Queer revelry partners in crime, Maya Partha and Sophie Landeck, have done it again. March 31 2026 marked another successful party thrown by Kiss Your Friends(KYF). Maya and Sophie’s KYF parties have become a staple in the queer community. I got to find out exactly why at their sold out KYF – SPEAKEASY night.
KYF “Herstory”
KYF kicked off in the summer of 2024 and has only grown since. They are best known for their annual Dyke March Pre-Party (which is happening on a BOAT this year!). KYF has also seen a 500 person turnout to their Saints & Sinners Valentine’s party. They even sold out their hoedown at Desert Spot 5. Their most recent party before Speakeasy was KYF CIRCUS, where they featured stilt walkers, contortionists, pole dancers and even an appearance and performance from Grammy award-winning artist Daya.
KYF is primarily for sapphics and nonbinary queer people (who love to have fun).
“We wanted to throw parties where the focus wasn’t just getting drunk. We want to curate really fun and interactive experiences for queer people.” – Maya Partha.
There is very noticeably a lack of sapphic spaces in the nightlife scene. Kiss Your Friends is giving a helping hand in solving that problem, one lesbian party at a time.
KYF – SPEAKEASY
KYF found the perfect location for their SPEAKEASY night, on a quiet street on the lower east side. Close Up bar was a fitting backdrop for the sexy mood and vibe of the night. Lowlights and candles set the mood for night of jazz.
The space was intimate and just the right size for the crowd that the party pulled in. One thing I really enjoyed about the night was seeing how diverse the attendees were. I think a lot of spaces end up feeling like they are made for one certain type of person, but KYF has curated events that feel safe and welcoming. We could do with a lot more of that in the queer community.
The Performances
The performances of the night happened in a separate room.
While some stayed mingling in the front room, just up some red-lit stairs and past a heavy velvet curtain, Bryte Darden’s vocals filled the room. Accompanied by the piano she gave her rendition of a handful of songs. My favourites of the night were “Cry Me a River” and “Man I Need.”
She set the vibe of the night and did a wonderful job doing so. Faces in the crowd were lit up and everyone was engaged. She even elicited a giggle from the audience when she pointed out that “Man I Need” might have been a strange choice for a sapphic night.
“It is about a man, so I apologize” – Bryte Darden on Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need”
Bryte did a great job of holding the attention of every person in the room. It was silent aside from the piano and her smooth voice. When she announced that she had two songs left, you could hear grumbles from the crowd. They were never ready for her to be finished, which has to be the best feeling a performer can have.
The In-between
Between Bryte and the next performance, the audience gathered in the front room to mix and mingle. KYF even brought in a magician to show off her sleight of hand in between the music.
The next performance — a beautiful show of musical prowess — was Russell Hall and the East Side Pirates.
Juilliard alumnus and Bassist, Russell Hall and his band of pirates took the stage and set it alight. A passion for music was on display, like I had never seen it before, and it reverberated through the room with each pass of Hall’s bow and pluck of his strings. The piano and drums were essential to the flow of the music. The pirates were jamming.
It was magical to watch the smiles and concentration on the faces in the crowd, sparkling with flecks from the candles placed on the tables around the room.
The band took a break in-between sets and mesmerized the audience every time they came back out.
What’s Next for KYF?
As I mentioned, KYF’s next party will be on a BOAT (specifically a yacht). This Year, June 27, KYF will be hosting CASTAWAY for a special Pride installment with NYC Summer Boat Series. If you’re looking for something to do to celebrate Pride month, this should definitely be on your radar. KYF has built something special, and if you can, you should definitely want to be a part of it.
Catch you there?
