Macys Amazing Fourth of July Fireworks
W O W !
That had to be the MOST AMAZING FIREWORKS display I have ever seen!
Budget cuts have forced some communities around the country to pull the plug on the pyrotechnics, but the gigantic Macy’s fireworks show continued on Manhattan’s West Side, where it moved in 2009 after eight years on the East River. And that move has brought with it a change in fortune for businesses, too.
In the city that’s home to the $1,000 umbrella and the $175 cheeseburger, tickets have been sold at $1,450 a pair for one sweet spot to see the fireworks that are free for anyone standing on a nearby street corner or at a window.
Hudson Terrace, a rooftop bar near the river, sold 250 tickets to watch the fireworks at prices from $150 to $1,450 a couple.
It is estimated 4,000,000-5,000,000 watched the display live in NYC!
The fireworks show will relocate to the Statue of Liberty next year in honor of Lady Liberty’s 125th anniversary and will move around after that.
I have read that they used 36,000 shells (what most of us call fireworks) and was the largest display in America, exploding 1000 fireworks per minute. I have also read estimates the display could have cost $500,000.
Other estimates I read ran $5 – 7 MILLION.
I don’t know. Anyone know ??
Gay Atlantic City Adds Gay Bingo at Trumps Taj Mahal July 9th
New gay bingo nights at
Trump Taj Mahal
signal expanding LGBT market in Atlantic City.
Atlantic City’s transformation to an adults-only casino city that’s “Always Turned On” started appealing to the LGBT community last fall.
Following a gay-themed “Out in Atlantic City ” weekend of partying at the Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. casinos last September, Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. has begun courting gay and lesbian customers earlier this year with its own events advertised as Fun and “Gay”mes.
Trump spokeswoman Mary Moyer said 300 to 500 customers are expected this Friday night at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort for gay bingo, followed by dancing in a ballroom-turned-nightclub suggestively named “Club O 69.”
More gay bingo nights are tentatively scheduled in July and August as the Taj Mahal continues to appeal to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender customer base.
“We recognized a need to provide entertainment experiences to the GLBT community,” said Paula Mauk, vice president of marketing for Trump Entertainment. “We have amenities at the Trump Atlantic City properties that can attract and grow that demographic.”
Harrah’s Entertainment, owner of the Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s Resort and Showboat casinos, threw the doors wide open to gay customers with its “Out in Atlantic City” weekend last year. The event featured appearances by gay and lesbian entertainers, parties and gay bingo. The event will be staged again this September, although Harrah’s has not yet announced details.
Jennifer Weissman, regional vice president of marketing for Harrah’s Entertainment, said the Harrah’s properties appeal to gay customers year-round through a series of special events and entertainment. She believes gay events at Trump Taj Mahal, normally Harrah’s rival, will only enhance the city’s tourism business.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Weissman said. “The more all the casinos do to attract more customers to the market, the better.”
If you go:
Event: Gay bingo at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort
When: 8 to 10 p.m. Friday July 9th, Tiara Ballroom
Cost: $10 donation. Proceeds benefit the South Jersey AIDS Alliance
Prizes for best dressed individual, best decorated table and best dressed table.
Gay Comedy and Laughs for Gay Pride June 24th
Jeff Lawrence (NY Underground Comedy Festival, Mancow Radio, Grammy Awards)
stars in his third annual “Pride and Shame” stand up comedy show featuring gay and gay friendly comics.
A portion of the proceeds to benefit Gods Love We Deliver .
This years cast of rainbow favorites includes :
HEADLINER Jim David (Star of his own 1/2 hour special COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS JIM DAVID, Comedy Central’s TOUGH CROWD WITH COLIN QUINN, OUT ON THE EDGE and COMEDY CENTRAL’S USO TOUR.)
Vidur Kapur (Logo Nominee, NBC’s Stand Up for Diversity).
Hosted by Jeffrey Johns (opening act for Lisa Lampanelli) and featuring….
