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

Nothing Gold Can Stay Gold Can Stay

So generally, I hate roller coasters... I literally hate them. I hate that quick, sucking in of air, sinking feeling that happens so rapidly. I found the above picture and said, hey, that's me, a little girl with training wheels plunging into the depths of a shaky wooden coaster putting all of my trust into my helmet and my purple shorts that give me a wedgey. I'm not necessarily a little girl, but gay jokes are always funny... right? ha?... ok. So, basically, in my personal life, I met someone, we dated, it was great, and then it ended a weekish ago. This was a, start at the top of the coaster thing, then went super fast and upside down, and THEN went into a slow upward climb which resulted in a break up, and that is really all I want to say on the matter.

In my improv world, Seriously Bent kicked ass in the regional finals at Improv Asylum, we went to Chicago, made it to the finals, and then lost... picking up on any themes? This went down first week in November, the break up occured in the first week of December... got goosebumps? I do! Mitch, Patty, and I auditioned for Improv Asylum's NXT cast last night, and we were all called back... so-that's fun!

This is us, pre-disappointment. I mean, despite ANOTHER loss, Chicago is amazing, and someday I will live there.

Another sinking feeling came at the same time of my break up, and that was with the death of yet another high school friend. His name is Dom Mallary, and he was a brilliant artist, and a true friend. The news of his death shocked all of us as just a little over a year ago, Katie unexpectedly passed away. Katie and Dom were in the same class, and Dom spoke at her wake. The loss of Dom was surreal and very painful because I couldn't go home to be with my friends, but I tried to keep in touch with them to talk and comfort and grieve.

This is Dom and Katie...


Seize upon that moment long ago
One breath away and there you will be
So young and carefree
Again you will see
That place in time...so gold

Steal away into that way back when
You thought that all would last forever
But like the weather
Nothing can ever...and be in time
Stay gold

But can it be
When we can see
So vividly
A memory
And yes you say
So must the day
Too, fade away
And leave a ray of sun
So gold

Life is but a twinkling of an eye
Yet filled with sorrow and compassion
Though not imagined
All things that happen
Will age too old
Though gold

The Road To Chicago

This coming Saturday, at Improv Asylum, Seriously Bent will compete in our first round of competition before going to the 2nd annual National College Improv Tournament! Now, I'm pretty sure I didn't talk about that experience in this blog, because I started this thingy thing after we went. So, last year we received an automatic slot in the finals, and we did that because we rap?... apparently. Anyway, we didn't really have to do any work in order to make it to Chicago last year besides reform our structure to fit a new competition.

THIS year, however, we don't have it so easy. We must first win a preliminary competition, which is against 3 other groups, and THEN, if we make it past that, we have to compete in a regional finals on the same day...well technically midnight, so Sunday... anyway, we have some work to do.

First, there was the, "oh shit, we can't just go to Chicago this year?" reaction. Which was followed by the, "oh shit, we have to learn musical improv in order to get there??" reaction. That's right, we sing now folks! The last 2 weeks have involved 2 hour workshops learning how to improvise musically. It is SO FUN, even though I'm not really doing it in the show, I'm hosting the structure, but learning it was a blast because we warmed up like a chorus.

So Saturday we face 3 groups in our slot, and then IF we win, we perform again at midnight in the regional finals, and if we win THAT we go to Chicago. Oh and guess who's hosting the entire thing Saturday?... I'll show you:
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Dame Gussy Eskowitz. Julia Gustafson returns to Improv Aslyum from her long sobatical in The Granite State to host a college improv tournament, and of course this tournament includes Seriously Bent, of which Julia used to be a part of... her hosting enthusiasm should be interesting for each group.

So, to wrap up, come see this show, because it's mad important, and will be the debut of Seriously Bent performing musical numbers!

Heres' the info:

DATE: Saturday, October 11.
TIME : 4:00 p.m. (Seriously Bent's time) the entire show begins at 2:00 p.m.
Midnight for the Finals
PLACE: Improv Asylum 216 Hanover Street - Boston's North End

Hello?

Hello? Ok just checking.

I'll be back tomorrow. I promise. I hope you're well.

Talk to you soon.