Book Your Sweet Cruise Now!

Lipstick & Dipstick are going to be setting sail with our favorite Sweeties for their inaugural cruise and we want YOU to join us! Check out DiscoverSweet.com to hear all about the great destinations we'll be hitting and all the fun stuff planned on-board. Oh and there are some inspiring volunteer opportunities in NOLA and in the ports.

While I've got you, be sure to vote for Sweet as Best Tour Operator in Trip Out's Travel Poll.

November 8-15, 2009
Leaves New Orleans with a boatload of lesbians
Stops in Cozumel, Belize, Costa Maya (Mexico) and Roatan (Honduras)

Come play with us!

Dipstick Earns Some Cred

Sorry we've been so lax about blogging for the last week or so; Dip and I have been busy and resting since our trip to the University of Wisconsin. It was quite a whirlwind, too. We flew into a very stormy Chicago-O'hare (we were delayed) and arrived just in time to eat dinner and crash. The next day, even though we left with plenty of time to spare, we had a super fun time with a flat tire on one of Illinois' Tollways. Dipstick and I changed the tire ourselves after the tow truck arrived (yeah, long story as to WHY the tobacco-spitting driver couldn't help us! It will be a vlog on Curve's website). I have to say, Dipstick did quite a good job (with Lipstick's help in a skirt and knee-high boots). It was minus 20.

Here is photographic proof Dipstick is actually "all that" as it relates to cars. Way to go Dip!

The super duper Ana--with the LGBTQSTXYNEBS Center--greeted us with only a few moments to spare and Dip and I pulled it off, despite the oil under our nails (which suited Dip well, but not this femme). The students were fantastic on the Parkside campus and we give them all a shout out!

The nun who came was especially intriguing. Dip, being the Catholic, do you think you could blog about that? She was very sweet and had us sign a religious Requiem music book (?).

You already heard about the icing on the cake, which was actually a good thing this time--our favorite flight attendant Erin (from an unnamed airline). Thanks again Erin! Hope to cross paths with you again.

And thanks again Ana, Kim, Richard, David, Beth and our favorite straight ally Terri!

Thanks SIUE!

We just got home from a whirlwind trip to the midwest. Earlier this week, we spoke to a group of students on the campus of Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill. Dipstick and I flew into St. Louis (we saw the arch from far away as we drove across the Missouri River) and wished we'd padded the trip with more time to spend in Missoura (as they say it).

What a warm welcome we got from the campus GSA. We so enjoyed meeting all of them! A big warm thank you to Liz (aka Queen Vagina), the president of the GSA and one of our panel guests, JP, Dani (who showed us around Cougar-ville), Seth, Shane, Latta, Maggie, Andrew (also on the panel), Lisa and Patti at Trash (a lezzie-owned trendy vintage shop on Main Street in Edwardsville), Lenore (who was the studly physics professor who brought us in), Cathy (aka Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll guru on our panel) and Nicole (an amazing ally/professor who also joined us on stage). There were many others, too (sorry I didn't name you!), so thanks to all who came to our luncheon and the evening event at the Lovejoy Auditoriumm, gay and straight alike. We had a blast!

As fate would have it, our speaking agent, Gail Hand with Insightful Women Speakers, was also on hand (so to speak). She's done a great job for Lipstick & Dipstick and we give her props!

Gail and I were on the same flight cross country, too, so it was great to catch up with her. (Gail, how about our next gig is at the University of Hawaii?)

Come See Us In Illinois!

As you read this, Dipstick and I are on a plane aimed for the Great Lakes.

We're headed to Edwardsville, hailed as the "third oldest city in Illinois," also known for its awesome university Southern Illinois University. The Safe Zone group--in conjunction with SIUE's GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance)--is flying us in to speak to students and faculty on Tuesday night. If you're in the area, come and check out the event. It's open to the public.

Tallyho and see you in Illi!

Illinois Here We Come!

Dipstick and I are headed to the Midwest on Monday to have a gay old time at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill.

