Diamond in the Rough

Although it's been in the works for at least a year now, there was something discombobulating about seeing the southeast side of 8th Avenue and 22nd Street (partially) transformed into such a clean and thoroughly modern dwelling this afternoon. You see, the past 10 years I've lived here in Chelsea that corner has been the site of one of the city's few remaining Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels -- and let's just say it wasn't exactly the kind of place Buffy and Hildegarde were living in back in the '80s. When the residents weren't outside screaming and punching one another, they were busy watching their portable television inside Starbucks or trolling the local supermarket aggressively trying to talk you into letting them buy your groceries for you with their food stamp cards in exchange for your cash. (It wasn't to buy drugs or alcohol, of course. It was so they could get a "hot meal," something the welfare office apparently won't spring for.) What was once a strangely dangerous pocket in an otherwise small-town-feeling neighborhood -- I've had friends attacked by some of the denizens of the Allerton -- appears to be on its way to becoming a boutique hotel called The Gem. While I may complain about the Mom and Pop eateries turning into chain restaurants, you won't hear me complaining about this upgrade ...

Afternoon Delight: Bryan Thomas

Anyone wanna take a nap with Bryan Thomas?

Becks Appeal

A look at the 2009 David Beckham calendar (loving the scruffy face!). Wasn't I just going on about this one?

Members Only

It's days like yesterday that remind me just how happy I am I didn't get sucked into a lifetime on Capitol Hill. That the Repubs broke ranks with their beloved president -- after eight years in virtual lock step with the big-spending, tax-cutting, torture-loving Connecticutan Texan -- and wouldn't even put through their own crappy bailout bill (such cowards they wanted the Dems to have it be their votes so it could used against them at a future date) is just the reminder I need of the true meaning of "government waste." As I tried to tell my ex Rafael way back when we lived in that famous, one-horse town, "Darling, I love you, but give me Park Avenue!"

Page 1 Consider (09/30)

Wordsworth: Choreographer Lloyd Newson returns to the New York area after an 15-year absence with a striking new spoken-word production exploring religion and homosexuality: Newson said he had "thought things were progressing quite well" for gay men and lesbians. But what he called "a resurgence of religion and fundamentalism worldwide" made him reconsider and create "To Be Straight With You," which opens on Thursday as part of the Peak Performances series at Montclair State University. The piece looks at religion and sexuality through the words of more than 85 people interviewed in Britain. "It’s not that I’m completely giving up dance," he said, "but I do have a passion for words, and when you know that one word, say calling a teddy bear Muhammad, can cause such rupture worldwide, then you know the power of language. I’m not sure there’s a dance that can do the same." (NYT)

Something Special in the Air: The always pro-gay American Airlines has endorsed ENDA, sending a letter to Congress in support of anti-discrimination measure. (Washington Blade)

Forever in Blue Jeans: Meanwhile, Levi Strauss & Co. is lending its support to defeat Prop 8, the ballot initiative that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California. (AP)

Dept. of Injustice: I love that we got rid of one corrupt attorney general only to replace him with another. A new independent report concluded that the administration tried to hide the political reasons behind the firings of several attorneys general -- most notably David Iglesias of New Mexico -- through public misstatements and “disingenuous after-the-fact rationalizations,” including the idea that Iglesias, a captain in the Navy reserves required to serve 36 days a year, was an "absentee landlord" (how's that for pro-military?). Yet Mukasey was quoting as saying the firings were “haphazard, arbitrary and unprofessional." Um, no. That's exactly what the report is saying. They were ANYTHING BUT haphazard and arbitrary. I will give him unprofessional, although criminal seems to be a more accurate description. (NYT)

Cherry Picking: I don't know what's cuter, James Franco's face, or that Sean Penn would text Madonna to brag about making out with a dude. (Towleroad)

Pinocchio Strikes Again: Wanna know how big of a lie John McCain was telling during last week's debate when he swore up and down that Barack Obama had voted for a tax increase on Americans making as little as $42,000 a year? Read this.

