Category Archives: Discoveries

$70 Mill Public Beach in New York City

New York City is one step closer to getting a big sandy public beach!

What at first appeared a lofty dream is now closer to reality. The Hudson River Park Trust on Thursday announced three requests for proposals for the construction of Manhattan’s first public beach.

The project includes a 5.5-acre public park on the Gansevoort Peninsula in the Meatpacking District that would be home to a resilient “beach” with kayak access, a sports field, scenic lounge spots, and a large public art installation.

The site, located on the western end of Little West 12th Street and what remains of 13th Avenue, formerly served as a parking lot for the city’s Department of Sanitation. In 2019, the Hudson River Park Trust tapped James Corner Field Operations, the team behind the High Line and Domino Park, to design the new park.

The park at Gansevoort Peninsula will include a sandy beach area with kayak and small boat access, a lawn, a seating area north of the waterfront, a sports field, a dog run, lounge chairs, and a salt marsh with native grass and plantings.  More  details  at 6sqft. 

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YUASA Leisurewear Underwear and Swimwear for Men

YUASA [ you-wa-sa ] is a leisurewear brand for men who have found their own microclimate of cool. Dedicated to showcasing the versatility and timelessness of NYC style where they originated, YUASA keeps it minimal so their wearer can take center stage.

 

We recently tried a couple of different  styles and LOVED  THE  FIT and quality! Styles are developed over a 12-month process involving fittings on several body types to ensure a perfect fit. I especially like the Advanced Sport Trunk’s custom stretch fabric. “From rise and grind to sport and unwind, the Advanced Sport Trunk supports a dynamic lifestyle, keeping you secure in all conditions. ”

 

YUASA is the vision of Michael Yuasa, and started as a response to the lack of well designed men’s leisure wear in the market. Michael grew up in a suburban Japanese-American household which influenced the brands minimal design and values of simplicity and form over excess.

“Our mission at YUASA is to create a line of products that will remind people to take it easy and regain a leisurely attitude towards life. YUASA encourages people to take the time to enjoy life and not get swept up by the busyness of the day-to-day. And inspire an excitement and curiosity to see everything the world has to offer.

We released our first products in September 2012 in 6 colors. Utilizing a breathable cotton poplin, we’ve made sure that every boxer is engineered for the perfect fit and feel. Since the initial launch, we have introduced a new color and are working on offering new materials and expanding the line to include new products.”

 

Yuasas are the perfect length, shape, width, depth for layering under  pants.  “It’s for functioning in an urban city,” says Michael Yuasa, who along with James Nemastil, runs Yuasa Studios. “Biking, doing yoga, running around.” Yuasa’s line, available in several tasteful shades, is minimalism working at its best.

 

They also have some great swimwear, currently  ON SALE!! I love prints  and  LOVE   their Pink Jellies Swim Shorts, which were an ALI FORNAY CENTER fundraiser collaboration.

“Our special collection, the fish pattern swim shorts, is made with 90% polyester and 10% elastane with full mesh lining. 

Each year YUASA Menswear creates a collaboration with an LGBTQ artist to raise money for a charity that makes a positive impact within our community. YUASA worked with acclaimed fashion illustrator Richard Haines to create custom prints inspired by summer in the city. The print collaboration includes divers in black and white and a colorful beach print of oversized sea creatures.

The Ali Forney Center was chosen as charity of choice because of their dedication to support at risk LGBTQ youth in NYC with housing, counseling and job skills training.”

For superior quality with unique flair, check out YUASA Studios.

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World Pride 2019 New York City

From Towleroad –

Next summer, WorldPride comes to the United States for the first time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. The sixth edition of the culturally-diverse WorldPride will attract millions of LGBTQI+ revelers for the largest celebration of Pride in history. In honor of this incredible event Towleroad is celebrating 50 years of LGBTQI+ history with a series examining queer life from the 1960s through today.

The June 28, 1969 Stonewall Riots enflamed the LGBTQ liberation movement, but it wasn’t until 1970 that the protests transformed into the earliest iteration of Pride.

The first Christopher Street Liberation Day, June 28, 1970, included the first Gay Pride March from Christopher Street to Central Park. (Chicago Gay Liberation hosted a march the day before to commemorate the riots taking place the last Saturday in June.) In the subsequent years, Pride celebrations spread to Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas, Paris, London and more.

Increases in visibility led to increased tolerance as well. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association board voted unanimously to remove homosexuality from its list of psychiatric disorders. States began decriminalizing sexual relations between consenting adults.

