All About Alana

Greetings, Poppers!!

I hope you're having a great week so far. The temps are dropping, but the gurls I meet keep getting hotter and hotter! I had the pleasure of seeing performances by Miss Chelsea Pearl at Talbott Street this past weekend. Though I'd heard her name and seen her likeness several times, I'd never actually seen her work it. Two words. Class act. Can't wait to see her in Indy again. Kisses, baby.

Wellllll...as the title suggests, this post is allllll about a guilty pleasure of mine, Miss Alana Steele!! Alana is one of the fiercest faux femmes I've had the pleasure of seeing perform, and on Sunday, October 5 I have the privilege and honor of participating in a benefit show for Alana as she prepares to compete in Miss Gay America 2009 as Miss Gay Midwest America 2008.


Beauty, talent and showmanship are her trademarks and O MI GAWD, I love her hurr!! Pixie or minx, blonde, brunette or powdered, the gurl knows how to bang a 'do!

Alana started doing drag in 1998. Dared by some silly someone, she entered Miss Indiana Cosmopolitan. Everyone told her she would be terrible, but much to their chagrin, she not only placed, but was crowned!! *that'll teach them* After winning her first title, she didn't do drag again for almost 8 months. She was told by many that she had potential, but Alana refused to allow drag to become an occupation.

Alana continued to enter pageants just for fun and, of course, continued to pick up titles including Miss Terre Haute and a few other bar titles...but she still refused to do shows. She was advised to do some non-pageant performances to remain a strong competitor so she picked up spots in Louisville, Terre Haute & Nashville. None other than Miss Kendra Monroe *gasp! clutch the pearls!* asked her to be in the rotation at Club Cabaret and Alana realized *yay!* that she enjoyed performing. When Talbott Street opened, Alana was asked to be a cast member of the Ladies of Legends where she has developed as an entertainer and as a person. Alana states that her experiences at Talbott Street have helped to mold her into who she is today. Our Alana has won sooo many pageants that she has earned the title "Queen of Crowns."

Alana loves performing because it gives her something to concentrate on and something new and adventurous to look forward to. In her estimation, the best thing about performing is all of the friends she has made.

On a personal note, Alana says that her number one pet peeve is "adults who can't control their children." When asked about her hobbies, she replies, "all I do is work and drag," but she still finds time to raise her puppy, Heidi Maintenance, aka Lilly.

The title Miss Gay America is an important goal for Alana as she feels she wasn't up to par *according to her standards* the last time she was vying for the title.

Alana has always been a sweetheart to me and I truly look forward to participating in her benefit and supporting her as she goes on to Miss Gay America 2009. Miss Gay America 2009 is being held at the Millenium Hotel, 200 S. 4th Street in St. Louis, MO, October 8 - 12, 2008. For further information, log on to http://www.missgayamerica.com/ or call 901.603.4838.


If you can't make it to the pageant, please come out and support Miss Alana Steele, Sunday October 5, 2008 at Talbott Street in Indy. Doors open at 7:00. It's a show you don't want to miss! In addition to some fabulous performers, there will also be a silent auction, a raffle, and photos, DVDs, jewelry and other miscellaneous chotchkies available for sale. Good Luck, Alana!! You'd betta work!!
That's it for now, habaneros! I hope you have a great week!

Keep it spicy!

*kiss kiss*

Halle


photos courtesy of and owned by Amy Lawson, Venus Photography

Miss Gay Indiana 2008

Good morning, Poppers!

It's your gurl Halle returning after a few days of much needed rest. After an incredible, action-packed weekend, I've finally started to get back into a regular routine...just in time to roll into the month of October, the Gay High Holiday Season.

Before we get into October, though, I just want to hit some hot highlights from a particularly pressurized pageant, Miss Gay Indiana 2008. Several fab, fierce faux femmes competed in the pageant including Erica King, Camilla Merlot, Macy Kirkland, Lola Palooza, newbie nymph Ginger Ale and my ab fab, ferosh FAVE Holly Luyah.

I'm pleased as purple passion punch to announce that my gurl Holly took first alternate though I reallllly and I mean REALLLLLLY wanted her to win of course. As always, she was poised, professional and pure perfection in my eyes, but alas, I wasn't on the judges panel. Holly, gurl...I'm sooo proud of you! You will always have my love, respect and adoration. Keep it up, gurl. As you and I both know, the best way to represent our community is to represent YOU! You are the best of the best.

As much as I wanted Holly to win, I'm happy to announce your new Miss Gay Indiana is Ginger Ale. I've known Ginger since she was just only little...I think we met when she was 19 or so? Ginger had a ton of support backing her and she was teeming with en pointe talent of her own. Ginger, stay true to you and your platform...work it out, gurl!

