Ho... Ho... Holidays

With the holidays rapidly approaching, this can mean only one thing - time for my annual pilgrimage to lovely Valle de Bravo, Mexico. Blogging might become extremely sporadic or non-existent but have no fear dear readers, I will be back and re-energized in January 2007.

Golden Recognition

So with the Golden Globe nominations announced yesterday, I am happy to report that one of my favorite performances of the past year is being acknowledged. Emily Blunt's performance in The Devil Wears Prada is enthralling, a brilliant foil for Anne Hathaway and the worst type of career opportunist - which of course makes for great viewing.

She's bitchy, aggressive, demanding and above all human - never an easy feet when you are sharing screen time with Meryl Streep, who devours all in her way. Emily has stiff competition with Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) and Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal), but I'm glad she was not overlooked this award season and I expect we will be seeing other great things from Ms. Blunt in the near future. Congratulations on the nomination Emily - good luck.

Stacked In Her Favor

So I can freely admit I love Pamela Anderson. Why she doesn't have a huge comedy on network television boggles my mind, as I have stated before on this blog the girl has got amazing comedic timing. If you need evidence of this, please run out and purchase the complete DVD series of Stacked, the show Fox cancelled too soon. She is truly overlooked for her acting talents - because I believe too many people get wrapped up with the blonde hair and breasts - the woman is an icon and will be remembered for a long time, mark my words.

How Much is that Doggie...

So here is the photo of the kick-ass lamp I promised from yesterday, if anyone knows where I can purchase this online, please let me know ASAP.

The Land of Peaches & Implants

So with bad internet connections while in my hotel, I had to wait until my return to post my top five favorite things seen during the art fairs in Miami:

5- As seen above, these classy mannequins graced the window of the store simply titled Excess. You got to love a town that caters to the implant nation.
4- Julie Hefferman's painting entitled Self Portrait as Tender Mercenary at the Catharine Clark Gallery booth (Pulse Art Fair).
3- Walking on the beach in December, nothing finer than escaping the cold for a while.
2- The Chihuahua wearing a protective collar lamp... simply a classic. Photo posting coming soon, I promise. Also a great X-Mas present for me if you know where to buy one.
1- Peaches rocking the shit out of the Art Positions opening. Anyone who can wear at least 5 different pairs of underwear at once, have three costume changes on stage, not to mention starting your show with 80's hair-metal Europe's The Final Countdown - kicks some serious ass. Give that girl her props, she's truly original and closing her show by running down to the water's edge to jump in the water naked - brilliant.

Miami Bound

Sorry to have been so lazy blogging, but I have a good excuse - crazy busy with work and preparing to head to sunny (hopefully) Miami for the art fairs and festivities. Looking forward to the complete madness and excitement of being down in Florida and seeing what marvels of art are on display and how quickly everything sells out. So dear readers if you have some tips of good restaurants, nightclubs and dive bars - I want to hear from you. I will down there until Sunday and with plenty of moments to enjoy myself and the local culture. See you on the beach.

Can't Keep a Good Girl Down

So after weeks of speculation and questions on to whether or not the Roxy would ever re-open, I'm happy to report that it appears we are out of the red and the doors will open this Saturday, December 2 with Peter Rauhofer manning the turn-tables. So boys, get your dancing shoes out - it's time to celebrate in high style - let's keep this insitution alive and kicking. See you on the floor, dear readers.

Give Me a Beat

Friday night, I treated myself to something I haven't done in ages, hear live music by a real musician, namely Daniel Cartier. Playing the shit out of Joe's Pub, Daniel's set showed off his skills as an entertainer and musician (clever pop culture references, the use of common kitchen utensils as instruments, and a great banter with his audience.)

Having never been inside Joe's Pub, the space is beautiful and elegant and the acoustics are amazing. Starting his set solo bathed in purple light and wearing his best Clockwork Orange assemble, Daniel's voice is so rich and soothing, you cannot help but be seduced. Daniel also spoke about how he hates to do self-promotion and he even blogged about it and as a fellow artist I can totally see where he is coming from.

Here is my attempt at a shameless Daniel Cartier promotion. So dear readers, if you haven't been exposed to Daniel's music, I suggest you purchase his latest album you and me are we which can be purchased directly from Daniel here. Enjoy the sweet sounds, I promise you'll be musically enlightened and you'll be supporting a talented musician.

Double Oh 7

So Casino Royale opens today and I'm glad to hear that the film is getting good reviews considering all the overblown hysteria that Daniel Craig received after being cast as super spy James Bond. I'm also glad to hear that others are coming around on his animal magnetism - the man is pure sex, just about time others noticed. I haven't seen a James Bond film since A View to a Kill and that was for Grace Jones (a perfect addition to the history of James Bond villians), but I firmly plan on seeing this film sometime over the weekend.

