Category: Uncategorized

How do you call your loverboy?

This weekend, I saw the last show of Brett Dennen’s tour. Man, I could do that every Saturday night all summer long.

His tone is unique, kind of a Tom-Petty-meets-Bob-Dylan thing. If you have a chance to see him live, do that. Until then, here are the two excellent reasons to buy his latest album Loverboy:

Here’s a free download of “Surprise, Surprise” off the same album (which you can buy here). I’ve also linked before to “San Francisco,” which is a sentimental favorite.

Hooray for smart people making things that make us happy.

MaxFunCon 2011, Affection Recap

I have not been laughing enough lately. I know this is gross. Like someone saying, “I’m bored a lot” or “I don’t really like being alone.” But this year has been heavy, so I’m doing what I can to compensate. This weekend, for example, I did a little catching up.

MaxFunCon is a summer camp for comedy nerds run by Jesse Thorn, who hosts The Sound of Young America. I’ve wanted to go for years, some of my favorite people are regulars, but I always felt shy about it. I’m not a comedy nerd, just a regular nerd, so I wasn’t sure wether it would be my tribe.


Photo by Snijglau

MaxFunCon usually fills up well in advance, but I was on a waiting list and the stars aligned. I found out I could go when I was already in Palm Springs checking out the venue for my own conference (more on that in the morning), so I was only an hour away from the camp. Oddly, Eden had also decided to attend on a lark, which I found out on Twitter the day before I arrived. Roomie up!

When I arrived, everyone was so approachable and genuinely friendly. We were there to meet each other and go home with some new friends, which all of us undoubtedly did. In addition to Eden, I got to see a few more folks who I don’t see nearly enough, like:

Matt Haughey of A Whole Lotta Nothing and Metafilter. I always look forward to Matt, because I know the conversation will be interesting. He’s globally curious and so pleasantly dismissive when he thinks something sucks. This year his curiosity turned toward grooming, so he was beautifully dressed, which was strange because I mostly remember him in T-shirts and jeans. Apparently, he’s been reading Put This On, and it made an impression. I suppose there were early signs.

I like the above photo because Matt appears to be winking, which I have never seen him do, ever.


Photo by Hiroic

Adam Lisagor of You Look Nice Today, Lonely Sandwich, and the aforementioned Put This On. I’ve only met Adam once or twice before, but he is fantastic. His Twitter stream (@lonelysandwich) often feels like someone smarter and more talented is narrating my brain. To wit: “Here is a weakness I have: if you do a fake laugh in order to belittle someone, I will consider you the worst and will never change my mind.”

Scott Simpson of You Look Nice Today, and Your Monkey Called). Scott made a late appearance, so it felt like he’d materialized at a party, and it made me so happy. I was not sober, so I made him promise to bring his wife and offspring to the city so we can arrange for one of them to wed my son. I’m not totally sure what gender(s) his children are, but that’s beside the point. A promise is a promise, and Scott will come through because he is an Eagle Scout. He was probably also a White House Intern and the son of clergy. I’m like a heat seeking missile for that shit. See you in the city, Mr. Simpson.

I also finally (finally!) met some folks I’ve adored and admired for over a decade, like:

Greg Knauss of An Entirely Other Day. Greg has been such a part of my Web ecosystem from the beginning that I can’t believe it has taken this long to see him in real life. I’d begun to wonder if he was some kind of creepy aggregate project by some of my friends. Turns out he’s just been too busy at home to leave the neighborhood much. His anecdotes are as good in person as online:

“So there’s this over-weight 45-year-old woman
standing in line at Rite-Aid. She’s wearing
leopard-skin tights, and waiting to buy a
twelve-pack of beer and one of those backyard
Tiki torches.

And people say Americans aren’t subtle.”


Josh Allen, who I know through The Morning News, and who you may know as Fireland on Twitter. I believe his was the first fictional Twitter stream, and it’s hilarious. We discussed how difficult it is to date when the top Google search on your name returns quotes like, “I don’t remember carrying a kitten in my cargo shorts but the lint trap don’t lie.” Women of America, Joshua Allen is a delight. Though he does kill the occasional kitten.

