a slice of weiss

The Summer's Twilight Days...

2011-09-01T13:06:00.010-04:00

8.1.11 - It’s that time of year again. The slow death of a great summer is upon us, and we all mourn what was a wonderful season filled with fun times, great memories and of course indelible regrets. And yes, I know, it’s not over jusssst yet, we still have 20 more days of this glorious weather before we get into the fall doldrums, but I am seeing too many reminders that it’s almost over. Honestly, the one thing in recent days that got me soooo riled up was when I was shopping in Kmart (don’t ask) and as I was picking up some sunscreen I noticed a big display. A big HALLOWEEN display. Please note, that it was August 25^th. Well Kmart, lemme tell you, this is just unacceptable. You changed the background contact papers from the shelves from Summer Green to Ghoulish Orange with a week left in August? How this is fair? Dear god, tell me whyyyy! It’s like they skipped over the whole Back-to-School hoopla, which for me at the ripe age of 31 is not applicable, but at least makes an easier mental transition into Fall.

Look, I had an amazing summer of 2011, but I am just not ready to call it over just yet. I travelled near and far; with my friends to Fire Island several times, SF, Atlanta and beautiful Oahu, Hawaii (thanks for covering the bill, work!). This weekend takes me to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware (yes, Delawhere?), where I get to reunite with some of my friends from the DC area, compare summer stories, drink, dance and enjoy the twilight of our youth. Again, I’m 31, let me just live in the moment, ok?

In the meantime, I have decided to create a fabulous (IMHO) playlist for this Labor Day Weekend…since none of us will or shall be laboring but enjoying the fine weather that the East Coast has coming. Here is some great NEW music from the likes of Kelly Clarkson (still, the only American Idol in my opinion), Cascada, Duck Sauce, Florrie (personal favorite, it’s my summer jam), Will Young and more. Plus, another awesome Monsieur Adi mix of a Madonna song, and finally, the last 5 songs are just amazing French Summer Disco beats. Turn up the stereo, thrown down the towel on the chaise and pour yourself another margarita, this summer ain’t over yet!

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Sumrahtime and the Living is Sleazy...

2011-07-06T21:12:00.018-04:00

7.6.11. - Wow, do you feel that? No, it's not the sunlight against my skin. No, it's not the heat coming off the streets. And no, it's the mist coming from a hydrant that has been wrenched open. That feeling? It's the chilly blast of my air conditioning pummeling my face. Yes, I am spending as much time indoors these days because I know that NYC is on the cusp of the intense July/August/Hell heatwave that we all know and love. Fortunately however, when I am not indoors, I am doing a lot of traveling, some for work, some for fun, which I of course love. Atlanta, DC, Oahu (what, whaaaat?!), it definitely breaks up the summer better. Work has been great, albeit intensely crazy so booking it for a few days is nice. I love NYC, but you know, sometimes you just need to get away.

Speaking of getting away (ready for a fantastic segue), nothing has been pulling me out of the workspace more than the good music that I have been listening to of late. New tracks from some of my favorites like Mika, Coldplay and Penguin Prison, plus the discovery of some really outstanding new artists like Studio Killers, Xelle, Foster The People, and Two Door Cinema Club. So for you, my loyal reader(s), I present to you all of these, plus new tracks from Eric Prydz, Girls Aloud and the return of Aqua! Yes, Barbie Girl Aqua!

Oh, and I had to throw in The Countess' new song "Chic, C'est La Vie" because...well, I just had to really. Download link is below. Enjoy!!

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Feb-blah-ary.

2011-02-18T11:44:00.003-05:00

2.18.11 - The tides are turning my friend(s). The weather is in wonky as all hell. Countries are revolutioning (it’s a word, deal with it). Christina Aguilera can’t sing a national anthem for shit. What do we make of this? The apocalypse? The dawn of a new age? Nah, It’s just February. Ridiculous, nearly-Springesque February. We all get a bit crazy this time of year, you know with ValDay and all those damn ridiculous red heart Russell Stover boxes. Or perhaps Groundhog Day just tugs at your heart strings for some strange reason. Either way, this has been a month wrought with heartache and pain worldwide. Countries like Egypt and Bahrain are in upheaval, the Biebs was snubbed at the Grammys and Uncle Leo died! Terrible and sad as it may, we need to get through this friend(s).

How you ask? Well many ways. Number one, I recommend all my gal pals out there to go check out my new blog, ‘The Secret Ingredient’ over at MoxieQ. Its filled with fun food tips, recipes and insider secrets. Yeah, I’m an insider, who knew! Second, some good music always soothes the soul. I present to you, my gorgeous 28th superfantastic mixtape! What do we have on this edition, well a slew of new music to get your pulse racing, you blood boiling and your body a-moving. Highlights include a few gorgeous covers by Ellie Goulding and Vampire Weekend and a new song by my favorite British chanteuse Adele. A stand out song is by new discovery The Go! Team and their song ‘Buy Nothing Day’. When the snow starts falling, take a day off and go run around in the flakes in Central Park, this is the perfect song for doing nothing but having fun! I also recommend you checking out the song ‘Cocaine Blues’ by Escort, a 17-piece disco orchestra. Take you pants off, raise your hands in the air and dance your face off, this song is sexy, fun and exuberant! Finally, in addition to all of that, we have some new songs by Chris Brown (look, I’m totally on team RiRi, but this is a good song produced by Benny Benassi), plus a retro 80’s hit by Mya (welcome back!) and some club bangers by Radio INK, Florrie and Christoph Andersson.

February may be blah, but good times abound.

DOWNLOAD adw's SuperFantastic Mixtape v28 HERE

How Dare I!

2011-01-03T21:38:00.011-05:00

01.03.11 - I won't lie dear reader(s), sometimes I disappoint myself, and now is the time to admit this. Look, we all set goals we strive to achieve, but we don't always meet them. We aim high, but land low.

I originally started blogging waaaaayyyy back when. I was a somewhat fresh-faced kid, relatively new to NYC. I was bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Now, I'm not saying that I'm an old begruzzled man now, I'm only recently turned a mildy young looking 31, but I can say that looking back (and even just through the annals of this blog), I have grown, and learned. I have felt love and loss. I have become wiser and more cynical. I have enjoyed writing this through the years, and it has provided me with a great cathartic way of expressing my thoughts, sharing new music and writing, which is a bit of a passion of mine.

When I set out to write this revamped blog a little over two years ago, I had hoped to publish these posts on a frequent basis, and sadly, as of late that has not happened. I had a crazy, wild, thrilling, nauseating, deliriously exciting and overall fantastic 2010 (as evidenced by this video), but look, things got in the way. People, jobs, places, you know...things. I barely wrote one post a month in 2010, and I think that that's just not acceptable dear reader(s), Now it's 2011. Twenty f'in eleven! I can't just let this blog fall to the wayside. And now, as part of my New Years Resolution, I once again will strive to make this blog a bigger priority in my life.

But you know, in the meantime, I think that I have found a way to redeem myself. Perhaps a new mixtape to satiate your aural needs? I don't mind if I do! So let's get to it, shall we...New music from Cut Copy, Penguin Prison (creators of one of the BEST songs from last year), Natasha Bedingfield, Eiffel 65 (what? really?), Chromeo, Röyksopp and sooo much more! Highlights include a new ditty by Duffy, a remix of a hot song by Tokyo Police Club, and the song "In Motion" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross from "The Social Network" Soundtrack (which...well, it's awesome, and you should download it now, here)...Mixtape download link is below...enjoy!

DOWNLOAD ADW'S MIXTAPE v26 HERE!

A Quarter of a...

2010-11-03T17:38:00.015-04:00

11.4.10 - Summer turns to fall, fall turns to winter. The seasons change, we grow older, blah, blah, blah. 2010 is rapidly coming to an end, and of course we all say to ourselves this time of year "wow, time flies, where did the year go!" It was just Halloween, now Thanksgiving and the holidays are looming just around the corner. Me personally, I can't wait. I love the holidays in New York City, and even as a Jew, the Christmas lights and sounds are always beautiful.There is something magical about the winter season in the city, the window displays, the hot apple cider at the Union Square Greenmarket and of course my hands down most favorite thing, the snowflakes at Saks. Sure, I'm sitting here in lovely San Francisco right now, where they are going through a fantastic Indian Summer with 75 degree days and sunshine galore, but I can't wait for the winter to come!

My life has been in turmoil as of late dear reader(s). Not bad turmoil, just crazypants turmoil! I have been traveling so much as of late that I feel like I haven't had more than a brief moment to catch my breath! Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco and soon off to Houston, I'm looking forward to next week when my life settles down a smidge. What has been getting me through all these travels? Well music of course! Music gets me through all situations in life! The good, the bad and the gym. That being said, I present to you my adw's superfantastic mixtape v25! Yes, 25!

So, what do I have to celebrate this momentous occasion? Well a shit-ton of music of course! The 25th Mix warrants 25 songs! New songs by Ke$ha, Emily Osment, the return of Ricky Martin and of Nelly Furtado (yessss!)...a new song by everyone's favorite lilliputian American Idol tenor/soprano David Archuleta, another discofunk killer song by Jamiroquai and a new song by Right Said Fred.

What else....oh wait. Stop the virtual presses, did I just...um did I really just say RIGHT SAID F'IN FRED? That's right! They are back with a new kinda good song called "This Love". That's right, have a listen and do a little turn on the catwalk...Follow that up with new songs by Shakira, Natasha Bedingfield, Sugarland (and if you don't know Jennifer Nettles voice by now, you are missing out, she is one of a kind), plus Robyn and you just can't go wrong with some Robyn. Mid-mix you will find the addition of the song "Take Me Out", by Atomic Tom. You may have heard about them via an amazing video on YouTube and their performance on an NYC subway last month. Totally an fantastic song, i'm kinda obsessed, so have a listen. End it all with some "unreleased" Madonna tracks, Rihanna's take on her duet with Eminem "Love the Way You Lie (Part 2)", and then the fab cover of "Science Fiction Double Feature" from the Rocky Horror Picture Show as sung by Naya Rivera (aka Santana) on Glee. Download link is below, enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Music, Travel, Madness!

2010-10-06T09:35:00.005-04:00

10.6.10 - October is upon us! Leaves are about to change, temperatures are dropping, I’m layering up, it’s Sweta Weatha!

I will say that the last few months have been quite the whirlwind for this former publicist! Helping to launch a new product for my client, heading to lovely (?) Louisville to intrerview some people and other quasi-fun adventures! One of the more fun things that I have participated in lately was the 7^th Annual MP3 Experiment from Improv Everywhere. You have probably heard of the group, they are best known for their famous Grand Central Freeze, and they conduct amazing and outlandish events throughout the city. I have always wanted to participate, but never did until my friend Jon suggested we take part this time around. Let me just tell you my loyal reader(s), it was a hoot and a half! I won’t go into the full description as I am pressed for time, but it involved freezing mid-walk on the street, wrapping up 4,000 people as mummies in the middle of the park, slow-dancing with a t-shirt in the Pop Tarts Store and having a kickass time. Definitely check out their website and join their mailing list to participate!

Well, Fashion Week came and went, Lincoln Center was ablaze with new amazing fashions from top designers, and living so close to the new venues (RIP Bryant Park) afforded me the opportunity to not only attend a show, but see some fashion icons as Karl Lagerfeld (j’adore!), Andre Leon Talley and Martha Stewart (j’adore times deux!) walking through the esplanade. I would take a moment to discuss how great of a word ‘esplanade’ is, but honestly I’m too busy! Between my extreme travel schedule for the next few weeks (Atlanta! Texas! DC! Boston! Atlanta again!) I did have the opportunity to discover some amazing new music which I would love to share with you all!

New songs by my pseudo-British Boyfriend Mark Ronson (featuring a fantastic cameo by Boy George…yes, Boy George!), Maroon 5! Pink! And the SUNSATIONAL return of Jamiroquai. Plus, the new fanfreakintastic song "Barbra Streisand" by Duck Sauce (aka Armand Van Helden and A-TRAK or "Anyway" fame) and to start it all off, a disco funkified version of the new hit song “Fuck You’ by Ceelo, previously featured on Mixtape v23. Won’t lie, it’s my jam-o-the-moment. Trust me reader(s), you will lurve it. Download link is way below, enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Gone, Gone Away...

2010-09-13T21:51:00.009-04:00

09.14.10 - Well my loyal reader(s), it looks like the summer of 2010 has come to an end. I won't lie, this was quite possibly the best summer of my life. I traveled extensively (LA! San Diego! Chicago! Rehoboth Beach!), I went to some amazing concerts (Robyn! Devo! Kelis! Blake Lewis! The Target Kaleidoscopic Fashion Spectacular!), saw some wonderful theatre ("In The Heights"!, "The Merchant of Venice"! "In The Heights" again!), spent a week with my boys on Fire Island, was part of my best friends wedding, and did many other things that most likely are not so appropriate for this public forum.

Yes, it was the best summer that I think that I have ever had, but sadly, it is over. Autumnal thoughts come to mind as I slog my way from my office to the comforts of my apartment, drench by the mid-September rain. I always get melancholy this time of year as the seasons abruptly bump into each other. Yes, I love fall, and I eagerly await the first snowfall of winter...followed by me even more eagerly anticipating the last snowfall of winter, but there is nothing like summer here in New York City. It truly is the greatest.

In honor of the good times, I now present to you my SuperFantastic Mixtape v23. Not only is this the 23rd installment, but there are 23 fantastic songs for you! Ranging from JoJo and Good Charlotte to new stuff from Brandon Flowers (!) to KT Tunstall (where the hell have you been!), and even some Justin Beiber, just for good measure. Finally, enjoy a ridiculously awesome mix of two of the hottest songs of the summer, Taio Cruz's dancefloor pleaser "Dynamite" and Ms. Katy Perry's smash "California Gurls". Won't lie, I've listened to it about 400 times. Also, Cee Lo Green (of Gnarls Barkley fame) and his new song "Fuck You"...did it really need the EXPLICIT label next to it with that name?

Trust me, this is a pretty darn good mix, you'll thank me later. Download link is below, but before you get to that, for those of you who didn't see, here's a fun video I made of my friends and I on Fire Island...enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Yay for MM

2010-08-27T08:53:00.002-04:00

Woke up this morning to read the press release from the Creative Emmy's (which were on this past week whilst I was away on Fire Island), and I was so happy to see that Mia Michaels won another Emmy, this time for her AMAZING choreography for the song "Gravity" by Sara Bareillies which I featured in this blog post last year. Congrats Mia, incredibly well desereved!!

Disco Diva Madonna Magic Madness!

2010-08-13T10:11:00.014-04:00

08.13.10 - Well, the dog days of summer are upon us. It's hot, sticky sweet, from my head to my feet. Yeah.

As I walk down the street from the Steam Tunnels, or the subways as you laymen might call them, drenched in the sweat of both myself and my countrymen (some people don't understand the limits of personal space when packed on a subway car!), I think to myself, what is going to get me through the day? What will make me work harder, put a smile on my face and infuse my mind with some much needed aural refreshment...Well my loyal reader(s), have I got a treat for you!

What do you get when you combine one of the greatest singers of all time with the biggest disco queen there ever is? Well, MaDonna Summer of course! I now present to you one of the most fun mash-up albums I have heard in a longggg time, perfect for lounging by the pool, bouncing on the elliptical at the gym (gym? what the hell is a gym!) or trekking out to Fire Island for some sumrahtime fun. Link is below, enjoy kids!

1. I Feel Like A Virgin

2. What It Feels Like For A Bad Girl

3. She Works Hard For Material

4. Sunset & Hollywood

5. Secret Affair

6. Burning Fire

7. Frozen Stuff

8. Heaven Knows A Prayer

9. 4 Minutes (Is Enough)

[Featuring Barbra Streisand, Justin Timberlake,

Bananarama & Sandra Bernhard]

10. Dance Another Day

11. I Feel Justified

DOWNLOAD HERE

Musica Para La Playa

2010-07-30T09:44:00.008-04:00

07.30.10 - Last week my friends and I ventured to the holy land of nude beaches, Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Let me say this, it's a hoot. First off, if you are clothed, you are in the extreme minority. Everyone is nekkid. Everyone.

I am not necessarily comfortable with my body, especially when it comes to exposing it to 15 of my friends on the beach...in New Jersey...but when everyone else shucks their shorts, you gotta just do it. I was shockingly comfortable and felt incredibly liberated to be amongst my friends and strangers wearing nothing put a smile and lots of suntan lotion (especially...um...down there...lord knows a sunburn ain't no fun!). Adventurous? Well you should try it out sometime, it's worth the trip! More info can be found here. Dooo it.

Tonight, I head to another beach, a decidedly more clothed beach, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Yes, Delaware.

