Just a quick note to say 'happy thanksgiving' to each of you that come here on a regular basis to catch the latest news in the World o Will Clark.
If you get a few minutes, take some time to think of the five things that you are most grateful for - and then come up with five more. Try it. Consider it Thanksgiving homework. But it's homework that will remind you how amazing your life is - even when yu think your life bites.
Meanwhile, consider joining us for World AIDS Day Bingo on Wednesday December 1st. We ae collecting soaps and shampoos for the homeless that seek refuge at the AIDS Service Center, please be generous if you can. It really takes so little to make a difference in someone's life.
My best to you all and will catch you on the other side of the holiday.
TONIGHT we’re playing SIX rounds of Jackpot Bingo – the night with CASH prizes each and every round! Plus, the debut of a new feature: "Ask Will Clark".
We’ve got cheap drinks, cheap men and, best of all, no one you’re related to will be here! Join us for one of our most popular events!
Sherry Vine does it again with a Firecracker satire, Firecrotch, exposing the secrets of the Ginger-haired in a video directed by Francis Legge! Mostly safe for work. Sort of.
It's not really starting to feel at all, weather-wise, like Thanksgiving or the rest of the winter holidays here in New York, but I'm feeling a little sentimental anyway.
Maybe because I've heard from a few old, close friends recently. I still stay in fairly close touch a variety of friends from a variety of times and places in my life. I reconnected to four of those friends while in Chicago and that really made the trip worthwhile (on top of all the other pretty terrific things that happened there and the new friends I made).
Or maybe it's because, recently, when someone asked me how I got involved in fundraising, I recalled how, although I'd always been involved in one way or another in some type of outreach program - whether it was church or peer education, I got started in earnest producing fundraising events following the long illness and death of a very close friend.
Or maybe all the "It Gets Better" videos have made me think more and more about my childhood home and how there really was so much love and kindness that I experienced amid the brutality and harshness.
So, while my childhood home is no longer available to me, the memories and value of what I learned there, live on. And while Dorothy's final message about home has always confused me, I think that it means that no matter where you go, if you keep that center of yourself in your heart, you will always be home.
Had Dorothy discovered her joy in Oz, she wouldn't have needed, or wanted, to go back to Kansas so badly; she'd have been home at long last.
But, she truly wanted to be back in Kansas and so that was home. And she didn't need to leave her backyard to find it. Lucky girl. All it cost to find that out was a fever dream and a pair of ruby slippers. Most of the rest of us pay a far higher price to find out where we belong.
I've found a large piece of my home in the past few years, what about you?
While you're meditating on that, let Diana Ross beautify your world with one of the most gorgeous songs ever..... peace.
It was an exciting night with lots of great friends featuring the music of the men's vocal group Uptown Express with special appearances by comedian Carolyn Castiglia ("Last Comic Standing") who had the crowd roaring (and me inching away waiting for lightning to strike) and one of New York's hottest go go men - TOREZ.
The highlight of the night (in addition to two ear-pleasing tunes by the group and Carolyn's wit) was when one of our regulars, David!, bid on and won the right to tear Torez's clothes off - and Torez, in turn, tore David's clothes off in a passionate fury. It was very sexy.
Then, because Torez was simply standing there looking all muscley and sexy in his jockstrap, we went ahead and auctioned that off to, and it went for a whopping $200. Now that's a dedication to good causes (although I'm not sure if I mean the actual non-profit or Torez. You decide.). In all we raised $550 for Uptown Express to continue their artistic mission.
You can take a look at the pics that AB took during the night - but they won't really tell the complete story - this is one of those weeks where 'you had to be there to believe it'.
As if getting stuffed on Thanksgiving wasn't enough, the men of photographer Joe Oppedisano will perform at the historic Stone Pony (you know, the occasional Bruce Sprinsteen hangout) on Saturday November 27th for the official after party for the Buck's Motorcycle Club's 37th Annual RIDE Benefit weekend which takes place at various venues all weekend including SWELL and Paradise.
Featuring none other than Mustang exclusive Sam Colt, Bad Boys on the Hudson stars Alessio Romero and Torez, Twink.com's Chris Porter and Dru Bruin! That's a mouthful of man. Or at least it could be. If you're lucky. ;)
But if you need any more convincing, look no further than the video below of 2009's Stone Pony event, which, as you can see, will give you just that much more motivation for tearing yourself away from the family drama of Turkey Day.
If you're a fan of the website VeryMaryKate.com, you probably know that in a recent installment, Mary Kate walked in on Bodyguard naked while showering (after picking his lock- there's a kind of logic there but don't think too hard about it; it needed to happen to jump start a story arc). The episode below is the episode in question but head to the site to catch up on recent developments.
For those of you not familiar with the series, it's a series of webisodes created by and starring actress/writer Elaine Carroll featuring the 'unofficial biography of Mary-Kate Olsen" (you can catch the real Mary-Kate some Saturday nights hiding out in the back bar of Splash, but you didn't hear that from me).
Anyway, the series started last year and was a sleeper hit featuring delightfully daffy low-key, low tech episodes about the life of Mary-Kate and her hunky bodyguard, Bodyguard, with occasional appearances by her twin sister Ashley and various celebrities that they come in contact with (although more often than not the celebrity impersonators are the weak link in the series).
The creator took a few months off and returned this autumn after the series was bought up by College Humor.com which now presents new material every Tuesday and Thursday. And while still funny and the production values improved, I feel that the actors are pushing a wee bit too hard in the newer batch. But hardly a reason not to catch up them, particularly when the writing is as sharp as it's ever been.
One of the biggest strengths of the series is finding new ways in which to show off the incredible body of belonging to Bodyguard. Not that I'm complaining of course. :)
On November 10th, we raised over $550 for the Bronx Community Pride Center and featured three amazing guests - Heriberto Mr. Metrocub 2011, Appolonia Cruz and Tyra Allure! The Community Pride Center features a number of programs for a wide variety of ages of clients - and not only do they need funds critically, but they also need volunteers to help LGBT youth find their way through a difficult world. Lately there is more anti-LGBT violence reported every day, so the Center is needed now more than ever. Please help keep the Center going by clicking here and donating on their website. (Photos by AB) Click here for pictures from this spectacular evening!
On November 3rd two time Emmy winner (for the Rosie O'Donnell Show) Judy Gold joined us along with musical guest Athena Reich to raise funds for the Gay/Lesbian Anti Violence Project. An incredible night with incredible guests, a packed house and tons of giveaways including theatre tickets, GLEE and Modern Family dvds and much much more! (photos by Damon) Click here for the complete photo album
