30 Things I've Learned in NYC

1. Walking is a way of life in NY. People wouldn't get caught dead walking in Dallas.
2. If you don't own anything black in your wardrobe you totally won't fit in.
3. iPods are popular because you don't have a car in NY - so you gotta hear your music somehow.
4. I totally get the man purse - where else will you put things while you're walking 10 blocks?
5. A typical bar tab in Dallas is $60. It's $100 in NY.
6. Cabs won't pick you up if you want to go the opposite direction of the one-way street you're on.
7. Don't ever ever ever ever ever even attempt to eat Mexican food in NY. It's gross.
8. Gay men in NY must work out all day every single day because they all have super model bodies
9. In order to ride the subway properly, you must first choose an Uptown or Downtown station
10. 50 degrees in NY is spring weather and cause for celebration
11. People put on shorts and T-shirts when the temperature warms up to 50
12. You can get the most awesome sandwich you've ever tasted on every single street corner
13. Take cash with you if you go to the Bodega - they don't take credit cards
14. People actually have full time jobs as club promoters and can make loads of cash doing it
15. Always stick to the avenues and avoid scaffolding in walkways
16. Do not step on metal grades in the street - sometimes they fall through
17. Red Bull is served out of a fountain in most bars - and it's nasty
18. If you see a cute guy on the street - say hi - you'll never see him again
19. People in NY are friendly, they're just always on the go and usually too busy to pay attention
20. A pint of ice cream at the grocery store costs $7
21. A six pack of Bud Light costs $10
22. You can get fresh and strangely cheap produce on 52nd street between 9th and 8th avenue
23. Tickets to Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report are free, but are booked 3-6 months out
24. There's a man at 46th & 10th that is trained in tantric massage
25. The average size of a 1 bedroom apartment in Manhattan is 400 square feet and its a studio
26. Some apartments in NY don't have bathrooms - you have to use a communal toilet and shower
27. It is very rare to have a washer and dryer in your apartment - it's considered a luxury
28. A Quarter Pounder with Cheese value meal at McDonald's is $7.65 plus tax
29. NY cabs have a touch screen TV with a map and the news embedded into the back of the seat
30. NY cabs have self service credit card terminals in the backseat

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Dallas Gay Bachelor Auction Set for March 15

The 6th annual Dallas Gay Bachelor Auction will be held at JR's Bar and Grill on Sunday, March 15, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Applications are currently being accepted for men and women who are interested in participating as a bachelor in the event. The 2009 auction will boast an all-new program, including new games and entertainment. Admission is free, and all proceeds from the auction will directly benefit Bryan's House, a local nonprofit organization that supports children and teens who are affected by HIV/AIDS.

"We are thrilled to bring the Gay Bachelor Auction back for a sixth year," said Claire Oliver, a co-coordinator for the event. "There are so many exciting new changes that will surely please the crowd."

Oliver is joined by Jason Vincik who also coordinates the auction.

"Last year the auction made over $12,000," Vincik said. "We decided to start spreading the donations among various local charities, rather than concentrating on just one."

Previous auctions directly benefited The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, an organization that both Oliver and Vincik continue to support. Both organizers have lost loved ones to blood cancers, including a past bachelor who died in 2007 of non Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Chad Reed is a veteran bachelor who will be returning for a third year in 2009. Reed recently joined the planning committee to offer help in all phases of event coordination.

"I am so excited to be part of this event," explains Reed. "Allocating the proceeds to local charities like Bryan's House makes me feel really good about what we're doing."

For more information, please visit www.gayauction.org.

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1 Bedroom, 1.5 Bath Split Level Loft for Immediate Lease - Oak Lawn/Uptown, Dallas

It looks like I'm moving to New York City on December 28 and I need to lease my loft!  It's a super fabulous place (and dirt cheap) right in the middle of the gayborhood, just down the street from all the bars.

For details, please check out the listing on Craig's List:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/apa/956658594.html

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Dallas Gay Rights Protest Fueled by Proposition 8

After California passed proposition 8 by a 52% vote on election day, an uproar of protests have taken to the streets. 'Join the Impact' was formed by a young gay marriage activist in Seattle. What started out as a blog post, quickly logged 10,000 hits to the Web site on the first day it launched. The power of the Internet made the Web site go viral almost instantly. Soon, Join the Impact sign, banners and event invitations were being passed around Facebook at an extraordinary speed. And, the message was clear: there will be a national protest at every single city hall across America on Saturday, November 15. And, the power of the Internet made it happen.

