 Happy Gay Pride to Albany and Boston! In the pendulum-like swing-act I’ve been forced to perform in the past decade-plus that Albany’s Gay Pride weekend has coincided with Boston’s, this year I’m back in Albany (weather-permitting, of course) and looking forward to the little parade around the park. It’s not really fair to compare the two, so I won’t, but each has proven a valuable reminder of everything that so many people are still fighting for – equality, respect, and, yes, pride. As the years pass, I hear more and more that people are beginning to question whether the notion of Gay Pride is even necessary. I’ve wondered that myself. In an ideal world, I don’t think it would be, but this world is far from ideal, and until that time comes, Pride is a relevant and vital way of remembering, celebrating, and propagating acceptance of people who haven’t always been accepted. I don’t think I’ll reach the point in my lifetime when it’s not needed. Some things should never be forgotten.
Monthly Archives:
June 2016
June
2016
June
2016
Time for Tea
A break in the last weekday, one spiced with a tree peony that exudes the scent of tea.
The weekend, a celebration of Pride.
These weeks leading up to Summer Proper…
Happiness and hope.
This orange tree peony has been featured here several times. Tucked into an inconspicuous corner, I entertained moving it this year when we found ourselves with more light and room from a chopped-down cherry, but upon further research, and my own experience, it seems the blooms are not borne on stems strong enough to hold them upright. As such, I’ll keep it slightly hidden, and clip the blooms for the magic to work indoors.
June
2016
Tonight: A Gala in Wonderland
A party is only as good as the people who populate it.
Tonight, some of the best are assembling at the GLSEN ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Gala to kick off Albany’s Pride weekend. Taking place at the Renaissance Hotel in historic Downtown Albany, this is sure to be an event that gathers a number of wonderful people under one newly-renovated roof. To that end, I’ll be in bold attire with a slightly-formal slant. Yes, there’s a suit jacket, and of course there’s a hat, but neither is traditional of color or shade.
As for the real meaning behind the magnificent madness, GLSEN does some incredible work, and it’s done mostly through their amazing team. Here’s a quick, and certainly not all-inclusive, run-down of this troupe:
Honorary Chair:Â Angela D. Ledford
Master of Ceremonies:Â Nathan Lee Graham
Pianist/Dear Friend:Â Cherrilyn
We are honoring Alison Lattimore, School Librarian in Hudson Falls, Dori McKinney of Albany High, Alex Eleazar of Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School, Jack Lawrence Einstein of Shaker & all our “family” members at WRPI’s HomoRadio (Dr. Ray, S
ean McLaughlin, Ryan Smith, David Liebig, Ernie Polcardy, Joe Galu, Tim Ruppert, Ulysses de Armas, et al).Â
June
2016
Our President & Our Queen
Tonight history will be made when Madonna performs on The Jimmy Fallon Show, and President Barack Obama is the guest. That’s enough to make my head explode, and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds. She’s no longer promoting the magnificent ‘Rebel Heart’ album, or any project of the moment, and this tends to be the time when she does something interesting. (Remember the post-‘Erotica‘/pre-‘Bedtime Stories‘ appearance on David Letterman? Or the Sandra Bernhard pre-‘Like A Prayer‘ flirt-fest? Maybe it’s not the limbo that brings out the be(a)st in her, maybe it’s just David Letterman…) Rumor has it that she’ll be singing a song from her very first album…
In celebration of this momentous night, here is a quick look back at some recent Madonna Timeline entries, which is on its way back for the cajillionth time. We are not quite done with her canon just yet (and I hope we never will be).
Are you ready to Jump?
Step into the Spotlight!
I’ve spent some time as a narcissist.
This masquerade is getting older.
June
2016
A Best Friend’s Birthday: Over 40
This space and date is usually reserved for some ridiculous photo of Suzie Ko, given that it’s her birthday. This year I’m switching it up and keeping it brief and simple (and without that infamous wet shot of us walking a mile in our bathing suits). Of course a silly hat photo remains, but that’s the only kind of photo she really takes…
There’s no need to go into our lifelong history together – it’s been well-documented in ways both of us would likely like to forget, and if you’re a regular reader of my nonsense you know that she’s a prominent character in my cast of favorites.
