Ryan Shea

Pescatore- Traditional meets Delicious meets Happiness

Pescatore and great food go together like Peanut Butter & Jelly.

I am the first person to admit that fish to me is never the first thing I am looking to order when I go to a restaurant that has a meat or pasta option on the menu. So when I first heard of a place called “Pescatore” I had to mentally change my game palate up due to thinking that everything on the menu was fish related. I was wrong, yet at the same time pleasantly surprised with the entire meal (which included some of the best fish I have ever had, more to come later). My friend and I went there a week ago and were treated like kings in so many different ways. Here is more about our great experience.

Pescatore itself has such a warm and friendly vibe to it that is nestled in the heart of Midtown East. The service was spectacular throughout the meal, and I got a chance to talk a little more with the owner Charles Devigne, who is celebrating the restaurant’s 20th Anniversary this year (Congrats!). He started us off with a bevy of appetizers, all of which were unique in their own right but had great depth of flavors to them. My personal favorite was the risotto balls with the truffle aioli sauce, something that we got a sneak peek of because they aren’t currently on the menu! Hooray for behind the scenes access! We were told this was something that was being placed back on the menu eventually, to which I agree with that decision. Better yet, do it sooner because my mouth is watering thinking about how damn good they were. One thing that my friend was a big fan of that didn’t really work for me was the ricotta cheese with chives, pease, hazelnuts, honey, and mint. It might have been a bit much for my palate but it was still tasty to say the least.

We also were treated to two different types of pasta dishes. One was Linguine alla Vongole which included steamed little neck clams with Chorizo, green onions, toasted garlic and fresh parsley. The other was Spaghetti Carbonara with pancetta, caramelized onions, pecorino and egg. Once again, my friend and I had a difference in opinion as I thought the latter was better than the former, yet both were equally delicious. It was just a matter of our taste buds. Out of all the dishes that we had, hands freaking down the best thing from the entire night was the Chilean Sea Bass. Chilean Sea Bass is one of the few seafood that I really enjoy personally, as it is foodporn to the umpteenth level. I can say this was the best Sea Bass I have ever sank my lips into, and that is because the supporting cast really made the star shine. The bass was surrounded by peas, porcini farro and brown butter vinaigrette with a cauliflower, currant and almond condiment. So amazingly yummy.

After all of that, the last dish that we had of course was dessert, which was a homemade cheesecake. Delicious and then some. Overall, an 8.5 out of 10 in my book. Great place to go to if you want some hearty Italian cooking with an edge and an overall great environment. Check out Pescatore’s official website for more information on menus and location. Definitely worth the visit!

Pescatore

955 2nd Avenue

New York, NY 10022

212-752-7151

KTCHN’s Crostini’s & Snacks Bring on the Bite!

by Ryan Shea

Appetizers, Crostini’s and Snacks, Oh My!

You don’t have to go to a restaurant and order a big entree to fill you up and keep you satisfied. Sometimes it is the perfect bite or appetizer that can properly keep your hunger tank on full without feeling like you needed that big plate to overdo things. And KTCHN proves that just like their amazing brunch selections, they can do the same with their Amuse-Bouche of sorts. I had the honor of covering this amazing location for a second time last week and was once again not let down.

Something that KTCHN provides for their bevy of customers are an array of Crostini’s each paired with a unique spread that packs a ton of flavor and punch. My friend and I tried three of them (3 for $8, great price in my opinion) and each had a great flavor to them that was satisfying and delicious. Out of the three that I tried my favorite had to have been the Cannnellini, Basil Pesto & White Anchovy. This was an interesting conclusion for myself personally as I am not the biggest fan of anchovies yet have a fond liking for basil and pesto. All three of the flavors melded very well together and gelled with the hard crunch of the Crostini. The other two that we tried had a similar effect on our palates, this included the Artichoke Risotto with an Orange topping and a Chickpea Hummus with a Red Charmoula Aioli. Keep in mind that I am a simple boy from Long Island who most of the time enjoys the taste of a good slice of pizza or burger, so these options are a bit out of left field for me but they worked harmoniously and were just great.