Look, I haven't been in years, since I went for a day trip during Beach Week before high school graduation, but I'm heading down with my friends, and I think it's going to be a lot of fun. The place was a decrepit mess when I was last there, but now that the gays have invaded (woohoo!), the beach has cleaned up it's act. I can't wait to head down and just relax for the entire weekend. Well deserved after my hard week of work. And by work, I mean job hunting.

Anyway, in celebration of my mini-getaway, I present you with a mix to make it through your weekend. It starts off and ends with the AMAZING new song "Hang With Me" by Robyn, both the radio version as well as the acoustic version that I saw her perform last night. Beautiful, haunting and fabulous. Also enjoy some great new music from Katy Perry, Ace of Base, Kaskade and...wait, Ace of Base? Yep, they're back with a new over-produced single called "All For You", a far cry from Janet's single of the same name, but it's nice to see them again...I guess. Plus, lots of new music from people you've never heard of! Download link is below, and trust me, you'll enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Sumrahtime Musication

2010-07-23T16:09:00.004-04:00

7.23.10 - Hey kids! It's Friday, can you hear the screams of joy and exhilaration traveling down the the hallways of your office? You're excited aren't you! While some of us are planning on going to Central Park to bask in the rays of the 100 degree sun we're expecting, others are smart enough to stay indoors with the air conditioner blasting while drinking a pina colala.

Me? I am heading to a nudie beach tomorrow with my friends. No, it's not as scary as you would think, it's actually quite fun, and wildly entertaining at that! 10 friends, handles of vodka and sarongs to cover our manbits. We went last year, and it was a hoot and a half. After a delightful ferry ride under the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, you travel around Governors Island and off on the open seas to the great (?) state of New Jersey. Disembark and get on a bus which takes you to the secluded Gunnison Beach. Acres and acres of nude beach goers are all you can see. There is a lot of eye candy. And...um...a lot of...well, how do I say this gently. Ugly old fat people. Lots of em. But look, who am I to judge, I have far from the ideal body and I will say that it is mighty liberating to be walking around nekkid on the beach. Of course last year we only dropped trou for the last 30 minutes or so, but either way, it felt nice having the ocean breeze blow on my dangly bits.

Anyway, now that you have that delightful image seared in your brains, lets change subjects, shall we? For this summery Friday, here are 19 songs for you to head to the beach with! That's right, it's Adam's SuperFantastic Mixtape v20! Can you believe that we are reaching the major milestone of 20 mixes? I know, I can't believe it either!

So here you are my lovers, new music from Cut Copy, NERD, Robyn, The Maine and more. A Fab new song by the group ceo, a sexified song by Tame Impala, plus, hot mixes featuring former Spring Awakening cast member Lauren Pritchard, Jamie Cullem, and Kylie Minogue.

Oh, and do you know how to say "All The Lovers" in Spanish? Well Kylie does, so enjoy the exclusive "Los Amores"!

Download link is below, so enjoy kids!

DOWNLOAD HERE!

we will always have...

2010-07-09T11:47:00.008-04:00

7.9.10 - it's hot. Like, too damn hot. Sweltering ass-stick-to-your-chair kind of hot. I friends am not a fan. So what do we do to alleviate this? We sit in our local Schtarbucks soaking up the a/c and free wi-fi. God Bless America indeed!

A good friend of mine is moving from NYC in a week to a land far, far away. Well, to LA, but really it's a worlds away from this island we live on. It wasn't all together unexpected, but its still sad to see friends leave. In my nearly eight year tenure as a New Yorker (I know, I can't technically say it until I've been here for ten years), I have seen many a friends come and go. Some say that they are only leaving for a short period, some for good. It happens, it's life. People must leave in order to pursue their dreams, to take a better opportunity, to be with friends and loved ones.

Recently I had a crisis of locations when for three long days, I seriously considered moving to either London or Paris. My job had "expired" (bastards!), my lease was running out, and the city of blinding lights was calling my name. I went as far as doing my due diligence and looking at storage companies, apartments and locations to move to. I was thiiiis close. But I remember that I could not give up on this city. Its where I am now and where I plan on being for a while. I have had my heartaches and letdowns, but I'm firmly rooted here for the time being. I can only wish my friend well, he's crossing the country on the search for a better tomorrow, and I support his decision to do so.

In this heat and times of uncertainty things will come and go, but we will always have the music. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD ME HERE

(you're welcome)

MemDayWkndMus

2010-05-27T09:51:00.006-04:00

Well I don't know about you, my loyal reader(s), but I need a vacation. It's been a VERY long and VERRRRY stressful couple of weeks for this here former publicist, and lemme tell you something, I could use a cocktail poolside. Fortunately, the Memorial Day Weekend is quickly approaching and I have plans to leave this little island of man for one of fire. Much needed, much deserved.

In heavy anticipation of said getaway, I hereby provide you all with some sweet early summer tunes to crack up by the pool, floaties around your arm, bloody mary in hand.

Enjoy some new music by Miley, Florence + the Machine, Teddybears, Natasha Beddingfield and more. highlights include a sick remake of Tenderoni by Kele of Bloc Party, new discoveries The Knocks and Penguin Prison and the ONLY good songs from the Sex and the City 2 soundtrack.

Crank up your boombox, iPod, iPhone, CD player, record player, 8-track or whatever other antiquated music device you have. Here is my SuperFantastic Mixtape v18...yes, 18. Link is below, enjoy!

Download this mutha HERE!

Friday, Friday, Bounce Away!

2010-05-14T10:58:00.010-04:00

Well my few and proud readers, it is indeed Friday. It has been a long, tiring and incredibly stressful week, and I don't know about you, but I am in need of some serious aural relief. For that, I provide to you a mini-megamix to get you through this last vapid day before we begin weekending.

Here is some superfresh, superhot new music from Kylie Minogue, Scissor Sisters, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Rowland and more! Make sure to check out the last track, a haunting new cover of Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" by Gary Go...um, kinda amazing...

DOWNLOAD HERE

Oh, and if you're in the New York City area, make sure to check out Club La Cage, the hot new cabaret act hosted by Raven O with appearances by Peppermint, Sherry Vine and VERY special guests, all part of the new smash-hit Broadway revival of

La Cage Aux Folles

Bounce, Beat, Move It

2010-04-25T21:57:00.004-04:00

Well my lovelies, my fabulous reader(s), it's been far too long since I provided you with some music to get you through the week. This wonderful Monday morning, I'm giving you some amazing NEW tunes by Robyn, Roisin Murphy, Van She, The Temper Trap and, get this, one of my favorite bands, Scissor Sisters!

Let me know what you think!

Download it HERE

Love to Love You Baby...

Bringing You Back

2010-03-23T18:14:00.007-04:00

Recently I have been thinking a lot of things in my life. People I have shared time with, places I have visited, the impact that they have made on me. We all have memories in our heads and in our hearts. Some we share with friends, some we keep close to our soul. We associate these memories with objects like souvenirs, or photos or gifts, and the memories will always come rushing back upon viewing these objects. Sometimes these memories are positive, sometimes they aren't. That is life, there are always ups and downs.

One of my most powerful ways of remembering a memory is through food. So many times I have a meal, and it reminds me of something from my past, a time and place buried in the memories of my mind. A bowl of simple broth reminds me of the delicious dumpling soup from Hong Kong and walking down the city streets near the fish vendors. The smell of stuffed cabbage in the cafeteria at my old job brings me to my grandparents apartment in Boca, my grandmother puttering around the kitchen, always making sure that everyone was fed. A quick sniff of the aroma or the first bite in my mouth and my head is flooded with thoughts and images, moments of my life.

Here's why I am mentioning this: This past weekend, I finally watched the movie Ratatouille while on the way down to DC with 5 of my besties, and it was truly a wonderful movie, and there was one moment that really moved me. I had always heard that it was good, but I had never had the chance to see the it, and I am so glad that I finally did. It's a Pixar film, and every single piece of work that they put out is always brilliant, but critically acclaimed and commercially successful. WALL-E really was a true feat of storytelling, and at the core was emotion, and tons of it. I still haven't seen Up, but I hear the same is very true.

For those of you who have not seen Ratatouille, well...perhaps you should stop reading now, because there are some important plot points I'm going to reveal.

Still with me? Great. A verrrrry brief synopsis of the film: a boy needs a rats help to save a restaurant from failure and to please a food critic. The reason that I mention this film is one of the final scenes of the movie when the character Linguini serves the much hyped dish of ratatouille to the critic Anton Ego, he is immediately skeptical. Who serves such a peasantine dish to the most important food critic in Paris? But then, then he takes a bite and cinematic magic unfolds.

Immediately we see his face shift from that of consternation to amazement as the scene takes us back to Ego as a child at the door of his French country house after he's had a spill on his bike. His eyes are red, his nose is sniffling, his knee is bloody, the bike is sitting in the background, wheels spinning, and you can see how upset he his. His mother is standing at the stove stirring up a large pot, she gently caresses his face, feeds him a steaming bowl of ratatouille, and instantly he is comforted. It's a beautiful and powerful moment that took him back. And I was totally taken by it. My eyes were filled with welling tears.

I instantly connected with the young Eg0, it reminded me so that comfort and love that only a mother could give you after you got a booboo. It brought me back, and I felt the connection.

Truly, truly beautiful.

one down, eleven to go...

2010-02-03T10:21:00.002-05:00

well, the new year is upon us, and a lil bit past us actually, as it's now february, and i'm really sure how january snuck past us. anyway, i've been thinking a lot about new years resolutions and what they mean to people. Everybody has New Years Resolutions, some are attainable, some are just bat-shit crazy ideas that people have. Mine, I try and make simple. In the past it was "lose 10 pounds" (FAIL), or "lose 20 pounds" (DOUBLE FAIL) or "quit smoking" (finally a SUCCESS!)... but I realized that in order to make a good resolution, you need it to be something that you can actually meet.

For 2009, it was to wear more fun socks. No more boring black socks for me! Now they have stripes, colors, bright pinks, blues, yellows. They may not be much, but they are a fun quirky addition to my day, and it makes me feet SHINE! Ok, sorry, not trying to be dramatic, I just like quirky socks, whatever.

For 2010, I opted that my resolution would be to "Try New Things". It's open ended, it can mean anything, but I just reached 30 and I think that I've entered a new stage in my life, and you know what? It's time to try new things. I've already started on my path to New Things Enlightenment. I've tried some new cuisines, I've hung out with new people, I joined a respectable online dating site (yikes!) and I've...well, I've tried new things! Look, we're only into the infancy of the year, so we'll see where this takes me, but I'm just happy to know that I've set out a goal for a resolution for myself which I know that I can and will accomplish, which makes me happy!

so let's see what 2010 brings!

Bon Appétit!

2010-01-06T08:56:00.015-05:00

what is inspiration? motivation? What is that is within us that makes us want to do something, acquire something, act upon something. there is a drive within each of us that is there

recently, I watched the movie "Julie & Julia" staring the always unreal Meryl Streep and the always good (but lets be honest, this was really Meryl's movie) Amy Adams. For the handful of you out there who have not seen this wonderful film, it follows the life of Julie Powell, a New Yorker complacent in her job looking for new inspiration and landing upon the idea of blogging while she conquers the behemoth that is Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", all 524 recipes in a mere 365 days. This is actually a true story, I remember reading about it years and years ago. The movie's B-story (or A-story, depending on how you look at it) follows Julia as she changes her life around from the complacency of being the wife of a diplomat and follows her new passion for cooking while living in Paris. Now I have always been a fan of Meryl Street and of Julia Child*, so I was thrilled to finally see this film, especially after running into the production crew filming around town many times.

Now firstly, the movie made me want to jump on the first plane and head right back to gay Paris (and if it was a time transport plan that could direct us to the earlier part of this century, that would be ideal), as when I went there last year, I fell in love. Not just with the people (and one in particular! Bonjour Etienne!), but with the culture and the museums, the cafes, the joie de vivre that truly exist there. I need to go back soon...but that's another story...

The thing that really got to me during the film was the passion within these characters, mostly that of Julia. Now look, the wife of a diplomat, she didn't realllly need a job and especially not in 1950's Paris where she could go smoke her ciggies and drink her martuni's all day without a care in the world, but she did. She chose to do something, to follow her passion, and to also make a name for herself in the predominantly male-led culinary industry. There was a fire within her, that drive and passion that we all strive to have within our own respective industries. As you loyal reader(s) know, I have had my fair share of jobs in the past, some freelance, some contract, some good, many bad. I have one now that I love, and I don't just love it because it's in the events and theatrical industry, one I believe that I excel in, but because of the people I work with. My bosses are these two amazing guys who have that passion, that fire, that drive. It's so inspiring to surround yourself with this energy, because it makes you focus in on all that is positive and good. I feel like I am working harder and stronger because that fire has been lit within me, and I know that it's going to help me reach my potential and go past it.

And then I will take that fire and use it to make boeuf bourguignon.

*according to my parents, I used to sit and watch "The French Chef" with Julia all the time, and some of my first words were "Bon Appétit!". I recall seeing a home movie of me at 7 or 8 in the kitchen cooking, doing my best Julia Child impersonation...if my parents didn't know then...

Gleek Out!

2009-12-10T16:13:00.010-05:00

Ok, I don't know about you, but fucking love 'Glee'. The songs that they perform are so fun and so damn entertaining! I seriously have to have my 'Glee' fix a few times a day, I am constantly listening to the soundtrack, so I figured, well, if you enjoy what I write and my music, you'll most likely enjoy this. When I say "you", of course I am referring to my loyal readers...all three of you, (Hi Mom!!).

For you my loyal lovers of music and mayhem, I now happily give you "Glee: The Music, Volume 2". Featuring such amazing songs a "Jump", "Don't Rain On My Parade", "And I Am Telling You", and sooo many more.

Go ahead, bust out to Rachel, Puck, Quinn, Finn, Mercedes, Kurt, Artie, Mr. Shue and that Asian Girl! Link is below, ENJOY!

DOWNLOAD ME HERE!

I'm a GLEEk, You're a GLEEk

2009-11-05T10:54:00.008-05:00

Look, I'm unemployed right now, and the job market is so bad that (insert funny anecdote of social commentary here). Anyway, how am I filling my time? Why downloading amazing music to keep my spirits and energy up.

As many/most/some/none of you know, I am a huge fan of the Fox Wednesday Night Show Glee, and I just love the music from it as well. Well, their new album of songs from the show has been released, and I think that on this cold and chilly Thursday, it would be a nice lil gift from me to you, so enjoy! Link is below!

Track Listing:

01. Rachel & Finn - Dont Stop Believin 3:52

02. Finn - Cant Fight This Feeling 3:30

03. Will - Gold Digger 3:01

04. Rachel - Take A Bow 3:36

05. Mercedes - Bust Your Windows 4:20

06. Rachel - Taking Chances 3:56

07. Will & April - Alone 3:41

08. Rachel & April - Maybe This Time 2:59

09. Rachel, Finn, Mercedes & Artie - Somebody To Love 4:43

10. Mercedes - Hate On Me 3:30

11. Rachel & Finn - No Air 4:22

12. Quinn - You Keep Me Hangin On 2:40

13. Rachel & Finn - Keep Holding On 4:04

14. Will - Bust A Move 4:24

15. Puck - Sweet Caroline 1:58

16. Artie - Dancing With Myself 3:10

17. Kurt & Rachel - Defying Gravity 2:29

18. Will - I Wanna Sex You Up (Bonus Track) 2:06

19. Emma - I Could Have Danced All Night (Bonus Track) 1:22

20. Will - Leaving On A Jet Plane (Bonus Track) 4:02

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Music For Humping

2009-10-28T11:21:00.022-04:00

Well, I don't know where you are right now my loyal reader(s), but if you are in the New York City area, you know that we are in the throes of some mighty shitacular weather. Rainy and cold, rainy and humid, overall grossness. Nobody is digging this right now, least of all me. Virtually unemployed and sitting in my local coffeeshop staring out onto the bleak landscape that is known as Bedford Avenue, I figured, what can I do to make this Wednesday go by a lil bit quicker. Why, a Humpday Playlist is just what you and I both need!

Here is some fantasticle new music to get you through the misery that is midweek! New music from Leona Lewis! The Script! LCD Soundsystem! Rihanna! A whole SLEW of songs from this week's Gossip Girl, my favorite Monday Night Guilty Pleasure, including Peaches, Harlem Shakes, Hollywood Holt and Delta Spirit. Of course had to share a song from Glee, my favorite Wednesday Night Gay Pleasure, and some songs courtesy of Mr. Blair Prentice of the Glitter Junkies! I even threw in a live version of "Angels" by Robbie Williams, one of my favorite sweeping songs of all time and a song by Gary Go called "Wonderful" that I am OBSESSED with.

But, before we get to the playlist, I felt it was my honor, no, my duty to share with you some photos of the amazeballs pumpkin that I carved last night. For some reason I was inspired to etch the pumpkin versus carve it, because you know, I am so versed in that skill...Anyway, I now present to you my first ever Pacman Pumpkin!

Concept, Execution, Results!

