Mygazine

Record Number of Nominations

Looks like it is a another big year for LGBTQ publishing. The Lambda Literary Awards received a record number of nominations for books published during 2006 (including "Column Inches" by yours truly in two categories). Each year, the organization honors the best LGBTQ writers and books during Book Expo America, the annual booksellers convention. This will be the 19th annual presentation of awards.                    

In all, 147 publishers nominated 381 titles for awards in 25 categories. Click here to see the full list of nominees.

Keep your fingers crossed for all of us. The finalists in each category will be announced this Thursday, March 1. Readings by the finalists will take place in San Francisco on April 12 and in New York on April 17. More readings will be announced shortly.                    

Winners will be announced on Thursday, May 31, at a gala awards ceremony in New York City.

One Year Ago Tonight

For many people, Oscar night is all about the parties, the glamour, and the fun of getting to judge all the red carpet hits and misses.

Don't get me wrong, I'm as into all that as much as the next gay movie fan. But for my partner and I, the annual Oscar party we go to is also where we learned about a cute little cairn terrier puppy that we ended up adopting about a week after the Oscars last year. Her birthday is in December, but we have her a year now this week. Check out these pics of Zoe then and now.

Wish You Had Screeners? - Part II

This week's fascination with film continues with Part II of the Film Fresh award-worthy film list. It is only T-minus three days to the Spirit Awards and T-minus four days to the Academy Awards, so don't miss these recommendations as you consider which films you will add to your personal collection.
                                                                                       
My favorite from Part Two of the list is The Prestige. Although Babel is on this and many other lists (and a Golden Globe winner), I didn't see what all the fuss is about. The story seemed disjointed and didn't hold my interest.

Click here if you missed my picks from Part One of Film Fresh's list. Or check out the full list on the site's blog.

Give "Music and Lyrics" A Chance

Ever since I saw scene from the film being shot inside a redecorated store down the street from my office last year, I've been looking forward to checking out Music and Lyrics, which opened aptly on Valentine's Day. The trailer, with its ending reference to Hugh Grant having a clown in his bed has had me chuckling for several weeks now.

While the story doesn't break any new ground (no surprise there), Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore are so likable together that you can't help but enjoy the film. I almost bought them as an 80s pop has-been and aspiring writer who just happen to find themselves writing a new single for the country's biggest pop star.

Add to it the layer of clever references to 80s pop culture and the skewering of today's music industry and you've got an all-around enjoyable two hours at the movies.

Breach Delivers

I'm not that knowledgeable about the history of government counterintelligence, but the trailer for Breach easily reeled me in. And having caught the film Friday night, I can tell you that my $11 was not wasted (despite it's fourth place finish this weekend). 

If you're looking for detailed reviews check out some of the reviews. The New York Times says, "One of the strengths of “Breach,” a thriller that manages to excite and unnerve despite our knowing the ending, is how well it captures the utter banality of this man and his world." Entertainment Weekly has some criticisms but in the end give it a B.

Here's my bottom line. Ryan Phillippe, Chris Cooper and Laura Linney all give strong performances. And while this isn't a big action flick, it is a careful look at Robert Philip Hanssen, of one of the most notorious spies in the history of the United States is engaging, entertaining and fascinating.

Wish You Had Screeners?

With award season upon us (Academy Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Gotham Awards, etc.), no self-respecting cinephile wants to be out of the loop. If, like so many of us, you aren't on the list to receive screeners of everything, check out Film Fresh where you can browse and buy some of the best of the bunch.

Some of my favorites from this week's Film Fresh list are:

An Inconvenient Truth

Half Nelson

The Devil Wears Prada

Little Miss Sunshine

Quinceañera

Music On My Mind - First Listen

Props to blogger Kenneth Hill at Worth Repeating for his recent post of a sneak peak of former Idol Elliot Yamin's first single from his forthcoming CD. With the Grammys still on my mind, this week I've been scouting out new music that I want to buy. We will all have to wait until March 20 to download Elliot's debut offering, but click here and take a listen to his first track. Tell me if you disagree, but he definitely has a Robin Thicke type quality to his sound.

P.S. Mr. Yamin isn't looking too bad these days either.

Here are a few other albums I'm thinking about downloading soon too.

"West" from Lucinda Williams

"Continuum" from John Mayer

"Take the Long Way" by the Dixie Chicks

"Alright, Still" by Lily Allen

"A Weekend in the City" from Bloc Party

Summertime...In February?

It may be February, but I am already thinking about our annual summer trip to Provincetown. The friend from Chicago who graciously handles the house rental emailed this week to make sure we were still planning to be there again this summer. It took me all of no time to answer with a resounding yes.

In the past few years, the Provincetown trip has become an annual ritual. We get to spend the week with an amazing group of friends from Chicago and Miami and enjoy this magical place.

Maybe you caught last summer's posts:

Last Night on Commercial Street
Seen In P-Town
Ah Vacation!

If you haven't been to Provincetown before, I can't recommend it enough. I was so excited for my trip, even six months out, that I had to order myself a new pair of Crocs to celebrate.

RELAUNCH

I keep saying this. I can't believe it is already February.

After a much longer holiday break than I had planned, I am back to blogging. As I am sure you noticed, my 31 days of giving was more like eleven days of giving. It's the thought that counts, though, right? Cheers to the readers who wrote in thanking me for mentioning their charities. There are so many worthy charities out there. I hope we all support as many as we can throughout the year.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the beautiful view from my recent trip to Aspen.