STYLE, SOPHISTICATION

Cards on the table, I have ALWAYS had the major hots for David Gandy!

Always. I have not seen many men that can wear what he can, even if it's a suit or tux, and make it look and feel comfortable and like it's effortless. Whether he's wearing an immaculate three piece suit, jeans and tee , a tiny speedo, or nothing...and his uncut weapon is lovely...it's clear that for the world's leading male model...he is just ridiculously good looking and oozes sex appeal. Gandy is that rare breed of talent who used his gifts to not only legitimized the idea of the "male model" but who also played a significant part in altering the way men in general view fashion and dressing up themselves to be more fashionable. He was the world's foremost male model at one time, may even be the world's first male supermodel, and is still said to be "one of the most handsome men on Earth" Sit on that George Clooney. I know I would. So I was beyond tickled to come across this home tour of his house in southwest London, where he now lives with his family. It's as sleek, moody, and handsome as he is. And after years of living as a bachelor, the house still keeps some elements of that. I mean when he opened those garage doors to reveal the vintage car? As it he is not already sexy enough and then the accent and then the car too? I think he and I need to hit the Amalfi Coast wearing nothing but a small pair of speedos.

But that is here nor there...the House...

Anyone else need a stiff one?

MISS DITA

As in Dita Garbo!

I love most drag queens. But when I drag queen is over 50 and still looks this fricking gorgeous and with the old school charm and style, yet with an edge of couture, and is still giving and serving it...I'm there for it. When it comes to Dita, think glamorous and alluring love child of Dita Von Teese and Greta Garbo. Dita Garbo is an acclaimed drag artist, performer, host, producer, educator and chorographer. From hosting events, brunches and prides to educate in schools and working with local LGBTQ+ community and charities. When you have an older queen, the nice things are they bring class, and more wisdom. And if younger queens need motherly love and advice, an older queen is there to give it. Dita got into drag in Madrid years, and years ago, with an androgynous drag group. While the drag career started taking off, Dita took a 15-year break to travel the world as a professional dancer teacher, but once a drag queen, always a drag queen. When Dita re-emerged, it was as a burlesque diva, and created quite the little drag scene, and big drag splash in her town of Folkstone. Of course that was now 30 years ago. And at 51 she was a dragtestant on RuPaul's Drag Race UK where she brough equal doses of talent, experience, and beyond, style and panache. She sadly placed 12th, but in my opinion some queens don't need Drag Race to get accomplished and finding a following. Or to be told they are fabulous....

Dita Garbo

AND JUST LIKE THAT....

And no, I have not seen the new incarnation since the original ended. 

AUNTIE FLAME

Over the weekend I had received sad new while at the Pride festivities. A very good friend and fellow blogger, who some of my longtime readers may know, Auntie Flame, also known as Joy , or Bernice, lol(Designing Women), who had her own trivia blog, Babble On, sadly passed on Friday. I had gotten a call from her grandson, and a text from my good friend and sister Mame, AKA David Dust of the sad news. Last time I had talked to Joy, she was in remission of the dreaded C word....and was going for treatment. But a turn for the worst the last couple weeks.  She wasn't feeling up to snuff. She was quite something if you knew her from her blog. Even in her later years girlfriend was with it, no grass grew under her feet. And she LOVED her gay boys! She used to say I and Mame were her adopted nephews.  I had the great pleasure to meet her twice when she came to Philly. 

And she wanted to see it all. We toured three museums that first trip and had a delicious dinner. Her two requests were to go to 1- the Naked Chocolate Cafe, now defunct, but my lands what a sinful place it was. It was an all-chocolate cafe. I can still recall the beverage she got. While we had dainty drinks...Joy, who loved chocolate went whole hog.