So while October is a month for fun, frivoity and raucous ribaldry, it's also a time for focus, philanthropy and fundraising. Just a couple of highlights: kicking of October in September, tonight, Greg's will be hosting their annual turnabout show, Bitches With Balls...a benefit for the Greg Power's DEFA Fund. Come out and support your favorite Greg's bartenders and bar staff. For more information, please click the Greg's link in Halle's Haunts.

On October 4, the Metro staff will be hosting THEIR turnabout, Sluts With Nuts. Be sure to get out and support both establishments. They're on the same team and always do a pheNOM job of raising money for DEFA and the Indiana AIDS Walk.

On October 11, please Please PLEASE get out for the Indiana AIDS Walk. It's taking place on a Saturday this year. There's still time to join or form your own team as well as provide financial support to someone who's walking. For more information, please go to www.indianaaidswalk.org

Well, that's it for now, habaneros. Halle's looking forward to a peaceful weekend before all the busy-ness starts.

Love you, babies!!

*kiss kiss*

Halle

Son of a gun, we had big fun on The Bayou

Buenos tardes, Poppers!!!

O MI GAWD...if you missed A Night on the Bayou, you missed a par-tay!! More importantly, though, you missed an opportunity to be a part of a hugely successful fundraiser!

With the exception of a little bit of rain and a whole lot of lightning threatening the festivities, everything went off without a hitch. The best part of the day came during set-up: I received a phone call from a friend (who wishes to remain anonymous) to advise me that their organization was going to match dollar for dollar up to $1000 everything that we raised. I'll share with you at the end how much we raised, but it was sooo exciting to make that announcement during the show!

I had sooo much help to pull things off and I'm going to give shout outs to everyone right now:

Kevin & Neil ~ it was sooo generous of you to allow your home to be used for the fish fry. I truly appreciate your hospitality. You guys have an original community center right there in your backyard. Thank you for everything you do.

Rob & Nic from Hoaglin's Fine Catering ~ O MI GAWD, babies...huge hugs & kisses to the two of you! It was so awesome of you to order all the food, cutlery and various notions as well as loaning out your fryers, food lockers and chafing dishes. Thank you so much for taking so much weight off of my shoulders. You had my respect before, now you have my respect and adoration!

Prez Scott V and Expo Design ~ thanks for arranging the liquor donation and for providing the blow-job fish visuals. Everyone loved them! I think they had their pictures taken more often than the performers!!

Dannon & Rocky from RockStar Promotions ~ Dannon, thanks for donating your sound system and Rocky, you did a pheNOM job of running it. Love you, boys!

Bill, Cindy & Chad ~ Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! Working the fryer was probably the hardest job of the night and you folks stepped right up to the challenge. I just can't begin to thank the three of you enough!!

Scott, Brad & Donnie ~ You guys are the best bartenders!! I have a few guys who'd like your phone numbers, but I won't give them out without your permission.

Naomi Divine ~ Gurl, Halle would not exist without you! Thanks for banging mah hurr and beating mah mug! The hostess dress is BEAUTIFUL!! I love Love LOVE you!!

Cadillac Barbie, Summer Clearance, Stella Couture, Aurora Diamond, Holly Luyah, Sequoia Pentecost, Rachael Yoder & Portia Lynn Van Buren ~ I am sooo grateful to all of you for performing Saturday night! You ladies provided a fun show and kept the audience engaged all night.

Jeremy & Jodie ~ Boys, thanks for letting us use your house as a staging area. You made my life sooo much easier! XOXOXO

Anonymous donor ~ You're an angel.

And last but not least ~ Nick, Adam, Shere & HR ...look at what we did!! Think back to last year. 35 people maybe? $25 raised? We're a great team, kids. I know that we don't express our feelings for each other, but I, you know...kinda like you guys and stuff. There are worse friends I could have, I guess. All kidding aside, thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU for all you do to enrich my life. I finally have friends who keep me accountable, hold me up to a higher standard and are interested in doing things for the greater good of our community and our world. I'm sorry I never had that major meltdown you were all expecting. ;-)

Alright, habaneros...are you interested in hearing how much money we raised?

After expenses and with the $1000 match, Halle Pino and Friends Present: A Night on the Bayou raised $4400 to ensure continued dialogue for Indy's GLBT Community Center. It's absolutely amazing what a few people can do to make a difference. I'm tha-RILLED to have been a part of this event and look forward to what we can do in the future!

I hope to add some pictures later, Poppers. If you or someone you know was at the event and have pics to share, please have them forward them to me at HallePino@yahoo.com I'd sure appreciate it!!

Keep it spicy, babies!

*kiss kiss*

Halle

54 hours and counting

Good morning, Poppers!!

I should of course start off by offering you an apology. It's been a hot Halle minute since my last post and I'm sorry; but mi GAWD, I've been busy!

As you all know, A Night on the Bayou is THIS SATURDAY, like day after tomorrow! Let me run down the list of emotions, feelings and physical maladies I'm experiencing this week: fear, excitement, nausea, ADD, bloating, gratitude, terror, love, thankfulness, OCD, ADD, cramps, humility, apprehension and magenta.

