Indianapolis is now on my short list of most wonderful places in the world. Tonight I met up with Linda and went to see the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s pops performance of “A Cole Porter Celebration” at the historic Hilbert Circle Theatre. We noticed it while walking in beautiful Monument Circle, downtown. Apparently Cole Porter was from Indiana.

As we were in line to get tickets, this very well dressed woman hands us two tickets for the elite box seating. She didn’t want us to pay her either. So we accepted the tickets. As we got seated, the lady and her husband sat in front of us in the same box (there were six of us in the box).

The show itself was absolutely magnificent. I couldn’t help but feel so special to be at such a great high-society event, let alone in the box! The soloists were Ted Keegan (who replaced Matt Cavenaugh from Jonesboro, AR. Matt playes Mark Soloman on the soap One Life to Live), Cicily Daniels, Mark Gilgallon, Sarah Hagstrom, Mark Nadler, and Andre McRae.

Anyways, at the end of the second set, before the last song, Jack Everly, the conductor, says some final words and thanks to all the major sponsors. He mentions that Cole Porter’s cousin, Margaret Cole Russell was here, a major sponsor of the arts in Indianapolis. And just like that, the spot light shines on our booth, and the lovely lady who gave us our tickets nods her head and waves like Queen Elizabeth. It was surreal! I met Cole Porter’s cousin!

My entire trip to Indianapolis has been just as surreal. From the moment the plane pierced through the clouds and I could see the fall-colored trees, I recognized the beauty of the Midwest. It is so funny to me how different it is here compared to Florida or even Arkansas.

Last night I went to Talbotts, the gay dance club. I met some very charming and friendly guys and had a great time. Some things I’ve noticed about the gay scene up here:

  • Smoking is bad m’kay? The bar wasn’t smoky at all. There were a lot less smokers in Indianapolis in general.
  • Dancing is fun. There were few wall flowers here (I know, I was among them). Everybody dances. They played techno (or house or whatever it’s called these days) in the main room and everyone was on it. There was no hip-hop room (maybe they have their own club). The main room was about the size of Disco’s drag room, and the drag room at Talbott’s was smaller than Disco’s techno room.
  • Drag queens have real boobs. Apparently Arkansas is one of few states that has a law against “performing transsexuals,” that’s why we can’t get cool drag queens from Dallas (because most of them have real tits).

I love it here; I hope I get a chance to stay a while longer next time.