Halloween : The Gayest Holiday of the Year

I was in San Francisco a number of years back for Halloween and oh ma gawd, I couldn't believe what happened in the Castro that night. Actually, the costumes and gaiety began way before the sun went down. There were herds of men dressed up like Celine Dion with the Heart of the Ocean (this was right after Titanic won the Oscar), squads of fagalicious cheerleaders stopping traffic on Market (not a good idea!) to do an impromptu pyramid and cheer (the standard: "We're here, we're queer, we like it in the bum so get used to it dumb dumb.")

What are you dressing up as for Halloween this year? Feel free to steal Dipstick's idea. Here she is in her costume. You like?

Whatever you do, remember to brush your teeth before going to bed (even if you're sleeping with candy under your pillow or within arm's reach), be nice to teenagers who come to your front door in masks (they usually have eggs with them for meanies) and vote for Barack Obama on Tuesday!

Happy Halloween from Lipstick & Dipstick!

This is what 50 looks like

I’m back from my trip to Massachusetts. The highlight of the trip was surprising my brother by showing up at his 50th birthday party.

I’ve always been close to my brother and now, more than ever he’s an inspiration to me. As I get closer to 50 myself, through him I see the possibilities. The guy has run nine marathons, the last one just a few weeks ago. He’s starting a new job and coaching his daughter’s soccer team.

And he still has his handsome good looks. Every time I’m out with him, gay men try to pick him up. It’s quite amusing because he doesn’t seem to notice. I hope lesbians are still hitting on me when I’m 50. Or even gay men. That would really be good for my ego.

Get You Some Booty!

There are some really amazing events in the next week or two!

On Saturday, come check out one of my favorite writers/friends, erotica superstar Shanna Germain, who will be reading at Disjecta.

Here are the details:

Booty Call 6
Kevin Keck, Shanna Germain, Kevin Sampsell and Viva Las Vegas
Sat., Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.
Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate in Portland
$5 Cover

Kathleen Bryson's Big Debut

Portlanders: Come Out to Support the Women's Film Festival and Portland's Own Kathleen Bryson! She rocks!

Here is the press release for the big premiere:

POW Fest and Siren Nation present the World Premiere of "The Viva Voce Virus"!

Please join us Wednesday, November 5th at 7:00pm for an evening of surreal cinema, featuring the World Premiere of "The Viva Voce Virus," presented by The Portland Women's Film Festival (POW Fest) as part of the Siren Nation Festival.

"The Viva Voce Virus" is co-directed by Kimmo Moykky and Portland's own Kathleen Bryson. London actress Ronnie investigates a mysterious disease from Hollywood's yesteryear: a disease that makes actors keep mum about their same-sex love affairs, a sickness seemingly spread by frothy blue drinks and perfume atomizers. It's a "wild, vivid, surreal sci film... a Kenneth Angerish adventure through the history of the closet," says Friction Magazine.

We will also present a preview of the upcoming documentary, "Five Star
Museum: Exotic World and the Burlesque Revival", produced by Portland's own Courtney Herman.

Doors open at 6:30 pm at The Hollywood Theatre, located at 4122 N.E.
Sandy Blvd. in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are $5 for the screening or
$25 for a festival pass. More information is available at www.sirennation.org, www.powfest.com and www.vivavocevirus.blogspot.com.

***

The mission of the Portland Women's Film Festival is to celebrate the art and cinematic contribution of women filmmakers from around the world, in any format, with any content and in any genre. The 2009 festival will take place March 19-21 at The Hollywood Theatre.

Lake Louise is Paradise

Well, we saved the best for last. Last night, we stayed at Chateau Lake Louise and had an absolutely amazing evening and day on the shores of this natural jewel. Besides the color of the Flathead River—where my parental units are living—I’ve never seen water so blue. And it’s even more spectacular in person. It was cold, evidenced by the snow sprinkled on the grass around its edge and the warm down coats we’re wearing. In the winter, the lake freezes and people play hockey and ice skate on it. We’ll have to come back in a few months to strap on a pair of snow shoes for the view from the other side. In the summer, you can rent canoes and row across. Rumor has it there is a tea house at the base of the glacier.

