Metrosource NY - October/November 2019

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 METROSOURCE NY

METROSOURCE

MICHAEL R. MOORE

SHOOTS HOLLYWOOD

ALYSSA EDWARDS

COLORADO

REVEALS HERSELF

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

THE NEW CALIFORNIA?

HOWARD ROFFMAN

SEX , BOYS AND STAR WARS TOYS

READING

INDULGENCE

ADAM RIPPON

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: } Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. } Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. } Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. } Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. } Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. } The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

} Worsening of Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you

have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: } dofetilide } rifampin } any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: } Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

including hepatitis infection. } Have any other health problems. } Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby.

Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY. } Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

} Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

} BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

Get HIV support by downloading a free app at

MyDailyCharge.com

GET MORE INFORMATION } This is only a brief summary of important information

about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

} Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5. } If you need help paying for your medicine,

visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP LOVING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.

Version date: December 2018 © 2019 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0102 01/19

KEEP LOVING.

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

To learn more, visit BIKTARVY.com.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

BROOCHING THE SUBJECT

VIEWS

EDITOR’S LETTER

THERE’S SOMETHING I NEED TO GET OFF MY CHEST - LITERALLY.

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If I don’t remove it each night, it’s unlikely to survive the laundry. I’ve heard things like it called pins, pendants, even baubles. But generally I go with the term “brooch.”

There was a time when I would have thought wearing such an adornment was the epitome of being a fussy, over-accessorized queen. But now, I think of it as a little bit of joy that I display nearly every day.

This began several years ago with my husband Justin.

Ever on the lookout for the perfect gift, he had noted me mentioning a desire to learn how to properly tie a bow tie. Thus, come that holiday season, he presented me two lovely packages. Each contained a matched set of a patterned bow tie, colorful shoe laces and complementary pins. Much to his surprise it was the pins - little felt flowers meant to adorn a lapel - that really got me excited. I pictured myself sporting them like mid-series Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City.

I was eager to debut my flowers. At first I saved them for actual lapels, but it seemed a sad waste not to incorporate them into my daily attire of button-down shirt and tie. So occasionally, I would affix one to the corner of my breast pocket (or approximately there on shirts without such a pocket). This practice became even more common after the next holiday season, when Justin presented me a follow-up gift: a veritable garden of such buds in a variety of shades that allowed me to incorporate them into an even greater number of ensembles.

Seeing how much fun they brought to my daily routine (and ever determined to outdo himself), Justin broke out the big guns another year later. These gifts were much bigger flowers that had carefully-shaped petals and leaves — apparently crafted of the material one would find in a necktie. Some had centers that sparkled or shone like pearls. Others featured intriguing pattern combinations or gleamed with metallic accents. I was mad for them!

I started investigating where one could purchase them on Etsy and found a store that offered a tantalizing array. I began to stock up my online cart — less with the intention of buying them than to catalogue what I had seen and liked. Periodically, I would comb through the list, eliminating choices that seemed too similar or failed to spark joy. (I had recently inhaled Netflix’s Tidying Up and was determined to “Kondo” down my selection before committing.)

Suddenly I got a message from Etsy that someone else had placed one of these one-of-a-kind selections into their cart. Rather than risk losing out, I impetuously purchased the lot. And I repeated this process again a few weeks later while combing through further flowers with friends. I had soon tripled the size of my collection.

I wanted to wear them all the time, but the new ones felt too ostentatious for daily wear.

Once again, Justin came to the rescue. He discovered where he could purchase reasonablypriced assortments of brooches that were a bit smaller but also offered fun varieties of texture and pattern. Soon, I had enough to match almost any outfit and any level of fanciness. Eventually, I sorted my collection into “everyday” and “special occasion” brooches based on size and scintillation. Though I almost certainly had too many, this meant when I did occasionally lose one to the washing machine, I could - as they say - “let go lightly.”

In the midst of all this, I saw former Metrosource cover guy Zachary Quinto arrive on the Tony Awards red carpet, sporting quite an ornate jacket decoration of his own. When the person interviewing him asked about his “brooch,” Quinto’s eyes went wide. “Is that what we’re calling it?” he asked, evidently preferring the more masculine term “lapel pin.” I remember deciding in that moment that I would own the word brooch - whatever its gender implications. Yes, there are days I push the envelope a bit far (e.g. I have worn one with a t-shirt and shorts). And, yes, there may be people who see them and think I am the epitome of a fussy, over-accessorized queen. But I've carved out space for them in my dresser and my life. And if Marie Kondo ever asks me if they really spark joy, I can very honestly say: Absolutely.

■ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

METROSOURCE.COM

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on the cover credit Aaron Jay Young

This Page: Adam Pose by Craig Sjodin courtesy ABC • courtesy michael r. moore • Courtesy of Howard Roffman • The Ramble Hotel Adam Szafranski

October/November 2019 | VOLUME 30, NO. 5

CONTENTS

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36 30 24 Michael R. Moore is nothing but love he moved to los angeles to chronicle black hollywood. Now, this fabulous photographer reveals how he shot that — and so much more along the way.

30 The force is strong with Howard Roffman what do star wars action figures and sexy gay photo books have in common? Their worlds collide in the twin careers of one talented man.

36 Adam Rippon goes on rippon discusses his new memoir, which chronicles his journey from coming

out to skating at the Olympics to Dancing with the Stars and beyond.

48

48 Colorado: the new california? it’s a state that celebrates personal freedom, from its legal weed to its gay

governor. But how did the home of the Mile-High City become so liberated?

DEPARTMENTS Indulgence

October/November 2019 | VOLUME 30, NO. 5

40

14 culture

5 the scope MoMA reopens, Actor’s Studio relaunches and Tina Turner is reborn... in scope!

14 screen Virginia’s romance, sex in a Slovenian prison, and the new Pedro Almadóvar.

18 TECH When Amazon meets Whole Foods, who wins?

19 FINANCE Ten mistakes to not make with your taxes.

20 music Get girl Power with SleaterKinney and Charlie XCX.

46 books Dance fashion, ‘90s club kids and Cindy Sherman.

Body

Exclusively NY

12 metro hiv

52 HOME

Revisiting a place that changed treatment forever.

40 HEALTH How to work off your favorite Thanksgiving foods.

views 13 POV Kevin asks what a picture is really worth to a gay man.

44 Voices Are Catholic colleges failing LGBTQ students?

45 diary Wade reveals his possible addiction — to lip balm.

84 LAST CALL Alyssa Edwards on what being on TV taught her.

On lighting good design and working from home.

60 NY SCOPE Randy Rainbow, Kacey Musgraves and more!

64 weddings Honeymoon in Beantown and register righteously.

68 restaurant bites Where to chow down…

69 bar source …and drink up.

70 business directory Businesses that cater to the LGBT community.

80 Community resources Organizations and resources for NYC’s LGBTs.

This Page: Photo by Volodymyr Tverdokhlib-Shutterstock • Photo by Kimberley French courtesy The CW • Vita and Virginia - Mongrel Media

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culture

the

thescope

curated by Sebastian fortino, Paul Hagen and syra taub

this page, clockwise from top left: View of The Marlene Hess and James D. Zirin Lounge. Photo by Iwan Baan • View of the Louise Reinhardt Smith Gallery, including Lawrence Weiner’s SLOW CORROSION LEADING TO A LOSS OF INHERENT DIGNITY OF THE OBJECT AT HAND (1985). Photo by Iwan Baan • North/south section-perspective through the new gallery spaces at The Museum of Modern Art, looking east along Fifty-third Street. © 2017 Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Scope

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Art Beat

big opening With its 40,000 square feet expansion launched in 2017, it

seems that the Museum of Modern Art is bringing modern art into the 21st Century — starting October 21. The expansion, developed by MoMA with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler, has added room for more art and seeks to do so with an interdisciplinary approach.

Spaces include a Platform for education, which invites visitors to react to and question art in today’s historical and contemporary landscape. The studio space will present performances that continue to further their education mission. Most exciting still are the street level galleries which MoMA intends

to keep free for visitors who may be hesitant to pay an entry fee - whether for financial reasons or because they might not be fans of what the museum offers — namely a worldrenowned collection focused on the modern, contemporary and 20th Century art that broke the mold with movements such as dada, fauvism, cubism and abstraction.

Coinciding with the reopening will be a slew of exhibitions, including printmaker Betya Saar’s“The Legends of Black Girl’s Window”, “Su moderno: Journeys of Abstraction”, “Private Lives Public Spaces”, installation artist Haegue Yang’s “Handles” and more. moma.org metrosource.com october/november 2019

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some time to celebrate

culture

thescope

the perfect books to give as holiday gifts tend to come out in

the fall. That’s certainly true of Holiday—The Best Travel Magazine That Ever Was ($85, Rizzoli New York). It’s a celebration of the USA mindset in post-WWII era. Flush with cash from the war era, Americans became entranced with the prospect of travel. But this publication — which ran originally from 1946 to 1977 — wasn’t merely comprised of recommendations about where to go, what to eat or do away from home. Its pages came to life with images from such draftsmen as Al Hirschfeld and Ludwig Bemelmans. It hosted photos from the likes of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Slim Aarons.

And acclaimed writers including Jack Kerouac, Ernest Hemingway,

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Screen It

who becomes a legend most?

Before Lady Gaga, before Madonna, before Cher, there was

Judy Garland. The star’s upcoming Renée Zellweger-starring biopic, simply called Judy, hits theaters on September 27th. It will chronicle a low point in Garland’s story: Her money is gone; she has no home — and in hopes of keeping her family together, she must now head to London for five weeks of concerts at The Talk of the Town nightclub. How will audiences respond to Zellweger’s depiction of this enduring gay icon? Will longtime fans find her believable? Will younger audiences even care? Might it even

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Graham Greene, Joan Didion, Truman Capote, Colette and E. B. White filled its pages. For some, Holiday was a how-to for getting out and see the world. For others, the closest they would ever come to adventures abroad was getting lost in these pages and dreaming of distant shores. Now, this collected volume functions as a sort of time capsule for how they saw the world and their place in it. Author Pamela Fiori is the ideal writer to capture the publication’s legacy, too. She started there in 1968, and later went on to helm Travel+Leisure and Town & Country. Franck Durand, who brought the publication back to newsstands in 2014 offers an afterward about Holiday’s legacy in the 21st Century.

october/november 2019

metrosource.com

bring about another Stonewall Uprising? (Garland passed away during that fateful week in 1969.) In early previews, Zellweger seems be deftly channeling the singer, actress and mother. In one tear jerking scene, she muses,“Everybody has their troubles, and I’ve had mine. I just want what everybody wants. I just seem to have a harder time getting it.” It’ll be a must-see for fans of Garland, Zellwegger and big screen musicals. But it may leave fans wondering - if they could be listening to Judy sing, why oh why listen to Renée? roadsideattractions.com

this page: “holiday” images courtesy rizzoli • judy Photos by David Hidley courtesy LD Entertainment / Roadside Attractions

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Ink Spotted

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NEXT UP

AUTEUR/PAINTER

THIS PAGE: © GUS VAN SANT; COURTESY THE ARTIST AND VITO SCHNABEL PROJECTS • ALEC BALDWIN PHOTO BY TYLER ESSARY COURTESYNBC, JANE LYNCH PHOTO BY VIVIAN ZINK COURTESY NBC

MANY ARTISTS WORK IN MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES, FINDING THAT IT SERVES TO

Gus Van Sant. Untitled (Hollywood 16), 2018-2019. Watercolor on linen 84 x 66 inches.

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expand their creative minds. For instance, David Lynch recently had an exhibition of his artwork at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art in Philadelphia. Now groundbreaking director Gus Van Sant is offering a glimpse at his own talents in another medium. You likely know the out filmmaker from such queer films as My Own Private Idaho (1991), and 2008’s Milk (written by Dustin Lance Black). In Gus Van Sant: Recent Paintings, Hollywood Boulevard at Vito Schnabel Projects, his paintings - largely watercolors on stretched linen - take center stage. For example, Untitled (Hollywood 4) features a male nude strolling across the city, a colossus taking it in stride. The figure’s power is revealed in an almost impressionistic use of color and line. Meanwhile, Untitled (Hollywood 16) features another male nude: His profile recalls Picasso’s early classically-inspired figures. However, this one has a different gravity than the first. Rather than dominating the scene, his body almost seems to fade into the background, where a vintage automobile hovers behind.You can see Van Sant’s work in New York City through November 1. Don’t miss this opportunity to see an artist with whom you’re familiar working in unfamiliar ways. It can be most revealing. vitoschnabel.com

NOW AND THEN

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CURSE WORD? WE’VE ENJOYED INSIDE THE ACTOR’S STUDIO FOR DECADES. FROM

its what’s-your-hurry pace to its classic 10-question finale, there’s seldom been a better way to understand a star. Over the years, the show has featured various notable members of the LGBTQ community, including Neil Patrick Harris, Sean Hayes, Jim Parsons and Alia Shawkat — not to mention the gay-beloved like Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler. So it was hard to imagine who could step into the shoes of its august, longtime host James Lipton when he announced that he would step down after last season. Well, it turns out that – for now –

no one person will need to stand up to Lipton’s legacy alone.

The revamped show will feature a rotating cast of hosts. At least four host-guest pairs have been announced do far. Jane Lynch will interview David Oyelowo (Selma). Alec Baldwin visits with Henry Winkler (Barry). Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, Narcos) will speak to Willem Dafoe. And Kelsey Grammar will sit down with legendary sitcom director James Burrows. How else will the series continue to evolve as the show moves from Bravo to Ovation? To find out, tune in starting Sunday October 13 at 10pm. ovationtv.com METROSOURCE.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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CIRCUIT SHAKERS

BEARLANDIA PORTLAND OCTOBER 4 - 6 IF YOU’RE AN ADMIRER OF SEXY BEARDS AND

THE MOST QUEER TIME OF THE YEAR?

THERE’S STILL PLENTY TO CELEBRATE IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS! ALL OF OCTOBER IS LGBT

CULTURE

THESCOPE

History Month, an ideal time to remember our fight for LGBTQ rights. International Lesbian Day is October 8. And National Coming Out Day is October 11 - the anniversary of 1987’s National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. You may be less familiar with International Pronouns Day. October 16 honors the right to be referred to by your preferred pronoun. Observe it by putting your pronouns on your email signature and encouraging others to do the same. October 17 is Spirit Day, dedicated to speaking out against the bullying of LGBTQ young people. Wear purple that day to show solidarity with the largest anti-bullying campaign in the world. Intersex Awareness Day is October 26, the anniversary of the first public demonstration by intersex people in the U.S. 23 years ago. Asexual Awareness Week follows the last week of October to educate about asexual, aromantic and demisexual experiences. The Intersex Day of Remembrance comes next on November 8, the birthday of Herculine Barbin, a French intersex person whose memoirs are highly regarded. Transgender Awareness Week is the second week of November, followed by Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, when we honor the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-trans violence. And last but far from least, International Stand Up to Bullying Day is the third Friday of November.

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DRINK UP

THE SCORPION’S KISS LOOKING FOR A SPOOKY COCKTAIL FOR YOUR HALLOWEEN

gathering? Or perhaps you’re seeking an extra splash of flavor at Thanksgiving? We found a cocktail from the folks at Alacrán Tequila that is colorful, delicious and will pack a punch – no matter when you decide to serve it. It’s also a delightful way to share tequila with friends beyond the classic shots or the often so-sweet Tequila Sunrise.

Eastern Seaboard? The City of Brotherly love’s National Coming Out Day event becomes a sort of second Pride celebration — and who couldn’t use more Pride? The main event takes place that Sunday, with a block party in the Gayborhood featuring plenty of performers. But the city will be ready to romp all weekend with dance parties, bar crawls and events attended by locals and visitors alike. phillygaypride.org WINTER PRIDE MASPALOMAS NOVEMBER 4 - 10 GET YOUR PASSPORT READY, AND BOOK YOUR

flights to the Gran Canaria, the Spanish island off the coast of Northwestern Africa.

Known for its black lava and white sandy beaches, the island also hosts the last Pride event of the calendar year with Winter Pride 2019. From November 4 through the following Sunday, it’s a full seven days of fun! Expect top international acts and DJs, boat excursions, pool parties, live shows and more! winterpridemaspalomas.com CIRCUIT FESTIVAL MIAMI NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 2 CAN’T MAKE IT TO SPAIN BUT WANT SOME

Ice 0.5 oz. lime juice 1.5 oz. of Alacrán Tequila 1 oz. of simple syrup 5 basil leaves

LATINO fire in your gay getaway? Then you

Serve in a glass and garnish with a basil leaf.

For more unique ways to mix up a tequila cocktail, visit Alacrán online. autenticoalacran.com/drinks OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

LOOKING FOR A FUN, QUEER ESCAPE ON THE

INGREDIENTS:

PREPARATION: Blend together all ingredients in a blender.

8

OUTFEST PHILADELPHIA OCTOBER 11 - 13

METROSOURCE.COM

should consider Circuit Festival Miami, a celebration of nightlife and dancing. Expect non-stop parties at local clubs, the official pool party, the pervert party and of course the wide, sandy stretch of South Beach alive with hundreds of caliente party goers.

It’s a great way to dance off Thanksgiving calories. Plus, a fresh Cuban sandwich beats leftover stuffing! circuitfestival.net/miami

THIS PAGE: CAN’T MISS STOCK PHOTO CREDIT AARON AMAT

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CAN’T MISS

local brews, Bearlandia Portland 2019 may be just right for you. Fly into PDX, and get ready for a weekend that includes the Bearraduca PDX party, Lumbertwink Party, Graffitia Bear party, Beardy Brunch and maybe even Goldilocks. beardlandia.com

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THE TV SET

NOT A GIRL, NOT YET BATWOMAN

THIS PAGE: BATWOMAN PHOTO BY ELIZABETH MORRIS COURTESY THE CW, PHOTO BY KIMBERLEY FRENCH COURTESY THE CW

WHEN THE CW UNVEILED THE TRAILER FOR ITS NEW SUPERHERO

series Batwoman, the LGBTQ community flipped out. The exciting show will follow Kate Kane, cousin of original Batman Bruce Wayne. After returning to Gotham City, Kane learns that her girlfriend has been taken captive. In response, she picks up where her cousin left off, asking that the batsuit“be fixed”to fit a woman.

The most exciting part of this new female-centered drama may be that its lead character is a lesbian, whose relationship will be central to the plot. Batwoman bills itself a the first LGBTQ liveaction superhero to lead her own show. She will be played by Ruby Rose, a 33-year-old gender-fluid Australian lesbian. Rose

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says she wants young people to be able to identify with Batwoman. Part of that effort will involve offering audiences will up close and personal views of traumatic experiences. These will include navigating relationships, dealing with the idea of living in the closet, and both written and unwritten rules about LGBTQ people in the military. “Representation is everything and diversity is our strength,” adds Executive Producer Sarah Schechter. “We love this character and we love her sexuality and we love her beyond her sexuality…We’re really proud of being able to have an out lesbian woman front and center of these shows.” Catch the groundbreaking series beginning October 6. thecw.com

STAGE ADVICE

GOOD JOB IN THE CITY

IN APRIL, LONDON AUDIENCES WERE TREATED TO A NEW MUSICAL

celebrating the life and career of legendary singer Tina Turner.

Coming on the heels of such similarly single-artist celebrations as Donna: The Donna Summer Musical and The Cher Show, we can’t help but wonder whether audiences will be ready for another?

But this show boasts both Turner’s unmatched catalogue of hits and the artist’s famously dramatic story of rebounding from domestic abuse - which should certainly make audiences stand up and cheer in the era of #metoo. It also has a secret weapon in the form of Adrienne Warren’s turn as Turner, which had critics raving across the pond. The show itself highlights Turner’s career in the 1970s when she was emerging from Ike Turner’s shadow into the solo spotlight. It’s especially appropriate that the musical opened in London, since that’s the city that nurtured her reinvention. The show also overflows gee-whiz facts about her life, from her Buddhism to the fact that David Bowie helped produce her first solo endeavor. The production, which The Guardian hailed as“a celebration of triumph over adversity,” begins previews in NYC on October 12 with an opening night on November 7th. tinaonbroadway.com

Adrienne Warren as Tina Turner, Photo by Manuel Harlan, 2018 METROSOURCE.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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Nurse Alison Moed Paolercia

BODY

METROHIV

Journalist Hank Plante

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CARING FOR 5B

A film revisits the caregivers of Ward 5B, who faced fear and scorn to assist the first AIDS victims. BY JEFF SIMMONS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

METROSOURCE.COM

THIS PAGE: IMAGES COURTESY RYOT

BY DEFINITION, A HERO IS SOMEONE WHO DISPLAYS COURAGE OR ABILITY AND IS AD-

mired for their brave deeds and noble qualities. To the men who were encamped at San Francisco General Hospital’s unprecedented Ward 5B, that word was made manifest by the esteemed corps of nurses who displayed care and compassion toward them when so many others refused to do so.

The bonds between these caregivers and their patients is on full display in a heart-wrenching and inspirational new documentary called 5B, which chronicles how the hospital and its caregivers launched the world’s first ward to accept people with AIDS. The film chronicles the efforts of doctors, nurses, and other volunteers whose lived were forever altered while trying to help patients desperately in need.

“It was totally groundbreaking. There wasn’t another unit like this in the world,” says Alison Moed Paolercio, one of the dozen nurses who first opened the unit in 1983. “I don’t think there was another job that I had ever applied for so hopefully as a position in this unit.”

Directed by Dan Krauss and Paul Haggis, 5B is distributed by the Verizon Media outlet Ryot. It’s already been screened at Cannes and premiered in Los Angeles to standing ovations. It’s also scheduled to be released on various on-demand platforms in the next few weeks. Delivered through first-person accounts, the film recounts the many setbacks and few successes of those who came together to deal with the epidemic and try to offer assistance to its victims when no one else would.

Ward 5B was not just a place; it was a remarkable nexus of hope and courage in the face of fear and stigma. Though not a single one of 5B’s first residents survived, the nurses – led by Cliff Morrison - gave their AIDS patients genuine care from the heart and the grace and opportunity to see their last days through with dignity.

As physicians encountered what was being described as “gay cancer,” patients were routinely quarantined — isolated amid fears they were contagious.

Ward 5B opened with only a dozen beds. But demand soon outpaced supply, and the unit quickly mushroomed. Just the same, patients were placed in single rooms to provide for their individualized care. Nurses welcomed visits by nonblood relatives and found cots for loved ones to stay with their companions.

“We encouraged the presence of those they saw as family,”Moed Paolercio says.

“That could be a friend, a lover, a member of their nuclear family.” Not only did these practitioners care about patients’ pharmaceutical regimens. They also“wanted to know how they were feeling, what other issues were affecting them. We were very conscious of the fact that many of our patients were dying, how that was being experienced, who was helping them, and what they needed.”

Moed Paolercio adds,“Our goal was not only to provide good nursing care, but to provide a healing environment and ensure they felt accepted in our unit.”

Openly gay reporter Henry “Hank” Plante, who provided comprehensive coverage of AIDS for San Francisco-based KPIX TV, describes the impact of these caregivers as life-changing.“They were unafraid,”says Plante, now on-air reporter with the NBC Palm Springs affiliate KMIR-TV. “This was an era when nobody knew how HIV was spread… The nurses and doctors didn’t know if they were bringing this home to their families, and yet that didn’t stop them from doing their jobs. They were really the heroes. They sent a message to those of us in the media that it was okay to touch and love and care for people with HIV.” While the term “AIDS movie” may elicit expectations about more depressing cinema, Plante describes 5B as“a love story, because it’s about the jobs they did with great love, and that love and compassion prevail in the face of horrible tragedy.”

And Moed Paolercio, who left the hospital in the early ‘90s to pursue her Masters degree, brushes off any notions of her own heroism. “I didn’t see myself as a hero,”she demurs.“I truly saw the patients as heroes. They were the heroes because they as a community helped us to learn how to care for them, and helped the medical community hear what was needed.”

■

REVEALING PHOTOGRAPHS estate in this issue honoring the art of photography. These amazing records of moments frozen in time have become so ubiquitous, it’s hard to believe they’ve existed only for a few lifetimes before our own. And like television — an invention once intended to enrich and ennoble— smartphone cameras now can and do record anything.

Some early Native Americans were said to be terrified of the first photos. They believed that capturing one’s image also trapped the subject’s essence. And anyone who has a cherished keepsake Polaroid knows there’s a certain truth to that.

My father Robert Phinney died of cirrhosis while I was in college. When it happened, I hadn’t seen him since I was seven. He surrendered my sister and I to my mother’s third husband, who adopted us. I remember my mother and stepfather taking us to say goodbye to my Dad. We had no idea our farewell would be forever.

But the photos remain. Mysterious; elusive.

There’s a blurry snapshot of him smiling while he holds my sister astride a pony. There’s a series of him and my mother on their wedding day - he in a suit and she in a gown that shows off the hourglass figure she had in her prime. Because she absentmindedly recorded the date on the back of the photo, my sister and I learned we were both born before they married. When I confronted my Mom with this evidence as an adult, she admitted that when she got pregnant with me, Bob was actually married to someone else.

Photographs document our time here - not just yours and mine, but also those of England’s heirs to the throne; Anne Frank’s cruelly short time among us and Michael Jackson in between trips to the surgeon. When we look back at such photos now, it’s somehow easier to understand how time marks us — and visa versa.

We get to see, all at once, how remarkably and quickly the human body changes from infancy through adolescence. And then there’s the way time seems to stop for some people - for a while, anyway. I recall thinking how strange it was that my appearance didn’t change much from 20 to 40 - even though that was roughly the same amount of time my body underwent the seismic changes that occurred during the two decades before that. Sometimes the only giveaway to a photo’s date is the fashion of the day or some telltale auto or shop window in the background. You still look just like you.

At 40, I decided to get serious about working out. I got myself a trainer and documented the changes. I also started a longdistance relationship with my now ex-husband, who is 17 years younger than I am. When I was satisfied enough with my progress, I invested in a real photographer to create a present for my guy.

The photographer wanted to shoot me naked.

“So here’s how it works,” he explained. “If you pay me, you get a set of prints and all the negatives. Or you can get a set of prints for free, and I get to sell the photos on the internet — discreetly.”

Oddly enough, I was flattered. And so, being the free spirit I am, I agreed to let him sell his work online. I figured that if somebody was willing to pay money for images of me well past what most gay guys would consider their sell-by date, it would ultimately be doing some good in the world. I asked the photographer only once how well my little collection sold. He gave me a wry smile. “Oh, you’d be surprised,” he said. “More than you’d expect, and not enough to retire on.”

All of these memories cascaded together recently when someone wrote in to Ask Gay Daddy (our new advice column at metrosource.com). He confided his own fascination with a site focused on photos of men snapped before 1960. When I visited the site myself, I quickly understood what captivated him. It’s true that - while fashions and hairstyles come and go - what’s truly handsome is immutable. Maybe that’s why Michelangelo’s David continues to leave us speechless through the centuries.

The site in question includes vintage photos of some men who are unabashedly gay — kissing, embracing; holding hands. Often they simply lean into each other affectionately. Others might have been considered the porn of their day, with men sporting outfits crafted to reveal more than they hide. And still more shots create tableaus that invite the gay male mind to wonder: images of guys lounging around with fellow servicemen, leaning over under the hood of an open car, on the beach, arms over shoulders at a bar.