It wasn’t all progress, though. Singer, activist and villain Anita Bryant spent the ’70s crusading against local anti-discrimination ordinances. Galvanized by some of her early successes repealing legislation, LGBTQ rights groups organized boycotts of oranges (Bryant was the spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission), and once was pied in the face by an activist.

Read the full article  with all kinds  of  70’s  LGBTQ  information,  you probably had no idea was out there!

Learn more about the Stonewall 50th Anniversary and  World  Pride  NYC  here!

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Harvey Fierstein’s TORCH SONG Limited Run

I am SO LUCKY, that as a young gay boy  about 22 years  old, I think it was 1982,  I made it to  New York  city (from small town Michigan)  and got into Studio  54 for an amazing evening and  also got to see Harvey Fierstein on Broadway  in Torch Song Trilogy with  Mathew Broderick and Estelle  Getty! ( I had read about the show in After Dark magazine, and seeing the show was the primary  reason  for my trip).

In that eye opening trip to the big apple  I  saw amazing  clubs that are no longer  around. I also met Andy Warhol on that trip! All the things I had read about  NYC  were  true!  What a trip! My little gay life would never be the same!

Harvey and the story left such an impression  on my soul.  I followed  Harvey’s  career over the years and saw his works  whenever I could. He is genius to me,  and  “an icon.”

So I was THRILLED  beyond  belief  to see Torch  Song, a compact version of Torch Song Trilogy, make it to the stage in New York!

And with Michael Urie  no less!  Who  I met in Chicago  when he performed  “Buyer & Cellar”.  He is so wonderfully talented.

It’s magical  that Torch Song  is at the Hayes Theater, on it’s 35th anniversary, on the same Broadway stage where the Tony Award-winning premiere forever changed the face of popular entertainment.  Along with the talented Drama Desk Award Winner  Michael  Urie,  Academy Award winner Mercedes Ruehl shines  are Arnold’s  mother.

 

Torch Song Trilogy won Tonys for Best Play and Best Actor in a Play for Fierstein. 3 years on Broadway, it was truly a landmark show!

 

I am sure most of you know  the story, but there may be some younger people  reading who do not know the story;  This  show is fiercely funny and heart-wrenching.  Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song follows Arnold
Beckoff’s (Mr. Urie) odyssey to find happiness in New York. All he wants is a husband, a child, and a pair of bunny slippers that fit, but a visit from his overbearing mother (Ms. Ruehl) reminds him that he needs one thing more: respect.

This story was of Arnold’s struggle to be accepted as a young Jewish gay man living in New York City in the late 1970s and ’80s. What’s amazing, in some ways,  is that it was powerful then to me; this is pre  AIDS,  pre  gay  marriage, PRE  EVERYTHING and  today the story is still just as powerful.

Forty years after writing Torch Song, it still speaks to audiences making them laugh and weep and happy,” says Fierstein in a statement. “Unbelievable. And to now return to the theater where it played all those years ago… Beyond wishes… Beyond dreams.. Beyond the most outrageous fantasy.”

“A great play makes you think, and what’s going on in the White House is always in the back of our minds,” Urie told NewNowNext about the timeliness of the revival. “We’re all confused, terrified, and clinging to each other, so Arnold, the ultimate caretaker, is the kind of friend we need right now. Yes, he’s flawed, but he has so much heart and compassion.”

I urge you to see this brilliant show, if you haven’t already!   LIMITED  RUN!!

Join Arnold on this all too human journey about the families we’re born into, the families we choose, and the battles to bring them all home.

Torch Song is playing at the Hayes Theater at 240 West 44th Street.

Directed by Tony Award nominee Moisés Kaufman

www.torchsongbroadway.com

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Unwritten Rules of New York City

Found this on Quora – and just had  to share it!

By:
Marissa Tjartjalis, lives in New York City

Follow these rules and you just may survive here.

  • Walk fast. Never stop dead in your tracks on the sidewalk. You are fair game to get pushed if you do this.
  • You’re “on the train”, not “on the subway.”
  • You order plain or regular pizza. We do not call it “a cheese slice.” Unless you want Kraft.
  • You must fold your pizza. Don’t do a balancing act with it resting flat on your hand. Never, never (!!!) eat it with a knife and fork!
  • Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and (eugh) Papa John’s are not real pizza. They are an entirely different food group. We do not consume them unless there are no other pizza places in the vicinity.
  • Never purchase anything from a convenient store, newsstand, or food place anywhere within a five street block and/or one avenue block’s distance from either Penn Station or Times Square. Unless you would like to be ripped off of an extra 3–5 dollars per item.
  • Never buy a hot dog, or any food or drink within Central Park. Same reason.
  • Root for the Patriots or the Red Sox at your own risk. Mets and Jets are acceptable.
  • You are required to hate the MTA in order to live here. No matter how much cheaper it is than any other mode of transportation, it is always too expensive. It will go up a quarter a ride every 2 years but we will continue to pay it.
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NYC Pride 2018

NYC  Pride  2018  is almost here!   The 49th Year!

