APRIL/MAY 2020 METROSOURCE
METROSOURCE
THE RAINBOW REALITY SIX LGBTQ REALITY TV STARS WHO ROCKED OUR WORLD
SEVEN REASONS
KANDACE SPRINGS
COOKING AT HOME WITH INGLENOOK ESTATE CHEF ALEX LOVICK
SHOULD BE ON YOUR GAYDAR APRIL/MAY 2020
30 YEARS OF FANTASTIC ALCHEMIST & ARTISAN
MICHAEL ARAM
WILL&GRACE
A SCRAPBOOK OF MEMORIES
IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
(bik-TAR-vee)
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: } Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. } Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. } Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. } Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. } Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. } The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).
} Worsening of Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you
have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.
ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: } dofetilide } rifampin } any other medicines to treat HIV-1
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: } Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,
These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.
including hepatitis infection. } Have any other health problems. } Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY. } Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:
Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.
} Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-
counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.
} BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.
Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.
Get HIV support by downloading a free app at
MyDailyCharge.com
GET MORE INFORMATION } This is only a brief summary of important information
about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.
} Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5. } If you need help paying for your medicine,
visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP CREATING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: December 2018 © 2019 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0102 01/19
KEEP CREATING.
Because HIV doesn’t change who you are. BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you. To learn more, visit BIKTARVY.com.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.
VIEWS
EDITOR’S LETTER
NO RESERVATIONS NECESSARY
WHILE ALL OF US ARE SPENDING A GREAT DEAL OF OUR TIME INDOORS THESE DAYS, in order to distance ourselves and stay safe, this presents an opportunity to escape, focus on ourselves, and be productive in other ways. In these stressful times, we all need a reason to smile. I hope that METROSOURCE will allow you to do just that - by introducing you to exciting things to do at home, ways to stay healthy, adventures to plan for, and more. So here are some ideas to get you to think outside the box, do things you’ve not done in a while, and still stay safe at home. ATTEND AN ONLINE THEATRE PROGRAM. Many theatres now have virtual programs, readings and workshops for you to enjoy. One example is the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego with many different weekly offerings, including Thinking Shakespeare Live: Sonnets!, a half-hour “social-distance” version of Thinking Shakespeare Live! which will introduce the sonnets and then delve into one masterpiece, exploring its language and how it works, and how it relates to Shakespeare’s work for the stage. This entertaining behind-the-scenes look at the creative process offers a primer on the tools used to hear and understand Shakespeare. All you have to do is visit www.theoldglobe.org for dates and times to connect with them on their Facebook page. EXPLORE THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park have an amazing array of live cams for hours of viewing pleasure, including, Baboons, Penguins, Polar Bears, Pandas, Koalas, Tigers, and Elephants. From their habitat to yours, these livestreaming cams provide views of wildlife as they explore, eat, swing, pounce, groom, and play through their day. Catch all the action! “San Diego Zoo and San Diego Safari Park are iconic destinations, and we are proud to play an important role in inspiring guests about the natural world, while also being a respite and escape for our audiences,” said Paul A. Baribault, president/CEO of San Diego Zoo Global. Visit https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams. How about a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium? From Jelly Fish to Penguins, Sharks to Sea Otters, their live cams offer a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes. In the aquarium’s Open Sea exhibit, you will see giant tuna power their way through the water, while pelagic rays and green sea turtles swim just inches away. Visit https:// www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams. PLAN AN ADVENTURE. While actual travel is not an option, one can certainly plan for the future or enjoy some virtual travel. Your travels are only limited by your imagination. Love to hike? How about a virtual tour of Yosemite? You don’t even need a campsite reservation. The Yellowstone National Park Protection Act was signed into law on March 1, 1872, by President Ulysses S. Grant, giving birth to the world’s first national park. Fort Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Mud Volcano are all open for your viewing and education. One of my favorite trails is the Porcelain Basin in the northern part of Norris Geyser Basin. This is one of the hottest and most acidic of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas, and one of the world’s largest active volcanoes. Hot springs here have temperatures above the boiling point (200ºF / 93ºC). Visit https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/ photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm. BURN SOME CALORIES. Can’t go to the gym or your favorite yoga in the park? No problem. There are plenty of great at-home routines you can do to stay fit, including many free work-out options. Just because you can’t be there in person, doesn’t mean you can’t get that blood pumping and heart pounding. Orangetheory Fitness has several home workouts available on YouTube to get you started. Planet Fitness is offering “Home Work-Ins” on their Facebook page to get you motivated and moving inside. Visit https://www.facebook.com/planetfitness. STAY SAFE. Finally, while we can still explore new horizons while staying inside, I will repeat what you already know – stay home, social distance when you must go outside, and wash your hands often. Support one another and local businesses that remain open. Our community is no stranger to crisis, and we will pull through this together. We look forward to the future and once again being together face-to-face to celebrate life.
PUBLISHER Bent Share Entertainment, LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Westman CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A Reyes MARKETING DIRECTOR Christopher Jackson GRAPHIC DESIGNER Steven Garcia FEATURE WRITER Alexander Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Day
Porchia Dees Steve Gottfried Jeffrey James Keyes Rand McClain Eric Rosen Megan Venzin Michael Westman
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Bent Share Entertainment, LLC 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., #438 Long Beach, CA 90803 800-818-0480 Subscriptions: One year (6 issues): $19.95; 12 issues: $34.95. Reproduction of any article, listing or advertisement without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organizations appearing in Metrosource are supportive of the gay community. Mention of any person, business or organization is not a reflection of their sexual orientation. ©2020 Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. Advertisers in Metrosource acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for same as advertised. Metrosource assumes no responsibility or liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers. The appearance of any person, model, business or organization in this publication, by name, advertisement or photograph is not an indication of sexual orientation. Advertisers and their agencies assume all responsibility and legal liability for the content of their advertisements in Metrosource. Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials. Metrosource reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content. All contents are copyright Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved. Content may only be reproduced with written permission from Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. Metrosource assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserve the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion.
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APRIL/MAY 2020
METROSOURCE.COM
April/May 2020 | VOLUME 31, NO. 2
CONTENTS
WILL & GRACE PRODUCTION PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW ECCLES/NBC • KANDACE SPRINGS PHOTOS BY JEANNETTE WILLIAMS • MICHAEL ARAM PHOTO OF MICHAEL ARAM INC. • BLANTYRE AERIAL PHOTO COURTESY BLANTYRE
22 46
26 34
22 KANDACE SPRINGS SEVEN REASONS KANDACE SPRINGS should be on
your Gaydar
26 WILL & GRACE A SCRAPBOOK OF MEMORIES looking back into the lives of our favorite TV friends
34 MICHAEL ARAM ARTIST CELEBRATES 30 YEARS at the top of his game
46 TRAVEL THE BERKSHIRES Planning ahead for when you can
take that weekend away
WILL & GRACE -- Pictured: (l-r) Eric McCormack as Will Truman, Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Megan Mullally as Karen Walker, Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland, (Photo by: Andrew Eccles/NBC) METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
5
16
7 43 CULTURE
5 THE SCOPE You wont want to miss UK’s first Drag Superstar The Vivienne’s new show and other things to keep you in the loop.
9 SCREEN
BODY 21 AT HOME Ergonomic Tips for Setting Up Your Home Office
38 METRO HIV Positive Thoughts
40 HEALTH Beneficial CBD Treatments for Your Skin
Classic LGBTQ Films
14 FINANCE
40
Tips for Long-Term Investors Cooking at Home
16 SCREEN TV 19 BOOKS Activate Your Mind
APRIL/MAY 2020
METROSOURCE.COM
Envision Festival A Music and Wellness Event in Costa Rica
15 FOOD
LGBTQ Reality TV Stars
6
43 HEALTH
VIEWS
4 EDITOR’S LETTER
Stay Safe! 50 LAST CALL Josh Sabarra Tells It Like It Is
THIS PAGE: THE VIVIENNE PHOTOS COURTESY OF WORLD OF WONDER • MATT DALLAS - S_BUKLEY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COMRTESY RIZZOLI/ JOSHUA MCHUGH • ENVISION FESTIVAL BY JESS BERNSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY
DEPARTMENTS
April/May 2020 | VOLUME 31, NO. 2
CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
THESCOPE STREAM IT
THE VIVIENNE TAKES HOLLYWOOD “THE VIVIENNE TAKES HOLLYWOOD” FEATURES UK’S FIRST DRAG SUPERSTAR THE VIVIENNE as she embarks on an
THIS PAGE: THE VIVIENNE PHOTOS COURTESY OF WORLD OF WONDER • PHOTOS COURTESY OF VENICE DESIGN SERIES
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THESCOPE
adventure to Hollywood where, each week, she’ll be joined by a different celebrity co-pilot who helps her along the way to making her first ever music video. The six-part series follows The Vivienne and her celebrity friends including Tony-award winning singer Marissa Jaret Winokur, comedian and motivational speaker Daniel Franzese, Hollywood legend Bruce Vilanch, world-renowned choreographer Mark Kanemura, local drag expert Chester Lockhart, and special guest Chad Michaels. The series premieres April 9th at 9am PST. New episodes will be released each week and available for streaming on wowpresentsplus.com.
THE 2020 VENICE DESIGN SERIES AN ARTFULLY CURATED LOOK AT ARCHITECTURE, ART, AND DESIGN IN LOS ANGELES. The 6th
VISIT IT
Annual Venice Design Series will present 2 events showcasing the talents and artistic vision found in Los Angeles’ unique neighborhoods. Join in a live stream experience that will virtually take tour participants inside a selection of iconic homes and architectural gems in real time, ALL from the comfort of your home, plus a live, in-person musical performance by LA’s very own Randy Newman on Saturday, July 11, 2020! The 2020 edition of Venice Design Series (VDS), a signature fundraiser for Venice Community Housing, will be reimagined as VDS Live. The annual fundraiser supports programs at Venice Community Housing, a nonprofit developer/operator of affordable
housing and provider of services to lowincome residents on the Westside of Los Angeles. Now more than ever, support of the Venice Design Series is critical to provide immediate and urgently needed assistance for low-income and unhoused tenants and program participants served by Venice Community Housing who are hit hard and at risk during these unprecedented times. The mission of Venice Community Housing (VCH) is to reduce homelessness, maximize affordable housing, empower low-income constituents, provide social services, and advocate for public policy that protects and strengthens the economic, racial and cultural diversity of Venice and other neighborhoods on the Westside of Los Angeles. For more information, visit venicedesignseries.org. METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
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YOU CAN TOUR SOME OF THE FAMOUS PIECES IN THE WORLD’S
Louvre has free online tours of three famous exhibits: Egyptian Antiquities (collections from the Pharaonic period are displayed on the east side of the Sully wing, on the ground floor and 1st floor); Medieval Louvre (remains of the moat of the old Louvre fortress, on lower ground floor - The Louvre was originally a fortress built by the French king Philippe Auguste. It was intended to reinforce the defenses that the king had ordered to be built in 1190 to protect Paris from attack via the Seine); and Decorative Arts (Galerie d’Apollon, Room
66, 1st floor, Denon wing - The Galerie d’Apollon, situated above the Petite Galerie, was destroyed by fire in 1661 and rebuilt by Le Vau. The ceiling, begun by Le Brun, is a homage to the Sun King, Louis XIV. The central panel, Apollo Slaying the Serpent Python, is by Delacroix (1851). This gallery was recently restored.) Also available for a virtual tour is the Louvre’s Petite Galerie, a space dedicated to art and cultural education, which is holding an exhibition titled ‘The Advent of the Artist,’ with artworks from Delacroix, Rembrandt and Tintoretto. Virtual tours available atlouvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne.
LISTEN FUTURE NOSTALGIA UP
DUA LIPA’S DEBUT ALBUM WAS A BREAKOUT HIT, YIELDING SEVEN SINGLES. Her second album “Future Nostalgia” is a collection
reminiscent of ‘80s and ‘90s pop and disco, anchored by her lead single “Don’t Start Now,” sure to be a DJ’s favorite. Lipa joined Zane Lowe on New Music Daily on Apple Music to chat about her brand new album and her conflicted feelings on releasing her record.“I wasn’t sure whether we need to be putting music out at this time because a lot of people are suffering,” says Lipa, but that ultimately she hopes“it takes people away from what’s going on at the moment”and gives fans“a moment to just dance and let loose and forget about the outside world.”Lipa feels confident going into this record and says, “I feel like I really found my lyrical language and what I wanted to say and I’m really proud of it. I made this album to get away from any anxiety, stress, opinion of others, and pressures of even making a second record. And I made it with love and I just wanted to have fun and I made it with my friends. And I feel like maybe now more than ever, that’s why this album has to come out.”The full episode of New Music Daily with Zane Lowe on Apple Music is available atapple.co/nmdb1.
