Glad I'm With GLAAD

Monday night I attended a staged reading of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, and it was pretty astounding. The reading, at Emerson's Majestic Theatre, was performed simultaneously with over 150 participating theatres around the GLOBE, and it began with a simulcast, via the interwebs, from the main theatre in NYC. The performs also coincided with the 11 year anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death on October 12. Members of the Tectonic Theatre Project, the group responsible for the original Laramie Project, returned to Laramie and conducted interviews with the town folk new and old. Some wouldn't comment, others tried to explain that Laramie is NOT a homophobic town, but because of the murder, that is what the town is known for, and some maintain that the murder was driven by drugs, or a robbery gone too far. In other words, they defend the theory that Matthew Shepard's murder was NOT a hate crime... idiots. Although, thanks to morons at 20/20, that theory has been given national attention... I'm never watchin 20/20 again.

What had the greatest impact on me was the interviews with the 2 men that committed this heinous crime, Russel Henderson and Aaron McKinney. Russel, in his interview, claimed to have remorse and guilt for what he had done, however, Aaron's interview was most haunting. Aaron's only guilt and remorse revolved around the disappointment he feels he inflicted on his father. He maintained to hate gays, and that he believed Matthew to be a sex predator, so to quote, "he had it coming". Really f'ing terrifying.

Following the reading, there was a short, live Q&A session with the Majestic audience and the president of GLAAD, a rep from ADL, and a woman from... somewhere that I can't remember, and anyway, they talked about how even today there is NO FEDERAL HATE CRIME LAW that extends to crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Currently there is a bill proposed to United States Congress, The Matthew Shepard Act, first introduced in 2001, currently, 8 years later, awaiting a vote from the Senate. Progress???... we'll see.

Anygay, seeing this performance the day after the rally in Washington of over 75,000 gay rights activists, made me realize that I should try to do something.

SO, today I applied to volunteer for GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation).

I would even love to one day work for the organization, and perhaps make it my career... my grandmother always told me I'd make a great politician... I AM HERE TO RECRUIT YOU!

Please check out more information on GLAAD and ADL (Anti-Defamation League) and if you are gay, know a gay, or just love gays, volunteer!

Like Lady Gaga!

Nick & Nick Pilot

The pilot episode of "Nick & Nick" is set to shoot on October 25th, and we hope to release it to the interwebs by November. I hope we produce something worth watching, and that it will spark our brains to continue writing episodes. So far we only have 5 written episodes, but at our last production meeting, we decided that it was in our best interest to just get a pilot episode shot so that Nick and I can figure out our characters, our relationship, and our dynamic working together on a project in general.

This could not have come at a better time as I've felt a little under stimulated lately not being on Seriously Bent anymore. I didn't realize how big a role those jerks played in my life until I wasn't going to weekly rehearsals. They all continue to do pretty great things outside of SB, and I couldn't be prouder to watch them perform... with the exception of Kelly who's only accomplishment has been to unsuccessfully come out as a lesbian/Lady Ga Ga stalker.

Anyway, I'll keep all 6 of you up to date with the pilot and whatever progress we make on the show.

Halloween approaches fast!... WHAT AM I GOING TO BE???? All I can think of is Freddy Mercury (cliche) and a duel costume with Julia, me as Father Time and her as Mother Nature... you know, because she's rabid environmentalist with her 50 cats.

Open to other ideas gang...

Fashionably Late

Alright so after the last entry where I scolded all of you, I am hereby inviting you to this week's Fashionably Late event at The Liberty Hotel, located across the street from the Charles/MGH T stop. Doors will open at 8PM, the fashion show begins at 10PM, and guess what!... the fashionable wears are from SHAKE THE TREE!!!

That's right folks, we've hit the glamor circuit with models and DJs and the whole thing. I will be attending along with our lovely owner Marian, rock star Shakers Rewan and Julie, AND the clothing will be accessorized by local jeweler, Marissa Bethany.

If you would like to attend, and why wouldn't you, please RSVP to the following address: fashion@libertyhotel.com

This is their website: http://www.libertyhotel.com/

How cool is this place?


