Features

Famed Photographer Joe Oppedisano put fetish fashions on stage live last month at a special edition of The F Word at Rebel continue reading »

The top of the tops (and bottoms!) will be honored as rentboy.com celebrates the best In the world of male escorts at the Fourth Annual Hookie Awards.

Rentboys, hustlers, hookers. They work hard for the money and now they are working hard for the credit. On Friday, March 19 Rentboy.com is presenting the Hookies, their fourth yearly international escort awards honoring the erotic talents of the hustling world’s sexiest men in over 14 categories including Best Top, Best Ass and the coveted crown of Mr. International Escort 2010. “Escorts are glamorized in the gay world but they don’t always get a lot of respect,” says RentBoy.com’s U.S. CEO, Sean Van Sant. “The awards are [a] way for fans to applaud these men for the unique service they provide.” We took a look at New York’s own nominees to see if they have what it takes to bring an award home to the Big Apple.      N continue reading »

In many ways the Black Party has always been a tango. A sexual game of give and take, originating as a signature party for the private gay dance club The Saint and evolving past the club’s own expiration to become a gay New York cornerstone—but also a hotbed for controversy and scandal. So then it is no surprise that organizing body, The Saint at Large, chose “Early ’30s South America: Tango – The Forbidden Dance” as the theme for the first Black Party of the new decade. And Black Party fans can expect plenty of seductive Latin flavor thanks to world-famous DJs including Hector Fonseca, Paulo, Ana Paula and those famous “strange live acts” from the likes of Rose Wood, Ricky Sinz, same-sex tango dancers and over 60 assorted performers, dancers and aerialists. We turned to The Saint at Large’s Stephen Pevner for the inside scoop on this year’s fiesta caliente. continue reading »

A lot of elements go into pulling off the Black Party, which is why this year the Saint at Large has expanded their circuit extravaganza with an afternoon-long erotic expo. Described as “the behind the scenes of the world’s sexiest party,” the expo will offer more of the “strange live acts” from the larger circuit party and vendors from across the gay adult world, from porn to fetish wear—but at a slightly more accessible hour. “[We are] opening the doors to people who wouldn’t normally see themselves in a sea of men dancing tribal on the dance floor,” says Black Party Expo Director Matt Humphrey. “This is an opportunity for an Average Joe or straight couples and women [to] kinda come in and experience these elements without having go to the Black Party themselves.” What mysteries await curious patrons? Humphrey helped us sift through the fetish free-for-all to pick out some of the day’s highlights. continue reading »

With its inspiration firmly in the Rodgers & Hammerstein handbook, the abundantly charming Yank! is a delight. Sure, with its reliance on sketchy supporting characters that fall perfectly in line with war movie clichés, you could pick apart the book if you wanted to, but why bother? The score, by out brothers Joseph and`1 David Zellnik, is a surprisingly tuneful collection of 1940s pastiche delivered by a top-notch cast starring Bobby Steggert and Ivan Hernandez as Stu and Mitch, soldiers who meet and fall in love despite Stu’s photography assignment with Yank! Magazine and Mitch’s growing discomfort with his sexuality. There’s real chemistry between Steggert and Hernandez, particularly the scene when they first kiss on a train that’s as palpable and heartbreaking as anything on stage in New York. Their army buddies are robustly brought to life by a superb supporting cast including Jeffry Denman as a toe-tapping reporter who takes Stu under his proverbial wing, and the indefatigable Nancy Anderson, who plays all the women in the show with real verve style. Yank! may be small in size and production values but its heart is as big as the love story it tells. Don’t miss it! continue reading »

Not all curry is equal. Peter Sherwood sorts through New York’s Thai overload to find the best of the South Asian cusine.
 
Entre nous, I duck into Little Basil (153 E 26th St, btwn Lexington/Third Aves, 212-689-1444, LittleBasil.com) on the occasional afternoon for their incredible Pad See-Ew ($8) with frizzled egg, thin slices of firm chicken and wide noodles making a bed where wilted Asian broccoli nestles with garlic and soy sauce. I’ve researched Thai restaurants in different neighborhoods for the best preparation of this dish but I love it most herea. Plus, they always seem to have an unexpectedly discriminating, rotating list of wines, such as a verdant white Verdicchio ($8) or a clean, satisfying Sauvignon Blanc ($8).
  continue reading »

Next Magazine’s celebs of New York reveal their favorite take-out joints.
 
Sweetie, “New York’s Big Titted Honky Soul Momma,” has graced the stages of the best drag venues in New York for nearly two decades. We have admired her ample talents in clubs (too many to mention), theaters (recently, Off-Broadway’s Wig Out), on television (including The Oprah Winfrey Show and Project Runway) and the silver screen (in films like To Wong Foo… and Charmed Life). The Glammy-winning, long-standing queen of lip sync can chew up a song and spit it out like nobody else. Sweetie is currently hard at work in the new drag theater company, Shim Mamsir Productions. So what savory does Sweetie select for takeaway? continue reading »

Time Investment: 101 min.
Return on Investment: 1 min.
 
Perhaps the most derivative, joyless and unimaginative movie-going experience in recent memory, Our Family Wedding (Fox Searchlight Pictures) was nothing less, and nothing more, than My Big Fat Blatino Wedding. And where Greek Wedding managed to win over audiences with its naïve charm, bumbling racial references and good-natured stars, Family Wedding comes off as extremely trite all at once, with overwrought racial overtones and histrionics flying. continue reading »

Time Investment: 152 min.
Return on Investment: 150 min.
 
In the Swedish film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Music Box Films), the character of Lisbeth Salander (the eponymous Girl, played by Noomi Rapace) brings her own beguiling sense of open mystery to a plot already brimming with unanswered questions, unsolved murders and family secrets. Anywhere else, this would probably annoy or tease, but this expertly handled film is a brilliant exception, as is Rapace. From one scene to the next, she is able to exude the boyish don’t-fuck-with-me toughness of a biker dyke followed by the tender—if not exactly feminine—vulnerability of someone who’s been seriously victimized. And even though we don’t see the whole picture of who this person is (we may never be allowed to get that vantage point), we are somehow completely enthralled nonetheless. continue reading »

Somehow it makes perfect sense to us that in a year where the virtual world of Avatar reigned supreme at the movies, virtual band Gorillaz would return on the scene with their most cinematic sounding album yet. The brainchild of Damon Albarn (of Britpop band Blur) and Tank Girl comic-book illustrator Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz’s third album Plastic Beach shows an evolution since their previous effort five years ago, the double platinum Demon Days. On the one hand Albarn helms the songwriting, production, singing and playing like before, but he also manages to cull an eclectic group of cameos including Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Mos Def and Lou Reed. Then there’s the sound, which ditches much of the pop of its predecessors, instead giving a film-like feel brimming with world music and electronic textures—and like a movie, it also tells a bit of a story, taking listeners on a submerged trip to the Plastic Beach world. (It’s hard to pull out specific singles as each song almost needs to be heard in its own utterly brilliant, cohesive musical context). The video for “Stylo” shows promise that the new crop of videos will be just as star studded and cinematic as the music—this one includes a car-chase scene in the desert featuring Bruce Willis and loads of special effects including Harry Potter Dementor-like creatures. Look for the band to headline the final night of the infamous Coachella music festival in California on April 18th. continue reading »

