Category Archives: Eat Drink and Be Mary
FRUIT FLIES New York Web series
I am so excited to share with you the news of the upcoming webseries, FruitFlies! Check us out
at fruitfliesny.com
FruitFlies is the show about gay guys’ advice to girls. As
a twenty-something living in New York City, my girl-friends and I quickly found ourselves surrounded by the world of fabulous gays – who
somehow always seem more put-together than the rest of us.
This talk-show style series will be 2-3 minute episodes all about gay men’s
advice to straight girls about the ins-and-outs of city-living. Whether
it be fashion, dating, fitness, or hotspots, these quirky life-style
segments will explore the ways to get fabulous!
FruitFlies just launched its IndieGoGo campaign – which is a 30-day promotional campaign: http://www.
fruitfliesny.com
https://twitter.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
New Book looks at the history of New York Nightlife…THE FUN: THE SOCIAL PRACTICE OF NIGHTLIFE IN NYC
is a first-of-its-kind publication, documenting the new forms of
nightlife practitioners to emerge since the turn of the millennium.
Through profiles of over 30 artists, including the royalty of Manhattan
nightlife like Susanne Bartsch and Ladyfag; hybrid forms like Xtapussy
and FCKNLZ; the continuation of minimal wave and goth communities
through Pendu Disco; and the vibrant queer scenes of JUDY, Frankie
Sharp, and My Chiffon is Wet, THE FUN documents the rich
contemporary cultural activity keeping NYC as weird and innovative as
decades past.
voices in the nightlife, including artists Rob Roth and Genesis
P-Orridge, curators and critics Claire Bishop and Jake Yuzna, as well as
journalist Michael Musto providing both historical context and
contemporary understanding of nightlife as a vital artistic practice
that has been marginalized by the arts sector for hundreds of years.
from the explosion of large and small discos throughout the 1970s like
Studio 54, which paved the way for 80s megaclubs; the candy-colored club
kid movement of Michael Alig and the Limelight in the early 90s; the
parallel expansion of the boundary shattering merger of drag,
performance, and music in downtown venues such as the Pyramid Club and
Mother; the rise of Brooklyn as a new focal point in the 2000s with the
emergence of Luxx, Secret Project Robot, Silent Barn and other hybrid
arts/music/nightlife venues; and on into the many vibrant forms found
today.
978-1-57687-659-6, $39.95)
from Paris Hilton and Lydia Hearst to the Backstreet Boys, Foxy Brown
and Gwen Stefani was drawn to their taste for sparkly streetwear glam.
“The clothes were attention getting and fun,” Heatherette’s longtime
friend and muse Amanda Lepore remembers. “They had a distinct look,
which at that time — everyone wanted it. David LaChapelle was using it. All the
celebrities wanted it. It was in demand.” (from Paper Mag).
while Rich is set to launching two fashion lines this spring: Rich
& Warr, a mens line, and a womens, Chantilly Rich, with Chantilly
Lace designer, Chantelle Warr. Although busy, Rich still has his eye on
the club scene. “It’s been fun watching the new generation of kids. When
I moved to New York I was ‘the new’ to the old nightlife generation,”
Richie says. “Now it’s fun to see all the new kids coming on the block
and dressing up. I feel like the style is coming back. Who knows, maybe
Heatherette will too.”
SAVE New Yorks Gay Halloween Parade
The
New York City Village Halloween Parade, a not-for-profit arts
organization, today announced the launch of their Kickstarter Campaign,
set to go live on September 17th. The campaign will raise
monies in an effort to recover considerable financial losses from the
last minute cancellation of last year’s Parade due to Superstorm Sandy,
as well as provide financial backing to ensure that the Parade will
celebrate its 40th Anniversary this Halloween.
The
iconic event has provided an exuberant cacophony of lights, sounds and
magical visuals on Halloween night for the past 40 years, attracting
over 2 million people from across the globe at the 2011 Parade alone.
Last year’s cancellation was the first in the Parade’s history, marking a
milestone the organization never hoped to meet. In the face of
devastation and destruction, the Parade has always been there to lift
the spirits of the global community, having been the first major event
in New York after 9/11, welcoming thousands of Hurricane Katrina
refugees in 2005 and commissioning Haitian Carnival Puppets in 2010
after the earthquake in Haiti.