We will be hosting the "Lipstick & Dipstick Talk Show" on their campus on Tuesday night. If you're in the Illinois area, come check us out. It's open to the public. The topic is Campus Queer :: Coming Out as an LGBT or an Ally

DETAILS

Illinois University Edwardsville

Lovejoy Library, Abbott Auditorium

7:30 pm

For more info, go HERE.

See You in the Snow!

Dipstick and I are headed to Whistler today for another year of fun at WinterPRIDE. If you'd like to join us (you'll miss out if not), come on up the mountain! The details of our events are below. We hope to see you on the slopes, too. Dipstick will be taking her very first ski lesson and I hope to be nearby with a camera.

WinterPRIDE

Retro Queer Bingo + Games Party

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

8pm -10pm

Telus Conference Center

(Rumor has it Dipstick will be posing at Harvey Milk and Lip will have an afro and be on rollerskates)

Pampered Pussy Party

Friday, February 6, 2009
9pm -2am

Telus Conference Center

(Rumor has it there may be dirty games and a vibrating saddle)

For more: http://www.gaywhistler.com/

L Word Premiere Recap

What a fun night Dipstick and I had emceeing and entertaining the crowd who'd gathered at the Bagdad Theater on Sunday. Thank you all for coming out to support HRC.

About 700 women showed up (it sold out once again) to ring in the final season of the L Word, a season opener which began with the shocking death of the wildly loathed Jenny Schecter (played by actor Mia Kershner). Collectively, we raised thousands of dollars for HRC.

We played some super fun games. The first: pin the pasties on Jennifer Beals. In the picture here, Lipstick is measuring how far the candy pasties were from her nipples. The second game we played was the dildo ring toss. Here, Dipstick is rooting on one of our contestants.

It was so much fun and we will truly miss our L Word sisters!

The photo below is with our photographer Maggie Parker. Our friend Carla Remey took it.

Obammmmmmmma!

Woot!!!! It's offish: Barack Obama has taken over power! It's a sunny day here in Portland, Oregon and there is a buzz in the air, as there is across the country. Change has finally arrived!

Dip and I have been busy these past few days (hence why we've been MIA) doing several things. On Saturday, we were in an all-day photo shoot with Curve. Photographer Maggie Parker captured the next six columns coming up in Curve. (Two upcoming shoots are pinned here.)

On Sunday, Dipstick and I emceed the L Word Premiere Party at the Bagdad Theater. We entertained the crowd before the season opener of the final season of the L Word. Those pics will be posted tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Hallelujah for change!!!

San Fran Pride Here We Come!

Happy Pride Season!

Dipstick and I are so excited! We've been asked to emcee the main stage for San Francisco Pride on Sunday. This means we not only get to be Lipstick & Dipstick in front of tens of thousands of people (maybe hundreds of thousands), but we get to introduce a stellar line up of people. First, HELLO Cyndi Lauper. And Margaret Cho will come out with the grand marshals and make everyone piddle. (I just peed a little
thinking about it.) Charo--the woman who is famous for her cuchi cuchi and fabously flamboyant ways--will entertain you before we get to celebrate Pride with Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco who is oh-so-dreamy Gavin Newsom and others.

The pic below was take from our from last year when we met him. See blog.

If you've got next weekend free and you live in the Bay Area, get your ass down to the city for Pride. Details are below. If you don't live in the area and have frequent flyer miles or have a few hundred dollars to burn, book a flight and get your ass on a flight!

Here is a run down of where we'll be this weekend:

Friday, June 27th
7pm-9pm
Welcome Party at Hotel Kabuki (CURVE's host hotel for SF Pride 08)

Saturday, June 28th
1pm-4pm
CURVE Booth
Signing books and greeting readers

Sunday, June 29th
12pm-2pm
Main Stage Emceeing
Performers include: Cyndi Lauper, Margaret Cho + Gavin Newsom

2:30pm-4pm
CURVE Booth
Signing books and greeting readers

Please come by the CURVE booth and say hello to us!


* photo of Margaret Cho courtesy of margaretcho.com
* photo of Cyndi Lauper courtesty of Pride

Q Literati Tonight!

Portland Peeps---come out to the first installment of Q Literati! tonight at Portland's Queer Center.

