Merry Christmas

click image

"Backdropped by a Colorful Earth" serves as the image for this 2010 Into 2011 greeting card. From the NASA Image Collection, and taken in December 2006, it depicts STS-116 Mission Specialists Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. and Christer Fuglesang participating in the first of the mission's three planned sessions of extravehicular activity as construction resumes on the International Space Station.

Click the greeting card to listen to and/or download my "O' Christmas Tree" holiday music mix which features a tracklist of free Christmas music downloads from Amazon.com.

Though not Christmas music, you may also enjoy my "Cloudburst Flight" new age / rock mix and tribute to Tangerine Dream. Which, by the way, is excellent traveling music.

Download a larger size of the above greeting card from my 2010 Into 2011 Greeting Card series.

Merry Christmas 2010.

Flo Anito: New Music Video is here, Happy Holidays!

Congratulations to Flo Anito for the release of her Uh Oh! video.

Click the image to read her 22 December 2010 ReverbNation Newsletter.

For information regarding this talented artist and performer visit the Flo Anito website.

Reduced Hotel Rates for 2011 Black Party Expo Weekend / NYC thru 31 December 2010

Though today is Winter Solstice, if you'll planning for a ritual Vernal Equinox trip to NYC for the 2011 Saint At Large Black Party Expo Weekend you have until Friday, 31 December 2010 to book your hotel room at a reduced rate at the Hudson which is this year's host hotel.

Click the flyer for more information regarding the 18 - 20 March 2011 Black Party Expo (BPX) Weekend.

Robbie Leslie: "Two Nights of Amazing Disco Classics"

Here's a little piece of club history for your enjoyment. In 1985 the Saint introduced an all new party - DISCO DIVAS. This night would be dedicated to an all classics format and featured live performances by Loleatta Holloway, Jackie Moore, and Sarah Dash. It was one of the Saint's most successful parties and spawned three sequels. Rarely had I seen such an excited and joyful crowd packing the dancefloor. The music is a celebration of the 70's and early 80's and includes, in addition to Disco's greatest hits, many of the rare and forgotten tunes that made dancing a thrilling ritual and a weekly event! This party has been beautifully restored and newly mastered to CD.

In addition to the SAINT'S DISCO DIVAS PARTY I am offering here the REVENGE of the DISCO DIVAS from San Francisco's legendary Trocadero Transfer. This CD set features an entirely different, all-disco programme that will keep you smiling and moving!

TWO COMPLETE DISCO EVENTS

SUPERB SOUND QUALITY AND DIGITAL MASTERING

SPECIAL PRICES:

DISCO DIVAS at the SAINT – 12 DISCS – $150

REVENGE of the DISCO DIVAS at Trocadero Transfer - 13 DISCS - $125

BOTH SETS FOR $250

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

FOR THOSE WISHING TO USE PAYPAL visit http://www.paypal.com/. Transfer funds to robbie@robbieleslie.com

FOR CHECK/MONEY ORDER please make payable to ROBBIE LESLIE. Mail to:

ROBBIE LESLIE - DIVAS

2716 NE 28 Street

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306

Visit http://www.robbieleslie.com/

My "Spirit Voices" New Age / Spiritual Cloudcast

"Spirit Voices" New Age / Spiritual (Vocals) Mix - December 2010 by Elvert Barnes Trance Head on Mixcloud

Fundraising Campaign for "Women, Sex, & Desire: Sometimes You Feel Like a Ho, Sometimes You Don't"

Gesel Mason Performance Projects has been selected to participate in a new online community of America's finest artists called USA Projects. As a result we are kicking off a new fundraising campaign for Women, Sex, & Desire: Sometimes You Feel Like a Ho, Sometimes You Don't.

It's all or nothing, so pledge today!

Click image for press release dated Tuesday, 14 December 2010.

My 2011 Photography Calendar of 2010 JR's Easter Bonnet Contestants

Click the cover to preview the fourth installment of my 2011 photgraphy calendar series which features some of my images from the 2010 JR's Annual Easter Bonnet Contest in Washington DC.

