Will Clark World

Lovehoney Wins as UKs First Ad for a Sex Toy Company

I have to admit I'm not much up on my sex toy advertising history - but Ad Age is reporting that this is the first daytime ad for a sex toy company (Lovehoney). Nothing about it really says 'toys' but that ad sure does sell sex. And how. Check it out for yourself (below)!

I'd ask when American TV is going to advertise for sex toys, but apparently last night's ep of THE OFFICE promoted COLT's Metal Waterproof Vibrator.

I haven't seen the ep but the PR guys at COLT tell me that the product is not only in the shot, but referred to several times and there are cutaways. Wouldn't you love to hear the backstory behind THAT???

 

Pic O Friday September 30th: Roger "Yolanda" Mapes and Robert Urban at The Duplex

If you want a guaranteed fabulous night of music, check out tonight's 9:30 show at the Duplex featuring Roger Anthony Yolanda Mapes and Robert Urban in a gay folk rock country blend unique to New York! Their last show sold out and this is expected to as well so don't miss this great night out!

The Duplex is located at 61 Christopher street and you can click here for deets and reservations. Meanwhile, check out this video from their last show!

 

TONIGHT Through Monday October 3rd: MY LAST PLAY

OK so I went to a really interesting theatrical experience a few months ago - and many months later I'm not convinced if I was fooled into feeling sorry for someone or if it was one of the most brilliant theatrical pieces I've ever been to. Or both.

Let me explain.

MY LAST PLAY is a play written and performed by playwright Ed Schmidt who up until recently performed the show in his Carroll Garden's apartment living room until he received a cease and desist letter from his landlord (yikes). Not only that, his lease wasn't renewed.

If all that wasn't tragic enough for you, consider that Mr. Schmidt's life story is rather bleak and sad - near misses with greatness, blown opportunities - and that with this production, Schmidt is giving up on his dream of becoming a known/published/produced playwright. And signaling the end of this career, he's been giving away his 2,000+ theatre book collection, one at a time to those who come to the show.

The kicker is that there's a kind of twist in the back at the end that makes you feel like a chump for investing a lot of emotion into this guy's life story. Or is it all true and he's just told his audience that so they'll leave with a modicum of hope that this guy isn't going to blow his brains out the minute you walk out the door? This is the beauty of this brilliant piece of theatre.

Well, he's still alive and performing the play - for a few more nights that is, at the Powerhouse Arena located at 37 Main Street (corner of Main and Water Streets), Dumbo, Brooklyn. Ticket price is $25 and includes a book more or less of your choice. Given that there are just a few books left, you won't have that many choices of course. :)

I think what intrigues me the most about this show isn't the theatricality of giving books away (although it is realy a neat concept especially since he gives a story about each book to you, the new owner) or of his performance (Schmidt is a brilliant person and a decent actor) but that months later I am still thinking about this piece. And isn't that the aim of really good theatre - to make you think? To stay with you long after the show is over? To move you? MY LAST PLAY does all of that and more.

The last shows are tonight at 7, Oct 1st and Oct 3rd both at 7pm Click here for tix and if you go, let me know what book you got.

 

Traveling to San Fran on Nov 7th? Catch the cast of HAIR!

If you find yourself in San Fran on November 7th, consider checking out the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation's special presention of a one night only benefit cabaret featuring the touring cast of HAIR (although songs from HAIR will not be performed... weird, huh?), with comic/writer Bruce Vilanch, Jai Rodriquez and Jeanie Tracy. That's at Marine's Memorial theatre 609 Sutter Street at 7:30 and you can grab tickets for this special event by clicking here!

Meanwhile, if you're in San Francisco and you really need to hear the songs from HAIR, the national tour plays at the Golden Gate Theatre October 25th - November 20th.

 

Flaming Saddles Saloon. A Name So Gay It HAS To Be Good!

You know, in an era where bars have lost a little of their sense of humor (although "Boxers" is a cute name for a bar), you know that the bar has to be pretty confident in it's ability to draw a crowd, stay the course and become a fixture if it names itself The Flaming Saddles Saloon (opening Monday October 3rd here in New York at W. 53rd Street and 9th Ave). Thankfully more than "just another bar" the Flaming Saddles is a country western bar - it's been a long time since I've seen a bar open with a theme - as much as I love Boxers, opening a sports themed bar in an era of gay assimilation isn't exactly going out on a limb creatively.

The biggest question will be - will it have enough of a C/W crowd to stay open or will it fold faster than Miss Kitty's legs after a customer has done their bizness? Time will tell. But the press for the opening indicates that the bartenders will be dancing -- which just sort of gives me visions of a gay Coyote Ugly (embarassingly I'm not sure that's such a bad thing - why is it that gay bar bartenders have to be stiff and flexed and serious all the time anyway?)

With the long term success of the Big Apple Ranch's once a month Saturday night two stepping night, I'm sure the powers that be feel that New York is ready for something more. And a gay dance club where everyone has to touch may just be the tonic in our Grindr influenced world where touching seems to be the point of the activity but getting there (ie getting to the point of hooking up) is often impersonal and isolating.

Yesterday I reported that the Pieces team is looking at a location up at 10th Ave and W. 48th and as you all no doubt know, the aforementioned Boxers has also been trying to secure a space in midtown.

