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Showing posts from June, 2006
Timothy Adams - Boxers or Briefs As Pookie says, "The man has no shame. Thank the Lord!" Go here to see it

As luck would have it

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With Bernice, your New York correspondent, out somewhere on the streets searching for a man . . . erh, story, it falls to me to keep the home fires burning. Why do I feel like Cinderella? Mind you, the dear old lady gave broad hints about (read "told me") what she wanted, so my task was an easy one. Unlike her search for a ma . . . erh, story. His not-so-Lucky day on 'GH' New York Daily News Greg Vaughan, as Lucky, is cast as a hero for a while. Lucky is hailed as a hero for killing Manny next week on "General Hospital," but it's actually Jason who does the deed. "It's amazing what drugs can do to your brain," says Greg Vaughan, who plays addicted cop Lucky Spencer. "Lucky screws up and here comes Jason. So, Lucky is trying to prove he has what it takes to be a man." In other words, Lucky's in the right place at the right time, but he fails. He comes out onto the hospital roof and finds Manny and Jason struggling, then shoot

Antonio Banderas Launches New Fragrance Antonio and Announces Partnership with Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS

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Hey, it's not Philadelphia, still, it's close enough

Roz & Ilene: The Hits Just Keep On Comin'

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Prohibition (84th & Columbus) -- July 10th & July 24th 9PM -- no cover. Go. Enjoy. The Rosalinde Block Party is a kick-ass band, fronted by singer/ songwriter Rosalinde Block and TV personality Ilene Kristen (Roxy from One Life to Live , Delia from Ryan’s Hope ). The music is a celebration —a blend of r&b/pop/gospel— it's Rosalinde's music peppered with some great rare R'n'B covers. Amazing guest artists join us regularly—you never know who’s going to visit them on stage. The band features some of the heaviest hitters from Classic R'n'B school. These guys have played with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, B.B. King, Ben E. King, Chuck Jackson, Ray Charles, Manhattan Transfer, Richie Havens, The Allman Bros. and Lou Rawls. Now is this a party? You bet it is! (Seated from left: Reggie Barnes/drums, Hui Cox/guitar, Standing from left: Keith Lambeth/bass, Ilene Kristen, Rosalinde Block, Murray Weinstock/add'l keys)

Myles of Mark Aaron James

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Hey, Just a heads up, my "Undercover" show is still on hiatus until the World Cup is finished. Such are the perils of performing at an Irish pub. That said, I have an important show coming up. Rockwood Music Hall has given me a set on a Friday night, July 7th, prime real estate if you will. It's the earliest set however at 7 PM ... please come greet the weekend with some MAJ Music on Friday the 7th at 7. Rockwood in on Allan St (First Ave), between Houston and Stanton. It's right next door to the construction site. Guitar virtuoso Myles Aubry will be joining me again. Hope you can make it. MAJ

A Half Century of Chris Isaak

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Today is the fiftieth birthday of a stalwart of Column of Life's galleries, and a uniquely talented denizen of Stockton, California. Chris Issak's music while being derivative became a fresh and vibrant expression. His vocals are athletic and his delivery full of emotion that is expressive of the kind of sexual icon he is: strong yet sensitive. Perhaps it is because of this milestone, that his recording company released a greatest hits collection on both DVD and CD last month. Isaak is one of a kind. He's been on the music scene for well over twenty years now. He has created memorable music with influences that include Sanford Clark (who had a top ten hit the year Christopher was born), Chet Baker (Chris has a fleeting cameo in Let's Get Lost ) , Roy Orbison (whom Chris considers a friend as well as a major influence), Dean Martin (whose songs Chris likes to cover, most memorably in an acoustic duet of "Sway" with Michael Buble) and the Burnetts (whose marri

I Can: Song of the Week

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The inspired Rosalinde Block has given us another song -- this time performed by the inspiring Darin Riggi. It speaks -- or sings -- for itself. I CAN Doctor—lawyer—realtor—voyeur So many careers to choose from With no arrears to lose from He-man—she-man—if they can do it, I CAN I’m brilliant, witty, I’m wise—and I can even put one out like Streisand I’m at the top of the male persuasion All my body parts are working fine Got the props for every occasion Missing something? Come and borrow mine Cazh or corporate—I’ll leave you fawnin’ My satin B-ball shorts—the talk of the team Got the perfect towels to bring a’saunin’ Can keep a mud mask from melting in the steam I can do three sets of 50 crunchies I can tread the mill at the highest speed I can drink Heineken and get the munchies Sports Illustrated—what a read! Hmmmm, let’s see—what else can I do? Cuz you know I CAN!! I can be a fireman on Fire Island I can be a plumber—got the pipes and tools I can be the cop I was last Halloween I c

