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A Hint of Lilacs…

Decompression from vacation continues…

Working a new job continues…

But still I make the time…

to smell the lilacs.

They come but once a year.

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Ogunquit Memories Future Past

After visiting Ogunquit for fourteen years, I still find new things to love about the town, and this Memorial Day weekend there were a few more jewels to uncover. Before writing those posts, however, I need a moment to collect myself and get over the post-vacation blues. There’s no better way to do that than to indulge in a few backward glances.

While sun and warmth is sometimes elusive this early in the season, when you’ve experienced it once, you never forget it.

Ogunquit is a place of beauty, a place of peace, and a place of love – no matter what the season.

Sometimes, things get cheeky there, yes, totally starkers, and sometimes not so much. Butt… sometimes

The whole world, in the drop of an ocean.

Spring is probably my favorite, but summer comes close, and fall, well, fall is just as magical as spring.

There are secrets here, wonderful secrets, some that are only revealed with time, some that are never revealed at all.

There are surprises too.

It is a place for family – one of the first beaches I remember, in fact, from a family vacation.

It is a place for friends.

Food, glorious food.

There is a lighthouse nearby, and even in the rain things are beautiful.

Always, there is the water. There are the memories… and there will be more.

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Madonna & The Power of ‘V’

Rumblings of a new Madonna song and album took over the internet and almost reached my ears over this Memorial Day weekend, but the pounding surf of Ogunquit, Maine was all I wanted to hear, so I didn’t pay much attention until I returned yesterday. Rumors of a possible Beyonce-like surprise release have yet to be confirmed, but there are strong indicators that something big is stirring, and we’re over the two-year mark since her last album came out. Also, given her of-the-moment collaborators, sooner would be better than later, unless Madonna works a miracle and makes Avicii into something more. For now, we have her cavorting on the cover of V Magazine, sharing the pages with Katy Perry, yet another in a long line of starstruck youngsters who have come to worship at the altar of Madonna.

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All American Guy Tyson Beckford

Mr. Beckford has already been a Hunk of the Day here, but there’s always room for a few extra pics, especially on this patriotic holiday. A little hint of his nether region only serves to add to the festivities. How low can he go?

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Madcap Memorial Day Recap

Our time in Ogunquit, ME has just about gone, even if I haven’t begun to post about it (stay tuned). Instead, let’s look back at what went on online this past week, beginning with a Mother’s Day weekend in NYC with my Mom. Three amazing productions were reviewed: ‘Mothers & Sons‘, ‘The Bridges of Madison County‘, and ‘Hedwig & The Angry Inch.’ No choosing favorites in that tight race – I just couldn’t do it.

The latest addition to my Tom Ford collection is ‘Black Orchid.’

The magnificent Hudson Taylor marked the return of the ‘Profile of a Straight Ally’ series in a big way.

Don’t cry for me, weeping larch, but do pucker for the redbud.

A simple mocktail, if you’ve got the grass.

The return of my arch enemy.

An epic Ben Cohen post, rivaled only by an epic David Beckham post.

Pics: The sexy likes of Ricky Schroeder, Neil Patrick Harris, and Kevin Fletcher.

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Turning The Fragrance Clock Forward

Tomorrow marks the unofficial kick-off to the summer season, even if it has yet to feel that way. As such, it’s time to turn the fragrance clock to something lighter and sweeter – usually in the way of citrus and neroli – such as in the grapefruit-based Eau de pamplemousse rose by Hermes, or the Palermo by Byredo Parfums. I also like the lighter juniper notes of Angeliques Sous La Pluie by Jean-Claude Ellena or another Hermes classic, Eau de gentiane blanche. Tom Ford is, for the most part, too much for this heated season, but his Neroli Portofino is a summer standard, and the Azure Lime of his Private Blends line is perfectly in keeping with the citrusy softness of this time of year.

Personally, I don’t like a lasting cologne when the heat is on, but if the evening calls for it (such as Ford’s ‘Lavender Palm’ for a certain Lavender party) I’ll make exceptions. In fact, I’m providing that proviso for precisely the use of Mr. Ford’s ‘Black Orchid‘ – a fragrance that is almost too much for a summer spritz. Almost. Sometimes you need to go overboard to make a proper splash. The heat is on.

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Bonus David Beckham Underwear Pics

Since there were just a few too many photographs of David Beckham for the previous post, he spills over into this bonus round. Most of these are from the ad campaign for his Bodywear line for H&M – a few are just shirtless beach ball poses. Bend it like Beckham indeed.

