Recap: Good Morning, From Here, April 26 – May 02
Monday
This past weekend was one for the record books. A hectic, champagne-fueled, celebrity-peppered with black-shirted security guards inserted appropriately between us and them. The occasion? The grand opening of The Tryst Hotel on Pulpito in Zona Romantica.
I interviewed Tristan Schukraft in the lobby of his condominium building here in Vallarta 13 months ago. He did not expect a year-long wait to inaugurate his first LGBTQ+ luxury hotel, but that’s how long the final touches took.
The soft opening of the hotel months ago was spectacular but nothing prepared me for the official opening. The beauty of this property – the almost serene, understated decor, wood touches sliding into neutral fabric underline what this hotel is for. Fun; LBGTQ+ Fun.
The planning for the weekend had to have been a logistical nightmare. Inviting more than 30 A-list celebrities and their people and the international press that sent reporters, many of whom had never been to Mexico. They fell in love with Vallarta, of course, and The Tryst. The exponential reach of this opening weekend should garner reservations for the hotel far into the future.
The Red Carpet was held on the main floor with members of the press allocated clearly with space mapped out on the floor with company names marking where we could stand and wait for the celebrities to make their entrances. Jerry Jones from Out & About Puerto Vallarta was next to me, and his interviews were live-streamed on Facebook. Neither of us recognized Mama Tits; she had lost so much weight! Tristan was among the first to make his way through the gamut of questions, bright lights, and cameras. It was lovely to hug him again and wish him so many congratulations on finally being open. I followed him up to the 8th floor, where the party was in full swing. There were a couple of places to sit and admire the lights of the city and I can imagine hotel guests finding a refuge there during the day.
I spent some time chatting with Diego De Leon Gonzalez from Colombia, who was the winner of the Mr Vallarta contest a couple of months back at Coco Cabaret. He was apprehensive about dancing later in the evening – he need not have worried.
Fashionistas were out in force; I have never seen so many beautifully dressed/coifed people in my life. A gigantic man held the most ornate and smallest handbag; it was a flawless look! Not recognizing a single one of the celebrities, I assumed they were all of equal importance and ogled and smiled to my heart’s content.
The rooftop opened, and the stream of people moved up the stairway to music, and a merman perched on the stairs to the pool. Imported DJs kept the tunes throbbing, Demi Lovato sang, and Diego and three compadres danced in signature pink Tryst speedos.
I found Bob Price and Jesus Reyes from the Vallarta Botanical Garden enjoying the sights and sounds. Jet de La Isla held court. Don Pickens, owner of Casa Cupula, enjoyed what the competition offered, and I briefly shared a table and bottle of Veuve Clicquot with Christopher Maluck, owner of the Swedes restaurant at the intersection of Pulptito and Olas Altas streets.
Welcome – at last, Tryst Hotel. May you have decades of great fortune providing the LGBT+ community with the finest and most fun accommodations in Vallarta. Thanks to Emily Pope, Brian Rosman, and Tristan Schukraft for the invitation; I am grateful.
Come back in the morning to learn all about The Tryst Drag Brunch held every Sunday. Hoo-baby! From Here.
Tuesday
How does this sound: “Creme brule brioche topped with cinnamon-spiced applesauce and a red berry medley?” Too sweet?
Try this then – “Two perfectly poached eggs, fresh sliced avocado, wild arugula, basil pesto.”
Those are two of the seven breakfast offerings at The Courtyard at the Tryst Sunday Drag Brunch. And, whatever you choose comes with unlimited amounts of tea, coffee, fresh juices, soda, mimosas, and bloody.
In this sunshine-draped patio with softly cushioned banquettes surrounding the long rectangular water feature with a bar at one end and a stage at the other, you can eat, drink, and be blown away by the drag queen talent.
My brunch company could not have been better – the crew from Vallarta Calendar, my dearest friends and colleagues, Kevin Feltner and his husband, Rob Dornan. And next to us, everybody from Out & About Puerto Vallarta Magazine.
The entertainment, loaded with sequins, tassels, fringes, feathers, waterproof makeup, and non-stop movement, made eating seem superfluous; I missed most of the stunning tricks, splits, and hip-hop head spins but thoroughly enjoyed my vegetarian Eggs Benny with spinach. Next time, I will do better!
