Gay Pride Weekend
So we slept late on Saturday. Got up and did a work out. Then got ourselves ready for the evening.
Our friends, Ted and Daniel were in town from DC and were having a handful of people over for a little get together. As I was already booked to teach at the RaUnch, we couldn't really attend the party. We wanted to see them though, so we decided to arrive at the earliest time which was 6PM. (There were also some Ranchers getting together in Central Park for a picnic pre-dance gathering - I later found out that this was moved to James' Place due to rain, but we still missed it). I need to be at BAR at 7:30 to sweep the floor, and just get mentally prepared for the class. As many times as I've done this, I still get some butterflies in my stomach before the actual event (this goes for calling also).
Ted's company lends him an apartment in the theatre district. We were able to get my "hiking parking spot". This is a place where I know I can usually find street parking that agrees with the street signs so we do not get a ticket. It usually entails a bit of a walk to get to the theatre though, but I'd rather walk than pay for parking. I've also learned you can waste an hour trying to find a spot close to the theatres, in which much of the time is wasted just trying to go around the block. Traffic, taxis and traffic lights account for most of this.
We parked, shared an umbrella and made it to the apartment. Ted was running some last minute errands, and Daniel was laying out the Kosher Middle Eastern spread. Shwarma and Falafel were in the oven. He had gotten Pepsi for me.
Big Apple Ranch has theme nights, and for gay pride, it is the Raunch. They encourage sleaze-wear, or when in doubt, Boots, Bras & Boxers. I decided to stay dressed while I taught, and change after the lights went down. Daniel and Ted thought that they'd make it over to the Ranch after their party. Daniel thought he'd change into something appropriate for the dance anyway. He took out a latex singlet (sort of). This was supposedly preserved in a plastic zip lock filled with some lube to keep it supple. As he was getting into it, a strap around the leg gave way. Rubber has a way of deteriorating. He had to throw it away, and threw on some leather shorts that lace up the front. I don't have a pair of these yet, and I thought I might be able to get away wearing something like that. (Noted for future). Alas, they never made it out afterward. We got to meet maybe 6 of their friends as we were leaving.
I arrived a bit late, and the Manhattan Prairie Dogs were still in rehearsal, so I slept swept around them.
The class went well. I had about two dozen students and no one was terrible. The line dance was new for BAR. I had seen it done at Remingtons in DC, and thought it would be a good one to do here. It was D.H.S.S. which stands for Delicious, Hot, Strong & Sweet. It is danced to a song called "Coffee" by Supersister. High energy and cool words - "I like my men, like I like my coffee, hot, strong & sweet...".
Some people actually came up and were very happy that they were finally able to learn a line dance. It is billed as a Beginner, Hustle Line dance - and considering this special dance would bring in a crowd of newbies, I think it was a good choice.
I eventually stripped down to my boots and a pair of white Calvin Klien briefs with a red elastic band. I'm always a bit uncomfortable at first, but that subsides as I begin to dance. Plus, many people here I have known for many years, so it's like family.
Besides the dogs, there were a few other performances. Tonight was a benefit for En Guard, and they did some flag choreo to "I Am What I Am" and Cher's "Strong Enough". Lemington as Tyra Co'Bear (female impersonator) did 2 lip-syncing numbers. He looks amazing as a girl - tight thin body. I wish he would've graced us with more of his dance moves as he is professionally trained. There was also a clogging performance (think of the movie Steppin Out - the beginning of it).
We stayed till closing, and did not make the penthouse pride party this year. Last year, we went after dancing and had to wait about a half hour before they would allow anyone else up. When I last looked, he had 241 yesses on his evite. We decided to look for trouble elsewhere.
Our friends, Ted and Daniel were in town from DC and were having a handful of people over for a little get together. As I was already booked to teach at the RaUnch, we couldn't really attend the party. We wanted to see them though, so we decided to arrive at the earliest time which was 6PM. (There were also some Ranchers getting together in Central Park for a picnic pre-dance gathering - I later found out that this was moved to James' Place due to rain, but we still missed it). I need to be at BAR at 7:30 to sweep the floor, and just get mentally prepared for the class. As many times as I've done this, I still get some butterflies in my stomach before the actual event (this goes for calling also).
Ted's company lends him an apartment in the theatre district. We were able to get my "hiking parking spot". This is a place where I know I can usually find street parking that agrees with the street signs so we do not get a ticket. It usually entails a bit of a walk to get to the theatre though, but I'd rather walk than pay for parking. I've also learned you can waste an hour trying to find a spot close to the theatres, in which much of the time is wasted just trying to go around the block. Traffic, taxis and traffic lights account for most of this.
We parked, shared an umbrella and made it to the apartment. Ted was running some last minute errands, and Daniel was laying out the Kosher Middle Eastern spread. Shwarma and Falafel were in the oven. He had gotten Pepsi for me.
Big Apple Ranch has theme nights, and for gay pride, it is the Raunch. They encourage sleaze-wear, or when in doubt, Boots, Bras & Boxers. I decided to stay dressed while I taught, and change after the lights went down. Daniel and Ted thought that they'd make it over to the Ranch after their party. Daniel thought he'd change into something appropriate for the dance anyway. He took out a latex singlet (sort of). This was supposedly preserved in a plastic zip lock filled with some lube to keep it supple. As he was getting into it, a strap around the leg gave way. Rubber has a way of deteriorating. He had to throw it away, and threw on some leather shorts that lace up the front. I don't have a pair of these yet, and I thought I might be able to get away wearing something like that. (Noted for future). Alas, they never made it out afterward. We got to meet maybe 6 of their friends as we were leaving.
I arrived a bit late, and the Manhattan Prairie Dogs were still in rehearsal, so I slept swept around them.
The class went well. I had about two dozen students and no one was terrible. The line dance was new for BAR. I had seen it done at Remingtons in DC, and thought it would be a good one to do here. It was D.H.S.S. which stands for Delicious, Hot, Strong & Sweet. It is danced to a song called "Coffee" by Supersister. High energy and cool words - "I like my men, like I like my coffee, hot, strong & sweet...".
Some people actually came up and were very happy that they were finally able to learn a line dance. It is billed as a Beginner, Hustle Line dance - and considering this special dance would bring in a crowd of newbies, I think it was a good choice.
I eventually stripped down to my boots and a pair of white Calvin Klien briefs with a red elastic band. I'm always a bit uncomfortable at first, but that subsides as I begin to dance. Plus, many people here I have known for many years, so it's like family.
Besides the dogs, there were a few other performances. Tonight was a benefit for En Guard, and they did some flag choreo to "I Am What I Am" and Cher's "Strong Enough". Lemington as Tyra Co'Bear (female impersonator) did 2 lip-syncing numbers. He looks amazing as a girl - tight thin body. I wish he would've graced us with more of his dance moves as he is professionally trained. There was also a clogging performance (think of the movie Steppin Out - the beginning of it).
We stayed till closing, and did not make the penthouse pride party this year. Last year, we went after dancing and had to wait about a half hour before they would allow anyone else up. When I last looked, he had 241 yesses on his evite. We decided to look for trouble elsewhere.