VIP Guest Blogger: T Cooper

T Cooper here: your friendly neighborhood tranny columnist for OUT mag (check out my new column in this month's issue -- it's about my adventures on Manhunt). I'm checking in along with my hot girl, author Felicia Luna Lemus. We just landed in the VIP area upstairs -- initially DENIED access out front with the rest of the flow-trash on Broadway. But with a little help from the mega-shot of DayQuil I pounded before hopping in a cab to come over here, we managed to make our way in through a secret Spidey entrance. Actually, we're not really here at all; in fact we are standing in CNN's New York studios beside Anderson Cooper, and we have been beamed into Gotham Hall as holograms.

I don't have much to report just yet, because I've been here mere minutes. But the drinks are fruity, just like all of the fellas swarming around me (and dressed just like me. I thought I was an original). I am really hoping to see Our Lady J -- I am praying she's here, and if she is, I'll do my damnedest to resist grabbing her hot ass -- or worse, upstairs. Now I'm e-sexually harassing her. Maybe that's not kosher.

I'll get off now, let Noah get back to his business, and have myself another fruity drink. Plus I have to get back into my corner to hang with the other nerdy-ass writers here -- Rigoberto Gonzalez, R. Zamora Linmark (major crush on this dude -- she looks hot in her Out 100 portrait, no?).

Now I have popped my blogging cherry. Don't know how I feel about that yet.

T

Scene: More tidbits sent in from our roving reporters

> Cheyenne Jackson looks even more like Rock Hudson in person. And is dancing his ass off backstage while Nikka Costa plays, in between charming everyone in sight.

> Chelsea Handler grabbing a canape while taking a quick break from her hosting duties.

Now on stage: Nikka Costa rocks OUT

First musical performer of the evening Nikka Costa rocks the crowd out to two of her latest. Talk about belting it out. We can see her tonsils from here -- all the way in the back.

-- JH

Scene: Project Runway represents!

We ran into Project Runway Season 4 celebs Jack Mackenroth (gay fave!) and Kevin Christiana (also fab). The two just got in from LA, where they pitched a new fashion TV series to executives. According to Jack, the pair should hear back within a month. Fingers crossed! When he's not designing, Jack is out supporting his charity Living Positive By Design.

-- JH

Scene: And so it begins!

Out Editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin and Chelsea Handler kick off the 15th Annual Out100 Awards. Chelsea, looking radiant, jokes she was gay for a night. We think more than one. (She's just too hot.)

Scene: Killing us hardcore with his songs

DJ Corey is doing a kick ass job so far. We've heard Lady GaGa, Rihanna, Madonna, Robyn, and now we've been transported back to 1986 with one of my favorite songs ever -- Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know?"

The divas just ain't quittin'. If DJ Corey keeps this up I might be forced to do some fancy dance-blogging. You've been warned.

-- NM

Scene: Model Citizens, Out 100ers, gift bags

Vladimir of Wilhemina Models and Kevin from Calvin Klein -- now that's what we call a Model Citizen.

NPR's Ari Shapiro

Gift bags waiting for the end of the evening

Your faithful Popnographer, Shana, and Out contributor Ilya Marritz

Photos by Rae Votta

VIP Guest Blogger: Our own Stylelist's Seth Plattner

Seth from Stylelist here with a few fashion finds from the beginning of the night.

Walking in I was a first just amazed at how hot the crowd is. I mean, double T hot -- so that's hott.  And what's making them so hot? Their style, of course! It's a rather classy affair, and we're certainly seeing a lean towards vintage classics. Clearly, Mad Men's influence -- and the theme of our own classic Hollywood Out 100 issue -- can't be stopped.

Among my favorite looks so far:

> Waiting on line my escort -- er, date -- ran into a friend from school who was wearing a perfectly fitted dark suit with a slim, and I mean slim, tie. It was reminiscent of a '60s swinger, and the tie button was the perfect compliment.

> Standing right next to me is a rather dapper fellow who is rocking the exact opposite: an over-sized tie that is goes along quite well with his over-sized personality. His stuffed pocket square is a vibrant touch as well.

> Noah, from Out, also looks casual chic with a great pair of jeans and a slim fitting black shirt. He was worried about his outfit, but we overwhelmingly approve. So do the number of men who have snapped his picture.

Off I go to survey the crowd, the styles and the trends. Pictures to come on Stylelist!

Scene: The party begins!

The party has barely begun and already we have a few tidbits to report:

> Charlie Herschel from Survivor: Gabon (who attended with the Advocate's Jon Barrett) is beginning his evening with an Absolut and soda with a splash of cranberry.

> Designer Richie Rich (of Heatherette fame) tells us the Out 100 is one of his favorite parties of the year.

> Three blonde drag queens (one who must be at least 6’7’’) stormed the VIP area and headed straight for the bar.

Tim Gunn loves a good bubble bath

Photo: Rae Votta

Is there anyone in the world who has met Tim Gunn and not been charmed by him? Certainly he slayed the Out staff one by one.

Here he is dishing dirt on the new season of Project Runway (which begins tonight on Bravo) and fessing up on his secret love for...bubble baths and leopard print?