I recently took a very large bite out of the Big Apple on a quick long-weekend trip to New York, a special birthday gift to myself. I absolutely love this fabulous city for countless reasons—from the shopping and Broadway to the gay scene, the restaurant scene, and the endless fun to be found everywhere in between.
My friend Jeff Mallon and I flew out mid-morning on Thursday on Delta. Jeff was kind enough to let me use his guest pass to the Delta Lounge, which—if you’ve never been—is one of the most fabulous places in our airport. There’s an open bar, delicious buffet-style food, snacks, beverage service, and large, comfortable seats perfect for relaxing. Honestly, I could have spent my entire vacation there and been perfectly content.
We left on time and landed at LaGuardia in the early afternoon. And by the way, LaGuardia is a lovely airport as well. We grabbed our bags and quickly headed into the city to our hotel, Pod Times Square, right in the heart of everything. It was very cool and extremely affordable—around $150 per night in Times Square. And don’t let the name scare you off; you’re not sleeping in a tiny cube. The rooms are small, but the bathroom was a normal size, and I booked a room with a double bed, which was more than enough for me—especially since all I really did there was sleep.
The hotel also had a surprisingly fabulous rooftop terrace and a trendy bar, where most of the guests seemed to be foreigners. Once we checked in, we hit the ground running and bought tickets to a new play that had just opened called Messy White Gays. And really, with a name like that, how could it not be funny?
The premise is this: it’s Sunday morning in Hell’s Kitchen. Brecken and Caden have just murdered their throuple boyfriend and stuffed his body into a Jonathan Adler credenza. Unfortunately, they’ve also invited friends over for brunch. What happens next is a nonstop laugh riot as they attempt to cover up their crime while hosting said brunch. Think Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope mixed with The Boys in the Band.
Writer and star Drew Droege has created a quick-witted, laugh-out-loud funny show that fires on all cylinders. It also features one of my favorite social media darlings—and total scene stealer—Pete Zias. I absolutely love him.
After the show, we headed to a late dinner at Bar Centrale. This intimate restaurant is popular with the after-theater crowd and is known for plenty of star sightings. They make a mean martini. My go-to menu favorites are the potato skins and the grilled cheese sandwich. After numerous cocktails and some excellent people-watching, we headed back to the hotel just a few short blocks away.
The following day was packed with activity from morning until night. We got an early start and took an Uber down to Century 21 Department Store. For around 60 years, Century 21 NYC in Lower Manhattan has offered top designers at deep discounts off retail. Spread across four floors, you’ll find everything from men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel to footwear, handbags, housewares, NYC-themed gifts, and even some authenticated vintage items. It was the perfect place to kick off our epic shopping day.
After thoroughly combing through that fabulous store, we began walking back up Broadway toward our hotel on 42nd Street—about 50 blocks in total—shopping the entire way. Some of my favorite stops included the Disney Store in Times Square, the Harry Potter Store, Macy’s flagship location (with its gorgeous holiday windows) in Herald Square, and the Strand, the iconic independent bookstore. We also visited two holiday markets: the Union Square Holiday Market and Winter Village, which even had an ice-skating rink.
We truly shopped until we dropped. After a quick change back at the hotel, we headed out for an early dinner at the West Bank Café, a fun deli-style spot conveniently located right across the street from our hotel.
That night, we saw The Queen of Versailles, starring Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham. Even though it didn’t receive rave reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed it. While the show may not have had many truly memorable songs, Kristin belting them out—combined with the opulent sets and lavish costumes—was well worth the price of admission.
After the show, we made the rounds at a few gay bars in Hell’s Kitchen, including The Ritz and Dickens. Our final stop was 9th Avenue Saloon, which quickly became our favorite spot of the weekend. While there, we ran into Messy White Gays writer and star Drew Droege, along with cast member Pete Zias. We had a wonderful conversation with both of them about the show and even talked about the possibility of them bringing it to New Orleans someday.
The following day turned into another full-on marathon, starting with a morning matinee of the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular—which also happens to be their 100th anniversary season. Founded in St. Louis in 1925, the Rockettes are the longest-running precision dance company in America and have appeared at some of the most iconic events in entertainment and American history.
Before the show, audiences were treated to a wonderful documentary titled 100 Years of Sisterhood. It had been over a decade since I last saw the show, and it was just as magical as I remembered—now enhanced with stunning video mapping and projections. The double-decker tourist bus number was absolutely breathtaking. It’s a beautiful holiday tradition, and those ladies are truly fierce.
