SKYY Vodka Launches New Flavors with the Help of Lady Bunny, Heklina and Candis Cayne
As the official spirit sponsor of New York’s Heritage of Pride celebration and the sponsor of San Francisco’s Frameline Gay and Lesbian Film Festival this summer, we understand the importance of the LGBT community’s contribution to American society and the importance of finding a moment to relax and celebrate.
Who better to help get the party started than Trannyshack founder Heklina, renowned entertainer Candis Cayne and the legendary Lady Bunny? These three LGBT personalities have entertained thousands between them have attended and been the stars of quite a few celebrations themselves, and while planning their own summer agendas this year, have collaborated with SKYY whip up these tasty cocktail recipes which were first served to guests in late June at New York’s Heritage of Pride dances on the pier. Since then, Gays everywhere have been and stirring up drink specialties with Skyy Vodka Infusions! Vodka infused with REAL FRUIT FLAVORS.
(Lady Bunny Martini photo by Sergio Kardenas)
Lady Bunny’s Boy Chaser
1 ounce SKYY Infusions Grape
2 ounces Ginger Ale
Stir into a rocks glass and add a squeezed lime wedge as a garnish.
X-Rated Bunny Drop
1 ounce X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
1 ounce SKYY Infusions Cherry
1 ounce Pineapple Juice
Shake ingredients over ice and strain into a shot glass.
Heklina’s Ruby Sipper
1 ounce SKYY Infusions Pineapple
1 ounce Cranberry Juice
1 ounce Orange Juice
Mix into a highball glass with ice and garnish with a lime wedge.
High Kickin’ Cayne
1 ounce X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
1/2 ounce SKYY Infusions Citrus
1 ounce Cranberry Juice
Shake the ingredients over ice and strain into a martini glass or mix onto ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Candis Cayne’s Kiss The Girl
1 ounce X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
Splash of Orange Juice
Splash of Soda
Mix ingredients and serve on the rocks with an orange wedge.
Lady Bunny is one of the hardest working drag queens in the business. She travels the world constantly doing her live stage show, DJ-ing at special events, making appearances in movies and on television. Here in New York she DJ’s at Amalia for Rockit on Fridays and the T Dance at Splash on Sundays.
We have been chasing Le Grande Bunny for months to get some quotes and finally caught up with her this week! Of course, our talk turned to drinking! ” Everywhere I work, alcohol is served. My singing will drive anyone to drink! But drinking heavily on the road is tough. Especially if I have a gig the next day in another city–they are gonna get the bitter, hungover Bun-Bun. At least until I start guzzling again! And I’ve never understood drinking on planes. Flying already dehydrates you, and if you are buzzed, you are ill-equipped to deal with lost luggage, snippy hotel employees or jet lag. But if you must, order several drinks at once and pull out a credit card claiming that you have zero cash and that you must have been snoozing when they made the “cash only: announcement. Hee hee!
There was a time when I used to drag a whole crew back to my hotel room to keep the party going after clubs closed. But nowadays, you can’t get back on the plane without your ID. So if one of your tricks pinches your pocketbook, you could get stranded in Scranton indefinitely! Not cute. Use the hotel safe when available–especially for international travel. I’m told that the going rate on the black market for a stolen passport is $50,000. So you may only be paying that thai hooker $10, but he could be helping himself to a $50,000 bonus while you two “thai one on.”
Gotta Love Bunny! Read More about her travel tips on NEW GAY TRAVEL GUIDE.
And pick up some SKYY VODKA INFUSIONS!
The Best of Gay New York
Brian Scott Bagley Pays Tribute to Josephine Baker in Montclair, New Jersey
Dancer/Producer/Choreographer Brian Scott Bagley never imagined his homage to the late Josephine Baker, a dance piece he’s ingeniously titled ‘Josefiend’, would steal thunder from the unstoppable sexpot Dita Von Teese. But that’s just what happened – unintentionally of course, as Bagley and Von Tesse are friendly colleagues – when “La Gentry de Paris Revue” opened to raves overseas just two weeks ago.
Now Bagley’s visiting stateside through the end of next weekend as both a choreographer and dancer in another Baker-related production, Jerome Savary’s “A La Recherche de Josephine” (“Looking for Josephine”), in which Jersey homegirl Nicolle Rochelle has her turn playing the revered icon.
