Pride & Queens & Bears, Oh My, for Stonewall’s Ruby Anniversary
Stonewall crowd - photo by Joseph R. Saporito
Source: www.newyorkqnews.com
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert, with Joseph R. Saporito & Gregory J. Klosek
LGBT New York “paint(ed) the town ruby,” in keeping with the theme of the 40th LGBT Pride March, along the lavender line, down Fifth Avenue from 52nd Street, on sunny Sunday June 28, to celebrate the 40th (ruby) anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, which marked the beginning of the late 20th century Gay Liberation Movement.
After our traditional Pride breakfast, hosted by our dear friends Paul Read more
Grove Stars, Singing Broadway, Are “Hollywood Bound” in Fast-Paced APCG Musical
'What I Did for Love' - photo by Joseph R. Saporito
Source: www.qonstage.com
Story by Bruce-Michael Gelbert,
“Hollywood Bound,” the new Arts Project of Cherry Grove (APCG) show, which opened on June 27 and is repeated on July 4, is chockfull of wonderful music, mostly from Broadway shows that have been made into Hollywood films, but moves along quickly, thanks to the efforts of director John De Marco, musical director Christopher Vassiliades, and choreographer and set designer William “George” McGarvey. You’ll find familiar friends, giving it their all, as well as newcomers to the Grove stage, with whom we’re more than happy to make acquaintance. Read more
Grove Celebrates 11th Pride with “United” as Theme
flag bearers JP Michaud (ME), Pat Goff (Canada), Candido (MA), Dale (USA), Jim & Richard (CT), Mike Lavers (NH) & Brian & Ray (IA) - photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Source: www.fireislandqnews.com
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Cherry Grove celebrated LGBT Pride on June 27 with an 11th annual Pride Parade, around downtown Cherry Grove, and with “United!”-saluting the six American states, and Canada, which have made same-sex marriage legal-as the theme. The event also marked the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, in Greenwich Village, considered the start of the 20th century Gay Liberation Movement.
Organizers of the Grove parade were Denise “Dell” Harbin, publisher of the Violet Letter; Paul Jablonski, one of the founders of the Grove parade in 1999; and this writer, Mr. Fire Island Leather 2001, the first ever. Pillars of the community nonagenarian Glen Boles and mate “Mathilde von Sluttenberg” (Roland), wearing sashes Read more
Ariel Sinclair Presents Kamikaze Kabaret ‘09 Premiere & Jesse Mae Cracks Us Up
Ariel Sinclair & Jesse Mae - photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Source: www.fireislandqnews.com
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert
On June 25, at the Ice Palace, where she has reigned for 15 years, Ariel Sinclair hosted the season’s welcome return of Kamikaze Kabaret, with DJ Chuck on music and sound.
Ariel (”Gorgeous”) and the other queens-in-residence, Logan Hardcore, Martina Skyy and Dallas Dubois, kept us entertained with musical numbers (”Creole Lady Marmalade,” “I’m a W-o-m-a-n”). Gay comic Scott Ryan and participants in the ‘joke-off’ contest tried hard to warm up the crowd, but it was Jesse Mae, veteran of “Stonewall Sensation,” who really broke the ice and broke us up with her outrageous riffs about living in Harlem-rebuffing Read more
Trashy Couture Is New Miss Drag Attack- Ann Phetamine & Patrizia Peppe! Are Runners-Up
Miss Drag Attack 2009 Trashy Couture - photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Source: www.fireislandqnews.com
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert
A wild drag event is held at Cherry’s each year on the first Tuesday afternoon of summer-Drag Attack-and this season’s, on June 23, was no exception. Fifteen contestants, most in as outlandish, outrageous drag as they could muster, competed in a contest run by Charity and Johnny Pool’s sister, Cess Pool. Trashy Couture was deemed the winner of the Miss Drag Attack 2009 title, as well as of the coveted golden blender award, which she must return next year, and the crown, to which she must add an ornament before she passes it along next summer. She succeeds Miss Drag Attack 2009 Tish. In the Q & A, when Trashy Couture was asked to name her favorite summer drink, her response, given suggestively, was Sex on the Beach. Read more
Brandon & Ray Kick Off Broadway @ the Beach with Memorable Show
Brandon Cutrell & Ray Fellman - photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Source: www.qonstage.com
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Sensational singer Brandon Cutrell, in fine, fresh voice, and his marvelous maestro, pianist Ray Fellman, kicked off Pride Week and a fourth season of theater and open mic evenings, billed as Broadway at the Beach, at the Grove Hotel’s Ice Palace on June 22.
Brandon began by inviting seductively, “Let’s Misbehave,” because “Tonight’s the Night,” softly, then letting out all the stops, and optimistically faced life’s contradictions and vicissitudes with “One Hand in My Pocket.” Read more
Imperial Court Holds Annual Drag Tag Sale
Johnny Doyle in Empress Gianna's coronation finery - photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Source: www.fireislandqnews.com
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Tables and hangers of used drag and customers in search of Invasion attire and other bargain finery filled the Ice Palace on June 21 at the Imperial Court of New York’s annual Drag Tag Sale.
Heaven found a frilly orange-and-white Charo dress, while Johnny Doyle modeled Empress XI and Homecoming Queen 1993 Gianna’s blue, black and white coronation gown and long, long train. Matt Baney, Panzi Hansen, Wendy Lewis, Phil Stoehr, Bill LaMonica and Jeffrey Wallach, working at the sale, helped to make it a success.
Cinema Alliance Announces Philadelphia Q Fest for July
The Big Gay Musical - photo courtesy of QFest
Source: www.newyorkqnews.com
By Joseph R. Saporito
The 15th Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, now renamed Philadelphia Q Fest, will run from July 9 to 20, and promises a number of memorable events. Opening and closing night festivities are planned around films that are surefire hits. This event’s sponsors are tlavideo.com, Philadelphia Cinema Alliance (PCA), the Pennsylvania Film Office, the City of Philadelphia, and Smirnoff Vodka. Read more
Friends, Romans, Countrymen: It’s the Ice Palace Toga Party
Toga Party - photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Source: www.fireislandqnews.com
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert
No, the Ice Palace was not doing a production of “Julius Caesar” on June 20. It was, however, the night of the Toga Party, with much of the drapery custom-made, and adorned with bunches of grapes, by Jeffrey Wallach. On the same night, Cherry’s was holding its New Year’s Party and many shuttled between the two events. At one point, the dance floor at Cherry’s was filled with men wearing white togas and shiny red-and-silver “Happy New Year” party hats.
CGCAI Chooses 4 for Community Honors
Thom 'Panzi' Hansen, Bobbie Green, CGCAI President Diane Romano, Doreen Rallo & David Bullock - photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Source: www.fireislandqnews.com
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert
The Cherry Grove Community Association, Inc. (CGCAI) and its President, Diane Romano, have announced that four pillars of the Cherry Grove community have merited its Community Honors Awards 2009, for their service to the Grove: Thom “Panzi” Hansen, Bobbie Green and Doreen Rallo, and David Bullock. The four will be fêted at CGCAI’s event, at Heaven ‘n’ Earth, at the east end of Bayview Walk, on August 15 from 6 to 9 p.m.
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