“While
nothing compares to the tragic loss of life and home caused by Sandy,
the last minute cancellation proved to be a financial disaster for the
Parade, putting our
organization
out over $50,000,” said Jeanne Fleming, Producer and Artistic Director.
“We have been hard at work to overcome the setbacks Hurricane Sandy
brought, but
now
we are asking the millions of people who have ever marched in or
watched to parade to help us make certain the Parade lives on.”
Through the help of crowd funding via Kickstarter, the Parade will continue to entertain the public for a 40th
year with a special appearance of the Giant Spider by Master Puppeteer
Basil Twist on the Jefferson Market Library Clock Tower. For more
information on how to become involved in the Kickstarter campaign to
save the New York City Village Halloween Parade, please visit http://www.kickstarter.com/
AGWA de Bolivia Herbal Liqueur
New Yorks CENTER Garden Party 30 Kicks Off Pride Week at Pier 84
| Annual Tasting Event Partners with ZAGAT to Celebrate Pride and Support the LGBT Community Center Programs and Services |
|
| WHO | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center Board of Directors and Executive Director Glennda Testone invite you to Garden Party 30. |
| WHAT | Garden Party brings you A Taste of Pride curated by ZAGAT and featuring presenting sponsor Prudential with 40 restaurants and culinary destinations offering samples from their delicious menus. |
| WHEN | Monday, June 24, 2013 General Admission 6-10 p.m. |
| WHERE | Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 West Side Highway at 44th Street New York, NY |
| How to Purchase Tickets: Tickets are available at www.gaycenter.org/gardenparty. |
|
| MORE | Friends and supporters of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (the Center) will gather on June 24 for Garden Party 30, the Center’s annual tasting event. Kick off Pride Week with over 1,500 supporters and foodies at our new location on Pier 84. Garden Party is the only LGBT tasting festival in the country. Guests will watch the sun set over the Hudson River while enjoying an open bar and bidding on delicious dining packages in the silent auction. Proceeds from Garden Party 30 support the Center’s life-enhancing and |
Sotto 13 in New Yorks West Village Hotspot for Social Brunch
should have) about sharing. Sharing is also a fundamental part of eating. Whether
you’re having Sunday dinner at home with family or you’re out at the new
Italian place with friends, the act of sharing food comes into play
early and often in a meal.
and some cocktails in a fun atmosphere with friends – or meeting some
new ones. Small plates, pizza and pastas are designed to share a
variety of tastes along with their signature, fresh cocktails or some
wine.
Located in a landmark brownstone in the West Village of NYC, 140 W 13th Street, between 6th & 7th Avenues.
This is not their only specialty Sotto’s brunch has NYC’s first ever ‘DIY Prosecco Bar’! The concept allows Brunchers to become their own mixologists with a bottle of prosecco and a tray of five mixers, including signature fresh juices, liqueurs and toss ins like candied ginger, fresh berries and more. Guests can use the provided recipe card or freestyle it to craft their own bubbly brunch cocktails.”
It’s been called best new sexy spot, best date night restaurant, best atmosphere, best Italian food sharing, and more! Even Yelpers, a tough crowd to please, consistently give Sotto 13, 4 and 5 stars!
So what are you waiting for? If you haven’t checked out Sotto 13 yet, make a reservation now!
(212) 647-1001 Sotto 13 And I will see you there!
The Center SUMMER CAMP Events
summer, the Center is sending you back to CAMP with our annual Summer
“Camp” Festival. But not the kind of icky outdoor camp with tents and
mosquitoes – instead, we’re serving up drag queens and NO WIRE HANGERS!
Jump start your summer with fun, games and a celebration of the elusive
queer aesthetic known simply as “camp.”
FOURPLAY – Thursday, May 9; 7:30 p.m.
Giving John Waters a run for his sleazy money, Kyle Henry’s raucous
independent film, Fourplay presents a quartet of sex tales in four
American cities. Henry and Paul Soileau (Christeene) host.
HOLLY WOODLAWN: A LOW LIFE IN HIGH HEELS – Thursday, May 16; 7 p.m.
Once appearing alongside Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis, the legendary
Andy Warhol superstar Holly Woodlawn will read from her biography and
screen her 1973 short film Broken Goddess.
DRAG BINGO WITH HEDDA LETTUCE – Tuesday, May 21; 7 p.m. Drag bingo returns to the Center for one night only with kooky prizes, double entendre and a cash jackpot. Time to get lucky!
BRINI MAXWELL DOES BARBARELLA – Tuesday, May 28; 7 p.m.
