(Mr. Nude York winner Jason Barker and Daniel Nardicio at The Cock)

Daniel Nardicio is known for his scandalous parties, and The Cock is notorious for, well, everything we can’t mention in print. So you can imagine the stunts and shows that happened last night at the promoter's Mr. Nude York pageant. This was the third year of the annual event, but, being the punny guy he is, Nardicio told us, “I’m calling it the ‘third anal’ because it’s Easter week and I’m feeling like the Keister Bunny. Watch those asses, guys!”

After moving our wallets and phones to our front pockets, we entered the dark bar to find several guys checking more than just their coats downstairs. Once the actual contest started, each of the five contestants did a striptease on the bar, slowly slipping off what appeared to be hotel robes. The next round was question-and-answer. (“As if you care!”) As for the final challenge… it’s probably best if you ask Mr. Nardicio himself. But trust us: it was really hard!

Audience applause determined the winner who snagged $100 and two nights at the Belvedere Guest House on Fire Island (guess that explains the robes) where Nardicio hosts his other annual pageant, Mr. Nude Belvedere. Also, Mr. Nude Provincetown is in the works. “I’m franchising nude!” he quipped.

After posing for a photo with the winner and his enormous check (management made an exception to their strict rule for our photographer), Nardicio explained to us why he chose such a cozy location for the competition: “I don’t really do small bar parties anymore, but when I do, I bring it down and dirty! And where’s the best place to do that? No offense, but Mr. Nude York ain't for Hell’s Kitchen!”

(Jared LeBlanc & Seth Fornea at Full Bunny Contact)

Corey Craig aptly described the reaction of several Full Bunny Contact attendees with his Friday-night Facebook update: “What the actual fuck.”

Nathaniel Norwalk and Daniel DeMello's sold-out party took place at the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center on the Lower East Side with demented twists on carnival games like Raw Egg Putt, Bunny Fufu's Revenge and The Keister Bunny. But at the center of the space was the main spectacle.

Inside a tall cage stood a referee, a guy in a full bunny outfit, and three hotties in jockstraps and rabbit ears. Challengers entered the cage in pairs and had 30 seconds to collect eggs containing coupons for various prizes. However, the bunnies were on a mission to keep challengers from collecting and keeping their eggs. Even the most creative strategies (e.g., an evasive cartwheel from host Joey Israel and hostess Erica Gabriel's boob-flashing) seemed to be ineffective against these killjoy rodent characters.

“Full Bunny Contact is the brainchild of Timothy Haskell, who is the creator of Nightmare Haunted House,” Norwalk informed us. “It was Tim's longtime idea of staging a competition where adults could battle bunnies for eggs in an extreme Easter egg hunt for adults who miss the magic of those childhood easter games. We loved it!”

The adults that showed up made for a handsome and scruffy crowd, which seemed appropriate given all the prizes apparel company Nasty Pig had provided for the event. In addition to Nasty Pig founders David Lauterstein and Fred Kearney, we also spotted promoter Joe Roszak, DJ Rico Alexis, Scruff co-founder Johnny Scruff, adult film couple Seth Fornea and Jared LeBlanc, and the event’s hosts Brian Rafferty and Christopher Adam.

“We simply wanted people to experience our favorite holiday the way we did when we were kids: sheer fun and all out genuine craziness,” said Norwalk. “The response from people and the press who came was just amazing. We'll be back next year amped up with a tight basket of surprises.”

(John Cameron Mitchell & Justin Sayre at Joe's Pub)

On Sunday night, gaggles of sodomites stumbled from mimosa-flowing Easter brunches and bonnet parades to finish their weekends off at Joe’s Pub with a performance of Justin Sayre’s “The Meeting of the International Order of Sodomites.” This particular Meeting had the queers all a buzz with excitement because it was honoring John Cameron Mitchell, on the eve of his birthday, and two days before his masterpiece Hedwig and the Angry Inch opens on Broadway with Neil Patrick Harris.

Mitchell graciously attended and smiled from ear to ear as many of his friends honored him with stunning performances. The hilarious and entertaining night touched on a wide range of Mitchell's career, starting with the more obscure (like his voice over work as the kangaroo mascot for a cookie called Dunkaroos!) and climaxing with Justin Vivian Bond scatting spells in “In the End” from Mitchell's epic post-9/11 New York tale, Shortbus. There were more tastes from Shortbus with performances by cast members and musicians from the film including the darling and talented duo P.J. DeBoy and Paul Dawson, as well as Scott Matthew who delivered deep and rich vocal stylings.

