Arts & Entertainment
Friday,
March 25, 2005
Volume 33,
Issue 12
Fri, Nov 20, 2009
IN THE SGN
SECTION ONE
Front Page
MORE/ALL
SECTION ONE
STORIES
SECTION TW0
Arts & Entertainment
Happy Oestara from Lipstick and LUST |
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| Flowers are blooming, trees offer gifts and the greatest party of the year is on my agenda | ||
| by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid
- SGN A&E Writer
I was going to write something bright and chirpy to open this months column (and Ill do that, later in this same column, my dears, promise!), but I was just perusing the March 18 edition of the SGN and noticed that someone Id call a soul sister has passed into the hands of The Great Wow. So, I have to stop, and make note that Prince Ka, who so tickled me at Rusticon earlier in January, and kept a room full of sci-fi geeks and fantasy nerds in stitches is no longer in this mortal coil. Ill miss him, even though I only met him briefly, and we instantly knew that we were like souls in different bodies (honey, if I was a man, Id have been him!) and planned to hang out and laugh some more at the upcoming big party that Norwescon mostly is. Guess The Great Wow needed a royal jokester ASAP, so Prince Ka, royal prince of diva dressing and who had the coolest metal nails Ive ever seen will not thrill us, but Ill certainly dance The Time Warp for him when the midnight hour strikes and the ongoing tradition brings all of us Norwesconers to the dance floor to do the Time Warp again. Okay, drying my little eyes here, and moving on, I have to tell you about some great places Ive been privy to have gone lately. First, if you havent been to Flying Apron, located on the corner of 50th and Brooklyn (and also at the Elliott Bay Café in Pioneer Square), and tried their delicious, vegan pastries, you simply must go there. I had their flying apron cookie last week and the cornmeal blueberry cake (which I had with the marvelous split pea soup I made, and will give you the recipe for this week!) the previous week. I think Im addicted to their densely rich chocolate brownie. Lets just say you have to try this sinfully tasty brownie thats also full of only good stuff. I also travelled to Madison Park with a friend of mine, and dropped by Bella Rosa Fine Gifts and Furnishings (located at 2811 E. Madison), and was so glad to be given a clock that the clerk who waited on us couldnt figure what to do with. It wasnt the clock that so thrilled yours truly, but the little crystal attached to the bottom, since Id been looking for one just like that to hang in my big picture window in my new place so I could have rainbows (which I now have, and the cats love!) all over. They also have French soaps, and a variety of natural body lotions, floating and other kinds of candles, as well as the cutest houseware items youll see off the hill. Im going back, soon to buy some more candles, as I adore how candlelight warms my new rooms and the calming effect it has after a busy day. Next to this divine little shop, was this quaint French Bistro that I talked my friend into going to instead of our usual I-Hop gorgefest. And even though the apple tart we shared didnt make me rave, it was light and tasty, and the coffee was exquisite, but mostly I was happy with our waitress. She of the long, dark hair, and delicate features who said she was from Spain and who made even that little repast something special. Go there, see her and enjoy something from what looked like a very genuine and down-to-earth menu. Oh, the place is called Voila and is located at 2805 E. Madison. Personally I liked the warm, yellow walls and feeling of quiet elegance that pervaded the whole place, as well as the excellent service. Also, if you are looking for someplace to go on an early Saturday, do wander over to the Saturday Farmers Market, where you can take your pick of goodies from local vendors who are selling everything from European pastry to natural, made the day before whole grain breads and pastries. I got the cats two eggs to make them a casserole, and a wonderful chocolate muffin, which lasted me nearly three days, because it was huge! Ill probably get some of the fresh cheese I sampled and some of the Divine oil sold by Brown Butterfly Aromatherapy (who had a little table of lotions, hand creams and soaps for sale the last time I was there). In fact, I have to recommend you do try some of Brown Butterflys oil, which is made from the most natural ingredients and smells absolutely yummy on ones skin. They also have a website you can order from at www.brownbutterfly.com. So, the recipe for the soup that tasted like God herself put her finger in it (to me, anyway). Boil one cup (or more, if youre having a posse over), of split peas with about a quarter cup of onions (or, if youre like my friend, Selene, a lot more!), three cloves of garlic (less if you dont like garlic that much), and when its boiling really good, add half a cup of natural peanut butter (which you can get fresh, from Madison Market), salt and pepper to taste, a pinch or two of hot curry powder (also from Madison Market), and about three shakes of habanero pepper sauce (you can get this at Madison Market too!), more if you want it really hot. Boil until almost soft, then add half a cup of chopped yam pieces, cut into inch size cubes. Just before its totally done, add four or more shitake mushrooms (Madison Market, or the Pike Place Market), sliced thin. Cover, boil until mushy, stirring frequently to make sure it doesnt burn or stick to your pot. Enjoy with a corn cake from Flying Apron or corn muffins youve made yourself. Youll think youve died and gone to Julia Child heaven. And for those of you who are not heading to the DoubleTree/Sea-Tac for Norwescon (the Northwests largest