Nichelle Newsletter

Can You Tell

What am I up to:  Blogging more at Keeping Nickels, and twittering to my heart's content.

Last night: Me and two gal pals had drinks, deviled eggs and pigs in a blanket at new Scottish bar, Shoolbred's,  in the East Village.   It a nice bar with good grub and a handsome bartender. 

Reading: Dandy in The Underworld by Sebastian Horsley.  He's reading at In The Flesh next month.

Audio:  I could have sworn I heard a wee bit of  a Vampire Weekend song on a intro/outro on NPR yesterday afternoon.  Maybe it was "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa". There's no need to "Venn Diagram" this, since I am sure that many WNYC listeners also went to Ivy League and were topsiders year round.

Subway: Someone famous was on the subway today, but I didn't recognize her. Some school kids did and got her autograph. She kept smiling and looking at me like I should know her, but I didn't.  She kinda looked like maybe a younger Peggy Fleming, but  who the hell knows. Dear Famous Lady, I am sorry I didn't know who you are.  I assume it is because you are on TV, and I don't watch much of that.

West End Girls

Nichelle on her way to Jacques Torres, originally uploaded by Rachel from Cupcakes Take the Cake.

RKB took this photo of me two weeks ago on Hudson Street.

Rachel, Allison and I will be on the Frank DeCaro show this Tuesday talking about cupcakes.

I may be in Family Circle in March, I think.  If  I make it, it will in the front of the book talking about quitting my corporate job in 2005.

Chicks and Giggles has a fan page on Facebook.  Be a fan! Read the recap from last week's show on the blog.

What A Fool Believes

uggstore, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

One of the signs that the world is crazy is seeing a line of people waiting outside in line on a rainy Sunday evening to get inside the UGG store in Soho. I thought these boots were over, but for some strange reason they are still very popular. I don't care if Uggs are so comfortable and warm; the boots are still U-G-L-Y to me.

BTW, I am doing karaoke with friends for New Year's Eve, and I plan to sing a Doobie Brothers tune.

Happy New Year!

Turning Japanese

I am featured in this week's NY Japion, a weekly Japanese newspaper here in New York.  Yuka interviewed me about cupcakes at Billy's Bakery.  I would love to have the article translated, so leave a note in the comments if you can help. Thanks!

Update: I got a translation! Ms. Nichelle Stephens runs a blog together with two friends, "Cupcakes Take the Cake." Their blog features introductions to new shops as well as pictures of unique cupcakes. They've also appeared on TV to demonstrate how to eat cupcakes, and they organize meet-ups for cupcake lovers the third Saturday of each month.

clipped from www.ejapion.com ニシェル・スティーブンさん友人二人とブログ「カップケーキ・テイク・ザ・ケーキ」を運営する。ブログでは新しい店の紹介やユニークなカップケーキの写真を掲載。カップケーキの食べ方でテレビ出演も。また、毎月第３土曜日にはカップケーキ好きが集まるミートアップを実施している。 ブログ： www.cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com

Race Riot On The Dancefloor

Tonight I did something very hipster-nerdy.   After watching Chicks and Giggles Hell's Angels and eating Cheddar Waffle Fries with Gravy at O'Lunney's , I dragged my friends to the Apple Store at 59th and Fifth Avenue to see Spank Rock perform.  It was fun!  However, I just don't really understand what "Shake It Till My D!ck Turns Racist" means.  It's the chorus to Spank Rock's song, "Race Riot On The Dancefloor"  that really had the crowd going.

I have never seen so many kids dancing in what is essentially an electronics store.  Even if the hottest jam was pumping out of every stereo in a Best Buy, there would only be a head nod or two.  However this is the Apple Store in New York City, and there was a party going on without booze or bouncers. This concert was the last of their midnight shows  which have  been going on all summer long for FREE. Gotta love it!

Hey Jude

This week, I am cat-sitting on State Street and since I am near Junior's, I treated myself to strawberry cheesecake shortcake. It is a very indulgent dessert to eat for breakfast, but since I have five cats to feed between two houses, I deserve it.

