GLAAD Manhattan

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On August 7 at Humphrey, located at the Eventi Hotel, the National Board of Directors of GLAAD, President Herndon Graddick, this year's Planning Committee and Co-Chairs Jessica Resler and Ted Shields presided GLAAD's annual casino-themed fundraiser.

GOING DOWN IN LA LA LAND Film Premiere and DVD Sale

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Photo essay. No information has been provided to go with the images.

Going Down in LA LA Land Film Premiere took place at the Cinema Village on April 20th.

UNIVERSAL GEAR Flagship Store Launch!

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Hotter, Hotter, Hotter, Hotter, Hotter
To get more of an eye popping, live eye full of these Hunks, albeit more heavily covered, rush over to XL Nightclub, where they are safely kept behind the bar counters for fear of setting the whole place on fire

On May 18, Universal Gear launched its new flagship store in Hell’s Kitchen, its second location in Manhattan. The first store, in Chelsea, opened in November 2001, creating a dynamic shopping environment with dance music listening stations and aluminum and polycarbonate fixtures. It became instantly popular among the Queer community.

"The gay community has helped position our store for enormous growth," said David Franco, co-founder and owner of Universal Gear. "But the non-gay customer also makes up about 30% of our sales. Straight men are increasingly feeling more comfortable wearing cool, city gear and sportswear and buying in a traditionally gay area."

THE COFFEE SHOP Film Wrap Party

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

The Coffee Shop Director Jana (AJ) Mattioli

The Coffee Shop is the latest feature coming from the highly acclaimed LGBTQ film production company, Mattioli Productions, currently filming in New York City. Mattioli Productions, known for serving the LGBTQ community with groundbreaking work in movie production is run by Jana (AJ) Mattioli (recently honored in the Advocate as “40 People Under 40 to Look Out For.”) AJ Mattioli’s directorial film debut of An Affirmative Act, starring multiple Academy Award and Emmy winners and nominees, had a very successful national theatrical release in 2011.

 Film cast: Blanche Baker, Bobby Walker, Denise Finelli, Holly Meek,
Keith Collins and Elissa Goldstein, with AJ on top

ART + SIN: The Black Party Posters 1981-2012

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On March 8, at The LGBT Center, a cocktail party took place to showcase the scandalous Saint-At-Large celebration of sensuality, sin and everything in between with a one-day-only erotic art exhibition displaying rarely seen Black Party Posters from 1981-2012.

WARNING! Explicit Nude images after page break

THE PIERS: Art and Sex along the New York Waterfront

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Curator Darren Jones, art historian and scholar of Queer Studies Jonathan D. Katz, curator Jonathan Weinberg and Charles leslie of the Leslie Lohman Museum

As the first gay and lesbian art museum in the world, the mission of the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art (LLMoGLA) is to exhibit, preserve and foster the creation of gay and lesbian art and artists which speak directly to all facets of the gay and lesbian experience, such as political, historical, romantic and social imagery. The Piers: Art and Sex along the New York Waterfront exhibit, which opened on April 3rd, met most of the criteria above in one of the most popular exhibitions The former Leslie-Lohman Foundation ever had.

HOT MESS Drag Review at XL

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

In the very short time that XL Cabaret & Nightclub has been open, it has managed to become the premier spot in the city for queer oriented entertainment.

"Hot Mess" Maitresses of Ceremony Bianca Del Rio, whose witty tongue is as sharp as a razor blade dipped in acid, and Lady Bunny, of "Wigstock" and Ru Paul's "Drag U" fame, who is also a regular DJ at XL and one of the best reasons to go there on "Rockit Fridays" to party

A FETISH FOR FASHION - Folsom Street East Runway Show and Auction

Images: Miguel Dominguez

Copy: Folsom Street East press release

Anthony J. Christman

Malnourished adolescents are so last season. Skins (and rubber, and spikes, and jockstraps) are in, so Folsom Street East had their annual Fetish for Fashion runway show and silent auction on February 18^th, at the LGBT Community Center NY to benefit Housing Works.

Socializing at the bar while soaking in the ferocious talents of DJ Dave Huge, built up on the excitement before Master of Ceremonies Will Clark took the stage to guide us through an evening of gorgeous models showing off the hottest in fetish and fetish-inspired fashions from some of NYC’s top purveyors, including The Eagle Store, FM Leather Design, Manskins, My Lady’s Toys, E7 Rubber, Nick Stryker, and  WonderWear NY.

NICK & NICKY Screenplay Reading

Reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Actor/Playwright Patrick Askin with Charles Leslie,
founder of the Leslie Lohman Museum

On January 19th, at the Leslie Lohman Museum, a reading of the delightful play Nick & Nicky, a very amusing spoof on the sophisticated Hollywood comedies of the 30s, overwhelmingly populated with queer stereotypes and including a gay wedding finale, was presented with the goal of finding a producer and investors, with the possibility of making the script into a movie.

Cast: Aliya Kamenshikov • Derek Flics • Devon Talbott • Frederick Meyer • Barbara Rosenblat • Brian Tweedy • Patrick Askin • Theis Weckesser • Anna Lise Jensen • Julie Berndt • Martin Ewens • Adrienne Opalka
Director: camera shy Richard Sabellico

Screening of Queer Short Film REQUITED

Reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Actor/Writer/Director Sal Bardo

Written and directed by actor Sal Bardo, the short film REQUITED had a screening at the Anthology Film Archives on Sunday, February 19th.

Christopher Schram, Crystal Arnette, Sal Bardo, Max Rhyser

ROLF KOPPEL: WILLING Art Exhibit

Reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Rolf, on the right, with his muse Will

The Rolf Koppel: Willing opening reception on February 15 at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, kicked off a photography exhibition which includes over 60 images, representing 30 years of Koppel's career. The exhibit will run from February 16 to March 17, 2012 and on Tuesday, February 21st, from 6-8 pm, there will be a discussion with Austrian art historian and curator Peter Weiermair and Rolf.

RU PAUL DRAG RACE 4 Launch Party

Reporter: Miguel Dominguez

When I asked them to go crazy for my camera, only gorgeous Manila Luzon could get away with what she did! Here with partner Sahara Davenport and JuJuBee, all veterans from past seasons of the Drag Race

Brandon Voss and Tony Fornabaio of FV Events, have done it again. Not only is their weekly Rockit Fridays party at XL Nightclub the best place to “see and be seen”—their gatherings are overwhelmigly made up of Hunks, Hotties and Muscles—It has also become the preferred venue for very exciting events such as the launch party of Ru Paul Drag Race’s 4th season, which took place on February 3. The whole feel of the place was one of a gym celebrating Mardi Gras.

Chastisement anyone?
Glen & Tom, Eagle NYC 

Grand Opening of "ROCKIT FRIDAYS" at XL Nightclub

Reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Gio and Avi

On January 27th, Brandon Voss and Tony Fornabaio’s Rockit Fridays had a grand opening at XL Nightclub, the latest nightlife destination by FV Events and John Blair Promotions. Located inside the Hell's Kitchen gay urban resort, The Out NYC (512 West 42nd Street,) this enjoyable weekly event—with wall to wall cuties, muscle boys, and the “Fire Hazard” bartenders—takes place in a dance and party space with a 2400-seat cabaret and lounge catering to hotel guests and the queer community.

Angel and Louie

The Spirit of this Blog