Guess everyone wasn’t being so good for Good Friday the next day!
We’ve always been ones for making love not war, but in the absence of a peace orgy, a musical orgy for peace is the next best thing, and Josh Wood Productions’ Speak Up! benefit concert at St. Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO was just that. Held on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the ongoing war in Iraq, the event brought together the Scissor Sisters, Lou Reed, Damien Rice, Norah Jones, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Antony, Blonde Redhead and Bill T. Jones, who all raised their electrifying voices for NYC United for Peace and Justice and Iraq Veterans Against the War. Seen: Rufus Wainwright and Sia. Missing: George W. Bush.
On Saturday night, the line stretched down the block as Thomas Onorato returned behind the velvet rope at Family, the new party from DJ Adam, Formika, Cazwell (who’s on the wagon until he finishes his new album) and Amanda Lepore. The location of the party was new Alphabet City hotspot 40C (managed by none other than nightlife guru Michael T), where an excited, mixed crowd packed the skinny club and danced alongside bar go-gos Rainblo and Kelvin. Porn star (and scandal blogger) Erik Rhodes, promoter Andy Shaw and others partied it up in back with a who’s-who-crowd of club kids, models and promoters before Caz and Amanda took the stage for their weekly talent contest where invigorating acts of naughtiness vie for the crowd’s approval. The first contestant definitely set the bar and, er, raised a glass for future contestants. You know if “seen-it-all” Amanda is grossed out, then the job was golden!
Another stamp of approval was given this week to Todd Murray, whom we singled out as one of our Who’s Next in Next Magazine’s first issue of 2008. Boy, were we right! Last week another major publication followed suit as People Magazine named the 26-year-old HIV-positive speaker as a hero in their March 21 issue (with Jennifer Lopez and new baby twins on the cover). A former legal assistant and now Executive Director of Hope’s Voice International, Murray’s many initiatives—including the “Does HIV Look Like Me?” campaign—help remind young people around the world that HIV is still very real. Murray, who became positive at age 20, says, “I am honored to be recognized as a hero by People Magazine and hope that my face and story as a young person living with HIV will encourage conversations in homes across America and help those who are positive not to feel alone.”
We weren’t on the red carpet, but we were at the dinner for the New York edition of the GLAAD Media Awards last Monday night (actually we were banished to the balcony with the rest of the press, but close enough). MTV Networks honcho Brian Graden and the always amazing Judy Shepard were the night’s big honorees, but the most inspiring speech came from GLAAD president Neil Giuliano. The hysterical Graham Norton hosted and was full of witty barbs, but the queen-out moment of the night came when Loretta Divine and Anika Noni Rose from the Broadway and movie versions of Dreamgirls presented an award together. “Isn’t it just like the gay community to bring the two Lorells together on stage,” quipped Divine. Other presenters included Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Cheyenne Jackson, Anthony Rapp, Alec Mapa, Van Hansis, Alan Cumming and Caroline Rhea. Another touching moment came when talk show and TV journalism veteran Barbara Walters accepted an award for a special she did about transgender children. “You can forget all the Emmys; this means more to me,” Walters said on stage, wearing an enormous green bow that looked like it was about to eat her head. It was St. Patrick’s Day, after all.
Congratulations to Jason Walker and Adam Joseph, who duked it out to see which one was the “whitest black lady” at a concert at therapy last Tuesday. Hosted by Sweetie (who is one white black lady herself) each singer did three songs and dueted on such classics as “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and, of course, “Proud Mary.” They should both be proud Marys because even though there was no clear victor (or is that Victoria?), they both put on quite a show!
More packed crowds for g Lounge this week as the boys lined up at the door waiting to get into Franco DiLuzio and Mark Landers’ Gorgeous party on Thursday night. The sexy crowd included Danity Kane’s Aubrey O’Day and her entourage, fresh off the release of their new album, Welcome to the Dollhouse.
We wouldn’t have traded last Thursday night for anything. It started off at Men’s Night at Xac Anthony Salon where the Chelsea salon had all sorts of things for free: V2 Vodka, manicures, consults with the friendly colorists and even free cleanup haircuts for men. Hunky owners Xac and Anthony sure know how to throw a party. Next it was off to Provocateur at HK Lounge where sadly there were more go-go boys than patrons. The dancers were super friendly and ready to give lap dances (so maybe you guys should check it out, no?) but the one crazy drunk lady who threatened to beat our face was not so nice. We ran away from her and trucked over to Trade at Pacha. ClassifiedEscorts.com hosted the big blowout that got packed with a hot and heavy late-night crowd. Guess everyone wasn’t being so good for Good Friday the next day! Junior Vasquez tore up the main floor for nightlife mainstays like Peppermint, DJ Adam, Daniel Nardicio, Max Scott and Epiphany (who had some drama in the shower). We know we stayed way past our bedtimes and Friday morning was a bit of an, er, drag N
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