Scrolling down, I saw what appeared to be my Dad peering out at me. It wasn’t him, of course. But the Irish twinkle in his eye, his confidently crooked grin and that stylishly off-center sailor’s cap all seemed immediately familiar. That pic inspired me to create a new document of a past I never had. By sifting through and pulling photos from the site, I’ve created a gallery of cousins and uncles from generations past. It stretches back to some of the earliest photographs ever made. I’m fully aware that it’s all fantasy. This is not my family tree. But they also remind me that gay families are always created. Maybe you’ll think it’s silly to feel attached to an imaginary family. But it beats the absence of one any day. ■

VIEWS

WE’VE EXPENDED A LOT OF REAL

POV

Kevin retraces a lifetime in pictures - from his lost father to his brief stint as a nude model — all along the path to creating a very different kind of chosen family. BY KEVIN PHINNEY

IS THERE A PHOTOGRAPH THAT MEANS THE WORLD TO YOU? SHARE YOUR STORY IN “GAY VOICES” AT METROSOURCE.COM. METROSOURCE.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

13

THE WAY TO REMEMBER

CULTURE

SCREEN

Virginia Woolf has a florid romance; a gay hookup turns out to be more than meets the eye; a Slovenian inmate falls for his prison bully, a Mexico City boy falls in with ‘80s counterculture and a director seeks to escape his memory. BY JONATHAN ROCHE

ESTEEMED FILMMAKER PEDRO ALMODÓVAR RETURNS WITH

what many are calling his best film in years. Pain and Glory is certainly more grounded than 2013’s playful romp, I’m So Excited. It’s certainly less reserved than 2016’s adaptation Julieta. More than anything else, this film is intimate. It follows Salvador, a famous aging and ailing film director grappling with both his present and his past. He is played by a saltand-pepper-scruffy Antonio Banderas. Though Almodovar has said the film isn’t biographical, the director has obviously put a lot of himself into the character. And Banderas isn’t doing an Almodovar impression (despite the hairdo knockoff of his director’s famous mop). In fact, the character’s apartment is Almodovar’s actual home. Salvador heads out to visit the star of one of his older films, whom he hasn’t seen in years. He wants the actor do a Q&A after

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a special screening of their old collaboration, a film called Sabor (Taste). But Salvador actually wants the druggie actor to teach him how to do heroin. Troubled by a laundry list of chronic ailments (muscle aches, joint pains, tinnitus, anxiety, depression), Salvador seeks escape. He is also running from his own memories. Moreover, he’s trying to outrun his own uncertain future as an artist - and the possibility he may no longer able to produce art. Throughout the film, Salvador drifts - sometimes in a narcotic haze into the past. His reveries lead to memories of his mother (Penelope Cruz) in the 1960s when his poor family lived in a cave/home in the parochial village of Valencia. THE WORD: Here’s an atmospheric character study that probes the ghostly mysteries of life without the intention of uncovering any specific truth. COMING TO: Theaters

THIS PAGE: PAIN AND GLORY - SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

PAIN AND GLORY

END OF THE CENTURY

THIS PAGE: END OF THE CENTURY COURTESY OF CINEMA GUILD • FRANKIE © GUY FERRANDIS/SBS PRODUCTIONS. COURTESY SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

END OF THE CENTURY BEGINS IN SILENCE, SAVE FOR THE GENTLE

ambient noise of the surrounding city. A man is strolls through Barcelona, then checks into an AirBnB. He deposits his bag and inspects the place. Then, while gazing from his balcony, he watches a handsome fellow pass by. Later — after some casual sightseeing — he lingers on a beach and notices the man again. They exchange glances in the sea. But, back on land, the mystery man vanishes before our protagonist can speak to him. Soon Ocho is back on his balcony enjoying a beer when his handsome stranger appears yet again. Ocho calls out and invites the man to join him. Upon consideration, Javi decides,“Why not?” Upstairs the familiar dance of the gay hookup begins. Ocho mentions that he couldn’t find Javi on Grindr earlier. Soon they’re discussing the benefits of PrEP and condom use. So when it comes, their sex is, graphic and

very convincing. At the same time, it’s not eroticized per se.

Rather, the camera seems to observe the pair with a slow and unblinking eye. What unfolds is a lingering tryst filled with conversation and fueled by chemistry, wine and cigarettes.

Eventually we come to understand that these two men have already met and commingled some 20 years earlier. The film dives into their shared past before picking up again in the present. With 20 years between them, it would seem these two promising lovers now have very different lives. Or do they? In a twist worthy of many of Latin America’s great writers, the story continues down a very unexpected road.

THE WORD: In his excellent first feature film, writer/director Lucio Castro crafts a subtle and poignant story highly reminiscent of Andrew Haigh’s film Weekend — with just a hint of Sliding Doors. COMING TO: Theaters

FRANKIE IRA SACHS IS ONE OF THE FINEST GAY DIRECTORS CURRENTLY

producing feature films. His brutal look at a long term gay relationship torn apart by time and drug addiction Keep the Lights On caused a stir with its honesty and sad beauty. He returned with an even more acclaimed effort, Love is Strange a bittersweet tale of love vs. reality that featured shining performances from John Lithgow and Alfred Molina. His Little Men is also about a breakup, but of boyhood best friends and with a less distinctly gay theme. Now in Frankie, Sachs offers a portrait of a woman who is preparing to break up with life itself.

Frankie (Isabelle Huppert) is a famous actress who appears in good health but is dying of cancer. Now she’s summoned those closest to her to Sintra, Portugal, a town famous for its fairytale beauty. There, she and her family (legal and chosen) meander the perfect winding streets in conversation or quiet reflection.

These reveal truths about Frankie and her relationships. The perfectly bearish Brendan Gleeson (Braveheart, In Bruges) plays her doting spouse, while veteran French actor Pascal Greggory (Non-Fiction) plays her homosexual ex-husband and father of their son (Jérémie Renier - In Bruges). Marisa Tomei plays Frankie’s longtime work companion who has been invited to town unaware of Frankie’s condition. What’s more, she’s got

a boyfriend (Greg Kinnear) in tow, and his desire to take their relationship to the next level also becomes part of the story’s arc.

True to Sachs’ form, things seems to fall apart, but in the gentlest ways possible. THE WORD: This director has an eye for the end of things and asks his audience to reflect on the reality of loss. However, it’s a difficult needle to thread, and while still worthwhile, Frankie is not his finest work. COMING TO: Theaters METROSOURCE.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

15

CONSEQUENCES film from the nation of Slovenia revolves around a story of troubled youth. At 17, young Andrej finds himself in court after he punches a girl in the face for laughing at his apparent impotence. (The pair had been trying to hook up at the time.) Andrej’s mother does him no favors in court. She reports to the judge that Andrej does drugs, skips school and won’t listen to anyone.

As a result, he ends up in a kind of juvenile detention center.

However, circumstances there doesn’t generally seem too horrible. He’s even allowed to go back to his nice middleclass home on weekends. The real trouble is that some of Andrej’s peers in this new environment appear much worse than he is. Case in point: Željko, a thief who sells drugs and extorts money from anyone weaker than him. Drawn toward Željko’s alpha personality (or perhaps something else about him), Andrej soon ends up trying to please his role model by serving as his main enforcer. Then - after a night of drinking and drugs leads to a surprisingly intimate encounter between the two strapping young men - Andrej finds himself

becoming more deeply immersed. Despite his antisocial behavior, the handsome and powerfully built Andrej has a kindness in his eyes that is undeniable — further amplified by his tender behavior towards a beloved pet rat. And speaking of pets, like a loyal dog, Andrej abides by his blackmailing master, until Željko ultimately pushes him too far. The message of the film is clear from its title.

The real question is: who will reap the consequences? Will it be Andrej? Those who abuse him? Or those who denied him the love and acceptance that might have helped him build a different life?

THE WORD: While this film lacks nuance, it does make for a decent cautionary tale about how youths at risk might benefit from more compassion and less discipline. COMING TO: Video on Demand

THIS IS NOT BERLIN HERE’S THE OPENING IN STORYBOARD FORM: TWO LARGE GROUPS OF TEEN

schoolboys brawling in a dusty field - in slow motion. In the center, a boy hovers. He is not engaging any of the other combatants. There’s a look of alarm frozen on his face. Eventually, in the distance, he seems to see something. But before we can ascertain what that might be, he faints. The boy wakes up in a car with his school brothers admiring their battle bruises, and thus the scene is set. We are in the world of these middle class youth in 1980s Mexico City. Carlos (Xabiani Ponce de León - who is as pretty as his name) is soon revealed to be

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smarter than most of his friends. In fact, it turns out he is something of an engineering prodigy. He has a serious crush on his best friend Gera’s older sister, Rita (Ximena Romo). And when Carlos fixes her boyfriend’s broken keyboard, he earns passage for him and Gera to the underground club where Rita and her fellow cool kids party every night. Inside Carlos and Gera are exposed to a world of punk music, art, drugs and sexual liberty.

Gera appears hesitantly drawn to the queer aspects of this new world, while Carlos becomes a quick convert to the look and social defiance of a gay counterculture artist. Diving headfirst into the scene, Carlos is bullied at school for his punk haircut and participation in public protests concerning the then-wildly raging AIDS crisis. And amid the tumult, he still has eyes for Rita. As he attempts to navigate the muddy waters of love and personal identity, Carlos seeks advice from his very cool uncle, played by the film’s director, Hari Sama. What makes this film pop — apart from Sama’s strong visuals —is the personality of Mexico City. This place has long possessed of one of the most exciting art scenes in the world, and it must’ve have been especially vibrant in the lean and permissive ‘80s. THE WORD: Not the best story, but Sama’s film successfully captures the vibrant energy of a time and place. COMING TO: Video on Demand

THIS PAGE: CONSEQUENCES COURTESY DARK STAR PICTURES • THIS IS NOT BERLIN - SAMUEL GOLDWNY FILMS

CULTURE

SCREEN

THE FIRST NARRATIVE LGBTQ FEATURE

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begin to guess they do? Hold that thought, because Peter Lucian (Peter Sarsgaard) is a successful one. That’s surprising in part because few of his clients seem to understand what exactly it is he does when they hire him. Only in a place like New York City would you ďŹ nd such a professional. You’ll ďŹ nd him by getting his phone number from an eccentric friend who’s noticed just how stressed and sleepless you’ve been.

Then Mr. Lucian comes to your home with his odd and rigid professionalism and proceeds to listen to your apartment.

He takes in all of the ambient sounds: the low whine of a radiator, the buzz of a toaster, the hum of an electric clock. He doesn’t try to eliminate all these constant and mostly overlooked sounds. Instead, he seeks to tweaks their collective output to a tone promised to deliver you to inner harmony, rather than the nervous exhaustion you’ve been experiencing. It’s all a part of the Lucian world view: how sounds affect people, and even what uniďŹ ed sound the city itself is making.

Like many men of vision, Lucian seems to dwell at the bor-

der between genius and madness. Things get a bit more complex when Lucian meets a client, Ellen (Rashida Jones), a woman whose environment appears resistant to his skills or charm. Meanwhile, even as some of his peers respect (and even covet) his work, others seem to believe he could be simply nuts. Expanding on his own short, 2013’s Palimpsest, freshman feature director Michael Tyburski crafts a thoughtful ďŹ lm with an original premise. But he seems a bit tentative about where to take his story. The ďŹ lm’s concept might have worked better as a short, which only has to be concerned with character and ethos, rather than a more well-realized narrative. THE WORD: Sarsgaard is the strongest part of the ďŹ lm; he excels at playing volatile and enigmatic weirdos. COMING TO: Video on Demand

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Virginia Woolf brought to ďŹ lm. While some of the romance between these famous Brits is speculative, the wealth of letters that the writers exchanged speaks to their enraptured connection. A more commercially successful writer, the aristocratic Vita (Gemma Arterton -Clash of The Titans) takes an interest in Virginia (Elizabeth Debicki - Widows), whom she recognizes as her artistic superior. Vita pursues the married Woolf with a passionate intensity, which in turn worries Vita’s high-toned husband (with whom she has an understanding regarding their sexual proclivities). He’s already rescued Vita’s reputation after she ran off with a woman once; he won’t abide it again. Nor will Vita’s wealthy and controlling mother (Isabella Rossellini).

Meanwhile the mentally unstable Virginia depends on Leonard, her loyal caretaker, publisher, and husband. The representation

of Woolf’s ecstatic mind is something worth savoring here.

For Virginia, everything will suddenly freeze: vines will snake across a room, climb the walls, then burst into bloom. This exquisite madness has a wonderful intensity that brings to mind the potency with which Woolf was depicted in The Hours. The efďŹ cacy of these scenes owe a lot to an excellent, driving score composed by Isobel Waller-Bridge (sister of Phoebe WallerBridge - Fleabag, Killing Eve). The ďŹ lm’s strengths are its focus on these exceptional women personiďŹ ed by two strikingly beautiful and talented leads. The script, coauthored by director Chanya Button and actress Eileen Atkins is impressive and literary, if limited by historical record. THE WORD: Worth watching, especially paired with 1992’s Orlando (starring Tilda Swinton), based on Woolf’s novel whose gender-switching main character was inspired by Vita. COMING TO: Video on Demand METROSOURCE.COM /#4/"%2 ./6%-"%2

17

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS

WHEN AMAZON MEETS WHOLE FOODS Will the partnership between the retail giants deliver a brave new era in grocery shopping — or is it just one more way to point-and-click your way to indulgence? BY DUSTIN YOUNG ordering pizza online in The Net and it became my teenage obsession. At the time, that scene embodied my boyhood fantasy of an ultra-connected tech future. It was the mid-’90s, grunge was everywhere and dial-up services like AOL billed by the minute. Looking back, I now realize that Bullock’s character was less living the luxe life and more wallowing in isolation as she hacked together a customized pie for delivery from the fictitious Pizza.net.

Fast forward 25 years and that vision of the future has more than come to pass.

There’s almost no Avoiding the Noid when all you need to do is tweet a pizza emoji to alert Domino’s of a delivery desire. Plus - unlike the very limited reach of a 54-hundred baud modem circa 1995 - today’s highspeed access gives the term“fast food”a whole new meaning.

But it’s not just fast food that has been brought so tantalizingly close at hand by touch screens and track pads and smart phones (oh my!).

BEHEMOTHS RISING It was close to the same time during the nascent dot-com boom of the 1990s when both Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market began their respective journeys toward offering the ultimate in choice, quality and speed of satiation. Jeff Bezos founded Amazon.com in 1994. A few years later in 1997, one of the many consolidated subsidiaries that came to make up present day Whole Foods - WholePeople.com - began to seriously explore the online sales potential of their products.

Those visions of the future lead to this present day singularity: The tools of our present full of instant gratification were already in place.

However, it would take more than a dozen years for Amazon to become profitable, and about the same for Whole Foods to establish itself as a premium grocer throughout major markets of the nation. Another decade passed, and now these two behemoths of business have finally merged into a super massive black hole of perpetual indulgence.

INSTANTLY GRATIFIED? In theory, Amazon’s logistical ingenuity combined with Whole Foods’ curated grocery acumen means that consumers can now declare that “fast” food is no longer synonymous with groceries considered subpar.

Or can we? In researching this article, I must admit I was at first confused and ultimately, pretty far from instantly gratified by the reality of Amazon Prime Now delivery through Whole Foods.

That’s not to say what’s available isn’t good. It might even be great.

However, the sheer volume of choices can be a barrier to entry compared

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METROSOURCE.COM

to the simple user experience once anticipated by the fictional pizza configurator depicted in The Net. Though we long ago grew accustomed to such services from the likes of Domino’s and Pizza Hut, the ultimate result is just faster fast food. However, the partnering of Amazon and Whole Foods does actually result in several crossover services you need to understand in order to get the most in return. However once you do, they can yield high quality food, much faster.

THE MEGA-MERGER MENU To make the most of these services, you need to grasp the various ingredients making up the recipe. It begins at Amazon and it ends with Whole Foods at your door. In between is Prime, a $119 annual (or $12.99 monthly) subscription that includes Amazon Prime Now two-hour delivery. Use it to find most of your Whole Foods favorites — including their prepared meals and 365 branded products.

Meanwhile, Amazon Fresh is a total grocery delivery add-on to your Prime subscription that ups your monthly cost by another $14.99.

Amazon Fresh combines Whole Foods offerings with more conventional supermarket brands. (However this, as well as Prime membership, is provided free of charge for customers with a valid SNAP/ EBT card.) In most major markets, orders over $35 are delivered at no extra charge.

Elsewhere, that threshold is $50. But let’s say you absolutely require a pack of gum delivered.You can have it for the price of the gum and a $9.99 fee.

You can further request a one hour “attended delivery” window that arrives in paper bags. Or you can request a 2-3 hour “doorstep delivery” in temperature-controlled totes - depending on location and availability.

Whole Foods Discounts for Amazon Prime Members can be obtained both in-store and when ordering online. You can even front-load your shopping trip by checking out the available discounts online first.

But remember: Get that app installed before you get to the checkout in order to authenticate your membership.

SPECIAL DELIVERIES If you’re prepared to make the internet your cyber-sous chef, Amazon and Whole Foods can up your kitchen game to gourmet levels. But it’ll take thought, planning and coordination. Ultimately, it’s less about gratifying your every whim of instant consumption and more like employing a robotic workforce to keep supplies coming aligned with your culinary forecast. If you use these services at peak efficiency, they can provide a route to a healthier lifestyle and more efficient food budgeting. Or – if you simply enjoy the thrill of ordering groceries online as easily as Sandra ordered pizza in The Net — they might be just one more indulgence. ■

THIS PAGE: STOCKPHOTO (WITHOUT THE LOGOS) CREDIT NEYRO2008

METROSOURCE

TECH

AT 16 YEARS OLD, I SAW SANDRA BULLOCK

These Are

10 Tax Mistakes You Might Be Making

The year will be gone before you know it; gather those receipts. By JENNIFER DAY The U.S. tax code is nearly 4 million words. That’s a lot of

6. Inaccurate account numbers

complicated legal jargon that most people don’t really want to read.

However, even though the rules are complex, most of the mistakes LGBTQ taxpayers make on their returns are fairly simple. Here are 10 of the most common errors taxpayers make:

You should always double-check your bank account and routing numbers if you prefer your refund direct deposited or if you’re making an electronic tax payment. Entering incorrect information can delay your refund or result in

1. Not filing on time

7. Missing a tax break

The IRS estimates a full 20 percent of taxpayers wait until a week before the deadline to file their income tax returns. Unfortunately, waiting until the last minute can also force some procrastinators to miss the deadline entirely if they happen to run into any problems while completing their forms.

Sure, filing for an extension can give you more time, but you still need to pay any taxes owed by the original deadline, which is April 15, 2020 for tax year 2019. And if you don’t make that payment by the due date, the IRS will charge you interest.

While the IRS isn’t famous for its generosity, there are a number of tax credits and exemptions available – especially to families and students. Credits like the Child Tax Credit can lower your tax bill by as much as $2,000, so make sure you don’t miss out if you qualify.

In addition, make sure you think twice before deciding to take the standard deduction. Homeowners in particular should itemize their biggest deductions to see if they add up to more than the standard.

2. Missing or incorrect information One of the more common tax filing mistakes is leaving a box blank or screwing up your own Social Security number. The easiest way to avoid those mistakes is to import info from last year’s return so you don’t risk creating a typo when keying in your information.

culture

8. Filing the wrong tax forms

finance

penalties and interest on late payments.

The IRS now provides a single income tax form for all filers to complete regardless of their tax situation. That’s Form 1040. Forms 1040A and 1040EZ were eliminated starting with tax year 2018. The revision of Form 1040 also brought with it six new schedules. If you own a business and need to report profits and losses, you’ll still need to complete Schedule C.

9. Filing under the wrong status 3. Math errors Formulas used in tax forms are notoriously tricky — i.e. “Add line 8 to line 32 and multiply by .356 if your AGI is greater than $50,000.”

Excuse me: What?? Save yourself a headache and use tax preparation software like TurboTax that will make the calculations for you.

stock photo Copyright: Tharakorn Arunothai

4. Falling behind on the latest tax news Not only is the tax code complicated, but Congress changes it a little every year. The tax reform at the end of 2017 was the largest overhaul of the tax code in 30 years. That amount of change can feel overwhelming for some. Make sure to consult the IRS news page for important updates so you don’t miss out on valuable deductions and credits (or attempt to claim a benefit that no longer exists).

5. Not keeping a copy of your return Tax experts recommend keeping a copy of your tax return for at least three years. That’s how long the IRS can legally audit you for a gross under-reporting of income.

The IRS applies different income tax rates - and it awards different standard deductions - according to your filing status: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household or qualifying widow(er). Married couples filing jointly, for example, are entitled to twice the standard deduction of single filers.

Also note that married couples filing separately are subject to different rules than joint filers. For instance, if you file separately, both spouses need to claim either the standard or itemized deductions - not one of each.

10. Not filing at all Even if you can’t pay your full tax bill at the time it’s due, file a return and contact the IRS to start an installment payment plan. The interest rates are low, and it’s far better than ignoring the law and failing to file, which can result in penalties and potential tax evasion charges.

Remember as Benjamin Franklin said,“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”So remember: keep your receipts, consider filing as soon as you have the necessary documents for the previous year, and to file before April 15th. It’ll be here before you know it.

■ metrosource.com october/november 2019

19

changing colors An English vocalist crafts a fantasy dreamscape, a pop futurist embraces collaborations, and a rock trio goes dark. by matt gross

Sleater-Kinney The Center Won’t Hold

culture

music

According to rock trio Sleater-Kinney, The Center Won’t Hold is Sleater-Kinney’s “midnight record on the doomsday clock.” For 25 years Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein (of Portlandia fame) have been creating“riot grrrl” music before it even became a recognized genre. As they explain,“we’re always mixing the personal and the political. But on this record, despite obviously thinking so much about politics, we were really thinking about the person - ourselves or versions of ourselves or iterations of depression or loneliness - in the middle of the chaos.” Produced by pop auteur St. Vincent (that’s Annie Clark’s stage name), The Center Won’t Hold strays a bit from Sleater-Kinney’s signature gritty, guitar-heavy sound by adding electronics, traditional choruses and an undoubtedly goth vibe befitting the record’s dark subject matter. “Here are intimate battle cries. Here are shattered songs for the shattered survivors,” they declaim. The record’s highlights include the ferocious “Hurry on Home” and the album’s sleek and direct title track.

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this page: Sleater-Kinney credit Charlie Engman

(Mom + Pop Music)

BAT FOR LASHES Lost Girls (AWAL)

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Inspired by Los Angeles (where the album was recorded) and growing up in the ‘80s, Lost Girls is a lush and sensual release from this English singer. Bat for Lashes (born Natasha Khan) has been making waves internationally since 2006 with the release of her boundary pushing Mercury Prize-nominated debut release, Fur and Gold.

Her sound is equal parts Kate Bush, Siouxsie Sioux, Stevie Nicks, Annie Lennox and something entirely her own. And it always comes with a tinge of mystery, grace and passion. Her previous release, The Bride, was more melancholy and mournful. Conversely, Lost Girls is being called “an album for driving in the dark; holding hands at sunset; jumping off bridges with vampires; riding your bike across the moon.” The synth poppy lead single, “Kids in the Dark” could have perfectly accompanied a sex scene in some coming-of-age flick around 1985.

Elsewhere,“Feel for You” (not the Prince/Chaka classic) is reminiscent of a lost ‘70s disco jam and would fit beautifully next to Donna Summer on your Spotify workout playlist. Listening to Lost Girls is like stepping into a fantasy dreamworld.

CHARLI XCX

Charli (Atlantic Records) On her third studio album, the pop futurist celebrates the art of collaboration.

Throughout this collection, Charli XCX seamlessly blends musical genres from across the pop spectrum. Acclaimed collaborators here include Lizzo, Troye Sivan, CupcakKe, Big Freedia and Sky Ferreira among many others.

However, it’s her duet with French pop phenomenon Christine and the Queens on “Gone” that takes the top pop prize.

According to a statement from the artist,

the tune serves as a “hard-hitting ode to the complexities of falling prey to others’ opinions.” (Plus, the video is pretty fantastic and worth seeking out).

Since the start of her career nearly a decade ago, Charli XCX has regularly challenged the conventions of pop music, and this fun, self-titled record is no exception. She has always fallen slightly to the margins of the mainstream (not counting “Fancy” with Iggy Azalea which spent seven weeks at #1 back in 2014). But that’s all about to change. It’s easy to envision these bops receiving heavy Top 40 airplay. Want to see Charli XCX strut her stuff live? She’ll tour the record extensively throughout North America this fall, starting September 20 in Atlanta and ending October 22 in New York City.

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Arkansas CareTeam Member and CarePartners

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THESE STRAIGHT

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HIV HEROES

Trudy Crestone

Victoria Noe

In her new book, Victoria Noe chronicles the stories of people whose contributions to addressing the AIDS epidemic have often gone unheralded: straight women. BY JEFF SIMMONS THEY ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES: THE STRAIGHT WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINES

of the HIV/AIDS epidemic who served as the advocates and allies, the angels of mercy who provided comfort and care for the sick and dying.

“These mostly anonymous women have put their bodies on the line, sometimes literally, to fight for the rights of people with HIV/ AIDS,”writes Victoria Noe, in her new book, Fag Hags, Divas and Moms: The Legacy of Straight Women in the AIDS Community ($16.99, King Company Publishing). “They have delivered meals, covered for, and housed people who were abandoned by their birth families. They have comforted the living and buried the dead. They have raised money and awareness and given hope to those in despair. They have celebrated successes and mourned too many lives cut short by a virus and stigma.

And their efforts have largely gone unrecognized.”

A longtime author, essayist, and veteran member of Chicago’s AIDS community, Noe lost countless friends to the epidemic. She notes how many chronicles of the plague focus on the work of men and the gay community — but not the contributions of straight women.

“The epidemic is more diverse than people think,” she wants to make clear. “The public face has typically been white gay men, not that there’s anything wrong with that. They were at the forefront of everything. But it’s important for people to see that, as astounding as the contributions are from gay men, there have been significant contributions from women of all races, of all ethnic groups and from all around the world. And it’s time for their stories to be told.”

Fag Hags sheds light on the courage, defiance and compassion displayed by heterosexual women who came forth when the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and ‘90s was decimating the gay community and communities of color across the United States. Many of the advocates – including Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Rivers and Princess Diana – were household names who leveraged their celebrity in order to highlight the epidemic. But many others have been largely unknown, and Noe wants to make certain their contributions are remembered as well.

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These unsung heroes include such women as Rosa E. MartinezColon, who aided Puerto Rican men felled by the plague. There’s also the Red Pump Project, which educated women in African American communities. Martha Cameron reached HIV-infected children in Zambia. Iris De La Cruz advocated for HIV-positive Latinx New Yorkers.

And Trudy James of Arkansas connected volunteers in faith communities to people with AIDS. “I tried to include women who did things that did not get a lot of attention, so you have Trudy, who matched people with AIDS with the faith community, which was unheard of in 1989 - given the tension between religious groups and the AIDS community,” Noe says. “They had 140 teams at their peak. When I contacted her to tell her story, she asked,‘Why would anyone care about it?’ I said,‘Because you did something else that no one else was doing.’”

Noe also chronicles the impact of the volunteers, nonprofit executives, researchers, moms, divas, activists, artists, medical establishment and a multitude of caregivers. She illustrates the myriad, courageous ways women made tangible differences by confronting stigma and ignorance even as they lobbied for treatment and drug policy reform policy. Often, they were doing it all while simultaneously fundraising.

“These were women who would just go about their jobs and work in an office every day, and they would then raise money or provide services. They were doing this because they felt it was the right thing to do.

They weren’t looking for adulation or a pat on the back,”Noe says. That humility illustrates the core of their care, seeking to help others without personal gain.

Noe laments that she could not tell all these women’s stories. If she had, the book “would have been about 800 pages.” But she still hopes it offers a lens into many contributions that have long been ignored.

As Noe writes,“It’s time for straight women in the AIDS movement to come out of the closet and share the spotlight they so richly deserve.

Their stories have only begun to be told.”

■

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MICHAEL R. MOORE IS NOTHING BUT LOVE

THIRTY YEARS AGO, A YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER MOVED TO LOS ANGELES WITH THE DREAM OF FOCUSING HIS LENS ON BLACK HOLLYWOOD. HE ENDED UP CAPTURING SO MUCH MORE.

