Well here we are… let the countdown begin to the World Series. To be honest, I’ve historically never been a fan of professional sports, but for some reason it’s started taking hold with these damn Yankees.
Tonight I spent my after-work hours at….are you ready for this….Applebees. Why, you might ask? I’ll tell you. Because I had a mean hankering for some boneless buffalo wings and spinach/artichoke dip. I swear it’s still the best I’ve ever had, and that’s the truth.
Along with that came the beer (cue the gas) and a flat screen of the NY Yankees vs the LA Angels. To my consternation, a 30-something single brunette from LA sporting a bright red Angels hat and the loudest God damned mouth I’ve ever heard in my life plops her cute little Levi’s right next to my chair.
Within moments she had – all by herself, mind you – screamed more obscenities at the TV than should be allowed in public and called her father (at work) to give play-by-plays.
Anyone who knows me is well aware I’m not a big sports fan, per se, but when it’s an important Yankees game and you’re in a fucking Applebees on 50th and Broadway the least you could do is keep your rotten LA attitude in check.
The game went into overtime, naturally, and the more Stellas she drank the louder she got. I had to leave after the 10th inning to head uptown because I was either going to buy another pint just to crush her skull with the glass or head back uptown. Yanks lost 5-4, but there’s always tomorrow night.
Filed under: New York City, theater | Tags: Bill Irwin, Elaine Stritch, John Glover, John Goodman, Nathan Lane, NY Mag, NYC, Roundabout Theatre, Studio 54, Waiting For Godot
Newly gracing the stage of landmark Studio 54 comes Roundabout Theatre’s revival of Samuel Beckett’s bleak masterpiece, Waiting for Godot. Packed with a powerhouse cast (presumably to provoke lagging ticket sales across the board) starring Nathan Lane as Estragon, Bill Irwin as sidekick Vladimir, the enormous and bawdy John Goodman as Pozzo and the remarkable John Glover as his mute slave, aptly named Lucky.
The show revolves around two seemingly homeless men waiting for someone – or something – named Godot on a barren stretch of road. A comedic wordplay of poetry, dreamscapes and nonsense, this production sidesteps the all-too-easy banality of minimalist plays and delivers a show that lives up to its intent – a somber summation of mankind’s grueling quest for meaning. 
Conjuring haggard images of Laurel and Hardy, Lane & Irwin personify the desperate absurdity of their situation with long pauses and heavy sighs, but packing enough laughs to keep you from checking your watch every ten minutes, which is no easy feat for such a bleak storyline. As Elaine Stritch was quoted saying in New York Magazine, “if that play isn’t funny, it’s one long fucking night in the theater.”
After the fashion show ended and the donations were in, we headed over to this year’s Tribeca Film Festival Filmmaker Industry Party at uber-chic M2 Ultra Lounge on west 28th street. The main room was packed to the gills with the industry’s best writers, producers, directors and production crews, while the upstairs lounge remained comparatively low-key for the laid-back conversationalists. 
Complimentary drinks provided some social lubrication among the awkward emo-filmy types, and the dj kept it fresh with some old-school beats with a twist. High above the audience floated aerialists and costumed performers who rotated acts throughout the night, providing a night of wide-eyed spectacles for those lucky enough to sneak their name on the guest list.
Thankfully I worked my own way in, as even my best friend who did the event’s pr couldn’t swing a plus one. I’m tellin ya, the things you have to do in this town…
Filed under: New York City, openings & events | Tags: Chanel Iman, Christian Siriano, Design Cares, fashion show, New York City, Phillip Bloch, Ramona Singer, Saks Fifth Avenue, St. Jude, Veronica Webb
St. Jude’s annual Design Cares event, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, glittered up the Lexington Ave. Armory on Thursday evening, April 30th. Hosts Phillip Bloch, the glamorous Chanel Iman and Veronica Webb led the evening with witty anecdotes and playful banter to support the world-renown children’s research hospital.
Even walking through the “Tunnel of Hope” from the entrance into the cavernous space, you get a sense that you’re about to experience something truly awe-inspiring. The faces and stories of children whose lives St. Jude’s saved lined the walls, and the red carpet was truly a who’s who of New York’s most generous (and wealthy) to support the cause.
