After Eight Weeks, Renovation Wrapped!

After eight weeks, at last, my apartment renovation is signed, sealed & delivered. What started out as a fairly simply cosmetic redo in the living room turned into new hardwood floors throughout the unit, an extended bathroom and—god bless my contractor, Angelo—so many extras to make this joint feel like new.

After enduring this five times over the past 12 years, I must say, this is the first time I've blown open champagne to share with my contractor and his son Mike... because it was such a positive experience.

And yes, of course I teared all up while thanking them for so much pristine work as I bid farewell. It's hard to even imagine mornings without the two of them knocking on door and preparing A's coffee with milk and 3 sugars...

And now... so many possibilities: sleeping in a bed, opening cabinet drawers, accessing food in kitchen cabinets and best of all, wearing different clothes each day. For the past two months, I've pretty much donned a uniform of black jeans and a black sweater (yes, clean undies and undershirt). And now... access to my entire winter wardrobe. Oh, the wonder of it all!

Of course, now comes the grand clean-up and oh what a mess it is. Layers and layers of dust, sawdust, sanding dust, dust dust... One room at a time. Good thing I foster great satisfaction with a rag in my hand. Happy holidays, indeed!

Saturday's Santacon Fills NYC With Holiday Glee

There was certainly no mistaking that Saturday, December 15, was New York's annual Santacon celebration, as I moseyed through Times Square. The "non-denominational, non-commercial, non-political non-sensical Santa Claus convention that occurs once a year for absolutely no reason" packed NYC's densest neighborhood with thousands of twentysomething Santas, elves and other Christmas disciples of every shape and size.

I was incorrect in believing that Santacon is a bar crawl. Its webbie notes that "every time you call it that, a sugarplum fairy dies." Whoops. It's actually, in part, a food drive, with designated stop where, yes, you eat and imbibe. In 2011, Santacon raised $10,000 for Toys for Tots and donated more than 6,000 pounds of food to Manhattan and Brooklyn food banks.

The route this year began at 10 a.m. at Pier 84 on the very West side of 42nd Street, then made its way through Midtown, the East Village and into Brooklyn, with sponsored stops along the way.

Some 20,000 Santas participated in Santacon last year... along with such celebrations around the world. It originated in 1974 in Copenhagen; spread to Austin, Texas in 1978; San Fran in 1994; and since... has become a national event in cities worldwide.

For sure, I thought it was damn adorable seeing so many Santas—including some damn hot Saint Nicks—in NYC. Certainly brought a grin to my mug. *

On The Town: A Week's Worth Of Peeps

Despite my ongoing apartment renovation that just tipped into its eighth week (albeit, with delays from Hurricane Sandy, a gas crisis, and a hasty snowstorm), I have been able to get out and about now and again.

Here's the week's catch-up on socializing with my peeps. Thank god I've had them throughout this. Sanity is on the brink, given the fact that wifi is intermittent and dust continues to prevail. The good news: Finale is Monday! *
 Above: Happy Hour Friday in the Lower East Side; below, book release party with Leo...

Below, birthday party for pal Bo in Brooklyn Heights with Ayhan...And last, would it be a week without Sunday Tea? Happy Hour at Julius with Leo and then Ayhan...

Newtown, Connecticut... Unthinkable Acts

The events that occurred today in Newport, Connecticut, are simply impossible to fathom or to process. The lives of innocent 5-10 year old children, both the 20 massacred and those who will forever be impacted, the six adults slain, a community torn apart... and the question of why these horrible events continue to happen time and again in America... Teens and young adults bearing guns and carrying out unthinkable acts.

Watching President Obama's reaction tonight—with tears in his eyes—made me react similarly. There are so few words... *

The One That I Want: ONJ & John Travolta Reunite For Christmas CD!

Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta's duet from "Grease," "You're the One That I Want," remains the best-selling pop duet in history. Take that "Endless Love"! This week, the gay-friendly pair—Livi as a forever friend to the community and Johnny perpetually living behind that uncomfortable closet door—reunited for the release of seasonal album "This Christmas," which came out Tuesday. It's going to be fascinating to see next week's Billboard chart: This has potential to return ONJ to the top 10 for the first time in almost two decades.

Guests on the project include Cliff Richard, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett and James Taylor. The emphasis single, unfortunately, is an odd country hoedown, "I Think You Might Like It," which I honestly could have done without. All the same, it comes complete with a music video. Great to see Olivia looking radiant as ever... while John, ever aging out of living a miserable life of lies, seems to have his scalp painted with... uh... hair. See it right here! *

Happy 12-12-12!

The last time within our lifetimes we'll ever see such a phenomenon. Seems like a good reason to dance naked up and down the street. *

The Return Of Aussie Chanteusse Delta Goodrem

Delta, Delta, oh sweet Delta, at last you have returned! Among my handful of favorite contemporary female vocalists, Aussie Delta Goodrem remains among the most gifted singers & songwriters in the world. That would be the entire big bad universe, cool cats.

While her attempt with Sony Music at U.S. success was perhaps ill-timed in the middle of the previous decade—in the midst of hip hop's endless reign on the American pop charts, thankfully, a decade after conquering the charts, she continues to be one of Australia's most consistent and popular pop acts.

