What a beautiful day! It began up in The Shelter, it witnessed my return to the gym and it took me down Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard to see Harlem's annual African American Day Parade.
I sure am glad I took that catnap early Saturday evening! Philippe told me about The Shelter's Free Membership Party, so we HAD to go! Prices go up in December. (We found out later that the Free Membership Party was not last night - it's happening on October 5th.) So, I rolled up in there about 1:45 along with an entourage of Spanish, Argentinian and other European tourists - all of them trying to look either like Britney Spears or whoever her boyfriend is this week. Thankfully, they left the premises around 3:30 and Philippe and I got down to business! The Maestro Timmy Regisford WORKS that crowd and the Steve Dash-installed Phazon sound system is hands down the best I've ever heard. So crisp and clear, lots of body - without an overbearing volume. House Music Perfection! Watch Timmy up there in the booth, I thought "One day, I'm going to learn how to WORK a sound system like that!" I'm inspired and want to be a member now more than ever! I got to chat with that crazy-ass Robbi for a minute. One day, he'll promote my night and I'll be one of those DJ's that everybody loves to hate! *grin!* Philippe and I left early due to exhaustion and I got home by 6am.
I slept for a good four hours and got up to prepare for the gym. I wore my capoeira pants for good measure. I took one capsule of Xenadrine before I left and by the time I got to the gym, I felt it! I could definitely feel some heat going on as I did my 30 minutes on the LifeStep. I felt SO good once it was over - the combination of the drug and the exercise really worked me. I'm convinced! Since I brought along my cache of toiletries, I luxuriated in the shower, steam room and sauna for a bit and rolled up out of there. Mission Accomplished!
I went home, dropped my stuff off and went up to 135th to meet Gordon and Lydia. It's something about seeing us getting together for this parade that really pulls at my heartstrings. The last time I participated in the African American Day Parade, I marched with the New York State Black Gay Network and at times it was a very frightening experience. My locks seemed to really incense some Caribbean men, some of whom followed us while we marched - a threat which necessitated police intervention, but what REALLY made me feel safe and at home was the fact that we got SO MUCH LOVE from our people! Just regular people on the sidelines watching us from windows and from the sidewalk. One of those guys I mentioned picked up a bottle to throw at us and I heard a women cry out, "Don't do that!" He put the bottle down and didn't throw it. That really touched me and gave me a lot of hope! One day, I envision a large contigent of Black LGBT people (maybe local/national organizations? Black Prides?) marching through this parade. Maybe I can get The Shelter to be a sponsor for a truck featuring that fabulous Phazon Sound? Ah, but to dream ...
You got home at 6am and you left early?! ;-)
And I’ll join you at the front of that large contigent one of these days.
Cool! Sure beats my Sunday of mostly napping.
Donald, the new Shelter is hot. It feels like a jungle. The music can’t be beat, of course. But that space is really, really hot —- as in you need to wear as little as possible to not pass out.