Bobby Ha Ha (Broadway Comedy Club)
Tom Ragu (Tom Ragu Revue)
Marc Maietta (NY Comedy Contest)
Aaron Sweeney (“Nicky and Aaron’s Fagtastic Comedy Show”)
Kyle Senor-Ocasio (Laugh Lounge)
Mona Cooper (Gotham Comedy Club)
Chris De La Torre (99 Cent Comedy Store)
Thursday June 24th, 7:30PM (Seating at 7PM)
Broadway Comedy Club 318 West 53rd St NYC
RSVP 212 757 2323
$15 cover ($5 goes to God’s Love We Deliver) 2 drink minimum
BUY IN ADVANCE ONLINE Just $13.99!
Gay Blogger Nathan Manske Hits The Road with 50 State LGBT Stories Tour
New Yorker Nathan Manske,
creator of
Im From Driftwood.com
and one of The Advocate’s Forty Under 40,
recently announced a 50-state “Story Tour” to collect, publish and broadcast true LGBT stories from across the country.
The IFD team will set out in September on a 4-month tour of the U.S. with the goal of bringing IFD off the computer screen and into America. Along the way, they will meet the many faces of LGBT America, bringing their stories to the world through videos, audio stories and written word.
IFD is an award-winning website that collects true LGBT stories from all over the world–from the smallest towns to the biggest cities–to help gay youth feel not so alone.
Throughout the 50-state tour, IFD will have readings at cafes, bookstores, bars, community centers, college campuses and other venues where they will share stories from IFD and talk about the site and its purpose. Along the way, they will be filming and recording video and audio stories from LGBT people they meet across the country.
Throughout the journey, IFD will have a regular blog page chronicling their adventures. (and possibly we’ll be posting some things here as well!) Marquise Lee, IFD’s Video Editor and founder of Crush Deviant Productions will film the journey and make short YouTube videos about their progress. As the Story Tour progresses, they will publish regular video webisodes as well as written updates about their journey.
But first…they need your help.
In order to fund the story tour, IFD has launched a fundraising campaign, where they hope to raise $15,000 through small donations and fun incentives (check out their KickStarter page for more details). That won’t be enough money for the entire 4-month Tour but it will be enough to get started. They’re also hoping to make the entire experience as interactive as possible. The IFD team is taking requests of where to visit and even asking people to open up their guestroom or couches.
IFD knows LGBT people are everywhere.
You know LGBT are everywhere.
After this Road Trip, LGBT youth will know it, too.
We have been watching Nathan’s site for over year now, and this guy is going places!
Please help him out and support this project!
Nathan Manske is the creator and editor of the gay, true-stories website I’m From Driftwood. He was recently named one of The Advocate’s Forty Under 40 in 2010 for his work on the groundbreaking blog. Nathan is indeed from Driftwood, Texas, but has lived in Brooklyn, New York since 2003. Before creating I’m From Driftwood, he spent 4 years as a full-time copywriter, working first at Hanft Raboy & Partners, then Berlin Cameron & Partners, and has fortunately been able to combine his personal passions with his profession.
His Chemistry.com television commercials raised awareness as well as eyebrows by taking on eHarmony’s discriminatory policies towards gays and lesbians. eHarmony has since changed their policies. He also found a way to actually get paid for being a geek by writing the third X-Men film’s interactive website for 20th Century Fox. Find him on Facebook !
Broadway Hottie Kyle Deschamps talks with Gay Life NYC.org
gaylifenyc.org founder
Michael Cavnaugh chats with
Broadway Star and featured Dancer
Kyle Deschamps for Broadway Bares XX on June 20th.
You may have seen him in Billy Elliott, now see this super hot guy talk about his life, his rugged manly background, and Broadway Bares this year. He’s hot, he’s single and the nicest guy you would ever want to see.
And get this, he is a Wilderness Survival Expert – and he loves adventure including Sky Diving. He is about to become certified, after which time he may become an instructor. You know what that means? You could go sky diving with Kyle on your back, holding on to you!
Michael also chats with the some of the cast from “Promises, Promises” and has some great footage of the Broadway Bares solo strip at Splash!
