Will Clark World

LA: Arsonist Strikes West Hollywood #davewhite #alonsoduralde #wehofires

I hadn't heard until this morning that there had been a rash of fires set over the weekend in Los Angeles torching cars and apartments - and then only because two of my friends, movie critics Dave White and Alonso Duralde, were the victims of one of the crimes - both of their cars were destroyed and only one had the type of insurance that would cover this loss. 

You can read the whole story by clicking to the LA Times article (that burnt out car? That's Alonso's) and if you know the White/Duralde's personally or professionally (or have enjoyed their reviews), please consider helping them in by donating what you can to their ChipIn account. Thankfully their apartment only got smoke damage and no one was hurt.

But as of this writing, while someone has been questioned in connection with the crime, as far as I can tell, no arrests have been made.

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time, Dave is a writer friend of mine who's book, EXILE IN GUYVILLE about being a redneck 'faggot' in Los Angeles led to some interesting adventures, is one of my favorites from the last decade. I love his humor, his style and his writing and you will too. Take a chance and order it from Amazon.

Meanwhile, after that bummer of news, consider clicking on the video below - it's a video posted to Dave's Facebook page and I think it made the guys happy for oh so many reasons.. check it out.. someone made the comment on his page, "oh so that's what Park Overall is doing these days" and so she is. :)

 

2012 New Year's Wishes: Cas Marino #casmarino #2012

Counting down our last few New Year's Wishes - this morning, I'm bringing to you actor/performance artist/writer Cas Marino. I first encountered Cas (because you don't really "meet" Cas, you encounter him!) at a night of reading erotic fiction at Happy Endings a year or so ago. He was reading his and I was reading mine and we met and I was like "he'd be fun at Bingo". 

He joined us awhile later which was fun and then I saw him do a really incredible appearance at Tom Blunt's "Meet the Lady" event where he dressed up like Eve from the Garden of Eden. It was hilarious. He then joined us at Bingo to try out an idea I had, a bold experiment making cupcakes with Bingo numbers on it that people could buy as "free spaces". It was a great idea but although it didn't quite work out, Cas' cupcakes were delicious. Yum.

Next up, well, you'll see below.... one of my new favorite people from 2011!

CAS MARINO
Website: www.CasMarino.com

What you do in the world work-wise: Actor, singer, writer, director, producer, chef, bon vivant

Upcoming Gig: Current: "The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever!"  Early winter, 2012: "The Mangina Wannologs" -- Womens stories told through gay men. Because a hole is a hole is a mouth... and all mouths give voice.

2012 Wish: 2012 is the Year of the Husband. Or the Year of the Obie. One or the other.

Something that went horribly wrong in 2011 that you will fix in 2012: I spent so much time slimming down for film and stage roles that I forgot to buff back up. Daddy ain't a Daddy lest he's a Muscle Daddy -- and that will be back! Coming soon to a weight bench near you.

Where do you want to be able to say looking back on 2012 on Jan 1st 2013?: "I'm glad I had the balls to do that." I don't know what THAT is, yet -- but I do know I'm going to say "yes" a lot more often. Mostly to myself.

Best New Year's Eve Ever: The one in which my first child, now 20, was conceived in a hot tub overlooking the beautiful, mountainous surroundings of Lake Tahoe!

Worst New Year's Eve Ever: Having to fuck my goddamned ex-wife 20 years ago in a hot tub overlooking the otherwise beautiful, mountainous surroundings of Lake Tahoe!

Good Reads - Get Your Gay Lit in 2012 #IML #davidmixner #chulito #leatherman

I think that most folks consider New Yorkers well read - and I think having tons of time to sit on a train or a bus every single day helps us get through more books than the average American who spends half their day in a car.

If you're a reader, I have three new books to point you towards - ones that focus on the gay world around you.

First up is Charles Rice-Gonzalez' first novel, CHULITO, just published a few weeks ago by Magnus Books. I haven't had time to read it yet but any book that opens with the line, "Chulito awoke with a hard-on as usual" is something to pay attention to. ;) "Chulito" means "Cutie" by the way for those of you not familiar with the vernacular. :) Anyway, it's a coming out and coming of age novel set in the South Bronx and who better to write about this subject than Rice-Gonzalez who has made a home for his theatre company, the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, over the past few years? It's a love story of a sexy, tough, hip-hop loving, young Latino man and the characters that populate his block. I'm really looking forward to diving in to this book this week.

