December 26, 2013 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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O'Connor marks 1 year at EQCA

Lots of sun in Miami

ARTS

2

17

Kinsey Sicks

The

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Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971

Vol. 43 • No. 52 • December 26-January 1, 2014

Suit filed over trans student law in CA

Atkins could be next speaker

A

S

by Matthew S. Bajko

by Seth Hemmelgarn

nti-gay activists are suing state officials over a new state law designed to protect transgender students.

The Privacy for All Students coalition has been working to repeal Assembly Bill 1266 for months. The law is set to go into effect January 1. Officials are currently performing random sample verification of the signaJane Philomen Cleland tures, and that process will be completed by Frank Schubert January 8.

The anti-gay activists must ultimately reach 504,760 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. If they reach 110 percent of that by January 8, or 555,237 signatures, the referendum qualifies, and the new law will be suspended until November. Otherwise, if the coalition just reaches 95 percent of the lower number, a full count of the signatures will be ordered, and the law will not be suspended until the referendum qualifies.

If the random samples determine the coalition only hits 95 percent, or 479,522 signatures, then the referendum won’t qualify. The coalition submitted more than 600,000 petition signatures to elections officials last month.

AB 1266 aims to make sure that transgender youth can fully participate in all school activities, sports teams, programs, and facilities that match their gender identity. Gay Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) authored the bill, which Governor Jerry Brown signed into law in August.

Several other LGBT-related laws, such as those meant to help homeless youth and people living with AIDS, are also set to go into effect next week, and legislators and activists are working to craft more gay bills for 2014.

However, none of the proposals has drawn as much attention as the law anti-gay activists call “the co-ed bathroom law,” working to scare voters with notions that horny grade school boys will be walking into girls’ bathrooms and assaulting students.

In a Thursday, December 19 news release, the day Privacy for All Students filed its lawsuit, the coalition claimed “the secretary of state is unfairly refusing to count any of the signatures presented to Tulare or Mono counties in support of a referendum to overturn” AB 1266. (Those counties’ registrars of voters are also defendants in the suit.)

See page 14 >>

Jane Philomen Cleland

First Castro plaque unveiled

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t the unveiling of the first plaque for the Rainbow Honor Walk December 20 at the Human Rights Campaign store, Spanish-based artist Carlos Casuso, left, who was joined by Supervisor Scott Wiener, said he feels “very lucky” that his was the winning design. Having fallen in love with San Francisco on his first visit in 1990, Casuso said he is “honored to give something back to the city.” On

hand to see the bronze marker for Sylvester, a local disco star who died of AIDS complications, was dancer December Wright who said that his friend would have thought it “fabulous. She would have done a jig for this one and pretend she wouldn’t want it.” The first 20 plaques are to be installed along Castro Street

by June. For more information about the project, visit www.rainbowhonorwalk.org.

peculation in Sacramento is intensifying around the prospect of seeing the first lesbian lawmaker be elected to the powerful Assembly speaker position in the new year.

In March 2010 gay Assemblyman John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) became the first out person to lead the Legislature’s lower body.

His election that January marked the first Rick Gerharter time since 1994 that an LGBT lawmaker had Assemblywoman been elected to lead any Toni Atkins state or federal legislative body in the country.

Perez will be termed out of his Assembly seat See page 5 >>

Marriage takes center stage in 2013

by Lisa Keen

E

ven before 2013 began, everyone knew what the big news story would be. The U.S. Supreme Court had, in December 2012, agreed to hear two high-profile marriage cases: One testing the right of the federal government to refuse equal benefits to samesex married couples, and the other testing the right of a state to ban same-sex couples from marrying.

What no one knew for sure was how the court would rule. And speculation last December was all over the map. Even longtime court observers who routinely cautioned against predicting how the court might rule couldn’t resist speculating how the court might rule.

There was unprecedented media attention and public interest in the oral arguments, held on successive days in March. And then, on June 26, the court ruled, striking down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act and re-establishing marriage equality in California. The results were not everything the LGBT community wished for but they were far more than many in the community expected to see in their lifetime.

Those two rulings alone made 2013 perhaps the “Best Year Ever for the LGBT Movement” toward equal rights in this country. Their impact was deep and wide, politically, symbolically, and literally. But there were other breathtaking developments – including the unexpected

– that secured 2013 as the most successful year in the movement’s seven decades of organized struggle. Here are our picks:

No. 10: The Senate gets its first openly gay member

Representative Tammy Baldwin (D), a seven-term congresswoman Rick Gerharter from Madison, Sandee Henry and Jennifer Carlin celebrated the Supreme Court’s Wisconsin, who positive decisions about DOMA and Proposition 8 on June 26 in San embodied the Francisco City Hall. polite, witty, but determined temleagues praised her diplomacy in the successful perament of a Midwesterner, added another effort to get the Employment Non-Discrimina“first” to her already long list of accomplishtion Act approved by the Senate and she became ments. Before January, she was already the first the first rookie senator to win the Senate’s Goldopen lesbian elected to the Wisconsin Assembly, en Gavel Award for having presided over the the first openly gay person elected to Congress, chamber’s activities for more than 100 hours. the first out lesbian in the House, and the first woman elected to Congress from Wisconsin.

After being sworn in to the 113th session, she became Wisconsin’s first woman senator and the Senate’s first openly gay member. Her col-

{ FIRST OF TWO SECTIONS }

No. 9: Congress gets its largest-ever LGBT Caucus

Not only was Baldwin in the Senate, as of the See page 13 >>

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<< Community News

2 • Bay Area Reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

O’Connor stabilizes EQCA

by Seth Hemmelgarn

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hen John O’Connor became Equality California’s executive director last December, the statewide LGBT lobbying group was a bit of a mess.

The organization had been without a permanent leader for more than a year, following the abrupt departure of Roland Palencia, who lasted just three months in the position. Its finances were shaky. EQCA seemed to have lost its way after Geoff Kors, who led it for almost a decade, stepped down in March 2011.

Like many other nonprofits,

EQCA had also seen a drop in contributions in recent years, and the organization had laid off some staff.

As O’Connor, who is gay, worked to rebuild the nonprofit, marriage equality advocates saw a monumental shift when, in June, the U.S. Supreme Court essentially killed the state’s Proposition 8 same-sex marriage ban and struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

Asked what the biggest challenge during his first year at EQCA has been, O’Connor laughed and said, “All of it.”

After some consideration, he

DOMA IS DEAD! PETITION FOR YOUR PARTNER The Supreme Court decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act now opens the door for members of samesex couples to sponsor their foreighn-born partners for green cards.

With Proposition 8 overturned as well, making all samesex marriages in California legal, this path is available to all multi-national California same-sex couples. For more information contact office of California Bar Certified Immigration and Naturalization Specialist Love Macione, Senior Immigration Counsel at Schein & Cai, LLP.

To schedule a consultation contact Bobby at (415) 360-2505 or by email at bsmith@sacattorneys.com Offices in San Francisco and San Jose.

Visit our website at

www.myimmigrationlaywers.com You can also visit us on Facebok: Schein and Cai, LLP

said, “Revitalizing an organization that had been through so much upheaval at a time when the LGBT movement for equality was shifting so dramatically was very complicated, and identifying strategies for doing that was the most challenging thing. That includes getting people’s financial and political support behind what was happening, inspiring a staff to work as hard as they needed to work to make this possible, instilling confidence in elected officials once again, and instilling confidence in the press.”

O’Connor, 42, whose salary is $150,000, said EQCA has successfully been rebuilt. The organization is “resolvent,” its “reputation is dramatically improved,” and “our visibility is dramatically improved across the state, particularly in Sacramento.”

However, he said, “We’re not done. It will be a multi-year project of re-staffing, re-stabilizing” and other work.

Along with rebuilding relationships, O’Connor’s also been collaborating with EQCA’s board members and re-engaging with partners such as the Transgender Law Center

Rick Gerharter

EQCA’s John O’Connor

and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. It has also shifted its base of operations to Los Angeles; when Kors was at the helm EQCA was headquartered in San Francisco.

LGBT leaders praised the changes O’Connor has brought to the organization.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with John,” said Masen Davis, executive director of the Transgender Law Center. “He is clearly committed to equality for all LGBT people in California. He is working incredibly hard, and I’ve found him to be an

t

exceptional partner thus far.”

Before O’Connor, who had previously served as executive director of the LGBT Community Center of the Desert in Palm Springs, joined EQCA, the organization had laid off several people. The group now has 43 paid staff, most of whom organize street canvassing, phone banks, and fieldwork.

The budget for EQCA’s 2014 fiscal year, which begins January 1, is $3.5 million, an increase of $500,000 from the 2013 budget. The figure includes expenses for EQCA and its educational affiliate the Equality California Institute.

According to its recently filed tax documents, contributions and grants to the main EQCA group for 2012 were $1,585,628, up from $1,388,285 in 2011.

“Continuing to articulate the urgency of the work,” is the biggest challenge ahead, said O’Connor.

Even though California now has marriage equality, more remains to be done, including in areas like health care, cultural competency in nursing homes and other settings, transgender equality, and safe schools.t

Uganda bill dampens mixed year for LGBT rights

by Heather Cassell

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nti-gay legislation moved ahead in Uganda last week, casting a pall over other advances made around the world in 2013.

In a surprise move, Uganda’s parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill December 20. The bill, first introduced in 2009, has repeatedly stalled during the legislative process and has been roundly criticized by world leaders, including President Barack Obama.

According to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, there is some question about the legality of the vote. Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi reportedly indicated that the vote may have taken place without a quorum. As of press time, Mbabazi had not taken action on the bill.

While the death penalty had been removed from the version of the bill that was approved, it still calls for life in prison for “aggravated homosexuality” and makes it criminal for any individual or corporation to “promote” homosexuality, the Human Rights Campaign stated in a news release.

Marriage equality

Aside from the recent developments in Uganda, advocates for LGBT rights witnessed significant progress in other countries as government leaders began to make good on the work highlighted in the United Nations’ 2011 report and subsequent reports from governmental bodies.

Marriage equality saw a breakout year as Canada celebrated its 10th anniversary of marriage equality and four countries – Great Britain, France, New Zealand, and Uruguay – legalized same-sex marriage. Several other countries began considering allowing nuptials for same-sex couples.

Large anti-same-sex marriage protests in Britain and France didn’t sway government officials to backtrack on same-sex marriage or from enforcing the law.

Colombia sort of rang in the wedding bells after legislators failed to

Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi

say no to same-sex marriage before a July deadline and a judge allowed a gay male couple to marry due to the murky law.

Yet, wedding bells weren’t ringing everywhere. Croatia and Northern Ireland provided a striking blow to marriage equality when efforts in those countries were blocked.

