Metrosource NY August/September 2018 by Metrosource

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 METROSOURCE NY

METROSOURCE

MIAMI, MIAMI YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE GOT STYLE BIANCA DEL RIO HURRICANE SEASON AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

CODY RIGSBY PERFECTING PELOTON

RECLAIMING MY PRIDE THE WINNER REVEALED

WELLNESS

KARL SCHMID POSITIVELY FABULOUS

What is BIKTARVY®? BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about BIKTARVY? BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects: } Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking BIKTARVY, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.

Who should not take BIKTARVY? Do not take BIKTARVY if you take: } dofetilide } rifampin } any other medicines to treat HIV-1

What are the other possible side effects of BIKTARVY? Serious side effects of BIKTARVY may also include: } 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 (5%), and headache (5%). Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking BIKTARVY? } All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. } All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements. BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all of your other medicines. } If you 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. } If you 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.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the following page.

Get HIV support by downloading a free app at MyDailyCharge.com

KEEP EMPOWERING. Because HIV doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change who you are. BIKTARVY is a 1-pill, once-a-day complete HIV-1 treatment for adults who are either new to treatment or whose healthcare provider determines they can replace their current HIV-1 medicines with BIKTARVY.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

BIKTARVY.COM

IMPORTANT FACTS

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 BIKTARVY may cause serious side eﬀects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without ﬁrst talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: • dofetilide • rifampin • any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider all your medical conditions, including if you: • Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY BIKTARVY can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. • Changes in your immune system. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • 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 (5%), and headache (5%). 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. 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.

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, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2018 © 2018 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. GILC0396 04/18

August/September 2018 | VOLUME 29, NO. 4

CONTENTS

28 KARL SCHMID THIS TV PERSONALITY IS CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO

live openly with HIV: the extraordinary journey that brought him here — with Dame Edna included!

32 CODY RIGSBY FROM DANCING WITH CELEBS, HE WENT ON TO BECOME

one of Peloton’s most popular trainers, spreading music and tolerance with every class.

36 RECLAIMING MY PRIDE

IT’S THE ART CONTEST THAT BECAME OUR BIGGEST EVENT

ever: now meet the judges, the finalists, the winner and the night we toasted them on top of the world!

48 WELLNESS IN MIAMI HEALTHY SOUL FOOD? SUNRISE YOGA ATOP A RESTORED

art Deco landmark? Dinner with a giant unicorn? Nobody feeds the body and soul like Magic City.

52 GLAMPING IN BIG SKY COUNTRY FIND OUT WHY A GROUP OF GAY MEN BOUGHT OUT THIS From top left: Bridgette Victoria Cruz, Queens, NY. “Para Mi Gente”; James Falciano, Brooklyn, NY. “A Celebration of Queer Expression”; Charles Caldwell, Rahway, NJ. “Speak Up and Reclaim Your Pride”

ON THE COVER PHOTO BY MANNY AMIT

dude ranch for to throw a birthday party full of Rocky Mountain scenery and cowboy-style luxury.

ONLY HALF-LISTENING

VIEWS

EDITOR’S LETTER

THE SUMMER AFTER KINDERGARTEN, I WAS ADMITTED TO THE

hospital. Something was wrong with my left ear, and the doctors were having difficulty identifying a remedy. They hoped a month of IV antibiotic treatment would be enough to correct the problem. If it wasn’t, they’d perform surgery at the end of the month. The trouble with these IV treatments was that, after a while, my circulatory system became overburdened. The arm in which the needle was inserted began to swell and not properly receive the medication. So after a week, they switched to the other arm. When that arm swelled, they had no choice but to return to the other, still not-quite-deflated arm. Having an IV inserted can be extremely disconcerting. There can be difficulties finding an appropriate vein, tapping into it and getting the apparatus to sit properly. When they went to insert the IV into my still-tender arm, it felt like liquid fire. Sensing that my discomfort might upset my mother, they wheeled me away to “another room” (really more of a supply closet) where a burly blonde orderly held me down as the procedure was completed. For decades after, I would wake from nightmares, reliving that moment. Unfortunately, that suffering was for naught. The antibiotics had no discernible effect, and I was scheduled to undergo a surgery that would enable the doctors to clear out the damaged tissue - including my eardrum and the bones essential for conducting sound. When I woke from the surgery, the pain was extraordinary - as though someone were swinging a bat that was perpetually connecting with the side of my head. But the most lasting and life-altering result was that I was left effectively deaf in one ear. Having now spent nearly my entire life in this condition, I don’t have much with which to compare it, but I’ve noted how it interferes. When walking down the street with someone, I have to be on their left, which often leaves me performing a kind of pas de deux to get into position. People are constantly trying to whisper things into my non-functioning ear, such that I instinctively turn my hearing ear toward their lips - resulting in more than a few inadvertent head butts. When it came to music, I learned how to position myself around pianos and speakers to catch more of what was going on. And if we are seated such that my right ear toward an open car window, you might as well be trying to talk to me from the next room. One learns to cope. I’ve known people for years before they noticed. I generally don’t feel differently abled. But I’m aware that I miss bits of conversation. I’ve fake-laughed at many jokes with punchlines I never heard rather than go through the rigmarole of asking for them to be awkwardly repeated. Occasionally I’ll listen to something designed to offer stereo sound and be unable to hear whatever portion of it is being delivered into the left channel. I worry that I might lose the hearing in my other ear (due to an accident or the passing of time) and be left without the ability to hear at all. I wonder if I should learn sign language preemptively. Doctors have told me that there may be options that could restore my hearing - but I’ve been down that road and disappointed before. When I had an another corrective ear surgery in high school, the doctor optimistically decided to excise a piece of my jaw muscle to function as my new ear drum. Within months it had collapsed, causing more problems. I don’t need to have my head cut open again to know that my ear is a destroyer of anything put into it. This is the life I know. In the same way I am gay or cisgender or white, this is a circumstance that the universe built into my experience on the planet. I suppose I could spend more time raging or complaining about it, but - with the exception of some basic medical upkeep - I prefer to focus on living the best life I can, adapting where necessary, and not putting myself in positions where my hearing loss will prove a disadvantage. I’ve accepted it. But if you should ever find yourself in conversation with me, I’ll take this opportunity to apologize in advance — because no matter what, I’m only half-listening. ■ AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

METROSOURCE.COM

PUBLISHER Rob Davis ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Evelyn Vayner EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paul Hagen CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jiyon Son ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kevin Phinney SENIOR DESIGNER Jayson Mena COPY EDITOR Kevin Phinney PROOFREADERS Erin Jordan, Barbara Mele CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Day, Steve Gottfried,

Matt Gross, Jeffrey James Keyes, Christopher Lisotta, Deborah L. Martin, Terence O’Brien, Kevin Phinney, Jonathan Roche, Eric Rosen, Wade Rouse, Jeff Simmons, Megan Venzin ACCOUNT MANAGER Rick Kestenbaum ADMINISTRATION Luswin Cote INTERN Roi Mase NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING

Rivendell Media 212.242.6863

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER David Miller GENERAL MANAGER Thomas K. Hanlon DIRECTOR | OPERATIONS MGT Ray Winn DIRECTOR | MARKETING Ryan Christopher DIRECTOR | ORDER Heather Gambaro MANAGEMENT MANAGER | ADMINISTRATION Erin Jordan MANAGER | OPERATIONS Leonard Porter MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT MARKETING Kristine Pulaski MANAGER CONTROLLER David Friedman DIRECTOR | CREDIT & Elizabeth Teagarden COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT MANAGERS | CREDIT & Rosa Meinhoffer, COLLECTIONS Diedra Smith For national advertising inquiries, call: 212.691.5127. 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. ©2018 Davler Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. Metrosource is a registered trademark of Davler Media Group LLC. Printed in the USA. Metrosource Davler Media Group 213 West 35th St., Suite 12W New York, NY 10001 212.691.5127 metrosource.com

DEPARTMENTS THE WELLNESS ISSUE

Images thIs page: Bal harBour courtesy rItz-carlton • cody rIgsBy courtesy peloton • offerman and poehler courtesy nBc • BIanca courtesy magnus hastIngs.

August/September 2018 | VOLUME 29, NO. 4

32 CULTURE 6 METROSCOPE The Gay Games head to Paris, Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman get crafty, a book goes behind the scenes of BoJack, and more... in scope!

11 TECH How to sleep tight.

12 MUSIC The cult of SSION. Plus Xtina and Florence Welch return.

14 BOOKS Swimming pools, protests and well displayed nudes.

21 FINANCE Be sure about insurance.

22 SCREEN McQueen, Westwood, and sexy Hollywood secrets.

BODY 44 HEALTH Try these five yoga poses to increase confidence.

46 METRO HIV He left a career as a cardiac surgeon to help those at the bottom.

VIEWS 20 DIARY Wade and Gary consider options for how they’ll spend their golden years.

51 POV Kevin wonders: can you quit allowing yourself to be treated as a doormat?

88 LAST CALL

Bianca del Rio: a new book, a hot new movie, and the same old queen of mean.

EXCLUSIVELY NY 60 NY SCOPE Head outside for art, parties, music, theater and more.

64 HOME Shape up your home gym.

66 METROMONY Marry on the Mexican Riviera, find out what’s hot in flowers, and get marriage equality news.

70 BAR SOURCE Where to drink up…

72 RESTAURANT BITES …and chow down.

78 BUSINESS DIRECTORY Businesses that cater to the LGBT community.

86 COMMUNITY RESOURCES Organizations and resources for NYC’s LGBTs.

CURATED BY PAUL HAGEN AND ROI MASE

CULTURE

METROSCOPE

PARIS PLAYS THE GAY GAMES ARE A SELF-DESCRIBED HYMN TO LOVE,

encouraging self-expression, combatting discrimination and helping to build a more equal world for all. This year competitors and fans alike will head to Paris in August for the 10th Gay Games. The Games were founded in 1982 in San Francisco by Tom Waddell, who envisioned a world where LGBTQ equality would become a reality and exclusion would no longer exist. Every four years over 10,000 athletes make their way to the Games to enjoy dozens of sports and cultural events inspired by traditions from all over the world.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

METROSOURCE.COM

If you are already planning to join in the Gay Games and are looking for LGBTQ-friendly accommodations, consider Jules & Jim Hotel (hoteljulesetjim.com/en), a luxurious and cozy environment dedicated to giving gay guests an intimate experience in Paris. The Jules & Jim Hotel features a stunning lobby gallery, state of the art gym & pool facilities, ultra-fresh meals, and 23 modern rooms all equipped with balconies. There is no better place to enjoy relaxation, love, and the warm spirit of Paris after a long day at the 2018 Paris Gay Games. paris2018.com

IMAGE THIS PAGE: COURTESY JULES & JIM HOTEL

GOOD SPORT

IMAGES THIS PAGE: CARSON KRESSLEY BY RAINERHOSCH • JOHN WATERS BY GREG GORMAN •ADAM RIPPON COURTESY AND CHRISTIAN SIRIANO COURTESY NEWBO • OFFERMAN AND POEHLER COURTESY NBC

PACK UP

RAPIDS RELEASE DO YOU FEEL THE DESIRE TO GROW, TO GET BETTER AND STRONGER IN

your daily life? Continue your personal evolution at the Newbo Evolve Festival, which celebrates the ever-changing creative spirit through multiple modes of artistic expression. This year’s headliners are Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson, but several big names from the LGBTQ community will also be on hand — including fashion mavens Carson Kressley and Christian Siriano and recent Olympian and Dancing With the Stars winner Adam Rippon, who will be doing a panel on how his life changed when he made the

From Left: Adam Rippon, Carson Kressley, Christian Siriano, John Waters

bold choice to be himself at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Carson Kressley’s “Tszuj Your Life”event will take a look at both how he struggled to break out from the crowd around him and how his styling and self-care tips can benefit everyone. Queer and straight festival attendees alike will have the unique opportunity to take a deeper look into their favorite areas of expression and rejoice in the Bohemian spirit. The festival runs August 3–5 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Three-day passes start at $375 and are available to purchase at the festival’s website. gocedarrapids.com/newboevolve

THE TV SET

CRAFTER ALL FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS AND HOSTS AMY POEHLER AND NICK

Offerman comes a creative and lighthearted competition series that celebrates creativity and craftiness. You may recognize the comic duo from TV’s Parks and Recreation (2009-2015), but now they are back on NBC for a six-episode competition series titled Making It that brings together talented artists and “makers” from across the nation. Poehler and Offerman share an affinity for craftsmanship — albeit from two completely different view-

points — but both demonstrate their love for the art of craft on Making It. Each episode features two main projects in which competitors flaunt their talent and skills — the “faster craft” speed round and the “master craft” challenge. These will test the participants’ ability to work under pressure and creatively adapt to each week’s theme. Poehler and Offerman will also be joined by expert judges Simon Doonan and Dayna Isom Johnson. Making It premieres July 31. nbc.com METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

FUNNY THING

DRAWING INSPIRATION

offerings currently in production — with its dark humor and deeply flawed characters, who happen to inhabit a weird world where humans and animals interrelate like people. Now a new book, Bojack Horseman: The Art Before the Horse (Abrams, $35), offers an intimate and wonderfully quirky look at how real life stories and meticulous production came together to inspire the popular Netflix show centered around a horse(man) suffering the slings and arrows of show business. With an introduction by the show’s creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the book takes readers on a journey through embarrassing experiences that became part of Bojack’s dark and boozy story and reveals how its unique world came into focus with 121 pages of illustrations and concept art. It’s evident how much energy and inspiration were poured into every aspect of the show; the evolution of the look of each character, the filters chosen to give the show its signature style, even the most minute background details convey the effort put in. Stream past seasons of BoJack on Netflix and learn more about the book online. abramsbooks.com

CAN’T MISS

NODDING OFF IT’S ALMOST EMMY SEASON, AND WE ARE EXCITED FOR THE

possible twists and turns this year’s awards show will provide. Last year, RuPaul Charles won Best Host of a Reality or Reality-Competition Program for RuPaul’s Drag Race. Will he again be among the LGBTQ hosts, actors, writers and directors recognized for their exceptional work this year? There are quite a few strong recent contenders for this

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

METROSOURCE.COM

year’s nominations, including the Netflix Queer Eye reboot and the revamped Will & Grace on NBC. Other shows like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Orange is the New Black may also have more Emmy love in store. The 70th Emmy Awards show will be hosted by Michael Che and Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live‘s “Weekend Update” September 17 at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles. emmys.com

Images thIs page: Bojack horseman Image courtesy netflIx • jost and che courtesy nBc

CULTURE

METROSCOPE

BOJACK HORSEMAN IS ONE OF THE MORE UNIQUE ANIMATED

DANCING QUEENS IT’S TIME TO SING ALONG AGAIN: TEN YEARS AFTER MAMMA MIA!

became a surprise box office blockbuster, sequel Mama Mia! Here We Go Again hits the big screen July 20. Sail back to the Greek Island of Kalokairi, where Sophie (Amanda Seyfriend) is continuing to learn about her mother’s mysterious past as she prepares to face her own motherhood. Lily James (Downton Abbey’s irrepressible Rose) joins the cast in flashbacks as the younger version of Meryl Streep’s Donna — one of many characters who we’ll meet Peter Moore. Performance view of Lucinda Childs in Childs’ Egg Deal, Concert of Dance #13, November 20, 1963.

IMAGES THIS PAGE: MAMMA MIA COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES • ART BEAT © BARBARA MOORE/LICENSED BY VAGA, NEW YORK, NY. COURTESY PAULA COOPER, NEW YORK.

SCREEN IT younger versions of — including Christine Baranski’s Tanya, Julie Christie’s Rosie and Sophie’s“three dads”(Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård). Also, keep an eye out for Andy Garcia and Cher. The latter joins the franchise as Sophie’s grandmother who shows up uninvited and intent on offering her granddaughter some guidance. As in the first film, listen up for new takes on ABBA hits including“Waterloo,” “When I Kissed the Teacher,” “Fernando” and more. mammamiamovie.com

ART BEAT

DANCE CHANCES

THIS SEPTEMBER, THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART WILL DISPLAY

a major exhibition, Judson Dance Theater: The Work is Never Done, celebrating the obstacles and accomplishments of the Judson Dance Theater, a group of choreographers and artists who changed the landscape of modern dance. Taking its name from Judson Memorial Church in New York’s Greenwich Village, Judson Dance Theatre redefined and challenged what was accepted (and not accepted) as dance via a series of organized open workshops that would later evolve into performances. Judson Dance Theater: The Work Is Never Done celebrates their unconventional spirit of experimentation and the impact of a body of work that still resonates today. The exhibition will tell the extraordinary story of this dance revolution though a gallery exhibition with over 300 objects, a print publication and a scheduled performance program in the MoMA’s Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron atrium. The exhibition will be on display from September 16, 2018 to February 3, 2019. Judson Dance Theater: The Work Is Never Done is organized by Ana Janevski, Thomas J. Lax, and Martha Joseph. moma.org METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

10}

INK SPOTTED

CIRCUIT SHAKERS

IF YOU’VE EVER ENJOYED KEVIN ALLISON’S TOO-RAW-

DON’T MISS THREE PUMPED-UP EUROPEAN PARTIES

for-NPR storytelling podcast RISK!, then you’re sure to get a kick out of its just-released companion book, also titled RISK! (Hachette Books, $16.99). This sometimes-shocking, always-fascinating book is a collection of short stories and essays by actors, comedians and people who aren’t necessarily as used to the spotlight — offering true tales they never thought they’d dare to share. Some wellknown contributors include Michael Ian Black, TS Madison, Jonah Ray, Aisha Tyler, Lili Taylor, Paul F. Tompkins and Dan Savage. The podcast’s host and book’s editor Kevin Allison has had a long and venerated career in comedy, notably as part of The State, but found new purpose in life as the creator of RISK! — spreading the inspiring message that our most cringe worthy moments can become our best stories. Now you can enjoy them on the printed page (including both hits from the podcast and brand new stories) — tales that are alternately naughty, funny and scary in ways that will make you think, feel and maybe even want to share a story that you never thought you’d dare to. risk-show.com

and NOLA’s perennial summer street party:

EAT UP

TOFU PRESS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

METROSOURCE.COM

THERE ARE MANY HEALTH BENEFITS THAT

come from eating tofu and a wealth of delicious meals you can make using it. But, let’s face it: sometimes working with tofu can lead to serious frustration in the kitchen. Here’s good news: Tofuture is a company transforming the way we prepare tofu with a tofu press that removes all its unneeded water — making for more delicious meals. The gentle nature of the press process results in a tofu that’s the perfect texture and consistency to absorb flavoring and impress guests with your mastery of this oft-misunderstood ingredient. Prepping your tofu takes three simple steps before you leave it pressing in the fridge: 15–30 minutes for the consistency of cheese sauce or chocolate mousse; one to two hours for quiches and pies; four or more hours for stir-fries, kebabs and baked tofu. The tofu press by Tofuture retails for $29.99 in the U.S. tofuture.com.

