On the Rag, Vol. 804

 

Your next swimsuit has arrived; he'll make you "woof!"; Kathy Griffin is back; and more in this week's magazine roundup BELOW.

Remains of the Day (04/17)

Instinct: Out broadcaster Steve Kmetko on disappearing from Hollywood, and what he's up to now … hint: go HERE

AutoStraddle: 52 TV shows with gay and bi women characters that were axed after just one season -- would also like to see a full LGBT list with the hilarious "It's All Relative" (2003-04)

The Randy Report: "Heartstopper" Kit Connor is heading to Broadway in "Romeo + Juliet"

Grub Street: Move over, La Côte Basque: Here's a social history of the city, told entirely through its restaurants

Instagram: Former blogger experiments with thirst traps

Dennis Anyone?: Catching up with Brian Sloan, whose film "I Think I Do" is getting the royal treatment for its 25th anniversary ... and rave reviews all over again!

NBC News: Pennsylvania school board cancels gay "30 Rock" actor’s anti-bullying talk, citing his "lifestyle" ... in 2024

IG: When you're hot and gay … and organic

People: Shocker! Patrick Wilson's jailbait football player son signs modeling contract

NYT: There's a new Lennon-McCartney in town

Remind: Tom Selleck gives fans an inside look at his "accidental" career in new memoir (Note: I tend to like guys as they age, but I must admit the pre-fame Tom on "Taxi" back in 1978 was definitely the hottest he's ever been!)

Gr8er Days: The "Airplane!" soundtrack will finally be available in full ... but will it include "River of Jordan" by everyone's favorite stewardess, played Lorna Patterson?!!!

MTN: Both articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Mayorkas have failed in the U.S. Senate, effectively ending the Republicans' sham impeachment efforts

NYDN: Believe women -- but never forget that each case still needs to be weighed on its merits

The Advocate: This gay man had to flee Ghana after a violent attack. He’s finally been granted asylum

Hot Cat of the Day: Sending my love to Nik, who lost his little buddy today. xo

Threads: I get -- and accept -- that language is constantly evolving. So my only comment on THIS is that I'm not convinced an offensive term for any other minority group in this country (black, Hispanic, Asian, Jewish, etc.) would be readily accepted by older members of any of those groups during their lifetimes if younger people started spewing it -- much less be expected to be accepted at the risk of ridicule. So I'm not sure why LGBT people immediately get lambasted as boomers (or worse) for not readily jumping on board with this.

Plan of the Rising Son

Several of you have reached out about how we planned our trip to Japan, asking if we'd used a tour group or not. The short answer is no: Damian is my travel hero, more capable of putting together a dream vacation I will never forget than I am for myself! I'd like to flesh this out with photos and ephemera at some point. But in the interest of time, I'm going to start with just the lineup for now. xo

Osaka: 

Okawa river cruise 

Osaka Castle Park 

Kaiyukan (night aquarium) 

Himeji (aka White Heron) Castle (incl. Koko-en Garden) 

Yakushima: 

Stayed in Miyanoura, Hotel Yakushima Ocean & Forest 

Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, incl. Taikoiwa Rock and Bugyosugi Trails 

Kyoto: 

Gion (Geisha) district, incl. Hanamikoji (lanterns) and Pontocho (along canal) Streets, Kennin-ji and Yasaka shrines, as well as Miyako Odori geisha performance at Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater 

Philosopher's Path (cherry blossoms along canal), starting at Nanzen-Ji Temple w/ large archway and park 

Sanjusangendo Temple (garden and long temple w/ 1,000 statues, near hotel) 

Nijo Castle (incl. garden w/ cherry blossom trees, tower terrace, and Ninomaru Palace w/ nightingale floor and tapestries) 

Tenryu-ji (botanical garden w/ large pond and cherry blossom trees, and temple complex), next to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest 

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine (with red "torii" arches and fox statues along mountain path) 

Lake Kawaguchiko (Fuji Five Lakes): 

Fufu Kawaguchiko hotel w/ private onsen 

Itchiku Kubota Art Museum (ornate gate and little garden by hotel) 

Kawaguchiko North Coast Walking Trail (lakeside promenade) 

stairs to Chureito Pagoda w/ viewing platform of Mt. Fuji 

Tokyo: 

Stayed in Shinjuku District 

Shibuya Crossing (plus Tower Records nearby) 

Ueno Park (Sakura Boulevard, cherry blossom trees on both sides) 

Yoyogi Park (and Meiji Jingu shrine nearby with a few large gates) 

Kabukiza Theater (w/ kabuki single-act performance) 

Ginza Six mall w/ rooftop garden 

Cat Cafes: Mocha Lounge Ikebukuro (large) and Monta (small) 

Harajuku District and Omotesando Boulevard (large Beverly-Hills-esque) 

Kamakura: 

The Great Buddha at Kotoku-In temple 

Kamakura Hasedera temple (hillside with ocean view and gardens) 

Matsumoto (aka Crow) Castle (in Nagano Prefecture w/ mountains)

Impulse Purchase

 

Love it -- but where's Dagwood? Prints available HERE.

P.S. I'm really starting to look forward to Chris Stein's coming memoir, "Under a Rock," which promises to far more detailed than what Debbie Harry's editor was able to drag out of her!

"The recording took six weeks. The final session found everyone half asleep on the Record Plant floor at 6 a.m."

"It was a great apartment… I’d shipped a Teac four-track back from Tokyo, the first one I owned, and I set up in the living room using a kitchen appliance rack for gear." 

On the Rag, Vol. 803

 

Danny Pintauro on his childhood success and plans for the future; gay romance on the French riviera; Matthew Camp gets chatty; and much more in this week's magazine roundup BELOW.