Featured writers included Sossity, Jason Zenobia, Jacob Anderson-Minshall, Lipstick & Dipstick and literary superstar Marc Acito.

DETAILS
Portland's Queer Center
69 SE Taylor
Portland, OR

Reading this Tuesday for Pride

Portlanders, Lipstick & Dipstick will be reading from their new book--Lipstick & Dipstick's Essential Guide to Lesbian Relationships--this Tuesday at Broadway Books. It's in celebration of Pride week.

Come on out and be proud!

DETAILS
7pm
Broadway Books
1714 NE Broadway
Portland, OR

Introducing Q Literari

In partnership with the Portland, Oregon Queer Center, CURVE is annoucing the first QLiterati! The innaguaral monthly LGBTQ reading series will be held next Wednesday at 7pm. Details below. QLiterati! is a monthly LGBTQ reading series, that will feature established, emerging and underground writers and spoken word artists. QLiterati! events will offer an open mic, gourmet snacks, raffle prizes, multiple readings, audience Q&A’s and the occasional literary superstar to draw a crowd.

Held every second Wednesday and launching June 11th, 7-9 pm at the Q Center, the first QLiterati! will feature our friend Marc Acito, the “occasional literary superstar” author of Attack of the Theater People and also How I Paid for College. Yours truly, along with Dipstick, will join him, reading from our first book Lipstick & Dipstick's Essential Guide to Lesbian Relationships. And co-host Jacob Anderson-Minshall will offer his trans perspective to an essay from Men Speak Out. This first meeting of Q Literati! is sure to be a memorable one, so mark your calendars!

They’re also encouraging emerging authors to sign up for the open mic--which they can do so in advance or at the event. Their first open mic features writers from Dirty Queer and Write Around Portland. It's not necessary for authors to address gender or sexuality in their work; but they do specifically want to encourage the participation of LGBTQ-identified writers.

If you miss Q Literati! this month, stop by the Q Center booth at Portland Pride to get more info on it and on CURVE Magazine. And mark your calendars for every second Wednesday for Q Literati.

For more information contact the Q Center at info@pdxqcenter.org, or the hosts at jake@quirkyguys.com.

DETAILS
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
7:00-9:00pm
Q Center
69 SE Taylor Ave at SE Water Ave, Portland
FREE
More info: http://www.pdxqcenter.org/

Out/Loud Recap

DIPSTICK: Lipstick and I had a blast last weekend in Eugene for the OUT/LOUD Women’s Festival. We were asked to emcee the event. It all went well, except Lipstick kinda misunderstood our role.

LIPSTICK: Sorry, Dipstick. How many times do I have to apologize? I misread the contract, okay. I really did think I was the opening act. I practiced my guitar for weeks and wrote that cute little ditty. Sung to the tune of “Run Around Sue”
Here’s my story, it’s sad, but true
About a girl that I once screwed
She took my love and then whored around
With every available sorority girl in town.

DIPSTICK: Yes, very entertaining. I also loved how you tried to insert yourself in every act.

LIPSTICK: What are you talking about? The Von Foxies wanted me to join them. They thought Lipstick Von Pussy was a great name. Plus, you said you would join them too of your name could be Dipstick Von Strap-on.

DIPSTICK: Yeah, that was until I learned I would have to strip. Although, it was hot enough that night to consider it.

LIPSTICK: You know my favorite band of the night was the Lipstick Conspiracy. Those hot femmes know how to par-tay!

DIPSTICK: I liked them too, but right before their set, someone backstage tried to put lipstick on me. I think it was a conspiracy to make me a femme!

LIPSTICK: Oh Pleeeze! It takes more than a little lipstick to make a femme. It takes foundation and eye liner and moisturizer and mascara and…..

DIPSTICK: Well all I can say, is thank Goddess we had some representation from the butches. Those adorable Latina butches from Los Angeles Butchlalis de Panochtitlan. They read from their play “The Barber of East LA.” I know where I want to get my hair cut from now on!

LIPSTICK: Could you ask them about waxing your legs while they’re at it. Those hairy monsters are getting out of control.

