royal night at Marlena's

Saturday I was spent. It was all I could do to get out of bed by noon, do laundry, and run errands in the neighborhood. I took a "nap" around 7:00 and bailed on the Barber Lounge party and Burns night at Edinburgh Castle. Guy had just finished an exam and was itching to celebrate with a drink or dozen. I rallied for this.

I suggested Marlena's as I hadn't been in a while, but also realized that Guy must think that I always go there because every time I go out with Guy we go to Marlena's.


But boy am I glad we went. We were very late for the show, and I had someone been left off the mail lists. As involved in the Bay Area Chapter as I am, I did not know that Saturday night was the International Gay Rodeo Association convention and Golden State/BAC Gay Rodeo royalty performance and transfer of titles. The place was packed with my friends, and rodeo royalty and organization officers outgoing and incoming, and from years past, were performing all night.

My dear Winne Baygo was the emcee/hostess and we got to enjoy our visiting other royal queen Miss Patty Wagon. Love her.




Guy and I also befriended a band of girls who just happened to be walking by, saw all of the commotion, and came on in. This was late in the night just before the transfer of crowns and sashes and responsibilities and such, so there was a bit more room to move about. The ladies were English, two were visiting one living locally.

I imagine they got their San Franciscan experience! And frankly, how could they not with such charming barflies as me and Guy. Who else would introduce them to Miss SF Bay Gay Rodeo 2008 Diva Dee!


Shouts to Lousia and Penny (and you too whose name I'm blanking!)!

Flickr set, and instructions for viewing.

not so candid camera

I've been hanging out with Stephen Yarbrough more and more lately. As has Shilpa. Stephen's a loud and rambunctious guy, and there is usually a steady stream of picture-taking and Facebook checking. And now he is obsessed with his rating on Hot or Not--and with an iPhone app he's getting updates every few minutes.

We were out at the Midnight Sun the other night, and the cameras were out. Stephen was pretty far ahead of us cocktail-wise. Regular readers of the blog know that Shilpa is exceptionally photogenic. Long-time readers may have noticed that it is also almost always the same pose. I think she must have practiced that in high school. But no matter how messy we get, she can throw that look like a reflex.

.



.
Yarbrough has yet to master that skill.

Shilpa offered lessons.

Yarbrough BEFORE the Shilpa "How to be Photographed" lesson:


Yarbrough AFTER:

I'm just sayin'.

Gay Greg has a gay old time

It's hard getting older for Lance and Greg. Greg's (aka Gay Greg) birthday was last week, and Lance's is coming up Feb 2 (Groundhog Day! No relation.) They spent several weeks over the holidays vacationing and visiting Lance's family in Australia and New Zealand. They returned just in time to fly to NYC, have a time there, and then drive to D.C. for the inauguration.

They just got back last week.

I think a happy birthday party might be a bit redundant--clearly they've been having a happy time. But we missed them and were happy to have an excuse to celebrate their return.

Both maintain they are turning 38 (again) and ever shall it be so.

We gathered for drinks at the intimate wine bar at Hotel Biron Friday night. Birthday surprises for me included the faboo surprise guests. There were the lovely Lindsey (Jason to follow), and Jennifer (Toni to follow), and the rarely sighted but always excited MAX!



Max and GregWe love the Max.

And the hat.

A big surprise to me was the appearance of Albert. About a decade ago, Albert and I were so inseparable Lance took to calling us the Wilbert. (Which is better than the other way around, which would have been the Allison.) Albert moved back east, wow, it's been well over five years now. As close as we were, we have not remained so since he moved back to New York. Our old clique isn't so any more either, but in this past year I have gotten to see more of and reconnect with Mike Grace.



Albert and Mike
It was really nice to talk with Albert again. And I'll tell you, that bitch doesn't age.

Here are Albert and Mike in the summer of 2000, at my 30th birthday party:


I was once greeting an old friend and threw out the compliment, "Oh Lordy you haven't aged a day! You must have a portrait in the attic."

