As the nation prepares for November’s presidential election, Barack Obama got a stylish fundraising boost on Saturday night at a star-studded East Village gay bar.
The Eastern Bloc on E. Sixth St. — which is co-owned by Ben Maisani, better known as Anderson Cooper’s boyfriend — raked in Democrat cash from an array of high-profile fashion designers, editors, models and photographers, all of whom enjoyed the night’s other featured attraction: a bunch of pole-riding go-go dancers, scantily clad in Obama-themed boxer briefs and thongs. One face that stood out in the crowd was former hockey goon Sean Avery, who was enjoying his recent retirement and seemed well on his way to becoming a true fashionista.
The event stayed true to the Obama campaign’s grassroots mantra — a $100 minimum donation seemed relatively small considering the VIPs in attendance — but the final total was nothing to sneeze at; Darren Dryden, the bar’s other co-owner, said that they’d raised $12,000.
— Sam Spokony
