The Empire Diner is a New York dining legend. For 35 years it has occupied one of the
city’s most perfect corners (22nd and 10th) while
preserving its most iconic railcar diner.
Alas, for most of those years it has also served some of the city’s
worst food and possibly its very worst service. Appallingly rude, 24 hours a day. It’s a dining
buzz-kill.
I’ve been closely following the rumblings that the Empire’s lease
is about to change hands. Today I
was delighted to read that the own... Read Full Story
My seasonal preference, in order: Summer, Fall, Spring Winter.
My fantasy seasonal recalculation: Summer (5 months), Fall (3 months), Spring (3 months),
Winter (1 month).
While I wait for global warming to turn my fantasies into
reality (or move to South Carolina), I will continue to enjoy living in a place
with four fully distinct seasons. It’s
one of the things I missed most during my years in San Francisco.
I revel in the change of seas... Read Full Story
We march because all men are created equal. We march because history says we must. We march because we want to teach our kids well (go Rose!). We march because we are all brothers (and sisters).We march to make change with our friends. We march cause there's lots of great art in DC (and cute boys, at least at gay marches) We march so that peace can rule our days. Read Full Story
I graduated from Clayton High School 30 (gasp) years ago. These were some of my friends back then, and they remain so today. We had a fantastic reunion. Among the highlights was attending the CHS homecoming game, played here on Gay Field. Yes, you read it right, Gay Field. Perhaps that has something to do with our losing every game played there during the four years of my high school youth. Go Greyhounds!!!! Oh, and just because I'm a good sport, here I can be seen picking up my date... Read Full Story
There are ways in which getting older sucks, and ways in
which it doesn’t. Wisdom and
perspective are the great gifts of experience, and they make growing older a
little less tough.
One of the things I’ve learned along the way is that
friendships change, and it’s futile to try to keep them as they were at any
special moment. I have been abandoned
by some friends, and I have chosen to leave others. But mostly, I have worked hard to keep my friends in my life
in som... Read Full Story
While I was at Burning Man a significant milestone occurred
in my life. My Great Aunt Doretta (in
this photo, with me last year) passed away, at 79. She was the last of my great aunts/uncles, and her death
marks the passing of the final member of my grandparents’ generation. Kind of weird to think about an
entire generation of your immediate family being gone. For me this generation loomed
large … they were omnipresent in my childhood, served up guidance and wisdom throughout
my life, ... Read Full Story
I spent the past two weeks preparing for, attending and
decompressing from Burning Man. I've written many times about this epic art/music/nature festival of
creativity, innovation, spirituality and community.
If you haven’t spent an hour with me personally hearing me rave, read
this article from the Huffington Post for a great description of what Burning Man is
and isn’t. I’ve made the journey to Burning Man five times and
never had a better time than this year.
My compa... Read Full Story
At 5am tomorrow morning, I will climb into my friend Rob's truck here in San Francisco and drive 6 hours to the Black Rock Desert in northwest Nevada to attend my fifth Burning Man. I feel like a teenager about to return to summer camp. And I look forward to bringing some of Burning Man back to share with you when I return. Until then ... Photo: The Man, who is both the physical and spiritual center of the event, and who will burn on Saturday night. Read Full Story
I am flying to San Francisco tomorrow, on a Virgin America 737, seated in row 14. On the right is a nifty graphic with a variety of facts and figures about fatal airplane crashes. The good news for me comes from my choice of carrier, seat location and general odds of dying in a plane crash. The bad news for me is rooted in my aircraft type and chosen month of travel. (Click on the image to see it full size. It's fun.)Overall, I expect to make it to SFO alive. Were there a similar chart... Read Full Story
