TCNE Member Feature highlights writings by TCNE Members who want to share stories of successes, adventures, and insights. These TCNE Members don’t have a regular column on Rosebuds but their thoughts and shared experiences are offered up to the general Transgender community here.
September 6, 2010: What Does First Event Mean to Me by Christine Hochberg
That is a very big and bold question to answer, but I will give you a brief history what’s going on.
As most of you know I have lived my entire life, except 3 years living in Southern California. I CANNOT imagine dealing with snow every winter like you do in New England.
Early in my journey I was going to support groups in my area. They were fun educational and best of all a place to meet others and share.
I took an active roll of hostess and writer for the newsletters. Yes, way back in 1986 the “Valley Girl” went to their first out of state transgender conference. I have to admit I was a scared and concerned if I made the right choice.
By nature I’m an outgoing person. I started to help out a virtually every tour stop. The formula was working in San Antonio, Chicago, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Denver, but at that point I had never been to Boston and First Event.
In my professional life I had the opportunity to be interview for a key public relations positions with Amtrak. The Job was based in Boston. I got to be lucky enough to be a finalist. I knew at that point First Event had to be on my plate.
Early on I was worried I would be over the top. I offered to help registration, check meal tickets and sell the tickets for the fundraiser.
All along the journey to New England I had some unique stuff happened. One year I lost my wallet, and just a few years ago I felt ill just prior to the Saturday banquet. In 2010 my right retina detached slightly so my vision was not nearly a 100 percent.
Six years ago just prior to Christmas I had to be hospitalized with a broken right wrist. Not to be negative or depressed I learned I had a plan and I would join you in January. My hat thing maybe a trademark but one thing is certain it will always be on. Without it I would feel totally in complete.
As we now enter 2011 this will be my 17th trip to First Event. I have a love of fair with all of you and will continue to push the envelope throughout the calendar year.
This is what first event has meant to me and please have a safe and good journey until we me in January.
May 15, 2010: Club Femme Review by Paula and Rebecca
Paula and Rebecca attended Club Femme, Westoboro, MA, Friday night, 5/14, and it was fun. It is held the second Friday of the month. It was better than what we expected. Here’s our thoughts:
- Easy to find location
- Excellent signs as you drive into the parking lot so you know where to park and walk to. This is a good thing otherwise you’d get lost
- Very safe parking lot that could use more lighting
- Very friendly staff as you walk in. Happy to see you & welcoming
- Very Clean. The ladies room is CLEAN and well lit.
- As you walk in there is a very large bar area and lounge for normal
- volume conversation. Club Femme puts out a party platter of cheese and crackers to munch on.
- Directly off the bar area, to the right as you face the bar, is a large dance floor with seating
- The cover is $15.00 but cheap when you consider parking costs in Boston for upscale places like Club Cafe, PURE, Machine are at least $15.00 and then cover of $5 to $10
- The drinks were reasonably priced. I bought a round for two friends and myself of rum and coke, diet coke and glass of chardonnay and it came to $12.00 The drinks were tasty.
- The DJ was excellent and professional. He was extremely versatile, playing a wide range of dance music, taking requests (from Latin dance music to disco standards) and not blasting the music but still providing a club atmosphere that is comfortable.
- The lighting the DJ used was surprisingly better than in any of the Boston clubs.
- Club Femme provides makeup artists for makeover services for a fee and, for those gals who need it, any of us can get super pretty at Club Femme’s changing space.
- A special treat was a live performance by Tom the Entertainer. He has a great voice and does impersonations. Except for a couple of rough spots he was actually very good. It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.
They had approximately 50 people there last night though it felt like much less because the location is large. It is definitely a mixed crowd
of gentlemen and trans-women. We talked to Jon, the lead promoter last night and Club Femme is open to everyone in the community.
While Club Femme is billed as a “private party” it is actually in a public venue but discrete. For those gals who like a bit more discretion or are starting to get their confidence up going out in public, Club Femme is really perfect. If you are out and about in the world without an issue, Club Femme’s DJ is worth bringing friends with you to dance to. He’s that good.
Club Femme Contact Info: Jon, hottimesforall@yahoo.com
Club Femme is the second Friday of the month:
- ACACIA Functions @ Indian Meadows C. C.
- 275 Turnpike Rd. Rt9 Westbound
- Westborough, Ma. 01581
- Join Club Femme’s Yahoo Group for more info:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/friendsofclubfemme/
April 13, 2010: New York, New York: Twice as Nice by Debra Kelly
Do you ever get enough of one thing? For most of us the answer is no when it is something that we like to do such as dressing, dining, and $@# (This is a family friendly publication or web site, do you think I would write SEX)
For the writer, It is going to the Big Apple, namely the Borough of Manhattan, also known in the olden days as New Amsderdam in the days of Peter Minuit.
If you had read my prior article on the Tiffany Web site, you would realize I journeyed there in early February.
However, I was not satisfied with that one short visit, it only stimulated me to go again.
