Susan Joy's BBQ

My trip to the rooftop of 49 Ludlow is long overdue.
I have been invited to Susan's coveted roof top get downs for years but for some reason or the other, not been able to attend.
This year however was one of my first times in the city for Memorial Day weekend.
I hosted a small dinner party in honor of Douglas Little on Friday night, enjoyed a EuroVision party at Ben Widdicombe's on Saturday and on Sunday I spent the afternoon and evening swaying to the breezes and drinking copious amounts of booze at Susan's.

Ms. Joy is the best of hostesses offering glorious wieners, oodles of champagne and a box of box ties for all of us who hadn't followed her strict dress code of 'black tie'.

I would tell you how the evening ended but I don't remember.

Thanks Shmoozin' Joy!
Can't wait for the next one, especially when my boyfriend can attend who lives on the 3rd floor.
If only I could of passed out there, but he was firing up Fire Island...

Is that a baby Zebra in your house?

This post is one where words just wont help.
Just enjoy one of the many amazing moments in Big Daddy's house.
Her name is Africa Girl and she is 5 weeks old!

On Safari at Las Catarinas

I feel like I am in Africa.
The dry heat, vast landscapes, total peace and drunken dinners (like we had in Egypt Rod!).

This entire ranch culture is so far removed from anything I have experienced before.
And I am loving it! You can tell by my photo ready outfit for the day...

Big Daddy bought the ranch behind his for his daughter Catharine (the cute blonde hanging out of the car) so it is aptly named Las Catarinas.
Her ranch brand is like Chanel's double C's, but wisely she has a line above the logo so it is not trademark infringement.

Her ranch is a lil ole 800 acres with no house, yet. This is the ranch Big Daddy is most proud of because he has filled it with exotic animals and won first place in Exotic Game Ranches of Texas for his Eland (world's largest antelope).

We saw:
Rare antelope, Indian deer, sika, Persian ibex, axis, fallow, black buck (those horns!), Jacob's sheep, elk, red stags and my personal fave, the zebras. They are super friendly because they are all retired circus animals.
We forgot to bring apples that they eat from your hand. Boo!

Today we see the pregnant giraffe, eat at the chuck wagon and ride at sunset!

Paradise.

Big Daddy's dreamtastic ranch!

I need to stop, breath, close my eyes and have someone pinch me.
I have found a little slice of gay heaven right here in the middle of Texas.

Price has been telling me about her eccentric gay uncle, Big Daddy for years.
He has a ranch, which is part of one of Texas' most well known ranches, the YO (not Yo as in MTV Rap, but as the letters).
On it he has created his dream world filled with exotic Indian deer (of which he has shipped some over to fill the grounds of palaces since they don't have enough), Zebra, Giraffes and local long horns, turkeys and armadillo.

His home is a Tony Duquette gone cowboy fantasy- hundreds of mounted heads all of which he has shot on his own ranch or on safari in Africa not to mention phallic symbols everywhere! In the living room there is a Dali, elephant skull and a giant 'Brighton gone dark crystal' bird cage with onion dome and amethyst bottom. Oh and did I mention there is a picture of him and Donna Summer in the laundry room and him and Little Edie in the bathroom? He spent a weekend with her in Florida and said it was life changing!

We arrived from San Antonio around 3 pm and Big Daddy had cocktails ready!
After bags were unpacked we gathered on the back porch, built a bon fire and watched the deer as Big Daddy pushed a remote controlled feeder and they all came out of the woodwork to feast as we gazed.

Dinner was an event! We took out Justin's jewelry and everyone put on a piece. Big Daddy put on a vintage kimono and we dined on venison shot on the property and then had a dance party around the bonfire. It was like being in Egypt all over again! I guess wearing a djelabba was part of the reason. But the booze, dry heat and big old fire brought back hysterical memories of nights in Siwa.

Today we are going on safari!
I always wondered if God could be an eccentric queen who made every moment in heaven a wild party. Know I know.
More soon.

Love and cowboys-
Cator

Day two in Tejas!

Day two was a bit more low key after our whirlagig Friday.

