THE STYLE SHOPPE

POWERFULLY DYNAMIC MESSAGE

2011-01-05T22:03:00.001-05:00

THE LATEST "IT" ACCESSORY!

2010-12-10T09:33:00.000-05:00

Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys

A new "reality" show.

By Troy PattersonPosted Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, at 8:02 PM ET

Girls Who Like Boys Who Like BoysThe reality show Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys (Sundance, Tuesdays at 10 and 10:30 p.m. ET), intriguingly ridiculous, plays a variation on two themes that are regularly intertwined on the Bravo network—the consumption habits of a certain kind of conspicuous woman and the cultural sensibility of a certain kind of gay man. The show's great advance, to degrade a phrase, is in treating the consumption of the sensibility as a central theme.

In a voice-over, a woman introduces the premise and, perhaps unwittingly, a sitcom-ish point of view: "There are millions of women in New York City who have the perfect love life"—wait a beat—"with gay men." Then the show's four female stars chime in to discuss the good qualities of their gay male friends—their trustworthiness, their candor, their good humor, their listening skills. ... These friends are, "above all, men who will never leave us." You immediately get the sense that, with the us, the series is both expressing its own perspective and reaching to gather the audience in its first-person embrace. A naive viewer may develop the impression that gay men are prized as companions for resembling dogs gifted with the power to talk about cute shoes.

Here we are again in Gotham, its enchantments represented by the Lake in Central Park, the waggling G-string pouches of go-go boys at Chelsea clubs, and the dining rooms of restaurants there's no great urgency to get to. Down in SoHo, Elisa, a 45-year-old divorcee with one daughter, runs a vintage boutique with the assistance of David, a pal since college. "I don't know what drew me into her room," he fails to reminisce, "whether it was the Joni Mitchell album or the smell of cannabis or what ..." They have a genuine bond, and also they bring a lot of energy to dramatizing that bond in cartoonish terms. Note the scene in which David goads Elisa, who effectively professes never to have seen a running shoe, into going for a jog in the park. Initially, she is tentative, and he is bushy-tailed. Shortly, his knee acts up, and she trots gamely on. Eventually, they take a pedicab home, after David has had a chance to sit on a bench and smokes a cigarette in an Art Nouveau posture. The producers must have thought that a hansom cab would be over the top. David should have stretched, perhaps.

Naturally, a show like this would be incomplete without a scene set at Fashion Week, which is where we meet up with Crystal (lawyer, author, single mother, ex-NBA wife) and Nathan ("I'm the sidekick!"). They are apparently partners in an entertainment enterprise; at least, that was the pretense for her happening to mention that she spent New Year's in St. Bart's with Jay-Z. Nathan is 34, apparently a fine age for exploiting one's own insecurities. He says he wants, as a 35-year-old, to be a father, despite being single and obliged, being a party promoter, to stay out all night chugging Veuve from the bottle. (What happens when the kid wakes up at 6 a.m.? "That's what you have nannies for.") Nathan sits in a studio telling the camera about a depressive period during which, lamenting the absence of his own father, he sat in Central Park and cried for hours. Simultaneously, through the magic of editing, he sits on a bench in Central Park, re-enacting the dolor. A duck quacks. Nathan says, "I don't think Crystal takes me seriously when I say that I want to have a child, and that hurts my feelings." In fact, on the evidence, no one takes him seriously, including the show itself, which presents him as a combination of younger brother, support-group partner, and kicky accessory.

Out in Brooklyn, Joel, a writer and composer, is preparing for a trip to Iowa to marry his doctor boyfriend. His pal Sarah is an ace at failing to repress her envy of him. You can tell by the way she combines words like "fear" and "spinster." Where's her perfect guy? I refuse to condemn Sarah for her whining partly because I know how lonely it can feel out there and partly because there are more interesting things to condemn her for. It is one thing to sit in front a TV camera and talk about the difficulty of caring for a mother suffering from dementia, and it is another to bring that mother toddling onto the screen, as Sarah does, a moment that the editors, nudging the bathos along, juxtapose with a shot of the daughter stroking her teddy bear.

But now I waver and wonder whether to give Sarah the benefit of a doubt. Perhaps she entered the series under the impression that it would explore human relationships with a degree of sobriety or try to say something halfway serious about sexual identity. Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys does have some pretensions to seriousness. Exposing them, it betrays its core triviality. Episodes feature these soundbite speed-round segments in which the girls and the boys take two-second swings at social issues and cultural politics—gay marriage, for instance, and the use of the term "fag hag." Earlier this year on FX, an episode of Louie featured a riveting bit, by turns hilariously raunchy and solemnly thoughtful, on the matter of when and if it's correct for a straight comedian to use the word "fag" in his act. If you are a sucker for indie-film branding, then you might expect Sundance to attempt a similarly intelligent treatment, and you will get what you deserve. "Why can't we be 'fag princesses'?" is the sum of one comment. Is that anything like a frog prince?

TOO DAMN FUNNY

2010-10-23T06:49:00.001-04:00

"THE REAL STORY"

OLD SCHOOL FLASH BACK!

2010-10-17T13:10:00.006-04:00

What ever happened too?
Wassup peeps, I spent some time with a very close friend in West Palm Beach Florida the past couple of weeks and we started catching flashbacks and just wondering what ever became of a few old flames and sparks. Here are a few to bring some smiles to your faces and memories, if not get out the geritol...smile!

IN LOVING MEMORY

2010-09-19T19:47:00.004-04:00

JERRY PATRICK

1953 - 2009

Wow you are never expecting to get that call to say someone has made their home going, but when it is one of your closest and best friends it takes on a significantly different meaning. It effects the very core of your life from that moment on.

(pictured here the first person on the right)

This year I lost Jerry one of my two best friends in my life. No warning, no feeling just an awkward phone call to say he was found dead. Alone and discomforted, he passed away from complications of kidney disease and diabetes. Jerry was a fun loving bashful character who served in the US Army in Germany where he became very fond of cigarettes and beer. He was a financial acquisitions professional for Anne Taylor for the past 12 years.

Personally, I was very angry with Jerry for not saying bye, not having one last hurrah together in Santo Domingo, just one more weiner schnitzel and beer at our favorite German Restaurant. Most of all I felt profoundly alone, confused and afraid for my own immortality. Consciously I appeared to be fine but emotionally I was a wreck. I stopped taking my own diabetes medication, slipped into not shaving or giving a damn. Finally becoming so ill I had to be hospitalized where I realized I had to pull it together.

Only now am I able to say Jerry "I loved you my brother" thank you for being my friend, my brother and partner in crime. I cherish all the great moments we had together, thank you for understanding how I felt when I lost my boo and thank you for being in my life while you were.

Rest in peace and may god always hold you close.

FROM THE STREETS

2010-09-19T19:31:00.003-04:00

ANOTHER "GREAT ONE" BITES THE DUST!

Wow! Say it ain't so my favorite spot in the DR has finally bit the dust and closed it's doors. No details, no follow up just up and closed. The Camillo House Apartments better known as Anthony's place closed it doors quietly and mysteriously earlier this summer!

Anthony Montgomery, a native New yorker transplanted Dominican is one of the long time highly successful ex pats. Moving to Santo Domingo and quickly establishing himself as a promoter, tourism professional and local host all helped him become very well respected in the travel and entertainment industries. Anthony was instrumental and the force behind many bed and breakfast upstarts. He was also the ever informative editor of the "MONAGA" blog.

His most notable was the Camillo Houses on Calle de Padre Belini. The apartments well well kept, clean and centrally located for a very reasonable dollar. It is not known just what and how circumstances played out in the closing but is we know Anthony we have not heard the last from our resilient and enduring entrepreneur friend.

I am personally saddened because Anthony always knew exactly how and what I expected on my visits which were numerous over the years. I will miss apartment 6 on the front, our brief talks and laughs.

FROM THE STREETS

2009-12-07T09:05:00.025-05:00

CALIFORNIA
The State of California in political circles has become one that is increasingly owned, operated and manipulated by Hispanics by and large. Now the Los Angeles Times reports as the California Assembly closes in on naming a new leader, the question is not whether the next speaker will be a Latino from Los Angeles, it is which one.No less than four state political power houses are vying for the position but in a bold and party shattering decision John Perez threw his cigar in the race recently igniting some fierce infighting, back stabbing and bickering.
Perez, who would be California's first openly gay legislative leader, had surprised the Capitol by entering the contest. For months, he had been insisting that he would leave the Assembly to run for a state Senate opening next year. A week earlier, Villaraigosa, a former speaker himself, had hosted a summit of sorts at his mayoral home to talk about the speakership race. The attendees were Perez, De Leon, Nuñez and the mayor. And then the big announcement was made and to throw fuel on the fire the current speaker held a press conference to all but declare Perez the winner months before the official vote takes place. I guess it is true we really do bring drama to all that we do!

UGANDA
If Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill becomes law, it will be little short of state-sponsored "genocide" against the gay community, a prominent member of the Ugandan Anglican church said this week.
Canon Gideon Byamugisha said the bill, which recommends the death penalty for anyone repeatedly convicted of having gay sex and prison sentences for those who fail to report homosexual activity to the police, would breed violence and intolerance through all levels of society.
"I believe that this bill [if passed into law] will be state-legislated genocide against a specific community of Ugandans, however few they may be," he said.
The bill, which will strengthen Uganda's existing laws against homosexuality under its Penal Code Act, has been widely condemned by world leaders and human rights groups, who fear it will trigger a witch hunt against the gay community. Activists have raised concerns that the bill will hinder the country's fight against HIV/Aids among the gay community and legal experts have said it will undermine freedom of expression and association.
Yesterday, Uganda's Daily Monitor news website reported that Sweden will cut aid to Uganda if the bill is passed. Canada has also condemned the bill and the British prime minister, Gordon Brown, took the matter up directly with the Ugandan president, who has given tacit support for the bill, at the Commonwealth summit last weekend. Britain is Uganda's fourth largest donor. But James Nsaba Buturo, the minister of state for ethics and integrity, told the Guardian last week, that the government was determined to pass the legislation, even if meant withdrawing from international treaties and conventions or losing donor funding.
Exploiting traditional views
Byamugisha said gay people were being used as "scapegoats" for Uganda's social problems, such as the breakdown of the family unit and rising HIV infection rates, and politicians were using the bill to tap into the prevailing anti-gay mood in the country in the run up to the 2011 elections.
"They [politicians] are exploiting the traditional and cultural abhorrence to same-sex relationships to their advantage. They know that if they criminalise homosexuals, homosexual tendencies and homosexual acts, they stand a better chance of winning votes from the majority of religious followers and leaders, because most of us may not be able to distinguish what may be considered 'unacceptable', from the point of view of religious and cultural belief and opinion, from what is 'criminal', from the point of state law that is meant to keep peace, order and justice," he said.
"What makes this proposed law truly distasteful is the amount and level of violence that is being proposed against suspected, rumoured and known individuals who are gay, and their families and community leaders in their places of worship, residence, education, work, business and entertainment."
He added: "When you say that parents of homosexual children, and that pastors and counsellors who extend spiritual guidance and psycho-social support to homosexuals, will be regarded as 'accomplices' in promoting and abetting homosexuality if they don't report them to police, then you take the law a bit too far."
Byamugisha's stance will put him at odds with many in Uganda. But the minister has a track record of speaking against a prevailing mood. In 1990, after the death of his first wife, he discovered he was HIV-positive. Two years later he became the first practising African priest to publicly declare his status, not an easy thing to do in a country that, for all its efforts to significantly lower infection rates, has not shaken the stigma associated with the disease.
Since revealing his status, Byamugisha, who is a Christian Aid goodwill ambassador on HIV/Aids, has campaigned for the rights of people living with the disease. In 2003 he established the Friends of Canon Gideon Foundation to end the stigma of diagnosis, encourage safe sexual practices, improve access to treatment and support orphans or vulnerable children who have lost parents. This year he was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize for his work.
Taking a gamble
But while Byamugisha took a risk over his HIV status, speaking out against the bill could prove a bigger gamble. The church in Uganda, as in other African states, takes a clear view that homosexuality is a sin and is something that can be cured. Some will no doubt see the bill as a way of curbing an "evil" practice. But the minister hopes the ferocity of the bill will deter religious leaders from throwing their weight behind it.
"I sincerely hope that my fellow religious leaders will comprehend my stand against the level of violence proposed in the bill," he said. "I hope that they will not translate my hesitation to support the bill as a moral surrender to behaviours and practices that we regard as 'unacceptable' and 'sinful' in our ethics and morality frameworks. I hope that they will translate my hesitation as shying away from endorsing a bill that will institutionalise violence and death to a minority group simply because the majority do not like them."
Regardless of opinion from faith leaders, though, Byamugisha believes he has an obligation to speak out. "I realise that if I am happy to speak out against discrimination and stigma in relation to HIV, then I should also be happy to speak out against paralysing homophobia, sexism, tribalism, Puritanism, fundamentalism and against anything else that reduces and diminishes our love, care and support for each other as we travel the road of faith and belief."
Liz Ford and Emma Pomfret guardian.co.uk,
Friday 4 December 2009 11.44 GMT

NEW JERSEY
In a last minute now or never fervor a bill to legalize gay marriage in New Jersey will be posted for a vote. Sen. Ray Lesniak, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says the bill is scheduled to go before that committee on December 7th and will be voted on by the full Senate next Thursday. Garden State lawmakers who support the idea have been reluctant to post the bill for a vote unless they were fairly certain it would pass. Both houses of the Legislature must pass it before it goes to the governor. The current governor "Corzine" has pledged his support and said he would sign the bill into law. The timing is crucial to reach his desk before he is replaced by the newly elected republican governor who is strongly opposed to marriage quality and has vowed to veto the legislation if presented.

OHIO
In a not so surprising move members of Cleveland’s transgender community will be protected against discrimination under legislation passed unanimously by the city council. The ordinance approved Monday night expands the city’s existing anti-bias laws to bar businesses from denying jobs or housing to people because of their gender identity or gender expression.
It’s the council’s latest step meant to show that Cleveland is a tolerant city. The city was recently rewarded for those efforts by being named the host city for the 2014 Gay Games, an international sports festival.
Council members said they may consider extending the protections further next year, possibly by allowing transgender persons to use either a men’s or women’s public restroom.

CHINA
Opening of the gay pub in southwest China’s Yunnan Province was delayed due to pressure, said its founder on Tuesday, the 22nd World AIDS Day.The pub in the tourism Dali city which has drawn wide public attention was set to open on Tuesday. “The pub will open sooner or later,” said its founder Zhang Jianbo, who was a doctor from the Dali No.2 People’s Hospital. One reason for the delay was too much pressure towards volunteers working in it. “They will be looked at through ‘colored glasses’,” he said. The staff are worried they will be subject to hatred and criticism for offering help and assistance to people seeking information on HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Not withstanding societal stigmas regarding homosexuality.

NEW YORK
As the holiday season roars into full speed so does the season of giving and some of the New York City's major gay promoters and marketing companies are teaming up for a few special charity events. If you are in the area please support the cause of your choice but do share something with someone this holiday season!

