Riding Into 2017 With Sandra Bernhard

Happy New Year's eve from the (212)! Hope you have a fun and safe night. If you're staying in tonight or up on Sunday with a hangover, here's my guy Damian's write-up about Sandra Bernhard's Joe's Pub show, which was a fun way to round out a year we won't soon (but will valiantly try to) forget. Read HERE.

P.S. 

Sandy with her East Coast #SandyLandSquadBand: Mitch Kaplan, John Badamo and Ben Chuchinsky, who got the boys all riled up!

California Man Who Lost Gay Pride Lawsuit Found Dead From Apparent Suicide

Tragic ending to this highly publicized case. I think the guy was right, but was that get-up really worth dying for?

The Daily News reports:

A California man who lost a five-year legal battle with San Diego police after being arrested for nudity during a 2011 gay pride festival was found dead from an apparent suicide weeks after receiving the unfavorable verdict, police said. Police found Will X. Walters, 35, in his Hill Crest apartment late Wednesday night, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. His time of death is not yet known and the county Medical Examiner’s Office said the death was under investigation. Police arrested Walters in 2011 during the San Diego Pride Parade and Festival at Balboa Park. He was wearing a leather gladiator skirt at the time that did not fully cover his backside, according to the Tribune. Walters reportedly denied officers’ requests to cover up so they arrested him for public nudity and took him to jail. He sued the San Diego Police for discrimination based on his sexuality, but a federal jury ruled against him earlier this month.Walter’s legal team said he racked up roughly $1 million in legal costs. His attorney, Chris Morris, said Walters was shocked by the Dec. 13 verdict, but hadn’t heard from him since.

Annual List of Various Things People Got Stuck in Their Butts, Penises and Vaginas

My favorite "Jackass" moment was when Ryan Dunn went to the doctor with a toy car up his ass. He's not alone -- and these people weren't kidding around. Read HERE.

Conservative Columnist Killed After Gun He Was Showing Teen Goes Off

Is this the gun-nut equivalent of self-deportation?

The Daily News reports:

A conservative newspaper columnist known for his support of guns rights died after the pistol he was showing a teenager suddenly fired. Michael D. Harmon, who wrote weekly for the Portland Press Herald, died at 71 Wednesday after what his wife called an “accidental tragedy.” Police told the Press Herald that a 16-year-old and his father were visiting Harmon at his home in Sanford when he was showing the boy a handgun and it went off. The newspaper said that he was an editor and columnist known as a “steadfast defender of gun rights” during his 41 years at the Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram. He continued to write his column after retiring in 2011, and his LinkedIn page says that he has worked as a speaker. It was not immediately clear where Harmon was shot, and police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine his exact cause of death. Harmon's last column, published Thursday, criticized the Obama administration for not vetoing a UN resolution on Israeli settlements.

Horning In

Huh? Someone left this outside my neighbor-whose-dog-barks-24-hours-a-day's apartment. I'm guessing the store was all out of horse heads

P.S. Any New Yorkers know what we can do about this dog? I'm actually thinking it's being neglected.

Ethel Kennedy -- and Merman -- Would Be Proud

It seems the Conor Kennedy "Aspen bar brawl" story has a GAY TWIST.

America the 'Beautiful'

You asked for it, you got it!

After-party (real photo taken in Seattle) ...

Death of the Diner

A-ha! I knew I wasn't imagining this. The number of diners in New York City has plummeted from about 1,000 in the '90s to 378 today -- and now the Evergreen Diner, a 92-seat fixture on West 47th Street near my work, will shut its doors for good on Saturday. The Wall Street Journal reports that this marks the latest in a series of recent diner demises throughout the metropolitan area. Other closures of note since 2015 have included the Market Diner, a Hell’s Kitchen favorite since the early ‘60s, and the Del Rio Diner, a popular Brooklyn hangout that dated back to 1976. My neighborhood has lost the Chelsea Gallery Diner and Eros diner (formerly the Wellington) on 7th, the Bright Food Shop, Dolores, Galaxy, Bendix and Venus diners on 8th Avenue (and briefly a Vynl that became Redwood Diner), the Empire Diner on 10th as well as nearby Florent in the Meatpacking District and the Manatus Diner in the West Village in the past two decades, leaving us with The Dish on 8th -- once the gayest eatery on the East Coast -- my beloved Malibu (on 23rd and 7th), the Hollywood Diner (on 6th) and neighboring Chelsea Square and Rail Line Diner (formerly Moonstruck). (I suppose Ridgeway Diner -- formerly Lemon Lime -- on 6th is technically in Chelsea, although I've never been there, and the Good Stuff Diner on 14th is still in business, if you don't mind dodging bullets.) Ironically, the sharp decline in options has had little effect on my waistline.