Australians saw samesex marriages legalized in the Australian Capital Territory in October.

Weddings were immediately placed on hold in November by the High Court and then allowed in December. Nearly 30 couples rushed to the courthouse only to have their marriages annulled a week later when the High Court determined that the ACT same-sex marriage law went against Australia’s 1961 federal marriage law.

Gay diplomats, officials

U.S. gay leaders in foreign policy circles reached new heights this year with confirmations in key positions.

Dan Baer was sworn in as U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and James “Wally” Brewster was sworn in as ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Former Obama administration official John Berry was confirmed as ambassador to

Australia and promptly married his partner, Curtis Yee, in a Washington, D.C. ceremony.

In November, the world welcomed a queer political first when Xavier Bettel and Etienne Schneider became the first-ever openly gay prime minister and deputy prime minister in the world when they were sworn in to head Luxembourg.

That same month, Chile saw its first-ever openly gay lawmaker when Claudio Arriagada was elected to the national Chamber of Deputies.

In other elections, Mexico welcomed its first openly gay mayor, Benjamin Medrano, in September.

U.S. LGBT couples wanting to serve a higher purpose were welcomed into the Peace Corps. In June, the organization opened up applications to registered domestic partners, couples in a civil union, and married same-sex couples. The State Department also granted visas to same-sex partners of U.S. gay diplomats this year.

Governing bodies in the Americas and Europe appointed new LGBT rapporteurs overseeing human rights violations against LGBTs and progress of queer rights.

A new day for Catholics

In a surprising about-face, the Vatican changed its tone on gays with the election of Pope Francis in March. As leader of the Catholic Church, Francis has spoken about compassion and his “Who am I to judge?” comment about gays made headlines around the world. He also spoke out about the church being overly “obsessed” with condemning same-sex marriage, abortion and contraception. Church doctrine, however, has remained the same, with the church still formally opposed to marriage equality, women in the priesthood, and other issues.

Crimes against humanity

Anti-gay activist Scott Lively was taken to court in the U.S. and is heading to trial for human rights crimes against LGBT Ugandans.

The murderers of gay Chilean Daniel Zamudio were convicted and sentenced for their crimes.

Still, the year saw plenty of brutalSee page 5 >>

Travel >>

t Amid Art Deco delights, Miami sizzles for LGBTs

December 26-Januar y 1, 2014 • Bay area reporter • 3

Ed Walsh

The landmark Art Deco-style Colony Hotel on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach is one of many favorites for visitors.

by Ed Walsh

D

uring the cold snap a couple of weeks ago, I found myself at 3 a.m. waiting for a SamTrans bus at the temporary Transbay Terminal in San Francisco, wishing I had dressed warmer. A long-sleeved shirt, sweater, jacket, and scarf were not enough. But relief would come soon. I was heading to San Francisco International Airport to catch an early flight to Miami.

In a reversal of fortunes, the next bus stop at which I found myself was outside the Miami airport. I found myself stripping off layers of clothes as I searched for a shady place to wait in 85-degree weather.

Ultimately, the year-round warm weather is what lures most people to Miami, but there are plenty of things to see and do there even if you are not much of a beach person. The greater Miami area is home to a rich cultural history and natural attractions that keep visitors returning every year.

Miami attractions

While most visitors think of it all as Miami, the greater Miami area is

made up of the city of Miami and its suburbs on the mainland and the oceanfront city of Miami Beach and several other tourist-centric cities on the barrier islands across Biscayne Bay from Miami.

Miami Beach is world-famous for the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. It wouldn’t have happened had it not been for the devastating hurricane of 1926 that flattened the city.

The hurricane coincided with the advent of the Art Deco architectural period, so builders rode the wave of popularity and remade the oceanfront hotels in the Deco style.

Gays were a big part of the renaissance of South Beach in the 1970s when it had gone out of fashion in favor of the larger resort hotels farther north. The resurgence of South Beach continues today with more high-end retailers moving in and hotels skewing even more to the upscale.

Gay Miami Beach has a beautiful 2,500 square foot LGBT Visitor Center in the old Miami Beach City Hall building on Washington Avenue near 12th Street. It is open every day and hosts a Friday night

cocktail mixer. You can get information there on the latest LGBT happenings in Miami. It also has lounge with free Wi-Fi and computers if you want to stop by and check your email. Check the center’s website at www.GoGayMiami.com.

While many places have an unofficial gay beach, Miami Beach makes it official. Miami’s gay beach is the 12th Street Beach, the section of Miami Beach across from where 12th Street intersects with Ocean Drive. The city requires the company that runs the concession stands to put up rainbow flags every day.

The gay-popular, clothing optional Haulover Beach is about a 25-minute drive or 45-minute bus ride from South Beach. The clothing-optional section is on the north end of the beach, north of the yellow lighthouse.

The best way to see the top attractions of Miami and Miami Beach without getting lost is to take an organized tour. The Big Bus runs every half hour on loops through the beach area and the city of Miami. You can hop off at any of the attractions the catch your attention.

The strip of Art Deco hotels along Ocean Drive is one of the biggest attractions for tourists to Miami Beach.

The strip is packed with restaurants and shops that occupy the first floors of the hotels. If you’ve seen the movie The Birdcage, the Carlyle Hotel on Ocean Drive was the setting for the Birdcage nightclub. One of the few buildings on Ocean Drive not Art Deco is the Versace Mansion (now called Casa Casuarina). The mansion marks a shocking and sad chapter in LGBT history as the place where serial killer Andrew Cunanan gunned down designer Gianni Versace on the steps of the mansion in 1997. Jordache Enterprises, makers of Jordache jeans, bought the property in September and plan to keep operating it as a hotel.

One of Miami Beach’s newer land-

marks, the Holocaust Memorial, opened in South Beach in 1990. It is a very touching and important tribute to the victims of one of history’s darkest hours. The memorial is centered around a sculpture of an arm with an extended hand reaching to the sky with naked figures clinging to it.

San Francisco’s own Michael Til-

son Thomas is the artistic director at another modern landmark, the New World Symphony building in South Beach, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. The big white wall of the building is the screen for the free movie night every Wednesday at 8 p.m.

See page 13 >>

MAKE CONTACT Join us for our first signature networking event of the new year!

Ed Walsh

A sign at the entrance of gay-popular Haulover Beach announces that it is clothing-optional.

Make contact and connect with LGBT and Allied business professionals at our Make Contact event.

Held at a different member business location each month, January’s Make Contact is proudly sponsored by Recology.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014 6:00pm - 8:00pm Recology 900 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 Appetizers and wine will be served.

Free for members, $20 for guests.

Guests who provide an e-mail address and agree to receive GGBA’s e-newsletter will receive free entry into this event.

WWW.GGBA.COM

4 • Bay Area Reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

Volume 43, Number 52 December 26-January 1, 2014 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman assistant editors Matthew S. Bajko Seth Hemmelgarn Jim Provenzano contributing writers Dan Aiello • Tavo Amador • Erin Blackwell Roger Brigham • Scott Brogan Victoria A. Brownworth • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Chuck Colbert Richard Dodds • Raymond Flournoy David Guarino • Peter Hernandez Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell • John F. Karr Lisa Keen • Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble Michael McAllister • Michael McDonagh David-Elijah Nahmod • Elliot Owen Paul Parish • James Patterson • Lois Pearlman Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Bob Roehr Philip Ruth • Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Jim Stewart Ed Walsh • Sura Wood art direction T. Scott King PRODUCTION/DESIGN Jay Cribas Photographers Danny Buskirk • Jane Philomen Cleland Rick Gerharter • Lydia Gonzales Rudy K. Lawidjaja • Steven Underhill Bill Wilson illustrators & cartoonists Paul Berge Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Scott Wazlowski – 415.359.2612 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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<< Open Forum

Sochi: A platform for gay rights

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he Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are less than 50 days away and gay rights has the potential to make news despite the government’s attempts to stifle the subject. Between straight Olympic athletes wondering if they’ll get busted under Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law for saying “That’s so gay” to actual LGBT athletes worried they may face real harm just for being themselves, it’s likely to be a subdued Olympic Village, with athletes perhaps thinking twice before unleashing the inevitable anti-gay tweets. While communication may be compromised, we expect that condoms will still be provided.

President Barack Obama gave Russian President Vladimir Putin the snub last week when it was announced that no high-level administration official would be leading the U.S. delegation to Sochi. Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and other officials will stay away, as will the French foreign minister, the German president, a European Union official, and the Canadian prime minister. Putin’s campaign years ago to host the games in Sochi was seen at the time as a testament to his stature on the world stage; however, since he signed the anti-gay law this summer, his stage has shrunk as we get closer to the opening ceremony.

The American delegation to Sochi will be a powerful reminder that being gay is okay, as not one, not two, but three out former athletes will represent the U.S. One of them, former Olympian Brian Boitano, came out two days after the White House’s announcement. The others, tennis icon Billie Jean King and hockey player Caitlin Cahow, have been out for years. So whether he likes it or not, Putin will see out gays in the audience at the opening and closing ceremonies.

We urge the U.S. delegation to speak up against

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the injustices going on in Russia – and other parts ity of the vote. Suffice it to say, Mbabazi should of the world. Last Friday, Uganda stunned LGBT veto it immediately. The U.S. State Department rights organizations by passing the long-stalled must deliver a strong message that this type of anti-homosexuality bill, which was suplaw is unjust and unnecessary. ported by right-wing fringe U.S. As the U.S. moves forward toward equality – evangelicals like Scott Lively. The same-sex marriage is legal now in New Mexico death penalty has apparently been and a federal judge tossed an anti-same-sex removed, but LGBTs still face the marriage amendment in Utah last week – other possibility of life in prison for repeat countries are moving in the wrong direction. offenses, now known as “aggravated Olympic athletes from around the world will homosexuality.” Like Putin’s law, the soon gather and uphold the ideals of sportsUganda measure makes it criminal manship. We are proud of Obama’s response to for any individual or corporation bigotry by including gay athletes as part of the to “promote” homosexuality. official delegation and leading the world by exHomosexuality is already outample. As King tweeted following her selection lawed in Uganda and LGBT comto the U.S. delegation, “Honored to represent munities are already marginalized.