Beyond Their Control

So it appears the Roxy will once again remain dark on Saturday. No real word on whether or not John Blair has found a new location for his popular Saturday night party or if the dance institution will ever reopen. Is it me or does it appear that New York nightclubs (especially gay nights) are disappearing at an alarming rate?

Is the Dance Over?

Will the Roxy survive or will it be the next mega-club to close in the every changing urban landscape of Chelsea. Rumors of the clubs demise have been floating around for a long time, and while an attempt to close the venue comes as no surprise, as an institution, I for one hope the club remains open and thrives.

The cavernous space has been my home for dancing my ass off for the past five years - not to mention those members of the Roxy family that have been great -- Derek, Louis, and Sara, my favorite bathroom attendant who unfortunately died while waiting for the Saturday night boys who adored her at arrive (miss you!).

John Blair promises to find another Saturday venue if the Roxy closes its doors for good and one can't help but think they will destroy the building too quick and replace it with fancy over-priced condos if they cannot get out of the red. Something I hope we don't actually see for a few more years. Will we be saying goodbye to this dance institution, only time will tell... more to come soon I'm sure. Keep your dance cards open, boys!

Parental Control

So it comes as no surprise the Kevin Federline fires back at Britney in court for sole custody of the couple's two children, as well as spousal support - his free ride is about to come to an end. "Kevin is prepared to go the distance in order to do what he feels is necessary to protect and safeguard the children and will not be intimidated or dissuaded from pursuit of those goals," said Michael Sands, spokesman for Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Seems to me someone is desperately grasping at straws after the whimper his rap career launched off too. Funny how he would want sole custody of Britney's two sons as opposed to his less famous former girlfriend Shar Jackson's children. But then again, Shar is not a multi-millionaire. I hate men who use children as pawns and devices to hurt their former loved ones. Hopefully, he will fade into obscurity pretty quickly.

Let Them Eat Cake

So I finally got around to seeing Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette last night, while I cannot say that I'm gushing over the film - the visuals are truly inspiring. This candy-coated confection succeeds on so many levels; it's hard to be too negative about it. The cinematography and editing is sublime, the costumes are rich and ooze an extreme level of taste and refinement and Kirsten Dunst is once again spellbinding on screen.

I just didn’t love the film and had a hard time following the ties many of the characters had to one another (not really sure of Molly Shannon’s character’s relationship to the royal family – maybe on a second viewing.) Maybe, the film had too many characters and should have been reduced by a handful or so. I still believe Sofia is a talented director and will continue to bring visual treats to the screen for us to enjoy. Bon appetite!

Cover Girl

Look amazingly radiant on the cover of W Magazine, Cameron Diaz looks stunning with her new brunette locks. Having the pleasure of hearing Cameron speak first hand when she came to the School of Visual Arts, she's a real delight and always selects smart directors and isn't afriad to play with her own image to produce memorable characters. I look forward to seeing what she does next under Nancy Meyer's direction.

A Cheap Shot

So I'm a bit disappointed in Nate on last night's Survivor. While he's a fierce competitor and holds a large amount of strength for the Raro tribe - his anger and choice of words of over Brad choice of skipping out of the swimming portion of last nights reward challenge were uncalled for. After Raro lost the chance to fill their stomachs with peanut butter and bread, Nate choose to bitch and whine and call Brad a "Nancy Boy" - a cheap shot, in my books. Yes, Brad most likely made a huge mistake by choosing to play puzzle solver over swimming, but by attacking one's sexual orientation and playing into stereotypes is just not cool, I expect more from you Nate.

From what it seems from next week, Brad will continue to alienate himself further from his tribe and in the game, which I'm assuming will lead to his demise. And I hope, he at least causes some trouble and adds much needed drama to this season, before his torch is snuffed. Play on!

Spooktacular

Happy Halloween dear readers... Remember, don't trust anyone who invites you out for a bite. Happy haunting.

A Treat for October

With not a lot to talk about in my life and this being October, I figured I would give you all a treat in the form of one of my favorites, Ryan Reynolds (click here for the full photo.) I've written about my obsession with Ryan before and I'm glad to hear that he is currently filming the romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe. Sounds like this film might capitalize on his killer comic timing and matinee idol looks - thank God.

It's Evolution, Baby

One of the best parts of working on creating new work is the constant struggle to push one's self further artistically. I am constantly examining and trying to formulate my next series of drawings. Which is why I am happy to report, that I believe I have come up with my next series of works. While it is too early to see if my experimentation or concept will pan out, I will keep you posted to their progress and the challenges that arise while producing them. Keep your fingers crossed for me dear readers, this could get messy.

The Nature of the Beast

Interesting news bit I read yesterday that's sure to cause a stir in some religious radicals. The Oslo Natural History Museum is currently mounting an exhibition entitled "Against Nature" that documents the observation of homosexual behavior in 1,500 different species of animals from giraffes to beetles. Geir Soeli, the project leader of the exhibition is quoted as saying "The sexual urge is strong in all animals... It's a part of life, it's fun to have sex," as to the reasons for homosexuality or bisexuality among animals.

