April 10, 2015 by Next Magazine NY

APR 10, 2015

22.42

NEW YORK’S GAY GUIDE

DRAGULA

INVADES BROOKLYN IT’S TIME FOR A GAY CIVIL RIGHTS ACT

AIDEN LESLIE

CONFESSIONS FROM THE DANCE FLOOR

RUSSELL T. DAVIES ON CUCUMBERS, BANANAS, & THE GAY EXPERIENCE

APRIL 10, 2015 | VOL 22.42 ON THE COVER:

CONTENTS

Aiden Leslie photographed exclusively for Next Magazine by Wilsonmodels (wilsonmodels.blogspot.com).

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P.24

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FEATURE

12 JUST DANCE

Nightlife: The filth, leather, and glamour of west coast import dragula.

aiden leslie is on a mission to put the soul back in dance music.

LISTINGS

THE NEXUS

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4 6 7 8 10 42

Commentary: The time has come for a gay civil rights act. Gay DD The Week in Photos Finery: all you need is one stand-out piece. What’s Next: russell T. davies exposes the gay experience in Cucumber and Banana; an intimate look at raf Simons in Dior and I. Shot in the Dark

Bars + Club Map Dining Business Directory

THIS WEEK ON NEXTMAGAZINE.COM getting to know the guys behind Here TV’s People You Know. are Vice.com’s Amanda Lepore candids transphobic? + more party pics and event coverage

NEXTWEEK 17 18 20 22 24

Calendar of Events Bar Crawl: Swinging from the chandeliers with molly rhinestones. Playlist: dJ Jroc takes us on a pop rollercoaster. The Roundup: five lgbT picks from this year’s Tribeca film festival lineup. Quoted: cabaret weirdo dane Terry on his new show at la mama e.T.c.

PUBLISHER DAVID MOYAL EDITOR IN CHIEF JOHN RUSSELL ART DIRECTOR MICHAEL LOMBARDO NIGHTLIFE EDITOR MARK DOMMU ASSOCIATE EDITOR BENJAMIN LINDSAY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FRANK CONWAY, MARC CUENCO, LAWRENCE FERBER, WIL FISHER, DUSTIN FITZHARRIS, JAMESON FITZPATRICK, CHRIS HERNANDEZ, MICHAEL LAMBERT, JUSTIN LOCKWOOD, ROBERT MARIL, BRIAN SLOAN, MIKELLE STREET

ONLINE EDITOR BRANDON VOSS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS GABE AYALA, DAVIDE LAFFE, EDWIN PABON

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES DON ROBINDER, ROBERTO BUCKLEY

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS JAMES L. BARRY, A.E. KIEREN, ANDY SWIST, WILL VARNER

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER EZEQUIEL PEREZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF EASON, KEVIN THOMAS GARCIA, GUSTAVO MONROY

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NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE RIVENDELL MEDIA: 212-242-6863, RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM

Next Magazine (henceforth “Next”) reserves the right to publish images without providing credit. Next does not guarantee that credit will be provided for any materials. The appearance of subjects and contributors in photographs or editorial matter in Next is not to be construed as indicative of the sexual orientation or personal practices of any individual. No implication with respect thereto is intended, and none should be inferred.

OPINIONS AND CLAIMS MADE BY ADVERTISERS ARE THOSE OF THE ADVERTISERS ONLY. NEXT MAGAZINE ACCEPTS NO LIABILITY FOR CLAIMS MADE BY ADVERTISERS.

PHOTOS: cucumber cOurTeSy Of lOgO; wilSOnmOdelS (aiden leSlie); breTT lindell (dane Terry); bOuleT brOTHerS cOurTeSy Of bOuleT brOTHerS

P.10

What’s Week in 4 Commentary P. 6 Gay D.D. P. 7 Photos P. 8 Finery P. 10 Next Occupy the Disco celebrates three years • Jeffrey Fashion Cares • The Center honors Jeffrey Tambor

US 04.10.15

THE

Visit The Nexus on NextMagazine.com for your daily dose of gay gossip, party photos, and more. BY MICHAEL LAMBERT

A Gay Civil Rights Act EVEN IF LGBT RIGHTS SURVIVE THE RIGHT’S BACKLASH PAST SCOTUS’S EXPECTED PRO-MARRIAGE RULING, ONLY COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL LEGISLATION WILL KEEP THE COUNTRY FROM SPLITTING APART.

ndiana Gov. Mike Pence has a terrible poker face. The first term governor hastily amended his “religious freedom” law last week after facing an unbeatable hand—nationwide outrage from private-sector giants like Apple, Wal-Mart, and Angie’s List and travel bans from state governments like New York and Connecticut. The law now prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the first law in the state to use that language. But gay rights activists shouldn’t cash in their winnings just yet. More and more states are scrambling to compile legislation similar to Indiana’s, with several Republican presidential hopefuls—like Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal—vowing to pave the way for the bills if state congressmen propose them. In 2013, CNN’s John Stutter wrote that gay people lived in 50 Americas. Two years later, that level of division has grown exponentially worse. The desperation fueled by crumbling same-sex marriage bans and legislative Hail Marys like these “religious freedom” bills has left individual counties and municipali-

4 APRIL 10, 2015

Comment of the week: “Amanda is exactly the woman she wants to be. I apologize to those I’ve oﬀended and [to] Amanda, a source of strength and pride.” —photographer Jacqueline Silberbush responding to criticism of her Vice.com story

A GAY CIVIL RIGHTS ACT CONT.

ties to decide the fate of gay couples. Conservative urban centers from Charleston, S.C., to Birmingham, Ala., have become blue islands in a sea of red, where the city or county line is as big a divider as the state line once was. The states may be the laboratories of democracy, but it increasingly appears as

“It took the blunt force of federal law to push this country 50 years ago, and that same force is needed again.” if a B-level horror movie mad scientist is running the show. Even if the Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage across the country, more work will be needed to bridge the fault lines of discrimination against the LGBT community. It’s time for a gay Civil Rights Act. Last year was a strangely exhilarating time to be a gay man living in Birmingham—the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement. I was driving to work downtown when the U.S. v. Windsor verdict was announced. The streets were dotted with banners, celebrating 50 years of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I considered how lucky I was to have escaped the violence of that time in my community’s search for equal rights. But I knew that the day’s verdict was only a small step toward equality. Outside those church doors, I still silently hoped. “Please, don’t let us wait too long.” Now, a full year later, it looks like we are all still waiting. Consider this: Segregation was effectively overruled by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, but it took a decade of blood and protest and struggle for Congress to give us the Civil Rights Act. It is by no means perfect, as our “post-racial” generation has had to realize from recent tragedies like Ferguson and the death of Eric Garner, but it has at least framed the conversation around civil rights for decades. The LGBT community now needs to control that conversation in the same way. Between swelling public opinion, well-funded corporate support, and moderate religious awakenings, our gay

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APRIL 10, 2015

GOT GAY-TENTION DEFICIT DISORDER?

Does Rihanna want to be Robbie Rogers’s beard?

rumor has it that Hillary clinton is already setting up her presidential campaign offices in brooklyn.

bearded hunk andy butler recently told the New York Times that the lumbersexual trend has “hit its peak.”

while abc reboots THE MUPPET SHOW, netflix is working on a Full House revival. Oh, the nostalgia!

finally! The antidote to Sam Smith fatigue: r&b crooner frank Ocean will release a new album in July.

The new york boy Scouts appointed the organization’s first out, gay leader.

new york Theatre workshop will stage the world premiere of Lazarus, DaviD Bowie’s musical adaptation of the novel The Man Who Fell to Earth. a new study found that millennials, adults aged 18–35, are the gayest generation in the u.S.

mark your calendars: diane Sawyer’s big sit-down with bruce Jenner will air as a two-hour 20/20 special april 24 on abc. wonder what they’ll discuss.

Out soccer star RoBBie RogeRs tells GQ that he wants fifa to consider gay- and woman-friendly locations when they pick the host country for the world cup.

movement holds the cards for the first time. Trapped among the case history of the First Amendment, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Civil Rights Act, states both red and blue are floundering to solve LGBT discrimination in marriage, housing, employment, and hate crimes. It’s time to take the message of Indiana to Capitol Hill and demand a comprehensive law that decides once and for all if this is a country of equals. It took the

Jacqueline Silberbush’s black and white photos of amanDa LepoRe on Vice.com were criticized by some readers for being “transphobic.” Rihanna’s typically nuanced take on indiana’s religious freedom restoration act: “fuck that shit!”

boy george told larry King that he wouldn’t deprive indiana’s gay boys and girls of his music. The bigots probably wouldn’t come to his show anyway, he later clarified.

a co-creator of the british crime drama Sherlock insisted that the iconic detective is basically asexual: “He’s not gay. He’s not straight.”

blunt force of federal law to push this country 50 years ago, and that same force is needed again. Despite the advantages that Indiana has shown us, this might be the worst possible Congress for this kind of unilateral action. Stacked with conservatives as it is, legislators will likely do even less than usual while waiting to see who claims the White House in 2016. I, for one, am not holding my breath. N

PHOTOS: WILSONMODELS (jEffrEy faSHION carES, ParaDIScO, THE cENTEr DINNEr); guSTavO MONrOy (fuLL buNNy cONTacT)

Overheard:

“I always meet new people who came to turn up and are genuinely delighted to see drag queens walking about. The stage is three square feet… but the kids lose their shit.” —drag performer Charlene on Be Cute’s second anniversary

JEFFREY FASHION CARES @ ARTBEAM GALLERY anna wintour and Zachary Quinto kicked oﬀ Jeﬀrey Kalinsky’s twelfth annual charity fashion show benefitting the city’s lgbT organizations on april 6. See p.44 for more photos.

PARADISCO @ LE BAIN Occupy the disco’s rubhatt, Josh applebaum, and Tnd celebrated the third anniversary of their Sunday tea dance on april 5. See p.42 for more photos.

GAY NIGHT @ FULL BUNNY CONTACT The hunky dave and Steven joined Jared leblanc and Seth fornea at this annual easter carnival and cage match. See p.43 for more photos.

THE CENTER DINNER @ CIPRIANI WALL ST Honoree Jeﬀrey Tambor posed with Transparent costar Judith light at the april 2 gala. APRIL 10, 2015 7

Overheard:

“Markus Kelle has the body of an Auschwitz survivor, the voice of a truck driver, and the lifestyle of Liza Minnelli. But Liza was a top, and admitted she had a problem.” —Bob the Drag Queen at the April 1 Roast of Markus Kelle

USUS >>> FINERY

Interviewed at Jeﬀrey Fashion Cares by John Russell

CHASE TUCKER 24 • PUBLICIST HAVE YOU BEEN TO JEFFREY FASHION CARES BEFORE? yeah, this is my second time. i came last year. it was a lot of fun. DO YOU GET TO SEE A LOT OF FASHION SHOWS? not too many. every once in a while. This year i went to a couple. I REALLY LIKE THIS JACKET. it’s mSgm, and i just got it, like, two days ago. i felt like this was a cool event to bring it out of the closet.