USA in Sochi and I hope these Olympics will Like the Russian law, which has led to incidents be a watershed moment for the universal accepof violence in recent months, the Ugandan law tance of all people.”t “gives people an excuse to exclude, abuse, and discriminate for no other reason than someone is being perceived as gay,” said Jessica Stern, executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

As of press time, Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi had not signed Associated Press the bill, and he is President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin sat reportedly quesgrim-faced during a meeting at the G8 Summit this summer. tioning the legal-

Estate planning ahead of tax season

by Susan von Herrmann

W

hen it comes to legal matters, it’s been a huge year for the LGBT community. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Perry and Windsor cases to restore same-sex marriage in California and extend the federal rights of marriage to validly married same-sex couples across the nation, respectively. In September, the IRS made it clear that for federal tax purposes, a married couple’s domicile is irrelevant. A couple that was validly married in the state in which their marriage was celebrated has the federal tax rights and responsibilities that come with marriage – regardless of whether or not their marriage is recognized in the state in which they currently live.

What this has meant for same-sex couples is that there are more choices than ever before – (i) the choice to get married, a status which conveys both federal and state rights and responsibilities in states that recognize same-sex marriage; (ii) the choice to enter into a marriage equivalent status such as registered domestic partnership, which results in state but not federal rights and responsibilities; and (iii) the choice to stay single.

Marriage or registration as domestic partners (which is still available to same-sex couples in California) changes the way in which a couple is required to file its tax returns. Married couples living in California must file as “married filing jointly” or “married filing separately” for both state and federal purposes. Registered domestic partners must file “married filing jointly” or “married filing separately” for state purposes, but must file as single taxpayers for federal purposes. Status is determined on the last day of the year, so a couple who marries at a New Year’s Eve party (before the ball drops) will be considered married for tax purposes for all of 2013.

Anyone who runs the numbers will see that marital status can make a big difference when it comes to how much tax is owed. Because the rates that apply to married taxpayers are not double the rates that apply to single taxpayers, some married couples experience a “marriage penalty” – they pay more tax filing as a married couple than they would pay as two single people.

This marriage penalty generally applies to couples where both spouses earn fairly equal amounts of income; and there is actually a “marriage benefit” for some couples with disparate incomes – they pay less tax filing as a married couple than they

freely transfer property to each would filing as single taxpayother without those gifts being ers. considered taxable, because When evaluating whether of the gift tax marital deducmarriage is going to cost tion, couples who have not money on the tax side, it’s chosen to marry do not have important to consider more that freedom. For couples with than tax rates. For income tax disparate wealth, it makes great purposes, married couples sense for the wealthier partner can combine one spouse’s to make annual exclusion gifts capital losses with the other’s to the less wealthy partner each capital gains, one spouse’s year – and it’s use it or lose it, passive activity losses with so 2013 gifts should be made the other’s passive income, soon. and one spouse’s net operCouples who were marating or business loss with ried prior to the Supreme the other’s overall income Court’s decisions in the – all of which can result in Windsor and Perry cases income tax savings. In adCourtesy Susan von Herrmann should consider amending dition, for gift tax purposes, Susan von Herrmann prior year’s tax returns if domarried couples can utilize ing so would result in a tax savings. The IRS “gift splitting,” which allows one spouse to make has specifically allowed amendment during gifts from his or her own funds but to “split” these the statute of limitations period – generally gifts with his or her spouse by utilizing both of three years from when a return was filed. Once their remaining gift tax exemptions. For example, the statute has run, the IRS says it won’t accept the generous uncle who wants to fund his nieces’ the amended return, which may or may not be and nephews’ 529 plans is not limited to making a constitutional. It’s best to play it safe, however, $14,000 contribution to each, which is the current and get those amended returns in as soon as annual exclusion gift amount; he can contribute possible. Another reason to file an amended $28,000 per year to each plan without utilizing return is to recoup tax paid on welfare benefits any of his lifetime gift tax exemption by splitting provided to a same-sex spouse, as well as emthe gifts with his husband. In addition, contribuployment tax on those amounts. tions to a 529 plan may be “front-loaded” and Married couples who previously filed gift or esfunded now with five year’s worth of tate tax returns (Forms 709 and 706) that reportannual exclusions, or $140,000 for a ed gifts or inheritance to a spouse should consider married couple. amending those returns in order to claim the Another wrinkle is that the effect marital deduction if the transfer occurred during of filing jointly as married may not the marriage. Again, the IRS says amendment is be the same for federal and state permissible during the three-year period followpurposes. Some couples are finding the filing of the return. ing that filing as married for fedOf course there is a lot more to marriage than eral purposes will result in more taxes. But as we come to the close of 2013 and antax being due, while filing as marticipate the 2014 tax season, it is a good time to ried for state purposes will result focus on the benefits and costs of the various legal in a lower tax bill – which makes registered dostatus options now available to same-sex couples mestic partnership a more appealing alternative – as unromantic as that may be – and to take adthan marriage – assuming all one cares about is vantage of annual gift tax exclusions that disapincome tax. It’s important of course to consider pear if unused with that last glass of champagne the non-tax benefits of marriage, as well as other on December 31.t tax benefits, including the ability for a surviving spouse to roll over his or her deceased spouse’s retirement account into his or her own IRA – and Susan von Herrmann is a partner in the continue tax deferral until reaching age 70 and a Private Clients, Trusts and Estates Group at Schiff Hardin LLP in San Francisco. half, instead of being required to begin taking disShe can be reached at: svonherrmann@ tributions the year following the spouse’s death. schiffhardin.com, or via the firm’s website While same-sex married couples can now at www.schiffhardin.com.

t <<

Politics >>

December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay area reporter • 5

Speaker

From page 1

next December and is running to become state controller. He recently told the Los Angeles Times that he expects to step down as speaker next summer.

He pointed to the end of June or early July as a “natural transition point” to pass on the gavel. It is widely expected that lesbian Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) will be elected to succeed Perez.

“Toni currently is the favorite to assume the speakership next fall,” Scott Lay, who tracks the state Legislature for the Around the Capitol website, told the Bay Area Reporter last week.

Others said to be eyeing the speakership are freshmen Assemblymen Jimmie Gomez (D-Northeast Los Angeles) and Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), although Lay predicted, “either is more likely to openly compete for the position in 2016, when Atkins is termed out.

As part of the first class elected under the new 12-year term limits, neither needs to be in a hurry.”

Atkins spokesman Dale Kelly Bankhead did not respond to the B.A.R.’s request for comment by press time Monday, December 23.

In an interview last week with the B.A.R. to discuss LGBT-related legislation he’s working on for the coming year, gay state Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) said he is “working hard” to see that Atkins be elected to succeed Perez.

“She would be the first lesbian speaker,” or at least “the first ‘out’ one,” Ammiano noted.

Termed out of office next December, Ammiano added that his support of Atkins is tied to ensuring there is continued LGBT leadership in the statehouse.

“That’s part of what we all do,” he said. “When you’re elected, you also empower people so that when you’re gone, there’s consistency there.”

Gay groups endorse in SF Assembly race

Two prominent LGBT political groups have picked opposite candidates to back in the hotly contested race for Ammiano’s Assembly seat covering San Francisco’s eastern neighborhoods.

The political action committee for statewide LGBT advocacy group Equality California has endorsed gay District 9 Supervisor David Campos for the city’s 17th Assembly District seat.

Meanwhile, the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance’s PAC chose to support straight District 3 Supervisor David Chiu in his bid to succeed Ammiano.

Earlier this fall the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club gave an early endorsement to Campos, as it has made electing him to the state Legislature a top priority next year.

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Uganda

From page 2

ity, with murders of LGBTs reported in Africa, the Americas, Russia, and many other countries.

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlawed so-called gay propaganda. The move led to reports of violent attacks on the country’s LGBT community. Putin turned a blind eye to worldwide criticism of the new laws, which were signed just months before the Winter Olympics take place in February in Sochi. Gay activists around the world responded with protests against companies sponsoring the Olympics; NBC, which will broadcast the games; and Russian-made products.

Rick Gerharter

Assembly candidate David Campos

The city’s more moderate Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club has yet to schedule its endorsement vote in the race but will likely hold it in March. Judging from the numerous club members who attended an LGBT fundraiser this fall for Chiu, it would appear he has an edge in securing the club’s support.

GAPA’s endorsement of Chiu was not that surprising, as it has long backed his political campaigns. It gave him its second choice backing during the 2011 mayoral race; it chose gay mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty, a former supervisor, as its first place pick.

“David Chiu has been a long standing partner, supporter, and advocate for the LGBT and LGBT API Community. GAPA has endorsed David Chiu before as a supervisor and the organizational relationship remains strong,” GAPA Co-Chair Benjamin Leong told the B.A.R. “He has been there for us as an ally and whether he’s straight, gay, or bi it was his record and support that got the GAPA PAC to recommend an endorsement to the board. And it was through the review of his track record and his connection with the GAPA community that helped get him the endorsement.”

In weighing the two candidate’s LGBT-related legislative work, EQCA determined that Campos had the “greater” track record, said EQCA Executive Director John O’Connor.

“He has been more of a champion on advancing LGBT equality,” he said. “We are so proud to have two great candidates on our issues and to have to split hairs on this.”

EQCA’s PAC was criticized during the 2012 election cycle (before O’Connor was hired) for endorsing a straight Los Angeles-area assemblywoman who was a former EQCA board member in a race against a lesbian candidate. Going into this year’s endorsement process, Campos said he didn’t take EQCA’s support as a given.

“We are fighting for every endorsement and we never make any assumptions one way or the other,”

President Barack Obama took a stand for LGBT rights in Africa during a historic tour of the continent over the summer. Unfortunately, his support was met with a cool resistance from African leaders who spoke out against Obama’s support of African LGBTs. It continued to be a bloody year in Africa, which saw the murder of prominent Cameroonian gay rights leader Eric Ohena Lembembe.

In December the LGBT community was dealt a harsh blow with India’s Supreme Court recriminalizing homosexuality with the reinstatement of section 377, the country’s colonialera sodomy law that was struck down in 2009.

Rick Gerharter

Assembly candidate David Chiu

he said. “We took this process very seriously and we went in there to make our case. We are very proud they agreed to support us.”

As an out gay man, Campos said it “means a lot” to receive the EQCA PAC’s support.

“It is one of the premier civil rights organizations in the state, and to have their support as an openly gay man means a great deal to me personally,” he said.

O’Connor acknowledged that seeing LGBT candidates be elected to the statehouse was a factor in the PAC’s deliberations on the endorsement of Campos.

“It is a factor but a co-factor amongst others. They are both great on our issues,” said O’Connor, later adding that, “a powerful LGBT legislative caucus in Sacramento is very important to EQCA advancing its mission. So there is that as well.”

As the B.A.R. noted in an online Political Notes column, Chiu would like to be a member of the LGBT caucus if he is elected. But the caucus restricts its membership only to LGBT lawmakers, and it is unclear if it would lift that restriction to admit Chiu.

In the release last week announcing GAPA’s support, Chiu’s campaign also disclosed he had received an early endorsement from the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.