RAPIDO CIRCUIT PARTY, AMSTERDAM AUGUST 5 RAPIDO AT PARADISO, THE LARGEST CIRCUIT PARTY IN Amsterdam, is held in a former church in the

heart of the city. Paradiso has a main hall with two balconies overlooking the large dance room, a smoking room and a bathroom level with snacks and refreshments. People from across Europe come to dance to beats by international DJs and get lost in the visuals. clubrapido.com CIRCUIT FESTIVAL, BARCELONA AUGUST 9-19 MATINEE GROUP BARCELONA PRESENTS ONE OF THE

largest and most popular international LGBTQ events on the planet. Circuit Festival has plenty of events to keep you shaking, including Sodoma by Matinee, the After Sun Pool party, Forever Tel Aviv, The Week, Mega Woof, Waterpark Day and Night, Papa Main Pool Party, Matinee Champions, We Sandia, and the LaLeche Closing Party. circuitfestival.net/barcelona XLSIOR, MYKONOS AUGUST 22-29 LIFEZONE EVENTS GATHERS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

from all over the world on a Greek island for XLsior, one of world’s most exclusive international circuit festivals. Started in 2009 by Anastasios Kapetanias, XLsior focuses on fun, love, luxury, amazing outdoor scenery, entrancing music, and general celebration. The unparalleled staff work hard to make sure that XLsior Festival is an experience that will blow your mind. xlsiorfestival.com SOUTHERN DECADENCE, NEW ORLEANS AUGUST 20-SEPTEMBER 3 TAKE A TRIP DOWN TO THE HISTORIC FRENCH

Quarter of New Orleans for one of the Gay World’s historic annual celebrations. With over 210,000 LGBTQ people expected in attendance, Southern Decadence dependably offers a variety of top-notch parties on Bourbon Street and pumping music from the nation’s best DJs. It’s no wonder the weekend is known to many as Southern DecaDANCE! southerndecadence.net

IMAGES THIS PAGE: RISK COURTESY HACHETTE BOOKS, KEVIN ALLISON CREDIT MINDY TUCKER • TOFU PRESS COURTESY TOFUTURE

CULTURE

METROSCOPE

SHARE DARE

SLEEPING ON IT An accident of fate led one man to a sleep specialist, where he discovered the most life-changing tech he ever encountered. BY TERENCE O’BRIEN

IMAGE THIS PAGE: COURTESY PHILIPS

FOR THE WELLNESS ISSUE, I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE TWO PIECES OF TECH:

tube. It can fit either just over your nose or more of your face, and the slight pressure helps keep airways open. But there’s some intelligent programming going on, too. You don’t get constant pressure; when you first put it on, the pressure is barely noticeable. It only increases when it detects you’re not breathing, so it’s constantly monitoring and adjusting to your needs throughout the night. Practically everything is adjustable, from the humidity levels to the mask. It even has a Color LED screen that shows your progress over the past few days and provides reminders to change filters or obtain supplies. It’s also rather well connected, which tickles my inner geek. It has Bluetooth and app that offers insight into total usage, mask leakage, and your nightly AHI score. It also has a cellular modem to send your data to your doctor and an SD card backup. How did it work for me? That first night, I had the best sleep of my entire life. When I woke up, it was like that moment in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy opens the door and that burst of Technicolor floods into the gloomy, sepia-hued farmhouse. A lifelong haze lifted, and my definition of feeling rested changed radically and instantly. Since I got my CPAP, I have not shut up about it. I get pulled aside by friends and family at parties, asking me - in hushed tones - whether I think they also might have a problem. My response is always the same: The best sign that something is wrong is a concern — either in the back of your own mind or that expressed by a loved one. If either of those apply to you, talk to your doctor, take the test, and if you’re told you need a CPAP, use it. Surprisingly, only 34 percent of those people who are prescribed a CPAP machine use the device consistently and correctly. Since that first night over a year ago, I never go to bed without it. It didn’t kill intimacy with my partner, and I wake up feeling refreshed. For all the tech that’s out there that claims to be “life changing,” my CPAP is the one that delivered literally overnight. And in case you’re wondering: I went from 108 episodes an hour to only 0.8. Learn more at sleepapnea.org. ■ METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

TECH

DreamStation

METROSOURCE

one that told me I had a serious health issue and one that fixed it. Sleep apnea is a condition that affects roughly 22 million Americans, but 80 percent of people with moderate to severe apnea are undiagnosed. It’s strongly correlated with being male, overweight and a smoker. Though I’ve been all of those things at some point in my life, I never thought I had a sleeping problem. Sure, I was tired all the time, but I had always been. I’d snore so loudly that my partner would move to the couch and airplane passengers would abandon their seats around me. But I had no idea something was seriously wrong. If it weren’t for a series of well-timed coincidences, I still wouldn’t. My health insurance plan has a deductible, and once I hit it, everything else for the year was fully covered. At that point, I went into allyou-can-insure mode. While at the dermatologist for “mole patrol,” I saw a sign in the lobby for the sleep center and thought I’d check it out. If I hadn’t read that sign or the clinic hadn’t been able to see me right away because of a cancellation, who knows where I’d be today? I had a 15-minute conversation with a doctor. He recommended a test — but not in a lab; they’re take-home now. Traditionally, diagnosing sleep issues required spending the night in a lab connected to a bunch of equipment, which seemed uncomfortable and expensive. Instead I was given a kit with an attachment to my finger (to measure pulse and oxygen levels) and a tube that went in my nose. I was told to go home, wear it to bed, drop it off the next day and expect results in about a week. Less than 24 hours later, I got a call from the doctor’s office, demanding that I come in immediately and be fitted for a CPAP. I said I’d do it later in the week, but the nurse was insistent. When she told me my results, I understood why. Sleep apnea is measured in AHI (Apnea–Hypopnea Index) events per hour. An event is a pause in breathing for more than ten seconds that causes a decrease in blood oxygen. People in normal sleep have less than five events per hour. People with apnea are graded on a scale, with the most severe cases coming in at more than thirty events per hour. I had 108. The nurse used the word “extreme” twice in the two minute phone call. Doing the math, I realized that every single night I went to bed, 30 percent of the time I was not breathing. A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is the first line treatment for sleep apnea. I was outfitted with the Philips Dreamstation, which I found to be surprisingly well designed. I’d heard horror stories about CPAPs being ugly and ungainly but the current generation is a quantum leap forward from the older models. It’s modern, white, curvy and sits unassumingly on my night stand. The most surprising thing? It’s virtually silent. It doesn’t disturb me or my partner. It has a humidifier, so my nose and mouth don’t dry out. And the mask I chose was a soft silicone rubber one, which is really comfortable. The Dreamstation applies pressurized air to a mask through a

DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS

CULTURE

MUSIC

Ssion hits heights like Liza, Xtina comes back with an urban twist, and Florence and the Machine look to the skyline. BY MATT GROSS

SSION

O (Dero Arcade)

blend of DIY art-pop to outrageous new heights. Since the start of his storied career, SSION has garnered a near cultlike following in art, film, fashion and music circles alike — not only for the infectious tunes that blur gender and genre but also for his incredible, self-directed music videos (check out the “Queen” clip by Perfume Genius and“Sexercize”by Kylie Minogue, for starters). On O, the multimedia mastermind presents his finest work to date. A definite highlight is“At Least the Sky is Blue,”which features indie hero Ariel Pink, and finds both performers in drag (as Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minnelli, respectively). The resulting video is simply magical. Other must-play tracks include lead single“Comeback”and“1980-99,”which features both the vocal stylings of underground pop sensation Sky Ferreira and Patty Schemel, the former drummer for Courtney Love’s band, Hole. For more on this groundbreaking queer artist, visit ssion.com

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METROSOURCE.COM

IMAGE THIS PAGE: SSION BY BRUNO STAUB

ON HIS THIRD STUDIO ALBUM, THE FIRST IN NEARLY A DECADE, SSION (BORN CODY CHRITCHELOE) TAKES HIS UNIQUE

CHRISTINA AGUILERA Liberation (RCA Records)

FEATURING COLLABORATIONS WITH HIP-HOP HEAVYWEIGHTS

Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign and 2 Chainz, the diva’s latest record breaks new barriers in both sound and message. Following a six-year absence after her last effort Lotus (which received a lukewarm reception), Xtina is back with a true vengeance — particularly on tracks like “Accelerate,”“Right Moves”and“Masochist.”While most songs here veer in more urban directions, there’s also a duet with Demi Lovato on an uplifting ballad called “Fall in Line” and is dedicated to all women who have struggled to accept themselves and find their true voices in a post-Trump world. While Liberation could benefit from a proper edit (15 tracks - really, queen?), it’s fair to say this is the comeback we’ve all been waiting on for a very long time as the limber-voiced Aguilera has never been more fierce or confident. She’s hinted at a lengthy world tour later this year. For dates as they’re announced, join her 17 million Twitter followers @xtina.

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE High as Hope (Republic Records)

IMAGES THIS PAGE: CHRISTINA AGUILERA BY MILAN ZRNIC • FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE BY VINCENT HAYCOCK

CHRONICLING SUBJECTS INCLUDING HER COMPLICATED

connections to her London-based family, romantic relationships and even art itself, Florence Welch’s latest album finds the chanteuse sounding pure, raw and honest, simultaneously exploring love and loneliness. About the lead single “Hunger,” she explains: “This song is about the ways we look for love in things that are perhaps not love, and how attempts to feel less alone can sometimes isolate us more. I guess I made myself more vulnerable in this song to encourage connection, because perhaps a lot more of us feel this way than we are able to admit.” Another standout is “Big God,” a rousing, pop number co-written by Welch and fellow revered Brit, Jamie Smith of The xx. It’s also worth noting that she mixed the record in New York, where the view of the skyline - and its stark contrast to the chaos of the wider world - would ultimately give the album its title. Find Florence and the Machine on Facebook @florenceandthemachine.

Dive into the history of Swimming Pools, understand the symbols of Protest, and consider nudity in design from Head to Toe. BY ROI MASE

CULTURE

BOOKS

STRIPPED DOWN

HEAD TO TOE: THE NUDE IN GRAPHIC DESIGN THIS IS A SUBLIME LOOK AT THE MULTIFACETED

ways nudity finds its way into graphic design by addressing how such images appeal to our primal human nature. The collaboration between award-winning art director Marko Illic and renowned design critic Steven Heller offers results in enticing visuals built around human bodies and discussed with enlightening cultural and historical savvy. The subjects are by turns amusing, politically charged, sexual and emotional. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the strategic use of fruits and vegetables to cover nether regions, athletes bearing all to display their sportssculpted physiques, solemn posters spread-

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METROSOURCE.COM

ing awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all suggesting that the ways in which the human body can be used as a means to convey a message may well be limitless. From classics like the Rolling Stone issue featuring a nude John Lennon and clothed Yoko Ono to more recent ad campaigns that dare to bare, nudity is portrayed as a staple in the fabric of human expression. Head to Toe: The Nude in Graphic Design includes over 600 images of the body, all showcased in a comprehensive and enlightening array of designs that will certainly appeal to anyone who prefers their coffee table books with a little more beneath the covers.

IMAGES THIS PAGE COURTESY RIZZOLI

By Steven Heller and Mirko Ilic; Rizzoli New York, $50

THE SWIMMING POOL IN PHOTOGRAPHY By Francis Hodgson; Hajte Cantz, $55 DIVE INTO THE ALTERNATELY EXCITING AND

serene world of humanity’s intimate relationship with swimming pools - from the earliest poolside photographs to the complexities of capturing modern day water athletics. Swimming pools have long been scenes of self-expression, from the religious rituals performed in ancient public bathing houses to custom swimming holes designed to reflect ever-evolving architectural aesthetics. Especially as one considers how each photograph relates to the others in any given particular section, this book finds new and surprising meaning in these not-so-simple tubs. With a foreword on the “Multiple Histories of the Swimming Pool,” we begin to explore how pools have evolved to suit the needs and desires of humanity. The text nods toward

how society tends to think of these structures as mundane and fixed but then fiercely challenges these preconceptions. Each passage prefaces a related collage of themed photographs that present deeper looks at topics such as “The Art of Swimming,” which looks into many of the strokes and techniques involved. Stories seem to be waiting in each image and at every pool, together prompting fresh understandings of their functions throughout the 203 pages of images in color or black and white. Whether you prefer to revel in the variety and spectacle of their respective designs, enjoy the colorful crush of bodies in crowded summer retreats, or discover how swimming pools have been used for political purposes, you’ll find many different reasons to consider drifting through these pages.

this page: pool images courtesy (upper) library of congress and (lower) getty images • PROTEST IMAGES COURTESY LARS MULLER PUBLISHERS

PROTEST. THE AESTHETICS OF RESISTANCE Written and edited by Basil Rogger, et al; Lars Muller Publishers, $29.95 ART AND SYMBOLISM ARE ESSEN-

tial to resistance movements, and this book brings that into sharp relief: how art unites people behind common causes and pushes movements into the public arena. Protest has been a major driving force in the way we express grievances and our hopes for better lives — encompassing everything from silent marches to vivid blatant aesthetic expression. As such, this book presents not only the relevant visuals but also in-depth analyses of how various resistance movements constructed designs that were both functional and fit their narratives — from the deci-

sions that shaped the NYC Lesbian & Gay Pride pins to the way certain groups have expressed wordless protest through hand gestures. Through eye-opening collections of imagery and text, the reader begins to understand both how these symbols came to be and how they might influence what it might mean to rise up en masse in the future. Protest. The Aesthetics of Resistance presents symbols of protest as far back as the Roman Empire, when Christian groups defaced currency with religious symbols, and connects this to how the women’s suffrage movement in the 20th century used the same means

of protest. The work illuminates the meanings, not only in each resistance’s aesthetics, but also in the rich tradition of artistic expression throughout the history of protest movements worldwide. The work investigates why resistance groups chose their respective symbols and how they disseminated them during their demonstrations until the symbols themselves finally became synonymous with the movements for which they stood. Taken as art or history, it’s irresistible. METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

Something is brewing...

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FINDING CARE

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

From left: Jain, Williams and Jeon

IMAGE THIS PAGE: COURTESY SPECTRUM SCORES

THE CONCEPT CAME TO PHIL WILLIAMS AND TWO CLASSMATES AT THE

University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine as they tackled a project to identify ways to innovate healthcare. They determined a problem they wanted to solve, then set about building a product that would do so. The result: SpectrumScores, a user-driven, web-based application (and eventually a mobile app) that locates healthcare professions who best meet the needs of LGBTQ patients and those with HIV/AIDS. “When we ﬁrst started thinking about this, we thought there must be something that exists, but there’s nothing out there that offers the transparency and trustworthiness that members of the community can provide,”Williams explains. The website, at SpectrumScores.org, launched in mid-October and initially covered Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York City, and Chicago, with plans to phase in more regions. The brainchild of Williams, Naveen Jain and Jun Jeon, the platform was designed to address a concern: that not all medical professionals are equipped to appropriately treat LGBTQ individuals. A 2010 report by Lambda Legal reported that 63 percent of HIV+ individuals who were surveyed had experienced some form

METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

BODY

of discrimination in healthcare. Another 56 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual respondents had also experienced discrimination, and 70 percent of transgender and gender non-conforming respondents did as well. “Being a member of the LGBTQ community, I’ve had negative and positive experiences with healthcare providers,”Williams muses.“I’ve seen how difficult it is to find a provider who really understands how my sexual identity interplays with my healthcare needs. As a future healthcare provider, this simply isn’t acceptable.” While other organizations provide ways to locate LGBTQ-preferred professionals (such as the helpful directory at metrosource.com), SpectrumScores is also building a review network so users can assess feedback about providers from peers. Users can also sort providers by their affiliation with certain advocacy organizations or academic medical centers and by the types of service they provide. Healthcare professionals are scored according to four primary criteria: providing a welcoming environment; inclusive practices (such as having intake forms that reflect diversity); LGBTQ-specific knowledge (including knowledge about PrEP); and overall satisfaction. “We are hoping — over the long-term — to build a user-driven community where LGBTQ patients can leverage their experience in healthcare and increase transparency to help others to find medical providers to best meet their needs,” says Williams. Williams, Jain and Jeon recently enlisted Building Healthy Online Communities – a consortium of public health leaders and gay dating website and app owners who support HIV and STI prevention online – as a partner. And they already are committed to another ambitious goal: they envision building a resource of research and training tools to improve the delivery of healthcare by providers. “To me,” Williams adds, “it’s been incredibly rewarding to work on a project that is doing more than talking about problems in the healthcare system and instead hoping to find a solution.” ■

METROHIV

Three classmates are helping people living with HIV — and LGBTQ people — ﬁnd the treatment they deserve. BY JEFF SIMMONS

GOLDEN GAYS?

VIEWS

DIARY

In the course of helping their own parents face the slings and arrows of age, Wade and Gary make alternative plans for their own twilight years. BY WADE ROUSE

IT IS THE CALL NO ONE HOPES adapting to their wants and needs and general way of life was to receive: late at night, on a an idea to which I was firmly opposed. weekday, when the world is A dear friend had broached the idea of buying a swath of generally asleep. I could tell land somewhere in a temperate climate and building a comimmediately by the look on mune of cottages. Some of them would be specially equipped for Gary’s face that the news was wheelchairs and other accessories necessary for our final years. not good. It would also be dotted with clubhouses for parties. We would “My father fell,” Gary said all merge funds to hire caregivers and doctors, perhaps even after talking with his mom. offering them a salary and living quarters on our land. “Broke his hand, shattered It was a grand idea, and one that appealed to me, but how his forearm. Surgery, rehab...” would we all agree on the same location? And could we all play Gary stopped and started sob- (and continue to age) well together in such close proximity? bing.“This could be it.” “Don’t go into business with a friend,” my father had always Gary’s 84-year-old father had been battling Parkinson’s for warned, and this seemed like pretty serious business. years. It had progressed to the point where he was having difMany of our friends’ and relatives’ children had also proficulty walking without assistance. vided assurances that they would be there for us, but they were As I held Gary and told him it would be okay, he whispered, young, some of them just starting out. Life, as we all know, takes “Liar.”Then he added,“You don’t need to go through this again.” many unexpected turns. And I knew many peers whose children, “For better or worse,” I reminded him. either emotionally or financially, would not be in the position to “It’s been worse for a while,” he said through his tears. care for them in their own later years. My mother had been diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and died Thus, this question of care had haunted Gary for years, in 2009. My father went into a tailspin as soon as she passed, largely because he (half-heartedly) joked that I would be the and his dementia made the next six years a rollercoaster ride. first to die, and he would be left alone. So I had (half-heartedly) He died in 2015. Gary had been by my side every step of the joked to Gary that I already had my exit strategy all planned: way. Between maintaining their care and my career, we were When it was time, Gary would wheel me outside of our home exhausted and had prayed for a break when it came to worrying in Palm Springs — which sat at the top of a mountain — and about Gary’s parents. simply let go as I chugged a bottle of rosé. As we rushed to see his father, Gary looked at me while I mentioned this to Gary’s father when we visited. We were driving and asked,“Who’s going to care for us?” sitting alone in his room after he’d finished his physical therapy. It’s a question that we — and many of our gay friends — had He was exhausted. His head rolled when he was tired, and his posed for years, even more so in recent days as our parents words came out soft and slurred. Still, he laughed and nodded. became increasingly infirm and we aged. I jokingly called my “That’s all we want,”he whispered. (I had to lean close to hear aging LGBTQ posse “The Golden Gays,” and several of us had him. )“To be in control of our destiny.”He stopped.“With dignity.” sat down to figure out exactly how we were going to handle our Gary’s father has now made it home — for how long, we do later years with a maximum of grace and without the help of any not know. But it is good to know that he is there with his wife, children of our own. and when I think about him sitting in his favorite chair, watching I certainly was of the mindset of Gary’s parents and my own baseball in the home he loves, I can’t help but imagine myself in father: I wanted to die in my own home. I was not only worried a similar position. Sometimes it makes me weep with happiness about the type of care I would receive – even in the nicest of and sometimes, with fear. ■ retirement facilities – but of the type of care Gary and I would receive as gay spouses. Wade’s latest novel as Viola Shipman is The Recipe Box. To learn Gary felt he would do just fine in a cushy retirement village about both his novels and memoirs, visit waderouse.com. — whether it was gay or straight — playing bingo and organizing dances until his time came. But I, like my father, didn’t play HAVE YOU DEALT WITH YOUR PARENTS (OR YOUR OWN) AGING? so well with others, and so signing up to spend unknown time SHARE YOUR STORY IN “GAY VOICES” AT METROSOURCE.COM. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

METROSOURCE.COM

When You Have Your Health... The cost of health insurance can be intimidating, but it’s better than risking bankruptcy. BY JENNIFER DAY WHETHER YOU’RE SELF-EMPLOYED, UNEMPLOYED, OR COVERED UNDER AN

IMAGE THIS PAGE: STOCK PHOTO COPYRIGHT : BAKHTIAR ZEIN

The ACA ensures that affordable health insurance is available in every state to individuals and families who cannot afford pricier care. In general, fewer families with parents who are LGBTQ have health insurance than families in general, because many employers don’t offer coverage for same-sex partners or their children. Thus, it can be very costly for parents who are LGBTQ to insure their entire families — but thanks to the ACA, many more children with parents who are LGBTQ are finally able to access the coverage that they need. The ACA bans Health Insurance Marketplaces (and the plans sold in them) from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBTQ-led families can now enjoy comprehensive coverage without being discriminated against based on the people they love or what their families look like. Transgender people are also entitled to increased access to coverage without worries about being denied based on their gender identity or expression. In addition, the ACA prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions such as cancer and HIV. Before the ACA, transgender people or people living with HIV could be suddenly dropped from plans or denied coverage. However, since January of 2014, people living with HIV ought to be able to receive health coverage that includes their treatment plans, and being transgender is no longer regarded as a pre-existing condition.

HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES The Marketplaces act as a one-stop shop for health insurance. Each state offers its own Health Insurance Marketplace. In many states, LGBTQ heads of household are able to buy single-family plans. However, in states where inclusive family plans are not available, LGBTQled households should still be eligible for tax credits to buy plans that cover their whole family.

THE COST OF GOING UNINSURED Health insurance might seem expensive, but before you decide to go without, take a careful look at the risks. For instance, according to WebMD, there’s a 1 in 5 chance you will land in the ER at some point be-

tween the ages of 25 and 44 — a trip that could easily cost you as much as $1,450. If you need surgery on a broken arm, for example, you could be on the hook for more than $16,000 if you’re without insurance. In fact, one in four uninsured people will lose all their savings to medical bills, which remains the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S.

THE COST OF BEING INSURED According to eHealth, premiums in 2017 for individual coverage averaged $393 per month while premiums for family plans averaged $1,021 per month. The average annual deductible for individual plans was $4,328 and the average deductible for family plans was $8,352. That means that last year, the average family paid $9,996 for coverage alone, and if they met their deductible, a total of just under $18,000. Meanwhile, an average individual spent $3,852 on coverage and - if they spent another $4,358 to meet their deductible - a total of $8,210.

CULTURE

HOW THE ACA HELPS LGBTQ FAMILIES

FINANCE

employer’s health-care plan, finding affordable health insurance can be a frustrating, time consuming process. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added many benefits for LGBTQ individuals and families, but you should still do your research to find the best plan for your particular needs. Affordable health insurance exists, but qualifying can be tricky, and you want to make sure you end up with the coverage you need.

COMPANIES THAT INSURE LGBTQ PEOPLE Each year, the Human Rights Campaign produces the Corporate Equality Index, which rates companies from 0 to 100 on their treatment of LGBTQ employees. The index considers five criteria when rating companies, including: sexual orientation and gender identity in the company’s equal employment opportunity policy; domestic partner benefits; transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage; overall organizational LGBTQ competency; and public commitment for LGBTQ-specific efforts. Some of the Top 25 Companies include names you’ll recognize: They include AT&T Inc., The Walt Disney Company, and Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. The full list is available online at hrc.org.

