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Friday, October 07, 2005
Staff pick: Hell’s Kitchen
When Big Cup closed, it marked a rite of passage in the seemingly inexorable
movement of queens far to the north of 23rd Street. These days, you’re
likely to see as many Chelsea boys tippling at Barrage and Therapy as xl or
Splash. It’s not that Chelsea’s over; rather, that HELL’S
KITCHEN has finally come into its own as a gay ghetto. But Ninth Avenue isn’t
the new Eighth Avenue. HK has a style all its own — a little grittier,
more street. Or maybe not. But don’t call it Clinton!
Reader pick: Chelsea
Staff pick: Margarita Lopez
Sure, there was that little Scientology bump, but having MARGARITA LOPEZ out
of the political game is a loss. She worked her way up the Democratic Party
food chain and eventually got elected to City Council in 1997. An out-and-proud
Latina lesbian, Lopez was always helping people work through the maze of city
red tape to get what they needed. Let’s hope she stays in the game; we
need more like her.
Reader pick: Brian Ellner
Staff pick: Billy’s Bakery
Maybe it’s unseemly to be lusting over kids who look like they just started
their first year at F.I.T., but something about real butter makes our heads
swoon. The staff at BILLY’S BAKERY is hot for two reasons. For one, you
can order a cupcake and no one gives you a “you’re-too-fat-for-this”
look. Second, bossman Billy Reece may well be the cutest baker since the dawn
of baked goods. If no bitter queen has gobbled up this sweetie, then New York
gaydom is in a sorry state.
Billy’s Bakery, 184 Ninth Ave., 212-647-9956.
www.billysbakerynyc.com
Reader pick: FoodBar, 149 Eighth Ave., 212-243-2020
Staff pick: Diner 24
“Brunch: A One-Act Play.” The setting: Sunday, 11 a.m.
The characters: ChelseaHottie28, WilliamsburgBoi19.
Chelsea: Oh, so, are you hungry?
Williamsburg: Um, yeah. I’m beat after last night. Glad I ran into you
at Splash.
Chelsea: [Searching for pants, wallet.] Yeah. Good times. Listen, what
can you eat?
Williamsburg: How about DINER 24? I love their waffles.
Chelsea: Definitely. Maybe the cool chick with the huge hair will seat us.
Williamsburg: Awesome. Hey, here’s my number, in case I forget to give
it to you later.
Chelsea: Um, thanks. [Aside] At least the diner is close to the L Train.
Sheesh.
102 Eighth Ave. 212-242-7773, www.diner24.com.
Readers pick: East of Eighth
254 West 23rd St., 212-352-0075, www.eastofeighth23.com
Staff and reader pick: Roxy
Call it the Eveready Bunny of New York’s gay dance scene. While other
clubs and gay nights have come and gone, Saturday nights at the ROXY keep the
Chelsea muscle crowd packed in with a healthy smattering of tourists, big-haired
girls and drag queens. Maybe it’s the ever-changing DJ rotation, which
now includes superstars Junior Vasquez and Tony Moran. Or maybe it’s the
good vibes from promoter John Blair (and his newest henchman, Mark Nelson).
Whatever it is, it has survived wars, GOP administrations and more Fire Island
seasons than we’d care to mention.
515 W. 18th St., 212-645-5156, www.roxynyc.com
Staff pick: Cubby Hole
OK, so it’s not always a lesbian bar. But the girls do frequently fill
this popular spot on the outer edge of the West Village. One thing’s for
sure: The CUBBY HOLE lives up to half its name. It’s definitely small
— and known for its friendly staff and clientele. And yes, men are more
than welcome, too.
281 W 12th St., 212-243-9041.
Reader pick: Henrietta Hudson, 438 Hudson St., 212-924-3347,
www.henriettahudson.com
Staff pick: Gym Sports Bar
This was a tough call. Doesn’t a gay sports bar need some go-go boys in
jockstraps with bats? Even minus that crucial form of sports entertainment,
GYM has quickly established itself as a good place for you faux jocks who want
to pretend they know what a 2-3 zone defense is (ask your brother when you go
home for Thanksgiving). Big TVs, raucous happy hours, and studs swinging by
after playing a hard game of football. What else does a sissy queen need?
