sebastian white online

Dispelling the rumors

Today it came to my attention that avid blog readers believe I have a thing against dogs. I can assure everyone that I have no personal vendetta against any pooch. That said, I am not a huge fan of the average dog owner (more likely the average city dog owner). I've been witness to too much bad behavior in Boston, New York, Vancouver, and elsewhere. So today, in my friend David's studio in Maine, I took this photo opp with the sweetest little dog ever for photo evidence. Jade, an Upper East Side dog if there ever was one, settled into my lap and immediately fell asleep, purring like a kitten. I let her sit with me until it was time to go, and I didn't even flinch. See, I do have a heart!

The other day I took part in a riotous decathlon in NYC (the sack race really kicked my a$$!), where I was forced to paint my face and wear an American Apparel sweatband. Here I am, being as photogenic as can be.

More lessons from the sun

It seems odd that mid-October should be here already. Tonight I took one last look back on all the indulgences and excesses of summer; as I mentioned last week, mine was spent basking in a little too much sun. Without sunscreen. I thought the massive sunburns I endured were bad enough, but then while looking over some photos tonight I realized that I have the biggest crow's feet I've ever seen. People claim they only appear when I smile or laugh, but I don't believe them: just look at this photo with my friend James, on Coal Harbour in Vancouver. (Before the comments begin to appear about my vanity, please note: I've got a blog, so I've got that covered). That said, I'm going to Miami in two weeks and desperately need a tan.

My summer, or, how I survived a three-month sunburn

I'm sharing these vanity shots for a reason. I spent my summer thinking I had been applying sunscreen liberally until I looked back on these photos last night. My summer began out simply enough, in Toronto on Memorial Day with my friend Joe, looking pasty white. Three weeks later, in Vancouver, shown here on my birthday with Xander, I was getting a touch of rouge.

The worst was yet to come. A sunny 4th of July weekend in Fire Island left me with the tomato neck you see here (with Justin). It was a very hot day when this photo was snapped, hence my rather sad look. Three weeks later in Miami, I was looking a bit more tanned as I withstood hurricane force winds on the roof of the Raleigh Hotel, but if you look under my collar you can see a severe tan line.

A couple weeks later, again in Vancouver, I looked like I'd had my face splashed with a light dusting of paprika -- or the effects of excessive exposure to the Pacific sun. Closing out the summer in Miami two weeks ago with my friend Ryan, my skin had remarkably returned to its pasty state. Thank goodness!

So basically, that was my summer. Thank god for Kiehl's moisturizer. The moral of my silly tale: apply sunscreen and apply some more! Your skin will thank you later.

A Vancouver vanity shot

I couldn't resist sharing this shot, especially since I took it myself. I raised and steadied my camera on a small pile of rocks I'd gathered then let the timer rip. In the distance, tankers are anchored in English Bay awaiting their turn to enter the Port of Vancouver.

It's my (birthday) party, and I'll cry if I want to...

...but I won't, because I'm celebrating with friends in Vancouver. It's hard to believe that today i'm finally 18, er, 24. Thank you to everyone who called me at midnight, even though it was really only 9 p.m. here.

Circus injuries: healed.

For those of you who are keeping track of my recent sporting injuries, I'm pleased to report that my scars from last month's trapeze lesson have finally healed. It only took 30 days, but my hands are no longer bleeding.

A mini college reunion

The other night a whole slew of college friends reunited at a pair of parties in NYC. Here is me and my senior year roommate Becca, and me with our dear friend Brighid. What the hell am I doing with my big mouth?

Ride 'em, cowboy

There have been rumors that I rode a bucking bronco recently, and now there is photographic evidence. A friend snapped these pics of me at the Gay Rodeo Association's booth during last month's Gay Life Expo in New York.

I think this means I am going to hell

I just went to a wedding in Rochester and this was one of the photos that came off my digital camera. I took this shot in the church where the ceremony was being held; it was the only photo with me in it, and it was the only photo that did not come out correctly.

Posted by Sebastian / SFGW / March 18, 2006 /

The best dog in the world

I went up to Boston over the weekend to spend a bit of time with my friend Mike and his terrier Phoebe, who is the most fierce (as in stylish) dog around. Her camelhair sherpa-lined jacket, shown here, was one seriously good find from a shop in Montreal's Fur District.

Posted by Sebastian / SFGW / February 27, 2006 /

Shameless plug

Feel free to vote for me for Genre Man of the Year. Pretty please. If you don't like me, then at least vote for my friend Cyd.

Posted by Sebastian / January 11, 2006 /

God, I can look like a dork in photos

Today I was checking out at Banana Republic when the cashier asked me, "are you a writer?" I was rather confused, but it turns out my mug had been in the local gay rag as part of a feature on the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association's holiday party. The shot below, by Eric Hess, is with James Lopata, the editor of In Newsweekly. Jim's great! I love him to death, and I forced him to take this picture with me so we could "test the camera." I guess it worked.

