Illustration: Maanvi Kapur
Peyton Dix is likely one of the most in-demand lesbians within the metropolis. Her podcast, Lemme Say This, which she co-hosts alongside Hunter Harris, returned this Spring as a part of the Obamas’ Greater Floor community. (Michelle Obama was a current visitor: “She’s an actual up-and-comer; it is best to look out for that woman,” Dix says.) Between the present and her personal writing, Dix is a machine that may solely be stopped by one factor: Pleasure weekend. She nonetheless considers party-hopping work. (“The streets are simply as necessary because the boardroom.”) The end result of her Pleasure Month included publish–Dyke March ramen, a bagel order that places Cynthia Nixon to disgrace, and a few 4 a.m. Dealer Joe’s gyoza. Even when Dix didn’t intend to remain out as late as she did this week, it’s not her fault. “I do have a gay-guy moon,” she says. “After a few drinks, that’s when the membership begins calling me.”
Wednesday, June 24
Mornings are the one time I handle myself; after that, it’s in all probability downhill. I attempt to begin proper with in a single day oats with chia seeds, slightly maple syrup, and berries. Then I stroll to get espresso at Bittersweet, which I do each single day — I don’t care what the worth is. Don’t do the mathematics and inform me. As we speak it’s an iced cappuccino, common milk — entire or 2 p.c, relying on how a lot I like myself. I throw in some brown easy syrup after that. I’ve espresso at residence, for any lover who’s questioning, however when it’s simply me, I wish to get my steps in. Somewhat mental-health stroll and spending $7 can typically change your entire life.
I take it to the park and sit with my pal Mo, who’s biking again from the fitness center. I’ve simply spent a weekend in Fireplace Island with a bunch of sizzling homosexual males, so I’m taking the one respite I’ve earlier than Pleasure weekend. Generally the toughest factor an individual can do is be homosexual. Surviving Pleasure Month is a marathon, not a dash. We catch up and speak shit, after which he bikes off and I keep to learn. Studying in public can really feel like efficiency artwork, however I don’t assume that’s a foul factor. I do my morning pages with an acknowledgment that they may be my final for this week and ending on one full web page of affirmations and manifestations (I’ll circle again if they arrive true).
Then I head to sizzling yoga at Tangerine, within the Downtown Brooklyn–ish space. The category I take is from an teacher named Liz, the second most-important lesbian in my healing-journey life-style. The primary is Chani Nicholas, after all. The astrology of the week is one thing about getting ready for the Mercury retrograde, and I interpret that as Pleasure weekend is about to be arduous.
Afterward, I need a smoothie, so I get one with spirulina from SoBol, which I’d by no means been to earlier than. It’s mid, and typically that’s okay.
I head residence for a gathering with my administration, after which I do the accountable factor and, in preparation for an extended weekend, I cancel my night plans. I used to be speculated to go to a Jay-Z30 occasion. Not a really Pleasure factor to do, but it surely’s good to disrupt the area. I’m nonetheless hungover bodily and emotionally from Fireplace Island, and I do know the remainder of my week can be bus, membership, one other membership, airplane, no sleep, so I resolve to remain in. My neighborhood group chat alerts me there’s a new Taco Bell that simply opened in Clinton Hill and — that is actually necessary — the Enchirito is again: It’s a burrito that’s handled like an enchilada. I get it with the common seasoned beef, and it’s simply fabulous.
The remainder of the evening, I compensate for Mormon Wives as a result of I like when white girls act insane. I’m going to be on Get Actual on Hulu speaking about it, so I had rather a lot to compensate for. They’re type of the epitome of women who’re always falling out with one another or perhaps by no means even appreciated one another in any respect, which is a really fascinating dynamic to me. The way in which friendships look on actuality TV is so fascinating as a result of it forces confrontation and everyone seems to be so dangerous at it, however at the very least they struggle. It’s one other model of The Artist’s Approach if I give it some thought lengthy sufficient.
Thursday, June 25
I begin my day with my excellent chile-oil egg. There isn’t a different chile oil on the earth besides Lao Gan Ma, the spicy chile crisp. You understand Miss Lady? It’s type of giving non-binary, and it’s one of the best chile oil there’s. Individuals attempt to say Dealer Joe’s has a great dupe, however I don’t belief it. I put it in a pan, drop an egg in, crack it, salt, pepper, slightly cheese if I’m feeling daring in my intestine (which is commonly). Excessive warmth, brief cook dinner. I like my yolk runny.
