Upright & Stowed

Hawaii Five-0

Hawaii Five-0 ran on CBS from 1968 to 1990, one of the longest-running series in broadcast history.  You may not remember a thing about the show itself, but you will undoubtedly remember its theme song ... one of television's all time greats. 

Hawaii is on my mind because 50 years ago today it became the 50th state of US.  Pretty awesome anniversary, if you ask me.  In celebration, I post the above photo which was taken a tad 18 years ago.  I'm sitting on a cliff above Black Sand Beach in Maui shooting a commercial for American Express.  On my left is then-unknown/now-famous author Augusten Burroughs.  He was the copywriter for the commercial which, incidentally had no words. 

Happy Anniversary, Hawaii, and 50 big Alohas.

Inverse Vacation

Most vacations serve as a break from work.  My first official blog vacation is in deference to work.   As in, I'm swamped now and need a sort blogging break.  Thus the inverse image above.  I'll be back on October 1st, with all sorts of goodies.  In the meantime, enjoy the dreamy early days of fall, wherever in the world you are.

Where Glitz Collides

One of these shots is Vegas.  The other, Dubai City.

Tomorrow, Vegas will be on the nation's radar as Nevada holds its presidential caucus ... in casinos this year.  Over the next two months, Dubai will be on my radar, as I take on a consulting project on behalf of Emirates, the United Arab Emirates' national carrier, based in Dubai.  In the old days, spices and silk and democracy were the coveted items and ideas passed from land to land.  Today, it's glitz.  Think about it.  And happy weekend.   Photo credits:  here and here

Speech & Debate: See It Soon

I was not a member of the Clayton High School Speech and Debate team.  I assumed it would be the most boring possible after-school activity, other than Electonics Club.  (Neither was I a member of the CHS Gay-Straight Alliance, nor could I imagine such a concept possible in 1977.)

I might have missed a stimulating opportunity, based on the evidence presented in the play Speech and Debate, at the Roundabout Theater.  It got a rave in the Times, and I'd put it in the "Catch it while you can" category.  It is hilarious, insightful and a pure joy to watch.  And the night at the theater was all the more exciting because Stephen Sondheim was a member of the teeny little sold-out audience last night, along with moi!

If you can score a ticket, you'll thank me.   Photo: NYTimes.com

Back in the Bay

I arrived in San Francisco (yet again) on Sunday. The beginning of 10 days of  work on the west coast.  It's sort of foggy-ish and chilly-ish.  Which is one of the major reasons I went screaming back to NYC after living here.

That said, one of the  great thing about a teensy little cow town like San Francisco is the likelihood of running into your old friends and acquaintances, with practically no effort.  Makes it feel like home.  So far I've seen Jeff and Randy and Gina and Scott and Steve and Larry and David and Jessie and David (a different one) and Ian and Scott (a different one) and Eric and Jeff and Dan.  And it's only Tuesday.  Who knows who lies ahead?

This is a picture of me and my friend Steve eating ice cream at the A-MA-ZING little Bi-Rite Creamery in the Mission District.  One of the most divine cones I've licked in a long time.  It's "Burnt Caramel."  Next trip out, put it on your short list.