A Lady Named CHANEL DEVEREAUX. ♕

Day after day we run and hurry to get to work and to be on time, hope for time to complete multiple tasks and reach the point of goal achievements or even pass our goals, all while delivering outstanding customer service and selling the goods and services of the company we represent, always looking polish, fresh and smiling, trying to block the fact that we'll be working on the weekend as well, and when we finish,. we get to do it ALL Over again.! the following week.

Chanel Devereaux as 'Church Lady Bingo'

One Sunday night after a long exhausting week I decided to go out and try to have a little fun time, sort of sacrificing rest and sleepy time to catch up whit life out of work, so I decided to go to one of my favorite bars in town 'OMEGA' a place where I have always felt comfortable and among friends, I used to visit the bar since the early 1990's when it used to be called 'The Fraternity House'
Back those days I was working in Dupont Circle at the Soho Tea & Coffee Shop at night and had more chance to have fun while working. I really miss those days.

Chanel opening the Bingo Game

That night I walked into the Bar and Howard was working behind the bar, a familiar face, I saw a stack of Bingo cards sitting on the bar and Howard said: - Tonight is Bingo Night.! with a big smile on his face, I though : - Oh Jesus.! Not on my night out.!

Prize winner Alex gets a sex-novelty figurine

I had never played Bingo before, so I decided to give it shot,. when the host arrived 'fashionably late' I saw this tall, strong Drag Queen dressed in a black skirt suit with her up do hair style and a lot of sassiness.! as the game started her personality totally took over the place and her natural way to talk SEX with the most crude worlds was totally funny,. I found myself laughing out loud non stop all night long.! the evening was a total unexpected success and exactly what I needed at the time.

Chanel in a Spring outfit 

The weekly visit to Omega on Sunday night became my one thing to do every week that was just for Me.! as I continue visiting the bar I also learned to know much more of the Persona that Chanel Devereaux was, I got to see further from the comedy and the makeup that makes this personage.

Performing at Nelly's 

Chanel is one of the most hard working people I have ever met, she's part of the cast of "Drag City DC" a reality show portraying a group of ladies who use their Drag personas to give back to the community and they do it Drag Queen Style : on roller skates, dance on the pole or take over New York City with confidence and fierceness.!

Ladies of Drag City DC in the streets of New York City

Chanel also performs on Saturday nights at the 'Apex Club', where she has opportunity to shine on stage along with fellow performers such as Shequeeta Lee and Riley to mention a few, Apex is  the same place I used to go dancing years ago when the place was called 'Badlands'.

Arriving to show at Apex, Chanel rocking Red Hair.

She does her Drag Show all night and manages to be at work early the next morning to be part of the most popular sunday brunch in Washington DC at Nelly's Sports Bar, where she is not only a performer but also has to wait on tables, people lines outside the establishment to be able to come inside and have a great brunch, but mostly to enjoy the phenomenal show delivered by the outstanding group of Drag waitresses , sort of speaking.!.

Sunday Brunch at Nelly's 

 Chanel has a lot of energy and and it shows when after working all day at Nelly's she gathers her strength to deliver a fresh and dynamic performance at night at Omega where she becomes The Church Lady of Bingo Night and keeps the audience engage and laughing all night long with the help of her sidekick bartender Howard, to whom she ask week after week " Gladys, did you have sex this week.?" and the answer is always, No.! ( Howard's Drag Persona used to be Gladys Marie, he has put his Drag show on hold this days.)

Working the pole, Chanel & Riley

Chanel takes advantage of the arriving audience also, she targets every person walking thru the door to bring some comedy to the environment of the evening : "Hello there white girl.! come on in."  "Well, we have straight boys in the house.!"  "Come on in,.walk to the light, I don't bite, unless you pay me to,.!"
as the evening goes by, so do the unusual prizes for the winners, besides free drinks winners get Gay Porn or Sex theme Novelties.
After calling endless bingo number and talking about current topics and making fun of herself, Chanel ends the night with her trade mark closing line :  " If you liked me, my name is Chanel Devereaux,. If you did Not like me, my name is Ella Fitzgerald.!" that line Never fails to give the audience a final laugh for Sunday night.

