Gay American Heroes 'National Memorial' to Unveil at the Winter Party Festival

I'm pissed that I did not read Calor's Thursday, 7 February email until this morning which informed me not only of Presidents Day Weekend events featuring DJ Chad but also of the 7 - 8 February Gay American Heroes National Memorial fundraiser event at Halo/ DC.

I would liked to have attended the 7 February Halo / DC event.

Learn more about the Gay American Heroes National Memorial by visiting sites at MySpace or FaceBook or Gay, Lesbian & Everyone Else.

If you are attending the 2008 Winter Party Festival in Miami Beach you may wish to know that there will be a 6 - 8 pm Unveiling of the Gay American Heroes National Memorial on Thursday evening, 28 February 2008 at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens at 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach.

Herbert Gentry at N'Namdi Gallery / Chelsea NYC . 15 February 2008

For Immediate Release / Contact Information
Alaina Simone (alaina@grnnamdi.com)
526 W. 26th St. #316
New York, NY 10001
voice(212) 929-6645
fax (212)929-1661

The Man, The Master, The Magic”
Paintings and Drawings by Herbert Gentry (1919-2003)

New York, NY (January 24th, 2008) - G.R. N’Namdi Gallery is pleased to announce the Opening Reception for Herbert Gentry’s retrospective exhibition, entitled “The Man, The Master, The Magic” celebrating over forty years of work on February 15th, 2008 from 6 until 10 pm. This retrospective exhibition runs from 15 February thru 12 April 2008. The opening reception is sponsored by Uptown Magazine and Martell.

The paintings and drawings in this retrospective exhibition vary in size and range from 1964 until 2003. Gentry’s formation as a painter should be considered in light of the passion he brought to his identity as a painter, “A painter paints, a fighter fights, a writer writes,” he would say. Gentry painted his world on canvas, alluding to his fascination with the power of social relationships and the allure of the journey. His aesthetic speaks through decisive lines and a strong sense of composition. His canvasses are intuitively descriptive of his international experiences living in Harlem and throughout Europe. He stated: “Painting is very much about sex, it’s about love, it’s about putting things together”. The drawings featured in this exhibition, although as extemporaneous as his paintings, are more laid-back and lovely. They're filled with sinfully sinuous lines forming erotic shapes inspired by the curvaceous form of the female body.

Herbert Gentry (1919-2003) was born in Pittsburgh and raised in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance. His mother, originally from Jamaica, was a dancer and Ziegfeld Follies showgirl, fostered his artistic sensibilities by exposing him to art museums, jazz music and the theatre. ”Harlem prepared me for Paris,” Gentry confirmed when he arrived in 1946 to study painting on the G.I. Bill. Following his Service in the U.S. Army during World War II, Gentry moved to Paris, and studied at L’Academie de la Grande Chaumiere and remained there to hone his talents in a freer and more accepting racial and cultural environment.

An exhibition catalogue featuring texts and photographs of the artist and his work will be available. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11-6pm or by appointment. Please contact alaina.grnnamdi@gmail.com for additional information.

View the entire press release at my Google Documents.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 8 February 2008

10 YEARS AGO / February 1998

"From the Mouths Of" . Rami Elamine / Washington Peace Center

Don't Bomb Iraq / Speak Out Rally

Dupont Circle, NW . WDC

Saturday, 21 February 1998

2008 Friday Photos of the Week

February Second Saturday at the GallAerie: Dana Ellyn (Paintings)

As mentioned in my last weeks posting, this Saturday, 9 February 2008, Dana Ellyn will be holding a one night only solo show at The GallAerie, a small grassroots showing space in Mt. Pleasant.

Click the image to view Dana's Evite for details.

Arena Stage Temporarily Relocates to Crystal City

Last fall, Arena Stage temporarily relocated to Crystal City while its 6th Street, SW, WDC location undergoes renovation. Future plans also include stage performances at the Lincoln Theater on U Street in NW WDC.

Arena Stage renovated the Crystal City theater specifically to accommodate patrons and productions for the next two and a half seasons while Arena’s new home is being built. The theater itself is roughly the same size as the Kreeger, though the lobby is larger than the former space.

Productions began in Crystal City with Ella starting on December 28, 2007 with no anticipation of changing any existing performance dates for the rest of the 2007/2008 season except for The Mystery of Irma Vep which will now run from June 6, 2008 through July 13, 2008. Production dates for Kiki & Herb: Alive on Broadway may also change, but you will be kept informed. In the interim, please see the "Plan Your Visit" section of the website for Frequently Asked Questions, directions and other relevant information.

