Manhattan Digest

The Best Gay Experiences in New York City- Where To Go?

If you are a gay man in New York City, you find that the options for gay friendly establishments to be quite plentiful and exciting to encounter. For tourists who are visiting New York City, the buzz that you hear about the gay scene is true but you find yourself wondering what to try and where to go to experience all the fantastic aspects that gay life offers here? Well look no further, because we have you covered. From gay bars to masseurs, strip clubs to something extra, we can guarantee that you are going to find something that works for you and for you to enjoy for yourself or with a group of friends. Check this out.

Gym Sportsbar, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Gym Sportsbar

The Best Gay Bar In NYC- Gym Sportsbar, 167 8th Avenue between 18th and 19th Street

Gym Sportsbar is a great example of what a friendly, neighborhood gay bar should be and lives up to that notion and then some. With over ten years in business in the Chelsea area, the bar provides a great and relaxed atmosphere for you and your friends to enjoy with amazing BOGO drink specials for happy hour to make you even happier that you showed up. Gym Sportsbar, long for Gymbar, has the best and nicest bartenders who always have a smile upon their face when serving you and can throw whatever event you have going on with their great downstairs location. Definitely something to check out next time you are visiting or in the Chelsea area. For more information check out their official website.

Stonewall Inn, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Wikipedia

Best Historic Gay Landmark- Stonewall Inn

Now that gay marriage is officially legal in the entire United States (no matter how hard the right side tries to ignore that fact), it is always good for any gay or gay friendly person to visit Stonewall Inn and understand how much of an impact this place is for gay culture and so much more. Not familiar? Google “Stonewall Riots” to really understand the epic struggle gay men had to endure in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Still with that retro type feel to it when you walk in, Stonewall has a great duality of a fun place to hang with friends yet understand the cultural relevance of what makes it historic. Official site.

The Best Masseurs In NYC- Bryan Knight and MuscledJim

This one happens to be a tie for me as they both are phenomenal masseurs who have strengths in each of their own areas. Bryan Knight is so good at what he does that he won the Hookie Award for Best Massage last year and was nominated for it again this year. So that has to mean something. Bryan has this to say about why you should work with him- “Men come to me for the perfect balance of therapeutic work and male bonding. Being large, muscular and a man, not a boy, puts other men at ease to let go. A discrete, convenient location and Good public track record are available for your satisfying experience.” For more on Bryan, you can actually check out my interview with him or check out his official site for more details.

As for MuscledJim, or Jim, he is someone who I met a while ago and is amazing at what he does. He really brings the full experience of what a masseur is supposed to do, and that includes having an enigmatic and inviting personality that make everything that much better. Here is what he has to say for himself- “I have been doing massage for over 16 years. I do a deep tissue, sensual swedish massage for men that lasts for one hour. It is on a massage table using biotone oils. I relax your muscles and ignite your senses. I hope my engaging personality immediately puts you at ease. I love to awaken your body’s sensitivities. What makes me unique is that I look for and amplify your authentic self in a way that your body, mind and spirit feel amazing when we are done.” To book a session you can contact him at [email protected].

Best Gay Dance/Strip Club- Adonis Lounge. Wednesdays & Saturdays at Evolve- 221 E. 58th Street between 2nd/3rd Ave.

I have profiled Adonis several times in the past for Manhattan Digest as they are always doing big things in the Upper East Side. Adonis takes place twice a week at Evolve on the Upper East Side, and other locations throughout the month. The vibe at Evolve and Adonis is quite laid back, with several stunning and chiseled men available for you to chat it up with or get a lap dance if that’s what your heart desires. Owner Tim de Ituriaga has quite the answer as to why he thinks his is the best- “Adonis sets the bar to an all new high through our ability to lower your expectations even further regarding all those pretenses associated with strip clubs, as well as the many stereotypes about strippers which we prove are all true! We stand behind our guarantee that you will not find worse conversations anywhere on Earth, but who cares if the speaker has nice abs”. Gotta love him. For more info, check out their official site.

Erotic Hypno, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Erotic Hypno

Want something a little different? Try Neil aka “Erotic Hypno”

There is nothing wrong with going beyond the norm for you to satisfy whatever you feel is wrong with your current status. Luckily, I have the perfect solution in Neil, who is also known as “Erotic Hypno” or an Erotic Hypnotist. Not necessarily something you would see posted outside the local supermarket, but from mutual friends experiences with him he really gets deep into issues that you are having sexually and helps you work through them. His explanation on this reads as follows- “Erotic hypnosis is the use of hypnosis in a sexual context. I can use hypnosis to enhance and create sensations, and to help my clients live out all kinds of sexual fantasies. I can also use hypnosis to help clients with sexual issues, and I even do more standard hypnotherapy (smoking cessation, sticking to a diet/workout regimen, dealing with stress and anxiety, etc.).” I highly recommend using him as an alternative to the alternative you have been trying. For more info on him, check out his official site.

Happy Hunting Everyone!

MoSex Exhibitions “Hardcore” and “Splendor in the Grass” Offer Polar Opposite Understandings of Coitus

by Jessica Klein

As tends to be the case with the Museum of Sex, the current exhibitions offer a hit-and-miss experience. The relatively tiny museum, located at the corner of 5^th Avenue and 27^th Street in Manhattan, houses a couple regular displays (one room dedicated to how various animals copulate, another showcasing the museum’s permanent collection), but there’s always space for two rotating features, which vary widely in terms of execution and content—hence the current exhibitions, “Hardcore: A Century and a Half of Obscene Imagery,” and “Splendor in the Grass: A Kinesthetic Camping Ground.”