Now, Onto The Music!

Click HERE to Download Adam's SuperFantastic Mixtape v12!

A Musical Lift

2009-10-19T10:52:00.007-04:00

Well, this week has not been the greatest of weeks for me. I am not going to recount all the bad shit (lost my job and got dumped within 72 hours of each other), or the mild bout of depression i'm currently suffering (i give it another 2-3 days before it lets up), or the shitacular weather we had here over the weekend. Anyway, I've had a nice amount of time to think about the latest goings on, pondered some thoughts, made voodoo dolls of certain people, but i'm moving on. Slowly, but surely I'll bounce on back from this latest round of set-backs.

Anyway, onwards and upwards people! It's Monday! It's fall, which means it's almost summer again! Yes, always look on the bright side of life, right? Even when you are down and shitty, shitty, shitty, you need something to look forward to. For me, it's starting a bootcamp tomorrow, which I'm anxiously excited about, it's what I need to whip myself into shape for next summer (it's not just for women, don't let the site fool you!)...hell, I only have 9 months before I head back to the Island of Fire!

To get me through these doldrums and to keep your day moving as well, I've crafted a fun lil playlist full of fun tunes and melodies. New songs by Vampire Weekend! Chromeo! Leighton Meester!!! An AMAZEBALLS mash-up of Miley Cyrus and Biggies Smalls! What? What did you say? Really? You included a mix of Hannah Montana and one of the greatest rappers of all time? Why yes, yes I did, and you're gonna love it!! Plus of course I had to add in some Glee (and an awesome Glee Mix and some other songs, courtesy of Mr. Blair Prentice of the Glitter Junkies!), because really I think it's wonderful.

So, here is mah music for today, hope you enjoy!

Download Adam's SuperFantastic Mixtape v11 HERE!

25 Blahbiddy-Blah

2009-10-10T15:12:00.003-04:00

so i just found this on my facebook profile, forgot that I had written it earlier this year, and I got a funny lil laugh outta it, hence I wanted to share...enjoy!

25 Things You May Not Know About Me,

May Have Known About Me or Could Care Less About

1. I didn’t take my first steps until I was almost two. I crawled around and drew on the walls in the interim.

2. I tivo the same things in my bedroom and as I do in my living room. My roommate doesn’t like me for this reason alone.

3. I cheated on a test in college, and if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have graduated. I do not regret this one bit.

4. Right before my grandfather died, his eyes, my dads eyes and my eyes went from dark brown to greenish brown...spooky...

5. I’m a shopaholic. Had I been smart I would have written a book about it and Isla Fisher would be playing me in the movie.

6. My father’s dream as a child was to be a pilot when he grew up, and he is one. He’s sorta my hero.

7. I can never turn down short-ribs when I see them on a menu.

8. I have two turtles named Barnes & Noble who I believe hate me and have a mutual suicide pact between them.

9. I secretly want to cover the rest of my body in tattoos.

10. Junior year of high school I was 30lbs heavier than I am now, with hair down to my chin and braces. I was super hot.

11. I want to live the life of Ina Garten. All she does is cook, drink and entertain. I’m jealous.

12. A warm breeze turns me on. A cool breeze turns me on. I’m easily turned on.

13. I get emotional when I hear big rolling thematic music from movies or musicals

14. Everyone I know has a drinking problem. I, however, don’t have a problem with how much I drink.

15. I spoil boyfriends with love, affection and gifts. Anyone looking for a boyfriend?

16. I worked 4 jobs simultaneously in college while still pulling down a remarkable 2.3 GPA.

17. My biggest dream is to perform on Broadway at some point in my life...i haven’t ruled it out yet...

18. I’m the only Jew who doesn’t eat lox...or whitefish...or gefilte fish...ugh, why do my people each such gross fishes?

19. I’ve been known to go by the nicknames of Adam-Adam, Weissy, Spicy Weissy, Spice, Spicer, Fern, Guinevere and Sebastian DeLacroix

20. My parents promised me a trip to Disneyworld if I joined a basketball team in 5th grade. I’m still waiting at the door with my bags packed.

21. I’ve been to 25 countries, yet never to Canada, which is like, right next door.

22. I sent in my resume and headshot to be on Queer Eye while it was still in development. Didn’t pan out so well for ole’ Sebastian DeLacroix...

23. I illegally download a lot of music...and by music I mean porn.

24. My friends think that I have IBS. I’m starting to believe them.

25. I can’t remember the world before the internet.

That's Gay.

2009-09-25T12:21:00.003-04:00

Hello Reader(s)! I wanted to share a great vid that someone just sent me from Brian Safi at CurrentTV, his segment "That's Gay"...I won't lie, it's pretty f'in hilarious. Enjoy this, and expect a new Mixtape coming very soon!!

C'est Musique!

2009-09-04T16:08:00.003-04:00

Yes, I work in music, and I love it. I listen to more music than I could possibly imagine, and I wouldn't have it any other way really. I currently have 10,489 songs on my computer, and I my collection is growing! I LOVVVEEEE the music of Hed Kandi and Ministry of Sound which are two of the brands that I work on. They are high energy, fast beats and a shit-ton of fun...I'd share that music with you, but really, you should just go out and buy it! ha!

Anyway, in my quest to bring music to the folks that love it most, I gladly present to you, my loyal reader(s), my 10th SuperFantastic Mixtape! New Songs by Alphabeat (if you aren't familiar with them, check them out, they are awesome!), Blake Lewis, Robbie Williams, Miley Cyrus and Michael Bolton! Wait a bloody second, Michael Bolton? Yes! Michael Bolton...it's produced by the one and only Lady Gaga, and she provides back-up on the track as well...There are also some fanfuckintatsic remixes by Axwell, Freemasons and Calvin Harris! You'll be dancing around the room as the summer draws to a fast-pased bouncy close. Enjoy!

Download the Mix Here!

Suck it MTA!

2009-08-19T10:01:00.003-04:00

Hello audience! So today, we have a special guest writer, Ms. Matthew Louise Wagner! (round of applause? no...crickets...sad face)...Anyway, today Matt shares with us this bitterly funny rant he wrote a few years ago exalting his disgust with the MTA (the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for those non-NY'ers...I mean, I know all three of my readers live within the confines of NYC, so I'm not really sure who I'm kidding here...anyway, it's long, and intense, it's makes you feel warm in your special places, much like Matt, but it is pretty damn entertaining. Enjoy!

* * *

In keeping with the tradition of bitching about why the MTA sucks dick, I'd like to present my own personal rendition. Most of the following has occurred on the Q line, which I use 2x daily to get to and from work in the city from southern Brooklyn. So:

(1) Clipping your nails on the train is UNACCEPTABLE. For real. It's not that it's viscerally disgusting, like picking a pus-laden wart, but that sound is just so not something I want to be hearing after a long, crappy day at work. Besides, those little nail bits are clearly landing somewhere, and I'd rather not be blinded by pieces of your goddamn body if I can help it.

(2) If you're sweaty and disgusting, DON'T SIT NEXT TO ME. I swear, the trains are filled with stylish, attractive, Bond No. 5-scented and Dove-fresh individuals, and NONE of them ever sit next to me. I always get the homeless people, drunken people, deranged people, foul-smelling people, etc. This morning, I had the pleasure of sitting next to someone who was not only weirdly stunted but also absolutely covered in a sheen of sweat. I had to contort my body into a freakish mime position to avoid having my bare flesh touch hers, and it really, really sucked. When she finally got off and someone took her place, the new occupant had to sit forward on the edge of the seat to avoid a BUTT-SHAPED LINE OF SWEAT (curving inwards at the middle). The sweat-avoider giggled to her friend next to her that she had to do this, but it was definitively not amusing.

(3) If you're wearing a bag, pack or whatever else slung over your shoulder whilst standing in the car, MAKE SURE YOUR SHIT ISN'T BANGING INTO MY HEAD. I swear, the number of people who callously disregard the fact that their huge shit is grinding into my face the entire train ride is stunning. I'm way too passive-aggressive to just come out and tell you to move to the 90% empty rest of the car so your fake Louis bag isn't caressing my cheek, and the fact that I angrily push back into you every time you push into me clearly isn't getting the message across. Perhaps I should just knock you out of the fucking train car at the next stop...?

(4) Stop staring at me. Yes, I see you -- you're the most obvious, least stealthy person currently living in New York. I realize that I'm gorgeous, but please, contain yourself and/or buy a pair of really dark sunglasses so your beady little pupils aren't poring into my soul so conspicuously. If you keep it up, I'll be forced to appendectomize you via your navel with a rusty shrimp fork.

(5) Taking pictures of yourself over and over again with your camera phone is NOT ALLOWED. Christ, gimme a fucking break. The expression of forced ennui on your stupid face is a clear enough indicator that you're bored; do you really need to entertain the entire car with constant clickity sounds as you repeatedly photograph yourself? I realize that updating your picture on Facebook every other day increases the chance you'll score with the ladies, but come on.

(6) When the temperature of a subway station pushes 100 degrees, THE MTA SHOULD DO SOMETHING. Standing in the Union Square station every day after having gone to the gym and showered is truly a torturous experience. The fresh layer of shower melts off almost immediately, and I feel the perspiration bubbling out from under my skin. Usually the train comes soon enough that I can remain refreshed in its air conditioned depths, but when it doesn't, thoughts of tracking down and brutally killing whoever decided not to put worthwhile ventilation in the stations are not far from being realized. The best thing is when, every once in a while, you happen to get into a car where the a/c is broken, and you have to endure the tropical atmosphere until you can switch to another one. I think I suffocated in one of those once and was only brought back to life when an elderly Korean woman used my chest as a trampoline to be the first one out of the car at Canal St.

Anyway, I think that's it for now, though much more is sure to crop up in the future. I hope my unrestrained fury has made you all feel better about your daily commutes, and the next time you encounter a psychopathic, morbidly obese homeless person whose backpack is knocking you in the head, just slit his throat with a CD edge, and think of me while you do it.

xo,

Matt

gravity.

2009-08-10T20:55:00.012-04:00

so usually when i post music up on this here bloggidy-blog, it's usually a fun long mix of several songs to get you through your day. today, i'm going to do it up a lil different. upon the advice of a someone whom i regard as a pretty smart person, i am going to focus on just one song.

last week was the season finale of SYTYCD, and I caught a performance that I must have missed previously in the season. It was danced by Kayla and Kupono, and the performance was about addiction. Kayla was fighting against addiction, which was being portrayed by Kupono, although it was never mentioned what the addiction was, and in all honesty, it was irrelevant. The piece was choreographed by Mia Michaels, who I believe is quite possibly the best choreographer on the show, if not in the industry, and the song she chose was "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles. Most people know Sara Bareilles for her hit song "Love Song", and I actually saw her open for Mika a few years ago.

Now I've been watching the show for many years, and there have been some truly wonderful pieces, but I have never been so moved as I was by this performance, and more so by the song. The lyrics and the music are beautiful together, and Sara Bareilles' voice is so raw and tender. I do not know what Sara is singing about in "Gravity", but it seems deeply personal, and you can feel that in the power of her voice.

Something always brings me back to you.

It never takes too long.

No matter what I say or do I'll still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone.

You hold me without touch.

You keep me without chains.

I never wanted anything so much than to drown

in your love and not feel your rain.

[CHORUS]

Set me free, leave me be. I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity.

Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be.

But you're on to me and all over me.

You loved me 'cause I'm fragile.

When I thought that I was strong.

But you touch me for a little while and all my fragile strength is gone.

[CHORUS]

I live here on my knees as I try to make you see that you're everything

I think I need here on the ground.

But you're neither friend nor foe though I can't seem to let you go.

The one thing that I still know is that you're keeping me down

Something about the combination of the lyrics with the beautiful and haunting choreography just touched me really deeply. Have a listen to the song, and watch the performance. It's beautiful, it's bold, and it will move you.

Download the Sara Bareilles - "Gravity" HERE

...

music. bring it.

2009-08-02T23:45:00.006-04:00

Well lady and gentleman (singular...i don't fool myself into thinking i'm that popular), as I have been incapacitated as of late (damn pink eye and lacerated cornea!), I have decided to update my what seems to be nearly non-topical blog. I say this because honestly I haven't upheld my own promise to keep this thing as up to date as I wanted. I rarely write on it anymore because I've been busy with work, travel and my rapidly-expanding social life. Ok, it's not really rapidly expanding per se, but i have met a lot of great new people as of late (you know who you are), and I just feel like I am as busy as ever. It's not necessarily a good thing though, because I felt that I didn't have enough "me" time...of course when certain friends treat you like a leper because of said pink eye, you spend a lot of "me" time in front of the tele at home watching whatever you can find on the DVR. As a side note, i HIGHLY recommend you check out the show Obsessed on A&E, it's fascinating!

Anywayyyy, that all being said, I've decided that it's time to enlighten you all with more music than you can handle! 25 (that's right, TWENTY-FIVE!) great songs to keep you incredibly entertained. Included in this cavalcade of enjoyability are NEW songs by Madonna (yay!), Calvin Harris, Mercedes from Glee, Whitney Houston (yay again!), Mika (yay! yay! yay!), a great Kings of Leon cover by former AI contestant Brooke White, a "stripped-down" live version by Kelly Clarkson, and oh so much more!

Link is below the playlist, it will only be available for a short period of time, so get it while it's hot!

Download this SuperFantastic Mixtape here, and don't forget...

I Am Not A Robot!....But Are You?

2009-07-14T09:22:00.009-04:00

You know I loves me some good music, and you know I loves to share said music with all (three) of my fantastic readers.

In celebration of this glorious summer weather we are having, as well as my general good mood (which may not last long, so soak it up whilst you can), I proudly present my SuperFantastic Mixtape Volume 8.

Check out fab new songs from Shakira (succchhhh a good song!), Marina & The Diamonds, Mariah Carey, Cascada, Kesha (don't know who this chicakdee is, but I kinda love this song, great beat!) Leighton Meester (BLAIR WALDORF!) and wait, what, who? Is that really a NEW song by Whitney Houston? Yes it is!

Download link is below, and get it while it's hot!

Download Here!

(link is at the bottom of the page)

Enjoy Motherfuckers!

just a brief whatever

2009-06-25T20:39:00.006-04:00

you know, i had a whole idea for a post that I was going to write today, because I've had so much going on lately (Eric's Dirty Thirty Birthday, work, some travel, etc...), but I really just wanted to write on today's going's on. Obviously it's been a big day for the news, with the world losing two fantastic stars.

I won't lie, I was never a huge Farrah Fawcett fan, she was a luminary in her own way, but not during my time. I think for many people in my generation, we knew her as one of Charlie's Angels, but mainly through reruns and knowledge of her famed poster, as well as her whackadoo appearance on Letterman so many years ago. She was so famous for her hair, her body, her attitude, but in recent months it was her unyielding spirit in the face of death that really captured the nation. her strength and fight to survive with humor and bravery encouraged so many people. She will truly be missed.

So the more prominent news (although the loss of anyone is sad as it is) is that of Michael Jackson. There really is just no one that I can think of in my short 29.5 year lifetime who has made such an impression on popular culture. Yes, I love Madonna, I always have and I always will, and yes, I do love her more than MJ, but he was just on this higher plateau. He was the "King of Pop".

You know what's interesting though? Through all of his trial and tribulations (and I do mean trials!), we never took that title from him. I can't even remember the last single that he put out or the last big song of his, but he always was, and always remained the "King of Pop". It was undisputed. There was no "well, i don't know if he should have this fictional title anymore, he doesn't deserve it." His music was just timeless, his videos were legendary.

Thriller. PYT. Billie Jean. The Way You Make Me Feel. Beat It.

I was truly saddened to hear that he died. It didn't seem real. It's Michael Jackson. He will be missed.

"I can't stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless." - Madonna

It's Gonna Get Dirty...

2009-06-15T12:57:00.007-04:00

Once again, I have been slacking when it comes up posting on this here blog of mine. I have been workin my sweet ass of as of late, so at the end of the day I just want to crash on my couch with a bottle of beer (or vodka!) and just chillax. I know all of my loyal readers (again, thank you both!) have been anxiously awaiting my return to form, but I’m lagging as of late.

I feel like with this new job (which I am totally digging by the way), I have so much going on, and such increased responsibility, that I am focusing a lot on it. We’re a brand that so well known worldwide (worlds largest independent record label, etc...), but we are still trying to break into the market here in the US. We have had good exposure over the years (many people are familiar with the Ministry of Sound Annual album produced every year, but now is when we are going to really step up the game, and my job is integral to that. I look forward to seeing how these events shape up, and how my experience will parlay into this exciting brand expansion. I have a whole list of markets to conquer, SF, San Diego, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, Puerto Rico, Vancouver and more...like I said, it’s very exciting, but it’s a lot of responsibility. I love it!!

