Signs of Life - A Theatre Review

Posted by David

I recently attended a performance of the new musical Signs of Life written by Peter Ullian with lyrics by Len Schiff and music by Joel Derfner.  

Patricia Noonan as Lorelei Schumann  with Wilson Bridges as Simo. Photos by Joan Marcus.

The production opened Thursday at The Marjorie S. Dean Little Theater at the West Side Y.  The musical is based on true events surrounding the infamous WWII Theresienstadt concentration camp in what was then Czechoslovakia.

Queerinthian?

Posted by baad lamb

Not apocrypha, but one of the five orders of perriwigs worn to King George’s coronation , as satirized by William Hogarth (was this the first Wigstock?). Only one of the many fascinating things learned from this review of the new exhibit at the Yale Center for British Art. (Your click will enlarge this nicely:)

From the NYTimes article:

And a 1761 print by Hogarth skewers the fashionable jargon of classical architecture and mathematics that must have been the rage of the court: he diagrams the elaborate “Perriwigs” worn to King George’s coronation, showing the hairstyles “Measured Architectonically.” They are ordered with Latinate precision, ranked from the “Episcopal” to the “Queerinthian” and assessed according to an “Athenian Measure.” One wig, the show’s label points out, even “has the distinct appearance of a sheep’s rump.”

Like the satire throughout Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, you need to be an expert on British history and the (then lowly) profession of architecture to fully appreciate all the nuances in this print. But as with the delightful “Narchitecture”, certainly the portmanteau “Queerinthian”, whether in the modern vernacular or as understood in 1761, needs no explanation or annotation. (Dear C-mon, maybe next year’s Basel Frazzle will include a sub-category, with pictures: Queerinthian Narchitecture.)

Question to self: are two portmanteaus together a fourtmanteau?

Feeling Further Fascination? While looking for a picture to perfectly illustrate Queerinthian Narchitecture, I googled “Gay Drug Lord” and found no useable pic, but did find this…

QNY Fashion Moment

By Father Tony

Last night at the debut of the Steichen show, I wore a new hand-painted original by my husband, the Baad Lamb. It was a Valentine's Day gift. The fashion writer from the Sun-Sentinel loved it and apologized for touching it. I did not mind. Photo by Bob Wilson.

A Winter's Day

Riverside Park February 25th

For most of my walk by the Hudson yesterday, it was just me and the Canada Geese.  I was feeling fairly intrepid, until these bikers passed me by.  One of them greeted me cheerfully as they passed, recognizing a kindred, snow-loving spirit.  This was another occasion when the normal rules of engagement (ignore one another) didn't apply.  When the weather warms up this place will be packed with people fishing, grilling, playing volleyball or blasting their cars' sound systems. 

Random View from NYC - Winter Wonderland Come Again?

by Maurice Michaane

It seems mother nature has given us another snow storm, closing all schools to name a few. In my hometown of Monroe, NY in Orange County they have a State of Emergency with over 30+inches of snow on the ground, no power, and the Monroe Diner as the last best hope of salvation!!

Ok, I'm starting to believe in Global Warming, another storm or two like this, and I just might have to watch Al Gore's film. Enjoy the snow day all!

Let's Put On A Show!

Signs of Life

Posted by Mondschein


"Signs of Life" presented by Amas Musical Theatre at The Marjorie S. Dean Little Theater, February 21, 2010

(Photo: Joan Marcus)

The horrors of the Holocaust are again fodder for a new musical that explores the lives of the Jews sent to Terezin.  Composer Joel Derfer sums it up as:

Signs of Life is the story of a young girl who comes of age in the Czech ghetto Terezin, rechristened Theresienstadt by the Nazis, who filled it with Jewish artists, musicians, and intellectuals and turned it into a propaganda tool. Once she and her friends and family realize what lies in store for them, they begin to discover that some truths might be worth dying for.

The Boys in the Band

Posted by Mondschein

"The Boys in the Band" presented by Transport Group Theatre Company, February 17, 2010

(photo: Carol Rosegg)

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall at someone's party?  That's exactly what director Jack Cummings, III has done with this revival of Mart Crowley's 1968 play.  Mr. Cummings has furnished a loft space in the Flatiron District and seated the audience all around the large room to observe the fireworks.  We are all guests at Michael's to celebrate Harold's 32 birthday.