You can watch all the new videos (plus explore lots of useful and
entertaining information by stopping by Gay Life NYC.org .
New York City Dyke March and Parties
Since 1993, when the Lesbian Avengers organized the first Dyke March in Washington, D.C. at the March on Washington, and then again in New York in June, dykes have come out to demonstrate for rights and visibility.
Every year, thousands of dykes march down 5th Avenue to Washington Square Park on the Saturday before the NYC Pride Parade. Drummers up front near the banner rally the marchers out into the street and keep the rhythm going all the way down to the Village.
Signs proclaim political and personal slogans like “I’ll be satisfied when every dyke can be out” and “I’ll be satisfied when my mother can say the word lesbian.” We’ve seen giant lesbian puppets, a swimming pool complete with bathing beauties pulled along by strapping gals, SuperDyke in a rainbow cape, and of course: the fabulous marshals, those tireless and dedicated dykes, who lead the march in the front, run down the street blocking the traffic on the sides, and bring up the rear of the march.
The Dyke March is for self-identified women, supporters cheer us on!
THE 18th ANNUAL NYC DYKE MARCH
Saturday, June 26, 2010 Stepoff from Bryant Park (W 42nd St/5th Ave) at 5 pm, sharp!
**WE ARE ALWAYS SEEKING MARSHALS!
Run down 5th, keep the March moving, help marchers stay safe and informed,
meet other women, and get your official TWAT TEAM T-Shirt!
Attend one of two trainings:
Monday, June 14, 7 – 9 pm – Bluestockings (172 Allen Street)
OR Saturday, June 19, 1 – 3 pm – LGBT Community Services Center (208 West 13th Street)
Want to marshal but can’t make a training?
Email us for more information at dykesATdykemarchnycDOTorg
HAPPY HOUR RAFFLE FOR THE DYKE MARCH!
Thursday, June 17, 6:30 pm (ticket drawing at 8:00 pm) at the Stonewall Inn (53 Christopher Street)
Join us at the historic Stonewall Inn for drinks, mingling, and a raffle with prizes from NYC restaurants, Yankees Tickets, Mets Tickets, Rony Tennenbaum Jewelry, Circle Line Cruises, Ms. Magazine, A Gift Certificate from Sam Ash, US Open Tickets, Staceyann Chin, A special L Word Package, and our favorite lesbian-owned sex shop – Babeland!
PLUS POST DYKE MARCH SPECTACULAR! Saturday, June 26, 2010, 8 ’til late!
Join us for the Post-Dyke March Spectacular at Gingers – The ONLY after-party that funds the March (banners, marshal materials, meeting space, training space, website, noisemakers, signs, and everything else!)
Ronnie Kroell Launches Geek Nerd Wonk Charity Monday June 7th
PLAYGIRL Magazine cover-model
& Bravo’s Make Me a Supermodel
runner-up, Ronnie Kroell, will be
hosting a benefit with business partner
Stephanie A. Jones, J.D., LL.M., M.P.H., Esquire,
to launch their GeekNerdWonk Charitable
Foundation, “Helping Charities Help Themselves.”
The event will be held on
June 7th, 2010 from 5:30-8:30PM
at the beautiful La Pomme Nightclub,
located at 37 W. 26th Street in New
York City.
There will be African music, complimentary beverages, raffle prizes, a live auction at 7:30PM, and a dance party to follow the benefit. There is a suggested donation of $50, but all donations are welcomed.
GeekNerdWonk Charitable Foundation-
GNW “helps charities help themselves” in three areas of support. GNW contributes funds, talent and
volunteers to support GNW’s own fundraising budgets, adds professional and academic credentials to
complement the GNW Charities’ own professional expertise in applied field work approaches to public
health education and promotion, and develops quantitative and qualitative research to provide the
epidemiologically and methodologically sound statistical research to enable GNW Charities to write
scientifically-supported grant proposals.
New York Gay Pride Parade Gets One Mile Slashed Off
Many of us enjoy Gay Pride and it’s celebrations and parades, but don’t think much about the costs involved. Here in New York City, this years Gay Pride March on June 27 will be nearly a mile shorter because the city is facing a budget shortfall. The celebration will step off at 36th Street and 5th Avenue rather than its usual starting point at 52nd and 5th.