Veteran underground dance DJ/Producer Chris Staropoli a.k.a. That Kid Chris hits the decks at Club 57 on Saturday, March 13 to celebrate the release of this new CD, Morning Rush, due March 30. continue reading »

Following the successful off-broadway  run of his first big play, Tea At Five, about actress Katharine Hepburn, you’d think that former soap-opera writer Matthew Lombardo would be riding high. High he was, but in a way he was not proud of. The out playwright, now 45, was at the height of his battle with crystal meth. “The biggest success of my life so far was tainted with this really harrowing awful addiction,” he admits to us over lunch at 44 & X. “It just ruined my career.” continue reading »

The 60 Thompson Hotel has certainly got a lot going on besides the delicious Kittichai restaurant on the ground floor, where I had the pleasure of dining on Lulzim Rexhepi’s fusion cuisine last year—further up is the members-only roof-deck scene—but in between is the gorgeous Thom Bar, where Grupo Irék unleashes his unique brand of Cuban rhythms every Sunday night, playing three live sets at 9pm, 10pm and 11pm. continue reading »

Next Magazine style guru—and Bravo reality star— Patrick McDonald gives the scoop on the final Fashion Week at Bryant Park (it’s heading to Lincoln Center) and the fabbest looks for fall/winter 2010. continue reading »

Go-go boys are a many splendored thing: attractive, shirtless and often well-hung. It’s hard not to sneak a peek when in the same room with a gyrating beauty. We all do it, turning these fine gents into fine pieces of meat. But take a step back and look at the evolution of the species and you’ll have a whole new view of the go-gos, one that will change how you leer at those boys on the bar.

Go-go boys are a staple in New York’s gay nightlife, their ubiquity almost negating their ability to arouse. But it wasn’t always that way, for go-go dancers can trace their lineage way back to the early 1960s, when women began dancing at bars like New York’s Peppermint Lounge. Artist Ronnie Cutrone, known to some as the first true go-go boy, said that Trudy Heller’s club was “the haven, the womb of go-go dancing.” The men kept it classy, he says, dancing in white shirts and vests. continue reading »

Time Investment: 108 min.
Return on Investment: 65 min.

The idea of Tim Burton adapting Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Studios) makes a kind of sense but still raises mixed expectations. Will the visionary add anything new to the tale? continue reading »

Time Investment: 140 min.
Return on Investment: 125 min.

Some things never change. Ethan Hawke is still trying to convince us he’s a bad boy, Richard Gere still likes making prostitutes feel like his girlfriends and director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) is still making movies about good cops going bad—and that’s a good thing in his newest film, Brooklyn’s Finest (Overture). continue reading »

When compared to the other off-off-Broadway gay comedies that spring up with frightening regularity, When Joey Married Bobby is harmless fun and worth seeing for the pricelessly funny performance of star Tina McKissick. She plays Sarah Edwards, a pushy Southern socialite throwing a gay wedding for her son, Joey (the handsome Matt Pender), while not jeopardizing her chances of winning Christian of the Year from her ultra-conservative Baptist church. Though the script by John William Gibson and Anthony Wyatt Morris vacillates wildly between razor-sharp hilarity and silly, sophomoric inconsistency, McKissick spins comedy into gold with the stage presence and comic timing of a young Rue McClanahan. Whether battling with her domestic help (a no-nonsense Jennifer Banner Sobers); lending a warm shoulder to Joey’s HIV+ best man (a terrific William Yoder); fighting with her mother-in-law (an unleashed Deborah Johnstone) or kissing up to the minister’s wife, Charity Divine (played to the hilt by Lady Bunny), McKissick is utterly hysterical—and deserving of a more worthy vehicle for her talents. continue reading »

 
The sinfully sexy Miss Maggie Moore along with her adorable musical director, Geoffrey Kiorpes, reunite for a concert of originals and covers from off the beaten path on March 20 at the 92nd Street Y’s new 92YTribeca venue (200 Hudson St at Canal St, 212-601-1000). Joined onstage by David Bowie bassist Gail Ann Dorsey debuting on drums, and Alyson Palmer of the band Betty on bass, Moore & Kiorpes will be rocking on Hudson Street. continue reading »

When Cabaret Crooner Michael Feinstein and comedian dame edna unite on broadway, wigs will fly.
 
It’s either the most daring move in show business or the biggest prank ever pulled on the Great White Way. Out singer Michael Feinstein, the keeper of the Great American Songbook, has joined forces with beloved Australian icon Dame Edna Everage for an all-new Broadway show, All About Me. continue reading »

Dinner at Scuderia was a shameful, indulgent affair—we wanted practically everything on the menu, ordered much of it and couldn’t help but eat all of our selections over several grazing hours. Perhaps I was slightly peckish at the start, but it’s difficult not to relent to the effusive staff, which encourages eating and drinking as much as possible. It’s hardly surprising that Silvano Marchetto, the gentleman behind the iconic and celebrified Da Silvano across the street, is also co-owner here. continue reading »

Next Magazine’s celebs of New York reveal their favorite take-out joints.
 
Dee Roscioli currently plays Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway and holds the record for the most performances of the role than any other actor—snap that, Menzel! She’s performed at Splash and Birdland, and is also featured in the April issue of Out Magazine alongside Cheyenne Jackson, Gavin Creel and Kristin Chenoweth. So what dish does Dee find to be wickedly dee-licious? continue reading »

Cascading in this week is angelic San Francisco house songstress Samantha James with a brand-new single, “Waves of Change.”  Riding the wave is another SF music maven, DJ/remixer/producer Kaskade, who shores up a slew of remixes on the track. Admittedly, we don’t feel like it comes close to James’ amazing previous efforts like “Rise” and “Breathe You In” (the melody here is a bit clunky), but we still have high hopes for her upcoming sophomore album, Subconscious. continue reading »

VJ TonyBuilt spins video, ranging from Lady Gaga to Liza (and his own unique video mash-ups) every Sunday at Score in the Luxe Suite at Lucky Strike Lanes (624 W 42nd St) beginning Sunday, March 14. continue reading »