On top of all of that, I am planning my best friend Eric’s 30th Birthday party, which is sure to be an amazzzzzzing event. I can’t go much into details right now only because the less Eric knows, the better, but what I can all (two) of you, is that we are holding it in the Thompson Penthouse Loft at the Thompson LES Hotel. The room is...well, breaktaking, sick, sexy, chic, mind-blowing...those adjectives all come to mind quite rapidly...I have arranged several "surprises" throughout the night, and I know that Eric is going to be just blown away by it all. The theme is “Eric’s Dirty Thirty”, and the invite I created is below...needless to say, it’s going to be a night to remember!

surrender to the music...

2009-06-03T21:23:00.007-04:00

So when I started my new job, I was obviously very excited to be a part of such an amazing organization. I work for MOSHK Inc. which is part of the MSHK Group (I know, a lot of acronyms!), the worlds largest independent music label, and that's pretty damn cool, no? MSHK is made up of Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi and Global Underground. Each brand represents the finest in the dance/house music scene.

Now look, lets be honest, I do nottttt have the greatest knowledge of the house music scene. I'm a showtunes and pop kinda guy, really. I mean, I love music as a whole, but there are just certain genres that I more versed it...betterly versed in? have more knowledge of? whatever the term is, lets just say i know more about Sondheim then of Shapeshifters. And look, that's fine, I told them that while I was auditioning. But even in the short period of time that I've been with the organization (all of a week and a half now), I really feel like I've learned a lot about the industry and the culture and most importantly, the brand. Since I focus more on Hed Kandi in my day-to-day activities, I felt like sharing with everyone what I am working on.

I traveled to Houston and Austin this past weekend to do Hed Kandi events, and I'll be heading to Boston on Friday to do another one. It's quite hard to describe Hed Kandi really (although there is a good/long description here), but the range of music goes from fun uppity hands-in-the-air dance floor songs to the kind of music that you just want to be listening to while you are lying by the pool sipping a pina colalaaaa. The music is described as "happy, fun, sexy disco-y enjoyment", and it totally is. Hed Kandi has put out over 80 albums worldwide, and what I have been telling people is that this music is asexual. Gay guys, straight guys, girls, manly girls, everyone really loves the music. The crowd is so diverse, and everyone is just listening to have a good time.

We do so much in our little office of three, it blows my mind. Album production, music licensing (to CSI Miami or whoever wants our music), event coordination (that's my job!), brand marketing and more. The brands that I work for are HUGE worldwide, and we are just starting to make an impact in North America. It's really exciting to be a part of this organization to see how it grows and expands.

I really never thought that I would work for a music label, but then again, I don't think you can ever guess where your life is going to take you. i've done a lot of things in my day, i've held my fair share of jobs, and i had many crazy experiences.

life is an adventure, i'm putting together the soundtrack.

Music Makes The People Come Together, Apparently...

2009-05-22T09:03:00.010-04:00

After spending a simply spectacular weekend with some of my closest friends out in Fire Island (my liver is quite disappointed in my actions!), today I start my new job at Ministry, and I just can't wait! I already have two trips lined up, Houston/Austin this weekend, and Boston the next. Woohoo!

In order to start off everyone's post-holiday week right, I've complied another one of my mixes for everyone to enjoy, and this is a good one! Personally, I'm currently obsessed with the song "Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship, featuring a one Ms. Leighton Meester, aka Blair Waldorf from everyone's favorite show "Gossip Girl".

Other highlights include new songs from Mika, Jordin Sparks, J-Lo and Sugar Ray (didn't their career die when Mark McGrath started hosting Extra??). Plus, a fun new song by Rhianna ft. Lady Gaga, a hot mix of "Heavy Cross" by The Gossip and a mix of a great song by an awesome new band called Empire of the Sun, which you should all check out. Of course for good measure I included a song by MY American Idol, Adam Lambert (I'm such a Lamb!), his version of the dreadful "No Boundaries"...perhaps there's also a hidden song on here? Hmm...

Download it HERE! Remember, link is at the bottom, and you have only a week to download it before it expires...enjoy!

Busy Bee.

2009-05-18T13:01:00.016-04:00

it's amazing to me that someone who is virtually unemployed like myself can be just so damn busy! how does that happen? Well, lets see, I'm planning my best friend's 30th Birthday Party (which is going to be insaaaane!), I just went down to DC with my best gal to do the press junket for "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" which was very cool. I got to see Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Amy Adams, Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (the writers whom most people know as Dangle and Junior from "Reno 911"). The junket itself took place within the National Air & Space Museum, after the museum itself closed, which was cool, plus I got to work with Jackie and Leah, my two fave MD girls, which was superfun! Walking around the museum late into the night was fairly surreal, since I had gone so many times as a kid, and now I was walking around and it was empty. It was silent and serene and pretty damn cool. I was with the director, Shawn Levy all day/night, and he spoke very passionately about the movie which was pretty awesome...I'll have to check it out now!

Last week I was also about to work an event at Blue Hill at Stone Barns with my old boss Cory, which was great fun. Me being a foodie, I have been wanting to go to BHaSB for ages, especially after hearing about just how amazing the food was and the methods of agriculture and how they cultivate almost all of the food on the premises. Stone Barns is actually the former Rockefeller farm, and it's spread out over several acres in Pocantico Hills, about 40 min north of NYC. The place is gorgeous, but more importantly they discuss how producing their own food on the farm (both veggies and meats) helps with the impact of local cultivation. It's an amazing place, and their chef Dan Barber not only just won the James Beard Award for Best Chef (a culinary Best Actor Oscar), but he was featured as one of Time Magazines 100 Most Influential People. I was also able to meet/work with Ferran Adria, who is basically considered the Worlds Best Chef from his restaurant elBulli in Spain...it's been named "Worlds Best Restaurant" five times, and he is regarded as a genius in the culinary world. Needless to say, it was an amazing day for me, I got to see James Beard Award winners, have food cooked by the hottest chef in the world right now and just take it all in.

So yeah, even though I don't start my new job for a week, I'm a busy, busy boy.

(Side Note: Go to the Coldplay website and download their free live album LeftRightLeftRightLeft before time runs out. It's amazeballs.)

press junket set-up

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian signage

Blue Hill at Stone Barns
mmm...meat....
ferran adria approving of the embryonic egg...yes it's real, yes it was delicious!

Good News, Bad News, Good Times, Good Tunes

2009-05-07T13:33:00.015-04:00

So, lets start off with the sad news, my turtle Barnes, has died. He joins his brother Noble up in that turtle heaven in the sky. He lived a good "long" life, and he died peacefully in his lil cage in the window. In lieu of flowers, please send cash.

Good Times: Just got back from Disneyland with Benji, Marla and my gal Jiller. Couldn't have had a better time being a kid again, so much fun! Thanks again Ben!!

So, the good news, I gots myself a new job! Starting on June 1st, I am the new Events Coordinator for the US arm of Ministry of Sound, which is a HUGE music label and lifestyle brand in the UK. My responsibilities will include the coordination of DJ sets and residences for the Ministry of Sound brand as well as Hed Kandi, which is a fun, sexy pop/disco/lounge brand that they describe as "Deliciously Stylish" (God, I love that!). My job will require me to travel to the residences in Vegas, Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Miami, and most likely Mexico, Canada and maybe even more! I'm very excited for this, because as you all know, I love music, and I love the nightlife (cue Alicia Bridges!) so this is perfect for me! I can't wait!

Speaking of music, I'm proud to present all of you with some fun music to get you through the rest of your week and into the weekend. What am I offering up this time? New music from a whole lotta people you have never heard of (Trustfall, Placebo, Teddybears, La Roux) and from those who you do know (Queen Latifa, Green Day, The drug-riddle trainwreck that is Ms. Paula Abdul), and more! Plus, the latest from my pick for American Idol, Adam Lambert and some Hannah Montana and David Archuleta for good measure!

Tracklist, in no particular order:

1: "Outta Here" by Esmee Denters

2: "Radio Song" by Days Difference

3: "I'm Not Your Toy" by La Roux

4: "New Again" by Taking Back Sunday

5: "Hey Boy" by Teddybears

6: "Hoppipolla" by Sigur Ros

7: "Hoedown Throwdown (Joe Bermudez and Chico Remix)" by Miley Cyrus

8: "Sugar (ft. Wynter)" by Flo Rida

9: "Just A Little Bit" by Mutya Buena

10: "Chains" by Queen Latifa

11: "I Wanna Know You (ft. David Archuleta)" by Hannah Montana

12: "No Surprise" by Daughtry

13: "Here for the Music" by Paula Abdul

14: "The Reeling (Calvin Harris Remix)" by Passion Pit

15: "For What It's Worth" by Placebo

16: "Fire" by Kasabian

17: "Raindrops" by Basement Jaxx

18: "All In My Head" by Nick Lachey

19: "Use Somebody (RAC Remix)" by Kings of Leon

20: "Hearts Collide" by Green Day

21: "All My Life" by Trustfall

22: "Whole Lotta Love" by Adam Lambert

23: "Royksopp Forever" by Royksopp

Download Here! Look for the link in Blue at the bottom!

Well, I have really dropped the ball with this blog, and I am really not updating it nearly as often as I had originally intended! But look for more posts in the coming days!

Call Me Ginger Noodles!

2009-04-27T14:50:00.008-04:00

So this past week, I hads me a great lunch! I was one of the winners of the NBC "Locals Only" contest where the prize was a meal personally cooked by David Chang, James Beard Award-winning chef of the Momofuku empire. Of course I took my best gal, and we had suuuuch a good meal, which included smoked chicken wings, ginger noodles, pork buns, and "old fashioned donut" flavored soft serve, as well as drinks provided by Pepsi Natural. The best part about it though, at least for me, being a foodie and all, was that Jiller and I were about to meet the man himself David Chang, and take a photo with him, then thank him for the meal afterwards...it was pretty damn awesome...here are some pics!

Tackling the Big C

2009-04-22T11:57:00.006-04:00

so yesterday was an interesting day for me...I experienced something that I in all honesty I didn't think I would...I sat with Tanner as he had a chemotherapy session. For those who know Tan, he was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which is a very common form of cancer, and is 90% curable.

I really didn't know what to expect from the experience, I didn't know what Chemo really entailed, but I knew that my job was to keep Tanner in a good mood, and of course to entertain him, that's what I do best! I arrived at the hospital at 11:30 and met Tanner outside, and we went up to the floor, waited for a few min, then went into a room with a comfy chair for him and some small machines. He was given an IV, then for the next few hours a slow drip of different drugs and meds. He was a bit woozy, and explained that the feeling was that of dizziness and that he felt like he was suffering from a full-body hangover.

I brought my bag of tricks, which included the New York Post (i read Page Six to him in a dramatic voice), we gossiped and gabbed, watched Legally Blonde ("Oh, I like your outfit too, except when I dress up as a frigid bitch, I try not to look so constipated."), watched some "Jessica and Hunter", and had as much as fun as we could, given the circumstances.

It's so sad to see someone anyone get diagnosed with cancer, especially someone as young as Tanner, who's only 25. I have so many friends who are negative nancy's all the time, and to see someone like Tan who is so sweet, genuine and nice, it's refreshing. He has an amazing positive spirit, and he always has a smile on his face, which is especially enlightening given what he's going through. I think I need to take a lesson from him and think more about my attitude and how to keep it positive...you only live once...

Chasing the Green Fairy...

2009-04-21T12:28:00.000-04:00

So this past Friday, Ms. Anna and I were bartenders at a fantastic party at our friend's place in the village. The host (our friend/boss for the night) had a huge amount of liquor, four of the largest bottles of Goose, I've ever seen and asked us to push the Absinthe heavily, because he wanted to get rid of it. I of course, heavily pushed said drink, because who doesn't want to enjoy a fun night of giggles and visions?

I love Absinthe, but it really is one of those things that you either love it or you hate it. I personally am in the school of love for it, but not for it's purported hallucinogenic properties, but for it's strong anise licoricey taste and it makes ya a wee bit lightheaded too! Most people when I said "who wants to do a shot of Absinthe?" recoiled in horror, but those up for the challenge took the shot with pride. Now yes, most did haaaate it, it was fun to see the reactions on people's faces after-the-fact.

I first tried Absinthe about a year and a half ago in Prague with my friends, and we drank it after lighting a spoon with Absinthe-laced sugar, stirring and shooting. The more traditional way of consuming is to melt a sugar cube with cold water on a slotted spoon into your glass which then changes the color and consistency of the drink. I have yet to do it this way, which is indeed the most widely used preparation. Since it's legalization in the US in 2007, the drink is popping up everywhere, and I definitely want to drink it the right way...anyone want to findKylie Minogue with me?

this is me consuming Absinthe in Prague, September 2007

Oh Sweet Jesus...

2009-04-17T12:43:00.004-04:00

well, the inevitable has happened. It's hard for me to admit, and I am still struggling to come to terms with this, but I felt that my loyal reader(s) should know what I'm dealing with right now.

My parents have joined Facebook.

WHY GOD WHYYYY!

But here's the dilemma that I now face: they have Friend Requested me. Now look, my parents are awesome, they fucking rock. I share a lot with them, what I do, where I go, shows I see, people I date, blah, blah, blah. But having them have an inlet into my life via the interweb, I don't know if I want that. I don't need them to see the wild pictures that I put up (or ones of me that are put up and tagged), my wildly inappropriate sexual references or anything that falls out of the boundaries of things that you would normally share with your parents.

Is is wrong to not accept their friend request? Do I accept them and just give them extremely limited profile access? I mean, I am friends with a significant amount of my cousins on the book-o-faces, and I don't mind them seeing what it is that I do or what I'm up to (I'm the fun gay cousin who lives in NYC! Wheee!), but giving my parents this little window into my world, that's a whole other cuppa noodles. Any thoughts or suggestions on this people? I can use your help!

Get It While It's Hot! For Realsies!

2009-04-15T11:30:00.009-04:00

Once again for your listening pleasure, I'm happy to present you all with some fun music to get over this rainy hump day. Find some hawt new tracks from No Doubt (they're back!), Third Eye Blind (they're back too!), Dave Matthews Band (they sooo back!!) Eminem (he's back, but do we care?), Jesse McCartney, Death Cab For Cutie, Flo Rida, a few American Idol contestants, an unreleased Madonna track from her "Confessions" album and more!

These songs will only be available to you for the next seven days, so hurry up and download them before it's too late!

1: "20 Dollar Nose Bleed" by Fall Out Boy

2: "We Made You" by Eminem

3: "Triggering Your Senses" by Madonna

4: "Take It or Leave It" by Allison Iraheta

5: "Stand and Deliver" by No Doubt

6: "Poker Face" by Kid Cudi (ft. Kanye West, Common & Lady GaGa)

7: "Pete Wentz Is The Only Reason We're Famous" by Cobra Starship

8: "Patron Tequila" by Paradiso Girls (ft. Lil' Jon)

9: "Not Fair" by Lily Allen

10: "Mad World" by Adam Lambert

11: "Kind of a Girl" by Tinted Windows

12: "Kids" by Chiddy Bang (ft. MGMT)

13: "Jump" by Flo Rida (ft. Nelly Furtado)

14: "I'm Sorry" by Chester French & Clinton Sparks (ft. Wale)

15: "I Quit! I Quit! I Quit!" by The Click Five

16: "Hot Girls in the Bathroom" by The Dallas Austin Experience

17: "Goodbye" by Kristinia DeBarge

18: "Get Your Boots On" (Justice Remix) by U2

19: "Funny How It Is" by Dave Matthews Band

20: "A Diamond and a Tether" by Death Cab For Cutie

21: "Crash & Burn" by Jesse McCartney

22: "Away" by Third Eye Blind

23: "Anthonio" by Annie

Click Here to download the mix!

You will need to plug in the letters on the top right, and they are sorta hard to read, but just look hard and you'll be able to make them out...persistence pays off!

Rain, feel it on my fingertips...

2009-04-14T21:39:00.004-04:00

I could never live in Seattle, I think that the weather would just bog down my spirit. My attitude would just suck given the fact that it's rainy allll the time. I need a nice bright sunny day once in a while, because it's so incredibly helpful on the demeanor. Now, I know that I said that I would live in London, in spite of the shitacular weather, but really, it may have to be a seasonal thing, because it's intense there!

Sometimes I think that I may have a tinge of Seasonal Affective Disorder, because i truly get moody when it's not so pretty out. I sit at the coffee shop and job hunt all day, and when I walked home it started to rain, and instantly my attitude soured. I picked up a bánh mì fromSilent h and walked sullenly in the rain towards my apartment.

The weather today was far from nice...I mean, this is Spring, and yes, this is the weather that we are supposed to be having ("April showers, bring blah, blah, blah"), however since we've been having these 65 degree days interspersed, it's just making me long for the summer and the hot days which are a-coming...cut to me sweating my matzo balls off in mid-August on my balcony praying for a snow day.

You know, I bitch about the snow, I complain about the rain, and I hate the intense summer heat. Conversely, i definitely prefer four seasons versus the one in places like LA or Phoenix.

