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Adonis Los Angeles Expands Into Long Beach Next Month

by Ryan Shea

Adonis Lounge, Manhattan Digest

Looks like the Adonis Lounge brand just keeps on getting bigger and bigger and bigger (no pun intended).  After having a huge amount of continued success in their New York City locations and branching out west recently to open up a Los Angeles location, the brand is now furthering their stake in dominating the M4M experience by opening up a third location in Long Beach, California.

The Adonis LA Long Beach opening will take place on Thursday March 5th at Club Ripples.  That is located at 5101 E Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach.  More information on that nightclub & Adonis Lounge can be seen here. The fun and excitement starts at 8:30 PM PT and you can bask in the glory of all the hot men your heart, mind and pants can enjoy.  Just look at the pictures splashed across this article as proof of what’s the come.  Trust me, as someone who has been before these guys are top notch in more ways than one.

Adonis Lounge, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: Adonis Lounge

I have had the privilege of working with the Adonis Brand for several years now and admire the leaps and bounds that my good buddies Tim and Matt de Iturriaga have made in their effort to solidify what the brand has become- a relaxed environment where you can hang with some of the hottest men in the city.  Adding a third location just makes it that much more impressive, and for that I give them endless kudos for their efforts.  Previous articles about their Los Angeles and Manhattan locations can be read here, in case you don’t know who they are all about.

Be sure to check it out if you are in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area.  if you can’t make it to that one you can always stop by the New York City locations which takes place Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday nights at Club Evolve located on 58th and 3rd.  Best of luck to Matt and Tim on their new opening!

Filed Under: LGBT Tagged With: Adonis Lounge, adonis lounge la, long beach, manhattan digest

TEDx Broadway: Improving the Stage by Opening the Mind

by Ryan Leeds

TEDxBroadway

TEDXWhat does Adam Sobel, an atmospheric scientist from Columbia University have to do with the future of Broadway? What can Laurie Santos, an associate professor of Psychology from Yale University teach us about how we interact with the theater world? What insight can Ben Wellington, a computer and data analyst share that will give us a deeper appreciation for the performing arts?

Adam Sobel. Photo courtesy of O&M.
Adam Sobel. Photo courtesy of O&M.

These three individuals, along with other accomplished industry leaders will take part in the fourth annual TEDx Broadway Conference at Manhattan’s New World Stages on Monday February 23rd, 2015.  Their goal? To help answer the overall question: “What is the best Broadway can be?”

TEDx Broadway was founded and organized by Damian Bazadona (founder of                                                       http://www.situationinteractive.com/)  and Jim McCarthy (CEO of https://www.goldstar.com/).  Both media mavens discovered a knack for uniting some of the most creative minds from a variety of fields. Last year’s speakers ranged from EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) winner Robert Lopez to Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, a scientist who enjoys breaking down science to the general public.  The  sold out event received critical acclaim from Variety magazine, the Huffington post, and other notable media outlets.

Jim McCarthy. Photo courtesy of O&M.
Jim McCarthy. Photo courtesy of O&M.

In addition to those previously mentioned, this year’s roster also includes Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Tony nominated songwriters of Broadway’s A Christmas Story and composers of Off-Broadway’s Dogfight.  Ayad Akhtar,author of the novel American Dervish and Pulitzer prize-winning playwright behind the controversial drama Disgraced will also speak,  and Leslie Koch, president of the Trust for Governor’s Island will discuss how a large portion of this former military base on the southern tip of Manhattan has been redeveloped and turned into a popular destination spot. This is just the tip of the iceberg, folks.  Sit back, learn, and be inspired by the innovative thinking that this year’s conference will ignite. The complete list of speakers and registration information can be found at http://www.tedxbroadway.com/tedxbroadway-2015. Follow @TEDxBroadway on twitter.

Ben Wellington. Photo courtesy of O&M
Ben Wellington. Photo courtesy of O&M

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, THEATRE

Valentine’s Day- Best Places For The Best Treats

by Ryan Shea

Valentine's Day, H Bake Shop, Manhattan Digest

Ah Valentine’s Day. The day of love.  The day to tell that special someone in your life that you love them in more than just words.  We are talking cake, cupcakes, flowers and so much more!  Even single people have an excuse to get in on it just to enjoy more and more delicious sweets!  When it comes to all of these amazing treats, you can’t get better than the bakeries here in New York City.  Lucky for all my readers, four of my favorite ones, H Bake Shop, Magnolia Bakery, Schmackary’s and Treat House have some great deals going on for you and your special one to enjoy and devour!  Take a look.