Credit to: R. Couri Hay Creative Public Relations

KTCHN is also the first place I have gone to where I have seen the word “Sexy” be used as part of a dish that they create. Now normally the “sexy” element is of course when I walk into the room (kidding, not really), but I was very interested when I worked my way over to the next part of the menu, the Cocktail Snacks & Small Bites, and saw that was one of the menu items listed. The fries have vinegar, garlic and smoked paprika in them, so if you are wimpy and don’t enjoy that kind of intense flavor then these aren’t the fries for you. I personally loved them and thought they were quite tasty. Other standouts for me and my friend included the always simple and classic yet delicious Shrimp Cocktail, which also had white corn chips to dunk into the sauce itself, and the Crispy Crab Cake Sliders which were warm and yummy with a great old bay tartar sauce that really elevated the taste to a whole other level. Easily for a small portion meal me and my friend gave this a 9 out of 10.

If you are in the mood to just have some small appetizing plates before you head out on a night on the town, then of course I would recommend doing so at KTCHN. It is nestled right in the heart of Times Square, and for anyone visiting should be a good time before enjoying the night ahead. Always be on the lookout for their upcoming events, including their Dinner & A Movie Tuesdays and drag duo “The Hause Of Mimosa” performing each Sunday from 11-3.

Is Facebook The New & Improved Biological Clock?

by Ryan Shea

Oh great, you are engaged and just got a promotion. Thanks Facebook!

Even though parts of society seems to change throughout the years, some of it cyclical and some of it changing for the new, one thing remains the same- the pressure to be like the Joneses. What do I mean by that? The simple fact that we are all aspiring to get ourselves to that inevitable checkpoint. To achieve whatever our hearts desire- be it a great job promotion, a marriage, a kid, whatever it takes. So now that social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter is thriving in today’s digital age, is that biological clock of ours that much more magnified because we see it on a daily or even hourly basis?

When you reach a certain age, let’s say 30 for instance, you are expected and almost expect yourself to reach particular life goals. Straight or gay, you may feel like you should be married at this point, have a kid or two, live on your own of course with a pretty profitable job. But what happens if one of those things are missing? Let’s say you are looking for that dream job of yours yet can’t seem to find it. You then open up your Facebook page and see that your friend Jenny or Scott has just achieved that particular promotion or even started to run their own company. Certainly you feel happy for them, but subconsciously you feel like why them and not me? Why can’t it be me getting that great job? I have the qualifications, so what’s the difference here? Hence that feeling of, “Oh shit. I gotta get moving, I gotta do something”.

The biological clock before digital times was just an inherent feeling of my time is running out to do accomplish something, and I don’t want to know how I will feel if I don’t get it done by then. I have a ton of my girlfriends who tell me on a consistent basis that they want love, they want commitment but it is hard to find in such a big city like Manhattan. Then they go on their Facebook page and find that that girl who they had a chemistry class with back in college just got engaged, and then the panicking begins. Shouldn’t this provoke something good and not bad?

Facebook originally started the same year I began college back in 2004 really as a social networking site between college kids. It was a mixture of meeting new people on your campus yet keeping in touch with all of your high school friends, sort of a digital Yearbook of sorts. Now, almost ten years later it has developed into such a life that I don’t even think Mark Zuckerberg was really prepared for (IE Snapchat’s 3 Billion Dollar rejection from Facebook itself). It has just designed itself into keeping us up to date with what everyone is doing on a very large scale. Will Facebook represent this quote un quote “Biological Clock” type of atmosphere for a while? Not too sure. It really all depends on how you view your life versus someone else’s life and really how you compare yourself to them.

Do you think Facebook is the new Biological Clock? Sound off!

Why Gay Men Love To Hate Muscle Bears (And Hate To Love)

by Ryan Shea

Why Can’t We All Just Get Along (Muscle Included)?