The night also featured songs from Hedwig and the Angry Inch including “Wig in a Box” performed by Sven Ratzke (who has toured Europe in the role of Hedwig) and “Origin of Love” performed by Marty Thomas. Marty not only thrilled the crowd with his impressive vocals, but he also told a touching story about looking up to Mitchell as a role model when he was a child actor and they were in The Secret Garden on Broadway together. Speaking of TheSecret Garden, performer Shane Shane started the night right with a spoof of the song “Wick” performed with Ashleigh Nicolle Smith (Chris Tyler), that set the audience into stitches with naughty lines like "I think JCM sent me a picture of his wick one time…"

In between numbers, Sayre kept the crowd laughing with staged readings. The audience was treated to two skits performed by Sayre, Derek Smith and the always fabulous Angela Di Carlo, which showcased the hosts witty playwriting skills. One was a scene from an imaginary sequel to Hedwig; the other was about a sassy Jesus Christ—perfect for Easter Sunday! Sayre also treated the crowd to a beautiful rendition of the jazz standard "Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby" as featured in Shortbus. 

Of course, The Meeting wouldn’t be complete without a passionate rant by its host. Sayre shared how his recent fame from his viral video about hanky codes has gotten in the way of his getting laid, followed by a rant about the recent trend in word policing. He concluded the latter rant by saying, “If you call me a faggot, I'm gonna snap twice and bevel for you. That's my word.” After the show, Sayre's word was heartfelt. “Tonight was a joy beyond words," he gushed. "To have the line-up we had of friends and heroes was just a dream come true.” And for you Janet Jackson fans, the next Meeting, happening May 18th and honoring the woman who brought the term “wardrobe malfunction” to the public vernacular, will also be a dream come true. Snap, snap!

(Tina Burner and Bootsie LeFaris at Hardware)

New drag shows have been popping up at Hardware faster than luxury condos in Midtown! Most recently, the bar has hired Pusse Couture to host on Saturdays, and both Roxy and Delilah Brooks entertain on Sundays. And now Tuesday's lineup consists of Bootsie LeFaris’s Bootsie’s Clubhouse followed immediately by Tina Burner’s TrainWreck Tuesdays.

The augmented lineup was part of the ownership’s strategy for the bar according to managing partner Justin Buchanan. “Near the end of winter every year, we try to add to or enhance our entertainment to make sure we are ready for the spring season,” he explained. “There was an ongoing discussion between Bootsie, Tina and myself about how to bring Bootsie on board while keeping the originality of Tina’s TrainWreck. We decided to open the night with Bootsie’s Clubhouse and transition into Tina’s TrainWreck.”

LeFaris’s show consists of a mix of live singing (there are women who wish they could belt as high) and lip-synched mixes and musical theater classics. Her guest was Cameron Mitchell Bell, a former Disney performer and Bootsie’s high school classmate. The two did a knock-out performance of “A Whole New World” from Disney's Aladdin, which LeFaris followed up by pointing out Therapy manager Kash Amin in the audience and joking, “You’re the only Indian in the house who can really appreciate this.”

Burner’s aptly named Trainwreck assaults the audience with a barrage of ADD-inspired mixes, hilarious YouTube videos with Burner’s equally entertaining commentary, and DJ Natāzu’s perfectly timed interruptions with clever and/or insulting one-line samples from pop songs. At one point, when Burner’s leg came down from a high kick (high is relative, folks), her shoe did not. Fifteen seconds later, an audience member came hobbling from the front of the bar wearing her missing size 17 platform pump.

While LeFaris joked on stage about performing to empty chairs for the past month or so, she’s happy to be a part of the team at Hardware, where she hosts on Fridays, and their sister bar Pieces, where she hosts the Saturday party. “It's a team of hard working individuals that care about the community and the talent they hire,” she told us. “That to me is so important, which makes me extremely happy to be apart of the Pieces/Hardware family!”

It’s possible that the one gay scene in New York evolving as quickly as Hell’s Kitchen and Bushwick's is the one in Queens. One of Astoria’s newest bars, Elixir Lounge, hosts Boys’ Night Out, a monthly party and interactive burlesque show featuring quite a few familiar faces from Manhattan.

The idea for Boys’ Night Out started last year when the Royal Jelly Club in the Revel Casino in Atlantic City commissioned a troupe of New York dancers to star in a burlesque show. When the show’s run ended, Julius Anthony Rubio worked to reformat the show for audiences in the city. He teamed up with Industry bartender Jared Stanfield to integrate choreographed numbers into a party atmosphere, pulling in Glam Award winners Mila Jam and Scotty Rox to host and provide the soundtrack respectively.