It's not a shock to anyone that Chelsea's nightlife has been dead for some time - Barracuda and Gym Bar are still going strong and Rawhide sort of will eternally exist in it's own 1977 time warp from now until after armageddon..and XS is still around but it too lives in it's own little bubble... but RIP the multitudes of gay bars (buh bye View Bar) and restaurants (I miss you Food Bar) that used to define the strip. Even the West Village has a healthier gay life than Chelsea (although not only is that not saying much, but that won't be true for very much longer. You can put good money down that the days are numbered for Hanger, Ty's and Boots & Saddles).

While I could (and have) discussed why the disappearance of gay nightlife in two of the most iconicly gay areas of New York City is not a good thing, at one point even I have to metaphorically throw my hands up in the air, allow West Villagers and Chelseaites to make their own mistake of turning their neighborhoods into strip malls (Chipotle is good but really, it's better than a gay bar.. how? discuss.), and go with my peeps to midtown.

If you are looking for something to do Monday night, join the crowd at the Flaming Saddles (the name just begs to be typed over and over again) Saloon for an opening night soirre starting at 9pm that will knock your boots off and put fire in yer belly. Sign up on their email list to get up to the minute offers for you and your peeps. See you there, whooopie ky yi yay!

 

Thursday Dance Break w/Wynter Gordon "Buy My Love"

This is a cute, campy, pop song by the fabulous diva herself, Wynter Gordon.. take a listen and if you find yourself butt dancing in your chair, just get up and dance (although I suppose if you're at your day job, probably not the best idea! LOL) The video was directed by Bec Stupak who is making quite a name for herself directing all sorts of neat videos by pretty awesome talent. Go Bec!

 

Marylouise Burke Is Your New Drinking Buddy

Marylouise Burke -- who is just an awesome actress -- stars in this music video extolling the virtures of being a gay man's favorite drinking buddy.. this is just the kind of intel you want before you go out on the town. Directed by Kaz Phillips Safer of Cat Bird Pictures 

 

New Music: "Show Me" Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta - An End of the Work Day Dance Break

 

TONIGHT ON THE WILL CLARK SHOW: BYOT (BRING YOUR OWN TIARA)

The Will Clark Show featuring P*rno Bingo at Pieces (8 Christopher Street near 6th Ave between Greenwich and Gay Streets)

Hosted by Will Clark with Photographer: AB and DJ Chris Padilla

Sponsored by NEXT Magazine, Steel Gym, ID Lube, Eden Fantasies & DaddyHunt

New York’s Imperial Court is the beneficiary for tonight’s show – and so you know there’ll be glitter and makeup everywhere! Come on down to meet Imperial Sovereign Majesty, Empress XXV Pepperica Swirl, Imperial Crown Princess Royale Witti Repartee (the next Empress of the Imperial Court) and Imperial Crown Prince Royal Ritz Kraka!

PLUS a special appearance by Bianca Leigh who is appearing in a new one woman show at the Laurie Beechman on Monday nights (click here to find out more about this awesome show) with songs by Jeff Witty (Avenue Q), Taylor Mac (The Lily's Revenge) and many more.

And just because the show isn't fabulous enough, as a special treat, I'll have performer Davi Santos coming in to talk a little bit about a new show he's in - an all male version of SALOME produced by Femme Fatale Productions!

Win XXX flix, Bianca and SALOME tix and all sorts of erotic prizes!

About the Imperial Court

The Imperial Court of New York is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization that has donated over a million dollars since its inception in 1986. The Court has gained recognition in the tri-state New York City region for the tireless work it has done on behalf of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

ONE MORE LIFE TO LIVE FOR THE PIECES TEAM

Everyone who reads this blog knows the drama extraordinaire that we all went through this summer with CB2, the Community Board and the landlord of the proposed new space. It was an intense time that ended in an incredibly joyful night of celebrating a hard fought victory after the Community Board's approval of the move .. but one that was quickly lost again when the landlord of the new space reneged a half hour before the signing.

Flashforward to today when word has come from Pieces management that there is a new space in midtown that the Pieces team will move to - with Community Board approval of course. So, here we go again. Again.

If I could trouble each of you reading this to click on this link http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/tenth/index.html to sign a petition that will be sent to the Community Board telling them that you love the Pieces team and support the new business! AND of course if you could send off to your friends, fans, frenemies and loved ones and have them sign too, that would be awesome.

Last time we collected over 4,000 signed (paper) statements from Pieces patrons. This time, it's a million times easier (and more environment friendly!) and so naturally it would help to have as strong of support.

With your help, when Pieces closes it's doors on Christopher Street in the spring, the team will move up to mid-town and continue to bring you the same awesomeness that we do now. (I need to stress here btw that the new venue will most likely not be called "Pieces" but will be a new creation... maybe rather than the fractured image that 'Pieces' conjures, maybe it should be called Whole... which might be too much like Hole for the community to handle.... although there IS a new bar opening up in the area called ... wait for it .... yes Flaming Saddles - I kid you frakkin not)

On a personal note, it's a kind of cool, special thing that the proposed place is just an avenue over from the original space of the Will Clark Show. It would be like going home again. And wouldn't that be a nice 7th year anniversary present (the Anti-Violence Project will be the benefiary and will help us celebrate on Wednesday February 15th, join us!)

Stay tuned for updates!