East Coast Tour :: The Final Hours

DIPSTICK: At last, our east coast tour--and the book tour in general--is officially over. We wrapped this up today in Northampton at our final reading at Pride and Joy Books. Thanks to all who came by today as we hung out, did a short reading and signed books.

LIPSTICK: Yeah, it was a lovely day here in Northampton. This morning I went for a long run around downtown and around Smith College's campus. It's a gorgeous campus, lots of super old buildings and history. The all-girls college is notoriously hard to get into. Julia Childs also atteneded school here, so did famed feminist Gloria Steinem.

Our next president, Hilary Clinton, attended Wellesley, which is nearby.

DIPSTICK: Now that the tour is officially over, we are going to take a few days off to relax and decompress.* Thanks to everyone who's come out to see us at one of our events, and especially all of our friends (and family) along the way that have supported us on this big endeavor.

LIPSTICK: Indeed, we couldn't have done this book tour without you! What a long, strange (and fabulously fun) trip it's been!





* Blogging will resume Friday.

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 :: NYC + Boston

Hello from the book tour trenches! Like Dip said yesterday, we had a fun night (too many margs for her) the night of our reading at Oscar Wilde. I attached a couple pics. One of the brave souls was literary agent Holly Bemiss, who's agree to represent me and my novel I'm currently finishing (done soon). Pic to right.

As Dip said, we spent half the day in NYC on Thursday. I snapped this picture of Dip as we sailed by Lady Liberty (click to make larger). We also snapped a shot from the night before from the balcony of where we stayed down in the Financial District. It was an amazing view! Loved the Brooklyn Bridge lights.

With sleepy eyes (yes, I did almost doze off a couple times, but *did* pull over for the butch to drive), we drove through Connecticut to Boston. It was long, but really beautiful. We found three more artists we can listen to in the car: Eva Cassidy, Toni Childs and Tracy Chapman. Hallelujah it's opening up for us! God love ME, but if I have to listen to "Keep it Precious" one more time...

Once in Boston, Dipstick2's girlfriend Meg (btw, Dipstick2 is Kathy's twin sister pictured below) and I went to Club Cafe for ladies night and dinner.

Then yesterday, while Dipstick laid around nursing her margarita hangover, Lipstick headed to the city. From where we're staying in Jamaica Plain, it's about six stops on the T Orange Line to State Street where I jumped off. I spent the day shopping around at Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the North End. I also walked part of the Freedom Trail downtown.

After a nice long run around Jamaica Plain and around Jamaica Pond, Meg and I grabbed dinner at Delfino's. Dipstick1 + Dipstick2 drove out to Timbuktu to see their brothers for dinner. I had an AMAZING dinner at Delfino's in Roslindale (a nearby Boston neighborhood). Ricotta Gnocchi with Italian sausage in a plum cherry red sauce. Reggiano was shaved in generous portion on top. Yuh-ummm! Also, Meg has been an amazing host. Her house, which was build in 1835, is like a perfectly manicured B & B. Her home is also--in typical lesbian fashion--populated by a stable of animals. One-eyed cat Edie (pictured here), Jack, Chester (as old as the hills) and her dog Bella.

At last, we met the Dipsticks at the Boston lesbo dance party in the theater district. The club was called the Pearl and the party was called PURE. About 400 women showed up and danced the night away. Dip and I greeted the crowd and talked about our book. We also signed many copies and met some east coast fans. Thanks to Beth (pictured here with us and the go go dancers) and all those who showed up. The Dipsticks + Meg had some old friends in tow, including Constance, Marco, Melissa and Sarah.

We're off to Northampton this morning for Pride. If you're in the area, we'll be on the main stage at 1:45pm.

Come say hi!

East Coast Tour :: NYC to Boston

We woke up this morning a little hung over and dragged our sorry asses out of bed and headed uptown to the offices of Alyson Books, our esteemed publisher. We picked up a few books because of stellar sale on this trip we're running low. We met Anthony La Sasso (pictured), the marketing and sales manager at Alyson.