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The Almost-Definitive* David Beckham Shirtless Post

As is the case with Ben Cohen, putting a ‘definitive’ label on anything to do with David Beckham is as limiting as a Madonna Greatest Hits album: there’s always more to come. Mr. Beckham actually paved the gay-friendly way for Mr. Cohen, presenting himself as a straight ally more through his flaunting of a metrosexual style, pin-up caliber poses, and calendar and photo shoots that were aimed strategically at the groins of most gay men. He scored, we swooned; he disrobed, we gasped; he started an underwear line, we ate it up. Since the start of this website, David Beckham has been a constant source of eye candy and inspiration.

Here is an almost-comprehensive list of Mr. Beckham’s past posts. There are a lot, but I haven’t heard anyone complain about their prolific nature given the specimen on display.

It all began (at least post-website-revamp) with his Butt and his Bulge.

A decent way to start, things soon got interesting, if questionably exciting.

The evolution of Beckham’s package.

Forget Justin Trousersnake, Beckham’s got the real deal.

The basic boxer brief showed off Beckham’s best assets.

Bodywear by Beckham.

Oddly enough, he didn’t receive his first Hunk of the Day crowning until 2012.

Nobody does a promotional video better.

Always a top contender for a Greatest Hunks collection

And a mainstay for the decade of this website.

The battle of the century: Ben Cohen vs. David Beckham. Who’s sexier?

The 2nd battle of the century: David Beckham vs. Mario Lopez.

David & Daley.

The best David Beckham posts are those that are purely gratuitous.

Ever wonder what he smells like?

Forget the subway tile, it’s the underwear.

That age-old dilemma: bulge or butt?

The pre-cursor to this post, in brief.

David Beckham and a tease of nudity

More nudity, and less.

Beckham and his budgie smugglers.

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My Bottom Hurts Just Thinking About It

It was May of 1990 and Madonna was Breathless.

Her eternal quest for movie-stardom and acting legitimacy found some of its most compelling evidence in her scene-stealing turn as Breathless Mahoney in ‘Dick Tracy’ with then-paramour Warren Beatty. That was all well and good, but I didn’t even see the movie when it came out. Far more interesting and impressive was her musical companion piece, ‘I’m Breathless: Music From and Inspired by the Film Dick Tracy’. It was a Madonna-mouthful, and worth every syllable.

While its best-known track is the classic ‘Vogue’ (which the Madonna Timeline has not yet reached – eek!) there are other gems and jewels hidden among the period pieces, and Madonna once said that ‘I’m Breathless was one of her favorite albums. When it came out, I was at a Broadway-loving peak, and have a serious Stephen Sondheim moment (‘Into the Woods’ was on perpetual play in my bedroom.) That he wrote three of the songs that Madonna sang on the album was just a gay boy’s wet dream. Musical theater and Madonna. Get out the tissues.

We’ve hit a number of songs from that glorious era, so let’s take a spin in track order and return to May of 1990…

The noirish ‘He’s A Man‘ kicked things off with a moody, vamping start. it found Madonna extolling the virtues and drawbacks of being good versus bing a little bit bad but a whole lot of fun.

Mr. Sondheim penned the second song, the slinky and seductive ‘Sooner or Later‘ – a self-confident but coy staking of some man-ground, in which our sultry seductress slowly builds to her inevitable conquest. (This also provided Madonna one of her strongest live performances ever, and on the Oscars no less.)

The third song, and last single promoted off the album, was ‘Hanky Panky‘. A racy romp through the joys of light S&M, with Madonna proudly proclaiming that there’s, “Nothing like a good spanky!’ You don’t need to tell me once.

The last song that the Madonna Timeline featured from ‘I’m Breathless’ was another Stephen Sondheim nugget: ‘More.’ It was the showstopper of the album, a complex ditty with a “chromatic wildness” that initially seemed to have thrown Madonna. She got over it, and came out all right in the end.

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The Definitive* Sexy Ben Cohen Post

Ben Cohen has proved fine fodder for the sort of sexy posts that populate this wayward blog, and if I’ve pushed him more than, say, David Beckham (whose turn will come tomorrow) it’s because Mr. Cohen is also a staunch straight ally, standing up for gay men and women the world over, and standing behind his anti-bullying efforts with hard work and dedication. His hirsute bearish looks certainly don’t hurt his cause, and that’s a good part of why he’s featured here as well.

Here are a few links wherein we featured the looks, and half-dressed sexiness, of Ben Cohen:

This may have been Ben’s first appearance here – way back in 2010.

It is said that he has an enormous hose.