LIFE STYLE AND CULTURE

2009-12-07T08:28:00.005-05:00

"ASPIRING NEW MUSICIAN AND MODEL"
Hot, sexy and multi-talented London based model Louis-Harris Tench was a recent “Ford/ VMan” Search Finalist. Although a finalist, Louis didn’t win. The aspiring R&B artist/ model is very likely to be signed by one of the major agencies given his exposure and success during the contest. Age: 23
Height: 6'1
Chest: 38
Waist: 31
Shoe: 11
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown

We look forward to hearing and seeing more of this hot new prodigy on the fashion & music scenes! For more about Louis or his music check out: youtube.com/louisharristench

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2009

2009-11-26T00:01:00.003-05:00

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH, 2009

Wassup Family!
From our family at THE STYLE SHOPPE, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! We are busy catering and preparing a fabulous dinner party for 250 guests for one of our Jewish clients. Yeah, "koshruth cooking" has very special requirements and restrictions but we can handle it!
We cooked 25 Kosher Turkeys. The day began at 5:00 AM the turkeys had to be cleaned, marinaded and finally roasted. We used 16-20 pound turkeys so they cooked roughly three hours each. Once properly cooked and cooled, they had to be broken down into breasts, dark meat and scraps for the gravy and stuffing. The day came to a close at 7:30 PM. We hope you and your family are having as much fun as we are!
The final menu featured:
Pumpkin Bisque
Mesclun Field Greens with Cranberry Walnut Dressing
Roasted Turkey
Pecan Cranberry Stuffing
Giblet Gravy
Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Herb and Garlic Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Hot Water Cornbread Muffins
Deep Dish Apple Pie Souffle
Egg Nog Spiced Vanilla Ice Cream

CHEFS CORNER

2009-11-22T17:29:00.014-05:00

While surf'in the web, I came across this interesting piece produced by "THE FUTURE" a handsomely well produced website authored by a group of friends who self promote and offer their own unique and personal flavor on culture, lifestyle and media. I think the website is fabulous overall but I take issue with their lack of fact checking and research of the material they present. "Opinions" are not necessarily factually accurate and are subject to personal interpretation. What is not subject to personal interpretation or conjecture are technical facts and historical precedence. One plus one equals two no matter what one thinks personally.

As a professional classically trained chef, I was surprised they did not edit the piece for technical and historical accuracy. Esthetically it doesn't matter because the average subscriber most likely will not know right from wrong anyway, but for the culinary professionals who watch the piece, it is an insult from someone calling themselves a chef. Similar to a doctor diagnosing you with a common cold but treating you with a shot of penicillin in the rear.
Pastry Arts are a highly specialized skill set within Culinary Arts with it's own techniques and terminology. Chef Love references the butter and sugar to be beaten together and emulsified with the eggs. The order of the ingredients is correct but the process is not. Anytime butter, sugar and eggs are combined in this style it is known as "the creaming method." The creaming method is one of several ways that you can mix ingredients to make a cake or cookies. It is the most prevalent method used because the resulting cake will be light and tender. If in fact the butter, sugar and eggs are beaten, the results will be grainy and thick. Yes! Now you know why your last cake was so thick and heavy. Another golden rule of baking "always combine the dry ingredients" before adding the wet. The spot also failed to mention a critically important step. The oven must be preheated before placing the batter in the oven. If the oven is not properly heated, the leavening agents in the batter will not properly activate and the results will be flat. Eggs require steam to rise and agents such as baking soda or power require water and heat.

"Brulee" means burnt cream. The chef incorrectly referred to the method/ technique of burning sugar as Brulee. The technique is caramelization. When ones refers to brulee most often it describes the classic french dessert. Creme Brulee is a classic dish of smooth custard, with a CARAMELIZED SUGAR topping. I am looking over my notes taken in Pastry Arts 101 during Culinary school. The chef incorrectly states he brulees the bananas when in fact he is caramelizing the sugar topping. If the sugar is caramelized to the point it melts and forms a solid sheet on top of the bananas it may be called "bananas brulee."

To the novice these are minor insignificant points but one must remember there is always a part of the audience that knows the proper and correct style and technique. Television, movies and talk shows all use fact checkers to avoid these types of errors. Here is a fabulous simple pound cake recipe to enjoy this holiday season.

SIMPLE POUND CAKE RECIPE
Preheat oven to 340 degrees F. Spray and line 2 8" cake pans.
BUTTER 1 1/4 lbs.
SUGAR 1 1/2 lbs.
LEMON RIND, grated 1 oz.
SALT 1/4 oz.
CAKE FLOUR 1 3/4 lbs.
BAKING POWDER 3/4 oz.
EGGS 2 lbs.
Cream together the butter, sugar, lemon rind and salt, set aside
Sift together the cake flour and baking powder
Alternately add the eggs and flour mixture to the bowl in thirds on low speed
Add half the batter to each of cake pans and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched in the center.

LOVE AND ROMANCE

2009-11-15T13:46:00.009-05:00

"JAMAICA ON THE DL"
Most of what you read and hear is so anti-gay when the subject of Jamaica comes up. I personally desire to see the country first hand but refuse to spend money where it would be used against me. Not with standing the fact there is a thriving gay community.
A subculture of "gay for pay" hustlers in Jamaica as in most communities around the globe. Further evidenced by the many personal ads from within Jamaica on sites such as Adam4Adam, Gaycrawler and Gaydar. Not to mention the theatrics on Rudejam. It amazes me how a few green backs can effect such a potent instant social change!

FROM THE STREETS

2009-11-15T10:39:00.023-05:00

DALLAS TEXAS
The long anticipated relocation and grand opening of the new location "The Brick/Joe's " will open at 5:00 pm Friday night 11/13. Drop by this weekend for a sneak peak! They are also accepting applications for all positions. Inquire at the club.
Be sure to come back here and give us the details and inside scoop!

The Brick / Joe's Dallas
2525 Wycliff Ave., #120
Dallas, Texas 75219
214-521-3154
*****
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
During the past few years an alarming trend has been quietly stripping the black gay community. Fast and furiously black gay owned, operated or patronized bars and clubs are becoming a thing of the past. The promoters and owners are finding a number of obstacles to remaining in business. Poor judgement and behavior by patrons in local neighborhoods, high rents and changing zoning issues are but a few of the nails in many of these coffins.

The most recent bar to face closing is the well known landmark "Starlight Lounge". A fixture in the Bed-Sty/ Mid-wood neighborhood for decades. According to published reports the building that housed the Starlite was secretly and abruptly sold and the oldest Gay bar in Brooklyn, was given the boot, three months to vacate. No doubt this will mean increased business for the newer Caribbean hot spot "Langstons/ Moore's Bar and Lounge" that is located a few blocks away @1073 Atlantic Avenue just off the corner of Franklin & Atlantic Avenues.
*****
SALT LAKE CITY UTAH
Make room for the Mormons on the supporters list. This week Utah unanimously passed an anti discrimination ordinance, the first in Utah to ban employment and housing discrimination against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the New York Times reports. I'm not sure how many of our brothers and sisters live in Utah but this has to be good news for the gay community at large.
*****
PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND
For nearly a century, gay black men have contributed to the state’s political, academic and cultural life.
“People always ask me, ‘Have things gotten better for you, the blacks?’ ” said author James Baldwin at a 1985 reading at the First Baptist Church in Providence. “I survived it. That’s the best I can say.”

A new exhibit at the John Hay Library examines the lives and accomplishments of more than 30 gay black men with Rhode Island connections, including the late Baldwin.
Curator Robb Dimmick tells the stories of these men — many of them local artists, actors, public servants and scholars — through letters, photographs, playbills and even State House laws, items he has collected over a 30-year span.Some, like House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox, are openly gay. But many others prefer to remain in the background. Just before the Nov. 5 opening of Dimmick’s exhibit, “Black Lavender 2,” one participant withdrew his name.
“It is such a rich community and it is not connected at this point. Our hope is this presentation will spark a new discussion among gay black men.” Dimmick became interested in gay black literature in the mid-1980s, after he took a job as a book scout for Ray Rickman, the founder of Cornerstone Books, a rare and used bookstore in Providence. A year later Dimmick joined the store as a business partner. At Cornerstone, the two men — Rickman, then a black state representative, and Dimmick, the white star of a one-man show about Abraham Lincoln — specialized in black literature at a time when many stores did not have an African American section. “If they did,” said Dimmick, “it was in the back, on the floor, in a dark, dank corner. But we were right on the cutting edge.”

James Baldwin visited the store. So did poet Maya Angelou and Pulitzer Prize-winning civil rights historian Taylor Branch. A frequent customer was Henry Louis Gates Jr., the director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard and the author of the PBS series, “African American Lives.”
“I knew there were black gay writers, but where were their books? That became the start of my hunt,” said Dimmick, who started collecting newspaper clippings, obits, programs, fliers, posters and pamphlets — anything connected to black gay men — in the mid-1970s.
Often, such items are thrown away after an event, said Dimmick. Some of that material found its way into the first “Black Lavender” exhibit in 2005, which focused on black writers. But Dimmick wanted to do a second show that centered on Rhode Island.

At the Nov. 5 opening, Rhode Island College English Prof. Daniel M. Scott III talked about his oral history project. Gay black men in Rhode Island, he said, struggle to fit into two worlds: the small, church-centered African American community and the larger white world, a tight-knit Catholic community. For many, “it gets very complicated,” Scott said.The men in the “Black Lavender 2” exhibit are connected to the state in various ways. Some, like Baldwin, visited only once –– but sparked a round of soul searching. Others have studied at Brown University or the Rhode Island School of Design before embarking on careers elsewhere. Others in the exhibit include the painter Robert Dilworth, who chairs the University of Rhode Island’s Department of Art and Art History, Trinity Rep actor Joe Wilson Jr. and Michael Evora, executive director of the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights. “The big surprise is that black gay men exist in the state and have flourished,” said Dimmick.

The exhibit, funded by the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, is open weekdays through Jan. 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the John Hay Library in Providence.

By Paul Davis

Rhode Island Journal Staff Writer
*****
WASHINGTON STATE
The people of Washington State have spoken loud and clear as they approved a win for gay-rights in their state as voters in Maine rejected that state's same-sex marriage law, while in Michigan, voters in Kalamazoo overwhelmingly retained that city's anti-discrimination law protecting gays and lesbians.
Washington States Referendum 71 results were disappointing to religious conservatives, whose aggressive efforts to get the expanded partnership law thrown out had gained momentum in recent months. Passage of referendum 71 "For gay and lesbian Washingtonians and their families,is a major step forward in assuring that we're all treated equally under the law."
*****

DOMINICAN REPUBLICJean Luis Valdez Flores (Wey Jam), the confessed killer of the television producer Juan Miguel Breton Mieses (Miky), told the National Police that a disagreement in room 3 of the Princesa Motel, located on the 30 de Mayo Highway, was the reason for the fight that ended up in the killing. "These were immoral things, that we are asking the media to omit in order to preserve the moral of the Breton Mieses family", said Nelson Rosario, the spokesperson for the National Police, as he explained the circumstances of the killing.According to the accused, the discrepancies over not fulfilling some of Breton's requests, turned into the fight that left the victim badly wounded. While Miky was bleeding in the room, Jean Luis, fearful for what could happen if the producer survived, went to get the knife that he had in his backpack in the KIA Sportage SUV, license G-203287, and with which he stabbed Breton two times: In the stomach and in the neck. Valdez Flores, 20, took flight in Breton's vehicle. The prosecutor for the National District, Alejandro Moscoso Segarra, said that due to the nature of the crime, the accused would probably be sent to preventive prison for a year.

The simple version, Miky picked up trade- a well known dominican rapper - and they took the episode to a canbana (motel) where the accused rapper insists although he agreed to have concentual sex with Miky he later changed his mind when Mikey alledgedly wanted "to tap that booty." He than killed him and stole his jeep. The accused will most likely get no more than a year because it involved a hush hush crime that is not to be discussed or mentioned. This type of behavior and cover up is becoming increasingly frequent in DR.

LIFE STYLE AND CULTURE

2009-11-15T09:28:00.014-05:00

Just the funniest and cutest thing!

I realize a gang of professional and college athletes have received some much deserved bad press regarding their homophobia recently but you have to "see them" at play. Hysterically funny and homoerotic.
As society on the whole becomes more familiar and tolerant of alternative lifestyles, the lines of what is acceptable behavior between the groups has gotten very blurry. Everyday I see young so called str8 men wearing more and more outlandish colors, prints and patterns. Don't lie you see them, the ones in the hot pink and fuchsia sneakers and blouses! What's with the pants saggin (n i g g a s) lower and lower every year. Certainly if you have your cheeks hanging all out hot and sexy, you are sending a message loud and clear, no matter to whom it is intended. The down low phenomenon is less and less on the DL as homies are smacking each others asses more openly, you know a lot of touchy feel stuff that most gay men refrain.
*******
"Not exactly Americas Next Top Model"
Speaking of breaking out of the "DL mode". An interesting new book "Follow the Model: Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power" by J Alexander -of ANTM Fame - was released this week. In his first bio slash self help offering "Miss J" talks about his early years growing up in Bronx, NY and goes on to tell how a public casting call for a Jean Paul Gaultier runway show led him to take his first impeccably clad step on the catwalk and confirmed his conviction that he belonged in the world of high fashion!How he has influenced the careers of many of the most sought after models, actresses and actors alike.
It is a nice easy read tailored to a female audience but entertaining and recommended non the less.

HEALTH, NUTRITION AND WELLNESS

2009-11-01T11:29:00.010-05:00

Sometimes Easier Said IS easier done!
Recently the good life and living of a chef finally caught up to me front row and center in a dramatic visit to the doctor. In September I started to feel slight pains in my right leg and went to the emergency room. Initially the intern said it was muscle fatigue and with a few days rest all would be fine. Knowing my body better than him, I was not satisfied and requested to see the attending. The attending physician ordered a MRI that revealed I had a blood clot at the entry to my heart. After 2 weeks in the hospital on blood thinners and a harsh reality check I realized change was necessary. A diabetic with high cholesterol and triglycerides was not going to cut it if I wanted to continue to live for any significant length of time.
During my discharge the cardiologist reiterated the seriousness of the issue when he simply asked me “If I wanted to continue to live”. I was stunned and seriously shook up. He prescribed an extreme and merciless diet that would stimulate my metabolism and immediately put me on the road to a swift recovery.
The “Metabolic Syndrome Diet” is a transitional diet that restricts carbohydrates, especially those low in nutrients – such as sweetened beverages, snack foods and baked goods. The intensity of the restrictions is short term and expanded as my specific goals are achieved. Initially when I started on October 1st at 256 pounds I was not allowed any fruits, juice, soda, sweetened beverages or dairy products. No fried meats or fish. No high fat or processed protein foods. "I was a wreck" and went directly to my family doctor’s office, a sat down and cried like a baby. My imagination had gotten the best of me; I was focused on the end not the change. Until that very moment I had not accepted how severe my situation had become and certainly didn’t feel I could manage what seemed like a health fanatic’s rabbit food buffet. After the tears and the initial shock settled I spent a few hours with my doctor, nurse and dietitian who were superb. We addressed my fears and concerns. I am unmistakably a strong black man I love my pig feet, collard greens and macaroni & cheese. Why else would I have spent 60K and 4 years of my life studying and toiling to become a professional chef and food stylist? (1)This diet was not ethnically friendly! (2) I am and always have been a “big boy” I have a hearty appetite. (3) I am spoiled and set in my ways; I like what I like.
The bottom line, it wasn’t working for me and I needed to change or be evicted! Meredith, my dietitian, acknowledged the diet was not ethnically sensitive and together we found acceptable alternatives to better meet my preferences. Dr. Jones scolded “a big frame is different from a fat man”. I should give it a try before complaining about “being hungry”. Finally if my way was working we would not have been having the conversation. If I wanted to be here for future conversations I needed to make changes. I went home determined and willing to meet the challenge. The first thing I did was to enlist the help of my best friends and a neighbor. They took as much of the offenders in my cabinets and refrigerator as they wanted and I disposed of the rest. I went to the grocery store and started restocking with the diet as a guideline and shopping list.The diet requires me to eat five times a day, roughly every 4-5 hours, beginning with breakfast. “When doing it my way” I was only “eating” once a day but snacking generously and continuously between 11:00 AM and 1:00 AM. Breakfast was out of the question unless it was Grits, Buttery Pancakes or French Toast. This is the original version of the diet which is not very ethnically friendly and can be costly. It works well for me after some preferential adjustments.My adopted version of the diet substituted different nuts for the olives. No red meat period in favor of more fish and shrimp. Finally I created a salad dressing to be used on salads and in tuna instead of canola mayonnaise I use 1T of nonfat Greek Yogurt and 2tsp of stone ground or dijon style mustards. For breakfast I add cinnamon, splenda and vanilla extract to the Greek Style Yogut. I only use light colored salad greens and vegetables because dark leafy greens are prohibited while on blood thinners. I am only drinking Crystal Light and water. The diet has proven to be a huge success with my weight dropping from 256 to 235 in the first two weeks. My triglycerides dropped from 720 to 227. My posture and balance had improved tremendously as my overall energy has quadrupled.

