This past weekend, I chose to start a new art business. Its a business that provides a platform for artists, feeds my soul, and generates revenue; a great triumvirate. I’m focusing most of my working effort on this and I’ve chosen to pause my Speakeasy Cubes art installation. Its a tough call to make but I believe the right one.
Its hush hush for now as I pull together the business plan and team. I won’t be sharing details on it here for several months. So when you see me, please ask me about all this in person!
I really like the elaborate holiday windows that the traditional and high-end stores in New York City create. I took a few nights and took pictures of them. Bergdorf Goodman had the best. Below are six random pictures out of over 150.
For about ten years, I’ve wanted to attend a Click + Drag in New York City. The nightlife event evolved from the Jackie 60 crowd at Mother and grew into its own in early 2000. Unfortunately, I lived in Seattle and the event halted after the 9/11 conspiracy.
That changed this past weekend.
For the event, I put together a look that was a fetish geisha rubber dominatrix. I wore black leather boots what went almost to my knee, had 1.5″ platform and 6″ heels. A rubber corset with Japanese style flowers and bamboo on it. Fishnet hose. A rubber miniskirt. Makeup. And a geisha style wig.
Clck + Drag was wonderful; filled with engaging, fun, creative freaks in all their glory. I arrived abot 1am. Jessica Rabbit Domination and Hattie were working the door. I lost my ticket somewhere so coughed up some more dough; they were nice to give me a door discount. I handed off my coat and started back up to the main space. On the way, I met MaKi* who took this great shot of me. Thank you MaKi*! When I entered the main space, I was pummeled with Sammy Jo’s music; who by the way was wearing a rubber tuxedo. It was techy-deep-funked out bliss. People everywhere.
I was immediately approached by a woman. She said her name was Lucille and that she was waiting for me all night. I had never met her before but immediately I liked her. She was in proper high-end mature goth garments and beautiful. I invited her to have a drink with me; she wanted white wine. We went over to the bar hand in hand. Shortly after I ordered, an older gentleman came over and said he had to leave. I said to him, “So soon?” He said yes and left. I didn’t know him. And then Lucille said she had to go with him. I said goodnight and told the bartender she didn’t need that wine anymore.
I met my friends Julio, Ryan, and Blue on the dance floor. By then, both of them had stripped off some clothing. Julio to pants. Ryan to a jock strap. There was a faint smell of poppers and then suddenly I found them at my face. I ducked to avoid; I personally don’t like them. We were talking of outfits, or lack thereof, when Abby Ehmann appeared.
I love Abby. I’m slowly getting to know her and its a delight. She was one of the originators of the original Click + Drag years ago. She was also a Burning Man regional for the New York City area recently. She’s got a good soul, creative spirit, and a megawatt smile. She’s also a master of smut. We gabbed on about the night, the nightlife scene in New York, and how she thinks I’m the perfect mix of west coast, gay, Burning Man, and New York. I like to think so, even if it makes me quadpolar.
Soon after, the Pixie Harlots performed. I have two friends (and others I’m getting to know) in the troupe. Darrell Thorne was front and center holding fire and slowly gyrating while wearing a horned headdress. Machine Dazzle appeared later in a skirt made of football shoulder guards and a welders helmet; all of it sequined and mirrored. All of it. The Harlots’ performance was perfection. The Village Voice captured many pictures from the night. I’m in picture 34 with my friends Ryan and Blue.
And then (hang with me), Sammy Jo segued off the turntables and Xris Smack took over. Xris played a darker more industrial sound. I hadn’t heard that sound since my twenties in Atlanta dancing at the Millhouse with Angela. It consumed me and I was in dark dancing heaven.
And then (so much more to come), a tall woman named Jennifer appeared. She asked me if I thought I was the tallest person in the room; taller than she. We checked and I was maybe an inch or two taller. We were both wearing high heels. (Side note: my feet were killing me. It was my first time in heels.) She and I clucked on about everything from other outfits to the Harlots to laser hair removal.
Somewhere along the way, more glasses of Maker’s were consumed. I danced with a guy dressed head to toe in rubber with only a zipper open for his mouth, three small holes for his eyes and nose, and rubber port to piss. I caught up Machine. Complimented Rob Roth on his projection visuals. Exchanged compliments with another woman in Asian garb. Teased and was teased by Leo because his boyfriend/my friend, Blue, and I are his wet dream. Ran into
Slowly, we moved downstairs where Sammy Jo had started playing music again. This time in pansexual dance classics like West End Girls, Rio, and others that all of us just smiled and smiled. I felt as if the music warmly embraced our pansexual (in my case, gay) dance asses.
Sometime around 5 am, I and my feet were done. I gave kisses to all, hugs to some, and a grope or two. It was a fantastic night. It would have been great to experience the actual event back in the late 90s, but time has passed along with nightlife culture. New York is not the same as it was back then. Its a little sad. But we do have some groups, like the friends and family of Mother NYC and the Jackie Factory that march forward creative rich nightlife. I bow to them and give my greatest thanks! I also thank New York City for which there is no other place that Click + Drag could occur.
