THE CASTLE, home of Jonathan Edmonson and Kyle Pugh
Jonathan and Kyle hosted an outrageously fun and successful benefit last Friday night for BIRMINGHAM AIDS OUTREACH. It took place in and on the fabulous grounds, garden and pool area of what is known as THE CASTLE on Bessemer, Alabama's South Side. The 300 plus guests paid $20 dollars (or what they could afford) at the door and were treated to the incredible hospitality of Jonathan and Kyle, who provided two open bars, one in the Gazebo and another at the head of the pool which is designed- based on The Hearst Castle pool at San Simeon. Outrageously fun, exotic, glamorous and sometimes comic Drag Queens from all over the Southeast performed on a stage erected to straddle the middle of the pool and the huge throng surround the pool and watched these performers (who, as did the bartenders, donated all their tips to BIRMINGHAM AIDS OUTREACH) prance, dance and do their routines in front of a mix of gay, straight, young, old, men, women and those in-between as well as people from all walks of life,race, creeds and religions. One of the M. C.'s was a BIG HAIRED CHURCH LADY in a purple sequined Choir Robe who, at one point, led the audience in an old time gospel Southern Baptist Hymn that had everyone in a delighted frenzy! It was a truly amazingly diverse crowd and everyone had a rip roaring good time. This benefit will be talked about for a long time. You really have to see The Castle and it's grounds to believe it. There are paths through tropical garden where you pass aviaries with all manner of exotic birds--peacocks, Macaws, parrots of all kinds and a magnificent koi pond (which took in my 40 plus koi after my Victorian burned last December). It's grounds are surpassed only by the three story Castle itself and the entire house and huge gardens and pool area was packed!
The Magic City Sisters surround Glenn Shadix on the Castles grand staircase.
(Photo by Lisa Cabrera)
Above are The Magic City Sisters who made an appearance but did not perform. Their order is approved by the Mother House in San Francisco of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and they do a wide range of philanthropic work that includes raising money for those with or affected by HIV-AIDS, Education re: Sexually transmitted diseases and a Condom Ministry that was set up at the Castle with free condoms and pamphlets on safer sex (Sister Sr Gretchen reminded me there is NO completely SAFE Sex, only SAFER SEX.) and are heavily involved in raising money for Breast Cancer and will be involved with a major Benefit at The Quest October 11 which is the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness week. More on this benefit and the Sisters other activities can be found on their site: MagicCitySistersBham.org I will do another special blog on the sisters soon.
Sister Ineeda, Glenn Shadix,Sister Ivonna and Nine Moon Productions staffer and publicist Joel Olgesby
(Photo by Lisa Cabrera)
There will be more pictures of the crowd and more news about upcoming events in the days and weeks ahead. It was a fine evening with a beautifully behaved crowd all having fun in a generous good spirit that raised an amazing amount of money for BIRMINGHAM AIDS OUTREACH. Jonathan Edmonson and Kyle Pugh provided all the refreshments at the two open bars at their own expense with every penny brought in by this event going to BAO. Quite an unforgettable evening in Bessemer Alabama!
Hard at work on several writing and film projects, NINE MOON PRODUCTIONS is growing and we are all quite busy these days!
Big Haired Church Lady in choir robe does Southern Baptist Gospel Hymn
Click Here to get a look at those who performed at the castle