SO MANY things  going on  for  10 days  of  Pride.

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Exploring The World Of Barbecue 
NYC Pride & God’s Love We Deliver are excited to bring New York a taste of down home cooking! This first of its kind experience will take attendees on a epicurean journey exploring Barbecue.  June 21
Defiantly Different, Defiantly Us

To capture the essence of our 2018 theme, “Defiantly Different,” NYC Pride partnered with photographer Danielle Levitt to showcase the diverse beauty of NYC’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Join us in celebrating our Defiantly Different community June 14-24. Learn more atnycpride.org.

We all celebrate Pride in different ways, which is why NYC Pride offers something for everyone during NYC Pride Week. Click through the event listings here for an in-depth look at each unique event we have planned for this year.

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Get Your Hairline Back with SMP

Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is the modern way to combat male hair loss. Also known as a ‘hairline tattoo’ – the treatment involves applying natural pigments to the epidermal level of the scalp. This makes it easy to replicate the natural appearance of real hair follicles. As a non-surgical treatment it is tailor made to suit your exact requirements. They treat each hairline differently based on the extent of your hair loss.

Skalp® are the leading practitioners of this groundbreaking SMP treatment. Their micropigmentation NYC clinic has helped thousands of men to recover their confidence. All their practitioners are fully qualified in applying scalp microgpigmentation treatments. Read on below to discover more about this amazing hair loss solution.

How much does it cost?

Scalp micropigmentation is the most cost effective hair loss solution due its longevity. The price is very much dependent on the amount of treatment required. On average SMP costs range from $1500 to $4000 for standard male pattern baldness. The higher end of that scale recreates the full hairline, side profiles, top of the head and blending to cover for future hair loss.

Spending $4,000 on a hair transplant would only cover a tiny fraction of the same area. Scalp micropigmentation is not only cheaper way to deal with hair loss. It is also a permanent solution while transplants do not provide that same guarantee.

Is scalp micropigmentation safe?

This is a non-surgical procedure and completely safe. Receiving scalp micropigmentation treatment causes no harm to your skin or your health.

Skalp USA® adhere to the standards set out by the local hygiene regulatory bodies. Only sterile medical gloves are used during the procedure. All single-use needles used are immediately disposed of into sharps containers.

Skalp USA® practitioners have all gone through an advanced in-house scalp micropigmentation training program. They have also all undergone the procedure themselves. This means they can provide first-hand experience about the experience. They also carry full practitioners insurance to provide extra peace of mind.

How long does it last?

There are two options available for scalp micro pigmentation. You can opt for semi-permanent or permanent.

A semi-permanent treatment allows you to try out the service before committing long-term. However, when it starts to fade it can leave the treatment looking patchy or unnatural.  

Skalp USA® in NYC provide only permanent solutions as it is more cost effective. This means you will not have to return for regular top-ups and treatments. It also reduces the amount of time you have to take out of your work. This also cuts down on travel time and accommodation costs you may have to incur.

Still unsure? Then try their free virtual hairline mock-up service

Changing your appearance takes trust in how it will look, especially when it comes to your hair. Before you commit to SMP treatment you can try their free virtual hairline. This free mock-up will show how your hairline will look after the application of the solution. You remain in control of the hairline shape, height, density and colour. Their professional team will then produce a professional photo realistic image. Take your time to take in and come to a decision that suits you best.

To find out more contact their scalp micropigmentation clinic in NYC by dialing 855-752-5787.

 You can also arrange a free consultation with Skalp USA® online here.

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Best Scalp Hairline Tattoo in New York!

USE YOUR HEAD WITH SKALP®

Hair loss is a difficult subject to broach for many people. It is a topic that can cause embarrassment and social awkwardness, creating undue pressure and stress. Hair loss is as old as mankind itself but still far too many people are left to deal with this unfair stigma in silence.