Quarterflash: Boston's famed Club Cafe -- the inspiration for Johnny Diaz's novel "Boston Boys Club" -- celebrated its 25 birthday on Thursday. Naturally, porn stars were there to mark the big occasion. (EdgeBoston)

Having Their (Angel Food) Cake and Eating It Too: If these homophobic churches want to play politics, then let 'em. It'll cost them big time, though. (AP)

Umbrian Murder Case: If having the Euro tabloids call murder suspect Amanda Knox -- a junior-year-abroad Seattle college student -- "Foxy Knoxy" is, in the words of her father, "brutalizing her in the press,” then would someone please brualize me in the blogs? (NYT)

RIP: Bill Woods, one of the first gay community leaders in Hawaii, died after a lengthy illness. He was 58. (I'm surprised this even made the news, though. He was only a community organizer.) (365Gay)

Morning Wood: Danny Nunez

If you're not watching the guilty pleasure of all guilty pleasures, "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency," perhaps these photos of sexy Danny Nunez in action will persuade you to check out what you're missing. Danny comes across as a quiet, unassuming guy, yet I love that even though every job he gets picked for has some homoerotic theme to it, he just shrugs it off and gives the client what they want. These shots from his Rufskin Denim give you an idea of what I'm talking about, and as you can see, Danny does not disappoint ...

(Screen grabs via TVTrick.com)

Oops, She Did It Again

Turn on "Larry King Live" on CNN. Suze Orman looks like a bloated citrus fruit. Didn't we already talk about this outfit with that spray tan?

UPDATE: Now she's on Anderson Cooper's show!!!!

Sack Worthy

 

Like you haven't always wanted to see Brett Favre's ass in a pair of Wranglers ...

Cop a Feel

Anyone else getting a bad case of NYPD blue balls? (Photo by Matthew Rettenmund)

On the Rag, Vol. 5

A weekly look at what's on the cover of New York's free gay rags:

You know what they say, always wear a condiment

And I am telling you ... I can't imagine which cover you're gonna like better this week. Check out Next cover hunk Kevin's juicy wiener after the jump HERE.

Check out all previous On the Rag posts HERE.

Becks Takes Manhattan!

I think I need to start hanging out at Macy's Herald Square more often. First Calvin Klein mannequin Garrett Neff stopped by to promote CK undies on Wednesday. Now it seems David Beckham and his android wife were there on Friday to the launch of the Beckham Signature Fragrance Collection (like these people need more cash!). A lot of people tell me that I wouldn't find David that hot if he wasn't "who he is," but I think that's total rubbish (sorry, like Madonna I'm also from Detroit originally). If I saw this guy rocking a three-piece suit walking down the street on his way to an investment bank I can assure you there would be some serious police invention -- and fast. How about you?

David rocked another vest at the Waverly Inn later in the night (swoon) ...

See all Becks-related posts HERE.

Straight Model Sues Genre Over 'Vulgar' Photo

Maybe if "straight" model Benjamin Massing didn't go around yanking on his skimpy undies with those bedroom eyes then the "gays" wouldn't be so inclined to make him seem so "lustful and sexually promiscuous." Read the full story HERE. (Bottom line: did he sign a release or not?) And believe me, this is real. I once had a douche bag of a model demand that a photographer who had given me pics he had taken of him get me to take them down. You know what a stigma homosexuality is in the fashion industry ...

Note to Genre: If I were defending this lawsuit I would use this photo and caption from the plaintiff's MySpace to call into question his truthfulness:!

Page 1 Consider (09/29)

End of a Dream: That damn Scarlett Johansson married my should-have-been husband Ryan Reynolds over the weekend in Vancouver, British Columbia. I guess I'll just have to get used to the idea of being his second spouse. (Reuters)

Google Rocks: The Internet giant doesn't normally take political positions, but even they couldn't not speak out about Prop 8: While we respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 -- we should not eliminate anyone's fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love. (GoogleBlog)

Hyphenallergenic? I don't care how great it is, I'm not eating skin. (MSNBC)

Perv Is Handi-capable: A quadriplegic man in Mobile, Ala., got caught secretly videotaping young girls while they took showers. (AP)

Out in Hollywood: Despite greater visibility, starring role are still rare. (NYT)

Miss Wasilla 1984: Don't deny it -- you're dying to watch Sarah Palin's 1984 beauty pageant swimsuit competition video. It's right HERE. (I hope she has something more contemporary to wear for Thursday.)

