LOOK CAREFULLY! These Are Going To Blow Your Mind!

WOWSAH! Look At Celine Dion At 43!

Celine Dion posted a video greeting to members of TeamCeline on webbie CelineDion.com, and may I just say, she has never, ever looked as beautiful. I am in awe... Celine has come into her own as a mature woman more so than when she was in her 20s.

'Ostrich': Look Like A Dumbass While Napping At The Office!

At last there's a way to enjoy a rewarding power nap at the office without the annoyance of hearing your boss ask what the hell you're doing. The Ostrich offers a nice cozy private environment, with "cave-like interior shelters" that hide your head and hands, so you don't have to sneak off to that back room where they keep the archive issues, for a quick hangover lie-down. Um, not that I've ever done such a thing.

Hey, the sooner you get one of these, the sooner I'll be able to apply for your job when you're fired! This gizmo was designed by kawamura-ganjavian, a British architecture & design studio. *

Oh, Justin... No! No! No!

A boy is never too old for his toys, but there's something waaaay off about this pic of Justin Bieber working it at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. *

EXCLUSIVE: First Look Inside NYC's New XL Gay Lounge & Cabaret Club

Talk about hitting the freelance lottery... Earlier this week, I got an assignment for a press release covering the opening of XL Lounge, Cabaret and Nightclub.

It's the first phase of the $20 million OUT NYC resort complex, which, in addition to XL, comprises a posh three-story, 105-room boutique

Note that the facade spells "OUT"

hotel with three outdoor courtyards, a 24/7 café and upscale restaurant Kitchen 510, business & conference facilities, a wellness center, and function space for major events and weddings.

The 11,000 sf XL space marks the return of nightlife impresarios John Blair and Beto Sutter (with party promoters Brandon Voss and Tony Fornabaio), who have revolutionized the quintessence of NYC gay entertainment for the past three decades, including the iconic '80s Roxy, Palladium, Tunnel, Club USA, Limelight and Splash, as well as nightlife magazine NEXT, JB’s restaurant and, in the millennium, the previous XL bar in Chelsea (which closed in 2006 after five years when they lost their lease).

Located on 42nd Street between 10th and 11th avenues in the heart of New York’s theater district and flanking Hell’s Kitchen “gayborhood,” XL is the first new NYC gay nightclub in 15 years, thanks to a stranglehold on granting new bar licenses in the city.
The focus of my release was XL Cabaret, Sutter’s lovechild, and I spent a couple hours with him Monday, talking about his vision and getting a full tour of the gargantuan, space-age facility.

Here’s how a visitor’s experience progresses: XL Lounge opens at 4 p.m. Three hours later, a dramatic drape opens to reveal the expansive candle-lit Cabaret space—with seating for 200 and standing room capacity for 650—which provides entertainment until 11 p.m. The setting then transforms into the Nightclub, open until 4 a.m.

There's a lot more to the story, which I'll share after the press release has been approved and sent to the masses. Meanwhile, XL opens this weekend—which I have the pleasure of attending... that is, if I can manage to stay awake until the party gets started... at midnight. *

Mario Lopez Strips Down For Ellen To Show Off 'Rated M' Undies

Mario Lopez was kind enough to offer a first-hand view of his new underwear line Rated M, while appearing on the Ellen Degeneres Show. Based on the picola here, we're giving Mario a grade of A. There's a pretty amusing video from the show here.

Adorable: David Beckham Covers February 2012 'Men's Health'

Following the introduction of his eye-popping new underwear line for H&M earlier this month, David Beckham offers a downright adorable photo spread behind his cover for the February 2012 Men's Health.

 And his H&M Bodywear line, thoughtfully modeled by the man himself...

The Bitch Is Back: Joan Collins Pawns Snickers Bars In Brit TV Advert

A new British TV advert for Snickers launched this week in the U.K., featuring two fab '80s divas playing their bitchy best: Joan Collins (Alexis Carrington from Dynasty) and Stephanie Beacham (Sable Colby from spin-off The Colbys). Collins is pushing 80 and looking divine, while Beacham, 64, is equally delectable. Absolutely hilarious. *

Obama Addresses End Of DODT In State Of The Union Address

There's plenty of blah blah blah all over the webbie about President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night. I was pleased to hear him drum home the point that gays serving in the military is the right thing for this nation...Meanwhile, From The Week: A vote for Gingrich "is a vote for an entertaining election, not a Republican in the White House," says Bret Stephens in The Wall Street Journal. "But honestly, none of the losers in the GOP field has a shot. Americans are generally eager to send Mr. Obama packing, but not for these clowns. Gingrich is winning only because voters instinctively prefer the idea of an entertaining Newt-Obama contest to a dreary Mitt-Obama one." *

'Revenge' Fame Lands Joshua Bowman In February 2012 'GQ'

As the success of ABC's sinister and delicious nighttime soap Revenge burgeons, so does the fame of break-out co-star Joshu Bowman, whose handsome face, lean physique and innate elegance are making him a favorite of the print media, and in particular, fashion and fitness mags. Good thinking!