H Bake Shop, Manhattan Digest, Valentine's Day
Credit to: Carlos Ramos

H Bake Shop- 601 West 57th Street- (212) 265-2399

I recently discovered this amazing bake shop through a good friend of mine and was introduced the the founder of it, Huascar Aquino!  Huascar won The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars so clearly he knows what he is doing when it comes to cupcakes and so much more!  Check out what he has going on for Valentine’s Day and visit his amazing site!

The Golden Heart: A chocolate fudge cake, filled with home made wild blueberry jam and frosted with blueberry icing and decorated with 24K gold sugar heart.

The Pink Rose: Pink Champagne cake. filled with pistachio pastry cream, rose water buttercream decorate with a sugar dough pink rose.

Chocotella Cookies: Gianduja chocolate (hazelnut milk chocolate), toasted salted hazelnuts, dipped in bittersweet dark chocolate and sprinkle with more salted toasted hazelnuts & a little red heart.

Treat House, Manhattan Digest, Valentine's Day
Credit to: Treat House

Treat House- 452 Amsterdam Avenue- 212-799-7779

Inspired by a charitable school bake sale, Treat House, a gourmet crisped rice emporium, provides a wide range of classic and innovative flavors, includingBirthday Cake, Caramel Sea Salt, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookies & Creamand more. For Valentine’s Day, treat your loved one with a limited edition Treat Cake – a crisped rice heart shaped cake. Other sweet gift offerings include Valentine’s Day themed treats or heart marshmallows. Plus, treat yourself while treating others: ten cents of every treat purchased will be donated to the Food Bank for New York City.  For Valentine’s Day, they have delicious Treat Cakes available for $20, and individual treats starting at $2.  Don’t forget their amazing heart marshmallows for only $1.50 each! Check out their official site for more information.

Magnolia Bakery, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: Magnolia Bakery

Magnolia Bakery- Multiple Locations Throughout NYC

Magnolia Bakery has become quite the big thing over recent years, and I was lucky enough to profile them in late 2014 about their booming success.  Naturally, they have some great things going on for Valentine’s Day! Here is just a couple of what they are offering for V Day-

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcake – NEW – $3.50

A strawberry cupcake made with fresh strawberry puree and topped with a rich chocolate ganache.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake – NEW  – $6.00/slice

Strawberry cake made with fresh strawberry puree, layered with a light strawberry meringue buttercream and finished with a rich chocolate ganache.

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes – $4.00

A dense, rich fudgy chocolate cupcake topped with light and fluffy pink vanilla bean meringue buttercream.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies – $3.50

Vanilla buttercream sandwiched between two handmade mini red velvet cakes.

Valentine’s Day Cupcakes – $3.50

Vanilla, chocolate or red velvet cupcakes with chocolate or vanilla buttercream, beautifully decorated with red and white hearts, Valentine picks and sprinkles.

Lil’ Bits of Love – $20.00

One dozen of our classic chocolate and vanilla mini cupcakes with pink and white vanilla buttercream, decorated with red, pink and white hearts.

Schmackary's, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: Schmackary’s
 Schmackary’s- 362 West 45th Street- (646) 801-9866
Schmackary’s is another great place that I was able to profile for Manhattan Digest. For the big special day of Love they are offering what is being called a “Valentine’s Lovers Flight”.  Pictured above, it contains their Red Velvet, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Strawberries & Cream and Valentine’s Super C.  All of their frosted cookies will be special colors for Valentine’s day as well.  Be sure to check out their official site for more information!

 

Filed Under: FOODIE, LIFESTYLE Tagged With: h bake shop, magnolia bakery, manhattan digest, schmackary's, valentine's day

Get To Know “Where The Bears Are” Star George Unda

by Ryan Shea

George Unda, Manhattan Digest, Where The Bears Are

In doing my ongoing series “Get To Know”, I have noticed that each person that I interview has a great deal of physical admirability but also has a vast amount of intelligence, humor and self awareness of who they are and of course how they are perceived in the larger scheme of things.  One of these people is my good friend George Unda, who currently resides right outside of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California.  I got to know George through my laptop screen (minds out of the gutters people) watching the hit online series in which he is apart of called “Where The Bears Are”.  Billed as a comedy-mystery series, it focuses on three different friends in the bear world who are thrown into a different murder mystery each season and have to figure out the whodunit aspect by the time the season ends.  George plays the hunky and charming Detective Marcus Martinez on the show. [Read more…] about Get To Know “Where The Bears Are” Star George Unda

Filed Under: LGBT Tagged With: george unda, where the bears are

Review “SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN” with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

by Ryan Leeds

Photo courtesy of New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Photo courtesy of New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

In spite of the cinematic rain and actual winter chill, a burst of sunshine shone through the Garden State this past weekend as the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presented a unique and thoroughly enjoyable event.

