Two events this weekend hosted by Prison Art Gallery are not for the meek!

While TONIGHT's "Eroticon" auction and reception at Busboys & Poets featuring controversial prison art, hosted by Woodhull Freedom Foundation and Prisons Foundation, has hit at least one sour note ... Saturday's free mentoring training workshop at the Prison Art Gallery by ex-prisoner artists and officials from Washington DC area jails and prisons is getting MUCH praise.

Click the above image to read the entire Priosns Foundation / Prison Art Gallery E-Newsletter dated Monday, 16 June 2008.

Singer / Songwriter Julie Clark performs at Capital Pride Festival

Though my 2008 Capital Pride Project is still under construction here the three videos that I shot of singer / songwriter Julie Clark's performance at the Main Stage during Sunday's Festival.

• Video #1/3
• Video #2/3
• Video #3/3

Click the image to view my Julie Clark - Capital Pride Festival - Main Stage / WDC - 15 June 2008 photoset.

John Waters LIVE: One Night Only! - Thursday Night, 26 June 2008 (NYC)

If you are planning a trip to Manhattan for next weekend's NYC Pride Celebration you may wish to arrive in time for the Thursday evening, 26 June 2008 Josh Wood Productions "John Waters - LIVE: One Night Only event.

A benefit for The Stonewall Community Foundation, the JOHN WATERS' "THIS FILTHY WORLD" one-man show is a “vaudeville” act that celebrates the film career and obsessional tastes of the man William Burroughs once called “The Pope of Trash.” Focusing in on Waters’ early negative artistic influences and his fascination with true crime, exploitation films, fashion lunacy, and the extremes of the contemporary art world, this joyously devious monologue elevates all that is trashy in life into a call to arms to “filth followers” everywhere.

Held at the Concert Hall at The New York Society for Ethical Culture, at 9pm on Thursday, 26 June 2008, general admission at $37.50 iincludes a subscription to Time Out New York. Filthy VIP at $100 includes Meet & Greet with John Waters, autographed DVD and reserved seating.

LIZARD LOUNGE 10-Year Anniversary Celebration!

This Sunday, 22 June 2008, Mark Lee and ATLAS Events will celebrate the 10th anniversay of Lizard Lounge which was lauched in June 1998.

Always complimentary admission, from 8pm until 2am with music by resident DJ Kostas (no web presence) and Luke Easley ... drink, lounge, smoke or dance ... in any combination that you choose on this and evey Sunday at LIZARD LOUNGE at LIMA.

Which, located at 14th and K Street, south of Logan Circle and Thomas Circle is adjacent to Franklin Square in NW Washington DC.

21+ / ID required.

Click image to read the entire ATLAS Events E-News dated Thursday, 19 June 2008 for more specific details.

Vote for Erick Wilund in NYC's Artists Wanted Photography Competition

a photography competition
Originally uploaded by Erick Wilund

One of my favorite and certainly most talented and best photographers on flickr, Eric Wilund, is one of the featured artists in the soon to end New American Art Boom Photography Competition at Artists Wanted.

Those who know me know that this is not something that I have ever taken lightly. However, Erick's work deserves such attention.

And, as detailed in the caption of this photo ... please VOTE FOR ERICK WILUND ... and click the 5th (far right) star to vote (below the photos, where it says "Rate this Portfolio"). Clicking any of the other stars will result in a lower rating. You can vote every 24 hours, so if you vote today, you can vote at the same time tomorrow and again on Friday. I know that this is a lot to ask, but voting ends at midnight on Friday and there is a special award for the most votes from the public.

I have little doubt that once you take a glance at his flickr site you're understand why I went out on a limb to ask something that I have ever asked of you before. And may will never ask again.

But, Erick Wilund and his photography is deservant of such attention!

Sharon Brigforth's "delta dandi" NYC AUDITIONS and more

AUDITION: Freedom Train Productions

• Wednesday, June 25th, 610pm to 9pm @ Audre Lorde Project, 85 South Oxford Street in Brooklyn
• Thursday, June 26th, 610pm to 9pm @ Ripley Grier Studios, 520 8th Avenue (16th Floor) in Manhattan

Freedom Train Productions, a political theatre company and member of the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, seeks actors and actresses for an upcoming stage reading series. All plays will be featured at Fire! New Play Festival in August 2008. Last year over 500 audience members, including 50 theatre producers caught Fire! More infomation at http://www.freedomtrainproductions.org.

