Get the Dish with Miss Priscilla Pride!
by Miss Priscilla Pride

CUPID'S Arrows Poised & Ready To Kickoff February Fun!
February, in Latin Februa (the Roman festival of purification, held on February 15th), is full of festivals and fun within our GLBT community. Those celebrating Cupid's Holiday on the 14^th lustfully will certainly need some purifying on the 15^th. Still searching for a soul mate? Cupid's Day is yours too. To me Valentine's Day is meant for celebrating with any special someone, not just a sweetheart. Well dearies, Priscilla is here to say that I count my friends as special someones so I plan to celebrate with them again this year since Mr. Right is still waiting around that corner. Damn, can't he get it through his head that the bus is not coming so just walk baby!

Get up, get out with friends & toast each other. Cupid's love darts contain potions that will fill all desires. He knows which of his designer scents you need: Romantic Rendezvous - for lovers who need to rekindle that flame, watch out though the sparks may cause a fire that only love will put out, Torrid Temptress - for those on the SAFE sexual prowl (put a cap on the old gas tank though to avoid any spillage - catch my drift?) and Simply Platonic - the scent that will help you turn good friends into best friends.

So have a ball! Eat some chocolates, have a drink and don't forget to offer the love gods/goddesses a libation or two, but remember to pick a designated driver! This month is bursting with community events. There is a smorgasbord of activities to choose. Priscilla does not want to hear, "Oh, there's nothing to do on Long Island!" Whine (wine, whichever way you spell it, it sounds the same) is supposed to compliment dinner not be its main course! I plan to attend each Faboo February Feast hosted by our charming champions committed to our Long Island GLBT community. My chosen ensembles will make gays go ga-ga and lesbians loft laments.

Events:
Saturday, February 16^th - There's a MARDI GRAS hosted by LIGALY. I will be wearing my Jesus Lacrosse (American cousin to Parisian Christian Lacroix), known for his use of triangular patterns sewn onto sticks and placed on top of the dress with lots of netting. This event is on Saturday, 2/16, at Island Hills Golf & Country Club in Sayville and is for adults 21 and over. All proceeds will be used to support the many worthy programs LIGALY provides for our GLBT youth. $50 per person gets you good eats at the cocktail hour, open bar, buffet dinner, dancing to a DJ's tunes, performance by Pandora's Vox and so much more! Call (631) 665-2300 for tickets. They take AmEx, MasterCard or Visa. Call today, tickets are selling fast.

Saturday, February 16^th - I just spoke with Sappho sister, Carol, from A Nite of Elegance about their chi-chi and dressy Valentine's Day Love Fest at the Milleridge Cottage in Jericho. She asked me to remind you all that all their events are for guys and gals. There are less formal events throughout the year and I will inform you of each and every one. This one is elegant attire. Carol needed some fashion advice and of course she called me! I told her, "Carol, if a dress is not your thing, than an elegant pants suit will always work." Oh my lesbian sisters, I should host a day of beauty for you all! We'll have facials and manicures, haircuts and fashion shows. I can get Home Depot models to catwalk their latest designer tool wears as well. The event on the 16^th is from 8 PM to 12:30 AM, $90 per person at the door, black tie optional, 5 course gourmet dinner and Live entertainment by "The Swinging, Singing Celeste" (I caught her act on Fire Island. She belts them with the best and blows away the rest, you go Celeste - you're simply the best! She plays keyboards like no other, but the secret to her act is her lips. That's all I'm saying. You have to see it live to believe it, it's amazing!). Call Carol at (516) 520-7430 for more information.

Sunday, February 17^th - I have a new mini skirt/jacket combo by Umberto Cavatelli (half brother to Roberto Cavalli). It's feathers this season for Cavalli. Umberto's creation uses dried pasta accented with chicken feathers that will make Roberto salivate and eat his heart out! I plan to debut it at the MISS AUNTIE M'S PAGEANT at The Vanderbilt in Plainview hosted by Auntie M's. The 2002 proceeds benefit Long Island Lesbian Cancer Initiative (LILCI) - the only National organization dedicated to lesbians with cancer, their partners and care givers; look them up at www.lilci.org & Auntie M's Helping Hands Inc. - founded to help give out grants to those smaller organizations not fully funded by government raise money through fund-raising events. Grant applications will be available on the net or you call them at 516-679-8820. The 2/17 event features a cocktail hour, top shelf open bar, five course sit down dinner, live show, dancing, and more. Hosted by Ariel Sinclair, the price is $75 per person. For more info call 631-789-4458.

Friday, February 22^nd - The Long Island Pride Parade Committee hosts another fund-raiser. That's right it's Auction Mania at Auntie M's at 8 PM. So come on down and place a bid, who knows, you just might be able to bid on a date with Priscilla and win! I can't wait, all those hot men and women placing bids on a date with me. I heard that... whoever said I hope you raise more than $1.98 Beauty Pageant on the Gameshow Network is just vicious!

