It’s been eons since RuPaul dominated the A-town underground club scene, plastering the city with his own posters adhered with wallpaper and wheat paste, frustrating any would-be hoodlums’ attempts to tear down his image.  As he advertised himself in 1983, RuPaul is still “Red Hot.”

At Outwrite Books, Atlanta’s foremost queer bookstore on the corner of 10^th and Piedmont, RuPaul is not in drag.  Still, down to the orange silk kerchief peeking out of his crisp black suit over his purple and pink ribbon-striped collar, he is flawless.  Of course, I am straining to see all of this through the bookstore window.  My friends and I are numbers 225-228 in line to have our books, “Workin’ It: RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style,” signed by the author himself.

Due to what feels to this Georgia Peach like the bitter cold, I have, along with my crew, eschewed the line in favor of drinks at Gilbert’s Mediterranean Cafe a few doors down from Outwrite.  Not that I wouldn’t suffer alongside fellow fans and shiver away the hours if absolutely necessary, but for my money I’d sooner suffer a cocktail.  However, having settled inside a warm booth for a comfortable wait, I slip outside again just in time to hear Rupaul accepting a plaque from some lackey on behalf of Mayor Kasim Reed over Outwrite’s loudspeaker.

Though a California native, Rupaul claims Atlanta as the place he came up, tirelessly traipsing over his competition, working nights at clubs like the now-defunct Club Weekends on Peachtree Street.  Long-time fans will recall RuPaul’s towering high-heeled presence, made all the more transcendent with a red mohawk, his hairstyle at the time.

Now filming the second season of his hit reality series, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” on Logo, RuPaul, having held onto his star with those gorgeous acrylic nails, has traveled a long way from Peachtree Street.  Upon receiving his gift from the Mayor, RuPaul betrays just how long of an absence when he inquires about former Mayor Shirley Franklin.  Apparently no one had told him about the recent election of Kasim Reed but the crowd’s laughter at the mention of former Mayor Franklin tips him off and without missing a beat he says, “Oh, did you vote her out of office?”  Certainly the Mayor will always have his or her perks, but RuPaul will always be the reigning Queen of Atlanta.

Though by no means out of touch with politics, (He purposefully chose the spotlight over retirement to be an example of freedom during the Bush administration), RuPaul is more concerned with being himself and pioneering a way for others to do the same.  His book is in part a revelatory autobiography of how he became successful, complete with how-to tips on putting together the perfect wig down to what he eats for breakfast, as well as a testament to how far diligence and hard work can take you.

If RuPaul’s utilization of drag propelling him to succeed as a frontman, movie star, face of M.A.C. cosmetics, reality show power-diva, and now author is any example, then the limits to success exist only as ideas in the mind.  Whether or not he has a double-wig and a manicure, RuPaul always dons that fierce attitude, commanding all those who strive for stardom, “Girl, you betta work!”

Selected quotes from RuPaul’s new book, Workin’ It! RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style (available at Outwrite Books in midtown):

“When the going gets tough, the tough reinvent.” – pg. 12

“What other people think of me is none of my business.” – pg. 22

“The Saboteur has been practicing a strenuous workout regimen your whole life, but it’s never too late to counterbalance it with positive musculature.” – pg. 21

“My guess is people want to put you in a box with a pretty little bow because reality is far more complex than they’re willing to comprehend.” – pg. 61

“To me, the whole concept of being able to transform your identity with a mop of synthetic hair represented the totality of advancements made in the industrial age: a cheap, non-biodegradable tool of vanity.  It made me feel proud to be an American.” –pg. 83

And my personal favorite:

“Hell, I even think a unibrow is sexy.” – pg. 103

Me too, Ru!

(TheRealAtlanta.com brief photo review of the event and the venue:)

Ghosts of Atlanta Walking Tour
(Every January night at 7:30pm)
Our southern city has been through a lot in its years of existing. In the tour you will experience places where the active spirits are still present. Tours begin at the corner of Ponce De Leon and Peachtree Street at the corner of the Georgian Terrace Hotel.
Reservations

Hip Hop Jam Session at the Apache Café
(5^th at 9:00pm)
The session will include guest DJs and artists, and a chance for everyone to have the mic and jam out with the band. Apache is a very welcoming place, and the cover charge is only five dollars. The café is located at 64 Third St., Atlanta, right in Midtown.
Information

Ladies Night at Loca Luna
(6^th at 8:00pm)
Starting off the night, free salsa lessons will begin at 8:00pm. After that, live salsa and meringue music will be played for your dancing pleasure. It is a free event, but you are welcome to take advantage of their tasty tapas dishes! Loca Luna is located at 550-C Amsterdam Avenue, Atlanta, 30306.
Directions

First Thursday Downtown Artswalk
(7^th from 5:00pm – 8:00pm)
The first Thursday of every month, downtown holds an open walk through galleries at numerous venues for free. You can move at any pace you would like through the cultural and historical downtown.
Information

