Hi Chris Harris, we got your email, thank You! We get lots of emails about happenings in NYC everyday, but we thought yours was particularly good. Chris performs under the name Chris of Hur (pictured, we’ve seen you perform, we are fans!) — she told us about the monthly performance showcase that she runs at Macri Park called DOODz. “The music vibe, helmed by Gringo Starr and Rami Lollipop, steers towards danceable punk, rock, and soul — while staying entirely away from anything even resembling diva pop or electronic dance…a punk/soul dance night with draggidy art faggidy #showzah! At midnight we throw up a clamp light and put on a show!” For this edition of DOODz the performers are Alberto Cortes, Boy Georgia, Erika Klash, Glace Chase, Glossy, Sasha Velour, Ann Artist and more. The resident emcee is Lady Simon. I’d say it’s Friday night! Pop a Miley, or have some puffy, puff, puff and start your weekend right.

Metropolitan Bar has been hosting a Sunday BBQ for years now, I remember when I was going to FIT and I used to party a lot. Some Sundays I ended up there during the afternoon to pick up where I left off from the night before. I never ate the burgers because I really didn’t grow up eating hamburgers and I was there just to drink — also I was new to the “gay scene,” you get the drill, it was messy, messy, messy… This party Strays happens every Sunday after the BBQ, it’s a “party for the people who like the off nights. The weirdos. Cat Dancers. Hoarders.” Some of the peeps involved in this party are Lady Simon — who’ll be serving “entertainment and wit as per the usual,” plus DJ Jerk Party, DJ Lol Kim, and Michael and Erwin who plan to “serve it up!” Not sure if they are the bartenders or gogos but I am hoping the latter.

Julius throws one of our favorite parties: Mattachine, hosted by John Cameron Mitchell, but it’s not the only fantastic party the tiny west village bar hosts. There’s also Owl, created by my friend David Orton and Nick Schiarizzi, who throws the massive Rhonda parties. So what can you expect from this month’s edition? I’ll let David fill you in on the specifics: “You can expect an evening of dancing, burgers, lust, jealousy, rejection, and disco-induced diarrhea. No other party guarantees to send you home smelling like beef. WE DO.” I mean Eau de beef, what else do you need? How about free therapy sessions? Well, yeah they also have that! “Mini therapy sessions are on offer, from an actual therapist. Because you’re crazy.” Tell me about it! Fix my life Iyanla! But first let me get a vodka soda. I don’t do therapy unless I have a bit of a buzz!

Yo Yunique! Thanks for your email. I got it. Yunique wanted us all to know about this party she’s putting together with Neon Christina, and Tygapaw (Fake Accent). Yunique is “a queer female identified Jamaican artist living in NYC. I’m apart of a collective with 2 other Jamaican queers labeled “Bruk 0ut!” An organization  focused on elevating the Caribbean culture within the community.” I am from the Caribbean too, yes Dominicano, so I just got super excited. On their Facebook page the party is described as “a Caribbean Queer Basement For the Massive!” You gotta trust me with this one, this is gonna be a good party. Especially with this line-up of DJS: Juliana Huxtable and Joey Labeija as headliners, then, TYGAPAW, SHYBØI and BattyJack. Don’t come to this party tired or with an attitude, that’s not gonna work. Alright! Loosen up, get ready to get your pussy reset (more about this later), see you there! “Unno Ready?”

So apparently it’s NY Fashion Week, yeah I know, weird right? I’m still hungover and covered in sand from last weekend — I have no idea how I’m going to pull myself together for all the upcoming parties. Maybe I won’t! Maybe I’ll just watch Netflix in bed all week and save myself for Saturday for the latest edition of Wrecked. This is a special one. The legendary artist Wolfgang Tilmans (pictured) is DJing along with the Wrecked crew (Ryan Smith + Ron Like Hell), Michael Magnan and Sean B. Hosts include Ashton Anders, Michael Bullock and Stewart Uoo. Wrecked parties are always a lot of fun. Expect a lot of dancing, lots of boys, sweat, bodies, booze, poppers…the usual suspects. Come early, stay late. Fuck fashion week and retarded PR white girls with bad attitude, this is the only party you need to be at! Click here for advance tickets.

Joey LaBeija is one of our favorite DJ/producers. He played at our Pride Ball at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn in June and killed it. If you want a refresher on his skills google the live set he did on Sway’s radio show (Sway in The Morning) on Siriusxm. We played it on our last road trip and it made the time fly by. On Wednesday Joey is releasing his debut album, the deeply personal, Shattered Dreams. Here’s what he told The Fader about the album: “Shattered Dreams is a story inspired by the last year of my life, which was this erratic and melancholic journey of confronting insecurities, letting go of the past and discovering my self-worth. This project serves as the soundtrack/background music to the conflicts and self inflicted nightmares that took place in my head through my daily struggle, as opposed to what was actually happening.” I’ve been listening to the album and absolutely love it! On Wednesday Joey will play a DJ set (his last performance before he moves, temporarily, to Kansas City.) Le1f is also djing and Abby b2b Geng and $hayne HBA will be hosting. Congratulate Joey on the new album and wish him safe travels on his adventure to Missouri. Come back soon BB, New York needs you!

