FRYING PAN

Well, the press seems to do all it can to discredit and criticize Hillary when they’ve gone easy (up til now) the other candidates. Chalk it up to sexism being worse in America than racism or any other -ism. At this writing it’s not looking good for our gal Hillary to get the Dem nomination unless, as one friend put it, Obama is found with a dead girl or a live boy. No one seems to be able to list Obama’s accomplishments nor has anyone who I know that hates Hillary able to give me any reason other than “she’s a bitch” as a reason not to vote for her. In fact, the people that hate her seem to be quite proud of themselves but can’t quite bring themselves to figure out what exactly they hate about her. Further (and more frightening) that they go all glossy for Obama but similarly can’t list anything he’s actually, you know, done. Meanwhile, McCain is sitting back and laughing at all of us and merrily building his support for a November election which will undoubtedly center around Democrats unable to get their act together. He’s simply George Bush-lite. Maybe not quite as bad but just as toxic for our country’s mood and soul.

Despite our pessimism about who the nominee will probably turn out to be, the BF and I went to a Hillary fundraising event yesterday here in Manhattan and the room at the Sheraton where the event took place was jam-packed, literally people wedged along the walls and up and down the walkways between seating blocks. The mood was determined but frustrated - we needed some hope and we got it. Local supporters showed up and then Chelsea introduced her mother and then Hillary herself gave a rousing speech talking about you know actual solutions and work that needs to be done.

The thought that struck me was that White House or not, Hillary cares passionately about America and like Jimmy Carter and Al Gore (and others) a lifetime of public service awaits her and I feel confident that while living in the White House would certainly help her, she can still make quite the difference in the private sector. Naturally because she’ll make a living making speeches (like her husband Bill does) she’ll be pilloried. It’s odd to me that she and Bill do everything that every other politician and world leader does (charge for a speaking engagement) and yet they’re criticized. Really bizarre.

Anyway, this is the BF and I in our Hillary t shirts. We figured this might be the last time we get to wear them before they become ironic or camp. Sigh.

This is probably the best example of how geeky I am (as if you needed more confirmation). I actually know and semi celebrate the day I was baptized. It’s today, May 10th. I’ve always rather enjoyed knowing this although my mom framed the baptismal certificate and it hung up in the hallway between all the bedrooms of the house I grew up in Mosinee so it was something that I just happened upon rather than was urged to celebrate.

I don’t know that I necessarily do anything more or less special for the day. Hallmark yet hasn’t made the card for that. Can you imagine it? “Today you were Saved… (open the card) now don’t fuck it up!” Yeah, I know, I’m a real laugh riot (did you pay to read this blog, I don’t think so).

And speaking of Saved, the musical version of the movie opens Off Broadway here in Manhattan this weekend. We’re getting ready for the BF’s reading on Monday (May 12th) so I think we’re going to be pretty focused on that for the moment and besides, we’ve got a very heavy May filled with theatre plans already.. but hopefully it’ll last til June as it sounds like a fun, goofy show to go to.

Meanwhile before the thing on Monday it’s time for a haircut. No really. I’m not just throwing in the need to get a haircut so I can use the cute “clip and saved” title. Really I’m not. I also need a shave (Shave and Save?). OK this has been one seriously rambling week! - Andrew

(you can write me directly at andrewalt@aol.com )

I have to start the post just saying that while I don’t normally watch GREY’S ANATOMY I’ve been seeing it while it’s been in between UGLY BETTY and LOST.  It’s not a bad show but I’m not wild about it.

However, I have to say that last night’s storyline about the two soldiers, one of whom had a tumor of some sort, gave me pause. I was unaware what was coming and I was casually following the story.. wounded soldier, pretty sexy with his buddy (remarkably hot) sitting next to the hospital bed looking worried. I wasn’t really paying attention to what they were saying until the one moved to sit on the hospital bed and then I was like “gee if I didn’t know better, I’d say that they were going to start making out” and geez, whatdoyaknow, they did. And what a hot makeout session it was. Usually man on man kisses are tepid at best. Either it’s gay actors who don’t want to committ to showing that they’re actually gay or straight guys who have no idea that kissing the person you love means showing passion. And what passion these two guys showed. Kind of took my breath away and for a moment thought I was watching a skin flick … but no, there was Meredith Grey standing there also looking a little turned on. The wounded guy’s father wasn’t so thrilled with it but therein lies the conflict of the story.  

