Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 529

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
During what threatened to become the
perfect storm, the silver rain sparkled onto
the macadamized New York City diamond
cement as Boxer’s Bar (Chelsea) became the
scene for the 2023 Get Out Magazine Awards.
Queens came in an array of glamorous drama
and designer feathers, along with the Award
recipients, including songwriter Desmond
Child, journalist extraordinaire Michael Musto
and House Music Award winning Irene Michaels
who was coincidentally scheduled to perform
her hit song “I Like Rain.”
The crystal awards dazzled on the table
while multi award winning DJ Steve Sidewalk
prepared for an evening of fierce entertainment
and fun. The flash from celebrity nightlife
photographer Billy Hess worked overtime as
MC Yuhua Hamasaki took the stage carrying
with her the excitement and anticipation the
night held.
The Get Out! Magazine Awards, produced and
executed by illustrious publisher Mike Todd
and the Get Out staff, was a night designed
to honor the LGBTQ bars and their managers
and staff, the queens and party promoters,
for the fabulous work they all do as part
of the nightlife frenzy in the New York and
New Jersey areas. Also honored were the
people who stand out as extraordinary. Those
included: Singer/songwriter Desmond Child
(Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting),
Composer and film scorer Randy Edelman
(Lifetime Achievement as Composer),
award winning singer Irene Michaels (Best
House Music Award), Bob the Drag Queen
(International Entertainer of the Year), Michael
Musto (Critics Choice Award), Tree Sequoia
(Legendary Bartender Award), Elvis Duran
(Radio Personality), World Star PR (LGBTQ
Entertainment Advocate) and Madonna
(Lifetime LGBTQ Ally Award).
The entertainment was beyond astounding and
included Fire Island superstar Ariel Sinclair,
the fabulous Desmond Child, the unique Eiby
Leandra, the over the top Octavia Anyae, the
feisty and fantastic FiFi Dubois, the vibrant
Jasmin Van Wales, the sexy and beautiful
Jizzabella, the vivacious and talented Lavinia
Draper, Broadway superstar Wade McCollum,
rock star Lovari, house music beauty Irene
Michaels, fierce diva Chara Confusion, and
other fierce divas. One of the highlights of the
evening was Michael Musto, who turned “Santa
Baby” into a satirical original about a deposed
Congressman, called “Santos Baby”. (Randy
Rainbow, watch out!). I have attended more
drag shows and variety shows than there are
stars in the universe, but the entertainment on
this night was an array of sensational….
The presenters represented nightlife’s finest
and included Wendy Stuart Kaplan, Billy Hess,
Ike Avelli, Nick Lion, Mark DeAlwis, Jizzabella,
Michael Musto, Clover Welsh, Ariel Sinclair,
Jackie Dupree, Lovari, Samara, and others.
A special thank you to those who helped….
Ariel, Wendy, and queens (You know who
you are)...to Danny, the manager of Boxers,
to Yuhua for hosting, to Mikhail Torich for
videoing the entire evening, to DJ Steve
Sidewalk, and Billy Hess (as always).
On behalf of Get Out Magazine, congratulations
to all and thank you to those who attended
and celebrated with us….and much heartfelt
appreciation to Michael Todd for everything he
does with his magazine for the best nightlife on
the planet……