Support Generation XYZ (Friends of the Grotto)
Colette D'Antona - My cousin is a beautifully talented and experienced actress, located in Phoenix, AZ. A 2003 graduate of the prestigious MFA program at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, she also works in Los Angeles and travels frequently to New York, as it is our family's home. She is capable of both stage and screen acting and can take on both comedy and drama. She is also fluent in French and possesses great skill in stage combat. Follow her on Twitter @colettedantona.
Sharon Hesper - If you click this link, you will have the ability to purchase what is currently my favorite play, Frat Boys, Mean Girls and 586 Other Reasons To Boycott Women's Magazines--written by my dear friend, Sharon Hesper. From site: "[it] reads like poetry, performs like drama, and demonstrates a seamless marriage between the two. Chronicling events in everyday life, this collection runs the emotional gamut from dark to poignant to humorous, often within the same poem." This piece is a truly intuitive and inspiring depiction of our generation. No one born between 1968 and 1993 should skip reading this. Check out Ms. Hesper's personal blog here and the archives here.
Evan Meaney - This site belongs to my childhood friend and theater buddy, Evan Meaney. From site: "Evan currently enjoys a graduate fellowship at the University of Iowa's department of Cinema and Comparative Literature. There he continues his research and artistic development while perfecting his hummus recipes. In 2008, he was named director of the Iowa City International Docfest. He has been awarded the Iowa Arts Council Fellowship for graduate work, the James B. Pendleton Grant for research, and the Ithaca College Presidential Scholarship for academic merit. Evan's films and videos have been recognized at festivals and institutions throughout the United States."
Bookerworx by Danika Norey - Another creative childhood friend, Danika Norey, presents you with your one-stop shop for unique and innovative home design and apparel. From site: "We specialize in everything from chotchkes to home decor to really cool gifts you can't get anywhere else all for a price that isn't going to hurt your wallet...If you are looking for something fresh and new, or something classic and chic, Bookerworx HodgePodge has it...everything from retro aprons to adorable baby quilts...to trendy, cutting edge, tees and purses...Hey, we'll even custom-make something for you! Just ask! If you need to match decor, have a theme you are working with, or need a gift for that person who has everything, just contact us and we'll figure out some great options together."
Jessica Seinfeld - Extraordinary philanthropist Jessica Seinfeld has branched out into her own line of best-selling cookbooks, resulting in a website, Do it Delicious, dedicated to the amateur cook. It features nutritious recipes that are easy and fun to make, complete with hilarious video demonstrations courtesy of Jess and her dear friend, writer and actress Ali Wentworth. Mrs. Seinfeld's charity, Baby Buggy (also featured on the Parenting & Adult Education page on this website) reached its tenth anniversary in 2011, having delivered over five million pieces of crucial children's clothing and baby gear to needy families in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and Dallas. Mrs. Seinfeld is based in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @JessSeinfeld.
Katie Adams Art - Based in St. Louis, this lovely, whimiscal artist creates beautiful and unique designs for greeting cards and collectible prints, and is available for freelance in addition to the wonderful collection in her store. Find her blog here, her Flickr page here,
Michael Hastings - Michael Hastings rose to a higher profile during the summer of 2010 in light of his Rolling Stone article, "The Runaway General," which led to the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as the top United States commander in Afghanistan. However, Mr. Hastings has been a fearless critic of establishment media and a dedicated war reporter for many years. He has previously written for Newsweek as their top Baghdad correspondent and is the author of the poignant, harrowing memoir I Lost My Love in Baghdad: A Modern War Story. He now is a regular contributor to GQ and his second non-fiction book, The Operators, was released January 5th. Follow him on Twitter @mmhastings.
Victoria Arbiter - The beautiful & charismatic Victoria Arbiter is the official Royal correspondent for CBS News, and is an accomplished television host with genuine journalistic integrity & witty humor. She is a truly kind, selfless person, such an extraordinary talent, and a true testament to the gifted Arbiter family, who are legendary in British journalism. Ms. Arbiter is based in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @VictoriaArbiter.
Katie Linendoll - Katie Linendoll is a fantastic social media and technology expert, and she channels her expertise into a blog as well as regular appearances on CNN and "The Early Show." She is truly a wonderful person and is one of the more well-informed tech experts on TV, with a great ability to break down complicated subjects for the layman to understand. She has a great sense of humor and fun personality, as well. I particularly enjoy her appearances on CNN with Don Lemon, Saturday evenings around 7:45 p.m. ET. I encourage you to check those out, and to follow her on Twitter @KatieLinendoll.
Chris A. Sosa - Chris A. Sosa is an independent media analyst working currently as a featured arts & entertainment contributor for Associated Content. He received a B.A. in Communication Studies with a concentration in Media Studies from Northeastern University in 2010. From site: "Independent media analyst with a background in both media theory and technical production, along with political discourse and legislative writing." Follow him on Twitter @ChrisSosa.
AbbSaLoot - Another childhood friend and theater buddy, this recording artist is tremendously diversified in her talents. From site: "This first release by 'AbbSaLoot,' the First Lady of HyDra Management, is a mixture of styles, Hip Hop, R&B, and Pop with a street edge. The Artist, who is from The Bronx and a transplant to the suburbs of NY (Orange County), can write and sing any style."
Silver Spade - A New York based hard rock band with a strong voice, a professional sound, and a ton of talent. From site: "Ever wonder what modern hard rock music would sound like without the screaming and whining? Ever yearn for a balls-to-the-wall, straight-up, in-your-face hard rock act with high energy and musical chops to boot? These guys did, and that's why they took on the job themselves. The personalities and the talents of the four guys of Silver Spade are like no other, and are a perfect fit for the underground hard rock powerhouse." With influences ranging from the Beatles to Zeppelin to Jimi Hendrix to Van Halen, these guys are true aficionados of rock and it shows. Check them out, and follow them on Twitter @Silver_Spade.
Felicia Day - This lovely lady is one of the most versatile unsung talents of our generation. She is a powerful actress as well as a writer and web producer. She has showcased her talents in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (as Vi), "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" (as Penny), and "The Guild" (as Codex), a web series that she also writes and produces. She is located in Los Angeles, CA. Follow her on Twitter @feliciaday.
The Gen X Files - A very informative blog about the generational issues we all face and our abilities to get along and relate to one another, by Gen X'er and sales engineer Dave Sohigian. He concentrates on Generation X and how they relate to Generation Y as well as to the Baby Boomers--all in all, a very interesting take on Generation XYZ. Check it out. Follow him on Twitter @dsohigian.
Tomato Nation - Sarah Bunting has been one of my favorite bloggers for many years, and her columns on the anniversaries of 9/11 are legendary. She possesses a beautiful writing style, and her blog runs the gamut from awesomely hilarious to intensely poignant. She is a highly intelligent Gen X'er with a wicked sense of humor, a sharp wit and a boatload of common sense. She is located in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @TomatoNation.
Pamela Ribon - Another awesomely hilarious Gen X blogger. Pamie Ribon is a very talented novelist and comedy writer, and her blog chronicles her life in crazy Los Angeles, CA while occasionally providing some fascinating glimpses into "that business we call show" (tm Martin Short). Follow her on Twitter @pamelaribon.
