G.A.L.D.E. Dominican LGBT Picnic

G.A.L.D.E. will be having the 19th annual LGBT Dominican Latin Health Fair Picnic. Taking place on Sunday, July 26, 2009, in the Inwood section of Manhattan. Afterwards, you can go to the after party given by Escandalo Nights.

Benefit for Mahoney tonight @ CHA

There is a benefit tonight at CHA for Mahoney La Vaca. Mahoney has been around the gay community for many years and now he is ill and in need of a kidney transplant. Mahoney is a great guy and we wish him the best.

Hot & Sweaty

New Model Prisons in the Dominican Republic

Pate Palo

The front entrance to Pate PaloPlaza Espana Sunday NightSea Bass

Crispy Apple Shrimp
One of the best known restaurants in the colonial zone is Pate Palo. I think it is one of the best restaurants in Santo Domingo. Last night I had a great meal there with a couple of friends. Pate Palo is located on Plaza Espana. There are several restaurants located there, and I have eaten at many of them, but you will notice that Pate Palo consistently has the largest crowds. Once you taste the food you will understand why. The menu is deliciouslThis is also great restaurant for a romantic meal or drinks when the sun goes down. The next time you are in Santo Domingo and looking for something special, check out Pate Palo.

Mr. Republica Dominicana 2009

This is one of my favorite times of year. The bodybuilding contest is taking place on the last Sunday of this month. Then the first Sunday in August will be a bodybuilding contest in Santiago that will have competitors from all over the Caribbean. I hope to see you there.

I'm Back

Needed a break from blogging, but now I'm back. Who knew while I was gone so many things would happen. Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson have all died. All three of them have been in my celebrity orbit for as long as I can remember. I hope Michael is at peace now.

Pan Am World Airways Dominicana is a new airline flying from Santo Domingo to Puerto Rico. (www.pawadominicana.com)

And article about the effect of the decline in remittmances.

Air France is really having a bad time lately. They had a flight take off from Santo Domingo, bound for Paris. It had to return after 20 mintues because of some mechanical problems.

JetBlue now flies directly from Boston to Santo Domingo.

The Dominican Republic is second in the world for "green living" happiness.

Gay Pride 2009?

As first reported on Blabbeando, there was to be a gay pride celebration in Parque Duarte in the colonial zone section of Santo Domingo (last weekend), but it was thwarted by the police. There was no march down El Conde this year. I understand that permits were not granted for any marches, or for celebrations in Parque Duarte. The police showed up and tried to use intimidation to get everyone to disperse. But, most people stayed. Even after they pulled out cameras to take photos of the revelers, and turned on spotlights, and other measures to make people leave. There was even a "symbolic wedding" in the park. I think that really set off some people (wedding invitation at bottom).

Parque Duarte is the gathering place for gays in Santo Domingo, particularly young gays. In fact, most gays from around the country know that this is the place to come to meet other gays. The park is named after one of the founders of the country, Juan Pablo Duarte. Also, there is a church, and an order of nuns across the street. And people have started to complain about the "delinquents" who gather in the park. Many years ago the gay gathering spot was over near Plaza Espana. Many of the businesses there didn't like it one bit. They put enormous pressure on the authorities to do something about it. And gays no longer gather in that area in large numbers. I believe the same campaign is being started now with regards to Parque Duarte. Could it be that the same campaign is being tried again?

At least there was a big gay pride party @ CHA:

Back Soon

I need a break. Back soon.

Videos

Republica Dominicana Fashion Week 2009

This past Saturday night was the finale of the inaugural Republica Dominicana Fashion Week. Held at the beautiful Port of Sansouci, where 37 Dominican and 7 internatinal designers showed their wares. According to everything I have read and all I have talked to it was a monumental success. Closing night Custo Barcelona showed and there was a spectacular closing night party.

I have picked a few looks I liked below. You can see more photos here. All the presentations were top notch, but I really like Jorge David's beautifully made, wearable clothing.

Opening night saw the Dominican socialites out in force. To cater to this crowd there was fashion mall erected with tons of sponsors offering muchas cosas at deep discounts. They were even selling fur coats.

Congratulations on a job well done!

Robert Flores

Robert Flores

Robert Flores

Jorge David

Jorge David

Jorge David

Jorge David

Jenny Polanco

Jenny Polanco

Jacqueline Then

Iris Guaba

Glenny Hernandez

Glenny Hernandez

Giannina Azar

Gabriela Alvarez

Edita Garcia

Edita Garcia

Edita Garcia

David Antionio

David Antonio

Damaris Rubio

DR1 @ CHA

The website DR1 has a video channel on YouTube now. They will be steadily adding videos with an insight that you will see nowhere else. One such video is their behind the scenes look at Cha. On the DR1 forum there are comments about how it is the most happening dance club in Santo Domingo right now. And not just for gays. One point that is made that I believe to be the absolute truth is about the high-end/upscale clubs here. They are fucking BORING. And not places to go to have fun, but to contemplate your place in society, acting in a certain way, being seen with the right people, blah, blah, blah. BORING.