Its chair, Assemblyman Paul Fong (D-San Jose), stated that Chiu’s “solid reputation as a consensus-builder” would be “a tremendous asset” in the Assembly and that Chiu would bring a “fresh perspective that will lead to great accomplishments in California.”t Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http:// www.ebar.com Monday mornings at noon for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion.

This week’s column reported on plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of SF’s “Winter of Love” this February.

Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes.

Got a tip on LGBT politics?

Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 861-5019 or e-mail: m.bajko@ ebar.com.

Thank you Bay Area Reporter readers for voting us Best Medical Marijuana Dispensary

Funding the global fight

The fight for LGBT rights around the world gained important support this year with unprecedented support from philanthropists, global leaders, and organizations and multinational corporations, setting the stage for 2014.

LGBT philanthropists pledged to help queer Africans during a groundbreaking donor trip and USAID announced an LGBT foreign funding coalition.

The Human Rights Campaign and the U.N launched international LGBT rights campaigns.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon recommitted to fight for LGBT rights. t

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<< Commentary

6 • Bay Area Reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

Will NBC blink – again?

by Roger Brigham

T

he ball is now in NBC’s court.

As NBC has been gearing up to broadcast the Winter Olympic Games from Sochi in February, it has been loathe to address the controversy surrounding the selection of Russia as the host country. Led by President Vladimir Putin, the Russians have gone on a homophobic legislative binge, outlawing any positive (and even neutral) expressions of all things gay in the fears that such “propaganda” would have a corrupting influence on pure Russian youth.

The International Olympic Committee has been dissed for selecting a host with such blatant disregard for human rights (nothing new there eh, Beijing?) not to mention the Olympic Charter. Major sponsors such as CocaCola have been pressured to work to overturn the laws. And NBC, its sponsorship revenues on the line, has been standing by awkwardly, reluctant to become embroiled in controversy and saying it will cover gay issues at the Olympics only insofar as they became “news.” (As opposed to everyday oppression, which is not news.)

It would seem the gay issue became news when President Barack Obama named three prominent openly gay athletes to represent the United States at the opening and closing ceremonies. Tennis icon Billie Jean King and 1988 Olympic champion figure skater Brian Boitano will represent the U.S. at the opening ceremonies; two-time Olympic ice hockey medalist Caitlin Cahow will be in the U.S. contingent for closing ceremonies.

Cahow has been quietly out for years. King, an inaugural member of the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame, an ambassador for the Gay Games, and the first woman ever named as Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, has been out ever since a highly publicized palimony suit in 1981.

Boitano, who came out two days after the White House announcement, had never publicly addressed

his sexual orientation until now. In a December 19 statement issued from Europe, where he was skating at the time, Boitano said, “It is my desire to be defined by my achievements and my contributions. While I am proud to play a public role in representing the American Olympic delegation as a former Olympic athlete, I have always reserved my private life for my family and friends and will continue to do so. I am many things: a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, an athlete, a cook, an author, and being gay is just one part of who I am. First and foremost I am an American athlete and I am proud to live in a country that encourages diversity, openness and tolerance.

As an athlete, I hope we can remain focused on the Olympic spirit which celebrates achievement in sport by peoples of all nations.”

NBC is famous for showing us the human drama during and around the competition. Remember the shots of Nancy Kerrigan’s mother blindly following her performance in Lillehammer? Remember Mary Decker sobbing in her burly husband’s arms as she was helped from the track?

T NEW AND IMPROVED

less other thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youths are smothered.

Tell us the stories. All of the stories.

Otherwise, it’s just part of the big lie.

USF women hold LGBT event

Newly out former Olympic athlete Brian Boitano will be in the U.S. delegation to Sochi.

Remember seeing diver Matthew Mitcham kissing his boyfriend in the stands after his astonishing gold medal performance?

Oh, wait: NBC didn’t show that last shot. It blinked.

So, here’s a news tip for NBC. You know those little feature stories you like to broadcast about athletes, the background on the struggles they have endured to get to the Olympics, the human dramas that enfold en route to the slopes and the rinks? They are wonderful and warm and endearing, but they are also meaningless lies if, before they are ever written, the hopes and dreams and lives of count-

The University of San Francisco women’s basketball team will hold an LGBTQ Community Celebration on Saturday, January 4, in conjunction with a 1 p.m. home game against Pepperdine.

As part of the appreciation, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will sing the national anthem and Cheer San Francisco will perform during halftime and timeouts. Receiving recognition will be leadership of the San Francisco Gay Basketball Association, USF LGBTQ Caucus, USF Gender and Sexuality Center, and USF Queer Alliance.

The university said its goals in holding the celebration were “to bring in a new audience of people that might be interested in engaging with college basketball in San Francisco, to celebrate an important part of our city, to celebrate groups on campus that have a message they want to share, and to be more all-encompassing of San Francisco. If we want to claim that we are ‘The City’s Team’ when it comes to college sports, we need to be reflective of all members of the City.”

Discounted tickets are available for the event by visiting www.usfdons. com/tickets and using promo code EQUALITY.t

Standing out in a very trans year

by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

FREE IPHONE APP VERSION 2.0:

t

he weather has once again turned cold, and the television hawks Clappers and Chia Pets. Soon the barrage of weight loss and self-improvement ads begins as we head into an uncertain 2014.

Everywhere, columnists like us look back on the year that was, and try to make sense of the actions and activities of the last 12 months.

This year, individual members of the transgender rights movement have been out in front more than probably any other.

First and foremost has to be Chelsea Manning. Manning came out August 22 via an announcement on NBC’s Today show. This was at the conclusion of her court-martial for leaking several thousand classified documents to WikiLeaks. She was sentenced to 35 years, a reduction in rank from private first class to private, a dishonorable discharge, and a loss of her military pay.

While the debate over what Manning did will rage for a great many years, it was the way that the media treated her coming out narrative that made it important news: MSNBC, Slate, and the Huffington Post were quick to revise their use of names and pronouns with Manning, while CNN and USA Today expressed caution, expecting more “evidence” before changing their stories. The Associated Press and NPR seemed to change their policies back and forth, and Wikipedia ended up in a firestorm over page edits and transphobia among its scores of volunteer editors.

The Wikipedia Foundation ended up locking several editors out of the Manning page.

Laverne Cox is a part of the hit Netflix television show Orange is The New Black. Her portrayal of Sophia Burset, a credit-card defrauding transwoman of color – as well as her involvement in past programs such as I Want to Work for Diddy and TRANSform Me – have helped make her a public figure, known not only

for being transgender, but for being a dynamic actress. One need look no further than Time magazine, which named Cox’s portrayal of Burset on OITNB as one of the most influential fictional characters of 2013.

Burset has not been the only character to hit the television screens in 2013. Much like the late 1990s saw an upswing of gay and lesbian storylines, 2013 has seen transgender characters make their way into other popular television shows such as Two and a Half Men and Glee. While we can argue over how well these portrayals have been done – and there may well be room for improvement – they are a far cry from Billy Crystal’s Jodie Dallas character on Soap in the 1970s, or horrible situation comedies like Work It or Ask Harriet.

The big screen was less affected, though many have pointed to the movie Dallas Buyers Club and, in particular, Jared Leto’s performance as Rayon, a fictionalized portrayal of a transgender AIDS patient in 1985. Leto’s performance has been floated as Oscar-worthy. I don’t doubt the critics, although I do wish that it were a transwoman in that role.

Yet some of the bigger heroes of 2013 have been children. Cassidy Lynn Campbell, for example, won as homecoming queen at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California, while Jeydon Loredo’s photo in a tuxedo was banned from the La Feria Independent High School yearbook. Loredo, a transman, was told that to be included, he would need to wear a “drape or blouse.” The La Feria School District eventually approved the photo after a threat of possible legal action on the part of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In Fountain, Colorado, a 6-yearold transgender student named Coy Mathis was prevented from using the girls’ restroom at Eagleside Elementary School. The school had originally accepted Mathis, agreeing with her parent’s insistence that she identified

and should be treated as a girl. A few months into her first grade year, the school changed its mind, barring her from the girls’ restroom and restricting her to staff restrooms or the genderneutral facilities in the school’s health office. Mathis’s parents responded by lodging a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division.

The Colorado Civil Rights Division agreed with Mathis’s family, and ruled that she was discriminated against. It concluded that they opened Mathis up to harassment at school, stating, “that she must disregard her identity while performing one of the most essential human functions constitutes severe and pervasive treatment, and creates an environment that is objectively and subjectively hostile, intimidating or offensive.”

On the heels of the Mathis victory was the passage of Assembly Bill 1266 in California, which requires all of the state’s K-12 public schools to let transgender students choose their preferred restrooms and school sports team.

The blowback on this bill’s passage has been large, with the Pacific Justice Institute looking for plaintiffs for a legal challenge to the law while many others pushed for a referendum to repeal AB 1266. The fate of the ballot measure remains in doubt as of this writing.

One more transgender person, thrust into the spotlight thanks to the PJI and its fight against AB 1266 has been a high school student in Florence, Colorado. Painted as a “harasser” of non-transgender girls in her high school’s bathroom, Jane Doe quickly became the unwilling poster child of the AB 1266 fight. She has since had to leave Florence High School, and is on suicide watch.

I’ll leave you with that as we head into 2014. We are a community composed of many strong individuals, and one that has definitely gained notice, even notoriety. There are still plenty of people out there, however, who will seek to hurt us. It is together that we will need to move forward.t Gwen Smith will not be sorry to leave 2013 behind, even if 2014 worries her. You can find her at www.gwensmith.com.

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National News >>

Marriage

Jane Philomen Cleland

California’s first out congressman, Mark Takano

No. 8: The Senate passes ENDA for the first time

The Senate had voted on the ENDA once before in the bill’s nearly four decades as the LGBT movement’s flagship piece of legislation. In that first tally, taken in 1996, it lost by one vote.

This year, it passed 64-32, and only one senator spoke against it (longtime gay civil rights opponent Dan Coats, a Republican from Indiana). A Republican-dominated House gives the bill virtually no chance to even reach the floor there, but passage in the Senate signaled that a new and friendlier political landscape had been established in LGBT civil rights.

No. 7: Obama’s second inaugural promotes equality

He had already “evolved” to the point where he stated publicly, in May 2012, that he supports the right of same-sex couples to marry. And while LGBT leaders always hope a major presidential address will at least mention LGBT people when identifying the nation’s strength in diversity, no one had expected President Barack Obama to go beyond that in his second inaugural. But he went much further: “We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall. ... Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone

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neither Obama nor Vice President Joe Biden would be attending the games, and the U.S. delegation is being led by a former Cabinet official, Janet Napolitano, currently the UC president.

