My Top 5 Obsessions This Week

Greetings to all my semi constant readers . I just had an exciting week in Chicago and it was a perfect one. So this is my love letter to Chicago in the tradition of our beloved Ferris Bueller .



1) I went to the beautiful Wrigley Field for a day game which is a favorite thing of mine.The history, the beer , the hot dogs and baseball. In the summer!!! The Cubbies and the Rockies. It was a close game and the Cubs lost but they will win another time and it is A joy just to experience it.

2) Andersonville Midsommarfest is the first street fair in Chicago heralding the beginning days of summer. Based on Andersonville's Swedish heritage it is one of the most diverse street fairs with lots of traditional Swedish fare and crafts as well as a celebration of it's gay neighbors.

3) Au Cheval Diner is hands down the best burger I have ever had. Located on Randolph Street this little high end diner serves up a mouthwatering cheeseburger cooked to perfection where all the ingredients melt in your mouth . I had mine with candied bacon and it was sublime.

4) Spamilton An American Parody from the writer/creator of Forbidden Broadway is hilarious. It spoofs everyone and even the stars who try to get comp tickets to Hamilton. The cast is terrific with shoutouts to Donterro Johnson, Michelle Lauto and Adam Lasalle. The King George number was a treat renamed Straight is Back and the Schuyler Sisters number with puppets was genius.

5) River Roast is a great summer treat. Located on the newly renovated River Walk on the banks of the Chicago River in the historic Reid Murdoch building. The must have is the whole roasted chicken which arrives upright on a custom cast iron skillet surrounded by crispy fried roasted potatoes. Carved tableside and served with a nice Bottle Rose. And that fantastic view!!!

                                 My Top 5 Obsessions This Week

Hello all of my semi constant readers. This is the pride edition. And what better way to celebrate than with my top five . In San Francisco there is no better place to celebrate.

1) Frameline 41 (San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival) started out with a bang this year with our very own beloved Armistead Maupin's film The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin by director Jennifer Kroot and co-director Bill Weber. Shown in our city's famed Castro Theater, we got to see how our Armistead's boyhood and hometown informed his storytelling . Many interviews in the film and  wonderful anecdotes from friends Amy Tan, Sir Ian McKellen, Laura Linney and Jonathan Groff and his wonderful sister Jane Maupin Yates whom I adore made this everything I had hoped it would be. Everyone gathered after at Terra Gallery for the opening night gala for delicious food, drinks and a night of stars and dancing on one of the warmest nights we have had here in San Francisco.

2)  The Fabulous Allan Carr documentary is another highlight of Frameline. The flashy flamboyant Carr was the producer behind Grease, La Cage aux Folles and the most spectacular flop Can't Stop the Music featuring The Village People and Bruce Jenner and director Nancy Walker. This was everything a drug disco fueled doc should be including interviews with Marlo Thomas, Bruce Vilanch and Lorna Luft. And when you see his Egyptian basement disco you will know the true meaning of the 70's. And the famous caftans he wore!!!

3) Alaska is a Drag featuring Nia Peeples, Margaret Cho and Martin L. Washington Jr. set in Alaska and the world of drag and boxing. (Who knew?) we follow as our Leo has emerges into his true self in a beautiful landscape.

4) Madonna Tribute - Heklina has done again for the third year in a row! So much local talent performed their way through Madonna's massive catalog of music at the San Francisco Treasure  Oasis SF. It is one of the best things about June and a hot ticket every year. Express Yourself, Cherish and Ray of Light were standouts.

5) Erasure is back to true form with a new release just in the nick of  time. World Be Gone is a great collection of future classics like Love You to The Sky, Be Careful What You Wish For and Just a Little Love are gems but every song are well crafted pop songs in the timeless tradition of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke. I cannot wait for this tour.

My Top 5 Obsessions This Week

Greetings to all my semi-constant readers . I just attended the first ever 3 day Comedy Central Clusterfest event here in San Francisco with the beautiful City Hall in the background and this will be focus of my obsessions this week.

1) Rachel Bloom performed not only an amazing set featuring her hit "Heavy Boobs" and later at the 80's Dance Party she did a rousting cover of The Ramones "I Wanna Be Sedated" with 80's cover band Tainted Love. The dry humor of the amazing Fred Armison was featured in a all star improv troupe at the 415 Comedy Club.

2) We saw the very talented Aparna Nancherla tear up the audience with 3 separate sets  and blew many other comedians away .Hilarious Kevin Hart ended the Friday night events with a great set featuring his "Great Baby" sketch. Saturday featured Abbi Jacobson and Iliana Glazer from Broad City did a live reading of Wayne's World for the 25th Anniversary featuring all female Queen Cover band The Killer Queens. Then a visit to the real mock up of Patty's Pub from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia complete with dirty urinals.

3) Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum wowed a backed stadium as Princess a "Prince " cover band. The opened with Let's Go Crazy and everyone did. Each song had their funky imprint on it as they whipped the adoring crowd into a frenzy.

4) Sunday night featured the talented Indie Pop  twin  sister act Tegan and Sara with amazing vocals on their hits "Closer " and " Boyfriend" It was really a treat to be front and center for a favorite of mine since their first big hit "Walking With a Ghost". 

5) Another big highlight was a tour of the Seinfeld set  airing of grievances, a round on the festivus pole and a selfie with the Soup Nazi actor Larry Thomas. Bill Burr hosted a live Q&A with Jerry Seinfeld about Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with a poignant segment with the late Garry Shandling. Ending the great 3 day event was stand up set with Jerry himself proving that he is a class of comedians all his own with biting satirical observations and the joy of human foibles.

My Top 5 Obsessions This Week: #MarkMyWord

My Top 5 Obsessions This Week

1)  Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is back with season 3, cast catching up where we last left Titus on his way to a job on a cruise ship and Kimmy is getting divorced from Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm). A Sesame Street audition and a Titus parody of Beyonce's Lemonade and that is only the first two episodes of season 3. No more spoilers - watch it yourself.

2)  Paramore After Laughter is a welcome release. I love Hayley Williams and everything she does. This album is filled with treats . The 80s synth and pop flourishes and that voice of hers make this a must have. Hard to pick , but one
fav cut is Hard Times, while the style is so upbeat the lyrics show that everything has not been easy for this band after some internal struggles they emerged with a winner. Told You So will be another hit for them but Fake Happy is a standout track and one of their best.

3) California  Academy of Sciences NightLife is one of the best ways to see the exhibits , drink specialty cocktails, listen to fab Deejays see the stars, and watch penguins play on a Thursday night. It is a different theme every Thursday but always make time for the aquarium, planetarium and the rainforest. This is one of the largest museums of natural history in the world. So much beauty here and not to be missed.

4)  Spent an afternoon shopping at Betabrand on Valencia Street here in SF and ended up having a great lunch at Farina  Cucina Italiana and trying the mouthwatering Caprese Salad and one of their tasty Bufalina Pizzas along with a chilled Italian white and  people watching the afternoon away, then headed by Garden Creamery for a famous Chimney Cone they only serve on Saturdays between 2 and 4. A hollowed out braided churro like sugar cake cone with carmelized banana ice cream. 

5)  Summer will not be complete without attempting at least two new drinks. A Deep Lavender Lemonade made with homemade Lavender simple syrup and fresh lemons and Deep Ellum Lemon Vodka and a spicy Watermelon Margarita with mint and Tajin rimmed glasses. Both turned out Really great and the perfect companion for any brunch.