“Julius and I started talking and realized that we could make this into a huge party,” explained promoter and producer Stanfield. “Adding nightlife superstar Mila Jam and designers Louis Merino and Sheldon Grey to the show has truly turned it into a beautiful collaboration of art.”

While the highlight of the night is the trio of high-energy sets from the dancers and live vocals from Miss Jam, Boys’ Night Out is very much a party. Rox warms up the crowd with pop-dance beats with Jam on the mic entertaining patrons with her freestyle rap/chanting and greeting first-timers with free shots. Plus, the show incorporates familiar music and moves from the stages (there are two) onto the dance floor.

“Elixir is a great space,” Stanfield said. “Marilyn Sulay and Lidia Jimenez—the first trans owners of an NYC bar—have brought a Manhattan feel to Queens. It's intimate and really makes you feel like you are involved in the show. The dancers are in your face, not pretentious, and by far offering a form of entertainment that Julius and I feel is missing in New York. Intimacy is key.”

This month, the theme was Havana Nights, featuring songs from influential Latin artists like Gloria Estefan and J-Lo. The dancers’ elaborate costumes complemented the choreography for both the group and solo numbers (especially when they made use of the velcro on the outseams of their pants). And Mila Jam even came out with a fruit basket on her head!

“Julius and I want to create something new each time and really make the experience something to remember,” said Stanfield after the last set. “This party has a lot of heart, a lot of soul and is sexy as fuck! Boys’ Night Out is a night to never miss nor forget!”

(Jett Adore performing at this year's New York Boylesque Festival)

Thirsty Girl Productions and Daniel Nardicio have brought the New York Boylesque Festival to the city for a third year. On Saturday night, hundreds of patrons braved the Times Square crowds to pack BB King’s for the artsy affair, and several of them attended the Teaser Party at Drom in the East Village the night before. “Much like the men who are performing in it, it grows!” laughed Nardicio. “The Boylesque community keeps growing, so we are choosing larger venues to accommodate the performers and audience. I love watching it grow!”

There seemed to be a recurring theme of the old, sleazy 42nd Street, “before Disney threw up on it,” to quote New York drag star Sweetie, the action-packed show's emcee. Later in the show, performer Tigger! added, “If they want to turn New York into an amusement park, I say let’s give them a haunted house. A haunted whore house!” His number ended with him pulling a pair of apples out of his bra, smashing them together on stage (a la Carrot Top), and “accidentally” showing everything he’d made a feeble attempt to hide.

A few other highlights from the show: Boylesque TO’s Canadian bobsled act; Albert Cadabra’s swallowing a disturbingly long balloon; The Brotherhood of Burlesque and their twirling ass tassels; Jonny Porkpie’s numerous liquor-related reveals, Manchego’s even more numerous underwear reveals (we lost count around 12); Mr. Gorgeous’s avian scat play (think Kari Kerning at the New York Drag Race premiere event); raffle boy Tyler’s titillating twerking demonstration; and headliner Jett Adore’s Zoro-themed finale, a perfect (rear) end to the show.

Nardicio described his collaboration with Jen Gapay of Thirsty Girl Productions—organizer of the New York Burlesque Festival and voted the most influential/non-performing woman in burlesque—as a unique and effective balance for the production. “I'm the ditzy pretty one; she's the organized lesbian who cracks the whip! Plus, someone's gotta run the show while I chase the performers around backstage to the Benny Hill theme song.”

A lot fewer guys will be playing Ugly Roulette (when one goes to Fire Island with no place to sleep and hopes they wake up next to someone who isn’t too hideous) this summer on Fire Island thanks to ShareGurl. This newly revamped app matches renters with vacancies in The Pines and Cherry Grove and also helps users coordinate calendars with friends and shop for island necessities.

Last night, we made the rainy trek to Hudson Terrace for ShareGurl’s summer camp-themed season launch. After trading double kisses from Markus Kelle at the door, a pair of deer (i.e., cuties with snatched bodies in booty shorts and deer makeup) posed with us for a photo before directing us to the elevator. A welcome committee showered us with glitter upon entry to the second floor dance space, which was crawling with “camp counselor” drag queens and thumping to dance beats from DJs Vito Fun and Kevin Graves.

We made a stop at the “Character Assassination” caricature station where Blackie Onasty and Tina Burner made swift strokes on their portrait paper as we posed.

“Wait, are you even drawing?”

“Yes. We’re drawing conclusions.”

At the conclusion of our sitting, the work of art they presented was a hilarious (if deeply personal) written read.