Not unlike the late Baker herself, Bagley is an American in Paris, having lived there for the past three years (though he hasn’t surrendered his citizenship as Baker eventually did). Residency there has allowed his career to morph into something far more complex than what American Idol viewers might recall from the 2005 season when Bagley was one of the more memorable DC auditions, thereafter dubbed, ‘The Dancing Janitor,’ (a reflection of his employment at the time).
The Idol connection may have brought some fleeting recognition, but it wasn’t until he moved to Paris that Bagley – a former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Student – found some real footing in his career. Working on Savary’s ambitious storyline that celebrates African-American spirit through song and dance while juxtaposing Baker’s fiery legacy against a post-Katrina New Orleans (thus mirroring the civil rights issues from two different periods in American history), Bagley networked his way into the newly revitalized Parisian burlesque culture. At the center of the revival is a performer called ‘Gentry de Paris’ (Gentry Lane), and it was through Lane that a connection with Dita Von Teese was forged. Choreographic work on another Savary production has since followed, “Don Quichotte Contre L’Ange Bleu” (“Don Quioxte against the Blue Angel”) starring Arielle Dombalse, (you may remember her from “Miami Vice” but Bagley insists her current status as ‘France’s opera singing Aphrodite’ is a more accurate representation).
So, you can just imagine Bagley’s astonishment when the European press erupted over his performance of ‘Jospefiend’ in Lane’s “La Gentry de Paris Revue.” Known for her affinity toward Betty Grable and an aura that marries Bettie Paige with a miraculous concoction of depravity and elegance, surely Von Teese would steal the stage. And yet the European tastemakers still made plenty of room for Bagley.
CURRENTLY PLAYING AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY’S KASSER THEATER THROUGH SUNDAY, 9/28.
BUT TICKETS ONLINE AT PEAK PERFS
The Best of Gay New York
FREE TICKETS! For Lance Bass, Amanda Lepore, Cazwell, and the Gay Weekend in Atlantic City!
You have been reading about it….
The first ever GAY WEEKEND in Atlantic City!
September 25-27, 2009.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE THERE?!
Amanda Lepore, Cazwell, Lance Bass, Coco Peru, Jai Rodriguez, the cast of THE L WORD, and more!
We are giving away 5 SETS OF PARTY PASSES – Absolutely FREE!
Thats right! 5 pairs of All Access Tickets allowing 5 lucky readers and their guest into all of the weekend’s hottest parties.
Just leave us comment below in this post and tell us
why you want to go!
or Who you want to meet?
or Why you’re a fabulous guest!
It’s that easy! And you’re on board with us, BEST GAY NEW YORK CITY!
I will be able to see your email privately, and will contact you with the details.
Hope to see you there!
BEST GAY NEW YORK
Out To Work LGBT Job Fair September 17
The 3rd Annual Out to Work job fair will be held on September 17 at the LGBT Center in New York’s Greenwich Village. 208 West 13th Street. With more than 3,000 expected to attend, Out to Work is the largest LGBT career fair in the Northeast.
The current rate of unemployment in New York City is at 9.6%, higher than the unemployment rate of both New York State and the country. This event addresses the needs of the LGBT community in the city where they make up a significant proportion of the unemployed population.
Bruce Anderson, Interim Executive Director & Board President stated, “I’m heartened that in the current economic climate, the Center, in partnership with Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, is once again producing Out to Work. The economic downturn has affected all New Yorkers, including the LGBT community, and one of the best things we can do is bring together major employers in the area with a pool of talented New Yorkers, eager to work.”
This event promotes equal opportunity employment and showcases some of the more progressive companies that support diversity in the work place. Out to Work will provide a forum for individuals to meet one-on-one with prospective employers and for companies to market themselves within one of the most influential and diverse minorities in the city. It also offers a chance for business-to-business networking opportunities with exhibitors.
This is a FREE event – Register online for the OUT TO WORK event.
The Best of Gay New York!
Gay Marriage Moves One Step Closer in New York This Month!
Last week, New York Governor David Paterson told gay monthly The Advocate that he would add the gay marriage bill to the agenda of a special session expected to take place in late September.