It’s hard to miss Bitch, even if you’ve never met her before and aren’t familiar with her from her early 2000s punk-folk duo, Bitch and Animal. The multi-colored dreadlocks she’s worn for most of her career have been replaced by a spiky jet-black haircut, but she’s still unmistakable. For our interview at Paradise Café in Chelsea she’s wearing a neon pink cowl-neck number, chunky pink geometric earrings that don’t match, a gauzy bustle and red fingerless driving gloves—a recent rediscovery. “Don’t you love it when you rediscover fashion?” she asks, eyes twinkling. continue reading »

 
The Village Voice invites you to bring yer eatin’ pants to the upcoming third annual Choice Eats event on March 22, 2010 at the 69th Armory on Lexington Avenue. Over 50 restaurants are scheduled to be represented and newcomers to the table this year include DuMont, Patacon Pisao, El Almacen, Fatty Crab, Egg, Max, Luke’s Lobster, Spicy Bampa a.k.a. Bamboo Pavilion, Rajbhog Sweets & Snacks, Ambiance Restaurant, Mercadito Restaurants, Pinche Taqueria, Smorgas Chef, The Vanderbilt, Baohaus, Mooncake Foods and Hummus Place. continue reading »

A friend of ours who is Chinese grew up in Great Neck currently lives outside of Philadelphia and wanted a taste of Korea when she came to visit Manhattan. At her behest, we hightailed it to Do Hwa in the West Village. We had a fun night as well as a wonderful meal, thanks to the variety of dishes we tried and the stylized manner in which the many plates were served. continue reading »

Drag queens, bartenders, promoters, performers, DJs and go-go boys. Their job is to booze, dance and party all night. So you may be surprised at what Wilsonmodels catches them doing when they gather on their night off. continue reading »

We catch up with Little Boots on the eve of her U.S. release and tour
 
Considering she was seated in the front row at the DKNY show in the tents at Bryant Park a few weeks ago, you’d think Victoria Hesketh—the woman better known as Little Boots—would be all about Fashion Week. But it was one of only a few shows she caught. “I was in the studio, so that was a priority.” continue reading »

After bursting onto the scene with their successful friday night throwback, paradise lost at boots & saddle, 21st century life move uptown for their next venture, confession.
 
It’s no secret that the ’70s are dead, but an obsession with the era’s liberating and attitude-free scene has long since remained. One such example is the team of self-proclaimed party boys Robert Maril, 29, and Austin Helms, 26, co-founders of 21st Century Life, a nightlife promotional company that looks to bring a new wave of throwback parties to a new generation. Working by day as an opera singer and an admissions counselor, respectively, the pair enjoyed recent success at West Village dive Boots & Saddle with Paradise Lost, and are riding their success up to the Ritz with their newest endeavor, Confession. The boys shared their hedonistic vibe and explained how they plan to let you enjoy shirtless men and mimosas. continue reading »

Taking a page from Mo’Nique’s skyrocketing career, comedian and actress Erica Watson’s hilariously filthy one-woman show, Fat Bitch, is more than meets the eye—much more! Filled with razor-sharp observations about the trials and tribulations of plus-sized black women, Watson’s savvy monologue is also filled with scatological stories of bathroom drama, the war between penises and vaginas, the horrors of dating as well as the marginalization of black women into “mammy”-like stereotypes. She’ll have you laughing your ass off one minute and testifying to the heavens the next. Watson is a fresh, funny voice whose time has come…and woe to the poor fool who tries to stand in her way! continue reading »

 
Unfortunately, it appears Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio has bottomed out with his dinner menu at ’wichcraft in the Flatiron District—although it is economically sound, most of what sounds good is disappointingly executed.
 
We liked the wine: a white Chilean Amayna Sauvignon Blanc ($14/half-bottle) resonating with melon and apple also struck me as vaguely tropical; the Italian red Gianfranco Alessandria Barbera d’Alba ($15/half-bottle) was served chilled, with a light body and a peppery finish. continue reading »

Comedian Margo Rose Ferderer, star reporter for NY2, brings the people of the world and beyond the latest breaking in semi-important news. As Ferderer proudly states, she’s “Number Two!” She proves this with her exclusive interview parodys  with stars like the fabulous Carolee Carmello and segments explaining how friends with benefits get benefits. Other important New York topics include being homeless, trash and Mother’s Day gifts. So what’s a feast for Ferderer? continue reading »

Erickatoure Aviance burst onto the New York scene in 1999 as a dance-school student and daughter of the House of Aviance. “I started dressing up as soon as I got here and was soon noticed by the nightlife powers that be,” the drag diva explains. Aviance’s look is unique—a mix of ’80s-era glamour with DIY flourishes. (Fellow club royal One-Half Nelson and her sisters in the House help her pull together her Joan Collins-meets-Shelia E. look.) Known for her fierce turns at the Ritz, The F Word and Hudson Hotel’s The Happening—and being ejected from The Wendy Williams Show for looking a little too ferosh—Erickatoure is also a singer: We lived for her single, “My Pumps,” and her new EP drops March 9 on iTunes. We threatened to burn a vintage Versace and got her to unzip her lips. continue reading »

Time Investment: 138 min.
Return on Investment: 100 min.


“We all go a little mad sometimes,” Norman Bates says in Alfred Hitchcock’s psychological masterpiece Psycho. But exactly where does going “mad sometimes” end and insanity begin? The blurry line denoting the edge of sanity is at the core of Martin Scorsese’s own Hitchcockian thriller, Shutter Island (Paramount). continue reading »

Time Investment: 86 min.
Return on Investment: 50 min.
 
The most dangerous subject a documentarian can choose is him or herself. Objectivity is naturally compromised and there’s a high risk of alienating those closest to you. What’s more, when looking into the metaphorical mirror it’s hard to differentiate one strand of your life from another. This is the problem that plagues Prodigal Sons (First Run Features), the debut effort from transgender filmmaker Kimberly Reed. At the outset, it appears Sons will recount Reed’s transformation from male to female as she returns to rural Montana for her 20th high school reunion. But as the story unfolds, we learn Reed’s  struggle is less with her classmates than with her adopted brother, Marc McKerrow, who was left emotionally and mentally unstable after a serious car accident in his early 20s. Marc’s outbursts have soured his relationship with Kim, their mother, Carol, and his own wife and child. Then we learn about Marc’s birth family—a surprise twist—and Sons veers into another direction. continue reading »

After their song “Evacuate the Dancefloor” proved to do anything but—being one of last year’s dance-floor favorites—Eurodance group Cascada is back. The album Evacuate the Dancefloor was just released this past August, and they already have a new album coming out. New song “Pyromania” is said to be the first single. Similar to “Evacuate,” the song bites Lady Gaga’s sound (not necessarily a bad thing), though we don’t find it as enticing as their last single. After all, we want to evacuate before a pyromaniac actually sets us on fire! continue reading »

DJ Tikka Masala delivers the fresh beats at monthly party Fresh Friday at Bushwick’s cute Tandem bar and That’s My Jam at The Bell House every third Saturday of the month. Check out DJTikka.com for details. continue reading »

When William Johnson was 15 and just beginning to understand his sexual orientation, he came across a copy of George Whitmore’s The Confessions of Danny Slocum in a Hartsdale, New York library. The novel changed Johnson’s life, teaching him the power words have for gay men. “I stole the book from the library,” Johnson, 36, admits, “and it has become a psalm-like touchstone for what I love to read: a lyrical snapshot of gay life that is often not considered for the established canon.” continue reading »

More than just a collection of erotic drawings, the legacy of New York’s queer art scene demands—and deserves—preservation. Herein lies The quest to document our history in pencil, ink and watercolor.