Other camp activities included unicorn makeovers with Mark Fisher Fitness, swimwear fittings by Gostoso (owner Jean-Manuel Pourquet, creative director Iman LeClaire, and stylist Francesco Venezia were present to lend their professional opinions), and knot-untying massages from Vichelle Massage. The night also included an invasion of drag queens and performances from Jacqueline Dupree and Roxy Brooks. And at the end of the night, the party moved up to the enclosed rooftop with Occupy the Disco.

Among the familiar faces we saw near the potted plants labeled as “The Meat Rack”: ShareGurl founder Raf Kuhn; Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Milk, Josh Appelbaum and Ru Bhatt of Occupy the Disco; drag queens Jesela Versace, Sable Cities, Sasha Naomi, Pusse Couture, Daphne Sumtimez and Amanda Poupon; promoter Joe Mode and DJ Corey Craig.

(The scene at Rockbar's Urban Bear Weekend Beer Blast)

We’re praying that the city’s drains aren’t too clogged after the influx of scruffy guys in town for Urban Bear Weekend. A variety of events took place across Chelsea, the Village, and even Brooklyn this weekend for the sixth annual four-day celebration of New York's bear scene.

“[Saturday’s] Honey dance party in Williamsburg was insane!” exclaimed Robert Valin, founder of Urban Bear Weekend. “It’s a 10,000-square-foot warehouse space. It’s very raw. We had hundreds of guys from different parts of the [bear] community: cubs, chubs chasers, bears, muscle bears, twinks, hipsters. It was wall-to-wall people!” Other events from the weekend included Joe Fiore’s Drenched pool party at Room Mate Grace Hotel, Saturday’s Beer Blast and all-you-can-eat BBQ at The Eagle, the Bear Fair with DJ Bill Coleman in the Meatpacking District, and the Sunday Beer Blast at Rockbar.

A diverse crowd packed Rockbar for $3 beers and free pizza at Sunday's post-street fair party. DJ/VJ Billy Pfeiffer provided tunes and visuals with plenty of throwback rock, R&B and a bit of disco as Rockbar manager Arsenio Amadis and the rest of the bar staff poured oversized drinks and drafts for the throngs hairy patrons.

While theurbanbear.com, an internationally targeted online magazine, has been essential for Urban Bear Weekend’s exposure over the past two years, Valin credits support from local press with much of this year’s massive growth. “Next Magazine has been instrumental in helping us get the word out about what the bear community is and our place in the community,” Valin shared. “Bears are becoming more popular in media and pop culture, so that’s definitely helped us as well.”

(Leo Gugu, Early Ross & Mona Marlowe at Call Her Noir)

Last night, we got a taste of the downtown club kid scene—minus the club. Early Ross’s monthly Call Her Noir party at Wise Men is a gathering of some of New York’s most notable "look queens" in an intimate yet energetic environment.

“I walked in the place and fell in love with it immediately,” said Ross about the edgy East-Village venue. “The bar's exterior and interior was effortlessly cunt.”

One might use the same description about last night’s Call Her Noir crowd. Host Leo Gugu came through with a bejeweled crew of Patricia Field boys while Mona Marlowe, who was also hosting the event, offered guests complimentary flutes of champagne. Santana Williams’ soundtrack of forgotten house and hip-hop favorites had the early crowd dancing, but the night really got going when hostesses Celso Labeija and Amanda Lepore sauntered in around 1am. Also spotted: promoters Sloan Morgan Mandell and Shameless; Isis Vermouth; nightlife hosts Paul Alexander and Jamil Labeija; DJ William Francis; and photographers Andrew Tess and Mo Bacote.

Ross said that his goal was to bring together a variety of interesting individuals who love to have a good time. “Sometimes there are parties that seem to appeal just to one group of people,” he explained as a showgirl feather bobbed over his head. “I wanted to create something for the muscle queens, glamazon trannies, downtown girls and uptown. Brooklyn and Manhattan combined. A place where we all could dance and carry. A moment where groups of people that would not normally kiki together did, and that's where the magic is.”

Call Her Noir takes place on the first Tuesday of every month.

Maintaining your alternative-scene credibility is no easy task, but Antitwink.com founder Ernie Cote’s latest weekly party, Guzzle Wednesdays at Phoenix, will definitely score him outlier points. “Everything on Wednesday night is a thing, you now,” he smirked as he cued up a Goldfrapp track. “I mean, it’s Wednesday night. I wanna grab a beer!”

Phoenix’s $2 beer special and Cote’s indie, electronic, and nudisco soundtrack (he’d kill us if we told you he threw on a couple of smooth pop remixes) drew a cute, chatty crowd of East Village and Brooklyn boys, so it was no surprise that Misty Meaner and Mocha Lite dropped in for a drink with host Kelly Gorman after an early show.