Arthur Finn, Co-chair of Heritage of Pride , Inc., the non-profit organization that plans the events commented, “Some people running NYC Pride are disappointed by the announcement, but we understand the city’s need for the change this year. We aren’t alone, as the city says it is requiring that every parade make the same sort of reduction as we did for this year.”
The parade, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and will feature Mississippi lesbian student Constance McMillen, Judy Shepard, and Lt. Dan Choi as Grand Marshalls, will still pass the spot where the historic Stonewall riots took place, 41 years ago. Even though much has changed for this year the March Committee is planning an exciting celebration!
Jessica Kirson to Headline Standup Social at Bartini Ultra-Lounge, May 26
Fresh off her second appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno,
Jessica Kirson (Tonight Show, The Joy Behar Show, Comedy Central, and LOGO)
headlines StandUp Social at Bartini Ultra Lounge – a monthly show that’s always free, and always funny.
Jessica Kirson’s unique style and captivating stage presence captures the attention of audiences and club bookers everywhere she performs. Her wide variety of characters brings a diverse energy to her routine.
Produced and hosted by comedians Marc Maietta, Erika Wasser & Katherine Williams; StandUp Social brings the socialites of the comedy world together for your enjoyment. Joining Jessica May 26th is Sean Donnelly (COMIX), Mick DiFlo (Gotham Comedy Club), and Harriet Halloway (Gotham Comedy Club)!
Free admission, drink specials before 8pm –
Wednesday May 26th 8pm, Bartini Ultra Lounge
642 Tenth Ave between 45th and 46th Streets.
Steven Brinberg IS Barbra Streisand
“When you first hear Steven’s Simply Barbra CD, for the first brief moment, you almost think, ‘My God! Is that really her?’ [Streisand] It’s so captivating! Not only does he have a wonderful take on her — not at all mean-spirited — and this ability to imitate her, he also captures a lot of moments and nuances that are terrific. It was very impressive.” – Marvin Hamlisch
Me too! When I first heard Steven sing Barbra, I was quite impressed. He was just in Chicago and I had the chance to see and hear him perform live. Steven is the premier Barbra Streisand impressionist, performing his incredible show, Simply Barbra, to international acclaim both on stage and television (and performing twice with none other than Marvin Hamlisch!) as he pays homage to all that is Streisand!
Steven does not lip-sync his performances but accurately portrays Streisand with his own voice! With over a decade of performing experience, his amazing show has Steven in demand literally worldwide!
Steven conceived Simply Barbra in 1993 at Don’t Tell Mama in New York City, where the show continues to run when he is not touring. The ever-changing show has been seen in London’s West End, The Edinburgh Festival, Atlantic City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Houston, Washington, D.C., New York City, and many other cities both in the United States and around the World!
We chatted briefly in Chicago, then Steven was headed off to Ireland. His career started quite by accident as he tells DEEP DISH …”I was performing cabaret shows as myself, and I would sing snippets of other voices – Cher, Katharine Hepburn, Billie Holiday – but my Barbra was the most popular. One day a friend suggested that I do an entire Barbra show, but I was like “I don’t even look like her and I don’t know anything about makeup.” But I finally booked a couple of weeks to perform as Barbra in New York – and the show just took off.”
Singing Streisand is a rarity. “Other than the veteran performer Jim Bailey, I am the only other male Barbra (that I know of) who sings live. Hers is such a unique voice that it is very hard to do properly. I was inspired when in an interview Barbra was asked what she thought of all the men who do her and she said “I wish they’d do me better!” and I thought I am going to be the first one to do her justice and NOT cross my eyes and be mean…I wanted to be flattering to her because I am such a fan…..I have never met Barbra…..but she knows me. Her manager hired me to sing at Donna Karan’s birthday party – and through her stage director, she told me what to say at the party. We almost met when she was at the same play I was – but I lost my nerve to go over to her. She later learned that I was there and said, “Why didn’t he say hello?” But I just wasn’t ready to meet her…”
Steven has been able to see Babs perform on several occassions – giving him an opportunity to study her up close.
