Paris Is Burning at the Castro Theater

The documentary of the drag ball scene in New York City in the 80s, Paris Is Burning,  is very much gay canon, and was done proper respect by Peaches Christ last Saturday night at the Castro Theater.  Truth be told, she went beyond respect, and brought a sold-out house to the altar and led the service to standing ovations.  Not only was her show sold-out, people lined up at 10:00 a.m., around the block, for a chance at the 70 "rush" tickets which would be go on sale at 2:00 p.m.

Guesting starring the event was Ru Paul's Drag Race celebrity Latrice Royale, who frakking worked the crowd into a frenzy.  Proper drag is a talent sorely under-appreacted by the World At Large, but I am selfish and okay with keeping it between us.




And while I completely adored Peaches' pre-show, which was in all ways perfect for the event, the "ball" which followed was just made of awesome, and the Vogue-off about nearly made my head explode. (For those of you unfamiliar, Madonna stole-some say she made an homage-voguing from the Harlem gay underground in the 80s and is celebrated in Paris is Burning.)


I have also found it interesting that the young gays are rediscovering terms like Reading and Shade and how the terms have re-entered the vernacular, however often they may be inappropriately invoked.

Peaches really hit it out of the park on this one.


And I got to sit with my favorite drag fanatics Jeff and Brian, which just added to the awesome. Shouts, sisters.


Here's the original TV spot for Paris Is Burning. It amazes me that it aired at all.

into the Groove

A big congratulations to Bryan Michaels on the success of his salon (and event space) Groove!



Congratulations on five years!

Santa Skivvies Run 2012

At the Gloss holiday party Friday night, one of the organizers of the Santa Skivvies Run was impressed by my face paint and asked me if I would volunteer to paint faces/bodies for the run on Sunday. I thought it was going to be about 45 minutes, but four hours later I had had a great time!










And while not my idea, the "mistletoe on the abs" design became the crowd favorite. I was actually kind of pleased with how it came out.


My friend preferred it on his rather impressive chest. I thought he needed a kiss mark too.


Red noses were also very popular, in more ways than one.


Ho Ho Ho everyone!

For Allen's Flickr set of the day, click here. For Georg Lester Photography's collection of the day, click here. The pec holly was really some of my best/popular work that day.

Groove-y

Bryan and his Groove Salon and Art Space hosted some more holiday cheer this year, and I got to stop by for the final moments after the Golden Girls. Lots of lovely.





So many have been impressed/concerned about my tattoo. Seriously. So many. A tattoo? Haven't these people hard of face paint? What about make-up?

Still, fun for me.

more with the merry making

One of my favorite holiday parties is back. Lots of smiles!









Ho!


(While the shirt may look a bit too casual, it was actually full of battery operated Christmas lights. I bring the festive.)

Bring out yer dead.

As has become our custom, Kevin and I attended the Day of the Dead celebration in the Mission together. Unfortunately it has gotten so big I think next year it might be out of control. I did love how most everyone was very into it, both in the respectfulness of the day, and into the wardrobe/makeup.


It was such an intoxicated, street-glogging revelry that I started calling it "Dead Pride."








At one point I turned to Kevin and said, "You know, we're just any number of mullets away from this being a Kiss convention."

There were some beautiful altars, and all of them heartfelt, and some more evocative than others. This year someone built an elaborate tribute to Neil Armstrong.












On our walk over, I did say to one guy in full skull makeup, leaning against a building on an empty street corner, seriously inhaling on his cigarette, "You know, smoking will kill you."

Thoughts and prayers to those passed, and a not-so-silent thank you to scenes like this one:


Blessed be.

Happy Halloween: Trick or Treat

Kevin is a showman. See also: Sparkle. He had just moved into the new house on Shotwell but did it up proper last Halloween for the neighbors and kiddies. Inspired by his enthusiasm, the neighborhood tried to get more formally organized this year and sent out letters to all the residents asking them to decorate if they could and be home for the itty bitty trick-or-treaters who would be meeting at the fire station at 5:45, have a mini parade, and then trick or treat until 7:00.

