Yummy!

Last night I tried a delicious and super cozy new pizza restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen called Capizzi. Being across the street from Port Authority I did not have very high expectations. But to my surprise it felt like I was stepping into my Italian grandparent’s kitchen complete with 50’s retro refrigerator and analog TV set. The food, like the ambiance, felt like you were sitting down to a meal at Nona’s table; warm, homey and pleasantly familiar. We tried the sampling menu, a perfect mix of the very best tastes the restaurant had to offer. We started with a selection of three appetizers; first the Sicilian String Bean Salad, simple, fresh and delish. Next came the Caprese which was super fresh and super yummy! The appetizers ended with a giant antipasti plate that was a meal in itself filled with a variety of cured meats, olives, cheeses, pickled veggies…it was incredible. For the main course we were treated to a scrumptious sampling of three of their most popular pizzas; the Asparagus Special with roasted asparagus, tomato, truffle oil and toasted pine nuts, The Pizza del Nonno, simply topped with fresh marzano tomatoes, pecorino romano and reggiano parmigiano cheeses with just a drizzling of olive oil, and finally the Loaded pizza, which is just what it sounds like, pepperoni, sausage, onions, roast peppers…the list goes on and on! All three pies were mouthwatering fresh and the crusts were to die for. As if that wasn’t enough we ended with a dessert sampling that pretty much sent me over the edge, cannoli, tiramisu, pannacotta…all home made. We washed all this deliciousness down with two bottles of Chianti and a glass each of Lambrusco, a slightly sparkling red wine.  An unexpected and surprising find…a true Hell's Kitchen gem. Delicious food, cozy atmosphere and familiar, friendly service. I will be back…very soon!

Capizzi
547 9^th Ave

(@ 40^th St.)

New York, NY 10018

212-695-6900

www.capizzinyc.com

QueerQuotes

“A narcissist is someone better looking than you are.”  –Gore Vidal

The Fantastical World of James Bidgood

Beautiful, dream-like images full of color, fantasy and imagination…this is the world of James Bidgood. This innovative and totally unique artist solidified his place in queer culture with his 1971 film, Pink Narcissus, a fantastical, homoerotic celluloid dream mixing surrealism and fantasy to create some of the most beautiful and colorful homoerotic illusions ever seen on film. He created and built a complete world in which to shoot his art and forever changed the way queer imagery was viewed and digested. His singular style continues to inspire many modern photographers and artists working today such as Pierre et Gilles and David Lachapelle. Because of his eye for beauty and detail the highly-stylized, elaborate scenes he created have continued to push the boundaries of homoerotic art for over more than fifty years. Check out some of my favorites…

And those he has inspired…

Pierre et Gilles

David Lachapelle

Adele - Set Fire to the Rain (Life from The Tabernacle, Notting Hill)

Adele singing a beautiful, haunting song from her new album. Wow.

Wherefore ART thou...

Gerhard Richter

Junge Frau (bunt) Young Girl (coloured), 1965

80 cm X 65 cm Oil on canvas

Dolce & Gabbana Menswear - Fall 2011

Black, white, grey and red…what other colors does a boy need in his wardrobe. Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall 2011 line is a youthful nod to the 70's/80’s hipster, cool and re-tailored but still full of Italian machismo. I love all the braces and the low-rise, interestingly cut, looser pant. I wasn't sure how I felt about the new dropped crotch that they are showing here. However, the more I look at it the more I like it, it seems modern and cool. Cropped blazers and chunky shoes mixed with acid washed jeans and fedoras. Pinstripes and tapered pants and red, red, red! The models are a bit of a departure as well, East End boys rather than Roman Gods, which is the perfect fit for the direction they are going. Cool Italian hipsters...I'm on board! 

Phierce Photography

André Ziehe By Kostas Avgoulis

QueerQuotes

"My love life is like a piece of Swiss cheese. Most of it's missing, and what's there stinks." -Joan Rivers

Gucci Menswear - Fall 2011

Gucci's menswear collections are always beautiful, wearable and super stylish. This season they are going for a laid back, modern 70's feel. They're showing a looser pant with a more relaxed break (which I usually hate, but I am really liking), gorgeous mohair sweaters in stunning colors, amazing jackets as usual, but then again I'm a sucker for jackets, the quintessential tailored Gucci suit, flawless...and a man clutch, that's right, I said man clutch. Modern 70's sophistication; chic, chic, chic.

What I'm Listening To...

