It seems that there is a gay community on Long Island after all! For the first time in a long, long time, there are so many things buzzing around the LGBT world there’s just no time to do it all! From new community Facebook groups and meet-ups to new bar openings, meet and greets, stud auctions and more, the face of the LI gay community is really beginning to get things in gear. Take a look at some of what’s been going on:
Online Community Groups on Facebook
Over the past couple of months, a new Facebook group for the Long Island gay community has emerged and quickly become very popular. The Long Island Gaylist is an online community board hosted on Facebook and it’s buzzing with activity every single day. The group boasts 940 members and counting and the chats are active and lively all day long. Gaylist describes itself as “a group of likeminded gay and lesbian Long Islanders and their friends, with fun, friendly and informational posts and conversation only,” and that’s exactly what it is. Sexually explicit actions by members are strictly forbidden, and group membership is open only to those invited by members.
*On Sunday, April 1st, LI Gaylist will be hosting its first meet and greet at Lizard Lounge. The party runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and promises to be much like the online group, only a little more lively. Stay tuned for details on this one.
Other notable Long Island LGBT Facebook groups include Outlook Long Island, serving as a source of notable events around the island that happen in between the quarterly pressings of the magazine, and the long-standing Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, a group dedicated to the enjoyment of films, as well as goings on a the Cinema Arts Centre of Huntington. Both groups get their fair share of activity and are both open, meaning anyone can join.
Nightlife
The nightlife scene on Long Island has been sizzling, as well. In addition to Circus Wednesdays and Metro Fridays at Lizard Lounge and Deluxe Wednesdays (and pretty much every other night at the LI Eagle), several other venues have been vying for some nightlife action. The folks of Gation, who run Deluxe Wednesdays and formerly Gation Saturdays, Da Bunk Fridays and Glass Fridays have an all new Friday night party going on at Halo Lounge, located at 281 W. Main Street in Smithtown.
Probably the biggest news in LI gay nightlife this month, though, is the return of the Bunk House. Yes folks, after almost a full year since it closed its doors on Main Street in Sayville, the Bunk House is back in its new home at 620 Waverly Avenue in Patchogue. This Saturday, March 10th is their “Official Grand Opening Party Gala” and they are taking a shot at revving up other weeknights with their Twisted Tuesdays and Club X Thursdays, as well. Stay tuned here for a review of the new joint.
Special Events
If you thought that these online communities and all new nightlife action were plenty enough to make you social, think again. On top of all of this wonderful activity going on, there’s even more. Several special events, both one-time and recurring, are taking place around the island. M Lounge is a wonderful, twice a month meet and greet that takes place at the Grill Room in Hauppauge, and another monthly party with a Latino theme takes place at the LI Eagle for Latin Fusion and El Hueco Nightclub in Central Islip.
Two special events are also forthcoming around these parts. First up, on Friday, March 16th at the LI Eagle is HeBay, A Stud Auction, during which diva sensation Madison Mansfield will be auctioning off some of LI’s “most eligible bachelors and studs” for the benefit of Thursday’s Child. Next, on Wednesday, March 28th, the fabulous Auntie Barbara will be throwing another one of her highly entertaining Tupperware parties, hosted by the LI Gay Men’s Chorus at Trio Restaurant on 700 Patchogue Holbrook Rd. in Holbrook.
Well, it looks as if I’d better get busy! After complaining for so long that the gay community has been abysmal for the past several years, this sudden surge of a buzz is starting to make me look bad. Stay tuned for upcoming reviews of some of these events and new places as I check them out. Until then, give any one of them a try. You never know, you just might make a new friend or two.
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