For Chris

I thought I would throw up on my way to Chris' Memorial Celebration today. I cried three times before I left Astoria: once when I picked out a sympathy card for his family, once while I wrote a note in the card, and again when I knew it was time to go to Manhattan to see everyone.

The event was full of joy and the energy was so positive and amazing. All around the event space were bowls of candy and photo albums. Hundreds of friends and family members came together to share stories and to celebrate. As his college roommate said, "he was the most social person I've known."

I will always admire Chris for knowing how to live.


Megan, Erin, Beth, and me! Not how we thought we'd end up reuniting, but so fabulous to reconnect with old friends.




Erin wins for biggest fag hag, hands down!


Megan and Erin and some of Chris' other close friends organized an amazing celebration of his life.


We shared memories from Amsterdam: Erin blossomed. Beth was the academic. I was the drugged, depressed one with too much drama on my hands. Well, we were all drugged. But I think I won for the most drama. Megan won for most drugged. Chris was the partier. Greg was the whore--or were all of us the whores? We missed Matt B who is currently in Paris!


Even though Greg is now going by his middle name, Oscar, some things never change: Oscar invited us to a sex party at South Seaport (of all places) tonight!


Two of Chris' friends gave beautiful, hilarious tributes to Chris. One of his friends said, "Like a Walmart, people went to Chris for everything. Unlike a Walmart, he had a soul... and expensive stuff."


Chris' brother's friend sang a beautiful cover of Chris' favorite song, Stay (I Missed You) by Lisa Loeb.










Chris loved Popeye's chicken, which was served on silver platters. I don't think anything says "Chris" more than that.

Miami Vice

Somebody in Miami loves me. Are you my secret blog reader?

Humor break

I had no idea the Chabad had it in them. I bet their High Holiday services were a laugh-riot.

Another loss

The fall of my junior year of college, I spent the semester in Amsterdam. On Friday, I ran into one of my friends from the trip, Megan. Tonight Megan called to tell me that another friend of ours from Amsterdam, Chris Sahm died this weekend. He was in a car accident with two other people in California and the three of them didn't survive.

Here is an article about the accident.

Next weekend, all the people from our trip abroad that currently live in New York are getting together to celebrate Chris' life.


Chris, the Diva in Berlin


Greg and Chris


Erin, Megan, Chris, and Kristen


Amsterdam friends on the train


Chris and the piercers at Body Manipulations (pre-piercing)


Chris and Greg (This was a dress rehearsal for a school performance. We were studying Gender, Sexuality, and Identity. Can you tell?)


Erin and Chris

Vague Vagaries

Can't say much about today because it's a secret. More soon.
In the meantime, a tribute to Astoria, honoring our glorious local food and drinks:

Favorite Dinner: Mundo
Favorite Brunch: Ovelia
Favorite Greek Food: Zenon Taverna
Favorite Outdoor Contemplative Place: Himalaya Teahouse
Favorite Outdoor Drinking Spot: Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
Favorite Indoor Drinking Spot: Crescent Lounge
Favorite Bakery: Gianpiero Bakery
Favorite Hang-Around-and-Do-Nothing Venue: Cafe Bar
Favorite Over-Priced Delicious Delicacies and Coffee: Il Bambino
Favorite Recession Prices (Most Food for Your Buck): Mini Star

My little scrapbook of Abbey's trip to NY

Abbey's back in town!


Nick said, "Oh, that one's hot. Put that on the blog." Here you go, gorgeous!






Heather's a New Yorker now!

One way around the recession

When McCain announced, "Our economy is strong" right before the markets crashed, what he really meant is that the hard work and innovation of American workers is unparalleled by any other country. He must have been thinking of this woman in Union Square:

A much-needed visit to Veronica's

My dear friend, Veronica is the only one who is allowed to cut my hair. She had to remind me several times that I am not to take out my emotions on my hair. But she's a realist, and so she showed me how to cut my bangs if I couldn't resist. Sometimes I can't resist.


I've been instructed to let this newly cut hairdo grow out so that she can try her next vision on my hair.