Next Fall

Posted by Mondschein


"Next Fall" at The Helen Hayes Theatre, February 20, 2010

(Photo: Francesco Carrozzini)

Transferring from an Off-Broadway run last summer, Geoffrey Nauffts' play is a touching and provocative story of religion and homosexuality.

Working back and forth in time, we learn the tale of how Adam (Patrick Breen) and Luke (Patrick Heusinger) met, fell in love and struggled to work through the issues of Adam's agnosticism versus Luke's Christian faith.  Since that's not enough, Adam is also roughly 20 years older than Luke, though emotionally they are much closer in age.

Band of Bikers

Posted by baad lamb
Opening this Thursday night, and on the same West Chelsea block as:

      1.  A Latino Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses -  “Salon del Reino de los Testigos de Jehova")

     2.  A Woman’s Prison that used to be a YMCA (and was built in 1931 originally as a Seaman’s Home – “to improve the morals and standing of young sailors everywhere”)

     3. And perhaps most appropriately, the old leather bar The Spike

is this show of found photographs, discovered and exhibited by gallery co-owner and poet Scott Zieher, titled Band of Bikers.

From the Zieher Smith Gallery website: (go there for more photos)

“With conceptual light cast by issues ranging from anonymity in homosexuality and underground motorcycle chic to vernacular photography’s pop-culture ramifications, a warm and generous spirit of camaraderie pervades this subterranean survey.”

The opening is Thursday, 6 to 9 PM, and besides the exhibition photographs, a book with many of the found photographs, published by Brooklyn’s powerHouse Books will be available for sale.

Sadly, I have to work. Please go to the opening and let us all know what you think; of the gallery, the show, the attendees, the bikes, the mustaches, the 70s.

The show is up from Feb. 25 to March 20. Looks like a Do-Not-Miss.

V2G. I Want This NOW. Not 20 Years From Now.

By Father Tony

It just makes so much sense. You would actually buy speed the way we currently buy minutes on a phone plan. The single-serving vehicle actually makes more sense than the eight seater even though common thinking about van-pooling indicates the opposite.  Vehicle-as-skin is more suited to human nature. I don't take seven people with me when I go to the grocery store. I also like the way these link.

I'm not sure how the V2G (Vehicle to Grid) would apply to New York City, but really, an electronic grid would be an easy installation. In the city, these cars would basically drive themselves. Applying how we communicate to how we travel is simply brilliant.

Be sure to check out all eight of the concept pictures. Elegant and dreamy.

Playland II

ADRIAN ALICEA & THE COUTURE FASHION SHOW

By Darling!


Makeup by Face Atelier, Hair by Federico Salon, Shoes by Vanessa Noel Couture.

For details look here.

Cocktails: St-Germain and the Main Squeeze

By Brooklyn Bill

The latest cocktail ingredient I've been playing around with is St-Germain, an incredibly delicious and wonderfully aromatic French liqueur made from elderflowers. It's captivating, beautiful, and elegant—and the perfect combination of fruity, floral, and sweet.

St-Germain is tasty enough on its own, but I had visions of combining it with flavors of orange and honey into a stellar cocktail I had planned to call the Orange Blossom. But that name has been taken. And taken. And taken.

The first version of my cocktail went thusly:

2 oz. St-Germain
2 oz. Cointreau*
2 oz. fresh-squeezed tangerine juice
1 oz. honey syrup**
Club soda

Shake the first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a 12-ounce glass filled with ice cubes. Top off with a splash of club soda. Garnish with an orange or tangerine slice, if desired.

Micro Museum

Posted By baad lamb

Spin and swing the dangling camera-ball, walk up and down the red carpeted gauntlet of creepy-clowns, while they randomly light-up or taunt you with laughter. The TV on the floor displays your swirling video feed, an unrelated yet somehow oddly appropriate video installation adds to the mix. The trippy-quotient is multiplied by 10 as the random, owner-supplied soundtrack lands on Pink Floyd's melancholy lament "Wish You Were Here".

In Case You Missed It

By Father Tony

Watching this video recap of the protest is heartening. The strength of this video is twofold. There is the conviction expressed by the protesters who have my admiration, but there is also the resounding sadness in the faces of the bureaucrats and police who seem to be discharging public responsibilities with which they do not personally agree. Gone are the smirks and sarcasm and disdain of previous decades. I think I see signs that in the heart of America, homophobia is withering and this battle is well on its way to being over.

