GAYLETTER

When I read about this exhibition my first reaction was: Yasss! I know some of you hate the word yasss but get over yourself, it’s just a word and it’s here to stay just like Caitlyn, Tina or Beyonce. Now that I’ve addressed that let me tell you why I am yasssing about this current exhibition. It’s all about one of my favorite female artists, the Mexican legend Frida Kahlo. Frida was very inspired by the garden at Casa Azul in Mexico (it was the house she grew up in, and returned to before her death) — so they recreated in the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx! For those of you that have never been to the Bronx here’s your excuse to go. It’s Summer, smoke a joint and take a trip out there. This is the first exhibition to examine Frida’s “appreciation for the beauty and variety of the natural world, as evidenced by her home and garden as well as the complex use of plant imagery in her artwork.” The exhibition also features “a rare display of more than a dozen original Kahlo paintings and works on paper…” In addition, during the run of this exhibit they will have all kinds of events including “talks, panels, and artists in residence.” Check the NYBG’s site for more info. Try to take your parents to the “Frida al Fresco” evenings, “with live musical performances and margaritas in the outdoor cantina.” Yasss?  —Abi

We are usually pretty light on coverage of lesbian events, it’s not because we don’t like lesbians, it’s simply because we are not lesbians and we don’t get sent enough lesbian events. The fact is “pussy” is one of our favorite words — It’s kind of sad we don’t have any lesbian friends, but we’re happy one finally reached out to us about this event. “How about an event for the ladies?” is what the message read. The “one and only lesbian dating app,” HER is hosting a “major” party this Friday, June 12 at The Royal for the Season 3 premiere of Orange is the New Black!!! I am so fucking excited about this, I am just gonna jump and scream for a minute. Yassssss! They told us that they are bringing “girls on girls on girls, prison hooch, and an intimate photo booth” to the party. I have no words to describe how cool that all sounds, I just want to finish writing this post so my hands are free. Even better all our readers go for FREE using the code: friends. We will post the link on our Facebook page shortly for you to reserve your ticket. Power to the pussy!  —Abi

The awesome indie food magazine Put A Egg on It just released their 10th issue and they are going to be having a “tasty release party” at Von. Hosted by the legendary Linda Simpson with music by the amazing JD Samson, plus, fried eggs by Jenn De La Vega. I have never had fried eggs at a party. Here’s what you should expect from issue 10: “we’re finally putting a egg on it! Put A Egg On It #10 is a feast of dishes such as Andy Warhol’s kitchen portraits of fabulous friends, Lars K. Huse’s charming illustrated guide to goat cheese on the Norwegian island of Håøya and Dustin Wayne Harris’s photos of First Date Cakes. Sarah Keough joins our New Orleans family for a festive pork stew dinner. Kati Krause and Mike Albo explore the connection between love, longing, obsession and food, Charles Graeber reminisces about cooking at a fading hotel on a Maine island while Danyel Smith tries to change her habitual cocktail.” Limited open bar of Negronis (OMG my fave!) followed by a drink special after. Let’s go and support this awesome indie publication! Everything’s better with an egg on top.  —Abi

This is probably the most Brooklyn thing you’ll do all year, yes even more Brooklyn than the “Celebrate Brooklyn” event we wrote up for Wednesday. It’s an art party in a parking lot in Bushwick with pizza and beer, and it’s sponsored by Vice and Vans. It could be a disaster, but even if it is you’ll have delicious slices of Roberta’s pizza to distract you. The pizza/art party is happening both days this weekend (June 6 and 7). “DJs Spliffington and Trice Cat will provide the beats, along with a guest set by Hot Girls Eating Pizza (naturally).” Parking lot parties remind me of Melbourne (where I grew up) I guess there’s plenty of empty ones in that city so they were popular for music festivals and dance parties. If I could give you a tip for attending an event like this it would be to wear a hat and use sunscreen. Parking lots aren’t known for their shade, so you’ll likely heat up pretty quickly. Drink lots of water, and beer and water and then more beer, and don’t forget the pizza, and the art... oh hell, have I sold you on this thing yet!?  —Abi