DR1 is going to be coming out with a comprehensive guide to EVERYTHING in Santo Domingo. Including "alternative" lifestyles. This city is huge and has so much to offer. It is about time that someone harnesses that potential. I have been interviewed about the gay scene here and can't wait for this guide to hit the streets. One thing DR1 recognizes, even if others don't, is that gay people have a lot more disposable income and don't mind spending it.

Another thing is certain, Chachita is giving her clientele what they want.

Strippers @ GazelaClub

Happy Birthday, Joe Green

On Sunday, Joe Green celebrated his birthday with food, drink and cake at Bar Friends.

Photos

Here are some photos until I can think of something else.

Tops/Bottoms?

I first saw this on the Men of Color Blog, but it is very interesting. It seems someone compared the ads on Craiglist to find out which cities have the most tops and bottoms. Very interesting, indeed. I will be conducting my own un-scientific research for the Dominican Republic.

Foreigners Club Hotel

Got a message from the owner of the Foreigners Club Hotel (formerly Casa New Yorker). A long time employee has been let go, and she wanted to clear up some misinformation. Here is the email:

Hello Anthony,

How are you ? So many people have told me to write to your blog site but I have not a clue how to do this, and I have tried. Anyhow, I did want to thank you personally for sending a guest to my hotel the other day.

Also I have been told that somewhere on your site someone has posted the information that the Foreigner's Club Hotel is closed. If you can ... would you please help dispel those rumors? Or forward this email to your blog site............ is such a thing possible?

Anthony. The Foreigner's Club Hotel is not only alive and well, but has just under gone a head to toe redecorating & major over haul & spruce-up. New King Size Beds , LCD TV's , Redone Roof Deck ....... The exterior is next ... The former guests who have returned have raved about the improved standards. And the best of the regular staff continue the tradition.

The problem is simple - a former employee - who once again couldn't answer questions about significant money missing from the Hotel safe, in a fit of embarrassment , he quit in front of a room full of people .... But now this same employee makes a commission by referring my clients ( he has all their email addresses) to other hotels. If he can get people to believe the hotel is closed ..or whatever - it is much easier for him to get them to go to other hotels.

Thank you for your time. If you can post some/any of this it would be great. If not .. I understand.

Foreigner's Club Hotel

5th Anniversary of Escandalo Nights (NYC)

Roundup

Honestly, with the economic problems going on I didn't think there would be a huge crowd visiting for the Memorial weekend. I kept getting calls and emails asking what was going on for that weekend. As far as I knew, no one was doing anything special. I had been speaking with the owners of Eukliptus, because I had been getting some NOT nice reports about things going on there. I went to them and told them what was being said. I told them that there were going to be many people coming down for the weekend and they should plan something. They didn't say anything, so I decided to do something. After I decided to cancel on Saturday, they asked me for some stripper numbers and said they were going to be putting something together for Sunday. By all accounts is was crowded and a success. There are still people here (sitting at Paco's as I write!).

I'm curious. For those that visited this past weekend, did you have a good time?

Photos by Mario Sessions

The Party

This started off really simply. Find a place. Get some alcohol and strippers and have a party. I thought Bar Friends would fit the bill, unfortunately they still have an electricity issue that I was assured had been solved. Lights went out and it got extremely hot. Lights came back and strippers came out. Unfortunately, I just can't trust the Bar Friends people to fix all that needs to be done. So NO party tonight. At least none that I am involved with.

To add an extra element of drama. It has been raining here everyday. Yesterday it didn't start to rain until about 7pm and continued for most of the night. It hasn't rained yet today, but it looks like it will soon. More photos to come.

Rain, Rain go Away!

May is usually the rainy month. I don't recall it raining that much last May. But this May it has rained everyday in the month. And now, there is some tropical storm hovering about. Whatever, the party must go on. There are a lot of people in town and hopefully we will have a nice turnout. This beautiful specimen above has agreed to entertain tonight. See you there?

Swine Flu?

I was joking with a friend yesterday about that if there were flu cases here they would be hushed up. Well someone flying from D.R. to Chile has been reported to have swine flu. It seems tourism numbers to the D.R. have increased over 19% since this epidemic was reported.

Drug Lord Busted for Ordering Killings in the D.R.

Party Anyone?

Many people are coming this weekend and are going to need something to do before they go out to the clubs. So, I have decided to put a little shindig together @ Bar Friends.

Yes. Bar Friends.

Nothing fancy. Simple bar (vodka, gin, rum, scotch, wine, beer) with no drink more than RD$150 pesos ($4.20). Beers are RD$100 ($2.80) pesos. Add to the mix some nice music and 5 or more strippers. A nice way to start your night off right. Will I see you there?

Another Beautiful Model

Miguel Perdomo

Face of Sean John, Dominincan model, Miguel Perdomo.

Strippers

Found some video of strippers at the new Gazela Club.

Basketball

Is This the President's Son?

A Man has come forward and says he is the Dominican president's son. There has been no comment. Click here for more info.

Dominican Actor/Model

Kevin Slack

I first saw the work of photographer Kevin Slack on Beautiful. I went to check his page out and saw that he has a whole series on Cuba. Very, very nice.

Renato Negao (Brazil)