Category Archives: Dazzler of the Day

This Dazzler of the Day is going to totally show my middle-age, because I’m not exactly sure what he does, but he clearly has an enormous following, and anyone who can make an impact in such a fractured online world is pretty damn impressive. Allow me to introduce Jacksepticeye, originally christened Seán William McLoughlin, who is a popular Irish YouTuber and blogger. While I may not get the name or the impact, I know he’s raised millions of dollars for charity, and the empathy belying that is more than enough to dazzle. Check out and subscribe to his crazy-popular YouTube channel here. 

Woodworker and furniture artisan Christopher Nassise has honed his skills over decades, reminding the world of the importance of carefully-crafted objects of function and style. He’s also shared his knowledge and expertise with anyone who wants to learn the art of woodworking, proving that such artisanship is not only a way of preserving tradition, but seeing that tradition become part of a new generation. His incredible talent is the main reason for honoring him with this Dazzler of the Day feature, but a close second is what an awesome example he and his wife have been as to how to live lives that honor and respect others, as well as the world around us. (Personal example: they have been champions of my holiday cards no matter how ridiculous, awful, gratuitous or dull.) Please visit his website ‘The Green Workshop’ as well as his FaceBook page for further evidence of his brilliance. 

The fabulous embodiment of all that was, and remains, brilliant in New York City nightlife, Michael Musto has been a bastion of entertainment knowledge and history, having taken part of the best of times and worst of times over the past several decades. That he’s done so without falling prey to the career-sucking temptations all around him is a testament to his own brand of discipline and hard work, as well as his love for all that he does. His wit has remained in effect, and his barbs are as sharp as ever. (What brought him into the realm of Dazzler of the Day, in addition to a storied career that has outlasted many of those he has profiled through the years, is a delectable bon mot such as this week’s social media post: “My social life is picking up. Artie Hammer just asked me out for a bite!”) 

As stereotypically-expected, I am completely obsessed with ‘The Gilded Age’, the new HBO series from the makers of ‘Downton Abbey’. My favorite character thus far is Bertha Russell, portrayed in exquisite fashion by Carrie Coon, who earns her first Dazzler of the Day thanks to her nuanced and complex treatment of a woman audiences may love to loathe. She swerves from imperious to vulnerable, defiant to heartbreaking, and that’s all just within the first episode. (And her wardrobe is to-die-for.) I can’t wait to see where she ends up, and how ‘The Gilded Age’ will tell its story.