The Band From TV - A Concert for Charity

Band From TV was created to provide funding and resources for several incredibly worthwhile charities around the world. These celeberties believe in advancing and supporting the charities they feel passionate about.

Band From TV consists of actors, musicians, and athletes who have come together for a common goal; to raise money through music to help those in need. Finding a cure, helping children around the world, protecting our environment, providing educational materials or musical instruments, aiding in natural disasters, or standing up against domestic violence ... they want to help and make a difference.

The upcoming concert will be held at the SHORE CLUB on Miami Beach. The hotel and their staff have been great in supporting local community organizations with event space, rooms, staff, time, food, beverages, advertising, and money. They recently helped with the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and next week they will host the kick-off cocktail party for the Miami Recognition Dinner which will be held on October 17, 2009.

The actors for this event will be "selling" themselves to raise as much money as they can. Already, Teri Hatcher has gotten Cartier to sponsor her and she will wear their jewelry for the upcoming event. James Denton ( the plumber from Desperate Housewives ) has said he will do "anything" for a $5,000.00 donation ... All the performers will be present for the entire event and will mingle and schmooze to raise as much money as they can.

If you can not attend pass on the info to those you think will be interested.

For more info on the Band or how to get tickets go to:

www.bandfromtv.org

or

www.ticketweb.com

Thanks!

Cinemateque Theater

The Cinemateque Theater

Espanola Way

Watching "Polyester" at the Cinemateque

John Waters at the Lincoln Theater

John Waters at the Lincoln Theater



Note:
There was a question and answer period at the end of his performance. I asked the question "If someone has never been exposed to or seen one of your films, which one would you recommend to see first?" He said "Polyester" and "Hairspray" are best if it is a young audience.

The theater did not have enough "Odorama" cards at the film for everyone, but we were able to share with another viewer and
I got to keep one card after the show.

A John Waters Weekend

Divine in "Female Trouble" (Filmed after "Pink Flamingos")

"Desperate Living" where you meet many female characters and

Queen Carlotta

"Polyester" where you wait for the film to show the number and you scratch and sniff for the full experience .... and it is not always a sweet smell!

This film stars Divine and Tab Hunter.

Tonight, Mr. S and I (along with many others) will be going see John Waters in his one man stage show. The program is sponsored by the MGLFF and Edison Farrow. It is sure to be very entertaining. It will be at the Lincoln Theater on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. This venue is usually reserved for the symphony and other live musical events. I'm sure we will enjoy his stories and his bizarre, off beat humor.

Also, this weekend the Miami Beach Cinemateque will have screenings of three John Waters' films: Female Trouble (1974), Desperate Living(1977), and Polyester (1981) in Odorama (scratch and sniff cards that you use during the film). We will be going, but not sure to which screenings. We are hoping (in the back of our minds) that Mr. Waters might attend some of them. I'm sure it has been awhile since these films have been shown in a public theater.

The Cinemateque is a small "boutique" theater in an intimate setting which is great for this all the art house type films they show. It is located on Espanola Way. You can see more of their offerings at: http://www.mbcinema.com/

A day at the MGLFF...

The Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is still going on. Mr. S and I volunteered on Sunday and saw the film "The Country Teacher". A Czech film in which I never sympathized with the lead (a gay male natural science teacher), but liked the female lead character (a strait, female mother of a 17 year old boy, who is a cow herder).

I volunteered on Monday and watched the 40th Ann. viewing of the Lesbian film "The Killing of Sister George". They showed the full/uncut version. Back then, the "sex scene" gave this film an X rating. Both those who had and had not seen it before enjoyed it.

The descriptions for the films on the website are fairly accurate. I was glad to see many familiar faces in the lines .... Plus, there seems to be a good amount of diversity in the attendance (age, gender, ethnicity, etc).... It is always a pleasure to enjoy a film in a theater full with a nice crowd...... and with some buttered popcorn and a large coke Slurpee!

MGLFF 2009

The Miami and the Ft. Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festivals started this week. I haven't even had time to post all my Miami Beach Gay Pride pics or tell some stories!


Mr. S and I will be volunteering at some of the screenings at the Regal Cinema and I will also be assisting at the Welcome Center at the Shore Club. I'm sure the crowd will be great.



After last year, the MGLFF had some drama filled changes. I was not sure if I was going to assist this year, but made the decision that anything that stimulates and benefits our whole community is something we should all support.

I saw Carol Coombes at the Miami Beach Pride and she is doing fine and well with the Philadelphia Film Festival. Our loss is their gain. She is looking well and she and her girlfriend are happy.

If you would like to attend any of the offerings (including a live performance by John Waters on May 1) go to: http://www.mglff.com/

Have a great weekend!