Also, I am watching the cable TV like a fiend or like Owen Wilson on a heroin binge. :)  I will try not like slit my wrists when the cat-sitting gig ends.

Autumn Leaves

Berry mojito & passion fruit mojito, originally uploaded by mdpNY.

Today was embarrassing as one of my flip flops completely  fell apart when I was walking in Midtown toward the UN.  Being barefoot is really frowned upon by New Yorkers. All the corporate casually dressed people stared at me like I was homeless or deranged.  Luckily I hopped/hobbled over  to The Avenue and bought silver sandals that were on sale.

Plus I have about an half dozen mosquito bites on my legs. I am ready for the fall. August is kicking my butt!

One Nation Under A Groove

Books:  I went to BEA, and ran into a million people I know.  Then I went to a book party for Bob Smith where there was no AC but plenty of cool people. 

Bon Appetit:  Saturday, I went to a graduation party downtown at the wonderful Les Halles.

Blather: It's Sunday and I am tuckered out.  I read the Sunday Styles of the New York Times and noted two articles, "Lower East Side Is Under A Groove" and "So Sweetie, I Quit to Bake Cupcakes". 
First, the Lower East Side story seems a little dated since the transformation/re-gentrification of the neighborhood has been happening for years and it seemed to be a way to make developer Sion Misrahi seem like a hero.  However,  one of his former employees, Steven Gluck was convicted for harassing Marcia Lemmon, a Community Board 3 member who opposed the bar scene in the LES.  Gluck was arrested in 1999 and convicted in 2000.  I know people have short memories, but you gotta wonder if Misrahi has people at his real estate development company who intimidate the residents and small business owners of the Lower East Side who don't fit with the vision of high market retail, restaurant and rental area.  Also,  I must say that the author of the article lives in the Lower East Side, and I think that should have been disclosed.

Second, the article about people opening cupcake bakeries as  a second career is great.  I just wished they snagged a quote from either Allison, Rachel or me instead of Eater LA. No offense to other blogs, but  we are the "google of cupcakes"! If you "google" cupcakes, Cupcakes Take The Cake is number 1!

The Only Living Boy In New York

Yesterday I stopped by Crif Dogs, and I asked about the "speakeasy" that is due to open soon.  Word is that is will open in two weeks.  After eating a chili dog and tater tots, I walked out and moments later I have a celebrity sighting, Zach Braff of "Scrubs".  He walking down the street wearing a plaid newsboy cap.

In other news, check out Sprig.  It's a website for "sophisticated people are into green".  Although the tagline is a mite pretentious, there is cool stuff  and Anne Saxelby of Saxelby Cheesemongers is listed as an expert. I have sampled some of her cheese, and it mighty good.

Sharehouse Confidential Party tonight!

Cupcake Meet-up Saturday!

Do The Funky Chicken

, originally uploaded by martha martha martha.

I had an "Only In New York " experience Wednesday evening. I was walking south on Bleecker Street near Charles but not on the same of the street as the always-crowded Magnolia Bakery when a woman stopped to ask me where the Marc Jacobs store is located. First, I laughed. Second, I pointed across the street to where ONE of the Marc Jacobs' stores  is on the corner. 

She said, "I didn't recognize it."
"See, it has all those polaroids of people taking pictures with a chicken for Easter", I explained.
She looked puzzled as she walked across the street.

Meanwhile at the next block I walked into the other Marc Jacobs' where there was a blowout sale on random winter accessories like scarves, fingerless gloves and wellies. Luckily I found a colorful little beaded necklace for $11.   I had a mini-fashion orgasm!

Move

Is there  such a thing called "subway troubadour etiquette"?  There should be.  A thin guy with a guitar and a paper cup decided to hold a mini-concert in one car on  the D train in Brooklyn. He sang 3 songs and then paced up and down the subway car after each tune expecting tips.  Why not go to the next car?!  Most veteran subway troubadours move on after one song, two if they are getting a good response. However, the car that I was in  tonight was nearly empty.  The other passengers  and I did this cool trick of  synchronized eyeball-rolling as we tried to "tune him out".  I didn't even have a book or a game of SuDoKu to soothe me.