In addition to his Entertainment Weekly cover this week with star Emily VanCamp, the beautiful Brit appears on the cover of sophisticated periodical Bello, along with a fashion spread in the February GQ. Why in the world it opted to put Michelle Williams on the cover (Golden Globe, oh whatever!), I'll never know. It sure is nice to see Josh smiling, too! *

(Photos courtesy of JoshBowmanFan.com)

With All My Might, I'm Hanging Onto My 40s, Despite...

Should I be feeling a little sensitive that over the course of two days, I received an email invite to join the "Senior People Meet" dating service and encouragement to become a member of AARP? For heaven's sake, I'm hanging onto my 40s for the next 247 days, and you can't stop me! *

Words To The Wise... From A Mattress On The Street

I'm not sure if this quite qualifies as public art, but it certainly makes a bold, forward-thinking statement. Saw this walking down St. Mark's Place in New York's Lower East Side last week... scribed on a mattress that had been tossed to the curb. Only in New York, cool cats... *

Ryan Seabreast Further Dumbs Down TV With Bravo's 'Shahs Of Sunset'

Ryan Seabreast, who is responsible for bringing television to the depths of hell with his soul pillaging Kardashians franchise, is apparently determined to bring the tube to a gruesome new low. The way-too-present entertainment mogul has partnered with Bravo to exploit a group of six young spoiled Iranian socialites in—ready for this—the Shahs of Sunset.

Unsuspecting viewers will witness the half-dozen Persian-American bluebloods (read: no jobs) giggling and jiggling up and down Rodeo Drive and throughout their rich SoCal haughty nabe "Tehrangeles," while stuffing their faces with traditional Persian feasts.

But it gets really serious, too. According to Bravo, "While they're fervent on the dating and party scene, the six seek approval from their families," who allegedly want their precious little brats to settle down and marry within the community." (As if...  It's pretty clear from previous rich-kid reality crap that if anyone's to blame, it's lax, enabling parents.)

Thanks, Ryan, for dumbing down TV just a little bit more. Enjoy your new Ferrari and the boy toys you cart around—while you continue to take the American viewing public for a ride. *

NBC's Upcoming 'Smash' Lenses (Again) In Brooklyn Heights

NBC’s upcoming mid-season replacement Smash must be counting on a ratings boon when it launches Monday, Feb. 6 at 10 p.m. The show’s crew returned to my Brooklyn Heights nabe Monday, January 23, to film an upcoming episode.

Seen: lead Katharine McPhee, and episode guests Uma Thurman and Jerry O’Connell. The latter pair was photographed with the Kill Bill star playing a courier and landing a punch upside Jerry’s face after she handed over a package.

In case you've been underwater for the past six months, the musical series, which NBC has been teasing for months, surrounds casting and preparation for the launch of a Broadway show about the life of Marilyn Monroe. The show’s impressive cast also includes Anjelica Huston, Debra Messing and Brit actor Jack Davenport.

Behind the scenes are executive producers Steven Spielberg and Chicago and Hairspray producers Craig Zadan & Neil Meron, with original music from composers Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (Hairspray).

The Smash crew was also in Brooklyn Heights last October filming scenes for the pilot episode.

For NBC’s promo, look here. iTunes is also offering a free download of the premiere here. See the Heights anywhere? *

Happiness Is: Big Apple Market, A Glimpse Of Vintage Times Square

Monday afternoon, after an utterly over-the-top freelance interview for the opening this weekend of the upcoming OUT NYC complex's XL Nightclub in midtown (more on that later in the week), I took notice of a wondrously dingy relic of vintage New York. The Big Apple Meat Market at 575 Ninth Avenue (and 41st Street, flanking Port Authority Bus Terminal) was beckoning me to explore—and what a treasure it is. The former butcher house converted to a grocery store... think Mom & Pop meets Mafia... opened in 1992 in the former Washington Beef, which packed & sold meat wholesale for 60 years.

To the right is the grocer and on the left, a freezing cold, honest-to-god meat locker. Giant portions of beef hang from hooks, where they cut and prep everything: from steaks and chops to ground beef, pork and veal. Add in a selection of fresh chicken, turkey, cornish hens, bacon and most everything else a meat lover would savor.

I'm, of course, taking the subway home, so a full shopping excursion was a little out of the question, but I couldn't resist an enormous 2-pound turkey leg ($1.58 @ pound), a freshly made chicken pot pie ($2.50), ground beef at $2.58 @ pound (compared to my nabe Key Food's $3.79 @ pound), cheapo hot dog buns and 150 coffee filters for my snazzy new coffee maker for $1.19. It's a pauper's paradise, for sure.

By the time I left, I was so weighted down with goodies I didn't even make it to the farmer's market next door. Next time, for sure. *