40th Anniversary of Stonewall Parade

This is my favorite shot that I took at the parade on Sunday...

A colorful bunch of devils, eh??

The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3

Wandered over to a Times Square cinema vowing that if the timing was right, I'd see it...

If the timing was off, I wouldn't...

So, the 12:15 show was well into the Coming Attractions but the cashier assured me the feature wouldn't start for another three minutes.

The elevator arrived and poof it departed on time just as I walked onto the platform. Perfect.

I was a fan of the first original in the 1970s with Walter Matthau.

The re-make is VERY different. So different that I don't know why they didn't just call it something completely different... But, hey...

It has lots of good NYC photography that I enjoyed... It was fast moving. At points I was on my edge of my seat, and the performances of John Travolta, Denzel Washington, John Turturro, were well played...

Then it all gets derailed with a prepostrous sappy ending that made me crave a dramamine to reduce the nausea...

But, it's summer... What did I expect?

Now, I want to see the original again... I'm sure it'll wind up on TV sometime soon enough...

Happy Pride

"I don't think you can really be proud of being gay because it isn't something you've done. You can only be proud of not being ashamed".
-- Quentin Crisp

The Essential MJ

I remember being ten years old and watching this ten year old kid on television...

And it was completely inspirational and helped drive me into a show business career...

Then, when Thriller hit in my twenties, I was awestruck that the same kid, the same age as me, had completely re-invented himself and changed the world! Fabulous!

Now, at 50, this man of the same age as me, is dead of apparent addiction...

Deepak Choprah, who I often have great difficulty following, hit the perfect chord for me with:

"Michael wanted to be understood. Michael also wanted to create joy for the world. He was the closest thing I ever came across to what I can call the exultation of spirit... the ecstacy that comes to you when you touch that part of yourself which is Divine... and Michael gave that to millions of people... and I would like the world to remember Michael as he was when he was in that ecstatic state and when he could imbue the world with that ecstatic state..." -- Deepak Choprah on the CNN Situation Room.

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor...

Summer Vacation Starts Right After These Messages...



Bil Baird at his television prime!

Thanks to Lar and Nicomar for sending.

A Good Deed

Please help my friend win this contest. Click on the link below and vote only once from your computer...

His entry is at the bottom of the page. By Elliot Klein and Emily Van Genderen

https://ws.tag.microsoft.com/customtag/vote/VoteTagSlaps.aspx

Scan 'n Vote makes election registration and voting for anything simple. Over 80-million have votes counted by mobile devices on American Idol—that’s more votes then U.S. presidential elections. So why not apply Microsoft Tag technology to transform election voting and achieve something even close to votes for national, local and other voting campaigns? Microsoft customized Tags placed onto postal mail voter registration or "absentee" ballots let anyone cast secure, verifiable mobile votes. The Tag application engages people to easily register to vote and cast their "official" votes in any election using Tag and mobile phone device. The Microsoft Tag, integrated into customized picture postage stamps, enables mobile voter registration—eventually adding an optional radio-frequency-identification chip ID code—to deliver new vote-by-mail options for instant mobile Web registration and voting change. In future, voters may bring Microsoft custom Tag mail to polling locations where Tag code readers stand ready to securely snap, record or confirm voter/registration identity by embedded supplemental RFID tag code for rapid voting security and ballot verification processes. Applying the design lets anyone create their own postal tag slaps and mail materials encouraging votes or registration supporting their cause with instant Scan 'n Vote interactivity and convenience.

Wednesday's Words: "Let You Go"

Let you go, phrase

definition: I want to get off the phone now because I hate talking to you, but I'll pretend that I'm being polite by letting you go back to whatever boring crap you would be doing if you weren't talking to me.

Usage:

Them: So then he said it was benign but I should probably get it removed. And I said-

You: Wow! That's nuts! Hey look, I'm sure you've got a lot of stuff to take care of. I'm gonna let you go. Bye.

Them: Oh, uh, yeah. Bye.

