Manhattan Digest

Gay Bars in Manhattan- Where To Go From Here…

Gay Bars in Manhattan, especially the Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen area, should go together like Peanut Butter & Jelly. Sadly, a lot of legendary gay bars here are going the way of the Dodo bird due to jacked up rent and jack asses who would prefer to put another Bank of America/Chase/TD Bank or a trendy run of the mill Italian joint there in place of an institution that has been there for 40 plus years. It really is a shame. The most recent casualty of all of this is Boots & Saddles, which will be closing its doors on Christopher Street soon. According to Towleroad, this is what they had to say-

The gay bar — known for its drag shows, packed parties and welcoming vibe — cannot afford to pay a rent increase on its space at 76 Christopher St. and will shut down soon after 40 years in the Village, managing owner Rob Ziegler said. “I’m sad,” said Ziegler, who started as a bartender at Boots & Saddle in 1999 and later became an owner. “I’ve been here 15 years. Fifteen years is a long time.” Ziegler said a new landlord is taking over the building in the coming months and plans to raise rent for the 700-square-foot bar by thousands of dollars per month, to the “high twenties.”

It’s really pathetic how in the past couple of years places like this and other ones, like the popular No Parking and Rawhide, are closing to due unforeseen circumstances that the owners themselves can’t seem to shake themselves off of due to the greedy world that is Manhattan. HOWEVER, there are some fantastic and amazing gay bars that seem to be doing well in this economy and are also a great place to visit whether you are visiting Manhattan or have lived here for a good period of time. The only gay bar that is thriving that I don’t see the big deal with is Boxers, which is both located in Chelsea & Hell’s Kitchen. The HK one is decent, but the Chelsea one I just personally find to be appalling with the amount of straight douchebag bartenders they have, the overcrowded aspect and the fact that it is looking more and more like a straight bar lately with the amount of women in it (No T No Shade ladies, but if its a gay bar we should be the ones running a muck). That being said, here are my list of what I think are still the best gay bars in Manhattan.

Gym Sportsbar, Manhattan Digest, gay bars — Credit to: Gym Sportsbar

Gym Sportsbar- 167 8th Avenue (Between 18th and 19th Street) In terms of what I think is the pinnacle for gay bars in the new millennium, Gym Sportsbar exemplifies that and then some. Being open now for over a decade, this bar promises a great and upbeat vibe with friendly bartenders and fantastically priced drinks. Something I find that Gym Sportsbar does in a very clever way is the different types of bartenders they have. When you go to other gay bars, it seems to be all muscular and not much substance. The great thing about this bar is that if you have a type of guy, you will see that in one of the bartenders there. So if you like the cute bearish ones, sexy muscular dudes, or athletic jock types, you will find them there. I may be more biased towards Gym Sportsbar due to the location (right by Penn Station) but it also is surrounded by a lot of great eateries to fill you up after you kick back a couple (The Dish, Spice are good examples). The best reason in my opinion is the drink specials are off the chain. HAPPY HOUR 2 FOR 1, Monday-Friday for one. Beer Blast on Sunday. You can’t get better beer and drink prices in the city, and your wallet will be very you compared to going to some of the other bars nearby. Of all the gay bars to go into in Manhattan, this would be a great starting off point for a night on the town and the best & happiest environment in my opinion.

Rockbar NYC, Manhattan Digest, gay bars — Credit to; Rockbar NYC

Rockbar (185 Christopher Street, right off the West Side Highway) Rockbar is considered to be an institution on Christopher Street and in the bear community, and some in said community think this is the best “bear” bar in the country. Located right off the west side highway, it is your run of the mill gay bar with great drink prices and fun themed events like the once a month “Underbear” that my good buddy Chris Reed produces. If bear is your thing, this is the place to go.

Adonis Lounge, Evolve, Manhattan Digest, Gay Bars — Credit to: Adonis Lounge

Adonis Lounge at Evolve (221 East 58th Street, Between 2nd and 3rd Avenue) When you think “gay bar” in Manhattan the first thing that doesn’t really come to mind is the Upper East Side, which is known mainly for its high end boutique stores and upscale restaurants and bars. However, nestled right off of the 63rd & Lexington stop is Evolve Bar, which hosts the infamous (and quite fun I might add) Adonis Lounge. Adonis hosts some of the hottest men in and out of Manhattan for your own pleasure, albeit for a great conversation or a great lap dance. Pair that off with some of the best music I’ve ever heard at a gay bar (yes they play the ORIGINAL versions of hip-hop songs, not the super uptempo remixes) then this is the place you want to be. Adonis takes place on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday nights so be sure to check out their official page for who will be there each night. Surely not to disappoint.