Amtrak was still running the $106.00 round trip special and I was able to book a room at The Barclay Intercontinental on East 48th Street and Park for around a $184.00 per night with taxes through Hotwire.
This time I decided I was going to go all the way as Debra.
The night before I left, I packed my little suitcase on wheels. All my male clothing was packed inside it; I left out an outfit for the trip and a slip that I use as a nightgown.
I shaved my legs before bed and put on my nightgown and went to bed.
The next morning, Friday March 26, I woke up around 5am; I made coffee (big mistake), I decided to shower that actually helped in shaving my face very close.
The moment of truth hit me, are you going to New York as a lady or as a man? The decision better be made quickly since you only have an hour to play with before the train is scheduled to leave.
I dressed underneath in black garterbelt and lace bra, panties and black Berkshire stockings, a lacy black Dixie Belle full slip. The bra and the slip were from Florence’s Fashions in Wakefield, MA.
On top, I had on a black Alfred Dunner Skirt, which was just below my knee, and a blue 5 East knitted top from JC Penny. I was fully made up and had my somewhat new wig from Sharon’s in Attleboro, MA. I had on black Hush Puppies Angel Lo pumps. I also wore a blue windbreaker that I bought at dress barn at the Wrentham Outlets.
Route 128 station is only around 5 miles from here that is a 10-minute drive. I arrived without incident. I bought a newspaper and a bottle of water. I said hello to the Amtrak employee who sold me the ticket earlier; she was quite surprised at the difference.
The train arrived and left on time, I found a seat, but no gentlemen to help me with my suitcase.
I bought a coffee in the Club car and went back and read the paper, drank the coffee and watched the world go by.
No one paid any attention to me, even when I was making the 5 trips to the bathroom from the coffee I drank earlier and on the trip.
I got into Penn Station at around 1020AM. I bought the all day Fun Pass for the Metro and took the #1 train up to Times Square where I transferred to the shuttle to Grand Central.
At Grand Central, I got into the Main Terminal for Metro North and took the Northwest Passage to 48th Street. Sounds like the title of an old “Spencer Tracy” movie. It really made sense to have the suitcase on wheels. For those who have not been to New York in a while, Grand Central is very clean and safe. The Northwest Passage is part of a tunnel system that goes under the city streets and you can avoid speeding taxicabs (New York equivalent of a Great White Shark) and the weather. Hearing the sound of your heels clicking on the ground in the passage is nice.
I exited the Northwest Passage on 48th St and walked 25/50 yards to my hotel, Barclay Intercontinental. I checked in without incident. I did have to show my license and give a credit card for incidentals. I went to my room and put my suitcase away and touched up my make up and went out to get some lunch.
The doorman told my about a pizzeria on 49th and Lexington which I walked over to and got a large slice of cheese pizza (Lent you know) and an A&W Crème soda which I wolfed down (I still have my brothers appetite). After lunch, it was time to accomplish the mission, which was to get out and about.
I took the Metro up to the Upper West Side and got off on Broadway and walked over to New York Historical Society on West 77th and Central Park West. I paid $12.00 and checked my jacket and went in. There was a display on the Draft Riot in New York in 1863. No, the rioting was not about draft beer, but the draft during the Civil War or as our Southern friends, the War Between the States. There were also a display on the “Grateful Dead” Thankfully, there were many benches in the display area’s where I could sit and take of my pumps since my feet were starting to bother me. I stayed for around 2 hours. I think the Society was good, but not worth $12.00.
After my visit to the Historical Society I walked south on Central Park West and hopped on the Metro and made 2 different connections and got of Bowling Green. Initially, I was planning on taking the Staten Island Ferry (It is free) as a harbor cruise, but while walking in the multitudes to the dock, I saw that the place was jammed with commuters and I did not want to be packed in like a sardine so I decided to head over to Battery Park/ Castle Clinton (named after President Clinton, If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell)
At this point, I heard in the background someone say ”That is a man in a dress”. It got me angry since, I was wearing a skirt and a knit top with a windbreaker. Please get the facts on the clothing correct. I actually cared less about the comment and did not get angry, but it made me wary about my safety. I got out of the crowd and checked out some of the monuments and the moment went away. Problem in this area, it is very windy, If your wig is not secure, It can be a UFO to others and it could go swimming in the Hudson after it lands and your skirt or dress can go up and you can show more that needs to be shown (That is one of the reasons why you wear a slip). However, this did not happen to me.
For supper that day, I decided to dine at the Oyster Bar at Grand Central. It was lent. I took the Metro and went express to Grand Central. I sat at one of the counters and had a Heineken beer (I was thirsty), New England Chowder, and a PO Boy sandwich (Oyster Roll). Chowder was so so, but the Oyster Roll was very good and cheaper then a clam roll.
After supper, It was time to call it a day. My feet were aching and had a date scheduled for the tub with a pumice stone. I took the Norwest Passage to 48th Street and went back to my hotel room.
This was the first time in my life that I started the day enfemme and ended in enfemme, after my hot bath, I put on my nightgown and watched TV and went to sleep.