 Brian, my best friend growing up, visited New York earlier this week with his nearly nine year old daughter, Maggie, in tow. They were out for family matters and father and daughter took the day to come in from Long Island to see me, take in a museum and visit the Empire State Building. Maggie, it turns out, is a big Indiana Jones fan and I think I scored big points when I managed to bring her up and out of Penn Station and show her the building sized poster for the flick. By the way, I notice that the brandname is such a seller that that they don’t even need to come up with a tagline for it. I mean, really, what more do you need to say than seeing a big picture of Harrison Ford in all of his Indiana-ness?

Anyway, Brian commented to her that I was the biggest movie fan he’d ever met and I guess that’s true. It’s funny to hear it come from someone else whom I haven’t seen in a long time but then again, I did obsess about the Star Wars, Superman, Indiana Jones, Star Trek movies over the years that Brian and I were close and always have known probably more than I really need to about the subject.

In any event, I’m pretty equally passionate about television and today, May 9th is the deadline for you, yes you you lucky person, to vote in a poll that the Chicago Trib is conducting about the best television characters. Here’s the link, you have until 2pm today to click on it and check it out.

http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/red-bestcharacter2008,0,5055793.special

I’m fairly partial to Liz Lemon from 30 ROCK (mainly because I have a mind-crush on Tina Fey - I think she’s the sharpest, smartest, funniest person working in the entertainment industry today) and Ben Linus from LOST (although lately he’s been sort of taking of the show in a very Fonzie way. I was glad for the break from him in last weeks episode but the upcoming one looks again to be very Ben-centric)

The weekend looks promising, we’ve got ticks to see a show tonight and then we’re invited to a dinner on Sunday. In between I think we’ll be catching up on the final episodes of Season 1 LOST. At the end of the last episode we watched (somewhere around episode 16 I think) the BF said “whaaat? that’s it? that’s the end of the episode?”. Fortunately we still have about 50 episodes to catch up on so we have plenty to work through before we’re all caught up (although at the rate we’re going, that might happen by the end of June…. a long time to then wait until the 2009 season - that starts in February! Ack!)

My soap lovin’ self knows no bounds (see the gratuitous post yesterday about All My Children and One Life to Live stars at the Bid A Wee benefit) so it was with some interest that I discovered today that Snoop Dogg is appearing on One Life to Live today and tomorrow and created a special opening to commemorate.

OK so I’m trying (but not suceeding) to ignore the fact that usually the show’s African American characters are usually secondary at best and the new opening (or should I say “temporary opening”?) prominently features them… not that I’m complaining, they should ALWAYS be front and center since these are some great characters and they don’t get the airtime or recognition on the soap that they should.. it’s just that, like with Black History Month, should the actors feel lucky or offended that they get spotlighted for two days? The way the promo is edited, you’d think that they are  characters who are on all the time (which is sadly not the case).

Anyway, food to think about and here’s a little bit about the appearance http://abc.go.com/daytime/onelifetolive/snoop.html and here’s the promo itself …

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1534576420/bctid1539407083

The other day I wrote about the Mac and Cheese place, S’Mac, down in the east village.. today I want to write a brief thing about another eatery that’s also down in the village area of Manhattan, Insomnia Cookies.

 First, I love chocolate chip cookies. Our housekeeper, Mrs. Kasmirski, would make ‘em for us when we were growing up and they were always my favorite. She even named the dog she got towards the end of her days with us, Chips, since he was a deep chocolate brown color. And of course I never can (or will) forget that during my father’s funeral, Rev. Holten talked about forgiveness and my father’s fate in the afterlife, saying that “God doesn’t throw out his children like a baker throws out a bad batch of chocolate chip cookies”. Naturally my mom and I couldn’t stop laughing which was wildly inappropriate and our nails dug into each others’ hands to prevent us from busting a gut. It worked for her but for me the thought re-occured to me and I guffawed before shrinking down into the pew which you know started my descent I’m sure being the black sheep of the family. <smile and wink>

Anyway, a week or so ago during our Sunday Walk the BF wanted a cookie at the end of our trek around the neighborhood and after being disgusted by the seeming staleness and overpriced cookies we found at various ‘chain’ type coffee shops, we lamented that a retailer that actually cares about it’s customer is really an ancient idea. And then we found Insomia Cookies.

Well, first of all the place is a chain .. started in 2003 by students at a University in Pennsylvania as a way to help their friends get through finals without having to devour yet another pizza, they quickly have spread to college campuses all around the country (if they aren’t business majors - or didn’t get some sort of super credit for devising this business plan, their University should hang it’s head in shame!).