Eagle NYC, Manhattan Digest, gay bars — Credit to Eagle NYC

New York City Eagle (554 West 28th Street, Between 10th and 11th Avenue) Infamous, debauchery, scandal and exuberance are just a couple of words to describe the New York City Eagle. A landmark in gay culture, The Eagle has standed the test of time in this revolving door of gay bars opening and closing simply because they are the L’Oreal of the gay world. Meaning that they have a brand that they live up to and its always a good place to end the night at. I call this bar the “Goldilocks” of gay Manhattan, because each floor has something for each comfort level. The most relaxed one seems to be the first floor, where events like “Piggy Bear” amongst others start off. The second floor is where bad things can happen, in the best way possible :). I don’t need to get into details, y’all know what i mean. The third floor, especially during the summer, is a great place to be to meet new people and catch up with old friends, in particular the beer blast on Sundays which is uber popular. Definitely a great place to visit during the 12am-4am hour, as you may meet the love of your life or just the love of your front pants that night. Hehe.

Get To Know Long Island’s DiMi Marc

by Ryan Shea

Maybe I’m privy towards people I interview from Long Island cuz that’s my hood and ain’t nobody gonna tell me different. OK now that I got my boughetto chit chat out of the way, someone who I have been a big fan of for a long time now is hip hop & R&B ingenue is Long Island’s very own DiMi Marc. I have been able to interview him in the past but when I got word of the epic madness he has going on this month and months to come I knew I had to do a follow up and pick his brain on what is to come.

DiMi Marc is doing something quite extraordinary, releasing three different mixtapes in the month of August. One is all about the party and being turnt the fuck up (Trap’d Soul’s Will), love (Trap’d Soul’s Love) and emotional turmoil (Trap’d Soul’s Tune). Quite ambitious for an artist of any level, but seeing as this dude has the talent and flare to back it up, I am sure this is going to be a success. I recently sat down with DiMi Marc to discuss his ever budding career, amazing mixtapes and if there really is room in the industry for someone like him. Take a look.

So Dimi, long time no talk since our last interview. What have you been up to?

It feels like it’s been years! I’ve been preparing. Really growing as an artist, exploring my sound, and getting a clearer sense of where I want to be in the future. I’ve been working with producers and artists from around the world. Building connections and friendships. I’ve been in the studio a lot. And I’ve been handling a lot of business.

You seem to split your time a lot between Boston and New York City, do you find the Boston music scene to be just as prevalent as the New York City one?

It’s certainly different, but not in a bad way. There are people in both cities who are passionate about what they do and are extremely talented. No matter where you are there are opportunities. But the music scene has also moved to a global level for me. Due to the advances in technology, almost on a daily basis I’m working with someone who isn’t in the same city, and most of the times, not even the same country as me.

Looks like you are releasing three mixtapes in a short period of time this month. Quite ambitious. Why so many?

Well for me, these mixtapes are just a small piece of what I’ve been working on for a long. This year alone, I’ve created close to 100 songs, if not more. Which means I have many projects in the pipeline going forward. There’s this infectious work ethic that has me constantly creating something. And it’s tough because I want to share so much, but everything has it’s time. So starting off with these three mixtapes is right because they’re all tied together as one, Trap’d Soul’s Trilogy.

Let’s break down Trap’d Soul’s Trilogy. The first mixtape is Trap’d Soul’s Will. What is that one about?

Trap’d Soul’s Will is the part about wanting to go out and party and turn up. It’s about having fun and not being tied down or trapped by society. It’s the most “turn’t” up section of the Trilogy.

Next one is Trap’d Soul’s Love. Describe that.

Trap’d Soul’s Love is quite literally about the love experiences of the soul. It follows the ups and downs of being in a relationship, breaking up, and trying to move on and find someone new. But above all, I think it’s about constantly questioning and attempting to communicate with one’s romantic partner.