Well now I'm just rambling, so to keep you occupied, and in case you haven't seen it, this is Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony profile video from FunnyOrDie.com, and it's just so f'in hilarious! Good for Linds at making fun of herself in light of all her craziness...Enjoy!

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

R.I.P. Noble

2009-04-13T20:51:00.007-04:00

Noble the Turtle

November 25th, 2008 - April 13th, 2009

(probably not his birthday, but the day that I rescued him from the Chinatown man who was keeping him in a bucket outside of his tchotchke store)

Well sadface today, Noble, one of my two baby water turtles died today. I'm fairly certain that he took his own life, I could see it on the expression on his little face. He was always the weaker of the two, and his days were numbered from the get-go. Now, it's just Barnes & _____.

In lieu of flowers, I'll accept cash.

(Noble was the smaller one on the bottom)

HEY! I'm Next Muthaf*cka!

2009-04-10T14:22:00.005-04:00

You know, these days I really think that we as a society really have lost all sense of courtesy. We no longer say please and thank you. We no longer acknowledge people for doing simple kind deeds anymore, and frankly, I'm kinda fed up with it.

Case in point: I'm sitting at my local coffee shop (sticking to my routine), and I had to get up to use the bathroom (damn small bladder!), so I walk to the back, and I go to open the door and this girl who was sitting down across the way shouted "HEY! There's someone in there, and I'm next!" There was no "excuse me, I'm sorry, I'm actually next in line", no niceties, no politeness about it. Did she really need to be so bitchy about it? Was it' really necessary to be so abrasive about it? I think not!

I know that my parents raised me right, I always hold the door for people, I say please and thank you incessantly, and I am grateful for the little things. A few weeks back I held the door open for a woman in my building to let her in before me, and not only did she not say thank you, she didn't even acknowledge the fact that I held the door for her! I mean, I totally didn't need to hold it for her, it wasn't necessary, but I'm just a nice guy with manners and I believe in chivalry. The fact that she didn't even look me in the eye with any sense of gratitude pissed me off. She buzzed someone in the building and was waiting for them to let her in, and when I swiped my key and walked through the next set of doors, she started to follow me. I looked at her and said "nope, sorry" and shut the door behind me. I didn't know this chick, she was stranger to me, and I was sure as shit not going to let her into my building, especially with her lack of gratitude.

I really just believe that we need to say "please", "thank you" and "excuse me" more these days, because there is no reason not to. I'll be trying to get from Point A to Point B in any bar/club/establishment, the place can be packed balls to the wall and the music can be eardrum busting, but I still say "excuse me" as I make my way through. Does anyone hear me? Probably not. Do I always do it? Yes, because it's the right thing to do in that situation, not just push your way through.

Where have our manners gone? When did common courtesy take a backseat to aggressive or ungrateful behaviour? I shan't stand for it no more!

Lawng Islannnd

2009-04-09T18:12:00.002-04:00

I'm taking a holiday sabbatical for the day, I'm out in Woodbury on Long Island for Passover with my best gal Jill's family. It's a yearly tradition for me to come out here and be a part of the family for the night. Always a good time, always lots of wine and delicious food and great company. Chag Sameach to all my fellow Jews and to you non-Jews, Happy Thursday!

No to the O

2009-04-08T17:27:00.002-04:00

well, after some serious consideration and weighing out the pro's and con's, I've decided that I am not going to take part in the Wallpaper Magazine that I mentioned yesterday. Look, I know that it would be a fun opportunity to show my wild side (well, not really show too much of said wild side, per se), but in the long run, is it really worth it?

I think that the concept is quite interesting, and the artist is very well respected, but do I really want people to be finding this video of me online and spreading it like wildfire? Nah, not really. There would be nudity shown, and it's not really pornographic (hmm...maybe I should do this!), but it's probably not something that I want following around me for years to come...no pun intended...If this was only a still image, and not a video recording, well that's a whole other story, and I would totally consider that...but alas, it's not...

An interesting fact that I did learn through this via Joe (of Eric and Joe© fame) is that Andy Warhol's first film was a fixed-camera shot of a guy receiving a blowjob...incidentally the film was titled "Blow Job"...not so creative Andy, you could have picked a better title...Now it's not like said act was going to be taking place during this video/photo shoot, but it's the same concept, the camera, the reaction, etc.

I got some really great feedback from people on this, both on this here bloggiddy blog, and via email...a lotta yay's, a whole lotta nay's...In the end, I've decided that although I am a free-spirited person, my "O" face is best reserved for my boudoir.

Reservations are now being accepted.

showing my "O"

2009-04-07T11:08:00.005-04:00

So I was bored and responded to an ad on Craigslist for a project being conducted by Wallpaper Magazine, which basically involves a famous artist/photographer named Robbie Cooper filming me from the neck up as I am...um...well, it's what you do behind closed doors...I know, it sounds gross, but to understand the technique, go to Robbie Cooper's site , click on Simulations, click on Immersions, click on Photos, then click on Play Video...this video is kids’ reactions while playing video games. This is not sexual, so it's safe for work. the original post that I responded to on Craigslist is here.

He’d like participants to provide the content with which they are comfortable, DVDs or internet sites, whichever we'd would prefer to watch. According to Wallpaper, "these are beautifully lit masturbation portraits, highlighting the beauty in ecstasy so the expectation is masturbation to orgasm. Again, no one will be in the room with you. The camera is hidden behind the screen. Robbie and a very small crew will be in another room recording. You will be filmed from the chest up and possibly interviewed afterwards about your experience. Neither the content on the screen nor anything from your chest down will be seen." So not even the photog or his crew would see my junk...

The photos will be in Wallpaper Magazine, on their site, and possibly part of an art exhibit. I would not be getting paid for this, but it would a fun experience and a great story to tell...

Think this is something that I should do? I have until the end of the day to decide, and based on what I've heard from my friends, it's a mixed bag of yes's and no's...

What do you think?

pocket changes

2009-04-06T14:56:00.013-04:00

All in all, I had a really nice weekend, all things considered, but I slowly realized that being in the economic slump that I'm in, I really need to watch my budget! I spend money so willy-nilly, and with no viable income, that's just not the smartest thing, right? Look, there are some things that you just can't live without, like food, clothing and shelter, but I guess I need to scale down these things.

Look, I love to shop, there is no denying it. Some would say that I have a bit of a shopping addiction, possibly a bit of a shoe fetish (non-sexual of course!), but I love em! Yes, I buy too many pairs of shoes, and I am slowly running out of space in my closet, but I will never think that I have enough pairs of shoes! On a related note, damn you Topshop! Damn you for bringing your fabulous low-cost fashions to New York after I have loved your store and visited it every time I was in London!

I'm trying to make smart choices when it comes to spending money that comes out of my shrinking bank account, although its rough sometimes. I just booked a ticket to see Sheri Rene Scott, one of my favorite Broadway diva's in her new show Everyday Rapture, but hey, it was only $14, so that's ok, right? I always justify my little purchases because it's not too much money, but this always seems to add up! My friends and I love to go out, we love to have fabulous meals and go to fun bars and ~~get shitfaced~~ drink a bit, and as much as I'm trying my best to curb these expenditures, it's hard as hell in this city! I don't want to take cabs, but sometimes I have to when it's 4am and I'm going home, the subway is just not an option for me.

I remember watching the cast of The Real World: Seattle talking about spending money, and Janet, the sassy Chicagoan said that she was having a hard time with her budget. One of her fellow cast mates made her break down her budget item-by-item on a day-to-day basis, and she said that it helped her out with making those smart choices. I think that this is something that I'll have to do as well, because as much as I hate to nickel and dime my days, I'm not going to get very far by splurge spending every day.

These next few weeks/months are going to rough on my wallet, lets see how I fare, shall we?

this isn't even all of my shoe collection! madness!

CANCELLED!

2009-04-03T18:49:00.002-04:00

Well, due to the the shitacular weather today, all of our flights to Indianapolis were cancelled, which means no trip to Bloomington. All of our aforementioned fun that we were planning on having has now been postponed, which really sucks. We are all really upset...but, onwards and upwards I say! Bloomington isn't going anywhere, so when we do go, it will be even more exciting!

Side note: I did have a dream that I was in a plane crash last night...maybe that was a sign...ha!

Bton, Here We Come!

2009-04-03T12:20:00.007-04:00

Can I just tell you how excited I am today? Well, in all honesty I have a raging hangover, but I'm pushing past it by utilizing the power of excitement...and some coffee, and some pepto...but more-so excitement! Yes, excitement!

Today, 3 of my best friends and I are traveling to the magical and enchanting land known as Indiana! We're going back to college! Eric, Jiller, Jamie and I are going to Bloomington tonight to reminisce, to eat, to drink and to party like it's 2002! Really this trip came about because we all wanted to go back and see Bloomington, see our houses, apartments, all of our old haunts, and we wanted to go together.

I was in Indy last year for 11 days for work, so one day I decided to drive down to Bloomington for a few hours. It was so weird to be back, to see where I spent the four most formative years of my life. I went to fraternity house, but there was no one there (it was the deaaaddd of summer), I hads me some fried pickles from Trojan Horse (can't wait to have those again tomorrow!), drove to College Mall, passed all of my old classrooms...Anyway, it was a fun four hours, but now, now I get to experience it with my friends who I was actually there with! We're going to go to the winery tomorrow, Sports (where I was the BEST bartender...see below!), Kilroys, and maybe the new Uncle E's since Bullwinkle's has sadly closed...

Wow, it's going to be a great weekend...can't wait...

Rue Tini

2009-04-02T10:17:00.010-04:00

So I have a routine when I'm unemployed. It's not an exciting one, but it's what i stick to.

9:00am: I wake up and start to watch the Today Show, which I started tivo'ing earlier in the morning.

9:30am: I check my email and Facebook, shower, and get dressed.

9:50am: Throw on my glasses and my Sheckler Reds and head out the door to El Beit which is my local hipsteresque coffeeshop where the music ranges from Arcade Fire to Metallica and everything in between.

10:00am: Grab a cup off coffee and a table.

10:15am - 11:00am: IM all of my friends, chat about LOST, RHWoNYC, 30 Rock or whatever was on the night before. Check Facebook.

11:00am - 3:00pm: Job hunt on all of the usual sites. Check Facebook.

3:00pm - 3:30pm: Procrastinate as to whether I should go to the gym in my building later whilst checking Facebook.

3:30pm: Grab lunch...gotta love $5 Footlongs, aka "the unemployment special"!

3:30pm - 5:30pm: Eat said footlong, watch some tele, relax, gym it, check Facebook on the elliptical.

Really, every day is like this. Sometimes I'll break up the monotony with a trip to the grocery store, or maybe I'll jaunt into the city for one reason or another, but I need to gets myself a new job, so I need to stay focused. Today was a fun exception, Kimmy met me at El Beit and we walked Basil over to the dog park at McCarren Park..Ugh, I love Baz, he's a great pup, so chill, it's mildly hilarious.

Tonight, I have the Curbed party for the new EDGE building here in Billsburg. Looking forward to pizza from Motorino, beer from the Brooklyn Brewery and wines from Uva...should be a good time.

Sorry that today's post isn't exactly exciting, I'm getting quite exciting about heading back to Bloomington tomorrow with my IU crew...details tomorrow!

Get It While It's Hot!

2009-04-01T13:46:00.009-04:00

My loyal reader(s), I'm pleased to give you all something to get you over this humpiest of humpdays, Adam's SuperFantastic Mixtape, v4!

There something for everyone, from a great cover by The Cab, a funny ditty by my old friends from the Grand Opening of Comix, Flight of the Conchords , a throwback from the Actor's Fund Benefit of Hair, a song by former American Idol hottie Michael Johns, a new non-album track from Kelly C, and much, much more!

Here we go:

1: "Chillin" by Wale (ft. Lady Gaga)

2: "Water and a Flame" by Daniel Merriweather (ft. Adele)

3: "Part of Me" by Chris Cornell (ft. Timbaland)

4: "Inní mér syngur vitleysingur" by Sigur Ros

5: "Hands In The Air" by Girl Talk

6: "Get Out of My Mind" by Mateo (ft. T.I. and Rihanna)

7: "Every Word" by Ercola (ft. Daniella)

8: "Disturbia" by The Cab

9: "Tip of My Tongue" by Kelly Clarkson

10: "Quick Fix" by VV Brown

11: "Dancing Shoes" by Gavin Degraw

12: "Bret, You've Got It Goin' On" by Flight of the Conchords

13: "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us!" by Sufjan Stevens

14: "Brother Sport" by Animal Collective

15: "Just Can't Get Enough (Wideboys Remix)" by The Saturdays

16: "28,000 Friends" by Eoghan Quigg

17: "River of Life/Don't Lose Your Head" by Michael Johns

18: "Hair" by Raul Esparza

19: "Painted Windows" by The Pussycat Dolls

20: "Spacemen (Steve Aoki & The Bloody Beetroots Remix)" by The Killers

And before you download it, you MUST watch this amazing video of Ellen Degeneres singing with Jennifer Hudson...I mean, it's kinda phenom.

Download Adam's SuperFantastic Mixtape #4 here!

Where in the World is Adam Sandiego?

2009-03-31T10:05:00.005-04:00

do you ever feel that there is just more out there in the world?

ever since i returned from Paris, i've had these weird feelings every once in a while telling me that I need to move. I mean, I've been in NYC for about 6.5 years now and I'm not saying that it's time for me to move this very second, but sometimes I just feel that there is so much more out there than here in the city. New York City is the greatest city in the world, but I know that I will not be here forever. For me, if I were to move anywhere in the next chapter of my life, it would be somewhere in Europe, 100%. There is this feeling that I get whenever I'm in Europe, something I never feel here in America.

I have always dreamed of living in London, it's truly an amazing place, and I have been 9 times...I actually need to go again soon, since it's been almost 4 years since my last trip, and now that I have Benjibu there, I have someone to visit! London has it's charm, it's almost eternal gloomy weather, and more art museums and pubs that I could ever hope for...but will I ever live there? Maybe, who knows. It will always be on my radar for potential places to live.

Amsterdam was a beautiful place (also one I would like to go back to), and apparently one of the top places for ex-pats to live due to it's laid back atmosphere and acceptance of all peoples and ideas. But, knowing me, I would spend all of my Euro's enjoying the many pleasures of the Greenhouse or the Bulldog. I'd be broke within a week.

And then there's Paris. I fell in love with the city the moment that I got there. There is so much culture, so much joie de vivre. Anyone who I have traveled with knows that I enjoy nothing more than to get lost in a city on my own without anyone else, with no agenda to keep me tied down to. I was able to do that my first day in Paris when I was waiting for Ben to arrive. I walked around the Montaigne area on Left Bank, and just wandered around, purposefully getting myself lost...and when I found my bearings, I was staring at the Notre Dame. I mean, it was amazing. This feeling came over me, it was magical. Right after I returned from my trip I was reading a great book by David Sedaris called "When You Are Engulfed in Flames", and throughout much of it he and his partner Hugh live in Paris, and even being away from Paris for a week and reading about it made me miss it that much more.

I have told people that I want to move to Paris, and although it's highly unrealistic at this point in my life, it's not a complete fabrication. Yes, I don't speak a lick of French (clearly Madame Snow did not do a good job of really embedding the language in me in 7th and 8th grade!), but I being immersed in the culture and the city would most likely take care of that over time...I think if I had someone to move there with (Eric? Jill? Tom?), it would really bump up the likelihood of me settling there for a while...Yes, I would miss Lady New York, but to know that I could get those macarons from Laduree any day I wanted? Well book me a ticket, rent me a flat, I'm there!

I'll be *gulp* 30 in December, and although I joke about it, it is something that I am looking forward to. I expect many changes in my life in my 30's, and I am fairly certain that living abroad is one of those...where and when, that I don't know. Life is full of possibilities...who knows what will happen, who knows where you will go...

...wherever it is, I'm sure I'll have my *wallpaper city guide in my back pocket and my walking shoes on...point me in any direction, here I go...

free agent

2009-03-30T12:26:00.002-04:00

well, here we go again, I'm unemployed as of 9am this morning. Friday was my last day of work at AvWeek and it was sad, because I really did like (almost) everyone who I worked with there. We had a lil cheesecake, they gave me a card, and thus, I said my goodbyes.

But onwards and upwards I say! Look, it's so easy to get down on things in this economy when you see so many of your friends who are unemployed but I'm going to do my best to optimistic (cut to six weeks from now, me crying in the corner)...like I've said in the past, I think I'm a fairly resilient person, so I hopefully don't see myself being unemployed for too long. Time will tell, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

This past weekend was a great one though, really helped me take my mind off of things. I saw a lot of friends, drank far too much and danced my sweet sassy lil ass off. It was a bit tough though last night when my friend Adam's friend asked me what I did for a living and for the first time in a while I had to say "oh, um, I'm unemployed at the moment, but I do event marketing"...uggies...so I had another drink, and I danced a little more...it helps a lil bit...

