A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to see one of my favorite bands, Franz Ferdinand, perform in concert here in NYC at the Roseland Ballroom in mid-town. This Scottish quartet is best known for their hit, "Take Me Out," from a few years ago, but their most recent album, Tonight, has been rocking my MP3 player ever since it came out many moons ago. In particular, the song "Lucid Dreams," which morphs from rock to dance music during it's ten minute playing time, is one of my favorite new songs.

During their live set they performed a generous helping of new songs, mixed with some older favorites, to a eager and excited audience.

On a side note, the photo included here of their recent cross promotion with Varvatos, inspired my new haircut - at least the pic of the band member with the ice cream cone.

The Straight Shave

Kevin surprised me this year with a rather unique Valentine's day present - a gift certificate for a haircut and shave at the New York Shaving Company. I only just got around to cashing in on it today and must admit that it was a unique and exciting experience.

The tiny shop, located on Elizabeth street in NYC's SOHO neighborhood, has only two barber chairs, one of which I occupied for nearly an hour while Francisco (sp?), a large, youngish Itallian-born barber did his thing on first my hair and then my face. The majority of the haircut was done with either a simple pair of scissors or a straight-razor. It was a good cut, but what truly made the experience unique was the traditional shave I had right after - my first! For the most part it was done almost exactly as shown in movies - he first wrapped my face with a series of hot, aromatic towels, then aggressively brushed my face with shaving cream before finally shaving my face not once with twice, with a large straight razor, similar to the one brandished by Johnny Depp in Sweeny Todd. Lucky for me there was much less blood and after nearly a full hour I emerged with a freshly shorn face.

My skin actually feels a bit raw as it has been nearly a month since I had shaved, period. But it looks good and I'm sure I will be back for another.

It's Friday!

Paris Trip
Originally uploaded by Carson D

So stop working precisely at 5, get a drink, and celebrate!

Bill Maher vs Ann Coulter

My Australian friend James presented me a last minute invite to the Bill Maher/Ann Coulter political debate that took place last night at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, part of the touring 2009 Speaker Series taking place over the next few months. As they mentioned themselves, shockingly nobody had ever thought about positioning the two against each other in an all out verbal brawl before, so it was nice seeing 'history' made.

The two each had and initial fifteen minutes to give a speech to the liberal-leaning audience, and while I'm blue myself and perhaps a bit biased, it was clear that Ann was losing this one. Bill is just a flat out funny, intelligent and witty man who doesn't make up bullshit on the fly to cover his ass if he finds himself in over his head. Ann continuously drops her silly one off nonsensical comments without any regard for fact-checking or logic. Sure what she says can be shocking, but as Bill pointed out, nearly everything out of her mouth is just flat out factually wrong.

Still it made for an exciting and unique night, and if you have a chance to catch her or any of the following headliners (Alberto Gonzales vs. Janet Reno should be good), I'd advise you do it.

March Madness!

New Orleans for New Years!
Originally uploaded by Carson D

So inspired by one of my best friends decision to do the same this last January, I have decided, for a number of reasons, to go dry for this month. In a city in which most residents forsake petrol for alcohol as a source of fuel, this is a pretty big deal, hence my repurposing of the college basketball term.
It's something that has been on my mind for quite some time, as upon reflection, upon moving to New York, there have been more drink-related black-outs than I would care to recall. While I'm certain I don't qualify as an alcoholic, there have been too many wasted weekend days recovering in front of the television while I try fruitlessly to recall where I went the evening before ("I know I started at G, then we went to Barracuda, after that things get fuzzy...").
Coming off of March, I'm going to embark on the 5 drink plan, meaning that in any given evening I will consume no more than 5 drinks, which for some is probably a lot, but for me is sort of that cutting point between having fun and getting ill. And obviously on school nights this will be much less.
Anyhow, I'm happy to report that as of this Sunday evening, March 8th, mission has thus far been accomplished. Admittedly I refrained from participating in much nightlife, making it much easier, but I still had a good, productive weekend.

Skiing!

Skiing with the Family
Originally uploaded by Carson D

I met up with my brother and sisters this weekend, and along with some of Kyle's friends, had the best long weekend of skiing (& drinking) that I've had in awhile. It's sad how rarely I get to go - I only made one trip prior to NY's Hunter Mountain, which is a poor excuse for a slope when compared to Breckenridge and Vail, where we skiied this weekend. It was my first skiing trip in Colorado, but it most certainly won't be my last. The mountains were magnificent and I actually found myself tackling double black-diamonds successfully for the first time in my life (admittedly they weren't nearly as intimidating as the similarly marked runs at Whistler, but whatever, I was proud of myself).
It was an exhausting trip and one morning I found myself vomitting into a toilet four times in quick succession - I'd like to blame the elevation, which surely was a contribution, but it probably didn't help that I drank the night before. Still, a long weekend of skiing in the Rockies with friends and family is a tough trip to beat!

Supporting the American Economy, One Outfit at a Time!

