NLGJA Headlines and Headliners 2013 Gala

NBC's Megan Kopf, D&D Advertising CafeMom's Andrew Shue, CNN's Javi Morgado, NBC's Natalie Morales and ABC's Amy Robach (aka Mrs. Shue)

Had a swell time at the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association's Headlines and Headliners soiree. Host Javi Morgado tried out a new venue for the annual fundraiser -- the opulent Prince George Ballroom on 27th just off Fifth Avenue -- and while it was far easier to get a drink than in past years at the Mitchell Gold store downtown, it was so big I ended up missing a number of friends, former colleagues and would-be friends. (Catch you next time, Andy, Michelangelo, Billy and Gayle!)  Fortunately, I did hook up with my pal Jim Key -- in town from Los Angeles where he is the chief public affairs officer for the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center -- and also got to see Lavi Soloway (Stop the Deportations: The DOMA Project), eager to get to Washington for the SCOTUS action ; the always-entertaining J. Jennings Moss (of Upstart Business Journal); Jason Bellini, who is back at The Wall Street Journal; Eric Hegedus of The New York Post and his pal Totally Tyler, whose new book -- "Boys, Booze & Booty Calls: The Continued Tails of Totally Tyler" -- is totally available on Amazon HERE. I also met four young journalism students from my alma mater, who are members of ASU's very own infant chapter of the NLGJA. Curiously, every single one of them missed their cue to gasp in utter shock when I announced I was a member of the Class of '89 -- before all of them were born -- but let me tell you kids this: You've come a long way, Sun Devils! Afterward, I tagged along with Jim -- a visitor who has a million more friends in New York than I do after 15 years! -- and his pals Derek, Ryan and Jack for a fun dinner at Elmo (thanks, Derek!), which was packed and turned out to be the unofficial site of the NLGJA after party. (Have you seen the bartender working there lately? Unf**king-believably hot!) From there, Jim, Jack and I headed to the Meatpacking District for an "on-the-list" outing at Cielo -- courtesy of Occupy the Disco -- before wrapping it up with a night cap at Barracuda, where the scariest Whitney Houston impersonator I have ever seen (and I have seen more than my fair share) came in last place in a talent contest performing "My Name Is Not Susan." I woke the following morning with a souvenir hangover -- age'll do that to you -- but I'm glad I went. NLGJA does a lot of great work -- and for networking and friendhips, it can't be beat. To learn more, click HERE.

With Jim and Eric

Natalie Morales

My pal Dean (left) and friends 

Jim, Ryan McKeel and Christopher Jones

An unknown young man puts the meat in a Jesse Rodriguez and Kevin Hauswirth sandwich

Natalie Morales, Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer

(Photos by Darren Gantt/NLGJA and Jon Schwenzer/President, NLGJA South Florida Chapter)