N.Y. Scene is a monthly column that chronicles events of interest for lesbian and bi women in New York. Grace Chu has come out of lesbian scene retirement to navigate the vast and ever-evolving New York City scene, so you don’t have to.
Justin v. Justin @ Choice C–ts, Tammany Hall, New York, NY. Sept. 3, 2011
What is the most Sapphic party concept possible? Two for one microbrews for anyone sporting a fauxhawk? No, silly – it’s a Justin face off, as in Justin Timberlake versus Justin Bieber. One Justin has been named one of the Top 10 Lesbian-ish Men and the other Justin has a website dedicated to lesbians who look like him. Since lesbians are also overly competitive at things that don’t matter, a royal rumble between Timberlake and Bieber clones is hands down the most lesbian-ish party theme ever conceived.
On September 3, throngs of lesbians dressed as their favorite Justins descended upon Tammany Hall and watched local musicians duke it out on stage with their renditions of Bieber and Timberlake. The famed Kaki King, named one of “The New Guitar Gods” by Rolling Stone, was tapped to be the celebrity judge, but one of her tires blew out on the Long Island Expressway. (As locals know, the Expressway is anything but express, so it is apropos that its acronym is LIE.)
Nevertheless, the show went on. Local singer songriter Julia Weldon, who has booked gigs at esteemed venues such as Webster Hall and Mercury Lounge, won with her rendition of Bieber’s “Never Say Never,” and Lyris Hung came in a close second with a searing rendition of Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River.”
Photos by Maro Hagopian from Choice C–ts Justin v. Justin are below. Try not to get lovestoned.
Dustin Lance Black’s “8,” Eugene O’Neill Theater, New York, NY, September 19, 2011
On September 19, a one-night-only performance of Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black‘s docu-play 8, based on the trial that overturned California’s Proposition 8, wowed a packed house at the Eugene O’Neill Theater on Broadway. Yes, that Broadway.
Among those who walked the red carpet were the actual trial heroes, attorneys for the plaintiffs David Boies and Ted Olson, as well as the plaintiffs themselves: Kristin Perry, Sandra Stier, Jeff Zarrillo and Paul Katami.
The cast included Broadway stars such as Emmy and Tony Award winner Ellen Barkin, Tony Award winner Stephen Spinella, Tony Award nominee Jayne Houdyshell, and Kate Shindle. Morgan Freeman played attorney David Boies, and John Lithgow played attorney Ted Olson. ER star Anthony Edwards played an expert witness, and many other household names were also thrown into the mix.
Jayne Houdyshell delivered a hilariously cantankerous portrayal of marriage equality arch-nemesis Maggie Gallagher, and Rob Reiner‘s turn as a pompous expert witness had the audience in stitches.
The producers intend for others around the country to adopt the script a la Laramie Project and Vagina Monologues to stage their own productions of 8.
TruckStop @ Slate Lounge, New York, NY, September 30, 2011
And, of course, here’s yet another dose of photos from TruckStop, the monthly oozefest that splatters Chelsea with happy juice. I do this because I’m the resident photographer, and sharing is caring. Plus, every month I get a perverse enjoyment out of making all of you break out your hand sanitizers.
One day, long after we have destroyed all of humankind by our own shortcomings, I hope that intelligent life forms discover this photo in a time capsule so that they know just how advanced we really were.
And look! Jesus decided to make a pit stop at Truck Stop. Maybe humankind will be all right. Everybody’s shufflin’, including Jesus H. Christ!
Until next month!
