Powered by Max Banner Ads  Cocktail Chatter From the Mailbag: ‘The Escondido Surprise’ by Ed Sikov August 29, 2011 I never hear from readers – the folks Norma Desmond describes in Sunset Boulevard as “those wonderful people out there in the dark.” So I was glad to get a message from “Joey from Denver.” Here’s his note, quoted with his permission: Dear Ed: I love your column,... 

Cocktail Chatter No Sun Up in the Sky: Dark and Stormy by Ed Sikov August 15, 2011 “Old Storrrr-my! Old Storrrr-my!” Craig was insufferable. But he was so perfectly Santana that I laughed despite myself. “Shut up!” I begged, but that only spurred him on. All was not well. Last Sunday afternoon, Sammy blurted out something horrifically specific about my having shtupped Jack Fogg after the... 

Cocktail Chatter Repercussions: The Cosmopolitan by Ed Sikov August 1, 2011 Before leaving for the July 4th weekend, I had to sit through an afternoon luncheon during which a jackass honoree turned a simple thank you into an interminable Castro-like State of the Planet allocution out from which I finally sneaked. I had to race for the train to Sayville, but by the time the ferry docked at the Pines... 

Cocktail Chatter “Who’s Barry Esai?”: The Vodka Tonic by Ed Sikov July 18, 2011 Kyle, Robbie, Phil Levine and some little wisp of a Thai twink on Phil Levine’s lap were hot in conversation when I arrived on Friday evening. As I walked in I thought I heard Phil Levine say, “…Barry Esai a lot lately. Gets my juices flowin’ know what I mean?”’ “(Something) Barry Esai?” Kyle... 

Cocktail Chatter The Marlene Dietrich by Ed Sikov April 11, 2011 It was 2:40 a.m., and I was alone. Dan had flown off again – this time to Tucson and Albuquerque – on a zip-trip for some clinical trials his company was running on an Alzheimer’s drug in which Dan had no confidence. It was a useless trip for a useless drug, and he was miserable about going. I said, “Forget about it.” I ought... 

Cocktail Chatter Lenivbli Malioik, or The La-Z-Boy by Ed Sikov March 28, 2011 Here’s some advice: You need a restaurant manager as a close friend. Why? Because when you go to his restaurant, he’ll tell the chef to send out all sorts of delightful little plates of things and an extra dessert or two, none of which you will pay for. You have 10 lawyer friends; they’ll all charge you. Twenty doctors?... 

Cocktail Chatter Heads in the Clouds: The Aviation by Ed Sikov “So, mutatis mutandis, the LGBT community…” Ted was lecturing about marriage equality from his podium on our living room couch. “What?” I blurted. Cocktail “hour” was pushing 90 minutes. I should have served the lamb stew and couscous already, but I couldn’t get out of the chair. “The gay community must shift its praxis... 

Cocktail Chatter I Get What I Deserve: The Hot Toddy by Ed Sikov “I’b biserable,” I shnuffled from my sickroom-sweaty side of the bed. Dan didn’t answer. “I’b biserable!” I shouted, then broke into a coughing fit of such violent proportions that, well, I’ll spare you the details – not that I don’t want to describe my mucus with the vividness and color one associates with a great... 

Cocktail Chatter The Old Fashioned by Ed Sikov February 14, 2011 After that spirit-killing dinner with Craig and his – gag – new boyfriend, Kyle (my perfect Kyle, with his gymnast’s ass and a treasure trail that brings tears to my eyes), Dan and I barely spoke. I guess I’d been kind of a jerk. Dan steamed, then sounded off: “I knew we were in for it when you started tossing frisee leaves... 

Cocktail Chatter The Virtue of Pricey Liquor by Ed Sikov January 31, 2011 “You drink too much.” This was Dan’s opener at dinner the night after I passed out from too many Old Fashioneds. I reacted with instant hostility, since I’d spent the afternoon making his favorites: braised pork shoulder with parsnips and white wine; brussels sprouts slaw; and a tarte tatin. But before I sniped back...