David C. Dawson's Blog, page 2

One day to go – An Art Deco Love Affair

One day to go – An Art Deco Love Affair
Tomorrow, I’m flying to America with the London Gay Men’s Chorus for a twelve-day tour. We’ll be singing in New York and Chicago.

One of my passions is Art Deco. It’s a period of design which I fell in love with many years ago. I have a good sized collection of glassware, several cocktail shakers, and a few years ago I discovered a bespoke rug maker near Whitney in Oxfordshire. He made me two gorgeous Art Deco rugs for the living room and hallway.

So you can imagine my excitement at the prospect of spending twelve days in New York and Chicago. Two cities rich in Art Deco heritage.

I’m already booked onto an architectural river tour in Chicago, followed by a walking tour. Of course I’ll be visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s House.

I’ve been to New York many times, so I’ve already been to the Empire State, the Chrysler Building, and the gorgeous Number 1 Wall Street. This time, if there’s time, I want to try to get over to the Bronx to see some of the amazing examples of Art Deco that are lovingly maintained there.

I was talking about this with my host in New York just last night. David lives a couple of blocks away from Greenwich Village, within walking distance of great bars, the Stonewall Memorial and our rehearsal space. I am so lucky to be hosted by him and his charming husband Ammar.

I mentioned my love for Art Deco.

“Oh really?” he said. “This apartment building is Art Deco. The stairwell is spectacular. I always walk down, so I can enjoy it.”

I’m going to be living in an Art Deco apartment on Manhattan for one week!

I am in heaven.

Two days to go – Why protest songs?

Two days to go – Why protest songs?

In two days I’m flying to America with the London Gay Men’s Chorus for a twelve-day tour. We’ll be singing in New York and Chicago.

Our show in New York is called I See Fire. When we bring the show to the Cadogan Hall in London in June, we’ll be singing many of the same songs. The London concert is called AgitPop. The Cadogan Hall describes it as “the music of liberation and protest”.

Why protest?

After all, there’s much to celebrate. It’s fifty years since the Sexual Offences Act of 1967 partially decriminalised homosexuality in England and Wales. It’s nearly four years since the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act received royal assent in the United Kingdom.

So, why protest?

In the words of one of the songs we’ll sing: “The buggers are legal now, what more are they after?”

According to Galop’s Hate Crime Report of 2016:

More than seven thousand hate crimes against LGBT people were recorded by UK police in one year

In that period, over a thousand prosecutions were made for homophobic acts in England and Wales

Over a thousand charges for LGBT hate crimes were made in Scotland and Wales.

So the law isn’t quite enough.

Personally, I know of several people who have experienced either verbal or actual, physical abuse as a result of homophobic attacks in the last eight months.

A friend of mine in the Chorus was subjected to sustained, verbal abuse as he walked down the street in central London, simply because he was holding hands with his partner.

The boyfriend of a friend of mine was badly beaten up in Sheffield, because “he looked too gay.”

It’s not good enough if gay and lesbian couples can legally get married and have children, but can’t walk safely hand in hand down the road.

That’s why Pride marches are still so important. That’s why we in the London Gay Men’s Chorus sing protest songs at our concerts.

But don’t worry, we’ll be singing lots of songs of celebration too!

Three Days to Go – The Ess-a-Bagel Deli

Three Days to Go – The Ess-a-Bagel Deli

In three days I’m flying to America with the London Gay

Men’s Chorus for a twelve-day tour. We’ll be singing in New York and Chicago.

As always happens in America, I’m spoilt for choice.

During a brief lull in our hectic tour, we’re going to be

eating at the legendary Ess-a-Bagel Deli on 3rd Avenue, New York. Apparently,

it’s been around for over thirty-five years, which they say is 150 years in New

York restaurant years.

Because there are around a hundred of us on the tour, all

pitching up at this deli one lunchtime, we’ve got to order in advance.

So we’ve been sent the menu. Which is like a small book.

Apart from the bagel (standard bagel? mini-bagel or sliced

bagel?) should I go for the matzo ball soup, or just a salad?

Or what about a salad sandwich? That’s a new one on me.

Or maybe a conventional spread sandwich? If so, do I want

peanut butter or jelly? Or maybe apple cinnamon cream cheese, banana nut cream cheese,

berry berry cream cheese, chocolate chip cream cheese, lox cream cheese, oreo,

pumpkin, scallion, strawberry, sun-dried tomato, vegetable, or just plain cream

cheese?

And if I want a cheese sandwich instead, do I want American, Swiss,

Gouda, Jarlsberg, Pepper Jack, Fontina, Havarti, or just plain cheddar?

And should I order the potato knish to go with?

I haven’t even started on the choices for dessert…

According to this article I’m reading on the internet, the Ess-a-Bagel Deli also known as His Hole-y-ness the Doughy Lama. Oh yeah..

Next: Why protest songs?