Wicked

I finally saw Wicked this past weekend. It has been in Chicago for a long time and keeps selling out. And I had a chance to see it for free this weekend.

Don't get me wrong. It wasn't terrible. And I loved seeing a big musical production, which I haven't been to in way too long. A couple of main characters were really wonderful, too, but...

• There were far too many duets and solos with Elphie and Glinda. I mean, I totally get tht you two are so different and yet friends and all that. Let's move on.
• For the story being told I felt like it could have been a little more over the top. Bigger musical numbers, more dancing, some more layers to the story, etc.
• Theaters are just too big these days. I know that they are trying to make money and it is expensive to do, but when I was near the front of the balcony, and even from there it was just so far away and detached for me.
• The show drags in so many places. We know where it is headed.
• The songs in the show don't tell the story. They act as a response to story a lot of the time. X happens to Y character and then they sing about it. Instead of X happening while Y is singing about it.
• The jokes and gags are just too corny for me. I love puns, but come on...

Grade: C-

www.myheritage.com

I heard about this site where you submit one of your photos and based on that they tell you what celebrities your face looks the most like.

In order, here are my matches:

1. Hugh Jackman
2. Brittany Murphy
3. Howard Dean

Also on the list of who I sort of resemble: Carson Daley and Katherine Hepburn.

So dumb.

Grade: D-

Chilli Mac's

The past couple of weeks I have ended up having drinks at Chilli Mac's. Anyone who knows the place might be surprised. It is just a divey little counter-service joint. But, they are close to my bf's and have outside seats.

The food isn't great. The main element is chilli, a few different varieties, that you can get on spaghetti with onions, cheese, beans, etc. Or on hot dogs, taco salads or other items. It tears your stomach up.

But, what I love are the blue frozen margaritas. I am not sure what flavor they are, but they are bright blue and yummers.

Grade: B+

Janelle winning HOH again!

Janelle won HOH again! God, I love her so much.

I am sad Jase went before I got to see his butt on the live feed. He was pretty.

Grade: A

Project Runway - Week 3

Bradley's outfit looked like it was totally going to stink. And I hated it when it came out. So, I was shocked when they loved it. I mean, am I alone in thinking it was SO fugly?

And I can't wait til next when we find out who gets the boot. I am taking bets. I think it is Robert Best. That is my new theory. Wouldn't that be a shocker.

And I still love Laura the most. And her dog was by far the cutest.

And Angela needs to go so much. WTF was her story all about?

Grade: A

Miss Universe

You go Miss Puerto Rico! She was super hot and I liked her, but Miss Japan was my top choice.

The bf and I made a list of our top 15 picks. 8 of mine made the top 20, and 9 of his. We both had three of our tops in the final 5.

Who got robbed: Miss Sri Lanka, Miss Canada and Miss Mexico.

And why couldn't Miss Universe have passed out on stage instead of backstage after the show? I want to see that shit televised!

Grade: A

Peaches

I can't believe I forgot to post about this.

Last Monday I went to go see Peaches. She is awesome and I haven't had a chance to see her in concert before. For those who don't know, she is a performer who sings dirty songs about sex. And she rocks! Her newest CD is Impeach My Bush, and her CD before that was Fatherfucker.

She sang a bunch of news stuff at first that I didn't know. I liked a lot of it, but was most excited toward the end when she did some older songs.

And the night was appropriately rounded out by a night of giving strippers dollars at Latin Night at the Lucky Horseshoe.

Grade: B+

Halfway through Oscar Chances

So, it is more than halfway through the year, and, as you know, I am obsessed with the Oscars. I keep a tally of 11 website that predict Oscar winners, and there is some consensus starting to form. Here are the top shots for an Oscar nod, as these prognosticators see it now, with all their results and guesses tallied. They are ranked, and those in bold are my choices. More than ten means there are some ties there. The photo above is from the set of Babel, which is getting a ton of early praise.

Hope this gets some of you psyched up for the rest of the year's movies!

Picture:

1. Dreamgirls
2. Flags of our Fathers
3. The Good Shepard
4. Goya’s Ghost
5. The Good German
6. Little Children
7. Babel
8. A Prairie Home Companion
9. All the Kings’s Men
10. The Departed

Director:

1. Milos Foreman – Goya’s Ghost
2. DeNiro – The Good Shepard
3. Clint Eastwood – Flags of our Fathers
4. Bill Condon – Dreamgirls
5. Martin Scorsese – The Departed
6. Alejandro González Iñárritu – Babel
7. Todd Field – Little Children
8. Steven Soderberg – The Good German
9. Robert Altman – Prairie Home Companion
10. Paul Greengrass – United 93
11. Anthony Minghella - Breaking and Entering

Actor:

1. Matt Damon – The Good Shepard
2. Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland
3. Javier Bardem – Goya’s Ghost
4. Jude Law – Breaking and Entering
5. Brad Pitt – Babel
6. Sean Penn – All the Kings Men
7. George Clooney – The Good German
8. Nicolas Cage – World Trade Center
9. Ryan Philippe – Flags of Our Fathers
10. Ed Harris - Copying Beethovan
11. Leonardo DiCaprio – The Departed
    Not on the list but on mine: Gael Garcia Bernal - The Science of Sleep and Jamie Foxx - Dreamgirls