Today, anyone looking to see a naked man doesn’t have to work too hard.  If you can’t find a porn website to your liking with a cursory search of the Internet, then check out any gossip blog for the latest celebrity sex photos. We live in a city where the only thing coming between the world and David Beckham’s mega-penis on a billboard in Times Square is a little piece of Emporio Armani underwear. continue reading »

Raven O Spreads his wings and shares his story in a new one-man-show, One night with you.
 
In Native American folklore, the raven is a trickster. With his devilish smile, sultry voice and checkered past, it would be easy to see alt-cabaret star Raven O in that mythological role. Arriving in New York in 1989 (after winning a one-way ticket in a dance contest in his native Hawaii), he took roost in the East Village, singing in seedy clubs and cabarets and befriending luminaries like Grace Jones, Keith Haring and Joey Arias, who is now a lifelong friend and mentor. By the early ’90s, though, Raven fell prey to drugs and resorted to hustling to feed his habit. The bleached-blond bard—who emerged from his addiction to star in acclaimed shows at Bar d’O, The Box and Las Vegas—revisits the good and bad times in his new show, One Night with You, coming to the Bleecker Street Theater on February 23 and March 2. continue reading »

Actor Bobby Steggert, star of the new gay musical yank!, proves hard work and determination in this town still account for something.
 
For Bobby Steggert, the fresh-scrubbed, irresistibly sexy star of shows as disparate as 110 in the Shade and The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island, Stephen Sondheim’s iconic lyric about show business survival, "Top billing Monday, Tuesday you're touring in stock...I’m still here" has lately proven to have a ring of truth to it. But this costar of the prematurely shuttered revival of The Kennedy Center’s sensational production of Ragtime—in which he won rave reviews as Mother’s Younger Brother—has rebounded by starring in the upcoming Off-Broadway production of Yank!, which began previews at The York on February 16. continue reading »

Donald Margulies’ terrific new play, Time Stands Still, boasts smart writing as well as bravura performances from a stellar cast including Laura Linney, Brian d’Arcy James, Eric Bogosian and Alicia Silverstone. The story of a photojournalist (Linney) and her journalist boyfriend (James) at a crossroads in their relationship as well as professional careers, Time Stands Still is that rare adult drama you’ll think about long after you leave the theater. Nearly killed covering the war in the Middle East, Linney arrives home to be cared for by James and visited by her editor (Bogosian) and his girlfriend (Silverstone). Dealing with uncertain futures, Margulies dramatizes the difficulty of one couple’s attempt to reconcile their relationship within the natural progression of their changing lives. continue reading »

Rockin’ In Rhythm - A Tribute To Duke Ellington
John Pizzarelli

The great jazz guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli takes on Duke Ellington with his sensational new disc on Telarc, Rockin’ In Rhythm – A Tribute to Duke Ellington.  From “Satin Doll” to “Perdido” to the rarely heard “Love Scene,” Pizzarelli’s talent for reinventing jazz classics is at its zenith on this wonderful collection of standards. Perfect for the mid-winter blues. (Telarc Records) continue reading »

Whew! This address has certainly witnessed a lot of changes over the last few years, what with Stonewall Bistro, Gianna’s and Ostia twisting through the culinary revolving door. Now Ofrenda, meaning “oblation” (yup, a new word to me too—it’s a religious offering) has set up shop, helmed by the excellent Chef Luis Arce Mota, formerly of Café Condesa. His Mazatlan-influenced fare is not only refined but racy as well, and just downright tasty. continue reading »

Next Magazine’s celebs of New York reveal their favorite take-out joints.
 
Aaron Star has gained international success through his work of bringing men together to explore spirituality and sexuality through his Manhattan-based Hot Nude Yoga, which launched in March 2001. Since then, Hot Nude Yoga has grown into a full-time yoga Studio on 23rd Street offering a full collection of DVDs, web downloads and spa-like retreats around the world in such places as France, Hawaii, India and Bali. Star has now opened his own beautiful new oceanfront yoga sanctuary and spa in Costa Rica called Blue Osa, which offers hotel, restaurant and wellness facilities. So what sensible supper would Star give four stars? continue reading »

Whether it’s the Life Ball, the Pill Awards or the Gay Erotic Expo, if there’s a red carpet with homos on it, you’ll probably find media personality Mike Diamond there.  The avowed “unrepentant attention hog” began interviewing folks in P-Town a few years ago, but has moved on to segments for Fierth.com and Logo’s PopLab and TripOutGayTravel.com. “I  like shy people because they get all giggly and weird and  end up having a good time,” says Diamond about his favorite subjects. “Also, big beefy hunks who agree to give me piggyback rides on camera!” We polished Diamond up nice and got him to shine. continue reading »

Time Investment: 95 min.
Return on Investment: 75 min.
 
Having seen Mitchell Lichtenstein’s first feature, the vagina dentata horror flick Teeth, one is not sure what to expect from this pop artist’s son who turned from acting to directing. This sentiment continues to hold true, perhaps more so, for Lichtenstein’s second feature, Happy Tears (Roadside Attractions). continue reading »

Time Investment: 90 min.
Return on Investment: 45 min.
 
The Good Guy (Roadside Attractions) is a curious film. Set up like a clichéd New York romantic comedy—the characters live in too-perfect apartments, the guys are too nice to girls they like and the supporting cast is just funny enough to not steal scenes from each other—the film and its title are misleading. And purposely so. The Good Guy isn’t actually a romantic comedy at all—it’s an exploration in untrustworthy narrators, a fact that makes it somewhat hard to like. continue reading »

 
It seems damn near everyone is launching a comeback these days, and somehow it’s always tied into a reality show. In fact, we could make our own reality show about all the former-big-names-turned-small-names going onto reality shows to try and become a big name again. Though surely VH1 did something like that already… continue reading »

DJ Jonathan Warman spins fruity rock nuggets, the cream of indie electro pop and disco utopia at Nowhere Bar’s Homo Superior on Sunday, February 28 and every fourth Sunday of the month. continue reading »

Adapted from Luis Arce Mota’s inspiring menu at Ofrenda, the Coliflor Capeada (cauliflower fritters) at this cocina Mexicana involve meringue-battered cauliflower, sumptuous chipotle-tomato sauce, and cauliflower purée. Do try this at home, just hang on to your cojones! continue reading »

Not a moment too soon, the husband-and-wife team of Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano have officially become New York’s premiere cabaret couple with their new show at The Oak Room, This Thing Called Love. Their first extended engagement together at this legendary watering hole, …Love boasts a witty and stylish set list featuring classics rendered with a fresh twist, such as “Tonight” and “Old Devil Moon,” as well as more obscure fare performed in a classic manner, like “The Great City” (by Curtis R. Lewis) and “Cactus Tree” (by Joni Mitchell). continue reading »

Richard Klein looks to unite the LGBT workforce on his new professional networking website, dot429.