Some queen behind me glanced over and snorted, "Humph. Should've painted it sooner."

bare the bears

Nothing has made me want to shave off all my facial hair more than this clip, if only not to be in any way associated with these losers.

The Goatee Saver:



I love the awkwardly staged production, stilted dialog, "opulent" settings and gratuitous hot chick. Sure, the main "model" is pretty hot, but he'd probably be hot anyway. Does he have an Eyebrow Saver too? That's some serious manscaping.

The rest of the guys look like cheesy salesmen from flyover states.

And seriously-- what's with the soft focus, twinkling water, and cuffs folded outside of the sweater? That's supposed to be sexy? WTF?

Via the Daily Dish.

drama over the little things

I hate it when women act like girls instead of women. There is a lot to be said for "being a grown-up" about things. One of the reasons Shilpa loves hanging out with the boys is the relatively low level of manufactured drama. And these are fags and drag queens were are talking about. Too often with the women girls who haven't "dealt," mere turn of events, which men would not waste time or energy on, turn into Big Things.

And now it's a Thing.

As she turned and left, Shilpa said, "See? This is why I could never be a lesbian."

(I am sure there are other reasons too.)

"Inauguration Day/ Merge Left"

BoingBoing has posted the default password to hack roadside LED signs.



I think it's funny, and the comments are worth skimming if only for the dire exclamations at how dangerous and irresponsible it was to post this information. Personally, I think this has to the potential for funny and for folly. However, I am of the opinion that changing the "ROAD WORK AHEAD" or "LEFT LANE CLOSED" alert to "ZOMBIES AHEAD" would not cause accidents. Drivers not qualifying for the Darwin Awards should be able to notice road work or lane closures even if signage said something silly.

Then again, I am reminded of all those stories of people driving into lakes and off ledges because their GPS navigation system told them to. I have no sympathy for these people and they shouldn't be behind the wheel anyway.

My favorite comments include the argument that a zombie warning should in fact make drivers MORE alert to conditions ahead, and the reasonable compromising suggestion that pranksters could keep the original alert, and just add to it:

LEFT LANE ENDS
[next frame]
BECAUSE OF ZOMBIES.

or I imagine:

SOFT SHOULDER
[next frame]
THE 80S ARE OVER


And I give huge points to the one who suggested HOW DADDY IS DOING.

the Mac turns 25

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

and you thought that the late fees would kill you

inaugural change of address

Follow up documentary from the group who changed all the Bush street signs to Obama signs in the wee hours before the inauguration.

Fun Friday

We've had our share of sunshine and hat days this past two weeks. Even in the cold rain let's remember that outside of SF it's about 17 degrees. (Feels like 2!)

It may be misty tonight but there is a lot of fun going down in the City.

• FunnyTime: SF SketchFest presents Facebook Improv with Rob Corddry, Rob Riggle, Rob Hueb et alia: "A favorite at the UCB Theater in Los Angeles, Facebook impov (formerly Myspace) is a long-form completely improvised show based on the Facebook pages of audience members. SF Sketchfest welcomes the exceptional cast, featuring Human Giant's Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer, The Daily Show's Rob Corddry and Rob Riggle, Seth Morris (Naked Babies), Chad Carter (Creature Comforts America), and Owen Burke (VH1's All Access)." Eureka Theater, $20.

• DragTime: Anna Conda's usual Friday night show at the Cinch will betaken over tonight by the "Queer Vaudeville Burlesque" group Diamond Daggers. Three words I cannot get enough of are "queer," "Vaudeville" and "Burlesque." Show is free. Drinks are strong and reasonably priced.

• More DragTime: Billed as A Baby Jane Circus, catch drag and Burlesque performances by Matthew Martin, Katya Smirnoff Skyy, Trauma Flinstone, Alotta Boutte, Virginia Suicide, Dottie Lux, Pink Key Lee, Pqoc, and others—and sideshows as well—tonight at the Stud. $5-$10 sliding scale. Drink quality and prices rate a "meh."

