So my friend and now boss opened a store in Boystown on Saturday. It's called Phoebe's Cupcakes and is run by Phoebe and her longtime hetero-lifemate Katie. They are truly awesome girls and amazing chefs.

They have backing for 20 stores to open Internationally. So I'm hoping for the best as I'm the photographer and I sling cupcakes for customers.

End of that plug.

Onto the party. Have you ever felt so outta place, all you could do was sit back and laugh?

I dragged my bf to this party, which I thought would be more classy and not such a.... Circuit Party? This was the biggest disappointment I have ever witnessed. I understand showing up to party in nice clothes, but when your surrounded by stereotypes, it's just absurd.

I'm usually okay with other gay guys around, but when they're all clones of each other, does anyone feel nauseated?

Did you say cupcakes? Yummy!

If you're going to plug your friend's shop, you should provide a link. I googled it, and here's... Phoebe's Cupcakes. Yum! Wall Street Journal coverage.

Yes, I should have. What do you think of the photos?

Nice photograph. I went through my cupcake phase last year. I'm on to ice cream filled popsicles now.

When did you get a boyfriend? Why am I always the last to know anything on Outsports?

congrats on the store and the boyfriend. wish i have one now. sigh.

i attended a "gay" new year's eve party in chicago last year and it was terrible. agreed on the clones. not fun at all. i would've not attended if not for my friends. i guess it's not my scene.

I've had bf since August, just not making it well known I guess. He's a babe, that's all

As much of a babe as you?

Speaking of cupcakes, from a Boston.com photo spread on yesterday's marathon:


Keith Straw from Malvern (PA) wore a pink tutu with a sign for "Kickass Cupcakes"

Anything to promote the brand and express your inner pastry, hunh?

Yes.

And hopefully more humble.

Congratulations on the new store! I was really bummed when Cupcakes on W. Briar closed, but I have to say, your store definitely matches them in the pear cupcake department. And I give you more points because the guy who rang me up didn't fling my change into my hand or onto the counter as if accidentally touching fingers would lead to swine flu. (Cf. Caribou Coffee on Broadway, etc.) I'll definitely be back.

What are your hours on Sunday? I'm working a ball game on the north side (big conference series rival this weekend) and might want to stop by after the game to pick up a few.

Heck, maybe I can put it on fantomas's tab!

We're open till 7 today Crew. I'll be there at 1 till close. Wearing a Mets hat.

And fantomas, say hi when your in next time! Phoebe and Katie worked at Cupcakes on Briar, they hated it, left and now own and running their own store.

Can't make today. I'm working at North Central. Sunday I'll be up in that area working a single game at 1:00pm. What are your hours on Sunday?

12-7 tomorrow Crew. I won't be there cause I gots me a couple of softball games. Enjoy, I suggest the Carrot Cake w/ pecan topping.

Pecan? Ewwwww!

I think I'll stop by after my game. Maybe I'll leave you an autographed souvenir. What's the correct spelling of your name?

I'm not one to eat cupcakes, but congrats on the store opening! I feel you on the whole stereotypes thing, I think I made my feelings loud and clear a while ago here.

Well, Mike, I helped your store's economic status a bit today. After my game I walked in and bought a dozen--Yikes! Those things ain't cheap! (Not that I need to eat these decadent things anyway). I don't know which was stranger--a customer buying a dozen of these or this same customer walking in wearing his umpire uniform jacket.

I got many glances my way. Of course, it could be because I haven't shaved in a week and look damn sexy touting the scruffy look.

Oh, and be sure to ask the skinny Asian (?) kid who works there to give him what I left for you! He better not abscond with it!

Oh gosh, Nick helped you? He's as dumb as a brick. We don't have much eye-candy (outside of me and Paul who looks like James Dean).

Thanks for helping us out, what kind did you end up getting?

Is Paul the one with the gorgeous blue eyes and who DOESN'T look like the stereotypical queen? (Sorry to sound so cruel; I'm just being general here.) If that's Paul, he's quite nice.

I found it kinda funny to walk in and have everyone stare at me. I didn't have my full uniform on (I don't wear that anywhere but on the field), but I slipped on my uniform pullover jacket and walked in. I had people staring at me as I walked across the street from my car. I walked in and some of the guys were looking at me as if I was an alien. I looked at one guy and asked, "What's the matter? Never seen a real umpire before? Or is it just the sexy scruffy look you like?"

Anyway, I picked up 6 red velvet, 2 mint chocolate chip, 2 salted caramel, and 2 lemon lavender. Damn! These things are just sinful!

Thank God I go to the north side about as often as we see a total solar eclipse, because at $30 a dozen, yikes!

Let me know if Nick gives you what I told him to give you.

So did Nick give you the "souvenir" I left you?

You told this Nick to give him a kiss, didn't you?

I would never do something so scary.

I got it today, thanks Crew! That was very sweet of you.

Well, it admittedly was no big deal, but i'm glad you now have something by which to remember dorky ole me.

what was it?????

I'm curious too.

That's between me and Mike.

I'm guessing Mike's must be VERY awesome for the price, but I recently had a red velvet cupcake (which btw I'm not much one for sweets, unless of course it has souffle on it's title) & I must say it was a sheer heavenly experience!!! Yummy!

Eh, I'm close to quitting Phoebes. The investor wants me out because I'm not some cute twinky boi that he can flirt with(he's flirted with coworkers on pride weekend nonetheless!)

The store is going down in flames, unfortunately because of the investor.

What a doofus! And to think I was going to stop by tomorrow night on my way up to meet this stud on the north side.

Oh well.

Sorry to hear that kiddo. That sux! & what a slimy investor! Ugh!!!

Time for your friends to find a new investor.

And the final straw. I'm 99.999% sure I got fired today. For what you may ask? For suspicion of stealing, oh about $1200 over 2 months.

I find it hilarious. If anyone wants the full story, let me know.

I'd love to hear it. If you can't tell it here, PM me.

AT $2.50/cucpcake, that's 480 cupcakes you've been hording under your coat all these months!

So when we first opened, nearly every employee had a key to the store(poor judgement already), whatever, you never know who was going to close, but we didn't have a safe, or a lockbox so at the end of the night, we would take the register's cash and put into the freezer for Phoebe to count out when she got in the next day. Following that?

Over $1,000 was left,nearly everyday, overnight when nearly anyone who had a key could obtain it.

So apparently on the 15th, $400 went missing from that day's records. She took all the employees that had closed that day and told them what happened, myself included and that if no one came clean about the money, the 4 of us would be fired within 24 hours.

Fast forward to the 22nd, no one comes clean about the missing money and I'm now part of the unemployment rate.

And on a sidenote, I got threatened by an old coworker, him stating "You better prey we never cross paths again", guess he thinks I stole $1200.

So I filed for unemployment and I hope she tries to fight it.

I may have teased you about working there in the past, but there is nothing funny about losing a job. Fight these charges, and fight for your unemployment. The charges are bullshit. She has no proof you took the money, and it is wrong to be denied unemployment for no good reason. She will probably contest it, which will result in a hearing. They are unnerving, but worth it, especially if you win.

I'm resurrecting this only because yesterday, in my daily Groupon Email telling me of the newest daily deal, guess what pops up? That's right--Phoebe's Cupcakes.

$5 for $10 worth of cupcakes was the deal. Not too bad, but there's no way I'm going there for two reasons:

1. Way too far for me to travel, unless I want to go there after working a game at North Park University later this month.

2. The way they treated you there.