The Best of Binky's Johnny Weir Blog: November 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

And Now, a Word from Our Monarch...

In apparently his first official proclamation that did not involve chicken soup, peanuts, or sushi, the Winter Monarch has requested that we all vote for him in the 5th Annual Mashable Awards, in which he is one of seven finalists nominated for "Must-Follow Athlete on Social Media." Which, as I mentioned previously, is KIND. OF. A. BIG. DEAL.

Mashable, a social media / news site, gets more than 50 million page views per month, and has been named by Time Magazine as one of the top 25 blogs on the Internet. Anastasia Pryanikova points out that "Mashable is huge in social media and technology: 20 million monthly unique visitors and 4 million social media followers." Plus I think he's the only Winter Monarch ever to be recognized by Mashable. So that's awesome.

He's up against some tough competition from Yuna Kim and John Cena, among others, but hey--we're really good at voting! We can do this!

He's also in some amazing company: As Megan Gusinski notes, finalists in other categories include The Trevor Project, NOH8, GLAAD, and Ellen Degeneres, so there's lots of other great stuff to vote for while you're on Mashable's site.

You can vote once per day from each of your Twitter and Facebook accounts (so if you have more than one account, please vote from them all!).

Voting ends on Friday, December 16, and the winners will be announced on Monday, December 19. Just click the graphic below or at the top righthand side of the blog to be taken directly to the voting page for Johnny.

VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!

Random Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanks to sharp-eyed Tatiana Edrenkina for spotting this. And I totally agree. According to Macy's press release, Joan was officially the "Snow Queen" in last year's parade. I personally am pleased that her reign has ended, and that we are now under the glittery guidance of the Winter Monarch. Let's take another look at him, shall we? vote

And now, a little perspective... I love this shot.

How perfect that he's in front of Toys R Us

on a giant rocking horse--and wow at how big

that thing really is...

Photo courtesy of PeterJr1961 on Flickr

(original is huuuuuuuge....).

vote

And more perspective....

There he is, waaaaaaaaaaaay down there....

Photo tweeted by @ayukovon.

vote

More from San Francisco: Another photo tweeted

by Klassy Goldberg, who writes: "Me interviewing

@JohnnyGWeir for Refinery29. #nofilter." LOL.
UPDATE: The interview is now available!

And another lovely photo from his performance

at the tree lighting...

vote

And two more videos!

vote

And finally, Kaleidoscope photos have been posted

here and here--take a look!

vote

Blog entry, "Portraits," now updated
with true full-size images!!
If you haven't had a chance to see
these gorgeous photos yet, please check them out.
Here's just one sample...
(click photo again after it loads for full size).

Please vote for Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov!!

Their "Fever On Ice" program is up

for a $50K grant from Pepsi Refresh!
They're now in second place
in their category and tier--
but only first place wins. We can do this!

Johnny's Glitter and Ice collection
with MAC is selling out fast!

Don't miss your chance to sparkle--
visit a MAC retailer or order online ASAP!

NEW!! The Sheraton Philadelphia University City
is now the official Holiday Dreams On Ice hotel!!
Book your rooms before December 9
and receive a special HDOI-only discount!
The Sheraton also will be hosting the VIP after-show party.
More info on the Holiday Dreams On Ice website!

"Like" HDOI on Facebook,
and use promo code "philadelphia"
for 50% off your general admission ticket!!

New Q and A! Go read it now!

(Note: Now updated every Monday and Thursday...

more time to savor each one!)

Yes! Johnny's dresses are now available
for purchase only on eDressMe.com!

At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!

Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!

Johnny tweeted:

"Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes.

Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold

takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!"

THE WORLD NEEDS THIS VIDEO
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.

You know what to do.

Please buy the song from Johnny's website,

or just click the "Buy" button on the player
at the top of the blog!

Hey, Welcome to My World also is available

as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website!

Bonus video via The Advocate, from their post titled:

"Possibly the Most Beautiful Ad for Marriage Equality We've Seen."

The video was produced by an equality group in Australia,

where nearly two-thirds of voters favor legalizing

gay marriage, according to The Advocate,

but prime minister Julia Gillard remains firmly opposed.

I agree with The Advocate:

This is one of the most eloquent illustrations I've seen

of this simple concept: Love is love.
Please pass it on.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

A Dazzling Display! Oh, and the Tree Was Nice, Too

Johnny performs Ave Maria

at Union Square in San Francisco Friday evening

as part of the Macy's Great Tree Lighting ceremony.

Photo courtesy of the amazing Diana Dumbadse,

who posted it to Johnny's fan page last night

and whose photos are breathtaking works of art

(and I speak from experience--I have one in my living room).

Diana wrote: "What a turnout for the tree lighting
in Union Square tonight! What was I thinking
that I would get a good spot to take pictures?!?!?
I have NEVER seen this many people

at the tree lighting EVER!
Johnny sparkled and dazzled :)"

I think you did just fine, Diana!

More on the size of the crowd below...

Kayso here I was thinking that there'd be hardly any coverage to be had of his Macy's tree-lighting event--though of course I desperately wanted all kinds of coverage, including thousands of twitpics and full video crews from all the major networks (really? Is that too much to ask? He's only the biggest skating star in the world...)--and so I was disconsolately wandering around the Internet comforting myself by ferreting out leftover pics from the parade when lo and behold: Photos! Lots of photos! Mostly courtesy of fabulous Super Managtress Tara, who is able to do amazing multitask-y things whilst functioning on the last good sleep she had which I believe was some time in late 2008. Plus yes, twitpics from various sources! And even a video!