Booking a boat tour around Manhattan seemed like a good idea at the time. But then again, we weren't hung over when we had the idea. Add a queasy stomach to rough waters and Dipstick was a bit green in the gills by the time we got off the boat.

It was amazing, though, to see the Statue of Liberty up close and Ellis Island, the place where my ancestors p

assed

through on their way to America. Lipstick had one less margarita than I, so she's looking fly on the boat, even if it was a bit chilly.

We hated to say good bye to the city that never sleeps, but with dates in Boston and Northampton, we loaded up the Kia, Rio and hit the turnpike.

Lipstick was first at the wheel. At one point I looked ove

r and noticed her banging her head against the steering wheel and slapping

her face. "Are you all right?" I asked. "If you don't like Melissa Ferrick, I can change the song."

"I'm trying to keep myself awake," the femme replied. "I almost dozed off there for a minute."

Uh, Lip, in the future, just pull over and hand me the keys, really. I don't mind driving.

I have to admit, it's a long drive from New York to Boston, but we made it here to my sister's girlfriend's house where we were greeted by three cats and big Burnese Mountain dog. The femmes hit the town, while this butch took the much needed alone time, playing with the felines and catching up on TV.

If you're in Boston, come see us tonight at PURE, 75 Warrenton Street, Boston. 10pm.

East Coast Tour :: New York, New York II

LIPSTICK: Greetings again from the Big Apple! Dipstick and I spent the day like nomads, doing our own thing. In the morning, I went for a long run, which took me over the Brooklyn Bridge and along the waterfront by the piers.

DIPSTICK: I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge on foot, too, headed to see my friend Furman for lunch.

LIPSTICK: Near the end of my run, I stopped at a hot dog stand and ate a sizzling weiner for breakfast. It was one of the best dogs I've had in a long time!

DIPSTICK: Furman is this amazing guy who runs a school, Generation School that is a new model of education. I met him at his office and we got food at a deli and walked around Brooklyn Heights, a very cool neighborhood.



LIPSTICK: I headed to our subway stop here in the Financial District and took the W train to Times Square to hang out and write in the afternoon. So much crazy energy in that place!

DIPSTICK: I went to the About.com offices in the West Village to meet some of my colleagues.

LIPSTICK: I met Dipstick and Ramon for pedicures late in the afternoon. It was Dipstick's first pedicure ever. Can you believe that? I snapped this picture of her (and her hairy legs) getting a clear coat in her polka dot flipflops. Classic.

DIPSTICK: I don't think I'll get a pedicure again. I don't see the appeal. Our reading last night at Oscar Wilde was a big success. The below pic is the only one that turned out, unfortunately. Many friends came last, including Kevin Fletcher (Double D's uncle), friends from About.com, Lipstick's literary agent Holly and her girl Erin, Editor Don Weise, Furman and many others.

LIPSTICK: After the reading, we headed to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in the West Village for margaritas and mexican food.

DIPSTICK: Whose idea was it to buy a pitcher of margaritas? We're both a bit groggy this morning. Today after visiting our publisher Alyson Books, we're heading to Boston for an event at PURE tomorrow night, 75 Warrenton St. 10pm.

East Coast Tour :: New York, New York

DIPSTICK: After meeting my partner's mom for breakfast, Lipstick and I left the rainy Catskills for New York City. It was a beautiful drive, but Lipstick missed most of it because she slept. We listened to our new favorite musician Nedra Johnson, who also happens to be my friend Retts's roommate.

LIPSTICK: Nedra has a great bluesy sound. Now Dipstick and I have one more artist we can listen to together.

DIPSTICK: And then I put on the new Ferron album because I thought Lipstick was asleep, but she woke up and actually said she liked it. It was a great soundtrack as we drove into the city. We arrived at the apartment to find this amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge from our window. How cool is that?

