Right Said Frederic

I wonder how do you say "wiener roast" in French ...

Rugby or not to be - Michalack : Diététique

by lecoqsportif

Chelsea Clinton's Getting Married

Congrats to Chelsea Clinton and longtime boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky (together in 1996, above) who really got engaged over the holiday weekend. The e-mailed announcement read:

"We're sorry for the mass e-mail but we wanted to wish everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving! We also wanted to share that we are engaged! We didn't get married this past summer despite the stories to the contrary, but we are looking toward next summer and hope you all will be there to celebrate with us. Happy Holidays! Chelsea & Marc."

The best part of the news, however, was the way the Caucus managed to describe the future Billary son-in-law:

Mr. Mezvinsky, 31, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker now at 3G Capital Management, is the son of two former Democratic members of Congress. His father, Edward Mezvinsky of Iowa, served from 1973 to 1977 but was later convicted of defrauding investors and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison; he was released last year. His mother, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky of Pennsylvania, served from 1993 to 1995, losing re-election after voting for President Clinton’s budget program.

'Single' Shot

Click HERE to enter to win a pair of tickets to a New York screening of Tom Ford's "A Single Man."

I'll Have the Sister Golden Hair Surprise

Diamonds in the Rough

Although I doubt Andy Warhol would have thought much of a college workshopped stage musical (in Connecticut!) about the day Valerie Solanas tried to kill him ("Pop!"), odds are he wouldn't have minded that pretty boy Randy Harrison was cast to play him, even if the actor did star in one of the worst television shows in history.

Far more compelling is my friend Ben Widdicombe's idea for a musical based on the Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren saga. This "could be the rock opera concept Ace of Base has been waiting for." If songs like "The Sign," "All That She Wants (Is Another Baby)" and "Beautiful Life" don't convey the story of Elin's 3-iron "courage" (it was, after all, courageous of her to not kill him for his adultery) then I don't know what does. (But did the hitherto classy golfer really think he could buy his wife's forgiveness -- at Zales???) "Pop!" runs through Dec. 19 at the Yale Repertory Theater, 1120 Chapel St., New Haven; (203) 432-1234; yalerep.org. Full story HERE.

Monday Ad Watch

Now let's hope this hottie makes it onto Virgin America's upcoming reality show, "Fly Girls," on the CW.

Say Awkward!

It hasn't quite hit its stride yet, but AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com is definitely a site to watch. Truth is, my pal John thinks my brothers and I need to intervene and show 'em how it's done.

On the Rag, Vol. 65

A weekly look at what's making news in New York's free gay rags:

Merely four months after Next bought and dismantled arch rival HX along comes a new entry into the gay rag scene, the L.A.-based Odyssey. (Apparently there are L.A., Brazil and Hawaii editions as well.) Issue 4 (and my first) is heavy on columns by gay "celebs" (think Lady Bunny, Miss Guy et al.) and nightlife photos (no complaints there). And cover model Kain Warn certainly doesn't hurt. I don't know how big publisher Mike Everaert's dick is, but if he's willing to enter the world of gay publishing at this stage in the game, I think it's safe to say he has really big balls.

Meanwhile, Next asks if nearly 30 years after the disease changed the face of the gay community in New York, have we begun to forget about AIDS? And on a more festive note, the mag's Holiday Gift Guide is worth a look, if for no other reason than this hunk in a pair of Piss & Vinegar Jesus Briefs.

Kudos to David Can't-Stand-Ya

While the prospect of marriage equality for New York and New Jersey in 2009 looks increasingly unlikely, the picture is more upbeat in the District of Columbia, where passage of Council member David Catania's gay marriage bill is expected to win approval on Dec. 1. (Full story HERE.)

Naughty Boys Need Love, Too

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Quid Pro Homo

While I know the gay vote must have made some kind of a difference in the 2008 presidential election, I can't help but fantasize what it would feel like if it meant more, like in the current mayoral race in Atlanta.

The L.A. Times reports: A neck-and-neck mayoral runoff pitting a black man against a white woman has spurred some intense discussions about race and politics in the South's most important city.

But in recent days, the two campaigns have also turned their attention to a demographic beyond race that may ultimately sway Tuesday's election: the gay vote.

