People with AIDS Plaza

I'm walking along Broadway next to City Hall Park and I was looking up at some architectural details of another building when I noticed this street sign that said "People with AIDS Plaza". I'm on the sidewalk,, there is no plaza... as I walked around the park there were a few other oddly named street signs hanging from the cool street lamps. There is the Steve Flanders Square and Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cody Stanton Corner. On the other side of City Hall Park on Park Row there is another sign that reads "People with AIDS Plaza", the two have no connection that I can figure out. I'm not sure if there are two Plazas or if there is something in between within the park. I couldn't find any plaque or stone or planting within the Park.

After a search on the web and on the nyc.gov website, I found no reference. People have written about this sign,, but there is nothing official I could find as to its origin. This will be a mystery.

...and the heat goes on

Our heat wave just goes on and on... and I am enjoying the nice warm later afternoons and evenings. So tonight, I took my ever so warm self up to the West Village to the Rockbar on Christopher Street. My hot Summer evening guilty pleasure is the ever satisfying beer blast and bar-b-que. .. there's nothing like a pint and a dog. Rockbar is right at the river.. nice breeze and a view of the river just one block away.

Another bonus highlight of Sunday evenings at Rockbar for me is kicking back and listening to DJ Joe Fiore (joedeeohh@gmail.com). Joe Fiore (Furball, Drenched) hosts an all-request DJ/VJ night here that really gets people up on their feet and singing right along. He really seems to understand just what the patrons want to hear. Yes, feel free to request, mention your favorites, Joe is happy to spin.

Folsom Street East

Pride week begins with last nights "Leather Pride Night" and todays "Folsom Street East" leather street fair. THE best street fair in NYC and a great fundraiser for organizations such as The Gay Community Center The Anti Violence Project The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. I worked the door last night and my shift today at Folsom is 1:45 to 3:45.... I look forward to these events every year. It seems like there are some friends I only see once a year at LPN and Folsom East. Come out and have some fun.. Happy Fathers Day~!

Springtime in Toronto

I did take a long weekend and visitited Toronto. This was my first trip to Canada and I quite enjoyed myself. I saw most every museum, district of the city, and with the assistance of my "Fun Map", I enjoyed Toronto's Gay Village most every night.

Big sunDAY

The International Day Against Homophobia, held on May 17 every year, is a rallying event offering an opportunity for people to get together and reach out to one another.


Today was also our AIDS Walk benefiting GMHC.

and

Broadway Impact is sponsoring the Marriage Equality Rally "Action=Equality" at 5PM in Times Square.


UPDATE: I just returned from the rally. It was just great,, I arrived as the cast of "HAIR" took stage to sing "Aquarius, Let the Sunshine In". Others who spoke were Cynthia Nixon of "Sex in the City", Senator Tom Duane, our mayor Michael Bloomberg, other various actors and there was music, singing and a lot of pep talk about phoning and writing our Senators and letting them know how we support marriage Equality. Go to Broadway Impact and follow the three easy steps.

Who's the Bully Now?

Recently two headlines; 11-Year-Old Hangs Himself after Enduring Daily Anti-Gay Bullying and Family says bullying led boy, 11, to hang himself reminded me once again that bullying continues in the schools and that suicide amongst young gay and presumed gay youth that are bullied at school just goes on and on.

The organizers of last Fridays Day of Silence was hoping to make a dent in those statistics and bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. There were many who objected.

Like Karen England, executive director of the Capitol Resource Institute, Laurie Higgins of the noted hate group Illinois Family Institute and Americans for Truth about Homosexuality a part of a national coalition of pro-family organizations urging parents to call their children out of school on the Day of Silence.

So I guess the recent suicide of 11 year-year old Carl Walker-Hoover, fifth grader Jaheem Herrera among several other students just this year didn't seem to phase those that opposed the Day of Silence. I guess as long as it's somebody elses kids(?).

Laws can be passed. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Member Daniel J. O'Donnell helped pass the "Dignity for All Students Act"", a measure aimed at ensuring public school communities provide students with a learning environment free of discrimination.

