling safe and actually being safe are not always the same thing.

Melissa Wood even posted an Instagram story on Sunday to clear the air about the concert. She said that guests had to fill out a “COVID-19 questionnaire” before purchasing tickets. But with tickets going on sale at least a few days before the concert, filling out a questionnaire in advance doesn’t guarantee safety.

Wood said that “each vehicle was parked in its own designated area,” and that she wore a mask the entire night, as did her “small group.” She finished her message by claiming that people “are unaware of what the event actually detailed.”

Despite what attendees may have said, those seeing photos and videos from the concert—including New York government officials—remained unconvinced. On Monday, New York State Health Commissioner H0ward Zucker sent a letter to Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, eviscerating him for the decision to let the event happen. Zucker wrote that he was “greatly disturbed” by images from the event, and said, “I am at a loss as to how the Town of Southampton could have issued a permit for such an event, how they believed it was legal and not an obvious public health threat.”

After that, it wasn’t long before the big guns came out, with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo slamming the event on Twitter. Cuomo stated that the videos show “egregious social distancing violations,” and suggested that the event was an “illegal & reckless endangerment of public health.” He said that the NY Department of Health will be investigating the event, and given what Health Commissioner Zucker already publicly said, I have a feeling someone’s getting in big trouble.

In the last couple weeks, as New York has continued to reopen, Governor Cuomo has made it clear that he has little tolerance for those who do not follow the rules. Hundreds of restaurants and bars have been penalized for failing to comply with reopening protocols, with punishments including fines and suspension of liquor licenses. While COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed in much of the country, statistics in New York—once the epicenter of the pandemic—have held steady in recent weeks. These reopening guidelines, in addition to strict quarantine requirements for out-of-state travelers, offer the best chance of avoiding a major spike, so it’s easy to see why Cuomo is taking such a strong stance.

It’s like the new social media phenomenon of people saying “don’t worry, we followed all the rules!”, when the post clearly shows them following none of the rules. It’s a lazy way of trying to dodge criticism, and while seeing a handful of people justifying a social gathering is questionable, seeing 2,000 rich people packed together at a concert (and then claiming they were being completely cautious) is way more alarming. I guess those people should’ve just stayed in the back seat of their Rovers…

Images: agwilson / Shutterstock.com; firenzemike, nygovcuomo / Twitter; melissawoodhealth / Instagram

The Betches’ Bachelorette Guide To Las Vegas

Planning sucks, and bachelorette parties are a ton of work. So we’re taking all the guesswork out of planning a bachelorette party by breaking down top bachelorette destinations. Our guides will tell you where to stay, eat, party, how to get around, and give you a sample itinerary that you can follow. You’re welcome.

Las Vegas is synonymous with bachelorette parties, so it only makes sense that this is our first of many bachelorette party guides. No one goes to Sin City to relax so this itinerary is for the girls who like to party all day and night only to pass out go to sleep and do it all over again the next day. The Vegas strip offers four miles of nonstop partying options, which is probably why so many people flock to the city to pregame their nuptials. But in a city with so many options, how TF do you know what to do to maximize your time? No need to reach for your essential oils—we got you. Here is your official Betches Bachelorette Guide to Las Vegas.

Where To Stay: The Cosmopolitan

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ?????? ???? (@disco_infern0) on

When it comes to lodging in Vegas, you’ll want to consider a few factors: where to get the best bang for your buck, where to find the most ideal sleeping arrangements, and where you can get f*cked up create memories that will last a lifetime. You’re definitely going to want to stay at a hotel that has both a day club and night club as well as one that has a ton of restaurant and bar options. This will just makes your life that much easier, and the chance of getting lost coming home at 5am that much smaller.

The Cosmopolitan is my go-to spot for staying in Vegas for a variety of reasons. The Cosmo is considered one of the smaller hotels, which is crazy to even fathom considering it has two towers of hotel rooms, a huge casino, over 25 food establishments, a spa, a night club, and a day club. But size does matter because the layouts of these hotels is extremely confusing and since you’ll only be there for a short time, you don’t want to waste time walking in circles when you have a pool party to get to. Plus you won’t have to deal with flocks of tourists that are spending the day aimlessly shopping while you’re just trying to find the nearest exit.

The suite options at The Cosmo are essentially created for large parties, specifically the Wraparound Terrace Suite. The suite can also connect to the room next door, allowing your entire group to share accommodations without being squished. The Terrace Suite’s balcony doors open to a huge terrace that offers insane views of the Vegas skyline—the perfect place for all your Instagram photos-to-be.