This exhibition should travel, hopefully the Museum of Natural History here will see its worth and bring it to New York. Sounds like a important exhibition that holds the future of the nature vs. nurture argument. Say what you want about the exhibition, but I think this statement from the exhibition says it all, "We may have opinions on a lot of things, but one thing is clear -- homosexuality is found throughout the animal kingdom, it is not against nature."

Turn the Volume Up

Finally the judges got it right, awarding Jeffrey Sebelia the win on the third season of Project Runway. He truly deserves the title - his work was innovative and showed beautifully on the runway. His biggest competition was definitely Uli (whose work was beautiful and showed amazingly as well) and she deserved to be the runner-up. The victory for either or them was a step in the right direction for the show's search for the 'next great American designer.' I look forward to see what Jeffrey does next. Congratulations, you deserve the world, man... enjoy the win.

Let the Spirits Move Me

So I started to think about what I would like to be for Halloween. While I should have started planning weeks ago, life interrupted and now I'm down to two weeks to plan and execute a costume. And the problem is I'm stuck as to what creature of the night to possess for All Hallows Eve (my favorite holiday.) So, I'm looking to you dear readers for some suggestions. Be creative. The only thing I suggest staying away from is anything too obvious - vampire, doctor, pirate or Paris Hilton. You get the idea.

Green Isn't a Good Shade for Her

Sadly, I have lost a huge amount of respect for Laura Bennett last night on Project Runway. Her bitching about the amount of craftsmanship Jeffrey placed in his collection is ridiculous. It smells of her own insecurities as a designer and the threat of his collection competing against her own. Shame on Michael for jumping on the bandwagon, feeding into this madness. (I know he's the fan favorite, but his collection is the weakest by far - let's see if he can charm the judges on the final runway.)

There is a huge difference in what a designer would send down the runway after two days, as opposed to two months - everyone's work looks more polished. Shame on you for feeling the need to accuse another designer of breaking the rules - especially after seeing what happened to Keith earlier in the season. I cannot imagine why any designer would risk disqualification that close to Fashion Week.

I understand it makes for good television and I'm sure the producers were salivating over this juicy tidbit but if they eliminate Jeffrey from the final competition, I will have lost all respect for the show. Don't let me down Bravo.

Come Out, Come Out

Whomever you are...

Mad Skills

So with just two episodes left and a sneak peak at their collections, my money is on Jeffrey Sebelia to win the third season of Project Runway. And it seems like Laura's suffering a bit of envy next episode due to his collection, which always makes for great television. I like the look and vision of his collection. I know he might not be the most popular on the show, but to quote the opening, the boy's got "mad skills." If you don't believe me, take a look at his women's and men's collections for this fall/winter season on his website.

The judges would be silly not to award him the win - but then again, everyone seems so hung up on Michael - so hopefully they can look past the person designing the clothes and just focus on the clothes themselves. It will be an interesting battle to the finish.

How the Strong Fall

So sadly J.P. time on Survivor has come to an end. Our pro volleyball player got served a surprise attack for his ways around camp. Of course, Survivor always works best when the one sent packing is completely blindsided. It is too soon to tell if his departure will have any effect on the tribe, but I have a feeling the Raro women will use this shift in power to their advantage.

I'm always amazed how what appears to be the most physical of a game, really ultimately has nothing to do with brawn and athleticism, but more with relationships. Many strong powerful men and women have fallen due to this very fact - J.P. just is the latest casualty.

Nice Guys Finish Last

Once again, trying to be the nice guy is coming back to bite me in the ass. Life pretty much sucks at this moment.

Attack of the Clones

So I've never been one to think that I look like any celebrities out there, so when I came across this program I thought I would give it a whirl. Enjoy the results and if you happen to take the test yourself, would love to know who you look most like dear readers.

An Inspiring Tale

Today I came across this fascinating and heartwarming story about Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who lost her tail in a unfortunate fishing accident. Scientists at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution are working on the possibility of creating a prosthetic tail for her, the first complete reconstruction of a tail of its kind. The Institute is consulting a diving gear manufacturer, a tire company and the Navy, which has experience attaching items to dolphins for military research. This should be an interesting story to follow along with to see if they are able to produce the tail and if it will be more effective in helping Winter lead a normal life. To read more about this amazing dolphin, click here.

Back and Forth

Seems I've pulled my back out again, for the second time in two months. I'm two for two. Will be visiting my amazing physical therapist tomorrow morning and should be back to my spry self in no time. Have no fear, I'll be back to my normal self in no time. But while you're waiting enjoy the sweet vocal sounds of Daniel Cartier.