Finally in the trilogy, we have Trap’d Soul’s Tune. Tell me about that one.

So Tune is all about the emotional turmoil felt by the Trap’d Soul. It’s about exploring what is wanted most in life, dealing with feelings of loneliness and fake people, fighting to be understood, and constantly moving forward into the future.

Wow so you really broke each down to emotional, party and love songs. What inspired the breakdown of each?

From the very beginning, Trap’d Soul’s Trilogy was always one project that grew organically into distinct parts. I first introduced Trap’d Soul with It’s A D-Mix 2 at the end of 2013 as an exploration into the combination of hip hop with EDM Trap music. For It’s A D-Mix 3, I wanted to continue that combination of genres but also work towards exploitation of feelings. For me, music has always been about the feelings it invokes more than anything else. So the 3 parts are overarching themes in a collection of feelings. By separating the music into different parts, I created experiences for how you, as a listener, are feeling or want to feel. When you are feeling like acting the fool or being light spirited, you listen to Will. When you’re feeling mellow or are attempting to remember why you do what you do, you listen to Tune. And when something romantic or a lack of romance is going on in your life, you listen to Love.

With thirty songs out, can you let me know which song off each mixtape you like the most and why?

That’s tough! That’s like asking a parent which child they like the most. [Smiles and chuckles] My favorite songs change depending on where I am that day. And that’s the beauty of the trilogy. What you’re connecting to most is tied to what you’re experiencing. Every time you listen you have the chance to fall in love with something new.

Are you doing any concerts in the Manhattan area where my readers can come and see you perform these great songs?

I’m not too sure, right now I don’t believe anything is concrete just yet. I know my team and I have been in touch and in talks with different promoters and venues, so hopefully soon! It’s been such a while since I’ve had the opportunity to perform live out here. But what I would love to do more of are house party concerts. I used to do them a lot back in college and it was always such a blast. If anyone is throwing a party, shoot us an email ([email protected]) or call/text (631.209.7023) and I’ll come rock out with y’all.

Seeing as you are a cross between Drake & Kanye, which seems to be a popular genre of music nowadays, do you feel like there is room for a DiMi Marc type in the industry?

What has been amazing is having so many people tell me I remind them of Kanye, or Drake, or Eminem, Gambino, Cudi, and even LL Cool J. It’s amazing and I’m honored and humbled to have my music placed at such a high caliber. Those are certainly artists that I, and many other cats coming up in the game, have drawn influence from. And that is what art is all about, inspiring and drawing greatness out of others. That sad thing is there are tons of artists out there. Dope artists! Artists that haven’t been heard yet and that you and I may never get the opportunity to hear. Artists that are better than me and probably everybody out right now. So I’m not focused on being the dopest lyricist or the greatest singer. I’m focused on making music that touches peoples. Music that makes people dance, cry, smile, think, love. I’m focused on making music that makes people feel. By focusing on the feeling in the music it allows me to exists in multiple genres and create a wide range of music. In today’s industry many artists are good or great at one or two things. Most of them stay in their lane. Some artists attempt to do different things and fail. But there are few artists today that are truly able to cross over into different realms and succeed at there goals. And I’m blessed to be one of the few artists who can do that. So yeah, there is room in the industry for DiMi Marc.

Now that 2014 is more than halfway over, do you have an ultimate goal as to where you want this trilogy to be when the new year hits?

I want it to be in your headphones or coming through your speakers. I want the trilogy on your mobile phone or spotify playlist. I want people to listen to it. Share it. Enjoy it. I really want the trilogy to be something that people can always connect with and have at their finger tips to vibe with. I’m aiming for a lot downloads and buzz about the trilogy because I’m hoping that when someone’s getting ready to go out, they’re bumping to Trap’d Soul’s Will. When life isn’t exactly going your way, you’re playing Trap’d Soul’s Tune. If love is going right or wrong, you’re singing along to Trap’d Soul’s Love. That’s my ultimate goal for the trilogy by the end of the year, for it to be there for as many people as possible.

Want to know more about all things DiMi Marc? Check out his official site, Facebook & Twitter for more info!