But moreover, the cookies are GOOD.. soft, warm and real. They are 90 cents (take that Mrs. Fields!) and come in a number of varietys but only two sizes (good idea - keep the menu small - do what you do best and do it well!). And best of all, they deliver. Yeah, the whole idea was that they could get cookies to dorms in the middle of the night to students cramming for tests and so they not only deliver to NYU but the surrounding village as well. And the minimum order is incredible.. it’s like $6 worth. You have to wait an hour (from the BF’s place we could walk back and forth in under ten minutes though) although it’s one of those things that you don’t probably really need to actually order cookies up until they close at 3am but there’s something cool about knowing that you CAN.

Now I know that this goes against what I said yesterday about franchises and keeping small.. and I hope that Insomnia doesn’t go the way of Mrs. Fields (crappy overpriced cookies that have oversaturated a market) but for the moment at least I’ll just shut up and drink my milk and take another bite.

Yeah, Mayors Giuiliani and Bloomberg have tried mighty hard to make New York City a haven for the super rich who go to bed by 9pm (they have tried many things over the past decade to kill nightlife) but at least there is some hope that New York’s reputation for being a 24/7 city will survive. And if that’s because of a cookie or two, then fine. Because you know what they say about not throwing out a batch of chocolate chip cookies…

You can find the Insomnia near you at www.insomniacookies.com

Last night I worked again as a busy bee worker for an event company. As I’ve written before, I rarely have much of any real substance to do at these events which is annoying (and dull) but it really can be a great star watching (and meeting) experience… for example, at what party could you go to anywhere and have the following three people all attending: All My Children’s Susan Lucci, Caroline Kennedy and cable’s infamous Robyn Byrd? Any group that can cut across those demographics is the party for me!! And this was a fundraiser for the Bid A Wee people, http://www.bideawee.org/ who sponsor pet adoptions.. so naturally there were lots of friendly dogs there.. I love that! I didnt get to MC the Intergroom event this year so I needed a little dog interaction (but it wasnt’ nearly enough….)

Anyway, I guess I should explain that Robyn has had a long career in the sex industry appearing in the original Debbie Does Dallas and then parlaying that experience into many profitable ventures including, most notoriously, a late night cable show where she would interview and showcase both male and female porn stars who took it all off for the camera. Back in 1995 my sister visited and happened upon the program late at night. I couldn’t tell if she was horrified and saw it as confirmation that the end of the world was at hand or if it amused her that such a thing could exist. Probably a little of both. I know I had the same reaction the first time I became aware of the show’s existence.

Through various situations over the years I met and became friends with Robyn and so working at the event and getting to see her and chat was a really cool thing. Last summer when I did drag at the Pine’s “Invasion” event, Robyn was at the end of the pier with her video camera taking in the whole thing.. I walked down the gangway and as I got near her, whipped off my hat and she gave me a big laugh (I would like to hope that it would be surprising that I’d be doing drag! LOL)

Naturally I’ve been aware of Susan Lucci my entire life as I’ve been a fan of All My Children since pretty much the first show was aired. I’ve followed the adventures of Erica Kane through some truly awful stories (kidnapping Maria’s baby for example) and some unbelievably beautiful stories (her daughter’s coming out of the closet and how she reacted to her on screen mother’s death both on the show and in real life). So it was some anticipation that when I found out that she would be there, I wondered if I would at least have a Peter Gallagher moment where she would be, you know, thisclose.

Well, towards the end of the night while I was helping out handing doggie t shirts (yes, just re-read that) Ms. Lucci stood just next to me while she and her husband waited for their coats. I blushed I’m sure and asked if they’d like to take home t shirts.. She said, in a way that made me feel as though I was her son and/or her best friend, that unfortunately their dog had died… naturally I suddenly had this look of horror on my face that I had brought up something painful so she quickly added ‘but we are thinking of getting another.. but we could take two for our daughters’ dogs”. She was warm, real and sweet and everything that everyone has ever said about her. I know I blushed again, unable to speak. She’s not just soap royalty, she’s New York royalty! (and I Jumped for Joy for about twenty minutes after that… in my mind maybe but jumped for joy nonetheless)