On Saturday evening, February 7th,  these professional musicians took to the stage at Newark’s New Jersey Performing Arts Center to play the orchestral score from the 1952 classic while the movie was shown above them. With keen sound technology, the integrity of the vocals and tap dancing were maintained against a lively and vibrant orchestra.  Under the direction of Constantine Kitsopoulos, memorable and often recognizable melodies came alive, treating the audience to tuneful ear candy. On Sunday afternoon, February 8th,  New Brunswick audiences were delivered the  same delightful confection at the State Theatre.

Singin’ In the Rain, written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green is a musical comedy set against the backdrop of  the roaring twenties. Dashing leading man Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and his  co-star Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are the biggest silent screen celebrities  in Hollywood. While the public believes that their on-screen romance mirrors their real life relationship, nothing could be further from the truth. Lockwood has little time nor patience for the pushy and manipulative Lamont and instead,he turns his attention towards chorus girl Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). Soon, talking pictures are in vogue and Lockwood’s best friend, Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Conner),is hired as the musical director. Unfortunately for Lamont, whose strident tones will soon be revealed, it may mean the end of her career.Like any old fashioned musical, there is no shortage of minor drama, but laughter and love are sure to triumph.

There apparently was no scarcity in the wardrobe department either. According to the Internet Movie Data Base, Walter Plunkett’s splashy costumes cost the studio $157,000, most of which are seen in the dazzling “Beautiful Girl” montage and later in “The Broadway Melody”. Whatever you’re wearing now or have hanging in your closet  will most likely look like a garment from the scrap box of Goodwill in comparison to this flashy attire.

While Comden and Green were already established Broadway and Hollywood writers, they surprisingly contributed lyrics to only one song in the movie, “Moses Supposes” (sung by Kelly andO’Conner). The remainder of the musical selections were comprised of songs from other MGM musicals by producer Arthur Freed, who also served as their lyricist.Nacio Herb Brown collaborated with Freed, writing the music to the film’s other well-known hits including, “All I Do Is Dream of You”, “Make ‘Em Laugh”, “Good Morning” and the quintessential title song. There isn’t a single tune in the movie that won’t leave you smiling or swooning.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra has not only reminded us how fun a night of light-hearted screen music can be and what an absolutely joy-filled film Singin’ In the Rain is ; they’ve also reminded us that the power of live symphonic music-when played to this level of excellence- is a vital treasure.

For more information about the Symphony’s upcoming programs, visit http://www.njsymphony.org/

Filed Under: ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, MOVIES, MUSIC, OPINION

Warren-Tricomi Opens New Location at Laguardia Airport

by Ryan Shea

Warren-Tricomi, Manhattan Digest

As we all know, traveling can be quite stressful on the mind and body.  Especially when it comes to flying and being at an airport for quite a period of time.  With so much chaos around you it can be hard to really sit down, relax, and enjoy whatever trip you are about to experience.  Luckily the famed Warren-Tricomi Salon has partnered with XpressSpa to open up a salon at LaGuardia Airport called WTGO.

Manhattan Digest, Warren Tricomi
Credit to: Alison Brod PR

Located at Delta’s Terminal C, you will find a bevy of top of the line services available to you at your disposal.  WTGO offers a full menu of quick, but luxurious services from a talented roster of stylists that have been trained directly by Warren-Tricomi Salon co-founders, master colorist Joel Warren and master stylist Edward Tricomi.  Here is the amazing part of all of this- it is completely affordable to the savvy shopper on a budget.  All of the services that Warren Tricomi provides is under $100 yet you still get that luxury experience that the brand has become known for.  Check out the services and price points below-

Blow Dry (Wash & Dry; 20min – $45)

Blow Dry Plus (Wash, Dry & Tools; 30min – $60)

Lady Trim (Wash, Trim & Dry; 30min – $89)

Men Trim (Wash & Trim; 20min – $69)

Teen Trim Girl (Under 21; 20min – $59)

Teem Trim Boy (Under 21; 15min – $39)