Wall-to-wall shag carpeting, evil Lava Lamp goo and glittery spacesuits
that fall off at a moment’s notice? Forget Jane Fonda…we’ve got the
mod-tastic Brini Maxwell to help us through this camp classic.
MATCH GAME LIVE – Thursday, June 13; 7:30 p.m.
A live stage version of the campiest, kitschiest game show in history —
The “Match Game”! Match Frank DeCaro, Jackie Hoffman and other celebs
for prizes. Get ready to laugh your _BLANK_ off!
THE CENTER
Gay Pride New York 2013
HOW COOL IS THAT PHOTO? Such CELEBRATION!
NYC & Company,
New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership
organization, is highlighting several annual gay pride events taking
place throughout the City as the summer travel season begins.
Recognized as the number one LGBT travel destination in the United
States, New York City will be brimming with energy, diversity and
excitement. From the flagship Heritage of Pride events in
Manhattan—where nearly 2 million people are expected to attend—to
the diverse pride events and celebrations happening in the boroughs
outside Manhattan, New York City is the ideal destination for visitors
seeking a unique and festive pride experience.
“New York City is an
iconic destination for LGBT travel, particularly during our annual
Pride Week celebrations,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC &
Company. “Following the legalization of same-sex marriage
in New York two years ago, the City remains the most popular gay travel
destination in the United States. We encourage visitors from around the
world to book their travel now and experience the many pride
festivities taking place throughout the five boroughs.”
A full listing of NYC 2013 pride activity can be accessed at nycgo.com/gay. Highlights of activity taking place throughout
the City, organized by borough, follows:
Manhattan
Heritage of Pride,
which organizes the City’s flagship LGBT events and
commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots that sparked the modern
gay-rights movement, features the theme “Rain to Rainbows” for its
lineup of pride events this year.
“After
years of inequality in this country we are finally turning the course
toward receiving full equality. While this won’t be achieved overnight
we
are proud of our community’s accomplishments over the last decade and
look to the future with a positive stance on the state of LGBT rights,”
said Chris Frederick, Managing Director of Heritage of Pride. “With the
Supreme Court deciding on same-sex marriage
days prior to NYC Pride’s largest day we are projecting an increase in
attendance to nearly 2 million individuals and are excited to welcome
the world with open arms.”
The PrideFest street fair, now in its 20th year, will take place on
Sunday, June 30, 11am–6pm. Thousands of visitors attend the event at
Hudson Street between Abingdon Square and West 14th Street each
year, joining locals, corporate sponsors, community leaders and business
owners.
With Edith Windsor (the central figure
in the case challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act), Harry
Belafonte (singer, songwriter and longtime social activist) and Earl
Fowlkes (president and CEO of the
Center for Black Equity) as the grand marshals, The March will
take place on Sunday, June 30, at noon. The parade, which has taken
place to celebrate the gay community since 1970, begins at 36th Street
and Fifth Avenue and ends in Greenwich Village.
Free registration is now open online.
Three events will take place at Pier 26 (on the West Side Highway; attendees should cross at Laight Street) this year:
·
The Rally will take place on Friday, June 28, 7–10pm, showcasing speakers and well-known
performers in honor of the first NYC pride rally that occurred one month after the Stonewall Riots.
·
Rapture on the River,
one of the nation’s largest ladies-only dance events, will celebrate
its 10-year anniversary on Saturday, June 29, 3–10pm. Tickets
are available online.
·
On Sunday, June 30,
Dance on the Pier is back for its 27th year with
award-winning DJs and the world’s longest-running LGBT fireworks display
along the Hudson River. The event, 3–10pm, is the official close to NYC
Pride events. Tickets are available
online.
To purchase tickets, register and access a comprehensive list of all events, visit
nycpride.org or follow Heritage of Pride on Twitter (twitter.com/nycpride)
or on Facebook (facebook.com/nycpride).
Bronx
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., in partnership with Boogie Down Pride and Brainpower, will host the third annual
Bronx LGBT Allies Award Ceremony on Thursday, June 20, 2013, 6pm,
at the Rotunda at 851 Grand Concourse. The event will honor individuals
who have made positive contributions to the LGBT community in the
Bronx. For more information, go to
bronxboropres.nyc.gov/.