I do hope you can attend, all it will cost you is a cocktail and or appetizer and or dinner... if you so choose! You can always just come for the sexy party of models and fashion and ME!

An Open Letter To All Residents of Boston/Cambridge (and suburbs)

Dear Jerks,

You are NOT better than anyone!...

After spending my birthday in the New York City, I have come to this conclusion... Bostonians are cold and pretentious (a term formerly attached to my fiance Evan). The unfortunate thing is, NYC receives the connotation of being cold and pretentious, but really, it's not, Boston is! Now of course, I am making this judgment based on the wildly different experience I have in NYC gay bars versus Boston gay bars, however, just walking down the street in the West Village you can see a whole other climate of polite and pleasant. People make eye contact with you walk in NYC, it's occasional, but it happens!... and a smile is often attached!... Ok so maybe there were a few people that looked a little cold...

But still, NEVER HAPPENS IN BOSTON. Why do we think we're so F'ing great??? Are we afraid of rejection because the sun neglects to warm our bodies and faces for so many months of the year, so we never look at each other? No, that cannot be it, because I refer to you the greatest city in America, Chicago. Chicago becomes colder than NYC and Boston combined in the winter, and their citizens are some of the loveliest people I have ever encountered... EVEN MID JANUARY.

I have been to many cities both around the world, and I have to say, Boston is the only city where I feel the asshole-vibe. I am not saying I do not enjoy this city and it's even "hipper" sister-city, Cambridge, but I honestly cannot stand the way we carry ourselves, with propriety and a sense of entitlement. I can also say this about our people because I have spent 100% of my time here working customer service or retail, so I am constantly facing the public, and let me tell you, the bad outweigh the good.

So remember this, the next time you feel the need to not hold a door open for someone, there is someone better than you other there! There is someone that dresses better, has read more books, seen more movies, eaten in more restaurants, written more poetry, created more art, taken more pictures, made more people laugh, read more newspapers, watched more sports, PLAYED more sports, ETC.

Next time you're walking down the street, make eye contact and even throw them a smile, you'll probs make their day.

Sincerely,
Me

Eureka!

EUREKA!... no we should call Eureka, she always has great ideas.

So with Seriously Bent a thing of the past, I've been racking my mind grapes trying to figure out what I want to do to continue in the world of chuckles. Patty's last blog entry was sort of inspiring and made me realize that I need to stop sitting around, and I need to get out there and do more shows, but HOW?!

Well, I did stand up once... and I really enjoyed it... particularly since it kind of went surprisingly well. So I hope to do that thing. THEN I am currently in pre-production on a retro-scripted web series with Dick Wilson and Goose-staff Cadet. Goose is our producer and director, and Nick and I will be the big stars, the head honchos, the chiefs of... of our manhoods. Anyway, that's cooking in the pot with some potatoes, safron, and a little cumin... Ok A LOT of cumin.

In the long run I hope to audition again for the NXT cast of Improv Asylum because I miss having regular shows and it's always been a dream/goal of mine since I first saw those monkeys on stage 4 years ago. Good times! Plus, as I left Evan's going away party, he told me to audition again and that I was really good, and even though he already had a couple fruit punch drinks in him, I took that to heart because I look up to him as we're in the same generation of fresh faced Boston make em uppers... that and he's as tall as a giraffe...

! ! !GIRAFFE! ! !

So those are my goals/plans/current goings on. I know I do a lot of talkin' and not a lot of DOIN', but hopefully if I continue to write things down, I'll eventually quit doddling and diddling and I'll just get to action.

Stay tuned!

FLOSS: The Musical

No, I am not writing a show stopping... show, about oral hygiene.

My hero, Pete Townshend of The Who, is currently writing a new musical in the style of Tommy and Quadrophenia, entitled (for now) Floss. Floss is the female lead interest in the story. For those of you not up on the discography of the greatest rock band of all time, Tommy is the story of the deaf, dumb and blind boy... Tommy Walker, or the Pinball Wizard. Quadrophenia is probably lesser known to non-Who fans, but is, in my opinion, Pete's magnum opus. Every lyric in that album drips with philosophy and enlightenment and pure human reality. Quad focuses on a young male, Jimmy Cooper, caught in the battles between mods and rockers in London and his personalities are heard through each member of the band, and there are four, so quad... quad also refers to the concept of surround sound. This album got me through many a dark time.