As for what 41 will bring her, I hope it’s more of the same – health, happiness, and a fun-loving family that makes her one of the luckiest people I know.
Happy Birthday Suzie!! Pizza and cake forthcoming!
June
2016
Portals & Perspective
Time and space.
Stories and memories.
Rumors and recollections.
A series of hallways, all leading to—
June
2016
The Snow Comes Down In June
The song from which today’s blog post is gleaned brings back bitter memories of a boy who killed himself and left my hometown bereft. I don’t know if people ever really recover from such an unnatural reordering of things. We were all left a little haunted by that, and the ghosts of memory parade differently before everyone. I’m not sure why that opened what was supposed to be a rather innocuous post about this snow-like drift of creeping phlox. That’s what I mean by haunted. It creeps up on you just when you’ve begun to forget.
As for these creeping phlox, they are beacons of the spring, and they burn in wild and ferocious form for just a few short weeks, but what a wonderful show it is. The flowers completely cover all their unremarkable leaves and branches like a carpet of pastels. They come in shades as quiet as this white and as loud as the most obnoxious magenta. In between all sorts of variations exist – from grape taffy to cotton candy to buttery popcorn.
I never grew them because of their short burst of flower power.
I wanted something that would last.
I wanted a boy I used to know to last too, and I wish I’d cherished him and our days together more than I cherish the phlox.
June
2016
NYC: A Helluva Town – Part 3
Afternoon Tea at The Plaza is the stuff of history and glamour, of Eloise and elegance. It conjures the ghosts of balls and galas that took place in the Palm Court. In the hallway leading to the Court, photos of Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow from Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball hang directly across from a framed photo of Marilyn Monroe. These are the memories such storied walls hold. My mother and I slowly walk around, imagining the rustling of fancy skirts and the clinking of crystal.
It is my belated Mother’s Day gift to her, and as we are seated in a comfortable corner nook we nestle in to the surroundings with grateful ease. There is lots of walking to be done in New York, and never enough time for rest, but for the moment we pause and take in the breathtaking scene at hand.
We were both expecting a couple of high-priced petit fours and some fancy tea, but this was a full-bodied meal, presented on a three-tiered wheel that carries all the bang that its hefty buck commands.
The bottom layer was breads and pastries – a delightful scone and muffin combination. The second tier was all dainty sandwiches, and all quite different from one another. Scoff if you must at a finger-sandwich – when there are seven, and each one is a work-of-art in its own right, that’s a lot of damn good food.
At the very top was this gorgeous rendering of decadent desserts. If this was my daily existence, I could stomach living here, right next to Eloise, roaming the hallways, hiding behind velvet curtains, surreptitiously sneaking a bite-sized confection and gleefully enjoying a world of whimsy.
The entire ceremony was a lesson in refinement and taste, and by the end we were both more than satiated. All worries of it being an exercise in restraint and not enough food were more than put to rest.
Our weekend in New York had come to a close, and it felt like we had only just begun. That’s the spell the city manages to cast upon many of us. As much as I want to write it off, I simply can’t. In fact, I’m already looking forward to next year. (And maybe a high summer weekend with Suzie or Chris before then.) Whether it was the food or the shows or the warm comfort of being with my Mom, I’m ready to do it all over again.
June
2016
NYC: A Helluva Town – Part 2
A blind choice based on reviews and collective raves, ‘The Humans’ was the second Broadway show we took in on our New York excursion. It turned out to be a good one, albeit fraught with tension and the damning ways in which we live and try to connect and survive in a world largely gone mad. We are our own monsters, it seems.
Far more comforting was the shopping and eating we did along the way and afterward. For a couple of years now, I’ve been a huge fan of Lidia Bastianich, so when choosing a restaurant for a Saturday dinner, I looked no further than Felidia. A thousand tweets later, I cannot tell a lie: I was hoping we’d get a glimpse of that merry matriarch, and it turns out I was closer than I realized.