Cote reminisced about how popular Wednesdays nights at Phoenix used to be a few years back. “It was $1 cups back then, but you know how inflation goes. It was packed with cute boys, beards, and had an indie rock feel. We're going for that again.”

Standing atop a milk crate (the DJ setup was a bit high for him), Cote explained how much he was looking forward to the coming months in nightlife. “[My day job] is starting to calm down, so I’m going to be picking up a few more gigs soon.” If his dirty tales of bartending and managing at Sugarland are any indication of things to come, we’ll be keeping an eye out for sure!

(Madame Tayoush performing at this weekend's Tarab NYC.)

Amidst the typical Saturday night Top 40 sounds of a remixed Emeli Sandé track playing on the first floor and Iggy Azalea’s “Work” on the second, the speakers on the third floor of the Ritz were pulsating with an Arabic version of Katy Perry’s “E.T.” for the second anniversary party of Tarab NYC.

Tarab NYC hosts events and parties in New York geared towards members of the LGBT Arab and Middle Eastern community. “When I first moved to New York, it was hard for me to find other Middle Easterners outside of a heteronormative scene,” Bashar Makhay, the creator of Tarab NYC, told us as he greeted party guests of many cultural backgrounds.

Among them was Mark, a friend of Makhay and a frequent Tarab NYC partygoer. During the events, he usually performs a belly dance routine, something not atypical at Arab events. “In the Middle East, everyone knows about belly dance. It’s everywhere, from clubs to restaurants. It’s a big part of the culture,” he explained.

Mark shares in Makhay’s party philosophy. “Tarab NYC has helped me make new friends in the Arab gay community. We get to party and let loose in the context of our culture,” he said. “It’s a safe place to party for Arabs that doesn’t fetishize [our] culture. It embraces it in a different way compared to other Arab parties.”

Though Mark did not perform at this event, the crowd was treated to a show by another Tarab NYC fixture, Madame Tayoush, who wore a lacey ensemble with glittery silver pumps and a fierce beard as she danced around with an umbrella, fan and red goblet.

Makhay hopes that what started as an idea for a party will grow into a go-to resource for the LGBT Arab and Middle Eastern community. For now, he’s excited for the next steps for Tarab NYC which include marching in this year’s Pride parade and hosting a beach party in August. “I just feel like people want to have fun without being judged. It’s a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space in an atmosphere immersed in Middle Eastern culture.”

(Jake Resnicow, Brandon Voss and Susanne Bartsch at the launch of Liberty Saturdays.)

Susanne Bartsch and Brandon Voss launched the continuation of their newly minted nightlife partnership this weekend with their new Saturday night party, Liberty. The recently renovated Liberty Theater, which boasted a million-dollar light system, provided a variety of spaces for revelers to dance and socialize.

This type of flexible, spectacular venue is a dream for major event producers like Voss and Bartsch. “Susanne and I have been planning to do an event at Liberty together since we started Marquee,” Voss told us. “We're both very into theatrics and production, so it seems like the perfect fit for us. I've been in touch with Liberty for years, literally waiting on that place to open since before XL.”

The duo included Voss’s fellow Matinée producer Jake Resnicow on the billing as well. And for the opening night, the team pulled in Matinée DJ Lydia Sanz. Partygoers also had DJ Amber Valentine’s beats in the Stage Door Canteen, puppet go-go boys, living opera boxes and scantily clad acrobats hanging from the ceiling to add to their experience.

Among those spotted in the crowd: nightlife hosts Amanda Lepore, Barrett Pall, Dina Marie, Domonique, Mike Shensky, Mo Bacote, Paul Alexander, Corey Allen, Matthew Ballew, Daniel Thomas, Thorne Darrell and Lil Joey; DJ Nando; drag queens Epiphany and Maddelynn Hatter; and promoters Sasha Seven, Joe Roszak and Brian Rafferty.

Unfortunately, the night didn’t go as perfectly as planned after someone pulled a fire alarm during the party. Voss called the incident a “buzz kill.”

“When we opened XL it went off every night for the first week,” he noted. “Stage 48 had the same problem when they opened.” While we heard complaints from those stuck outside the venue, the staff eventually got everything sorted with the fire department and the music going again.

“My goal is to invent a haze fluid that doesn't set off fire alarms. I could retire.” Let’s hope, for the sake of Voss’s contributions to the New York club scene, that this breakthrough takes a while.

(Gays cast members Jay William Thomas, Peter Giessl and Marina Pulido with creator Peter William Dunn.)

