Mark Tyler

I am happy I recently stumbled upon Mark Tyler on Twitter. I really enjoy his songs and voice.

You can learn more about him at his website, watch his YouTube playlist and purchase his album "Requiem of a Broken Heart" at iTunes.

I play his album on repeat while working at home.

Robbie Rogers and the Quarry

I am petrified of heights, but more than suspect openly gay soccer player Robbie Rogers could talk me into cliff jumping.

Abby Linford and Her Imaginary Friend

Around the time I accidentally interviewed Matt Damon for ACCESS HOLLYWOOD, I met online Christopher J. Smith, who was also hanging out in the forums at Project Greenlight's website. We soon started emailing each other about screenwriting and his work at a talent management company.

Nearly a decade later, I happened on a tweet in which someone recommended a book to read this summer. I clicked on the photo included with the tweet and saw the cover of Christopher's book, Abby Linford and Her Imaginary Friend.

That's how I reconnected with Christopher and now have his book to read on foggy, cool days this summer in San Francisco.

So far, the story is a treat, though I suspect Abby is about to discover all is not well in her imaginary friend's world.

"Young Love" by Eli Lieb

The other day, I stumbled upon Eli Lieb's YouTube channel and am now obsessed with his new single, "Young Love." I watch this video on Apple TV almost as much as I play the song.



Of course, I've already purchased the single at iTunes. I look forward to hearing more from this emerging artist, about whom you can read when you visit his website.

Carly Rae Jepsen on the Cover of Volume 12 of 360 Magazine

Here's a sneak peek at our Summer, Volume 12 issue featuring Carly Rae Jespen.

I'm so happy she's a part of our magazine. If you're already a huge fan, you know all about her website, where you can read about her music career and check out tour dates, photographs and videos, especially "Call Me Maybe," which she co-wrote and, as she says on her site, "never expected to take off quite like this."

The Official Veronica Mars CCSD Sneak Peek

On July 19, 2013, Rob Thomas, Kristen Bell and other cast members of the Veronica Mars film participated in a Comic-Con Panel in San Diego, California.

This video was played for the audience and includes the first trailer for the film, as well as behind-the-scenes conversations with the cast and creator/writer/director, Rob Thomas.

My favorite scene involves the telephone call propelling Veronica back to Neptune, California.

Escape to Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey

I had lunch in June with Ballantines PR's Sarah Robarts and Dara Toulch at Cafe Flore in the Castro. It was a sunny, gorgeous day (rare in the summer in San Francisco). They introduced me to Janine Chicourrat, the general manager at Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey, California. It did not take long for Janine to convince me to visit this AAA-rated 4-Diamond hotel, one of but three TAG-approved hotels in Monterey.

I made this video as my partner Phil and I drove south on Highway 1. Calling this drive scenic is like describing Carly Rae Jepsen's song "Call Me Maybe" as catchy. It felt like we'd driven into a movie.




The Portola Hotel & Spa is only steps away from the entrance to Monterey's wharf. Our room had this spectacular view of the wharf and wide bay.

We dined at the hotel's Jacks Restaurant, enjoyed breakfast room service and hung out in Peter B's, the bar on the side of the hotel nearest the wharf. After spending two evenings exploring Monterey's nightlife, Phil and I agreed it was the bar in town to see and be seen.

I shot this video as we walked along the wharf chock-full of restaurants, bars, retail stores, and fishing and whale-watching tour boats.




It is a leisurely stroll through Monterey's historic cannery row to the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. (You might know John Steinbeck wrote Cannery Row after spending some time with the denizens here in the 1930's.) The Aquarium itself is spectacular and invites you to come and go as much as you like on the day you visit. It was really crowded at times.




Portola Hotel & Spa was the perfect place for Phil and me to relax, be pampered and celebrate our ninth anniversary. Monterey is a lovely town to which to escape the rat race and recharge.

With the recent United States Supreme Court decisions striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Prop. 8, the LGBTQ community can now marry in California – and, it seems, in more and more states every month. Portola Hotel & Spa would be an excellent setting for a wedding or honeymoon.

That's not a hint, Phil – though the idea of marriage did come up for the first time while we dined at Jacks Restaurant.

Robbie Rogers and The Trevor Project

This is an outstanding, candid interview with Robbie Rogers streamed live online and conducted by Google+ with The Trevor Project. Robbie discusses growing up very unhappily closeted in a conservative, Catholic family, his coming-out process and now playing soccer as the first openly gay male, professional sports player.

"All-American Boy" by Steve Grand

Two days ago, Twitter was ablaze only hours after openly gay singer/songwriter Steve Grand loaded to YouTube his music video, "All-American Boy," an anthem to unrequited love in small-town America.

Lance Bass tweeted this:

Steve says on Facebook: "I wrote the song during a drunken piano jam session at a party. I recorded the vocals in my parents' basement and worked with my friend Max Steger to record and mix the rest of the instruments."

He created the video with director Jason Knade and enlisted his friends to play bonfire partygoers. The song isn't currently available on iTunes, but can be downloaded here. Steve, who has been called by many the first "openly gay out the gate" male Country singer, says he doesn't yet have a manager or label.

His audience has certainly found him.

I've been playing the video over and over today, as illegal fireworks boomed over San Francisco.

The Bob Mizer Foundation + Anzevino

I received an anonymous text featuring this photograph of a poster now plastered all over New York.

It's an image of William Sexton aka Blue Max Hensley taken in the 1970's by the Athletic Model Guild. The poster announces the collaboration of the Bob Mizer Foundation with designer Anzevino, which has thus far resulted in a line of tee shirts and sweatshirts currently available at Opening Ceremony.


My favorite is the tee shirt featuring snakes on a nude model's lap, but I think I would wear every day the tee shirt with Blue Max Hensley's handsome mug on it.

As soon as I received the text, I congratulated Dennis Bell, the current owner of the Athletic Model Guild and founder of the Bob Mizer Foundation. I think it's great to see Bob Mizer's work appearing in new and exciting ways in this century.

Bell assured me there's much more to come.

You can help support the Bob Mizer Foundation by donating directly at its website. There you will find more information on Bob Mizer, the Athletic Model Guild and the Bob Mizer Foundation, including its mailing address for your donations and updates on gallery shows, screenings and lectures.