Support Ralph Northam for Governor This Evening

Tickets are still available for the fundraiser this evening to support Raplh Northam's gubernatorial campaign.  Given the threat - at least in our view - that Donald Trump and a Republican congressional majority pose to LGBT rights and civil liberties in general, it is all the more important that we elect Ralph Northam as Virginia's next governor.  We need a firewall against some of the worse extreme policies that may be forth coming, especially given some of Trump's anti-LGBT appointees to date.  The husband (Barry D. Menser) and I know Ralph and his wife personally and we believe it is absolutely critical that we do all we can to support his election effort.  Hence, we are on the host committee for a fundraiser on December 8, 2016.  We encourage you to join us at the event (if you cannot attend, we will be hosting an event in our home at a later date).  The details are below:

Please join

Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam  

and 

Jimmy R. Chisman | Jerri & Frank Dickseski | Duncan & Diana Garnett  

Barry Menser & Mike Hamar | Jay & Tara Joseph | Mamie Locke

Monty Mason | Jim McNider | Ross & Martha Mugler

Leonard A. Bennett & Dr. Drina A. Northam

BJ Roberts | Molly & Forrest Ward

At the 

Northam For Governor Hampton Kick-Off

Thursday, December 8, 2016 – 6:00pm to 8:00pm 

At the home of Molly and Forrest Ward
801 Park Place | Hampton, VA 23669

Host - $5,000+ | Co-Host - $2,500 

Sponsor - $1,000  | Benefactor - $500 

Supporter - $250 | Guest - $100

To RSVP, please click here or email david@ralphnortham.com.

You may also call 804-397-9877 

Click to RSVP online >>

"Dinner is Served" - Mediterranean Pool Party "Tiaras & Togas" - Today August 3, 2013

The boyfriend and I helped begin the set up last night for today's "Dinner is Served" party in Virginia Beach to benefit Access Aids Care, a local AIDS/HIV assistance organization.  Tickets can be purchased at the door and are well worth the price to support this worthy charity.  The boyfriend has put the finishing touches on our Classical Greek themed costumes - costumes are NOT required - and he will be headed out soon to start preparation of the ante-pastas dishes.  I hope local readers will turn out this evening.  The weather should be perfect.  And many thanks again to Olive Garden for providing a great deal of the food.  Here are details:

We invite you to a Mediterranean Pool Party - "Tiaras & Togas". Please join us for dinner, cocktails and volleyball and many other friends at The Country Club  - Saturday, August 3, 2013 to benefit ACCESS Aids Care.

You can purchase your ticket's to the Dinner is Served Mediterranean Pool Party online with your credit card. Click on this link:

http://www.accessaids.org/index.php/special-events/dinner-is-served/tiaras-togas-dis-party

Can't attend? Purchase tickets anyway and it will be a donation to ACCESS!

Your hosts are Steve Kavanaugh, Rob Economu, Rodger Hall, Tony Wagerman, Perry Edmundson, Harley Handy and Barry Menser

6:09PM until 9:00PM

1425 RYLANDS ROAD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23455

Music by DJ Airrick from the Rainbow Cactus • $100 Prize for Best Dressed Star/Starlet • Lots of Olive Garden Food, Snacks, Beer, Wine, and the Infamous Madras Punch!

Tickets $30 in Advance |  $40 at the Door 
$50 VIP Tickets • VIP: Open Bar (Premium Liquor)

•100% of  All proceeds benefit ACCESS AIDS Care Center for Education & Support Services
• Advance Donation Tickets ay be obtained from any of your hosts (Cash, Credit Card or Checks payable to ACCESS AIDS Care).

Please feel free to bring guests and remember to bring your towel! Also, please be respectful of neighbors and park only on the odd number side of the road.

 As a thank you to hosts and guests who make a donation you will receive a ticket to the Champagne and Dessert Gala on October 26, 2013. There we will raise our glasses and celebrate each other and our pledge to assist those suffering from HIV/AIDS in our community.

"Dinner is Served" - Mediterranean Pool Party "Tiaras & Togas" August 3, 2013

Each August a friend with the help of some of our Sunday pool party group (we call our friend's home "The Country Club") hosts a "Dinner is Served" party to benefit Access Aids Care, a local AIDS/HIV assistance organization.  This year, we are among the hosts and I would encourage local readers to consider attending.  It's a fun event (there is always a theme) with good food and adult beverages that raises money for a worthy cause.  The theme this year is "Tiaras & Togas" and some attendees will come in costume, although costumes are not required.  Here are event details:

We invite you to a Mediterranean Pool Party - "Tiaras & Togas". Please join us for dinner, cocktails and volleyball and many other friends at The Country Club  - Saturday, August 3, 2013 to benefit ACCESS Aids Care.