While both exhibitions have one very obvious common denominator (sex), they explore the topic in almost polar opposite ways. The former does so historically, looking chronologically at archives of pornography that date back to a time when the idea of sexual expression was pretty much nonexistent in the public realm (we’ll get to exhibition number two later). Walking through these displayed archives proves a genuinely fascinating experience, especially as it does an excellent job of revealing various precursors to our modern day conceptions of what’s sexy.

For instance, altering photographs to achieve sexual ideals has been practiced for ages. Today, Photoshop accounts for many of the sexualized images we see in places as mundane as subway cars and billboards—and don’t think for a second that higher-end porn doesn’t involve a good bit of editing to make the subjects more attractive. Thus, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that people back in the late 1800s felt that their pornographic photos could benefit from extra touch-ups.

Basically, porn-inspired masturbators did what anyone in the 21^st Century with Photoshop would have done—they cut and pasted to create the naked bodies of their dreams. In one collection of erotic photographs found in a Brooklyn brownstone from this period, it was clear that someone had taken to them with scissors, selecting faces from certain photographs to paste atop the bodies from others. If porn was more out in the open back then, the first people to have done this could have certainly benefited from a patent of their genius idea.

Of course, sexual repression was an underlying theme of the “Hardcore” exhibition. It made sure to detail the anti-porn crusade of Anthony Comstock, the man behind the Comstock Act of 1873, which made it illegal first to mail contraception and then was amended several years later to forbid the mailing of all “lewd and lascivious material” (aka, all kinds of porn).

So that porn collection found in the Brooklyn brownstone—it was actually found in the walls of said brownstone, as Comstock had made it his mission in the 1870s to destroy all the erotic content he (and those on his side) could get their puritanical hands on.

This included same sex materials, which were lacking in this MoSex exhibition—but not by any fault of the museum’s. Same sex porn was largely destroyed over the years, not just via Comstock’s crusade but because it was deemed unnatural by many cultures. Considering the United States Supreme Court just made same sex marriage legal nationwide, it makes sense that 19^th Century attitudes about this genre of erotica were proportionally backwards.

Further showcasing historical precursors to modern day ideas about porn, “Hardcore” made a point of touching on the “exotic,” a category of porn that was sought after even before the internet thoroughly globalized the industry. Today, people are fascinated by “other cultures” (to put it not-so-crassly). Straight, white guys love to watch Asian chicks getting it on, to name one, popular stereotype (and to put it crassly).

Centuries ago, this manifested in “anthropologists” traveling to foreign lands and bringing back pictures of these lands’ naked inhabitants. In other words, disingenuous people went to other countries pretending to be anthropologists so they could coerce people there into posing naked for them. How horribly sleazy…at least we can take (dis)comfort in the fact that the sex industry never changes.

In complete contrast to “Hardcore,” the museum’s second temporary exhibition, “Splendor in the Grass,” explores sex haphazardly, almost like a 12-year-old boy trying to exact his first hand job. The second in a series of “Kinesthesia Art Commissions” at MoSex, the first being Bompas & Parr’s Funland (the boob moon bounce from which has made it into the museum’s permanent collection), Studio Droog’s attempt at making sensual “art” interactive feels like it was thrown together at the last minute. Quick, guys, we have to get this MoSex thing ready! Let’s, uh, pitch a few tents, grab some mirrors, get a fog machine, and…that should do it!

Yes, this exhibition literally relies on smoke and mirrors to make an impression on museumgoers. Set up like a camping trip, “Splendor in the Grass” (named after the line in the Wordsworth poem) consists of multiple tents, each of which are meant to provide sensory experiences for those who enter. The first one, dedicated to “self exploration,” is made up of multiple mirrors strung together in such a way that they never quite stay still as you’re examining yourself. This makes for a sensation of dizziness that precludes actually looking at the mirrors for long enough to examine anything.

The next tent over features a semi-amorphous blob draped in a green, prickly material that visitors are invited to graze with their hands, creating a tingly sensation that’s helped along by creepy, whispering commentary that seem to emanate from this amorphous blob—oh, wait, it’s supposed to be the form of a reclining woman? Yes, you can tell for sure now that a little, red, laser-size dot has lit up where “her” nipple should be.

These are followed by three other tents, one of which offers a Twister-esque game without any instructions or logic to it, another of which is filled with the smoke part of the whole “smoke and mirrors” display, and the last of which had something to do with body heat but was apparently broken when my friend and I tried it out (so the “park ranger,” or the exhibition’s supervisor, concluded when nothing really happened after we went inside). Lastly, there’s a faux campfire displayed on the wall that cycles through erotic pictures, making it look as if these frolicking, sexing people are being slowly roasted away like marshmallows.

Ultimately, while “Splendor in the Grass” relies on a lot of materials, sounds, and colors to engage museumgoers, “Hardcore” doesn’t need to because the idea behind it was actually well thought out and interesting. Hopefully the artists at Studio Droog have a much better understanding of sex than what their exhibition portrays—for their partners’ sakes.

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*Images credited to the Museum of Sex website (the first from Mark Rotenberg’s archives)

The Bard in the Berks: A Look at Shakespeare & Company

by Ryan Leeds

L-R: Bridget Saracino as Rachel and Tod Randolph as Zelda in THE HOW AND THE WHY. Photo by John Dolan

If your theatrical tastes lean more towards an Elizabethan flavor, there is certainly no shortage of classical options in New York City to satisfy your erudite palette. From the Public Theater’s stagings in Central Park to Riverside’s Park’s abridged version of Henry IV starring Steve Guttenberg (yep–the guy from Three Men and A Baby and Police Academy–really! ) and numerous other companies doing “pop up” versions of Shakespeare throughout the summer, Gotham offers accessible outlets to appreciate the Bard and his ilk.

