NJ PRIDE 2008

The 17^th annual GLBTI Pride Celebration will happen in full rainbow Technicolor this weekend, with festivities all over town culminating with Sunday’s parade and festival.  Here’s the scoop:

 

For the early birds the first annual Ride with Pride cycling event begins at Convention Hall, Saturday morning.  Fifty cyclists will ride 14 miles to and from Asbury Park to Pier Village and back.  Breakfast will be served in front of Brielle Cyclery (near Convention Hall), upon return. The ride takes place rain or shine.

 

Ride with Pride:  pre-register online or day-of at 7.30 am.  Ride begins at 8 am.  $10 per rider. 

 

Saturday afternoon’s main event is the Foreplay Block Party.  Billed as a “block party for the leather and bear communities and their friends,” the afternoon will feature outdoor events, food, drinks, vendors, games, prizes and surprises. 

 

The people-watching here – priceless.

 

Foreplay Block Party: 1 pm to 7 pm Saturday.  Second Avenue at Kingsley Street.

 

The Pride Prom, organized by the Jersey Shore Qspot, Saturday evening is a “GLBTI night of glamour and glitz,” stated Maryann Buchanan, chairperson, Jersey Shore Qspot, a non-profit organization offering health, senior, family and youth programs and services to the local GLBTI neighborhood.  “Everyone in the community is invited to come with friends, partners or by ones’ self.   Singles, couples – all are welcome.”

 

And you don’t need to rent a tuxedo or buy a fabulous gown. 

 

“Guests are not required to wear formal attire,” continued Maryann. “Our idea is that you just dress to impress.  However you interpret that is how you should select your attire for the evening.”

 

Pride Prom:  8 pm to midnight Saturday at the Bradley Beach Firehouse Banquet Hall.  Call 732.688.2032; register online JSQspot.org or buy tickets at the door.  Advance registration suggested.   This sounds like a great time and, by speaking with Maryann, I know her team is working hard to make this a great event.

 

Sunday is the big day, beginning with the Pride Parade at noon.  The short parade ends at Bradley Field, kicking off the GLBTI Pride Festival. 

 

This year, the Festival’s headliner is the incomparable Martha Wash, the diva of dance music, whose hits include Gonna Make You Sweat.  If you have ever been to a gay bar or listened to WKTU-FM for an hour, you know the rest of her resume in your sleep.  Sharing the main stage with Martha are nine other performers.  If I remember correctly, the Festival’s headliner usually performs around 5 pm. 

 

Parade and Pride Celebration, noon to 7 pm, Bradley Field.

 

Additionally, tons of the businesses in Asbury Park are getting in on the rainbow action by offering sales, specials and extended hours.  Spend some time on Cookman Avenue.  Jeffrey, owner of the great Plan B restaurant, tells me he has something extra special planned.

 

The entire weekend, wrapped in a rainbow, is a one-of-a-kind scene.  Energy and vibe – amazing.  Costumes – awe inspiring.  Spirit and energy – uplifting.

 

Tons more info about all these events at JerseyPride.org. 

 

Look for the best and most photos and coverage of Pride in upcoming issues of this newspaper.

 

Richard@TheBPlot.com

YEP, THOMAS IS PREGGERS

When Oprah calls – jump on a plane to Chicago.  When 60 Minutes calls – hide.

 

During my time at Maury Povich, we joked that getting a call from 60 Minutes is worse than a call from the IRS.  Mike Wallace doesn’t want to talk to you about your secret to a flawless tan.   More likely, hold on to your hat sexy, one of your skeletons is flying out of the closet on Sunday evening.  Call your mom and significant other and start repenting.

 

Recently, Thomas Beatie, a.k.a. “the Pregnant Man” got the call from Oprah and jumped on a plane with his wife, bumping the economic crisis we are being devastated by, off the front pages of every major newspaper and magazine around the world for a day, with his baby bump. 

 

Yes, the Pregnant Man is confusing at first blush.

