Number one: Opening to Rocky Horror Picture Show: Science Fiction Double Feature
Black face, red lips and lapel/handout prop:
Number two: Chilean Mimer
Black and white striped shirt, grease paint, trapped in an invisible mine, with this on the shirt:
Now I'm leaning towards the second option.
I am still regretting that Shilpa and Kevin cannot join me tomorrow night. I'd be a chef, Kevin would be a priest, and Shilpa would be a hooker. Together we would be Eat, Pray, Love. GENIUS I tell you.
There has been some discussion as to whether last Saturday was Drag Saturday, or if it is tomorrow. Drag Saturday is typically the Saturday before Halloween weekend, so in my book that puts it last week and not tomorrow. However, considering the miserable freezing rain and a slow start to prep, Miss Otis did not make an appearance last weekend. She was considering stepping out tonight, but as she has put on so many pounds as to appear knocked up, and those gold go-go boots haven't come in yet, I think Miss Otis Regrets will be unable to lunch tomorrow.
So as the cold and wet dampened spirits of all kinds last weekend, Drag Saturday was still some fun—with Krazy Kevin, gay tourist Ewok Ewin and a Castro bar crawl starting at the best people watching venue of all Twin Peaks. With love and plugs to Miss Suga Rim. (I recycled an old costume idea: Phantom of the Opry.)
Black face and red lips as be the opening credits to Rocky Horror. Maybe add ticket stubs to a Science Fiction Double Feature/late night double feature picture show (in the front row).
As a noose was affixed to the door of the local office of Equality California last night. Police response: indifference, dismissal and the advice that "Sometimes you have to live with being a victim." However, under California law, this is a crime.
An online local news site has the story, and judging by the comments it appears that the incident may soon be getting the attention it deserved in the first place.
I am loving the Giants in the playoffs and now the World Series. I've lived in cities with major league sports teams before, but there is something about the Giants that is just so SF. And I love that outisiders see that the players are almost as freaky as their fans, and the love runs both ways. Sure, Shilpa loves the 'Niners, but the Giants are just a bit more "San Franciscan." Maybe it's that their pennant is really a freak flag. And while we may quietly love our Giants during the regular season, but go all 1906 during the World Series, that's just cool too.
Me? I just want in on that beard action. And get me some awesome Wilson's Beard memorabilia.
T-Man invites us over to hang with his kids every so often generally for a pizza and Glee. T'-Man's three kids are awesome and T-Man is awe-inspiring dealing with two adolescent boys and a teen-aged girl. In my book, he is hands-down (suddenly-single) Father of the Year.
Now I think Glee is very much a grown up show, but kids love it and if adult humor flies passed them unnoticed, so much the better. T-Man's kids are very All American, in that they are glued to their video games, computer screens, and mobile communication devices. I have seen them be absorbed by all three simultaneously. But for the Pre-Glee-Wii time, we grown-ups have embraced the ridiculous fun that is Just Dance. Emphasis on ridiculous. (Imagine a competitive duet of dancers: Me at 6'3" and huge versus the slender Dr. DropTrou who is over 4' in heels, contorting wildly to Cotton-Eyed Joe. Shamefully, there is video. Gratefully, it is not posted to the public.)
Just Dance 2 was just released, and by way of invitation, T-Man sent us the game review at Eurogamer.net. I haven't been into video games since the original Price of Persia in 1992, much less video game reviews, but this is well written and on the nose. Almost as much fun as the game itself.
From the review:
Just Dance is a stupid, shallow, garish thing that mocks the skill and sophistication of great game mechanics. It has absolutely none of the score-attack cachet that helped the hardcore get along with Guitar Hero. It is principally loved by small girls and, secretly, their parents, who stick it on when drinking white wine with the neighbours after X-Factor on a Saturday night. People, in other words, who couldn't possibly know better. ...
How's this for an inconvenient truth: Just Dance sold multiple millions for the simple reason that it's incredibly good fun. And being good fun is to games what having a good beat is to dance music; it conquers every criticism.
And cynical? However calculating the boardroom meeting that greenlit it, in itself Just Dance is about as cynical as a three-week-old Labrador puppy. It is imbued with an infectious, childish joy in dancing, and a love of music every bit as genuine as the more studied beatmatchers from Harmonix, Freestyle and the like.