As gay culture moves from the Meatpacking’s back alleys to Midtown’s boardrooms, so too does the way in which gays communicate and network. Which is why Surface Magazine publisher Richard Klein developed dot429, an innovative new online community that specifically aims to connect LGBT professionals. continue reading »

Looking your best—you can’t do it on your own! So thank goodness you live in a great gay city like New York, where trained professional are available at your beck-and-call to get you feeling and looking your best. And if there’s one subset of New Yorkers that knows what it takes to look pretty, it’s drag queens. That’s why we’ve asked some of New York’s top queens to highlight some of the best gyms, spas, doctors and beauty experts that our great city has to offer. And with discounts (see p.26) for services at every one of the places listed on the following pages, there’s no excuse not to put your best face forward this spring. continue reading »

The transport group’s new intimate staging of mart crowley’s play, The Boys in the Band, helps solidify the work’s relevancy and legacy more than 40 years after its debut.
 
Since its opening in 1968, Mart Crowley’s seminal gay play, The Boys in the Band, has had a colorful and controversial history. Critics have called it stereotypical and self-loathing. But on the eve of an innovative revival, playwright Mart Crowley is sanguine about such concerns. continue reading »

Roundabout’s sparkling revival of Noël Coward’s Present Laughter is an Art Deco treat for the eye and ear. Starring Broadway and television star Victor Garber as Garry Essendine, a deliciously self-absorbed actor (that Coward modeled on himself!), Present Laughter is a hilarious comedy about a day in Essendine’s life as he readies himself for a tour of Africa, deals with all the women in his life who are driving him crazy, puts off a crazed playwright who’s obsessed with him and fights his inevitable slide into “middle-age.” Though Coward’s acerbic dialogue doesn’t come as effortlessly to Garber as it did to Frank Langella in the brilliant 1996–97 revival (that also launched Allison Janney’s career), he makes the role his own as he fusses, fumes, simpers and rails against the injustices being done to him. Briskly directed by Nicholas Martin on Alexander Dodge’s set spectacular with lavish period costumes by Jane Greenwood, Present Laughter is a rare theatrical treat, indeed. continue reading »

The Spanish tradition has become small phenomenon. Next Magazine singles out the best of New York’s little plate treasures.
 
Were it possible, I’d sit at home with little plates of Spanish tapas all day—but here are some viable options when dining out. continue reading »

Next Magazine’s celebs of New York reveal their favorite take-out joints.
 
The divine Ms. Fraser garnered two Tony Award-nominations for playing Martha in The Secret Garden and Josefine/Monica in Romance/Romance. Also on Broadway, she’s portrayed Dorine in Tartuffe: Born Again, Helena in The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Tessie Tura in Arthur Laurents’ acclaimed revival of Gypsy starring Patti LuPone. Fraser costarred with Nathan Lane and Marian Seldes in the New York City premiere of Terrence McNally’s Dedication, or the Stuff of Dreams, originated the roles of Uta in The Green Heart and Trina in March of the Falsettos and received the first Barrymore Award as The Blonde in the Wilma Theater’s production of Gunmetal Blues. Currently Alison is absolutely habit-forming alongside Charles Busch in The Divine Sister directed by Carl Andress. So what food would make Fraser forsake all others? continue reading »

The bubbly Lady Bunny is currently stretching her thespian talents in When Joey Married Bobby, the new queer comedy now at Theater 80 St Marks. “I play Charity Divine, a Southern Baptist minister’s wife who’s daffy...but with a temper,” says the North Carolina import. “The writing is hysterical. I can see it becoming a film or sitcom.” Bunny hopped onto the scene as a go-go dancer at the Pyramid  in the ’80s, and got her first DJ  from infamous club king Michael Alig. Her new “day job” in the theater means she’s had to bolt after the curtain falls on Fridays to make it to Amalia, where she spins at the weekly Rockit party.“I’ll leave there at 4am with a full beard,” she moans. We tempted “Bunion” with a big, uncut carrot and got her to open up. continue reading »

Time Investment: 90 min.
Return on Investment: 20 min.
 
Probably the best thing one can say about Valentine’s Day is that it’s not as bad as it looks. An ensemble rom-com from Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman) with a no-brainer title doesn’t inspire the highest expectations. The appealing cast—everyone from Julia Roberts and Shirley MacLaine to Jennifer Garner and the Taylors (Swift and Lautner)—is all that salvages this well-intentioned heap of mediocrity. When the script isn’t eye-rollingly cheesy (“Your dad sure knows how to juggle,” quoth Patrick Dempsey’s cheated-on wife in one of the bigger groaners), it’s just plain banal. There are also far too many characters: only a few storylines manage any resonance. (The Taylors’ “arc,” for instance, is pure fluff, and Kathy Bates is wasted in only two scenes.) continue reading »

In this era of reality television, when stars will do anything from documenting their plastic surgery to giving blowjobs in front of the camera, it’s an outright novelty when a celebrity can retain any air of mystery. Fantastically, the mystery of Sade remains safe and intact as she nears 30 years in the recording arts. And one thing has held true—she’s been able to totally vanish for great lengths of time (never seen on a red carpet and rarely surfacing in a tabloid) and always reemerge to sell millions of records and gain critical acclaim before disappearing again. An amazing feat! continue reading »

DJ Eddie Baez spins at FornabaioVoss Events’ special President’s Day-weekend
V-Day Ball on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14, at the new Chelsea club, Crimson. continue reading »

The fable of a young abstinence-advocating teen who discovers teeth in her vagina—to the detriment of the boys who try to force themselves upon her—offers one window into gay men’s psyches. “It can be seen as a gay man’s nightmare [but] there is a real myth throughout the world. I don’t think we gay men [can claim] vagina dentata,” says out director Mitchell Lichtenstein of his first film, Teeth. Son of the famous pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, Mitchell garnered success acting in films like Robert Altman’s Streamers before taking on directing. continue reading »

 
Our merry little band was somewhat overwhelmed walking into SD26: first by the Enomatic Wine Dispensing System in the wine bar—with do-it-yourself 1–5 oz pours from a constantly changing wine list—and then by the ’80s-elegant interior in the sprawling dining room—we half expected to see Joan Collins hurl Linda Evans across one of the many tables. And buyer beware: San Domenico New York at Central Park may have moved downtown evolving into SD26, but the prices are still distinctly uptown. Good news is, we had a great dinner. continue reading »

Time Investment: 75 min.
Return on Investment: 3 min.
 