Anyway, his latest work would best be described in his own words, so I will let you read his latest blog entry regarding his new venture:

"FLOSS is an ambitious new project for me, in the style of TOMMY and QUADROPHENIA. In this case the songs are interspersed with surround-sound 'soundscapes' featuring complex sound-effects and musical montages. FLOSS will be a son-et-lumiére musical piece, intended for outdoor performance, or arenas. Several of the more conventional songs from FLOSS will be featured on a forthcoming Who recording for release in 2010. FLOSS will be heard in concert for the first time in 2011, at a venue and date yet to be established. I am already having talks with producers in New York.

The collected music and sound for FLOSS convey the story of a married couple whose relationship gets into difficulty. Walter, a straight-cut pub rock musician, is able to retire when one of his songs becomes the TV anthem of a big car company. He becomes a house-husband while his wife Floss devotes herself to a riding stables and stud. When he tries to return to music after a fifteen year hiatus, he finds that what he hears and what he composes evoke the ecologically rooted, apocalyptic mindset of his generation. Shaken by this and torn by personal difficulties, he and Floss become estranged. A series of dramatic events in a hospital emergency ward bring them both to their senses.

While Roger Daltrey exercises his ageing vocal chords by embarking on a two month USE OR LOSE IT solo tour, my focus is on FLOSS, which touches on the current issues faced by the Boomer generation. It also addresses their uneasy relationship with their parents, children and grandchildren. As a 19 year old – with My Generation – I wrote the most explicitly ageist song in rock. At 64, I now want to take on ageing and mortality, using the powerfully angry context of rock 'n' roll." - Pete Townshend
courtesy of www.thewho.com

So that's pretty damn great. Pete worked with directors and producers on a staged adaptation of Quadrophenia, and that is currently showing in the UK. My fingers are doubly crossed that it makes a journey over to our neck of the woods. They (The Who) always had a difficult time performing this album live as a 4 piece band because unlike Tommy, Quadrophenia doesn't have a very obvious forward narrative. It really requires extra writing to string together a story line.

I'm very excited to hear this news of a new album and project. I have to agree with another hero of mine, also named Pete, that Pete Townshend is the living embodiment of "The Poet" as defined by Emerson... and I too, will fight you on this one.

Melting Pot Heatwave!

Damn it's hot! The miserable heat of summer has finally hit the Bay State this week as temperatures hold in the mid 90s. It seems like the seasons this year were incredibly jarring. We went from winter, to weird cold rainy sloppy Spring, to just rainy and sloppy summer with not much sun, and now we just have oppressive thick heat and humidity. That sentence is probably far longer than it is supposed to be, but who cares? NO ONE READS THIS BLOG ANYMORE ANYWAY!!! How are YOU dealing with this week's heat? Below Average Height wants to know! Post your answers as replies if you wish... or just tell me what you're wearing today.

This entry is going to be a MELTING pot of subjects since a fair amount occurred since I last wrote. Starting with:


We did it!!! Great big thank yous go out to everyone that attended Kelly and I's show and to Patty and the "boys" of Awkward Compliment for having us on. We (I) really enjoyed performing together and we (I) hope we (I) can do it again sometime soon. Props to Jeremy and Evan for also having a really great show. Evan, why do you hate me SO much?

We went on first before a packed house (32 people) and it was so nice to see familiar faces and some non-familiar ones and some familiar ones that at the end of the show I didn't recognize... sorry Kim and Randy. You're both great.

Kelly and I showed up to the theater a bit early to rehearse and ended up in the storage room lifting bags of popcorn. When asked what we were doing in there, I smoothly answered, "we're just warming up". Kelly looked like a deer caught in head lights as thoughts of free candy and soda danced through her over processed head/hair. Our relationships and characters were often conflicting, but it kind of worked. Suck it rules of improv! "Just rape what's in front of you" - Susan Messing.