PASSPORT AND JETWAY

2009-10-28T20:09:00.006-04:00

THE INTERNATINAL FAST LANE
Well it was a rough 2 years and unfortunately too rough for fledgling company CLEAR to survive. CLEAR was a prgram that offered expedient processing through US immigrations. For a fee of $100 USD per year they would process a background check, set up your retina scan and finger printing in a national data base. The data base was connected to electronic scanners at Custon and Immigration areas of major airports. Members avoided the long lines by simply walking up to the machines and scanning their eyes and fingers for quick entry. Due to the slump in the economy and slower than forcasted international travel the program never causght on and closed withing 16 months. TSA has adopted the concept and developed their own program dubbed the Global Entry Program. Global Entry is a new pilot program managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection which allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States. Participants will enter the United States by utilizing automated kiosks located, at designated airports. Although the program is intended for “frequent travelers” who make several international trips per year, there is no minimum number of trips an applicant must make in order to qualify.
Currently Global Entry is available at: John F. Kennedy International (JFK); Washington Dulles International (IAD); George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH); Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Miami International Airport (MIA), Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW), Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS), Detroit Metropolitan International Airport (DTW), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU), Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). The fee and program are very similar if not exactly the same in nature and idea. I will report at a later date on how user friendly the program is after using it a few times.
www.cbp.gov/global_entry

FROM THE STREETS

2009-10-28T17:45:00.028-04:00

NEW YORKGov. David Paterson remains stedfast in his efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, comparing the effort to the fight for the abolition of slavery. The legislation that he introduced passed the NYS Assembly in May is now headed for a final showdown in the State Senate. The proposal is the same bill the Democratic-controlled state Assembly passed in 2007before it died in the Senate, where the Republican majority kept it from coming up for a vote. Democrats now control the Senate, but opponents are vowing to make sure this one fails, as well.
Gay marriage is a crucial issue of equal rights in America that cannot be ignored, Paterson said. He was joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other elected officials, as well as gay rights advocates and his wife, Michelle.

ALABAMA
Judge Herman Thomas, a prominent member of the Alabama Democratic Party, was found "not guilty" on charges of sex abuse, sodomy and assault. The former Alabama judge was accused of checking dozens of male inmates out of jail and forcing them to engage in sexual activity for reduced sentences in his court office and chambers.
Alleged victims testified of being spanked, told to masturbate or forced to have oral sex with Thomas in exchange for lighter sentences. Semen of two alleged victims was found in the judges office. Despite the DNA evidence, visitor logs and testimony of several witnesses the jury found him "not guilty" on several charges and the judge dismissed the other counts

MILWAUKEEPolice were recently forced to close an investigation of a shooting of what officers initially thought was a woman, shot in the leg. It turned out be a 27-year old man. The short period of confusion developed because the victim was wearing woman’s clothes.
The victim was shot in the thigh, knee, and buttocks. The injuries reportedly were not critical or life threatening. The victim says he was walking home early Sunday morning when the suspect's vehicle pulled up beside him and someone fired multiple shots. The suspect was vaguely described as a black man, 5'07", 170-180 pounds, stocky build, with braids. The victim was uncooperative with investigators.
This incident is only the latest in an increasing number of incidents in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have been attacked or killed in bias-motivated incidents. An increase of 28 percent in 2008 compared to a year ago, according to a national coalition of advocacy groups. Last year's 29 killings was the highest recorded by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs since 1999, when it documented the same number of slayings, according to a report released Tuesday by the coalition.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
About 100 witnesses testified on Monday before a D.C. city council committee on legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in the nation’s capital.
Attendees had the opportunity to discuss the measure's language and proposed changes to it, such as replacing the terms “bride” and “groom” on marriage licenses with “spouse,” reports the Associated Press. Many religious organizations attended to vent their concerns, mainly they want to ensure that they are not forced to rent their space for ceremonies uniting gay couples. An extreme anti-gay zealot self-professed "Christian" Earnestine Copeland, the final witness testified or accurately ranted on Sodom and Gomorrah, "devils" and "demons" and compared same-sex relations and marriage to bestiality. She harangued the Council for deciding “to lead my people to hell” by supporting same-sex marriages which “will destroy our society.” and asked “Who among you would allow your male dog to lie with a male dog?”

THE UNITED KINGDOMEngland Celebrates "Black History Month"Black History Month has been celebrated in England widely for many years honouring the achievements, culture, and the history of black people. In Southwark Black History Month has been recognised for over 20 years with a month long programme of exciting and inspirational events and workshops. Every year throughout October people, schools, libraries, groups and organisations host events and get involved with the celebration of black history.
Continuing the theme of "The Journey: Past, Present, Future", Black History Month 2009 will offer a diverse and rich programme of events for everyone to enjoy. Exploring the theme is a mixture of organisations, groups and individuals that will interpret 'The journey: past, present, future' with exhibitions, talks, walks, film screenings, showcases, and more. With this in mind, Outburst UK, in association with Southwark Council and the London Southbank University presents: "Finding Me".
A story of one young man's journey to self-acceptance and self-love. It is also a story that lies close to our hearts, because we have all taken the trip to "Finding Ourselves". This story begins with a question, "What am I doing with my life?"Faybien Allen begins his journey to self-discovery with the aid of his two best friends, Amera and Greg. He also plays the teacher at times to these friends as well.Faybien's father's disappointment looms over any of his achievements or progress toward self acceptance until a stranger enters his life. Lonnie's love for Faybien allows him to open his eyes, hear and mind. As he begins his journey he is introduced to a character, which proves just how harsh life can be and the unfortunate outcomes of poor decisions. This individual forces Faybien to accept his responsibility for his actions, and provides a new obstacle for him on his journey to self-acceptance. Faybien's emotions are defined by his guilt and sadness, because he has not accepted the loss of someone close to him.
Will young Faybien accept who he is?
Will he take responsibility for his life and gain control?
Producer/Writer/Director: Roger S. Omeus, JR
Date: Friday 30 October 2009
Location: London Southbank UniversityThe Keyworth Centre main auditoriumKeyworth StreetLondon SE1 6NG

LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS

2009-10-07T01:28:00.011-04:00

"YES OR NO?"
I always wonder if models and the extremely beautiful faces and bodies of the world have real life relationships? "Do you think you could have a relationship with someone who is breath takingly hot?"

LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS

2009-10-06T16:54:00.005-04:00

WOULD YOU? COULD YOU?

One weekend a few years ago I was hanging out with the gang laughing, joking and having a good time. "Stellas" was the local strip bar known for weak but cheap drinks, attractive but hungry street hustlers and strippers. As was the routine back then we were checking out the Saturday Night Revue when one of them caught more than just my eye. What followed was a hot affair with plenty of sex, lies and drama. After more than a year of ups and downs we reached a fork in the road. It was time to take the next step and commit- Hit it one last time and move on- or put the rubbers away and "just be friends". This proved to be a far more complicated decision than I expected. Yeah, that trickster feelings had something to say about the whole thing! On the one hand I had become very fond of him. Hooked on that hot pot and wicked dip stick. The fact he was a latin lover was extra. BUT, there is always that BUT! he was a hustler, a stripper which meant he had a past! How could I commit and TRUST him? The people I trust most felt I should go with my heart and if it was what I wanted they could support it.I wasn't sure "I" could deal with all my friends knowing what he looked like naked, had hung dollars from those little strings he wore every weekend. To top it all off there was the question of his "girlfriend" what the f--k?If I committed, how many times would it be thrown in my face that he had had thousands of hands all over those toys. Ultimatey, I was not strong enough to deal with any of the possibilities and put the rubbers away and we have had some great times as "just friends". Sometimes f--king friends and other times just laughs, jokes and beers.
What do you think, what choice would or could you make? Do relationships kindled from these types of fires survive?

FROM THE STREETS

2009-09-25T20:58:00.006-04:00

"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT! "

Increasingly during my travels I encounter "the sisters" who look so real that it blows my mind. I have found myself cruising more than one of our sisters who look better than the brothers. Much to do was made about this and featured in a local documentary that recieved over whelming praise and awards world wide recently. The Aggressives took an indepth and personal look intothe world and families of "The Aggressives!" Lets see how you do? Which ones of these gentlemen do you think are real gentlemen and which ones are just "gentle" men?

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

2009-09-20T23:59:00.011-04:00

AFRICAN AMERICAN DAY 2009
Traditionally, African American Day has been a much celebrated event in NYC. However, as more ethnic groups assimilate into the African American Community an increasingly growing number of Black Americans are opting to abandon their own culture, heritage and traditions including holidays and cultural celebrations. The once very popular and well attended African American Day Parade is now victim to this growing trend. One of the contributing factors during the past five or six years the organizers have failed to keep the parade relevant and appealing to the community at large. Many blacks now choose to attend the more popular and better organized Peurto Rican and Dominican Day Parades in Manhattan. This year's parade was the worse it has ever been. Firstly, all major parades in the city are held on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The entire notion of hosting the parade in Harlem has long been a bust. Harlem residents "alone" see Harlem as the center of the black community in NYC. Long gone are the days when Harlem was recognized as "the Mecca" with the likes of the Apollo Theater and 125th Street headlining. Today's Black Culture and Community in NYC is far more diverse and evenly distributed across the 5 boroughs. The organizers should consider moving the parade to Fifth Avenue to incorporate all of the black communities into the celebration.Secondly, because of poor advertising and promotion. Community support and participation has dwindled year after year to a handful of people. All of the other cultural events and parades in the city are prominently advertised by local community calendars, posters in the transit hubs and on the radio stations as community service announcements. The African American Day Parade was not publicized in print or radio anywhere within the community. It was a very short string of groups that were separated by 20 minutes between each group. 12 bands and groups from "Baltimore, Maryland" and 7 groups from surrounding counties and cities within New York State provided the bulk of the parade. The biggest embarrassment was the fact that only 8 groups from the 5 boroughs and they were civil service employee groups - fire, police, sanitation and correction departments. The largest non civil service group that participated was The Fraternal Orders of Masons and Eastern Stars. The Islamic Brothers and Sisters of Harlem looked fabulous and very well groomed as always. The only radio station that participated was "WBLS" and the only community leaders and politicians that attended were those running for public office this year - John Liu (running for comptroller), Bill Thompson (running for mayor), Bill de Blasio (running for public advocate), The hot and enticing NYC GYM BOYS kept the girls (and fellas) screaming all day! Noticeably absent were any celebrities or personalities from the black community at large. 6 people from Al Sharpton's Action Network marched but Al Sharpton was no where to be found. A sad commentary given the wealth of talent and star power that call NYC home. It is better to not hold the event if organizers cannot realize they are loosing the trust and respect of the community sponsoring such as a fiasco Finally, the organizers must keep the parade and events relevant to the times. The majority of the observers who came out for the parade were either under the age of 12or older than 45. The parade should attract and be appealing to all members of the community. The police presence was so overwhelming that it appeared as if it was a police event. Police should be present but not so promenent that they create an atmosphere where everyone is anticipating an waiting for trouble. It is safe to say that unless dramatic changes are made this parade will be a thing of the past!

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

2009-09-19T10:27:00.010-04:00

"DRIFT THRILLS" NOW IN SANTO DOMINGO!
Domincan "Motor Sport" enthusiasts in Santo Domingo are getting an official "Drift Track". Located on Av. Luperon, former site of Herrera Airport, the track is sponsored by AmBev Dominicana manufacturers of the popular beer Brahma, in coordination with Carlos Then of Then Projects. "The Brahma Light Drift Track" opens on September 19th.
Calvin Wan and Casper Canul of the American Drift Association are expected to attend the opening events. Popular Puerto Rican hip-hop band Calle 13 will be performing. The event starts at 2pm and costs RD$500 (roughly $16 USD). Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance online at ticketexpress.com.do

"Drifting" is a driving technique; a motor sport where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns while preserving vehicle control and a high exit speed. A car is said to be drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle prior to the corner apex, and the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice versa), and the driver is controlling these factors. As a motor sport, professional drifting competitions are held across the world. Carlos Rodriguez, president of the Dominican Drift Society says they have been practicing the sport for the past 10 years.photos compliments of the brothers at autofiebre.com

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

2009-09-12T19:44:00.008-04:00

"A&E RECOVERY WALK and RALLY 2009"Well! Here we are again another end of Summer and the beginning of Fall 2009. The return to school, work and snuggle weather. The weekend after Labor Day is typically a stay at home weekend and this year is no exception. I decided to hang with friends who are celebrating "National Recovery Month". The main event of the NYC - NJ area was held Saturday at the Brooklyn Bridge. The event sponsored by The A&E network included a pre dawn social on the Manhattan side, the Recovery Walk across and the rally & concert featuring Smokey Robinson in Cadman Plaza on the Brooklyn Side. A few thousand recovering addicts, friends and service providers turned out in the wind & heavy rain that haunted the day. As a person not in the recovery community I was left with far more questions than answers but had a nice time and saw many familiar faces! There was a special salute to the thousands of LBGT persons on the road to recovery. Events are planned and scheduled during the month across the country!

FROM THE STREETS

2009-09-06T17:20:00.014-04:00

Next week September 8th represents the start of another beginning of school, work and all the official business of Fall, but for now, the next four days its "LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2009" and I'm chill'in in the sunny, hot and extreme La Republica Dominicana!

The roving eyes caught a glimpse of the impressingly handsome Henry who kept bugging us if he looked "guud" for those of you who wonder why Henry just returned home from a vacation stint in prison after shooting someone in a domestic dispute. By the looks of things he still has a lil sump'n sump'n going on!

PASSPORT AND JETWAY

2009-09-06T16:05:00.008-04:00

TROPICAL STORMS MONAGA AND LEE STUDIOS RAGED THIS WEEKEND IN SANTO DOMINGO, DR
Well the verdicts are in, the pictures are transferred and the pieces have been sent home but that hardly explains the great time that was had by all - locals, visitors and the undecided. By all accounts Friday night had the largest crowd and was the livelier party but nothing can be taken away from part two on Saturday night that easily held its own. Not only were the dancers HOT both nights but they knew how to work a room and a few other things! There was a shower tucked away in one of the corners and each of the dancers in turn made sure everyone knew they were on a hot tropical island shoot. On a personal note it was nice to go in EuKliPtus Bar & Lounge and not be hassled time you walk in the door to buy drinks for a change. Notable was the world-wide diversity of the crowd. Shout outs to all the brothers from Amsterdam, Atlanta, DC, NY and Paris. the festivities continued at Jay-Dee's Bar - Disco for the afterparty and was packed as well, Jerry the owner was busy manning and entertaining peeps at the back bar. The music was a nice mix and the party went on well into the morning heat!

FROM THE STREETS!

