Thursday 08.15.13
Event: AN EVENING WITH QUENTIN CRISP & PENNY ARCADE
Any time the legendary Penny Arcade starts talking we listen. The fact is, Penny speaks the truth the moment she opens her mouth, so you gotta pay attention. She recently told us about this screening for a rare film featuring an “iconic 1995 on-stage conversation” between her and her dear friend Quentin Crisp, taped at the Theatre an der Wien Opera House (The House of Beethoven) in Vienna. This is the first time that the film has been shown (anywhere) since that iconic performance in 1995. Be prepared for a vast and fascinating conversation as Quentin reflects on “gay bashing, AIDS and activism, outing, the kindness of American soldiers, glamour, atheism, dandyism, romantic love and his urgent desire to die...” After the screening stay in your seat for a Q&A between Penny Arcade and collaborator (and filmmaker) Steve Zehentner. Penny and Steve have been running the ongoing biography series ‘The Lower East Side Biography Project’ and this evening was produced by that organization. Prepare to listen as Penny schools you, informs you and maybe even reads you. Afterwards you’ll want her to adopt you.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Leonardo de VegaPHOTOGRAPHY BY Leonardo de Vega
Wednesday 07.31.13
Event: Dirty Looks: On Location – YouTube XXXTRAVA-GANZA
It’s the closing night of Bradford Nordeen’s queer film series, Dirty Looks: On Location. For the last 30 days Bradford has been hosting queer screenings in locations with queer history around the city. The closing night event might be my favorite so far. It’s a YouTube slam. Dueling teams will “try to outdo each other as they scour YouTube in search of the “gayest” videos they can find, covering such YouTube genres as: gay music videos, obliquely gay videos, and funniest gay home videos. These artists were carefully hand-selected by virtue of their cultural acumen and the amount of time they spend trolling YouTube videos.” I love this sort of shit. When I have guests over for wine and treats there’s nothing I enjoy more than going on a YouTube adventure, clicking on video after video in search of a gem. I love that we can now all do it as a group, with drinks and cheap burgers, at the oldest gay bar in the city. Make sure you get there on time, Julius’ is small and you’re going to want to find a comfortable space for this one!
Wednesday 07.24.13
A House Is My Home
Like every other gay teen who was born in the ’90s I watched Paris is Burning and thought “oh shit, how amazing!.” Shortly after seeing the documentary I discovered that I have sub-par rhythm and had to dance in a hybrid style of Edie Sedgwick, John Lydon and later James Chance (which I still do). My dreams of becoming the first Australian born, Singapore raised under-aged white boy in a house were crushed. Delusional? Yes but I’m smiling…and believe me when I say I don’t have one of those heinous VOGUE hats that is so popular with the Caucasian 20-something crowd. There is something so appealing about the House/Ballroom scene, which I’ve never quite understood — those involved often come from extremely brutal places, so why is everyone from the comfortable outside so drawn to them? Now we can hear from the participators exactly what was so damn charming and enticing about the original and current ballroom scenes.
Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art has arranged a panel discussion featuring multiple generations from the Ballroom scene. The aim of the panel discussion is to investigate the iconic House/Ballroom scene in terms of family, community and home. Panelists include: The Pioneer Icon Junior Labeija, The Pioneer Icon Michael Dupree, The Icon Sean Ebony, The Legendary Mariah Lopez and The Up and Coming Janovia Garçon.
‘A House is My Home’ is presented in partnership with the “Queers in Exile: the Unforgotten Legacies of LGBTQ Homeless Youth” exhibit, curated by Coalition for Queer Youth founder, Alexis Heller. …
Tuesday 07.23.13
FIERCE Rooftop Cocktail Fundraiser
With special guests Billy Porter and Kristen Johnston
Monday 07.22.13
The Bowery Banquet
Here’s an opportunity to enjoy a night of great food, drinks, performance AND also help revitalize a neglected part of the city (in this case the Fulton Fish market). For $85 or ($75 with the code: GAYLETTER) you get a five course meal and all the wine you can fit in your greedy belly. Plus you’ll be doing your part to keep New York cunty.
“Spring St. Social Society transforms downtown Manhattan spaces into environments for social gatherings. The goal is to help reinvigorate downtown Manhattan social life and community through the gathering of friends and strangers in unique places. The Bowery Banquet, is a culinary endeavor that combines both food and performance, in a way that all sense are engaged in what is one big performance. And a lot of delicious fucking fun. The evening’s chef, Camille Becerra, was featured on Top Chef season 3 and has deep roots in the New York culinary scene. We find performers who straddle the line between hi-brow and low-brow, pop and edgy, from across the greater New York performing scene.”
The way they’re hoping to eventually revitalize the fish market is by partnering with New Amsterdam Market to promote their efforts to establish an artisan farmers market at the South Street Seaport. “The market will provide food from the best produce, fish, cheese, and chocolate purveyors around.” You can never have too many markets as far as I’m concerned. The dinner also includes two great performers: Joseph Keckler is performing both days (July 25th & 26th) and The Good to Go Girls only on the 26th. …
Spring St. Social Society turns hidden spaces into secret gatherings
Friday 07.19.13
FIERCE Fundraiser with Billy Porter & Kristen Johnston
People will just not shut up about Kinky Boots. And with good reason! The drag-tastic musical won like every Tony award and vaulted Cyndi Lauper back into the limelight as mistress of misfits and queen of all that’s glittery and gay. The feelgood play has sparked some positive and exciting exposure for the LGBTQ community and continues to be a sellout every night. So it totally rocks!