PHOTO by WILSONMODELS

WERE YOU DYING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEAR IT? yeah! it was waiting for something. WHAT’S YOUR PERSONAL STYLE LIKE GENERALLY? i think if you find one real cool piece, you can pair it with really basic pieces, and that’s what i do.

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FEBRUARY 13, 2015 9

What’s Next <<< Tv

FRESH PRODUCE Two new series from Queer as Folk creator russell T. Davies bring the modern gay experience to the screen like never before. fter Cucumber, i’ve got two friends barely speaking to me ever again,” says russell T. davies on a call from South wales. “i put terrible experiences of theirs onscreen. i really should have changed some details, but frankly, it made for good television. Television is more important than friends.” davies is joking, of course, but you have to wonder which “terrible experiences” he’s talking about. The drunken threesome that ends in an arrest? a relationship’s deterioration when one partner refuses to have penetrative sex? The premiere episode alone of davies’s new series, Cucumber—one of two having their u.S. premiere april 13 on logo—has plenty of cringe-worthy moments. The hour-long drama stars Vincent franklin as Henry, a sexually unfulfilled, middle-aged grump who’s beginning to realize he may not be suited for his partner of nine years. dryly pessimistic with wit to spare, Henry grapples with modern gay culture in manchester and serves up a heavy dose of schadenfreude. nothing comes easy for davies’s cast of characters, but, as we know from his previous creation, Queer as Folk, that’s just the way he likes it. “Those territories where things start to go wrong are my homeland, really,” he says. “i love that stuff.” His homeland, sure, but here, davies practices a bit of manifest destiny by adding a sister series, Banana, to the bunch. whereas Cucumber shows Henry’s life as a gay man past his prime, Banana is a half-hour anthology-esque series featuring a plethora of 20somethings dealing with their own trials. many of these boys and girls play supporting roles in Henry’s story, but in Banana, they take center stage. “Stories about younger men, lesbian stories, trans stories—all of those can be fit into Banana,” davies says. “it was always the plan to have as many voices on screen as we possibly could.” Just as Cucumber is largely based on davies’s own experiences and observations as a 51-year-old gay man, Banana incorporates voices from young queer screenwriters— many of them first-timers in the industry—recounting juicy, autobiographical anecdotes. connecting the varying narratives between Cucumber and Banana is their timeliness. gay men ponder the implications of everything from grindr to marriage equality. Trans men and women struggle with their rights and identity. as in HbO’s underappreciated Looking, davies’s new pair of projects present these contemporary matters honestly and fluidly without getting preachy. “i think it’s much more interesting to explore the problems in [equality],” davies says. “now you have people who can get married: what happens if one of them doesn’t want to get married? That [makes for] a much more interesting drama.” —Benjamin Lindsay

fréDérIc TcHENg’S NEW DOcuMENTary ExPLOrES HOW DESIgNEr raf SIMONS IS kEEPINg THE DIOr LEgacy aLIvE.

ashion doesn’t stimulate frédéric Tcheng as much as you might think—despite the fact that his résumé includes co-editing Valentino: The Last Emperor, co-directing Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel, and now directing Dior and I, out april 10 on select new york screens. “The fashion world is so obsessed with images,” Tcheng says. “while it’s fascinating, it’s not a culture that i really want to engage with. i’m more attracted to stories and characters.” Tcheng’s emphasis on the industry’s human elements makes his portrait of raf Simons in Dior and I particularly engaging. The film follows the designer during his first eight weeks as creative director at dior and cul-

10 APRIL 10, 2015

minates with the debut of his fall/winter 2012 haute couture collection. “i was fascinated by his outsider personality: He has a very ambivalent relationship with the fashion world,” says Tcheng. “He’s completely entrenched in the youth culture and in the art culture, so his influences are more about music and art.” Dior and I grants unprecedented access to the camera-shy designer’s life and creative process. Topped with a voiceover narrative culled from christian dior’s memoir, the film draws parallels between the legendary designer’s process and Simon’s contemporary approach that keep dior’s spirit magically alive. —BL

PHOTOS: DIOR & I cOurTeSy Of THe OrcHard; cucumber cOurTeSy Of lOgO

>>> FILM

FRUIT 4 VEG from left: Cucumber and Banana’s freddie fox, cyril nri, and Vincent franklin.

12 APRIL 10, 2015

JUST DANCE AIDEN LESLIE IS ON A MISSION TO PUT THE SOUL BACK IN DANCE MUSIC.

BY ROBERT MARIL PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILSONMODELS

APRIL 10, 2015 13

ans of dance music are probably familiar with out artist aiden leslie. born and raised in Ohio, leslie came to new york to pursue a career on broadway but decided to become a recording artist; he released his first dance single, “love to Hate you,” a decade ago. His newest single, “i Just go,” a ballad with sweeping strings and a soaring melody, is a departure from his usual sound, but leslie never strays far from the dance floor: he’ll follow up the single’s april 14 release with a remix e.P. on may 5, featuring remixes by dance luminaries like mike rizzo, frank lamboy, and dirty Pop. we recently sat down with the singer-songwriter to chat about life, love, and what’s missing in today’s dance music.

Tell me about growing up in the midwest. i grew up in cincinnati, Ohio. i always like to say that i was born and raised in Ohio but i really grew up in new york. i’ve been in new york city longer than i was ever in Ohio. Of course i identify with growing up in Ohio and it made me who i am today, but it always comes back to new york city— this is where i became a man. what made you move to new York? Performing. To be an artist. i went to a school called the School for creative and Performing arts in cincinnati. it’s a pretty well-known school—Sarah Jessica Parker, carmen electra, nick and drew lachey, who i grew up with, they all went there. it was a real breeding ground of talent and it was a really special place. i believe that if i hadn’t had that training as a child actor and performer, i wouldn’t have been able to come to new york and hit the ground running like i did.

“All of my music is like a personal diary. I want it to reach the stars.”

how did your latest single come about? This is one of the very first songs that i ever wrote. it had a demo stage and then it had some remixers doing their thing with it many, many years ago. Then i decided to break it down and do an acoustic version a year and a half ago at the cutting room. That started the conversation for me to think about really putting this out officially as a single and to do it in a new way—really in the way i thought would be right. That’s how it started. we decided to do a video and we have almost a dozen remixes accompanying the single as well. why did you decide to launch your own record label? The music industry has changed so much over the last seven or eight years. you have a lot of freedom to do what you want, but it’s a double-edged sword. it’s changed so much because these big labels don’t have the control they once had. They had to reconfigure their whole approach to selling music. as an artist you all of a sudden have this freedom to do what you want. and you have the resources and the capability to get it out to the masses, whether it be through youTube or social media, and you have these platforms that mean you can release your own music. it just makes no sense to wait on a label to release your music when most often you won’t make any money or have any control. but if you have the resources and the drive to do it then you should release it yourself. There are so many ways to get your stuff out there now. it’s important as an independent artist to try to be creative and do it yourself. for this release, though, i’m partnering with Orlando Puerta and maria marquez at citrusonic flavor in l.a. Orlando has actually worked with madonna for 25 years. it’s great to have a partner this time out. There is power in numbers. what do you hope for this record? well, you know, as an artist, the first thing is expressing myself. all of my music is like a personal diary. i want the message of “i Just go” to reach people as far as it can. and where it will go, i have no idea. but hell—i want it to reach the stars. don’t we all? what do you think dance music is missing in 2015? dance music is missing soul. years ago there were a lot more vocals being played. really, what inspired me was the art of the remix, and i feel like that’s not around anymore. i feel like people used to tell a story when it came to remixes. a producer would take a vocal and build [a remix] completely off of the vocals. it’s like, i told my story, but now i’m going to hand it over to you and allow you to tell yours. and that always excites me because i get other interpretations from people, which is very important. but getting back to your question, i think it’s missing soul. i think that people tend to play the radio version and if there are remixes [the market is] so saturated it’s very rare that you’re going to find a remixer that actually knows what they’re doing. anybody can throw an a cappella over a beat and throw it into a program and create a remix. but to do what Junior and david morales and frankie Knuckles used to do, all of these people who really created moments in dance music, i’d say it’s few and far between these days. you used to go to the club to hear the remixes. Times have changed and that’s totally cool, but it used to be like a moment where you’d go, “wow, that’s a cool new track.” it was underground. where do you think your new single fits into the pop landscape? i think it’s very current. i’m constantly listening to new music and feeling new beats and i think that in terms of the production it’s very current. There’s a real definitive beat and lush strings and a very defined melody. it’s a ballad, which is a new direction for me. not something that i haven’t done before but it’s not what people are used to hearing from me. This is definitely a ballad. What’s your favorite nightlife spot in NYC? Viva Saturdays. Favorite all time? i’m dating myself! [Laughs] Palladium. Specifically, area at Palladium. Tell me about your idea of the perfect first date. dinner. being able to really talk to the person and connect. dinner and a few drinks. N

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PHOTO by aLbErT SaNcHEz/cOurTESy Of IcNy

Special guest Jody Watley performs live April 11 at the Imperial Court of New York’s 29th annual Night of a Thousand Gowns. See p.20 for more info.

WEEK

WHAT TO SEE & WHERE TO BE APRIL 10 THROUGH APRIL 19 TELL Bureau of General Services–Queer Division 208 W 13th St (btwn Seventh/Greenwich Aves), bgsqd.com. The latest installment of this storytelling series features a group of painted ladies sharing tales centered around the idea of “Queendom,” with Lady Quesa’dilla as the evening’s host. 7:30pm; $5.

11 YEARS

FURBALL XL, 516 W 42nd St (btwn 10th/11th Aves), xlnightclub.com. For 11 years, Joe Fiore has been bringing together the city’s hottest and hairiest men at Furball, and the fur will be flying at this anniversary party. Bears, cubs, otters, daddies, and plenty of other party animals will dance the night away to beats by DJs Corey Craig and John LePage. 10pm; $15 in advance/$20 general admission.

FRIDAY

APRIL 10

CONTACT MARK DOMMU AT LISTINGS@NEXTMAGAZINE.NET IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE LISTED. LISTINGS ARE FREE AND SUBJECT TO EDITORIAL DISCRETION.