THE BOTTOM LINE Health insurance is necessary, and you’re better off budgeting for health insurance expenses than risking bankruptcy. The ACA made it easier to find affordable healthcare for those who don’t work at companies where such benefits are company policy. Do your research, and remember that when you have your health, you have everything. ■ METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

SINGULAR SENSATIONS

MCQUEEN ANYONE WHO LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY IN 2011 BUT WAS

foolish enough not to attend Savage Beauty, the record breaking exhibition of fashion designer Alexander McQueen’s work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will feel the regret of missing out after viewing this excellent documentary about a simultaneously magnificent and ordinary man. The film follows McQueen (Lee, to his friends) from humble beginnings on London’s East End to the heights of international fame from which he tragically could not find his way back. Disarmingly plain in appearance (chubby, with a weak chin and a mouth that tended to hang open), McQueen looked more like a pizza delivery boy than a designer of haute couture. Beyond just appearance, there was something pleasingly pedestrian about the man, who shied away from the spotlight — living for his work, friendships, beloved mother and playful dogs. Scored with

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METROSOURCE.COM

tracks by film composer Michael Nyman (The Piano, Man on Wire), a favorite of McQueen’s, the film brims with an urgency furthered by the intensity of McQueen’s runway shows: their unusual names become the film’s chapter titles - e.g. “Highland Rape” and “The Dance of the Twisted Bull.” Crackling with McQueen’s talent and dark psychic energy as well as the efforts of his gifted collaborators, these fashion shows appear more like true art than any others I’ve seen. And through this well composed collage of interviews with friends, archival footage and overall exquisite visuals, you get a remarkably clear picture of a complex artist and his visionary art. THE WORD: McQueen suggests — quite possibly correctly — that its subject was in a league all his own, and this doc offers an intimate glimpse into the person behind the art. COMING TO: Theaters

IMAGE THIS PAGE: MCQUEEN PHOTO BY ANN RAY COURTESY BLEECKER STREET MEDIA

CULTURE

SCREEN

A photographer who knew absolutely everyone, two designers whose points of view revolutionized fashion, children reconciling differences from their parents, and the man who kept the secrets of the Hollywood’s Golden Age. BY JONATHAN ROCHE

MADELINE’S MADELINE

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TEENAGE MADELINE HAS BEEN PRACTICING WITH A THEATER

troupe: mimicking, acting, reacting, moving and feeling as a group. At times it’s playful and joyful; at times it’s weird. She seems so embraced by the odd ensemble of performers, especially their charismatic leader Evangeline (Molly Parker of Lost in Space). But Madeline is much younger than the rest, and Evangeline seems oddly focused on her. Strange, often magical rehearsals are contrasted with Madeline’s turbulent home life with her mother in Queens. Regina (Miranda July - Me You and Everyone We Know) seems like a normal mother, if a bit eccentric and maybe extra stressed out. However, as Madeline and her mother clash at home and the secret drama of Madeline’s life is exorcized in rehearsals, the picture becomes more clear, if slightly bizarre. Director Josephine

Decker (Thous Wast Mild and Lovely) makes another highly theatrical ﬁlm with a very experimental feel. If you’ve even seen live experimental ensemble performance, you’ll recognize its signature here (though likely still be swept up in it). If you’ve never encountered this kind of art before, then your trip will be even stranger. Backed by executive producer Joe Swanberg (Easy, Digging For Fire), what Decker does so well here is to immerse the viewer (almost physically) into both this world and Madeline’s unstable mind, while never completely abandoning reality. Decker has also discovered a potential star in Madeline (newcomer Helena Howard), who inhabits the very center of this mysterious story with a natural ease and intensity. THE WORD: It’s the kind of ﬁlm that will tickle your brain after it’s over. COMING TO: Theaters

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU ITS TITLE ECHOES THE EYE-ROLL-INDUCING GREETING OF THE

dreaded telemarketer, which is exactly what Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield - Atlanta), who lives in his Uncle’s basement, has become. But after stumbling through his first day of apologizing for interrupting, Cassius gets some great advice from a veteran of the job played by Danny Glover: “Use your white guy voice.” Thus, for the rest of the film, a frequently-used gag features Cassius opening his mouth and the voice of David Cross (Arrested Development) coming out. And it is pretty hilarious, as is the playful and at-times surreal film as a whole. When Cassius gets better and better at making sales, he quickly ends up having to choose between ascending the corporate ladder or staying in the working-class trenches with his family (Terry Crews - Deadpool 2), friends (Jermaine Fowler - Bojack Horseman), coworkers (Steven Yeun - The Walking Dead), and extremely cool girlfriend (Tessa Thompson - Westworld). Seduced by the promise of money Cassius quickly finds himself in a new world that is as creepy as it is decadent. He attends cocaine fueled parties at the mansion of the big boss himself, played by Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name) — whose tall, blonde haired, blue-eyed form makes the perfect avatar

for “the man” with the surprisingly diabolical plan. Rapper, producer, and now writer/director Boots Riley blends the fantastic and the all-too-real in a refreshing and funny new mixture. THE WORD: This ﬁlm will make you smile, even as it offers a potent and timely message about social justice and economic inequality. COMING TO: Theaters METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD saw action in WW II, though Scotty’s not a fighter, he’s a lover - of women, men, friendship, fame, his hilarious old wife, many cats and also junk (including old toilets) that he finds of the streets of LA. But before there was present day Scotty, there was the very sexy Scotty of ‘40s and ‘50s Hollywood where he ran a gas station from which he brokered male and female ‘companionship’ to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The list of Golden Age celebrity clientele is long, including Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Rock Hudson and many more. For more than 50 years Scotty faithfully kept their secrets until finally telling all in his 2012 New York Times bestselling memoir Full Service - because by then all the potentially scandalized parties were deceased. Yet Scotty continues on, clearly one of those folks who ward off deterioration by con-

tinuing to do what he loves. He catches flack from some for spilling the beans, which raises the question: where does the right to privacy end? And perhaps also: if some of these glamorous icons truly were gay - do we fellow gays deserve a chance to know and appreciate our famous brethren for who they really were, not to mention for how they were forced to find gratification through a secret network since they couldn’t have it in their public lives? This documentary offers a picture of a gorgeous and flawed world that so many love to look at, and an extraordinary life woven throughout it. THE WORD: It’s a delight to hear Scotty’s outrageous stories from the past, and to get to know the man himself: as beautiful, complex and imperfect as any to grace the screen. COMING TO: Theaters

7%347//$ 05.+ )#/. !#4)6)34 RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF WESTWOOD, WE CAN SEE WHAT A REST-

less, complex and creative woman Dame Vivienne Westwood has been and continues to be. After helping to ignite the punk moment of the ‘60s with her extreme designs, Westwood and her ex-partner Malcolm McLaren (who managed the Sex Pistols, who she also dressed), Westwood went on to become one of England’s most dis-

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METROSOURCE.COM

tinct and lauded fashion figures of the last hundred years. Born into a working class family, she still has that telltale accent, those crooked teeth, and all her rough charm. She knows what she thinks and is never afraid to say it. Westwood also hates talking about herself, yet somehow manages to make it through the film’s interviews about her long and fascinating life. But even more than her past, the film shows her in present time, where she struggles to keep a tight hold on her still-privately-owned company. It’s become too big, she says, and puts out products that she doesn’t necessarily like. In spite of the potential profits, she has no interest in producing things that she doesn’t personally care for. Born with a crusader’s spirit, Westwood has long championed important human rights causes and environmental issues such as climate change. She is smart enough to know that there is plenty that she does not know, yet she also sees the bigger picture: that her rebellious designs are not truly rebellious, but part of “the market” and the great distraction that might very well doom us all. THE WORD: Together with her flamboyant Austrian (much younger) husband, Vivienne Westwood continues to aggressively be herself, and it’s gratifying to get to know her in this documentary by freshman director and ex-model Lorna Tucker. COMING TO: Theaters

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CULTURE

SCREEN

MEET SCOTTY, AN EX-MARINE WHO

FAR FROM THE TREE THE OLD SAYING ABOUT PARENTS AND CHILDREN SAYS,

IMAGES THIS PAGE: FAR FROM THE TREE COURTESY SUNDANCE SELECTS • LOVE CECIL COURTESY ZEITGEIST FILMS

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” But what about when it does? Fueled by his life-long struggles with his sexual identity and his parents’ disapproval of it, author Andrew Solomon wrote a book, which has now been adapted into this surprisingly moving documentary. In it, Solomon explores various incidences of children being very different from their families: a grown man with Downs syndrome whose mother worries about his ability to tell fantasy from reality; a teenage boy with autism that robs him of the ability to speak; a 23-year-old woman trapped in a body the size of an eight-year-old; a man with hands and feet, but almost no arms or legs; and a mentally sound teenager who murdered a young boy for no apparent reason. Looking at these situations might seem like a downer, but do not be deceived - to assume as much would be to miss the opportunity to feel and grow: the same opportunity that these families would’ve lost if they’d have simply had offspring more similar to themselves.

Solomon also poses an increasingly important question: how do we decide which differences to “cure” and which to celebrate? If we had perfect control (which science offers/threatens to eventually provide), would we lose the very variety that has made us what we are as a species? This ﬁlm will move you and hopefully open your mind to see past the discomfort of perceived suffering that so often blinds us when we consider difference. This is both the challenge and the prize: to look, and to see beyond, and to celebrate differences as loudly as so many now do the LGBTQ community. THE WORD: “Unhappiness is all the same, it’s all the ways we ﬁnd to be happy that are unique.” COMING TO: Theaters

LOVE CECIL EVEN IF YOU’VE NEVER HEARD HIS FAMOUS NAME, YOU KNOW CECIL Beaton’s type: gay, fabulous, opinionated, artistic, witty,

dripping with style, knows everyone, goes to the cool parties, reminds one of Oscar Wilde and leads a life entirely of his own invention. That’s the man in nutshell, except this kind of man can’t ﬁt into a nutshell; he barely ﬁts into 98 minutes. Born into the British middle class in 1904 but preternaturally possessing an upper-crust air, Beaton fell in with the a fabulous crowd at a young age. He became one of the Bright Young Things, those Bohemian socialites who threw boozy, elaborate, drug-fueled fancy dress parties that titillated the tabloids of 1920s London. He became the premier photographer in fashionable society, worked for American Vogue, was the favored photographer to the British royal family, and became the country’s main war photographer

for the duration of WW II. He did art and costume design for My Fair Lady and Gigi, among many other films. He was in love with his good friend Greta Garbo, though they were both gay. As the accomplishments and details of his astounding life continue to pile up, the film takes on an air of excitement. Beaton seems to have done everything, and photographed everyone: Brando, Bacon, Monroe, Huxley, Burton, Taylor, Hepburn, Jagger, Warhol, Dietrich, Picasso, Capote, Chanel, Streisand. Many were good friends, others became bitter enemies. His photos are complemented by extensive diaries showing him also to be a first-rate writer and similarly savage wit. THE WORD: Charged with the energy of this extraordinary individual and sublimely narrated by Rupert Everett, this is simply one of the most exciting biopics I have ever seen. COMING TO: Theaters METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

NMAC: LEADING THE WAY

TO CREATE A GENERATION OF LEADERS

BY 2019, LINDA SCRUGGS ENVISIONS

that 1,000 individuals of color living with HIV will be equipped to serve as leaders in communities across the United States. “We expect that 80 percent of them will in some way be engaging effectively in decision-making opportunities,” says Scruggs, who is the DiLinda K. Scruggs rector of the Leadership Pipeline program at NMAC, the National Minority AIDS Council. However, she explains,“There have historically been gaps when it comes to the individual minority and ethnic experience [of not being] at mainstream tables.” That awareness prompted NMAC to launch its Building Leaders of Color (BLOC) project, fueled by funding from The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program with support from the Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative Fund of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. BLOC reflects the 30-year old NMAC’s core mission to “lead with race,” by empowering a new generation of minority leaders through a three-pronged approach featuring regional and national workshops, a focus on transgender women of color, and train-thetrainer sessions. According to NMAC, black women are 20 times more likely to get HIV than white women and 50% of black gay men will have HIV by the time they are 35. But the people making decisions that impact them are largely individuals of a different race, ethnicity, and age. That concerns NMAC, which has been trying to bring more diversity to planning bodies, medical and support care teams, boards AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

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of directors and other mobilization efforts to address the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. “What is happening is that the original core of people who started this work are aging out,” said Paul Kawata, NMAC’s Executive Director. “We have a responsibility to make sure there would be a generation of leaders who would take this mantle and bring us to the end Paul Kawata of the epidemic.” Faced with significant numbers of new infections involving people under 25 years of age, particularly among gay men and young black men, Kawata said, “we need to make it clear that HIV is not over. The numbers are still impossibly high.”He also adds, “We want to bring voice to the communities that are often overlooked and that we don’t hear from.” That has meant also targeting areas with higher HIV rates, such as many communities in the South. Stigma, lack of education, limited access to basic necessities and transportation, and even pure racism have diminished the opportunities for diverse representation. “We find stigma a major barrier, in particular in the South,”Scruggs says. Early results of BLOC, she says, have found that 94% of those trained have felt more effective, and 92% engaged in some way with decision-making entities, ranging from local community organizations to government agencies. And all, she said,“are focused on the HIV community.” ■

IMAGES THIS PAGE: COURTESY NMAC

BODY

METROHIV

How can we address the still-alarming rates of HIV infection among minorities? The answers may lie in giving them a seat at the decision makers’ table. BY JEFF SIMMONS

In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.

What Is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).

Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:

Tired of planning your life around diarrhea?

Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi. Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%). For Copay Savings Card and Patient Assistance, see Mytesi.com

Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com. NP-390-22

RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE

• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. 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.

Should I Take Mytesi If I Am:

Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant? • Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother? • It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you

What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines? If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.

What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi? For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist. To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.

Rx Only Manufactured by Patheon, Inc. for Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Francisco, CA 94105 Copyright © Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested in South America.

U N S T OP P A B L E

KARL SCHMID

THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF A MAN WHO WAS A CHILD STAR DOWN UNDER, TRAVELED THE WORLD WITH DAME EDNA, BECAME A PROMINENT FACE ON AMERICAN TELEVISION AND THEN MADE A REVELATION ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE THAT IS CHANGING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE POZ IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. BY KEVIN PHINNEY

media savvy and camera ready. But when the 37-year old former child actor and LA red carpet host told the entire planet that he’s been HIV-positive for a decade, he had no idea what he’d set in motion.

READY OR NOT, HERE COMES KARL! While Schmid had been thinking about coming out as poz for some time, he decided to reveal his status on a Friday night last March almost on a whim. He liked the way he looked in a photo, then decided to share it to social media, along with a surprisingly candid message. “Labels are things that come and go,” he posted to Facebook, “but your dignity and who you are is what defines you. I know who I am, I know what I stand for and while in the past I may not have always had clarity, I do now. Love me or hate me, that’s up to you. But, for anyone who has ever doubted themselves because of those scary three letters and one symbol, let me tell you this, you are somebody who matters. Your feelings, your thoughts, your emotions count. And don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. I’m Karl Schmid, and I’m an HIV-positive man!” By Sunday afternoon, Schmid’s disclosure had been shared over 250 times and received more than 3,500 likes. And that was only the beginning. Although he’s a familiar face to some 350,00 viewers in the Los Angeles area for his ABC-7 celebrity interviews at the Oscars, Golden Globes and elsewhere, Schmid was not a household name to most Americans. His simple and candid revelation is changing all of that — and the conversation that people (especially gay men) are having

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about what being poz means in 2018. Yes, it helps that he’s handsome, healthy, articulate and boyishly masculine. He is everything you could want in a poster boy, and it doesn’t take a genius to see how each of those elements contributed to his post going viral. But what seemed to take everyone by surprise, including Schmid, is just how ready the world is for the conversation he wants to have.

A KID IN AN ADULT WORLD Much of Schmid’s story seems unlikely: He was born and raised in Geelong, a city he diplomatically describes as “bohemian,” 90 miles outside of Melbourne, Australia to parents he remembers as “lovingly hands-off but deeply supportive and encouraging.” His eldest brother Adam went off to boarding school when Karl was still a schoolboy. Then out of the blue, middle brother Kristian got cast on one of Australia’s biggest TV hits of the day, Neighbours — the same program that launched the careers of fellow Aussies Russell Crowe, Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce. “We went from having a whole family around all the time to a completely different kind of life overnight,” Schmid recalls. “Kristian would be gone Monday through Friday with my aunt and uncle in Melbourne, then be at home on the weekends.” But when he finally got the chance to see where Kristian was spending his time, Schmid was smitten.“For me, it was a huge thrill to walk onto a soundstage where I’d seen all these interiors on TV, and here they were all stacked next to each other,” he recalls. “I fell in love with this amazing world of make believe at seven. The spell of television with

ALL PHOTOS OF KARL SCHMID COURTESY MANNY AMIT.

YOU DON’T GET TO BE WHERE KARL SCHMID IS WITHOUT BEING

This would lead to his own big break on one of New Zealand’s toprated childrens’ shows, What’s Now?, where Schmid romped on live TV through most of his teens. “I was the youngest there,” Schmid reflects. His exposure to live television would later prove invaluable, but for the moment, a youthful wanderlust plucked Schmid up and deposited him halfway around the world.

the fame and all the excitement was pretty mind-blowing. As a family we were thrust into the limelight, traveling a lot and staying in fancy hotels.” The family encouraged Schmid to follow his passions. “My grandmother on my mother’s side was and always is very interested in the theater,” he says.“She emigrated to Australia after fleeing the 1956 Hungarian revolution in the middle of the night while being shot at by Russians. My Mom was five or six at the time, and she had to kiss her father goodbye — not knowing if or when she’d ever see him again. They relocated to the other side of the world and didn’t get to see each other again until she was in her 20s. So my grandmother really is the true hero and matriarch of our family and took a very active role with us.” The next years’ changes were swift and seismic. The family relocated — first to Fiji, then to New Zealand, and the young Karl found himself immersed in drama programs and “little acting things,” he says with a chuckle.“I went to a high school in Christchurch with very liberal photography and music programs; it was all very progressive. I fell into drama and ended up on a kid’s show called Mel’s Amazing Movies.”

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“Once I turned 18, I decided I wanted to see the world and discover myself, so I moved to London and just worked in bars,” Schmid recalls. “By the time it was all done, I was working in this tiny town outside Glasgow, and I placed a call back to New Zealand, where I was told, ‘No, you’ve been gone a year, that ship has sailed.’ So I returned to Australia instead.” For a time, Schmid says, life was a blur of work, self-promotion and live events. Eventually, he found his way into event creation and promotion, and his next big break appeared just as serendipitously as the others had. “I was doing events for a fellow named Michael Shepard and we were doing events for [Australian Cable and Satellite channel] TVOne, and he and I just clicked. Michael was in his 40s, gay and deeply in the closet,” says Schmid. “But while I was there, I got offered a job to travel as Barry Humphries’ personal assistant.” Now, the name Barry Humphries may not ring a bell for most Americans, but a sizeable chunk of the civilized world knows (and adores) his alter-ego: Dame Edna (pictured, above). “So I went to meet while they were shooting a commercial for the U.S. tour,” Schmid intones in his husky baritone.“And I knew you never refer to Dame Edna as ‘Barry’ when she’s made up. She sized me up and asked me if I was good with e-mail. She said, ‘I need protecting. Everybody is always trying to get something from me.’ And I said back, ‘Well, you’re a woman with a lot to give.’ A few days later, I got a call saying: Barry would like to meet you.’” Schmid and Humphries/Dame Edna saw the world together several times over and remain close. But, as Schmid found himself becoming more immersed in production, he also felt an itch to be back in front of the camera.

THIS PAGE: DAME EDNA/KARL SCHMID IMAGE COURTESY KARL SCHMID

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A DAME

SIMPLY THE TEST Schmid began doing red carpet work for TV Guide, and once he was back in London, finally found enough time to take a dip in the dating pool as well. “I had a good job, I was enjoying my 20s, I had an actor boyfriend who lived in another country, and I was making all the kinds of mistakes you make when you make when you’re having a good time and not paying enough attention, which led to me picking up this... little gift.” Schmid recalls meeting up with his boyfriend in Japan, “and after I got back, I heard from a friend who said, ‘You probably don’t want to hear this, but your boyfriend has been hooking up.’ I confronted said boyfriend, and asked what was going on. He admitted it — then took the whole conversation down the path of HIV, and I didn’t really think anything. Somehow I left my office in Soho on this miserable October day, walked over to the Dean Street clinic and got tested.” As the world now knows, Schmid’s HIV test came back positive. “My first thought was really about my parents,” he says now. “I thought I’d let my parents down. On the ground floor was a conference room, so I tried to call my boyfriend in the States, He wasn’t answering my calls. Then I called a colleague. I never went into self-pity, or said it wasn’t fair. And I didn’t have some digital countdown doomsday clock ticking in my head either. I got very rational. I said to myself, ‘What are we going to do?’ I called my straight, rugby-playing brother living in Warsaw who said, ‘Get yourself to the airport. There’s a ticket waiting for you.’ Then we called my parents, and my grandmother was there, too. She heard the news, and said in her heavy Hungarian accent, ‘Yeah, so what?’”

