Those three little words you long to hear: THE BLEET-UP

Attention bloggers, blog readers, and individuals who spend any length of time whatsoever behind a computer screen:

Do you suffer from mouse-clicking-induced finger soreness?  Do you feel frequent urges to walk away from your computer? Do you long to stop LOLing, and actually laugh out loud, with your fellow humans?

If so, you may be a candidate for a safe and proven treatment called The Bleet-Up.  The Bleet-Up is the natural way to boost real-life social interactions, and increase feelings of joy and connection.

Note: The Bleet-Up is to be administered with delicious food samples. The interaction of The Bleet-Up with alcohol enhances its side effects, namely: Partying, hugging, and potential photo-taking. 

Some individuals may not be suitable for The Bleet-Up. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about partying and/or hugging. The Bleet-Up is available to adults of all ages, and studies have shown that participants in medical trials of The Bleet-Up have felt happier, more confident, and more excited about life following treatment.

THE BLEET-UP

A meet-up for Austin bloggers, blog readers, and everyone in between

Presented by Austin Eavesdropper and Ultra8201

Friday, December 3 

7:00pm

Rooftop terrace of Whole Foods Downtown

With live music provided by:

uLOVEi

Motel Aviv

The Lennings

Politics

23 Positions (Prince cover band)

 *  *  * 

Drink local beer, and taste samples by:

Green Cart

Kohana Coffee

Buddha's Brew Kombucha Tea

Mary Louise Butters Brownies

*  *  * 

Go holiday shopping at our rad boutique pop-up shops:

Magnolia Family Vintage

Rene Geneva Designs

Wonder Craft

*  *  *

Commemorate the best night of your life with a photo booth by:

Cory Ryan

Make Christmas tree ornaments with The Wonder Craft,  and get seeds for your garden from Yard Farm Austin

For the first time ever, witness the Austin Blogger Awards, presented by...

Republic Of Austin

Go ice skating on the roof of Whole Foods on their freaking ice skating rink!

 

Proceeds benefiting...

Art From the Streets, providing twice-weekly art classes for homeless people, and an annual art show where they can sell their work.

Stay connected with Austin bloggers, and get more Bleet-Up announcements at our brand new

¡¡ facebook page !!

CAN YOU GUYS TELL I'M EXCITED?  Because I'm very excited!!

Richard and I have been planning this one, Bleet-Up #4, for a little while now.  If you've never been to a Bleet-Up before, and are confused as to what I'm talking about, just click here.

"Bleet-up" stands for "blogger" + "meet-up," and we throw these parties twice a year.  The Summer one is small, the Fall one, which we are obviously promo-ing right now, is MUY GRANDE.

It's an opportunity for any blogger, blog reader, publicist who would like to know more bloggers, musicians who would like to meet music bloggers, restaurant/food cart operator who would like to meet food bloggers, designers who would like to meet fashion bloggers, or just plain people who like to par-tay to come hang out!

We are doing so much this year that I am pumped about. Chris Apollo of the famed Republic of Austin has teamed up with us to host the first-ever Austin Blogger Awards, with winners honored at The Bleet-Up.  Whole Foods, which is totally wheelchair accessible (kinda super important to me), has been so awesome in providing their gorgeous rooftop terrace.  Our triumphant party at Mohawk last year was exciting enough, but the fact that we will have an ICE SKATING RINK THIS YEAR?  Are you kidding me?! 

So, you know what this means.  Until we launch the RSVP site in a few weeks, mark your calendars!  Please tell your friends, and "like" us on Facebook!  Please feel free to check back here or Ultra8201 for updates, as Richard and I will certainly have some later this month.

Speaking of which. I'd just like to publicly express my admiration of Richard, and my delight about having him as a co-planner. I told him last night that he was my Fairy Godfather, which is kind of like having magic, plus the Mafia, combined.  And I think you and I both know how serious that is.

       

Hopefully, this new cat food will calm down my cat ... if not her owner.