The awesome online t-shirt shop Threadless has extended their Halloween spooky t-shirt sale through November 1. All scary (actually, all even remotely thematic tees) are on sale for just $10.
Those who preach the Bible are generally the ones who never actually read it. No so for A.J. Jacobs who wrote The Year of Living Biblically, which shows just how absurd most Biblical advice really is (you know, other than the Top Ten and the Golden Rule.) On the heels of so many gay bashing, physical and ideological, I wish more leaders would point out that to condemn homosexually as an "abomination" because the Bible says so is also to condemn divorce, football, cotton-blends, and Lobster Fest as they're all lumped in there together.
Each week, the librarian-centric comic strip uses it's Sunday format to review a new and interesting book. I loved their take on The Year of Living Biblically.
I only wish I had more opportunities to use the phrase "I am not going to say 'menstrual cycle' for you."
infoMania's Bryan Safi is on the top of my A-List. And after he clever rips Logo's A(hole)-List, I sort of want to stalk him. Does he live in SF? Why have I not met him? Why is he not my boyfriend?
I think I have finally recovered from last week's Sundance Stompede. So. Much. Fun. I am still working on the video of the weekend, but I fear it will only be interesting to those who were there. Even so, it's a nice record of the weekend: four days filled with dance workshops, four nights of amazing dance parties, and after-hours parties to keep you up all night before doing it again the next day.
Of course, my favorite of Bill's pics is this one:
Hee hee.
Update: For those that don't know me (as I have already heard from you), that is me on the left. I do not look that good with my shirt off, and paying closer attention to this blog will not get you more hot shirtless photos of Adam. Sorry.
A big PG&E gas leak is forcing caution and evacuation in the Castro right now. As usual,the SF Appeal has links on the story as it is breaking, and the Bay Area Reporter has an exhaustive report.
Also as usual these days, real-time news is streaming in via Facebook.
Today millions of people wore purple in solidarity against the bullying against LGBT teens. Kids think this is okay as they see their parents do it. They think it's okay because it is so often preached yhat gay kids are sick and wrong and sinners and deserve to go to hell. So why shouldnt the schoolyard bully torment the innocent children?
The preachers and the churches honestly need to answer for these crimes. They need to take responsibility for teaching children to become bullies, and for their role in the senseless deaths of LGBT young people by their own hands to end the torment they foment.
"It Gets Better" has been a genius project, and thankfully has brought greater support and visibility to The Trevor Project.
We need to build on this momentum. We need another grass-roots project. The hypocrisy of the Chrisianists must be brought to account. "Love the sinner and hate the sin" is a bullshit shield and they know it. The bully pulpit is using the God of Love to peach their flock into a tortuous mob. It's time to stop.
From Alert Reader Coco, a text forward from a friend:
oh, and watch yourself in the hood. [Redacted] called me. He was jumped on 16th @ Folsom on his way home around 6:15 pm tonight by two black kids. They didn't rob him, just beat him up and called him a 'faggot.' He goes in for jaw x-rays tomorrow. There were 5 eyewitnesses and the cops caught the kid. One of those ghetto thugs with dreads and a baseball cap. I swear I know the dudes he's talking about as they've been hanging at 16th street quite a bit over the past 6 months
The victim's husband was also bashed by local thugs a couple of years ago, also in SF.
As I organize all my pics from Stompede I see that I never posted any from this year's Castro Street Fair. As usual, Hardly Strictly was deep in the fog of Golden Gate Park and the Castro Street Fair was almost too warm in the clear skies and Indian summer sunshine.
After leaving my bag at the boot check (can we take moment for how awesome it is that Sundance Saloon hosts a boot check?) I met up first with PeeDee, and then enjoyed an afternoon stroll of the fair with Old Friend and new Alert Reader Michael Smith.
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I LOVE the Castro Street Fair—it's like a ginormous garden party where I get to see all my friends, many of whom I see rarely and maybe only at this event. Then after an hour or two of mingling, I get to dance outside with my buddies until the sun sets.
