Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 506

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N O W B O A R D I N G
3 5 5 W 4 1 S T S T B T W 8 T H & 9 T H N Y C

BY JIM SILVESTRI
DANIEL NARDICIO
OPENS OUR EYES (AND EARS)
TO RED EYE NY
Hi, Daniel. Thanks for chatting today! How
was the Hot Sardines show at Birdland
the other night?
The Sardines are my absolute favorites. The
show was a fucking rollicking good time. I will
have them at Red Eye soon, so keep your
eyes peeled. I took my biz partner Taylor,
who got stares because let’s just say Covid
has made his ass even more...zaftig. As I like
to say: When I tell Taylor to haul ass, it takes
him two trips! We had fun.
Things are really coming along with Red
Eye NY, the new bar/venue/coffee house
you (along with your business partners
Taylor Shubert, Adam Klesh and Sam
Benedict) are opening right next to the
Port Authority in Manhattan. What’s
something you’ve learned about building
your own business from scratch that folks
who want to do the same need to know?
PATIENCE–something I’m not known for. It’s
been a long, arduous process of building a
club from scratch. And location is key! During
the “pan-Demi Lovato”, I kept telling people
on social media that THIS IS THE TIME
TO OPEN YOUR OWN BUSINESS. Rents
were down, NYC was sad, and we all had
time. I was busted, disgusted and couldn’t
be trusted...But I pulled myself up by my bra
straps and came up with this business plan
almost two years ago (December 18th). I
started looking at venues, and there were
a LOT. But then we found this space and
this “locache” is a trade parade! Married
trade walking by from Port Authority, Jersey
trade, Black trade, white trade, Broadway
trade...it’s all flopping around 41st Street.
Buses just delivering men to our doorstep.
LITERALLY. That’s when we knew we’d
found it. We called my officemate Gil Neary–
he invested in it as well–and bam, we started
construction, which has taken FOREVER.

Let’s talk about what we can expect
from Red Eye. First off...coffee! Folks
can get their caffeine on during
daytime hours with a full service,
upscale coffee bar as soon as you walk
in. What’s the coffee business like, and
what will make Red Eye special to that
effect?
Well, lots of my friends like...how shall I
say it? Let’s just say people love to be
“up” in the club, so we are blending our
love of coffee culture with nightlife to
create a buzzy, late-night hang, which
is more natural than some uppers, sans
fentanyl, and will get your twirl on! Plus
daytime, which is unique–you can come in
from 7 A.M. on and have a coffee, cruise,
work on your great American novel, read
or listen to your favorite podcast- LIVE!
Sam (Benedict) is creating a cunty coffee
menu that will get you up so you can carry
on. Our motto is “Come for the coffee, but
stay for the TEA!”
You’re gonna have something during
the earlier hours that not many other
venues have in NYC: live podcasts! We
all love podcasts. Freddie Cosmo and I
are doing one right now, upstairs from
Red Eye, that will move downstairs
into the venue when it’s ready for us!
How amazing and talented are we, and
who else might podcast fans be able to
see (and hear) on that stage?
First off, you guys are so fun in your
podcast! I used to have a podcast with
Bianca Del Rio called Dlist Radio from
2006-2009 and the press named me “the
Podfather”, so I think I can safely say I
know a little about the platform! Covid
was very...traumatic for me, as I am sure
it was for many, so I listened to a lot of
podcasts. Plus Sam and I produced a
serial podcast with Lorne Michaels (SNL)
for Audible that was a hit, so we worked
in that world and have a relationship
with Audible, who are bringing us a few
popular ones, so we figured why not bring
our love of podcasts to the coffee bar? So
from 4-7 during happy hour, you can go
in the back and listen to you and Freddie
talk about nightlife, amongst other Pods!
Plus we are talking to Nicky Doll about
one in French (!), Ty Sunderland and
Linux about their wild nights out, obvi a
Drag Race one, and I am working on one
called Trigger Warning that will get my few
detractors into a tizzy. And a fun political
one from Taylor. He’s a hothead, so get
ready!
In later hours, Red Eye will become a
full service bar with a huge stage that
could showcase a variety of shows,
from drag to jazz to musicals to movieviewing
parties. What have you got
planned?
Well, as people who loved Club Cumming
know, I book everything from underwear
parties to New Orleans jazz bands. We
love live music and naked boys, so I
am always looking for ways to combine
those two things. When I say “boys,” I
mean men...I’m not Alan Picus or Michael
Cohen.
We have a huge big band called the
Big Swing on December 30th with
performances by Jeanna de Waal (Diana
the Musical), Seth Sikes, Cacophony
Daniels and Amber Martin, which will
have a 1920’s swing vibe. Then we bring
you John Cameron Mitchell and others for
a Jayne County Tribute night where the
proceeds benefit translifeline.org
PHOTO CREDIT: WILSONMODELS