As one would expect from hanging around with a scientist, Veronica has endless information. Tonight she taught me about the naked mole rat. Recently, she attended a conference where she learned about aging and cancer. Apparently the naked mole rat does not get cancer, and scientists are unsure why the naked mole rats die. Similar to the queen bee, the queen naked mole rat mates with all of the males in her group. This includes mating with her sons. The queen bee causes so much stress by bullying the other females that they do not try to mate. Isn't nature amazing?

Tasty debate night

On a cold, almost-winter night like tonight, nothing tastes better than hearty debate food made by the hostess with the mostest, the culinarian Vanessa.

There's nothing debatable about Humboldt Fog Cheese from Cowgirl Creamery with bread and honey. I'm telling you, Vanessa! Email them and get yourself a patent; you've struck gold!

Feels like Thanksgiving in my stomach. And I'd like to give thanks to Vanessa for an outstanding dinner.

Bottom line: Bay Area folks know food.

Literary Wet Dream of the Year

And then I remember why I love living in New York.

The New Yorker Festival rocks out unapologetically nerd-style all weekend. Many of the events cost, but I managed to chat with (and get my books signed by) many of my favorite authors for free.


My man, Tobias Wolff. I asked him to sprinkle some of his writerly magic into the books that he signed for me.


Rough day, Toby? Talk to me; I'm here to listen.


The adorable Michael, my old buddy from Housing Works joined me for book signing and gossip. He still owes me lunch!


I went back for Toby seconds to have him sign Michael's book.


Less giddy-inducing, the strange and unsettling Joyce Carol Oates.


Nobody seemed to care that Edie Falco was registering people to vote, but when Susan Sarandon showed up, we swarmed.


Pretty sure everyone at the Festival had already signed up to vote, so we asked for autographs instead. Today Susan Sarandon turns 62. Happy birthday, Susan! 62 has never looked so hot!


Susan's hubbie, Tim Robbins joined her to celebrate her birthday.


Michael thinks Tim Robbins is one of the sexiest men on screen.


I took a break from the Festival to enjoy a fresh OJ from Billy's Bakery and a trip to 192 Books. While I was sitting outside Billy's, a stranger asked me to watch his four dogs, including this guy Bearley, and Prozac, Paxil, and the one pictured below (whose name I forgot). The guy wanted to talk my ear off about French Bulldogs, which was interesting at first, but then I had to cut him off so that I could make it to Alice Munro's signing.


My favorite of the four dogs. She was shy and independent, but also sweetly curious.


I could have thrown up from excitement all over Alice Munro.


She seemed much more fragile than I expected.


She barely said a word, but I blathered on about how much I adore her. Of all the authors at the festival, I'm pretty sure Alice Munro hated the crowds the most.


Sherman Alexie waits in line to have Alice Munro sign his books.


My stack of freshly signed books.


And I'm anticipating more fun:
Rachel Getting Married this afternoon and a free ticket to Stereolab tonight!

p.s. Speaking of literary snobs-- in this case grammarians-- check out this fascinating attempt to diagram Sarah Palin's sentences.

Today's Keywords

reset, extra credit, interruption, misplaced keys, no agenda, unsurprising agenda, missed call, a lot like you, unopened thank-you card, search, search button, bless, skeptic, forward questioning, backward questioning, ten percent slower, misplaced roses, G-D, truth, adjustment, prep, relief, change, depress, impress, recess, reference, stay, privilege, shelter, sheltered, talk over, gay son, eggs, insincere, parmesan, nap, not a good fit, library fine, freedom, freezing, notice, vent, protect, political, leave, love in fast forward, meeting, entitlement, honor, economy, forgot, cut and run, affirmative, element, foundation, open house, integrity, unknown search element, unknown search, unknown

As we used to say back in San Francisco, "These numbers just don't add up."

*notes: Sadie by Joanna Newsom
*enough already: Am I the only one who thought Flight of the Conchords got old after one episode?
*sinking fast with worry: VP debates
*pages: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman (Finally, I know. But it's nonfiction, what do you expect from me?)
*he's got a point: Bob sings an anthem with Hard Times In New York Town.
*yes, yes, yes: Somethin' Stupid starring Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman. Thank you, Dorchester for the exposure.

If Liza Minelli and Ralph Macchio had a baby...

Riva thinks it would look like me.


Riva imbibes for Show Tunes Tuesday at DBar.

Another freebie: Because there were mysterious plastic parts in our salad dressing, we received one free Scallop Salad for dinner.