Chicago, Cher and the Crawfords

 

Hello, page turners!

Since I last wrote, I did indeed complete Erik Larson's "Devil in the White City," which I received as a gift in 2007. I hadn't peeked at any reviews, but since finishing I concur with a lot of readers that the "b" plot -- the titular devil of a serial killer -- was unnecessary given that the main story about the World's Columbian Exposition (aka the 1893 Chicago World's Fair) was utterly fascinating and had nothing to do with the sicko.

My guess is Larson didn't think anyone would read a book solely about the fair, so wove in the murder stuff to get people to pay attention. (Spoiler: It worked. The book spent years on the New York Times Bestseller list and became a defining work in popularizing modern narrative nonfiction.) 

Kudos to my friend Marc for suspecting I would enjoy it, even if I was too stubborn to appreciate it for nearly 20 years!

At the same time, I've been revisiting my brother Bill's second book, "The Elephants of Style," because I miss his voice.

And then I dug into the first part of Cher's memoir and nearly sobbed when it abruptly ended even before "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean." 

I thought I was a superfan of the Emmy-, Grammy- and Oscar-winning star, but I must say I was stunned by how much I didn't know. (Add Ms. Sarkisian to the list of people whose lives no one will ever live again, with the rags to riches and back again existence dating back to her girlhood.) She's a fantastic storyteller and doesn't shy away from uncomfortable topics. Part II can't arrive quickly enough. 

Right now I'm listening to the 40th anniversary edition of "Mommie Dearest" -- which must have come out in 2018 -- and getting a real wake-up call about audiobooks. 

I loved hearing Jeff Hiller tell his story, and wish to God my brother had recorded audio versions of his three books. But I find Tavia Gilbert, who apparently is actually an award-winning narrator, incredibly annoying and it's making me root for Joan. I'm just starting Chapter 13, but at the rate I'm going, I'm not sure I'll be happy unless Christina's dead. (What is up with this woman's intonations and why isn't someone slapping her?) 

Still hoping for more connections on Goodreads -- does anyone still use that besides me? -- and tell me what you're reading in the comments.

On the Rag, Vol. 909

This week's rag 'n' mag roundup features Christopher Cote, Bruno Miranda, Michols Peña, Alan Cumming and more BELOW. 

Remains of the Day (05/27)

NYT: For one night only, my friend Tim Teeman became the star of "Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody"

Queerty: Yesterday I mentioned I had become a fan of Netflix's "Alpha Males" and had no idea one of the main characters was actually acting straight 4 pay

Edge: Josh Cavallo says gay footballers are still hiding in plain sight

Page Six: "Emily in Paris" star Pierre Deny dead at 69 after "sudden and severe" ALS battle

Wrestle Wednesday. Yikes -- you'd better like hair pulling

KIT212: "Brave" Homer Gere goes shirtless on "Euphoria"

PinkNews: Over 25% of LGBTQ people feel excluded or underrepresented by Pride Month

Out: Theo James and Aaron Taylor-Johnson flex their sexy abs in new film "Fuze"

Advocate: Democrats have a messaging problem. Adam Mockler has solutions

Attitude: Inside the shocking rise of OnlyFans sex stunts -- and why Drake Von is serious about 1,000-man marathon 

West Side Rag: "We’re Having a Blast": UWS roving grammarian goes on the road with award-winning film, "Rebel With a Clause"

CIC News: LGBTQ Americans are getting expedited Canadian citizenship certificates

GLAAD: Meta, X and YouTube’s scores hit new lows in sixth annual LGBTQ social media safety index

Washington Blade: China’s top court acknowledges anti-LGBTQ discrimination

Boystack: Tony-nominated institution Charles Busch went off-script while accepting a Judy Icon Award, reflecting on the loss of his dear friend and collaborator Andy Halliday

Hot Cat of the Day: Here's hoping he knows his limit

Pet Rock 2.0: Robby Hoffman has something to tell the nonbinary community, erstwhile or otherwise

The 'West Side' Mangler

 

While I applaud my favorite local sandwich shop, Giacomo Fine Foods, for getting new and clearer signage, there's no way a business on the Upper West Side of Manhattan can allow this to stand in good conscience. While I'm tempted to start picketing to get it re-made, I don't dare say a thing given my turbulent relationship with the establishment.

Still, such protests have been known to work before in this neck of the woods. :-)

The Upper West Side's Grammar Table weighs in!

Remains of the Day (05/26)

The Caftan Chronicles: Mark Beard's elegantly homoerotic paintings often begin with weekly sessions sketching nude men

Roro Subs: Rosie O'Donnell writes about having a facelift in January

EW: Broadway vet recalls dancing with Kim Cattrall in "Sex and the City 2": "How gay can this get? And then it only got gayer"

History 1000: The "horror" of coming out in 1977. (Yet "the kids" still don't understand how gays of a certain age are the way we are -- SMH.) 

My Queer Cinema: A handsome drifter and a horny laundromat owner collide in this scrappy 2012 indie full of nudity, flirting and bad decisions

 

ICYMI: After a slow start, my weekend tennis roundup has been fully fleshed out

LGBTQ Nation: Spain displaces Malta as Europe's No. 1 country for LGBTQ rights 

Out: "Heartstopper Forever" new photos tease bittersweet ending for Nick and Charlie 

Al Jazeera: Senegal PM slams West’s "homosexual tyranny," defends LGBTQ crackdown 

Socialite Life: Male Model Monday with Trey Mitcham, Alex Viera, Guilherme Breves and more 

EW: Another look at the "Heated Rivalry" musical parody

PinkNews: Russian boy, 13, charged under "LGBT propaganda" law over video with "extremist" symbol

People: Brazilian bodybuilding influencer Gabriel Ganley found dead in apartment at 22

THR: Julia Louis-Dreyfus to make Broadway debut alongside Ed Harris and Allison Janney in "Other Desert Cities"

NBC News: California woman dead in murder-suicide may have given thousands to a scammer claiming to be Tom Selleck. BTW: I recently found out a much older cousin whom I barely know lost everything in a romance scam whose tentacles reached my brother in Maryland.

Hot Cat of the Day: Are you looking for something fiction or nonfiction?

TV Queen: In case you're looking for shows, I've been watching "Alpha Males" (Netflix), finished "Envious" (Netflix), and recently discovered that what appeared to be a tired heteronormative sitcom, "Rules of Engagement," is actually smart, incredibly funny and has adorable Oliver Hudson and hunky Patrick Warburton, who is constantly stripping. (The women leads are brilliant, too!) Also, the Richard Simmons doc absolutely destroyed me.

Legends Only: History's 250 greatest gay-porn stars?

Lipstick & Lies: For my Detroit readers -- my friend Frank Anthony Polito has an event for his new book, "Dragged to Death," coming up on June 17 at the Hazel Park Library. Details HERE.

Tennis Tuesday: Johnny Donovan

 

Things quickly turn NC-17 when he teaches a hunky friend a "lesson" or two BELOW.