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

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This is old news, but it is a response that is worthy of attention. It says a lot about Drew's brother, Nick Lachey, who is a different kind of gay icon than Judy and he may not even know it. “I was asked if I’d ever consider playing for the other team, which was a ‘Ooh, I’m not expecting that one.’ “I answered it, ‘While I respect the other team and recognize that there is another team and they too play ball, I am not interested in playing for the other team.’” Pop star Nick Lachey’s reaction to a gay fan who suggested he go gay following his divorce from Jessica Simpson (World Entertainment News Network, June 13, 2006 "Well, thank you, Nick" Nice to be respected. Does he play rugby?

Stonewall Anniversary

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From a friend, Dennis D, with one perspective: Well, it's Pride again and time for my annual Pride message. (Okay, so maybe I haven't always done an annual Pride message, but let's pretend I have...you know...like The Queen on Christmas Day.) In the years since Stonewall there have been many heady victories for the gay community...repeal of sodomy laws; civil unions in Vermont; gay marriage in Massachusetts, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, et al; scads of openly gay elected officials; gay-themed TV shows and movies. And this year there was Brokeback Mountain and we got to watch two humpy cowboys get it on bigger than life on the silver screen. But still the state of our world these days leaves me sad. Evil, vile forces of bigotry entrenched in our White House, Congress and Supreme Court. A war fought and thousand of lives sacrificed in order for the wealthy and powerful to gain even more wealth and power. Rightwing religious fanatics trying to chip away at our hard

Saturday Beefcake: Stuff It

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There is usually much activity in the CoL offices on Saturday, most of it has to do with the image that is to be stolen from the internet. Today the discussion around that was minimal because a stock image from the late photographer, Bill Costa's files was used. It was the choice of a recipe that caused most problems. Ms. Bernice kept going on about pulled pork and we weren't sure if she was speaking about a recipe. Anyway, Bernice would not sit still because she's getting ready to go a Gay Pride barbecue in Manhattan thinking that Charles Busch & Jason Priestly were going to be there. Well, first of all that was Monday and it wasn't Jason Priestly, but Pookie didn't have time to set her straight. He kept going on about tossed salads and eggbeaters; and he is much too busy taking care of Timothy Adams and Michael Lombardi, well not exactly them, but their new sites. Nurse Betty's calming influence was nowhere to be found. She couldn't be convinced th

Rescue Me, Indeed

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Gay Rugby Team dissed by New York Firefighters Here is the OutSports report . POZalso dicussed this from the AIDS/HIV perspective.

Probie Not Being Gay

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TV Gasm (very appropriately entitled in this case) has excellent recaps and screen caps. Go Here .

This Also Must Be Said

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The week's most sickening scene -- Maureen Ryan Chicago Tribune “ Rescue Me ” has crossed a troubling line. Sure, Tommy Gavin, the bad-boy firefighter at the heart of the FX drama, has done awful things in the past. But when he raped his estranged wife, Gavin (who's played by "Rescue Me" co-creator Denis Leary) hit a sickening new low. On the June 20 episode of “Rescue Me,” Gavin had a conversation with his estranged wife about how to split up their possessions. The conversation grew heated, and he became violent with her, shoved her on the couch and forced her to have sex with him. It apparently wasn’t enough that the show depicted Gavin raping a woman, but it had to show that Janet Gavin appeared to enjoy it, or at least go along with it, by the end of the act. The worst part? Gavin exited the house with a giant smirk on his face. The smirk seemed to say, “Women love me, no matter what I do to them.” After all, Gavin had just gotten a string of phone

Pookie Says

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"I love the tentativeness on both Chris's and Mike's part when it came to the simple shared tenderness. It's almost like they are still getting to know one another and not sure of the boundaries. The change in Chris's expression as he realises that Mike has placed his head on his shoulder and Mike's smile when Chris reciprocates. Top points to Adams and Lombardi for making it so touching" The video, by the by, is available for viewing on their respective sites. Pookie also says: No matter where Rescue Me takes the characters and despite the somewhat homophobic remarks made by executive producer Peter Tolan in explaining how "Probie" turned out to have a gay side, this scene is, for lack of a better word, endearing. Oh, and you can now see stills from the vid on those self same sites.