Why You Should Visit Washington Market Tavern

by Ryan Shea

Washington Square Tavern, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Washington Square Tavern

Opening up a restaurant in New York City is a hard thing to do. There are so many facets to make something work, from the food, ambiance, decor, and of course the professionalism of the staff. If there is one place that all of this works and then some, it is Washington Market Tavern located in the heart of Tribeca. The new establishment opened only about a month ago and has received quite the positive reviews on its Yelp page (minus one very silly review that talks about the amount of toilets in a bathroom. Bye Felicia). I took myself and a good friend there last week and overall we had quite an amazing experience.

On top of the great decor, which boasts a warm, homey type feel to it with its wood furnishings and beautiful table layouts, the food and professionalism were top notch. They had a variety of wait staff there that came prepared with its knowledge and expertise of each dimension of the menu, from how to navigate each portion of the menu (the current one is broken down into four parts- raw, garden, ocean and farm) to what drink pairs off with what mean (not much of a drinker myself however the margaritas and the Sparkling Old Fashion were quite delicious and not overpowering in my opinion).

Then of course, there was the food. The food was phenomenal and if they plan on what the fantastic manager LeRoy told me which is changing the menu by season then they are off to a great start. Each part of the menu was intricately planned, delicious and had great flavor to each of them. The standouts from each part of the menu reads as following-

Raw- The Lamb Tartare (Harissa Emulsion, Black Garlic Yogurt, Spicy Crouton) and Cold Smoked Scallops (Lemon Pickled Artichokes, Hawaiian Hearts Of Palm, Smoked Trout Roe, Borage Cress).

Garden- Asparagus (Roasted Puree, Butter Glazed Tips, Summer Truffle Vinaigrette, Red Vein Sorrel) and Blooming Hill Farm Baby Beets (Raw & Roasted, Charred’Onion “Dirt”, Spiced Walnut Crumble, Chevre Whip Purslane).

Ocean- Baby Octopus (Green Garbanzos, Salty Fingers Black Olive Oil, Expellete, Frisee, Lemon) and East Coast Halibut (Artichokes, Lemon Broth, Tender Carrots, Spring Onions, Snap Peas, Chive).

Farm- Bourbon Braised Bacon (Hudson Valley Farm Egg, English Pea Puree, Gem Lettuce), Colorado Lamb Loin (Marinated Summer Beans, Heirloom Pepper Puree, Rosemary Lamb Ju)

Overall the best of the best from above was the Asparagus (best I’ve ever had), the Bourbon Braised Bacon and the Butter Cake that was on the dessert menu. Simply heaven. Washington Square Tavern is definitely a place that I would recommend going to for future visits.

Check out the official site for more information!

41 Murray Street

646-964-4860

Underwater Spin Class: Your New Favorite Workout

by Jessica Klein

Rushing from work, I came ill prepared for my first ever aquacycling class. Wearing an entirely cotton outfit, I entered the Tribeca studio, Aqua (located at 78 Franklin Street), thinking that only my lower legs would be submerged as I participated in the workout. I had taken too literally an image sent by one of the women organizing the class, which pictured someone pedaling that cut off at the knees. After filling out forms attesting to the fact that I was not too ill or old to partake in the class (indeed I was neither, though I did ponder with some trepidation my irregular and minimal exercise regime), I received my aquacycling shoes. Rubbery and tight fitting, they resembled something one might wear in a hospital and flippers without the part that actually helps you swim.

Manhattan Digest, Spin Class, Aqua Cycling — Credit to: Dove® Men+Care™ Hair.