THIS IS THE MOMENT Soon medicated until the virus was undetectable, Schmid tried to resume as normal a life as possible. Because he believes that being up front about your sero status is an important threshold to cross with dates, he’s had a lot of surprising responses since his diagnosis — including people stopping the date instantly and, on another occasion, having a drink tossed in his face. Small wonder it took him ten years of deliberation and discretion to come out as poz. But the final steps in that process began when Schmid simply asked someone to snap a photo of him wearing his AIDS Memorial shirt. “I just thought I looked cute in the pic,” he says in that same Aussie accent that charms the entertainment elite. But once his post was out there in the world, it took on a life of its own.“I had no concept that it would do what it did,”Schmid confesses. “I had - hand on my heart - no clue. And that’s by no means why I did it. I can only say that it felt like the right time to say, ‘Enough.’ I’d spoken to colleagues, some of whom advised me to keep quiet, but it just felt right in the moment. I never have considered myself a public person or someone who has a modicum of fame, so it genuinely surprises me to think of myself of somebody who is somebody.” When complete strangers posted homophobic remarks “and really had a go at me, I knew word was getting around,” says Schmid. Nonetheless, he describes unburdening himself of his secret as transformative and liberating. And he believes that his post being seen and shared across the globe can only be a good thing, haters be damned. “When people ask about it going viral, I always say, ‘Yes, I’m

aware of it, and the 15 minutes I’m in the zeitgeist is a moment that I’m passionate about. I will do whatever I can to make the mark that I can make while I have this opportunity. Now is the time to shine a light on this thing called stigma. Give it another month or two, and the public conversation will have moved on.”

CHANGING THE CONVERSATION Schmid’s news has once again ignited a debate among gay men about what it means to live with HIV in the Age of the Cocktail. We’re finally discussing how much has changed with the current state of medical science — including that it’s a near medical impossibility for someone who is poz and faithfully taking his meds to infect another person with HIV. Undetectable, say the experts, means the virus is effectively untransmittable. No one in the world of medicine speaks in absolutes, but that’s the closest thing to a guarantee you can get. It’s a far cry from the rising death toll days when people had yet to comprehend the disease, how it was transmitted or how to treat it — though far too many people continue to act like we are still living in that terrifying era. “People need to understand,” Schmid says, “it’s not 1991 anymore. And we need to have a new conversation because stigma is still damaging too many lives.” How many more will follow in his footsteps? Magic Johnson came out as HIV-positive in 1991 — when Karl Schmid was 11. Now, nearly thirty years later, we’re still holding out for more poz heroes. ■

RIGSBY RIDER CODY RIGSBY CLIMBS UPON HIS INSTRUCTOR’S BIKE AND STUDIES THE

room. He looks out upon the faces of his regular students, many who come to ride with him every week at Peloton, a cycling studio located near the corner of 23rd St. and Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Next, Rigsby peruses a digital leaderboard to review the dozens of additional students who are joining his class remotely. He recognizes the names, though he’ll likely never meet them face to face. This is where Rigsby’s charm and energy come in handy: Not only is he expected to provide guidance for the people he can see in the room with him, but his words must also inspire thousands of riders scattered across the country. Rigsby, a former commercial dancer, works at Peloton’s only “live studio,” with its fast-moving cameras gliding across the ceiling revealing just how different this workout space is from others in the neighborhood. There are 60 stationary bikes inside, however that number will only account for a small portion of the roster participating during any given session. That’s because the majority of Peloton’s customer base rarely attends class in person. People from Columbus, Milwaukee, Austin and everywhere in between have purchased their own Peloton brand bikes to ride along in the comfort of their own homes, where they can log in to attend“live”classes whenever they want to break a sweat. It’s up to the studio’s in-house master instructors to deliver the same fast-

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paced workout to everyone - even those tuning in from hundreds of miles away. Thankfully, Rigsby has no problem connecting with fans near or far: his unmistakable passion and infectious personality seem designed to reach the ends of the earth. Rigsby’s romance with New York City begins the same way it does for so many young performers: He packed up and said goodbye to his home state of North Carolina nearly a decade ago in search of creative opportunities. His first six years in NYC were busy ones, as he spent long days darting from audition rooms onto stages, often performing as a backup dancer for artists like Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry during high-profile film and television segments. The work came steadily for Rigsby, who at the time believed his fitness level was more than adequate to support his chosen career path. Being in shape came mostly as a byproduct of time spent dancing more than anything else. It wasn’t until a big opportunity presented itself that Rigsby realized it was time to kick the resistance up a notch. “A choreographer with whom I was closely connected reached out to me about a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show gig,” Rigsby recalls.“He told me that he wanted to book me, but that I needed to get my body in check first.”This loaded job offer struck a chord for Rigsby. He was familiar with the gym, but was quite green in terms of pure physical training. As a result of this reality check, JS2_7893 v2 copy Rigsby soon began to concentrate on nutrition and sessions with

ALL IMAGES THIS SECTION COURTESY PELOTON AND CODY RIGSBY

HOW PELOTON MASTER INSTRUCTOR CODY RIGSBY RECYCLED HIS CAREER IN DANCE INTO HELPING PEOPLE GET FIT — NEAR AND FAR, SPINNING GREAT MUSIC AND SPREADING LGBTQ ACCEPTANCE ALONG THE WAY. BY MEGAN VENZIN

METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

personal trainers, which helped him come to understand that fitness could be more than just a tool for professional advancement for him: It could be a way of life. As Rigsby’s musculature became more defined, so did his plans for the future. Though performing still served as his primary means for paying bills, the fulfillment he once found in it began to take a backseat to his newfound love for fitness. While working in a burlesque club on the lower east side, Rigsby received an e-mail from a previous employer about a new cycling studio, and before he knew it, Rigsby was doing a new kind of performance - this time in front of some health-savvy directors. “They liked my personality,” Rigsby says. “One huge talent I had to leverage was my natural camera presence. It’s something that’s so unique to the Peloton job, but matters so much when you’re teaching out to four cameras that reach thousands of people across the country.” His knowledge of dance was also integral in the creation of Rigsby’s signature “Groove Ride” - a 45-minute, choreography-based class that integrates riding to the beat along with other timed workout movements such as crunches, handlebar push-ups and free weight lifting. Rigsby’s transformation from dancer to instructor was gradual; he found it surrounded him organically with the elements of performance he most loved, including music. “Music is the shining star of any workout we do, either in group fitness classes or by ourselves,” Rigsby attests. “Sometimes you need fierce beats that will give you tons of energy in a cycling class; other times it’s the lyrics and rhythm that inspire and craft that journey. When you’re trying to be your best self, and you have that piece pushing you, music becomes an essential part of the workout.” Playlists are an area in which he finds that fellow LGBTQ artists lend some flavor to the class vibe. Rigsby is a self-proclaimed lover of house and circuit music, not to mention underground club bangers. Legends like Peter Rauhofer (aka Size Queen) and Junior Vasquez often find their way onto Rigsby’s heart-pumping soundtracks. “I love to discover new music and share that with people,” Rigsby says. “It’s a goal of mine to make people curious. I love

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when people come up to me after class and ask,‘Hey, what was that song?’” Cody’s selections range from familiar and fun to deliciously obscure.“I did a ‘History of House’ series a couple of years back and used some Honey Dijon,” Rigsby adds. He’s referring to Honey Redmond, an acclaimed Chicago-born, New York City-based techhouse producer who also happens to be transgender. While sharing new music with riders is one area of passion, Rigsby says he loves his job for another big reason. ““Being visible in the homes of people who don’t have gay friends, or who have maybe never even met a gay person gives me the opportunity to be a positive influence in their lives,” Rigsby says. He pauses thoughtfully. “I’ve had riders tell me that they have gay sons, and they’ve been better able to connect with them because of who I am. It’s incredibly endearing. It just goes to show how small steps can have a huge impact, almost a viral effect, on people.” But this impact is, in some ways, only just beginning. In January 2018, Rigsby was promoted to master instructor. He teaches five 45-minute rhythm rides each week — plus an additional three short-form classes. Recently he had the opportunity to engage with his out of town fans when Peloton invited a thousand bikers to New York City for a Home Rider Invasion. “Connecting with my riders on social media alone is so inspiring. They keep me going every time,”Rigsby says, emotion welling in his voice.“But getting to meet them in person is a whole different experience. One woman, who was probably in her 60s, told me that my class brings her so much happiness. She explained that at her age, she often feels invisible, but not when she’s riding with me. I found that very touching.” Rigsby’s positivity is contagious, and it may be his most important tool for healthy living. It’s the quality that has helped propel him from casual gym goer to master instructor. He hopes his dedication and upbeat take on life can serve as a beacon of hope for those who see health-conscious living as a point of stress. “We try to compare ourselves to others, but [working out] is not that deep,” Rigsby says. “It’s one step on our journey. Your best self can’t be compared to anyone else. You must be fearless enough to just show up, and the rest will fall into place.” ■

CODY’S 6 HABITS OF HEALTHY LIVING MAN CANNOT THRIVE ON CYCLING ALONE. IT

takes a full routine to keep the mind and body in tip-top shape. Cody shares some of the healthy habits he’s built over the years: 1) Aim for 8 hours of sleep every night. “I try to make this a number one priority, but I’m human so I miss the mark sometimes,” Rigsby says.“A good night’s sleep is absolutely essential to any healthy lifestyle.” 2) Never skip breakfast. “Go for a well-balanced, high-protein breakfast first thing in the morning,” Rigsby shares.“I mix it up between oatmeal, eggs, fruit and other energy-packed standbys.” 3) Identify your personal nutrition plan. “I’m working with a nutritionist who has me counting macros. I’m on a 3,200 calorie per day diet that’s helped me understand the true makeup of the food and the portions I need to get the most out of every meal,” Rigsby explains.“Whichever plan you choose, you need to build habits that keep you eating right.” 4) Switch it up. “When I’m not on the bike, I love lifting weights,” Rigsby offers.“I meet with my body building trainer at Crossfit South Brooklyn three times a week, and he makes sure I spend at least an hour weight lifting and conditioning.”

CODY’S CARDIO CLUB MIX WHAT’S A WORKOUT WITHOUT A SLAMMIN’ PLAYLIST? CODY’S MANY YEARS WORKING

as a dancer helped him develop an impressive palate for music. From Top 40 to underground club, here’s a Rigsby-inspired soundtrack to keep you sweating: 1) “If Madonna Calls” - Junior Vasquez 2) “Let Me Be Your Underwear” - Peter Rauhofer 3) “Stars” - Honey Dijon feat. Sam Sparro 4) “Barbie Tings” - Nikki Minaj 5) “Just Dance” (RedOne Remix) - Lady Gaga, Kardinal Offishall 6) “If Your Girl Only Knew” - DJ Ashes 7) “Real Life” (Kilter Remix) - Duke Dumont, Gorgon City, NAATIONS, Kilter 8) “So Emotional” (David Morales Mix) - Whitney Houston, David Morales 9) “Slumber Party” (Bad Royale Remix) - Britney Spears, Tinashe, Bay Royale 10) “Be Careful” - Cardi B

5) Keep up with the cardio. “Peloton is such a huge part of my fitness routine,” Rigsby says, but he knows many people need motivation to get their cardio. “Truthfully, it was hard to commit to that kind of workout before I became a trainer.” 6) Carve out time for meditation. “My daily meditation practice is what keeps me grounded,” Rigsby says.“I spend between 15 and 30 minutes in meditation everyday, which allows me to see what thoughts are going through my head and what’s pulling me in different directions. Meditation is the key to becoming focused.” METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

RECLAIMING MY PRIDE ABOUT metrosource.com/reclaimingmypride

LGBTQ community through creativity. The result was a contest that drew over 100 submissions from artists interpreting what “Reclaiming My Pride” meant to them. Inspired by the indomitable spirit of Maxine Waters’ “Reclaiming My Time,” the work we gathered illustrated bravery and vulnerability, highlighting both our diversity and our unity. This culminated in an extraordinary evening during NYC Pride Week when we announced the winner and celebrated with some of the finalists whose work you’ll see on the following pages, along with some of their own words describing their work, and you can find images from that fabulous night at the end of this piece on page 42. We want to offer special thanks to all of our partners in this endeavor - especially One World Observatory, who lifted us to new heights; Red Bull, who helped give us wings; and our charity beneficiary, The Ali Forney Center, whose work with homeless LGBTQ youth we are honored to support. If you like what you see here, we encourage you to sign up for our MetroEspresso newsletter at metrosource.com/subscribe, as — in the coming months — we’ll be sharing exclusive video about what inspired these artists and looking forward to next year’s event, which will coincide with World Pride 2019 and the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. —Paul Hagen

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ALL IMAGES THIS SECTION COURTESY OF THE ARTISTS

EARLY IN 2018, METROSOURCE SET OUT ON A MISSION: TO CELEBRATE POSITIVITY IN THE

RECLAIMING MY PRIDE WINNER DAVID JESTER SAN DIEGO, CA “This series is inspired by how we present ourselves or treat each other,” says David Jester, winner of our inaugural “Reclaiming My Pride” contest, regarding the series from which “Home” is culled. It’s hard to believe that these creations - featuring beautiful images of the human body as seen through the play of light in water, almost never happened. “My partner and I had two boys to raise, so I chose the corporate route instead of pursuing the art,” Jester remembers. “After the kids were raised and out of the house, I decided to pursue my dreams. For about the past two years, I’ve been painting full time.” So what was Jester’s winning philosophy? “For me it is ‘Reclaiming My Pride’ in the sense that it goes back to the basics of Pride. I remember when Pride was about the need for social acceptance. We just wanted it to be ok to love another of the same sex, to be included. This painting for me is that.” You can see more of David Jester’s work and learn how to purchase prints by visiting davidmjester.com. METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

#ReclaimingMyPride

“HOME”

RECLAIMING MY PRIDE

PAUL ANAGNOSTOPOULOS MERRICK, NY

FINALISTS

DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME “The navigation of desire, speciﬁcally in terms of the queer male, is the main narrative arc I employ. Each work serves as a visual manifestation of an imprisoning emotional state, ending in either triumph or pain.”

LOGAN BENEDICT MIDDLETOWN, DE

ROTTED RIBCAGE

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“It’s been a year since I experienced sexual trauma and reclaiming not only my pride . . . but my body as well, has been quite the struggle for me. Trauma can have a lasting effect on victims. I’ve channeled my pain into my craft. This work is all about pride and self-love, repossessing ownership of a body that has been so battered and bloodied and bruised.”

CHARLES CALDWELL RAHWAY, NJ

SPEAK UP AND RECLAIM YOUR PRIDE “My artwork reﬂects everyone’s ‘perspective,’ as you can see in my abstract style of painting. My colors — red, blue, yellow, and green — reﬂect all humankind. We are all different in some way or form. However, we are all the same as well, we are one.”

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RECLAIMING MY PRIDE

BRIDGETTE VICTORIA CRUZ QUEENS, NY

PARA MI GENTE

FINALISTS

“To reclaim my pride as a Puerto Rican Queer Woman — is to send a message to all those who are like me and unlike me: I exist, I am strong, and no matter how much you try to neglect my people and people like me. Yo soy Boricua todavía. Yo soy Queer todavía.”

TOM CULLIS NEWPORT BEACH, CA

ABANDONED “Throughout history, the U.S. military had an inconsistent policy when it came to gays in the military. Today we now face a crisis with the estimated 15,000 transgender military personnel who serve bravely for a country that cannot decide if they deserve the same rights as the heterosexual population. Are they protecting a country that has abandoned them?”

JAMES FALCIANO BROOKLYN, NY

A CELEBRATION OF QUEER EXPRESSION #ReclaimingMyPride

“I think visibility is more important than ever in this particular political climate we are currently in, and I hope to use my artistic platform to continue to aid in the ﬁght for a wider Queer visibility and acceptance. Inevitably there is also a sense of exploring my own Queer identity through my subjects. I choose individuals who are fearless and conﬁdent in their expression, as I ultimately aim to be in my own right. By exploring their identities, it is aiding me to come into my own.”

METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

RECLAIMING MY PRIDE

LUIS MARTIN BROOKLYN, NY

THE ART ENGINEER

FINALISTS

“By exercising appropriation, an act usually limited to those with absolute power, I give meaning to the images around me instead of it being imposed on me, through media and advertisement. Through this work, I hope to create a moment of reﬂection for the viewer, LGTBQ or not, to feel their center as a point of departure for pride.”

IVAN MEDINA NEW YORK, NY

DARE TO BE YOURSELF “Dare to be yourself and the rest will follow. Strip yourself of every pretense and just go out and show your true self to the world—that’s how you reclaim your pride. Everywhere you go you are bombarded with negative messages from the media. It is unsettling. The only thing that keeps me going is the fact that every time I step outside my apartment I can go out and present myself exactly the way I am—no pretenses and no masks.”

ABBY TAYLOR BROOKLYN, NY metrosource.com/reclaimingmypride

IN/VISIBILITY

“This piece, and the larger body of work for which it stands, explores and celebrates transgender, non-binary, gender queer and gender ﬂuid identities. I feel my work not only ﬁts within the themes of ‘Reclaiming My Pride,’ it truly stands for them. It represents an amazing, supportive and safe community of very unique individuals who thrive on creativity and charity; a community of which I’m very happy to be a part. I create this work in an effort to encourage a greater conversation about problematic gender conceptions.”

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SENIOR MANAGER OF GROUPS AND TOURISM AT BROOKLYN MUSEUM

ELISABETH CONDON AMERICAN PAINTER

SCOTT FRANKEL MUSICAL THEATER COMPOSER

ALI HOSSAINI AMERICAN ARTIST, PHILOSOPHER, AND BUSINESSPERSON

Elisabeth Condon is an American painter, known for work featuring spills of poured paint. Condon received the 2015 New York PULSE Prize for work she created at Swatch Art Peace Hotel, Shanghai. She has received a New York Studio School Mercedes Matter award, a Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant, Florida Individual Artist Grant and numerous university grants. Condon’s work is held in the public collections of the United States Foundation of Art in Embassies Program (Beijing), Perez Museum Miami, Tampa Museum of Art and JP Morgan Chase Collection.

Scott Frankel is a musical theatre composer whose work War Paint enjoyed a run on Broadway (starring Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole). Other works include Grey Gardens, Far From Heaven, Happiness, Doll and Meet Miss Future. Earlier this year, “The Songs of Scott Frankel & Michael Korie” were presented as part of Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. Frankel is the recipient of the ASCAP Foundation New Horizons Richard Rodgers Award and the Frederick Loewe Award. He is a fellow of the MacDowell Colony and a graduate of Yale.

The cutting edge of art, technology and business, Ali Hossaini’s video installations have won acclaim from The New York Times, which called him a “biochemist turned philosopher turned television producer turned visual poet.” He’s worked with Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek and Dennis Hopper, and has been presented by BAM, the Barbican, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the NYC Opera. He is a Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Informatics, King’s College London, a trustee of the Young Vic Theatre and an Associate of Lord Cultural Resources.

SCOOTER LAFORGE NYC BASED ARTIST

Veteran art dealer Christopher Pusey cofounded Dorian Grey Gallery in 2010, the premier source for work connected to the historic streets of NYC. In 2017 Dorian Grey Projects evolved into to a private salon exhibition space in Soho specializing in art advising and curatorial services. Artists exhibited include Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Martha Cooper. Puley is also the Sales Director at Chase Contemporary gallery, specializing in paintings by RETNA, and noted photographers such as Raphael Mazzucco, Terry Oneal and Mark Seliger.

CHRISTOPHER PUSEY

GALLERIST/CURATOR

FAWN ROGERS

RECLAIMING MY PRIDE

Scooter LaForge is a full-time artist living in NYC. His work has been shown at the Leslie-Lohman Museum, Vienna’s Friedrichshof Museum, and Stockholm’s Spiritmuseum/Absolut Art Collection. He was commissioned to create garments for Madonna’s performance of her single “Bitch I’m Madonna” on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and Debbie Harry have all worn items from his clothing line. He also works closely with legendary stylist and fashion maven Pat Field.

LA BASED CONTEMPORARY ARTIST

Fawn Rogers is an LA-based artist. Through painting, photography, video, and sculptural installation, Rogers addresses the idea of power as the currency of nature and human interaction. Her aesthetic incorporates realism, conceptualism and the synthesis of text and image. Concerned with systems of the natural world and social constructionism, her art accepts the full range of existence, including violence, innocence and invention. She has shown paintings, photos, and conceptual installations in museums, galleries, and nontraditional locations on four continents.

Bill Schelly is an award-winning author whose memoir Sense of Wonder, My Life in Comic Fandom is the story of a gay kid who found a home in the subculture of 1960s and 1970s comic fandom. As a teen, he became an early force in fandom, created his own comics and built a network of like-minded young people, turning his love of comics into a career as an adult. He received a degree in Art Education from the University of Idaho, and BILLY SCHELLY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR has written over 20 comics-related books, including Sense of Wonder from North Atlantic Books. His web site is billschelly.net.

METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

#ReclaimingMyPride

LAVAL BRYANT

Born in Harlem and raised across the street from the Brooklyn Museum, Laval’s love and passion for the arts were fostered by her schooling at the prestigious Calhoun School and Brooklyn College. Over the course of her career, Laval has lent her talents and expertise in communications to organizations including The Metropolitan Museum of Art. However, Laval’s passion and love for the community ultimately led her back to the Brooklyn Museum as the Manager of Groups and Tourism Sales.

JUDGES

You Be the Judge: For Metrosource’s “Reclaiming My Pride” contest, we sought out individuals who are both community leaders and also have a passion for art to judge our finalists. The following eight judges scored the finalists’ pieces based on the strength of the each piece’s description; how the submission fits within the “Reclaiming My Pride” themes of community, creativity and charity; the uniqueness of the work, and overall visual appeal.