DIPSTICK: My favorite moment of the night, of course, was when those cute girls from Team Gina dedicated their amazing song “Butch/Femme” to me.

LIPSTICK: You’re such supahstar, Dip.

DIPSTICK: What do you mean, you weren’t even there—you were down at the bar. That was after they refused to let you change your name to Gina Va Jay Jay and join them on stage.

LIPSTICK: I watched it on TV and I needed something to cool my veins. That theater was hot and I was a sweaty mess!

DIPSTICK: Well, hot or not, we had a great time in Eugene. I hope we get invited back to the Out/Loud festival next year!

OUTLOUD Music Festival This Weekend (Eugene, OR)

Lipstick & Dipstick are emceeing a kick ass music festival this weekend in Eugene, Oregon. We will be there for Saturday night's show. The University of Oregon is hosting OUT/LOUD Music Festival and it runs both Friday and Saturday night. Get your tickets today and come rock out in lesboland.

Performances by the Von Foxies, Lipstick Conspiracy, Butchlalis de Panochtitlan, Team Gina
are sure to please every musical taste!

DETAILS
OUT/LOUD
Women's Music Festival
University of Oregon
7:30pm - Doors Open
8pm - Show Starts

East Coast Tour :: Northampton, MA

LIPSTICK: Ciao from Lesbianville, USA.

DIPSTICK: Where the coffee is strong and so are the women! What a fun pride yesterday in downtown Northampton, huh Lip?

LIPSTICK: Superfun. We barely made it from Boston, however. We got a late start from Meg's B & B and sped down the Massachusetts's Turnpike.

DIPSTICK: We made it with about thirty minutes to spare and had to get dressed in a parking lot. Lipstick was not happy.

LIPSTICK: It's true, I wasn't happy. First of all, there's no outlet in the car for my curling iron and the fat man walking by while I changed my bra from white to black enjoyed the free show. I told him to beat it. Not literally, of course. Eww.

DIPSTICK: Once we took the stage, however, things were just fine. We hit all our jokes and were as smooth as Lipstick's feet after her pedicure or after her Brazilian wax.

LIPSTICK: Woa. Lipstick doesn't get on hands and knees for anyone. Well, that's not true, but certainly not a esthetician with a stick of hot wax.

After our time on stage, we met a ton of readers and fans and sold a bunch of books. About thirty minutes after us, Rachel Maddow took the stage and razzed up the crowd. She was super sweet. See photo of L & D with butch with big glasses. She does a daily show on Air America.

DIPSTICK: One of my personal highlights was chatting with singer/songwriter Kirsten Price. See photo below of her in a chair. She was struggling in her booth, trying to hang some t-shirts. Luckily this butch ventured by at just the right moment and offered her some help. I brought her two hangers.

LIPSTICK: Wow Dipstick, that's SO butch. One of the bright spots in my day was Lord Russ as "Queen Elvis." If you closed your eyes while Queen Elvis sang, you'd think they were playing Elvis records. But when you opened your eyes, you could hear Elvis rolling over in his grave. While this androgynously fabulous dude did spot-on Elvis vocally, he was dressed in a pair of black panties and brassier, loaded with garter belt and sexy hose. The picture is shoddy, but it's all we have. Rock on E!

DIPSTICK: We've got a reading here in NoHo today at 1pm at the Pride and Joy books downtown.

LIPSTICK: Come out, come out wherever you are and join us!



DETAILS
Pride & Joy Books
20 Crafts Avenue
North Hampton, MA

East Coast Tour :: Catskill, NY

DIPSTICK: Yesterday, we had breakfast in Syracuse with my family before blowing out of town. We ate at this cute little lesbian-owned cafe called Sugar Pearl.

LIPSTICK: I love that name!

DIPSTICK: Me, too. Hands down, they have the best coffee in Syracuse.

LIPSTICK: Yes, all French Press. Yummm.

DIPSTICK: After b-fast, we drove up the Thruway and arrived in Catskill, NY. Lip and I were excited to learn that we have agreed on yet another artist to listen to in the car (because of our juxtaposed musical tastes right now, we only listen to Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheride). Jewel is now a featured guest on the road with us.