Eat Up Old Schooler

2009-03-27T14:51:00.003-04:00

so the other night night, my best gal and i ate at Bamonte's, which is right around the corner from my place in Billburg. It's an incredibly old establishment that's been around since 1900 in the same exact location and now it's being run by the 4th generation of the Bamonte family. The place is so old school, like ollldddd school. Many of the tuxedoed waiters have been there for 30+ years, and I can't imagine the stories that have to tell. From my understanding, the place used to have service a lot of mafioso's back in the day, and as you sit at your table you just feel like you are a background player in some Scorcese film or some bad shit is about to go down...Lost City has a good lil review on it...The place is really an institution.

My building is located right around the corner from Bamonte's and it's only 8 months old (well, it was a warehouse for decades before it was converted into luxe apt's), but seeing all of the gentrification in the area, it amazes me that a family run establishment like this has survived for such a long time. Restaurants in New York have an very low success rate (something like 1 in 10 make it past a year), and Bamonte's has been around for 109 years. Madness!

When anyone asks me what my fave restaurant in the city is, I automatically say Republic. It's 100% reliable, the food is always stellar, the service is fast as hell, and the food is cheap. I've taken friends there, my parents loved it, and it's the go-to place for my gorgeous friend Lauren and I to go whenever we want to catch up. What never ceases to amazing me though is that the place has been open for 10 years (which is a bit of an anomaly in restaurants, so you can imagine how I feel about Bamonte's!), and it's always PACKED. Everytime Lauren and I go there, the place is filled to the walls with diners, and we usually will go at like 6:30 or 7 on a Wednesday or mid-week. It's just a testament to how good it is, and if you have something that works, you stick to the formula. I would hate to see Republic or Bamonte's succumb to this horrid economy like so many others are doing these days. As much as I am a foodie and I love new places, I believe it's establishments like these that are really the heart of the New York culinary scene. Places you know that you can always go to, feel welcomed, and always leave with a full belly and a smile on your face

a change is gonna come...

2009-03-26T14:57:00.012-04:00

things need to change over time. i get that. sometimes you need to reinvent something that is either not working, can be more efficient or needs to just be refreshed. Sometimes change is good, and what you need to succeed. Its a smart move to, sometimes it bombs with a loud thud, other times the people behind the reinvention realize their mistake and own up to it.

today, i want to talk about three such things that are being reinvented, and in my opinion, not for the good.

1. facebook.

look, we all hate the new format, its been universally panned and it just blows. But why was it re-invented? Why did Facebook (nee TheFacebook) CEO 24 year-old young'n) Mark Zuckerberg feel the need to do so? Well, he said that wanted to make it more "relevant" to what people wanted, but in all actuality, he wanted to copy Twitter, which he unsuccessfully attempted to purchase for $500M. First off, Twitter is a fad (7 million users versus facebook's estimated 137 million), and to go out there and copy something to make you look like you are more in the know, well, it was a poor decision Mr. Zuckerberg. Facebook released a statement the other night saying that they are taking into account the massive amount of people who have voiced their opinions on the new platform, and we the users will see changes soon. I'm hoping, because otherwise they will see a mass exodus of users...to me, i hope facebook stays around, we've seen so many social networking sites in our time (Friendster, MySpace, Connexion) in our time and they peak at a certain point, and then lose relevancy...I guess time will tell with this change.

2. Dora the Explorer

Ok, no I don't watch Dora, I don't have any Dora dolls lying around, but I have been doing my best to keep up with the news about her new look. Have you seen it yet? They tweened her up, sexified her, and it's pissing people off. Dora was this cute spunky lil Latino girl who taught kids about the world out there. She was young, sweet, and innocent. Now...well, now she's looks like she booked a one-way ticket to Playa del WhoreWhore. Parents are in an uproar because they say that she looks to trampy, too sexy, and that she sets a bad example. Is this a change that really needed to be made? Mattel says that they did this so kids can grow up with Dora...Well Dora sure did grow up mighty fast! I spotted her perusing the trainers at Vicky's Secret...awwwkwarrrd!

3."Clue"

Ok, this one is the one that I am most upset/concerned about. We all remember the classic 1985 movie "Clue". I mean, how can you not, it's one of my favorite movies of all time, and I know many people who share the sentiment. The cast alone was insane! Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennen, Martin Mull, Michael McKean, Lesley Ann Warren, Christopher Lloyd... I mean the movie goes down in history as one of the funniest, most entertaining and hilarious movies of all time, and it's based on a board game for Christ's sake! That being said, I would like to know who decided that there should be a remake of this picture? Set for release who knows when, it's being directed by Gore Verbinski (who, in his defense knows how to make something out of relative nothing, case in point turning a theme-park ride into an unbelievably successful movie franchise), but I need to ask, is this really necessary? Do we really need to mess with something that in my eyes is a classic? Something that is beloved by all and now has the potential to be tarnished by a remake? I for one am not a fan of this change whatsoever. What do you think?

The Passion of the Weiss

2009-03-25T09:30:00.012-04:00

What is passion? How does one get it?

So I'm on the phone with my parents yesterday before heading to see the London Symphony Orchestra at Lincoln Center (if you can go see this performance, go! it's fantastic and the violinist was amazing!), and I let them know that Friday is going to be my last day at work as I was laid off (budgeting, hiring freeze, etc), and they were upset and felt bad.

(The following is paraphrased, as any conversation between myself and my parents can become quite verbose. )

ADW: "look, it's not an idea situation, obviously no one enjoys being laid off, but all things happen for a reason, and this wasn't a permanent job, it was a freelance gig."

Mom: "Yeah, it's just not a good time to not have a job."

ADW: "Oh, I'm well aware, I have plenty of friends who don't have jobs right now, and they are struggling, but I know they will be ok, and so will I. Hell, I'll get a job at a coffeeshop if I really need to get by" - This is a lie.

Mom: "Maybe it's time you look into a change of careers. Maybe you don't do events or marketing anymore. You know, your father and I were watching tv when we were in Paris and Donny Deutsch was on talking to the founder of Spanx, and we though it would just be great if you could do something like that and be passionate about it"

Dad: "Mmm hmm"

ADW: "Thanks for chiming in Dad. So you want me to invent Spanx?" I laughed out loud.

Mom: "No, if you could just do something like that or create something and be passionate about it, invent something or another."

ADW: "I know that I'm a passionate person, no doubt about it, but I would need to have something to be passionate towards, I can't just go throwing my passion around!"

Dad: "Ha!" (Dad was clearly taking a back seat to my mom during this convo)

ADW: "Something will come along soon enough that I will truly be passionate about...look, I have a lot of great creative friends who are unemployed right now, my friends Lauren, Chris, Katie, Joe, Ben...we could start an amazing creative agency, we cover the bases of marketing, events, PR, advertising, promotion and finance...feel free to help me raise some capital."

Mom & Dad: "Enjoy the symphony!"

But it's true what my parents said, I too wish that I could be passionate about something career-wise. The woman who invented Spanx got it right, so did my dad. I have always looked up to my father, he got his pilot's license before he got his drivers license...my grandfather would drive him to the airport so that he could go fly them around! Now, even though he retired from flying, he still works on airline security, something that he is very passionate about and something that he does very well. He's even parlayed it into a fledgling media career as well, he's the Washington DC CBS go-to guy for all things air related, which to me is pretty damn cool!

For me, I love theatre, I love events, I love the media. How can I harness my passion into something that combines all of my interests, something long-term and sustainable? Where is that one thing, that one career that I can be passionate about? Have I already found it but not succeeded? Have I yet to stumble upon it? I'll keep on searching, this I know...

welcome back, me.

2009-03-23T20:31:00.020-04:00

It's been a long time since I've written a blog, hasn't it...a lonnnng time. Why the re-emergence on the New York Blogosphere scene you ask? Well, I think it's just time. For those of you who have been with me since back in the day, you know that I write this blog because...well, I just like it, ya know? Sure, I may have four loyal readers (myself being two of those), but part of the reason for this blog is not only to keep you entertained, but to keep myself occupied as well!

what to expect: well, really i don't think that i need to have an agenda or anything of that nature, but I am definitely going to consider my content and my audience more this time around. I realized that I may have gotten too personal about the stuff that I posted, relationships, friends, all of that. however as much as this is my blog, and I reserve the "right to write", I do plan on censoring myself more. Life is for the unexpected, and that's really how I get by each day. I never know what's going to happen, and neither will you! I can't guarantee that I'll write every day or every two days, but it will be fairly regular. Bookmark me!

The template I am using is a bit wonky, and everything may shift to the right side of the screen if you have a square monitor...also you may see some text all over the place, but hey, i'm all over the place, so i guess it's apropos, no?

Until my next post, in case you have yet to see it, I encourage you all to view the Top 60 Ghetto Names. In a word: Racist. In two words: Racist and Brilliant.

I'm A Publicist

2009-03-23T12:06:00.002-04:00

my former blog, I'm A Publicist, can still be found in it's entirety and in it's old format here: I'm A Publicist. It's also archived on this site...feel free to take a look back at what my life used to be like...

my pretty girls!

2008-02-21T23:27:00.006-05:00

Calling Page Six!

2008-02-13T22:16:00.005-05:00

Celebs I saw during my 8 days at Fashion Week:

Ashley Olsen, Victoria Beckham, Heidi Klum (at the AMAZING Project Runway Show), Rihanna, Fergie, Milla Jovovich, Rose McGowan, Eva Longoria, Donald Trump and Melania, Debra Messing, Ellen Pompeo, Martha Plimpton, Joss Stone, Allison Janey Daniel Vosovic, P-Diddy, Kim Raver, Amy Smart, Allison Janey, Tyson Beckford, Niki Taylor, Natasha Henstrige, Trent Vanegas, the cast of "Who Wants to Be a Supermodel", and many, many more!

Some Fun Pics:

I'm fucking matt damon

2008-02-13T22:09:00.002-05:00

(originally posted on 2/1/2008)

hey guys and girls...ok, more like hi guy and girl...anyway, i'm sorry that i haven't updated this in forever (foreva-eva?), but i've been busy as balls with work (which i'm LOVING by the way!), but until I have time to give a real update, please enjoy this HILARIOUS video.

banksy

2008-02-13T22:09:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 12/28/2007)

for a while now, i have been incredibly intrigued by the british graffiti artist banksy. he is know for his outspoken, politically-charged and often comical work. he has painted on West Bank Separation Wall, he left a dummy of a Guantanamo Bay prisoner on the fence of a ride at disneyland, he's covertly added his own pieces of art with satirical captions to the walls of the lourve and in one of my favorite moves, he replaced copies of Paris Hilton's CD with his own cover art of a topless Paris and renamed the songs "Why am I Famous", "What Have I Done", and "What Am I For". Needless to say, he's a rebel and revolutionary. oh, and also, no one knows what he looks like.

For the past few weeks his work has been on display at a gallery here in chelsea, and, as it is closing tomorrow, i swung by. all i have to say is amazing. i've only seen the work online, and to finally be able to see the work in person was awesome. and the way that it was presented was perfect. police tape, bubble wrap, awkward lighting. it was gorgeous. here are some pics i took:

the 2nd floor of the 3 floor display

banksy's modern-day take on a warhol classic

The Banksy of England £10 note featuring Princess Di

while taking the kate pic, i covered the flash on my blackberry...came out kinda cool, no?

hilarious

2008-02-13T22:08:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 12/27/2007)

Pregnant Jamie Lynn Speaks Out

Add to My Profile | More Videos

thoughts and thoughts

2008-02-13T22:07:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 12/17/2007)

well, as i said in my previous post, i am now 28. i am happy that i am getting older, because i am learning more and more about myself everyday. after having a "small" (ie: 21 person) dinner on friday night, some of the boys went out a-drinkin. after several cocktails, i found myself at barrage waxing poetic about how much i have changed in my years. its really true though. i am more confident in myself, i am more secure in my abilities. now look, that doesn't mean that i don't doubt myself here and there, because i'd be lying if i said that i didn't.

friday was a lot of fun, saturday was shopping with my best friend eric, then having din with him, his partner joe and wendy and jenny who was in town from philly. we drank, we ate, and then we went back to wendy's place and schmoked and had one of the funniest conversations i can recall. we talked all about sex with men vs sex with women and it was both hilarious and informative for everyone involved!

sunday i saw Juno with Queen Jiller, and I have to highly recommend this movie to everyone. stellar cast, great directing, excellent script, and a standout performance by ellen page as the lead. fantastic fantastic movie.

tonight, TA took me to dinner at Annisa, for my birthday, and it was just excellent. not just the food, but the company as well. its been a very rocky road for us, but we are forging a special bond as friends, and i am very happy about that. look, inherently, i'm always going to care about him, and i know that he feels the same. there is a part of me that will probably always be in love with him, and i'm ok with that, because i think that that is normal. if we weren't friends, i would probably be brokenhearted. how can you just void your life of someone who you spent such a significant part of it with? it doesn't seem natural. we'll probably still have our bumpy moments, but in the long run (and i have said this before), we will always be in each others lives. he is a good person and i am grateful that we are where we are.

he also got me a pair of rayban aviators that i had expressed interest in. not at all necessary, so thank you TA, it was very sweet and generous of you.

i look forward to wearing said glasses tomorrow morning on the train up to CT, where i am going for a meeting for my first day of work! we're meeting with someone regarding the south beach wine and food festival, which i am also going to from feb 17-25. i'm very excited, and i know that this is just going to be a great opportunity for me.

i'm in a happy mood right now, and i am hoping that it sustains itself for a while. i have a feeling that it will.

in the meantime, i hope that everyone checks out this video (audio is NSFW)...hilarious!

28.

2008-02-13T22:06:00.002-05:00

(originally posted on 12/14/2007)

today is my 28th birthday. i honestly cannot believe that i am this old. i just can't believe it! i feel like it was just yesterday that was a dorky chubby freshman at wootton. or that i was a dorky chubby freshman at iu. and wasn't it just yesterday that i was the quasi-cool, not-so-chubby kid fresh outta school working at the front desk of the parker? the time goes by oh so fast.

i had a good 27th year. i had a few jobs, i had a boyfriend, i had some normalcy to my life. the spring brought about the upheaval of a lot of that, but i think that i am more grounded now, which i am happy about.

i don't live a crazy life (although i did hop up to boston for a date on wednesday...maybe i am a tad bit crazy...), but i think that i live quite a satisfying and fulfilling life. sometimes i think that i need to spruce it up a bit, but hey, i have time. i'm young...ish. there is no boyfriend in my life right now (which apparently affects me at certain times), but i'm ok with that. do i need one? i don't know. i miss the companionship that a boyfriend brings, but i have met some great new people who in addition to my old stable of friends keep me afloat and make me enjoy my life and provide me with almost all i need to get by.

i left my shit job, and as of last next week, i will be starting an even better one. i am going to be the events manager for a boutique event planning firm working on huge accounts for them. my biggest client is a HUGE water company, and I will be working with them on their sponsorship of events including the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Fest, as well as the US Open. I am going to be doing a lot of traveling, which I look forward to, and more importantly, I am going to be working with someone who I have worked before, who I think is a great guy. needless to say, i'm very excited.

28 is shaping up to be a good year.

some boston pics:

birthdays, holidays and memories

2008-02-13T22:06:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 12/9/2007)

my birthday is this coming friday, and i am turning 28. i am looking forward to it, but like always, when this time of year comes, i fall into this deep dark hole. i get upset, i get moody, and i feel alone. i don't know, maybe its because it's different this year, but the holidays are rough for me. i always get emotional around, but it's harder now. the past 2 years i had an amazing man in my life. a companion, a lover, a friend, and now i don't have that. i don't have the person who i told i loved on new years in 2005. i don't have the person who i crawled into bed with every night and was held by. i miss that. as i try to move on and move forward its this time of year that i slow down and regroup and get emotional and upset and remember what i am missing. you try and focus on the positives of what you have in your corner, but i don't have so much right now. no job, no significant other. no one to curl up with and tell me that all the bad stuff will pass. i wish that i could say that its been getting easier, this getting over TA thing, but it's not. especially this time of year.

some of my friends are slowly showing their true colors and once again, i question my friendships with some of them. i feel left out of things and i feel like once again, i'm being put on the back burner by some people. everyone seems to always be having a good time, and telling fun stories, and i am not a part of those stories because i am not called or invited. am i that bad of a person? did i do something to hurt or upset them? i really don't think that i did. i feel like i give so much to some people, and i am warm and welcoming and i get shafted in return. i don't know why i put up with some of this, i really don't.

new years is coming and its time for me to reflect on the people in my life. some are in my life for good, and some do nothing but cause me pain. it's time to end that.

if i were a chipmunk...

2008-02-13T22:05:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 12/4/2007)

summertime fun...