Barry Levison's "Diner" might have spurred my love of the joints ...

On the Rag., Vol. 439

A weekly look at what's making news in the free gay mags:

Get Out!: Instastud Frank Carter ends the year on the front of two gay mags! Interview HERE.

More pics HERE.

The Gay UK: Find out which child star grew up to be this gym hunk HERE.

Metro Weekly (DC): Duran Duran ring in the New Year at MGM National Harbor / Read HERE.

MetroSource NY loves Tom Ford / Read HERE.

QX (London): ‪In the wake of horrid 2016, this rag wanted itsr New Year cover to represent freedom and defiant queerness! Info HERE.

Grab (Chicago): Trust me. You're gonna want to go inside to see the other photos of Jackson Grant / Online edition HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Celtic New Year' by Van Morrison

Wow, 2017? So I guess this is really happening.

Morning Wood

Page 1 Roundup (12/30)

Remembering Hollywood's ultimate love triangle / Read HERE.

In my wildest dreams I could have never seen the day when the GOP is embracing Russia / Read HERE.

Obama hits back at Russia for hacking, not that it will change anything / Read HERE.

A Vineyard Gets Its Ducks in a Row, and Visitors Flock In / Read HERE.

A Mitch in Time Saves Nine

Good luck with that, boys.

Magazine Rack

Here's what you're missing by not subscribing to magazines anymore:

Men's Health says brushing your teeth might boost your erection. I don't know about that, but looking at this cover definitely will. Read HERE.

Can Ryan Gosling do it all?

Read HERE.

Even President Obama's critics will soon have plenty of reasons to appreciate him / Read HERE.

  

I was on the Michael Fassbender bandwagon until I realized movies aren't worth seeing anymore. (Can his agent get him on television where all the good stuff is?) Read HERE.

Actually, I'm pretty sure everyone has to die / Read HERE.

Sarah Jessica Parker keeps working -- and good for her / Read HERE.

  

Go behind the scenes of Michael Phelps's latest SI cover HERE.

Ironic that People put this end-of-the-year "remembrance" issue together not suspecting that three of the year's biggest deaths would happen in its final week / Read HERE.

RIP: Beauty Expert David Frank

His work with models and actresses was fabled. But his story about "Route 66" stud George Maharis is what becomes a legend most. Read HERE.

Married Couple Accused of Sexually Abusing 8 Boys Dies in Murder-Suicide

Horrifying story out of South St. Paul, Minn., where an elementary school teacher (Aric Babbitt, left) and his husband (Matthew Deyo) were being investigated for sexually abusing a growing number of boys, including a 16-year-old who says he used to be the teacher's pupil. Allegations of plying boys with pot and alcohol, as well as hidden cameras in bathrooms, pornography and unprotected sex led the two to flee for a "dream vacation" in Washington state where a murder-suicide pact was honored. The story sounds like a cross between "Mysterious Skin" and Jerry Sandusky's house of horrors. Hope the victims can find peace somehow. Read HERE.

Mary Tyler Moore Turns 80

Ed Asner recently hinted that Mary Tyler Moore was not doing well at all, saying diabetes had taken its toll on the sitcom legend. But I was heartened to see she released a warm statement about the recent passing of her ex-husband Grant Tinker, with whom she formed the production company behind so many of the greatest shows of my lifetime, including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Happy birthday, Mary! Hope you're comfortable and not "near death" and being "abused" as those crummy tabloids constantly insist you are.

Song of the Day: 'Hearts and Bones' by Paul Simon

Was surprised so many of my colleagues (even of a certain age) didn't realize Carrie Fisher had been married to Paul Simon. Although one called it a "two-second" marriage, they were actually a couple for 13 years on and off, even after the divorce. Paul wrote a number of songs about Debbie and Eddie's girl, but this one is surely my favorite of them all. Carrie said it best: "If you can get Paul Simon to write a song about you, do it. Because he is so brilliant at it."