You can purchase your ticket's to the Dinner is Served Mediterranean Pool Party online with your credit card. Click on this link:

http://www.accessaids.org/index.php/special-events/dinner-is-served/tiaras-togas-dis-party

Can't attend? Purchase tickets anyway and it will be a donation to ACCESS!

Your hosts are Steve Kavanaugh, Rob Economu, Rodger Hall, Tony Wagerman, Perry Edmundson, Harley Handy and Barry Menser

6:09PM until 9:00PM

1425 RYLANDS ROAD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23455

Music by DJ Airrick from the Rainbow Cactus • $100 Prize for Best Dressed Star/Starlet • Lots of Olive Garden Food, Snacks, Beer, Wine, and the Infamous Madras Punch!

Tickets $30 in Advance |  $40 at the Door 
$50 VIP Tickets • VIP: Open Bar (Premium Liquor)

•100% of  All proceeds benefit ACCESS AIDS Care Center for Education & Support Services
• Advance Donation Tickets ay be obtained from any of your hosts (Cash, Credit Card or Checks payable to ACCESS AIDS Care).

Please feel free to bring guests and remember to bring your towel! Also, please be respectful of neighbors and park only on the odd number side of the road.

Dinner Is Served is an annual event held by ACCESS AIDS Care where individuals and groups agree to host parties to help raise much needed funds for ACCESS and the services we provide to the community.

As a thank you to hosts and guests who make a donation you will receive a ticket to the Champagne and Dessert Gala (Date TBD). There we will raise our glasses and celebrate each other and our pledge to assist those suffering from HIV/AIDS in our community.

A big thanks for your corporate sponsor Olive Garden for providing the food for the Mediterranean Pool Party.

Hampton Arts 25th Anniversary Celebration and Silent Auction

The boyfriend and several of our friends are serving on the planning committee for the Hampton Arts 25th Anniversary Celebration and Silent Auction which will be held on April 13, 2013 at the C. H. Taylor Arts Center located near downtown Hampton.  The silent auction will include artworks in all media by local artist friends which have been donated for this first ever event. Other items will include weekend beach, golf and ski getaways, fine dining experiences and personal services. All the proceeds will benefit the Hampton Arts Foundation.  Information on the event and ticket purchases can be found here. Here is some information on the work that the Foundation sponsors:

Now widely known and loved for the quality, innovation and diversity of its programs and exhibitions, The Hampton Arts Foundation is unique among non profit organizations. In partnership with the City of Hampton, the Foundation has saved and preserved two of Hampton's most historic buildings - The American Theatre and The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center.  Hampton Arts offers a wide variety of fun and enlightening classes at The American Theatre and The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center.

Information on the performing arts at The American Theatre in historic Phoebes and other programing can be found here.

 The boyfriend and I will be attending - I will probably be working a portion of the event - and I truly hope that local readers will make every effort to attend.  It should be a wonderful event and the funds raised will go towards offsetting reductions in state funding (the Virginia GOP always views the arts as unnecessary "fluff").  Your support will be most appreciated.

David Frum to Romney: Be a Better Rich Guy

Even GOP leaning conservatives seem to be picking up on Mitt and Ann Romney's tone deafness when it comes to making themselves look utterly out of touch with the vast majority of Americans.  David Frum is one such conservative who notes that the Romney fundraisers in the Hamptons over the weekend could not have been arranged to look more damning if they had been orchestrated for Romney by the Obama campaign.  Admittedly, many voters are not all that smart and/or don't follow politics as closely as they ought to, but the images of obscene wealth do ring home.  Especially when added on top of reports of Swiss bank accounts, tax haven holdings, etc.  Here's Frum's advice to Romney via The Daily Beast - advice that I personally hope Romney ignores:

In Robert Caro's new LBJ biography, he tells this story of John F. Kennedy: Kennedy faced considerable opposition within the Boston Democratic organization when he first ran for Congress in 1946. He made an early public appearance at an event organized by the local leadership. One after another, contenders for the nomination took to the stage to tell party members how they "came up the hard way." At last it was JFK's turn. He opened his speech, "I see I'm the only person here tonight who didn't come up the hard way." Caro tells us that the quip turned the whole room around, confirming the old saying that in politics you get a lot further with a joke and a lot of bribes than you do with a joke alone.

