I really am blessed and weekends that last 4 and half days that are as jam packed as this one was, well it reminds me of how blessed I am.

First, Zaftig Follies.  Oh. My. GOD!  These women made me want to cry several times during the show.  Either by their wonderful, humorous hosting (World Famous *BOB*), their vocals that make you shake in your bones (Broadway Brassy), their captivating classic moves (Jezebel Express) ,their inspirational dances (Darlinda Just Darlinda) or their hospitality and warmth (Juicy Jenn).  It was a sight to be seen.  Everyone there had a blast, laughing and cheering every performer on as if they were the only act of the night.  The food was incredibly, which is what I only know Asbury Lanes to have, and the bowling was goofy.  It was a cathartic show that just was bursting at the seems with positive energy.  No one left that night not feeling inspired.

Second, Coney Island.  Getting a chance to help out with the Wonder Wheel’s 90th birthday was so much fun!  I love working with people that inspire me and push me to be better and helping Jen Gapay out was just that.  This woman does it all! I was only more than happy to be one of the little people to help make it happen.  The performers were spectacular.  Phineas the Clown had more stage presence than most adults I know and he was 12!  World Famous *BOB* rocked it like the super star she is by hosting all 4 hours and it was great to see my friends that were in and at the show.  Plus free rides at the amusement park was just like the icing on the cake.

Third, The Compound.  Little did any of us involved know that one comment on a facebook page would lead to a sleepover involving movies, games, bagels, hot tubbing, croquet, pooling, and diving through a flaming heart.  I have so much love for the couple that had us over and shared their home with us.  They are good people and good friends. I only wish I had a compound of my own to share with them!

Fourth, Clue, The Office Edition.  Being able to share one of your nerd obsessions with another couple is pretty awesome.  Especially when you obsession is something as dorky as The Office. But who cares.  We had a great time, we ate good pizza, lot of poodle kisses were given and it will happen again soon.

Fifth, Photoshoot for a deck of cards.  Thanks to my friend Fem Appeal, I was put in touch with a really incredible photographer.  She has found herself in love with the scene up here and has decided to start a project where she will have 52 burlesque performers on cards.  I shot with her and it was awesome.  We both worked well together and I don’t envy her job picking the shot for the card because there were so many good ones.  It was nice to talk with someone who loves the art and sees the beauty in the variety that is the burlesque world.  I’m excited to help this project along and to get the final product!  Can you guess which card I’ll be?

And all of these things came from one weekend! This is my life! It’s hard to imagine a world where none of this existed.  Where I never decided to start doing burlesque.  I can remember the exact event that was the original catalyst for getting me into burlesque.  Auditioning for the Vagina Monologues.  If I had not auditioned for the show, I wouldn’t have gotten a role.  IF I hadn’t gotten a role, I wouldn’t have met my friend who was a drag King.  If I hadn’t met my friend, we wouldn’t have done a duet.  If I hadn’t performed I wouldn’t have met the burlesque artist that asked me if I performed burlesque.  If she had never asked me that, I would never have gotten on stage.  If I had never gotten on stage, Bambi Galore would have never been born.  It’s really crazy how one decision could have changed your entire life but I think I would have found it sooner or later.  Bambi is who I am.  I would have found her sooner or later but I am glad to have the life and the friends that I do and I only feel excitement for the future.  I hope you feel the same about your lives too.

huggles and kisses.

Jezebel Express, Broadway Brassy, World Famous *BOB*, Darlinda Just Darlinda, Bambi Galore- The Cast of the Zaftig Follies

The Lanes Will Curve!

Rarely do the straight lines of a bowling alley welcome curves, but on Friday, September 3rd, Asbury Lanes is going to dip, swoop, sweep and bend thanks to Zaftig Follies, a show that’s about the curves of a woman–not her size.—The cast includes burlesque headliners World Famous *BOB*, Broadway Brassy, Darlinda just Darlinda, Jezebel Express, Coco Monroe and Bambi Galore. Doors open at 8 p.m., show at 9:30 p.m.. Tickets are $10. Zaftig means full-bodied and well-proportioned, and the ladies of Zaftig Follies bring this definition to life.

