Sunday in Central Park

As I sit at the bus stop, in Dumont, New Jersey, I am surrounded by people I have nothing in common with, yet we share impatience smiles and look down the never-ending road in hopes of seeing a faint image of our bus. There is a togetherness that we are sharing- a sameness; “WHERE THE HELL IS THE BUS?!” I jest. There is a warmth among us, but it is 95 degrees on a windless day what would one expect to feel. The bus finally arrives and these same people with whom I just shared unique life moments with are now the people I PRAY DO NOT SIT NEXT TO ME on the bus! I put my backpack on the seat next to me. I will only move it for attractive people that smell good. Attractive people can smell kind of funky sometimes. This bus travels through Union City so one can only imagine the people that get on the bus. I swear one woman has a pig head in her purse. It has been many years since I have taken a bus. Head sets and texting has taken the place of people’s need to make mindless conversation, unfortunately they still over spray themselves with cheap perfume and insist on sitting next to me! We stop at a red light and I look out the window. I watch people struggling to carry grocery bags to their apartment. They look so tired, so beaten up by life. I wonder what they are thinking. They are probably thinking “You son of a BITCH! Stop writing and help me with my grocery bags!” I can sympathize with their pain- I just found out the Express bus is a local and all these gross people are getting on board. Note to self: What sounds like a good idea usually isn’t. Next time drive! I never get tired of looking at New York City from the Lincoln tunnel. I guess riding a bus does teach you patience- I just wish it was filled with pretty people. So I get out of The Port Authority on 42nd Street and I am pushed, kicked and poked before I can make it out of that flee bitten hell hole- gotta love public transit. First thing to accomplish on my single day in Central Park is Brunch! There are so many places to choose from as I walk down 9th Avenue. I try to play a fake “Rachel Ray” from her NYC on $10.00 a day, but get hungry before I get three blocks. I stopped at NIZZO. They had a mouth-watering Pizza Uova ; taleggio, sausage, onion &2 eggs and Orange Juice for $14.75. Service was with a smile and fast. The food was very filling and good! You could see the poor waiter had a hard night and these tourists were giving him such a hard time. There were three tables one with six children and two with parents and grandparents. It was interesting to watch. They had all these maps and were quizzing the bitter brunch waiter and asking his suggestions. I can tell he is nursing a hangover, but the tourists think they are experiencing New York City Attitude. I remember those brunch days. I used to work brunch at the West Bank Café and had a ball with Alex. It was a buffet so all we had to do was take egg orders and drinks. We would be so hung over and gagging at what these people would eat! I walk through Broadway to get to Central Park. I LOVE the energy that Sunday matinee days bring to the mid-town area. I got to see my friend, Amanda Green’s “Bring It On” marque!

Love her! Love it!

My favorite Broadway Street is 45th Street. So many theaters with so many shows playing! I am a little disturbed by all the cartoon characters running after you to pose for pictures with them, but even more baffled by the dancing M&M’s, Peanut Butter Cups, and Twizzler Licorice stick. Broadway has become a deathly temptation for a diabetic.

Central Park There is a beauty just walking into Central Park that is matched by no other. I don’t care if you live in the open fields of a forest; Central Park puts nature to shame.

New Jersey may have the trees and the grass, but you never see people enjoying it!

I had a few sights that I had wanted to see the first being the famous Friedsam Carousel.

As a teenager I loved riding Central Park’s Carousel, it was one of the only Carousel’s that you could reach for the brass rings! I found the Carousel, but also found out that they do not grab for the brass rings anymore. If we keep taking traditions away there won’t be anything for the kids to carry on.

What I love about Central Park is that you do not need an ipod or head set for music, the music is supplied by the gifted music students practicing on the benches and the homeless. There is no better sound then being serenated by the sounds of the street. Walking through Central Park is like being a part of the theater of life! Central Park is filled with the most beautiful statutes. I found the Hans Christian Anderson statute and was surprised to see a line of people formed to take pictures sitting on his lap. I had no idea that people knew who he was!

The Alice in Wonderland statute always has me humming Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”

You can’t walk through Central Park without stopping to admire Belvedere’s Castle. The young couple’s out on the lake for an afternoon row in the boats….Here I start humming “That How You Know” from Enchanted.

And how random that there is a Swiss Chalet in the middle of Central Park?!

Central Park is the real DisneyWorld for young and old! Strawberry Field's would definately be Wonderland- Where would we be if John Lennon was still with us?

As I leave the Park and realize I have no idea when the last bus is out of NYC! I have to race to the Port Authority because with my luck the last bus is at 6! As I am shooting down the street maneuvering between the residents of midtown who are getting pissed at me pushing around them I stop short in my spot! Time and busses have just flown out of my mind with the vision I am experiencing at this moment-a moment that will never happen again. People find excitement in NYC, they find careers in NYC, they find their dreams in NYC- I find a man walking a GOAT in NYC! I have to stop and take a moment to digest this, and also take a picture.

So my day in the city has come to an end and like Maria from “The Sound of Music” when she leaves the mountains that fill her heart with music; I leave the city that fills my heart with clogged arteries! All the soda, ice-cream, pretzels, hot dogs, ice-cream, soda, and water I had to eat and drink to keep up my energy! I cannot wait to get off the bus so I can go to Dunkin Donuts/ Baskin Robbins Ice-Cream shop. I have a lump of hot dogs stuck in my throat and I need a milk shake to swallow it down!

p.s….Dunkin Donuts merging with Baskin Robbins ice-cream was definitely the wish of a fat person.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTONIO!

