GenEx

HBO Boxing

The ads around town for the Calzache Vs Hopkins fight on HBO look more like gay porn than a boxing match.

Joey's Rage

Did anyone catch last night's episode of The Real World Hollywood?

I don't think - in the 18 or so seasons of this show I've watched - that there has been a more terrifying event than Joey's binge drinking/rage explosion. We've learned over the last few episodes about his fucked up childhood. How his dad beat the shit out of him constantly. How his mom would lock him and his brothers in a room while she went on a coke binge. And how he himself succumbed to drug addiction and alcoholism. But it still did not prepare me for what I saw last night. Chugging a magnum of white zinfandel, after a night in which he probably took in a dozen cocktails at the club and every ounce of alcohol back at the house. Smashing glasses. Beating himself in the head. Throwing shit everywhere. And terrorizing everyone in the house.

You can watch the episode at the link above. Or see it next Wednesday at 9pm. Needless to say he's leaving the house for rehab. Which is sad above all as he's not a bad guy. He'll be back after 30 days and we'll see what happens then, when people stop being polite indeed.

When you care enough

Most e-cards suck. Bunnies and puppies running through grassy hills. Canned sentiment. Bad writing. That's why someecards.com was created; an antidote for cynical urban dwellers such as yourselves. Snarky lines paired with old line illustration adds up to pure genius.

Workout

While I really don't need to get hooked on yet another reality show, Brian Peeler of Bravo's Workout is just so freaking cute I can't help myself. The show isn't half bad either. But let's be honest - if Brian wasn't running the 10k Mud Run shirtless and then showering off in his boxers there wouldn't be much draw. Well, for me at least.

UPDATE: Yes, Brian was "fired" last night. But that doesn't mean he won't be back. I think Bravo knows the tension between he and what's-her-name boss lady is too good to give up.

UPDATE II: www.brianpeeler.com - blame Eric.

The Craving continues

Mark continues to spin the wildest sets over at The Crave Club every Saturday. Which you should have checked out by now but if you haven't, you'll find the link in permanent residency now in the sidebar. No, it's not a club. It's a podcast. Click the link and subscribe for free.

Sunset Beach

Andre Balazs Sunset Beach resort on Shelter Island opens for biz May 16th. In an appealingly downscale, retro way (albeit manufactured) it feels fresh and different. Sunbleached, slightly suburban, a spritzer in one hand and a peach blanket underneath.

J'Adore

GenEx® Wardrobe :: Spring/Summer 08

Apparently all there is to do at jury duty is blog. I've been sitting here for 4 hours without one word from the clerk. Blame it on reading one too many back issues of Details but here are some thoughts I've had on clothes for the approaching summer months. I don't claim to be all that stylish when it comes to wardrobe; if anything I have a tendency to look back at what I've worn every few years and roll my eyes. That said, a few thoughts on what seems to work.

Denim
In my head there are two kinds of denim. Dark and light. Dark is the dressier kind and light is the run around in the daytime or go out to a drunken cabana bar at night kind. Dark has been a wardrobe staple for some time now and shouldn't have too many variations in tone as you proceed down the leg. Excessive whiskering, tears, paint splattering etc were a trend and should be tossed at once. Light can have the more summer bleached out/faded appearance and look great with flip flops and sneakers. Dark can be worn with pretty much anything.

As far as the leg goes, I'm happily in the middle with a straight leg. All that bootcut nonsense of years past can be forgotten. But as long as it isn't too extreme, you can still get away with it I suppose. One trend I despise is the super-skinny tight ankle jean that the hipsters have adopted. It just plain looks bad on a guy. In the last year or two I have rediscovered the Levi's 501. After what seems like decades of looking for the right jean - the Gap years, the Diesel/designer trend, etc - I feel like I've returned to the promised land. Not too tight, not too baggy, straight leg perfection.

Khaki
I love a pair of khakis as a denim alternative but lament the lack of decent styling. Khakis - on me atleast - look either too pressed and trim and Banana Republic, or too baggy and rumpled and Urban Outfitter. J.Crew tries it's best with the broken-in thing but still for the life of them don't know how to cut a pair of pants. That said they do have a few lightweight summer styles this year that work fairly well without looking like you're trying too hard. The same rules apply here - straight leg, not too baggy or too trim. And I prefer rumpled to pressed, but then I work in advertising where in the summer just wearing pants is considered dressy.

