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1 comments about Bump! American Southwest.

1. "Bump!: American Southwest"
   
   Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Phoenix
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   Heading west with "Bump!" is bound to be fun and since I have my niece's wedding in September in Santa Fe, I was especially interested in this episode. I have only heard about the beauty of Santa Fe and now I had a peek before I got there. With 400 years of history and culture I see there is more to Santa Fe than physical beauty. It is serene and nurturing and it has preserved the architecture, art, cuisine and tradition. First stop is the Ten Thousand Waves Japanese Health Spa where we are cleansed inside and out much like Santa Fe itself. The town is known for the well bring of the body, the mind and the soul and for its arts and culture. Next we experience a native healing ritual with Earth Walks for Life and we are reenergized and reinvigorated. One of the mainstays of the place is Hilda Rush, a 90 year old lesbian who has watched the gay scene of Santa Fe grow and flourish. The art scene has its share of gay artists and we also hear what it is like being a gay couple raising children. There are some great beds and breakfasts to stay at in Santa Fe and we choose one before we head off to Las Vegas.
   We get to Las Vegas, the town that never sleeps and the fastest growing city in the United States. Los Vegas is a party all year round with thousands of conventions and special events all the time. There are gay clubs for every taste and there is the neon strip. A recommended place to stay is the Las Vegas Villas which is the gay owned hotel on the strip. Of course we do not want to miss the Liberace Museum and meet Frank Marino, who is the headliner at LaCage and he explains the difference between a female impersonator and a drag queen. But for me, Las Vegas seems a bit much. I am from the south and enjoy the slow and genteel way of living.
   Phoenix is an oasis in the desert and it is a city that protects its past. North American cultural influences and southwestern architecture to give character to the sixth largest city in America with a population of almost 3 million. The gay atmosphere is friendly and we meet Steve May who was dishonorable discharged from the military and fought it up to the Supreme Court and won. We head down the highway with Raw Thunder, the Phoenix Women's Motorcycle Organization and take a tour of the Casa de Mis Padres, an exclusive private resort. We also see the works of local gay artists and then rock the town with the nightlife. Don't get tired yet, "Bump!" has many more places for us to visit.

1 comments about Bump! The South USA.

1. "Bump!: American South"
   
   Below the Mason-Dixon Line
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   "Bump!: American South" (Alluvial Filmworks) is the episode of the gay travel series that I have been waiting see and it finally arrived today. I guess the reason I was anxious to see it is because my home town, New Orleans, is on it. My only complaint is that it is way too short. Revisiting the city I came out in brought back al kinds of memories--especially seeing people that I actually know> No film can really do justice to a place like New Orleans but "Bump!" sure comes close. Our host Shannon McDonough, knew exactly what questions to ask as she explored he gay Big Easy. It was good to see Charles Thompson, the owner of TT's and a fear friend. I have not heard from or about him since we were evacuated during Katrina and I do hope he is doing well somewhere. The New Orleans section takes us to the bars and on a tour of old New Orleans the gay way with the Gay Heritage Tour, We also took a boat ride to the bayous and visited the food scene. Of course there was a section on Southern Decadence but there was no mention of Mardi Gras. I suppose that is because Decadence replaces carnival as the premier gay event the city has and has virtually replaced Mardi Gras as a gay hot time.
   On the same DVD are Savannah and Atlanta and each of the three locations on "American South" could easily be the subject for a full DVD.
   Savannah is one of the truly beautiful Southern cities and we get a wonderful tour including taking in the night life. Atlanta has replaced New Orleans as the place to visit in the South. There is so much to do there and the men look good.
   To me, however, the highlight is New Orleans and that is New Orleans before Katrina. I often wonder if the Big Easy will ever be the same.

1 comments about Bump! Massachusetts.

