An (un)Jaded History of Gay Icons, Vol. 1

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THE LESBIAN AND GAY HISTORY OF THE WORLD, VOL. 1
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JADE as SYLVIA, the Stonewall veteran who threw her shoe and started a revolution!
(my favorite of his portrayed Icons)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TAREN!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TAREN!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

After my stint at the pre-release screening of Incident at Loch Ness, I was ready to do something nice and simple with Taren for her Birthday. She was preparing for her trip to Mexico, and she doesn't really make much of a fuss about her birthday, but still, I wanted to make sure she was at least hugged and smooched that day!

What started out as a sweet little jaunt uptown for a possible cocktail and photographing of the protesters, turned out to be a long, LONG night of silly synchronicities, playful prancing, and delightful drunkenness!

We spontaneously veered over to East Of Eighth, [and here] one of our favorite haunts. We hadn't been there in months, so it was a refreshing reunion to be there again! Immediately upon arriving, we were greeted with a couple of gorgeous, happy faces who ended up making the night one of the most fun we have had in a long time!!

Stephanie and Jeffrey greeted us with introductions and questions and compliments all around; our conversation and ensuing goofball night seeming more like a planned reunion than a chance meeting. We were all in love before the first hour passed!

The night was dangerously helped along with the help of one of our new favorite bartenders as he made freshly-squeezed orange juice margaritas! DEEE-lish! Yes, I said it... DEE-Lish!

Stephanie asked me to save and upload this photo of her. She thought it was important to document the very moment that I caught the look on her face as she proclaimed out loud, "All the good guys are taken or GAY!!"

Taren, Stephanie, Jeffrey, and I took over the bar to the point of scaring patrons from entering. We would see them walk down the steps toward the door, they would see four kooks boogying and gyrating around while the kitchen help sat and watched us, wide-eyed and envious (or terrified, I am not sure), and the person would turn and run. It was all a hoot. Yes, I said it, a HOOT.

After parting ways from Stephanie and Jeffrey, I started walking Taren home, when we made another veer into another favorite bar, Barracuda [and here]!

We got there just in time for the drag show that was starting! Not only was the show funny, we actually became a part of the damn thing!

Taren, upstaging the drag queen!

So, Happy Birthday to you, Taren! I know we paid the price the next day, but dammit, it was worth it! HUG HUG HUG!

...and god help me... more birthdays to come in the next weeks ahead!!

INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS

I will always update you as to my most recent reviews here. So if you become a fan, you can always check here for the latest updates! YAY!

Limited Release
Opens September 17!


To read my review, go HERE and scroll down to INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS! Enjoy!

No-Brain FLOWERS

The other night, Josh heard one of my fringely-discovered singers, Emily Simon, as my iRiver played through my excellent speakers during a social gathering at Cyprus' and my Lounge-o-Fun. He requested I send him some of her music when he got home, which I did, and he then found this amazing video created for one of her songs:

Video>> EMILIE SIMON - FLOWERS
(be VERY patient as the video loads; it will play, don't worry)

hosted by a french site called, NO-BRAIN

Video requires QuickTime

Outings and Aboutings

Finally, an update with all the pix I've taken over the past couple of months. In the posts below this one, I have, I think, caught my blog up with my photos. I love documenting life! Next month, however, look forward to more thoughtful, philosophical postings about life because I have noticed I seem to be too focused on writing about our adventures out and about, but no focus on what's happening inside my little head and heart. I'm in a mood to explore that now, so September will mark the beginning of that frontier. If you know me, you know I am always thinking, feeling, and exploring myself (in so many ways, tee hee), but I haven't written about it much here. That is about to change...

Until then...

Nick was asked by a coworker to gather us and come out to Opaline to show support for her as she is a band member. Because they work in the music industry, she had a heads up that Boy George and Debbie Harry were going to be at Opaline, too! Opaline was hosting a record-release party for a member of The Toilet Boys, and the lead singer, GUY's, latest solo project, which includes a duet with Boy George!