Eat Your Heart Out, Jill Zarin

Bravo must be loving all of the ridiculous attention this "Real Housewives of D.C." wannabe is getting. Someone needs to do a story about the likely hundreds of people who have "crashed" similar events in the past in the pre-Facebook era. (The only difference? You'd show your friends the photos and that would be the end of it.) Now I can't help but wonder if the Salahis charged the Secret Service for yesterday's interview.

Dammit, Janet

Outside the beloved Valley Art cinema, site of many of my earliest artsy film outings as well as my one and only "Rocky Horror" experience in high school. Sadly, this historic movie house is one of the few remaining establishments on Mill Avenue in Old Town Tempe from before it was decimated by (a revolving door of) chain stores (there's now a Hooters just a stone's throw away). It's bad enough that Roads to Moscow, Panic City!, the Q & Brew and Graffiti's -- the club I was at the night we found out Andy Warhol had died -- are long gone.

But even the longtime local favorite Coffee Plantation -- where I frequently did my homework while attending Arizona State University -- has closed (enter Five Guys).

Now I have a better idea of how Chrissie Hynde felt when she sang "My City Was Gone."

Circa 1985: Latch-key child outside Graffiti's, a few years before the fire at Stan's Metro Deli would destroy the place

Stan's Metro Deli

Fire at Chipman Petersen Building, 415 S. Mill Ave.

Even the beloved Changing Hands Bookstore has been forced out to the suburbs from downtown.

The second incarnation of Roads to Moscow

My friend Mary Byrne and I go in search of two tacos for 99 cents circa 1986

 The Q & Brew

Graffiti's after dark (1986)

Tom Frank, the owner of Panic City, tells me he'd like to write a book about that era. 

P.S. Who remembers that Graffiti's later became Club Bongo, where acts like the Gin Blossoms and Meat Puppets performed in 1988.

Jacked Up

Reliving my college days in Tempe with two tacos for 99 cents. Yum!

Black Brady Friday

Just in time for the holiday shopping season comes my pal Mike Pingel's latest book on classic '70s television, "The Brady Bunch: Super Groovy After All These Years." Hard to believe that it was 40 years ago that the world's most famous blended family hit the airwaves. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the Bradys until I saw a few of the teaser questions that are answered in the book:

1. Who flushed the never-seen toilet in the Brady kids bathroom?
2. Which character was never seen in the final episode of the series?
3. Which episode did the network demand that the actor wear boxer shorts?
4. Which Oscar-winning actor almost became Mike Brady?

Currently TVLand is celebrating the shows 40th anniversary by airing the show nightly and a special Happy 40th Brady! webpage where fans can watch free episodes and watch interviews with cast members.

Mike Pingel has penned three books, "Angelic Heaven: A Fan’s Guide to Charlie’s Angels" (BearManor); "The Q Guide to Charlie’s Angels" (Alyson Books) and "The Q Guide to Wonder Woman" (Alyson books). He lives in Los Angeles and when not writing books he works as an actor, publicity and webmaster.

"Oh, my nose!"

Morning Wood

What I'm Most Thankful For

Nothing's more fun than coming home for Thanksgiving and watching "Seems Like Old Times," one of my brood's favorite movies. Between the chicken pepperoni and Aurora's need to get her feet scraped, family fare doesn't get any better!

A Play Family Thanksgiving

I'm Not Gay but My Book Club Is

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're enjoying our holiday with my family in Arizona. Hope you are enjoying yours, too!

Music Box: Altered Images

In honor of my mom's birthday, I give you the greatest birthday song of the 1980s, the classic "Happy Birthday" by Altered Images. Clare Grogan and the boys deserve a full post one of these days, but I've gotta go take my mom out to celebrate right now!

The Birthday Girl

Michael and I are so happy to be home to spend my mom's birthday with her today. Is 70 the new 50? Let's hope so ... it's creeping up on all of us! Love you, Mom!!!

Morning Wood

Great Scott

My ex-boyfriend Scott Evans is the cover man for INSTINCT magazine's best of 2009 issue. (No explanation necessary.)

Son of a Gun

Postcard From Tucson

In Arizona visiting my family for Thanksgiving week. Having a great time hanging out near the U of A campus for the day. The only way it could be better would be for Greg, Scooter, Laurence or Bill to be here as our tour guide (it's been a LONG time since I was here!). Did run into this once-familiar venue, IBT's, the spot of many-a-fun nights in the late '80s ...