By the way,  last night I had the pleasure of  hearing someone blow chunks on the subway and then 10 seconds later smelling the vomit.   I looked around and spotted the offender holding his head down and  I wondered if he was drunk or ate too much Easter candy.  I moved to the next car even though I had only one more stop.   Switching cars is the one true path to serenity.

Looking Out My Back Door

On my way downtown last night, I stopped by the newstand at West 4th Street station, hoping to pick up the latest incarnation of Radar magazine.  After scanning the titles quickly, I asked the guy if he  had Radar.
He looked puzzled. 
I repeated "Radar" and just to add clarification I also said "It's a general interest maagazine".
Without skipping a beat, the newstand guy pulled a copy of The Source which is neither a general interest magazine nor sounds like Radar. 

I was at a loss for words.  I didn't care enough to get indignant and besides my feet were wet from the snow.

Discuss amongst yourselves. :)

Fame

I did a commercial for Long Island University today, so now I can add "actor" to the list of things that I do. The call time was at 9AM and the shoot ran about 8 hours.  I can't believe I made it through the day because I was so hungover from partying.  [I am no Lindsay Lohan] It was a non-speaking role, but it was fun despite the waiting!  I have no idea when it will air but I am excited about it. 

The make-up artist on the shoot, Deangelo, also does works on the new BET reality show, My Model Looks Better Than Your Model.  He made me look GOOD!  Mo took pictures, so I will try to post this week.

Update:  I got my check today for the commercial.  I am a fucking thespian!

If

If I Did Him, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

Photo courtesy of Michael Malice. The photo was inspired by one of the many sick and twisted but hilarious conversations I had on Thanksgiving Day.  I did 2 dinners, ate turkey, chicken, potaoes, carrots, salad, pumpkin pie and drank cranberry juice out of a Smurfette glass.

Thanks to Derek and Michael for filling my tummy with food and my brain with gossip and trivia.

Update: Jessica's version is cuter.

One

_DSC4017, originally uploaded by brianvan.

Web: This afternoon (what a f@cking beautiful day!) BVan and I attended the first annual One Web Day.   It was down at Battery Park and I ran into a few folks who on the internets including Craig Newmark, Amy Langfield , Paul, Jose,  JCN  and Mark (pictured above).

Geek:  Wifi Salon is providing wifi to Battery Park.

Fawn: Over the World Famous Bob Tonight at Mo Pitkins.

Like: LikeMind III was this morning. You gotta come next time!

One Bad Apple

The prettiest apple, originally uploaded by carpe icthus.


Bake:  Caramel Apple Cupcakes.

Go:  The Lascivious Biddies debut at Birdland tonight at 7PM.  The ladies are also celebrating their 5 year anniversary.  I can't afford $30 tickets, but if you can then you should go.

Text:  Excellent Blog post about texting etiquette  (via Lifehacker).

Live:  With me, I need a new roommate, ASAP (meaning October 1 or at least by October 15).  It's a two BR apartment in an East Harlem renovated brownstone, spitting distance from  the 4/5/6 and Metro North and under $1,000. Email me for details.

 

First We Take Manhattan

do you know Manhattan ?, originally uploaded by greentea flute.


Time to thank friends, sponsors and the like.

Operation Couch Surf is looking good. I will be in either Brooklyn or Manhattan for the next two weeks.

Congrats to my friends who got new jobs! The more money you make, the more I feel like a loser! [jk]

All Business is where I blog about small business accounting.  Take a second and check out my blog, Keeping Nickels.  If you have any questions related to accounting, suggest in the comments here or there.

Biz rate is over in the side bar, and there's a link where you can shop for jeans and watches. Click though if you not reading this on RSS feed.

 

Move It

Moving Day 08, originally uploaded by NYC Stygian.

Today, I received an email from my roommate that contained a f@cking pdf attachment notifying me that I have to leave my present apartment by June 30.  I need a new place to call home immediately.  Any leads would be appreciated!

