Sprucing Up the City

I know everyone says it every year, but come on …

Remains of the Day (11/07)

Love Hurts: Influencer claims NFL ex Matt Kalil's penis size ended their marriage

Passport: Inside the Gay Polo League’s Lexington tournament 

RIP: "Shirley Valentine" star Pauline Collins -- acclaimed for her warmth, wit and decades of stage and screen success -- dead at 84 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease

Boystack: Ira Sachs resurrects lost words, lost souls and a lost New York in "Peter Hujar’s Day," his most intimate and haunting film yet

Times of India: Sentimental moment leaves Novak Djokovic in tears on court in Athens 

Saturday 'Stache: How am I just learning about this X-rated one? 

The Caftan Chronicles: From Staten Island closet case to silver-fox Instagram star, Anthony Varrecchia has had a roller coaster of a life, including sex work and sex parties, a religious conversion and likely suicide, and now monogamous bliss

Mirror: Spain's David Marrero, who was once ranked No. 5 in doubles, banned for over two years after admitting to payments 

GCN: Report warns of looming decrease in LGBTQ characters on TV

EW: "Dawson’s Creek" star Kerr Smith looks back at gay storyline sparking controversy: People "were angry as hell"

SCMP: U.S. singer unknowingly marries Malaysian sultan: "I deserve a proper divorce"

Attitude: Before Instagram and Grindr there were physique magazines (ICYMI)

WGN: Suburban chiropractor accused of secretly recording more than 100 patients; wears sleeveless shirt in mug shot ... and this teacher's perp pose is even more fetching!

KTVU: LGBTQ community leaders praise Nancy Pelosi for decades of support, following retirement announcement

PinkNews: Study shows majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, as Supreme Court decision looms

WUNC: What happens when LGBTQ elders take aging into their own hands?

Variety: Brett Goldstein’s male escort comedy lands series order at Amazon

Speedo Sunday: He's a cool rider

Hot Cat(s) of the Day: New cabinet members, I hope!

Homo-eats: I told you the Q made no sense! 

On the Rag, Vol. 882

 

Jonathan Bailey, Peter Daut, Matt Bomer, Romeo Beckham and more in this week's rag 'n' mag roundup BELOW.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor Kills at Webster Hall

We had a hoot seeing Sophie Ellis-Bextor last night at Webster Hall, a venue I used to frequent but don't think I'd seen a show since Adam Ant in 2017. I didn't know an awful lot about her. But Damian is a big fan, so I was pleasantly surprised by how many songs I recognized from his having blasted her music in the shower over the years -- I have my husband to thank for not one, but three Sophia Songs of the Day -- and possibly dancing to "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)" at the Roxy back in the day. 

First off, I have to say that Sophie is such an adorable goofball -- her kick dancing! -- so it was a joy to see her basking in the newfound popularity she gained by the use of "Murder on the Dancefloor" in the closing scene of "Saltburn." (She joked that it was her biggest hit, "twice"!) Her gratitude was expressed throughout the show, which features her little brother on drums and hubby and father of her five sons on bass.

Although it seems she's been recording since the mid-90s, first with the indie band theaudience and as a solo artist since 2000, it was only last year that she was "big" enough to tour the U.S., with Tuesday's show being her second time in NYC in the past 18 months. She's just released a great new album, "Perimenopop," which is a bit of a love letter to disco from a woman of a certain age. (She's gorgeous at 46 now, which sounds young to me, but is definitely old in pop star years!) 

Because I'm not that up on her, I was shocked when she launched into a cover of Cher's "Take Me Home" as her second song, only later learning that it was a huge hit for her off her debut, the one that also included "Murder on the Dancefloor." Further confusing me, she also did "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! A Man After Midnight" and a bit of "I Feel Love" -- and Dennis Parker's "Like an Eagle" played before her set (if you know, you know) -- so the entire set list complemented the campy, disco-party feel of it all, making for an incredibly fun and carefree outing.

She ended things by surprising the crowd after the encore by re-appearing on the balcony -- Evita style -- to do the night's only ballad: "Don't Know What You've Got 'Til It's Gone," which is also the new album's closer. She may not have, say, Pat Benatar's range. But Sophie's voice is certainly unique. And to hear her sing as the final song of the concert, on the final night of the tour, a cappella with no microphone really spoke to just how special she is. Verdict: Sophie didn’t just murder the dancefloor -- she resurrected it. Upgrade me from casual to actual fan.

Before

During

After, getting a late dinner at Veselka 

Read up on this sexpot HERE.

Remains of the Day (11/05)

NYT: How "Barney Miller" made gay TV history 50 years ago

Greg in Hollywood: Cher says her career is like a "bumper car": "If I hit a wall, I would just back up and go in a different direction."

Variety: Cole Escola, Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone are making a Miss Piggy movie

Valley News: U.S. tells Vermont to change foster parent policies aimed at protecting LGBTQ youth

Wrestle Wednesday: Garrett's singlet is "half off," although I'm not sure about its cost 

MetroWeekly: For Cheyenne Jackson, music remains the great salvation

The Advocate: Jim Obergefell warns that people should be "concerned" about Supreme Court considering marriage equality case

Out: Chelsea's g Lounge returns with frozen cosmos, drag and a mission to make everyone feel at home 

Attitude: Jonathan Bennett says Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams and more are 99% up for "Mean Girls" sequel, playing parents

PinkNews: Shawn Mendes reacts to fan calling him "daddy"

Out: 11 best male nude scenes in pop culture in 2025 (so far)

GCN: Brad Hoylman-Sigal wins race for Manhattan borough president, making LGBTQ history

Deadline: Soccer stud Josh Cavallo announces involvement in a groundbreaking gay TV series

Thrillist: Young Christian queers are going on a new kind of pilgrimage

NYP: "Bougie" NYC cinema just hit a wild new price high -- $200 per person for dinner and a movie

Hot Cat of the Day: And I didn't think it was possible to love Wendi McLendon-Covey more

First Tuesday in November

I must say I haven’t seen this much hope and excitement from my party since Bill de Blasio ran for New York City mayor in 2013!