Upon entering the cozy quarters, I looked upon the sharply-turned-out visage of Lidia’s daughter, whom I recognized from television. Silly and starstruck, I stumbled over my words telling her how much I enjoyed her Mom and her recipes. She said we had just missed her mother and I cursed myself for not getting there early and bellying up to the bar. Lesson learned the delicious way. As for the meal, it was nothing short of exquisite, and they certainly know their way around a proper wine pairing.
We walked back to the hotel in an effort to walk off what we’d just devoured, and to make room for one more meal: afternoon tea at The Plaza…
June
2016
NYC: A Helluva Town – Part 1
New York, New York! I’ve made it no secret that I’m not the biggest fan of the Big Apple, but you can’t find the number and variety of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows anywhere else, so to that end New York is a necessary evil. Fortunately, there are enchantments and pockets of magnificence to counter the sinking-humanity feeling I get when pushing my way through the idiot-infested crowds of Times Square, and the chance to spend some time with my Mom was just a bonus.
In previous years we’ve done three shows in two days, which can be a daunting schedule to keep. This time around we narrowed it to two, with some buffers for shopping and simple decompressing. Oh, and some very extravagant meals – probably the most extravagant I’ll ever have the fortune of enjoying – and we certainly did that.
It began at La Grenouille – sometimes billed as New York’s most beautiful restaurant. It certainly cornered the floral market – walking into the entry one was pleasantly overcome by the unmistakable scent of a florist. Though powerful, it was never overpowering, and if you love flowers as much as I do it was an absolute revelation. Two grand bouquets rose to the ceiling, while each table was given its own special bouquet. These were not paltry carnations or Alstroemeria either – these were filled with peonies and roses and lilies and even dried fiddleheads.
It was sublime. Flattering soft lighting, red velvet banquettes, and tuxedo-clad waitstaff who were never snooty or arrogant (and after bringing a twist in my martini instead of an olive, and oddly following up with a plate of olives, they had no reason to be) it made for an impressive (and costly) dining experience.
And it was an experience I’ll not soon forget. As much as I might whine about New York, you can’t find this sort of thing anywhere else. On every corner and behind every door there is the possibility for magic that doesn’t exist in other places. The city is vast and varied in that way, and just when you think you might have a grasp or handle on it, it unfurls further expanses and delights.
(Even the bathroom had this glorious bouquet of hyacinths on the sink.)
After stuffing ourselves with an amazing meal, we walked over to see ‘Fun Home’. Our return Broadway engagement was off to a rollicking start…
June
2016
June
2016
A Recap for the Roses
The month of June has traditionally been about the roses, and while we don’t grow very many (circulation, poor soil, and humid summers make for difficult rose-growing conditions) we certainly appreciate a few bouquets of them now and again. They provide the seasonally-appropriate backdrop for this quick early June recap – the best time of year to remember.
A coral-hued peony is a thing of beauty.
The Delusional Grandeur Tour rounded its final, albeit long, turn with the ‘Samsara Healing Water’ section, Part One and Part Two.
My mother’s dress, reborn.
You are invited to a Wonderland Gala this Friday, June 10 – and I’ll be there with more than bells on.
Nick Bateman and his nude butt.
The parade of Hunks included Vinny Vega, Vinny Castillo, Enrico Omri Ravenna, & the Mertailor, Eric Ducharme.
June
2016
Nick Bateman Bares His Naked Ass
The title of the post pretty much sums up the assets on display. Nick Bateman has been a Hunk of the Day before, but it clearly due again. In the meantime, he just posted a naked butt shot on his mega-popular Instagram feed. For those who are hungry, here’s something to whet the appetite.
June
2016
A Wonderland Gala
“I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night. Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is ‘Who in the world am I?’ Ah, that’s the great puzzle!† ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
The season of Pride is once again upon us, and one of the more exciting events (in my fanciful estimation) is the only official formal event of the Albany Pride season – the GLSEN Alice in Wonderland Gala. An evening for supporting the Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network of the New York Capital Region, this event is always one of sparkle and glamour, arriving on the eve of the actual Pride Celebration & Parade.