But let’s be frank: For all of its’ cultural splendor, summers in Manhattan can be a real pain in ye olde derriere. As another wise William (Joel), once observed, “Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood.” Although the Hamptons and Fire Island offer an escape from the metropolitan frazzle, the Berkshires, located in neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut, provide a perfectly pastoral setting for one of the country’s larger Shakespeare Festivals.

Jonathan Croy in this season's HENRY V.. Photo by John Dolan. — Jonathan Croy in this season’s HENRY V.. Photo by John Dolan.

Tina Packer thought so too. In 1978, the British actor, writer, and director came to America and landed upon novelist Edith Wharton’s estate, the Mount, located in Lenox, MA. With a grant made possible through the Ford Foundation, Packer secured residency and years later, expanded her dream by purchasing a 30 acre home, one mile from the Mount. Currently, the company has three theaters on the property and is home to one of the largest theater-in-education programs in the Northeast. They also boast an intensive actor training program. Packer remains heavily involved as the founding Artistic director, and recently released a book explore the feminine aspects of Shakespeare called “Women of Will.” Later this summer, she will take to the stage in Jane Anderson’s world premiere, Mother of the Maid.

The troupe opened its 2015 season on Memorial Day and will continue though mid-September. Shakespeare & Company continually boasts an impressive line up of stage actors and this summer, they are thrilled to welcome back OBIE Award winning actor John Douglas Thompson, who will star in the Regional Premiere of Red Velvet, a play based on Ira Aldridge, the first African-American actor to play Othello on the English stage. Having seen Thompson in a one-man show based on Louis Armstrong (Satchmo at the Waldorf), and being aware of his acclaimed turn in off-Broadway production of Tamburlaine the Great last fall , it’s a safe bet that audiences are in for another riveting performance. Thompson could probably be cast in any role of a Broadway revival of Moose Murders and turn it into his magnum opus.

John Douglas Thompson in a 2008 production of OTHELLO. Photo by Kevin Sprague

A cerebral drama, The How and The Why, by Sarah Treem, writer of television’s House of Cards and In Treatment continues now through July. Yasmina Reza, the Tony winning creator of Art and God of Carnage will see her 1995 drama brought to life in An Unexpected Man later this month. Those who crave true Shakespearean verse can rush to Henry V and The Comedy of Errors, playing through August. In addition to their fully staged productions, special events, talks, and benefits fill Shakespeare and Company’s already robust calendar of events. Best of all, you needn’t a “borrower nor lender be” to afford any of them! Shakespeare and Company’s affordable ticket pricing allows for Broadway quality at a fraction of the cost.

Interim Managing Director, Stephen D. Ball and Co-Interim directors Jonathan Croy and Ariel Bock are thrilled that box office sales to-date are ahead of last year’s numbers and going strong. “After this tough winter, it is encouraging to see our summer season off to such a terrific start,” Ball said. “We have aggressive and inspiring programs that are being very well received.”

Although the season wraps in September, the Lenox based ensemble hopes to offer year round programming including performances, lectures, actor training, and educational resources.

Olympia Dukakis appeared here in 2013. That's right , folks. She's not afraid to travel outside of Manhattan! Photo by Deborah Feingold. — Olympia Dukakis appeared here in 2013. That’s right , folks. She’s not afraid to travel outside of Manhattan! Photo by Deborah Feingold.

The summer is still young, so point your compass north and take a three-hour jaunt to Shakespeare and Company in the Berkshires. While you’re there, check out the other cultural events that has made this destination a hotspot for the arts. A variety of transportation options are available from New York.

For tickets and more information visit http://www.shakespeare.org or call the box office at (413) 637-3353.

Theater Review: SEAWIFE

by Ryan Leeds

Hemingway, Verne, Melville, and Homer are all highly canonized classic authors with one thing common: they’ve all written books with nautical themes that are assigned to high school and college students all across the country. Trouble is, when any of their great works (The Old Man and The Sea, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Moby Dick, and Odyssey, respectively) are mentioned, it is usually followed by a blank stare, a vague recollection, and/or a quiet, nearly shameful murmuring that the book was studied , but deemed “boring” by the reader.

Thanks to Naked Angels Theater Company and director Liz Carlson, the symbolic ocean tale has been vividly re-imagined and made exceptionally cool in Seawife, a new immersive musical production currently housed at the South Street Seaport Museum.

The Museum, which itself has been revitalized after weathering Hurricane Sandy and economic travails, offers appropriate rustic ambiance to the story of Percy (first portrayed by Tommy Crawford and later by Will Turner), a young boy destined to follow in his father’s footsteps of being a harpooner. Told through the lens of his sidekick, Caldi (Tony Vo), he weaves a riveting tale of swashbuckling as only he can since, “I am bound to it, as I am the only one who knows it.” The show also brilliantly offers a quiet ecological warning about the sea and those who care for it. The lesson invokes thought, but avoids the urge to proselytize.

A wonderfully tuneful folk-rock score accompanies the story including mandolins, banjos, and fiddles. The Lobbyists, a talented group of musicians are featured as both the band and a majority of the cast. Clocking in at over 2 1/2 hours the show occasionally lags, but once this expansively talented troupe begins their next song, all is forgiven. By collaborating with playwright Seth Moore and an imaginative creative team, they have taken what has become a staid genre and given it a hip, fresh, makeover that is as entertaining as the ocean is vast.