As I entered the room where our class of six, young women would cycle for half an hour, I realized my mistake. I clearly hadn’t done my research, and the seats of the bikes sat at least an inch below the pool’s water level while the shiny, silver handles jutted out just above. I immediately regretted my choice of clothing as I stood chest-deep in chlorinated water, struggling to adjust a seat with knobs that appeared distorted thanks to the rippling blue. To jump right in, just as I did into the water under the pleasantly dim lighting of the aquacycling studio, the class was a challenge. I was repeatedly instructed to make impossible figure eights with my arms, and I almost floated away while attempting underwater pushups. My seat never seemed to be in the right place and, at one point, my left pedal strap came undone. Nonetheless, I flapped my arms and peddled my legs with the best of them (who were, encouragingly, beginners, as well—but in your head, you’re always the only one doing it wrong when it’s your first time in aquacycling class; trust me). Yet, against all odds, I had a blast. Aquacycling was unlike anything I had ever experienced, yoga and kickboxing being the only organized fitness classes I’d previously attended. Our aquacycling instructor, a spin class teacher and veteran swimmer, had clearly found a calling in leading this class. With equal parts firmness and encouragement, she counted down the length of our “sprints,” showed us how to “fly” on a submerged stationary bike (by getting off of the seat but keeping your feet in the pedals while making water treading motions with your arms behind the bike), and made sure we always sucked in our stomachs, which turned out to be necessary if you didn’t want to float away while you “flew.” At no point during the class did I remotely fear drowning. When the class ended and I emerged from the pool, my legs all of a sudden turned to lead. Our instructor assured us that we would not be sore the next day from this workout, since it took place in the water. Though naturally dubious at the time, I have to admit she was right. It’s two days later, and I have yet to feel that usual post-exercise pain. I just feel very self-satisfied for trying something new that required above average movement. The instructor also warned us that we would be more dehydrated than we imagined back on land. As it turns out, sweating in water doesn’t feel like sweating, and to my surprise, I gulped up the remains of my water bottle in record time back in the locker room. Right about then, a nightmarish thought occurred to me. I had made a greater mistake than simply wearing the wrong clothes to class—they were also my only clothes in the building. I was soaking wet in cotton and hadn’t brought a change. Regressing to high school-level mortification, I laughed quietly to myself while blow-drying my shorts and contemplating a run back to my apartment. Yes, I felt that energized that I wanted to run after half an hour of cycling through the weight of water. This was rendered impossible by the large gift bags we walked home with thanks to Dove® Men+Care™, the aquacycling class’s sponsor. I took the free stuff with a smile, nodded approvingly at the scent of the shampoo (which I decided to use myself in spite of it’s “manly” designation), and hugged my fellow aquacyclers goodbye. Something about going through the unfamiliar but exhilarating activity served as a bonding agent, supplying me, too, with all the endorphins necessary to walk twenty blocks home soaking wet.

Aqua Cycling, Dove® Men+Care™ Hair, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Dove® Men+Care™ Hair

Aqua Studio NY is located at 78 Franklin Street in Tribeca. The first NYC cycling studio to hold classes in a pool, it’s open seven days a week and offers a variety of classes ranging from beginner to way more intense. On the pricey side, trial classes cost $34 while single classes go for $40 and packages including 5 to 30 classes range from $190 to $990 (respectively), with options falling in between, as well. For more information, call the studio at 212-966-6784, or visit the website.

Theater Review: “Piece of My Heart”

by Ryan Leeds

For Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys told their tale(s) . For Carole King, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weill, Beautiful made them shine. For Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, the Jackson Five, and other notorious soul singers, Motown: The Musical had these legends taking center stage. For Bert Berns, it is the current off-Broadway tribute slash bio-pic show Piece of My Heart that has revitalized his legacy. Wait a minute…Bert who? Do you mean you’ve never heard of the man who penned the pop hit “Show Me Your Monkey?” Ok, probably not, but you likely have heard the show’s title song, made popular by Janis Joplin.

This is precisely the point of Piece of My Heart . Berns never reached the level of stardom and fame his singer-songwriter contemporaries of the sixties enjoyed, but in just seven years, he penned countless hits including “Hang On Sloopy”, “Here Comes the Night”, “I Want Candy”, “Tell Him”, and “Twist and Shout”. Book writer Daniel Goldfarb and the creative team behind this jukebox musical have set out to explain the story of a man who died all too young and whose business partnerships left his name as “nothing more than a footnote.” His life is a sad reminder of the corruption and lack of loyalty that often pervades a rise to the top. Still, there are plenty of joyful moments in the show and this accomplished cast offers some of the finest ensemble singing and dancing seen in quite some time.