BY PAUL HAGEN THERE’S A SPECIAL SPARK OF LIFE IN THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF

Michael R. Moore. Where does it come from? Does it have to do with the fact that the Dallas-born artist has been shooting since the age of six? Could it relate to his uniquely personal appreciation of subjects who are LGBTQ or people of color? Might it be the way he approaches subjects - from celebrities to the homeless - with the same sense of wonder? As it turns out, the secret is written on the skin of the 64-year-old LA transplant.“I have a tattoo,” he reveals,“that says: I am nothing but love.”

THIS SECTION: ALL IMAGES COURTESY MICHAEL R. MOORE

DARKROOM ON MY DESK When asked when his relationship with photography began, there is an almost childlike awe in the graveltinged voice of the artist. This might be because he started at such a young age.

“I was in the darkroom by seven,”Moore remembers.“I modeled from the age of six to 17.”At that point, his agent saw some photos Moore had taken. “‘Did you do these?’ she said. And I said, ‘Yeah.’ And she said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ I told her, ‘It’s just something I do.’” She made a phone call, and Moore began working professionally at 18.

“As I got older, I was more able to command people” he explains. “I was more able to create what I saw in my head. Digital helped a lot with that.” However, he was

reluctant to abandon analog photography at firs But then “a friend bought me a digital camera and I felt like I was six years old again.” It was a relief for Moore to no longer be limited by a set number of exposures and to be finally free to explore how the photos could be further manipulated once they appeared on his computer screen.“I would have these visions and things that I wanted to do that I really couldn’t do in the darkroom.”

So even though at that point he’d had a studio in Hollywood for six years, he shut it down to study what could be done with digital. “My computer is now my darkroom on my desk,”he explains. He celebrated 46 years as a photographer in June of 2019.

EVERYTHING JUST TURNS ME ON When asked about what inspires him, it seems to be the act of photography itself. “I’m actually really, really crazy about just shooting. I shoot every day. Even if it’s not a gig, you know? I shoot shadows on walls, landscapes, urban scenery. Everything just turns me on visually.” At times, the camera was more of a way of looking at the world than recording it. “I remember there was a time when I was shooting. I would just be clicking my camera, looking through the viewfinder, without even having film in it.”

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medium, it may be no surprise that Moore has developed a unique vocabulary in which photography sounds distinctly like an act of communication. ““I call portraits conversations because we’re having a conversation,” he explains.“And when I’m doing full-length, I call it a dance because we’re moving. I’m moving and they’re moving and we’re just dancing, having fun.”

And then there are Moore’s extraordinary shots that feature extreme makeup. “I call those my dreams because they are,” he offers. He points to one example in particular. “There’s an image of a young lady and she’s painted black with gold hair,” he remembers. “I was home in Texas, laying on my mom’s sofa in the den and that image came to me. I wanted her to be crying. And I called the make-up artist right away, and I was like, ‘Oh My God!’ In the shot that resulted, the girl’s hair is fantastically flecked with gold and she is, indeed, crying.

“The gold tears that she’s crying is actually K-Y jelly with gold eye shadow,” Moore reveals.

We Needed More Light Moore responds with a pleased laugh at the suggestion that the extraordinary way he captures people of color on film could be seen as an act of social justice, considering photography for many years was usually balanced to favor white skin. “I have been accredited with shooting black people differently,” he admits.

“And a lot of black people come to me because of the way that I shoot black people. I learned very early from a black man how to shoot. And I grew up in a black neighborhood where I used to walk around and shoot people on the street. I learned that we needed more light.”

For years, Moore struggled with the fact that most makeup also did not seem designed to favor darker skin. As a result, black subjects“would end up either in black-and-white looking ashy or in color: they would be pale with a pink or orange undertone.”

Though Moore has carefully watched the evolution of makeup, he is also not afraid to ask models to go without.“Right now, I’m working on a project where I want to shoot women, and I just want three elements of make-up: red lipstick, Vaseline and eyelashes.”

Moore asked a young lady with whom he’d worked for many years to pose for the series. “And she came with a completely beat face,” he says with a hearty laugh. He explained the concept to her again and asked her to remove the makeup. She hesitated.

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“Michael, I don’t know if I can do that,” he remembers her saying. This was a subject, Moore notes with pride, that has been“photographed everywhere”and appeared in movies and music videos. “She had just not been photographed without make-up.” Nevertheless, when she washed her face and they took the photos, she loved his results.

mic for 16 months now every Monday night. And I attend. I went this past Monday, and there was a folk band; there were rappers; there were singers; a young lady just moved here from Texas — been here a month! And she tore it down! She moved to LA to get on The Voice, and she didn’t make it. But she said she just has to sing.”

SOMETHING STRANGE AND TRAGIC ONE OF MY MUSES Moore sees his tendency to develop long term relationships with subjects as a plus. At times it has even begun online.“One guy, we were friends on Facebook,”Moore recalls. And the guy kept saying, “I really want to work with you.” Later, he was at the presentation breakfast for an LGBTQ cultural calendar that has featured Moore’s work for the last three years.“From behind, somebody said my name, and I turned around, and it was the guy from Facebook,” Moore recalls.

About two weeks later, Moore called him in for a session.

“We worked, and I have a feeling that he will be one of my muses,”says Moore.“He does one man shows, designs clothes, writes poetry. That’s his living, and he’s very avant-garde.”

“Once I’ve shot them they become Mo-Boys,” Moore explains. “‘Cause of the fact that I can drop a dime and say, ‘Let’s play,’ and they’re willing to do it.”

“I have Mo-boys that I met and photographed when they were, like, 17 and they’re in their forties and I’m still working with some of them,” Moore adds.“So, yes, people do not only inspire me and I inspire them: We become family.”

WHERE’S THE DAMN TIGER? When asked to create a sense of indulgence on film, Moore isn’t afraid to pull out all the stops.“Where’s the damn tiger?” he says with a laugh. He remembers a shoot at which he worked with a half-million dollars in jewelry. “We had two security guards, and - you know - it was great,”he remembers.

“It turned out to be a beautiful ad campaign.”

But the heart of indulgence takes him back to his love of the art of photography. “I find that just creating, for me, is my indulgence. It feeds my soul; it keeps me from being depressed,” Moore says. It seems to be a reminder of how fortunate he is to be doing what he loves. “Being a gay black male,”he contemplates,“I could be in prison, maybe on drugs.

There’s so much that I could have going against me.”

Moore’s personal indulgences include good food, music and shoes.“I go from Converse to Loubitins, you know? I just love shoes. I love fashion, but I love shoes! I’m not opposed to wearing a good pair of pumps - the higher the better!”

His eclectic tastes also extend to music. “I was raised in a musical environment growing up. I have had several friends that are creative musically from gospel to rap. I have a friend here — his name is Unkal Bean. He has been hosting an open

However, on at least one occasion, Unkal Bean’s open mic has lead to more than an opportunity to witness excellent musicianship. “Something strange and tragic happened a week before last at open mic,” Moore reveals. “I’m there, and I’m videotaping and — you know how you’re in a crowd and you feel somebody looking at you, and you look over and your eyes meet? Well, that happened to me!”

“And this guy, he smiled and he nodded. I smiled and nodded. And with that, he aggressively started making his way through the crowd to get to Unkal Bean, who had the mic. And he put his hand on the mic, and it was this back and forth little tussle and Unkal said,‘Get in line and wait your turn!’

“The guy did, and there was, like, one person before him. So he comes up, and this guy confessed to murdering his girlfriend - and burying her in the dirt! And that next morning, that Tuesday morning, Unkal calls me and he goes, ‘You know crazy guy that came last night?’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘I just watched SWAT surround and handcuff him — he was sleeping in his car.’

And they still haven’t found her body!”

ON THE BLOCK Such incidents have not shaken Moore’s resolve to stay involved with the less fortunate in his community. He makes a point of attending gatherings such as The Wayfarer Foundation’s

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Skid Row Carnival of Love - which is meant to create bridges between those experiencing homelessness and the wider community, while also helping provide necessities to the former. These can include health care, legal advice, career opportunities, hygiene services, food and even pet care.“Paul Mitchell has these teams,”Moore offers as an example.

“Stylists come and give haircuts.” These are also joyous events featuring carnival games and music. Moore has also been part of events where volunteers visit to hand out food and clothing weekly to those who need them around Skid Row. Moore will take pictures at such events and gift them to the organizations to use as part of their awareness-raising efforts.

down on skid row “I live on the edge of Skid Row,” Moore explains. He describes an area in Los Angeles of approximately 50 blocks. “When I moved here, my friend that I was living with — we lived in a loft space in downtown when it was not the chic thing to do. Sort of like the East Village in the ‘80s. When I got up that next morning, he said, ‘C’mon! I wanna show you something!’ So we got in his little Toyota truck and we went like two blocks behind where we were living, and I had not ever seen anything like it! The homelessness! And now it’s like 20 times worse. In fact, there are some blocks you cannot even walk down because of tents and stuff, and it’s almost like a third world country. And we’re maybe four blocks from City Hall!”

It turns out Moore’s friend Unkal Bean is also known among the homeless. As such, Moore has also been working on a series tentatively called On the Block with Unkal. “At first I was very hesitant about photographing homeless people. It bothered my soul to do it. I would always hesitate,” Moore explains,“and think about that person’s

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dignity, that person’s history - which I don’t know, and I think about family, you know?”

“I’ve been documenting Unkal for 15 years. And he is very wellrespected and regarded in the homeless community. So, we’re out and about, and I’m photographing him, or we could just be standing on the street corner talking. And I’ve always got the camera with me and somebody would come up and say, ‘Take my picture with Unkal!’”The results are a mesmerizing series of photographs.“These people that are homeless are with Unkal and they are very touching portraits. Some are funny. And some — you just stare at them.”

old school to kindergarten Moore says it’s hard to choose a favorite from among his decades of work.“It’s like asking parents with multiple kids,‘Who’s your favorite?’” he explains, although he is an only child. Though he also admits, “There have been some that shine more because of the exposure.”

“I have a photograph of my great grandmother when she was 103.

At my first exhibition, I showed it,” he remembers.“A large majority of the people wanted to buy it, but I couldn’t sell it.”

He also counts among his highlights the more than three years of work he’s done with Empire star Bryshere Y. Gray.“The images that I created with him are fabulous to me because I was with this guy anywhere from 10 to 16 hours at a stretch — shooting him on junkets, on red carpets, for editorial, even just hanging out.”Moore remembers when they were first introduced.“My friend who got me the gig, Jayson Griffin, is his personal stylist. Jayson called me and he said, ‘I have a celebrity for you.’”But he couldn’t tell Moore who the celebrity was.

As a show of good faith, Moore went on a long drive to the Valley to meet the mystery celebrity. Moore describes it as quite the journey, and mentions that by the end of it, he was rather uncomfortably aware of the call of nature. So when Moore was finally led up into a mysterious apartment where “there was this one person in the kitchen that you could see when you opened the door but they had this hoodie on.

When he turned around, it was Bryshere,”Moore recalls.“I just walked up to him and I said, ‘You know, I really wanted to kick your ass!’ And his eyes got big, and I said,’“But Cookie already did it for me!”(For the unfamiliar, Moore was referring to the scene early on in Empire when Taraji P. Henson’s character Cookie gave Bryshere’s character, her son Hakeem, quite the whupping.)

“And he laughed and that was the beginning,” Moore remembers fondly. Gray and Moore developed an instant rapport. Gray engaged Moore as his personal photographer and they arranged to meet whenever Gray was in Los Angeles. Gray’s Mom has told him she feels safer knowing Moore is around her son. She even used one of Moore’s photos on the cover of her book.

WHAT COMES NEXT? What Moore sees ahead for himself is the fulfillment of a dream he’s had since he moved to LA 30 years ago. “I moved here to document Black Hollywood - old school, new school and kindergarten,” he says.

“I consider Bryshere, he’s my kindergarten. And I had the honor and pleasure to be invited to the NAACP Awards with Danny Glover. When he achieved his Lifetime Achievement Award, I got to photograph him.” So now Moore’s goal is to“fill in that gap - from Danny to Bry.” Moore would also like to photograph Brad Pitt.“In the photographs that I’ve seen of him throughout the decades,” Moore points out,“he’s such a giving subject.”

LOVE CONQUERS Beyond that, Moore has a hope for us all to share going forward. “In this time that we’re living in, I want to express that — and it sounds elementary and it sounds simple and it sounds too flower power: we gotta love and understand the power of love,” he says. “And I see a brighter future because I am surrounded by LGBT youth, and they are passionate, and they are strong and they are resisting the bullshit. They have fire.”

“On the one hand, it is so uplifting. And on the other hand, it is so disheartening and painful that a lot of transgender male-to-females are being murdered,” he adds.“And it’s like open season, you know?”

“I just want people that are truly human to use their love to educate, to free people,” he continues. “Because I grew up in a family that loved me. I remember when the term ‘closet’ came out. And I was like, ‘What’s that?’’’ Perhaps one of the keys to Moore’s success was that - unlike so many LGBTQ people of his generation - he did not experience rejection and isolation from his family because of his identity. “The love that I got from my family and friends growing up made me — makes me, because they still do — the man I am today.

“I truly believe that the power of love will conquer, does conquer, has to conquer. Love conquers. And again, in this time that we live in, we all need it. Even the people that hate — they need love because that’s what they’re lacking. It’s the ignorance of love.”

To learn more about Michael R. Moore and purchase prints of his work, visit him online at iammoore.com.

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Roffman and his husband Sarit

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THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE

WHAT DOES THE STAR WARS GALAXY HAVE IN COMMON WITH A GALLERY OF GAY NUDES? MORE THAN YOU EVER KNEW. BY KEVIN PHINNEY

MANY WHO KNOW HOWARD ROFFMAN

consider him the man who helped pilot Star Wars into the franchise juggernaut it is today. Others praise his work as a fine art photographer finding that instant in a young man’s life when he slips into his first warm summer of adulthood — at play, relating to friends and partners, and most often, nude.

Roffman’s twin careers reflect a restless creativity that’s beckoned him to leap from one medium to another in his pursuits over the years. And now that he’s both stepped down from the top tier of Lucasfilm and put down his camera, he’s convinced himself: it’s time to write a novel.

ALL IMAGES THIS SECTION COURTESY OF HOWARD ROFFMAN

BOYS AND THEIR TOYS As a gay man with a husband half his age, the 66-year old Roffman has managed to hold onto the youth and curiosity of an Eagle Scout. So perhaps it’s no surprise that he also had more than a little to do with why boys today can play with dolls.

He cautions that an assortment of contributors had a hand in creating the toys that were reintroduced as what were called “action figures” back in the 1980s. But Star Wars characters were among the first on the block. Before Luke, Han, Darth and the droids were cast in plastic, there was G.I. Joe, and there wasn’t much else.

Roffman arrived at Lucasfilm in 1980 as a contract lawyer specializing in entertainment mere days before the opening of The Empire Strikes Back. One of his first assignments: work out the fine points of Harrison Ford’s contract for Raiders of the Lost Ark. How do all these puzzle parts fit together? Guardian at the gate of Lucasfilm’s most bankable property, gay fine art photographer, lawyer,

writer and toy visionary? “When you talk about me and ‘career,’ that’s something of a strange word,” Roffman says from his home in San Francisco. “I started out as a writer working in non-fiction with one book on the JFK assassination and another on the Cold War. Was that a career?” He laughs softly.“It certainly wouldn’t have paid any bills.”

IT’S THE LAW To solve that problem, Roffman enrolled in law school and then clerked for a federal judge. “That experience profoundly influenced me,” he grants.

“Before that, I was a pretty loud critic of the system. There were certainly some good things that came out of the ‘60s, like the Civil Rights Act. But at the same time for me, it was the era of the Vietnam war, which I felt was immoral; the embodiment of evil. Then all of a sudden, I was on the inside.”

In acclimating himself to the legal process and the interplay of personalities involved, he soon discovered “the person you’re working for isn’t just a faceless name in the newspaper anymore. I got to know the judges at the Court of Appeals and came to understand their friendships and rivalries and see how the process worked as an insider.

Here’s the interesting thing: for the most part, they didn’t let political differences infringe on the camaraderie they shared. Seeing how judicial decisions are made gave me a new respect for the institution.”

By the end of the decade, attorney Roffman was practicing contract law in a galaxy far, far away from showbiz. He remembers seeing the first Star Wars film in 1977 from the front row, watching as it was projected directly over his head — “with a theater full of screaming METROSOURCE.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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kids, no less. I left thinking I just didn’t get it. The George Lucas movie that impressed me at the time was American Graffiti.”

But within weeks of his arrival at Lucasfilm,“I got to attend the premiere of Empire in Washington D.C. and the film blew my mind. When I started my job, one of the first things I did was to ask for a screening of the first film, A New Hope, so I could actually see what was going on — and that blew my mind, too. This time I got it!”

when howard met george Roffman didn’t meet Lucas for some time after his hiring, but the pair gradually warmed to each other.“I was thrown into the fray of everything. Six months in, George fired a lot of the management. It seemed like the sky was falling, but I just tried to keep my focus. At that point I became a part of senior management.

During that time, he says, “I really got to know George as a person and forged a friendship with him. He’s incredibly smart and insightful with an unbelievable imagination, a fantastic sense of humor and really great values.

You could be in conversation with him for hours. I suppose I’m drawn to people with big intellects and big ideas.”

Then suddenly, Star Wars went into hibernation. After the rollout of Return of the Jedi in 1983, it fell to Roffman and a handful of others to keep the fantasy alive for its fanbase. There were Star Wars books and comics that had to conform to the universe Lucas had created. Action figures and video games followed. Lucasfilm is often singled out as the originator of the movie toy tiein, although Roffman calls that a bit simplistic.

“Here’s what happened,” he explains: “When George made the original Star Wars deal, it was at the low end of his market rate as a writer/director.

All of a sudden, American Graffiti comes out in 1973 and becomes one of the most profitable movies of its time (that’s dollars spent vs. dollars made).

George’s lawyers told him he could renegotiate a bigger fee on Star Wars. But he didn’t care about the fee, and he wasn’t really focused on merchandising at that point. He was focused on the possibility of sequels. And he held firm and got a deal that let him keep the sequel rights. That turned out to be maybe the single best business decision of his life. It’s what gave him the leverage to get merchandising rights back when the negotiations for Empire were taking place. 20th Century Fox wasn’t very happy, but they agreed to give George all Star Wars merchandising rights.”

And while G.I. Joe had opened the door to boys playing with dolls,“Star Wars took it to a whole new place,” says Roffman. “The initial instinct at Kenner was to make 12-inch dolls for Star Wars, just like the original G.I. Joe. But one of their execs, Bernie Loomis, said, ‘This isn’t going to work, because part of what makes Star Wars appealing is that all these characters have their own ships, and kids are going to want to put them in their vehicles.’ Ships scaled to 12-inch figures would have cost thousands of dollars — totally impractical. The apocryphal story is that Bernie put up his hand and opened a space between his thumb and his index finger and said, ‘That’s how big the figures should be. Measure this!’ One of the designers put his ruler up to Bernie’s hand and the gap was 3½ inches. And that’s how the 3½-inch action figure was created.”

Full Exposure In the meantime, Roffman was feeling his own urge to create. He put his dreams of a film career on hold because he knew that would mean a full-time

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commitment. Instead, he picked up photography. With Star Wars in dry dock, he had enough spare time to indulge a hobby.

“You can’t be a filmmaker in your spare time,” says Roffman.

“So unless I was prepared to leave — which I wasn’t — I had to put filmmaking aside. But I still had this desire to express myself in a visual way. I’d been taking pictures of cute guys at street fairs through a long lens for many years. I guess you could call it voyeurism. It certainly wasn’t art. Then in 1991, I took a photo of a pair of guys at the Folsom Street Fair. I had no idea who they were, but I ran into them a week later at the Castro Street Fair and invited them over to see the picture. They begged me to take more pictures and I was like, ‘Sure!’ I had the most incredible photo shoot with them, and it proved to be the start of my career as a photographer.“ Despite a few attempts, he found studios would not yield the intimacy and connection he wanted to convey. “I always got the best results shooting in a real environments,” Roffman says.“In their homes, other people’s homes, outdoors. Also, I rarely put people who didn’t know each other together. I liked shooting real relationships.

John and Gary (the street fair couple) were in a seven year relationship, and then I introduced them to Kris, and that became the book Three.

I learned you can actually be a photographer in your spare time, if you have the passion and the drive.”

The Bulk Stops Here Back at work, no new Star Wars movies were being made and “everything,” Roffman says, “went into a dormant stage. The toys had been discontinued. By the early ‘90s we could see there was a continued appetite for Star Wars, because every time we released a new product, the audience was coming back for more.”

And he noticed a phenomenon never seen before. Adults were buying the action figures as collector’s items. Roffman urged Kenner

to release a new edition with them in mind, and they agreed.“But we got into a pretty big fight about what the new figures should look like. I felt authenticity was key, and by then, figures could be much more realistic than back in the late ‘70s. Technology had improved dramatically. So now the figures could be better sculpted, and much more detailed. Kenner disagreed with me. They said kids wanted figures that looked like He-Man. “They gave me sculpts of Luke and Han that were all bulked up and I said, ‘No, you can’t do this. Luke Skywalker isn’t He-Man!’ I finally gave in,” he says, “but I drew the line when I saw the HeMan version of C-3PO. I told them droids can’t go to the gym and build muscles. The figures came out and were big sellers, but all the collectors came down hard on Kenner because they really hated the bulked-up look. It became a big round of ‘I told you so’, and Kenner finally gave in and started making figures that actually looked like the characters.”

beyond the optics In his private life, Roffman’s circle of contacts continued to expand, and he began to publish his photographs in book form. He quickly developed a following with the gay men who found his work as beautiful and sensual as the models he captured.

“I’ve thought a lot about why I shoot what I do,” he says. “Of course, there is that basic human quality that we all have of finding certain people attractive. God only knows why. There’s no apparent rhyme or reason to it. But if you’re an artist who captures people, it goes much further. I think all artists tend to develop muses. What makes a muse for me isn’t just about what a person looks like, it’s about their personality; their relationships, their style, their values.

I’ve always wanted to shoot people as people, not objects. It’s the essence of portraiture, and that’s how I always saw my work.” metrosource.com october/november 2019

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His first chose to work in black and white, but eventually branched out into color photography and struck up a partnership with Bel Ami Studios, who flew their roster of young men to exotic locales so that their visual surroundings would be every bit as breathtaking as the models themselves.

“The black and white period was largely a process of finding and cultivating models,” Roffman explains. “If I saw someone I thought had potential, I would reach out to them. I was giving my card out left and right, probably scaring a lot of people along the way. Eventually I built a network of people finding models for me.”

As his reputation grew, not only amateur models came calling.

Soon professionals were knocking at his door, too.

“My process changed with Bel Ami. I didn’t have to go out looking for models anymore. The models were delivered to me. But these were not people who were in love relationships. They were friends doing intimate and erotic things. It was just a continuation of my passion.”

eye of the jedi Roffman’s worlds collided when he invited friends from Lucasfilm to a showing of his work.“I’m a very open person and I don’t believe in a separate work persona and private persona,” Roffman says. “People can be such hypocrites when it comes to porn. They shun it and condemn it, they look down on anyone connected to the industry, and then they go home and masturbate to it. It drives me crazy.“

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For a moment, Roffman’s voice trails off. “Unfortunately,” he intones, “we’re all a bundle of contradictions. Essentially we have all the primal instincts and drives of our pre-human ancestors. But we have one other ingredient that really screws things up, and that’s our intellect. It actually allows us to behave irrationally. If you look at the animal kingdom, aggression and rituals of dominance are everywhere.

But humans are the only animal societies that kill each other because they believe in different deities or different economic theories or scary stories about invaders coming to replace them.”

Roffman refused to allow himself to be caught in an ideological tug-of-war between his dual worlds. “My photography was never a secret,”he maintains.“So much so that when I had my first exhibition, I invited a lot of people from the company, including George. And a lot of people came, including George. He was always supportive and dug that I was branching out into photography. George is a Renaissance man and respected that I was an artist as well as an accomplished executive. That left an indelible impression on me. It’s one of the things that I truly love about him.”

disney dollars Roffman was appointed president of Lucasfilm licensing in 1999, and he helped shepherd Star Wars from its relaunch into films through Lucasfilm’s acquisition by Walt Disney in 2012 for $4.05 billion. In a mere six years, Disney has already recouped its original investment.

“Two years ago, I retired from Lucasfilm,” says Roffman. “I’d been there for 37 years and was amazingly fortunate to work as close as I did with George. I also felt privileged to work with Disney for the final five years of my stint, and I knew Star Wars was in the hands of a very capable company, even if I may not love everything that’s been done with the franchise. It was just time to get off the bus; time to focus exclusively on my own pursuits and take more time to smell the roses.”

And, after years of gorgeous men parading past his viewfinder, Roffman finally fell in love. “That’s one of the things I love about aging,” he says. “You get a perspective at each stage of your life that you didn’t have in the stage before. I’m married to someone who’s half my age, who I had the good fortune to meet on OK Cupid. Today I have different insights into what attracts me in a partner than I did 10, 20, 30 years ago. I knew I wasn’t interested in a life partner my age. But what age is right? When people are 18 to 25, they may be gorgeous, but they’re usually not formed enough to be partnered with an older adult man.

You’ll find the occasional exception, but it’s rare, because they’re not yet seasoned by life.

In terms of who would make a good partner for me, especially as a guy in his 60s, I knew it had to be someone who’s had enough life experience to be tempered but not enough to be cynical or blasé. And that’s exactly what I found in my wonderful husband Sarit.”

a new hope Of course, Roffman remains restless. “There are still so many things I want to do with my life,” he concludes.“One of my biggest aspirations was to write a novel, and so that’s what I’m doing today. It’s challenging, but that’s what I love. I guess I’m a pretty driven person.”

The novel is semi-autobiographical. Roffman says he’s making progress, but has no firm deadline and is taking his time.“It’s about a life informed by my own,” he’s willing to say, “but definitely fictionalized. I’ve written about 150 pages so far, and it’s only a small percentage of what I want to cover. It’s fairly foolhardy to be this ambitious in a first novel, but it’s a cathartic process and I’m having a good time with it.”

For the moment, he’s taking pleasure in informally “talking with people and doing lots of research. The writing itself is the most isolating. You’ve got no choice but to sit alone at a keyboard and put the words down.”

But after decades of movie campaigns, photography trips, Star Wars concert tours and holiday toy releases, “I’m not holding myself to hard deadlines. “I figure I’ve got somewhere between four and five years to go on the novel,” Roffman says. “And you know, deadlines have a wonderful way of making things happen. So maybe one day I’ll start using them again.” ■ metrosource.com october/november 2019

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Rippon goes on

Adam Rippon is nothing if not audacious. While most young adults

don’t come close to hitting their stride until they’re on the far side of 30, Rippon has already lived enough to pen a memoir a year shy of that.

His autobiography,“Beautiful On the Outside” (available October 2019 from Grand Central Publishing) offers an unflinching account of his two-decade trek from sensitive schoolboy to Olympic medalist.

Something Different The eldest of six, Rippon was born with a severe hearing deficiency that was miraculously reversed by surgery when he was an infant. His mother Kelly has been his guardian angel since Day One. However, his parents were divorced when Adam was barely into his teens.

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Since then, he’s been alternately broke and saved by contest prize money. He’s been written off by sports pundits as too erratic and old, then reemerged in his best form yet to find himself in a media war with the Vice President of the United States. He disappointed many who hoped he’d grab gold at the Olympics, then delighted TV audiences by winning his season of Dancing With the Stars out of nowhere.