The photo of the lake by itself was (kid you not) the view from our hotel room window. So is the video. Not a bad backdrop for morning coffee, eh? The lounge in the lobby, where we enjoyed decadent cheeses and Prosecco as the sun set, had just as stellar a view.

The road trip was so much fun and it really gave me a great perspective of Alberta and British Columbia. Even being from Oregon—with Mount Hood, St. Helens, et al—I was so amazed of the mountainous terrain throughout Banff Provincial Park (aka the Canadian Rockies) and Glacier Provincial Park. They seem to go on forever, both into the horizon and into the sky. Oh glorious world—may we take good care of her so generations to come can enjoy her beauty.

Greetings from Banff!

Well, Lipstick & Dipstick are still on the road--Dipstick's covering the east and Lipstick the West. On our way to Banff, Pattycake and I stopped in Calgary and bought my nephew Calvin a John Deere buckle belt [not sure if his hippie parents will put him in it :)]. We cruised Stephen's Street and, since Calgary is Cowboy town, almost bought matching cowboy boots before stopping ourselves for fear of falling into the lesbian twin trap. The next day, we headed to Banff to relax and let our hair down. Staying at the Rimrock Resort was lush and opulent. We shopped and had lunch on Saturday after an unexpected, windy snowstorm on Main Street.

I've never been to Banff and have to say it's one beautiful place, surrounded by jutting Rocky Mountains dusted with snow. The town, which history says has been inhabited for 11,000 years, was named Banff after one of it's early settler's birthplaces--Banffshire in Scotland. The town is now a booming tourist trap, loaded with charm, places to spend your money and cozy eateries. It's well-worth the drive from the states to see this world treasure: Banff National Park.

Greetings from New England

While Lipstick is in Montana, Dipstick is in New England, visiting family and celebrating my brother's 50th birthday. I spent a few days in Northampton (Lesbianville, USA) with my twin sister before the rest of my family arrived.  Check out the beautiful Fall colors at Smith College.

My 12 year old niece arrived and I was delighted to find out that she's obsessed with Barack Obama.  We searched everywhere for an Obama t-shirt. Couldn't find one, but we did meet Barack.

We took a stroll around Smith College, which is this awesome all-women's college. My niece thinks she might want to come here.  I think it's a good choice, especially since she wants to be a doctor or a lawyer. I took this shot so she could show it to all her friends when she's a freshman. 

We're getting ready to drive out to Boston to meet up with the rest of my family, all 900 of them, for my brother's birthday party. 

More later. 

Greetings from Montana!

Pattycake and I have been visiting my folks (and Nana) this week in NW Montana and have had a blast. We were staying at their brainchild Flathead River Ranch, an exclusive ranch community they've been developing for the last five years.

It was Nana's 83rd Birthday and we celebrated in style on Tuesday: with lemon cake and Pinot Noir. You'd never know Nana was 83 and I swear, she is still sharper than most people I know. Mom and I were surrounded by three Libras (Dad and Patty's birthday are earlier in October).

We spent this week lounging around in flannel pajamas, going for walks during fleeting snow storms and eating. Did I mention the food? There was plenty of eating. (In fact, as I type, my mom just walked in and said "donuts!")

The photo above is of the four girls, taken at another project my parents are developing on the other side of the valley. It's called Canyon Creek Ranch.

The adorable dog in Pattycake's lap is Trapper, their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He is ten months old and totally owns my parents. He goes everywhere (even to the Bulldog Saloon for buffalo wings) and on the raft to float down the Flathead River. (In case you're worried about him, he has his own life jacket--no joke.)

Sadly, we're leaving today. We road-tripped here and we're hitting the pavement again today, this time headed up north to Calgary and then to Banff. It's my first trip to Banff and I'm super excited.

Stay tuned for more.

Catie Curtis' Sweet Life

This weekend I had the pleasure of seeing the sweet and adorable Catie Curtis in concert. How cute is she? I ran into a friend whose girlfriend kept taking off her wedding ring and handing it back to her, because every other song she fell in love with Catie.

Catie has a new album of all upbeat and inspirational songs. Normally, I like my music a little darker, but this is what Catie has to say, "I probably wouldn’t have written a record this positive if things were going great in the world and we had peace and prosperity. There are lots of reasons to be unhappy or anxious at this time, and I think the album is as much about resilience as anything. In order to stay sane and keep moving forward you have to be able to look at all the bad news around you and see the beauty that is there alongside the trouble." 