While the scientific search for a permanent cure for baldness continues, recent advances in medical technology has seen an exciting new treatment become available that was never before possible. This simple technique has changed the lives of thousands of men and women in both the UK and America.

The Skalp™ Micropigmentation solution has revolutionised the hair restoration industry, offering people the chance to regain their hairline and, just as importantly, their confidence. This breakthrough procedure avoids the need to undergo invasive surgery and its adaptability allows it to be applied to men, no matter their age, colour or stage of hair-loss.

Skalp™ lead the way in breaking down outdated taboos and fears associated with hair loss. You may have read about their amazing technique in Men’s Health, or seen their exclusive features on ITV and Channel 4’s Bodyshockers in the UK.

What makes their micropigmentation treatment so effective is the ability to offer such consistent coverage. A front, side or rear hairline can be simulated to give the look of a full head of hair. It can also be used to complement a recent hair transplant operation, or help to camouflage any scarring, alopecia or birthmarks.

How it works couldn’t be easier. Using a micro needle application, Skalp’s fully qualified and highly skilled practitioners are able to create a permanent medical hairline tattoo, which in most cases only takes 2-3 sessions to complete. In order to create the most realistic finish to match the existing texture of your hair follicles, 3-4 pigment shades are used to ensure the best accuracy possible.

Best of all, it doesn’t matter if you are in the early or latter stages of hair loss because the Skalp™ Micropigmentation treatment can perfectly restore a full or partial hairline.

There are six stages involved, with each one carefully implemented to guarantee you get the most out of the application. Skalp offer a free consultation as the first step so you can find out everything you need about the process, while their staff talk through the best options available to you. If you decide to proceed, you will then see an invaluable and free virtual hairline mock-up of how it will look once finished.

The treatment process itself is spread across 2-3 sessions, with each one lasting up to 4 hours, depending on the depth of micropigmentation required. Once perfection has been reached the service doesn’t stop there. Their aftercare support provides detailed advice to help customers keep their scalp in the best condition.

With clinics located in the UK and US in New York, Skalp™ is an accessible procedure open to a vast majority of the country. Rather than just take my word for it, get in touch and discover how it can change your life.

 

For more information call Toll-free 1-855-752-5787 or email  usa@skalp.com

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Stonewall LGBT History Tour

Leading U.S. tour operator, New York Tour1 is thrilled to announce the premiere of “Beyond Stonewall: New York LGBT History Tour,” an exclusive tour created in honor of NYC Pride, celebrating the leaders of New York’s LGBT community.

Named the #2 U.S. attraction on TripAdvisor earlier this year, the company has partnered with the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, a nonprofit organization providing educational, strategic and financial assistance to grassroots organizations supporting LGBTQ communities and individuals who suffer the indignities and fear arising from social intolerance here in the United States and around the world.

Together they’re strengthening New York Pride Month by going beyond the parade and parties; offering the public a chance to discover, commemorate, and remember the pioneers, artists, and leaders of LGBT history.

“Beyond Stonewall: New York LGBT” is a two-hour walking tour that will start at 4:00 pm on June 21, 23, and 24. Expert guides will lead guests through decades of LGBT history as they journey through the streets of New York City’s Greenwich Village. The itinerary includes visits to the historic Stonewall Inn (the birthplace of the Gay Rights Movement), as well as sites significant to New York’s LGBT pioneers and leaders, including: the Larry Kramer residence, the Waverly Theater, and the Gay Liberation Monument.

“We’re very excited to host this event. New York Pride is so much more than the wonderful parties and glorious parade that it’s globally known for. There’s an extensive amount of history and information about the sacrifices people made for LGBT progress, right here in NYC. We wanted to highlight and honor those courageous events with this tour.” – Marcus Carlsson, Marketing Manager

About New York Tour1

Since its founding in 2010, New York Tour1 has been offering a range of award-winning walking tours to locals and international visitors alike. Every day, it runs tours throughout multiple neighborhoods in Manhattan. The company prides itself on designing “authentic” experiences that give guests stories and memories to hold on to even after they leave. Guides are knowledgeable storytellers who have personal connections to or professional expertise in the tours they give.

Pricing: $25 with all proceeds to Stonewall Gives Back Initiative

Tickets to “Beyond Stonewall: New York LGBT History Tour” cost $25 and are available for purchase over the phone or online.  