• IndieTime: Launch party for SF Indie '09 with Shotgun Wedding Quintet, Ex-Boyfriends and Pollo del Mar. $10 at the Elbo Room. CHEAP!

• DarkTime: The SF Film Noir Festival starts tonight at the Castro theater! Always one of my favorite events!












I'll be celebrating Gay Greg's birthday early in the evening at the Hotel Biron Wine Bar, then making my way from there...

Gorgeous Georges

Jenny made it to the Chronicle's best gown competition again this year (at the SF Ballet Gala).

As always, she looks stunning.

Read about it here, and vote for her here.

Rich & Famous

Wednesday evening was OUT with ACT night for Rich & Famous, a friendly little show (more fun than their period pieces but no match for the recent Quality of Life).

As usual, the main course of the entertainment meal for Kevin and me was the reception afterward. Shouts and hugs to the always engaging Randy, who is hosting a NYC preview of sorts in February for investors in the new show he is producing: Bare. Kevin and I hope to find the time to be there.

Other usual spotlights included Darren and Christine (aka Pretty Pretty Kissy Face), and their friend Cory from Boylesque.

A special treat for the night was the reappearance of Wil With One L, whose has been fun to get to know.

Tim Cherna, Wil Fabrick, Georg Lester, Michael Long

He's awfully shy, but I find that endearing. (Well, he's shy when he's not on Facebook ;)

Kevin and I have a way of drawing people out into the crazy.

"Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency."

Wow.

Who would have ever thought?

Read the transcript of President Obama's first meeting with White House staff and Cabinet Secretaries.

Hope indeed.

Great (F) Scott

On the heels of the Poe salon, Lynka and I have been talking about other literary events. She lamented the lack of literary parties in SF, and suggested an F. Scott Fitzgerald night.

I agreed that that would be fun. And said I would wear a green light at the end of my dock.



Shout to Barney: I was sharing this with Shilpa, who quoted, "Look, a bracelet!"

The Poe 200!

Yesterday may have been MLK's birthday observed, but it was the actual birthday of Edgar Allen Poe. And his 200th to be exact. (And sadly, he died at the far too young age of 40!)

Lynka and Ron, some of James' literary friends, hosted a Poe salon and birthday party in their fantabulous home last night, and were kind enough to extend the invitation to me. Unbeknownst to me, Lynka is a Poe scholar, and has even written a fictionalized biography.

And the evening featured interesting hosts and interesting guests. The invitations were formal, as were the participants who dutifully (for the most part) appeared in dark and/or period attire.

James gave the heads up a couple of weeks ago so we could prepare wardrobes accordingly. It came as no surprise that I could dress out of my closet. James looked resplendent, as always, in his waistcoat.

Lynka Adams and James Hass

I say "as always" as he now rightfully fears that he's wearing it in almost every photo of him on Facebook. Lykna is also a rare book collector/dealer, and her library sent the librarian in me into little bibliogasms. Add to that Ron & Lynka's deeply personal and eclectic... I'll call it "art" collection, and I was in heaven. I have always been a Poe fan, and even studied his work in a semiar and performed the Raven as a dramatic pieice in college.

There was the Poe shrine:

detail:

and wonderfully Addams Family accents such as antlers, bones, ephemera, Victorian engravings, and a opossum of good fortune.

I believe my first children's book is going to be titled "The Possum in the Parlor." (Without the silent and confusing "o".)

I was particularly fond of the antique doll's head,

with empty eye-sockets and a battery-operated votive flickering within.

As with most great authors and great collectors, every piece had a story, and these were tales I was eager to have told. Their dining set, Lykna's from childhood, was bought at auction and is a beautifully ornate art deco set from the 1920s and is from the Hertz family mansion in Miami. A perfect setting for the birthday cake. She had ordered a raven, and graciously accepted what came out looking like a black duck.

There were Poe accents throughout the house (I had to take a photo of their bedroom).

I thought I was being clever for bringing a bottle of Ravenswood wine.

We enjoyed a group reading of The Raven, historical anecdotes, a Poe quiz, and a gastly, grim and gruesome murder. Okay not the murder. But still.

