The buzz

ME JANE Jesse Jane shows her patriotic stripes at crobar and Transit.

Red, white and partially nude
It's not clear how the tradition of bringing porn and patriotism together to celebrate the founding of our nation got started, but it's sure caught on. If anyone asks you to justify your presence at this weekend's events, just rattle off something about free speech, freedom of assembly and the right to bear silicone. The racier Independence Day weekend events include the fifth annual Porn on the Fourth of July Independence Sextacular at the Apartment on Saturday 2 featuring Ron Jeremy, which shouldn't be confused with Porn in the USA on Friday 1 at crobar featuring starlet Jesse Jane. If you can't get enough, Miss Jane appears at Transit's Skindependence party the following night, and Blu throws an American Pie Bikini Contest on Sunday 3. If T&A isn't what you require, the Rest, Relax, Recover BBQ at Moretti's; the live show by London-based bossa nova–influenced Jazzinho at Subterranean's Soulphonetics night; the internationally oriented Red, White and You party at Narcisse; and Mark Ronson's Blast at crobar will all be more than worth your while on Sunday 3. See listings for details.

Black boxesThe question of how to promote something heavily while simultaneously providing a feeling of velvet-rope exclusivity probably eluded marketers for, oh, almost 15 minutes. But even so, the campaign around HBO's Entourage series hit the city's nightlife with noticeable intensity in June. Black cases containing a DVD of the season premiere and a black credit card began appearing in clubs and clothing boutiques in May. If you never got one—or got around to figuring it out—it's the credit card code, entered on the HBO website, that links you, the Entourage VIP, to special events, plus discounts at local boutiques and restaurants. During June, HBO-associated parties took place almost every day in Chicago and also in Philly, Frisco, Texas, Miami, L.A. and New York. It might not be too late to join the Entourage: Star Jeremy Piven will be at the Leg Room on July 15 screening a "sneak peek" of the season finale at 8pm.—John Dugan