CLICK ABOVE IMAGE to read the entire 17 June 2008 E-News with information pertaining to play synopsis and character breakdowns.

Martin Brandt explores male bonding, bi-sexuality and 'rising from the dead'!

In celebration of GLBT Pride 2008 celebration I'd like to bring your attention to a most unique author by the name of Martin Brandt whose website I'd come across last week.

Born on the banks of the Amazon River and raised by a Kaiapo wet-nurse while his mother conducted medical research and taught the Kaiapo children how to play the violin, Brandt studied rocket science at the University of Uganda before making his home in America.

Married to a tall blonde woman who he considers as his soul mate, Brandt's 'fictional' writings while reflecting on such taboo subject matters as 'male bonding and male sexuality' also, powerly, explores the issue of bi-sexuality.

Published in June 2006, 'FIVE MARRIED MEN', a tale for anyone intrigued by the intensity and emotions of male sexuality, explores what may cause some men to risk their career and a marriage for the magic of an intimate bond with another man. Read Chapter One and Two. Here are some reviews.

Published one year later in June 2007, THE PARTISANS takes place in France during World War II and in this time of fear and oppression, and the Holocaust, the story follows a few weeks of the lives of black American Ethan Jones and French Adrienne Follett, members of the French resistance, and German defector Jhan. Read Chapter One and Two.

First published in 2005, the revised edition of A SONG IN THE PARK scheduled for an August 2008 release, is the fictional story of renowned San Diego surgeon Michael Anderson who after losing a little girl on the operating table would cross paths with Justin Brooks, a Park Ranger at Big Bend Park, who had left his bride-to-be standing at the altar. It is a celebration of human diversity and a discovery that it is the simple things in life that matter the most.

Available in December 2008, THE STRANGE HAUTNING OF JOHNNY FEELWATER is a haunting story of a man named Johnny Feelwater who having inherited an old house on Confederate Square in historic Savannah, realized, once he stepped through the door, that his life would never be same ... when Cassandra Mott, the old DEAD lady who had left him the house ... returned FROM THE DEAD as a beautiful young seductress, to begin life again at age twenty-six. Read Chapter One and Two.

Here are some of the IMAGES and ART in Martin Brandt's collection. To learn more about Martin Brandt read his biography and this recent interview.

Click the above image to view his website and contact form.

Just Circuit Mag - June / July 2008 Issue

Since receiving a printed copy of Just Circuit Mag "Summer Heats Up" June/July 2008 Issue in the mail the other day I've wanted to bring to your attention Mickey Weems' SHUT UP AND DANCE page 30 - 33 article "It All Started On April 8, 2008" in opposition Brett Henrichsen's Masterbeat World Tour stop at Town in DC during the Cherry Weekend.

And here is a pdf of page 18 which is the first page of Entertainer Editor John Kater's DJ of the Year feature on DJ / Producer Randy Bettis.

The June through October 2008 calendar begins on page 74.

Though always available FREE ONLINE, to have your copies delivered right to your door, and receive a free Centaur Music CD valued at $20, CLICK HERE.

Upload your Pride photos & videos to Washington Blade Pride Project

Friday's Photo of the Week . 13 June 2008

Susan G. Komen's 19th Annual Race For the Cure

The Runners Race . Jefferson Drive, SW, WDC

View Runners Race / Jefferson Drive VIDEO

Saturday morning, 7 June 2008

2008 Fridays' Photos of the Week

Pride Weekend at Town Danceboutique

Town is a sponsor of Capital Pride and is hosting multiple Pride events! Proceeds from these events are going to Capital Pride!!

Celebrate WDC'S 2008 Pride Weekend w/ Susan Morabito at APEX-DC

Celebrate the 2008 Capital Pride Weekend at the APEX when America's top DJ Susan Morabito will spin on Friday and Saturday nights, 13 - 14 June.

The Friday night line-up features:

• In our East Wing Lounge - DJ tim-e
• The Apex Dancing Studs
• Second Level Comfort Lounge withVJ Steve Rosa counting down videos from the 80s, 90s and beyond
• Cover charge is only $10
• 18 to enter/21 to drink
• Afterhours dancing

While Saturday night features:

• Caliente - All Latin dance party in the East Wing Lounge
• Showtime with Kristina Kelly & Company beginning at 11pm
• VJ Steve in the Second Level Comfort Lounge continuing with the music video countdown
• Cover charge is only $10
• 18 to enter/21 to drink
• Afterhours dancing
• DJ Susan Morabito will start spinning directly after the show at midnight

For more information visit www.APEX-DC.com or myspace.com/Apex_dc.

