Despite the terrorist attack downtown earlier in the day, the annual Eagle NYC Halloween Party, like the Village Halloween Parade, gamely proceeded as scheduled on October 31. Angels and devils, figures from antiquity and mythology, knights and dragons, movie characters, pop culture icons, and so on filled the Eagle for the festive party.
A lively costume contest, hosted by Witti Repartee and Mr. Eagle NYC Leather 2018 Joseph Macchia, was the evening’s centerpiece. Witti, as the doll tossed aside in “Haunted House,” opened the show by yodeling the “William Tell” overture, “Carmen” prelude, and Galop Infernal, or cancan, from “Orphée aux Enfers,” complete with high kicks, with DJ Frank Wild assisting. Audience applause narrowed 20 contestants to 10. From these 10, the co-hosts and other titleholders in attendance, Mr. Eagle NYC Leather 2017 John-John Punki, past Mr. North American Bear and Mr. Rawhide Jed Ryan, and Mr. Fire Island Leather 2001, this writer, chose five semi-finalists—Lactose Intolerance, familiar from commercials for Lactaid; Ursula the Sea Witch, from “The Little Mermaid;” Jockstrap Knight; Vlad the Impaler; and the Puffer Fish—who danced while Witti delivered “The Monster Mash.” Audience acclaim decided the top winners, who were Lactose Intolerance, winning $1,000 cash; Ursula the Sea Witch, the runner-up, winning $350; and Jockstrap Knight, the second runner-up, winning $150.