When the crisis hit Haitai, it was non-stop news. I know that they are our neighbors. I know thay are very poor. I know we screwed them over many times. But heck, the axis of the earth changed in Chile. People are strarving there. Yes they are a wealthy country, but man they need help. So tell me, what’s happening in the city that we can all do our thing and help them out? Do you want me to put something together. I could be ingnorant, point me that way!
Archive for the ‘special events’ category
So, what’s up with Chile?
March 3rd, 2010Pre-SOTU thoughts
January 27th, 2010
I have been an enthusiastic supporter of the President while he was campaigning. My problem with him since then is that he doesn’t appear to be the same person. We as progressives deal in a media environment in which the assumption is that we are a conservative country. This despite much evidence to the contrary. And there is some evidence that the GOP is misreading the public in this way again. Mike Lillis via Andrew Sullivan:
But while Republicans are hoping Brown’s victory foreshadows a GOP landslide, a number of political experts are warning that the country’s restless anxiety — as evidenced not only in Massachusetts, but in Virginia, New Jersey, and now Florida as well — is less a backlash against Democrats in particular than a rebuke of the business-as-usual politics of Capitol Hill in general. Even as unemployment soared and housing markets tanked, voters have watched lawmakers bicker endlessly over a stimulus bill that proved too small and a health reform proposal that remains unfinished. Meanwhile, the banks have bounced back on the wings of a taxpayer bailout, paying out billions of dollars in employee bonuses this month while the jobs crisis outside Wall Street only worsens. In such an environment, some experts caution, incumbents on both sides of the aisle could find themselves surprisingly vulnerable in November.
I have no doubt that he will give a stemwinder of a speech. I’m just not sure what he really stands for anymore. I want to see him fight. He will bring up again a call to end DADT, but we’ve heard this before. He will announce some spending freezes. He is beginning to play more and more on the conservative side of the field. I hope we see a change in this. Not just from the speech, but from his actions.
I’m still bewildered by the Democratic Party’s inability to pass anything progressive or within a fairly centrist Democratic Party agenda. We shouldn’t go Bill Clinton’s way. No small ball. The country needs more.
As an aside, can anyone tell me the last major piece of progressive/liberal legislation that has been passed in the country.
Paulo Nutini sings of Scotland and Burns: updated
January 17th, 2010For my mom. It was this or his version of Caladonia. Maybe another time for that. Burns day is coming up, usually Jan 25 in Scotland. Anyone want to go celebrate together? If you need more information about the celebration, try our friends at wiki
So Edinborough Castle is having their annual Robbie Burns night. Here’s some info:
SPECIAL EVENTS COMING UP
Saturday January 23, $10 door
16th annual
Burns Night 2010
Come celebrate with the Scots in their biggest night of the year.
The birthday of their national poet, the legendary
Rabbie Burns.
His famous poems and songs read by Alan Black and punk Buddhist monk, Jana Drakka
Bagpipes and haggis for the bravehearts.
Whisky galore and rebel rousing.
Free buffet for more delicate stomachs.
Robbie Burns
EDINBURGH CASTLE PUB
950 GEARY ST
SAN FRANCISCO, USA
The Case for Gay Marriage
January 12th, 2010I’m beat down tired, but so impressed with the trial so far in San Francisco on the Federal Challenge to Prop 8. I’ll have more to say, but let me share this with you:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Summer trip to Madrid for Gay Pride (first week in July)?
January 8th, 2010I am thinking of leading a trip to Madrid this year for Gay Pride, which is the biggest in Europe. Madrid has become the most progressive and fabulously gay city in Western Europe right now and Pride is a blast. I would get us back stage passes to special events during pride, the Mr Gay Spain contest, get us on a float, and show you around the city. As you know I’ve been to Spain many times over the last eight years, and lived there recently. I’m trying to get a feel for the level of interest. It could be expensive (first rate hotels) or cheaper (some great hostals (which are like pensiones. Anyone have any interest? I can promise you a very good time with the chance to meet real Spaniards and see some amazing sights. El Prado, Reina Sofia, Palacio de communicaciones, Gran Via, and of course Chueca, a great great gay neighborhood.
Because Spain has such great high speed rail systems, cities like Barcelona, Sevilla, Toledo, Segovia, and much more are only a couple hours a way.
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- The largest royal palace in Western Europe
Noche Viejo en Madrid 2010. At the Puerto del Sol. Lots of grapes to eat
January 5th, 2010I have to admit I missed Madrid for the holidays this year. Wigs and all.
Sergio Lara, nuevo Mister Gay Europa 2009
August 27th, 2009
El Mister Gay Spain y yo
How did I miss this news!? Sergio ha ganado! Enhorabuena. I was back stage in Madrid when Sergio won Mr Gay Spain. Here is a terrible picture of the two of us. He is adorable. And Spain has won two years in a row. Here’s some news about the contest and winner for you Spanish speakers from my friend Natacha Nazar:
El pasado 22 de agosto, Sergio Lara, valenciano de 26 años, residente en Barcelona consiguió el titulo de Mister Gay Europa 2009. España se alzó por segundo año consecutivo con el titulo de dicho certamen internacional de belleza.
Oslo ha sido la ciudad anfitriona este año del certamen en el que, durante cuatro días, veintitrés candidatos procedentes de todo el continente han dado lo mejor de sí en las diferentes pruebas de la competición.