Available from the Elvert Barnes Storefront at Lulu, if you order before 31 December 2010, use coupon code GREATGIFT355 at checkout to receive 25% off your photo book or calendar order.

HubbleSite Update: Holiday Greeting Cards

Holiday Greetings

HubbleSite holiday cards are back! Send celestial season's greetings to friends and family with these free, printable cards. Choose from an array of designs that highlight the joys of the holidays through the natural beauty of the universe.

The cards are designed to be printed out at photo stores or online photo labs, though you can also use a home printer.

Click banner for details.

Mixcloud for Streaming DJ Sets & Mixes

I came across an excellent site for DJs to stream their sets and mixes.

Rather than a podcast hosting site which offers downloading, Mixcloud is a cloudcasting site for streaming. Not downloading.

I particularly like the tracklisting and chapters features, for the benefit of the listeners and for the purposes of paying royalties to artists, performers and labels through their licenses with the various collecting societies.

Click the banner to learn more about Mixcloud.

My Memorial Day Weekend "Leaving Planet" Mix at Mixcloud

"Leaving Planet" Trance Mix (Memorial Day Weekend 2010) by Elvert Barnes Trance Head on Mixcloud

Last chance for Russell U. Richards "Fiji Mermaid" Movie!

Hello everyone,

Thanks to you, my Kickstarter fundraising campaign for "Fiji Mermaid" has exceeded its projected goal by over 30%. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have a concrete budget for this film, and for the outpouring of support I have received. The campaign ends on the early morning of Dec 15, and I promise this will be my last reminder about it!

Handmade items like T-shirt, etching, or Fiji Mermaid will no longer be available after the 15th, so the next few days will be the last chance to pledge for those items. I'll do my best to make and ship everything in time for holiday gift-giving. If you haven't seen it already, a little about my film project and fundraising campaign here:

http://kck.st/9YowFv

Thanks again, and have a wonderful holiday season,

-Russell
Russell U. Richards
http://www.russellrichards.com
http://russellrichards.typepad.com

Photographer Bill Travis' "Bodyscapes" Exhibit at DC's LGBT Center Thru 5 January 2011

In the continuation of my ongoing gay art series when en route to the Whitman Walker Clinic, yesterday afternoon, I stopped in at the DC Center for the LGBT Community on U Street to get a view of the Bill Travis "Bodyscapes" photography exhibit.

Having opened on Friday, 19 November 2010 and running through 5 January 2011, perhaps, my two favorite are this one. And this one.

For more information pertaining to the artist visit the Bill Travis Photography website.

The Center is located at 1318 U Street, NW, Washington DC.

When leaving, and in connection with my ongoing Windows of U Street series I made a point to get a few shots of the the Center's "Facing AIDS" World AIDS Day 2010 window display.

Click the image to view my Bodyscapes: The Art of Bill Travis / DC Center photo album.

My 2011 Photography Calendar / 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival Images

Click the cover to preview the fourth installment of my 2011 photgraphy calendar series which features images from my documentation of the 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC.

Available from the Elvert Barnes Storefront at Lulu, if you order before 31 December 2010, use coupon code GREATGIFT355 at checkout to receive 25% off your photo book or calendar order.

Call for Artists: 'Illuminated Statues' at Crystal City Water Park

The Crystal City Business Improvement District is seeking qualified artists to help produce a temporary, outdoor art exhibit featuring illuminated sculptures in the Crystal City Water Park.

This Call for Artists (pdf) announces the opportunity to design and construct outdoor sculptures intended to provide both an interesting daytime element and a lit experience after the sun begins to set that meets the Crystal City BID’s branding message of “Dazzle, Illuminate, Sparkle, and Shine.” Artists are asked to submit ideas that use lighting to create unique sculptures that define space, color and balance in an outdoor setting. Selected artists will receive a grant of $5,000 from the Crystal City Business Improvement District to build and implement their concept in the Crystal City Water Park.

Entry deadline is Friday, 14 January 2011. Click above flyer for details.