BEARRACUDA BROOKLYN Littlefield, 622 Degraw St (btwn Third/Fourth Aves),

littlefieldnyc.com. Bearracuda has rocked 43 cities around the country, and now it’s coming to Brooklyn for a hair-raising night of furry fun. Bearracuda DC DJ Mike Babbit has beats for the bears. 10pm; $5 before midnight/$10 general admission. HUNG G Lounge, 225 W 19th St (btwn Seventh/Eighth Aves), glounge.com. Host Yusef X gives it to you every Friday night. DJ Danny Nunez spins while sexy go-go boys shake it for the size queens. 10pm; free. ELEVENELEVEN Open House, 244 E Houston (btwn Aves A/B), openhouse-nyc.com. The boys are getting wilder than ever at Ladyfag’s rager every Friday. Rock that dance floor as DJs Michael Magnan, Honey Dijon, and special guests spin and hostess Stephanie Stone works the room. 11pm; free before midnight/$5 general admission.

FEVER FRIDAYS The Attic, 254 W 48th St (@ Eighth Ave), vossevents.com. The legendary Candis Cayne returns to NYC for a one-nightonly performance at Brandon Voss and Kenny Kenny’s Friday night party. This feverish weekly is getting even hotter with beats by Carlos Jadraque, scandalous go-go boys, and hostess Amanda Lepore serving glamour like you’ve never seen it. 11pm; free before midnight/$10 general admission. DOODZ Macri Park, 462 Union Ave (btwn Metropolitan Ave/Conselyea St), Williamsburg, macripark.com. Brooklyn queen Chris of Hur hosts this party for arty, genderfucking weirdos. Queers and queens like Dalin, Lucy Balls, Mary Jo Cameltoe, Glace Chase, Untitled Queen, and Lady Simon come together to turn it out as you dance to beats by Gringo Starr and DJ Male. The straight hipsters at Macri go nuts for these queens and you will too! 11:30pm; free.

APRIL 10, 2015 17

FRIDAY

WEEK

APRIL 10

CARRY ON

BAR CRAWL

rooklyn artist, club kid, and promoter molly rhinestones stays on her home turf during the week, but on friday nights, “i’m ready to throw a castle on my head, get a crew together, and carry all around town,” she says. “i want to see some cuties and swing from 10 chandeliers.” —Mark Dommu

2. TRIGGER Lovegun, 617 Grand St (btwn Lorimer/Leonard Sts), Williamsburg, 718-388-3411. “lovegun is my go-to spot in brooklyn. The space is unique because it can function as a traditional bar for a small kiki or a wild night carrying on with FERGIE and Kelly Osbourne. On friday nights, the dance floor is packed with a bunch of cuties and queens while dJ ernie cote slays upstairs in the mezzanine—which is also the best makeout spot.”

1. PRESHUZ BBZ LOFT Undisclosed Brooklyn Location. “i usually

START

4. KILL CITY The Studio at Webster Hall, 125 E 11th St (btwn Third/Fourth Aves), killcityparty.com.

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Eastern Bloc, 505 E Sixth St (btwn Aves A/B), easternblocnyc.com. “i always have the best time at eastern bloc, whether i’m there to have some early night cocktails or rage with whiskey shots. rockin’ disco fag bar is my latest favorite eastern bloc party. The room is always filled with a crew of brooklyn and manhattan babes. dJs DARREN DRYDEN and Trey laTrash are always killing it, and the spectacular bar staff and my fave go-go babes always make for a fantastic time!”

5. TINA’S PLACE 1002 Flushing Ave (@ Wilson St), Bushwick, 718-8219595. “after i have maybe had

FI NI SH

one too many drinks and probably texted about four boys i shouldn’t have, i usually need food aSaP. i am blessed to live by the best diner in bushwick, Tina’s Place. usually late at night, the legendary Tina herself is serving! The food is super cheap and the omelets are so good that i’m getting hungry just thinking about them!”

PHOTOS: OrOn PeJic (mOlly rHineSTOneS); wilSOnmOdelS (fergie); guSTaVO mOnrOy (darren dryden)

“Kill city is a party for everyone. it’s 19+, so younger cuties can join the affair as well! The party at the legendary webster Hall brings in girls, boys, trans kids, drag queens, and aliens from uptown, downtown, brooklyn, and everywhere in between. The fab erickatoure, One-Half nelson, and dJ Jess marquis have curated a fabulous array of marvelous hosts, like Suzie Hart, James nichols, and gage of the boone.”

3. ROCKIN’ DISCO FAG BAR

start out my night tussling through my collection of tiaras, giant bows, and pink wigs while our resident karaoke king, frank m. Jones, belts a song downstairs. One of my favorite parts of the night is having friends over and putting on looks. i love having a crew to bounce around ideas with, like walker Seydell helping me fashion princess sleeves out of six loofahs. after we’re done hot gluing things to our heads, we head out for the night.”

FRIDAY

WEEK

APRIL 10

PLAYLIST

POP rOLLErcOaSTEr

PHOTO by guSTavO MONrOy

Whether it’s a radio edit with a bumping beat or a remix that throws you for a loop, DJ JROC spins the Top 40 hits that crowds love. “These songs are pretty much staples in my set because they help me take the people on a ride, complete with building you up, mega drops, and twists and turns.” Because he spins at the tightly packed Posh, JRoc tries to cram the space with big beats. “The best feeling is seeing someone never leave my floor, when they know they have places to be tomorrow and they just don’t want to go!”

THE TRACKS: 1. “Drink Up Freak Out” (The Native Ones Club Mix) – Roger Ortega feat. The Native Ones” 2. “Bitch Better Have My Money” (Craig Vanity vs. Laidback Luke & Tujamo) – Rihanna 3. “212 Who?” (Mister Gray Bootleg) – Azaelia Banks vs. Plastik Funk & Tujamo 4. “Burnin’ Up” – Jessie J feat. 2 Chainz 5. “Take Me Home” (Extended Mix) – Cash Cash feat. Bebe Rexha 6. “Chandelier” (Liam Keegan Extended Club Mix) – Sia 7. “Hey Mama” – David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj 8. “Drunk in Love” (Richie Bertta & Jillionaire Remix) – Beyoncé Nicki Minaj 9. “Blank Space” (Roc's Drew G vs. Dj Scooter Mix) – Taylor Swift 10: “Love Me Harder” (Country Club Martini Crew Club Mix) – Ariana Grande feat. The Weeknd

Rihanna Taylor Swift

DJ JRoc spins WTF Fridays at Posh, 405 W 51st St (@ Ninth Ave), Fridays at 9pm; free. Visit poshbarnyc.com for more info.

SATURDAY

GYM SATURDAYS Gym Sportsbar, 167 Eighth Ave (btwn 18th/19th Sts), gymsportsbar.com. Drink the day away at this beloved Chelsea sports bar, starting with a $3 beer blast at 1pm. 1pm; free.

NIGHT OF A THOUSAND GOWNS New York Marriot Marquis, 1535 Broadway (btwn Seventh/Eighth Aves), icny.com. The Imperial Court of New York’s annual gala is an unforgettable night of over-the-top glamour benefitting the National LGBT Task Force and The Center. Drink, dine, and dance at this fabulous event featuring a silent auction and performances by Jody Watley and the cast of Avenue Q. 6pm–midnight; $450–$1,000.

20 APRIL 10, 2015

APRIL 11 HOMO ERECTUS The Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher St (btwn Seventh Ave/Waverly Pl), thestonewallinnnyc.com. This monthly boylesque show is changing things up for April with a themeless installment. Reverend Mother Flash, Rify Royalty, Johnny Porkpie, Matt Knife, and others perform. 8pm; $10 (plus two drink minimum).

VIVA SATURDAYS Stage 48, 605 W 48th St (btwn 11th/12th Aves), vivasaturdays.com. DJ Phil Romano tears it up in the main room of John Blair, Beto Sutter, Ric Sena, and BoiParty’s weekly bash. On the third floor, DJs Dan Darlington and Peter Napoli resurrect their high-energy dance party, Mission. 11pm; $20–$25.

WACK The Cock, 29 Second Ave (btwn First/Second Sts), thecockbar.com. DJ Kindbud gets slap happy in the East Village every Saturday night at New York’s most infamous gay bar. There are always go-go sluts on the bar and plenty of dark corners to explore. 10pm; $10.

BOOP Lovegun, 617 Grand St (btwn Lorimer/Leonard Sts), Williamsburg, 718-388-3411. The Culture Whore’s new party launches with music by DJs K|Rex and JX Cannon and tons of shows. 11pm; free before midnight/$5 general admission.

NEW

SUNDAY

APRIL 12

HAUS OF MIMOSA Ktchn, 508 W 42nd St (btwn 10th/11th Aves), ktchnnyc.com. The Haus of Mimosa hosts this weekly brunch show, and they are going to make you laugh so hard you’ll be snorting—well, mimosas! Bottomless $25 mimosas, to be precise. Noon and 2pm; prices vary. FOR THE RECORD The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard St (btwn Stanton/Rivington Sts), slipperroom.com. At Eric Schmalenberger and Nicholas Gorham’s monthly show, a cast of queer performers honor an influential album. This month, it’s Grace Jones’ classic, Nightclubbing,

MONDAY

TIP DRILL SUNDAYS Rockbar, 185 Christopher St (@ Weehawken St), rockbarnyc.com. DJ Big Dipper throws down throwback hip-hop and club beats with the help of host 3Xs. 9:30pm–1am; free. BEATS The Eagle, 554 W 28th St (btwn 10th/11th Aves), eaglenyc.com. DJ B. Duron pumps the beats this Sunday night for a butch

WEEK

crowd of leather daddies and lads at this landmark Chelsea leather bar. 10pm; free. KLÜB NYC Klüb, 55 Gansevoort (btwn Greenwich/Washington Sts), 917-312-1949. Join hosts Amanda Lepore, Boomer Banks, and others at José Colón and Colby Walsh’s wildly glam Sunday night party. 10pm; free. OTTER BOX The Flat, 308 Hooper St (@ Broadway), Williamsburg, theflatbkny.com. Make furry new friends at Shameless Productions and JEM Entertainment’s weekly dance party. 11pm; $5.

APRIL 13

FIRE ISLAND SHARE-A-THON The Center, 208 W 13th St (btwn Seventh/Greenwich Aves), gaycenter.org. The Center’s mixer helps Fire Island hopefuls meet, mingle, and find their ideal summer housemates. 7pm–9pm; free. QUEER/ART/FILM IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave (@ W Third St), queerartfilm.com. BIGLovely front woman Toshi Reagonis is this month’s Q/A/F curator, and her movie of choice is Charles Burnett’s To Sleep With Anger. Following the screening, Reagonis hosts a discussion over drinks at Julius. 8pm; $14.

TUESDAY

with performances from Nath Ann Carrera, Enid Ellen, and others. 8pm; $10 in advance/$15 general admission.

CASHETTAPALOOZA Lips, 227 E 56th St (btwn Second/Third Aves), lipsnyc.com. Scott West, better known as Cashetta, is gone too soon. The girls of Lips celebrate the life and legacy of this glamorous New York queen at this very special tribute show. 8pm–10:30pm; free.