A couple of nights ago, Nulo was kind enough to invite me to come join them for a "Yappy Hour," i.e., a happy hour for dogs and cats. 

I opted not to bring Claudia, for fear she would kill an unsuspecting Rottweiler. 

I brought home sample cat food for Claudia, who ate it right away. I mean, it WAS salmon, which is even pretty good in people food form.

My Ross couldn't come, but fortunately, Danny could!

Clearly, we had WAY too much fun with these masks/hats. Isn't Annie Ray the best?

have a great weekend!

Austin Bleet-Up: Blogger Smorgasbord!

I'm not gonna lie, people. This Bleet-Up photo booth got a little out of control.

Maybe because we were all so deliriously happy it didn't rain.

Maybe because Jennie Chen (from MisoHungry) brought a puppy!

Or, maybe, because our props included a coconut bra, Bon Jovi wig, and fake chest hair.

All of which bring out a different side in people!

which austin bloggers do you spot?

Pause. This is the crew from Kohana Coffee, who came and sampled their delicious Cold Brew at the Bleet-Up!

Event planner people, I'd like to strongly recommend this group for your next party.

Our folks were crazy about their coffee, and on top of that, Piper Jo - second from left, one of the co-founders of Kohana - is just really cool. When I got to Four Seasons, visibly flustered because I was 99% sure it was going to rain, she hugged me and said, "so what if it does? We'll party inside!"

It was exactly what I needed to hear.

By a singular miracle, it did not rain! But all the same, I really want to thank Four Seasons for graciously agreeing to do the whole event outdoors, even though the sky was threatening to open up and pour on us. The staff went out on a limb to accommodate our group, and speaking of the staff, they're extra fun to hang out with!

Heh. Here's a server I grabbed to take a picture with me. We're holding appetizer sausages.

More madness:

Flicktress Cory Ryan is a little bit magical, non?

Cory has the ability to make all of her subjects look so warm, energetic, and vibrant. I joke with her that since she was my wedding photographer (three years ago), she doesn't have a choice - she's stuck with me for LIFE! I don't plan parties that often, but when I do, she's my go-to gal for photo booths.

More glorious Bleet-Up pics here.

And finally, thank you to everyone who came to the Bleet-Up! It's a crime how much fun I have doing this.

Thank you, Candace Carlisle, for getting there early and calming me down. Thank you badass goodie bag sponsors, Snap Kitchen, TRIO, Austin Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, and more. Thank you weather, thank you glass(es) of wine, and most of all, thank you bloggers  for helping make our city the radass place it is.

You all are too fun!

So much fun tonight it's ridiculous.

But first of all. Did I tell you I met one of The Happen-In's this week? Like, two days after blogging about them?

Of course, it had to be the day I left the house looking like a HOT MESS. We're talking unwashed, gargantuan hair, zero make-up, beyond frightening.  I had just dashed out of the house that day to go to Uptown Modern, that vintage furniture store on Burnet, to snag this sweet green love seat I spied the day before. Which is where he works, apparently.

This was our conversation.

"Hi!!!!! Are you in The Happen-Ins?"

"... yes?"

"Oh! Wow! HEY! I really love your music. I heard it on the radio, then I posted about it, and I'm coming to the show on FRIDAY!"

"... that's cool ..."

"YEAH! Totally!"

"..."

"Ok, awesome!  Well.  See ya!!" (accompanied by large good-bye wave, even though he's literally standing right in from of me)

Haha. Seriously, what a dork right? It was right after this exchange that I saw a mirror. And unfortunately, my reflection.

I'm sorry if I scared you, Happen-Ins guy.

Anyway, about that show tonight.

The Happen-Ins and many others are playing at the Pixel Pop party this evening, where there is so much going on! Music, a fashion show, art, a comic book-themed photo booth. Who has two thumbs and is going to Mohawk tonight? This girl.

Adi Anand (From the Mind of Adi), Candace Carlisle (Electric Promotions) and Team Fabrication are the collective brains behind this event. Candace never ceases to amaze me in the parties she puts together.