Every one of the dancing, singing, and strutting drag queens received a ten-out-of-ten for hair, makeup, and costumes. Have a look at the high stiletto-heeled boots! And, these girls run! And, there’s water around…read, ‘slippery when wet’! They are so daring!
I was so not prepared for the finale! The four principal drag queens were corralled together on the stage, then made their way to the opposite end and climbed onto the edge of the long, rectangular, shallow pool. In a second they charged single file into the water, up to their leather/clad and sometimes pantyhosed thighs and began to bounce up and down, causing a mini tsunami that quickly cooled off everyone sitting close enough to reach out and touch somebody! The shrieks of laughter echoed off the cement walls as the four sodden lovelies carefully stepped out of the water and into big fluffy bath towels held by the pink Tryst speedo’d wait staff.
After brunch was over, I went to thank owner Tristan Schukraft and made a comment on the wild finale. He told me that when he was designing the space – with a brunch in mind – he originally was going to plexiglass the top of the fountain so that the drag queens could “walk on water.” On giving it a second thought, he figured it would have more impact if they actually got IN the water. He was right! It will be a hit during our hot summer months.
Mil gracias to Pelayo, Mizz Peaches, Shamira, and Queerboy for bringing your lovely selves out to play; I hope to see you again cavorting at The Tryst From Here.
Wednesday
A big shout-out to Georgia Darehshori. Happy Birthday, girlfriend, – may you enjoy many, many more! The world needs your radiance.
With Pride fast approaching, Frida’s Bar needed a new representative to ride in the big parade and be the face of Tom Finley’s namesake bar for the next year. And the winner of “Finding Frida” is? John Car, (applause, applause) a karaoke enthusiast, who will be gorgeous in her new gown to be unveiled on parade day. Congratulations, John, and to Tricia Lyman, fellow judge, it was a squeaker but unanimous! Many thanks for the hospitality to Bar Frida, Tom Finley, Mike Laking, Jerry Jones, and Michael Fluck from Out & About Puerto Vallarta magazine for the coverage. See you all on Parade Day, May 22!
When Kevin Anthony steps onto a stage, the audience takes a collective deep breath and exhales into whatever direction this master entertainer wants to take us. After 50 years of singing for a living, all over the world, part of that with Tammy Faye Bakker and a lot of it on Broadway in Miss Saigon, Grease and more, Kevin has changed course and dove into real estate sales. Once a month, however, he still gathers friends and the Roxsand Band together and reminds us – and himself – how magic is the music. Last Sunday night, very close to a sold-out house at Nacho Daddy (at this odd time of year) also reminds us of the magic of Kevin Anthony. He is so deeply loved, admired, and appreciated in Vallarta for all the talents that he brings to the fore. He makes us all the better for simply being in his company for 80 or 90 minutes.
Still at Nacho Daddy for Open Mic; a last-minute response to the people who didn’t get the memo that Gouda Gabor had left the building and took Open Mic back to Canada. On the contrary, Gouda had heartily assigned Selena Luna to the task of filling her gigantic shoes to host Open Mic until further notice. So, now you can pencil in every Tuesday at 7:30 pm for the foreseeable future.
Jason Mathis sang alone and with Patriz Fomachev, who also had a couple of solos. Gloria Fiona, whose private wedding to the gorgeous Good Irene is on the horizon, sang a huge favorite of mine – White Rabbit – accompanied by Kim Archer on guitar. This duo will resurface May 15th, after Gloria’s wedding, for their first show together, at Nacho Daddy. Stay tuned for details.
Angeloo, the 12-year-old darling voice of Vallarta, sang twice while his papa Oscar videoed him. Angeloo was delighted when Kimberly Grandi sang “When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You).” He told me it was one of his favorite songs. No Mozart this week from the Wunderkind; Angeloo chose a little Metallica (Black Sabbath??) instead. Dashs Robles on guitar becomes more polished each time I see/hear him.
It is Humpday, so Scrabble at 12:30; next week is our Tournament, so today will just be fun From Here.
Thursday
It’s May Day, and my plan to hit the bank, pay some taxes, and get some cash, have to be put off until tomorrow, when Intercam will be busier as it’s Friday, but it is what it is. Fiestas are what make Mexico the greatest country in the world; nobody parties with as much heart and soul as a Mexican.