Website: https://www.newyorktour1.com/the-pride-tour

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Jose Rivera JR Does Adele

NYC-based Puerto Rican-American performing artist and choreographer José Rivera, Jr.​ has released a gorgeous, immersive video cover of Adele’s song “When We Were Young,” directed by Blake Pruitt. In the video, he grapples with his feminine and masculine identities while reflecting on memories of a past lover, seeking to address his own body dysmorphia through physical expression.

Says Rivera, “I create accessible work in a digital, shareable format to inspire change and encourage conversation on how we perceive our physical selves. The response to my live work OF CAKE & VANITY (inspired directly by my dysmorphia) created a dialogue on mental health between friends, family, and me. Seeing live performance is a privilege. Theater and most live performance was not accessible to me as a +60lb overweight gay Latino teen with an abusive, controlling father. Videos on my computer and smartphone were an escape for a physically and emotionally trapped kid. By queering traditional narratives, my work provides visibility for bodies of all backgrounds, ethnicities, shapes, sizes, and identities in an effort to merge them with pop cultural norms i.e. ‘making difference mainstream.'”

WATCH AND LISTEN

Video credits:
Directed & Edited: Blake Pruitt
Choreography: Ali Perkins
Band: Jordan Auber, Percussion Steve Conroy, Bass Albert Goold, Keyboard Max Yassky, Drums
Dancers: Alexa Andres, Andrew Chung, Becca Co, Rebecca Marie Hidalgo, Justin Robert Thomas Smith
Camera: Dan Rodriguez
Mobile Recording: Cesar G | cesargmusic@gmail.com
Experimental Bitch Presents
JOSÉ RIVERA JR is a Puerto Rican-American multimedia performing artist, director & choreographer based in Brooklyn, NY, merging techniques in music, fashion, technology, visual art, and theater.  NYC: OF CAKE & VANITY: A Musical Painting (The P.I.T. NYC, Dixon Place, SCENESPACE NYC), Dangerous Curve Between Jerusalem and Jericho (DP), Emily Dickinson: OUTER SPACE! (Bushwick Starr). BFA, NYU Tisch 2014
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New York Masturbation Booth Publicity Stunt

A few days ago

a photograph purportedly showing an officially sanctioned New York City public masturbation booth called “GuyFi” started circulating around the internet:

While the above-displayed image is real, this isn’t truly an officially sanctioned “public masturbation booth” that was installed by New York City. The “GuyFi” booth is a marketing gimmick for an adult sex toy company called Hot Octopuss.

The company issued a press release for “GuyFi” on 15 January 2016:

With a staggering 80 per cent of Americans saying they suffer from workplace stress, award-winning sex toy brand Hot Octopuss has launched the world’s first ‘GuyFi’ male stress relief booth in Manhattan.

According to Time Out, a remarkable 39% of New Yorkers ‘self-soothe’ in the workplace to alleviate stress. Hot Octopuss has created the GuyFi booth to take this habit out of the office and into a more suitable environment designed to give the busy Manhattan man the privacy, and the high-speed Internet connection, he deserves.

Adam Lewis, Hot Octopuss co-founder and designer of PULSE, the world’s first Guybrator, said:

“There’s no denying that working a nine to five job can be stressful on both your mind and body, especially in a non-stop city like Manhattan. It’s really important for guys to look after themselves so that they can stay healthy and focus properly on the task in hand. We’re told time and time again how beneficial it is to have a break away from your desk.”

While Hot Octopuss really did convert an old phone booth into what it called a “public masturbation booth,” New York City has not legalized public masturbation. A representative for the company told Mashable that they are not encouraging people to actually masturbate inside the “GuyFi” booth:

“We may be insinuating that these booths could be used in whichever way anyone would like to ‘self soothe,'” a representative tells Mashable, “but the brand is not actively encouraging people to masturbate in public as that is an illegal offense.”

In summation, the GuyFi booth does exist, but it is a marketing gimmick for Hot Octopuss, a sex toy company, and not an officially sanctioned public space for masturbation in New York City.  Public masturbation remains illegal.

 

 

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PRIDE Web Series in New York

A brand new controversial web series hits the digital scene!

PRIDE: The Series reflects real life experiences not only in the LGBTQ community, but also with an honest approach to the average person’s search for identity in New York City.

 

In an effort to expose good vs. evil in a society focused on discrimination, PRIDE: The series explores the reality of living with difficult circumstances. Painted with sex, drugs, heartache, and multicultural characters, this web series aims to prove that even the most diverse people can face similar battles, creating quite a bond.

For a glimpse into the life of PRIDE, check out the trailer:http://www.pridetheseries.com/trailer/.

(6 chapters out now!)