He tells Barbra news …
“I had a friend in Los Angeles who knew someone who knew someone who could get tickets for the 1986 ONE VOICE concert. There were only 500 seats and it wasn’t easy. When he said yes, then I had to convince my parents to give me the money… a lot for a kid to spend! Even then, people were saying this might be her last concert. It was well worth it. We were served dinner on her tennis court. I saw Bette, Whoopi, Goldie,Walter Matthau (they must have made up from DOLLY) everyone seemed to be famous except my party. It was amazing to hear her sing live for the first time and think “This is not a record!” You could look in the windows of her houses, but there were portisans and her trailer set up as bathrooms. I used the latter, and saved the pink heart shape soap I found by the sink!
More recently, I was in Australia while she was there also, and Marvin got my pianist and I great seats up close (the concert in the rain in Sydney). It was wild. I did my show one night, saw her show the next night, did my show the next night, and people in the audience waved the flashlights they got at her show! I did a lot of TV while I was there and am told that she saw me on one of the shows! I hope it was the one where the lighting was so beautiful (The Bert Show) cause that’s important to me, and to Barbra. The brief scene I have in the new movie CAMP (after the very end credits) is also lit beautifully. I think she’ll be pleased at how I look as her.”
What’s next for Steven Brinberg?
“Continuing to tour all over the place – and I’m hoping to perform again as myself. My real voice and look are so different than Barbra – but I’m not giving up Barbra. I would just like to be a boy also. I’d love to be a CSI killer and have people go, “Guess what else he does.” “
Catch him in New Jersey , July 8th, 2010. Also follow Simply Barbra on Facebook
Gay Kiss In Sunday and Monday in New York City
This year, IDAHO will be marked by Kiss-in events organised in several cities around the world in a global celebration of love ! Features of these events, and messages from people around the world, will be edited into a global video for MAY 17th.
You can be part of it !
SIX cities in the U.S.
are participating in the “Great Global Kiss-in” to mark this year’s International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), which is officially Monday, May 17.
San Francisco — St. Louis — Portland, Oregon — Chicago — Austin, Texas —
New York City — Sunday, May 16, Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, 1:30 – 2pm
New York City — Monday, May 17, Times Square, at the base of the red TKTS staircase
International cities include London, Paris and Madrid and more !
“We are asking people to submit videos to www.youtube.com/group/greatglobalkissin and to tag their pictures on flickr with ‘GreatGlobalKissIn’. Alternatively they can submit them via gays.com/idaho.”
Boys Night at MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING June 2nd
Boys Night Out
for MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING
Wednesday, June 2nd at 8PM…
Only $32!
Post-Show reception at THE RITZ BAR & LOUNGE
Purchase $32 tickets today to My Big Gay Italian Wedding (regularly $69.50) using the code BGBOY32 and receive admission to a Post Show My Big Gay Italian Wedding Boys Night Reception Featuring Complimentary Drinks. Directly following the 8PM performance on June 2nd, head over to THE RITZ BAR & LOUNGE (369 W 46th St) for a one hour open bar (beer, wine, well drinks and soda).
Starring Reichen Lehmkuhl (Winner of “The Amazing Race”), My Big Gay Italian Wedding is making it Triumphant Off-Broadway Return. Now Funnier Than Ever!
Planning a wedding can be hell, but planning to ruin a wedding can be a hell of a lot of fun! Andrew (Reichen Lehmkuhl) and Anthony (Anthony Wilkinson) are getting married and everyone wants to “help”! My Big Gay Italian Wedding spins into hysterical fiasco as everyone tries to have their way. From a saboteur ex-boyfriend to a loud, opinionated, outspoken Italian mother, personalities and culture collide in a music and dance-filled extravaganza. RSVP for My Big Gay Italian Wedding now!
My Big Gay Italian Wedding is being presented by Dina Manzo (star of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey”).
