This year, I spent my summer frantically cobbling together my work on Monday nights so I could fly out the door by 7. Sometimes I would dash out like a madwoman, happily abandoning my projects in some sorry state of disarray - all so I could power-shimmy on the disco-ready dance floor at Hudson Hotel where Giant Step held its Monday night Private Park series, which went down from 6 to 10 pm. Some of the world's most renowned DJs held court at the Hudson, seducing the decks in its boudoir-meets-hunting lodge décor. And honestly, jeopardizing my job security was often worth it.

Miguel Migs' sensual deep house was the perfect way to kick off the summer. The Californian DJ and producer spun track after track of his epic soundscapes, bringing some breezy cool to the ever cantankerous East Coast. Under a lazily setting sun on the Hudson's courtyard, vocalist Lisa Shaw added some live punch to the set. I knew where I would be spending the rest of my summer.

My next Monday night excursion was a DJ set/explosion of rhythm courtesy of the aptly named percussion and house collective Turntables On The Hudson. As a fan of their slick global compilations I was excited but still not prepared for the madness I encountered up close. DJ Nickodemus spun from the epicenter of a heady live drum circle, bringing some flava to West 59th street. While the Miguel Migs affair was an exercise in evening cool, TOTH set the crowd alight with the raucous, rebellious energy that only loud drumming in a multi-million dollar hotel bar can provide. We clapped, went crazy and cried out for more.

Of course I had high hopes when one of my favorite DJs ever, King Britt, stopped by the Hudson and flaunted his body-rockin' prowess. I walked in to see the crowd bouncing to Salome de Bahia's saucy "Outro Lugar," which then transitioned into Feist's percussive frenzy, "Sea Lion Woman." Then he ended the night with a slice of disco heaven made of "Boogie Oogie Oogie" by A Taste Of Honey, "I Love Music" by The O'Jays and an orchestral version of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing." Then a few weeks later DJ Spinna hit the 1's and 2's and mercilessly set the dance floor ablaze with classic dance hits from George Kranz' "Din Da Da" to "Music Sounds Better With You" by Daft Punk vs. Stardust.

As the series wrapped up, I faithfully trotted out after work to catch the final DJs throwing down. While the crowd could have used some ginseng, Bobbito twiddled the system knobs with admirable verve, dropping chunky tribal house and slinky future soul beats. The series ended on a high note as dance music demigod Danny Krivit rocked the Hudson for the final night. Classic soul, funk, disco and house poured out of the stereos and Krivit kept the booty-quiverin' beats comin'. Even though the summer was coming to a close and work was piled high on my desk Tuesday morning, I was pumped up like I was after every Private Park Monday. I had just cut a rug to one of my favorite DJs, for free, in a chic midtown bar. When you kick off the week like that, who needs Friday?

Click to view the Private Park 2008 Series invitation.

If you would like to be put on the Private Park invite list, please send an email to privatepark@giantstep.net. Note: you must still RSVP for each event as they are announced.