Gays is a scripted series on YouTube that was born out of a New Year's resolution (turns out they're not all useless) and a bathtub brainstorm. “My frustration over the lack of high quality LGBT programming out in the world made me really want to try and make an impact and fill a hole I thought was missing,” said Gays creator, executive producer and star Peter William Dunn. “While it's my love letter to NYC, and I absolutely made it for the gay community to hopefully provide them with entertainment and a temporary escape, we really worked to create a show that any demographic can enjoy.”

While the playfully titled series has its superficial, comedic moments, Gays also deals with heavy issues like violence, rape and mental illness. Dunn says his goal was to convey a real, relatable experience that happens to be set in New York. “We've gotten so many messages in our Facebook inbox from youth in small towns, saying how much they like the show, and it's nice to feel less alone. To provide a young gay boy who's worried something may be wrong with him because he's different, to provide him with four new best friends, with a place to laugh, with a way to realize that he's perfect just the way he is; well, that alone has made this entire experience worth it.”

The cast and crew gathered for a premiere party at Rosebud Lounge on Friday evening to celebrate and screen the fifth and sixth episodes with popcorn, specialty cocktails, and a raffle emceed by door diva and cast member Markus Kelle (admittedly, we were a bit jealous of the girl who won the Dawson's Creek DVD).

Several gay New York venues have played supporting roles in various scenes, and Dunn has strategically held premiere parties in gay venues across Manhattan.. “To me, NYC has always been one of the main characters of Gays,” Dunn explained. “It was important for me in making the show to shoot in locations people would recognize, locations that have been important to me in my life here, and locations that are landmarks in the gay community.” 

Last night, the 27th annual MIX NYC Queer Experimental Film Festival kicked off their Naked Eye Celebrity Camera Auction at Slipper Room on the Lower East Side. The fundraiser augments the ongoing online auction for disposable cameras that celebrities like QAF’s Randy Harrison, Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and James Franco have autographed and used to take portraits and selfies.

The event, hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race star Alaska Thunderfuck, included a an array of stage performances, a raffle with pricy prizes from Pleasure Chest, and updates on the status of the bidding on the hostess’s camera. “It hasn’t crested $93, and I’m kind of pissed,” she observed.

The audience lived for each of the performers that took the stage. Among the highlights were Trixie Little and Mr. Gorgeous’s humorous feats of balance and burlesque, and the classic Babs and and Judy “Get Happy” duet covered by Molly Pope and Michael Musto that left several in the crowd exclaiming “I didn’t know he could sing!”

And following in the spirit of artists lending a hand to the cause, a gentleman in the front row, sketched an impromptu portrait of Pope and Musto, offering it to be auctioned for MIX NYC.

The performances ended with Thunderfuck screeching her new single “Your Makeup Is Terrible” as she shuffled through the audience in a bright yellow gown showing off her acrylic nails.

Pictured: Leo Gugu

On Saturday, Uncle Charlie’s observed their seventh anniversary with showtunes at the piano, throwback tunes from DJ Buster, and a free buffet! Owner Michael Ng was on hand to greet patrons at the door, helping to set the friendly, celebratory tone for the evening.

So much of New York’s gay nightlife revolves around the west side of Manhattan, so we were curious about how Ng managed to do so well on the other side of Fifth Avenue. “I think all my piano players, bartenders, all the people who work here,” he told us. “They create an environment for people to come [and relax.] We’re promoting more the family environment. Everybody who comes in feels like they’re at home.”

Ng’s description of his staff was spot-on! You won’t find perfectly chiseled, shirtless bartenders sporting the requisite quarter-inch of scruff on their chins at Uncle Charlies. But you will find friendly, quick service with a warm smile behind the bar. However, the cocktail waiter’s smile did have us a bit star-struck in the moonlight on the back patio.

Ng pointed out that while the Grand Central adjacent location lacked residential zoning, the bar is known for their weekday happy-hour. “A lot of theater people work in this area. A lot of show business. Also, lots of law firms in this area. Lots of bankers. Pfizer is here, too.”

Happy hour husband hunting anyone? Cheers!

NYC’s rooftop season has officially begun. Several midtown upper decks opened their doors to the gay promoters of the city for post-brunch functions to woo the boys who were itching to show off their gym progress and summer fashions.

Fly Sundays at Monarch had their grand opening yesterday just steps away from Herald Square. Markus Kelle worked the door in a Mary (Scary?) Poppins-inspired look with black lace gloves and a black parasol. He guided us to the elevator with a cheerful parody: “Just a booty bump of cocaine makes my prostate go round/ in the most delightful way!”

