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Divas, Drag Queens, and Damon

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Started off the week with a visit to open mic at 3160 on Clark Street. Yes, I am thinking of working up an act and if Kathy Griffin can talk celebrities in her show then so can I!
Speaking of the D List, the big D himself Matt Damon appeared at the Metro for The People Speak Live. He was glued to his speech, didn’t seem inspired, and don’t even get me started about the preacher that spoke. If I wanted to get yelled at then I would go to church! The Latino speaker blew him out of the water right after. Aqua caliente!

I worked on a record number of ten interviews this week with everyone from Kyle Richards from Bravo’s Housewives to Lily Tomlin. I chatted about Actor’s Guild Award dresses with George from the Fashion Police to speaking Spanish to singer Edith Marquez at Circuit. Traci Lords was really intriguing to get to know and see the woman that rocked the porn world and is number one on the dance charts currently.

Speaking of new music, London singer Rumer hit town at Lincoln Hall. Her voice is a mix between Karen Carpenter and Dusty Springfield. She has made a huge splash overseas and deservedly so. I was in front of the stage getting chills then we met after her set. Watch your throat Adele this is one to watch and listen to!

Our holiday party for Windy City Media Group at Hamburger Marys was a treat and guess who won the grand prize? Too bad it wasn’t a new car but I will take the concert tickets…

It turned February and love was in the air at Estelle’s show. The space was the place to see her perform in. The last show I had seen her play was House of Blues years ago.

My friend Young Sun Han from Bravo’s Work of Art opened his gallery show at Las Manos in Andersonville. I love how he combines personal perspective with politics.

On Saturday I hit Varla Jean Merman’s show at Hydrate. She is such a sweetie and the southern sense of humor I really dig.

I strutted into Kit Kat to meet friends and chat with drag queens, which was very lively.

Then the group headed to Circuit where new stripper friend Viktor dropped his drawers and posed with me. Isn’t it rude to point? Well, I guess that’s better than poking!

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Interview of the Week: Rosie O’Donnell

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Rosie O’Donnell started in stand-up before landing roles on television movies. The Rosie O’Donnell Show won Emmys and launched her into the talk show circuit. She came out of the closet two months before the show ended its run. Rosie then became the moderator on The View she showing her strong opinions and causing some controversy. Since then she has been raising children, blogging and running Rosie Radio on Sirius XM Radio. She now starts a new endeavor on the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network with The Rosie Show.

Jerry Nunn: Hi, Rosie. We love seeing you pop up around town and I wanted to welcome you personally to Lakeview and Boystown. I expect you to be at Sidetrack for Show Tunes Sundays.

Rosie O’Donnell: Honey, I didn’t even know about this. I’m jotting it down. Sidetrack Show Tunes, what time?

JN: It’s around four o’clock. It’s every Sunday. Sidetrack is the gay bar there with two hundred televisions. They reenact Broadway musicals, for example the crowd throws napkins when it’s the Titanic and everyone sings all the words.

RO: Oh my lord, I am so there. They’d better reserve me a table.

JN: (laughs) I can arrange that for you.

RO:  Can you do requests? Do they ever do The Rink?
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Bars, Beers, and Boy Bands, Oh Mia!

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This week gets a B rating on this report card. Everything was above average but not perfect.

The week started off with a blast with the anniversary party at Charlie’s. Unlike anniversary parties at other venues there was no line down the block and it didn’t take 30 minutes to obtain a cocktail at the bar. The crowd was so friendly and the line dancing was entertaining to watch even if you don’t prefer country music. Darla from their bingo night was especially sweet with complimenting my writing and finally meeting in person. I shed a tear in my beer!

Tuesday was a big gay day for me. I attended an Oscar panel preview, interviewed Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna, then went to see Mamma Mia.

I hated the movie so was a little skeptical but was pleased to find that it worked better as a stage musical. The women’s voices were particularly strong and the men lost their shirts enough to keep the silly plot moving. I met the cutest Asian dancer after the show and he was a “Super Trooper” to take a picture with me!

I attended the Watch312.com debut at The James Hotel later in the week to learn about all things Chicago. Then I headed over to The Bottom Lounge to see a boy band I interviewed called The Wanted. This show was a flashback to the ’80s with homemade signs everywhere and the boys mugging to the screaming crowd.

The group then headed to Roscoe’s where they performed three songs including my favorite “Glad You Came” and we all were…

Speaking of boy bands, I drove to Joliet to chat with Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block. Fans had been waiting since 10 o’clock in the morning to even catch a glimpse of him.