MASC4MASCARA XL, 516 W 42nd St (btwn 10th/11th Aves), xlnightclub.com. Maddelynn Hatter and special guests lip-synch for their lives—and your tips—after a Drag Race screening full of cunty commentary. DJ Jon Ali spins all night long. 9pm; free.

MEATLESS MONDAYS Icon, 31-84 33rd St (btwn Broadway/31st St), Astoria, iconastoria.com. Dusty Ray Bottoms and Tammy Spenks host Icon’s Drag Race viewing party, where you can quench your thirst with $5 “Ru” shots and $5 well drinks. 8pm; free.

DRAG-A-PALOOZA Therapy, 348 W 52nd St (btwn Eighth/Ninth Aves), therapy-nyc.com. Watch Drag Race with So You Think You Can Drag 2014 winner Alexis Michelle, and stick around after Ru’s show for The Bob Show with Bob the Drag Queen. 9pm; free.

APRIL 14

FASHY TRAGGOTS Warsaw, 261 Driggs Ave (@ Eckford St), Williamsburg, warsawconcerts.com. Up-and-coming gay comedians Kenny Neal Shults, Matteo Lane, and Sampson take the stage for a night of queer stand-up, with a musical performance by the one-and-only Cazwell. 7:30pm; $20.

A COAT OF MANY COLORS Therapy, 348 W 52nd St (btwn Eighth/Ninth Aves), therapynyc.com. Jason Cozmo stars in this tribute to Dolly Parton. Expect big tits, bigger hair, and classic tunes. 8pm; free.

TOP POP Xes, 157 W 24th St (btwn Sixth/Seventh Aves), xesnyc.com. DJ Jay Brancato’s Top 40 hits will have you feeling yourself, just like Nicki and Bey. 8pm; free.

NEW

H.A.M. G Lounge, 225 W 19th St (btwn Seventh/Eighth Aves), glounge.com. Misty Meaner and Suzie Hart lead the Brooklyn invasion of this Chelsea hot spot. DJ David Sokolowski, hostess Merrie Cherry, and go-go stud Rify Royalty are just some of the Brooklyn babes who will be on hand to turn up your Tuesday night. 10pm; free.

WEDNESDAY

SHE CALLS ME FIREFLY New Perspectives Studio, 458 W 37th St (btwn Ninth/10th Aves), shecallsmefirefly.com. Opening night of this new play by Teresa Lotz transports the audience to a Kentucky dive bar, where lead character Ken explores his past. 7:30pm; $18.

STONED WEDNESDAY Rockbar, 185 Christopher St (@ Weehawken St), rockbarnyc.com. Princess Bitch, Lilith LeFae, and special guest Lola Michele-Kiki are gonna rock your hump day with shows and shade. 10pm–midnight; free.

GAY COLLEGE TUESDAY The Ritz, 369 W 46th St (btwn Eighth/Ninth Aves), ritzbarandlounge.com. DJ Steve Sidewalk spins at this weekly bash for college boys, with a hot body contest hosted by Honey Davenport. 10pm; free. WESTGAY Westway, 75 Clarkson St (btwn Washington St/West Side Hwy), westwaynyc.com. Porn star go-gos work the runway as New York’s party boys dance to dirty downtown beats by resident DJs Jonjon Battles, Nita Aviance, and ultra-hyped guests at Frankie Sharp’s weekly bash. 10pm; $10.

APRIL 15

STONEWALL SENSATION The Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher St (btwn Seventh Ave/Waverly Pl), thestonewallinnnyc.com. Brandon Cutrell hosts the 15th season of Stonewall’s supreme singing competition. Pop star hopefuls compete each week for the chance to win $1,000. It’s like American idol or The Voice live, but with bitchier live commentary, if that’s even possible. 10pm; free. WERK Hardware, 697 10th Ave (btwn 47th/48th Sts), hardware-bar.com. “Showbiz spitfire” Paige Turner and DJ Natazu are working

it out in Hell’s Kitchen every Wednesday night, with a special guest Working Girl each week. They work hard for the money, so don’t forget to tip your queens! 10:30pm; free. BURNER AND BROOKS Barracuda, 275 W 22nd St (btwn Seventh/Eighth Aves), 212-6458613. Enjoy musical mash-ups from Tina Burner and Delilah Brooks at their hilarious weekly show. These queens of comedy will have you bowing down—and drinking up. Make sure to have a few cocktails, because the more you drink, the funnier the jokes are! 11pm; free.

APRIL 10, 2015 21

WEDNESDAY

THE ROUNDUP

APRIL 15

SCREEN QUEENS

WEEK

LgbT PIckS frOM THE TrIbEca fILM fESTIvaL.

he Tribeca film festival brings the freshest, edgiest, and most masterfully crafted new cinema from around the world to new york each year. as with any major film festival, there are always some entries of special interest to lgbT audiences. Here’s a sampling of the movies the gays must see. —MD

THE ARTIST IS ABSENT you’ve seen martin margiela’s sumptuous clothes in the pages of every major fashion magazine, but you’ve never seen his face. The designer maintains a fierce anonymity, and this documentary short explores the elusive fashion icon through conversations with some of the fashion world’s biggest names. SWORN VIRGIN an interesting study on the rigidities of gender in diﬀerent cultures, this is the story of Hana (alba rohrwacher), an albanian woman who, frustrated with femininity, invokes a centuries-old albanian tradition—she will live like a man and be a “sworn virgin.” years later, Hana, now living as mark, journeys to italy, where her vow is challenged. GRANDMA lily Tomlin stars as an aging poet still dealing with her partner’s death when her teenage granddaughter shows up out of the blue asking for $600 and a ride. The ensuing road trip is part buddy comedy, part exploration of the past.

PHOTOS cOurTeSy Of THe Tribeca film feSTiVal

BETTER TO LIVE in this documentary short, college theater students weave together a musical sketch comedy dealing with some of the major issues facing teens today—suicide, cutting, eating disorders—for 5,000 college freshman at madison Square garden. it’s like that Glee arena tour from when Glee was still relevant. BARE Speaking of Glee, dianna agron stars in this feature film as a young woman whose dull and dry life is turned around by a spontaneous stranger played by Paz de la Huerta. The two women embark on a wild, drug-fueled journey that promises to be supremely sexy.

The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 15–26 at various locations; ticket prices vary. Visit tribecafilm.com/festival for more info.

THURSDAY

ALOTTA STUFF Metropolitan, 559 Lorimer St (btwn Metropolitan Ave/Devoe St), Williamsburg, metropolitanbarny.com. Just like Eminem, Alotta McGriddles is cleaning out her closet, and you get to benefit from her spring cleaning at this drag auction. She’s got a little bit of everything: vintage, drag, boy clothes, and more! Just make sure to be generous so that Alotta can keep buying herself McGriddles! 8pm–midnight; free. YASSSS THURSDAYS Boxers HK, 742 Ninth Ave (@ 50th St), boxersnyc.com. DJ Steve Side-

22 APRIL 10, 2015

APRIL 16 walk spins a turned up mix of all your favorite pop tunes so you can queen out on the dance floor. If you’ve got “Yassss”-related PTSD from too many viewings of Drag Race, you may want to bring a set of ear plugs. 9pm; free. NO STRINGS ATTACHED Cellar Bar, 40 W 40th St (btwn Fifth/Sixth Aves), cellarbarbryantparkhotel.com. A rotating roster of the city’s hottest DJs spin at Brian Rafferty and Joe Roszak’s weekly casual encounter, where you’ll find oodles of hot guys having fun every week—

no need to turn on Grindr, there are plenty of guys cruising IRL. Pop-up drag shows from fabulous queens should help keep your attention all night. 10pm; free. UPTOWN THURSDAYS The West End, 955 West End Ave (@ 107th St), thewestendlounge.com. Justin Luke and his BoiParty crew head uptown for a night of freewheeling fun, with hosts Schwa De Vivre, Brandon Gage, Corey Allen, Holly Box-Springs, Alexis Michelle, and others. 11pm; free.

APRIL 10, 2015 23

FRIDAY

APRIL 17

WEEK “QUOTED”

Bird in the House at La MaMa Experimental Theater Club, 74 E Fourth St (btwn Second/Third Aves), April 17–26, Fridays and Saturdays at 10pm, Sundays at 6pm; $18. Visit lamama.org for more info.

TREVOR SPRING FLING The Park, 118 10th Ave (btwn 17th/18th Sts), thetrevorproject.org. The Trevor Project’s spring kickoff is a night of glamorous queer fun, with hors d’oeuvres, champagne, musical performances, and more. 6pm–10:30pm; $75 general admission/$130– $1,500 VIP. BUTCH QUEEN Mr. Biggs, 596 10th Ave (btwn 43rd/44th Sts), mrbiggsnewyork.com. Be masc, be fem, be whatever you want at Shawn Mazur, Richie Friendly, and Joe Fiore’s monthly party. DJ Corey Craig spins as you dance, flirt, and chow down on $1 meatball sliders. 10pm; free. FOREPLAY FRIDAYS X Lounge, 512 W 42nd St (btwn 10th/11th Aves), xlnightclub.com.

24 APRIL 10, 2015

Sometimes foreplay is even better than the main event! Chris Ryan and Bobby LaSalle certainly think so, and they know how to tease at their weekly party. 10pm; free. INDUSTRY FRIDAYS Industry, 355 W 52nd St (btwn Eighth/Ninth Aves), industry-bar.com. Celebrate the end of another week by getting down to DJ Scott Jones’s hot mix with a crowd of Hell’s Kitchen cuties. 10pm; free. SHIT SHOW FRIDAYS This N’ That, 108 N Sixth St (btwn Berry St/Wythe Ave), Williamsburg, thisnthatbrooklyn.com. Mr(s) Williamsburg 2014 Aja and Momo Shade host this party, where the only thing hotter than the guest DJs’ beats is the Williamsburg trade. 10pm; free.

PHOENIX FRIDAYS Phoenix, 447 E 13th St (btwn First/Second Aves), phoenixbarnyc.com. East Village boys and Hells Kitchen hotties collide on the dance floor at Michael Cohen’s weekly bash. Guest DJs blast pop and throwback tracks for a cute young crowd. 10pm; free. HABIBI Shadow Boxers, 215 W 40th St (btwn Seventh/Eighth Aves), shadowboxersbar.com. Celebrate the anniversary of New York’s biggest party for Middle Eastern gays and the men who love them. Host Sasha Seven joins Habibi creator DJ IZ as he spins Middle Eastern dance beats. Sexy belly dancers do their thing while more hot Middle Eastern men than you’ll see anywhere else in the city take it to the dance floor. 11pm; $10 before midnight/$15 general admission.