Chanel closing the Bingo Show on Sunday night 

There's a talented lady in town and her name is Chanel Devereaux, A Drag Star who is also someones child, sister, best friend, a grateful human being who treasures the people who support her performances,.. As a closing. Some wisdom words from Chanel Devereaux herself :

    " Life is what you make of it, So live it the way you want to,. Without regrets and with love,
       Even to those who have gooked you in the past. "  - Chanel Devereaux.-

I love meeting new people and Chanel is one of the most fascinating persons I have met in a long time,. her talent, her humor and her charm a beautiful person,.. For Your Eyes Only.

Loyal And Loving Friends.

Ever since I was a kid I recall having a pet in my household, I may have been 5 or 6 when we had 2 cats, Gitana (Gipsy) she was long haired with beautiful white, black  and gray hair  and Payaso (clown) the second one got that name because of his colors and this big white patch around his left eye, they were a lot of fun, they were like the babies of the house and we used to play with them all the time,. one time when we went on vacation left the cats for a neighbor to watch them and when we got back, they were gone, both were taken by someone and we never saw them again.

After losing our cats our mom decided to get a dog instead and months later we got this gorgeous female German Shepherd we call her Pantera (Panther) she was the most friendly and playful, we love that dog, as the years went by Pantera got pregnant and had, I believe 8 poppies from which we kept one and we called him Guardian (Guard) and he sure guard the house real good, that little guy could fight another dog without nattering the size, he also protected us kids, whenever a stranger or someone he wasn't familiar with approached us, he would start getting ready to attack, which was a problem for my teenage sister because Guardian would scare away her pretenders.

As the years went by we had several dogs,. after we lost Pantera and Guardian ( most of our dogs died from poisoning, animal control in El Salvador killed dogs on the streets, even when they were wearing their tags.)

My Parakeets Catherine and Gregory

We also had a parakeet, his name was Goyito and he was my moms joy, he was a funny little fella, he would whistle and dance, there was always music in my house, TV could be off all day, but music was never absent.

Our next dog was Negro (Black) Dad gave him that name because he was dark shiny black and we also got an unusual pet, A Piggy.! was a piglet, so really cute and we called him Muneco (Doll) the most amazing thing was that the dog and the pig became the best of friends, I don't think that Muneco felt as a pig, I really believe that he tough he was a dog, those two used to go to the park every afternoon and play, run, and Negro always kept people from coming to close to Muneco, since pigs in El Salvador are not seen as pets, but like pure food.!
they slept together and had their food station next to each other, they both went for a walk when nature called, it was fun having them.

The last dog we had in my family was Yesca (Tinder) he was a very good dogie, didn't go out that much, liked being at home, he was all the time following my Mom around the house, he was only 3 when we lost him in an accident.

Catherine and Gregory

We didn't get any dogs or cats after that, things change around my home, my older sister had left, my brother moved to live with my father in America and in the early 80's my other sister follow, being just Mom and myself and two businesses to attend, there was not time for caring for a pet, I started traveling frequently due to my modeling career and years later my Mother's health declined, life at home was totally different from the early years.

Was until early 1992 that I had pets again, now I was on my own, my Mother had passed away and the rest of my family was living in different cities of America, my brother gifted to me two parakeets and I named them Catherine and Gregory, they were good company, every morning they were singing and swinging their heads, was nice having the company of those two, they really put a smile on my face every day.

Brooklyn as a puppie

later that year I adopted a doggie, mixture of Collie and English Shepherd, I named him Brooklyn, by the dislike of my neighbors who were Jehova Witnesses and claimed that Brooklyn was the city were their religion had been started and had religious significance for them, however I did not change his name and as the time went by, they became very attached to that dog.
Sadly I lost all my pets during the invasion of the terrorist groups in the City of San Salvador,. there were bombings and grenades, many houses were destroyed and people forced to leave their homes with nothing, but the clothes they were wearing.

Little Miss Sophia

I moved to America short time later and after 16 years living in this country I have a pet for the first time in my new life as an American Citizen and is a kitty, her name is Sophia and she's a rescued cat, we adopted her from the Humane Society and she has brought so much joy and happiness to our lives that is unbelievable, Sophia is 9 years old and so playful, her favorite play time is 3:am, she runs, jumps and grabs things and trow them on the air, she also comes around the bed every morning when she hears me getting up and jumps on the bed and meows at me like if she was talking to me, maybe because I talk to her all the time.! as playful as she is, her favorite toy is a simple piece of paper, when she finds a paper to play with, she's happy.!
Sophia will be having a birthday in June, she was also featured in the 2011 calendar of the Humane Society for the month of June.

Sophia with her toys

Sophia's morning daily moment looking out the window.

