IN THREE WORDS.....

In this weekly feature, I'll share a picture of a weekly guest and you tell me in only three words what come to mind.
 

In three words...

Jackie Gleason

LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU.....AJA

In the world of drag, Brooklyn, New York is a hot bed RIGHT now with the likes of Horrorchata, Thorgy Thor, Scarlett Envy, Maddelynn Hatter,Kittin Withawhip, Frostie Flakes and Paige Turner, it's where it's all happening right now. Creating their very own style, some of the most fresh looks, themes and performances, and their very own form of drag. For such a small borough, they sure have a ton of queens there alone, but one of the most popular break outs is Aja, who won Drag Queen of The Year at the Brooklyn Nightlife Awards this year, and calls her style of performance a powerpuff girl stripper. She was also named Mrs. Williamsburg in 2014, and yet, she is far from a typical pageant queen.  Having seen her perform she is more versatile than most think, and I'm hoping she will being showing us just the sides I have seen.  Like this very interesting performance. She shouldn't be ruled out on the show, her dancing is very fierce, and her lip synchs are tight.

Take it away Aja........

DRAG RACE OBSERVATIONS

 RuPaul's Drag Race started off the season 9 premiere with a bang, introducing guest judge Lady Gaga, finally...and what an entrance, and ending the episode with a shocking twist. I finally saw it Monday when I got back in. And I was highly impressed with the breath of fresh air Ru has given the show. Like most season's there’s one contestant that’s so confident in herself, and so uniquely talented, that the true race becomes who will make it to the Top 3 — because who’s getting the crown is already a forgone conclusion. This may be the case with season 9. If we’re going to pour the tea dalhings, we have to say that half this cast feels a little lackluster at the jump… however, if anyone knows how to keep a show fresh, it’ RuPaul. My observations....

1- First off... Lady Gaga was everything! And her being there affected every one of these queens, It was a touching moment I thought for both parties.

2-Luckily, there are several queens who come in hot. One them for me was Nina Bo'nina Brown. Not knowing anything about this one, I reserved comment. The moment Nina Bo'nina Brown enters the work room, we are transfixed. She’s got that “it” quality that instantly sets her apart from the rest of the girls. Her work on the catwalk only further impresses on us that she’s one of the ones to beat this season. We will see. We have seen some queens get over confident, and the stress of competition takes even the most confident queen apart, then not win.

3-So aside from Nina, there’s  52-year-old Charlie Hides.

A seasoned queen! His experience, seasoned talent and naturally hilarious personality will make him an easy fan favorite. Having the oldest contestant ever be named as “America’s Next Drag Superstar” would also exemplify all that is so great about this series — it would be very on-brand for the compassionate and inclusive philosophy of the way Ru looks at our humanity and our future to go for it with Charlie. Having see him, he's a absolute riot. I have long adored him.

4- This season’s Detox, bald-headed beauty Sasha Velour, could be the dark horse of Season 9. I'm excited to see all the kinds of crazy this queen will send down the runway in the coming weeks, and she is a true artist, hence last week's video I posted. It's not often these days we come across the avant garde.

5-Drag baby Valentina, who’s only been working in the field for 10 months, wins my first impression rose for personality. She is a delight to watch, and adorable as hell as a boy, but is probably to green for a top three I think.

6- These days in drag, Brooklyn is where the fresh ideas and looks are coming from. And I agree completely with Lady Gaga on Aja. She will surprise us constantly. If she does half of what I have seen her do, she should place top 5 at least. But I don't see a win.

7- I knew nothing of Eureka, but I am enjoying her outlook, style and her camera time. Do I like her as much as Latrice or Ginger? No, but I still enjoy her and want to see more.

8- LOVE Alexis Michelle. Just wait till she's warmed up. I'm still getting a top 5 vibe here.

9-Jaymes Mansfield should be cute. But I'm not feeling anything about this queen, except annoying as hell.  Another one I'm not feeling is Kimora. I licked her once. Bitter, just as I excepted.