As far as color goes, I like a good neutral light to mid tone. I detest wheaty darker khakis or anything with too much yellow in it. If you can pull it off, I fully embrace the white, pink, or seersucker versions that J.Crew is selling. I personally don't go to enough Hampton functions to justify the expense.

Other
I say other because there are other jean alternatives that aren't khakis. Namely the army green surplus/cargo pant type. I've been told many a time by all my friends in the biz - Matt, Doug namely - how atrociously out of style cargo pants are and how to be seen with them on in New York City might qualify as a felony. However, I still think they look good and for those of us with under 50 inch quads they help. That said, there is a hybrid ripstop cotton, simple cargo pocket version that would past muster - if only I could find it. The search continues.

Shorts
I don't like short shorts on men. There I said it. Shorts, in my opinion, should fall right above the knee. Any higher and it just looks wrong. Yes, the guys coming down the runway in Milan look amazing that way but we're not models and we're not walking down runways. Many things look good on runways - or in photos - that look good no where else. Shorts can run past the knee but then they should look that way intentionally and hit the upper calf. No capri pants, please.

Shorts fall into the same dilemma as far as the cargo vs non-cargo. Here I feel the argument against falls apart as cargo shorts are just so damn convenient. Again I subscribe to the less-is-more camp of making sure pockets and such aren't billowing out and looking ridiculous. By all means were flat front plain leg shorts. Just no pleats.

Polos
A summer staple. A work and weekend shirt. I don't think you can have enough polos. Worn with pants they feel best fitted and not too long. With shorts, I don't like a tight polo - some more breathing room seems appropriate with a tennis tail (but still tailored). Unless you have the right musculature and frame, of course, in which case you can wrap a burlap sack around you and no one will be the wiser. My brand of choice : Lacoste.

Wovens
Button up long sleeve cotton shirts are another summer staple. While they have long sleeves, those sleeves were meant to be rolled up. Sometimes mid forearm. Sometimes just above the elbow. They look fantastic with jeans or shorts. J.Crew has thousands of them as do many other retailers. Just size down if the brand isn't that well tailored and you should be good to go. The short sleeved variety look terrible.

Tshirts
This one is a no brainer but I'm often surprised on how many bad ones I see out there. First rule for me is no sausage-casing tight tshirts. A tshirt should fit well in the chest, shoulders and arms but then fall easily down the back and stomach. Everyone should have the staple blank white and grey and vnecks around. And if the white are no longer white, turn them into rags and buy some new ones. As far as graphic tees go, I don't see the point in buying new tshirts that are meant to look like old ones, with the exception of a few brands - such as Rogues Gallery - that really do that look well. Vintage always looks best and have a quality to the fabric that you just can't replicate in the new. If you want to separate yourself from some major money - but see what vintage nirvana really is - go to Stock Vintage on 3rd avenue and 13th street. No hunting, just the best vintage tees in NYC.

Shoes
I'm no expert here so consult elsewhere. White classic addidas, converse always work. A decent flip flop (again J.Crew makes great basics). For $15 it's worth replacing your flip flops each season if you wear them often. I'm told not to wear flip flops in the city and while I do it less, sometimes I can't resist. Get a pedicure and you won't offend.

Accessories
A man should wear a watch in my opinion. Wrists look bare without. And you don't need to spend a fortune. A great Adidas or Gshock sport type for $50 can look as good as a Rolex or Tag. Get both and mix it up. And someone needs to start doing the double-Swatch thing again. I'm pissed I don't have my old ones.

Sunglasses are also necessary, but very difficult to fit to your face. Again, consult elsewhere for these.

I think I've covered all the basics. Outside of dress clothes but that's a whole different story and something I know even less about. Feel free to add your thoughts .

Civic Lesson

I am spending my days (unpaid, mind you) in the courthouse over at 100 Centre street. If I can make it through one more day, blogging will resume in earnest.

Buh-bye

I know I should be upset about the endless closing of gay establishments, but I'm straining to force a tear for the shuttering of FoodBar on Chelsea's 8th avenue. I guess their lease was up or someone forgot to pay the utility bill, but chances are you won't see them back open. While the sentimental side of me wants to remember meals I had there back in the 90s when gay New York was all shiny and new, the flip side remembers terrible food and half-assed service. But fear not, something mediocre will take its place soon enough.