SeaWife plays Tuesday through Sunday at 7:00 PM through July 19th, 2015 at the South Street Seaport Museum (213 Water Street, Manhattan) Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at BrownPaperTickets.com For more information about the show and The Lobbyists, visit seawife.org

Bear Skn- The Next Great Line In Underwear For Men Of All Sizes

by Ryan Shea

When you are a man of a certain size (like me), shopping for good fitting underwear can be just as much of an issue as finding a shirt of pants that showcase the goods all in a great way. I ran into that particular issue last weekend when I was picked to be a Gogo Bear at Furball NYC, which happened during Pride Weekend at Space Ibiza last Friday night. I had some options readily available for myself however I didn’t like the way it fit me and the colors of them didn’t gravitate the eye the way they wanted to. Luckily, one of the sponsors for Furball NYC was this great clothing line called Bear Skn who also provided underwear for all the GoGo Bears for the evening. I tried mine on, which had a great green color to it, and was ecstatic with how it looked, felt and got me through the evening (If you are dying to see how it looks just go to my IG- @musiccub. #selfpromotion.)

With so many mainstream and gay underwear lines focusing on the muscled and chiseled dude, it can be difficult to navigate the world of boxers and briefs for the huskier and thick dudes who want to feel just as hot and sexy as the fit ones do. Bear Skn does exactly that. Their attention to detail when it comes to size, color and body type really shows and with a line of underwear that goes up to 6XL you can guarantee that you’ll be able to find something that fits you to perfection when you try it on.

I recently sat down with their fabulous owner Jody Koenig who explained to me about the history of Bear Skn, its hopeful future and honest thoughts about their competitors in the market right now. Take a look.

Bear Skn, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Bear Skn

How did the concept of Bear Skn begin?

It all started when Co-Founder Bjorn R-G was a member of an underwear of the month club and wasn’t really getting anything to suit his needs. When there was a style he liked typically it wasn’t offered it in his size. We started asking our friends about their underwear and it became clear that there was a need for comfortable and stylish underwear for bigger guys.

Conceptually and design wise what was your original image for the brand?

At Bear Skn, we think of ourselves as craftsmen. While the tools of our trade may be a bit finer than a hatchet, we wanted an iconic logo that conveyed a sense of craftsmanship and masculinity. A hatchet is not merely a blunt tool. It can be also be used to shape something new. We think that Bear Skn has shaped something new that you will truly appreciate.

We started with our standard issue in basic colors black, red, green, blue, and a purple. Then for our premium Backwoods Button down that features the classic buffalo check print. The backwoods really shows the masculine image that we want for the brand.

The name too, how did you come up with that, in particular the spelling of SKN?

We went through a number of different names actually. We tried using our initials but that sounded more like a law firm than a men’s clothing brand. The name “Bjorn” actually means “Bear.” It worked out that it was a fun name that had a great image, and still had personal elements to it. We continued to play around with the name but the SKN spelling came down to what was available as a URL.

What are the options of apparel you can get?

Currently Bear Skn is focused on underwear. We have a brief, trunk and soon to be released boxer brief style. We listened to feedback on our first line and made the adjustments that our customers we asking for. Bear Skn also has plans for socks, loungewear, shorts, swimwear to mention a few.

Do you find bears are still underrepresented when it comes to clothing options in the community?

For a larger man, finding a good fit can be difficult. There are options out there, but you really have to dig and try things that maybe your not use to. There are not many brands that focus on providing new and stylish looks for this size range. You are limited to one outdated look.

Manhattan Digest, Bear Skn — Credit to: Bear Skn

What’s your opinion on well known gay clothing labels such as Andrew Christian and Nasty Pig? Do you think they miss the mark when it comes to men of a certain size?

I think they are serving their market very well. As a business you have to find your ideal customer and market directly to them, they have found their group and going after it. That’s where Bear Skn comes in to focus the men of size!

What is next for the Bear Skn brand?

The main focus for us is on growing the breath of our product line and getting into more retail locations. We see more fun colors and introducing more interesting new style.

For more information on Jody’s fantastic line, check out their official website. Right in time for the upcoming Bear Week in Provincetown as well! Happy Shopping everyone!

Bay Kitchen Bar- Sea To Table In The Upper East Side

by Ryan Shea

With summer in full swing all across New York City, the endless days of cold and staying in are nothing but a distant memory and the days of warmth and being outside are ever so present in our daily lives. That of course equates to fun with your friends and family, and the delicious food that you will devour in doing so. With the Upper East Side already known for so many top notch & incredible restaurants, why not try something new with a fresh and unique taste on Sea To Table Cuisine? Let me introduce you to Bay Kitchen Bar, which is conveniently located right off the 6 train on East 73rd Street between 2nd and 1st Avenue.

Credit to: BKB - New York, NY — Credit to: BKB – New York, NY

Already receiving stellar reviews for its sister restaurant in The Hamptons, Bay Kitchen Bar recently open its other location with the same strategy as its original. With less than six months under its belt of opening, the space itself (shortened to BKB) has the essence and finesse of a place that has been opened for much longer than what you expect. The pale colors on the walls mixed with the beautiful wood furnishings all throughout really make Bay Kitchen Bar such a relaxing and calm environment. It actually has a beachy-sea type of mood for it, which works well with the cuisine that was presented to us early last week.

