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Ox Images asked Deb and Stephanie of Halcyon to define their new venue "Play" at the grand opening, May 1st 2010.

Our goal? Clarification.  After receiving numerous invitations from Facebook Pages, ProSuzy, MyQmunity, The Gaybor Coalition, etc.  It was still not really clear what exactly this new venue, called "Play," was all about.  So, Ox Images asked the head "enchiladies" directly.

Our Casual Interview

In "Play's" modern style tiki courtyard, the crowd was starting to simmer down and Deb and Stephanie of Halcyon finally had a moment to catch their breath.  Ox Images caught up with the fabulous pair as they were excitedly reviewing their bustling opening night.  From all accounts it was an extremely successful evening.  Do you want to hear a secret?  During our casual interview, we were told that was just an introduction to "Play" and the best is yet to come.  Be sure to check out their website for upcoming events by clicking either of the pictures within this blog.   These two women actually fit the definition of the word halcyon.  Which was compounded by an awesome gesture during the interview.  Wait until you read this and see what they did, as well as what they have in store for "Play" in Ybor.

 

 

Ox Images, "Hi, my name is Amanda, with Ox Images, could I ask you a quick question or two?"

Halcyon, "Sure, go ahead."

Ox Images, "I don't know if you remember me, we met while you were playing at the HoneyPot for Sugar, you were upstairs in the VIP..."

Halcyon, "Stop, stop....I remember you, yeah, yeah, yeah...how are you?  What's going on?"

Ox Images, "I'm great, thank you...and you are obviously keeping busy.  (Proud, sweaty nodd from Halcyon here.)  So, you know your picture got published in Watermark, but did you see my blog on you?  I sent it to your MySpace page."

Halcyon, "Pfft, we hardly ever use MySpace anymore.  Facebook-Twiitter, that's where we are at now."

Ox Images, "Perfect," with sarcasm, "because I only joined MySpace to send it to you.  I have not been on it since."

We shared a laugh over the hilarity of our missed correspondence.

Ox Images, "So, does, "Come out and play at Play!" mean that audience members are going to actually go up on stage and play music or is it more of a "Come out and play at Play!" to get your groove on and dance at our new night club?  The advertising was a little vague, and the DJ tonight isn't really playing your type of music (or mine!)  I was hoping you could clarify what exactly your new place is going to be about...and is "Play" just for lesbians or LGBT or whoever? "

Halcyon, "This is a venue for ALL PEOPLE who love music, not just the LGBT community.  It is not a nightclub...although we might host events with a DJ from time to time.  We are going to have Kareoke, comedy and bands.  The DJ is not going to be the norm here.  We are mostly about live music...and no, the idea is not to have the customers play...but often times the band may call a member of the audience up to perform with them.  That is up to the individual band.  Our vision is for this to be the kind of place where all kinds of people can come and listen to great music...and who knows what else.  We have received hundreds of ideas from everyone here tonight.  There is a lot of excitement about this place.  Although we have a vision for this place, we are still fluid at this point of it's final destination.  Where ever "Play" is supposed to land, it will."  She finished that description as if posed on a surfboard, riding a wave.  Feet apart, knees bent, and an awesome arm gesture that moved in a wave pattern that eventually leveled out horizontally. Creative people are always fun to watch talk, and Halcyon was no exception on this beautiful night.

After photographing Halcyon for Watermark in October, it was clear these two women were going to do something great with music.  It's in their soul, an undeniable passion within each of them.  Their love of music has found yet another outlet at their new venue called "Play."  Now that we actually know what it's all about, we'll definately be following them on FaceBook.

"Play" is such a great word to make lovely suggestive innuendos out of that we urge you to do so in the comment section below...just please try to keep it fairly clean.

A special thank you to Halcyon for answering my questions and for being a fan of "humanity" in general.  So many people are completely missing the point...it's equality, not superiority for all of humanity!  Okay, I'm getting off my soap box now and going out to "Play!"  See you there!

Amanda Vagianos, Type-A-Mom Lesbian Moms Editor, is passionate about organizing, creating, and bringing people together.  She does this through the Ox Babies LGBT Play Group, photography business and blog she runs.