May is National Masterbation Month

Reporting on Friday, 2 May 2008 that May is National Masterbation Month, PlanetOut / This Weekend invites you your straight friends to take part in a first-ever masturbation survey.

So, stand up, raise your one free hand and repeat: "My name is_________________, and I love to masturbate!".

Click image.

Friday's Photo of the Week - 2 May 2008

Pedestrians . Thomas Circle / 14th Street, NW, WDC

Friday evening, 25 April 2008

2008 Fridays' Photos of the Week

Centaur Music's Blue Ball Series CDs only $5 until 5 May

A proud sponsor of the annual Blue Ball in Philadelphia since 2002, Centaur Music been responsible for creating magical musical memories over the years with the hottest DJ mixes.

This weekend Blue Ball will once again fill the 'City of Brotherly Love' with more energy and music and Centaur's musical memories of BLUE BALL are all on sale for $5 each, but just until Blue Ball ends on May 5.

Choose from featured DJs: Roland Belmares, Susan Morabito, Alyson Calagna and Lydia Prim.

Order today & save - ONLY $5 each.

One Mighty Weekend...Only one month away!

Click image to visit website. Advance tickets only available on-line at CircuiTicket.com.

STILL SMOKIN': Mark Lee's Lizard Lounge Returns After 2-Year Hiatus

Washington Blade's OUT IN DC
Friday, 2 May 2008
Cover Feature
By ZACK ROSEN
Blade photo by Henry Linser

The Lizard is back. Though local promoter Mark Lee shut down his popular Sunday night Lizard Lounge party in April 2006 due to concerns about the city-wide indoor smoking ban, the event will re-open on Sunday, May 4, at Lima, a K Street bar with an all-weather patio.

Click image to read entire article.

2008 Dance on the Pier / NYC Pride's Dance 22

In addition to an earlier posting regarding the NYC Pride 22nd Annual Dance on the Pier, in a Thursday, 1 May 2008 E-Newsletter, Mark Nelson Events reports the following:

One of the largest outdoor dances in the world & the finale to NYCs Pride Week features 7,000 attendees, The Dance on the Pier was born out of a time when our community could not dance, openly & proudly w/ other members of our LGBT community.

This years music will be provided by Producer/DJ Tracy Young & DJ Joe Gauthreaux.

Click image to read further.

DC Firefighters Burn Foundation

During my Wednesday evening, 30 April 2008 photo / video walk along 17th Street (Dupont Circle) which has been an ongoing series since 1992, I'd happen upon three members of the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation soliciting donations.

Download jpg's of page 1 and page two of their pamphlet for more information.

Founded by D.C. firefighters Jason Woods and James DiGregory in September 2004, the mission of DC Firefighters Burn Foundation is to prevent burns and to improve the quality of life for burn survivors through programs, education and research.

The D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization and with your help, can continue to fund the many programs that they support ... relies on individuals to provide ongoing financial support to help them meet their mission.

Contact Jimmy DiGregory for information regarding the foundation.

Donations, large and small, are greatly appreciated. All donations are fully tax deductable or burn survivors through programs, education and research.

You can donate online or via a check, payable to the D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation and mail to:

D.C. Firefighter's Burn Foundation

P.O. Box 71056

Washington, DC 20024

One Immigrant's Story

In observation of 1 May 2008, Immigrant Rights Day of Protest, I'd like to shed light on the story of an immigrant man who in connection with my ongoing Street Musicians and Buskers series I captured at Dupont Circle North during my 18 April 2008 photo video walk.

Though I had not known Juan Cuadros until our brief meeting that afternoon, at which time he mentioned that he was from Peru, it was after having posted my video and when checking the links that I'd learn of this one particular immigrant's story.

An electronic & acoustic guitarist in the Latin & Instrumental genre, contact information for Juan Cuadros can be found at the DC Live Music website which features professional latin musicians and top rated singers in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia area.

While there may be others, I'm aware of at least two May 1 Immigrant Rights events in WDC today. Beginning at 12 noon, demonstrators will converge onto the Republican and Democratic National Committees on Captiol Hill. Followed by a Rally at the US Capitol Reflecting Pool, the demonstrators will then march to Meridian Hill / Malcolm X. Park for a 4 pm Rally.

Virgin Mobile Festival / Baltimore . 9 - 10 August 2008

The Virgin Mobile Festival returns to Baltimore this summer, August 9-10 at Pimlico Race Course. It's two full days of music giants like Foo Fighters, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, Jack Johnson, and Bob Dylan. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, May 3 at 10AM through Ticketmaster. When you're in town to rock out, make sure you check out Baltimore's other great summer events, great hotel packages and other deals and discounts all around town.

Anniversary of Eastern Market Fire

WASHINGTON, DC (April 30, 2008) - Though this evening marks the one year anniversary of the fire that gutted the Eastern Market South Hall, business and activities in the neighborhood continue unabated. Mark your calendars for these events.

Click image for my Google document version of the Eastern Market E-Newsletter dated Wednseday, 30 April 2008.