Many of the articles that I write really come from a variety of experiences. Most of the times they are a combination of my own experiences mixed with others to culminate in what I take out of it all and put it in the best way possible so that it sparks a healthy debate between everyone else. Funny thing is with this one, it never really crossed my mind until a recent Facebook post. A good (and very smart) friend of mine put this post up regarding how the bear community views the muscle portion of it and ultimately how it really ultimately reflects on how you yourself are as a person-

“What’s so tragic is watching guys who should have loads of self-respect lost in this self-defeating exercise of defining these “muscle bears” as physically superior and themselves as losers in the same scene, and then blaming these guys they really don’t even know for their mental and spiritual discomfort. There’s a betrayal of something that has always been an awesome option for self-defining as bear, which is to know you’re as hot as you feel you are and not to give a fuck what anyone else might think. It’s the people standing in groups, bitterly dishing the guys they are attracted to who they assume aren’t into them who ruin the atmosphere at bear events, not the guys they point and sneer at.”

This wound up sparking a very long threaded debate on how men, not only in the bear community but in the gay community as a whole, view muscle guys. It really boils down to this- haters are really just haters. Let’s break this situation down, because I have done this somewhat and I know I am not the only one who has been in this corner of somewhat “hate-dom”. This is a random scenario here-

I am at a popular gay bar with a couple of my friends. All of a sudden, a group of muscle bears (or guys, whatever) walk in in an upbeat and happy mode, order drinks and stand around with the impression that they are having a great time. This will then trigger something in my head to think that even if they are having a great time and are laughing and dancing and whatnot, they are still a bunch of royal douchebags. Why? Because in a lot of guys minds, they are insanely insecure when they are around men like that. This is for so many different reasons.

1. They compare body types and feel as if they need to look like them in order to get that attention.

2. Snarl all they want, these guys want the muscle dudes to be attracted to them and if they go in with a defeated or cunty attitude about it, it just worsens the whole process.

3. This will then lead to them having minor chit chat with their other friends about said douchebags, who most of the time are just trying to enjoy themselves and not get into a weird process of guys glaring at them for no reason.

4. Bottom line, its freaking insecurity.

This can also cause a chain reaction of sorts in which I have written about so many freaking times before- separation. Division. Something that the gay community seems to fight against and want so badly to have some sort of unification yet these types of issues are working against that thought. Why do we do this to ourselves? Many times I have been at these bars and have found a swarm of guys who come from all backgrounds of life, be it size, race, finance and so forth all standing around and talking to each other and having a good time. Then again, I have also seen situations where its the Asians in one corner, the black guys playing pool, the white bears all huddled up like they are playing a game of football and the muscle guys who stick with each other for whatever reason need be. In these types of situations, everyone stands shoulder to shoulder but no one engages and keeps to themselves.

But there has to be a reason for this happening, and in my opinion it really can stem from growing up and choosing who you want to hang with on the playground, only this time around there is a lot more body hair and drinks that don’t come in a sippy cup. We might think the other group is weird or we aren’t attracted to them or the new expression of “Aint nobody got time for that”. Time for what? Unless someone provokes you or gives you a reason to not like them, why the hatred? What the hating? Why glare at someone who seems to be having a great night just because you are the one that’s angry? Then again, why be angry? Because in this situation you bring the misery on yourself as a form of self-deprication. I am guilty of it, and many others are. It stops us from really opening our eyes and enjoying what is really great about this community, especially ones who want to go to the big “bear” events and enjoy themselves wholeheartedly and not get mad if a particular group seems to be having a great time and not focusing on you. Really at the end of the day you gotta love yourself before you love anyone else. Am I quoting RuPaul here? Sure. But that line makes fucking perfect sense.

So let’s have this be a lesson to everyone- go out, enjoy YOURSELF, enjoy YOUR TIME, and not focus on the muscle guy in the corner and what they are doing. Better yet? Go up and introduce yourself. You never know what can happen and the positive effect it can have on your life. Cheers, y’all.