Brooklyn
New
York City’s most populous borough celebrates gay pride with events on
Saturday, June 8. Brooklyn Pride 2013 features the 16th annual
Brooklyn Pride LGBT 5K Run through the historic Prospect Park. Runners must sign up at
nycruns.com (limited to 500 participants). Runners can check in at 8am; the
race starts at 10am.
Also on June 8, visitors and locals can attend the
Brooklyn Pride Festival, 11am–5pm at a new location, on
Fifth Avenue, between Third and Ninth Streets. This year’s festival will
feature two stages for local performers and LGBT–friendly sports teams
that will be playing behind the Old Stone House
at J.J. Byrne Park.
At 7:30pm, the Brooklyn Pride Parade will begin at a new location, at Sterling Place, and march down Fifth Avenue, ending at Ninth Street.
For more information, please visit
brooklynpride.org.
Queens
On Sunday, June 2, Queens Pride, which promotes education and awareness of LGBT issues in the borough, hosts its
Parade and Multicultural Festival, noon–6pm, in Jackson Heights,
with the theme “Equality. Everyday. Everyone.” The parade starts at
85th Street and 37th Avenue at noon, and will follow 37th Avenue through
75th Street. Also starting at noon, the festival
will take place through 6pm on 37th Road between 74th and 77th Streets.
Parade participants will have the opportunity to win “Queenie Awards,”
ranging from the best use of color to the best drag performance.
For more information and to register for the events, go to
queenspride.org.
Staten Island
The Staten Island LGBT Community Center hosts the
LGBT Pride Parade & Festival 2013 in the St. George
neighborhood on Saturday, June 1, noon–5pm. The parade kicks off at noon
at on Central Avenue at Slosson Terrace, ending at Tompkinsville Park,
where the festival will feature LGBT–friendly entertainment,
amusements and vendors till 5pm.
For more information and to register for the events, visit
silgbtcenter.org or
facebook.com/
New York Boylesque Stripper Festival April 26-27
BOYS BOYS BOYS!
are teaming up to present the second annual New York Boylesque
Festival—a two-day extravaganza of nearly nude dudes artfully disrobing.
This Friday night Teaser Party,
DJ’d by boylesque historian Scott Ewalt features over a dozen national
and international performers and is sure to get your motor started for a
weekend of non-stop boylesque hotness!
stage to do their thing. Hosted by NYC’s Drag Mama Sweetie.
New Yorks Gay Valentine Boat Cruise
Who said February had to be cold. Set sail on New York City’s Hottest
Gay Harbor Cruise this Valentine’s Day. Bring your sweetheart or find a
new one on this 3 hour floating dance party.
Toast to love or lust
with an open bar of premium liquor and free shots of Cupid Juice served
to you by Cupid’s little helpers. Passed appetizers, a decadent dessert
bar, wine & chocolate tastings by Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar,
and the most amazing views of New York City’s skyline make this one
“cruise” you won’t forget.
- 3 Hour Evening Heated Cruise Around Manhattan Harbor
- DJ Performance
- Passed hors d’oeuvres
- Open Bar with Premium Liquor
- Dessert
- 21 and Over
BOOK NOW ONLINE!
Gay New York Nightlife EXPOSED
Well, for better or for worse, New York Gay Nightlife was exposed to the masses this week!
“The city’s gay subculture is experiencing another
nocturnal boomlet, thanks to a post-recession spate of new LGBT bars,
clubs, and parties. Here, a survey of the scene, complete with the
requisite go-go boys, outré drag artists, and low-key lounges for people
who just want to drink. “
Zapata describes this Monday-night party when promoting it via Facebook.
dandies-in-the-making, rich architects, and the unemployed artists who
love them into Le Baron’s townhouselike environs.
the older patrons tend to kick back on the leather banquettes, making
for a pleasantly adult outing.
Gay Male Stripper Show Only at SPLASH
City’s sexiest male dancers in a planned and choreographed show. We hope
that if you are consummating your love you choose to have your BACHELOR
PARTY with the hottest male strippers in NYC. Whether you’re
celebrating a special occasion, wedding, or the ultimate guys night out
we can guarantee a great time at one of our many performances.”