Easy to Digest

So once again we are greeted with model hopefuls and thank God, loads of drama - and the girls have only been in the house less then a week. ANTM works best when the girls are at each others throats from the get go, clashing of strong egos, bickering and of course the nude photo shoot. This show has produced some amazing reality TV personalities and this year looks like it will chock full of great girls. Monique looks like she will rise to the prize of house bitch (which you know Tyra's going to love to break); not to mention the genius casting of twins (will both girls rise or will one get cut, can't wait for that drama.)

So thank you Tyra for picking explosive personalities, I cannot wait for the fireworks to really get going next week with the make-overs (I'm guessing lots of tears) and one overly dramatic confrontation about telephone use. Genius!

Time for a Shake-Up

Feeling the urge to make some drastic changes in my life... need to find something more rewarding and feel more appreciated in life. Sorry to be so cryptic, but still trying to digest all of these recent events and figure out my next steps. More to come soon.

Survival of the Fittest

So fall reality has begun and of course my first official crush of the season is in effect. J.P., the professional volleyball player from California - hasn't had much air time yet, shame on you Survivor producers. However with 19 other castaways it's always a toss-up to see who pulls ahead early (of course, this can mean they are saving all his air time as he gets closer to the final two - I hope!)

Besides, any survivor who wants to help charities and organizations fight against cancer should make it to the end. But then again, this is the game of Survivor we are talking about and good intentions rarely lead to results. Here's hoping for the best; or at least a few more weeks of oogling his beautiful body and killer smile.

Get Real

Sadly, Supernova made the wrong choice. They had every opportunity to kick ass and not be predictable, however the thing about reality television is always expect the unexpected. I feel like with Lukas as their lead singer, they are just another 'Orgy' rip-off. The Goth look, the abuse of eye shadow, the rooster moves, the marble mouth delivery - I've seen it all before.

And of course there is the internet rumor, that Lukas was selected as the lead singer months ago and the show was just a showcase for him. Makes it hard to believe that this wasn't the case; but Dave Navarro swears it is the case. The only thing that Lukas winning the competition does for me is saves me the $15 I would have spend on their album if Dilana or Toby had won. Have a good tour guys and good luck. I hope you don't look back and regret your choice.

Time to Get Serious

So with the slight weather change and the start of the fall gallery season; it's time to put away the summer mentality and get back to work on my art. Time to refocus and regroup and finish a drawing or two. Still struggling with the drawing of Andy and might need to re-shoot the photographs, to get a pose I am happy with. Thank God, he is approachable and understands what I'm going through - always a good thing to draw a friend and fellow artist. I will keep you up to date, as I progress.

Cruel Summer

Once again fate let's me down for the second summer in a row, Janelle was voted out third once again. She is the best game player Big Brother has ever had and needs to be rewarded with the America's Choice Award of $2,500. The biggest target since the beginning of the game, she stuck to her guns and won competition after competition proving she is not just some silly dumb blonde (I love when people break those stereotypes.)

I do believe if she had made it to the final two, she would have been crowded the winner of AllStars. Now we are left with two unsatisfying competitors - it's last season all over again. If you haven't voted for Janelle to win the fan favorite, do so now - text #7 to 81818.

A Storm Front

Sadly, Storm Large was eliminated from the hunt for Supernova's lead singer last night - which in my humble opinion was a wrong decision. Her original song Ladylike, was perhaps the best song of the previous evening and she always gave inspired performances. While I do not think she was ideal as the lead singer for the band, I do feel she should have had the opportunity to perform in the finale.

I really wanted to see Supernova fronted by a powerful female vocalist; with Dilana as the last woman standing the odds don't look very good. Of course by this time next week, I may be celebrating her victory (one can hope and pray.) Of course, both women should have a long career ahead of them, both are amazing. Good luck next week Dilana. And Storm, I'll be one of the first to buy the Ladylike single when it's pressed. Rock On!

Summer Reality Comes to a Close

With the fall TV season looming, that can mean only one thing - networks push through the end of their summer programming. My predicted winners of a few of my favorite summer guilty pleasures:

Big Brother: All Stars - I would like to see Janelle take it to the bitter end, but unless she wises-up and breaks the spell of the Evil Doctor - prepare to see Will win once again.
RockStar: Supernova - No big surprise here, I think Dilana should walk away with the title (if Tommy and the boys want any hope of scoring a hit record).
Project Runway - I predict the final three are: Michael, Uli and Jeffrey. I suspect, we will have a few surprises coming along the way. This is a hard call, because there is (in my opinion) no stand out designers in this bunch. But I am enjoying the season immensely.
Inturn - The winner is Alex, the unfortunately typecasted nerd of the group. Who was extremely likeable and charming and a deserved winner of the competition. Good luck with your 13 week contract; I think we can expect interesting things from you in the future. And remember, Patrick Dempsey started out playing the nerd and look at him now.

