NEW YORK CITY: Charges Dropped In 2014 Attack On Eagle Bartender

Last summer NYC Eagle bartender Paul Martone was left in critical condition after an altercation with a stranger on a Hell's Kitchen street. Several days later Martone's assailant [photo] was identified and apprehended in part due to a video of the incident which went globally viral, spawning a heated social media discussion on whether Martone had instigated the attack. Yesterday charges against Martone's assailant were dismissed.

Charges were dropped Tuesday against a man accused of punching another man in the face following an argument in Hell’s Kitchen last summer. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office dropped charges against Corey Pohan, 32, on the grounds that the case could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, CBS2 confirmed. Pohan was allegedly seen on video punching Paul Martone, 55, in the face on the corner of 55th Street and Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen in July, police said. Sources told CBS 2 the incident with Martone started when Pohan allegedly stepped over Martone’s dog, leading to a quarrel. After being punched, Martone fell backwards and hit his head on the pavement. He suffered a serious head injury. Pohan was tracked down in New Jersey, and was later hit with separate charges of criminal trespassing there after police said he climbed on top of a toll plaza on the New Jersey Turnpike while being transported to New York City.

(Tipped by JMG reader Mick)

NEW YORK CITY: At The Out 100 Party

Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims and boyfriend Brandon McMullin were among the gay glitterati in attendance at last night's Out 100 party at Stage 48 in Hell's Kitchen. Also seen above are Out 100 honorees Freedom To Marry head Evan Wolfson with his husband Cheng He, journalist Chris Geidner, Liz Margolies, founder of the National LGBT Cancer Network, and her trans activist husband Scout, director of LGBT Health Link. Orange Is The New Black actress Lea DeLaria hosted and pop singer Mary Lambert was among the performers. I hung out for a bit with NYC Councilman Corey Johnson and Dan Pepitone (above) and caught glimpses of Jason Collins and Zachary Quinto, but didn't get a chance to grab a photo, dammit.

Attacker Of NYC Eagle Bartender Charged With Assault, Next Court Date Is Thursday

Three weeks ago NYC Eagle bartender Paul Martone was left in critical condition after being punched during a Hell's Kitchen street altercation involving his dog. Last week his attacker, Corey Pohan (left), 32, pleaded guilty in a New Jersey court to criminal trespassing after climbing atop the Lincoln Tunnel toll plaza in an attempt to flee NYPD detectives who were escorting him to Manhattan for questioning. As part of his plea agreement, Pohan was sentenced to the 13 days he'd served in a New Jersey jail and a $256 fine. He was then extradited to Manhattan for arraignment where he was charged with assault for the attack on Martone. Pohan is being held on a $25,000 bond. His next court date is this Thursday. Martone's current condition has not been disclosed in recent reports.

NEW YORK CITY: Cops Collar Suspect In Street Attack On Eagle Bartender

On Tuesday night. New York City Eagle bartender Paul Martone, 49, was left in critical condition after hitting his head on a Hell's Kitchen street following a punch by a stranger with whom he had argued about his dog. Martone's condition was upgraded to stable last night and today the NYPD reports that the attacker has been arrested.

Corey Pohan, 32, was found hiding at his mother’s Lakewood, New Jersey, home on Wednesday, after a tipster recognized him from a shocking video of the single punch that left 49-year-old Paul Martone on his back, the sources said. Martone — who hit his head on the pavement when he fell from the blow at Ninth Ave. and W. 55th St. early Tuesday — was in stable condition at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center on Thursday. The wild confrontation erupted after Pohan allegedly stepped over Martone’s pet pooch to get to the sidewalk, sources said. Martone yelled at him and pushed Pohan — who turned around and slugged Martone, knocking him to the ground. A witness used a cell phone to record the attack, which a witness recorded with a cell phone. Detectives went to New Jersey after they identified the suspect. Pohan initially surrendered and was on his way back across the Hudson River until he suddenly changed his mind and jumped out of the car near the Lincoln Tunnel, sources said. Local authorities were called to arrest Pohan, who was taken into custody at the scene.

Pohan remains in a New Jersey jail while awaiting extradition. The incident has turned into a minor social media sensation over whether Martone had instigated the confrontation.

NEW YORK CITY: Eagle Bartender In Critical Condition After Hell's Kitchen Street Attack, Cops Ask Public For Help

A bartender at the New York City Eagle is in critical condition after hitting his head on a Hell's Kitchen street following a punch from an attacker yesterday. His assailant remains at large.

A dog owner was in critical condition with a fractured skull after a man knocked him to the ground with one punch during an argument over his Chihuahua, neighbors and sources said. Paul Martone, 49, was at the corner of West 55th Street and Ninth Avenue about 6:30 p.m. when a blond man stepped over his dog — which neighbors identified as Peanut — to get onto the sidewalk, offending the victim and sparking an argument, sources said. The suspect shoved Martone before punching him in the face, knocking him to the ground and then fled the scene. The attack was caught on surveillance footage. Martone's head struck the pavement, fracturing his skull and possibly causing swelling to his brain, police said. He was in critical condition at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell hospital, police said.