Source: Urban Dictionary

Your blogger's personal note: This phrase is definitely preferable to "Let Me Go" which is more self-centered and lacks at least the pretense of courteous co-dependence. However the latter should definitely *not* be used when the speaker that has originated the phone call in the first place.

A Wet and Wild June

Weather around here has been remarkable. Very unusual June we're having in Hell's Kitchen and Vicinity... Here's what's been going on...

...Unusually cool and wet weather continues in June...

June 2009 in Central Park NY has been marked by persistent wet weather and below average temperatures.

Through June 21...the average monthly temperature is 65.4 degrees... 4.7 degrees below normal.

Total rainfall for the month through June 21 is 8.35 inches...which is 6.69 inches above normal so far. Rain has fallen on 17 of the first 21 days this month.

For some perspective...here are the top ten coldest and wettest Junes on record since 1869 for Central Park NY:

coldest wettest
avg. Temp. Year inches precip. Year
64.2 1903 10.27 2003
65.2 1881 9.78 1903
65.7 1916 9.30 1972
66.8 1926/1902 8.79 1989
67.2 1958 8.55 2006
67.3 1927 7.76 1887
67.4 1928 7.58 1975
67.5 1897 7.13 1938
67.7 1878 7.05 1871
67.8 1924 7.04 1928

Source: Weather Underground

Those Were the (Mon)Days, My Friend

Mary Hopkin, circa 1968.

Sing along with her Karaoke if you want!

LOL

The Top of St. John the Divine

Had a great day yesterday, even in the rain, touring the iconic Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Upper Manhattan...

Went along with a group of 17 friends with the hiking group.

We climbed up a stone staircase to the tippy top of the cathedral. Actually we went above it to "the forest" that is actually a false roof to protect the original real terra cotta roof of the structure.

Then we did a second highlights tour with an excellent guide.

Many opportunities for photos... Though many shots came out dark with the low light, and the flash would have obliterated the images with glare...

I once sang here in the 1970's. The Brahm's Requiem. With a high school choir exchange.

The Memorial Service for Jim Henson was held here in the 1990's. That was an awesome experience unto itself that I'll have to blog about sometime.

Anyway it's a great tour...!

Here are more of my St. John the Divine photos on Flickr.

Andrew Bird is Brilliant!

I saw him live the other night at Radio City Music Hall...

I think he's brilliant!

Fresh! Refreshing! Entertaining! Unique!

Check him out...!

Mission Impossible: The Naked Truth

In reference to yesterday's post... I've gotten several comments and notes of people who aren't familiar with Peter Lupus. He's the leftmost man in the first row of this archival publicity still from Mission: Impossible at right...

Follow this link to Peter Lupus' 1974 centerfold in Playgirl.

That should start your weekend off right!

Woo woo!

Aging Hunks and Matinee Idols

Remember when Mission: Impossible TV star Peter Lupus posed nude in Playgirl?

It was quite the rage at the time in 1974. Even my grandmother was impressed!

Lupus turned 77 yesterday.

Also, yesterday, Barry Manilow turned 63 ("I've been alive forever"?!... Indeed!)

Cutie Greg Kinnear is now 46! Wild.

Paul McCartney was born on this day in 1942. That means... 67?!?!?!

It's all good, as it makes me feel young! LOL

Wednesday's Word: Chronoptimist

chronoptimist, pronoun

def: "A person who always under estimates the time necessary to do something or get somewhere".

Origin: Term introduced on the Handyman for the Common Man web-only TV show.
“Linda only scheduled three hours to shoot our first corporate video. What a frickin’ chronoptimist.”

Source: Urban Dictionary

Your blogger's personal note: I know at least three chronic chronoptimists very well... I wonder who they could be? Hm? (They know who they are. LOL).

A (Very) Good Smoke

Let's pretend you wrote a play, and Meryl Streep and Debra Monk decided to do a public reading of it...?

So did two of Streep's talented kids: Henry Wolfe Gummer, Grace Gummer, and fine actors Joe Paulik, and John Rothman

It really happened to up-and-coming (and incredibly talented) playwright Don Cummings.

