Not long ago, our old friend Boykin Curry had a dream: to build a no-dentists-allowed "creative person's utopia" in the Dominican Republic.

Now a tipster writes in to say that while Curry works on utopifying Playa Grande, the fancy golf course on the grounds is available for rent. And last month, it played host to a very special tournament of whores. No, this has nothing to do with Thomas Freidman, Charlie Rose and Rich Lowry. I mean actual whores. Turns out, one of Boykin's neighbors is Viking's Exotic Resort [NSFW], a resort that gives new meaning to the phrase "all-inclusive."

Those that love playing golf always tell me what a great course we have in Playa Grande, and that it alone would be enough to bring many of our past guests back and entice new ones. But rather then just swinging a club during the day, you can also swing with our beautiful ladies during your stay. Our sexy tournament is really not about winning or being a great golfer, it's all about having the time of your life.

Does Celerie know about this?

Here's "Eric," the winner of the tournament, with his trophies.

10:59 AM :: Comments (6)

Remember our friend Boykin Curry, whose fauxhemian utopia in the Dominican Republic was written up in The New Yorker last March? Despite his hope that some of us would learn to love him after getting a chance to see Playa Grande for ourselves, he apparently forgot to invite us to his big New Year's bash.

Don't worry, though. The Playa Grande web site is now up and running, which means you can make a reservation for yourself. The resort isn't built yet, but feel free to sign up for a tee time at the golf course. Eventual activities to be added include "tennis, horse-riding, hiking trails, surfing, spas, SCUBA & shooting."

Ooh. I wonder if he'll let me shoot a hobo.

4:44 PM :: Comments (2)

A month ago I commented somewhat harshly (I believe the word "douchebag" was used) about a Mr. Boykin Curry, the subject of a New Yorker profile. How, I wondered, could a savvy writer like Ben McGrath be charmed by someone like Curry (if in fact he was)?

The obvious answer may have been staring us in the face the whole time: Boykin Curry is a charming guy! How do I know? Because he's just written a reply to my post, and unlike some folks who respond to bloggy criticism with threats and foot-stomping, Curry politely offers a couple of corrections and clarifications, leavened with self-deprecation. In my book, that counts as charming! Plus, he even invites "some" of us to come down and see Playa Grande for ourselves. (No dentists or fatties.)

2:37 PM :: Comments (12)

According to Slate's Daniel Gross, Boykin Curry is a Coolionaire

8:52 PM :: Comments (1)

The New Yorker's Ben McGrath has a delightful writing style and a sharp eye for the telling detail, so on one level, his current feature about Boykin Curry's plan to build a "Creative Person's Utopia" in the Domincan Republic is a treat to read. But it's also tremendously irritating because unless I'm totally missing some subtle subtext, McGrath seems to genuinely like Curry when he is quite obviously, from McGrath's own story, the biggest fucking douchebag on the face of the earth.

I don't know if McGrath is just hoping for future invites to Playa Grande or if he contracted a case of Stockholm Syndrome, but his apparent efforts to paint Curry as a charming, free-spirited intellectual grate noisily against what we actually learn about him. For starters, there's Curry's pitch letter to potential Playa investors: "We are going to keep it Bohemian and not filled with dentists who got lucky in the stock market." Even ignoring the inherent condescension, there is the utter lack of self-awareness from a man who got lucky in the parents market, having made his fortune as a (no doubt Bohemian) money manager in the family firm. McGrath says Curry "may be the least self-important money manager in town," which does not speak well for the rest of 'em.

Keep reading. After a bit more ranting, I've got a genuine scoop about ol' Boykin.

Continue reading "Defining utopia down" »

4:04 PM :: Comments (37)