Zak Resnick, who stars as Berns, brings just the right amount of drive, determination, and vulnerability to the role. It doesn’t hurt that his voice is capable of melting hearts either. Candace (De’Adra Aziza) , Berns girlfriend, is full of sass and verve. Upon meeting her “nice Jewish Boy”, she is quick to inform him that she is “experienced, knows all the down cats and is gonna blow his mind.” Aziza’s stage presence is commanding and her beautiful vocals are noteworthy. The always reliable Leslie Kritzer delivers another fine performance as Jessie, Berns daughter and a girl who never knew her father except through his music. Linda Hart stops the show as Ilene, Berns’ widow, in a rousing and hilarious number, “I’ll Be a Liar”

Goldfarb’s book is thin and much of the dialogue reads like a script from a Hallmark television movie. Yet it still shines a spotlight on a music legend whose contributions should not be overlooked nor forgotten. There is buzz about the show seeking a move to Broadway. Whether it does or does not remains to be seen. For now, it is worth a trip to The Pershing Square Signature Center to see and hear this hugely entertaining untold story from the archives of music history.

Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story, now playing off- Broadway through September 14th at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd Street Between 9th and 10th Ave). For tickets and information visit http://pieceofmyheartmusical.com .

Theater Review: Drop Dead Perfect

by Ryan Leeds

There’s no need to leave Manhattan in search of the ideal summer “camp”. All one needs to do is take a trip to the Theatre at St. Clements for a dose of Idris Seabright’s histrionics. Seabright, a Floridian old maid, is played with masterful comedic skill by Everett Quinton. Quinton is best known for his collaboration of the Ridiculous Theater company with his late partner Charles Ludlam. Through August 10, this “drag-tastic” performer is savoring each moment of extended gazes and glances as though they were his last theatrical bites on earth. Let us pray to Gods of comedy that they are not, as Quinton’s star turn in Drop Dead Perfect is absolute perfection.

Seabright resides in a shabby chic Key West beach house and is lamenting the potential loss of Vivien, a young lady (played with delicate drag charm by Jason Edward Cook) with her sights set on an art career in New York. More will be revealed on that relationship later. Phineas Fenn, Seabright’s lawyer, shows up to ply her with hallucinogenic pills. To add spice to the mix, a fiery Cuban named Ricardo (Jason Cruz) knocks on the door to sweep Idris off her feet.

The plot continues to unfold like a melodrama from the fifties and, under Joe Brancato’s direction, this wonderfully versatile cast makes the most out of each hyperbolic moment. Any show incorporating a dance to Yma Sumac’s “Malambo No. 1” not once, but twice, earns its’ mark for silliness of the highest quality. If you’ve never heard the song, watch it on youtube and brace yourself for a fit of giggles.

The script, which makes numerous references to TV’s I Love Lucy, is penned by Erasmus Fenn. After reading Fenn’s curious bio in the program, one must wonder if he and Quinton aren’t the same individual. Whether they are or aren’t makes no difference. This is one delicious piece of theater you’ll be glad you attended. Be advised, however: Drop Dead Perfect ends this Sunday, August 10th, so you’d better hurry. Oh, and leave the kiddies at home.

Drop Dead Perfect plays at Theatre at St. Clements. 423 West 46th street between 9th and 10th. For tickets and more information,visit http://www.dropdeadperfect.com/

Partners On FX Is Severely Lacking

by Michael Tyminski

Partners: Mondays at 9 Eastern on FX

FX has made a number of bold and interesting moves over the past few years – they focused on expanding their comedy division and had strong successes with Louie, Archer, and The League. Two years later, they laid the groundwork for a split into three networks: the FX we all know and love, comedy-centric FXX, and the movie channel FXM. Lately, the network has been an aggressive participant in the event series trend, with limited run series like the various seasons of American Horror Story and Fargo. However, they pay for all of these gambles from a trick they learned on one of their least critically acclaimed shows in the form of Anger Management, where they started using a 10 episode first season and 90 episode second season model to bring in top name stars for their newer shows, like they do with Monday’s new debut Partners.

Partners stars Kelsey Grammar and Martin Lawrence as two attorneys who start a legal partnership at their respective nadirs. Grammar’s character, Alan Braddock, is a hotshot attorney who just got fired from the family business and is making money doing some horrifically unethical legal work. Lawrence’s character, Marcus Jackson, on the other hand, is battling a divorce and has much of his work being performed pro-bono for baked goods. When the court forces the two to work together, they form a partnership in an attempt to be profitable and ethical something neither has completely grasped.