Playland

Come to the Hearing this Friday for 4 Arrested Queer Rising Members

By Father Tony

UPDATE: Friday 1PM, The four men arrested last week for demonstrating at the New York City Marriage License Bureau are free. The DA offered them ACD (adjournment in contemplation of dismissal) which is a loose 6-month probation.

I received an email with the following text. (It refers to the protest in which QNY's Justin Elzie was arrested.)

We are asking that if at all possible you attend the hearing in front of the judge this Friday, February 19th at 11AM (Note: the time has been moved from 9:30 to 11) for the 4 Queer Rising members who were arrested in last week's civil disobedience action. It is important we have strong representation from the community and our group at this hearing. The more people there - the better! 

The address for the hearing is: 100 Centre St., Part A, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013.

Please, pass this word on to as many people as you know and ask them to attend and forward to people who live in the New York City area.

This is a huge need - please help if you can.

Thank you.

Facebook event link to share:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=344240485154

Ages of the Moon

By Mondschein

"Ages of the Moon" at Atlantic Theater Company, February 17, 2010

Sam Shepard's newest play comes to New York after its London premiere, a rambling, almost stream of conscious, 80 minute, two-hander.  The premise is that of Byron (Sean McGinley) arriving to comfort Ames (Stephen Rea), whose wife has just walked out on him after discovering a recent act of infidelity.  Slowly we learn that Byron and Ames haven't been all that close after all as the drinking progresses and the confessions and long-forgotten memories waft in and out.  This meandering exposition includes a tale spilling a pot of coffee on Roger Miller, the possible death of Byron's wife, a badly staged fight resulting in a possible heart attack.

Theater Review: The Pride

Posted by David

This past Saturday I attended a performance of The Pride, a new play by Alexi Kaye Campbell directed by Joe Mantello, and part of the Manhattan Class Company's (MCC) current season. The production features Ben Wishaw, Hugh Dancy, Andrea Riseborough and Adam James.

Update: This play has been extended through March 28th.

Centurion

A QNY Restaurant Review: Highlands

By Brooklyn Bill

I had dinner last night at newish Scottish gastropub Highlands in the Village with buddy Lou. The entrées weren't anything to blog home about, but I loved everything else about the meal, including the wonderfully charming but rather dark space. (Hence the lack of any food photos in this post.*)

I started off with a Sweet Ginger Brown cocktail, which—in Highlands' incarnation—consists of "Pyrat XO Rum, muddled lime, ginger, and brown sugar." Well, raise me kilt and check out me stone puts, was it ever good. I have to try whipping up some of these drinks at home. Preferably when these fellows are over for a visit.

Lou had been to Highlands twice in the past couple of weeks. I asked him whether he'd tried the haggis. He hadn't ordered Highlands' haggis, but he'd eaten that more-than-a-wee-bit-unusual dish in Scotland once. He knew it had some pretty gross stuff in it, so he ate it without asking for the specifics. I'd already looked up haggis on Wikipedia, so I wasn't going to be able to fool myself into thinking it was oats mixed in with some other innocuous stuff.

I went for the baked cod, and it was pretty boring in flavor. Though I guess if I'd wanted something really interesting, I would have gone with the dish that's cooked in a sheep's stomach. I really enjoyed the bubble and squeak on the side. Lou let me try some of his lamb shank, roasted potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. I think it's safe to say I enjoy Brussels sprouts more than most people, and these were terrific, as were the taters. Lou and I both thought the lamb was just OK, though I should note that it's generally not a favorite of mine.

Dueling Bankheads

By Father Tony

The writer of this perusal of all things Tallulahular in anticipation of Valerie Harper's take on the legendary New York theater star mistakenly referred to ''The Dueling Tallulahs". Think his gay card should be revoked?

I once saw the Dueling Bankheads at CBGB. They were doing some sort of Carol-Channing-choking-on-candy-corn schtick that night. They are an endearing train wreck. I have always wondered if they are partners in real life, and if so, what their home life must be like.

The videos after the jump are just as NSFW as are always the Dueling Bankheads.

Update: Having read the NYT article, the baad lamb watched the referenced Lucy Desi Comedy Hour in which Tallulah guest starred. Here's the first part of six. So good, I know you'll watch all six.