Still, I thought of that story as I read Josh Green today:

Mitt Romney’s fundraising events in the Hamptons yesterday wouldn’t have looked much different if the Obama campaign had organized them on his behalf. From the ostentatious mega-mansions, to the Bentleys and Ferraris, to the guests’ crass boasting about their yachts and condescending putdowns of the poor and middle class, the whole scene seemed designed to reinforce Team Obama’s preferred image of Romney as an out-of-touch plutocrat concerned only for those with a comparable net worth.

For Romney, just back from a jet-skiing vacation at his lakeside manse in New Hampshire, the events will raise lots of money and put further distance between himself and the president. In June, he and the Republican National Committee out-raised President Obama and the Democratic National Committee $106 million to $71 million. But every time Romney draws attention to the unseemly aspects of his wealth (or when his supporters do, like the Hamptons crowd), he undercuts that fundraising advantage and hurts his candidacy. He does this a lot: bragging about his multiple Cadillacs, proposing a $10,000 bet during a GOP debate, boasting of his friendship with NFL owners. Romney’s problem is that while he was very good at getting rich, he isn’t any good at *being* rich. In fact, he’s downright terrible at it.

What strikes me most about Romney is his seeming sense of entitlement.  His attitude is akin to that of the wealthy in the movie Titanic where the Leonardo DiCaprio character was viewed by most as an alien bug to be stepped on.  Romney doesn't seem to get it that it was largely his birth into wealth that allowed him to live the way he does.  Had he been born into a working class family, he'd likely be one of those "little people" his Hampton donors scorn.

Living Out and Proud - Returning to and Facing the Pst

The Hampton Roads Pride launch fundraiser for Out in the Park 2012 that I wrote about earlier in the week that took place this evening at the home of Susan and Paul Hirschbiel in Virginia Beach. It was a wonderful event and seems to have raised much of the additional funding that is needed to put on this year's "Out in the Park" event on August 18, 2912 in Town Point Park on the Norfolk waterfront. For me, however, even thought the event was obviously a safe venue (especially with me being a member of the HR Pride Board of Directors), it was nonetheless a bit unnerving. Why? Because the event was held in my former neighborhood where I lived for 18 years during the "straight phase" of my life. Yes, the same neighborhood where after I came out I suddenly became invisible, if you will, despite my many years of civic involvement that ranged from the PTA, local civic league, to the neighborhood pool association. It was an eye opening experience that brought home to me how few real friends I had.

Sometimes it is hard to let go off past hurts and slights no matter one's age or the age at which one came out and finally admitted to themselves and others who they really are. Not surprisingly, not many of my former neighbors were at the event. But some did attend, including a great straight couple with whom I had lost contact. The husband was my son's boy scout leader and my oldest daughter coached the neighborhood pool swim team that their boys swam for over a number of summers. They no longer live in the old neighborhood either, but it was great reconnecting and having them meet the boyfriend. The irony is that they confessed that they never liked the old neighborhood which they viewed as rather right wing in retrospect. Not that I knew their thoughts at the time that I lived in the neighborhood. Moreover, their favored circle of friends now includes many members of the gay community. I suspect that we will do more with them socially in the future.

Facing the past and old haunts and demons can indeed be frightening. But facing past demons can be liberating and prove that not all of you fears were justified. The best revenge is to be proud of who you are and refuse to allow others to diminish who you are. It's a lesson that sadly took me too many years to learn. I hope readers don't make my mistakes.

On a different note, the evening provided a great opportunity to get to speak with Paul Hirschbiel who is running for Congress and challenging hate group endorsed Scott Rigell. Check out Paul's website and support his effort. The nation doesn't need haters and Christianists like Rigell in Congress.

Out in the Park - Virginia Beach Launch Party on 4/18/12

Last year Hampton Roads Pride held a very successful preliminary launch event in Norfolk (the boyfriend and are Gold Sponsors for this year's event). Now, with the date of the 2012 Out in the Park date set for August 18, 2012, a full blown launch event will take place tomorrow, April 18, 2012. Here are details:

WHEN: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 from 6-8:00 PM

WHERE: Susan and Paul Hirschbeil home 1800 Eden Way, Virginia Beach, Virginia

FOOD SPONSOR: Dancing Tomato

POTENTIAL SPONSORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

RSVP: here or call (757)718-7373 because space is limited.