10- LOVED MICHELLE VISAGE'S HAIR STYLE!!! I also love that she snipes with Ross Matthews. I'm with her on this. I could never take that voice of his for a full hour. You can tell she wants to scratch out his eyes.

And right when we’re ready to sashay away for the premiere, RuPaul announces there’s one more SURPRISE...... it’s to make way for a 14th contestant will be joining the series. I had heard rumors of this but wasn't sure whether to believe it. My guesses would be.....

This list would not be complete if we didn't guess Shangela first... because we've learned to never count her out. But I don't think it's her.

Who didn't love the hilarious and fabulous Cynthia Lee Fontaine? And by the figure they showed, the queen appeared to be smaller framed, a pretty good chance it might be her.

Mama Ru could bring back the dramatic but loveable Acid Betty.

 

If there was anyone from the most recent season that would make for an entertaining addition, it would be this queen. As the fifth contestant voted out, she left early enough in the season that a second chance is more than warranted. But again the figure looked too short to be her.

Laganja Estranja has gone on to be one of the most divisive queens since competing during her season of the show. Her addition would not only make for an entertaining choice, but a reflective one. She's grown so much as a queen since her time on the series. And Laganja has the style of that outfit the shadowed queen was wearing.

and finally...April Carrion.

This queen left early in her season and is due for another opportunity. Her aesthetic fits perfectly with the current queens competing for the crown this season. She wasn't given a chance to show off her full potential as she was the fourth queen to leave the competition. And again, that shadowed figure looked much like her figure and that hair style. She'd be my other best guess.

Who is she? I haven’t a clue, but those are my best guesses. And though I've now watched that ending moment of the premiere a zillion times, I still can’t confidently figure out a solid guess. Who ever it is let's just sit back and enjoy the drama unfold.......

HIDDEN RETREAT

When the Mistress got back in today, I tell you, it was nothing about a socialite, ladies who lunch, day of lounge. I did absolutely nothing, after such a relaxing weekend. I had been invited by my friend the Professor, and my other friend Preston also went along to the Catskills for a spring, but seemed like a winter get-a-way. I had only been once prior, but I had remembered my father saying his parents had a summer home with another couple in the Catskills, and they would practically live there in the summers. Could be why I enjoyed myself so much. While it was mild, they still had a lot of snow there from the last storm. The Catskills are an ideal escape from NYC and Philadelphia, with rolling mountains, farmhouses, B&B's , and a quick respite for those of us who live in the over crowded city or some suburbs, and is also where the arty types from the sister cities build their "other" Pied-a-terre.

From Spillian's website.

I was told to expect artist, poets types, fledgling actors, and lots of sandals and granola, Mother Earth types. That was fine by me, these are the people who make life interesting. The place prides itself on creating a peaceful and open atmosphere so people can inspire, and be themselves. The place we stayed at was the Spillian, and even though I had no idea where in hell we were....it was gorgeous!

Built in the early 1880’s by the Fleischmann's Yeast family, who were an extraordinary example of the sprawling, brilliantly-big visioned ambition of the Industrial Revolution, Spillian was part of a 160 acre compound with half a dozen or more mansions. Each of the five siblings from the first generation of Fleischmann's, immigrants from Eastern Europe, had a summer “cottage” here. The property is a classic version of Stick Style Architecture — a transitional style moving from Victorian to the 20th Century Arts and Crafts Movement. When I asked who the architect was they said they are still digging to see if they can discover the architect for the buildings, but are increasingly thinking that they were designed by a major architect of the period. When the Fleischmanns arrived in the Catskills to build this property, they had a major national company and were making a point about creating their own elegant rustic mountain experience during an era of heavy anti-Semitism. The house is remarkably intact, with clear pine paneling throughout and extraordinary hand painted murals on the walls that date from the Fleischmann era.  As you walk the grounds, you’ll see an exquisite ice house, a spring house, a second cottage built for summer housing and they still have part of a farm that is still up and running.

 Most nights they serve dinner in the dinning room to all the guest at once, so it feels like one huge dinner party.

Take a gander at the beautiful wall mural paintings on that paneling. You just don't see that now a days.