Host World Famous *BOB* is known internationally for her charisma, style and “natural talents,” and has charmed crowds from Las Vegas to Stockholm. Broadway Brassy is one of burlesque’s top singing sirens, mixing classics with her own gutsy tempos and wide vocal range. Darlinda Just Darlinda, pioneer and advocate of feminist neo-burlesque, bring her unique, fun and uber-creative style. Fulbright Grant-winner Jezebel Express is the girl with the curves and the angles. Coco Monroe is a founder of the burlesque scene in Washington DC. And Zaftig Follies creator Bambi Galore delights in offering a show that demonstrates incontrovertibly that beauty comes in all sizes.

Not saying I want to brag but I am in BRAG! tonight.  It’s a show that brings burlesque and drag together in hopes to raise money for a theater.  All things I like and can back, so I am!

I will be performing a new fire tassel act which I am very excited to do, it’s the same one I hope to perform at Asbury Lanes next Friday.  That show is going to be off the hook! It’s the first day of Labor Day weekend so hopefully people will want to come out to party.  Not to mention the line up is more amazing than I had hoped for.  Everyone is excited to be part of it which just makes me that much happier.  I really want to do right by them.  So if you like, booze, bowling, boobs and diner food, then Asbury Lanes is where you should be.

huggles and kisses.

So I just got my hands on a review written about a show I was part of. It’s a great piece and has some amazing shots. Here’s one by the author and photographer, Courtney Dudley.

by Courtney Dudley

It’s a great little bit of press and I am touched and honored to be mentioned and quoted in it.

I’m very excited about tomorrow as well.  I am going to be part of an Artists Brunch.  Something low-key but with some old friends and some new ones too.  It is very exciting stuff!

Sorry this post isn’t longer but I seem to be having a fit of attention deficit.  Hope things are going well for all of you!

Huggles and Kisses!

So this heat… Yeah, it’s ridic here in the big apple.  If the city were an actual apple it would have totally apple sauce by now.  I know I am, Yeesh!

Sadly I’m not going to be doing anything to help with this heat wave come Thursday night because I hope to make the city sizzle!  I will be performing at the lovely Bevin Branlandingham’s queer dance party Rebel Cupcake at Sugarland!  This is going to be a night of hot acts, hot bodies, hot music, cold drinks and sweltering dancing on the dance floor.  Don’t slip in the sweat!  I just have to hope I can get my hair to set and my face not to melt off, lol.  I think I’ll work it out, I always do.  But you should come out and give this city a run for it’s money.  I want it all to end with the roof on fire which in this heat wave won’t be too hard.

But come out, see some queer sexiness and shake it like there is no tomorrow, who knows maybe we’ll all burst into flames

huggles and kisses!

So right when I think I could take a little break life throws me some more awesome gigs! Thank goodness I have at least two days to rest though because this ankle of mine is swollen like a sponge in the coral reef.  It will hopefully go down before this Thursday because I have been asked to model for the Society of Illustrators.  I’ll be busting out my best 1950’s lady for their drawing pleasure.  I’m very excited to work with them!

Then on Saturday I’m spending my morning with one of my favorite photographers, Sophie Spinelle, helping out at a bachelorette photo shoot.  We always have such fun and considering we are hoping to hop over to the Dyke March after that, it will be so super fun! From there I will be going over to perform in HyperGender’s Pride show! the line up is amazing and from what I’ve heard more amazing acts have been included!  It’s totally worth checking out for your Pride weekend.