In sweeter news, I received a copy of Ayun Halliday's new book, Dirty Sugar Cookies.  The multi-talented Ayun performed a few weeks ago at Chicks and Giggles' "Got MILF" show.  She also has a new food blog.  Starting June 1st, Ayun will have a virtual book tour visiting a few blogs and will visit Cupcakes Take The Cake on June 6.

Three Is The Magic Number

Rachel, Heidi and Nichelle, originally uploaded by La Pauline.

After spending the week at a book reading,  performing at a blogger reading, hanging out after a comedy show, attending two book parties  with friends,  and stopping by a couple of art gallery openings, what's next?

• You spend Friday night in watching Grey Gardens.
• You check out Habana Outpost in Fort Greene on Saturday afternoon.
• You go see Adira Amram Saturday night in the Billyburg and have a drink at Surf Bar.
• You sleep and read books.
• You wish that every weekend was a three-day weekend because you love threesomes!

Hot Thang

Our lovely cupcake hostess and eating contest emcee, Dottie Lux of the Red Hots Burlesque.  Come check her show out every Sunday night at Rififi.

Partyman

Eat This Book author Ryan Nerz, Allen Salkin (Author of Festivus) and Me. When Allen is not out of the country, he is attending parties.  I went to Allen's book party last fall for Festivus and I saw him last week at the Nerve party.

The Sweetest Thing

Mindy Raf is eating a cupcake.  [Hot!] The party for Eat This Book was a blast.  Friends, bloggers, freelance writers, authors and competitive eaters came to celebrate the release of Ryan Nerz's book.  We made history at the Delancey with the first ever mini-cupcake eating contest!

Girls On Film

Questions:

• What do you do when you get on email on a Monday morning asking you to be an extra on a independent film?
• What if the subject of the email is "Please Come To Bed With Us"?
• What if the guys from Yankee Pot Roast are shooting for their movie, American Standard, and the scenes are a lesbian bachelorette party at Bed?

Answer:
If you are me, then you go.:) I have never been an extra before, and it is definitely more waiting than make-believe.  I didn't have a book with me and I don't knit, so I chatted with the other extras as we ate pizza and salad. [Free dinner!]  Later, we finally got into our party scene positions where we pretend talk saying "peas and carrots". Unless I end up on the cutting room floor, I am in two scenes. One in the bathroom primping in the mirror with another girl.  The second scene is me partying with the rest of the bachelorette party and we all have sex toys. I am holding the biggest bottle of Babeland Lube (16oz. and it comes with a handy pump). You can't miss it!

 

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting Kevin Powell (author, poet, journalist, congressional candidate) who is still most known for his appearance on the first season of MTV's Real World. He is running for Congress in Brooklyn's 10th district which covers Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Heights, downtown Brooklyn, and part of the Fort Greene and Williamsburg. Kevin is really committed to education and fighting poverty, and I would totally vote for him if I still lived in Brooklyn.

On the subway downtown, I thought about "The Real World" and the rich experience of living with 7 people from diverse backgrounds and how that must have shaped Kevin's perspective about people. I would guess that being on the show was a good thing despite the pitfalls of "reality show celebrity" because I believe that knowledge is power.  Ignorance sucks, and I was reminded of it suddenly when I had this exchange with a girl I recently met.

Scene: "Only in My Dreams" by Debbie Gibson is blaring through the speakers at a LES lounge.

Girl: I love this song!
Me: Yeah, I love it too.
Girl: Really??? [the look of shock was on her face]
Me: Yeah.
Girl: It's just that you are Black and I didn't think you would listen to Debbie Gibson.
Me: I listen to ALL types of music, and I grew up with MTV and pop music just like you.

I guess this is what happens when people stop being polite and start being real...real stupid.

BTW, for the real world junkies, check out the wiki.