Come out, see a great show, enjoy some cocktails and mingle with your fellow theatre-goers.
Three Easy Ways to get your Boys Night Tickets to My Big Gay Italian Wedding
1. Visit BroadwayOffers.com and mention code BGBOYZ32
2. CALL 212.947.8844 and mention code BGBOYZ32
3. VISIT the St. Luke’s Theatre Box Office, 308 West 46th Street with a printout of this offer.
Restrictions:
PRINT OUT OF OFFER MUST BE PRESENTED BEFORE PURCHASE AT THE BOX OFFICE. Offer valid for June 2nd 8PM performance only. Regularly $69.50. Regular service charges apply to online and phone orders. Subject to availability. Not valid for prior purchases or in combination with any other offer. Limit 8 tickets per order. Offer may be revoked at any time. One party admission voucher is available per ticket purchased. Admittance to party is contingent on redemption of voucher and can only be redeemed for those 21 and over with valid ID. Voucher will be included in your ticket envelope either from Telecharge.com or the box office. Open bar includes beer, wine, well drinks and soda.
If you are unable to attend this Special Boys Night, you still can save on My Big Gay Italian Wedding by purchasing a $39.50 ticket Wednesday through Friday and $49.50 tickets for Saturday night using code: BGHHC49.
Style Maker Carson Kressley Shares His Best Of Gay New York City
Gay List Daily , is a swank e-publication dedicated to making the trendy, gay individual even more trendy and gay. I have been a subscriber for a few months now. “Our diligent staff searches far and wide the worlds of culture and couture, of food and festivities, and anything else that you just absolutely have to know about.”
This week they are launching a recurring feature to explore the favorite spots in the city frequented by gaydored LGBT (or friendly) celebrities, in various categories that make New York the greatest, gayest city in the world. Carson Kressley , style-maker, icon, TV personality and down-to-Earth fairy godfather (from his work on How To Look Good Naked to his upcoming judging role on True Beauty), is the first in the series of Q & A.
So what are Carson’s top picks for New York?
Food
Carson’s choice brunch spot: BG Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman. I love the old fashioned glamour of eating IN an actual department store. The view of Central Park is a bonus!
Favorite pizza: Two Boots in the West Village.
Favorite restaurant worthy of dressing up for: Monkey Bar – dress to impress (and to get a decent table!).
Favorite dessert: Milkshake from the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.
Fashion
Favorite vintage shopping: The Garage Flea market in Chelsea. Full of cute design oriented gays and tchotchkes they love: vintage clothes, paintings, and silver.
Favorite off-the-radar menswear boutique: I’m not sure it’s off the radar anymore, but Ina Men in Nolita is the stylist’s secret for both buying and selling top notch gently worn menswear.
Fun
Favorite dance floor: Sigh…there will never be another dance floor like the Roxy but Hiro on a Sunday night is the next best thing!
Favorite dive bar: Barracuda.
Favorite people watching spot: Bryant Park, especially during Fashion Week.
Favorite spot to get away from it all: My roof deck!
Favorite spot to be yourself: At home with friends.
Subscribe to GAY LIST DAILY in New York
Raven O …One Night With You …Returns to New York City
Tuesday nights
will never be the same
as legendary NYC performer
Raven O takes the stage again.
Raven O Is gearing up for the summer run of his one man show “Raven O – One Night With You” at the Bleecker St. Theater, NYC. A show that takes the audience on a journey of powerful emotions. The former Cirque Du Soleil star combines popular songs with bizarre but true stories from his life.
The experimental winter run of “Raven O-One Night With You” was a sold out hit. Famed columnist Michael Musto of The Village Voice writes about Raven in a preview, “…flamboyantly funny entertainer…belting the s**t out of the American Songbook.” JC Alvarez of Ambiente magazine in a rave review of the show says, “…when Raven O performs it’s raw and powerful, real and sensitive.”