BKB - New York, NY — Credit to: BKB – New York, NY

Overall, the food quality and selections were phenomenal. Locally sourced (which is always a big plus in my eyes), the food was expertly prepared and tasted completely fresh throughout each course. For starters, or their snack course, I would highly recommend the Short Rib with Baby Carrot & Crisp Corn Floured Shallots. The Short Rib itself is slow cooked to perfection with fall off the meat bone quality and a dense taste to it with the carrots and shallots complimenting it quite well. The Shrimp Cocktail was another great starter, not just due to the abundance in size of the shrimp but the Horseradish & Jalapeno Sauce added on the side really elevated a great kick to the shrimp itself.

For the main courses, I would go with the Hand-Shucked Lobster Roll on a Toasted Potato Bun and the BKB Burger with Caramelized Onions, Special Sauce, Aged Cheddar & Crisp Lemon Potatoes. Tis the season for in season Lobster, and that is exactly what you get with this roll. It is absolutely delicious and has such a delectable flavor profile that I would highly recommend getting this as a main or something to split between you and a friend. Same goes for the tasty burger as it is cooked very well and has a great amount of flavor in it- in particular the sauce. Overall, Bay Kitchen Bar really steps it up when it comes to flavor profiles, variety of high quality food you can try out, and decor that is inviting to an assortment of people.

For more information on Bay Kitchen Bar, check out their official site. They will be throwing a Happy Hour on July 8th and 22nd this month with a free exclusive cocktail crafted by Maura McGuigan between 5-7 PM. Something else to note- during these happy hours there is $10 Rose’ and $1 oysters and clams from my hood- the north fork on Long Island.

Happy Eating Everyone!

Theater Review: AN ACT OF GOD

by Ryan Leeds

Theologians and spiritualists have long believed that God can be found in the most unexpected of places. Studio 54 is probably the last locale they’d suspect, but that is exactly where the Creator of the Universe is currently taking up residency in the form of actor Jim Parsons.

Parsons, best known for his four-time Emmy award-winning role as Sheldon Cooper in television’s The Big Bang Theory makes yet another award worthy turn in David Javerbaum’s play, An Act of God. Donning a white robe and perching himself against Scott Pask’s appropriately pure white set, Parsons, along with his angelic sidekicks, Michael (Christopher Fitzgerald) and Gabriel (Tim Kazurinksy) muses on the current state of society. He offers a glimpse into the traditional Ten commandments (“I never meant for it to define Me, to be the one work of mine everyone quotes and debates and interprets”), and creates a new set of edicts (“Tonight, I shall give thee a new Ten Commandments, one that will forever end that uncertainty regarding what it is I desire from humanity that has caused so much bitterness and hatred among you over the millenia, all of which I found very flattering.”)

The philosophical topics, including Creation, the Garden of Eden, what God should or shouldn’t damn or bless, and gun rights, are derived from both Javerbaum’s comedic book of the same name and his popular twitter feed. Is it blasphemous? That question is as debatable as the holy scripture itself. Still, there is much thoughtful commentary to consume in this 90 minute celestial comedy cloud. When extremist groups use religion to support their often irrational behavior, doesn’t it make sense for a Deity to ask human beings to stop killing in His name? “Not that I don’t appreciate it,” He jokes, “But I want you to stop killing in my name, because it’s patronizing.” ISIS, can you hear me?

Parsons timing is as immaculate as…well… a biblical conception! But while the spotlight rightfully focuses on him, one shouldn’t underestimate his co-stars, Fitzgerald and Kazurinsky, who skillfully make the Almighty even mightier with their deadpan deliveries.

An Act of God is perfect summer fare, but latecomers be warned: the King of the Universe will point out your tardiness to the rest of the audience. But lighten up for heaven’s sake; redemptive amusement is sure to follow.

An Act of God is now playing through August 2nd at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street between Broadway and 8th avenue). For tickets, visit the box office or online at: https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/An-Act-of-God/

Manhattan Digest Exclusive! One On One With Rap Royalty Trina!

by Ryan Shea

Since my middle school days back in the late 90’s I have been a huge Trina fan. In a time where hip hop was thriving at such a lightning speed, Trina really grew with it and had a firm understanding of not only the culture but herself as an artist as well. First appearing with Trick Daddy on the hits song “Nann” which then catapulted her into her own solo career with monster hits like “Here We Go” featuring Kelly Rowland, “B R Right” featuring Ludacris and “No Panties” featuring Tweet.

To have longevity in this industry is not the easiest thing to do with its chew em up and spit em out mentality, however Trina seems to have stuck by it with ease. Over fifteen years into her career, she is still more popular then ever with selling out concerts, appearing on major television shows and just releasing a brand new hit single called “Real One” featuring Rico Love. With all that is going around “The Diamond Princess”, Trina was nice enough to sit down with me at Manhattan Digest to talk about it all. From beginnings to now, women in the industry and everything in between, Trina let us have it. Take a look.

You recently performed at Mid-Center America in Iowa. What can your fans expect when they see a Trina concert?

I try to ensure that my fans are enjoying the show and I make it a point to attempt to interact with my fans as much as possible. We as entertainers always should show appreciation for their continuous support, and I have remained vibrant in Hip Hop for so long due to such support so I ensure that at all of my shows my fans are engaged and enjoying the performance.

You recently released a song called “Real One”. It is great! Does this mean we have another album coming from you?

Thank you so much, I am glad that you like the track featuring Rico Love and produced by him. Yes, I am in a happy place within my career whereas I have full control and my sixth studio album will be released under my own imprint entitled Rockstarr Music Group. I am transforming currently in life, and it feels absolutely amazing as a woman in Music and to have fans supporting my movement worldwide!