sci-fi/fantasy convention), you can go and welcome in newly elected Organizer for Radical Women, Christina Lopez. Therell be roasts, toasts and salsa dancing, quotes the pink flyer I got recently, inviting me to come and join the festivities, and therell also be a Mexican feast (sure to be as good as the others I was able to attend earlier this year, and last year for their New Years Eve party). So, you should go and give Christina a hug or two, and one for me, wholl partying and attending panels and partying some more at Norwescon. For more information on the party, call (206) 722-6057 or e-mail Rwseattle@mindspring.com. Remember I promised you last week some smut in this issue? Well, here it tis, and be warned you, oh prudish ones, or pc ones, you might want to just pass this one up. For the rest of you brave, wild souls, read on! The ad had said: Looking for women proud of their blood, to share a full moon ritual on the first night of the full moon. Must be old enough to make decisions and young enough to be wowed by seeing your deepest desire fulfilled. Be adventurous, call me. And with that open tease, Meela had picked up the phone and left her message on the callers mailbox in that weird magazine shed picked up when she was last out with her friends for goth night at the coffee shop they all hung out at midweek. Now she was sitting on a bench, freezing her cute butt off in her sluttiest looking goth gear. She wanted to make a good impression on whoever was behind the ad, and as she thought of the person, imagining it to be some skinny, goth guy with a kinky attitude, she felt herself getting a little tingly beneath her leather mini. She liked girls better, but shed found herself thinking about males a little more than she was comfortable with. She flicked away the ash on her cigarette, starting to get more irritated at waiting than she was hot with anticipation of some spicy banging action against one of the trees in the park behind her. Waiting long little one? The voice surprised her so much she caught a wisp of her long, blonde dreads on the tip of her cigarette as she whipped her head around. Damn! she pinched the little burnt place on her hair out and tossed away the cigarette, but a hand behind her caught it mid-air. She heard an indrawn breath and a little tingle of fear and excitement went through her. Nice night, hmmm? Where was that accent from? Meela turned around to look into the eyes of the tallest and most attractive woman shed ever seen in her life. Long, white hair (platinum blonde, real or dyed?), a thin, almost elfish face, dark eyes and a full, red mouth that Meela wanted against her own so badly her heart started to skip beats. And that figure-hugging ankle-length leather coat and those black heels with those cruel pointy toes! Yeah, nice. Im Meela. She stood and found that the woman wasnt that much taller than her, but she was tall and she smelled of a spice Meela almost remembered, but couldnt quite place. I know, come. And she was being led by a strong, delicate hand into the woods that now did not seem so suburban, but instead felt like all of the woods shed ever read about in Grimms Fairytales. They walked at a fast pace, then finally came to a clear place beside a pond, which reflected the full moon, now high in the dark sky overhead. Meela, Meela, a lovely name, come closer. She was pulled forward not roughly, but demandingly and then kissed so deeply and thoroughly she nearly lost her balance. And what does my little Meela want tonight? All Meela could do was moan, and then gasp when she felt herself being probed by thin, insistent fingers, touching her as if the woman knew her deepest, darkest fantasies. So, you like girls, but youve been thinking of something else havent you? Oh, so naughty. I might have to punish you. Then Meela was pushed to the ground, and found herself being kissed more, fondled more, then entered in a way that was both familiar and different, as if she was dreaming and yet awake. She bit the womans neck as she rode Meela, their breaths coming in raspy gasps, and just as Meela felt herself spinning into that red place of satisfaction, the woman slid down her body, one mouth to a more secret mouth and Meela knew something shed never known. That her blood was life, was sacred and could bring pleasure shed only imagined in her secret, deep unconscious mind. You taste like God when she was first born, like roses dipped in wine, like the songs of angels, hmmmm, my sweet, sweet Meela, hmmmm Waves settled, and Meela fell asleep, or did she pass out, she only knew that when she awoke, she was back on the park bench where shed first met the woman, and a rose was in her hand with a note. Enjoyed tonight. See you next full moon, same place, be bleeding, Ara-Noel. And a red imprint of her mouth sealed the letter that Meela hugged to her breast. Yeah, same time, same time of the month. She laughed out loud as she stood up and started walking toward the coffeehouse. There you go, my lovelies, stay wonderfully sexy and do e-mail me your thoughts and comments, just no spam. And to Ted, my rocker bud, congrats on being on the radio, and cant wait to see you whipping that axe of your again. And to my hot femme from Rusticon, see you at Norwescon, babe! |
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| Spring is blooming all over and this months Sheroe is a delight to see | ||
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| Well, the tree who gave me a branch of cherry blossoms (what, youve never had a tree talk to you, well you should listen more deeply) has dropped its festive cover for the more conventional leaves itll wear the rest of the year, but Im still happy that Spring has sprung. Allergies aside, rainstorms aside and having to still wear a coat aside.
