Flagging in the Park – August
Posted 25-Aug-2010 to ReviewsRating: 4.5 out of 5 bottles of water!
by Joanna Parks
[The August edition of Flagging in the Park featured DJ Christopher B and benefitted New Leaf.]
We were all a little nervous Saturday night. After getting home from a really fun “Locals Night” Industry we talked about Flagging In The Park (FITP) and how we were hoping the weather would cooperate. And by cooperate I mean not freeze us to death. Last month’s FITP was a whole hell of a lot of fun and while it wasn’t sunny, it wasn’t cold. Could we possibly be blessed with temperate weather two months in a row?
As Suzan said Sunday morning “God loves Christopher B.” I didn’t think I could have had more fun than last month’s FITP but with the sun shining so bright it added another dimension to the afternoon. I know it’s impossible to plan a sunny outdoor circuit party in San Francisco but man I wish we could.
Christopher B. was throwing down music with happy uplifting vocals and a disco beat that drew flaggers, flow artists, dancers and onlookers to the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. Not one song was a misstep. By the end when he played “Free” by Ultra Nate there wasn’t a person not smiling or dancing or flagging or even speaking in tongues (Suzan Revah). It was truly magical.
Baked goods were provided free of charge with super cute Leo skipping from blanket to blanket handing them out in a basket. There was a huge rainbow flag. There were gorgeous smiling men everywhere. People sharing what they brought with others without hesitation and everyone seemed like a friend.
Watching the tourists come around on one of the paths leading to the groove and smile with delight at the sight of all these beautiful flags and shirtless men had me giggling all day. There wasn’t a group that didn’t stop, watch, tap their toe or take a picture or two.
Xavier Caylor was rewarded for 15 years of charity work through flagging by being sainted by The Sisters. It was well deserved and the sainting added to the magical quality of the day.
I realize FITP isn’t intended as a typical circuit party (though it seemed like Sundance to me) so when you have a great DJ and such a good vibe it’s hard not to treat it like a circuit party and in the end, we did. That’s what my friends and I love to do and so we gave all of our hearts and energy to the event which means; dance party!
Thank you, Xavier for all of the good you do and the absolute joy you help bring to the National AIDS Memorial Groove. I’m sure if I hadn’t had to leave before it ended (by 10 min, we pushed it as long as possible) I would be wishing for it to go on longer. But as it was, the day was perfect – Except I still haven’t found the bathrooms.