Politico David Mixner (aka "the most powerful gay man in America") released AT HOME WITH MYSELF, a quiet book, culled from his personal blog, about the three years he spent in upstate New York until his health demanded that he return to the city. Despite Mixner's outspoken reputation, this is a nice relaxing book where you'll become familiar with snow storms, deer and the locals that inhabit Turkey Hollow, the town near David's country home. Being country-raised, I saw a lot of my own growing up in the childhood recollections that pepper the book (although we are about 15 years or so apart chronologically) and being a city rat as an adult, I can appreciate his desire to go 'back to nature'. This is less a polemic on gay rights than it is a peek into the necessity to pull back from those fights and rediscover one's roots and recharge ones battery. I can't think of a better, more appropriate book for me to have read at this point in my life than this.You can read David's current blog by clicking here (and it is a must-read for anyone even remotely interested in the world of LGBT politics). This too is published by Magnus Books.

Finally, most gay men have heard of IML weekend, also known as International Mr. Leather in Chicago held over Memorial Day weekend. But few know of the life and contributions that it's creator, Chuck Renslow has had in the gay community locally, nationally and yes, even internationally. Thankfully authors Tracy Baim and Owen Keehnen set out to resolve that problem by penning LEATHERMAN: THE LEGEND OF CHUCK RENSLOW. Every pornographer, every erotic photographer, every leatherman and everyone who has ever been to a leather contest or been a titleholder ought to read this - and frankly, every gay man ought to read this book too. It's a comprehensive history of Renslow's life and while it can seem, at times, almost too detailed and riddled with facts and quotes, (Baim's influence for sure - one of the best reporters the LGBT community has ever had the good fortune to have working on our behalf) the sheer volume of stories and anecdotes create a portrait of a man who has shaped the community in ways that most people barely realize.

From a personal perspective, knowing Chuck in my own small way, I reveled more in the first half of the book, about his family and growing up gay in Chicago (I grew up in Wisconsin not that far from Chicago) decades before gay rights was a common thing, than I did in the second half which emphasizes more of the IML machinery which I'm more familiar with (although, as with many porn themed books, reading quotes from friends of mine is always a kick). The book is published by Prairie Avenue Productions and getting it now means you have enough time to pour through the intricate history before boarding the plane in May to go to the actual event in Chicago (because there is nothing else like it on Earth).

Together, these books represent a kind of queer past, present and future as they tell us where we've been, where we are, and most importantly, where we're going.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2ND, IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT

The Will Clark Show featuring P*rno Bingo at Pieces (8 Christopher Street near 6th Ave between Greenwich and Gay Streets)

Hosted by Will Clark with Photographer: AB and DJ Chris Padilla

Sponsored by NEXT Magazine, Steel Gym, ID Lube, Eden Fantasies and Bill Friar Entertainment.

NEXT WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2ND, it’s JUDGMENT DAY at Pieces as the midtown Community Board meets early in the evening to approve the bar’s proposed new space on Tenth Avenue!

Whatever the outcome, we will start after the meeting at 9PM in a special night – is this the end of the line or the start of a brand new chapter? Howard Camping thought that the end of the world was May 21^st and then he said that the real end of the world was October 21^st… but for friends and supporters of Pieces, November 2^nd could be the real Apocalypse!

How better to spend the end of days, but with cheap drinks and even cheaper men as we commiserate or celebrate at a special show featuring west coast sex therapist Jamye Waxman and singer Jenn Cuneta.

Naturally, what would a comisseration or a celebration be without some hot young male flesh?? So one of our favorite Go Gos will be with us – Jay Roth.

Prizes include tix to Coco Peru's new show at the Laurie Beechman!

The proceeds from the sale of all Bingo cards throughout the evening will go to the Sylvia Rivera L aw Project, helping transgenderd persons afford legal counsel.

Never a dull moment at 8 Christopher Street – join us for WHATEVER happens in one of the most exciting nights in Pieces and P*rno Bingo history!