Situated in the heart of Crystal City, Arena Stage is NOW temporarily located at 1800 S. Bell Street in Crystal City / Arlington VA.

Julio's Barber Shop / Crystal City Mall

After my 5 February 2008 visit at the Crystal Flight Artists Studio Viewing Window I stopped in at Julio's Barber Shop, which is just a few feet away, for a much needed haircut.

At $13 (not including tip) and such quick, efficient and polite service ... may I suggest that if you are in the Crystal City area and are in need of a trim ... why not take a stroll over to the Shops At Century / 2461 S. Clark Street Building to get a peek at the Crystal Flight artists in action. And then stop in at Julio's Barber Shop.

Yes We Can Can

Upon receiving an email from my friend Billy Warhol linking to the Yes We Can - Obama video ... would it not be an excellent idea if a similar video was made using the Pointer Sisters' "Yes We Can Can".

Colin Powell's Fateful Lies ... 5 Years Later

Five years ago, the final path to war in Iraq was paved with lies from then-Secretary of State Colin Powell. This excerpt from Neck Deep examines the oratorical techniques that Powell used to sell his false United Nations testimony as truth.

My Crystal Flight / Artists Studio Viewing Window Photos & Video

Here are my 5 February 2008 photos and video compilation from yesterday's visit to the Crystal Flight Artists Viewing Window in Crystal City.

Unite: SLDN's 16th National Lobby Days & Gala

With your help, SLDN will hold 2 Lobby Days and a Rally on Capitol Hill, on Thursday & Friday, 6 - 7 March 2008 to draw attention to the urgent need to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Register today!

If you can't join SDLN for Lobby Days, be a part of the high-impact Friday, 7 March 12:30 - 1:30 pm Rally on the US Capitol's West Lawn to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell!" ... when energizing speakers with advocates from around the country call on Congress to lift the ban. Take an hour out of your day to add your voice to this high-visibility event.

And then on Saturday evening, 8 March, Unite: SLDN's 16th National Dinner & Silent Auction will be held at the National Building Museum featuring guest speaker Tipper Gore and Army Sergeant Darren Manzella.

RSVP NOW!

Crystal City BID Launches Crystal Flight with A Colorful Opening Party

On Jan. 29. Sponsors, artists, and other VIP guests attended the artful event receiving a sneak peek of the planes, before the artists inject their color and vibrant designs starting February 1. The artist will work through the winter in time for them landing on the streets in April.

Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group generously provided the workshop space to store and decorate the planes, Miller and Long donated the concrete bases to have them installed on the streets, and JK Moving and Storage, Inc. provided the critical technical support for the handling of the planes and will put them on the streets in April. For a list of participating sponsors and artists click here.

50 planes, 50 artists, 50 sponsors - all symbolizing that Crystal City is truly taking off.

Crystal Flight – See the Planes, See the Progress – Online or Live! Keep up with the excitement around this project by visiting the Crystal Flight Blog, which will regularly capture the activity from the sponsors, artists and the community impact. You can also view the artists in action via a studio viewing area located at 2461 S. Clark Street.

Click image to view Crystal City BID's article in the February 2008 Spotlight Crystal E-Newsletter pertaining to Crystal City Flight.

3 Weeks Until the 2008 Winter Party Festival / South Beach

There are just 3 weeks left before the 2008 Winter Party Festival at South Beach.

Launched in 1994 as a one-time charity dance event on the sands of beautiful South Beach, Winter Party Festival has evolved into a six-day festival benefiting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community on the national and local levels. Over 10,000 guests from all over the United States and abroad attend at least one of the 20 events - including music, fashion, art, comedy and more -- that take place in Miami and Miami Beach.

The Festival climaxes with the Winter Party Beach Party, a dance event on the sands of South Beach that draws a crowd of more than 5,500 revelers. The 15th Annual Beach Party will be the centerpiece of the 2008 Winter Party Festival.This fabulous celebration, benefitting the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, is also an important fundraiser for the LGBT community. To date, the Festival and its sister event, the Miami Recognition Dinner, have raised over $1.6 million for organizations serving the South Florida LGBT community. No matter where your interests lie, the Festival offers something for you. Winter Party Festival - it's MUCH more than a day at the beach.

Opening on Saturday, 23 February, here is the schedule for the 2008 Winter Party Festival. Which will close on Monday, 3 March.

Click the above image of Steve Lee dancing with a friend at the 2007 Beach Party to view my 2007 Winter Party Festival flickr photo collection.