Then to continue with the theme of Pride awesomeness, the PiC and I will be meeting up with friends to go to the NYC Pride Parade! I’m excited to see just exactly how New York brings it because you know it’s going to be massive. Sadly I won’t be going to any after parties because I will need to scurry my little tookus over to Bar on A for Kitty Nights! My dear friend Fem Appeal runs this great show full of veterans, neophites and hosting hilarity.  It’s a great way to either wind down your weekend or wind up for the coming week!

Hopefully though I’ll see you all out at something or another and remember, nothing anyone says can change who you are on the inside.

huggles and kisses!

Wow! There has been so much going on this past weekend and the fun isn’t even over!  It continues to this evening with A Left Hip Production: An American Summer.  In honor of Solstice we are going to pack the Delancey Lounge with a bunch of amazing performers.  We will also have 2 for 1 drinks which is a total bonus.  Come on out and get all hot and bothered on the longest day of the year!

Last night I started my Pride festivities by attending the Femme Family Pride Party at the Stonewall Inn.  I love going to that place, for the history and for the ambiance.  They were having a silent auction for items and then live auction for dates.  I’ve got to say some of those dates sounded like super fun times.  I however got locked into one item in the silent auction.  A limited edition book by the photographer Sophie Spinelle called Shameless Femmes.  It’s a collection of photos of queer femmes doing pin-up.  Unbeknownst to me she made me the cover model!! I am so touched and honored for the privilage.  I actually got in a bidding war with Sarah Jenny, an awesome lady here in NYC.  I won at the lat minute though! It looks so good in my apartment.

On Saturday I spent the day at Coney Island marching in the Mermaid Parade.  It was so much fun.  It was my first Mermaid Parade and I have to say, the bar is set high for future ones. With the help of Blackie Deuce and Pookie Patootie we were Coney’s Angel…fish.  It was kind of a last minute concept thrown together but we still had a blast.  After the parade, the PiC and I went to the Mermaid Ball where I was interviewed by Denizen Rums.  Such goooooood rum! There were so many great performances and I met some really neat people (including a couple from DC!)  We ended the night by getting some bbq with some really awesome new friends.  So many good memories were made this weekend and I cannot wait till I make some more tonight.  Hopefully you’ll come up and make some with me!

Huggles and kisses!

This is going to be one weekend full of activities!! It’s starts off with a session working as a makeup artist for a bachelorette session for Shameless Photography.  Sophie Spinelle is a true artist! I worked with her once at another bachelorette party as well as did a photo shoot with her.  Here’s one of the shots from shoot we did!

After the shoot I will be going to The Red Lotus Room in Brooklyn for Dr. Sketchy’s Art Monkey Ball!! The whole things starts at 6 and I will be there with feathers on!  Literally.  I will be walking around as a “cigarette (i.e. art supplies) girl”.  It should be super awesome fun!  If you want to draw the sexy Amber Ray and Madame Rosebud then I will see you there!

And if for some reason you can’t make it out Saturday and want to still party it up on Sunday or you just want some more Bambi (who could blame ya) then come out for a super awesome fundraiser!  N, has put together a fundraiser for MADRE, a Haiti Relief organization.  It is called Guyz and Dollz and will be held at China 1 NYC.  This show will be an exciting mix of Drag Queens, Drag Kings, Burlesque, Boylesque and just general amazingness!! There are truly very few places where you can see all of this in one show.  Tons of entertainment and helping out a good cause? Talk about a way to tithe on Sunday!

This seems to be the start to a super busy month, it’s going to be exciting!!

Huggles and Kisses!

I’ve been all sorts of busy as of late.  If not hanging with friends, helping friends prepare for Vegas or going to MoMa with friends, I’ve been busy making our house more of a home.  I am happy to say that since signing a new lease I’ve been in domestic goddess mode.  We did a spring clean from top to toe which included reorganizing, storing and getting rid of old stuff.  I still can’t believe I put together 3 bags of clothes for goodwill!  We also went to my Mecca and bought some more furniture to replace what was our subleasors from before.  We really love the flow we have now and it has made my baking side spring to life.  Last week, I shared Triple Salted Caramel Cupcakes I made from Sprinkle Bakes.  Mine looked just like the pictures sans the caramel rounds, those did not want to work with me (I think it was a heating issue) but no one minded as they were devoured by all they were shared with.  It’s been good times.