Rescue Me On the Down Low

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The ongoing story of Probie and his roomie Chris and its Mack Sennett meets Ang Lee approach can maintain interest and it may very well lead to something more Ang Lee than Keystone Cops. It addresses a question of and for the ages: if two men engage in sexual activity with each other even if it is not reciprocal how are those men identified as well as their activity? (In this case, oral gratification.) Chris and Mike came to blows over this. It referred to Brokeback Mountain in that sense, because Ennis and Jack did not consider themselves homosexual and often came to blows instead of confronting their feelings head on. One problem with the Rescue Me plot is that the way last week's scene was shot led one to believe that there was something a bit more going between Mike & Chris because of the tender way they sat on that sofa. The follow up episode took it somewhere else, but definitely left nothing to the imagination of what goes on between them. It holds the interest in the

Here Comes the Sun King

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This is a magical time of year. This is the time of year to manifest divine gracious gifts, most of which are the great people in our lives. It is magical because it is that time to shed the light on who we are. It is when we enthrone the Sun God, the symbol and the manifestation of self, in Latin, ego which also means "I". The longest hours of daylight accentuate the virtue of loving one's self. Here comes the Sun King.

Die, Mommie, Die

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If you want to do some serious fundraising in New York City it seems that more often than not, Christopher Meloni is right there. Tonight as proof of that the Actor's Fund of America will present a reading of Charles Busch's play and movie with the participation of the ever philanthropic Meloni. The Actors' Fund of America is a nonprofit, national human services organization that helps entertainment and performing arts professionals in theater, film, music, opera, television and dance through a broad spectrum of social, health, employment, and housing programs that address their essential and critical needs.

A Joyful Noise: Song of the Week

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The Rosalinde Block Party is very much like a religious experience. She and Ilene Kristen will be re-creating while others recreate once again at Prohibition the 'movement' that happened last week. Monday evening 9PM, three glorious sets 84th & Columbus with another extraordinary special guest, Bobby Harden. Difficult to believe that there can be that much talent in one room! Here's another of her creations: Higher Eye In the Gospel of Matthew There's words for every emotion There's lessons on the Golden Rule Sends our souls to school to learn a thing or two But the part that shoots to my heart Is knowing in silence I'm being heard CHORUS: You see me even though I can't see You You're with me even though I can't touch You You see me, and I will never say goodbye Forever You're my higher eye Out in the desert, alone in the darkness I can feel Your golden light in the dead of night And I'm all right And now I know as I pray You're rig

Saturday Beefcake

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CoL continues with the fine men from the New York Firefighters Calendar. The current gentleman started off 2006 in January and his name is Ed McNulty. His presence at the stroke of midnight would make any new year happy, well it would make an old year rather enjoyable, too. Speaking of happy, CoL has been presented with a lovely recipe from a lovely person nicknamed "Luv" from Thorsten Kaye's lovely message board. Tiramisu has become a mainstay of the Italian dessert repertoire and this recipe is worthy of the nomenclature. Tiramisu translates into PickMeUp and, indeed, it does -- as, surely, Mr. McNulty is capable of doing. Tiramisu Ingredients 4 eggs 4 tablespoons sugar 1 container 475 ml Marscapone Cheese 8 cups of Espresso coffee (demitasse espresso style cups) ½ glass brandy --- Amaretto or Frangelico -- [CoL recommends Cointreau] 1- 500 gram bag of Savoiardi (Lady Fingers) semi-sweet chocolate chips 1.I make the coffee way ahead of time and let it cool down so it&

Well, Go On With Your Bad Self, Probie ...

