Antonio Presents...

Last night I stepped back twenty years at Feathers. From the moment I started looking for white jeans I knew something big was going to happen. Antonio Cedeno Presents Feathers White Winter Party was a humongous success on so many levels. This blog is for Tony and the staff and all the hard work they put out to make last night a memory in many people’s heart.
Many years ago Hank, the manager, would have a team of workers come up with ideas for parties and execute them. The parties were brilliant at the beginning as I had previously mentioned, the jungle party, the USO party was an idea that Marty the bartender came up with. All the bartenders were in military uniforms and the show was a USO show hosted by the Andrew Sisters and guest star, Kate Smith. The dance floor was turned into a MASH tent and the music reflected the era and the current era. There was the Beach Party, the 50’s sock hop, Under the Sea, and so many more. As the years went on the parties got silly and the employee’s lost interest, but Eddie was always there to try and save a theme with his creative decorations. I think the bottom was the “Pumps and Boa” party. The assistant manager at the time went to the thrift store and bought 100 pairs of pumps and threw them on the dance floor.
As the years went on the newer employee’s lost their interest in the bar and put their interest in after hour’s club. Eddie was the only one holding on to the hope that the popular “bar parties” would return. Last night I saw the “old” Eddie in all his joy watching his decorative talents being appreciated and him facing the night with the same excitement that a child experiences the night before Christmas. Eddie puts his heart and soul into that club.
I remember when he was giving the job as manager. We were very close friends at that time and he had so many plans of opening his own dessert café. He was saving and gathering ideas. Hank was fired, for reasons we will discuss later, and the owner had a sit down with Eddie about the future of the club. The owner was going to close the club if Eddie didn’t manage the place- all of us workers would have been out of work. It was the day before Thanksgiving- the busiest bar night-Eddie had a tough choice. If he took the management position, the café would remain a dream. Also, all his friends would be out of work a month before Christmas. Eddie took on the management and Feathers remained an important part of gay history. His café is still a dream, one I am sure he will fulfill-successfully!
Last night also had Tony the bartender step up and show his skills at promoting and leadership. He planned and used every opportunity to guarantee a success. He hired dancers, performers and went around making sure everyone’s spirits were up. He stood at the door greeting everyone and shared smiles with customers and fellow employees alike. He had Dee-Jay’s on both floors and each Dee-Jay performed on the high energy the customers were releasing. John Rizzo played the best of the best. You didn’t want to leave the dance floor. Just as you did another song came on that had you back on the floor. Lady Tita played like she was on fire. Comments like, “I have been trying to get upstairs for the past hour, but the music is just too good down here” were being spoken by many. I am still amazed at seeing security that actually looks like security and not bus stop vagrants sleeping in a corner. (That comment also goes to Eddie’s big heart)
I, also, saw many of the employee’s that weren’t working there to support their co-worker and club. Hank had a rule that we had to be at every party whether we were working or not. We had to support Feathers and be there even on our nights off. The workers became promoters. Hank’s thinking was that the bartenders could convince their friends to come to Feathers and not another club. They mingled with customers that they may not have time to chat with when they are behind the bar. Customers have a chance to laugh with the workers that are out of reach for them. They see the workers as humans and they like that. Feathers was never about being the best polished club, or the trendiest- it was always about the spirit.
Last night, for the first time in many years the spirit returned. . There was a moment of sadness for me when I realized that this was the first successful party that I wasn’t a party of. Now, I am not implying that all the parties the club has throw has been bad, it’s just that last night’s party had spirit and smiles and so often those were missing.
Till Tomorrow- Be kind