HOT AND SEXY! Antonio Cedeno promised and delivered! Wall to wall HOTNESS! Arriving late it took my eyes a few minutes to adjust to the beauty that surrounded me! I walked right into a summer blond go-go dancer. SURFS-UP! My mouth dropped and before I could recover a group of Latin hotness made their way around me to go out for a smoke. My mouth has still not recovered from surfer boy! BEAUTIFUL! Suddenly I felt a hug and squeeze and turned to see Antonio Cedeno and the warmest smile. I have known Antonio many years and he still makes me feel so special. He greeted me and asked if I need a drink and set me up before the night took him away. There was so much going on and so many people pouring in to see him! I was surprised that I did not see any of the Jersey friends. I stood there watching Antonio greet his guest and pose for pictures. I was so proud to just watch. I have known Tony (Antonio) for so many years and have seen life test him so many times. He rose to each challenge and always gave it his best. Sometimes he struck out, and sometimes he hit a homerun-tonight was a HOMERUN!

The dancers were the hottest as promised; the group was up for a great time; laughing and chatting up a storm! The music was sick! One great mix after another, DJ Billy Lace kept the crowd alive and moving. Amid the crowd there was a sudden flurry of flashes as Aiden Leslie made his entrance dressed in white. New York is definitely in love with this guy. I tried to say hello to him, but he was whisked away by adoring fans. I have to admit I love when I see people in their environment and Aiden Leslie’s place is to belong to the world. He posed and smiled like a child on Christmas morning. Aiden’s performance was BRILLIANT! I lose sight of my surroundings when he performs. What an aura!

As the evening progressed so did the number of guest and go-go dancers. I wasn’t sure who was a dancer and who was a customer and I was not complaining. The only thing to take attention off the evening’s sexual heat that the party was creating was the appearance of Tone Tone’s birthday cake! It was a GREAT evening and the present I got was watching my friend Tony (Antonio Cedeno) shine as bright as the stars! Happy Birthday Buddy and many, many more!

ANTONIO'S G-LOUNGE BIRTHDAY FRIDAY JULY 27th

So last Sunday while everyone was enjoying themselves at the SAND BLAST in Asbury Park I was taking advantage of a “gay free” NYC- like that could ever happen. I have a friend who is “married” and we go into the city for brunch once a month. He is determined to marry me off. OK here it is…We are on the PATH into the city to have brunch and I over hear these guys talking about Antonio Cedeno’s. I interrupt their conversation to ask how they know Antonio. “His parties are the hottest in NYC - G-lounge Friday nights. This Friday is his BIRTHDAY Celebration, even you might get lucky.” …And people wonder why I am bitter. We get off the PATH and hit a brunch on Bleeker. We get one of those gay guides and I open it up to this:

Antonio Cedeno’s Birthday bash at g-lounge on Friday the 27th at 10. Aiden Leslie is performing! I have a secret school boy crush on AIDEN LESLIE! He is the most down to earth artist I have ever met! GREAT STAGE TALENT and WARM HUMAN BEING OFF STAGE. Talk about a full package! Check out his site and I guarantee you will fall in love with him yourself! http://aidenleslie.com/

After brunch we went to the GYM BAR My Married friend and I agreed there was no Mr. Right material there, but good drinks. It was at GYM BAR that we found out that not only is Antonio celebrating his birthday, but also Gabriel Antony. I am still amazed at how I mention “Antonio Cedeno Promotions/Events” in NYC and all these people know who I am talking about! AMAZING!

After a few more drinks and a bad visit to the old LIMELIGHT which is now a department store! We go to BOXERS and I see a kinda possibility guy. I don’t tell my married friend because he would have us locked in a bathroom stall until there was an engagement announcement. Why do married people thing everyone should be married? I thought he winked at me and was walking over to him and realized he had a nervous twitch. THANK GOD the bathroom was next to him because I just continued to “walk on by.” In the bathroom I realized a nervous twitch wasn’t the worst thing my kinda possibility Mr. Right could suffer from. Such is my love life! We ended up at SPLASH. It was slow, but what do you want at 5pm on a Sunday afternoon. I see a guy who was cute and I think he followed me from GYM BAR. My married friend had to get home and marinate chicken for his lover/husbands dinner the following night…I am just getting into the night and we have to catch a train! I curse not bringing my car! I brazenly go over to the cute guy and hand him the AD for ANTONIO CEDENO’S hotmale I will be there and I hope to see you! That goes out to ALL OF YOU TOO!!!!!! Take off to the sounds of Billy Lace for the sexiest night in town. With hosts Birthday Antonio Cedeno & Gabriel Anthony. Destination HOT MALE. Aiden Leslie Performing Live ! "Diamond Dreams" Special guests Ruffskin( David Amuso), Platinum Wet,( Antonio Martinez), Cakes Boss's Tony Tone Tone Albanese is whipping up Something outrageous Featuring the HOT HOUSE dancers, the hottest staff and crowd in NYC. Drink specials from 10pm - midnight. NO COVER