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The back room here at CoL is a flurry of activity. No, it has nothing to do with Bernice's electrical appliances, but our very own Pookie has something in the works regarding Rescue Me's Probie, Michael Lombardi. He works tirelessly on so many things, still he found time to peruse TV Guide on line to send this memo around the office: Question: Based on last night's Rescue Me, I guess Probie is the big gay surprise you've been hinting at. - Craig Ausiello: Yes, he is. But exec producer Peter Tolan cautioned me against slapping a label on him. "Probie is a character who has been searching for love - and in many cases, in the wrong places," says Tolan. "What he finds is not love but companionship and sexual release. But he's a confused guy, and I don't think he's gay. The funniest conversations those characters have is about how they're involved in a sexual relationship but they're not There's been an unhealthy fixation on our show wi

Gotta Love Prohibition ...

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Mark Aaron James says: Hey, Just a quick reminder. Due to the World Cup, the "Undercover" show has been pre-empted tonight and for the next couple of weeks. In place of that show, I will be back at Prohibition this Sunday the 18th at 9 PM. (www.prohibiton.net). I will be featuring some of the best covers that have come from the "Undercover" shows, along with a healthy dose of originals and other songs I dig. The show is free and they have great food there as well. I hope you can make it out. It's on Columbus, between 84th and 85th Street. Come Uptown with me. A good time will be had by all. Finally, I will be doing an all original set at Rockwood Music Hall Tuesday night, June 2Oth at 7:00 PM. If you haven't been to Rockwood, you've missed the best new acoustic venue in the city, great sound, a terrific wine list (along with other cocktails) and a cool vibe. Check it out. If you can't make it on Tuesday, I will be back there on Friday, July 7th. Th

Got It Goin' On: Rescue Me

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Matthew Gilbert, critic from The Boston Globe, had this to say two weeks ago when reviewing Denis Leary's Rescue Me: This season, not one of the characters seems to be sleeping with the right person. I won't reveal any surprises , except to say that all the pairings in the first three episodes are oddly, humorously, and, at the end of episode 3, touchingly daring. The changing-partners theme is a little farcical -- but darkly so, with heart-wrenching consequences. ``Rescue Me" isn't for everyone, particularly those who find Leary's fuming a little too convincing. But it's certainly a TV gem, rough but gleaming . Mike Lombardi's "Probie" is probably the most likable of all the members of this very flawed group of men, therefore, the "touchingly daring" scene was a happy event when he rested his head on the shoulder of none other than Timothy Adams, who is one of the favourites in these parts, if you follow this BLOG or peruse the website

The Best of Times

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Block Party, Indeed!

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Rosalinde Block and cohorts: Ilene Kristen, Angel Rissoff, Reggie Barnes, Hui Cox, Keith Lambeth and Murray Weinstock rock the Upper West Side last evening at Prohibition. Impossible to sit still through all that gifted talent. "I Want A Love I Can See" tore it all up along with "The Word Is Love" and "Man's World." It is an experience! Thorsten Kaye of All My Children and Robert S. Woods of One Life to Live were obviously and understandably enjoying themselves. The Party returns next Monday. Go. Enjoy.

Making Love, Not War

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O, Canada! From Our Canadian Correspondent, Pookie: Canadian Forces members are supplied with free condoms, paid for by the government and handed out through military dispensaries. A practice that dates back to the First World War, free condoms help defray medical costs by preventing soldiers from getting sexually transmitted diseases, the military says. In 1999, soldiers used 295,200 military condoms. But in 2002, the number dipped to 25,355 condoms. Military officials had no explanation for the extreme drop in demand. While demand for condoms is back on the rise, the cost per prophylactic has dropped. In 1999, Ottawa spent $100,000 on condoms, at a cost of 30 cents each. In the past two years, the cost per condom has dropped to 13 cents. While sex between the 2,300 soldiers is forbidden on the Kandahar air base in Afghanistan, the military does supply condoms there. Officials wouldn't speculate what the condoms were being used for, said the report. There are roughly 62,000 Canadi

From the New York Daily News

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go here for the story

Song of the Week

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The Word Is Love In this world we've got the choice to live together Hand in hand we can weather the storm But instead we go to war And after wars are lost and won After all is said and done When push comes to shove The Word Is Love We can fight for our rights - wear our colors Doesn’t matter - we're just crying to be free But the way we go about it Is the opposite of how we're supposed to work it out Let's take off the gloves The Word Is Love Love is the key to the Kingdom Silently spoken through our eyes- through our minds Let us leave the past behind And make a new start And speak with our hearts There's no other answer ‘cause love is the answer to life City streets The cities beat to something frightening It's a lightening that's cracked through the town It's striking people down But we can turn t