Three out gay athletes will be among those joining her: tennis great Billie Jean King, hockey player Caitlin Cahow, and skater Brian Boitano, who publicly came out as gay December 19, two days after the White House’s announcement.

From page 1

start of the 113th Congress, there were six openly LGBT members in the House of Representatives, and by year’s end, there was seven. Prior to 2013, the LGBT Caucus numbered four and, with the retirement of Representative Barney Frank at the end of 2012, it looked like it might dwindle to three: Baldwin and Congressmen Jared Polis (D-Colorado) and David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island). But fresh off newcomer victories in November 2012, the four new openly LGBT reps were sworn in: Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona), Mark Takano (D-California), Sean Maloney (D-New York), and Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin). And, in November, Representative Mike Michaud (D-Maine) came out in an op-ed to ward off a whisper campaign by his opponents in the 2014 Maine gubernatorial race. The caucus size doubled to eight over the previous high.

December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 13

Miami

From page 3

The World Erotic Art Museum in South Beach boasts the world’s largest public collections of erotic art and includes gay and lesbian erotica. The tacky-looking entrance to the museum on Washington Street doesn’t look like much, but don’t let that throw you, the museum is first-rate and provides visitors a fascinating look into sexuality in various cultures and eras.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami provides visitors with

No. 3: Obama responds to Supreme Court rulings Official White House Photo: Sonya N. Hebert

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to President Barack Obama during the Inaugural swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., January 21, 2013.

else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.”

that state December 19, and a federal judge in Utah ruling a day later that the state’s anti-same-sex marriage law was unconstitutional.

No. 6: NJ drops appeal of court ruling that struck state marriage ban

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in U.S. v. Windsor that the key provision of the DOMA was unconstitutional, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund asked a state court judge in New Jersey to rule in a pending case, Garden State v. Dow, that the state ban on marriage was harming same-sex couples by preventing them from having access to federal benefits associated with marriage. The judge did just that in late September and ordered the state to comply starting October 21. When Republican Governor Chris Christie sought an emergency stay of that order, the state supreme court rejected the request and New Jersey became the 14th state with marriage equality. The unanimous and forceful reasoning in the court’s refusal prompted Christie to drop his appeal of the ruling, providing another powerful political sign that acceptance of the right of gay people to equal protection of the law was becoming the new expectation.

Courtesy PBS

Tennis great Billie Jean King is part of the U.S. delegation to Sochi.

No. 4: Russia passes laws outlawing ‘promotion’ of homosexuality

Rhode Island (April), Delaware (May), Minnesota (May), Illinois (November), and Hawaii (November). In the 10 years prior, only four state legislatures and the District of Columbia had approved marriage equality legislation and seen it signed into law. The debate in each legislature was marked by emotional and dramatic testimony, much of it from former opponents of same-sex marriage who had evolved on the issue. A Rhode Island senator spoke of being a lifelong devout Catholic who said, “I struggled with this for days and weeks and have been unable to sleep.” In the end, she said, she could not vote against friends and constituents in same-sex relationships. In Hawaii, where same-sex couples mounted one of the first legal challenges in the country in the 1990s, opponents organized an unprecedented flood of citizens to public hearings – thousands of people expressed anger and threats of political retribution. But the resolve of legislators willing to stand “on the right side of history” held firm. By year’s end, 18 states and the District of Columbia had approved marriage equality, with the New Mexico Supreme Court clearing the way in

In June and July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed laws to prohibit the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations around minors,” any public displays of affection by samesex couples, public events related to LGBT people, and any adoptions of Russian children by couples from countries where marriage equality is law. One Russian law even allows authorities to arrest and detain anyone suspected of being gay or pro-gay.

LGBT activist groups immediately pushed back, some calling for a boycott of the Winter Olympics scheduled for Sochi, Russia, in February.

The boycott idea quickly faded, but many U.S. officials found ways to register their unhappiness over the draconian legislation. Obama said that countries participating in the Olympics “wouldn’t tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently” during the 2014 Olympics. He also canceled his one-on-one meeting with Putin at a September G-20 summit, citing “human rights and civil society” issues. Pressure on corporate sponsors of the events elicited statements in support of LGBT people and one international human rights organization called on the Obama administration to include LGBT leaders in its official delegations to the opening and closing ceremonies. In mid-December, the White House announced that

a good glimpse into the history of Florida The estate’s centerpiece is an Italian Renaissance-style mansion surrounded by 10 acres of gardens. James Deering, who made a fortune making tractors and farm equipment, built the property and wintered there between 1916-1925. Deering was a “life-long bachelor.” He has been thought by many to be gay, but if he was, like so many other gay men of his era, he kept that part of his life hidden.

If you are in the mood to splurge, the city of Bal Harbour, north of Miami Beach, has Florida’s version of

Rodeo Drive set in an open-air mall called the Bal Harbour Shops.

More moderately priced shops can be found in the city of Miami. The Bayfront Park Bayside shopping area is the Pier 39 of Miami and is part of the rejuvenated previously rundown section of downtown next to the American Airlines Arena, which opened in 2000. The park is across the street from the Freedom Tower, one of the oldest attractions of the city. It was Miami’s first skyscraper and once housed a newspaper office. It was dubbed the Freedom Tower when refugees from

No. 5: Five state legislatures adopt marriage equality laws

In 2003, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws prohibiting private intimate contact between same-sex partners (in Lawrence v. Texas), then-President George W. Bush had nothing to say and his administration took no action to determine to what extent the Lawrence ruling might apply to various federal programs.

Following the two landmark rulings in marriage equality cases before the Supreme Court in 2013, Obama issued an immediate statement in support of the rulings and “directed the attorney general to work with other members of my Cabinet to review all relevant federal statutes to ensure this decision, including its implications for federal benefits and obligations, is implemented swiftly and smoothly.”

Two major federal departments announced that their interpretations of the U.S. v. Windsor opinion would bring benefits to married same-sex couples regardless of whether a couple’s state of residence recognizes the marriage. And the Internal Revenue Service announced that legally married same-sex couples “will be treated as married for all federal tax purposes,” including for income tax filing, gift and estate taxes, individual retirement accounts, and in other tax regulations where marriage is a factor.

No. 2: Supreme Court leaves intact ruling that struck down Prop 8

With Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the 5-4 majority, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the defenders of Proposition 8, the California voter-approved ban on samesex marriage, did not have proper federal standing to appeal a district court judge’s ruling that the measure was unconstitutional. It was not, in other words, a ruling on the merits of the underlying legal issue in Hollingsworth v. Perry. But by refusing to accept the Yes on 8 appeal, the court left the district court judge’s ruling intact, and same-sex couples began obtaining marriage licenses once again in California. Reaction was understandably euphoric from LGBT legal activists and the thousands of supporters of same-sex marriage gathered outside the Supreme Court building in Washington and City Hall in San Francisco where the case began in 2009. The Perry decision, and another that struck down the key provision of DOMA, were issued on the 10th anniversary of the aforementioned Lawrence v. Texas decision. And while the Perry decision fell short of declaring all state bans on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional, it set off a tidal wave of new litigation seeking to do just that. At year’s end, Freedom to Marry Executive Director Evan Wolfson estimated there are 44 lawsuits in 19 or 20 states “moving forward.”

Cuba were processed through there following the Cuban revolution in 1959.

Nightlife

South Beach is home to five gay bars and nightclubs all within a short walk of one another. The newest gay bar, the Cabaret, opened just two weeks ago.

As its name implies, it will feature live entertainment. It is also perfectly situated on 12th Street, two blocks from the gay 12th Street Beach.

A sixth gay bar, the Cock Miami, is scheduled to open on South Beach

Courtesy ACLU

Edie Windsor prevailed in her lawsuit against the federal government.

No. 1: Supreme Court strikes down key provision of DOMA

With Justice Anthony Kennedy writing for the 5-4 majority, the U.S. Supreme Court declared on June 26 that the key provision of DOMA was unconstitutional. That provision, known as Section 3, had barred any federal entity from recognizing for the purpose of any benefit the valid marriage license of a samesex couple. The majority opinion in U.S. v. Windsor said DOMA Section 3 violated the constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process. The DOMA decision, said Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders Civil Rights Director Mary Bonauto who organized the first lawsuit against Section 3, “not only strikes DOMA but makes clear what we’ve been saying all along – that DOMA is discriminatory and that it is an effort by the federal government to deprive same-sex couples of their rights and to demean them.” The decision began working like the first domino to fall in a long line of laws, state and federal, that deprived same-sex couples of equal benefits. State legislators cited it during debates over marriage equality bills; state and federal courts cited it to strike down other DOMA-like laws and regulations.

“It seems fair to conclude that, until recent years, many citizens had not even considered the possibility that two persons of the same sex might aspire to occupy the same status and dignity as that of a man and woman in lawful marriage,” wrote Kennedy.

“For marriage between a man and a woman no doubt had been thought of by most people as essential to the very definition of that term and to its role and function throughout the history of civilization. That belief, for many who long have held it, became even more urgent, more cherished when challenged. For others, however, came the beginnings of a new perspective, a new insight. Accordingly some States concluded that same-sex marriage ought to be given recognition and validity in the law for those same-sex couples who wish to define themselves by their commitment to each other.

The limitation of lawful marriage to heterosexual couples, which for centuries had been deemed both necessary and fundamental, came to be seen in New York and certain other states as an unjust exclusion.”t

next month on the 600 block of Washington and will include a dance floor.

It is owned by the same people who own the Cock in New York City.

The Twist nightclub is a couple of blocks from the beach on Washington Street. It is seven bars in one. It gets busiest late at night and stays open until 4 a.m.

The Score nightclub moved earlier this year from the pedestrian shopping mall on Lincoln Way to Washington Street, just up the street from Twist.

The space is bigger and the hip vibe is See page 14 >>

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

14 ••BBay ayA area reaR reporter eporter • December December26-January 26-January1, 1,2014 2014

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Trans student law

From page 1

Nicole Winger, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state, wasn’t available Friday to comment on the coalition’s lawsuit.

People on both sides say it’s too early to predict what the random counts will show. Validity rates from three of the state’s largest counties – Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego – weren’t available as of last week.

In a Friday, December 20 interview, Frank Schubert, the Privacy for All Students campaign manager, said the coalition is “fighting for every signature” because the final count “is going to be very close.”

Schubert, who was the mastermind behind California’s now-defunct Proposition 8 same-sex marriage ban, said, “The main principle is people’s signatures should be counted.”

John O’Connor is executive director of Equality California, one of the main supporters of AB 1266. In an interview Thursday before Privacy for All Students announced its lawsuit, O’Connor said, “It’s so hard to say” what the outcome of the random counts will be.

