Reminiscent Regalia: The Partridge Family, Baby

At last... so much great music is out during 4Q 2013... Celine Dion's "Loved Me Back To Life,"Laura Pausini's 20 Greatest Hits, Robbie Williams' "Swings Both Ways, U.K. indie Junior Turner, Kelly Clarkson & Leona Lewis Christmas collections, Toni Braxton & Babyface, Tina Arena's "Reset" and Daughtry's surprisingly satisfying "Baptized."

But today, I had a yearning to turn back the clock, and listen to one of the first acts I was ever in love with, The Partridge Family (thanks, Spotify!). Truly, one of the greatest pop songs of all time: "Summer Days" from the group's third album "Sound Magazine." Good times, cool cats. (And that image above to the right... I had this pic as a giant poster on my wall as a kid, sure did.) *

Emin Releases New Sunny-Side-Up Single 'In Another Life'

The talented and wickedly handsome Emin is working it with new sunny-side-up dance single "In Another Life" from upcoming album "Amor." All proceeds from the song's sale will benefit Philippines Disaster Relief.

Check out the music video, which features 12 finalists from the Miss Universe Pageant, along with... uh... a much less attractive Donald Trump. Emin performed live at the contest November 11, 2013.

The Smoking Nun introduced Emin to readers in September 2012, when I had the opportunity to meet with him in New York  and write up an interview. Nice, humble man... and so suave. Ooh, la, la, "Amor," indeed! *

Living Large: Hamptons House Tour

If you've got double-digit millions to burn, why wouldn't you set up shop in the Hamptons, right? I spent last weekend in Long Island and soaked in the glory of gracious living... Above and below are homes in the old-money mansion section of regal Southampton. Ah, soak it in, cool cats!

Below... I had the pleasure of visiting an estate that boasts 15,000 square feet of space, with 8 bedrooms and 13 baths, set gracefully on 4.30 acres, along with a pool (and separate poolhouse), tennis courts, full movie theater, painter's studio and more fireplaces than a crematorium. I would never post interior pics of the private home if it weren't on the market, listed by Sotheby's. See more here.

Below are the pool and the poolhouse—the latter, mind you, is probably 1,200 square feet in itself.
And below is yet another beauty in the "old money" section of Southampton... front view, back view and garage/gym.

Matt Zarley Ramps Up For 2014 Release Of 'Hopeful Romantic'

Over the past several years, The Smoking Nun has given round after round of applause to singer/songwriter Matt Zarley. In 2011, his "Forgive Me (For Not Forgiving You)" was No. 17 among the Taylor Top 40 for the year and "Change Begins With Me" was No. 26. And in 2008, "Had I Known" was No. 28.

And now, following his hit-packed full-length "Change Begins With Me," 2014 is looking sweet with his upcoming "Hopeful Romantic." Mr. Z was bestowed both Album and Single of the Year honors at the 2012 OutMusic Awards, and he has now launched a Kickstarter campaign to foster support for the full-length CD—collaborating with longtime producer and Grammy winner Andy Zulla—and four music videos.

First single "You Just Gotta Believe," produced by Mark Picchiotti, will be released February 4. The album and second music video are scheduled for April/May release.

Matt tells us, "Although the concept for 'Hopeful Romantic' is based on personal experience, it's a universal story told through an optimistic lens. It's about love at first sight, heartbreak, letting go and having the faith that there is somebody for all of us out there"—those same themes that made "Change" such a wondrous musical journey.

Help a brother out, you hear? Find out all about supporting Matt's Kickstarter campaign right here. And here him talk about his earnest journey as an artist here. Can't wait, cool cats!

Song Of The Week: 'Say Something' From A Great Big World

It's not often that I hear a song on the radio that actually makes the world come to a complete halt for 4 minutes. Today I was listening to Fresh 102.7 New York and the station played a tune that was so haltingly beautiful, so affecting, so simple and universal, that I ran for my iPhone to track it with Songza.