Don Cummings wrote about his impressions of the experience on his blog...

I know Don well. For many years. One of my nearest and dearest...

And I couldn't be happier for him.

Was sooo glad to attend this exciting night in the theater. It was magic!

Keep an eye and ear peeled for A Good Smoke. And for other works by Don Cummings including his blog: Open Trench.

Celebrity Sighting: Jill Clayburgh

Actress Jill Clayburgh attended a play reading at the Public theater last night.

I once worked with her on a movie waaaaay back in the early 1980's...

Staying Dry

I know I'm late reading this one, as many friends had blogged about it
eons ago...

I just finished reading Augusten Burroughs' memoir Dry last night...

... A poignant recollection of the young gay author's coming to terms
with alcoholism, drug abuse, loved ones with AIDS, all while navigating a
successful career in the high speed world of advertising.

A very good, and important, read...

(Message composed on my T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 mobile device).

My Man Beany

Saw this guy at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market today...

I had one of these when I was a kid...

Yup, my first crush on a blonde was Beany of Beany & Cecil...

... Can you imagine...?

Holy Bat Villains, Batman!

Keith sent this... and since American Life Channel is no longer giving me my weekend Bat fix... I have only this to look forward to...

Free NYC Stuff for Summer 2009

Someone sent me this list...

All free stuff to do in NYC this summer...

As if there's any question as to why I'm counting down the days to summer break!!

Friday June 26
New York City Opera: La Navarraise - WFC Winter Garden 7:00pm
Blonde Redhead - Prospect Park 7:30pm

Saturday June 27
Instanbulive: Mazhar Fuat Ozkan / Painted on Water / NY Gyspy All-Stars - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm
Steve Bernstein's Baby Loves Jazz - Roosevelt Island 4:00pm
New York City Opera: Opera For All - South Street Seaport 7:00pm
Dr. Dog / Phosphorescent / These United States - Prospect Park 7:00pm

Sunday June 28
Pride Parade and Pridefest 12:00pm
Ledisi / Esperanza Spalding / Jonathon Batiste - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm

Monday June 29
Movie: Gold Diggers of 1933 - Bryant Park @ dusk
Brasil Guitar Duo with Marina Piccininni - Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts 7:30pm

Wednesday July 1
Jay Reatard - Stuyvesant Town Oval 7:00pm
Tift Merrit / Sarah Lee Guthrie / Johnny Irion - Rockefeller Park 7:00pm

Thursday July 2
Obie Juan Bermudez / Cucu Diamantes / Rebel Diaz - Prospect Park 7:00pm

Friday July 3
Here We Go Magic / Bachelorette - South Street Seaport 6:00pm

Saturday July 4
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band with Jenny Lewis - Battery Park 3:30pm

Sunday July 5
Oumo Snagare / Les Nubians / Asa - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm

Monday July 6
Movie: Dog Day Afternoon - Bryant Park @ dusk
Movie: The Seven Year Itch - Elevated Acre @ dusk

Tuesday July 7
Classical Brass Trio - Pier 45 Christopher Street 6:30pm
Scanner & Mountains - World Financial Center Winter Garden 9:00pm

Wednesday July 8
Movie: Iron Man - Pier 54 W14th Street @ dusk
Forro In the Dark - Stuyvesant Town Oval 7:00pm
Juana Molina / Curumin / El G - Central Park Summerstage 7:00pm
Steppin' Off "The Corner": Miles Davis' Electric Funk - Rockefeller Park 7:00pm

Thursday July 9
Luminescent Orchestra - World Financial Center 12:30pm
Matt & Kim / Flosstradamus - Pier 54 W14th Street 6:00pm doors
Dance: Streb Invisible Forces - Prospect Park 8:00pm

Friday July 10
Movie: The WIzard of Oz - Pier 46 Charles Street @ dusk
Luminescent Orchestra - One New York Plaza 12:30pm
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart / Zaza and Ribbons - South Street Seaport 6:00pm
Los Amigos Invisibles / Aterciopelados - Prospect Park 7:30pm

