Just when the recent Sarah Palin media circus — her feud with David Letterman; her spandex-happy photo spread in Runner’s World; the recent damning Vanity Fair profile of her — couldn’t get any weirder, the former GOP vice-presidential candidate just announced she will resign the governorship of Alaska at the end of the month, two-and-a-half years into her first term. Even the transfer of power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell won’t stop Palin’s special brand of surreality: He’ll be sworn in at a picnic in Fairbanks on July 25.
Let everyone else head for the Cape, the Jersey shore, or a cabin in the North Woods of Minnesota. For me, holiday weekends are best spent at home: in New York. Although the city’s residential neighborhoods aren’t as empty as they used to be (a native Manhattanite I know used to say you could shoot a cannon down Park Avenue on a summer Saturday and not hit anyone: not anymore), the city is still pretty quiet. If you can avoid Times Square and SoHo (the worst area in NY now, since so many of us remember it before the hordes thundered in), you can have a restorative time of it.
American reality shows have tried to get contestants to lose weight, eat bugs, and cheat on their significant others, but a show in Turkey has come up with a new twist: converting atheists. In “Penitents Compete” (or “Tovberkarlar Yarisiyor,” for those of you who know Turkish), 10 unbelieving participants will face representatives from four religions—Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism — who will try to convince them to join their faith. Those who get religion will receive fabulous prizes. Oh, I get it: a friendly Inquisition.
Many musical connoisseurs consider Iranian Sussan Deyhim, who lives in New York, to have one of the world’s truly splendid voices. Deyhim has performed with a wide variety of American and European musicians, many from the avant garde/contemporary jazz world.
Kevin Jonas (pictured) has set the wheels in motion to throw off his promise ring and jump in bed. The 21 year old proposed to his girlfriend of 2 years, Danielle Deleasa, this morning in New Jersey. While I think 21 may be on the younger side of making that decision, who can blame the guy for wanting to get laid sooner rather than later?
Fantasia’s performance in the musical version of “Color Purple” on Broadway is one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen on a stage. So it’s thrilling news that she’s returned to the role in our nation’s capital. Now that’s she’s back in the public eye, though, the rumors have started: Is Fanny preggers? Or, as one of the commenters to the unconfirmed story suggested, has she just been indulging in some good ole North Carolina barbeque and baked beans?
Just when the recent Sarah Palin media circus — her feud with David Letterman; her spandex-happy photo spread in Runner’s World; the recent damning Vanity Fair profile of her — couldn’t get any weirder, the former GOP vice-presidential candidate just announced she will resign the governorship of Alaska at the end of the month, two-and-a-half years into her first term. Even the transfer of power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell won’t stop Palin’s special brand of surreality: He’ll be sworn in at a picnic in Fairbanks on July 25.
Let everyone else head for the Cape, the Jersey shore, or a cabin in the North Woods of Minnesota. For me, holiday weekends are best spent at home: in New York. Although the city’s residential neighborhoods aren’t as empty as they used to be (a native Manhattanite I know used to say you could shoot a cannon down Park Avenue on a summer Saturday and not hit anyone: not anymore), the city is still pretty quiet. If you can avoid Times Square and SoHo (the worst area in NY now, since so many of us remember it before the hordes thundered in), you can have a restorative time of it. 
Kevin Jonas (pictured) has 
Fantasia’s performance in the musical version of “Color Purple” on Broadway is one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen on a stage. So it’s thrilling news that she’s returned to the role in our nation’s capital. Now that’s she’s back in the public eye, though, the rumors have started: Is Fanny preggers? Or, as one of the commenters to 