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THIS PAGE: MUSEUM GALLERY, THE LOUVRE, AGCREATIVELAB - STOCK.ADOBE.COM • PHOTO COURTESY OF DUA LIPA/APPLE MUSIC
VIRTUAL MUSEUM - THE LOUVRE LARGEST ART MUSEUM from the comfort of your sofa. The
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THESCOPE
ART BEAT
STREAMING NOW
LGBTQ MOVIES TO WATCH OR WATCH AGAIN CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN WHILE WE ARE SPENDING MORE HOURS INDOORS, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO WATCH, OR WATCH AGAIN, SOME LGBTQ THEMED MOVIES. Here is a list of some you may have thought of and some maybe not, some award-winners and some light and fluffy, some hilarious and some dramatic. Olivia Colman was named Best Actress in 2019 for playing the lesbian queen Anne in The Favourite, beating out Can You Ever Forgive Me?‘s Melissa McCarthy, who played lesbian writer Lee Israel. Moonlight took home the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017, after a mishap had La La Land being declared the winner by presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. Tom of Finland had foreign film buzz. Whatever
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the story, these movies are deserving of some time and emotions, so stream away!
4TH MAN OUT (2016) On his 24th birthday, Adam, a small-town mechanic in upstate New York, feels it is the perfect opportunity to tell his friends and family that he is gay. Lighthearted
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coming-out comedy with genuine true-to-life awkwardness. (Available on Prime, Apple TV and Vudu.)
BEFORE NIGHT FALLS (2001) This is the story of Cuban poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas (Javier Bardem). Raised in the Oriente Province of Cuba
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? (2018)
water. Leaving home as a young adolescent, he moves to
BOB THE DRAG QUEEN: LIVE AT CAROLINE’S NYC (2020)
Havana where he finds himself swept up in the revolutionary
Live from New York’s famous Caroline’s comedy
to pay her rent or bills in 1990s New York.
spirit and joins a circle of writers and artists. His first novel,
club, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 winner Bob
Desperate for money, Israel soon hatches a
“Singing from the Well,” is published in Cuba, but as Castro’s
the Drag Queen, performs a hilarious standup
scheme to forge letters by famous writers and
oppressive regime gathers force, Arenas’ homosexuality and
set filled with personal stories about his family,
sell them to bookstores and collectors. When
political writing make him a target. After being falsely accused
race, and the LGBTQ community. Bob the Drag
the dealers start to catch on, Lee recruits a
of molestation, Arenas is arrested and imprisoned at El
Queen (Caldwell Tidicue) was born in Columbus,
dubious friend to help her continue her
Morro. Eventually released from prison after dehumanizing
Georgia, and before becoming a drag queen,
self-destructive cycle of trickery and deceit.
treatment, Arenas flees Cuba in the 1980 Mariel Harbor
Tidicue worked in children’s theater. He is also
Nominated for three Oscars at the 2019
boatlift. After moving to New York with his friend Lazaro
an LGBTQ activist and is the drag mother of
Academy Awards – Best Actress (Melissa
Gomez Carilles, Arenas’ hopes for a new life are destroyed
Miz Cracker and drag sister to Monét X Change.
McCarthy), Best Supporting Actor (Richard
by AIDS, and he dies in 1993, at the age of 45. (Available on
(Available on Apple TV.)
E. Grant), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
in the 1940s, Arenas began his life-long love of the sea and
Prime, Apple TV, Vudu.)
Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) is a frustrated, hard-drinking author who can barely afford
(Available on Apple TV and Vudu.) METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
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FORTUNE FEIMSTER: SWEET & SALTY (2020) Southern-born comedian, writer and actress Fortune Feimster is back with her first hourlong Netflix original comedy special, Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty. The comedian recalls her childhood misadventures as a former Girl Scout, debutante and (disqualified) swim meet champion; her family’s complicated relationship with Hooters; and how a movie helped her realize she was a lesbian. (Available on Netflix.)
MAURICE (1987) Set against the stifling conformity of pre-World War I English society, E.M. Forster’s Maurice is a story of coming to terms with one’s sexuality and identity in the face of disapproval and misunderstanding. Maurice Hall (James Wilby) and Clive Durham (Hugh Grant) find themselves falling in love at Cambridge. In a time when homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment, the two must keep their feelings for one another a complete secret. After a friend is arrested and disgraced for“the unspeakable vice of the Greeks,”Clive abandons his forbidden love and marries a young woman. Maurice, however, struggles with his identity and self-confidence, seeking the help of a hypnotist to rid himself of his undeniable urges. But while
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staying with Clive and his shallow wife, Anne, Maurice is seduced
GOD’S OWN COUNTRY (2017)
by the affectionate and yearning servant Alec Scudder, an event
Johnny Saxby (Josh O’Connor) works long hours in
that brings about profound changes in Maurice’s life and outlook.
brutal isolation on his family’s remote farm in the north
(Available on Prime, Apple TV and Vudu.)
of England. He numbs the daily frustration of his lonely
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existence with nightly binge-drinking at the local pub and casual sex. When a handsome Romanian migrant worker (Alec Secareanu) arrives to take up temporary work on the family farm, Johnny suddenly finds himself dealing with
MOONLIGHT (2016)
emotions he has never felt before. (Available on Netflix,
The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s
Prime, Apple TV and Vudu.)
struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality. Moonlight received eight nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, the second highest of all nominees, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala
Ali),
Best
Supporting
Actress
(Naomie Harris) and Best Adapted Screenplay. Moonlight took home the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay. (Available on Netflix, Prime, Apple TV, Vudu.)
KING COBRA (2016) When a lonely suburban man turned gay porn producer discovers a hot, lucrative new star, he finds himself the target of rival pornographers who will stop at nothing to steal his money maker. Based on the novel “Cobra Killer.” Starring James Franco, Christian Slater and Garret Clayton. (Available on Netflix, Prime, Apple TV and Vudu.)
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ONWARD (2020) Onward is Disney-Pixar’s first animated movie featuring an LGBTQ character. Set in a suburban fantasy world, DisneyPixar’s “Onward” introduces two teenage elf brothers who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there. (Available on Disney Plus, Apple TV, Vudu.)
THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN (2017) “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” examines the life
PARIS IS BURNING (1991)
and work of one of the world’s most beloved storytellers,
drag
following his evolution from a conservative son of the
queens living in New York City and
Old South into a gay rights pioneer whose novels have
their “house” culture, which provides a
inspired millions to claim their own truth. Jennifer Kroot’s
sense of community and support for the
documentary about the creator of “Tales of the City” moves
flamboyant and often socially shunned
nimbly between playful and poignant and laugh-out-loud
performers. Groups from each house
funny. With help from his friends (including Neil Gaiman,
compete in elaborate balls that take cues
Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, Sir Ian McKellen and Amy
from the world of fashion. Also touching
Tan), Maupin offers a disarmingly frank look at the journey
on issues of racism and poverty, the film
that took him from the jungles of Vietnam to the bathhouses
features interviews with several renowned
of ‘70s San Francisco to the front line of the American culture
drag queens. (Available on Netflix.)
war. (Available on Netflix, Prime, Apple TV.)
This
documentary
focuses
on
THE FAVOURITE (2018) Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail Masham (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfill her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way. (Available on Apple TV, Vudu.)
THE BIRDCAGE (1996 Set in South Beach, Florida, where Armand Goldman (Robin Williams) owns a popular drag nightclub, along with his long-time lover, Albert (Nathan Lane), who performs there as Starina. Their son Val comes home to announce his engagement to Barbara Keeley (Calista Flockhart), daughter of US Senator Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman). The Senator and family descend upon South Beach to meet Val, his father and“mother.”What ensues is comic genius. (Available on Netflix, Prime, Apple TV and Vudu.)
TOM OF FINLAND (2017) Touko Laaksonen, a decorated officer, returns home after
THE DANISH GIRL (2015) The Danish Girl is a biographical romantic drama film directed by Tom Hooper, based on the 2000 novel of the same name by David Ebershoff, and loosely inspired by the lives and remarkable love story of Danish painters Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. With support from his loving wife Gerda (Alicia Vikander), artist Lili (Eddie Redmayne) prepares to undergo one of the first sex-change operations. (Available on Netflix, Prime, Apple TV, VUDU.)
a harrowing and heroic experience serving his country in World War II, but life in Finland during peacetime proves equally distressing. He finds peace-time Helsinki rampant with persecution of the homosexual and men around him even being pressured to marry women and have children. Touko finds refuge in his liberating art, specializing in homoerotic drawings of muscular men, free of inhibitions. His work - made famous by his signature ‘Tom of Finland’ - became the emblem of a generation of men and fanned the flames of a gay revolution. (Available on Prime, Apple TV, Vudu.) METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
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TIPS FOR LONG-TERM INVESTORS BY JENNIFER DAY
THAT MAY SEEM LIKE A PRETTY SIMPLE ANSWER, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, you should never sell your stocks or investments because markets are tumbling. Yes, the markets (and recent world events) have been a roller coaster of ups and downs, but long-term investors should expect that to happen from time to time. Frankly, this time it does seem extreme. Still, it is important not to focus on the short-term noise. Although recently that noise has been a loud clamoring, markets will always go up and down and nobody can say with certainty where it will be tomorrow. However, over time the markets always tend to go up. In the meantime, those gut-wrenching ups and downs can cause you to worry or even panic about your money invested in 401(k) plans or other investment accounts. The best advice I have heard is this — the worst investing decisions are made from fear; don’t sell-off your investments during a down cycle. In March, CNN Business spoke with five top money managers to get advice about how to navigate stormy markets and find out how investors are managing during these choppy times. All of them said now is a good time to reassess your goals and investing strategy — but not to panic and rush into bonds or cash. For most investors, especially younger ones, stocks will give you the best chance of solid returns over the long haul. It’s depressing to see your portfolio drop by 10%, 20%, or who knows what percent, but the best way to avoid that is to not check in very often. You should know what you own and hopefully have some cash on hand to buy shares of companies you believe in at a down-market discount. If you invest for the long-term, then you own companies that you believe in. Those brands may be disrupted by the current crisis, but this too shall pass (eventually). APRIL/MAY 2020
METROSOURCE.COM
DO ANYTHING BUT LOOK AT YOUR HOLDINGS. Instead of stressing about account balances you should check your risk tolerance. Risk tolerance is the level of exposure to loss that an investor can handle, especially during nerve-wrecking ups and downs in the market. Many investment firms, financial advisers and automatic online investing platforms try to gauge investors’ risk tolerance by asking them simple questions. There are a few factors that go into calculating how much risk should be in a portfolio, including age, expected retirement date and how much money an investor expects to need in the future. Young investors are usually encouraged to have their portfolios in mostly risky investments, such as equities, because time is on their side and their portfolios can afford to handle downturns. Older investors nearing retirement are usually cautioned to downsize the risk in their portfolios, but sometimes told they should still have some “riskier” investments in the portfolio so that it continues to grow through the next few decades of their lives in retirement. History says you’re smart to buy during any dip in the stock market. All we can do is remain calm and carry on the best we can. But the market historically always bounces back. That may take weeks, months, or even years. Eventually, however, this will hopefully be a financial crisis we look back upon and wonder why we worried so much. That sounds absurd now, but that has been the pattern many times over. The only advice I can give is: Try to ignore the financial news. Try to do nothing. And wash your hands. ■
STOCK PHOTO COPYRIGHT: PHOTO BY RAWPIXEL
FINANCE CULTURE
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KEEP CALM AND DON’T TOUCH YOUR STOCKS
COOKING AT HOME
WITH INGLENOOK ESTATE
CHEF ALEX LOVICK
Before Oven
Scalloped Potatoes
THIS PAGE: PHOTOS COURTESY OF INGLENOOK ESTATE CHEF ALEX LOVICK
INGLENOOK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1879 – ONE OF NAPA VALLEY’S FIRST AND MOST RENOWNED WINERIES. Inglenook’s Estate Chef Alex Lovick crafts memorable dishes from the organically farmed estate and culinary garden. As he’s spending time at home right now, he’s pleased to share his recipe for Scalloped Potatoes – a dish his Dad used to make, and we could all use a little comfort food right now. He suggests enjoying this creamy dish with a fresh, vibrant Sauvignon Blanc, like Inglenook’s 2017 vintage. Check out additional recipes from Chef Alex on Instagram @inglenook1879.