Saturday July 11
Los Fabuloso Cadillacs / Eric Bobo - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm
They Might Be Giants - Prospect Park 4:00pm

Sunday July 12
Family Day - Yo Gabba Gabba! - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm
Geoge Gee Big Band - Pier 54 W14th Street - 7:00pm

Monday July 13
Movie: How Green Was My Valley - Bryant Park @ dusk
Movie: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three - Elevated Acre @ dusk
Roosevelt DIme - Pier 84 W44th Street 6:00pm
Metropolitan Opera Recital - Central Park Summerstage 8:00pm

Tuesday July 14
Jazz from the New School - Pier 45 Christopher Street 6:30pm
New York Philharmonic - Central Park Great Lawn 8:00pm
Anthony Gonzalez (M83)/ Janet Biggs - WFC Winter Garden 9:00pm

Wednesday July 15
Movie: Vicky Christina Barcelona - Pier 54 W14th Street @ dusk
Kaki King - Stuyvesant Town Oval 7:00pm
Luisito Rosario y su Orquestra - Wagner Park 7:00pm

Thursday July 16
Emmet Cohen Trio - World Financial Center 12:30
Woodstock: Millennial Territory Orchestra play Sly and the Family Stone - Castle Clinton 7:00pm
Kronos Quartet / Luminescent Orchestra - Prospect Park 7:30pm

Friday July 17
Movie: Kung Fu Panda - Pier 46 Charles Street @ dusk
Emmet Cohen Trio - One New York Plaza 12:30pm
Superchunk / Versus - South Street Seaport 6:00pm
Robert Cray Band / The Sweet Divines - Prospect Park 7:30pm
New York Philharmonic - Central Park Great Lawn 8:00pm

Saturday July 18
Siren Festival: Built to Spill / Ravonettes / Frightened Rabbit / + - Coney Island 12:00pm
African Festival with King Sunny Ade - Prospect Park 2:00pm
Q-Tip / Chester French / Little Dragon / Benji B - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm

Sunday July 19
Alpha Brody / Lee Scratch Perry / Subatomic Sound System - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm
Hector Del Curto's Eternal Tango Orchestra - Pier 54 W14th Street - 7:00pm

Monday July 20
Movie: Harold and Maude - Bryant Park @ dusk
Movie: West Side Story - Elevated Acre @ dusk

Tuesday July 21
Jazz from the New School - Pier 45 Christopher Street 6:30pm
Karsh Kale / GamelaTron / Forward Motion Theater - WFCr Winter Garden 9:00pm

Wednesday July 22
Movie: The Dark Knight - Pier 54 W14th Street @ dusk
Frankie Negron (latin pop) - Wagner Park 7:00pm

Thursday July 23
Junior Mance - World Financial Center 12:30pm
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Pier 54 W14th Street 6:00pm doors
Woodstock: Richie Havens - Castle Clinton 7:00pm
Dance: Stephen Petronia Company - Prospect Park 8:00pm

Friday July 24
Movie: Ghostbusters - Pier 46 Charles Street @ dusk
Junior Mance - One New York Plaza 12:30pm
Black Moth Super Rainbow - South Street Seaport 6:00pm
Bettye Lavette / Budos Band / Felix Hernadez Rythm Revue - Central Park Summerstage 7:00pm
Buckwheat Zydeco / The Holmes Brothers - Prospect Park 7:30pm

Saturday July 25
Jerry Rivera / N'Klabe - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm
Kailash Kher / Electro Morocco - Prospect Park 7:30pm

Sunday July 26
Ginuwine / Joe / Chico Debarge - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm
Los Hermanos Colon (salsa) - Pier 54 W14th Street - 7:00pm

Monday July 27
Movie: The Defiant Ones - Bryant Park @ dusk
Movie: The Sweet Smell Of Success - Elevated Acre @ dusk
Gregorio Uribe Big Band - Clinton Cove W55th Street 6:00pm