ON JUNE 20TH — MIDWAY THROUGH NYC PRIDE WEEK — METROSOURCE GATHERED WITH

LGBTQ community leaders, “Reclaiming My Pride”contest participants, and many of the people that made our inaugural art contest possible. The setting was a New York City landmark — One World Observatory — and as you might expect, the view was sublime — inside and out. Here’s a little taste of our very special evening. Even more images are on display at metrosource.com/reclaimingmypride and facebook.com/metrosource.

metrosource.com/reclaimingmypride

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

RECLAIMING MY PRIDE

Pride on Top of the World

AS18_RMPevent.indd 42

7/6/18 5:05 PM

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH GOLDEN MILK?

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of drinking “Golden Milk” (a.k.a. Turmeric Tea) lately. Turmeric, the yellow-golden spice known for its use in curry dishes, comes from Curcuma longa, a tropical herb native to India. It’s been used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years as a remedy for colds, indigestion, throat conditions and liver issues. This perennial herbaceous plant can achieve heights of up to three feet tall and grows wild in Southeast and South Asian countries. Golden milk can help to alleviate headaches by promoting sinus draining, aid in digestion and build immunity against colds

HEALTH

and ﬂu. Already got a cold? Tumeric can stimulate mucus to help clean out your system while also spreading antibacterial agents throughout your body. Additionally, turmeric can help detoxify the liver through reducing fattiness and obstructions. How does golden milk work its magic? Well, the most active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has proven to have antiinﬂammatory and immune-boosting properties. To achieve these affects, adults can (and should) take 400 to 600 milligrams of pure turmeric powder daily. Want to prevent cancer? Look no further. Curcumin has anti-cancer written all about it. It helps kick cancer to the curb by eliminating damaged cells and limiting growth of tumors and the overall spreading of cancerous cells. There are many variations for preparing Golden Milk (widely available online). In addition to turmeric some popular ingredients include unsweetened coconut or almond milk, cinnamon, ginger, coconut oil, peppercorns and sweeteners (honey, maple syrup or otherwise) to taste. Simply boil your base of choice (milk or water), add a few teaspoons of turmeric (ground, grated or however you prefer it), and stir in the additional ingredients to taste. Let this mixture sit over heat for about ten or twelve minutes before straining and serving. Consider garnishing with a little lemon or lime and serve. And if you want to spice things up a bit try adding ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, star anise or coriander for variety. ■

BODY

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It’s the fad that’s sweeping health circles, but what’s in golden milk and why is it supposed to be so good for you? BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

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Five poses for

SELF CONFIDENCE

BODY

HEALTH

UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN LIVING UNDER SOME KIND OF ZEN-PROOF

rock, you’ve probably heard about the benefits of a yoga routine. Hitting the mat at least three times a week can lead to lower stress levels, increased flexibility and stronger bones for those who commit to regular stretch sessions. So, we understand how flexibility and being centered improves the body, but what about the oft-discussed yoga goal of achieving a “steady mind”? As a certified yoga instructor, students come to me daily with testimonials about how yoga has changed their lives. Some talk about the weight loss they’ve seen; others mention how their newfound quality of breath has helped them in times of panic.

However, there is a shift I see in nearly all of my students that few of them recognize automatically. Perhaps it’s because these kinds of transformations can’t be measured by a mere scale or lung capacity reading. Instead, I see it in their glowing faces, their smiles — and their posture. It’s that yoga has sent their conﬁdence levels soaring to new heights, often without them even realizing. This may sound contradictory to new students who have struggled in class, failing to differentiate one warrior pose from another (There’s three?!) Here are ﬁve not-so-scary poses to get you on this path to loving yourself again. Namaste!

1 2

1 TADASANA (MOUNTAIN POSE)

Tadasana might seem like the easiest pose of all, but it’s actually quite advanced. New yogis may confuse this triumphant pose for “just standing,” but let’s be real: for many people “standing up straight” has become a thing of the past. If you text, type or left-side lean as much as I do everyday, chances are you’ve avoided stacking your joints the way your skeleton intended. Start by ﬁnding yourself at the top of your mat with your big toes together and your heels slightly apart. Ground yourself through all the corners of your feet including your big toe

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

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mound, pinky toe mound and both edges of your heels. Breathe deeply, lifting your chest toward the sky. Draw your belly button in toward your spine and tuck your tailbone under. Without arching your back, draw your shoulders back, internally rotating your arms so that the eyes of your elbows are pushed forward and your palms are open. Keep the crown of your head reaching toward the ceiling and tuck your chin slightly. Look forward with a soft gaze. Take three deep breaths in through the nostrils, then out. You’ll instantly feel several inches taller — and a strong sense of pride to boot!

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Is yoga really as good for the mind as it is for the body? Give these specially chosen moves a try and see for yourself. BY MEGAN VENZIN

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4 5

2 KUMBHAKASANA (HIGH PLANK)

This high pushup position may send some minds spiraling back to the days of the “President’s Fitness Challenge,” when as children we were expected to support our weight with upper body strength alone. Oh, how wrong our PE teachers were! Kumbhakasana allows us to use not only our arms but also our abdominal muscles, spine and pectorals to bear our weight as well. Find yourself on all fours with your fingers spread wide and your shoulders, elbows and wrists stacked in one straight line. Next, extend one leg toward the back of your mat and then over, curling your toes under to help lift your legs from the mat. Draw your belly button toward your spine and activate your abdominals, pressing the crown of your head toward the front of the room to achieve length in your spine, all the way from your skull to your sacrum. Use your breath to maintain this posture. A floating booty will compromise this pose, so draw your glutes down to align the back. Hold for three breaths, and drop your knees back down to the mat. Repeat this sequence five times to build heat. You may never have to resort to using the term “girl push-ups” again.

There’s something about a sturdy squat that reminds us of the body’s pure, compact strength. Start by taking your feet as wide as the mat (about two-and-a-half feet) with all 10 toes facing forward. Bring your arms up and overhead, allowing the palms to touch, then draw the thumbs toward heart center. Slowly descend by bending your knees, bringing your pelvic bone to hover above the mat. Press the elbows toward the inside of your knees to push the chest forward. Hold for five breaths, or transition into a flow by placing your hands into a wide-legged forward fold with your head hanging heavy. You can flow back and forth, bending the knees and switching between the malasana and your forward fold to maintain strength.

MUKHA SVANASANA 3 URDHVA (UPWARD FACING DOG)

This heart opener is a true pose of empowerment! Find yourself flat on your belly with your elbows bent, hands flat and fingers spread wide, right outside your rib cage. Press into your hands, and begin to straighten your arms. When you have enough height, lift your pelvis and thighs up from the mat and use the top of your feet to support you as you press your chest through your arms. Finally, send your chin upward in space, allowing the energy to pulse from the center of your sternum. Yes, you are fierce! You can easily curl your toes under, send your tailbone back and let your chest reach toward your thighs to transition into a favorite counterpose downward facing dog.

This combination heart-and-hip opener is truly a fool-proof stress reliever and conﬁdence builder. Start by lying ﬂat on your back, then draw the soles of your feet together, allowing the knees to splay out wide toward the edges of your mat. Draw your shoulders back, allowing your shoulder blades to press into the mat and your palms to fall open toward the ceiling. While this may make some yogis feel vulnerable, this posture is great for letting go of stale emotions and old feelings. A simultaneous release of both the hips and the heart will leave you feeling rejuvenated and new. Make this pose extra juicy by leaning back on a pillow or bolster to add extra elevation to your back body. ■

MALASANA (SQUAT POSE)

SUPTA BADDHA KONASANA (RECLINED BOUND ANGLE POSE)

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MEETING THE NEED FOR NON-BIASED CARE Why one doctor left a career in cardiac surgery in order to concentrate on the needs of his LGBTQ clientele, and the new way he’s getting his message across. BY JEFF SIMMONS

BODY

METROHIV

a decade ago, he came to accept that his practice wasn’t providing the long-term career fulfillment he’d hoped for. “I really started to hate the field,” he conceded. After some soul-searching, Goldstein decided to reconsider his options entirely. “I started to think about where I wanted go and realized that there was a huge need in the gay community for non-judgmental, non-biased care,” Goldstein says, “specifically for the gay male, but also for the bottoming male.” That’s when Goldstein launched BeSpoke Surgical, a Beverly Hills and New York City-based medical and surgical concierge practice for the gay community, with a focus on men’s sexual health and wellness. But even though the practice flourished — it now treats some 70 patients a week — Goldstein sought a way to reach more men to embrace healthy lifestyles. So he recently launched the first episode of Tail Talks, a quarterly video series assembling roundtables of experts, medical professionals and influencers to talk about touchy topics such as sexual positions, HIV and AIDS. In its pilot episode, Tail Talks focused on PrEP, the one-a-day pill which can prevent users from contracting HIV, in an informal and lively conversation with writer Brian Moylan and writer-director Kit Williamson inside Alan Cumming’s nightclub, Club Cumming. “There are many issues surrounding gay culture that should be talked about,” Goldstein attests. “There should be an educational component to everything that everybody is doing to make sure they are engaging the right way. So we are aiming to educate while doing it in a fun, cool format.” Of particular concern, he says, is closing chasms between generations by educating younger gay males. Video provides an accessible, consumable platform to spread info that medical professionals might not always provide or even be informed about. “You use everything you can socially to go direct to consumers, specifically about taboo subjects,” he says, “so people can really do an appropriate investigation and figure out where they really are.” Future episodes of Tail Talks — the name was coined as a tongue-in-cheek salute to bottoming — will explore sexual issues among a younger generation. “I am trying to hold educators and medical professionals accountable,” says Goldstein, “and make sure that many generations have resources available to them in a succinct, cool, appropriate way, so that people can get answers.” “That’s the point of Tail Talks,” the physician concludes, “to make sure people have safe spaces and don’t feel they will be judged or biased or are dirty in any way. We really should create positivity in everything we are doing.” ■

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IMAGE THIS PAGE COURTESY DR. EVAN GOLDSTEIN

DR. EVAN GOLDSTEIN WAS TRAINED AS A CARDIAC SURGEON, BUT about

WHO SHOULD GET TESTED FOR HIV? EVERYONE.

Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour and Haulover Cut

7 WAYS TO WELLNESS IN MIAMI EVERYONE WHO LIVES A CHAPTER IN MIAMI TENDS TO BELIEVE THOSE

were the years when the Magic City hit its peak: Everyone was there! Supermodels! Scarface! Madonna! Versace! Miami Vice! The Rat Pack! By the time my husband and I landed in South Beach, Versace was gone and Madonna had moved on. Instead there was Art Basel Miami Beach and Michelin-starred chefs opening restaurants in restored Art Deco hotels while starchitects like Herzog & de Meuron designed parking garages on Lincoln Road. Miami has been reinventing itself ever since its inception as a winter resort in the 1920s, and every renaissance reveals new attributes. The city’s nickname derives from its seemingly magical growth from a barrier island of less than 1,000 residents to a metropolitan area of nearly 5.5 million in little more than 100 years. Since the establishment of Miami’s first hotel in 1884 (appropriately named the Peacock Inn) and on through Dionysian days of drag queens and supermodels, Miami and the Beaches have remained inviting — particularly for the LGBTQ community. Dade County passed a human rights ordinance in 1977 that banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing and public services (at least until Antia Bryant arrived on the scene). Today, Miami is one of the world’s most LGBTQ-friendly destinations, hosting guests from around the world for White Party and Winter Party, and Miami Beach Gay Pride. For many, it’s all about the miles of sugar-sand beaches, but there are plenty of ways to seek wellness in Miami — sand optional.

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TRY HEALTHY SOUL FOOD: In recent years, Miami Beach has become a nexus of health and well-being. Soul Tavern (soultavern.com) in Sunset Harbor exemplifies that trend in a neighborhood rich with yoga studios, juice shops, Flywheel classes and Botox beauty bars. Surrounded by a lush garden patio trellised in vibrant bougainvillaea, the plant-based gastropub is an oasis of healthy living with awardwinning design by Pravda Architecture. Owner Jason Gordon, who has a doctorate in Chinese medicine, has created a convivial tavern where Korean barbeque tempeh sliders and vegan mac-and-cheese complement nearly forty hand-crafted elixirs designed to combat ailments from anxiety to hangover - perhaps negating any ill effects from the sangria and bottomless mimosas of weekend brunch. FIND READING ROOM: Nearly 200 boutique and resort hotels line the shores of Miami Beach, notably along Ocean Drive - a milelong stretch of restored Art Deco hotels designed by a veritable Who’s Who of 20th-century American architects. At the northern end stands a stately neo-Colonial structure with a four-column portico once known as The Betsy Ross Hotel. What looked like a Southern plantation home was actually built in 1941 amidst the nation’s nostalgic craze for Colonial style. After an ingenious two-year transformation incorporated neighboring 1930s Art Deco gem the Carlton Hotel, The Betsy (thebetsyhotel.com) opened in 2016. The 130-key hotel now boasts an Art Deco wing and a Colonial wing connected by a

IMAGES THIS PAGE: ToP LEfT courTESy rITz-cArLTon BAL HArBour And HAuLovEr cuT • IMAGE of MEN PLAYING KADIMA COURTESY GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU WWW.GMCVB.COM

HOW DO YOU LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE IN MAGIC CITY? WE’VE GOT FOOD TO TASTE, SIGHTS TO SEE AND CULTURE YOU’LL WANT TO CATCH. BY MARK A. THOMPSON

IMAGES THIS PAGE: SUITE AT RC BAL HARBOUR COURTESY OF RITZ-CARLTON • BETSY POOL AT MAGIC HOUR AND BETSY SUITE COURTESY THE BETSY HOTEL SOUTH BEACH

Two men playing kadima

Suite at RC Bal Harbour

suspended pedestrian bridge enclosed in what looks like a gigantic dinosaur egg but is really a passageway that leads to a sumptuous Library. This bibliophile’s refuge complements Writer’s Room, the hotel’s artists’ residency program, inaugurated in honor of owner Jonathan Plutzik’s father, a three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. Since 2012, Writer’s Room has hosted over 400 artists, including Amy Tan, Jane Smiley, and John Guare. The Betsy’s spacious oceanfront Royal Suites are furnished in tropical plantation style with ceiling fans and walnut floors. Spa bathrooms of Carrera marble feature walk-in showers and bath mirrors with built-in LCD televisions. Classic barware complements curated guest libraries, so you can sip a Cuba Libre while reading Hemingway. On the Skyline Deck, a suspended lap pool hovers high above a courtyard atrium, so it’s like swimming laps in the air. Sunrise yoga on the rooftop segues nicely into a massage at the tranquil outdoor spa, where treatments utilize natural ingredients such as mandarins, blueberries, and sugar plums. As Hyam Plutzik wrote,“Expect no more. This is happiness.” DINE WITH A UNICORN: If you’re dining at the feet of a 12-foot-tall golden unicorn created by Damien Hirst and valued at more than $6 million, you are seated at Pao at Faena (faena.com), where Top Chef champ Paul Qui is determined to wrestle your gaze from the resplendent dining room and fix it on the boldly inventive Asian-influenced food. This fiercely fabulous funhouse is within the phantasmagoric labyrinth known as Faena Miami Beach. What was once mid-century Hollywood hang-out the Saxony has been transformed into a surrealist rococo playground where red velvet and gold leaf frame a fanciful fantasy created by a team that included architects Foster + Partners, Rem Koolhaas’s OMA, and theatrical visionaries Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin Why have Qui’s culinary chops earned him a James Beard Foundation Award? The answer becomes apparent with a cobia kinilaw (as crudo is known in the Philippines) soaked in coconut milk and red onion with heart of palm and cilantro. Qui’s cuisine incorporates elements from his native Philippines, as well as Japan, France, and Spain — perhaps most strikingly exemplified in the dish called Unicorn. An Instagram star, the uni corn pudding arrives in its own sea urchin shell atop a bed of dried spice: exactly what you want to eat at the feet of a golden unicorn.

Betsy pool at the magic hour Betsy suite

METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

CATCH SOME CULTURE: It used to be snowbirds who flew to Miami in December; now it’s culture mavens who flock to Art Basel Miami Beach (artbasel.com) and linger for the New World Symphony (nws.edu), Miami City Ballet (miamicityballet.org), the acclaimed Pérez Art Museum Miami (pamm.org), the new Institute of Contemporary Art Miami (icamiami.org), and Miami Beach’s recently-renovated Bass Museum of Art (thebass.org). Cinephiles amass at OUTshine (mifofilm.com), the joint Miami and Fort LauThe Betsy derdale LGBT film festival, which remains the largest LGBT cultural arts event in South Florida. Visitors seeking further diversion head to The Hub at the LGBT Visitor Center (gogaymiami.com) and The Pride Center at Equality Park (pridecenterflorida.org), two LGBT centers that have become a nexus of LGBT Florida life.

LT Restaurant Ocean Drive at night

TOAST CHAMPAGNE LIFE: What says Miami like a soaking in a tub overlooking the ocean with a bucket of Champagne on ice? How about adding a snack from the full-service gourmet kitchen in your floor-through suite atop The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour (ritzcarlton.com). With private terraces that overlook the ocean and the 99-acre nude beach at Haulover Park, the suites at The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour deliver you into a lush life marked by mahogany, leather, and crystal. Asprey toiletries fragrance the air with hints of citrus and jacaranda. Have an in-room massage or head to Exhale Spa, the 10,000-foot wellness sanctuary overlooking the water. And should you feel overwhelmed by the 100-plus luxury boutiques located in the lushly-landscaped retail oasis, The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour offers a couture concierge who remains on call for wardrobe consultation, so you’ll be dressed just right for a visit to Sunset Lounge at Artisan Beach House, a beach-bright restaurant with views onto Haulover Cut. SAY CHEESE: Back at the Betsy Hotel, there’s no shortage of good reasons to dine at LT Steak & Seafood. Chef Laurent Tourondel’s homage to classic cuisine is housed in a room redolent of post-war Miami glam. For many, it’s all about the fact that no sooner are you seated than a server presents a basket of hot popovers and a side of butter. Flavored with gruyere cheese and cracked black pepper, each popover is the size of a prize-winning Périgord truffle — and equally delicious with butter oozing through its airy center: they’re like wellbeing in a basket. ■

images this page: guy Dill terrace reception at rc Bal harBour courtesy of ritz-carlton • the Betsy anD lt restaurant courtesy of the Betsy hotel south Beach • OCEAN DRIVE AT NIGHT COURTESY OF GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU WWW.GMCVB.COMT

Guy Dill Terrace Reception at RC Bal Harbour

MAKE LIKE A MEDITERRANEAN: What was initially a beloved Greek restaurant in Montreal has become a gastronomic juggernaut for owner and executive chef Costas Spiliadis — with global outposts in New York, Athens, Vegas, London and Miami. Located in the SoFi neighborhood at the southern tip of South Beach, Milos Miami (milos.ca) is probably closest in spirit to Spiliadis’s original vision. Each day, their fish market offers more than 20 species of fish caught by Milos fishermen along the Mediterranean and prepared with the lightest touch. Housed in a cavernous white marble cube that neatly nods to ‘90s Miami nightlife, the restaurant buzzes with animated energy from sunset through closing. An attentive staff ably supports a stellar kitchen whose finesse is manifest on each plate of pristine seafood. From the arrival of a small potted plant of oregano (complete with cutting shears) to a tower of lightly-fried zucchini and eggplant, and on through to a dessert of baklava ice cream with Greek yogurt and seasonal fruit, Milos Miami transports you to a Greek isle without ever leaving the Beach.

THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL IS NOT EASY TO ACHIEVE With all due respect to Whitney Houston, Kevin discovers that learning to love himself involves getting past experiences that made him feel less than proud. BY KEVIN PHINNEY was chatting with a fellow in the swimming pool that my relationship was headed down the drain. I told him that simply I couldn’t wrap my head around it. “I gave this guy unconditional love,” I confessed - the pool water disguising my tears. “There’s your mistake,” my pool buddy said, paddling nonchalantly.“Unconditional love is great for fairy tales, but in real life, you need to know what your limits are and when someone has crossed them. Conditional love may not be nearly as romantic, but it’s a more sane and sure path than what you’re describing.” What was ultimately my reward for sticking with my partner through all of this? When he decided to break up with me, he shrugged off my devotion. As for his breaking our rules regarding safe sex outside the relationship? “I was too young to make a promise like that,” he replied, — although he’d been an adult for more than a decade at the time we’d made our agreement. In retrospect, I can now look back and see how, one decision at a time, I’d “given up my power,” as self-help speakers like to put it. So then the question became: how does a person recover from being a doormat and achieve a state of greater wellness? I began to seek wellness in the kind of wisdom that would help me not repeat such mistakes. And I’m still looking. A few weeks back, I was sitting in a piano bar when someone asked to sing “The Greatest Love of All,” the George Benson song that had become such an anthem for Whitney Houston. I’d always considered the song fairly cheesy in the way it took what should be Big Life Lessons and reduced them to soundbites worthy of a grocery store greeting card. Yet I found myself reconsidering the lyrics as the singer belted them out. My siblings and I never had parents to who showed us all “the beauty we possessed inside“or gave us the“sense of pride”the song says is so important to instill. But at“Everybody searching for a hero,” my eyes began to suddenly well with tears.“I never found anyone to fulfill my need. / A lonely place to be, and so I learned to depend on me. / I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone’s shadow. / If I fail, if I succeed; at least I’ll live as I believe. / No matter what they take from me, / they can’t take away my dignity.” The philosophy suddenly struck me as something I could adopt. I’m not sure I’m living out the truth of those words yet. But they’re on my mind while I’m learning how to put myself ahead of the needs of any one guy or relationship. RuPaul reminds us at the end of every episode of Drag Race. “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love anyone else?” It’s easier said than ■ done, but at least my compass is finally set in that direction.