The mother of 11 year-year old Carl Walker-Hoover said the school had an anti-bullying policy and that she had complained of her sons bullying weekly.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network conducted a survey on its behalf by Harris Interactive® titled “From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, A Survey of Students and Teachers” The national survey of over 3,400 students aged 13-18 and over 1,000 secondary school teachers, explores students’ and teachers’ experiences with bullying and harassment, and their attitudes about this serious problem in America’s schools.strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

So, the Bullying Ball goes back and forth between organizations like GLSEN, Day of Silence on one side of the kids and Illinois Family Institute, ATAH, Capital Resource Institute on the other side of the kids. Law makers are on the sidelines trying to referee. All three sides feeling they are "right" and "protecting the kids".

Many more kids make it through the bullying years than not. Yet, there are kids who feel their only "out" of this temporary torment is suicide. Tolerance and acceptance on the part of the parents, the teachers, religious groups and our laws will go a long way in preventing further senseless acts.

Sunday Night at the Eagle

One of my favorite Sunday night "outs" is to go to New York Citys own Eagle. It starts early, at 5pm and gets crowded rather quickly. The place is packed by 9. I usually show up around 7 or 8 if I'm not working. I don't go every Sunday, but I go when I can and love the roof top deck especially as the sun is setting. As you can see by the picture, the roof packs up nicely. There is a bar and a DJ booth on the deck as well. The first two floors include pool tables, bars, music, large screens for films and special showings. The Eagle also has hamburgers and hot dogs cooking out in front most of the year on Sunday nights (sometimes up on the roof) and you can't beat the 3$ pints. A burger and a beer? It's the best Sunday night beer blast in the City.

The Eagle is located at 554 W. 28th street between 10th and 11th avenues. Check out their website for a calendar of events, variety of specialty 'nights', sports teams, the history of the Eagle and related links.

Always.Play.Safe. ;-)

ATE IS ENOUGH

Tonight was my first dining out experience with the "Gay Mens Dining Group". I found this group from a website called Meetup. I first heard of the Meetup website one morning on the The Today Show. So, I punched in my zip code and city and explored what was available in my area. I signed on and joined several groups, like the entrepreneurs group, a film group, an e-business group and a few others.

So, tonight the GMDG went to a Chelsea restaurant called ATE AVE. Nice space, long and narrow with a deck out back and right in the heart of Chelsea on 8th ave. I have been there several times before for social events, but never for dinner. The evening started with cocktails and socializing before we actually sat down. The menu was small, but ATE AVE is more of a 'gay bar with food' rather than a 'restaurant with a bar' as a sidenote. I had the salmon and brussel sprouts.. ha.. I like having salmon, it's one of the few meats I rarely cook on my own.

I met some very nice guys, and I liked the variety of ages and 'styles'. I was not the only one who was there for the first time,, about 30 or more guys were there total. I think I met my new tennis partner for the Summer. I hope to attend many more events. The host Troy was great. He made his way around and made sure everyone was having a good time,, very comfortable atmosphere. I'll be looking forward to the next event at the K2 Lounge of the Rubin Museum of Art.

The Morning After

So, this is the "morning after" the big NYC Black Party weekend. It's sort of like January 2nd, the day after New Years eve. A lot of anticipation and expectations, there is definitely an 'edge' of emotions here in the big Apple. Everyone seems to have an experience and opinion about the Black Party here in NYC and I suppose I have mine as well.

I attended the BP several years ago. It started out with a friend of mine who goes every year and he bugging me to go. I just can't see paying a hundred dollars (it's more now) for someones Fire Island summer home. Well, as it turned out, the very friend who had encouraged me to go had met separately before the event with his friends and they all tanked up on drugs. So, I went on my own with a clear head.

I arrived early by NYC standards, I think it was 1am or so. It was easy to check in a coat as most people get there much later. I remember the music stayed the same throughout the night,, not really separate 'songs', but just a loud base beat and and a rhythmic type of noise/music. I suppose I anticipated more as I heard the music at the Black Party is suppose to be the best. (A few months later I read an article saying how the music at these events are tuned to the same frequency as what is basically going on in your drug induced head, more or less.) People were out on the floor dancing. I explored the various rooms, stage shows, and black/back rooms.

I did run across several sets of friends that I know from various orgs I belong too and social events/clubs. And I did see my friend Dion. Everyone was pretty high. I was just sort of in a fish bowl looking out. I stayed until 6 or 7 in the morning. People were still arriving at that time I stepped out onto the sidewalk. The sun was coming up and I was anxious to get home.

What do I think about the whole thing? It was certainly a big event, I'm glad I experienced it. Having friends to go with and get high would be recommended, ha. It is what it is and part of our big gay culture. The Black Party is for all, but it's not all that for some.