“My life-defining moments have always been the mistakes I’ve made,” the skater muses over the din of his car zipping from one California stop to another. “They’ve pushed me to be better. I realize that every missed opportunity — and I mean every situation I’ve been in that felt like a setback — was really an opportunity to do something more or do something different.”

this page: Adam Skates by Craig Sjodin Courtesy ABC

on the eve of releasing A memoir at the tender age of 29, adam rippon reflects on fame, Pence and his love of the limelight. by Kevin Phinney

Adam and Reese Witherspoon on the set of Colbert

this page: Photo by Scott Kowalchyk courtesy CBS

May I have your attention Whether his abrupt course changes along the way made sense to anyone else has never been a primary concern for Rippon. Even at the youngest age he can recall, Rippon’s decision-making process was not based on whether something was smart or all the other kids were doing it. It was about whether it would get him noticed.

“I think the first time I ever realized that was — I think — when I wrote about it in the book,” he laughs.“I said I wanted to host a talent show on our back deck. I wanted to tap dance and I had never taken a tap dance lesson. But I wanted everybody to watch me tap in my costume. I had been a really shy kid, but there was something inside of me that was like, ‘You should definitely tap dance in front of everyone you know.’”

Inspired by a graceful skater drawn on the family cookie tin, Rippon also decided that he would absolutely look that fabulous gliding across the ice. He also had every confidence this pre-ordained moment of glory would occur the instant he donned his first pair of skates. After the tragi-comic debut that followed, the young Rippon decided skating might actually be worth working at. He quickly learned two valuable lessons. The first was that making something look easy can be very hard. The other was that as a skater, he was unusually gifted. Thus began a 20-year odyssey that saw him bounce between snatching top honors and turning in poor showings and slowly resurrecting himself again. A stream of coaches did what they could to keep him on track, with varying degrees of success. And in the middle of the whirlwind, Rippon determined he had to tell his family that he was gay.

Icy REception Coming out to his mom at 22 was difficult, he says. But once the family expressed their support, “I knew everything was going to be okay; it didn’t matter what anyone else thought.” He does recall some teasing at the rink, though. “My classmates didn’t know too much about my skating. So I don’t know if being out of school actually saved me .”

Rippon shrugged off his detractors. What required more immediate attention was the voice inside his head constantly demanding perfection. He barely missed making the USA Olympic Team in 2010 and ultimately ended up an alternate. Four years later, he faltered at nationals and came nowhere close to qualifying.

Disheartened, Rippon retreated inside himself and spent months adrift soul searching. But when he reappeared, the transformation was there for all to see. He cut and dyed his hair. He jettisoned his music program of the classics for tracks by The Beatles and Ida Corr.

He became himself, and it set him free.

Frozen in Time In 2015, Rippon came out again — this time through a very public profile in Skating magazine, a publication of United States Figure Skating. He orchestrated the opportunity with as much precision as any routine he ever choreographed.

As he writes in his memoir*, “I told Renee Fulton, who was in charge of media relations for USFS, that I wanted to come out in the article. It was important to me that I come out through U.S. Figure Skating, so it would be a subliminal sign to young people that the organization is behind this and that they support their out athletes.

“I made my intentions clear to Renee before we had even met the journalist doing the story, and she told both the president and the director of USFS. They both got in touch with me and said that they were behind me 100 percent. It’s not like anyone in the sport didn’t know. I always had too much charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to ever present as straight, but now the world would know.”

The result of this decision, Rippon assesses a few lines later, was decidedly anti-climactic. “After about three weeks,” he recounts, “it finally got picked up on ESPN and in the sporting press, but the main reaction was support from everyone, along with the feigned shock that a male figure skater came out.” metrosource.com october/november 2019

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NO SHAME IN HIS GAME With the weight of coming out lifted and his head clear, Rippon finally started to soar. “For a big chunk of my athletic career, It felt like pressure,” he says now. “I think I saw every time I didn’t feel like I lived up to expectations as failure. Nobody else around me saw that as failure. They saw it as growing and a chance to learn. But I didn’t see it that way. I felt like I let them down, like I was letting myself down. I felt like I was wasting people’s time.

But then I realized that if I didn’t learn from those situations and I was just embarrassed by them, I didn’t grow and I didn’t get better.”

That, he freely admits, “took me a hot minute to figure out.

But when I did, even when I did have a rough skate or rough competition, it didn’t hold me back. And it wasn’t something like, ‘Oh I can’t ever watch myself do that performance,’ or ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ I was open and willing to talk about it,. I almost wanted to talk about it right away so that I could process it immediately and learn from it — and I was over it and felt good about it almost instantly — because I just learned that there was nothing to be ashamed of. There’s no shame in making a mistake.”

In 2016, he won the US championship, and quipped,“I’m like a witch. You can’t kill me.” Two years later, he qualified for the Olympics and became the oldest first-time Olympian among figure skaters since 1936.

And then it happened: USA Today reporter Christine Brennan asked the skater how he felt about the U.S. delegation being represented by Vice President Mike Pence. Rippon shot back, “You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy? I’m not buying it.”

The result was a media frenzy that followed Rippon halfway around the world to the Winter Games in PyeonChang, South Korea. Throughout the subsequent conversation, he remained quick-witted and poised, never retreating, but never letting Pence prevent the skater from putting his A Game before the judges.

Rippon also befriended another out American athlete at the Games, Gus Kenworthy. And together they went on to show a global television audience that gay athletes take a back seat to no one.“Gus and I are still good friends,” Rippon chirps.“I think we’ll always be close because of our Olympic experience. I also think the moment of the Games that stands out for me most was when I went to compete in my first event. I remember never being more nervous and more ready in my life.”

By the time that Rippon arrived in the Olympic Village, he was ready to overcome any adversity — real or imagined — to deliver a career-defining performance. “It could have been the Vice President; it could have been anybody. It could have been anything and I would have been able to skate a clean program. I remember thinking that before the Games and before I ever said anything about Mike Pence; that if the lights go off, if there’s a fire burning in the arena when I’m competing, I will finish.”

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THIS PAGE: ADAM-JUNIORSPROMO

HATERS GONNA HATE

Young Adam and his Mom Adam and Gus: Olympic Gaymers

this page: Adam and Gus credit Ashley Osborn • Jeremy Scott-Adam Rippon and family photo courtesy Adam Rippon

The Red Carpet In the end, Rippon brought home a bronze medal as part of the figure skating team event. Nevertheless, he interpreted his experience there as a different kind of victory.

He’s satisfied that competing as an out athlete, particularly in the current political climate, sent a message.

“Where we are right now is a really pivotal moment,” says Rippon. “There have been so many really awful things to come from the Trump administration. You look around at what’s happening in the news currently today or a few days ago. And I think what this moment in time has done is, it’s really inspired a lot of people to speak out.

Even watching Megan Rapinoe at the World Cup, it’s really inspiring like when people have these platforms for them to use it.”

And, if there was any doubt that 2018 was Rippon’s year, he made a splash after his return to America at the Academy Awards rocking a Moschino harness tuxedo.

He followed suit with a guest appearance on Will & Grace, and then high-stepped to victory on Dancing With the Stars side-by-side with professional dancer Jenna Johnson.

Now he says,“that part of my life is over. There were so many things that I learned about myself that I wanted to share, so it felt like a good time to write this book. Maybe I’ll have collections of memoirs when I’m like older, and this is the first installment.”

booking it Sifting through rocky times as well as personal victories presented challenges of their own, he’ll say now. “It can be really emotional, because you go back to the moments of where you didn’t feel so great about yourself or when you didn’t really like yourself much. So it was really a process to go through, but it was something that I’m glad I did.”

What did all that self-examination yield? “For a really long time, especially as an athlete, you hear people talk about ‘enjoying the journey,’ and the journey is like what everything is all about,” Rippon says.“They’ll say, ‘Don’t forget to enjoy where you are right now in the process’. And as an athlete, you’re like, ‘Please shut the fuck up and never talk to me about ‘the journey’ ever again.’

“But then you get into the thick of it and realize that those moments are a celebration of all those things that you went through on the journey — what you learned about yourself, those ups and downs, the chaotic nature of your life is the journey,” Rippon reflects And when you celebrate those and learn not to push them away? That’s really what it’s all about.”

■ *Excerpted from the book BEAUTIFUL ON THE OUTSIDE: A MEMOIR by Adam Rippon.

Copyright © 2019 by Adam Rippon. Reprinted with permission of Grand Central Publishing.

All rights reserved.

Designer Jeremy Scott and Rippon at a fitting for “the Oscars harness.”

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HEALTH BODY

HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN YOUR FAVORITE THANKSGIVING FOODS AND HOW DO YOU BURN THEM OFF? Wondering how high you can heap that Thanksgiving plate? That might depend on how much time you have to exercise afterward. BY SYRA TAUB the year — at least when it comes to all of that food. Who hasn’t ended up wolfing down way more than they intended. From the turkey and stuffing to the mashed potatoes, the average Thanksgiving feast can add up to 4,500 calories! This is by no

FOOD

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CALORIES

means a reason to skip the festivities, but it does call into question how we can stay healthy before and after indulging. But even if every Thanksgiving food has a price, you can make time for a workout to burn it off. So go ahead, have that extra slice of pie - if you’ve got an extra 30 minutes to spend at the gym! ■

EXERCISE TYPE

TIME IT TAKES TO BURN CALORIES

1 cup mashed potatoes

237

Stationary bike

About 30 minutes

3.5 oz white meat turkey with skin

177

Running on treadmill

About 15 minutes

½ cup stuffing

195

Mountain climbing

About 23 minutes

4 oz (1 medium) candied sweet potato

187

Butt kicks

About 22 minutes

½ cup green bean casserole

227

Swimming

About 30 minutes

¼ cup gravy

25

Jump rope

About 3 minutes

¼ cup cranberry sauce

102

Walking

About 25 minutes

3x3-inch square cornbread

198

Rowing machine

About 20 minutes

5 fluid oz wine

125

Weight lifting

About 30 minutes

1 slice pumpkin pie

280

High-knee running

About 30 minutes

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METROSOURCE.COM

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY VOLODYMYR TVERDOKHLIB-SHUTTERSTOCK

AH, THANKSGIVING. IT MAY BE THE MOST INDULGENT HOLIDAY OF

re al Talk

Beard Care

with Grooming Expert Carissa Ferreri Balms and oils and shampoos, oh my! We talk to a celebrity grooming expert about the long and short of rocking the best beard. By Jeffrey James Keyes

this page: stock photo credit Tomas Anderson

Does all that apply to men who like to keep shorter beards?

Using a facial scrub once or twice a week will remove dead skin cells and help with any inflammation you’re experiencing with growing out or keeping it trimmed and on the shorter side. Adding beard oil is still a fundamental product for men with short beards or in the early stages of growing out their beards. Its moisturizing properties help treat beard dandruff and flaking, and also calm down any itchiness. Another advantage with a beard oil for shorter beards is that it absorbs not only the top layer of the skin, but also down into the root of the hair follicle, locking in hydration, and resulting in clear skin and healthy hair.

What products do you recommend for longer beards?

The longer the beard, the more coarse and dry the hair can be, which can require more attention. Coarse hair is prone to

body

Do you recommend an all-purpose routine for beard care?

Make sure to wash and condition your beard a few times a week using a formula specifically made for the coarse hairs on your face.

A two-in-one shampoo and conditioner like Bulldog Skincare Original Beard Shampoo and Conditioner is a simple way to keep your beard clean, smelling great and prevent any debris and buildup from excess oil. After shampooing, it’s best to then apply a beard oil to moisturize the skin and hair follicle. This step is essential for the beard and skin underneath to be well hydrated to prevent irritation, under-beard acne, itchiness, and excessive dryness. After beard oil is well massaged in skin and hair, use a comb and brush downward to disperse the oils evenly while preventing split ends. Every few weeks trim stray, unruly hairs with small scissors to maintain hair health and avoid uneven growth.

health

It’s no secret that beards have been back in style for quite some time now. And most of us know that maintaining the look and quality of the hair on top of our heads requires specific daily care: shampoo, conditioner, brushing, daily maintenance. But what about our beards? There are some important steps everyone who decides to sport a little more than five-o’clock shadow can do daily to ensure we look, feel (and smell) our best. We checked in for with grooming expert Carissa Ferreri of Bulldog Skincare for Men to get a few pointers on proper whisker maintenance. Ferreri’s celebrity clients include Eric McCormack, Michael B. Jordan, Annette Bening, Gina Rodriguez, and Ansel Elgort. In addition, Ferreri has contributed to numerous marketing campaigns for Yeezy, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, L’Oreal and Kimpling.

breaking and drying, causing a need to keep it well conditioned.

Shampooing with a two-in-one is vital to wash away any debris and cleanse environmental smells. Next, choosing a beard balm such as Bulldog Skincare Original Beard Balm will lend an extra boost of conditioning while providing some hold, especially for your mustache and sideburns.

How should men adjust their approach to grooming a beard once the seasons start to change?

In the warmer months, use beard oil three times a week. While in the cold, dryer months, up your beard oil game to at least once a day.

Especially during colder months, the skin under my beard gets pretty dry. How do I moisturize better below the beard?

Be prepared to face extra dry skin in the winter months by incorporating a combination of both beard oil and beard balm to your routine. Beard oil is great for keeping the skin under your beard healthy, but beard balms offer extra hydration due to its thick texture. Balms have a higher viscosity than oils and will take longer to absorb, which gives you more nourishment and longer-lasting moisture. A beard balm is also very versatile for the winter months and can be used on other dry parts of the body (like elbows) or to give your tattoos a nice shine. Any excess left over on your hands simply run through the sides of your hair giving it a bit of hold with minimal sheen.

■ metrosource.com october/november 2019

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in Therapy The LGBTQ community faces unique stresses in the world today. Now more than ever, therapists are finding ways to make sure everyone gets the help that they need. By Syra Taub In 1972, a vice presidential candidate had to resign from the Demo-

cratic ticket when his mental stability was called into question. Why? Because he had been treated for depression. Although the stigma around psychotherapy has lifted somewhat since then, those who need it most are often afraid to say so — including members of LGBTQ family. The good news? It’s easier than ever to find the help you need.

body

health

“Therapy” shouldn’t be a taboo term. Seeking counsel has proven to offer a host of benefits — particularly to LGBTQ individuals. Even in today’s more open society, LGBTQ community members face issues both internal and external that can come from problems coming out, body image pressures or relationship issues. Such struggles do not necessarily end once you figure out that you’re part of the subculture.

Some middle-aged gay men report difficulty finding their place in the community. People whose understandings of their own gender identities and sexual orientations continue to evolve may also face added challenges in expressing themselves and dealing with partners’ expectations. But there’s no need to deal with those pressures alone.

Professional expertise is out there, and the sooner you start looking, the happier you’ll be. The field of therapy itself is in motion, too — looking for better ways to be as attentive and helpful as possible to those who seek them out. And for therapists, part of that is seeking out better ways to identify and reach the patients who need them most.

“People still need help with coming out—when, how and to whom,” said Doug Haldeman, PhD, a clinical faculty member at the University of Washington. “But psychologists are seeing a whole host of other issues related to the creation of LGBT families, LGBT people in the workplace, generational differences and the reality of multiple-minority identities — issues that demand our best research and clinical skills.”

As the general public becomes more aware of the issues that the LGBTQ community faces, therapy options are becoming more tailored to meet their needs. Research shows that more LGBTQ individuals are seeking out therapy than not, and that most are doing so with positive results. Provided safe spaces to explore emotions and behavior, clients in therapy are seeing marked improvements in self-confidence.

Counselors are seeing particular progress with LGBTQ affirmative therapy, an approach to psychotherapy which focuses on empowering individuals in all aspects of their lives. In doing so, therapists are able to respect and help work through the variety of unique experiences and challenges their patients experience in this increasingly non-binary world.

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this page: stock photo credit Denis Ismagilov

The Benefits of Therapy

THIS PAGE: STOCK PHOTO CREDIT RACORN

NEW ALTERNATIVES Mental health professionals continue to evolve in their understanding of sexual orientation issues. For example, therapists are finding new ways to provide assistance — via online therapy apps. Your computer or smart phone can be a great way to get advice that is affordable, convenient and discreet.

The digital counseling medium was created in response to the lack of access millions of people had to professional help.

As a result, therapists and programmers have worked together to create options that save time and reach a greater number of people in need. This new and convenient therapy alternative connects certified psychologists with those experiencing mental health issues. And although online therapy is still in its early stages, there’s already a variety of possibilities.

Various therapy apps provide dozens of services that may appeal to different kinds of patients. But these are not bots with whom clients are interacting. Users are connected with certified psychologists trained to address a host of problems relating to mental health and well-being. Online counseling also means you can connect with a psychologist who is a good fit for you regardless of where you or they are and more easily change therapists if you find the relationship is not a good fit. Translation: more people get access to the right help. Efficiency is also one of the biggest benefits, as online therapy apps allows for 24/7 access on-the-go.

Ultimately, that means fewer times you’ll have to sacrifice your state of mind for the sake of your busy schedule. As with any other form of therapy, digital counseling remains between you and your professional. High-level encryptions that only patient and therapist can access safeguard your confidentiality.

Maybe you’re seeking relationship counseling instead. ReGain was named the best app for couples therapy by e-counseling. com. Also priced at $65 a week, the service provides couples with therapists who specialize in counseling for partners. These sessions can also be conducted on a variety of digital platforms.

There are numerous options available for anyone in need of a safe space to be heard - whether you’re more comfortable doing so remotely or in person. Check out our Metrosource Directory of qualified LGBTQ-friendly professionals for options today.

■

WHERE TO START One of the highest ranked therapy apps is Betterhelp. For $65 a week, users receive access to unlimited sessions with their choice from 4,000 licensed therapists. Sessions can be conducted over the phone, via video chat or through messaging.

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GAY VOICES

I S OUR ONLINE FORUM FOR SHARING STORIES — FROM THE HEARTBREAKING TO THE HILARIOUS — ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE IN THE LGBT SKIN WE’RE IN.

ARE CATHOLIC COLLEGES FAILING LGBTQ STUDENTS? One gay student at a Catholic college wonders whether it’s more than tradition that keeps the staff, faculty and clergy from fully embracing LGBTQ students. BY ROI MASE CATHOLIC AND OTHER RELIGIOUS COLLEGE CAMPUSES WALK A fine line when attempting to embrace LGBTQ students because their founding dogma stands opposed to current social norms.

and a support network. In 2017, the school made a statement by rejecting the proposed opening of a Chick-Fil-A on campus after the chain’s continued support of anti-LGBTQ causes came to light.

MAKING DECISIONS In our current political climate, college campuses are finding themselves with an increased queer presence – from events and clubs directly catering to the community to calls for institutions to provide traditional resources in ways more sensitive to the needs of LGBTQ students. However at the same time, Catholic and other religious campuses do not always effectively welcome their LGBTQ students.

In 2015 when I made my college decision, it largely came down to one simple factor: the LGBTQ community’s presence on its campus. I was deciding between two major Catholic colleges in the Northeast: Seton Hall and Manhattan College. Both colleges seemed similarly matched in overall academics, amenities and social scenes.

Each is also located close to the “queer mecca” of New York City. Why did I ended up committing to Manhattan College? Its campus LGBTQ club was the first result in a Google search.

NOT ALL CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES TREAT LGBTQ ISSUES EQUALLY Catholic doctrine often prevents school communities from fully embracing the queer members of their campus families. In recent years, there’s also been a wave of anti-LGBTQ action by Catholic colleges.

A pro-LGBTQ priest was even fired at Seton Hall, which resulted in a petition to reinstate him by the ALLIES club.

On the upside, another major Catholic college in the area, Fordham University, has become a public supporter of its LGBTQ community. The university has a web page dedicated to LGBTQ resources

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My experience at Manhattan College as the President of its LGBTQ Student Group has truly been an interesting one. At first glance, the college’s Catholic identity might seem like it would be a roadblock.

On the contrary, the group has found great support from both the local church and the college administration. The group was originally formed in 2014, but continues to grow each year. Moreover, I believe the greatest challenges it now faces come not from the administration — but interaction with the student body.

Although Manhattan College is located in New York City, a place known for its diversity, many of the school’s student body have had little interaction with the LGBTQ community. If they have, it’s usually through social media or some form of entertainment. And that begs the larger question: How can we combat such ignorance among student populations? One answer is by increasing the visibility of the queer community on Catholic campuses.

WE’RE HERE, WE’RE QUEER; GET USED TO IT Increasing our visibility on campus is one of the main reasons I got involved in my college LGBTQ group. Although there was this queer presence on campus, student interest was waning. This was in contrast to the club’s founding, when vigorous student action demanded the administration’s attention and ensured its approval.

I knew our community was present on campus. And I believed if the group was brought back to the student body’s attention, it could improve the lives of both queer people on campus and the population as a whole. The only way to improve our lives is to directly confront homophobia. Fostering meaningful interaction between the community and larger student population is the way.

In the last decade or so, it seems Catholic college campuses have overall done a better job of supporting LGBTQ students. However, there is still room for improvement. At the end of the day, what LGBTQ students want is to be a part of the campus like everyone else.

Increasing student visibility puts us on the path towards success. ■ DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE ABOUT RECONCILING RELIGION WITH BEING AN LGBTQ PERSON? YOU CAN SHARE IT VIA

“ GAY

VOICES” AT METROSOURCE.COM.

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY PHOTO BY GRANT WHITTY ON UNSPLASH

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GAY VOICES

HOW FAR CAN CATHOLIC CAMPUSES GO TO EMBRACE LGBTQ STUDENTS?

how I learned to stop worrying & love the balm they asked about my daily routine or if there was anything in my life about which I was obsessive. Others learned when they caught me applying my “lip” before going onstage. I even began to show off the contents of my pockets, including the fact that I often carry two or three balms any given time. That way, I can mix them to get just the right feel and tint. Though I was occasionally uncomfortable when this was met with silence, I was pleased when that gave way to understanding.

“My lips require five steps!” some women would say, showing off the contents of their purses.

“I have over 200 pairs of shoes!” said others.

“I have over 300 perfumes!” some even admitted.

Meanwhile, men would reveal they had obsessions with buying “tools” or “golf clubs” or “ballcaps.”

Eventually people – friends and strangers alike – began giving me lip balms. I kept them all - until one day when I heard a crash. Gary was on a cleaning spree. He had opened my medicine cabinet (the one that is off limits to him!) and my lip stash came tumbling forth.

“WADE!” he screamed.

My glossed lips trembled.

“This has gone a bit too far, don’t you think?”

The entire sink was filled with balms. And yet there were still more to find - in drawers, in pockets, in my jewelry case, under the bed.

“I don’t know whether to submit you to My Strange Addiction or call Marie Kondo immediately,” he said.

“I know it’s a tad obsessive,” I explained.

“A tad?”

“It’s just this weird little indulgence that helped me realize I was gay and also empowered me to be me.”

Gary smiled. “I understand,” he said. “But some of these…”

He opened a tube and curled his lip as if he’d just sniffed a carton of old milk. “They’re just downright nasty.”

I ended up paring my collection - a bit. And then I ended up buying more. But I also realized that was perfectly fine. I may have too many lip balms, but it is a relatively inexpensive and harmless indulgence that keeps me happy and my lips healthy.

Just don’t invite me over and leave a Bonne Bell Root Beer Lip Smacker unattended.

■

views

My obsession with lip balm

began in grade school when I stole Bonne Bell Root Beer Lip Smackers from the backpack of the girl who hung her coat next to mine. I hid it and ran all the way home after school to try it on.

I looked beautiful.

For years, I’d been fascinated watching my mother put on her makeup. She perched on a tiny stool in front of her vanity and transform her face. She always ended with a dramatic red lip.

Moreover, I liked the way my contraband lip balm felt. My brother and father always had chapped lips. Though they slathered on Chapstick, its pasty texture never cut it for me.

When I confessed my obsession to one of my best girl friends in middle school, she started giving me her castoffs. These mostly consisted of half-used tubes or flavors she didn’t like.

In high school, I began to use my allowance to buy balms at the mall. When I went to college, my roommate (and eventual best friend) busted me mid-balm-application. I showed him the stash I’d hidden under the bed.

“Okay, Christie Brinkley, what the hell is going on?”

I confessed, and he laughed. “Better than being a serial killer,” he said.

By the time I started my career, men’s makeup had become en vogue, thanks to MTV. That’s when my lip balm obsession turned more extreme. I began to buy lip balms to suit every occasion, mood or need.

I found that Vaseline Lip Therapy worked best overnight because it coated my lips well, kept them moist and tended not to fade away. For me, finding Burt’s Bees was akin to stumbling upon a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. They had fruit and veggie-based balms that were tinted! And a simple quiz (asking for my eye color, hair color, and what color best complements my skin tone) led me to just the right shades for my face.

Oh, and there were endless variations of shimmer! I waved wands to apply glosses that sparkled, shined, and hydrated in muted tones of pink, rose and taupe. These not only elevated evening looks but could be varied to match to my ensembles.

For day, I sported SPF-laden balms that looked sexy in the sun.

A number of years back, I began to acknowledge my lip balm love publicly on a book tour. Some readers learned because

diary

His childhood preoccupation with lip balm has only grown since grade school.

Now Wade wonders whether it will land him on My Strange Addiction. BY WADE ROUSE

Check out Wade’s latest novel under the pen name Viola Shipman, The Summer Cottage, and visit him online at waderouse.com. do you have any secret indulgences? share your story in “gay voices” at metrosource.com. metrosource.com october/november 2019

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masters of reinvention

culture

books

Dancers take flight in fashion, a lesbian icon shows off her thousand faces, and the Club Kids of the 1990s leave an indelible mark on the nightlife of Manhattan. By sebastian fortino

New York: Club Kids

By Waltpaper; Damiani; $55

Clockwise from top left: Michael Fazakerley, Desi Monster, 1992. Copyright Michael Fazakerley. All Rights Reserved.; Catherine McGann, House of Field at subway fashion show, 1993. (Left to right) Arman Ra, Andy Ecstasy, Jojo Field, Missy Field, Codie Ravioli. Copyright Catherine McGann. All Rights Reserved.; Adolfo Gallela, Lil Keni and Waltpaper at Webster Hall, 1995. Copyright Adolfo Gallela. All Rights Reserved.

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to the glory days of Manhattan night life at the turn of the century, New York: Club Kids by former club kid and artist Waltpaper — also known as Walter Cassidy — is an equally ardent homage to the earlier part of that heady decade.

The term “club kid” arrived in the ‘80s, but the movement made a more lasting impression on the decade that followed.

It consisted primarily of fashion-conscious youths who came to be known publicly through daytime talk shows, magazine editorials, fashion campaigns and music videos. Some credit them with planting the seeds for reality TV, self-branding, the rise of influencers and the gender revolution.

New York: Club Kids’ chapters are largely organized by the clubs of the time (Limelight, Tunnel, Roxy, etc.). That was before they were padlocked out of existence by then-mayor Rudy Giuliani. Now, this photo book and memoir captures the heavily made-up and costumed movers and shakers of the era.

Names like a newly celebrated RuPaul, eternal club kid Björk, and actor Chloe Sevigny decorate these pages vibrantly — even when the images are black and white.

What motivated Waltpaper to commit his reverie to book form? He cites the quintessential club kid, Michael Alig of Party Monster fame. “After the years of media coverage of the Alig story,” Waltpaper realized,“this is not my story.” So he decided to reclaim that moment in time for all the kids who partied alongside him back then — monsters or otherwise.

this page: all photos this section courtesy their respective publishers

If Jake Shears’ memoir Boys Keep Swinging was a love letter

THE STYLE OF MOVEMENT: FASHION & DANCE

By Ken Browar and Deborah Ory; Rizzoli New York; $75.00 THE WAY BODIES MOVE IN DANCE CAN BE AS STIMULATING TO WATCH AS

it is sensual to feel. Pairing these extraordinary bodies in motion with sartorial designs from couturiers Dior, Valentino, or Oscar de la Renta is an object lesson in how the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Style of Movement: Fashion & Dance offers physical manifestations of that entrancing alchemy. The collection was created by the team behind the best-selling photography book The Art of Movement, and also offers perspectives from designers through Pamela Golbin’s introduction and a forward by Valentino.

