I've had a couple girls mention they're heading to Randolph Country Club this Saturday night, so I will be available at the Mariott nearby to do makeup beforehand. My usual rate of $55 applies. Email me if you'd like to reserve a time before heading out!
RCC's website: http://www.randolphcountryclub.com/
Mariott: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosst-courtyard-boston-stoughton/
In March, I went down to Harrisburg, PA for the 3rd annual Keystone Conference. Keystone Conference is sponsored by TransCentral PA. It was my first time attending but it turned out I recognized people from two other events I'd been at before, Beauty at the Beach (Rehoboth, Delaware) and the Erie Sisters Gala (Erie, PA). It makes any event better seeing familiar faces, but even if I hadn't I would have felt so comfortable with this crowd. Everyone was there to have a good time, and make sure everyone else did too.
There was a good mix of events out on the town and fun at the hotel. Thursday night the buses were loaded up and a fairly large group went to Hollywood Casino. I was still tired from the 6 hour drive down on Wednesday, so I skipped the adventure, but everyone who went had a good time. Friday night the bus went to a local club. With a great looking dance floor, awesome lighting, reasonable drink prices, and a talented DJ, we all went back to the hotel with feet sore from dancing all night.
Saturday night was by far the most fun. After a fantastic dinner banquet, one of the best bands, called Burning House, I've heard started playing. Everyone packed the dance floor set after set. The music they chose was not only really well executed, but there was entertaining banter between band members, and between the band and audience.
I'll definitely be heading back down to Keystone next year. It's too fun of a time to miss. Between now and then, though, I'll be attending the 2nd annual Empire Conference in Albany, NY (May) and Be-All in Chicago (June). It'll be my second time attending Empire, but my first time attending Be-All. I have high hopes and are looking forward to both events. Leave me a comment if you're attending either or both events!
Hope everyone is staying warm despite the seemingly endless supply of snow we've been dealt. The snow and icicles are pretty, but I'm ready for spring. I'm hoping the Groundhog doesn't let me down tomorrow.
The next event I'll be at is NELA's Winter Fetish Fair Fleamarket in Providence, RI on Feb 11-13. It's a TG friendly event, though last year was the first year there were more than a handful of crossdressers (that I saw, anyway). I'm usually there selling corsets for Glamour Boutique, and therefore mainly stay in the vendor room. I always have a blast at the FFF because everyone is so open with themselves and willing to share. It's an environment where everyone is encouraged to be themselves and feel at home. Here's the link to check it out: http://nelaonline.org/cmsms/index.php?page=home
There are so many people who made this year's First Event amazing and memorable for me, far more than I can name here. It was my fourth First Event I've attended, and even though it was the more hectic and more work than the other three I've been to, it was also the most fun.
Special thanks needs to go out to John at Glamour Boutique for including me again this year, and for making the Friday night Fashion Show a huge success. Anyone who wishes to get a DVD of the Fashion Show should contact John at jwarrener@aol.com. DVD's should be ready sometime this week.
Hope everyone's 2011 is off to a great start! I know January has brought snow to most of the US, so hopefully lots of snow now will mean an early spring (hey, a girl can hope, can't she?)
My new year celebration was very low-key. I stayed at my sister's with her, her S/O, my spouse, and of course Dick Clark. Quiet but fun ringing in the new year with just the four of us. I know there were a lot of great options for everyone to go out, but it just wasn't in the cards for me this year.
The next big excitement is, of course, First Event. Put on by the Tiffany Club of New England, First Event draws several hundred transgendered individuals and supporter from all over. It's held at the Marriott in Peabody, MA and between the workshops, vendor area, and evening activities there's definitely something for everyone. It also makes for a very friendly and supportive first time out for those that may currently be closeted.
This will be my 4th year attending First Event, and every year it just seems to sneak up on me. But now it's right around the corner, less than a week away, and I have to get myself in gear and decide what to bring with me. I will be with the Glamour Boutique booth again and have all my makeup with me ready to do makeovers on anyone who needs one. Makeovers are discounted for the event, and I hope that many of you will stop by and say hi even if you're not looking for makeup help.
I arrived in Erie, PA last night to attend the lovely Lake Erie Gala. It's a much smaller group than SCC or First Event; there's about 120 girls that come from mainly the Great Lakes region and Canada, but there are a few other New Englanders. This event is unique in that there aren't any seminars and few discussions set up. The main idea is to get girls, especially newbies, out in public to do fun stuff on the town. There's vineyard tours, chocolate factory visits, museums, and historical sites to visit. Since the girls spend much of the day during the week out on the town, it's pretty quiet in the vendor room. Tomorrow, however, is Saturday, the day of the big Glitter Ball. There is no organized trip out into Erie, so most of the girls will be in the hotel gabbing and hanging out, recovering from a very busy week. I'm looking forward to getting to know more girls tomorrow. Full review coming after I recover next week.
This year was my first time to Southern Comfort in Atlanta. Being at SCC with Glamour Boutique meant seeing fellow New Englanders as they came by to say hello. I honestly didn't expect so many familiar faces. Being in the vendor area in general meant running into many old friends, several whom I hadn't seen for a year or more. I had a great time catching up with people and by the time I left Atlanta my cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing so much. When I first got down to SCC, someone offered that "sleep was optional for the weekend". Thanks to karaoke and some really fun people, I got very little sleep but had the time of my life.
Even though I haven't been updating as frequently as I should the last few months, I'm still around. In September I went to Southern Comfort for the first time, and between then and now has been a whirlwind of activity. Over the next two weeks I'll be posting about what I've been up to the last couple months and posting more pictures in the gallery.
I promise I am much more vigilant about my email inbox, so please feel free to send me email if there's anything not on the site yet.
The lovely Ashley came up this month for a makeover and a quite photo shoot at the Auburn mall! See some of the best pictures now posted in the gallery.
The August 2010 calendar is now posted. If you know of other events in the New England area that are open to all, please shoot me and email and let me know. I'd be happy to post information to share with others.
Also new on the site, the Stories page has turned into an actual Guestbook! I'm pretty pleased with this change, and I hope to receive feedback through it. There is now a links page as well, and if you have a link you'd like to add, send me an email and I will gladly add it if appropriate.
Tomorrow night is the monthly gathering of girls at Randolph Country Club in Randolph MA. Before that, the Tiffany Club will be holding a fundraiser BBQ (see tcne.org for more details). I can't make it to the BBQ, but will hopefully get to meet many girls at RCC!
I have also added some pictures of the lovely Cha Cha to the gallery.