Sheer Glaze Application (20min – $65)

Sheer Glaze & Blow Dry (45min – $95)

Deep Conditioning Treatment & 10min Scalp Massage ($30

Leave-In Conditioning Treatment (5mins – $15)

Scalp Massage (10min – $20)

Manhattan Digest, Warren Tricomi
Credit to: David Christopher Lee

Not traveling or able to make the fabulous Warren Tricomi location at LGA?  There are plenty more in the Manhattan area for you to divulge and try.  I highly recommend experiencing the Flatiron district one, as myself and a friend were treated to a fantastic wash and trim there recently.  The space itself was spacious, beautiful and clean throughout.  The staff also was incredibly helpful in our time there and both me and my friend had individual stylists who understood our needs and finished with a great result nonetheless.

Manhattan Digest, Warren Tricomi
Credit to: David Christopher Lee

Want to know more about Warren Tricomi’s including locations, specials and more?  Check out their official site for more information.

 

 

Filed Under: FASHION, LIFESTYLE Tagged With: flatiron, laguardia airport, warren tricomi

“SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN” Takes New Jersey By Storm

by Ryan Leeds

Looking for last minute weekend plans? For New Yorkers,  Newark nor New Brunswick would not be the first destinations to come to mind. Throw in Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Conner and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, however  and you might find yourselves at Penn Station waiting to hop a train to Newark’s NJPAC tonight, Feb. 7th at 8 PM , or New Brunswick’s State Theater, tomm, Feb. 8th at 3 PM

Under the baton of critically acclaimed conductor Constanine Kitsopoulous, the orchestra (hailed by the Wall Street Journal as  a “vital, artistically significant musical organization”) will perform the entire score while the classic film is shown above them on the big screen.

While the freezing cold, snow, slush, and grey skies continue to hover over us and dampen our spirits, the perfect antidote can be found just across the river.  If you seen the film before, you’ve never seen it quite like this. If you’ve never seen it, be prepared for a jolt of sheer joy and happiness. You’ll soon understand why the American Film Institute has proclaimed it as the fifth top American movie ever made and the number one musical film ever made!

Tickets for both shows at both venues are available at www.njsymphony.org or by calling 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).

 

Photo courtesy of Gene Kelly Image Trust.
Photo courtesy of Gene Kelly Image Trust.

Filed Under: uncategorized

Hyatt Herald Square Review- Comfy, Cozy & Convenient

by Ryan Shea

As great as the boutique hotels are based in New York City, sometimes the more nationally known ones provide just as great of service if not more than what is only local. Hyatt is a great example of that.  As someone who commutes from Long Island to Penn Station on a daily basis, I was delighted to find that Hyatt had opened up a brand new location right in the heart of Herald Square on 31st between Broadway and 5th Avenue.  I heard word of the opening and was lucky enough to review the brand new space and was quite delighted overall with the experience.

Hyatt Herald Square, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: Eleven Six PR

I use three main words to describe the Hyatt Herald Square- Comfy, Cozy & Convenient. The hospitality was at its best as the staff greeted and treated me incredibly well.  The King sized room itself was just the right size for one person staying, with a great view of the Empire State Building on top of a large shower and very comfortable bed.  The photo above is the exact replica of the room that I stayed in, and I heavily enjoyed the use of color throughout the room, in particular the purples and use of black.  Very appealing to the eye.

Eleven Six PR, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: Eleven Six PR

Something that was a big coo as well for me was the delicious breakfast that they serve their guests on a daily basis.  Served right on the main floor, you can dine on delicious options such as ricotta pancakes with caramelized pears (or apples) with a side of pork sausage and a variety of bagels with freshly made cream cheese.  Absolutely delicious and a great way to finish off my stay at the Hyatt.

If you know of someone who is looking to stay in New York City or want to try a great new hotel out, I would highly recommend stopping by and spending a night or so.  For more information, check out the official site here.

Filed Under: LIFESTYLE, TRAVEL

Angie Martinez- On Radio, Food, Life And More

by Ryan Shea

Angie Martinez, Manhattan Digest

To become a legend in the world of radio takes a lot of longevity, guts, glory and above all- respect.  Several men have inherited all of that, from Casey Kasem to Ryan Seacrest.  Yet women don’t seem to get the same respect to such a large audience.  Except for one in my eyes- New York’s very own Angie Martinez.