Promise Of A New Day

• Spring is here. Summer is coming. Coney Island is open!
• The groundbreaking of the High Line is today, and I am going.
• I couldn't change my "top 8" in FireFox. I had revert to Explorer to do it.
• I saw Greenways8 play at FREENYC party on Saturday. The party felt like a rave!
• Check out Edgeio.  It is like Craigslist w/Blog and RSS power! (via Mernit)

You Can't Stop The Beat

Last night was a treat! After standing online outside for nearly 30 minutes, I finally got inside the theatre at Henry Street Settlement so that I could listen and laugh to director John Waters talk about his films, Divine and Baltimore. I lucked out with a seat in the front row, and as I exited a member of the film crew told me that they got a lot of great footage of me laughing.  [Is there anyway I can make a living as a professional laugher?]

Later I walked along on Essex Street, and I found nirvana in the form of $3 martinis and Drag Queen Bingo at Boss Tweed's. Apparently Boss Tweed's decided to chuck any hipster pretense and go gay on Wednesdays. They even named the event "Lavender Tweed's". Jessica Foxx is the bawdy drag queen who calls out the numbers and gives out prizes to the winners which is either a shot or a sex toy. Last night I played a couple of rounds but didn't win.  John Waters and Drag Bingo was like a double bill of camp. Hilarious!

Radio

john_waters.jpg
Originally uploaded by arimoore.

Remember when music videos were arty?! Check out this cool video of Apes and Android's "Radio" which was directed by Funlap (via Janelle)

Keeping up the "party girl street cred", I stopped by King Size (21 Essex St) last night. It's a cute bar, and ironically it's kinda tiny, but quite nice.

Tonight, I am going to see John Waters do a one-man show, This Filthy World, that's being recorded for either film or cable.

Thursday, the WAU WAU Sisters have a show at ARS NOVA at 10PM. $15

PS The sketch was done by Arimoore.

Hey Mr. DJ

OK, Ellen and I saw Dave Chappelle's Block Party last weekend.  Checking the box office statistics, it opened at #7 out of the top ten movies last week, but I have no idea how many screens/locations that showed it. Two reasons to see it are the concert footage and Chappelle's comedy. The music was great, and I should know because I was there that rainy day in September 2004. Ellen and I got super excited because we saw ourselves in the film.  There's a quick shot of us on line near the Manhattan Bridge waiting for buses to take concertgoers to a "secret location" in Bed Stuy.

I guess we have director Michel Gondry to thank for our mili-second of fame, so maybe I will check his DJ'ing skills tonight at B-Side (204 Avenue B).  Apparently Michel's gonna spin some tunes. I just wonder if he will use "two turntables and a microphone" or will be DJing  via an iPod.  Please kick it to me "old skool", mon ami!

I Ain't Gonna Stand For It

Last night, I left my apartment in Harlem at 5:35PM.  I then proceeded to walk as far south and east to get down to a zone where a cab fare would not kill me.  I walked nearly 50 blocks and then took a $15 cab  down to Union Square and walked down to Happy Ending (near Chinatown). I arrived at 8PM. It was an exhausting experience that I will have to face again as long as the strike is on.  However, last night's reading was fantastic! Rachel read a story by Shanna Germain. I read Bette's story. Tsaurah Litsky read a hilarious story.  We then took a break, drank Manhattans and ate chocolate covered pretzels.  After the break, Bette read my story and Sid read RKB's story. It was so much fun! I love the friends and strangers who came out to support us.  You rock! Look out for Naughty Spanking Stories 2: From A to Z  in February and on a podcast/videocast. After the reading, we walked over to 6s and 8s for dancing, free Red Stripe and a copy of the latest issue of Mass Appeal. 

A Whole Lotta Love

Fantastic things:

• Drinking Bacardi Razz at 3PM while watching a photo shoot of Jazzy Jeff for LRG clothing
• Samples of sexy French perfume at Bendel's
• Seeing the Biddies and Derek James play at Trump Tower Bar
• Meeting photographer Wanda and musician Casey Shea (another birthday twin)
• Enjoying hot cider while seeing Carolyn rap in Dutch, Rachel read about doing dishes, Rob and Mark's musical comedy, playing trivia, listening to Syd's miracle and the singing of the yummy Dartmouth Cords
• Great and talented friends who always make me smile

Last Night

My rejected Overheard in New York:

Guy: What are you doing tonight?
Chick: Um, I guess I'm going that party at Morrisey Park
Guy: What's going on there?
Chick: Oh, Merlin's doing a party there
Guy: Since when are you on a first name basis with the Last Night's Party guy?
Chick: Since I showed him my tits, I guess I know him now.