Yesterday, I looked at several apartments in Manhattan. These two stood above the rest.
This first one was beautiful exposed brick, slanted ceiling with skylight, top floor, wood floors, older charm, dishwasher, and a small walk in closet. All is good except the living room would be really crushed for my furniture and there isn’t a lot of wall space for art.
This next one was middle floor, wood floors, older charm, large living room, average bedroom, typical tiny New York City closet, a storage cubby above the kitchen, lots of wall for art, and what looks to be a working fireplace. All is good except the bedroom floor is slightly slanted.
When I first moved to New York City in 2007, I was possessed by the subways; those mysterious tunnels that transported me from one neighborhood to another and sometimes under water. Now that I’ve been here over a year, I better understand where the neighborhoods are and the lines run. The mystery fading away.
Until tonight.
You see, I’m starting to look for vast dark spaces in New York City to preview an installation I’m building for Burning Man 2009. I heard of the Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage and that it closed permanently in 2001 due to security paranoia. An anchorage is a large, very stable stone structure on either side of a bridge.Creative Time used it for eighteen years as a forum for the exploration of artists working in many disciplines including new media, music, fashion, film, design and video. Visitors compared the cathedral-like vaults (nearly 50 feet high) to Piranesi’s “Carceri”, to ancient catacombs and to the austere intimacy of a monastery.
I’ll likely never be able to see them; doubtful put a public installation in them.
While I was reading about the Anchorage, I found the book New York Underground: The Anatomy of a City by Julia Solis. Its a collection of images with history, legends, and facts of the places we don’t see underneath New York City; its abandoned train stations, cathedral crypts, and subterranean hospital passageways, and other delectable places.
Now, my mystery and wonder of the subway is back. And, I am still looking for that amazing vast dark space for the preview. Anyone know of?
If you haven’t heard yet, I’m in the online video blog Forever…For Now. Its a view into the love life of my friend Shanti. And…I fit into that love life.
The recent episode “Jack’s Love Letter” is very raw. I’m very raw. I filmed most of this episode myself. You’ll see. What happens in it is very complex and what is captured is scary at times. I had to do it. It was hard.
Watch it. Now. More after the jump.
That was episode 9 of Forever…For Now. There is lot of things that happen that lead up to this. Go back and watch all the episodes before. They’re 10 minutes or less each. Its a roller coaster of a ride.
It is with great sadness that I say goodbye, at least for this lifetime, to my housemate, Eric. He passed away, suddenly, in a motorcycle accident on Tuesday 6 May 2008.
Eric and I were housemates and shared a bathroom for a year in my home in the East Village of New York City during 2007-2008. When I moved to the city back then, Eric became a friend that gave me hints and regularly had a warm smile when I came back with some fantastic story; joshing along with my tale.
I really enjoyed the difference in age between Eric and I; he was about ten years my younger. His approach to many things opened my eyes to other options. He was a good debater and a deep thinker. He worked through his ideas and opinions. We had fun all along the way and enjoyed good debates like Barack Obama vs. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Or the similarities and differences of hooking up between homosexuals and heterosexuals.
Eric was actively engaging in life and pushing forward. In addition to motorbiking, another of his passions was making documentaries. He had recently made a trip south to Central America to visit family and film footage for a documentary he was making. I’ll miss the excitement of seeing his first segment edited.
I do wish that he was still here with us; that I could have a conversation with him in person. But that will not happen. Eric has left this physical world. So for now, I say goodnight and I wish him well on his journey.
My friends at Mr. Black and Tubway launch a new saturday night party “The Church Sessions” starting this Saturday 15 March 2008.
Expect the spirit and energy of Mr. Black combined with the serious house, soulful, sexy, banging beats (on up to four turntables at once) of the Tubway family. As Edina from Ab Fab said, “Names…names…names!” Many kick-ass people are involved in this to make it a party…to make it a new statement on the New York City nightlife scene.
Go go go! I’ll also be there with bells on. This Saturday night, 150 Varick @ Vandam in New York City. $10 before 2am, $15 after.
Hey, everyone. My friend, Shanti, has a video blog at http://foreverfornow.com that is about her New York City dating experiences and Season 2 just went live.
Its hilarious! And true. True in that funny yet really raw way. Go watch at least the last few episodes from Season 1 so you can get up to speed and then watch Season 2.
A new episode goes live every Monday. Do it Forever…For Now.
When I first moved to New York City in 2007, I was possessed by the subways; those mysterious tunnels that transported me from one neighborhood to another and sometimes under water. Now that I’ve been here over a year, I better understand where the neighborhoods are and the lines run. The mystery fading away.
by 
