Dragons of the Valley - News

LiveJournal

2008-08-07T18:52:00.002-04:00

I've been too busy with life to both keep up with events and write about them, but this blog is not officially dead. I apologize for the current lack of updates and hope to return to it in the future. In the meantime, if you're bored enough to want to read about my boring life, I created a LiveJournal. (I know I'm breaking my own rule here but no one I invited posts anyway, so this is really just another part of my site.) Peace!

Jewelry show, NAMI Walk

2008-05-02T06:37:00.003-04:00

Tonight, local artist and business owner Annecatette Zeoli of Autdemna Jewelers will host her first solo runway show to debut her 2008 spring line at the Timezones Global Goodies and Framing Gallery on 322 East 3rd Street in Bethlehem, PA. Please call Timezones at 610-866-8463 or Autdemna at 484-226-6110 for more information.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Pennsylvania Lehigh Valley will hold a fund raising walk on May 10th in the Allentown Rose Garden. Registration is at 9 AM to walk at 10 AM. Information available by calling 610-882-2102 or via E-mail.

Perfect Pitch contest

2008-03-26T20:49:00.003-04:00

My friend and local filmmaker Spencer Snygg has entered a pitch for his most recent feature film, Solitaire, into a contest which enables the top twenty winners to pitch their idea to producers. You can help by making an imeem account and clicking to favorite his clip!

Wine Week and more

2008-03-15T09:53:00.003-04:00

I've been busy, so I'll try to keep this informative but brief. The bar Element on 336 Adams Street in Bethlehem, PA is currently celebrating St. Patrick's Day. There have been various drink specials (five-dollar Irish car bombs will be Monday only) until midnight, green drinks, and giveaways. They are closed Sunday. Their number is 610-867-1100.

The drag event Sisterhood will be Sunday, April 6th at Diamonz in Bethlehem, PA. Doors open at 5 PM for free HIV testing until showtime at 7. This year it benefits FACT (Fighting AIDS Continuously Together) Lehigh Valley, Pride of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and the Pennsylvania Diversity Network. E-mail here for more information.

Check out the Appalachian Fiddle & Bluegrass Association. Their next indoor jam session is Sunday, April 13th from 10 AM to 6 PM at the American Legion in Hellertown, PA.

This year's Pennsylvania Wine Week is as follows:

Wine Festival in Hershey
Wednesday, May 7th at the Giant Center

The Sixth Annual Pittsburgh Wine Festival
Thursday, May 8th at Heinz Field

The Seventh Annual Philadelphia Wine Festival
Saturday, May 10th at the Philadelphia Convention Center

Stuff White People Like

2008-03-11T14:15:00.001-04:00

This might be the best blog ever.

Shameless self-promotion, pt. 3

2008-03-03T09:42:00.003-05:00

I'm busy! Click here to read about my upcoming palmistry expo at Infusion.

Shameless self-promotion, pt. 2

2008-03-02T11:43:00.003-05:00

I'm coming back to Eskandalo! to read palms! Click here for details.

Several events

2008-02-21T09:02:00.002-05:00

There will be female mud wrestling tonight at Galapagos in Brooklyn, NY. Men to be admitted for ten dollars, women for five, or for free if they choose to wrestle. The bar opens at 6 PM.

Takeover Lehigh Valley, a movement to make the LGBT community more visible in area bars with a predominantly heterosexual atmosphere, will take over the Allentown, PA Silk Lounge tomorrow at 6:30 PM. The Brew Works will supply hors d'oeuvres.

I will probably be at this: Awesome people The Sex Zombies are coming back to PA, this time to do a free show at awesome bar John & Peter's in New Hope with the Invincible Gods on Thursday, February 28th at 8 PM. Ask them to hang out with you after the show (if we don't steal them first), they totally will. Also, The Rabies will play a free 21+ show at Which Brew Pub and Restaurant in Easton, PA on Friday, February 29th at 9 PM.

On January 20th, Bethlehem, PA artist Mr. Imagination lost his home to a fire. As a response, the Northampton Community College Fowler Family Southside Center is hosting an art benefit. E-mail here to donate art for sale. They will display the art from Friday, March 7th to Friday, March 28th. There will be a public reception for the artists from 6 to 10 PM on the 7th, and any remaining art will be auctioned the last day.