Oh, and don’t forget the naps. It practically is a requirement. But how could one sleep with such beauty.....and three of us slept in that bed!

We also got to see the coop of chickens and they let you feed them in the morning at the Palais de Chicks. Fresh eggs in the morning!!!!!

And the Spillian's horse, Ivy the Wonderful.

And if you have to get out of the house, the nearby Kaaterskill Falls makes a fine hiking experience – even when it is covered fully in snow, it makes for beautiful snaps. It was tough hiking around though...one minute there was no snow, then all of a sudden there would be a foot of snow depending on how it was melting and where it was located.

And of course I had a special martini the bartender made me, Beet Martini and it was surprisingly tasty....

Preston caught yours truly and the Professor in a gratuitous shot in the hot tub for a soak. But I didn't care, it felt like heaven....

And my favorite part of the weekend had to be Saturday at sunset....a outdoor campfire with bottles of cider wine. Worth the whole trip alone.

Now that was pretty damn cool. One must live . As Oscar Wilde said once,

" Hear no evil, Speak no evil, and you'll never be invited to parties."

OH GAWD.......

It's Monday AGAIN!!!!

I'll be with you soon....but in the meantime, it's gonna take a lot a coffee. Then maybe some sleeping in.

SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE

Whilst I'm still away for the weekend, in the Catskills, catskilling, I had finally got around to posting this little ditty I saw over at Anne Marie's joint lying around. If your life were a movie, what would the soundtrack be for parts of the movie. Well.....as you can see, it was a taxing time going through all the vinyl's, But here is what I came up with. Actually, I do have a soundtrack that plays in my head for different things happening, so this wasn't to far off.

Opening Credits:

It's Gonna Be A Lovely Day- Soul System  

Waking Up Scene:

Black Coffee- Julie London 

Car Driving Scene:

Last Night-Stephane Pompougnac   

High School Flashback Scene:

Look At Me- Geri Halliwell   

Nostalgic Scene:

You Know I'm No Good-Amy Winehouse  

Steamy Love Scene:

Justify My Love-Madonna   

Beach Scene:

The Boys of Summer- Don Henley   

Bitter Angry Scene:

You Don't Own Me- Leslie Gore   

Breakup Scene

The Man That Got Away-Judy Garland

   
Regret Scene: 

Love Is a Losing Game-Amy Winehouse  

Nightclub/Bar Scene:

Diva's To The Dancefloor- EG Fullalove   

Fight/Action Scene:

Strict Machine-Goldfrapp  

Saturday Morning/Cleaning the House Scene:

Back to My Roots- RuPaul

Lawn Mowing Scene:

Four Seasons- Vivaldi

Couldn't resist a snap from last summer of me mowing the lawn at the Casa....

Sad Breakdown Scene:

Hard Candied Christmas- Dolly Parton   

Happy Friend Scene:

Don't Get Me Wrong- The Pretenders   

Dreaming About That Special Someone Scene:

I've Got A Crush on You- Julie London 

Contemplation Scene:

I Have A Dream- ABBA   

Chase Scene:

We Like to Party- Vengaboys  

Happy Holding Hands Walking Through the Park Love Scene:

Hold My Hand- Jess Glynne

   
Death Scene:

O Fortuna ~ Carmina Burana-Carl Ortt  

Funeral Scene:

Take A Bow-Madonna  

Closing Credits:

One Man (Ain't Quite Enough)-Pearl Bailey

If any of you take this and run with it, I'll look forward to reading it!!!

💋

HEY HEY HEY......IT'S FRIDAY!

Let's all join Rerun!!!! I know it sums up my mood for this Friday!

She was after all strong and bold just like gin. I'll have to work on this........

See you next week..watch Sunday for a post....I'm out for the weekend to the Catskills.....

IN THREE WORDS......

In this weekly feature, I'll share a picture of a weekly guest and you tell me in only three words what come to mind.
 

In three words, yesterday's Birthday girl...

Joan Crawford.......

TODAY'S CHUCKLE........