The elevator doors opened to a spectacular view on the rooftop! Either New Yorkers have just discovered squats, or Gilt was having a sale on padded undies because these boys definitely filled out their Bonobos shorts more than we remember from last year. But Monarch’s decor was just as spectacular! “Monarch is essentially unseen by our community,” explained promoter Matthew Gagnon, who teamed up with Shawn Paul Mazur from Griffin Sundays to produce Fly, “and it's really a special rooftop that'll get lots of 'wows'… You can almost reach out and touch Miss Empire State.”

While Gagnon was excited about spending time on the other side of the bar (he’s always bartended events that he’s helped promote), he ended up mixing drinks as the bar got more crowded. While we didn’t get a chance to try one of his huge Fly Punch Bowl Knockouts, which contained so many different types of liquor that they didn’t even bother printing a list on the menu, the reactions from those who did further solidified our faith in his versatile skill set.

Among those we spotted rocking out to Vito Fun’s summer soundtrack: nightlife hosts Mo Bacote and Shensky; drag queens Bootsie LeFaris and Tina Burner; DJ Jonny Mack; photographer JJ Mack; Scruff events head Joey Dubé; promoter Sasha Seven; and singer Aaron Pfeiffer.

Since Gagnon has an album in the works, we had to wonder if he was planning a performance for the party later in the summer. “I plan to release a single toward the end of August. So it's certainly a possibility,” he said, adding, “As long as a helicopter can lower me down onto the roof while I sing my 1st single, then YES!”

Pictured: Dee TrannyBear, Adonis, Romeo Romero, Sir Honey Davenport

Wednesday now has two uptown Cockfight parties. If Blatino go-go gods are your thing, you’ll find yourself very much at home watching them two-step, twerk, pop, and perform all kinds of stunts on top of the bars—and in the lap-dance lounges.

The Harlem/Hamilton Heights Cockfight is settling into its new home in the Cheetah Room of El Morocco quite nicely. According to promoter Romeo Romero, the extra space was exactly what the party needed. “People always said the party is amazing,” Romero told us, “but only if it was bigger. So we gave them bigger! Bigger venue, lap dance lounge—bigger everything!”

Bigger was certainly the theme of the evening. Drag hostess Sir Honey Davenport towered over the crowd as she pranced around the room to welcome customers as the party’s MC while hip hop, R&B, and salsa beats kept the crowd dancing. Among those we spotted on the dancefloor: adult film star Cody Allen; DJ Dychro; drag performers Dee Trannybear and Lady Jasmine; and promoters Pito Carrera and Shameless.

We pulled El Morocco manager Ivania Rosario aside for a chat, and she couldn’t be happier to add the Cockfight team to the club’s roster, adding that the venue now identifies as a gay club. “Wednesday is Cockfight; Friday is Event Brice Entertainment; Saturday’s 2000; Sunday is Escandalo Nights and Boys’ Night! So every night we’re open, we’re gay… [Uptown,] there’s a lot of lounges, a lot of bars, but there hasn’t been a major nightclub for the gay community.”

While the party embraces its No Parking roots, using the logo and name of its former location in photos and on its flyers, the team is glad to have a new space to create patrons’ unique experiences. “No Parking had a hot grungy feel and was built in a way that focused on the bar creating a strong focus on just the Gogo dancers,” promoter Louie G explained. “We are also trying to create that experience by surrounding the focus on drinking, dancing, and partying, along with that sexy Gogo charm.”

Patrons seemed to appreciate the new layout that featured platforms for go-go shows, benches and bottle/hookah-service tables, and a spacious bar for more go-go shows easy access to the $3 shots and $5 drink specials. “We are able to grow and be bigger than before and evolve and do more things,” said Romero. “There's a lot of surprises in the works but you'll have to just follow us to see.”

Pictured: AJ, Andrew & Lee at the Copacabana

Yesterday, BoiParty launched into its second season of Penthaus at the legendary Copacabana rooftop with a large mixed crowd after going into hibernation for the winter.

Though there was a slight overcast, guests socialized and danced the night away to the beats of DJ Luis Perez under an open roof. With Patrick Day checking people at the door, Richard Burrowes snapping pics of party guests, and Andrew Marcus Isley sparking bottle service flares, it was a smooth transition back to the old swing of things.

Decked out in signature pink, BoiParty promoter, Justin Luke, made the night a family affair, being joined by his boyfriend Joe and his brother. As Luke sipped his cocktail and mingled amongst the guests, you could sense his excitement. “Everyone has been asking about when we were going to relaunch and now the day is here,” he said. “People were missing the concept of it and the vibe. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Spring/Summer season has in store.”

