Donna Mae Moose Sunday In The Heights

On Sunday, I met Donna Mae Moose and the ladies on the Brooklyn Bridge, and we toured DUMBO, the surrounding parks, walked the Promenade and nabe in Brooklyn Heights, and spent the evening at home, ordering in, admiring the view from the rooftop and giggling like schoolgirls (I'm told that cosmos were served, but I'm convinced that's just a rumor).

Shirine DiSanto Packs 'Em In At SL

It was all power players on deck for Shirine DiSanto—the wife of MTV programming prez Tony DiSanto—at Meatpacking District hot-spot SL last Thursday. Her birthday party brought the likes of Russell Simmons, Quincy Jones, Seth Meyers and Eric Mabius—in addition to a number of music honchos that I once covered, including John Sykes and Charlie Walk. I was a guest of Liz D., soaking up the celebrity for all four corners.With "Ugly Betty's" Eric Mabius.With John Sykes, Chris Munger and Liz D.With Charlie Walk on left.Just plain beautiful people.
Liz D., meese and friend.

Oz's Human Nature Hits NYC

1990s' Aussie boy band Human Nature—who I randomly discovered in 2000 at a used CD store in Montreal and fell in love with ("He Don't Love You," "If I Only Had the Heart" and "When We Were Young"... ahhhh)—never got their due from Sony Records in the States... truly a shame, but now the boys are doing it for themselves, headlining Las Vegas' Imperial Palace with their Motown show, presented by Smokey Robinson (with whom they duet on the classic "Get Ready" on current album "Reach Out"). Hey, even Celine Dion called them "wonderful vocalists who really know how to entertain a crowd." Who would know better? She toured with them as her warm-up in Oz, as did some guy named Michael Jackson, in the late 1990s.

The quartet, which originally formed as a doo-wop group in Sydney in 1989—was in New York last week for a meet and greet at the Australian Consulate, where they performed two a cappella numbers for the room.Liz D. and meese, with Human Nature member Andrew Tierney.Aussies in America, enjoying the festivities.

"American Idol's" Nick Mitchell In Da House

"American Idol" contestant Nick Mitchell was at 2C Studios here in Brooklyn last Thursday, working with Ayhan Sahin and writing partner Dennis DelGaudio. This dude is hee-lar-ee-ous, and great fun.

Lunacy @ Lunasa, November 6, 2009

With special guests from the City of Seven Hills—my hometown, Lynchburg, Va.

So I'm Sitting On The Subway...

So Wednesday afternoon, I'm sitting on the 2/3 express subway line, headphones blasting some good '80s' tunes, reading a newspaper... The car packs with folks as we stop at 14th Street. I'm suddenly aware that someone is yelling at me. I look up and see a woman in her early 50s. I move one headphone pad from my ear."Are you disabled? Are you a disabled person?" she screeches, staring me down like a jacked-up hawk and obviously "suggesting" that I give up my seat to her.

Perhaps I could have been a little more gentile, but because of her aggression, I simply said, "Nope," and tried to stand up to make a place for this gracious woman to have her seat. But because the car is packed, this takes me a good 3 to 4 seconds—giving her time to shriek, "Hurry up. My leg is killing me."

At this point, her entitled attitude and overall rudeness was just too much. As she plopped down onto the seat, I looked her in the eye and laughed out loud, saying, "You might have been a little more polite." She, of course, ignored me.

But the half-dozen or so passengers standing in my midst offered empathy. A couple smiled, one nodded, another shook her head in disdain at this bitch.

When we reached 72nd Street, where I was getting off the train—as was she—I made sure to say to her, "You have a real nice evening. Hope it's better than your day," with a sarcastic New York-size scowl on my face.

Valerie Wednesday

Met up with pal Val Crane this afternoon. She's working at the New York Historical Society at 77th and Central Park West, so I was treated to a free tour of the current exhibitions, including 18th-century portraits of prominent New Yorkers, the museum's archives, and the Abe Lincoln In New York display... Who knew that despite his liberal social mindset, our Yankee city pretty much loathed the prez, partly because during the Civil War, more New Yorkers perished than any other state. He was a mightily polarizing politician... hmm, times ain't changed a bit, huh?... Then it was off for drinks at a local Upper West Side pub. Divine time, as ever.A collection of plastic critter toys!Early NYC cab... uh, not really. But I bet the ride was just as bumpy.FDR vs. Willkie for Prez buttons. Wonder who won...Gay carved fireman?Val and gay meese.The swankiest Duane Reade drug store I've ever seen, Upper West Side.

