another eye opens

Andy and I spent Fourth of July weekend in the country with our friends Ben and Tom at their house in Sullivan County. We took the train to Suffern via Secaucus — where the train station exhibited this, uh, unusual public art — where Tom was waiting to drive us to Barryville.

ah, relaxing on the sunny porch in Adirondack chairs

The holiday’s official activity centered on attending a party in Dingman’s Ferry that two theater queens have been throwing for 40 years. The theme this year was “Mad Men.” See Ben, Tom, and Andy in their appropriate attire. Plus, new Subaru.

Doug and Terry’s house is a riot of collectibles, including flamingoes…

kinky kachina dolls…

colorful kitchen (with obliging hippie)…

and fully stocked bar, complete with drag performer Steady Mess.

We enjoyed meeting Julie Matte, among others.

Sunday morning Ben whipped up a triumphant tortilla espaniola

then we spent a couple of hours preparing a BBQ feast

fun smart handsome group of guys

one friendly pooch

great hosts

happy guests

The Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality mandated showing up at the Stonewall for the inevitable “spontaneous” community celebration.

Liam and I paid our respects on the way to the theater to see 10 OUT OF 12.

I skipped the march on Sunday but hung out in the Village at the street fair.

Gay Pride has gotten heavily commercialized. Welcome to my niche-market nightmare.

In the evening Andy and I found ourselves at the Liberty Theater attending “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars Live,” thanks to our friends Mathew and Joey

They’d bought premium tickets that entitled us to our own private box complete with bottle service (a first for me).

We were scrupulously cared for by our waitron, name of Andrew.

Bottle service throughout the house arrived accompanied by Fourth of July sparklers.

Now mind you, I’ve never watched “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” ever. I wouldn’t know Alyssa Edwards from Alicia Keys. But I dug Raja’s Keith Haring smock (and her rendition of “Deeper Love”).

Sharon Needles endeared herself to me first with her delivery of “Candy Says” and next with her Bauhaus gown.

There was frequent crowd-surfing. Some queens were smart enough to toss not only their heels but their wigs and earrings before diving in.

Violet Tsotschke got downright shamanic.

We hung out on the street afterwards with Harry and Jimmy then walked home through the rainbow delirium of Times Square.

Bu Uci knows how to “strike a pose” with Bu Yenni and Bu Etty

modern-day gamelanistas read the notation from their i-devices

our audience included an ardent young fan with the wifi icon drawn or tattooed on his forehead

the dancers waiting to go on

the dancers take a bow

Dragana and Teague with duck sliders at Red Egg

Guy Klucevek, the accordion master, in a home concert hosted by his longtime friend George Russell (below)

Bergdorf windows featuring designs by Donald Robertson

Andy’s new shirt