You might think that To Die for Tano (Leisure Time Features) is in some way relevant to fans of classic Mafia movies, but you’d be mistaken. That it should even be considered a film is debatable; it’s more like watching Italian public- access television, but in a bad way. This so-called satire of the Sicilian Mafia, and by extension the crime dramas we’ve come to love since the ’70s, never manages to get much further than lowbrow slapstick and over-the-top high jinks. What got me in the seat was the fact that the film was shot right in the heart of Sicily, with many people who may or may not be involved in the actual Mafia, but upon viewing, any authenticity (or picturesque scenery) is dashed by the extremely shoddy production values. Nonetheless, it is sometimes refreshing to see non-actors partake in the action, and the scene in the hair salon with various Italian women—each a sight of hairy realness more glorious than her neighbor—was the lone smirk-inducing moment. The only work of real worth here is the music video within the film for “Tano’s Rap,” which is catchy and gleefully ridiculous. Somehow, Tano was also branded as a homoerotic film, commenting on the hazing that goes on when recruiting for the Mafia. If a few shaggy, sketchy-looking guys dancing in dresses and rubbing their noses together is terribly erotic then, okay, this is a homoerotic film. But not in my book! continue reading »

Now, more than ever, organizations on the front lines of the effort to bring equality and support to the LGBT community need your help. Next Magazine takes a personal look at some of New York’s hardest-working gay nonprofits and the dedicated staff and volunteers who fight to make our world a better place. continue reading »

If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, these Valentine's Day options will ignite your lover's passions. continue reading »

There are many interesting ideas in David Ives’ new psychosexual drama, Venus in Fur, but I’m not sure they’re executed well enough to recommend it—despite the presence of film heartthrob Wes Bentley. Based on Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s seminal 1870 novella about a man so infatuated with a woman that he asks her to treat him as her slave and then encourages her to treat him in increasingly degrading ways, Venus in Fur was notable for its eroticism and its descriptions of sexual desires to have pain inflicted on oneself. (If you’ve ever wondered where the term “masochism” comes from, Sacher-Masoch’s name is your answer.) continue reading »

Next Magazine’s celebs of New York reveal their favorite take-out joints.
 
Abluegrass belle from Kentucky, Rollerena became an instant icon in 1970s Manhattan. Roller skating around town in old wedding dresses and ball gowns, sporting amplified headwear, outrageous eyeglasses, and equipped with a circus baton, she had a real ball hanging with BFFs Liza, Halston, Calvin and Andy at Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager’s Studio 54. Our fabulous fairy godmother began gracing us with her presence nearly 40 years ago, and she survived not only the heady nightlife scene but also Vietnam, where she served prior to her reign in New York. Back in the day she loved going ice-skating in Rockefeller Center and, well, the rest is history. So what else rocks Rollerena’s wheels? continue reading »

Unlikely as it may sound, Counter, a self-proclaimed vegetarian bistro, is just as richly satisfying as French fare, without the weight of a classic cassoulet or a toasty croque-monsieur. Executive chef Whitney Aycock’s invigorating organic menu is so heartily and cleanly executed that thoughts of meat are instantly forgotten. continue reading »

Time Investment: 90 min.
Return on Investment: 75 min.
 
Tormented Jews are hot right now in cinema. If the Coen brothers’ recent A Serious Man explored the chaotic events of a Midwestern Jew’s life (what do they all mean—if anything?), Israeli film Eyes Wide Open (New American Media) could almost be seen as its companion piece, A Righteous Man, or perhaps a fiction version of Sandy Dubowski’s groundbreaking doc Trembling Before G-d. Eyes deals with Aaron (Zohar Shtrauss), a married orthodox butcher in Jerusalem (black hat and all) who welcomes handsome student Ezri (Ran Danker) into his shop, only to let himself be seduced by the 22-year-old and in turn face the disappointment of his family and the wrath of his community. continue reading »

Time Investment: 95 min.
Return on Investment: 50 min.
 
After nearly three years on the festival circuit, the gay British romantic comedy Mr. Right (Wolfe Video) is finally being released on DVD. The cute and endearing—if at times sloppy—import follows Londoner and fag hag supreme Louise and her gay friends as they struggle to find “the one.” Set in a confusing flashback of how she lost her most recent boyfriend, Paul (Jeremy Edwards), to another man, the attractive Louise (Georgia Zaris) relates how charismatic TV producer Harry (James Lance) and aspiring actor Alex (Luke de Woolfson) seemed perfectly happy until Harry gets seduced by the hunky Larrs (Benjamin Hart), unbeknownst to Larrs’ pathetic sugar-daddy boyfriend, Tom (David Morris). Meanwhile, single parent William (Rocky Marshall) struggles to find balance between the new man in his life and his manipulative and disapproving young daughter. continue reading »

Blasting off into a week of new dance releases, Goldfrapp is back with brand-new track “Rocket.” The British electronic band takes its synth cues from Van Halen’s ’80s classic “Jump” for this fun pop-dance odyssey (written and produced by the duo of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory) where Alison vows to put a cheating lover on a rocket and blast him into deep space, never to return. It’s the first song off their fifth studio album, Head First, due March 2. We’re ready to dive in! continue reading »

DJ Zoltar blasts off with the re-launch of Planet Zizmor, the monthly space-disco odyssey, at 200 Orchard on Saturday, February 6—and the first Saturday of the every month thereafter. continue reading »

“I always forget how ridiculous we look,” says Mamrie “Mame-Town” Hart. She and co-lead singers Erin “E-Bomb” McCarson and Jess “J-Train” Bartley are filling balloons with glitter and arranging big confetti poppers for their show at the Trash Bar in Williamsburg. “On stage, I’m like, of course we’re doing this!” she continues, “But 30 minutes before we go on, and people don’t know us…I’m like, why are we doing this?” continue reading »

She went from being an exotic flower to a household name (at least in gay homes), but RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bebe Zahara Benet is just beginning her mission to conquer the world in wigs and heels. “It’s my plan for 2010 to take my career to the next level,” says the Cameroonian beauty, “so I’ve set goals for myself and am working hard to attain them.” She was a presenter at the Pill Awards in January, will be popping up on the new season of Drag Race and has been working the scene with her debut single “I’m the Shit!” On February 13, she’ll be performing the song at Brandon Voss and Tony Fornabaio’s Club 57. We hunted Bebe down and got her to reveal some of her innermost thoughts. —Dan Avery continue reading »

The divine Christine Ebersole returns to the Café Carlyle (35 E 76th St, 212-744-1600) for an exclusive three-week engagement Feb 3–20. Featuring an all-new program, Ebersole’s sure to provide us with an eclectic musical evening on the subjects of sex, politics, religion and even the weather. Tony-winner Scott Wittman (Hairspray) directs and the trusty John Oddo will lead a quartet of musicians in support of Ebersole’s every whim. continue reading »

Strong for more than 30 years, members of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus whip up a brand new season of rich performances to prove this ain't no sister act!
 