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New York’s Paige Turner

#WINNING    New York’s  Paige Turner has developed a huge following over the years and now is a fixture in NY’s  Night Life scene.

We first saw her about 3 years ago at the now closed VLADA. Now, she has done so much in the city! Splash, The Ritz, Therapy….Paige is also  host of “So You Think You Can Drag” at New World Stages showcasing the hottest new queens on the scene with celebrity judges that have included Adam Lambert, Charles Busch and Julie Halston.

Sunday  nights at Therapy in Hell’s Kitchen, Paige  continues her popular long “SLURP!” show. She did  the 200th show of her popular Sunday night soiree “Slurp!”

She told EDGE, “Slurp! is the baby that I nurse,” she says. “If you are lucky enough to work full time in drag, you have your one big show. It’s the show that I tell people who have never seen me to go to first. It’s not that I don’t put in the same energy at other shows, it’s just the one where right away you’d get me.”

Paige Turner’s show-stopping seasonal drag competition So You Think You Can Drag dominates the Thursday night midtown scene in the lower floors of the New World Stages on 50th Street every Thursday night @ 11 p.m.

Paige on Facebook

 

 

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Limo Service – Where ever You Are

A-List/Midwest Limousine Service.

They will find the perfect vehicle for that special occasion. A-List/Midwest Limousine Service has put together special VIP packages for you. Book your personal, premium limousine in over 500 locations worldwide, irrespective of whether you need a limousine in New York, but also Chicago,California, or overseas.

As well as a first-class, customized service, you and your guests will be provided with an experienced and reliable chauffeur for use around the clock. This chauffeur service is able to reliably coordinate a schedule or route change even if at the last minute, thus saving time, and bringing you, the customer, to your destination punctually.

In renting a limousine from us, you open up a world of possibilities. Our special event service will safely transport you and your business partners in luxurious mini-vans and coaches to trade shows, conventions and festivals. For special occasions like weddings or gala dinners, your luxury stretch limousine wedding car is ready for you from the same category. Of course the excellent chauffeur service is also provided to you by the A-List/Midwest Limousine Service.

 

Outstanding vehicles from Lincoln MKT, Mercedes, Audi, BMW and Chrysler offer the desired luxury you deserve as a business traveler or celebrity. The A-List/Midwest Limousine Service allows you to experience an uncomplicated but sophisticated way of renting a limousine across the globe – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Reservation Phone: 800-729-5110

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Hyatt Times Square Offers Highest Rooftop Views in the City

Summer is just around the corner….I think!   And there is nothing better than sipping cocktails  on a  gorgeous rooftop in Manhattan!

Bar 54, at the newly opened Hyatt Times Square, has  officially earned the title of New York’s highest rooftop lounge. (135 West 45th Street).

Whether you’re gearing up for a night on the town, winding down from a day of sightseeing or just looking for a spectacular place to enjoy the city, our vibrant NYC roof-top lounge is the place to be. Set atop our 54-story tower, the lounge invites you to enjoy its extensive views that stretch across Manhattan from the Hudson River to the East River. Here, you can savor specialty cocktails, fine wines and gourmet small plates while mingling around cozy fireplaces, indoors and out. This hot new nightlife destination is already being acclaimed as an exciting addition to Times Square’s bar scene.

Panoramic windows offer breathtaking views and  there’s a terrace with views from the Chrysler Building and One World Trade Center to the Hudson River. True, cocktails won’t come cheap. But the views are worth it!

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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.indiegogo.com/projects/fruitflies/x/5295324The pilot episode will be launched January 17th

fruitfliesny.com

https://twitter.com/FruitFliesNY

https://www.facebook.com/fruitfliesny

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New York Queer Experimental Film Festival Nov. 12-17th

The 26th New York Queer Experimental Film Festival

DATES: November 12-17, 2013

LOCATION: 521 Third Avenue, Brooklyn
(between 12th & 13th Streets, in Gowanus)

SUBWAY: F,G, R to 4th Ave-9th Street

 MIX NYC presents the 26th New York Queer Experimental Film Festival, with
over 225 short films, features, art installations and live
performances—made by or for lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, and
queer people—along with galleries and gathering spaces open free to the public.
This year’s MIX Festival promises to be an interactive and experiential
wonderland—yours for the making—filled with mind-bending art and
friendly crowds in a 20,000 sf warehouse transformed by local artists.

