APLA Executive Director Craig
E. Thompson, Sasha Cohen, Esquire magazine's Stephen Jacoby,
and Abbey Food and Bar owner David Cooley. By APLA/Brian
Lowe. |
Along WeHo's Robertson's cultural nexus at the venerable Abbey,
HERE lounge, and of course down the street at the Vanity Fair party
and Elton John's Aids Foundation Benefit at the PDC the smell of
creative freedom was in the air. West Hollywood is finding its
cultural relevance too, just like our neighboring social pioneers in
New York's Chelsea and Greenwich Village, and Paris's Left Bank. We
are coming into our own.
Everyone was truly terrific, and in good spirits from Madonna's
brother Christopher Ciccione, to Carson
Daley from Queer Eye, (vol. 1, Issue 3) to
promoter & entrepreneurs Jeff Sanker and John Brady, plus the
ever-resplendent Abbey's proprietor David Cooley, no doubt happy
because the $250,000 haul the party took in to fund APLA's
activities.
APLA's Exec. Dir. Craig E.
Thompson and Lost's Mr. Eko, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. By
APLA/Brian Lowe. |
APLA's The Envelope Please Party at The Abbey Bar and Restaurant
was a smash success. It was vibrant and fun, beyond past years due
to the warm social breeze of change and tolerance that moved this
year's Oscar Awards Ceremonies. This year was not just elegant but a
blast transcending past years that were a bit self-conscious. Worth
every penny. I do not say this lightly.
Even the Abbey's ever on his game and handsome Franco-phone
manager Christrophe Touchard was in a good mood at 1am on the packed
dance floor. That says a lot. APLA's Mark Tucker was a delight,
after no doubt a long week of working on "The Event." Bicoastal
actress and classic beauty Rebecca Boyd who agreed, "Well, it was
more than fun, escorted me. Metrosexual, global and inviting, and
truly cosmopolitan." LA has grown up, where I can bring a
"girlfriend" not just for a cover, but because we are friends and
collaborators. People were packed on the dance floor at the Abbey
way past midnight, just kicking up their heals.
Do we really need to name
these guys off? OK, from l-r; Ted, Thom, Carson, Jai and Kyan.
Courtesy Icandy Lounge. |
Carson Daley of Queer Eye was holding court at the Abbey's main
bar, being friendly and seemed to be enjoying the milieu (and
perhaps warm weather of LA). I was told that Oprah's people didn't
make it this year to the Abbey as they did last year, but it didn't
seem to matter. Down the street, at the VF shindig, the biggest
story reportedly was that the tall and svelte Paris Hilton was not
admitted. Perhaps it was a publicity stunt, since she seemed to gain
more notoriety by not being invited to hob knob among the many,
truly talented. I think I even was kissed or was kissed by a few
cute guys in revelry. Chris Ciccione? Jonathon Eiswerth? ?? Even my
actress friend Ms. Boyd had her suitors in the adult, bicoastal,
metro ambiance, that Studio 54's owner Steve Rubell not only helped
create but also reveled in. I knew him briefly. We do need our homo
friendly, metro friends. yes siree.
Earlier in the evening, The Trevor Project's event at HERE Lounge
one found themselves among an eclectic, engaging crowd from the cute
guy living next door to urban professional having fun. The lower
price point on admission helped create this creative atmosphere. We
need choice on price points, because if it gets to expensive, it can
be a bit restrained. I saw Dolly Parton, I swear, or a damn good
look alike, (Editor's note: Ms. Parton did attend. Earlier in the
evening she was asked by a reporter if she would consider running
for president, to which she replied, "Not me, there'r already enough
boobs in the White House.") not to mention more than a few fine
cowboys.
Wilson Cruz and Carson
Kressley. By APLA/Brian Lowe. |
The Trevor Project, supporting the gay and lesbian suicide
hotline, is a worthy cause with a dedicated group. Julia, who was
greeting us at the door and told me of her past life as a theater
actress, charmed me into buying raffle tickets.I still wonder if I
won anything. There was admittedly a collective gasp at HERE,
Morton's VF Party, Elton Johns AIDS Foundation and even APLA's event
when the Best Picture was given to Crash, which I truthfully haven't
seen, but have heard very good things about. There was a gasp, and
in some quarters disappointment. However, we won. America won this
year. We just have to move forward with the themes presented this
year, with pride and the world will clap and get behind us: Freedom,
Tolerance, Excellence, Thoughtfulness, and the Courage to Tell the
Truth.
Munich, Capote, Good Night and Good Luck, Brokeback Mountain,
Crash.. Bravo. I wish I had made any of these movies. As I brought
up in an interview at HERE's party to provocateur and radio host
Harrison, "I wonder if our President has seen ANY of these fine
movies? They represent the best of American Cinematography." A good
question. We have the power to change that too. As it was said in
Gladiator, Rome is rule by the masses and Caesar will bow (to the
will of the masses). We are the masses. Thoughtful, freedom loving,
supporting excellence and diversity. And courageous. We're
Americans.
I am all for this years Oscars. It's not selling out or becoming
boring or mainstream. It's becoming apart of.... and getting a piece
of the action. Right?