Now these boots are stomping off the stage to continue to spread all that goodness and love. The divine Billy Porter, who plays fabulous queen Lola in the show, is hosting alongside Kristen Johnston a lil’ soiree in Brooklyn to benefit the LGBTQ youth of color organization FIERCE. Yaaas, honey. FIERCE. The group started in 2000 and has done some amazing work to create safe spaces for queer youth of color all over the city. Porter will get real and talk about his Pittsburgh upbringing and why FIERCE’s work is so important to him.
So hop on that MTA, mamas, and pop on top the Aloft New York Brooklyn Hotel, right by the Jay St. Metrotech stop in downtown BK. Untuck with Absolut cocktails and move about to beats by DJ Ridge. Tickets are $50, all for this fabulous cause. And who doesn’t love a rooftop?! You know it’s gonna be FIERCE.
$50, 6:30-9:30PM, Aloft New York Brooklyn Hotel, 216-228 Duffield St. BK, NY. …
Saturday 07.13.13
Event: I’m From Driftwood Rooftop BBQ
I’m from Driftwood is fucking awesome. Sorry for the frat boy phrasing, but they’re just wonderful and they get me excited. For those who aren’t aware what they do — google them right now...I’ll wait. You back? Great. Now you know the amazing work they do recording and sharing the stories of queers from all of this great land, and why we should do what we can to support them. The fight is not over! This Saturday they’re throwing their 3rd annual rooftop BBQ. Attending is about the easiest way to show this great organization some love. It’s as simple as heading up to the rooftop of Casa De Costa at 4pm. Once there grab a drink provided by El Dorado Rum, Brooklyn Brewery and Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Then enjoy some “mouth-watering BBQ prepared by: Chef Andy Baraghani.” Tickets are 75 bucks, which we know is steep, but as I mentioned earlier (and you are totally aware of after your google excursion) it’s for a good cause. And really, pretty good value when you consider food and drink is included. Oh, and guess what? The first 10 people to use the discount code ‘GAYLETTER’ will get a $10 discount. Now that’s fucking awesome.
Friday 06.28.13
Event: Spread
Not dissimilar to the Situationist’s concept of psycho-geography or the Dadaist’s Anti Walk — Spread (by Juan Betancurth, Todd Shalom and Niegel Smith) is a walk of concept, not content. Brooklyn based art organization Elastic City works with both established and emerging artists to conduct participatory walks to bring attention to various concepts through artistic forms. AIDS is not over. The walk is aimed to induce dialogue and an understanding of AIDS conceptually, and was created in partnership with Visual AIDS, who utilizes art to fight AIDS and support HIV+ artists. The group will have participants investigate the language and actions of spreading — disseminating secrets and offering desires to each other and passerbys. It’s RSVP only — to participate click here. There's a suggested donation, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Go submerge yourself in some art and education, then spread it.
Wednesday 06.26.13
Event: Kiss In Against HIV Criminalization
Every day I learn something new that makes me realize how fucked up the world really is. Here’s the Debbie Downer fact I learned today: “There are 34 states and 2 territories in the U.S. where HIV-specific laws and statutes exist.” That means people can be legally punished and discriminated against because they have a DISEASE. A fucking treatable virus. Can you imagine if they did that to people with Cancer? Aghhh. Anyways, we’re not into throwing around sad facts without offering solutions. This Wednesday, take a stand against these fucktard laws by joining Queerocracy in Washington Square Park for a peaceful, kiss-in demonstration. Here’s how it works, according to the organizers: “We will be meeting at the fountain in the center of the park. We will have handouts, t-shirts, stickers and signs. We hope to have press there as well. All you need to bring is yourself and someone you’d like to kiss. Please come a little earlier than 12 so we can organize and make this a memorable action.” If you can’t find someone to bring, just go alone, I’m sure you’ll find a cute boy willing to give you a smooch, especially since it’s for a good cause, that brings out the slut in everyone ;)
Tuesday 06.25.13
GAYLETTER’S GAY PRIDE GUIDE 2013
Commemorating the Stone Wall Riots of 1969, Pride NYC is one of the biggest Pride events in the world. Although the issues we fight for have changed over the past 50 years, we can all agree that one thing remains the same: gay people looooove to party. If you’re subscribed to our weekly newsletter you know we have a god given talent for sniffing out a good party.
With great help (ie they did most of the heavy lifting) from our interns Thomas and Andy, we’ve put together a list of every event you should attend during Pride week. It’s a pretty good mix of events; from lesser known parties in the depths of BK to the biggest bash of the week on a pier in Chelsea.
The list is long, so we suggest you start drinking plenty of water from today onwards — this week is going to dehydrate you…
TUESDAY, JUNE 25:
PARTY: OAK + TOM BIANCHI CO HOSTED BY GAYLETTER
Oak launches their Summer Artist Shirt Series. The first collaboration is with artist Tom Bianchi, who just released his Polaroid book: Fire Island Pines, Polaroids 1975-1983. The shirts on offer are available come in both t-shirts and tank tops and each display a Polaroid from the book. Join us in the ballroom of the Jane Hotel for their launch celebration — Tom Bianchi will be in attendance.
Free, 10:00PM, Ballroom of The Jane Street Hotel, 113 Jane Street. …
Monday 06.17.13
2013 Sackler Center First Awards, honoring Julie Taymor
The Sackler Center for Feminist Art shows some respect to women who are first in their fields at the Brooklyn Museum.