I recently watched a commercial for this reality TV show called Skin Wars with RuPaul (he’s one of the judges). My first impression was What the fuck? A competition about body painters? I mean whatever, right? Anything can be a reality show these days. So, here’s the deal, Gawker and Skin Wars are hosting a party together at Kinfolk 94. Our friend Victor Jeffreys II, who’s helping promote the party, told me that Gage of the Boone (from The Spectrum) and Diego Montoya (from MIX film festival) are working with the winner of the first season of the show, Natalie Fletcher, “to bring the kids 8 painted looks inspired by the future.” This is the sort of event you just have to experience — it could be amazing or a shit show, or a combination of both. Music is by Danny Taylor. Victor arranged something special for our readers: “The first 25 people to RSVP using GAYLETTER in the ‘invited by’ block will have access to the open bar...Anyone after will have to pay for their own drinks (which are still cheap).” Cool?  —Abi

Wednesday night, at the bandstand in Prospect Park, Celebrate Brooklyn! kicks off its 37th season. This year they’re coming correct with a performance by 10 time Grammy winner, and the baddest bitch in show business, Ms. Chaka Khan. “From the moment she burst onto the music scene in the 1970s as the 18-year-old lead singer of the multiracial band Rufus, her powerful voice and show-stopping stage presence set her apart from any other singer. Together with Rufus she released over ten albums that included hits such as “Sweet Thing” and “Tell Me Something Good.” She left Rufus five years later to launch a solo career that spanned over two decades, with continual acclaim due to hits “I’m Every Woman” and “Ain’t Nobody.”” The show starts at 8:00PM, but I’m sure Chaka won’t come on till 10. Just get there early, they’re expecting a crowd of over 20 thousand people, and if the weather is super nice, probably more. Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaka!  —tom

Ladyfag sure can produce a fun event, she can “up” the experience of anything. Give her a baby shower and she’ll turn it out. This time I am talking about her 5th installment of Pop Souk, which is taking over all the floors of Webster Hall. For those of you that don’t know what this is, here’s a cute quote: “More than just a marketplace, Pop Souk is a happening — part party/part market — where you’ll find some of the most talented New Yorkers hanging out and selling in their own personal pop-up shops!” Basically I am talking about the most fun you can have on a Sunday afternoon, you can cruise, you can shop, you can get wasted. There’s music provided by 5 different DJs — so you can even have a dance while you do all of the aforementioned. You can even get your nails done at this event — once you are there you really don’t need to go anywhere else. We love these type of events so much that we are even gonna be selling our magazines and whatever else we can find that says GAYLETTER on it. I don’t have space here to list all the vendors participating in this event. It’s gonna be MAJOR! It’s only $5 to get in and $1 will go to the Ali Forney Center to benefit homeless LGBTQ youth. “Pop Souk: Where Downtown Folk Sell, Not Sell Out.” Yes hunty.  —Abi

Here’s an event for the Allen Ginsberg fans out there.“HarperCollins, the Allen Ginsberg Estate and Howl Happening invite you to an evening of poetry & performances celebrating the publication of The Essential Ginsberg, the long anticipated reader of one of the 20th Century’s greatest voices, edited by Ginsberg biographer Michael Schumacher (Dharma Lion).” There’s so many of our fav people doing readings at this event we don’t have the space to list them all but I’d be remiss not to mention a few, there’s Penny Arcade, Slava Mogutin, Angelo Nikolopoulos, Ambrose Bye and many more. Bob Holman is the event’s MC. Allen Ginsberg was one interesting homosexual, he’s most famous for his poem “Howl,” which at the time was considered so obscene his publisher was arrested on charges of obscenity. The case was dismissed but it did wonders for his career, helping cement his position as one of the most famous poets of the Beat generation (James Franco even played him in a film, lol). If you’re unfamiliar with Ginsberg’s work (I mean really?), hit up this happening and get acquainted. It’ll be a queer ol’ time.  —tom