Next, we headed down Fifth Avenue for some upscale shopping at iconic stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. We also stopped into Tiffany & Co. to experience their Audrey Hepburn exhibit. One of the standout sights along the avenue was the Louis Vuitton store, currently under renovation, with its exterior transformed into a massive piece of luggage—pretty amazing to see in person.
We wrapped up the day with a late lunch back in Hell’s Kitchen at a divine spot called Lilly’s Craft and Kitchen NYC. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and it was the perfect place to recharge after another unforgettable day in the city.
That evening, we attended a party hosted by New Orleans local and Ambush writer Brian Sands, who was celebrating a housewarming at his New York apartment on Madison Avenue. It was a fabulous gathering filled with a wonderful mix of noteworthy New Yorkers and New Orleanians, including Natalie Praetorius; Steve Korte and Bill McDermott; Ashton Akridge and Richard Mayer; Ken Reine and Brent Steele (Queen Armenius, who reigned with me when I was King); Alison Logan and Mike Harkins; Cath and Andrew Larimer; Tony Award–winning producer Dale Mott and Ken Hyle; Pete Sturman of Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul; Jon Seibert and Robert Lansdon; Drew Hemenger; and burlesque stars Chris Harder and Gadget. It was truly a night to remember.
After the party, we met up with my New York–based friends Larry and David for late-night cocktails at 9th Avenue Saloon. It turned into another fun-filled night, and this time we ended up hanging out with Mondo and his friends. Mondo was the runner-up on Project Runway Season 8 and the winner of the first Project Runway All Stars. He and his group were absolutely delightful, and we stayed out chatting and laughing until the wee hours of the morning.
Sunday began with brunch at Chez Josephine, one of my favorite restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen and conveniently located right next door to our hotel. Chez Josephine is a glorious throwback to 1930s Paris. Founded in 1986 by Jean-Claude Baker as a tribute to the legendary entertainer Josephine Baker, the restaurant offers a French-American menu accompanied by live piano music in an intimate setting.
This landmark gem is warm and inviting, with its blue-tin ceiling, red velvet walls, and an array of chandeliers illuminating vintage portraits of Josephine Baker. Jean-Claude Baker was born in 1943 in a French farming village. At 14, he set out on his own—first to Paris, where he met Josephine Baker while working as a bellhop, and later to Liverpool, where he encountered a then-unknown band called The Beatles. In 1968 he reconnected with Josephine Baker who, recognizing a kindred spirit, affectionately called him the 13th member of her “Rainbow Tribe” and enlisted him to help arrange her international comeback tours.
In 1973, Jean-Claude emigrated to New York, where he became a nightclub singer, emcee, and restaurateur. Before his passing in 2015, Jean-Claude entrusted Chez Josephine to its current owner, Manuel Uzha. Their connection dates back to the 1980s, when Manuel worked as a dishwasher while Jean-Claude served as maître d’ at an Upper East Side restaurant. Manuel greeted us warmly at the door that morning.
The food was wonderful and reasonably priced, and we were seated at a fabulous window table overlooking 42nd Street, dining while enjoying terrific live music. I absolutely love this restaurant and its story. To me, it’s one of those quintessential New York tales that perfectly captures what makes the city so endlessly fascinating.
After lunch, we headed to the matinee performance of Oh, Mary! at the Lyceum Theatre. Oh, Mary! is a comedy written and originally performed by Cole Escola. The show was nominated for five Tony Awards, winning Best Direction of a Play and Best Actor in a Play for Escola, the first non-binary winner in that category.
When we attended, the fabulous Jane Krakowski was playing Mary, and the devilishly handsome Cheyenne Jackson portrayed Mary’s Teacher. The play was absolutely hysterical and had the audience—and me—laughing from start to finish. Jane and Cheyenne’s onstage chemistry was brilliant, and the entire cast was outstanding. I now fully understand what all the fuss is about. It’s a cleverly written, wildly funny show that lives up to every bit of its buzz.
For dinner on our final night, we dined at Arriba Arriba, an authentic, family-owned Mexican restaurant in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen. It’s very gay-friendly—in fact, the place was wall-to-wall gays that night. The food was delicious, and the margaritas were to die for. Good food, hot waiters, and excellent margaritas—it was the perfect final-night dinner for a New York City trip.
We left on Monday and arrived at the airport early. Our return flight wasn’t too badly impacted by the shutdown—just a two-hour delay. And honestly, if you’re going to be delayed, the Delta One Lounge is an excellent place to be stuck.
I hadn’t been to New York since 2019 and had almost forgotten just how wonderful and magical the city is, especially around the holidays in November. I discover something new every time I visit, and after this trip, those visits will definitely be more frequent.
Happy travels from Ambush!
