The website for New York‘s incipient queer nightclub/hotel complex Out NYC was updated today and Gawker’s Brian Moylan took its owners to task.
That’s the thing about this Out NYC hotel. It’s like your gay friend from Pittsburgh coming to visit and he wants to go to Splash and shop on Eight Avenue and have brunch at Cafeteria and, god, it’s just so damn cheesey.
The gay hotel in New York is an utter embarrassment to those of us that live here. I mean, it’s called “The Out NYC.” What, are they going to have rainbow flag room keys? Also, have you ever heard anyone who lives in New York refer to it as “NYC?” There’s a reason.
Just look at this place! The website. It’s all slick and modern in that CB2 way that the blandest homosexuals are supposed enjoy… The facade looks like a giant TV set and the cruising grounds courtyard inside is of course filled with dapper men, because lesbians aren’t really welcome at a gay hotel, are they?
True, the venue’s evolution hasn’t been the smoothest: The initial plan—which called for a five-story hotel, XL nightclub, retail shops and a 24-hour diner—has been scaled back dramatically. The opening date has been changed more times than Monroe and Moroccan’s diapers. Funding has come and gone.
And there’s that name.
All that aside, though, we’re hoping it surpasses expectations. The Axel chain of hotels have done a great job bringing gay-centric accommodations to global metropolises, and there’s no reason why the Big Apple shouldn’t have it’s own. Plus, as New Yorkers know, there are tragically few places to get your gay dance on—especially north of 23rd Street.
How about we take this to the next level?
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We pass by the building on Tenth Avenue and 42nd Street often. Right now it looks, shall we say, unfinished. (See photo at left.) But far enough along that a late-January opening for XL seems plausible.
Don’t hold us to that, though.
Images via Out NYC, Dan Avery
MikeE
Ah, it’s so wonderful to see that the natural snarkiness of the native New Yorker has not faded with time. Some things in life remain constant.
Eric in Chicago
God New Yorkers can be so disgusting. Someone wants to open up a gay hotel and yes gay tourists from all over the country and the world may stay there. Yes tourists will want to do touristy things. Get over yourselves and get something to do.
Timmmeeeyyy
This isn’t the opinion of gay New Yorkers, it’s the opinion of Gawker’s Brian Moylan. It’s what Gawker does, complain about everything.
CBRad
Ugh, it sounds so shallow. Like the Disney version of gayworld. But that’s what Manhattan sort of is now.
Jake
Hey, I agree with the author. I’m not a proponent of super-flashy, well, anything. This hotel appears to be the epitome of the gay stereotype. It’s architecture even has the logo built in – it’s so tacky.
Kurt
Let’s be honest here, this is just going to be a venue for cruising and public sex.
If you need to stay at a “gay” hotel in NYC just to get laid you have issues.
iDavid
Let’s be even more honest here; it would appear Gawker’s Brian Moylan may simply be upset there isn’t a megaplex over the top gay bathhouse going in instead of a hotel, as evidenced in the last phase of his review …….
“Well, the rest of Manhattan has been tricked out into a playground for the tourists, I guess it’s time time for the gays to get the same treatment. Yay, equality! If we’re going to have to endure all of this, will someone at least construct a really nice bathhouse on Eleventh Avenue so the rest of us can go fuck some tourists and maybe a hot New Yorker or two? Steamworks, you listening?”
Patience Moylan, patience.
Michael
Why would any New Yorker care? I’m a New Yorker, I don’t stay at hotels so I don’t give a rat’s ass what any hotel wants to call itself nor do I care what clientele they’re aiming at. If you’re not planning on staying at a hotel in NYC, since you’re a New Yorker, then bitching one is just pathetic.
CBRad
@Michael: Michael : I’d agree with you partly, but if you’re a real NYer (born here, like me) then it’s just that you hate seeing the Manhattan section of NYC becoming such antiseptic junk when it used to be genuinely full of character.
Allen D.
@Jake: I actually thought that the logo being in the windows was pretty ingenious. I didn’t even notice it at first. Subtle.
But, to each their own.
JoeyO'H
It looks tacky. It has that awful European style building look. But this article is of one person’s opinion, Gawker’s. However there is always room for another gay hotel in New York that can come up with something new and better i.e. classy… Gay hotels have always been pricy and you’re paying for the exclusive. My visits to NY will probably not include this place but like Allen siad “to each his own.”
JoeyO'H
It looks tacky. It has that awful European style building look. But this article is of one person’s opinion, Gawker’s. However there is always room for another gay hotel in New York that can come up with something new and better i.e. classy… Gay hotels have always been pricy and you’re paying for the exclusive. My visits to NY will probably not include this place but like Allen said “to each his own.”
Cam
@CBRad: said…
” I’d agree with you partly, but if you’re a real NYer (born here, like me) then it’s just that you hate seeing the Manhattan section of NYC becoming such antiseptic junk when it used to be genuinely full of character.”
________________________________
“Full of Character”? Is THAT what you said? Oh wait thats right, and by character you mean a place where none of you native New Yorkers actually ever went except to score drugs or pick up a prostitute. A Place where there were 20 strip bars and character filled little clubs where by slipping 50 cents into a slot you could walk into a booth and have somebody in the next booth blow you through a whole in the wall. And don’t forget the rapes, the crime, the crack addicted hookers.
Yeah, that sure was SOME character. (Eye Roll)
iDavid
Yes those were the days. Kleenex please.
Top to Bottom
‘Also, have you ever heard anyone who lives in New York refer to it as “NYC?” ‘
Um…myself, Jay-Z, yeah…lots of people do.
tj
@ CBRad
I totally agree on Manhattan being ruined by the Giuliani era… I actually did like it better when it was a little more cultured it feels like the upper west side just swallowed the rest of the island. Brooklyn’s cool but its not the same.
Anyway, I actually think this hotel will turn out to be totally sketchy so I’m all for it. I also think it will be an utter failure but that’s just me.
Jack E. Jett
@Kurt: I have issues.
CBRad
@Cam: That was all there, yeah. But also independent bookstores and…..all….And no Dunkin’ Donuts on Christopher street like now. Or Olive Garden in Tiimes Square. It’s all antiseptic and controlled now.
Chris
No way!!! That’s almost as bad as this! – http://bit.ly/sR6MWm
JEFFUWS
tacky, tacky, tacky
Gadigreen
Amazing article,thank you.
Arek
Complaining about how your city has changed is about as meaningful as complaining about the course of evolution. It happened over a long period of time and was not the “fault” of any one person or group. A city is a living thing and you can’t control it.
Ramon
@Timmmeeeyyy It is not even open and everyone is bashing it! Can you tell the age group of complainers? Everyone seems to be wanting this place not to succeed.
Ramon
It is not even open and everyone is bashing it! Can you tell the age group of complainers? Everyone seems to be wanting this place not to succeed.
Shannon1981
Every gay hotel I have ever been to has been a cruising spot for gay men and lesbians alike. This one will turn into the same thing, mark my words.
Glenn
NYC Health Department will shut it down after some tourists will turn it into a Santorum viral fest with the locals.