I think everyone should allow themselves to have a pet to love and be loved by,. is worth the effort and expense, they are loyal and love you no matter what..!
my love for all animals was inherited from both my parents and I thank them for that,.. this tale of animal love has been For Your Eyes Only.

The Glory of Old Latin Films

It has been nearly impossible for film makers in Latin America to overcome the quality of the Gold Era in Mexican and Spanish Cinema, from the felt performances to the action heros of the 40's and 50's when actors like Pedro Infante, Maria Felix and Sara Montiel filled the screen with masterful performances where the delivery of the lines came as poetry in motion from their mouths and made the audience to believe the suffering of the moment or enjoy the cheer of facial expression of the actor.

Luis Aguilar and Pedro Infante "A Toda Maquina" 1951

We all cried with 'Pepe El Toro' and 'La Chorreada' when their house burned to the ground killing their toddler "Torito" and we also laugh when 'La Tostada' y 'La Guayaba' enter the scene barely keeping their balance y talking non senses for being so drunk.

Pepe El Toro & La Chorreada after losing their baby in a fire.

"La Tostada Y La Guayaba'

Acting during those days was a serious delivery of emotions transmitted by the actor to an audience who captured the feelings of the character being played, sensing the moment thru the worlds and body language of the actor, German Valdez "Tin Tan" was able to make the audience laugh and feel the need to dance when seeing his Mambo movements on stage, for their part Ninon Sevilla and Tongolele were the pleasure of men eyes and envy of women, the classic Bedettes of the cabaret shows during the 40's when exotic dancers entered the stage on over the top outfits and voluptuous bodies, dancing and even singing,. In the case of Olga Bresking during the 60's she was also playing the violin.

Ninon Sevilla in the 1940's

German Valdez "TinTan"

The action hero of cinema back then was the regular guy, A cop on a motorcycle such as Pedro Infante in "A Toda Maquina", the landowner, The fight rooster breeder, the ordinary citizen soldier during the revolution as in the case of Maria Felix in "La Generala"

Blanca Estela Pavon "La Chorreada" 1946

Without the need of especial effects or body stoners the directors and actors were able to deliver a masterpiece of classic quality films that has survive generations, as audiences of all ages are still enjoy and embrace this movies and characters such as "Juana Gallo" " "Tizoc" "Pepe El Toro" "La Soldadera' and many more.

Silvia Pinal as "La Soldadera" 1966

Mexican Diva Maria Felix

Glory of those days went to actors who to this days are and will always be the pioneers of acting on the big and small screen, many of them are gone now, but their legacy will survive for many generations to come,. We all give a stand up ovation to those who made us love The Movies:
 Silvia Pinal ( La Soldadera, Viridiana, La Hermana Trinquete, etc) Blanca Estela Pavon ( Nosotros Los Pobres, Ustedes Los Ricos, etc) Maria Felix ( La Cucaracha, Tizoc, La Mujer Sin Alma, etc) Jorge Negrete, Evita Munoz 'Chachita', Katty Jurado, Dolores Del Rio, Sarita Montiel, Carmen Montejo, Andres Soler, Sara Garcia, Silvia Dervez and many others.

Marga Lopez 1950

Maria Victoria. famous for her starring role in "La Criada Bien Criada"

One of the Eternal Classics of Latin American Cinema

Temperamental Diva from Spain Sarita Montiel.

I feel privileged to have been able to enjoy their art and felt the emotions that many years ago they perpetuated for an eternity beyond their own existence,.and very much will remain after my own,. this visit to the Gold Days of Latin Cinema has been For Your Eyes Only.

MEDIA INFLUENCES

Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman

As I remember my childhood the influences of Television, Magazines and the movies was already there,. however the impact was nowhere near of the way is this days, I grew up with regular toys, comic books, sports, crafts and Radio,. I remember seating around the Radio to listen the stories told in the afternoon,. the same tales from Disney,. but on the Radio, Cinderella, Snow White and the 7 dwarves and other more local such as Epaminonda, 1 Ojito, 2 Ojitos,. 3 ojitos etc.

Lindsay Wagner " The Bionic Woman

I was also a day dreamer kid,. had my heros that I followed such as Wonder Woman, ( Loved the Outfit.!) The Bionic Woman ( I wanted her strength and beauty.) The Hardy Boys ( Shaun was just too cute.!), Angie Dickinson as 'Police Woman.' and the funny Mexican hero 'El Chapulin Colorado' I loved that show with the cowardly hero who always solve the crime by pure luck.