More information on the 2012 Out in the Park celebration can be found here on the Hampton Roads Pride web page.

Last Dinner on the Titanic

UPDATED: The boyfriend and I ended a Titanic focused weekend by seeing the 3D release of Titanic. The visuals are definitely enhanced and the movie still brings home the human tragedy of the over 1,500 souls lost in the wee hours one hundred years ago. What also struck me was that 100 years later we still see the same kind of callousness towards others displayed by some of the wealthy first class passengers - most of who considered themselves god fearing Christians or at least put up a pretense to that effect. Some of the most despicable characters in the movie would be right at home in today's GOP.

The boyfriend, my youngest daughter and a friend and client of the boyfriend attended the "Last Dinner on the Titanic" event at the Mariners Museum in Newport News last night and it was a wonderful event. In addition to providing an opportunity to get all dressed up, the event raised a significant amount of money to fund the museum's displays and programs. Some photos of the evening are set out below. They boyfriend did my daughter's hair and that of our friend and one of our neighbors - perhaps, I'm biased, but they had the best hairdos in my opinion:

Mariners Museum - Titanic Centenial Event

Since I was a child I have been fascinated by ships and the sea - even though during my earlier years and through high school I did not live near the coast. I still recall as a teenager going to New York City with my dad and walking down to the Hudson River wharves to see the liners Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Italian Line's Raffaello. Since moving to Hampton Roads I have come to truly enjoy The Mariners Museum in nearby Newport News which keeps alive the amazing history of ships and shipping. I wrote a while back about a fundraiser that will take place on April 14, 2012 - the centennial of the last night on board the R.M.S. Titanic. The image below gives information on tickets. You can also get information here.

The boyfriend and I are attending the First Class recreation of the last dinner on that fateful night almost 100 years ago along with my youngest daughter (who will be wearing a Edwardian like sequined gown) and some friends - our neighbor is on the museum board - and some of the boyfriend's clients. One of our dear friends is truly a kindred spirit with the "unsinkable" Molly Brown and will be a great edition to the evening. True to form, the boyfriend, a/k/a "Martha Stewart" will be doing hair and making Edwardian styled hair pieces for my daughter and friends. I hope local readers will consider attending if they are free on April 14th (unfortunately, the event conflicts with the EV Commonwealth Dinner that same night).

Click image to enlarge

Last Dinner on the RMS Titanic

Given the arrogance and contempt for the poor, blacks, Hispanics - basically every one other than white conservative Christians (preferably with lots of money) on display in the Virginia General Assembly, it is perhaps fitting that the Mariners Museum in nearby Newport News will be hosting a major fundraiser event on April 14, 2012, to mark the 100th anniversary of the night the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and subsequently sank two hours and forty minutes later. At the time, little did the ruling classes realize that within a decade their world would be markedly changed particularly after World War I swept away numerous monarchies and never again would class distinction s and barriers be as powerful. Not, of course, that the Republican Party is not actively trying to bring back that bygone age. The country is experiencing wealth disparities likely last seen a century ago and as Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and others are demonstrating, contempt for the poor and minorities are at a new high amongst the GOP base. One can only hope that the current GOP meets a fate akin to that of the Titanic.

But I digress. The Mariners Museum is a wonderful facility and has artifacts that range from the turret of the ironclad U.S.S. Monitor to items from the super liner U.S.S. United States to a collection of vintage Chris-Craft runabouts. The event is pricey because of its fundraiser objective. Here's a description from the Museum's website:

On the evening of Saturday, April 14, 2012, we will commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the RMS Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage with a black-tie Last Dinner on the Titanic event. Participants will dine in either “first class” or "third class" style as they mingle with “passengers” from the past. We’ll conclude with a special remembrance at the exact time the ship struck the iceberg. Proceeds from this event will support the 2012 programs and exhibitions at The Mariners’ Museum.

First Class Dinner in the Museum Grand Lobby

The experience begins at 6:30 p.m. as you are greeted by Captain Edward J. Smith and welcomed into the Grand Salon of the RMS Titanic. A sumptuous 5-course re-creation of the Last Dinner awaits you as you are serenaded by the sounds of a chamber quartet. Enjoy the company of John Jacob Astor & Benjamin Guggenheim.