But perhaps the designers are best represented by the book’s 250 expertly curated photographs: Modern fashion luminaries such as

Moschino collide with costumes designed by the legendary Martha Graham. The book also reconsiders the titanic Halston, who often designed with the disco dance floor of Studio 54 in mind.

The world-renowned dancers featured on these pages bring joy and vibrance to the clothes and read like a Who’s Who of the dance world — including Tiler Peck, Daniil Simkin, Misty Copeland, Michael Trusnovec, Christine Shevchenko, Xander Parish, Olga Smirnova and Artem Ovcharenko. The result is a feast for the eyes. It would be a welcome addition to the collections of dancers and fashionistas alike.

And it just might make the perfect reciprocal gift for that friend who’s always willing to share that extra ticket to American Ballet Theatre.

From left: Cover; Untitled Film Still #15 by Cindy Sherman, 1978. Courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York; Untitled #574 by Cindy Sherman, 2016. Courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York; Untitled #466 by Cindy Sherman, 2008. Courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York

CINDY SHERMAN Edited by Paul Moorehouse; Rizzoli Electa; $45 ALL TOO OFTEN IT SEEMS THAT - IN THE ERA OF INSTAGRAM, ADRIFT ON A

sea of selfies - we have lost sight of what portraiture was meant to be.

That’s especially true of self-portraits, which (after all) are the more august forerunners of today’s epidemic of children looking into their phone cameras making duck lips.

Artist Cindy Sherman is a master of the self portrait — in addition to being one of the most respected artists of her generation, with an influence that stretches from the 1970s to the present. Some suggest that her most recognizable works — in which she places herself in identity-redefining disguises and often posed within intricate tableaux — may have presaged the age of social media we’re in now.

Are they still vital? See for yourself. The book traces Sherman’s

work from her black and white bust portraits of the 1970s onward.

It also includes images from Untitled Film Stills — a collection of stills from an imagined film that lofted her to become an art world sensation. Readers will also find masterworks from her elaborate History Portraits, in which she takes on the personas of famous historic figures. Completists will be pleased that the anthology rolls right up through such recent Sherman works as Masks and the alluring Flappers.

The book chronicles an exhibition of Sherman’s eye work that appeared at The National Portrait Gallery in London from June through September. A companion book of (simply called Postcards) allows you to share images of the versatile, lesbian artist with friends and fellow art lovers through the mail. Just don’t call them selfies.

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Boulder hiking paths

t to the end of the pier at

A crew team carries its boa in Estes Park

WITH ITS RESPECT FOR PERSONAL FREEDOM, GETTING HIGH AND THE GRANDEUR OF MOTHER NATURE, THIS MAY BE THE PLACE THE ‘60s DREAMED ABOUT. BY MARK A. THOMPSON Rocky Mountain National Park

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IMAGINE STANDING ON THE CORNER OF SAN FRANCISCO’S HAIGHT

and Ashbury during 1967’s Summer of Love, casually sharing a joint with a time traveler from the present. Now imagine that your happily high visitor from the future tells you that Colorado, not California, will be the first state to legalize cannabis. And that Denver, not San Francisco, will be the first US city to decriminalize psilocybin (aka magic mushrooms).

Oh, and also that Colorado, not California, will be the first state in the US to elect an openly gay man as governor.

Such prophecies might have stretched credulity in the late ‘60s when Northern Colorado was bone dry due to Prohibition-era restrictions. But the 21st-century realities of Colorado do recall the utopian optimism of flower-powered California.

Colorado legalized cannabis in 2014, and Denver decriminalized psilocybin earlier this year — four months after openly-gay Jared Polis became the 43rd Governor of Colorado in January.

If you’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of the annual two-day kaleidoscopic fantasia known as Denver PrideFest, you might imagine the fabled pot of gold at the rainbow’s end may be found in Colorado. Each year in June, nearly 400,000 peo-

THIS PAGE: A CREW TEAM CARRIES ITS BOAT TO THE END OF THE PIER AT BOULDER RESERVOIR AND A RESIDENT HERD OF ELK IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL 0!2+ ). %34%3 0!2+ 0(/4/3 #/524%39 /& #/,/2!$/ 4/52)3- s 2/#+9 -/5.4!). .!4)/.!, 0!2+ #2%$)4 2/#+9 -/5.4!). .!4)/.!, 0!2+

ky Mountain National Park

A resident herd of elk in Roc

Boulder Reservoir

THIS PAGE: CITY AND COUNTY BUILDING- INDEPENDENCE EVE CREDIT EVAN SEMON

City and County Building- Independence Eve

ple transform Denver’s Civic Center Park into a resplendent playground with the same freedom-loving vibe of Woodstock and Burning Man — a pansexual panorama of humanity’s rainbow spectrum.

No wonder Denver has become the second largest millennial boomtown in the States. Perhaps it was destined to be: After all, Colorado is the Centennial State, and granted its statehood on the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. How fitting this sort of national anniversary gift ended up a reminder of the republic’s founding principles of equality, freedom and the pursuit of happiness?

“What I hear most often from people who come here is ‘I feel at home,’” says Jayne Buck, Vice President of Tourism at Visit Denver. “After only a couple of days, they tell me, ‘I feel at home here.’ I think that feeling stems from the Gold Rush; that sense of seeking an adventure, embarking on a new chapter and then finding yourself in the process.”

Inhabited by Native Americans for more than 13,000 years, the territory later known as Colorado boomed during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, with an influx of some 100,000 gold miners who created mining camps known as Denver City and Boulder City. In the 1920s, Denver’s Five Points neighborhood became known as the“Harlem of the West”in deference to its multitudes of jazz bars and clubs, as well as a reminder that one in three cowboys who took part in the cattle drives of the Old West was African-American, and very often a freed slave.

More than a century later, Colorado retains an adventurous spirit with a populace increasingly known for their progressivism and ecosensibility. Home to 45 state and national parks, nearly a thousand wildlife species and 6,000 miles of rivers, the nation’s eighth largest state has committed to 100% renewable energy over the next 20 years.

DENVER HIGH The Rocky Mountains, which spans nearly 5,000 miles of the western half of North America, define Colorado and embody Denver’s milehigh sensibility. Nearly omnipresent on the horizon, the mountains are to Denver what the ocean is to Miami: a four-season playground

and an easy escape from the urban grind and grid.

As Alyson Calagna, founder of Remix Your World, states,“My life as a DJ and music producer is chaotic. And as soon as I hit Colorado, I am instantly grounded.”Calagna relocated to Colorado from Miami in 2011 because “my soul needed to get into the mountains and get lost in the wilderness — and the stillness.”

“I wanted to see the sky,” says Calagna, who lives in Boulder and keeps a music studio in Denver, “but I still wanted a city with a metropolitan feel.” As the largest city within 600 miles, Denver has been dubbed the LGBTQ oasis of the West. Located 5,280 feet above sea level, the Mile High City averages 300 days of annual sunshine, which means that a marriage proposal on the 13th step of the Colorado State Capitol at precisely 5,280 feet could be quite a sunny proposition.

RINO HUNTING One of Denver’s most vibrant neighborhoods, RiNo (an acronym for River North) emerged from an industrial hub just north of downtown with a mission to empower artists and encourage their creativity. Denver Graffiti Tour, which was founded by a pair of art-loving locals, offers a two-hour walking tour of RiNo’s celebrated street art scene alongside an insider’s perspective on RiNo’s tagline“Where Art Is Made.”

Easily recognized by its wall-size Shepard Fairey mural, Denver Central Market has become RiNo’s de facto community center, thanks to a curated collection of local vendors — in addition to its buzzing bar with a popular happy hour. Locals who love Izzio Bakery line up for the third-generation baker’s Italian-American delicacies, particularly the beloved Colorado Queen, a caramelized sweet-and-buttery croissantlike pastry that induces cravings from morning to midnight.

At the nearby Il Posto, a squid-ink-infused mezcal cocktail serves as a welcome prelude to the Northern Italian specialties of Milanese chef/ owner Andrea Frizzi, whose toothsome pizzas at Vero in Denver Central Market are perfectly-charred in a mosaic-tiled brick oven.

More than 2,000 electric scooters zip around Denver, gliding a milMETROSOURCE.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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Denver Union Station

The Ramble Hotel

lion miles in the first six months after their introduction to the city in 2018. RiNo is just as frequently traversed by cyclists, joggers, pedestrians and skateboards. And within the radius of a single mile, the neighborhood serves as home to at least a dozen craft breweries and distilleries.

For an elegant perspective on the neighborhood parade, reserve a ringside table in the French-infused lobby boîte known as Death & Co. at The Ramble Hotel.

Inspired by the literary salons of the Marquise de Rembouillet in 17th-century French society, The Ramble Hotel opened in 2018 in a purpose-built structure that reflects RiNo’s manufacturing history — albeit with the addition of crystal chandeliers, Persian carpets and a secluded speakeasy. As the first outpost of New York’s celebrated Death & Co., the Denver incarnation maintains its dedication to expert mixology with the addition of a full-service lobby restaurant known as DC/AM. Equally alluring is the adjoining Super Mega Bien, a Pan-Latin dim sum dining hall helmed by James Beard-nominated chef Dana Rodriguez. Her ebullience and culinary wizardry steer parties through the night.

Rooms and suites at The Ramble evoke the pleasures of a civilized sanctuary above the fray, complete with French press coffee, illuminated

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The Ramble Garden

dressing room vanities and a curated Death & Co. bar complete with crystal rocks glasses. A three-tier, cut-glass chandelier above the wallsize windows further enhances the slightly-illicit seductive atmosphere.

Guests who book the “I Must Have Flowers, Always & Always” package at The Ramble are fêted with floral-themed cocktails and artworks.

In a neighborhood fueled by cocktails and cannabis, breakfast is equally beloved. This is especially true at the award-winning Call, which bumps the morning meal into Michelin-star territory with a Northern European-influenced menu composed of seasonal Colorado fare. For another take on breakfast bliss, hop a scooter to Denver’s historic Union Station, where Mercantile serves the elevated comfort food of James Beard award-winning chef Alex Seidel in a soaring setting that functions as restaurant, market and bar. Fortunately, Denver B-cyle offers an opportunity to bike off that breakfast with 700 bicycles available for use on 850 miles of urban cycling trails.

ALL THAT GLITTERS Notable for its 24-karat gold dome, Colorado’s majestic state capitol serves as an entrance to Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood with

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Denver Art Museum

Aerial view of downtown Boulder’s Pearl Street pedestrian mall with The Flatirons in the background

its various civic and cultural institutions. Named for artist Vance Kirkland, the newly-relocated Kirkland Museum houses one of the nation’s most important design and decorative arts collections with over 30,000 works by more than 1,500 artists and designers.

Equally impressive is the neighboring Clyfford Still Museum dedicated to the work of one of the 20th century’s leading Abstract Expressionist painters. More than 90 percent of Clyfford Still’s total output is housed in a remarkable textured concrete museum that is both a complement to Still’s work and an architectural marvel in its own right. Prior to the museum’s 2011 opening, the bulk of Still’s estate had been unavailable to the public since 1980. Now visitors have access to nearly the entire oeuvre of a painter who ranks alongside Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. The collection is breathtaking.

Similarly, the architectural bravura of Denver Art Museum (DAM) is unmistakable, thanks to the titanium planes and prow of Daniel Libeskind’s Hamilton Building — connected via aerial walkway to Italian modernist Gio Ponti’s 24-sided fortress-like building from 1971. One of DAM’s most anticipated upcoming exhibitions is Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature, which will house the most extensive assortment of Monet paintings exhibited in the States in more than 20 years.

THIS PAGE: DENVER PRIDEFEST PHOTO COURTESY OF MRNY

INSIDE THE BOULDER BUBBLE For certain people, the city of Boulder is a nearly-mythical locale representing all the riches of life. “I felt this intense vibe during my daily meditation,” explains Calagna about her decision to relocate to Boulder.

“My soul was calling,‘Go to Colorado, to Boulder’ — which, at that point, was a place I only knew about from books on Buddhist communities and its healing history. I knew I had to uplevel my consciousness. So I sold everything and said,‘Show me my healers.’And the moment I drove into Boulder, it felt like home. I knew right then.”

To picture Boulder is to imagine the world if the values espoused by the hippies of the ‘60s had been made manifest in the subsequent decades. Compassion for Mother Earth commingles with respect for all — with better gardens for gourmet food included. As some locals like to say,“We’re nestled between the mountains and reality.” In 1967, Boulder voted to become the first American city to tax its citizens for the preservation of open spaces, which now comprise 45,000 acres of unspoiled nature. More than 300 miles of hiking and biking trails serve a richly-

Denver PrideFest

caffeinated populace, 50,000 of whom participate in the outrageouslyattired 10K race known as BolderBoulder.

“Boulder is a much higher-vibed community and very highly conscious,” says Calagna, “where a non-binary queer is readily integrated into the larger community. I came from a background where you checked boxes about your identity and Boulder shifted that. All these soul-seekers in Boulder, they are unafraid to question those self-imposed boundaries.

Embracing my own sexuality and being able to explore that comes from living here in Boulder.”

Pride celebrations in Boulder kicked off this year with the unveiling of a rainbow-painted intersection at Broadway and Pearl in the heart of downtown. Each year in May, Out Boulder sponsors an annual Garden Party, which is followed in September by Boulder Pride Week and the city’s annual Boulder Pridefest. This year’s annual December Holiday Party will be held at the city’s historic Hotel Boulderado at License No. 1, so named for the receipt of the city’s first liquor license in 1969 — after an astounding 62 years of alcohol prohibition.

Today, Boulder boasts more breweries per capita than any other American city and guests at St. Julien Hotel & Spa book therapeutic CBD (cannabidiol) treatments at the luxury hotel’s wellness retreat. Situated 5,430 feet above sea level in the Rocky Mountain foothills, St. Julien’s rooms and suites offer views of the Flatirons, the omnipresent sheer red rock formations that have become Boulder’s signature.

A university and research town, Boulder’s architecture is more horizontal than vertical, which better frames the Flatirons and the surrounding Colorado Chautauqua which beckons to local hikers, bikers, runners, and more than one million annual visitors. Open year-round, the National Historic Landmark offers summer concerts in the 1898 auditorium and meals with panoramic vistas from the Chautauqua Dining Hall.

Boulder is almost synonymous with the James Beard award-winning restaurant Frasca Food and Wine. Located just beyond Boulder’s brickpaved Pearl Street pedestrian mall with its streetwise buskers, the sleek and stylish restaurant received James Beard accolades for its exemplary service, which is masterfully displayed throughout a seven-course Friulano tasting menu with wine pairings that showcase the gastronomic bounty of Colorado and its producers. By the time the post-prandial artisanal chocolates are offered in a presentation box, it’s possible to believe that Colorado is perfecting the recipe for a better American future.

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home new yORk

Light Fantastic There’s a reason why interior designers prioritize lighting when they outfit a room. Effective lighting is both the icing on the cake

and the all-important starting point. If executed correctly, the simple flick of a switch can transform a room from a cheerful, bright and productive office to a sexy space perfect for a romantic evening by the fire. From pendants and chandeliers to spotlights and sconces, there are many options to consider when it comes to creating a dramatic setting in each one of your rooms.

In the living room, a combination of table and floor lamps can create a soothing effect. In the dining room, illuminate the focal point of the room — the dining table — with a show stopping pendant or chandelier. In the bedroom, achieve maximum coziness with sconces on either side of the bed, fitted with tinted, low-wattage bulbs. An overhead light on a dimmer is also a great choice, especially in a north-facing room without much natural light. In the kitchen, go with bright overhead lights, task lighting over workspaces and directed pendants over a kitchen island or

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breakfast nook. And remember that, although lights here do have a specific functions to perform, they don’t ever have to be boring.

For example, a lamp or chandelier can do double duty as a sculptural moment or art piece — and it can add a pop of color or a touch of whimsy. Steven Wine, founder of ABYU Lighting, says, “At ABYU we are mainly known for our feather fixtures, and that is the material I prefer to work with. It gives our pieces a fashion feel. I’ve also been doing collaborations with New York artists such as Scooter LaForge, who add their own unique personality to our pieces.”

Whether you’re going for a glamorous look with feathers and fashion details, or a more industrial style complete with Edison bulbs and heavy metal, it’s important to know what fixture is appropriate for the space you are designing. Hanging pendants or chandeliers make the most sense over tables and kitchen islands.

They should be hung just slightly above the height of the tallest person in the family. Sconces should be symmetrically placed,

this page: Lighting constellation courtesy sonneman

When it comes to good design, let there be lights. By Deborah L. Martin

RED CUMULUS, WHITE TIPPI HEDRIN AND BLUE OWLCAVE CHANDELIERS, TULIP FIXTURE OVER TABLE, AND TABLEAUX WITH FEATHER CHANDELIER COURTESY ABYU AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEPHEN WINE

NEW YORK

HOME

flanking a focal point such as a large mirror, mantle or bed. To highlight artworks or architectural details, recessed spotlights work best. They create pools of light around the perimeter of the room. And in multi-functional rooms, table and floor lamps are the most practical. They can be easily moved around, and they create a layered look by providing light at different heights and in different locations. The contrast of light in the center of a room, with darker mood lighting in the corners, adds drama and texture.

Another way to add drama to your lighting scheme is to add oversized or dramatic color in the shade or base.

A group of hanging lights with oversized barrel shades instantly creates a design focal point. A shapely base or a brightly colored base, when paired with a clean-lined modern shade, becomes a sculptural design element.

Fashion details, like ABYU Lighting’s feathers, add a soft, elegant and sexy feel.

Layering different types of lighting gives your space flexibility and adds a touch of whimsy or drama that can be switched on—or off.

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MAKING WORKING FROM HOME WORK

2 Gold Street – Financial District

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NYC as the gig economy continues to grow and more employers consolidate company space. But what if you could access such a workspace — one that takes you away of the distractions of home while also keeping you as close to home as possible — without ever leaving your building?

“We noticed a growing number of our residents working from home, and we responded to that trend in 2017, with the opening of our first rental building in Brooklyn. The result was TFC HomeWork: cutting edge co-working spaces integrated within common areas,” shares Zoe Elghanayan, VP and Principal at TF Cornerstone.

Now, you can find TFC HomeWork spaces in a number of beautiful buildings. They are designed to be sleek, sophisticated and - most importantly - functional. For example, the HomeWork space at 33 Bond Street includes phone booths, conference rooms, super cute booth seatings, communal worktables with built-in power, and even a terrace with its own solar powered worktable. “HomeWork at 33 Bond Street has been a huge success and gets a ton of

ALL HOMEWORK IMAGES COURTESY TF CORNERSTONE

YOU’VE SEEN TRENDY SHARED WORKSPACES POPPING UP AROUND

use from residents working from home, students or those simply looking for a quiet place to plug-in and focus,” says Elghanayan.

Existing buildings also got a dose of HomeWork - in part by adding greater access to power. “In the lobby of 2 Gold Street” in the Financial District, Elghanayan explains, “we added outlets to the base of a banquette running across the wall, and on the third floor we added chairs with built-in USB power and a retractable desk table.”

Other buildings featuring HomeWork amenities include 4610, 4720 and 4545 Center Boulevard in Long Island City, 505 W. 37th St. in the Hudson Yards neighborhood, and The Max | 606 W 57th Street in Hell’s Kitchen. The latter incorporates space for group and individual work throughout common areas - including the fitness center. Learn by visiting TF Cornerstone at tfc.com.

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33 Bond Street – Downtown Brooklyn

New York from a new perspective.

Daniel Wright Licensed Real Estate Salesperson M: 917.304.4270

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Better Know a Brand:

Bulldog Skincare For Men

It only takes A trip to the local drugstore to realize there are a slew

of skincare brands catering to men - not to mention a growing market of products aimed at people across the gender spectrum. We’re taking a closer look in a series we’re calling “Better Know a Brand.”

Bulldog Skincare for Men (bulldogskincare.com), a London-born brand, officially launched in 2007, but the journey started for founder Simon Duffy in the U.S. Duffy was shopping at Whole Foods in NYC when he noticed there were no straightforward skincare options containing natural ingredients for men. He got to work developing and refining his concept for a“natural ingredient-based quality performance men’s product line” that’s now available in more than 30 countries. Bulldog products promise to make men look and feel their best, and the company has options for regular, sensitive, oily, and dry skin with products designed for each of these unique needs. Here are a few: serving face Bulldog’s Original Beard Balm ($9.99) is a fast-absorbing beard balm containing aloe vera, camelina oil and green tea. This balm is formulated to soften, condition, and moisturize the beard and leave skin feeling soothed and nourished. Bulldog’s Original Face Wash ($6.99) is a nondrying face wash formulated to cleanse skin while leaving you feeling refreshed. Citrus top notes and a woody base lend an especially enticing light, fresh and masculine scent. Their Original Moisturizer ($9.99) is formulated to hydrate without leaving sticky or greasy residue. The Original Bamboo Razor ($14.99) comes with four blade refills, each with five tempered steel blades, plus a lubricating strip with aloe, a precision trimmer with a pivoting design. Their Original Beard Oil ($7.99) is fast-absorbing and formulated to soften, tame, and condition any beard. Put a few drops on your palm and apply evenly to your facial hair and skin to give a light, non-greasy luster. and where is the body?

What about Body Care? Whether it’s hand cream, shower gel, or deodorant you’re after, Bulldog has a plethora of options:

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GO Original Bulldog offers introductions to their skincare and shaving lines through gift and grooming sets, including their Original Skincare Duo ($10) which includes their Original Face Wash and Original Moisturizer. The Original Skincare Trio Set ($15) adds Original Shave Gel. Meanwhile, the Original Shave Duo ($10) includes the Original Bamboo Razor and the shave gel. And the Original Grooming Set ($15) is a holiday exclusive which includes the moisturizer, face wash and their Original Body Wash. oil fly away Is oily skin an issue at your place? Try the Oil Control Duo Gift Set ($10) with Bulldog’s Oil Control Face Wash and Oil Control Moisturizer. Key ingredients in the oil control line include witch hazel, willow bark and juniper. If anti-aging is at the top of your list, check out the Age Defense Trio ($15) which includes the Age Defense Eye Roll-On, Age Defense Serum, and Age Defense Moisturizer. Key age-defying ingredients include rosemary, echinacea and vitamin E. the bulldog philosophy Duffy and company have exacting standards. Bulldog products never contain artificial colors, synthetic fragrances or ingredients from animal sources. They have also transitioned into utilizing sugarcane packaging, boasting that they are the first men’s skincare brand in the world to use sugarcane as a raw material in all packaging. Furthermore, the company is aware of the skincare industry’s contribution to plastic waste and have started working with the Brazilian company Braskem and the UK tube manufacturer M&H plastics in order to reduce consumption of fossil fuel materials when packaging. Additionally, their Original Bamboo Razor is built ethically with fully recycled packaging. The razor itself features a natural bamboo handle and un-chromed metal pieces to offer you a shave that doesn’t hurt the planet.

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body

health

From its origin story to a commitment to environmental friendliness - a brand designed to make you as pettable as its namesake. By jeffrey james keyes

Raw Energy or Healthy Hooch?

“Come on. Have a drink. Everyone’s doing

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health

specials. And nowadays, the peer pressure to drink is still on, but this time it doesn’t come with the threat of a hangover. It’s possible we may even feel *gasp* better the next day. That certainly seems to be the case for the millions of Americans who have made kombucha their drink of choice. Its loyal ambassadors have long lauded the libation for its cancer fighting contents, probiotic properties and a myriad of other health benefits.

A decade ago, the“k”word was shrouded in mystery, seemingly the domain of professional yogis and crunchy social circles who met on Sundays to cleanse their auras. But how times have changed. Now it’s practically impossible to peruse the grocery store (or even a gas station cooler) without catching a glimpse of the tart and bubbly drink.

It was clear kombucha had hit the mainstream when commercial soft drink giant PepsiCo started peddling the probiotic tea in 2016 when they acquired the popular KeVita brand. Fast-forward to 2019, and it seems like everyone wants a piece of the bacteriainfused beverage market.

The sheer volume of brands, flavor profiles and health benefits can be overwhelming to those who are new to the wonderful world of kombucha. A deeper dive might help de-mystify the booming superfood trend so you’ll be one step closer to having a happy and healthy gut.

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What is kombucha?

Though kombucha is sometimes referred to as “mushroom tea,” it does not contain the aforementioned fungus. It’s a fermented drink often made from green and black teas, fruit juices, bacteria and yeast. This ancient concoction has replaced modern energy drinks for many people who want to add a natural, antioxidant rich boost to their day.

this page: Photo by Athena Kavis on Unsplash • JuneShine images - Courtesy of JuneShine • Photo by Klara Avsenik on Unsplash

it.”It’s a familiar refrain from after-school

Does kombucha have alcohol in it?

Yes, because of the fermentation process, all kombuchas contain some alcohol. However, in most cases, the kombucha that’s found on typical refrigerated shelves contains only very small amounts (about 0.5% alcohol by volume), which makes it safe for most people to consume. “Hard kombucha” brands such as JuneShine undergo a second round of fermentation that makes it more alcoholic. The result has about 6.0% ABV (about the same amount of alcohol as a craft beer).

that it is brewed with simple organic ingredients and none of the additives that a lot of the big alcoholic drinks contain. JuneShine contains no additives, no preservatives, no coloring, no pesticides, no GMOs, no corn syrup, no rice syrup. It’s made from all organic ingredients and brewed from jun kombucha (using green tea instead of black tea and honey instead of cane sugar), meaning it’s full of antioxidants, and also probiotics which are great for gut health. The sugar content is relatively

low and comes from organic fruit instead of stevia or erythritol.” JuneShine also uses a collection of unique ingredients from blood orange and mint to pineapple and activated charcoal to add a little zest to the probiotic party. Learn more about JuneShine here: juneshine.co.

Feeling thirsty? Now is as good a time as ever to join the kombucha revolution. Twist a top or pop a can open . And you can thank us in the morning.

(By Megan Venzin) ■

What are the health benefits?

Scientific studies are limited, but the prospects are promising. Because most kombucha contains green and black teas, they are naturally filled with antioxidants which are known to destroy free radicals and fight cancer. The probiotic contents are said to beat bloat, while its antibacterial properties may slow the growth of culprits like candida yeast. Kombucha may also help prevent heart disease. Finally, kombucha is a raw food — which means its vitamins are never depleted during a pasteurization process.

Remember to opt for kombuchas that are low in added sugars, and try to stick with one to two 8 oz. servings per day.

What’s floating in my kombucha?

Sounds like you bought an unfiltered variety! Those particles you see inside your kombucha are part of the scoby, a culture made of bacteria and yeast. Known as “the mother,”this primary ingredient will eventually produce smaller versions of itself. It may look weird, but you can thank the scoby for many of kombucha’s health attributes.

What are the best flavors and brands?

Ultimately, you’ll need to sip around to determine what pleases your palate, but popular kombucha varieties are produced by brands like GT’s Living Foods, HealthAde, Dr. Brew and KeVita. They contain flavors including ginger, watermelon, lavender, apple, grape, berry, guava, mojito and lemon.

Is it a healthy alternative to alcohol?

Let’s let the professionals weigh in. Forrest Dein, co-founder and CCO of JuneShine has this to say about their craft hard kombucha: “The great thing about JuneShine is metrosource.com october/november 2019

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ny scope

all the world’s a stage Broadway comes alive with comic rap battles, new work from Tracy Letts, a Tennesse Williams revival and a British Import about the LGBTQ community. By megan venzin Freestyle Love Supreme Booth Theatre Opens October 2nd

Phil Collins - Still Not Dead Yet LIVE!