“I am anticipating a special session and I am anticipating this is one of the issues that we will address,” Paterson said.
Paterson discussed his plan with the state’s most prominent gay marriage advocates Thursday, including the Empire State Pride Agenda, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Gill Action Fund.
The bill passed the New York Assembly 89-52 in May and the Senate is now its final hurdle, as Paterson has strongly signalled he will sign it if it reaches his desk.
The move would make New York the sixth state to legalise same-sex marriage after Vermont, Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. It was briefly allowed in California until a referendum stripped the right.
“Not to include marriage for same-sex couples … is an insult to millions of gay and lesbian people and their families,” Alan Van Capelle, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, said in a statement.
At first, Paterson did not say gay marriage would be on the special agenda. But after an uproar Peterson says, ““It has always been my intention to see same-sex marriage come to the floor. I don’t want there to be any confusion.”
“I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize it,” he added. “But I think, because of the activity that went on today, I am forced to reveal my true intentions, even though the advocates knew them already.”
Like all politics and lobbying, a few hold all of the cards, for all of us. Democrats hold a slim two vote majority in the 62-member Senate. But only a few Democrats, about 20, have publicly endorsed the bill. And five Democratic senators say they are against the measure.
For the bill to win passage, backers need the help of at least four Republicans. But no Republican has publicly endorsed the bill. And the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the nation’s most vociferous opponent of gay marriage, has threatened Republicans who cross the aisle to vote in favor of the bill.
Openly gay senator Tom Duane, a Democrat from New York City, says the bill will pass if lawmakers are allowed to vote their conscience.
“I remain optimistic that it’ll pass this year and it’ll pass with bipartisan support,” Duane told gay weekly The Washington Blade.
It could be a HUGE windfall of money in the way of tourism for the city as well, if this were to pass. I think I will see it in my lifetime for sure. Weddings are big business!
Best of Gay New York
NEW YORK CITY FLIGHTS ON SALE THIS WEEK! HURRY!
NYC & COMPANY JOINS WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES TO HIGHLIGHT UNPRECEDENTED VALUE IN NEW YORK CITY THIS FALL AND ANNOUNCE SPECIALLY DISCOUNTED FARES FROM FIVE LARGE CITIES TO NYC – PURCHASE BY THIS FRIDAY!
“There’s never been a better time to visit New York City and take advantage of the world-class and diverse experiences that can be found throughout the five boroughs,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
“With these special travel offers from American Airlines and new travel itineraries from NYC & Company, visiting and navigating the world’s most exciting City has never been easier.”
NYC & Company, the marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, is inviting consumers from five U.S. cities to visit New York City in 2009 to take advantage of exceptional value and unique experiences in the World’s Second Home. To encourage domestic visitors to book now for travel beginning in September, NYC & Company today joined with American Airlines to debut special, limited-time airfare offers between five major U.S. cities and NYC. The cities offering the specially discounted airfares to and from NYC are Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami.
The fares for Los Angeles or San Francisco are just $109;
Dallas/Fort Worth is $99; Chicago is $84; and Miami is $69.
The special fares are priced each way based on round-trip purchase for Economy Class travel. They are available for purchase through this Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, so act quickly. Travel on these special fares is available from Sept. 15, 2009 through Dec. 12, 2009, with some dates embargoed around the Thanksgiving holiday period. Lowest fares are for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday travel.
The new travel itineraries provide useful recommendations for visitors, and include “Kid-Friendly NYC,” “NYC in One Day,” “NYC in Three Days,” and “New York Eats.” Easily accessible on the official tourism Web site for New York City, nycgo.com, these are indispensable tools for planning an upcoming trip to the destination.
This American Airlines special fare offer is available only for travel originating in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Miami or New York City. Other attractive fares to New York are available from other cities.
MORE INFO ONLINE AT NYC GO!
The Best of Gay New York
The Gay Housewives of New York City
Move over you
New Jersey Mafia bitches!
Get out of the way you
bleach blondes from Orange County!
And Step Off!
You Atlanta wanna-bes!
There’s a gay version of the ‘Real Housewives’ in the works and the cast will be gay men only. Well to do gay men. Hopefully hot and sexy gay men who have lots of sexcapades. High drama. And High Camp? My head is spinning already!