New U.S. duo A Great Big World previously released a song that found its way onto TV's "Glee," from their launch album "Is There Anybody Out There?"—but when Christina Aguilera heard and fell in love with the song, it was re-recorded with her adding background vocals and found critical mass.

The piano-driven ballad oozes heartache over a breakup, as Lover 1 implores Lover 2 to say something... anything... that might save the relationship.

Indie release "Say Something" was first heard on "So You Think You Can Dance," as a dance number between competitors on the "reality" show. When Xtina performed with A Great Big World on "The Voice," it hit No. 1 on iTunes and Billboard's Digital Chart, and ultimately, the top 10 in Canada and top 20 in the U.S.

Wowsah, it's not often that I hear much on radio anymore that fuels me to head to YouTube and explore a new song. This one... is so special. *

Bloomberg Steamrolls Legislation To Make Cigs Illegal For Adults

He just couldn't leave well enough alone, could he? Outgoing NYC Mayor Mikie Bloomberg, with six weeks left in office, is having one more festive stomp on individual rights before he calls it a day on his endless 12 years of Nannying the metropolis.

This time, he is banning the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21—making New York the first municipality in these United States to prohibit sales of a 100% legal commodity to adults.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg also signed legislation today that will keep the price of tobacco sky-high by prohibiting coupons and other discounts and setting a minimum cigarette price of $10.50 per pack. Really? Tell me where you can purchase a pack of smokes for under $12 in the city? (That's why smokers have the Internet!)

Mind you, while it is technically still legal for those over the age of 18 to smoke, they cannot purchase cigs at retail—making the new law all the more asinine. So let's see: You can vote, you can be called upon to sacrifice your life amid America's ongoing wars, but smoking... Hell no! That shit'll kill you.

Mercy, mercy me, Bloomie, haven't you done enough damage in NYC: turning the city from a pedestrian-centric metropolis into one giant bike lane, your silly (failed) soda ban, mandating that high-rise buildings make stairs more accessible than elevators, calorie counts, dumbass recycling of food waste (like paper & plastic), a push toward breastfeeding... and so many other failed notions, including Prohibition 2 and prohibiting bodegas from displaying "junk food" or cigarettes. Oh, and let's remember his repulsive campaign featuring "fat in a glass."

For god's sake, is this man EVER going to stop?

Around The World: Best Men's Mags For October/November 2013

Say It Isn't So! National Enquirer Reveals The Truth About Celine's Marriage!

Oh, no! After 19 (not 18, dimwits!) years of marriage it appears that Celine Dion has decided she's done with René Angélil! A new hit album, three kids, Las Vegas... fuhget about it! The National Enquirer reveals that Celine has removed her wedding ring!! I knew it would never last!!


Meanwhile, new album "Loved Me Back To Life" has debuted at the top of the charts around the world... It is No. 1 on iTunes in 44 countries, including Canada, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, Luxembourg, Poland and South Africa, and reached the Top 5 in an additional 42 countries.

In the U.S., we are shamed with a No. 2 entry for LMBTL, behind Eminem's latest tripe. Only in America, oh, sigh...

Joe Manganiello Releases Porn, Uh, Exercise Manual 'Evolution' December 3

Longtime Smoking Nun fave Joe Manganiello is finally cashing in on that hot bod. The 36-year-old actor’s new book Evolution: The Cutting Edge Guide to Breaking Down Mental Walls and Building the Body You’ve Always Wanted (subtitle: I'm So Damn Hot!) will smack shelves December 3. Merry Christmas, indeed!

So Long, Nanny Bloomberg! 'The New Yorker' LAST STRAW Cover

January 1, 2014 will be a day of celebration in New York City, as Democrat and Brooklyn resident Bill de Blasio becomes the new mayor, putting Emperor Mike Bloomberg's endless 12-year tirade of squashing individual's civil liberties at rest, at last. The New Yorker pays tribute to Nanny Bloomie with a keen cover this week titled "The Last Straw," an obvious stab at his most ridiculous waste of time in trying to outlaw 20-ounce sugar sodas. Good riddance, Mike! Sip on this!