Thirty six designers in total, including the likes of Vera Wang, Gucci, Lagerfeld and Valentino, all donated a dress to be auctioned off, as well as a host of equally scintillating items in the silent auction that accompanied the evening. Samplings from twenty five fabulous restaurants lined the perimeter, serving every delectable from crab cakes to bread pudding.
To add to the festivities, two St. Jude patients, Courtney, 7, and Micah, 8, were chosen to have their dream gown designs interpreted by none other than Project Runway’s Christian Siriano and the eccentric Tian Justman. The girls beamed as they walked hand in hand with their models (also patients) and their designers, both to resounding applause from a tear-filled audience.
Sightings: Christian Siriano, gal pal Ramona Singer (from Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York) and dashing husband Mario, Phillip Bloch, Chanel Iman, Kerry Bannigan (CEO, Nolcha Fashion Week), Veronica Webb
Featured Designers: John Galliano, Vera Wang, Alberta Ferretti, Nicole Miller, Neil Bieff, J. Mendel, Christian Cota, Reem Acra, Jonvaldi Couture, Diane von Furstenberg, Maggie Norris Couture, Versace, Edwin D’Angelo, Domenico Vacca, Catherine Malandrino, Angel Sanchez, Gucci, Matthew Williamson, Marc Jacobs Collection, Luca Luca, Yigal Azrouel, Carolina Herrera, Zuhair Murad, Michael Kors, Chado Ralph Rucci, Valentino, Badgley Mischka, Adrienne Landau, B Michael, Carlos Alberto, David Meister, J. Gerard, Narciso Rodriguez, and Karl Lagerfeld
Filed under: New York City, gay, openings & events, theater | Tags: Ana Gasteyer, Broadway Beauty Pageant, Cheyenne Jackson, michael musto, Mr. Broadway, New York City, Symphony Space, Tovah Feldshuh
As the rest of the world fussed over Miss USA, the only pageant that mattered to gal pal Michael Musto and I was last night’s “Broadway Beauty Pageant” held at the fabulous Symphony Space on Manhattan’s upper west side. The third incarnation of this event to benefit the Ali Forney Center (an incredible organization that shelters and mentors lgbt youth) sang, danced and laughed the night away with extraordinary men from the casts of The Little Mermaid, Wicked, Hair, The Lion King, and Billy Elliot. Each contestant went head-to-head in talent, swimsuit, and interview competitions for the coveted title of Mr. Broadway…and a one hundred dollar gift certificate to Bamboo 52.
The hilariously Jewish four-time Tony nominee Tovah Feldshuh hosted the pageant, and though the winner was ultimately chosen American Idol-style by audience vote, the panel of judges consisting of Charles Busch, the side-splitting Ana Gasteyer, Beth Leavel, and accompanist extraordinaire Seth Rudetsky. All were graciously on hand to provide some hilarious (and sometimes inappropriate) commentary that kept the show moving.
Although the competition was tough and all performances were fabulous, Hair’s Anthony Hollock brought down the house with his awkward combination trumpet solo/tumbling gymnastics/Irene Cara impersonation and ultimately accepted the crown as Mr. Broadway 2009. My vote was for the adorable Mr. Billy Elliot, but to each his own.
Last year’s pageant winner, Mr. Marty Thomas, closed the show with a breathtaking (and often hilarious) rendition of I Will Always Love You before releasing us downstairs to the after party. Never have I heard such an easily blundered song performed so beautifully…and by a man! Well…an effeminate man sporting a bedazzled silver blazer, but a man nonetheless!
Sightings: Tovah Feldshuh pushing her way in through the throngs of gay men crowding the box office ten minutes before the show started. Broadway heartthrob Cheyenne Jackson & his mystery baseball cap-wearing chemist boyfriend looking adorable up in the balcony.