I knew it was going to be a slow day at work so I decided to head down to Chelsea for my lunchbreak to buy a lil' somethin' somethin' for my man for Valentine's Day. He has bought into the skinny tie thing but does not yet have a tie bar, which in my mind goes hand-in-hand with the craze. Unfortunately for him (and for my credit) it turns out that today is the opening day of the spring warehouse sale at Barney's. Jewelry wasn't on display, but plenty of other things were, including my new Captial E Levis corduroy pants!

Fellow Americans - it is our duty to purchase items in order to help revive the economy, is it not? And is it a crime that after doing so, I end up looking amazing as a result. Okay, okay, I mean even more amazing than usual (thank you, thank you). But let's not focus on me - let's focus on the issue at hand, the American economy....

Really though, for those who aren't in the know, the sale is one of the most unique I've ever been to. Barney's (a large, high-end department store based out of NYC) closes it's Chelsea store and opens it as a warehouse store, with piles and racks of clothing, shoes, suits, belts, etc scattered throughout. One of the most amusing aspects of the event (and an added bonus for us voyeurs) is that since there is no dressing rooms available, you must drop trou or remove shirt right there in the store in front of the hordes in order to try something on. In your average suburban mall this would be a travesty, but in NYC, the city built upon image control, most everyone looks amazing (and probably enjoys putting on a show as much as the others enjoy watching it.

Pacific Northwest Road Trip

Road Trip
Originally uploaded by Carson D

So in the summer of 2007 I attended my brothers wedding in Boise, ID the weekend before Fourth of July, and my friend Rob and I used it as a jumping point for a big roadtrip. We travelled from Boise up to Missoula, Montana, then west to Seattle. After that we went up to Vancouver and then came back to Seattle, which was the end. I wrote about the trip for Gay.com, which you can start to read here (FYI, I soooo did not pick the title of the story):

THE GREAT GAY STUD ROAD TRIP
Ever wanted to get away from it all only to find yourself surrounded by all the all same faces? This summer vacation experience a road trip out of your comfort zone. This week we follow two gay boys as they embark on an excursion of their own. (To read the rest of the story, click here.)

Corner Bistro Beating Smells Fishy

The Corner Bistro is one of the most famous burger joints in NYC and is commonly associated with the best burgers in town. It's also located in the West Village, one of the gayest neighborhoods in New York (and therefore one of the gayest neighborhoods in the world), so the following account (click here to read it) about a supposed gay bashing is a bit hard for this writer to swallow. Allegedly the writer and his boyfriend were 'victims' of an angry waiter, dismissive cops and a pissed off manager, all of which makes their story seem even more unlikely.
While the waiter (busboy, whatever) in questions behaviour is not excusable, I wonder what the writer's boyfriend did that may have instigated the arguement (you can almost tell by the way it is written that there is something being left out). It's a super busy bar/eatery so frequently you have to wait in a long line (no reservations allowed). And the fact that ONLY the boyfriend sat down and refused to move indicates that there is something else going on here that writer isn't telling us that probably prompted the reaction. It definitely sounds like the people overreacted but I've had to hold myself back from decking a few bitchy, impatient queens myself. I'm filing this report under "V for Vendetta"

Best Comedy - Ever?

I know not everyone agrees with me, but I have long felt that the long cancelled series Arrested Development is far and away one of the best TV series in history. It features one of the best ensemble casts in comedic history making it impossible to pick a favorite character. Unfortunately the show never connected with "greater" America, but considering some of greater America's choices (Friends, Nicholas Cage movies, George Dubya) I consider that to be an additional compliment to the show. The writing is amazing and works on so many levels - while there is plenty of slapstick and crass humor, there are also a number of complex, ongoing jokes that require a viewer to watch the series in it's entirety from start to finish. The third season loses some steam - at this point it's fate had become clear and I suspect some of the writers were either forced to jump ship or taken on safer jobs. Still, compared to the majority of the sitcoms on television, Arrested Development is well above par.

You can rent the DVDs via NetFlix, but like Seinfeld you'll find yourself wanting to watch episodes over and over again, so I suggest caving in and buying the series.

Nice Shot!

Katie's Visit
Originally uploaded by Carson D

I love these types of photos! Hold the camera in front of you as far as you can reach, angle it just so in order to capture yourself and what's just over your shoulder and presto you get a cool shot of you and everyone behind you...in this case my sister, Kevin and some random chick who isn't actually part of our group. Okay, presto isn't exactly right as it generally takes three or four tries to get it just right and in this instance I didn't give them any warning (although Kev somehow always manages to look picture perfect, except for this recent shot), but it's a cool shot regardless.
And there is the unfortunate stuff with close ups, like that big ass zit on my forehead...probably should have retouched that...
Oh well.

Inexplicable Popularity!

Beaverhausen Party
Originally uploaded by Carson D

Somehow this photo has rapidly become one of the most popular pictures on my photo blog, presumably due the forwarding on of one or both parties. It's an amusing pic of two guys in the city I know, John and Paul, the first of which I dated briefly a few summers ago. I guess I'm always curious as to which pics get the most hits, most of which are pretty obvious. This one seems to have taken on a life of it's own for some reason.
Just a good times pic taken at a good times party at our place in October.

