Narcissism 101

ROAD TRIP

Well, now that I'm officially NOT going home to California for Thanksgiving, I have signed on to spin a huge party in Atlantic City on Friday November 27th. Here are the details:

The Snow Ball hits Atlantic City!

Friday, November 27th

Daniel Nardicio, Bianca Del Rio (as Snow Queen!), Wendy Ho, Robbyne Kaamil, go-go superstars Matthew Camp, Go-Go Harder, and 3 luscious wintery fur clad go-go studs take over Atlantic City's Club Worship at The House of Blues on the Boardwalk for Black Friday. Real snow storm at 1am!

With a show by Wendy Ho at 12:30am (featuring new material!), 2am Boylesque show by Matt and Harder, and all to the music of DJ Aaron Elvis! Plus you can gamble all night long in the casino!

With ACES Train specials direct to AC for only $39- and special room rates for DN Partiers go to danielnardicio.com for details and hotel links!

LIKE A VIRGIN

Here I am, thousands of feet above the U.S. typing away on my computer - blogging. This on-board WiFi kinda rocks. My Macbook, however, is acting kinda strange. The trackpad is all wonky and I'm wondering if it's the gravity playing tricks with it, or what. I feel like this mo-fo is possessed or something.

Mayhaps I shouldn't be typing on this, OR mayhaps I should restart the computer.

Maybe it's because I have Jack Lalanne on this flight, but I doubt it.

UPDATE: So I restarted my computer and it helped, slightly. The trackpad is definitely gone wonky and I'm definitely assuming it's from the air cabin pressure.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

I'm about to watch my stories from ABC last night - fingers crossed it'll work. Love that I can watch from high above Iowa. Then Nebraska. Then Colorado. A great state, that Colorado...

DAY 3

I've awoken to another fine day in sunny L.A.

Had dinner last night in an old-school Mexican restaurant called The Gardens of Taxco which only serves a pre-fixe dinner. It was kinda like eating at a wedding or quinceanera. There are no menus, their specialty was mole, and the magaritas are made, methinks, with peach nectar, tequila, and cheap champagne. I found the restaurant by way of Urbanspoon (note to self: don't always believe the customer reviews...)

Today, I pick up Scott, Erik and Ron at the airport, eat lunch at Chin Chin, check into The Sunset Marquis for the weekend, shop, eat dinner in downtown L.A., and see 9 to 5 (still sooooo excited...).

Stalkers take your mark.

DAYS LEFT IN OFFICE: 101 (Dalmations)

WELCOME HOME

Welcome home Mark Esperti!!!

XOXO,
AJ

P.S. This post is just for you.

DAY 2

It's the beginning of Day 2 here in P-Town and I am just now getting my energy together.  Pride weekend really took everything out of me. Spinning the Stonewall float was incredible and the pier dance was cute fun, but getting little sleep after to waking up early yesterday morning (6am) yesterday, then travel really wore me out. Getting older does not have it's privileges.

Today me and the girls are gonna bike around, do a sensible dinner with friends and try to get tix to see Jackie Beat. How rockin' does that sound?

DAYS LEFT IN OFFICE: 203

A WEEK LONG VAY-CAY

Come Monday, June 30th, my old(er) ass will be heading up to Provincetown for a week-long holiday with my gal-pals (see: Scott, Erik & Ron). And, yes, I now have a laptop so I'll be blogging a bit on location.

I will be biking, sunning my skin, eating pizza at Spiritus, and maybe having a cocktail or 12. Okay...12 plus.

And I am sooooooooo excited.

DAYS LEFT IN OFFICE: 209

CIAO, MIAMI

Leaving Miami this morning and am NOT looking forward to going back to rainy, grey NYC. I am, however, looking forward to all the shizz I'm doing this week: spinning 4 nights and ending my week with spinning Low Tea on Fire Island. I will be getting mileage out of all the new mixes I got this past week PLUS I get to see my fave singer Porsche. Ya know, good times can sometimes be just a ferry ride away.

P.S. I am giving fag traveler DOWN with my Marc Jacobs/Pan Am blue bag here at Miami Int'l - I am swinging it harder than a Westport housewife at a key party.

WIKI WACKY LUAU

This weekend I went with my friends Ron, Erik and Scott to Boston so that we could celebrate Erik's __th birthday.

We stayed at The Fairmont Copley Plaza in a rockin' room with a lovely view of the new Dunkin' Donuts (that's for you Ron...). We were gonna make an appointment to walk the hotel's Canine Ambassador, Catie Copley, but she apparently has Sunday and Monday off. Humans, I gather, get taxing when all they want to do is walk and pet her...