1. "Bump!: Massachusetts, Provincetown, Boston, and Northampton"
   
   New England Gay
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   "Bump!" takes us north to Massachusetts and we start off on the Northern tip of Cape Cod at America's most famous gay playground, Provincetown or as the locals call it P-town. Shannon McDonough is our guide this time and after we visit the local tourism people, we get to look at the natural beauty of the place. We go to a real New England clambake and then head back to town to the boat slips where the parties all seem to happen. Sunday afternoon tea dance which began as a tradition in now a ritual that began in the early 1900's. Everyone in the area seems to make it to "tea" and this has been picked up my bars everywhere. Shopping is fun in P-town whether it is for sex toys or fine art--there is something for everyone. Oren Sherman, a well known artist has his studio and shop here and we get to see some of his newest works.. After we rest a bit we are off to see the different kinds of accommodations are available. P-town has something in every price range from budget to five stars. Then it's time to eat and a night at Vixen where we watch a lesbian stand-up comic. It's all over too soon and before we know it we are on our way to Boston,
   Boston has always been one of my favorite American cities and we start off our visit with a queer tour of the city, both on foot and by boat. Shannon herself drives the Duck Tour boat and we get a great look at Boston harbor and then we hook up with a private charter in the harbor with members of the Yankee Cruising Club, a sailing club that is exclusively gay. When we get our land feet back, we visit two local Lesbian publications and find out what is going on in town. Keith Orr, local radio host takes walking on Tremont Street which is the main drag in the gay south-end. A quick rest and a little to eat and we are off to a drag show. Our time in Boston was short but we are off to more fun in Northampton, about two hours away.
   So you have not heard of Northampton? It is a small town of about 30,000 people. The citizens usually wake up to lesbian Kelsey Flynn's talk radio show and we do the same. Then we go to meet the mayor, Mary Claire Higgins, who is also a lesbian. She tells us about the history of the town and then we are off to see for ourselves. First stop is Sylvester's, a famous pancake house and then of course we have to shop. "Pride and Joy" is the place to be--it is like a gay "Wal-Mart". And there are more shops and galleries to see and then on the way to Smith College we stop for meeting others and having ice cream. Finally, after dinner, we hit Diva, the local dance club and a chat with the owners.
   Once again "Bump!" shows is the sights and we did not have to dress or leave the house.

4 comments about Video Visits: Discovering Hawaii.

1. I purchased this DVD in a frantic search for high-quality footage of Kauai, and to say I was dissapointed would be an understatement. Actual island tours/footage is only a few minutes for each island, with the bulk of the time spent on extras. The quality was not good, with a level of distortion indicating that much of the footage was shot with a simple camcorder.

   Dissapointing, short, not informative, low quality, and what info is there is inaccurate. (At one point, one of Kauai's biggest attractions is mispronounced.....SPOUTING HORN? It's SPROUTING Horn)

   Don't bother with this one. Waste of time and money...and not done by experts.




2. ...Kauai is our second home. It is indeed SPOUTING Horn. (Since the water spouts out of the lava tube to the surface)

   Just wanted to clarify for others who are coming to the islands.




3. Thanks for the correction. My Bad.
   (gave me a good reason to go back...not that you really need it with Kauai.)

   Again, if anyone's looking for great footage of Hawaii, don't look for it here. DVD's only good use appears to be as a coaster. (And it fails there too due to the hole in the middle.)




4. I borrowed this DVD from the library, thinking any DVD documentatary on Hawaii can't be that bad. I was wrong.
   
   The production values on this DVD is along the lines of a cheap home-made video. The video is grainy, shot with an old low resolution camera. The audio is noisy, with very little dynamic range. The footage, if you can call it that, is someone's view of a parking lot, closeups of some plants, etc.
   
   This was so bad I started laughing at how bad it was.
   
   If you want to see how NOT to make a video for a video production class, this is a great example. Otherwise, avoid this like the plague.

1 comments about Bump! Southern California.