LIPSTICK: I really wanted to see Ground Zero, so we walked over there from where we were staying, which is just a few blocks away. It was very surreal, as we were making our way over there, realizing that where we were walking had been covered with dust and panicking people fleeing just a five years ago. It all became very real to us. I snapped this picture of one of the airplane windows found in the wreckage.

DIPSTICK: We went to the 9/11 memorial. There are pictures and names of everyone killed in the attacks. I snapped this picture of gay hero Mark Bingham's name. He's the one Melissa Etheridge wrote the song "Tuesday Morning" about.

LIPSTICK: They're rebuilding the towers, so you really can't get that close to the actual site, but below is what it looks like now.

DIPSTICK: After that sobering experience, it was time for some New York City fun. We walked up to Soho where we met my About.com colleague Ramon Johnson for drinks and dinner. Ramon gave us a tour of all the gay areas, including Greenwich Village and Chelsea. Lipstick, of course, had to do some shopping at Filene's . Can't take them femme anywhere without her needing to pull a credit card out.

LIPSTICK: Don't even start, Dipstick. Just because you're wearing the same underwear from 1992...The thing I love about New York is how alive and vibrant it is, even late into the night. I could live in this city and easily get lost in the chaos and hustle and bustle. And I loved Ramone. What a sweet guy!

East Coast Tour :: Catskill + Woodstock, NY

DIPSTICK: As you can see, Lipstick and I were in Woodstock, NY yesterday. Yes, home of the 1969 Woodstock Festival which put hippies on the map! At the Woodstock sign, I asked Lipstick not to take her clothes off and not to light the joint right there on the side of the road, but that femme just never listens. She does what she damn well chooses with no regard to anyone else. I was able to wrap this rainbow "Peace" flag around her before the cops arrived and I managed to talk her into keeping her pants on, but she still got several honks from passersby.

LIPSTICK: Oh geeze, Dip, you're such a square. What she's not mentioning, dear readers, is that she was wearing a tie-dyed tank top on and round blue sunglasses. Also, I'd just snuck a hallucinogenic mushroom in her omelet at breakfast without her knowing.

DIPSTICK: You stuck a mushroom in my omelet at MOD? It was such a delicious breakfast, too, and Mary and Dana were so sweet. Bu now I can stop worrying about those little leprechauns that followed me all the way down main street in Woodstock.

LIPSTICK: Leprechauns? I saw enormous squirrels. You're right about one thing today Dip, and that's how fantastic breakfast was. Before we hit the road in our magic bus for Woodstock, we had an amazing meal at MOD. As mentioned yesterday, MOD is a gourmet cafe in downtown Catskill owned by lesbot couple Mary (aka Mo) and Dana (aka Bret Michaels from drag show). See the photo of them in their open, organic kitchen. I had a Mediterranean omelet and Dipstick and something equally as yummy.

DIPSTICK: During our day in Woodstock, where is was raining torrentially all day, we both had our tarot cards read. My reading was mostly positive and said that my next big project is going to be a huge success.

LIPSTICK: Mine was all positive--the woman said people rarely draw all positive cards--and she said I'm surrounded by love and prosperity and that I'm on the right career path. My favorite card I drew was the "Fool" card (left), which means I'm a huge risk taker. (I already wear this as a badge of honor.) Good news, huh Dip?

DIPSTICK: Yes, good news. We had dinner with Retts at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Woodstock and then called it an early night. Lip and I are headed to Manhattan in a few minutes. We are so excited that our friend Alix's daughter is hooking us up with an apartment to stay in. While we're there we'll be doing a reading at Oscar Wilde tomorrow night. It's at 7pm. Come see us! Details below:

DETAILS
April 30
7pm
Oscar Wilde Bookstore
15 Christopher Street
New York, NY

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...

East Coast Tour :: Syracuse, NY

DIPSTICK: What a time we had in Syracuse! After spending several days with my family, Lipstick and I finally had our reading here in Syracuse. Here is a picture of one of the owners, John, introducing us.