How To Get There

Unless you live in Los Angeles the thought of driving to Vegas will never cross your mind. But lucky for you there are a ton of direct fights from the east coast that will cost you around $500. $500?! Yup… we would say this is the average cost for what a bachelorette flight will cost someone, however there are a few ways to make paying for this less painful.

Download the Hopper app that lets you track flight prices for dates of your choosing. The app will send updates right to your phone when flight prices start to fluctuate and when the optimal time is to book is. The other way to soften the blow of this financial burden is to pay with credit card points. Literally put anything and everything on your credit card to get as many points as possible in anticipation of your trip. Most cards offer double points for travel and dining so get ready to justify those excessive Uber rides and weekday Seamless orders.

How To Get Around

We highly encourage you to take full advantage of the limos and party buses that wait outside the hotels at night and during the day. For roughly $10/person, you can get into the party vibe and IG story the experience and really rub it in the face’s of those who didn’t make the cut to join the trip.

We definitely do not suggest walking home unless the last stop of your night happens to be within your hotel. Uber is plentiful in Vegas and a majority of hotels have designated Uber/Lyft pick up areas, making it really easy to get from point A to point B. Even if it says its a 10 minute walk to your hotel, err on the side of caution and request a car. Plus, your feet are going to be on fire from wearing heels all night.

Where To Eat

If there’s anything more plentiful than nightclubs in this city, it’s got to be restaurants. Since people will be suffering at varying degrees of hungoverness, we suggest just finding someplace low-key in your hotel for breakfast, with the exception being the buffet at the Wynn. This $32 all-you-can eat option was voted best Vegas buffet, and with damn good reason. Soak up all the alcohol with more than 120 dishes and 15 live-action cooking stations.

Vegas is meant for group dinners, with endless options scattered throughout the strip. Since ordering à la carte can get pricey, we suggest setting up a prix-fix menu option in advance so your friends know upfront what they’re expected to pay. We suggest picking a restaurant within the hotel that you plan on going out at. For example, if you’re heading to Marquee, then opt for dinner at STK. Plus, these restaurants are well aware bachelorettes are in town and will offer customizable options like putting the bride’s name on the menu for no additional cost. Some of our fav nighttime spots include: Beauty & Essex, Sage, SUSHISAMBA, and Hakkasan Restaurant.

Where To Party

While there are tons of pool party options in Las Vegas, three remain at the top when compared to the rest: Marquee Day Club, Encore Beach Club, and Wet Republic. But which pool to go to on which day? DJs like The Chainsmokers, Tiësto, and Calvin Harris will be taking the stage, so make sure to check the events calendar on each club’s website a couple months before your trip and decide from there.

Promoters are prevalent in Vegas and are highly recommended since working with them will basically alleviate any financial burden of going out. (It’s how we make up for the pay gap, ladies.) Here’s how to find a promoter: literally go to the explore page of Instagram and type in “Vegas Promoter”. You will be greeted with 100+ options of people to choose from. Some are more legit than others, so sift through and find the one who’s working the parties you want to attend. Look at for people who have some semblance of a social life mixed into their promotional materials. From there start sliding into their DMs—we promise this isn’t weird.

Also, you’ll start to notice the second you post a picture on IG in Vegas, the promoters will come and find you. Seriously—they check geotags and find people they can work with to get into their partner venues. And don’t be too alarmed if they request pictures of the girls in your parties—that happens and is definitely off-putting, but it’s not like, a sign you should call the cops. If you’re not feeling that vibe, just find another promoter. TAKE ADVANTAGE!! Proof below:

The benefit of working with a day promoter in Vegas is that they also work night parties. The lines get crazy regardless if you bought a ticket for that night, so having someone who works with the venue is always helpful. Unlike in other cities, the venues in Vegas encourage the use of promoters because they help fill their clubs with girls. Once you meet up with your promoter in the lobby of the hotel, they will escort you to a designated table area with varying degrees of comped service. Yes, really. You’re welcome.

Nighttime Entertainment

If you’re looking to entertain yourselves in ways  that don’t involve getting completely obliterated, congrats on being a better person than me Vegas offers a ton of nighttime live entertainment options. Rose Rabbit Lie and Spiegelworld are two interactive shows at The Cosmopolitan that mix fantasy and reality in a slightly more refined atmosphere. So if you aren’t into getting pushed around a club fighting to get a blurry picture of Calvin Harris, we suggest opting for a show. Plus some of our fave artists are known for their Vegas residencies like The Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Gwen Stefani.