This year we’ve turned our venue into a living organism, complete a
monumental pair of breathing lungs, neuron lattices, fleshy openings and
veiny interiors. You’ll easily loose a few hours exploring the fleshy
nooks and crannies of the site. It’s the opposite antiseptic atmosphere
you’d find at a gallery or museum screening – it’s not about looking at
art in silence, then going home. 

The 26th New York Queer Experimental Film Festival makes it
easy to open up to the warmth of our crowd and the outlaw energies of
our screens. And after the screenings are over, MIX NYC gives the
colorful and comfy lounge space to mingle with artists, meet new folks
from all walks of life, plot the downfall of oppression everywhere.  You
may just feel the call to make an experiment of yourself. 

It’s the after-hours that makes the festival. If you’re out of sick
days, call in queer—the MIX celebration goes late every night.

Complete program information and schedule available online at www.mixnyc.org

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New York.com – Get connected to Everything NEW YORK

Deals discounts and bargains!

NewYork.com knows New York better than anyone! Find the best New York
Hotels, the hottest Broadway Tickets, must-see New York attractions or a
New York City Sightseeing Tour! NewYork.com is the best place to go to
find everything in New York!

SEX AND THE CITY  hotspots tour! Whether you’re a fashion-forward “Carrie” with a big heart, a sexy and
scandalous “Samantha” with a take-no-prisoners attitude, a
prim-and-proper romantic “Charlotte” or a self-assured “Miranda”
juggling success and a family, you’ll want to grab your BFF’s and
get on the bus — the Sex and the City Hotspots tour bus! One part
sight-seeing trip, one part trivia game and one part hands-on shopping
experience, Sex and the City Hotspots Tour brings fans of the iconic Sex and the City
franchise directly to the real-life sights, sounds and tastes featured
in the TV series and subsequent films, immersing them in the sexy and
fun world of famous female best friends Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and
Charlotte.

FASHION ON FIFTH! Attention Fashionistas! Shopaholics, look no further than Uncle Sam’s Fashion on Fifth Avenue
Tour for your chance to hit the town like Manhattan’s shopping elite.
Fifth Avenue is home to some of the most glamorous boutiques in the
world, so live like a Kardashian for a day and let style experts guide
your way through some of the best fashion real estate in the world.

On the Fashion on Fifth Avenue tour, you and a group of fellow
fashionistas will set out to find the perfect look, with an expert
professional stylist as your guide to the latest trends and fashion
secrets. Fifth Avenue between 49th and 60th streets is home to some of
the most prestigious stores and expensive shopping opportunities in the
world. Luxury department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue are on the
itinerary, as well as Juicy Couture, Armani Exchange, Zara and more.

How about Dinner on a Yacht?! World Yacht Dining Dinner Cruises offers an elegant experience on the
Hudson River, accompanied by stunning views of New York City and the
Statue of Liberty at night. Guests enjoy a leisurely four-course meal
that allows time for viewing the city from the rooftop lounge, taking
photos, sipping drinks and slow-dancing to tunes from a live jazz band
or DJ.

Dinner is a four-course meal that includes an amuse bouche (a
bite-sized hors d’oeuvre), appetizer, entrée and dessert with coffee or
tea. Menus change regularly, but you can expect dishes like jumbo lump
crab cakes and Long Island duck breast served with saffron risotto.
Guests can order a variety of wines, cocktails, beer, soda and specialty
coffees for a fee that’s paid at the table at the end of the cruise.
(Passengers are expected to tip based on the dinner cruise ticket
prices, plus any extra drinks.)

What queen doesn’t want get backstage at Radio City Music Hall??
During the Radio City Stage Door Tour, guests go behind the scenes of
New York City’s iconic Radio City Music Hall to learn about its history,
exquisite Art Deco architecture and the secrets of the “Great Stage.”
Plus, visitors can take advantage of a fun photo opportunity to
high-kick in step with a Radio City Rockette.

A friendly, knowledgeable tour guide welcomes visitors into the
venue’s art deco lobby adorned with enormous jeweled chandeliers, golden
doors and a majestic staircase. The tour takes guests back to 1932 when
Radio City, the first building in the Rockefeller Center complex,
opened as the world’s largest indoor theater (at the time) and daily
presented the Rockettes and other live acts in between movies. Guests
hear fascinating stories about the building’s stunning murals, nude
aluminum statues (that were once taboo) as well as the intriguing
justification for how the ladies’ and gentlemen’s bathrooms and lounges
were decorated.

