Sunday, March 28, 2010

Back to my Beloved Berkshires....

The text messages started last Thursday...."Countess countdown.....23 hours" and continued throughout the night.  So even though I woke up on Friday morning and saw snow falling outside the Castle Bedelia, I knew that I had to order the Royal Coach to make the trip to the Berkshires.

Lady Boninsky met me for a delicious dinner at Firefly where Laura, the owner and chef extraordinaire, came to our table to say hello.  Laura has once again graciously donated Firefly for our Richie duPont Fund Benefit on May 22nd.  Lady Boninsky just got a new camera and so she is our Guest Photographer for this post....


After dinner we headed over to Rumpy's Tavern where the Court had assembled for a Royal Ball. 


Prince Troy kept our glasses full of good cheer and Glenlivet....


And The Countess danced the night away....


The Summer Palace has been polished to a shine by my Merry Maids, new locks installed on the Palace gates, and everything made ready for my return.  More photos and adventures up soon.

And a big Thank You to Lady Boninsky for her gracious company and her photos!
Countess Bedelia 3/28/2010 02:20:00 PM | 0 comments |

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Ooooh La La, Introducing my new toy "Purple Passion Flower"...

Ta Dah...........


Dell Inspiron in Purple Passion!  Who knew that Dell laptops came in such delicious colors? "Promise Pink", "Cherry Red", "Ice Blue", "Jade Green", or.....my choice....."Purple Passion".  Yummy!!



Now when I am on the road you will receive updates from my beautiful new laptop.  It has a gazillion capacity and no weight!  It's like a little miracle in the universe.

J'aime ma vie!
Countess Bedelia 3/23/2010 11:11:00 PM | 0 comments |

Monday, March 22, 2010

Lt. Dan Choi

This man humbles me.



Read his inspiring interview in Newsweek which he gave after being released from jail after being arrested for chaining himself to the White House gates last week .
Countess Bedelia 3/22/2010 11:26:00 PM | 0 comments |

Rush Limbaugh to leave the country......


If you are on Facebook, you can join the Fan Page for Rush Limbaugh leaving the U.S

Rush Limbaugh graciously promised to leave the USA if Healthcare passed. It is time for him to keep his promise!




Remind him:

EM: ElRushbo@eibnet.com

Fax: 212-445-3963

Write: The Rush Limbaugh Show, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
 
If you want to help him move faster, put a bid on his gaudy New York City apartment.  It's up for sale.
Countess Bedelia 3/22/2010 07:46:00 PM | 0 comments |

Saturday, March 20, 2010

A Night at the 'Oprah'...

Some of my Boston friends had already seen "Phantom of the Oprah" and had told me that I just HAD to see it for myself.  They were right!  It is only playing for one more week so if you want to split your sides laughing and see great acting and singing, get over to Machine and see this show while you still have a chance.

There is nothing I can say to add to the accolades already bestowed upon Varla Jean Merman.  She is an incredible talent with an incredible voice.  All the cast is just wonderful!  And kudos to Ryan Landry who wrote the book and lyrics and plays Madame Cunte (that is pronounced Koon-tay, please!). 

Oprah had several celebrity guests in the show and The Countess was so thrilled to be introduced to Liza.....


My beautiful young friend, Johanne, came with me and we got t-shirts!!


Also in our party are Barry and Paul....


After the show we went to the Encore Lounge, a wonderful piano bar in the theater district.  Barry is a world famous pianist and one of his friends was playing the piano at the lounge last night.  With a little encouragement Barry took a turn at the piano and sang a couple of songs....



Barry is opening at the Beachfire Bar & Grille in Ogunquitt, Maine, next Saturday.

Thanks to Johanne, Barry, and Paul for a fun night out on the town in Boston!
Countess Bedelia 3/20/2010 04:40:00 PM | 0 comments |

Friday, March 19, 2010

Tonight....


Tonight The Countess and friends will be attending.....



I just hope that I don't get to Machine by way of Newton ;)  !!
Countess Bedelia 3/19/2010 09:35:00 AM | 1 comments |

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Palace memories...


One of my great pals in South Beach is the beautiful drag queen, Tiffany Fantasia.  When she applied for the RuPaul Drag Race Show, I was her biggest fan.  I organized a cadre of voters on the LOGO website to vote for her and kept up the pressure all the way.  The way it worked was that if you voted for my girl, I would vote for yours.  It was Cut Throat, baby!!  Tiffany didn't end up making the final cut for the Drag Race 1st season but we still have hopes!

When I showed up at The Palace on Sunday for her show, she immediately corraled me and asked where I was the day before !!!!!  Ooops!  I thought her show was Sunday.  Anyway she said that she would do a special show just for me....Gawd, I love that girl....

All the Queens put on a fabulous show that day....and every other day too, I am sure!!


I also had a chance to see my darling RayRay.  I first met Raymond several years ago when he was bussing tables.  He was a little go-getter.  He worked his way up and now he is one of the premiere bartenders on Ocean Drive.  I adore this boy.  He is one of my special friends in SoBe...