Babies, I'm sure with the help of all the people I have behind-the-scenes, in the wings and center stage that this event is going to be a success, but I'm human and in my human-ness, I worry, stress and panic. Keep your fingers crossed that everything goes off without too many hitches. I expect some bumps along the way, but Halle's a bit of a control freak sometimes (not very often, but sometimes) and has high expectations of herself and those around her. More than anything, I want to keep in mind that this IS a fundraiser and at this point ANYthing we bring in over expenses will be a good thing. A VERY good thing.

Let me fill you in on why I'm just a skosh bit nervous...my goal for attendees (keep in mind, it's just a personal goal) is 250. So far, we have sold maybe 30 tickets. I shudder to think that no one's going to show up, but I also shudder when I think that a boatload of people are just going to show up at The Trump's on Saturday. It's been tough to estimate how much food to prepare since so many people have been non-committal, but we'll rally gaily forward with the purest of heart and intention and trust things will work out.

Habaneros, I hope that you can make it on Saturday. As a reminder, A Night on the Bayou is taking place Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 5:30 to 9:30. The address is 3544 North Central Avenue, Indianapolis IN 46205. Tickets are $15 for all you care to eat fried catfish and chicken strips, jambalaya, red beans & rice and cole slaw. You'll also get to sample FitnessNerd's balls (not as scandalous as it sounds, they're just liquor soaked cookie balls...gutter, your minds...out of!!). Keep in mind the awesome line-up of performers, too: Cadillac Barbie, Summer Clearance, Aurora Diamond, Holly Luyah, Stella Couture, Portial Lynn Van Buren, Rachael Yoder and yours truly. AND be sure to visit Sequoia Pentecost's House of Prophecy to getcher fortune telled!

Kiddos, this will probably be my last post before the weekend. If I don't see you on the bayou, I'll definitely have some pictures for this little blog when I emerge from my coma next week.

Toodles, babies!

*kiss kiss*

Halle

Busier than a...

(insert favorite colloquial expression having to do with a one-armed man/paperhanger/woman/prostitute/et al)

Greetings, Poppers!!

OMG where to begin?!? First of all. Hi, babies! Forgive me for the lack of updates as of late, but OMG, it's been a busy time in the life of Halle! I was in heels two weekends in a row, battling a head cold, working, banging out details for the fish-fry, buying/designing/commissioning new dresses and wigs and etc etc etc. Whew!

So I met with the folks at Hoaglin's this morning to get some food deets worked out and they were just delish to work with...true blessings. If you have the chance, no...make the chance to get down to Hoaglin's on Mass Ave. I love their menu, they have a cute staff and they're just great people. *kisses Rob & Nic!!*

Halle's handlers (FitnessNerd, Summer & Mom) have been keeping the internet busy this morning exchanging emails. Cooking, cleaning, planning, designing, logistics...makes my head spin, but I have a great team. Actually, I'm part of a great team. I don't ever want it to sound like I'm over or leading them. No...we work together. :-) And we're quite the formidable team!

So far, ticket sales have been slow which concerns me somewhat, but everyone seems to think that folks are just going to show up. I hope they/you do!!

Before I share some pics with you from the past couple of weeks, I need to send special shouts out to Asia LaBouche, Alana Steele, Vicki St. James and Annastacia Demoore. They've all made it possible to advertise the event and they're getting the word out. Thank you sooo much, ladies. Halle has much love for and appreciation of you!!

I had the pleasure of meeting Macy Kirkland a couple of weeks ago. Macy, hon...where's that bio and pic you promised me, hmmmm? I also met Rose Petal this past weekend through none other than my baby gurl, Holly Luyah!! Rose seemed very sweet and Holly was...well, Holly was Holly...perfection in my eyes. *sigh* Hey, gurl!! Saturday night while Summer and I were out for a twirl, I also ran into Stella Couture. We're doing a make-up class this week...too excited.

I need to send a get well message out to my baby, Bauer. He had some silicone inserted into his body this week and it had nothing to do with tits, lips or hips. Who knew that they made silicone TOES?!? Modern medicine!! It's the shiz! Get well soon, hon...and enjoy your "recuperation." Maybe you should get some sun while you're off on medical leave. Vitamin D is good for you!!

Last but not least, a heartfelt thanks to FitnessNerd, Summer Clearance and Maestro. Thanks for driving me around, handing out palmcards and fliers, wading through glitter and putting up with my rambling. You. Complete. Me. *kisses*

Alright, habaneros...I leave you with the following pics. PUH-LEEEZE come out and support the fundraiser. 9/20/08 5:30-9:30.

Hello, kitteh! It's Madonna~FitnessNerd is hers.

Sequoia enrolled me in the Jelly of the Month Club...bless her drunk ass.

I'm a mess and I own it.

*kiss kiss*

Halle