About the Sylvia Rivera Law Project 

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination or violence

About Jamye Waxman  

Jamye Waxman, M.Ed. an internationally recognized speaker, sex educator and podcaster with a post-graduate degree in human sexuality. She facilitates workshops nationally and is the author of, Getting Off: A Woman's Guide to Masturbation and Hot Sex: Over 200 Things You Can Try Tonight. Her latest sex-ed DVD is 101 Positions for Lovers. You can find her on this season of Playboy TV's Sextreme Makeover. She's also the president of Feminists for Free Expression.

About Jenn Cuneta

With tracks produced by Andy & The Lamboy, Jenn has had club dance and radio success with 'Spirit of Man' on Jellybean Records, (that also appeared on the 'Get Carter' soundtrack) as well as 'Potion' on Groovilicious Records and 'Now We are Free' on Tommy Boy Records.

In her native Philippines, Jenn released an album on Star Records and her single and video of 'Chip On My Shoulder' from that album can be seen on the Philippine-American TV channel, ABS-CBN.

In 2005, Jenn scored a top 5 hit on the Billboard Dance Top 40 chart with "Come Rain, Come Shine". The track sampled Paul McCartney's 1976 hit "Silly Love Songs". She was also named XM Nation's (XM Satellite Radio) "Dance Artist of the Year" for 2005. In addition, Jenn Cuneta's single, "Come Rain, Come Shine" had put her on the #8 position on Billboard Magazine's Annual Issue on the Top Ten Most played artist of 2005 section. Her song as well made it on the Top Ten Most Played Dance Song of 2005.

'Come Rain, Come Shine' represents the first time that Paul McCartney has allowed a song of his ('Silly Love Songs') to be sampled for the dance-pop genre marketplace. Jenn's producers, Andy & the Lamboy, proudly share a co-writing credit with Sir Paul on this track.

Jenn's latest single "I Want that Man" was written by Bill Friar (of Bill Friar Entertainment) especially for Jenn. "I Want That Man" is currently climbing various record pool charts and quickly becoming a favorite of Club DJs & Club Patrons across the country.

About The Will Clark Show

Will Clark produces and hosts a weekly fundraising event benefiting New York based non profits with four rounds of Bingo, celebrity guest callers and fabulous prizes!  Part game show, part talk show and all fundraiser!

Now in it¹s seventh year, The Will Clark Show featuring P*rno Bingo has raised nearly $170,000 for New York LGBT charities.

The Will Clark Show is held at Pieces  which can be reached via the 1 train (Christopher Street) and the ABCDEF lines (West 4th).

 

Diary of A Sex Addict

When I read books like Scott Alexander Hess' DIARY OF A SEX ADDICT, a book that, given the title, is naturally filled with stories of sex, drugs and being dead inside, I wonder if I've really lived up to my potential as a gay man - I certainly have had many many sexual encounters, but I never see them in the way that Hess sees them in this book - dark, meaningless, empty, sad.

By chapter three I was already weary of descriptions of sexual encounters, so much so that it was hard to continue on reading.

But there's some good writing in the book and if you are looking for something that gives you a peek into a world that you're not familiar with, this is pretty good.

I will warn you that it's a little overwrought with endless drama and it's incredibly dark, but if you like that kind of thing, you can find it on Amazon by clicking here.

 

New York Gay Pride 2011: Thursday June 23rd

Good morning peeps - last night's Bingo was a blast and if you missed it, aw well, at least you'll see pics when I catch up on processing and posting (only six Bingos behind at this point... ack!).

We raised $1000 for Braking the Cycle and next week's rider's funds will be matched by the company she works for.. more on this in upcoming days.