The size of the protest is said to have far surpassed the Stonewall Riots in 1969. Join the Impact protests not only took to the streets in the U.S., but also in cities in Canada, England and Australia. One thing is for certain; the GLBT population around the world has had enough, and finally, after 40 years since Stonewall, we are standing up and uniting to demand equal rights.

This is a monumental moment in history. Never before have I felt like something was so important. Never before have I felt so much camaraderie and love among our own community. Today was an emotional experience for many who attended the protests. Below is a video I made of the Dallas protest.

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The Great Queer Walk-Out: Gay Protest in Dallas

Almost 11 years ago, America was introduced to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people in a more casual setting when Will & Grace hit the airwaves on NBC. For the first time, the word "gay" wasn't being shushed, rather it was played heavily in slapstick humor with characters like Jack (Sean Hayes) who flaunted his sexuality proudly onscreen. America laughed along with Will & Grace, and slowly, the show seemed to desensitize Americans to the reality of homosexuality.

But, as many gay people may attest, Will & Grace may have been funny, but it did not accurately portray the GLBT person or community. In fact, some would even go as far to say that the show allowed heterosexual people to poke fun at the gays. The show may have done just as much good as it did bad.

Many advertisers hopped on the gay-defamation bandwagon during this era of gays in the mainstream. For example, consider the Bridgestone ad where Alice Cooper was driving his car at night, dodging deer and other animals in the road. But, when an unsuspecting Richard Simmons appears on the road, Cooper steps on the gas instead of dodging the obstacle. The Bridgestone commercial aired during the Super Bowl, the most-watched event on television.

Today, the GLBT community has had enough. We have protested inequality and defamation since the Stonewall riots in 1969. For those that are counting, that's almost 40 years of fighting for our rights. As news of electing the first African-American president spread around the world, millions of people of all walks of life rejoiced with great relief. Barack Obama stands for hope and change.

Sadly, good news came with bad news when anti-gay propositions in California, Arizona and Florida passed, thus preventing GLBT Americans from legally marrying in their state. Since the passing of the propositions, America has been in an uproar. Protests are taking to the streets, the Internet is plastered with news articles, blogs, social networking groups and campaigns urging Americans to stand up and fight this anti-gay movement.

Melissa Etheridge wrote a blog, sounding off about California's passing of Proposition 8, satirizing about not paying her taxes if she's going to be categorized as a second-class citizen. I applaud Ms. Etheridge for her efforts. We need more celebrities to stand up and tell the world what they really think about inequality.

An estimated 8.8 million Americans identify themselves as being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. Say it with me..."Eight-point-eight-million-Americans." Do you realize the economic impact of 8.8 million people? The GLBT community has so much power and most of us don't even realize it. If only one half of us stood up and walked out into the street at an organized date and time, America would fall to its knees.

So, I propose this...if you're not "out", now's the time. Be a part of history. I would rather say that I fought for my own rights, than sat back and did nothing while my brothers and sisters did it for me. STAND UP!

If you haven't heard yet, a national protest has been slated for Saturday, November 15th at every single City Hall in America. This will be one of the largest protests in American History. If you are proud of who you are...show it. Whether you're GLBT or a straight ally, please join us on Saturday.

Make your voice heard.

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Gustav Kills Southern Decadence - New Gay Lake Party Emerges in Dallas

They sewed seven new outfits, found matching shoes and packed enough lube to grease the rails of Penn Station. They even spent in upwards of $1,000 just to make it to the event. But, alas, some big ass hurricane by the name of Gustav came whistling by and gay leather daddies, twinks and drag queens scurried like John McCain had just entered the room and farted.

I'm talking about Southern Decadence in New Orleans, arguably one of the queerest events in the world that takes over the streets of the French Quarter the week of Labor Day every year. Hosted by the notorious porn diva Chi Chi LaRue, Southern Decadence is touted as the "Gay Mardi Gras", an event known for bringing debauchery to the streets of New Orleans for the last 37 years.

