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SO, DAMN... THAT IS HAPPENING
Have you ever heard the old saying - “don’t cry over spilled milk?” Well, I’m here to tell you this week as been a tsunami of MILK. Of course by “milk” I mean a load of crappy situations that have happened in the span of just a couple of days. And, boy did I ever have something to cry about. It’s been of river of tears this week at Hacienda HAPPENING and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
I’m not going to bore you with the SPANISH melodramatic details of my world this week. Instead I wanted to discuss the issue of crying and sadness during the Holiday Season. I mean really UGLY crying. The crying that comes from the depths of your soul. I did A LOT of that type of sobbing this week and it was very cathartic.
Growing up Latino in a Cuban household by a very strong (a LEO no less) maternal figure, started toughening me up early. I remember the first day she was driving me to kindergarten. I was barely 5 years old (I started school early due to my birth date in December... hint) and I guess my baby GAY ass was sashaying down the sidewalk into the loving gaze of my kindergarten teacher Miss. Brown. My mom quickly pulled me by my little arm and said harshly under her breath,”WALK RIGHT!” Walk right? What the hell did that mean? What she meant was “walk like a man you little sissy!” I started to cry. By the time that we got to the front door, my sweet blond kindergarten teacher consoled my mom and said,”Don’t worry many of the children cry the first day of Kindergarten.” My mom smiled. I wasn’t crying because I was scared to meet new children (I had NO idea the horrors that would someday bring), I was crying because my mom, the person that is supposed to love me “no matter what”, almost pulled my arm out of it’s socket because my hips were swishing violently as if I was working a runway into my first day at school. After that, I was labeled a “sensitive crybaby”. You know what - SO WHAT IF I AM!
Who ever said “boys don’t cry” can royally go FUCK themselves. I cry. I cry a lot. I mentioned “my meds” in last weeks Publisher’s Note. Yes, it’s true, I’m on medications for my mental health. SURPRISE! I was diagnosed years ago in my 30s during the first incarnation of this publication with chronic depression and anxiety. I will tell you that diagnosis felt like I had somehow failed at life. I mean everyone else in my family is able to “cope”, usually using anger, but cope none the less. Oddly, I’ve never been able to use anger as a motivating element. I have admiration for those that can turn a crap situation into a “fire in their belly” and go out into the world like a blood thirsty barbarian and rip it a new A-hole, but that’s not me. Instead, I retreat. This retreat turns sometimes turns into melancholy and occasionally blooms into (insert dramatic music here) DEPRESSION. Luckily, I work with professionals now to handle meet this challenge head on. I’m no longer ashamed of it either and neither should YOU be. (SHOUT OUT TO THE DRs At www.MyPsychiatrist.com)
Earlier this week Ive read several people lamenting on social media about how lonely they are. They have been expressing how this holiday season there are a lack of invitations to parties, events or general get-togethers. NEWS FLASH: NONE OF US ARE! I think it’s a sign of the times due to a post-pandemic world we now live in. People are still emerging slowly from their bubbles and poking their noses out to see if it is safe or a post-apocalyptic out there. Honestly, some days I can’t tell the difference anymore. So, this is the NEW normal. So, I ask nowhow do we adapt?
Here’s one way: STOP WAITING TO BE INVITED OUT and instead DO THE INVITING YOURSELF! My friend Ray Kawski does just that (see his Real Estate ad on page 3) Ray doesn’t wait to be invited INTO someone else’s world. He takes the bull (ahem) by the horns and curates his OWN WORLD. I’m grateful to learn from him and be a part of his world everyday.
If you are not ready yet to emerge from your cocoon, that’s okay too. Take your time. Cry a little. Cry a lot. Cry about the proverbial spilled milk while you are sopping it up with your favorite, soothing blanky. I promise, if you feel the full breath of all your feelings now eventually you notice yourself lapping up the “milk of human kindness” and even start to notice the traces of honey within it. Give yourself and others permission. You are worth it and perfect just the way your are.
MAGAZINE
Love, light and peace to us all, Francisco Garcia
Publisher of HAPPENING DIGITAL
PHOTOS: Jozef Szekeres
HDM: What make GlamourOZ dolls different from all the other hi end fashion dolls on the market now?
JS: The GlamourOZ Dolls are 18” catwalk supermodels that live within the 16” fashion doll world. Their taller bodies present 16” doll’s fashions as catwalk ready, and I think this allows the fashion silhouettes to be read with greater definition.
HDM: What was your inspiration for this doll line?
JS: I think the inspiration goes right back to when I was a kid, loving Barbie, but dreaming of what my own doll would look like. It’s taken a lifetime solo journey, and self funding the creation and production to realise that personal dream doll.