PHOTO by brETT LINDELL

“I grew up wanting to be a stand-up comedian and a weirdo,” says queer performer DANE TERRY. “Then I started playing piano and discovered that you were allowed to have feelings. So I started writing songs and music and it got weirder and weirder, but in between the music, I ended up being funny in this weird way. I’m just a goofball in between songs, so that morphed into this surreal, sci-fi thing. It’s bizarre, weird, and slightly funny.” Terry ended up mining his childhood for the musical tales on both his new album, Color Moves, and in his first solo neo-cabaret show at La MaMa E.T.C., Bird in the House, premiering April 17. “Childhood is scary, because it’s the first time you’ve done it. It’s actually kind of horrible. Not to mention all of the lies you’re told. So I started writing songs about aliens, about America, about my father, about where I came from. I come from hillbilly stock, and we love our aliens—and the aliens tend to love us.”

SATURDAY

Night of the Living Drag

APRIL 18

NIGHTLIFE

THE bOuLET brOTHErS brINg aLL THE fILTH, LEaTHEr, aND gLaMOur Of THEIr WEST cOaST ParTy, DraguLa, TO brOOkLyN.

The boulet brothers, Lona and Mona.

f you saw the the boulet brothers—drag duo Mona and Lona boulet—across a crowded room, you might be intimidated by their blacked-out eyes, towering wigs, and leather gowns. Their look is part john Waters, part Rocky Horror, part Die antwoord, with a dash of pure Ethel Merman schlock to soften the edges. “People see us and think we’re really intense and imperious and scary,” says Mona. “but we’re actually super fun and campy.” She and Lona are confident that the arty queens of brooklyn will embrace them when their long-running party Dragula takes over bushwick’s Secret Project robot on april 18 the way their network of punk queens and queers around the country have. before they were a West coast drag institution, the boulet brothers were New yorkers—Mona was Next Magazine‘s art director in the late ’90s. More than a drag sister act, they’ve also been a couple for 18 years. The pair moved to L.a. in 2000, where they initially operated behind the scenes at their popular party, Miss kitty’s Parlour, designing looks for their hostess, kitty, and feeding her lines. but when kitty abrubtly left the city, Mona and Lona stepped out from behind the curtain to host the show, and the boulet brothers were born. after years making a name for themselves on the West coast drag scene, Mona and Lona felt their parties were becoming stale and too centered on business. Then, in june 2013, they decided to throw a party that they would actually want to go to, a celebration of “drag, leather, and glamour. “We thought no one would come to this party, that the concept was too weird,” Mona recalls. but they decided to do it anyway,

26 APRIL 10, 2015

just for fun. “We wanted it to be dirty and john Waters-esque, but we also wanted super fierce drag and alternative drag,” Mona says. “We wanted to celebrate San francisco queens and their armpit hair, but horror queens too, all mixed together, everything we love.” So that’s exactly what they did, and on its very first night in a small L.a. leather bar, Dragula exploded, with people waiting in a line that stretched around the block. “It’s just grown from there,” says Mona. for Dragula’s first anniversary, the boulet brothers launched the party in San francisco, and once again, the response was insane. “Every queen from RuPaul’s Drag Race was there,” says Mona. “Everybody was there.” Not satisfied with West coast domination, the duo always intended to go back to their roots and take the party to New york, bringing their journey full circle. With Dragula—which, surprisingly, is not named after the White zombie song—approaching its second anniversary, it seemed like the perfect time to strike. While the brothers originally planned to bring Dragula to Manhattan, the renegade energy of brooklyn’s drag scene felt like a better fit for their messy, balls-to-the-wall party. bushwig founder Horrorchata and bushwick drag doyenne Merrie cherry have both performed at Dragula’s L.a. incarnation, and the boulets’ alternative West coast scene certainly felt like home for the brooklyn queens. cherry even felt, at Dragula, like she was still in brooklyn, partying at Metropolitan. “There were cute boys, fierce-ass queens in amazing looks, great music,” cherry says. “The drag scene there is very similar to what’s happening right now in brooklyn.”

WEEK

PHOTOS cOurTESy Of THE bOuLET brOTHErS

Horrorchata particularly loves the way Dragula brings together the elements of both the leather and drag scenes. “It’s like putting clowns and bears in one cage,” she says. “When we saw Merrie cherry and Horrorchata, I felt a kinship with them,” says Mona. “What they’re doing is very much what we’re about. It seemed right.” That sort of underground networking—aided by its growing bicoastal reputation and social media presence—is what makes Dragula more than just a party. “I can come to New york and I know who a lot of people are, and they know who we are,” Mona explains. “If you see an alternative queen, it’s easy to say, ‘Ok, this is a mover and a shaker in New york.’ We know who they are.” When the boulet brothers arrive in bushwick, they won’t just have the advantage of a partnership with two of the most recognizable queens on the brooklyn scene; they’re also bringing the full Dragula experience, including their infamous drag pageant. anyone is welcome to sign up to compete, and from the entrants, 10 contestants will be selected. Those 10 queens walk the runway, and a group of judges—the Exorsisters, as they’re known at Dragula—then cut queens until they’ve reached a final three. The New york Exorsisters cross a spectrum of scenes, including legends like Hedda Lettuce, Manhattan girls like Maddelyn Hatter, and club kids like One-Half Nelson. Severely Mame will serve as the contest’s runway executioner, and she’s confident that the New york girls won’t disappoint. “There’s a lot of spooky bitches in this town,” she says, “so I have high expectations.”

It’s important to the boulet brothers that they book drag performers from different scenes, especially when it comes to judging the contest. “you don’t want the same people from the same scenes judging the pageant, because they’ll have the same point of view,” Mona insists. The duo also feel strongly about including drag legends in the mix. “It’s not all about being on RuPaul’s, that’s one thing that we really like to push,” she continues. “Some of these people— Hedda Lettuce, jackie beat—these people are legendary, and they weren’t on a Tv show, so that wasn’t handed to them. It’s important to show respect for these people, because they paved the way for the rest of us.” Once the final three are chosen, they’ll compete in a series of challenges, which change at every Dragula installment. at recent parties contestants have had to chug beer, act out the Wicked Witch of the West’s “I’m melting, I’m melting” scene, strip to Mötley crüe, sing joan jett, and perform a number as the audience threw rotten cabbage at them. “anybody can perform when the crowd loves you,” explains Mona, “but can you perform when the crowd hates you? We told the audience, ‘If you love this performer, boo them louder and louder.’” If anyone is ready to get pelted with rotten vegetables, it’s the DIy queens of brooklyn. The boulet brothers have no doubt that the city that never sleeps is ready to meet their challenge. “New york is infamous for being the loudest city on Earth,” laughs Mona, “so I hope the contestants live up to that.” —MD

L.A. LADIES Party monsters, drag starlets, and go-go studs at february’s Dragula L.a.

Dragula at Secret Project Robot, 389 Melrose St (btwn Knickerbocker/Irving Aves), Bushwick, April 18 at 10pm; $10 before 11pm/$15 general admission. Visit secretprojectrobot.org for more info. APRIL 10, 2015 27

SATURDAY

WEEK

APRIL 18

RAINBOW BOOK FAIR Holiday Inn Midtown, 440 W 57th St (btwn Columbus/10th Aves), rainbowbookfair.org. Pick up a new queer read or catch a panel discussion by some of today’s best and brightest LGBT authors at this annual literary expo. Noon–6pm; $3.

gmhc.org. This annual drag showcase features more looks than you can handle and music by Occupy the Disco. The House of Aviance debut their new single, “Avi’ously Aviance,” and proceeds benefit GMHC. 8pm–2am; $40 general admission/$100 VIP.

HOLY MOUNTAIN Slake, 251 W 30th St (btwn Seventh/Eighth Aves), holymountain.club. Ladyfag’s surrealist party will have you feeling the spirit with DJ sets by Michael Magnan, Juliana Huxtable, Nita Aviance, and others. 11pm; $10 before midnight/$15 general admission.

CHOMP Etcetera Etcetera, 352 West 44th St (btwn Eighth/Ninth Aves), teameaglenyc.org. Enjoy a three-course dinner at The Eagle’s benefit for The Center’s HIV/AIDS services. 6:30pm; $100.

SPANK The Bell House, 149 Seventh St (btwn Second/Third Aves), Gowanas, spankartmag.com. This arty neo-rave is back. DJs Sean B and Will Automagic spin all night, with installations by Jeffrey Owen Ralston and visuals by Big Art Group. 10pm; $7–$15 in advance/$20 general admission.

PSYCHIC SPRING The Kymberle Project, 1332 Atlantic Ave (btwn Nostrand/New York Aves), Crown Heights, theculturewhore.com. David Soklowski and The Culture Whore celebrate three years of their psychedelic dance party with a live set by Nomi Ruiz. 11pm; $10 in advance/$15 general admission.

DRAGON: GLAMATRON Hudson Terrace, 621 W 46th St (btwn 11th Ave/West Sd Hwy),

SUNDAY

APRIL 19

SUNDAY’S A DRAG Shadow Boxers, 215 W 40th St (btwn Seventh/Eighth Aves), shadowboxersbar.com. Sir Honey Davenport is your fabulous hostess at this Sunday brunch, where you can choose between mimosas, Bloody Marys, bellinis, and sangria for bottomless drinks. Noon and 2pm seatings; prices vary. QUEER PORN FILM FESTIVAL The Spectrum, 59 Montrose Ave (btwn Lorimer/Leonard Sts), Williamsburg, thespectrum6@gmail.com.

28 APRIL 10, 2015

3 YEARS

Start your day with gluten-free pancakes and porn at this LGBTQ porn fest, which features screenings, workshops, and more. 2pm–5am; $35. SKINNY BRUNCH Hardware, 697 10th Ave (btwn 47th/48th Sts), hardware-bar.com. DJ Nicky Boom Box spins as you enjoy $3 mimosas, Bloody Marys, and margaritas. 3pm–8pm; free. UNTUCKED AND UNCENSORED The Ritz, 369 W 46th St (btwn Eighth/Ninth Aves),

ritzbarandlounge.com. A true show queen if there ever was one, Marti Gould Cummings wants to entertain you and get you liquored up every Sunday. Aw, isn’t she sweet? DJ Clayton Moore spins. 11pm; free. DADDY Eastern Bloc, 505 E Sixth St (btwn Aves A/B), easternblocnyc.com. Daddies and boys come together at The Culture Whore’s sexy leather party, with daddy DJ W. Jeremy spinning deep disco and house grooves. 11pm; free.