I am going get a Bittersweet latte after which go surfing to digital remedy till my home cleaner arrives — diva. She all the time arrives an hour late, so I now schedule her two hours prematurely to get her to reach on time; it’s a stupendous system that works for the 2 of us. She’s late, however so am I as a result of I’m Black and I’m homosexual, so I empathize.
Whereas she’s cleansing, I run some errands. I get my nails performed and make a pre-Pleasure Walgreens run — nutritional vitamins, magnesium, Electrolit, Tylenol, paper towels (not Pleasure-related; I’m simply out). The massive errand, although: I get my hair braided in Clinton Hill. My regular braider is out of city, so I went with God, a.okay.a. Yelp, to search out an African braiding salon close to me. This lady and enterprise I WILL NOT NAME did attempt to rip my hair from my scalp, however rattling, her strains are clear, so I can’t be mad.
I get straight-back cornrows. I’m at present making an attempt to cosplay masc. I’m listening to experiences it’s not working, however alas.
Then I head again residence for a gathering adopted by a Get Actual briefing name — chatting by all of the Mormon Wives lore we’ll be discussing with Miranda from the present. After the calls, I promote a podcast episode with the right visitor, the homosexual man to my lesbian, Caleb Hearon, and ship some emails. Though I’m freelance, I nonetheless like a Summer time Friday, so I do lots of prep work on Thursday.
I overlook to have lunch. Possibly due to my ADHD, I typically simply overlook to eat, after which unexpectedly, I’ve a foul angle. I are likely to preserve an RXBAR on me for that cause alone. Being slightly malnourished is traditional Pleasure and a traditional lesbian factor. Plus I do know I’ve an enormous dinner later that I’m planning to go arduous at. One factor about me? If there’s a free fancy dinner, it’s clean-plate membership on this home.
I am going down the road to Rhodora for my pal Tembe’s intimate Pleasure kickoff occasion. It is a calmer, queer-POC-focused soirée. The purpose appeared to be: We’re lesbians who’re sizzling and largely Black and in our 30s now, so earlier than we descend into hell, let’s stretch, have drinks, giggle, gossip, play mancala, and take a look at one another. There may be one exceptionally engaging lesbian there who’s making me wish to finish my no-dating rule. I drink a mezcal negroni and snack on olives I stole off another person’s plate.
The massive dinner is at Moss, a brand new membership membership in midtown. I’m not a member; I similar to free meals. I’m in an advanced shoe, so I name a automobile there. The Caesar salad slaps. There’s a big-ass shrimp cocktail and oysters, however the shrimp is alarmingly giant in a manner that felt very inviting at first after which extremely difficult. Then roast hen breast and a vanilla dot cake. I’m not an enormous cake individual, and I don’t like issues that really feel like sprinkles, however my pal Sarah Burke actually loves it, and I’m an ally to her expertise. I’m not a yuck-your-yum type of woman — I’ll by no means yuck a yum; I’ll solely decide it from afar.
From there, I am going to Increase Increase Room, the place JoJo — the O.G., not Siwa — performs two of her hit songs with a handbag on. Individuals chortle on the accent glued to her underarm, however I perceive; I don’t belief drunk homosexual guys both! I see y’all spilling your tequila sodas and doing bumps of ketamine; you’re not touching my shit. She does her numbers on the bar and instantly walks off. I order an Uber in the midst of “Get Out” so it’s ready for me when she’s performed. I drink a mezcal with ginger beer.
Friday, June 25
I get up and have a Zico coconut water, a ginger immunity-boost shot, and my different breakfast traditional: a Siggi’s yuzu lemon yogurt. I’ve an iced cappuccino, however I don’t truly know the place it’s from as a result of my pal Lindsey Weber picked it up for me. And truthfully? It was higher than Bittersweet.
We’re recording a particular Patreon version of her podcast Who? Weekly at her home, and it’s off digital camera. Out of the blue, I’m an advocate for bringing again podcasts that aren’t speak exhibits. Return to the shape. It’s fabulous to take a seat again, loosen up, run your mouth, and never pay attention to A-cam, B-cam, or C-cam. As you possibly can perhaps assume from the day earlier than, I’m slightly hungover, so I’m in no bra, a Nickelback tee, and my ugly glasses. It felt so secure to not have to consider being perceived.