Anyway, do enjoy this months sheroe, Periel Aschenbrand, who has some very political statement to make about George Bush. L&L: Are you from Seattle, and if not, where and where do you call home now? P.A.: From New York, and New York is home. L&L: What made you want to do tee-shirts, and other art, and do you consider yourself an activist and what other causes get your blood racing? P.A.: I started making shirts after teaching a contemporary philosophy course to high school students on a summer arts program. The girls were walking around in their sexy, little teen aged bodies, wearing shirts that were made in sweatshops, and said things like Abercrombie and Fitch. They had no idea where their shirts were made, and had never really bothered to think about it. They were, you know, following trends or whatever. I became incensed. I started to show them political art, like that of Barbara Kruger and had them design and make shirts that said something that meant something. I never had any idea I would make shrts and certainly never planned on it but when I made myself a shirt that said The only bush I trust is my own (dont you love that phrase, and isnt it great that its already on a tee-shirt you can buy?). I wore it into a store and next thing I knew, every woman in the world wanted one. Initially, I had no idea what I was doing and walked around covered in ink for several months. Girls were returning shirts on account of the fact that the letters were washing off. I even landed myself in bed for two months from inhaling all the fumes from spray painting shirts. Ive since learned to hire professionals to do those things. Do I think of myself as an activist? Yes, I do. I fancy myself quite the little activist (my friend, Selene, another little activist would be proud!). Im like, a socially conscious shop-a-holic. I hope my book, The Only Bush I Trust Is My Own, which is coming out in August this year, encourages people to get moving and be socially conscious as well. Insofar as what gets my blood racing, I would have to say that more than anything, it is the devastating inequality and injustice that exists in this world. I know thats very general, so I can be more specific, of course, but it seems clear that its things like poverty, AIDS, violence against women and the crappy educational system and all the other obvious atrocities sufficiently scratch the surface. (Whoo hoo, you go grrrrl!) L&L: If you were an animal, and could be political, being an animal, what would you be and why? P.A.: I would be a beaver and I would lead a revolt against fur. (Yeah!) L&L: Are there any animals that are a political cause for you? Why? P.A.: All the animals are a cause for me. I think fur is one of the most vile things in the entire world and even though I like the way it looks, anyone who wears fur should be ashamed of herself or himself. Wearing fur is fucking unconscionable. The meat industry should effectively be shut down and all meat should have to be organic and free range. That goes for milk as well, which is essentially pus. Animal testing too. If we ever get bombed by the Muslim fundamentalists again, I hope they bomb the companies that test their products on animals (now theres an idea, isnt it?). I would support that kind of an attack. (Power to all the animals and the poor folks too!) L&L: If you were a car with politics, what kind would you be and why? Can cars be political? P.A.: I have no idea. Maybe Id like to be a Mercedes, theyre pretty sleek looking. But instead of having leather seats, made of Jews, I would like my seats to be made out of the skins of the Bush administration. L&L: Global warming, thoughts? P.A.: I dont have thoughts on this subject. Im not a scientist. This isnt something thats a matter of opinion. Were destroying the fucking earth, its that simple. (I couldnt agree more Periel) L&L: If you could do one thing to change the world, what would that be? P.A.: Even distribution of wealth, equal access to education and health care and food. Im sure I would do a very good job of destroying market capitalism as we know it. (Periel for president now!) L&L: What do you want to be when you grow up? P.A. : Id be doing exactly what Im doing right now. I have the greatest life in the world. I dont have a boss, no one tells me what to do, I wake whenever I want to and spend the entire day in my pajamas. L&L: How can we make the rest of the world like us, and should we? P.A.: I suppose it depends on who we are. I mean, Im not in favor of invading countries and making them be like the U.S., but demanding equality and human rights for all human beings isnt a bad idea. L&L: What do you do for fun? P.A.: I shop and have sex. L&L: Whats the wildest political/sexual/just weird thing youve ever done? P.A.: Too many to count. (I want to meet this woman, dont you?) L&L: Sexual preference, Dyke, Lesbian, (our first sheroe, Judy Tallwing, defined Dyke as those women who dont fit it, the radicals and Lesbians as those who go with status quo, not rocking the boat too much. Whats your opinion on this? Bi, or other? P.A.: Well, according to that definition (Judys), I guess Im a dyke, even though Im not one. L&L: Fave color? P.A.: Black (gee, mine too, when its not red) L&L: Fave food group? P.A.: I guess I like vegetables a good deal. Does anyone really care what my favorite food is? L&L: Memory of a protest that really made a statement and why? P.A.: Most large, organized protests Ive been to feel like they made a statement. Any time you get hundred of thousands of people gathering together to oppose something, its pretty powerful. Okay, thats it for this month. Do pick up one of Periels T-shirts and make a statement, or e-mail her company, bodyasbillboard.com, and you can see the entire line and order tee-shirts and other items that make a statement. Locally, the tees are available at The Square Room on Pike street, near the Wildrose. |
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 GENERAL GAYETY Leslie Robinson |
 LESBIAN NOTIONS Paula Martinac |