Then, of course, Bette Bathhouse and
Beyond, Devil Wears Nada and our
infamous legendary underwear parties.
And a major focus on dance-with DJ’s
like Johnny Dynell, Alexis Tucci, Joey
with the Mustache, Corey Craig, Ana
Matronic...etc.
And the downstairs area will open
later, but I believe anyone who’s been
a fan of your Ice Palace underwear
parties will be quite happy there! What
can you tell us about that enterprise?
What can I say? Cock is my business
and business is good! Downstairs will
open a couple weeks later than upstairs,
as we have some surprises in store.
We’re affectionately calling downstairs
the Cockpit, as we had to dig four feet of
the basement out to create it. It’s a sexy
bunker of music and men, which will host
shenanigans like Strip Trivia, techno,
a rock and roll sexy party called Dirty
Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap), a cock shot
luge, and no drag queens shouting “Make
Some Noise” at you–that’s relegated to
upstairs.
Everyone wants to know...when will
RedEye open?
Mid December, 100%. It’s been a nail
biter for sure. But as Elton John told my
buddy Jake Shears after the Scissor
Sisters’ first album was a hit and the
record company was pressuring him
for a second: “Take your time. No one
will remember if it (the second album)
took long. They WILL remember if it was
good.” Red Eye NY is a combination of
all the things I’ve learned from owning
and working in other clubs. I took what
I learned, realized that gay guys (and
everyone else) don’t really have a
daytime, non drunken place to hang out
and flirt, and we set upon building that.
Tell us more about the event you
booked for the night before NYE: “The
Big Swing” featuring Vince Giordano
and the Nighthawks, Amber Martin,
Seth Sikes and Jeanna de Waal.
Yes, I love Vince. And Jeanna, Seth and
Amber are some of my faves as well–
plus we added Cacophony Daniels to the
lineup! It’s gonna be a perfect date night
to celebrate NYE Eve.
PHOTO CREDIT: WILSONMODELS

A booster that targets
the COVID-19 variants?
Bullseye.
All New Yorkers 5 years and
older should get a new bivalent
COVID-19 booster today.
To learn more,
visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder
or call 877-VAX-4NYC.
Eric Adams
Mayor
Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD
Commissioner
Speaking earlier of the Ice Palace in
Cherry Grove, Fire Island...y’all bought it
and you’re gonna put a lot of work into
renovations. That’s another massive
undertaking we’re all looking forward to!
What can you tell us about the current
state of the Ice Palace and what you
might be planning on doing with it?
We gutted the old bitch, threw away 20
years of old speakers and mixers and I
think we even found an old drag queen
in the back! Not to say anything negative
about the old owner, but it needed a
desperate infusion of love and caring and
programming. I am bringing back the Icon
Series to the Palace, with some major
Broadway talent, plus my faves Maragret
Cho, Dina Martina and jazz band the Hot
Sardines, plus my sistrix Ana Matronic is
coming on board as Ice Palace historian
and resident DJ to bring back the historical
Tea Dances, Nicky Doll and I are working
on a big party together, and there will be a
complete overhaul of lights and sound–the
old girl’s getting a nip and tuck! Plus my
brother Adam (Klesh) is booking Saturday
night DJ and giving you the Saturday night
you deserve, the way the Pavilion used to
do it.
Anything else you wanna plug or
mention? Are you buying the Q, lol?
Haha, my dance card is full. Nowadays,
I’m getting people writing me and asking
me to invest in their ideas, and I’m like “I
cannot invest any more time into the gay
scene. Daddy needs to read a book now
and again.”
Finally: What’s the best liquor that goes
with coffee?
You’d have to ask Sam about specific
drinks, but I’m kind of vibing on this banana
liqueur we have in the club now. A splash
of that in your espresso and it cures what
ails ya!

ISSUE #506
COVER MODELS:
FELIPE TORO
& KEDWIN
Photography by
Wilsonmodels
PUBLISHER MICHAEL TODD
MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM
DESIGN AGOTA CORREA
AGOTA@GETOUTMAG.COM
CELEBRITY INTERVIEWER EILEEN SHAPIRO
@EILEENSHAPIRO3
NYC’S NIGHTLIFE AWARD WINNING BLOGGER/
WRITER & INTERVIEWER JIM SILVESTRI
NIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER WILSONMODELS
JEASO86@HOTMAIL.COM
The publications of MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT, getoutmag.com or any
other related print or Web publications or social media accounts, their images,
quotations or articles should not be construed to be an indication of the sexual
orientation of anyone portrayed therein.
All Content © Copyright 2019
MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT
25-21 45TH STREET ASTORIA, NY 11103
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT EST. 2009