Once we arrived in Catskill, we met up with my old friend Retts. She was kind enough to let us stay with her and was hosting a drag king tea dance at the local gay bar, Doubles II, owned by gay stallions Sam + Michael. Lip and I made it just in time to change clothes and head over to the party.

LIPSTICK: Dip and I emceed the show, which included four local drag king acts. The first was Dana doing Poison's Bret Michaels. See photo. She rocked the house. And there will be more on her later. The second act was Retts, who did a fantastic Frank Sinatra. When she sang New York New York, it brought down the house (she is pictured here with her Frankettes). The third act was a woman who did a skewed version of Bob Dylan's Lay Lady Lay. The fourth act was Depeche Mode (see little video below).

DIPSTICK: We met some amazing people last night and nearly sold out of books. We saved five of them so we'd have something to sell in Boston. Some of the highlights included seeing mother of all lesbians Alix Dobkin (who has her arm raised during the L & D Lesbian IQ Quiz on stage--see photo), Colton, budding writer Chris (pictured here with us in teal shirt), Deborah (good luck with the fuzz!) and Faye, and Mo and Dana (also pictured below), who own a really fantastic gourmet cafe in town. More on that tomorrow.

LIPSTICK: I have to say, I just got back from a run this morning and I really like this little village of Catskill. I ran along the Hudson River as it poured rain down on me. There is something really sweet about small town life and by the turn out last night (85 dykes!), the queer community is alive and well, too. More tomorrow about our day today...

Join us Tomorrow Night in San Fran

Dipstick and I headed down to San Francisco tomorrow for a big issue release party with MTV's Dani Campbell! The details are below. Come out and party with Dani, Dipstick and I, as well as DJ Chelsea Starr and rocker Jennifer Corday.

The party will be at Hotel Kabuki and is sure to be off the hook. It's starts a 9pm and we'll be dancing until 1am. Beyond emceeing, Dipstick and I will also be signing our book and having a good 'ole time, too.

CURVE's cover girl this month--Dani Campbell--is from MTV's "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila" and will be signing her issue and maybe--if you're lucky--bumpin' and grindin' on the dance floor.

Also making an appearance is San Francisco's own Pin Up Girls, the sexy burlesque troup that is sure to blow your socks off. So you can get your mojo on, there will be drink specials and great dance music.

Come play with us.

DETAILS
March 28th
9pm-1am
Hotel Kabuki (1625 Post Street)
Tickets just went on sale. Get them here.
18+

Slug Love to UCSC

The mascot for UC Santa Cruz is the Banana Slug. I'm not sure how that came to be, but I can tell you those queer kids at the Cantu Queer Center are no slugs! Last night Lipstick & I put on an interactive workshop called "The Pitfalls of Lesbian Dating" for the many lesbians and handful of guys who hang out at Cantu, one of the coolest LGBT centers we have ever visited.


Julia Schwab, did an amazing job of organizing the event. Julia started LIPZ this Fall when she realized that while there was plenty of support groups for women and lesbians on campus, there was no fun social group. Seeing a void, she decided to fill it. Our talk was the kick off event for this quarter.

Like most lesbians, we learned that the queer girls at UCSC struggle with how to deal with ex-lovers--especially in a small community. A few exes were sitting across the room from one another.  

And we discovered that college age dykes, like us seasoned lesbians, are often quick to jump to the L Word. Saying, "I love you," much too soon. 

But most of all, we shared and laughed and  learned a lot from one another. Thanks UCSC for inviting Lipstick & Dipstick to your campus. 

It's Not Too Late To Meet Us in Canada!

We are headed up to Whistler next week for WINTER PRIDE and to host "An Evening with Lipstick & Dipstick" on Tuesday night for the Winter Pride folks. If you haven't already booked your flights or loaded up your car, it's not too late. Come join us for a little snowy Canadian getaway.

Also, while Dip and I are in British Columbia, we will be doing a reading on Monday night at Little Sisters and a TV interview earlier that day on Urban Rush TV (more on the TV interview later).


Photo by Bob on Flickr