Nocturnal Admissions: Behind the Scenes at Tunnel, Limelight, Avalon, and Other Legendary Nightclubs

During the golden age of the dance club scene in the 1990s and 2000s, Adelman was the director of New York City’s most popular nightclubs, the Roxy, Limelight, Tunnel, and Palladium, and he shares his glitter-sprinkled memories in this new memoir. Growing up in Michigan, Adelman didn’t think much was going to happen to him, but he would go on to set up clubs in Boston, Hollywood, Singapore, and Memphis and be recognized as the cofounder of the Avalon nightlife brand. He credits his success to his power of observation and in this memoir he shares his behind-the-scenes observations from his 30-year nightlife career. He also shares his “learned axioms” (or “laxioms” as he calls them), his life code: for instance, “Laxiom #6: Hire slow, fire quick.” Of course, Adelman also dishes about the famous people he rubbed elbows with at his clubs: club kids and drag performers like Hedda Lettuce; celebrities like RuPaul, Bruce Willis, and Snoop Dog; and opinionated types like Bob Dylan and Jerry Falwell, with whom Adelman butted heads.