“I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams.† ~ Antoine de Saint Exupery
Monthly Archives:
March 2017
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March
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March
2017
The Saguaro are Coming
Standing at every step of my Arizona adventure, the saguaro signify the desert, and the purpose of this entire trip. Up until this point, I’ve been pointing out the prickly pear (such as the purple one you see here) or the palo verde or thorny ocotillo. Even the decidedly unflashy creosote shrub has gotten better billing than the saguaro. Tomorrow morning that all changes, when the most dramatic and impressive of Arizona plants rises and takes its rightful pride of place in the climax of this series of desert posts.
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March
2017
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March
2017
Wet Spikes, Damp Beards
We resume our desert journey with a last look at the rain that fell during my time there. I could never be really mad at such a thing, not when it brought so much into relief and bloom. I loved the thought of the cacti and succulents storing up their water reserves in preparation for the sun and heat. The thought of a heatwave made me giddy, so the rain could only make me smile.
Besides, it was fun to pretend that an old guy got his beard wet. See below.
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March
2017
Desert Revival Recap
While the desert works its wonders in recent posts, we pause for the usual Monday morning recap, in which we look back briefly on the week the clock moved into spring. A very happy week indeed…
It began with the start of spring, a glorious beginning indeed, even if it still resembled winter in sight and sound.
Winner winner, Italian dinner.
Not just the August place to be.
A breathless moon fit for a dance.
The Delusional Grandeur Tour, in full-effect.
That Zac Efron Freedom Speedo.
A desert journey that began decades ago came to fruition at last. I waited for the sun, but the rain is something special in the desert. It carried its own special perfume. Spikes and spines made for excellent architecture. There was beauty in the botany too. Angels and art soared through the air.
Hunks of the Day included Preston Truman Boyd, Will Taylor, Fred Johanson and Connor Franta.
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March
2017
Desert Dreaming
The idea sprouted in the pages of a Spiegel catalog. I was but a kid, and already had the rather adult concerns of interior design on my mind, when I opened the bedding section to a Southwestern-themed scene of colorful bedspreads and desert-inspired accents. As hokey as a themed-bedroom might be, it’s sometimes the easiest way to deal with the dilemma of how to create a coherent look. I didn’t realize that then – for me, the idea of the desert called to me from a deeper place. It was as if I knew then that only in such a barren and beautiful and mystical place might I find a sense of peace. I set about to conjuring that.
The bedspread I’d found was predominantly a bright shade of turquoise. Dotted with brushes of black that framed it like an abstract painting, it held vaguely geometric shapes in shades of paprika, terra-cotta, rose, and mustard – all conspiring to pleasantly convey the earthy but vibrant palette of the Southwest. Around this, I played with various accents, including a potted cactus in the window and a wall-hanging in the bathroom of a saguaro and barrel cactus. A wooden mass-produced sculpture of another saguaro, the moon, and a howling wolf stood sentry by the door. It was the closest way I could find of approximating desert peace. Looking back, it likely didn’t work in the upstate New York bedroom of a Georgian-style home, but in my mind it was perfect, and that’s all that mattered. I couldn’t have been more than eleven or twelve years old, and already I was seeking solace somewhere else.
In the ensuing years, the desert would call to me like the sea, but it was much farther away than the Atlantic, and never quite practical to visit. Still, I felt its pull, and voices whispered to me time and time again that I would find myself there. When it came time to plot out my very last tour, and its very last leg, I knew the desert had to play a part in it. I booked a trip to Tucson, where the Sonoran Desert blew kisses from across the country. There was a puzzle I’d been trying to solve for three decades, and maybe this was where I’d find the final missing piece.
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March
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March
2017
Zac Efron’s Speedo Keeps Giving
When Zac Efron gets into his freedom Speedo, it’s quite a sight to behold. He’s filled them out here before, and has been teasing his bits for years. The red, white and blue provides a stunning cover-up for some of this country’s most precious jewels.
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March
2017
Simon Dunn’s Insane Tan Line (And Naked Ass)
Let’s not mince words and waste time, as this previous post has all the Simon Dunn links you need. Here are some more naked shots from his scorching DNA spread by the ever-amazing Christian Scott. Search words: “Simon Dunn naked” or “Simon Dunn nude” . What more could you want for a Friday morning? Tan lines, nude dude – I think we’re all set.
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March
2017
Time Traveling Tour Stop
The Delusional Grandeur Tour hits New York City this weekend with a much-heralded return to ‘Sunset Boulevard’, but as is often the case with this blog, we are time-traveling back to a dramatically different tour stop: Tucson, Arizona. This weekend begins the series of desert delusions, and it’s a story that originates way back in the dim days of my childhood. That’s getting ahead of myself, and we’ll be shifting timeframes enough without adding to the confusion. Besides, we need to get back into touring mode, which is a much a state of mind as it is an actual journey. A comprehensive look at where we’ve been:
THE DELUSIONAL GRANDEUR TOUR: LAST STAND OF A ROCK STAR
01) Intro/Curtain – Part One, Part Two, Part Three
02) Sunset Pool – Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five
03) On The Road Hotel – Part One, Part Two, Part Three
04) Rock Star Addict – Part One, Part Two, Part Three
05) Animal Demons – Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five
06) Steam Punk Birdcage – Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four
07) Red Riding Wood - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five
08) Winter Top Hat - Part One, Part Two
09) Warrior Retribution - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight
10) Cologne Glamour Fashion - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
11) Samsara Healing Water - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
12) Spring Thaw Salvation - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
13) Flower Bomb Balm - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8
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March
2017
A Very Naked Ashley Parker-Angel
When you work out and hone your body as much as Ashley Parker-Angel, it’s only right that you should show off a little on Instagram or whatever pictorial outlets that are on hand. Thankfully, this Angel has been doing just that, supplying a steady flow of delicious images, some of which can be seen here without a stitch of clothing to block the good bits. Mr. Parker-Angel has been a Hunk of the Day before, and likely will again. For now, we’ll hold the page with a couple of cheeky nudes.