2009-08-09T18:33:00.017-04:00

PRIDE ON VACATION
Seems the recession, mediocre weather and an uninspiring summer has effected peoples moods for celebrating and enjoying their pride and heritage in big numbers. NYC BLACK PRIDE is at the head of the list for the biggest bust of the year. After the highly sensationalized dismissal of their Executive Director and the subsequent investigation of the agency for misappropriation of funds, P.O.C.C. (People of Color in Crisis, Inc.) was forced to cancel PRIDE last August and shortly there after followed the funeral of the agency. No one really expected there to be any pride events this year as a result BUT true to scandal, a community of like minded NY based promoters in association with the NY Health Advocacy put together "Jubiliation" a Black Expo. Jubilant is not exactly what attendees had to say about the events. Friday night was opening night with a meet and greet that was pleasant enough. Not pulling punches Saturday was not successful. It was billed as a Jubilation Block Party in Commodore Park in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. It never took off, a handful of attendees and twice as many promoters, vendors and outreach workers lulled about complaining to each other. Frustrated vendors started giving food and drink away free so as to not see it wasted. Attendance at the beach event on Sunday was the least attended event. Our team did not attend the Sunday night performance and movie events as the projected outlooks were not favorable. Jubilation was reportedly planned by seasoned promoters and event coordinators who failed the basics. The events were not well publicized or advertised within the community in a timely manner and more importantly did not clearly separate themselves from the lingering stench of the scandal that cancelled last years events. In the future promote earlier in the community at large not just amongst your friends. The venues need to be changed. Commodore Park and Reiis Beach are associated with the scandal and promoters of the past. If you want people to move on, so must you! The best and most jubilant event was the artwork on the flier!

*****

Another of the highly anticipated and popular events of summer "The Dominican Festival and Parade" failed to make any noise this year! Surprisingly the event was not well attended as in past years. The parade was scheduled to begin at noon but did not kick off until after 1 PM and the police rushed it along so quickly that it was like seeing the parade in fast forward. The parade route was limited to 15 blocks, half the usual route. There were roughly 60 floats and 2/3 of them were politicians. Noticeably absent were the bands, radios stations, celebrities and the crowd just never got fully into it this year! This was a big let down after such an explosive and powerful Peurto Rican Day Parade earlier this summer.

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE!

2009-07-25T06:23:00.009-04:00

Not Exactly "THE EXPERIENCE" we expected!

Drama queen and radio personality Wendy Williams, whose show, The Wendy Williams Experience, has made a career out of challenging and more often than not offending her celebrity guests. She famously hinted that P. Diddy was gay, feuded with Whitney Houston, and told the world that Method Man’s wife had cancer (against his wishes). Now she has made the move to television, hosting a daytime show on Fox that premiered July 13th. In her typical manner she interviews celebrity and wanna-be celebrity guests and focuses on a variety of topics, including her own life. The Fox Network is hoping she’ll be able to carry over the success of her wildly popular radio show into a television format. After much controversy, dwindling ratings and drama the radio show is scheduled for cancellation.When asked about the show and what viewers can expect, she explains the show revolves around her personality. One of the things that Fox keeps saying is, “We want you to be you.” Funny or quirky or whatever it might be — adjusting my wig, or coming in with one pair of shoes and changing to another. It’s not going to be funny — I’m not like a clown, ha-ha. I don’t laugh and tell jokes.

After suffering in and out of a few episodes and to the disbelief and angst of a good friend - David, I feel the show simply does not work in a television format. Wendy an attractive woman comes across as a silly and awkward Halloween drag queen due to poor styling. The show tends to be blindsided by too much buffoonery and a lack of real substance to hold a viewing audience as opposed to a listening audience. The show has been moved to the late evening where it may do better but without a serious makeover and upgrade it will not be around much longer!
Wendy – you can only get so many laughs out of adjusting your wigs. Unfortunately you are funny (and not in a good way). You many not be laughing and telling jokes but neither are the fans at this sick joke of a show!

FROM THE STREETS

2009-07-25T05:05:00.007-04:00

An untimely loss of a national treasure and icon!This week the Black (gay) community and the world lost one of it's' most influential, recognized and admired leaders. Best-selling author E Lynn Harris passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 54 while on tour promoting his 11th novel, Basketball Jones his publicist told The Associated Press.According to his official biography at his Web site, Mr. Harris, a tender 54 years young was born in Flint, Mich. and raised in Little Rock, Ark. At the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, he was the school’s first black male Razorbacks cheerleader and was a lifelong fan of the team. 15 years ago Lynn sold computers for a living until he self-published his first novel, Invisible Life, which captivated both men and women in the straight and LGBT communities. He forever changed the perceived notion of what a black gay man looked like and how they [gays] are often scrutinized.
Criticized by some in the gay community as tittering too much to heterosexual black women with his earlier novels, E Lynn made amends with his most recent novel Basketball Jones, "a love letter to the black gay community.”
In a statement, Alison Rich, the executive director of publicity for Doubleday, which published Mr. Harris’s novels, said: “We at Doubleday are deeply shocked and saddened to learn of E. Lynn Harris’ death at too young an age. His pioneering novels and powerful memoir about the black gay experience touched and inspired millions of lives, and he was a gifted storyteller whose books brought delight and encouragement to readers everywhere. Lynn was a warm and generous person, beloved by friends, fans, and booksellers alike, and we mourn his passing.”
Contributing Writers: Dwight Powell, Clique Magazine/ Dave Itzkoff, New York Times

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

2009-06-14T23:59:00.002-04:00

"THE BIG LATIN APPLE"

This past weekend was the Annual Puerto Rican Festival and Parade. The one week a year when all things in New York City become Puerto Rican with all the color, pagentry and hot latin flavors. 2009 proved to be just as spectacular with everyone from all the tri-state governors, senators and celebrities on hand for the festivities. Each year its seems the parade gets longer and better. Sunday the parade started at 11:00 in the morning with the last group marching across the finish line at 5:oo pm.

"LA GRAN MANZANA LATINA"
Este fin de semana pasado fue el Festival Anual de Puerto Rico y el Desfile. La una semana al año, cuando todas las cosas en la ciudad de Nueva York en Puerto Rico con todos los colores, cálidos y pagentry latín sabores. 2009 resultó ser igual de espectacular, con todo el mundo, desde todos los tri-estatal gobernadores, senadores y celebridades a la mano para las festividades. Cada año su desfile se parece más y mejor. Domingo el desfile comenzó a las 11:00 de la mañana con el último grupo de marcha a través de la línea de llegada a las 5: oo pm

PASSPORT & JETWAY

2009-06-02T11:58:00.009-04:00

CHICAGO, ILL

ONE LOVE N' ChiTown
Caribbean Association of Midwest America presents

Jerk Fest Saturday June 6th 2009 ·
In Union Park, Chicago, IL
11:00am - 10:00pm
1501 W. Randolph St / Lake St CTA Green line
Dedicated to National Caribbean American
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
June 8, 2009
http://www.chitownjerkfest.com/
The Second Annual Chicago Caribbean JerkFest will be a festive celebration of Caribbean culture. An escape to the Caribbean without the expense of an airline ticket!

"NEW YORK "THE BIG APPLE"

FROM THE STREETS

2009-05-31T18:39:00.011-04:00

GMHC and a host of 50 brother and sister agencies hosted their annual AIDS WALK NEW YORK on Sunday May 17th. It was a cold blustery and wet Sunday morning; but the weather wasn't enough to stop thousands of walkers young old and all ages in between from coming out and supporting the cause. The air was filled with concern regarding the turnout in these tough economic times. Last year The Walk raised 7.5 million dollars and this year only netted 5 million but every penny in the bucket helps and there were plenty of big name sponsors and teams on hand including The Gap. Macys, Pfizer, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, AKA Sorority and Columbia University just to drop a few names.

Overall the music by WKTU, the food by Whole Foods Market NY and plenty of give aways from top designers and the official Sponsor CBS Channel 2 made the day a huge success.

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

2009-05-31T17:43:00.010-04:00

New Haitian AIDS Service Center
Nouveau Centre de services sida haïtienne
New York City continues to establish itself as the clear and unchallenged leader in full service healthcare, prevention, programming diversity and funding in the fight against HIV/ AIDS.
The state of NY pays the rent of thousands of infected and afflicted PWAs, issues free specialized medical insurance, Aids Drug Assistance and very generous food allowances. The extent and complexity of these programs far exceed nearly all other programs public or private in the country.
The newest service to join the ranks is a unit of the highly recognized and established Housing Works. The Housing Works Haitian Community Services Unit is located in a heavily populated Haitian community of Brooklyn. This is a exceptionally noteworthy service in a much needed community because of stigma, immigration concerns and religious persecution. On hand are staff members of Haitian descent or experience who can relate first hand and communicate in French or traditional Kreyole. Kudos and praise to the Housing Works Agency and staff for realizing and answering such a significant call for service. Housing Works, Inc. primarily works with residents of NYS but can make referrals in other areas.New York continue de s'imposer comme le leader incontesté et claire dans un service complet de soins de santé, de prévention, de la diversité de programmation et de financement dans la lutte contre le VIH / sida.
L'état de NY paie le loyer de milliers de malades infectés et touchés, les questions de libre spécialisées d'assurance médicale, médicament contre le sida et l'aide très généreuse les indemnités de repas. L'ampleur et la complexité de ces programmes dépassent de loin tous les autres programmes de près, publics ou privés dans le pays.
Le tout nouveau service de rejoindre les rangs est une unité du très reconnu et établi de logement Works. The Housing Works haïtienne Unité des services communautaires est situé dans un très peuplée de la communauté haïtienne de Brooklyn. Il s'agit d'un service exceptionnel à noter dans un grand besoin en raison de la stigmatisation, de l'immigration des préoccupations et des persécutions religieuses. On part des membres du personnel sont d'origine haïtienne ou de l'expérience qui peuvent être liés de première main et de communiquer en français ou traditionnel Kreyole. Kudos et de louange à l'Agence de logement et le personnel pour la réalisation et de répondre à cet important appel de service. Housing Works, Inc travaille principalement avec des résidents de NYS, mais peuvent faire des renvois à d'autres domaines.

THE CHEF'S CORNER

2009-05-31T16:49:00.010-04:00

Mommas way gets a makeover!
As a Chef and Caterer one of the most challenging tasks I encounter with clients is the selection of specific dishes. Not because of choices or ideas but personal preference and concept. The simplest of dishes can blossom complex and potential disasters if not well researched in advance. A middle aged woman of color comes into the shop and requests “Macaroni & Cheese” for a party of 40. This seems like a simple and easy order. After closer examination I immediately realize the booker did not fully qualify the order. Does the customer mean Traditional Baked Macaroni & Cheese that costs considerably more than its contemporary counterpart of Macaroni with Cheese Sauce? Will it be served as a side dish or as an entrée item? These questions are illustrations of the traditional vs. contemporary.
Traditional Baked Macaroni & Cheese is very rich with fresh eggs, a minimum of three types of sharp cheeses and fresh cream in addition to the macaroni. Developed on the plantations of the deep south during the slave era it was a casserole that was prepared on Sundays and special occasions. Due to the richness, time consuming preparation and cost Baked Macaroni and Cheese was a much celebrated treat. Many healthcare professionals and food manufacturers have condemned the traditional dish as unhealthy and life threatening.
Macaroni with Cheese Sauce is a contemporary cost and time saving interpretation. Most often it consists of milk, one type of cheese and flour in addition to the macaroni. It can be prepared in 1/3 the time it takes to make the traditional version. The cost effectiveness and preparation has made this version very popular amongst cooks, schools and families on the go. It is heavily advertised by food manufacturers that market quick fix boxed and canned versions. Healthcare professionals are not excited about the contemporary version but prefer it over the traditional.
There is a generation of people that have never eaten the traditional version. My customer was middle aged and may have meant the baked or contemporary versions as a New Yorker. After calling and personally speaking with her I learned she wanted the traditional but decided to order a pan of each. When considering serving traditional dishes and cuisines it is very important to always consider who the guests are, their ages, palates and your expectations of the final dish.
Here are recipes for the traditional and contemporary versions!
Traditional Southern Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Serves 12-14 people3 ea. 1 pound boxes Elbow Macaroni – small
cooked and drained completely
9 Whole Eggs, beaten
1 cup Heavy Cream
½ cup Evaporated Milk
1 tablespoon Dry Mustard
to taste Kosher Salt
to taste White Pepper
½ teaspoon Granulated Garlic
1 pound New York Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar—grated or shredded
½ pound New York Sharp White Cheddar— grated or shredded
½ pound Mozzarela-- grated or shredded

Cook macaroni until it is JUST getting soft (too soft and you'll have mush) Drain the water completely and set aside. While the macaroni is cooking put together the royale by beating together the eggs, heavy cream, milk and the dry ingredients. Oil the casserole dish (glass Pyrex or Corning Ware Casserole works best). In a large bowl combine the macaroni, the royale and the cheese and layer into the casserole. Cover with the casserole lid or aluminum foil will work. Bake for about 25 to 35 minutes or until the center is soft set, remove the lid or foil and sprinkle cheese on top for garnish and bake uncovered an additional 6-12 minutes until done in the center.

Contemporary Macaroni & Cheese Sauce
Serves 12-14 people
2 ea. 1 pound boxes Elbow Macaroni - small
1 ½ pounds Velveeta Cheese
1 ½ cans Evaporated Milk
¾ cup Real Butter
½ gallon Whole Milk
7 ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
4 ½ teaspoons White Pepper

While cooking macaroni JUST until getting soft (too soft and you'll have mush), cut Velveeta into small pieces and get other ingredients open and ready to go. Drain Macaroni and return to large pot over medium-low heat.
Add Velveeta Cheese, butter and evaporated milk.
Important: KEEP STIRRING OR IT WILL SCORCH.
Add whole milk to the level where the macaroni is just covered.
Keep stirring until all cheese and butter is totally melted and mixed. Turn off heat. Add salt and pepper to taste.

PASSPORT AND JETWAY

2009-05-20T09:37:00.003-04:00

Rain Rain GO Away!
During the early part of the week I was feeling down and sick of the constant rain and cold so I decided to sneak away for a long weekend. I found a great deal on AA for Santa Domingo my old stand by get-away. Arrived Thursday afternoon, the weather was nice and hot but overcast. “Just can’t getaway from the rain”
The city was empty no tourist and only locals that work and live in the area. I loved being able to get out and around without being hassled for change, food and the tourist predators. PACOS was uncharacteristically empty as well as “The Conde” in general. The Nepolitano Casino and Hotel has really scaled back. The Casino is a separate unit from the downsized hotel and restaurant now. The new marina area is now open and basically a big disappointment. I can’t believe it took three years and millions of dollars to create essentially a huge parking lot with a handful of little huts for vendors. The locals are not patronizing it as there are no shaded areas and extremely hot under the Dominican sun. Everyone is still opting for the palm lined Malecon.A pleasant surprise was the sight of the now very muscular Henry. He explained how an associate killed his brother and he shot the guy dead and was sent him to prison. He did a few years and is now trying to get his act together.
Louis and a few other s quit their jobs at “Eucalyptus” to work for JDs. The problem is that with the opening of the new club “GAZELA” and their happy hours, free nights, super shows and lower prices JDs has lost a significant share of the market.Honestly that’s being nice about it, the bottom line is JDs is finished and just refusing to close. Both of the new clubs “GAZALA and CHA” are larger with more appealing décor and better pricing that is translating into huge consistent crowds for them. I checked out all of them Saturday night and JDs had FOUR people including myself and not counting the staff. The VIP lounge is no more so it is now a smaller space with the same old décor from years ago, not to mention a hefty entrance fee with no specials or show.Notable was the closing of the chic “WHISKEY LOUNGE”.As usual I stayed in my favorite apartment six at Anthony’s Camilo House Apartments. I continue to be a huge fan and patron because they seem to always evolve in the most subtle of ways. Anthony is still managing, Marie is still keeping house, she has to be the best housekeeper in the DR, gone are the adult cable stations (due to the slowing economy I suspect) but a pleasant surprise was the relocation of the office- no longer in the entrance hall to give an added sense of privacy. I really love this subtle touch as a person who enjoys vacationing in non hotel atmospheres.
It actually rained every day but only for short periods. I was able to hang out in the caves something I do all the time when in the capital and some very choice pieces as usual. I wrapped it all up on Tuesday morning as Friday is the beginning of the Memorial Day Weekend and there will be too many tourist, hustlers and bad attitudes for the kid.

FROM THE STREETS!

