Finally…

A moment to sit down, catch my breath, and write for a bit. It’s been another whirlwind of few weeks. I set up this website, closed down my old blog and uploaded a ton of videos on YouTube.

On Thursday, I got together with my BFF, E. It was SO nice to hang out with her. She gives me a lot of perspective on the burlesque community by not being a part of it–she’s such a cool chick. I’m lucky to know her. She put together a picnic for us in belated celebration of my birthday. It as so much fun. We visited for a while, whilst listening to the Eco Hippies play drums and a seriously annoying whiny horn thing (sounded like a snake charmer’s horn.) Then we went back to E’s house, visited with her partner Aunty Onion, and sang Melissa Etheridge karaoke. What a night! It was one of the best things I did for my birthday in years.

Then Friday we had a kick-ass show. Seriously, the show (The Girlie-Q Variety Hour) just gets better each week. It was fun, the crowd was energetic, and the energy was electric. Good night! Afterwards, I went out with Valerie Dolls and the Puterbaughs (and another old friend, Pieper) to Little Jim’s, this divey 4AM bar in boystown. Me and the Puterbaughs closed down the place and then I crashed on the couch–didn’t want to wake T–until my WORK ALARM went off accidentally at 7:30 AM.

Yesterday, we got promo pieces done for the new Sunday show. Special Lady T designed/ideated the piece and I executed. Then we postered our neighborhood exhaustively, stopped by the venue to say hi to the owners and drop off promo materials, which they loved.

Oop. I have to go get ready for coffee/brunch with Special Lady T and the Strick, my old queer performance pal (and T’s friend, independent of me). Will write more later, promise!

OK. Back now. That was delicious. We went and sat outside at Kopi Cafe. Me and T go there nearly every weekend. Same order: Me, Everything bagel with half hummus and half goat cheese with cucumbers, tomatoes and kalamata olives with a soy “slush buzz” (frozen blended chocolatte); T, everything bagel with peanut butter with a small decaf nonfat mocha. I am full and satisfied. It was so awesome to visit with the Strick. She had some good ideas for people I could ask to join the Girlie-Q board (we’re officially incorporated as a non-profit with the State now! Still need to do the 501(c)(3), but Board recruitment is top of mind at the moment.) It was also nice to hear how things went with her film debut in SF. She is in this very big deal lesbian film with Sharon Gless, that another amazingly talented friend, WenJo, directed and they had a debut a few weeks ago in SF and Rosie O’Donnell was there.

But back to Girlie-Q…I’m really happy with how the show has been going and with the new show(s) in development–and with the performers I’ve found though putting the Girlie-Q run together. It’s a nice, tight cast and I love working with them. I do miss my usual gals, but it’s nice to bring some new energy in. I can’t wait to filter some of these acts into the regular shows. I’m definitely getting the Puterbaughs to put together some acts for Uncommon Ground. They are a perfect fit, as would be the torch singers and oh, just everyone. I adore these folks.

All righty. I am going to go see how to YouTube uploading is going and then maybe start on a sewing project. I’ve got three new costumes in my head and I need to get going on them. Or maybe I’m just going to go sit on the porch and enjoy all of this amazing sunshine.

xox,
Ms. Bea Haven
The Burlesbo <—new tagline invented by me, in conversation with the Puterbaughs