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My two favorite take-away photos of the day are these:
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I love that line dancing photo if only for this detail, which I turned into a "caption this" contest on Facebook:
A full disclaimer was necessary though as these two are actually friends and were only singing the lyrics of the line dance song, albeit animatedly, at each other. I also learned that they shared an ex and the knowing onlooker might think they had finally gone at each other. Rest assured, there is nothing but love and dancing (same thing) going on here.
However, the candid was priceless, and garnered such captions as:
"Move over bacon...here comes something meatier"
"And ANOTHER thing I don't like about you..."
"I've been BEYOND nice until now... GET THE DAMNED STEP RIGHT OR I SWEAR I'LL KICK YOU IN THE... [pant, pant, pant... sigh] ...ahem... SO... 5, 6, 7, 8 and STEP..."
"Yes my birthday's tomorrow but I'm still younger than you."
"Miracle Whip and mayonnaise are NOT the same thing!"
"I don't care what it looks like, there's no way Wilson is kissing a woman in his profile!"
"Step on my toe one more time Missy and then we're going to do some real two-stepping."
"If you don't stop back-leading..."
""I told you before we left the house to wear your flats at the fair and keep your boots just for dancing. Now suffer in silence!""
"Just because I'm wearing a squirrel t-shirt doesn't mean I want to put your nuts in my mouth!"
"Wonder Woman could TOTALLY kick Buffy's ass!"
"Jexzbel!"
"Oh Healll NO! Ah' Did NOT learn't this dance for you to come in and stand all up front of THIS while ever'one was cruisin' Me! Step OFF the flo'...."
"Listen Missy, if you don't know the lyrics to the song...it's 'can't read my, can't read my, can't read my poker face!'"
First Runner Up: "Pull my finger"
and Winner:"And that, Majorie, just so you will know—and your children will someday know—is the night...the lights...went out...in GEORGIA!"
Okay, only complete loons and the self-deluded can support Tea Party candidates any more (or the shyly racist). Clearly, empirically, and demonstratively every Tea Party candidate is not only ignorant (a value-neutral state of not knowing), but also stupid (an important ability to think critically, process information, and respond intelligently). Sharron "You Latinos look Asian to me!" Angle, the repeatedly apologetically racist Carl Paladino, and even candidates such as Ken Buck present themselves over and over again as completely incompetent and incapable of governing intelligently.
No one makes this point clearer than Christine O'Donnell herself (and to out-crazy Sharron Angle is a feat). It is endlessly frustrating to think that such a ridiculous person is a real-life candidate for the United States Senate. Sure, she's been saying incredibly stupid stuff for years, but one would have to be a non-thinking Jesus freak or closet Klansperson to support her any more.
While she has refused any national interviews since her nomination, her handlers were still stupid enough to book her an engagement at a law school. Two things she knows nothing about (law and school). Two of her big banners have been (1) to put religion in schools (prayer and creationism) and (1) to criticize Obama's nefarious "czars." Taking the latter first, she argues an insidious power grab and communist plot by naming drug/financial/any-type-of-adviser czars, and even invoking Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution which states "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States...", ignoring that the title is honorary, ceremonial, has no authority, and was created by Ronald Reagan.
Religion, specifically her brand of Christianity (you know, the kooky kind, even though they allow dabbling in witchcraft if its on a date), is O'Donnell's big banner, going so far as to claim that masturbation is adultery and that the earth was created exactly like they said in Genesis roughly at 5:00 A.M a week ago Thursday (astronomically approximate). Her most recent stupid move was to debate her Democratic opponent Chris Coons and the constitutionality of the separation of church and state at Widener School of Law before a room full of law students. Critical thinking, citation and evidence-based conclusions are sort of their thing.
As she demands "intelligent design" be taught in schools, which Coons appropriately refers to as creationism, and that to deny local schools the authority to ban teaching evolution and require teaching creationism is a violation of their constitutional rights. Coons explains that it is perfectly fine for parochial or private schools to teach religious doctrine, such as creationism, but the state may not. One of the fundamental tenants of our democracy is the separation of church and state.
She then asks, thinking she is clever and literally correct, "Where in the constitution is the separation of church and state?"
The room actually laughs at her. (2:29)
She think she's right because the words do not literally appear in that order. But the professor does answer the First Amendment, which seems to surprise her. Which surprises me as she has pulled this stunt in front of other Tea Party audiences to their applause.