Of course all of these shows will be wrapping up, as Survivor: Cook Islands and The Amazing Race kick-off. I for one am a very happy camper.

Adrenaline Junkie

So as the summer comes to a slow descent, we are about to get treated to one more heat wave, in the form of Jason Statham. With his new film, Crank scheduled to open on Friday, Statham plays a hitman injected with a toxic poison that will kill him if he doesn't keep his adrenaline up. Of course, what I really expect will happen is it will be the audience that is all pumped up - not only by the non-stop action, but by Statham himself.

The man truly deserves his mantle of the next action hero, not to mention he oozes sex appeal and charm. Don't believe me, watch Snatch, Transporter 2 or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Oh, and there is a much talked about scene in Crank where he rides down the highway in just a hospital gown bare-assed. Enjoy the rush!

For Those About to Rock

So after last night's performance there is no doubt in my mind, that Dilana will win this competition. Or at least in a perfect world, she'll nab the whole thing. However, I am impressed with the level of all of the singers still left rocking it out - week after week - true powerhouses. And on a wild guess, my prediction for the rocker to go home tonight, Ryan.

I would also like to say how impressed I am that Janelle is still kicking ass on Big Brother. Once again, the girl deserves to win out of her sheer game play and determination. However, the most deserved usually end up going out third - hopefully Janelle's luck doesn't run out like last season. Keep up the good fight, girl.

Double Standard

So one of the problems with reality television is how talent doesn't always lead to success. And how through clever editing, you can create a villain in one hour. A perfect example of this is the lashing Dilana received last night on RockStar:Supernova.

Clearly, the girl is the front-runner and the other rockers know this. So in order to level out the playing field, the editors of the show highlight her saying some truthful and honest things about her fellow competitors. She then is given a stern talk-to by Dave Navaro and of course the crowd joins in on the beating down of her for it (online, she has received a vicious lashing as well.) The thing that amazes me, is how last year J.D. was more cocky and he didn't possess half the talent she does, yet got off scott free for his actions.

It seems to me, the old double standard is in play - if a woman is strong and assertive, she's a bitch. If a man does it, he's a leader and is rewarded for his confidence. Hopefully, Dilana will deliver another breath-taking performance next Tuesday and this little bump in the road will long be over. Dilana, if you are reading this - keep rocking. I applaud you for your confidence in your talent.

Swamped Life

Sorry for not posting lately, been swamped with a big presentation at work. I promise to get back to all things Out and Out Reality based after Thursday. In the mean time, enjoy some eye candy via the blog simple entitled Beautiful. However, be warned the site does contain some amazing examples of the male form. Talk soon dear readers.

Soap, Dish

OK, I can admit it - I love reality TV, almost any kind of reality show. I love the competitive genre where would-be hopefuls compete for fabulous prizes and the chance to be the winner of "something or other." Which of course brings up my latest discovery, CBS.com's Inturn, where eight would-be soap studs and divas compete for a 13-week contact on As the World Turns. Brilliant!

It possesses all the drama and strife of any classic reality show, so of course I'm hooked and love how soap opera-ish their lives are as the compete. I cannot wait until they have to reenact a death or love scene. And the best part about the show is, you can watch any or all of the episodes whenever you want. I predict the winner will be either Justin or Geneva.

A Rough Start

Started a new painting last night and ran into a few snags along the way; struggling to work through them. My biggest problem so far is capturing the likeness of my model and finding a pose that's both captivating and interesting to draw. Hopefully when I start to tackle the painting tonight, I will be able to move past some of these issues and really feel like I'm not wasting my time and effort. Stay tuned, dear readers - and wish me luck!

Death Becomes Her

So of course I loved The Descent, which I took in Sunday night to a sold out crowd of energetic screamers. One of the best parts of seeing a good horror film (OK, any horror film) on the big screen is the crowds reaction and the jumps and bumps that happen throughout the film - which The Descent has in spades.

First off writer/director Neil Marshall has other successful horror film under his belt. If you haven't seen Dog Soldiers (his first film), I recommend running out to your video store and renting it. Ignore the bad art on the DVD cover, the film is stunning. Secondly, he presents us with strong adventurous women who are thrill seekers and are not above fighting back. Each actress cast is remarkable and deserves a long career ahead. The subterranean creatures were well designed and perfect adversaries for our band of female victims. The whole film has a warm claustrophobic feeling (if you have ever walked on climbed through a cave - you know the feeling) which only amplifies the danger and dread. Finally, the film might not be completely original, but it does hold numerous surprises to make it truly a horror masterpiece. Run out and scream it, dear readers - you have a shocking good time, I promise.

Blonde Ambition, Part 2

So I hope blonde vixen Janelle survives another week in the Big Brother: All Stars house. However she might have played the game too hard, too quickly and I have a feeling this will ultimately lead to her demise. With a target on her back since day one she has been a force to reckon with, but by loosing James and Marcellas as allies by doing Will's bidding - I have a feeling by next Thursday, she will be sitting and talking with Julie. Unless some unforeseen miracle happens, Janey your days are up.