Meanwhile there are tons of things to do tonight Thursday June 23rd, in New York, here are a few of the highlights -

The evening kicks off at La Pomme (37 W. 26th) with the AIDS Service Center's annual "Safer Sex in the City" event which will feature a special appearance by Manila Luzon from RuPaul's Drag Race and Vivid Girl Savanna Samson with DJ Vic Latino. Additional appearances by Nick Flynn and Lili Taylor. Tickets are $100 and it goes to a great cause. Click here on the Safer Sex in the City website. Starts at 6:30pm and runs til 10pm

Over at KGB Bar (85 E. 4th Street), playwright Kathleen Warnock hosts a special Pride version - "Glitter and Be Gay!" -  of her monthly "Drunken! Careening! Writers!" featuring talented writers reading their own work. That starts at 7:00 and runs til 10pm and features the always awesome Bob Smith plus writers Isa Coffey, Joel Derfner and Jenifer levin and special appearance by comic/writer Eddie Sarfaty. It's FREE and the drink prices are super reasonable!

Back in the West Village, the work of photographer Rob Ordonez headlines an event promoting the aesthetics of hedonism-- "Forbidden Pleasures" takes place in room 401 at The Center (208 W. 13th Street) -a special one night exhibition of erotic photos. $5 donation at the door goes to benefit the Men's Sexual Health Project. Get more info at Hard Drive Men, a risk reduction sex party. That's from 6pm to 10pm and there are cocktails....a free one with admission to boot!

Starting at 7:30 at the Grammercy Theatre (127 E. 23rd) Dan "It Gets Better" Savage is featured along with the band BETTY in an all star romp celebrating everything gay. Hosted by the adorable Alec Mapa with special appearances by Andrea McArdle (because, you know, the sun WILL come out, tomorrow, it sure ain't out today), Nellie McKay, Frank DeCaro and Mimi Imfurst. Tickets range from $20 - $100 and proceeds from the event go to GLSEN.

Starting at 11pm things start getting strange er, strangER as drunk and crazy Lavinia Draper hosts "Get Your JOAN On" celebrating all things Joan Crawford. You're encouraged to dress like Joan or put together your best bit from MOMMY DEAREST - or just slug back a drink like her! That's at Therapy starting at 11pm til Midnight. Hedda Lettuce makes a special appearance celebrating her 10 years (10!) hosting the classic movie series at Clearview .. and as usual, there'll be hotties stripping off their street clothes in order to win free cocktails. No cover but you may have to take out a loan to afford a couple rounds of drinks!

Back down in the E. Village, Nowhere's (322 E. 14th Street) popular celebration of redheads,"Fire in the Hole" marks it's one year anniversary starting at 10pm. Yes it used to be on Wednesdays but it got so popular that they've moved it to Thursday. Lucky, cuz one of these days I can go (uhmmm when I'm a redhead again LOL). There'll be a Best Red Bush contest for a $50 bar tab (which at Nowhere means you can drink free for DAYS).

I'm sure there's more going on but that's a pretty good smattering - don't get stuck sitting around at home in your room.. because you know, life's a cabaret and all that...!

Tonight at Stonewall! Pete Finland Special Guest at Tom of Finland Event

Hottie Pete Finland appears tonight Saturday June 11th at the historic Stonewall (53 Christopher) at a special Tom of Finland event for "queer librarians and those who love them"... really. And if that doesn't blow your mind there'll be a "librarian realness drag contest" It seems kinda twisted in a kind of fun off beat way. Wish I was going to be in town for it!

It's from 9pm to close (4am?) and there's a suggested donation of $5 - $10 which will go towards the Tom of Finland Foundation Archives in Los Angeles and the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn.A bevy of DJs will spin throughout the evening including Adam E. Milsop, Emoticon, CP, Sirlinda and Amber Valentine. There's Queer Lit drinks, something called a Shushed Raffle and nerdy go go boys are booked. For more information, click here!

 

 

TONIGHT AT THE LESLIE LOHMAN, WRITER RITA KALLERHOFF

TONIGHT at the Leslie Lohman, author Rita Kallerhoff will read excerpts from her new novel THE MUSE MOVES ON from 6pm to 8pm at the Leslie Lohman Gallery at 26 Wooster. Put the vodka cran down and do something cultural. Your mother will be very happy. :)

The Muse Moves On tells the incredible story of Rita Kallerhoff, modern day explorer, adventurer, and artist, who fulfills her own version of the American Dream. This highly-independent spirit uses her wit, charm and beauty to propel herself around the world in search of unspoiled natural beauty and exotic cultures to depict in her paintings. Mongolia, Tahiti, Tonga, India, Nepal, South America and North Africa are just some of the many places Rita visits and paints.

