Deep Thoughts...

Queen Harish article in the Chronicle today

Beth — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:19:04 GMT

It's not too late to sign up for the workshops this weekend! Original article here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/21/DDLI11RGIS.DTL Queen Harish dances in drag Sandip Roy, Special to The Chronicle Tuesday, July 22, 2008 "I like to copy the Bollywood actresses," Queen Harish says with a chuckle. "But not the new kinds with the very short, short clothes." She prefers the colorful, traditional full skirts of her native Rajasthan. After being featured in the musical documentary "When the Road Bends: Tales of a Gypsy Caravan," Indian drag sensation Queen Harish has become quite the jet-setter. New York, London, Barcelona, Tokyo - "the dancing, whirling, desert drag queen," as she calls herself, is everywhere, flying in for celebrity weddings, giant outdoor concerts and gay parties. "They were hot," she says after performing at the packed Desilicious pride party in sweltering New York this year. "I have to make them more hot." Harish is also married and a dad. He goes to his local Hindu temple twice a day. And he says he'd never even heard the term "drag queen" until he came to the West. In his hometown of Jaisalmer, a desert city in Rajasthan, men are known for their machismo and fierce, curling mustaches; the women veil their heads and wear armloads of bangles. As a boy, Harish loved to watch Bollywood films on TV, copy the actresses, choreograph their songs. "But I did it in my head," he says with a giggle on the phone from San Diego. "The whole family was watching together. I wasn't alone." Then his teacher chose him to play Lord Krishna for the school concert. "My teacher noticed I loved to dance, but knew I can't perform as Harish. I was too shy," he remembers. Playing the blue-skinned god, bedecked in jewelry, Harish realized that no one could recognize him. It freed him. "Even now if you know me as Queen Harish and Harish passes by, you won't recognize me," he says. Friends suggested he should try women's clothes because his features were "nice." When he looked at himself in the mirror in full makeup, he was amazed. "Before that I didn't know I am beautiful," he says. "After I took off my makeup, I could still smell it all night. It was beautiful." But Harish was embarrassed about his dancing queen alter ego. He held down a daytime job with the telegraph office and only did private shows. His parents had died while he was still in his teens, leaving him with his two sisters. "I had to take care of many heavy things," he says. He realized that dance could help support the family. "My hobby became my profession. God was behind me." The star attraction Arnaud Azzouz was definitely behind him. The manager and director of the Musafir and Maharaja Gypsy dancer collective included Harish in the troupe and took him on shows abroad. He gave him the name Queen Harish. Soon Queen Harish's acrobatic, fast-paced folk dances became the star attraction. "It's not just a change of clothing," Jasmine Dellal, director of "When the Road Bends" which comes out on DVD next month, said by e-mail. "When Harish is on stage s/he totally becomes the dancer in the sequin dress. I remember one day our cameraman was flirting with Harish playfully, not realizing that 'she' had been a man just an hour earlier." (Indian film director Basu Chatterjee once offered Harish the part of a Rajasthani woman in his film, not realizing he was a man.) Dellal accompanied Harish to his hometown of Jaisalmer. She was surprised to find that in that conservative traditional corner of India, "they respected the fact that he is making his living this way. And he has a nice house to show for it." When Harish was about to get married, he says his would-be in-laws "watched" him for six months. "They listened to my whole community," he says. "It's not like we just chat online and get married." But he still tries to keep his professional and private lives separate. His wife and he don't go shopping for dresses together. "I have my own designer," he chuckles. "He is always flirting but very sweet," says San Francisco composer and world musician Cheb i Sabbah, who just did a gig at the Getty Center in Los Angeles with Queen Harish. Sabbah says he knew of him but they had never met until Harish e-mailed him through MySpace. Queen Harish was coming to New Jersey to dance at a wedding and wanted to perform with Sabbah somewhere. "We spoke on the phone, but we had no time to rehearse until we went in for sound check," Sabbah says. "But he just danced from the heart. And when he whirled on his knees, it was like 'Wow.' " Dellal isn't surprised that Queen Harish turned a wedding invitation into a full-fledged U.S. tour. Harish, says Dellal, is the kind of enterprising person who can find Indian food within a short distance of any theater while on tour. Can't stay mad "Not only that, he would steal my interns when I wasn't looking, to help him collect the food," she recalls. But she says it was impossible to be angry with him. He'd just run around backstage saying "No tension, no tension." Nowadays, Harish is busy launching his solo career. But he says he won't forget his awkaat, where he came from. He makes sure the tailor who made him his first costumes still gets his business. Twice a year he walks to a temple 500 miles away to dance for free all night. "And when I dance, I am clean of heart and clean of body," he says seriously. But do men fall in love with his onstage courtesan persona? "Come and watch the performance," he says, instantly flirtatious. "That answer I will have to give face to face." Queen Harish: 9:30 p.m. Wed. Bollywood Cafe, 3372 19th St. (415) 259-8629, www.electricvardo.com. Workshops: 1-3 p.m. Sat. at Clandestine, 3435 Cesar Chavez St. $45; 4-6 p.m. Sun. at Fat Chance Belly Dance studio, 670 South Van Ness Ave. $45. queenharish.eventbrite.com/n. To view Queen Harish at the Desilicious pride party, go to sfgate.com/ZEGA. E-mail Sandip Roy at datebook@sfchronicle.com.