POV

legal in all 50 states!” That was what my ex-husband posted on Facebook in response to the 2015 Supreme Court decision mandating marriage equality. Most of his friends — people I once considered our friends — responded in a torrent of laughter. One said she snarfed milk through her nose when she read it. Another was a fellow I once rocked in my arms while he sobbed about falling in love with a married woman who was not his wife. I couldn’t believe my ex could be so cruel or that anyone else found it comical. I went into an emotional tailspin that lasted for months. Because being with someone who could do that said something about me as well. The trouble is, I have a pesky tendency to pick guys who initially see me as confident, strong and independent. I’m not. I’m resilient, yes; often strong. But I’m interdependent. And once that becomes apparent (coupled with occasional moments of self-doubt), it seems that I no longer command respect, and the relationship starts to collapse on itself. One partner disappeared in front of my eyes. He got laid off from work, then sat across from me teaching himself web design at our dining room table. Before long, he emerged from his cyber cocoon a full-fledged online porn mogul - using our living room for photo shoots while I was out. After being together for more than a decade, he decided to quit putting any effort into us. Unfortunately, my response was shaped by lessons I’d learned from a childhood in which parents who were violent alcoholics implanted messages that lasted far longer than my time under their roof. Having been told I should never have been born by my mother and that I’d never amount to anything by my stepfather, I continued to hold on tight as I could to anything that remotely resembled love. So I stayed with Ace Bannon (his porn name) until it became abundantly clear that I was no hope. Another partner cheated on me — in an open relationship, no less. Since we lived in separate states for some time, we had safe sex rules — rules he ignored at the wrong moment. He seroconverted and very nearly infected me with HIV. When he told me he was suicidal over his diagnosis, I could have said:“Too bad.You made a reckless choice.” Instead, I forgave him. My rationale was that true love meant showing up when things get ugly. During what would ultimately be our last vacation together, I

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“HOORAY, NOW MY DIVORCE IS

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MONTANA MAGNIFICENT

WE HEAD TO BIG SKY COUNTRY, WHERE SOME VISITORS EXPLORE LIKE LEWIS AND CLARK, SOME RIDE LIKE COWBOYS, AND OTHERS RETREAT IN LUXURY. BY MARK A. THOMPSON

Trapper Peak, Bitterroot Mountains

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TRAPPER PEAK COURTESY TRIPLE CREEK RANCH

NO MATTER WHOM I TOLD THE NEWS THAT I WAS TRAVELING TO A

dude ranch in Montana, the response was either utter disbelief or gales of laughter. Even my editor thought the situation sounded like a pitch for Netﬂix: Into the Wild with Noel Coward. I even had to convince my husband that Montana and Manhattan were not mutually exclusive; that we could be urban cowboys living out a Brokeback fantasy. On the other hand, what did we know of Montana (apart from headlines about a certain allegedly thuggish congressman)? Was it actually the locale for Brokeback Mountain? (Nope, that was Wyoming.) Home to Yellowstone? (Yes, at least a portion of it.) Named from the Spanish word for mountain, Montana is deﬁned by its sky-scraping ranges, 77 of which are part of the Rocky Mountains. The very sound bespeaks something majestic. And it’s vast: the nation’s fourth largest state. Bisected by the Continental Divide, Montana is split into a mountainous west and an eastern expanse of prairie that’s part of the Great Plains. We were headed to the Bitterroot Mountains, one of the longest continuous ranges of the Rockies which proved daunting to Lewis and Clark in 1805. Not only did they tussle with the rugged terrain, but also with the wildlife. That’s another thing to remember about Montana: it holds the largest grizzly bear population in the lower 48 states. One wonders whether that could that be connected to the fact that Montana’s population of just over a million residents is the least obese in the U.S.? Running from bears is bound to burn calories. Before 1889, when Montana became the 41st state, the area was known as the Montana Territory, notable for a population of bison exceeding 13 million and just over 20,000 humans. Slaughtered nearly to extinction in the late 19th century, bison (“buffalo“ to many) are on the rebound in the West, and as we scaled the hill to TRIPLE CREEK RANCH (triplecreekranch.com), we glimpsed a herd of free range bison grazing in the Bitterroot Valley. At nearly a mile above sea level, Triple Creek and its neighboring CB RANCH (cbcattleranch.com) encompass an area of more than 26,000 acres ringed by snow-capped mountains. What was once the 40-acre home of a minister from New York (who raised four children with his schoolteacher wife) became an allinclusive “Montana Hideaway” in the 1980s, offering guests a

Montana wilderness experience. Today, much of the adults-only luxury ranch resort is under a conservation easement, thereby providing an unofficial sanctuary for migratory wildlife such as elk and deer. The surrounding coniferous forests and wildflower meadows abound with moose, wolves, black bears, eagles — and mountain lions. As we wound our way toward the Main Lodge, we passed a field of elk, part of a wild herd of more than 1,000 that claim the ranch as home. Up ahead was a large, unmoving bison — which turned out to be a part of the owners’ vast collection of Western art and sculpture. For years, Montana has existed as “the last best place,” depicted in the works of Western artists as a land where cowboys and fly fisherman meander along pristine rivers and untouched countryside. Wallace Stegner, the Pulitzer-Prize winning author and bard of the West, once wrote, “Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed... We simply need that wild country available to us…” Nestled within four million acres of national forest, Triple Creek Ranch sits on the southern side of Trapper Peak, the highest mountain in the Bitterroot Range. Under soaring Ponderosa pines, the ranch’s 25 private log cabins and ranch homes bear the name of local attractions such as Osprey, Piquette, or Sugar Loaf. Our log cabin was called Rocky Knob: a 640-square-foot, one-bedroom luxury cabin with a wood-burning fireplace, and a wraparound deck with private hot tub overlooking a lazy river. The massive double bathroom included two water closets, plus a double steam shower that could easily fit six cowboys should such a steamy scene ensue. When an unexpected snowfall blanketed the cabin in white one night, it was tempting to mix a hot toddy from the all-inclusive bar and spend the next day in front of the crackling fire — or in the hot tub dusted with snow. Instead, we had a date with a wrangler and our horses Ruger and Riley. Amidst the natural splendor of Triple Creek, it’s still possible to take in the grandeur that greeted Lewis and Clark, particularly while on a trail ride that traverses the same awe-inspiring landscape and offers panoramic views of the Continental Divide. At the resort’s Rider’s Roost, we chose chaps and dusters topped

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off with cowboy hats before mounting our horses under the guidance of our young wrangler, a laconic cowboy with a killer smile. Triple Creek honors Montana’s ranching heritage with various trail rides over historic routes, including a cattle drive where riders and wranglers move up to 800 head of cattle over mountainous terrain. We chose a more leisurely route, one that would allow us to return to the lodge in time for cocktails and dinner. A member of RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX (relaischateaux.com) since 1995, Triple Creek serves Western-influenced cuisine in a double-height dining room beneath the gaze of trophy taxidermy. The award-winning kitchen, complemented by a superlative wine collection, focuses on local purveyors of Western bounty. Huckleberries, for example, appear in muffins, scones, and pancakes, while river trout serve as a reminder that a river runs through it (the ranch, that is). Upstairs, the Lodge’s Rooftop Lounge is furnished like an elegant gentlemen’s club during the Gold Rush. Post-prandial cocktails in hand, we sank into leather chesterfields in front of the fireplace and raised a toast to cowboys. While ranching and grain farming have fueled Montana’s economy for generations, tourism is its fastest-growing industry with over ten million annual guests visiting such attractions as Yellowstone, Glacier National Park (where the melting glaciers are predicted to disappear completely in a few decades), and LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD. At Triple Creek, guests with a bit of wanderlust head into the wild with a gourmet pack lunch for various day trips that include the ghost town of BANNACK (bannack.org), which was once Montana’s first state capital or the LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION TRAIL which runs the full length of the Bitterroot Valley. There’s also the 2,800-acre LEE METCALF NA-

On Horseback at Triple Creek Ranch

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IMAGES THIS PAGE: COURTESY PONDEROSA CABIN AND HORSEBACK COURTESY TRIPLE CREEK RANCH

Ponderosa Cabin

Breakfast at Triple Creek Ranch Cocktail at Triple Creek Ranch

Chipmunk Cabin

Images thIs page: ChIpmunk CabIn Courtesy trIple Creek ranCh) • breakfast, CoCktaIl. DUSTERS AND GLOVES COURTESY MRNY

Wrangler Dusters

Wrangler Gloves

TIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE and BIG HOLE NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD, both of which are located about an hour’s drive from the ranch. For those guests yearning to roam beyond the ranch’s immediate environs, Triple Creek Ranch owner Craig Barrett proposes his own personal Relais & Châteaux Route du Bonheur (or “Road of Happiness”). According to Barrett, “Being able to live in Montana, the ‘Treasure State,’ is a dream come true,” he says. Barrett particularly recommends a respite at THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK (theranchatrockcreek.com), located in Philipsburg, Montana. Apart from the 6,000-acre ranch, there’s the nearby CAMP ROOSEVELT ARENA, which hosts rodeos for the region’s most dedicated cowboys. Further afield, in Saratoga, Wyoming, MAGEE HOMESTEAD (mageehomestead.com) has been a working ranch since the early 1900s, when cowboys were housed in the log cabins, which are now newly-renovated. In keeping with Triple Creek’s investment in preserving the culture of the Old West, the ranch houses one of the world’s most extensive collections of Western American art. Paintings by such Western masters as Frederick Remington and Charles Russell hang on the walls alongside bronze sculptures and more contemporary works. Budding artists who are inspired by the museum-quality collection can partake in the ranch’s annual Artist Workshop Weekends. Each autumn, contemporary Western artists take up residency at Triple Creek as the ranch transforms into a veritable artists’ colony for guests

who paint en plein air — or “in the great outdoors,” as a cowboy might be more apt to say. In spite of the ranch’s many diversions — panning for sapphires, anyone? — we found it easy to understand why some guests choose to linger in their luxury log cabins and have dinner delivered to their doors. Each time we returned to Rocky Knob, we found another memento: a framed photo of our archery class, more freshly-baked cookies, cowboy poems on our pillows. When we heard there’d been a total ranch buy-out by a group of gay men celebrating a 50th birthday, it wasn’t hard to imagine why the four-day party had been such a roaring success. Picture it: fly fishing, nature safaris, dog sledding, snowshoeing, skijoring (in which one, on skis, is pulled by an animal), river rafting — a full range of activities, all ripe for gay mayhem. Guests at the ranch fly into Missoula, which is about a 90-minute drive from Triple Creek — or they can drop in by air, on one of two helipads. Due to the remote locale, no cell service is available but WiFi access is complimentary. However, we were too busy gazing into the big sky to fixate on phones. Stegner once wrote, “One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native home of hope. When it fully learns that cooperation, not rugged individualism, is the quality that most characterizes and preserves it… it has a chance to create a society to match its scenery.” And who couldn’t use a visit to a place where both optimism and mountains soar? ■ METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

FITNESS VACATIONS

Forget fat camp: today’s good-for-you trips can still feel luxe. BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

EVERYONE DESERVES A BREAK, BUT WOULDN’T YOU PREFER TO RETURN

from your holiday both restored —and a little bit lighter?

Jungle and Water Sports: Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort sits above one of the best national parks for surfing in Costa Rica. Visitors can dive, swim, paddleboat and ride the waves within close proximity to FlamingoCoco, one of the world’s best diving destinations. Costa Rica is also a popular yoga destination, and the property offers complimentary yoga mats for guests to gather chi and get their vinyasa on at the beach or in the privacy of their rooms. The hotel has a gorgeous Onda spa with sweeping views of the Culebra Bay and nine treatment rooms (three outdoors and tucked into tree canopies) with clay wraps, beach sand scrubs, facials, and massages to soothe your muscles and tighten your body. For more on-land adventure, Andaz Peninsula Papagayo offers impressive state-ofthe-art cardio and training equipment in their Fitness Center at

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 METROSOURCE.COM

the Sanctuary. The hotel is also close to ziplines soaring above the Costa Rican jungle, golf & tennis clubs and the Palo Verde, Arenal Volcano, Rincón de la Vieja and Barra Honda National Parks for adventure and hiking. papagayo.andaz.hyatt.com

Desert Adventure: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North If you’re looking to sweat it out, head to the Sonoran Desert. Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North can be found at the base of Pinnacle Peak, close to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Guests flock to the resort for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and rock climbing excursions. Professional guides bring hotel guests on canyoneering trips past waterfalls and into tight spaces for romps involving vertical rappels and plenty of adrenaline. Book a Half-Day Mountain Bike Tour with Arizona Outback Adventures during your stay and get a trule insider’s desert mountain biking tour through the stunning Sonoran. Back at the Four Seasons, the 24-hour Fitness Center features a movement studio with sprung floors for aerobics,

IMAGES THIS PAGE: COURTESY OF ANDAZ PENINSULA PAPAGUYO RESORT

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photos on this page: Andaz Peninsula Papaguyo Resort

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spinning and yoga classes, in addition to an exercise room overlooking Pinnacle Peak. fourseasons.com/scottsdale

Mountain Life: The Fairmont Banff Springs The Fairmont Banff Springs, located a mile high in the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park is an idea location for mountain recreation. In 1888 hot mineral water was piped down from Sulphur Mountain to Banff Springs, and the Banff Springs Hotel (coined a “Castle in the Rockies”) opened. Whether you’re venturing to Banff in warmer or cooler months, there are plenty of activities to get your body moving around the property. Winter sporting activities include skiing and snowboarding at three world-class ski resorts (Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Ski Resort), ice skating, ice-climbing, canyon ice-walks, curling, hockey, dog-sledding, ice-ﬁshing, tobogganing and snowshoeing. In the summer, guests get into tennis, golf, hiking, whitewater rafting, cycling, mountain biking, canoeing, horseback riding

IMAGES THIS PAGE: COURTESY OF FOUR SEASONS SCOTTSDALE TROON NORTH

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Photos on this page: Abel Tasman in New Zealand

and wildlife tours. The 38,000 square foot Willow Stream Spa is the ultimate Rocky Mountain retreat, offering steam rooms, saunas, eucalyptus inhalation rooms and 23 treatment areas including a couple’s room with a deep Japanese soaking tub. Hit the fitness center or do some laps first thing in the Rocky Mountain morning and then soak those working muscles in the outdoor whirlpool with a view. Take advantage of the Fairmont Fit program, which provides Reebok workout apparel and shoes, an MP3 player and a yoga mat with stretch band deliverable directly to your room. fairmont.com/banff-springs

IMAGES THIS PAGE: ABEL TASMAN IN NEW ZEALAND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

A Kiwi Dream: Wilson’s Abel Tasman in New Zealand In 1844, the Wilson family built a home inside the Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand’s South Island. Later (in 1977), the family began offering a series of tours throughout the park. Today Wilson’s offers single or multiple day adventure“breaks,”featuring hiking and kayaking up, down and around the 24 miles of the park’s picturesque coastline. Each trip is designed for a combination of relaxation and adventure, with plenty of opportunities for exercise and starlit walks. Guests stay at one or both of the beachfront lodges (Meadowbank Homestead or Torrent Bay Lodge) where healthy local food is prepared daily. Explore the Marine Reserve and visit the seals on Tonga and Pinnacle Islands from your kayak. The combo of immersion in the lush New Zealand setting combined with drifting off at night to the lulling sound of the waves provide the perfect balance of exercising the body and calming the mind. abeltasman.co.nz ■ METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

New York Botanical Garden Georgia O’Keeffe

GREAT OUTDOORS GEORGIA O’KEEFFE: VISIONS OF HAWAII Through October 28th New York Botanical Garden Aloha, beauty! Many of Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings were largely inspired by her surroundings at the time of their creation. In 1939, the ground-breaking artist spent nine weeks in Hawaii, during which she produced 20 unique landscape depictions capturing native ﬂora and fauna as she saw it. The New York Botanical Garden is currently serving as home for 17 of these stunning works, which are on display at the T. Mertz Library Art Gallery. Accompanying this rare collection is an abundant exhibition of Hawaiian plant life at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, providing a comprehensive experience for art and botany enthusiasts alike. Guests looking for a special way to experience the exhibition can attend one of the specially scheduled “Aloha Nights” which take place on select Saturday evenings in August and include interactive hula sessions, live music, lei-making presentations and other cultural offerings as part of the admission price. nybg.org/event/georgia-okeeffe-visions-hawaii

PS1 WARM-UP SERIES Saturdays Through September 1st MoMA PS1 Dance the day away in MoMA PS1’s sunny and meticulously outﬁtted courtyard. Boasting a new outdoor art installation and musical performances from such acclaimed artists as Laff Trax (Toro y Moi and Nosaj Thing) and Detroit tech-house visionary Omar-S, PS1’s annual Warm-Up Series remains one the City’s best multicultural offerings. Trek

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to Long Island City early to peruse a diverse array of visual art exhibits including Projects 108: Gauri Grill (US premiere, photography) and Sue Coe: Graphic Resistance, a collection of collage-based works that protest sexism, violence, racism, xenophobia, animal cruelty and other controversial topics that make this exhibition especially poignant. moma.org

ELECTRIC ZOO FESTIVAL: THE BIG 10 August 31st - September 2nd Randalls Island

MISTER SUNDAY Sundays through September 2nd Nowadays Located near the edge of Bushwick in Ridgewood, Queens, is a happy little club called Nowadays whose outdoor courtyard has quickly become home to one of the city’s most inclusive dance parties. On Sundays from 3pm to 9pm, people of all ages, races and orientations are drawn together by the music. Expect to catch Mister Sunday’s resident DJs Justin Carter and Eamon Harkin on a weekly basis. That said, it’s not uncommon for scene heavyweights — such as transgender techhouse producer Honey Dijon — to make special guest appearances. So leave your hangups at the door and come ready to celebrate the beauty in one another’s differences. Oh, and there’s a sauna - who could ask for anything more? mistersaturdaynight.com

ELEMENTS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL August 11th Hunts Point, Bronx BangOn!NYC returns to their new industrial home north of Manhattan this August. The esteemed Brooklyn party brand takes everything you love about their over-the-top warehouse parties and delivers a spectacu-

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Turn up your Labor Day weekend with Electric Zoo Festival: The Big 10. New York City’s premiere electronic music festival turns 10 this year, and they’re bringing the legends out to Randalls Island as an homage to the milestone. Over the past decade, stars like Tiesto, Kaskade, Pete Tong and Dubﬁre have elevated house, techno and popular EDM to new heights. This year, they’ll share animalinspired stages with promising newcomers for three days of music, magic and unrivaled production. Presented by Made Events, Electric Zoo continues to be the East Coast’s best late-summer festival. Let’s get wild! electriczoo.com

NYC RESTAURANT WEEK SUMMER EDITION Through August 17th Various locations Patio season is here, and what better way to celebrate than by visiting one of NYC Restaurant Week’s more than 300 participating eateries? Make your reservations and come hungry, because many of the Manhattan’s culinary hot spots will offer their best-loved

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Head out for massive music festivals, pumped up parties, open air art exhibitions, Shakespeare in the Park and Summer Restaurant Week. BY MEGAN VENZIN

lar DIY-style festival where imagination is the limit. This year’s lineup features a variety of live bands and top-tier DJs, among them Giant Guerilla Dub Squad, Bassnectar, Deep House Heroes, Goldfish and SNBRN, making this festival evermore flashy. The day-into-night event also features an array of funky new stage designs, extraordinary art cars, and recreational activities like yoga, roller skating and more — to keep your day filled with wellness (and plenty of mischief). elementsfest.nyc

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signature dishes as part of discounted lunch and dinner prix-fixe menus. Both you and your wallet will leave fat and happy. Hours and menu options vary by establishment. nycgo.com/restaurant-week

CREW LOVE August 19th The Brooklyn Mirage Have you visited the multi-million dollar

marvel known as The Brooklyn Mirage? This sprawling palace of a venue continues to reign as Bushwick’s crown jewel. Make a trek to the metropolitan masterpiece on August 19th for a special open-air party hosted by local record label Crew Love. Known for its feelgood parties and some of today’s more enticing disco and house productions, Crew Love is as classic a collective as they come, and this event proves it with scene legends like Nightmares on Wax

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(live), Wolf+Lamb, and Soul Clap heading up a lengthy bill. avant-gardner.com/events

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: TWELFTH NIGHT Through August 19th Delacorte Theatre, Central Park Shakespeare’s beloved comedy about a damsel in disguise gets a healthy dose of jazz hands with this popular musical adaptation. Conceived by esteemed British actor, playwright and director, Kwame Kwei-Armah, this imaginative interpretation also features a book and lyrics from American composer Shaina Taub. The five-week run comes as a much anticipated follow-up to Public Works’ 2016 premiere, which received rave reviews. Here’s your chance to catch a re-imagined classic, under the starry night sky — and absolutely free. publictheatre.org

PASSPORT TO THE WORLD Weekends through August 19th Bronx Zoo Travel to jungles of Asia and the beaches of Latin America without so much as a single checked bag! The Bronx Zoo is bringing the adventure straight to NYC, surrounded by the beauty of their sprawling sanctuary. Home to some of the world’s most fascinating wildlife, the renowned zoo invites guests to also explore the food, music and culture from countries where their featured animals thrive in the wild via a special weekend program known as Passport to the World. Talk about a wild weekend! bronxzoo.com/passport