INGREDIENTS: 1 ea. -- Garlic clove, peeled, sliced thin 2 oz (4 tbsp) -- Unsalted butter, sliced into 4 pieces ¼ cup -- All-purpose flour 3 cups -- Whole milk 1 tsp + as needed -- Salt As needed -- Black pepper, freshly ground A few scrapes -- Fresh nutmeg 2 ¼ lbs. (about 2 large) -- Russet potatoes, peeled ½ ea. -- Large yellow onion, peeled, cut into thin slices 2 cups -- Chopped ham 2 cups -- Cheddar cheese, grated
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CULTURE
Chef Alex Lovick
METHOD: 1. Preheat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add sliced butter. Once the butter has melted halfway add the sliced garlic. Cook garlic for 1-2 minutes, until aromatic and golden. 2. Add flour and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Continue to cook until golden, about 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid scorching. 3. Pour in about a quarter of the milk while stirring. Once smooth add another quarter of the milk and stir again until smooth. Continue to incorporate the rest of the milk in two more additions. Season with 1 tsp salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste and nutmeg. 4. Bring to a simmer. Stir frequently to avoid scorching and cook about 2 minutes. The sauce should have thickened at this point. Remove from heat and reserve. 5. Preheat oven to 375˚F. 6. Butter the inside of a glass 11” x 7” baking dish. 7. Slice peeled potatoes into 1/8” thick slices. Arrange in a single layer, slightly overlapping, on the bottom of the baking dish. Season the entire layer with salt and black pepper to taste. Spoon about one third of the sauce from step 4 directly onto the potatoes. Top with approximately on third of the sliced onions, then one third of the chopped ham, then one third of the grated cheese. 8. Proceed to the next layer in the same fashion. You should end up with 3 layers if using the same size baking dish. The final layer should be the sauce, onion, ham and finally cheese. 9. Cover with aluminum foil, taking care to pinch down around the edges of the baking dish to create a seal, making sure to leave a gap in between the cheese and the foil to prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil when removing later. 10. Place onto sheet pan, then onto center rack of oven, and bake for one hour. Turn heat down to 350˚F and bake an additional 30 minutes. Carefully lift foil and insert a knife. When ready the knife should easily pierce the potatoes. If there is some resistance cover again with foil and bake an additional 15-30 minutes. 11. Once a knife can easily pierce through the potatoes, remove foil, then turn oven temperature up to “broil.” 12. Set a timer for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes if the potatoes are not yet golden brown, broil an additional 3 minutes peeking every minute to make sure they are not burning. 13. Remove from oven and place onto cooling rack. 14. Allow potatoes to cool for about 1 hour then enjoy.
FOOD
SCALLOPED POTATOES
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THE RAINBOW REALITY Six LGBTQ Reality TV Stars who Rocked Our World REALITY TV, OUR NATIONAL OBSESSION. Besides being a ubiquitous part of contemporary popular culture, it’s also become a barometer of societal attitudes towards the LGBTQ population. There was a time when seeing our LGBTQ brethren representing us in reality television was groundbreaking. But now it’s, I daresay, commonplace. The visibility has broadened people’s minds and may have even prompted some to explore or rethink their own place along the LGBTQ spectrum. Let’s look back at some of those groundbreaking pioneers who paved the way and opened hearts and minds.
Let’s give credit where credit is due. MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco was one of the first reality shows to go there - casting openly gay, HIV-positive cast member Pedro Zamora in 1994. Zamora courageously allowed his story to be told and put a human face on the disease at a time when HIV and AIDS were wrapped in a vortex fraught with stigma, fear and confusion. As a house mate, he educated a generation of viewers about living with HIV/AIDS and provided an unprecedented view into his life for millions. Zamora was a passionate advocate for federal HIV prevention and care programs and encouraged young people to become actively involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Zamora even served on the Board of Directors for AIDS Action before it merged with the National AIDS Fund to form AIDS United. Though Zamora died on November 11, 1994, only a few hours after the season finale of The Real World: San Francisco aired, his legacy lives on. In 2019, Zamora was one of 50 American pioneers, trailblazers and heroes inducted onto the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at the Stonewall National Monument.
CULTURE
SCREEN TV
BY STEVE GOTTFRIED
While Dancing with the Stars had been typically associated with network friendly fare, the decision to cast Chaz Bono in 2011, as a recently transitioned trans-man, was a bold choice. Mind you, this was four years prior to Caitlyn Jenner’s coming out as a transwoman. Bono, the only child of Cher and Sonny Bono, appeared on Dancing with the Stars to coincide with the release of the Emmy nominated documentary Becoming Chaz, documenting his transition. Chaz may not have been the best dancer, but to his credit, he lasted six episodes before being eliminated. More importantly, there was something thrilling about him stepping out from the shadows of his famous mom and bravely sharing his story. An acclaimed author, Chaz has written three books including Transition, which was released in May of 2011. Transition is his groundbreaking and candid account of a forty-year struggle to match his gender identity with his physical body and his transformation from female to male. Follow Chaz Bono on Facebook @ ChazBonoOfficial, Twitter @ChazBono and Instagram @therealChazBono.
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THIS PAGE: CHAZ BONO – GOGAYTODAY.COM
CHAZ BONO
NYLE DIMARCO
THIS PAGE: NYLE DIMARCO - KATHY HUTCHINS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM • BILLY GILMAN - SAM ARONOV / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
In terms of reality show star power, Nyle DiMarco is a double threat, having scored the top prize on America’s Next Top Model in 2015, and snagging the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy for Dancing with the Stars the following year. Not only did he bring visibility to the deaf community, he came out as sexually fluid before it became a thing. He is currently a Producer for Broadway’s Children of a Lesser God in New York City. This is DiMarco’s first producing credit, bringing a unique perspective as a Deaf artist and invaluable insight to telling such a meaningful story. DiMarco is a firm believer in creating opportunities where they are not available, in front of and behind the camera. He is currently in development on scripted and non-scripted programs, expanding his creative reach and platform. As a founder of Nyle DiMarco Foundation and an honorary spokesman for Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids, Nyle is passionate about language and literacy and advocacy within the Deaf Community. Follow Nyle DiMarco on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @NyleDiMarco.
BILLY GILMAN Billy Gilman broke ground in conservative country-western music when he competed on The Voice in 2016, having come out as gay two years earlier. Interestingly enough, he chose Adam Levine over the obvious choice Blake Shelton. Gilman acknowledged that it was a difficult choice, since watching Shelton win the ACM award had a major impact on him. Gilman claims he chose Levine for his pop sensibilities. But could there have been another reason? Shelton is not widely perceived as an LGBTQ advocate whereas Levine, who has an openly gay brother, supported same-sex marriage and participated in the “It Gets Better” project in 2011. Gilman found fame as a pre-teen at the tender age of 11 for his song “One Voice” which went double platinum. But transitioning to adult fame was a bigger challenge, particularly in a genre associated with heteronormative expectations where even the hint of rumors is enough to derail an otherwise promising career. Gilman’s debut album in 2000, was certified double platinum in the United States, and he was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest singer to ever reach #1 on the Billboard Top Album charts. He since has sold five million albums worldwide and garnered awards and nods from the American Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Association, Billboard Magazine, and the American Music Association among others. Follow Billy Gilman on Facebook and Twitter @BillyGilman, and Instagram @BillyGilmanOfficial. METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
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MATT DALLAS
FRANKIE GRANDE Even if you’re not a fan of Big Brother (full disclosure: I’m not), it was nearly impossible not to get sucked into the whole gay-straight bromance/showmance between Frankie Grande (brother of Ariana) and Zach Rance, otherwise known as “Zankie.”The question on everyone’s mind: is this for real or is it a gimmick? We now know that their bond was legit, but no bodily fluids were exchanged. Openly gay, Grande performed on Broadway as Franz in the musical Rock of Ages (20142015), in Mamma Mia! (2007-2010), and has played roles OffBroadway, in regional theatre productions and on tour. Grande has produced Broadway shows and both produced and appeared in cabaret acts, including his own one-man show “Livin La Vida Grande”. Follow Frankie Grande on Facebook @thebigbrothertho, Twitter and Instagram @FrankieJGrande.
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THIS PAGE: MATT DALLAS - S_BUKLEY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM • FRANKIE GRANDE - OVIDIU HRUBARU / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
CULTURE
SCREEN TV
Matt Dallas’s boy-next-door looks were insta-crush fodder during his 3-year-stint on the ABC Family series Kyle XY. Dallas was born in Phoenix and became interested in acting at the age of 12, when his grandmother took him to the play “The Ugly Duckling.” While Dallas has continued to act, it’s his YouTube channel “Matt and Blue” (now in its third year), with his equally telegenic Grammy-nominated musician husband Blue Hamilton, that won us over as they navigated parenting their adopted son Crow. Besides being extremely easy on the eyes, their easygoing manner and pleasant disposition make as appealing an argument for marriage equality as anything. Follow Matt Dallas on Facebook and Instagram @Matt Dallas, and Twitter @theMattDallas.
ACTIVATE YOUR MIND
Portraits of activism, determination, joy, and wisdom. BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
I AM MICHAEL ALAGO
BOOKS
MUSIC INDUSTRY VETERAN’S STORY ABOUT CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE OF HEAVY METAL, BATTLING ADDICTION AND BEATING DEATH.
THIS PAGE: I AM MICHAEL ALAGO BOOK IMAGE COURTESY OF BACKBEAT BOOKS • HAMILTON: PORTRAITS OF THE REVOLUTION BOOK IMAGES COURTESY OF RIZZOLI
I AM MICHAEL ALAGO (AVAILABLE FROM BACKBEAT BOOKS), is the new autobiography by music industry veteran Michael Alago. The quintessential New Yorker, Alago is passionate about music, art, and literature, and is a legendary music executive and published photographer. He is also known for his extraordinary work with Metallica, White Zombie, John Lydon, Cyndi Lauper and Nina Simone. “I am very excited to finally have my book available,”Alago says.“A lot of hard work was put into this project, and it brought back a lot of memories of great times and the lowest times.” In I am Michael Alago, Alago shares his successes in the music industry, such as signing Metallica to their first major label recording contract, while battling 1970s and ‘80s stereotypes, addiction and life-threatening illness. Growing up in Brooklyn, in a large, spirited, and devoted Puerto Rican family, Alago found his early passion for music, art, theater, and photography, and he soon found himself rubbing elbows with many downtown NYC scene makers, from Stiv Bators to Jean Michel Basquiat, Cherry Vanilla and Wayne County to Deborah Harry and Robert Mapplethorpe. Alago became the assistant music director for legendary nightclubs the Ritz and the Red Parrot. At age 24, he began a storied career as an A&R executive at Elektra Records that started with signing Metallica in the summer of 1984, changing the entire landscape of rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal. Alago continued to work in A&R for both Palm Pictures and Geffen Records, where he was executive producer on albums by Cyndi Lauper, Public Image Ltd, White Zombie, and Nina Simone.
CULTURE
Written by Michael Alago with Laura Davis-Chanin Available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-AMillion, IndieBound and Rowman & Littlefield.
HAMILTON: PORTRAITS OF THE REVOLUTION UP-CLOSE-AND-PERSONAL DOCUMENT OF THE EVOLUTION, AND REVOLUTION, THAT IS HAMILTON: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL.
Written by Josh Lehrer, Foreword by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Preface by Thomas Kail Available via RizzoliUSA.com. ONLY THE SECOND OFFICIAL BOOK, HAMILTON: PORTRAITS OF THE REVOLUTION invites Hamilton fans to experience the award-win-
ning show in a brand-new and intimate way through more than 100 portraits of the cast, including Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr), Daveed Diggs (Lafayette), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Schuyler Hamilton), and Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), along with personal commentary by the cast about Hamilton, their experiences, and the show’s impact on them and the world. It includes contributions by creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and director Thomas Kail, as well as a curated collection of ephemera and original writings from the historical figures who served as the inspiration for their stage characters. For anyone who appreciates photography and wants to reexperience the extraordinary theatrical and musical experience that is Hamilton, this is the book. METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
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BOOKS CULTURE
TECHNOLOGY OF INTENTION ACTIVATING THE POWER OF THE UNIVERSE WITHIN YOU!
Written by Kim Stanwood Terranova, Foreword by Michael Bernard Beckwith Available via Amazon. KIM STANWOOD TERRANOVA CALLS IT “THE TECHNOLOGY OF INTENTION”
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FRIDA A TO Z THE LIFE OF AN ICON FROM ACTIVISM TO ZAPOTEC.