Looking for Video Footage

Beth — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:03:58 GMT

Hey peeps, I'm looking for video footage of the Clandestine/Azure collaboration at TF2005. Someone sent me a DVD (I can't remember who, I'm sorry!!), and I gave it to a friend to copy, and she lost it. I've finally come to terms with that loss (I've moved through denial and grief to the final stage of loss: acceptance) and am moving on. Does anyone have any footage of us from that year? It was the year of the yummy turkoman outfits that Mikey brought back from Turkey for us. Thanks for any leads! Hugs, Beth

Queen Harish Workshop 7/26

Beth — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:03:55 GMT

Hey dance enthusiasts! On 7/26 Clandestine is proud to host a Bollywood workshop with the amazing Queen Harish from Rajasthan. Words can't describe what a beautiful dancer he is--Sue and I saw him at the Zellerbach Theater during one of his tours with Maharaja, and when he danced, the entire audience gasped with wonder. Seriously! You may remember him from the tour documentary Gypsy Caravan (When the Road Bends), which premiered in SF awhile back. He doesn't come to the states very often, so this is a rare opportunity to learn from a famed international teacher. We think it's going to be tons of fun! Don't miss out! Beth ************************************************************ Bollywood workshop with Queen Harish Saturday, 7/26 1-3 pm 3435 Cesar Chavez St. between Valencia and Mission, SF www.migoto.com/queen $35 pre-registration price through 7/15; $45 after 7/15 and at the door For the advance price, visit: http://queenharish.eventbrite.com/?discount=clandestine Clandestine is honored to present Queen Harish in an exclusive workshop featuring the "mujra" style of dance, as seen in Bollywood movies such as Devdas and Umrao Jain. Mujra dance, once an Indian court dance, is a variation on Kathak dance, infused with fast spinning, swift movements, facial expressions, and graceful Persian-influenced hand gestures. The dance form evokes the classical feel of the black and white films produced at the beginning of the Bollywood film era. No experience in Kathak or Indian dance necessary. The workshop will be a fun and lighthearted way to enjoy the dance form. Please wear comfortable dance clothes. Full skirts are suggested (they will look lovely when you spin!) but not required. Feel free to email Clandestine with any questions about this workshop. For more information about Queen Harish, see the bio posted on www.migoto.com/queen, or visit http://queen-harish.blogspot.com/. There's also a fabulous video clip posted on the eventbrite page if you'd like to see him in action in a Bollywood film! Finally, Queen Harish and the lovely Colleena Shakti will be performing at the Bollyhood Cafe on Wednesday, 7/23. Tickets on sale now at http://queenharish.eventbrite.com! For more information about the show, visit www.electricvardo.com.

Vote Vote Vote!

Beth — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:45:43 GMT

I hope all you Californians voted today. No on 98!!!

Looking for Tunes

Beth — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:12:21 GMT

I'm looking for good workout music to load my iPod with. Let's face it, the elliptical is boring, and the only cure I've found is a heavy dose of US Weekly and an earful of rockin tunes. Here are some current workout faves: MIA, Boyz Justin Timberlake, SexyBack The Black-Eyed Peas, Shut Up The Postal Service, Clark Gable Bloc Party, Banquet Chemical Brothers, Do It Again Beyonce & Jay-Z, Crazy In Love Any suggestions? As you can see, I like all kinds of music, but for working out I need something with a great beat, so that typically means pop and hip hop...but not always. What are your upbeat music faves?

America's Best Dance Crew

Beth — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:24:37 GMT

I am totally addicted to this show. Yes, it's an MTV show, with all of the uberhipness that implies, but man! Can these people DANCE! Love it.