In addition to jump starting my sense of humor, MaxFunCon also supplied some new people to adore. A brief, incomplete list:


Photo by Scott Simpson

John Roderick, lead singer for The Long Winters. He wrote “Hindsight”, “Are you still training for the big race by hoping the runners will die?” He also taught an excellent songwriting class that helped me rethink how I process emotion. Useful. He’s a ready smiler, and a new dad. In the photo above, he’s wearing my pink scarf as an ascot for the Country Estate Party. I mention this because he made a point of finding me to return it before he left the next day. Nice, right? Yeah, I think so too.


Photo from Zickie Pop

Jordan Morris, to whom I admitted that I hadn’t heard a single Jordan, Jesse, Go! podcast. I know my fellow campers are agape right now, because this is like going to Space Camp and staring blankly when Neil Armstrong shakes your hand. He was gracious about it though, and asked me for hair product recs. I demurred because his giant hair is obviously the entire point. I think if he tamed it, someone would be able to tame his spirit as a result, and then I’d be to blame. I am no Delilah, sir.


Photo by Snijglau

Finally, Josie Long was even more winning than I expected. Onstage, she did a brief, one-woman play on the Bronte sisters, which was hilarious and horrifying, and so hyper-literate, I just wanted to high-five every single person in the audience for laughing. Afterward, I turned to Josh and we shook our heads in silent admiration. Then he mimed tucking her in his pocket.

Huge thanks to Jesse Thorn and the entire MaxFunCon team. These are just a handful of the amazing people I met this weekend who I tucked in my own pocket. It’s getting crowded in there with the kitten.

My Favorite Classic Gifts for Men

I thought I’d share a few of my favorite gifts for guys. Lingerie aside, there are some good options in here for Father’s Day as well. Some of them are basics, but most indulge vices. I prefer men with vices, and I think gifts should tell the men in your life that you like them how they are.

Except for that $12 haircut. Maybe a little help with that.

Bacon of the month club
Bacon delivered to your door by women in Playboy Bunny costumes. No, I kid. Though that could be arranged. I did a whole gifts of meat guide, so check that out as well.

 

12 Classic Gifts for Men - Mighty Girl

Stanley Classic Stainless Steel Flask, $20
The flask that says, “I like Booker’s, and I know how to pitch a tent.” That’s a perfect weekend right there.

The Fold Wallet, $95 (via Swiss-Miss)

He’s a simple guy with expensive taste.

Tovolo Perfect Ice Cube Tray, $12

These genius ice cube trays make perfectly square cubes that melt more slowly and look satisfying in the glass. Speaking of which…

Galaxy Crystal Rocks Glasses, $47 each

Crystal glasses that feel heavy in hand. They aren’t cheap, but one of these plus a bottle of whatever he’s drinking makes a nice package gift. Make it a habit, and soon enough he’ll have a set.

Booze
If the man in question drinks, investing in his bar is always a sound choice. Call first to ask whether he drinks, and then what he drinks, so you can surprise him with something interesting in that category. (Have a look at my Top Shelf Father’s Day Guide for some options.)

Palo Alto Firefighters Pepper Sauce, $5

Cowboy syrup. Savory with a bit of kick, and so damn good on whatever you’re cooking.

Ribbon Bottle Opener, $22

Pretty enough to leave out, so he won’t have to go digging for it.

Imco Petrol Lighter, $20

Windproof. Pairs well with the flask.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron French Oven, $205

He likes to cook, and he especially likes to cook meat. This French Oven will remind the kids of his Sunday dinners when it’s their turn to cook with it.

Knickers, $40

You know how he buys you lingerie for Valentine’s Day, and you joke that it’s really a present for him? You’re right. Formalize the deal.

Sunday New York Times Subscription, $4/wk.
Once a week, a real, live newspaper. One that smells like the morning air and protects the dining room table from damage when he’s gluing something back together.

And in conclusion, if you know where he gets his coffee, pick some up. Nice gesture. Now how about you? Do you find it hard to buy for men, or are there gifts you keep on hand in case a guy friend has late-notice birthday drinks?

While you’re thinking, you might also like:

Father’s Day Gifts for New Dads
2009 Father’s Day Gift Guide
Father’s Day Gifts for Geeky Dads