For those of you who have never been to NYC or Las Vegas, Raven O has conquered Urban nightlife like NO OTHER!!! Having brought NYC to it’s proverbial knees at clubs throughout the city such as Bar d’O, The Box, and Quo, or had the true honor to see him Emcee in The Cirque du Soleil’s ZUMANITY in Las Vegas, Raven O’s silky smooth voice is like none you have ever heard…
Starts Tuesday May 18th
45 Bleecker St ( between Lafayette and Bowery)
Save 25% on Tickets ONLINE Discount Code:RAVENMAY
Amanda Lepore Presented a New Wednesday Night Party at Carnival New York City
We don’t usually run too many bar photos –
but we do Love Amanda, Cazwell,
and beautiful men!
Some tasty photos from the new
Carnival party on Wednesdays at Bowlmar .
110 University Place (Btw. 12th & 13th) • (212) 255-8188
Black Book Mags take on last night , “It is a triumph of glitz, glam and, more importantly, fun. All the usual and unusual gathered for this 3-ring purpose. We often judge these “fashion fag” events by the familiar faces, the cast of tried and true characters who have shaped this scene for decades. Their presence laid credence and their attendance was often the barometer of success. What I saw yesterday was much better….”
Pics courtesy of Michael Hardgrove .
SEE MORE OF AMANDA AND CARNIVAL !
Super Gay Super Heroes on Parade at Skin Tight USA Party at Stonewall Inn
Do we really want the “straight media” poking around into all of our parties and fetishes, explaining them to the world? I don’t know. I think sometimes it makes us look bad….
Take for instance last weekends New York Times. It’s a big gay bird! It’s a big gay plane! It’s… the front page of the Sunday Style Section in the Paper of Record! I was on the subway and heard some straight people snickering and making fun of the expose on Skin Tight U.S.A., the costume-fetish party at the West Village’s Stonewall Inn.
The Village Voice said, “let’s explain this zany subculture to stodgy old people” treatment, while the good-humored subjects doubtlessly laugh it up at the thought of being anthropologically considered by the New York Times. But then it turns into a captivating cultural critique of comic book culture. Let’s observe the geeky homosexuals in their natural habitat, shall we?”
Read the full article at NEW YORK TIMES
New York Promoter Marc Berkley Dead at 57
NEW YORK CITY
mourns the passing
of Marc Berkley.
JOE MY GOD
reports Berkley had a heart attack .
He was 57. Berkley was the co-founder of HX Media, the now-defunct gay publishing company that owned the popular nightlife guide HX Magazine and the LGBT news title The New York Blade.
Berkley was a tireless promoter of all-night dance parties, gay culture, and, well, Marc Berkley — always knows where his thrill-seeking crowd wanted to be.
NEW YORK MAGAZINE profiled the famed promoter in 2001 . He talked candidly about his fight with drugs, his magazine projects and his “war” with Giuliani. “We’re living in Nazi Germany done by Disney right now.”
Over the years, Berkley’s served on his community board, coordinated Heritage of Prides nineteenth and twentieth anniversaries, and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to gay charities.
He may be gone, but not forgotten…..
Ticked Off Trannies BUZZ Continues at Tribeca Film Festival This Weekend
TICKED OFF TRANNIES
WITH KNIVES
is playing New York City’s
TRIBECA Film Festival this weekend.
A group of transgender women are violently beaten and left for dead. After regaining their consciousness the violated vixens turn deadly divas and with their new-found confidence and courage, slice their way to vengeance.
They say any publicity is GOOD PUBLICITY! For those not paying attention, there’s been quite the firestorm in recent weeks surrounding Dallas filmmaker Israel Luna’s Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives and its inclusion in the Tribeca Film Festival.
Back in March, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation issued a “call to action” that the film be removed from the line-up because: “The film, its title and its marketing misrepresent the lives of transgender women and use grotesque, exploitative depictions of violence against transgender women.” To which Tribeca responded: GLAAD had its chance.
Luna told the Dallas Voice he was “puzzled” by the furor and that the low-budget, shot-in-Dallas-in-18-days film is nothing more than his homage to grindhouse cinema a la Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez: “We were just playing around and someone said I should do this with drag queens. That would be so much fun.”
Did GLAAD even see the film??