I saw Malice last night along with a bunch of other sinners.  It's too crazy and too tedious to document the rest.

Three The Hard Way

ps_DSC0372
Originally uploaded by brianvan.

TAN, Allison and Copyranter chillin' after the Chicks and Giggles show at Mo Pitkins.

Raise The Flag

ps_DSC0389
Originally uploaded by brianvan.

Last night was magnificient! Chicks and Giggles was fantastic! The show gets better and better every week.The Party Posse and I hung out with cool new people, saw recent mayoral candidate Christopher X. Brodeur on Broome St. Seconds later, we spotted Claudia Cogan on our way to Happy Ending. We enjoy half-priced cocktails at Happy Ending with TAN, Ali-Z and Rose Red. Then Brian and I head up to NBC studios to meet up with Ms. Michelle.

The Chimbley Sweep

Lower Eastsiders, there’s a new sheriff in town. Broome Street is the new Rivington Street. Here's proof:
Broome Street has Babycakes and Broome Doggs.
Rivington Street has Sugar Sweet Sunshine and the newly opened Dash Dogs.
Broome Street has Lolita, the new “Peach Pit”.
Rivington Street has The Magician, the old “Peach Pit”.
Broome Street is Grand Street on the B.
Rivington Street is Delancey Street on the F.
Broome Street has Happy Ending.
Rivington Street has Schillers.  We know Schiller’s Liquor Bar is full of cunts.
Enough said. Broome wins!

Bye, Bye, Bye

I spoke, rather I blogged, too soon.  About 15 minutes after my last post, an older Asian man who works at Dojo came up to me and said:

No computer here.  You go to Starbucks!

I so wanted to laugh, but I just packed my stuff, finished my coffee walked down here to Theee Coffee Chamber on Bleecker.  If I get kicked out of any more places, I will let you know.

Feeling Alright

Is it possible to have a job interview in Midtown and a mimosa in the East Village within the same hour?
That's what I am doing right now, and I am so geeky that I have a plate of french fries, a mimosa, a cup of coffee and a laptop all on the same table.  I am even sitting outside at Dojo on St Mark's Place.  It doesn't get much better than this.

I'm In Love

I may have found my nirvana in the shape of the Starbucks @Allen and Delancey.  It's clean, quiet and close to the places where I hang out.  Tonight is my first night here, and I'm in love!  This place is spacious and well lit. This is where bloggers go write, have an iced coffee,and take a piss in a relatively clean bathroom.  Yay!

Popular

Fall is in high gear already with events.  Some are free. Some are cheap, but only the best goes on this blog. I am the collander for your calendar.

At Least It's Pink totally rocks!  Bridget Everett and Kenny Mellman performed last night at Galapagos.  I am a fan. They will do their show again at ArsNova on October 9 which is the same day as East Side Oral.

The next Jinx Debate is Wednesday October 5 at Lolita.  The topic is NY vs NJ.  The debaters are Boni Joi (NY) and her opponent is Caren Lissner (NJ).  [Sounds like a catfight to me.]

Plus, Michael Cyril Creighton is doing a benefit show for Lupus on October 5 @ Galapagos.  It's called, "MCC: Finally Has His Way With Women".  Chicks and Giggles Alum Michelle Collins and At Least It's Pink are performing as well. [$10, w/half the proceeds going to Lupus Research]

Good Rocking Tonight

Before producing a comedy show, I used to want to be a music promoter and book bands here in the city.  Spending tons of time in rock clubs can be exhausting, so now I only promote my favorites via this blog and word of mouth. Here's the latest from of the best musicians who are NOT doing that indie/hipster/l.e.s/ironic disco thing.