We talked music and his best bud Debbie Gibson twittered me to tell him hi!

Afterwards, I traveled to Oak Park for bad service and undrinkable margaritas at La Majada Restaurant. We ditched that place then dropped in on new club Antronio’s owned by past owner of Chesterfields. We found better margaritas there along with old friends, a bigger dancer floor, and lively drag show.

Saturday was Steppenwolf day. Being a little gun shy after the dry Penelope their new upstairs show called Time Stand Still was a pleasant surprise. The set, acting, and storyline were top notch. The relationship sucks you in and even though there is nothing gay about it everyone can identify with the toxic twosome. I personally liked the journalism and photography aspect to it.

Then we dined at Stanley’s with excellent service, tasty Stan & Rita’s, and those macaroni fritters, yum! The decor brought me back to my southern roots, yee-haw!

Park West is around the corner where we saw the band Graffiti6 showed their true Colours and met some gay fans that traveled all the way from Kansas City. Here’s a pic with the hunky lead singer Jamie and fans.

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From Chi-town to the Jersey Shore

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Two hometown girls returned to their roots this week first with Jennifer Hudson making two appearances on Monday. She went to Weight Watchers then  ended the day by signing her memoir I Got This at Barnes & Noble. I felt 300 pounds next to the skinny chanteuse when I took a picture with her. What an inspiration for the new year. Her PR people know how to time things and were really nice to let me photograph her last minute. Her social media folks turned the tables on me and interviewed me about meeting Jennifer afterwards. Then there was Team Griffin landing in a snowbank at the Chicago Theatre for two shows. Kathy brought the funny and the dish to tons of gays and women in the audience. Unfiltered and mouthy just the way we like her, she took on the Kardashians, Hasselbeck, and Paltrow with a little baby Blue Ivy in the mix. After chatting for over two hours she left the crowd ready for her new talk show in April on Bravo.

Then I jetted over to The Kills at the Riviera. This was rocking good show with two drummers pounding away and more hair flipping than a Poison concert! They reminded me of The Pixies with their retro sound and did not disappoint in that regard.

Saturday was “t-shirt time” with Jersey Shore the Musical. The cast captured the essence of our Jersey fist pumpers. My favorite was Nathan Stoner as Angelina. The accent, mannerisms, and wig were spot on. Erin Johnson as Sammi was a sweetheart after the show and had the cast pose with me. She is much nicer than the real Sammi let me tell you…

Bring some liquor with you when visit the show but keep the noise down as the audience got drunker they talked out loud at the performance I attended. Let Snooki be the messy one not you!
I finished out my east side experience with a Real Housewife of New Jersey Melissa Gorga at Spin Nightclub. She was so sweet and nice as when I interviewed her earlier a few weeks ago. Joe was a great sport and took pics with all his gay fans until the wee hours of the morning. What a week, yeah boy!!!

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Fly Away with In the Heights

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Two Broadway in Chicago shows flew into town this week. I originally planned to pick the best one and trash the other one. The problem is there are good and bad sides to both projects. Critics have been kind and tough on them both as well.This is the perfect time to get out of our snow covered homes and take in performances that are not to be missed from Broadway.
In the Heights is a Latino musical set in the barrio of Washington Heights. Launching in 2008 where it was nominated for 13 Tony Awards the bright and energetic take on dreams is a little long but full of heart.
In contrast Come Fly Away is only 90 minutes with no intermission. It has been cut down from the original New York version to play better in Vegas.
Come Fly Away follows a loose plot with a variety of characters set to Frank Sinatra music with choreography by Twyla Tharp.
The show originally had a singer in New York but she was cut to focus more on Ol’ Blue Eyes. There is a live a band and the dancers lose their shirts and one even his pants so what else do you want in an audience full of blue hairs?
In the Heights uses non union actors this time around for their tour.  The set is smaller than New York and some of the cast is a little rough around the edges but overall the modern choreography wins out. I love the spray cans being used in a dance sequence.
A new friend Celina Polanco has a motherly dramatic speech that makes the audience take notice. I just wished the salon could have been run by a Latina drag queen. “Tell me something I don’t know” okay?
Fly Away really has some strong numbers to go with those extensions. Another new friend to the show Julius Rubio lifted those ladies like they were light in the Sinatra loafers.
Eye candy and light antics were what Twyla was obviously going for.
If you go to either one or both they have their moments with very stylized choreography. Want more of a story? Hit the Heights. Want a classy crooner? Don’t delay to Fly Away.
In the Heights is over quick to run to the Oriental Theatre before January 15. Come Fly Away swings into the next town after January 22.
Visit http://broadwayinchicago.com for tickets and details.

