This picture cracks me up for reasons known only to a select few – a private, inside joke among family that need not be explained or expounded upon here. A little mystery is good.
10
November
2023
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November
2023
10
November
2023
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November
2023
A Holiday Preview & Appetizer Recipe
Back in the days of hosting extravagant parties and wild soirees, I would channel Rosalind Russell in ‘Auntie Mame’ to strike just the right note of eccentric hostess pizzazz to help me get through the damn evening. Now that we no longer have big parties, I get to enjoy smaller and more intimate dinners and gatherings, but I still use Auntie Mame as a starting point of inspiration.
We are about three weeks away from Thanksgiving (yeah, that left a sting thinking about it) and the start of the holiday season, so now is a good time to put a dent in my planning and preparations for whatever the fuck Christmas will be like this year. To that end, an appetizer is a great item to bring to whatever event you may be attending with friends and/or family. Below is a recipe for some appetizer meatballs that might be the easiest cheat recipe that still tastes good. First, a look at the super-secret ingredients that can be found in most decent markets (and every indecent market).
This dish once stood on a corner table, largely neglected by the crowd at our friend Bob’s Night-Before-Thanksgiving party that he used to hold in his place overlooking Washington Park. It was one of my favorite parties of the year, because it signaled the kick-off to the holiday season, and was hosted by one of the kindest and sweetest guys I know. On this particular evening, a crock pot of appetizer-sized meatballs bubbled away quietly, while the rest of the gay men ignored it, beelining for the bar. One gentleman stood nearby as I took one, and then two, and then multiple meatballs, marveling at their flavor.
It was Bob’s Uncle, the man who had made them, and he whispered the recipe in my ear: one part grape jelly, one part chili, and one big package of bite-size frozen meatballs. My mind was blown, that such deliciousness could come form such an unlikely combination. It was one of those recipes that someone clipped from Good Housekeeping or Ladies Home Journal in the 50s or 60’s, then passed down through the generations because it tasted so good, but kept secret because its make-up was so basic. Over the years, I added some additional flavoring to bump things up, but the core remains the same, and the meatballs remain store-bought and frozen, because the flavor is enough to mask any shortcomings there. Try it out and see.
RECIPE: The Holiday Meatballs of Bob’s Uncle
- 1 large package frozen cocktail meatballs
- 1 large container grape jelly
- 1 large can chili (without beans)
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup white or brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp chopped garlic
Combine ingredients in crock pot and cook on low for six to ten hours, stirring occasionally.
That’s it. That’s all. Auntie Mame would be proud, even if it’s not fishberry jam.
09
November
2023
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November
2023
#TinyThreads: An Insignificant Series
Whenever I need the inspiration and impetus to get off my ass and clean some shit up, I binge-watch ‘Hoarders: Buried Alive’. Works every time.
09
November
2023
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November
2023
Dazzler of the Day: Patrick Dempsey
It took him several decades, but Patrick Dempsey finally earned his title as Sexiest Man Alive for the latest edition of People Magazine, and in so doing he also garners his first Dazzler of the Day crowning. I am old enough to remember Dempsey’s sexy-star-making turn in ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ way back in the late 80’s, and since then he’s carved out a remarkably consistent acting career. Turns out he’s also an avid racing driver – all this time I just assumed he was training for some ‘Days of Thunder’ type role.
09
November
2023
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November
2023
My First Celebrity Crush
It was the dawn of the 1980’s, and I was but a wee lad, so I’m not sure how I had such a knowing crush on such a penal code kind of guy. While audiences were going wild for Erik Estrada in ‘CHiPs’, my sights were set on his partner, Larry Wilcox. As Ponch and Jon, they made for a team with great friendship and chemistry. I thought I just wanted a partner like that; I also felt a tingling that drew me to the blond-haired, blue-eyed police officer.
Posting a picture of Mr. Wilcox on my social media, I inquired as to who others had as their first celebrity crushes. The results were largely predictable and classic, with a few twists. A few of the names who stirred the earliest inklings of attraction for others:
- Davy Jones
- William Shatner
- Rob Conrad
- Lynda Carter
- Soleil Moon Frye
- Erik Estrada
- Johnny Depp
- Burt Ward
- Kiefer Sutherland
- Tony Dow
- Henry Winkler
- Jon-Eric Hexum
- Alan Alda
- Adam Rich
- Bobby Sherman
- Dan Gauthier
- Barry Williams
- Christopher Reeve
- Scott Baio
- Jessica Lange
- Burt Reynolds
08
November
2023
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November
2023
Dazzler of the Day: Spencer Neville
When the Dazzler of the Day rekindles memories of the Hunk of the Day feature we once had here, it’s a very good day indeed. This is Spencer Neville, who earns his first crowning as Dazzler of the Day for his work on ‘Devotion’, ‘Ozark’ and ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’. Impressive on every front.
08
November
2023
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November
2023
The Dourest Hour
When the calendar turns to the most dour days of November, when the leaves have just been ripped from the trees, and that first gray barren visage reveals itself, stark and brutal and bare, the only place I’ve found to properly work as an escape is not some far-away tropical land, but the dim living room where I sit down for a daily meditation.
