It's a marvelous day for Gayville. Okay, maybe "marvelous" is a bit of a stretch, but it's at least notable: The New York Observer reports that Stonewall Inn- you know, that little place at 53 Christopher Street from which homos stormed police, thus launching the modern gay rights movement - will be reopening next month.

The landmark closed last year after the owners lost their lease. Now, it's getting a brand new look. Chris Shott reports: "Its rehab comes at the behest of the bar's new management, which includes Bill Morgan and Tony DeCicco of the neighboring Duplex piano bar." Neither man would comment on the story, but Shott directs the reader to this article in which Morgan denigrates the monumental bar. He griped:

They promote these urban youth parties. They pushed out the regular gay clientele in favor of this new, urban, hip-hop, gangster clientele. Then you bring a bunch of 18-to-20-year-olds in the area who have no place to go and start goofing off and being loud. It’s disruptive to the neighborhood and brings in the wrong element in the neighborhood.

So, does that mean the new and improved Stonewall will be a breeding ground for white, affluent queens? Probably not. That would be illegal (not to mention tacky). We do know that one construction worker raved, "It's going to be gorgeous!" Sounds great, but we probably won't be making it our hot spot. But, then again, the only hot spot we know's in our pants. And we're not talking about our genitals (tear).

On the eve of World AIDS Day, we'd like to direct you to an article from The New York Times harking back to the early days of the virus, when gay bars with back rooms found themselves powerless against the mysterious disease and its legislative repercussions. Here's a taste:

The growing climate of fear surrounding AIDS, combined with a new city-state drive against establishments that permit ''high-risk sexual activities,'' has brought noticeable changes to New York City's homosexual bar and club scene, visits to some of the leading places and interviews with patrons indicate.
...
Amid the growing concern over AIDS, many clubs and bars have closed their back rooms, which afforded patrons places for sexual encounters. Consequently, many popular homosexual bars in the West Village, such as the Ramrod, Badlands, the Spike and others, solely offer a place for patrons to meet each other, but not for sex on the premises.

Related: The Power Issue: Gay Space

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• That Channing Tatum's Step Up grossed $20 million in its opening weekend has Hollywood mouths agape — and some worried that studios will be looking to nobodies for box office paydays. [TMZ]

• Laguna Beach's Boom Boom Room – scheduled to close over Labor Day – gets a one year life extension. [OC Register]

• Your First Amendment rights are being restored, thanks to a federal judge ruling the White House's wiretapping-without-warrant policies are unconstitutional and must be ended immediately. [NYT]

• When Martina Navratilova retires for the second time in September after the U.S. Open, the tennis great will be honored with induction into the U.S. Open Court of Champions. [Southern Voice]

• Since its inception two months ago, a law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in Washington State has really only raised question about the policy, rather than uproar about gays and lesbians being protected. [Advocate]

• To celebrate the release of Christina Aguilera's new album Back To Basics, Marc Jacobs gave the songstress a shopping bag full of his fall collection. As a thank you, Christina offered the designer a "campy young gentleman" — and they proceeded to dance the night away to "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." [NYDN]

• Fall fashion weighs more than the models displaying it. [Gawker]

Oh good lord, you've seen the cover of Frontiers Magazine too? That pink haired skinny hipster type you're looking at is a one Jeffree Star. We've talked about him before, actually — to the New York Post. We'd heard a tale where a pseudo celebrity fought his way into nightclubs by arguing he was "MySpace royalty." And now we've got a name, and an androgynous face, to match with it.

Jeffree Star is a 20-year-old drama queen. Yep, he loves stirring shit up. He's a self-described makeup artist, rapper, princess, and "baddest bitch in this game." He claims to be "the only star that the paparazzi has on speed-dial so that they can get to me before my fans do." So of course you've heard of him, right? If you don't spend your work hours on MySpace – where he's collected some 250,000 "friends" and posts photos from his own shoots – or hit the same hotspots TMZ.com sends photographers, then perhaps not. And it's completely forgiveable, and admirable, if you don't know who he is.

Thus far the only reasonable means of income all of this personality has concocted is through a distribution deal with Hot Topic, which sells J. Star tees. Though the self-proclaimed "CUNT: Queen of the Beautifuls" has dreams of a music career. And where better place to start than MySpace, where some 3,000 profile comments pop up each day?

The Future is Jeffree Star [Frontiers Magazine]

Chicago's Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club is either the most forgiving gay bar — or has the most keen sense of generating publicity. Rather than joining the criticism of "fag"-calling White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, the Kit Kat has instead named a drink after him: The Effen Ozzie GuillenTini. The martini "is made with assorted fresh fruits, vodka and served with a complimentary Sun-Times sports section for $8.50." You can enjoy one during the bars next drag show &mdsah; and all the way through baseball season.

Straight up: Gay bar makes Ozzie GuillenTini [Chicago Sun-Times]
Related: All Ozzie Guillen Coverage

AOL Cityguide truly undertook an tough mission: scoping out the nation's hottest bartenders. Off they went to New York, Chicago, L.A., San Francisco, and other urban epicenters to find the stiffest drink that matches the hardest abs.

So who would we enjoy to get dirty (martinis) with? Here in New York, we're voting for Therapy's Brandon, and not because he braves the Midtown masses without a shirt on — but because he's actually poured us a drink once or twice before. In Boston, Washington Square Tavern's Dermot has our vote and, while all the Los Angeles boys are too pretty, it's Busby's Spencer that's got us hankering for a double. Meanwhile, there's a reason we don't visit D.C. much.

America's Hottest Bartenders [AOL Cityguide]

The chance of a gay bar surviving the cut-throat West Hollywood club scene is about as good as Lindsay Lohan's next Mercedes' chance of remaining dentless. Up next for Los Angeles's famed boy’s town: iCandy Lounge. Our spies in WeHo tell us, despite one of the worst names in club history, the place might actually have a chance at lasting more than a few weeks.

More swank Soho loft than down and dirty pub, iCandy is decked out in rich woods, moody lighting, and modern furnishings. The drinks are strong, and not really any more expensive than your average Tinsel town bar and the food is top-notch. For nicotine freaks there are two smoking patios, one that overlooks Santa Monica Boulevard, where you can scope the local talent.

But what really makes the club is the best-looking gay crowd in the country (yes, we said it.) All those out of work actors and models gotta' hang out somewhere, right? Even better, the smokin' bartenders are hot and (gasp!) actually friendly.

iCandy is the brainchild(and we use the word 'brain’ loosely around here) of Tyler Robuck, and he, and the clubs opening are featured in the new Logo reality show, Welcome to iCandy. But, Tyler, the name? Why, oh why, the name?

Billie Ray Martin should have been a big star. In the mid-nineties, after the demise of the critically adored Electribe 101, Ms. Martin struck gold withe the UK top ten record Your Loving Arms, a song which cracked the US Top 40 and reached #1 on the Billboard Dance chart.

Martin has never captured the success of that early record, which is a shame, since her albums have gotten consistently stronger. Her voice is of the same intensity as Aretha Franklin and that is even more impressive when you realize it is coming from a small German woman. Calling London her home once again Billie launches a new club night Wednesday called Komputerliebe, downstairs at 43 South Molton.

Like Boy George before her, Billie is now embracing djing and promises electronic music for the connoisseur. Those in London should check it out. Those not lucky enough to attend should rediscover Martin's back catalog.