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 and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. 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:
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.
Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,
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 Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: 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 ASPIRING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020 © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0197 03/20
DIMITRI LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT
KEEP ASPIRING.
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. See Dimitri’s story at BIKTARVY.com. Featured patient compensated by Gilead.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.
THE GOOD THINGS IN 2020
VIEWS
EDITOR’S LETTER
SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT 2020 WAS NOT THE YEAR ANYONE ANTICIPATED WHEN THE CONFETTI ERUPTED ON NEW YEAR’S EVE USHERING IN THE NEW DECADE. To put it mildly, 2020 was one brutal year on many fronts, and while I do not want to brush aside the reality we all find ourselves in, I do think it is important to find some light in the darkness. So, here are some good things to come out of 2020 (yes, there were some):
• Telemedicine. While not a new concept, is now accepted as providing real value to many who might not be able to see a doctor or mental health expert in the person. Which is critical for those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including communities of color and people living with HIV. This is also helpful if living in a community where it is not safe to be out as LGBTQ, or where access to LGBTQ-affirming health care is limited. Telemedicine allows LGBTQ people access to experts who are affirming and welcoming. • Greater appreciation for real heroes in everyday life – doctors, emergency responders, frontline workers, teachers, and others, are getting the respect they deserve for the difficult jobs they do day in and day out. • Pet adoptions are at an all-time high. Which brings about the old saying, “Who is saving who?” • Lady Gaga gave us a new album for sweaty living room dance parties. • We’ve proven working from home works.
• The environment gets a break and air quality improves due to reduced commuting hours and increased work from home hours. Global emissions are down by 17 percent and the UN Environment Program claimed 2020 to be a super year for nature and biodiversity. While it may be a short-term gain, imagine if a majority of the population drove electric cars. • Drive-in Drag is now a thing. • John Krasinski made good news go viral with the YouTube series “Some Good News.” • Facts triumphed over fiction. • The Chicks returned after 14 years with “Gaslighter” and reignited our love of twangy empowerment songs. • Puzzles and board games provided a break from our TV/computer screens. • The rediscovery of baking (we might have gained a little weight with all that banana bread), and gardening. • Crayola launched a box of crayons with diverse skin colors for children to “accurately color themselves into the world.” •Saturday Night Live. •Movies going straight to streaming to view in our living rooms. •Wearing sweatpants and tees became acceptable fashion choices all day, every day. •Birdwatching became a fun pastime. •Realizing that we must do our part to support our LGBTQ community restaurants, bars, cabarets, boutiques, drag queens, and others (from the comfort of home), to keep our community institutions alive. On behalf of the entire Metrosource team, I wish you a very safe and happy holiday season and new year.
PUBLISHER Bent Share Entertainment, LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Westman COPY EDITOR James Delyea CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A Reyes MARKETING DIRECTOR Christopher Jackson GRAPHIC DESIGNER Steven Garcia FEATURE WRITER Alexander Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS James Patrick
Jeffrey James Keyes Megan Venzin Michael Westman Steve Gottfried
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Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com
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.
@metrosource @metrosource @metrosourcemag
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THIS PAGE: TITUSS BURGESS PHOTO BY JEFF MILLS | IG: @JEFFMILLSPHOTOGRAPHY | WWW.JEFFMILLSPHOTO.COM • JONATHAN BENNETT PHOTO BY COLLIN STARK • PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW RICHARDSON • PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENNAN CLOST • SCOTT SCHOFIELD PHOTO BY OLIVIA HEMARATANATORN
December 2020/January 2021 | VOLUME 31, NO. 6
CONTENTS
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22
16 JONATHAN BENNETT MAKING ROOM AT THE HALLMARK HOLIDAY TABLE
22 TITUSS BURGESS LIVING HIS PASSION
36 MATTHEW RICHARDSON
36
SPINNING A MESSAGE OF TOLERANCE
38 BRENNAN CLOST DANCES ONTO THE SCREEN IN ‘TINY PRETTY THINGS’
46 SCOTT SCHOFIELD EXPANDING VISIBILITY OF TRANS CHARACTERS IN ENTERTAINMENT
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ON THE COVER: Photo by Jeff Mills | IG: @jeffmillsphotography | www.jeffmillsphoto.com METROSOURCE.COM
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DEPARTMENTS
December 2020/January 2021 | VOLUME 31, NO. 6
28 7 THE SCOPE Kylie Minogue Wants to take you to the Disco
12 HOLIDAY
12
Paul Zahn The King of Cocktail Chat Festive Cocktails for the Holiday Season
21 FINANCE Personal Finance Resolve to be Money Wise in 2021: Set a Budget
37 HOLIDAY
37
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Gift Guide Something for Everyone in Your List
METROSOURCE.COM
BODY 28 HEALTH APPly Yourself in 2021
VIEWS 4 EDITOR’S LETTER The Good Things in 2020
THIS PAGE: PAUL ZAHN PHOTO BY SETH HANCOCK PHOTOGRAPHY • APPS AND GIFTS PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
CULTURE
THESCOPE
CULTURE
THESCOPE
CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
LISTEN
KYLIE MINOGUE - DISCO
SHE IS A DISCO ICON AND POP PRINCESS WITH A CAREER SPANNING 30+ YEARS.
Kylie Minogue has achieved seven UK #1 singles plus a further twenty-four Top 10 hits. Seven of her albums have also topped the charts, including her most recent studio album, 2018’s ‘Golden’, and last year’s ‘Step Back In Time: The Definitive Collection’. She has sold 80 million albums worldwide but has also been sufficiently embraced by the streaming generation to command over 6 million monthly listeners at Spotify. And that’s before you consider the impact of three BRIT Awards, a Grammy and two MTV Europe Awards. Kylie has continued to command the spotlight. In her 2019 appearance at Glastonbury, she pulled out all the stops: a set of some of pop’s most enduring classics, striking costume changes, a cannon of confetti, and special guest appearances by Chris Martin and Nick Cave. There were also
tears, as Kylie finally returned to the stage that she was due to headline back in 2005 before she was diagnosed with breast cancer. And the reaction was something else. It became the BBC’s most watched set in the festival’s history, with the NME describing it as “a surreal pop spectacle” and an “all-out celebration”. Now Kylie continues to deliver the feel-good hits with her fifteenth studio album ‘DISCO’, transports us away from the mundanity of daily life to somewhere altogether more thrilling.‘DISCO’ features the recent singles ‘Say Something’ and ‘Magic’, and was largely recorded in lockdown with each team member recording and working from a separate location, leading to Kylie having a vocal engineering credit on all but two of the sixteen tracks on the record. Stream the album at https://kylie.lnk.to/DISCOPR. METROSOURCE.COM
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THESCOPE CULTURE
MODERNISM WEEK 2021
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA WILL BE AGAIN BE HOSTING MODERNISM WEEK, a celebration of midcentury modern
architecture and design. While this year’s events will be different, Modernism Week is planning a variety of new and favorite events as both in-person and online programs for 2021, including architectural walking tours, home tours, garden and driving tours, and more. All ‘live’ events will follow established public health protocols and observe social distancing. Online events will include specially created video programs and provide free and low-cost streaming educational and entertainment experiences by noted architects, designers and historians who are experts in their fields. The educational and entertaining programs will cover topics ranging
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from historic building restoration and preservation to adaptive reuse and the development of affordable housing. These online programs will allow viewers to participate remotely from home and to safely share the online experiences with their families. Modernism Week celebrates and fosters appreciation of midcentury architecture and design and shares free and lowcost educational opportunities with the public. These programs help preserve and beautify neighborhoods and communities throughout the Coachella Valley and provide education worldwide. Tickets for in-person events will be available at https://modernismweek.com beginning January 1, 2021, with on-line programs going on sale February 1, 2021.
THIS PAGE: IMAGE BY ADOBESTOCK.COM
TOUR
WATCH
DASHING IN DECEMBER
PREMIERING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13TH AT 7PM ET/PT ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK with simulcasts on Logo, Pop, and TV Land, Dashing in
December is an LGBTQ holiday film starring Juan Pablo Di Pace, Peter Porte and Golden Globe® nominee Andie MacDowell. Featuring a diverse cast and crew, Dashing in December follows Wyatt (Porte, Baby Daddy), a sophisticated, New York City financier who returns home for the holidays in an effort to convince his mother, Deb (MacDowell, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Groundhog Day) to sell the family’s ranch and beloved magical Winter Wonderland attraction. During his mission, an unexpected romance ignites with the new ranch hand Heath (Di Pace, Fuller House) reawakening the spirit of Christmas. The film also stars Caroline Harris (Westworld) and Carlos Sanz (Stronger, Crank). “This feel good project captures the importance of inclusive storytelling, the power of love and the spirit of the holidays all rolled into one,” said Meghan Hooper, EVP, Head of Original Movies and Limited Series for Paramount Network. The film also includes new original songs from Cody Belew (Hang Your Hat On My Christmas Tree), Fancy Hagood (Christmas Kiss) and Styles Haury (Christmas All Alone).
DRINK
FIVE HUSBANDS VODKA
THIS PAGE: DASHING IN DECEMBER CAST PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT NETWORK • PRODUCT PHOTO COURTESY OF OGDEN’S OWN FIVE HUSBANDS VODKA
SHIRTS OFF, MASKS ON, OGDEN’S OWN FIVE HUSBANDS VODKA IS THE IDEAL DATE FOR A STAYAT-HOME PRIDE celebration all year long. Or
rather, the ideal dates – the more the merrier, right? Ogden’s Own released a new version of their label for PRIDE with team members adorning colorful face masks as they continue to support the LGBTQ+ community. We know you would rather be bar crawling than Zooming with your cocktails from home, but put on your favorite playlist, throw on that boa, and pour a Five Husbands DIY cocktail. Ogden’s Own Five Husbands Vodka is available at select retailers across Utah and conveniently online at https:// tinyurl.com/y5df9w59.
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READ
PROMISED LAND BY BARACK OBAMA
VISIT
DAVID PARK - A RETROSPECTIVE
SFMOMA THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2021 AT THE AGE OF THIRTY-EIGHT, DAVID PARK (1911–1960) ABANDONED A CARLOAD OF HIS ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST CANVASES at the city
dump and started painting “pictures” — a radical decision that led to the development of Bay Area Figurative Art. Organized by SFMOMA, this exhibition comprises 127 paintings and works on paper. It is the first major museum exhibition of Park’s work in three decades and the first to examine the full arc of his career, from his tightly controlled paintings from the 1930s to his
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final works on paper from 1960. The heart of the show is a rich selection of the 1950s Bay Area Figurative canvases for which he is best known — boldly executed compositions featuring musicians, domestic and vernacular scenes, portraits, boaters, and bathers. The works reveal an artist deeply connected to human experience and at the peak of his powers, reveling in the expressive and sensuous qualities of pure paint. https://www. sfmoma.org/exhibition/david-park-a-retrospective.
THIS PAGE: PROMISE LAND COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF RIZZOLI BOOKSTORE • FOUR MEN BY DAVID PARK IMAGE COURTESY OF SFMOMA
CULTURE
THESCOPE
A RIVETING, DEEPLY PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF HISTORY IN THE MAKING-from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency--a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil. Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office. Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high, but something founded on empathy and common understanding ad built together, day by day. Available for purchase at https://www.rizzolibookstore.com.
PAUL ZAHN
THE KING OF COCKTAIL CHAT COCKTAILS
FESTIVE COCKTAILS
FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
IF THERE WAS THE SIMS: GAY BRUNCH, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CHARACTER WOULD BE BASED ON ENTERTAINMENT GURU PAUL ZAHN
(IG: @PaulZahn) – a snappy dresser with the perfect daytime scruff, and master of the sassy chat with the ability to make a mean cocktail. He could easily play the perfect boyfriend or that bestie who makes getting into trouble look fancy. And the killer? He gets paid for it. Paul’s personality is in high demand as a beverage brand ambassador, BravoTV.com reporter, and on-air lifestyle expert. His quick wit and love of all things entertainment have put him on televisions across the nation, on red carpets in front of every kind of celebrity you can imagine. We chatted about red carpets, television, and, of course, cocktails. Most of us extroverted gays are blessed with the gift of gab, from brunch gossip or reality TV show recaps to political repartee. We can certainly talk. I was always a Chatty Cathy. Growing up, my father used to ask me, “Do you just talk to hear yourself talk?” And I always replied, “YES!” Now, I explain to my father that I get PAID to talk so it all worked out. I have always enjoyed being around people and socializing!
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We will literally talk to everyone while avoiding working a normal job at all costs, even in our youth. One of my first paying jobs was standing outside of a costume store, dressed as Captain Hook (wig and all!) trying to get people to go inside. I was probably 11 years old. The outfit was cute, the check was nice, and I was available. Booked and blessed, henny! Paul’s love of the gab and being front and center as a precocious youth saw him in school plays and musicals and then off to New York to work the East Coast stage, showing a little skin on the way. I performed Off-Broadway in NYC and always say Broadway performers are the MOST talented in the world. While working Off-Broadway, I performed in Broadway Bares for six years. Volunteering with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS was one of the most artistically and personally rewarding experiences of my life. I even shared a stage with icons like Cyndi Lauper and Fran Drescher - so you can imagine how fun that was! His career path and natural celebrity curiosity would take him to his first professional gig, hosting and producing for Time Warner Cable. He was also a contributor to OK! TV/Celebrity Page TV as a
THIS PAGE: PAUL ZAHN PHOTO BY ERIC SCHWABEL
HOLIDAY
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
THIS PAGE: COURTESY IMAGE FOR THE VELVET COFFEE KISS
part of their Entertainment Team. He also took part in the Yahoo/Coca-Cola PreShow at The American Music Awards, co-hosting the live show with celebrities like Lance Bass, Kandi Burruss, and Jordin Sparks, as produced by Dick Clark Productions. Those of us in the biz know that hosting gigs don’t usually come with a handbook and most times you are given a microphone and maybe a tip sheet with poorly xeroxed copies of celeb headshots and, if you are lucky, the title of their latest project. I covered movie premieres, press junkets, and even co-hosted the official American Music Awards Pre-Show. I was thrust into the gig with little preparation but was lucky enough to interview everyone from George Clooney and Jennifer Garner to Sir Ben Kinglsey. And yes - you address him as SIR. It went well if you don’t count my interview with Jeremy Piven, who walked away midinterview because I said his movie would be available On Demand. I was wrong and he did NOT like that! I just laughed and kept rolling with the punches that’s what you need to do! Approaching a celebrity can be like approaching a sleeping tiger. You never know what you are going to get when they focus in on you. Will they be the affable guest? Or the challenging opponent? My approach when interacting with celebrities - whether it is creating an event for them or interviewing them - is speaking to them like they are human. I have experienced so many cringe-worthy interactions where people approach celebrities and speak to them like they are aliens or superhuman. I always ask how their day is going, how the kids are, compliment something they are wearing - much like you would to a friend. It sets the tone of familiarity and levels the playing field. The celebrities typically enjoy the day to day banter. And if you do need to ask them something personal or pressing (because your producer or editor requires this at times) - I wait until the end. Red carpets and phone interviews can be super tricky. Some celebrities just do not like to talk without a script. Incredibly, standup comedians and comedic actors can sometimes be the most challenging. They either feel lost without their routine or like to match wits with
BRUNCH/NEW YEAR’S S HANGOVER THE VELVET COFFEE KISS 1 o z. Vodka 3/4 oz. Disaronno Velvet 1/2 oz. Tia Maria Coffee Liqueur 1 shot of espresso Build all ingredients in iced mixing tin. Shake and strain over fresh ice. Garnish with an espresso bean.
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which is frustrating. I have had deals go south right before production started with the major production companies. I have also had managers that have asked me to change who I am when going into meetings - and that is not going to happen! From the start of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy on Bravo TV almost twenty years ago, the idea of what an oncamera gay host should look like has continually shifted. There is still the stereotype of how a host should appear and act – the gay host robot. I have had talent managers in the past ask me to “butch it up” or tell me “I’m not gay enough.” I was not aware there a “gay barometer” - do they sell it at GAY-MART? Unfortunately - that sort of conversation does not go well with me. So, I parted ways with that manager. I have had major entertainment shows say they like me “but they are looking for more diverse hosts.” The challenge of being a host is that you are not playing a role like an actor- you are being yourself. The critiques are quite literally about you, as a being. I do not take things personally and know I am not for
METROSOURCE.COM
HANUKKAH DRINK MANHATTAN 2 oz. THE BUSKER Irish Whiskey 1 oz. sweet vermouth 2 dashes Angostura bitters, 1 dash orange bitters Build all ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Stir. Strain into coupe glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
everyone or for every outlet, but it can be a lot to take in. Body image in the industry is slowly evolving. Though most gay hosts you see on-air will only fit in an extreme slim fit pant, times are changing. For those of us old enough to remember, Entertainment Tonight changed their news desk to a glass, no-front version so viewers could see Mary Hart’s legs. Now, the shift is towards personality rather than looks and that kind of thinking (along with Mary Hart’s career) is a thing of the past.You can thank social media for that. The way people consume content has completely changed over the past 10-20 years. Talent has direct access to an audience via social media and the internet. In the ‘80s you needed a major studio or record label to “approve” you to get your content to the masses. Now, people
THIS PAGE: PAUL ZAHN PHOTO COURTESY OF IG@PAULZAHN • MANHATTAN/WHISKEY PHOTO BY CHRISTINA RUSSO/FRESH PRINT MEDIA
COCKTAILS HOLIDAY
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the interviewer. And then there is the off chance that the celeb does not like to get personal – like at ALL. One celebrity I was interviewing literally would not give a specific answer, so I just tried and asked even more specific questions. At the end of the day, I am a freelance writer - so without any “meat,” my story will not get greenlit by my editor. If things are not going anywhere when interviewing on camera, I just shift into timely topics - what is your favorite Christmas song? What is your favorite vacation getaway spot for the holidays? This way, you have some content to be used by producers. Breaking into the hosting arena isn’t just showing up and looking pretty in front of the camera. There are the business development and marketing you must do for yourself. How you conduct the business side of your hosting persona is just as important as what you do in front of the camera. The time you see on camera is usually paved with a road of obstacles. I have had development deals to produce and host my own projects with major television production companies get shelved,
THIS PAGE: COURTESY IMAGE FOR THE SPIKED ITALIAN APPLE CIDER
control their own content so the Issa Rae’s of the world can create, put out their work, and then get the major players on board. The approval process has shifted and changed - and I think it is great, because body image/appearance is not the driving force anymore. It is the talent. Look at shows like The Voice - perfect example. Getting older in the industry also helps with ideas of body image. Having a consummate resume speaks for itself as does the idea of not having to compete with up-and-comers. Being a host and entertaining expert is a lot less pressure than when I was an actor or model in my 20’s. People book me for my personality and expertise and not my looks, so I do not get those requests from photographers to pose nude or in provocative manners anymore. However, I do try and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I go to the gym, drink lots of water, eat a healthy diet, and always wear sunscreen. After a few bouts with skin cancer - that is mandatory. And I have a great dermatologist who helps with “little arrangements,” to quote Walter Mercado. In addition to his entertainment work, Paul has developed and marketed beverage brands with everyone from Fergie to 50 Cent to Pitbull. He has also worked on iconic spirit brands like Absolut Vodka, Malibu Rum, Disaronno, and Midori. During COVID, he has hosted a myriad of live tastings for his clients digitally. But perhaps one of his best stories deals with one of our gay Divas pre-fame. Years ago, I worked for Absolut Vodka
in New York City. Absolut had a big focus on LGBT causes, and we sponsored a big event every year for an LGBT magazine, and a little know pop star attended. She had one single barely below the Top 100, but she had a voice that I loved. I oversaw the VIP room and all she wanted was vodka drinks, so we made sure she had them. Plenty of them. As the night was winding down, the Absolut team came to the VIP lounge and we all got our spirited sipping on. Fast forward to the end of the eve and this pop star was quite tipsy and fun. The issue, that I found out much, much later was her age - 19. It was Adele! She was a lot of fun! As the go-to party guy with the booze, especially as a gay socialite, how does being the cocktail man work with being successful in a career? Hosting events and working for spirits companies can be overwhelming at times. I work hard and play hard but try to keep a balance in life. Pre-COVID, I would rarely be out on a weekend because so much of my week is absorbed either hosting events for a spirits company or attending events as press. As I have gotten older, I really pick my battles when it comes to what and how I spend my free time. And water…lots of water! Who knows when we will be hosting parties again? But when that time comes, Paul will be taking notes. The biggest faux pas? Running out of ice, not having enough passed food and drinks, and long lines at bars at special events, are things that irk me. It is not brain surgery, people.