The people behind Real Housewives of Atlanta, are casting a gay version of the franchise—in New York!
Leave it to the gays to take a tired concept, put a belt on it, give it a new pair of shoes, and call it fiiiiiiierce.
Casting call details are as follows:
I’m looking for the hottest young, fabulous gay men NYC has to offer for an upcoming docu-series. These boys need to be living the good life, keeping up with all the hottest shopping, restaurants, and clubs, and preferably have lots of drama keeping them busy at all hours of the day…and night. I’d love for them to be in a relationship, and we’re looking for diversity in those relationships – especially younger/older dynamics.
The cast still needs to be selected and no official network has signed on. (HELLO? Bravo?) Meanwhile Fox’s new show Househusbands of Hollywood premiered on August 15. AND ONLINE, you can watch The Real HouseBoys of West Hollywood! The times are a changin’.
The Best of Gay New York
THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER at New Yorks Lincoln Center
The creators of the highly acclaimed play The Laramie Project, which since 2000 has been one of the most performed plays in America, will premiere a compelling and groundbreaking epilogue to the original piece. Entitled THE LARAMIE PROJECT: 10 YEARS LATER, the play will be performed in New York at Lincoln Center,and in over 100 other theaters across the country on October 12, 2009. The writers of this play are Tectonic Theater Project members Moisés Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris, and Stephen Belber.
The epilogue focuses on the long-term effects of the murder of Matthew Shepard on the town of Laramie. It explores how the town has changed and how the murder continues to reverberate in the community. The play also includes new interviews with Matthew’s mother Judy Shepard and Mathew’s murderer Aaron McKinney, who’s serving two consecutive life sentences. The writers also conducted many follow-up interviews Laramie residents from the original piece, including, Romaine Patterson, Reggie Fluty, Jedediah Shultz, Father Roger Schmidt, Jonas Slonaker, Beth Loffreda and others.
In tandem with the Premiere, an online interactive community will be launched where participants can blog, upload video and photos and share their stories about the play, experiences in preparing and presenting the Epilogue in their communities. The members of Tectonic Theater Project will be active participants in the online community, offering participants feedback and encouragement.
“The Tectonic Theater Project set out to find out how Laramie had
changed in the ten years since the murder of Matthew Shepard. When we
arrived, we were forced to confront the question, ‘How do you measure
change in a community?’ One of the things we found when we got there,
which greatly surprised us, was people in Laramie saying this was not
a hate crime,” said Moises Kaufman, Artistic Director of Tectonic
Theater Project.
“We found the people of Laramie still fighting to own their own
history, their own identity, their own story, and part of that is
shaped by how they understand what happened that night to Matthew,”
continued Leigh Fondakowski.
“Creating the epilogue also gave us the opportunity to talk to Aaron
McKinney about his crime, what his thinking is about it now, and what his experience has been in prison over the past decade,,” said Greg Pierotti, the company member who interviewed Aaron. “We were also able to speak with Matthew’s mother, Judy Shepard, whose striking transformation from privately grieving mother to civil rights activist has captured the nation’s attention,” concluded Andy Paris.
The Best of Gay New York
LITTLE BOOTS…..The Next BIG THING?
There is no accounting for taste in this country, we know that! I STILL CAN NOT believe people have went so ga-ga, over Lady Gaga!
The next up coming pop sensation could very well be LITTLE BOOTS. Rolling Stone is calling her the Featured Artist to Watch this week. She is winning awards around the globe. And generating a LOT of BUZZ!
Her debut album Hands will be out stateside early next year and right now we have the digital EPs: Illuminations & New in Town.
And she will be live in New York September 16, 2009 – Bowery Ballroom.
The REMIX of NEW IN TOWN is pretty hot!
Watch the Little Boots Video
What do you think???
HOT? or NOT?
A new kind of megastar –
Rolling Stone
More than just a flash in the pan –
LA Times
I love female vocalists and I
love pop music, I love Little Boots! –
Perez Hilton
Little Boots on MySpace
Best of Gay New York
New York City Gay Men’s Chorus in Financial Problems
Just like everyone else, especially the arts, The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus is struggling to stay afloat due to “severe financial problems” according to a press release from the group, which was founded in 1979 and was the first gay chorus to perform in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, the first American gay chorus to tour Europe, and the first to have a recording contract with a major label.