APRIL 10, 2015 29

BARS+CLUBS

MANHATTAN

THE EAGLE

554 W 28th St

301 W 39th St

ESCUELITA

656 Ninth Ave

9TH AVENUE SALOON

405 W 51st St

POSH

369 W 46th St

THE RITZ

753 Ninth Ave

157 W 24th St

XES

215 W 40th St

SHADOW BOXERS

ATLAS SOCIAL CLUB

742 Ninth Ave

BOXERS HK

344 W 52nd St

355 W 52nd St

INDUSTRY

793 Ninth Ave

FLAMING SADDLES

104 Dyckman St

CASTRO

348 W 52nd St

516 W 42nd St

BPM

401 W 47th St

BARRAGE

697 10th Ave

HARDWARE

500 W 48th St

FAIRYTAIL LOUNGE

WEST END LOUNGE 955 West End Ave

BAMBOO 52

309 Amsterdam Ave

THERAPY

CANDLE BAR

SUITE

992 Amsterdam Ave

227 E 56th St

LIPS

236 E 58th St

TOWNHOUSE

1742 Second Ave

TOOL BOX

139 E 45th St

UNCLE CHARLIE’S

221 E 58th St

EVOLVE

APRIL 10, 2015 31

LATE-NIGHT CRUISING

CLUB

LESBIAN

FOOD

NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

HAPPY HOUR

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

DANCING

WHAT’S THE SCENE?

>>> MAP KEY

185 Christopher St

ROCKBAR

115 Christopher St

114 Christopher St

TY’S

76 Christopher St

STONEWALL 159 W 10th St

438 Hudson St

HENRIETTA HUDSON

59 Grove St

MARIE’S CRISIS

80 Grove St

THE MONSTER

8 Christopher St

PIECES

53 Christopher St

BOILER ROOM 86 E Fourth St

29 Second Ave

THE COCK

505 E Sixth St

EASTERN BLOC

447 E 13th St

PHOENIX

322 E 14th St

JULIUS

NOWHERE

208 W 13th St gaycenter.org

37 W 20th St

BOXERS

LGBT CENTER

225 W 19th St

G LOUNGE

61 Christopher St

DUPLEX

BOOTS & SADDLE

281 W 12th St

CUBBYHOLE

THE HANGAR

167 Eighth Ave

GYM SPORTSBAR

275 W 22nd St

BARRACUDA

JACKSON HEIGHTS

60th Pl

Pet tit A v

e 28

Van Loon St

Goldsmith St

37t

dS t

45t hS

42n

43r

44t

55 th Av e

th 56

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An k ene r

r Do nish ng Av an e Sa Av in t e Ja me s

32 n Co d St

hS t

Codwise Pl

Gorsline St

Hillyer St d

Elk sR

41s tS t

Ireland St

Calam us Cir t

29 th st St 31

St th 30

29 th

34t hS 36t hS

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t dS 32n

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ell rnw

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Av e

V St th ieto r Av St

r Av Bax te

th 26

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dS t 23r dS

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Kneela n d St

32n dS

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hS t 30t

29t hS t

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28t

72nd Pl

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hP l

14t

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Old Ln

St 11th

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dS t

42nd Pl

Hamilton Pl

64th St

9th S

St hS t

Vernon Blvd 12t hS t

66th 9St th

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St 63r d

27t

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68t h

Blvd Vern on

65th Pl

68th St

13th

63rd St

Jacobus St

65th 66th St

66th St

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63rd Pl

27t hS t

tS 81s

ve 58th A

57th Rd

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>>> MAP KEY

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DINING $ unDeR $10 peR peRson $$ unDeR $25 $$$ unDeR $35 $$$$ unDeR $45 $$$$$ $45+ gaY owneD/CheF gaY sCene CRiTiC’s piCk

CheLsea BOTTINO 246 Tenth Ave (24th/25th Sts), 212-206-6766, bottinonyc.com— This beautiful dining space in Chelsea’s western belt is often filled with gallery-hopping and owning types. ($$$; Mediterranean) BOQUERIA 53 W 19th St (Fifth/Sixth Aves), 212-255-4160, boquerianyc.com— The racy flair of a Spanish cerveceria comes to Chelsea, serving up delicious tapas to a packed, largely after-work crowd. ($$$$; Spanish) CAFETERIA 119 Seventh Ave (17th St), 212-414-1717, cafeteriagroup.com— 24-hour comfort food at fantastically reasonable prices and the off chance of dining alongside celebs incognito. ($$$; American) COOKSHOP 156 Tenth Ave (20th St), 212-924-4440, cookshopny.com— New American fare that blows the roof off your tastebuds without incinerating your wallet. ($$$; American) CREMA RESTAURANTE 111 W 17th St (Sixth/Seventh), 212-691-4477, cremarestaurante.com— Upscale Mexican Kitchen oozes comfort with its warm décor and satisfying and traditional south-of-theborder cuisine. ($$$; Mexican) THE DISH 201 Eighth Ave (20th/21st Sts), 212-352-9800, thedishchelsea.com— Uber gay two-level nouveau diner that serves everything from egg white omelets and Chelsea boy specials to moussaka and pork chops. ($$; American) EAST OF EIGHTH 254 W 23rd (Eighth Ave), 212-352-0075, eastofeighthny.com— Original American cuisine served on 2 floors or in the private garden. ($$; American) ELMO 156 Seventh Ave (19th/20th Sts), 212-337-8000, elmorestaurant.com— Gay meets celeb at this retropicalis themed eatery serving up creative and tasty American comfort cuisine. ($$; American)

NEXTMAGAZINE.COM

Busy Italian eatery with attentive staff and weekend drag brunch. ($$$; Italian)

LASAGNA 196 Eighth Ave (20th St), 212-242-4551, lasagnarestaurant.com— Over 15 different lasagna dishes grace the menus of this new comfort food restaurant. ($$$; Italian)

Chelsea Italian restaurant with a drag brunch—are you sensing a pattern? Barbra Herr stars at this outing where you’ll be drinking unlimited Bloody Marys, Bellinis, and mimosas for just $20. ($$$; Italian)

DELL’ANIMA 38 Eighth Ave (@ Jane St), 212-366-6633, dellanima.com— Sheer delight awaits at Italian Dell’anima, a little bit of perfection without a lick of pretension. ($$$$; Italian)

meaTpaCking

DITCH PLAINS 29 Bedford St (Downing St), 212-633-0202, ditchplains.com— Bitchin’ food and a fun crowd at Marc Murphy’s surf-inspired restaurant, named after the famous stretch in Montauk. ($$$$; Seafood)

LA NACIONAL 239 W 14th St (btwn Seventh/Eighth Aves), 212-243-9308, facebook.com/LaNacionalTapasNYC— Serving delicious, authentic Spanish tapas for over 130 years in a hidden cantina, right in the corazon of Chelsea. ($$$; Spanish)

BUDDAKAN 75 Ninth Ave (16th St), 212-989-6699, buddakannyc.com— The awe inspiring decor of the Great Room— soaring ceilings, hanging chandeliers and a 30-foot-long communal table—set the tone for this exuberant haute-Chinese establishment. ($$$$$; Asian)

LE SINGE VERT 160 Seventh Ave (19th/20th Sts) 212-366-4100, lesingevert.com— Charming Parisian spot with candle-lit tables, French food and a lingering clientele. ($$; French)

MORIMOTO 88 10th Ave (15th/16th Sts), 212-989-8883, morimotonyc.com— Godzilla-sized über restaurant takes over the Meatpacking district with considerable flair, resulting in a lovely and quiet evening. ($$$$$; Japanese)

MARKT 676 Sixth Ave (21st St), 212-727-3314, marktrestaurant.com— Markt moves to smaller digs in Chelsea, but the Belgian eatery remains as fabulous as ever. ($$$$; Belgian) MARY ANN’S 116 Eighth Ave (16th St), 212-633-0877, maryannsmexican.com— Traditional Mexican food and decor with Aztec artifacts and Jalapeno lights. ($$; Mexican) NEW VENUS 252 Eighth Ave (22nd/23rd Sts), 212-243-0980, newvenusnyc.com— Modern American café/diner with warm ambience, open 24 hours featuring Greek and continental specials. ($$$; Diner) PAD THAI NOODLE LOUNGE 114 Eighth Ave (15th/16th Sts), 212-6916226, padthainoodle-lounge.com— Enjoy velvet-red tranquility, authentically spicy fare and a doting staff. ($$; Thai) POUNDS & OUNCES 160 Eighth Ave (17th/18th), 646-449-8150, poundsandouncesnyc.com— Savory American comfort food at its finest. Perfect for brunch with dishes like Crispy Chicken Benedict, a fusion of chicken and waffles and eggs benedict. ($$; American)

REVEL 10 Little W 12th St (Ninth Ave/Washington St) 212-645-5369, revelnyc.com— Enjoy meat and fish served on hot volcanic rocks (among other treats) in this industrial chic eating house that features one of New York’s best gardens. ($$$$$; Mediterranean)

wesT viLLage

L’ARTUSI 228 W 10th St (btwn Hudson/Bleecker Sts), 212-255-5757, lartusi.com— Fine Italian fare from executive chef Gabe Thompson. ($$; Italian)

BAR 6 502 Sixth Ave (12th/13th Sts), 212691-1363, barsixny.com— The reliable and consistent bistro also serves Moroccan specialties and has a great weekend brunch. ($$$; Moroccan) BERIMBAU 43 Carmine St (Bedford/Bleecker Sts) 212- 242-2606, berimbaunyc.com— Sleek dining room serving sea bass, pork tenderloin and other Brazillian dishes. ($$$, Brazillian)

RESTIVO 209 Seventh Ave (22nd St), 212366-4133 restivorestaurant.com— Fine, affordable Italian dining, homemade pastas and deserts in romantic ambiance. ($$$; Italian)

BONGO 395 West St ( W 10th St), 212675-6555, bongonyc.com— Gulp down oysters and cocktails at this retro-mod sequel to the Chelsea lounge. ($$$, seafood)

RIN THAI 265 W 23rd St (btwn Seventh/Eighth Aves), 212-675-2988 rinthaicuisine.com— Another Thai restaurant has opened in Chelsea; as the volume of neighborhood patrons would suggest, it’s certainly welcome. ($$$, Thai)

BOYD THAI 210 Thompson St (Bleecker St), 212-533-7290, boydthainyc.com—Curry, noodles, salads and other Thai tastes at reasonable prices. ($$$; Thai)

ILILI 236 Fifth Ave (27th/28th Sts), 212683-2929, ililinyc.com— It’s all about the steaming, puffy homemade pita bread as you dip it in every wonderful dish at this phenomenon from Lebanon. ($$$$; Mediterranean)

SILOM 150 Eighth Ave (17th/18th St), 212675-0080, silomny.com— Inventive yet traditional Thai fare that stands above the sea of similar options. The outstanding dumplings and crabcakes are a must. ($$$; Thai)

INTERMEZZO 202 Eighth Ave (20th/21st St), 212-929-3433, intermezzo-nyc.com—

TELLOS 198 Eighth Ave (20th/21st St), 212-691-8696, tellosnyc.com— Another

HOME 20 Cornelia St (Bleecker/Fourth) 212-243-9579, homerestaurantnyc.com— Creative American comfort food served with flair and panache. The year-round, heated outdoor garden is as lovely and warm as the Blue Cheese Fondue. ($$$$; American) LA CARBONARA 202 W 14th St (7th/8th Ave), 212-255-2060, labarbonaranyc.com— Italian comfort food that isn’t just looking our for your stomach, but your wallet, too. ($$; Italian)