2008-02-13T22:04:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 12/4/2007)

the following is the result of vodka, music and the anticipation of a night on the town in early june:

mom and pop's new toy

2008-02-13T22:03:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 11/27/2007)

Saab 93 Turbo in Parchment Silver.

ain't she a beaute?

redacted.

2008-02-13T22:01:00.003-05:00

(originally posted on 11/24/2007)

I have received word via a cease-and-desist alleging that some of the content on this blog was both defamatory and libelous. I do not admit any wrong-doing in this matter, nevertheless, certain passages and links have been edited for the removal of content.

Enjoy!

a blessing and a curse.

2008-02-13T22:01:00.002-05:00

(originally posted on 11/13/2007)

*CONTENT REMOVED*

"My New Toy" or "What a Long Strange Trip It Has Been"

2008-02-13T22:00:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 11/13/2007)

so it finally came! my brand spanking new (and might i add, sexy as hell!) black MacBook. I got it all souped up and upgraded, and I love it.

Since I had it customized, it did not come from Cupertino, but from Shanghai rather. Over the weekend I anxiously awaited its arrival with bated breath and tracked it online like a sonnovabitch. Every 30 minutes I looked on the FedEx site to see where it was. On Friday night, after having a wonderful time at Out 100 (more on that another day when i'm less busy), and after the boys left my apt at 2:00, I actually drunk-dialed FedEx to find out where my computer was! WHO DOES THAT? Ha!

anyway, after traveling from Shanghai to Anchorage to Memphis to Newark, my new toy is at at home with his older brother, my old iBook (which incidentally, I am giving to my older brother...ha!)...it has Leopard OS X, it has Photo Booth, Stacks, Spaces, Time Machine...it's pretty f'in sweet. When I received the box in my office yesterday, I actually hugged it. Yes, I am that guy.

And here is a fun pic of me and Brit Ben and Marla when we iChatted last night...so fun!

19 Straight.

2008-02-13T21:59:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 11/9/2007)

I commit myself to a lot. Work, friends, relationships, keeping up appearances. As of late, I have been working myself to the bone. Today marks my 19^th day of working straight. Yes, 19. not even when I was at LPM did I work this many days in a row. I am soooo f’in tired I can’t even begin to explain. I wake at 8am, groggy and tired. I roll out of my apt and get to work at 9, grabbing my coffee and bagel on the way. My routine is pretty bland. The guy in the coffee cart knows me too well. By the time I’m at the front of the line, he already has my large coffee with skim milk and whole wheat bagel ready in the bag, with 2 packets of equal on the side. I hand him my $2.25 and walk across the street to the office. I put in my 7.5 hours and at 5:00pm sharp, I strut out of here. I go home and veg on the couch for a few hours. Sometimes I send my resume, but honestly, I don't even have enough energy to update this blog. My roomy ACME gets home ‘round 9 or 10 from work (he’s working hard kids!), we chit the chat, and watch Pushing Daisies, 30 Rock, Little Britian or Sarah Silverman or whatever is on that night, and then i crawl into bed at 10:30 to watch some tele, and then I fall asleep. Like I said, my routine is pretty darn bland.

Well tonight is Friday the 9^th. I have been waiting for this day for a looong time now, because I finally get a weekend off! Yay! I have been working straight since October 22^nd, and now I can rest and relax. Tonight is Out 100, and I am superjazzed about that. I am going to go out with my boys, we’re getting all gussied up, we’re going to have an amazing time. Tim Gunn & Tori Spelling are hosting, Chaka Khan and Mya are performing, Jennifer Hudson, Mary-Louise Parker, Bill T. Jones (the amazing choreographer from Spring Awakening) and Thom Browne (among others) are being honored, and I hear that there may be a special appearance by a certain former Eurythmic who’s name rhymes with Fannie Dennox. Woohoo!

On a completely unrelated note, as it has now gotten cold out (last night on the phone I told my parents that I was “Freezing my Chita Rivera’s off!"), I have noticed a sudden spike in Ugg wearing. Now, I hate Uggs (and no, not because they are Australian TA! Ok, maybe that’s why on a minute level). I don’t care how comfortable and warm they are, they look ridiculous. Even more so is when you see a gay guy walking down 8^th Ave in his skinny/girly jeans with the legs tucked into the Uggs. Shoot me. Shoot me now. It’s simply unacceptable gays, don’t you know! Almost as bad is when you see someone in shorts and Uggs. Are you hot? Are you cold? MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MIND!

Ok, now that that’s out of my system, happy Friday everyone? This bitch needs a nap!

the french are crazy.

2008-02-13T21:58:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 10/30/2007)

from ben-ben, our france-based correspondent:

"Where will they stop the marketing? Zac Efron's favorites, the Mickey Mouse shaped burger patties!"

"Why cruise gay websites for hours when you can pick up a box of 6 frozen fagots! Always ready for you, right in your freezer!"

what's wrong with this picture?

2008-02-13T21:57:00.002-05:00

(originally posted on 10/17/2007)

what's so wrong with the tuna that there must be quotes around it?

spring awakening.

2008-02-13T21:57:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 10/13/2007)

i have been waiting to see spring awakening for a very long time now. zach braff introduced the tony awards performance by saying "the show found it's inspiration in one of literature's most controversial masterpieces. A work daring in it's depiction of teenage self discovery. The show invites audiences of all ages to experience again the wonder of being young" i quote mtv's john norris "The most mind-blowing fact about "Spring Awakening" is that its source material — a non-musical play by German Frank Wedekind — was written in 1891....a play full of teenagers that includes (but is not limited to) wet dreams, masturbation, molestation, fumbling sex, teen pregnancy, ostracism, sadomasochism, abortion and suicide." the cast is made up of 2 adults and 16 amazingly talented actors who are between 17-24, and there is a great little blip from new york mag on them here. they tackle these issues because their parents and teachers won't educate them about life and sex. it's 1891 for christ's sake!

it played off broadway at the atlantic theatre here in my my neighborhood, but i never saw it. i heard the buzz about the show, but i never made it. then it opened on broadway. in a big way. and i wanted to see it. bad.

rt from the karpel group gave me a copy of the soundtrack several months ago, and i haven't stopped listening. the music and lyrics by duncan sheik (yes, that duncan sheik) and steven stater are beautiful and haunting. exciting and poignant. the music ranges from slow moving ballads to cacophonous rock numbers. i know all the words, i know all the subtleties of the orchestration. i was obsessed with this show before i had even seen it.

well, today, jason and his friends and i went to the matinée performance, and i can't express how much i was moved by this show. i knew the story somewhat through the music (which i'm listening too on it's 2nd loop through, as i'm writing this), but being able to see it being performed live in such a raw setting as it is presenting is breathtaking and brilliant. the songs as they are performed are actually the inner monologues of the characters and they really break the 4th wall to sing these. what was one of the most amazing aspects of the show was the lighting, which I realize is a strange thing to say, but once you see it, you will understand. whether it was the subtle spotlight on a picture on the wall, the blue light bulbs arranged in the sky or even the brilliant neon strips located all around the theatre, it all added to an amazing display.

i know it's stupid to write this post all about this one show, but it really moved me. some people say that this is a show for a new generation, and i agree. i laughed, i teared up, it was a cathartic journey that i recommend everyone going through.

back to the realities of life.

2008-02-13T21:55:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 10/10/2007)

it's been an interesting coupla days for me.

my trip was stellar. i did so much in 7 days, that i can say without hesitation that it was the BEST. VACATION. EVER. being able to travel around Europe with your best friend is something I recommend to everyone. Yes, Jill and I fought like mad a few times over random stupid shit, but hey we do that stateside as well. We traveled with her sister and her 3 friends, and we all got along famously. whispers of a possible trip on '08 abound...

highlights:

a 4.5 hr bike tour around Berlin with a stop 1/2 through at a biergarten, making an even more fun second 1/2!
seeing the amazing architecture of Daniel Liebeskind's Jewish Museum
a hostel in prague the size of my big toe (what you get for €40 a night!)
doing shots of absinthe, in one of the only countries where it is actually legal!
climbing up the steepest 287 steps in a spiral staircase to the top of Prague Castle for an unrivaled view of the city
seeing the crazy Raisin "Dancing" Building by Frank Gehry
Jill flipping her shizz on a narrow road behind a big rig in the middle of nowheresville Czech Republic
the lush green pastures of Austria set against the backdrop of the Alps
visiting Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg
walking through Dachau concentration camp outside of Munich, both a haunting and fascinating experience
Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest, Oktoberfest.
a 10-hour train ride through the night up to Berlin, sharing a cabin with the locals
Amsterdam's amazing canals, red lights and coffeeshops!
Going the Anne Frank House and seeing the history in front of me

Like I said, it was an amazing trip, and there are some pics below...

*CONTENT REMOVED*

I have been trying to reconnect with friends, both old and new, I think it's important to do so.

Chris Saunders has moved back to town, and I couldn't be happier. I've missed him for the past 3 years. ACC in LA and I had our moment in the sun, which has now set. He's a great guy, and I hope that we maintain communication. Hey, he moves to NYC in a year, you never know...TA and I are going to make an attempt at a friendship, and as of now, it's going well. He is very special, and I am hoping that we can make this work. I'm sure that it will take more effort on my end, but I'll work it out, it's worth it to me. I met a nice kid last Friday. He seems smart and fun, and is as big of a Pushing Daisies fan as I am...which by the way is an AMAZING show, and you need to watch it. We're meeting up on Sunday, i'm definitely looking forward to it. And he blogs. Big plus.

Some of my besties and I are attempting to band together to help a friend. he's in a bad place and needs some serious help. we may have drifted apart, but it's time to put the differences aside and help save a friend from himself.

The seasons are slowly changing, we are all moving on. some for the better, some for the worse, but we are all moving. bodies in motion stay in motion.

Some of my 431 pictures from Europe:

All of us at the Berlin Wall

The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin

Absinthe in Prague...the Green Fairy cometh...

All of us at O'Che's in Prague

The stunning Austrian countryside

Fantastic pretzels in Salzburg

Dachau Concentration Camp

Schnitzel and Currywurst in Munich

Me at the Hofbrau Hall at Oktoberfest!!

Gorgeous Amsterdam

When in Amsterdam...

phew

2008-02-13T21:54:00.002-05:00

(originally posted on 10/2/2007)

i'm back in nyc after my whirlwind vacation. had the simply most amazing time ever. updates and pics to come!

.a

gutentag!

2008-02-13T21:54:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 9/27/2007)

it's around midnight and i'm in munich! don't have long to write, but thus far, this trip has been out of this world! queenjiller and i and the rest of the group are having the best time!

paris: cdg airport is gorgeous!

berlin: awesome bike tours with all 6 of us and our hot tour guide named Ingo, lots of amazing beers, more sausage than i have ever had in my life!

prague: shitty drive over, smallest room in all europe, great architecture, absinthe, singing, more beer, more sausage.

salzburg: late addition to the trip, decided to go just yesterday! city was gorgeous, and the countryside was the most beautiful i've seen..."the hills are alive, with the sound of music!"

munich: just got back from the first part of oktoberfest. pure insanity.

more to see, more to come!

celebrate.

2008-02-13T21:53:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 9/22/2007)

it may not be much to some, but this week marks my 1-year anniversary of not smoking. i have been quite tempted in many many situations, and it is still difficult sometimes, but i won't lie, i'm pretty damn proud of myself. it's so unhealthy to smoke, and i couldn't be happier that i quit. congrats to me!

---

i'm packing right now for my european extravaganza, our flight is in 4 hours. i've had a crazy/fun/horrible/intense couple of days and weeks, and this trip is very much needed for me to clear my mind. i can't wait! hopefully i'll be able to write from abroad, we'll see!

all good things...

2008-02-13T21:52:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 9/21/2007)

Being with someone who makes you feel like you are walking on clouds is something that is hard to come by, and if you are lucky, you will stay airborne for a while.

ACC is going back to LA today, and it sucks, but I’m ok with it. I was able to spend one last night with him and it made me realize many things. First off, he’s a truly amazing person. There is so much to him, so much depth and passion and so much I admire. Second, it showed me what is out there in this big world, people who will make an impact on your life and your soul. Yes, it sounds ridiculous, as we have known each other for only a brief period of time, but there is a clear connection between us.

This short and sweet late-summer affair (which, as he puts is, “is just this close to being a French film with subtitles”) has ended, at least for now. Yes, it would be wonderful to spend more time together, but the reality is that he lives in LA and I live in NYC, and although he will be moving here in a year, this is where the amazing journey ends. the season is changing, and it's time for me to move on, something I have been trying to do for a while now... This was such a wonderful experience, and I thank you ACC for that. You really gave me something to remember, and as I told you, I hope that our paths cross again very soon...

I wear my heart on my sleeve, and everyone knows it. If I feel something, I say something (or write about it). I read my post from the other day, and I think that it was sappy, but you know what, it’s how I felt about things. in our short lifetimes, we only have a few opportunities to go with your heart, and I did just that, as fearlessly as possibly...no regrets...

everything weird and wonderful....pt.2

2008-02-13T21:51:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 9/19/2007)

you can't anticipate situations and you can't expect something to happen. you can't predict the weather and you can't depend on the subways. you also can't foresee the feelings you are going to have for a person.

someone very wise recently told me that dating is the loneliest process in the world. it's painful, its emotional and it's taxing. that is until you meet someone who puts you in an inexplainable mood. you forget about the problems at work, and they help you shut out the daily frustrations of your life. someone who you instantly connect with, who brings you to a level you have yet to reach in your life.

i met someone. someone amazing. I was able to spend 2 fantastic days on the west coast with him, and the most perfect night with him in nyc. when he drives you to a special place you really wanted to see, when you feel comfortable enough to hold his hand while walking down the street, when you go up to top of the rock and gaze out at the glittering city and then look into his eyes and catch a hidden glance, you don't hesitate. he literally took my breath away.

and he lives in LA.

how can you feel such a connection to someone who you have only known for such a short period of time and who you know is going to hop back on a plane in a few days? it seems nearly impossible to suppress feelings that you never thought that you were able to have.

i do not know what will happen now. things happen for a reason, and although this was not a situation that either of us anticipated, i couldn't be happier that i was able to experience this. i'm walking on clouds.

I just want you close
Where you can stay forever

You can be sure
That it will only get better
You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cause
Everything's gonna be alright

People keep talking
They can say what they like
But all I know is
Everything's gonna be alright

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

You, you
Can get in the way of what I feel for you
When the rain is pouring down
And my heart is hurting
You will always be around
Yes, I know, for certain

You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cause
Everything's gonna be alright

People keep talking
They can say what they like
But all I know is
Everything's gonna be alright

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

You, you
Can get in the way of what I feel
I know, some people search the world
to find something like what we have
I know, people will try, try to divide
something so real
so 'till the end of time
I'm telling you that

No one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

----------------
Now playing: Alicia Keys - No One

everything weird and wonderful.

2008-02-13T21:50:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 9/17/2007)

thank you ACC, for helping me make some new memories in LA. i will cherish them...

2 weeks o' stuff

2008-02-13T21:49:00.002-05:00

(originally posted on 9/8/2007)

phew. sorry to my loyal readers (all 3 of you...well, 2 if you don't count me...) for the delay in posting. it's been 2 weeks, its a mighty long time by my standards, and the last 2 weeks have been kinda crazy, very fun, very fast and very tiresome.

a breakdown:

-dave cain was in town: had a great time with him and chrisbugg. that's right, i've condensed his name, since it really just flows better that way. dave breezed in from his job in miami. had an f'in blast with the 2 of them. we drank, we trekked alll the way up to the ralph lauren store on the UES after drinking a few bottles of champers. then we went out, left chrisbugg with some tatted up guy at barracuda and and well...i won't get into the dirty deets, but it was the kind of night/morning that only would have happened to dave and i. we've been friends for 8 years, and we have many many memories under our belts...and in our pants. ha!

-9 gays (and kimmy!) singing and dancing at maracas during one of the most fun brunches EVER. that's what you get for unlimted margaritas on a sunday morning! the restaurant was filled with tons of gays and we sang La Bamba for hours. hilarious.

-drinks and dessert with a Tony nominee (you know who you are)...

-house/dog sat for marc and wolly: ok, no dogs there, but house sitting and a fun labor day bbq with the boys. drinks on the sprawling terrace and playing on their wii. wii had a wii-lly good time.

-and now i'm in boston.