Kan Zaman this Sunday, 2/24

Beth — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:51:56 GMT

Hey kids, Mikey's in town this week, so this Sunday he's reuniting with Andra and Michelle for a special Kan Zaman performance. A bunch of us are going to go hang out and get drinks and bar snacks and watch the show. Feel free to just come on down, or make a reservation for a table if you've got 6 or more folks in your party and want a full dinner. The show's at approximately 8:30 pm. I anticipate that it will be a blast to watch them, as always. Hugs! Beth

Raiders Adaptation

Beth — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:40:15 GMT

I just saw this movie last night at the SF Indy Film Fest: http://www.theraider.net/films/raiders_adaptation/ Three kids decided to remake The Raiders of the Lost Ark. It took them 7 years and almost ruined their friendship permanently, but they completed it and it's awesome. I laughed so hard I cried in some parts, but aside from the funny production values and the inherent humor in children playing all of the roles (the kid who played Salah in the fake mustache and beard was hilarious), it was also incredible. Some shots are right on the money; they had such an obsessive attention to detail that even on a shoestring budget, the end product really shines. Here's a side by side photo comparison of the original and the adaptation: http://www.theraider.net/films/raiders_adaptation/shotbyshot.php The photo above was cropped out of the PDF of the Vanity Fair article on the movie and the kids behind it. It's a long one but very good reading: http://www.theraider.net/films/raiders_adaptation/articles.php I highly recommend seeing this loving tribute to one of the landmark movies of my generation. Loved it. If it comes to your town, go!

Cooking Classes

Beth — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:46:25 GMT

Does anyone know of any good cooking classes in SF, Berkeley, or Oakland? I'm looking for a place that teaches basic skills to beginners and doesn't charge $650/class (yikes!). I'm considering Sur La Table, since they have $70 classes and topics like "basic knife skills" (perfect!), but I'm open to hearing other suggestions too. Hugs to you all! Beth

Nice package!

Beth — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:44:23 GMT

Happy holidays everyone! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22315962/?gt1=10645 Beth

It's here!!!

Beth — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:41:18 GMT

The Licky Calendar is done and posted and ready for purchase! That's right, 12 months of Licky in his snazziest duds, all painstakingly designed and handmade by his "mom" Andra. Don't miss out on: Tuxedo Licky Lick-prechaun Licky de Mayo Cirque du So Licky ShowBoy Licky and, my own personal favorite, the first black pope! All this for $24.99--a bargain! No one else will offer such a great calendar, and all proceeds go toward Licky's vet bills (he's doing great now, by the way, but continues to visit the vet frequently and is on a special diet). And, the URL for all this fabulousness? www.cafepress.com/lickycat Go buy! Go buy now! Go buy many! ;-) Andra and Licorice say thanks from the bottom of their hearts. Hugs, Beth

Mr. February

Beth — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:40:15 GMT

Hey all, Here's a sneak peek of Licky in his February finery. This and 11 more photos will soon be available for purchase--the Licorice calendar is under construction as I type! More news soon... Beth

Coming soon to a calendar near you!

Beth — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:24:19 GMT

Yes it's true...Licorice, aka Licky, star of stage and screen, has a calendar coming out shortly on Cafe Press. Don't miss out on 12 months of Licky in his best outfits! We had a professional photo shoot last weekend, and our photo elves are working round the clock to get the files press ready. All proceeds will go toward the Licky vet bill. I can't wait!

Happy Halloween!

Beth — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:10:46 GMT

Happy Halloween, Samhain, Day of the Dead, and Witches' New Year! Halloween is my favorite holiday of all time. I love getting dressed up and seeing other people's costumes. I love seeing the creative side of people--that's humanity at its best! Here are my pix from Sue's Harry Potter/Fantasy themed Halloween party on Saturday: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmasse/sets/72157602795263737/ I went as the golden snitch, and Todd went as Sirius Black, although with the fake mustache he also looked like Earl from My Name Is Earl. I guess he could do that next year. It's nice to have options. Here's a Halloween time-waster for you. Leave the sound off, the skeleton's annoying after about two clicks: http://www.dedge.com/flash/hangman/hangman.swf Today I also celebrate my 10-year anniversary with Todd! It's hard to believe. 10 years ago tonight, we were stumbling around the Castro in vinyl and black eyeliner, oblivious to what the future would hold! We're going to Slanted Door tonight; I've never been, and I'm excited to. We plan to have champagne beforehand in the Ferry Building wine bar. Hooray!

Click to Give!

