THE BELVEDERE

I'd seen the Belvedere before when on Fire Island but was never really there for any period of time let alone stay there, except when one year we went to a pool party there. It was definitely something. When Fire Island virgins first take the nighttime ferry from Sayville to Cherry Grove, it's a unique sensation that occurs as they approach. Towering above the multitude of tiny summer cottages is a baroque beacon, a shimmering palace that is so wonderfully out of place, that it seems to fit right in yet. But I wondered how an Italian palazzo ended up off the coast of this island?

Well after blowin the current owner, I got the story, Just kidding, just kidding!!! Or am I? LOL. I did ask and found out this iconic Venetian inspired guest house for men was established in 1957 by self-taught artist and set designer John Eberhardt. He has built over 50 of the islands homes too. Modeled after Venetian palazzos, the castle like white facade features ornate towers, domes and a consecrated baroque chapel.  Eberhardt hand painted interior trompe l'oeil murals and decorated the rooms with European antiques. I was even told the mayor of Venice even gifted the hotel a city flag. For nearly 70 years it has operated as a historic vacation oasis and one of the oldest continuously running queer spaces on the island. It wasn't till 1984 it transitioned into a male only clothing optional guesthouse right during the HIV'AIDS crisis.

Our room

Queens getting frisky?

Some of the clan, with the baring of MM #1 Fan's assets.

Naked yoga! My view with breakfast one day! Now that is a sight you don't see every morning.

This was Not my room to settle rumors.

Fire Island...such a fun place and nowhere else like it. The Belvedere has passed down through three generations, managed and owned by Eberhardt first, then adopted son and partner Craig, and now owned and managed by Craig's husband Julian Dorcelien Eberhardt, who sadly told me he is putting it up for sale as it takes all your time up running the place. It is listed in the millions currently. I hope it find a good owner and keep the traditions going. I mean, who doesn't like seeing men doing naked yoga while enjoying breakfast? And then the tea dances! 

WILD AT 19...

 ...Before stepping into 20!

My no-good social director, Anita Moorecock informed me, yet again this year, I missed the A Day with the Mistress Borghese's blogoversary. I apparently hit 19 years last week! Hell, I have had this blog longer than any man at this point!! Hard to believe I'm still doing this and writing, and having people still reading and following, who knew? To think my good friend and siter Mame, AKA David Dust dragged me kicking and screaming to start a blog after commenting on blogs for 8 years before starting one. And it wouldn't be blogger without them blocking my last post, for what reason I can't phantom, and I noticed the follower counter also no longer updates, but yet I'm still here, mind you, getting more irritated by their nincompoopery. but yes, with some gin and good friends such as y'all I continue and do enjoy it. Some fun facts- we are at 15, 498,650 views, 6,010 post, 13,804 comments and one person short of 500 followers.  897 drag queens presented, and at least 320 visits to the Candy Shop. That's a lot of beauty and cock. Not to mention Mood Boards and In Three Words which continue to be popular and then there's all my nonsense, of travel, shade, men, kiki-ing, life at the Casa du Borghese, drinking and rants. It surprising to me that most of my readership is from Europe, Japan and not surprisingly, South America. Hello boys!!! The US on a list of 20 countries comes in at 14. 

So, we will be popping open the bubbly, and letting it all hang out and celebrating today with the houseboys. Here's to 19 more years of gin and sin! Pop in and have a nip with us! Of course, the head-ers are a staple here too! Here are some from over the years. And always remember- 

"LIVE! LIVE! Life is a banquet and some poor suckers are starving."

Now, what should we discuss next?

SEEN IN NEW HOPE

I have always loved my get-a-ways to New Hope and mourn missing it a couple times a week after living there for 25 years, with it being a very liberal area. We had a getaway last weekend to New Hope and Doylestown. New Hope is so popular because it combines a extremely bohemian vibrant arts and LGBT culture with scenic Delaware River views, historic colonial charm, a colorful, racy and historical history, storied residents past and present. and a prime location, roughly perfectly positioned between Philly and New York. It has always been famous for an art and writer's colony and still draws creatives. Its inclusivity is very important in New Hope...has a long-standing reputation as a safe, welcoming and progressive haven for the LGBT, drag, and other minorities. The sheer natural beauty of the area was first seen and appreciated by the Lenni-Lenape people so many thousands of years ago. It's also what attracted the great Pennsylvania Impressionist school of artist like Daniel Garber and Edwin Redfield, writers from the Algonquin round table, Dorothy Parker and Oscar Hammerstein were longtime residents, furniture maker George Nakashhima created and has his studio in New Hope, now run by his daughter, and has hosted a long list of singer and actors at the Bucks County Playhouse...some notables, Geoge C Scott, Bea Arthur, Helen Hayes, Betty Buckly, Elaine Stritch, Robert Redford, Hugh Jackman and too many others to mention and still continues great talent. And then there is our distant relation on my mother's side, Aaron Burr, who was the sitting Vice President at the time, fled the scene and hid out in New Hope after he stabbed Hamiliton in a duel who later died.  Then there is the natural beauty...looks like a European countryside, and all the witches, and hauntings...yes, New Hope is one of the most haunted towns too. Some scenes this weekend...

Dinner at Zoubi's...always a favorite and what a courtyard to dine in.

My dinner that night, a crabcake with corn on top and two sauces on the side with coleslaw. And yes, edible flowers. I hated to eat it it was so pretty.

Our hotel, and my breakfast one morning at a vegan restaurant.

Fonthill Castle in Doylestown. 

Never tire of seeing this place. I used to live about 8 minutes from it.

An entrance to Fonthill Castle from the Woods.

The home of Bradley Cooper...minutes form my old place. To think we could have been neighbors!

And then there was our pool boy, and bartender Dan. 

He moved here from Russia 15 years ago. Me OH MY! So there was that.