In the news

I've been mulling over a meta wrap-up of sorts after all the bloggers and media have filed their post-T/F love letters - and, actually, I think a few folks have already beat me to it. But, it still might show up on here soon.

In the meantime, I just ran across this interesting op-ed piece by Nicholas Kristof in the wake of the Spitzer scandal and resignation. Kristof looks at the world of prostitution, pointing out "Kristen" and her high-end colleagues are unrepresentative of the real face of prostitution. Quoted in the piece is Rachel Lloyd, program director for GEMS. Lloyd was a T/F attendee this year accompanying the film "Very Young Girls" (the 2008 True Life Fund film) which takes a long, hard look at the realities of the trade. Abusive pimps wielding influence over very young girls (the average age of entry into prostitution is 12!) are far more commonplace than train tickets and nights at the Mayflower hotel.

Afterglow...

I should start by apologizing, but why really? I mean, last weekend was meant to be nothing but fun. So why stop to write about it. By all accounts, this year was shaping up to be a recipe for disaster - the largest venue out of commission due to a massive construction project; party venues proving hard to find; the new Ragtag opening less than a week prior to the fest; passes selling out; reservation issues; fire marshals on the first day of Box Office operations; late February weather that should have gone any which way but warm. But damn if T/F isn't charmed. Seriously. It's kind of ridiculous.

Despite spring having sprung, New York guests sought snow. Our South American comrade spent a night stranded in an alley. A trannie snoozed through a Q & A. Lovers Leap earned best party honors (of all the T/F parties over the first 5 years). Glen David Andrews & the Lazy 6 proved the best surprise of the fest. (Ask them back...EVERY year.) And olfactory assaults occurred wherever there was dancing.

The films didn't disappoint either. Life. Support. Music. was easily my favorite - and how amazing to see Jason Crigler during the Q&A. Stranded was a close second. (Apparently triumph of the human spirit really appealed to me this year.) I'll admit, late nights and all-too-early mornings left some of my tickets unused. But I trust that made some other patron happy seeing how quickly shows went NRT.

Pictures...I promised pictures. Right now, all I can do is offer you a link to the T/F 08 flickr pool...go look.

@CTION

Lovers Leap might have been my favorite opening night party in the short 5 year history of T/F. Mucca Pazza started things off in fine form, and while it was a packed house it never got miserably crowded.

Pictures to follow when I get a moment and this crushing headache subsides. A dark theater and a cup of coffee are in order.

How was your night?