Manhattan’s 5 Napkin Burger- Yum Yummy Yumminess

by Ryan Shea

Love Me Some Good Burgers, Yo

Burger joints in the city are in plenty like Kim Kardashian’s ego boosters, so really it is hard to differentiate which ones are the best nowadays. Sure you can be the frugal guy and go to your local Wendy’s or McDonald’s, but you can get that anywhere in the world, so question is- who does the burger justice in a great setting? That answer, my friends, is 5 Napkin Burger. I discovered this place a couple of months back when two friends of mine invited me to brunch at their Hell’s Kitchen location, and instantly fell in love with the ambiance and overall food satisfaction that was provided to me that afternoon. Last night’s experience was just the same.

They have four different locations- the Hell’s Kitchen one and ones in the Upper West Side, Astoria and Union Square. I was fortunate enough to cover the Union Square restaurant and they did not disappoint. The restaurant itself was a big turn on with its dim lighting and beautiful wood furniture, as well as spacious seating and a friendly disposition by all of the staff members. I was also greeted by the GM Ben Waclaw who was able to help us throughout our meal and made the experience that much better.

Then of course, there was the food. I was able to have the “Hell’s Kitchen” wings which their own hot sauce and blue cheese dressing. I tend to be somewhat of a buffalo wing connoisseur and these were definitely up to par. The blue cheese sauce was a bit off, but the wings itself were very tasty and didn’t overdo it on the spiciness which is a big plus in my book. My friend tried the Matzo Ball Soup and said that it was warm and tasty and the perfect soup to have with the chilly weather that us New Yorkers are experiencing right now. Off to a good start so far!

Something that they pride themselves on are their unique burger selections. From Lamb Kofta (lamb & beef ground with onions, garlic, parsley & spices, tomato, cucumber, pepper & onion relish, tahini sauce, soft white roll) to Ahi Tuna (marinated tuna steak, wasabi mayo, tempura onions, sesame brioche roll) to something more traditional yet yummy (8 oz. fresh ground beef, american cheese, raw onion, lettuce, tomato, pickles, sesame brioche roll) there is something for everyone there. I opted to try the Barbeque burger which had ground beef, green tomato chutney, sharp cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce, with a side of sweet potato fries. Freaking delicious. The chutney and barbecue sauce balanced themselves pretty well and I am a sucker for a good sweet potato fry and they were crunchy and yummy without being overseasoned.

Of course, we had to save room for dessert. Duh. This place in my opinion has some of the best shakes out there. I tend to limit myself to a couple of shakes a year (as I don’t want to look 6 months pregnant again) but this is one of the few times where I feel the need to indulge. I have tried two so far- the peanut butter and chocolate (lethal and delicious combo) and the salted caramel (delectable). They are not too thick but have a real thick flavor to them (make sense?). Overall, 9 out of 10 meal in my opinion.

Definitely a restaurant to consider next time you and your friends are looking for a night on the town. Check out the website for more information.

2014 Grammy Predictions- Song Of The Year

by Ryan Shea

Miley’s song could be nominated, folks. Be aware.

The announcement of the songs nominated for the 2014 Grammy Awards are only 18 days away at this point where they are set to be announced live on CBS the night of December 6th. A tradition that they have been doing for a couple of years, the event will take place at 8/7 central, hosted by LL Cool J and featuring performers (and potential nominees) Drake, Macklemore and Keith Urban to name a few. As exciting as the performances are themselves, millions of music fans and performers alike will be giddy with anticipation over who will be the actual nominees for next year’s biggest music event. But who will be nominated in each category?

