SCENE THIS WEEKEND...

A nice weekend if not a busy one. All told, a bit of a little of everything this weekend. Friday found me at the Capital Street Duo's for some visiting and cocktails on the lovely balcony which is off my guest quarters when I stay there. It's like a little oasis. They are only about a block from the Capital Building, hence their nickname on this blog, with views of the dome at night. Even their pup Flyer digs the balcony.

Then it was off too early in the AM for clan member Preston's birthday up in NYC. After a nice train ride up, it was off for a birthday cruise and some fun before heading back and getting in late last night.  I got to play New York tourist as we all pitched in and got a cruise for Preton for his birthday and thanks to Captain Todd, he spun us around the harbor and Lady Liberty while we drank and noshed. It's been years since I have been out that way. The weather was overcast but no rain. It was certainly a great time.

Today....nothing.! And it's been nice. 

The morning started out with breakfast out back in the garden and I surmise, the rest of the day, with exception to a rain that rolled in, will be spent outdoors relaxing.

Mind you, I should be making vacation preparations. 

But as Scarlet O'Hara said, "I'll think about that tomorrow. After all... tomorrow is another day."

CATS:THE JELLICLE BALL

When I went to NYC recently, the main reason was to visit the clan, and we all had plans to go see the Broadway show Cats: The Jellicle Ball. New York City on a Saturday night and the excitement was building as show goers queued up all the way down the block, for Broadway's latest sensation.

This revival I found to be a vibrant, queer-centric reimagining of the iconic 1981 musical. Instead of felines at a literal junkyard, the show sets the production in the underground LBTQ ballroom and house scene rooted in New York City. The characters still compete to be chosen for a new life, but they do it through fierce vogueing, runway and dance battles judged by "Old Deuteronomy. The stage is transformed into an underground ballroom. The songs become competition categories where "cats" perform on a runway to win favor with the judges, who rotate each week with different celebrities. The show pays homage to the legendary real life ballroom community. And the cast! It gave a new reason to cheer! For costumes, voguing and even for the laughs. Not to mention, I've never seen any live production with so many trans people, more important than ever. Here's an idea: have more roles for gay/trans/drag! Give them a chance to shine and they will. This production proves it!

 I am Tempress plays Grizbella and to the hilt!! She is styled as an older trans woman whose silicone has dropped...and the makeup team actually painted her face crooked so that her mouth drooped. Tony winner Andre DeShirlds ruled as Deuteronomy. He holds one note that lets you know right ways why he's a Broadway legend. It was also nice to see Junior LaBeija, from Paris is Burning who played Gus and Tempress who is from the House of Margiela. It's a huge bonus to see the ballroom community showcased and thrilling the mainstream I say. And DON'T get me started of Sydney James Harcourt who plays Rum Tum Tugger!! That man and his moves gave me the vapors honey!!! Excuse my French, but that man is fucking scorching, sexy as hell. Nina West is friends with him, I must get the tea on him darlings. Another reason I liked the show was to see costumes by Qween Jean, who has gotten raved over her costume designs.

My own critique, the story is told through song. But the music is louder that the cast's vocals. If you can't hear the lyrics, you can't quite follow the plot. The good news? It doesn't matter. Don't over think it. The show is fun, electric and spine tingling to watch. This version of Cats is arguably superior to the standard one, wrote one review. I agree. Go see it if you get to NYC. Now it remains to be seen if it will be hot and crazy or a huge hit...but the nominations say different, and are a good sign, as the show has only been open for a little over a month.

YES CHILDERN! 

Happy Gay Pride.

The other show we saw was also sold out.

MISS LADY DJ

She got her Gemini Mixer with the funky cross-fader

And her two 12 hundreds just ready to let us have.

I walk into the joint

The club was jumping, people pumping they was grooving to the sound shaking booties to the ground

I looked up to the booth to see who was TERIN' off the roof.

Something different this Friday...just in time....to start the weekend off with. My good friend Bridget, or just Bridge, who is a phenomenally entertaining DJ in NYC, is a mix of old school disco and house. She is another reason I'll always have the club scene and dance in my blood and have some damn serious worship when it comes to the dance floor. I can and still do go out dancing and can go for hours. There is nothing like the club scene feel, which I doubt will ever leave my blood stream. She continues the legendary feel of the club scene from the 80-and 90's, and what I love the most...she is sometimes the show itself, while DJing, and being right down where the action is happening. This was from one of her sets back in February. Her motto- Come for the music. Be open to unfamiliar music and sounds. Respect one another. Face each other instead of the DJ. No phones allowed on the dance floor. Dress to express yourself...and DANCE your hearts out.

