Cazwell's Gay Guide to NYC

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Originally published on Gay.com/travel

Name: Cazwell

Age: 20

Profession: DJ, Performer, MC, New York Nightlife Party Personality, Gay Icon

City: New York City

Relationship Status: Not single

Sexuality: Gay

What is the best date you ever had in this town? Why?

Sex first. Eat later. Besides sex builds an appetite.

What are some of the things you love most about your city/town?

I love that you can get anything you want at anytime. If you want to buy a dozen roses, you want ice cream , a falafel sandwich or a hooker. New York has it all 24/7. I remember where I came from in Massachusetts and how growing up we had to get to the store by 9pm when it closed if we had to buy something. I try to never take for granted what the city that never sleeps has to offer me.

I've always felt that new york gives you access to everything you need to make your dreams come true. you just have to stay on top of it.

What are some of your least favorite things about it?

The high cost of living, particularly rent.

What gym do you like most? Why?

Crunch on Lafayette St, in the East Village. It has a really good mix of people gay and straight. It's 3 floors and open 24 hours a day Monday thru Friday.

What are some great restaurants for a night out with gay friends there?

• Veselka on 9th st and 2nd Ave. - open 24 hours. It has the best borscht in the city. And a East Village staple. Perfect for eating out after a night at the club.

• Little Poland on 2nd Ave and 12th St. The sandwiches are huuuuge.

What are some great restaurants for a romantic gay date? What about these restaurants appeals to you?

There's a cute spot called Simones on 1st Ave and St Marks Place in the East Village with in and out door seating. The inside has alot of nice chandeliers and sexy red copper ceilings. It's a great place to grab a bottle of wine and a lil conversation before you go back home to screw.

Is there a particular best place to "people watch" that most people not familiar with your town would find helpful?

Tompkins Square Park has everyone from junkies with their clothing on backwards to cute skater boys to lesbian dog walkers and hipster gays. It also has 2 dog parks and not too many kids.

What are your favorite gay bars and/or dance clubs? What do you like about them?

• Beauty Bar on 14th St. -- love the hair dryer seating.

• Eastern Bloc- should win an award for most taxidermy in a gay club.

• Posh in Hell's Kitchen- "posh" is just a play on words, the drinks are affordable, the boys are cute, its open 'till 2am every night and it has a very unpretentious attitude. Relaxed management and always a good time.

What are your favorite gay parties or events,if any? What is the crowd or scene like at those places?

• Thursdays at Beauty Bar for the Boon Dickles Beaver House Party, Amanda Lepore and i spin a Rock N' Roll set at 12 midnight.

• The "F" Word , Saturdays at Santos Party House. Brought to you by myself, Michael Formika Jones and a dozen other New York nightlife heads. Always packed with tranny's, freaks, cute boys and lesbians.

• I Heart New York at Mr Black on Friday nights. Amanda Lepore, Zach Posse and myself throw down hip hop, pop and R&B all night in the chandelier room. Expect everything from Aliyah to old school Madonna.

• Boy Box at G on Tuesday. The hottest male strip shows from 11pm to 1am. Red light drink specials. Finally Chelsea has a sexy party going on.

• Sunday School at Hugs. Every Sunday at Hugs in Williamsburg on N6 and Bedford. It's a layed back hipster cocktail party from 6pm to 10pm. Get into it.

Where is the best public place for a gay person to make out?

In front of Pink Berry on St. Marks.

What is the gay community like in your city? Do you consider yourself to be part of any particular "scene"?

That's what i love about New York and why I left Doston. You can find sooo many different kinds of gay people and gay scenes here. I consider myself to be pretty spread out as far as the kind of people I hang out with but ultimately I would consider myself to be a part of the Night Life scene and close with the kids that go out all the time and also perform at the clubs and make music and DJ.

Do gay men and lesbians hang out in the same places in your town, or is that just a ridiculous notion?!

Gay men and lesbians that are involved in the same scene tend to hang out but it takes more than just being part of the same minority to bring us together. For example gays and lesbians that are into the indie rock scene end up hanging out but its not cuz they are both gay its because they have a common interest. You find a good mixture of gays and lesbians at parties that Michael Formika Jones throws because he comes from the Squeeze Box rock era where rock n' roll gays and lesbians go to.

Does your town have a LGBT pride celebration? Do you usually attend? What are the highlights for you? What do you like least about it?

I usually go to a party and get completely wasted to be honest. I can't be standing in a huge crowd in 90 degree weather. Besides drinking in public is against the law and I'm a law abiding citizen. I recommend a good roof top party, so you can be away from it all but see the festivities.

Do you have a particular fashion style?

Skaterhipsterhiphopghetto chic is my steez. And I'm a total sneaker head. I mix and match.

Where do you shop for clothes?

• Dave's Quality Meats

• Alife

• Memes

• Opening Ceremony

• K Mart

• Supreme

If you had gay friends visiting from out of town for the first time, what are some "musts" that you'd recommend they see or do?

• Lucky Chengs Drag Restaurant

• Brooklyn Bridge

• The Cock

• Veselka Restaurant

• Central Park