Not only is Catie Curtis a great singer songwriter,  she's completely out as a lesbian mom to two adopted girls. Here's a song from her new album:

The Faceoff :: Sarah Palin + Tina Fey

The GOP Veep Maverick to show up on SNL Saturday night. And it was HILARIOUS! If you missed Sarah Palin's double cameo, you can watch them both below. You have to give Palin props for showing up and making fun of herself. I suppose she had no other choice, but to laugh along with everyone else.

I also wanna give Amy Poehler props for killing that rap, and she's like eight months pregnant!

What did you think of Palin's appearance on SNL?




Palin Rap

We Heart Rachel Maddow and You Should, Too

When Dipstick and I were in Northampton for their Gay Pride this summer, we entertained the crowed with fifteen minutes of butch/femme bantering about the "Out of Town Rule." The laughs we raised weren't the highlight, though--the highlight was meeting Rachel Maddow. Dipstick has been a fan of Rachel's for a lot longer (she's been listening to her show on Air America for years--it's Monday night at 6pm EST), but I am a super duper fan now. I love her new show on MSNBC--the Rachel Maddow Show--and Tivo it every day. I'm constantly titillated, entertained and inspired by her commentary.

If you lean to the left and you haven't seen the Rachel Maddow Show, check it out on MSNBC and on Air America. I put a clip below (the only one I could find on Youtube since her show is only two weeks old).

She is the ultimate power dyke--wickedly smart, witty and eloquent. And is adding so much to this fascinating general election.


Rock on Rachel!

Political Humor at its Finest

So, Dip and I have been talking about politics a lot lately (who isn't), but last night the political system delivered a gift to the American public and I want to make sure you received it. It came wearing tuxedos--two white bow ties and tails--and thanks to the two stellar political writers who aided Obama and McCain. It arrived just in time; the American public is worn out from the third and final presidential debate the evening before, one that was quite contentious, coming on the heels of the most frightening economic events in our lifetime.

The clips from their speeches at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner (a tradition for presidential candidates to attend) are below. I have to say, McCain is a pretty funny guy. He might have one this one. If their presidential debates had been on The Daily Show, we might have been in trouble!

McCain Roasting Obama





Obama Roasting McCain

Exes + Ohs Alert

Hello from Lesbian Nation!

As I was driving along the leaf littered streets of Vancouver BC today, I came across these signs pointing the way to where they were filming Exes and Ohs. So what did this faithful dyke do? I followed them and then infiltrated the set. I tried to take shots of the cast, but they took away my blackberry and escorted me out. It was a big uproar, but I think I got into a background shot. Look for a woman (who looks a lot like Lipstick) carrying a bouquet of gladiolas past the coffee shop window then watch as she gets wrestled to the ground.

* I'm joking about all of that except for the signs, which were posted about four blocks from Patty's house. I did, however, snap a quick shot of their mobile dressing rooms for you as I passed by. It's not very exciting, but it's the best I could do.

Ellen Takes a Stand for Gay Marriage :: You Can Too!

Okay, this Prop 8 thing in California is really heating up. The anti's are funneling millions of dollars into California to try and take the newly acquired right of marriage away from same-sex couples. We can't let this happen!

Ellen DeGeneres has made a PSA and posted it on her TV show's website. Don't you just love how political Ellen is getting!!



I could make a PSA, but it probably won't get that many views, so instead, I'm going to volunteer to help ensure Prop 8 does not pass. Won't you join me?

FIGHT FOR MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA

Support No on 8 – Get Out the California Vote with BRO!

• When: This Sunday, October 19th, 5:00-8:00 pm
  
  
• Where: BRO’s downtown Portland office
  
  
• What we’ll do: Call California voters and urge them to vote NO on this destructive measure.
  
  
• RSVP online at: Basic Rights Oregon
  
  

Defend Marriage: Win a Cruise

Same-sex marriage is legal now in California, but it is in danger. On November 4th, Californians will vote on Proposition 8, which, if passed, will make marriage only an option for straight people. 

For a while, it looked like Prop 8 was well on its way to defeat. But recently, those bigots out there who hate gay people have been raising millions of dollars and spending it on TV ad campaigns to pass Prop 8. Now the polls are turning in their favor. 

