Hustler of Culture
It only took about 10 years but, JDate, the Wal-Mart of Jewish dating, has finally opened their doors to gay folks seeking love (full story). Since gay members of the Jewish community are no secret to anyone, I’d say this qualifies as About Time and Overdue (via JewSchool).
An old chestnut that never seems to spoil, Slate asks a bunch of famous people to reveal their first literary crushes. This is a lot like asking someone to discuss their beloved’s annnoying habits at their wedding rehearsal dinner. The circumstance precludes an honest answer. So no matter how self-effacing or down-with-peeps a media personality is, they are certainly not going answer something uncool like “Danielle Steel” even if it’s the truth.
This is not one of Slate’s prouder moments (via Readerville).
In related news, right here in Da Bay, Book Passage is holding a benefit for the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina. I quote from their blog…
The event is set for this Friday, Sept. 9, at 7:00 pm. The suggested donation is $20 (but the organizers will gladly take more).
As of this writing, Amy Tan, Robert Olen Butler, Elizabeth Dewberry, Paul Loeb, Isabel Allende, Lalita Tademy, Ayelet Waldman, Jane Ganahl, Armistead Maupin, and Susanne Pari are all confirmed participants. More are certain to be added to the list, since Amy says that she will be seeing some other important authors later in the day (It is not easy to say no Amy Tan!). Each author will be asked to read a brief piece about New Orleans, about the disaster, or just about the state of the world. It promises to be a memorable evening.
Book Passage, Corde Madera location. Get your lit on for a good cause.
Wherein I celebrate Saturday morning, desserts and my mom’s favorite book.
I’m writing this while working the phones for KALW’s pledge drive, the bestest little radio station in San Francisco. Look at mah volunteering ass.
Did you know Liz Phair is writing a sex column for Nerve.com? I wonder how many letters coming in asking “How can I Have Sex with Liz Phair?” I’d want to know. (via Lindsayism)
Wow, what a fly birthday! Suzan, her sis Anne Marie, and our friends Rebecca and Wendy completely transformed our house, a whole load of people showed up (several with Hula Hoops) and DJ Amber kept things going on the turntables. When I stopped worrying about whether everyone was having a good time (which Suzan told me, repeatedly, wasn’t my concern) I had a really good time. Most amazingly, we were able to get 50-60 people I really love in one room, at one time, on a weekend night in San Francisco. It blew my mind.
So, thanks my lovely girlfriend and her amazing team for throwing this fab event. Thanks to Roman and Anne Marie for keeping me entertained during the day and thanks to everyone who came or wished me well and made the last few days so special.
We now return to your regularly scheduled life.
I hadn’t gone geocaching in a while but it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and my buddy Britton and I were looking for some whopah do so off we went. What fun. It still gives me a high when you finally locate the cache after many minutes of walking in circles and moving fallen tree branches. .
I’m going to have to go hunting when I get to Baltimore later this week.
So if ya gotta propose, this is kind of a cool way to do it (via my friend Dana T.).
Just got off the phone from my interview with Toure, very bright and a total gentleman. Oh, and his book The Portable Promised Land is wildly creative and downright hilarious. I can’t recommend it enough.