Jackie Beat is Back in New York City for a Holiday Show
NYC’s favorite Grinch returns to serve up her 15th annual holiday show.
for her 15th annual holiday show. Beginning December 12th, the
self-professed bastard child of “Weird” Al Yankovic and Bette Midler
will premiere JACKIE BEAT: COME, THEY TOLD ME
at The Laurie Beechman Theater (inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd
Street — at Ninth Avenue, accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2,3
trains at 42nd Street). This limited engagement runs for 6 performances
only: Wednesday, Dec. 12 – Sunday, Dec. 16 at 7:30pm, except for Friday,
Dec. 14, which is at 10pm. Tickets are $22 plus a $15 food/drink
minimum. To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com. Note: advance purchase highly recommended; Beat has sold out every holiday show in the last 11 years.
JACKIE BEAT: COME, THEY TOLD ME
continues Jackie Beat’s mission to poison every sacred belief and
holiday tradition. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or
Ramadan, an evening with Jackie Beat is always the perfect antidote to
holiday cheer. This comic celebration is a virtual stocking stuffed with
hilarious new seasonal material and some classic Christmas Jackie
including the right-wing pregnancy confessional “Santa’s Baby,” a
menorah-loving “Jew Christmas,” a booze-infused spin on “Happy Holidays”
called “Alcoholidaze,” and the self-explanatory “It’s Beginning To Look
A Lot Like Syphilis.”
Lady Bunnys New York Show Wrapping Up! GO SEE IT!
Her successful 6 month run is coming to an end! So it isn’t so 🙁
The raunchy, demented drag diva of Wigstock fame presented her
full-length one wo-man show last fall, at the popular latin
nightspot La Escuelita. It was extended, and extended, and extended. Now the final show dates have been announced.
Fast-paced and action-packed with glitzy
costumes and Bunny’s trademark gravity-defying bouffant wig, THAT AIN’T
NO LADY! is a cabaret designed for a night club crowd–no lengthy
monologues or sappy show tunes here. For mature audiences who enjoy
irreverent humor! Since there are a lot of pop music parodies, this show
is especially well-suited to audiences who have some familiarity with
pop music so that they’ll know the original versions which are being
parodied.
VLADA is New and Improved
Hello New York!
I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share with you the many excited things coming up at Vlada Lounge, but first let me thank you for being a loyal customer for the last 6 years and making Vlada the best vodka bar in NYC (New York Magazine, Best Of New York issue). I believe you will be excited to learn what our little Russian elves have been up to and the ways in which Vlada is expanding for the new 2012/2013 season.
Much like Lindsay Lohan (girl, did you see her on SNL?!) we have given Vlada a face lift: classy new furniture, a fantastic staff comprised of some of the sexiest, smartest, and talented men in New York, and added new flavors to our extensive, home-made, organic, infused vodka menu. All in all, I’d say we pulled it off better than she did. To continue with the Russian theme, we have made some delicious additions to our food menu. Be sure to try some of my favorites: Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Kiev, Siberian Pelmeni, Poached Salmon, Blini with Caviar, and several Traditional Russian Salads created by the award winning, original chef from the Russian Samovar. Check out photos of the new menu here.
As owner of the only Authentic Russian Gay Bar outside of Moscow, equality for the gay community has always been my highest priority. Minutes after the gay marriage law passed in New York I became an Ordained Minister so I could marry same sex couples at our beautiful and elegant upstairs event space. We’ve had many successful and beautiful ceremonies in 2011 and I anticipate many more to come! Please email vlada@ministervlada.com if you or someone you know is looking to tie the knot in a memorable way. We have also expanded into highend catering, so we are able to fulfill any and all requests for parties of any size. Please email vlada@vvscatering.com for all catering inquiries.
You can also take advantage of our all new upstairs for private events of all shapes and sizes! From fundraisers to birthday parties to Russian language classes, our upstairs is ideal for your party. The space comes with its own private floor, ipod connection and CD players, projector, piano, available microphones, artwork from community artists, and much more! Email billy@vladaloungeny.com
For a limited time we are offering a 20% discount on our select services to make your experience even more memorable. Call Billy, Ernie, or Vlada Von Shats at 212-974-8030 and let’s have a meaningful date (we like to cuddle).
Peace & Love,
Vlada Von Shats
Billy Hannon, Jr.
Ernie Cote
Connect with us
Times Square Social at Traffic w/ Special Guest David Drake
Wednesday February 22, 2012 from 6-9PM
Traffic Bar & Restaurant, 701 9th Ave. Corner of 48th St.