So here we go with today's story, of yet more dazzling dazzly-ness even in the face of huge crowds, multiple media interviews, Occupy protesters, and everything else that goes into just another random Friday for Johnny and Tara...

Union Square, San Francisco.

2:43 p.m.

After doing some shopping earlier in the day,

during which Johnny suffered an unfortunate encounter

with a fur rack in Saks, prompting Tara to warn,

"Watch out for non-moving objects"

(but the real question is the one posed by Jenn Kittler:

"Did he say, 'Excuse me ma'am'?"),

they headed to the rink so Johnny could get in

some rehearsal time...

...and he's already drawing a crowd

around the rink...

...plus random people actually on the ice...

5:11 p.m.

Less than an hour before show time.

Johnny is interviewed by Klassy Goldberg of Refinery29...

...while Tara takes a pic of the program

for the evening's events.

5:27 p.m.

Another interview,

this time with the San Francisco Examiner.

6:02 p.m.

And now a glimpse of the utter glamour and sophistication

that is always the backstage area at an ice show

(at least in my brief experience thus far)...

replete with folding chairs and some kind of ... metal? thing ...

upon which to balance one's water bottle.

While Johnny gets ready....

...Tara peeks out at the

"super fun, dance-y Christmas choir"

which has begun the evening's festivities.

6:04 p.m.

A surprise visit from the Grinch:

"He keeps telling me he stole Christmas!"

She adamantly refuses to believe him.

6:06 p.m.

A peek in another direction. Tara explains:

"Not sure if you can see here, but there are 30,000 people

[YES THIRTY THOUSAND. Diana wasn't kidding

when she said she'd NEVER seen this many people

at the tree lighting before!] on the streets.

They don't even have a view of the stage or the ice

from there... they're just here for the atmosphere."

Another view of the massive crowd,

tweeted by @xdamman.

6:11 p.m.

Backstage photo op with San Francisco's

Mayor Ed Lee and his wife, Anita.

An excited Mayor Lee tweeted his own photo of the moment,

joined here by San Francisco police chief Greg Suhr

and Santa Claus.

Meanwhile, Tara tweeted this photo:

"@JohnnyGWeir about to sk8 .... Its gorgeous here!!"

6:32 p.m.

Mayor Lee addresses the crowd

just prior to Johnny taking the ice....

...and here he is.

Photo tweeted by Refinery29's Klassy Goldberg:

"Super-stunning @JohnnyGWeir on ice."

Photo tweeted by @tawnifaceee,

who got to meet Johnny after the performance

and get his autograph on multiple items.

She later tweeted: "Happiness is a @JohnnyGWeir hug."

Awwww. Yes, it is. ♥

Photo courtesy of Diana Dumbadse.

Full-size here; uncropped version here.

Photo courtesy of Diana Dumbadse.

Full-size here; uncropped version here.

Photo courtesy of Diana Dumbadse.

Full-size here.

And: The beautiful tree is lit.

Aerial view tweeted by San Francisco's ABC7

offers another look at the enormous crowd.

I think maybe that's Johnny with Santa on the ice...?

7:58 p.m.

Photo tweeted by Tara at the end of the evening:

"We wish u a merry holiday and a happy new year!!!"

Yes! We have fancam video!

Many thanks to @SvetVin1 for spotting this!

My favorite tweet of the night ♥

(click for larger view).

Bonus video via The Advocate, from their post titled:

"Possibly the Most Beautiful Ad for Marriage Equality We've Seen."

The video was produced by an equality group in Australia,

where nearly two-thirds of voters favor legalizing

gay marriage, according to The Advocate,

but prime minister Julia Gillard remains firmly opposed.

I agree with The Advocate:

This is one of the most eloquent illustrations I've seen

of this simple concept: Love is love.

HEY!!! We did it!!

Johnny is a finalist for

"Must-Follow Athlete on Social Media"

in the 5th Annual Mashable Awards!!

IT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL. Mashable gets more than 50 million page views per month, and has been named by Time Magazine as one of the top 25 blogs on the Internet.

He's up against some stiff competition from Yuna Kim and John Cena, among others, but hey--we're really good at voting! We can do this!

He's also in some amazing company: As Megan Gusinski pointed out, finalists in other categories include The Trevor Project, NOH8, GLAAD, and Ellen Degeneres, so you might want to do some additional voting while you're on Mashable's site.

Voting ends on Friday, December 16, and the winners will be announced on Monday, December 19. Just click the graphic above or at the top righthand side of the blog to be taken directly to the voting page for Johnny.

You can vote once per day per Twitter and Facebook account. Please VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!

Very special thanks to Super Managtress Tara

for all the exclusive photos!!

Please vote for Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov!!

Their "Fever On Ice" program is up

for a $50K grant from Pepsi Refresh!
They're now in second place
in their category and tier--
but only first place wins. We can do this!

Johnny's Glitter and Ice collection
with MAC is selling out fast!

Don't miss your chance to sparkle--
visit a MAC retailer or order online ASAP!

"Like" HDOI on Facebook,
and use promo code "philadelphia"
for 50% off your general admission ticket!!

New Q and A! Go read it now!

(Note: Now updated every Monday and Thursday...

more time to savor each one!)

Yes! Johnny's dresses are now available
for purchase only on eDressMe.com!

At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!

Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!

Johnny tweeted:

"Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes.

Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold

takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!"

THE WORLD NEEDS THIS VIDEO
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.

You know what to do.

Please buy the song from Johnny's website,

or just click the "Buy" button on the player
at the top of the blog!

Hey, Welcome to My World also is available

as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website!