Not to be outdone of course, Kevin brought it again.

He told me he didn't really want to spend a lot of money, so he looked around the decorations and accessories he had, was inspired by the tiki torches, and dove into a "witch doctor" theme. he sent me some preliminary pics:




I was invited to come participate, entertain and hand out treats and I was unreasonably excited to be included in the fun. I bought fur trim and bones and such for my costume, had khaki and brown jungle safari clothes to mangle, and designed a wooden tribal mask for my face.

When I arrived, however, I discovered that with the description of "witch doctor" I was picturing a scene along the lines of "Dr. Livingston, I presume," whereas Kevin was going for bayou voodoo witch doctor.

And looked pretty great doing it.






I kept the bones and mask, but switched to the spider shirt, and tied the fur and bone to my waist.


The neighbors were impressed, and loved it to say the least. Debolina and I overheard several parents talking about the house, "Did you see..." and discussing what they want to do next year. It now appears to be quite "on."

The kids were many and all about five or under. And unbelievably adorable. And while some were really excited about "the house with the fire and the skeleton man," others would cringe at the sidewalk and were too afraid to walk up and ask for candy. Which was also fun.

I was surprised at the number of Luke Skywalkers. So young!


And this kid as an aquarium (he was overtired and getting fussy), and this kids dressed as a tree, and his mother was the three hugger. Adorbs.


Most of the teenagers and potential adult trouble were still distracted by the Giants parade-related activities. And it started to drizzle, which helped keep things a bit calm.

The parents were into it too, and it made it for a very happy Halloween. (And no Castro Crazy!)

Happy Halloween! Sundance Saloon

After the day down the coast I got a disco nap before I made my costume for the Sundance Saloon costume ball. That's always a fun party, but it's difficult to make a costume that is comfortable to dance in, can sweat in, and can exchange the undershirts as they gets too sweaty. Usually the dancing fever also means that face paint it out. This year I thought I'd just have an accent I could wipe off and reapply as necessary. I'm still taking it east on the knees and foot since Stompede, so I only sweat through two shirts this time. Again, not really an "I'm going as such-and-such" costume as just Halloween dress-up. Still "costume" though.


Liam and friends brought it as usual, with a classic:


And the fun people all participated.








Is that a genie in my pocket or am I just happy to see you?


Ah, Johan. He was a genie in a bottle, and I wanted to rub him the right way. Which, incidentally, would be granting one wish.

Bonus: Sundance arranged for a big screen to show Game Four in the bar.


Watching the game was such a nail biter, and I am so glad I was there to witness the final pitch.

Holy Halloween. The streets were insane trying to get home though, as I had to traverse the length of Cesar Chavez. Stupid, stupid girls running in the darkened streets in the mist wearing all black into very fast six lanes of traffic dodging construction. While waving a broom. She almost got killed, and I would have been first in line for the witness stand defending the poor motorist who smacked these stupid people throwing themselves into traffic because the Giants won. Almost as stupid as the rioting and setting shit on fire to celebrate civic pride. Friends were movie uploading from the Castro, which was merely revelrous with the most vandalism being toilet paper from the muni wires. Friends have posted some great shots of the celebration, but by the time I got there the streets had cleared so I headed home.


Around 4:30 a.m. though, another crew tore through the Castro, clearly not locals, and smashed windows to stores, clinics, and the LGBT History Museum. I hate stupid people.

But love the Giants! Between the team and the holiday, I have had to ration the orange and black!


I love this town for fans though. The non bridge-and-tunnel riot set. The view of the City at night as you crest over Twin Peaks is a sight to see: City Hall and most of the downtown buildings have changed their exterior lighting to all orange. As is the beacon atop the TransAmerica Pyramid. Nice.

And then there was this:


I'll keeping singing the song: I love this town.