SCENE + HEARD: AIDS Walk New York; Come For The Charity, Stay For The Shirtless Boys

(Sherry Vine, Erik Halliwell, Misty Meanor, Jane Lane, Felicity Stardust, Austin & Nathaly @ the Yard)

It's not easy getting queens to fill a straight bar, so it was close to a miracle that brought the boys—and some of the biggest drag headliners in the city—to the Yard on West 21st Street last night for Party in the Yard, a benefit bachanal for the 25th annualAIDS Walk New York on May 16. “Events like this are important because people think the AIDS crisis over and it’s not” said Gusty Winds over shots with Epiphany andSherry Vine. Also on hand was Felicity Stardust, organizer Jane Lane, Misty Meanor, Bianca Del Rio and Logan Hardcore.

“It’s my 15th year participating,” Winds explained, “The first two years I did it in heels—the time in six-inch platforms. I had to have muscle men walk me the last two blocks. If I do it in drag [this year], it'll be in flip-flops!” The lovely lady went on to explain in detail why she struts through Central Park for the Walk each year. "First, as a gay man, I think it’s important to give back to our community and, secondly, as a brother of a gay man who has HIV I walk because...I hope that in time we raise enough money to find a cure for him.” She may be a do-gooder, but Gusty's no saint. “You [also] meet really cute boys at the AIDS Walk. If it’s a hot day in May and everyone has their shirts off, it’s excellent!”

At the other end of the bar Logan Hardcore reminisced with Bianca about the messy times she spent at the Yard back when it was known as Porky’s and hosted a Sunday-night party called Hot Mess. “One night they left a tray of Jell-O shots downstairs and I poured them all into my purse. I drank them the whole night and then left the purse out overnight in my room. When I woke up they had melted throughout my entire purse so what did I do? Went into the kitchen, poured it into a container and drank them up!” That Logan—so thrifty! –Christopher Dilley