Meanwhile, I have to admit, this New York mag cover of the de Blasio family is a little "precious" to me. Come on, yeah, I know you're a loud and proud mixed marriage dude, but those kids... the extreme (not in the least hip) afro and your daughter's constant "flowers in my hair" hippie tribute... a bit nauseating. Let's hope you take the office of Mayor more seriously than your hipster fam, dude.

NYC's 'Arctic Blast' In November? Here's The Ultimate Solution

Good god, almighty, could we have not at least worked our way into January before it feels like February. Here we are before the middle of November, and the weather forecast is portraying an

"Arctic Blast" that personifies one of the primary reasons I am ready to flee the Northeast.

Tuesday night just after 9:30p, it's below freezing, with a "real feel" of 22 degrees. Oh, how lovely. So I am armed and ready, preparing my consummate "winter" comfort food: a giant pot of homemade chili, complete with kidney beans, pinto beans, corn, tomato sauce, plenty of spices—and this time, fresh STEAK chopped into bite-size pieces. Cheddar cheese is at the ready for the topping.

If it has to be this friggin' cold in November, I might as well enjoy the fruits veges of a bountiful winter feast. Saltines on the side, please. Brrrrr!

Kate Winslet Shimmers On Cover Of November 2013 'Vogue'

Okay, so yes, for sure, Kate Winslet has been photoshopped and re-colored to a point of near absurdity, but there's no doubt that this is among the most beautiful images of the 38-year-old actress I have ever seen.

Kate is the the youngest person ever to accumulate six Academy Award nominations—and she finally picked one up in 2008 as Best Actress for "The Reader." She also won an Emmy Award for her performance in the (dreadful) 2011 miniseries "Mildred Pierce."

But hey, she'll always be that girl that starred with Leo DeCaprio in 1998's "Titanic," which garnered an Oscar for Best Song for Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On," right?

GaGa Gallery: NYC & LA November 11-13... Oh, Yes, Baby!

Now if only I had ANY inkling of actually liking Gaga's new album... It appears she decided that "Artpop" meant "Let's get wildly experimental and sacrifice that which made me famous": melodic hooks.

As Polls Close In Governor's Race, Virginians Appear To Play It Smart

Among the most DANGEROUS elections today is occurring in my home state—and soon-to-be home state again—of Virginia, with freakazoid Tea Party Christian conservative zealot Ken Cuccinelli running in a venomous race against Democrat Terry McAuliffe.

I've been keeping up with the race via my fave "The Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC, who has repeatedly reported about just how frighteningly out of touch Cuccinelli is with mainstream social moors—not to mention running a campaign that is utterly packed with LIES about his opponent's views.

The polls closed at 7 p.m., and as hoped, Virginians seem to understand that this man is as close to a modern-generation Mephistopheles as has ever practiced politics in Washington.

The Atlantic offers a thoughtful piece on all that this madman did wrong in his bid for Governor, as an anti-abortion zealot, immigration reform foe, anti-gay everything, anti-Obamacare, support for school abstinence-only policies, on and on and on...

Here's hoping that we'll know for certain within the next few hours that America continues to recognize Tea Party fanatics as the nation's worst political disaster since... George Bush.

Meanwhile, the Illinois House approved marriage-equality legislation this afternoon, and the measure appears on track to become state law!! Federal equality is coming, I tell you!!

UPDATE: As we now know, of course, McAuliffe ultimately triumphed, thanks to voters in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. But it was frighteningly close, with a 48/46% win for McA. All the same, Virginia now has the opportunity to join the rest of the nation as a progressive state—instead of what it might have become under Cuccinelli: Texas, V2.