Manhattan Offender

The Manhattan Offender Interview: Tracy, the deejay

Number twenty-six in a series.

Interview after the jump.

YouTube Tuesdays: RuPaul returns

With a new album out, RuPaul is returning to a more of a downtown feel.  What better place to start than a return to the Meat Packing district?  Meat Packing used to be a place filled with transsexual prostitutes, drug dealers, sex clubs (straight and gay), and, of course, Florent.  It was a place that felt like home.  Now filled with acquisitions lawyers and the associate editors they're shagging, it is the perfect example of gentrification gone wrong.

RuPaul's Supermodel 2006 brings us back to Ru's and downtown's down and dirty days.  She even shares the camera (shocking) with a bevy of downtown girls (about half of whom I can name, but many of whom I've not seen before).

The Pines, vicarious video

Just to take you there, a quick clip of the beach in Fire Island Pines from Sunday.  Clean sand and clear sky.  Rolling waves and strolling guys.

Anatomy of a weekend

Craigslist ad.  Email exchange.  Phone call.
Google search of name.  Paypal payment.
Phone call on day of.  His arrival before mine.
Front desk for my key.

Check in.

Scant traces of a roommate are noted:
silver sweatpants with red stripe.
Best-selling Jewish Porn Films.
sunscreen.
My own traces are left behind:
black tank tops.
One-act Comedies of Moliere.
post-sun moisturizer.

Nap.
Wake up.  Dance.  Sunrise.
Return.

His traces undisturbed.
My bed is welcoming.

Wake up.  Brunch.  Beach.
Return.

His traces shuffled.
My clothes are transitioned.

Low Tea.  High Tea.
Return.

His traces rearranged.
My clothes are changed.

Pavilion:
Bottled waters. 
Shirtless men. 
Sweat-soaked jeans.
Silver sweatpants with a red stripe.

"Paul?"
"Rod."
Two-minute chat.
Return to  business at hand.

Dance.  Visit.  Sunrise.
Return.

His traces are disorderly.
My clothes are removed.

Wake up.  Brunch.  Beach.
Return.

His traces unchanged.
My clothes smell.

Shower.  Nap.  Pack.
Door opens.

"Paul?"
"Rod."
Paths are compared.
Stories are related.

His traces are packed.
My traces are packed.

Check out.  Fire Island Cherry Grove

Popper Monster escapes, wreaks havoc

There he is in a red camp-style shirt and vivid yellow knee-length shorts.  Looking like a cross between a high school gym coach and a high school cheerleader, he arrives at The Blue Whale for Low Tea.  He socializes, smiles, and chats with several people.  My camera is out of my pocket and is set to take a picture of him, the infamous Popper Monster.

Then it strikes me that Popper Monster is doing no wrong here (other than the outfit).  Maybe there has been a reformative episode in his life.  There is no apparent offensiveness happening; his demeanor is quite sober.  This is no pedophile whose picture should be posted as permanent punishment.  The camera is pocketed.

Several hours and one outfit later it is a different scene.  As DJ Escape spins an unmemorable set the floor at Pavilion is packed with a shirtless dancing crowd.  Suddenly, over the aroma of testosterone and sweat, another scent is in the air, familiar and terrifying.  The Popper Monster is in full swing searching out a shirtless back on which to lean.  My hand reaches for my back pocket, where the camera had been in my shorts for most of that day.  But the shorts are gone, and the back pocket of these jeans holds no room for a camera, just ass. 

The Popper Monster escapes my lens yet again.  Fire Island

Friday Funnies: The Hot Ladies of Memorial Day

What you smell is what you get

Coming your way on June 20 at the Bowery Poetry Club is the WYSIWYG Talent Show:  Way Gay:  Even Gayer Gay Gayness.  WYSIWYG is a monthly performance set featuring writers bloggers for the most part reading, or "interpreting" their posts.  As the topic is one on which so little is known they have chosen Rod Townsend (aka Manhattan Offender) to perform.

Which post to do since most posts here are way gay?  (Actually most are way, way gay.)  You'll have to attend to find the answer, but guesses are welcome (and guesses that it's my "Bio" are wrong, although appreciated.)  One guarantee is that it will be more than just a guy reading from behind a pedestal, but, as they have not responded to my questions regarding nudity, details cannot be released at this time.

Fire Island ferry schedules

With Memorial Day weekend, so begins the summer season.  Although the forecast doesn't promise perfect weather, any trip out of the city and away from cars and toward lots of boys is welcome. 

As a public service, please find below two foldable ferry schedules for the Pines and for Cherry Grove.  By folding along the lines you can create a 2-inch by 5 1/2-inch schedule, similar to the size of a LIRR train schedule, that can be easily kept at hand.

Download PINES Pocket Pal

Download CHERRY GROVE Pocket Pal

Expect much more Fire Island coverage here this summer. 

YouTube Tuesday: Oozinator? I don't even know 'er.

Have you bought your Bukainator Oozinator yet?  The must-have toy of the summer allows you to, um, shoot a white sticky substance all over your, um, buddies.  Operation is easy, just yank the, um, shaft a few times, point, and, um, shoot.  Um, buy yours today. 

The Manhattan Offender Interview: Greg, the performance artist

Number twenty-five in a series.

 

Interview after the jump.