It was twenty years ago that Charlie Beale got his big break—a gig playing keyboard for a Whitney Houston single. Since then, the London-native has taken a liking to a more "choral" taste, spending five years with the London Gay Men's Chorus before landing a cushy position as resident Artistic Director for the Gay Men's Chorus here in the Big Apple. Like many performers, Beale, 45, says it's not the music itself that drew him to the vocal scene but the rush of being on stage and the opportunity to give back to the community. Recognizing the need now more than ever, Beale dishes on NYCGMC’s upcoming fundraising event, Harmony, the chorus’ 30th year and what it takes to rally a community. continue reading »

Sure, Illegal Mexicans might be a visible threat to hard working American’s jobs during this time of recession, but it’s our neighbors to the north who have secretly been taking over our fair city. Next Magazine goes deep undercover in New York’s gay Canadian mafia.

On Monday, September 15, 2008, just before 1am, Lehman Brothers Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At that moment, as the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history unfolded, Blair Prentice slept peacefully in his tiny Manhattan studio, oblivious to the chaos that would envelop him in just a few hours. continue reading »

Theater icon Charles Busch is having nun of it in his new convent comedy.
 
In some ways, Charles Busch lives like one of his glamorous leading ladies. Nestled in a picturesque corner of the West Village, his apartment is filled with theatrical posters, mementos from past productions and candid photos with friends, family and costars. His bedroom is a brazen all-white affair right out of a 1940s Hollywood drama, while the sitting room suggests an opium den with Chinese-red walls and black-lacquer furniture. There’s even a custom-made staircase in the hallway, perfect for any number of grand entrances. (Busch had it built when he bought the unit upstairs and converted his studio into a roomy two-story flat.) It’s exactly how you’d think Busch would live, but it’s a far cry from the austere life of the nuns at the center of his latest camp comedy, The Divine Sister. continue reading »

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS restages the very first Broadway Bares at Splash in celebration of the fundraising juggernaut’s 20th Anniversary.
 
It might be hard to believe but the annual benefit Broadway Bares, which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for AIDS charities simply by having chorus boys and gals strip off their clothes for money, all started on the modest stage of Splash in Chelsea. With only seven dancers stripping on a bar, they managed to raise over $8,000. Now, in anticipation of creator Jerry Mitchell and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ sure-to-be-legendary 20th Anniversary Broadway Bares in June, the team looks back on the night that started it all. Mitchell, producing director Michael Graziano and longtime choreographer and cast member Nick Kenkel share with us how it all began and give us a glimpse into Bares’ milestone year. continue reading »

Circle Mirror Transformation, Annie Baker’s fascinating new comedy-drama about an adult-education acting class in the wilds of Vermont, opened last October to rave reviews but I only got to see it last week. Don’t make the same mistake and miss this smart and touching piece about a group of misfits trying to make sense of their lives and relationships through some very funny acting exercises. Circle Mirror Transformation has been extended so many times (it now plays through January 31) that it’s become one of the longest-running shows in Playwrights’ history, and with good reason. continue reading »

“It’s still the same fabulous wallpaper!” a gal exclaimed as she whooshed past us, having not visited Indochine for some time, it seemed. But she was correct: the epic banana-leaf pattern continues to cling to Indochine’s storied walls more than 25 years after its inception, as do swarms of celebrities. For the rest of us, it’s still just a delight to be part of the party that perpetually showcases a glint of the Upper West Side’s rigid glamour just south of Astor Place. continue reading »

If you’re sick of the cold, may we suggest warming up at Uncut, Louis “Loca” M.’s sizzling Friday-night Latin party at Elevate? The Puerto Rican promoter was raised on the Lower East Side and has been in the New York nightlife scene since age 17, when he was the doorman at Café Con Leche—a favorite of stars like Madonna and Prince in the 1990s. Now he throws his own bashes through his company, Loca Entertainment. Uncut’s been going strong since 2001, when it debuted at the Stonewall Inn. But Loca says it’s not just the papis who love it. “It’s a diverse mix of Latinos, blacks, white, Asians, boys, girls, straight, bi, curious, and everything in between,” he explains. “And lots of pinga!” We slipped Loca some Spanish Fly and got him to share his story. continue reading »

Time Investment: 133 min.
Return on Investment: 130 min.
 
Despite all the good mainstream films have done to further the cause of gay and lesbian rights (Milk, Boys Don’t Cry, Brokeback Mountain), nothing equals the power of first hand accounts by gays and lesbians themselves. This is why Anthology Film Archives’ re-release of the 1977 doc by the Mariposa Film Group, Word Is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives (Milliarium Zero) is so fantastic. Considered the first feature-length documentary about gay and lesbian Americans when it premiered at the Castro Theater in San Francisco, Word Is Out lets a diverse cross section of gays and lesbians tell their story with straightforward simplicity, no dramatization or sugarcoating, thank you. continue reading »

Time Investment: 114 min.
Return on Investment: 30 min.
 
Movies are not high art. Sure, there are plenty of films about high art, some that even come close to claiming that title, but a film that attempts to treat itself as something more than it is (mass-marketed celluloid on a large screen), especially a film as ridiculous as writer/director David Oliveras’ gay rite-of-passage story, Watercolors (Silverlight Entertainment), is just plain laughable, and should be treated as such. continue reading »

We’re not normally fans of Broadway stars going pop (or country for that matter)—but we are simply in love with Laura Bell Bundy’s new country-pop single and video, “Giddy On Up.” With tongue planted firmly in the cheek, the actress delivers a goofy, utterly fun musical romp, singing to her cheating lover, “You won’t string me along. You better be moving on. Giddy on up and giddy on out!” Dressed as a sexy saloon entertainer in the accompanying video, she chases said lover out a tavern window, draws her pistol and shoots off his clothes before she lassos him and drags him away behind a horse (!)—all in between tearing it up, dancing in the dirt streets. It’s as funny as it sounds and we can’t help but give a “yee-haw!” to the Tony-nominated talent (who originated both the Broadway roles of Amber in Hairspray and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical). But just so you don’t think Bundy is all zaniness, she also released country ballad “Cigarette” to showcase her more sensitive, serious side. Look for the songs on Bundy’s forthcoming Achin’ and Shakin,’ coming to Mercury Nashville later this year. (Incidentally, it’s her second country album following 2007’s Longing for a Place Already Gone). continue reading »