Actress

1. Kate Winslet – Little Children
2. Anette Bening – Running with Scissors
3. Nicole Kidman – Fur
4. Ashley Judd – Bug
5. Cate Blanchett – Notes on a Scandal/Babel
6. Kirsten Dunst – Marie Antoinette
7. Meryl Streep – The Devil Wears Prada
8. Renee Zellweger – Miss Potter
9. Naomi Watts – The Painted Veil
10. Beyonce Knowles - Dreamgirls

Supporting Actor

1. Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls
2. Jack Nicholson – The Departed
3. Brian Cox – Running with Scissors
4. Gael Garcia Bernal – Babel
5. Patrick Wilson – Little Children
6. Javier Bardem – Goya’s Ghost
7. Barry Pepper – Flags of Our Fathers
8. Tim Robbins – Catch A Fire
9. Albert Finney – A good Year
10. Robert Downey Jr. – Fur
11. James MacaVoy – The Last King of Scotland
12. Kevin Kline – A Prairie Home Companion

Supporting Actress

1. Jennifer Connoly – Little Children
2. Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls
3. Natalie Portman – Goya’s Ghost
4. Maria Bello – World Trade Center
5. Angelina Jolie – The Good Shepard
6. Meryl Streep – Prairie Home Companion
7. Maggie Gyllenhall – WTC/Stranger Than Fiction
8. Annete Benning – Running with Scissors
9. Judi Dench – Notes on a Scandal
10. Jill Clayburgh – Running with Scissors
11. Patricia Clarkson – All the King’s Men

Crystal Waters

Ooh, girl, I hate to be the one to tell you, but your songs are old and dried up, your voice is pretty rough live, you totally brought done the energy level on Friday night and you aren't a big enough celebrity to need three body guards pushing people out of the way when they walk through a club.

Grade: C

Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic

I rarely turn a movie off. But, I did with this one. And, the thing is that I have always really really liked Sarah Silverman. Not here.

I still think she is pretty damn funny a lot of the time, but the skits in this really fell flat. And even her stand-up was pretty hit or miss for me. She seemed smart in some places and just searching for that shock value and rather sophmoric in other parts.

But, if I were a straight guy I think I would be super turned on by her. She is pretty and talks dirty, and that's just hot in a girl to me.

Grade: D+

Arco de Cuchilleros

I went to this Boystown tapas bar a couple years ago, before I even moved to Chicago and was with a bunch of girls. It pretty much delivers in terms of tasty tapas that are great for sharing, but the whole experience is a little lackluster. No friendliness from the staff. And, the prices were a bit high.

Grade: B-

Project Runway - Week 2

I am really loving the show so far, but I feel like I am having a hard time getting a grip on who is who.

I wasn't at all sad to see Malan go, I wanted him to get the boot right away after the casting special. I mean, that stuff about his mother throwing the designs on the floor and stuff. Boo hoo cares.

I don't like Angela but I hate Vincent even more. I thought he totally mirerepresented their working together, and is a way bigger asshole.

And despite the fact that he won, the pageant guy still isn't high up on my list of favs, it was a fluke because that's his thing.

Grade: A

Cat Farts

My cat just moved into my bf's place, and he is getting pretty comfy I guess.

Last night my bf and I were totally about to do it, and were on the bed together. Next thing you know we both smell a really foul smell, and look over and see the cat laying close to us on the bed with his ass pointed at us. It was nasty and ruined the moment. No humping was able to happen. As we layed there he farted really silent but deadly ones a few more times. He hasn't done this in the past that I know of, but maybe he is just getting adjusted.

Grade: D+ (I am glad he is getting settled in OK)

Kitsch'n

I was at this Roscoe Village spot last week. It was pretty good, but I really don't want to go back. I had the chicken dinner. Do you know how hard it is to find fried chicken in Lakeview? Very hard!

The server was totally bad and out of it. He forgot to bring us stuff we asked for. It is for sure kitsch-y, but I thought it might be a little more over the top.

Grade: B-

King Kaysar

Kaysar won Head of Household last night! All hail King Kaysar! He better nominate Will and Danielle this week!

Grade: A

Project Runway - Episode 1

Wow, what a great start to season 3 of Project Runway. Can't wait to see what the future holds for this gals and guys. I have created tha above image below to show you my rankings of favorite to least favorite. I plan to update it every week so you can see who I love and don't love.

Right now, I love Laura Bennett. I am sure she is a cold-hearted ice-princess in real life, but I love her style and that she comes from an architectural background.

And, lets hurry up and get rid of the crazy old guy with glasses, the brit and the guy who designs trashy pageant dresses.

Grade: A

Big Brother - Tonight's Eviction

I am worried about my obsession with BB7 this summer. I love it and there have just been two episodes. I hope they show this tonight: It is Alison hiding in a big vase and trying to spy on the houseguests. Talk about pathetic. She is crazy!