Said Rick Clodfelter, Chairman of the Board of Big Apple Performing Arts, Inc., the umbrella organization for the NYCGMC: “Like so many nonprofit arts organizations in this economic downturn, we are hurting. Decreasing donations, limited resources and the rising costs of production make it more difficult than ever for a community arts organization to survive. Our goal is to raise $500,000 to enable us to retire debt, proceed with our 30th season and ensure we are better positioned to advocate for equality in the future…Artistically, we are the best we’ve been in years due to the direction of Dr. Charles Beale, former director of the London Gay Men’s Chorus, who joined us two years ago. However, NYCGMC has always been about much more than putting singers on a stage. At a time when LGBT visibility wasn’t as prevalent as it is today, the Chorus provided an opportunity for New Yorkers to see out, proud gay men on stage. Today that seems commonplace, but thirty years ago, it was revolutionary. And just as the LGBT movement has evolved, today the Chorus voices its support for marriage equality, LGBTQ youth support and other issues relevant to the community.”
According to the group, “The planned 30th anniversary season, which begins in September, features a return to Town Hall for the Holiday concert. The NYCGMC first performed there in 1980. The spring concert will be another installment of the hugely popular ‘Big Gay Sing,’ and the summer concert, ‘Addicted to Love,’ will look at both a light-hearted view of love and feature ‘Through a Glass, Darkly,’ a provocative piece about crystal meth addiction, a scourge not just to the gay community but well beyond.”
To make a tax deductible donation or find out more please visit the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus
The best of Gay New York
Jack Mackenroth – Guide to Gay New York
Jack Mackenroth is not only a popular fashion designer and hot reality TV star, he’s also a successful World Outgames 2009 swimming competitor, having taken home a staggering eight medals from this year’s games held in in Copenhagen.
“I was really not expecting to win medals in all eight of my events,” said Mackenroth. “Needless to say, I’m ecstatic. However, it’s not just about winning medals. One of the most fun events was the Random Rainbow Relay where the meet organizers randomly picked swimmers from all different teams and we swam in a friendly relay with colored rainbow swim caps. It was a great way to meet swimmers from different countries.”
He recently chatted with PLANET OUT
about living in NEW YORK CITY.
What is the best date you ever had in this town? Why?
A guy took me on a midnight helicopter ride around Manhattan. We got pretty close to the buildings. It was pretty amazing to fly around the Statue of Liberty.
What are some of the things you love most about your city/town?
I love that you can get anything you want delivered to your door at anytime. I can get a hooker, a bamboo plant and a diet coke all at 2 AM. Then I can make that hooker water the bamboo while I drink my diet coke. Good times.
I also love the subway. Manhattan is so compact that you can get anywhere in the city on the subway in less than an hour. Plus you can sit next to a crack whore and a supermodel in the same ride. It’s a great equalizer.
What are some great restaurants for a night out with gay friends there?
Well almost all restaurants in New York are gay friendly. If they are not they are stupid. I like Buddakan in Chelsea and all the BLT restaurants. BLT Prime is my fave. www.bltrestaurants.com/. I also LOVE Freeman’s in a little alley way downtown. Cool scene and morbid decor.
For a big gay scene Elmo and Cafeteria are hot messes for Sunday Brunch. Bring your healthy liver and some sunglasses.
What are your favorite gay bars and/or dance clubs? What do you like about them?
There are so many bars here its hard to pick a favorite. For a tourist I would suggest picking up a Next or HX magazine that lists every thing going on each night and lists all the bars and clubs. There really aren’t any big dance clubs anymore since the Roxy closed. I like a more intimate bar like the Phoenix in the east village. No pretense or attitude.
If you had gay friends visiting from out of town for the first time, what are some “musts” that you’d recommend they see or do?
Skip the tourist sites and just buy the postcards. If you absolutely have to do one touristy thing I suggest the top of the Empire State building. On a clear day the view is redic. Also if you can splurge a little bit the helicopter ride around the city is incredible during the day or night.
