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Philadelphia

I’m Back Bitches

I always wanted to say that. Anyway, I am beat, we had a great time, and I saw all three Midwest National Parks in 9 days. BTW Montana is still on fire, seriously, the whole state is effected. They have had a 7 year drought and the place is burning Twice we stayed at lodges within miles of the flames and had to keep our bags packed in case of an evacuation. These shots are from the Seeley Lake fire, which caused us to do a two hr detour yesterday as to drive around the fire.
I understand the parkway is putting on a diasaster recovery tonight. Its right outside my door, but to tell you the truth I am too tired to even bother watching it or photographing it. Until tomorrow…

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Philadelphia

Fires prompt evacuations; famed Testicle Festival still a go

–Mike and I are traveling to Glacier National Park. There’s a few forrest fires here in Montana, and this was one of the headlines- **************************

Fires prompt evacuations; famed Testicle Festival still a go By SARAH COOKE / Associated Press Writer HELENA — More than 100 homes and other buildings were threatened Monday by a trio of fast-moving wildfires southeast of Missoula, but organizers of the area’s famed Testicle Festival said the five-day bacchanalia was still a go. The 25th annual bash was slated to start Wednesday at the Rock Creek Lodge in Clinton along Interstate 90. It typically draws thousands of people from around the world eager to consume deep-fried bull testicles, also known as “Rocky Moun-tain oysters.” While smoke was rising from a mountain across the highway Monday afternoon, co-owner Rodney Lincoln said he had been told the fires were moving away from the lodge and would not impact the festival. “There’s some smoke, but in terms of flames, compared to last night it’s pretty mellow in my estimation,” Lincoln said. “A little smoke isn’t going to hurt us. It’s not going to deter people from coming.” Two of the area fires were detected over the weekend and one of them, a 1,000-acre blaze east of Clinton, was believed to have been human-caused. Residents of about 40 homes were asked to leave that area Sunday night, while campers and residents of another 40 homes west of Philipsburg were asked to evacuate in advance of a 1,000-acre fire there, dubbed the Wyman 2 fire. About 40 outbuildings also were threatened by that blaze, and crews were placing protective fire wrapping around the structures Monday, said Nick Spang, fire information officer. Erratic winds were expected as a cold front moved through the area

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Philadelphia

Gone Fishing See you On 8/7/07

I am going to 3 National Parks, Grand Teton’s, Yellowstone and Glacier National Park
above – Yosemite, below Napa Valley
Home, or Philly(to see more of my work: http://hughephotos.smugmug.com/)

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Philadelphia

Random Favorite Favorite Shots from the Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

This is my very favorite shot: Mary Patel and Rosemary Connors. They look great, they are happy, the background is amazing. The shot really sums up the opening night.
I really enjoyed chatting with Heather every chance I got. She is fascinating.
These two have the most amazing panache – Thom Cardwell and Rosemary Connors.
I thought it was Pamela Anderson at first
I am going to start watching me some charlie david
I have a photo of Padraic Maroney in a pink shirt. Here he is with Entourage’s Rex Lee and PIGLFF Media guru, Patrick McHugh standing in front of the Pink Cocktail sponsor board (Only one of these guys is gay)

That Rosemary, anything to make a picture that much better
Gail Kamenish and hmm on the tip of my tongue, nah cant remember Robert Drake always looks so mysterious. Here he is with Jimmy Route, James Duggan and you know, one of my favorite subjects, Laura Burkhardt and friends (which translate to, I have no idea as I didn’t break out my pad at this time)
Andrea, Timmy, Noel and Megan. I have no doubt that these four people represent the best of our future. They are determined, patient, loyal, driven and most important extremely kind.

Back in June, the Kick-off Party and the unveiling of the PIGLFF Poster

Jesse Archer appreciates that the Festival’s opening film was his starring role “A Four Letter Word”Who is this with “Longtime Companion” writer craig Lucas. I remember going to see this film with my friend Philip back in 1990. He had just recently told me of his status, and I could barely get through the film. Today I am happy to report that Philip is well and living out his dream, returning to school getting his masters as to persue his passion of writing.Record breaking crowds filled the events
Entertainment that knocked your socks off, and got you a little excited too!

Hello, Mother/Daughter here. Nice Gene Pool!!
Whenever I feel a little down, I just popped me a Rosemary Connor picture on the screen as a pick me up
Patrick McHugh. Unbelievably professional and serious about his job. A job well done. you should check out the PIGLFF blog, very insightful and funny commentary by Patrick.
(with Andrea and Timmy) Gurlfriend Thom Cardwell lets down his hair on the last night!
In just seven days, I can make you a man….

