a new party called Dr!p at Grace Hotel

It's extremely rare that I go out on Monday, but Facebook told me that Morehead was headed to a new party called Dr!p at Grace Hotel near Time Square. I was definitely curious from the pictures I had seen, so we agreed to meet up at the party. Between a short-but-essential disco nap and cooking for the week, I left my place a bit later than planned and arrived just before 11.

After checking my coat, I headed for the upstairs bar that overlooks the pool. Morehead had mentioned cheap drinks specials, so I asked the most logical person upon arrival. "We have $7 well martinis," the youngish bartender replied with a bit more attitude than I expected (possibly because I had just interrupted his standing and posing to request change to pay for coat check 2 minutes before).

"How much are well drinks?"

"Just 10," he said with self-conscious tenderness. I guess with the Gatorade bottle I'd enjoyed on the train ride down, my facial expressions betrayed my thoughts. I had him make me a cosmo.

One of the first elements of the Carnival Party theme I saw was the pair of dancing mimes who were fully draped (and masked) in extremely pale neon green. I eased past them and down to the pool area to find Morehead, martini in hand (of course) and small entourage boys in tow (hoping to get a “string” of his “beads”, no doubt). He wasn’t even wearing a pair of speedos: just some not-so-short trunks!  That’s it. No more pictures with my mouth closed.

It was a nice crowd when I got there. Not overly buffed, but the buff were well peppered throughout the crowd. I feel like an "average guy" (who is honest with himself about having an average build, not adam4adam/manhunt average) would have been comfortable.

As the night went on, the crowd grew noticeably in number, which surprised me for a Monday-night party. I recognized the bartender from HK Lounge/my gym that never comps a drink for me, a socially-awkward hottie from my gym, both members of I Am, and Vladimir (from the day Urban Sprawl threw his phone at someone and broke it) among several others (including a significant number of kids from Greenhouse). Most were in swimwear, though some went with just jeans, and a few others watched from above fully clothed. I swear I saw a guy from Naked Boys Singing prancing around the water’s edge in 3-inch heels. And speaking of, there were more than enough drag queens to go around. One 'girl' looked femme enough to do a wig (with minimal makeup?) and have her boy chest exposed. And looked fierce!

For my third drink, I went downstairs and ordered another cosmo. When the bartender told me $12, I was stunned. Apparently there is a select list of $7 martinis. He was gracious enough to eat it and only charge me 7 for the cosmo, which either speaks to the class of their staff or the effectiveness of my off-season workout. Either way wins points with me.

At one point, the music stopped, and three guys walked out to the pool area.  One in a suit with a Tuba, one with a snare drum (with tape), and one with a megaphone and a trumpet. Thankfully the third guy didn’t use both of his tools at the same time, alternating between playing the trumpet and yelling/singing into the megaphone. The music this motley group produced was somewhere in the intersection of big band, metal, and rap (but more Kid-Rock-type rap). It was a very unique sound that some of the crowd really got into.  At the end of the performance, I noticed that Mr.Tuba’s pants were a bit long for him, making him the victim of capillary action from the bit of standing water on the poolside floor.  That’ll learn you kids to wear properly-tailored clothes!

Oh wow, the dancing mimes just got in the water.  Hot.  And there goes the costume over his head (with the mask still on)… and it’s a girl.  And the other is definitely a guy.  A hot guy.  Why were they ever out of the pool anyway?

I think the biggest hit at this party was the pair of Flashdance-style pull-the-chain showers. I watched Morehead drench himself about 5 times in the first 20 minutes of my time in the pool area (of course his herd boys loved it).  After midnight, there was almost a line of folks (boys and girls) trying to get a piece of the cascading action.  Whether it be a supposed prankster trying to catch someone unaware (they’re already in the water, dumbass) or someone living their go-go fantasy on a whole new level, it was definitely the most popular feature.

The great thing about this party was that it seemed to attract a sizable, diverse crowd.  Everyone was welcomed, and curiosity got the best of quite a few people.  A great mix of 9-5 squares (like myself) and our friends in entertainment.  I’ve had a hard time finding weekday parties that are worth the sleep debt they cause (and Musical Mondays is only fun if you go with a Broadway Queen… drunk), but Dr!p was well worth the yawning at work the next morning. I’ll definitely be back.

For another indoor pool party, click here.


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