Partners is ultimately a mess. It’s pilot is an origin story that feels thrown together, with it’s points being held together with the absolute minimum of internal logic. The end result, is a story that feels not only rushed, but nonsensical at points due to the wild jumps of logic that the show makes. Furthermore, this show about lawyers seems to take a long detour into Braddock and Jackson being private investigators (while their assistants do seemingly nothing) at least once during every episode. Add in some tacked on family subplots by giving Braddock an unnecessary daughter and you have an incoherent plot soup.

Worse than that, much of Partners feels incredibly tired. Many of the the jokes feel like a raunchier version of something out of a 90’s sitcom (which is no surprise when you consider the showrunner is Robert Boyett whose mostly known for ABC’s TGIF block). This tiredness extends out to much of the line delivery, which for Lawrence especially feels flat and uninspired, as if it’s clear he took the script for the paycheck.

The one bright spot on the show is Grammar-himself, who keeps the same Grammar-esque pomposity and tone adds a little bit of the levity to the shows delivery. While normally I’m not a fan of someone hamming up on a sitcom, here it’s necessary if only to breathe life into the otherwise dull proceedings. Unfortunately, however, even that one bright spot is but a tiny shrub in the path of the awful tornado that Partners ultimately is.

The Final Verdict: The latest 10-90 experiment by FX, I would be surprised if Partners makes a second season. It mixes tired jokes, incoherent plotting, and mostly uninspired acting into what feels like an interminable 22 minutes. Skip this one, FX doesn’t misfire often, but Partners is a complete dud.

Theater Review: “Atomic”

by Ryan Leeds

The good news: An interesting and thought-provoking piece of theater is currently being staged off Broadway at Theatre row. The bad news: they’ve set it to music . In most cases, adding “the Musical” to any title is enough to make this reviewer giddy as a sugarplum fairy. Here however, we find a compelling story saddled by a mediocre score. Unfortunately, it diminishes the potency of an otherwise riveting tale.

Atomic is a new musical dramatization about the scientists responsible for The Manhattan Project, a top-secret initiative that led to the invention and eventual use of the atomic bomb. With Hitler’s Third Reich gaining momentum in Germany, American scientists were determined to be the first creators of such a nuclear weapon J.Robert Oppenheimer (Euan Morton) Leo Szilard (Jeremy Kushiner). Enrico Fermi (Jonathan Hammond). Arthur Compton (David Abeles) and Paul Tibbets (Randy Harrison) comprise this group of genius masterminds who left a literal and figurative mark on history.

Danny Ginges and Gregory Bonsignore have crafted a stimulating book that is equally as entertaining as it is educational. Years later, questions of ethical practicality in detonating the bombs over Hiroshima and Nagisaki remain . What makes Atomic tick, however, is that Ginges and Bonsignore do not inflict their personal views in the text. We witness both the actual faces of Japan’s human loss, and the conflicted faces of those physicists who believed that they were actually defending and protecting humanity for the universal good. Did we really need superfluous song and dance numbers for such questions to be raised? Not really–although the thought of injecting the Pointer Sisters “Neutron Dance” did come to mind. Still, fine performances, slick staging, brilliant lighting and solid direction by Damien Gray make this a worthwhile piece of live summer entertainment.

Atomic is playing now through Aug. 16 at the Acorn Theater on Theater Row, 410 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th aves. For tickets, call 212-239-6200, go to www.telecharge.com or visit the box office.

Ascension Party Heats Up Fire Island!!

by Ryan Shea

Hot Guys & Fun In The Sun At Ascension Party? Sign Me Up!

Ascension Party, the summer’s wildest weekend festival of music, dance and friendship takes place August 15-17 in the all-gay oasis of Fire Island Pines. Thousands of men from around the globe will flock to the sun drenched beaches for the three-day round-the-clock party that begins Friday night with the Ascension Underwear Party at Sip ‘N Twirl, headlined by DJ Grind. The fun continues Saturday at 6pm with the Ascension Tea Dance at Bay Walk featuring DJ Ralphie Rosario at the turntables, followed by Ascension Afterdark at Sip ‘N Twirl with DJ Theresa. The main event, the Ascension Beach Party on the Fire Island Pines beach, takes place Sunday at 12pm with superstar DJ Paulo. Tickets available now at Tagg NYC (720 9^th Ave, New York) and online at www.ascensionparty.com.