They charter them from both sides of the island and they are not outrageously expensive. Definitely see a broadway show or two. I would reccomend going to see Central Park. It’s beautiful in the spring.
And you can trick in the bushes.
Check out Jack Mackenroths blog – Memoirs of a Gaysha! and his main site Jack Mackenroth.
GUMBO – First ever Gay Party DUMBO in Brooklyn August 13th
Thursday, August 13th
Party: 8pm-1am
Admission: FREE
@Galapagos Art Space16 Main Street
(@ Water Street)
DUMBO, Brooklyn
F train to York Street
A train to High Street
Located at the first stop in Brooklyn, GUMBO is DUMBO’s first gay party! The offbeat Galapagos Art Space welcomes all guys and girls for this fun, anti-scene, night out. “Manhattanites” welcome.
Hosted by Ben Harvey, Matthew Kelleher & Andrew Urankar
With Hedrick-Martin Institute (HMI)
Music by DJ Nomi (of Jessica 6 and Hercules & Love Affair).
*2-4-1 drinks from 8pm-9pm.
*Free haircuts all night by the Galapagos resident stylist.
GRACE JONES! Back in New York City Tonight!
JAW-DROPPING!
EYE-POPPING!
UNBELIEVABLE!
This is what EVERYONE was saying after Grace Jones first US appearance in over 30 years! (She performed all over Europe earlier this year to sold out crowds). She played the Hollywood Bowl this week and TONIGHT is at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Few artists command the microphone and the stage as Jones. It makes you yearn for a world in which Madonna was the one-hit wonder, with Jones occupying the Earth’s Most Celebrated Diva throne. From her odd accent, which has tinges of French, British and Jamaican patois within, to her carved, menacing face, to those legs, which seemed forged from steel, Jones somehow seemed too large for even the Bowl stage. THIS IS A PERFORMER AND A STAR! Go back and sit down Britney.
At 61, you would never expect the caliber of performance that she delivered. Throughout the night Jones had, if we’re counting correctly, seven amazing costume changes. And while she was off stage changing, she talked to the audience via her mic and you could actually hear her rustling into the next outfit and next pair of 6 inch stilettos backstage!
(Her costumes were designed by infamous costume designer Eiko Ishioka, known for her Oscar winning wardrobe in Bram Stroker’s 1992 Dracula, Cirque du Soleil: Varekai, and the costumes for the Beijing-2008 Olympics to give you an idea of a few iconic pieces of her work.)
Sitting in a box seat at the Hollywood Bowl, Halle Barry and beau Gabriel Aubry (and pals) danced up a storm during Grace’s performance, while Gabriel just rested his chin on Halle’s shoulder. “During ‘La Vie en Rose’ the actress stood up and went crazy and applauded,” an onlooker told People. “It was wild!”
SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THE LA SHOW AT TREND LAND
This whole rebirth of Grace was not even planned! There was never supposed to be a new album, let alone a TOUR! “Hurricane was an accident. Blame it on Ivor Guest. I’d decided never to do an album again. Record companies today don’t allow artistic freedom, and I just couldn’t be bothered anymore. But when Ivor brought me the music to ‘Devil In My Life’, from there we had a creative chemistry and the music just flowed.
We followed where my voice was taking the music and where the music was taking my voice. We didn’t work to some industry formula of what the Grace Jones sound is. It doesn’t matter that it’s taken twenty years because me and the music are always in the same place. It doesn’t sound like the past or the future. It sounds like now, whenever now is. I don’t count. Quality surpasses quantity at any time.” – Grace Jones
Will there be a world tour???? God, I hope so!
Follow Grace Jones on MySpace.
The Best of Gay New York
Broadway Darling NICK ADAMS Boycotts the Anti Gay Turtle Bay Grill and Lounge
After moving out of line, Adams then watched as the bouncer allowed a group of straight guys in white t-shirts enter the bar. Adams was furious but decided to Tweet rather than cause a scene. His loyal fans and followers then retweeted and voiced their complaints to the mostly hetero bar whose PR manager, in turn, emailed Adams the following ‘apology’:
“I feel terrible about this impression/misconception and want to do everything I can to rectify the situation as soon as possible,” Kristi Paris said. “May I please invite you and your friends in as my guests for lunch/dinner and drinks on us? I’d love to meet you and your friends and have the chance to personally apologize for any negativity you experienced here.”