Inside the theater, visitors view the massive stage that stretches
an entire city block (from 50th to 51st Streets) and learn how it gets
raised and lowered by its original hydraulic system. On the top floor,
guests view a short film inside the former private apartment of Radio
City Music Hall’s innovator and theatrical impresario, the late S.L.
“Roxy” Rothafel. Framed posters of famed Radio City acts line the
corridors, including Prince, Elton John, Justin Timberlake and Bette
Midler, who broke a Radio City record in 1993 by selling out 30 shows.

All this and more  at  NEW YORK.com!

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Googles Guide to Lesbian & Gay New York Historical Landmarks

DID YOU KNOW – 
Google has this cool gay  map!
All the information in this map is courtesy of the Organization of
Lesbian + Gay Architects and Designers (OLGAD) and was originally
developed by its Preservation + History Committee. A note regarding
format: where evidence indicates an individual’s being lesbian or gay,
the name is in boldface (it is necessary to take into account cultural
and historical context—for instance, a number of these people were
married, even though research points to their involvement in same-sex
relationships.) 
Finally, please remember that many of the sites
highlighted here are privately owned and are not open to the
public—please respect people’s privacy. Project Coordinators: James P.
Colgate and Jane Greenwood. Research and Text: Joan Berkowitz, Don
Dinkel, Jr., Andrew Dolkart, Gale Harris, Mary Jablonski, Ken Lustbader,
Tom Reynolds, and R. Jay Shockley. GVSHP is grateful to OLGAD for
allowing the use of their detailed and thorough research.
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Autumn in New York State

A covered bridge
framed by mountainsides awash in brilliant crimsons, oranges and
yellows, bushel baskets of apples, fields of plump pumpkins and corn
mazes carved into the hillsides… many of the most iconic images of
autumn in America seem to have come straight out of  New York State.
 
Autumn in the Empire State is more than a visual treat. It is also a
season of celebration. The Old English words for harvest (hærfest)
and autumn were the same, and anyone traveling through New York State
during the season quickly understands the connection. Roadside farm
stands, a plethora of farmer’s markets, wine trails and festivals
celebrating the harvesting of products from apples to zucchini make this
a fun and delicious time to explore the state.

It makes sense that harvest season would be cause for celebration in
New York State.  Nearly one fourth of the state’s total land area is
used as farmland and ranks among the nation’s biggest producers
of agricultural products including dairy, fruits, berries, maple syrup,
and a variety of vegetables such as sweet corn and pumpkins.  New York
also ranks third in grape and wine production. Best of all, New York
State food is about quality, not just quantity. The Empire State ranks
among the top states for fine wines and organic farming, and a growing number of highly skilled cheese makers are creating quality, artisanal cheeses here.

What follows is a sampling of the iconic autumn experiences that beckon across the state.



Follow the Foliage. I LOVE NEW YORK’s weekly foliage reports begin September 11 and are updated weekly through early November at iloveny.com/fall.
The site provides a detailed update of foliage conditions across New
York State, including a map charting fall color progress, vantage points
for viewing spectacular foliage, suggested autumn getaways and event
listings. You may also hear highlights of the foliage report by dialing
(800) CALL-NYS.
 
Some of the best vantage points are from the chair lifts at ski resorts like Peak ‘n Peak in Clymer in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, especially on October 12-13 and 19-20, when juried crafters and kids’ activities add to the fun, and at Hunter Mountain in Palenville in the Catskills, October 5-6 and 12-13 when Oktoberfest brings the region’s German heritage to life with Old World music and foods.

Wine and Dine Harvest Celebrations.
The grape harvest and release of the new wines is cause for celebration
by lovers of great food and wine as well as vintners. Among this year’s
top celebrations are the Finger Lakes Cork & Fork, September 20-21 at Rodman Lott & Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY, the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest, September 7 – 8 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, and the September Saratoga Wine and Food Festival, held September 6-8 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. On Long Island, all things oyster will be celebrated at the annual waterfront Oyster Festival October 19-20 in Oyster Bay.

About New York State http://fallgetaways.iloveny.com/
New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New York’s
attractions span from landmarks such as Niagara Falls, to the wine
trails of Hudson Valley and treasures like the Baseball Hall of Fame in
Cooperstown. Whether it’s wide-ranging outdoor activities for the whole
family like fishing, hiking and boating, culinary wonders and
farm-to-table fresh foods, or the rich history and culture of one of the
13 original colonies, New York State offers diverse activities for all
travelers. For more information, visit http://www.iloveny.com. Media can find press releases and more at thebeat.iloveny.com.
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