RSVP: Trafficfebruary.eventbrite
FREE EVENT – Since
2004 TheMenEvent has been bringing you the HOTTEST Gay Networking
Events. This month, we descend upon a new venue, Traffic in Hell’s
Kitchen. Expect to meet lots of other gay professionals (or professional
gays – wink), make new friendships, win stuff, enjoy drink specials and
get some free appetizers (but you have to get there early for the yummy
treats).
Featuring:
*
Prize Giveaways including DVD’s and Show Tickets. PLUS Enter to win 1
of 3 Top Men’s Fragrances from the Fragrance and Beauty Outlet.
* No cover!
* Drink Specials- $4 Coors Light Drafts, $5 mixed well cocktails $5 Glass of Traffic’s signature sangria & $5 house wines.
* Hundreds of Amazing Guys!
* Free Appetizers from 6-7pm
* CELEB ALERT: Meet DAVID DRAKE (The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me) who is currently donning drag in new comedy MY TAWNY VALENTINE.
XL Nightclub at The OUT Hotel – Is Bigger Better?
It’s been a long time since there was a lot of buzz about a nightclub opening!
John
Blair and Beto Sutter join forces with Brandon Voss and Tony Fornabaio
to bring you New York’s first new gay nightclub in nearly 20 years – XL
Nightclub, Lounge & Cabaret.
512 West 42nd Street, at the OUT NYC Hotel/Resort.
OPEN 4pm – 4am! 7 days a week!
XL is situated within THE OUT NYC Urban Resort, an electrifying new
project occupying 70,000 square feet in Hells Kitchen. In addition to
XL, the complex features a 105-room “straightfriendly” boutique hotel, a
glass enclosed atrium & wet zone, a gym & wellness center, lush
outdoor courtyard gardens, a 24/7 café & restaurant and a
business/conference center.
Lots of big things are in the works for XL. Thursdays Nightlife personalities
Grand Openings are planned for XL is Jan. 27-28th –
and you will need to be a “member” if you want an invite.
Join them on Facebook for more details.
Craig Pomranz Talks the New York Cabaret Scene with Channel13
CRAIG POMRANZ was recently asked to write an OP-ED piece on Cabaret, for Metro Focus / Channel 13. …
The word “cabaret” conjures up images ranging from smoke-filled rooms
(remember smoke?) to lap dances. We may have lost the smoke, but
cabaret is back in a big way in New York.
In a world where music is everywhere, on your iPod, cell phone and in
TV shows like “American Idol” and “Glee,” the unsung venues are the
cabaret rooms. These rooms include long-standing uptown music rooms
like Café Carlyle and the Algonquin Hotel’s Oak Room and less highfalutin venues like the Metropolitan Room on West 22nd Street, which offers a roster of both famous names and newcomers, as well as Don’t Tell Mama on West 46th Street and the Laurie Beechman Theater on West 42nd Street.
The artists who play at Joe’s Pub and the City Winery
meet the growing demand for live music in a more intimate space.
Burlesque seems to have been adopted by the 20-something set with rooms
like The Triad and Duane Park Café
(great food by one of my favorite chefs, Richard Overholt). A number of
other venues in the East Village/Lower East Side and Brooklyn,
including The Box and Galapagos (respectively) offer a diverse calendar of acts.
In these rooms performers strive for the chance to communicate with
an audience. Nothing’s needed except the singer, the song, a musician or
two, and the give and take of the audience. It’s the rare opportunity
to express yourself with lyrics that mean something and music that
shapes those lyrics indelibly. You can explore a vast treasury of great
songs and can take a familiar pop song and give it new life and meaning.
It is the job of a singer to convey the story behind the music. I can’t
tell you how many times someone has come up after a show to say they
had never really heard the lyrics to a pop song until I had sung it.
Part of the fun of cabaret is how audiences differ so much depending on the location and venue.
I was the first white male to sing at Sweetwater’s, an R&B club
in New York. It was fun because I got to work with the house band who
had toured with Aretha Franklin. As I took to the stage there was a
dubious silence, but once I began singing, I started hearing, “you tell
‘em, baby,” and “sing it child!” It took me a minute to get used to this
participatory crowd, where you would sing and they would answer you
right back — but I loved it!
In London, the audiences seem like very serious students, silent
throughout the song and until the pianist has played his very last note
and then politely applauding; afterwards they tell you how moved they
were. In Los Angeles, they sigh audibly and want to stay after the show
to discuss in detail every song you chose and where you found it. In New
York, they heckle (good-naturedly!) and, if they like it, applaud
enthusiastically even before the song is over. It’s all wonderful. And
you never know who you’re going to meet…
Early on, I had gotten a lot of attention from some record labels,
and I was working at a club called Mickey’s with famed singers Karen Akers and Cissy Houston.