“We’re just not going to know until January 8,” he said.

If the anti-gay coalition succeeds and the law is suspended, it will be placed on hold until November, said Schubert. His group will then begin arranging its campaign “and figuring out how we’re going to approach getting the grassroots organized throughout the state,” as well as establishing a fundraising program “to raise the resources necessary to communicate with people,” said Schubert.

He said he didn’t yet know how much they’d need, but it would be “several million dollars for sure.” He estimated his group has raised $500,000 to $600,000 “to get to this point.”

“We’ll have an integrated fundraising campaign of major donors, direct mail, email communication, and direct solicitation,” said Schubert. He declined to say what he’s being paid for his work, but it’s “not much at all.” The figure couldn’t immediately be determined from data that’s been provided to the secretary of state.

Asked why he’s working so strenuously against transgender students, Schubert said he’s not. He said he’s doing the work “because I think this bill is very bad law” and “completely unnecessary.” The state “already has many laws on the books to protect transgender students,” he said.

“I don’t have anything against transgender students,” Schubert said. However, he said, the law “bullies the 99.9 percent of the students who are not transgender and is a cruel joke to those that are transgender.”

“I can’t imagine telling a student who’s gender-confused ... that somehow his problems are going to go away if he just uses the girls’ locker room. It’s just ridiculous,” he said.

Schubert said AB 1266 “forces open

<<

Miami

From page 13

the same.

The Palace Bar and restaurant is on Ocean Drive and its Saturday and Sunday brunch and drag shows literally stop traffic. The performers have been known to do splits in the middle of the street, lay on car hoods, or hop on passing tour buses to entertain tourists for a minute or two.

Mova is still in the Lincoln Way mall area. The upscale lounge tends to be more popular early in the evening. It used to have a lesbian night on Thursdays, but now only has a women’s night on special event days.

Although most tourists stick to the nightlife in Miami Beach, if you prefer to get away from the visitors there is plenty of LGBT nightlife in the city of Miami. The Discoteckker in the city’s largest gay space attracts over 1,000 peo-

all school showers, locker rooms, bathrooms, and changing areas to anyone’s claim of gender identity, and there’s no attempt to balance the interests of students who might be bothered by having to share the most intimate school facilities [with] someone of the opposite biological sex.”

It may be hard for many people to imagine a boy pretending to be transgender and subjecting himself to the issues that could come with that just to peek inside the girls’ bathroom, but Schubert said, “Oh, I think we’ll have a lot of examples of it.” He predicted “some will prey on kids” and others will use it “as a practical joke.”

Disputes with counties

Privacy for All Students was required to submit signatures to each of the state’s 58 counties by November 10, the 90th day following Brown’s approval of the law.

According to the coalition, an overnight courier tried to deliver signatures to the Tulare County Registrar of Voters on the afternoon of November 8, but “the registrar’s office closed early on this Friday before a three-day weekend.”

The courier attempted to deliver the signatures to someone in the mailroom, but was told to bring them back the following Tuesday, according to the coalition.

In an interview Friday, Ann Turner, the Tulare County registrar’s elections division manager, said she wasn’t familiar with the lawsuit.

“We have not been served with any paperwork in our office,” said Turner.

She said the agency regularly closes at noon on Fridays, as posted online.

“There wasn’t any special closing for a three-day weekend,” she said, adding, “I don’t know that they went to our county mailroom at all. That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

Turner said the registrar’s office ultimately received the coalition’s signatures, and a raw count showed the activists had submitted 4,889 signatures.

The agency reported that “rough estimate” to the secretary of state’s office, which called for a random sampling, she said. Out of the 500 signatures sampled, 79.2 percent, or 396, were considered valid. That figure was reported to the secretary of state, which made the “determination to record a zero” for the county, according to Turner.

Privacy for All Students said that in Mono County, a package of signatures was placed “in the mail slot at the county office on the 89th day,” but county staff didn’t return to the office and “process the signatures until after the deadline.”

Mono County Registrar Lynda Roberts said Friday that she wasn’t aware of the lawsuit, and “I really don’t have any comment at this point, because I have to check into the whole situation to see what they’re claiming.”

Other new laws

Besides AB 1266, the governor also signed several other Ammiano bills

ple on weekend nights.

Club Boi at Sandals is a dance club in North Miami that markets itself to black and Latino men.

The Dugout is a mid-town Miami sports bar.

LGBT-friendly hotels

Right now there are no gay hotels in Miami but one is scheduled to open in Miami Beach early next year. It will be called the Gaythering.

The boutique property is on Lincoln Road and will have 25 rooms and a spa. Three years ago, the Lords Hotel had marketed itself as a gay hotel, but earlier this year it went back to its original name of the Hotel Nash and is a mainstream hotel again.

Miami Beach’s gay community leaders run a program called Pink Flamingo Hospitality. It includes 190 properties in the Miami-Dade County area that have gone through a certification program, with each hotel having to undergo an inspec-

into law. Assembly Bill 4, the Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools Act – more commonly known as the TRUST Act – addresses issues with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s Secure Communities program, widely known as S-Comm.

AB 4 prohibits law enforcement officials from detaining someone on an ICE hold after he becomes eligible for release from custody, unless that person’s been convicted of a serious or violent felony such as murder or rape.

Amminao’s AB 652 takes on the reporting of child abuse and neglect as they relate to homeless youth. The law says that the condition of homelessness alone isn’t a basis for reporting abuse or neglect.

“This is important, because teens were staying away from shelters, health care and schools because they feared they would be reported to law enforcement or child welfare,” a news release from Ammiano said.

Brown also signed gay Senator Mark Leno’s (D-San Francisco) Senate Bill 249. The law aims to help people who are living with HIV, especially those in programs funded by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act, coordinate care as they transition to new coverage under federal health care reform. The bill also ensures the privacy of all HIV blood tests.

AB 256, which was authored by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), is another new law. The legislation updates state anti-bullying law to allow school superintendents and principals to discipline students who use computers, smartphones, or social media to harass or threaten others on or off campus.

Another new law related to youth is Leno’s SB 274, which is meant to protect children who have more than two legal parents.

Brown also signed Assemblyman Phil Ting’s (D-San Francisco) AB 362, which aims to provide tax fairness for same-sex couples. AB 362 went into effect October 1.

Lesbian Assemblywoman Toni Atkins’s (D-San Diego) AB 1121 is among several other new LGBT-related laws. The legislation simplifies the processes people have to go through to legally change their name and gender.

Coming up

Equality California, Transgender Law Center, and others are also looking at crafting more new bills. One potential piece of legislation is related to death certificates. Masen Davis, the transgender group’s executive director, said it “would ensure the identity of a transgender person is respected even after their death.”

Ammiano said he has several pieces of legislation in the works. One bill would streamline the emancipation process for homeless youth.

“Many of them are out of their homes because of their orientation or identity and have trouble in foster care for the same reasons,” he said.t

tion to prove that it and its staff are truly gay-welcoming.

The trendy and modern upscale Z Ocean Hotel in South Beach is near the gay beach and actively promotes itself to the gay market. The hotel has a LGBT section on its website.

The gay-owned Front Porch restaurant on the ocean side of the hotel is one of the more popular restaurants in South Beach.

If you want to get away from the crowds of South Beach, head north.

The Canyon Ranch is a great example of an Art Deco building that has been completely refurbished with modern luxuries geared to health.

The hotel is home to Florida’s largest spa and home to a large gym complete with a climbing wall. The beachfront property has regular fitness boot camps and less strenuous exercise classes scheduled daily.t See ebar.com for a longer version of this story.

t

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CAlIFORNIA, COUNTy OF SAN FRANCISCO FIlE CNC13-549936 In the matter of the application of: KATHERINE ROSE COFFEY for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner KATHERINE ROSE COFFEY, is requesting that the name KATHERINE ROSE COFFEY be changed to RED ZACHARIAH ROSE COFFEY. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 514 on the 28th of January 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

DEC 05, 12, 19, 26, 2013 SUMMONS SOlANO COUNTy SUPERIOR COURT NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: RICHARD kING; ANNIE NGO; DOES 1 TO 10; yOU ARE BEING SUED By PlAINTIFF: RAFAEl ARROyO, jR. CASE NO. FCM131920 Notice: You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp) your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

The name and address of the court is:

SOlANO COUNTy SUPERIOR COURT, 321 TUOlUMNE ST., VAllEjO, CA 94590.

The name, address, and telephone number of the plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is:

RAyMOND G. BAllISTER, jR., ESQ., CENTER FOR DISABIlITy ACCESS, 9845 ERMA RD. #300, SAN DIEGO, CA 92131; (858) 375-7385.

Date: Oct. 12, 2012; Clerk, by A. GARCIA, Deputy.

DEC 05, 12, 19, 26, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035505900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HONG KONG MONA HAIR STUDIO, 307 4TH AVE., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LIPING WU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/22/13.

DEC 05, 12, 19, 26, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035481800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CAROUSEL CAFE, 221 4TH ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed IRENE HOFMANN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/08/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/08/13.

DEC 05, 12, 19, 26, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035514400

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035514200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SF KANKO, 631 O’FARRELL ST. #1702, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MANABU MORIKAWA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/02/13.

DEC 05, 12, 19, 26, 2013 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FIlE A-032886500 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: HONG KONG MONA HAIR STUDIO, 307 4TH AVE., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by LILY FENG XIU WU. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/02/10.

DEC 05, 12, 19, 26, 2013 NOTICE OF APPlICATION TO SEll AlCOHOlIC BEVERAGES Dated 11/26/13 To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are: NOODLE SHOP CO COLORADO INC THE. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 33 New Montgomery St. #1230, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at 575 MARKET ST. #150, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-2854. Type of license applied for

41 - ON-SAlE BEER & WINE - EATING PlACE DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013 NOTICE OF APPlICATION TO SEll AlCOHOlIC BEVERAGES Dated 11/22/13 To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are: GARFIELD BEACH CVS LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 33 New Montgomery St. #1230, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at 1760 OCEAN AVE., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112-1737.

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20 - OFF-SAlE BEER & WINE DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035526900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BIRCH GROUP, 468 TEHAMA ST. #7, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JASON GLASS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/05/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/09/13.

DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013, jAN 02, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035518700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FRANCK DAUDE FINE ART, 1355 VAN DYKE AVE., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed FRANCK DAUDE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/03/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/03/13.

DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013, jAN 02, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035519100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHARNEL GROUND PUBLISHING, 601 O’FARRELL #608, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIEL C. HILL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/03/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/03/13.

DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013, jAN 02, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035527600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CARO & VITALE, 190 CERVANTES BLVD. #201, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALIZA MARKS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/09/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/09/13.

DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013, jAN 02, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035523100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INTERCONNECTED STRATEGIES, 1061 CLAY ST. #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MELANIE FRANCES GLEASON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/27/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/02/13.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: QUARTET FILMS, 33 ENCLINE COURT, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CENTIGRADE INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/05/13.

DEC 05, 12, 19, 26, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035516500

DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013, jAN 02, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FIlE A-035520300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHUTTER SHELF, 929 PINE ST. #301, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GLIB SMAGA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/03/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/03/13.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MILLICAN JONES, 445 BUSH ST. #400, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MILLICAN JONES (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/04/13.

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Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035497900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MERCADO BRASIL, 1252 VALENCIA ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MERCADO DO BRASIL INCORPORATED (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/19/13.

DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013, JAN 02, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-032817000 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: GLADSTONE & ASSOCIATES, 177 POST ST., PENTHOUSE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by M. BRETT GLADSTONE. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/02/10.

DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013, JAN 02, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035333100 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: DOMBROWSKI CLEANING SERVICES, 227 JENAY COURT, MARTINEZ, CA 94553. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by NICHOLAS DOMBROWSKI. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/28/13.

DEC 12, 19, 26, 2013, JAN 02, 2014 NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Dated 12/11/13 To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are: NABILAS NATURALS INC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 33 New Montgomery St. #1230, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at 559 HAYES ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102-4213.

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DEC 19, 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035500200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: M.D.T. 420 EVALUATIONS, 1417 POWELL ST. #A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARIYA ZHUKOR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/20/13.

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DEC 19, 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035541100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE BALM VALENCIA, 788 VALENCIA ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed THE BALM VALENCIA INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/17/13.

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DEC 19, 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035535200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ORGANIZER, 1118 HOWARD ST. # 301, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ELECTIONEAR, INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/11/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/12/13.

DEC 19, 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-034408300 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: SF BRIDAL MAKEUP, 1801 JACKSON ST. #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by SARAH SPONBERG. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/14/12.

DEC 19, 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 2014

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ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC13-549980 In the matter of the application of: ISABEL CLAIRE JEVANS, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner ISABEL CLAIRE JEVANS, is requesting that the name ISABEL CLAIRE JEVANS, be changed to ISABEL CLAIRE RAINBOW DIAMOND. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 13th of February 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

DEC 19, 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 2014 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE Dated 12/18/2013 To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are: L’ACAJOU LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 33 New Montgomery St. #1230, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at 498 9TH ST. #C, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103-4411. Type of license applied for

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41 - ON-SALE BEER & WINE - EATING PLACE DEC 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035541400

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PALLADIAN LAW GROUP, 605 MARKET ST. #305, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NANCY LEWELLEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/07. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/1713.

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DEC 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 16, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035542700

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INDEPENDENT HEALTH AIDE GROUP, 349 14TH AVE. #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AZMI B. BAHARUDIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/17/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/18/13.

DEC 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 16, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035541000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BODY FLOWS, 1979 UNION ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SALLY MITCHELL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/17/13.

DEC 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 16, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035544500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RECOVERS, 155 9TH ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SIROCCO, INC. (DE).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/18/13.

DEC 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 16, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035536700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TAINTED LOVE; MUSTACHE HARBOR; 901 A ST. #C, SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed TLOVE PARTNERS, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/07/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/13/13.

DEC 26, 2013, JAN 02, 09, 16, 2014

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The

Vol. 43 • No. 52 • December 26-January 1, 2014

www.ebar.com/arts

! p u t u h s ’t n o w s k ic S y The Kinse

by Jason Victor Serinus

A

lmost 20 years to the day have passed since Irwin Keller (Winnie), Ben Schatz (Rachel), and some friends donned Andrew Sisters drag and discovered themselves the only drag queens at Bette Midler’s 1993 New Year’s Eve Show besides Bette herself. By the following July, what had morphed into America’s premiere dragapella beautyshop quartet, The Kinsey Sicks, gave its first standing room-only performance on a Castro Street corner.

See page 26 >>

The Kinsey Sicks’ 20th Anniversary Show covers some of their best songs as well as new songs.

Courtesy The Kinsey Sicks

Top films of the year

by David Lamble

T

his column is dedicated to the full recovery of burned Oakland teen Luke Sasha Fleischman, and to the memory of the extraordinary actor James Gandolfini.

See page 27 >> Chiwetel Ejifor and Michael Fassbender in director Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave.

{ SECOND OF TWO SECTIONS }

THINK STRATEGIC & PROACTIVE Highly competitive and famously complex, the San Francisco real estate market can be both challenging and rewarding. Zephyr turns savvy, informed Bay Area urbanites into successful homeowners, investors and sellers. www.ZephyrSF.com

<< Out There

18 • Bay area reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

Lesbian love affair in Rio

by Roberto Friedman

M

any a literary lesbian with poetic leanings idolizes the late legendary poet Elizabeth Bishop, and for good reason. Though she was quite private about her life and her lesbian loves, Bishop took her place as a great American poet in a long line that stretches back to Emily Dickinson and through her mentor, the poet Marianne Moore. Opening Friday at Landmark’s Opera Plaza Cinemas in San Francisco, and Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, is a new film that at last takes Bishop’s great same-sex love affair as its subject.

Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bruno Barreto (Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands), Reaching for the Moon is based on the true love story between Bishop (Miranda Otto) and the Brazilian architect Lota de Macedo Soares (Glória Pires) that ignited when Bishop traveled to Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s.

The film’s publicity promises, “Alcoholism, geographical distance and a military coup come between the lovers, but their intimate connection spans decades and forever impacts the life and work of these two extraordinary artists. The attraction of two polaropposite women has rarely been so volatile and so erotically charged on the big screen.” The film was the Audience Award winner at both the Outfest Film Festival in LA and the

t

Frameline Film Festival here in SF. We’ve seen the trailer, and it looks stylish, sophisticated, and fun – and as a bonus, full of Brazilian modern architecture and design.

Having a ball

More glamour: In Legendary – Inside the House Ballroom Scene (Duke University Press), photographer Gerard H. Gaskin offers an intimate look inside the culture of house balls, underground happenings where gay and transgender men and women compete for prizes in costume, atLisa Graham titude, movement and “realness.” Gaskin has insider Miranda Otto as Elizabeth Bishop and Gloria access to balls in New Pires as Lota de Macedo Soares in the movie York City, Philadel- Reaching for the Moon. phia, Richmond and Washington, fashion masquerade. Women and DC, and his photos are remen become fluid, interchangeable vealing looks at members points of departure and reference, of legendary houses like the disrupting the notion of a fixed and House of Blahnik and the rigid gender and sexual self.”

House of Xtravaganza, Beyond all the jargon are the whether doing their stuff photographs themselves, candid onstage or decompressing and revealing portraits of men and with homies backstage. women who have set themselves “The balls are a celebration free. The spirit of these individuals of black and Latino urban gay life,” comes through loud and clear, their Gaskin writes in a sort of mission clothes, their styling and their bearstatement in the front of the book. ing making them true stars of the “They were born in Harlem out of ballroom. The book is the winner of a need for black and Latino gays to the Center for Documentary Studhave a safe space to express themies/Honickman First Book Prize in selves. The participants work to rePhotography. define and critique gender and sexual identity through an extravagent

Music to our ears

Here’s the gist of what we listened to by recording artists in last year’s releases. This isn’t meant to be the “best” of anything, any more than

Out There is the “best” of anything. OK, yes we are, but we won’t tell you what it is.

Patricia Barber, Smash (Concord) “Scream!/Investment bankers won,/and the money isn’t there.” – “Scream.”

Beethoven, Symphonies Nos. 4 & 7, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan (PBP).

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Specter at the Feast (Vagrant) “I need a rival, I need a rival,/I found my soul, let’s set it on fire.” – “Rival”; “Why won’t you lose yourself at all?”

– “Lose Yourself.”

David Bowie, The Next Day (Columbia) “Had to get the train from Potsdamer Platz./You never knew that,/That I could do that,/Just walking the dead.” – “Where Are We Now?” Chanticleer, Someone New (Chanticleer) “Then gay youth was mine,/Truth was mine,/Joyous, free and flaming life forsooth was mine.”

– “Yesterdays,” music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Otto Harbach.

Dvorak, Cypresses, String Quartet No. 13 in G, Cypress String

Quartet (Avie).

Ludovico Einaudi, In a Time Lapse (Ponderosa).

Jack Johnson, From Here to Now to You (Brushfire).

The Knife, Shaking the Habitual (Rabid).

Lady Gaga, Artpop (Streamline) “Goddess of love,/Take me to your planet (to the planet),/Take me to your leader (to the planet)!” – “Venus.”

Lovers, A Friend in the World (Badmen).

Mahler, Symphony No. 1, San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, Donato Cabrera, cond., Live at the Berlin Philharmonie (SFS Media).

Maps, Vicissitude (Mute).

Janelle Monae, The Electric Lady (Bad Boy).

The Octopus Project, Fever Forms (Peekaboo).

Sam Phillips, Push Any Button (Littlebox) “This world is so beautiful/for no reason at all,/When life circles around/and you can’t see straight.” – “Can’t See Straight.”

Amy Ray, Goodnight Tender (Daemon).

Schubert, Winterreise, Thomas Meglioranza, Reiko Uchida (Meglioranza).

Donna Summer, Love To Love You Donna (Verve).t

Was Danny Kaye gay?

by John F. Karr

T

he arrival of three Danny Kaye movies on Blu-ray brings us some pleasure, and prompts us to reassess an old rumor. Was he gay?

Kaye doesn’t register much of a blip on the current cultural consciousness. But he was once an immensely popular star of comic film

and musicals, with his name above the title in well over a dozen films.

Attesting to his former popularity, they’re all available on DVD. And now there are these Blu-ray discs, including one that’s spiffy top-drawer.

On the Riviera was a French stage hit and then two film musicals before Kaye’s 1951 remake. Kaye plays a music-hall star who’s entangled in impersonating a French financier.

It’s a lively affair as Kaye romances his own girlfriend as well as the other guy’s wife – a very French set-up.

The five songs are hot; the movie’s special gift is that four of them are splashy production numbers choreographed by très gay Jack Cole, featuring a young and snappy-looking Gwen Verdon, uncredited but front-and-center right next to Kaye.

The disc’s bonus features are generous (bios of both Kaye and Cole), and its Blu-ray mastering jazzes up the vivid 1950s Technicolor.