Always Loved a Film – Underworld – Barking

Somebody to Love Me – Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. – Record Collection

Twister – Flash Republic – Danger

Disco Romancing – Elena – Disco Romancing

Who’s That Chick – David Guetta & Rihanna – Who’s Theat Chick EP

Get Myself Together – Robyn – Body Talk, Pt.3

Choices (Ramon Tapia & Marco Resmann Edit) – Ramon Tapia – Strictly Rhythm

Better Than Today (Bills & Hurr Remix Edit) – Kylie Minogue – Better Than Today EP

Rolling In the Deep – Adele – Rolling In The Deep

Spaceship (Feat. Kelis, Apl.de.Ap & Jean-Baptiste) – Benny Benassi – Spaceship



My Dream Home

 Kaufmann House, Palm Springs, 1947 - photo: Julius Shulman for Life Magazine, April 11, 1949

The Kaufmann House is a five-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Palm Springs, California. It was designed by Richard Neutra in 1946, his last development in domestic architecture, and has been called “one of the most important examples of International Style architecture in the United States.”

I have always been drawn to mid-twentieth century domestic architecture, specific to Southern California; the simplicity, the airiness, the attention to form and function. The Kaufmann House is one of, if not the, finest examples; down to earth, low, flat roofs, glass walls and furnished terraces…a house turned inside out.

“As an architect, my life has been governed by the goal of building environmental harmony, functional efficiency, and human enhancement into the experience of everyday living. These things go together, constituting the cause of architecture, and a life devoted to their realization cannot be an easy one. I have been privileged, or perhaps doomed, to eschew simpler, lighter burdens. Shaping man’s surroundings entails a lot more than spatial, structural, mechanical, and other technical considerations – certainly a lot more than pontificating about matters of style. Our organic well-being is dependant on a wholesome, salubrious environment. Therefore exacting attention has to be paid to our intricate sensory world.” -Richard Neutra

If I had a spare $13 million this house would be mine!



More amazing photos of this breathtaking property:

http://architecturelab.net/01/richard-neutras-kaufmann-house-restoration-by-marmol-radziner/

Phierce Photography

Steven Meisel

Isabella Rossellini for Dolce&Gabbana

Linda Evangelista

My love affair with Linda Evangelista started in my early teens. To my young gay eyes she was the superest of supermodels! Not only was she beautiful but she was beautiful in a totally unique and modern way. While other kids were sporting pictures of NKOTB on their trapper keepers I proudly displayed Ms. Evangelista, with her cropped cut hair and her legendary nose! Linda was part of that pack of incredibly lucky girls who rode the “supermodel” wave in the 90’s. But in retrospect looking back on that time I realize that those lovely ladies deserved every penny and every bit of attention they garnered. They WERE fashion. They brought the industry to the mainstream (at least for my generation), making it an integral and necessary part of pop culture; mixing it with music and art until it all became one. The word supermodel was invented for them! So, kudos, ladies…and especially to Linda, my childhood goddess, the fiercest one of them all!

"I won't get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day" - Linda Evangelista

A Day with Linda Evangelista

Report from MTV's Stylissimo (1991)

QueerQuotes

"The opposite of talking isn't listening. The opposite of talking is waiting." -Fran Lebowitz

Boot of the Season

Since NYC is about to have yet another snow storm I think it's a great excuss for a new pair of winter boots! I am obsessed with these from Converse, yes, I said Converse.  The All Star Outsider Woolrich boot is the perfect urban winter shoe. Rubber sole, 7-eye lace-up (which is perfect for city snow), wintery without being obnoxious (if I see one more guy sporting knee high snow boots like we're in Vermont I'm gonna scream) and who doesn't love flannel. Love these boots.

http://www.converse.com/?CSID=44_kwid/#/products/Shoes/ChuckTaylor/117308

A 1950’s NYC kiki…some things never change!!

I came across this photo the other day by accident and it struck a cord. Taken by Robert Frank in 1955 and published in his collection The Americans in 1958, the photo shows three queens on the streets of NYC, doing their thing! What is striking is that fifty-six years later I feel like I know these guys, they are my friends. This picture begs the question…how much have we changed? Two of the guys are interacting with the camera, clearly not ashamed of who they are, proud even. Yet the third one is covering his face, not unlike many of us still feel the need to do. I applaud these three guys and especially Mr. Frank for giving us such an honest and telling slice into not only our past but, interestingly enough, the current state of this country.

Read more about Robert Frank's groundbreaking work here:
http://www.transmopolis.com/2009/09/robert-franks-masterpiece-the-americans-at-50/



Fashion Androgyny



Andrej Pejic, fashion's new "it" boy...or girl...or boy. What an amazing look this guy has and he is definitely breaking down boundaries. You go girl...I mean, boy!