Morning Wood

Page 1 Roundup (12/29)

We can agree on one other thing: We're also unanimously heartbroken that Debbie Reynolds has died. Read how she may have died of a broken heart HERE.

The Daily's News remembers the unsinkable one HERE.

Read her New York Times obituary HERE, and her appraisal HERE.

I wasn't at work to stop this Debbie Reynolds correction from happening! Read HERE.

Debbie Reynolds Is Dead at 84

UPDATE: What a sad turn of events. Debbie Reynolds has died just one day after daughter Carrie Fisher passed away. Reynolds had a long and celebrated career, including "Singin' in the Rain," "Tammy and the Bachelor" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." But I would be lying if I didn't admit that her portrayal of Albert Brooks's "Mother" and as Bobbi Adler -- star of local productions of "The Music Person," "Death of a Salesperson" and "The Ice-Person Cometh" in Schenectady -- were my favorite performances of them all. RIP. funny lady.

TMZ reports:

Debbie Reynolds -- who rose to stardom in "Singin' in the Rain" and quickly became a staple among Hollywood royalty -- died Wednesday as a result of a stroke, TMZ has learned ... just one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher passed away ... this according to her son Todd. Debbie was rushed to a hospital shortly after 1 PM when someone at the Beverly Hills home of her son, Todd, called 911 to report a possible stroke. We're told Debbie and Todd were making funeral plans for Carrie, who died Tuesday of cardiac arrest. Debbie famously divorced Eddie Fisher in 1959 after his affair with Elizabeth Taylor. Debbie married 2 more times in 1960 and 1984. She played iconic roles in "Tammy and the Bachelor" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" ... for which she earned an Oscar nomination. Carrie's relationship with Debbie was the focus of Carrie's semi-autobiographical book, "Postcards from the Edge," which was later adapted for the big screen, starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine. Debbie's survived by her son Todd, who tells us, "She's with Carrie." She was 84.

Boy Culture lovingly remembers Ms. Reynolds HERE.

As if she hasn't been through enough.

Via TMZ:

Debbie Reynolds just suffered a medical emergency, which we're told is a possible stroke. ... and EMTs just raced to the scene ... TMZ has learned. Debbie was at her son Todd Fisher's home in Beverly Hills and just after 1 PM someone from the house called 911 ... TMZ has learned. We're told 84-year-old Debbie, who's daughter Carrie died Tuesday, has been distraught since Carrie's emergency Friday on a United jet. Family sources tell us they called 911 to report a possible stroke. The ambulance just took Debbie to a nearby emergency room. Debbie was at Todd's house discussing funeral plans for Carrie.

This sounds very serious, although I think even Carrie would be OK with its being an "It twirled up!" moment.

Ana Ivanovic Retires From Professional Tennis

Ana Ivanovic announced today that she is retiring from professional tennis, after a 14-year career that included a French Open crown, 15 WTA titles and becoming the first Serbian player to hold the top ranking in the world,

"I've decided to retire from professional tennis. It has been a difficult decision, but there is so much to celebrate," Ivanovic told fans in a message via her Facebook page. "I began dreaming of tennis when I was five and saw Monica Seles play on TV. My parents backed me all the way, and by the time I was ranked No.1 in the world and won Roland Garros in 2008, I've seen the heights I've never dreamt of achieving."

The 29-year-old leaves the game having been one of only 21 players to have ever held the WTA World No.1 ranking, reaching the top spot on June 9, 2008. Ivanovic held the No.1 ranking for a total of 12 weeks, from June 9 - Aug. 10, 2008 for nine weeks before capturing the top spot again for three more weeks until Sept. 7, 2008. Ivanovic's best season was in 2008 when she claimed the Roland Garros title, catapulting her to the WTA World No.1 ranking. She also won titles at Indian Wells and Linz and was runner-up at the Australian Open that same year.

I always liked Ana, both for her Jennifer Capriati-like game and her sweet demeanor. But like so many female players, her mental game fell apart once she got to the top, which made for many frustrating years of fandom. There's always two ways to look at players like her -- did she underachieve or did she overachieve -- and perhaps now that her career is over it's best to think of her as having done the latter.

Enjoy retirement and your not-as-hot-as-he-should-be hubby, Ana!