Tuesday July 28
Classical Woodwind Trio - Pier 45 Christopher Street 6:30pm
King Britt / Sun Ra-Lectric - WFC Winter Garden 9:00pm

Wednesday July 29
Movie: Hancock - Pier 54 W14th Street @ dusk
Quimbobo (cuban) - Wagner Park 7:00pm

Thursday July 30
Fiona Boyes - World Financial Center 12:30pm
Woodstock: Arlo Guthrie - Castle Clinton 7:00pm
Burning Spear / Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens - Prospect Park 7:30pm

Friday July 31
Movie: Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Pier 46 Charles Street @ dusk
Fiona Boyes - One New York Plaza 12:30pm
Polvo / Orbits - South Street Seaport 6:00pm
Soulive / John Scofield / Christian Scott / Ivan Neville - Prospect Park 7:00pm
Dance: Rioult / Germaul Barnes - Central Park Summerstage 8:00pm

Saturday August 1
Merce Cunningham Dance Company - Rockefeller Park 6:00pm
M. Ward / Mike Watt / Nels Cline - Central Park Summerstage 7:00pm
Dean & Britta: 13 Songs for Andy Warhol's Screen Tests / Crystal Stilts - Prospect Park 7:30pm

Sunday August 2
Merce Cunningham Dance Company - Rockefeller Park 2:00pm and 6:00pm
Music and Film: If I Were You / Silvana Machette - Central Park Summerstage 7:30pm

Monday August 3
Movie: Kramer vs. Kramer - Bryant Park @ dusk
Nu Guajiro (salsa) - Pier 54 W14th Street - 7:00pm
Music and Film: Throw Down Your Heart / Bela Fleck - Central Park Summerstage 7:30pm

Tuesday August 2
Jazz from the New School - Pier 45 Christopher Street 6:30pm

Wednesday August 5
Movie: Tropic Thunder - Pier 54 W14th Street @ dusk
Los Salseros del Hudson - Wagner Park 7:00pm
Bang On A Can: Asphalt Orchestra - Broadway Plaza at Lincoln Center 7:00pm
Music and Film: I Am Cuba / Pedrito Martinez - Central Park Summerstage 7:30pm

Thursday August 6
Woodstock: John Kelly sings the Joni Mitchell Songbook - Castle Clinton 7:00pm
Bang On A Can: Asphalt Orchestra - Broadway Plaza at Lincoln Center 7:00pm
Music and Film: Asbury Shorts / Mingus Dynasty Project - Central Park Summerstage 7:30pm
Purple Rain Sing-A-Long / Escort - Prospect Park 7:30pm

Friday August 7
Movie: The Muppet Movie - Pier 46 Charles Street @ dusk
The Wave Pictures / Slow Club - South Street Seaport 6:00pm
Bang On A Can: Asphalt Orchestra - Broadway Plaza at Lincoln Center 7:00pm
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals / Deer Tick - Prospect Park 7:00pm
Dayton Dance Company / Nathantrice / Ritual Dance Company - Central Park Summerstage 8:00pm
Rokia Traore - Damrosch Park Bandshell 7:30pm

Saturday August 8
Boys Noize / Drop The Lime - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm
Bang On A Can: Asphalt Orchestra - Broadway Plaza at Lincoln Center 7:00pm
Ryhs Chatham's A Crimson Grail / Liquid Liquid - Damrosch Park Bandshell 7:30pm
Big Daddy Kane - Prospect Park 7:30pm

Sunday August 9
Jazmine Sullivan / Chrisette Michele / Jon B - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm
Bang On A Can: Asphalt Orchestra - Broadway Plaza at Lincoln Center 7:00pm
David Berger Jazz Orchestra - Pier 54 W14th Street - 7:00pm
Dance: Contra-Tiempo / Abakua Africa Afro-Latin Dance Company - Damrosch Park Bandshell 7:30pm

Monday August 10
Movie: The Magnificient Seven - Bryant Park @ dusk
Soul Understated - Pier 84 W44th Street 6:00pm