The NYPD is asking for the public's help in identifying Martone's attacker. Call their tip line at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). At present, there is no indication that the assault was a bias crime.

Straight Owner Of Hell's Kitchen Gay Bar Performs Westboro Baptist Blues

The dancers are the bartenders at Flaming Saddles.

(Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

TONIGHT: Furball 10th Anniversary

Tonight DJ Corey Craig will spin a special tribute set to the late Godfather of House, Frankie Knuckles, who performed at Furball in the past. Details.

Activists To Launch Sochi "War Room"

Via the #CheersToSochi Facebook page:

LGBT activists, allies, social media experts, and journalists are invited to participate in the #CheersToSochi War Room in New York City at Boxers Bar HK during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games this Friday. The purpose of the #CheersToSochi War Room is for participants to monitor the Opening Ceremony and other Olympic-related broadcasts and to: provide alternative commentary using Twitter, Facebook and social media networks; expose Russia’s continuing human rights violations and the oppression faced by LGBT Russians, political dissidents and artists in Russia; and, challenge the pro-Russia, pro-International Olympic Committee (IOC) and sponsor-driven messages broadcast by NBC. The #CheersToSochi War Room will use social media to tell the truth about the Russian government's oppression of LGBT Russians, artists, political dissidents, and others.

More from the New York Times:

Activists angry about a law in Russia against “homosexual propaganda” are intensifying efforts to mock and minimize the Winter Games. Some intend to operate what they call a #CheersToSochi War Room on Friday, during the NBC coverage of the opening ceremony, in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. The name refers to a hashtag in social media promoted by McDonald’s that was co-opted by protesters to the point where McDonald’s stopped using it. The war room initiative will give participants a chance to “provide alternative commentary, using Twitter, Facebook and social media networks,” an invitation on Facebook reads, and “challenge the pro-Russia, pro-International Olympic Committee and sponsor-driven messages broadcast by NBC.” Scott Wooledge, a leader in the appropriation of the #CheersToSochi hashtag and member of Queer Nation NY, introduced a parody site, cheerstosochi.org, attacking the major sponsors because, its home page declares, “they’ve all betrayed the ideals in Olympic charter.”

I'll be there in Hell's Kitchen tonight.

Cops Raid Hell's Kitchen Gay Bar

DNAinfo New York reports:

A popular gay bar that's enraged locals by throwing loud parties and playing porn that's visible from the street was raided by the NYPD early Saturday morning and was temporarily shut down for operating without a liquor license, sources said. The raid on Fairytail Lounge, at 500 W. 48th St., was part of the Multi-Agency Response to Community Hotspots program and included police and investigators from the State Liquor Authority and the Department of Buildings, among others. In a November letter, Community Board 4 begged the SLA not to renew Fairytail's liquor license, citing years of community anger over loud parties seven days a week and crowds that down the bar's $3 drinks. Residents have also complained that porn playing on televisions and scantily clad male dancers are often visible from the sidewalk.

The bar reportedly reopened the next night and still does not have a liquor license.

Brian Brown Is In Hell('s Kitchen)

A JMG reader sends us this photo of Brian Brown, who was just spotted in Hell's Kitchen at 41st Street and Ninth Avenue. So he's either on his way to the New York Times building or...the Port Authority bus terminal.

NYC Gay Bar Gets Reality Show

Flaming Saddles, the Hell's Kitchen country gay bar that was temporarily closed by the health department last month, will be the focus of a coming reality show.

It will follow the straight couple Jacqui Squatriglia and Chris Barnes, who own the saloon that’s hosted “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Anderson Cooper and members of “The Book of Mormon” cast. Apparently the stress of managing the venue and its cast of muscled, dancing bartenders is enough to require not one but two couples therapists. Squatriglia was a choreographer at another party-hardy dive, Coyote Ugly, before opening Flaming Saddles. Former “SNL” writer Margaret Oberman will produce for the production company Traveling Picture Show.

No word on when the show will launch.

Yet Another Gay Bashing in Manhattan

NY1 has the details:

A Manhattan teenager is facing hate crime charges after he allegedly assaulted a co-founder of a local gay rights group in Hell's Kitchen yesterday. Manuel Riquelme, 19, is charged with hate crime and aggravated harassment after allegedly hitting Eugene Lovendusky, 28, a Queens resident and co-founder of Queer Rising, an LGBT rights and advocacy group.

Police say the alleged assault took place at 3 a.m. Saturday on West 42nd Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. At the time, authorities say Lovendusky and his boyfriend and another friend were leaving the XL nightclub and walking towards a nearby subway stop. Police say a group of nine teenagers, including Riquelme, passed the group of three men and started calling them anti-gay slurs.

Riquelme allegedly slapped Lovendusky in the face and knocked off the victim's glasses, according to police. After the alleged incident, Lovendusky called police and officers found the teens in a pizzeria at West 40th Street and Ninth Avenue. Lovendusky did not seek medical attention. The incident is being investigated as a bias assault, according to police.