MOST AVANT GARDE THING YOU'LL SEE

Sasha Velour is an up-and-coming fireball of talent, and campy fashion shaker, that resides in New York City. Graphic designer, cartoonist, illustrator, and most importantly drag artiste.

Sasha is the first drag performer, I've seen, that uses visual art in her numbers as a way of storytelling. She wanted more tools to share that narrative with the audience, so she started to use projected images…and from there she just went bonkers. Take a look at the phenomenal performance of her's titled Cellphone. It's the most avant garde thing you see all day. I have never seen anything like it. I was literally speechless. Sasha can also be seen this Friday when the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race starts. This is promising to be a group of the most talented season yet.

GRANDE DAME

When RuPaul’s Drag Race returns for its ninth season on March 24, viewers across the country will meet Alexis Michelle: a New York drag queen with Broadway dreams, a strong belt, and a natural ability to put on a show.

Michelle’s drag frequently incorporates musical theatre. While competing in New York’s So You Think You Can Drag competition in 2014 (which she won), her performances included “Defying Gravity”—flying included—and a live rendition of the Witch’s rap from Into the Woods that led into a dramatic costume change and The Apple Tree’s “Gorgeous.” Michelle (out of drag, Alex Michaels) studied at University of Michigan’s famed musical theatre program. Alexis Michelle is one of those queens that has what “drag” is down pat; the over the top hair and a personality to match, Alexis is making her mark on the New York Drag scene in a way that is very rare in this extremely competitive town, which is where the theatre background comes into play. Now in her 14th year performing in drag she is funny, philosophical and extremely well spoken. I think she will be one to watch, and upon further watching her perform, she should do well on Drag Race. She has one of the best personalities, and in the video clip, I have NEVER seen a transformation done on stage this well ever!

Until then, catch Alexis Michelle on RuPaul’s Drag Race beginning March 24 on VH1. Since filming has wrapped ,she is a set to return to Feinstein's/54 Below with four performances, beginning March 28.  And her brand new residency at the beautiful Therapy, one of my favorite New York haunts for her newest show Head Game. 

 

THE MISTRESS IS SUGAR AND SPICE

One thing about the Mistress.....I am terrible about checking my emails. I had two emails, one from a newer reader, Mateo, asking why I never post on various personal things, besides my coming and goings. He had wondered certain things, but I never seemed to post on them. or talk about them. And Tim wondered if I would ever do another "fashion spread" again of my own personal combinations to wear. Well, I had to rectify that soon I thought. I have posted on personal things before in specific posts, though it is far and few between. So I emailed him back, and told him I'm an open book. Send me some questions and I'll do a post. As far as Tim goes, I promised  I would have some snaps taken over some time, and do a post. So I will combine the two and please both boys. As we're aware, I'm all about pleasing ...... I hope you forgive me and hope this will put your mind at rest....

What is the Mistress made of?

Why sugar and spice and everything nice of course!!!!! If you are talking personality wise, I am very laid back, a very relaxed person. I can be very anal retentive.  As a extrovert, I get along with just about everyone, and can strike up a conversation with anyone. But I can have a very hard temper too. When it blows, pray your not in the vicinity. As social as I am, I also like my own time and like to cocoon by myself at times. I like my arts, gin, men, music, travel, beach time, and I say let the good times roll. I always liked to think, if you'd take Mame Dennis, Joan Crawford, and Karen Walker, and put them in a blend, with a pinch of Cruella DeVille and Mae West, I'd be what you get!

What's your families ethnic heritage?

Well, on my mother side, her parents were born in Czechoslovakia, and moved here at very young ages. On my father's side, his father's side hailed from Holland, and his mother's side was from Ireland. So that makes me Czech, Dutch and Irish.

I could live in jeans..can't go wrong ...they pair with everything.

How do the men in your life deal with you dating another?