Ok so next: I moved!!! And I heart my new apartment so hard. Here are some photos courtesy of my new roommate, Christina.



It's really pretty great. My step mother gave me the record player her and her first husband purchased together, so I'm going to play the Who records she gave me on it! I'm so excited for that.

Ok just 2 more quick updates, and I'll wrap up. I realize that no one enjoys reading long blog entries.

So this idiot had a birthday:


To celebrate we strolled along Cambridge Street and checking the Jameson at each bar. Plus one Mai Thai. While drinking the Mai Thai, the bartender, a 60ish year old Chinese man received a foot rub from another 60ish year old drunk biker-esque looking man named Billy O'Malley... ugh only with Nick. We ended the night snuggling up on his futon, possibly for the last time, as he's moving out to Forest Hills in JP with 3 middle aged men.

OK! We're almost done, my last bit of news involves me having a job interview... TODAY at Brodney's Antiques Shop on Newbury Street.

Oh! Oh! and do yourself a favor and pick up this book:

I'm literally obsessed with all things Amy Sedaris lately, and this book is just JAM packed with humor and insight and recipes and crafts, and ugh... I just love her.

Ok, tata for now!

Below Average Height: LIVE!

Well everyone, my blog has been picked up for season 2.314 including a live performance! ! ! "A live performance?! How on EARTH can you do a LIVE version of this blog?!?!?!"... you probably just asked. Well, you will just have to come to the Somerville Theater THIS Thursday night, August 6th, at 8PM, to find out.

I will be performing a 2 person improvised set in Awkward Compliment's weekly comedy showcase with my very dear friend, Kelly Dooley. Kelly and I performed together with Seriously Bent for three years, and now that they have filed a restraining order against me, I have to find other venues to do shows. Since Patty's group does not know me well enough to realize that I have issues, they agreed to let me perform with them!

This is their logo!

Yikes, I almost put 'there' instead of 'their'... boy I would not have heard the end of that from my editor...

Anygay, Patty and the "boys" of Awkward Compliment perform in the Somerville Theater just about every Thursday night this summer, and perhaps beyond, featuring different improv groups and stand-up comedians. Shows are always at 8PM and only cost $10! What a great bargain in these turbulent economic times... I think something's going on with oil or insurgency... I don't know I can't keep up with everything... I get nose bleeds.

Bottom line, please come see our show, we're both very excited to entertain each other and maybe even you.

Plus we're adorable...

I mean don't we just melt your heart...

A Message To The Class of 2009

Hello there, sorry for the long silence, but I, have been, busy? Sure.

A message to the Class of 2009: (from an intern at NY Neofuturists)

Wear sunscreen (I never promised this message wouldn’t be trite and corny). Wear condoms, safety goggles, seat belts and a fucking helmet. You only get one body, that by this point you or someone else has spent a considerable amount of money on making smart. Protect the investment. Oh, and HPV is everywhere. Sex be so good it gives ya cancer, so wrap it up.

It’s ok to be scared. Be as scared as you want. I know I am, but don’t expect it to ever go away. It doesn’t get better it only gets different. You know you’re living it right if you wake up screaming, in a cold sweat, and in clothes you didn’t go to bed in at least once a week.

You deserve to be happy. Do whatever it takes to make that happen. Sleep around, get a dog, do drugs, drink too much, eat too much, make long distance phone calls, see theater, listen to music, watch porn, make porn, dye your hair green, marry a fat dude, write plays, wear only leotards, fondle statues, whatever. Happiness is different for everyone so don’t be all judgy, unless judging people makes you happy then of course go for it.

Sometimes in life, for things to really matter you need to do them all by yourself. (a principal that also applies to masturbation and flossing as well as moving boldly on with the rest of your life)

Ask for help when you need it. (a principal that also applies to masturbation and flossing as well as moving boldly on with the rest of your life)

It takes two people to be in love. One is not enough. If they don’t love you back steal their identity and buy yourself things on their credit card. If you can’t have them you can at least have 12 Sham Wows and 4 Snuggies to comfort you and mop up all the tears and other loneliness related bodily fluids.