Fire Island Pines House for Rent / Summer 2008

Historic and newly renovated three bedroom beach house for rent in Fire Island Pines. On the Pines' only private walk. Direct beach access from the Garden.

Three bedrooms, fireplace, all new furniture, freshly renovated, private garden setting, pond, waterfall, in ground hot tub, private gate directly to Ocean. The property features a main house and a guest cottage.

The house is available for rent as quarter share (five weekends) for maximum of six people.

It's also available for weekly rentals.

Click image for Google document featuring more images as well as contact info for Josh Wood of Josh Wood Productions.

ILLUMINATE - Blue Ball Weekend 2008 / Philly

AIDS Walk / NYC - 18 May 2008

DC2NY offers mineral water, free Wi-Fi, and $20 fares between NYC & WDC

When during my Friday, 18 April 2008 photowalk that I happened upon a DC2NY bus at Dupont Circle West parked on Massachusetts Avenue just north of P Street and inquired of the pickup and stop points located in DC, the drivers informed me that, in addition to the Dupont Circle location, a second was on 14th Street just south of I.

Which during my Friday, 25 April 2008 photowalk and in connection with my ongoing 14th Street, NW, WDC (2009) Project I would happen upon at the WMATA McPherson Square Station.

Launched last July, the new luxury bus service to New York, offering a complimentary beverage upon boarding and free wireless Internet access and round trip tickets starting at $40 for customers with reservations in advance ... almost a year later, still receives favorable reviews.

Though last August / September my partner and I took the Peter Pan, my next trip to NYC may be via the DC2NY.

Click the image to view my now ongoing D2NY Bus Travel Service photoset. And here is my January 2007 blog posting pertaining to Chinatown Bus.

The Return of Lizard Lounge (MetroWeekly)

Two years after calling it quits, Mark Lee brings Lizard Lounge back to Sundays

Mark Lee knows how to make an impression.

There was the success of his first Sunday night party in Adams Morgan during the late 1980s. Then his Atlas parties became an indispensable part of any holiday weekend.

Then there was Lizard Lounge, the Sunday night mainstay that charted out new gay territory on 14th Street -- making the neighborhood a cool spot years before the rise of condos and specialty stores. Lizard's growth and popularity led to a couple of venue changes, finally landing downtown on Connecticut Avenue.

At the same time, Lee was making just as big a political impression as an impassioned promoter and defender of nightlife businesses, advocating against undue regulation and overly burdensome operating agreements thrust upon bars and clubs by small neighborhood groups.
But his battle against the D.C. smoking ban gained him his greatest prominence -- some would say notoriety -- as a nightlife advocate. And when that battle was lost as the city passed and implemented the ban on smoking in bars and clubs, Lee announced that Lizard Lounge would be no more.

Two years later, the nightlife landscape has seen significant change -- a number of new ventures have opened, while others have closed their doors for good.

Time, it would seem, for the return of the Lizard Lounge.

Just as it did in the past, Lizard Lounge will take its perch on Sunday nights -- this time at Lima, an already popular nightclub located at 14th and K Streets downtown -- beginning with a re-opening party on May 4.

Click image to read the entire 24 April 2008 Metro Weekly feature / interview by Sean Bugg. Photography by Todd Franson.

22nd DC International FilmFest . 24 April - 4 May 2008

The 22nd edition of the Washington, DC International Film Festival features some of the best in new international cinema. Each spring the Festival brings quality world cinema home to the nation's capital.

This year, the focus is on New Latin American cinema and Politics on Film. Special guests and events for every age will be featured. Encompassing a global range of cultures, music, and politics, Filmfest DC will represent cinema from over 30 countries.

The 22nd Annual DC International Film Festival will take place at various venues from 24 April thru 4 May 2008. Here is a pdf of the catalog.

30 April 2008 'Wednesday Night Art Walk Series' at The Lustine Center / Arts District Hyattsville

Since the September 2007 opening of The Lustine Center at Arts District Hyattsville I have wanted to revisit the historic and former Classic Lustine Automobile Showroom on Route 1.

Having begun my Arts District Hyattsvile project shortly after its April 2006 groundbreaking, I am please to learn of another opportunity to get a good look at The Lustine Center as well as the Arts District Hyattsville when on this Wednesday evening, 30 April 2008, and in connection with an ongoing Wednesday Night Art Walk Series, the art gallery at The Lustine Center will feature:

• Painter Ricardo Concepcion
• Varied Media by Delia Mychajluk
• Visual Artist Monna Kauppinen
• Visual Artist Mary Ann Lipovsky
• Jewelry & Glass Work by Ed Burke
• Other art on display in the art gallery

The two hour 'mingling' will take place from 6 until 8 pm in the art gallery at The Lustine Center. Located at 5710 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville MD, from the district, take Rhode Island Avenue northeast into Hyattsville. Rhode Island Avenue becomes Baltimore Avenue. Continue to the Lustine Center on the left. Parking is available on Longfellow Street in front of the EYA sales office.