There were others attending… Linda Dano and Robin Strasser (I do seem to keep running in to her.. she’s become the new Joan Rivers for me) whose dogs I got to play with briefly (and yes, geek that I am thought “I’m playing with Robin’s dog!.. and oh look she’s snuggling into my crotch” (the dog, Scooter, not Robin!!). In the crowd too were Tina Louise (she does turn up in the most interesting places) as well as Kristen Alderson (who has matured into a very lovely young lady) and her on screen boyfriend played by Brandon Buddy. With all of this One Life to Live energy, I was thrilled btw to read on the ABC.com website that a trio of faves are returning in the next few weeks, Tuc Watkins as the fabulous David Vickers, Andrea Evans as Tina Lord (at last!) and now Susan Haskell as the original Marty Sayebrook… ok so the character died a few months ago… guess she got better! <wink>

But I digress…. also seen: Morley Safer (whose name I can never not hear and not think of that infamous SNL sketch where I think Joe Piscopo did a dead on impression of Andy Rooney warbling about his 60 Minutes co-host ‘Morely? What kind of name is that? What’s that the opposite of, Less- ly?” ) whom my friend Michael out-bid on a silent auction package.

Anyway it was a gorgeous event and it was probably the first event where I ever got to speak at length with the guests … because of the intimate nature of the event, it was sort of inevitable. In fact, it felt at times as though I could simply seep into the party and carry on just fine. The event photographer took a picture of me of a really cool woman who was waiting for her husband to show up…. so that’s floating around out there, (I’ll check the Bid a Wee site later this week and see if it turns up there).

OK that was kind of a ramble so I might as well end with another random star sighting.. as I was dashing up 10th Ave from the day job at Thirteen to the event space on W. 42nd, I passed by Isaac Mizrahi trying in vain to hail a taxi at W. 36th and 10th. This brings up a bunch of questions of LOST proportion…. what was someone like Mizrahi doing trying to even hail a cab (I always have this vision of people of that echelon having car services) and the area isn’t the part of town where one expect to see an internationally famous fashion designer (the section of town between midtown and Chelsea isn’t known for being trendy)…. although it reminded me that trying to get a taxi is one of the great equalizers of Manhattan. Doesn’t matter who you are… Anyway, going to Mizrahi’s site yielded this funny quote:

“Style makes you feel great because it takes your mind off the fact that you’re gonna die.” http://www.isaacmizrahiny.com/

Well, on that cheery note (yikes!) welcome to Wednesday!! - Andrew

This just in… the Police announced today (just a couple hours ago in fact) that the last concert that they will play in New York will benefit PBS, specifically WNET/Thirteen and our sister station WLIW/21.

The Police are also donating $2 of their concert sales and will donate them to Mayor Bloomberg’s Million Trees initiative. Read the press release below.. Read WNET President Neal Shapiro’s comments at www.thirteen.org/insidethirteen/

Read more about the Million Trees at  www.milliontreesnyc.org/html/home/home.shtml

 And of course about the Police at www.thepolice.com/

05.06.08 Mayor Bloomberg and The Police announce contribution to MillionTreesNYC and reveal that their last ever concert will take place in

$2 Million Contribution to MillionTreesNYC - $1 Million Pledged by The Police, an Amount Matched by the City - Will Plant 10,000 New Trees and Help Reforest 2,000 Acres | Final Concert Will Raise Funds for Thirteen / WNET and WLIW New York.

“The Police are now part of one of the most exciting elements of PlaNYC - MillionTreesNYC - our initiative to plant one million new trees over the next 10 years,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Sting’s human right’s advocacy is well known, as is his support for the environment, especially the rainforests. Today The Police have demonstrated their commitment to greening our City.”

Last year, the Mayor committed $400 million of City funds towards the ten-year MillionTreesNYC campaign, a partnership of the City Department of Parks & Recreation and the New York Restoration Project. The donation from The Police and the matching donation from the City will go towards the planting of 10,000 trees to create new urban forests, part of the Parks Department’s Natural Resources Group reforestation plan. Other parts of the plan are the total restocking of street trees and an increase of tree plantings on public and private lots.

Through MillionTreesNYC, the City will be able to increase its urban forest by 20 percent, while achieving the many environmental benefits that come with planting trees. Trees are particularly effective at cleansing the air by absorbing pollutants-sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide - through their leaves and intercepting airborne particulate matter on leaf sur-faces.

