A Pair

As seen @ maxegatos.blogspot.com

Life in the Campo

Great video about rural life in the Dominican Republic

Thursday

From Last Week

Arlenis Sosa

Carolina HerreraLeonel Lirio

Last Saturday was the closing night of Dominicana Moda 2009. With Carolina Herrera presenting her collection closing night, and the triumphant return of supermodel-in-the-making, Arlenis Sosa. One of the people responsible for the success is Socrates McKinney, who is in charge of the Elite Model Search for the Dominican Republic. He is the dean of the fashion set here in the Dominican Republic, and responsible for many Dominican models getting contracts internationally. Also showing were old-guard Dominican designer, Leonel Lirio. He held things down beautifully for the Dominican Republic.

Models.com has a great article on Arlenis Sosa. She came with an entourage befitting her status as an international fashion model. They have great behind the scenes photos, including of her and her parents.

I am just confused by one thing. In June there was Republica Dominican Fashion Week. I am still trying to find out why there are two separate fashion events. Well, whatever the reason, the Dominican Republic is furthering its place as a fashion leader in the Caribbean and Latin America.

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Crystal Waters and C&C Music Factory were here performing last weekend. Photos

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And last night the Jonas Brothers performed here to a sold-out crowd at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic stadium. Photos

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The Dominican Republic has passed the 38th revision to their constitution. There are many people who are upset. Some of the things in the constitution are very troubling. Abortion is banned, even in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Declaring that marriage is only between a man and woman has been written into the constitution. Then there is the problem with the possibility that the beaches will become private, except for some small slivers for the hoi polloi. Click here for a very interesting article on the whole thing.

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Chachita Rubio arrived back in the D.R. with a throng of her supporters greeting her at the airport. This video is just too funny. I don't think they have seen that many gay people at the airport ever. The reactions of the people witnessing the commotion is priceless.

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For the longest time I really didn't think much of same-sex marriage. But over the last year I have come to change my mind. It is a civil rights issue. I believe that two people who love each other should be allowed to get married. I doubt very seriously that I will see same-sex marriage in the Dominican Republic in my lifetime. Especially since the D.R. has banned same-sex marriage in the newly written constitution, making it the only country in the world to do so at the constitutional leve [source]. But the momentum seems to be shifting in the U.S.

A good friend, Kelvin Martinez -- and former manager of the Arena club -- got married to his partner, Ondra, last week in the Czech Republic. Same-sex marriage is legal in the Czech Republic. The Dominican Consul in Prague was shocked, but hey, you can't stop love with no stinking constitution. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Congratulations Kelvin and Ondra!!!!!!!

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Former Catholic Priest Arrested for Child Sex Abuse in Dominican Republic

Krispy Kreme to open 15 stores in the next 5 years

Sunday NY Times front page story about shady Dominican Baseball Practices

Briton blinded by eating poisonous worm left in her dinner on D.R. vacation wins $390,000 after lawsuit (Strange Story)

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Until soon,
The Monaga Blogger

Preston Lopez

Carlos Acosta

Carlos Acosta is a Cuban Ballet superstar. Since 1998 he has been with London's Royal Ballet. He commands the stage with his powerful, clean and elegant dancing. And he is not bad to look at. Look at his video below:

Chachita @ Miss Universo Gay Latina 2009

Chachita Rubio, owner of the club CHA in Santo Domingo, won the Miss Universo Gay Latina 2009 pageant. Nothing like gay creativity. Waleska Feliz was the 2nd runner-up in the plus size category.

Santo Domingo Apartments

The former owners of the Hotel Residencial El Candil (Boca Chica) have started a new venture. Santo Domingo Apartments offers short-term rentals in different residential neighborhoods of Santo Domingo.

Sketch Studio Apartments

A young Dominican architect, Jose Campechano, is putting together Sketch Studio Apartments in San Pedro, Dominican Republic. San Pedro is about an hour from Santo Domingo, and 1 hour from La Romana.

Babylon?