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You tell 'em!

Bloomberg Post Mortem

Okay, my final post on Queen Mary Mayor Mike Bloomberg... from the New York Daily News: "No doubt, many voters rebelled against the constant harangue of Bloomberg flyers and those nasty Bloomberg commercials and phone calls and just wanted them to end. The mayor will still call this a democratic victory - final proof that New Yorkers endorse his naked power grab last year to overturn term limits. He fools no one. In the midst of the city's worst economic crisis in 60 years, Bloomberg spent money like a million drunken sailors to buy his job for the third time. Quite simply, he buried democracy under mountains of cash - because he could."

Bloomberg: Damn, It Was Actually Close...

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg won a third term as New York mayor Tuesday in a closer-than-expected race against a Democratic challenger who stoked voter resentment over the way Bloomberg changed term-limits law so he could stay in office.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Bloomberg, the richest man in New York, defeated William Thompson Jr. 51% to 46%. His margin of victory was far smaller than the nearly 20-point blowout he pulled off in 2005.

Surprise! $100M Buys Bloomie's Illegal 3rd Term

Anxious to see how many people voted for liberation from Bloomberg... Meanwhile, the state of Maine is voting whether to discriminate against their neighbors, co-workers, friends and, uh, hairdressers, to make gay marriage illegal. At 10 p.m., 53% are in the lead for equality.

NYC Mayoral Election ... 90 Mins To Poll Closing

For what little it was worth, I cast my mayoral vote today for Democrat Bill Thompson—the candidate who is enough of a practiced politician to get the job done, but actually earned his current role as city comptroller, instead of, in the case of dictator Mayor Bloomberg, deciding one day, "Hmm, I'm kind of bored counting my billions... Hey, I think I'll throw out a few hundred million bucks to buy myself the mayoral office in the biggest city in the country. Then I'll finally be cool!"

Listening live online to 1010 WINS-AM, New York's legendary local news station... waiting for the bad news that Bloomberg bought his (illegal) third term. I'm only hoping that his "victory" will be tight enough to humble this arrogant prick... Naw, what am I thinking? The only thing bigger than his bankroll is his ego... or perhaps the closet he hides inside.

Close race for gov in Jersey and Virginia... they're the ones to watch.

"Heroes" Final Nail: Adrian Pasdar Ousted

Adrian Pasdar has been my favorite (living) actor for well more than a decade. Following two failed series, "Proft" and "Mysterious Way," numerous low-budget movies, turns in "Judging Amy," Desperate Housewives," many more—and his particularly memorable turn in an episode of "Outer Limits" called "In the Zone" (very revealing britches, cool cats, most memorable), when he was cast in the hit series "Heroes," I was overwhelmed: fame at last (for more than being a Dixie Chicks husband).Of course, that series lost its mind in season two, after it introduced 500 confusing new characters, sent one its leads back to King Arthur's court or some nonsense, and pretty much was as confounding as "Lost" became—as well—in season two (I just hope that "Fast Forward," the latest intelligent network series, will somehow avoid the sophomore curse).

News today that Adrian Pasdar's character is being killed off in "Heroes"... so now the series has less than zero reasons to watch! I say he's better off. Now that he's at last recognizable,
perhaps he'll headline his own star vehicle.

Now if only someone would do the same for poor Eddie Cibrian, who has floudered from series to series to series, without ever gaining lead billing.

With another penny, this rant would be worth a good two cents...