Written by Nadia Bailey, Illustrated by Susanna Harrison Available via RizzoliUSA.com. THIS INTRICATELY ILLUSTRATED AND FASTIDIOUSLY researched
book unpacks the life of Frida Kahlo, who herself was larger than life. Kahlo grew up in Coyoacán, Mexico City, embracing sports, overcoming her childhood ill health, and attending Mexico City’s renowned National Preparatory School (where she met Diego Rivera.) Track Frida’s rise as one of Mexico’s most important and celebrated artists, her friendships with European surrealists, the sensation caused by her first exhibition in New York, her contribution to popular culture, and the unparalleled phenomenon that is Frida Kahlo. This book looks at the life, art, collaborations, friendships, politics, beauty, and agony surrounding one of the twentieth century’s most distinctive and important artistic voices--all in a brilliantly illustrated A to Z format.
THIS PAGE: TECHNOLOGY OF INTENTION BOOK IMAGE COURTESY OF DEVORSS PUBLICATIONS • FRIDA A TO BOOK IMAGES COURTESY OF RIZZOLI
and in this book she teaches us how to tap into technology and unleash its power. We are a technological society, no doubt about it. Our devices keep us informed while isolating from each other and from ourselves, our true selves. There is, however, another technology – according to Terranova – an inner technology that brings us back to our true selves and gives us the ability to create lives of joy, abundance and wisdom. Terranova takes us on a journey of enlightenment and shares her two decades of work in assisting her clients to live a life of powerful intention. This powerful spiritual technology is available to us all, we just must be willing to activate it. “Intentions give us the pathway to consciously create our lives. They are the powerful force that points the energy in the direction of all we wish to manifest,” says Terranova. This book is a guiding light in assisting us to not only understand the power we each have, but also to give us the road map and step-by-step process to ignite that power. “Kim Stanwood Terranova has a direct hot line to Spirit. Every time I sit with her, I learn something about myself.” – Kenny Loggins Kim Stanwood Terranova is a woman of passionate power who assists individuals with experiencing true inner greatness and unlimited, authentic joy. She has been dubbed the chiropractor of the mind, and the master teacher of intentional living. Kim holds a license as a Practitioner of Truth from The Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, and she has also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Spiritual Studies. For over three decades she has immersed herself in the application and practice of universal spiritual truth and wisdom. kimstanwoodterranova.com
A PAIN IN THE BACK!
Ergonomic Tips for Setting Up Your Home Office
BODY
AT HOME
BY DR. RAND MCCLAIN, D.O.
THIS PAGE: OFFICE IMAGE BY RAWPIXEL.COM • DR.RAND MCCLAIN COURTESY PHOTO
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF SETTING UP A HOME OFFICE is
setting up proper, what is referred to as, ergonomics. Just a fancy way of referring to the way you position yourself and your equipment as well as your relationship to it. There are more obvious considerations such as placing, say, your computer screen, at eye level and in front of you rather than to your left or right and below or above eye level. This is to avoid being positioned in an “imbalanced” or asymmetric position that can lead to overly used and tight muscles of the neck, shoulders and arms (and even the eyes) and pain. Arms should be able to be placed at one’s side and elbows at roughly 90 degrees ideally when setting up the chair level with table/computer level. One should be able to sit up relatively straight in this way with legs roughly parallel to the floor and feet UNDER the chair with ankles crossed (the ideal typing position). As an alternative, one can also position feet below knees and even propped up slightly by a “foot-rest” if desired to relieve some pressure from the chair seat onto the back of the legs. Stand up occasionally! Every hour, at least, one should stand up and move around to relax some muscles and move others, and to get “the blood moving” and avoid stiffness. Most (95%) back pain is muscular, so it is important to keep the muscles supple by occasionally getting up, shifting positions, moving around, and even stretching during the day (or night) at work. And because most back pain is muscular, keep the
muscles hydrated. Drinking plenty of water during the day will help accomplish this as well as keeping you moving occasionally (to use the restroom).
Dr. Rand McClain, D.O.
Dr. Rand McClain, D.O. is a leading mind in regenerative and sports medicine using nutrition, progressive therapies and supplements to optimize the body and improve quality of life. He is Chief Medical Officer of LCR Health (www.lcrhealth.com) and practices medicine at his clinic in Santa Monica, California. His therapies —“based on science and proven in practice” — include cryotherapy, stem cell therapies, and more. ■ METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
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MUSIC CULTURE
A JAZZ SINGER WITH A ROCK STAR VIBE SEVEN REASONS Kandace Springs should be on your Gaydar. BY STEVE GOTTFRIED KANDACE SPRINGS IS A SOULFUL JAZZ SINGER who is one to watch. With two albums under her belt and a third ready to drop, this 31-year chanteuse has a deep and abiding respect for the past, with influences like Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald, fusing it with a distinctively contemporary vibe with influences like Lauren Hill and Sade. She’s got the look, she certainly has the talent, and she has that extra special something that makes people sit up and take notice. Springs recently performed at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa, California, for a set of back-to-back performances which included classic jazz standards like “Gentle Rain,” with a few surprises like the Stylistics infectious ‘70s R&B hit “People Make the World Go Round” backed by a bass player and percussionist. Here are seven reasons to remember her name.
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THIS PAGE: MATHIEU BITTON
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MUSIC CULTURE This sultry jazz singer is the real deal. She has mad piano skills, impeccable taste and is managed by the same team who discovered Rihanna. Springs is on the Blue Note Label, associated with some of the greatest jazz artists in history. You don’t wind up on Blue Note unless you have the goods to back it up. She has a solid management team with Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken supporting and guiding her. Besides discovering Rihanna, this power duo has worked with everyone from Christina Aguilera to Kelly Clarkson and Shakira.
SHE’S ONE OF US That’s right. This southern girl from Nashville likes the ladies. She was raised in a very conservative and religious environment. She remembers always being attracted to girls, but in that climate, she was so sheltered she didn’t even realize it [being a lesbian] was a thing. She dated guys growing up, because dating girls didn’t feel like it was even on the menu. It wasn’t until she moved to New York and was exposed to different people and different cultures that a friend encouraged her to explore the wonderful world of women. As Kandace explains, it’s been seven years since she switched teams and she hasn’t looked back. Though she’s happily coupled, Kandace dished with Metrosource about some of her celebrity crushes. The first name that rolled off her tongue was Michelle Rodriguez with no hesitation. But the list didn’t end there. Kan-
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dace was quick to add that she doesn’t have a specific type, rattling off a few other women who ignited her Sapphic desires including Angelina Jolie, Zöe Kravitz and Lupita Nyong’o.
SHE WAS ANOINTED BY THE PURPLE ONE That’s right, you heard me correct. His Purple Highness saw a video of Kandace performing a cover of the Sam Smith hit “Stay with Me” in 2014. Watch the video and you’ll understand exactly what Prince saw about this super talented newcomer. Prince messaged her on Twitter and proved immensely supportive, flying her out to Minneapolis for recording sessions. They became fast friends, hanging out, playing checkers, riding bikes. Just normal folk, like you and me. Prince asked her to perform at the 30th anniversary of Purple Rain (two years before his death). Kandace cherishes her memories of time spent with the legend, hanging with him at his Paisley Park estate, laughing about his persistent efforts to transition out of the friend zone (despite their 30-year age difference). What’s a lesbian to do when Prince starts coming on to you? Kandace kept him at bay and to his credit, it never crossed the line into #MeToo territory.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HAIR It’s the first thing you notice when she walks out on stage. It’s not just
PHOTOS 26-27 BY JEANNETTE WILLIAMS
AIN’T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING
THIS SULTRY JAZZ SINGER IS THE REAL DEAL. SHE HAS MAD PIANO SKILLS, IMPECCABLE TASTE
an afro, it’s a super ‘fro. It’s got all kinds of attitude, like the mane of a lioness. It probably should have its own Instagram page. This girl was blessed with a look and confidence that could’ve rocked the runway as deftly as she rocks the ivories. Kandace jokingly recalls the days from her childhood when her mom (who is white, while her father is black) struggled to run a comb through her hair referring to the tangled mass as a “nest.”
who became her earliest mentor. Kandace fondly recalls the first upright piano he brought home when she was 10. They even recorded an album together before her career took off and he’s been one of her biggest supporters. Though their early efforts were stalled by Nashville types who were “all talk and no action,” her father never gave up, getting her demos into the hands of the right people. He instilled in his daughter the lesson that it only takes that one person who gets you and is prepared to go to the distance. And that mindset eventually paid off.
SHE’S A SERIOUS CAR JUNKIE When Kandace first told me she was into cars, I thought “oh, that’s cute.”Like maybe she zipped around town in a little mini-Cooper. She’s not just a car enthusiast, she’s a roll-up-your-sleeves and build the dang thing from scratch kind of girl. She even toyed with the notion of going to automotive school, but from the looks of her collection, she could’ve taught them a thing or two. Not only can she sing like nobody’s business, but this soft-spoken southern gal has a bad-ass car collection that makes Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld look like grannies.
ALBUM DROP Springs’ third studio album titled“The Women Who Raised Me”dropped March 27th and you can order online at www.kandacesprings.com. As the title suggests, the record includes covers by recording artists she listened to growing up, jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Dusty Springfield and Nina Simone as well as more contemporary artists like Diana Krall, Lauren Hill, Sade and Norah Jones, who is featured on the album in a duet with Ms. Springs. ■
SHE’S A DADDY’S GIRL This isn’t meant to take anything away from Springs’ mother who had a significant impact on her career and influences. But it was her father, Scat Springs, a successful musician who worked with a slew of big-name recording artists including Chaka Khan and Donna Summer
VISIT WWW.KANDACESPRINGS.COM AND FOLLOW KANDACE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM @KANDACESPRINGS.
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A SCRAPBOOK OF MEMORIES
WILL & GRACE:
GOODBYE AND THANK YOU!
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY: ANDREW ECCLES/NBC
AFTER 11 SEASONS, OVER TWO DECADES of
episodes and reruns, hundreds of martinis and snappy one-liners, multiple relationship fails, dozens of Trump jokes, fabulous guest stars from the LGBT community and beyond, numerous job fails (courtesy of Jack) and even more questionable cabarets (also courtesy of Jack), it’s time to say goodbye to Will & Grace – goodbye and thank you. Despite criticisms for highlighting gay stereotypes and for featuring less than substantial LGBT minded content, it has certainly changed the way mainstream America views the gay culture; these characters were welcomed in households across the nation, even the most conservative ones. Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden commented that the show“did more to educate the American public (on LGBT issues) than almost anything anybody has ever done. People fear that which is different. Now they’re beginning to understand.” We are now in a culture where we can see members of the LGBT community featured in several programs on network TV, not just cable. Will & Grace, based on the real-life of co-creator Max Mutchnick (who had his own “Grace” from the age of 13, whom he also briefly dated before coming out), premiered about one year after Ellen was canceled due to a huge ratings drop from her coming out episode. The Will & Grace relationship aspect
was pitched as part of a replacement for the just exited NBC hit Mad About You and actually featured three couples (two of which were straight), with the network finding that only the relationship between the gay man and his straight friend was of any interest (we are pretty interesting, aren’t we?) The lead cast, each winning an Emmy for their work on the show, knew that it was going to be a long time hit as soon as they finished filming the pilot. The show’s popularity moved the sitcom into NBC’s highly coveted Must-See TV lineup and remained in the top twenty rated shows for four out of the initial eight seasons and was rated #1 in audiences 18–49, an advertiser’s dream. The show earned 83 Primetime Emmy nominations, record-setting SAG wins, and several GLAAD Media Awards. By the time the finale aired, other shows like Queer As Folk, Six Feet Under, The L Word, Modern Family, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Oz, Noah’s Arc, Buffy, and even soap operas like As the World Turns, were featuring LGBT characters as prominent leads. Whether it was your Republican neighbor reciting Karen Walker’s sassy digs, or your gay bestie doing the “Just Jack” pose, people were watching. TV watching families that had no intro into discussing gay themes now had humor as a way to break the ice and start the conversation, it was ok - and even fabulous - to be gay, just make sure you were funny.
FUN FACT: Karen: The Musical was a thing! NBC was behind it; the project had a Broadway production team including a director and composer and would feature Karen Walker and her rivalry with Beverley Leslie (to be played by Leslie Jordan). At the last moment, the character rights were withdrawn and the musical never happened.
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WARNING: Cigar smoking can cause lung cancer and heart disease.