Bob Feiden of Arista Records asked me to stay for Cissy’s show to get
my take on her daughter, whom Cissy was introducing in the act. Into the
spotlight stepped this pretty teenager with minimal makeup wearing a
sheath dress. Barely moving, she sang a very pure version of Barry
Manilow’s “All the Time.” Her beauty and simplicity were amazing. It
was, of course, Whitney Houston.
Craig Pomranz in the recording studio.
Photo courtesy of Craig Pomranz.
So many people think they can sing, and do, that it’s important that
the world of cabaret offers them a venue, especially in New York.
You
don’t have to have a beautiful voice. Some of the greats had little
range but were all soul. Frank Sinatra says he learned it all from Mabel Mercer, who often talked her way through a song. Insiders hail Fred Astaire
as a great singer, and some of the finest songs were written for him
(“The Way You Look Tonight” for example). He had a small voice but
exquisite rhythm, timing and a reserved emotional quality that could be
heartbreaking.
What prepares you to be a singer? Life!
What art form is more
immediate, able to change from night to night according to musical
fashion or even the headlines? In a world full of noise and clatter,
people yearn for the kind of intimacy a small music room provides. Like
all live performance, you never know what you’re going to get…But it’s
oh so worth the visit. So go out and support live music, be it a
cabaret, a piano bar or any other venue. Let yourself be transported,
and have a cocktail while you’re at it. Cabaret is a key part of New
York’s culture.
Craig Pomranz
is an actor, singer, dancer, recording artist and song stylist who
sings internationally. His new show in New York is “Love and the Clock”
at The Metropolitan Room.
Holiday Shopping and Champagne at Holiday Train Show at Botanical Garden
Holiday Train Show Celebrates
20th Year at The New York Botanical Garden
Natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones, are used to create more than 140 scaled iconic buildings, including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Radio City Music Hall, and the original Yankee Stadium.
A critically acclaimed and always eagerly anticipated tradition, the Holiday Train Show presents an enchanted New York,
surrounded by the glow of twinkling lights in America’s premier glasshouse, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Shopping and Champagne
Thursdays, December 1, 8, & 15, 6–8 p.m.
Enjoy
a night out and an evening viewing of the Holiday Train Show–and do
your holiday shopping, too!
Sip a complimentary champagne cocktail and
get expert advice from Shop in the Gardenstaff who will help you find
just the right gifts. Your ticket includes a voucher for $20 off a
purchase of $100
Not just for family outings, the Holiday Train Show offers grown-ups a chance to toast the town after dark with cocktails, shopping, and the twinkling glow of the season.
Handcrafted ornaments, shimmering votives, colorful textiles and
warm, spiced aromatics—at Shop in the Garden, this season is all about
ambiance.
Whether you’re looking for modern elegance or a touch of
whimsy, you’ll find the perfect accents to fill your home with the
holidays.
Stop by for Shopping and Champagne
during the first three Thursdays of December and have a walk through
the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory’s stunning holiday display—a New York in
miniature, with garden gauge trains threading their way over a
quarter-mile of track laid between more than 140 city landmarks, each a
handmade marvel.
Non-Member $30/Member $20 (Adults 21 and over)
Advance tickets recommended
The Botanical Garden is
easy to get to by public transportation or car!
Lady Bunny – Tuesdays in Oct. & Nov.at Escualita
Last Tuesday was the first in a series of Lady Bunny shows at Esculita. Bunny is performing That Ain’t No Lady every Tuesday this month.
SHOWS ARE SELLING OUT!
EXTENDED THRU NOVEMBER!
The opening night audience was filled with movers and shakers and the show got a big thumbs up from everyone in attendance!
We caught up with Bunny this week!
We know that you travel ALL OF THE TIME. You are the hardest working queen we know! In know you DJ at times in NYC, When is the last time you performed your act in NYC?
I’ve done bits and pieces here and there, but it’s been a decade since my last full-length show at Fez in NYC. I’ve tried a lot of new stuff out while gigging around the country and feel that I have enough material to mount a new full-length cabaret show.
Why the series of shows in NYC now, 4 weeks in a row? – How did that come about?