Tuesday August 11
Jazz from the New School - Pier 45 Christopher Street 6:30pm

Wednesday August 12
Movie: Sex and the City: The Movie - Pier 54 W14th Street @ dusk

Thursday August 13
Yeasayer - Pier 54 W14th Street 6:00pm doors
The Derek Trucks Band - Damrosch Park Bandshell 7:00pm

Friday August 14
Movie: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - Pier 46 Charles Street @ dusk
Dance: Morphoses / Wheeldon Company with Martha Wainwright - Central Park Summerstage 8:00pm

Saturday August 15
Dance: Morphoses / Wheeldon Company with Martha Wainwright - Central Park Summerstage 8:00pm

Sunday August 16
Dinosaur Jr / The Watchmen - Central Park Summerstage 3:00pm
Dance: Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Dance / Caracumbe - Damrosch Park Bandshell 3:00pm
Ricard Lemvo / Makina Loca - Damrosch Park Bandshell 7:30pm

Monday August 17
Movie: Close Encounters of the Third Kind - Bryant Park @ dusk

Tuesday August 18
Classical Brass Trio - Pier 45 Christopher Street 6:30pm

Wednesday August 19
Movie: Pineapple Express - Pier 54 W14th Street @ dusk

Thursday August 20
The Broadway Problem / Tanya Tagaq - Damrosch Park Bandshell

Thurday Aug 20
Harlem Samba / Buika - Jose Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center 7:00pm

Friday August 21
Movie: Curious George - Pier 46 Charles Street @ dusk
DJ Dolores / Siba - Damrosch Park Bandshell 7:30pm

Sunday August 23
Texas Tornados: Mazel Tov, Mis Amigos - Damrosch Park Bandshell 3:00pm
Blues BBQ Festival - Pier 54 W14th Street - 7:00pm


rivertorivernyc.com
artsoworldfinancialcenter.com
batteryparkcity.org
seaportmusicfestival.com
riverrocksnyc.com
siren.villagevoice.com/siren
briconline.org/cb
summerstage.org
bryantpark.org/calendar/film-festival.php
stuytown.com
lcooutofdoors.org

Wednesday's Word: SOML

SOML

abbreviation: Story of my life.

Used to tell someone that an occurance has happened to them frequently.

Usage: I bought a lottery ticket last week and then some dude in South Dakota won the fortune. SOML!

Source: Urban Dictionary

The Man Who Read Too Much

The amazing Keith Olbermann does one of his signature takes on The Man Who Read Too Much... That would be Dubbyah...



Aren't we glad we now have a president who is far too busy working for Americans to sit and read novels and biographies?

I know, I am.

WTF?

A Monday Song for your Supper

Sing for your Supper with Mama Cass:

Todd HellsKitchen's Tony Award Predictions 2009

These predictions are based only on my sense of the politics and buzz rather than my having actually seen all these shows... And a big helping of "hunch"...

Has anyone ever figured what it would cost your average New York theater-goer to see *ALL* of these Broadway Shows?? Ugh! I don't even want to think about it...

But here we go with Todd HellsKitchen's Picks:

Best Play
Dividing the Estate
God of Carnage
Reasons to Be Pretty
33 Variations

Best Musical
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical

Best Book of a Musical
Billy Elliot, The Musical Lee Hall
Next to Normal Brian Yorkey
Shrek The Musical David Lindsay-Abaire
[Title of Show] Hunter Bell

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
9 to 5: The Musical
Shrek The Musical

Best Revival of a Play
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Mary Stuart
The Norman Conquests
Waiting for Godot

Best Revival of a Musical
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Pal Joey
West Side Story

Best Special Theatrical Event
Liza's at The Palace
Slava's Snowshow
Soul of Shaolin
You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jeff Daniels, God of Carnage
Raúl Esparza, Speed-the-Plow
James Gandolfini, God of Carnage
Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King
Thomas Sadoski, Reasons to Be Pretty

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Hope Davis, God of Carnage
Jane Fonda, 33 Variations
Marcia Gay Harden, God of Carnage
Janet McTeer, Mary Stuart
Harriet Walter, Mary Stuart