WARNING: Cigar smoking can cause lung cancer and heart disease. © John Middleton Co. 2020
NB270-B2
BEFORE WILL & GRACE: We probably know the characters of Will & Grace better than we know the actors themselves, but what were Debra Messing, Eric McCormick, Meghan Mullaly, and Sean Hayes up to before they dominated the sitcom circuit?
ERIC MCCORMACK Eric McCormack was the first actor to be cast in Will & Grace and was no stranger to playing gay characters. His only trepidation in taking on the role was committing himself to years on a certain project, as he was that confident in the show’s strength. Born and raised in Toronto, he was inspired to become an actor in his youth from watching Get Smart and studied acting extensively in school as well as taking part in Canada’s Stratford Festival for five years, playing leads in Midsummer’s Night Dream and Henry V. He is also a singer and performed in Godspell and Pippin during his education, later, on Broadway, as the lead in The Music Man. His early career was playing guest roles on such shows as Silk Stalkings, The Commish, Diagnosis Murder, and Ally McBeal. He had a long-standing relationship with The Lonesome Dove series which attracted the attention of the producers of Highlander who wrote a guest role specifically for him. He might not have been Will – he was hired as a series regular on Jenny but was fired after his character was cut from the pilot episode, which left him free for Will & Grace.
DEBRA MESSING
FUN FACT: Debra Messing was neck in neck with actress Nicollette Sheridan for the casting of Grace Adler. Wow, that would have been a whole different take.
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Brooklyn born Messing studied acting and singing from a very early age and played the leads in Annie and Fiddler on the Roof. In 1986, she earned the title of Rhode Island’s Junior Miss and went on to compete for the America’s Junior Miss scholarship. With the support of her parents, she devoted herself to acting after graduating summa cum laude from Brandeis University. She was accepted to the highly competitive Graduate Acting Program at New York University and received her Master’s in Fine Arts in only three years. Her professional acting work started with her role as Harper in the pre-Broadway production of Angels in America: Perestroika. She appeared in episodes of NYPD Blue, two seasons of Ned & Stacey, popular episodes of Seinfeld, and the lead in the series Prey – during which time she received the script for Will & Grace. She made her film debut in A Walk in the Clouds opposite Keanu Reeves (lucky girl!) and appeared in the film version of McHale’s Navy pre-Will & Grace. She almost didn’t read for Will & Grace as she wanted to take some time off, but the script sparked her interest enough that she couldn’t say no.
PHOTOS 30-31 PRODUCTION PICTURES BY ANDREW ECCLES/NBC • EPISODE IMAGES BY CHRIS HASTON/NBC
FUN FACT: Eric McCormack auditioned a few times for the role of Ross Geller (ultimately filled by David Schwimmer) in Friends.
SEAN HAYES Just Jack, the youngest of the Will & Grace cast, hails from Illinois and was raised, along with his four siblings, by a single mom. While attending college, he worked as a classical pianist and was a member of a pop band. After college, he worked as a musical director and later as an actor in the productions. He became a member of the Second City comedy group (home to many of our comedic actors) and even did stand-up at The Comedy Club in LA. His first real on-screen gigs were in the film Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss and a Super Bowl Dorito commercial. Sean initially threw away the script to the pilot and almost didn’t audition. He was going to have to pay the airfare to LA for his audition while attending the Sundance festival and thought there would be plenty of opportunities. He didn’t really discuss his sexuality at the start of the show, but later started to share details about his lifestyle and partner during interviews.
MEGAN MULLALLY LA-born Megan Mullally studied ballet at the age of six and later became a soloist with the Oklahoma City’s Ballet Oklahoma, she also studied at the School of American Ballet in New York City. Her mother was a model and her father was an actor with Paramount. A musical girl at heart, she performed in college musicals and shortly after dropping out of school, she appeared opposite Rosie O’Donnell in Grease on Broadway, followed up with How to Succeed in Business with Matthew Broderick. She appeared in the film Blue Velvet, but all her scenes were cut. Her earliest TV appearance was in a McDonald’s commercial with John Goodman. Earlier TV guests spots included appearances on Frasier, Wings, Mad About You, Just Shoot Me!, Third Rock From the Sun, and a fun role as Jessica Fletcher’s former protegee in Murder She Wrote (a role that a very broke Megan Mullally desperately needed).
FUN FACT: Sean appeared as an extra in Winona Ryder’s first movie, Lucas, which was filmed at Sean’s High School in Illinois.
FUN FACTS: Megan auditioned for the role of Elaine on Seinfeld. Also, she was fired from Disney’s Finding Nemo when she wouldn’t do the Karen Walker voice. ALSO, she auditioned for Elsa in Frozen.
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IN MEMORIUM When Will & Grace came back for its successful reboot, it was announced that actress Shelley Morrison (who played Karen’s sassy maid Rosario) would not be returning to the show. Her character was given an emotional send-off during an episode where we see a rarely emotional Karen say her goodbyes. Shelley was a spitfire from day one, being raised in a Spanish Jewish home, she moved to LA at age 10 and attended Los Angeles City College. Until her death, she resided in the same family home for over six decades. Her early roles included a popular run on The Flying Nun with Sally Field, appearing with Gregory Peck in MacKenna’s Gold and later played roles in Troop Beverly Hills, Fools Rush In, and in TV shows like Murder, She Wrote, Sisters, Columbo, Home Improvement and LA Law. She was an early pioneer in the Los Angeles theatre circuit world and was one of the first female theatre producers in the community. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in the theatre at the Twelfth Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival. She used her career resurgence in Will & Grace to volunteer her time to several cancer and LGBT non-profits. Being totally honest, I have used her Will & Grace lines in real life many times.
FUN FACT: Shelley made 25 film appearances and 200 television appearances and played a maid for a number of those roles. She had just told her agent that she would not play any more maid roles when the Will & Grace episode came along. Her character was originally only included in one episode.
The show featured a grab bag of big names from music, pop culture and screen, as guests and recurring characters. Some of our favorites included Cher, Madonna, Alec Baldwin, John Cleese, Bernadette Peters, Ellen DeGeneres, Britney Spears, Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, Elton John, Mullally’s husband Nick Offerman, Gene Wilder, Edie Falco, Chloe Sevigny, James Earl Jones, Glenn Close, Barry Manilow, Kevin Bacon, Mira Sorvino, Michael Douglas, Candice Bergen, Jennifer Lopez, Joan Collins, Rosie O’Donnell, Luke Perry, Wanda Sykes, Macaulay Culkin, Janet Jackson, and my personal favorites, Matt Damon competing against Jack in a choir, and a wildly fabulous appearance by Patti LuPone. The gay cherry to top them all (yes, I said top) is, of course, Leslie Jordan, as Beverley Leslie. There are also a handful of guest appearances that didn’t quite click - to quote Karen, “Honey, what’s going on here?” But we won’t mention any names. FUN FACT: The role of Beverley Leslie was written for a woman - Joan Collins in fact. Leslie Jordan, who played Beverley, won an Emmy for his role.
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PHOTOS 32-33 EPISODE IMAGES BY CHRIS HASTON/NBC
FABULOUS GUEST LIST
More than ten years after the show aired its finale to over 18 million viewers, the cast was reunited for a tenminute online skit to promote voting for the 2016 election. The skit was such a hit that NBC ordered a reboot of sorts, ignoring the finale and where the characters ended up (Will & Grace ended their friendship, Karen was poor, Jack was rich). The conversation started immediately from critics from the LGBT world and beyond as to whether we needed the show again and how good was it really? Early episodes are cringeworthy (as they are in any long-running show – except for Golden Girls) and what was once cute and funny – Jack not working a real job and mooching off of Will, Will & Grace still being single and living together, Karen still drinking and spouting off politically incorrect one-liners – might have lost its charm. The world in which Will & Grace debuted no longer needed a pioneer or a way into conservative television programming – LGBT characters were rampant in mainstream programming, even the Disney channel was featuring gay characters, and other gay show creators like Ryan Murphy and Alan Ball were creating quality content with some bite to it. The biggest complaint about Will & Grace has been that the gay characters were over the top, stereotypical, pretty“white boy” versions of the reality of the LGBT community. BUT – it was a sitcom, the first of its kind, starting the conversation and showcasing the friendships of the community rather than the sex. Reruns and the reboot have inspired a new generation to embrace their sexuality as well as differences in each other. True, we didn’t see love scenes, nor did it deal with heavy issues affecting the LGBT community, but it opened the door and we had more than a few laughs during its run. And to be honest, we all know a Jack, Will, Grace, and Karen. So, we say goodbye, and thank you!
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ART CULTURE
ALCHEMIST & ARTISAN
MICHAEL ARAM Celebrates 30 YEARS at the Top of his Game
THIS PAGE: MICHAEL ARAM INC.
BY STEVE GOTTFRIED
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HOW MANY ARTISTS CAN CLAIM BRAGGING RIGHTS TO HAVING ONE OF THEIR PIECES HOUSED IN THE VATICAN? Add to that the distinction of being openly gay and the list grows narrower still. Yes, in the beginning, there was Michelangelo, but times have changed and Michael Aram, the openly gay man behind the international brand bearing his name, earned this distinction in 2016, when the Armenian government commissioned a sculpture as a gift to Pope Francis on behalf of the Armenian people. The piece is a depiction of Noah’s Ark, a universal symbol of life and renewal which holds special significance to the Armenian people. Michael Aram is celebrating his 30th year in business, growing from humble beginnings into an international lifestyle brand, with a flagship store in New York City and a museum quality gallery in the heart of West Hollywood, California. Aram graciously took time out of his schedule to talk about his craft, his inspiration and how his identity as a gay man has informed his art. Regarding his 30 years in business as a designer, Aram says with a degree of humility “I like to call us a 30-year overnight success. It’s been something of a wild ride and we feel a profound sense of gratitude.” Wandering into his Los Angeles gallery is a bit like stepping through the looking glass, with a dazzling display of imaginative works of art. The same can be said of his website MichaelAram.com which showcases the enormity of his ever-
expanding brand -- encompassing everything from cutlery and home décor to furniture, jewelry, linens and signature sculptures. His home décor designs are organized around various motifs which take their inspiration from nature. His distinctive patterns bear evocative names like Butterfly Gingko, Calla Lily, Black Orchid, Ivy and Oak, Lodhi Garden and Pomegranate. Aram emulates in his metalwork what he describes as the“perfectly imperfect”quality found in nature. It did not come as a surprise when I learned that Barbra Streisand is among his more prominent collectors. But Aram takes great pride that there are affordable items at every price point, saying that he places the same intent and love into each of his creations. One piece in his jewelry collection that caught my attention was the Vincent Cuff Ring which features a sunflower at its center and was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh. For larger scale sculptures, a signature standout titled “Dream”features a child’s chair with ladder reaching up to the heavens. Aram explains on his website that the sculpture was inspired by the children’s book Papa which is a popular favorite in his household. Dreamscapes could be considered the watchword for Aram’s design process. He always keeps a pencil and pad nearby, ready to jot down his thoughts when inspiration strikes. Other sculptures take their inspiration from mythology such as “Daphne” exquisitely depicting the transformation of a river nymph into a laurel tree. Metrosource: What was the pivotal moment in your life that led you down this path? Michael Aram: I studied fine arts and art history at Bates College, and continued my fine arts education at Studio Art Center International in Florence, Italy, followed by the Art Students League in New York City. But that educational foundation took on new meaning after a trip I took to India in 1988. I was awestruck by the craftsmen I discovered while walking down the streets of Old Delhi and was inspired to work along these talented craftsmen. The only people I knew who made things were artists, so to be able to create objects together with these skilled artisans was an amazing experience -- an experience that would later prove to be life changing for me. METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
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Which of your creations is the most meaningful to you personally? The Genocide Memorial piece I created – titled Migrations -- is a very personal and meaningful piece for me, since my grandparents were survivors of the Armenian Genocide. There was a short film created where I discussed the creation of the piece and its meaning which will soon be shown on PBS. It is a piece I can say I am proud to have created. The piece was inspired by my ancestors’ journey to survive, but I hope it also speaks to families of all immigrants whose forefathers fled adversity to create safer lives for themselves and their children. In making the piece I was able to express the victory of survival in a way that was positive, and allowed me to tell a painful story, in a creative way. Can you speak a bit about your background and how that influenced your approach? Being Armenian, I grew up crawling on marvelous handmade carpets depicting floral and geometric motifs, such as the tree of life. We lived in an antique farmhouse where my parents instilled in me a love of nature and a love of beauty. My mother has always been an avid cook and loved to entertain and set beautiful tables. From an early age, objects were ideas infused with meaning. Even something as simple as my grandmother’s serving spoon serve as changing shapes and become talismans
PHOTOS 38-39 COURTESY OF MICHAEL ARAM INC.