(The email, of course, made no mention of the guys in white t-shirts who were allowed into the club.)
Nick replied… Kristi- I do appreciate that you sought me out after receiving complaints from my friends, fans, and supporters regarding the other night at Turtle Bay.
I completely understand that you have a policy regarding capacity and dresscode. My posts via Twitter, facebook, and my blog comment on how your bouncer made me feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. I watched him let a group of gentlemen into the bar, one of whom had an identical shirt to mine.
I do have to inform you that some messages posted on my blog by your general manager truly negate any goodwill you attempted in your deflection.
I will not attempt to become a patron of Turtle Bay, nor do I plan to mention it any further. Perhaps now your establishment and staff will be hyper aware of these situations and hopefully others in the gay community of New York will avoid an uncomfortable situation like I experienced.
Nick
Adams appreciates the bars attempt to reconcile the matter but says, bottom line, “I was discriminated against. I will not give my business to Turtle Bay and I urge you to do the same. This womans attempt to brush this aside as a misunderstanding is disingenuous at best if not hurtful and offensive to myself and the gay community of New York City.
Look for Adams’ solo cabaret show at NYC’s Birdland on August 17th!! Can’t wait!!
Book your reservations soon as it’s limited seating. Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenue). Tickets are $25 and $35 with a $10 food/drink minimum.
For more information visit Birdland Jazz or by Telephone 212-581-3080.
The Best of Gay New York
More News from Fringe Festival – The Boys Upstairs from Jason Mitchell
These three Hell’s Kitchen Boys encounter all of the challenges, thrills, disappointments, tops and bottoms that young adult New York life has to offer.
Seth is falling in love with his older boyfriend while attempting to seek approval from his single best friends.
Ashley feeds on the variety, availability and accessibility of men in Manhattan.
Josh finds inspiration from the antics of his two besties and his own humorously disastrous trials with dating and funnels it all into his newest writing concept.
Just when these three settle into a rhythm of celebrating life and then analyzing it the next morning, they are all thrown for a loop when their incredibly hot neighbor Eric moves in below them. The “is he or isn’t he” question is just one of many that these city boys ponder with style, scandal, and specialty cocktails!
Written by: Jason Mitchell THE BOYS UPSTAIRS will be playing at the The New York International Fringe Festival August 15-28.
Tickets on sale now for $15. For tickets call 866.468.7619 or visit FRINGE NYC.
SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
SAT 8/15 @ 2:30 – 4:05 SUN 8/16 @ 12:30–2:05
TUE 8/18 @ 7:00–8:35 THUR 8/27 @ 5:00–6:35 FRI 8/28 @ 7:00–8:35
The Best of Gay New York
Naked Cowboy – To Run For Mayor of New York City!
The Naked Cowboy plans to run against Mayor Bloomberg on a platform of “bringing transparency to a whole new level.”
A fixture in Times Square for a decade, Robert Burck has made a profitable business from strumming a guitar dressed only in cowboy boots and hat and tight-fitting white briefs, asking tourists to pay a fee to take a picture with him. He travels widely marketing products ranging from underwear to comics.
The Naked Cowboy, in a statement announcing the official launch of his candidacy, said his platform would include a stimulus plan for small businesses.
“No one knows how to do more with less than yours truly, and that’s the kind of thinking I plan on sharing with my fellow New Yorkers when you elect me,” he said, promising new ideas on tax breaks, tourism, gay marriage, transit and homeland security.
He also vowed to have a Times Square wedding chapel built in order to rival Las Vegas’s marriage profits, while stating that he could see the venture become a billion dollar boom for the metropolitan area.
Meanwhile, Michael Bloomberg, the current mayor of New York City, is expected to run for an unprecedented third term in office.
YEAH! We’d VOTE FOR ROBERT!