COVID has certainly changed the way we view get-togethers, social events, and even what we want to talk about. Paul has kept the party going with the addition of tech skills into his arsenal. Zoom happy hours have been a thing, why not make them a quality experience? Alcohol consumption has increased during COVID by 14%, not bad considering the bars are all closed. I have learned how much of an extrovert I am during COVID. I have always enjoyed being around people so isolating has been tough. I have also learned that I am nimble. I am beyond grateful that we have these phones that we can broadcast from and so thankful for all the television hosts and producers who have allowed me to join their show from the comfort of my living room. Hopefully, 2021 will be kinder than 2020. How should we party on New Year’s Eve? New Year’s Eve will look quite different his year but that does not mean you cannot have some fun. This year, I am all about gratitude - so why not take some time during your in-person or Zoom soiree to share some things you are grateful for this NYE. I also recommend some fun signature cocktails. The party scene may look very different for the next year or so, but Paul is focused on delivering his content any way he can. During COVID he has Zoomed in on numerous talk shows throughout the nation to share his lifestyle tips and cocktail goodness. On the personal front, he is working on a book and still dreams of that white, picket fence fairy tale. So, any single Prince Charmings out there – do not forget the ice. ■
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY DRINK SPIKED ITALIAN APPLE CIDER 1.5 oz. Appleton Estate Rum 1/2 oz. Disaronno Originale 1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice 1/2 oz. ginger syrup 3 oz. apple cider Build all ingredients in iced mixing tin and shake. Strain over fresh ice. Garnish with dehydrated lemon.
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THIS PAGE: JONATHAN BENNETT PHOTO BY COLLIN STARK
JONATHAN BENNETT MAKING ROOM AT THE HALLMARK HOLIDAY TABLE BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ IN THE GAY BIBLE, THERE’S ONLY ONE ACCEPTABLE THING THAT CAN PREEMPT THE NIGHTLY SCHEDULE OF GOLDEN GIRLS RERUNS ON THE
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF HALLMARK CHANNEL
HALLMARK CHANNEL – the Hallmark holiday movie schedule…
and this year, there’s more room at the holiday table. In the turmoil that has been the social and political atmosphere for the LGBTQ community this last year, one of the most previously conservative channels announced the inclusion of openly gay characters in this year’s line-up of holiday films with the casting of Jonathan Bennett and Brad Harder as a married couple in the ensemble comedy, The Christmas House. One out of 40 new holiday films to be produced by Hallmark this year will feature diversity and inclusion, which the network stated was at the top of their priority list. Jonathan Bennett’s relationship with Hallmark started ten years ago with the film, Elevator Girl. Since then a lot has changed for the Mean Girls star, including stints on Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Big Brother, hosting Cake Wars and Halloween Wars for The Food Network, co-authoring The Burn Cookbook, and personally, coming out. The call for The Christmas House was to be way out of the ordinary for Bennett. My agent called me to say I have an offer for another Hallmark movie. I said, “Oh great. Who is my girl? And the
response was, ‘Jake’, and my jaw hit the ground. And I think I started crying.” To be clear, this film is not the “big gay Hallmark film”, Jonathan’s storyline is one of the many stories being told in this family piece that also star Robert Buckley, Treat Williams, and Sharon Lawrence. Jonathan’s character, Brandon, and his brother are called home by his father to share a family Christmas. During their trip, Brandon and his husband await the news of their adoption attempt. The story is told matter-of-factly, not as a spectacle. The script is an ensemble movie about family and unconditional love. And it is a real family in 2020. That is what made me want to play this part so badly - because it is just a real family that loves each other. I think every movie has pressure to tell a good story. I just want people to see a beautiful story of what it means to be a family and see firsthand what unconditional love is. I want people to watch this and see it for what it is – a movie about love and family. That’s it. This film came with a lot of pressure, both from the network and the LGBTQ community. How was this going to come across? How was it going to be accepted? Despite the pressures involved, there was a very real moment on the set when the importance of this film came together. METROSOURCE.COM
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Harder, opposite Jonathan. Would it have made a difference to Jonathan if they would have cast a straight actor in the role? It is awesome that the actor that Hallmark chose to play my husband just happened to be a gay dad who had a kid, because our storyline in the movie is about two husbands who are waiting to find out if their adoption papers are going to go through so they can start their own family. I don’t necessarily know if it would have mattered if it was a gay or straight actor, but I am glad that it was Brad playing himself. He knows what it feels like to be a gay dad and get the call that they are going to be a family. I talked to him in the scenes. There’s a line when I turn and say, “We’re adopting a baby,” and I asked him how to say it. He said, “It just comes out of your mouth when that moment happens.” So, I literally took a lot of direction from him. Over his 10-year relationship with Hallmark, Bennett has filmed a handful of projects with the network, co-starring alongside other staple Hallmark actors. From starting his relationship with Hallmark as a closeted actor to being an easily recognizable face of the LGBTQ community with a public, long-term relationship, making Hallmark holiday film history is life full circle for Jonathan. I absolutely love the Hallmark Channel and their movies. I love what Hallmark makes movies about, which is family and love. Half of the actors on the network are my best friends - Rachel
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When we filmed our big scene of the movie between my character, Brandon, and his husband, Jake, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. I am pretty sure I blacked out during the filming because I don’t remember filming it. I just remember everyone clapping and cheering and the scene being over. I think I was so nervous and there was so much pressure on me that it just kind of happened, but the coolest part of that was we had a director who was gay and a huge number of our crew members were LGBTQ. When the scene was over, a group of the crew members that were LGBTQ came up to me and Brad (who plays Jake) and had tears in their eyes. They said, “Thank you for representing us and thank you for doing this part because you’re exactly what we want this moment to be, you guys portrayed it perfectly.” So, we were proud to play that scene and do well. There were a lot of tears that day. Happy tears. Not even the backlash from social media and conservative organizations could take away from the experience of making this film for Bennett. Whatever they want to say or do is up to them. My job is to tell this story for the little Jonathan that’s 12 years old in Ohio and is watching this Christmas movie with his family and, for the first time, he might feel a little less scared this Christmas. That is what I am focused on. Hallmark chose to cast an openly gay, real-life dad, Brad
Boston, Lacey Chabert, Danica McKellar, and Sam Page. I grew up in the industry with all these amazingly talented actors and we are family. I think the difference from the first Hallmark movie I did to this movie is that I just am now playing something more authentic to me, individually. We are making the Hallmark holiday table that much bigger this Christmas - all that’s happening is that the table is expanding. Danica, Rachel, and Lacey have always been my guardian angels on Earth, I feel. They have been there any time something major or dramatic has happened in my life. So, when the holidays come and we are all promoting our movies together, it just really does feel like a big family. Again, for me, the whole reason I did this movie is for the 12-year-old me, that is watching at home, scared out of his mind of not knowing what the future is going to hold. When I was 12, I never saw anyone that looked like me on television. I didn’t see a gay couple in a Christmas movie. But when I was a kid, I wanted to start my own family, I wanted to get married, I wanted to have kids, but I never had that representation on television. I never saw that. To get to be that person and do it on a channel that is absolutely based on family and love, is just a win-win for me. Jonathan’s own, real-life Christmas stories are as colorful as any script. My late father, who was an ER doctor, was good with patients and bad at home renovation. He decided one Christmas that he wanted to trim the tree, already placed in the living room, because it was misshapen. Instead of taking the tree out to the garage, he brought the chainsaw into the living room and proceeded to trim the side of the tree. Well, the chainsaw went through the wall, hit a water line, and water started squirting out of the walls two weeks before Christmas. One Christmas Eve, he tried to thaw a
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then comes Jaymes and the baby carriage. So, we are working on those steps. What was so incredible was to see the journey that Brad Harder went through while we were shooting because he had just adopted a baby and his family had grown. To see that happen firsthand, and then to shoot this movie, lit the fire to want to start my own family with Jaymes. After playing the role for weeks, you start to believe it and feel what it feels like to be that person. And I love what that felt like, it felt so great. With Jonathan’s involvement in the LGBTQ community and his activism for equality, it is hard to remember when he was not out. During filming Mean Girls, Jonathan and his co-star, Daniel Franzese, did share private conversations about staying in the closet. Franzese came out in 2014, Bennett came out in 2017.
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frozen water pipe with a blowtorch, hit a gas line, and burnt down our farmhouse. He is the real-life Clark Griswold from Christmas Vacation. That is what I love about the Mitchell family in this movie. This is one of the first ensemble, funny families on Hallmark. They remind me of the Griswolds - tons of love, but lots of things go wrong and it is fun to watch. Jonathan’s real-life partner is Amazing Race contestant and current Celebrity Page host Jaymes Vaughan. They are very public with their relationship on social media and public appearances, and even worked together charming cruise-goers on gay cruise line Vacaya’s maiden voyage. Has this movie inspired them to have the“should we have kids” talk? We have. There are some steps to that. First comes love, then comes marriage,
I don’t think there’s a rule for anyone to come out or not to come out. If you don’t feel safe to come out and it’s not the right time for you, that’s okay. It was not safe or the right time for me for a long time. If something inside of you says, this is what you want to do, then go for it and know that when you do you’re going to be supported and loved by an entire community. But, even if you are not out, you are still supported and loved by an entire community. We are here waiting for you, whether you just came out, or you are not yet ready. When I was in Mean Girls, I was not ready to come out. Every single person back in 2004 would tell you not to come out – that is just how it was. It was a different time. I think it is great that there is a new generation that is completely woke and doing their thing and living out loud and proud. There is also a generation that came before them, that was a different time. I think the hardest thing for people my age is that we did not have the level of social media and positivity that is happening in the world right now. The kids nowadays are like, “I’m gay!” and I’m like, “You’re in eighth grade!” I couldn’t imagine what it would be like in eighth grade to come out, I would have been beat up so hard. But now these kids are taking care of each other. Boys and girls have been swooning over Bennett as Aaron Samuels for over 15 years. The role and the Mean Girls phenomenon are not something that Jonathan has tried to forget or remove himself from. He posts Mean Girls memes on his social media, takes part in reunions, and even co-wrote The Burn Cookbook based on the film. It makes people happy. Try to shy away from Mean Girls. It’s impossible! You can’t do it. Did you know that before he was a heartthrob in Mean Girls that he was heartthrob on All My Children? His biggest takeaways from being on a soap opera? Learn your lines! Learn your lines so when you get to set you have the freedom to play. I also learned to not be afraid to try new things because, if it was bad, it didn’t matter. It would just be a new episode the next day. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Jonathan’s 2021 New Year’s resolution? To be nice to myself. There are plenty of people out there that are going to tell you that you are not good enough and that you’re not strong enough and you’re not hot enough and you’re not successful enough. Do not be one of those people. Talk kindly to yourself. The Christmas House premiered on Hallmark on Nov 22nd. ■
PERSONAL FINANCE RESOLVE TO BE MONEY WISE IN 2021: SET A BUDGET
MINT
BY JAMES PATRICK
THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
us have had plenty of reflection time to think about our finances since the coronavirus shutdown in March and subsequent slowdown we’re still living under. But have you done anything about it yet? If not, read on. Surprisingly, since the shutdown Americans have seen their savings accounts rise by 10% according to Northwestern Mutual’s 2020 Planning & Progress Study. This is likely attributed to the fact that many are working remotely and do not have the commuting expenses, bills for a deli lunch, and the daily $6 skinny latte while you’re on the go. Not to mention the savings on entertainment and vacation. What vacation, right? But if you’re in this boat, financially speaking, that’s good for you! You’re off to a nice start for 2021 planning. OK, let’s talk New Year’s resolutions. According to an Experian study in 2020, the top three resolutions with a financial element were: 1. Save more 2. Improve my credit score 3. Create a personal budget Interestingly, to get to the top two, you’re much more likely to succeed when you start with number three. That’s why we’re leading with this topic in our 2021 Money Wise series. With the help of modern technology, creating and tracking a household budget is not as daunting as it once was. In recent years, banks and Fintech companies that have created some effective and user-friendly systems. So even if math wasn’t your best subject, you’ll be just fine.
We’re going to provide you with a few tried and true sources to set up an online budgeting tool. Setting up a realistic budget starts with tracking and categorizing your actual expenses. That’s your assignment for two months - track and categorize. The first budget you put in to the system may be off. Just plug in your guesstimate and let’s track for two months and make an adjustment in March. Then you’ll know how much you actually spend on: household, dining out, transportation, travel, entertainment, shopping, etc. and can make budget adjustments based on reality. Most of us have set up online banking and bill payer, which work with these budgeting tools. HOT TIP: To best automate your spending tracking and make your life easier, all expenses, purchases, and bills should be made through you online bill payer, credit card, debit card. Then the systems will categorize for you – it’s a cinch! Try to avoid cash except for very small purchases. And if you’re still one of those writing paper checks, please, let’s toss your checkbook into the fire with the Yule log before New Year’s.
YOUR CURRENT BANK OR CREDIT UNION Start by checking out the online budgeting tools at your bank or credit union. Many larger institutions offer this for free. You want something online that will allow you to: set a budget based on category, track progress in real time, see and pay bills, integrate with your savings, checking, loan and credit card accounts so you can see your entire financial picture at a glance. Some even let you see and monitor your credit score.
SIMPLIFI BY QUICKEN You can see where your money goes with spending trend reports. This web and app-based option lets you create spending watchlists based on payee, categories, or tags. Monitor only what’s important to you. Create comprehensive, category-level, 12-month budgets with customizable budget reporting. Auto-generated spending plans are based on your actual bills and income. Automatically know what’s coming up and how much you have left to spend each month. You can track your savings account balances and set up savings goals for short-term or long-term planning and easily track your progress. Use your existing savings account—there’s no new account setup and you move funds when you want to. ($2.99 per month. https://get.simplifimoney.com/) No matter the online budgeting tool you choose, we salute you for starting out 2021 by creating a personal budget. It’s the foundation of your financial success. In our 2021 Money Wise Personal Finance series of feature articles, we will be covering important topics with actionable steps you can take to improve your financial well-being. Some upcoming planned features include: Improving Credit Scores, Savings Strategies, Living Debt Free, Smart Spending, and other timely personal finance topics as 2021 unfolds. This information is intended to provide general guidance. We encourage you to consult your financial advisor and tax planner to review your individual situation before making any significant financial decisions. ■
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FINANCE
SAY. YOU’RE NOT ALONE. If nothing else, most of
CULTURE
TIME TO RING IN 2021. NOT FAST ENOUGH, YOU
This web and app-based solution allows you to see everything in one place. They bring together everything from balances and bills to your credit score and more. It’s your financial life, in one place that’s easy to understand. It’s fairly simple and free to set up. They connect to almost every US financial institution. In just minutes, you’ll see where your money is going and get ideas on how to stretch it farther. Mint automatically updates and categorizes your information from your bank accounts and credit cards to retirement accounts and investments. Note: It’s free because you’ll get offers from their sponsors. But some can get you a lower rate on a credit card or higher rate on savings - so not completely unwelcome ads. (Free. https://www. mint.com/)
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LIVING HIS PASSION BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
THERE IS NO MISTAKING THAT VOICE, THAT SMILE, OR THE WAY HE MOVES. Five-time Emmy nominee Tituss Burgess has charmed audiences from his childhood days in Athens, Georgia, in front of a church crowd, to the stages of Broadway, to network television. Next summer, he will take part in the film Respect, the Jennifer Hudson led biopic of Aretha Franklin. He is a fierce lion - gentle enough to lure with his purring voice, and capable of lashing out to protect his home. (He took down a moving company for using a gay slur against him with the power of his social media.) He has lent his voice to LGBTQ organizations of all kinds as an activist and to raise awareness for equality, his Stonewall Inn performance of West Side Story’s “Somewhere” in honor of the Pulse Nightclub victims was lauded by Time Magazine. He is confident, can be outspoken, does not care what others think, and above all, is living his passion. At the core of everything he has become, has been music.
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PAGES 23,24,25: TITUSS BURGESS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF MILLS | IG: @JEFFMILLSPHOTOGRAPHY | JEFFMILLSPHOTO.COM
His vocal range is close to four octaves and no song seems beyond his reach whether it’s a Disney showstopper, a classic pop song, or a female Stephen Sondheim ballad – his tear-jerking performance as the Witch in Into the Woods was met with a multitude of standing ovations. As an only child, raised by his mother and grandparents, music was his early companion, teaching himself to play the piano and realizing his voice was something unique. The first piece of music I remember affecting me was something I think my grandmother sang. But I think it is the memory of my grandmother that makes the song special. It was a song called The Storm is Passing Over, sort of like a gospel hymn. I was five or six. When I began singing with my mom, watching the people react, I sort of realized this was something that everyone couldn’t do, that it was special. At 11 years old, he was directing the choir at his family’s Baptist Church. As a reflection of his early church life, he founded the Art & Soul Chorus at Middle Church, a chorus of professional singers and actors across a variety of genres and backgrounds who gather to sing gospel music, right after his stint in The Little Mermaid. Many gay men who grew up in a church environment in the South have had a tumultuous relationship with religion and their sexuality. Not so with Tituss. He always had confidence in his place in God’s vision. I never really had to reconcile the narrative that often goes on in churches where gay people are condemned. No one sin is bigger than the other. We all come to earth flawed. God has always been in me, around me. God for me takes on many forms, and sexuality is one of them. Sexuality is about exploration, it is about creation, not necessarily procreation. God’s own self has a strong sense of sexuality because he made so many beautiful people. He created a shit storm or, rather, we created a shit storm out of God’s creation. We continue to fight with one another on what is what, or who is right and who is wrong. I think I have always found a God and what God stands for in the many forms that God comes in. I grew up culturally Christian, I identify with Jesus Christ, but I do not believe that our practice is the only way to a peaceful eternity. Maybe when I was younger, I was a little trepidatious about what the difference in me meant, but I never felt the absence of God and I hope I never do. Mirroring his confident relationship with his faith, was his confidence in his self, though different than those around him growing up. I have a bunch of cousins, they are all manly men, they drive tractors and play sports. I was with my girl cousins, playing dolls
and helping my grandma cook. And I want to be clear - gay people drive tractors and play sports too. But back then, they were attributes that were associated with heterosexuality and machismo, and I was playing with dolls. I knew that something was different and struggled to make peace with it. Then once I got to high school, I had a strong sense of who I was. I mean, I didn’t give a damn what the rest of the world thought, not even my parents. Tituss found his voice, so to speak, in Church and in performing in his high school theatre program and earning a BA in Music from Georgia University. He knew who he was and what he wanted to be, staying at home just wasn’t it. When I became a young adult, I very quickly realized that what I wanted to do existed somewhere else. So, I started to feel not quite at home in my home, and that what I wanted was in a completely different city. This made me begin to identify less with where I was. The biggest takeaway from his youth is simple. I am my last line of defense, so when everything is crumbling around me, I will make sure that I am fine. Tituss has become one of the most recognizable members from the LGBTQ community on Broadway, with roles in The Little Mermaid, Jersey Boys, and Guys and Dolls, and numerous musical appearances on televised events and benefits. But the road to Broadway success was not overnight. Before I moved to New York, I would fly back and forth to audition for shows like The Lion King, Rent, and Hairspray. Things I was completely wrong for, but, you know, I wanted to be on Broadway and learned very quickly about how to master making it your own. Ignorance is bliss and I just went in balls to the wall and did what I do best, which is to be me. Tituss made his Broadway debut 16 years ago in the Beach Boys jukebox musical, Good Vibrations. We had a very interesting rehearsal and preview process and while I was ecstatic to be on Broadway, that experience was anything but amazing. It was bumpy at best. But I learned the most about theater doing Good Vibrations. His best advice for new Broadway actors? The best advice I can give is to make the commitment, follow through, and show up to work. His first high profile Broadway role was in the original production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid as the beloved crustacean, Sebastian. How does an actor approach such a beloved character, a role that everyone knew from the films line by line?
I NEVER REALLY HAD TO RECONCILE THE NARRATIVE THAT OFTEN GOES ON IN CHURCHES WHERE GAY PEOPLE ARE CONDEMNED. NO ONE SIN IS BIGGER THAN THE OTHER. WE ALL COME TO EARTH FLAWED.