(photos: Vandamm; Scott Suchman)

QNY Exclusive: JUDY SHEPARD TO MAKE FINAL OFFICIAL PRIDE APPEARANCE & SERVE AS GRAND MARSHAL OF THE 41st ANNUAL NYC LGBT PRIDE MARCH

by Maurice Michaane



Another day, another QNY world exclusive. Last week, I had the pleasure of announcing that Dan Choi would be one of our 2010 HOP march grand marshals. Today, I am very happy to report the name of another 2010 grand marshal. NYC LGBT Pride (aka HOP) will announce Tuesday, February 16th 2010, that Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, has accepted the honor and role of Grand Marshal for the 41st Annual LGBT Pride March, which will occur on June 27th, 2010. When first approached about the request to be the NYC Grand Marshal, Ms. Shepard responded with excitement and a sense of honor. Ms. Shepard’s selection and acceptance of the honor of NYC LGBT Pride Grand Marshal marks her 3rd official and final appearance as an LGBT pride march Grand Marshal.

In October 1998, Judy and Dennis Shepard lost their 21 year-old son, Matthew, to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. Matthew’s death moved many thousands of people around the world to attend vigils and rallies in his memory. Determined to prevent others from suffering their son’s fate, Judy and Dennis decided to turn their grief into action and established the Matthew Shepard Foundation to carry on Matthew’s legacy. The Foundation is dedicated to working toward the causes championed by Matthew during his life: social justice, diversity awareness, education, and equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

More, and the Heritage of Pride press release, after the jump.

QNY Recall - Come home, Reinaldo Alvarez

By Father Tony

When we first met Reinaldo, his crisp black and white outfit set him apart from the wilted tangerine and lime tones of Charlotte Amalie, the port town of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Reinaldo was working in a tourist trap called Tropicana selling Chanel cosmetics to ladies off the cruise ships. We became instant friends and were his houseguests on subsequent trips to that island. We learned that he had lived in New York City where he had studied at Parson's and F.I.T. and where he had worked for Oscar de la Renta. During one visit, the three of us arranged an excursion on a friend's boat. I have video in which I ask the baad lamb if he remembered to take his dramamine. He responds "No. I don't need it." Fifteen minutes later, while holding his ankles as he hung over the side of the boat, I also got seasick. We begged Reinaldo to get us onto dry land, and he put us into a row boat and dropped us off on a small island where we prayed for death. We were wretched for hours. On a subsequent visit, the toilet in Reinaldo's apartment stopped working and had to be assisted with buckets of water. The three of us had little money in those days but we always had huge amounts of fun, and from Reinaldo I learned to say some extremely vile but useful things in Spanish.

There was a summer many years ago when Reinaldo was our houseguest in Montreal. Then he met a man from Paris who took him away and after a postcard or two, we lost track of him and the years of wondering whatever became of him piled up.

You can imagine my delight when I discovered a lavish fashion magazine spread  detailing the latest couture collection from his Paris atelier!

More and photos after the jump).

Electric Tee for FT on V-Day

posted by baad lamb

Happy Valentine's Day Baby!

Happy Valentines Day: Dream Gay Wedding

by Maurice Michaane

In early January 2010, the Tyra Banks Show contacted us about appearing on show entitled "Same Sex Wedding Challenge" where we would have competed with 2 other same sex couples for a fabulous over the top all expenses paid DREAM wedding. We were unable to be on the show on the date they selected, but are still motivated to try and win our chances for a dream wedding!! We made this video as part of our efforts, it is amazing, and even though we couldn't be on the show, we wanted to try our luck elsewhere. This video gives you a brief background of who we are, what we are about and the love between us. We became engaged to each other in May 2009.

Rogues' Gallery by Michael Gross

By Father Tony

It gets more and more difficult to add to the baad lamb's library of books about New York. For Valentine's Day, I wanted to get him something sweet and packed with carbo-facts rather than protein-stats. I had to drive to the Books & Books store at the Bal Harbor mall just north of Miami on February 9th where Michael Gross was speaking about and signing his new book Rogues' Gallery.

In the video snippet after the break, he is talking about a lady of mysterious pedigree but listen through to the end for the stunning revelation and the reason why a certain prominent NYC couple did their best to block this book.

