Monte Carlo, Baby

It’s 3 a.m. here in Monaco but I just had to do a quick post to say we made it to the Masters 1000 event and had the time of our lives watching Draper, Davidovich-Fokina, Alcaraz, Altmaier, Berretini and Musetti play at close range. Our package included a fab lunch at the country club’s L’Open restaurant, bottomless Champagne and entry into the tournament’s VIP lounge.

Afterward we took a dip in our hotel’s heated pool …

Followed by dinner and a night out at the legendary Casino de Monte-Carlo, which kept even this anti-gambling zealot entertained for hours, thanks to the people watching. Time to sleep, but thanks to everyone reaching out on social media to wish us well and or offering tips — all of it is much appreciated! 

Sea of Love

Greetings from the French Riviera! Had a fantastic if brief stay in Nice before spending a wonderful day in Èze, hiking to its famed village and Jardin botanique. (OK, the hiking part wasn’t as wonderful as the spectacular views and meal on top!)

Tomorrow morning we’re off to the Monte Carlo Country Club for an exciting day of tennis, including Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper, Matteo Berretini and Lorenzo Musetti. 

We just gorged ourselves at Nobu — first experience — and now it’s time to wrap up for the night. Fingers crossed that Jack’s into threeways with middle-aged men. 

P.S. Next time you see me, remind me to tell you about the bottle of Coke Zero that came open and filled my messenger bag containing every single book and document we brought!

Tennis Tuesday: Joey Graziadei

Always a treat to see tennis instructor cum “Bachelor”Joey Graziadei out and about! Lots more —- including his “DWTS” mustache — BELOW.

Rhone (If You Want To)

Splendid time in Avignon, including a visit to the Palais des Papes. City’s papal history is fascinating, as are the bearded boys wandering the streets! 

On the Pont d'Avignon, a medieval bridge across the Rhône in the town of Avignon, in southern France. Only four arches survive.

Clem Burke, Drum Maestro of Blondie, Dead at 70

Just arrived in France to the news that Clem Burke has left the building. As a member of my all-time favorite band — and the first to die — this is terribly sad. My love to all the other Blondies out there, and especially to his friends and family. 💔🙏🥁

People often point to his brilliant performance on "Dreaming” and it’s easy to see why. How many other classic pop rock songs feature drums as the lead instrument? I remember a contemporaneous review of “Eat to the Beat” that said Clem’s drumming “saved” the album. I didn’t think the album was in any danger but the message was clear: This guy’s extraordinary.

But his presence was felt throughout Blondie’s catalog. My friend Jesse notes: “[You] can hear his flourishes everywhere. Their breakthrough hit ‘Heart of Glass’ is the greatest bit of rock-disco fusion anyone ever achieved, and an awful lot of it is down to Burke's hi-hat.”

As a teen I was obsessed with “Denis” while my brother Bill adored “(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence Dear,” both from the band’s second album, “Plastic Letters.” “Presence Dear” was a parting gift to the band from bassist Gary Valentine, who left because he really wanted to sing and play guitar. Burke is said to have lobbied for the band to record it, and my friend Jesse thinks he knows why —because Clem had so much fun playing it:

“He does great subtle things here, changing his approach on every verse so that it builds from a kind of reflective 1st verse (with Burke emphasizing the hi-hat and only playing clicks on the snare rim) through a full-bodied beat on the second verse, to Keith Moon-style fills on the bridge and finally whacking the snare on every beat in the last verse. The song builds momentum as it goes, from a pleasing pop trifle to a raucous rocker, and Burke is the main reason for that. He brought the same approach to every song, providing great sonic color and texture in addition to rocket propulsion. One of the greats.”

Britain’s NME writes: Burke wasn’t just a pummeling powerhouse; his skill was in modernizing and invigorating any style a song required — be it disco, reggae or doo-wop. The band’s adventurous beat-maker made his impact felt far … setting a new rhythm for pop from behind his drum kit — one that the world has been dancing to for 50 years.

With Jimmy out, Nigel and Frank never back in, and Chris on the sidelines for health reasons, Blondie has long been a facsimile of the band I grew up. Still, I’m thrilled Debbie and Chris were finally able to achieve the critical and financial success that were so overdue, and that Clem got to perform for large audiences (that truly appreciated him), which he clearly loved to do.

If nothing else, his shocking death makes me appreciate whom we have left that much more. 

RIP, Clem. We’ll miss you and your mom hair. 

How is this possible?

Step Back in Time

I'm about to run out the door to JFK to catch a flight to Monte Carlo, where Damian and I will be fulfilling our youthful dream of attending its Masters 1000 event this week. (Because my husband lives by the "If It's Tuesday It Must Be Belgium" rule, we'll also be in Avignon, Nice, Milan, St. Moritz, Zermatt/Matterhorn, Zurich -- Glacier Express -- Interlaken/Brienz before flying home via Paris.) 

But before we go, I wanted to mention what a great weekend we had with my AZ childhood BFF, Greg, who flew in from Omaha to see Kylie Minogue last night at Madison Square Garden. 

The festivities began on Friday, with a mini reunion of the old Tucson gang -- Greg, Kara and Jimmy, aka Scooter. (I'm assuming Marlise, Liesel and Paul's ears were burning hot!)

It was so great catching up with everyone and finally meeting Kara's life partner, Korn.

The time flew by, but it was a thrill to see friends I have known since the late 1980s, a highlight of which was Greg's bringing some photos many of us had never seen before! 

Greg as Debbie Harry for Halloween

Kara and Scooter 

Greg and me with Kurt, Tina and Nana 

 We followed that up with a fantastic dinner with Greg's friend Dave -- along with his boyfriend Abel, at the Society Cafe -- before meeting my friend Greg at MSG moments before the show.

This was my third time seeing the Aussie pop goddess -- also in 2009 and in 2011 -- and it was by far the best. I may only be a casual admirer … 

But by the end of the night, I felt like a superfan. So thrilled to see a woman of a certain age -- not unlike myself -- riding a new wave of success!