SEEN IN HARRISBURG

 

Seen around town this weekend. The clan all got together for the Fire and Ice tour in the downtown this weekend.., our lesbian branch from Rehoboth Beach came for the event even. Cards on the table, while we did see some of the ice sculptures placed all around town, it was more an excuse to get together for some fun times, have a few cock-a-tails and pub hop and enjoy some good food. Granted, I didn't arise before 1pm today. That's beside the point. A good time had by all. And the above is one of the shop windows of the Dame's Flower Shop. It was pure coincidence the ice sculpture mimicked the windows. Some of the sights... I liked the homes and street art more...

The day started with expresso martinis at noon.

So there was that.

SEEN IN FIRE ISLAND

I have another few posts from Barbados to share yet but thought we'd jump to some Fire Island postcards first. If the first leg of the trip wasn't enough, and granted, that was very relaxing, Labor Day found us back in the US and on Fire Island with most of the Clan for some debauchery. For many of the clan, it was meeting Warbucks for the first time. All went well, and he fit right in with my crazy circle, and he loved Fire Island. I didn't make Fire Island last year and hard to top the last visit what with getting scolded by Patti Lupone herself for the Lad and I making out by an exit. I adore Fire Island and think it should be mandatory for every gay to experience it at least once. I love it. SO GAY...the drag queens, the beaches, the gay antics and flirting, the Meat Racks, the boardwalk paths, the deer everywhere, and seeing many of the Horace Gifford houses of the Pines, and the campy and quaint Cherry Grove. Finding the perfect spot to get nude and catch some rays. We had a blast and at least one party to attend. One nights dinner consisted of about 24 queens!!!!

Look at the Livingroom view of the house we were in! And one couldn't be shy to use the bathroom!

I don't think I'll ever get over seeing deer at the beach! And they are quite daring and will get very close to you.

Sorry for the blur, but these deer were jumping.

Not deer.

MM#1 Fan and the Mistress catching some rays.

 

Preston and MM#1 Fan up to something.

Shadow puppets. Can you even believe such lewd acts going on???? Who'd do such a thing???

Pansy...a drag legend and a past Empress of the Imperial Court of New York.

Your Mistress's comfort shoes.

Impromptu boardwalk parade!

And this was seen walking the day we arrived from the ferry. Like I said you never know what you may see!

BUT BREAKING!

 I was HEARTBORKEN from news after our visit, when I got a text and picture from my friend Jamie who stays in Fire Island all summer. The text included a picture of the flags on the dock in Cherry Grove all flying at half-mast. Below the picture it said flags flying half-mast in honor of Kirk. I thought it was a joke and said this better be for William Shatner as Captain Kirk? He said no you dope; it's for Charlie Kirk. The CGAA dock master decided after he was threatened by officials from Brookhaven county with consequences if he didn't follow the national directive. I was aghast. It felt like a gut punch to the stomach. It was one thing to lower the American flags, but the gay pride flags too? For a man who's hate speech against our community caused so much suffering felt like an assault, a hate crime, a gay bashing, with our very own flag!! Cherry Grove and the Pines Fire Island has been a huge safe haven for the LGBTQ+ for decades, a refuge from an intolerant world. And now we were honoring a man whose very ideals are like acid and being thrown in our faces. This person would NEVER step foot in Fire Island and yet there he was, even after his death, his presence being seen, his menacing presence flaunted over our sacred little town.... the flags... half mast, all of them. But there is a dark underbelly to this town. There are a few trump loving business owners there who love him, just waiting to take our beloved rainbow flag and rise it at half-mast for a rancid, homophobe. I don't know how we come back from this. Our sweet, fun and safe Fire Island has been violated by their wickedness.

MOUNT GAY

How funny then that a gin guzzling gay boy, finds himself at a place called Mount Gay drinking rums! Please don't tell the good folk at Hendricks. I felt as though I was cheating!

I will admit going into this trip, gin would take a backseat. If you get to Barbados and get the chance, I highly recommend this tour. It was very much like Auntie Mame and Vera Charles, when the bar tend asked if I could be persuaded to stay and enjoy a drink, to which I replied, "Well, maybe just a... tiny tripple."

Three hours later and we were still there! The place is historic, and the good folk of the distillery take you through the fully operational rum making headquarters. Steeped in over 300 years of heritage and expertise, the experience are tales to be told forever in this rum lover's paradise. I was very impressed. The place got its name from the Mount Gilboa plantation that was managed by Sir John Gay Alleyne, a prominent Barbadian politician. After his passing the place was renamed in his honor Mount Gay, which has gone on to the oldest produced rum across the world where it started in 1703. First off, we were even offered to be picked up at out hotel, which with Warbucks and myself was probably a good thing. Once arrived, your met by the most stunning bar and library area, where you meet the rummal tour guide, and an absolute tasty rum punch. The tour then starts at the water spring that goes into the rum, all the way through the creation and storing process. The guide also told us of the amazing social and environmental work the company does on the island. After a very in-depth tour of the plantation, factory and museum, and a great film, the tour ends up in the gorgeous bar area, where your able to take part in classes, tasting flights, or full-on ordering of drinks. Wanting to immerse ourselves, we took part in all three, of course! It was interesting to see the different colors of the rum as it ages. We also went through the tasting notes of two of their rums. A little shopping and more drinking and it was a lovely, if not blurry afternoon.

Contrary to belief, this is NOT the gin my my basement!!!!

Tina, our guide!

Hands down, one of the best moments of the trip. Tina asked if we wanted jobs there, but we said no thanks. We were worried me might drink the profits.