Michael Lucas on stage during the Q&A for Starbooty!! (RuPaul seems aghast, which is a surprise, since she spends so much time on her knees in the movie!) My heart belongs to

see additional photos I took here http://buckmonkey.smugmug.com/Events or Gail Kamenish’s the official photographer of PIGLFF here http://imageevent.com/piglff2007

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Philadelphia

The Final Party Pictures of the PIGLFF and an I’m Off For Vacation til 8/7/07

What an amazing 12 days I had, hmm like the 12 days of Christmas but in July. OK I am delirious, first I want to apologize to the people who didn’t make it on the blog. I always have good intentions and then time runs out, space runs out and I just have to put up the shots that I didn’t screw up where I need to photo shop them so they are a bit more suitable. AH cursing, well it is 2AM, sure this post will look like its on Thursday as I started it this morning, but didn’t have time to complete it til now. A little confession on my part, Mike and I are heading out to Yellowstone National Park, the Tetons and Glacier National Park on Saturday, so between the festival, visiting my cute nephew Michael (my family calls him my mini-me. Do you think he looks like me?), (here he is with my mom, his nana, tonight) i hope Mike is packed. Anyway, it was an awesome experience, the film festival.In an earlier post I mentioned that I don’t know who the folks do it, but I really do. It is a well operated team spirited run organization that runs the Philadelphia Film Festival. I covered both this year, and I did not see any hiccups, glitches, arguments or disruptions. Now that is an amazing feat. They have my respect and admiration (read in between the lines – Please, Please, Please invite me back next year!!) Having eaten lunch in the courtyard of the Commerce Building, I couldn’t imagine what the Closing Party would be like, I was completely surprised that it was transformed into a little bustling paradise in the middle of the business corridor of Philadelphia.

Manning the gates was the ever present, and might I say, adorable Tim Ferretti of The Philadelphia Film Society’s (become a member today http://www.phillyfests.com/about.cfm) and Operations Manager of the Film Festival, Claire Brown KohlerThom Cardwell and friends from sponsor restaurant, MIXTO. Guillermo Vega, GM, Jeff Liebreich, Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corp and Jorge Mosquera, OwnerFun guests who I should have asked for their names, but cute as a button MS Nueva Gabor (i don’t think she has sleves on, she’s been inked; I heard those Gabor sisters are thick skinned) and Amanda Playwythme
OK I do have my favorites, and Laura Burkhardt is one of them. I don’t think I have spent more than 10 minutes really talking with her, but if I had the times, if she had the time, if we had some time she would be a lot of fun (I would love to have dinner with Laura, Rosemary Connors and Robert Drake some day, that would be a hoot – call me!!) With her is host Bryan Hoffman. What a terrific party he had for the Starbooty crowd. Hmm I am a party behind I, I forgot to write about last Friday’s party at the Metro Club. Well its just gonna have to wait til after August 7.

My friend in print, er type as we do internet writing, Padraic Maroney http://www.edgephiladelphia.com/. I like Padraic, I like his writing style, but I’m gonna have to recommend http://phillygaycalendar.com/ as an alternative to the Edge. Now I am going to burn my bridges, I like the Metro, you think its a philly newspaper, but its really published in NY, and they get most of their photos off the wire services instead of a staff or freelancers. So I am will pick up the Inquirer or the Daily News before the Metro. I am all about original content at least 75% of the time. It’s like this book review signing I went to last night “A Walk Up Broad Street”. Well sure Bruce Buschel walked up Broad Street, but it wasn’t to discover Philly’s past, just his own. It was very misleading, and then the guy just took potshots at philly all night. Furthermore, he only took two days to walk up broad street, and then he returned to NYC to write the book, I mean how did he really learn about people and the changes on Broad Street if he only spent two days walking up it (and he said he never ventured from it, especially since our murder rate is so high) – a dead on review can be found here Liz Spikol on Walking Broad, that new book about walking down Broad Street. You will have to wait for that review when I return too.
A few lucky souls enjoying their smokes before the price is raised to $10 a pack
The girls from http://www.myspace.com/phillyfuse oh to be better organized on the last night would have been nice, but I know these are two sweet bartenders from Twenty-21
In Bed With Butch Cordova and his cameraman. Look for a lot less of them, clothing wise, in the 2008/9 Calendar -In Bed With Butch –
Some dashing guy with a bevy of girls, who in a far off dream wanted to be the Gay James Bond, ok maybe just Philly’s Andy Warhol
Did you know that some girls that go to Bryn Mawr College are called LUG, which stands for Lesbian’s Until Graduation. Well These two were joking about it all night. I think a lot of people, present company excluded, would pay to see that move. These two girls could put a smile on anyone’s face with their infectious humor. Susan and Mary
OK Gail, now it is time to say good-bye. Thanks for all your mentoring and friendship. I’m gonna miss you. Hi to Bill. You guys look great.
Ya’ll come back now…I left so late there was no gift bag for me, so there is no photo or description for you

