winter party photos

the 35 best, in this set on Flickr

Kiehl's Gives 20/20

As those of you who have tasted me know, Kiehl's coriander-infused body wash makes my skin delicious, and, I would never leave the house after 10PM (even to go to the 7/11!) without first applying Kiehl's Facial Fuel under my eyes.

And yet, last night, my established appeciation for Kiehl's sky-rocketed, as I walked through the door of their Miami Beach store at 832 Lincoln Road. The very hot Chad Richter, who is the Southeast Retail Sales Manager for Kiehl's and is also the chair of the Winter Party Festival, threw one hell of a reception for Winter Party attendees, during which, we were given a 20% discount, with Kiehl's donating another 20% of sales to the Festival. (Lincoln Road is a pedestrian Mall making it difficult to back the Uhaul up to their front door after I had made my selections for the next ten years.)

In the second video, the two guys in swim suits were not staff, but rather visitors (from Minneapolis) whose self-discipline in flying with only carry-on luggage stored under the seat in front of them became literally admirable.

Also, toward the end of the second video, in the yellow shirt of the Winter Party volunteer, is Gary who was not ready for his close-up.



















And here, on the far right, cracking up behind a stack of lip gloss, is the Task Force's effervescent Deputy Executive Director of External Relations, Russell Roybal.

Thursday at the 2009 Winter Party

This evening I attended the Women’s Art Exhibit, another of the events of the 2009 Winter Party. The reception was held at the Fache Arts & Amy Alonso Gallery on NE 124th Street in Miami.





Amy Alonso specializes in women’s art, having been in the business for a remarkable ten years. As is always the case, she has had to change addresses a few times in order to find affordable rents as neighborhoods become trendy and consequently expensive.

We talked about selling art in a tough economy. Ms. Alonso typically sells three paintings a month, but this month, not a one. We joked about cutting down on restaurants and learning to use our own designer kitchens that have been largely ornamental until now. Ms. Alonso was amazed that she could purchase huge slabs of fresh fish which when combined with sticky rice produce excellent sushi for days!

Ms. Alonso did however have a bit of bright art news. The Los Angeles market seems to be strong and interested in abstract painting. She recently did a show in LA that sold out entirely. We also discussed the extremely weak market for photography. These days, anyone with money to spend on art wants something that does not come in multiples.

Here are (left to right) two artists, Roz Keating and Ana Mettola, with Amy Alonso.



Fueled with a couple of excellent brownies and some chardonnay, I headed to Collins Avenue for another event called Pretty in Pink at the Whitelaw Hotel lounge.



The rooms of the Whitelaw are saturated with the most intense pink imaginable, offset by whimsically padded white headboards.



I was pressed to down shots of a suspiciously sweet and sinister pink fluid with a clot of short black-haired Latinos who would not be photographed, informing me that they were all getting off Facebook, Twitter, Manhunt, Myspace, Friendster and all other similar venues. It seems that obscurity is the new black. When I asked them how they would keep track of each other, they assured me that they had ways, but these they would not divulge. Oh for the days of the princess phone. In pink, of course.

The Winter Party 2009

The annual Winter Party in Miami Beach is on! The festivities began this evening with a convivial poolside cocktail reception at the Surfcomber on Collins Avenue.

The crowd was lively and lovely, but what makes this event superb is the cordial team of volunteers who make every attendee feel beautiful in a crowd of many thousands of heartbreakingly beautiful men. Here are volunteers Elliott Thompson and David Salih. (Elliott has a secret project about to bloom. I couldn’t pry it out of him. He changed the subject, saying “You’re from New York. All the New York guys wear black.” He was right.) Incidentally, bright yellow and orange are the colors of the season, and if you don't have an orange hoodie, you just don't have a hoodie. So say the men in Miami Beach tonight.



I used to think this was just another circuit party, but that is inaccurate. The Winter Party attracts all ages, colors and sexes; and the scheduled events go far beyond the dance hall.

The South Beach Bum is a volunteer this year. Here he is with Steve Brady of upstate New York (hence allowing himself colors.)



Here is the fabled enchantrix, Countess Bedelia (center) and courtiers (from left) Alexis, His BF Leo, Walter and Gary. They will be ensconced in a private cabana during the Saturday pool party, but tonight they mixed with commoners like your humble scribe who dared to lick the diamond brooch on the Countess’s decolletage. It tasted like chicken.



Here is that flawless sine qua non of Miami culture, Pussila.



Rea Carey, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (sponsors of the Winter Party), welcomed the crowd.



Here is the chair of the Winter Party festival, Chad (Hot) Richter with The L Word actress Daniela Sea.





Balmy wind off the ocean. An open fire. Trays of delectibles served by smiling handsome guys. Wine and music. Swag from Kiehl's!

For those who missed it

My recap of the Winter Party and Joe's visit.
("How Would You Feel" is by David Moralez featuring Lea Lorien)



(I think the quality is a bit better on Youtube)