$250 per person, $2,500 per table (seats 8), Black tie or period costume.

Third Class “The Real Party” in the Huntington Room

This event begins at 7:30 p.m. when you pass through Immigration inspection and are sent to the Dining Hall. There you will enjoy hearty fare & beverages and enjoy rousing Irish tunes.

$125 per person, Period costume optional.

Yes, the Boyfriend and I will be attending and we will be taking my youngest daughter with us a birthday gift. A neighbor is on the Museum's board and we fully support the Museum's mission. More information on the event can be found here. We have one friend who is going that we think would make a perfect "Unsinkable Molly Brown." We love her to death and she's a great ally to the LGBT community.

Social Commitment Over Drive Weekend

As much as I complain about living in Virginia which is a legal backwater in terms of how LGBT citizens are treated, the boyfriend (pictured at left) and I do have a busy and full social life. Indeed, at times it's almost too busy. As a result, we both are often "over booked" and this weekend was an extreme example. Hence why I have not posted since yesterday morning - we've been over extended in terms of networking and social commitments.

Yesterday began with me speaking to a group of 35 to 40 real estate investors on topics such as using self-directed IRA's for real estate investing. Next I visited my 96 year old aunt who broke her leg and under going therapy in a rehab center. Then I raced home to help the boyfriend prepare for his salon's holiday party at our home. After that, we headed to an ACCESS AIDS Care fundraising party hosted by friends in Norfolk. Following that, we went to The Wave to dance for a little while where, as is the norm, I saw clients. As an added ego enhancing experience, I had an adorable Navy boy dance with me in a "come hither" way while I was dancing alone on the main dance floor (the boyfriend was talking to some other friends). As we get older I must concede, dim lighting and alcohol are truly wonderful at times! :)

Today, the frantic pace continued as we finished preparations for the salon staff function which included all staff and their significant others. The menu was amazing and would have done Paula Dean proud - and yes, the boyfriend has done her hair twice - and the brunch and karaoke DJ were a great success. No sooner had we finished cleaning up than we had to go to the birthday party of a friend who looks after one of the boyfriend's 90+ year old clients. It was a lot of fun and included a truly crazy cross section of attendees, all of whom are gay friendly.

I mention all of this for two reasons. First, for those still in the early stages of coming out who have seen their former social life collapse, my experience proves that you can move on and rebuild a new social life. Second, even in backward places like Virginia, one can have a great social life and in the process of being out and proud have the opportunity to change hearts and minds merely by being yourself and making no apologies for who the creator made you to be.

Want to Have Cocktails with John Waters?

As I have noted before in past posts, one of my activism activities is serving on the Gay Cultural Studies Board for Old Dominion University ("ODU") in Norfolk, Virginia. The Board's goal is to raise an endowment to fund a permanent post doctoral position in LGBT studies. The individual holding the position will not only teach courses within the LGBT studies subject area but will also work on an interdisciplinary manner with other departments at ODU and serve as a liaison to the larger community. As part of the Advisory Board's fund raising effort, we will be hosting a cocktail reception with John Waters following his presentation at ODU on November 10, 2011. Here are details (NOTE: the number of tickets to the cocktail reception is limited, so act promptly if your are interested in attending):

The Gay Cultural Studies Advisory Board of

Old Dominion University

invites you for

Cocktails with John Waters

Renowned film maker, actor, and writer

at the home of

Fred Bayersdorfer and John Wills

1202 Graydon Avenue, Norfolk

Thursday, November 10, 2011

9:30 pm Following Mr. Waters’ appearance at the ODU Presents Series

Minimum donation: $150.00

RSVP by October 30 to Cathy Craft (757) 683-4468 or ccraft@odu.edu

Limited to 40 guests

More Information on ODU Presents and John Water's appearance at ODU can be found here.

Access AIDS Care Fundraiser

Each summer a friend hosts a barbecue/pool party to raise funds for a worthy Cause: Access AIDS Care which provides much needed services in the Hampton Roads area. Access is also the umbrella organization under which the new LGBT Center of Hampton Roads has been launched. Consider donating if you haven't done so. Donations can be made online. The event yesterday was a great success with probably a couple hundred attendees - despite passing rain showers while we were setting up that fortunately passed on through - and a lot of fun as some of the photos show. The theme this year was the South Seas and the crowd was creative in some of the costumes. Yes, I'm in one photo and I've vowed to start doing sit ups again! For those coming out later in life, I cannot stress how much getting involved in LGBT organizations has helped me build a new and vibrant circle of friends.