I can still hear her words..."I like it dark, and I like it large!" A size queen after my own heart. and 2- she wanted to go to the gay bar Woodys.  You wouldn't believe the things and conversations we'd have. She regaled to me how she was once even blacked balled in her community years back because she dated a black man. And she liked her men!  Any wonder we got along? Joy lived just outside Nashville and enjoyed being a school teach, English Lit for over 35 years, and a member of the Dickson County Board of Education. She loved her movies, listening to Irish music, traveling and especially anything and everything trivia. She was always quite entertaining on all our blogs. She hung her blog up years ago to spend time on Facebook, but we always kept in touch all these years. She was a life saver for me during the pandemic. We'd talk for hours. She too was a night owl, so at times we'd talk to the wee hours. And no subject seemed to be off limits. She was a complete hoot. She educated me on some classic books and movies I never saw or read, like the movie 1776. I always think of her after she sent me a copy of it and watch it. And I educated her on drag. We may have been years apart in age, but what an unexpected friendship. My friendship goblet feels a tad emptier without her in it. Never push anyway people...you never know where a good friendship will form, even off of blogs.

If any of you knew her or still talked to her on the phone or on socials, you can go here, to sign the memory guestbook for her family to add your condolences or memories of Joy. 

What a Dame! Joy was the perfect name for her.

MOOD BOARD

 

Another weekend whizzed by and another Monday has arrived. The countdown has started for the next vacation. Will I make it???  Another busy weekend. We celebrated Harrisburg Parade this weekend, to a nice crowd. The parade and festival went off without a hitch and would you believe only two religious wingnuts were present? HA! It was a great day.... we had a great lunch and dinner, caught both Crystal Envy and local queens on the main stage, and Sam Star even did the Pride festival out of drag with our Betty Whitecastle. Can you say pocket gay? ADORABLE. I did not kidnap him!!! But Sam did put on a good show for the After Pride Party. And your Mistress was feeling no pain from the afternoon on. I even lost my shirt. A denim shirt with snap buttons, that I was told some queen unbuttoned and had to have it. Don't ask me, I don't remember a thing, except that I was topless and I was told my one friend and his boyfriend, took me back to the Capital Street Duo's, where I was staying for the night, to be undressed and tucked in, right after midnight. That is very early for me. I understand I was close to the scene from Breakfast at Tiffanys, where Holly yells TIMBER to Mag Wildwood, who goes straight over and is out cold.

Now I get to go to work to get us rest. 

 

Happy Monday all!!!!

IN THREE WORDS

In the feature, I'll share a weekly guest with you all, 

and you tell me in only three words what comes to mind. 

In Three Words...

Elaine Stritch 

Word

THE BLUEBIRD

 The Bluebird Cocktail Room that is!

When coming home from Rehoboth we had an overnight stay to visit a friend outside Balitmore, near Hampden. So we went that night to a favorite haunt, the Bluebird Cocktail Room. What better time to post this then the start of the weekend. The place is a favorite...it's brought sophisticated cachet while still having an approachable vibe. The former gallery space was transformed into a stylist joint done mostly in a moody navy blue, with gold accents, communal tables, corner lounges and a fireplace, with natural light coming in during the day and candlelight at night. But kids, its cocktail program does a lot right. The menu reads like an eight-page book, which is appropriate for this literary themed bar, (the owner likes to read, and the place has books to read all over the place) the place is also named after a Charles Bukowski poem. Cocktails are divided into four chapters. Simple, more complex, long sippers, and after dinners. The Dame had a lovely Hemingway daiquiri. The food is also very delicious, but the cocktails are the star. The bartenders top notch and old school, and they even take the ice seriously. I tried three different drinks, all gin related, and we ended the meal with absinthe and flaming cube of sugar.

Shrimp crochets.

Brussel sprout and kale salad

After the gin drinks and an absinthe ending, cards on the table, I barley recall leaving the joint. Now on to the weekend. The Harrisburg clan and one friend from NYC is coming for the Harrisburg Pride festivities tomorrow, in addition us queens have to get ready and host for Crystal Envy and Sam Star who will be delighting us with their talents. If Sam gets drunks tomorrow night, I told her I have some delights for her.

MUSHROOMS

About a week ago, I saw all these mushrooms pop up. Oodles of them from the humidity.

It gave me flashbacks. 

I haven't seen so many mushroom heads since the old glory hole days.