On Saturday night we drove out to Saugus to eat at one of Erik's fave restaurants called Kowloon. This place was tiki-kitsch at it's finest and I loved every minute of it. Click here to see the exact booth we sat in where a Volcano was shared by the four of us and a Pu Pu Platter was inhaled. Oh, and where we were given the stink-eye by a table of overweight locals who wanted me to stop taking pictures. We so could have taken them at a rumble in the pah-king lot.

Afterwards we went bar hopping starting at Club Cafe where DJ Aga was taking suggestions from us via text ("You've only got 4 minutes to save the world, Erik") then we popped by Ramrod and finally down to Machine for some overpriced Body and Soul realness (without the crowd or the realness). Sadly, our asses were back in the hotel by 2am.  This aint New York City, bitch.

Sunday was spent eating, shopping and driving (real fast) home only to be greeted by Cheech and Chong in my living room. They were genius and made my night.

DAYS LEFT IN OFFICE: 316

SIENNA

Today was spent in Sienna - a beautiful town built onto a semi-circular hillside where St. Catherine lived. After she died, her head was put on display for all to see and remains there today. A bit creepy, but amazing at the same time. Oh, and her finger was on display as well.

I'm on the bus as I write this on our way to San Gimignano. I can't with how beautiful this all is...

Ciao (for now).

UPDATE: So San Gimignano was even more breathtaking and beautiful than Sienna. I took so many pictures of the countryside that you could see for miles and miles and miles...

Oh, and I bought some art from one of the shops and found out the artist was a mere 27. They're both very pop art illustrations depicting the big bad wolf encountering red riding hood dressed as granny and one of the grandmother coming out of the wolf's stomach. Bah-dah-bop-bah-baaah-I'm-lovin'-it.

PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES

After 24 hours of traveling from NYC to Milan by plane, from Milan to Florence to Bucine by trainan and from deserted Bucine station to the villa by van, I am finally here. It was WELL worth it, lemme tell ya'.

To say that it is brethtaking is an understatement. Since I arrive after dark, I really didn't get to take in exactly where I was - on a hill overlooking vineyards and homes throughout Tuscany. When I wioke up and looked out my window I got it. The pic to the right is a view from my bedroom window (it's a bit dark, but that's because it's overcast today.)

Oh, and I slept for 13 hours. Guess I needed it.

TUSCANY, IF YOU PLEASE

My bubble butt will be in Tuscany in 4 days and I'm so muh-f'in excited I could pee my Ginch Gonches.

Seriously.

Any suggestions of what I should see in Milan when I stay there for the day before my flight home...?

AS PROMISED

Here are 3 pics from New Orleans of Aaron King donning his Jesus garb and Violet Temper (who was Mary by day...)  Parading down Bourbon Street proved to be an experience with people spitting at him and speaking in tongues...

DAYS LEFT IN OFFICE: 502

MEMORABLE

Off to Ohio with Shep and Maddy for the weekend.  We're driving.  Maddy's first road trip.  Wish us luck.

CHRISTMAS IN LOS ANGELES

I have put off talking about my trip to Los Angeles for too damn long and now it's time to spill it... Bear with me as it may bore those who don't know who I'm speaking of or care.

Day One: Arrived in L.A. on Friday morning (12-23) and rented an ugly electric blue convertible PT Cruiser (it's what they gave me - not what I'd asked for...) Drove through Hollywood and picked up some gifts at Marc Jackass. After stopping by Carl's Jr. for a quick bite, I made my way to the O.C. to see Bob Jack. Once there, he informed me that he was working at Disneyland that night and that I should hang out and watch the Electrical Parade at California Adventure. After being signed in by my other good friend Scott Rackoski I ran around the park by myself. Lemme tell you something -- it's lonely being at Disneyland by yourself.  I don't recommend it. After Bob gets off work we meet up for some bonding back at his apartment and giggle like little girls for hours...

Day Two: Awake at 8:30am to start my drive up to Riverside to see my father.  I am greeted by my insanely cute niece Grace and nephew Dylan (my sister and brother-in-law are also there, obvs.) After spending quality (albeit short) time with them, they take off back down to the O.C. and  Dad, his amazing wife Barbara, and I get ready for our Christmas Eve trek to Huntington Beach where we're to have dinner with Barbara's son and his family.  The drive down to HB is beautiful -- it was 85 degrees.  However, as we drive towards the ocean, a spooky thick fog rolls in and the sun is nowhere to be found. I kept expecting Jamie Lee Curtis and Adrienne Barbeau to pop up and knock on the car window. After having hors d'oeurves and a glass or two of wine, the seven of us drive down to Belmont Shore for a carnivorous meal (prime rib, steaks, etc.).  After dinner, we go back to HB, slip into our jammies and watch The 40 Year Old Virgin and laugh 'til it hurts.