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Top 10 Albums of 2011

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Music seemed to thrive in 2011 despite a bad economy. People really enjoy forgetting their problems, rolling their tops down and blasting the latest tunes.

While interviewing many music artists I tend to avoid the question about their opinion on the music biz. It usually goes sour with frustration over stolen music and labels not promoting enough. Luckily there is iTunes and YouTube to find what is coming out next.

These are my favorite albums and yes we still call it that even those most people buy singles these days. For this list I was looking for the complete package that really stood out from the pack!

10 Duran Duran/All You Need Is Now

Mark Ronson knows how to shake off the dust and spotlight a group’s strength, they played twice in Chicago this year to sold out crowds. Guess who was there to photograph them?

9 Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday

Not only did she bring the crazy female voice into rap but she opened for Britney and stole the show!

8 Lady Gaga/Born This Way

Although not the pop album everyone wanted, she made a gay anthem hit the radio waves, went country, and sang in German, never boring…

7 David Guetta/Nothing But the Beat

Instead of taking away the voice of the artist with beats, this DJ/producer knows how to highlight someone like SIA in unique ways.

6 Cults/Cults

Haunting vocals from Madeline made this Sony debut a surprise. See them at Smart Bar in April.

5 Pitbull/Planet Pit

Armando took over the world this year helping J Lo revive a struggling music career. Put the needle on this record to get the party started!

4 Ellie Goulding/Lights

This British lass covered Elton John’s “Your Song” and crossed the pond to play live twice in the windy city this year.

3 Florence + The Machine/ Ceremonials

Catching the tail end of 2011 with a follow up to her Lungs made Flo a diva live and angelic at the same time.

2 Adele/21

She made an album on her own terms, dressed like a lady and was surprisingly played on the radio. Hopefully she gets her voice back for the new year.

1 Foster the People/Torches

The nicest guys ever bring a full album that gets better with repeated listens. Their after Lollapalooza show at the Hard Roc

k was amazing and they return next year with one my favs Tokyo Police Club.

It’s interesting to note all of the artists on my top ten played live in Chicago. What a great city we live in see the acts bust their chops in small to large venues.

Let’s see what Madonna, Alanis Morissette, and Garbage can bring to the table for 2012!

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Gift Guide

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It’s getting down to the wire with a few weeks left to go for holiday shopping. Here are a few last minute gift ideas for the special people in your life.

Every Gaga fan will go crazy over this picture book where photographer Terry Richardson followed around the Lady herself with over 350 pictures from behind the scenes to out front and out loud. Being a visual artist shows she needs no words to be a show stopper! Lady Gaga x Terry Richardson is only $50.00 at booksellers everywhere, rah rah.

Everyone has a sweet tooth and Praim makes some chocolate bars that need to be stuffed in a stocking. Can you say “cho-ho-ho-colate?”

When hanging the decorations play some music from Glee: The Christmas Album vol. 2. “Let It Snow” and “Blue Christmas” never sounded so good from the Fox hit television show.

For spirits try Voli Light Vodkas available in fruity flavors that the Real Housewives are said to adore. The world’s first vodkas that are low in calories make this beverage worry free for the New Year.

Also, mix up 1 1/2 oz Hennessy VS, 5 raspberries, 1 oz creme de cacao, and 1 oz heavy creme to make  a Hennessy Holiday Berry Frost served in a frosted martini glass, yum!Get slap happy as the Slap Watch is taking over and recently featured on our friend Ellen Degeneres’ show. What time is it? It’s time to slap one on!

Dinner and a show are important to make the season bright on date night. Drop in early for happy hour at Flemings Prime Steakhouse on Grand where 5 appetizers, 5 cocktails and 5 wines are offered for $6 each. It’s one of the best kept secrets  in the city for the value, shhhh. Then run like a reindeer to Donny & Marie’s Christmas in Chicago show before it closes on December 24 at the Ford Center or try A Christmas Story the Musical at the Chicago Theatre through the 31st. Hopefully this gives some secret Santas some ideas on where to shop and what to buy. Happy holidays to all and to all a goodnight!

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