Beth — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 20:00:24 GMT

October is not only National Pretzel Month, it's Breast Cancer Awareness month! Go to http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/. All clicks are counted as contributions towards free mammograms. Sponsors pay a certain amount of money per click. The more clicks, the more money. It costs you nothing except a second of your time! Also, as stated in the pic above, if there are 500 clicks in October, the sponsors will give an additional 150 mammograms.

National Pretzel Awareness Month

Beth — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:22:05 GMT

Who knew pretzels were religious? I just thought they were tasty... Taken from: http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2007/10/national_pretzel_month_bow_dow.php Not only is October Vegetarian Awareness Month, it's also National Pretzel Month, which may or may not have something to do with the timing of Oktoberfest. Everyone knows beer and pretzels are a classic combination. Or maybe there's some shadowy pretzel lobby in Washington (There is, after all, an American Pretzel Association) waging war against the other, much more popular snack foods. One thing is certain: pretzels get no respect. In fact, while potato chips hold about 38 percent of the market and tortilla chips about 26 percent, the poor little pretzel rings in at a measly 8 percent. Even if pretzels aren't the flashiest snack food around, they certainly have history on their side. While potato chips were reportedly invented in 1853 and tortilla chips in the late 1940s, pretzel lore holds that in the year 610 an Italian monk formed the first pretzel to represent arms folded in prayer, the three holes symbolizing the holy trinity. And consider this: has any other snack food even come close to toppling a U.S. president? I think not. -- Brian Bernbaum

Yes, it's snarky

Beth — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:33:26 GMT

http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=2209553478&view=all But I just LOVE this group's photos. It's like coming home! Whenever Todd and I watch TV I point out all of the typos in the addresses, scrolling type, etc. in the shows or commercials. I can't help it. Hire a proofreader, people! (Keep people like me employed!) The sign pictured here displays one of my pet peeves: erroneous apostrophes/quotation marks, among other problems. Or, "problem's". Amended to add: Engrish is a close second fave. And Strong Bad. http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail43.html

My latest favorite thing

Beth — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:34:00 GMT

comics done on post-its! www.savagechickens.com

This kills me

Beth — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:53:50 GMT

I'm such a softie for an animal in need (no shocker there). This website just makes me well up every time I check in on how Adam's doing. I'm glad he's such a survivor. http://www.forgottenfelines.com/v4/adam.shtml Edited to add this info: There is a Sonoma State student who has a petition on line to urge California Legislators to increase the punishment for animal cruelty from the current maximum 3 year jail time to 6 years. To sign the petition and view the web site, go to: www.adamsamendment.com Another Adam fan has started a petition on line that folks can sign urging our DA to sentence the girls that tortured Adam to the maximum penalty allowed by law. You can view and sign that petition at: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/severe-punishment-for-kitten-burning And finally, Adam has his own "Catster" web page. Your companions can visit with Adam at: www.catster.com/cats/597964. He can't wait to meet all of his furry friends out there.

So sad...

Beth — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:09:06 GMT

Both Madeleine L'Engle and Luciano Pavarotti passed away this week. I used to adore Madeleine L'Engle's work. It's amazing how although many of her books were written in the 60's, when I read them as a kid I had no idea--I automatically translated them into present day. They are still as beautiful and relevant as ever. I'm glad that both of these artists lived full lives and were recognized within their lifetime. They deserved their success. Here's an article about Madeleine: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/books/07cnd-lengle.html?ex=1346904000&en=132247b4c2924c00&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

Scattergories

Beth — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:30:57 GMT

I'm not tagging anyone on this...so feel free to play if you like, or not. Something to do on a Tuesday after a long weekend! SCATTERGORIES. It’s harder than it looks! But Fun! Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following…they MUST be real places, names, things…NOTHING made up! If you can’t think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question and you can’t use a search engine… Now Go! 1.Your Name: Beth 2. Famous singer/band: Bon Jovi 3. 4 letter word: babe 4. Street name: Beaumont 5. Color: blue 6. Gifts/presents: bijoux 7. Vehicle: bicycle 8. Things in a Souvenir Shop: bric-a-brac 9. Boy Name: Bill 10. Girl Name: Betsy 11. Movie Title: Beowulf 12. Drink: beer 13. An Occupation: bookseller 14. Flower: begonia 15. Celebrity: Bette Midler 16. Magazine: Blur, or Bitch 17. U.S. City: Berkeley 18. Pro Sports Team: (Da) Bears 19. Fruit: berries 20. Reason for Being Late for Work: BART 21. Something You Throw Away: bras (hahaha), also burnt bacon 22. Things You Shout: Be gone, vile (fill in the blank here)! 23. Cartoon Character: Bugs Bunny

Happy Birthday OKC!