I did not get any photos of me, but I did use black liquid makeup to darken my eyes for a more macabre appearance. At one point in the night, Ron, who was not wearing his glasses, commented on mine. "That's so cool: from the sides you lenses look clear, but looking at you straight on your eyes area all black!"

And to think that this week is also the Edwardian Ball ("A staple of San Francisco culture with its elaborate costumed revelry of Gorey-inspired doom and gloom."). (Check out Laughing Squids photos!) It's a shame I can't do everything in this City.

The night was lovely in every way. Although I did appear later in the Victorian attire complete with top hat and raccoon eyes for a quick round with friends at the Midnight Sun and the final 80's night at TBOC. I was dressed in the 80s, it was just the 1880's. This also made for an interesting evening in the dimly lit back area of 440, which was hosting a steamy Monday theme night. Victorian in appearance, but not in attitude.

My MLK afternoon: working in an internet café, followed by Recovery at the Lookout, a Poe birthday party with aged sherry, absinthe and local literary luminaries; videos and 2/4/1 Jack Daniels at the Midnight Sun, and darkened eyes and darkened vibe in the back of 440.

I love SF.


Note from Lykna: The Raven as read by Christopher Walken.

I'll have to see if I can't find an old recording my my interpretation...

Rich and Famous at ACT

Tomorrow is the Out with ACT night for Rich and Famous. The SF Gate had a nice profile this week.

Hats off

With all of the historic fanfare today, I am happy my friends are taking time to comment on Aretha's hat! OMG!!

JoeMyGod's buddies are all over it too. I expressed my amusement in my Facebook status. One friend followed with a personal message:

"I didn't know she was still alive!"

Maybe she wasn't. That hat might be magic like Frosty's!

forward

march.

when the mice are away

the cat can play?

Playhouses for cats.

I so want James to get one.

Which one would you order?

Inaugural address

From all things awesome: Some clever people have changed all of the Bush street signs, from Presidio to Battery, to Obama signs.


obama & fillmore, san francisco
Originally uploaded by *takeitez*

Via Laughing Squid. Explore the flickr tag.

Are we humans?

Or are we cylons?

testify to fit

Will's Crossfit testimonial. Man I have to get back to that.

more evidence against the Mormon Church and their push for Prop H8

This is appalling.

From a new Californians Against Hate report.

Steven Greenstreet, Producer at the prestigious American News Project (ANP) http://americannewsproject.com/ a Washington, D.C. based news organization, just released a 7 minute video with brand new information on what some are calling proof that the Salt Lake City, Utah based Mormon Church spent large sums of money to communicate with California voters in order to pass Prop 8 last fall. The Church had released only a 4 minute edited down version of its hour long simulcast on its web site last October that was broadcast to every Mormon Church building in 5 Western States. ANP obtained written and audio copies of the entire broadcast, including the missing 56 minutes.

I will today forward this information to the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) in Sacramento. The FPPC is in the midst of an active investigation of the Mormon Church’s alleged lack of reporting of its direct expenditures on behalf of Prop 8.

Watch the four-minute video from the American News Project explaining what's going on:



Via Towleroad:

funny feeling

As you might imagine, I haven't been feeling funny, or even glib, lately. Ongoing chaos will not be discussed in the blog. Amusing and merely musing posts to resume shortly.

life imitates fart

Oh dear God. I am now experiencing Nine to Five. And I'm Violet Newstead. Posts may resume when appalled rage subsides.

I've taken slaps in the face before and handled it like a professional. But this is the first time work squatted above my face and took a dump.

San Franciscan underworlds tonight

Metaphorical--
Tonight at the Castro Theater (7:00 p.m.): Touch of Evil.

Via the SF Metblog: Justly celebrated for the ways it combines the ridiculous — Welles’ grotesquely rotund figure, Charlton Heston in dark makeup as a Mexican detective, and Dennis Weaver’s bugging-out night shift motel manager — with the sublime — Welles’ direction, including the famous three and a half minute long opening tracking shot running under the titles — the film inspired a generation of filmmakers by making great cinema on a tiny budget and a two-bit script.