ODU Gay Cultural Studies Invites You to a House Party

The boyfriend and I are hosting a house party in support of the Old Dominion University Gay Cultural Studies endowment effort this Friday at 5:30 PM. Our goal is to fund an endowment that will provide for a permanent post-doctorate position at Old Dominion University ("ODU"). Information on the goals of the effort can be found here. The speaker at the event at our home will be Dr. George D. Greenia, Professor of Hispanic Studies at William and Mary. Dr. Greenia (pictured below) is most famous locally for his pioneering efforts in bringing LGBT programming and organizations to his culturally conservative campus during the Reagan era of the 1980s.

We hope that peninsula readers will try to attend. Here are details:

When: Friday, June 10, 2011 at 5:30 Pm to 7:30 PM

Where: Michael Hamar & Barry Menser's House

To RSVP: Click Here

Last Chance to Support HRBOR's Winter Wine Festival

Unfortunately, the boyfriend and I had pre-booked our annual Key West trip months before the decision was made by the HRBOR board of directors to sponsor the Winter Wine and Food Festival that will take palce tomorrow evening. But that's not to say that we are not supporting it through silent auction donations and ticket purchases (my daughter and her boyfriend are going as my firm's representatives). This is going to be a great event and I hope truly hope that local readers will make a point to attend. The food and beverages will be wonderful.

Winter Wine Festival
&
Silent Auction

Five Points Community Farm Market
2500 Church St., Norfolk, VA 23504
http://www.5ptsfarmmarket.org/
January 22, 2011 7p.m. - 11p.m.
Come and taste incredible wines, gourmet foods, desserts and coffees set in the organic Farm Market.

Participating Vendors:

Holly Grove Vineyards
Angry Adams Wine and Cheese Spot
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
Get Fresh Cafe
Bardo Edibles & Elixirs
Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas
Lew-Lou's Sinsational Bakery
Rogue Elephant Coffee Roasting Company

Florals provided by New Leaf Florist
Linens & Tables provided by Distinctive Event Rentals

Tickets:
$40 per person !!!
$50 per person at the door, January 22, 2011

For Sponsorship Opportunities contact, Jodi Butler: 757-572-5971.

For tickets call: 757-339-1892 or Email: events@hrbor.org or flavorhamptonroads.com

Daily Press Plugs HRBOR Wine and Food Festival

The Daily Press - which has a circulation area that embraces the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg and York and James City Counties - ran a column promoting HRBOR's upcoming Winter Wine Festival scheduled for this coming Saturday. It should be a great event and I hope Hampton Roads based readers will make a point of attending. The proceeds will go for charitable purposes. Here's the column:
*
Flavor Hampton Roads is the first wine festival and silent auction fundraiser presented by HRBOR, the networking organization serving the gay and lesbian business community and its supporters.
*
The event will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Five Points Community Farm Market, 2500 Church St., Norfolk.
*
The market will be decorated as a winter wonderland, and guests will enjoy regional foods, desserts, wines, beers and coffee at stations set up around the market.
*
Participating food and wine vendors will include Holly Grove Vineyards, Angry Adams Wine and Cheese Spot, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Get Fresh Café, Bardo Edibles & Elixirs, Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas, Lew-Lou's Sinsational Bakery and Rogue Elephant Coffee Roasting Company
*
Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door. They’re available by calling 339-1892, emailing events@hrbor.org or online at www.flavorhamptonroads.com

New York City - "Promises, Promises" and the "Glitter Ball"

We head back to Virginia this evening and it’s been a truly great trip. Yesterday we saw “Promises, Promises” and Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenowitz were each great in their roles. After the show we stopped for cocktails at the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel - originally owned by John Jacob Astor – and it’s mural by Maxwell Parrish which depicts flatulence. The mural (at far bottom of post) is said the be the result of a bet where Astor challenged Parrish that he could not paint a picture of the indicated subject. The faces of the guards - which feature Parrish's own face - indicate that he won the bet.

*
Later after a light dinner we went to the Monster Bar where there was a party called the "Glitter Ball" the proceeds of which were to benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights – the organization funding the plaintiffs’ case in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Please consider going to AFER's webpage and making a donation. There were a number of show business people in the crowd and a number of them sang some of the disco themed songs of the evening. And there was definitely some major league eye candy (see photo below). Among the show business crowd was Randy Jones (pictured above), one of the original Village People who sang, as one might expect, "YMCA."

