Jay Gabler

@MarcusMichalik: Madonna is pushing overt middle-aged female sexuality in a culture that expects women her age to shrivel up and die. I find this significant.

Me too. The women-in-comedy discussions of 2011, if nothing else, revealed that there's still a yawning gender gap in professional comedy—as 2012 begins with the 53-year-old Madonna taking center stage at the Super Bowl and embarking on a national tour, this might be the year to look at the gender gap in 50+ entertainers. Actresses have long complained that the good roles for them disappear with frightening speed once they hit middle age...is that true for popular musicans as well?MORE »

"Considering that I, Anastasija Ramses Parker, am the vampire princess of St. Paul, you'd think a title like that would come with some supercute servant boys waving fans over my body and feeding me ice-cold bonbons." No such luck for Ana, who's gone through three books' worth of drama courtesy of Tate Hallaway, author of the "Vampire Princess Novels." The books read like they were written by someone who grew up on Sweet Valley High, learned the lessons of Harry Potter, and landed a contract with a publisher who's hoping for the next Twilight—in other words, they're pretty pedestrian. But the local interest alone (Hallaway lives in the Capital City) makes the books worth considering for someone looking to celebrate this unseasonally balmy weather with a quick beach read. Almost Everything, the third book in the series, hits shelves February 7.

With Madonna as the main attraction, among gays Super Bowl XLVI's halftime show might be the most hotly-anticipated since Carol Channing took the gridiron in 1970. That makes it an especially opportune year for the Uptown Cafeteria to host its annual Big Gay Super Bowl party; among the planned attractions are dueling drag queens, touchdown Jell-O shots, and a DJ. If that's not enough incentive to get Uncle Doug off the couch, you might mention that there's also an all-day happy hour.

It took me a while to really appreciate the design of Parasole's Uptown Cafeteria and Support Group. At first glance, it's a pretty lucid and simple gimmick—oh, right, cafeteria theme. Trays on the walls, lunch lady photos over the urinals, cute. But I keep returning to Cafeteria, and though the unpretentious and nicely priced happy hour food menu is one reason for that, the bright, appealing, smart design doesn't hurt. With a distinctive blue-and-orange palette, NYC-based Moschella + Roberts created a space that feels both comfy and classy. If you can stomach the two-figure cocktail prices—and if the jumpy Parasole doesn't shut Cafeteria down before the thaw—the Skybar is an excellent alternative to the crowded spray-tan meat market on the roof of Stella's.