My 2011 Photography Calendar Featuring 2010 Crystal City 5K Friday Run Images

Click the cover to preview the third installment of my 2011 photgraphy calendar series which features images from my documentation of the 2nd Annual Crystal City 5K Friday Run 2010 event in Arlington VA.

Available from the Elvert Barnes Storefront at Lulu, if you order before 31 December 2010, use coupon code GREATGIFT355 at checkout to receive 25% off your photo book or calendar order.

My 2011 Photography Calendar of Images from 5th National Marathon 2010

The second installment of my 2011 photography calendar series features images from my documentation of the 5th Annual SunTrust National Marathon 2010 event in Washington DC.

Available from Lulu click the cover to preview the calendar at the Elvert Barnes Storefront.

If you order before 31 December 2010, use coupon code GREATGIFT355 at checkout to receive 25% off your photo book or calendar order.

My 2011 Photography Calendar Featuring 2010 National Police Week Images

Click the cover to preview and/or order the first installment of my 2011 photography calendar series at Lulu.com which features images from my documentation of the 2010 National Police Week event in Washington DC.

Visit the Elvert Barnes Storefront at Lulu for other available items.

If you order before 31 December 2010, use coupon code GREATGIFT355 at checkout and receive 25% off your photo book or calendar order.

Or take advantage of the Daily Deals & Holiday Special Coupons that last through 25 December 2010.

Gay.com: TSA Regulations and Etiquette for the Gay Traveler

In lieu of the Thanksgiving holiday, everyone seems to be complaining about the Transportation Security Administration's pat downs or nudie body scans. Click the banner to read Gay.com's recent article pertaining to TSA Regulations and Etiquette for the Gay Traveler.

Here is the entire Friday, 26 November 2010 Gay.com Newsletter.

My Thanksgiving Weekend "No Regrets" Gay Circuit Mix

In celebration of the 2010 Thanksgiving Weekend and the 26th Annual White Party / Miami click the cd cover to listen to and/or download my November 2010 "No Regrets" house / gay circuit which features this tracklist.

For more music mixes visit my archives.

Two Historic Exhibits at Smithsonian Reynold's Center Focuses on Gay Art History

In connection with my ongoing interest in gay culture and heritage series, in recent weeks. I've made a point to check out threee exhibits that explore and/or focuses on gay art and history.

While, unfortunately, I missed Jeff Sheng's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" exhibit at HRC HQ during the 2010 FotoWeek DC Festival I was able to capture Matthew Black's "The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: Identity Writ Large" at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery.

Remembering Metro Weekly's update a couple weeks ago pertaining to the Hide/Seek gay art at exhibit at the Smithsonian NPG and in connection with my Sundays At The Museums series stopped in at the Smithsonian Reynolds complex at 8th and F Streets in NW Washington DC this past Sunday.

Upon my arrival, I first checked out the Hide/Seek Family and Friends Day activities at the Kogod Courtyard. During which time I captured Ken Vegas of DC Kings and Diane Wakowski of Belladonna Romka in a dance performace. Follwed by a performace of the DC Swing orchestra band from the DC's Different Drummers group. Videos of these two diferent acts will be added later.

I then checked out the Hide/Seek exhibit on the 2nd floor of the National Portrait Gallery. Two artists whose work was on display I have more than a passing connection to. Not only were Mapplethorpe and I close friends but his image of me was featured as the March 1987 Saint Black party poster.

And having partied in the same circles at Studio 54 I actually own two of Warhol's works.

With photography restrictions in place, I have no images nor video of the Hide/Seek exhibit.

My 21 November 2010 Sunday at the Museum series came to a close with a visit to the "Lost and Found: The Lesbian and Gay Presence at the Archives of American Art" exhibit at the Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery. As a poster, newspaper and magazine collector gay subject matter is of particular interest to me.

Click the above image to view my Lost and Found: The Lesbian and Gay Presence at the Archives of American Art photo album.

Both exhibits, Hide/Seek and Lost And Found, will be on display through 13 February 2011.