I want to talk about the history that is Trina. Did you expect 15 years into this that you would still be in the game, making music and being relevant?

Honestly, I never expected any of this as a career, especially when it comes to making music. As I look back when I started, at times, I am still wowed by how my career has evolved and to remain as the most consistent female emcee to date thus far, that is just a feeling that I can describe in words. I just want to be remembered and recognized for paving the way for future female emcees who want to remain consistent in all of their endeavors including musically and beyond. It takes making mistakes, learning the business behind the industry and making yourself become more aware and involved in your business, and having a team who sees your vision beyond what you may see.

For any aspiring rapper or singer, what advice would you give them in order to go the distance in this industry?

Learn the business behind the music, become involved in knowing your business and where you are within it especially financially. Become a boss by being knowledgeable of your business and where you want it to go.

What is your take on women in the industry? It seems that in recent years it has shifted again to become very male dominant. Why is that?

Women in the industry: this topic is so intense and truly has been an issue for some time now. I definitely feel as though we as women need to set aside our emotions aside and just do business, make money and great movements together as the male counterparts are able to do. Just think of how many other women in Hip Hop can become known as consistent if this is done! On the other hand, women in the business aspect and behind the scenes are becoming more vibrant and relevant and running the business sector better and even at a stronger pace than the males. It has always been a make dominant industry, just more visible now!

What about the industry overall, do you think its thriving?

The industry is evolving digitally because our world is becoming more digital and aligned more with the wave and expansion of communication via technology. There are always ups and downs when any type of industry is advancing in ways versus declining in others. Consumers matter, and their input and opinions more so now in the industry via social media, and that alone matters more because of the digital uprising in the music industry.

Are there any current artists you would like to work with and why?

I would love to collab with Rihanna, Beyoncé and possibly a few pop artists. I have done so many records with so many amazing talents nationally, but if I had to select off the top of my head, it would definitely be these two beautiful and talented ladies.

Looking back on your illustrious career, was there one specific moment that you are most proud of?

I am proud of it all, from the mistakes to the accomplishments. I am most proud of starting my transition to date with my own record label imprint and grooming talent within such. My first artist under my label is Brittney Taylor who is from NYC, she is amazing and talented and we just released her debut mixtape project titled “Jack Rabbit” which can be streamed and downloaded via Datpiff online.

What was your experience like when you did Drag Race last year? For most people that was their favorite episode that season.

RuPaul and the entire staff was absolutely AMAZING in all aspects, and I had so much fun working the entire cast and including Eve as she too was a special guest on that episode.

What’s in store for the future of Trina?

More music, building of my brand beyond music and just enjoying life daily!

Thanks for sitting down with me Trina!

Thank you Ryan for the interview as always, xoxo @TRINARockstarr

Nerai in Midtown East- Delicious Brunch Food With A Greek Twist

by Ryan Shea

Sometimes its good to try something new and get yourself out of the everyday norm that has become your food situation. Especially when it comes to the variety of foods you can have for the ever popular event that happens all throughout New York City- weekend brunch. With so many different options out there, including cuisines and locations, it can be hard to find something that best suits you and your palate. If Greek, however, comes to mind when it comes to a cuisine that sparks your interest, you really should try Nerai located in Midtown East on East 54th Street between Madison and Park Avenue.

Midtown East is already such a beautiful part of Manhattan with several areas that you can find yourself in to appreciate why this is the best city in the world. Nerai is another great example of this particular location. The place itself has a very calming presence with stunning architecture including fantastic floors and walls that exemplify the Greek lifestyle. I prefer settings like this for brunch rather than your run of the mill location that can tend to get loud and rowdy where it should really be a place for you to recooperate from the late night that you had before. I was also very impressed by the professionalism from the staff themselves, who kept me and my friend satisfied throughout the entire meal. This part alone made the experience that much better.

Of course you can’t go to brunch without talking about the food itself! I was quite impressed with the spread they gave us which of course had a Greek vibe and taste to it. They have a great assortment of the usual cocktails you can have for brunch however if you wanted something Nerai-specific I would go with the Greek Island Ice Tea with Linden Honey and Lemon. Sweet and goes down really well all together. For starters I would recommend the Grilled Octopus with chickpeas, onions, capers and roasted red peppers and the Spinach Pies with spinach, feta and ouzo yogurt . Two great starters that definitely had that Greek kick to them, in particular the pies with its yummy yogurt and the Octopus which was cooked to perfection.

For mains, I would go with one savory and one sweet. For savory, the Maine Lobster Benedict with a poached egg and lobster hollandaise and the Tsoureki French Toast with bananas and seasonal berries will definitely fill you up in the best way possible. The Lobster and hollandaise really bring that particular dish together and I really fell in love with the french toast as the berries and bananas on top really made it taste that much more scrumptious. Each of these options comes with a Bloody Mary, Mimosa or Persephone, so there is an added incentive- alcohol!

To finish the meal with something sweet (which I always recommend) I would go with the Lavender Mousse with pineapple, lavender honey and pecans and the Fiji Apple Bougatsa with semolina custard and cinnamon. I loved the shaved pineapple with the mousse as well as how sweet yet filling the Bougatsa really was. Overall, a 10 out of 10 in my book.

For more information on Nerai, please check out their official site. Happy eating everyone!

Big Brother’s Sixteen Seasons Ranked From Worst To Best

by Ryan Shea

Another season of Big Brother is shortly upon us as 14 (as of now, there might be more) houseguests compete to be the last person standing in the BB House and win the grand prize of $500,000 dollars. The show, which started in the year 2000, has captivated audiences nationwide and has grown in size each year with it being a great summer staple for audiences to tune in on. The backstabbing, strategizing, twists and so much more have made Big Brother one of the best reality shows in the history of television and that is why it has stood the test of time in a myriad of shows that have fallen below its wayside.