CULTURE Did you struggle at all coming to terms with your sexual orientation? And if so, how did you make peace with it? At first, I was a little reticent to study fine art since I felt there were“implications”in identifying myself as an artist. My internalized homophobia thankfully did not prevent me from pursuing my passion and living my life fully. The Stonewall Riots happened on the night of my sixth birthday, and I always feel a debt to the men and women who forged a path of pride ahead of me. I came to terms with my sexual identity in college through our small Gay Student Alliance and through AIDS activism. Fighting for gay rights helped me self-identify as a gay man and to feel part of the community. What was your first signature design and how did it come about? I made a set of cutleries on my first trip to India with handles fashioned after twigs which I collected on my morning walks. Only six months after founding the company, the “twigware” serving set landed on the cover of the Neiman Marcus catalogue. That was a huge hit for us at an early stage. Without a studio, or a real model making space, my earlier pieces had a very “I made this”feeling to them which has become a hallmark for me. Looking back now, there is a romantic sense to how I started and how I have always been connected to the process. One of your design motifs is the gingko tree. Can you elaborate on how this image became pivotal to your collection? The Butterfly Ginkgo tree is called that because of the shape and clustering of the leaves on the tree, it looks as though the tree is full of butterflies. I was very inspired by the idea of looking at flora and fauna, and the concept of metamorphosis. The ‘butterflies’ in my collection are made up of cast bronze leaves and twigs, and the vessels evoke the shape and texture of the butterfly cocoon. In my fantasy, as the butterflies emerge from the cocoon and land on the branches of the tree, they metamorphose into leaves and twigs.
of memory. I hope the work which I create today reflects that. My dad was the organist at the Armenian Church, so Sundays were spent listening to the ecclesiastical music and looking at the rich imagery connected to the ancient church’s traditions. Images like doves, pomegranates, snakes, Noah’s ark, grape vines, and sunbursts all decorated the chalices and sacramental objects, which lent me an innate understanding of the power of objects. How has your identity as a gay artisan influenced your vision? My husband and I often reflect that our gayness has shaped our lives – and I think it would be hard to separate out the influences being gay has had on me. Probably, had I not been gay, I would have had a very different life and perhaps not turned to making art, which initially for me, was a solitary exercise that I did in a way to understand the world around me. In terms of ‘vision,’ I do think that being gay has allowed me to connect to both my yin and yang sides, which in turn, perhaps gives me a unique perspective. My work, although made in a very robust, industrial way, feels poetic and peaceful, often depicting florals and nature. Sometimes I call it the ‘perfume’ in the room. Other times I make collections which are more abstract and express more of the art of making. I jokingly say that, in those collections, I am more in touch with my masculine side. I noticed that you have an “Adam and Eve”Vase. Do you have an “Adam and Steve”Vase? Yes, we had gotten requests from some of our collectors to create that piece with two Adams and two Eves. The two Adam version is a hot favorite in our store in West Hollywood, and I must admit, a personal favorite of mine. I see that you and your husband have two beautiful children. How has your relationship and your children impacted your design ethos? Anabel and Thadeus have given me so much and inspire and challenge me in so many ways. They are nine-year-old twins and have such distinct personalities. I enjoy bringing them into the design studio and hearing their thoughts on everything. Thadeus’ nickname in school is “nature boy” since he loves animals and all things from nature. He often opens my eye to things that sometimes I overlook. Coming through clearly in your work is your love of nature, and it seems you’ve focused on specific motifs in your collections (butterflies, branches). We search for the “perfectly imperfect” not “pretty pretty.” Because, ultimately, it’s suggestive of something else. It’s not that our work is inspired by nature, it’s nature as a reflection of our humanity - our life cycle. For me, this dynamic is so inspiring. That’s why we play so much with the idea of decay.
Can you talk about your design process? Do you keep a journal? Yes, it’s in front of me now. It’s here on my desk, and never out of arm’s reach. Sometimes, it’s full of meeting notes, sometimes it’s page after page of sketches. I also think a lot through words. Naming a piece is always intrinsically important. What’s the meaning behind it? What’s the connection? How do you turn your designs into reality? Is all the manufacturing done in India? Yes, it all happens in the workshop and studio in India. There are over 200 skilled craftsmen, of various ages and experience. The most skilled artisans work directly next to my design studio and many of the craftsmen have been with me for decades now. I feel that they sometimes can finish my sentence creatively when I work alongside them - even though we don’t talk when we work. There is just something instinctive that happens. I sometimes say it feels like making musical improvisations. Nothing planned or discussed, just let the magic happen, and for everyone’s unique point of view and ‘feelings’ to be expressed in any particular piece. ■
Michael Aram LA 157 N. Robertson Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90048
Michael Aram NYC 136 W. 18th Street New York, NY 10011
michaelaram.com
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POSITIVE THOUGHTS I’m a Beautiful Black Queen Living With HIV, Not Stigma
BY PORCHIA DEES I AM A BEAUTIFUL BLACK QUEEN LIVING WITH HIV. It has taken a long
and lovers who would gossip about me and disclose my status to people,
time for me to come to terms with that statement, because the concepts of
with the intent of making me look less attractive. I started to internalize all
beauty and HIV don’t usually go together. Growing up poz and trying to
the negative things that were being said. I never thought I’d be able to have
cope with the stigma surrounding my experience has been challenging, to
kids; I didn’t know what I could do sexually; I didn’t think I would be able to
say the least. I am a part of the first generation of children who were born
find someone open-minded enough to want to date me. I watched my mom
positive. I was born Dec. 5, 1986. At the time, my biological mother was using
pass away from AIDS-related illnesses during my junior year of high school,
drugs and heavy in her addiction. If it weren’t for my aunt, who I call mom
so I never really planned for a future, because I didn’t think I’d live to be the
and who took legal guardianship of me, I don’t think I would be here today.
age I am today (33 years strong). I went through this dark stage in my early Stigma is killing people more than the actual disease now. Treatment
assigned a social worker who kept me involved in lots of events for children
adherence is greatly affected by the stigma. Treatment has come such a long
battling different life-threatening diseases. I attended camp every summer,
way, and people are able to live long and healthy lives with HIV – if they can
which gave me the chance to be around other kids who understood what I
get connected to care and stay adherent to HIV medication. It is no longer a
was going through. We all had our camp“crushes.”But I would soon find out
death sentence. It is a chronic, manageable illness.
that dating at camp was a lot different from dating in the real world, and that
I see it happen often. When someone is newly diagnosed, they internalize
the dating and hook-up guidelines we follow as a society are not inclusive
that stigma, which can lead to deep depression. They believe their lives are
of someone living with HIV – someone like me. My parents are old-school,
over and they will never be able to lead a normal, healthy life or find love. In
African American, super-religious types, so I never had the sex talk. My social
my opinion, it’s because they struggle with this sort of pre- and post-diagnosis
worker at the hospital didn’t say this to me directly, but in her attempt to
identity crisis and being positive becomes hard to accept. I don’t have a pre-
educate me on HIV transmission, without realizing it, she led me to believe
diagnosis identity to refer to, but I do know what it’s like to internalize the
that I would never be able to have sex or have babies. And there was one huge
stigma that has been programmed into our minds. The stigma has never sat
thing she forgot to prepare me for: stigma.
well with me. Living with HIV is my normal, and I didn’t die. I am still thriving.
The next time I learned about HIV, I was a seventh grader in Sex Ed. It ter-
I had to grow to understand that the insults, judgments and shade that people
rified me. I remember sitting in a classroom of about 30 kids, with the health
attempted to throw were projections of their own fear, misconceptions, pain
educator showing us all these disgusting pictures of sexually transmitted
and insecurities, and that it had absolutely nothing to do with me.
diseases and listening to how grossed out everybody was. When she started
For so long, I just let people gossip about their perceptions of my reality.
talking about my experience, I got quiet. The pictures she showed didn’t look
Even today, every time I get up and share my story, I am extremely nervous,
anything like me. Instead, they were pictures of middle-aged, white, gay men
and my anxiety starts to kick in. I think it’s because I am experiencing PTSD
or Africans wasting away. They were all pictures of people who were sick or
from all the stuff that I went through growing up and remembering all the
dying; there were no pictures of people who were healthy and living. Everyone
things people said about me. But then, as I push through that fear, I experience
left class believing that if you have sex, you could get HIV. And that if you
this sort of liberating sensation. I get to portray my experience in the way that
get HIV, you are going to die. It made me even more afraid to have sex, and
I want to, and I get to change the narrative.
it further deepened the notion in my mind that someone with HIV wouldn’t be able to have a normal, healthy sex life.
In hindsight, I can’t believe I let stigma keep me silent for so long. Now that I have embarked on this advocacy journey, it is like I am seeing things
Throughout the years, I had to learn how to navigate dating and sex with
through a new lens. I have discovered this new world full of people who can
HIV on my own. The only thing I ever learned about disclosure was from
either relate to living with HIV, or with other parts of my story. By remain-
my mom, who told me to be careful who I shared my business with because
ing silent, I was unconsciously allowing that stigma to thrive in the silence.
people in this world could be cruel. Although my mother didn’t mean to, her
Disclosure has been one of the scariest, most difficult things to deal with
advice, along with the isolation I was already feeling, further perpetuated
in my experience. Yes, I have encountered a lot of ignorance and hate, but I
stigma. She made me feel like I had something to hide, which in turn cre-
have also found a lot of people who understand me, like me, and love me
ated more feelings of fear and shame. I struggled the hardest with stigma in
regardless. Contrary to what people believe about my experience, it has been
my adolescent years. When I was younger and trying to fit in with the rest of
a blessing in disguise, and I know now that this is a gift. I believe God created
society, it was hard for me to accept my HIV status, because it came with so
me specifically for this purpose: to change people’s perspective on what it
many different misconceptions.
means to live with HIV. To know me is to love me, and the beauty in that lies
Dating and maintaining a social life became difficult for me, because of all the ignorance surrounding my experience. I dealt with many fake friends
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20s, and I almost died from rebelling and not adhering to my medication.
5th birthday, but clearly God had other plans. As a kid living with HIV, I was
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in the fact that my whole being dispels the stigma. I am a Beautiful Black Queen, and my status doesn’t change that.
■
PAGE 39: PHOTOGRAPHY BY PORCHIA DEES
BODY
METROHIV
My pediatrician told my parents that he didn’t think I’d live to see my
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REPLENISH THE BODY, BENEFICIAL CBD TREATMENTS FOR YOUR SKIN BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES
BODY
HEALTH
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, CBD HAS EMERGED AS A POWERFUL INGREDIENT IN
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SKINCARE AND GROOMING PRODUCTS. CBD (short for cannabidiol), is a chemi-
cal compound that can be found in the Cannabis sativa plant, also known as marijuana or hemp. In 2018, the passing of the Farm Bill made it legal to sell hemp in the United States. For those who are new to, or unfamiliar with, CBD, it’s important to clarify that CBD is the non-psychoactive part of the cannabis plant, so you’re not going to be sedated or get high from using it. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the other primary active ingredient in cannabis. If you’re looking for a more euphoric cannabis experience, choose marijuana. Recreational and medical marijuana is now legalized in states like California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, and others. However, we are looking specifically at CBD and skincare. Hemp and marijuana, two main species of the Cannabis sativa plant, both contain CBD, but hemp has a higher percentage than marijuana. CBD itself is extracted from marijuana or hemp plants and often mixed with an oil like coconut, hemp, or olive oil. Though the industry is still in its infancy and needs more conclusive, scientific studies, to date, numerous studies have shown that CBD oil has anti-inflammatory benefits when used topically. Rich in antioxidants, CBD can counteract free-radical damage while reducing the look of inflammation and diminishing wrinkles and skin dullness. CBD helps to decrease excess oil production, calm acne-prone skin, brighten skin, repair deep basal cells, deeply clean skin, as well as improving the skin’s response to aging factors. There are hundreds of skincare products currently available online and in stores and the industry is continuing to grow. Grand View Research predicts the global CBD cosmetics market will reach 1.7 billion by 2025, stating “the healing properties of CBD ingredients are expected to encourage the manufacturers to develop product infused with these ingredients thereby driving the market in the coming years.”