Krystal Summers, one of the stars of the comedy, has now weighed in on the debate. In a statement, the actor writes:
I am a transgender woman and one of the lead actors in “Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives.” Our film does not promote hate or violence against transgender women. It is not a documentary, but a work of fiction and a revenge fantasy. I would never partake in a project that made light of the appalling acts of hate that we, as transgender women, encounter nearly every day. I urge you not to judge the film based on a trailer, hearsay or the recent statements from GLAAD, which received a copy of our film in February, and for weeks, supported our filmmakers. In fact, GLAAD representatives advised our film’s producer, director and cast on how to describe our film to people. The transgender community is always asking that people not judge us by our exterior and take the time to look deeper – I hope that you will do the same with our film.
Perhaps the only marketing mistake with the film was using the real names of real victims. The complaints stem from the trailer’s mentioning by name murder victims Angie Zapata and Jorge Mercado. Says Luna in a statement, he did that to bring a “disturbing reality to my film about transgender violence.”
Q Cinema , the gay and lesbian film fest in Fort Worth, announced Ticked-Off Trannies would play there in June — its first screening down here following its Tribeca bow. But it’ll be marketed with a different trailer. The New York Times reported that Luna has deleted the names of the real-life dead: “It seems that the association between their brutal stories and the revenge/thriller content of the film in its entirety, has been difficult to connect,” he says.
I just got back from Dallas, and everyone was buzzing about the film! Israel has been busy doing interviews the last few days in New York. Everyone is New York has been buzzing about the movie!
Get a SNEAK PEAK AT YOU TUBE
Join them on FACEBOOK .
*On the eve of the world premiere of Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives at the Tribeca Film Festival, director Israel Luna announced Thursday that he would blur out some letters in the controversial film’s title treatment and many marketing materials effectively immediately, a decision reached with input from Academy Award–winning Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. This was done because the word TRANNY is found so offensive by many.
Amanda Lepore Presents a New Wednesday Night Party at Carnival New York City
Best Gay New York LOVES Amanda Lepore !
She’s hooked up with Kenny Kenny and Joey Israel to launch a new Wednesday night party at CARNIVAL , starting April 28th.
Coney Island meets New York City at Carnival. On the 5th floor above Bowlmor, Carnival’s a cavernous, adultified take on the traditional chaotic fairground, with big top tent-evoking strips of red/yellow/black fabric soaring over a dual-sided bar featuring giant spinning pinwheels; a spacious main room w/ wall-to-wall game booths; and a soundproof “Fun House” dance room (with candy colored bottle service booths and constantly changing LED floor tiles.
The ever adorable and extremely talented CAZWELL will help provide music on the opening night April 28th along with a performance by Ms. Tickle ! – (Cazwell assures me the Amanda CD will be out soon – and well worth the wait!)
110 University Place (Btw. 12th & 13th) • (212) 255-8188
Gay Life NYC.org Does Robert Verdi and Dave August
Gaylifenyc.org founder
Mike Cavnaugh
has been busy the last few weeks!
First he gets a candid chat with the hilarious star of Logo’s The Robert Verdi Show -Robert Verdi about his career, how he became a tv/fashion diva, and his work with charity. Check out the skinny on this amazing guy. He talks about his love for jewelry design, and is a great conversationist.
WATCH THE ROBERT VERDI video.
Next up
is hottie DAVE AUGUST!
As well as being super hot, Dave is a talented actor, currently appearing in New York’s off Broadway musical Naked Boys Singing.
Photographer Peter D Brown had fun creating these sexy shots with the charming green eyed Dave for DAMAGE.
Michael captured Dave at Splash , as well as some other hotties, where they recently were promoting the upcoming BROADWAY BARES show. See some of the hottest boys of Broadway TAKE IT OFF!
Michael also got great interviews with
Cheyenne Jackson
Peter Gallagher
Great celebrity videos from The Actors Fund Gala .
Visit Gay Life NYC.org for tons of great interviews PLUS lots of useful HIV/AIDS information and resources that give you quick links and information on getting assistance, free confidential testing and medical services regardless of your ability to pay.