Keith Boykin launches The Daily Voice - Black America's Daily News Source

Today, Monday 4 February 2008, marks an important day in the history of the black press as Keith Boykin launches The Daily Voice newspaper.

In its debut issue, prominent black women take center stage.

Boykin says in his final blog posting "The Daily Voice is not a gay site. Or a straight site. But rather it's a place for all of us to come together in the African American community. Whether you're male or female, gay or straight, young or old, Republican or Democrat, we want to hear your voices. I see this as a space where Rev. Jesse Jackson may contribute one day and then Clarence Thomas the next. (And you all know what I think about Clarence Thomas.)".

Hallelujah! This, indeed, is a most important day in the history of black press.

DJ's picked for 2008 Heritage Pride 22nd Dance On The Pier

In the Thursday 31 January 2008 Weekly Newsletter Mark Nelson Events informs us that under the banner/theme of "Live Love Be" the NYC Heritage Pride organization has selected djs Joe Gauthreaux & Tracy Young for the 22nd Annual Dance On The Pier which will take place on Sunday, 29 June 2008, from 4 - 10:30 PM.

Though the website is currently under reconstruction NYC's 2008 Pride Week is 22 - 29 June.

I, particularly, like the NYC Heritage Pride 2008 "Live/Love/Be" artwork. I wonder who the artist(s) was/were who designed it. I always like to keep up on these kind of things.

Mark Nelson Events is one of two NYC gay oriented events businesses/organizations that I suggest gay event coordinators keep abreast of.

Winter Party Festival 3rd Annual South Florida LBGT Family Pride Picnic - TY Park / Hollywood FL . 24 February 2008

This year, the Winter Party Festival's 3rd Annual South Florida LGBT Family Pride Picnic will be held on Sunday 24 February 2008 at TY Park, Pavillion #8, in Hollywood FL.

The 12 noon 'til 5 pm free event for parents and kids, new friends and old, complete with food and festivities ... TopeeKeegee Yugnee (TY Park) is located at 3300 North Park Road (just off I-95 at Sheridan Street) in Hollywood FL. Here is a map.

Click the image to view my 3 March 2007 2nd Annual South Florida LGBT Family Pride Picnic at TY Park photoset (some which may be viwed at the Winter Party Festival website). And my 2007 Winter Party Festival photo collection.

WDC's St. Patrick's Day Parade - Sunday, 16 March 2008

Scheduled for a 12 noon step off at the corner Constitution Avenue and 7th Street, NW, the theme of this year's WDC St. Patrick's Day Parade which will take place on Sunday, 16 March 2008, is "A History of Strength".

With no entry fee for marching units, inquiring participates must apply by completing one of three applications, available for download from the website.

Whether submitted electronically or by regular mail, your application must be received before February 15, 2008. It is very important that your application include a brief one-paragraph description of your unit. If you are submitting a paper application, use the back of the form; if by email, include the description in the message. What you write will be announced to all who are watching the parade from the reviewing stand. If you have an email address, please include it on your application.

There are three ways to register your unit for the 2008 parade:

1. Fill out the online registration form

2. Download and follow instructions on this pdf form (Acrobat reader required)

3. Download and follow instructions on this Microsoft Word® form (Allows for emailing filled-out application)

Please review the Parade Policies and Rules. Violation of these policies will result in immediate ejection from the parade.

Click the above image to view my WDC 11 March 2007 St. Patrick's Day Parade photo set, which is still under construction.

Koreatown / Manhattan

When, last week, that I inquired of his delineation between Times Square and Midtown, saying that that he has always regarded them as one in the same, Richard suggested that Times Square / Midtown area began in proximity of Macys, around 34th Street, and ended at the beginning of Central Park.

Saying that while I understood that the two areas overlap and are very much inter-related from my days in NYC with Frank back in the 80's when we referred to the area between 31st and 34th Street as Herald Square ... Midtown, for me, may would be from 34th or 35th to 42nd. And 42nd to 59th would be Times Square.

Herald Square would be along the Sixth Avenue and Broadway corridors whereas, the 7th and 8th Avenue corridors, from 31st to 34th or 35th, may would be Madison Square Garden. While the same area along 9th Avenue up to 42nd Street may would be referred to as the Clinton area. Which is situated between Chelsea and Hells Kitchen along 8th and 9th Avenues.

Anyway ...

When posting the above never before seen March 2006 image and using the opportunity to learn more about Herald Square I learn that the corner of Sixth Avenue and 31st Street, as the beginning of Herald Square, is also the beginning of Koreatown / Manhattan.

Click the above imge to view my March 2006 NYC flickr photo set.