Lit by a candle, which in turn illuminates the curling smoke from a Palo Santo stick, the darkness of November, and all of its absent, fallen leaves, pulls back from this little circle of respite. At the dourest hours of the year, when the sudden onslaught of the winter to come is standing just ahead of us – immovable, majestic, daunting, and mad – I breathe slowly in, and even more slowly out, and the breathing that has sustained me through the day now works to calm and still me. It is the magical movement of meditation, when the worries of the mind shift, with practice and patience into a realm of blank peace. Thoughts that once raced now walk slowly by, pausing to genuflect with acknowledgement, then going on their way, until the line of thoughts has dwindled to barely a trickle, and at last, to none at all – simple, sublime, and entirely full emptiness.
07
November
2023
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November
2023
Dazzler of the Day: Seth Meyers
With this upcoming gig at The Egg, Seth Meyers will be bringing his comedy to a local audience this month. He earns his first Dazzler of the Day feature thanks to a career of entertaining audiences as actor, writer, comedian, producer, host and podcaster. His ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’ is a late night staple in a landscape that hasn’t always proved easy. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed his day-drinking antics (find the one with the Barefoot Contessa but pee first).
{Seth Meyers will be performing at The Egg on November 26 at 8 PM. Tickets available here.}
07
November
2023
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November
2023
A Wellness Retreat in Paradise
My friend (and a previous Dazzler of the Day) Chad Putman, is currently offering a wellness retreat program – the Caribbean Winter Wellness Retreat – for three different weekends in San Juan, Puerto Rico this winter. As someone who has visited San Juan previously, it makes for a beautiful getaway, especially during the colder months. When you add a little self-improvement and wellness into it, it has the makings of something magical. Visit the webpage here for more info, and see additional details below.
Caribbean Winter Wellness Retreat in beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2024. Recharge YOUR heart and soul with this unique 24 & 48 hour weekend challenge which includes: Sunrise Ocean-Side Workout – Breathwork – Grounding, Opportunity Starter Kit – Sections 1-4 (self-reflection/hard copy provided), Guided Meditations – Beach Discussions, Local Culture, Art & Urban Experiences & some meals included (brunches & dinners).Visit https://www.makeyourithappen.com/ winterchallenge to learn more about the three retreat weekends being offered January 27 & 28, February 24 & 25, & March 23 & 24th. Hosted by Chad Putman, MSW, Make your it happen, LLC, (518) 225-0957 / chadputman1@gmail.com
06
November
2023
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November
2023
Dazzler of the Day: Michael Chow
Having just finished the magnificently-riveting documentary ‘AKA Mr. Chow’ by Nick Hooker, I am completely entranced by the life-story of Michael Chow, who may add Dazzler of the Day to his impressive roster of accomplishments. Artist, actor, interior designer, influencer of the decades, and restauranteur, Chow has made his name and visage into an internationally-recognized brand and personality. Sometimes an artist is their own living work of art – and those usually make the best artists of all.
06
November
2023
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November
2023
Novemberish Recap
Not to do November a disservice with this title, as we indeed in November proper, it still has the stench of being one of the more depressing months of the year – some might say the most. Any hope of holding onto one or two more days of lingering summer sun and warmth are largely lost, and this is the month that rips even the late leaves off all the trees, rendering them barren and spindly for the rest of the winter to come. And so it was that I had my first peppermint mocha drink of the Starbucks season. On with the weekly recap…
Twenty years ago ‘Wicked’ opened, and a few weeks afterward we had the lucky privilege of seeing the original Broadway cast perform the show.
A spooky look through a peephole for Halloween.
Different sorts of haunting posts, also for Halloween.
Bella Donna and the magic of the moon.
Circus of life, augmented by Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
Cher turns back time. Again.
Dazzlers of the Day included Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Daniel Radcliffe, Bryce Harper, Stewart Taylor, Jung Kook and Missy Elliott.
05
November
2023
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November
2023
Dazzler of the Day: Missy Elliott
As the first female rapper to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Missy Elliott adds another trailblazing first to her long-record of astounding the world with artistry and talent. She’s been doing this for years, and I still remember songs like ‘Get Ur Freak On’ and ‘Work It’ (which played a part in this magical Madonna moment) which formed an integral part of anyone in the world at that time. She continues to influence and drive pop culture, and is finally getting the rightful recognition she deserves. Here she earns her first Dazzler of the Day crowning.
05
November
2023
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November
2023
Cher This
Don’t forget to turn back your clocks an hour, since we as a country still can’t get our shit together to fix this time situation. I’m not mad about it – we can certainly use an extra hour, especially as I’m typing this out at 1:02 AM and my mind is shot, my body is spent, and I’m just not ready for another week just yet.
Cher with a friend indeed.
04
November
2023
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November
2023
Dazzler of the Day: Jung Kook
BTS boyband member Jung Kook earns his first Dazzler of the Day for being the sensational star seen below. He first appeared in these parts with his fashion collaboration with Calvin Klein. Surely there will be more to come.
04
November
2023
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November
2023
A Visitor or Two
Earlier this week, a cardinal fluttered into the boughs of our Seven sons flower tree, lately gone into salmon-hued seed. He stayed there, peeking through the foliage and looking around, until another cardinal joined him. Both may be seen in the blurry image not-so-beautifully captured below – the second bird is in the lower right quadrant. In the words of A.A. Milne and Winnie-the-Pooh, “It’s so much friendlier with two.”
