REM

This past Saturday night I went to see REM play at Lakewood here in Atlanta. It was probably the best Rock Concert that I have ever attended. It definitely helped that we had amazing seats, 7th row Center, and that Michael, Peter and Mike were on fire with the hometown crowd. They never stopped, played for over 2 hours and 28 songs. The crowd was amazing and the vibe was electric. Even 2 days later I'm still thinking of how much fun and how good of a show it was. If you ever get a chance to see REM live, go, you won't be disappointed.

Here is the set list, I've bolded my favorites from the show:

ATLANTA, GEORGIA
1. These Days 2. Living Well Is the Best Revenge 3. So Fast, So Numb 4. What's the Frequency, Kenneth? 5. Time After Time 6. Driver 8 7. Man-Sized Wreath 8. Walk Unafraid 9. Hollow Man 10. Ignoreland 11. Houston 12. Electrolite 13. (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville 14. Auctioneer 15. Harborcoat 16. The One I Love 17. I've Been High 18. Let Me In 19. Bad Day 20. Horse To Water 21. Orange Crush 22. I'm Gonna DJ 23. Supernatural Superserious 24. Losing My Religion 25. Pretty Persuasion 26. Nightswimming 27. Fall On Me (w/ Johnny Marr) 28. Man On The Moon (w/ Johnny Marr)

Starbucks!

I was driving my usual route to work this morning and noticed that a new Starbucks has opened on the corner of Ralph McGill and Boulevard in the Old Fourth Ward. Why is this significant or newsworthy? Its just a Starbucks you say. Oh no, it is so much more. My neck of the woods in the Old Fourth Ward has been making progress...slowly. Boulevard, the main street that runs from Freedom Parkway to Ponce, is the last "hanger on" for our Section 8 friends. The fact that a Starbucks opened in the middle of all of this means to me, they know something. Starbucks is not just a coffee house, they are a harbinger of change. Now the question is, will I risk my life to walk up the 3 blocks to get some coffee? I think I just might. Somebody has to be the urban pioneer and why not me?

The weekend was a hot one y'all! Here's a list in review a la Frank Green:

• Virginia Highlands Fest (VIP parking at Kevin's)
• Drunk Straight Girls
• Remembering how much fun Blakes can be
• Zocalo!
• Wishing away hangovers
• Sweating to the Oldies
• Oh and did I share the Starbucks news?!

Mama Nature

Can you believe it? A tornado in downtown Atlanta! (the cylinder of clouds and debris just to the right of the building with the triangle lights on top in the far left of the photo) Crazy...I live about a mile east of downtown and about a mile north of Cabbagetown. Cabbagetown was where the tornado blew off the top front corner of a huge brick cotton mill turned loft development and tore down 100 year old oak trees. I got a phone call on Saturday morning at 8:30 from my Dad asking if I was ok. Not having even know about the tornado until that point I was like, "I'm a little bit hung over, but nothing another couple hours of sleep won't take care of" then he told me about the tornado. Being a weather geek, I couldn't believe it...so I jumped out of bed, grabbed my camera, went to Dunkin Donuts for coffee and got in the XTerra to check things out. First I drove down to the Cotton Mill Lofts. I turned right on Dekalb Ave and started seeing debris in the road...then I pulled up to Boulevard and couldn't believe it! The top front corner of the build was just gone. To my right was an automotive parts warehouse that was pretty much demolished and the neighborhood behind that (Jackson Street) was a mess. I couldn't believe that nobody was hurt looking at these buildings. I decided to drive downtown and check things out...I headed down Decatur Street, passed Georgia State, passed Underground Atlanta - both ok- and then was stopped at a road closure. There was a taxi in front of me that I decided to follow...he went up a one way street, the wrong way (we had no choice) and then took a right on to Peachtree and then a left on Trinity. So did I. I parked two blocks from the Tabernacle Theater and walked up Trinity towards Centennial Olympic Park. I immediately noticed glass everywhere and realized that wearing flip flops was not the best choice. Walking up towards the park, I noticed windows shattered at Ted's Montana Grill, the Tabernacle, all the hotels and the Equitable Building was hit really bad. I then came up to Techwood Drive...it was crazy. Cars were smashed by bricks and huge iron billboards bent over like taffy. Walking through Centennial Park, trees were knocked down as where 60 foot tall towers from the Olympics and insulation was everywhere. It probably came from the Omni or the World Congress Center, both which were hit really bad. I headed back to my car and back to the house. Glad I was able to drive right into downtown before they closed all the roads. It was amazing to see the power of a tornado up close...amazing still that with all that damage a mile away from my house, the gates on my fence (which always shut, even with a light wind) remained untouched and sitting perfectly open. Amazing.

British Columbia

Just got home from a week in Canada...went out west to Vancouver and then up to Whistler for some skiing...we happened to be in Whistler for the "gay ski week" which really should be called "kind of boring ski week". I wouldn't go here expecting to have a big party. The skiing however was epic, with over 360 inches of snow in Whistler this year all ready! We did hit 2 different Apres Ski parties, but had to drink ourselves into having fun. The ski village is very well put together and a lot of fun to walk around. Ran into David Duchovny at the Billabong Snowboard store...he is very attractive in person. He is up in British Columbia filming a new (yet to be named) X Files Movie. All-in-all it was a great trip and I was able to spend a lot of quality time with Marcus and Jeff. Canada is suprisingly gay friendly and nobody in the village seemed to really look twice at guys holding hands or kissing in public - that totally amazed me, as we know how homophobic most of America is.

NY NY

I just got back from a business trip to NYC...I wasn't even there for 24 hours...got in Monday at 6PM and left on Tuesday at 3:30PM...it was enough time for me to realize that I really like that town...its kind of an odd thing to say, because who doesn't like NYC? But I literally have been running away from Manhattan for the past 13 years. I am from upstate NY and went to college with many, many people from the tri-state area...either you were from Northern Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island or Westchester County...I was one of the outsiders from another part of NY. Either way, I really felt at home with all my friends and loved college. But when we all graduated, everybody was moving to the City. I felt smothered and claustrophobic...I wanted to get out and explore another city and grow into my true self. I didn't want to be stuck in college. In closing that door so quickly and strongly, I really may have missed out on the ability to grow with my friends in a city that is close to who I am. Living in Atlanta is great, and I have been sooo lucky with my friends here and the people of this city. But, sometimes people don't get me and that's been hard over the years - I've adjusted and grown and am a better person for it...the South really does teach you how to have a little class y'all! I do miss the New Yorker in me though...maybe I'll start saying fuck a bit more and honking my horn. It will make me feel like I'm home.

RIP

Heath Ledger :: 1979-2008

These Are The Days

I think that it is when you become the busiest and most consumed that things actually begin happening for you...what do I mean? Well, when you find yourself busy and focused, you are less likely to dwell on the details with multiple issues. In the next 6 weeks, I will be traveling on 5 trips. I am also focused on my running and lifting, as #35 gets closer with each passing day. Not to mention American Idol is back and who can't get caught up in that whirlwind? As a result of all this, my focus is well, focused. Friends are in the forefront and life is good. I actually feel like cooking something, which only happens if I feel alignment in my life. Good friends, good food, good fun? Who's free for a Sunday dinner?

BTW...if you do decide to go and see Cloverfield, make sure you take some Dramamine. This is one of only 2 movies I have walked out of...I seriously was having a motion sickness reaction...headache, upset stomach and sweaty palms...it was crazy. The other movie? Bonfires of the Vanities - yawn.