There is also a different show tonight, starting a little earlier, at the Hole in the Wall. It features a few of my favorite local bands, including The Great Nostalgic!

details: 

hole in the wall

9pm 

cover: $5

the great nostalgic

the sour notes

row zero

zorch


I had heard of all of most of these guys before, but just now listened to The Sour Notes. 

Lurve.

have a fun night, everybody!

Secret's Out: Hollywood Gossip releases Dear as Diamonds this Saturday.

People!

What are you doing on Saturday night? Hanging out with me!

If you live in Austin, that is. That's because I'm going to Hollywood Gossip's CD release party at Ghost Room, and I don't have to ask you twice if you'll be there.

Hollywood Gossip is about to release their new album Dear as Diamonds, and were kind enough to let me sample it. Here's a review I wrote up for Launch787, and I'm re-posting it below. You can enjoy the whole album here, and be sure to check out Republic of Austin's astute review.

As for me? Y'all, I threw a private dance party for one in my car when I got this CD in the mail. Here's my review!

review: dear as diamonds

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Morrissey woke up one day super-happy, kidnapped The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy in an energetic fit of delight, and flew the both of them down to Austin to throw a house party with Voxtrot?

Of course you do. That’s why we have Austin’s four-piece Hollywood Gossip to thank, for their upcoming Dear as Diamonds album (drops June 19) is all of those things.

I listened to Dear as Diamonds on a sunny weekend, head-bopping along in my car, and pulled out some favorites. While you can sample the album in its entirety here and join the band for its no-doubt packed CD release show at Ghost Room on Saturday, June 19, here are three singular bits of Hollywood Gossip goodness that I personally recommend:

#4, “I Can Be Right:” A sexy, syncopated, Strokes-like tune that contains the album’s namesake. “The lights shown from the stage / and when they caught your face / you seemed as dear as diamonds.” Swoon. Swoon times 1,000.

#9, “Worst Day:” A hand-clap-happy flashback about a good kid who fesses up to…something, while his partner-in-crime lies and gets off scot free. Who hasn’t been there? When I listen to this song, I don’t know whether to dance or punch someone in the face. Probably stick with dancing.

#12: “All That I Want:” Ladies, are you married? If not, you’ll want this to be your future wedding song. TRUST. Cory Ryan trades her big bad bass for a sweet ukelele, and the result is gentle gorgeoussity. No, gorgeoussity is not a word. I don’t care and neither will you when you hear this song. When frontman Tyler Womack croons, “Ooh you’re all that I want, you’re all that I need,” your hipster heart will shed away its hard, hard irony and melt into a pool of shimmering love tears. Tears of joy, that is.

see you saturday at the show!

It's Ok To Be Me (Even if I'm a Drag Queen)! - QueerBomb.

It's hard to write this post without getting gossipy.  Because there's an (awesome-sounding) party tonight that is, in fact, born out of a very real controversy. A controversy here in Austin.

So Austin Pride is this weekend, hosted by The Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. It is a two-day event with some MONEY and some extremely well-selected entertainment (Mario Cantone, haaay!) behind it.  This is the 8th year of the festival, and may I just say that after living north of the Bay Area for two years in California, and losing my "Pride virginity" in Los Angeles of all places roughly four years ago with my gay besties, I was thrilled to move back to Austin and see that it HAD a Pride. My little Austin!

However, the official line from Austin Pride is that it is "family-friendly." I.e., no assless chaps. And the subversive, carnivalian, perhaps shocking forms of dress and behavior that come with an assless-chaps-embracing community.

The goal of Austin Pride - again, from organizers - is to be educational, to not alienate, to not scare anybody.

Which I can understand ... sort of. Ross and I were talking about this in the car the other day, and he said: "Well I see their point. They want to be taken seriously."

But that's just the thing. The standards that define "serious" and "silly" in our culture are shaped by heteronormative rules.