 

No, this is nothing more than two people – a family – having a baby girl they hope to raise the best way they possibly can.

 

 

I hear around town, “But what about the child?  We can’t imagine the struggles she will face.” 

 

Who hasn’t experienced some tough times growing up? 

 

I cheer Thomas, Nancy and their baby.  I send them all good energy, the best wishes possible and a bag of biodegradable diapers from Organic Style.  (Plastic diapers take 400 years to biodegrade and make up 1.7 percent of all landfill, per Yahoo! Green Living).

 

There are way too many people that should not have a plant, let alone a child.  Thomas and Nancy do not fall into this category.

 

The 360 degree responsibility view of raising a child is lost on so many when a baby can be made in three minutes (if she’s lucky). 

 

The last sentence in Thomas’ article published in The Advocate is, “Our situation will ultimately will ask everyone to embrace the gamut of human possibility and to define for themselves what is normal.” 

 

Every day in Asbury Park we embrace possibility and new concepts.  A man giving birth will happen here one day and this community will, and should, embrace the couple and look forward to playing with their gift of a child on the Fifth Avenue Beach on one of those perfect July beach days. 

 

In 25 years, this type of news will be so common it won’t even be worthy of a column in The Coaster.

 

Briefly:  Gay Bowling rocks Juicy Jenn’s unparalleled Asbury Lanes on Saturday 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.  $10 gets you pizza, shoe rental, retro movies, prizes (including a subscription to your favorite weekly newspaper), super people watching and brilliant fun – thanks to Michael Delia, the event’s dedicated organizer.  It’s an Asbury Park Classic and recently been experiencing record-breaking attendance numbers.  Gay “card” and bowling acumen not required. 

 

Richard@TheBPlot.com

STAR IN BARBARA’S UNIVERSE

For the past two weeks the media has been consumed with gay icon Barbara Walters’ new autobiography, Audition – especially the revelation that she had an affair with a married man 30 years ago.  Me?  I could not care any less about who she slept with.  That’s between the two of them.

 

What makes me crazy is that Barbara, in her book, skewers her former colleague on The View, Star Jones, for not telling the world her weight loss was due to stomach stapling, not Pilates and portion control, as Star originally said.   

 

“Elegant” Barbara does not, however, dedicate an inch of text to discussing her too-many-to-count-with-your-hands-and-feet plastic surgeries.

 

“I estimate she has had about $150,000 worth of excellent surgery over the years,” stated Dr. Fred Ezon, cosmetic surgeon based in Oakhurst.

 

So, it seems, in Miss Walters’ universe, it’s horrific to not reveal a stomach stapling but it’s totally fine to ignore the equally blatantly obvious morphing of one’s own face and body.  Not fair play. 

 

The 30 year-old Barbara is just as beautiful as the Barbara we see today, but its like looking at two different people.  She chooses – chooses – to make Star’s life more difficult by bringing up the tired subject of stomach stapling.  Star’s surgery should have had no place in Barbara’s autobiography.

 

President Lincoln’s face on the new five dollar bill has more emotion than a Barbara Walters’ close-up. 

 

At 77, Barbara looks more alert than a 14 year-old girl watching future American Idol David Archuleta belt out a ballad.

 

It was painful to watch Barbara speak with Oprah about the death of her sister.  Not because of the subject matter, because Barbara’s tear ducts were seemingly removed in an early 90’s Blepharoplasty.  I say this with love.

 

Children should leave the room when Barbara tries to make her “crying face” – it’s that scary.

 

New York City- based cosmetic surgeons have called her surgeries “aggressive.”  Her eyes “hallowed.”  Her eyebrows “crooked.”  Her face and neck lifted “multiple” times and “age-defying.” 

 

Nobody, including Barbara, should throw stones in a house they also live in.   

 

Briefly:  Huge kudos to Father Bob and Clark Shannon and Center a la Carte’s five-time co-chairs, Sam Nativo, co-owner, Mix Lounge & Food Bar and Amy Grandinetti – they outdid themselves again this, the 15^th year of the Gala. 

