Rush Rush

The weekend was a bit of a mixed bag. At the 11th hour on Friday (which is really my Sunday), we found out the Tribeca Film Festival was screening the premiere of "Burning Down the House." Mandy Stein's documentary about the efforts to save the legendary Lower East Side bar where the Ramones, Talking Heads and Blondie got their start. We rushed over the East Village when we heard "rush" tickets were available before every movie, so we figured we had a decent chance of getting in if we got there early.

Marky Ramone, Miss Guy,Deborah Harry, Bob Gruen, Mandy Stein and Dick Manitoba

Upon arrival, the "star" arrivals were in full swing, so Michael grabbed a spot in line while I staked out the red carpet, where I spotted Debbie Harry, Marky and C.J. Ramone, Bebe Buell and Shoshanna Lonstein(!). Of course, when I tried to take pictures I realized I'd left my camera battery in its charger at home, so I ended up with nothing because I was too far away for my cell phone to shoot anything decent. (I was NOT FUN to be around after that.) Michael and I then waited patiently for over an hour when suddenly this black sedan came whipping around the corner nearly hitting the crowd, only to stop abruptly and for this blond chick in sunglasses to jump in. It was Meg Ryan -- and she looked like her face had settled down a bit. (Her film "Serious Moonlight" was also showing there, directed by "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Cheryl Hines from a screenplay by the late Adrienne Shelley.)

No sooner had we avoided getting run over by the Meg-mobile did they announce that all the seats were taken for our film, and we were released into the wild to fend for ourselves. ( I was EVEN LESS FUN to be around at this point.)

Just when I had written off the Tribeca Film Festival for good we got home to find that we'd been invited to a special screening of "Outrage" later in the week. As I mentioned on Friday, Kirby Dick's new documentary about closeted politicians who use their position to inflict damage on their fellow gays is Number 1 on my must-see list, so I should have a full report for you by Monday. I found the trailer online and it looks like it's going to be as juicy and explosive as I've read it is.

On Saturday, Michael and I went to a fun birthday party for cutie Paul over at my friend Chris' place in Chelsea. Dennis Hensley and his friend Thom Storr met up with us, and we had a great time chatting the night away in the back yard filled with handsome guys and lots of vodka. (What a gorgeous night out!!!!) You win some, you lose some.