Angie is the reason why I fell in love with hip-hop & R&B when I was a sprout young kid of 10 years old, growing up in Long Island.  The surrounding areas of where I was wasn’t exactly hip-hop’s finest (Pier 1 Imports & Joann Fabrics don’t scream “Let’s Get Crunk”) so my escape was listening to Angie on the way to school and any which way I could to keep myself updated on the latest in that particular world.  She had and has such an extraordinary way of interviewing the biggest in the game yet stays humble throughout her illustrious career, which is something that I respect 10 fold.  Also, she has had quite the success doing her own thing by rapping some huge chart topping hits like “If I Could Go” and one of my personal favorites “Ladies Night” which she is featured in with Lil Kim, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, DaBrat and the best thing that came out of SB49- Missy Elliott.

I had the utmost pleasure to sit down with Angie about all of this, including how she began, her take on the industry now versus then, and her amazing new cookbook that she just put out.  Take a look.

Hi Angie, thanks for taking time to chat with me today!  First off, you have one of the most decorated radio careers in our modern history.  How did it all start?

Hi and thank you for such a grand introduction! It’s great to meet you.  [It all started] with my mom, actually. She worked in radio, as a program director, so I’ve pretty much been around the industry my entire life. But you could say “my” career in radio started when I was 16; I had my first internship at Power 96 in Miami and just fell in love with it immediately. I knew it’s what I wanted to pursue as a career.

You have obviously seen the hip-hop industry grow from its roots to being a primetime player in the overall music landscape today.  What are your thoughts on hip-hop now versus when you started?

You know I’m really proud of where hip-hop is today – musically and culturally. I think one point is that the hip hop community, and you could even say the music industry in general, has really evolved and grown together over time – you see a lot more collaborations today than you used to, whether it be on a single or album or even a tour, and it’s creating this new creative space where artists are able to connect with their fans and other artists in unique ways.

You recently interviewed J. Cole who just hit #1 again with his latest album.  Not a lot of hip-hoppers seem to be doing that lately, so why do you think he is one of the exceptions?

I love J.Cole! He’s so talented. I think fans really connect with him as an artist for the same reason I do – he’s genuine and speaks from the heart. I also loved having Nicki Minaj on recently – she shared a lot of really personal and relatable stories.

You’ve done a myriad of interviews since you started radio years ago.  Who has been the best interview you have ever done and why?

I don’t think I could single out one interview as the best, but I do get that question a lot! Honestly I consider myself extremely lucky to do what I love every day, and work with so many talented artists and entertainers.

Angie Martinez, Manhattan Digest, Healthy Latin Eating
Credit to: Christina Holmes & Healthy Latin Eating

You have also jumped into the culinary world, with a new website and cookbook.  Can you tell our readers a little more about that?

“Healthy Latin Eating” is something I came up with after craving some variety in the figure-friendly-food department – because not only was I sick of eating salads for every meal, I was constantly missing the flavors of my favorite Latin dishes that never fit into my diet. After years of searching for healthier versions of my favorite Latin comfort foods – versions that had all the right flavors but not the added fat or deep frying – they were nowhere to be found, so I decided to start documenting and sharing my own home cooking tips and tricks, and that’s how the Healthy Latin Eating name and website was born. Then I was introduced to Chef Angelo Sosa, chef/owner of Añejo and “Top Chef” alum among many other amazing accolades, and we immediately bonded over our family’s shared love of Latin food and culture. Fast forward to today and we are the proud co-authors of Healthy Latin Eating: Our Favorite Family Recipes Remixed. And we’re just getting started!

With 2015 just beginning, what are your hopes for this year and beyond?

There’s so much! I don’t think there’s enough space to fit everything I have in mind, so I’ll give you one for now, and honestly my hope for this year, and every year, is for every person, no matter what they do or where they’re from, to always strive to be a little bit better. It doesn’t matter how you get your inspiration or what your goal might be – it’s just important that the drive is there and you’re actively working towards whatever success means to you.

Keep up to date with Angie by checking out her official site and Twitter.

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC Tagged With: angie martinez, healthy latin living, manhattan digest

Why You Should Experience Winter Gay Spirit Camp

by Ryan Shea

Easton Mountain, Winter Gay Spirit Camp, Manhattan Digest

The harshness of winter has definitely hit us all in the recent weeks, keeping us trapped inside and not really enjoying the latter part of the winter months.  Why not change that for the better and take a trip for relaxation, new friendships, education, and great conversation?  This is where the Winter Gay Spirit Camp comes into play, which is taking place at the Easton Mountain Retreat, roughly 30 miles north of Albany in Greenwich, NY.  Happening during the upcoming President’s Day Weekend, the goal this camp presents is to bring new people together and enjoy the warmth of one another while doing some great activities, lounging in the hot tub, jamming at a dance party and so much more.  There is also some great education initiatives and workshops that each person can experience which furthers how fab this event seems to be.  I recently sat down with one of the weekend’s hosts, Wil Fisher, who clued me into just how awesome this whole weekend will be.  Take a look.