The award for “Song Of The Year” is different from “Record Of The Year” in that Song is awarded to its composers whereas Record can go to the performer and production team for that song. To me, this award exemplifies the best written song of the year, the one that is different from the rest and really made you think about its lyrical content in order to win this type of award. In recent years, this has been won by John Mayer’s “Daughters”, Adele & Paul Epworth’s “Rolling In The Deep” and the guys from Fun’s song “We Are Young” last year (Miguel’s “Adorn” should’ve won, in my opinion). So who has the chance to win the award this year? Take a look at who I think are some of the potential nominees.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert- “Same Love”(Written by: Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert, Ryan Lewis & Curtis Mayfield). I love it when an artist of this caliber comes and makes a song about marriage equality, especially when he is in an industry that is known for its overabundance of homophobia. Written in particular about legalizing same sex marriage in Macklemore’s home state of Washington, the song does a simple yet extraordinary way of flowing lyrically why the use of the words “gay” and “faggot’ are truthfully wrong and why we should accept people as a whole no matter what their backgrounds are. In my opinion, this has never been doing before hip-hop wise, and I give Macklemore a ton of credit for being brave enough to do this. I also love that he has featured a ton of relatively unknowns on his album as he himself was practically one before the release of “Thrift Shop” in late 2012. Just like he did with Thrift Shop (Wanz) and Can’t Hold Us (Ray Dalton) he features the beautifully gifted Mary Lambert on this track to add a soft yet powerful female element to the song. Definitely the winner in my book here.

Miley Cyrus- “Wrecking Ball” (Written By: Henry Russell Walter, Sacha Skarbek, Stephan Moccio, Maureen Anne McDonald and Lukasz Gottwald). Let’s keep it 100 here folks, this was the year of Miley. We couldn’t escape her presence this year and say what you want about her but she does do a pretty good job at keeping us talking. The second release off of her album “Bangerz” became known a bit more for its very controversial video than it did the actual song. The song itself talks about the end of a relationship and the dealing of heartbreak at a young age (mainly this song is about Liam Hemsworth, whom she was engaged to until recently). It is her best effort yet, in my opinion, and has a lot of raw energy and grit to her which is something that she hasn’t really done in the past, being all Disney and whatnot. This song earned her her first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and a permanent spot in our brains (for that video and other stuff) but more importantly in pop culture. She ain’t Hannah Montana anymore that’s for sure.

Pink & Nate Ruess- “Just Give Me A Reason” (Written By: Pink, Jeff Bhasker & Nate Ruess). It really drives me nuts that almost fifteen years into her career I still feel like Pink doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. The third release off of her popular album “The Truth Above Love”, “Just Give Me A Reason” is another one of those amazing songs that talk about the woes of a relationship and how hard it is to hear the other person when you yourself are in a ton of pain that you can’t see your way out of. Pink’s deep and low falsetto blends very well with Nate Ruess’ high-pitched vocals and makes this song that much more special. Pink, who we usually see do songs from a more solo perspective, truly shines on this one and proves why even after all this time she is still one rocking chick.

Drake- “Hold On We’re Going Home” (Written By: Aubrey Graham, Noah Shebib, Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman). Something that I am still in shock about is the fact that Drake’s title track and album for “Take Care” didn’t get a single nomination in the main categories at last year’s Grammy’s, which is crap. I am really pulling for this talented guy to be grab a nomination for this song on some type of level, because this is one of his best one’s he has put out thus far. Blurring the lines of rapping and singing, the R&B crooner and hip-hop mainstay released this song second off of his very successful third album “Nothing Was The Same” to the delight of fans and critics. A simple song about how he feels for his female counterpart, the song has been a hit on the charts and in the minds of many of his female fans as he continues on his path to being one of the greatest hip-hop artists today.

Lorde- “Royals” (Written by: Ella Yelich O’Connor & Joel Little). I fucking love this song, forgive me for my language but I feel like that emphatic “FUCK” needs to be in there. A surefire lock for a Best New Artist, this song is the anti “Bling Bling” and “Beemerz, Benz & Bentley’s”. Meaning that she is aware of her background and upbringing and doesn’t have to sing about the jet set lifestyle in order to make it big in the industry, kind of like Sara Bareilles “Love Song” did with her tongue and cheek version of not writing a love song for her debut record. I am really pulling for her in February and really in the future because she is definitely one to watch out for.

Honorable Mentions:

Justin Timberlake- “Mirrors”

Taylor Swift- “Red”

Bruno Mars- “Treasure”

Sara Bareilles- “Brave”

Imagine Dragons- “Radioactive”

Who do you think should and will be nominated?