Meatpacking District/High Line Park

In the fabulous Meatpacking district today for a business lunch... Ah, how it has changed from the days of curious smells, warehouses—for carcasses, not loft living—and a certain seedy element that made it unique...Remarkably, Hogs and Heifers, the down-and-dirty bar that inspired "Coyote Ugly," remains intact.For the most part, these days it's a West Side destination for high-end boutiques, fine dining and million-dollar living... clean and beautiful, if not a little lacking in novel charm.Lunch at the stylish Standard Grill, with the enormous, boxy Standard Hotel towering above it—and actually positioned on the High Line Park train trestle.Meanwhile, High Line Park opened earlier this year to great fanfare—an old train trestle that originally spanned from Spring Street in Soho to Penn Station at 34th Street, some 30 feet in the air. It was constructed in the 1930s because cars and trains kept colliding on 10th Avenue, giving the area the nickname Death Avenue. Fun!

In the 1950s, interstates took over replaced the railway to move goods, and in 1980, part of the track was demolished and the rest permanently shut down—until construction began in 2002 to convert it into a beautiful, serene, park in the sky. The part leg opened in June, with an extension due to launch next year. I took a lovely walk before lunch. Well done! The entrance...Up, over and onward...

Dennis & Ashley's DUMBO Bash

Ayhan's writing partner Dennis D. and his lovely lady Ashley hosted a post-Halloweenie bash at their drop-dead gorgeous digs in DUMBO Sunday evening, featuring Grimaldi's pizza and Dennis in a spontaneous guitar jam. Here's their million-$ view...Tallulah!Dennis & Ashley.The best pizza on the planet.On the walk home, Ayhan at Fulton Landing.

Leave Me Alone, Mike!

In two days, we have received FIVE annoying pre-recorded junk calls urging us to vote for Michael Bloomberg... Leave me the fuck alone! Geez. If I wasn't already planning to vote for Bill Thompson on Tuesday, this invasion of privacy is enough to make me turn against the dictator mayor.

From AP: "Mr. Bloomberg has spent more of his personal wealth on campaigning than anyone in the history of the United States. All told, his three runs for mayor will have cost around $250 million, with his latest bid for re-election the most expensive of the lot at somewhere between $110m and $140m. He has outspent rival Bill Thompson by at least 14 to 1. A spokesperson for the Thompson campaign called the outlay “obscene” and conceded that the Democrat is overmatched. His only prayer is that New Yorkers will object to being bullied or bought. Polls suggest that this is a forlorn hope." Gawker's take: "Endorsement: Don't Vote for Bloomberg."

Huffington Post: Thompson "has proposed clear, compelling plans to put NYC on a better path through these tough times. He will make our tax system fairer, cut class sizes and actually deliver on a vision of truly sustainable development that empowers middle- and working-class New Yorkers, not the super-rich."

Whoa, Cool Cats! HAPPY ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY To "The Smoking Nun"!

It was one year ago this week that The Smoking Nun started ramping up as a daily destination to post whatever rant was clogging my noggin and the rampage of photos that my pocket-size Canon and I conjure. We've all been many places together, through some emotional tirades, triumphs and flops. Thanks for reading, cool cats. We're past the 38,000 hits mark and going strong!

Tuesday Is Election Day

With a campaign budget of $100 million, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's commercials have run at least 25,000 times, according to today's New York Times. In the final week of the campaign alone, he will spend more than $3 million on TV and radio commercials—the equivalent of what competitor Bill Thompson has spent on TV and radio ads over his entire campaign. Meese-thinks the dictator mayor is running scared that New Yorkers might realize he's done nothing for the middle class, everything for big business and deep pockets?

"The Advocate" Bites The Dust

Here's a particularly sad sign of the times. The Advocate, which has been the leading gay news magazine for more than 40 years—and which I have subscribed to for some 25 years—laid off 13 staffers last week, and will cease publication as a standalone magazine immediately. Instead, according to Queerty.com, it will become a 32-page insert in Out magazine, which, itself is taking in its sizable share of water each month.

Layoffs also reported at Forbes, People, Wired, Teen Vogue, Details and Time magazines... The bloodletting doesn't end.

Happy Boo-Whoo!

Arrived back in New York at 7 a.m. this morning, took the Airtrain from JFK Airport to the A train... all of $5 to get home... now, cooking spaghetti for din and exhausted at 10:30 p.m.—but girl, that's a good thing. Meese as a chronic insomniac might actually sleep tonight.