My high-school greatest pal Kaela is on the town staying with me, so she comes to choose up the keys. She’s my current lesbian pal — I informed her she was homosexual in eighth grade and he or she didn’t imagine me. I wasn’t a lesbian myself on the time, however I used to be all the time perceptive, and I used to be dry-humping half the ladies in my grade. She simply got here out, so I informed her to return go to so we are able to run her in these streets for her first actual Pleasure. She lives in L.A., the place I believe two manufacturers of lesbian exist: both the Lengthy Seashore snapback lesbian or the 24-year-old white enby. Lesbians don’t know methods to combine for some cause. To not be the MLK of dykes, however segregation ended! Hey!
For lunch, we sit within the yard at Colonia Verde. I’ve gone on lots of first and final dates right here. I get the shrimp tacos on a flour tortilla — my favourite factor to order — plus one other espresso, a ceviche, and a carnitas taco.
Then I am going residence for a podcast assembly. Throughout Pleasure, Hunter and I try this factor the place we are saying goodbye — like, “I’ll see you on the opposite aspect of it.” She prays for me. We all the time chortle about the truth that going out throughout Pleasure weekend is figure for me. Once we report on Monday, she’ll hear my strained voice and know I’ve simply been to battle.
I am going to a screening of Bouchra at Metrograph, and I get a mezcal negroni and don’t correctly inhale whereas smoking a cigarette. Through the movie, I’ve popcorn and two bottles of water. My pals made it, and I can’t suggest it sufficient. I am going residence to bathe and alter, then pregame at Sarah and Alyza’s in Mattress-Stuy. Everybody goes to Papi Juice at Elsewhere, which is a queer and more-POC-centered celebration thrown by my pals Mo, Oscar, and Adam; it’s been occurring for over a decade now. I’m actually drained, however I actually need Kaela to satisfy these essential individuals in my life, so we head there. I dance. I sweat. I watch homosexual guys do medication. I wait in toilet strains, push previous strangers, give a hug to a podcast listener, and ultimately get actually hungry. We had been there till too late. “Too late” that means Popeyes was closed by the point we left. That’s how I find yourself with Dealer Joe’s hen gyoza and ramen at 4 a.m. It’s late to be getting culinary, however somebody has to do it. A lesbian all the time will.
Saturday, June 26
I get up at 11 a.m., which isn’t sufficient sleep. However right here’s the factor about me: Even after I’m out late or hungover, I naturally get up at, like, eight. It’s not a flex; it’s usually a jail, significantly on weekends after I wish to sleep in. So even on a weekend, if I get up late, I simply get anxiousness about it. However I took a magnesium earlier than mattress, and that actually helped. Or at the very least! I inform myself that!
I order Greenberg’s Bagels, which was not my name; I’m being an ally to Kaela. I’m extraordinarily hungover, so please maintain your judgment, however I received a blueberry bagel, scooped out, with bacon, egg, and cheese, sizzling honey, and lettuce. It was so chaotic, however hear me out — it was good. Nobody believes girls anymore, however I’m telling the reality.
We additionally order espresso supply (sure, I’m hungover, I let Jesus take the wheel) from Clean Avenue. I get a Daydream matcha latte. My pal will get a daily espresso, and I make her get a big so we are able to share. I additionally go to Walgreens and decide up roughly 42 Electrolits. The spine of Pleasure!
Earlier than the Dyke March, I get Chop’t: a Mexican Caesar with jalapeño chips and an oatmeal-raisin cookie. Finest fast-casual salad spot, and don’t even attempt to inform me it’s Sweetgreen. It’s my first Dyke March. I’ve organized protests and marches earlier than, and I like the euphoria of collective pleasure and liberation, however I do battle with gradual strolling. I dwell in New York, and I can’t tiptoe. Possibly it’s my ADHD — I get overstimulated. So I minimize in increased up, round 18th Avenue, making my stroll shorter. It’s so enjoyable. I like that it’s a spot to see so many various expressions of queerness, of lesbianism. And I didn’t run into an ex, which is exceptional. On prime of every part, there was a DOUBLE RAINBOW! Possibly god doesn’t hate gays in any case.
