It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I'm not even referring to the smell of cinnamon and spice in the crisp fall air, the breathtaking, vibrant colors of Central Park, or, my favorite of all days in the fall, the MARATHON tomorrow (I get really excited and inspired every year to just run and run and run. And that lasts for all of one or two days, but it sure is fun while it lasts!)


No, all that amazing fall stuff is completely BORING compared to what I did this week.

I saw the gayest, I mean greatest, show on earth: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring (who else) Paul Staroba.

(cue the chorus of angels.

And a kick line.)

I confess that, until Thursday, I had never so much set foot inside the famed Radio City Music Hall, let alone enjoyed a Rockettes' kick line, live and in person. So, when Superstar Paul invited me to the dress rehearsal I obviously had to go. Now, I don't know what Radio City looks like normally, but I am here to tell you that today (and everyday until New Years), it appears that Christmas has thrown up all over it. Really. There is glitter everywhere, plus wreathes and twinkly lights and candles and bangles and bows and trees and ornaments and gingerbread houses EVERYWHERE. And that's just the lobby!

Inside is where the magic really happens. As would be expected from the gayest, I mean greatest, show on earth starring 36 dancing girls that all look freakishly the same and do everything in unison, this Spectacle had EVERYTHING. Those robots/Rockettes are just the beginning.

Here is my Radio City Top Ten List:

10. A 3D SLEIGHRIDE through New York. No one can tell me that is not awesome. But, I warn you, there is a goose that flies straight at your face during that movie, and that's some scary stuff. I'm just sayin'...

9. Cannons that shoot multi-colored streamers into the audience (which the audience obviously has to spend several minutes collecting so everyone can take home their souvenir piece of the Spectacle.)

8. One hundred billion dancing Santa Clauses. I'm sure that needs no further explanation.

7. Little kids flying through the air and then letting their holiday spirit rip on a Broadway pop showstopper about Santa.

6. CAMELS. And DONKEYS. And SHEEP.

5. Giant teddy bears, of all shapes, sizes, and nationalities, dancing The Nutcracker (I'm serious! There were Chinese bears, Russian bears, and Ballerina bears, to name just a few.)

4. Ice skaters. On real ice. (I know. I KNOW!)

3. Real live elves (warning: do not go to this particular gay show if you happen to be afraid of little people. There are plenty of other gay shows available, even if they don't quite have the trimmings of this particular Spectacle)

2. The cream of the crop of Chorus Boys. I have never, in all my years of show choir and dancing and singing and musical theater, seen boys so excited to be on a stage. And, I daresay, I never will again. I actually thought one of them might burst at the end, he was smiling THAT big.

1. And, of course, Superstar Paul Staroba rising out of the orchestra pit, tinkling the ivories, wearing a bright red jacket. Unfortunately, he wasn't wearing a Santa suit, as I had hoped, or even sequins, which would have been just as good, but this was still mighty exciting for me. And everyone else, I bet.

So there you have it- Christmas time is here, with all it's happiness and cheer. Even though I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had this experience, Paul is the truly lucky one here. HE gets to be part of this gay Spectacle at least 100 more times before Christmas is even really here!