Doug and Andy

Doug and Andy at the Garage
Originally uploaded by Carson D

I lived in Seattle for over four years - the longest I had lived in any one place since I was a child, at least until now. At the time I assumed Seattle would be the place that I would "grow old" in. I had a decent job, it's a pretty nice city and I had a really strong network of friends.
Then, after getting laid off I heard "change" calling my name and I found myself moving to NYC, finding a job, living and thriving here. I was surprised at how much I loved New York to be honest as I'm very much someone who loves the outdoors. But I honestly can't imagine living anywhere else at this point in my life.
I do miss the network of friends that I had in the rainy city though, even if some of themselves have moved on and even though the ones who are still there don't all hang out together that much.
My two friends pictured here, Doug and Andy, are probably the two I stay in touch with the most. Doug still lives in Seattle with his partner while Andy (aka Bravehound) has moved throughout N. America with his (currently they are in Ottawa).
The three of us actually did a trip to Alaska together many moons ago. Doug's fears now include bears, whistlers (you'd have to be an Alaskan) and well used airplane magazine (germaphobe).
In any case, even though I don't see either of them or any of my other friends in Seattle very often they are all missed and loved. We had great times together and I have fond memories of those days that will last me a lifetime.

MLK Weekend in Mexico City

MLK Weekend in Mexico City
Originally uploaded by Carson D

Kevin and I ended up spending a nice, long weekend in Mexico City over Martin Luther King weekend, the first time either of us had visited. We had a great time - the weather was great (72 by day, much cooler at night) the city was exciting and engaging and we scored an amazing hotel, Camino Real, for only $100 a night.
In this shot we were descending the Temple of the Sun, the third largest pyramid in the world, located in Teotihuacan, a historic area 50km outside the city with a number of temples and historic relics.
While we went to some good restaurants (and one incredibly bad one - never eat at 12:30 in the Zona Rosa. A Mexican diner that was serving what was easily one of the worst meals I have ever encountered) we both agreed the best Mexican food was found at the multitude of street cart vendors that dot the street throughout much of the city and, I suspect, the country.
Admittedly we probably tried to do too much in such a short period of time - the flight out of Laguardia took us through Dallas both ways and ended up taking over 8 hours both ways. As a result we only got to spend 2.5 days in Mexico total, which was definitely a day short of what probably would have made sense. Additionally, because of Kevin's job, we need to get back as early on Monday as we could, which required a 3:45am wake up call that morning.
It was an exhausting trip and admittedly I picked up a stomach bug on the way back, but it overall it was great fun.

New Orleans for New Years!

New Orleans for New Years!
Originally uploaded by Carson D

My roomie TJ and I got to spend an amazing 6 days in sunny New Orleans over our holiday break, including New Years Eve. It was my first time to the city, so I am unable to compare it to it's pre-Katrina state. However I can say that is was one of the most beautiful cities in the United States that I have ever visited. The famous and historic French Quarter, while overrun by tourists, is an amazing place to wander and absorb the unique culture that defines New Orleans. The weather was consistently warm during the day (mid-70's) yet cool in the evenings (50's) making it an ideal break from the freezing weather in the Northeast.
It's easy to see how a young someone can get distracted by the constant energy and excitement that defines the city's most infamous street, Bourbon Street. Many bars and clubs are open 24 hours and while you can carry your drinks anywhere with you throughout the city, the practice is most prevalent on Bourbon. Still, there is much to see and experience off the strip, and I encourage visitors to explore some of the lesser known venues.
The Garden District, with it's beautiful and extravagant mansions, is also well worth the trek.
Our primary guide was the Lonely Planet's New Orleans book (http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Orleans-City-Guide/dp/1740599128/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231874224&sr=1-5), which is well worth picking up. The food suggestions were amazing - I don't think I have ever eaten so well in my life. And despite what would think, there are plenty of healthy options available. While there is plenty of fried food available, most items are also grilled and/or served Cajun style.

Candis Cayne is POPular!!!

Kyle and Amber's Visit
Originally uploaded by Carson D

For whatever reason, this photo of Candis Cayne is the most popular shot in my album. Between this picture, and another less popular picture of her, it accounts for nearly a fifth of all the individual pictures on my flickr site (http://www.flickr.com/photos/darylsela/).
During my brother and his wife's visit last spring we were lucky enough to catch the lovely Miss Cayne performing, which is when this pic was taken. My drunk brother apparently misunderstood me prior to the show and didn't realize the performer was transgendered until after the show was complete.
The frequent guest star of recently deceased dramedy "Dirty Sexy Money" is definitely and entertaining performer - often times, she will literally her take her act from stage to street, stopping traffic while she dances amongst stunned drivers and passersby. Unfortunately, between this and her and Firestarter look (holds head above a strong fan so that her blonde locks blow back in a fashion similar to Drew Barrymore's character from the film), Candis frequently struggles to come up with any other original ideas. Still, it's an act that you should try to catch once or twice in your lifetime....