Eventually, there would be about 175 partygoers, but this smaller group arrived early - showing identification and proof of COVID-19 vaccination at the door, first - for orientation and a consent workshop, which Hacienda requires for guests who are new to sex parties, new to Hacienda parties, or both. The party that evening, Fucked-Up Fairytale, was slated to start in earnest in a half hour. The basement - and the rest of the three-floor brick townhome above it - was owned by Hacienda, which functions both as a live-in community and an organizer of sex parties and educational workshops.
Lining the periphery of the room were beds - mattresses on the floor with dark-gray sheets - on which, in a matter of hours, many of these people would be having sex. Many wore costumes: There was a young woman with fairy wings, a devil-angel duo, a trio draped in ivy. Check out the latest issue of Metrosource available on newsstands or visit Metrosource.On a Saturday night in August, in a cavernous basement in Bushwick, Brooklyn, about 60 people milled around under a ceiling covered in cherry-red twinkly lights. On this episode, we chat with Randy and Fenton about the early days of World of Wonder, the evolution of drag, the reality of reality TV, the power of social media, breaking into Hollywood, their special relationship with RuPaul, DragCon, and their message to their fans for Pride…with host Alexander Rodriguez.
What started out as a dream with barely any money to buy a fax machine has turned into a global conglomerate with award-winning TV shows, web series, live events, podcasts, films, and documentaries that have bridged the gap between LGBTQ+ and mainstream programming. The team celebrates 30-plus years since they founded the multi-media empire that is World of Wonder, responsible for some of our community’s most trailblazing queer content, giving voice to underrepresented artists, icons, and activists. This dynamic duo, along with their award-winning team, have not only made RuPaul’s Drag Race a mainstream success but have been designated by Variety for having the biggest impact in reality TV. Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey are superheroes of reality TV. Read Next | Our List of the Top Gay Bars in New York City Read Next | LGBT Friendly Gyms and Fitness Classes in NYC Want Metrosource LGBTQ content notifications? Sign up for MetroEspresso. During Pride, you could move that time up to when the doors open.Īcross town in the East Village, The Cock likes to live up to its dive bar reputation, which has everything to do with the mass groping and more downstairs and absolutely nothing to do with poultry, other than the occasional glimpses of the chicken and chicken hawks referenced in cheap ’70s porn. Generally, the guys get frisky on the weekends after midnight. The Seattle Eagle has a dance floor where random acts of kink can break out in the twinkling of an eye, and NYC’s Eagle is three floors and a rooftop patio of shirtless men wearing harnesses and chaps. LA’s Eagle is laid-back and about as threatening as the set of Cheers. You could say there’s only one Eagle, and gay men around the world would know precisely what you mean: hairy, burly, more mature leather-clad men on the prowl and likely more on the kinky and promiscuous side. But these baths do schedule men-only hours Thursday (12pm-5pm) and Sunday (8am-2pm) and the clientele is known to get quite busy. In fact, they’re typically co-ed European style venues. Turkish and Russian baths are not at all gay. Don’t let the “kid friendly” Yelp reviews scare you off. Northern Men’s Sauna & Health Club (3361 Farrington St.) in Queens. It also has a reputation for a “more diverse” crowd. West Side Club (27 West 20th St.) is another two-star facility on the edge of Chelsea, with facilities and options nearly identical to its cousin across town. Lockers, showers, steam and sauna are the amenities. The East Side Club (227 E 56th St.) on the east side of midtown carries a rating of two stars. Les Hommes (217B W 80th St) Located on the Upper West Side, a $10 admission sends you through a turnstile, and then the rest is up to you.