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Sebastian is a water creature. I’m a water sign. Sebastian does not necessarily like chasing after children, even the ones he loves. I have no desire to babysit or teach kids. My patience is short. His is short. He is a composer. I am a composer. He is a conductor. I am a conductor. So, it was easy to identify with him. And in the end, his deep affection for the young child, who was becoming a woman, won over his heart and he went against his better judgment to assist her in her own exploration. Just when I feel like I don’t want to be someone’s mentor or I don’t want to do a class or, you know, help younger people, I have to think about The Little Mermaid and what it means to sacrifice. And to you put yourself in harm’s way to help assist another - that is what was going through my head when I was performing that role every night. It was one of the greatest joys of my entire life. Almost ten years later, he would revisit the role of Sebastian for the Hollywood Bowl concert version of The Little Mermaid with Darren Criss, Rebel Wilson, and original castmate, Norm Lewis. Playing the Hollywood Bowl - oh, dear Lord. That was exhilarating, and I hope to do it again. It was thrilling hearing all those people erupt in applause because of their affection for the score. And, of course, we know the best part about doing theatre. Gay people run theater. The move from Broadway to TV was in his first role, a one-liner that turned into a recurring guest spot on NBC’s 30 Rock. He remembers seeing himself on TV for the first time. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I still can’t believe it. I can’t believe where I am today and all the wonderful things I get to do, but I remember being terrified. I knew very little about TV or acting for television. I think my takeaway from that experience is that sometimes the only way to learn, truly learn, is to be thrown deep into the ocean so that you have no other choice but to at least attempt to learn how to swim. And if you don’t make it, you’re bound to pick up a few things along the way that you can add to your next attempt. The role that would spiral his career into national fame and Emmy recognition was playing Titus Andromedon, the flamboyantly gay, self-absorbed, aspiring actor. The role would make Tituss a mainstream, household personality with commercials, talk shows, and more musical appearances. The role fit like a glove and his real-life friendship with co-star Ellie Kemper (she peed on his leg from laughing during the first day of taping) displayed sincere chemistry. Both Tituss the actor and Titus the character became a fan favorite. Was the role made for him? I mean, I just sort of showed up to work and read with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. I did not have a great deal of input at all. The
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I DON’T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE WANT FROM TITUSS BURGESS VERSUS WHAT THEY SAW IN TITUS ANDROMEDON, BUT TITUSS BURGESS IS VERY GROUNDED, VERY GENEROUS, MISCHIEVOUS, AND CHEEKY.
interpretation of the line and his overall characterization I came up with, but that was all influenced by what they wrote. And, by the costume designer, Tina Nigro. Once she put me in those ridiculous outfits, I knew exactly who Titus was. I know a few people in life who behaved the way he behaved, and it was easy to find. Was it made for me? I don’t know, I’ve heard many different answers. I also don’t care. I got to do it, so I am forever grateful. From small-town boy singing at church to national media attention, was it a bit overwhelming? Well, I am still handling it honestly, any attention on some level. On a personal level, it makes me very uncomfortable. I’ve never had a strong need to be the center of attention, but I am an only child. And so, I received a lot of attention. Conversely, it did not entirely feel altogether different. It does not get lost on me, the good fortune I have found. The role of Titus Andromedon earned him five Primetime Emmy nominations. He was an agent’s dream and an out and proud representation of our community. An Emmy nomination, however, does have its pros and cons. Being nominated is my favorite thing and going is my least favorite thing because you’re hungry and it’s always so hot. [Laughs] Also, I do not like to travel. I live on the East Coast and the Emmys are in Los Angeles; the traveling makes me very uncomfortable. I just live a life a discomfort, I guess. [Laughs] But meeting all those people that you idolized for so long, that is really something. Although perfect for the role, and with the same first name, Tituss B is not Titus A. I don’t know what people want from Tituss Burgess versus what they saw in Titus Andromedon, but Tituss Burgess is very grounded, very generous, mischievous, and cheeky. He cares about people, so you do the math and the inductive reasoning as to what the differences are. Using his vocal skills once again, his latest project has been as a cast member on the animated series Central Park, also starring Leslie Odom Jr., Kristen Bell, Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, Kathryn Hahn, and Stanley Tucci. He is a busy man, but his voice doesn’t get tired. Does he get tired? I would love to live on a farm with a bunch of dogs. I have two lovely dogs now, but I do not get to spend a lot of time with them. I am fortunate in the way that I am getting to do all the things that are passions of mine - and I make time for them. Most of them turn into what I have been doing for a living. You know, some people find their passion very early on. My passion also happens to be my hobby. His message to his fans for the New Year? Let’s continue to make every attempt at communicating. Thank you for assisting me in achieving my dreams and I hope to continue to give them things, to satiate their appetite for good entertainment. ■ METROSOURCE.COM
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HEALTH BODY
APPly YOURSELF IN 2021
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These mobile apps may help keep your life organized and your New Year’s resolutions on track BY MEGAN VENZIN YOU MADE IT! SO, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT 2020 HAS BEEN *A TOUCH*
THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY JAKOB OWENS/UNSPLASH.COM
CRAZY. Some of us had to convert our
kitchens and bedrooms into home offices. Others became teachers as we learned to navigate homeschooling techniques and the “new normal” of remote learning. It is no surprise that our exercise routines went out the window when gyms closed their doors. And can you really blame us for finding comfort in the frozen treats that filled our baskets during frenzied bouts of panic shopping? Look, if you feel a touch frazzled (see also “overwhelmed AF”) heading into 2021, that’s totally okay. You are not alone. Even though the future is shrouded in unknowns, New Year’s resolutions should remain a part of your holiday tradition. They create a sense of accountability and provide an annual opportunity for people to better themselves. Making good on those promises contributes to serotonin-infused boosts of self-confidence, and those endorphins sure carry a lot of value during tough times like these. What’s not to like about that? To those out there already crushing your goals… we say, kudos! But for the many who need a helping hand, there are ample productivity and wellness apps available to guide us in creating better habits. Here are five of our favorites to keep you focused and committed through 2021 and beyond!
PEAR - PERSONAL FITNESS COACH PEAR is equipped with a wide range of handsfree workouts to match any fitness level. No boredom here -- these routines will intensify over time to ensure you are building strength and stamina, and never slowing down. Compatible with other health tracking apps, PEAR Personal Fitness Coach offers a fun avenue for exploring new routines and healthy practices. A free version offers access to a limited library of audio-guided practices to get the blood pumping, but for a small monthly fee users can tap into its full range of functions and features, as well as a more robust catalog of indoor and outdoor exercise options. ($5.99/month, available on Google Play and Apple Store.)
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GRATITUDE
BODY
HEALTH
What are you thankful for? Gratitude app invites you to answer that question in writing every day. Attach memorable photos or inspiring images to your entries to amplify feelings of thankfulness, send thank you notes to others who have made an important mark on your life and much more. If you have been struggling with negative thoughts, incorporating a daily gratitude practice will help you shift your perspective in a fresh direction. And if you are already feeling blessed, writing in this journal is a powerful way to set positive affirmations and keep those happy feelings flowing. Deepen your appreciation for life and those around you with the 7-Day Gratitude Challenge. (Learn more and try it free at https://gratefulness.me/.)
EASY QUIT - STOP SMOKING Is 2021 the year you finally kick cigarettes to the curb? EasyQuit makes this choice a no-brainer by spotlighting the benefits you will experience by eliminating smoking from your lifestyle. Watch your wallet get fatter and blood oxygen levels soar right before your very eyes! If cold turkey is not your thing, don’t worry - “Slow Mode” allows you to control and reduce the habit before eliminating it completely. There are even games to keep cravings at bay. There is also a sister sobriety tracking app if alcohol is next on your “curb-it list.”As our mama always said,“Quitters are sexy.” She never actually said that, but you get the point. (Available for free on iOS, download from the App Store.)
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PRODUCTIVE PRODUCTIVE gives users the ability to set daily, weekly, or monthly goals and keep them. The app’s flexible and easy-to-use interface will help you examine your morning, afternoon, and evening routines, and detect new ways to get the most out of every day. Need to drink more water? There is a habit for that! Looking to strengthen your yoga practice, or dive into a daily writing groove? PRODUCTIVE will check-in with reminders to let you know when to consider investing more time into those habits. Feel awesome when you receive congratulatory messages for hitting streaks or completing challenges, review progress on your “Life Log” and much more. Regardless of what you hope to achieve, PRODUCTIVE will keep you healthy, focused and connected by enabling you to build life-changing habits, one day at a time. ($14.99/year PRODUCTIVE - Premium, https://productiveapp.io/.)
WAY OF LIFE Think of Way of Life as your personal assistant whose sole purpose is to reinforce good habits and break bad ones. Offering a highly visual version of goal-tracking that statistics fans will totally geek over, Way of Life invites users to pick a certain action and designate whether it’s good or bad for them. Incoming reminders will prompt the user to take note of what did (or did not) work in helping them complete or avoid the action. Whether you are hoping to maintain a weight loss regimen or stop biting your nails, this app is here to add accountability and inspiration along the way. (Learn more and try it free at https://wayoflifeapp.com.)
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MATTHEW
RICHARDSON
SPINNING A MESSAGE OF TOLERANCE BY STEVE GOTTFRIED MATTHEW RICHARDSON’S JOURNEY HAS FOLLOWED A CIRCUITOUS PATH. For the former Cirque du Soleil performer, you might even say literally, having mastered the art of spinning on the Cyr wheel in everything from a voluminous red dress and heels to nothing but a pair of form fitting oh-so-short shorts and a lot of body glitter during his final performance on the 14th season of America’s Got Talent. Beyond his work with Cirque du Soleil and AGT, Richardson has been creating video projects under his X Circus Series banner which have gone viral in the best possible sense. So, what is a Cyr wheel, you ask. First, it is pronounced “sear” as in searing a steak. Its shape is like a hula-hoop, but it is big enough for an adult to grasp with two hands while counterbalancing with one’s legs fully extended to spin in a dizzying display of acrobatic prowess. This is not something the average person should attempt without proper supervision. It requires tremendous core strength, balance, agility, and years of training, preferably at an accredited circus school. This is the course Richardson followed when he walked away from his conventional job as a graphic designer at an advertising agency in his native Savannah, Georgia to follow his dream.
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What was it that prompted you to leave the routine and security of a conventional job for a career as a circus performer? Was that a difficult decision at the time? Yeah, it was probably the scariest thing I’d ever done because you have this path that you think you’re supposed to be on and the safe thing to do. And at that point also, my mom was serious about my needing a job and health insurance... So, quitting your job to go be a circus artist was a big leap (no pun intended). But for me, I just got really bored with the routine and at 26 I knew that if I wanted to try it, my time was running out.
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THIS PAGE: COURTESY PHOTO FROM “THE ARROW” VIDEO
After five years of training at the Circus Center in San Francisco, Richardson found himself at the age of 31 performing in the very show that inspired him as a 17-yearold. “It was an amazing full circle moment.” The Cirque du Soleil show titled Varekai was based on the Icarus myth about a boy whose ambition gets the best of him when he flies too close to the sun. Which could have served as a cautionary tale for Richardson had it not been for his talent, hard work and determination. But after three years as a contract player for Cirque du Soleil and a splashy stint on America’s Got Talent, Richardson was inspired to take another leap of faith to go solo, conceiving and producing projects which channeled his skills to spread a wider message of tolerance, diversity and social justice. The first of these was a video called “The Arrow” which he filmed with his thenboyfriend Francis, a native of Quebec who also happened to be an extremely fit, goodlooking gay man who knew his way around a Cyr wheel. “The Arrow” features the two shirtless acrobats and the progression of their relationship as they take turns on the Cyr wheel and then perform as one. The result is
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an unapologetic intimate expression of love between two men, a mesmerizing display of physicality and sensuous passion. The video projects started as sort of a side hobby. The first one I did because my boyfriend at the time did the same apparatus as me, so we were trying to make an act together. The whole time we were training, we were censoring ourselves to not look too gay. And after a while, it started to just feel very frustrating. So, we figured, okay, let’s just do the opposite. Let’s do exactly what we want and tell our own story. Filming “The Arrow” was delayed several times due to injuries and scheduling conflicts. But as fate would have it, filming coincided with the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016. Richardson recalls being devastated by the news and how that infused their performance with a whole new level of relevance. He dedicated the video to the victims of the shooting. Richardson had high hopes but was stunned by the response which has by now garnered 1.8 million views. I was having news outlets from all over the world writing me to ask permission to use it. I didn’t realize how much you can
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inspire people from something like this and how much it can give. The number of messages after “The Arrow” was so overwhelming that I knew I should really do more of that any way I can.
“HALLELUJAH” TOOK ON ORGANIZED RELIGION AND LGBTQ RIGHTS. Richardson is probably best known for his 2nd video which featured two scantily clad, attractive male dancer/acrobats (who also happen to be boyfriends) in Montreal’s historic Church of St. Pierre Apôtre. The fiveand-a-half-minute video titled “Hallelujah” set to the song by the same name by Jeff Buckley premiered in May 2019. Matthew met the two dancers, Guillaume and Arthur, through the circus community. While the dance itself was exquisitely choreographed and performed, it was the setting in a historic Montreal church in the heart of Montreal’s gay village which amplified its message of tolerance as a way of disarming those who would use religion as a weapon against the LGBTQ community. The striking juxtaposition of this intimate expression of love between two men against a backdrop of the
THIS PAGE: “HALLELUJAH” VIDEO POSTER • L’AMOR FROM CIRUE DU SOLEIL COURTESY IMAGES
grandeur and beauty of the church had a profound impact.“Hallelujah” evoked extreme reactions from those lavishing overwhelming praise to religious zealots who sought to brand it sacrilege while ironically continuing to share it to show their brethren just how dangerous this provocative work of art was. Our interview coming so closely on the heels of the news of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, I was reminded of a clip played on the news of RBG addressing Stanford law school graduates, explaining the difference between a successful career and a meaningful life. RBG told them that to have a meaningful life, you must go outside yourself and find a way to contribute to your community. Does that resonate for you? Yeah, for sure. I still work as a graphic designer. And I would say that is my ‘job’ job. And while designing web site stuff is fine in that I have income, it doesn’t have meaning beyond that at the end of the day. It does not give anything back. But doing these video projects does. The reason I like doing them is because I think they are meaningful, and they have purpose. When I released that video [Hallelujah], I was nervous to share it. I put about a year of work into it and I was self-conscious. I did not know if people were going to find it as interesting [as the first one]. As it turned out, I found that it had an even deeper meaning because it touched on a lot of pain that the gay community feels based on religion and one’s upbringing and how that can affect our self-image. Richardson’s videos are also memorable for his use of colored pigment to lend his pieces a touch of magic, or fairy dust if you will. From a practical standpoint, it also allows him to convey a message to underscore the message he is trying to convey visually.
It’s just cornstarch, but it’s colored. It is made for events, like powdered fun runs and stuff like that. But I also knew I wanted to paint a message. I had been using pigment a lot in my own personal acts, in my own solo creations for my own inspiration. I heard you mention that despite his own religious beliefs, your father was completely accepting of you and really gave you that affirmation. What time in your life did you come out to him? How old were you at the time? I was 17 when I had the conversation with my dad. But I had talked to my mom a bit about it when I was 14 or 15. So he had some time to sort of digest the situation. By the time I spoke to him about it, he was really ready and really wonderful about how accepted he made me feel. What was it like growing up gay in Savannah? Did you experience any harassment? Yeah, I was definitely harassed quite a bit. South Georgia is not a very gayfriendly place. I do not know what the normal amount of harassment is for a gay kid growing up, but yeah, I was teased, and I was picked on. But luckily in high school, we moved north, closer to Atlanta, and that school was a lot more into the arts and more of a friendly environment.
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY Tell us about your experience on America’s Got Talent. Overall, it was very bittersweet. I had a great time, but at some point, you get eliminated and it can be harsh and a bit cruel. So, I would tell anyone that’s going for it, just go for the adventure, go have fun, but know that you will get eliminated at some point and that part won’t be great. These reality competition shows are known for having segments where the contestants talk about their personal lives. Did you talk about your journey as a gay man? I don’t think I ever mentioned on the show that I was gay, although I really wanted to. I wanted to share my duo act with my partner Francis. That was my main goal for going on the show. But they never let me. So, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to talk about that stuff really at all. I had to ask Matthew about his final AGT performance, the one with him wearing nothing but a pair of black micro shorts with water
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said, “Hey, would you want to be considered for this drag role?” And I was like, “Holy… oh my god, of course!” My actual act was not so tough, skill-wise. But doing it with heels and a dress made it hard. I had this huge dress that is like a train. It’s like this huge fabric and I would get my heels stuck in it all the time.
COMING ATTRACTIONS… Matthew spoke a bit about several new projects he has in the works. One is about addressing gender identity and what we say is alright for boys versus girls. And the next one I am filming is about racism and the current situation with police brutality and all the protests for George Floyd. It is really to address the hurt within the black community and to express the opinions and feelings of four black artists I have contracted with, one of whom happens to be gay. We will do an interview for each dancer to talk about what they are saying in their piece. It will live as a visual piece by itself with movement and dance and then as a separate video like I have done before where we will do interviews and talk with each artist about the issues. One of them will talk about his experience being a gay black male and how hard that has been because that alone comes with a lot of other challenges besides the obvious. Armed with plenty of ideas, Richardson explains that the biggest challenge from a practical standpoint is financing these projects. It’s challenging because these projects are super expensive. And I realize more and more that I cannot continue doing these larger budget productions without making it generate some revenue. So at the moment, I’m trying to find a way to create them in a cheaper way that’s still interesting but can also bring in some kind of revenue or donation, because otherwise I can’t keep doing it. ■ For more information on Matthew Richardson’s upcoming video projects, you can go to his website http://thexcircus.com.
THIS PAGE: MATTHEW RICHARDSON’S FINAL PERFORMANCE IN AMERICA’S GOT TALENT COURTESY IMAGE
cascading down his body as he performed on the Cyr Wheel. It was a spectacular performance, which made it more of a head-scratcher when Simon Cowell had the audacity to give his masterful performance the dreaded buzzer. Julianne Hough’s reaction spoke for the rest of America who were mesmerized and riveted. I couldn’t help wondering if Simon giving you the buzzer said more about him and his knee-jerk homophobia to seeing an incredibly fit, good-looking guy performing incredible feats wearing nothing but some body paint, glitter and a tiny pair of short shorts. In fact, the two straight men (Howie and Simon) were both in agreement. Yes, yes… for sure. One hundred percent yes. Of course, they are not going to love it. I wish the producers had let me wear pants. They did not want me in pants. They wanted me to be in the shorts. My last performance was probably the hardest thing I’d ever done. But you can’t see that. You can’t see how hard it is to hold onto, how much my feet are slipping. Everything is slipping in water, so yeah, I think it is probably my hardest achievement as a performer. I had less than a week to prepare the act just to the point where I could figure out what I was doing. So how does it work? I know it is filmed in front of a live audience. But if you had slipped or fallen, do they reshoot it or is that it? AGT would not have let me redo it if I messed up. In some cases, they really like it when mistakes are made because it gives the judges a chance to talk about it and see the reaction from the contestant. So, it was definitely a one-shot-only type of experience. I also notice that you did a drag character for Cirque du Soleil. The character’s name was L’Amour. How did that come about? That was another crazy story. While I was touring with Cirque during my first job, I did drag a couple times just for fun, like on the plane, at a Christmas party. It was just a fun thing to do, so I did a little flight attendant number just to be silly. When this director at Cirque was looking for a drag queen, she was asking people, “Hey, do you know any circus artists who do drag?” And somebody mentioned my name and they reached out to me and
2020
GIFT GUIDE
CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
EVERYONE NEEDS A LITTLE RELAXATION AND ENJOYMENT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. So, here are some items to help make your
holidays festive. Whether for yourself or a loved-one on your gift-giving list, each of these items will bring a smile.
VELLABOX Candle Gift Subscriptions $10-$30 per month, available at https://www.vellabox.com Vellabox is the thoughtful, and easy gift to give this holiday season. Vellabox partners with different small-batch American candle makers to feature seasonally relevant scents from their line. All candles are 100% natural wax with cotton wicks, Phthalate free, Paraben free, cruelty free, and have no artificial dyes. Gift subscriptions can be personalized with a note written by you and arranged to arrive in time for that special occasion, with a bonus gift included in every Vellabox. Each bonus gift varies, but most often falls into one of the following categories: self-care, home accessories, food, and sustainable alternatives. Ordering is easy - simply choose your box size, duration, and ship date - then Vellabox takes care of the rest. It is the gift that keeps on giving and smells good too! Box options include: The Lucerna ($10/month + $3 shipping): includes a 4oz candle + bonus gift; The Ignis ($20/month + $3 shipping): includes an 8oz candle + bonus gift; The Vivere ($30/ month + free shipping): includes a 4oz and 8oz candle + bonus gift.
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SLEEPPHONES ®
GIFT-GUIDE
Headphones Designed Specifically for Sleeping $99.95 available at https://www.sleepphones.com SleepPhones® Wireless are traditional headphones made bedfriendly and cord-free! You can unplug and unwind with these ultraslim, soft, and comfortable “headphones in a headband” that make listening to audio in bed a dream. Surround yourself in an ultimate sound experience – without disturbing, or being disturbed by, the person next to you. This model utilizes Bluetooth® technology to wirelessly connect with compatible devices so you never have to worry about getting tangled up in cords. SleepPhones® were designed by a family doctor and provide wearable comfort that’s literally music to your ears. Ideal for sleep, travel, yoga, and leisure time. SleepPhones® easily sync with smartphones, computers, and most other Bluetooth®-compatible devices, and have a rechargeable battery life of up to 10 hours. The fleece headband option is super soft, luxurious, and warm. Ideal for sleeping, relaxing, meditating, and everyday use (95% polyester, 5% spandex). The breeze headband option is breathable and moisture-wicking. Ideal for running and exercising (95% polyester, 5% spandex). Gift packaging is available.