Boy George is a teen idol of mine, so I was thrilled at the possibility of even seeing him in person. I am a very shy star-stalker, barely even acknowledging a celebrity when I see one. Living in NYC puts into perspective that people who live on TV or in movies are just... well, people. Still, Boy George is an icon, a pioneer, an artist, and an inspiration, so I was excited. And we DID get to see him! A fleeting glimpse (I actually walked right past him and didn't notice) as we left the club.

Craig was in town from D.C., so it was really nice to see him. He is so funny and smart. I love seeing him and wish he would move his ass here. He's such a conservatively-packaged fringe freaker genius... I love it.

Gary and Martin (a couple of sweethearts who have recently joined my life) found their way out with us, which was a wonderful treat for me, especially. I have been hoping upon hoping to meet some local guys from Brooklyn who may at the very LEAST be capable of intelligent and fun socializing, and possibly share some interests. The guys I have met so far have completely exceeded my hopes!

Meeting new pals was always important to me, but even more so after being horribly dumped by Love, like the aftermath of too much fiber.

I had joined Brooklyn Gay Network of Friends to help in that exploration and it took me over a year to make the time to go to any outing. Synchronistically, I found my way out to a spontaneous gathering at Excelsior a couple of months ago, and found myself in the company of some really great guys! Interestingly, from what I understand, everyone who had gone out that night was going out for THEIR first time, too!

Anyway, so Martin and Gary (and DJ and Henry) are not only amazingly wonderful guys, but they helped generate a sense of peace that I am gladly growing into, knowing that I am building friendships closer to home (literally and metaphorically).

After we gathered at Cyprus' and my own Love Lounge, we headed out to the East Village! YAY! My old stomping ground...

Chillin' and a little Groovin' in our own Lounge

In the East Village, we found Opaline and met up with Taren who was as cute as EVER. I am in love with Opaline now. It became one of my favorite places that night. The crowd was absolutely eccentric, eclectic, and fun! The music was the best I have ever heard in a public place in forever! We danced like the White people we are (and yes, that includes you two, Martin and Craig, hee hee) as we waited for the night's main event.

The performance was a raucous, LOUD, tribute to The Toilet Boys (none of us had ever heard of them). Several guest singers/screamers took the stage, one after the other, to do their covers of Toilet Boys songs, ending with the original lead singer, GUY. It was so energetic and fun and corny all at the same time!

Martin & Gary

Nick's Co-worker/Band Member

Below are the various guest singers covering The Toilet Boys, including (out of drag) the delicious Mistress Formica (3rd pic)!

Original lead singer of Toilet Boys: GUY

Monster Feelings, Monster Cock

Taren, Nick, and I parted from Cyprus, Grant, and Josh after seeing a forgettable movie (The Village). We've begun to go to the Battery Park Theater as a way to support that area's recovery from the World Trade Center attacks. It is still heartbreaking and difficult to be in that area, but it's going to be a long healing process.

It's amazing to me to be inside the World Trade Center Winter Garden now. To remember how devastated the atrium was and to see it now is just disorienting and oddly uncomfortable, even though the recovery is a good thing. The images with the trees are my photos from July, 2004.

Of course, no contemplative day is complete without an evening of idiocy! We popped from G Lounge [or here] to The Monster where we saw real monster boys and real monster penis!

At G Lounge


Dancing at The Monster

Monster Penis Dancer!


Satisfied-Taren after stuffing some moolah down monster penis panties!

The End is near...

Madame X and the Slipper Room

These photos were taken in June when Taren, Josh and I decided to romp around the lower east side. We popped into Madame X [or here] by direct invitation by the owner as we stood outside pondering whether to go in or not. There was a door cover, but they saw we were displeased with this and invited us in for free! They had overheard Taren telling us how this place was one of (if not THE first) place that she had gone out when she had first moved to NYC. The owner was incredibly generous with us, eventually inviting us up to a V.I.P. area where we got super goofy and laughed secretly at the frat boys and sorority girls who stood in careful poses.

Later, we continued romping and found ourselves once again at the Slipper Room [or here], but not before bouncing around in a few other lounge/bars. Oh my god, we had so much fun!

Some lovely ladies of Slipper Room!