DJ Girlfriday, resident DJ at Boots & Saddle Happy Hour (Mons–Sats, 4pm–8pm), spins retro classics nightly. continue reading »

When RuPaul’s Drag Race returns to Logo on February 1, Sahara Davenport will be the only New York queen in the competition. But the glamour girl, who’s a professionally trainer dancer, wasn’t sweatin’ the pressure. “I was thrilled. I didn’t understand why there wasn’t a New York queen in first season, actually,” she says. “Of course I had to represent—I couldn’t let my city down!” Describing her look as “if Grace Jones and Iman had a striking, thin and gorgeous daughter,” Davenport’s been kicking it up in shows at Barracuda, The Monster, Splash and Lavish Lounge. (Her newest gig, Diagnosis: Diva! at therapy, also starts on February 1 right after the premiere of Drag Race). As anyone who’s watched the show knows, contestants have to be ready for anything, and novice sewer Sahara says she had to hot-glue and staple like her life depended on it. But the Harlem princess’ inborn confidence helped her keep her cool. “Part of the reason I did the show [was] to be seen. I want to be [known] on an international level. Not to steal from Madonna, but I would love to rule the world—in drag.” continue reading »

The glamorous Kitano New York Hotel is looking to get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day by offering a special “February is for Lovers” package going on throughout the month. The deal includes accommodations for two in either a Junior Suite or one of the Townhouse Suites, located in the adjacent 19th century townhouse. They’ll also pop open a complimentary bottle of Mumm’s Cordon Rouge Champagne, and unlike a lot of one-night stands, they’ll serve you a full American breakfast in the Garden Café Restaurant the morning after. When not testing out the mattress, soap up with the fabulous products from Sabon in the marble baths with large soaking tubs. continue reading »

Identity is a bit of a conundrum for Avery Klein-Cloud in Off and Running. Not only is she an African-American teenage girl being raised by her adoptive Jewish mother in Brooklyn, but her mom is a coupled lesbian, too! A straight-A student and a promising track star, life for Avery should be perfect, but a sudden desire to find her birth mother and the resulting silence from said “black” mother begins to unravel her life and sense of self, threatening all she’s worked for. continue reading »

Following her Tony-winning Elaine Stritch at Liberty in 2002, Elaine Stritch has literally set up shop at the Café Carlyle, with a series of critically acclaimed cabaret shows. Her latest, Elaine Stritch Singin’ Sondheim…One Song at a Time, is a terrific baker’s dozen of songs that allows Stritch to do what she does best: act. She displays an unparalleled ability to cut to the essence of a lyric, from a lacerating “Rose’s Turn” to a heartbreaking “A Parade in Town” with a devastating recitation of “Every Day a Little Death” in between. Stritch fumbled a few lyrics the night I saw her but emotionally she was a knockout, with superb support from Rob Bowman at the piano and a top-drawer five-piece band with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. On February 2 she’ll celebrate her 85th birthday—where else? On stage at the Carlyle, of course! continue reading »

George Lyter’s Pill Awards celebrate the best of the year’s gay video art and the end of add-tv.
 

In the Internet Age, anyone can become an art star. With a camera, some friends and a small budget you can put yourself on the Web for all to see—and judge. That’s why George Lyter, 44, and his cable access show ADD-TV (Attention Deficit TV) are here to curate the massive collection of gay entries. He picks the best ones for the Pill Awards, where everyone from drag queens to pop stars has the chance to be honored. And while this year marks the end of ADD-TV, it only marks a new chapter for the Pill Awards. We chatted with Lyter, a Grammy Award-nominated songwriter, about his show, the awards and the importance of creative outlets for New York’s queers. continue reading »

La Manta Raya’s Amery Moultry and Roberto Buckley return to nightlife with their bigger and badder friday night, testosterone.
 
Many loathe the lack of options in New York’s gay scene, but partners Amery Moultry, 32, and Roberto Buckley, 28, decided to do something about it by starting their own party, La Manta Raya, at the Room Mate Grace Hotel, last year. The pool party proved to be a huge hit, with lines down the block and a sexy urban mix in the water. So the duo decided it was time for an upgrade and Testosterone was born. We chatted with the boys about the new party, its Union Square venue and how they plan to bring the party of Ibiza to the streets of New York. continue reading »

Lucky’s Famous Burgers has been around for more than a few years now, having opened its first location uptown on 52nd Street. I still maintain that the red and yellow interior is meant to be evocative of mustard and ketchup; since you’d use either condiment on just about anything they serve, it makes sense, right? The new Lucky’s locale in Chelsea fits right in on the super-gay block of 23rd Street, offering modest, comfortable fare similarly found at neighboring venues such as Trailer Park, Boston Market, BurritoVille, RUB. and just across the avenue, Dallas BBQ. continue reading »

Next Magazine’s celebs of New York reveal their favorite take-out joints.
 
Chip Duckett has hosted over 3,000 parties and events in New York and 48 other cities nationwide. He produces a number of live shows including upcoming productions of Erica Watson in Fat Bitch! as well as Joan Rivers’ show playing now at the Laurie Beechman Theater. Duckett DJs many of his own parties to save money, and he only watches reality TV when he appears on the episode. You can catch him spinning at 1984 at the Pyramid on Fridays, and he’s throwing a book release party for designer Chris March at Greenhouse on January 24. So what does Duckett do when deciding on dinner? continue reading »

Ernie Cote is something of a study in contradictions. By day, the 29-year-old from Maine teaches chemistry at the university level, but by night he’s more focused on human anatomy. Specifically, with filling his infamously raunchy parties at The Cock, Rockbar, The Ritz and elsewhere with hipster boys and mouthwatering go-gos. “I got my first bar gig to pay for that pesky graduate degree in biochemistry,” he explains. “The one I use sooo much now!” Not surprisingly, Cote’s scientific training finds him fielding some interesting requests. “No, I won’t make ecstasy for you,” he jokes. We shot Cote up with Sodium Pentathol and got him to spill the beans. continue reading »

Time Investment: 108 min.
Return on Investment: 90 min.
 
It’s tough being a genius. In the quiet, melancholy but ultimately fascinating Creation (Newmarket Films), Charles Darwin (Paul Bettany, a.k.a. the angel in that crazy-looking Legion movie) is far from the throne his memory now inhabits in our collective consciousness. Instead he is a struggling and conflicted husband and father facing a dire conundrum: should he submit to the religious mores of the time, specifically those of rural 1800s England, and honor God’s creation as just that (God’s creation), or follow his life’s work and crystallize his revolutionary theories on evolution and natural selection? This conflict remains the most enthralling element of the film, with a surprisingly heartfelt Jennifer Connelly (married to Bettany in real life) playing Darwin’s pious wife, Emma, who represents much of the religiosity he is trying to escape. continue reading »