Three out of the first 10 days of May are National holidays; today, of course, is Labor Day. Cinco de Mayo, on Monday, is celebrated on the other coast and up north far more than here, but hey, it’s a day off. Then, superseding even Guadalupe in importance is May 10, Mother’s Day. Florists have been known to open long before dawn to get arrangements made up in advance, and I have walked streets around Casa Ley in the dark with the air heavy with the scents of lilies and roses. Almost every female 12 years old and up in this country will receive a flower on May 10, regardless of motherhood status, just because. I love that. If you still have a mom, reach out to her and send her love, and if, like me, you don’t, send out the love anyway; the energy will get to someone who needs it.
So, with all the hoopla surrounding the grand opening of the Tryst Hotel, I went through hundreds of photographs, most of them taken by the many professionals who roamed the site for 48 hours, lots taken by me – meh in comparison, and a few taken on my phone, by my request, of me by my dear friend Jerry Jones, who is a good photographer, I might add.
The subject matter at hand, however, elicited more than one shocked intake of breath. Have you ever seen your face close up from the side? Of course not; you are not a frog with eyes on the side of your head.
With my finger poised over the delete button, I stared at my happy, smiling profile and was astounded at what I saw that I never imagined I would ever see on my very own face. Wrinkles so deep, half of them sweeping from the corner of my eye up to my hairline and the other half joining the ones on my cheeks tunneling down to my neck. The lights were so bright overhead the EDGES of my wrinkles reflected the light like straight lines drawn across my face with a white eraserboard marker. I am still reeling.
I, all of a sudden, understood the keen importance of Botox and fillers and why my friend Mikel Alvarez, owner of ThrIVE Med Spa, is so successful. Who, in their right mind, wants to look like their own grandmother? With all due respect, it’s not pretty.
And in the end, is how you look so important? Well, yes and no. Yes, if you want to impress (or make an impression upon) anyone living, like maybe yourself? I saw a friend come home after having a facelift 25 years ago, and swore to myself that day I would NEVER, under any circumstances, be that vain.
Could I get used to having a single wrinkle-free expression? When I could try smiling big and wide, could I settle for the Botox paralysis of appearing serene and at utter peace at all times?
I’ll have to get back to you From Here.
Friday
Last night, I sat at a dining room table placed almost exactly in the same spot I had stood in a week ago at the Red Carpet opening of The Tryst Hotel. It was so quiet and tranquil compared to the tremendous excitement of the grand opening.
My dinner companion, owner of the extravagantly gay hotel, Tristan Schukraft, arrived promptly at 8 pm with his phone glued to his ear. He sat across from me, looked around, and echoed my thoughts out loud. His first hotel in the Tryst chain had been open for exactly one week.
There are still many details to be worked out in the flagship hotel, like installing the second elevator and revamping the current one to bring it up to speed, so to speak. That work will have to wait until after Pride concludes; the container holding the elevator will feature heavily in the famous Olas Altas drag race. More details to follow as we get closer to the date.3
Schukraft’s hero is Richard Branson, and he seems fully prepared to follow in those luxurious footsteps. The Tryst logo is a similar font to Branson’s singular Virgin brand and, with all the flying Tristan does, he may, one day, have his own jet.
Prior to the grand opening, the Wall Street Journal sent a crew down to Vallarta to interview Tristan mostly about his acquisition of the Pines commercial district on Fire Island. Tristan now owns the Whale bar where, 50 years ago this summer, a man in drag was refused service. That will never happen again under Tristan’s watch. He is determined to safeguard these places that figure prominently in gay culture; the history is critically important. And, as the CEO of everything gay, Tristan will also make these famous places more beautiful, environmentally sound, and user-friendly.
Look for Tryst-style Hotels coming soon to Mexico City, Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, and for major renovations for the first Tryst Hotel that started it all, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Tristan makes his home.
Dinner was shared – vegetarian mushroom tacos and tres leches cake for dessert, all washed down with a signature lychee martini.
Afterward, we walked up to the second floor so Tristan could show me the new pool and jacuzzi with three massage rooms adjacent to the lounge chairs immersed in water. One can cool off by dipping your foot or trailing your fingers in the constantly circulating water.
Thank you, Tristan, for spending a couple of hours with me, again. I loved the Tryst-Pink goodie bag and will practice snapping my Tryst fan. See you soon during Pride, From Here.
