That’s what they say, anyway. But you wanna know who’s got two thumbs and will be doing a lot of exactly that, this weekend…? This guy.

A short while before I knew that I was going to be reduced to part-time hours at my day job, I booked a flight to Los Angeles for this weekend. I haven’t been down there since early 2010 (when I had to go to court in Long Beach, which is a story for another day) and I’ve just felt like I need to catch up with things in SoCal. There’s been a large migration of SF artists and drag personalities moving south in the past several years (mostly driven out by gentrification and absurdly high rents), and I’m hoping to reconnect with some of the expatriates. Also, in times past I’ve always stayed in West Hollywood, and I’ve been mostly unfamiliar with neighborhoods like Silverlake (where most of the leather bars are) and Echo Park (which from what I hear is either artsy, hipster, or both, so as a San Franciscan I’m pretty sure I’ll find it relatable). This time I’m crashing in the spare bedroom of a couple who are part of my extended tribe, who reside in Silverlake. I’m hoping this trip will be one in which I’m able to familiarize myself with the leather culture of the region…although it seems difficult for even me to believe, a mere 5-6 years ago (meaning, at the time of my last visit) I wasn’t nearly so entrenched in the local leather scene as I find myself now. I’d never say I was truly a West Hollywood type of fag, but I suppose I just didn’t know better, before…

But now I know. And, well, as they say…

A few things which I do already have scheduled this weekend, which I’m very much looking forward to:

Daytime Friday, I’m meeting up with my friend Robert for a LOOONG-awaited photoshoot. Robert aka RAW Fotographer has captured me live onstage many times, performing at various Street Fairs, yet although we’ve often talked about it, until now we’ve never managed to make a private photo shoot happen. I love his work (and him), so I’m excited!

Friday evening, I’m meeting with my friends John and Hamish, who I first met in Palm Springs (White Party!) in 2008–when they were still living in their native Australia and touring the USA on holiday–and then ran into again several months later at a club in NYC, while I was there performing in the HOWL East Village Theater Festival. They’ve been based in LA for a couple years now, but I’ve only seen them in brief moments when they’ve visited SF. We’re planning on having drinks at The LA Eagle, where my friend Mike is conveniently working that evening, so it’s a bit of a twofer there, so to speak…

Saturday, I’ll be having another wonderful reunion when I meet up with Will and Kara, who are alumni of The Thrillpeddlers, the theater company I most often perform with. Remember when I mentioned that trip to New York, above? Will and Kara were on that trip, too. We’d been invited to bring our summer bill of shows to HOWLfest…

That was the fateful trip which ultimately led to multiple years of Cockettes musical revivals, starting with Pearls Over Shanghai, which Will, Kara, and myself were all a part of. I haven’t seen much of them since they made the move to LA, so this is going to be much appreciated!

Saturday night: my close pal Deidre, aka Mysterious D, will be in town to rule over the LA outcropping of her (and Adrian’s) nightclub empire: Bootie LA. I’m excited to return to this party after a whopping TEN YEARS and seeing how it’s evolved and changed.

Sunday isn’t programmed at all so far, but it doesn’t take a crystal ball to foresee brunch and mimosas…I am a gay, after all!

So, yeah. Also notice that none of these activities is (necessarily) an expensive undertaking…since the flight was already paid for and the lodging is free, there’s no reason why spending Thursday to Sunday night in LA need cost any more than spending them in SF!

If you’re one of my LA friends and you want to see me, please contact me on Facebook, or text if you’ve got my number.

And of course, in keeping with my continuing daily writing practice, you’ll be getting updates from the field! So stay tuned.