Save on Advance Tickets for NYC Pride's DANCE ON THE PIER and the (Saint-At-Large) CHAMPIONS After Party

Lenore Nolan Ryan's Summer Kids Kook Kamp / Lauderdale-By-The Sea

It has long been a dream of Lenore Nolan Ryan to open her door, kitchen, and heart to aspiring wee “chefs". And this summer it is happening in a place called KIDS KOOK KAMP at Lenore Nolan Ryan Cooking School & Catering in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL.

Click image for details and registration information.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 6 June 2008

Pasha Bistro . 1523 17th Street, NW, WDC

Sunday Photo Walk, 1 June 2008

See photo at Yelp

2008 Fridays' Photos of the Week

Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation eNewsletter dated Thursday, 5 June 2008

click image for AEHBF 5 June 2008 E-Newsletter

WDC's 3rd Annual NAKED BIKE RIDE this Saturday, 7 June 2008

In March and June 2008, in cities around the world, people will ride bikes naked to celebrate cycling and the human body. The ride demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and is a protest against car culture.

While most Northern Hemisphere rides will take place this Saturday, 7 June 2008, most Southern Hemisphere rides took place on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March 2008.

At 3pm on Saturday afternoon, 7 June 2008, the WDC 3rd Annual Naked Bike Ride will assemble at McPherson which located at 15th and I Streets, NW, is just across the street from the WMATA McPherson Square Metro Station.

Snacks will be served in a screened off area before step-off. Here are some bike decorating and body art and body painting ideas.

Stepping-off from McPherson Square, WDC's 3rd annual NAKED BIKE RIDE will proceed to the White House and, then, down to the US Capitol Building ... "to protest against oil dependency".

To learn more visit the WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE - WDC and WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE - WDC / Wiki sites.

Talk is cheap. Spread the word by clicking onto this jpg flyer and then, download, print, distribute and post flyers throughout the city. And at your blog.

Direct media inquiries to naturerunner@yahoo.com.

Michael-Christopher's UNSPEAKABLE book release event at Jin Lounge on Sunday, 8 June

Hosted by Brian Evans, join The Series and The Brother's Network as they celebrate the release of UNSPEAKABLE, the follow up to his best seller, From Top to Bottom by Michael-Christopher.

Purchase a book, mix & mingle, and enjoy drink specials with music by SoulBounce.com.

The book signing and reading event will begin at 6 pm on Sunday evening, 8 June 2008 at the Jin Lounge which is located on the historic "U" Street corridor at 2017 14th Street in NW Washington DC.

For more about UNSPEAKABLE visit www.michael-christopher.com.

Please RSVP to ensure you get your copy then pass this evite along to your contact lists. This event is going to be the talk of the town!

Ultimate Call for Content Contest Starts at 9am Today ONLY

Don't miss your chance to win $5000 for only 500 words!

Held in conjunction with Internet Week New York, here's the assignment:

Choose a topic you have enthusiasm or expertise in -- a person, a place, a technology, a trend or even a "how-to". Then, project ahead to next year, and why that topic will be relevant. We are accepting text, video and audio entries.

All entries will be reviewed by our Content Managers and a panel of expert judges. Content must be submitted on June 3rd before midnight through our contest area.

The best piece of content will win $5,000. All other entries will earn Performance Payments. Good luck!

For more information visit The Ultimate Call for Content website.

DC Residents No Longer Have To Register Bicycles With City

When I captured this bicyclist at Thomas Circle this evening I was not aware that effective TODAY, 1 June 2008, DC residents will no longer be required to register their bicycles with the city. Nor did I know that DC residents were required to register their bikes.

Transportation officials and police instead are encouraging residents to register their bikes by serial number with the National Bicycle Registry.

The national database is accessible by police anywhere in the United States.

To register with NBR, bike owners can purchase a kit for $10 at local bike shops or go online. Or call 800-848-BIKE.

It was when I was uploading this bicyclists photos that I heard the news on Fox 10 News. But since I could not locate the link from MyFoxDC.com, for the purpose of this posting, I'm referencing the news item from WRC 4 NBC News. Which I located when searching the internet.

Click image to view my ongoing Thomas Circle and Bicyclists 2008 photo sets.