Bay Times Dines

What to Do

For the uninitiated, don’t miss Teotihuacán, the extensive pyramids about an hour from the city constructed between the 1st and the 7th century. It’s unknown who built them, but they feature signs of various cultures, including Maya, Mixtec, and Zapotec. Also, Mexico City is host to some of the great museums of the world. Make sure to visit the famous National Museum of Anthropology, which, according to Wikipedia, “contains significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts from Mexico’s preColumbian heritage, such as the Stone of the Sun (or the Aztec calendar stone), and the Aztec Xochipilli statue.”

Another must is the Frida Kahlo Museum (book early!), in the Colonia del Carmen neighborhood. Also known as the Blue House for the structure’s cobaltblue walls, the structure is a historic house and art museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Another great activity is a tour of the Palacio de Bellas Artes near the Zocalo (main square) of CDMX, with its numerous murals, including those of Diego Rivera.

Where to Stay

The St. Regis Mexico City in Cuauhtémoc is a luxurious, upscale offering in a great location with numerous fine restaurants. Another recommended option for the business-oriented traveler is the Hyatt Regency in Polanco, with stunning views. I wouldn’t recommend XOMA, the boutique apartments by Viadora. We had a bad experience there and suspect the establishment might be antiLGBTQ+.

All in all, put Mexico City on your destination map: it’s safe, beautiful, a lot of fun, and best of all, you’ll eat and drink well.

Bits and Bites

Inspired by Beatrice Wood, (the “Mama of Dada”), Beato Chocolates are a female-owned, self-proclaimed “anti-established” chocolate maker based in Ojai, California. Besides that, they make some tasty chocolate bars, including: the “Dance of the 89 Positions ruby chocolate,” (a “pink” chocolate); the “Titanic” (dark chocolate, rose, and sea salt); “Bed

Stories” (dark chocolate with raspberries); and my favorite, “Menage a Trois” (dark chocolate, toffee, and sea salt). They don’t skimp; the dark chocolate is all 72%.

These bars are both artsy and delicious!

Contramar: https://tinyurl.com/3u8vb8c8

El Cardenal: https://tinyurl.com/dpna9fjv

Maximo: https://tinyurl.com/yyusey2b

Pujol: https://tinyurl.com/2muxkypr

Hanky Panky: https://tinyurl.com/bd82t24e

GinGin: https://tinyurl.com/5havavaz

Teotihuacán: https://tinyurl.com/2x7b3yx2

National Museum of Anthropology: https://tinyurl.com/d4t6bzfc

Frida Kahlo Museum: https://tinyurl.com/k6x3w3u5

Palacio de Bellas Artes: https://tinyurl.com/yc6wm5wd

St. Regis Mexico City: https://tinyurl.com/yuva52pj

Hyatt Regency Mexico City: https://tinyurl.com/4bmdwzum

Beato Chocolates: https://tinyurl.com/25ns7ez4

David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. Follow him on Instagram @ GayGourmetSF or email him at: davidlandissf@gmail.com Or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com

“I was at a point in my life where I didn’t know if the road to recovery was worth it. I just didn’t know if I wanted to continue my life like that. I was severely damaged. I had little to believe that as a gay man I had any worth and deserved to be loved.”

Joe Caldiero sat across from me using mostly his hands to speak his emotions. His eyes conjured now vivid and oftentimes painful memories. And his scruffy voice softened and trembled as he narrated the deep scars of his past. Caldiero’s story isn’t necessarily unique. His story, however, resonates the collective voices, hardships, struggles, and emotional turmoil of the LGBTQ+ community.

Caldiero recollected his childhood years: “I was a ‘military brat,’ and my dad taught me to work as hard as I can in whatever I choose to do. I also played a ton of baseball because my dad was a minor leaguer and had high hopes that I could take the next step and play in the majors. My dad and I were really close, but I really hurt him when I quit baseball because we had an argument. For years, that’s all I could remember from my days growing up on the military bases.”

Caldiero continued, “I joined the Air Force as a means to make amends with my dad for quitting baseball and was awarded the highest honor as one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. I even got married and had two kids, but the marriage only lasted four years mainly because we fought. Career-wise, I was on the fast track to be an accomplished Airman with an unlimited future in the Air Force.”

“But my personal life was the contrary,” Caldiero added, gathering his thoughts. He sighed deeply and proceeded: “After the divorce, I started remembering things in bits and pieces from my early teens that I apparently blocked out for many, many years. The memory that triggered a slew of damaging narrative was I had a best friend named Shane who was my world, but I didn’t know what it meant. One night, on one of our