Playlist: The "Spring Ends / Summer Begins" Mix-Tape

Happy First Day of Summer! Here's my latest seasonal Playlist...

The "Stick It Out 'til The End... of Spring" Mix-tape!

About 60 songs that I've listened to through Spring, old and new favorites. Enjoy it during warm summer nights and days by the pool! And here is a secret detail about my playlists: Each and every song is meant for someone specific. ;)

For continuous play while you surf the web, please listen using the Pop-Out Player.

You can click here for last season's:

• Winter "Seven Years Went Under The Bridge" Mix-tape!

Crowd Goes GaGa as Smash-Up Derby RAIDs Bootie LA

The Bootie LA "Pirate Ball" has me wondering how these guys can possibly top themselves? When Lady GaGa makes a surprise appearance voguing to a mash-up of her hit, "Just Dance," I imagine that might be the highlight of the evening.

But following her, Smash-Up Derby, the world's only live mash-up band takes us to new heights of musical genius including Rihanna vs. The Cure - "Fascination Umbrella" and Bootie LA favorite "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey mashed up with Smashing Pumpkins' "1979."

Please click here for all the photographs from the Pirate Ball!

The completely unexpected surprise: Ramie Becker and Random Acts of Irreverent Dance (RAID) give a performance that has to be seen to be believed. Friends of mine Keoki, Sam, and Andy who have never been to Bootie LA are there for the first time and love it to pieces. And I run into the ultra-fabulous Clint Catalyst.

I can't forget to mention the... wait for it... Pirate Blow-up Doll Mosh Pit. The few photographs here can't do the night justice so please click here to check them all out.

A Real Turnout for "Reality Check" Benefit for Equality California

On a sunny afternoon in West Hollywood, I find myself at Here Lounge as one of the honorary co-hosts for Woody Woodbeck's awesome 2nd Annual "Reality Check" benefit for Equality California. I am posting a few highlights, including the video snapshot above and the clip of James Alsop from "Step It Up And Dance" giving us an off-the-hook performance.

Please click here to see all 76 photos from this legendary afternoon.

Michael Silas and James Alsop from "Step It Up And Dance," enjoy the sun with a fellow dancer. Fellow honorary co-host Sean Patrick Lewis and the amazing Woody Woodbeck smile for the cameras. I cozy up to designer Nick Verreos and socialite Jonathan Chang. (Nick has the most perfect facial hair I have ever seen!)

"Celebrity Rehab" is filming at the event. I guess this is the "pre-rehab" part because Reese Allbritton helps Nikki McKibbin down some vodka while Amanda Ireton, Heather Chadwell and Reality Cares founder Todd Michael Krim look on.

Alec Mapa, "America's Gaysian Sweetheart" arrives and shows us his wedding band. Lisa Chang shows off her accessories: Dior, Chanel and Andrew Stum. Triple threat singer/dancer/actor Kevin Stea of "Naked Boys Singing" gets some love from Ms. Chang. We might have to re-christen her fan-site "Lisa Chang: Inch by Inch" if I devote any more coverage to the men, shoes and jewelry in her life.

La Coacha stops by to shoot an episode of "Gaywalking" which you can see on her YouTube channel. It includes a shout-out from me to Ellen DeGeneres! Celebrity Image Consultant Daniel DiCriscio puckers up, and Bravo's "Workout" studs Brian Peeler and JD Jordan raise eyebrows.

Please click here to see all 76 photos from this benefit.

"Kara Walker" Closing Bash at The Hammer: Rape, Slavery, Dancing!

"Wow! She had a bad day," says my friend Shana. We're at the Kara Walker "My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love" closing bash at The Hammer Museum. Judging from the crowd who is stunned into silence, I will say a show about rape, slavery, torture, lynching and more rape is not ideal for a closing night party with DJ, drinks and dancing.

And there's the "Get-your-own-free-silhouette" guy. So you too can depict your own story of rape, slavery, and torture at home. (Did I mention the anal rape?)

Walker is a genius, no questions asked. Not only does she combine the most graphic subjects with the most subtle media, silhouettes and shadow puppetry, but she boldly defies convention by employing figurative and narrative sequential art.

On a wonderful side note, I do run into Shana Waterman, a friend from school, whom I haven't seen in ages, and meet her friends Kim and Monique! We agree to get together again for more dancing and drinks. (Sans rape and slavery.)

I couldn't take pictures of the exhibit itself but click here for more shots of the festivities.

Sea Slug Sex & Fol Chen Draw a Crowd at Machine Project

I am standing in a crowd outside Machine Project in Echo Park wondering if they are all really there for Patrick Krug's lecture on Sea Slugs. It could be!

But after Fol Chen comes on, I can also declare that if you're not into hearing about the mating habits of Alderia willowi (named for Willow on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as I learn in the lecture) it is well worth sitting through said lecture to see this band. Amazing stage presence, great vocal, songs with catchy hooks could make them the next big thing, and they even throw a trumpet and some maracas in there.

I also run into my old pal Josh Kamensky, former Director of Communications for our very own City of Angels, and now writer and front man for another awesome East Side band, Captain Automatic, with his fiancée, Heather. Click here to see all my photographs from this event!

The Democratic Primary in 8 Minutes!

"All for ONE..." Benefit Scores a Perfect 10 at Club Eleven

Jovy Janolo knows how to throw a party! I'm at his benefit for ONE.org watching the last leg of a marathon fashion show as one more almost-naked model struts down the catwalk. Bobby Trendy shows up in a full-on "Bobby Trendy Costume" which makes up for the last time I saw him in a very understated look. And I must get Hugo Boss' Hector Monserratte a sippy-cup if he keeps nursing his cosmos like that! So cute. :)

Click here to see all my photos from this party!

Also on hand is documentary film producer Renzo Soriano cutting a stylish figure with actor Eli Kranski. Hector buddies up to host Nathan Lee Graham, Instinct magazine's Christopher Jones, and actor Gaetano Jones. (If they got married they wouldn't have to change names!) The man himself, Jovy Janolo, finds a moment to pose with designer Thai Nguyen.

Shoe designer Tarla Makaeff cozies up to Janice Henson from ABC news. (Somewhere there's a "Jim Dickinson" that Janice has to meet!) And it turns out Tarla and I have a mutual friend going all the way back to junior high! Who knew?

Speaking of old friends, I run into Geovanny Landaverde who is working on a new underwear line. Back in the day we watched all of "Sex in The City" together on DVD while eating Zankou Chicken. (Really.) And since I'm still reeling from the SATC release party, I figure I'll close with a shot of Tarla's shoes. Why not!

Click here to see about all my photos from this party!

"Sex and the City" Release Party: Fashion = Weapon of the Future!

I'm at New Line Cinema and DIVA's "Sex and the City" official release party sponsored by The Advocate and Gay Wired. I can't help but wonder... does being an honorary co-host live up to everything it promises to be? (That wording is a reference to Carrie's voice-overs in case you missed it.)

Well the answer is yes! Aside from hanging out in the Here Lounge VIP area and sipping cosmos all night, I make a new friend, the fabulous Lisa Chang. (Trendy Wendy herself!) She's wearing... wait for it... Chanel "Brass Knuckles." Yes, fashion is the weapon of the future.

Next we have the requisite shoe shot. And I owe this blog a photo of the LA Gay & Lesbian Center's Jim Key for using his candid of Gerard Butler in my Instinct Magazine party recap.

Click here to see my photo-set of all 35 pix from this party.