HDM: Did you conventionally sculpt the doll’s body and faces or did you use digital 3D applications?
JS: The doll’s body and heads were sculpted traditionally by hand as a full head to toe figure, with Super Sculpey on a wire armature frame, so I could get the scale and proportions I wanted. Once baked, I cut the doll into its parts and retooled each piece with a ball and socket where required. From that point on, I engaged a factory, where they scanned the sculpted doll
parts turning them into 3D files. I worked with them create the factory-tooled internal articulation mechanism, and then the molds.
HDM: Tell me about the fashion designs on this line?
JS: They’re based on Australian 60s fashions by family member Stephen Moor, a celebrated Australian artist. He encouraged me to enter art and fashion, so I wanted to honour and thank him with my doll line showcasing his amazing fashions.
HDM: We are hoping for a male companion for the ladies! Do you have any plans for a continuation to this line?
JS: I’d love to expand the GlamourOZ Dolls’ line with more glamorous beautiful female characters, exploring new heads and body sculpts, also including a tall handsome male companion. This future is in the hands of the fashion doll collectors that buy my dolls.
HDM: How do we order these limited edition dolls?
JS: From my website www.glamourozdolls.com
HDM: Is there something else you wish to tell us about your fasntastic fashion doll line?
JS: Yes, for a limited time, I’m now selling the dolls with FREE international shipping included! So there’s no barrier to owning your own GlamourOZ Doll collection.
HDM: How did Burlesque Royale come into existence?
TH: Burlesque Royale is a show that has been slowly conceptualized over a span of about 5 years. Ramsey and I started talking about our experiences in our different industries. Between Ramsey’s multiple years of experience in the events industry, and my years of experience as a nightclub entertainer and burlesque performers, we realized together we had the potential to create something amazing. Over the years we continued to develop the idea using branding unique to Rasmey’s design styles with custom costumes made by Ramsey himself to fit the image we wanted for our performers and show. Once the brand was finalized, Ramsey found us a phenomenal liquor sponsor, Tom of Finland Vodka. Through years of making connections with performers across the country, we knew who we wanted to have working with us as a cast and guest performers. Ramsey also made the genius decision to hire an amazingly talented photographer named Ross Haley to photograph and record our show so that we can have promotional material the would catch everyone’s attention. Our only remaining challenge was finding a venue. This was where the legendary Baton Show Lounge came into play. After sitting in a meeting with Mr. Jim Flint and proposing our show, he was excited to give us the opportunity and see when it would take both us, and the venue.
HDM: Your cast calls the world famous Baton their home in Chicago. Tell us about performing at this iconic venue?
TH: Having a show at such an iconic venue is literally a dream come true. Before The Baton moved to their new Uptown location, the venue had been a locally well know burlesque venue called Uptown Underground that hosted various shows throughout the month, some of which I had the honor of being a part of. When the Uptown Underground ultimately ended up closing, it was a huge loss to the local burlesque community, which in Chicago is quite substantial. So to have the opportunity to bring burlesque back to that stage under such legendary and well established new ownership brought me immense joy and excitement. The owners and staff have been nothing short of amazing. They really rose to the challenge and have surpassed all expectations in providing amazing service to our guests and providing a welcoming experience to us and our entertainers.
HDM: How would you describe Burlesque Royale?
TH: Burlesque Royale is a one-of-a-kind show you won’t find anywhere else. With Ramsey’s unique branding added to the stellar cast of singers, dancers, and other performance artists. Our show features phenomenal local talent, as well as guest performers from across the country to shake the show up every month. The show itself is really designed to be an almost immersive experience. The show features multiple audience participation moments as well as an afterparty experience following the show so that the audience can have a chance to meet the cast and take photos..
HDM: How does Boy-lesque differ from dancers at a strip club?
TH: Burlesque itself is such a unique art form. It is the art of the reveal, the tease, and performance. You can see some acts that have you laughing at the humor displayed through the performance, and others that take such skill and precision you can’t help but jump to your feet shouting because you can’t help but be impressed. But no matter the act, you will always be entertained when you come to Burlesque Royale.
HDM: Will Burlesque Royale be traveling around the country?
TH: Short answer, yes. We have already begun to scope cities and venues we could potentially take the show. However, with the show still being so new, we want to give ouselve the appropriate time to develop the very best show to show the world.
HDM:What’s next for the incredibly talented Tyler Hall?
TH: To be fully honest, this show has really provided a life-changing calling for me. I have found something I truly want to pour my heart into and develop. For now, my focus is on building Burlesque Royale into a show people from across the country will want to come see. Once we have that solid foundation built, I want to move forward with taking the show on the road so other cities can have the uniquely phenomenal experience that is Burlesque Royale