2009-04-29T21:13:00.010-04:00

The oldest game in town is still one of the deadliest games in town with a few new cloaks and daggers!Sex for money has been apart of culture and society forever. Each passing generation creates its own specifics and details of how the game is played but the basic fundamentals remain the same. Companionship, affection and sex in some form or another are exchanged for money, favors or gifts.
With such highly volatile stakes on the table so are the risks and dangers. Thousands of times every day these seemingly simple scenarios are played out all over the globe. Some become unnecessarily dangerous, harmful and even deadly because of basic mistakes and silliness. “Unnecessarily” because as one matures through the risqué world of sex for pay it is expected that the rules of engagement are learned and respected.
Above everything else, self preservation should be above anything else. No matter how excited, no matter how high or how good the sex is, you never sacrifice your personal safety for the thrill of “the nut”.
Be mindful of the warning signs such as personal intuition, overt aggressiveness and when things are as plain as the nose on your face. It is so cliché but true if it seems too good to be true it usually is. In a world where more people are meeting and connecting based upon pictures & profiles on the internet we need to be more perceptive, ask more questions and trust our intuition. In a recent deadly rendezvous in NYC a radio news reporter for ABC Radio hooked up with a "teen husler" who responded to his online Craigslist posting looking for rough sex for $60.00. George Weber a 12 year veteran of ABC Radio blew off ever rule of the game. He engaged a 16 year old, a child even in New York! He made no effort to find out any additional information about the teen who volunteered to authorities that he loved knives and violence. He also admitted “If you disrespect me, then I will fuck’in break your neck”.
Weber, 47, and the hustler allegedly drank Vodka and did cocaine before things got violent at the older man’s apartment. What a recipe for disaster, vodka, cocaine, knives, violent attitude and rough sex for $60.00. The results Weber was found stabbed nearly 50 times, his ankles bound with duct tape. The teen was found in a rural bus station unaffected by his actions. Police tracked the teen after using Weber's e-mail and phone records. He is expected to be charged with second degree murder adn criminal posession of a weapon.
In an unrelated incident a law school student was recently arrested in Boston, MA and charged with the murder of a young coed he met and courted on Craigslist. Such incidents are not limited to the U.S. but are occurring worldwide on a daily basis.

THE CHEFS CORNER

2009-04-26T12:28:00.025-04:00

A SPRING AFFAIR
Now that the weather is getting down right hot and sticky, everyone can appreciate great and simple entertainment options.As a person who entertains and socializes constantly during the warm weather, my favorite solution is “plattering”. Platters can be assembled ahead of time, feed small or large numbers of guests and make an excellent option to take to a party or gathering. Platters can be done at home or purchased at your local butcher, grocery or deli. Sophisticated and elaborate platters can be ordered from local caterers. Successful platters have simple things in common. Presentation is key and essential. Everything we eat begins with our eyes. We are more likely to eat an attractive dish that tastes horrible rather than a horrible looking dish that tastes great! A great platter offers simplicity. Great food should compliment and enhance entertaining not hinder or over power. Platters should contain selections that are no larger than bite size, don’t easily fall apart and should not be drenched in sauce or topping.Appealing shapes, colors and seasonality are all crucial to successful presentation. Assortment is also a major concern when entertaining. Each of us comes from a unique culinary background based on what, how and when we have eaten in our lives. During social situations these memories effect how much we enjoy ourselves. Platters designed for larger numbers of guests should offer a wider range of very simple selections, but not so many as to confuse or challenge a guest. Those intended for smaller and more intimate groups have fewer options that are more upscale. Large, small or very ornate platters offer the opportunity to offer items from the very diverse to simple pleasures that appeal to the widest range of tastes. Good company and the guest list are very important for a harmonious affair and so is the lists of platters. It should compliment the atmosphere and character of the affair. They should contain items that are appropriate for the time of day & location, be sophisticated or simple enough for the event and be recognizable to guests. Selections on the platter should compliment the beverages, flowers and theme of the affair. Appetizer or snack platters are great for informal cocktails, showers and sporting events. Wing, charcuterie and specialty platters are great for dinner parties, formal cocktails and luncheons. Fruit, cheese and crudite platters can be appropriate choices for any events.Placement and availability in the room is important. A platter should not be the guest that comes to the party and sits in a secluded corner the entire time nor should it be the loud mouthed obnoxious guest that becomes the center of distraction.

US CENSUS BUREAU POSITIONS 2009

2009-02-20T19:10:00.002-05:00

U.S. Census Bureau will begin testing for future 2010 Census Operations.

Seeking qualified applicants for enumerators, clerks, field operators and recruiting assistants. Tests by appointment only.

For more info call: 866.861.2010

LET MY BABY COME HOME!

2009-02-13T18:45:00.002-05:00

Bill would allow gays to sponsor foreign partners
By 365gay Newscenter Staff
02.12.2009 5:30pm EST

(Washington) Legislation was re-introduced in Congress Thursday that would allow Americans in a same-sex relationship to sponsor their “permanent partners” for legal residency in the United States, a right currently afforded only to opposite-sex couples under immigration law.
The Uniting American Families Act was filed in the House by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). Nadler has been fighting for the bill for nearly eight years. With Democrats now in Control of the Congress and the White House Nader said Thursday he is hopeful the measure will become law. “In 2009, we should be ready as a society to acknowledge that stable American families come in all varieties,” said Nadler.
“We in fact strengthen our communities – and our nation – by encouraging loving couples and families to stay together and live as cohesive units. Any committed couple deserves the potential to form a life and a family together – this is a basic human right – and whether that couple is gay or straight should be irrelevant. Gay and lesbian Americans in loving, committed relationships deserve the same rights as everyone else. ”Because the U.S. does not legally recognize same-sex couples and their children as families, many same-sex bi-national couples are torn apart when one partner lives in the United States. The Uniting American Families Act would add the term “or permanent partner” to those sections of the Immigration and Naturalization Act that apply to legally married couples.
“Permanent partner” is described as an adult who is in a committed, intimate relationship with another adult in “which both parties intend a lifelong commitment.” The legislation would afford equal immigration benefits to permanent partnerships - but would also apply the same restrictions and enforcement standards.

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

2009-02-13T18:37:00.005-05:00

Wanda Sykes to make fun of President Barack Obama.
The spokesperson for the comic actress said Wanda has been selected as the entertainer at the annual White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington.
President Obama is expected to attend the black-tie affair at the Washington Hilton. The guest list of some 2,000 people will likely include the usual mix of Washington elite, White House press corps and Hollywood celebrities.
Sykes, who booked the gig this week, said the idea of performing for such a high-profile crowd is “scary but very exciting. ” Sykes, 44, has established a comic identity around her blunt, feisty personality. Sykes appears on “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” and first made a name on TV with stints on “The Chris Rock Show” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA & MARYLAND, USA

2009-02-08T23:07:00.012-05:00

CALIFORNIA, USA

2009-02-05T22:06:00.014-05:00

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

2009-02-05T20:04:00.010-05:00

Outburst UK is proud to present "She Wasn't Last Night". This first feature-length romantic drama of its kind about black same gender loving women gets its premiere in the UK as part of LGBT History Month. The film will be followed by a Q&A with its director Darice Jones.
"She Wasn't Last Night" follows the beautiful activist Shantel Crockett who is slammed by drama as her relationship with Reyna, 10 years her junior, begins to crumble. To make matters worse, charming player Jack (Jacqueline) is determined to make Reyna hers - if only for one night. With her jewellery-making talent long-abandoned, and her mounting feelings of failure in her work supporting LGBTQ Youth, Shantel is forced to face Reyna's despair and decide what kind of life she wants for herself. Shantel’s best friend Vanessa encourages her to move on and find meaning her own artistic expressions, and maybe even in a new love. Meanwhile, one of Shantel’s youth, Afro-Dominican poet Reggie, struggles to find her own path and discover her own voice. With the help of a small community of good friends and mentors, both Shantel and Reggie learn lessons they will never forget.
Griot Soul Films does not save the drama for your mama! In fact, the cast is made up of an eclectic group of social activists, artists, educators, professional actors, beginning actors, and even an engineer. Common to all of these strong women is a heartfelt commitment to storytelling coupled with the talent and dedication to tell this story well. The diverse cast is 100% African descended majority LGBTQ, and 100% supportive of the creation of complex film images of Black people throughout the Diaspora.
Writer/Director: Darice Jones
Date: Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Venue: London South Bank University
The Keyworth Centre Main Auditorium
Keyworth Street
London SE1 6NG
FREE EVENT:
Doors/Reception: 6:30pm
Film Starts: 7:00pm

FREE EVENT - ALL ARE WELCOME - ARRIVE EARLY

DE LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA, CARIBBEAN

2009-02-05T18:29:00.009-05:00

NEW YORK, USA

2009-02-05T18:14:00.025-05:00

PENNSYLVANIA, USA

2009-02-05T17:30:00.002-05:00

OHIO, USA

2009-02-05T17:27:00.003-05:00

THE DIRTY SOUTH, USA

2009-02-05T17:00:00.012-05:00

MICHIGAN, USA

2009-02-05T16:56:00.004-05:00

SHH! On the DL!

2009-01-29T15:05:00.037-05:00

While thinking and researching topics for this month’s message “I decided it was time we had a very intimate and DL conversation" about a topic never discuss publically and when we do it’s only with our closest friends and companions. Personal Space is one of those topics we all have questions about but out of fear, embarrassment or simple ignorance we avoid getting the answers! Let’s kick it about some common personal spaces and some of the complications traveling can create.

Medical Conditions, Disabilities and Disclosures can be most challenging.

It is always advocated that disabled travelers arrive extra (2 ½ to 3 hours) early for their flights, buses or trains because of more thorough security checks. As with any other disability, successful travel depends greatly on advance planning.In the United States and its territories persons with disabilities, on medication and with special medical needs are protected under Federal Laws. These are outlined and prescribed in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and specific guidelines & goals of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The ADA is designed to integrate people with disabilities fully into the mainstream of American life. It protects: people who currently have a disability; people who have a history of a disability; people who are regarded as having a disability by others, whether or not they actually have a disability; and people who are not themselves disabled but who encounter discrimination on the basis of their association or relationship with a person who has a disability—parents of children with disabilities, for exampleThe TSA aims to provide the highest level of security and customer service to all who pass through their screening checkpoints. Current policies and procedures focus on ensuring that all passengers, regardless of their personal situations and needs, are treated equally and with the dignity, respect, and courtesy they deserve. Although every person and item must be screened before entering each secure boarding area, it is the manner in which the screening is conducted that is most important. In order to achieve the goal, TSA has established a program for screening of persons with disabilities and their associated equipment, mobility aids, and devices. Our program covers all categories of disabilities (mobility, hearing, visual, and hidden).
Additionally, TSA permits prescription liquid medications and other liquids needed by persons with disabilities and medical conditionsThis includes:
• All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes;
• Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
• Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
• Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and, Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions such as ice packs.
Non-liquid or gel medications of all kinds such as solid pills, or inhalers are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened. We recommend, but do not require, that your medications be labeled to assist with the screening process. In the case of diabetes:
• Insulin and insulin loaded dispensing products (vials or box of individual vials, jet injectors, biojectors, epipens, infusers, and preloaded syringes;
• Unlimited number of unused syringes when accompanied by insulin or other injectable medication;
• lancets, blood glucose meters, blood glucose meter test strips, alcohol swabs, meter-testing solutions;
• Insulin pump and insulin pump supplies (cleaning agents, batteries, plastic tubing, infusion kit, catheter, and needle); Insulin pumps and supplies must be accompanied by insulin.
• Glucagon emergency kit;
• Urine ketone test strips;
• Unlimited number of used syringes when transported in Sharps disposal container or other similar hard-surface container.
• Sharps disposal containers or similar hard-surface disposal container for storing used syringes and test strips.
Insulin in any form or dispenser must be clearly identified. If you are concerned or uncomfortable about going through the walk-through metal detector with your insulin pump, notify the Security Officer that you are wearing an insulin pump and would like a full-body pat-down and a visual inspection of your pump instead. Advise the Security Officer that the insulin pump cannot be removed because it is inserted with a catheter (needle) under the skin. You have the option of requesting a visual inspection of your insulin and diabetes associated supplies.

If you are planning to travel abroad and you are on HIV/ AIDS treatment, you will need to think about how you are going to take your anti-HIV drugs with you. Some countries don’t allow people with HIV into their country, and so if you are planning to travel to one of these countries anyway, there is the risk that if it is discovered that you have HIV on arrival in that country you could be refused entry and deported. (THE US DOES NOT ALLOW POSITIVE PERSONS INTO THE USA)
To reduce the risk of being caught out, you may be thinking about not carrying your pills in your hand luggage, apart from what you will need for the journey. You may decide to put the rest of the pills you need into your checked-in baggage which may be less likely to be searched. However, in a situation where there are flight delays, or where baggage goes missing, you would be left with no pills to take, potentially leaving you in a situation where you would have no choice but to miss a dose, or even doses, of your anti-HIV drugs. Missing doses of your anti-HIV drugs would allow HIV to start replicating faster and could possibly lead to you developing resistance to one or more of your drugs. Another strategy for avoiding taking drugs through immigration control is to post your drugs to a friend in the country you are going to. Again, this can be problematic. If you didn’t post them in time to know they had arrived before you set off, and they were lost in the post, you would end up without your pills. There’s also the chance that your flight could be delayed or diverted to another airport in another city or even country. Depending on how long it took you to eventually reach your destination, you again could be without your pills for a time and could miss doses.
The best way to ensure that you won’t miss any doses because of being separated from your drugs is to keep all of the pills you’ll need for your whole trip in your hand luggage. Some men adopt a ‘belt and braces’ approach by packing double the amount of pills that they need, a full dose in their hand-luggage and another in their checked-in baggage, to ensure that whatever else may go wrong they’re unlikely not to have their medication with them. Most anti-HIV drugs these days do not need to be stored in a refrigerator to keep them from deteriorating. However, some do still need to be kept cool, such as the capsule form of Kaletra. Discuss this with your doctor before you travel, especially if you are heading to a hot country and won’t have access to a hotel fridge.
Finally, if you are travelling across international time zones, you’ll need to think about how this will impact on the times of day you take your anti-HIV drugs. You could always keep to the times you normally take them in the UK, however this could mean that you’d be taking them at unusual times of the day. For instance, if you normally take a dose at 9am in the UK and you travel to Mexico which is 5 hours behind the UK, you’d need to wake up at 4am to take your meds.You could instead gradually alter the time you take your pills, maybe by two hours each day. So, using the Mexico example, on the day you travel you could take your meds at 11am UK time instead of 9am. Then the second day you could take them at 1pm UK time, and finally 2pm UK time on the third day. This would mean that you would now be taking your meds at 9am Mexico time. When you return to the UK, you’d just reverse the process.
It’s probably a good idea to discuss this with your HIV doctor before you travel. He or she will be able to talk you through the best way to manage the change in time zone and taking your anti-HIV drugs. The Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
However, for those in the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, the method and focus of their preparation is necessarily different. Here are some pointers that may make traveling with a hearing disability a little easier. Starting with ticketing and reservations, be sure to inform whomever you are dealing with, be it a travel agent, airline, or hotel representative, about your hearing disability. If possible, plans should be arranged in person. This allows for the opportunity of speech reading if needed, plus putting a face to a name often results in more conscientious service. If, however, you must make your reservations remotely, many hotel chains and airlines do have TDD service. Request a written confirmation of all reservations, preferably by fax, so that you can check their accuracy as quickly as possible. Disassembly of power wheelchairs may have to be done prior to arriving at the airport, terminal or port. We know that this is extremely inconvenient, but no knives or cutting instruments of any size or material will be allowed past security. This will likely encompass scissors and, possibly, screwdrivers which are commonly needed for taking apart battery connections and such. Tools will be allowed to be packed in checked luggage for reassembly after the flight, bus or cruise. Security pat downs of wheelchair users (a regular occurrence) are likely to be more thorough and examinations of the chairs themselves, more intrusive. We are hearing reports of mirror checks underneath wheelchairs, battery boxes being opened by security, battery chargers having to be plugged in and demonstrated, and even testing batteries for explosives residue. Visually Impaired Travelers
The Braille Institute was kind enough to pass along this advice for travelers with visual impairments. Not surprisingly, as with other disabilities, planning ahead and making people aware of your situation goes a long way toward making your trip a successful one. Don’t forget any visual aids you use such as glasses or a magnifying device.
Carry Written Directions: Have directions written down before leaving. Even if you can't read them, you can ask for help by showing them to someone else if you get lost. It's also helpful to have a copy of the exact address of where you are going. A driver may not know where a specific hotel is, especially if there are several with the same name.
Keep Necessities With You: Carry your money, keys, tickets, etc. in a pocket. If you happen to misplace your purse or wallet or someone takes it, you still can reach your destination. Also, keep some extra money handy for tips.
Notify Others About Your Needs: Inform your travel agency, airline, and hotel that you are visually impaired. Tell those traveling around you as well. Sharing your visual limitations up front will enable everyone to take your needs into consideration.
Ask Questions: If you cannot see a monitor or find a gate at the airport, train, or bus station, ask a customer service representative or another traveler to help you find your way.
Carry Your Cane: Whether you choose to use it or not for mobility purposes, your cane helps notify others that you are visually impaired.
Ask About Discounts: Some amusement parks and other tourist sites give discounts either to visually impaired visitors or to their sighted guides.
Pre-board And Bring Carry-On Luggage: Avoid the hassle of crowds and obstacles in aisles by pre-boarding trains and planes. Packing only carry-on luggage saves you time and trouble by eliminating a visit to the baggage claim terminal.
Suitcases: If you do bring one, remember its type and color. It may be helpful to affix a colorful piece of yarn or a sticker to help you or anyone assisting you with easy identification.
Anticipate Guide Dog Restrictions: Some countries and states, such as Hawaii, either do not allow guide dogs or have quarantine requirements. Call your local guide-dog school for information on restrictions.
Enhance Your Sensory Experience By Going On Tours And Visiting Gift Shops: Some tour groups allow travelers who are visually impaired to experience an exhibit by touching objects otherwise off-limits. Gift shops often sell small-scale replicas of monuments you can touch.
Research Accommodations: Foreign destinations are likely to have accommodations or services different from your home city. Prepare yourself by researching your destination before you plan your trip. Hotel selection depends on many factors from price to location to pool size. However, one critical factor is accessibility. Under the ADA, hotel accessibility goes well beyond wheelchair ramps and bathroom-grab bars. Lodging establishments, depending on size, are supposed to have a number of visual alert devices to help hearing-impaired travelers recognize the ring of telephones, alarm clocks, a knocker on the door, or a fire alarm, in addition to in-room TDD units and closed-caption televisions. Be sure to get confirmation in writing about the availability of these devices when making your reservations! At the hotel, it is a good idea to inform the desk clerk that you're hearing impaired, just in case an emergency arises. With your copy of the written confirmation in hand, go over your reservation to make sure you are getting what was agreed upon. Similar pre-arrangements should be made for any activities you plan on participating in during your trip. Often, with advance notice, museums, theaters, sports arenas, amusement parks and many other facilities will provide sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, printed guides, special seating and more if you request it. If, for some reason, you must stay at a hotel which does not have these accommodations, there are portable visual alert systems available for purchase from medical supply stores. These devices flash a light when the phone rings, a fire alarm sounds, or can vibrate a pillow when an alarm clock goes off.