Filed under: New York City, openings & events, restaurants | Tags: Choice Eats, events, New York City, restaurants, The Village Voice
Tuesday March 31st brought The Village Voice’s second annual “Choice Eats” tasting event, held at the 69th Armory on Lexington Avenue. Featuring 56 restaurants in 37 categories (not to mention roughly 4,297 liquor, beer and wine sponsors), the armory was filled to capacity with foodies from all over New York scarfing down as much as free grub as they could to warrant the almost-too-moderate $30 ticket price. Robert Sietsema, the famed Village Voice food critic, hand-picked each participating restaurant for one of their signature dishes, and there was a smattering of everything from tongue sandwiches to stuffed peppers to your everything-but-basic staple of homemade bread and butter. Don’t miss next year’s inevitably sold out event, because in times like these, it’s worth every penny.
Filed under: New York City, everyday living, restaurants | Tags: brunch, calle ocho, NYC, sangria open bar, upper west side
One of the upper west side’s most fabulous eateries, the pan-Latin-fusion-global hangout known as Calle Ocho located on 81st street and Columbus Ave., just announced they will be rolling over their famed sangria brunches to include Saturdays as well! That’s not one, but two chances to spend twelve bucks on a mediocre meal with a tantalizing unlimited (!!) sangria bar at your disposal. A nice departure from the more common bloody mary and mimosa sect, the array of wine/liquor/fruit blends is refreshing, delicious and perfect for a long afternoon with friends.
Comprised of four white and four red varietals, the self-serve bar is free of charge, with fresh fruits floating aplenty and enough glasses for the whole table to have a sampling. Although the brunch food is overall sub-par (when compared to the delectable dinner menu) there’s something for everybody, and if you’re still feeling peckish after your meal, there’s enough rum, wine and brandy-soaked fruit to fill you right up. Just make sure to call ahead for a reservation, because the gaggle of barely competent hostesses is likely to keep you waiting otherwise.
Filed under: New York City, everyday living, theater | Tags: City Center, Encores, Kristin Chenowith, Music In The Air, Sierra Boggess
NY City Center Encores!
February 5-8, 2009
Kristin Chenowith and Sierra Boggess, both with powerhouse voices and enormous attitude, lit up this wonderfully obscure operetta at City Center last Friday. Set in Munich, it follows the story of a cooky father and his daughter through their crazy introduction to the world of professional theater, and a somewhat stunted rise to the top. A Kern and Hammerstein collaboration, it first premiered in 1932 and has some gorgeous (albeit borderline nauseatingly repetitive) refrains that remind you of old-school musical theater, pre Sir Elton and Sir Webber, that are adapted beautifully by the gigantic on-stage orchestra.
Filed under: New York City, everyday living, gay, theater | Tags: Blanche DuBois, Blanche Survives Katrina, NYC, one man show, Soho Playhouse, Tennessee Williams
Continuing the weekly tradition of checking out a new show somewhere around town, over the weekend I experienced my first one-man play in ages, and quickly remembered why I avoid them like small children. “Blanch Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire” was the title (yup, all of it), and although it packed the Soho Playhouse, was a dull attempt at channeling one of Tennessee Williams’ famed female protagonists, Blanche DuBois. Between the awkward wig changes and disjointed costume (literally a hairy forty year old man in an assortment of blonde wigs with a black tank top, camouflage cutoffs and sneakers), I could barely keep my focus on the storyline, which was simply this character’s descent into reality post-natural disaster from “her” once-lavish lifestyle. Not really worth mentioning too much more. Let’s just say that had I not been sitting in the front row, the chilled Jack & Ginger screaming my name from the brown paper bag in front of me would’ve been put to far greater use.
Filed under: New York City, everyday living | Tags: Alan Cumming, Birthday, Cabaret, Eastern Bloc, Tony Award
Tuesday the 27th marked Alan Cumming’s 44th birthday, and the only way I know that is because at his birthday party (oddly enough held at the small, divey gay bar Eastern Bloc) he had to repeat it four times before I could understand what the hell he was saying. What was probably the prolific actor and Tony Award winner’s fourth martini of the night had convinced him that we had met at a previous event (completely fictitious, though I went with it…he is Alan Cumming, after all) because he “remembered my face from somewhere.” Hey, I’m not gonna argue, especially when I can only understand every other word. I mean, I’m all for sexy European accents, but good God that was a thick Scottish brogue! You never realize it until he’s shouting “Fauwtee Faw” over a blaring Madonna tune, I swear.