Project Publicity, Manhattan Digest, Ascension — Credit to: Project Publicity

In 2006, Eric von Kuersteiner had a vision to create a fun daytime party for the new generation of Fire Island. Since then, Ascension has grown into the island’s most anticipated and busiest weekend, with three days of stellar events, thousands of cute guys and unsurpassed entertainment—all raising money for charity, benefiting the Fund in the Sun Foundation. Since its inception eight years ago, the foundation’s directors – Hal Rubenstein, David Nickle and Eric von Kuersteiner – have raised more than $4 million for the protection of the environment and infrastructure of Fire Island Pines, while also donating grants to worthy LGBT charitable organizations. This year’s beneficiaries include the Hetrick-Martin Institute and the Harvey Milk High School; Live Out Loud; Friends In Deed, which provides support services for those with HIV/AIDS; One Heartland, which affords summer camping programs for GLBTQA kids; Standing Tall, which helps wheelchair-bound kids and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “The event raises money for some great causes but it’s also an explosive party featuring premiere talent and over-the-top production,” says von Kuersteiner. Previous Ascension entertainers include Kelly Rowland and Dragonette, as well as Erika Jayne, Kristine W, Neon Hitch and Crystal Waters. “Our team scours the US and abroad, attending all the major gay parties to scout the newest and hottest talent.” Sean Patrick Ryan produces the spectacular parties.

Manhattan Digest, Project Publicity, Ascension — Credit to: Project Publicity

“We offer incredible music, hot boys in sexy swimwear and the stunning backdrop of sunshine over the Atlantic Ocean”. von Kuersteiner concludes, “We assure you, you won’t be disappointed.” Ascension Party kicks off on Fire Island Pines: Friday, August 15 through Sunday, August 17, 2014 on Fire Island. Visit ascensionparty.com for ticket information.

Theater Review: “Pageant” `

by Ryan Leeds

Photo courtesy of Jenny Anderson. Looks courtesy of of make-up and a splash of mother nature — Photo courtesy of Jenny Anderson. Looks courtesy of of make-up and a splash of Mother Nature.

Wisconsin might be known for its‘ dairy but right now, New York is rivaling the mid-west state for cheese production in a revival of Bill Russell and Frank Kelley’s drag musical Pageant. Originally premiering in 1991, this spoof on beauty pageants pits six “ladies” from various parts of the country against one another to earn the title of Miss Glamouresse. One by one, each of the six contestants struts “her” stuff in swimsuit, talent, and interview competitions. The hair is sprayed, the nails are dried, the lashes done, the lipstick applied and…the tuck secure?!?

It turns out, underneath all of the perfectly flowing hair and dazzling dresses, that our bevel of beauties is really a bunch of beaus. Nick Cearley (Miss Great Plains), Nic Cory (Miss Industrial North East), Alex Ringler (Miss Texas), Marty Thomas (Miss Deep South), Seth Tucker (Miss West Coast), and Curtis Wiley (Miss Bible Belt) each make dazzling divas and shine individually throughout the show. The real standout here though, is John Bolton, who brings an unctuous charm to the evening’s proceedings as Frankie Cavalier. Channelling Pat Sajak, Bert Parks, and every other obsequious TV host, Bolton’s Cavalier is the stuff of parody heaven. As the night gets underway, our hammy host engages audience members to become the night’s judges.

Musically there is nothing particularly memorable in Pageant, but let’s be honest: No one intended this to be a sweeping epic with French flags and heroic war anthems. Much like a traditional beauty contest, the vacuity cup is filled to the brim. Thankfully, both the cast and audience are playfully self-aware and siphon every drop of glitter and camp from this amusing beauty bowl.

Pageant is now playing off Broadway at the Davenport Theatre, 354 West 45th Street between 8th and 9th. Showtimes are Saturdays through Mondays. For tickets and more information visit http://www.pageantmusical.com/

Hot Guys & Fun In The Sun At Ascension Party? Sign Me Up!

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