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The First Nomadic Coffee Maker that Uses Vacuum Pressure to Brew Coffee $46.90 available at https://www.wacaco.com Pipamoka is designed to give coffee lovers an all-in-one coffee travel experience. Pipamoka uses a first-of-its-kind twisting mechanism to create vacuum pressure that enables users to make a full cup of balanced coffee in two minutes. The Pipamoka brewing process is unique. Users insert their ground coffee into a dedicated filter basket, add hot water, and drop the filter basket to the bottom of the Pipamoka. Using the innovative twisting mechanism, vacuum pressure is created inside the travel mug. This generates a suction force that draws hot water downwards through the coffee grounds. The coffee is then brewed directly into the insulated thermal cup where it will stay hot for hours.“We’ve spent over two years developing this patented coffee maker, and we’re thrilled to finally share it with our fans all over the world who have asked us for a travel-friendly way to make filter-style coffee on their adventures,” said Hugo Cailleton, Co-Founder of Wacaco. The eco-friendly, re-useable, long lasting all-in-one design is designed to give everyday coffee lovers the minimal tools and energizing caffeine they need to go wherever their wanderlust takes them.
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LOVING: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY OF MEN IN LOVE 1850S-1950S By Hugh Nini $65 available at http://rizzolibookstore.com Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s-1950s portrays the history of romantic love between men in hundreds of moving and tender vernacular photographs taken between the years 1850 and 1950. This visual narrative of astonishing sensitivity brings to light an until-now-unpublished collection of hundreds of snapshots, portraits, and group photos taken in the most varied of contexts, both private and public. Taken when male partnerships were often illegal, the photos here were found at flea markets, in shoe boxes, family archives, old suitcases, and later online and at auctions. The collection now includes photos from all over the world, with subjects that were identified as couples by that unmistakable look in the eyes of two people in love - impossible to manufacture or hide. The photographs - many fragile from age or handling - have been digitized using a technology derived from that used on surveillance satellites and available in only five places around the world. In these delight-filled pages, couples in love tell their own story for the first time at a time when joy and hope - indeed human connectivity - are crucial lifelines to our better selves. Universal in reach and overwhelming in impact, Loving speaks to our spirit and resilience, our capacity for bliss, and our longing for the shared truths of love.
ALL THE BASICS The Barr Hill Cocktail and Barware Kit $95 available at https://caledoniaspirits.com Caledonia Spirits, the Vermont-based distiller of America’s most awarded gin - Barr Hill Gin, has launched its “All The Basics” Cocktail Kit, wonderful for the home bartender. With people spending a lot more time at home this year, the home bar has made a comeback in a big way. This cocktail kit goes right along with that theme, combining high-quality barware with a fun experiential element that can be enjoyed from home. Equipped with a beautiful, stainless steel array of bar items - including two shaker tins, a four-prong Hawthorne strainer, a two-sided jigger, and a bar spoon - this classic kit is perfect for any cocktail enthusiast. As part of the kit, Barr Hill Beverage Director Sam Nelis has included a curated cocktail recipe book and digital access to his“Intro to Cocktails”class, which breaks down the cocktail kit, demonstrates how to use each item, and walks the user through creating the perfect Bee’s Knees and Old Fashioned cocktails at home. Caledonia Spirits has a strong passion for mixology, and with this special cocktail kit, the distillery has taken its love for craft cocktails and channeled it towards the in-home bar experience. The Barr Hill “All The Basics” Cocktail Kit is available for free shipping this holiday season.
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MOMA Design Store Holidays Available at https://store.moma.org The MoMA Design Store has many cheery gifts this holiday season. From a revolutionary coffee maker to artist puzzles, there is something for all at every price point. Plus, proceeds from the curator-approved holiday gift and décor ideas support MoMA’s exhibitions and educational programs. Here is a small sampling of the gift-giving ideas. Frank Stella Jigsaw Puzzle - 750 Pieces $20 Featuring the artist’s colorful geometric painting Firuzabad, a work in MoMA’s collection, this 750-piece jigsaw puzzle is uniquely die-cut and contoured to the edges of this extraordinary abstract work of art. In the completed Frank Stella Puzzle, two overlapping circles are filled with both concentric and diagonal stripes of brilliant color. Made of 90% recycled paper and printed with non-toxic inks, the Frank Stella Jigsaw Puzzle is packaged in a sturdy, matte-finish box, and measures 24.5” x 16.25” when assembled.
HOLIDAY
GIFT-GUIDE
Happy Socks Holiday Set $26 The Happy Socks Holiday Set features high-quality combed cotton and elastane socks in the brand’s signature upbeat patterns. Packaged in a signature holiday cracker, this Happy Socks Holiday Set is gifting-ready. Two pairs (86% Cotton, 12% Nylon, 2% Spandex), one polka dot, one striped. Available in sizes S/M (9-11) and M/L (10-13). Machine-washable. Maki Sushi Sauce Bowl & Chopstick Rest $16 MoMA Exclusive: Featuring whimsical graphic abstractions of classic maki sushi varieties, this porcelain Maki Sushi Sauce Bowl is perfectly sized (1.5h x 2.5”diam.) for soy sauce, ponzu or your favorite condiment. The lid doubles as a chopstick rest in between bites. The dish can also be used as a pill case, jewelry storage or for storing herbs. Holds 2oz. Microwave and dishwasher safe.
GREENDIGS Oasis Watering Can in Gold $29.99 available at https://shopgreendigs.com Adding some life to your indoor is more important than ever. For your indoor wa watering needs, this gleaming, sand-finished metal watering can adds an understated elegance to your home gardening experience. A slim, perfectly balanced handle and slender spout make it easy to distribute water exactly where it needs to go to keep your plants healthy and growing. (10.4”long, 6”tall with a 7”spout. Holds 27 ounces.) Greendigs is the online way to bring nature home. They offer functional, hand-selected, plants and gifts, making cultivating plants in your space as simple as it has ever been. Forget about carting home supplies, stopping at multiple stores, and guessing at which kind of plant would best fit your space. Greendigs does the work for you.
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SUBU Japanese Slippers $55 available at https://ameico.com/collections/subu Sweater weather also means slipper weather. When colder weather starts to arrive, there is nothing better than a good pair of slippers to help stay cozy. SUBU Japanese Slippers are as useful as they are stylish - the ideal gift for the person who loves to lounge. Equipped with a durable sole and Teflon outer coating, the SUBU slippers are perfect for that trip to the mailbox or any quick outdoor excursion, while also being the perfect work-from-home comfy shoe choice. Polyester down fill with a soft cushioned insole will make your feet feel like they are wrapped up in a warm down jacket.
VESTA CHOCOLATE Holiday Chocolate Gift Set $185 available at https://vestachocolate.com Brought to you by a husband and wife team Roger & Julia, Vesta is a bean-to-bonbon craft chocolate factory and café where the chocolate is first made from organic cacao beans from various origins with unrefined and organic Panela sugar, then it is used to make bonbons, baked goods, spreads, bars, and more. The duo has created a unique artisanal chocolate-making house where French techniques meet the true definition of chocolate in Latin America, where cacao originates, because they truly believe that craft chocolate should be applicable to our daily lives. They are firm believers that when you do what you love, with the people you love, magic happens. Celebrate the season with this ultimate Holiday chocolate gift set for the chocolate lover in your life. The set comes with: • Twelve (12) Holiday Jewel Bean-to-Bonbons (Candy Cane, Gingerbread, Winter Herbs, Orange, Passion Fruit, Salted Caramel) • Large Classic Vanilla Bean-to-Bar Hot Chocolate powder • Two (2) Signature Cacao Sea Salt Brownies • Four (4) Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Chip Cookies • Peppermint 66% Dark Chocolate Bark • Out-of-this-world Cacao Hazelnut Spread (think clean, organic, and artisanal Nutella) • 72% Single Origin Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate Bar • 60% Single Origin Belize Vegan Non-Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar • 49% Single Origin Belize Milk Chocolate Bar • Bag of freshly roasted Single Origin Cacao nibs (most fruity cacao nibs you will ever meet) METROSOURCE.COM
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A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Brennan Clost DANCES ONTO THE SCREEN IN TINY PRETTY THINGS BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ AFTER THE YEAR WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH, WE COULD USE A LITTLE DELICIOUS DISTRACTION TO GET US THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS. This December, Netflix gives us the gift that keeps on giving with a ten-episode run of Tiny Pretty Things, based on the popular young adult book by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton. The series showcases the lives of young performers, following their dreams far from home, at the crossroads of their career – will they sink or swim in these shark-infested waters? The show takes place in Chicago’s only elite dance school, the Archer School of Ballet that serves as the city’s renowned professional company, City Works Ballet. The students are comprised of young adults from all different walks of life with one goal – to succeed at all costs. It is“Black Swan and Pretty Little Liars”with even more drama and even more hot actors in tights – we’re in.
Rounding at the cast is openly gay, real-life dancer Brennan Cost. Brennan is no stranger to the competitive dance world, having competed from the age of seven, earning a series of accolades including the World Silver Medal in the International Dance Organization for junior soloist in Germany and being named as one of the Top Senior Male Dancers at The Dance Awards in New York City. I don’t remember much from my early days of dance competitions, partly I think I blacked them out; my first dance teacher was a major bully. One memory I have from my first-year competing was getting offstage after performing and my dance teacher grabbing my arm so hard, she injured my wrist. Fun times. Choosing a life in competitive dancing at such an early age is kiss goodbye to any attempt at leading a normal life. In addition to the physical demands of dance, the idea of any free time spent outside of dance is non-existent. I really did not have a social life through any of high school. I would wake up at 6am to do homework, go to school from 9am to 3pm, get home and scarf down dinner, then be at dance from 4pm till 11pm, do homework until 1am or 2am, and then get up to do it all over. At one of my dance studios, even on weekends, I was training from 9am till 6pm both Saturday and Sunday. I would go home after that and sit in my bedroom to study. In Tiny Pretty Things, Brennan plays Shane, the show’s hothead, who grew up in a small town and dealt with aggression for his love of dance. Besides the isolation of
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pursuing a dance career, the ideas of dancing and masculinity make a boy (gay or straight) an easy target for ridicule from peers. As if the competition world on someone’s psyche was not damaging enough. I was bullied all through elementary and high school by the boys in my grade for being a male dancer. It got so bad at my first school that I convinced my parents to let me start French Immersion in Grade Seven and move to a new school. However, when I reunited with those boys in high school, the bullying started again. Brennan is an anti-bullying advocate as well as an activist for LGBTQIA+ rights and representation. He regularly gives talks at local schools to encourage and support, using his own life story as inspiration. Speaking to youth has reinforced to me how much I needed a role model to look up to when I was growing up. When I speak to youth and reflect on my years growing up as a young, impressionable male dancer, I try to convey my message of following one’s dreams and pursuing happiness. I feel that sharing my story might help someone who may be looking for that same reassurance and guidance. His message to LGBTQ youth is the same everywhere he speaks: Follow your passion and your dreams, support and celebrate each other, and never give up. Brennan’s initial self-tape audition for the show consisted of an extensive ballet sequence and scenes from the show, with a call back lasting almost an hour and a
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half. He was slightly familiar with the book with a crash course from friends and even his grandma. But his biggest YA book infatuation? I was obsessed with the Twilight series all through middle school, so I guess I would thank Twilight for my attraction to toxic men. It is still unclear whether he is Team Edward or Team Jacob. Since filming, he has become ingratiated with the book version of the show, preparing for the throngs of uber-fans that will be grilling him on his character. Given the chance, Brennan would pen his own YA series. I would write an LGBTQ Superhero YA novel, with the intent to produce it into an epic trilogy of films! In real life, Clost has lived in the world of dance school as one of only 12 male dancers accepted into Juilliard, the world’s leader in performing arts education. His top and bottom class? One of my favorite classes at Juilliard was Anatomy. Irene Dowd (our professor) is hilarious, kind, and a GENIUS. How she connected it to dance was so beneficial to us. I have become the unofficial physiotherapist for my family and friends thanks to her class. The worst class in my opinion was music theory in my first year, not because I didn’t think it was valuable, but because the teacher treated us like absolute idiots. Not only did attending Juilliard shape his education and skill as a dancer, but it was also a turning point in his personal life. I came out to my friends and classmates at University before my family. Not because I wanted to, but because they caught me
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sneaking out of the dorms to my secret boyfriend’s apartment. When I went home for Spring Break during my sophomore year of Juilliard, I borrowed a beautiful blazer from my boyfriend to wear to a red-carpet event. My parents asked where I had gotten this expensive jacket and I told them I borrowed it from my boyfriend. My dad’s reaction was the best. All he asked was, “How old is he? Where is he from? Is he a nice person?” All my family wants for me is to be happy. I don’t know why I waited so long to come out. Well, I have some theories, but they are too long to divulge here. My family and friends constantly impress me with how open-minded and loving they are, which I know is not the norm and I feel extremely grateful. The biggest thing he learned about dancing from Juilliard? Dancers with good technique can let it go on stage and truly just be in the moment performing. If you must think about your technique, you do not have it. We cannot wait for the juicy love stories in Tiny Pretty Things. Is there time for love and dating in the dance world? I always dated people at school or at dance, and we rarely went on “dates” because I did not have time. I am extremely picky, and I prioritize my career over dating. My philosophy is that if someone is special and they are worth it, then I will make the time for them. Is Brennan a real-life dancing diva? Well if you ask my mom, the biggest backstage diva is
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probably me. Back when I was competing, my mom, bless her, would run backstage between dances, and stitch my shirts to my dance belt so they would not come untucked on stage. I would scream at her to be faster. Though in my defense, my dance teachers would have had my head if I were late. Besides dancing, Brennan has been consumed with writing and producing. He started a YouTube channel with his best friend Brittany Raymond for the debut of their web series AUSTRALIANAIRE$. The mockumentary follows the aftermath of two siblings (both portrayed by the creators) after their parent’s tragic demise. AUSTRALIANAIRE$ was largely inspired by Summer Heights High, all of Chris Lilley’s work Britt and I find hilarious. I love watching and performing comedy that gets physical, is smart and satirical, and sometimes is a little morbid or absurd. Is working with a best friend wise? I had worked with one of my best friends in the past and it went up in flames because we did not communicate. I ended up taking on 99% of the workload and she reaped 100% of the benefits. My current producing partner and one of my best friends, Brittany Raymond, has also had experiences like that in the past with former business partners. When we decided to start producing content and developing projects together, we made a pact to be SO OVERLY communicative with one another, even if it is something silly. I think it works so well because we’re really good at showing up for each other, we don’t judge each
other, and we have similar work ethics in that we can trust that the other person will get their work done and to the standard that we would do it ourself. With the premiere of Tiny Pretty Things, life will no doubt change for Brennan. The guilty pleasure drama of the show with the aesthetically attractive cast is a formula for success. With so much content being watched during COVID, this is a fun breath of fresh air. Is Brennan ready for life to change? I’m excited of course for us to share Tiny Pretty Things with the world, it’s been our little secret for so long. I’m also excited that if it does well, we would get to be back together to film more. Or that if people love it, I could acquire more acting work from it. On the flip side, I started seeing a therapist through quarantine because I am really overwhelmed by how much public exposure, and potential criticism, might come from it. The internet can be a scary place. What is Brennan’s most treasured“tiny pretty things”in real life? My entire apartment is filled with inherited furniture from my grandparents. They had this glass shelf in their old home (they are not dead, they just downsized) with trinkets and tiny sculptures. A lot of those have ended up in my place, most recently my grandparents gifted me a tiny white porcelain duck from their old house, for my birthday. ■ You can follow Brennan on Instagram: @BrennanClost. METROSOURCE.COM
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TRANSPARENT EQUALITY
SCOTT SCHOFIELD EXPANDING VISIBILITY OF TRANS CHARACTERS IN ENTERTAINMENT
MY FRIENDSHIP WITH ACTOR AND ACTIVIST SCOTT SCHOFIELD HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING ONE. Everyone claims they want total honesty
in a friendship, but it is brutal when it happens. There is no guessing game when it comes to Scott, he lays it out all out there regardless of what the consequences are. Truth is truth and he is not going to dance around it. That being said, no question is off topic. I learned more about the trans community from Scott in one long happy hour than I ever did in my years of sexuality studies or marching next to a trans person during Pride. There is no dumb question for Scott where the trans community is concerned: How do trans men have sex? Is “transgendered” a word? Why should the gay community include the T in LGBT? Go ahead, ask – you will get the answer from Scott’s point of view. What you find out is that being trans ultimately has nothing to do with sex, or pronouns, or surgeries – it is about being who you are. Scott has made television history, not once, but twice. Five years ago, he became the first openly trans actor to play a major role in a soap opera, recurring in the role of Nick on The Bold and the Beautiful. This past season, Scott became the first transgender man nominated for any acting Emmy for his role on STUDIO
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CITY (Amazon Prime). You would think that making television history twice would secure high profile stardom, right? Not so. It is not so much that I have to work hard for my roles—my ratio of auditions to roles is pretty high by any standard. When they see me, they like me. It is more about high-up decision-makers being willing to see me for more roles. If I only go out for trans masculine roles, that’s maybe three a year, max. That is the problem, right now. So, first, I’m still waiting for Hollywood to see me as any character whose gender isn’t important to the role: an incisive therapist, an inspiring teacher, a trustworthy doctor or lawyer, and not just saint roles— I could be an asshole rich kid, a corrupt corporate businessman, a cop turned bad. After they see me for those roles, I will be waiting to be seen as the man I am—a funny, bright, handsome guy who could be a sweet boyfriend to an actor or actress. But before any of that can happen, people who make decisions must not get so confused by the label put on me that they can’t even imagine how I’d play. I can wait. The good thing about becoming a man is people think you get better looking as you age.
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BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
Most actors, when asked about being nominated for a major acting award, will say it was an honor just to be nominated. This is true for Scott. This year’s awards season was dampened by COVID, so the networking opportunities at the awards parties, star and agent meetings, and redcarpet interviews just did not happen. But Scott used the whirlwind of the digital press to get his message out. The goal was not to win, it was to learn everything I could to “Robin Hood” the experience, so I can help future actors win. I got a very clear message that it is not about me. Achieving another historical breakthrough—becoming the first trans man nominated for any acting Emmy, Daytime or Primetime— is about where the world is right now, and it is about spotlighting my community. So, I spent most of that time interviewing other trans guys in entertainment for my IGTV, and doing as much press as possible, talking about trans masculine folks, to make guys like me more visible. During one of our very candid conversations, we chatted about the trans male versus female celebrity popularity in the media. We love to see Laverne Cox work the red carpet in her gowns, we love Alexandra Billing’s strong performances in her television appearances, Pose’s Dominque Jackson’s one-liners are oft-repeated and her Pose co-star Indya Moore is making a splash as a model as well as an actress – I, in my naivete, have not been able to ramble off names of male trans actors. There’s obviously more trans women who are visible than trans men—I think GLAAD counted it at like three trans women for every trans man on screens. The question of “why?” is less interesting to me than “how do we even it out?” Two to three trans women are murdered every single month in the US because the people who murder them do not consider them even human, and even more people consider them somehow dangerous. Trans women need authentic visibility to show their humanity, to raise awareness of the epidemic of violence against them. And 50% of trans guys attempt suicide—it METROSOURCE.COM
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is a self-directed violence that comes from having nothing positive to see about ourselves in the world. We need both kinds of stories, and we need a lot more stories about trans men, stat. There has been a marked increase in the visibility of trans characters in entertainment. Well, to be clear, an increase in trans roles that are a regular part of the storyline, not some tragic murder victim on Law and Order: SVU. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Supergirl, The Good Doctor, Good Girls, Grey’s Anatomy are just a few titles with recurring characters that are included in seamless storylines as part of the full narrative, not a highlight for spectacle. The roles being offered though, from Scott’s personal experience, are still lagging. To be honest, things have not really changed, yet. Storytelling about trans men just has not progressed much in five years. And there are so many trans men with pilots and series that are good! Hollywood is missing out. Getting work as a trans actor is not just dependent on a better understanding by Hollywood producers, it is also dependent on a clear understanding by agents and managers as to what the goal of a trans actor is. I have been recently blessed with representation whose goal is to get me roles with zero fanfare. It’s funny how that’s the goal: for me to get roles, and for that to be unremarkable. They see how the trans label is not actually affixed to my talent or my potential. And they are doing a lot of educating out in casting land, so that decision-makers will see that, too. I have been present for Scott’s ups and downs, both personally and in the entertainment biz. I was there when he met his wife for the first time, I have swapped stories with his parents, I have heard about the auditions that went well, I have heard about the auditions that did not go well, I have heard about the successful workshops, the canceled productions, and the uphill battle to produce his own film, Becoming A Man in 127 Easy Steps. The original, live version of Becoming A Man in 127 Easy Steps is one of the three one-man shows that have toured major venues in the US and Europe, with the support of the National Performance Network and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA. Becoming a Man in 127 EASY Steps was 20 years in the making generating 127 pieces of short content that deeply explore the gender-universal and particularly-trans themes
with Laverne Cox Karla Mosely courtesy of Scott Schofield
of childhood, parenthood, love, sex, death, survival, and authenticity. With over $125,000 raised from past audiences, the film finally came to be and was released as a festival hit this last summer. Scott’s dream of seeing his film on the big screen was still not to be, COVID stopped the festivals from premiering the film in theaters in front of an audience and had to opt for the quarantine-friendly online route. We had excellent successes at Tribeca and Outfest, in different ways. We got great reviews; we made a strong relationship with a distributor and some other excellent Industry folks who want to take us to new and exciting places. The next step is getting it out into the world, which is its own journey! The festivals were just the beginning. And just what were Scott’s easiest and hardest steps in becoming a man? The hardest step, for me, was just beginning. I was so conditioned by culture to believe that there was something wrong with me—when it’s so much more logical and life-affirming to just accept that diversity is a part of gender, the way it’s a part of everything else. After accepting myself as the man I know I am, every other step in life has been much easier. I can meet even the most difficult situations with so much more ease because I know who I am. Scott has literally traveled the world
performing. He has lived in Alaska, France, Georgia, and more to create and curate art. Living within a variety of regions has given him perspective as to how trans culture is received on an international level as compared to the US. Every culture has its own idea of what gender is, and how people should do it. So, when I show up, I bring something uniquely my own—but also an outlook that is very American. For example, in France, my show was a runaway hit—we extended 9 shows. I learned that they loved the honesty and openness I delivered because people aspire to that sort of authenticity there, but tradition is so intense that it is still rare. I loved performing in Ireland because it is a nation of storytellers from way back—I could tell that they appreciated how I told each step. But really, every city in the US is foreign to any other. I performed for 800 people in Miami like it was just any other show in all the live performance that Miami supports; I got censored in Tampa as if I was committing a crime against humanity just for having a body. Most recently, Scott can be seen in HBO Max’s docuseries, Equal, alongside a who’s who of LGBTQ actors telling the stories of forgotten LGBTQ heroes from the past. Scott plays Craig Rodwell, one of the leading gay rights activists for the gay movement in the ‘60s.