But if you’re still unsure of exactly what to do and when to do it, here is our Betches approved itinerary for your partying pleasure.

Thursday, Day 1:

Pro Tip: If you’re traveling from the east coast, take advantage of the time difference and aim to arrive as early as possible to allow for an entire day of debauchery

  1. Check into the hotel, unpack, and claim your bed
  2. Change as fast as humanly possible into your bathing suits, rip a few shots in the room, then hit a pool party stat (Marquee, Encore Beach Club, or Wet Republic depending on which DJ you like that’s playing that day)
  3. NAP!!!!!! Even if you “don’t nap”, lay your ass in bed and attempt to relax for AT LEAST an hour and a half. You’ll thank us later when your friends want to go out after dinner.
  4. Head to dinner at TAO in The Venetian Hotel
  5. Either get tickets to see a live show or hit up Hakkasan Nightclub for the Tiësto residency

Friday, Day 2:

Pro Tip: Slow and steady wins the race halfway through a Vegas bender. Listen to your body and don’t force yourself to do something you’re not feeling. After all, if you’re heading to Vegas any time soon, temperatures are well above 85 degrees, and dehydration will knock you out.

  1. Sleep in and grab breakfast casually somewhere in the hotel
  2. Lay out at the hotel’s chill pool (yes, there are raging pool parties and relaxing pools—take advantage and rest halfway through your trip)
  3. Get dressed up and head to dinner at Sushi Roku, a trendy sushi spot with awesome views of the Strip in Caesar’s Palace
  4. Check out Calvin Harris’ residency at Omnia Nightclub (also located in Caesar’s Palace)

Saturday, Day 3:

Pro Tip: Food is your friend; you’re likely hungover and are going to need sustenance to soak up that alcohol. Plus, you’re going to need to fill up before your last pool party and night out!

  1. Indulge in the famous breakfast buffet at The Wynn
  2. Pick a pool from Marquee, Encore Beach Club, or Wet Republic that you haven’t gone to yet
  3. TAKE A NAP!!!!!!
  4. Head to STK for your last dinner out
  5. End your epic weekend at XS Nightclub that has DJs like Steve Angello, Diplo, Alesso and Drake performing on a frequent basis

Sunday, Day 4:

  1. GET THE F*CK HOME WHERE YOU BELONG!!!
The 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Performers Are Kind Of A Let-Down

It’s finally November, which means we’re rapidly approaching one of the year’s most important events: the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The VS show is always a great opportunity for drinking games and binge eating, and we’re starting to get a pretty good idea of what this year’s event will look like. We have the list of which models will be walking in the show, and now we also know the list of 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show performers. Read on to find out which musical artists will be performing on the runway.

In the past, the performers have included major stars like Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga, among others. They’ve set a high bar for the talent level in the past, and I’ve gotta be honest, this year’s lineup is a little disappointing. It seems like they went for quantity over quality, because there are seven musical acts performing: Shawn Mendes, The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, Kelsea Ballerini, and The Struts. Let’s unpack, shall we?

Okay, so I’m assuming some of these people will be performing with each other rather than solo, because otherwise this sh*t is going to be seven hours long. Shawn Mendes will probably get to perform by himself, because he’s super famous and cute and talented, and it’s what he deserves. Sure, all of the six-foot-tall models will make him look like a literal child, but I’m okay with it.

I’ve gotta be honest, the trio of Halsey, Rita Ora, and Bebe Rexha seems a little repetitive. I like all three of them, but to have them all performing at the same event doesn’t really seem necessary. Maybe Halsey will do “Closer” with The Chainsmokers? Ah 2016, it was a simpler time. The notable connection between Bebe and Rita is that they’re both Albanian, which they love to talk about. Maybe they’ll come out in Albanian flag costumes and perform together? Probs not, but I’m sure the creative geniuses at Victoria’s Secret will come up with something equally entertaining. Or maybe not. I have little faith.

The duo of The Struts and Kelsea Ballerini are definitely the bottom of the barrel here, and I’m kind of confused why they’re even on the list. Kelsea is a cute country singer, so I guess they’re going for that demographic, but if this means we’re getting a hoedown themed segment in the fashion show, I’m officially done with everything. For the love of god, do not put Adriana Lima in a cowboy hat, I forbid it. The Struts are a random British rock band, and it’s unclear if anyone cares. That’s all.

