The Column of Life

George Platt Lynes (1907-1955) As soon as he began using a camera, Platt Lynes began photographing nudes – primarily male. In the peripatetic period of his young life, when he was traveling back and forth between Paris and the United States on an annual basis to be with his lover Monroe Wheeler he wrote that there were some nudes that he would rather not mail to France because "they showed too much." George Platt Lynes, 1934 His preference in photographing nudes was clearly male ... There was Lincoln Kirsteins's lover the handsome dancer José Martinez, the commercial artist Clement Hurd, Platt Lynes' official lover Monroe Wheeler and the third member of their ménage à trois Glenway Wescott, as well as Glenway's younger brother Lloyd ... George Tichenor, c. 1939 Male Nude, c.1937 Charles Smutney and Charles Stanley, 1941 Neel Bate and Ernest Henry, 1954 Mel Fillini and Ted Starkowski, 1954 His photographs of the young gymnasts Charle...

Family is everything... It can define who you are. It can reveal and support strengths and passions. It can create intuitive bonds through shared experiences. It can drive you crazy, but it always brings you home. And it's at the absolute core of The Doyle Brothers. Having been lovingly described as "young guys doing old songs in a new way", the duo of Todd Doyle (Box, Vox) and Ryan Jacob Doyle (Vox, Axe) stem from a rich musical heritage (older brothers David and Brad Doyle are also musicians, while their parents, music teacher Tom and artist Cindy Doyle, married shortly after performing together in a 70's folk group) that was inescapeable. During their formative years, the boys' household was constantly filled with audio influences, whether coming from indivdual's record or tape collections, pop radio stations, live rehearsals, or just fooling around singing. The vocalizing may have come naturally, but it wasn't until the lads were in their mid to late t...

The one thing he hasn’t done yet — and the lacuna grows more obvious and awkward with each show — is talk about his love life. It’s hard to see how he can continue to leave that out selectively and preserve one particular zone of privacy while building a confessional talk show wrapped around his good looks, high spirits and glamorous adventures. From the NY Times

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing pan 1/3 cup sweet Marsala wine 2 1/2 tablespoons raisins 1 medium orange 1 Gala or other sweet apple, peeled, cut into 1/4-inch cubes 4 1/2 tablespoons sugar 8 (3/4-inch) slices brioche (from 1/2-pound loaf) 3 large eggs 1/2 cup whole milk an 8-inch square baking dish Pre-heated oven 350º Grease the 8-inch square baking dish with butter. In a small saucepan, heat wine to a bare simmer; remove from heat, stir in raisins and set aside. Grate 1 teaspoon zest from orange, then squeeze 1 tablespoon juice. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat until melted; add apple and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons sugar and cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Add raisins and wine, and orange juice; increase heat to high and cook for 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Wipe out skillet. Spread remaining 2 tablespoons butter on ...

In honor of the ending summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the one about to happen in the Southern Hemisphere.