*CONTENT EDITED*

being here in boston has been weird. i get to travel extensively for work, having all ready been in chicago and dallas, and going to los angeles in 5 days. here in boston i'm at the former stomping grounds for my 11 or 12 friends who went to BU and TA who went to Harvard, and of course it is he who I think of most. it's now been 5 months since we've broken up. it's crazy, and i def still miss him a lot. i'm glad i got to see him last month, and it's still hard, but i care for him, and i will always care about him. as i have said before, i am looking forward to having him in my life as a close friend. (9/9 UPDATE: I ran into TA last night at Eastern Bloc, he was with some friend of a friend, and it was weird that he introduced me and said 'we dated for a little while'. was good to see him, explained that i would love to see him again, but, as I have told everyone it's going to have to be in October, when things calm down a bit. we'll see what transpires...)

on to LA on thursday, where i was last with TA. knowing me, it's going to be hard to do this event, especially it's on the site of one of the places that he and I went, the la brea tar pits, and all the memories will come back. i need to make new memories, so this will be an opportunity to do so. onwards and upwards.

i'm getting uber-excited for my trip at the end of the month to europe with jill, i really can't wait. i'll post more about that soon. in the mean time, here are some pics from the past this past weekend...enjoy!

a shot of Boston from my hotel room

another shot of Boston from my hotel

the unbelievably sexy LL Cool J who was the at conference leading morning aerobics (ha!) and promoting his book. i was that close. his arms are as big as my head. amazing.

the cute penguins at the sea world/orlando booth

The Last 5 Years.

2008-02-13T21:48:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 8/24/2007)

Well, today is a milestone for lil old me. Today, August 24, 2007, marks my 5 year anniversary of living on this little island known as New York City. I know it’s not that long of a time period, but to me, it says something about me and my commitment to this city and being here.

When I was in college , I thought that I wanted to move to Chicago. I thought that NYC was just too much for me, that it was too big and that it was too fast-paced, but that Chicago was a good median. Then, I came here for a Madonna concert when I was a senior (how gay, right?), and immediately I had a newfound love for this city. I knew that this was the place that I was going to move to. This is where my life was going to take me.

I would come up here for a few days at a time, and stayed with Eric & Wendy on their couch in Murray Hill while I was looking for a job. I would be up here for 4 days, home for a week, up here for 3, home for 4, and so on. I moved into Will & Todd's apt on August 24 and started work at the Parker Meridien on the 26th and then started the apartment search. 5 years later, here I am.

It’s be a whirlwind 5 years. I have done so much with my life, met so many incredible people, and I really think that I’ve lived to the fullest, or at least I've strived to do so.

Let’s take a look back, shall we:

Jobs in Chronological Order:
(and I'm sure I'm missing one or two!)
Le Parker Meridien
Soy Luck Club
SparkPlug Communications
Barking Dog
Soho House
(for 2 hours, then I quit!)
Cafeteria
Urban Outings
Onorato/Wixom (OW!)
Junket Productions
Café Mozart
Play Underwear
Creed Fragrances
Strohl & Company
Comix
Shecky's
MKG Productions
JM Visuals
*EDITED FOR CONTENT*

Apartments:
Cornelia Street (Will & Todd’s couch) – 2 weeks
44th and 10th – 2 weeks
63rd between 1st and 2nd – 14 months
36th and 2nd – 1 year
24th and 8th – 2.5 years

Friend’s who have left NYC since I have been here:
Will Acton
Justin Klinger
Chris Saunders
(has ANYONE spoken to him?? Please let me know! Trying to track him down!)
Matt Schaefer
Jenny Slobotkin (neé Sobie)
Tom Suiter

It’s been a crazy ride getting to where I am now. I’m not saying "Yay! I’ve made it!", because I don’t know if that is necessarily the case, but I do feel like I have come far from where I was when I first moved here. I have a more self confidence, more friends, more memories. I have had some really amazing experience and some real hardships. I have grown and I am much more understanding of the person that I have become.

It seems silly to adhere to the old adage that you aren’t a real New Yorker until you’ve lived in the city for 10 years, regardless of where you are originally from, but there are days that I will walk down the streets and people watch and listen to the cacophony of city sounds and I think to myself: this is my home.

past the awkward, into the unknown...

2008-02-13T21:46:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 8/20/2007)

i heard a really good quote yesterday, that just seems to be very appropriate for me: "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."...Dr. Seuss

It’s been a mad mad couple of days for me. Where to begin...

Lets start with Thursday: I went to PopRocks with my boys. Dancing, drinking, open bar, good times. Well who should walk on in? the one person who I have been both waiting to see and avoiding all at the same time: TA. This was the moment that I feared, when I saw him at a bar. What made it worse was that I was dressed mighty shabbily, and of course he looked great. he was there with the guy who we had both gone on a date with a few months ago, which answered my question as to whether they were still hanging out, and made me feel better about telling him that I can’t be friends with him, even though I really enjoyed his company...

So I ran. Quickly said my goodbyes to all my friends and ran downstairs from the roof. I stopped and called jill. I needed some advice. Do I leave, do I say hi? Well, I decided that this was my golden moment. If I didn’t go say hello, then I would regret it. So I used my liquid courage (did I mention the open bar?) and said hi. We chatted for a little bit, then decided to take a walk. We walked, sat on a stoop, and I laid it on the line. I said everything that I had to say. I cried a bit (again, did I mention the open bar?), I probably made a fool of myself, but I don’t regret it for one minute. I needed to get out what I said. He, being him, walked me all the way home from the bar. It was uncomfortable but it was good. I said I would contact him sometime in the future.

Friday I basically had a minor nervous breakdown while in Long Island for work (by myself), while I was processing my encounter with TA, although I'm better now.

Saturday morning, I’m on the phone will jill chatting about our European extravaganza (we’re going to Amsterdam now too!! Woohoo!), and I get a text from TA asking if I want to catch up. Why did he text me?! I was planning on waiting a while to speak with him again, but he texted me! I guess it was a sign that he didn't want to avoid me, and that made me feel better about it all...

After some deep thought and counseling from Jill and Lil’ Steve (and going against their suggestions), we met up for coffee and took a walk through the village and to the river. It was actually really nice. We shopped a bit and then grabbed some lunch at Murray's and shopped some more. Yes, there were awkward moments, but I am very glad that I saw him. We chatted about dating other people, moving on in life, and making new memories, something i've been striving to do. He has new friends and a new car, but he's still the same old TA.

I was concerned that the lingering feelings that I had for him would rebound me back to la-la land, and I would be hurting more because seeing him would remind me that I can’t be with him. As much as those feelings are indeed still there to some extent (and may never go way), I don’t think that us hanging out was a bad idea. Being with him just reminded me of who he is, and why I care about him. I will contact him sometime down the line because we both would like to be in each other’s lives, but right now I think that I need a little more time to process it all, ya know? I don't know when that will be, but hopefully soon.

Thank you again TA, you are a very special person, and I am looking forward to the day that we can be good friends.

Saturday night was the Night of a Thousand Parties, as I had 3 to go to, and they were all equally fun! Last night Jill and I went to pianos to go see my friend matt perform. I have never been able to see him with a live band backing him and playing his own music, and it was awesome. Matt is so unbelievably talented, and I feel honored to know him. Here are some fun pics!

a bbq, a brit and a brennen...not necessarily in that order

2008-02-13T21:45:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 8/13/2007)

simply put, another fun ny weekend.

Friday night, I stayed in. after a long week at work, recovery from the previous weekend, and a general sense of blah, I decided to relegate myself to the couch. Tele, tele, tele. 'twas a good time.

Saturday I had a really fun day with brit ben who i hadn't seen since his bday in may. Brunch at 44 ½ , then down to vitra and design within reach, in the meatpacking. After that and some wandering, it was off to revel for some mid-day mojitos. Afterwards, I met up with brennen and we did some shopping. And by we, I mean he. I didn’t buy anything. Brennen however mistakenly bought a pair of c-in2 sling briefs and nearly ripped his nuts off in the process.

Saturday night was vlada, then a black/white party (not in a hairspray racial-integration kinda of way, in a ‘please wear black or white’ kind of way) then the ritz, all with brit ben. A fun night that included kissing 38 people during a game of spin the bottle,burgers at 2am, and waiting in nervous anticipation for a mouse to shit in a box...seriously, don’t ask...

Sunday was brunch and shopping with ms. madelaine mayer, which is always a blast, and then trekked up with brennen and the aim to 152nd Street and Murder Avenue to ben-ben and brendan’s bbq. I swear, when ben-ben and I lived together, the boy never cooked anything other than chicken breasts and white rice. Now he’s a gourmand, making pasta salads, burgers, HOMEMADE sorbets and ice creams! It’s crazy! It was delish boys, thanks for having me!

i'm getting incredibly excited about my upcoming european extravaganza that i have planned with jiller. gots me some awesome guide books, and i'm just superjazzed about it all.

I leave you all with this GORGEOUS picture of me red-faced and sweating my balls off, and wondering why in the world I trekked all the way uptown…oh yeah, free food and drinks...gets me every time!

good news, good times.

2008-02-13T21:44:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 8/9/2007)

Well, it looks like things are looking up for old Gil!

*CONTENT EDITED*

Last weekend was excellent. Was out at eric & joes on fire island (thanks again boys!). Weather couldn’t have been any nicer. Had some great Eric and Me time, got myself some great color, hung out with a bunch of friends, went skinny dipping with all the boys (this would be the 2nd year in a row for that, thank you very much!), drank, relaxed, cleared my mind . ‘twas perfect. Here are some pics to enjoy...

their gorgeous house!

the pool where i swam and tanned every day, sometimes clothed...hehe...

see, i tolds you were were nekkid...

drunk on the roof...good times...

attempting to shed some light on the boardwalk to their place at night...

me and my lil...

sip & twirl fun...

a nice dramatic shot of my feet on the beach at night...

feeling hated, feeling loved.

2008-02-13T21:42:00.002-05:00

(originally posted on 8/2/2007)

*CONTENT EDITED*

this weekend i'm going out to fire island to eric and joe's for some relaxation and reflection. it's much needed. let see what happens, no?

news to use.

2008-02-13T21:42:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 7/25/2007)

Well, it has been nearly 2 weeks since my last post, and i haven't updated, because i've been fairly busy. Let’s see, whats going on with me:

Work:

*CONTENT EDITED*

Travel:
I went up to philly for work 2 weeks ago and treated myself to a fab lunch at morimoto which was great (paid for by *CONTENT EDITED* of course...holla!), and then I went down to MD for my dad’s 60th bday/retirement party, which was loads of fun. Also, speaking of traveling, there is a chance that I am going to go with Queen Jiller on a fab European trip at the end of Sept. The deets are still being worked out (and I need to get the approval from work of course…ugh), but it would be to go Berlin, Munich and Prague, and maybe even Vienna. It’s all up in the air right now…I haven’t been on vacay since last December when TA and I went to Cali, but I have traveled since, only for work, so that doesn’t count. Speaking of TA, it seems that everyone is stiiillll running into him, but I don’t think I’m ready to see him yet…I still miss him too much, even 3.5 months later…

Matt:
My friend Matt, was in town last week, and it was of course amazing to see him, I loves me some matt. He and Queen Jiller and I went to Kobe Club for din (and Queen Jiller and I ate at Megu earlier in the week for Restaurant Week), and it was delish, then back to my apt where matt played some of his incredible songs for us, as well as my roommie ACME and his tall, handsome bf Kevin. Matt’s music is simply fantastic, I can’t get enough of it. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, he’s going to be huge, very soon!

Friends:
I have been spending a lot of time with new friends. Doug, Douglas, the whole lot of you. Yes, I have made 2 new friends in the past months, and one is named Doug, one is named Douglas…what the hell are the chances…I’ve also been hanging out with Ms. Madelaine Rose Mayer quite often. She and I reconnected after ten (10!!) years of not seeing each other. We went to israel together on a big ole Jewy trip back in the summer of 1997 and ran into each other at a party a few months ago. It’s so great to see her and great to reconnect with old friends. I’ve found that some of my current friends are just not pulling their slack, and just not being the kind of friends who I want to be with, so it’s time to branch out.

Music:
Neighbor Kim and I went to the Highline Ballroom and saw Mark Ronson perform 2 weeks ago, and that was amazing. He produced the albums for Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, and his performance was crazycool. The venue is small and intimate, and he had a full band with horns and percussion sections and lots of special guests. It was great. Def go out and buy his album Version, it’s sublime and I can’t get enough! Also check out the new album by Sophie Ellis Bextor, its great.

I guess that’s it for now. Stayed tuned for more, and sorry to all my loyal readers (all 3 of you!) for the delay in posting, i promise to be more consistent!

welcome to the parker

2008-02-13T21:41:00.001-05:00

(originally posted on 7/11/2007)

so i just got back from *CONTENT EDITED* and I was watching Kathy Griffin, when I saw something that kinda had me stop in my tracks: a promo for a brand new show on Bravo called Welcome to the Parker. The show is a reality show which is based on/about the Parker Palm Springs, which is a gorgeous and luxurious resort in Palm Springs (and was also featured on an ep of The Comeback on HBO.)

Why i was shocked is three fold: number one, i used to work at Le Parker Meridien here in NYC. Number two, is that TA and I stayed at the Parker in December (and of course i wanted to tell him about this show!), but more importantly, is number 3: my old boss Samir from LPM in NYC is now the boss at the Parker Palm Springs, and he's the STAR of the show! Chraibi, I'm so jealous! Samir hooked us up with a really sweet room when we were there (the entire resort was masterfully designed by Jonathan Adler of Top Design fame.

Palm Springs is a beautiful place, and seeing the spot made me think of TA and the wonderful time that we had there...

Mr. Chraibi!

some pics from our stay at the parker, and one of tommy and michael when they went to the parker this spring! so cute

ugh, only a PG? booo!

2008-02-13T21:39:00.000-05:00

(originally posted on 7/3/2007)

iPlayed with it!

2008-02-13T21:38:00.003-05:00

(originally posted on 7/3/2007)

Ladies and Gentleman: the fingers that are typing this post have touched gold. Well, not gold per se, but something with a value that is equivalent: an iPhone. After work yesterday, I decided to hoof it up to 34th street, the closest AT&T store to see this glimmering sculpture of glass and electronics. I get to the store, and I hear that they are out of iPhones. No worries, since there is no way in high holy hell that I am shelling out $600 for one right now. But that was ok, they had 2 in the store on display for people to play with. So I hopped in line behind 3 people to finger this technological masterpiece.

After getting frustrated with the guy in front of me taking what seemed like an eternity, I stepped up to bad and picked it up. It’s not as big as I thought it would be, but it is not small either. its really beautiful though! I had only a few minutes to play with it, or else I’m sure the Latvian guy in line behind me would have been shitty and caused a communistesque fit, and I didn’t want that.

Google maps was amazing, iTunes was rad, the video screen was crystal clear (it has better resolution than most LCD or plasma tele’s!), and the photos were crazy the way that you “pinch” the picture to zoom out and expand your fingers it zoom in. it’s seriously one of the coolest products I have ever seen in my mere 27 years.I was even able to read this very blog on there! Unreal!

I’ll def wait until the 2nd or 3rd generation comes out and all the kinks are fixed before I even consider plopping down any cash for it. Right now I’m dying for the Blackberry Curve! It’s hawt! Come the end of this summer I think I’m going to treat myself to one! Yay!

a slice of weiss

The Summer's Twilight Days...

Sumrahtime and the Living is Sleazy...

Feb-blah-ary.

How Dare I!

A Quarter of a...

Music, Travel, Madness!

Gone, Gone Away...

Yay for MM

Disco Diva Madonna Magic Madness!

Musica Para La Playa

Sumrahtime Musication

we will always have...

MemDayWkndMus

Friday, Friday, Bounce Away!

Bounce, Beat, Move It

Bringing You Back

one down, eleven to go...

Bon Appétit!

Gleek Out!

I'm a GLEEk, You're a GLEEk

Music For Humping

A Musical Lift

25 Blahbiddy-Blah

That's Gay.

C'est Musique!

Suck it MTA!

gravity.

music. bring it.

I Am Not A Robot!....But Are You?

just a brief whatever

It's Gonna Get Dirty...

surrender to the music...

Music Makes The People Come Together, Apparently...

Busy Bee.

Good News, Bad News, Good Times, Good Tunes

Call Me Ginger Noodles!

Tackling the Big C

Chasing the Green Fairy...

Oh Sweet Jesus...

Get It While It's Hot! For Realsies!

Rain, feel it on my fingertips...

R.I.P. Noble

HEY! I'm Next Muthaf*cka!

Lawng Islannnd

No to the O

showing my "O"

pocket changes

CANCELLED!

Bton, Here We Come!

Rue Tini

Get It While It's Hot!

Where in the World is Adam Sandiego?

free agent

Eat Up Old Schooler

a change is gonna come...

The Passion of the Weiss

welcome back, me.

I'm A Publicist

my pretty girls!

Calling Page Six!

I'm fucking matt damon

banksy

hilarious

thoughts and thoughts

28.

birthdays, holidays and memories

if i were a chipmunk...

summertime fun...

mom and pop's new toy

redacted.

a blessing and a curse.

"My New Toy" or "What a Long Strange Trip It Has Been"

19 Straight.

the french are crazy.

what's wrong with this picture?

spring awakening.

back to the realities of life.

*phew*

gutentag!

phew