ANOTHER OPENIN ANOTHER "SNOW"

JANUARY 27TH
We are under another foot of snow. It snowed alot last night and this morning it was a wonderland of crisp branches and blanketed streets and backyards.
By the later morning and afternoon the temperature rose and teh snow fell in chunks off the fire escapes. Dripping messes everywhere.
I went out to food shop and it was almost impossible to wade through the ponds at the corner crosswalks.
Crossing mid block was not easy as the water flowed like a river along the snow barricaded curbs. I hopped over the river into the snow and fell into the snowbank.
So it is not an easy thing to navigate even in a city environment.
The subways at least had the stairs shoveled this time around so one didn't have to employ gear that Mt Everest would require.
Got smart ass phone calls from friends in California professing the 70-80 degree temperatures. THANKS!
In truth I am not put off by the snow. It is just that I am concerned about the global warming trend that may make snow and this sort of intense weather the norm!
I notice how the Fall is so short. The glorious Fall was my favorite time of year in New York.
Family and friends on Long Island are always the worst hit with this weather. My cousin had 5 feet of snow in her backyard covering her patio furniture. As she is moving in 2 weeks she prays for a thaw!
The SAG Awards are this weekend. I already voted and recommend THE KINGS SPECH and SOCIAL NETWORK.
But we also enjoyed THE FIGHTER, CONVICTION and yes BLACK SWAN.
Generally we also enjoyed the 3-D TRON...It is one film that is enhanced by 3D.
Too many aren't. I remember 3D when I was a youngster. It was primitive and the staging of the films were obviously designed to come AT YOU.
KISS ME KATE has too many instnaces where the camera is played to like mad.
Some of the BEST 3D is in Disney Parks. BUG'S LIFE is a prime example.
Wonderful!
I hear we are in for MORE SNOW later next week...or so one of my California pals informed me.
I hardly leave the apartment and stuff myself with hot chocolate and too much food.
So I suggest we get DVD's and snuggle up and watch films and havet hot tea...Ok Hot Toddies too.
cause
BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE.

xxx
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OH OH SNOW WOE

It has snowed a great deal in the city. Dec 26th was the BIG Blizzard and there is still some vestiges of that storm clogging the sidewalk corners and side streets. We had two other snowfalls since but it hasn't really stopped progress.
All it does is add more glugging grunge and muddy pools making it difficult if not impossible to cross streets.
The air is chilled and frigid and the temperature goes up and down sometimes within an hour or so.
Hard to figure out what to wear and how to face these fluctuating climes.
As a result we are staying in more and outdoor adventures consist of short trips to Trader Joe's or the Video store for DVD's.
The Golden Globes were fun and although Gervais went too far sometimes it was nonetheless still a buoyant event. There weren't many surprises and we are agreed that the Golden Globes were a groundplan for the Oscars.
I got a couple of DVD's from SAG for Screening and downloaded more through SAG Codes online. I actually loved many more than I thought. Besides KING'S SPEECH and the woderful SOCIAL NETWORK...I really liked CONVICTION. THE FIGHTER, RABBIT HOLE, and BLACK SWAN. The latter was causing so much controversy and negative reaction I thought I would dislike it. But it is a strange and twisted story and has such theatrically intriguing moments sculpted in cinematic artistry.
It was a sort of DEAD SHOES instead of RED SHOES!! =0-)
It is always fun to see the RED CARPET gowns and personalities prior to the awards. What were some of those beautiful women throwing on their dieted, slender, pumped, implanted bodies? Style and class are thrown aside for flash. Even Helen Mirren who usually has great taste looked wrong.
It is like those guys who work out to get bigger and bigger...not better.
Instead of being the best YOU can be it gets competitive and obtuse. I would so like to see fat black women NOT show off their worst assets. Wear sleeved gowns not skin- tight stapless frocks that squeeze their abundance flowing over the strained bodices.
But as Doris Day sang in 2 films Que Sera Sera!
Back to the Snow...I am a big fan of the BEAUTY and Quiet serenity that the initial snowfall brings. You can feel the world settle even with drapes drawn and lights out. The magical white world is very calming and very invigorating.
We re pleases he Ms Gifford is on the mend after that horrible shooting in Tucson. A true patriot is she.
SO besides the DVD world I have been inhabiting...I saw the most amazing new PBS Series...it is called DOWNTON ABBEY...It is SUPERB on all levels. SEE IT.
Next hurdle this month is doing TAXES!! I empathize with all my fellow citizens who have to itemize as I do. ENDLESS receipts!
Keep Warm and enjoy at least eh initial Beauty of the SNow.
XXX
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PRETTY SIDEWALKS, CITY SIDEWALKS

New York at Holiday time has to be the Best!
My favorite things are Rockefeller Center and tehj Store WIndows from Barneys to Macys and beyond! Bergdorff always wins in my contest of best windows.
Elaborate, excitng, and extraordiary!
This year is no diffrent.
I took a trek after seeing my Doctor on Tuesday and then again yesterday Thursday with m,y frined Patrick.
We even went up to the TOP OF THE ROCK and saw the lighted magic from above. WOWOWOW
We went around 6:30-7PM anmd it was not crowded and luckily not windy. Go if you want a breathtaking view of 360 Manhattan.
I saw many windows that I thought uninspired and heard Bloomingdale's were so awful that I shouldn't bother. So I didn't.
SAKS had a sort of Undersea theme which I am still tyrying to figure out. What did that have to do with X-Mas ??
It was invigorating if cold to walk from the Plaza to Macys.
Large crowds on the streets but although joustly weren't aggressively cranky.