1. "Bump!: Southern California"
   
   Where It Happens
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   The "Bump!" series is rolling out videos very quickly and it looks like they will cover the globe. In "Bump!: Southern California", we go to Los Angeles, San Diego and Pam Springs.
   Our first stop is the City of Angels, a city unlike any other. It is a high rolling cash town where mega bucks exchange hands over breakfast and everything seems to depend upon who you know. Our first stop is to meet Emmy winner and openly gay director, Todd Holland and then move on to meet comedian Bob Smith (author of "Selfish and Perverse", one of my favorite books). Then it is time to head to West Hollywood, the gay city and playground where we meet gay songwriter Alan Rich who has written songs for Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand. Ken Ryker tells us how he used what nature gave him (and it was a big gift) to become a business success. Next it's off to check out the latest Lesbian chic fashions and then to the street at night with all of the beautiful people.
   Did you know that San Diego is the seventh largest city in the United States? It has always been a favored tourist destination of the gay and lesbian community and that could be because the town is proud of its pride. We meet a local activist who has watched the gay population of San Diego emerge. We then head to the Gay Rodeo and try to rope us a cowboy...or a cowgirl. And of course we have to try the surf so we get our boards and meet the Surf Divas surfing club. The sky above beckons us and our host Shannon McDonough goes for a power glide. On earth we head for Black's nude beach, a hot spot for the guys to get an overall tan ad whatever else that pops up. As the sun sets on San Diego, we head off for the gay hot spots.
   Palm Springs beckons us. It has, for years, been the playground of the Hollywood elite and is synonymous with sophistication and glamour (think Alexis Carrington). Today its population is 43% gay and lesbian and has been called the "gay-friendliest city in North America" ( I knew it wasn't Little Rock). We go up in a hot air balloon to see the rolling desert and the stunning sunrise. Then it is to the center of town and the "Walk of Stars" which celebrates the hoi polloi of the town of whom many are gay. We go to the home of Liberace and learn of his really eccentric life and then off to a gay guesthouse tour that caters to us and allows clothing optional arrangements. Our tour is over and we are tired and happy. What a good time it was.

1 comments about Bump! Northeastern USA.

1. "Bump!: The American Northeast"
   
   New York, Philadelphia and D.C.
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   "Bump!" is back and this time we are off to the American northeast with our guide, Shannon McDonough. We start in "the capital of the world", New York, Here there is a great deal to do for the GLBT community and we are immediately off for a talk with Sara Cedar Miller of the Central Park Conservatory to hear the history of Central Park and to learn where are the best places to cruise. After that, we go over to Park Slope, the place that has more lesbian residents than any zip code in America. Chris Cuomo takes on a tour of the area before she and Shannon go to the Sunday lesbian brunch,
   It is time to hit Broadway and we meet Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He tells about the organization's fund-raising events that assist those with AIDS and HIV. Next we meet Georgette Blau, an out tour guide who takes us to the places we saw on TV on "Sex and the City". And of course we will go to the fashion shops but first we must not miss the headquarters of 2(x)ist underwear and we see why it is so popular with gay men. Finally we end our tour of "The Big Apple" at Times Square where gay men used to hang out and cruise.
   From New York we move on to Philadelphia, "The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection" and we get to take in a great deal of history. After seeing the historical sites, we head over to Pat's to have a Philly Cheesesteak
   sandwich at which time Shannon gets involved in serving the food. Two of Philadelphia's claims to gay fame are PrideFest America and the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and we stop to hear about both. Next on the agenda is the Philadelphia Museum of Art where there is a permanent showing of the works of queer artists and to Reading Station, one of the popular toursist attractions and a cruising spot for gay men. Finally we visit the 12th Street Gym and then listen to the sounds of the Blue Ball and afterwards have a look at two gay-owned and gay-friendly hotels.
   And then we are off to Washington, D.C. and the nation's capital. Along with so much history and many historical buildings, we see that the gay community has always had a presence here. D.C. was the site of four marches for gay rights at which more than a million people met on the National Mall in front of the capital building to demand equal rights for us. We start our tour in Washington's gayborhoods and get to Dupont Circle "where the boys are" and to Capital Hill District, where the girls are. We go to the gym--Results--a favorite with gay men and then go shopping. We cannot leave Washington without visiting the Lincoln Memorial and the White House. We meet with Patrick Menasco who talks about the Cherry Party which is a circuit party that raises over $100,000 a year for GLBT charities and then Danny Linden invites us to the Mid-Atlantic Leather Festival which is a weekend long event of activities and festivities for the leather community. Lastly, we hit the restaurants, the bars, the clubs and the hotels that cater to our community.

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