The Best of Gay New York
Jonny “The Gay Pimp” McGovern Debuts One-Man Comedy Show at the 13th Annual New York International Fringe Festival
Comedian Jonny McGovern, star of MTV-LOGO’s Big Gay Sketch Show, debuts a new version of his GLAAD Media Award nominated one-man show, DIRTY STUFF, at the 13th annual New York International Fringe Festival-Fringe NYC. The limited run engagement will take place August 14th through August 30th at The Actors’ Playhouse, 100 Seventh Avenue South, between Bleecker & Christopher Streets.
What do a gay pimp, a blaxploitation movie diva, a spoiled Arab circuit boy, a trailer park superstar wannabe and closeted gay boy have in common? McGovern plays them all in this shockingly un-p.c. tour de farce. DIRTY STUFF sets the lives of these characters into loopy cartoon club crawl through a world where glamour reigns supreme and a fake Chanel bag is worth its weight in gold!
Writer/Performer Jonny McGovern is best known as a cast member on “The Big Gay Sketch Show” produced by Rosie O’Donnell and for his hilarious music videos including “Soccer Practice” and “Somethin’ for the Fellas (That like the Fellas)” which have played on MTV, VH-1 and LOGO. He is also the host of iTunes’ #1 LGBT podcast “Gay Pimpin’ with Jonny McGovern” which reaches 15,000 listeners weekly.
DIRTY STUFF, which will also feature a live DJ, is directed by Courtney Munch who helmed the original production which was nominated for “Best Gay Themed Play” by HX magazine and Best NY Stage Production by The GLAAD Media Awards.
Show times are Friday, August 14th at 10:15pm; Sunday, August 16th at 6:15pm; Wednesday, August 26th at 4:15pm; Thursday, August 27th at 7pm; and Sunday August 30th at 2:45pm.
Tickets are $15. For additional information, please visit FRINGE NYC.
The Best of Gay New York
Janice Dickinson vs. MIMI IMFURST – America’s Next TOP!
I LOVE THIS CITY!
Where else can you go and hang out with hot go-go boys at 4am?
have Sbarro at 5am? Pick up a tranny at 6am?
This city has it all! And creative beyond creative!
OK – so we don’t usaully plug bar nights. I am so OVER $5 pitchers, free well, blah, blah, BLAH! But, when something fun and fabulous comes along, we just have to share in the FUN!
AMERICA’S NEXT TOP! with MIMI IMFURST
Are you a TOP? Are you looking for a top?
will search NYC for AMERICA’S NEXT TOP TOP!
Question/Answer, Best Fake Orgasm, Sexy Strip-Off, & More!
FREE BOOZE, A BIG PRIZE PACKAGE and a secured chance to win $1,000.00!!!!!
Winners from the 8 weeks will be invited back to
compete for the BIG PRIZE: $1,000 IN ACTUAL CASH!!!!
Plus: a photoshoot with WilsonModels.com, a spread in NEXT magazine and VIP LUXURY PRIZE PACKAGE!!!!
will score the contestants based on their performance.
HELLO?!? Why were’nt we invited to judge??
Every time a customer buys a drink- they’ll get an official ballot! So bring your friends!
The more they drink- the more votes you can get- and one step further you’ll be to $1,000
in cold hard cash!!!!!!
Start Time: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 10:00pm
End Time: Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 1:00am
Location: DTOX 31 Second Avenue, Between 1st and 2nd New York City
For more information – contact mimiimfurst @ gmail.com
Best of Gay New York
Stonewall Riots Remembered
Yesterday in Times Square on the TKTS stairs some folks did a photo “recreation” of the Stonewall Riots, this weekend being the 40th Anniversary. Participants included Gavin Creel and other cast members from HAIR, sexy chorus boys dressed as sailors, and dancers/voguers from the Federation of Ballroom Houses, who will be featured in this Saturday’s LOVE BALL – the official opening night party of NYC’s Gay Pride – at the Nokia Theater, Times Square .
Hippies, drag queens and white boys were all present at the Stonewall Bar the night of the police raid, which ignited the riots. Remembering the continued need to fight for equal civil rights and marriage equality, performers re-staged this protest in Times Square in an effort to draw attention to this ongoing battle.
The Best of Gay New York
Celebrate Diversity and Gay Pride in New York City
Celebrate Diversity!
Wishing everyone a safe and HAPPY PRIDE
from Best Gay New York and the Best Gay Cities Guides!