Moran’s Chelsea- Warm, Friendly & Delectable

by Ryan Shea

Credit to: Moran's Restaurants — Credit to: Moran’s Restaurants

Moran’s Food & Ambiance Keeps You Warm & Satisfied

Now that the weather is getting much colder and the holiday season is upon us, we can bask in the glow of meeting with friends and family and enjoying a nice hearty meal with each other. One of the best places to get all of the above is “Moran’s Chelsea” which is nestled between 19th and 20th Street on 10th Avenue. After browsing their website and reading a ton of rave reviews online, my friend and I were anxiously awaiting to see what all the buzz was all about. After we left, we collectively gathered our thoughts about the place and found that we could sum it up in three simple words- Warm, Friendly and above all, Delectable, which is why I titled the article as such. Here is why.

Warm- The place itself gives off a warm and comforting ambiance with its colorful design and beautiful wooden floors. They decorated the place in fall colors and had beautiful paintings adorn the walls to give the place an pop of color. The seating was roomy and spacious and had a quiet setting which I happen to prefer.

Friendly- I for one can vouch for the fact that the food at a restaurant can be some of the most delicious food in the world, but if the service that is provided is terrible it can make the food taste like something that was in a dumpster for five days. This was much different. We were greeted very pleasantly and had our coats checked, something that I see rarely happen in a lot of the restaurants in New York City. Our waitress Jenny was a delight to talk to throughout and was very descriptive and helpful in choosing our course selections throughout the night. So far, so good as far as I see it.

Delectable- This can’t be a food review of course without talking about the freaking food, which was truly off the chain! A good portion of the menu happened to be seafood but there was plenty of pasta and poultry dishes to satisfy many a different appetites. My friend and I shared the fried calamari which came with two different types of sauces. Normally I find that calamari is either under seasoned or vice versa, but in this case the seasoning on it was just the right amount and it tasted fantastic. Second course was the butternut squash soup, which had just the right balance of savory and sweetness.

Seeing as Chicken Pot Pie is a personal favorite of mine, especially this time of year, I bee-lined for that option and was not let down. They even add another layer of a flaky crusty type of bread on top of it that melts into the stew as you eat it. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the vegetables were just plain yummy. To top it off,, I finished the evening with a yummy and delicious Creme Brulee which had an amazingly sweet custard filling and a hard caramel on top of it that really balanced each other out.

Overall, a 9 out of 10 in my book. Something that is definitely worth going to see. Check out Moran’s official website for more information, and if you are ever perusing in Chelsea for what is the next best restaurant then Moran’s is definitely the place to go.

Moran’s Chelsea

146 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011

212-627-3030

Pop Superstar Lady Gaga Is Failing… Here is Why

by Ryan Shea

Lady Gaga… still a superstar?

A couple of years ago, Lady Gaga was truly at the top of the world when it comes to music and beyond. Adored by millions of fans, the pop superstar emerged from out of no where with her Avant Garde style not only in fashion but when it came to her music as well. She won multiple VMA’s and Grammy’s and was touted by so many people as the next Grace Jones or Madonna. Now only five short years after the release of Gaga’s first album, “The Fame”, a lot of those people have become naysayers and think that she has run out of steam in such a short time. As for Britney Spears, more to come on that.

I can say that I am still to this day a huge fan of Gaga’s, but at the same time there is a point where oversaturation comes into play, even when it is someone like her who is consistently changing her style and tune to stay with the times. There are certain artists that seem to narrowly avoid that term, such as Rihanna for instance, where she comes out with a fresh album every year yet always seems to hit the right notes of pop, R&B and even EDM hits that shoot her straight to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Yet, there are artists that can take too long of a break in between and not develop the way that a lot of them would’ve expected to. Christina Aguilera is a prime example of that. Her last two album releases have been critical and commercial flops and the only thing she seems to have going for her anymore is a gig on “The Voice” and the occasional guest appearances on other artists songs (Maroon 5, Pitbull, etc). She never seemed to have the fluidity that other pop divas have had before her in terms of transitioning herself to keep up with the times. To go from teen pop singer to dirrty girl to 50’s pinup throwback to a Gaga rip off to being a dirrty girl yet again doesn’t really equate to how you progress naturally in this industry. Justin Timberlake on the other hand, who took seven years off to focus on an acting career amongst other things, came back with a roar in 2013 with “The 20/20 Experience”, an album that shot him straight to number one and has subsequently brought him into the music game, something that he started over 15 years ago. For Lady Gaga, she tends to fit into the middle of this. Here is why.