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called “TV’s most interesting trans character” and“the future of TV.”The fact that productions are now calling in LGBTQ consultants to“get it right” must mean we are heading in the right direction, right? Finally, Hollywood is listening to people in the communities it is representing. It is hiring not only actors but also writers, directors, and producers who live lives like the stories being told. It is the only way to get real authenticity, and it has made for much better work. Now I just want them to get past the labels—don’t stop doing authenticity, but let us really play, not just play ourselves. When we get to that point— where actors who have been marginalized can play anything, to me, that will be a sign of real equality, and after that, maybe we really could all just be actors. I always look to Scott for a logical response to social and political situations and will often send him a frantic text when I’m in a situation that needs an educated insight. The biggest difference in our personalities (besides my love of vodka) is that I fly off the handle and will stick to my grudges and instinctive responses. Scott will step back, look at the facts, take a breath, and approach the situation. This last year has been
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Writer’s Note: In reference to my first paragraph, Scott gently informed me that “transgendered” is not a word, although it has been used in regular conversation. You never say “gayed”, and so you shouldn’t say “transgendered” – you don’t stop being gay, you don’t stop being trans; as Scott puts it, we are always in the present…then he told me to knock that shit off and stop saying it.
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I was directly impacted by Craig Rodwell’s life. He started the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop in New York City—as well as being one of the founders of the Pride Parade as a tradition after Stonewall. I went to New York for an internship, and my first stop was to that bookshop, looking for a part-time job. They weren’t hiring, but the bisexual behind the counter organized lesbian parties at Meow Mix, and she hired me to pass out postcards for the events. Consequently, I got into those events, even though I was underage and that’s where I met the first guy I knew to be trans. That interaction was my light-bulb moment and gave me the one example I needed to become who I really am. All thanks to Craig Rodwell and the center he made for our community with the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop. A trans man playing a gay man for HBO, we have come a long way. I was finally acting at the level my experience has prepared me for, having been cast for my skill, and how my look fit the role. You know, like actors who are not trans get to do all the time. Behind the camera, Scott consults for HBO’s Euphoria; the role he helped create has been
full of unrest and our friends, our neighbors, and our families have shown their true colors when it comes to politics and the LGBTQ community. Is cancel culture ok? The problem I have with cancel culture is that it leaves no room for change, for redemption. Without change and redemption, there are no good stories in Hollywood. But then you have people who refuse to change, who hold back the work of change— what do you do with those folks? I got into this recently with that Harry Potter author. She is doing real harm to the trans community, and I channeled my rage into speaking out about it. I am an expert, and I can stand my own ground in that fight. I educated, I wrote viral tweets, I got quoted about it in People. It did not make any difference, and all I ended up doing was amplifying her name (which, BTW, is pronounced JoKaren), and feeling all that anger. That will give you cancer. Laverne Cox helped me see the forest for the trees. She encouraged me to focus on the issues over the people, to choose having class over engaging in feuds. Our conversation helped me remember where I come from—I grew up in the South, and if I had tried to cancel everybody who deserved it, I would have gotten nowhere. So, I went back to doing what I did to survive in the South. Now I look for the helpers, I dive in with the change-makers, I do not waste energy on people caught up in retrograde ideologies. I don’t even think about them, much less take time to cancel them, and if I do find them on my mind, I focus it on hope—that they experience a transgender level of change. Whenever I get to see Scott speak or perform, I am always taken aback by the pensive silence from his audiences. They are captivated. Whether they are gay, straight, trans, or something in between, he is speaking about being our authentic self, something we all live our lives trying to figure it out. Scott has a few easy steps ahead of us. ■
WALKING
IN A WINTER WONDERLAND
BY MEGAN VENZIN
ELIMINATE THE STRESSES OF HOLIDAY TRAVEL THIS SEASON. New
York City takes on a magical quality when the air grows cold. As more celebrations and social outings move outdoors, city dwellers can experience annual festivities with a fresh new perspective. Strike a museum visit from your bucket list or experience a beloved open-air attraction in a brand-new light. Either way, do not forget to make new memories in this dazzling winter wonderland you should be proud to call home.
CELEBRATE AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS AT THE DRIVE-IN NEWARK MOONLIGHT CINEMA 54 Bridge Street Newark, NJ 07102 Through December 6th Film buffs can take a short drive across the Hudson to load up on nostalgia and quality entertainment at Newark Moonlight Cinema, a Drive-In that spotlights African American filmmakers, actors, and actresses. The sprawling space is in Newark’s Downtown District and can accommodate 350 cars - or about 1,500 people per night. Guests can feel secure in this socially distanced setting while enjoying an array of modern films (some recent titles include Ma, Tales from the Hood, and I Am Legend) from the comfort of their own vehicles. Don’t forget to grab popcorn and nachos to share with your AV team! See what’s playing at www. newarkmoonlight.com.
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NEW YORK
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Top of the Ro
30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY Open Daily from 1pm - 9pm (last elevator at 8:10pm) With tourists at bay, New York City is your oyster! Use this rare quiet time to experience Manhattan’s architectural wonders, such as Top of the Rock which has been thrilling guests for 15 years. Celebrate this impressive milestone with a visit to Rockefeller Center’s legendary 70th floor open-air roof deck which offers prime vantage points of Central Park, Midtown’s renowned skyscrapers, and other amazing structures that define the resilient place that you call home. Additional indoor levels with features like the interactive and not-to-be-missed Breezeway provide reprieve during colder days, while promising comparable delight. And while you are there, don’t forget to safely swing by the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Reserve advanced tickets at https://www.topoftherocknyc.com.
NY SCOPE
VIEW A SNOW-COVERED CENTRAL PARK FROM TOP OF THE ROCK ROCKEFELLER CENTER
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CATCH A RUSH AT EDGE 30 Hudson Yards New York, NY 10001 Daily from 12pm - 8pm (check website for extended holiday hours) Experience the sights and sounds of New York with your head in the clouds! Following an afternoon of shopping at Hudson Yards, ascend to the Western Hemisphere’s tallest outdoor sky deck, Edge, where you can sip on champagne at an astounding 1,100 feet. Whatever you do, DON’T FORGET TO LOOK DOWN! The transparent section of floor will allow you to experience Manhattan from above, and on chillier days there are indoor viewing areas to take your breath away too. While you take in those views, also take comfort in knowing that Edge has partnered with the medical experts at Mount Sinai to create a safe experience complete with state-of-the-art temperature checks, a reduced capacity of over 75 percent throughout the day, flexible ticket options and more. Elevate this already sky-high outing when you splurge on lunch or dinner at Peak Restaurant on the 101st Floor, just one level up from Edge. Buy tickets at https://www.edgenyc.com/en.
Outdoor Sky Deck, pho
to courtesy of Relate
d-Oxford
WITNESS ART’S “NEW NORMAL” WHEN YOU WATCH, REMOTE INTIMACIES Leslie Lohman Museum of Art Online via Zoom December 16, 2020 Zoom is no longer just where you take work calls, enjoy happy hour with friends and go on virtual dates… now Zoom will take you to the art museum too! Strange times we are living in, eh? Leslie Lohman Museum of Art and ONE Archives in Los Angeles have co-organized a new series of experimental works to be enjoyed online titled Remote Intimacies, which explore the power of coming together, even when geographic space and time have other plans. Mikki Yamashiro presents on December 16, with additional artists Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo and Young Joon Kwak set to unveil their own experimental performances this spring. Get your cyber on at https:// www.leslielohman.org.
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START TRAINING FOR YOUR FIRST VIRTUAL 10K CHRISTMAS JINGLE VIRTUAL RUN Online December 25, 2020 (and other dates) Make your heart race faster than Rudolph’s when you register for this holiday-themed Christmas run. Participants can pledge to complete a 5K, 10K, half or full marathon on Christmas Day (or in the days following). Online portal, The Best Races, will provide several tools and trinkets to make your virtual shuffle a memorable one, including custom photo backdrops to share on social media, certificates of completion and much more! Give yourself the gift of health and be a trendsetter too -- virtual runs are so 2020! Register for the Christmas Jingle Virtual Run and other themed races at www. thebestraces.com/virtualruns
SOAK UP BLUE LIGHT AT CELESTIAL ARTECHOUSE 439 W. 15th St. New York, NY 10011 Through January 3rd Monday - Thursday, 2pm - 9pm Friday - Sunday, 10am -10pm During a challenging year, art lovers deserve to bask in tranquility, and they finally can in the dynamic arts space located just below Chelsea Market. The newest in a series of installations inspired by Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year - Classic Blue - CELESTIAL takes visitors on an immersive elemental journey to calm the mind and soothe the soul. “2020 ended up bringing changes no one expected, making the hue of Classic Blue, and the qualities it represents, more relatable now than ever before,” says Sandro Keserelidze, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of ARTECHOUSE. “We couldn’t think of a more timeless and timelier theme to end the year and launch a new chapter of experiences.” Grab a timed ticket to experience the space with a reduced capacity or book a private session for up to 12 people with availability Mondays through Thursdays at 12pm and 1pm ($250). Plan your visit at https://www.artechouse.com/nyc.
Celestial by Artechouse courtesy image
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Photo courtesy of Bro
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GET FESTIVE WITH FURRY FRIENDS HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT BRONX ZOO Bronx, NY Select dates through January 10th Gather up your fellow polar bears because Bronx Zoo has revived its Holiday Lights seasonal celebration! Animal lovers can meander through glowing lantern safaris depicting monkeys, cranes, and more four-legged favorites! Ice carving displays, costumed stilt walkers and other surprises add a festive touch to this popular annual event, all set within the gates of one of New York City’s most prized outdoor attractions. Plan your visit at https://bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights.
IGNITE YOUR IMAGINATION AT LUMINOCITY
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minoCity Festi
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Randall’s Island Park New York, NY Through January 10th Storytelling and immersive art come together at LuminoCity; a captivating light festival set on Randall’s Island! Visitors of all ages are invited to follow Lumi on an eye-opening journey through illuminated “lands” that depict the delicate relationship between humans and nature. Expect to meet some larger-than-large characters along the way that are brand new to the LuminoCity experience.“We have been working tirelessly for over a year, from ideation to execution, to make sure we present this safe, well-produced, and heartwarming event,” says Xiaoyi Chen, Founder of LuminoCity Festival. “As one of the only expansive events in NYC this year, we would like to invite everyone to immerse themselves in the dazzling holiday lights with friends, families, and significant others. Attending LuminoCity is a great way to bring light to the end of 2020.” Meet Lumi and purchase tickets at https://www.luminocityfestival.com.
GO ICE SKATING AT BANK OF AMERICA WINTER VILLAGE Bryant Park 42nd St & 6th Ave. New York, NY Through January 3rd Monday - Friday, 11am - 8pm Saturday - Sunday, 10am - 8pm Say hello to brisk weather with hot cocktails, shopping, and skating with the much-anticipated return of Bank of America Winter Village. Boasting a brand new layout to accommodate social distancing guidelines, the beloved seasonal pop-up will still feature artisan vendors, tasty treats and Manhattan’s only free admission ice skating rink, as well as cozy igloos and a fully outdoor experience at the rink side restaurant, The Lodge by Urbanspace. A visit to Bryant Park ensures there is no shortage of fun outings this holiday season, and that everyone on your gift list is accounted for! To explore the new space or reserve your skates visit https://bryantpark.org/amenities/bank-ofamerica-winter-village-at-bryant-park.
illage by Winter V
iller
Colin M
EXPERIENCE MUTUALITIES AT WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART 99 Gansevoort Street New York, NY 10014 Through January 31st Open Daily from 1:30pm - 9pm The words and works of Sojourner Truth, Alice Coltrane and Rebecca Cox Jackson shine bright in Mutualities, Cauleen Smith’s first solo show in New York, which is now on exhibition at Whitney Museum of American Art. This multidisciplinary installation includes elements of film, drawings, and poetry, which together lend a powerful glimpse into the collective wisdom and shared worldviews possessed across generations of trailblazing African American women. Get to know these visionaries when you purchase advance tickets at https://whitney.org.
Cauleen Smith, still from Sojourner, 2018. Video, color, sound, 22:41 min. Courtesy of the artist, Corbett vs. Dempsey, Chicago, and Kate Werble Gallery, New York.
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Just minutes from New York City by car or rail, Westchester County is that ideal getaway destination that requires less time in the“getting,” saving more time for “away.”Treat someone special on your holiday gift list to a whirlwind weekend touring the county’s most historic and elegant homes, from the Gothic Revival mansion Lyndhurst to Sunnyside, the charming estate of beloved author Washington Irving. Splurge on a stay at The Abbey Inn and Spa, a former convent turned stylish retreat atop Peekskill’s historic Fort Hill, and dinner at the inn’s farm-to-table restaurant, Apropos Restaurant & Bar, showcasing the best of the Hudson Valley. With its views over the Hudson River Highlands, Fort Hill was a key lookout post for George Washington and his army during the Revolutionary War; in 1902, it became home to a convent and chapel, established by the Episcopal Sisters of Saint Mary. The nuns moved elsewhere in the Hudson Valley in 2003, and the abbey and its chapel have now been converted into The Abbey Inn & Spa – a luxury hotel with 42 rooms and suites, a farm-to-table restaurant, a luxurious spa, and over 65 acres to explore.
THE ABBEY INN & SPA
NY TRAVEL
900 Fort Hill Road Peekskill, NY 10566 http://www.theabbeyinn.com
NEW YORK
WINTER ESCAPES FALL IN LOVE WITH NEW YORK
Covering one-fifth of New York State, Adirondack Park is the perfect backdrop for a nearby getaway. Lake Placid was host to two Winter Olympic Games, in 1932 (North America’s first Winter Olympics) and 1980. Evoking the Gilded Age splendor of the historic Adirondack Great Camps in its rustic timber design, Lake Placid’s Whiteface Lodge is tucked into the picturesque woodlands of the Adirondacks’ High Peaks region in Upstate New York. The all-suite Whiteface Lodge provides for an Olympics-worthy athletic adventure combined with world-class rejuvenation. From the resort, it’s just a short drive to the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic site with its 30-plus miles of cross-country ski trails and multiple snowshoe paths, or to the Cliffside Coaster for a scenic ride alongside the 1980 Olympic bobsled track. In addition to the multiple outdoor activities, the Whiteface Lodge’s on-site amenities are plentiful, including the offerings at the award-winning Spa at Whiteface Lodge, making the lodge one of the most alluring Lake Placid resorts for an all-inclusive stay. Try the mineral clay wrap and a full body Hot Stone Massage!
WHITEFACE LODGE 7 Whiteface Inn Lane Lake Placid, NY 12946 http://www.thewhitefacelodge.com
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THIS PAGE: PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ABBEY INN & SPA • PHOTOS COURTESY OF WHITEFACE LODGE
BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
The Asbury mashes up Asbury Park’s Victorian-era history, rock-n-roll present, and shiny future into a new kind of social hub. From the renowned rooftop lounge Salvation, to the outdoor movie theater Baronet, there is something for everyone at The Asbury. So, say “good riddance” to 2020 and enjoy good vibes and new possibilities at The Ashbury. Enjoy a shopping excursion at The Market, a union of local and national makers, artists, and designers in a single collaborative storefront and stands, relax in your spacious room, or catch an outdoor Christmas movie at Baronet.The Ashbury’s mission is to bring the community together in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
THE ASHBURY 210 5th Avenue Asbury Park, NJ 07712 http://www.theashburyhotel.com
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ASHBURY • PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE JAMES HOTEL NEW YORK - NOMAD
THIS IS WHAT SEXUAL HEALTH LOOKS LIKE.
Stay local. Rediscover New York City with your family, including your furry family members. Ideally situated on the corner of 29th street and Madison Avenue, near iconic Madison Square Park and the Flatiron District, you’ll step into the calming energy of The James and leave the hustle and bustle behind. Your urban retreat will be infused with local culture, drawing inspiration from the surrounding neighborhood. The guestrooms and public spaces are modern and include complimentary WiFi, complimentary triple-distilled in-room water, and local area transportation options including bikes and car service. Indulge your inner foodie at Scarpetta restaurant, dining either al fresco or in-room.
THE JAMES HOTEL NEW YORK - NOMAD 22 E. 29th Street New York, New York, 10016 http://www.jameshotels.com
HEALTH. ADVOCACY. CARE.
Contact us for confidential answers: 1-855-GO-AMIDA | (1-855-462-6432), TTY 711 www.AmidaCareNY.org Amida Care complies with Federal civil rights laws. Amida Care does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-556-0689, TTY 711. 注意：如果您使用繁體中 文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-800-556-0689, TTY 711. Stock photo with model
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WINTER MOISTURIZING AND GROOMING BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES THE LOW HUMIDITY AND HARSH WEATHER OF WINTER CAN DISRUPT YOUR PERFECT COMPLEXION. Winter weather affects everyone differ-
BODY
HEALTH
ently, so it is important to experiment and try new products to see what will help protect your skin from all types of inclement weather. We combed through the broad array of skincare options on the market and found some new and trusted skincare products to stock your medicine cabinet with for 2021. Shop, ask for samples, try everything and find what works best for you. Remember to drink lots of water and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
PAYOT PARIS 24-Day Advent Calendar Payot.com $75 It is the most wonderful time of the year, and PAYOT Paris has launched a 24-Day Advent Calendar with all kinds of goodies to get you into the season. While traveling to Paris from the States would be challenging this year, open a window for a taste of French sk skincare each day as you countdown to Christmas. The skincare sur surprises include Roselift Collagéne Jour Lifting Cream; Bubble Mask; Micellar Cleansing Milk; Delicious Almond Scrub—and so much more! Feel like a kid again, and allow this chic, neoclassical pine and silver green box put you in the mood for Christmas.
OSMOTICS COSMECEUTICALS Blue Copper 5 Prime Perfecting Serum Osmotics.com $98 Is this blue cream magic? Blue Copper 5 Prime Perfecting Se Serum contains tripeptides that visibly smooth lines and wrinkles and targets visible signs of aging. It is hydrating, lightweight, and acts as a protective natural barrier against the environ environment. Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Blue Copper 5 technology features scientifically based copper peptide developed from the biotech field. The five chain peptide firms, smooths, and pro promotes youthful looking skin while reducing any sign of aging.
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TRILOGY
KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 Eye Fuel Kiehls.com $24 Are your eyes windows to the soul? Make Kiehl’s Since 1851 Eye Fuel your go-to for combating those dark circles. The blend of caffeine and vitamin B3 is a great way to lather on while your coffee is brewing. This little tube will fit perfectly in your pocket if you had a late night and need a little touch up.