(And friends, at SF and Los Angeles Pride, you witness those rules being gleefully broken.  Even though I'm not gay, or a man - though I've sometimes wondered if I might be a sweet gay man inside a woman's body? - that wild anything-goes spirit gives way to some exhilarating celebration. I enjoyed the longest dance party of my entire life at a Paramount Studios back lot that year in LA, a vast sea of shirtless and sweaty pectorals, with me, blond Tolly, happily bobbing away in the center of it.)

"But I know several serious drag queens!" I retorted, to Ross. Which is a lie. All the drag queens I've ever seen, in my life, are hysterical broads. They want to make you laugh.

You're laughing because you begin to see what a made-up thing gender is, where hormones and nature-bequeathed DNA strands stop, and social constructions take over.

Anyway, without getting too off-topic here, a group of queer activists in Austin have organized a "counter-Pride" march and party for tonight: QueerBomb. The idea is to celebrate queer culture in ALL its diverse, eye-popping glory, which I think is AWESOME. 

For context, I give you some Pride background by the Austin Chronicle's Kate Getty, in an analysis she wrote back in 2008:

"The concept of Pride originated out of a riot in Greenwich Village, New York City, June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn to be exact, a speakeasy gay bar. After the events of that fateful evening, Stonewall became known as the place where, for the first time, gays, lesbians, drag queens, and those deemed "different" stood up to the oppression they regularly faced. In 1969, even the simple acts of same-sex dancing and canoodling were enough for search, seizure, and a nice beat-down. Police would raid gay bars on the regular. Queers were sick and disgusting and an easy target. But on that June night, after a day of laying beloved icon Judy Garland to rest, those angry Stonewall patrons pushed back in revolt. The event is cited as the beginning of the modern American LGBT movement. In honor of Stonewall, most communities celebrate Gay Pride in June with locally sanctioned celebrations without the threat of being beaten bloody, thrown into jail or a mental institution, or just plain killed dead."

Kate Messer's also has an article in this week's Chronicle, about QueerBomb, here.

Republic of Austin's Chris Apollo Lynn's insightful, personal post about QueerBomb is here.

And now, I give you tonight's QueerBomb details!:

MARCH: Friday, June 4, 8:30pm (details below)

PARTY: Immediately following march at Independent Studios (501 Studios)

FEATURING: Little Stolen Moments, Christeene, Kings & Things, DJ Jay Jay Booya and DJ Chelsea Starr (of Hot Pants Party fame)

FREE

The march will leave from The Independent and march down 6th, looping back up 7th for the party. Outrageous, gender-bending dress is encouraged.

In the words of one of my buddies (and a QueerBomb ring leader), "let's all look like Xanadu vomited on Sid & Nancy, mmkay?"

(PS: What are YOUR thoughts on Austin Pride and QueerBomb? Would love to hear how you all feel about any and all of it, no matter where you stand. Truly I am trying to take a nuanced viewpoint myself).

Boas! Sequins! Shiny! Glam-Off pics

Trevor Ray, a photographer and a gentleman here in Austin, took pictures of this wild bunch of yahoos on Saturday night at The Highball for the Glam-Off.  These are some of my favorites!

This picture totally needs a caption.

As do BOTH of those.

My friend Jason, on the left, is basically Blue Steel.

Aren't lightening bolts on the face a little bit awesome? (As modeled by Megan, above?) I kind of want to wear one in real life, like, to Walgreens and stuff.

Would be even more awesome if these guys could carry me to Walgreens (or, anywhere).

Candace, the blond beauty above, was the other birthday girl and the main brains behind the Glam Off.

These are my buddies, Beaux and Dana. There is something very Kill Bill about this photo to me, and I like it.

The two men who made all of our dreams come true: Greg MacLennan and Henri Mazza of The Highball. Without them, our birthday dream would still be in the realm of fantasy and glitter! Cheers, dolls.

More Trevor Ray photos of the Glam-Off  here.  Go spot your pretty faces!

Thank you to EVERYONE who came out and got down!