Mark Dommu told us about his new party called Hair that he started last week and I was like oh cute, love that name. Mark told me that for this week’s edition he’s teaming up with Shane Shane (who’s super fun.) “Shane is one of my favorite queerdos and Fancy has always been one of my favorite performance nights, so this is such an exciting match for me…the crowd was a great mix of cute boys, queers, trans kids, and queens. The shows were fun — Bridget Barkan absolutely SLAYED singing “Aquarius” from Hair and is now going to sing a different song from the show at every party. The vibe is very laid back and inclusive and Macri is definitely the new gay space Williamsburg has been waiting for.” I have to say you gotta love these party kids, they can come up with anything to sell a party. I learn something new every day. Anyways, we always say at GAYLETTER that if it’s a new party — give it a try, you have nothing to lose and you could even look brand new if the crowd doesn’t know you, as opposed to “there’s that tired queen wasted again…” You know what I mean ;).

My friend Frederic stopped by the NYABF last weekend and reminded me that this monthly downtown Brooklyn dance party is back! If you haven’t been you should check it out, the party has gotten a great response so far. Metro Tek takes place in the backroom of a bar called Harry O’s that “caters to office workers during the week — in fact, it’s usually closed on Saturdays, but we convinced the owner to open up for us.” Expect fog and lasers, (so you should probably bring your friend Molly — she loves going out all year around.) It’s Hosted by Danny Kaplan and Jacob Robichaux, with music by Pete Madden & Tad Haes. “For this event, we’re joining forces with Jacob Robichaux and Danny Kaplan in order to introduce some new folks to our little gem of a dance party. If it’s anything like our last one, things could get…uh, lively.” I like the sound of that. If you are in NYC this weekend and want to avoid the Pope crowd don’t waste your time going to any uptown parties…People and cops are all over the place waiting for the old man, it’s nuts. Stay downtown and in BK. Trust!

I’ve been keeping up with Ladyfag on Instagram and it looks like she had a super busy Summer. She’s been hosting all sorts of cool parties and traveling the world — bitch is busy. However she’s now back in NYC to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of Holy Mountain (aka HoMo). She emailed us to remind us what’s going down this Sunday: “So much magic has been brought to life from the loins of the mountain…so in honour of it’s birthday we are celebrating the BIRTH of all the children of Holy Mountain!” If you haven’t been, or heard of the party, then wake the fuck up! 3 floors, 4 rooms, 8 DJs, special surprise performances and “1 Mountain.” I have been a few times, and I do remember climbing something, but it wasn’t a mountain. Music will be provided by Michael Magnan, Nita Aviance, Ryan Smith, Greg K., Juliana Huxtable, Anthony Dicap, Turtle Bugg, Scooter McCreight from Toronto, and Zutzut from Mexico. Hosted by too many people to list, “the HoMo family” here’s a few of them: Marco Ovando, Ryan Burke, Miss Queen Sateen, Guyton Porter, La’fem Ladosha, Raul Zepole, Jason “The Black Teen Wolf” Rodgers, GITOO, Dese and more. If you show up in “a SERIOUS BIRTH or BIRTHDAY LQQK” it’s only $5! Cute.

I don’t know who Walter is…maybe I should, being such a party insider, lol, but honestly I think he might not exist. Regardless it’s his birthday and you should come to his party because it sounds like fun and I love, like 99% of the other people involved in it. Who are these people you ask? Well let me throw a couple names at ya. First up, the DJs, there’s $hayne HBA, LE1F, Slava, YNFYNYT Scroll, Zakmatic and most important of all *Special Guests.* Hosts for the night include Hirakish Jacuzzi, Paul Cupo (HBA), Leilah Weinraub (HBA), Telfar Clemens, Marz Lovejoy, Christen Mooney, Cooper Larsen, Jason Santore, Andre Bato. This is clearly a Hood By Air heavy event. Maybe Walter works for them. Maybe he’s their number one shopper. Regardless I’ll let him have the last word about his mysterious b’day celebration “What is up Facebook it’s Walter it is my Birthday and I am turning 20 years old my Days as a teen Icon are over but we Will celebrate anyway.” Walter, what’s good? Yes we will Walter, yes we will.

Nicolas aka Ädgår is 25 and originally from Vienna. He has been living in Berlin since 2013. He studies Art History, Jewish History and Italian, and works as a bartender at the famous techno club Berghain and is also a DJ. In 2009, he started organizing the Sodom & Gomorrha Parties in Vienna, and now he finally wants to get back to the event management business and so, together with a friend, he’s planning the first Herrensauna, a very special, queer techno party. We had the chance to chat with Nicolas about the party, among many other things.