Travel with a Service Animal
Although we love them dearly, be they "seeing eye dogs," hearing dogs, or wheelchair assistance canines, anyone who has a service animal knows that they are not simply pets. As vital an adaptive aid as a wheelchair or Braille text, the general public needs to understand that service animals are tools, necessary to the lives of thousands of disabled individuals. Carriers must permit service animals with appropriate identification to accompany an individual with a disability. Identification can include documentation, a harness, or simply the verbal assurance of the passenger using the animal. Also, bring along the animal's health certificates with proof of vaccinations, and make sure you've checked out any international requirements when traveling overseas. When booking your ticket, make sure to notify the agent that a service animal will be accompanying you. It is also helpful to provide the animal's size and weight. The agent can then assist you in determining the most appropriate seating. Passengers with a service animal cannot be denied any seat, unless the animal obstructs an aisle or other area that must remain clear in case of an emergency evacuation. Deciding which seat is best for a person traveling with a service animal depends on several factors. Each aircraft or coach model may be designed differently; floor space, bulkhead size and the amount of room under the seats can vary. Smaller animals can usually fit under airline seats, which may provide them with a more secure ride. However, for larger animals, bulkhead seats may be a better option. Finding the right seat is important, but there are other issues to be aware of when traveling with your service animal. Harnesses, collars and leashes can set off the alarms at security gates. Security guards who are not familiar with service animals may be uncertain how to handle the situation. One solution is to put your animal on a "sit-stay" using a long leash, while you pass through the security gate, and then call the animal to you. This will make clear that it is the animal's harness which is setting off the alarm. Try to avoid sedating your animal as drug reactions may differ at high altitudes or with constant motion or rolling and can lead to illness. Also, do not feed your service animal just before departure, especially on longer journeys. Moreover, for everyone's comfort, relieve the animal prior to boarding.
Travelers with guide dogs and certain other service animals qualify for pre-boarding. Boarding first can be both easier on the animal, you and the other passengers, as well as making any possible seating changes easier to perform. Once you've gotten to your seat, it is recommended by many that a dog's harness be removed. This allows the dog better ease of movement and avoids the harness' catching on objects around the seat. It is always a good idea, when making hotel reservations, to inform them of your specific disability and that you are being accompanied by a service dog. Even if a hotel or restaurant has a "no pets" policy, this never applies to service animals. Furthermore, it is unlawful for any business to assess an extra fee or require a special deposit in order for a service animal to accompany an individual with a disability, even if deposits are normally required for pets. Two caveats do exist with regard to service animal access. First, the owner of a service animal is liable for the cost of any damage which might be caused by their animal to an establishment. Second, service animals may be excluded from a business if that animal's behavior poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others; growling, snarling, or excessive barking may cause you problems, so be sure to keep your dog in check. Traveling with a service animal allows you the comforts and ease of mobility that you are used to at home, and it need not be a difficult proposition as long as you are prepared. Know your rights, your responsibilities, plan ahead, make sure everyone's aware of your situation, and you are on your way to having a great travel experience.Documentation, The Law and Gender Issues!
The absolute bottom line of travel to, from and within the U.S. in today’s world is that adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID that contains the following: name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight. Travelers who do not or cannot present an acceptable ID will have to provide information to the Transportation Security Officer performing Travel Document Checking duties in order to verify their identity. Passengers who are cleared through this process may be subject to additional screening. Passengers whose identity cannot be verified by TSA and ICE or Customs may not be allowed to go through the checkpoint or onto their plane, bus, train, or cruise ship.
Acceptable and approved identification includes current and non expired:
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents)
• Permanent Resident Card
• Border Crossing Card
• DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
• Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) that meets REAL ID benchmarks (All states are currently in compliance)
• A Native American Tribal Photo ID
• An airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)
• A foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card
• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
Have your house in order, it ceases to amaze me that dead beat parents, wanted felons and international criminals casually walk up to security on a daily bases only to be taken into custody. Yes, LOCKED UP ON THE SPOT! Upon checking your identification random security checks are ran through sophisticated security software that will identify if you are wanted by a host of government agencies. This standardization of accepted documents better aligns TSA with other Department of Homeland Security components, including Customs and I.C.E, and REAL ID benchmarks. It is less common on domestic travel but always certain on international travel in both directions. If you have cleared up your business and are traveling within six months of the disposition, you need to carry a certified copy of the court clearance or decision to avoid being detained. Felons convicted in the US are able to travel to and from other cities, states and countries if they are currently not on parole or any other probationary period. Some countries however won't let certain kinds of criminals into their country, for example; if you convicted on a drug or terrorism crime.
Travel for transgender persons can be complicated and humiliating if proper preparations are not assumed well before traveling. It is actually a very simple measure from the travel industries point of view. No matter which gender you live your life everyday as, your identification , name on the travel ticket and personal documents should all support the name , picture and physical person .It is not very important what sex the information declares if all the other information is correct. Transgender people have as much right to travel as anyone else and have a right to express any gender they want, any way they want while traveling (with the exception of some head and face coverings). However, recent heightened airport security has meant increased scrutiny, harassment, suspicion and discrimination against trans people who fly.
All passengers 18 years of age or older are required to provide proof of identity at check-in and at the security check point. If your current name does not match your state driver’s license, passport or other government-issued ID, we recommend that you consider getting an updated ID if possible. However, under certain circumstances, you may be able to provide proper ID without relying on an outdated driver’s license or passport—if you have a paper rather than electronic ticket (e-ticket). The TSA rules on identification are as follows: “If you have a paper ticket for a domestic flight," passengers age 18 and over must present one form of photo identification issued by a local, state or federal government agency (e.g.: passport/drivers license/military ID), OR two forms of non-photo identification (credit card, school ID, Utility bill, etc), one of which must have been issued by a state or federal agency (e.g.: U.S. social security card). For an international flight, you will need to present a valid passport, visa, or any other required documentation. Passengers without proper ID may be denied boarding. The name you use for your airline reservation must match the name on your identification.Remember, however, that the more atypical your ID situation, the more likely you are to face increased scrutiny, hassle and delay. If you do not currently look like the picture on your picture ID, we recommend that you consider getting an updated ID with a new picture if possible. If you cannot or if you are still concerned about ID issues, consider carrying an explanatory note from a physician or therapist explaining why you may not look like the picture on your ID. Inability to change the outdated gender marker on your official ID should not necessarily stop you from flying. Many transpeople choose to fly regardless of this kind of ID issues and security people probably may not pay close attention to the gender marker. But be careful, a perceived discrepancy may cause you to be outed to or by airport personnel, and that can cause loss of privacy, discrimination and possibly even trigger hate violence. Another threat to transgender privacy and air traveling rights is a new generation of X-ray machine being deployed in some major airports.One machine, called the Rapiscan Secure 1000, uses low level x-rays to show security personnel an image of your naked body. Security personnel are able to see what genitals you have as well as any binding or prostheses. In airports where these will be deployed, they are planned for use only on passengers requiring “enhanced scrutiny” because of a perceived “anomaly.” According to policy, security personnel will only view scans of “same sex” passengers, causing serious issues for many transgender people. There are news reports however about this rules being broken by TSA security personnel.

AFTER THE TOURIST SIGHTS, CLUBS & SEX!

2009-01-10T09:54:00.165-05:00

A question that is asked constantly by seasoned travelers and newbie’s alike is “What else is there to do other than eat, party and sun bathe?” In response there are many adventures and activities to enjoy, hate and participate in. Honestly, activities are among the top reasons I choose a destination. An outdoorsman who enjoys everything outdoors. My top picks for outdoor and adventure travel are:

La Republica Dominicana,

the Dominican Republic to most of us is my all time favorite destination and default destination to go when I'm short on funds or just want to chill for a minute. My love affair with D.R. & Santo Domingo the capital city began 12 years ago as a suggestion of friends. Over the years I have grown, developed and matured with the city studying Spanish and Dominican Culture. Meeting people and taking chances has provided experiences the average American only views on television or in magazines. I have established and maintained meaningful relationships with locals and ex-pats that have formed the foundation of “my get away from it all spot.” When visiting Santo Domingo and looking for new and different experiences I suggest waking up early one morning and heading north easily reachable by a leisurely drive, Metro and Caribe Busses or for the truly adventuress the local network of Gua Guas.Cabarete and Jarabacoa are the main adventure hotspots. Cabarete situated on the north coast between the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains of the Cordillera is an excellent base for activities on land and in the water; already one of the best places in the world for windsurfing, Cabarete is also an excellent spot for surfing. Its close proximity to the mountains means that activities such as canyoning, cascading and horseback riding can be done in day trips from Cabarete. A local ex-pat and authority on D.R.’s gay community notes “Cabarete is quietly becoming a place where Gay tourists are starting to venture in increasing numbers.” The beaches are becoming outdoor clubs at night with all the bars and music creating festive atmospheres. The possibilities for other adventures are many as you are close to the resort town of Puerto Plata, Sosua, Rio San Juan and the popular seaside Samana regions.
Jarabacoa is the largest town in the Dominican Alps and an ideal starting point for numerous activities which take place in the central mountains, including: river rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, paragliding, whale watching, hiking and diving. There are other towns well worth checking out. Sosua is a good place to go for scuba diving; Barahona, very rich in Haitian and Dominican culture is the largest town in the southwest of the country, a relatively unexplored region with hidden caves and fine coral reefs. It is also rumored to be the home of some of the largest and fattest -well you get the picture- in the country smile!Locally around Santo Domingo are the resorts and towns of Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, Haina and San Cristobal for swimming, beaches and resort style activities.

PANAMA, Central AmericaOne of my favorite rugged adventure spots is Panama in the southern end of Central America. Panama is an interesting mix of traditional & modern. The national language is Spanish and several native Indigenous Indian languages. English is widely spoken in Panama City the capital and Colon City, situated around the Panama Canal which is responsible for the heavy American influence in the modern areas. Many of the American servicemen who were stationed at the canal became ex-pats and started families and businesses. Interestingly Panama uses the $USD as the main form of currency, but costs are 30% less than in the states. A national Panamanian currency “The Balboa” exists but is never used. Among the many adventures to be had in Panama some of the most popular are deep sea fishing, river & creek swimming and hiking in the notorious Darien Gap that borders Columbia.Some of my personal favorites are Iguana Hunting in the deep rich and lush rain forests of Porto Lindo in the Colon region of Panama. Hunting is done mostly in the early morning hours by adolescent boys. They climb the trees bare footed shaking and chasing the Iguanas to the ground below where a group of us club them on the heads rendering them unconscious while we tie and bag them. We then return to town where they are skinned, cleaned and cooked for dinner.Another favorite is Island Hopping. At dusk we purchase a few cases of beer and hop in the dingy and travel from island to island picking up hunks and players until we make our way to a secluded spot where we exchange tales, stories and body fluids until the wee hours of the morning. Island hopping is not for the faint of heart as you are travelling in a very basic wooden boat on the ocean at night in the dark with people drinking. Not too much of a problem for me because I am always the designated captain because I don’t drink. A must see is the infamous Black Christ Festival “El Christo Negro” church & statue in Portobelo. The actual festival when hundreds of pilgrims draped in deep purple robes crawl for miles to the shrine begging forgiveness occurs October 21st of each year. Portobelo is also a scuba diving hotspot. If you have time it is fascinating to check out the Indigenous Indian Reservations in the Darien Province and islands of Comarca de San Bias and Bocas del Toro where you can view and participate in traditional cloth weaving & dying and indigenous cuisine and drinks. You will be required to purchase visas and visitors cards because the reservations are considered separate states, albeit it adds up to about $20.00. They are treated better than American Indians. They dress in traditional garbs and only come to the main land to sell their crafts and purchase supplies and equipment. They are a completely autonomous people and state with their own government and way of life as it has been for thousands of years.