Sweet is a new lesbian travel company that is putting it's money where it's mouth is.  Anyone who makes a donation to the No on 8 campaign is eligible to win a free cruise from Sweet. Now that is a company whose values I can admire. Here's the details:

So far, Sweet has donated over $13,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to No on 8. To keep that fundraising going, we'll enter everyone who donates at least $50 to No on 8 in a drawing to win a balcony stateroom for two on our Sweet Caribbean Cruise, Nov. 8-15, 2009. All you need to do is forward your donation confirmation to info@discoversweet.com by October 31, 2008. The winner will be notified via email on November 1, 2008.
Please donate now and protect our right to marry. There are a number of worthwhile organizations working together to make sure Proposition 8 does not pass. We don't care which organization you choose. And you don't need to be from California to donate or win.

• NCLR (National Center for Lesbian Rights)
  
• Equality California
  
• HRC California Marriage PAC
  
• No on 8
  

Happy Thanksgiving Day Canucks!

Gobble, gobble, goes the the Canadian turkey. Today is Thanksgiving in Canada! What a wonderful surprise to get to celebrate all there is to be thankful for right as TV season gets underway again and I'm brainstorming what to wear for Halloween. There are, of course, many things to be thankful for this year. Here is a short list I came up with this morning and I was scalloping potatoes:

- Ellen's evolving futch sense of style
- The fact that the L Word is doing a spin-off
- Harvey (the dog) is only eating my old pairs of panties
- Sarah Palin is a moron
- The stock market rallied today
- I get to see Nana next week
- The world hasn't been sucked into a blackhole
- My new pair of boots

Even if you're not in Canada today, I encourage all of you to count your blessings and always clean your plate (even though Weight Watchers says not to).

Dipstick for Obama

I think my friend Marc Acito has been an inspiration to me, because I find myself doing things I’ve never done before. Yesterday it was volunteer for a presidential campaign.

Now, I’ve been a voter for a very long time. I’ve voted in every single election since I turned 18. Primaries. Local elections. All of them. And compared to the average American, I’d say I’m pretty political. I’ve volunteered for campaign initiatives and have even hosted fundraisers for local candidates. I try to keep very informed on local and national politics.

Here in Oregon, we’ve had a number of anti-gay ballot initiatives and I’ve done my duty, phone banking, going door-to-door, helping to raise money. But never have I felt inspired to work for a presidential candidate. Until now.

Granted it, it took me a while to warm up to Barack. I admit, I was a huge Hillary supporter. But slowly, I’ve been won over. There is something about this campaign that has gotten people excited and that makes me what to get involved.

I think it started back in May when Barack Obama visited Oregon. Even then I was pulling for Hillary, but I went down to the waterfront to see him anyway. I was inspired to see so many of my fellow Oregonians so excited about this man running for president. It was one of the largest, most diverse crowds I have been in in Oregon. People of many races, ages and genders all excited about this man who could make history. And who has some pretty good policies.

So, yesterday, I took myself over to the Obama headquarters. Much to my surprise, I ran into my neighbor and her eight-year-old daughter. We were given clipboards and sent out to register voters outside a post office. A post office is a great place to register voters. Lots of people are going in and out and many of them are in the process of changing their address, and thus need to update their voter registration.

In two hours, we registered eight voters. Not all of them Democrats. Most people were appreciative of us being there, thanked us, stopped to ask us questions about Oregon’s vote by mail system, absentee ballots and college students who are out of state.

It felt good. It felt like the right thing to be doing right now. It felt American.

Bon Jour from Montreal!

We're up here in Montreal, Quebec having a gay old time for Pattycake's birthday (I'm also working on a piece for CURVE about Montreal). What fun we're having, getting into all kinds of "problèmes" (Frenchie for trouble). We've tooled around Old Montreal (the sexieist and most romantic place on earth), shopped our booties off and eaten enough pomme frites to induce a massive heart attack. We're on our way out the door, but I thought I'd throw a few pics up for "shits et fou rire" (shits and giggles).

The photos: Patty in front of Notre Dame at twilight, Lipstick in confession at Notre Dame, Patty enjoying a pecan tart in Old Montreal, us having drinks at Saloon in Le Village, a Catholic church with a gay flag in the back, and the fall trees *sigh* on Mount Royal.

