GAYLETTER

The only thing I’ve ever climbed are trees back in the Dominican Republic. Growing up there, there was not much to do, so that was one of the only fun things I could do to kill time. Tom is obsessed with climbing anything, so he was like you need to write about this. He said that the Brooklyn Boulders Queensbridge “is full of hot climbers” so I was like OK, let me look into it. We sound like teenagers! This is a one-night only event where college students can “climb for free with a valid student ID.” This is the sort of event that’s best if it’s with queer people, so gay it up while you are climbing, yassss show everyone below you that ass. I’m sure there are gonna be lots of “masc” boys, but just show up with your friends and “woof, woof woof” them. I do woofs with my friends sometimes and it’s a good carry. Have fun, and don’t be afraid to fall.  —Abi

I recently had the desire to do a ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ and try a Trapeze class. As you may recall from the episode titled ‘The Catch,’ “Vogue sends Carrie to report on the latest fitness craze, trapeze ‘flying.’” I googled ‘trapeze class’ and found the website for Trapeze School New York. They offer trapeze classes on the rooftop of Chelsea Pier. “TSNY offers classes in flying trapeze, static trapeze, silks, rope & more.” In the episode of SATC Carrie has trouble letting go off the bar. I was determined to not suffer the same fate. The first trick was just hang from the bar using my legs. Easy. The second trick was some next level shit. They wanted us to do a backflip! That one I was sweating, but something took over and I managed to do it twice. The next trick we had to catch the instructor on the other bar and swing off. That one was not as hard as it sounds. The instructors all do amazing jobs guiding you through the tricks. It was definitely scary, but so much fun. If you’re looking to have your own SATC experience, or just get in some unusual exercise I would highly recommend trying a trapeze class. This is also a warm weather activity, so I suggest you try it before the weather turns cold.  —tom

OMG! yaaass cheap(er) food! You know the deal — fixed menus, fixed rates, but of course your bar tab will not be included (but the money you save on food has to go somewhere, so…. NYC Restaurant Week is the best time to try out that restaurant you always walk by near the office, home, or that recurring Grindr date’s place; wherever! Chances are there is a probably a restaurant you have been meaning to try but you’ve let whatever deflective mindset get the best of you. Treat yourself, hunty. 2016 has been a rough year for gays, trans folk, Bernie supporters, blacks, latinos, and literally everybody else who is somewhat sane, if there is anything you deserve, it’s a good-ass meal. “Nowhere else will you find a more compelling opportunity to experience a diverse selection of 34 international cuisines, served within 40 neighborhood. With more than 380 restaurants offering great value, you will travel the world,” and by world, they mean the subway, or Uber if you’ve got the coins. Whenever I’m out to eat, I love to pretend I’m Samantha Jones with the rest of the gal-gang, so take whatever excuse you want to eat and drink with your friends and cunt it up. You have to wait for winter for the next opportunity to gorge, and we all know pants aren’t as forgiving as your neoprene shorts. Three courses for lunch $29 & dinner $42.  —Chris Stewart

After the Orlando shooting lots of us in the LGBTQ community have been feeling all sort of things: anger, fear, frustration. We have also been wondering what the hell can we do besides writing angry rants on social media. Recently I ran into journalist Tim Murphy at the gym and I asked him about a photo I saw on his Facebook page of him marching like a fierce queen (pictured) while wearing a t-shirt that read: “Gays Against Guns.” He told me he is part of this amazing organization called GAYS AGAINST GUNS (some of you have probably heard of them by now) and that it’s “a group of fierce queers who formed after the Orlando massacre and took over the Pride March chanting “Fuck the NRA!” They also lay down in the street, yelling “How many more have to die?” Since then, they’ve been busy. I was so happy to hear about this, I was like, how do I get involved? Let’s be honest, we know that the gun laws in the U.S. are fucked — it’s so easy to buy a gun — it’s just stupid. The group have been busy making as much noise as they can, and they encourage all of us to join them. We need this. Here’s how you can start: join them at their next meeting (Wed Jul 27) at the LGBT Center (208 W. 13th St) at 7:30pm. Tim told me that they are planning lots of things and one of them is a “noisy visit to D.C. and even to the NRA HQ’s in Virginia on October 24. “If anyone’s going to take down the gun lobby that’s killing Americans, it’s KWEENZ.” You better believe it!  —Abi

