What’s Dumb About the Smart Car

I’ve wanted a Smart car ever since I saw one in Europe, eight years ago (where it’s a Mercedes-Benz), so when Smart debuted in the US with their $99 reservation program, I signed up right away.  After a year of anticipation I learned that with Smart, the road to Passion fortwo doesn’t always end in ecstasy.

It’s easy to love the Smart.  It’s beautifully designed, looks like fun, parks anywhere, preempts backseat drivers, comes beautifully equipped for $15K.  We wanted it because of the  real 37 mpg.  We all love that.  Here’s what you won’t like about it and the path to getting into it.

Beachwood Barbies Have Bad Ass Estate Sale This Weekend

What happens when a handful of hot recording industry execu-chicks pool their long-hoarded memorabilia, collectibles, funky furniture, couture, and sundry schwag for a rock-n-roll estate sale in Beachwood Canyon?

Mayhem. Get a piece.

Cool shit they paid too much for, but that you can get for pennies:
Fred Segal, Barney’s, Kitson Clothing / Jeans / Shoes / Purses / Tons of NEW T-Shirts / Amazing Rock memorabilia / Rock T-Shirts / CD’s DVD’s / TV’s / Digital Camera / MADONNA Memorabilia / Cell Phones / Stereo Receiver / Chainsaw / Pots / Golf Clubs / Leather for crafting / fabric / curtains / jewelry / Furniture / Gorgeous HUGE Mirror / Doors / Rugs / Chandeliers / Ligne Roset Wall Unit

When: Saturday, August 9, 8a – 3p

Where: 2819 woodshire drive, los angeles

corner of beachwood dr and woodshire / off franklin / up beachwood one mile past coffee shop and village / left side of street

Roger Rabbit and the Future of California Transportation

We’ve all seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The evil Dr. Doom sought to shut down the Red Line through Hollywood and Toon Town to make way for cars and freeways, but was foiled… at least in the film.

But did you know that the story is true?

Sam Page’s Guide to Los Angeles, on Gay.com

Gay.com writer, Josh Rotter, recently interviewed Sam for his guide to Los Angeles. It’s interesting, even to me, to see what spots he likes best and why. I have to give him his due: for a guy who, three years ago, didn’t know there was life east of La Brea, he has become a pretty big advocate of the east side.

Below is a taste, and here‘s the rest (which also includes some rare photos you might not have seen).

What are some great restaurants for a romantic gay date in Los Angeles? What about these restaurants appeals to you?

Best Pride Ever

I’ve never liked Pride, and I thought I’d rather have a thumb in my eye than march in a parade. Who knew I’d have as much fun as I did this past weekend, marching in the Pride parade with the GSGRA. Sam, Sonny, and I carried state flags and represented the rodeo.

Funny thing being in a parade. The presumption is that there’s a reason why you’re in it, and why people would care. So the spectators give you this once-over, just to make sure that you’re somebody to them, and then the onus is on you to be somebody, with a smile or a wink, or a holler, so that’s exactly what we did.

We finished up the parade route early, rolled and tubed the flags, headed for The Abbey and tipped a few in honor of pride, our right to marry, our friendship with Sonny, and the rodeo. Sam was right. It’s more fun being in the parade than watching it, but then, I guess that’s no surprise. Kinda like life.

Here are some snaps from the weekend.

The Long Blondes at the Troubadour

Lisa hooked up the VIP seating, and Sam sacrificed a few hours of sleep on a weeknight for us to go see The Long Blondes‘ last U.S. show at the legendary Troubadour last night. There was nothing for me to do but be grateful, and I am.

The Long Blondes are a 5-piece English indie rock band from Sheffield. I fell in love with them after seeing them “put on the dog” in the video for Guilt, a song about an infidelity, and the singer’s unambiguous choice – “and guilt has nothing, nothing to do with it.”

High Gas Prices and Higher MPG in Los Angeles

I drive a 2006 Honda Element: hands-down one of the worst choices I’ve ever made – oh, and it’s 4WD for the many times Sam and I head into the mountains to go snowboarding. I think it’s been once.

The 2006 Element showed 22/26 on the sticker. Hey, it was 2006, it felt very “designy” and I was rehabbing a house. They offered me a new Honda Insight, which I passed up because it was too small to carry a dog and a passenger, or anything from Home Depot, other than paint. It was $15K. (Idiot.)

So I jumped prematurely out of a shorter lease on a silver 2005 Honda S2000 and into a three and a half year lease on the Element. I plead temporary insanity. The dealership had the S2000 sold before I even handed them over the keys. BTW, even with the abysmal 22/25 mileage, that car was more fun than a pack of A&F models on Ecstasy. Well, almost.

Lofty Aspirations in Downtown Los Angeles

Sam and I looked at lofts with our realtor, Robert Carey at Sotheby’s (whom I’d highly recommend, having worked with him for years), in Downtown Los Angeles this weekend. I’ve always wanted to live in a loft, ever since I saw Sigourney Weaver’s place in that creepy movie, Copycat, with Harry Connick, Jr. Prior to that, I had this whole Dan Tana fantasy about a motorized garage door and driving right into the living space. Okay, I’ll have to forgo the drive-in thing, but the lofty aspirations still remain.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Wine Club

Sam and I got involved with this club just this month, and it was great. Not only does the delightful and knowledgeable staff look after you, oenologically speaking, but it’s a great fun date, even for married guys like Sam and me.

It’s $25 a person, for a flight of at least five wines, with generous pours… and the food is great too. 25% of the proceeds go to the LA Gay and Lesbian Center.

Monday, April 7th, 6 – 9 PM (the first Monday of every month)

Heritage Wine and Spirits
155 N Raymond Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103
626.844.9333
www.heritagewinecompany.com

From the Edge of 17 to the Edge of 40

I graduated from high school just a month or so after my 17th birthday. I felt as if life would never begin. I have always been impatient that way. I couldn’t imagine 30, much less 40.

In my delusional 20s, I was certain I’d make a dramatic splash of James Dean proportions, somehow leaving a lasting legacy and a beautiful corpse. I stopped dating girls, stopped fooling myself, and stopped lying to my family about being gay. I cheated on a good boyfriend. Mom beat colon cancer and it just seemed like some surreal role she was playing to increase her range. We all knew she’d kick it.