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March
2017
Moon & Mummer’s Dance
WHEN IN THE SPRINGTIME OF THE YEAR, WHEN THE TREES ARE CROWNED WITH LEAVES
WHEN THE ASH AND OAK AND BURCH AND YEW ARE DRESSED IN RIBBONS FAIR
WHEN OWLS CALL THE BREATHLESS MOON IN THE BLUE VEIL OF THE NIGHT
THE SHADOWS OF THE TREES APPEAR AMIDST THE LANTERN LIGHT
WE’VE BEEN RAMBLING ALL THE NIGHT
AND SOME TIME OF THIS DAY
NOW RETURNING BACK AGAIN
WE BRING A GARLAND GAY
It was at this very time of the year when I first listened to ‘The Mummer’s Dance’. I was searching for an escape, a way out of the winter’s end. There was dirty snow everywhere, but hints of spring came on the night winds. I’d slip out of the condo late at night and walk into the South End, where a century of Boston had passed and many of the brownstones that had seen it go by were still standing, silently watching. Who else had they seen dancing in the night?
Beneath a mystical moon I’d walk, watching it blink from behind the Prudential building, or peek out from what will always be known to me as the John Hancock tower. It changed its garb nightly, but the rows of brownstones remained the same, stalwartly guarding their denizens. I liked it best shrouded in clouds, when wisps of water vapor trailed around it like the most sumptuous silk. As the nights grew warmer, my steps grew livelier. The heart wants to dance. When will we let it?
AND SO THEY LINKED THEIR HANDS AND DANCED
ROUND IN CIRCLES AND IN ROWS
AND SO THE JOURNEY OF THE NIGHT DESCENDS
WHEN ALL THE SHADES ARE GONE.
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March
2017
A Brief Saratoga Jaunt
Josie joined us last weekend, and we made a trip to Saratoga on a Saturday morning. We’d done this once before, and it’s always a good time. A little shopping on Broadway followed by a lunch at Cantina, all in the service of finding Josie some jewelry for a very special event coming up next month. If it was to be found in this area, it would be found in Saratoga, which has the most unique shops, as evidenced by a few photos I got during our excursion.
The shops along Broadway offered all sorts of whimsy and enchantment – crystals and incense and silk capes, jewelry and coffeehouses and ornate boxes for trinkets – a little of everything precious and beautiful. Not a bad way to spend the last Saturday of winter, and the company was stellar. We returned home to this previously-heralded dinner by Andy and ended the day in fine, and full, form.
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March
2017
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March
2017
The Red Thread of Rhubarb
It was originally a summer fragrance for me. With its fruity rhubarb brightness and underlying white musk, Eau De Rhubarbe Ecarlate by Hermes was a surprise addition to my fragrance cabinet during the last fair season, yet it sort of got lost in the summer shuffle. When I was putting together an outfit for the first day of spring, and red was the chosen color of pants and tie, I recalled the red bottle of this gorgeous scent, and resurrected it a little early. Crafted by Christine Nagel, it’s a slight departure from the Jardin series that Jean-Claude Ellena left as his Hermes legacy, but it retains the elegance and sophistication of the house.
I’ve been out of the Hermes loop for a bit, so I’m not sure what they have on offer for this spring. I do know there is a new Tom Ford Private Blend coming out – Sole di Positano for the Portofino line – and another Oud, thrillingly titled Oceanus – so I’ll practice patience and see which one speaks to me the loudest. For now, we have rhubarb dreams and summer memories.
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March
2017
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March
2017
Italian Winner
Andy pounded out a few turkey breasts and breaded them with panko before dropping them into our new deep fryer. They cooked up perfectly, and formed the decadent homestyle topping for a bed of pasta and Andy’s own marinara sauce. I made a side of rappini in olive oil and garlic, with some extra fennel thrown in for good measure, and the slight bitterness of the greens was a glorious counterpart to the pasta and breaded turkey. It was a simple meal, but substantial and filling – the very best thing to have at this seasonal crux in the year.
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March
2017
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March
2017
Snow/Sun Light
I always forget how, at certain times of the day and particular portions of the year, the snow reflects the blue in the sky more than its own inherent white hue. It usually happens as the afternoon turns to evening, and in the shadow of direct sunlight. There’s a magical transformation then, something that both softens and cools the way it glows.
The light lasts longer now, staying a couple more minutes each day. We’ve broken the back of winter, but I’m sure it will throw some tail-whip lashes in before the snow goes completely. For now, I’m enjoying the way it’s been melting, and how the light so majestically moves over the afternoon. What spring wishes ride on the wind as it rises over the snow? Which ones follow the sun only to get caught on the hook of a crescent moon?
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March
2017
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March
2017
Hunk of the Day: Preston Truman Boyd
A bright spot in the darkly twisting trajectory of ‘Sunset Boulevard’, the role of amiable Artie Green is played by Preston Truman Boyd, who makes his Hunk of the Day debut in this post. He joins his onstage pal Joe Gillis (Michael Xavier) in this week’s build-up to my return to a favorite show. Boyd brings levity and warmth to the musical, especially the rousing Act One closer ‘This Time Next Year’ and his website illustrates an impressive theatrical roster.