What makes your Herrensauna project special? Well, the Herrensauna will be a unique experience since it’s connected with the sauna concept. That means that this will be a place for sexual freedom, for any gender, every intention – where everyone should be able to feel comfortable with his body and sexuality.

But is there really a need for another techno party in Berlin? It should be more intimate. Not like all the big events here which are very crowded at the moment. We rather like a party that’s smaller and to keep the underground feeling with it.
Where does the title come from? As I told you above, it’s about sexual freedom. We welcome a lot of naked skin, surely of both, women and men. So don’t get discouraged of the title, please!
On your Facebook page of Sodom & Gomorrha, a strong connection to art is noticeable. A lot of Hieronymus Bosch and also other classical artworks with an homoerotic focus. Yes, an artistic and aesthetic focus is important for us, just as it was for the parties back in Vienna. The Herrensauna party will still veer towards this direction but with a far more modern touch and it won’t be represented in the internet that much. The experience is intended to take place on site!

Can you make a living doing your art? I could when I lived in Vienna. Meanwhile, I’m focusing more on my studies, for which I got a scholarship . And I have this job at Berghain. The hosting of parties and DJing is just a little special thing I do now and then on top of all that.
So one is maybe wrong with the cliché about a young gay man in Berlin for whom just sex, drugs and techno are the most important things and not his studies…? Completely! Studying is very important for me. I thought about that for a long, long time and just started studying at the age of 24. And especially because of my scholarship it’s important to focus on it and to get the best results on my exams.
The fact that classical music is playing here in your room is also a bit unexpected! I’m even more interested in classical music than techno. Electronic music is, besides clubbing, just present for me when I have a gig and must prepare a new set. In my free time I almost only listen to classical music. For me an opera is as loaded and energetic as a good techno set.
That’s a nice contrast to your life, art, classic music, techno, underground — so what are the most important things for you in the Berlin night life? At the moment I focus on the people there. It’s most important that there is the right mix of cool and interesting people. When you go to Berghain at the wrong day/time, just because of a good DJ, it doesn’t appeal to me anymore. There must be good and special people…and a bunch of cute boys to get off with. If I have fun, it’s ok when the music is not that good. But if you already have fun and the music is good, then it’s gonna be a perfect night. That’s what we want to achieve with the Herrensauna.
I just asked because in Berghain for example, where one can easily spend a whole day, it’s noticeable that the people’s motivations going there can differ a lot. Yes, for sure. And sometimes it’s a bit exhausting when you are with friends who party totally different form you. In Vienna, it often happened that you had to take care of someone. Well for me, I don’t need this, to make punctual appointments when and where to meet again in the club. Don’t get me wrong, I love going out with friends, but in between I always need some time for myself and to get to know other people. This is what it’s all about — great people, fun, variety, you meet your friends and have a drink and you just get lost again.
Have feel that the opportunity to be sexual liberal, especially under the influence of drugs, changed people’s sex lives in that special scene? To what extent people adapt to the environment they regularly expose themselves to and therefore allow their habits to be changed, of course depends on their character. For human beings adaption is quite natural. My sexual life changed drastically but just for the better. I was way more shy before and now I’m content, more open-minded, more uninhibited.

Do you remember the first time you went out to a gay club? Hmm, I was at “Why Not” in Vienna. I must have been about 16… It’s such a typical club you can find in every city, with guys who have their eyebrows done and that kind of stuff, not what i was looking for at all.
So you noticed early what you were really looking for? In some parts of my life I noticed quite early what I wanted and because of that experience I realized quickly that this was nothing for me. But friends took me there and there weren’t many clubs of that kind in the city. When I was 16 I was in Berlin for the first time and shortly afterwards in London, and the clubs, people and music there were much more appealing to me.
When did you realize your actual needs then? There has always been something inside me. I had been feeling it even before I moved to Berlin. But even at the age of 23 I didn’t know exactly what it was. Just recently I slowly started to understand what kind of need it is and who I am. I think this has to do with the fact I moved to Berlin two years ago. In Vienna, I would still ask myself the same stupid questions that I don’t have to ask myself anymore because the people surrounding me accept me the way I am. And I still learn from them how people should treat each other and as a consequence I also learn how to treat myself. This understanding has been taking me years to develop and it’s surely not at its end yet.
Can tell what me what you were lacking in Vienna? Honestly, I was missing handsome men with whom I could get along with as well. The scene there is way more standard and not as diverse as it is here. Everything is focused on a somewhat commercial ideal of the gay man — just like it’s preached from the media. The scene here is more alternative. The men are more special and particular in their way. This is why it’s more fun here. Here are people of so many different countries. They all moved here like I did and that’s a great factor that constitutes the scene here.
Ok, so, actually your sexual needs are what brought you to Berlin? Well, off the record…If I wasn’t gay, I don’t know if I really would have moved to Berlin. Here you can live a life of greater freedom. You have a greater choice. You can do what you want and when you want. In Vienna, life is very restricted, especially with regard to getting to know other people. Now, I’m pretty happy in Berlin. I like my studies, my job, I meet a lot of cute guys and that’s how I pass my time. I really cannot complain.