I love a party, especially a somewhat formal party where there’s a theme and a reason to get dressed up. This year that theme is the very-fertile ‘Alice in Wonderland’ which poses its own challenges and possibilities. Though Lewis Carroll (the troubling writer of the books) comes with his own set of questionable baggage, the works themselves are collections of imaginative whimsy – and the recent movie versions offer their own wonder and spectacle (and some of the most exquisite costuming I’ve seen of late). To that end, this theme is the perfect opportunity for sartorial excess and over-the-top frills. Mad-hatters and bow-tied, waist-coated bunnies are all welcome, and this Cheshire cat will be grinning ear-to-ear in some splendiferous ensemble that is as ridiculous to create as it will be to wear.
The party is scheduled for 6-8 PM on Friday, June 10, 2016 at the recently-renovated Renaissance Hotel (a world of enchantment itself) in downtown Albany. You may get your tickets at this link, and if you can’t make it perhaps you’d consider donating to such a great cause. Here’s a bit of background on the organization and all that they work to accomplish:
Since 1990, GLSEN has led the way on LGBT issues in K-12 education. Through pioneering research, program development and advocacy, GLSEN has made the case for the urgency and importance of these issues, and identified effective school-based solutions. Today, GLSEN remains at the vanguard of the “Safe Schools Movement,†many thanks to the active partnerships with the largest national organizations in elementary/secondary education, youth development and youth service, civil and human rights. The GLSEN-led National Safe Schools Partnership, for example, now includes more than 90 member organizations, and within the past year, each of GLSEN’s bullying-prevention strategies has been endorsed by a federal agency as a best practice in education or youth development. UNESCO has asked GLSEN to assist with the exchange of knowledge and best practice with NGOs and education ministries worldwide.
GLSEN is now focused on leveraging our access and assets to ensure that K-12 education continues to advance on LGBT issues: becoming fully inclusive of transgender students; addressing the multiple challenges confronting LGBT students of color; adopting GLSEN’s proven model policies and programs on a broader scale; and contributing to an emerging international dialogue on LGBT human rights issues and educational access for all children. To do this, we partner with and engage all education stakeholders, most particularly the students who experience our schools every day and are in the best position to help change them.
Your support helps make GLSEN the most transformational organizations of its kind, addressing important school safety issues that have relevance to every member of today’s school communities. Together we are creating climates and attitudes of respect that will resonate across generations.
June
2016
I Learned It By Watching Her
Parents who know fashion have children who know fashion.
My Mom was the first person who taught me how to put an outfit together. Whether it was matching the shoes to the belt, or the shirt collar to a color in a sweater, she instilled a basic knowledge of what worked and what didn’t, and it was on that foundation upon which I relied until I could find my own way. (When you know the rules, you can break them.)
She took her cues from Jackie O, style pontiff of that period, and carried herself with a grace and an unintentional air of aloofness that got passed down directly to her first-born son. What I didn’t learn directly from the outfits she pre-selected for me and my brother I learned through watching her own style evolution, and the way she set about crafting an ensemble with her jewelry and accessories.
A number of years ago, I came into possession of the dress pictured here – a fancy evening gown straight out of the sixties (literally) with gold metallic threading that lent it a shimmer and glow that was a daring departure for my Mom’s usually conservative yet elegant taste. From the moment I first saw it, I was entranced by its beautiful pattern, its use of peacock-like color, and the texture and movement of its unique fabric. (I was also impressed because it was like nothing else my mother owned, and I couldn’t picture her in such a head-turner.)
For many years I’ve been wondering how to make use of it, to showcase and re-envision its purpose to impress, and I think I finally came up with something (without having to remove several ribs, a stomach, and most of a thigh in order to simply slip into it). The new version retains the integrity of the fabric without cutting it to pieces, while entirely revising its function and form. One of the most important things I learned from my Mom’s style was to embrace classic simplicity. (I may not employ it very often, but I appreciate it.) And in situations such as this, when it would be easy to take this dress and turn it into something unrecognizable, I made judicious use of restraint, keeping the fabric largely intact and whole.
The intricately excessive colors and patterns and textures are more than enough to hold visual interest, though a few golden adornments may be a possible addition. For some celebrations, more is more is more…