One thing I did do was go to see Marina Abromovic with World Famous *BoB* and it was just so moving.  Recreations and photos cannot even begin to express the depth and emotion of Marina’s pieces but they still made my soul quiver with energy.  Seeing Marina there, she is such a beautiful soul, was awe inspiring.  The current piece she was doing just seemed so giving of herself and her spirit, I could not imagine doing for a day what she had done for over a month and a half.  I feel like it opened me up to a new chapter in my art.

As far as my art goes as well, I have a nice schedule for this month!  I will put more details up as the dates get closer but if you want to mark your calendars…

• June 12th, Art Monkey’s Ball, The Red Lotus Room from 6-12
• June 13th, Guyz and Dollz: A Benefit for MADRE, China 1 NYC at 8
• June 26th, HyperGender, WoW Cafe Theater at 8
• June 27th, Kitty Nights, Bar on A at 9

This is of course not to say other things may not be added to the schedule or  that I’m not doing private events but why bring those up

I’m looking forward to all that this summer has to hold and if it all goes like last night did, it will be amazing.  Last night I was a guest at Jo Weldon’s Book Release Party.  It was awesome!  Not just the guests, or the show, or the food or the book, but everything!  I got to meet Bambi Sr. and Bambi Jr.  which was totally surreal and amazing, I even got my picture taken with them and Bambi the Mermaid.  It was a quartet of Bambis!  The book is just incredible.  There is so much good information in there as well as anecdotes and history.  It is by far a MUST read for any burlesque performer, beginning or veteran. Being able to share that moment with Jo felt special, to me at least, plus we saw Moby (another guest) and that totally jazzed PiC.

So off to do some more baking I think.  There are few black bananas that are just begging to be put out of their misery and made into bread.

Huggles and Kisses everyone!

Oh man, for those that didn’t make it to the AIDSWalk benefit, you missed out!  It was so much fun! And the performers were sooooo talented.  It was really incredible to be dancing and singing on stage with such clear professionals! And keeping up if I can toot my own horn (toot!)  I have to say though the Metrocard song that was to the tune of one of the hits from Showgirls, priceless, you all really missed out.

I’m not writing this to make you all feel bad though, I’m writing it because it felt so good to give I’m doing it again! This time with a bevy of burlesquers!  In Strip for a Cure 2010 AIDSWalk Fundraiser, not only will your ticket be being matched by company sponsor MAC (crazy right?!) so will your drinks!  Now I know $40 may seem like a lot but it does include 3 FREE drinks.  If you were to go to a show, pay $10 and get 3 drinks it’d cost you that much so somehow this will feel like a deal, I promise, especially if you think of it as you’re donating $80!! The line up is intense! There will be 4 sets starting at 9, I am in the 11 pm set so all my late night party people can make it.  But that doesn’t mean wait for me to perform though, this show is just bursting with talent, come on out and support them all!

Now someone mentioned to me that they haven’t seen a pic of my new coif on here and I feel like a fool since it’s been this darker shade for a month now I think! Sorry guys! Wasn’t trying to keep it from you.  Here’s a pic taken of me being silly on a date night.  You know how grafitti and I just like to have impromptu photo sessions.

Got to say, for subway lighting and an IPhone, it’s a decent picture.  What’s sad is I don’t even remember where we were going! I want to say to catch a show since that’s all we ever do, well that and have picnic with our neighbors but that doesn’t involve a subway usually.

So anyhoo, I hope to see you at the show, remember, the price is a suggested donation but the bigger the donation, the more fun that comes with it!

Huggles and kisses!