Posted by Sebastian / December 31, 2005 /

2005 Holiday Wish List

Oscar Wilde once said, "I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best." I can understand. And as Edwina once said on Absolutely Fabulous, "All I want are a few little things. A few little crutches to help me get through life." And although I advocate donations instead of gifts, for those of you who insist of buying me a trinket or two, here a few little things I might like this holiday season:

SkyJet Jet Card: You can reserve me 25 prepaid hours of flight time on a private jet starting as low as $94,000. If you want to upgrade me to a Challenger jet so I can fly across continents without refueling, that card starts at $236,000. If you buy, I'll take you along.

A few nights at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, one of the only hotels in the world to merit a rating above five stars (some call it a six, some a seven). The building is a spinnaker-shaped skyscraper rising out of the Gulf. All rooms come with a private butler and the cheap ones are rock-bottom priced at $1,000 per night.

New Yves Delorme linens from Elte in Toronto, $1500. Their crisp white sheets are sumptuous and described as "so soft and clean they feel like flesh."

I have not ice skated since I was 15 or 16, but I would love to get back into it. Hammacher Schlemmer makes it easy with the Portable 26 Foot Backyard Ice Rink. "When temperatures drop below 32F, this portable unit turns any backyard into an ice rink for parties, skating or hockey practice." It's really quite affordable at $429.95. I'll need a backyard to put it in, so how about a 15 bedroom oceanfront home in Maine?

No one should own an iPod but be lacking a Bose SoundDock digital music system. Priced at $299, this unit is a steal.

I'll appreciate any or all of the above.

Fun with facial recognition

Apparently, I look like Keanu Reeves. I've never gotten that before, but perhaps the facial recognition engine from My Heritage is correct. All you do is upload a photo of yourself (warning: it takes ages), the site scans the contours of your face, and then spits out a celeb comparison. My match is fitting; Speed is my no. 2 most-watched movie (after Pretty Woman, of course).

Posted by Sebastian / December 8, 2005 /

Site surprises

You may have noticed that my main web site is in the midst of a revamp. The best feature, I think, is on the homepage. Each time you visit the site, you'll be greeted by a different set of photographs. I'll let you in on a little secret: if you click on the photos, you'll be able to access the "backstory," a feature that was inspired by San Francisco magazine's Intersection column.

Posted by Sebastian / November 15, 2005 /

A foggy, rainy, lazy weekend

At the last minute, I decided to head north for Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, thinking I could overcome my writer's block in the country. I'm usually more productive in the middle of nowhere. The isolation tends to bring out thoughts and feelings that I'm unable to connect with in the city. But it turns out I have been completely unproductive since I've had to concentrate on staying warm and dry. On my weekend away, the east coast was whomped with endless buckets of rain.

Posted by Sebastian / October 9, 2005 /

Found on the Internet

I may be a shameless self-promoter, but it's always weird when people send me photos I didn't know existed but that are posted on the internet. Especially when I don't clearly remember the situation in which the photo was taken! (Thanks, Tim!)

Posted by Sebastian / August 13, 2005 /

Happy Birthday to Me

Well, it's official. I've finally reached that hallowed midway point between legal drinking and surcharge-free car renting: 23. For gift suggestions, I'm pleased to provide the following presents that are sure to make me smile:

• I've made gift giving easy this year by placing a new iPod high on my must-have list. My old one has died and is beginning to collect dust. This an easy gift. Easy because it's available almost everywhere. It's $299, but the shipping is free. Find it online, at Target, or at Apple Stores everywhere.

• An All-Asia Pass from Cathay Pacific. Now this gift has value! For just $1,099 roundtrip, I can enjoy 21 days of travel in Asia on one of the world's finest airlines. For just $1,299 more each way, you can upgrade me to Cathay's renowned business class. Think about it: for less than $4,000, you can give me a great holiday.

• Worried about getting me the wrong size shirt? Fear not. Just get a gift card from Harry Rosen or Thomas Pink, and I can pick out my own flamboyant-colored shirts.

• I'm having a birthday barbecue today, but my old grill is getting, well, old. Hammacher Schlemmer has a complete outdoor cooking center, feature-packed for the outdoor gourmand, and bargain-priced at $4,500.

But really, when it comes down to it, I'm not a materialistic person. So instead of getting me a gift, you should consider making a donation to a group that really needs your money instead. A few worthy causes near and dear to me:

Or you can just make a much-appreciated donation to my web site so I can keep writing rants like this one.

Posted by Sebastian / June 18, 2005 /

Yeah, it's me.

I can blame Cyd for reeling me into this month's edition of Genre [reg. required] as one of its 10 Genre Men.

And I'll save you from having to tell me it's pompous that I have two middle initials listed in the feature. I've already heard it -- but it wasn't my fault. Honestly! Besides the initial firestorm, I think the piece turned out OK. And I do think my Teresa Heinz line was clever.

Posted by Sebastian / June 9, 2005 /

My Holiday Wish List

Each year I try to help out my friends by providing them an extensive holiday shopping list for me. I'm just beginning to formulate this year's list, but I figured I'd share it early in case there is an item or two on it that you'll want to pick up for me.

• Check out my 2004 Holiday Wish List.

Posted by: Sebastian / Dec. 13, 2004 /