As always, thanks to my friends for keeping me informed so that I can inform others.

Mr. Central PA Gay Pride 2008

2008-02-18T23:46:00.000-05:00

The Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania (which is on Saturday, July 26th, and you can learn more by clicking the link), Panzee Press Magazine, and Dame Glenda's Cabaret will present the competition to determine the 2008 King of Pride at the Dawg Haus in Manheim, PA on Friday, February 22nd at 10 PM. Drag kings may apply at the bar, or by calling it at 717-665-0069 or Glenda at 717-364-7612. Proceeds benefit this year's PrideFest.

Glad I'm a vegetarian

2008-02-17T19:12:00.003-05:00

USDA makes nation's largest beef recall. Thanks to Toilet Town for posting about it.

V-Day, Skindustry Invitational

2008-02-17T14:55:00.000-05:00

TONIGHT, there will be a V-Day concert to benefit Victims Assistance Services and others at the Purchase College Student Center in Purchase, NY. Doors open at 6 PM and music starts at 7, featuring Danny Golub, Bess Rogers, Caroline Couture, The Wendells, Jenny Owen Youngs, The Age of Rockets, and Fire Flies. There will also be a bake sale including some vegan items. Sorry for the short notice.

The Lehigh Valley Tattoo Expo Skindustry Invitational will be at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Fogelsville, PA from April 4th through 6th. Times are Friday from 3 to 9, Saturday from 12 to 9, and Sunday from 12 to 7. Fee is ten dollars. Call 610-770-7587 for more information.

Karma, Seamus Kennedy

2008-02-13T21:26:00.000-05:00

The classic rock band Karma will be at the Waldheim Beethoven Club in Hellertown, PA on March 1st at 8 PM. That's all I know so don't blame me if they're no good, it just caught my eye.

What I do know is that I like Seamus Kennedy, and he will also be there Friday, March 21st and Saturday, March 22nd. Doors open at 6 PM for an Irish dinner at 6:30 followed by the performance at 8. Tickets are 25 dollars and must be purchased in advance, and can be ordered via E-mail or by calling 610-838-9059.

Genuinely exciting

2008-02-12T21:04:00.000-05:00

Jans Room is holding two shows to benefit the family of Kevin B. O'Brien, Jr. Kevin died last month, leaving his wife Rebecca to care for their three girls, ages two, five, and seven. Admittance is on a sliding scale of seven to ten dollars.

Friday, February 22nd at 7 PM: Middle America, Paint It Black, War Hungry, and one more band TBA.

Saturday, March 1st at 7 PM: Bridge and Tunnel, Masato Tanaka, Yo Man Go!, and two more bands TBA.

I'm just the messenger, but feel free to contact me for details.

Drumming with Conrad Kubiak

2008-02-11T23:30:00.000-05:00

From 2 to 3 PM on Sunday, February 17th, Conrad Kubiak (famous drum maker, repair specialist, and instructor) of Spirit in the Wood Drums Co. will lead a free drum circle at Lisa Baas Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine at 860 Broad Street in Emmaus, PA. Call 610-967-0515 for reservations.

That is pretty damn exciting. I love the energy of drum circles, and Conrad is perfect to organize one, being such a comfortable person to be with. I heard him perform didgeridoo a few years back, and I own a pair of his bongos. He's very friendly, and the drums have been through a lot without breaking.

There is also a drum circle at his shop in Wycombe, PA the third Friday of each month at 7:30 PM. You can contact him at 215-598-0188.

Shameless self-promotion, pt. 1

2008-02-11T15:30:00.002-05:00

Click here for information about my next public palmistry session. You can read about my business here or by visiting my MySpace.

The Lehigh Valley Gay Men's Chorus

2008-02-11T14:49:00.000-05:00

The Lehigh Valley Gay Men's Chorus will be performing "Bawdy Bits and Period Pieces," a cabaret show, at Lee Gribben's at 2nd and Main Streets in Emmaus, PA on February 29th at 8 PM, and again at the Stonewall at 28 North 10th Street in Allentown, PA on March 7th at 8 PM and March 8th at 7:30 PM. Tickets are fifteen dollars and are available by calling 610-366-3320.