Saturday Beefcake

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The month of May was a month of memorable times and people: it was a month of life and death issues for more than one reason. Pictured above is the Firefighter Calendar's Man for the merry month, Anthony Crociata. Another fine man with an Italian surname the translation of which is Crusade. In honour of that a recipe based on Anna Muffoletto's Zucchine in Agrodolce along with a recipe for vegetarian lasagne from Almost Vegetarian , a guaranteed hit whenever it is served. Well, try not to serve it in the middle of the night, because 'hit' might then take on a different meaning. In spite of the title of this weekly feature, it often includes non beef recipes, because the beef isn't always on the dinner table. At any rate today's post is now honoured with light and tasty fare as well as one studly firefighter. Comfort Food. Zucchine in Agrodolce Olive Oil Garlic, 3 cloves crushed Zucchine, 4 medium thinly sliced (can be substituted with any variety of Summer squas

What's Not to Love

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Allons! Allons!

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Hello Friends. We're on our way to Paris! This is a last minute reminder that we'll be performing on Sunday, June 11th in the afternoon at the Paris Jazz Festival, Parc Floral de Paris. For information, please call: +33 (0)1 46 21 08 37. Many more concerts coming up this summer, so please check my website for all the latest news! See you on the road... Cheers. Curtis The inspired Curtis Stigers

Two of Hearts

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1989 -- click image twice to see, read it up close

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Super People

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Like it or not, naysayers, Soap Operas are a genre, an art form. The once derogatory term has been acceptable for quite some time now, but it actually refers to a continuing story. Soap operas are at their best when they focus on relationships, be they couples, families, friendships, antagonisms or work. Although the genre has hit dire straits it remains a staple of the love in the afternoon crowd and is still allegedly remaining character driven, although there are strong arguments against that. What drives a good Soap is the network involving the above relationships. A pivotal classic relationship in this network is what has been deemed the "Super Couple" -- no matter what is cooked up in the backrooms, a Super Couple cannot be manufactured or forced, it simply happens. True Super Couples are few and far between. Erica Kane on All My Children has had memorable couplings but has not really been part of one. The character itself is too Super. Greg and Jenny early on were a

Taking aim

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The civil union of two male officers from Canada’s iconic mounted police force has caused embarrassment for the ruling Conservative Party, which has promised to re-examine a law enacted last year that legalised same-sex partnerships. Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister, has apparently barred Conservative MPs from speaking out about the Mounties’ civil partnership for fear that rightwingers will “say something stupid” that could cost votes. Mr Tree, 27, says that he and Mr Connors, 28, have received a flood of “unequivocally positive” e-mails, letters and phone calls from the public, and that their colleagues and bosses have been “completely supportive”. He said: “We have always been treated exactly like any other couple, which is all we’ve ever wanted. We are definitely proud to live in Canada, where respect and tolerance for others is the norm.” The Liberal Party has rejoiced in the Prime Minister’s discomfort. “I don’t know why Mr Harper is so concerned about whether RCMP officers are

Stay Home

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Why Should the Faithful Believe Bush Now ? E.J. Dunne, Jr. Tuesday, June 6, 2006; Page A15 (Washington Post) "This month's offensive by President Bush and his allies in Congress against gay marriage and flag burning proves one thing: The Republican Party thinks its base of social conservatives is a nest of dummies who have no memories and respond like bulls whenever red flags are waved in their faces." The article in today's Washington Post ( go here You may have to register.) Says in no uncertain terms that Bush, Rove et al. are not only in the business of pandering to but also exploiting socially reactionary voters. CoL's advice: If you are so attached to the traditional values that are nurtured in home and hearth, stay home in droves on election day and do so.

Good People ...

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The Beast Rears Its Ugly Head Again ...

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Thanks to good friend, Lisa Conklin, for the great photos. Thanks to Prohibition for memorable times.

Same Place, Different Night, More Beauty

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More Beauty, No Beast

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Another unique sight at Prohibition

Beauty & the Beast

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An image from Prohibition June 3, 2006