tis the season

tree

This is the weekend the tree is picked out and decorated


from top to bottom.

black friday

Time to shop till you drop. Like this store in Soho, many businesses are seeking to leverage the popularity of the president elect to sell stuff. Or maybe they are just expressing hope for a better than predicted retail season.

familia

It's a day to spend with family and friends. I was lucky enough to see my family about four times this year, including this trip to Mexico in July. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

home

Safe travels to all those on the road today.

townhall

The townhall meeting on marriage equality at the Center last night was standing room only. For those wanting to get involved or stay up to date in New York it was suggested to check the websites of MENY, ESPA or Tom Duane.

rats

ice

It's the first bitter cold weekend in NYC. Long underwear weather. Russian Baths weather. Huddle under the blankets weather.

mirror

Yesterday was a full Friday. Finished the November show, covered an art opening and scored a ticket to Shrek the Musical. It was delightful. I took many mental pictures during the show - loved the costumes and the choreography.

naked

milk

Josh Brolin, James Franco, Alison Pill and Emile Hirsch joke around at the Q&A after a screening of Milk. The movie was very well done and quite moving.

the projects

leaves

yes we will

Highlights from the Join the Impact Rally at City Hall in New York City on Saturday, Nov 15, 2008. 10,000 people with four days of organizing? Amazing! Kudos to the new, young activists. Be inspired. Take Action! If you want to see the full speeches check the YouTube Channel. I recommend especially the women - Heather Matarazzo, Kim Stolz, Kate Schindle.

The rally on Saturday was quite different from the protest on Wednesday. The energy of the street is turning toward ongoing focused action. One of the speakers, Jeff Campagna, proposed one course of action, making sure the New York State senate elects a pro civil rights majority leader. He urged everyone to call NY State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. and request that he support Senator Malcolm Smith for Senate Majority leader.

impact

On Saturday there were nationwide rallies against the prop 8 outcome in California organized by Join the Impact. In New York City the protest took place at City Hall and was organized by five young people who met on Facebook. It is estimated over 5,000 attended. This photo was taken early on, before the action started. Videos are being posted to the Center's YouTube channel.

rain

Yesterday and tomorrow, but supposedly not today, though it's still a bit wet this morning. Too bad for the protest at City Hall on Saturday.

protest

Well, enough with the pretty fall pictures. Last night it was time to grab the camera and run for the action. New York City has finally jumped into the protest fray starting with a demonstration at the Church of Latter-Day Saints on November 12th. Thousands came out to demand equal rights. The march went down Broadway to Columbus Circle. The next protest will be at City Hall this Saturday, November 15th at 1:30pm check the Center's website http://gaycenter.org/ and also: http://jointheimpact.com/ for more info.

shadows

Early afternoon on the Great Hill.

wilt

A follow up to the dahlia post from earlier in the season.

post peak

Sunday was a beautiful day in NYC. I made it to the park, but forgot to post.

jackson square

Another Saturday of yoga and brunch with Basil. Tim kept us moving in class today and helpfully pointed out that I walk incorrectly, with my feet pointed out, which will hurt my back when I am old - if I live to old age, I told him. We made it to Miracle Grill before the rain and were delighted with the food. However now the rain is coming down in full force and probably most of the fall leaves will as well. Still no answer on why Jackson Square is actually a triangle.

tgif

Ulrich invited me out for ein Deutscher Abend. I ended up skipping the movie, but realizing it was free Friday at MOMA and I hadn't been in forever I did check out Kirchner in Berlin. Und danach, aber klar, gab es ein schluechchen beim Modern.

manhattan ave

change

The biggest reaction of the evening came at the point in his acceptance speech when Obama said he would stand for every American, gay and straight. The room erupted and we knew that change had finally arrived.

Obama

The election night party at the Center was well attended. Of course, at the beginning of the evening no one could know for certain how things would play out, or if we would even know the final outcome that night. Then suddenly at 11pm results came in from the west coast and they called it, Obama became our 44th president elect and the crowd watched his acceptance speech with mesmerized joy.

obamadog

It was funny to see how many people brought their dogs to vote at the Center, many of them right into the polling station.

line

As expected the lines to vote in NYC were sometimes quite long. The line stretched down the block at the Center and at times even around the corner until around 2pm. 

vote for coffee break

As if this election were not caffeinated enough, Starbucks is offering free coffee to anyone who votes today. As it happens there is one just a few blocks from me. Daniel O'Donnell is the other name on the sign - he is an incumbent running for New York State Assembly in my district and happens to be Rosie O'Donnell's gay brother. I took my coffee black, of course, like my president.

vote aqui

The polling place for the 59th election district, where I vote, is in the Jewish Nursing Home around the block from where I live. There is only one voting machine and never a line. I can't figure out why that is the case. Just two blocks south of me I saw a long line of people waiting to vote.

disco vote

The LGBT Community Center where I work is the polling place for the local election districts. They put out 16 machines yesterday expecting a big turnout. The voting is held in the first floor hall where the dances also happen hence the disco balls. What's the fun of voting without a little glitter?

color

A follow up to the foliage posting from over a week ago. It's the same side of the pond.

dia de los muertos

Both this post and the post from Samhain are from the Day of the Dead altar at the Center.

foxy

Oops. It looks like I might have missed two blog entries. Yesterday was Women's Event 11, this year the celebration featured cast members from the L Word. Showtime was on hand to capture moments from the red carpet for the DVD extras. Meanstwhile, my team managed to get a word from Pam Grier, amongst others.

ghost

So I missed a day with the blog, boohoo. What can I say, yesterday was too busy. But I did stop by the Halloween Parade for a minute on the night of All Hallows Eve. This year's theme was ghost.