NYC IN CRISIS: Rich People May Have to Open Doors!

Thousands of unionized doormen and other apartment workers voted this week to authorize a strike - which would force wealthy Manhattan residents to open their own doors, sign for their own packages, and operate their own elevators.  Quel Horreur!!

Buildings are already setting up "preparedness plans" in which residents would take turns performing the jobs the building workers usually take care of.  Personally, I would pay good money to see Annette de la Renta taking the garbage out to the curb for pickup.  But thank JEEBUS Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour lives in her own townhouse and wouldn't be affected by this potential tragedy.

According to GOTHAMIST, the strike could begin at 12:01 am on April 21st if an agreement isn't reached.  As I've MENTIONED BEFORE, I have a bit of a "thing" for PapiDoormen - so if a strike occurs they are welcome to kill some time at my apartment.  We could play a nice game of "Do You Have a Package For Me?"...

My "Thing" For NYC Doormen

The NY Daily News published a story yesterday called "A Doorman's Guide To Holiday Tipping - And Other Perks Of The Job".  2008 Doorman of the Year Carlos Pellecier (above) recounted some of the tips he's received over the past 30 years manning the door at 1380 Riverside Drive.  His most memorable gratuity?  A used car.  Note to Carlos:  if I lived in that building I would have saved up and bought you a NEW car.  Make no mistake, Papi.

Here is a confession:  I have always had a "thing" for doormen - even though I've never lived in a doorman building.  I'm pretty sure part of the attraction has to do with the fact that many NYC doormen are handsome Latino men.  That, and those uniforms...

I once worked at a small restaurant which was located across the street from the restaurant owner's building.  At the end of the night, we had to drop off the night's receipts and leave them with the owner's doorman.  One of the door guys - a hot Latino dude (natch) - seemed REALLY familiar to me.  On about the 3rd or 4th time I interacted with him, I figured it out - I owned a magazine that featured Señor Doorman wearing nothing but a smile.  HOLA PAPI!!!

But I think what really sealed the deal between me and doorpapis everywhere was a short film I saw last year on Logo ... called "Doorman".  It starred the handsome Jamil Mena (playing a closeted hotel employee - below) - and his performance and beauty were absolutely breathtaking...

So, if you're looking to get me something for Christmas - feel free to buy me a condo in a doorman building.  Or, we could cut to the chase and you could just get me the doorman.

Featured Actor - Jamil Mena

I first laid eyes on Jamil this past weekend when I saw the short film Doorman on LOGO (the "gay channel"). Doorman is a 17-minute film by Etienne Kallos about a closeted Latino Doorman (Mena) who meets a white party-boy who breaks his heart. When I say that Jamil is breathtakingly beautiful in Doorman (photo still below), I am not doing him justice. Go HERE to see a Q&A with the filmmaker, and to watch the entire short film (NSFW).