WASHINGTON SQUARE OUTDOOR ART EXHIBIT: FALL SHOW September 1-3, 8-9 University Place, From E. 13th St. South to Waverly Place Jackson Pollack wasn’t always the internationally renowned artist we revere him as today. Back in 1931, he wandered over to Washington Square Park with a few of his splattered canvases in hopes of making a few bucks. His friend William DeKooning followed suit, and within a few hours they had created their own miniature Depression Era art show. This unofficial showcase eventually evolved into the twice-annual Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit. The fall event, which takes place every Labor Day Weekend and the weekend after, has become a bustling attraction for local art lovers and tourists alike. Participating artists compete for cash prizes donated by individuals, local organizations and corporations, but the real winners here are the art collectors who are able to purchase priceless pieces before their creators find fame. wsoae.org

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BROOKLYN COMES ALIVE September 29th Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall of Williamsburg and Rough Trade Inspired by the sights and sounds of New Orleans, Brooklyn Comes Alive will commandeer three popular Williamsburg venues on September 29th. A festival pass provides admission to shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bowl and Rough Trade, giving music lovers plenty of chances to experience authentic jazz, electronic, indie rock and jam acts. Now in its fourth year, Brooklyn Comes Alive upholds its reputation for hosting rare collaborations and exclusive appearances from one-time-only supergroups. Prince fanatics can hit the Purple Party, a special tribute event featuring performances from Mononeon, Ryan Jalbert, Nate Werth and many more. Expert bassist George Porter Jr. returns to play a show in honor of the late Gregg Allman, Colonel Bruce Hampton, and other artists we’ve lost recently. For a laugh, hit “Wokes with Jokes,”a stand-up show that lampoons jambands and their ruthlessly loyal fan bases. brooklyncomesalive.com ■

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HOME WORK With a little preparation, you don’t necessarily need to leave the comfort of your home to have a great workout. BY DEBORAH L. MARTIN

gurus to ordinary wage slaves. The fitness biz is a $28 billion dollar mega-industry, and Americans spend money on everything from gym memberships and classes, to home equipment and a full range of lifestyle products and foods. Most homes today have a fitness machine of some kind — or at least a set of dumbbells, but as with any home environment, the key to success is creating space you want to be in. A well conceived and designed workout area, whether it’s for yoga practice or heavy bag work, needs to be both functional and motivating. Space is key, but the good news is you don’t need a mansion to have a comfortable and inviting home gym, and since you won’t need plumbing or a lot of complicated wiring, that space can be set up almost anywhere in the home. Choosing your space is the first order of business. The American Council on Exercise offers guidelines regarding the space needed for different types of equipment. Free weights require 20 to 50 square feet; treadmills require 30 square feet; a multi-station gym can require up to 200 square feet. If you are working with a small space, you will need to decide what equipment is a priority. According to Henry Rivera, Regional Sales Manager of Fitness Showrooms of NYC, “In a smaller space you will need to consider equipment that is functional and takes up minimal room. Also, a room with ample wall space in a square or rectangular shape will allow you the most freedom in selecting equipment.” Most designers and architects agree that the basement is a logical choice for a fitness area where heavy equipment is used. Since treadmills, stationary cycles and weight machines make a lot of noise, putting them on a higher floor is generally not recommended, unless the room will be used for low impact exercise, like

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yoga. The vibrations caused by machines and the weight of the equipment can damage floors and disturb the rest of the house. Basements will also generally have a firm concrete slab floor. In addition, such spaces are generally cooler and often have more uninterrupted wall space (as opposed to walls and doors). “It’s important to have a designated place to work out, where you aren’t surrounded by the distractions of regular life,” Rivera explains. “Some people place a treadmill or cycle in their bedroom, and it just becomes a giant clothing rack. Plus, the bedroom is where you sleep. It should be a restful place to reenergize. The design concepts that work in a bedroom will not be conducive to a great workout.” He also suggests clean, bright colors for a work out space, like bright white or sunny citrus colors, particularly in a basement where there may not be a great deal of natural light. Floor surfaces are also important to consider. Gym floors need to be low maintenance and durable. Sheet vinyl, tile, or hardwood flooring with a polyurethane finish are great choices, as is low-pile carpet tile, which is resilient and has the added benefit of being easy to partially replace if damage occurs in one area. In addition, carpet absorbs sound, so if you do place your gym on an upper floor of a home, you can still keep it quiet. For a free-weight area, heavy-duty mats to protect the floor are key. Rivera recommends half-inch-thick recycled rubber flooring available online. “Something that can take the impact from dropping weights will make your life a lot easier,” he says. If your fitness area is comprised mainly of machines rather than free weights, you can opt for flooring that’s more stylish and less industrial.

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IT SEEMS LIKE FITNESS IS ON EVERYONE’S MIND, FROM CELEBRITY WELLNESS

A FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS Ventilation and cooling systems are other factors to consider. As most basements do not have outside ventilation, fans and air conditioning will be critical. Since you will be working up a sweat, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll likely want cooler temps than the rest of the home, so â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if possible â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a separate air conditioning system for the area is a great idea. That way, cranking it down to cooler temps in the gym wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean everyone else in the house is left to freeze. Ceiling fans can also be a great addition (even if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a powerful cooling system in place): they are out of the way and create great air circulation and can also serve to keep you in the room and motivated. Stereo equipment, WiFi and televisions are practically a prerequisite in home gyms today, especially since the advent of internet-compatible machines that allow you to take exercise classes in your home. Says Rivera, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really important that electronic equipment is accessible and at the proper height for viewing, but also that things like power cords and control boxes are up off the ďŹ&#x201A;oor and out of the way.â&#x20AC;? Lastly, although itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primarily a functional space, cosmetic choices remain important. No one wants to work out in a space that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t convey positive energy and a sense of comfort. Full length mirrors help you keep track of your progress and allow you to monitor your form (considered important for yoga postures and weight lifting moves). But the golden rule when it comes to planning your home gym is to design for safety. Says Rivera, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Make sure that mirrors are attached, paths are cleared of tripping hazards and everything that needs to be secured to walls or ďŹ&#x201A;oors is secured tightly. If necessary, have a professional come in to install racks and suspended equipment. The last thing you need is to have your heavy bag fall on you. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not healthy.â&#x20AC;? â&#x2013;

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DOWN MEXICO WAY Marry on the Mexican Riviera and get fresh advice on flowers. Plus, global marriage equality news. BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

BANYAN TREE MAYAKOBA, ALONG THE PRISTINE

coast of the Riviera Maya, is an optimal home base for a wedding weekend in Maya Riviera. Just 75 miles South of Cancun, a team of biologists, architects, and designers came together to build six miles of freshwater canals surrounded by exotic mangroves connecting an 18-hole golf course with the Banyan Tree, Rosewood, Andaz

and Fairmont resorts. With Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Cancun not far, there’s plenty to see off-property (if you can bear to leave). The all-pool villa resort is well justified in its claim to be a “Sanctuary for the Senses,” where tranquility, hospitality and recreation blend to create a restorative escape. Plan a fun evening for your wedding party on Ixchel, the Banyan Tree Mayakoba dining boat. Translated as “Moon Goddess,” Ixchel is an

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intimate way to treat special guests with a tapas cruise. There are a variety of options for the actual wedding ceremony: El Pueblito, a locally-inspired replica of a traditional Mexican village can give your wedding a unique feel for up to 350 guests. Mayapán, an indoor event space, can accommodate up to 250. Mayapán Garden is a gorgeous, outdoor venue that can accommodate up to 210. For a more casual spot near the beach, MK Blue can welcome up to 350. More intimate options include the Lobby Terrace, Sands Pool or directly on the beach. Catering is provided by the Koba Restaurant culinary team (with locally inspired cuisine) or through any of the Mayakoba’s restaurants. Xcaret, an eco-archaeological park located on the Riviera Shore, can be either a wedding venue or an excursion for guests. Xcaret’s more-than-50 attractions include the House of Whispers, Hacienda Henequenera, Paradise River and more. Hotel Xcaret Mexico is called a “haven framed by the natural majesty of the Riviera Maya.”

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You can schedule a civil ceremony at one of the park’s archaeological sites, a more religious ceremony in one of its two chapels, or a traditional Mayan Ceremony led by a Mayan Shaman — including wind instruments and an altar with seasonal plants, seeds, jicaras and Balche wine. UNICO 20°87° also offers weddings filled with creative touches inspired by the region. Their experiential wedding packages start at $5,800 with the “Riviera Maya Experience,” a new take on the classic beach wedding. Their “One-of-a-Kind Experience” adds more perks, including private dining, hair and makeup, and a personal valet concierge. The “20°87° Experience” ups the luxury — weaving in more local spirit, live music and a major room upgrade. Further down the shore in Tulum, consider a wedding week at the new Casa Malca. NYbased art dealer Lio Malca opened the first property in 2014 with eight rooms. Now boasting 41 rooms (ocean or garden), Casa Malca features three pools (two outdoor and one indoor), a rooftop sundeck, Ambrosia Restaurant & Bar, Filosofia Restaurant & Bar, and Haring

Bar (complete with Keith Haring wallpaper). There are a variety of options for nuptials but the beach just off of Casa Malca is ideal. Be sure to get some wedding pictures in and around the famous Casa Malca Tunnel — and with the KAWS sculpture in the lobby. Offsite, Gitano is a great spot for cocktails, dinner and mezcal tastings. Be sure to reserve for your group in advance and know that live music and dancing draw crowds several nights a week. Tulum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the site of an ancient Mexican walled city, one of the last built by the indigenous Mayans. A visit to the ruins is an essential morning or afternoon trip during your wedding week. Additional adventure ideas include exploring the cenotes, natural sink holes where you can swim, snorkel and cave dive. (Grand Cenote and Dos Ojos are two of the most popular.) Take in more extraordinary ruins in nearby Chichen Itza or further, more rustic Coba. You can also charter a boat and cruise around Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, or go diving along the Mesoamerican Reef. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

AISLE ADVICE FLORAL ARGUMENTS FOR THOUGHTS ON WEDDING BLOOMS WE CON-

sulted Barbara Mele of Gatherings Floral Design and the FlowerSchool of New York: METROSOURCE: What do you wish people knew before coming to you? MELE: Pinterest is great for inspiration but it’s the equivalent of going shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue or Tiffany’s. ... It gives people amazing ideas but when it comes to meeting with your

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An Autumnal Arrangement

vendors, and you find out how much things cost, it’s difficult to be realistic. What do you like for fall weddings? Chrysanthemums are prominently available. They have a bad rap in the States because the mums are associated with moms and football games. ... The same goes with carnations — all of these flowers are in season in the fall but have a bad rap as being cheap. They’re actually really robust, and because they’re in season, they’re perfect and affordable.You can mix them with roses and orchids and other flowers in fall/autumn tones (of orange and burgundy) and work with this beautiful color palette for the season. Something a lot of people don’t realize about the fall palette is that you can work in a bit of purple and it makes it really royal and luxurious. Fall is also harvest season, so don’t be afraid to work in vegetables, artichokes, eggplant, grapes — incorporate some fruit and vegetables to make something creative and fun. What are some out-of-the-box ideas couples should consider? Don’t be afraid to go big. Use big chandeliers, statement arrangements instead of low, tight compact designs. In particular for gay couples, it’s less about the flowers and more about everything else. Use different, funky vases. Go with different candles and sources of light so the flowers can be the accent for those elements. What’s next in floral trends? There’s a big push from inside the industry to help lead clients away from the DIY look because that was popular about ten years ago. Things like mason jars, baby’s breath, wildflowers, etc. It was cute but it’s time for people to get back to a more upscale look. The trend for the past five, ten years has been blush flowers or white flowers ... and I would like to see couples embrace richer palettes like burgundy, eggplant, amethyst. How are gay weddings different? Gay couples are more about the details. Straight couples might be like, “Oh, let’s have a donut stand!” and gay couples are like: “We’re going to make our own donuts at the wedding! [laughs] And we’re going to have all kinds of crazy flavors, too!” Gay couples are actually less flower

oriented, and it’s more about the hard goods and accessories. I have yet to have a gay couple come to me and ask for tons and tons of flowers; it’s always more about interesting terrariums, display boxes, candelabras, pearls, fabrics. What floral traditions should we retain? I do think the grooms should have boutonnieres in order to separate them from the rest of the party: they need to be identified as the stars of the show. There are lots of ways boutonnieres can be arranged; you can incorporate themes from the decor. You don’t have to have a single rose or calla lily, we can use succulents, gems, ribbons. gatheringsfloraldesign.com

WED IN THE WORLD CHANGING THE RULES AUSTRALIA ADAPTS, THE LAW TAKES ON CAKE AND

flowers, and here comes a gay royal wedding!

AUSTRALIA “Previously any Queenslander who has undergone sexual reassignment surgery had to divorce their partner to have their gender le-

gally recognized,” said Attorney General Yvette D’Ath. Now, Queensland has voted to end the forced divorce requirement for those seeking to change genders on their birth certificates, making Queensland the fourth Australian state to amend such laws after the ‘Yes’ vote on gay marriage. However: Queensland still requires trans individuals to become sterilized before allowing the sex change on birth certificates.

COLORADO In Masterpiece Cake shop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the SCOTUS ruled for Jack Phillips, a baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. When David Mullins and Charlie Craig approached Masterpiece Cake Shop in July 2012, Phillips told the couple that serving them would violate his faith. The couple filed a compliant with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, who ruled in their favor, but Phillip appealed. In the upsetting 72 SCOTUS decision, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote that “respectful consideration to which Phillips was entitled was compromised.”

Hamptons Cornerstone Society Reception Saturday, August 11, 2018

UNITED KINGDOM Still reeling from the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle? Hold on, because they will be followed by the first gay royal wedding. Lord Ivar Mountbatten, the Queen’s cousin, is set to become the first royal to enter a samesex marriage with his longtime partner James Coyle. Mountbatten’s ex-wife Penny (they were divorced eight years ago) will give him away in an intimate ceremony at his country estate in Devon. Mountbatten has noted things won’t get too elaborate, quipping, “We’ll probably have cheese instead of cake.”

WASHINGTON A florist in Washington State is in the hot seat after refusing services to a gay couple. Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arelene’s Flowers and Gifts, refused to provide wedding flowers for Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed, stating that it would violate “her relationship with Jesus Christ.” The state’s Supreme Court ruled that Stutzman violated state law in Arelene’s Flowers vs. Washington. She has appealed the ruling. ■

Point Foundation provides LGBTQ students with scholarships, leadership development, and mentoring. Learn more during a festive afternoon reception at a private East Hampton waterfront home. Space is limited. Register at www.pointfoundation.org/Hamptons2018

P L AT I N U M S P O N S O R

METROSOURCE.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

BAR SOURCE Edited by Jeffrey James Keyes

CHELSEA

BOXERS HK

BARRACUDA

Cool music, cute crowds, wild drag shows and talent competitions hosted on the tiny stage in the rear.. 275 W. 22nd St. at Eighth Ave., NYC 212-645-8613

BOXERS CHELSEA

A big gay sports bar outfitted with flat-screens broadcasting all manner of games, multiple counters, pool tables, a smoking patio and smokin’ hot bartenders. A long bar faces a pizza oven dispensing mouth-watering pies to munch on while watching the game. 37 W. 20th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., NYC 212-624-5942

THE EAGLE

This dark and cruisy leather-and-Levi’s clubs boasts a great rooftop deck. Some of its popular events include Foot Fetish Mondays, Jockstrap Night, and Frisky Saturdays. 554 W. 28th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-473-1866

GYM

At this popular after work sports bar, a team of plasma-screen TVs broadcasting games, a pool table and a basement dugout. 167 Eighth Ave. between 18th and 19th Sts., NYC 212-337-2439

REBAR

This sexy new-ish Chelsea hangout in the location of the former G Lounge has a industrial décor, a hot staff, and draws all kinds of men (especially local muscle bears). 225 W. 19th St. between Seventh and Eighth Aves., NYC 212-929-1085

Columbia boys, drag queens, and neighborhood cubs converge at this Morningside watering hole, known for Topless Tuesdays, Karaoke nights, and local drag queens. 955 West End Avenue between 107th and Duke Ellington Blvd., NYC 212-531-4759

FAIRYTAIL LOUNGE

WEST VILLAGE

Glittery centaurs and other enchanted-forest motifs distinguish this cozy lounge in way-west H.K. where the boys are bewitching. 500 W. 48th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-648-3897

FLAMING SADDLES When they’re not mixing up vodka sodas in glass steins, bartenders jump up on the bar to do choreographed boot-scootin’ to Achy Breaky-type tunes at this one-of-a-kind Hell’s Kitchen tavern. 793 Ninth Ave. at 53rd St., NYC 212-713-0481

HARDWARE Cheap drinks are poured at the front bar and fun tunes are spun for the rear dance floor at this neighborhood haunt. In the summer, a garage door swings up, letting the scene spill onto the street. When DJs aren’t doing their thing, live performers like Monet X Change, Miz Cracker & Showbiz Spitfire Paige Turner hit the stage. 697 Tenth Ave between 47th and 48th Sts., NYC 212-924-9885

INDUSTRY

EAST VILLAGE/LOWER EAST SIDE

The owners of Barracuda and Elmo opened this capacious venue features couch-filled nooks, a game room with a pool table and an industrial design that’s a nod to its parking-garage past. Sherry Vine, Bob the Drag Queen, and Tina Burner shake things up. 355 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 646-476-2747

THE BOILER ROOM

9TH AVENUE SALOON

A throwback to when the East Village was punky and funky, this dark and comfy no-frills lounge is popular with the college set, attitude-free, and offers eclectic mix of music and scruffy pool players. 86 E. 4th St. at Second Ave., NYC 212-254-7536

This decades-old neighborhood fixture attracts tourists, locals and Broadway professionals from both sides of the footlights with strong drinks, cheap prices and friendly staff. 656 Ninth Ave. at 46th St., NYC 212-307-1503

OSCAR WILDE

POSH

Mixologist Johnny Swet sets the scene at this clever cocktail lounge, ironically situated at the former headquarters of NYC’s Bureau of Prohibition. This tribute to a great writer is the gastropub to end all gastropubs. 45 W. 27th St. at Sixth Avenue., NYC 212-213-3066

A mixed bag of Hell’s Kitchenites spill out onto the sidewalk at this lounge known for spinning pop and dance tunes. 405 W. 51st St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-957-2222

EAST VILLAGE

John Blair, Beto Sutter, and Ted Arenas joined forces for a fab yet unpretentious watering hole right in the middle of everything. 859 9th Avenue., NYC 646-892-3313

CLUB CUMMING

Wilkommen and Bienvenue, to Alan Cumming’s swank new East Village performance-based club where everyone’s invited. Cumming teamd up with Benjamin Maisani, Darren Dryden and Daniel Nardicio for this sassy venture where anything goes. 505 E. 6th St. between Aves. A and B, NYC 212-777-2555

THE COCK

Longtime late-night haven for naughty go-go boys and those in search of debauched shenanigans. The infamous and popular “Playpen Mondays” draw naughty boys and nightlife glitterati. 29 Second Ave. between First and Second Sts., NYC

NOWHERE

Ultra-mellow East Villager with distressed décor, a pool table and a smallest but active back room ever. Events include King Size Queen, Tommy G’s Legendary Monday Night Party, and BUDDIES (a Tuesday night Beers, Beards and Bears Party). 322 E. 14th St. between First and Second Aves., NYC 212-477-4744

PHOENIX

The always-crowded Phoenix holds video games, a pool table, a jukebox and a diverse crowd in an exposed-brick space as uncomplicated as its vibe. 447 E. 13th St. at Ave. A., NYC 212-477-9979

HELL’S KITCHEN/MIDTOWN WEST ATLAS SOCIAL CLUB

RISE BAR

THE RITZ This upscale boy boîte boasts plenty of places to perch, though the kickin’ sound system makes it hard to settle down. 369 W. 46th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-333-2554

THERAPY The beautifully designed, modern duplex draws a fierce crowd. Weekly shows include legendary performers like Peppermint, Sherry Vine, and Showbiz Spitfire Paige Turner. 348 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 212-397-1700

VODKA SODA/BOTTOMS UP The fun neighborhoody two bar,/two story hangout is lures cute boys out from all over NYC. 315 W 46th St., NYC 212-969-0460

EAST SIDE THE TOOL BOX This dive bar hosts dance parties with a DJ and cute go-go boys on the main floor Friday and Saturday; the downstairs is cozier. 1742 Second Ave, between 90th and 91st Sts., NYC 212-348-1288

THE TOWNHOUSE Two levels of mature gents and their younger fans hum along to dance tracks and sway to songs from the Jerry Herman oeuvre. 236 E. 58th St. between Second and Third Aves., NYC 212-754-4649

Josh Wood, Benjamin Maisani, Pablo Raimondi, and Asi Mazar hit a home run with the starry opening of the Hells Kitchen hotspot. When celebs like Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, and Cher start making cameos the neighborhood is more than willing to welcome a new bar to the area. 753 9th Ave. between 50th and 51st Sts., NYC 212-262-8527

UNCLE CHARLIE’S

BARRAGE

SUITE

This Hell’s Kitchen lounge entices with au courant accouterments and outrageous drinks. A nightly happy hour from 11 p.m. to midnight is the perfect time for a discount. 401 W. 47th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-586-9390