Easton Mountain, Manhattan Digest, Wil Fisher,
Credit to: Wil Fisher

Hi Wil!  Thanks for sitting down with us.  So the fourth annual Easton Mountain’s Winter camp is rapidly approaching!  Can you tell us what this is all about?

Winter Gay Spirit Camp was inspired by our summer camp programs that have a similar traditional camp experience. We thought it would be fun to bring that same playful and community driven energy to a winter camp that involves activities that are best enjoyed in the winter like ice skating, snow tubing, and getting cozy by the fire.

From the looks of it seems like there is a ton to do at this camp.  What can someone expect when they sign up for it?

There is a ton to do! Or, you can just take naps and sit in the hot tub all weekend if you want. All activities and workshops are optional. Activities include: yoga, art, a talent show, a dance party, a wine tasting soiree, and more. Workshops offered explore a variety of topics including: the impact of masculinity on our lives; the ways we can speak our truths more directly and lovingly; how we can be of service and make a positive impact on the world; how we can cultivate more wonder and gratitude in our lives; and more.

Winter Gay Spirit Camp, Easton Mountain, Wil Fisher
Credit to: Wil Fisher

Is this something all ages can attend or is there a particular age floor for this?

One of the intentions of this camp is to draw a younger demographic to Easton Mountain. That said, there is still a beautiful cross generational experience that happens at the camp, and all ages (over 21) are welcome.

From reading your description Wil, you focus a lot on queer youth programming, marketing and development.  Can you go a little bit more in depth into that and how you will utilize that at the camp?

We are planning to invite some of the at-risk queer young adults who attended the recent Easton Mountain Leadership Academy. The young people will have an opportunity during camp to share with the community about their experiences at the academy and their leadership intentions for the future.

So much of the gay community has a negative connotation, yet Easton seems to be the exact opposite.  Do you feel there should be more organizations like this?

Yes! I believe that being gay is a gift that should be celebrated! Easton Mountain provides a safe space for LGBTQ people to come together and build community, and that community provides space for its members to discover and then share their unique gifts with the world. This is an important step that supports the potential positive impact the LGBTQ community has to offer to offer.

Easton Mountain provides space for this unique and important community to develop and grow.

Will you ever be open to doing something like this during the summer, or twice a year at that?

During the summer we have Gay Spirit Camp and Gay Freedom Camp. Both camps are similar to Winter Gay Spirit Camp but instead of playing in the snow, we play in the sun! Our new pool with a view of the mountains and pond is stunning, and our summer camps are a great time to enjoy that feature of Easton as well.

What do you hope is the ultimate goal for each person who attend your camp upon them leaving?

I think each individual creates their own goals based on what they are currently looking for in their lives. These goals range from connecting to other men in romantic or platonic ways; trying out new things and new ways of being; connecting to spirit and nature; relaxing; having fun;  and more. Easton has so much to offer, there is something here for everybody.

For you and the gang, what are the plans for 2015 and beyond?

2015 is very exciting time for Easton Mountain because it is our 15-year anniversary. To commemorate this exciting occasion, we have a number of initiatives including 4 facility improvement projects, a new membership program, and a 15-Year Anniversary Weekend happening Memorial Day Weekend that will include an outdoor concert and a gala dinner. All are welcome to celebrate this momentous time with us.

Easton Mountain, Winter Gay Spirit Camp
Credit to: Wil Fisher

What is the best way for people to learn more about Easton?

Our website is a great resource for information about our programs, history, staff and amenities. We also have an active Facebook page and a community based Facebook group that helps people stay connected when they aren’t at one of our retreats. In NYC, Boston and other major cities, there is also a group of folks affiliated with Easton called Living Soulfully who meet monthly for workshops and social gatherings, and all are welcome to attend. The best way to get to know what Easton has to offer though is to come visit us or attend one of our retreats.

Want to learn more about this fantastic experience?  Check out their official website for more information. 

Filed Under: LGBT, LIFESTYLE Tagged With: easton mountain, wil fisher, winter gay spirit camp

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