Morocco always holds a special place in her heart and her imagination. Through a patron's generosity, she purchased a home in the ancient medina of Marrakech. Here she meets the young and handsome Sharif, thirty-four years her junior. Immediately she hires him to pose for a painting and an unconventional romance ensues. Living together while in Marrakech, they form an unlikely but touching partnership that is nearly destroyed by Sharif's betrayal. Through it all, Rita maintains a sense of humor and a love of life that makes it seem that truly anything is possible.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rita Kallerhoff began her career in costume and set design under Maurice Béjart in Cologne and Düsseldorf. She studied in New York at the Institute of Fine Arts, and under the tutelage of Julien Levy at the Art Students League. Her paintings have been exhibited in New York City, the Harkness House Gallery and other venues, as well as in Germany, Spain and Morocco. Her work is in many private collections and was reproduced in the book Living in Morocco published by Taschen. She has lectured at the Fashion Institute of Technology and wrote for Entertainment New York magazine. Fluent in four languages, Kallerhoff splits her time between homes in New York City and Marrakech, where she is currently constructing a new studio.

ARMISTEAD MAUPIN IN THE NEWS

In a little bit of California related news: Armistead Maupin reports that he has a new Tales of the City book coming out November 2nd -  MARY ANN IN AUTUMN will (presumably) update us on the life of Mary Ann Singleton. I wasn't wild about MICHAEL TOLLIVER LIVES (yes I know it was a New York Times bestseller but it didn't hold my interest past the first couple chapters.. and I'm someone who has been rabid about the whole series) but hopefully this one will be fabulous.

Meanwhile, the long awaited Tales of the City musical (boasting an impressive pedigree, direction by Jason Moore (Avenue Q), lyrics and book by Jeff Whitty (also Avenue Q) and of course music by Jake Shears and Jason Garden of Scissor Sisters fame) is slated to open in San Francisco in 2011.

On a related Armistead note, the new Armistead Center has just opened in Liverpool providing outread to LGBT youth and female sex workers plus distributing free condoms and lube at gay bars in the city. Awesome. :)

BRYAN SLATER GETS 'EM HOT AND RAISES $700 FOR METRO WRESTLERS!

It was a VERY hot night and the Pieces air system was working overtime to keep us all cool - but you know what? when you get hot at P*rno Bingo, it's perfectly OK to take off your shirt - especially if you've packed a wrestling singlet in your bag for just such an occasion! That's what Anton and David did and helped up the auctions by making themselves available to their admirers to watch (and maybe help) them change! But it was our fabulous guests - Rachel Kramer Bussel and XXX star Bryan Slater who kept us entertained all night long - Rachel with stories of her montly In the Flesh reading series (which I then read a story at the next night) and Bryan who simply wore his wrestling singlet very well. And kudos to Paul for being so generous for Bryan's 2xist underwear! Yum. In all we raised $700 for the Metro Wrestlers - to help defray costs for the team to get to the Gay Games in Germany at the end of July.

You know, I have to say that perhaps to the outside, raising money for people to go to Europe to compete might seem like a lightweight charitible aim when compared to homeless youths or AIDS or suicide prevention. But to me, there's nothing better than encouraging teamwork and unity among a group of people who are all dedicated to athletic prowess. I've said this before and I'll say it again: you cannot put a price on the value of feeling like you belong on a team where people rely on you not only to simply show up, but also compete, catch the ball, hit the ball, put the ball in a basket and so forth. To me, perhaps there wouldn't be so much of the bigger problems if more people felt as though they belonged to a team, a theatre group, something. But I'll admit that my midwestern values sometimes seem antiquated in these modern times. Anyway, in these rough financial times, I'm really honored to be a part of the solution for people on various teams who might not otherwise be able to afford to join their teammates.

In any event, click here for the gallery (thanks to AB for taking the snaps) and keep going all the way through it. not only are there some truly hot pics of Bryan but also of Anton .. and the second to the last pic is super sexy (I don't want to spoil it.. go ahead and check it out). 

I can't tell if the caption for the above picture should be "Bryan looks for hole" or "Bryan waits for balls". Either works I think. :)