With sixteen seasons now under its belt, and millions of fans who have watched from the beginning or just came on board last summer, the show has driven in tons of comments and opinions on who played the best and what seasons were the best. Manhattan Digest answered the former part of that question last year with our Top 10 Players Of All Time (boy the responses to that were colorful) and now we are following up with a ranking of the worst to best seasons of Big Brother in our own eyes. What seasons did we think sucked major balls and which ones kept us glued to our television screens all summer long? Take a look at our rankings and let us know what you think.

16. Big Brother 9

The season that really only existed because of the writers strike that was going on that particular year. And boy, do I wish it didn’t. This season looked like a bunch of rejects from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette who were all just deplorable human beings and not one of them developed a cohesive strategy to win the title. Let’s not forget about the actual winner, Adam, who used part of his winnings to fund a drug ring and went to jail for it, and Joshuah who made a disgusting and cruel joke to a fellow houseguest about her father’s suicide. There is a way to enjoy the villains in this game but more on a “love to hate” level. This group was just plain disgusting and was a joke to what this show really is about.

15. Big Brother 1

Yes, it started it all, however the concept of Big Brother 1 is completely different from what the show is now, or even what it became after its first year. The first BB was completely controlled by the American audience who voted out the houseguests each week. Here is the problem- they kept all the nice and sweet people and got rid of all the troublemakers which really doesn’t do well for a show like this. It is precisely the reason why the format was completely changed the next season to avoid this happening again. Not saying it didn’t have a satisfying winner in Eddie and memorable houseguests like Chicken George, but it lacked a lot of the pizzazz that the show later on became so known for.

14. Big Brother 15

Yes, this season was entertaining however it was entertaining for all the wrong reasons. It made national headlines for its blatant racism from houseguests Aaryn and GinaMarie and despicable language from Spencer as well. A lot of people were tuning in not to really root for anyone but to see the hot mess that this season became. Lets not forget how insane Amanda got in the house and her amazing edit throughout the season that finally came to a head right before she was evicted. Andy was not really the best of winners as he sort of just got himself there by going from alliance to alliance, however this season kind of became like a car crash- you didn’t want to watch however you couldn’t take your eyes away. Highlight of the season- Aaryn’s eviction. Julie Chen’s professional reading. Audience reaction. Everything.

13. Big Brother 12

This season’s twist was over in week one as the “Sabateur” was figured out and evicted quickly. Wow. Yes this season did introduce us to the world famous Brenchel, and the hysterical Brittany, however once the former was evicted out of the house the power pretty much remained with “The Brigade” (Lane, Hayden, Enzo, Matt) and never switched out of it. That made for a boring end of the season and a predictable but likable winner in Hayden. Meh.

12. Big Brother 5

This season had quite a unique twist in the game of “DNA: Do Not Assume” where it was revealed that two of the houseguests were actually related (Cowboy, Nakomis) and that a pair of twins were playing the game all along as one person until their part of the twist was revealed (Adria, Natalie). Those dried out pretty quickly though and even though the show had a great final four, it would’ve been a much more satisfying final two if it had been the two ladies (Diane, Nakomis) rather than the two men (Cowboy, Drew). Drew won the title that season and perfected that floater strategy while never really being a huge threat to be evicted. Once again, meh.

11. Big Brother 13

I mimic this season to be like when Survivor did Fans vs. Favorites, in that six favorites (Jeff/Jordan, Brendan/Rachel, Dick/Danielle) came back to compete with eight newbies. The problem with this season is that it became just like the Survivor season called “Redemption Island” where they pretty much handed Boston Rob the check after playing three times before that. This season was tailor made to have BB12’s Rachel win, and the audience was quite aware of that throughout. Granted, it was the first time where a good portion of the viewing audience warmed up to Rachel as she played the latter part of the game without Brendan for the first time, which made her a much better gamer, however it just seemed a bit obvious what was going on and therefore gets this a low ranking.

10. Big Brother 11

This season really had some awesome standout moments, such as Jeff using the Coup’d’etat to get rid of Jessie, Chima’s insane meltdown which led to her expulsion, and the great lie set up by Kevin and Natalie to get them further into the game. What really made this season shine though was seeing someone truly likable in Jordan make it past two strong competitors in Natalie and Kevin and win in the end. It really was the first time in the game you saw good (Jordan) triumph over evil (Natalie) and it left you feeling very satisfied for the first time in a long time on that show.

9. Big Brother 7- All Stars

Big Brother All Stars was quite the anticipated season in the summer of 2006 as many fans couldn’t wait to see the best of the best compete one more time for the half million dollar prize. The show eventually became Season 6 vs. Chilltown vs. everyone else which resulted in one of each making it to the final 3. Will proved for a second time around what a genius he is in this game, and Janelle proved once again what a force she is when it comes to the competitions. Had those two been swapped in as the final two over Mike and Erika, I would’ve put this higher on my list. Because that would’ve been one hell of a finale to see who would win between two of the best competitors to ever exist on this on this show. Instead, we had Mike Boogie win, which isn’t so bad based on the game that he played but at the same time wasn’t as satisfying as the other two.