Beth — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:15:51 GMT

I just realized (thanks to one of my tribes) that Radiohead's OK Computer is 10 years old this year. That's the mark of a great album, that you can still listen to it 10 years later and still find it relevant, moving, and infectious...I love that album! When I first got together with my boyfriend (10 years ago on Halloween!), that was the first album he gave me and said, "you have to listen to this." I'd heard Creep and Karma Police on the radio but hadn't ever gotten into the band. OK Computer was my gateway album into Radiohead, and I'm now a big fan and have seen them play live 3 times, amazing shows. There was a period of time when I listened to OKC nonstop...my ex-roommate's boyfriend remarked once that every time he came over, I was listening to that album and getting ready for a belly dance gig! Not much has changed...Sue and I just choreographed a piece to "Exit Music for a Film" and performed it at Decade in February (how appropriate!), and TQNW and Tribal Cafe in August this year. I just love when the fuzzy bass line comes in. Other faves on that album include Lucky, Climbing Up the Walls, and No Surprises. Happy birthday OK Computer, and many thanks to Radiohead for 10 years of listening pleasure. :-)

Paypal Info for Licky Donors

Beth — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:05:44 GMT

Hey all, For those kind souls who can't make it to the Licky benefit on Saturday but offered to donate anyway, here's the Paypal information: Go to www.paypal.com log in to your existing account or create an account (Paypal will let you pay with a credit or debit card) go to the "Send Money" tab at the top of the page enter the email address: dmfn@excite.com enter the amount you'd like to donate click "continue" Paypal will take you through the steps from there. Make sure you write "Licky Donation" or something similar in the subject line or comments field. Let me know if you have any questions! Beth

Lucky Licky Benefit 7/7/07

Beth — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:07:43 GMT

So I have this friend. He hasn't been feeling so well lately. Actually, that's an understatement! He couldn't keep any food down at all. He went through two hospital stays (in ICU), 2 different doctors, he's been poked and prodded, had acupuncture and MRIs and exploratory surgery, and now he's finally back home with his adoptive mom. He acquired quite a bill while he was sick, and since he doesn't have insurance his mom is stuck with all the bills (on a preschool teacher's salary!). Yep, you guessed it, I'm talking about the adorable kitty in the bee costume. Licorice (or Licky for short) has personality and heart enough for 10 cats, and he is indeed a very lucky boy, since he's home now and doing much better these days (the final diagnosis was irritable bowel disease, but it sure took awhile to get there!). Andra, Licky's adoptive mom and my dear friend, is now stuck with about $10K in vet bills. She's also getting married in 4 months! So Sue and I decided to pitch in and try to help, even just the littlest bit, by throwing her a benefit. If you know Andra and Licky, you know they are the sweetest, gentlest, kindest folks in the world, who would do anything for you, and I hope we can help them out. Even if you don't know Andra (and you SHOULD! ;-), I hope you'll come out and enjoy the fine array of entertainment we have lined up for you. Andra is performing twice, once doing a hula piece, and once with Azure. She and Licky thank you from the bottom of their hearts! Deets: Saturday, July 7 Doors: 10 p Show: 10:30ish $10-20 sliding scale Il Pirata 2007 16th at Portrero, SF www.electricvardo.com Superstar Dance Lineup: Azure Clandestine Dhol Rhythms Evil Eye Belly Dance Frederique Freyja Red Lotus Plus a hula show! DJs Amar of Electric Vardo Jimmy Love of Nonstop Bhangra We're also organizing a raffle or silent auction...we've got tons up our sleeves for you! Hope you can make it out. If you can't make it but would like to donate, we'll have a paypal address you can send donations to. Hugs! Beth

Book Tag: Amar, Ciao Meow, Sandi, Cindy, CoCo

Beth — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:42:19 GMT

Aunty Magpie and her adorable ferret tagged me. Okay, I don't think the ferret did anything, but she is adorable. 1. grab the nearest book 2. open book to page 28 3. find the 3rd sentence 4. post the text of the next three sentences in your blog along with these instructions. Do not look for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST book. 5. tag 5 other peeps to do the same. "That will be Eyre the set of sun," she said quickly. "Where the place?" "Within the text." There to meet with MsNext!" --Jasper Fforde, The Well of Lost Plots