Day Three: It's Christmas Day and The Syversons wake us with the sounds of holiday music (methinks it was Mel Torme singing "Oh Tannenbaum") and the promise of fresh coffee and hot chocolate.  True to their California roots, a basket of sourdough toast is on the coffee table with jams, Nutella, and whipped butter. We open gifts, laugh a bit more, and get ready for our days with the other sides of our families --  and what a side my father and I have!  It's big, it's crazy and it's filled with personality. This year my grandmother has assembled her 6 children, her 6 sons-n-daughters-in-law, 10 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.  Throw in a nephew, a priest, and some various in-laws and you've got one helluva party! (I know there's a joke in there somewhere...) We all meet at my Uncle Jack's house in HB where there was tons of food (we're Italian), lotsa liquor, a sprinkling of drama, and more gifts for the grandkids than at a Toys-For-Tots event. Seriously. I get to hang with my brother (Casey) and sister (Sara) and cousin (AJ).  After all is said and done, I drive Dad and Barb back through heavy traffic to Riverside.

Day Four: After a nice breakfast with Dad, I'm off to my Aunt Jody's for part two of our family's-food-fest. It's tradition to meet again and talk about the past days events (and people) while bloating ourselves further. While the ravioli wasn't homemade, the sauce is -- it's my grandmother's and it's brilliant. Do I ask if I can put the rest of the sauce in a jar and bring it home to NYC? I then say goodbye to my family and drive over to meet with Scott for a movie.  After a happy hour cerveza, we see The Producers and it's just okay.  I drop Scott off and meet up with Bob Jack again who's taking me to dinner and to have drinks.  Bob takes me to L.A. to my fave restaurant Chin-Chin only to find that it is closed due to renovations. I shake my fist and curse the Gods, but Bob takes me to a P.F. Chang's instead (which rocked!) We drink lotsa hot Saki, jet over to WeHo and check out a drag show at Micky's.  Jackie Beat is the hostess, whom I go over to say hello to as we used to work together at Barracuda, but am blown off by the bitch. Fuck her.  Bob and I get home at 3am and my ass has to be up at 6... And we're both dee-runk.

NARCISSISTIC SHOUT OUT:  Click here to hear Bob Jack's narcissistic shout-out.

Day Five: I return the car, still feeling the Saki, Tuaca shots, and various beers and begin to pity the person who has to sit next to me on the plane.  Perhaps they should hold their breath and sleep through Roll Bounce like I was going to...

FIN

CIAO FOR NOW

Well, y'all I'm off to L.A. for the opening of the Marc Jacobs stores on Melrose which promises to be an amazing event.  You only know I'll post pix when I return.

And, no I'm not spinning -- somebody named Perry Farrell is.

UPDATE: You better get rested up 'cuz this is coming in 2 weeks...

THE LEFT COAST

Alright, so here are the details of my weekend in L.A. (as bland as they may be to some...):

FRIDAY: Arrived in Long Beach at 8pm where AJ picks me up and I see 2 NY-ers (both actors from Atlantic...here for the Oscars, gentlemen?). We eat Mexican which I've been craving desperately and it is good. AJ and I stop by Here Lounge to see my friend Mark who is bartending. Bump into Carlos and John (two more NY-ers). Down a couple super-sized margaritas then home to spend time with AJ.

SATURDAY: AJ takes me to the uber-trendy L.A. coffee chain Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf where I order an ice blended. Wasn't impressed -- too milky; still dunno what Britney and Cameron D. see in them. Spot Brooke Adams (Monk's wife...not the bitch who's Lace's mother) getting her morning trendy on. AJ drops me off at the Metro which I take to Long Beach to meet up with Dad and his wife Barbara. The three of us drive down to Laguna, where we spend the afternoon shopping downtown Laguna with Barbara's son Scott, daughter-in-law Cindy, and granddaughter Chelsea. I am on the ONLY search for sunglasses. None are found. A Jamba Juice was in order for me and Chelsea so we ditched the others and got them (yes, full of sugar...I know). The six of us go back to Scott and Cindy's beach house, drink wine, and watch the sunset. A perfect afternoon, I must say...