So while you're working, doing housework or just in the mood to dance when no one is watching just hit the play button darling...and tell me she is not an entertaining DJ! And trust, when I caught this, I was UP! Love ya girl!

HOLIDAY SPIRITS

I don't know if it's just me or not, but because of the state of the country and this lousy administration, people seem to yearn for some relief and seems to be in the spirit of the holiday more than usual. I have seen more homes with lights out then then last few years. I don't know. But it was good to finally get out and enjoy some time with friends. I departed Thursday as I and the clan got together for a bit of a jolly in NYC which didn't disappoint. We took in some of the sights, a trip to the lovely John Derian shop, and even enjoyed my first cocktails since the surgery... just enjoyed time being away, with no schedule. As always, the city didn't disappoint, but being visual, I did return last night very mentally spent. We even beat the crowds, planning out times at places smartly. But the getting up early could have killed me. 

Rockefeller Plaza! It's been a minute since I've been there.

Of all things, my favorite thing to see is the Public Library lions with their wreaths on. And the tree outside of Aster Hall inside was stunning.

Byrant Park

St Patrick's Cathedral

Inside Bergdorf Goodman. 

You can see the windows I posted early in the week here.

Meanwhile over at my old Alma mater of 18 years, Bloomingdales, I thought their windows were pretty clever. Knights Before Christmas. 

Christian Dior window.

Hudson Yards.

A trip to John Derian's is always a treat for me.

 I came out of there with four more bird clip ornaments.

Before heading back on the train, our little clan concluded with some "holiday spirits" at the Algonquin Hotel this year at the fabled Blue Bar...and spotted the hotel cat, Hamlet, who gets free reign of the hotel. It's quite funny and part of the hotel's charm. He must be the 8th in the line of Hamlets.

It's been ages since we enjoyed drinks there, But I always love it. A stop at the Blur Bar is an opportunity to sip where history was made and sit in the very space that helped shape New York's literary and theatrical scene. Everyone from Dorothy Parker to James Dean, to Alan Jay Lerner and Fredrick Loewe who composed over days the music to My Fair Lady in the hotel, to the likes of Harold Ross, founder of the New Yorker, Robert Benchley, artist and illustrator Neysa McMein,  playwright and humorist, George S Kaufman, Harpo Marx, Tallulah Bankhead, and later, wasn't uncommon to see the likes of Maya Angelou, a young Harry Connick Jr, Liza Minelli and everyone's favorite booze hound, Elaine Stritch, among a long list of others. After Prohibition, the bar reopened with a unique touch- John Barrymore, a frequent guest, convinced the hotel to install blue lighting gels above the bars' fixtures, believing the cooler hues were more flattering to everyone's, but mostly his, complexion. Today, the same lighting still reflects off the cocktail glasses held by guest and patrons, who knowingly or not are partaking in a timeless tradition, and are in a place graced once by so many colorful camp characters. For over a hundred years they have been serving cock-a-tails, it tickles me to be just a small piece of scrap in it's overall fabric.

It was a good time and an even better lie in today.

THE BERGDORF SOIREE

While I didn't get to see the legendary windows of Bergdorf Goodman in person yet, my blog in the field correspondent Mistress Maddie's # 1 Fan left Brooklyn with another clan member and sent some snaps. I will be heading to New York for a two-day visit at weeks end for a jolly, and I'm told some of the best cream of potatoes soup I'll ever eat.

While I don't have a fortune, I love me some Bergdorf Goodman.  I think everything I ever got there, I still have. The store itself is an extraordinary array of luxury brands from the trendy but also caters to the timeless classics. The store itself is absolutely stunning, a marvel, and caters to discerning shoppers who value quality over quantity. The store's ambiance and their exceptional customer service is unappareled to any other I have experienced. This year's windows titled, The Bergdorf Soiree, which celebrates New York's party scene, (something I was familiar with)...the windows are elaborate, handcrafted displays showcasing couture, creativity and glamour, and feature the likes of Costume Party, Party Animals, and New Year's Eve Countdown. The women's windows appear to be colorful and decadent, while the men's store windows are sophisticated monochromatic scenes. They are yet again the toast of town. I have had friend's past and present on the windows team. As always, each window offers much detail, from small 2" mice to large pieces and so many intricate details, dimensions and objects, yet appears seamless. But first hand knowledge from friends says it's still the same, a year of planning, around 6,500 hours of creating and another 2,000 to install. But it why us visual display people love doing it and sadly another dying art.

And the fun men's shop windows...

Special thanks to my field support for the pictures!