Joan Rivers Fetes BFF and Gossip King Musto

Twenty-five years is a long time to be doing anything, let alone partying in NYC and writing about it. Michael Musto has spent the past quarter-century doing exactly that as a Village Voice columnist -- yet the thrill of nightlife remains.

“It doesn’t feel like 25 years," Musto told Niteside at his 25th anniversary Village Voice party at 230 Fifth Avenue. “It feels like five minutes. My job is so much fun, never tedious.”

The bash drew some of New York’s most colorful characters such as Joan Rivers, Robert Verdi, Michael Urie, Countess Luann de Lesseps, Paper magazine’s Mickey Boardman, drag king Murray Hill and a dozen of the city’s glitziest drag queens. Becoming besties with figures like Rivers is one of Musto’s favorite aspects of NYC nightlife.

“I remember getting to know people like Joan Rivers, like who’s a treasure.  It’s so rare that you connect with a celebrity like that, she’s so special to me,” said Musto  “We’re just both ... New Yorkers who shoot from the hip and don’t mince words so we respect each other.”

Rivers doled out equally effusive praise for Michael who “means the absolutely, quintessential New Yorker. I love him, he’s smart, he’s different, he’s edgy, he’s not ashamed to be different and he adds ... a flavor to the city.”

Musto added, “For me, I’m just gonna keep doing it, entering parties in a walker.  I’ll still do what I’m doing.”

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