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gavin Creel, Hair
Brian d'Arcy James, Shrek The Musical
Constantine Maroulis, Rock of Ages
J. Robert Spencer, Next to Normal

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Stockard Channing, Pal Joey
Sutton Foster, Shrek The Musical
Allison Janney, 9 to 5: The Musical
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal
Josefina Scaglione, West Side Story

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
John Glover, Waiting for Godot
Zach Grenier, 33 Variations
Stephen Mangan, The Norman Conquests
Paul Ritter, The Norman Conquests
Roger Robinson, Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Hallie Foote, Dividing the Estate
Jessica Hynes, The Norman Conquests
Marin Ireland, Reasons to Be Pretty
Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit
Amanda Root, The Norman Conquests

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
David Bologna, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Marc Kudisch, 9 to 5: The Musical
Christopher Sieber, Shrek The Musical
Will Swenson, Hair

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Jennifer Damiano, Next to Normal
Haydn Gwynne, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Martha Plimpton, Pal Joey
Carole Shelley, Billy Elliot, The Musical

Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Daltry, Billy Elliot
Best Direction of a Play
Matthew Warchus, The Norman Conquests

Happy Birthday, Tetris

This is the Google salute logo to Tetris today...

Remember Tetris??

See: 25 years of Tetris from Russia with love sez Time Magazine.

I was always more of a Galaga man myself.

That and Pac-Man.

... and Ms. Pac-Man if that's all that was available.

Oh, and Centipede...

... And old fashioned Pinball...

... But, I digress.

Start Your Weekend Swingin'

Have a Swingin Friday with Ella and Sammy

Up Up and Away

Up is brilliant...

No wasted scenes... Never an unnecessary word of dialogue, nor an ineffective special effect or gesture...

It's perfect...

Enlightening, emotional, humorous, sentimental, adventurous, and entertaining...

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it!

And especially in the theater in 3D digital! (Congrats to Pixar and Disney!)

This was the first animated film to ever open the Cannes film festival!

Promise me you'll see it!

Wednesday Garden Party

Archie's Here!

Got this email yesterday:

Dear Todd HellsKitchen:

Hi, I read your blog and twitter last week and was surprised about Archie and Veronica! When I followed them many many years ago, the good girl Betty, the blonde, was his girlfriend. Veronica was the vixen... Is he really marrying her? Where do you find Archie Comics anyway? Just curious... Lois

Dear Lois:

Hehehe.... All I know is that an upcoming issue will feature the engagement of Archie and Veronica...

It's no doubt a publicity stunt to sell a comic book at the few places that sell them (I have no idea where they are sold here in Hell's Kitchen)...

I'm impressed that you knew the storylines so well...

You're right... Reggie was with Veronica when I was a kid... LOL

Funny, I was published for the VERY FIRST time in an Archie comic when a fan letter I wrote was published in the Fan Club section... They also published my home address and I got "chain letters" (remember those?) that said if I didn't copy it to ten friends I'd die in a car crash or something... LOL...

Funny now but scary then (at age ten)!!

And the US Postal Service was firm that chain letters were a federal crime because they could over burden the mail system??? Ha! I'll bet they'd appreciate the revenue from a couple million chain letters these days....

Hey, this email to you is becoming quite a blog post...

Good!

I've been short on blog ideas lately!!

LOL.

Here's an article in The Atlantic about Archie's love life!

Thoughts and Prayers

There's a lot of mystery surrounding Air France Flight 449.

"Nearly all air crashes take place at or near airports - during take-off or landing. But the Airbus 330 came down four hours out of Rio de Janeiro, somewhere in a vast area of the Atlantic Ocean.

There was no distress signal.

The first Air France officials knew of something being wrong was when the plane failed to turn up on radar in Senegal." --BBC

One thing fairly certain is that there are no survivors...

Definitely creepy.

I'm so glad I'm not in a career that relies on air travel anymore.

I was never fond of flying.

Thoughts and prayers for all the souls onboard.