Don’t worry too much about finding a “real” job because you’re not gonna find one. This world hasn’t yet made room for us. So bus tables, baby-sit, sell the Internet over the phone, intern, and write blogs in your cubicle while you should be working. Do it with integrity and you’ll get there one day. If not, sell your blood and buy a flat screen that you can sit in front of and smoke bongs. Because material things, television and drugs will fill up the emptiness inside if you try real hard.

Have fun, get dirty, stay up late, try new things, call your mom, look at the stars, do things that scare you, meet new people, and appreciate what you have.

Stick it to the man, remember to not forget, work hard, play hard, be a good friend and be yourself.

Break the mold, break your nails, break the bank, break patio furniture, and break hearts.

Give it all you got, give thoughtful gifts, give that homeless guy a dollar, and give me a fucking break.

Now go out there and do your best. Everything is going to be just fine (a lie but I wish it for you) “Be bold and the mighty forces will come to your aide"-Goethe.

Oh and SEE TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND as much as humanly possible.

Carpe Diem Kiddos,
Meg Bash

Give My Heart A Chubby

So I guess while we had 2 men dominate in the stand-up category, the ladies are racking it up in the improv/sketch category in our Salute to Comedy... I'm giving it a title... gimmicks! Alright, continuing our "Salute to Comedy", we go now to the first ever sketch show I ever saw entitled, "Two Girls for Five Bucks".

Written and performed by Cathleen Carr and Daiva Deupree, 2gf5b is a 2 woman, sketch comedy, burlesque show. They feature real life stories about their love and sex lives and sketches including devilishly outrageous characters and scenarios. They are a comedy giant, their talent is exquisite, and their newest off-broadway show, Two Girls For Five Bucks, and The Ten Dollar Heartbreakers will hopefully be as devious, raunchy, and wildly classy as the last show. Here is a clip of a sketch they performed at Sketchubator:

Their new show opens... well today, March 11 and runs until March 28th. Their venue is the lovely Ars Nova in New York City. If you live in the NYC area, GO SEE THIS SHOW. If you DON'T live in the area, get on a Bolt or Mega bus (avoid getting blown up by a Fung Wah), go down for the day, or make a little vaca out of it, and GO SEE THIS SHOW. Trust me, you cannot be disappointed... unless you're Born Again... something tells me Born Agains wouldn't appreciate this.

I'll leave you with a little preview of their new show, enjoy:

Messing With Ike

Sorry for the massive gaps between entries. After the focus of a couple stand-ups, we're going to continue with my tribute to comedy by shifting to improvisational comedians/actors/comedic actors. For those of you that know me, I dabble in the improv, so this is very dear to my soul.

Let's begin with THE lady of improv, Dame Susan Messing of Chicago. I have seen her show Messing With a Friend twice, and last November, had the amazing opportunity to have a workshop with her at The Annoyance Theatre. The Annoyance was founded by Mick Napier, former Second City director, in the late 80's, and Susan has been performing her show since 2004. Every Thursday she features 1 or 2 actors from Improv Olympic, The Annoyance, Second City, or other notable venues from Chicago and across the country.

This woman absolutely blew my mind when I first saw her show. It took me about 15 minutes to accept that she was improvising. She's also amazingly filthy... with her language, not her hygiene, like Kelly Dooley.

Ok, so here is a little piece from Messing With Ike Barinholtz (MadTV). Susan just asks the audience for a word, I don't know what inspired this scene, but...enjoy. Oh, and also keep in mind that it's sometimes difficult to appreciate improv through video, so, just laugh... they're improvising a scene about doing a show with Mick Napier.

Not In My Back Yard

George Carlin is always remembered for his 7 Dirty Words routine, and while it is a brilliant routine, this master of language had many greater bits. When a comedian is arrested for a routine though, that's the one that will be talked about.

In the wee hours of the morning at Kelly's apartment, after I "cock-blocked her" Nick Wilson and I had a stand-up bit battle. He did George Carlin bits and I did EDDiE iZZARD bits. Then the police came, but instead of finding a raging party with drugs and naked people, they just found a metrosexual and a homosexual imitating a dead comedian and a transvestite comedian.