• BODY
MASSAGE
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MASSAGE
• FOUR
HANDS
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348 W 52ND ST. NYC

KEDWIN ZAPATA
GET OUT MAGAZINE’S BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
PHOTO CREDIT: WILSONMODELS
Get Out magazine proudly
celebrates the announcement of
Kedwin Zapata as Bartender of
the Year. He is being recognized
for his dedication to New York
nightlife, his hard work, and
his relentless and inspirational
positivity. Working as a
mixologist–which he considers
his dream vocation–Kedwin
lives in “a constant state of
gratitude.”
You can meet Kedwin, if you
haven’t already, for Happy
Hour at Hush Bar on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, 5pm
to midnight. Also, Fridays at
Boxers HK and Saturdays at
Boxers Chelsea. Here is our
interview.
INTERVIEW
Hi, Kedwin. What inspires
your spirituality and
positivity?
Great question! What
truly motivates my desire
to live in a constant state
of gratitude is being fully
aware that we only have this
one life. We have to think
of ourselves as a human
magnet, constantly attracting
what we speak, think and
feel. So I gotta make sure
it’s good shit, lol.
What best describes the
themes of the bars you
work at?
Diversity, for sure!
What is your favorite part
of your job(s)?
I get to do what I love. Day
in/night out. I get to spread
my joy through the art of
mixology.
You run a one-man staff
at Hush Bar’s Happy Hour
and you choose and play
the music videos, as well
as bartending. We haven’t
heard music this great
since back in the day at
Splash Bar Chelsea. That’s
a super huge compliment.
Let the readers know the
artists you play, because
it’s very hard to get up and
leave; every song makes
you want to stay longer.
I would have to say it’s
the best music at any
venue for happy hour. You
play everything from the
‘80s to the hottest tracks
currently out.

We already know we can
include Mariah Carey on
this list. Who are others?
Haha, that is a huge
compliment. Thank you,
Mike! I feel like I have keen
taste in music, lol--like
there’s not a genre I do not
like or do not listen to. I gotta
say, though, that we have
an advantage. You know
us late ‘80’s/90’s babies.
Music back then was not
what it is now. There’s so
much nostalgia connected
to the music from that era.
From hiphop, pop, R&B,
house, reggaeton–shit,
even country, lol…like
wow…so it’s my job to
teach the children of today
what they’ve been missing,
lol. I love to mix the old
school with the new school.
So anything from Donna
Summer, Tina Turner and
Janet Jackson to Dua Lipa,
Kim Petras, Cardi etc. I love
it. I love music. And I love to
see folks jammin’ to it during
Happy Hour.
What are the daily
challenges you encounter
when working all the time?
Me time, lol. But I have
my day in which I sit and
relax, refuel, re-evaluate.
That’s super important. And
if you need more than one
day, please take it. Nothing
matters more than your
mental health, especially in
this type of business. But
like I mentioned, I love what
I do, so it’s rare for me to be
in an overwhelming state.
But when I am–vacation
time, lol!
If you could choose your
dream job, what would it
be and why?
Already living the dream.
But “dream”-wise, Mariah
Carey’s journal. I want to be
her journal. Write on me!!!
Lol
What is your motivation
for posting so much on
social media?
Dang, you’re gonna put me
on the spot like that, lol. I
don’t know if I love social
media, but I will say that
social media is a powerful
tool to reinforce habits of
thought. So, knowing that,
I try to make sure what I
post, aside from promoting
parties, etc., comes from a
place of love, growth and
awareness of self, even in
my thirst traps, lol. When
scrolling through social
media, ask yourself “How is
this serving me?” If it ain’t
bringing you any type of
comfort, joy, laughs, etc.,
delete and block, boo.
What are your plans for
the upcoming holidays
and how will that affect or
inspire jobs?
I love the holidays! Not only
because I’m a December
baby, but I freakin’ love
everything about it. Family
time, for sure–that’s what
I treasure the most. I’ll be
taking my mom on her
first out-of-the-U.S trip in
January, so that’s gonna
be pretty exciting. Jobwise,
the holidays are a busy
season, both in the bars and
outside (corporate stuff). It’s
a beautiful season to get
creative…and festive! Haha.