BOBO 181 W 10th St (@ Seventh Ave So), 212-488-2626, bobonyc.com— The setting is stunning and the food decent; both are well served for an affair to remember. ($$$$; French)

ROCKING HORSE CAFE 182 Eighth Ave (19th St), 212-463-9511 rockinghorsecafe.com—Lively Nueva Mexican Cocina on the Eighth Avenue strip. ($$$; Mexican)

GRADISCA 126 W 13th St (Sixth/Seventh Aves), 212-691-4886, GradiscaNYC.com— La dolce vita awaits in the West Village, where one can find northern Italian fare without the sting of the Euro. ($$$$$; Italian)

SCARPETTA 355 W 14th St (Ninth Ave), 212-691-0555, scarpettanyc.com— The erstwhile Village Idiot bar transforms to something of a Village cenius, with Scott Conant helming the marvelous Scarpetta. ($$$$$; Italian)

RED CAT 227 Tenth Ave (23rd/24th Sts) 212-242-1122 theredcat.com— Artworld luminaries and gallery hoppers flock here for the upscale creative cuisine and intimate settings. ($$$$; American)

THE HALF KING 505 W 23rd St, (10th/11th Aves), 212-462-4300, thehalfking.com— Sebastian Junger’s woodtrimmed ye’ olde tavern is teeming with delicious pub grub, one notch above the usual. ($; Bar Food)

GOOD 89 Greenwich Ave (Bank St), 212-691-8080, goodrestaurantnyc.com— A spacious, bright and airy refuge offering eclectic dishes from the rural kitchens of North and Latin America. ($$$; Latin)

CORNER BISTRO 331 W Fourth St (Eighth Ave) 212-242-9502, cornerbistrony.com— Manhattan’s best (and possibly cheapest) burgers are doled out on paper plates to West Village literati squeezed between pub-grubbing local yokels. ($; Hamburgers) COWGIRL 519 Hudson St (10th St), 212-633-1133, cowgirlnyc.com—Fun, TexMex comfort foods served in a rodeo decor make this a gay Village fave with the best Margaritas north of the border...er...Houston St. ($$$; Southwestern)

LAS RAMBLAS 170 W Fourth St (Sixth/Seventh Aves), 646-415-7924, facebook.com/LasRamblasBardeTapas— Spanish tapas and spouting porron decanters of wine fill this little spot in the heart of the Village. ($$$$; Spanish) THE LITTLE OWL 90 Bedford St (Grove St). 212-741-4695, thelittleowlnyc.com— Mediterranean-influenced fare with intimate, cozy West Village ambiance. ($$$$; Mediterranean) MARKET TABLE 54 Carmine St (Bedford), markettablenyc.com, 212-2552100— West Village dining continues to change, and with the advent of Market Table, the change is not only auspicious but very delicious indeed. $1 margaritas on Mondays. ($$$$; American) MARY’S FISH CAMP 64 Charles St (Fourth St) 646-486-2185, marysfishcamp.com—Floridian fish shack amidst West Village brownstones is a local favorite specializing in seafood and decadent deserts. ($$$; Seafood) OLIO E PIU 3 Greenwich Ave (10th/Christopher Sts), 212-243-6546, olionyc.com— A cozy dining room and a menu dedicated to the tradition and expertise of generations’ past. ($$; Italian) ORIENT EXPRESS 325 W 11th St, (Greenwich/Washington Sts), 212-691-8845, orientexpressnyc.com— Sharing plates and serious cocktails fill this dining car with the lure of exotic travel from yesteryear. ($$$, Asian) PHILIP MARIE 569 Hudson St (@

APRIL 10, 2015 33

DINING

NEXTMAGAZINE.COM

W 11th St), 212-242-6200, philipmarie.com— Delicious, innovative American cuisine suits all palates and pocketbooks in a charming and historic setting. ($$$; American)

8642, macaonyc.com— Executive Chef Joshua Blakely shares his considerable knowledge of Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese cuisine at the edge of Tribeca. ($$$$, International)

THE RUSTY KNOT 425 West St (7th/8th Ave), 212-645-5668, therustyknot.com— As unpretentious as it is delicious with exemplary bar bites. ($$; American)

NOBU 105 Hudson (Franklin St), 212219-0500, noburestaurants.com— Want the New York experience? Somehow book the table, eat Master Chef’s Nobu Matsuhisa’s deliciously skin-thin sushi, then tell your friends insouciantly, it’s “...eh-okay.” ($$$$$; Japanese)

V-NAM CAFÉ 18 First Ave (First/Second St), 212-387-8487, vnamcafe.com— Holein-the-wall neighborhood favorite serving delicious traditional eats at a criminally low pricetag ($, Vietnamese)

UNION SQUARE/ MIDTOWN EAST

TIO PEPE 168 W Fourth St (Sixth/Seventh Aves), 212-242-6480, tiopepenyc.com—Wonderful traditional Spanish/Mexican fare. Romantic skylight garden. ($$$$; Spanish)

PÓ 31 Cornelia St (Bleecker/W Fourth Sts), 212-645-2189, porestaurant.com— The Mario Batali upstart in the Village thrills with satisfying Italian fare. ($$$$, Italian)

CITY BAKERY 3 W 18th St (Fifth/Sixth Aves), 212-366-1414, thecitybakery.com— Unusual salads, delicious pastries and baked goods and the best cookies in Manhatttan. ($$; Bakery)

THE WAVERLY INN 16 Bank St (Waverly), 917-828-1154, waverlynyc.com— Eschew impossible-to-get reservations at this hot spot teeming with celebrity; try to snag a table in the bar instead. ($$$$; Eclectic)

SPRING ST NATURAL 62 Spring St (Lafayette St), 212-966-0290, springstreetnatural.com— Muffins, espresso and light coffee shop fare meets edgy art gallery bobo fantastique! ($$$; Health Food)

TOCQUEVILLE 1 E 15th St (Fifth Ave), 212-647-1515, tocquevillerestaurant.com— Refined entrees such as Elk Carpaccio and Greenmarket Nettle Ravioli will impress your dapper date. ($$$$, European)

soho/noLiTa/ TRiBeCa

THE SMILE 26 Bond St (Lafayette/Bowery), 646-329-5836, thesmilenyc.com— Cozy and rustic, this farm-to-table cafe has three Manhattan locations, all featuring Mediterranean eats for health-conscious New Yorkers. ($$$; Mediterranean)

REPUBLIC 37 Union Square (16th/17th Sts), 212-627-7172, thinknoodles.com— Vietnamese sandwiches, huge steaming bowls of noodles and no dish over $13 make Republic a bargain for all. ($$, Asian)

ANTIQUE GARAGE 41 Mercer St (Grand/Broome Sts), 212-219-1019, antiquegaragesoho.com— Celebrities hide among the 19th century Victorian antiques while noshing on scrumptious Mediterranean fusion cuisine. Gay romance nights on Sundays. ($$$$; Mediterranean) BALTHAZAR 80 Spring St (Broadway/Crosby St), 212-965-1414, balthazarny.com—Transatlantic escapism, perfect boulangerie sticky buns, and lingering confessional breakfasts make this Soho institution a flawless must-see. ($$$; French) BUBBY’S 120 Hudson St.(N Moore St), 212-219-0666, bubbys.com— Indulge in mac-n-cheese, meatloaf and other comfort faves, but leave room for dessert. The pies are legendary (and so is brunch). ($$, American) BOQUERIA 171 Spring St (btwn W Broadway/Thompson St), 212-343-4255, boquerianyc.com— The racy flair of a Spanish cerveceria comes to Soho, serving up delicious tapas to a packed, largely after-work crowd. ($$$$; Spanish) BOULEY 163 Duane St (Hudson St), 212964-2525, davidbouley.com— Another outpost in the Daniel Bouley empire, with divine bread, seasonal ingredients and organic meat dishes. ($$$, French) CAFE HABANA 17 Prince St (Elizabeth St), 212-625-2001, cafehabana.com— The flagship location of this always-bustling Mexican luncheonette has ‘ritas and nosh to keep you coming back. Don’t miss their famous grilled corn. ($$, Cuban, Mexican) DYLAN PRIME & DYLAN BAR 62 Laight St (Greenwich/Hudson Sts), 212-3344783 dylanprime.com— Tribeca restaurant with separate bar, delicious steaks and seafood. ($$$$$; Steakhouse) INDOCHINE 430 Lafayette (E Fourth St/Astor Pl), 212-505-5111, indochinenyc.com— Classic chic scene with delectable French Vietnamese fare. ($$$$; Vietnamese) MACAO TRADING CO. 311 Church St (btwn Walker/Lispenard Sts), 212-431-

34 APRIL 10, 2015

E. VILLAGE/L.E.S B BAR & GRILL 40 E Fourth St (Bowery/Lafayette Sts), 212-475-2220, bbarandgrill.com— Big patio, lounges and open dinning room host American cuisine and trendsetters. ($$$; American) BIG GAY ICE CREAM SHOP 125 E Seventh (1st/Ave A), 212-533-9333, biggayicecream.com— Need a quickie quench for that sweet tooth? There’s no better (or gayer) place in town. ($, Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt) BLUE RIBBON FRIED CHICKEN 28 E First St (2nd Ave), 212-777-6254, blueribbonfriedchicken.com— No, we’re not kidding with this one. With its prime location right next to The Cock, it’s time to give in to your latenight drunchies. ($, Fried Chicken) CAFE MOGODOR 101 St. Marks Pl. (First/Second Aves), cafemogodor.com, 212677-2226— Fresh Middle Eastern and Mediterranean delicacies served in a bustling, charming dining area and patio. ($$; Middle Eastern) EL CAMION 194 Ave A (12th St), 212-5335436, elcamioncantina.com— Take your tastebuds on a ride at this East Village locale serving sizzling Steak Alambres and Chicken En Mole Poblano. ($$$, Mexican) LUCKY CHENG’S 95 Delancey St (Ludlow/Orchard) 212-995-5500, luckychengsnyc.com— Asian and California dishes served by drag queen waitresses. Performances nightly. ($$$$; Asian) LUKE’S LOBSTER 93 E Seventh St (First Ave/Ave A), 212-387-8487, lukeslobster.com— Lobster roll, crab claws and other New England favorites nestled in a cozy little shack. ($$, Seafood) PRUNE 54 East First St (Second/First Aves), 212-677-6221, prunerestaurant.com— You get the sense the Bohemian is in the kitchen, not so much in the dining room, at this lovely East Village home of everything good. ($$$$; American)

