Manhattan's Gay Bar Graveyard

Next Magazine did a piece this week on all the Manhattan gay hotspots (and not-so-hotspots) which closed during the past 10 years.  Many of these shuttered bars/clubs were places I hung out - especially when I first moved to NYC in the 90's (Limelight, Roxy, Tunnel, etc.).  If those walls could talk...

But the one name which really hit home was Stella's (circled in red).  I have mentioned that bar many times, because it was simply a great place to hang out.  Not only was I friends with the owner, the staff, and half the customers - I became very "close" to some of the dancers as well.  EXTREMELY close.    :)

Good times...

Thanks to Kayce.

Hottie of the Day - Carlos Estrada

I have mentioned Carlos (above left) and his twin brother Joel (above right) before. Back in February I featured pictures of Joel - but my commentary was mostly about Carlos. Both were dancers at my old hangout - Stella's bar in formerly seedy Times Square. One night a famous fashion designer came in and saw Carlos dancing. Here's what I wrote...

Here is some good dish: One night I was drinking a lovely cocktail at Stella's, and a certain BIG NAME fashion designer walked in. All the papihookers and go-go dancers in the place went into total OBSESSION-mode, and wouldn't leave him alone. They were all hoping to get some of that underwear and cologne money. Low and behold, this BIG NAME fashion designer spotted Carlos on the go-go platform. Biatch wasted no time - he walked up to Carlos and whispered a few words to him. Carlos nodded and pointed to the owner of the bar. Big-Time Designer walked over to the owner, whispered a few words, and the owner nodded. With that, Carlos and Mr. Big Designer walked out the door. This whole process certainly did NOT take an ETERNITY. The next night at the bar, Carlos was sporting some new duds and new eyeglasses - presumably from his fashionable admirer. And biatches, this was not the only time I saw this Certain Known designer drunk and trolling for strippers. Goodness, I miss Stella's ...

I DO miss Stella's. And thanks to the awesome blog Monaga for posting these pics of Carlos and bringing back this memory.

Happy Birthday Papi!

Please help me wish go-go dancer James a very happy birthday today. You can go HERE and read more about James - my first "husband", and one of the first Papis to be featured on DavidDust (back when no one was reading but me!).

For Those Long Hours Spent Sitting at the Bar...

I could have used a barstool like this back when I was spending four nights a week at the now-closed go-go papi bar, Stella's.

Sometimes you gotta give "the boys" some room. And I DON'T mean GO-GO boys...

Chains Of Love ... or LUST

Not a split screen - they are twins

This last guy used to dance at my old hangout Stella's (which is now closed). YES - I have totally felt him up while stuffing dollar bills into his g-string...

Happy Hump Day From Carlos

Back in the day, Carlos was one of my favorite go-go dancers at my favorite Times Square go-go bar, Stella's. And after a bunch of drinks, I would swear the "eye" tattoo around his bellybutton was winking at me...

Go-Go Wednesday Daddy Of The Day - Roberto

In the early days of DavidDust, I featured an acquaintance of mine as Daddy of the Day – Roberto (see post here). I was familiar with this Dominican hunk because he was a frequent dancer at my all-time favorite bar Stella’s – which has long-since closed. Roberto was one of my favorite dancers (you can see why), and he even shook his booty for my 30th birthday party – also held at Stella’s. I was SO happy to find additional pictures of him recently, and I’ve decided that Roberto deserves to be the Daddy of the Day yet again.

While chatting up this sweetheart between dances at Stella’s, Roberto would always talk about wanting to become a Police Officer. I always thought “Why not – he already has the uniform!”. But if uniform was the only thing one needed in order to change professions, Roberto could have also become a Sailor, Soldier, or Construction Worker. Or a member of the Village People.

So enjoy my big Dominican Papi Roberto. Happy Hump Day!

Daddy Of The Day - Roberto

Today’s Daddy of the Day is Roberto – “The Dominican Explosion”. He was my second-favorite dancer at the now defunct hustler/go-go bar Stella’s – my favorite was James. Like James, he was a featured dancer at my 30th birthday party (a million years ago).

Unfortunately these pictures do NOT do justice to this gorgeous, sweet man. A few years ago he did a “beefcake” DVD for Dynamite Studios, and these are the promo pictures from their website. One of these days I’ll get a scanner and be able to show you all the photos I have from the old Stella’s period of my life.

Roberto was SUCH a sweetheart. He would NEVER accept a drink at the bar (only juice) because he was so committed to his fitness regimen. We would chat sometimes, and he would tell me how he wanted to be a cop – hell, he already had the uniform (which he danced in - OFTEN), so why not?!

Daddy Of The Day - James

Get ready, cause I’m about to go all ‘old school’ on your asses! Today’s Daddy of the Day is James – my favorite old-school go-go dancer from my favorite old-school Times Square hustler bar - "Stella’s". It was one of the saddest days of my life when Stella’s finally fell victim to the Disneyfication of Times Square (and the Vice Squad) and shut its doors.

Oh how I miss the days when everyone at Stella’s referred to James as my “husband”. If by “husband” they meant “the guy David spends all his money on – one dollar at a time” – then he truly WAS my husband. Good times…..good times……

Many of you may be thinking: “but David, James isn’t all big and beefy like most of the other Daddies of the Day – what’s up?”. Well I’ll tell you what’s up – look at his g-string bitches – there’s your BIG and BEEFY right there!

James is straight, with a son and a daughter. I’ve known him for so long, he danced at my 30th birthday party (which was, like, a couple of years ago….I think…cough, cough…). He was also the featured entertainment at a few of the infamous “roof parties” thrown at my old apartment. You should see THOSE pictures.