We always see from your
posts that you spend
Sundays–your day off–
with mom. What else do
you enjoy doing when
you have free time?
Oh, yes, Sunday is mama
day! For the early start, at
least, lol. I enjoy Sundays
so much. I love to catch
up on my favorite shows/
movies, date nights, my
reads–a little porn, lol. It’s
just the perfect day to reset
and/or spend it with loved
ones. I would never work
another Sunday in my life,
lol.
What do you enjoy
most in dealing with the
people you encounter at
work?
How much in common we
all have! How we’re all
dealing with or have dealt
with similar issues and life
shenanigans. That’s the
beauty of working happy
hour during the weekdays
because I can be busy,
but not busy enough to the
point where I can’t have
multiple conversations,
lol. Everyone has a story.
And the following day a
developing story, lol. It’s
like therapy, but with spirits
involved.
Speaking of which:
Do you have a favorite
drink?
My go-to, if I’m out and
about (rare occasion),
is vodka and Red Bull
because I’m always sleepy,
lol. But I do enjoy a nice,
refreshing, well measured
cocktail. Anything vodka,
rum, tequila would do.
What do you like
best about New York
nightlife?
The friendships I’ve made
throughout my years.
The customers who have
been there with me since
day one–a good 12 years
now. How things change,
which brings in new
faces, new experiences.
New businesses. New
opportunities. Nightlife
would never drift away.
What are you most
grateful for?
My parents’ health. My
family. My friends.
You’ve always worked
at the hottest venues in
NYC, usually several at
a time. What are your
venue nights and times
you currently work now?
Well, thank you!
Currently @ HUSH BAR
Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday at LECHE (at
HUSH BAR)
Fridays @ BOXERS IN HK
(LATINX)
Saturdays @ BOXERS IN
CHELSEA
I want to end this interview
by giving a huge THANK
YOU to Mike Todd and
Eileen! Thank you for
continuously serving
our community. Get Out
magazine, you rock!
Happy Holidays! Xoxo

LGBTQ
Believe in Fairy Tales again
MONDAY, 12.12.22
BOOK LAUNCH
Benefitting
The Ali Forney Center
7-9pm
Reading @ 8:00pm
505 E. 6th St.
$30 Donation
includes one copy of Sprookje
& a complementary gift
Available on Amazon
anthonyvanleeuwen.com
@anthonyvanleeuwen
"There's no other way to say it...Anthony van Leeuwen's
writing is quite like magic. Whimsy, heartache and longing
live in these pages. Sprookje is both Shakespearian and
unapologetically queer. Anthony van Leeuwen inspires us
to seek our own fairy tales, and in doing so, to find healing
in unexpected ways."
—MICHAEL GRAVES, Author of Parade and Dirty One
A true story that began in Amsterdam at Club Cockring
& led to New Amsterdam 22 years later at Club Cumming.
Come be a part of it!

BY JIM SILVESTRI
DRAG QUEEN OF THE MONTH
PISSI MYLES
BEST DESCRIPTION OF
MY DRAG:
I’m like if Bette Midler had
a smaller penis.
HOW MANY YEARS I’VE
BEEN AT IT:
Most would say “too
many”.
PHOTO CREDIT: JASMINE RICE
ORIGINAL HOMETOWN:
Asbury Park, NJ
FAVORITE NUMBER TO
DO:
At Wendy’s, the number 2.
At McDonald’s, it’s like drag
roulette. Onstage, though,
I love doing my parody
“Zing! Went the Streams of
My Shart”. Always a crowd
pleaser at brunch.
FAVORITE COSMETIC
PRODUCT:
Haus Labs’ new lip
lacquer. I can’t imagine
what they put in it to
make it so high gloss
and transfer-proof at the
same time. It’ll probably
give me lip cancer, but
my god, I’ll be the most
gorgeous girl in the
mausoleum.
REASON I STARTED DRAG:
The same reason every homosexual in New
York started drag. I got a degree in musical
theater.
MOST IMPORTANT DIVA EVER:
Paul Lynde
A DRAG PERFORMER I ADMIRE:
I adore Lady Bunny. Adore. ADORE. This
damn voice-to-text…ABHOR.

BEST THING ABOUT DRAG:
Making people laugh, especially
when it happens on purpose.
WORST THING ABOUT DRAG:
The 80 pounds you put on eating
at diners and bodegas every
night.
THE MAN OF MY DREAMS:
Colonel Sanders
DRINK OF CHOICE:
Sunkist diet orange soda. If
I could just get a fountain
of that in my kitchen, I think
I could finally call myself a
success.
WEIRDEST DRAG MOMENT
I’VE EVER HAD:
Interviewing Kamala Harris in the
midst of a hypoglycemic episode.
My blood sugar was so low, I was
seeing double, and I couldn’t
tell which one of her was real. I
think I accidentally directed all of
her questions to Pete Buttigieg,
who had two faces, even after my
blood sugar came around.
BEST ADVICE TO
A NEW QUEEN:
Eat a Snickers
before you
interview
Presidential
candidates.
WHERE TO FIND
ME:
Mondays at
Rise Bar in
Hell’s Kitchen,
Thursdays at
Pieces in the
Village, and
for all other
appearances,
you can check
my socials @
PissiMyles!