De La REPUBLIQUE D'HAITI

Near and dear to my heart and the place I go for the extreme adventures is De La Republique D’Haiti simply known to most as Haiti. I decided to go to Haiti after seeing all the turmoil and drama around the country on the news. Haiti challenged every aspect of my instincts and skills. I traveled to a place I had never been, didn’t know anyone or anyone who had been to Haiti. Worse of all I didn’t understand the language or currency. Being the quick study I am it turned out to be something I learned long, hard and step by step. Haiti is definitely not for the bourgeois, weak, faint of hurt or those without an extremely strong sense of survival. A number of older travelers I have met have told me stories about how grand Haiti was back in the day under the regiemes of "Baby Doc and his Father".I fell in love with Haiti and joined the Peace Corps teaching school and directing an orphanage in the rural mountainous area of Jacmel. When not teaching English or elementary school I enjoyed swimming in the ocean every day (found out it gave me a skin rash that I had to treat long distance via D.R.) I have never walked so much and so far in my life, at least 10 miles per day to and from the town. When I returned to Brooklyn at the end of my tour I had lost 42 pounds (that alone made it all worth it) and was as dark as coal. I really enjoyed deep sea fishing with long poles and rusty hooks in riggedy old boats. I was living in Haiti during the 2004 revolution when the U.S. snuck Aristede out of the country in the middle of the night. For weeks I saw the UN Peace keepers fighting a losing battle on the streets.

Cruising is alive and well in major cities like Port au Prince and Bellville but very dangerous. I quickly learned Haitians are second only to Africans when it comes to mastering the DL! I refused to get involved in any way with Voodou , yeah just plain fear. I'm not afraid far away from it, but it scared the hell out me right next door. Travel to Haiti should only be attempted with someone familiar with the country and the language. These days I never fly directly into Haiti. I fly into Santo Domingoa nd catch the Caribe bus into Petionville. I feel it adds a n extra measure of security if I need to exit the country on the fly! The currency can be difficult to master at first because it is two tiered. In everyday life Haitians use the “Haitian Gourdes” but if you go into an International or upscale neighborhood you need to be able to convert everything into Haitian Dollars which can be very confusing. Basically with a few twists and turns you multiply or divide by 5. The public transport system would be outlawed in any other part of the world. Pick up trucks with 3 times too many people hanging on for dear life as you whip around very narrow curves and hills. Anyone not born in Haiti is advised to never drink or bath in the water if it is not filtered. This includes the ice, coffee and tea.

On the southern end of the island is the capital and seat of government "Port au Prince" and for that reason it is extremely dangerous as rioting, looting and gunfire are very common and impromtu daily. In the north is the beautiful city of Cap Hatien a very wealthy and prosperous section of the country but it is cut off by the unstable and most violent area of Haiti "Gonaives." Gonaives was the scene of the worse rioting and violence primarily motivated by opposition to Aristide, and on February 5, 2004, a group calling itself the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front seized control of the city, starting the 2004 Haiti rebellion. When the rebellion first started I decided to stay the course because my color would deflect some of the anger and conflict directed towards foreigners. The days after they hustled Aristide out of the country in the middle of the night I stayed close to the orphanage and did not engage new persons. As the violence reached its peak and the country was virtually locked down I decided to return to the states. I learned and witnessed first hand how the promise of money can turn blood relatives against each other all in an attempt to survive another day.
Basically adventures can be had near, far and wide in any destination you choose. It is your choice to get out and see, live and experience all there is to learn. Researching the internet, the social web sites and fellow travelers months before your trip can enhance your success on any and all trips. There is always some one who made the trek before you!

STILL IN LOVE!

2009-01-02T20:37:00.009-05:00

KWANZAA & NEW YEARS 2009

Wow! I have been blessed to see yet another year, healthy, prosperous and of sane mind and heart! I thought I'd share one of my "WHY" moments. In a conversation recently an aquaintance said to me "people like you make me sick spending all your money, traveling to strange places just for trade". I was very annoyed and angered at the moment it was said but then I thought about it and laughed. It was a light bulb moment for me as I realized I am one of the fortunate few people who have and can "celebrate a passion" I went on to explain!
"The thing I am most passionate about after being a chef is travel" I am passionate about travel because when traveling I feel free and a part of other worlds. I enjoy speaking some words of three foreign languages, speaking two more fluently in addition to English. I love eating new, old and different foods & drinks with wooden sticks, bamboo cups and remembering to only use my right hand in the motherland. I get high on things like collecting stamps in my passport, my platimum status on American Airlines, An ocean view suite on a cruise ship or chilling in the sleeper cars on Amtrak. I am committed to labels like hunger prevention in Haiti, human rights in Tibet and the African Diaspora. So what if I can pass on the Louie or crack!
I have studied and worked hard and long to earn my title and profession. I get paid well and can afford to spend my coins how and whenever I want. Successful people continue to be successful because we don't spend a lot of time being held back or pulled down by unhappy and bitter crabs at the bottom of the barrel. My many friends and family around the world have blessed me with knowledge, companionship and some helluva good times. Oh Yeah, I have slept with a few of them a long the way but mostly I have celebrated my passion to see, know and learn about all the things that are out there beyond the commute to and from work. Sorry you are under the weather, let me suggest a nice pina colada, fresh shrimp and a poo poo platter on the other side of the world and I can even introduce you to some hot trade too!

In 2009 I promise continue to be passionate about my love affair with travel.

I define my travels and refuse to let my travels define me!

THE AFRO BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

2008-12-31T23:59:00.010-05:00

Salvador da Bahia, Brazil South America December 2008 Everything about this years birthday & holiday adventure was a dream come true! My flights departed late but what else would I expect from American Airlines. Somehow we landed in Miami early and the transfer was a minor challenge as I had to change terminals. I felt as if I were walking to Brazil but I finally reached gate E31 with two hours to spare so I charged my phone, DVD player (anyone who knows me well will tell you I love my cooking, travel and gadgets in that order) and checked my email. Finally we boarded flight 980 bound for Salvador da Bahia on the central horn of Brazil. We departed an hour late. I nibbled on the horribly mushy chicken pasta dinner (yes chefs are very critical and brutal to garbage passed off as food, especially on a plane at 10:30 at night) before I fell into a deep sleep across 2 seats. In one of my tosses or turns I noticed a streak of fiery red color in the distance out the window I quickly realized it was sunrise. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Shortly after the attendants came by with a cold muffin, a mini package of raisins and an apple. I opted for the ‘virgin bloody mary’ mix to finish off the breakfast box. We landed 10 minutes late. I whisked through customs and immigration so quickly I wondered if they thought I was a celebrity or royalty. 20 minutes after landing I was handing over my luggage to the hotel driver. We whisked in and out of the city center with the precision of an expert marksman.As we entered “Porto da Barra” I wondered if the driver had driven me to the wrong place or had I made a mistake converting the price of the hotel. Porto da Barra as it turns out is a high end beach community. All of the hotels and pousadas (generally mid to low end motels and hostels) are beach front properties. Shocked is an under statement as my head spun 100 miles an hour. It appeared that none of the guys had shirts on and most of them were in tight Speedo briefs. The women for the most part wore strings tied around them masked as bikinis. We pulled into the driveway of the "Grande Hotel da Bahia" and I panicked. I couldn’t imagine this hotel cost less than $100.00 USD per night for an ocean view suite with balcony, free breakfast and free internet service. As I cautiously registered in Spanish, one word of portugese and a smattering of English I realized the rate was correct and the hotel was simply better than I had expected.The pool, rooms and restaurant were all fabulous. I stood on the balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean truly thankful for that turkey and all the stuffing! I slept peacefully for a few hours and then ran out for a bite on the beach (double cheeseburger and pineapple milkshake R$6,00 or $3.00 USD) then returned to the hotel. Wow, I thought I was doing something by waking up at 4:30 AM to get out and catch an early start before everything came to life. Can you believe it the sun was already peaking its head above the horizon and there were people on the street and beach already or basically all night, so much for the “get an early start theory”. I spent a lot of time standing on the balcony stunned by the beauty of the rising & setting suns, the beautiful bodies on the beach and gagging at the heat. I had read so much about the hotel's breakfast buffet in reviews and blogs. Refreshing that everything that was written was true. The restaurant itself was very simple, sand white and beige with a very upscale museum ambience created by simple but magnificent black & white African paintings and pieces of art on one of the walls. The opposite wall was completely mirrored giving the room an illusion of added width. The white draped buffet table ran down the length of the room. It was filled with international and local specialties. The variety was great and even better for free including an array of freshly baked mini and full sized pastries, tarts and breads. There were several varieties of charcuterie, cereals, tropical and domestic fruits. Freshly prepared eggs, coffee, tropical juices and many jellies, jams and honeys completed the table. The overall quality of the buffet and service reminded me of Sunday Brunches at the nicer hotels in Manhattan and the Hamptons. Absolutely not typical or expected of an ala carte beach front hotel buffet, you know the ones that define free breakfast as semi frozen muffins, cold cereal and paper cups of muddy water masqueraded as coffee. After 2 plates of fluffy bright yellow scrambled eggs, three different hams, Brazilian coffee and fresh orange juice (all served on beautiful white polished china) each morning I explored different sections of the city, first staying very close to the hotel and each day venturing further and further away from the hotel and Barra. Farol Da Barra -the lighthouse- is the local cruising spot in Barra, it was interesting and mostly very upscale Europeans on vacation. Cruising in Bahia is very sophisticated. The guys are very well groomed, educated and huge flirts but very hesitant to jump in the sack. It is very easy to laugh, joke, drink and kiss most of the night and still not hit pay dirt. The lighthouse itself is the typical tourist attraction, intersting with a nice museum on the ground floor.Tee shirts, drinks and souvenirs.Further away is the district of Largo do Pelourinho the party place and major non beach tourist spot. The center focal point to start from is the Palacio Do Rio Brancio very impressive in the Praca de Se (city square)is the seat of government and municipal centre.The famous Lacerda Elevator the city's largest landmark is also located in the square.The elevator divides the upper and lower cities. The upper city being the seat of local government and middle to high class neighborhoods and the lower city being home to the traditional ways of life, economy and simple wages."Mercado Modelo" is an old covered market set on it's own by the old harbour, actross the street from the foot of the Lacerda Elevator in the lower city. It houses a huge traditional and very ethnic crafts always crowded with Bahians and tourists alike. You absolutely must haggle and bargain for the best deals. Consistently impressive were the public services. The city and the beaches were very clean at all times. There were teams of people walking and picking up trash and refuse of the streets. They were always noticeable with the red jump suits on the beach raking and sifting the sand, picking up trash and emptying the trash bins. It was clean every day 24 hours.I was curiously impressed with the public bus system. I noted it is one of the best organized and operated I have seen world-wide. They are the typical large coach buses and mini vans with a twist. You enter the back of the bus and pay cash to an attendant and slip through a turnstile. The cost on regular buses is $R2,00 and the express luxury buses are $R4,00 (1 and 2 dollars respectively) Notable was the fact handicapped, disabled, pregnant and street vendors ride for free they simply enter the front of the bus and have a seat. The rides are smooth and very fast. Buses run very frequently and 24 hours. The cost was extremely reasonable considering cabs charged $R50,00 for the same trip ($25.00 USD). There is not a system of transfers, one simply pays again. Each bus has a list on the front of the bus stating which stops they make so it was relatively easy to travel by bus. Note in Brazil money is written $R00,00 not in the typical $00.00 USD form we are familiar in the US. Food was varied and extremely tasty. In “Porto da Barra” referred to as Barra Beach the food was sophisticated, international and moderately priced. Basically it was nothing special to those accustomed to good world cuisine. The food in Pelourinho was very traditional ethnic Bahian food based on rich seafood and the abundance of indigenous West African ingredients and cooking styles. It was by far the best food I ate in Bahia and the least expensive. I tried the infamous “Arcareje” and found it to be very tasty. A cornmeal dumpling fried in coconut palm oil and then split in half, stuffed with a fiery pepper and herb relish topped with baby dried shrimp. It was bursting with spicy, smoky and fragrant flavors and an arousal to the senses! The other thing that struck my palate was the baby shrimp that were dried and salted “shell on”. The crunch and surprise of the soft shells was not bad just unexpected and different. Another dish I liked was a black eyed pea mash made with more of the fiery peppers and herbs and mashed okra which gave the dish a slimy but tasty pass over the palate elevated by the medium sized dried shrimp with shells on of course. These dishes were no more than $R5,00 or $2.50 USD. On my birthday I actually spent some time in the hood. I had a fantastic dinner of steamed shrimp, white rice and a spicy salad. It was really well prepared, seasoned and finger licking good. Easily a $100.00 USD meal in New York or L.A. but only $R22,00 or $11.00 USD. I spent some time afterwards watching the local high school band championships in the square. They battled, poppped dipped and spun all over the place. The family was out in full force, majorettes, "marching gurls" and all the other costumes that come with bands. The teams were really good and they "PERFORMED"!

Respect the commandments of travel survival!

2008-11-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

As seasoned travelers we continue to be amazed everytime we meet or hear about fellow travelers that have broken one, some or all of the basic commandments of travel and how they paid the price dearly. Experience counts, be it yours or someone else’s. A wise man once said “if you fall over the same log twice, you deserve to break your neck.” This is the basis of learning and respecting the basic commandments of travel and survival both domestically and internationally.

While we may be familiar with the larger picture of domestic travel because we live and interact in the country on a daily basis there are local intricacies that can easily change a fun filled adventure into a horrible excursion into hell. Check with your airline, bus or train company often or set up mobile alerts to be notified in the event of delays, cancellations or equipment changes. Check out the official website of the company to familiarize yourself with updated baggage and meal policies. Choose your seat wisely especially on longer trips. It is always funny to see very tall people in the smallest and most cramped seats on the plane. A great site to check out airline seats and equipment before the trip is the "Seat Guru". International travel is an entirely new and different experience unto itself. The basics are the same but need to be completed much sooner than in domestic travel. Remember to always arrive and check in a minimum of 3 hours before departure. Be sure you have your passport, visas and any other necessary documentation such as child custody papers and any medical perscriptions in order. Different languages, laws and customs are an adventure significant and special in itself. When personal preferences and challenges are added to the equation an eruption of mishaps and drama can occur. As the internet, the news and a host of other opportunities are available before you leave the comfort of your homes there is no reason anyone should not be familiar with the very basics. Know the basics: Why arrive in a new and exciting place without having first perfomed some research first. Language, currency and safety are the most important. Other simple but helpful bits of information are the people, neighborhoods and food. Before arriving, you should know what language is commonly spoken. The currency that is most widely used and what are the simple dangers and annoyances most often encountered in and around the arrival area. Very important, have an idea of how to get from the airport to your hotel or guest house.