• Reverend Vince Anderson and his Love Choir are back at Black Betty’s playing every Monday night at 10:30PM.
• My buddy Don McCloskey is playing this Saturday at Sidewalk Cafe and next Wednesday at the Knitting Factory before heading out to the West Coast for more shows.
• The Biddies court more press as they do a mini-tour up in Massachussetts.  They will playing at Joe's Pub on September 7.

One of my favorite moments of this week is when I was singing "Here's Where the Story Ends" by The Sundays with two other bar patrons at the end of the night.  [I must get that on my iTunes]

Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?

I feel so damn lucky to be able to write this as an hour ago I thought I was going to die. If I had expired, it would have been death by umbrella.  I was nearly crowned to death by a big fancy blue umbrella.  The owner is a lovely lady who I met tonight.  She is the girlfriend of a virtual friend, and she does not want me around.  The evening started out quite auspiciously with wine and cocktails.  A group of us later shared a nice meal.  Then we had a round of drinks at a local tavern. Conversation was lovely and lively, and I was having fun.  At the end, we all walked together as I was heading uptown.  It had been raining so she had her umbrella with her.  It was big and powerful. At first when she opened it, I thought it was a nice gesture to keep me dry. However, she proceeded to crown me with the sharp spikes of her blue umbrella.  I ducked. Then she hailed me a cab.  I felt safe in the cab. The cab driver sensing my distress asked if those people were my friends. I said, “Yeah, they're my friends, I think.”

 

So High

Mondays are fun! 

• Rachel and I were on the Derek and Romaine show talking about spanking and cupcakes.
• I stopped by Otto to say hello to Laren.
• I caught Neal Medlyn's amazing performance at Starlight.  [It was like Gallagher meets R.Kelly]
• I got a foot massage at Barramundi.
• When I got home, I had two packages waiting for me. I received a copy of Danyel Smith's novel Bliss and another copy of Nerd Girl Rocks Paradise City by Anne Thomas Soffee. Cool beans!

You Can't Hurry Love

Congratulations! Last weekend Adele Testani, president and co-founder of Hurry Date got married.  Adele offered me a free hurry date last spring back when I was on the quest to get a boyfriend. Hurry Date is speed dating on crack.  You get three minutes to talk to someone, and then you're on the next person. I went and met 25 single guys and had one date with a fellow who lives in my neighborhood.  He was nice but there was no connection. I wonder if Adele met her husband through Hurry Date?

Speaking of dating, read RKB's latest column where she ponders what makes a date a date.

Love Plus One

Ames knows how to do a proper party.
1) location, location, location ( not too trendy not too touristy)
2) invite interesting people (more than the usual suspects)
3) open bar ( with friendly bartenders)
4) music (no indie-punk boy band crap)
5) a goodie bag with books, a condom, moist towelettes and lip balm

Name dropping starts here:
Jonathan Ames, Rick Moody, Nick Denton, Jennifer Blowdryer, Ada Calhoun, Felicia Sullivan, Mike Daisey, Albert Lee, Reverend Jen, Amanda Stern, Lockhart Steele, Shaggy the Party Crasher, Sloane Crosley, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Girly NYC, Emma Taylor, ZeroBoy and many others.

Read Scott's take on the party.

By the way, the book is Sexual Metamorphosis, An Anthology of Transsexual Memoirs.

1999

I Love The 90's!  Did you think that the world would end in 1999 because you heard the Prince song when you were a kid?  I did.  Six years later and I can't believe that we're still here!  It's all good.

Sittin' On Top Of The World

First I stopped by Derek and Romaine's 2nd Anniversary party at the Sirius Studios.  Bacardi debuted their new flavored rum, Bacardi Big Apple.  I had a couple of apple martinis.
Wade Williams, Hollyood caterer to the stars and E! commentator, supplied the festivities with chocolate pecan cookies.  He is expanding his LA-based company, Picnic, to New  York.  I checked out the spring/summer menu and it includes Chocolate and Vanilla Baby Cakes. [Sounds like cupcakes to me]

Angel Idealism stopped by the party just before I left. She is a singer, female drag queen and vocal contortionist.