El certamen ha contado con el apoyo total de las principales instituciones de la ciudad de Oslo, prueba de ello, es el apoyo que el propio alcalde de la ciudad, demostró al inaugurar oficialmente la competición, en un acto en el que se colocó una bandera gigantesca en una de las fachadas del hotel donde todos los delegados se hospedaban.
Ya desde el primer día, Sergio Lara, Mister Gay España 2009, cautivó al jurado con su interpretación a la guitarra de una “malagueña” que, en palabras de los organizadores, resultó “sencilla, intimista a la vez que pasional y con verdadero encanto”.
Tras haber ganado el desfile en bañador de la firma barcelonesa ES Collection consiguió una de las diez plazas en la Gran Final. Sergio también destacó en el resto de pruebas como la competición de supervivencia.
Sin embargo, fue la entrevista personal con el jurado donde Sergio demostró su naturalidad, sencillez y compromiso. Su carrera en psicología y su labor en un centro de asesoramiento a homosexuales sobre VIH y Sífilis le demostró la necesidad de educar e informar a los jóvenes, como también luchar para que en países como Rusia y Palestina deje de ser imposible pasear de la mano con su pareja o, en algunos casos, sea incluso un crimen.
La Gala Final del certamen tuvo lugar en el teatro Scentrum Scene donde Sergio deslumbró al público asistente presentando en exclusiva la nueva colección de Frankie Morello para Unikum Madrid con complementos de Men to Men. Junto a los finalistas de Irlanda e Islandia, Sergio fue coronado Mr. Gay Europa 2009.
En febrero de 2010 Sergio competirá en el certamen Mister Gay World, para alzarse con dicho titulo.
Más información en www.mrgaypride.es
Matisse at the Thyssen
July 2nd, 2009
You may or may not know that Madrid has one of the finest reputations for art in the world, boasting its Golden Triangle of three of the top museums in the world, the Prado, the Reina Sofia, and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Of the three, the last one is probably the least well-known but actually boasts an incredible collection made up of one of the largest private collections anywhere in the world.
Through September 20, the Thyssen will be holding a special Matisse exhibition that really is a thrilling opportunity to see some wonderful art. Matisse has always been my favorite artist of his period (maybe better left unsaid around these parts). It has been getting great reviews and you should take the opportunity to get out of the heat and enjoy some beautiful art. Here is the information on the exhibit from the wonderful city site:
The period covered by the exhibition is marked by the shadow of the First World War and the menace of the second one, a phase of great importance as regards the dissemination and consolidation of modern art, in which Matisse played a crucial role.
The exhibition intends to show how the artist expanded the scope of his pictorial investigation during this period, focusing on the relation between drawing, colour, volume and space. After Cubism changed the traditional way in which perspective was represented, Matisse decided to make his own interpretation of space in painting. Although during the previous ten years his work had been characterised by flatness, at this point he started showing interest in the weight, density and depth of the figures.
- Starting: 06/09/2009
- Ending: 09/20/2009
- Where: Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Resting day: Monday
- Ticket sales: Advance ticket sales at Museum ticket office; www.museothyssen.org/entrada; www.entradas.com; Tel: 902 488 488.
- Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 7pm; closed on Monday. During July and August, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 11pm.
- Price: General admission to the permanent collection, EUR6; reduced admission, EUR4. Matisse (1917-1942) exhibition, general admission, EUR5; reduced admission, EUR3.50. General admission for both exhibitions, EUR9; reduced admission, EUR5. Reduced admission for students and over 65s. Free admission for under 12s.
Everyone is Gay in Madrid This Weekend
July 2nd, 2009
Madrid’s Gay Pride weekend is well underway following last night’s grand opening. The opening night festivities were held at 4 different stages in plazas surrounding the general Chueca neighborhood area (the gayest neighborhood in Europe). The craziest and most crowded part of the festival was the main stage in Plaza Chueca. You simply couldn’t move. I was lucky enough to get back stage and have a little breathing room from the crowd, but what a fun time everyone seemed to be having! I’ve been on main stages in different sorts of festivals before, but what was amazing here was that the crowd actually listened to the speakers and participated with the music, dancing, and general craziness. Madrid really knows how to throw a party. One of my ongoing complaints about the city government is what a terrible job they doing letting people know about what a great LGBT destination Madrid is.
Later we went to Plaza del Rey for the cultural festival portion of the festivities (this is where I finally got to practice my Spanish in front of an audience). There was a much smaller crowd and a really pleasant atmosphere. Afterwards, we had dinner with LGBT activists and leaders from around the country at the very nice Jardin restaurant.
Tonight, the party continues. The Madonna-directed documentary will be premiering for the first time in Spain and tomorrow comes Mr Gay Spain. I have back stage passes for both events, so I’ll let you know how it goes.
There is so much going on all week in the Chueca and surrounding area that you really should check out the official site, or the city’s official information page, available in English. Find out about the high heel race, the month-long cultural festival, and the chill out planned in the Parque de Buen Retiro. And if you like diva pop, you should check out Kyle Minogue at Ventas, the bullring not far from the very center of the city.
Gay or straight, this is all stuff you should not miss as a tourist in Madrid. It can be argued that Madrid puts on one of the best of these sorts of celebrations anywhere in the world. Even the National Geographic couldn’t miss the wonder that is Pride Madrid:
It boasts Western Europe’s largest Royal Palace and its most audacious gay pride parade
The amazing this is that it is all done without any money from the city or provincial governments for a relatively small amount of money, around 300,000 euros.
The big day will be Saturday of course, for the parade and festival. I’ve not had a chance to spend much time with my friends, but I do hope to get to be with them to watch the parade. I hope you will be joining us.