Is there going to be a new club opening called Babylon? According to two European guys I have spoken with, yes. They say they will be taking over the old Gazela/Rouge space. Only time will tell. I will keep you posted.

Beautiful. Hair.

Dominican Style

Narallan: The Boxer

Baron Alfonso Madera Torres

A few years before moving to the Dominican Republic I decided I wanted to give a party the next time I came. I found a place in the colonial zone, the Red Zone. After securing the club I needed to get some entertainment together. Because I was still living in the states at the time I needed some help. I don't know by whom, but I was introduced to Baron Alfonso Madera Torres. He was the manager for some strippers and he knew everyone in the gay scene. One of the people I hired for that party was his partner, Rigoberto.

After moving to the Dominican Republic, I came to get to know Baron and Rigoberto very well. He and Rigo were together for 15 years. All of Baron's family lives in the states so Rigo was not only his partner, but his absolute everything.

Baron died of a heart attack on Wednesday. He had just celebrated his birthday last Monday. He was 43.

R.I.P. Baronessa.

Random Pics

Dominican stripper last night @ Splash in NYC

Former U.S. President, Jimmy Carter, and his wife Rosalyn, visiting the Dominican Republic border town of Dajabon. He is here to help fund projects aimed at eradicating malaria from the Dominican Republic. One of the last areas of the Caribbean to still have outbreaks.

Rolls Royce Phantom parked in front of a colmado in Santo Domingo.

Rubin

Rubin

Is Eukliptus Closed?

Eukliptus is now closed. There has been a lot of bad blood between the owner/leaseholder of the building and the current occupants managing the place. There have been complaints about someone cutting electric wires, removing pieces from air conditioning, and general not nice behavior. This all culminated with the owner and his lawyer going to the bar, and they didn't seem very interested in talking. ALLEGEDLY, Manuel (pictured above) and one of his employees (Jeyq) were physically attacked. When the dust settled the employee was knocked unconscious, allegedly from the butt of a gun. Manuel needed 13 stitches to close the wound on his arm from a machete. At least this is what is being alleged.

More allegations to follow ...

Hostal Nomadas

Hostal Nomadas is the latest addition to the colonial zone lodging scene. It is located on the corner of Calle Las Mercedes and Jose Reyes. Seeing the building in its raw state and seeing the pictures of what it looks like today is amazing. I do not know if they are gay friendly, or what their policies are. I do know that according to their website the prices are $30 - 60 per night.

For many years this building, which was a former school, sat empty. Then an ex-pat from Belgium, Bart Callebaut, purchased/leased the building with the idea of turning into some type of small hotel. He was designing a website and started remodeling the building. Unfortunately, Bart was an extremely troubled young man who had problems with too much drink and drugs. The last time I saw him he was acting very erratically and he was making no sense. Then months and months went by and no one had seen or heard from him. Then one day the word spread that Bart had been found dead. He had committed suicide.

This hostal was his dream and now it has been realized. It is a shame that he is not here to see it. Best of luck to the new owners.

Discrimination?

Tania Baez, photo above, is the host of a very popular Sunday night show called Hola Gente. She is a beautiful, highly intelligent, and stylish woman. Her show has the latest fashion trends, interviews with local, as well as international celebrities. After wrapping up filming of this week's show she and her crew headed out for a little celebration. They ended up at a popular karaoke bar called Cantabar. The problem came when one of her employees was barred from entering. Not because of color, but because he had tatoos and piercings (he also seems to be openly gay). There seems to have been some drama inside the bar, as well.

Ms. Baez then proceeded to tell her her fans about what happened on Facebook. What is significant about this is that usually someone of her stature in the Dominican community would not speak about something like this. She has, and for that I commend her. The other thing that is interesting is the reaction. There is a significant part of the populace who believe they were right to not allow him entry. The thinking is that this is a place they want to keep free of "those kind of people."

Was it actually discrimination? I guess it is in the eye of the beholder.

Dominican Strippers

Dominican strippers @ Splash as seen on Lady Bunny's blog.