Very Gentle Moisturizing Cream trilogyproducts.com $50 Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturizing Cream features maqui berries, syricalm, sweet almond oil, marshmallow root extract, evening primrose oil and calendula to deeply hydrate while helping fine lines and wrinkles appear smoother and comfort for overstressed skin. What are maqui berries? Native to South America and found in the rainforests of Chile and nearby Ar Argentina, this superfruit looks like a blueberry and is chock full of nutrients.
PEVONIA SPA CARE Collagen Boost Face Balm for Him Pevonia.com $74 Pevonia was green before it was fashionable, launching in 1991 with cruelty-free formulas and post-customer recyclable/reusable packaging. The brand incorporates delicately extracted phyto organic and natural ingredients to create earth and skin friendly products that are Mother Nature approved. Their Collagen Boost Face Balm for Him is a subtly fragrant balm that rejuvenates, firms, and plumps the skin with marine collagen, and elastin for those who want to defy age, smooth wrinkles, and look great.
MALIN+GOETZ Advanced Renewal Cream malinandgoetz.com $94 Malin+Goetz is a family owned and operated apothecary launched by Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood in 2004. The focus of their brand is easy-to-use, gentle treatments helping to cleanse and restore pH balance without harsh ingredients, irritants, or unnecessary detergents, colorants, and synthetic fragrances. Malin+Goetz Advanced Renewal Cream nourishes the skin with acmella flower extract, a lipid complex, evodia fruit extract, and a hydrating fruit complex. The potent acmella flower extract helps to firm the skin while the fortifying lipid complex improves elasticity and hydration. A little renewal cream and your skin will feel smooth and radiant throughout 2021!
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JACK BLACK Three for the Beard getjackblack.com $45 Do not forget about your beard this winter! Avoid a dry, scratchy beard with Three for the Beard, a fabulous sampling of two limited-edition fragrances including the Original Beard Oil, Limited-Edition Black Reserve Beard Oil, and Limited-Edition Sagewood Beard Oil. Never used beard oil before? Just put a few drops into the palm of your hand, rub those hands together, and massage right into the facial hair. Use your fingers (or a brush) to groom and rub in the oil downward as needed. If your beard still feels dry you can apply a few more drops. Jack Black is a small team that launched about 19 years ago. Their company aims for no-nonsense products for the modern man.
WONDERGLOSS This is Everything Beauty Facial Oil Wondergloss.com $65 Proper hydration should be at the top of your list this season, and This is Everything Beauty Facial Oil by Wondergloss is an excellent way to keep that glow going behind your mask. Try this unique blend of antioxidant-rich, superfood seed oils including cranberry seed, pomegranate, avocado, marula, borage, and baobab oils to leave your skin feeling nourished and extra pampered.
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CELEBRITIES AND EVERYDAY NEW YORKERS CO-MINGLE AT THIS SPACIOUS MEN’S SALON LOCATED IN THE HEART OF CHELSEA BY MEGAN VENZIN
XAVIER CRUZ IS AN ARTIST, BUT HE DOESN’T USE
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBA MEN’S GROOMING
A PAINTBRUSH TO TOUCH UP HIS MASTERPIECES.
His talents have been seen on Broadway, yet he refrains from calling himself a triple threat. He has changed the face of prime-time news, but he’s hardly an anchor. Cruz is a cutting-edge stylist with more than 30 years of experience under his belt. His instruments are shears and straight blades, which he uses to elevate the looks of modern men -names like Neil Patrick Harris, Billy Porter and Marc Jacobs round out his client list. He has even been credited with inventing the “Coop” cut, made famous by none other than CNN’s Anderson Cooper. Today, his creations take shape atop an alternative kind of canvas -- everyday New Yorkers who want to feel and look their best during a pandemic that is still plaguing America. And he is working his magic, all from the comfort of his chic Chelsea salon, Barba Men’s Grooming Boutique. “People were forced to let their hair grow for months, and now they can finally do something different,”Cruz says.“That’s something very exciting that’s happening in the hair industry.” After a quiet spring where doors remained
shut to curb the spread of COVID-19, Cruz had a lot of time to think about the defining look of 2020, and beyond. “I’m thinking longer hair is going to be the new trend,” he shares. “A lot of men haven’t had their hair long before, and there are a good portion who have now let theirs grow. We’re benefitting as a men’s grooming boutique because my staff is very talented - they know how to work with scissors, compared to barbers that focus mostly on buzz cuts.” Operating at 50 percent capacity and with plexiglass dividers installed, Barba may look a little different than it did when it relocated to 19th Street in 2013, but the good vibes inside are still flowing all the same. Clients can expect to relax in style and listen to chill house music while Cruz and his expert team dream up hot coif creations. While mask mandates are in effect, highend haircuts and color applications will remain the flavors du jour, with additional services like microblading taking over the space previously reserved for spa services. Cruz says appointments should be booked weeks in advance to ensure a seat at the in-demand salon. Even with all the new precautions and guidelines, Cruz says he has discovered some silver
linings. “Because of the way appointments are now set up, you’ll now have more quality time with your stylist,” he shares. “We have an extra 30 minutes with each client, so there’s never a need to rush.”After each cut, ample time is spent sanitizing and preparing the chair for the next to be groomed, and for Cruz, the cycle of unveiling new works of art continues. ■
NEW YORK
NY HOTSHOPS
ABOVE THE CUT
BARBA MEN’S GROOMING BOUTIQUE 235 W. 19th St. New York 10011 212.675.2010 info@barbamgb.com www.barbamgb.com
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NEW YORK DIRECTORY ACCOUNTING – COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY
ACCOUNTING Dikman, Bernard L�, C�P�A� 37 W 20th St, Ste 703, NYC ������� 212 929-4299
Woloshen, Robert A� CPA 29 W 15th St, Ste 1 NYC������������������������������������ 212 843-3486 www�rawcpa�com
ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture-NYC
80 Fifth Ave, Ste 906 NYC�������������������������������������������� 212 874-0898 www�acupuncture-nyc�com
ADOPTION SERVICES Friends in Adoption
NYC�������������������������������������������� 800 982-3678 www�friendsinadoption�org
AESTHETIC SERVICES Advanced Dermatology Associates
200 Central Park South #107 NYC ........................................... 212 262-2500 NYC ........................................... 212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com
Lexington Plastic Surgeons
113 E 39th St, NYC��������������������� 646 374-2410 www�try�lexingtonplasticsurgeons�com/metrosource
Sexual Health Men
290 Madison Ave 6th Fl NYC�������������������������������������������� 973 493-7607 www�sexualhealthmen�com Stoller, Roy B�, D�O�
515 Madison Ave, Ste 1205 NYC������������������������������������ 212 920-4499 www�hairdoctornyc�com
David Stern Architecture www�davidsternarchitecture�com Torre, Martin B� RA AIA Architecture + Planning PLLC 605 E 14th St, #8 NYC��������������������������������������������� 646 257-9081
ATTORNEYS
Aziz, Michael, M�D�, FRSM
Midtown Integrative Medicine 509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC�������������������������������������������� 212 906-9111 www�michaelazizmd�com
DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 METROSOURCE NY
METROSOURCE
GIFT GUIDE WINTER MOISTURIZING
AND GROOMING
WINTER ESCAPES FALL IN LOVE WITH NEW YORK
MAKING ROOM AT THE HALLMARK HOLIDAY TABLE
PAUL ZAHN
Li-Lac Chocolates West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC��������������������������������������������212 924-2280 www�li-lacchocolates�com
Paul Evans Catering
Bing, Steven E�
276 5th Ave, Ste 1008 NYC��������������������������������������������� 212 286-1666
20 W 20th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 321-1822 NYC��������������������������������������������212 243-4494 www�paulevanscatering�com
Chianese & Reilly Law, P�C�
CLOTHING
122 E 42nd St, Ste 3900 NYC��������������������������������������������� 212 953-6447 100 Merrick Rd, Ste 103E Rockville Centre, NY �������������������� 516 599-2020 www�awclawyer�com
Dave’s New York
581 Ave of the Americas, NYC Toll Free ��������������������������������������800 543-8558 www�davesnewyork�com
Chou, Luna, Esq� NYC��������������������������������������������� 212 226-2610 www�lunachoulaw�com
Jackson Boutique
Goldman, Jeffrey E�, Esq 501 Fifth Ave #1900 NYC��������������������������������������������� 212 983-8999 NYC��������������������������������������������� 212 949-5085 www�jgoldmanlaw�com
CONTRACTORS/CONSTRUCTION
Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC
44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC��������������������������������������������� 212 495-0317 www�sciaccalaw�com Long & Associates NYC��������������������������������������������� 212 360-0394 www�landapllc�com Parker | Waichman LLP 6 Harbor Park Dr� Nationwide ��������������������������������� 800 JUST-CALL www�yourlawyer�com
ALLERGIES
JONATHAN BENNETT
CATERING
ARCHITECTURE
Tesler, Richard, Esq� 41 W 72nd St NYC������������������������������������� 212 362-6961
www�jacksonboutiquenyc�com
ABS Design & Construction
NYC��������������������������������������������212 731-0642 www�abs-construction-nyc�com
COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY Angers, Marc E�, M�A� Oxon, L�C�S�W�/L�P�
Licensed Psychoanalyst, NCPsyA NYC��������������������������������������������917 678-7929
Barneson, Jeff, LCSW
119 Washington Place NYC��������������������������������������������212 252-2314 www�jeffbarneson�com
Blatter, Andrew, LCSW
NYC��������������������������������������������917 442-5213 www�andrewblatter�com
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NEW YORK DIRECTORY COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY – DENTISTS Bloom Psychotherapy NYC
19 W 34th St, PH NYC��������������������������������������������347 921-0431 www�nycbloomtherapy�com
Campbell, Robert D�, LCSW Psychotherapy for Individuals & Couples NYC������������������������������������646 783-8155 www�robertdcampbell�com Davies, Ann Conant, M�S�W�, L�C�S�W�
740 West End Ave, Ste 1 Cell ���������������������������������������������917 923-2257
Dicker, Phyllis D�, L�C�S�W�, A�C�S�W�, B�C�D�
Ross, Steven, LSCW
Lew, Spencer, D�D�S�
Schuetz, Volker, PsyD
30 E 40th St #706 NYC��������������������������������������������212 286-1717 www�nycdental�com
Union Square ������������������������������917 406-7900 www�stevenrosstherapy�com 1133 Broadway #913 NYC��������������������������������������������212 470-9024 www�nychangemanagement�com
Schwartz, Alan, M�D�, Psychiatrist
West Village/Chelsea NYC��������������������������������������������212 727-0923
Tallent, Marc, Ph�D�
51 Fifth Ave NYC��������������������������������������������212 645-5795 http://therapists�psychologytoday�com/rms/33692
NYC��������������������������������������������718 855-5171
COUNSELING/SUBURBAN
Factor, Rhonda J�, PhD
Kingan, Peter L�, Ph�D�
85 5th Ave, Ste 912 NYC��������������������������������������������347 834-6057 www�rhondafactorphd�com
Jarratt, Kent, L�C�S�W�
19 W 34th St, NYC ������� 212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ �����������������������������917 686-6179 www�kentjarratt�com
Johnson, Thomas E�, L�C�S�W�
Chelsea���������������������������������������212 645-3952
Kingan, Peter L�, Ph�D�
99 University Pl, 4th Fl NYC ������������������������������������������������917 428-2431
Koetting, Michael E�, L�C�S�W�
NYC��������������������������������������������212 741-2606 www�koettingpsychotherapy�com
McFadden, Stephen, LCSW SEP
435 W 23rd St NYC��������������������������������������������212 627-8419 www�smcfadden�com
Nelson, Joshua, Ph�D� 71 W 23rd St, Ste 1115 NYC������������������������������������646 512-0043 www�jnelsonphd�com Rayhill, Daniel, Ph�D� 276 Fifth Ave #1101
LuxDen Dental Center 2579 E 17th St, Ste 11 Brooklyn �������������������������������������718 382-3444 www�luxden�com
Rosa, John D�, D�D�S�, P�C� 40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ ���������������������201 626-2700 Sengos, Demetrios, D�D�S�
31 Oak St Patchogue, NY ����������������������������631 447-6425
DATING SERVICES
West 10th Dental P�C� 45 W 10th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 982-5883 www�west10thdental�com
SEE ALSO INTRODUCTION SERVICES
West 10th Dental P�C�
ManMate
NYC��������������������������������������������212 564-4025 www�manmate�com
ManMate Dinners For 8
NYC��������������������������������������������212 564-4025 www�manmate�com
Wheaton, Grant
Dating Coach NYC��������������������������������������������212 564-4025
DENTISTS Babushkin, Howard, D�D�S�, L�L�C�
525 West End Ave #1G, NYC ���������212 874-2880 www�manhattanoasisdentistry�com
Cassidy, J�R�, D�D�S�
West 10th Dental P�C� 45 W 10th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 982-5883 www�west10thdental�com
De Bonis, William B�, D�D�S�
World Wide Plaza Dental Associates 370 W 50th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 333-2650 www�wwpdental�com
45 W 10th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 982-5883 www�west10thdental�com
DENTISTS/PERIODONTISTS Bizzell, Steven J�, D�M�D�, D�A�B�P� 50-02 5th St Ste B, Long Island City ��������������������������718 530-6539 www�licdentalassociates�com
OMNI Aesthetic MD Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
DENTISTS/SUBURBAN Rosa, John D�, D�D�S�, P�C� 40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ ���������������������201 626-2700
NYC��������������������������������������������212 683-2454
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NEW YORK DIRECTORY DERMATOLOGY – HOTELS
DERMATOLOGY SEE ALSO PHYSICIANS
Advanced Dermatology Associates
200 Central Park South #107 NYC ...........................................212 262-2500 NYC ...........................................212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com
(SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)
The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr� NYC��������������������������������������������212 870-6762 www�trcnyc�com Yachts for All Seasons NYC��������������������������������������������212 534-6380 Cell ���������������������������������������������917 864-7670 www�y4as�com
EVENT SERVICES
Arora, Navin, DO, FAAD
Arora Dermatology 115 Broadway, Ste 1800 NYC��������������������������������������������212 244-1252 www�aroraderm�com
Goldman, Barry D�, M�D�
Big Apple Event Audio Visual 519 8th Ave, Ste 815 NYC�������������������������������������212 518-3175 www�avnycrentals�com
150 Broadway #111 NYC��������������������������������������������212 962-1115
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Juva Skin & Laser Center
Lance R� Kash, Financial Advisor, CFP® 122 E 42nd St #2215 NYC ����������� 646 964-9400
60 E 56th St #2 NYC������������������������������������������� 212 421-9501 www�juvaskin�com
Lumos Dermatology
Peter Chien, MD, PhD 37 E 28th St, Ste 304 NYC��������������������������������������������646 820-1716 www�lumosdermatology�com
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
Ameriprise Financial Services
Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC
44 Wall St, 12th Fl, NYC �������������212 495-0317 www�sciaccalaw�com
New York Life/NYLIFE Securities
Marlon J� Altoe 420 Lexington Ave, 15th Fl NYC������������������������������������������� 646 227-8605 Cell �������������������������������������������� 646 761-4372 www�newyorklife�com/agent/maltoe Peloso-Barnes, Julia A�, CFP, CPM, CRPC Purchase, NY ������������������������������914 225-6391 www�advisor�morganstanley�com/the-pelosobarnes-group
EMPLOYMENT Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
700 E Temple St, B-38 LA�����������������������������������������������866 444-LAPD www�joinlapd�com
EVENT PLANNING & EVENT SPACE/RENTALS SEE ALSO CATERING, WEDDING SERVICES
Elite Private Yachts NYC��������������������������������������������866 862-7245 www�eliteprivateyachts�com www�entertainmentcruises�com/new-york Hornblower Cruises & Events Pier 40, NYC �������������������������������646 832-2805 www�hornblowerny�com/metrosource Houston Hall 222 W� Houston St NYC������������������������������������������� 212 582-2057 Patina Events - Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn �������������������������������������718 307-7133 www�patinaevents�com DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021
Chelsea Pines Inn
317 W 14th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 929-1023
Colonial House Inn
318 W 22nd St NYC��������������������������������������������212 243-9669
Incentra Village House
32 8th Ave @ W 12th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 206-0007 www�incentravillage�com
MisterBandB
www�misterbandb�com
HAIR REMOVAL Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC������������������������������������ 212 262-2500 NYC������������������������������������212 246-0800 www�adv-derm�com Brisk N Posh 132 Crosby St, Ste 8E NYC ...........................................212 433-4477 www.brisknposh.com (SEE AD THIS ISSUE)
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
HAIR REPLACEMENT/REPLICATION
1700 Stadium Way LA�����������������������������������������������213 847-LAFD www�joinlafd�org
64
GUEST HOUSES/B&B’S
FITNESS/GYMS/PERSONAL TRAINERS Mercedes Club
550 W 54th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 265-1111 www�themercedesclub�com
FLORISTS la Fleur d’Harlem
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
Stoller, Roy B�, D�O� 515 Madison Ave, Ste 1205 NYC������������������������������������212 920-4499 www�hairdoctornyc�com
203 W 144th St NYC �������������������������������������������646 850-5973 www�lafleurnyc�com
HOTELS
FRAMING
The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
14th Street Framing Gallery
225 W 14th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 691-8156
GIFTS Li-Lac Chocolates West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC��������������������������������������������212 924-2280 www�li-lacchocolates�com
METROSOURCE.COM
Atlantic City, NJ ��������������������������609 317-1000 www�outatborgata�com
Foxwoods Resort & Casino
www�foxwoods�com
The Graham & Co
Phoenicia, NY �����������������������������845 688-7871 www�thegrahamandco�com
Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Ave - Chelsea
125 W 26th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 430-8500 www�hi-nyc�com
NEW YORK DIRECTORY HOTELS (CONTINUED) – PHYSICAL THERAPY Hotel Hayden 127 W 28th St NYC��������������������������������������������844 423-6004 www�hotelhaydennyc�com
Hotel Henri
LIPOSUCTION
PET SUPPLIES
Marfuggi, Richard M�D�, D�M�H, F�A�C�S�
Nulo Pet Foods
50 E 69th St, NYC����������������������� 212 317-1188 Denville, NJ ��������������������������������� 973 377-8950 www�askdrm�com
37 W 24th St NYC��������������������������������������������844 277-9123 www�hotelhenrinyc�com
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Opus Hotel Vancouver
MARKETING SERVICES
322 Davie St, Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 642-6787 www�opushotel�com
Sandman Suites on Davie 1160 Davie St Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 681-7263 www�sandmanhotels�com
Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel 1088 Burrard St Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 331-1000 www�sheratonvancouver�com
Sunset Marquis
Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St, NYC ����������������������� 212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
nulo�com/love
PHARMACIES/DRUGS Ansonia Pharmacy
446 6th Ave NYC��������������������������������������������212 477-0762 www�ansoniapharmacy�com
Apthorp Pharmacy
Brand2Fly
San Jose�������������������������������������� 408 763-7924 www�brand2fly�com
GayVan�com Travel Marketing www�gayvan�com
OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
2201 Broadway, NYC ������������������212 877-3480 Arrow Pharmacy 883 Ninth Ave NYC��������������������������������������������212 245-8469 www�arrowpharmacy�com
Avalon Chemists
Coad, Christopher T�, M�D�, F�A�C�S� Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC�������������������������������������������� 212 220-0066 www�chelseaeyeophthalmology�com
7 2nd Ave, NYC ��������������������������212 260-3131
Bigelow Chemists
414 Sixth Ave, NYC ��������������������212 533-2700
Chelsea Specialty Pharmacy
171 Seventh Ave NYC��������������������������������������������212 255-9900
OMNI Aesthetic MD
CVS Specialty
1200 Alta Loma Rd West Hollywood CA ����������������������������������������������800 858-9758 www�sunsetmarquis�com
Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St NYC�������������������������������������������� 212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