Then the cocktail reception for the Community Service Society of New York.  It was cool! Carolyn was the MC and the crowd loved her. Two open bars in one night. A goodie bag included a Toblerone, Altoids and a baseball cap.

I met the Glamazons. Plus, I saw Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran in the lobby of Sirious Studios. Yay!

Ben

The RAT was on 14th Street on Monday!

Heart of Gold

I saw this while walking in the East Village today.

Another One Bites The Dust

Jonathan Ames hosted and curated a fantastic farewell to Fez. Fez will close at the end of this month after 13 years of operation.  It just another one in a sad series of music and performance venue closing in NYC. Here's my backwards recap of the event in a podcast. Plus, I brought my new Olympus Digital Voice Recorder with me last night. I got bits of Zero Boy's performance, Cynthia Hopkins' sing-a-long, and the Mangina trio. The crowd was great. RKB, Allison, and me had a blast!

Listen to the vocal acrobats of Zero Boy

Sing with Cynthia

Hear my laughter when I see three Manginas

Come Back And Stay

Check out the latest issue of on-line magazine, New York Cool.  There's some interesting nightlife pieces about last month's Dog Show Party and Mardi Gras at Galapagos. Plus, I will be writing for New York Cool soon, my picture is already on the masthead. Yay!

Also, take a peek over at my other blog, Cupcakes Take The Cake. RKB, B-Muse and I have pictures,interviews and haikus about cupcakes.

I am spending the weekend down in Nashville,TN.  See some of you in New York  next weekend.

That Love Card

I was itching to get out and enjoy the warmer weather, so I strolled down 8^th Avenue in Chelsea last night . Surprise! I see Martha inside Better Burger.  We chatted about silly boys, rad girls, and ate air-baked fries and organic burgers.  Then she headed downtown to a Tiki bar.  I decided to have a frozen margarita at Blue Moon.  Mike, the bartender, made very berry margaritas for me.  Yum!  Best Week Ever was on the TV screen when I left to go home.

Flyers are a good thing.  This afternoon, a guy was giving out flyers at the corner of 23^rd and 7^th which  was advertising an event at Cedar Lake (547 West 26^th St).  “Love Sucks” is February 14 at 8PM.   Comedians Bill Dawes, Vince August, and  singer/songwriter Don “Big D” McCloskey will perform. The admission is pro-singleton: $20 for singles and $50 for couples.

More Big D news…Don McCloskey will be opening for G Love and Special Sauce in a few cities in the Midwest. 

Partyman

 

Party crasher Shaggy wants a reality show, but he needs a "Queer Eye" makeover first.

Giving You The Best That I Got

The perfect day off starts with a nice lunch with my new mentor and friend Karen, who has written over 25 books. [She's just started a blog, too]

Then I met up with Laren and Heidi for some culture; we spent the afternoon at the MoMA.

Later, I was a do-gooder because I volunteered at Love Your Tree at ABC Carpet and Home.  I was wo-manning the Red Tent, a sacred meditation space for women.  A few hours into my shift , a couple approached. The man was immediately familiar (not even slightly disguised) by the baseball cap.  It was actor Michael Richards who played Kramer on Seinfeld! 

When I told "Kramer" that only women could enter the Red Tent, he said:

"I have woman tendencies."

After I finished my shift, I went down to Happy Endings, listened to Bros. Friedman read, and grabbed some Vietnamese on Grand St. 

Only in New York, kiddies!

Taking Care Of Business

Sunday, it was about Christmas shopping, volunteer meeting for Collective Unconscious and checking out “Saturday Night Rewritten” at Juvie Hall.

My reviews:

• Shopping in Soho on a Sunday sucks, but getting free gift wrap is good.  B-
• Signing up to volunteer and meeting new people is good, but not having a formal meeting is a waste of time. C+
• Checking out “Saturday Night Rewritten” was big fun, losing yet another glove blows. A-

[Damn, it's so cold]

My Way

They were filming the pre-quel to "Carlito's Way"  round my way in Harlem last night.