Here is an example of George's ability to hold the mirror up to society with eloquent precision.







Ok so George Carlin deserves 2 clips. This is a great example of his mastery of the English language... mastery of... I need to brush up on grammar.

Stand Sit Up, Laugh

Please enjoy, as over the next few days, I shall share with all 4 of you, some of my favorite moments from some of the greatest comedians.

We begin with an Englishman in a dress, or frock as the English say, EDDiE iZZARD. I saw EDDiE at Radio City Music Hall this past summer, and he's hung up his transvestite-ism, at least on stage. For the most part though, he was a subtle transvestite, like he wouldn't literally wear a dress, but heals and make up, and, well, you'll see. I'll post a good amount of EDDiE since he is my favorite, and I have nothing of great importance to say personally right now, so I'll let others speak with great comedy!... maybe I should try LSD? Nah.

This is from his HBO special Dress To Kill, and it took place in San Francisco.

Bye Everybody, Bye!

Host of Late Night with Conan O'Brien... Conan O'Brien, has left his show after 16 years to take over The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. When I first heard of this news I was heart broken at the thought that Conan would have to alter his style for a new late night audience. Later, I was reassured by the man himself (not in person) that Late Night's stupid gags and antics would not go anywhere, as they are what his fans love. That and his rapist wit. When I heard that he was to replaced by Jimmy Fallon, and not me, I was also deeply saddened for 2 reasons. 1, I've never been a huge fan of Jimmy Fallon since he could never keep his shit together in a sketch on SNL, and 2, hello, I'm available to move to NYC and host a late night show, hello?! Lorne Michaels?! I AM AVAILABLE!

Anyway, the plus to this is I won't have to stay up until 1:30 in the morning to watch Conan anymore, because I prefer to be asleep by 10PM... really? no.

Conan has been an idol to me, and I am incredibly jealous of his career, and my little boy dream is to be him... tall, Irish, with a flat pale face... oh and on television doing stand-up, improv, sketches, and interviews. The man has sat down with The Who people!

In order to be in Conan's shoes, I've decided to compare our lives and paths to see if I'm heading in the right direction

Conan was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. I was born in Boylston, Massachusetts, a suburb of Worcester.

Conan's mother was an attorney and his father was a physician/professor of medicine. My mother is a Senior Materials Manager for a biotech company and my dad makes glasses.

Conan is 6' 4". I am 5' 4".

Conan attended Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history and literature. I will hopefully no longer be on academic probation at Suffolk and graduate on time with a degree in journalism.

After working as a writer in LA, Conan was hired by Lorne Michals to write for Saturday Night Live, and then he lived briefly in Chicago with Jeff Garlin while performing improv. I have never gotten a sketch into a Seriously Bent revue, but I did live briefly with premier improv director and former mainstage cast member of Improv Asylum, Jeremy Brothers.

After resigning from writer with The Simpsons, Conan auditioned as David Letterman's successor, and became host of Late Night.


I wrote and hosted The Magic Hour in Suffolk's new TV studio with a make believe guest and a monologue joke about Chinese people.

Hmmmmm... I think I'm on a similar path.

Conan's final show at Late Night was sincere, gracious, and heart-felt, giving proof to his popularity as one of the greatest television talents of the genre.

I will leave you with one of my favorite Conan bits. In the following video, Conan visits Napa Valley for some wine education during his San Francisco series.

Laugh Until I Cry

My friend Dan sent me this tonight, and I laughed so hard, I cried. Nothing has made me laugh like this in forever.

A Tree Metaphor

We'll continue YouTube Faves with a video that I saw yesterday. Clarence posted this video on his blog http://clipsandchips.blogspot.com and I loved it. This is an extended version of what he posted.

Enjoy...

YouTube-YouBoob-YouCube

Nick, we would LOVE to see your favorite YouTube videos.

Ok readers!

We begin with a video that was introduced to me 3 years ago when I first started with Seriously Bent. It's hilarious, and I show to it every new person that comes into my life... after I get a feel for their humor tolerance level.