Gaga’s latest album “ArtPop” is her first in almost three years, mainly due to a broken hip that kept her off the stage for a year. Of course, that is completely understandable. But in this ever present world of chew em up and spit em out pop culture, sometimes taking a break that long makes you lose fans and have them gravitate to a newer and fresher pop star. Although “Born This Way” was a commercial and critical success to a certain degree, many critics thought it was tacky that for the week of her release she listed the album as 99 cents as a ploy to sell more albums in its first week. Granted it worked (a million plus) but many of the songs that were released didn’t get the praise that her previous hits (Bad Romance, Poker Face) did. One critic said it sounded like “a major artist sprinting to please everyone all the time”. The album was a bit all over the place and didn’t seem to have the cohesion that her previous efforts did, added onto the fact that it was a rushed album that was made in 2 weeks which other critics called out as well.

At the same time, there is a bit of oversaturation with how Avant Garde you can truly be. Every performance or outfit is something completely different from the rest but there are people out there that think a simple LBW would shock people more than anything. “The Fame” album was a great album in that it did a lot without having to do much at all. I personally feel like she is at a stage in her life where she has to keep pushing the envelope to the point where no one will push back. There was also a big battle when she released the first song off of “ArtPop” called “Applause” when she did it the same week as Katy Perry’s “Roar”. Both pop songs with completely different messages and beats. Katy’s was a simple song about overcoming a relationship with a great pop beat, Gaga’s was ultimately about her self absorbed way of saying she lives for her plans applauding her (sorry/not sorry but that’s my opinion) to a beat that sounded like a weird throwback to the mid-80’s dance movement. Who won in that? Katy. Katy seems to take the smart approach with her music because it is approachable and easy to listen to, whereas once again Gaga tends to be a bit all over the place just to please an audience that is wanting more and more from her. Sometimes, less is more.

“Roar” ultimately hit number one where “Applause” peaked at number 4. Many artists would kill to have a number four slot on any chart but when you are a superstar like Gaga number one should be an easy get. It was also stated by many fans and people alike that the song took a while to really get into whereas “Roar” and other big anthems that have come out recently like “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus and “Royals” by Lorde were instant hits. Not at all saying that going outside the lines is wrong just to get a number one single, but at the same time it is good to conform at some point and do something simple. Her follow up to “Applause” called “Do What You Want” featuring R&B King R. Kelly (a very odd choice but a good one at that) has only hit number 13 and has been on the charts for a couple of weeks, and is presently dropping. Funny thing is this track is MUCH better than her first release, and another song off the album called “Dope” is even better. Are there just stronger showings on the Billboard charts right now? Maybe.

There are also two major artists with albums coming out that Gaga has to compete against- Eminem and Britney Spears. Both artists who over the history of their careers have done what only a handful of other artists have been able to do and reach- diamond status (10 million plus sold on one album). I believe for Gaga to rise above the pack she will have to come out with a song that truly shows why we fell in love with her in the first place and not necessarily “try so hard”. Am I a hater- absolutely not. I am just stating it like I see it and see how she has transitioned over the course of the past couple of years. Gaga is a talented woman who will be around for a long time, I just hope that we look back on it in a positive way and not a negative one, that is all. Check out Billboard for all major music news and album releases.

Bottomless Brunch at KTCHN- This Includes Mimosas People!

by Ryan Shea

For anyone that lives in New York City, there is one thing that truly binds us together (and no I am not talking about the weird smells from the subway). That of course, is food. More importantly, the endless choices that we have for Saturday and Sunday brunch. Whether you are looking for a great hangover meal or a relaxing place to meet up with a bunch of friends before the day gets going, we all are on the lookout for that savory and sweet place to wake us up and keep our tummies satisfied. So where is a good place to find all of that? KTCHN, in my opinion, is the place to go.