You Better Work

With Workout, Bravo has another solid winner on their hands. The show works best when our fearless fitness guru and owner of Sky Sport and Spa Jackie Warner is being completely unguarded and serving as one part den mother, one part controlling boss. She's both extremely motivating and demanding - and you have to respect that. She treats her clients like gold and expects nothing less then that from her staff.

The girl is a force of nature and I expect with this television show, she will become the next big icon in the fitness industry. How far behind can it be before we have DVD workouts from her and her trainers. I'm guessing around the holiday season. In addition, she's got the trainers wearing kick-ass t-shirts. But at $48 a pop, it's a bit much for this starving artist's budget.

A Hairy Situation

Note to Jeremy Piven, stop shaving or waxing your chest. You look so much better with your natural pelt (just a thought.) I will step down off of my soap box now. Enjoy the show!

Out of this World

So I got to thinking about classic Saturday morning cartoons (yeah, I know - Saturday on Monday) and I remembered how much I loved The Herculoids as a kid.

I loved this sci-fi family who spent week after week defending their home from the evil forces who threatened to destroy their happy existence. I loved how the family was made up of three humans and five other-worldly creatures. I can remember trying to draw the dragon Zok and the blob-like Gloop and Gleep, as the show buzzed by. I sometimes think nailing the drawing of Zok, started my love of drawing.

With other classic cartoon television shows now on DVD, my only hope is that Hanna-Barbera will put out this classic out soon. I know I can't be the only one who remembers this series, fondly.

Game Over?

So I said I wasn't going to get addicted to Big Brother: All Stars - but alas, that was not meant to be. In perhaps the most dastardly way, it appears Jase will be walking out the door on Thursday. More interesting, Will has the best chance of winning the whole show (again) but playing into everyone's egos - I really enjoy how he can insult all the other players and still remain immune by the nomination process. How anyone couldn't look at him as a HUGE target is beyond me. Only time will tell if the 'Mandana' hottie with the killer body can save himself and remain focused enough to kick some ass. I for one will be said to see him go home, being backdoor-ed.

All Washed Up

So this weekend James and I caught the latest ego-driven piece of crap known as The Lady in the Water. Granted I knew it was going to be bad, based on the overwhelming critical blasting the film got on Friday, but we went anyhow.

What a waste of $22, first off never cast yourself as the 'Messiah' character in your film; when you don't have the acting weight for the role. Secondly, I know you wrote this fairytale for your daughters, but have the courage to accept criticism from studio executives when they question your vision. Thirdly, give your characters something to do other then be introduced, or cut down those numbers, so you can spend more then six minutes on each one. And finally, give us a main character we care about or at least find remotely interesting and I'm sorry changing hair color is not interesting.

I have a feeling this film which opened third this week; behind an animated evil house will sink fast. If you're feeling the need for a water-based fairytale rent Splash, you'll thank me. Both women spend plenty of time in the bathtub.

Rock Goddess

That roar you hear emanating from your TV set is not the crowd, however they are loudly expressing their delight. No that might roar is coming from right up on stage, my early favorite and predicted winner for Rockstar:Supernova is Dilana. Tommy and Co. would be foolish to let this lead singer slip through their fingertips.

She has everything you can want in a rock icon - killer raspy voice, the right rock edge, beautiful, alluring, one hell of a stage presence, not to mention the tattoos and piercings. She is a force of nature and the 14 other rockers should all be very afraid - the girl is playing to win. She kicks ass right up their with other rock goddesses like Joan Jett, Shirley Manson, Tina Turner, Debbie Harry, just to name a few. I predict we will be hearing a lot from this Texas stunner - via South Africa.

To quote Tommy Lee (wow, never thought I would say that) "I wanna." Keep kicking ass girl - own that stage, it's yours for the taking.

Too Hot

With the temperature so hot, Matthew's got the right idea. So stay indoors, crank the AC, and try and stay calm - this heatwave can only last so long. Hopefully, I will have something more interesting to blog about once I'm able to concentrate once more. Until then, enjoy the beauty that is Mr. McConaughey and try not to get overheated.

It Can't Come Quickly Enough

With a new Scissor Sisters album not scheduled for a few months, the buzz is starting to build for their sophomore release. Tomorrow if you can stand the heat, they will be the headlining act at the Siren Music Festival in Cooney Island which of course is FREE! Not sure if I can stand fighting off the hordes of people to see them perform, but would love to experience the Sisters in concert. So if your not doing anything tomorrow, the festival starts at 1pm, but you better get there early if you plan on seeing anything - and don't forget your sunscreen. Rock On!