March 24, 2010: New York, New York by Debra Kelly
After a long time absence from these literary pages or screens (Internet you know) to regale or bore you with my latest adventure in the Big Apple.
As most of Tiffany members know, I generally go to Manhattan at least one time every year in the winter months. With the bad economy and the time of year, one can do quite well in getting a room and transportation at a reasonable rate.
I was able to book a room at the Double Tree Hotel on 51st and Lexington Ave for around $125.00 per night (taxes included) through Hotwire and I got roundtrip on Amtrak from Route 128 Station to Penn Station for $106.00. This was February 5 to February 7.
Initially, I was going to take Amtrak in classic Debra apparel, but I am not out completely to all people in my family and when my father offered me a ride to 128 station, it saved me around $30.00 in parking fees, I decided I can postpone my dressing for a few hours. Also, I was fighting a rather nasty cold.
The train left 128 station at 630AM and got in around 1015AM at Penn Station.
I bought a Fun Pass Metro card for the subway for $8.00, which enables you to ride all day. I strongly recommend this by the way so you are not fumbling in your purse/ handbag for money to buy a metro card and you do save money.
I took the Number 1 from 34th street to Times Square where I hopped on the shuttle to Grand Central and transferred to the #6 and took it up to 51st Street and Lexington where my hotel was.
I was checked in to my hotel room by 1045am. I made better time by taking Amtrak and the NYC Metro then driving and it was cheaper.
At the hotel, I transitioned completely as Debra and was attired in a black knee length Alfred Dunner Skirt, purple East 5th Knit Top from JC Penny, my new wig from Sharon’s in Attleboro, Black stockings and black Hush Puppies pumps. I did have a lacy black full slip from Lady Romance underneath and was made up and on the street by 1145am. Notice how I put in a plug for those who have dressed me.
I hopped on the #6 and took it downtown to 23rd street and walked over to a vintage store called Family Jewels on West 23rd Street. I was looking for some vintage lingerie, but they did not have the size I was looking for. However, quite a selection of women’s and men’s apparel. I am kicking myself now that I did not get a handbag since the one I have is wearing out.
I then got back on the #6 and took it to City Hall station and walked down Broadway to Wall/ Nassau streets where I went to see Federal Hall, which is across the street from the New York Stock Exchange. Federal Hall has some nice exhibits on when NYC was the first capital of the United States. This is the building that has the statue of George Washington on the steps.
After Federal Hall, It was time for lunch and to do some shopping, First I bought a Sabrath Hotdog and a bottle of water from a street vendor for around $3.00. I was starving. It was cold out and I was fighting a cold and you burn through the calories. I walked over to Century 21 on Cortland Street opposite Ground Zero. Century 21 for the uninformed is a discount department store similar to a Filenes basement, but in my opinion nicer. My brother needed a pair of sneakers so I went to the men’s shoe department and found his size, I sat down and took of my overcoat and pumps and while in my skirt and my nylons tried on the sneakers which did fit. Meanwhile, the hustle and bustle of the store was going around me. Talk about gender confusion. I then paid for them and saved about $30.00.
I took the #6 up to Grand Central, which is on 42nd Street and walked over, to the NY Public Library, which is on 42nd and 5th Avenue. They had an exhibit and tour on the early days of NYC back in the days of Henry Hudson and the Dutch settlers. Quite nice and interesting and it was free.
After the Library, it was getting late in the afternoon and I wanted to have my dinner. I took the Shuttle from Grand Central over to Times Square and walked up to West 49th and went to the Playwright Tavern which was a favorite of our late friend, Frances Cardullo, and is a favorite of mine. By this time, I was ravenous and very thirsty; I quenched my thirst with a very tall India Pale Ale and devoured my Shepherds Pie in a few minutes.
After dinner, it was time to head back to the hotel and call it a day; my feet and legs were getting sore from the walking in the pumps.
I could not get to sleep early since my feet and legs were aching and swollen from all the walking and standing, I never had done so much walking while in a skirt and wearing pumps. My feet and legs were ready to report me to the proper authorities for abuse.
Saturday, I had planned on doing something as my brother and I will not bore you those details.
However, for dinner on Saturday night, I did dress and go out. I was dressed very similar to the way I dressed on Friday, I took 3 different subways to go to Arties Deli in the upper West Side on Broadway and 82nd Street. This is another favorite place of mine to go to. Neighborhood is a lot quieter then Times Square or Midtown East near Grand Central.
I guess my bothers appetite came through. I went through the half-sour pickles, cole slaw and big pastrami sandwich with a side order of potato salad and I finished off ½ slice of birthday cake that they have.
It is interesting to note that I actually lost weight on the weekend.
The entire time I was dressed as Debra, I did not have any problems with the exception of sore feet.
One must remember before you go, please plan the activities that you are going to do and make sure the areas are ok to venture in. If you are going to take the subway, plan what lines you will take and what stop to get off. If you are going to carry a handbag, carry your cash and plastic somewhere else on your person and don’t flash it. Finally, always pay attention to your surroundings.