*
It will most definitely be dull and depressing to be back in Tidewater Virginia with its all too prevailing backwardness, religious based ignorance and prejudice. We are lucky that the boyfriend’s client base and our friends and neighbors do not fit the norm for the area, but I nonetheless have to wonder how long we will want to stay in the area once we lose our elderly parents. Life is too short to live it surrounded by ignorance and bigotry.

Glitter Ball eye candy.

King Cole mural

Dining Out For Life 2010

Just a reminder that on April 29, 2010, the boyfriend and I will be hosts for Dining Out for Life at Brent's in downtown Hampton. If you can join us, call Brent's and make a reservation: 757-722-1185. I will be at Brent's from 5:30 PM on. Here is a description of how Dining Out for Life benefits the local community:
*
More than 60 restaurants - I believe the number is now close to 70 - across Hampton Roads this year, as we join together to fight AIDS and raise awareness in Hampton Roads. Dine at a participating restaurant on April 29th and a minimum of 25% of your meal cost will be donated back to ACCESS AIDS Care. All of the proceeds raised from Dining Out For Life stay in Hampton Roads and will benefit over 600 individuals and families served by ACCESS AIDS Care in our community.
*
If you cannot join us at Brent's I hope you can support the cause at some other participating restaurant. For a list of other restaurants to choose from, click here.

2009 Legends Gala A Big Success

This years Equality Virginia Legends Gala which was held last night was a huge success. We are still waiting for the final tally of the amount raised to benefit Equality Virginia, but I believe that it will be significant. The event is run by a committee of local volunteers and while a great deal of work, I have greatly enjoyed my years on the committee. After three years of having dinners, the Legends Committee decided to do something different and opted for a formal Monte Carlo night which would allow guests to mingle more, play assorted games - e/g/. black jack, roulette, etc. - eat at food stations in several parts of the room and dance to lively music. The boyfriend and I (pictured above with husband and wife straight allies who attended) had a wonderful time and it seems so did everyone else. This year's honoree, Cindy Cutler, had some beautiful remarks and spoke on the need of straight allies of the GLBT community to "come out" and not be afraid of supporting GLBT equality and speaking out against prejudice. Cindy is an amazing straight ally and sets a wonderful example for all to see. I hope to post her comments in the near term.
Three of my fellow HRBOR board members on the left above.

As the photo below indicates, besides the gambling tables, the dance floor - which picked up on the black and white color theme- saw a lot of activity, the boyfriend and I are at center of the photo below.

Dancing with Cindy Cutler, 2009 Honoree

ACCESS AIDS Care Fundraiser

Some friends - a nice gay couple - hosted a fundraiser last night at their beautiful home on a tranquil lake in Virginia Beach to benefit ACCESS AIDS Care which provides services and programs to children, adults and their families infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. These services include but are not limited to case management, housing, transportation, outreach, meals, daycare and HIV testing. It is a wonderful organization and one in which I plan to become more involved. The party was fantastic and had a huge turn out. The attendees included some of the usual Sunday afternoon crowd that congregates by the pool at my friends' home most weekends for insane volleyball tournaments - the usual get together is on for today - plus scores of others.

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The theme was "Risky Business" and there were lots of Tom Cruise wanna be folks in atendance, complete with their oxford shirts and white briefs for the Tom Cruise look a like contest. One of my paralegals and his boyfriend attended and seemed to have a good time. The crowd was predominantly older, but Matt and Rob both seemed comfortable and ended up in the pool as did most people before the evening was over. Much to my pleasant surprise, the new potential love interest in my life showed up too. Since he lives in Hampton on the other side of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, I had not expected to see him, but he apparently had hoped I would be at the function. He rode over with friends after they had previously been to a birthday function on their side of the water. All and all, it was a wonderful function and no doubt raised a good amount of money for a very worthy cause.

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Afterwards, some of us went to The Wave for some dancing and as a result, I am moving a little slow today. :) Especially since I slipped while dancing - someone spilled a drink on the smooth steel dance floor which makes it as slick as glare ice - and I managed to mess up my lower back, although I avoided the embarrassment of wiping out completely. Nothing worse than looking like you're sh*tfaced when you're not.