GAYLETTER

Being featured in CRUSHfanzine is the ultimate narcissist’s wet dream. If you haven’t heard of the magazine, what they do is base each issue around just one person. Past honorees have included actress Charlotte Rampling, Lucas Valerdi and model Travis Lee Hanson. For this edition they’re focusing their attention on visual artist Desi Santiago. It’s pretty awesome to have a whole magazine dedicated to your work, and Desi is certainly worthy of the attention. To celebrate the issue he’s hosting a launch event at Le Bain. Music for the night is by Casey Spooner and Donkey (not sure who Donkey is...but let’s just go with it.) It’s an RSVP event, but lucky for you we have the email you’ll need to write to to get in: info@crushfanzine.com. Should be a lovely night, especially if the weather warms up as is expected. See you there!  —tom

This party is a little out of the way (it's at the The Jewish Museum near 92nd St, we know it’s far, but so is Avenue C!) but we think it’s going to be worth the trek. The Wind Up: Shape Dance is a night of music by the “energetic dance band JD Samson and MEN with opening DJ set by Gavin Russom” and “interactive art making activities.” There's also going to be “tours of their new exhibition ‘Other Primary Structures’ — a major exhibition of sculpture from the 1960s featuring the work of artists from Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe ­— plus an open bar with beer and wine.”  I’ve never partied at The Jewish Museum, and to be honest, it isn’t really the first place that comes to mind when I think of a big night out, but that’s a good thing; sometimes you can have the most fun in the most unexpected places. One of the best parties I’ve ever been to was in a Dominican gambling hall on Ave C. I’m not going to tell you the name of the place, because some things need to be kept a secret (yes even in GAYLETTER). Let me just say that it was the last place I thought I would have a good time. So get your butt on the 6 train and head up to The Jewish Museum this Thursday. It’s gonna be spetsiel!  —tom

This is one of those parties where they don’t tell you where it’s happening until the day of. It’s usual because it’s in an illegal space, and they don’t want to give the cops any advance warning about what’s going down, which honestly always gets me excited. Parties are more fun when they’re thrown together like a makeshift breakfast only using the ingredients you have in your fridge. You want to attend an organized party, go to the Meatpacking district on a Saturday night. There you’ll find a whole bunch of licensed, official venues filled with the worst kinds of people this city has to offer. I’ll take my chances at a party like F.R.Δ.T any day. For this edition you’ll have the pleasure of enjoying a live performance by Cakes Da Killa (pictured), along with DJ sets by Rizzla (Fade To Mind), Calore (Payroll), Aharaw (Good Kids) and Bearcat (London). It’s $10 to get in, and it’ll go down somewhere around Bushwick. All you need to know is that it will go late, you’re gonna need some dancing shoes, and if the cops show up, ingest all your drugs and keep your mouth shut. You’ll be talking about this night forever.  —tom

It’s finally getting warmer and it feels that it’s now the right time to head to Le Bain at The Standard, not that it’s not a place to go in the winter, but it’s so much nicer when it’s warmer and you can really enjoy the view and the great outdoor space on top of the venue. Not to mention, they probably will be opening the hot tub and as dirty and drunk as people who get into that tend to be, it’s still very fun. Trust me after a couple cocktails who cares how gross it is as long as you get to strip down to your undies and possibly rub/dance/splash with some hot strangers. I remember a few years back I accidentally grabbed a girls tit, she was super excited. Anyways it might not be open this time, but expect the nice views, the expensive drinks and lots of fashion posing. It’s hosted by the super friendly Erich Conrad, Sophia Lamar (not so friendly), Waseem Cheema, Jordan Bradfield, Becka Diamond and Zac Sebastian, with special guest DJs Donald Gaja and Bona Fête. Get drunk before you go, be polite at that door if you want to get in and go get some.  —t&a

We reached out to the creators of this party for a little more info because what they have listed on their Facebook page is pretty sparse — guess they’re trying to maintain some mystery. So here’s what we know, the party has been going for a while, but since January, has moved to a new venue called Friends and Lovers in Brooklyn. Apparently the venue is “half gay owned” which I guess makes it bi? The party is weekly, but once a month they also put on a “LIVE” (their capitals, not ours) talent showcase. That’s what’s happening this week, and we can expect performances by April Starlite, Double Duchess, Big Dipper, Ariana Huffenstuff, Shane Shane & Manifestany Squirtz (pictured). Music is by Dandylion and hosting is by Machine Dazzle. Sounds like a lovely way to spend a night in the BK. I have a feeling that Thursday will be the last cold day of the season, so this seems like a great place to kiss goodbye that whore Mrs Winter in style and celebrate the coming warmth we’ve all been desperately waiting for.  —tom

The monthly performance party is back for it’s third installment at Wreck Room. Their goal is to feature artists that are “leaning towards the experimental.” As David John Sokolowski explained it — he’s also DJing the event along with Mikëy Hefez — “each artist is encouraged to present new work in a more non-traditional fashion, based in drag, electronic music, dance & more existential performance art.” This time they’ll be featuring performances by Merrie Cherry, Max Steele, Jeremy Jae Neal & Carolyn Gilliam. Most of the times I write about an event like this I don’t even know what to tell you to expect, but thanks to David, he gave me some tips. Merrie “will be giving life to a new form of drag,” doesn’t she always? Max is gonna “tell it how it is in a homo-expansive fashion...,” what? Jeremy will be doing “a new dance with his sexually-charged aesthetic,” Carolyn “will be giving a deep performance with an exclusive track produced by JX Cannon.” It’s hosted by Paul Leopold and someone called BJ Dini who will be collecting donations for the performers…Oh there’s also cheap drinks, I think I’ve said enough. Thank you.  —Abi

It’s about time this party came back. If you haven’t attended yet then you need to this time — it’s a celebration of papis and their admirers. Papi Champú is “your favorite booty poppin sabroso papi party...we wanna give it to you…One more time!” I went to the last two papi parties and I had a blast, the boys are friendly, the floor is popping and it’s full of fun chill people. Also, this party brings me back to my latin roots, you know that reggaeton can really get me going. DJs for the night are the super sexy papi Santana Williams, Mazurbate and Dicap — the hosts are Rio Sport, Jay Boogie and Gio Mjavanadze. You should go even if you are only into white guys, it will be a nice change of scenery. Here are a couple of hashtags you might want to use while you’re there: #YATUSABE #DEMBOW #LATINOS #NUYORICANS #HIPHOP #REGGAETON #TIMBS #PAPICHULOS #CHOLOS #PERREO #BLATINOS #GUILLAERA #GHETTOHOUSE #DAWGS #DOMINICANPAPI  —Abi

What a great name for a party, straight to the point, I like that and really what else do we go out for? Pickup was created by DJ Aaron Tilford, and is presented by the Spunk [arts] magazine. From everything I hear, it’s a pretty casual affair. No fancy shit. Which for a Friday night is perfect. Just play good music and turn the lights down, the rest will figure itself out. The party’s only flourish are the visuals by Cocksnaut. Don’t ask me what that will entail, hopefully 1000’s of swirling colorful cocks in space? There’s no cover and all well drinks are $5. I say start your night here and then work your way down to Phoenix, then Eastern Bloc and finally the Boiler Room. If you don’t pick up by the end of that...well you’re doing something wrong, maybe it’s those jeans?  —tom