That night, the six of us go dinner at an island themed restaurant called Cabana where I spot yet another New Yorker (though his name escapes me...) After dinner, Bob-n-Scott come and pick me to take me up to L.A. for some homosexual hijinks. We meet up with AJ at Hot Dog hosted by the former "King of the East Village" Mario Diazwho has successfully brought the East Village to Hollywood...and for that I'm impressed. As soon as we walk in the door, yours truly has to use the restroom due to his lactose intolerance, and since there are no doors at this fine establishment, Bob and I head across the street to The Pleaure Chest to use their facilities (they have a DJ spinning there on Sat. nights...). After cackling a bit over my incontinence, we head back to the waiting Scott and AJ. We drink, do shots, dance, sweat...basically have a great time. STAR SIGHTING: the incomparable ::Matty:: (New Yorker number 6). Always good to see Parker's mommy out and about... After Hot Dog, we march on over to The Spike for a quick after-hours spin on the dance floor. Even after a Red Bull, it's still boring so we leave (but not before seeing 2 other New Yorkers...names withheld.) We say out goodbyes and AJ and I go back to his place.

SUNDAY: My phone waked AJ and I up and it's Mark who wants to meet at Hugo for brunch. We shower, change and meet him in front of Hugo's where he introduces us to his friend Wilson Cruz. Too many pre-Oscar eaters at Hugo's, so we venture off to Basix (a gay eatery). Food is good. Bellini is best. After AJ and I say goodbye to Miss Mark, we head off to The Grove which I creeps me out (think: Disneyland's Main Street meets Hollywood backlot). More sunglass searching. Still nothing. We go back to AJ's apartment to watch Joan and Melissa and wait for Jenn to take us to AJ's friend's house for the Oscars. We sleep through all 4 hours of the Lord of the Oscars, then go home.

MONDAY: Post-Oscar losers are those who surround us at breakfast on Sunset and most look hung-over and tired. I pittied them all for not being from New Zealand. After leaving the misery behind, AJ and I decide to see a movie, but have time to kill beforehand, so we drive to Santa Monica. The two of us walk the 3rd St. Promenade, AGAIN with my sunglass seach. Find some that work, but don't wanna spend the $ they require. My search continues... We then pop over to WeHo for a quick bite (of Mexican, of course) and the rain starts. AJ and I drive over to Melrose and see Latter Days which we liked...if only for the actors and the story's outline otherwise...not so much. AJ then ends my trip by taking me to an incredible sushi dinner at Hump at the Santa Monica Airport. Strange place for a restaurant, but the fish was amazing. Afterwards, AJ drives me to the Long Beach Airport where we say our quick goodbyes. It's the first time we have said it since we met on New Year's...

I walk up to get my ticket and something falls at my feet. It's a brand new pair of Chanel sunglasses, still in their case. I (timidly) look around for who they may belong to..but, alack, they're mine.

Mission accomplished.

THE NEW YEARS TRIP HOME, PT. 1

During my trip to L.A. over New Year's, I was taken to Disneyland by my friend Bob and I had myself a small "Disney" moment...

After spending the day going from The Tragic Kingdom to California Adventures (also known as park-hopping), Bob and I ended our visit by taking in the holiday fireworks spectacular. All the lights throughout the park are dimmed for maximum effect and the fireworks look like they're coming from directly behind the castle (which is also lit in diffent colors per song). We stood on Main Street and watched as fireworks were perfectly timed to the A-Typical Disney Holiday Soundtrack (yes, they even played Dreidle, Dreidle, Dreidel...) A slow moving comet even arched over the top of Cinderella's house which looked byoo-ti-ful. At the end of the show, they play "White Christmas" and it starts snowing throughout the park (Disney "magic" at it best, kids.) SNOWING. I guess I was caught up in the moment because I started to get a little misty eyed...yes I was crying from happiness. Dunno if it was my being back "home", or the reaction of the children around me, or simply because I'm such a big girlie homo... But I did.

It even made me wanna work there again...y'know, throw on Pluto for old times sake...or maybe not.

NEW YEAR'S EVE PIC

Here's a pic of myself and one of my oldest friends: New York transplant Mark Esperti who was bartending at HERE on New Year's Eve. He told the make-up person to "go simple" on the glitter. Unfortunately she was deaf. P.S. I take really bad pictures...

VACATION ALL I EVER WANTED

Welp, my tired ass is in L.A. right now (and having an incredible time thus far) and will return to blogging when my ass reaches the home -- also known as the "Big City". All will be revealed then.

Oh, and I really liked Cold Mountain but wasn't crazy about Miss Zellweger's chewing-of-the-scenery. She would've been perfect for the stage version of the book. I just felt she was a little too grand for the film, but that's, again, just my opinion. Guess Anthony Minghella was looking for some comic relief up thar on the mount'in.

And just for the record...I miss Jonno's blog.

COUNTDOWN

"8 more days 'til I reach L.A. Dooh-dah, dooh-dah..."