One of the things that I love when I go to SoBe is that people remember me from year to year.  So many people come for vacation and you never expect that they will think of you when they leave, so it is always a pleasure to hear someone say, "Countess, I met you here last year.....how are you?"  Such is the case with the men in this picture.  I remember them from prior years but don't know their names.  That's OK.  We danced to "Forever Young" and for that time, I did feel forever young....


Then there was this handsome man who came up to me and said he was totally fascinated with me and wanted to buy me a drink.  How could a lady refuse?  He literally declared his love, paid for the drink, and disappeared almost before I could get his picture.  And he IS very handsome, don't you think?


DJ Oliver was spinning at The Palace for the first time that day I was told but he had the crowd under his spell from the beginning.....Hey, anyone who spins "Forever Young" has me in his spell :)


I have so many fond memories of The Palace Bar on Ocean Drive.  When people ask me how I became a Countess, I tell them...."The Countess was born in a Palace on Ocean Drive"...and that's the truth.
Countess Bedelia 3/18/2010 02:32:00 AM | 0 comments |

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy St. Patrick's Day!






St Patricks Day Glitter Graphics
Countess Bedelia 3/17/2010 09:32:00 AM | 0 comments |

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

More Winter Party 2010 Memories...

My trip to Miami Beach was just too short but packed with so many adventures and catching up with old friends and making new ones.

One of my new friends is Jordan.  Mrs. Astor was so excited to introduce me to this charming young man.  At the Opening Night Cocktail Party he was working the table for the Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf , an organization which was set up to advance the interests of LGBT deaf citizens.


I would be remiss if I didn't share this picture of the "Henrietta Basket" that Mrs. Astor put together and donated as one of the raffle items.  The basket included the book authored by Mrs. Astor commemorating Henrietta's fabulous life in Miami Beach over the past 6 plus years. She isn't known as the "Queen of South Beach" for nothing.  A wonderful tribute to a fabulous person...


I also had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Barry Rocklin, a noted pianist who plays gigs all over the place.  He was just at The Piano Bar in the DeLido building on Lincoln Road but if you missed him, you will have to come to Boston.  He is back in Beantown today and I look forward to seeing him play soon.
Here is Barry with Mrs. Astor and Leo waving the Countess sign at The Palace!  They carried that sign up and down Ocean Drive all day and night :)


Over at Twist one afternoon, The Countess got behind the bar and we all know that means nothing but trouble!  Good thing that the adorable Tommy was working that bar.  They only had one bottle of Glenlivet and when I moved on to another bar inside Twist, Tommy gave me the bottle to carry with me.  Carl Zablotny, that veteran news reporter, said he wished he had a picture of that!!


When I was over at the Surfcomber talking with the staff about the food for my Cabana at the Pool Party, I jokingly mentioned that last year the people at the Showtime cabana next to me had eaten most of the food before my guests could get to it.  Imagine my surprise when I saw they had put up this sign at the Cabana....


Of course I ended up treating everyone up on the Balcony to the food.  How could I not?  They were all delightful partiers!

One of The Countess good friends who does so much volunteer work for just about every LGBT cause in Miami Beach is Luis or, as we know him, Le Compte Lamont.  He is on the Winter Party Committee and was in charge of the Opening Night Cocktail Party...


Another person I was privileged to meet is Charles Robbins, the Executive Director of The Trevor Project, the national organization that focuses on crisis and suicide prevention of gay youth and maintains a national around-the-clock Hotline.  When I was younger, I volunteered as a Hotline Counselor for HAWC (Help for Abused Women and Children) and I know first hand how important that phone call can be to someone who needs help.  Charles and I had a wonderful talk and plan to meet in the future to discuss this very worthy organization.


And just because cute boys find me everywhere I go, here is some gratuitous eye candy.  These young men came up to find me and they were completely adorable...

What a great time the whole time I was there!  Sending kisses to everyone in South Beach!!
Countess Bedelia 3/16/2010 08:02:00 PM | 0 comments |

Friday, March 12, 2010

Pool Party 2010

The Baroness Vickie, Princess Penny, and The Countess arrived at noon and were escorted up to our Royal Balcony Cabana.  Paul, the Balcony Guard at the bottom of the stairs, greeted us with a bow.  He has been guarding The Countess for 3 years now and takes his duties very seriously.  We were then introduced to our very own Cabana Boys who told us they were there to wait on us hand and foot.  A Countess' Dream come true!

Chaz, Stephen, Countess, Penny, Tommy, Vickie

Aren't they handsome? And just the sweetest, nicest boys, too.  They all go to U.Miami and were wonderful to talk to and party with.

The first guests to arrive were Mr. and Mrs. Astor, the most handsome couple on South Beach....


Then Steve came in and took a liking to Tommy....