Enjoy...

Moved

Have you ever seen someone so emotionally, genuinely, and physically involved in singing one single song as this? I'm sure you have and I'm willing to learn, so post them if you know them.

This happened a few weeks ago, but I just can't stop watching it.

Soul, R&B, and Blues artist, Bettye LaVette brilliantly performs The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors.

Absolutely stunning.

3 Stinky Cheeses

Since Brian is my "executive" producer, I'm typing this entry in Courier... like it? Great.

Friday night was a big stock pot of gayness. How do you make gay stock Nick??? Well, first you start with a nice blonde brassy base, like chicken stock... I prefer Kelly Dooley since her legs closely resemble chicken thighs. Then you add a leather clad, but non-lesbian, red-headed hag, and since Jules is up north fucking moose, I went with Patty. For a little spice, Patty kicked it up a notch with a gay Mexican... or El Salvadorian... or something, by the name of Roberto. Pour in a softly lit restaurant, Tremont 647, until you cover the foursome. Then for strong flavor throw in strong cocktails, over-priced French fries, a 3 cheese appetizer, and folks, you got yoself a stewing pot of homo.

If you really want a gay feast... scrounge up Alex and Reeve, and now you have a smorGAYsbord.

Friday night began with cocktails and light finger food at Tremont 647 in the South End. The restaurant was intimate, softly lit, and politely staffed. We were seated right away, despite being 9ish on a Friday night, and we didn't even receive attitude for really only having cocktails. By the way, if you want strong drinks, go to gay bars. I had some gin concoction followed by the Tremont Tang and I was in a happy place.

We finished up in the restaurant, and then walked right next door to Tremont 647's sister establisment, Sister Sorel... SISTER SISTER... yeah. This was the Boston gay bar I enjoy. The bar was lit by tall taper candles, and from the ceiling hung tea light candles! Like 647, Sister Sorel was very small, cozy, intimate, and the staff was kind... well, maybe not exactly kind, but attractive! I was having a splendid time there, but the rest of the gay entourage wanted to dance so I was dragged to Club Cafe.

Yep... there it is... in all of it's designer t-shirt/faux hawk glory holeness. My 2 previous visits to Club Cafe were not pleasant, so I've developed a complex. However, this time I was packing heat, and by heat, I mean Kelly and Patty. I danced with Roberto and Patty, Reeve and Alex went off to hunt, and then we left. It was an overall wonderous evening, but Club Caffaux hawk does make me slightly uncomfortable. Maybe because I never intend to go there, so I'm never really properly dressed... you know not like a Bel Ami star.

I want to go back to Sister Sorel, and 647 for their pajama brunch!


A Presto...

Dooley Fireside Chats

Like every good American, I celebrated yesterday's Presidential Inauguration by eating and drinking. Is that not my God given right?... as a citizen?... "citizen". Well it is, so I met with my fine dining partner, Kelly Dooley, for an evening in Harvard Square. Kelly is unofficially becoming my go to gal for dining/drinking adventures. I like going to new places, she likes new places, I like trying new foods, she's fine if it's covered in cheese. It's a match made in... something.

This is Kelly:
We met at the Coop because I needed a copy of Cormac McCarthy's The Road... a book... for my Review Writing class. We wandered around in there for a bit and Kelly tried to coax me into buying the Twilight book by saying, "come on Nick, just make the investment, you know you want to." I did want to, but I couldn't tell her that, I don't like to enable addictions, and her infatuation with the undead is unhealthy.

After making my purchase and flirting with the young man in line behind us, we headed out to find our place of the week. First, I was going to take her to Shay's Pub and Wine Bar, but a big part of me wanted something new. Next, we stumbled upon a Tapas restaurant, which sounded nice because Tapas is latin for tiny food, and since we're tiny people, what could be more perfect?!... Of course upon looking in the windows we realized that the clientel was middle aged and not in the mood for us. Finally, it hit me like a little red house!

"Kelly! Eleanor was literally JUST talking about this cozy little place next to Charlie's called The Red House! Wanna go?!?!?!" says me.