That means all your needs are satisfied here? A lot of them! Surely not all but I’m pretty happy here and that’s what matters. In Vienna, I was never really happy. Of course, I don’t live the perfect life here either, but I really feel contented. I always felt a bit alone in Vienna but here I feel in good hands. And to come back to the Herrensauna, it’s our biggest wish to create a place for all the people who feel a bit alone, who are different, a place for the gifted and the challenged, where they can feel in good hands, too.

Check out Ädgår on Soundcloud and RSVP to his party if you are in Berlin!

When a party runs for a whole year in NYC it’s a big deal, it’s a similar dating the same guy for more than 3 months, it’s a big deal — it’s hard in this city, with all the sluts! I am so happy for Straight Acting for making it a full year, it’s a lot of fucking work, trust me. The reason our party only happens when we want to is because it’s a full time job to promote a party. I spoke to Rify Royalty who’s one of the organizes via F.B. chat. He reminded me what the party is all about, “it’s about sexual and gender expression. It’s also fem celebrating. A party where people can get creative with their looks, drink and dance to some of the best local DJ’s. The idea behind Straight Acting was to have different guest performers every month. So in the year it’s been running we’ve never repeated performers or DJ’s, a brand new cast every month, except this one.” For the anniversary party they had to bring some folks back, they must! Some of the performers and hosts are Charlene, Mark Dommu, Manifestany Squirtz, Bombazeen bean, Amber Alert, Chad LeClair, Molly Rhinestones and more. Also they said that the event is “powered” by Scruff, I wonder what that means? Hopefully they’re getting some nice coins! They’ve worked hard, they deserve them!

Our last Interracial at Bedlam Bar was fucking nuts. It was just the right energy for Halloween and the looks were as brilliant and bizarre as we expect from our readers. We had so much fun we knew we had to do it again soon. Well, ‘soon’ is tonight, November 25 (Wednesday). It’s a pre-Thanksgiving Interracial for all you boys who are still in town. For those of you leaving Thursday morning, this will be your last chance to have a dance and get some D before you have to spend the next 4 days talking about your job and the state of the country with your extended family. Music for the party is by DJ Thom John and DSO. Abi will probably help get you drunk at the door. You can expect plenty of carrying, kiking and cute boys. Bring a good attitude and plenty of reasons you’re thankful. It’s time to get Interracial hunty!

Hi, Hello! It’s Wednesday and there is a brand new party! It’s in Brooklyn, but get over it! We think this one is worth it.“The Party by OSTBAHNHOF is an international party series inspired by the zero-fucks-given Berlin party and performance art scene. Resurrecting the prolific Vaudevillian/Cabaret acts of yesteryear combined with elements of rave culture (namely, really fucking good House music). The Party brings Berlin’s nightlife to NYC. Kicking off its U.S. premiere with an exclusive preview at Williamsburg’s venerable underground music spot Verboten. The inaugural night features the vile beauty of radical drag queen Olympia Bukkakis, the audio-visual kinetic sensations of BLÆNK MINDS, and much more.”
Verboten is cute, the bouncer there let me keep my fake i.d. a while back, which was nice, and I saw a lot of straight men later, but I digress… don’t be like me, bring proper identification! Buy your ticket and bring whatever you deem necessarily to party correctly because “The Party by OSTBAHNHOF is “queer” in the modern definition of the term… designed for anyone who is open to discovering their weirdness and is mutually respecting of others’. Whether you identify as LGBT or straight, this party brings all sexual orientations together. Why stratify when we can unify?” YAS. KWEEN. This party is clearly not exclusive. Come as whoever the fuck you want. That is so important and can’t be stressed enough. That really should be every party’s motto and come to think of it, I’m not really sure why it’s not, but The Party is a fabulous place to start.

 
“The Party by OSTBAHNHOF creates a wildly radical, yet innately safe space for people of all stripes to explore self-expression, celebrate art, and embrace sexuality. Society’s prescribed norms can weigh on us as heavy chains, but really they are just artificial constructs.” Listen, this party’s description is filled with all the right terminology, enough to give me a semi just reading it. It’s hump day. Work sucks. Get drunk. Wear nipple tassels. Bring your friends if you have some. Bring your mom if she’s cool. Have fun. BIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEE!

$15-20, 9:00PM, Verboten @ 54 N 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY