The North Shore-LIJ Gala — The Stars are Shiny

The North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System held its Destination Celebration spring gala on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City. Hosted Meredith Vieira and Bravo’s Andy Cohen, the evening included a performance by Harry Connick Jr. and a fireworks show on the Hudson. As The nation’s third-largest, non-profit, secular healthcare system, the evening successfully raised over $21 million for the health system that annually serves 4 million patients across the greater New York area. Enjoy some red carpet pictures below.

SHERRI SHEPHERD
SHERRI SHEPHERD
CAROL ALT
CAROL ALT
CLIVE DAVIS
CLIVE DAVIS
CAROL ALT & SHERRI SHEPHERD
CAROL ALT & SHERRI SHEPHERD
CHRIS CUOMO & CRISTINA CUOMO
CHRIS CUOMO & CRISTINA CUOMO
CYNTHIA NIXON
CYNTHIA NIXON
CYNTHIA NIXON & ANDY COHEN
CYNTHIA NIXON & ANDY COHEN
MEREDITH VIERA
MEREDITH VIERA
CYNTHIA NIXON & BEBE NEUWIRTH
CYNTHIA NIXON & BEBE NEUWIRTH

Cynthia Nixon Clarifies Her Gay Comments

This whole Cynthia Nixon “is-being-gay-a-choice” debacle has my head spinning. Though I think sexuality is genetic, I’m actually not sure it’s relevant. What if it’s not genetic? What if I made the conscious choice to be attracted to the opposite sex from the age of two (which is actually when I remember my first crush on a boy)? Choice or not, I should be able to share my life with whoever I see fit. So when Cynthia Nixon enraged the gay community with her assertion that she “chose” to be gay, she was forced to clarify. Read her long-winded explanation below.

“My recent comments in The New York Times were about me and my personal story of being gay. I believe we all have different ways we came to the gay community and we can’t and shouldn’t be pigeon-holed into one cultural narrative which can be uninclusive and disempowering. However, to the extent that anyone wishes to interpret my words in a strictly legal context I would like to clarify:”

“While I don’t often use the word, the technically precise term for my orientation is bisexual. I believe bisexuality is not a choice, it is a fact. What I have ‘chosen’ is to be in a gay relationship.”

“As I said in the Times and will say again here, I do, however, believe that most members of our community — as well as the majority of heterosexuals — cannot and do not choose the gender of the persons with whom they seek to have intimate relationships because, unlike me, they are only attracted to one sex.”

“Our community is not a monolith, thank goodness, any more than America itself is. I look forward to and will continue to work toward the day when America recognizes all of us as full and equal citizens.”

I actually think that forcing the gay community to label their sexuality does even more damage. We don’t all fit into pre-defined buckets, and Cynthia Nixon should not have to define her sexual preference.

Quote of the Day — Cynthia Nixon — Is Being Gay a Choice?

“I gave a speech recently . . . and it included the line ‘I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay, and gay is better.’ And they tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice. And for me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me. A certain section of our community is very concerned that it not be seen as a choice, because if it’s a choice, then we could opt out. I say it doesn’t matter if we flew here or we swam here, it matters that we are here and we are one group and let us stop trying to make a litmus test for who is considered gay and who is not.” Cynthia Nixon’s controversial comment on whether homosexuality is a choice.

‘Sex and The City 2’ Movie Review – I’m Luke Warm

 I really wanted to like this movie.  I promise I did.  I was an avid fan of the series, and I threw a girls night out party for the first film.  Unfortunately, I didn’t like it.  It was merely okay.  The main problem involves the blaring lack of story.  The first act stays true to the tone of the series, with Carrie feeling that her marriage to Big has become stale, along with Charlotte experiencing the overwhelming demands of motherhood.  Then comes act two.  The girls go to Abu Dhabi, and the film creatively ends about 20 minutes into the excursion.  Abu Dhabi becomes the main character, and the girls become supporting players.  So much of the second act surrounds the surprise with Abu Dhabi’s grandor.  Wow! Look at this bathroom!  Wow!  Look at this shower!  Wow!  Everything is free!  When you find that all the dialogue in a film is about objects, I think the ship is sinking.  Aiden shows up briefly, and his appearance reminded me of another problem in the film – where are the men?!  Mr. Big is barely in it, and all the other supporting actors that we’ve grown to love are unused.  I kept praying that Smith Jared would swoop in to win back Samantha, but to no avail.  And I hate to admit this (gosh, I really hate it), but Samantha on the prowl came off as pathetic.  I don’t think it’s because she’s too old to be on the prowl, or that she isn’t as hot as she used to be (she’s still very hot), it’s that it simply didn’t work.  Perhaps it’s because I just want her to be with Smith, or it’s that it felt like a backwards leap – I can’t quite put my finger on why it didn’t work.  All I can say is . . . it didn’t work.  When the third act came around I breathed a huge sigh of relief.  Mr. Big will be back and boy do I love me some Mr. Big.  Well, I am sad to even call it a third act because it was probably under five minutes.  They quickly tied the “story” up with a big pink bow and ended the film.  I sat through 2 hours of Abu Dhabi for five minutes with Mr. Big?!  I’m pained to hit the publish button on this post.  I so badly wanted this film to be good, and the critics to be wrong.  So that I can sleep well tonight, I will tell you that the film is still worth seeing.  I love these women, I love these characters, and I love the fashion.  Go pay tribute!

Sex and the City 2 Cast Interview With Entertainment Weekly – Read the Highlights

I’d recommend getting the entire interview because they discuss the history of the show.  But read the highlights below.

Sarah Jessica Parker on her favorite scene
“[I]t’s the “up the butt” one.  If I had to pick one scene that people are like, “That’s what that show is!” in the worst possible way, it’s that one.  But in the best way, too.”

Kristin Davis on her first day with Sarah Jessica Parker
“Sarah Jessica had this big thing of Krispy Kreme doughnuts,a nd she invited me to her trailer.  She said, “Let’s hang out and get to know each other.”  We had 18 hour days, so we bonded pretty quickly.  The most famous person on the set, you take their lead.”

David Eigenberg (Steve) on auditioning for the show
“I remember having to fake an orgasm in their office once.  That was awful.”

Jason Lewis (Smith) on his first day with the show
“I was nervous as hell . . . .  I was supposed to be objectified by 30 or 40 women.  It was like a kid going to his first day at a new school . . . and I realized I didn’t know a single soul.  And then Kristin Davis came by and swooped me up.”

Chris Noth (Big) on the show in general
“it was just fucking funny in a way that’s irreverent, in a way that TV never was before.”