April 16th

Ah yes. This day was a half a month ago! But I will keep my promise of posting a poem for every April day, and since I did eat out, I shall post a picture. It was my first full day in Miami with Mi Cariño, and we began by having some Tostada Cubana for breakfast, which is really just Cuban bread toasted with butter, and then went to Pride Salon to get our feetsies prettyfied.
Soon after we left for Miami Beach, where the Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade was going on, and we had us a good time watching the homogays prancing around the place and I tried my hardest to get me some beads for once in my life and now they're sitting in my room doing absolutely nothing, cuz really what do you do with plastic cheap beads? But they're purple, so yay.
After lots of friend searching, walking around and general gaying of the self, we had some food at some restaurant on Ocean Drive. I do not remember the name. I do remember the pizza.

We went total veggie with tomato basil and mozzarella. Kudos to Mi Cariño for eating tomatoes.

The day went on in spectacular awesome fashion, with us heading back to the Salon to get our hair did and ending with a great get-together with a bunch of people that were nice to me even though they didn't have to, cuz they're cool like that.

This House

There are pictures in this house
of you and your brother, 
your "sisters," "your mothers," 
are all over this house. 
There are memories in this house
of love and pain, learning, giving,
these memories are breathing
all over this house. 

There is laughter in this house
deep within its walls
jumping out as loud as the fights
over this house. 
You're all over this house
in a way I once used to be in mine
and as I can find the teenage you 
hidden in the folds of the couch
I wonder how I fit in 
this house,


if I fit in this house
does that mean I don't fit in mine?
and will I ever be able to provide you
with what you found in this 
house?


Pictures, memories, laughter, 
"sisters," and "mothers," love and pain, 
learning and giving, walls that are breathing
with history and history and tell me will you 
cast me aside if we can't recreate
this house?
© Yazcaminante, 2011

 

Pride

An actual weekend in New York City! No, let me rephrase that: an actual weekend in New York City with mi Cariño. It was also Pride Weekend; practically perfect.

We didn't "do" much. Kept busy Saturday Morning and early afternoon in the Upper West Side with messy burgers, singing-while-walking, smiling at twenty-somethings learning to ride a bike on Riverside Park, stories, ice cream, the agony of USA losing to Ghana, book stores, and more stories. We got our gay on down by Bryant Park, where we joined the Dyke March.

Afterward there was Broadway Heartbreak, movie laughs and pizza - pretty low key, but wouldn't change a thing. Sunday was just as good, just as hot, just not as sunny. First stop was Pridefest '10.



We caught a bit of The Red States performance. They were alright, although I wished they would've move about the stage a bit more - or stood in a more organized manner. I've always been an acappella fan - no instrument like the human voice! They looked like they were having fun.

Vanessa Valtre was MC'ing and was not funny at all. Luckily Menage A Twang got on the stage rather quickly. They were rather a great surprise, as I didn't know they'd be performing. Go Emily! Not just a talented writer and teacher, but also a pretty good singer. Their songs are really laugh out loud funny.



We couldn't listen to their entire set, though, since we had limited time at the 'Fest, and so we walked on to find some comida. Enter Empanada Mama.

Typos aside, their shredded chicken was delish. Empanada Mama is in the 50's on ninth and it's a good quick spot for some really tasty empanadas.  We kept on walking, making a beeline to what I consider a NYC Street Fair must have: Mozzarepas.

This Colombian piece of heaven is perfect for the eating and walking of a fair, and it's quite filling. But they will make you thirsty. And so, we walked to the next Fair must have: Sugar water with a hint of lemon. Also known during this day as "Lemonade."

Tastes just like the kind Fabi and I used to make as children. Perfecto!

After the Fair, a mad dash to Times Square, and some Gypsy Kings "Hay un amigo en mi" accion (Yea Toy Story 3!) Cariño, her good friend Mariah and I headed to Ninth for some nourishment. Wouldn't you know it, we chose Thai Food (Ha!). We stopped by one of the Yum Yums.

The meal began with a glass of lychee sangria and some Vegetable Tamarind Soup

which was followed by some Vegetable Dumplings

and in a surprise move, Tofu with Thai Basil Sauce with white steamed rice

Dessert was Red Bean Ice Cream, which I will not show you a picture of because I did not like at all. Yuck.

We walked off the meal by heading to Junior's for some promised Cheesecake before stopping by the craziness that is Toys R'Us.

No, I did not ride "La Estrella" (although I wanted to). I did get me a Parcheesi Board, and the night ended with me showing mi Cariño how to play; unfortunately she's a pretty quick learner, and she beat me. But I'm not worried, there's always next time.

The only shadow during this weekend was the passing of Love personified, Ms. Lillie of ATL. She was one of the best facilitators I've met, and just an all around awesome person. This is an extremely overused expression, but to have known Lillie was to love her indeed, and I will miss her sweet deep voice as she walked in the office, demanded a hug and would proclaim "We'll make a Southerner outta ya yet, wait and see." Listen to an excerpt of her SC Interview here.

The Center's Garden Party

Soooo I finally attended the Garden Party. The weather was perfect. Everyone walked around happily, the food for the most part was delicious. I had my camera with me. But I was actually having too good a time to actually remember to stop and take pictures of what I ate and liked.

So, some of the restaurants/places that stood out: Bedford Gourmet had this wonderful goat cheese thing with beets that was perfect. I didn't taste their tuna, mostly because I'm not into raw. This Chick Bakes was in attendance and their cookies were perfect. Pinche Taqueria with their clever name had excellent chicken tacos. Klee Brasserie was also great, but right now I only remember the name, since I had to throw out my "menu". At some point I tasted some deep fried goodness - but I don't know where from. A chicken Asian Salad was given to me towards the end of the night and I do not know from which restaurant - but I'm sure Steph and Alex remember them, so I'm not worried about not eating at that place again. Ketel One was all over the place - the best one was the Ketel One Orange and Seven Up drink one of the volunteer bartenders suggested.

My only regret is that I filled up rather quickly. Or rather my disappointment. I am indeed ashamed of myself. Guess I'll have to try again next year ;)

Homework

Alright! I seem to have posted everything I needed to post for the last week or so. Sorry for the avalanche of updates. Just a reminder that tomorrow is the LGBTQ Center's Annual Garden Party! You should go!! The awesome Bedford Gourmet is one of the food participants.

Go get your ticket!!!
Later peeps.