Roberto Gomez Bolanos as El Chapulin Colorado

 But I was mostly into cartoons, some of my very favorites were: Namor God Of The Seas, he was so strong and wore a speedo, Birdman, Spiderman, The Flintstones, Every day at 4:pm I was religiously watching The Flintstones, I can't remember my childhood without them, the whole Hanna Barbera saga was a must watch for me and my siblings,. later I got into Bugs Bunny, Bugs cough my attention when I saw him in drag, wearing a blonde wig and a black gown trying to fool Elmer, and I thought he was just too cool.!

Birdman.

I also enjoyed Heidi, the swiss little girl who comes to live on the Alps with her grandpa and gets taken away to Germany,.Man.! that story always made me cry.!

Scooby Doo gang and The Mystery Machine.

Then of course Scooby Doo was just such a different type of show with the mysteries, Plus the 'Mystery Machine' and monsters and I loved the song at the beginning, I think that's how I got started into Horror movies, which I totally Love.!

The Flintstones

In the movies the very first movie I ever watched was "The Thief Of Baghdad" I remember loving the bright colors of the outfits and the heroine long pony tail.
I grew up in a time when computer was not around in every household and cell phone was matter of fiction we used to see in the James Bond movies, people was not so involved in celebrities lives, and fashion had a much more glamorous stage than designer name and price tag, it was about a personal style and learning to carry yourself to project your personality instead of a brand name written across people's chest or repeated in a busy print all over a hand bag.

The One and Only 'Daisy Duke'

I guess that as I became a teenager I identified better with shows such as Chip's, seeing Eric Estrada in those tight  pants was just too appealing, and then The Dukes Of Hazard with their tight jeans, but I must confess that my favorite was Daisy Duke, so sexy and beautiful.!

Eric Estrada and Larry Wilcox "Chips' "

When the Charlie's Angels showed up the whole nation was blown away with these three Awesome detectives who were so damn beautiful and brave,.man and women of all ages wanted to be part of The Angels Era, men had erotic dreams while women copy their fashion and hair styles.

Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith " The Charlie's Angels

Namor (left) Prince Of The Oceans

Heidi The Little Girl of the Alps

When the time came for me to be taken as an adult (14 years of age in my case.) I had fashion sense, an opinion, sense of humor and was also a good listener, I don't think that I copied any of my heros, but I absorbed some of their style and sometimes when I was modeling I would take reference of Jamie Summers or Kelly Garret, why not.? I even was daring just like Namor in the deep sea, I could see myself as a Super Hero,.. Honestly my living role model was always my Mother, I have never met anyone as determined and brave as she was.
So this are some of my childhood influences that I still enjoy watching sometimes,. The heroes and Heroines that we all seek in life,. This is For Your Eyes Only.

I Breathe Music!. Air is just there.

Ever since I remember my life,.Music has been an important ingredient for my daily routine,. Being Latino, I grew listening to a mixture of cultural musical expressions,. My father was a loyal fan of Creedence Clear Water Revival and Ray Conniff,. He also introduced me to an artistic expression that I had not heard before. Poetry, he used to play records of "El Indio Duarte" from Uruguay, with poems like "El Duelo Del Mayoral" and "Porque No Tomo Mas."

Camilo Sesto from Spain

My mother on the other hand had passion for Mariachi Music by Lucha Villa and Juan Gabriel,. But her very favorite was Camilo Sesto, a tall handsome singer from Spain, when she was in a bad mood my sister Rubi and I knew that playing his music would make her feel much better.
she also enjoyed fun rhythms like the Cumbias and Gaitas from Colombia and the humorous local Salvadorian groups.
Being the baby of the family I also got to enjoy the love for the Music my siblings were devoted to,. My older sister was an Abba fan,. she used to daydream of being the blond girl of the group.

My brother was into Kc and Sunshine Band as well as Mexican group Los Bukis, plus some Rock bands such as Kiss and Black Sabath. my other sister was a Disco fan and also a romantic,. With her I learn to love Disco artist such as Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor and The Village People, but also the slow songs from Bee-Gees and The Carpenters, our household was filled of vinyl 45's and Lp's .

Orquesta Internacional de Los Hermanos Flores, The favorites  in El Salvador.