Thoughts Of An Insecure Gay Man

by Ryan Shea

It has been brought to my attention by friends of mine (amongst other people) that a lot of my articles tend to focus on the negative aspects of the bear and gay communities and never the ones that are positive. My original goal when I started this website was to distance myself from my music blogging (which I did for four years) and start writing about the gay community and the ever present issues that seem to surround it. In doing so, I found myself in a tug of war of not choosing sides yet wanting to get my honest opinion out there. I was also defending myself to a point where people I knew started to think that I only listened to my own opinions and never anyone else’s. Throughout a year of writing about the gay community and the tons of comments that I have gotten from my write ups, albeit good or bad, there is a conclusion that I have come to in all of this-

I am insecure in how I view myself in this community, my writing, and ultimately myself. It has just taken a very long time for me to finally realize it until the repetitive comments that people were telling me finally smacked me in the face. A lot of what I write is based off of my own experience in this community over the past ten years or so and a lot of my insecurities tend to show up in my writing. I think what the ultimate issue that I am trying to figure out is how to turn it around, how to not let a lot of what I think people are saying or thinking about me affect me to the point where I am putting it into writing and not necessarily hearing an opposing viewpoint because I am so hell bent on being right? That’s when another a-ha moment came into play- a lot of those insecurities are just that. Nothing more, and nothing less.

I think when someone comes into the gay community, they come in with a shit ton of expectations about things. Generally, they are let down because they set the bar so high in how they view them that often times they can come away from any experience disappointed or feeling like there is lacking. Therefore, they turn that disappointment onto themselves and wonder, “Why am I not fitting in?”, “Why don’t I feel good looking enough?”, “Am I too fat for that guy?” It really becomes a vicious cycle that we do to ourselves as adults, and it can lead to bad traits that the gay community has come to experience such as mean cliques, bullying, self hatred of course and not feeling like a community is well, a community.

I have found myself hard to be around groups of gay men even at my own age, because I fear judgement. I fear it in the worst way possible because I go into every situation wanting everyone in the room to like me. It is sort of like the adult version of high school. When you go to that particular party or gay bar, and you are solo in doing so, a lot of these thoughts tend to go into your mind. As social as I can be sometimes I tend to go overboard just to reassure myself that the person or persons that I am talking to go away with thinking that I am a funny, nice or cool guy. There has even been situations where being overly social can be viewed as slutty, which is a wrong interpretation on things. A lot of guys draw a very fine line between being Most Talkative and Mr. Wallflower very well. Same goes with dating. I find myself putting so much effort into the other guy, when I have been told by several different friends and family members that it’s best to just be yourself and let them come to you. But at the same time, when you hit the age of 25 and every freaking time you go on Facebook and at the top of your news feed is someone announcing that they are getting married, engaged, having a kid or buying a freaking house that “clock” that is so widely known kicks in and you want to pull out all the stops to be like them. The “Jones’ to a certain degree. When you also see a ton of your friends getting into relationships, there is a part of you that is of course happy for them but envies them as you want the same thing. I know I can’t be the only one that thinks this way.

Maybe it’s from being in a big city that I feel this way. I found that when I was in smaller communities guys tended to be friendlier and more wanting to get to know you. At the same time, being in New York City has been really amazing in terms of meeting people that right now are my best friends and would do anything for me and vice versa. There really are some amazing guys that are out there that are genuine and good, you just sometimes have to weed through the bad ones in order to get to the good ones. A lot of guys I know stopped trying because they got tired of the scene and didn’t really feel like putting in the effort anymore, but for me I like a good challenge and due to that have the friendships that I do. Am I still insecure throughout it all? Sure. But at the same time I can live with these insecurities and try to better myself in this process we call life and still find a way to make the gay community great in finding your own niche in things. Things always don’t have to be so negative or bad, and that is something that I am learning throughout this whole process.

Ryan Shea

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