ION Arizona #276 by ION Arizona

Arizona and Our Community are Blooming! More

than ever we need your support

As we move toward political uncertainty, people are losing their jobs and non-profits losing funding, everyone in our community will be affected and many of us are on edge worrying about our future. Including ION Arizona Since we began in 2001 we have survived three recessions, a housing crises, two wars, a pandemic, Trump 1.0 and now Trump 2.0. We have come so far together but this shows how fragile our progress really is. Please support your non-profits, local businesses and, yes, the LGBTQ+ media, too.

ION JUST JACK

We’re gearing up for a season filled with events, concerts, celebrations, and opportunities. Get your tickets for the annual one n·ten Fresh Brunch on March 30, a cornerstone event supporting LGBTQ+ youth programs. Your participation empowers the next generation.

Walk with us at this year’s Aunt Rita’s AIDS Walk for this impactful event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS services. Walking and running together, we demonstrate our community’s commitment to education, prevention, and support for those affected.

I have known Stacy Louis since 1998 when he bartended at Amsterdam Bar. He moved to Kobalt, then Bar 1 then he fulfilled his dream of owning his own bar: Stacy’s @ Melrose. This month we have our “Eye on Stacy’s,” The new owners, Chris and Brandon, took the baton from Stacy and has grown and flourished offering something for everyone. Check out their amazing feature on page 30.

As an internal optimist I want to keep doing what we have been doing for almost 24 years. I hope the next four years won’t undo all the hard work and goodwill we’ve accomplished together. We can, and will, continue to build a more inclusive, dynamic, and supportive community.

Jack Tesorero Eternal Optimist

(for now)

WEB: Zachary Cross / Custom Resumes APP: Steve Sovacki / Biz Burst Mobile SOCIAL MEDIA: Exceed Multimedia

NOTE: The views expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect the views of ION Arizona, its staff, or that of its parent company.

Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization within ION Arizona is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organization. To our knowledge, all people photographed and published in ION Arizona are over the age of 18. Some photos were submitted by our readers. To our knowledge, they own the copyrights, and they have given us permission to reproduce them. If you see a picture that you own, please call us immediately and we will remove it from future publications. All copy, text, display, photos, and illustrations in the ads are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized, have secured proper written consent for the use of names, pictures, and testimonials of any living person, and that ION Arizona is not responsible for unlawful use of such content.

ION SPONGEBOB PARTY

PHX ATTRACTIONS

An Evening with Isaac Mizrahi

The designer shares stories about his 30 years in the fashion and entertainment, including Project Runway: All-Stars. This cabaret blends his unique storytelling, humor, and music. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St. in Scottsdale. Tix: ScottsdalePerformingArts.org or call 480-499-TKTS

Thursday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Brides of March

“Here comes the bride, all dressed in pink! Open the window and let out the stink!” Get ready to say, “I do! I do!” There’ll be wedding cake, champagne, a high heel race, plus a wedding march through the Melrose neighborhood bars. No grooms allowed. Charlie’s, 727 W. Camelback Rd. in Phoenix.

Saturday, March 15 at noon

Phoenix Pride Pageant

It’s coronation! Who’ll take home the crowns and rule the roost while raising funds for the Phoenix Pride Scholarship Fund? These nobles will be crowned Miss, Mister & Ms. Phoenix Pride Tempe Center for the Arts 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. So practice your bowing and curtsies. Tix: PhoenixPride.org

Sunday, March 16 at 3 p.m.

Amy Sedaris

Remember Jerri Blank in Strangers with Candy? That’s Amy Sedaris, actress, author, comedian, and rabbit educator. This conversation will be moderated by Marshall Shore. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St. in Scottsdale. Tix: ScottsdalePerformingArts.org or call 480-499-TKTS

Sunday, March 16 at 5 p.m.

AIDS Walk Arizona

Join in for a day filled with purpose, community, and fun! Every step and every dollar raised goes directly to support Aunt Rita’s Partner Agencies and helps fund programs, provide testing, prevention resources, and more. Visit AIDSwalkAZ.org to sign up! It happens at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix.

Saturday, March 22, 8 a.m.

The Cher Show: a new musical

For six straight (and gay) decades, only one unstoppable force has dominated popular culture: Cher. This Tony Award®winning musical is packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her. 35 smash hits and sequins galore! Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St. Tix: 480-644-6500 or visit MesaArtsCenter.com

March 28-30

one•n•ten Fresh Brunch

Enjoy your frittata, Peach Melba, few Bloody Marys, and do a good deed helping enhance the lives of LGBTQ+ youth by providing social and service programs promoting self‐expression, self‐acceptance, leadership development, and healthy life choices. JW Marriott Desert Ridge. Get your tickets at onenten.org

March 30, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Buddy Cole in “The Last Glory Hole”

Scott Thompson from “Kids in the Hall” is the effete, gay, lounge lizard Buddy Cole who mixes martinis and dishes the dirt while expanding on the fractured state of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to what to do if there’s an alien invasion. Mesa Arts Center One E. Main St. Tix: 480-644-6500 or visit MesaArtsCenter.com Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Where It’s

Stacy’s @ Melrose is “Home Away from Home”

by Deon Brown

Photography by: LeakedGlass

Production assistant: Rafael Santana

Pictured: Brandon Slayton & Christopher Tong

It’s @

If you’ve lived in Phoenix for a long time, you’ll remember the bending stretch of 7th Avenue way before it was christened “The Melrose Curve.” Nightlife veterans will remember Al E. Gator’s, Foster’s, E-Lounge, and Sanctum.