MillionTreesNYC planting efforts are focused on neighborhoods with low canopy cover and high rates of asthma hospitalization among children. These neighborhoods include Hunts Point and Morrisania in the

In 1977, The Police stormed the music scene by innovatively blending reggae, punk, jazz and rock. The Police dominated the top of the charts and radio airwaves worldwide with five number one albums and a succession of top ten hit singles. The band has earned five Grammy Awards and sold over fifty million albums worldwide. In 2003, The Police were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2007 they reformed and embarked on a world tour. To date, this much heralded tour has played to over 2.5 million people on five continents and has garnered numerous accolades including ‘Major Tour of the Year’ (Pollstar), ‘Top Selling’ and ‘Top Tour of the Year’ (Billboard) as well as the People’s Choice award for ‘Favorite Reunion Tour of 2007.’

So the BF and I took an abbreviated Sunday Walk this week as he went off to see a show in Brooklyn that I wasn’t too much interested in seeing. Anyway, just down the block a fairly new restaurant (well, to us, it’s been around for nearly two years) caught our eye - S’Mac, a ‘fastish food place devoted entirely to yes, you guessed it, macaroni and cheese.

Now I am a notoriously picky eater and although Mac and Cheese isn’t one of my all time favorite dishes or anything I do on occasion enjoy it. In the past, I’ve eaten it at Boston Market and the frozen Mac and Cheese that both Boston Market and Amy’s sell are both good (in different ways). Certainly my currently expanding waistline should be fixated on something healthier than pasta and dairy but I couldn’t resist. Since the place is located in the east village, a place of the city that is at once out of control expensive and yet sort of the last place in the city where small independant stores survive, I figured that the place would be crazy nuts gourmet style with a crazy nuts gourmet style price tag to match.

I was pleasantly surprised on both counts.

It’s a stand alone venture and I think family owned and run (it’s what I get from the website). Hear hear! More of this please. Enough with the chains! I never liked them and they’ve overrun New York and ruined what was special about this city when I first fell in love with it when I had my first real visit back in 1991. A note to the owners! Don’t franchise! We don’t need additional outlets around the city… keep it small and keep it family!

It turns out that S’Mac is financially affordable and their food is of a high quality. And I just got the basic “All American Mac and Cheese” although even with my picky standards I’m looking forward to trying the more ‘exotic’ options (you can see the menu here www.smacnyc.com/what.html ). The place was inpeccably clean and the service was immediate. The serving I got, which was the ‘nosh’ size, the smallest size possible, was served hot in it’s own skillet with a little hot pad wrapped around the handle to insure no burnt fingers. Brilliant!

I don’t know when I’ve been somewhere that every detail was so well thought out .. I mean, there are always things that didn’t get done right but the owners have thought of everything and it works, it truly works and very well.

The question is naturally, how can someone profit on Mac and Cheese? Simple. The components aren’t terribly expensive (even with a varied menu featuring a wide selection of extras) and the demand for a rich, filling, warm, delicious meal is high. And the price is really good and while I finished mine (but barely) the BF couldn’t finish his (it was great but almost too much food!). When’s the last time you said “I spent $4.25 and got filled up?” Not in New York City anyway. The portions come in two sizes larger (as well as in sizes suitable for a large party) but they too are moderately priced.

So I am a new fan. It’s not terribly convenient for where I live on the upper west side but when I’m down visiting the BF in the west Village, I’ll consider another lunch at S’Mac!! www.smacnyc.com for full details. (and psst they cater and sell frozen versions so you can take it home and eat it in the comfort of your own living room… and if any food should be ‘comfortable’ it should be Mac and Cheese!)

“Sen. Barack Obama is moving away from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright so fast he may claim to be an atheist by next weekend.” Glenn Beck on www.cnn.com

This is one of those things that I got sent in email, thanks Barbara! - Andrew

The George W Bush presidential library is now in the planning stagesYou’ll want to be one of the first to make a contribution to this great man’s legacy.
�
The library will include:
�
* The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.
* The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you can’t remember anything.
* The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don’t have to even show up.
* The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don’t let you in.
* The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don’t let you out.
* The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room (which no one has been able to find).
* The Iraq War Room. After you complete your first tour, they make you go back for second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tours.
* The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shooting gallery.
* Plans also include: The K-Street Project Gift Shop - where you can buy (or just steal) an election.
* The Airport Men’s Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.
* The US middle class Room.  Better hurry, they are dismantling it.
* The US dollar Room.  Hurry here too, it’s shrinking as we watch.
* Last, but not least, there will be an entire floor devoted to a 7/8 scale model of the President’s ego.
* To highlight the President’s accomplishments, the museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate them.