LIPSTICK: In all, we guessed about 25 people showed up at the Lavender Inkwell, which is an adorable queer book shop thats in an old Victorian house. Those that showed for the reading included one of Dipstick's old college roommates who she hadn't seen in 15 years and Dipstick's old track coach, who she used to taunt because she was a lesbian. Funny how things come around full circle, eh?

DIPSTICK: Well, we didn't actually taunt her. We just used to sing "I love you, you love me, homosexuality. People think we're just friends, but we're really lesbians."

LIPSTICK: Ahh, that sounds like taunting to me.

DIPSTICK: Whatever, we were young, thought we were straight (ha) and no harm was done. She came to the reading and bought a book, right?

LIPSTICK: True. Hanging out with Dipstick's family here in Syracuse was such a rich learning experience. I was privilege to two family dinners. One at her folks house where her mom made her signature shrimp curry. Went back for seconds. The last night we were in town, her brother, Tom, and sister in law Karen, hosted a BBQ. The weather didn't cooperate, but the burger and leg of lamb sure tasted good. Here is a picture of me with those from Dipstick's family who came to the reading. Her parents are in the back and her mom made the whole room cry when she talked about how much she loves her lesbian daughter and how she came to terms with it being a religious woman.

More to come.....

East Coast Tour :: Buffalo, NY

Hello from Buffalo!

Dip and I arrived at the crack of dawn (well at least it was in the Pacific Northwest—we took a red eye) in Buffalo, New York yesterday and rented a car. We loaded up our little tin can (the heap with no automatic anything was all Hertz had at the time even though we wanted something bigger) and had to play Tetris to get all our luggage in. (Side note: Butches travel with as much stuff as the femmes, maybe more because of their hair products. Like Dipstick always says: all a butch has in her hair.)

We went to Dipstick’s friends Adjoa and Christy's house (pictured here with their adorably old and blind Ruby) and dumped our stuff before heading off to Niagara Falls. And wow, what waterworks! Odjua snapped this shot of Dip and I. Supah cool, but the tourist area was surprisingly sleepy.

Before Niagara (and I know I’m talking out of sequence, but I’m still a bit touched by the lack of sleep—roll with me), we stopped for lunch at the original buffalo wing restaurant called the Anchor Bar. Apparently, it’s where those little fried fuckers dipped in blue cheese got their start. The Story. Hence the name “Buffalo” wings. For those of you also touched by lack of sleep or otherwise, it’s not actually buffalo meat they fry, but chicken. I have to say they *were* some of the best wings I’ve ever had. Check out the drumstick hat Dip bought. She ended up wearing it to dinner that night, too. I told her it looked kind of funny, but that butch just didn’t care. She’s still wearing it today. Her head hardly fit into the car...

Anyway, after we both stole naps, we headed to Talking Leaves, the big queer bookstore in town and met the owner John. We weren’t sure if anyone would show—I mean we’re 3000 miles from home for christsakes—but DAMN did the dykes of Buffalo show Lipstick & Dipstick some love. It was packed! And the crowd laughed in all the right places (it’s kinda awkward when people don’t think we’re funny) and we had a really spirited Q & A afterwards.

A very BIG thanks to all the ladies who came out to support us in Buffalo. We really appreciated it!

Our next reading is tomorrow night (Friday) in Rochester. Spread the word!

April 25th
7pm
Equal Grounds Coffee House
750 South Avenue, Rochester NY 14620

Other Upcoming East Coast Readings:

April 26
1pm
Lavender Inkwell
304 North McBride Street
Syracuse, NY

April 27
4-8pm (show at 6pm)
Doubles II
29 Church St.
Catskill, NY

April 30
7pm
Oscar Wilde Bookstore
15 Christopher Street
New York, NY

May 2
10pm
PURE
75 Warrenton ST
Boston, MA

May 3
1:45pm-1:55pm
North Hampton Pride
North Hampton, MA

May 4
1pm
Pride & Joy Books
20 Crafts Avenue
North Hampton, MA