He seems to enjoy boxer briefs.

And regular briefs, in blue.

He likes to strip to his underwear for video too.

It’s the hair, isn’t it?

Actually, it’s probably his butt.

Is he sexier than David Beckham?

He just may be.

Especially if he goes full-frontal first.

But shirtless Ben is more than just fine.

Especially when getting ready to dance.

The best part of Ben, however, may be his Attitude.

And the fact that he’d give you the shirt off his back.

Nah – it’s the way he fills out these white briefs.

With these gargantuan balls.

David Beckham returns the sexy volley tomorrow…

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Ben Cohen in Briefs, with Another Guy’s Head Between His Legs

The title of the post says it all, and later today there’s going to be a big Ben Cohen feature here, so I’ll shut my trap and let you feast your eyes upon how far Mr. Cohen is willing to go for the perfect shot. What I wouldn’t give to be that Fanta Grape guy… and given that smile, he knows exactly how lucky he is.

 

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A Villain Returns…

My nemesis the groundhog came back with a vengeance the other day, decimating a perfect stand of perennial sunflowers and causing considerable damage to a large swath of cup plants in a few short hours. I’ve always preached humane tactics in dealing with such wildlife – it’s their land too – but not anymore. This beast (or beasts, as I’ve been warned there’s always more than one) has taken too much. It’s one thing to indulge in a necessary nibble now and again for survival purposes, but when something doesn’t know the meaning of moderation, it’s time to go. For the moment, I’m going to try a recommended remedy: tennis balls soaked in ammonia and placed strategically throughout the garden. Apparently groundhogs don’t like the smell of ammonia. Sadly, neither do I, but I’ll try anything at this point.

Last year the creature destroyed a beautifully lush pot of sweet potato vines, stripping every last leaf from the plant, which just barely started putting out new foliage before the summer ended. We are not having that this year. If it takes ammonia, tennis balls, chicken wire, poisoned apples or buckshot, this thing is being eradicated – if not from the earth then just from our yard. This is a ruthless business, and if there is a shortage of cup plants then there will be a shortage of seeds for the goldfinches later in the season. Nobody messes with the finches without retribution. Groundhog, you are officially on notice – and there is no second chance.

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Don’t Scoff at the Spritzer

This lemongrass/ginger spritzer came to mind as I planted a batch of lemongrass in the garden this week. We still have a few bags of frozen lemongrass stalks from last year – fears of running out through the winter proved unfounded, as I only used a few. Of course, it’s probably not the winter that needed getting through, but the spring – in this period of growth before I can harvest anything from the newly-planted. If you have a spot for lemongrass, I highly recommend it. Like most grasses, it grows big and beautiful, and a small clump in the spring can turn into an enormous mound by the fall.

For this alcohol-free mocktail, I boiled a cup of sugar with a cup of water, along with a few slices of fresh ginger and about four stalks of lemongrass, roughly chopped into one-inch pieces (and slightly macerated.) After about fifteen minutes, I strained the mix and poured it into a container for the fridge. It’s possible to leave the ginger and lemongrass in the water for longer – the longer you leave it, the stronger the tincture becomes.

Once cool, add a small amount (maybe ¼ cup) to a glass filled with ice. (A little of this simple syrup goes a long way.) Top with a generous pour of club soda, and garnish with a frozen lemongrass stalk (it need not be frozen, mine just happened to be.) A perfect accompaniment for the sunny days to come.

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Bud of Red

It’s taken a few years, but there is finally a sizable and noteworthy bloom proliferation on the redbud (Cercis) tree I planted in the front yard. This tree has the interesting trait of blooming directly from the bark, where it explodes in this compelling color before unfurling its leaves. I like the effect, which is reminiscent of the native dogwood (sadly on the decline). I’ve read that it will also send out blooms wherever its bark is nicked. I’m not so selfish as to score it just to bring about more flowers – especially when it puts on such a fine show without such masochistic machinations.

It makes a great addition to the garden, even if you have limited space, as it remains a manageable size (thus far at least). The branches are said to be on the weak side, but so far that has not proven to be a problem, and this specimen is in the most unprotected part of the yard. Now that I’ve said that it will probably be dealt a damaging blow, but such is the nature of the beast.

The leaves are as gorgeous as the flowers, if decidedly less showy (it would be practically impossible to rival this pink.) They are shaped vaguely like hearts, and their shade of green veers just the slightest bit toward gray as they mature. They’d be characterized as fine or handsome by those whose passion is trees – and there’s nothing finer than a tree-lover.

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