I Like The Jungle Manahatta

There's a fascinating exhibit that recently opened at the Museum of the City of New York called "Manhattan/Manahatta" that takes a look at what this island looked like before all that construction. Apparently, it was something of a natural wonder....who knew? And, in a TIMES article about the show, there's this choice quote from the show's creator, Eric W. Sanderson:

“If Mannahatta existed today as it did then, it would be a national park — it would be the crowning glory of American national parks.”

Loooking at the pictures, like the one above, it's not hard to see why. The Museum also has more specific computer generated photos where you can look up your neighborhood and find, say, a freshwater stream running through it. On Houston Street, I am forutnate enough to get to see a piece of anicent-school NYC everyday at the Time Landscape, a mini-park on the corner of Houston & LaGuardia where the land has been restored to it's pre-people state. It's a gentle, daily reminder of the natural wonder this place of man-made wonders used to be.

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Tomorrow, the 4th of July, marks this nation's 233rd birthday. It also marks 50 years of marriage for my folks, Robert and Mary Grace Sloan. A couple weeks ago, we had a big family celebration at the Nemacolin resort in western Pennyslvania where my brother Tim, a photojournalist for Agence France Press, took this beautiful shot before the cutting of the cake.

My dad is wearing the same white dinner jacket he wore for the big day in Scranton, PA back in 1959. I know that jacket well as I wore it to my junior prom in the 80's. And my brothers sported it to a couple formals as well. I'm amazed it survived us, more of less 50 years, but things were made better and stronger back then. Just like marriages! :)

Though I won't be with them for the big day tomorrow, I want to wish them the best and thank them for keeping it together for five decades. Happy anniversary mom and dad...and wishing you many more to come!

Strand Releasing Celebrates 20 Years

Indie film stalwart Strand Releasing is celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer. Over two decades, they have presented a remarkable mix of titles, from Greg Araki's "The Living End" to some of the more interesting international films, like "Head On". They were recently honored at the Provincetown Film Festival and for the next week, MOMA is presenting a "carte blanche" series of Strand titles at their theater on 53rd Street.

Personally, celebrating this anniversary means a lot to me. I've been a member of the Strand family since 1994, when they gave me my start in the film business by picking up my NYU thesis film "Pool Days" and releasing it as part of the "Boys Life" shorts package. Playing around the country on 50 screens, it was such a hit it spawned a series of "Boys Life" compilations. They also were executive producers on my first feature "I Think I Do" and I returned the favor as executive producer of "Boys Life 4", which they also released.

Tonight, there was a wonderful reception to celebrate Strand at the Agnes B. store in Soho. The NY indie world was out in force (including Ted Hope, Christine Vachon, Dylan Leiner, Ryan Werner, and even Charles Busch) to honor their remarkable two-decade run. Congrats Marcus & Jon and long may the Strand banner wave!

Cupcake of the Week: The Cupcake Truck

It was inevitable--after seeing the Mud Truck, Dessert Truck and Gelato Truck tooling around the city, the Cupcake Truck has arrived!

I spotted it parked at 5th Ave and 13th the other day. That's usually where it sits during the day...around 5pm it moves up to 23rd Street between 7th and 8th. If for some reason you can't find it, the Cupcake Truckers are always updating their location and advertising deals on Twitter. Their specialty is the red velvet cupcake and the Oreo topper, pictured above. But sorry--the cute guy holding the tray is not included with purchase.

And what's next on the truck-food scene? If I were a betting man, I'd have to say the Whoopie-Pie Truck. Seriously. Mark my words...

And The Beat Goes On...

After the elation of all the "Stonewall 40" celebrations, there was also some sobering news this weekend in three incidents of anti-gay violence and unwarranted police actions:

• Right here in NYC there was a brutal gay bashing the day before the parade on the upper east side.
  
• A gay bar in Fort Worth was raided by the police and a number of patrons beaten and arrested (pictured here).
  
• A fundraiser for a California democrat being held at the home of a lesbian couple was interrupted by a local sheriff who pepper sprayed some of the guests.

These incidents serve as a reminder that although the movement to secure equal rights for LGBT Americans has come a long way in four decades, there is still a long way to go. The bottom line is that the Federal rights of LGBT citizens have not changed one bit since the raid on Stonewall.

There has been a lot pressure recently on the Obama Administration and the President himself to step up to the plate on the issue of equal rights for LGBT Americans. (Hendrik Hertzberg lays the situation out quite eloquently in the current issue of The New Yorker.) The President hosted an historic reception in the East Room of the White House yesterday, inviting LGBT activists and community members to celebrate Gay Pride. And though it's a wonderful gesture, the events listed above make it clear that real action at the Federal level needs to happen. Now.

I DO Feel Like Dancing

Here's a great clip I recently discovered on YouTube. It's the perfect way to start your Monday. Enjoy!

Happy Pride...With A Side Of History

Today is Gay Pride Day here in NYC. This year's march down Fifth Avenue celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in June 1969, which mark the start of the modern gay civil rights movement. The first Pride March was held in June of 1970 as a way of peacefully commemorating the riots that began with a police raid on the Stonewall bar.

Just around the corner from Stonewall is another notable bar which has it's own place in gay history. Julius, located on the corner of W.10th and Waverly Place, has been open since just after the Civil War began and serving the gays for many decades before Stonewall. The Bowery Boys have a thorough historical write-up all about Julius that's worth reading. And if you want to experience history first hand, stop by on the 3rd Saturday of the month when they hold the Mattachine party, hosted by PJ Deboy and JC Mitchell. You will dance like it's the old days (circa 1979).

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

It was bad enough losing Farrah, but Michael too? On the same day? Man....it's like the day my childhood died.

Though Michael is probably most remembered for THRILLER and his later legal troubles and random craziness, my enduring memories of him will be as the dynamic child star who fronted The Jackson 5. So, in his honor, below is a link to a clip of Michael's first appearance on AMERICAN BANDSTAND at age 11. That's right, 11. This is the Michael I will always remember....

American Bandstand (1970) - The Jackson 5 - TV SHOW - MjTunes Vision - The Videos - Michael Jackson Radio Station

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The High Line Cabaret

As much as everyone tries to gentrify and clean up New York, this city is and will always remain full of characters. Case in point: a woman who is a former punk rock photographer and amateur chanteuse (only in NY kids!) has taken to serenading strollers on the newly open High Line Park which happens to run right next to her fire escape. Todays' TIMES has all the details along with a beautiful audio slideshow of her singing. This gal not only has chutzpah...she's got pipes!

Stonewall 40 Panels Today & Tomorrow

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots which marked the start of the modern GLBT rights movement, there are two very special panels being held in New York this week.

Members of the Gay Liberation Front, which organized the first gay pride march in 1970 on the 1st anniversary of the riots, will be invovled in two panels; one at the 42nd Street NY Public Library this afernoon at 6pm and one at the Gay Lesbian Community Center Thursday at 6pm. There will be plenty of parties and dances and merriment this weekend so why not bone-up (!) on a little history before the celebration kicks in.