Freestyle Love Supreme

Audience suggestions power this highenergy improvised hip-hop show from the creative team behind Hamilton and In the Heights. Following its critically acclaimed run at Ars Nova’s Greenwich House Theatre, Freestyle Love Supreme brings the rough and tumble beauty of comic rap battles to Broadway. You’ve got 16 weeks to catch this

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limited run, so grab tickets or get served. freestylelovesupreme.com

metrosource.com

Madison Square Garden October 6th & 7th In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Phil Collins was a hitmaking powerhouse. Although a spinal cord injury and subsequent nerve damage took him out of the spotlight for a number of years, the MTV-era pop star and Genesis drummer is back and bringing his multiplatinum catalog to Madison Square Garden for two nights this October. He’ll be joined by his band, a four-piece horn section, and his son Nicolaus, who will perform those memorable drumbeats his father made famous back in the day. msg.com

Linda Vista Helen Hayes Theatre Opens October 10th When 50-year-old Wheeler moves out of

his ex-wife’s garage and into a place of his own, he’s forced to reexamine the trajectory of his life with a little Tracy Letts help from blind dates, old friends and a new romantic interest. Fueled by the comic wit of Pulitzer Prize-and Tony Award-winning writer, Tracey Letts (August: Osage County), Linda Vista takes a laugh-out-loud glimpse into the stark realities of navigating a mid-life crisis. 2st.com/shows/linda-vista

The Rose Tattoo American Airlines Theatre Opens October 15th Nearly 50 years after the play’s stage debut, Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei and Emun Elliot (Game of Thrones),

This Page: images courtesy BangOn!NYC, freestyle love supreme, and linda vista

new york

BangOn!NYC Warehouse of Horrors

THIS PAGE: IMAGES COURTESY COURTESY ROSE TATTOO AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE

co-star in the Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo. This dramatic tale, which was adapted for film in 1955, follows the weary life of an Italian-American Emun Elliott mother who has become distraught and disconnected from the world following the tragic death of her husband.

self-love centered lyrics and disco-centric melodies weave a different tale - one that’s helped the brash brunette achieve praise from the LGBTQ community. This October, the pop star and outspoken ally brings the second installment of her wildly successful “Oh What A World Tour” to Radio City Music Hall with support from fashion-forward duo Lucius. We can’t think of a better reason for you to get off your ‘High Horse’ and into those orchestra seats. radiocity.com

KACEY MUSGRAVES: OH WHAT A WORLD, TOUR II October 15th & 16th Radio City Music Hall Country music and inclusivity rarely doseydoe, but there’s at least one sassy starlet who’s shaking up that notion. Texas bred singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves may hail from the land of conservative beliefs, but her

BANGON!NYC PRESENTS WAREHOUSE OF HORRORS October 25th & 26th Knockdown Center Brooklyn meets Burning Man at BangOn!NYC’s Warehouse of Horrors, a two-day rager busting at the sutures with art, music and hair-raising spectacles. Claude VonStroke (of Dirtybird Records) makes a highly anticipated return, alongside such top tier names as LA trio The Glitch Mob and bedroom bass all-stars Ekali and San Holo.

Featuring three stages, a silent disco, art cars, fire-eaters and more, this haunted party guarantees guests will have a spooktacular Halloween weekend! bangon-nyc.com

JAGGED LITTLE PILL

Kacey Musgraves

This is a book you can read in one afternoon, but will stay with you a lifetime. It has every emotion from longing, to heartbreak, to self doubt and healing. I wrote it to give others in the LGBT community something to relate to and feel more connected through emotions that aren’t always understood.

Broadhurst Theatre Previews begin November 3rd Alanis Morissette’s 1995 Grammy Awardwinning alternative rock phenomenon Jagged Little Pill has sold more than 33 million

I wrote this 4 u

Buy the book on Amazon.

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copies worldwide, making it one of the best selling albums of all time. This fall, songs from that groundbreaking album are interwoven into the fictional tale of a multi-racial family’s challenges living and learning in suburban America. jaggedlittlepill.com LLM_Metrosource_OCTNOV2019.pdf 1 8/27/2019 16:21:24

Jagged Little Pill

NEWFEST: NEW York’s LGBTQ Film festival

new york

ny scope

Various Venues October 23–25 The 31st New York LGBTQ Film Festival will be presented by HBO and feature some 140 films, panels and parties.

Over 13,000 attendees from around the globe will gather for the annual celebration of the year’s best LGBTQ film and media, which has grown to become one of the world’s premier gatherings of LGBTQ filmmakers and artists. NewFest’s assortment of narratives, documentaries, episodics and shorts portray the diverse and compelling stories that run the gamut of the LGBTQ experience. newfest.org

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No, he’s not really dating Mel Gibson, but he is performing at this year’s New York Comedy Festival! We’re talking about Randy Rainbow, the openly fabulous YouTube star who has a talent for staging outlandish faux encounters with both Hollywood and Washington, D.C. celebs and sticking it to Donald

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This Page: Jagged Little Pill photo by Matthew Murphy • randy rainbow courtesy the artist

The New York Comedy Festival Presents: Randy Rainbow Live

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Images from “Paco Cao: Attribution” at the Leslie-Lohman Museum

Trump with showtune parodies like “You’re Making Things Up Again, Donald”(to the tune of “Making Things Up” from Book of Mormon) and “Fact Checker” (a playful spin on “Matchmaker” from the Broadway classic, Fiddler on the Roof). Rainbow is certain to rustle a few feathers when he brings his antics to the Beacon Theatre on November 9th as part of the annual standup comedy event, taking place at various venues across the city November 4-10. nycomedyfestival.com

This Page: “attribution” images courtesy leslie-lohman •Inheritance Photo by Marc Brenner

The Inheritance Barrymore Theatre Opens November 17th Inspired by the novel Howard’s End by E.M. Forster, The Inheritance examines the lives of gay men living in New York City, one generation removed from the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and ‘90s. In Mathew Lopez’s two-part play, the dynamic characters find themselves grappling with what it means to acknowledge the dark past and appreciate the lives they are able

to live today. The Inheritance originally debuted at London’s Young Vic Theatre in Spring 2018 under the direction of Stephen Daldry, where it took home three Olivier Awards - among them Best New Play. theinheritanceplay.com

PACO CAO: Attribution Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art Through November 3rd While some of Mary Lens’ artwork and writing received acclaim for its exploration of racial, sexual and gender-charged themes, a section of her oeuvre has been considered overlooked, until now. Partially presented in the style of a 19th Century art salon, “Attribution”begins with an autobiographical review of Lens’ life before delving deeper into a collection of her compelling texts. These excerpts are accompanied by new works from Spanish multidisciplinary artist Paco Cao, in addition to numerous other historic selections from the Museum’s permanent collection.leslielohman.org/project/attribution ■

The Inheritance

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Boston Fall Public Garden

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historic honeymoon

After you wed, head to the spot where colonists tossed tea into the sea. Plus, wedding registry advice and updates on the global struggle for marriage equality BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES Boston is for Lovers Boston, with its blend of colonial history, cutting-edge innovation, and relaxed style welcomes over 20 million visitors every year.

Tourists flock to events that include the Boston Marathon, Pride Week, First Night First Day, Dine Out Boston and Harborfest.

However, Beantown can also prove an optimal city for same-sex couples in search of some historic honeymooning. After all, it's the capital city of the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage. What's more Boston is - without a doubt - proud, accessible and welcoming. If you haven’t been before, definitely plan to spend a little time on the Freedom Trail, a 2.5 mile-long path through downtown, featuring sixteen locations considered significant to U.S. History. These sites include the Boston Commons, the Massachusetts State House, Old Corner Bookstore, the Paul Revere House, the USS Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument and more.

In addition to the Freedom Trail, there’s also the Boston Equality Trail, a walking tour that follows the route of Boston’s first Gay March in 1971 and also includes homosexually historic sites like Jacques Cabaret and The Other Side, october/november 2019 metrosource.com

Park Square, the South End, the Boston Public Garden and the Massachusetts State House where state licenses were issued to same-sex couples beginning May 17, 2004.

Art lovers can get up close and personal with John Singer Sargent’s paintings at The Museum of Fine Arts Boston. The museum holds the world’s most complete collection of his paintings, murals, watercolors, drawings, sculptures and photographs. Meanwhile, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is modeled after a 15th-century Venetian palazzo surrounding an indoor courtyard garden (prime for Instagram snaps). It features some of the world’s most incredible art collections, including works by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Degas and further pieces by John Singer Sargent (he did consider the city his American hometown, after all).

Looking for a good way to take in more culture without breaking the bank? Pick up a Boston CityPASS in order to gain admission to popular attractions like the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Skywalk Observatory, Harvard Museum of Natural History, and take in the city view from the water through Boston Harbor Cruises. If you want

to get out on the harbor and explore more of New England’s marine wildlife, Boston Whale Watching Cruise offers a three-hour cruise around the Stellwagen Bank of National Marine Sanctuary where you hop on a high-speed catamaran to spot humpback, fin, and Right whales - plus Atlantic white-sided dolphins and other porpoises.

Is Cambridge on your mind? Make sure to plan some quality time to take in the Ivy League grandeur of Harvard Square. Take the T to Harvard Square and make sure to build your day around lunch at Mr. Bartley’s Burgers (where they offer what is possibly the best burger in the world). Try to get in on a Crimson Key Tour, where you can gain a comprehensive perspective of Harvard life and don't miss the opportunity to peruse one of Harvard’s museums. Cambridge is much more than just Harvard, though, seriously. There’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology (with its MIT Museum), Longfellow House (Washington’s Headquarters), Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology and American Repertory Theater. In on a Saturday night? Plan on checking out The Donkey Show — the disco retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

this page: Credit Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum • Boston Fall Public Garden and Paul Revere Statue Credit Kyle Klein

new york

Weddings

Paul Revere Statue

this page: photos courtesy of Hotel Envoy

Looking for the perfect place to stay?

We've got three to consider: The Envoy is Autograph Collection Hotels’ first Boston property and conveniently located in the Seaport District. It offers a modern design-forward aesthetic and a comfortable easy-going vibe.

The 136 hotel rooms are spacious, bright and rich with harbor views. Guests have access to two on-site dining options: Outlook Kitchen & Bar and Lookout Rooftop & Bar where Chef Tatiana Pairot Rosana offers American cuisine with local seasonal inspirations.

Rosana was recently featured on Food Network’s series Chopped and won her battle on the episode “Under the Cuban Sun” which featured Cuban chefs using Cuban ingredients. Lookout’s skyline and harbor views make it a perfect spot for an afternoon or after-dinner cocktail on cozy outdoor couches.

Want to explore the neighborhood? The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is practically in the Envoy Hotel’s backyard. You can’t get more Beantown touristy than getting into a reenactment of the watershed event that

changed American history, but why not?

History buffs will get a kick out of exploring 18th Century sailing vessels, historic artifacts and the multi-sensory documentary Let it Begin Here. After your walk through history, go ahead and have a cup of tea (never mind the irony) at Abigail’s Tea Room & Terrace, an adorable location to enjoy a few scones, a cup of something warm, or sip Dark and Stormy.

Four Seasons Hotel Boston is one of the more decadent ways you can spend a few nights. This Back Bay oasis is nestled in a neighborhood rich with Victorian brownstones and just a stone’s throw from the Freedom Trail. Take in views of the storied Public Garden, Beacon Hill and the gilded dome of the State House. Be sure to touch base with their wedding specialist to learn more about honeymoon offers, including activities like a couple’s massage and a romantic boat cruise in the Boston Harbor. Nibble on bites and sip luxurious martinis at The Bristol Lounge Bar, known as a meeting spot for “power dining” among Boston’s elite. Or book a treatment

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tion, a distinctive group of independently owned and operated hotels. All hotels in this group are either TAG-approved (part of worldwide collection of LGBTQ welcoming hotels) or members of IGLTA. The package includes a bottle of chilled house champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to sweeten your stay. Enjoy your Beantown honeymoon!

through the hotel spa where you can extend your experience with a dip in the heated pool and whirlpool or have a relaxing steam in one of the saunas.

Beacon Hill is synonymous with federalstyle row houses and picturesque gaslit streets.

It's home to the incredible XV Beacon, a stunning member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts - in an impressive turn-of-the-century landmark Beaux-Arts building. Book any one of the 63 luxury rooms at this ultraluxe property, and relax with your new spouse in an ambiance that features gas fireplaces, cashmere throws, a pillow menu (yes, they have an actual pillow menu), and rainforest showerheads. Really live it up by booking one of the 475-square foot Boston Common Studios, which feature a sun-filled sitting area and corner views of historic Beacon

Street and the Boston Common. Or live even larger in The Bromfield Suite, an enormous luxury, one-bedroom suite that also features a Parlor Room and an imported marble bathroom with a whirlpool tub. Head up to the private Roof Deck to have a glass of champagne and catch the sunset over the "Shining City Upon a Hill." If you don't want to stray too far from your suite you're honeymooning after all - be sure to check out XV Beacon’s premier steakhouse "Mooo...." (yes, that’s three o’s and four….) for a menu that varies from pancakes to smoothies to a scrumptious Wagyu A5 sirloin dinner. Want to head out and explore the area? Utilize the hotel's in-town Lexus service to travel in style. XV Beacon is especially welcoming to the LGBTQ community, offering a Preferred Pride Package as part of the Preferred Hotel Group’s Preferred Pride collec-

Yachts for All Seasons Let’s Start Planning Your Special Day Today 212-534-6380 • 917-864-7670 www.y4as.com 66

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When you’re newly engaged, it can be overwhelming with so much to plan. Well, one simple, fun and easy thing you can do is to start thinking about where you’re going to register. Think about what you need and where you love to shop - both separately and together. Maybe you’re moving in together for the first time and don’t want to bring along the dishes and rugs you've had for years. Maybe you’ve been living together for a while and already have a complete complement of gadgets. If you don’t need a ton of household items, you might be better off focusing on a honeymoon fund or building the piggy bank for that beach house not too far on the horizon. If you have married friends and family, talk to them about what they registered for and loved or never used. And try to remember registries from when you've bought gifts.

Which were unwieldy and which made it fun to pick a few items for the grooms (or brides) to enjoy.

If you’re outfitting a new home or revamping your current digs, consider the space room by room. Here's one of the best opportunities you'll have to imagine how you want your living room, kitchen, bedroom, and workspaces to look and work.

Although you should dream big for those interested in offering outsize expressions of affection, definitely consider having a wide range of price points for your guests.

Yes, the Tiffany & Co. and Le Creuset items can be on your list, but your nephew might only be able to afford dish towels or the neighbors might appreciate an opportunity to provide you a simple Pyrex set for your new abode. In the same way you'll want to consider what your guests will enjoy about the wedding, think about what will make them feel excited (or overwhelmed) as you shape your registry. While your sister

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new york

Weddings

aisle advice: the Registry

or parents might opt for an expensive piece of furniture, some wedding guests will really get a kick out of picking out three or four items at lower price points perhaps in the hopes that you will remember them fondly as you go about cooking with your new cutting board or making your bed with fresh sheets.

In that spirit, we’ve put together a list of one-stop shops that can be great for organizing registries - and a few specific stores where you may want to take a closer look.

The One-Stop Shops •A mazon: Whatever you think of Mr. Bezos, Amazon does have everything you might want and it can be a helpful reference if you’re looking for a catch-all for your registry needs.

The Registry section of the website features options including a Wedding Shop, shopping room by room, Priyanka Chopra’s picks, shopping by hobby, top brands and designers and other featured collections. Amazon offers a one-time, 20% discount on anything left on your Amazon wishlist. Plus there's fast, free shopping, bonus gifts and other perks to sweeten the deal as you put together your list.

• T he Knot: The Knot isn’t necessarily a registry, but it’s a great spot to organize and share your registries for specific stores. If you’re building a wedding website and listing your wedding through The Knot, it’s also a place to organize gift ideas from household items to cash funds so guests can get an overview of available options.

• Zola: We’re seeing more couples using this as a “Universal Wedding Registry” where you can register for gifts from over 500 brands — honeymoon experiences including travel, accomodations and experiences or the alwayswelcome cash funds. Want something not listed on Zola? Simply click the “Add to Zola” and voila! It’s on your list anyway. Zola also offers free shipping, and control over when your gifts come. If you prefer to exchange gifts or transfer them to credit, they also offer a 20 percent post-wedding discount - good for up to six months after your big day whether you registered for something or not.

Zola also offers a useful app with real-time alerts and “Blender” - a Tinder-like feature that helps you to discover new wedding gifts, and a free thank you note manager.

• Blueprint Registry: This website builder and universal registry platform helps users to or-

ganize and manage life’s biggest events. Part of the David’s Bridal family, Blueprint allows happy couples to register by room, import other registries, and choose from retailers including Crate & Barrel, Macy’s, WilliamsSonoma, West Elm, Bed Bath & Beyond and more. If you need help, Blueprint has a concierge team that can lend support building the registry that’s right for you.

Registry Go-To Stores: • Bed, Bath, and Beyond • Bloomingdales • CB2 • Crate & Barrel • Ethan Allen

• Macy’s • Pottery Barn • Restoration Hardware • Sur La Table • Target • Tiffany & Co. • Etsy • Wayfair • Honeyfund • West Elm • Jonathan Adler • Williams-Sonoma

woman last March, Day and Bush went to bat for same-sex rights during a three-day hearing in August.

SCOTLAND The Methodist Church in the United Kingdom and the Church of Scotland are currently reviewing changes that would include marriage equality. Individual congregations have been able to vote on whether or not their churches can hold same-sex weddings. Ian McDowall, 27, and Jamie Wallace, 39 - a gay couple from Scotland - were married in Glasgow’s Rutherglen United Reformed Church on Songs of Praise, a Christian reality program broadcast on the BBC. The couple’s ceremony was the first same-sex wedding at the church. Reverend Kate Bottley officiated and Wallace reminded fellow Christians that “Jesus preaches about love, inclusion, kindness, compassion.”

KENTUCKY Wed in the World ALABAMA Marc Brown, creator of the PBS series Arthur expressed his frustration after Alabama Public Television yanked his Series 22 premiere because it featured a gay wedding. In the episode, Mr. Ratburn, Arthur’s teacher, married his longtime partner. This echoes the 2005 decision Alabama Public Television made to also yank the spinoff series Postcards from Buster which featured lesbian mothers. Shortly after the announcement came out, Birmingham’s First Methodist Church teamed up with Sidewalk Film Festival and SHOUT LGBTQ Festival to hold a special screening of the episode.

Guests who came to the screening were offered sparkling apple juice and wedding cake in honor of episode entitled Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone.

CAYMAN ISLANDS Friction on the equality front has been rattling the Cayman Islands over the past few years.

Currently, no country in the Caribbean allows same-sex marriage or civil unions, even though it's legal in certain other overseas territories of the Netherlands and the United States. Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden Bush went to court last year after they were denied the opportunity to marry each other in the islands. After Chief Justice Anthony Smellie ruled that the definition of marriage is between a man and a

It’s been a little while since Kim Davis, the infamously anti-gay former Kentucky county clerk, has been in the news. After gaining notoriety for pushing religion as a justification for discriminating against processing paperwork for same-sex couples wishing to tie the knot, she’s back in the papers because she may finally face legal action after three judges (that’s 3-0, hennies!) on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati put out a ruling that she can be formally sued for damages after couples appealed initial court rulings.

NEW JERSEY This past summer, Amit Shah and Aditya Madiraju did what many considered unthinkable: they threw a traditional Desi wedding for themselves. The couple met at a birthday party in 2016 and were formally wed in New York City in early 2018. But the groundbreaking part of their celebration took place this year.

The wedding, performed at a Hindu temple on July 18, was the talk of the South Asian LGBTQ community with the grooms clad in handsome outfits designed by Anita Dongre (and floral kurtas from Bohame for the party). Images of the wedding went viral practically overnight.

Why is a formal Desi wedding such a big deal?

India does not currently recognize same-sex relationships, let alone marriage. In fact, the Supreme Court of India only decriminalized homosexuality last year.

■ metrosource.com october/november 2019

67

RESTAURANT BITES Edited by Jeffrey James Keyes

CHELSEA THE BRESLIN

The Spotted Pig folks are behind this vintage-rustic restaurant in NoChel’s Ace Hotel. The British-inspired fare is egg-centric at breakfast and meat-and-terrine heavy for lunch and dinner, while martinis are the thing to drink at the bar. 16 W. 29th St. between Broadway & Fifth Ave., NYC 212-679-1939. www.thebreslin.com

CAFETERIA

Super-popular 24-hour dining scene offering great American fare and a trendy, heavily gay clientele. 119 Seventh Ave. at 17th St., NYC 212-414-1717. cafeteriagroup.com

ELMO

This mod restaurant, featuring comfort food with a spicy edge, takes its name from fab 40’s nightclub El Morocco. 156 Seventh Ave. between 19th and 20th Sts., NYC 212-337-8000. elmorestaurant.com

THE PARK

There’s something ski chalet about this restaurant, serving American and Mediterranean cuisine in a sprawling space. There’s a large patio and, after dinner, the entire venue becomes a party. 118 Tenth Ave. between 17th and 18th Sts., NYC 212-352-3313. theparknyc.com

EAST VILLAGE/LOWER EAST SIDE BEAUTY & ESSEX

This eatery’s entryway is set up like a pawn shop. It leads to two sprawling levels with multiple dining rooms with a menu of shareable small plates for eclectic tastes. 146 Essex St. between Rivington and Stanton Sts., NYC 212-614-0146. beautyandessex.com

GRAMERCY PARK/FLATIRON DISTRICT GRAMERCY TAVERN

Danny Meyer’s creative American emporium never fails to please either in the formal dining room or the easier-on-the-wallet Tavern Room. 42 E. 20th St. between Broadway and Park Ave. South, NYC., 212-477-0777. gramercytavern.com

HARLEM LIDO HARLEM

Brunching in Harlem? Get into this adorable Italian hotspot in the center - with bottomless mimosa brunch, hunties - in one of the most popping gayborhoods in the city. 2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd. at 117th St., NYC 646-490-8575. lidoharlem.com

EL CENTRO The tiny space packs a big punch with inexpensive Mexican street food, frozen margaritas and upcycled-Corona-bottle light fixtures.

824 Ninth Ave. at 54th St., NYC 646-763-6585. elcentro-nyc.com

HELL’S KITCHEN Hell’s Kitchen brings south-of-the-border flavor north to Ninth Avenue. Whether it’s tacos, quesadillas, or an after work margarita you crave they’ve got it. 754 9th Ave. between 50th and 51st Sts., NYC 212-977-1588. hellskitchen-nyc.com

IPPUDO WESTSIDE Decadent Japanese bites, small plates, craveable ramen and arousing cocktails - nestled just between the theatre district and the gayborhood. 321 W. 51st St., NYC 212-974-2500. ippudony.com

PIO PIO Guests sip pisco cocktails and craveable sangria while grazing over family-style Peruvian dishes, Chinese-Peruvian stir fries, steak, and fish below an elaborate ceiling made from thousands of tree branches intricately woven together. Pio Pio has eight locations but this one is takes the cake (Tres Leches, of course!) 604 Tenth Ave. between 43rd and 44th Sts., NYC 212-459-2929. piopio.com

VICEVERSA

HUDSON YARDS LEGACY RECORDS At this chic, fun 85-seat restaurant brought to you by the team behind Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones, the menu features fresh, flavorful cuisine inspired by Italy’s northern coasts. The cocktail menu is curated by mixologist Jeff Bell from P.D.T., and Arvid Rosengren is the reigning “Best Sommelier in the World.” 517 W. 38th Street between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC legacyrecordsrestaurant.com

MERCADO LITTLE SPAIN

TAK ROOM Thomas Keller’s Hudson Yards adventure, TAK Room takes a contemporary look on the classic Continental meal. Think throwback style, glamour, sweeping views, champagne carts, and old school New York glamour in brand new digs. 20 Hudson Yards between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 929-450-4050. takroomnyc.com

HELL’S KITCHEN

MEATPACKING DISTRICT

AÑEJO

MORIMOTO

68

The David Rockwell design of celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s uptown showplace for his peerless Latin-shaded sushi is a sexy, bubbly delight. 40 W. 57th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., NYC 212-757-3000. noburestaurants.com/fifty-seven

SOHO/TRIBECA THE DUTCH

This multi-room eatery is sizzling with a SoHo crowd that’s half downtown scene-makers, half-foodies and all hot. Andrew Carmellini’s comfort-skewing menu features renditions of American Southern staples, international inpirations and an oyster bar. 131 Sullivan St. at Prince St., NYC 212-677-6200. thedutchnyc.com

SUSHI NAKAZAWA

UPPER WEST SIDE

This elegant neighborhood fixture attracts theatergoers; Broadway and off-Broadway performers; and former and upcoming) Drag Race contestants to load up on the latest gossip while downing American eats. Be sure to check out “Showbiz Spitfire Paige Turner” and Jackie Cox whenever they perform. 407 W. 42nd St. between Ninth and Tenth Aves., NYC 212-695-6909. westbankcafe.com

Harlem elites and Columbia giants mix and mingle at this delicious upscale Caribbean restaurant offering incredible rum cocktails, bites like yuca fries, and dishes like Sangria Braised Short Ribs. 2331 12th Ave. between 133rd St. & 12th Ave., NYC 212-939-9443. solomonandkuff.com

A bit of South Beach on Tenth Avenue, this sleek haven of upscale comfort food has large and plentiful windows and a sidewalk cafe.