Vintage Beefcake

So today I got to thinking about old cheesy 80's television I loved as a kid and how I wish some of it was on DVD. One of my favorite actors for purely visual reasons was Jon-Erik Hexum, star of both Voyagers! (time travelers fix mistakes in history) and Cover Up (photographer and her 'male model' apprehending crimes- classic!). Sadly, he died while bored on-set of the latter when jokingly placed a prop gun against his head and pulled the trigger.

He possessed the good looks and killer body that would become a staple of soap stars and action heroes to come. And let's not forget the classic made-for-TV-film Making of a Male Model with Jackie Collins, that camp classic should have midnight screenings throughout the country.

Summer Reality

So I'm excited because the summer is just about to get hotter, with tomorrow's premiere of season three of Project Runway (Not to mention Rich's spot-on commentary of all the episodes. - I dare you not to get addicted.)

Speaking of hot reality television, words cannot express my delight in this seasons RockStar: Supernova. Once again, almost all the rockers are amazing (a few I predict will go in the next two weeks or so) and unlike last year, the lead singer has some pretty big personalities to work against - Tommy Lee, Gilby Clarke, and Jason Newsted.

All and all, I'm excited about television again and trying to fight the urge to get sucked into Big Brother: All Stars. But I have a feeling it's going to be a loosing battle. I say this every year.

Ponygirl

While working at SVA, I began a friendship with photographer John Arsenault and was more then excited when he agreed to pose for one of my drawings. Above is a detail of our time spend together - and I'm thrilled with the results. You can view both the complete painting and John's work by following the links. Would love to hear some feedback on what you think.

detail from Untitled (Ponygirl), 2006, gouache and pencil on paper.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho... a Pirates Life for Me

So tonight, what I'm guessing is going to be the biggest summer film opens tonight and I'm like a little kid in a candy store. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest opens nationally and of course brings us three of Hollywood's most alluring stars today. Just look above at the poster for the film, and tell me they all don't ooze sex appeal. Sea you at the theaters, dear readers. Anchors away!

Rally Cry

An open letter from Alan VanCapelle, Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda

Dear Friends,

Today New York's highest court decided by a vote of 4 to 2 that the State of New York can discriminate against gays and lesbians and our families by continuing to deny the protections that come with legal marriage. It is now up to our lawmakers to right this wrong and act on the will of the majority of New Yorkers and provide full marriage equality for same sex couples and our families.

Tonight, our community and our friends will gather in rallies across the state to let New York know that the marriage debate is not going away and that Albany needs to act quickly to protect our families from discrimination by passing a marriage equality law. We will send a message to politicians who say they are our friends that this is the moment we need them to demonstrate that their friendship is more than just words. We will call on them to work with us in winning our freedom to marry here in New York State.

Tonight, we also stand alongside religious leaders, union activists and other allies who have been boldly advocating for our community when few people would. Tonight, we will show New York that it's not just lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who care about marriage, but that it is also our straight family members, friends, co-workers and neighbors.

Those who oppose our right to marriage equality want to push us back into the closet. At best we are an annoyance to them and at worst they wish we would disappear. They will view today's court ruling as a victory, but our presence tonight at these rallies will let them know in the loudest possible way how wrong they are.

I urge you to come out, bring your friends and family and stand with thousands of other New Yorkers who demand full equality for same-sex couples and our families.

So stand with us at 6pm
Sheridan Square (West 4th Street and 7th Ave., Manhattan)

For other locations throughout New York State, click here.

The Devil Made Me Do It

Very rarely do I see a movie in theaters twice, never mind twice in the same week. That all changed this weekend with the tasty confection known as The Devil Wears Prada. Meryl Streep alone is worth the price of admission. If she doesn't get an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of fashion mega-bitch magazine icon Miranda Priestly, the Academy is blind.

Everything about this movie is pitch perfect. The clothes, the acting, the editing, music, the cast - just perfection. Of course, seeing the movie with an enthusiastic crowd of fashionistas always helps. I recommend, Cheslea Clearview on 8th Avenue. To quote Miranda, "That's All."

See to Sea

So I'm about to finish a new painting and I'm excited that I'm finally going to be using seahorse imagery in my work. I've been waiting for the right moment to draw these usual, elegant and beautiful sea creatures in my work and now I have the right drawing to do so. I'm also excited because I'm about to head off for a weeks vacation. Where I will be able to relax, enjoy life and not be stressed with the 9 to 5 grind. Not sure how much I will be blogging over the next 11 days, but I promise when I come back, I should be ready to unveil the new drawing.

Enjoy your PRIDE and Independence Day - celebrate hard and stand tall.

Sink His Teeth In

So it appears that Irish hottie Jonathan Rhys Meyers is looking to play gay again, on the big screen that is. The Velvet Goldmine actor would love to inhabit the lives of either Rock Hudson or Montgomery Cliff should a biopic about their lives become available. Considering how easily he slipped into Elvis' blue suede shoes, I don't see how we could miss with his talent. Somebody speed into production a script about one of those two, we already have our lead primed to go.