Luke’s business partner, Alan Picus, agreed with Luke’s sentiments. “It’s great to be back,” he said.

The new season of Penthaus has brought to it some significant changes. It has moved to Thursday nights and is starting an hour earlier at 10pm with an open Stoli bar until 11pm. Stoli drinks were available at a reduced rate of $8 while Chaka Khanvict passed around $2 Jello shots.

“Showbiz Spitfire,” Paige Turner, is someone who has missed the party’s unique ambiance. Dressed to the nines in a fleet week inspired ensemble, Turner said, “It’s a very social and friendly environment with no attitude. I’m glad it’s back.” Drag Queens and Penthaus fixtures Asia Persuasia, Nomi Sas, and Chelsea Piers were also in attendance.

Stephen, a guest at the event, said, “Last year, the party was always a blast and if the opener tonight is a sneak peek at what’s to come, I see it being one of the biggest parties this summer growing more and more every week.”

Another frequent BoiParty attendee, Allen, chatted with us about his personal feelings regarding Penthaus. “I would say it has a different feel because I was at a different place last summer. I was new to the city, and I had gained some friends from the party,” he said, taking a drag of his Marlboro light cigarette. “It’s always been a warm and welcoming environment. I’m excited to continue to meet new ones and build on old ones.”

Did anyone go out to Fire Island for Memorial Day Weekend? If they did, we certainly couldn’t tell by the looks of things at Michael Cohen and Scott James’s rooftop party Summer Camp! Tons of gay boys showed up in their Sunday best (i.e., tank tops, shorts from the kids’ section of American Apparell, and the finest shades Gilt had left at the end of their lunch breaks) to enjoy day-drinking with a beautiful view to a fun pop soundtrack from DJ CFLO.

“Summer Camp has been around five years, and we are always at the best venues,” said promoter Michael Cohen. “Of all the places we scouted, this was the nicest venue in the best location! The Attic is right on 48th Street and Eighth Avenue, and everything from the furniture to the sound system is brand new.”

The cozy rooftop has plenty of seating for bottle service or taking a break from the breezy, shaded dance floor as well as outdoor cabanas that are perfect for checking out the crowd at thigh-level. Among those we saw on the roof: drag queens Marti Gould Cummings, Chaka Khanvict ,and Trixxy Diamond as well as promoter Justin Luke and his boyfriend Joe Ferreira, who were discussing top-secret plans for the latter’s upcoming birthday celebration (we overheard the phrase ‘whipping post’ more than once).

We may have been the only ones who actually noticed the sun setting over the Hudson as the marathon-drinking cluster of gays in the next cabana wailed along to Christina Aguilera’s highest notes. “Every year, Summer Camp is the most popular party,” Cohen reflected. “What makes it so fun is the perfect storm of great DJs, fun hosts, and the best looking boys in Manhattan.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race star BenDeLaCreme just wrapped her NYC debut, starring in the new Terminally Delightful cabaret show at Laurie Beechman Theater. The show was so popular that Spin Cycle had to add last-minute dates, which quickly sold out!

During her time on Drag Race, DeLa got some criticism for hiding behind her overly optimistic, costumed character and not letting the judges and audience get to know the real Ben. This becomes a major motif in Terminally Delightful as DeLa shows the separation between the drag persona and the male persona with DeLa trying desperately to keep mopey, depressed Ben out of her cheery, peppy spotlight. As DeLa described it in our post-show interview, “I sort of see it as being an art piece that Ben made about a cabaret that DeLa would do.”

As she takes video calls from “fans” (herself dressed as various characters, including a brilliant caricature of her Drag Race castmate LaGanja Estranja) her darker persona creepily pops up and eventually takes over the show in a creepy, choreographed interlude to classical music. A Bad-Trip Ben Ballet, if you will. Eventually, DeLa reclaims control of the show, returning to comedic, bubbly re-writes of popular songs, including “Rouge Yourself” (by Creminem) and “DeLa with a D (not, Ben with a B)”.

DeLa opens and closes the show with a cleverly crafted original theme song penned by Jinkx Monsoon’s partner in crime Major Scales. DeLa shared the funny story of how she met the pair: “One of their first times doing [The Vaudevillians] was at a Starbucks at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on a Sunday… [I said,] ‘These people are brilliant,’ and I went ahead and cast them in my holiday show. And we’ve worked together for years.”

A few well-known performers came to celebrate the closing of Terminally Delightful’s NYC run, including burlesque hunk Mr. Gorgeous, fellow Drag Race stars Detox iCunt and Ivy Winters, as well as NYC drag queen and future Drag Race star Coco De’Ball.