Remains of the Day (03/05)

Attitude: "Dona Beja," Brazilian HBO Max drama, sparks buzz with public gay nude scene

The Caftan Chronicles: Richard Hatch is recovering from "Survivor," trying to clear up his tax mess and also hoping to satisfy his versatile younger boyfriend

Boystack: Whether altered by AI, Photoshop, disinformation or mistaken identity -- these familiar images are not what, or who, they seem

Out: How "The Beauty" reflects men’s killer new beauty standards

Saturday 'Stache: I'd eat this cannibal

SGN: From Sandusky to stardom -- the rise of Tim Murray

Variety: Media veteran David Artavia named executive director of Future Perfect Project, LGBTQ youth arts initiative

The Randy Report: Joe Locke wins Emmy Award for "Heartstopper"

NYP: A star student water polo player racially abused a black teammate and subjected him to a months-long campaign of sexual assault at their $50,000-a-year L.A. private school, according to a new lawsuit

THR: Alan Cumming, Bowen Yang help launch Necessary Foundation to support LGBTQ filmmakers

NYT: Look inside Richard Hell’s East Village tenement apartment

Deadline: David Del Rio going to arbitration against CBS Studios over "Matlock" firing and sexual assault claims

TV Line: "Palm Royale" watchers put out of their collective misery

ESPN: Manchester United midfielder Jack Fletcher apologizes after being handed six-match ban for homophobic slur

Speedo Sunday: Take your pick

Hot Cat of the Day: Fritz can't believe the Bengals let rusher Trey Hendrickson hit the open market.

Calendar: A reading and exhibition for "Wasteland" -- the raw, collaborative art novel by Jason Haaf and Scooter LaForge exploring intimacy, anger and escape -- arrives at Howl! (6 E. 1st St.) on March 28, with original paintings from the book on view and for sale. Order your copy HERE.

Song of the Day: “Who Loves the Sun” by Matt Berninger and Rosanne Cash

On the Rag, Vol. 898

 

This week's rag 'n' mag roundup features JJ Jeremi, Stevan Miladino, Alexander Matthews, Francisco Lachowski, Jonathan Adler and more BELOW.

Westward Ho!

 

We leave for Indian Wells on Saturday -- and from the looks of things we can't get there soon enough.

My friend Greg is already on the grounds and posting photos HERE.

Tennis Tuesday: Tom Fancutt

Aussie journeyman Tom Fancutt apparently has been documenting his return to tennis after serving a 10-month suspension for getting an IV infusion of vitamins ... that aren't even banned. I don't have the patience to listen to someone talk to the camera. (How do people spend hours scrolling through TikTok?) But I have no problem taking in his visuals, as you'll see BELOW.

Remains of the Day (03/02)

People: Please speak up if you know anything about the death of Michael Bayne, a 32-year-old gay man living in Tempe, Ariz., whose body was found in neighboring Mesa

DM: Amy Linker, who played Lauren Hutchinson to Sarah Jessica Parker's Patty Greene on "Square Pegs," spotted in Los Angeles

Greg in Hollywood: Happy 17th blogiversary to my L.A. colleague -- and that's just his current one! 

PinkNews: Woman jailed for wearing "Allah is a lesbian" T-shirt faces arm amputation

Brian Ferrari: A game changer epilogue for Scott and Kip from "Heated Rivalry"

ICYMI: "Is that a 'wood' racket in your shorts, or are you just happy to see me?"

Stolen Holiday: Remembering Jo Stafford, the singer’s singer who possessed an almost supernatural purity of tone

MadTV: Not sure how I missed this "very special" episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"!

Town & Country: My friend Tim examines the true story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Daryl Hannah's relationship

Socialite Life: Male Model Monday featuring Gianluca De Ferrari, Stefano Tomadini, Francisco Escobar and more

NBC: Connor Storrie brought his own stripper character to "SNL"

Out: Jon Brockett is the (gay) first-ever showrunner of the newly renamed Actor Awards, where actors decide who gets the honors. He wants to inspire "anyone who has a dream"

Instinct: LGBTQ dating apps face nationwide block in Malaysia

SBS: Once stigmatized -- and illegal -- gay saunas like the one Glenn McNamara runs Down Under hold a special place in LGBTQ history

ICYMI: When everyone can be "queer," is anyone?

Cool Cat of the Day: Don't know whether to laugh or cry, the long cold winter just passed me by ...

Weekend Tennis Roundup

POST HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH CAPTIONS AND NEW PHOTOS

Titles for Medvedev, Cobolli, Darderi, Stearns and Bucsa. Full report plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.

Elmo, Last of the Gay Chelsea Restaurants, to Close Its Doors

 

I could probably write a thousand-word post about all the fun times -- and great meals -- I've had at Elmo over the past two decades, starting when a Ross Bleckner hung over the bar. And I've been beating the drum about the death of Chelsea for more than a decade.

But for now I will just share this notice from its owner, who just announced that the venerable eatery -- the last of the onetime homo epicenter's gay restaurants -- is closing on March 13 after losing its lease to make way for more luxury bullshit. 

What a sad day in Gay NYC, where Arriba Arriba in Hell's Kitchen might just be the last non-hetero restaurant at all.

Christmas 2025

Bob Pontarelli writes:

Dear Friends,

For nearly 25 years elmo has been the destination for hundreds of thousands of guests to enjoy some of life’s best moments.

It’s been a place for a first date or dinner with friends. A place for important celebrations and fabulous parties….or simply a place to gather comfortably with members of your community at a home away from home. Elmo has also been a space for hundreds of staff to build lifelong friendships.

We’ve seen marriages between guests and also amongst co-workers. We’ve hosted countless events from birthday parties to memorial services and political fund raisers.

We opened just months after the events of 911 and stayed open and serving food and cocktails through Sandy, several blackouts and record snow falls. We survived COVID with style by launching our wonderfully successful speakeasy, Coby Club. We’ve enjoyed so many proud moments I lost count a long time ago.

It was just confirmed to me that our building—home to elmo for 25 years—has been sold. Our lease expires with that sale. The new owners will soon bring a residential building to our neighborhood.

Sadly, all things must come to an end and elmo will serve its last meal on Friday, March 13.

With this news I personally will try to embrace all the beautiful memories and wonderful experiences elmo has given me and will move forward with new ventures and philanthropic projects that hopefully will have a wide impact.

There are few businesses as challenging or as exciting as owning a restaurant in New York City.

25 years is a very long time. To own a restaurant that has enjoyed the astonishing success and iconic stature that elmo has is a privilege and an honor. It has been a wonderfully exhilarating ride.

I will always remain deeply and profoundly grateful for your years of support and for your friendship.

I’ll see you around.

Bob Pontarelli 

The proposed replacement building 

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