Bros.

Home Cooking with Weight Watchers: Pappardelle with Shrimp

by Maurice Michaane

(picture is a representation, because by the time I decided to write this story, we had eaten the meal)


So Wednesday night of this past week, during the Bllizzard of 2010, my partner Michael, decided to wip up a very tasty meal -- of course I aided in the food prep and provided the moral support!!!. A little bit of background information is needed however.

Since January 18th 2010, Michael and I have been on a 2prong effort to lose weight and bulk up for Summer season. Part I of this effort has been joining Weight Watchers. For the past few weeks we have been living a strict new lifestyle. Anyone who is familiar with Weight Watchers will tell you, your daily food intake is measured by points. Many think that Weight Watchers is just another diet, but it is not, it's a lifestyle. Weight Watchers does not have myriad rules to follow like Atkins. In fact, a person on Weight Watchers can eat anything they want, so long as it fits in your daily point count. Weight Watchers has a simple system, every piece of food or drink has a point equivalent. My daily point intake is 26 points (I started with 27, but as you lose weight, you lose points in order to keep the loss happening). The formula for points to calories is about 50, so my 26 points are about 1300 calories a day (of course the normal caloric intake is around 2000-2500). But not to fear, Weight Watchers does not make a person starve as they provide you with an extra "35 weekly points", which one may use at liberty over the course of the week.

Now with the back story over, we can get to the main point, pappardelle pasta with shrimp. So hear is our recipe:

Peter Max Had a Dream

By Father Tony

In a city where monthly garage rental costs often equal human housing costs elsewhere, I can't imagine how much Peter Max paid to store 36 Corvettes all those years. The unintendedly funny thing about this article is the way it reports the reaction of strangers to apparent "vintage car abuse".

Won't somebody think of the poor little cars?

(Photo Tony Cenicola/New York Times)


PS: I'm a big Peter Max fan. Got two of his neck ties. In cheaper storage.

QNY's Justin Elzie Arrested in Protest

By Father Tony

QNY team member Justin Elzie and three other members of Queer Rising have just been arrested in a Valentine's Day Protest at the New York City Marriage Bureau Office at 141 Worth St. Justin is on the left in this William Berger photo.

Update: here's the video:

QNY Tonight: A Mini Ball in Brooklyn (No Cover)

By Father Tony

"Gay Men of African Descent" (GMAD) and "Gay Mens Health Crisis" (GMHC) present "I Have a Dream" Mini Ball tonight at The Lab, 1428 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, 5-11PM, no cover, free HIV testing.

More information, and the all-important categories, after the break. (And if you go, please say hello to Luna Legacy and urge him to join the QNY team!)

Is Your Man Gay Quiz

By Donnie

Had to share this. Leave it to the good folks over in England. They have formulated a quiz for women to determine if their husbands are gay and on the down low. The questions are generalized and as one would expect slant towards stereotypical gay behavior. Well is your man gay! Go to the "IS YOUR MAN GAY QUIZ".

Clybourne Park

Posted by Mondschein

"Clybourne Park" at Playwrights Horizons, February 6, 2010


Bruce Norris' new play tells the tale of an urban neighborhood, specifically one house as it suffers and recovers from white flight over the course of 50 years.


(Spoiler alert)



In 1959, Bev (Christina Kirk) and Russ (Frank Wood) are fleeing the pain of losing their Korean War veteran son to suicide following accusations of war crimes.  They've relinquished responsibility for the sale of their house to the realtor who has sold it to a black family, the first in the neighborhood.  Russ' depression has practically paralyzed him, so Bev has called Jim (Brendan Griffin) their pastor for a little counsel.  As news of the sale gets out, Russ' co-worker Karl (Jeremy Shamos) and his hearing-impaired and pregnant wife (Anne Parisse).  Francine (Crystal A. Dickinson), Bev and Russ' maid and her husband Albert (Damon Gupton) get dragged into the discussion about the impact of the property's sale on the rest of the homeowners in the area.