The Chorus is a nonprofit consisting of ten members. I own a CD of their "Alec Baldwin Doesn't Love Me," and their voices are as strong together as those of fifty men. They are a talented group of individuals.

Moppa Elliott, We Have Heaven, Butterjive, and more

2008-02-10T13:59:00.000-05:00

Look Out Lehigh Valley is organizing a jazz and progressive music concert featuring Mostly Other People Do the Killing and We Have Heaven at Bethlehem, PA's Banana Factory on Friday, February 22nd at 8 PM. Click here to see the flyer.

Also, check out the flyer for the Allentown 420 Fest at the Sterling, which will be all kinds of awesome, I'm sure.

The Illick's Mill Project, Fuzetival

2008-02-08T00:57:00.001-05:00

The Illick's Mill Project will hold its Winter Nook and Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, February 17th. Please contact them to compete with your chili. For five dollars, spectators can sample all entries. There will also be five-dollar ice skating with one-dollar rentals. Free musical performances by Steve Brosky and Jimmy Meyer, Eighteenth Hour, and The Octave Below. Such events help to convert Bethlehem, PA's Illick's Mill into a community environmental center.

This year's Fuzetival fusion music festival in Allentown, PA is scheduled for Saturday, July 19th starting at 12 PM. Now would be a good time for interested artists and vendors to apply. Tickets are ten dollars. Last year's festival featured over 100 artists on ten stages. The event benefits the Allentown Fire Department and their Angels of Fire Motorcycle Club. They also plan to contribute to the families of Zavalla, TX, a city which has been experiencing an unexplained increased rate of cancer in children.

Added 2/13/08: Some vendors already signed on include Boot Girl and Outrageous Unlimited, and locations include the Sterling and Banana Joe's.

Eskandalo! - A+ salon in Bethlehem, PA

2008-02-06T23:00:00.000-05:00

After my mom gave me a Coach purse and matching sneakers with hot pink stripes for my birthday, I logically decided to get hot pink streaks in my hair. I'd been getting my hair done at a chain salon at the mall because they have one good hairdresser and she and I had a rapport, at least until I told her I'm a palm reader and she lectured me about reading the Bible. When I asked about pink dye, though, she laughed at me. The girl behind the counter informed me that they sell clip-on hair in pink and other "funky" colors. Gee, that wouldn't look tacky at all.

I don't do my own hair, and all my gay guy friends are of the gamer variety, so what was I to do without traveling? One of my female customers who doesn't look like shit recommended American Hairlines. All I can say is, I tried. They have awful hours, and they never returned my calls. But then, God spoke to me through a flyer in Tulum, like he spoke to Moses through the burning bush. No, really, it was just like that. And that's how I discovered Eskandalo!

As exciting as that is, the exclamation mark is actually just part of the name. Well, I'm sure it's optional, but I like it.

Owner Alison Leigh opened ~~salon~~ ~~barbershop~~ haircut shop Eskandalo! in Bethlehem, PA in November of 2007. She answered all my MySpace messages promptly and was enthusiastic and personable on the phone. They don't schedule appointments, so I walked in yesterday. Alison greeted me with a smile in a black sort of Lolita dress (or whatever they're called, you know what I mean) barely covering her tattoos, and baby blue knee socks. She offered me tea or water. Her dyed red hair was as perfect as a werewolf's at Trader Vic's. If you don't recognize the importance of that, go ahead and get your hair done at a Holiday. I was seated, and she started to work on my hair immediately after the initial questions. After the bleach was applied, a regular customer came in for a dye job, and Alison expertly juggled us, neither rushing nor making us wait.

Eskandalo! has a wonderful ambiance, part art gallery and part lounge. It's more like a good tattoo parlor than a hair salon. There are three genuine old barbershop chairs, and at least mine even had an ashtray. (That's probably purely decorative now, so don't light one up with peroxide on your head.) I think the bench in the back is a former church pew. Such quirky touches are endearing, to say the least. The walls are vastly decorated with framed sketches, a hand painted skateboard deck, and more art. The magazines are the kind you'd actually want to read, like Seattle Sound and Taste for Life. Peter Hayes' voice surrounded us. Flyers for shows paper the counter. The ubiquitous salon book of styles from 1988 was nowhere to be found. Instead, Eskandalo! offers two zine-style collections of magazine cutouts and photos that appealed to them. Each book ends with an only slightly tongue-in-cheek page of horrid hairdos that you're not allowed to ask for.