Later, she really digs into it, thinking she is a winner on this point. It's really just sad. She had no idea that the concept of the separation of church and state was explicit right there in the First Amendment.
O'Donnell and Tea Party doctrine have argued that the US was designed as a Christian Nation (history and documentation vehemently disagree) and that the idea that the words "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" mean "separation of church and state" is not valid because that was just something Thomas Jefferson said it meant. It astounds me that no one has rebutted them on camera with the line, "You know Thomas Jefferson wrote the Constitution, right? He's would know what he meant."
Even with their ridiculously strict interpretation of the First Amendment, they would never do the same for the Second, which guarantees the right to bear arms only for the purposes of a well-regulated militia, i.e. National Guard. Although they may in fact consider all non-white people to be worth only 3/5th of their Caucasian counterparts.
I had what approached an intelligent discussion with a Tea Party supporter on my last trip to Tennessee and all I can say is that the "The Tea Party is about personal liberty and financial responsibility" is complete claptrap to cover up deep-seated ignorance and bigotry. As a cover, it's a fairly open weave. To say that the Tea Party is about financial reform or liberty is is say that a nightgown makes the Big Bad Wolf really Grandma.
Update: The return to the "Southern Strategy" of open racism to gain white votes was covered well last night by Rachel Maddow.
Event Designer and Friend of the Blog Bronson Van Wyck, of Van Wyck & Van Wyck is up for BizBash's Reader's Choice Award for New York Event Designer of the Year. Bronson designed this year's Swan Ball in Nashville (which reminds me to post my stories here) and the opening gala for the San Francisco Opera.
Click over if you have a moment, scroll down to #2 and submit your vote for this talented designer.
Sad to hear that defining-debonair actor Simon MacCorkindalehas died after a long battle with laung and colon cancer. Nerds loved him in Manimal and Counterstrike, soapers loved him in Falcon Crest and film fans loved him in Death on the Nile, in which he managed to outshine the likes of Angela Lansbury and Bette Davis. Do yourself a treat and Netflix that. (Or better yet, read the book. Not that Simon is in that, but just sayin'.)
I will always remember Simon MacCorkindale as the voice of all those Dick Francis books on tape we would listen to on those long car trips either to vacation or college. That, and having a superbly fun-to-pronounce name.
I cant believe he was only 58. He must have been a baby on those TV shows.
Fuck yeah! The Sundance Stompede begins in San Francisco tonight: four days of country/western dance workshops, parties, socials, and ridiculous amounts of fun that will make your feet ache. Each year I love this more and more.
Last night saw two heat waves cross the city: record-breaking temperatures and the return of the ridiculously charming Aussie Andrew Parker. Our recent heat wave and trend of warm nights continues unabated, and each night seems hotter than the last. And still, I/we can't bear to leave the house in short sleeves. San Francisco with hot weather is like Lucy Van Pelt with a football. You cannot trust it, and as soon as evening comes, she will but that thermal away right quick leaving you flat on your back shivering in a freezing fog.
So there we all were last night, pretty 50/50: guys in long sleeves not believing the hot temps would last into the darkness, and guys who embraced the aberration and wore little and even less. Of course, this is San Francisco and I should would expect more of us to "embrace an aberration." We do so so often.
I was reminded of what Ginger told me when I stepped outside for our adventure to Oktoberfest:
"Wow. It is realy hot out here. I could have worn shorts."
"No you can't. It's October and you're a grown man."
It was a great night to reunite with Andrew (Facebook does make keeping in touch much easier) and we had a great time hopping from bar to bar, dining in the parade window of Harvey's, enjoying the late night mess of 440, and ultimately enjoying a rare warm Bay breeze in the light of Coit Tower.
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And I do believe Andrew had a wonderful time too. And I appreciated his enthusiasm. Sometimes it's nice to be reminded how magical it is to live at the end of the rainbow.
Andrew and his friend will be back in a couple of weeks, just in time for Drag Saturday before Halloween. That'll be interesting.
My first night back from Nashville I hit the social ground running with the always wonderful Sean Ray Cabaret. He hosts two a year, and the autumnal one benefits Positive Being. While Donna Sachet could not host this event again, Anita Cocktail brought a whole new level of energy and sass to a birght show of strong voices and witty banter.