We saw LA BETE on Tuesday evening and it was sensational. Highly recommend it.
Perfomrance by the amazing Mark Rylance, David Hyde Pierce stepping far away from his usual persona, and the delicious Joanna Lumley were high caliber in a beautifully directed and written show.

Seeing DIVINE SISTER,Charles Bush's latest tonight. Can't wait!

I urge all to see THE KING'S SPEECH. ANohter wonderful film that is tight and informative and gorgeously acted and directed.

Our tree is up and so are our spirits.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ...ADD MAY HAPPY HOLIDAYS ABOUND!!

XXX

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CALIFORNIA DAZE

Spent a couple of months in California...Palm Springs and LA.
Auditions and networking.
Saw some fun things and attended some terrific events.
HALLOWEEN in Palm Springs was a hoot. Gay Pride in PS was also fun.
In LA I saw Stefanie Powers at the CATALINA BAR & GRILL do her Lorenz Hart tribute the same show she is doing this week at Feinstein's in NY.If you are in the Big Apple go see her she is amazing. And the songs are terrific.
I attended the presentation by Lila Downs at LUCY'S EL ADOBE on Melrose of a few tunes from the new musical LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE. It was a well attended and well appreciated evening of dynamic song by Lila Downs and industry networking. To me it will stir up investors (already has)and interest.
It is a great idea and has been n the throes of creation for a few years headed by Clark Bason, Steve Lytle and Pam Tarr. Mrgo Lion is Onboard as is Ted Spreling and they have booked ARENA STAGE in DC next Fall.It is a main venue and great place for a premier of new work. So keep an eye open for that.
Also saw a wonderful and clever staging of INTO THE WOODS by director Calvin Remsberg downtown LA in a warehouse on Clover Street. Excellent performances and staging in a total environmental atmosphere. I enjoyed it more than the Broadway production.
Went to Stefanie Power's Surprise Birthday party at Paley Center in LA and met many wonderful people including the humorous and talented Robert (RJ) Wagner. We spoke at length and I was taken with how personable and interested he was.
Patricia Kelly, Gene Kelly's widow, was also there and we reconnected as we had met at Stefanie's CATALINA gig.
Stefanie and Wagner were doing a HART TO HART reunion in the Paley Center and signing autographs. She was signing her new book ONE FROM THE HART. She was totally surprised and full of her wonderful humor and charm.
She is an amazing person and has a wonderful spirit. Love Her!
My auditions in LA garnered callbacks for a couple of TV series THE CLOSER included..But No Cigar =0-(..
The Halloween and Gay Pride events in Palm Sprigns were great fun.
I also emceed an Underwear event at the wonderful BLUE PEAR restaurant in PS.
Friends representa Swedish Line called FRANK DANDY underwear for men and women.
It was a charity event for Desert Aids Project and over 500 people attended. A record for such an event in Palm Springs.
Hunk Craig Ramsey who is on the THINTERVENTION TV exercise show was the guest star at THE ACE HOTEL a week or so ago. He was terrific and fun.
I attended Carol Channing's Star installment on the Walk of Stars on Palm Canyon Drive. It was great fun and she looked terrific.Margaret O'Brien was there and spoke as well. Channing's star is in front of the AZUL restaurant.
Went to an event at the JUST FABULOUS bookstore which has been newly and beautifully renovated.
Tom Truhe of the Annenburg Theatre of the Palm Spring's Museum set it up and it was terrific. It was to promote the museum membership. It was a big hit. Stefanie Power's is signing her book there on Nov 27th.
If you are n LA or the Palm Springs area I highly recommend the Museum and seeing whatever "Off-Broadway" theatre LA may be offering.
Friends David Engel and Larry Rabin are producing for their COYOTE STAGEWORKS a production of TUNA CHRISTMAS in Palm Springs..Larry is directing. He had a triumph last year with GREATER TUNA and this looks to be another hit.
My partner was out here for a while and we went to the amazing CARS OF YESTERYEAR show on a Golf Course...that was amazing and brought back a lot of childhood memories of those asphalt boats that floated along the streets of my youth.
Our wonderful talented and extraordinary pal Kaye Ballard met us for breakfast and she talked of her upcoming show in Sante Fe with Donna McKechnie and Lilliane Montevecchi. A benefit for animals Dec 4th.
I am heading back to New York for work and family after Thanksgiving and look forward to whatever new adventures lie in wait!
Have a great Holiday Season.

XXX
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