RHONG-TIAM 31 E 21st (Park Ave), 212-420-7500, rhong-tiam.com— Authentic Thai dishes served and hip and spacious dining room transport you to Bangkok. ($$$; Thai)

HELL’S KITCHEN 44TH & X 622 Tenth Ave (44th St), 212-977-1170, 44andx.com— High-end American cuisine served by a sexy, cheerful staff in an airy, indoor veranda. Outdoor cafe. Open daily, brunch Sat, Sun. ($$$$; American) 123 BURGER SHOT BEER 738 Tenth Ave (50th/51st St), 212-315-0123, 123burgershotbeer.com— Falling in love with this cheap burger joint is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Their sliders are fan-favorites. ($; Burgers) ALPHA FUSION 365 W 34th St (8th/9th Aves), 212-279-8887, alpha34.com— The gays love the Happy Hour prices (from 4pm–9pm) and broad influences from Thai. ($$$, Asian) ARRIBA ARRIBA 762 Ninth Ave (51st St), 212-489-0810, arribaarribawest.com— The only thing better than the super-fresh South of the Border fare are the frozen ‘ritas ($$$; Mexican) BAMBOO 52 344 W 52nd St (Eighth/Ninth Aves), 212-315-2777, bamboo52nyc.com— Broadway divas and buff business boys enjoy fresh sushi and sexed-up cocktails from executive chef John Greco III. ($$$; Sushi) BANGKOK HOUSE 360 W 46th St (Eighth/Ninth Aves), 212-541-5943, bangkokhouseny.com— Unpretentious Thai and delicious drinks from the team behind Yum Yum. ($$; Thai) BLOCKHEADS BURRITOS 322 W 50th St, 212-307-7029, blockheads.com— Yummy burritos and inexpensive margaritas are the dish at this outdoor hot spot. ($$; Mexican) BLUE FIN W Times Square Hotel, 1567 Broadway (54th/55th St), 212-918-1400,

bluefinnyc.com— Modern, sleek and fishy seafood eatery smack dab in the midst of Times Square. ($$$$$; Seafood)

BOCCA DI BACCO 828 Ninth Ave, (47th St), 212-265-8828, nycrg.com/boccadi-bacco— Its excellent wine selection is matched only by its array of innovative dishes. It’s no wonder this Italian steakhouse has four Manhattan locations. ($$$; Italian, Steakhouse) CARMINE’S 200 W 44th St (Broadway/Eighth Ave), 212-221-3800, carminesnyc.com— Huge, legendary portions of southern Italian food served family style still elicit gasps at this classic New York eatery. ($$$$; Italian) CHEZ JOSEPHINE 414 W 42nd St (Ninth/Tenth Aves), 212-594-1925 chezjosephine.com— Very romantic, live music. French/American dishes priced moderately. ($$$$; American) CHIMICHURRI GRILL 773 10th Ave (43rd/44th St) 212-586-8655, chimichurrigrill.com— This no-frills hole-in-the-wall boasts an expansive and meaty menu along with an impressive list of wine pairing options . ($$$; Latin American, Steakhouse) DANJI 346 W 52nd (8th/9th Ave) 212-5862880, danjinyc.com— Decadent pork dishes abound at this midtown destination for Korean tapas and more . ($$$; Korean) EATERY 798 Ninth Ave (52nd/53rd Sts) 212-765-7080, eaterynyc.com— This small American kitchen is well worth the squeeze, especially for brunch. ($$; American) EL CENTRO 824 Ninth Ave (54th St), 646-763-6585, elcentro-nyc.com— Totally fresh, homemade Mexican street fare gets a classy makeover in a no-attitude, high-energy space. Killer margaritas make the funky décor swirl. ($$$; Mexican) ETCETERA ETCETERA 352 W 44th St (Eighth/Ninth Aves), 212-399-4141, etcetcnyc.com— From a long list of Italian venues in the theater district, Etcetera Etcetera isn’t a mere footnote; just ask the packed-in pre-theater crowds. ($$$$; Italian) HAVANA SOCIAL 688 10th Ave (48th/49th Sts) 212-956-2155, facebook.com/pages/Havana-Social— Perfect for a date who gets adventurous with his taste buds. Just as easy a fit for post-work happy hour cocktails. ($$; Cuban, Tapas) HK HELL’S KITCHEN 523 Ninth Ave (@ 39th St) 212-947-4208, hkhellskitchen.com— An international culinary passport is offered just below Port Authority en route to the hip strip above it. ($$$; Mediterranean) HOURGLASS TAVERN 373 W 46th St (Eighth/Ninth Aves) 212-265-2060, hourglasstavern.com— This homey theater district establishment combines a warm atmosphere with hospitable service to get you fed and to the show on time. ($$$; American) HUMMUS KITCHEN 768 Ninth Ave (51st/52nd Sts) (212) 333-3009, hummuskitchen.com— Simple, fast and tasty Middle Eastern fare with a side of boy-watching. Additional locations on UES and in Murray Hill. ($$, Middle Eastern)

K*RICO 772 Ninth Ave (51st/52nd St), 212-757-9393— The latest venture from The Ritz owner Tommy Greco is this buzzed-about steakhouse with South American flare. ($$$; Steakhouse) CHELSEA GRILL HELL’S KITCHEN 679 Ninth Ave. (46/47th Sts), 212-974-9002, chelseagrillhellskitchen.com— This one packs the comfort food of its sister grill in Chelsea into the gay bellies of Hell’s Kitty. ($$$, American) KTCHN 146 E 44th St (10th Ave), 212-8682999, ktchnnyc.com— Located at the Out NYC, Ktchn hosts one of the best drag brunches in town with the Haus of Mimosa ladies. ($$$, American) LA PULPERIA 371 W 46th St (Ninth Ave), 212-956-3055, pulperianyc.com— This hidden gem is well worth the find. Delicious eats paired with intimate, romantic atmosphere. ($$$; Latin American) THE MARSHAL 628 10th Ave (44th/45th St), 212-582-6300, themarshal.com— This farm-to-table establishment has a cozy ambiance with reclaimed wood and a huge wood oven in the kitchen. ($$; American) PIGALLE 790 Eighth Ave (48th St), 212489-2233, pigallenyc.com— Authentic French, reasonably priced, open 24/7. ($$$; French) PIO PIO 604 10th Ave (44th St), 212-4592929, piopio.com— Everything’s dished out family style at this authentic Peruvian eatery. Treat your party to a few carafes of sangria. ($$; Peruvian) PRINT 653 11th Ave, (47th/48th Sts), 212-757-2224, printrestaurant.com— This Hellsea eatery makes a good impression with largely American, sustainable fare from executive chef Charles Rodriguez. ($$$$, American)

vorite serves up classic American dishes with Thai flair. The pop-star themed bathrooms are almost as popular as the food. ($$; American)

YUM YUM BANGKOK 650 Ninth Ave (45th/46th Sts), 212–262–7244, yumyumbangkok.com— Thai so delicious that it has rightfully taken over three corners of Ninth Ave! Authentic dishes served up with a decadent blend of East Asian spices. ($$; Thai)

UPPER EAST SIDE FIG & OLIVE 808 Lexington Ave (62nd St), ., 212-207-4555, figandolive.com— Various versions of EVOO are so omnipresent at this sunken Mediterranean gem, you’d think they put it in the cocktails. Try the grilled branzino, mushroom-truffle penne or signature fig-and-olive salad, then buy a bottle on the way out. ($$, Mediterranean) LIPS 227 E 56th St (Second/Third Ave), 212-675-7710, lipsnyc.com— Generous drinks and tasty food is dished out by dolled-up drag divas. ($$; American) LA PULPERIA 1626 2nd Ave (84th St), 212-933-0757, pulperianyc.com— Fresh ingredients on a sweet and savory menu of seafood and more. ($$$; Latin American) LE VEAU D’OR 129 E 60th St (Park/Lexington Aves), 212-838-8133— Hemingway dined with Dietrich in the corner of this joyfully frail old school French eatery. ($$$$; French)

UPPER WEST SIDE CAFÉ LUXEMBOURG 200 W 70th St (Amsterdam/West End Ave), 212-8737411, cafeluxembourg.com— As stylishly urban and civilized as ever, the Café remains a classic New York dining experience on the Upper West Side. ($$$$; French)

RIPOSO 46 667 Ninth Ave (46th/47th Sts), 212-247-8018, riposonyc.com — Over 70 sumptuous wines and Euro brews to match equally sumptuous Mediteranean cuisine. ($$; Mediterranean)

ED’S CHOWDER HOUSE 44 W 63rd St (Broadway/Columbus Ave), 212-9561288, chinagrillmgt.com— There’s more than chowder at Ed’s: get some oysters and suck back a few specialty cocktails. ($$$, seafood)

ROOM SERVICE 690 Ninth Ave (47th/48th), 212-582-0999, roomservicerestaurant.com— Inviting and innovative décor sleekly matches spicy Bangkok cuisine for reasonable neighborhood prices. ($$$; Thai)

LE PIF 2058 Broadway Ave (71st/72nd St), 212-799-2253, lepifwine.com— This cute hole-in-the-wall wine bar has a friendly, knowledgeable staff, a menu of French delicacies, and a bang-for-your-buck happy hour. ($$$, French)

SHORTY’S 576 Ninth Ave (41st/42nd Sts), 212-967-3055, shortysnyc.com— An unassuming Hell’s Kitchen stop with arguably the best cheesesteaks this side of Philly. ($$, Cheesesteak)

OUEST 2315 Broadway (83rd/84th Sts), 212-580-8700, ouestny.com— Vibrant and starkly elegant Upper Westsider has fine American-French food like Truffled Omelet Souffle With Mousseline sauce and incredible service. ($$$$$; American)

TAVOLA 488 Ninth Ave (45th/46th Sts), 212–273-1181, tavolahellskitchen.com— This isn’t your run-of-the-mill dollar slice we’re talking about. Tavola’s wood fired pies will make you wax poetic on the home country. ($$; Italian, Pizza) THAI SELECT 472 Ninth Ave (36th/37th Sts), 212-695-9920,thaiselectnyc.com— A modern Thai menu inspired by international cuisine. ($$; Thai) VYNL 756 Ninth Ave (50th/51st St), 212-974-2003, vynl-nyc.com— This gay fa-

P.J. CLARKE’S AT LINCOLN SQUARE 44 W 63rd St (@ Broadway), 212-957-9700, pjclarkes.com— The grand old saloon continues to serve up style and tradition to a grateful New York across from Lincoln Center. ($$$; American)

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RIPOSO 72 50 W 72nd St (Columbus Ave/Central Park W), 212-799-4140, riposonyc.com— Over 70 sumptuous wines and Euro brews to match equally sumptuous Mediteranean cuisine at this second location of the HK favorite. ($$; Mediterranean)

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