And of course, Kevin always looks good with a drag queen or a cocktail, and now he has both!
I spent the past weekend back in Nashville, again to spend quality tie with the family. However, this time brother Mac and his wife ducked out of town for an anniversary spa trip and brother Jay and his wife were in New Orleans for a firm retreat, so I only got quality brother time just as I arrived and right before I left. I wanted to make every outing with Dad an adventure, but grandiose lunch travel plans became rather practical when considering accessibility and ease, and proximity to working siblings. Ironically, I had lunch my first day at the California Pizza Kitchen. I realized I have been to the KPC in three states, none of which was California. When Mac and I get together it is always an adventure, and we had a great boys-only (and seemingly inappropriate-topics-only) lunch out with Dad/Papa John.
I try to schedule these every-other-month visits around something else going on in town so I have a sort of "anchor event" to the trip. This trip was the 25th reunion for the Ensworth School Class of 1985 (flickr set). Twenty-five years later and still great friends. Shouts out to hosts Shelby and Josh Wheliss, organizers Jessica Gutow Viner and Harkness Harris Brown, and everything-she-touches-turns-to-fabulous decorator Catherine Hollifield. Shots to fellow reunion travelers Susan Chang Massick, Eleanor "E-Fuqua" Williamson and Katherine Kennedy Flouhouse.
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I was impressed with those who journeyed for the event, and disappointed at the number of locals who couldn't make it. But I know us and we will do this again sometime soon.
While home I did get some super happy fun time at the after party for the Authors in the Round dinner (benefit for the Southern Festival of Books) hosted by bestest buddy and hilarious writer Carrington Nelson Fox. And I got some more quality time with Ginger and we took a little road trip to the Germantown Street fair and Oktoberfest.
I drove so she could have a chance to clean out her various purses and bags in the car—all covered in drywall dust as she had just this week moved back home after the flood damage of May 1. Ginger is the most organized person I know. And as a Virgo and a librarian, that is saying something. I just HAD to take a photo of that bag. It's embroidered "T & G."
For "Tennis & Golf." There is a "Yoga" bag in the trunk.
I'm guessing she went with "Tennis & Golf" instead of "Golf & Tennis," because then the bag would have read "G & T," and we all would think it was just her roadie bag of gin and tonics.
(I say "we" but that might just be me. I'm just sayin'.)
While we came in a not-really-into-it third in last week's Six Degrees of Cher Brain Farts, and weren't planning on staying out later enough for Testarossa, the pull of 80s night was too much for Shilpa and Skot to resist. I was ready for bedtime but that rubber arm of mine is just so easily twisted. What started as "well, just one drink" turned into a long fabulous night a dancing, new friends, old friends, bopping B-sides and more fun face painting by Oliver Twist.
Club neighbor and Cycling enthusiast addict Jim Rudoff was just back from the Seismic Challenge and joined us for a drink and a dance—and an appropriately themed temporary tattoo:
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Paul Day was feel a little beaten up and got the paint to match. After Skot's similar work, Oliver is getting more and more practice with the bruises.
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I had fun meeting and carousing with some of the more rough and tumble boys of the SF Fog rugby team. They had swiped someone's duct tape and had a drunken X'd theme going on themselves. Each had a variety of taped Xs about their bodies, and ultimately got fluorescent face paint to match. After a while, they inducted me as one of their own for the night.
The Gay Network, whatever, "Logo TV" has launched their version of "Real Housewives" reality television with the self-described but clearly not A-list gay set in NYC called The A-List. I cannot bring myself to watch the horrible wretchedness that is the losers of Bravo's Real Housewives and to make me watch this drivel would require a scene out of A Clockwork Orange.
However—
From New and now Alert Reader Michael Smith I am drawn to these bloggers' recaps of The A-List episodes, and this deconstruction is right up my bitchy evisceration alley. Tom and Lorenzo begin this journey thusly:
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Event Designer and Friend of the Blog Bronson Van Wyck, of Van Wyck & Van Wyck is up for BizBash's Reader's Choice Award for New York Event Designer of the Year. Bronson designed this year's Swan Ball in Nashville (which reminds me to post my stories here) and the opening gala for the San Francisco Opera. 
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