Last summer, Matt Deifer was sharing a basket of hot wings with friends when someone made a comment that changed his life.
''Allentown is boring,'' the friend said.
Deifer -- a Coplay native who now lives in Philadelphia -- objected. He believes life is what you make of it, a philosophy that makes him look on the bright side of things, whether you're talking relationships or careers or geography.
That night, Deifer looked at his friends and declared, ''I don't live in Allentown anymore. I live in Funtown.'' And just to prove that he was serious, he chalked the name onto the sidewalk.
A few months later, Fiasco! was born. Fiasco! is basically a party -- think art installation meets hipster bar in the East Village -- that brings DJs, VJs, hoopers (girls who dance with hula hoops), black-light dancers and artists together in a club environment. The first one -- in October 2007 -- at the Allentown Brew Works drew about 200 people. The second -- in February -- had more than 1,000 partying at Starters Riverport in Bethlehem.
Fiasco! 3 takes over Starters Riverport Saturday night.
Dance to indie electro, house and hip-hop -- spun by DJs Jay Yo, Dirty, Cap Cee and $weet Life -- watch the hoopers and members of a black-light dance troop named Archedream shake their booties, and stare at the visuals by VJ System D-128. Once you've overheated, stroll over to the bar's banquet room where a myriad of artists will be creating live. Grab some chalk and express yourself via the oversized, communal chalkboard.
Deifer suggests wearing black-light friendly clothing (white or fluorescent) and coming with a smile.
''It's about embracing your inner child, that glow of energy that makes you want to go out and play,'' he says.
LIVE ART
At its core, Fiasco! is about embracing the arts and alternative forms of diversion.
Typically, one admires art in a gallery, long after the artist has parted ways with his work. There will be art on display, compliments of Bethlehem's Hub Boutique Gallery, but you can also watch painters create pieces live. Bring some extra cash in case you see something you like.
Then grab some chalk, head over to the communal chalk board and create one of your own.
Crazyredbeard: Jon Blake, of Charlottesville, Va., thrives on the live performance aspect of his artwork. He says the music and energy help him be a ''conduit for the universal voice.'' The result is an explosion of color and figures that echo murals found on city buildings. Info: http://www.crazyredbeard.com.
Denyde: Philly artist Dennis R. Smyth grew up experimenting with everything from Crayons to graffiti to Legos. Denyde's bold portraits and street style make him a Fiasco! favorite. Info: http://www.denyde.com.
Matt Deifer: Although his specialty lies in acrylic, oils and mixed media graphics, on Saturday night he'll be creating with chalk. Look for him near the enormous blackboard and play along. Info: http://www.deifer.com.
HOOPING IT UP
To some, ''hooper'' may sound like basketball slang, but in the Fiasco! world, it's all about the hula. Jen Web, Lauren Shaw, Melicent and Marlenah will be rolling their bodies and their glow hoops all night long.
Hoopers are often hired as background dancers at concerts and other events, Deifer says. Fiasco gives them a chance to play center stage.
DANCERS THAT GLOW
To call the members of Archedream black-light dancers is easiest, but the moniker does not describe the complexity of this Philadelphia-based ensemble. The dancers use archetypal black-light-sensitive masks and costumes to convey allegories about life issues -- be it about relationships or the environment -- along with more conventional yarns, such as folk and fairy tales.
Although Archedream routinely performs hour-long shows, the dancers at Starters will instead be floating in and out of the crowd, performing brief, fun pieces. When they take the floor, study their masks. The character they are portraying can be found in the nuances of the costume.
'FIASCO! 3'
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Starters Riverport, 17 W. Second St., Bethlehem