The perfect spot for people watching... 622 Tenth Ave. at 44th St., NYC 212-977-1170. 44andx.com

NOBU 57

WEST BANK CAFE

SOLOMON & KUFF RUM HALL

44 & X HELL’S KITCHEN

This gorgeous Theater District destination serves casual yet upscale contemporary American fare in a retro-swank supper-club environment with long red-leather banquettes, chrome torchères, head shots of movie stars and an18th-century fireplace. 132 W. 44th St. between Sixth Ave. and Broadway, NYC 212-997-5262. thelambsclub.com

Daisuke Nakazawa, the former apprentice to sushi guyu Jiro Ono, created this posh West Village joint where comfortable, high back, leather chairs at the sushi bar set the scene for an impressive twentycourse dynamic tasting menu. 23 Commerce Street between Seventh Ave. and Bedford St., NYC 212-924-2212. sushinakazawa.com

José Andrés and his team have been cooking up this love letter to Spain, which includes three restaurants, two bars, fifteen tapas kiosks, and a market on 35,000 square feet of brand new Hudson Yards real estate. 10 Hudson Yards between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-495-1242. littlespain.com

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. anejonyc.com

LAMB’S CLUB

ViceVersa puts a sublime spin on run-of-the-mill Italian. The atmosphere is also darn near perfect — with elegant accents and a nicely tended outdoor seating garden. 325 W. 51st St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 212-399-9291. viceversanyc.com

This Harlem hot spot features regional American comfort food by Marcus Samuelsson and a casual, lively environment filled with neighborhood-centric art and artifacts. 310 Lenox Ave. between 125th and 126th Sts., NYC 212-792-9001. redroosterharlem.com

RED ROOSTER

MIDTOWN/TIMES SQUARE

Two floors of high-design touches (like a wall made of 17,000 Ty Nant water bottles and upholstered walls) set the scene for haute Japanese cuisine by Masaharu Morimoto. 88 Tenth Ave. between 15th and 16th Sts., NYC 212-989-8883. morimotonyc.com

STANDARD GRILL The hip cafe just beneath the southern tip of the High Line offers a long bar in the front, a dining room with arced red-leather booths, an open kitchen, plus a sidewalk patio for entertaining Meatpacking people-watching. Surprisingly, the prices are pretty moderate throughout. 848 Washington St. between Little W. 12th and 13th Sts., NYC 212-645-4100. thestandardgrill.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 METROSOURCE.COM

LANDMARC

This Time Warner Center eatery serves flavorful French bistro fare in a setting that stylishly mishmashes industrial and woodsy, with floorto-ceiling windows that overlook Central Park. 60th and Broadway, 3rd Floor, NYC 212-823-6123. landmarc-restaurant.com

MAREA

Chef Michael White has been awarded two Michelin stars, the 2010 James Beard Award, and other impressive accolades. His high-end Italian cuisine combines with over 750 wine options for a fresh take on coastal cuisine. 240 Central Park South Between Broadway and Seventh Ave., NYC 212-582-5100. marearestaurant.com

PIZZERIA SIRENETTA

The people behind Mermaid Inn serve Neopolitan pizzas and rustic Italian fare. Stop by 5-7pm for their happy hour featuring $12 pizza specials, an $8 aperol spritz and more! 568 Amsterdam Ave. between 87th & 88th Sts., NYC 212-799-7401. pizzeriasirenetta.com

TESSA

Chef Nicholas McCann blends French, Italian and Spanish fare in this neighborhood-approved hotspot. Wine Lovers, pay special attention to the TESSA Reserve list with over fifty labels. 349 Amsterdam Ave. between 76th & 77th Sts., NYC 212-390-1974. tessanyc.com

WEST VILLAGE COWGIRL

This Texas-style West Village favorite, conceived after Sherry Delamarter visited the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, has been serving great food and no frills fun for 25 years. Blood Orange and Prickly Pear frozen margaritas in mason jars go perfectly with Tex-Mex fare. 519 Hudson St. at West 10th St., NYC 212-633-1133. cowgirlnyc.com

TEA AND SYMPATHY

Adorable spot serving tra British favorites like Bangers & Mash, Shepherd’s Pie, Welsh Rarebit, and Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding. Save room for Sticky Toffee Pudding! 108 Greenwich Street, NYC between Jane & Horatio Sts., 212-989-9735. teaandsympathy. com

THE LITTLE OWL

This bold Mediterranean spot boasts gravy meatballs and pork chops that rival your grandmother’s secret recipe. 90 Bedford St. at Grove, NYC 212-741-4695. thelittleowlnyc.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

BAR SOURCE Edited by Jeffrey James Keyes

CHELSEA 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 Big gay sports bar with games on flat-screens, pool tables and a smoking patio. A pizza oven dispenses mouth-watering pies, but the bartenders are even hotter. 37 W. 20th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., NYC 212-624-5942. boxersnyc.com

THE EAGLE This dark and cruisy leather-and-Levi’s clubs boasts a great rooftop deck and popular events for specific fetishes. 554 W. 28th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-473-1866. eagle-ny.com

GYM Popular after work sports bar with plasma-screen TVs broadcasting games, a pool table and a basement dugout. 167 Eighth Ave. between 18th and 19th Sts., NYC 212-337-2439. gymsportsbar.com

EAST VILLAGE/LOWER EAST SIDE THE BOILER ROOM A throwback to the days when the East Village was for the punky and funky, this no-frills lounge is popular with the college set, attitude-free, and rocks with an eclectic mix of music and scruffy pool players. 86 E. 4th St. at Second Ave., NYC 212-254-7536

OSCAR WILDE

BOXERS WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

FAIRYTAIL LOUNGE Glittery Centaurs and other enchanted-forest motifs distinguish this cozy lounge in way-west HK with theme parties and guest DJs. 500 W. 48th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-648-3897

Boasting NYC’s Best Happy Hour seven days a week, this way uptown outpost of the gay bar phenomenon always offers incredible eye candy. 3820 Broadway at 159th St., NYC. boxersnyc.com

FLAMING SADDLES

WEST VILLAGE

When not serving vodka sodas in glass steins, bartenders jump on the bar for boot-scootin’ to Achy Breaky-type tunes. 793 Ninth Ave. at 53rd St., NYC 212-713-0481. flamingsaddles.com/nyc

HARDWARE Enjoy cheap drinks at the front bar and fun tunes on the rear dance floor when live performers like Jan Sport, Marti Gould Cummings, Brita Filter and Paige Turner aren’t on stage. 697 Tenth Ave between 47th and 48th Sts., NYC 212-924-9885. hardware-bar.com

INDUSTRY Big venue with couch-filled nooks, a game room with a pool table, and industrial design that’s a nod to its parking-garage past. Tina Burner and Kizha Carr shake things up. 355 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 646-476-2747. industry-bar.com This neighborhood fixture attracts tourists, locals and theater pros from both sides of the footlights with strong drinks, cheap prices and friendly staff. 656 Ninth Ave. at 46th St., NYC 212-307-1503

POSH A mixed bag of Hell’s Kitchenites and the occasional celeb spill out onto the sidewalk as this lounge spins pop and dance tunes. 405 W. 51st St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-957-2222. poshbarnyc.com

RISE BAR

REBAR

This upscale boy boîte had places to perch on multiple levels, but a kickin’ sound system makes it unlikely you’ll settle down. 369 W. 46th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-333-2554. ritzbarandlounge.com

EAST VILLAGE CLUB CUMMING Willkommen to this sassy, performance-based club from Alan Cumming, Benjamin Maisani, Darren Dryden and Daniel Nardicio.

Picture backstage at a Berlin nightclub where anything goes from Drag Race viewing parties to (of course!) cabaret. 505 E. 6th St. between Aves. A and B, NYC 212-777-2555. clubcummingnyc.com

THE COCK Longtime late-night haven for naughty go-go boys and those seeking debauchery from the naughty to the nightlife glitterati. 29 Second Ave. between First and Second Sts., NYC

NOWHERE Ultra-mellow East Villager with distressed décor, a pool table and what may be the smallest back room ever. 322 E. 14th St. between First and Second Aves., NYC 212-477-4744. nowherebarnyc.com

PHOENIX Find folks enjoying video games, a pool table, a jukebox and the diverse crowd in an exposed-brick space with an uncomplicated vibe.

447 E. 13th St. at Ave. A., NYC 212-477-9979. hoenixbarnyc.com

HELL’S KITCHEN/MIDTOWN WEST ATLAS SOCIAL CLUB Josh Wood, Benjamin Maisani, Pablo Raimondi, and Asi Mazar hit a home run with this HK hotspot, where celebs like Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, and Cher have made cameos. 753 9th Ave. between 50th and 51st Sts., NYC 212-262-8527. atlassocialclub.com

BARRAGE This HK lounge has au courant accouterments and outrageous drinks. Late happy hour from 11pm to midnight is the perfect time for a discount. 401 W. 47th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-586-9390

BOXERS HK This outpost of the Chelsea sports bar features a large ground floor, basement game room dubbed The Dog Pound, and big rooftop patio. 742 Ninth Ave. at 50th St., NYC 212-951-1518. boxersnyc.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

Home to the local lesbian crowd (and a few boys), this small, unpretentious bar features a capricious décor heavy on fish. 281 W. 12th St. at Fourth St., NYC 212-243-9041. cubbyholebar.com

THE DUPLEX

Downstairs at the city’s oldest continuing cabaret/piano bar, the staff performs while serving. 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. theduplex.com

THE HANGAR

Manly neighborhood bar with a diverse crowd. 115 Christopher St. between Bleecker and Hudson Sts., NYC 212-627-2044

HENRIETTA HUDSON

9TH AVENUE SALOON

Acclaimed mixologist Johnny Swet sets the scene at this cocktail lounge, ironically situated at the former headquarters of NYC’s Bureau of Prohibition. The gastropub is a tribute to its great Irish namesake and displays a collection of related relics. 45 W. 27th St. at Sixth Avenue., NYC 212-213-3066. oscarwildenyc.com Sexy Chelsea hangout where G Lounge used to be with ondustrial décor and sexy staff drawing all kinds of men (especially local muscle bears). 225 W. 19th St. between Seventh and Eighth Aves., NYC 212-929-1085. rebarchelsea.com

CUBBYHOLE

Kings of NYC nightlife joined forces for this fab yet unpretentious watering hole right where you can dance all night every Friday and Saturday. 859 9th Avenue., NYC 646-892-3313. risebarnyc.com

THE RITZ BAR & LOUNGE

THERAPY The modern duplex draws a fierce crowd to weekly shows by legendary performers like Pixie Aventura. Don’t miss Paige Turner’s infamous Sunday night Slurp show. 348 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 212-397-1700. therapy-nyc.com

EAST SIDE THE TOOL BOX This two-level dive bar with a cozy downstairs hosts parties with DJs and go-go boys on Friday and Saturday. 1742 Second Ave., between 90th and 91st Sts., NYC 212-348-1288. thetoolboxnyc.com

THE TOWNHOUSE Two levels of mature gents and their younger fans swaying to live songs from the Jerry Herman oeuvre. 236 E. 58th St. between Second and Third Aves., NYC 212-754-4649. townhouseny.com

UNCLE CHARLIE’S After a remodel that put its piano in the center of the action, this effervescent lounge is once again going strong with live entertainment and multiple bars. 139 E. 45th St. between Third and Lexington Aves., NYC 212-661-9097. unclecharliesnyc.com

UPPER WEST SIDE

Popular lesbian lounge with a multicultural crowd. 438 Hudson St. at Morton St., NYC 212-924-3347.henriettahudson.com

JULIUS’

On a normal night, the city’s oldest gay bar is a comfy place for cheap drinks, burgers and fries. Once a month, Mattachine turns it into a crowded, rowdy dance party with excellent vinyl music. 159 W. 10th St. at Waverly Pl., NYC 212-243-1928. juliusbarny.com

MARIE’S CRISIS

Old-school sing-alongs are on tap at this long-running piano bar.

Stop in and “sing out, Louise!” 59 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-243-9323. mariescrisis.us

MONSTER

Sheridan Square stalwart where fab guys and dolls sing along to show tunes upstairs while DJs spin for a diverse crowd downstairs.

80 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-924-3558 Open Mon-Fri, 4pm-4am; Sat & Sun, 2pm-4am. monsterbarnyc.com

PIECES

Bop to retro dance tracks or laugh at drag queen antics like Ms. Vodka Stinger’s B-Movie Mondays. 8 Christopher St. at Sixth Ave., NYC 212-929-9291. piecesbar.com

ROCKBAR

For boys who prefer fur, there’s this butched-up bar with a fist-pumping soundtrack, cheap drinks and very sexy parties. 185 Christopher St. at Weehawken St., NYC. rockbarnyc.com

STONEWALL

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

TY’S

Ye Olde Boy Bar serves a loyal and friendly Christopher Street clientele — NYPD and Firemen especially welcome. 114 Christopher St. between Bleecker and Hudson Sts., NYC 212-741-9641. tys.nyc

OUTER BOROUGHS & BEYOND ALBATROSS

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

SUITE This adorable spot attracts Columbia gays with leopard-print lamps, leather banquettes and drag entertainers. 992 Amsterdam Ave. between 109th and 110th Sts., NYC 212-222-4600. suitenyc.com

WEST END LOUNGE

ICON ASTORIA

Beefcake dancers and NYC nightlife legends flock to this unassuming Astoria watering hole for great beats and impressive drag.

31-84 33rd Street., Astoria, NY 347-808-7592. iconastoria.com

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

GINGER’S

UPTOWN

B-burg bar with a spacious patio. 559 Lorimer St. at Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, 718-599-4444. metropolitanbarny.com

ALIBI LOUNGE Popular Harlem bar that’s a great spot for after work. Bring some cash for the jay-dropping go-go boys on Man Crush Mondays. 2376 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. at 139th St., NYC 917-472-7789.

Popular with lesbians, this long, dark bar has a jukebox and an outdoor garden. 363 Fifth Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn 718-788-0924

METROPOLITAN

THE ROSEMONT NYC

Mixed cocktail bar with eclectic entertainment and a big back deck.

63 Montrose Ave., Brooklyn 347-987-3101. therosemontnyc.com

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ACCOUNTING – ATTORNEYS

ADOPTION SERVICES

ACCOUNTING

Friends in Adoption

Dikman, Bernard L., C.P.A.

37 W 20th St, Ste 703, NYC ....... 212 929-4299

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

Woloshen, Robert A. CPA

AESTHETIC SERVICES

29 W 15th St, Ste 1 NYC ........................................... 212 843-3486 www.rawcpa.com (SEE AD THIS PAGE)

ACUPUNCTURE

Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC ............................................ 212 262-2500 NYC ............................................ 212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com (SEE AD PHYSICIANS PAGE 77)

Acupuncture-NYC

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

Lexington Plastic Surgeons

113 E 39th St, NYC...................... 646 374-2410 www.try.lexingtonplasticsurgeons.com/ metrosource

Sexual Health Men

290 Madison Ave 6th Fl NYC............................................973 493-7607 www.sexualhealthmen.com

Stoller, Roy B., D.O. 515 Madison Ave, Ste 1205 NYC ...........................................212 920-4499 www.hairdoctornyc.com (SEE AD HAIR REPLACEMENT PAGE 74)

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, #8 NYC............................................646 257-9081

ATTORNEYS Bing, Steven E.

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

Luna Chou, Esq. 212-226-2610

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

LChouLaw@gmail.com w w w.LunaChouLaw.com

IMMIGRATION EQUALITY

Chou, Luna, Esq. NYC ...........................................212 226-2610 www.lunachoulaw.com

GREEN CARDS, FIANCE(E ) VISAS, WAIVERS, CITIZENSHIP, ASYLUM, UNCONTESTED DIVORCE & RE AL ESTATE TR ANSACTIONS

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6 Harbor Park Dr. Nationwide .............................800 JUST-CALL www.yourlawyer.com (SEE AD PAGE 58) TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

ATTORNEYS (CONTINUED) – COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY Tesler, Richard, Esq.

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

(SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

Factor, Rhonda J., PhD

41 W 72nd St NYC �������������������������������������������212 362-6961

BARS (SEE BAR SOURCE PAGE 68)

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 (SEE AD PAGE 61)

Paul Evans Catering

20 W 20th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 321-1822 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 243-4494 www.paulevanscatering.com

CLOTHING Dave’s New York

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

Jackson Boutique

www.jacksonboutiquenyc.com

CONTRACTORS/CONSTRUCTION ABS Design & Construction

NYC ��������������������������������������������212 731-0642 www.abs-construction-nyc.com

COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY Angers, Marc E., M.A. Oxon, L.C.S.W./L.P.

Licensed Psychoanalyst, NCPsyA NYC ��������������������������������������������917 678-7929

Barneson, Jeff, LCSW

119 Washington Place NYC ��������������������������������������������212 252-2314 www.jeffbarneson.com

Blatter, Andrew, LCSW

NYC �������������������������������������������� 718 855-5171

85 5th Ave, Ste 912 NYC �������������������������������������������� 347 834-6057 www.rhondafactorphd.com

Jarratt, Kent, L.C.S.W.

19 W 34th St, NYC ��������212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ ����������������������������� 917 686-6179 www.kentjarratt.com

Volker Schuetz, PsyD Clinical Psychologist

Call 212-470-9024 for a FREE phone consultation

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

Johnson, Thomas E., L.C.S.W.

Chelsea ��������������������������������������� 212 645-3952

Kingan, Peter L., Ph.D.

99 University Pl, 4th Fl NYC ������������������������������������������������ 917 428-2431

Koetting, Michael E., L.C.S.W.

NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 741-2606 www.koettingpsychotherapy.com

McFadden, Stephen, LCSW SEP

435 W 23rd St NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 627-8419 www.smcfadden.com

Nelson, Joshua, Ph.D.

71 W 23rd St, Ste 1115 NYC ����������������������������������������������646 512-0043 www.jnelsonphd.com

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Rayhill, Daniel, Ph.D.

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

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

Andrew Blatter, lcsw P S YC HOTHE RA P Y

• 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

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)

• depression & anxiety • self esteem & self confidence • sexuality & sexual health • major life changes

Schwartz, Alan, M.D., Psychiatrist

West Village/Chelsea NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 727-0923

• relationships & communication

Tallent, Marc, Ph.D.

51 Fifth Ave NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 645-5795 http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/33692

NYC �������������������������������������������917 442-5213 www.andrewblatter.com (SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Bloom Psychotherapy NYC

19 W 34th St, PH NYC. �������������������������������������������347 921-0431 www.nycbloomtherapy.com

Campbell, Robert D., LCSW

Psychotherapy for Individuals & Couples NYC �������������������������������������������646 783-8155 www.robertdcampbell.com (SEE AD THIS PAGE)

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

740 West End Ave, Ste 1 Cell ���������������������������������������������917 923-2257 TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

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COUNSELING/SUBURBAN – DERMATOLOGY

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

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

DATING SERVICES SEE ALSO INTRODUCTION SERVICES

ManMate

NYC ��������������������������������������������212 564-4025 www.manmate.com

ManMate Dinners For 8

NYC ��������������������������������������������212 564-4025 www.manmate.com

Wheaton, Grant

Dating Coach NYC ��������������������������������������������212 564-4025

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

Lew, Spencer, D.D.S.

30 E 40th St #706 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 286-1717 www.nycdental.com

LuxDen Dental Center

2579 E 17th St, Ste 11 Brooklyn �������������������������������������718 382-3444 www.luxden.com

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

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

(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

West 10th Dental P.C.

45 W 10th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 982-5883 www.west10thdental.com

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

DENTISTS/PERIODONTISTS

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

Bizzell, Steven J., D.M.D., D.A.B.P.

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

50-02 5th St Ste B, Long Island City ��������������������������718 530-6539 www.licdentalassociates.com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St, NYC �����������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

DENTISTS/SUBURBAN Rosa, John D., D.D.S., P.C.

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

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

GENERAL AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY

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

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

DERMATOLOGY SEE ALSO PHYSICIANS

Advanced Dermatology Associates

200 Central Park South #107 NYC �������������������������������������������212 262-2500 NYC �������������������������������������������212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com

(SEE AD PHYSICIANS PAGE 77)

Arora, Navin, DO, FAAD

Arora Dermatology 115 Broadway, Ste 1800 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 244-1252 www.aroraderm.com

Goldman, Barry D., M.D.

150 Broadway #111 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 962-1115

Office conveniently located via PATH, 15 minutes from 14th Street station.

Office on ground floor of James Madison Building, directly across from Newport Mall.

40 Newport Parkway Jersey City, NJ 07310 201.626.2700 BY APPOINTMENT drrosadds@aol.com

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 METROSOURCE.COM

Juva Skin & Laser Center

60 E 56th St #2, NYC ����������������� 212 421-9501 www.juvaskin.com

Lumos Dermatology

Peter Chien, MD, PhD 37 E 28th St, Ste 304 NYC �������������������������������������������646 820-1716 www.lumosdermatology.com

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

DERMATOLOGY (CONTINUED) – GIFTS OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES Ameriprise Financial Services

Lance R. Kash, Financial Advisor, CFP® 122 E 42nd St #2215, NYC ���������� 646 964-9400

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC

EMPLOYMENT Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)

1700 Stadium Way LA �����������������������������������������������213 847-LAFD www.joinlafd.org

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)

700 E Temple St, B-38 LA �����������������������������������������������866 444-LAPD www.joinlapd.com

EVENT PLANNING & EVENT SPACE/RENTALS SEE ALSO CATERING, WEDDING SERVICES

Elite Private Yachts

NYC �������������������������������������������866 862-7245 www.eliteprivateyachts.com www.entertainmentcruises.com/new-york (SEE AD PAGE 65 & THIS PAGE)

Hornblower Cruises & Events

Pier 40 NYC ��������������������������������������������646 832-2805 www.hornblowerny.com/metrosource

Houston Hall

222 W. Houston St NYC ������������������������������������������� 212 582-2057

The Riverside Church

490 Riverside Dr. NYC ��������������������������������������������212 870-6762 www.trcnyc.com

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

New York Life/NYLIFE Securities

Marlon J. Altoe 420 Lexington Ave, 15th Fl NYC ������������������������������������������� 646 227-8605 Cell �������������������������������������������� 646 761-4372 www.newyorklife.com/agent/maltoe

Peloso-Barnes, Julia A., CFP, CPM, CRPC

Purchase, NY �����������������������������914 225-6391 www.advisor.morganstanley.com/thepeloso-barnes-group

Make Your Next Event FABULOUS

BIG APPLE EVENT AV • • • • •

Weddings Corporate Trade Shows Conferences Conventions

212-518-3175

www.avnycrentals.com

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Scholar Financial Group

245 Park Ave, Ste 1800 NYC ��������������������������������������������646 366-6588

YOUR M OMENT

FITNESS/GYMS/PERSONAL TRAINERS Mercedes Club

550 W 54th St, NYC �������������������212 265-1111 www.themercedesclub.com

FLORISTS LUNCH | BRUNCH | DINNER | P RI VATE EVENTS

la Fleur d’Harlem

203 W 144th St NYC ������������������������������������������646 850-5973 www.lafleurnyc.com

EntertainmentCruises.com/New-York

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

FRAMING 14th Street Framing Gallery

Yachts for All Seasons

NYC �������������������������������������������212 534-6380 Cell ��������������������������������������������917 864-7670 www.y4as.com (SEE AD PAGE 66)

225 W 14th St, NYC �������������������212 691-8156

GIFTS Li-Lac Chocolates

519 8th Ave, Ste 815 NYC �������������������������������������������212 518-3175 www.avnycrentals.com

Big Apple Event Audio Visual

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

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

(SEE AD PAGE 61)

EVENT SERVICES

Julia A. Peloso-Barnes, CFP®, CPM®, CRPC® Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor® First Vice President, Portfolio Management Director, Wealth Advisor 2000 Westchester Avenue 1NC | Purchase, NY 10577 NMLS # 578741

Planning for LGBTQ people isn’t just my professional life, it’s my community

914-225-6391 Julia.Peloso-Barnes@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/the-peloso-barnes-group Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the US. © 2019 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Member SIPC

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

You deserve an advisor who understands the path that has gotten you here.

CRC 2514463 05/2019

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GUEST HOUSES/B&B’S – OPTOMETRISTS

GUEST HOUSES/B&B’S

HAIR REMOVAL

Chelsea Pines Inn

Advanced Dermatology Associates

317 W 14th St NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 929-1023

Colonial House Inn 318 W 22nd St NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 243-9669

Incentra Village House 32 8th Ave @ W 12th St NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 206-0007 www.incentravillage.com

MisterBandB www.misterbandb.com

200 Central Park South #107 NYC �������������������������������������������212 262-2500 NYC �������������������������������������������212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com

(SEE AD PHYSICIANS PAGE 77)

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Advanced LASIK Premium Lens Implants Comprehensive Eye Care Visian ICL/Refractive Castle Connolly Top Doctor 2018 Complimentary Evaluations (on elective procedures)

0% financing available

www.ChelseaEyeOphthalmology.com

Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Ave - Chelsea

125 W 26th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 430-8500 www.hi-nyc.com

Hotel Hayden

127 W 28th St NYC ��������������������������������������������844 423-6004 www.hotelhaydennyc.com

HAIR REPLACEMENT/REPLICATION

Hotel Henri

OMNI Aesthetic MD

37 W 24th St NYC ��������������������������������������������844 277-9123 www.hotelhenrinyc.com

Stoller, Roy B., D.O.

322 Davie St Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 642-6787 www.opushotel.com

515 Madison Ave, Ste 1205 NYC �������������������������������������������212 920-4499 www.hairdoctornyc.com

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

HOTELS The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

Atlantic City, NJ ��������������������������609 317-1000 www.outatborgata.com

157 West 19th St. NYC 10011 212-220-0066

Phoenicia, NY �����������������������������845 688-7871 www.thegrahamandco.com

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

Christopher T. Coad md, facs

The Graham & Co

Foxwoods Resort & Casino

www.foxwoods.com

ROBOTIC HAIR TRANSPLANT

Opus Hotel Vancouver

Sandman Suites on Davie

1160 Davie St Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 681-7263 www.sandmanhotels.com

Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel

1088 Burrard St Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 331-1000 www.sheratonvancouver.com

Sunset Marquis

1200 Alta Loma Rd West Hollywood CA ����������������������������������������������800 858-9758 www.sunsetmarquis.com

VIVE Hotel Waikiki

2426 Kuhio Ave Honolulu, Hawaii ������������������������808 687-2000 www.vivehotelwaikiki.com

INSURANCE

Before

After

Dr. Roy B. Stoller is a Board Certified facial plastic surgeon with over 25 years experience in hair restoration medicine and surgery. He is a leading expert in performing ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplantation.

Dr. Stoller offers his patients advanced medical therapy for hair loss, including PRP injections for hair loss, Laser H a i r T h e ra py a n d S c a l p M i c ro p i g m e n t a t i o n ( S M P ) t o camouflage hair loss with medical grade scalp tattooing.

Roy B. Stoller, D.O. | 515 Madison Ave. Suite #1205, New York, NY 10022 Call Now: 212-920-4499

www.hairdoctornyc.com

HealthSherpa

Toll Free ��������������������������������������844 346-9476 www.metrosource.healthsherpa.com

INTRODUCTION SERVICES SEE ALSO DATING SERVICES

ManMate

NYC ��������������������������������������������212 564-4025 www.manmate.com

LASER VISION CORRECTION SEE ALSO OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

Coad, Christopher T., M.D., F.A.C.S.

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC �������������������������������������������212 220-0066 www.chelseaeyeophthalmology.com (SEE AD THIS PAGE)

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 METROSOURCE.COM

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

LASSER VISION CORRECTION (CONTINUED) – PHARMACIES/DRUGS OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

LIPOSUCTION Marfuggi, Richard M.D., D.M.H, F.A.C.S.

50 E 69th St, NYC �����������������������212 317-1188 Denville, NJ ���������������������������������973 377-8950 www.askdrm.com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St, NYC �����������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

MARKETING SERVICES

OPTOMETRISTS

PET SUPPLIES

Coad, Christopher T., M.D., F.A.C.S. Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St, NYC �������������������������������������������212 220-0066 www.chelseaeyeophthalmology.com (SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

OMNI Aesthetic MD Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

Brand2Fly

GayVan.com Travel Marketing

PAIN MANAGEMENT

www.gayvan.com

Samuelson, Stefan T., MD

OPHTHALMOLOGISTS Coad, Christopher T., M.D., F.A.C.S.

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC �������������������������������������������212 220-0066 www.chelseaeyeophthalmology.com

44 E 12th St, Ste MD1 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 993-8573 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 594-1600

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Periodontist 50-02 5th St Ste B Long Island City ��������������������������718-530-6539 www.licdentalassociates.com

T H E C O M M U N I T Y P H A R M AC Y T H AT C A R E S

446 6th Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 477-0762 www.ansoniapharmacy.com

Apthorp Pharmacy

2201 Broadway, NYC ������������������212 877-3480

Personalized HIV Care and Support specially trained in HIV therapy

Bizzell, Steven J., D.M.D., D.A.B.P.

VILL AGE APOTHECARY

Ansonia Pharmacy

• Guidance from pharmacists

PERIODONTISTS

(SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St, NYC �����������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

PHARMACIES/DRUGS

PHARMACIES/DRUGS CONT. �

West Village Eyecare Associates 10 Sheridan Square NYC ��������������������������������������������212 242-6592 www.eyecarenyc.com

San Jose ��������������������������������������408 763-7924 www.brand2fly.com

Nulo Pet Foods

nulo.com/love

• Medication refill reminders • Pick up at our location (below)

or any CVS Pharmacy® or get delivery by mail at no extra cost*

Call 1-212-807-8798 or stop in.

CVS Pharmacy Specialty Services 126 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10011 Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

fREE WELCOmE KIT! Come in

for your

BRInG THIs CARd In And RECEIVE $10 off On AnY PuRCHAsE Of $25 OR mORE Store HourS: Mon - Fri 8aM - 8pM • Sat 9aM - 6pM • Sun 10aM - 5pM 346 Bleecker St • Greenwich VillaGe, nY 10014 • VillaGeapothecarY.com

2 1 2 . 8 0 7. 7 5 6 6 TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

*Where allowed by law. In-store pick up is currently not available in Oklahoma. Puerto Rico requires first-fill prescriptions to be transmitted directly to the dispensing specialty pharmacy.