One last thing…tomorrow (hmm today later) I will post some of the fun pictures I just didn’t get a chance to post. Here is QUEERtimes and BUCKmonkey’s James Duggan thanking Steve McCann of http://www.phillygaycalendar.com/ for all his excellent coverage of the Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. You have got to check out their video interviews.

Shout out to Mike LaMonaca, in the center, also of PhillyGayCalendar and of Equality Forum, who I had the pleasure of meeting during the festival.Who am I kidding, I am not going to have time later today to do a blog, I think. I gotta pack. Thanks for indulging me as I went a bit wild and wordy tonight. If I took a photo of you at the Film Festival, there’s a good chance you can find it here: http://buckmonkey.smugmug.com/
The 13th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival would not be possible without the support of our many terrific sponsors, who we would like to take this moment to thank.

Presenting Sponsors: City of Philadelphia, TLA Entertainment Group, Pennsylvania Film Office, Hyatt Regency, Avis, here! Networks

Official Sponsors: Bud Light, The Sundance Channel, Eventions, Tylenol PM, Twenty21, Scion, Triumph Brewing Company, Penn’s Landing Corporation, Parrot Bay, Park Hyatt Philadelphia, Cashman & Associates, University of the Arts

Partner Sponsors: Plumer & Associates Realtors, GPTMC, Modern Eye, Fest in Philly Organization, Crowne Plaza, Sofitel Hotel, B-Side, Mixto, Hoffman Design Group, Haru, Hangar Vodka, Pennslyvania, Experience Africa

Patron Sponsors: The Restaurant Collection, Caviar Assouline, Smart Water, Lucky Strike, P.I.N.K., Philadelphia Trolley Works, Neff Associates Inc, Live Arts, Vesuvio, Philly Car Share, Antoinette Westphai, McCormick & Schmick’s, Allied Advertising, Sisters, Marathon Grill, Campus Philly, The National, Whole Foods, 12th Street Gym, FunTastic Foods, Prince Music Theater, Bluecoat, American Apparel, Philly Aids Thrift

Media Sponsors: Gaydar Magazine, Where, Metro Newspapers, Philadelphia City Paper, Philly Gay Calendar, HX Philadelphia and Queer Times

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Philadelphia

The 13th Annual Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (PIGLFF) – Last Night, Last Movie, Last Party and a few tears

The 13th Annual Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (PIGLFF) – Last Night, Last Movie, Last Party and a few tears. The poster is just about completely signed.

The stylish Thom Cardwell and Rosemary Connors The crowd last night did not disappoint, in fact the directors announced the entire festival had record crowds.Queer Kinky Quizzo hostess and awesome DJ Robert Drake http://www.djrobertdrake.com/ announce the Festival Award Winners My friend Diana Marini (Documentary “In Sickness and In Health,” a biography/documentary about New Jersey same-sex marriage litigant couple Diane Marini and her partner of 14 years, Marilyn Maneely. Marilyn died of ALS before civil unions became law in New Jersey; and we all suffer the effects of marriage inequality to this day. Documentary filmmaker Pilar Prassas has been following the seven plaintiff couples’ lawsuit since it was filed in 2002. ) and Pilar Prassas with the plaque they got when they won the Juried “Best Documentary Award”
The final nail, er I mean signature on the official event poster The last cast shot of the festival. “Kiss the Bride”. A cute little film about a threesome starring Tori Spelling, James O’Shea, Philipp Karner, Joanna Cassidy and Tess Harper. As the writer stated on stage, think Chuck and Buck, but played out for all to see. I loved it!!Gail Kamenish waves a hearty good-bye until next year, wait Gail we still have the afterparty to go to.
“Kiss the Bride” post screening party at Twenty-21 ends the festival on a high note
Pictures to follow tonight…I got in at 2AM, and now this guys gotta work his day job
My other blog Confessions of a Paparazzi is featured on a National site today re: Barbara Walters: cityrag.blogs.com/hughe2030.blogspot.com/2007/07/barbara-walters-is-misogynist.html