The opening tracking shot itself is a cultural reference point — remember Robert Altman’s homage in “The Player” even as the characters themselves refer to it? (”He set up the whole picture with that one tracking shot… My father was key grip on that shoot.”) But the whole film is stuffed full of delights: Heston in brownface exclaiming about an explosion on the border, “This could be very bad for us… for Mexico!” Janet Leigh as his wife, menaced by a drug-dealing biker gang. Marlene Dietrich as the faded proprietess of a bordertown speakeasy. Weaver frantically protesting, “I’m the night man!!” And Welles himself, grumbling, shuffling, sneering, waddling his way through the film. This is a great chance to see it on the big screen.

Literal--
Tonight on the History Channel (9:00 p.m.): Cities of the Underworld

Via Laughing Squid: The episode with John is about San Francisco and in his segment they explore San Francisco’s Word War II bunkers and talk about the San Francisco Suicide Club. John, along with assistants John Hell, Katy Bell, CJ Desoda and Simone Davalos, “kidnapped” The History Channel crew taking them on a San Francisco adventure.

Via the History Channel: While most people think of San Francisco as a haven for peace-loving hippies, this city by the Bay is actually one of the biggest military defense installations in America. We’ll take you beneath its picturesque hills and uncover the biggest ammunitions depot on the West Coast before plunging into a deadly arsenal that once stored nuclear missiles with more than six times the destructive power of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima. From the secret Civil War fortification buried beneath Alcatraz to the human trafficking tunnels winding below Chinatown, San Francisco’s underground is evidence of its sordid past.

This episode of Cities of the Underworld also airs tomorrow, January 13, at 1:00 p.m.

Hail to Hal

Hal Cato, who befriended and mentored me during my fitful coming out in Belle Meade, has always been one of my all-time favorite people. And to call him a do-gooder is the sort of understatement akin to describing Martin Luther King as a "community organizer." I once wrote of Hal Cato as "a leader of men, and a soldier of angels."

I am not alone in my estimation. The Nashville Scene this week announced that Hal is the first Readers' Choice Nashvillian of the Year.


Well deserved my friend.

Hot music in the cold month

February update from DJ Christopher B— He'll be spinning at Swank at Mecca on Valentine's Day (for those of you into that sort of lovey and/or dovey thing), and at Recovery at the Lookout (always fun!) on Presidents' Day (Feb 16), and he'll be at the AoF gala as well on Feb 22.

Christopher also invites you to become a fan on Facebook.

Taking the Mac out of Macworld

and putting Apple into the Consumer Electronics Show.

This week, the Cult of Mac broke the story and continues to cover the real reason why Apple will no longer be participating in Macworld: They are talking their "we're no longer just a computer company" show to the big Vegas techgasm that is the CES.

While I love the idea of Apple and Apple developers/support industries making a bigger splash at CES, I will sorely miss being able to take a streetcar to the Applegasm Expo.

restless

And by that I mean no rest for the wicked.

So much for taking it easy this January. Too much fun. I look forward to a slow Sunday if I can manage it— with a fireplace and a wifi connection so I can write up this week.

MacWorld was great.

Quality Time with Kevin and Shilpa was tasty in so many ways.

And the new boys in from SLC have been fun to have around.

A great night of 1984 at the Cat...

..was followed by a little Underwear Night at the Powerhouse across the street. We entered just in time, and the EmCee gave Slade the hot water bottle to spray down the contestants in the wet underwear contest.

Welcome to SF!

They're calling me to come out again. I don't think my system can handle happy hour but I could use some bad-carby comfort food.

I'm off.

I'll just leave you with this photo until Shilpa makes me take it down ;)

I call it:

"Photo. Opportunity."

be vewy vewy quiet

we're hunting rabbits.

And by "rabbits," I mean...

From Alert Reader Barney in NZ:


Arty bits at The Gladstone Hotel's Alternative Design Event (Toronto, Canada).