A Little Night Music

Posted by Mondschein

"A Little Night Music" at the Walter Kerr Theatre, February 3, 2010

(photo by Joan Marcus)

Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music first bowed on Broadway in 1973.  Tales of potential Broadway revivals have floated for years until a tiny theatre, The Menier Chocolate Factory in London, started a string of stripped down revivals that have transferred over the last couple of years.  Among them, Sondheim's Sunday In The Park With George, which took residence via Roundabout Theatre Company in 2008.  Coming soon is La Cage Aux Folles, starting previews in April.  Under the direction of Trevor Nunn, ALNM has arrived in New York with a well-assembled cast including Catherine Zeta-Jones as Desiree in her Broadway debut.

SAGE receives major Federal funding grant

This is HUGE news for the LGBT community:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Administration on Aging have awarded SAGE (Services for Aging Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Elders) a 3-year, $900K grant to create the nation's first ever resource center for LGBT aging.

The SAGE press release can be found here.

Tea Baggers Can't Even Spell "Learn English!"

posted by CSCFON

By the way, they are not the "Tea Party" (not a party, just a mismashed movement of people with different ideals using similar names to make their numbers seem larger). They are Tea Baggers. Why?

The Tea Party in Boston in 1773 was about “taxation without representation.” Those revolutionaries acknowledged and accepted taxes, they just wanted to have the ability to vote for the government representatives that decide the taxes they have to pay. And since the protesters DO have taxation WITH representation, they aren’t tea partiers. So I revert to the name they first gave themselves - tea baggers.


QUICK QUIZ (Fill in the blank):
“A great speech by ____________, attacked Jews, social democrats, liberals, reactionary monarchists, capitalists and communists, and then began attracting adherents, which started a movement.”

‘Tea Baggers’? Sounds right.

But actually, the answer is: Adolf Hitler.
At his famous Beer Hall Putsch in 1923 in Munich. Hmmm.

Just what do these people really want? Some want less taxes. But so so many are making signs and advocating bringing down the government (anarchy? home-grown terrorism?) and even violence and murder. If they don't like being called crazy, they need their so-called leaders to stop ACTING crazy.

Three Delicious Desserts With Vanilla Beans in Common

By Brooklyn Bill

I've been cranking out the Vanilla Fudge Ice Cream the past couple of weeks like Republicans spew out bullshit. I made some a week ago Monday that I'd planned to take to my Granny (she's my Dad's mother) for her birthday, which was on Groundhog Day. I usually go down to South Jersey the weekend between Granny's birthday and my Mom's, which is tomorrow, Feb. 11. But the snowstorm last weekend, which mostly missed the city, hit down there in a big way. So I canceled my rental car and stayed away.

I took some of the ice cream to the Gamesters on Sunday, and they devoured it. And I made a second batch of vanilla fudge over that weekend to take with me the next time I'm able to arrange a three-day weekend and can visit the birthday gals.

Vanilla fudge is one of my regular flavors, and I've gotten it down to a T. I use the Classic Vanilla Bean Ice Cream recipe from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library: Ice Creams & Sorbets with no alterations other than to double it. The custard consists of only half-and-half, sugar, and egg yolks plus the star of this post: vanilla beans.

If you've never cooked or baked with vanilla beans, you've been missing out on a wonderful sensual experience (cue the food-porn music): the intense, complex aroma; the moisture of the pod and the oils that attach to your fingers; and the tiny seeds that come out of the pod in clumps on the tip of your kitchen knife.

The Cathedral of Transportation

View from My Window: A Wonderful Snow Day

by Maurice Michaane

Once in a blue moon a snow day comes along to those of us in NYC, and today was one of those days. This photo was taken from my apartment of the wonderful winter wonderland that descended upon the city today.

Having grown up in Orange County, NY, I am very used to snow days and can recall as a kid how I would wake up in the middle of the night to look out the window and see if it was snowing, then turn on my radio to hear if school had been canceled. The joy of a snow day as a child was the ultimate high.

Although no longer a young kid who can count on regular snow days to stay home, I was very excited to hear that my business school program (MBA) closed today due to the inclement weather. Who says you can't relive your childhood!!

24 Hour Party People

Posted by David

Monday night I had the great fortune to attend the Third(?) Annual 24 Hour Musicals, hosted by the eXchange (yes, that is how they write it) to benefit The Orchard Project. This yearly event pulls together writers, composers, lyricists, directors and actors and gives them 24 hours to create and perform a completely original musical set-piece.