Queer Streets: Those crazy gays will try anything. First they started getting married, then they started having children. Now they're even trying homelessness. (LogoTV)

Something Stinks: You were smart enough not to shell out 12 bucks to see the crappy remake of "The Women" in the theater. But to hear my friend tell it, you wouldn't even want the thing in your house for 90 minutes on DVD. (RichWah)

Mighty: Catching up with Isis, the first* transgender model to compete on "America's Next Top Model." (*Tyra doesn't count since she's the host.) (PopWatch)

Mark Your Calendar: Did you know October is GLBT History Month?

Heather Locklear: First her face got fucked up, now her entire life. Aaron Spelling must be watching from above aghast. (People)

Tone Deaf: I thought the new MySpace Music setup sounded promising, but indie labels are already seeing the glass as less-than-half full. (LA Times)

(Self-)Hate Crime: I hope he doesn't try to kill me too, but I'm willing to bet 19-year-old Hector Sanchez is gay too. (News4Jax)

He's the Greatest

Sexy Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga -- dba Little Ali -- posed for photographers to promote the ATP Thailand Open tennis tournament this week in Bangkok, Thailand, then promptly TKO'd Novak Djokovic in the final to take home the belt crown, the first of his pro career.

The Bush-McCain Challenge

 

John Cusack is adorable when he gets political, even if he doesn't know how to pronounce Iraq.

RIP: Paul Newman

There'll never be another like him. (The L.A. Times has a nice retrospective of Newman's best films -- in words and pictures -- HERE.)

Everybody Run!

(Read the lyrics HERE.)

Well, I completely take back what I said about Tina Fey having the market cornered on lampooning Sarah "Caribou Barbie" Palin. Julie Brown, who you'll remember starred in three pretty funny videos as the Alaska governor earlier this month, has just released a new song called "The Ex-Beauty Queen's Got a Gun," and it's without a doubt the most hilarious take on the GOP vice-presidential nominee to date. (The song's even funnier than the "Homecoming Queen" original!) You can hear its debut on "The Stephanie Miller Show" above (complete with the studio members' reactions!) -- or buy the MP3 HERE. And you thought Dick Cheney was armed and dangerous ...

Illustration by Zina Saunders

Bruno Strikes Again!

Sacha Baron Cohen is up to his old tricks, this time as the hilarious fashionista Bruno, getting busted on the catwalk at Agatha Ruiz de la Prada's show in Milan today. I had a chance to watch all the Bruno segments on DVD last week and about peed my pants. I can already tell this upcoming film is gonna be great!

"And zen what did Matt Damon say? hehehe"
"And zen what did you say?"
"And zen what did Matt Damon say? hehehe"
"And zen what did you say?"
"And zen what did Matt Damon say? hehehe"
"And zen what did you say?"

I LOVE Bruno!

Phone Atone

Colbert's 1-800-OOPS-JEW

Don't Drink the Milk

Andy Roddick, David Ferrer of Spain and Serbians Jelena Jankovic Ana Ivanovic look like they're having a good time at the reception of the 2008 China Open, going on now in Beijing.

Dancing With the Stars: Eastern European Edition

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic gets his, um, groove on with Slovakian singer Sisa Sklovska during a Davis Cup welcoming event. A friendly reminder of why I try to avoid dancing in public at all costs.

My Seldom-Told Story

While I'm the first to admit that a truly hot guy can look good in anything, as far as I'm concerned real men wear boxers. Briefs are man-panties best left to little boys. And boxer-briefs are for people who can't take a side (or guys who secretly wanted to try on Mom's girdler). But a man in boxers (woof!). Am I the only guy left who feels this way?