167 8th Avenue, 212-337-2439. www.gymsportsbar.com
Reader pick: Eagle, 554 W. 28 St., 646-473-1866, www.eagle.com
Staff pick: Alegria
Has it only been five years since a Brazilian former go-go dancer-turned-Miami-party-promoter
named Ric Sena brought his cha-cha heels to the old Sound Factory? Time flies
when you’re having a good time, and we’ve been having a blast. Since
migrating to Crobar, a baker’s dozen Sunday night-into-Monday dance marathons
now dot the annual calendar. Spawning its own hit song, ALEGRIA has evolved
into the best-known circuit parties in the world. “Waiting for Alegria”?
Damned straight we are.
www.alegriaevents.com
Reader pick: Krash Chelsea, 16 W. 22nd St., 646-739-0859
Staff pick: JonJon Battles
Those crusty old circuit dinosaurs may howl when we give props to a rising talent
like JONJON BATTLES. But anyone who’s heard this sexy young Southerner
spin can attest that he’s going places. JonJon, who can be spotted Sunday
nights at Jonny McGovern’s white-hot Rambles party, keeps the grooves
fresh and fun — and he’s not afraid to throw in a curveball or three
with his song selection. Though Rambles has recently relocated to Home, we’re
happy to hear that the Battles rages on.
Reader pick: Peter Rauhofer
Staff pick: John Blair and Mark Nelson
When it came time to choosing our favorite promoter, we couldn’t choose
between JOHN BLAIR and MARK NELSON. Both are successful and gorgeous, they’ve
actually managed to preserve their reputations as nice guys in a business where
sharks rule the waves. Blair has leveraged his civic work (and political fund-raising)
to make the case for nightlife. Moving among Avalon, Spirit and the Roxy hasn’t
slowed him down, although Nelson now chips in at the long-running Roxy Saturdays,
in between his own gigs all over town (including the annual outing at Great
Adventure).
Reader pick: Mark Nelson
Staff pick: The Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project
You’re coming home with your trick. Some boys who are too scared to do
what you’re about to do decide to take their frustrations out on you.
Not a pleasant thought, but it happens even in the city we love. The people
at the ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT are there to help you navigate everything from
police reports to medical forms.
240 W. 35th St., 212-714-1184. www.avp.org
Reader pick: Gay Men’s Health Crisis
119 W. 24th St., 212-367-1000, www.gmhc.org
Staff pick: David Barton Gym
Just about any gym you choose in Manhattan is going to be somewhat cruisey.
News flash: Gays love gyms. But we especially love DAVID BARTON GYM, not just
for its sleek design, gigantic steam room and occasional celeb sightings, but
also for its playful “look better naked” ad campaign.
215 W. 23rd St., 212-414-2022, www.davidbartongym.com
Reader pick: Equinox
Staff pick: The Piers
THE PIERS haven’t lost their luster as New York’s gay cruising Mecca
— you just have to be a little more discreet. In place of the sleazy rotting
wood piles of yore, we’ve now got an expanse of well-manicured lawn, tables
and chairs, a snack bar and lanes for walking and cycling. Some may be nostalgic
despite the fact that the meeting place is a little more comfortable. Sunbathers,
boys on rollerblades, dog walkers — it may not be as slutty as it once
was, but there’s still a lot of eye candy.
Reader pick: XES Lounge, 157 W. 24 St., 212-604-0212
Staff pick: The AIDS supervirus scare
When every freaking newspaper was using the term “AIDS SUPER-VIRUS,”
you were calling all your tricks to make sure they were OK. No shame in that.
The stuff sounded scary. Just because it turned out the news is not as bad as
we thought, (Dear Patient Zero: Hang in there, brother) doesn’t mean we
can return to our old selves. Nothing against booty, but come on people: Let’s
play safe.
Reader pick: Editor’s note: Our readers, bless their
hearts, must not have read the instructions very well. They overwhelmingly wrote
“Hurricane Katrina” on their surveys, never mind that it’s
the Best of Gay New York. We’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, though
(love you guys, mean it).
Staff pick: New York International Fringe Festival
How gay was this year’s FRINGE FEST? Case in point: “Fleet Week:
The Musical,” a standout show that gave Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly a
run for their money. The play’s sailor guys (and gal) painted the town
pink and discovered the truth about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Even the Statue of Liberty sings a number. How gay is that?
Staff pick and reader pick
Cafeteria
119 Seventh Ave., 212-414-1717
Staff pick: Flotilla DeBarge
Reader pick: Trai La Trash
Staff pick: My shrink
Reader pick: Dr. Frank Spinelli
361 W. 23 St., 212-352-3170
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