As for the models walking in the show, there are lots of them, and most really don’t matter. Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid are on the list, as well as long-time favorites like Adriana Lima, Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel, and Lily Aldridge. Also returning is Devon Windsor, who recently made headlines when she compared the struggles of being blonde to what black people go through. Great!

The 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show airs on December 2, so we’re only a month away! Start working on your fashion show bod—just kidding, it’s far too late.

Images: Giphy (2)

One Of The Chainsmokers Got Caught Cheating On His Girlfriend, And He’s Not Even The Hot One

Valentine’s Day is coming up, which means it’s time for another reminder about how love is fucking dead. One of The Chainsmokers cheated on his girlfriend, allegedly, and this shit got sloppy real quick. The guy in question is Alex Pall, who is notably *not* the hot one (that’s Drew Taggart), and his girlfriend Tori Woodward. They’ve been together since the beginning of 2014, which is like, a long time any way you look at it.

But it turns out, unsurprisingly for someone who makes a living standing in front of a computer pretending to make music, Alex Pall is a dumb idiot douchebag man! Tori, who is our new private investigator, got ahold of security camera footage of Alex allegedly making out with another girl, and we are really impressed, but also have a lot of questions. Was it Tori’s own security camera? Did she have to hack into someone else’s security camera footage? Is she working for the NSA??

Because Tori is a savage betch, she was not content to just confront Alex about his actions, no no no. Instead, she put him on fucking blast on her INSTAGRAM STORY. As in, posted screenshots with some truly dramatic AF captions about how love is dead. Do a dramatic reading of these if you like:

“Alex is disgusting. Men are trash. Don’t ever forget it.”

“They’ll look you in the eyes and tell you they love you. Then destroy you without a second thought.”

“After hours of begging him for scraps of honesty, I chipped away just enough to confirm that this is not the first time he’s remorsely cheated on me.”

Okay Tori, looks like we’ve got Taylor Swift Jr. on our hands over here. We do need to point out that “remorsely” definitely isn’t a word, but using the power of context clues, we can infer that she meant the opposite (i.e. without remorse). We got your back, girl. She also called the girl in the screenshots a “lame instagram model” and a “psycho bitch from Vegas,” both of which would probably qualify as occupations on The Bachelor.

The screenshots were taken down, and Tori says it was because Alex reported them. This girl seems to be going through a lot right now, but if she keeps it up she’ll probably get offered a reality show—which, for the record, we would definitely watch—so at least there’s that. Stay strong, Tori, but maybe get off Insta stories for a while and get a doctor to prescribe you some Xanax.

The Coachella Lineup Is Lit AF

Time to start flirting with your molly plug again: The Coachella lineup was released on January 3, and it’s so fucking awesome I’m reconsidering my hatred of the festival. On one hand, Coachella is literally just an excuse for people (read: teenagers) to Instagram pics of themselves in a crochet bikini and say they stood kind of near Kylie Jenner in line for a stupid ferris wheel. 

On the other hand, post-Lemonade Beyoncé is gonna be there this year. Can you see my problem here?

Beyoncé

A bajillion artists are going to be at the festival, but according to my totally objective ranking, the important ones are Beyoncé, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Marshmello (holla at my EDM betches), Gucci Mane, and Beyoncé. I guess people are excited about Radiohead and Lorde too. For some unknown reason, the lineup also includes Hans Zimmer, a 59-year-old German film composer. I had no fucking clue who he was, but apparently The Chainsmokers are stoked about his concert?

Coachella line up is dope! But if that’s Han zimmer like THE Hans Zimmer that dude is the headliner of headliners

— THE CHAINSMOKERS (@TheChainsmokers) January 3, 2017

After an extensive investigation—aka two seconds of Googling—it looks like he did the soundtracks for movies like Interstellar and Inception, so obvs all the celeb TTHs are going to be there so they look cultured for the paparazzi. But like, I guess rolling to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack could be kind of cool. Or terrifying. Hard to tell.

Anyway, don’t get too excited about the lineup unless you bought a ticket already, because they’re hella sold out. Betches with tickets, start dieting right the fuck now, because that Beyoncé concert selfie will be the most important pic you’ll take in your entire life.