126 8th Ave NYC ...........................................212 807-8798
VIVE Hotel Waikiki
OPTOMETRISTS
Mayfair Chemists 21 Seventh Ave, NYC ���������� 212 242-1444
2426 Kuhio Ave Honolulu, Hawaii ������������������������808 687-2000 www�vivehotelwaikiki�com
INSURANCE HealthSherpa Toll Free ��������������������������������������844 346-9476 www�metrosource�healthsherpa�com
INTRODUCTION SERVICES SEE ALSO DATING SERVICES
Coad, Christopher T�, M�D�, F�A�C�S� Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St, NYC�������������������������������������������� 212 220-0066 www�chelseaeyeophthalmology�com
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St NYC�������������������������������������������� 212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
West Village Eyecare Associates
(SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)
New London Pharmacy
246 Eighth Ave, NYC ������������������212 243-4987
New York Chemists
77 Christopher St, NYC���������������212 255-2525 www�newyorkchemists�com
Thompson Chemists &
Thompson Alchemists 137 Thompson St 449 West Broadway NYC��������������������������������������������212 598-9790 www�thompsonchemists�com
Village Apothecary
ManMate
NYC��������������������������������������������212 564-4025 www�manmate�com
10 Sheridan Square NYC�������������������������������������������� 212 242-6592 www�eyecarenyc�com
LASER VISION CORRECTION
PAIN MANAGEMENT
SEE ALSO OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
Samuelson, Stefan T�, MD
PHYSICAL THERAPY
PERIODONTISTS
RestoreRehab Physical Therapy 664 10th Ave NYC��������������������������������������������212 245-5259 www�restorerehabpt�com
Coad, Christopher T�, M�D�, F�A�C�S� Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC������������������������������������212 220-0066 www�chelseaeyeophthalmology�com OMNI Aesthetic MD Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
(SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)
44 E 12th St, Ste MD1 NYC�������������������������������������������� 212 993-8573 NYC�������������������������������������������� 212 594-1600
Bizzell, Steven J�, D�M�D�, D�A�B�P�
346 Bleecker St NYC ...........................................212 807-7566 www.villageapothecary.com
Periodontist 50-02 5th St Ste B Long Island City ��������������������������718-530-6539 www�licdentalassociates�com
Galán, Antonio, PT, DPT, MBA, CHC
Symbio Physio Therapy
214 W 29th St, Ste 901 NYC��������������������������������������������917 338-6268 www�symbiopt�com
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65
NEW YORK DIRECTORY PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES
PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC������������������������������������ 212 262-2500 NYC������������������������������������212 246-0800 www�adv-derm�com
Int� Med�, Gastr� 121 E 60th St, 3rd Fl NYC��������������������������������������������212 980-8800
Dillon, Stephen, M�D�
Amida Care NYC������������������������������������855 462-6432 www�amidacareny�org
Int� Med�, Inf� Dis� 314 W 14th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 620-0144
154 W 14th St, 4th Fl NYC��������������������������������������������212 627-7560
Astor Medical Group
Dormer, Anita L�, M�D�, F�A�C�C�P�
67 Irving Place, 5th Fl @ E 18th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 253-2968 www�astormedical�com
22 E 72nd St, 5th Fl NYC��������������������������������������������212 535-5905
Central Park Medical Associates
Fonville, T�W�, Int� Med�
200 Central Park South #107 NYC ...........................................212 262-2500 NYC ...........................................212 246-0800 www.centralparkmedicalassociates.com
w
Goldberg, Edward S�, M�D�
Coad, Christopher T�, M�D�, F�A�C�S� Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 220-0066 www�chelseaeyeophthalmology�com
29 Fifth Ave @ 10th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 674-1020
VILL AGE APOTHECARY
Hsu, Ricky K�, M�D�
Icochea, Rosendo S�, M�D� 117 E 18th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 387-9199
Jaeger, Lawrence D�, D�O� 200 Central Park South #107 NYC������������������������������������212 246-0800 NYC������������������������������������ 212 262-2500 www�adv-derm�com Jarratt, Kent, L�C�S�W� 19 W 34th St, Penthouse Ste NYC������������������������������ 212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ �����������������������������917 686-6179 www�kentjarratt�com
Leach, Eric G�, N�P� 154 W 14th St, 4th Fl, NYC ��������212 627-7560
Lexington Plastic Surgeons 113 E 39th St NYC��������������������������������������������646 374-2410 www�try�lexingtonplasticsurgeons�com/ metrosource
T H E C O M M U N I T Y P H A R M AC Y T H AT C A R E S Mandell, William, M�D�
fREE wELCOmE KIT! Come in
for your
BRInG THIs CARd In And RECEIVE $10 off On AnY PuRCHAsE Of $25 OR mORE fOR OTC PuRCHAsEs & nEw CusTOmERs OnLY. LImIT 1 PER CusTOmER
Store HourS: Mon - Fri 8aM - 8pM • Sat 9aM - 6pM • Sun 10aM - 5pM 346 Bleecker St • Greenwich VillaGe, nY 10014 • VillaGeapothecarY.com
2 1 2 . 8 0 7. 7 5 6 6 66
DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021
METROSOURCE.COM
Infectious Diseases 31 Washington Sq West NYC��������������������������������������������212 475-8833
Marfuggi, Richard A�, M�D�, D�M�H�, F�A�C�S� 50 E 69th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 317-1188 Denville, NJ ���������������������������������973 377-8950 www�askdrm�com
Maze Sexual & Reproductive Health
Maze Men’s Health Maze Women’s Health Maze Labs Maze Cord Blood 633 Third Ave, Ste 9B NYC ...........................................646 585-8980 www.mazehealth.com (SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)
Midtown Integrative Medicine Aziz, Michael, M�D�, FRSM 509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC��������������������������������������������212 906-9111 www�michaelazizmd�com
NEW YORK DIRECTORY PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES (CONTINUED) – SCHOOLS Namdar, Isaac, M�D�
Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist 425 W 59th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 262-4444 1090 Amsterdam Ave NYC��������������������������������������������212 663-2210 www�newyorkentspecialist�com www�namdarmd�com
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St, NYC �����������������������212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
Pearl, Alan, M�D�, Psychiatrist
135 W 70th St, NYC �������������������212 724-5188
Samuelson, Stefan T�, MD
44 E 12th St, Ste MD1 NYC��������������������������������������������212 993-8573 NYC��������������������������������������������212 594-1600
PLASTIC SURGERY Dr� WW Med Spa and Laser Clinic
85-16 Queens Blvd, 2F, Elmhurst, NY 139 Centre St #224, NYC �����������718 457-0707 www�drwwmedspa�com
Lexington Plastic Surgeons
113 E 39th St NYC��������������������������������������������646 374-2410 www�try�lexingtonplasticsurgeons�com/ metrosource
Marfuggi, Richard A�, M�D�, D�M�H F�A�C�S�
50 E 69th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 317-1188 Denville NJ �����������������������������������������������973 377-8950 www�askdrm�com
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M�D�, F�A�C�S� 5 W 19th St, NYC �����������������������212 257-0007 www�omniaestheticmd�com
REAL ESTATE
RETAIL
Bonavita, David Compass NYC������������������������������������ 212 501-8281 www�davidbonavita�com
Eva’s Supplements
11 W 8th St (bet 5th & 6th Aves) NYC������������������������������������������� 212 982-2500 www�evassupplements�com
Chroughan, Judy
Julie B� Fee Sotherby’s 49 Purchase St Rye, NY ��������������������������������������914 262-5323
SCHOOLS Brooklyn Heights Montessori School
185 Court St, Brooklyn ���������������718 858-5100 www�bhmsny�org
Coldwell Bank Residential Brokerage
JC Waterfront – Team Francesco Robert G� Harris 1 2nd St, Ste 1 & 4 Jersey City, NJ �����������������������������201 604-4200 Cell ���������������������������������������������646 334-0559
Enzo Morabito Team
Douglas Elliman Real Estate Bridgehampton �������������������������� 631 537-6519 Cell ���������������������������������������������516 695-3433 www�theenzomorabitoteam�elliman�com
Hendler, Lisa E�
Berkshire Hathaway Blake Realtors Kinderhook, NY ��������������������������518 929-4519
McGrotty, Amy, JD
Castelli Luxury Real Estate Services Fort Lauderdale, FL����������������������954 347-1732 www�amy�castellihomes�com
Powell, DeWayne A�
Town Residential NYC��������������������������������������������917 748-5100 www�townresidential�com
Prince, Keith A�
Brown Harris Stevens NYC��������������������������������������������917 826-3451 www�brownharrisstevens�com
TF Cornerstone www�tfc�com
Sexual Health Men
290 Madison Ave 6th Fl, NYC �����973 493-7607 www�sexualhealthmen�com
Skintology
Cosmetical Aesthetics 157 E 57th St, NYC 181 7th Ave, NYC�����������������������212 989-6555 www�skintologyny�com
PODIATRISTS Ciment, Ethan J�, D�P�M�
Collins, Michael, D�P�M� Chelsea Foot & Ankle Center 37 W 20th St, Ste 308, NYC �������646 929-4149 www�chelseafootandankle�com
Wright, Daniel Compass NYC��������������������������������������������917 304-4270
REAL ESTATE/SUBURBAN Habeeb-Clark, Deborah
Keller Williams Hudson Valley, NY �����������������������845 800-5413
Perasso, Matt Prominent Properties/Sotheby’s International Realty 2 Main St, Edgewater, NJ ������������201 840-8898 Cell ���������������������������������������������917 834-0454 www�goldcoastcribs�com
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NEW YORK DIRECTORY SCHOOLS (CONTINUED) – WINE & SPIRITS Rudolf Steiner School
15 E 79th St NYC��������������������������������������������212 535-2130 www�steiner�edu
TRAVEL/GETAWAYS Foxwoods Resort & Casino
www�foxwoods�com
Visit Philadelphia
SPA/SALON SERVICES Brisk N Posh 132 Crosby St, Ste 8E NYC ...........................................212 433-4477 www.brisknposh.com (SEE AD THIS ISSUE)
TRAVEL Bucks County Pennsylvania www�visitbuckscounty�com
Kennedy Travel 130 W 42nd St #401 NYC������������������������������������212 398-0999 Toll Free ������������������������������ 800 237-7433 www�kennedytravel�com
Philadelphia, PA ��������������������������215 599-0776 www�visitphilly�com
WEDDING SERVICES Bespoke Matchmaking
1180 Avenue of the Americas, 8th Fl NYC��������������������������������������������888 422-6464 www�bespokematchmaking�com Elite Private Yachts NYC��������������������������������������������866 862-7245 www�eliteprivateyachts�com www�entertainmentcruises�com/new-york
Feinstein’s/54 Below
254 W 54th St, Cellar NYC����������������������������������� 212 302-5559 x114 www�54below�com
Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce 36 Main St Ogunquit, ME ���������������������207 646-2939 www�visitogunquit�org
www�gatheringsfloraldesign�com
Sullivan Catskills Catskills, NY ���������������������� 800 882-CATS www�sullivancatskills�com
Pier 40, NYC �������������������������������646 832-2805 www�hornblowerny�com/metrosource
Gatherings Floral Design
Li-Lac Chocolates West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC����������������������������������212 924-2280 www�li-lacchocolates�com Make My Cake
NYC�����������������������������������������212 234-2344 www�makemycake�com
Manhattan Penthouse
NYC�����������������������������������������212 627-8838 www�manhattanpenthouse�com
New York Zoos and Aquarium
NYC�����������������������������������������718 741-3836 www�nyzooevents�com
Oheka Castle
135 West Gate Dr Huntington, NY �����������������������631 659-1400 www�oheka�com
Our Wedding Officiant NYC
Hornblower Cruises & Events
Peter Boruchowitz NYC�����������������������������������������917 523-1438 www�nyc-gay-weddings�com
Houston Hall
Patina Events - Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn ����������������������������������718 307-7133 www�patinaevents�com
222 W� Houston St, NYC ����������� 212 582-2057 Paul Evans Catering 20 W 20th St NYC�����������������������������������������212 321-1822 NYC�����������������������������������������212 243-4494 www�paulevanscatering�com Proposition Love www�propositionlove�com The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr� NYC�����������������������������������������212 870-6762 www�trcnyc�com Yachts for All Seasons NYC�����������������������������������������212 534-6380 Cell ������������������������������������������917 864-7670 www�y4as�com
WILLS Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC
44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC�����������������������������������������212 495-0317 www�sciaccalaw�com
WINE & SPIRITS Cork Wines & Spirits
1450 Washington St Hoboken NJ ��������������������������������������������201 942-9964 www�corkwines�net
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Advanced Dermatology Associates Proudly Serving the Community for Over Twenty Years MEDICAL, COSMETIC & SURGICAL DERMATOLOGY
All Skin, Hair & Nail Disorders. All Skin Growths On-Site HIV & STD Screening, Immediate Results
Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Board Certified. University Affiliated. Confidential Treatment of All STD’s
www.adv-derm.com 200 Central Park South, Suite 107
212-262-2500 Day, Evening, Weekend and Same Day Appoitments Available. All Major Credit Cards and Insurance Plans Accepted.
The Genital Wart Treatment Center A private medical facility specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of genital warts and all STD’s in a caring, supportive and confidential environment. Board Certified Specialists • Diagnosis and Treatment of ALL Sexually Transmitted Diseases Painless Treatment with the Latest & Most Effective Therapies Available • On-Site HIV Antibody Testing • Immediate Results • Specializing in the Successful Treatment of Recurrent Genital Warts
www.CentralParkMedicalAssociates.com Central Park Medical Associates 200 Central Park South, Suite 107
212-246-0800
COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL
Day, Evening and Weekend Appointments Available. All Major Credit Cards and Insurance Plans Accepted. 77 METROSOURCE.COM FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 METROSOURCE.COM
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NEW YORK DIRECTORY FIRE ISLAND PINES – CHERRY GROVE FIRE ISLAND PINES – CHERRY GROVE Horizon Beach House
BARS Blue Whale
Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6278 NYC��������������������������������������������212 689-2699 www�horizonbeachhouse�com
Cherry’s
Cherry Grove ������������������������������917 763-9029
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�bluewhalefireisland�com Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6820
Cultured Elephant
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�thepinesfireisland�com
Harbor Club
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�thepinesfireisland�com
GYM
Sip n Twirl
Bay Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6237
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�pavilionfireisland�com
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-3746
CLOTHING/GIFTS
LIQUORS/WINES
Gostoso
Beachscapes
The Pines Liquor Shop
Pines �������������������������������������������646 262-1910
Summer Solstice
Harbor Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6442
Harbor Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-4200
POOL MAINTENANCE
CONTRACTING
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-7748
Walter Boss, Custom Builder
REAL ESTATE
Pines and Pools
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6262
Main & Bayview Cherry Grove ������������������������������������ 631 597-6140
Pines Propane
D� Katen Fire Island Properties, LTD
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6262
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-9191
GROCERIES
Dependable Pools
A Summer Place
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-7000 www�fireislandpines�com
Pines Harbor Realty
Grove Market
Main Walk Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6239
The Pines Pantry
Harbor Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6200
GUEST HOUSES/HOTELS
36 Fire Island Blvd Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-7575
RESTAURANTS Blue Whale
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�bluewhalefireisland�com
Cultured Elephant
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�thepinesfireisland�com
Belvedere Guest House
Bay View Walk, Cherry Grove������631 597-6448 www�belvederefireisland�com
Carousel Guesthouse
Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6766
Pines Bistro & Pizza
Cherry Grove Beach Hotel
TRANSPORTATION
Dune Point
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-3597
Sayville Ferry
Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6261
River Rd NYC��������������������������������������������631 589-0810
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APPLE SOFTBALL LEAGUE BIGBIG APPLE SOFTBALL LEAGUE West 208208 West 13th13th St St New York, 10011 New York, NY NY 10011 212212 696-7482 696-7482
CHEER NY NY CHEERLEADING CHEER CHEERLEADING Felipe Hernandez Felipe Hernandez 888888 671-7312 671-7312 www.cheerny.org www.cheerny.org
CITY CRUISERS MC MC CITY CRUISERS Old Chelsea Station Old Chelsea Station PO Box 1614 PO Box 1614 New York, NY 10011 New York, NY 10011 www.citycruisers.com www.citycruisers.com (gay men’s motorcycle club)
EZRYDERS SNOWBOARDING EZRYDERS SNOWBOARDING W 46th St #4D 445445 W 46th St #4D New York, 10036 New York, NY NY 10036 www.ezryders@ondbdx.com www.ezryders@ondbdx.com
FAST AND FABULOUS CYCLING FAST AND FABULOUS CYCLING 23008, Ansonia P.O.P.O. BoxBox 23008, Ansonia Sta Sta New York, NY NY 10023 New York, 10023 212212 567-7160 567-7160
FRONT RUNNERS NY NY FRONT RUNNERS P.O.P.O. BoxBox 87 87 Ansonia Sta Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 New York, NY 10023 212 799-8781 212www.frny.org 799-8781 www.frny.org
GARDEN STATE GAY
GARDEN STATE GAY BOWLING LEAGUE BOWLING LEAGUE www.gsgbo.com www.gsgbo.com
GOTHAM VOLLEYBALL GOTHAM VOLLEYBALL P.O.P.O. BoxBox 961961 New York, 10034 New York, NY NY 10034 388-8208 212212 388-8208 info@gothamvolleyball.org info@gothamvolleyball.org
KNIGHTS WRESTLING KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUBCLUB P.O.P.O. BoxBox 720161 720161 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718718 815-3244 815-3244
JERSEY G&L BOWLERS NORTH NORTH JERSEY G&L BOWLERS Belle Aire Lanes Belle Aire Lanes West Caldwell, NJ West Caldwell, NJ 201 823-2250 201 823-2250
GAYLEAGUE POOL LEAGUE NY GAYNY POOL PO Box PO 1502 Ansonia Sta Box 1502 Ansonia Sta New York, NYYork, 10023 New NY 10023 212 496-4585 212 496-4585
NY RAMBLER’S SOCCER SOCCER NY RAMBLER’S CLUB, INC. CLUB, INC. 917 767-9789 917 767-9789 www.nyramblers.com www.nyramblers.com
NYC GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE NYC GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE www.nycgaybasketball.org
www.nycgaybasketball.org
OUT OF BOUNDS OUT OF BOUNDS NYC & TEAM NYC & TEAM NEW YORK NEW YORK 372, PO Box PO 372,Box Times SqTimes StationSq Station New NY 10108 New York, NYYork, 10108 www.oobnyc.org www.oobnyc.org
PINKNY PONG NY PINK PONG Sunnyside, Sunnyside, Queens Queens 718 623-2926 718 623-2926 www.pinkpongfoundation.org www.pinkpongfoundation.org
SUN/MON/TUE SUN/MON/TUE NIGHT TEAMS NIGHT TEAMS c/o Chelsea Piers AMF Bowl c/o Chelsea AMFYork, Bowl NY 10011 Pier Piers 60, New Pier 60, 212 New835-2691 York, NY 10011 212 835-2691
SUNDANCE OUTDOOR
SUNDANCE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SOCIETY ADVENTURE SOCIETY www.sundanceoutdoor.org www.sundanceoutdoor.org sundanceoutdoor@yahoo.com sundanceoutdoor@yahoo.com
TEAM NEW YORK AQUATICS TEAM NEW YORK AQUATICS 212 691-3440 212 691-3440 (hotline) (hotline)
CULTURAL, CULTURAL, ETHNIC & & ETHNIC SOCIAL SOCIAL
Grove Pizza & Restaurant
185 Holly Walk Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6612 Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6600
ATHLETIC ATHLETIC
HARDWARE
LANDSCAPING/FLORAL
The Pavilion
Metrosource is committed to helping
Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in ongoing their ongoing non-profit organizations in their efforts to serve our diverse community. efforts to serve our diverse community.
Steel Gym
Pines www�steelgym�com
Pines Hardware & Sundries
36 Fire Island Boulevard Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-3599
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SeaBreeze Rentals
NEW YORK NEW YORK COMMUNITY COMMUNITY RESOURCES RESOURCES
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LONG ISLAND LONG ISLAND RAVENS MCMC CLUB RAVENS CLUB c/oc/o Long Island Eagle Long Island Eagle 94 94 Clinton Ave Clinton Ave Bayshore, NY 11706 Bayshore, NY 11706 631631 968-2750 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org www.liravensmc.org
MONDAY NIGHT FOURPLAY MONDAY NIGHT FOURPLAY BOWLING LEAGUE BOWLING Syosset Bowl LEAGUE Bowl 631Syosset 842-5166
631 842-5166
APICHAAPICHA 400 Broadway 400 Broadway New York, NYYork, 10013 New NY 10013 212 334-6029 212 334-6029 www.apicha.org www.apicha.org
BEST FRIENDS BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY ANIMAL SOCIETY 5001 Angel Canyon Rd 5001 Angel Canyon Rd Kanab, UT 84741 Kanab, UT 84741 435 644-2001 435 644-2001 www.bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org
ADVERTISECALL CALL 800-818-0480 212 691-5127 TOTO ADVERTISE
NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.