QNY Exclusive: Lt. Dan Choi to Serve as 2010 NYC Pride Grand Marshal

By Maurice Michaane 

This past Monday, February 8th 2010, at a meeting of NYC Pride (aka Heritage of Pride) it was announced that Lt. Dan Choi would be one of the Grand Marshals for the 41^st Annual LGBT Pride March, which will occur on June 27^th, 2010. When first approached about the request to be the NYC Grand Marshal, Lt. Choi responded with resounding excitement and a sense of honor for all who have struggled under this policy.    Lt. Choi’s selection and acceptance of the honor of NYC LGBT Pride Grand Marshal marks the first time in U.S. history that an openly gay male on active service with the U.S. Armed Forces will be an LGBT Pride March Grand Marshal.


More, and press release, after the jump.

Betty Buckley "For The Love of Broadway"

Posted by Mondschein.

Betty Buckley: "For the Love of Broadway!" at Feinstein's at Loew's Regency, February 2, 2010

Kicking off a month-long run at Feinstein's, Miss Buckley is back to singing a more familiar book from the Broadway canon.  Apparently, she has steered into a very significant jazz mode over the last few years.  Based on her performance last week, she hasn't left that path.  While the titles are all from contemporary and classic musicals of this century and the last, her style is still jazz, through and through.

A Cosmetic Observation and Question

By Father Tony

The blurring of the boundaries between the cosmetic provinces of men and women continues and is evidenced in hair color, body shaving, moisturizing, nail finish and eyebrow treatment.  The markers of heterosexuality in the male are migrating and morphing. Straight men carry bags. Straight men trim their pubic hair (a disorienting development when one considers the fact that in health club showers across the country, a neatly clipped crotch used to be an absolute indicator that the man under the adjacent spray was gay.)

I want to focus on the matter of eyebrows. It seems to have become acceptable for men to shape or make-up their eyebrows. It's no longer an element of cross-dressing or an indicator of feminization. It seems that men are simply giving themselves more license to have fun with their appearance. The fear of recriminations is evaporating as more men paint their toe nails, choose hair color that goes far beyond killing the gray and acquire the eyebrows of Liz Taylor's Cleopatra. Is this the child of metrosexuality?

Here's the question. Where will this lead? Most women don't like to admit that the make-up they use for the workplace is largely applied for the benefit of their own mirror and for the inspection of their female coworkers. It's not to trap a mate. If men grow comfortable with cosmetic applications that are not indicators of drag or sexual orientation will they too become addicted to participation in a multi-billion dollar cosmetic industry and an addiction to maintaining a public face that never appears without paint?

I recently studied a photo of autistic genius Temple Grandin whose "real" face is so refreshing in its direct communication. I'm glad we can all feel free to be artistic with our features but I hope this new freedom is not a slippery slope toward the cosmetic addiction supported by the working women of America. Men beware. (photo Evan Agostin/AP)

Anyway, these things came to mind as I viewed a photo (by QNY's Dr. Jeff) of HRC's Bryan Parsons (a handsome New Yorker, as if I need to mention it). I've also provided his professional Ernst & Young headshot. Did the invitation to to the HRC gala say "Black tie and eyebrows"?

Welcome the Tiger

By Hungry Rabbit

To all people who trace their roots back to China, the most important date in the Lunar calendar is Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. As in all traditional Chinese gatherings, food plays an important role as this holiday’s dinners tend to be very elaborate involving tables laden with “auspicious” foods. The significance of food symbolism is sometimes based on appearance--other times, the sound of the Chinese name carries the added meaning. Tangerines and oranges, for example, are passed out freely during Chinese New Year as the words for tangerine and orange sound like luck and wealth, respectively. Steamed cakes are very popular during the Chinese New Year season, and sticky Rice Cake has symbolic value on many levels. Their sweetness symbolizes a rich, sweet life, while the layers express rising abundance for the coming year, and the round shape signifies family reunion.

During the week-long New Year celebrations, every household keeps its tables topped up with sweet and savory specialties so it can welcome family and friends with a choice of festive treats. Another prerequisite of Lunar New Year is the "tray of togetherness," a tray or special box filled with an assortment of auspicious treats. Among the more popular treats are sweetened lotus roots (embodying abundance), sweetened lotus seeds (suggesting fertility), dried melon seeds (stand for profuse earnings), and all kinds of candies, which are a source of long-term sweetness.