But, disappointment has now replaced all the debauchery and left party-goers with a half-empty schedule, forcing the gays out of the city, dodging the category four hurricane. Many patrons of the event were left with the feeling of abandonment; stripped nude by wind and rain, and left feeling as if an itch had not been scratched. Now what? Just go home? This is where Twist comes in to play.

A new party has emerged in Dallas - well, Lake Grapevine, really. But, that's just a hop, skip and a Twist away from the Big D, only a 20-minute drive. All those Southern Decadencers now have a way to release all that energy that was built up in the French Quarter.

A gay party on the lake, you ask? Sounds like Splash, you might think. Splash is another signature gay event that takes place on Lake Travis in Austin, Texas the same weekend as Southern Decadence. For years, the gays had to choose which event they were going to attend. Some even alternated between the events; attending Southern Decadence one year and Splash the next.

Splash has been going on for years in Austin, the mastermind special event invented by Ben Parsley. The event first began in Parsley's apartment more than 10 years ago, but it kept growing by leaps and bounds every year. Parsley eventually turned it into a big circuit party weekend, complete with big name DJs, dance events, and the signature event at Hippie Hollow - a cove on Lake Travis known to be a nudist area. Parsley has since retired from the event and now it is completely coordinated by local gay bar Oil Can Harry's. Though, through partnership, OCH has always had some stake in the event.

Splash went off without a hitch last weekend. While thousands of gays were fleeing the streets of New Orleans, muscled hot men were getting wet on Lake Travis in Austin - no where near the path of a destructive hurricane. So, it looks like this year...Splash won.

But, now, Splash is over. Southern Decadence was tied up, flogged and topped by Gustav. There's one more party left this season where the boys can show off their goods, and it's called Twist on Lake Grapevine.

On Saturday, September 13 at 4 p.m., Twist will take Lake Grapevine by storm. Twist is not another Splash, nor is it meant to compete with the already successful event. Instead, Twist is the answer to an age old problem in the Dallas gay scene: what the heck is there to do around here? Twist offers a local, entertainment option that, up until now, has not been available in North Texas.

Twist takes place at the center of Lake Grapevine, where for the day and part of the night, the water turns all shades of rainbow. Tickets to Twist are only $30, but you can get a discount by entering a coupon code found at the end of this article. All tickets inlcude entrance to the party barges, beer, food and entertainment.

So, what are you waiting for? Don't miss the newest gay event to hit the Dallas scene. Get tickets today by visiting www.crew96.com. Save $5 per ticket by entering the coupon code below at checkout. Have a big group coming? Special discounts are available for groups of four or more. Contact us at info@crew96.com for more information.

Tickets: $30
Coupon Code: absblog

www.crew96.com

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Dallas Favorite, Wayne Smith, AKA Cher, Calls it Quits

Just yesterday I walked into Buli Cafe on the Cedar Springs strip and spotted local Dallas female impersonator, Wayne Smith, aka Cher, checking out houses on his laptop. After saying our hellos and where-the-hell-have-you-beens, Wayne surprised me with "Girl, I retired!"

The decision to box the stilettos and coiffure was difficult for Wayne, but he explained the schedule is just too demanding for his new life with his husband. Focusing on his relationship is an important decision for the veteran actor who has been performing for more than 27 years.

Wayne is a one-of-a-kind in the industry, with a long list of accomplishments, including performances in Los Angeles, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Miami Beach, Austria and Aruba. As a seasoned drag performer, Wayne is best known for his extraordinary personification of Cher. Wayne's striking resemblance to the star is coupled with his amazing vocal ability. But, Wayne's talent goes far beyond the likes of Cher, with great impersonations of Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe and other unique drag-centric creations.

Wayne Smith has been featured on the Biography Channel, Texan Idol and a 2007 celebrity look alike reality TV show on ABC. Wayne has also been very active in the community, helping to raise funds for various charities, including the annual Cher Convention in Las Vegas. In addition, in 2007 Wayne hosted the Pink Party at Mickey's Dallas, paying tribute to a friend, Blake Ray, who lost the battle with lymphoma.

In an announcement on his MySpace page, Wayne said "I am already missing everyone in the clubs here in Dallas...I will try to support the community for benefits and charity shows. So I can truthfully say, 'You have not seen the last of me'."

So, for Wayne Smith, this is farewell...or is it? For all the Wayne Smith fans out there, we can only hope for a second farewell tour.

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