It’s Year Of The Rabbit! And while I enjoyed being on Drag U, I think I’m better when I’m uncensored–as I definitely am in this show. A cabaret audience is very different for me because I normally play clubs–but with a great stage and lighting, Escuelita is a perfect mix of club and cabaret. Since they do a strip night called Hunk-O-Mania for ladies on weekends, they have very comfortable cabaret seating with tables, chairs and couches. Sometimes the ladies leave the seats a little moist, though!
Another reason to check this show out is that drag shows have become very expensive. The price of mine is as cheap as my humor–$14.98–and there’s only a 1 drink minimum. But since my singing has been known to drive people to drink, there is a strictly enforced 25 drink maximum!
We just saw you in Chicago – and you did sort of a 2 act show…will the NY show be like that? or something different?
This show is more of a production with lighting cues, sound cues, a fog machine, videos which play while I change costumes, etc. And I’m singing everything live–which is a challenge when you are juggling a microphone, lighter and Whitney Houston’s crackpipe!
I have some new snippets in my parody medleys by CeeLo, Britney, Katy Perry, Taio Cruz and Kelly Rowland. And my Laugh-In joke routine has been updated to include jokes about Gaga, Kardashian, Justin Bieber and today’s celebs. It’s actually a very ‘young” show–despite it’s ancient star! And I’m joined onstage by several sexy dancers from La Escuelita. They are so gorgeous that it’s tough to focus on my work at times!
Are you taking time off the road – or still traveling in between shows?
Within two months, I’m either deejaying or performing in Atlanta, Palm Springs, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Hawaii, San Francisco, Houston, Sao Paolo and Toronto. But all of these gigs are on the weekend so I can always make it back for my Tuesday cabaret show and then hit the road again. I’ve never been to Brazil so I can’t wait!
Will Wigstock ever return?
There has been some talk about it but it’s very tricky. We stopped it after getting rained out two years in a row. Also, in a recession, sponsors aren’t as flush with cash and as our crowds grew into the tens of thousands, the stage, sound and jumbotron video screen rental sent our production costs to the moon. And honestly, I’m not sure that NYC is the same place it once was. Like every other city it feels corporate and not nearly as funky and bohemian as it used to be. The great thing about Wigstock is that drag queens would mix with homeless people, transsexuals, pier queens, club kids and average New Yorkers. Now average Manhattanites are trust fund kids wearing Prada who act like Sex And The City wannabes. They want to be Kim Kardashian–do you really think they could appreciate Leigh Bowery or Kevin Aviance? Still, we never say never. But it helped when New York was filled with creative people who now can’t afford to live here. If we are going to do the festival again, we need an appreciative audinece.
I heard about a new DVD coming – of the parody songs…can you tell us more??
I have a lot of new videos that have been popular online so I am cutting together a new dvd to be ready December 1st. Like A Cheese Stick, Firework, My salutes to Burlesque, Sarah Palin, Amy Winehouse will all be on there. As well as the new Laugh-In routine. And I’m also cobbling together some outrageous footage of my recent trip to San Francisco’s Folsom Street fair.
And there’s a guy in NYC named Jonah Falcon with a 13 inch cock and he’s going to co-star in a video set to How Can I Ease The Pain by Lisa Fischer. A new genre–comedy porn! The perfect gift to horrify religious relatives with!
BRAVO King (Queen?) Andy Cohen was there last week. “Tuesday night I went to the opening of The Lady Bunny’s first new stage show in ten long years called “That Ain’t no Lady” at Escualita. It was as filthy as all get out and a ton of fun. Do not go if you are averse to filth!”
“Bunny had me shaking with laughter.”
–Michael J. Fox
“My jaw dropped.”
–Roger Ebert
“I laughed my tits off.”
–Chaz Bono
“No one can remove dog cum from a wig like Lady Bunny.”
–Martha Stewart
“Wait! Bunny performs more than fellatio?”
–The Harlem Globetrotters
“Bunny is such a classy lady that I wanted to take her home.”
–Eddie Murphy
“I would have personally driven her mother to Planned Parenthood.”
–Michele Bachmann
“Halfway through this show, we were hoping a tiger would run out into the audience and kill us.”
–Siegfried and Roy
GET A SNEAK PEAK from Opening NIght
That Ain’t No Lady! at La Escuelita (301 W. 39th Street), 8 PM every Tuesday in October.
Advance reservations highly suggested!