See MoCo Loco: Come Up to My Room.

We've got the beat

Tonight. Cat Club. 1984 (eighties music orgasm). Feel free to join us. We will be most of the usual crowd and taking out the fun Slade and Kirk in for Macworld from Portland Salt Lake City.

Before 9:30 there's no cover, and dollar well drinks in the back.

Cheap and drunk? Yeah we are.

what it's come to

My new motto (after "Go big or go home."):

I am have crazy.

I'm thinking of making t-shirts.

Salute to Will.

viewing flickr photos that aren't of puppies

Flickr has gotten all super nanny and flagged many user's accounts as "unsafe" because they feature not so much "adult" content but rather gay content. Photos I thought were salacious were deemed okay. Photos I thought were benign—friends partying about in bars—were considered offensive. My Flickr Censor though the Folsom photos of porn stars were fine, but that me in drag was offensive. I tried not to take that personally.

There is a lot of discussion online about this, including on Flickr's discussion board. It appears that there is either one prude over there wielding abusive power, or their censorship gang each e-mail users using the same fictional name.

In any case, more and more people like me are having to set their accounts, photos and photosets to "restricted." That means that the default setting for our photos is "moderate" or "restricted" so these photos won't show up in random Flickr fields and casual Flickr surfers cannot see this content.

That also means that even experienced Flickr users can't get access to these photos, even if they are searching for them, if they don't muck around deep into their personal settings.

I have gotten several e-mails from friends and strangers asking how to see all the shots in various photosets.

Here's how:

Log into Flickr, click on "You" and select "Your Account" from the drop-down menu.



On the "Your Account" page, select the "Privacy & Permissions" tab.



At the very, very bottom—you've got to scroll down to find it—under "Content filters", click "edit" to change your search settings and turn SafeSearch to "off."



You should now be able to view such offensive material as gay guys smiling in bars or dancing to 80s music.

Kotter

It's been a busy welcome back. I feel like doing a little holiday recap, but this week I am amidst the January flurry of work and of course Macworld.

The annual Macworld means all sorts of goodies, as well as the return of Bryan, who is the ringmaster of this year's circus. That in and of itself is enough to celebrate. Which we have been doing.

PeeDee, RMJ and I were also invited to the Macworld attendee party last night, which as far as I know for the first time featured a DJ and not a live band. DJ AM was awesome, and sooo much better than retro bands booked for past events. And being set in the large Gift Center venue made it more of an "event" than just being hosted at a bar. Well done Bryan.

We met some cool people, whom we took with us to Truck's speakeasy night with us afterward—welcome to SF Slade and Kirk!

There was also the lagging about Zack, a very young PYT in town for Macworld and lost in the Big City whom we took along with us as well. By late night newswire, it was reported that Zack may not have been sufficiently experienced for such a grown-up adventure.

you better shop around

Hoping to hit some furniture stores to replace my worm out comfy chair on Saturday, I left prepared with a tape measure.

I don't know why RoMo had his clipped on.

But the pair of us so armed did not escape notice or comment.



Cruising the Castro with a tape measure takes on a whole other set of implications.

I'm just sayin'.

(You may note above that RoMo subtly indicates what he is shopping for.)

some vacations are better than others

Wow. So much FAIL with this one.


see more pwn and owned pictures

Sigh

And so the holidays are done.

As much fun and warmth were to be had, I'm am so grateful that the new year doldrums have begun. I need the break. I feel like I have been sprinting for the past six months, and the last two months or so at half-capacity.

I'm healthy again and most of my stress-inducing deadlines have passed. Now there is just the general work-related insanity to contend with. Which is no small matter, but possible and that helps.

I've been at it for more than two hours and I have only made minor chips into my inbox and to-do lists. Posting breaks will be light this week.

At least in the mound of toil being generated by e-mails, there is the lightness that is the daily distribution of Unshelved. Delivered during the last weeks of my nastiness, this was so me.



Anyone still sick? Rest up! It's a new year!