Lovendusky has appeared twice on JMG in the last two weeks as he was the co-organizer of the hate crimes rally at Madison Square Garden and he spoke at the vigil for murder victim Mark Carson.

NOTE: The attack on Lovendusky took place on Friday night, but I held my report until it was confirmed this afternoon by the media and the NYPD.

NYPD Steps Up Patrols In Gayborhoods

In reaction to the continuing spree of anti-gay hate crimes, the NYPD announced today that they have increases patrols in the West Village, Chelsea, and Hell's Kitchen.

The patrols — which will feature mobile command units — were announced in response to the shooting death of Mark Carson, 32, Saturday, allegedly by a man spewing homophobic slurs. The increased police presence will last at least until the end of June, which is LGBT pride month.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, other Democratic mayoral candidates and gay leaders also led a massive rally yesterday in Greenwich Village, where Carson was shot while walking with his partner. “The family would like to have justice be served, so that Mark’s death is not in vain,” said the victim’s aunt, Flourine Bompars, one of about 1,000 marchers.

The killer's family continues to defend him.

Morales’ family said he was blitzed on ecstasy and booze that night and had no memory of the savage attack. “It’s a lie to say he hates people,’’ said Morales’ bisexual sister, Edith Gutierrez. “We’re not a prejudiced family. We have African-Americans, Dominicans, gays and Mexicans in our family.’’ Morales is being held at Rikers without bail on charges of second-degree murder as a hate crime, menacing and criminal weapons possession.

Counting last night's attack in the East Village, there have now been 24 anti-gay attacks since the beginning of the year, a 70% increase over the number recorded to this date in 2012.

Health Dept Shuts Hell's Kitchen Bar

Flaming Saddles, the popular Hell's Kitchen country gay bar, was shut down this week by the NYC Health Department.

The hot spot — which features shirtless bartenders who two-step on the bar, as well as serving dishes like "Frito Pie" — was letting hot food get cold, had improper plumbing, and had a food preparation counter that was "improperly constructed," the inspection report said.  Inspectors also found "filth flies" in the bar, food that was "contaminated" and "cross-contaminated," and that the kitchen's supervisor didn't have proper food protection certification. It racked up a total of 61 violation points, according to the inspection.

Today In Hell's Kitchen

Sunday In NYC: Ali Forney Center Fundraiser In Hell's Kitchen

Tomorrow in Hell's Kitchen:

The Ali Forney Center (AFC) - the nation’s largest services and advocacy organization working on behalf of runaway and homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth – had its drop-in center destroyed by the Hudson River storm surge following Hurricane Sandy. The center served as the entry point for a number of AFC services, including medical care, HIV testing, mental health services, housing referrals, and more. In order to raise money for the AFC in this time of crisis, Industry Bar, located at 355 West 52nd Street in Manhattan, will host a fundraising event from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 11, 2012. The event’s hosts will include actress Ally Sheedy and celebrity photographer Mike Ruiz.

The event is co-chaired by AFC board member and Chair of Manhattan Community Board 4, Corey Johnson, and AFC volunteer and OASIS co-chair Michael Green. Tickets are available for purchase at the door for $20, and 100 percent of the event proceeds from ticket sales, bar service and raffle items will go to the AFC. A matching donation of up to $50,000 will be generously made on behalf of AFC Board Member Bill Shea and his husband, Frank Selvaggi. “Sandy upended the lives of many New Yorkers, but not nearly as much as the youth of the Ali Forney Center, who now have nowhere to turn for basic services such as shelter and food. We are proud to help our community come together in support of its most vulnerable youth,” said Shea and Selvaggi.

I'll be there tomorrow! You can also donate directly via the AFC's website.

NEW YORK CITY: Gay Runners To Pub Crawl For Hurricane Sandy Relief

Instead of taking part in the now-canceled Marathon, today some gay runners and their supporters will pub crawl for hurricane relief in Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea, and the West Village. Beneficiaries will be the American Red Cross, the Ali Forney Center, and New York Care. More details are here and on the event's Facebook page.

Scissor Sisters Have A REAL Kiki

Last night the Scissor Sisters played Terminal 5 in Hell's Kitchen where an already ecstatic (and virtually all-male) audience went nuts when during their current club smash, Let's Have A Kiki, the band brought out Justin Bond of the legendary cabaret act Kiki & Herb. We literally screamed in delight and later at the XL after party I got to chat with Justin who was thrilled with the reception she got. We didn't stay long at the after party, but my loyal companion Aaron and I left marveling at the Limelight Disco 2000-esque crowd of club kids, dragoons, and general wildness. We both had thought that scene was long gone and we simultaneously felt very old and very pleased.

RELATED: Terminal 5 is my favorite Manhattan concert venue in part because they usually manage to keep the place fairly cool no matter how jammed the room may be. But not last night, where it was murderously hot in the balconies. To put it in terms San Franciscans may relate to, it was 4am at Real Bad hot. It was holiday weekend Pleasuredome rear disco hot. That's how hot it was.

Morning View - Refreshment Dykes

Flaming Saddles

Manhattan's new country/western gay bar. SRSLY.