Grand Dame Henrietta - Pride Parade 2009

The Grand Dame Henrietta was chauffeured by DJ Leo and Shawn and escorted and recorded by The Mrs Astor.

Setting Up for Miami Beach Pride 2009

Mr S and I started at 6 AM on Saturday morning .......

AIDS Walk 2009

Mr. S and I (and many other people) had a really active weekend. I will post later about the Miami Beach Pride Event and other things. Right now, I have the time to thank all of you who donated to and supported me in the Miami AIDS Walk.

It was a beautiful morning and the there was a huge turn out. I was sore, tired and dragging, but was at the starting line at 8:45 AM with a smile and ready to go . Mr. S, Kendall and I walked the course and mingled and chatted with other participants along the way.

Twist and other local businesses were ready with cold water to give out and Red Bull was ready in their yearly spot on Espanola Way. It might seem like a small thing, but is very much needed and appreciated by all those walking. It was a very sunny and warm day.

As always, Mrs Blair was there volunteering with the group from St. Steven's and the Churches in the Grove group. There were visibly many more young people involved this year and the weather cooperated completely. We will continue to pray and wait for the day when we can gather together like this as a complete community to celebrate a cure.....

Volunteer Overdrive!

Today (4/18) is the Miami Beach Gay Pride. It is the first Pride event in over 10 years that has been done in the Miami area and there will be the first ever Gay Pride Parade (not a march .... a PARADE ... that means real floats!).

It is a day full of activities. I will be up early assisting with the building of the Twist Float. Then I will rush to costume change to be part of the TASK FORCE group in the parade.

The ever lovely and elegant Henrietta will be driven by DJ Leo and Shawn in a convertible. The Mrs. Astor will be using the new camcorder to record all the history.

The Grand Marshals for the Parade are Patti LaBelle (singer) and Richie Rich (Heatherette designer). There will be booths, music, etc all afternoon and at 6pm the crowds will disperse to the local watering holes and clubs for beverages, food and music.

On Sunday, we will be up early again for the AIDS Walk (http://www.aidswalkmiami.com/). Mr. S and I will be meeting Kendall, Loren, Raul and other walkers there. Hmm? Do you think it will be in bad taste to drink Sparkling Wine while on the route? Afterwards we will do brunch and play it by ear.

That is just the beginning for Mr S. me .... of course ..... the following week we will be volunteering for the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF) http://www.mglff.com/. It has had a troubling year, but I will do my bit to support it. Not as much as last year, but I'll do what I can.

Along the way, I will attending a production meeting at the Fountainbleau on Monday for the Task Force's Miami Recognition Dinner that will be held there in October 2009 (LIV and the ballroom). We have been having productive meetings and are ahead of schedule for a few things.

Also, I have already agreed to be part of the Winter Party Festival Committee for 201o and already have the Facebook page up to date.

Whew! This is not counting the family stuff, Nicholas's School Projects, Church events and the odds and ends that happen ...

I hope all of you are having a a good Spring and support whatever you have a passion for......

April Birthdays...

I would like to wish the wonderful

THE MRS ASTOR

a fabulous

Happy Birthday!

Also today is the birthday of my Persian Princess, Poneh. She arrives this morning on the red-eye flight from California.

Sunday is Raul's birthday and we thing we will be celebrating after the AIDS Walk with his family and some friends.

I wish you all much health, love, friendship and many blesssings!

The Telescope is 400 years old....

Nicholas had a Solar System research paper and project due just before Spring Break. The whole 4th grade had a display day with the families. Here are some pics. They were very original and some parents were upset because the kids wanted to do it their own way ... as it should be.... FYI: Some projects did and did not include Pluto. They were given the choice.

Also, Nicholas received a 3rd place ribbon at the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair for his poem entitled " I Love Truffles". I will post it at a later date.

Easter Message 2009

The following is the Easter Message from

The Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts-Schori,

Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church

The light returns and the days lengthen, even if it remains startlingly dark as we rise these days -- daylight savings time is not always a blessing so early in the year! Christians, however, look for light even in the midst of darkness, for we know that darkness will not overcome it. The rising of the Son brings light into lives filled with grief, agony, and despair. Are you searching for the light of new life?

Easter recollects us and reorients us toward God's eternal light of truth and peace and love. The resurrection is the ultimate proclamation that nothing can separate us from the light, not despair or destruction or death. We see hints of that resurrection all around us once our eyes have learned to look, and we continue to hope for its fullness, for the blessing of a light so encompassing that there can be no darkness or separation. Lent has been a willingness to experience the darkness of our current separation and tune our yearning for that light. Carry that yearning into Eastertide, and beyond, that we and the world around us may know the blessing of the light of Christ.