I have tried to write this post for hours... I have been reading about the Orlando massacre for too many days and have been distracted ever since it happened. I’ve been trying to organize my thoughts and figure out how I feel. I know I feel sad, I know I feel angry and I know that I relate to lots of the people suffering right now. Many of you are probably experiencing this mix of anger and sadness and some other feeling that you can’t figure out. I am a very emotional person and I don’t really know how to deal with death, I usually just shut down. There’s no right or wrong way to feel after all of this. I’d say talk to some of your close queer friends and share how you feel, cry if you need to cry, drink if you need to, get high if you must (weed is a much easier come down), whatever you need to do is OK, all of it is OK. I’m trying to stay focussed here, I think what’s most important is that we try to help however we can. You can start by going to Gofundme.com and giving some money to the family of victims. We’ll be posting some links on our Facebook page from GoFundMe and if you find any other links that are helpful please share them on our page so we can repost them. Also here’s a general link where you can donate: www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund Please share ways we can help online, protest, be vocal about banning guns — sign the petition to declare the NRA a terrorist organization… Also, tell everyone you are queer, go out into the world and be proud of who you are and where you come from. We can make it better — we have to.  —Abi

My friend recently told me she likes to keep her man in line when he’s misbehaving, she half-seriously said “I like to push him and I hit him...” I am like girl you need to get yourself a proper paddle so you can spank him. Then of course we get this email the next day with the subject line “join us for a spanking...” Hey Bea, you can now go and learn a few things from Ms. Mona Rogers who’s a “lifestyle and professional Dominatrix… She has been experimenting with kink most of her life and has been a fixture in the pro scene since 2007. She is one of the lead educators for Domi Dollz and the co-author of Kisses to Kink: A Dominatrix’s Guide to Great Sex.” OK Ms. Mona! The Impact Play Workshop will cover everything from “spanking to flogging, paddling and caning.” I had to google two of those things because I wasn’t familiar. Do the same if you aren’t either, the visuals are fun. “You’ll learn how to respectfully curate a dominant/submissive relationship dynamic and how to tailor a light or heavy play scene according to you and your partner’s level of interest.” Ms Mona tells us. Sounds hot. Now bend over, you piece of shit!  —Abi

Take the day off work and head to Jacob Riis Beach in Queens for a day of sun and sand, large naked lesbians, hot Latinos and Blatinos (yum) with giant subwoofers, fresh made cocktails hand-delivered by sketchy looking dudes, and hundreds of hot hipster boys in speedos in every direction as far as the eye can see. Fuck Fire Island, fuck the Hamptons, Riis is where it’s at. It’s close enough to Brooklyn and the city that it makes day trips ridiculously easy. The water is good..enough, the crowd is as diverse as it gets and the cruising is bananas. The beach is long, but the spot to be at is in front of the abandoned mental hospital (lol). It’s to your left, if you’re facing the water. Smoke your joints discreetly, the cops love to find any opportunity to write tickets, often for drinking, or peeing in the long grass. Enjoy those sun rays while you can! Go during the week for  more relaxing experience, bring a copy of GAYLETTER magazine and you'll be in heaven.  —t&a

This is a super cute weekend, daytime, activity. Question The Store — Pop Up Market is brought to you by Eric Schmalenberger and is a pop-up market full of all kinds of interesting vendors and artists. Here’s how Eric describes the event:  “Queer wonders and fabulous finds at our new pop up market at The Best Venue Ever. With goodies from some of our favorite independent designers, as well as new friends, lovers, and art makers brought in special just for you.” Best of all, if you get hungry from all that shopping they will be serving brunch in their “stunning restaurant.” There’s toooooo many vendors to list them all out, but trust there’s something for everyone. Shop, shop, shop!  —tom

We had the most magical night last Friday at The Players Club on Gramercy Square Park. Neither Abi or I, knew this place even existed. Boy did we get an education. We had dinner in their new pop-up restaurant and then we were taken on a private tour after we’d finished our dessert and martinis. The Players Club was opened in 1888 by Edwin Booth, (big brother to Abe Lincoln’s killer John Wilkes-Booth). “He purchased an 1847 mansion located at 16 Gramercy Park. During his lifetime, he reserved an upper floor for his home, turning the rest of the building over to the Clubhouse. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1962.” The club has been home to pretty much every famous actor you can think of, from Tennessee Williams to Angela Lansbury to Morgan Freeman to Frank Sinatra (pictured). Frank even paid for the club to build a private pussy penthouse on their roof so he could come there with his girlfriends and pound the p in private. That part of the club is off limits but we managed to get a sneak peak. The club is members only, but if you are interested you can ask for a tour. Members get access to the club, bar and restaurant and they can also use the club’s key to Gramercy Square Park. I’d need another 1000 words to get into all the history this club holds, but trust me it’s a place worth treasuring, and visiting!  —tom