This is the second year that Steve has come down from Massachusetts to join the party.  He was able to catch us up on all the gossip from Rumpy's Tavern back home.  Mrs. Astor loves to hear all the stories.  I have a feeling she thinks I exaggerate sometimes but Steve backed me up on all the outrageousness that happens in our little Tavern under the Inn.

Another guest from far away was David who came down from Pennsylvania.  He really enjoyed himself....


My pal Susie didn't like any of her pictures but I think this one with Penny and Vickie looks kind of cute.....


Carl Zablotny has returned to the Beach from the wilds of Mexico where he fought off bandoleros and barely escaped with his life....


Bob and Terry and their houseguests Dave and Lois Lane came in and proceeded to liven things up.....


Terry immediately donned a feather boa bikini and gave the Countess some love....


Here is a group shot of some of the Royal guests....

Then it was time for the food to be served.  Jeff and Edelaine set up a lovely buffet for us and made sure that everything was perfect......


The afternoon flew by as we danced and partied.  The Showtime people share the Balcony with us and they always bring a few stars around to introduce to everyone.  Here is the Countess with Pam Grier from The L Word....


My dear Father Tony was on hand to record the event and take pictures.  He was reporting for the Bilerico Project....

And it wouldn't be Pool Party without a visit from Eddie and Gary (who blogs as The South Beach Bum)....


I took over 100 pictures so I'm sure some more will crop up from time to time.  I want to thank the Task Force, especially Dave and Parzham, for making my party so special and taking such good care of me.

The party ended around six o'clock but we weren't done quite yet as we had to go to Twist for a birthday party.  That's life in SoBe....the party never ends!!

Countess Bedelia 3/12/2010 02:41:00 PM | 0 comments |

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Party with a Purpose

Before I post about all our shenanigans at the Pool Party, I'd like to tell you about the reason that I pay for a Cabana and return year after year to Winter Party. 

It's to help support the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.  Two-thirds of the proceeds from Winter Party are returned to the South Florida LGBT community.  Over 30 organizations including the South Beach Aids Project, the Miami Gay Men's Chorus, Equality Florida, and Pridelines Youth Services....to name just a few....are helped by the funds raised during the five day Party.

As Rea Carey, the Executive Director of the Task Force, says, "We party with a purpose."

And don't forget to thank the national sponsors of the Task Force:  American Airlines, Grey Goose, and Showtime.  I believe in spending my money on LGBT friendly companies.  Never underestimate the power of your dollar!

The Countess and Jose Lugaro, Director of Annual Gifts for the Task Force, as we party with a purpose...


Of course, when TPTB assign 3 gorgeous cabana boys to attend to your comfort, that's a good reason to return every year ;)


Next  post...."We really tore it up!" to quote Terry!!!
Countess Bedelia 3/11/2010 12:33:00 PM | 0 comments |

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Winter Party on South Beach...The Countess Version, Part One

The Mrs. Astor has been blogging away for the past two days telling all about our adventures in Wonderland.  Check out her blog to see fabulous stories and beautiful pictures....especially of moi !!


The Countess arrived in SoBe last Wednesday with just enough time to hang up my outfits before my darling Mark was at the door to escort me to the Opening Night Cocktail Party at the Surfcomber.


Once there we met up with Mrs. Astor who was volunteering at the Welcome table.

Unfortunately for The Countess the event was sponsored by Grey Goose vodka and, although there were free vodka drinks aplenty, there was no Glenlivet.  So we retired to the hotel bar for awhile to have a glass of scotch.  At the bar we made some new friends.  Here are The Countess and Mark at the bar with Chip, Mike, and Theresa....


By the time we left that bar and returned to the Cocktail Party, everyone at the hotel had become a friend of The Countess.  Maybe I should start my own self-help group :) 

My regular readers know that I am a big fan of Joe.My.God. and Joe's friend, Father Tony, interviewed me to get a message out to Joe that we missed him at the party.  You can see that video here.  You can laugh at the Countess as much as I do when I watch this.  OMG, can one old lady have any more fun?  Yes, she can! Read Tony's account of the Opening Night Cocktail party on the Bilerico Blog.


The Countess and Father Tony

The fabulous drag queen, Tiffany Fantasia, always finds The Countess and we got interviewed by the Miami Herald and got our picture in the Herald the next day......How fabulous is that?


After schmoozing with so many old friends and having so many laughs, we decamped to Twist to see Susie who was bartending at the Bungalow Bar.  She made sure there was Glenlivet at her bar....

The next night Mark and I drove up to Ft. Lauderdale to have dinner at The Manor with the Baroness Vickie, Penny, and Steve, who was visiting from the Berkshires.....

On Friday I went over to the Surfcomber Hotel to talk to the catering staff about the food for my party.  This is what the pool looked like before it was decorated....


The next day it was very festive.....


Next blog is about the Pool Party with my personal Cabana Boys, wonderful friends, and more Fabulous Fun!!
Countess Bedelia 3/10/2010 03:39:00 PM | 2 comments |