Walnuts are amongst the foods that have a special meaning--they represent happiness of the entire family. When friends visit, I’ll put out a bowl of walnut cookies to wish them and their families happiness in the Year of the Tiger. Interestingly, this recipe comes from another tradition. Springerle, which means ‘little jumper,’ is a type of German cookie or biscuit with an embossed design made by pressing dough into a mold. Molds are traditionally carved from wood. Their origin can be traced back to at least the 14th century in southeastern Germany and surrounding areas.


(More - and recipes - after the jump.)

Photo: Spring Equinox Marker, Central Park

(Spring Equinox Directional Ornamentation Detail, Central Park, Feb 2010)

QNY Recall - Come back, Jonny Woo

I very much like this NSFW song by Jonny Woo, a Brit who spent a few years in New York learning how to unleash his inner drag performer. His real name is Jonathan Wooster. In a sea of bad drag performers, this guy stands out.


JONNY WOO - FAGGOT (language may offend) from PRICKIMAGE on Vimeo.

"Playing the Building" by David Byrne

By Father Tony

Marc's comment on my earlier post reminded me of this video review of something the baad lamb brought me to about eighteen months ago. We are steeping in sounds unacknowledged.

This is the Sound of Light

By Father Tony

Does this sound appeal to you as much as it appeals to me? There is something pure and comforting about it, although some of you may find it to be like the soundtrack of a scifi film. He attaches a sensitive mic to a lightbulb, et voila!




(PS: I don't know anything about him other than that he subscribed to me on Youtube, for which I am honored.)

Still Hunt, Central Park

(Still Hunt, Central Park NYC, Feb 5th, 2010 - photo by me)

I run past this statue of a big, crouching cat, set back in a thicket on an outcropping of rock, every morning and have wondered for years what it was about.  No plaque or explanation around it.  Finally got off my lazy ass and took a picture of it this morning then looked it up and got the low down.  

It's one of those little hidden gems of the city that would be easily missed but which makes for a little smile when you find it.  It looks ferocious coming from north to south but up close, it becomes a sad cat who probably just missed the bird.

(Still Hunt, Face Detail - Central Park NYC, Feb 5th, 2010 - photo by me)

Just Another Day at The Office

Theater Review: The Average Sized Mermaid

By Beau

Last night I attending  "The Average-Sized Mermaid" at the Gene Frankel Theater, an off-off way production produced by State of Play.  This show started as a one-act play at UC Santa Barbara's New Plays Festival and has evolved into the current two act show now in previews.
A bit about the show after the jump

QNY Interview: Charles Busch is The Divine Sister

By Father Tony

I answered the phone seeing a New York number that I didn’t recognize.

“Hello?”

“Is this Mr. Ottaviano?”

“No. Sorry.”

“Oh. Good. This is Charles Busch. I just wanted to be sure that you aren’t my stalker. I never know when he’ll pop up.”

That was the start of my phone interview with Mr. Busch who is starring in his new play  “The Divine Sister” opening on February 6th at Theater for the New City.

(More, plus theater, dates and ticket info, after the break)

the picture of Dorian Gray

Posted by Mondschein


"The Picture of Dorian Gray" at the Kirk Theatre at Theatre Row, February 1, 2010

The source material is a compelling tale of "be careful what you wish for" a la Oscar Wilde.  It's a cautionary tale, much like attending the evening of theatre it presents.

This anachronistic interpretation of Wilde's only novel, with a beautiful cast and an overly aspirational concept, drones for over 90 minutes with no intermission and no hope of entertainment.  It opens with a pretentious tableau in silhouette.  I have no issue with an opening tableau, but the pose was neither revealing nor indicative of the story, other than to put all actors on stage.  The lights rose to reveal a very attractive assembly of actors.  Alas, beauty is only skin deep after all.


Daniel Mitura's adaptation sets the action in 1890s Britain, then seems to dash directly for his latest edition of Bartleby's to snatch every quip ever attributed to Mr. Wilde.  95% of these are given to the role of Henry Wotton (Vayu O'Donnell).  If only Mr. Mitura had spread the love around a bit. (Also, I'm pretty sure that the concept of hip replacement hadn't occurred at the time as mentioned by Henry in one scene, um...dramaturg?)  I fully expected Dorian's (Wil Petre) final words to be "Either that wallpaper goes, or I do!"