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HIGH SKINCARE Highbeauty.com Melissa Jochim developed and founded High Beauty Inc. as a skincare brand powered by Cannabis sativa seed oil. All High Beauty products are formulated with nonpsychoactive food grade Cannabis sativa seed derivatives along with other nourishing plant oils, vitamins, antioxidants, and essential oils. The High collection features Cannabis Cleansing Foam ($28), Cannabis Facial Oil ($54), Cannabis Eye Gel ($42), Cannabis Facial Moisturizer ($40), Cannabis Peeling Mask ($46). The Cannabis Cleansing Foam removes impurities (and makeup) while hydrating and refreshing. The facial oil is perfect to smooth over your face and neck every evening. If you’re on the hunt for more all-day hydration, apply Cannabis Facial Moisturizer over the face and neck after cleansing and allow it the Cannabis to work in a harmonious blend with the product’s additional grape seed, cranberry, pomegranate, black cumin, troxerutin, and broccoli seed. Looking to soften the eyes? Dispense a few pumps of Cannabis Eye Gel and apply around the eyes, even your eyelids and reach your “highest eye-Q.” The Cannabis Peeling Mask can do wonders as a weekly treatment to maintain the skin. Apply a generous amount to damp skin and massage with a circular motion to remove impurities and dull skin. (Twitter: @highbeauty IG: @highskincare; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highskincare/)
DERMAQUEST cbddermaquest.com Dermaquest, award winning leaders in plant stem cell technology, launched a new collection of CBD skincare and wellness products. The launch gives Dermaquest credibility as the first professional brand to enter the CBD market with a complete collection. While their collection won’t lull you into a state of euphoria, their hemp derived 99.7% pure THC free CBD line launched last November. Dermaquest’s hemp is sourced directly from farms and extraction facilities in Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, and Kentucky. Prices for products in the collection range from $55-$120. A few notable items include CBD Tinctures Sleep Elixir Vanilla (PM), CBD Tinctures Daily Elixir Spearmint, and CBD Blue Light Defense SPF 30. Sleep CBD Tinctures Sleep Elixir Vanilla (PM) ranges from $85-$120 for a 1fl oz bottle, depending on the strength (500mg and 1000mg). A few drops under the tongue will promote a deeper, peaceful night sleep, while CBD antioxidants work their magic. A few drops of CBD Tinctures Daily Elixir Spearmint in the morning can relax the mind and body to reduce anxiety and allow you to start the day on a calm and peaceful note. Like the sleep tincture, the price ranges from $85-$120 for 500mg or 1000mg. Dermaquest has a nice array of topical creams including their CBD Therapeutic Massage Cream, CBD Pain Relief Cream, CBD Healing Balm, but with winter behind us and summer on the way we leaned into their CBD Blue Light Defense SPF 30. The advanced triple light defense technology in CBD Blue Light Defense SPF 30 ($65) provides the skin with lightweight hydration and ultimate protection from blue light, infrared and UV rays. (IG/Twitter: @DermaQuest; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dermaquest/)
PAULA’S CHOICE Paulaschoice.com Over 35 year ago Paula Begoun shook up the beauty world with the pursuit of finding a solution to her own struggles with acne and eczema. In 1995 she launched Paula’s Choice Skincare aiming to provide smart, safe beauty, with products that are good for the skin and backed by scientific evidence. The newly launched Paula’s Choice CBD Oil + Retinol ($54) blends full-spectrum cannabidiol with natural medium-chain triglycerides to make CBD amble to penetrate and enhance how the skin handles 0.5% retinol. The CBD works to diffuse reactivity in skin, soothing redness, tightness, flaking, rough texture, and dullness. Paula’s Choice CBD Skin Transformative Treatment Milk ($49) is formulated to help calm reactive skin and target signs of aging. The weightless, cannabidiol-rich milk is a scientific breakthrough that soothes and reduces the reactivity in skin that causes discoloration, texture changes, and redness for a healthier, younger-looking complexion. (IG/Twitter: @PaulasChoice; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulasChoice.Inc/)
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VERTLY
BODY
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Vertlybalm.com Husband-and-wife duo Claudia and Zander started Vertly as a labor of love. Their organically grown, full-spectrum CBD is combined with fresh herbs that are slow infused for three weeks. Vertly offers small batches of handcrafted ingredients for their chic line of products, which includes Botanical Bath Salts ($29), Relief Lotion ($48), Cooling Workout Recover Body Spray ($45), Botanical Extracts Face Serum ($22-$110), Soothing Florals Face Mist ($55), and Lip Butter ($22-$24). Their Botanical Bath Salts features a unique combination of natural healing salts, minerals, botanical infusions, and cannabinoids formulated to calm the mind and body. The bath salts are a true standout, in part due to the blend of 50mg full-spectrum hemp Cannabinoid extract, active botanical extraction of arnica flower, MSM, and Magnesium. The additional essential oil blend of lavandin, lemongrass, and clary sage will promote a deeper sense of relaxation. The Vertly Relief Lotion offers the benefits of CBD, rich organic plant oils, slow infused botanical herbs, nourishing shea butter, and healing magnesium, packaged within the calming scent of citrus and lavender. The lotion additionally features Peppermint Hydrosol and Aloe Vera juice for a natural cooling sensation while helping to fight bacteria, body odor, and inflammation. Have room in your gym bag? Carry the Cooling Recovery Body Spray, a cooling blend of Aloe Vera, tension-reducing CBD, a slow-extraction of fresh comfrey root + leaves, Peppermint Menthol, and MSM. Spray and freshen up stiff body parts after a workout, if you’ve been out in the sun too long, or after a long workday. IG: @vertlybalm; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VERTLYBALM/
ZONEIN Zoneincbd.com ZoneIn was co-founded by former NFL all-pro linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who needed a change agent and found CBD. ZoneIn CBD is specifically formulated to help with faster recovery while replenishing the body and targeting mind-body-movement so you can essentially “Zone In.” Products include Balance CBD Oil ($59.99), Balance CBD Capsules ($59.99), and the new Roll Deep, Deep Relief Roll-on ($49.99). ZoneIn’s CO2 extraction method preserves the full range of cannabinoids found deep in the hemp plant, sourced from farms in the U.S. (mostly in Kentucky and Colorado). ZoneIn’s Roll Deep, Deep Relief Roll-on contains 250mg Full Spectrum Hemp with CBD. Designed for fast-acting relief, Roll Deep provides a light, cooling sensation without the intense burn of menthol. It’s non-greasy, and fortified with coconut oil, camphor, and arnica. After rolling, enjoy the gentle eucalyptus scene that leaves you feeling fresh and relieved. IG/Twitter: @ZoneInCBD; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZoneInCBD/
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HEALTH BODY
FREE YOURSELF
A music and wellness event in Costa Rica invites attendees to reconnect with the essence of their humanity and embrace the power of self-acceptance. BY MEGAN VENZIN TEN YEARS AGO, JAMES GANGEMI WAS INVITED TO ATTEND A WEDDING IN THE COSTA RICAN JUNGLE AS A PLUS ONE. On the eve of the nuptials,
he came out to his best friend Alexa, and he pins that act as the moment he began living his truth. A decade later, members of that same wedding party continue to convene on the Pacific Coast, in a town called Uvita located in the country’s southern zone. They still gather to celebrate love and unity, but now they are joined by a group of 9,000 friends who similarly embrace their own truths. Together, they make up the family of Envision Festival - a week-long music and wellness event for which Gangemi now serves as the official Marketing Coordinator. With its large-scale production and dreadlocked crowd, Envision (which took place February 17th-24th at Rancho Le Merced) may, at
first, look like a typical destination music festival. But it’s so much more -- described as a conscious partier’s paradise with a unique focus on health, spirituality and sustainable practices. By day, yoga, movement and meditation classes take place inside Yoga Shalas (a gathering place for students of traditional yoga), while thought leaders on topics like permaculture lead mind-opening workshops. At night, the same devoted students descend upon sand-covered dancefloors, finding release to the sounds of world-class musicians like glitch-hop figurehead Tipper and Australian electro-rockers RÜFÜS DU SOL. Until sunrise, heavy bass blasts from sustainable stages, each constructed from regenerative materials like bamboo and driftwood. And the dance moves look different here – there is a primordial element to every shake and shimmy. METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
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we catch up with Gangemi he appears as “pura vida” incarnate, and all smiles while organizing Envision’s second annual Gay Pride Parade. He lends some insight as to how this popular activity came to fruition.“Being a member of the LGBTQ+ community is obviously a very important aspect of my life and my identity, so I wanted to figure out how to weave it into the identity of Envision Festival,”he says warmly. One night, while conversing with Envision Co-Founder and self-proclaimed “contemporary witch”, Sarah Wu, the duo uncovered an opportunity to shine a new light on the festival’s inclusive ethos.“We developed the Envision Pride Parade as an opportunity to blend our rainbow community together,” explains Gangemi. Much like the event itself, the annual parade’s energy is palpable and infectious. It is a tsunami of positive affirmation for all involved. Just
PHOTOS 43-44-45 COURTESY OF JESS BERNSTEIN
BODY It’s a place to nourish both body and soul. Participants indulge in vegan eats wrapped in banana leaves with care. After sipping organic elixirs handcrafted by Envision’s resident coven, the Village Witches, attendees return their cups to a wash-station known as the“dish-coteca,” making the need for plastic water bottles and other single use items completely moot. Should someone feel under the weather, there is an herbal clinic staffed by medical professionals, who administer plantbased treatments and herbal remedies. In short, Envision provides an ephemeral glimpse of a better, more considerate world - one that’s fueled by the “pura vida” (translation: “simple life”) sentiment that the Costa Rican people view in the same regard as law. Pura vida is about appreciating the little things, practicing acceptance and embracing all the goodness that life has to offer. When
before sunset, dozens of scantily clad community members and allies, take off on foot, waving flags, grooving to a disco-leaning catalogue, and amassing strength in numbers as fellow festival goers join the march. The destination is a high-energy dance party set upon Uvita’s stunning black-sand beaches where Envision attendees otherwise go to soak up some sun or watch the sunrise after a long night of raving beneath the treetops. “Envision was birthed out of love, and this offering is too,” Gangemi says of the Parade. “I want to give people a place to be themselves, a place where they feel welcome.” The sun begins to kiss the ocean, but even as the vista grows dim, the light emanating from this body glitter-covered group (biodegradable, of course) is undeniable. It’s clear that Gangemi
is giving the people of Envision what he found here for the first time so many years ago. “[After coming out], I went to that wedding, and the hosts asked me what animal I wanted to be.” Gangemi laughs, reminiscing on his choice of “dolphin.” But the animal he landed on was nothing more exotic than his authentic self. He remembers, “It felt so good for the first time in my life to truly be seen and to not have to wonder if I’d be outcasted or ridiculed for something I never had any control over. Now, I want to create that space for others within Envision, for anyone and everyone so we can all feel free together.” ■ VISIT WWW.ENVISIONFESTIVAL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND FOR DETAILS ON THE 2021.
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THE BERKSHIRES HISTORY & HAUNTS
PLANNING AHEAD FOR WHEN YOU CAN TAKE THAT WEEKEND AWAY BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES THE BERKSHIRES HAVE ENTICED NEW YORKERS AND BOSTONIANS FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
Music lovers make an annual trek out to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra play at the Tanglewood Music Center every summer, and many of New York and Boston’s established and up and coming stage actors head to the area to perform at some of the best regional theatres in the country. MASS MoCA (https://massmoca.org/) in North Adams is one of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying art, and is often bustling with artists and visitors alike. It is a vast collection of galleries and indoor/outdoor performing arts facilities spread across sixteen acres of a former 19th-century mill that was taken over by Sprague Electric Company from 1942-1985. The complex, listed on the National Historic Register, with 26 buildings featuring bridges, viaducts, elevated walkways, and red brick facades, is a work of art unto itself. MASS MoCA boasts the extraordinary collection of 105 Sol Lewitt’s works in an exhibition titled Sol Lewitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective as well as Joseph Beuys’ Lightning with Stag in Its Glare, and Julianne Swartz’s In Harmonicity, The Tonal Walkway. This summer the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge will host “Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration, featuring over 130 works of art by nearly 90 artists and showcasing characters like Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Game of Thrones, and The Lord of the Rings. The museum itself features the world’s largest and most significant
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collection of Norman Rockwell art including 998 original paintings and drawings. Rockwell’s Stockbridge studio was even moved to the museum site and is open to the public from May through October. Back in 2008, Rockwell, who created artwork for 323 Saturday Evening Post covers, was named the official state artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The museum is open seven days a week, year-round. The Tony Award-winning Williamstown Theatre Festival (https:// wtfestival.org/) always has a star-studded season, with such productions as Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire and Anna Ziegler’s Photograph 51. Barrington Stage Company (https://barringtonstageco.org/), located in downtown Pittsfield, is considered the fastest growing arts venue in Berkshire County. Since its inception in 1995, Barrington Stage (BSC) has produced 32 new works, 18 of which have moved on to New York and major regional theatres around the country. Over 60,000 people check out shows at Barrington Stage each year. BSC’s 2020 season includes Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, Richard Greenberg’s The Assembled Parties, Lauren Yee’s The Great Leap, and Nilo Cruz’s Anna in the Tropics, and more. Shakespeare buffs and theatre elites flock to Shakespeare & Company every summer for some of the best shows in the Berkshires. The 2020 season includes Much Ado About Nothing, The Comedy of Errors, Betrayal, Emma, and King Lear.