If you've never been to Montreal, take the two minute tour HERE.

More to come....

Dipstick @ the Opera

My friend Marc Acito has a blog where he tries something new everyday and writes about it. I thought about Marc Saturday night because I was trying something new ( going to the opera) and because Marc used to sing opera.

As my first time, I thought I’d share some observations. We went to see La Traviata put on by the Portland Opera. The first thing I noticed was that I was one of the youngest people there. For some reason white-hairs like the Opera. And people who love to dress up love Opera. I can understand that, where else in Portland do you have the opportunity to wear sparkly shirts, old prom dresses and designer suits. The crowd was sharp!

La Traviata started out kind of festive and a little bit raunchy. For opera standards, anyway. Lots of fun. And the singing was to die for. Seriously. People die at the opera, right? Usually the soprano. The story moved quickly, though from festive to overly angst-ridden to tragic. I don’t want to ruin it for you, but the heroine dies in the end. It’s all very Romeo & Juliet. Which I guess is ok for an opera written in 1853.

I learned a new trick at the opera. It wasn’t from the show either.

It was closing night and the opera was sold out. One person in our party couldn’t come because he was sick, so there was an empty seat in our row. A young woman, with a bike helmet and backpack came up to us at the first intermission (There were two intermissions at this show, I’m not sure if that’s opera standard or not.) and asked if the seat was taken. This cunning lass, waited until the first break, when the ushers no longer check ticket stubs and just walked in the front door. Sure, she missed the first (my favorite) act, but she got to see the rest of it for free. Ingenious.

So the next time I’m itching to see opera and I don’t have $80 burning a hole in my pocket, I’m going to try this strategy. Maybe I should suggest it to Marc, as one of his new things to try.


Here's "The Drinking Song" from La Traviata

The VP Debate on SNL

They did it again. Saturday night live nailed the Vice-Presidential Debate. I especially like Joe Biden's answer on same-sex marriage. Brilliant!

A Night at the Symphony

Patty and I went to the Symphony last night with our friends Jenny and Dee (pictured here with the adorable Erin, who works for the symphony). Lucky us: violinist superstar Hilary Hahn was the special guest. She performed during the first half with Bramwell Tovey conducting. I have Hilary Hahn's first album, one she recorded when she was a teenage prodigy. Last night, she played Tchaikovsky's Violin Concierto and it was magnificent!!

One of my college professors/mentors (poet Doyle Walls) introduced me to Hilary years ago, so I've been listening to her do Bach for a long time.

A big thanks to Jenny (who also works for the VSO) for "scoring" the tickets. It was a lovely night. We had dinner at Cibo afterwards, which is across the street from the Orpheum, and drinks after that at Uva (which we now officially call Vulva).

Weekend Funny : Charlie Bit My Finger

This was a really heavy week for most Americans, considering the happenings and the state of the economy, so I thought I'd share this viral video to bring a smile to your faces. It has been a total bright spot for me in the last few days. Enjoy...

Another Day in Portland

I went for a run yesterday along Portland's waterfront and came upon these two gorillas, who apparently escaped from the zoo. I laughed as I ran away and looked at the cityscape--tall buildings reaching for the sky behind me--with pride. "Only in Portland," I caught myself saying. People hardly even gave them a second glance. (In these tough economic times, I give this rillas props for creative panhandling.)

And it may well be true. Portland, Oregon is the coolest, fantastically strange, quirkiest, hipster hotbed on the planet. It's small enough that you run into friends on the sidewalk and drive by each other on the streets, but it's big enough that you can get lost in the city center. It's liberal enough that you can protest just about anything you'd like and people will give you a thumbs up when they walk by, even if they don't agree that Frosted Flakes have too much sugar. It's all about being an individual here, all about standing up for what you believe in and having a voice.

If you've never visited our beautiful city, check it out. Portlander's LOVE gay people and have lot of special promotions for queer visitors.

Check out Gay Portland.

Portland also has an active and amazing Queer Center, and, (god willing) soon will have a gay Mayor! Go Sam Adams!

* The photo is of Dipstick and I from Portland Gay Pride parade a few years ago.

Are You Registered to Vote?

There are only a few days to register to vote, so if you're not registered, get on it NOW!

http://www.rockthevote.org/