Candy Bar, the new gay establishment to open soon, is so needed right now

I'm excited!
Hell, I'm more than excited!
I keep hearing that the new gay bar on the horizon, Candy Bar, will possibly open for business this summer in Asbury Park. It's just a couple of blocks from where I live, and that's good. But even if it were a mile away, I'd take a taxicab there whenever I were to go.
This new gay bar is so desperately needed right now.
I don't know about you, but I think that a little new competitive blood to attract the Asbury Park/Shore gayz is well in order, and long overdue. Now I'm not knocking Club Paradise or Georgie's - and I totally adore gay-frequented Hotel Tides (for obvious reasons) - but we need a resurgence in Asbury Park for a few reasons.
I will always frequent Hotel Tides - it's a top-notch establishment, I used to bartend there, love all the workers and patrons, and my best friend runs the place.
I will always frequent Club Paradise - a lot of cool-ass people work there and hang out there, the dance music is killer, and I love the atmosphere. Plus the tea dances there are awesome.
And Georgie's - well, I love the karaoke, they throw some good benefits, and I can get an awesome pink lemonade martini there.
With this new bar, I'd like a chance to avoid a couple of elements that I'm just tired of dealing with at times. And if I were a mean-spirited soul, I could take this opportunity to bash a couple of individuals in these gay community establishments who don't deserve our patronage or money.
But my mama taught me better than that, so I'll just say that when we are made to feel that those individuals can treat people patronizing these establishments with snarky attitudes and no respect in return, that's when a line needs to be drawn - with no apologies.
And I feel validated in feeling this way, because after talking to a number of people who I rarely see out and about in the city anymore, they reaffirmed that they would rather avoid the places and not deal with any attitudes. As one said, "I can drink at home rather than spend my money out and deal with the bitchiness!"
Those who are closest to me already know all too well which individuals and situations to which I'm referring, and I've made no secret about my feelings (or should I say old feelings, cause I could care less about the individual(s) anymore).
Don't get me wrong ... because about 99 percent of the people working in these current gay establishments are cool. And I know what they have to deal with - and STILL keep a positive attitude. It's more than difficult sometimes, and I am well aware of that. Bartending myself, I get it.
Anyway, I digress ... because I don't deal with those situations - or persons - anymore. Phew, what a relief!!
So as I was saying, Candy Bar is so needed in our community right now. We need a bolt of energy, and I think that no matter what this new bar offers the community, most of the community will accept it. Perhaps only having a couple of selections in Asbury Park has caused a lot of people to just head to the straight bars or, as mentioned by my friend earlier, just stay home.
Some places are losing patrons, and it "could" be as a result of the way patrons have been treated. Asbury Park needs some new energy. What we used to be thirsty for in the past couple of years seems to whet our appetites less and less these days. And perhaps if we had a couple of additional choices, we would also come to appreciate the bars that are still alive in the community. It could be a positive thing all-around. Who knows?!?
So when Candy Bar opens its doors, I will greet it with open arms, if for no other reason but to appreciate the gay community a little more myself. After all, variety is the spice of life - so they say.
And if for some reason this new place doesn't stand up to the hype, I'm going to do my darndest to get my father to invest in a gay bar and see where that leads ... although I think he might have to steer clear of the bar on certain nights - I don't think he's that comfortable seeing two men kiss just yet! (*Insert smile here*)

The next drag superstar competition

I've been trying to get a project off the ground for a little over a year, and I think it's time it has taken wings.
Not only would it promote camaraderie in the community, but it would also be a positive effort to raise money to help those hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. I've mentioned this to a few people, but of course, I'm not a successful event planner or promoter. So maybe someone will help me get this off the ground.
There are some good drag competitions in Asbury Park, and I love to see a good drag show. I think drag queens are some of the most talented performers in our generation. The way they move, glide, dance, lip-sync, and sweat a crowd into a frenzy is just mesmerizing. Club Paradise, La Sierra and Georgies have some amazing drag performances - which is what initially prompted the idea. That, and drag superstar RuPaul, of course.
It would be amazing to have a drag competition where five gay men in Asbury Park and the Shore area who have never done drag before in their lives were to compete over a four-week period, knocking off a competitor each week, until they reached the top spot.
The added feature to this competition would be for each novice to be mentored by five accomplished drag queens in the area. Not only would the last drag queen standing receive a financial reward, but the mentor of the ultimate winner would receive a financial reward as well.
Each competitor could canvass New Jersey to get some sponsors and perhaps whatever we were able to raise would be a great thing to donate to rebuild Asbury Park after Hurricane Sandy's destruction.
The competition could have three judges, certain individuals who are well-versed in the world of drag, style and entertaining. It would also need a host(ess) for the stage. There are a few people who I think would be perfect for these roles.
Believe it or not, drag fascinates me, and I would really consider being one of the contestants. There are some people who think that this gay man is too masculine to do drag. They might be right. But that would be the intricate part of this whole thing, and it would be the ultimate challenge for the mentors - turning someone butch into a lovely, mesmerizing drag queen.
I think that a competition such as this would be just what Asbury Park needs to start to get over this latest tragedy named Sandy.
Now like I said, I'm in no means an event planner. But I would love to be one of the competitors. Just to say that I've done drag - one item on my bucket list complete.
And just because I dressed as Serena/Venus Williams and Tootie from "The Facts of Life", that was in no way, shape or form drag.
And hey, I know the perfect person to be my mentor!
I'm game to make this happen. I want to definitely see if we can get this done, and ... May the best woman win!