8- Big Brother 4

I think this was the first season where you really saw ruthless players shown in the frontline and not just chatting in the diary room. Big Brother 4 gave us what might be their best twist to date, when five of the original eight houseguests had to spend the summer with an ex of theirs. Some used it to their advantage, whereas others crumbled early on. This was the first season where you saw a true floater Jun perfect that strategy and really ride it to the end and win. You also saw, for the first time, a dominant female competitor in Alison who was hated by most of the jury but was unable to get evicted due to her amount of competitive wins and sticking by Jun until the end. I still think Jun is very underrated in terms of how she played this game, but for me this season was satisfying in its win and its strategy from day one.

7. Big Brother 16

I only ranked this season high due to it having one of the best winners in Big Brother history- Derrick. Although the show had quite the oddball characters in Frankie, Zach and Caleb to keep you entertained throughout the summer, it was Derrick’s gameplay that really kept you glued to your screen. He made it 3 months in the house never being nominated ONCE, and this was a season where you could’ve been nominated each week in many different facets. One of the most satisfying winners the show has ever seen, Derrick ranks up there with the likes of Dan and Will as one of the most savviest players to ever play the game. Well done bud.

6- Big Brother 8

It is hard to follow up an All Stars season with something of the same caliber, but it seems CBS did that in the form of “Evil Dick” Donato. Dick made the show that summer with his insane antics on the other houseguests and made their lives a living hell throughout the entire summer yet still winning in the end against his own daughter Danielle, who many didn’t vote for on the account that that felt she rode her father’s coattails throughout. Love him or hate him, he made for good TV, as well as other houseguests such as Whamber aka Amber and Erik, the all around good guy who had the advantage and disadvantage of being “America’s Player” AKA America controlled what he did in the house. Such a great and memorable season for the records.

5- Big Brother 14

Big Brother 14 saw four houseguests return in the form of coaches (Brittany from BB12, Janelle from BB6 and 7, Mike Boogie from BB2 and 7 and Dan from BB10) who eventually turned in their coaches uniforms and played with the rest of the group as contestants. There were two people who really made this season as great as it was and that was the lightning bolt in Dan and the little engine that could in Ian. Dan manipulated the shit out of everyone in that game, the same way he did in his original season, and made it to the end with so much blood on his hands that it made it impossible for him to win with such a bitter jury to deal with. Normally this would annoy me as then the person who wins is the one who just got there and didn’t make any enemies, however Ian played a phenomenal game by masterminding getting Mike Boogie out of the game as well as his compadre in Frank, then zooming towards the end of the game and taking down Dan for the win. Also, Dan’s funeral in the game goes down as one of the best moments this show has ever seen. Sheer brilliance.

4. Big Brother 6

Big Brother 6 introduced us to Janelle Pierzina, who in one short summer became one of the most memorable houseguests to ever play the game. This summer had a twist where everyone came into the game with a loved one or someone they knew outside of the house. When Janelle lost her partner in week one, and being an outsider from the most hated alliance in Big Brother History (The Friendship), the odds were truly against her. However, Janelle blasted through the game with competition wins, turning the other side against each other and making it all the way to the final three only to be stopped by Ivette’s stupidity. Other great houseguests that season were Veto king James, hilarious goofball Howie, and the beloved Kaysar. This is truly the best season when it comes to good vs. evil and set the stage for how badass the show got in its later years.

3. Big Brother 10

Big Brother 10 started off really like any other season did. A little saddening in the beginning of it with not so memorable players being evicted each week. Something that was forming week to week was Dan’s incredible strategy and his way of playing each houseguest to never view him as the aggressor and watching them take each other out while he still looked like the good guy in the end. He won the game with every vote going towards him over his Robin in Memphis, and played a brilliant strategy throughout which puts him up there as the best player of all time with Will Kirby. Other memorable houseguests was the conniving Jerry, who originally looked like the friendly old guy who later turned into Mr. Grinch in many different ways, and Renny who exemplified similar traits with a southern twang to it. Such an amazing season.

2- Big Brother 3

To understand why the sequester/jury house exists you have to go all the way back to 2002 and see why it happened in the first place. Big Brother 3 was truly an incredible season with a great and diverse cast that made it one of their most watched seasons to date. What made this season great though was the duo of Jason and Danielle, who took down every single alliance in the game and made it all the way to the final three never being nominated once. The only problem that they dealt with was the eventual winner in Lisa, who won against Danielle due to the other houseguests seeing what she said about all of them in her diary room confessions throughout the summer. BB2 and BB3 had all the houseguests go home when they were evicted, so they were privy to all the information going on in the game which made Danielle winning that much harder for herself. She really played a perfect game and to this day is considered to be the best player to never win Big Brother. Also, you have the best moment in Big Brother history when Marcellas doesn’t take himself off the block after winning veto only to be evicted minutes later. Incredible.

1- Big Brother 2

This is a no brainer for me. This season started this whole thing off with a bang. In this particular season, there was no power of veto. Once you were on the block, that was it. You had Justin getting himself expelled for his knife usage on fellow houseguest Krista that made him the first houseguest to ever be ejected from the game. You had the incredible toothbrush incident that Shannon did to Hardy that was just fun and creepy to watch. You had Nicole go from being public enemy number one in week one to working her way all the way to the final 2. And then you have Will Kirby, who absolutely perfected the strategy of “take me to the end because everyone hates me and I won’t get vote.” Except he did, and he won. Will to this day is still viewed as the best to has ever played, and that is arguably so. If there is one season to watch, regardless of how dated it is, this is the one to do so.

What are your thoughts on this list? What would you change, and what would you keep the same? Did you also know about the Big Brother 17 premiere party happening in Hoboken and Jersey City this week? Check out this link to learn more on how you can attend. Best of luck to the BB17 players and another great summer!

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