Products are dispensed by CVS Specialty® and certain services are only accessed by calling CVS Specialty directly. Certain specialty medication may not qualify. Services are also available at Long’s Drugs locations. ©2019 CVS Specialty. All rights reserved. 75-47585C 112618

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PHARMACIES/DRUGS (CONTINUED) – PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES Arrow Pharmacy

883 Ninth Ave NYC �������������������������������������������212 245-8469 www.arrowpharmacy.com

(SEE AD THIS PAGE)

Avalon Chemists

7 2nd Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 260-3131

Bigelow Chemists

414 Sixth Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 533-2700

Chelsea Specialty Pharmacy

171 Seventh Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 255-9900

CVS Specialty 126 8th Ave NYC �������������������������������������������212 807-8798 (SEE AD PREVIOUS PAGE)

Habitat Specialty Pharmacy 171 7th Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 255-9900 www.habitatspecialty.com

Mayfair Chemists 21 Seventh Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 242-1444

PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES Advanced Dermatology Associates

200 Central Park South #107 NYC �������������������������������������������212 262-2500 NYC �������������������������������������������212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com

(SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

Amida Care

NYC ��������������������������������������������855 462-6432 www.amidacareny.org

Astor Medical Group

New London Pharmacy

67 Irving Place, 5th Fl @ E 18th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 253-2968 www.astormedical.com

246 Eighth Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 243-4987

Central Park Medical Associates

New York Chemists 77 Christopher St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 255-2525 www.newyorkchemists.com

Thompson Chemists & Thompson Alchemists 137 Thompson St 449 West Broadway NYC ��������������������������������������������212 598-9790 www.thompsonchemists.com

Village Apothecary 346 Bleecker St NYC �������������������������������������������212 807-7566 www.villageapothecary.com (SEE AD PREVIOUS PAGE)

PHYSICAL THERAPY Galán, Antonio, PT, DPT, MBA, CHC RestoreRehab Physical Therapy 664 10th Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 245-5259 www.restorerehabpt.com

Symbio Physio Therapy 214 W 29th St, Ste 901 NYC ��������������������������������������������917 338-6268 www.symbiopt.com

200 Central Park South #107 NYC �������������������������������������������212 262-2500 NYC �������������������������������������������212 246-0800 www.centralparkmedicalassociates.com

(SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

Coad, Christopher T., M.D., F.A.C.S.

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC �������������������������������������������212 220-0066 www.chelseaeyeophthalmology.com (SEE AD OPHTHALMOLOGISTS PAGE 74)

Dillon, Stephen, M.D.

Int. Med., Inf. Dis. 314 W 14th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 620-0144

Dormer, Anita L., M.D., F.A.C.C.P.

22 E 72nd St, 5th Fl NYC ��������������������������������������������212 535-5905

Fonville, T.W., Int. Med.

29 Fifth Ave @ 10th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 674-1020

Goldberg, Edward S., M.D.

Int. Med., Gastr.

121 E 60th St, 3rd Fl NYC ��������������������������������������������212 980-8800

Hsu, Ricky K., M.D.

154 W 14th St, 4th Fl NYC ��������������������������������������������212 627-7560

Icochea, Rosendo S., M.D.

117 E 18th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 387-9199

Jaeger, Lawrence D., D.O.

Continuing to Provide Courteous, Compassionate, Professional Customer Service.

883 Ninth Avenue @ 57th Street Ask AAHIVM Specialists Michael and Krista About PrEP, Your Current Regimen, or How to Best Take Your Medication

Tel 212.245.8469

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Serving New York Since 1940

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 METROSOURCE.COM

Fax 212.586.1502

200 Central Park South #107 NYC �������������������������������������������212 246-0800 NYC �������������������������������������������212 262-2500 www.adv-derm.com

(SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

Jarratt, Kent, L.C.S.W.

19 W 34th St, Penthouse Ste NYC ������������������������������ 212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ �����������������������������917 686-6179 www.kentjarratt.com PHYSICIANS CONT. � TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

Advanced Dermatology Associates Proudly Serving the Community for Over Twenty Years MEDICAL, COSMETIC & SURGICAL DERMATOLOGY

All Skin, Hair & Nail Disorders.

All Skin Growths On-Site HIV & STD Screening, Immediate Results

Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Board Certified.

University Affiliated.

Confidential Treatment of All STD’s

www.adv-derm.com 200 Central Park South, Suite 107

212-262-2500 Day, Evening, Weekend and Same Day Appoitments Available.

All Major Credit Cards and Insurance Plans Accepted.

The Genital Wart Treatment Center A private medical facility specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of genital warts and all STD’s in a caring, supportive and confidential environment.

Board Certified Specialists • Diagnosis and Treatment of ALL Sexually Transmitted Diseases Painless Treatment with the Latest & Most Effective Therapies Available • On-Site HIV Antibody Testing • Immediate Results • Specializing in the Successful Treatment of Recurrent Genital Warts

www.CentralParkMedicalAssociates.com Central Park Medical Associates 200 Central Park South, Suite 107

212-246-0800

COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL

Day, Evening and Weekend Appointments Available. All Major Credit Cards and Insurance Plans Accepted.

PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES (CONTINUED) – REAL ESTATE Leach, Eric G., N.P.

154 W 14th St, 4th Fl NYC............................................212 627-7560

Lexington Plastic Surgeons

113 E 39th St NYC............................................646 374-2410 www.try.lexingtonplasticsurgeons.com/ metrosource

Mandell, William, M.D.

Infectious Diseases 31 Washington Sq West NYC............................................212 475-8833

Marfuggi, Richard A., M.D., D.M.H., F.A.C.S.

50 E 69th St NYC............................................212 317-1188 Denville, NJ .................................973 377-8950 www.askdrm.com

Maze Sexual & Reproductive Health

Maze Men’s Health Maze Women’s Health Maze Labs Maze Cord Blood 633 Third Ave, Ste 9B NYC ...........................................646 585-8980 www.mazehealth.com (SEE AD PAGE 59)

Something is brewing...

David Bonavita Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker The Corcoran Group david.bonavita@corcoran.com (m) 212.501.8281 www.davidbonavita.com

Midtown Integrative Medicine

Aziz, Michael, M.D., FRSM 509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC............................................212 906-9111 www.michaelazizmd.com

Namdar, Isaac, M.D.

Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist 425 W 59th St NYC............................................212 262-4444 1090 Amsterdam Ave NYC............................................212 663-2210 www.newyorkentspecialist.com www.namdarmd.com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC............................................212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

Pearl, Alan, M.D., Psychiatrist

135 W 70th St NYC............................................212 724-5188

Samuelson, Stefan T., MD

44 E 12th St, Ste MD1 NYC............................................212 993-8573 NYC............................................212 594-1600

The Corcoran Group is a licensed real estate broker located at 660 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10065

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PLASTIC SURGERY Dr. WW Med Spa and Laser Clinic

85-16 Queens Blvd, 2F, Elmhurst, NY 139 Centre St #224 NYC............................................718 457-0707 www.drwwmedspa.com

Lexington Plastic Surgeons

113 E 39th St NYC............................................646 374-2410 www.try.lexingtonplasticsurgeons.com/ metrosource

Marfuggi, Richard A., M.D., D.M.H F.A.C.S.

50 E 69th St NYC............................................212 317-1188 Denville NJ ...............................................973 377-8950 www.askdrm.com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC............................................212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

New York from a new perspective.

Daniel Wright Licensed Real Estate Salesperson M: 917.304.4270

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

METROSOURCE.COM

Sexual Health Men

290 Madison Ave 6th Fl NYC............................................973 493-7607 www.sexualhealthmen.com

Skintology

Cosmetical Aesthetics 157 E 57th St, NYC 181 7th Ave NYC............................................212 989-6555 www.skintologyny.com TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

PODIATRISTS – WINE & SPIRITS

PODIATRISTS Ciment, Ethan J., D.P.M.

Collins, Michael, D.P.M. Chelsea Foot & Ankle Center 37 W 20th St, Ste 308 NYC ��������������������������������������������646 929-4149 www.chelseafootandankle.com

RESTAURANTS

Hornblower Cruises & Events

Pier 40 NYC ��������������������������������������������646 832-2805 www.hornblowerny.com/metrosource

(SEE RESTAURANT BITES PAGE 69 )

RETAIL

Houston Hall

Eva’s Supplements

REAL ESTATE

11 W 8th St (bet 5th & 6th Aves) NYC ������������������������������������������� 212 982-2500 www.evassupplements.com

Bonavita, David

SCHOOLS

(SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE)

185 Court St Brooklyn �������������������������������������718 858-5100 www.bhmsny.org

Corcoran NYC �������������������������������������������212 501-8281 www.davidbonavita.com

Chroughan, Judy

Julie B. Fee Sotherby’s 49 Purchase St Rye, NY ��������������������������������������914 262-5323

Coldwell Bank Residential Brokerage

JC Waterfront – Team Francesco Robert G. Harris 1 2nd St, Ste 1 & 4 Jersey City, NJ �����������������������������201 604-4200 Cell ���������������������������������������������646 334-0559

Enzo Morabito Team

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School

Rudolf Steiner School

15 E 79th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 535-2130 www.steiner.edu

Bucks County Pennsylvania Kennedy Travel

36 Main St Ogunquit, ME �����������������������������207 646-2939 www.visitogunquit.org

Sullivan Catskills

Catskills NY ����������������������������������������������800 882-CATS www.sullivancatskills.com

Town Residential NYC ��������������������������������������������917 748-5100 www.townresidential.com

TRAVEL/GETAWAYS

Prince, Keith A.

www.foxwoods.com

Brown Harris Stevens NYC ��������������������������������������������917 826-3451 www.brownharrisstevens.com

TF Cornerstone www.tfc.com

(SEE AD PAGE 53)

Wright, Daniel

Compass NYC �������������������������������������������917 304-4270 (SEE AD OPPOSITE PAGE & PAGE 55)

REAL ESTATE/SUBURBAN Habeeb-Clark, Deborah

Keller Williams Hudson Valley, NY �����������������������845 800-5413

Perasso, Matt

Prominent Properties/Sotheby’s International Realty 2 Main St, Edgewater, NJ ������������201 840-8898 Cell ���������������������������������������������917 834-0454 www.goldcoastcribs.com TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

NYC ��������������������������������������������212 234-2344 www.makemycake.com

NYC ��������������������������������������������718 741-3836 www.nyzooevents.com

Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce

Powell, DeWayne A.

Make My Cake

New York Zoos and Aquarium

www.visitbuckscounty.com

Hendler, Lisa E.

Castelli Luxury Real Estate Services Fort Lauderdale, FL ����������������������954 347-1732 www.amy.castellihomes.com

(SEE AD PAGE 61)

Manhattan Penthouse

130 W 42nd St #401 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 398-0999 Toll Free ��������������������������������������800 237-7433 www.kennedytravel.com

McGrotty, Amy, JD

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

NYC ��������������������������������������������212 627-8838 www.manhattanpenthouse.com

TRAVEL

Douglas Elliman Real Estate Bridgehampton �������������������������� 631 537-6519 Cell ���������������������������������������������516 695-3433 www.theenzomorabitoteam.elliman.com

Berkshire Hathaway Blake Realtors Kinderhook, NY ��������������������������518 929-4519

222 W. Houston St NYC ������������������������������������������� 212 582-2057

Oheka Castle

135 West Gate Dr Huntington, NY ��������������������������631 659-1400 www.oheka.com

Our Wedding Officiant NYC

Peter Boruchowitz NYC ��������������������������������������������917 523-1438 www.nyc-gay-weddings.com

Paul Evans Catering

20 W 20th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 321-1822 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 243-4494 www.paulevanscatering.com

Proposition Love

www.propositionlove.com

Foxwoods Resort & Casino

The Riverside Church

Visit Philadelphia

490 Riverside Dr. NYC ��������������������������������������������212 870-6762 www.trcnyc.com

WEDDING SERVICES

NYC �������������������������������������������212 534-6380 Cell ��������������������������������������������917 864-7670 www.y4as.com

Philadelphia, PA ��������������������������215 599-0776 www.visitphilly.com

Yachts for All Seasons

Bespoke Matchmaking

1180 Avenue of the Americas, 8th Fl NYC ��������������������������������������������888 422-6464 www.bespokematchmaking.com

(SEE AD PAGE 66)

WILLS

Elite Private Yachts

NYC �������������������������������������������866 862-7245 www.eliteprivateyachts.com www.entertainmentcruises.com/new-york (SEE AD EVENT SPACE PAGE 73 & PAGE 65)

Feinstein’s/54 Below

254 W 54th St, Cellar NYC ����������������������������������� 212 302-5559 x114 www.54below.com

Gatherings Floral Design

www.gatheringsfloraldesign.com

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC

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

WINE & SPIRITS Cork Wines & Spirits

1450 Washington St Hoboken, NJ �������������������������������201 942-9964 www.corkwines.net METROSOURCE.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

79

FIRE ISLAND PINES – CHERRY GROVE

BARS

Horizon Beach House

Blue Whale

Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6278 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 689-2699 www.horizonbeachhouse.com

Cherry’s

Cherry Grove ������������������������������917 763-9029

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www.bluewhalefireisland.com Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6820

Cultured Elephant

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www.thepinesfireisland.com

Harbor Club

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www.thepinesfireisland.com

Sip n Twirl

36 Fire Island Boulevard Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-3599

The Pavilion

SeaBreeze Rentals

GYM

Pines Hardware & Sundries

Bay Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6237

LANDSCAPING/FLORAL

CLOTHING/GIFTS

LIQUORS/WINES

Gostoso

The Pines Liquor Shop

Beachscapes

Harbor Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6442

Harbor Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-4200

POOL MAINTENANCE

CONTRACTING

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-7748

Walter Boss, Custom Builder

REAL ESTATE

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6262

Dependable Pools

A Summer Place

Pines and Pools

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6262

Main & Bayview Cherry Grove ������������������������������������ 631 597-6140

Pines Propane

D. Katen Fire Island Properties, LTD

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-9191

GROCERIES Grove Market

Main Walk Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6239

The Pines Pantry

Harbor Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6200

GUEST HOUSES/HOTELS Belvedere Guest House

Bay View Walk, Cherry Grove ������631 597-6448 www.belvederefireisland.com

Carousel Guesthouse

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-7000 www.fireislandpines.com

Pines Harbor Realty

36 Fire Island Blvd Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-7575

RESTAURANTS Blue Whale

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www.bluewhalefireisland.com

Cultured Elephant

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www.thepinesfireisland.com

Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6766

Pines Bistro & Pizza

Cherry Grove Beach Hotel

TRANSPORTATION

Dune Point

Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6261

80

NORTH JERSEY G&L BOWLERS Belle Aire Lanes West Caldwell, NJ 201 823-2250

BIG APPLE SOFTBALL LEAGUE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10011 212 696-7482

CHEER NY CHEERLEADING Felipe Hernandez 888 671-7312 www.cheerny.org

CITY CRUISERS MC Old Chelsea Station PO Box 1614 New York, NY 10011 www.citycruisers.com (gay men’s motorcycle club)

EZRYDERS SNOWBOARDING 445 W 46th St #4D New York, NY 10036 www.ezryders@ondbdx.com

FAST AND FABULOUS CYCLING P.O. Box 23008, Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 567-7160

FRONT RUNNERS NY P.O. Box 87 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 799-8781 www.frny.org

NY GAY POOL LEAGUE PO Box 1502 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 496-4585

NY RAMBLER’S SOCCER CLUB, INC. 917 767-9789 www.nyramblers.com

NYC GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE www.nycgaybasketball.org

OUT OF BOUNDS NYC & TEAM NEW YORK PO Box 372, Times Sq Station New York, NY 10108 www.oobnyc.org

PINK PONG NY Sunnyside, Queens 718 623-2926 www.pinkpongfoundation.org

SUN/MON/TUE NIGHT TEAMS c/o Chelsea Piers AMF Bowl Pier 60, New York, NY 10011 212 835-2691

GARDEN STATE GAY BOWLING LEAGUE www.gsgbo.com

SUNDANCE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SOCIETY www.sundanceoutdoor.org sundanceoutdoor@yahoo.com

GOTHAM VOLLEYBALL P.O. Box 961 New York, NY 10034 212 388-8208 info@gothamvolleyball.org

TEAM NEW YORK AQUATICS 212 691-3440 (hotline)

KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUB P.O. Box 720161 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 815-3244

CULTURAL, ETHNIC & SOCIAL

LONG ISLAND RAVENS MC CLUB c/o Long Island Eagle 94 Clinton Ave Bayshore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org

APICHA 400 Broadway New York, NY 10013 212 334-6029 www.apicha.org

Grove Pizza & Restaurant

185 Holly Walk Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6612 Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6600

ATHLETIC

HARDWARE

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-3746

Summer Solstice

Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

Steel Gym

Pines www.steelgym.com

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www.pavilionfireisland.com

Pines �������������������������������������������646 262-1910

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-3597

Sayville Ferry

River Rd NYC ��������������������������������������������631 589-0810

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 METROSOURCE.COM

MONDAY NIGHT FOURPLAY BOWLING LEAGUE Syosset Bowl 631 842-5166

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY 5001 Angel Canyon Rd Kanab, UT 84741 435 644-2001 www.bestfriends.org

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

BIG GAY MEN OF NEW YORK 9111 Liberty Ave #662 Ozone Park, NY 11417 631 780-2807 www.convergence.nyc

EMPIRE CITY MEN’S CHORUS P.O. Box 1017 New York, NY 10185 empirecitymenschorus.org

GAY & BI FATHERS FORUM OF GREATER NY PO Box 1321, Midtown Sta New York, NY 10018 212 721-4216 (recording) 718 728-0476

GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION (GLAAD) 150 West 26th St New York, NY 10001 212 807-1700 www.glaad.org

GAY FATHERS OF NY 245 Eighth Ave #897 New York, NY 10011 212 388-2618

GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300 www.gmad.org

GAY MEN OF THE BRONX PO Box 511, Bronx, NY 10451 www.gmob.org

IMPERIAL QUEENS & KINGS OF NY 70-A Greenwich Ave #120 New York, NY 10011 212 229-5900 x3655

IN OUR OWN WRITE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 x305 (monthly readings)

IN THE LIFE 30 West 26th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 255-6012

JERSEY CITY LESBIAN & GAY OUTREACH (JCLGO) 113 Pavonia Ave #247 Jersey City, NJ 07302 201 333-5725

LATINOS & LATINAS DE AMBIENTE/NY (LLANY) 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 367-1092

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 www.gaycenter.org

LESBIAN & GAY NATURAL HISTORY GROUP OF NY 80 Garfield Pl Brooklyn, NY 11215 718 965-0013

LESBIAN HERSTORY ARCHIVES PO Box 1258 New York, NY 10116 718 768-3953

LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF GAY AND LESBIAN ART 26 Wooster St New York, NY 10013 www.leslielohman.org (SEE AD PAGE 62)

LIVE OUT LOUD 45 West 36th Street, 6th Fl New York, NY 10018 212 378-4095 www.liveoutloud.info

THE LOFT-LOWER HUDSON VALLEY LGBT CENTER 252 Bryant Ave White Plains, NY 10605 914 948-2932 www.loftgaycenter.org

THE L.I. GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL ORG P.O. Box 360 East Northport, NY 11731 www.liglff.org

LONG ISLAND GAY & LESBIAN YOUTH 34 Park Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 665-2300 www.ligaly.org

LONG ISLAND RAVENS M.C. c/o The Long Island Eagle 94 North Clinton Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org

MALES AU NATUREL (MAN) MEN’S NUDIST GROUP 347 704-0704 www.males.org

MEN OF ALL COLORS TOGETHER NEW YORK PO Box 1518 Ansonia Station, NY 10023

NYC GAY MEN’S CHORUS 561 Seventh Ave, Ste 803 New York, NY 10018 212 344-1777 www.nycgmc.org

NYC PRIDE 154 Christopher St, Suite 1D New York, NY 10014 212 807-7433 www.nycpride.org

PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS (P-FLAG) PO Box 553 New York, NY 10021 212 463-0629

THE POINT FOUNDATION 5757 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 370 LA, CA 90036 866 33-Point www.pointfoundation.org

PRIME TIMERS c/o Don Hargus 208 Anderson St, Suite 8DS Hackensack, NJ 07601 201 488-4839

QUEENS L&G PRIDE COMMITTEE PO Box 580445 Flushing, NY 11358 718 460-4064

QUEENS PRIDE HOUSE 76-11 37th Ave Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 429-5309

QUEENS RAINBOW COMMUNITY CENTER 30-74 Steinway St, 2nd Fl Astoria, NY 11105 718 204-5955

SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR GLBT ELDERS (SAGE) 305 Seventh Ave New York, NY 10001 212 741-2247 www.sageusa.org

SOUTHERNERS/L&G MEN IN NY PO Box 881 New York, NY 10008-0881

STONEWALL CHORALE Box 920, Old Chelsea Sta New York, NY 10011 212 971-5813

STONEWALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 119 West 24th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 367-1155 www.stonewallfoundation.org

TRI STATE LG&B STUDENT COALITION 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014

HEALTH/ COUNSELING AIDS CENTER OF QUEENS COUNTY 97-45 Queens Blvd #1220 Rego Park, NY 11374 718 896-2500

AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP) 800 542-2437

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION 475 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 637-2970 888 AIDS-CARE www.ahfpharmacy.org

AIDS HOTLINE/NYC DEPT OF HEALTH 311 Broadway, 4th Fl New York, NY 10007 800 TALK-HIV

AIDS RELATED COMMUNITY SERVICES 2269 Saw Mill River Rd Elmsford, NY 10523 914 345-8888

AIDS SERVICE CENTER NYLIVEC 64 West 35th St New York, NY 212 645-0875 www.ascnyc.org

THE ALLIANCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE 64 West 35th Street, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10001 212.645-0875 www.alliance.nyc (SEE AD PREVIOUS PAGE)

AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH 120 Wall St New York, NY 10005 212 806-1600

ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT 240 West 35th St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 714-1184 212 714-1141 (Hotline)

BAILEY HOLT HOUSE 180 Christopher St New York, NY 10014 212 337-3000

BAILEY HOUSE 275 Seventh Ave, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 633-2500

BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER AIDS CLINICAL TRIAL UNIT DIV OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 350 East 17th St, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10003 212 420-4519

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 METROSOURCE.COM

BODY POSITIVE OF NY 19 Fulton St Suite 308B New York, NY 10038 212 566-7333 800 566-6599

BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS 165 West 46th St #1300 New York, NY 10036 212 840-0770

BROOKLYN AIDS TASK FORCE 465 Dean St Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 783-0883

CALLEN LORDE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER 356 West 18th St New York, NY 10011 212 271-7200

CHEST (CTRHIV/AIDS EDUCATION STUDIES & TRAINING) 250 West 26th Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 212 206-7919

DESIGN INDUSTRIES FOUNDATION FOR AIDS (DIFFA) 200 Lexington Ave #1016 New York, NY 10016 212 727-3100

F.E.G.S. MANHATTAN COUNSELING CENTER 80 Van Dam St New York, NY 10013 212 366-8289

FRIENDS HOUSE IN ROSEHILL PMB#248 50 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10010 212 995-5000 www.friendshousenyc.org

GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300 www.gmad.org

GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS 446 West 33rd St New York, NY 10001 212 367-1273 212 367-1489 800 243-7692 www.gmhc.org

GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER 166 Ave of the Americas New York, NY 10013 212 294-8142 212 294-8100 www.godslovewedeliver.org www.racetodeliver.org

GREENWICH HOUSE 80 Fifth Ave New York, NY 10011 212 691-2900

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

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METROSOURCE.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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welcome to alyssa’s haus Alyssa Edwards, aka Justin Johnson, is in the top tier of RuPaul’s

views

last call

Drag Race alumni. After first competing in Season 5, then returning to All Stars, Edwards reached new heights of celebrity in 2018 as the star of Netflix’ Dancing Queen — a docu-series built around him/her juggling duty as a dance school instructor (and managing stage moms) with a red hot career in drag. We caught up with the peripatetic performer during the launch of a new Alyssa Edwards-endorsed eyeshadow palette to find out what’s next.

Metrosource: We all want to know: Will Dancing Queen be back?

EDWARDS: I think we’re in that in-between. The thing about Netflix is that they’re very mysterious, and we all know they don’t really get in a hurry for second seasons. And truth be told, the first season took a looong time. It was a long process. Dancing Queen was filmed over a good year. Sometimes you don’t want to rush what you put out. You want something that’s true to who and what you are. I will tell you this: Regardless if anybody picks it up or they call me and say it’s a ‘no,’ it will go again. If that’s me having to produce it and putting it online through my Instagram, I will, because I’m so proud of Dancing Queen. It’s definitely the biggest platform I’ve been on, because it’s about me and my life, day in and day out and what I do. And I love doin’ all this. I love being onstage, but not nearly as much as I love being in that studio with those kids. That is my passion, and I think that’s my destiny. That’s what I was born to do — to be a leader and a teacher and a choreographer. I found drag by accident, just for my kicks onstage. It’s special and very meaningful, and it’s important because it’s not every day a drag queen gets a knock on the door from Netflix that says,“Hey, can we build a show around you and your life?’”

What did you learned about yourself, seeing that year again on TV? I’d watch me in a situation where I’m being a tough love coach to one of my students, and I’m like,“That’s the man I you were born to be. Be honest with these kids; be there to comfort and nurture them. But scold and hold them at the same time.” I watched myself have very difficult conversations with my sisters that were very private and personal. And I learned that I am very socially awkward on a date, so I just learned a lot about myself. I learned

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that I am a man that is strong but sensitive. And I learned that I have an awkward head-lean when I’m really deep in thought.

When we talk about Season 2, I’m like,‘How are we going to top this?

What would we do?’ I’m now in a relationship — after two years ­— and he also teaches dance as a high school teacher in Dallas. We we’re both socially awkward together, and he gets everything about me. My students just danced at Barclays Center for WorldPride and he was here with his students taking dance at Alvin Ailey.

And now you’re also branching out into a signature makeup line through Anastasia Beverly Hills with an eyeshadow assortment.

When I open this box, I don’t just see eyeshadows. I see my life; my journey.

I look at these names — the Unicorn Tribe, that’s all my dance students, that’s what I refer to them as. HOE, I know it sounds silly, but the Haus of Edwards: that’s my family. Beyond Belief Dance Company, Texas Made, Don’t Dream It, Be It. Things that have meant something to me. Make up was always very important to me. For the very first time for me to feel like I could just jump off this building and fly like Superman, I had makeup on. It gave me the courage, the confidence I needed. Now it’s easier, but as young Justin, a young man I was very confused and lost. So in all of this it was very important for me to be true to the definition of who I am.

And now there’s some little guy or girl out there who has you to look up to as a role model when they’re feeling like you did.

I believe my book of life has already been written. It’s just now being read out loud. If I could go back and tell teenage Justin something right now, it would be,“Stay tuned, cause these dark nights- just a few more hours the sunlight is going to come out.”And that’s where I hope the world is going.

I kept my dance studio Beyond Belief in Mesquite for that very reason. I knew there was another Justin somewhere who’s family couldn’t afford to take him to Dallas or some fancy dance school. I’ve always been true to my roots and who I am. It’s important to me every time I get in drag to remind myself, through the power of social media, there is a little boy or a little girl watching. So always use your superpower for positivity. And drag now is so much bigger on stage with the kicking and splitting. People see us, and like you said, it may inspire them to be their authentic selves. It gives them the hope that I can be like that too.

One of the most emotional performances I’ve ever given was at the Barclays Center for the WorldPride opening ceremony, and I opted out of doing it with professional dancers. All the other queens used the 20 professional dancers, and I said,“No, I’m doing this with my students, because my kids are my professional dancers, and they’re my heroes. Those kids’ parents celebrate me; they lift me up. And we took that stage and I’ll never forget Cyndi Lauper coming up to say,“Thank you. That was so beautiful.”

And I came out and I thought,“I don’t need to dance. I want to watch you all.”And I did Pink’s “What About Us,” and it was so powerful. The whole room was on their feet. And I walked off stage and I was a bawling mess and I said,“This is what my life was supposed to be.”And I would be selling myself short if I did not do what was true to my heart. The pageants, they ■ fade, the crowns... But what lives forever will be the memories.

this page: Getty courtesy Smirnoff

The breakout Drag Race star gets real about whether her Netflix series will return for a second season ­— and what she learned from watching a year of her life on TV. By kevin phinney