The Witch's House In Beverly Hills

Amazing architecture in the heart of Beverly Hills, on Walden Drive at Carmelita Avenue... I happened by, assuming that this house simply must have a rich history... Sure enough, "The Witch's House," or the Spadena House—also known as the Hansel & Gretel House—was built in 1921—and actually was moved from another nabe in 1934. It's currently being renovated, so is surrounded by black fencing... I tried to convince the contractor to let me inside, but it was a no go. The home was also featured in the 1995 film "Clueless."

And Finally... L.A. Final Evening

Friday afternoon I headed to the Billboard Film & Music Conference at the Beverly Hilton to see Kristina moderate her first panel ever: "Transitioning from Music Supervision to Producing"... I was fortunate enough to find parking on the other side of Wilshire, within the heart of Beverly Hills, and did a sweet walking tour of the homes in the nabe before making my way to the Beverly Hilton for the biz at hand, and the party by the pool that followed.Boo!! Halloween is obviously just around the corner.And onward to the conference.The BevHil today...And in 1956...Before Tina's panel, I met with L.A.-based Gail Mitchell, who is among few survivor vets at Billboard... always lovely to connect.And then, to the conference room!Jonathan McHugh...On to the pool party!Oh, heavens, is it Ugly Betty?Michele, another survivor, who started at Billboard before I did in 1995, and remains intact.Meese with Tina and BB L.A.-based exec ed Anne Donahue.Anne, Tina, BB editor Bill Werde and meese.And the final L.A. pic... my little Chevy Peanut, as I head to LAX for the red-eye flight. What an amazing trip... loved every moment, as you'll see below, cool cats!

L.A. (Final) Day Four: Venice Beach

Up at 8 a.m., dropped Kristina off at the Billboard Film & TV Conference, then had the day to myself... hmmm... I'd already done Santa Monica Pier, but Venice Beach... with its deliciously seedy persona... well, that's a hawse of a different color... not to mention the fact that Celine Dion's "Love Can Move Mountains" was set there. Ironically, in the car on the way, Coast 103.5 played her "Where Does My Heart Beat Now," which I took as a fine sign...My parking karma was pretty surreal during the entire trip. I managed the find a meter right on the main drag to pull in the Chevy Peanut.The just-opened cement skateboard "park" was a huge hit. These guys are performing minor miracles.

L.A. Night Three!

Kristina's primary reason for being in L.A. was to moderate a panel at the Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film & TV Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills—my girl's kind of neighborhood. Picked her up in the late afternoon... where we finally took pics together, standing at the corner of a maddeningly busy intersection.After a quick change at the hotel, we grabbed dinner and then headed to House of Blues on Sunset as guests of Jonathan McHugh—one of her panelists and a chief source for the last cover story I wrote for Billboard late last year. The band, Umphreys McGee... (yeah, I know, I was convinced the "H" dropped off the marquis) is an indie, but man, do they have a rabid following. Hard rock from six fairly geeky 30-somethings... but one of the tightest outfits I've heard in years. These guys interact musically like sex. Truly wondrous.... as was House of Blues, an inspired design of goth meets Middle Eastern.Parking was tight on Sunset, and we drove around in circles for a good 20 minutes‚including a steep hill working our way into the Hollywood Hills, which challenged the poor little Chevy Peanut... we ended up parking in a public lot... which we then couldn't find when we left HOB (no, dear, no alcohol involved; I was driving, cool cats)... when we finally found the place at 12:15, we saw that the gate was locked at 12:30 a.m. Just 15 more minutes and we'd have been so completely fucked. Altogether now: Phew, dude.

L.A. Day Three!

Met up with dear longtime friend Melinda Newman at Newsroom on North Robertson... what a perfect spot for two writers, eh?Walked around North Robertson, right across from celeb destination eatery The Ivy.Meese amusing messeself.More cute bungalows on the drive back to the hotel...Then back in the car to pick up Kristina from work... including 3rd Street... memorable for me because one of my fave albums of all time is Jude Cole's "View from 3rd Street," which he wrote while living here in L.A.The Samsung building is a major landmark on Wilshire. Hard to miss this building.