THIS PAGE: NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM
Take one trip to the area and you’ll discover sweeping mountain and valley landscapes, lush forests, top notch visual and performing arts, and first-rate accommodations for suite nights in the country. Where exactly are the Berkshires? Situated primarily in the western parts of Massachusetts and extending into part of Connecticut and New York’s Columbia County. Geographically speaking, they’re a continuation of Vermont’s Green Mountains. The height of the season is June through August and whether you make Lenox, Pittsfield, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, or even Hillsdale in New York your home base, there’s plenty to see and do.
Interested in taking a deeper literary dive into the Berkshires rich history? Orchard House was where Louisa May Alcott wrote and set the classic novel Little Women. Visitors can tour the house by guided tour only, Stroll through The Mount, Edith Wharton’s storied country estate, and reenact scenes from The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth on the lawn. Feel like the home is a little spooky? So did Wharton, who claims to have been “haunted by formless horrors” over the years. The Mount is so haunted, in fact, that the property offers seasonal ghost tours. Even SyFy’s Ghost Hunters filmed two episodes on the estate. Nearby, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The House of Seven Gables while living and working out of a tiny red cottage in Stockbridge. It’s worth noting that this area is where the “friendship” of Hawthorne and Melville flourished. Melville lived at Arrowhead (https://berkshirehistory.org/), in Pittsfield, from 1850-1863, where he wrote several of his major works, including Moby-Dick, and likely enjoyed many a late night with Hawthorne. The Berkshire County Historical Society acquired the home, now a National Historic Landmark, in 1975 and currently runs the property as a museum.
THIS PAGE: PS21 PHOTO BY DEIRDRE MALFATTO • AUDRA MCDONALD BY ALLISON MICHAEL ORENSTEIN
Norman Rockwell Museum
Audra McDonald at the Williamstown Theatre Festival
Dance at the Performances Spaces for the 21st Century
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THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF QUAINT INNS, BOUTIQUE HOTELS, AND LUXURY B&BS THROUGHOUT THE BERKSHIRES. 33 Main (thirtythreemain.com) was originally built by Andrew Thompson in 1836, designed in a Federal style with two chimneys and a gable roof. The building has had several owners over the years, and is currently owned by Annie Selke, who opened a year-round, eightroom luxury inn a few years back. Selke, who owns the global textile company Annie Selke with home decor, bedding, furniture, rugs and more, conceived and curated all home furnishings for the inn. Two of the eight rooms are dog friendly, so no need to leave the pups back at home. Each room has a unique local name nodding to local streets and landmarks like Hollingsworth, Aster, Stockbridge, Cliffwood, and Sunnyholm (the original name of the house). Selke states,“I strive to make every day (and hotel night) as uplifting as possible and that means being inspired by what surrounds you. An exquisitely made bed, a lovely bathroom with plush towels and a comfy robe, and a yummy breakfast in a beautiful place go a long way toward having an uplifting day!” Like the furnishings? The Annie Selke Shop is located across the street. Blantyre (https://blantyre.com/), a proud member of the Relais & Châteaux association of individually owned and operated luxury hotels and restaurants,
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is a Tudor-style mansion and estate built in 1902. Feel like Jack Gatsby as you saunter to dinner beneath baccarat chandeliers in this decadent fivestar resort which features the Spa at Blantyre, tennis, hiking, croquet, and 110 acres of manicured lawns and alluring woodlands. In the mood for a toast or celebrating on your journey through the Berkshires? The Blantyre estate offers a full-service Dom Pérignon champagne salon. Guests can reserve private tastings in LaCave, nestled underground, beneath the original brick and marble stone walls. Step into the speakeasy and indulge in oysters, caviar, and wagyu brisket, and let the bubbles flow late into the evening. Over on the New York side of the Berkshires, Columbia County has plenty of offerings. There’s Vanderbilt Lakeside (https://www.vanderbiltlakeside.com/), a Victorian in Philmont, offering eight upscale (yet cozy) en suite bedrooms, an on-site chef-driven “Bar Room”, and a fun game room overlooking the backyard and Summit Lake. Activities at Vanderbilt include bonfires and canoeing on the lake. The Inn at Green River (https://www.innatgreenriver.com) is a wonderful upscale bed and breakfast in Hillsdale, New York. The 1830 Federal-style farmhouse offers seven romantic rooms, each suited with a fireplace, and deep-soaking tubs, two-person showers or whirlpool tubs. In a blog post on the Inn’s website, Deborah Bowen, the Innkeeper states that “with more than
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF 33 MAIN
33 Main
Blantyre
Roe Jan Brewery
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF BLANTYRE • PHOTO COURTESY OF CATAMOUNT MOUNTAIN RESORT • PHOTO COURTESY OF ROE JAN BREWING CO
Catamount Mountain Resort
100 lodging options in the Berkshires, it can be challenging to determine which one will be the best fit for you…. In addition to the tastefully appointed rooms, large comfy beds, soaking tubs and gas fireplaces, our grounds are open to our guests. Find the perfect spot to read your book, write in your journal, or meditate. Vast lawns and beautiful gardens, a hammock for two under the trees, Adirondack chairs in a corner overlooking the meadow.” Nearby, the newly opened Roe Jan Brewing Co. (http://roejanbrewing.com/) at 32 Anthony Street in Hillsdale uses a sevenbarrel Portland Kettle Works system to produce a rotating menu of well-balanced beers including traditional ales and lagers as well as IPAs and sours. Their pub menu focuses on seasonal, wood-fired food. There’s a lot of history in the building, which dates to 1851 when it was built by Joshua Bulkeley to house the Hillsdale Mercantile Association. The current owners, Steve and Kathy Bluestone purchased the building in June 2018, and spent 20 months restoring it to its historic appearance. The name “Roe Jan” comes from the local river, the Roeliff Jansen Kill, which flows through Hillsdale, Columbia and Duchess counties before joining the Hudson.
Pulitzer Prize-winner (and notable friend of Sappho) Edna St. Vincent Millay took up residence in the Berkshire foothills of Austerlitz, New York near the beautiful Harvey Mountain State Forest. The Millay Colony for Arts (https://www.millaycolony.org/) founded in 1973, at Millay’s former estate, is a year round artists’ residency program and artists’ center where nearly 3,000 artists have come to work. Further afield, the village of Chatham is often bustling with locals and tourists shopping at quaint shops, dining at great restaurants, and socializing at big events like the Chatham Farmers & Makers Market (May 22 through early fall), Chatham Summerfest (July 18), or Film Columbia at the Crandell Theatre. Performances Spaces for the 21st Century (PS121) (https://ps21chatham.org/), set in an apple orchard, offers a state-of-the-art theatre housing both a 99-seat Black Box Theater and a 300 seat open air Pavilion Theatre where you can take in dance, theatre, workshops, and even movie screenings. Looking for less culture and more adventure? Catamount (https://catamountski.com/) has become one of the best mid-sized ski areas on the East coast. Over the past year they’ve become quite a local draw, with the addition of the Catamount Zip Tour featuring the longest zip line in the USA at 5,523 feet. The Catamount Aerial Adventure Park is made up of 12 trails, 180 challenge elements connected by various configurations of cable, wood, and rope. Why not spend a day in the trees? One trip to the Berkshires is simply not enough. There’s more to explore in Downtown Pittsfield, more parks and mountains to hike through and explore, more restaurants and quaint shops to stumble upon in Lenox, and even some charming towns in Connecticut. Why not peruse through Zillow on your way back home to find a weekend place over where you can breathe a little better and truly relax and enjoy the scenery? ■ METROSOURCE.COM APRIL/MAY 2020
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I’ve been a marketing executive, a television producer, and a writer, and I’m proud of all the work I’ve done. My books, though, are very special to me. I’m excited to focus even more on my writing, particularly my next novel. What is your biggest regret, in personal life and in your career life? I’ve never seen the value of having regrets. Every experience — good or bad — is a contribution to a life lived. And, as a writer, it’s all material! Your first book, Porn Again: A Memoir is a literal tell-all, naming names and uncovering some Hollywood secrets. Was there a moment where you thought, maybe I shouldn’t do this? I pull no punches when it comes to identifying the events and people who played a part in shaping my life to this point, whether positively or negatively. The book names only those whose
TELLS IT LIKE IT IS BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
way. When I was writing, I knew I had to be open and honest as well as cop to my own flaws and mistakes. I’m as much (or more) responsible for my own becoming as anyone else, and I never worry about living honestly and telling my story.
WITH A MISCHIEVOUS WINK OF AN EYE, a slight
and The Sixth Sense, among many others.
We see a bigger than life personality
upturn in his smile that’s almost a smirk, and a
His newest book and second title under his
through your books, your appearances, and
toss of his hair – you’re not sure if Josh Sabarra is
belt, Enemies Closer, is a work of fiction that tells
even your social media. How is Josh the
going to be your best friend or your worst enemy
the tale of a 40-ish, mid-level studio publicist who
person most different than Josh the per-
- to some in Hollywood, he’s been both.
has issues with her body, dating, and the indus-
sonality?
Becoming part of the entertainment industry
try, who gets wrapped up in a circle of gossip and
What you get is what you see — although I
at an impossibly young age, he has been there,
backstabbing - all under the Hollywood spotlight.
do filter the bags under my eyes sometimes. Is that
done that, and rubbed elbows (and more) with
50
identities that are important to my journey in some
wrong?
about every celeb you can think of. Josh served
How has being an openly gay entertain-
Did you feel a huge pressure in writing
as a Senior Vice President for A&E/Lifetime Net-
ment personality changed the most over
your second book, Enemies Closer?
works, responsible for the successful launches
the years, and into our current age of
of such series as Project Runway and Sony’s hit
LGBT “inclusivity”?
I absolutely felt pressure to deliver a followup that would satisfy fans of my memoir and also
comedic drama Drop Dead Diva. With New Line
I was closeted for many years, always feel-
intrigue new readers — and to successfully write in
Cinema, he spearheaded campaigns for block-
ing ashamed and uncomfortable in my own skin.
a new genre. I had a blast writing Enemies Closer
buster films including The Lord of the Rings, Elf,
When I finally stepped into myself in my early 30s,
and was thrilled that it was embraced by so many
The Notebook, Wedding Crashers and Hairspray.
I found those around me to be extremely accept-
people. Its success gave me the confidence to get
Previously, at Miramax Films, he handled a vari-
ing and supportive. It’s fantastic that people have
started on my third book. Enemies Closer is a work
ety of special projects and film/awards campaigns
leaned into more meaningful inclusivity, but what
of fiction, but is it that far from the truth? I’ll let you
including Kill Bill, The Station Agent, and Cold
does concern me is the current tendency to over-
decide. In all seriousness, I wanted to do some-
Mountain. Prior to his executive role at Miramax
label. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all just
thing that was escapist fun. Interestingly, I met
Films, he was a Director for Warner Bros., where he
exist without needing to be defined by a particular
the lovely Jackie Collins at a writers event shortly
oversaw campaigns for the Harry Potter franchise
word or category?
before she passed away, and she also encouraged
and studio classics such as Willy Wonka & The
You have had your hands in many different
me to do a fun piece of Hollywood fiction. I’ve
Chocolate Factory and Giant. Beginning his career
aspects of the industry, what are you most
got some more books in me. (And watch out Hol-
with The Walt Disney Company, Sabarra worked
proud of?
lywood, I know where all of those skeletons are!)
on theatrical publicity campaigns for box-office
I’ve always been a big pop culture and enter-
hits Hercules, Mulan, Armageddon, Toy Story 2
tainment fan and feel very lucky to have been able
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[Originally printed in GED Magazine.]
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY JOSH SABARRA
LAST CALL VIEWS
JOSH SABARRA
to turn that passion into a wide-ranging career.
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