If by taxi or public transportation have an idea of the fare, directions and rough time frame before beginning the journey- not all public transportation is what you expect or safe. If being picked up have a clear idea of where and when you should meet your party. Ask for a landmark. If taking public transportation These are all items of basic information that can be relatively quickly and accurately collected from updated guide books, web sites and travel blogs. Some of the best are Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Trip Advisor and Virtual Tourist. They all have suggestions, local facts and recent reviews of fellow travelers. A nice start to any adventure is creating a small index sized cheat sheet with needed basic information on it. The name, address and phone number of the place you are staying (when possible I always tape a business card from the hotel directly on my cheat sheet so if I encounter language difficulties I can just point to the card). Other information on your cheat sheet should be the address and phone number of your consulate. Registration with the consulate is a matter of personal preference. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Haiti I registered with the American Consulate because of the volatility of the country but in my more than 80 visits to the Dominican Republic I have never registered with the consulate but I know where it is and have the phone number in case of an emergency. Just before leaving for the airport check the official website of the place you are traveling and the state department website for traveler’s advisories to get the most updated information and money exchange rate of the day. I often plan ahead and set aside the money I intend to initially exchange and cab fare before leaving home. The remainder of my money and credit cards I stash in the special pockets I had sewn inside my pants or my money belt. Money, credit and cash:The surest way to end up in the fiery flames of “trip gone to hell” is to walk around with large wads of cash in large bills. Dumber is to walk around flashing the large bills. Remember the local beer guy or taxi driver in your neighborhood that doesn’t like to handle large bills in a society of counterfeit and phony money. This is true of communities all over the world. Many places are hungry for American dollars and Euros but most are not willing to change or handle larger denominations. Remember bills smaller than 50 are the general rule of thumb and the most valuable. Insist on smaller bills when exchanging money and getting money back from purchases. Do not carry all of your money in one pocket, purse or pouch. Carry only the amount you need for the day and then divide your money into a smaller amount kept in the fairly obvious place so if robbed, pick pocketed or bamboozled by the police you will only loose “your small stash” as opposed to everything. Never pull out large sums in public no matter how safe you think you are. You might be king of the block back home but that’s just it. YOU ARE NOT AT HOME! Don’t argue with the police: This tends to be less of a problem domestically not withstanding a few ordinance differences locality to locality such as public drinking. This can be as extreme and different as drinking and open containers being allowed in public (New Orleans) to the extreme of no drinking or open containers allowed in public period (Los Angeles and New York). Internationally this can be a living hell. Remember you are in a different country and the rules are in their favor not yours. Unless you speak the language and are familiar with the customs with the expertise of a native “don’t argue with the cops”. Don’t try to be impressive and show you can speak the language. This can give the perception that you understand the culture and automatically give up any tourist immunity that you may get. Unlike our American police, police in other parts of the world (police and the military are often one in the same) are taught to take immediate action as opposed to discussing who is right. The perception in many countries of the world is that Americans are filthy rich slobs who have tons of money to just throw around so the police who make pennies for a monthly salary (300 USD) are not interested in who stole what from whom, or if you didn’t know he or she was under the legal age.Arguing will only get you hauled off to the police station or in the extreme worse beaten to a pulp, robbed and left in some dark secluded part of town. In many cases a dumb tourist look on your face and I don’t speak the language will get you a verbal warning and you will be on your way. In cases of corrupt cops there will be some type of fine or scam for some money. Usually a driving offense or public lewdness, then it is up to your slickness to cheaply work your way out of the problem. Use your small stash not the larger one! In more serious cases such as drugs or sex with a minor, you should let them arrest you and then call your consulate immediately. You know the number you wrote down on your cheat sheet you made the first day of your trip.Dangers and Annoyances: There are inherent dangers and annoyances that come with the very nature of travel and tourism. Knowing is half the battle. Other than the smack you in the face obvious scams remember to not walk around wearing expensive or expensive looking costume jewelry. Necklaces, earrings, expensive watches, and bracelets etc. are not to be worn except when going out to an upscale chic event or party. Your “bling bling” is an attention grabber and will set you up to be robbed, mugged and or killed in certain areas. Keep it on the down low to be safe! The same rules apply to cell phones. Never leave your cell phone attached to your hip. Especially in certain Latin and South American countries where it is very popular to ride by on motor bikes and snatch phone right off the waist bands of unsuspecting tourists and locals alike.

If you feel uncomfortable or plan to check out the sites solo use a disposable camera and buy a cheap $5.00 watch off the street vendor before leaving home.

Men, Boys and their Toys!

2008-11-01T13:02:00.036-04:00

It's always interesting to explore the favorite pastimes and sports of the world. As an American I'm certainly familiar with basketball, baseball and a host of other pastimes but on the world stage I am only just beginning to learn, love and indulge in the international scene.One of my favorites is wrestling. Wrestling although an olympic sport is not a hugely popular sport in North America and is more commonly recognized as the WWF entertainment empire on television. The traditional sport of wrestling has historic roots dating back to the beginning of time and in the international sporting scene wrestling in wildly popular especially in places like Turkey and Africa. On a recent trip to West Africa I had the "pleasure" of a few firsthand matches of my own with a few of the nation's top wrestling All-Stars.I learned that for many Africans wrestling is a tradition and spiritual experience and for a lucky few it is a path out of poverty and the slums. Successful wrestlers can earn huge sums of money and enjoy popularity as much as American athletes. Wrestlers begin at a young age, in their villages and townships, and if good enough, win their way onto the national scene, where the stakes and money are extremely high. Matches are held in national stadiums and village squares on most weekends and draw tremendous crowds. Elders, men, women and children all attend eager to support their favorite wrestlers.The day at the stadium was great - adventure-filled with eye candy all over the place I thought I was going to have a case of whiplash before the day was over. Everyone paid their 25 CFA ($5.00 USD) and crammed into the concrete no-frills arena. As it was my first time, the fellas thought I would be more comfortable at the extreme top of the stands, but they quickly realized we'd be stuck up there, literally locked in by the massive crowd below for the rest of the day! We arrived at 3:00 in the afternoon and the matches began at 5:00, with major fan fare and pageantry, as each wrestler entered the arena with his entourage of drummers, dancers and holy trinkets to bless himself before entering the ring. The crowd roared to their feet - chanting, singing and screaming as their favorites ran around the arena taunting, posing and emphasizing their prowess. The matches lasted well into midnight before there was a final winner. And it took us yet another hour to depart as we had to wait for the people beneath us to exit the arena. Funny thing, there was this huge pit behind the stadium when we finally got out and there must have been more than a hundred men answering the call of nature in unison. Damn, what a photo that would've made!

Bodybuilding is another sport I enjoy, albeit strictly as an observer. As health and fitness becomes more affordable and popular worldwide so does popularity in the sport. Bodybuilding has caught on like wildfire in the Dominican Republic, Africa and the Middle East on amateur and professional levels. There are so many interests and hobbies to pursue on your next adventure wherever it maybe. Take a chance and try something different for a change!

Nubian Dreams Cruise 2008

2008-10-18T14:31:00.002-04:00

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT "CRUISING"?

2008-10-18T10:09:00.055-04:00

As the weather changes from hot to brisk to downright cold, the travel market shifts into the busy cruise season as travelers opt to sail the warm tropical waters of the world. So what is the big deal about sailing? Is it the right type of adventure for you? How and where does one begin?Cruising will be the next big boom in travel as the economy continues to find its way through the turmoil and drama of depression. Cruises are fantastic all inclusive bargains ranging from reasonable to absurd. Think activites, food and lodging all rolled up into one package with daily changing vistas and ports of call. No matter if you are a family, group or single! Cruisng offers something for everyone.
Cruise Lines are many and even more numerous in their itenieries, services and costs. Cruise lines offer travelers opportunities to explore domestic and foriegn ports of call (destinations) without the necessities of passports and visas. Customs activities are completed onboard. Transfers and security clearance of luggage is handled at ship check-in and delivered to your cabin. Some cruise lines specialize in specific markets and pricing plans such as families, senior, LBGT and adventure travel. Much thought and consideration should be given to the type of adventure you desire, the location and type of cruiser you may be.Upon your arrival shipside you will process through three main registration points. The first will be at the departure hall where you will hand over all of your luggage except for a small hand bag or carry on that you are allowed to walk on. Your papers will be examined to ensure you are boarding the corect ship. You will be issued documentation for your luggage. You will then proceed to point two that is the actual beginning of the entrance on the ship. Your documentation will be verified and your picture will be taken as you verify payment has been comleted and you have been cleared homeland security and customs.You will be issued your ship ID and proceed onboard where you will begin the final check in that involves activating your ID card that is actually your cabin access key, credit card for all on board transactions and charges as well as your access key to board and exit the ship at ports of call.Finally on board and checked in you arrive at your cabin (hotel room). Cabins, sometimes called staterooms, vary from the simple to luxurious suites with over the top opulence. Cabins are classifed by their location, type of room and level of service offered.Basic cabin discriptions include the "Inside Cabin" that is on the lower end of the pricing scale because it is located on the inside of the ship, they do not have windows or balconies. The "Ocean View" so named because of their windows that give view to the open waterway, some have balconies. Finally the luxury suites with full balconies, bedrooms, dinningrooms and panaramic views are on the top tier of the pricing scales. Cabins are assigned a cabin boy or girl (housemen & maids)who take care of your cabin needs. You are expected to tip him or her at the end of the trip. (the suggested tip is $7 - $10.00 per day on board).

"THE FOOD" Without fail the most popular non stop activity onboard "24 hours per day" is eating. Numerous themed restaurants, pizzarias, cafes and room service serve a smorgasbord of international cuisine and favorites. The options vary from formal dress up in the main dinning room to causal pool deck cafes or 24 hour Room Service. Most food options are included in the cruise price. Soft drinks and juices are included. Specialty Restaurants and alcoholic beverages require addtional payment.

Guests may elect to eat at their assigned tables and dinning hour in the main dinning room or at their leisure in any of the other options.
Some travelers enjoy onboard activites and events so they are best suited for packages that may offer more days at sea as opposed to more days in port. These floating cities offer everything from bowling alleys, gyms and casinos to pools, night clubs and braodway shows.

More adventurous travelers will be more impressed with the cruises that offer fewer days at sea more time in ports of call to enjoy day excursions and activites. Snorkeling, Swimming wit the dolphins and sight seeing are among the most poular. Families may want to plan a more balanced trip as day trips and activites in port can be very expensive when multiplied by the number of members in a family. An example can be a swim with the dolphins event that costs roughly $50.00 per person total family of four with pictures $250.00 Food on shore is not included and can be even more expensive as most of the places you encounter will be in heavily touristed areas. The alternate can be to plan a shorter day excursion and come back to the ship for meals.
Cruises are definitely well worth investigating as affrodable travel and adventure options. Some of the more poular groups who host annual cruises are east coast based Ebony Pyramid Entertainment and west coast based Nubian Dreams Entertainment. For those of you who may be first time cruisers I highly recommend the "Funships on Canival Cruise Lines" because they are very reasonable with cool ships and great beginner destinations.

MLK WEEKEND

2008-10-05T12:41:00.005-04:00

What's hot? Whose Hot? Where can I go to be Hot? Now is the time to start planning and paying for the MLK Weekend festivities, especially given the economic forcast for the near future. While travel will not be absolutley out it will certainly be more deliberate, planned and well thoughtout. Here are a few ongoing and favorite options to think about!

New and Interesting!

2008-10-05T11:10:00.008-04:00

"CONSTELLATION THURSDAYS" at The Star Lounge in Chelsea every Thursday featuring cocktails, Celebs and Networking. An afterwork party for the sophisticated star in you. Music by DJ Poisin Ivy and DJ MK.
Constellation Thursdays @ Star Lounge Chelsea
222 West 23rd Street (between 7th & 8th avenues)
Ground Floor of Chelsea Hotel
www.starloungechelsea.com
Hit us up and share your review!

Classic Ole School Head still doing his thang!

2008-09-29T02:33:00.005-04:00

Noteworthy on the local NY tri-state radar "DRAY EBONY" best known as the Father of the ballroom community House of Ebony and promoter of many DL parties and social events is once again bringing us another slamm'in party. Dray and Crew will take over "THE DUGOUT" dropping some hot beats and if I know the Ebony crew some sickening eye candy! Well worth a glimpse!
THE DUGOUT
185 Christopher Street
@ West Side Highway
N.Y.C.

New and Noteworthy

2008-09-15T20:21:00.009-04:00

September 16th New York will become only the second state to offer enhanced driver's licenses. The licenses, which will include a person's photo and a computer chip to electronically identify the cardholder at the border, will be for sale at state and county DMV offices. Available only to U.S. citizens who are New York residents. On the surface a good idea but after close examination one of the major disadvantages and why it may be simply a waste of money is it can't be used in place of a passport as identification for international air flights. For example travelers will be able to use the enhanced driver's license if they take a cruise to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean but will need a passport if they fly. The enhanced license will cost $80, which is $30 more than current driver's licenses. The cost will be less and prorated for people who already have licences by how many years are left until it expires. The enhanced licenses, as with current driver's licenses, are valid for eight years. At the end of the day the enhanced drivers license costs the same as a passport with the same technology for half the service.

Friday September 19th (6 PM - 1AM), Twisted Life Prommotions will be hosting their annual off the chain 'Gay Day' at Great Adventures. Not to be missed, unlike other parks, this is a private party closed to the general public. The special ticket price is less expensive than general admission on normal days. Anyone who purchases the special tickets is more than welocme. additional information is availble at www.twistedlife.com. The event draws an amazingly mixed and diverse crowd. Be sure to arrive early as they have grown to over 5000 participants!

Fall Day Trip "Great Adventures"

2008-09-15T19:37:00.006-04:00

Have you ever woke up and just wanted to do something totally different for a change? Sunday was my day, I woke up feeling like I wanted to do something different from my typical sunday adventures. I decided to get up and make my way to "Six Flags Great Adventure" you know more flags more fun six flags. The bus ride there from the always interesting Port Authority Bus Terminal was simple and resonable at a cool $28.00. The admission to the park was hefty and even more so since I decided to purchase a fall pass (four visits until the close of the season ($50.00)) and into the park I went. At this point I decided I didn't want to wait in lines all day so I purchased a Gold Flash Pass ($80.00)and then I hit the trail to the mighty awesome and majestic "Khinda KA". After a 5 minute wait at the head of the line (Gold Pass) I was strapped in fierce and it flew,absolutely off the hook, everything they said it was and more. Off the MF chain! It was so fierce that I lost my bridge whipping over the top, I know thats going to be a nice dental bill!From there it was on to the "Superman" ride that was not all that from a ride stand point but it was interesting becase it elevates you into a flat position sinmilar to flying so you hit the pops dips and spins face down. That made a mediocre roller coaster into a cool one. Remeber food in the park "ain't Cheap" sodas were four bucks and a hot dog three just to give you an idea. Yeah I broke down and had a few. Basically the day was a great adventure plenty of eye candy and family if you get my drift! All of the top attractions lived up to the hype and I plan to go back with some hot number in the near future. Great Adventures is recommended as a day trip with easy and affordable public transportation from Philly, New York and Newark. Open everyday until November 2nd. Enjoy

"A GURL NAMED HANNA"

2008-09-07T08:25:00.005-04:00

Waddup Peeps!
Well! I'm back home after a few weeks in the DR. The trip was great even with all the drama created by Hurricane - Tropical Storm Hanna. She was a mess. There was a ton of rain and crazy winds. We managed to sneak out in between drops and do our dirt. There were a lot of tourisits in town during the Labor Day Weekend. I met some really cool peeps and saw some of the "old wanna bes". Anthony was a great host as usual. Check out the shots of the damage and drama left by Hanna on the Malecon.

Noteworthy Tid Bits

2008-08-16T22:14:00.016-04:00

Noteworthy is the new season of "America's Next Top Model" which will feature it's first transgender contestant. "ISIS" (pictured right) a local celebrity in the NYC transgender ballroom community is expected to hit the runway the first week of September. We wish her well and look forward to what promises to be a drama filled season premiere.
Washington, D.C. based Ebony Pyramid Entertainment still has cabins available on their annual cruise to Nassau Bahamas in October. Notable this year is the change in ships. "The Fascination" has been replaced with "The Imagination" another in the fleet of Carnival Fun Ships based out of Miami, Fl. This should do a lot to motivate returning cruisers that have complained about the same old ship to the same old place. For more information contact EbonyPyramid.com

Domincan Day Parade NYC

2008-08-11T05:41:00.008-04:00

When Work Is Fun

2008-08-09T20:12:00.011-04:00

I am so blessed to do the the two things I love most in the world for a living! Cook & Travel! Based out of New York a corporate chef by day and a personal chef by all the other time. I work and play with the best of them in some of the hottest spots on the globe! Just a few paths I cross
Dayana Mendoza Miss Universe 2008, Riyo Mori Miss Universe 2007, Tara Conner Miss USA 2007, Sean Puffy Combs, Usher and Janet J

EVEN MORE SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

2008-08-02T15:57:00.003-04:00

MORE SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

2008-08-02T15:33:00.004-04:00

SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

2008-08-02T15:24:00.005-04:00

The Domestic Case!!

2008-08-02T15:08:00.004-04:00

Recently some friends accused me of being biased against domestic adventures. Honestly I can be and do prefer international exploits but I have had many adventures throughout the U.S.A. some of my favorite are the strippers in NY. Black Pride in L.A. and cruising in Miami! Hey What can I say?