BIG GAY MEN OF NEW YORK 9111 Liberty Ave #662 Ozone Park, NY 11417 631 780-2807 www.convergence.nyc
LESBIAN HERSTORY ARCHIVES PO Box 1258 New York, NY 10116 718 768-3953
QUEENS L&G PRIDE COMMITTEE PO Box 580445 Flushing, NY 11358 718 460-4064
EMPIRE CITY MEN’S CHORUS P.O. Box 1017 New York, NY 10185 empirecitymenschorus.org
LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF GAY AND LESBIAN ART 26 Wooster St New York, NY 10013 www.leslielohman.org
QUEENS PRIDE HOUSE 76-11 37th Ave Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 429-5309
GAY & BI FATHERS FORUM OF GREATER NY PO Box 1321, Midtown Sta New York, NY 10018 212 721-4216 (recording) 718 728-0476 GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION (GLAAD) 150 West 26th St New York, NY 10001 212 807-1700 www.glaad.org GAY FATHERS OF NY 245 Eighth Ave #897 New York, NY 10011 212 388-2618 GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300 www.gmad.org GAY MEN OF THE BRONX PO Box 511, Bronx, NY 10451 www.gmob.org IMPERIAL QUEENS & KINGS OF NY 70-A Greenwich Ave #120 New York, NY 10011 212 229-5900 x3655 IN OUR OWN WRITE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 x305 (monthly readings) IN THE LIFE 30 West 26th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 255-6012 JERSEY CITY LESBIAN & GAY OUTREACH (JCLGO) 113 Pavonia Ave #247 Jersey City, NJ 07302 201 333-5725 LATINOS & LATINAS DE AMBIENTE/NY (LLANY) 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 367-1092 LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 www.gaycenter.org LESBIAN & GAY NATURAL HISTORY GROUP OF NY 80 Garfield Pl Brooklyn, NY 11215 718 965-0013
LIVE OUT LOUD 45 West 36th Street, 6th Fl New York, NY 10018 212 378-4095 www.liveoutloud.info THE LOFT-LOWER HUDSON VALLEY LGBT CENTER 252 Bryant Ave White Plains, NY 10605 914 948-2932 www.loftgaycenter.org THE L.I. GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL ORG P.O. Box 360 East Northport, NY 11731 www.liglff.org LONG ISLAND GAY & LESBIAN YOUTH 34 Park Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 665-2300 www.ligaly.org LONG ISLAND RAVENS M.C. c/o The Long Island Eagle 94 North Clinton Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org
QUEENS RAINBOW COMMUNITY CENTER 30-74 Steinway St, 2nd Fl Astoria, NY 11105 718 204-5955 SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR GLBT ELDERS (SAGE) 305 Seventh Ave New York, NY 10001 212 741-2247 www.sageusa.org SOUTHERNERS/L&G MEN IN NY PO Box 881 New York, NY 10008-0881 STONEWALL CHORALE Box 920, Old Chelsea Sta New York, NY 10011 212 971-5813 STONEWALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 119 West 24th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 367-1155 www.stonewallfoundation.org TRI STATE LG&B STUDENT COALITION 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014
MALES AU NATUREL (MAN) MEN’S NUDIST GROUP 347 704-0704 www.males.org
HEALTH/ COUNSELING
MEN OF ALL COLORS TOGETHER NEW YORK PO Box 1518 Ansonia Station, NY 10023
AIDS CENTER OF QUEENS COUNTY 97-45 Queens Blvd #1220 Rego Park, NY 11374 718 896-2500
NYC GAY MEN’S CHORUS 561 Seventh Ave, Ste 803 New York, NY 10018 212 344-1777 www.nycgmc.org NYC PRIDE 154 Christopher St, Suite 1D New York, NY 10014 212 807-7433 www.nycpride.org PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS (P-FLAG) PO Box 553 New York, NY 10021 212 463-0629 THE POINT FOUNDATION 5757 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 370 LA, CA 90036 866 33-Point www.pointfoundation.org PRIME TIMERS c/o Don Hargus 208 Anderson St, Suite 8DS Hackensack, NJ 07601 201 488-4839
AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP) 800 542-2437 AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION 475 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 637-2970 888 AIDS-CARE www.ahfpharmacy.org AIDS HOTLINE/NYC DEPT OF HEALTH 311 Broadway, 4th Fl New York, NY 10007 800 TALK-HIV
THE ALLIANCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE 64 West 35th Street, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10001 212.645-0875 www.alliance.nyc (SEE AD PREVIOUS PAGE) AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH 120 Wall St New York, NY 10005 212 806-1600 ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT 240 West 35th St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 714-1184 212 714-1141 (Hotline)
GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300 www.gmad.org GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS 446 West 33rd St New York, NY 10001 212 367-1273 212 367-1489 800 243-7692 www.gmhc.org GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER 166 Ave of the Americas New York, NY 10013 212 294-8142 212 294-8100 www.godslovewedeliver.org www.racetodeliver.org
BAILEY HOLT HOUSE 180 Christopher St New York, NY 10014 212 337-3000
GREENWICH HOUSE 80 Fifth Ave New York, NY 10011 212 691-2900
BAILEY HOUSE 275 Seventh Ave, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 633-2500 BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER AIDS CLINICAL TRIAL UNIT DIV OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 350 East 17th St, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10003 212 420-4519
NAMES PROJECT NYC 75 Varick St #1404 New York, NY 10013-1917 212 226-2292 NYC DEPT OF HEALTH OFFICE OF G&L HEALTH 125 Worth St, Suite CN67 New York, NY 10013 212 442-6944 PROJECT ACHIEVE New York, 212 305-2201 Project ACHIEVE (Union Square) New York, 212 388-0008 www.nycvaccine.org www.hopetakesaction.org THE SAMARITANS OF NEW YORK SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE PO Box 1259 New York, NY 10159 212 673-3000 (24 Hours) TALK SAFE + PLUSES 203 West St #408 New York, NY 212 604-1500
HEALTH EDUCATION AIDS LIAISON PO Box 1103 New York, NY 10113 212 873-0780
TREVOR PROJECT 9056 Santa Monica Blvd #100 West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 271-8845
HETRICK MARTIN INSTITUTE 212 674-2400 www.hmi.org
VILLAGE NURSING HOME DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM 133 West 20th St, Ground Fl New York, NY 10011 212 633-1616
BODY POSITIVE OF NY 19 Fulton St Suite 308B New York, NY 10038 212 566-7333 800 566-6599
HEALTHSHERPA 844 346-9476 www.metrosource. healthsherpa.com
LEGAL
BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS 165 West 46th St #1300 New York, NY 10036 212 840-0770
HISPANIC AIDS FORUM, INC. 213 W 35th St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 868-6230 www.hafnyc.org
LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND 120 Wall St #1500 New York, NY 10005 212 809-8585
HIV STOPS WITH ME www.hivstopswithme.org
LEGAL (L&G LAW ASSN OF GREATER NY) 799 Broadway #340 New York, NY 10003 212 459-4873
BROOKLYN AIDS TASK FORCE 465 Dean St Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 783-0883 CALLEN LORDE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER 356 West 18th St New York, NY 10011 212 271-7200 CHEST (CTRHIV/AIDS EDUCATION STUDIES & TRAINING) 250 West 26th Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 212 206-7919 DESIGN INDUSTRIES FOUNDATION FOR AIDS (DIFFA) 200 Lexington Ave #1016 New York, NY 10016 212 727-3100
AIDS RELATED COMMUNITY SERVICES 2269 Saw Mill River Rd Elmsford, NY 10523 914 345-8888
F.E.G.S. MANHATTAN COUNSELING CENTER 80 Van Dam St New York, NY 10013 212 366-8289
AIDS SERVICE CENTER NYLIVEC 64 West 35th St New York, NY 212 645-0875 www.ascnyc.org
FRIENDS HOUSE IN ROSEHILL PMB#248 50 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10010 212 995-5000 www.friendshousenyc.org
INSTITUTION FOR HUMAN IDENTITY 322 Eighth Ave, Suite #802 New York, NY 10011 212 243-2830 www.ihi-therapycenter.org LI ASSN FOR AIDS CARE (LIAAC) 631 385-AIDS (hotline) 631 385-2451 MEN OF COLOR AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM (MOCA) 125 Worth St, Box 67 New York, NY 10013 212 788-4402 MEN’S HIV SUPPORT GROUP 212 877-8227 x214 MINORITY TASK FORCE ON AIDS 475 Riverside Dr New York, NY 10115 212 870-2691 NAMES PROJECT NJ P.O. Box 716 New Brunswick, NJ 732 249-3933
METROSOURCE.COM
LESBIANS LESBIANS ABOUT VISUAL ART 118 Fort Greene Pl Brooklyn, NY 11217 LES HERSTORY ARCHIVES PO Box 1258 New York, NY 10116 718 768-3953 LESBIAN MOTHERS @ THE LOFT 180 East Post Rd Lower Level, White Plains, NY 914 948-4922
POLITICAL LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS OF NY Radio City Station PO Box 2321 New York, NY 10101 212 202-6431 www.newyork.logcabin.org
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NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.
PRIDE DEMOCRATS 70 Greenwich Ave New York, NY 10011 212 613-6039 STONEWALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 119 West 24th St, 6th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 367-1155 STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB 212 561-9008 www.stonewalldems.com STONEWALL REPUBLICANS PO Box 650052 Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 718 357-7075
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LESBIAN AND GAY AFFIRMATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPISTS 250 West 15th St New York, NY 10011 212 517-1722 FSIX FINANCIAL SERVICE INDUSTRY EXCHANGE www.fsix.org GAY OFFICERS ACTION LEAGUE PO Box 2038, Canal St Sta New York, NY 10013 NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NY 340 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10108 646 964-5027 www.nglccny.org OUT PROFESSIONALS 332 Bleecker St #149 New York, NY 10014 212 462-9255 THE PUBLISHING TRIANGLE 332 Bleecker Street #D36 New York, NY 10014 www.publishingtriangle.org
REFERRALS/ SWITCHBOARDS G&L SWITCHBOARD P.O. Box 693 New York, NY 212 989-0999 THE GAY PARENTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUND New York, NY 10011 www.menhavingbabies.org
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TREVOR PROJECT 212 545-0081 www.thetrevorproject.org
RELIGIOUS BROADWAY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 263 West 86 St, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10024 212 316-5700 www.bwayucc.org CHURCH OF ST PAUL & ST ANDREW 263 West 86th St New York, NY 10024 212 362-3179 COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NY 40 East 35th St New York, NY 10016 212 683-4988 www.ccny.org CONGREGATION BEIT SIMCHAT TORAH 130 West 30th St New York, NY 10001 212 929-9498 DIGNITY NEW YORK PO Box 1554 New York, NY 10150 646 418-7039 Brooklyn - 718 565-2171 Metro NJ - 973 857-4040 New Bruns. - 732 968-9263 Nassau - 516 781-6225 Suffolk - 631 654-5367 INTEGRITY/NEW YORK (LBGT EPISCOPALIANS) PO Box 20067 New York, NY 10011 212 691-7181 MARBLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH 1 West 29th St New York, NY 10001 212 686-2770 www.marblechurch.org METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NY 446 West 36th St New York, NY 10018 212 629-7440 www.mccny.org MIDDLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH 112 Second Ave @ 7th St New York, NY 10003 212 477-0666 www.middlechurch.org NOT SO CHURCHY www.notsochurchy.org ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH Reverend Mark Erson 81 Christopher St. New York, NY 10014 212-242-5737 www.stjohnsnyc.org
DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021
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RESTAURANT BITES Edited by Jeffrey James Keyes
CHELSEA THE BRESLIN
The Spotted Pig folks are behind this vintage-rustic restaurant in NoChel’s Ace Hotel. The British-inspired fare is egg-centric at breakfast and meat-and-terrine heavy for lunch and dinner, while martinis are the thing to drink at the bar. 16 W. 29th St. between Broadway & Fifth Ave., NYC 212-679-1939. www.thebreslin.com
CAFETERIA
Super-popular 24-hour dining scene offering great American fare and a trendy, heavily gay clientele. 119 Seventh Ave. at 17th St., NYC 212-414-1717. cafeteriagroup.com
ELMO
This mod restaurant, featuring comfort food with a spicy edge, takes its name from fab 40’s nightclub El Morocco. 156 Seventh Ave. between 19th and 20th Sts., NYC 212-337-8000. elmorestaurant.com
TENTH AVENUE COOKSHOP
Executive chef Marc Meyer takes American cuisine to the next level by keeping it real. Hormone-free animals, humanely raised in local farms, are used in simple but flavorful meals served amidst furnishings at once rustic and urbane. 156 Tenth Ave. at 20th St., NYC 212-924-4440. cookshopny.com
EAST VILLAGE/LOWER EAST SIDE BEAUTY & ESSEX
This eatery’s entryway is set up like a pawn shop. It leads to two sprawling levels with multiple dining rooms with a menu of shareable small plates for eclectic tastes. 146 Essex St. between Rivington and Stanton Sts., NYC 212-614-0146. beautyandessex.com
GRAMERCY PARK/FLATIRON DISTRICT GRAMERCY TAVERN
Danny Meyer’s creative American emporium never fails to please either in the formal dining room or the easier-on-the-wallet Tavern Room. 42 E. 20th St. between Broadway and Park Ave. South, NYC., 212-477-0777. gramercytavern.com
HARLEM LIDO HARLEM
Brunching in Harlem? Get into this adorable Italian hotspot in the center - with bottomless mimosa brunch, hunties - in one of the most popping gayborhoods in the city. 2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd. at 117th St., NYC 646-490-8575. lidoharlem.com
RED ROOSTER
This Harlem hot spot features regional American comfort food by Marcus Samuelsson and a casual, lively environment filled with neighborhood-centric art and artifacts. 310 Lenox Ave. between 125th and 126th Sts., NYC 212-792-9001. redroosterharlem.com
SOLOMON & KUFF RUM HALL
Harlem elites and Columbia giants mix and mingle at this delicious upscale Caribbean restaurant offering incredible rum cocktails, bites like yuca fries, and dishes like Sangria Braised Short Ribs. 2331 12th Ave. between 133rd St. & 12th Ave., NYC 212-939-9443. solomonandkuff.com
HELL’S KITCHEN AÑEJO
Find upscale, creative, beautifully prepared Mexican small plates served in a rustic setting at this hotspot with a hopping bar scene. The cocktail selection features a variety of refined margaritas (available by the pitcher) and tequila and mezcal flights. 668 Tenth Ave. at 47th St., NYC 212-920-4770. anejonyc.com
44 & X HELL’S KITCHEN
A bit of South Beach on Tenth Avenue, this sleek haven of upscale comfort food has large and plentiful windows and a sidewalk cafe. The perfect spot for people watching... 622 Tenth Ave. at 44th St., NYC 212-977-1170. 44andx.com
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EL CENTRO
The tiny space packs a big punch with inexpensive Mexican street food, frozen margaritas and upcycled-Corona-bottle light fixtures. 824 Ninth Ave. at 54th St., NYC 646-763-6585. elcentro-nyc.com
HELL’S KITCHEN
Hell’s Kitchen brings south-of-the-border flavor north to Ninth Avenue. Whether it’s tacos, quesadillas, or an after work margarita you crave they’ve got it. 754 9th Ave. between 50th and 51st Sts., NYC 212-977-1588. hellskitchen-nyc.com
IPPUDO WESTSIDE
Decadent Japanese bites, small plates, craveable ramen and arousing cocktails - nestled just between the theatre district and the gayborhood. 321 W. 51st St., NYC 212-974-2500. ippudony.com
PIO PIO
Guests sip pisco cocktails and craveable sangria while grazing over family-style Peruvian dishes, Chinese-Peruvian stir fries, steak, and fish below an elaborate ceiling made from thousands of tree branches intricately woven together. Pio Pio has eight locations but this one is takes the cake (Tres Leches, of course!) 604 Tenth Ave. between 43rd and 44th Sts., NYC 212-459-2929. piopio.com
VICEVERSA
ViceVersa puts a sublime spin on run-of-the-mill Italian. The atmosphere is also darn near perfect — with elegant accents and a nicely tended outdoor seating garden. 325 W. 51st St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 212-399-9291. viceversanyc.com
WEST BANK CAFE
This elegant neighborhood fixture attracts theatergoers; Broadway and off-Broadway performers; and former and upcoming) Drag Race contestants to load up on the latest gossip while downing American eats. Be sure to check out “Showbiz Spitfire Paige Turner” and Jackie Cox whenever they perform. 407 W. 42nd St. between Ninth and Tenth Aves., NYC 212-695-6909. westbankcafe.com
HUDSON YARDS LEGACY RECORDS
At this chic, fun 85-seat restaurant brought to you by the team behind Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones, the menu features fresh, flavorful cuisine inspired by Italy’s northern coasts. The cocktail menu is curated by mixologist Jeff Bell from P.D.T., and Arvid Rosengren is the reigning “Best Sommelier in the World.” 517 W. 38th Street between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC legacyrecordsrestaurant.com
MERCADO LITTLE SPAIN
José Andrés and his team have been cooking up this love letter to Spain, which includes three restaurants, two bars, fifteen tapas kiosks, and a market on 35,000 square feet of brand new Hudson Yards real estate. 10 Hudson Yards between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-495-1242. littlespain.com
TAK ROOM
Thomas Keller’s Hudson Yards adventure, TAK Room takes a contemporary look on the classic Continental meal. Think throwback style, glamour, sweeping views, champagne carts, and old school New York glamour in brand new digs. 20 Hudson Yards between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 929-450-4050. takroomnyc.com
MEATPACKING DISTRICT MORIMOTO
Two floors of high-design touches (like a wall made of 17,000 Ty Nant water bottles and upholstered walls) set the scene for haute Japanese cuisine by Masaharu Morimoto. 88 Tenth Ave. between 15th and 16th Sts., NYC 212-989-8883. morimotonyc.com
STANDARD GRILL
The hip cafe just beneath the southern tip of the High Line offers a long bar in the front, a dining room with arced red-leather booths, an open kitchen, plus a sidewalk patio for entertaining Meatpacking people-watching. Surprisingly, the prices are pretty moderate throughout. 848 Washington St. between Little W. 12th and 13th Sts., NYC 212-645-4100. thestandardgrill.com
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MIDTOWN/TIMES SQUARE LAMB’S CLUB
This gorgeous Theater District destination serves casual yet upscale contemporary American fare in a retro-swank supper-club environment with long red-leather banquettes, chrome torchères, head shots of movie stars and an18th-century fireplace. 132 W. 44th St. between Sixth Ave. and Broadway, NYC 212-997-5262. thelambsclub.com
NOBU 57
The David Rockwell design of celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s uptown showplace for his peerless Latin-shaded sushi is a sexy, bubbly delight. 40 W. 57th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., NYC 212-757-3000. noburestaurants.com/fifty-seven
SOHO/TRIBECA THE DUTCH
This multi-room eatery is sizzling with a SoHo crowd that’s half downtown scene-makers, half-foodies and all hot. Andrew Carmellini’s comfort-skewing menu features renditions of American Southern staples, international inpirations and an oyster bar. 131 Sullivan St. at Prince St., NYC 212-677-6200. thedutchnyc.com
SUSHI NAKAZAWA
Daisuke Nakazawa, the former apprentice to sushi guru Jiro Ono, created this posh West Village joint where comfortable, high back, leather chairs at the sushi bar set the scene for an impressive twentycourse dynamic tasting menu. 23 Commerce Street between Seventh Ave. and Bedford St., NYC 212-924-2212. sushinakazawa.com
UPPER WEST SIDE LANDMARC
This Time Warner Center eatery serves flavorful French bistro fare in a setting that stylishly mishmashes industrial and woodsy, with floorto-ceiling windows that overlook Central Park. 60th and Broadway, 3rd Floor, NYC 212-823-6123. landmarc-restaurant.com
MAREA
Chef Michael White has been awarded two Michelin stars, the 2010 James Beard Award, and other impressive accolades. His high-end Italian cuisine combines with over 750 wine options for a fresh take on coastal cuisine. 240 Central Park South Between Broadway and Seventh Ave., NYC 212-582-5100. marearestaurant.com
PIZZERIA SIRENETTA
The people behind Mermaid Inn serve Neopolitan pizzas and rustic Italian fare. Stop by 5-7pm for their happy hour featuring $12 pizza specials, an $8 aperol spritz and more! 568 Amsterdam Ave. between 87th & 88th Sts., NYC 212-799-7401. pizzeriasirenetta.com
TESSA
Chef Nicholas McCann blends French, Italian and Spanish fare in this neighborhood-approved hotspot. Wine Lovers, pay special attention to the TESSA Reserve list with over fifty labels. 349 Amsterdam Ave. between 76th & 77th Sts., NYC 212-390-1974. tessanyc.com
WEST VILLAGE COWGIRL
This Texas-style West Village favorite, conceived after Sherry Delamarter visited the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, has been serving great food and no frills fun for 25 years. Blood Orange and Prickly Pear frozen margaritas in mason jars go perfectly with Tex-Mex fare. 519 Hudson St. at West 10th St., NYC 212-633-1133. cowgirlnyc.com
TEA AND SYMPATHY
Adorable spot serving tra British favorites like Bangers & Mash, Shepherd’s Pie, Welsh Rarebit, and Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding. Save room for Sticky Toffee Pudding! 108 Greenwich Street, NYC between Jane & Horatio Sts., 212-989-9735. teaandsympathy. com
THE LITTLE OWL
This bold Mediterranean spot boasts gravy meatballs and pork chops that rival your grandmother’s secret recipe. 90 Bedford St. at Grove, NYC 212-741-4695. thelittleowlnyc.com
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