But, I am still hoping Danielle gets the boot tonight. She seems like more of a threat.

Confession: I subscribed to the live 24/7 feed for $14.99 a month.

Grade: A-

Ryan's spread

Last night I went to my friend Ryan's to watch the premier of Project Runway (more on that later) and he fed us and stuff. And I was super impressed by his spread of food.

He made some cocunut skrimp, sausage in white wine sauce, little goat cheese pan-fried balls, portobellow grilled with tomato and brie and it was all really great. It complimented each other well, was great party nibble food, but taken up a notch in class.

Way to go Ryan! Have me over for dinner any time!

Grade: A

Junk text messages

About half a year ago I started to get text message from strangers in my e-mail box. But, they were obviously junk message. They were all along the lines of "Hey baby. Would love to get to know you better. Stop?" "I think I like you. You to know me? Stop?" "Hi there...how are you? tell more about you...talk soon....Stop?" If I go over my limit of texts I have to pay for these damn things. I don't know how to stop the insanity!

Grade: F

The Devil Wears Prada

I checked this movie out on Saturday night. Here is my review in list format:

• Streep is, indeed, wonderful, but very understated in this role.
• It is girly and fun and stuff, but still a tad big above the average girly movie.
• If you like fashion, you gotta check it out.
• Ann Hathaway was fun, but hardly a knock-out performance
• There were a lot of decisions of the characters that just didn't seem logical to me.
• Never, ever go to Evanston on a Saturday night for a movie, it's crazy there!

Grade: B-

Trust

I hate that I have trust issues and jealousy issues. It sucks and it sucks more when shit happens that feeds those issues.

Grade: D

Gay Bloggers: Chicago

So, the date and location have been set. The Gay Bloggers: Chicago get-together is going to be August 12 at 4 pm. at Cocktail. Come one, come all. If you haven't received the e-vite, either comment here with your e-mail or e-mail me your info and I will get it to you: baasecha1@hotmail.com.

Can't wait!

Big Brother - All Stars

The 7th season of Big Brother started last night. And I am SO excited. I know that a lot of you think this show is dumb and probably haven't given it a chance. And having All-Stars makes it extra confusing for a new viewer, but seriously, give it a chance. The relationships are all really complicated, and it is like a little mini soap opera with all the backstabbing, lying, alliances (public and secret ones) and what-not.

I was prety pleased with who they picked to go in, but they should have just let America pick who the finalists were. That producers picked the final few is really lame.

My favs are the season 6 people who probably won't stay around long. I love Howie so much, and love that he said that the women have "all-star boobies." And Kaysar needs to watch his ass, or he is going to get booted real early. And Janelle just rocks.

Grade: A

Nacho Libre

Yes, I actually went and saw this movie in the theater. I was with my niece and she wanted to go see it. I knew it looked dumb and stuff, but I wasn't prepared for what a total stink-bomb this movie was. It was terrible and the only time I laughed was when I realized how terrible and ridiculous the whole movie was.

Grade: F-

Carnivale

I wanted to check out a new restaurant last weekend, so on Friday I took the bf for a surprise visit to Carnivale. We had a blast, and this place has such a "Wow" factor. The real treat is the dining room, but they also deliver delicious nuevo latino cuisine and decent drinks.

This restaurant sits about 450 people, and is usually full on weekends from what I hear. And the place is beautiful. You walk into the dining room and are greated by bright colors, a huge space, dramatic design elements. A great spot to impress out of towners, and a very memorable space.

For dinner we started with a sampler of a few ceviches, all fresh and good, but really just the shrimp one stood out. We also had the ropo vioja appetizer, which was shredded beef on plantains, and so so good. I had the pork shoulder, which crumbled at the touch of a fork and was served with rice and beans and more plantains. The bf had the lamb chops with garbonzo beans and lamb chorizo. I never knew garbanzo beans could taste so good!

The service was a little lackluster, but you pretty much can expect that going in with a place this big. But, come on, your server should be able to tell you how to pronounce a word on the menu in spanish if you ask.

Grade: A-

Walgreen's Anti-Itch Ointment

This shit doesn't work.

Grade: F

Fireworks in Indiana

Whenever I drive through Indiana I see lots of signs for fireworks at discount prices, but last night I saw just how much folks in Indiana love their big fireworks. I was driving through last night on my way home from Michigan and they were going off everywhere. And, we are talking big honkin' fireworks all over the sky. It was pretty crazy.

I personally don't get too excited by fireworks, but this was pretty fun. I just know some fingers got blown off last night in Indiana.

Grade: B

Skeeter Bites

Sorry for my absence. I was in Michigan meeting my new nephew, Ian.

But, while there, I went to a get together in a friend's parent's back yard. She assured us that if we held onto some citranella plants and put some other plant under our chairs we wouldn't get any bites. She was SO wrong.

I have roughly 40 bites on my body, with 20 of them on my left foot. I can't even describe how itchy I am.

Grade: F