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WEST END LOUNGE

The Hell’s Kitchen–clone of the Chelsea gay sports bar stalwart features a large ground floor, a basement game room dubbed The Dog Pound, and a spacious rooftop patio. 742 Ninth Ave. at 50th St., NYC 212-951-1518

CUBBYHOLE

Called home by local lesbians (and usually a few boys), this small West Village bar features a capricious décor that’s heavy on the fish. 281 W. 12th St. at Fourth St., NYC 212-243-9041

THE DUPLEX

At the city’s oldest continuing cabaret/piano bar, the staff performs between bouts of serving downstairs, while upstairs is a more traditional boy bar and an intimate room that books cabaret acts. 61 Christopher St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-255-5438

THE HANGAR

Neighborhood guy’s guy bar that attracts a diverse crowd grooving to classic gay tunes. 115 Christopher St. between Bleecker and Hudson Sts., NYC 212-627-2044

HENRIETTA HUDSON

Jam-packed lesbian club/lounge with a multicultural crowd that’s still gay-boy friendly. 438 Hudson St. at Morton St., NYC 212-924-3347

JULIUS’

Once the Village’s oldest continuously operating bar went gay in the 1950s, it would go on to become the city’s oldest gay bar — a comfy place for cheap drinks, burgers and fries. 159 W. 10th St. at Waverly Pl., NYC 212-243-1928

MARIE’S CRISIS

Old-school sing-alongs are on tap at this long-running piano bar. There’s no fuss and no frills at this late-night theater queen hot spot. 59 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-243-9323

MONSTER

A Sheridan Square stalwart where mature men and their admirers sing along to their favorite show tunes upstairs while a heavily Latino crowd grooves to dance tracks on the floor downstairs. 80 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-924-3558 Open MonFri, 4pm-4am; Sat & Sun, 2pm-4am

PIECES

You’ll either be singing to retro dance tracks or laughing at the antics of drag queens at this longtime West Villager. 8 Christopher St. at Sixth Ave., NYC 212-929-9291

ROCKBAR

Find furry men at this butched-up bar with a fist-pumping soundtrack and cheap drinks. Things get burlier and beefier as the night goes on.185 Christopher St. at Weehawken St., NYC

STONEWALL

Daddies, faux thugs, and girls who like girls rule the roost at this two-story birthplace of gay pride. Every night offers a different theme, from drag-hosted game shows to karaoke to beer blasts. 53 Christopher St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-488-2705

TY’S

Ye Olde Boy Bar serves a loyal and friendly Christopher Street clientele — young, old and everything in between.114 Christopher St. between Bleecker and Hudson Sts., NYC 212-741-9641

OUTER BOROUGHS & BEYOND ALBATROSS

Homey Astoria bar with a pool table and jukebox. 36-19 24th Ave. at 38th St., Astoria, Queens 718-204-9045

EXCELSIOR

Park Slope pot with a jukebox, garden and outrageous drinks. 563 Fifth Ave. at 16th St., Park Slope, Brooklyn 718-832-1599

This effervescent lounge, tucked atop an unassuming store on a quiet block, boasts live piano entertainment. 139 E. 45th St. between Third and Lexington Aves., NYC 212-661-9097

ICON ASTORIA

UPPER WEST SIDE

METROPOLITAN

This adorable lounge attracts Columbia gays with leopard-print lamps, cozy leather banquettes and the occasional uptown drag star entertaining on the small stage. 992 Amsterdam Ave. between 109th and 110th Sts., NYC 212-222-4600

Beefcake dancers and NYC nightlife legends flock to this unassuming watering hole. 31-84 33rd Street., Astoria, NY 347-808-7592 This B-burg bar boasts a sprawling patio. 559 Lorimer St. at Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn 718-599-4444

ROSEMONT

Laid-back cocktail lounge and garden patio. 63 Montrose Ave, off Lorimer and Leonard Sts., Williamsburg, Brooklyn 347-987-3101

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

RESTAURANT BITES Edited by Jeffrey James Keyes

CHELSEA

GRAMERCY PARK/FLATIRON

THE BRESLIN

BOQUERIA

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. 16 W. 29th St. between Broadway & Fifth Ave., NYC 212-679-1939

A Barcelona cerveceria is invoked with stools around raised tables, elevated banquettes and a communal table in the rear. Tapas are authentic yet adventurous. 53 W. 19th St. at Sixth Ave., NYC 212-255-4160.

CAFETERIA

CRAFT NEW YORK

Super-popular 24-hour dining scene offering great American fare and a trendy, heavily gay clientele. Its sidewalk seating is one of the sexiest spots in town. 119 Seventh Ave. at 17th St., NYC 212-414-1717

ELMO This mod restaurant, featuring comfort food with a spicy edge, takes its name from fabulous 40’s night club El Morocco. Stop in for a hearty salad, comfort food, or an after work cocktail.156 Seventh Ave. between 19th and 20th Sts., NYC 212-337-8000

THE PARK The setting is sprawling ski chalet; cuisine is American and Mediterranean, and after dinner, the entire venue becomes a party. 118 Tenth Ave. between 17th and 18th Sts., NYC 212-352-3313

SALINAS Tapas go upscale at this Spanish restaurant where the luxurious setting features blue velvet chairs, limestone walls, art glass galore and a charming garden with a retractable glass roof and fireplace. 136 Ninth Ave. between 18th and 19th Sts., NYC 212-776-1990

LAMB’S CLUB

Five eateries, each with its own focus (pizza and pasta, cheese and wine, fish, vegetables, meat), make this massive Italian Flatiron food hall a dining destination. Only upscale Manzo, the beef specialist, takes reservations. 200 Fifth Ave. at 23rd St., NYC 212-229-2180

This gorgeous Theater District destination serves contemporary American fare in a retro-swank supper-club environment with long red-leather banquettes and chrome torchères. 132 W. 44th St. between Sixth Ave. and Broadway, NYC 212-997-5262

GRAMERCY TAVERN

ORTIZI NYC

Danny Meyer’s creative American emporium (famous for relaxed service and winning wine) never fails to please. Enjoy 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

Inside a cinema and inspired by the studio eateries from Hollywood’s golden age, offers drinks at two bars and snacks like burrata, panzanella, Sardine Nicoise, and Chicken Paillard. 7 Ludlow Street between Hester and Canal St., NYC 347-348-

SAXON + PAROLE A name referencing two famous racehorses explains this NoHo hot spot’s stable-chic decor. Chef Brad Farmerie turns out upscale, eclectic meat and seafood, and a “secret” bar is accessible only through the restaurant. 316 Bowery at Bleecker St., NYC 212-254-0350

THE STANTON SOCIAL At this homage to the LES’s garment industry past. The menu includes faves like Lobster Roll Sliders, French Onion Soup Dumplings, and Beef Wellington. 99 Stanton St. at Ludlow., NYC 212-995-0099

SOHO/TRIBECA

AÑEJO

DOS CAMINOS

Whether it’s tacos, quesadillas, or an after work margarita you crave Hell’s Kitchen is bringing south of the border flavors up Ninth Avenue. Grab a booth or a seat at the bar for the best eye candy in the gayborhood. 754 9th Ave. between 50th and 51st Sts., NYC 212-977-1588

IPPUDO

Enjoy a hearty, tasty selection of sandwiches/wraps, salads & power plates (with high quality proteins, low in fat & rich in complex carbs) Mention this ad & Receive 10% off (not valid on deliveries)

212-677-3496 Eva’s NYC 11 W. 8th St (bet. 5th & 6th Aves) W W W. E VA S . N YC

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

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This intimate hipster offers fine Mexican cuisine in a stylish setting, with a warm-weather dining garden. Highlights include guacamole made tableside and 150 types of tequila. 475 W. Broadway at Houston St., NYC 212-277-4300.

THE DUTCH

Though it looks like a neighborhood joint, this multi-room eatery is actually sizzling with a crowd that’s half downtown scene-makers, half-foodies ,and all hot. Andrew Carmellini’s comfort-skewing menu, features imaginative renditions of American Southern staples and more. 131 Sullivan St. at Prince St., NYC 212-677-6200

UPPER WEST SIDE CAFE LUXEMBOURG

Find decadent Japanese bites, small plates, craveable ramen and sexy cocktails, nestled on 51st Street just between the theatre district and the gayborhood. 321 W. 51st St., NYC 212-974-2500

Ladies who lunch, incognito celebrities, and high rolling executives mix and mingle at this classic French-American Bistro. 200 W. 70th St. at Amsterdam Ave., NYC 212-873-7411

PIO PIO

MAREA

Sip pisco cocktails and craveable sangria while sampling family-style Peruvian dishes and Chinese-Peruvian stir fries below an elaborate ceiling made from thousands of tree branches. 604 Tenth Ave. between 43rd and 44th Sts., NYC 212-459-2929

VICEVERSA

ViceVersa puts a sublime spin on run-of-the-mill Italian in an atmosphere with elegant accents and an outdoor seating garden. 325 W. 51st St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 212-399-9291

WEST BANK CAFE

This elegant neighborhood fixture attracts not only theatergoers, but also tons of Broadway and off-Broadway performers who load up on the latest gossip while downing American eats. 407 W. 42nd St. between Ninth and Tenth Aves., NYC 212-695-6909

MEATPACKING DISTRICT A Destination For Every HealthConscious New Yorker!

Nestled in the new LUMA Hotel, Iron Chef Jose Garces presents a scrumptious journey through Basque cuisine. Enjoy an after work charcuteria, a pre-theatre bite or the four-course tasting menu.120 W. 41st St. between Sixth Ave. and 7th Ave., NYC 212-730-8900

HELL’S KITCHEN

METROGRAPH COMMISSARY

21 CLUB

EATALY

EAST VILLAGE/LOWER EAST SIDE This lounge/eatery’s entry is an ersatz pawn shop that leads to two sprawling levels, multiple dining rooms and bars with mid-century trappings. Their shareable small plates offer eclectic tastes. 146 Essex St. between Rivington and Stanton Sts., NYC 212-614-0146

MIDTOWN/TIMES SQUARE Perhaps the most infamous speakeasy of the Prohibition Era, this landmark remains the ultimate spot to live it up with the ghosts of Ernest Hemingway and Zelda Fitzgerald. 21 West 52nd St. between 5th Ave. and 6th Ave., NYC 212-582-7200

Executive chef Marc Meyer takes American cuisine to the next level by keeping it real: hormone-free animals, humanely raised in local farms, used in simple but flavorful meals. The furnishings are at once rustic and urbane. 156 Tenth Ave. at 20th St., NYC 212-924-4440

BEAUTY & ESSEX

The hip cafe beneath the southern High Line has a long bar in front, a dining room with arced red-leather booths, an open kitchen, plus a sidewalk patio for Meatpacking people-watching. 848 Washington St. between Little W. 12th and 13th Sts., NYC 212-645-4100

Opened by Tom Colicchio in 2001, this James Beard Award-winning Gramercy go-to has launched restaurants across the country; guests go a la carte menu or splurge on a seven-course extravaganza. 43 E. 19th St. between Park and Broadway NYC., 212-780-0880.

Upscale, creative, beautifully prepared Mexican small plates are served in a rustic setting at this hotspot with a hopping bar scene and plenty of pavement tables in nice weather. Just as big of a draw is the cocktail selection, featuring a variety of refined margaritas (available by the pitcher) and tequila and mezcal flights. 668 Tenth Ave. at 47th St., NYC 212-920-4770

TENTH AVENUE COOKSHOP

STANDARD GRILL

BATHTUB GIN

Step back in time to a dark, sexy speakeasy serving throwback cocktails like the Hipster Reviver, the Eagle’s Dream, or a Dorothy Parker’s Gin. 132 9th Ave., between 18th & 19th Sts, NYC 646-559-1671

FRYING PAN / PIER 66 MARITIME

The Lightship Frying Pan is a historic floating lighthouse in NYC. Docked at Pier 66a, the bar offers bites like Calamari Fritti, Cheesy Risotto Balls, burgers, and a range of “Street Eats.” West 26th St. & West Side Highway in Hudson River Park, NYC 212-989-6363

MORIMOTO

Two floors of high-design (like a wall made of 17,000 water bottles) are a fitting setting for the haute Japanese of Masaharu Morimoto. 88 Tenth Ave. between 15th and 16th Sts., NYC 212-989-8883

Marea means “tide” in Italian, and the coming together of high-end Italian cuisine from Michelin and James Beard Award winner Michael White, over 750 wine options, and outstanding service makes it an exciting and fresh interpretation of coastal cuisine. 240 Central Park South Between Broadway and Seventh Ave., NYC 212-582-5100

TESSA

Chef Nicholas McCann blends French, Italian and Spanish fare in this hotspot that’s perfect for a dinner date or drinks and light bites at the bar. Wine lovers, see the reserve list with over fifty labels. 349 Amsterdam Ave. between 76th & 77th Sts., NYC 212-390-1974

WEST VILLAGE COWGIRL

This Village favorite is hopping every night of the week. Conceived after a visit to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame Museum, the restaurant 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 food. 519 Hudson St. at West 10th St., NYC 212-633-1133

THE LITTLE OWL

Nestled in the middle of the historic Greenwich Village, this bold Mediterranean spot boasts gravy meatballs and pork chops that rival your grandmother’s secret recipe. No tables at the inn? Try to get a seat at the bar, from which you can take in the entire scene. 90 Bedford St. at Grove, NYC 212-741-4695

SUSHI NAKAZAWA

Daisuke Nakazawa, former apprentice to sushi guru Jiro Ono, opened this posh sushi kitchen where high back leather chairs at the bar set the scene for a 20-course dynamic tasting menu. 23 Commerce Street between Seventh Ave. and Bedford St., NYC 212-924-2212

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

THE COMMUNITY PHARMACY THAT CARES !!!!!!

th 346 Bleecker West1010th) 346 BleeckerStreet Street (Corner (Corner West )

212-807-7566 212-807-7566 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Open 7 days Monday – Saturday 9am – 9pm Sundays 10am 7pm Monday - Friday 8am 9am —– Saturday 9am - 9pm Sunday 10am - 5pm

- 7pm

Most insurance plans accepted, ADAP, Medicaid &

Most insurance plans accepted, ADAP, Insurance Assignments Medicaid & Medicare 20% Discount with Mention of this Ad

20% Discount with Mention of this Ad

Visit us at http:www.villageapothecary.com

Visit us at www.villageapothecary.com

ACCOUNTING – ATTORNEYS

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

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture-NYC

80 Fifth Ave, Ste 906, NYC .........212 874-0898 www.acupuncture-nyc.com

ADOPTION SERVICES Friends in Adoption

Effective Friendly Efficient Litigation + Corporate + Intellectual Property Counseling

Long & Associates

Technology / Media / Design Attorneys NY • LA (212) 360-0394 / info@landapllc.com www.landapllc.com

NYC............................................800 982-3678 www.friendsinadoption.org

AESTHETIC SERVICES Sexual Health Men

290 Madison Ave 6th Fl NYC ...........................................973 493-7607 www.sexualhealthmen.com (SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

ALLERGIES Aziz, Michael, M.D., FRSM

Midtown Integrative Medicine 509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC............................................212 906-9111 www.michaelazizmd.com

ARCHITECTURE David Stern Architecture

www.davidsternarchitecture.com

Torre, Martin B. RA AIA

Architecture + Planning PLLC 605 E 14th St, #8A NYC ...........................................646 257-9081 (SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

ATTORNEYS Bing, Steven E.

276 5th Ave, Ste 1008, NYC .......212 286-1666

Brown, Anthony M.

122 E 42nd St, Ste 3900, NYC ...212 953-6447 100 Merrick Rd, Ste 103E Rockville Centre, NY ................516 599-2020 www.awclawyer.com (SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Chianese & Reilly Law, P.C.

122 E 42nd St, Ste 3900, NYC ...212 953-6447 100 Merrick Rd, Ste 103E Rockville Centre, NY ................516 599-2020 www.awclawyer.com

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Chou, Luna, Esq.

NYC............................................212 226-2610 www.lunachoulaw.com

Goldman, Jeffrey E., Esq

501 Fifth Ave #1900, NYC ..........212 983-8999 NYC............................................212 949-5085 www.jgoldmanlaw.com

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 METROSOURCE.COM

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

ARCHITECTURE (CONTINUED) – CLOTHING Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC

44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC............................................212 495-0317 www.sciaccalaw.com

Long & Associates

NYC ...........................................212 360-0394 LA ..............................................310 439-3110 www.landapllc.com (SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

Sciacca, Thomas, Esq

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC 44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC............................................212 495-0317 www.sciaccalaw.com

Tesler, Richard, Esq.

41 W 72nd St NYC ...........................................212 362-6961 (SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

Paul Evans Catering

20 W 20th St NYC .............................................212 321-1822 NYC .............................................212 243-4494 www.paulevanscatering.com (SEE AD PAGE 68)

CLOTHING Dave’s New York

581 Ave of the Americas NYC Toll Free ........................................800 543-8558 www.davesnewyork.com

Jackson Boutique

www.jacksonboutiquenyc.com

MARTIN B TORRE RA AIA ARCHITECTURE+PLANNING PLLC (Former Dept of Buildings Plan Examiner) Interior Design Building Renovations Roof Decks ECB Violation Resolution Dept of Buildings Expediting Zoning / Bldg Code Compliance

605 East 14th Street 8A NY NY 10009 646-257-9081

mbtorrearchitects@hotmail.com

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Jackson Boutique

Something is brewing...

Sexy Clothing Store For Gay Men

BARS

Boxers Jocks Tanktops Shorts Fetishwear Adult Store & Booths

(SEE BAR SOURCE PAGE 70)

CATERING 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

*Mention Code: PRIDE & Get 15% off Online store products & free standard shipping over $170

88-10 Roosevelt Ave, 2nd Floor, Jackson Heights, Queens

metrosource.com/subscribe

www.jacksonboutiquenyc.com

Having problems in the bedroom? Take the first step on the road of pleasure.

What’s next?

Sexual Health Men 290 Madison Ave, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017 (973) 493-7607

www.sexualhealthmen.com TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY – DATING SERVICES

Volker Schuetz, PsyD Clinical Psychologist

Call 212-470-9024 for a FREE phone consultation

Individual & Couples Therapy for Gay Men Sexuality • Intimacy • Relationships

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 (SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Davies, Ann Conant, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.

1133 Broadway #913, NYC 10010 www.NYChangeManagement.com

740 West End Ave, Ste 1 Cell .............................................917 923-2257

Dicker, Phyllis D., L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W., B.C.D.

NYC............................................718 855-5171

Factor, Rhonda J., PhD

85 5th Ave, Ste 912 NYC ...........................................347 834-6057 www.rhondafactorphd.com (SEE AD THIS PAGE)

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

Andrew Blatter, lcsw

Michael E. Koetting, LCSW

Psychotherapy

• Anxiety and Depression • Relationship and Social Difficulties • Body Image and Self-Esteem Issues • Career Transitions Convenient Flatiron Location andrewblatter.com 917-442-5213 ablatterlcsw@mac.com

www.koettingpsychotherapy.com

PSYCHOTHERAPY Gay Men • Gay Male Couples

Participating Provider: Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicare, Oxford, UHC, EmblemHealth Other Insurances Also Accepted

212. 741. 2606

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

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

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Rayhill, Daniel, Ph.D.

276 Fifth Ave #1101 NYC............................................212 683-2454

Ross, Steven, LSCW

Union Square ..............................917 406-7900 www.stevenrosstherapy.com

Schuetz, Volker, PsyD

1133 Broadway #913 NYC ...........................................212 470-9024 www.nychangemanagement.com

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

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

COUNSELING/SUBURBAN Kingan, Peter L., Ph.D.

31 Oak St Patchogue, NY ............................631 447-6425

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 METROSOURCE.COM

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

wwpd_ad_4c_2011.pdf

2/2/11

5:00 PM

DATING SERVICES (CONTINUED) – DENTISTS/SUBURBAN

DATING SERVICES SEE ALSO INTRODUCTION SERVICES

ManMate

NYC .......................................... 212 564-4025 www.manmate.com (SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

ManMate Dinners For 8

NYC .......................................... 212 564-4025 www.manmate.com (SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

Wheaton, Grant

Dating Coach M NYC............................................212 564-4025

DENTISTS Babushkin, Howard, D.D.S., L.L.C.

MY 525 West End Ave #1G NYC ................................................212 874-2880 CY www.manhattanoasisdentistry.com

Cassidy, J.R., D.D.S.

CMY

K 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 (SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Lew, Spencer, D.D.S. 30 E 40th St #706 NYC............................................212 286-1717 www.nycdental.com

Rosa, John D., D.D.S., P.C.

40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ ...........................201 626-2700

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Sengos, Demetrios, D.D.S. West 10th Dental P.C. 45 W 10th St NYC............................................212 982-5883 www.west10thdental.com

“Stressing prevention through education and quality dental treatment... ...while making it affordable for everyone in our community.”

West 10th Dental P.C. 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

JOHN D. ROSA D.D.S., P.C.

GENERAL AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY

(SEE AD PHYSICIANS PAGE 81)

Office conveniently located via PATH, 15 minutes from 14th Street station. Office on ground floor of James Madison Building, directly across from Newport Mall.

DENTISTS/SUBURBAN

40 Newport Parkway Jersey City, NJ 07310

Rosa, John D., D.D.S., P.C.

40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ ...........................201 626-2700

(SEE AD THIS PAGE) TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

201.626.2700 BY APPOINTMENT drrosadds@aol.com METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

DERMATOLOGY – HAIR REMOVAL

DERMATOLOGY

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)