Saturday, February 23^rd - "Get your coat and grab your hat! Leave your worries at your doorstep! Just direct your pumps, To THE DRAG INVASION that ROMPS! "The 4^th Annual Long Island Drag Invasion hosted by Miss Venise Charles (President & Creative Director) is on Saturday, 2/23. Miss Charles has 2 buses revved and ready to roll. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 on the night of the event, but I advise you to get them fast. Buses leave from the L.I. Eagle at 7 PM sharp and Priscilla does not want to see anyone running while screaming, "WAIT, WAIT FOR ME!" I can just see it now. There they are in their pumps and gown running to the bus, falling and BAM! Now they're road kill! It won't be a pretty sight! Tickets can be purchased at any of the participating bars (look at the events page on www.licktheweb.com for a list). You'll see me that night in my new creation by Wolfie Poop (banished designer from the house of Wolgang Joop). After the bitter split from Joop, Wolfie decided to go out on his own and mock Joop's military coats and pleated skirts. No one in the fashion world predicted that Poop's use of two-ply paper, quilted and soft, would be a hit! Wait till you see my charmin' pink pleated pinafore over a white wrap dress with a coat that matches that has cardboard buttons and tubular epaulettes. You'll absorb and admire Poop's handicraft while you wipe away the tears and become shit-green with envy!

Media Update: Recent reports of a gay channel from Showtime & MTV, I remembered Long Island has a local program since December 1993 - Long Island Rainbow Connection. Each month they have a new program filled with important features that pertain to our community. Stephen, Kathy and Maria are such cuties. You can catch their show on Hauppauge Cable - Channel 70, Brookhaven Cable - Channel 70 and Woodbury Cable - Channel 71 every Monday night at 11 PM or Riverhead Cable - Channel 70 every Tuesday night at 11:30 PM. They need volunteers. Call Stephen Sebor at (631) 589-5465. Just think you can help carry on their important mission and gain some practical, hands on TV skills! Hhhmmm, I wonder if it's time to revisit that talk show idea I had... oh, Stephen!

Music Scene: Well there I was in Club 608 with cutie pie Jordan Durante from Tragic Sense, www.tragicsense.com, and he regaled me with his band's doings. He gave me their Insides Out CD in January and I listened to it. The female singer is so adorable and the sounds they create as a group are simply haunting and soulful. Tragic Sense is a band of extremes, evoking a reaction in any audience. It's all original music. I am so proud of my new friend. The melodic tones created by vocalist Julia Fragias and guitarist Jordan Durante are mysterious, sultry, soulful, haunting and well after listening to the CD, INSIDES OUT, the music and lyrics remain with you and linger in your heart, mind and soul for a long time. Jordan tells me their CD Insides Out is being played overseas and that Daddy, track 3, was recently played on 92.7 WLIR. WOW... you go kids. So much maturity for one so young, so much moxie! It warms my heart to see such a goal oriented young man and group. I think the music of Tragic Sense has a wide appeal and wanted to share this new friend's dreams with you all. Break a Leg Jordan!

Medical Research: An old girlfriend contacted me this week, Lisa Zimmerman. We haven't spoken since our college sorority days. Oh the stories I can tell about Lisa, Priscilla and those panty raids... but I don't think Enquiring minds need to know everything. Lisa is working for Dr. Linda Chang at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY (about 50 miles east of Manhattan and 20 miles from Sayville - I know it sounds like the wilderness but explorers did civilize the East End years ago for all you city folk saying, "Wow, that's far!"). Lisa is so devoted to Dr. Chang and her work with brain scans to illuminate how HIV, Crystal Meth and Ecstasy affect the brain. There is a wonderful article about Dr. Chang's research in www.hx.com/index.cfm, which explains her theories and shows progress made to date. If anyone would like more information on participating in the studies, which usually take two to three visits and pay anywhere from $75-$350, call Lisa Zimmerman at (631) 344-2773. Lisa can explain who can participate in the studies. She's a doll.

Non-Profit News: Those hard-working volunteers on the Board of GALFOLI (Gay & Lesbian Foundation of Long Island) just awarded 2 grants. You know GALFOLI, newly formed non-profit that became hosts of Dock of the Bay! Well, they are accepting grant applications from Long Island GLBT non-profits that have 501 c 3 status and meet their guidelines as posted on www.galfoli.org. Run to the site if your organization thinks they may qualify for a grant. Look at their guidelines, fill out an application and who knows, you may join the ranks of F.E.G.S. "Positive Rainbows" Condom Campaign, LIGALY and the Gay & Lesbian Switchboard. These worthy groups recently received grant monies. The Board invites you to log onto their website, looks forward to seeing you at 2002 Dock of the Bay on August 18^th and other community events before August!

The Long Island Ravens MC announced recently that they award grants at their anniversary dinner each year. These grants come from their charitable fund whose purpose is aid organizations supportive of the purposes of the LI Ravens MC including but not limited to organizations providing AIDS/HIV care and support. Deadline for this year's applications is March 2^nd. Call (631) 286-3178 for more information. Oh be still my heart, men who are warm and caring and soulful but who like leather... what's a drag gal to do... I know, go their Ball and hope for the best. So, join me with them on March 23^rd at the Airport Holiday Inn at MacArthur Airport. I'll be wearing my new one-piece leather halter pants suit designed by Dominatrix, that hot leatherette who puts the emphasis on second skin!

As you can see February is brimming over with fun things to do! No excuses! I'll be there, will you! Toodles darlings!

Priscilla!

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