From the Front Door

Says our correspondent: "A group resembling 3-6 Mafia just showed up. I am led to believe it wasn't them because I started to sing 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp' and they didn't find it very funny. Pat Field then felt the need to join in and it got awkward." Oh boy. And another warning from out on the Bowery: "You know the one guy from the Village People? The Cowboy. He showed. He's crazy, right? I mean... someone needs to keep an eye on him." And also: "Will Wikle and his boyfriend Jason Bellini just showed up, says our man at the front door. Jason's fashion accessory is a Sony HDV camera. Will's look was 'hipster chic.'" Heh.

Arrivals! Mizrahi, Iman

Word from the front door and red carpet is that Iman just walked in--with Isaac Mizrahi--and she looks out of control amazing. Jay McCarroll is lurking out front by the big line. He'll end up inside sooner or later. Anyway Iman has this kind of amazing thing on with a ruffle bottom that sort of defies gravity? Wild.

Out 100: The Party Begins

Justin, Sam, and Jesse, roving reporters, have already taken to the floor of Capitale which, for those of you who haven't been here, is a giant converted bank. It's where they had the weird Sex and the City wrap party where I think Kim Cattrall wasn't like talking to any of the others or something. Anyway. Bad times for all. Lots of crew weeping at the death of SatC. I'm sure some of them found work again. The point being: This party will be better. Right now there is some sort of vowel-intensive soundcheck going on and a Teamster in a harness is being raised into the light-rigging. Very Thunderdome.

--Choire Sicha

Time Travel and The Universe

Editorial note: Rather than typing, Rufus Wainwright and Michael Cavadias talked their way through another blog post.

Rufus – I just saw this great documentary on Robert Wilson.  He said that every great artist should communicate their  perception, illustrate what they see and how they see it, and that part of that requires a belief that the world is your universe and it has to have all the components. It has to have the visual component. It has to have the sonic component.  It has to have it’s own time table.

Michael  - Creative work is how we communicate these things that we can’t talk about.

Rufus – It has to be three dimensional.  It can’t only be words. It has to be perception.

Michael – It’s like the conscious trying to play out the subconscious.

Rufus – I think a lot of it is like the story of La Petite Prince.  That story where he goes to all these little planets. You know, one where the rose lives and others.  Every little planet is like it’s own little world and I think that’s how humans are in many ways.  We all inhabit our little planets, revolving around our parents or something.

Michael – Each time a person dies a whole universe dies with them.  That’s gonna be quite a post!

Rufus – I know!  The Out 100 universe thing!

Michael – But what about Paris Hilton?

Rufus Wainwright & Michael Cavadias

Mark Tewksbury: Serious, But Not Desperate

Insanely well-nippled Gay Games co-honcho Mark Tewksbury did an interview with this week's Dallas Voice. Is he going to be at the Out 100 party tonight, along with Chip Kidd and Isaac Mizrahi and Slava Mogutin and Jack Pierson and Keith Boykin and so many others? And will he be wearing a shirt?
—Choire Sicha

I nominate Cyd Charisse

Can anyone forget her steamy sequence (those legs!) in "Singin' in the Rain"?  Or the Girl Hunt sequence from "The Bandwagon"?  How about "Heather on the Hill" from Brigadoon?

If legendary MGM Musical queen Cyd Charisse (left) isn't honored as one of the OUT 100 this year, let's put her on the wish list for next year.  And every year hereafter.  Simply because so many of us want to be her.

It so happens she is on the east coast this week, receiving a medal of arts award from President Bush.  While Cyd is nearby receiving the nation's highest honor for artistic achievment, one can only hope she'll pop into the OUT 100 Awards tonight at Capitale for some adulation, and maybe a high kick or two. 

I'd suggest Ann Miller pop in for a double whammy, but she's dead.

—Jesse Archer

Scissor Sisters: Cutting It Up

Jake Shears said this week that it's an honor to have a pair of murdering, dismembering sisters in Dublin named after his band. Awww! The point being, UK newspapers are the best in the world. Wouldn't you rather live in a country where newspapers had writers like this?

But then, Les Soeurs Ciseaux are unique party-starters who charmed their way into the mainstream, from New York's polysexual demi-monde, but they're now equally as loved by homely OXO mums.

Blitzing forth like a Muppet Show scripted by American cross-dressing novelist J.T LeRoy, the debut night of their first arena tour is less a gig, more an event: with a mixed audience united in delirium.

Like flavours of Fruit Pastels, everyone has a favourite. Maybe yours is Jake (whose accent seems to have mutated into Blanche from the Golden Girls), (un-)dressed like a bell boy at Hotel Camp and ricocheting around like a shaken can of Coke.

Or his seriously funny onstage foil Ana Matronic - together, they're like the Two Ronnies on Ritalin - who assumes lead vocals on second album, Ta-Dah's highlight, Kiss You Off (think: Debbie Harry doing Knock On Wood).

Or hirsute bassist Babydaddy. Forget do-gooding Pudsey, he's the only bear you should care about. Or guitarist Del Marquis, surely the only man who could get away with a pair of stripey pantaloons mugged from Andy Pandy.

—Choire Sicha

Tonight, Live, Wherever You Are

So, tonight's the night! For all those who can't join us downtown tonight at the madness of the Out 100 awards, you can tune in right here. Insanely enough, we'll be live-blogging at what should be a pell-mell pace—roving reporters with Sidekicks will be reporting in from the crowd. It'll be just like election night, but with fewer gays! Hi-o! I kid.

For those who are attending, you should feel free, even thought I'm working, to hit on me should you feel so inclined.

For those watching via the blog, you could subscribe to our RSS feed if it makes it easier on ya.
—Choire Sicha

Hip Hop Hooray!

here! tv, a little homo station, filmed a portion of the concert “Peace Out East,” the annual celebration of the LGBTQ presence in hip hop, organized by Shante Paradigm. This year’s fest took place from Oct. 12 – 15, at NYU. here! tv missed some amazing sets by Out 100 honoree Tim'm T. West, among others, about which Shante promises to blog later on, but here's a nice four minute clip of the activities.

And speaking of blogs, newcomer
gaypersonofcolor has been blogging for just over a month now, and already he’s been nominated for the Canadian Blog Awards’ "Best New Blog" and "Best Cultural Blog." Smell him! Then cast a vote for him on
November 15!

--Nicholas Boston

Fellini, Reagan and Vidal

Editorial note: Rather than typing, Rufus Wainwright and Michael Cavadias talked their way through another blog post.

Michael: So back to the idea of  “The Secret”, positive thinking and all. I’m sure everyone in the Out 100 has relied on a bit of positive thinking. Gore Vidal for instance?

Rufus: Gore Vidal, I think once he was born, it started to happen.  Certain people like that, like Gore, that generation, they just had every fabulous thing happen in their lives.   There was this incredible article I was reading about Gore Vidal  living in Rome right when Fellini was making La Dolce Vida, and they would hang out sometimes. You know, it’s just like one great fucking thing after another!

Michael: One of my favorite quotes of his was…”I heard Reagan read my book Lincoln, I don’t believe it.  I think he may have finished coloring it.”