To mark the third anniversary of my first really public outing at the final city-wide Halloween party to be held in the Castro District in San Francisco, this year I once again ventured to that city to participate in the outdoor Halloween parties there. Unlike that first trip, when I had timidly gone to a salons to have my hair, makeup, and nails done, and then changed into my costume, this time I took my time, and spent the afternoon getting myself ready.
First I spent some time chatting with friends in a TG Forum chat room, then proceeded to the bathroom to start my transformation. First, I shaved my face, then my, legs and other body hair. Then I put on my undergarments, and verified that my waist nipper does indeed reduce my waist size to 32 inches.
I painted my own nails, attempting a more elaborate pattern with an opaque base coat, a mango-colored polish, a black diagonal stripe across each nail, silver glitter, and a clear top coat. Next I applied my makeup, with the now-usual steps followed by an application of silver glitter, and silver lipstick outlined with a raison shade.
I then put on my wig, and brushed it. Finally, I put a plastic bag over my head and got into my gown. I couldn't find the jeweled necklace that I had worn the previous week, so put on a silver colored link necklace, which seemed more suitable for wearing outdoors anyway. I also put on some crystal stud earrings. Then I put on my black flat pumps, and placed my tiara on my head. I put on an overcoat, since it had rained briefly during the day, my silver pumps with 3-12/ inch heels, several cameras, and my wand in a canvas shopping bag. I also stuffed my purse with other essentials, and headed out the door toward the BART station.
It was already dark, and several of the houses in the neighborhood were decorated for Halloween, with their porches lit to invite little trick-or-treaters. It brought back memories of my early Halloweens in the same neighborhood, including once when I had gone out dressed as a girl. Now I was off to an public, adult party, and feeling much easier than I had those many years ago, or at my first venture as an adult three years prior.
The BART ride was uneventfull. I caught the first train that arrived, and transfered to another for San Francisco. I got off at a station in downtown San Francisco, and walked to a drugstore, where I found some inexpensive dangly silver-colored earrings. After I had paid for them, I put them on, changed into my silver pumps, and took off my overcoat. I then walked to a nearby surface streetcar stop, and soon boarded a crowded streetcar bound for Castro Street, where one of the parties of the evening, and a march to protest hate crimes and support gay rights, would begin.
The street car went to within a block of Castro Street, and turned back early because of the large number of people at its normal terminal there. I walked the remaining distance up Market Street, retracing my path of three years prior. When I arrived, at about 6:15 p.m., speakers on a sound truck were addressing people about the goals of the march. I took the opportunity to buy a cup of coffee and an apple turnover, as I hadn't eaten yet during the day.
I finished my snack, and shortly afterwards joined the march down Market Street, led by chant leaders and speakers on the sound truck. It was an orderly march, and motorcycle police officers led the march and blocked off traffic as needed. At one point along the route we saw a group of people on the opposite side of the street dressed as penguins, who were waving their wings at us! We waved back, and even the police officer smiled. I also encountered the former president of our group, who had informed us of this march, wearing the same Joan of Arc costume that she had the week earlier at our group's party.
After reaching the Civic Center area on Market Street, the march was to continue to the Hall of Justice in the South of Market area. I had had enough marching, and had previously arranged to meet a friend at a hotel nearby at 8:30 p.m. Unfortunately, the march arrived there 15 minutes later than that, and I found out later that he had been unable to wait. I waited there for a while, then went to an entrance to the outdoor party. There, security people were searching everyone with metal detectors, then without warning, grabbed every accessory such as my wand that people were bringing in with their costume and throwing them into a trash barrel! I angrily insisted that the man who did that to me retrieve it and return it. I asked to speak to a supervisor, but when contacted by radio she refused to come over to talk to me. After calming down, I decided to bring my "dangerous" wand, as well as all of the extra clothing that I was carrying and some of my camera equipment, to the hotel that I had just left, and checked it with the bell captain. The woman at the counter was kind enough to take the picture of me fully equipped, which is shown above.
I then went back to the
entrance, went through the security check, paid the admission
charge, and entered the area. There were many people there,
although with the minority in costume. I met some other Fairy
Godmothers, and saw Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. There
were both people in the standard costumes, and some creative ones
as well. There were two performance stages, and booths selling
food, beverages, and craft items. I bought a chicken-ka-bob to
eat from one of the vendors, and fashioned the skewer and
aluminum foil from it into a wand.Several people asked to take
their pictures with me, and I agreed as long as they took the same
pictures using my camera as well. MSN Sidewalk was taking digital
pictures of people there to post on their web site, so I had them
take the one posted below, showing me there with my improvised
wand.
 |
As is always the case,
and appropriate to my costume, I was constrained by the
magic hour of midnight, when all of the BART
cars which would take me back under the bay would turn
into pumpkins. I left the party in time, went to the
hotel to retrieve my belongs, and joined the mob of
people who were also returning home. After walking home, I reached the point that I enjoy least, when I must take off my makeup and clothes. Despite the encounters with security personnel, it had been a full and wonderful day. |
This page last updated: September 24, 2000
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