We go to Menkoi Sao round 9 p.m. and order a highly regarded, superb spicy miso ramen, gyoza, edamame, and a Sapporo. It’s a saved spot I’d by no means truly been to; I don’t even know why I saved it. However that’s my entire relationship with saving locations: I simply belief who I used to be after I saved it. I’ve totally misplaced my voice, so I can’t actually talk, which is perhaps good as a result of I simply get to benefit from the meal.
The plan is to go residence. I’ve a tote bag on me. I’m not making an attempt to go to the membership in flip-flops. However I’m satisfied to “cease by” the unofficial march afters at Parkside Lounge, the place a pal is bartending. There’s an extended line of child queers outdoors. I get in by the checklist line and run into an previous camp pal, my neighbor, a woman who began a rumor I used to be on Ozempic, and somebody I dated. It wouldn’t be a Pleasure weekend with out operating into at the very least a couple of individuals you used to hook up with. There are strippers right here. I don’t see them, however I see a foot go up, and simply that’s fabulous. My bartender pal brings me and my pals three Gatorades — blue, crimson, and yellow. Between the hydration and the variety of drinks we’ve, I alter my tune and assume, “Why cease now?” So we go from there to DickAppointment at These days. The second I get within the automobile, my tiredness hits me and I’m like, Properly, what am I doing right here? However my greatest pal is on the town, I wish to present her a great time, and I resolve to bop for slightly bit. One factor about me: I’m vulnerable to groupthink. And it ended up being among the best events I’ve ever been to. We’re out till 5 within the morning.
Sunday, June 27
Naturally, I don’t get up till midday. Forgot the magnesium, so I’m slightly extra anxious. We had been speculated to go to Riis Seashore — I all the time go to Riis for Pleasure with a bunch of my pals and exes and everybody I do know. However I get up too late and with not sufficient power, and after I rise up, it’s overcast. I test my cellphone, and my Crosswalk Crush interview went dwell, the place I gave a #Pleasure-themed dating-advice sizzling tip and was promptly known as each identify below the solar by incels within the feedback. <3 Yayyyy.
For breakfast, I make medium-boiled eggs — I prefer it when the yolk is slightly runny, and somebody informed me as soon as that’s higher for you, and I are likely to imagine somebody if they are saying one thing with their chest. Earlier than we head out, I eat a Dealer Joe’s Waldorf hen salad.
I get the type of cleanse I want after the horrors of my Fireplace Island journey final weekend by going to a lesbian lady’s giant residence in Carroll Gardens. I solely know a couple of individuals there: the 2 pals who invited me, one lady I’d met years in the past, and one other one I dated. Like I stated, what’s Pleasure with out operating into a couple of of your exes? Everybody is sweet and grown up in a manner that makes my 32 really feel like 16. Being round them makes me wish to contribute extra to my Roth IRA (complimentary).
It begins out as a really chill afternoon: We get there round 4. They’re enjoying a sport of flip cup. There’s a tattoo artist and well-behaved canine. We’re in a quaint again patio with cigarettes displayed on a silver tray. They’ve a bartender for the subsequent hour. And what’s a stupendous white lady’s residence with out a cheese plate? There’s one actually good sharp cheddar I get into and a blueberry goat cheese. There may be Domino’s there, too, however I don’t contact it. I’m extra of a Papa Johns sweetheart myself. It’s a pleasant, calm comedown, correct Pleasure, actual lesbianism, as a result of up till then, we’d type of been performing like homosexual guys.
Then we go to Brooklyn Social close by, the place one other pal of mine is throwing a still-intimate celebration. Simply extra lesbians in an area, eyeing one another, some flirting, some presumably beefing — who’s to say. I’ve a cigarette, the thin sort as a result of then it doesn’t rely, and a mezcal ginger beer. After which somebody buys me one other. After which somebody buys me one other after that. Mezcal actually has turn out to be my go-to. I like mezcal. I did that very annoying factor the place I went to Mexico Metropolis and stated I didn’t like mezcal after which got here again like, Mezcal is my entire life; there’s no different alcohol. I believe it’s okay to be annoying so long as you’re trustworthy about it.
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