"OK!" says Kelly.

We walk in to this little red house dating back to 1802 and owned, originally, by a couple of widows... not at the same time. The building sits atop a retaining wall dating back to 1634, so yes, we were actually being patriotic and Americana nostalgic. It's now owned by the same guy that owns Charlie's Kitchen which is right next door. The individual rooms have been redecorated to private dining rooms, adorned with original woodwork and fireplaces. The bar itself has an original fireplace and 5 or 6 dining tables and then the full bar.

Imagine this without the bright light of the flash, and a little roaring fire.

F'ing adorable! I had a glass of cabernet, as per usual, and Kelly had a Stella, because she loves the woman (points if you remember Stella). Then we each ordered an appetizer, I went with the roasted pork egg roll, and Kel had an eggplant parmesan thing... remember, cheese, great. For dessert I indulged in one of the best tiramisus I've ever had. We each ordered a Disaronno on the rocks, and the conversation overfloweth.

We talked about family, close friends, ideas for the future, and how little we actually know about anything. We've only been around for a couple decades, have only known each other for 3 years (weird) and while both of us have gone through traumatic events in our lives, we still have SO much to do and experience. We both agreed that we'd be satisfied if in 25 years we both were able to support a family, and were happy. aaaaaaaawwwwwwww. Of course after we lived a life for ourselves, because you can't truly give yourself to others until you are content with your own self... which means the occasional self-indulgence. It's true... we're in college... we know things... not really. Anygay, warmed, relaxed, and comforted but a 19th century fireplace we talked for almost 3 hours and I would have stayed for 5, but the T is dumb and the waitstaff wanted to go home.

We decided we want to be regulars at The Red House so that when we arrive the host says, "oh hi Nick and Kelly, table near the fireplace? Cabernet and Stella? You guys look great!"

I also think Kelly is pefect for going out on dining/drinkin excursions because she's a little adventurer and is never a poop, so she's always up for it. Plus she has about 15,000 more stories to tell me about Peabody.

We finally decided to work hard and save our money, so that when we get old, we don't have to kiss anybody's ass.

I heart Kelly Dooley.


... OBAMA!

Fever Dream. I wanna know what you mean. Fever Dream

I'm hopefully at the end of a stomach flu, which has been miserable, BUT, with stomach flu comes fever... also miserable, BUT, with fever comes fever dreams, which are often some of my favorite and most vivid. Last night, I had a fever dream that turned out to be a slight premonition. In the dream, my grandfather and I were driving down Belair Street (remember I used to live next to my grandparents) in a red Jeep Grand Cherokee, similar to this one:


They used to drive one of those, but now they drive a car. Anygay, he parked in front of his driveway, we both got out, and suddenly it started driving backwards. It picked up speed and then the rear turned and crashed into a tree. In the dream my grandfather blamed me, and I literally started SCREAMING at him, and I used many expletives. Now, in reality, about 30 minutes ago, my mom calls me, and tells me that as my grandfather was driving home from the hospital today, the rear of his car lost control, he did a 360 and crashed into a pole!

He's ok, don't worry. BUT HOW FREAKIN' BEEZARRE IS THAT?!

I had goosebumps... R.L Stine style. Other dreams included me watching an episode of Arrested Development that Kelly had a cameo appearance in. I then went to her apartment and hugged her SO tight to congratulate her. She taught George Sr. how to smoke a bowl... in the episode... in my dream.

Let's see... oh! Same night as the jeep dream, I dreamed I was on vacation on a beach with my mom and brother, only my mom looked a lot older with hair bleached blond by the sun, but my brother and I were much younger? We waited in a huge line for take-out from a swanky restaurant, and then got on a boat and went fishing.

Oh! oh! and a sex dream about Michael Cera... I watch a lot of Arrested Development. Michael lived in the apartment building next to mine in the North End, so we would often see other, and then one day he came over and... well... Nicky horny Michael (points if you laughed at that reference)
This is Michael Cera... he actually is very cute:


I think that just about does it for my dreams...

(more points if you name the song I tried to pun in the title of this post)

ciao tutti