In 2003, Delta scored my No. 1 song of the year, "Born To Try," while her album "Innocent Eyes" topped my album list. She was also my Best New Artist for the year... In all, she has charted with nearly 20 songs on the Taylor Top 40 over the past decade or so... In addition, I hosted her when I was working for Billboard magazine as a Cafe artist and interviewed her for billboard.com.

Over the course of those several years, I lunched with her in NYC, attended an intimate birthday party, saw every U.S. performance she made in New York... and fell completely in love with a sweet, gorgeous, talented, smart lady.

Her new album "Child of the Universe" is just penetrating my playlist (thanks, Markie!). At first listen it appears she is in fine form, with a posse of strong, melodic, anthemic tracks. I can't wait to dig in deep.

While American radio may continue to believe that Nicki Minaj is worthy of fame & fortune (thank god she was deservedly snubbed in this year's Grammy nominations), it's comforting to know that true talent continues to reign, if on the other side of the world. Aaaah, yes! *

VH1 Divas Beefs Up Line-Up (Ever So Slightly)

The upcoming VH1 Divas Live concert, which airs from Los Angeles Sunday, December 16, "boasts" a line-up that is really, truly, honest-to-fuck a sham to the proud term diva, cool cats.

With a line-up comprising Ciara, Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato, I can only imagine that such past headliners as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain and Tina Turner are giggling into their bedpans.

Thankfully, true divas Jordin Sparks and Kelly Rowland are also part of the cast, to save the day, alongside divo host Adam Lambert.

Apparently, VH1 recognized that its roster was as lame as a flaccid winkie, because now the list has grown slightly more robust. Added to the ticket: Kelly Clarkson and Natasha Bedingfield.

That's the good news... Also added are a bunch of no-names: Melanie Fiona, Metric and Havana Brown. And just to stir the pot with a guaranteed tune-out: Pitbull!?! God, this is actually getting worse by the moment.

And appearing as presenters: La La Anthony, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Stacey Kiebler, Kelly Osbourne, NeNe Leakes, Brandy, Keri Hilson, Bootsy Collins, Ledisi and Iggy Azalea.

Thanks to Homorazzi for the update!

2012 Grammy Nominations!

Arghhhhh! It's one of my favorite events of the year... the announcement of the 2012 Grammy Award nominations... and one of The Smoking Nun's premiere opportunities to dish about the best of the year in music... and of course, more fun, the horrendous gaffes. Last year it was all about Adele, whom I supported wholeheartedly. This year, there's no clear leader in the quest to forever mark the best o' the past 12 months.

As a NARAS voter, I take particular interest in the annual expedition of helping select who wins... but as I've stated in the past, in recent years, it pains me that I'm more often voting against contenders rather than piling on kudos.

I mean, Nicki Minaj, critically acclaimed? Seriously? It's enough to wonder if the Grammy Awards more resemble the People's Choice Awards.

Stand by for my take on the best and worst... as soon as I can get a grip on my home office, post-renovation. Soon, no really. Meanwhile, read the major noms here. *

Rainy Days & Fridays

Sequestered... That's my present state, more or less... Yes, it's that damn living room renovation, which I really should redefine at this point. The actual LR reno is done, and as of the end of the week, new hardwood flooring has extended throughout the rest of the unit, save for the kitchen & bath.

That's meant moving furniture from one crowded space to another, as well as intermittent loss of WiFi and, egads, my desk, where all good words customarily come together. One more week to go... and meanwhile, yes, oh so good to get the hell out of the house.

P.S. No, that's not me in the Converse jacket... Hell, my name is Chuck Taylor. That would be redundant, wouldn't it? Pic in Manhattan along Second Avenue. *

Sheena Easton: I Love The '80s

Oh, youth... Sheena Easton's Japanese territory singles covers. How I love the 80s! *

Living Room Renovation: Week Six

Sigh... Okay, this has admittedly gotten the slightest bit wearying at this point. In week six of my apartment renovation—with delays here and there—floors continue to go down in the hallway, while the living room, kitchen and bedroom are an absolute tidal wave of furniture, dust and overall reno havoc. Navigating the apartment is kinda of like being a mouse in a maze.

I keep repeating, "Short-term pain for long-term gain." We're truly, honest to god within a week of wrapping. Then... all new... I can't wait to start cleaning, painting, organizing, rediscovering space...

Honestly, it's totally been worth every iota of inconvenience. And it doesn't hurt that my contractor Angelo and son Mike are—without exception—conscientious, on the job and utter perfectionists. Hell, at this point, they're pretty much part of the family. *

Eric Decker: Oh, Babe What Would You Say?

Sports, oh, how we love sports! Watching it, oh, who cares? Observing its players, now that's a different story. I've just discovered Eric Decker, who plays for some football team called the Denver Broncos. Ooh la la! *

Happy December From Abby & Spencer

It's getting cold outside. Nothing like a little critter loving to keep the nights warm & toasty. Happy December 2012! Last week was the second anniversary that these wonderful doggies were delivered on our doorstep from a Missouri rescue organization. *