We woke up late, did a little work (well some of us did) and headed out to tour the town.
First stop was market square and had a major nibble at Mi Tierra, and old school Mexican restaurant that has reached Show Biz Pizza Place cult status. Lines of 'neds' in tevas and moo moos waiting for a chalupe and margarita. We tore it up in there with tco salads, cheese nachos and tamales. No wonder San Antonio is the second fattest city in America.

Next stop was El Mercado, a massive inside flea market full of Mexican wrestling masks, embroidered Mexican dresses (very Mrs. Roper!) and Day of the Dead glittery skull sculptures. After we fought over Nacho Libre outfits we headed over to the Smithsonian Museo de Alameda, a museum dedicated to Latin culture. The main exhibit was of propaganda posters from the 70's and 80's. We participated, marching around the museum with posters on stakes. We didn't exactly stir up the custodians into a mace enduced frenzy, but we looked good!

For a little break we tooled over to Sarah and Kerr's new condo (three stories with elevator!) to take a tour, have a drink and sit by the pool. It was such a treat just to SIT and do nothing with good friends and amusing dogs. Sarah had to head to Austin for an event so we headed off to the San Antonio Missions.

PIT STOP! As we were driving over we passed by a Target, made a u-turn and checked out Justin's jewelry. It looked great and we bought some pieces for the archive before continuing our drive to the Missions.

We stopped at the one where Sarah is getting married in two weeks, Unfortunately it had just closed (Thanks Justin!) but we strolled the grounds and watched the sunset behind the tower.

Now it was my turn to request a pit stop- Chic fil A!
We ordered piles of sammiches and headed home to watch Sweeny Todd and inhaled crispy culinary fast food delights.

In bed by 12:30.
Heaven!

Tomorrow-Big Daddy's ranch


M

Justin's After Party

After an entire day of travel, hustling, and shop keeping it was time to cut it loose!
Price made reservations at Biga, a Pan-Asian Tex Mex restaurant that is da Bomb!

I feasted on 12 oz of beef with 'game packets' that consisted of venison and quail wrapped in lettuce. YUM!
After 4 bottles of wine we scooted out back to Robie's house, which, if you remember from Price's wedding, is the ultimate bachelor pad.
Here we drank, blared country, raided his 'costume closet' and played Nerf Skeet!
Not to mention tried on all of his cowboy gear. Who desperately needs a pair of long haired alpaca chaps? Cator Sparks!

I passed out on the couch and was hauled off to the cab at 2:30.
I LOVE TEXAS!

Subversive's Texas Trunk Show

Yesterday was all about bling in big old Tejas!
Justin and I landed in the afternoon and hit the ground running unwrapping jewelry and taking over Jeanne Latimer's dining room for Justin's first big Texas Trunk Show.

Justin designed Price's wedding jewelry and all of her friends and family in San Antonio flipped over it, so we planned this show right after the wedding in October.

Sales were through the roof and as the champagne flowed the credit cards started smokin'
It was great to see some of the ladies we met at the wedding and to hang out with the Latimer and Whittenburg clans again.

By the end of the event we were all wearing Subversive. I found some coral to match my nautical look and blended in perfectly with Jeanne's blue & white niche.

Good times!

Gatsby Garden Party

Thursday night the gang at BPMW hosted a 1920's garden party indoors!
Black Swan provided the booze while we played croquet, shimmied to River Alexander and the Mad Jazz Hatters and caught up with loads of editors and old friends alike.
Hot Dog!

Beatrice Greer gets the dip!

This morning was a special mothers day for Mary- lil' Beatrice got christened!
I was a very proud Godfather beaming all day.
She was a dream and slept through the entire thing.
When they were up at the alter Alistair bent over from Mary's arms and gave his little sister a kiss after the pastor did his thing.
The entire church sighed and ooohed!

Afterwards we headed back to Mark and Mary's where all the old gang (and I mean old! We have all been friends for 10 years now!)
joined us for champagne, tea sandwiches and cake from Tea & Sympathy.

And as usual, Alistair rocked out with his guitar, harmonica and accordion!
I think I am going to buy him knee cymbals so he can start his own one man band on Greenwich and Duane St!

Tali (God Mama) you were missed!

Love to all and Happy Mothers Day!
Cator