As the neighborhood blossomed into “Melrose” bartenderpersonality Stacy Louis re-opened the shuttered drinkery in 2013 naming it, “Stacy’s @ Melrose” where it was a favorite LGBTQ party pub for ten fun-filled years.

Stacy decided to retire (but he’s still around, but now he’s on the other side of the bar), so Christopher Tong and his husband, Brandon Slayton bought the classy club, taking over the reigns in 2023. Chris’s background included staging events for MGM Resorts in Las Vegas and working as a bartender at Charlie’s Vegas. Brandon’s professional background was in marketing. He found that there was a bar for sale and that it would be a perfect opportunity for them to share their skills.

“I grew up in an Army family, we moved constantly and I never really felt at home,” Chris explained. “When I moved to Colorado Springs I discovered a welcoming club called Hide and Seek. I remember feeling, ‘Wow! I found my family!” and hoped he might be able to recreate and share that same feeling for others with his own club one day.

“It kinda fell in our laps and we embraced it,” Brandon said. “We always wanted to be entrepreneurs; we found this opportunity and embraced it. We were in the right place at the right time,” he expanded. “We brought our own experiences and passion, and Stacy’s is improving every day.” They put their shoulders to the wheel and invested in a new sound system, lighting, and freshened up the prestigious look of the place with a new coat of paint.

Brandon and Chris bought the building and put a lot of hard work into creating an exciting space for socializing, dancing, and entertaining their friends and patrons. “We’re thriving and surviving in a time when gay bars are dwindling or closing. Brandon shared, “Owning a gay bar is different, especially because in light of today’s political climate. Gay bars come with a list of expectations from people about what they want, in a space, but we’re leaning into the challenge.”

Pictured: Fabian Carillo & Alex Valencia

Pictured: DJ Apollynon, DJ Alice Valkyrie, DJ YessJess

With an urbane and more worldly society that’s become more accepting, Stacy’s is proud of an open door policy, and that’s paid off. “We have gay, lesbian, bi, straight friends and guests here, and we’re one of the most welcoming trans bars in town,” Chris said. He expanded, “We have the entire community in our bar on any given night of the week.” Chris is happy to relay, “We were excited to bring back dance parties here after COVID. We move the tables out of the pit and thanks to our DJ’s, the dance floor is always packed.”

Brandon added, “We want people to always feel welcome here. What we have is special; more and more we’re becoming an event space.” That’s one of their favorite aspects about Stacy’s.

Chris outlined, “We try to have a balance; we just had a Sponge Bob party, on New Year’s Eve we decorated the club turning into the Moulin Rouge. Everyone dressed up for our Shrek party; we had around 30 blind mice! Any excuse to have fun!” he recounted. “There are times when we have a raging party and seeing everybody dancing and having a good time … it’s really a magical feeling being able to give that to people who’ve chosen to come here.”

Pictured: Mia Inez Adams, Trey, Yoyo Blackfire, Angelique Berry

Brandon agreed. “Collaborating with others is part of the fun. A lot of our guests feel more at home here than they do with their own families,” he said.

Home sweet home! Stacy’s lead bartender Kristi Neal has 18 years experience, with four of them spent slingin’ gin at Stacy’s, and that’s a pretty good track record in the service industry. “I like the atmosphere here,” Kristi said. “Chris and Brandon trust what we do, like creating the drink specials for theme nights. We’ll be selling Jell-O shots for the Phoenix Pride Scholarship fund. We’re like a small family here; this is the first place where I’ve felt at home.”

Fostering creativity and building something together is a big part of their success. “We gave away over $11,000 last year with our Rising Star competition. The Carnival party for RipplePHX made over $5,000 for their services. We also sponsor softball, kickball, and flag football leagues,” Chris relayed. “We also opened up Stacy’s for any of the preliminary competitions for Miss, Mister and Mx Phoenix Pride, regardless of the bar or organization they’re representing.”

Everyone gets into the act at Stacy’s. YoYo Blackfire is the hostess for Stacy’s popular viewing parties of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Trey, “The Bearded Beauty of Arizona,” offers some twisted hope for salvation (well, and maybe just a little bit of sin) for his “Sunday Service Drag Brunch” to polish off the weekend at 11 a.m. Look for Mia Inez Adams to host “Stacy’s Rising Star” competition on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. where everyone has the chance to be in the spotlight if they’ve got the chops for it. Feel like getting your freak on? Then you won’t want to miss “Milkshake,” a queer fetish ball every second Thursday at 9 p.m. Get kinky and quirky!

We all get the munchies. Look for their very own food truck, “Nibbles,” to make it’s debut soon.

Stacy’s is right smack dab in the middle of the annual Melrose Street Fair and a great place to whet your whistle and take a load off. “This year we created an experience we’re calling, ‘A Taste of Stacy’s.’ During the day we’ve got a stage for drag, a live band, a DJ, and stand-up comedy.” Chris said. “It’ll be a great way for all of guests – our regulars and new – to see what we’re all about.”

The @ is where it’s at. Stacy’s @ Melrose. You can call it “home.”

ION MARCH 25

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Charlie’s Sunday Funday (W) Tempe Center for the Arts PHX Pride Pageant

Charlie’s Sunday Funday (W)

Sazerac Karaoke (W)

St. Patricks Day Undie Mundies

Sunday Funday (W)

18 11 25 1 3 17 10 24 31

Undie Mundies (W)

Sazerac Karaoke (W)

Sazerac Karaoke (W)

Charlie’s Blackout Bingo / Karaoke (W)

Stacy’s @ Melrose Rising Star Drag Show (W)

Sazerac Karaoke (W)

Stacy’s @ Melrose Karaoke (W)

Charlie’s