As I got to be a teenager I developed my own taste for Music and descovered that I love the old School Music better, such as The Supremes, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and Engelbert Humperdinck,. But I also found myself singing along with tropical beats such as Orquesta Hermanos Flores, Las Chicas del Can or Rey Ruiz,. I also got love for Tango, Carlos Gardel, Amelita Baltar and others,. But El Salvador is rich on musical expressions and their trade mark is Cumbia Music and I loved Orquesta Casino, Grupo Bravo and Fredy Zelada.

But Music has so much more to offer and I also embraced Classic Music, discovered my passion for Johan Sebastian Bach and his concerts of violin and organ, some of the most beautiful music ever made, Classic Music lead me to Opera, where I fell in love with Maria Callas who transported me to an unknown dimension of musical ecstasy, her voice and temperamental interpretation.

Maria Callas at Lascalla in Milan, Italy

However living in a Latin country the influences are from other genres and I open my heart to Mambo, Corridos and Rancheras with great exponents such as Damazo Perez Prado, Los Tigres del Norte, Vicente Fernadez and Lola Beltran. But there were also young Spanish Rock singers and bands such as my very favorite Alejandra Guzman, Alaska y Dinarama and Los Enanitos Verdes.

Los Enanitos Verdes with hits such as "La Muralla Verde"

I live in America now and I am in Music heaven.! we have it all in America,. Soon after my arrival I found Texano Music with Selena, Hip Hop with my girl Queen Latifah, Country with Bryan White, Lonestar and the queen of country Ms.Loretta Lynn, Easy Listening with the one and only Elton John, and many other artist who I love,. Pink, Jon Von Jovi, Enrique Iglesias, Michael Jackson, Jakob Dylan and the Wallflowers.

The best exponent of Ranchero, Vicente Fernandez

Rocker and Mexican Icon Alejandra Guzman

The Bad Boy of the Circuit, Talented D J Jipsta

Forever The Queen of Texano Music, Selena

And most recently I discovered the Amazing JIPSTA with his 'Nasty Boy vs Nasty Girl' and 'Party of the Year' with an upcoming album "Bandoozle" with great songs such as "Internet Kill The Clubs" and "Too New York". Album that he created and produced as an independent music artist.
Music is one of the most beautiful and felt expressions that comforts the soul, life is much better because of music.
I don't understand people who don't enjoy music, life would be such a sad mute without Music,. The day I die I want the music to play long and loud as my life is celebrated.
This memory of my love affair with music has been For Your Eyes Only.

Columbia Heights,.an upscale neighborhood.

During the last decade the area previously know under many names, depending of who was talking about it,.. is now know as Columbia Heights and it has become not only a prosperous area, but also one of the most expensive in Washington DC, North West section, fancy residential buildings, boutique retail stores have taken the place of little dollar stores and small family own grocery stores. With much more fancy residents the area has bloomed into a very demanding area to live in, a busy commercial sector right in front of the Columbia Heights Metro Station with shops that before were found only outside the District such as Best Buy and Target.

Shopping Mall at Columbia Heights.

down in the sector of Logan Circle we find the most fancy home decor and furniture stores, but I'm still enjoy better my trips to the 'Ruff and Ready' (Just dress down, you'll get dusty!.) where I usually found great treasures for a great price to furnish my place and is fun looking thru the many items in the place, is like hunting for a treasure.

U St. Metro station- Green Line

Shopping and dinning in the area is easier when walking or riding Metro,.U St, Cardozo Station on the corner of 13th and U St, and Columbia Heights Metro Station on the corner of 14th and Irving St.
Three bigger and fancier supermarkets have replaced smaller and cheaper ones, such as the last Latin Store left in the area "Mercadito Ramos" now people has the option of the newly remodel Giant store or more gourmet ones like Yes Organic and Whole foods.

Two new buildings on the corner of 14th St and Florida Ave.

Sait-Ex offers great fun at night and the Best brunch on weekends.

One of the areas changing soon, corner of 14th St and Florida Ave.

The night life is unbelievable, the busiest restaurants and night clubs in the U Street area with well dressed patrons looking forward for a night of dinning and fun at Club Gin, The Eatonville, Bar Pilar and of course one of everyones favorite 'Bus Boys and Poets',.And if it's Sunday morning, brunch is Great at Saint-Ex and Bar Pilar.

Latin grocery store "Mercadito Ramos"

Bar at Busboys and Poets.

 entertainment is available for all tastes and budgets, from hamburger and Pizza places to fancy Italian restaurants,.it is wonderful to see the growth of our loved city,.come and enjoy the 14Th St. Strip from Columbia Heights to Thomas Circle,.the sight is For Your Eyes Only.