 

Special thanks to the restaurants that support our community and this event: Asbury Park Roastery, Bistro Ole, Carmine’s, CASK 591, Culinary Education Center of Monmouth County, D&L Barbeque, Ducky Life Tea, Freddy, Harrison, Isabella’s, Jesse’s Café, Kessler’s Catering, Laila’s, Lusty Lobster, Market in the Middle, Mattison Park, Moonstruck, Mumford’s Culinary Center, MUNCH, Plan B, Silk Catering, Starbucks, Synaxis at the Shore, Taka, Tasty Pantry by Elaine, Baker Boys, Perfect Perk, Windmill.  (ELLEN THE ABOVE LIST WAS CONFIRMED AND FORWARDED TO ME FROM CLARK AT THE CENTER)

 

Also, see you at Gay bowling this Saturday, 7 pm, Asbury Lanes.  Hosted by the Barron of Bowling, Michael Delia.   

 

Richard@TheBPlot.com

BRIEFS 2008

OMG do you have spring fever like I do?  How fun is it to see boys in shorts?  How great does Bradley Park’s green makeover look? 

 

The only part of spring I am not loving is the yard work.  If all it took was boxtops and enthusiasm, I’d have the best yard on the block.

 

They can put a man on the moon, but no one can make grass I can grow in the shade, in sandy soil or a hose that doesn’t constantly knot up.  The duplex at Wesley Grove looks better and better and better.

 

Spring and summer are the seasons our City shines the brightest – from tanned bodies to big events.  Here is a peek at what’s in store.

 

The Jersey Shore Qspot is back with meetings the first Tuesday of each month at the Community Health Center on Main Street.  First meeting, May 6, is “Ask the Nutrition Doctor,” June 3 is “Ask the Lawyer.”  JSQSpot.com has all the details.

 

Coastal Habitat for Humanity’s thrift store the ReStore begins extended summer hours (open until 6 pm) on Friday evenings, Memorial Day weekend.  The ReStore has developed a cult-like following of community members seeking out great “finds” of furniture, appliances, home accessories and more.  Buy vintage items and collectables before the dealers do.  Also, as you move through your spring cleaning, donate your lightly used, clean items to the ReStore.  “Donations reduce landfill and go directly to helping our local community,” stated Asbury Park resident Gary Kilmer, the store’s manager and program director.

 

I took a first look at the detailed plans for The Deck – the every-season cocktail lounge currently being built on the second floor of the First Avenue Pavilion.  The minds of Russell Lewis (Baker Boys), Paul Connolly and Andrew Hacking, bring a new top-tier environment to our City including:  sumptuous earth tone interior, floor to ceiling windows offering 270 degree ocean views, 7,000 square foot deck, fireplace, elegant food and sumptuous sound system.   This, in addition to entertainment such as a trapeze artist hanging from the ceiling and The Deck’s signature cocktail – Lollypop Mojito.  Nice.

 

Road Trip 7 will be here before you know it.  Check out the just-posted by Chairperson Brad Hurtado, first video of Road Trips past on YouTube.  Search: “Road Trip Asbury Park.”  Leverage the clip to invite your friends to the festivities at Road Trip 7 – July 18 to 20.

 

I hear David Beckham’s insanely hot spring and summer underwear ad campaign for Armani has created a new frenzy, for guys at waxing salons in the area – including Gloss Salon on Lake Avenue – the Boyzilian.  Figure out where the wax goes and what comes off.  And guys, please stop waxing your eyebrows.

 

Briefly:  I am waiting for the results of Truman’s Wisdom Panel doggy DNA test to determine his exact genetic makeup.  It’s obvious he is partially Pitt Bull – umm, I mean Staffordshire Terrier.  I think he has some Boxer in him and one or two other breeds.  Care to chime in with what breeds Truman is made of?  Email me with your thoughts and I will send the winner my favorite Neutrogena sunscreen products for the beach.  Photo of Truman at TheBPlot.com.

 

Richard@TheBPlot.com