A Woody for Hugh

So it appears that I'm going to have to see the next Woody Allen film, Scoop which stars Scarlett Johansson and the ever delicious Hugh Jackman. Summer films keep getting better, thanks to the presence of a nearly perfect Hugh. Scoop opens on July 28th, which should keep my Hugh fix under control until The Fountain opens in October. See you at the theater.

Golden Boy

With installation for the AAF starting at 2pm today, I thought I would leave you with the beauty that is Kip Pardue. Enjoy my crush of the week and look for key performances in Loggerheads, But I'm a Cheerleader, and Rules of Attraction to see his talent in action.

Sale Away

Once again, I have helped select the artists showcased at the Visual Arts Gallery/SVA booth (#B-203) at this years Affordable Art Fair open to the public starting Friday at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street. In addition to working at the booth, which I love doing. I was responsible for organizing two panels on collecting art; both starting at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. If you're in town this weekend, please swing by the booth and say hello.

Image: Amy Stein, Trasheasters, 2005, digital c-print. To view more of Amy's work, visit her web site.

Nothing Going On

As I put final touches on the SVA booth at this year's Affordable Art Fair, I will leave you with an 80's gem, enjoy the talented flygirl (taken too soon) Ms. Gwen Guthrie.

Insanity Kicks In

With so much shit flying around my personal and work life the next week or so, not sure how much time I will ultimately have to blog. But stay tuned dear readers - I'll be back shortly.

An Open Letter

So the blog-a-verse was a buzz with the news of a Boston Macy's caving in to some right wingnut's pressure to remove their Gay Pride mannequins. I was so disheartened over this story today I wrote a letter to Christine Stewart, the Customer Service Specialist at Macy's. I suggest you might want to do the same and let your voice be heard.

My letter read as this:

Ms. Stewart,

I was sadden to learn today that Macy's Department
Store pulled two male mannequins from your Boston
store - due to complaints over content celebrating gay
pride.  In no way were the mannequins offense. The
store did not purchase new mannequins for the display,
place them in any compromising situations or rely on
shock value to stir controversy.

The sad part about their removal is that if this were
a St. Patrick's Day or Christmas window, your store
would not have compromised over the content or bowed
to pressure from any other group to remove any part of
those windows.  And for that, I am truly saddened.  

My grandmother in the late 60s worked as a seamstress
for your company and I was always extremely proud of
such an accomplishment.  Today, I am saddened to say,
that unless you correct the damage you have already
done, you have lost another customer.

Regards,
Dan Halm

She's Back

So with eager anticipation I await the premiere of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency tonight at 10pm on the Oxygen Network. If you know me, you know I have nothing but love for Ms. Janice. Hell, the first entry of this here blog started with and entry about our meeting at Barnes and Noble. And since then she has ended up in countless other entries. (Ok fine - you caught me, I'm too lazy to go back and figure out how many times I've written about her in the past.)

With Chuck last night (which by the way was outstanding) and a slew of great art openings later in the week. This could turn out to be the most amazing week in a long, long time. I will keep you posted dear readers and if you're smart, you'll tune in tonight for some brilliant fucking television.

Cult of Personality

So Chuck Palahniuk will be signing copies of Haunted tonight at the Strand Bookstore. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am, not only to hear Chuck do a reading (which are always highly entertaining) but for the shear spectacle of the people who attend these signings. I have never seen more rabid fans then those who make their way down whenever he is in town. My only regret is that I have to work till 5pm, cause by the time I get there I'm sure there will be hundreds already eagerly awaiting, especially since they are giving away 'prizes' with the purchase of the book.

Naked Talent

One thing I love about reading blogs is you find the most interesting details. Thanks to Trent at Pink Is the New Blog, we get a link to see unrated screen captures of a full frontal Christian Bale from the brilliant unrated version of American Psycho. A performance so brutal and riveting, that I never understood how Leo was ever suppose to play this role.

I also believe this is the first role where people started to consider Christian Bale an actor who could carry a picture. The way he embodies the character of Patrick Bateman, is not only creepy and spot on, but tongue and cheek and wicked. Everything you would expect from a man who talks about the finer points of Huey Lewis and the News while wielding an axe. So thanks for the heads-up Trent.

With Child

Now that Angelina, Gwen, and Tom all gave birth, it's time for a new group of expanding waistlines. Leading the pack is TrimSpa spokeswoman and Playmate centerfold Anna Nicole Smith, yes she is with child. Her announcement came via a video clip on her website while floating poolside with her two dogs barking in the background.

I love the fact that she's going to keep her fans updated as she grows via additional clips on her site. I love someone so open to their fame and celebrity. Congratulations Anna, and here's too your new bundle of joy - however I really want to know who the father is. Care to give us a hint?