Christian Finnegan at The Punchline
(7^th at 8:00pm; 8^th at 8:00pm & 10:00pm; 9^th at 7:00pm, 9:00pm, & 11:00pm; 10^th at 8:00pm)
Mr. Finnegan is well known for being a panelist on VH1’s “Best Week Ever” series. He is continuously making appearances on Comedy Central; you may have even seen him on “Chappelle’s Show”. The Punchline strives to present the best working comedians, and with Christian, they are definitely succeeding! The location is 280 Hilderbrand Drive, ATL, in the Balconies shopping center.
Tickets

Improv Act
(8^th at 10:30pm)
The improv act is titled Ask Dr. Frapples. In this act the audience members guide their questions to this psychiatrist, and get possible solutions to your troubles. Dad’s Garage is located inside Inman Park facing Lake Avenue. The exact address is 280 Elizabeth Street, Suite C-101, Atlanta, GA 30307.
Tickets

Behind the Sun plays at Andrews Upstairs
(9^th at 9:00pm)
Behind the Sun is a tribute band devoting their performances to their love of music by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Detroit Mutant Radio will be rocking out with their alternative hip-hop type music as well. East Andrews prides itself as “Atlanta’s most intimate concert setting”. It is located at 56 East Andrews Drive Suite #10.
Tickets

Dweezil Zappa plays at the Variety Playhouse
(11^th at 8:00pm)
Dweezil will be rocking out with his musically inherited guitar talent from his father, along with six other members. This show is a tribute to his father, Frank Zappa. The Playhouse is located at 1099 Euclid Avenue in Little Five Points, close to the Carter Center and Virginia Highlands.
Tickets

The Real Housewives of Atlanta is topping the charts. These girls throw money around like its water. Most houses in Atlanta are huge, and the lifestyles of many people there is just as shallow. I’m from Atlanta, and people ask me all the time, Is it really like that? The answer is YES. Well, I mean not everyone lives as extravagant as the Real Housewives of Atlanta do, but they try to. Atlanta is all about status. See and be seen. Kind of like a mini Hollywood.

Most would consider The Real Housewives of Atlanta gold diggers. What do you think? I think that they are just women who know what they want out of life. However, some of the women seems to have no higher purpose beyond money. That’s the sad part.

Having that said, Kim, to put it bluntly, is a straight gold digger who is a mistress to a married millionaire. She’s a mess. SHE CANNOT SING AT ALL. I don’t know how she thought that she could be a singer. Is she crazy? Plus, the wig has to go. Kim is just trashy to me. She started hanging out with her BFF’s enemy, Sheree, and that was a slap in the face to Nene. Just plain ol’ wrong.

Nene, on the other hand, is loud, ghetto, and tries to be high class but fall flat. She just don’t have it like that. I even heard that she’s getting evicted. Poor girl. Nene should have confronted Kim about Sheree instead of name calling behind her back. Not Classy at all. However, Nene is funny. That would be the only reason I’d hang out with her.

I like Sheree. Sheree is ve?yrclassy and confident. I like the way she handles herself. She doesn’t get involved in the Nene drama. She just does her own thing. During the fashion show fiasco, she remained calm without faltering. She remained in control. The only bad thing I would say about Sheree is that she should have apologized to Nene for the mix up at Sheree’s party. A phone call or something. But, maybe Sheree set Nene up to be embarrassed, which explains why she don’t care about Nene’s feelings.

Lisa, NFL wive, is phoney. She tries to be this “can’t-we-all-get-along” good girl, but she’s not. If she wanted everyone to get along, she would not have told Sheree, who is friends with Kim, that Nene was bad mouthing Kim. That’s fueling the fire, not keeping the peace. She was married to Keith Sweat, a singer of the past, and has two other kids, kids believed to be in Keith’s custody. She seems like the gold digging, typical Atlanta video model chasing money like the rest of them. NEXT!

I have nothing bad to say about Deshawn. She is married to her (NBA player) college sweetheart. She is supportive of him and her family. She has a strong sense of self, and has a desire to use her money to help disadvantaged girls in the foundation she created. She seems to be really sweet and kindhearted. She is, however, a bit outlandish when it comes to the “household staff”, but if I had that kind of money maybe I would be to. She should’ve had a private fundraiser, with paid invites, but she knows better next time.

All in all, the Real Housewives of Atlanta is far better than that the Orange County, and the New York housewives. They are definitely more extravegant and proud of it. With the Mansions, Range Rovers, Bentley’s, diamonds, and Chanel bags, who says we’re in a recession?

A budget – What’s That?

De Williamson is writer who loves to discuss recent topics. She is a also an SEO expert. If you want to learn how to get 1st page rank in search engines, visit http://getevenwithadwords.com

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