Where to even begin...

Oy! It's been a crazy crazy last 2 weeks. I can't believe that AIDS Walk NY 2005 has come and gone. It was a crazy 6 month campaign and a record breaker for AIDS fundraisers. Over 5.8 million dollars were raised and over 45,000 walkers came out for the event. It is truly an awe inspiring thing to see 50,000 people walking by on the streets of New York. My day was absolutely INSANE. I wrapped up the event around 10:30pm after a 4:30am start time. The major "hicup"of the day was that NY's Department of Sanitation was a no show for our scheduled time so it left the trash of 50,000 walkers over 30 blocks on Riverside Dr. The city had to open the street so we had cars barreling down Riverside through knee deep trash. It was a bit of a nightmare we got through it. It is an amazing thing to pull off this size of an event in Central Park and New York City.

And other exciting news - my mom came out to New York City. We had a blast! It was her first time to NY and I had a great time showing her the city! We went and saw Wicked and Avenue Q and I got to take her backstage to see all the "behind the scenes" and the costumes, props, etc...etc... thanks to my friends Marty and Howie who are in the shows. We also headed to a benefit at Crobar for The Trevor Project. I love that I took my mom to Crobar but it wasn't its usual gaydom. Well, I guess it was just as gay, but everyone had their shirts on. *Whew* We had a great time - you can check out the photos at: broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=3323
I think she had a great time even with her parting quote, "I think the Indians got the better part of the deal when they sold Manhatten for $24 dollars worth of beads." ;)

So, this week is my last week with AIDS Walk - It's been an amazing year and after two events it's time to move on. I have decided to stay in New York City. There are two new projects I am working on here and I am switching gears to focus on Xtours. www.xtours.net - the new site will be launching in a few weeks. Our next event is coming up July 1st - white water rafting in upstate NY. I can not wait.

I will be heading to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in July with Gay.com and looks like France in August with the beau. I can't wait!

All the best!

-W

Just a quick note. I'm heading out to BB Kings tonight to present the 3rd Annual Butterfly Awards & Benefit. This is an awards ceremony to spotlight youth who have gone above and beyond in outreach for HIV/AIDS outreach and awareness.

237 W 42nd
New York, NY 10036
Times Square
Phone: (212) 997-4144
Tickets are available at:
www.bbkingblues.com

Honorary Board Members tonight include: Alan Cumming, Susan Sarandon, and Harvey Fierstein. Living Beyond Belief is an amazing organiztion that focuses on our youth the next generation to be battling HIV/AIDS awareness and social issues.

Living Beyond Belief's mission is to saves lives by fostering HIV/AIDS prevention education, raising HIV/AIDS awareness among youth and motivating high school students to be HIV/AIDS peer educators, activists and advocates by providing with college grants and recognition for their life-saving work.

See you tonight!

-W