Alison asked me if I wanted a haircut so my hair would have more texture in the back. I just had a haircut a few weeks ago, but my hair grows really fast, so I said yes. After my hair was dyed, she razored the back and sides and styled it. I loved it. The pink matches my Coach accessories perfectly. The double process (bleach and color) cost fifty dollars, only twenty dollars more than a trim alone costs at my last salon, and she didn't charge me for the cut. Besides everyday procedures, Eskandalo! can also do dreadlocks on different types of hair, as evidenced by the Caucasian dreads on their MySpace. They also do makeup.

Eskandalo! is currently offering adorable handmade gift baskets of hair products, gift certificates, and more for women and men, just in time for Valentine's Day. If you don't have someone to shop for and don't see why that should spoil your fun, they're also hosting an anti-Valentine's Day party for singles only on Valentine's Day at 8 PM. On Friday, February 15th, Eskandalo! and Homebase Skateshop are participating in a seven-dollar night of pampering and giveaways from Audio Dynamikz, Sephora, and Imperia vodka at the Allentown Brew Works Silk Lounge from 10 PM to 2 AM.

The shop is located at 12 West 4th Street and their number is 610-625-9100. Please spread the word about this fabulous addition to the local scene.

Vegan scrapple

2008-02-04T23:37:00.000-05:00

Now offered by MilkBoy Coffee in Ardmore, PA. I shit you not. This is truly momentous for Dutch animal rights activists everywhere.

Lehigh Valley Ramblings

2008-02-04T12:51:00.001-05:00

Bernie O'Hare of the local politics blog Lehigh Valley Ramblings was gracious enough to link here after I half-jokingly (and incorrectly, as he E-mailed me to point out) accused him of invoking Godwin's law in a post comparing Allentown to Nazi Germany. Thanks! The blog is good enough that I don't even mind what looks like an unedited Blogger template. My favorite article from the front page concerns the homeless population in my county. Give it a read!

Zine out of New Jersey

2008-02-04T00:41:00.000-05:00

The Sex Zombies were so great Saturday night that I just gave them another link here, and I'm tempted to pretend this is a music blog and review the show, but I'll just send a shout-out to Megan Gale and recommend that you order issues of her comic book/music zine, Rock Candy.

Jewelry

2008-02-03T22:41:00.000-05:00

ModBlog recently linked to Perishables of Philadelphia's Etsy. The artist offers some of the most awesome jewelry I've seen, and I mean "awesome" literally. I also like the photography. The pieces are polymer and may not be suitable for long-term wear in piercings, but I love the necklaces.

If you'd like something more conservative but still creative, my good friend Annecatette (AKA Jen) Zeoli is also a jeweler. Her domain expired, but you can try Googling her business, Autdemna Jewelers.

Browsing Etsy, I also found custom rosaries from Bethlehem, PA. Neat. Reminds me of SaintsforSinners.com, a New Orleans company that paints Italian saint medals in vibrant colors.

Dragons of the Valley

2008-02-02T18:21:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my new Website! As far as I'm concerned, I officially finished this version of it sometime between last night and this morning. It looks acceptable in my versions of Firefox and IE. Please let me know if anything appears to be wrong to you.

To be honest, I don't know much about this newfangled CSS, and this is the first time I've written a site with it without help, but HTML is a hobby of mine and I'd love to get better at it. This site isn't much, but I greatly prefer it to, say, downloading a Zac Efron template for your shitty blog and filling up space with 500 fanlisting codes. Not that "Web 2.0" looks anything like that, of course.

One of my managers got me hooked on Carbon/Silicon, which consists of The Clash's Mick Jones and Generation X's Tony James. The band is a few years old, but they make some of the best music I've discovered in a while, so check them out if you hadn't heard of them already.

The Sex Zombies

2008-01-30T12:19:00.001-05:00

It's my birthday :)

The Sex Zombies are playing at the Sterling Hotel on Saturday, February 2nd at 8 PM. I plan to be there.