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Philadelphia

A Cycle of Tragedy

There was a motorcycle accident on Kelly Drive Sunday night near the Art Museum. The cops say if this guy had his helmet on he would have lived. Monday night, as I left an event at the Waterworks, I caught the man’s friends putting up a memorial in his honor at the spot where the guy died. Cars lined up along Kelly Drive taking up an entire lane for at least a 1/4 mile. because of his death many cycles of lives were affected, he was loved Closer to the site, some cars were in both lanes.
Friends who were probably with him last night as they raced down Kelly Drive, rev’ed their wheels in a fitting tribute of carelessness creating a lot of unnecessary noise and pollution and it went on for a few minutes
as they prepared to ride away without any helmets on their heads. One by one the cars drove by the make shift memorial

and made made U-Turns into the on coming trafficone red car, spun his wheels, screeeeeeechhhhh
and did a fish tail
of course, (what an idiot!)
as the long procession made its way back to the neighborhood, I thought were any lessons learned, did he die in vain? Am I just too old to know what is cool? Is riding a motorcycle without a helmet cool, or a cycle of tragedy?
The fateful curve and memorial of teddy bears, messages and candles
he was only 21, and it is very sad because he had his whole life in front of him.
A Fairmount Park Ranger appeared out of nowhere (who knew there were park rangers? [there’s 20]) I asked him what would happen to this memorial. He said that he would have to call it in, the only other one he had ever seen was one in Pennypacker Park where some idiot put up a similar one for the deer that were being killed because over population. Every time the deer sympathizer put it up, we would take it down and toss it. He then called, his supervisor who said that he could keep this one up until someone complains about it. – Well I thought, it’s a park, who is going to complain about it, the runners, bikers, bladers, kids in strollers? Maybe a parent or two can tell their kids how important it is to wear a helmet when you operate a bike, whether it’s motorized or not.

I think statistics will tell you that wearing a helmet improves your chances of surviving an accident. Seriously I’m saddened by anyone’s death and the heartache that it brings, but please, please get over your thoughts of any vanity when it comes to protecting yourself so no one else has to go through this tragic situation.

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Philadelphia

Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Troc

As part of the Philly GLBT Film Festival, the Rocky Horror Picture Show was performed at the Trocadero Theater
Let’s do the Time Warp

it’s just a jump to the left
Rocky chases his man
I don’t even want to know what is happening in the bottom right corner
Dr. Scott visitsCards for sorrow, although the women who’s lap Dr. Frankenfurter just got off of doesn’t look to unhappyThe Cast
If you want to hire the Rocky Horror Picture show cast or if you want info about their upcoming shows – Check out – http://transylvanians.org/

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Philadelphia

Hairspray the Movie Premiere Review


Hairspray the Movie Premiere Review

I love Hairspray, the original movie with Divine (18times I saw it), The Broadway play (5 times) and now the movie (1 time so far) Here is the funniest, and right on target Hairspray The Movie review I have ever read: http://phillyist.com/2007/07/20/cinephillyist_r_26.phpSee photos from the premiere at www.confessionsofapaparazzi.com

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Philadelphia

Farley Granger Receives the Artistic Award from PIGLFF

The highlight of the Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the Farley Granger visit. here is Farley and his partner/friend of 43 years, TV producer, Robert Calhoun at a reception for them at XIX in the Park Hyatt Bellevue

Philadelphia’s Film Office Guru Sharon Pinkenson with Farley Granger

Political aficionados Mike Marisco, his lovely wife Renee Gilinger, 2008 candidate Pennsylvania State Representative Larry Farnese and political columnist, Mary Patel.
Guests
The man with two hats, Thom Cardwell, Development Director PIGLFF, and co-founder of BUCKmonkey, with James Duggan, http://www.buckmonkey.net/ and Larry Farnese.Owners of the Philadelphian Beauty Shop 19130
a gift from Brasserie Pierre
The poster is almost completely signed
Robert Calhoun, Farley Granger and Carrie Rickey , Inquirer Movie Critic during the Q&A part of the program. Carrie later told me that she, Farley and Susan Sontag all went to North Hollywood High, but of course graduated in different years.
Rosemary Connors, Robert Calhoun, Farley Granger and Thom CardwellI don’t think my ridelin is working; I have taken too many darn pictures!!The fans were really moved to meet Farley
another signature
Gail Kamenish greets Farley warmly, telling him how much she loved all his films, and what a great honor it was to meet him. It really was a special moment. Especially since people in our field (photographers) meet celebrities all the time. Its nice when you meet someone that you really admire and have been touched by through their art.