I can see from my mentioning of the men in my life it may seem confusing. At one time I was dating four guys!!!! Who has the damn time. I am now down to two......the Lad, my young spry one, and Daddy Warbucks, the older gent. Unfortunately, both live a couple hours away. Which I don't mind, as it gives me my own time, which I love, as I am extremely independent. Both know of the other and I was up front from the beginning, as I am with everyone I meet. After being and coming out of a 11 year relationship a couple years back, I don't find I'm ready to settle back down just yet. Part of it is pure selfishness, as I don't want anyone telling me what and where to be. I'm still feeling my oats once again. And while I would never turn back and erase the 11 years with the ex boy toy, we still get along very well and talk, but I firmly believe I function better being single and independent. And I see it as comparative shopping and lots of it when it comes to men!!!!!

Will you settle down again?

Well, I do have it whittled down to the same two now, so we are making progress.......I do love my mens!!!!

What's your astrological sign?

Scorpio!!!!! And what they say about us is ALL TRUE!

loves my cashmere sweaters

around the house look

You mention your mother. Were you close with your father, and do you have siblings?

My mother and I are mother and son, and best friends. My father was a very authoritative figure. Always a crank and grouchy. He and my mother had a huge age difference, which probably didn't help. Very Archie Bunker he was. And he hated gays. Little did he know he had a gay son...who also did drag!!!!! While it never came up, I think in the end he knew. I mean, I came out of the womb, sliding out on glitter instead of after birth!!!!! I was out in middle and high school to everyone. We were as close as could be, but still had some good blow outs. Nothing was ever good enough for him. But when he died, he was happy I was there, and even said I was the only one of his children to visit him and bother with him often. My father was married before and had two children, my half sister and brother, both much older than I. I do still see and talk them. But we all have very different lives.

What event would you rather die than live through?

Currently, I have to say the Trump Administration. I die a slow death everyday.

Which fictional character do you believe is the most like yourself?

Mame Dennis. Joan Crawford. Mae West. Poison Ivy. Cruella DeVille. Patsy Stone. Tallulah Bankhead

a date night look

 What is the craziest thing that you’ve done with someone.

I would have to say for that....would be the night the Lad and I had sex all night on a golf course. We actually fell asleep. Thank goodness we woke up.

Would you ever go back into drag again?

As much fun as I had, probably not. I think 15 years was enough. It was time to let others in the spot light. The scene then wasn't as saturated as it is now though. And with my body frame now being more muscular, and my work,  there just wouldn't be the time. Your really have to give 100% of your time to do it right.  I did enjoy the outlet for the creativity and the clothes though. Because as Noxzema Jackson always said. " A drag queen is a gay man with WAY TOO MUCH fashion sense for one sex" She was right. To this day if I see feathers and marabou....I quiver.

a afternoon out...love cords!

And my Atwoods

What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?

I can still remember it. I accidently got locked out of my apartment one morning totally nude. If you can't reach the newspaper with your foot. Forget it. My neighbor luckily had my spare key. He found the whole thing funny, and got a good view.

What’s your biggest turn on?

When a guy gently rubs my thighs and inner thighs with his fingers. Can you say BOING!!!!!!!

What’s a body part that you wouldn’t mind losing?

I love every part. But I could give up a toe nail I guess.

At the beach would you rather play in the sand, or play in the water?

Well, play in the water of course. That's where you meet the boys and you can give them a wet square cut view when you emerge from the ocean doing your best "10" like Bo Derek impression.

Would you consider yourself to be shy

Not really, but I can be. Sometimes it will take me a while to warm up. Depends on my mood.

a work look

Do you consider yourself more sexy or brainy?

While I can carry a conversation on many subjects, I have to go with sexy. My friends all tell me I'm the good time guy. But I really think this is a split.

What is the hardest thing you have ever done in your entire life

End a long term friendship. Or that airline pilot who was hung like a horse...it's a toss up really.

Around the house.....all about comfort.

What clothes do you sleep in, or do you sleep naked

NAKED!!! I view each day like a birth and death. I came in wearing nothing, so I wake naked. And I end the day naked. I can't stand being confined by bed clothes when sleeping. Let it all hang I say.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

I see, your turning my own tables on me! I would say, humorous, artistic, warm.

There now.......I'm bushed!!!!