The other two Blu-ray issues are no-frills in the bonus department,

but they’re decently remastered. I laughed through On the Double (1961), a wacky WWII comedy with Kaye in another dual role, as a timid private called to impersonate a famous British Colonel who’s in the crosshairs of a Nazi assassination plot. There’s an incidental couple of songs, and Margaret Rutherford’s got a wacky cameo.

Knock on Wood (1953) didn’t knock me out, despite the surefire comic routine in its finale of Kaye’s getting caught in the middle of a Russian ballet troupe’s performance. Danny whips through disguises in an overly complicated international-espionage caper that makes every effort to be entertaining, but is finally just effortful.

Kaye’s career was launched when he played a flamboyant queen in the 1941 Broadway hit Lady in the Dark – a role that probably also launched those gay rumors. In the following discussion, I’m relying heavily on the See page 19 >>

Gwen Verdon gives Danny Kaye a little ooh-la-la in a screen grab from On the Riviera.

t

Theatre>>

December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 19

Bay Area stages, 2013: Top 10

by Richard Dodds

T

he time has arrived to select 10 theatrical productions to be declared the best of what I witnessed during 2013.

There are actually 11 titles below, but still in a Top 10 format, for reasons explained below. The list might well have made it to a dozen except for an unplanned hiatus that involved crutches, tubes, and a daily serving of stewed prunes. From what Erin Blackwell reported on these pages, and from what I heard on the street, Charles Busch’s The Divine Sister, directed by F. Allen Sawyer at New Conkevinberne.com servatory Theatre Center, Mark Junek had trouble keeping his clothes deserves an honorary Top 10 nod here. Now onward on in Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Berkeley Rep. to the list itself.

1. The Kneehigh comet, but audiences also got to revel in pany again rose to theatriMcKellen’s giddy showboating as a cal heights with Tristan & Ysolde at poet of diminished circumBerkeley Rep, a happy-sad-awesome stances in Harold Pintextrapolation on the medieval love er’s No Man’s Land. story. The UK-based theater previThe pre-Broadway run ously visited with Brief Encounter at Berkeley Rep also and The Wild Bride, and the sterling starred Patrick Stewart reputation that those productions in a counterpoint perforestablished is only further polished. mance, with ominous The Berkeley run has been extendsupport from Billy Cruded through Jan. 18, so there’s still up and Shuler Hensley. ample chance to hop aboard this 4. Religion, folklore, theatrical rollercoaster with unpreand spiritualism found dictable director Emma Rice again connections in a story also of carnal at the controls. desire, social taboos, and a fearsome 2. One of the best new plays from love in A Lady and a Woman, prea local writer was Brad Erickson’s sented by Theatre Rhino. Shirlene American Dream, given a highHolmes’ play set in the rural south end production by director Denof the 1890s, specifically in an nis Lickteig at New Conservatory African-American community, exTheatre Center. Ripped-from-theplored the relationship between two headlines issues about gay marriage women who were brought to exquiand immigration found a warm and site life by Velina Brown and Dawn thoughtful forum in Erickson’s tale L. Troupe in director John Fisher’s of a family pushed to the limits by lovely production. barreling social changes.

5. Having your parents name you 3. Watching Ian McKellen’s mofor Chekhov characters does not ments playing a man purposefully portend a life without ennui, but trying to avoid attracting attention Chekhovian templates are upended were alone worth the price of a tick-

<<

Danny Kaye

From page 18

comments of Michael Bronski, who spent considerable time on Kaye while researching the connections between gay and Jewish cultures in the 1950s (Google Bronski, “On the Double: The Hidden (Queer and Jewish) Career of Danny Kaye”).

People looking for Kaye to be gay cite from a long list. He was a slightly effeminate blond man with fluttery hands and a silly grin. He was, as one writer has it, “pretty far from John Wayne on the masculinity spectrum.” He sang some incredibly campy songs, like “Anatole of Paris,” about a mad-queen hat designer who “shrieks with chic”; and “The Fairy Pipers,” with Kaye extravagantly queening up a not-so-subtle subtext. He was coolly rote when playing heterosexual love scenes; he often camouflaged himself within drag, disguises, and dual roles.

And then along came Donald Spoto’s bio, which claimed as fact a Kaye affair with Sir Lawrence Olivier. Spoto has Olivier’s then-current wife, Dame Joan Plowright, blurting out the secret when she tired of being blamed for ending Olivier’s marriage to Vivien Leigh. “’No, no,’ she averred. ‘Not guilty. Danny Kaye was on the scene long before I came along.’”

Dame Joan’s quip is funny, but came without proof. A second Kaye biographer, Martin Gottfried, not only finds no evidence to back up any rumors, but provides definite verification of Kaye’s affairs with

Eve Arden and Shirley MacLaine.

And the roles he played prove nothing to me. No one claims Peter Sellers or Robin Williams are gay, and they’ve both been fey, done drag, and donned disguises. These are simply the stock-in-trade of comedians.

Michael Bronski differs with me, writing, “I think that this doubling allows Kaye to be ‘Kaye,’ and by presenting alternate versions of his character, takes away some of the obvious queerness of what he is doing. It’s a clever narrative device to make him more acceptable. I think it is also possible now to look at the films and see in Kaye’s characters a split between gay and straight, or closeted and uncloseted.”

Summing up, Bronski asks rhetorically, “Is Danny Kaye part of gay history? Of course he is, whether he slept with men or not. (And I think there is more than enough evidence to suggest that he did.) Kaye looks and sounds like a gay man. At a very critical and conservative time in U.S. history and culture, he gave us this very flamboyant style and performances that made it all right, to some degree, to be not-traditionally masculine.”

But sociological effect is not a confirmation, and once again, Bronski’s “evidence” is not cited.

Sure, you can read gay coding in Kaye’s tea leaves; one can find most anywhere the facts one wants to find. I can’t be so sure that Kaye was gay. But I’m glad that in the old-fashioned terms of mirth and frivolity, Kaye’s talent ensured his audiences felt gay.t

kevinberne.com

Ian McKellen, left, becomes an unexpected guest in the home of a successful writer played by Patrick Stewart in Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land at Berkeley Rep.

in Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike that had audiences awash in laughter at Berkeley Rep. The morosely repetitive lives of siblings Vanya and Sonia are twirled when their fading moviestar sister Masha pays a visit with an exhibitionist boyfriend who proves to have numerous talents. Sharon Lockwood, Anthony Fusco, Mark Junek, and Lorri Holt delightfully led the cast of Richard E.T. White’s rambunctious production.

6. Issues of gender identity are becoming the new social frontier, while gay marriage takes on a slackening sense of dramatic urgency. Playwright Basil Kreimendahl, who prefers the label “gender neutral,” created a Godot-like landscape in Sidewinders, in which two wanderers unsure of their backgrounds try to get their heads around tricky notions of masculinity, femininity, and other gender identities for which

Kent Taylor

Dawn L. Troupe and Velina Brown created an unlikely union in Shirlene Holmes’ A Lady and a Woman at Theatre Rhino.

they have no names. It was a bold, intriguing choice for a world premiere by Cutting Ball Theatre.

7. San Francisco Playhouse launched itself into 2013 with a title that many publications could not print in toto. But we can: The Motherfucker with the Hat got a full-tilt staging in a story of redemption, betrayal, and confrontations that shouldn’t have been nearly as funny as they were in director Bill English’s staging of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ comedy of bad manners and serious transgressions.

8. In Glen Berger’s Underneath the Lintel at ACT, David Strathairn played a librarian who sheepishly but slyly pulled us into his increasingly elaborate explanation for why a book was returned 113 years late to his branch. The actor created through dialogue an around-theworld-journey that may have been born of miracles or madness.

9. At Berkeley Rep, Mona Golabek portrays her mother, Lisa Jura, one of the lucky children evacuated from Nazi territories via the Kindertransport. Jura thrived in England,

and becomes the title character of The Pianist of Willesden Lane (running through Jan. 5). Moving between piano and centerstage, Golabek finds an unsettling, demure tone to tell a story born in calamity that finally explodes in musical epiphany.

10. To help preserve the timetested parameters of a “10 best” list, and because they are of a different world from local productions, two of the big touring musicals will share this slot. Anything Goes brought the bright, bawdy, tuneful, artfully foolish, and high-adrenaline antics of this 1934 Cole Porter musical that felt like a needed mood enhancer in the moment. Anything Goes was coming from Broadway while Beautiful: The Carole King Musical headed to New York for a January Broadway opening after its SF premiere. Albeit a jukebox musical built around King’s songs and other hits of the 60s, this production was a swirling evocation of the times and a delicious soundtrack for King’s own story of cheery ups and not too un-cheery downs.t

<< Fine Arts

20 • Bay Area Reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

Looking back at the art world, 2013

by Sura Wood

W

ell, it’s hard to believe, but 2013 has reached the end of the road, which means it’s that time once again to pause and look back fondly – or not – on the events of the past year.

There were some fine exhibitions, but few hit it out of the park. Though those would be rare in any year, all in all, 2013 didn’t rock the world artwise. Notable transitions included the appointment of Lori Starr as executive director of the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the installation of Colin Bailey as the new director of the Fine Arts Museums. Bailey is presiding over an institution that, over the last year or so, has been plagued by internal and public relations problems. He has his work cut out for him, and we wish him the best going forward. This year also saw the migration of several prominent downtown galleries to the Lower Potrero Hill neighborhood, presumably in response to skyrocketing rents in the city, and the Museum of Craft and Design relocated to Dogpatch, where many artists are now being driven out of their workspaces by same.

Herewith some thoughts on the year that was.

The long goodbye: The year’s most important local story is SFMOMA’s time-out. After a farewell period accompanied by fanfare, free admission and special programs, it closed its doors in June to launch a three-year expansion project. Its absence from the scene these last months has been keenly felt, especially, but not only, in the area of photography, one of its formidable strengths. Off-site, pop-up exhibitions at various venues, designed to keep their collection in view and their brand on the radar, have so far generated little enthusiasm.

Singular encounter: Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” at the

Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Shaanxi Courtesy of the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, The Hague

“Girl with a Pearl Earring” (ca. 1665), oil on canvas, by Johannes Vermeer.

de Young. Captivating, dazzling, luminous and enigmatic, the lovely woman of mystery was the megastar of Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis, a small show of modestly scaled masterpieces from the Golden Age that moved on to the Frick in New York. Ah beauty, she is fickle.

Singular venue: Pier 24 Photography.

Most inspirational figure: Hung Liu. The Chinese-American, Oakland-based artist and mentor grew up under the thumb of Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution. At 18, she burned her diaries and photographs to protect herself from government persecution. As a young

woman, her father imprisoned and her family torn apart, Liu was dispatched to a rural village for four years to toil in the fields from dawn til dusk as part of her “proletariat re-education.” Mourning, loss and her resilient life-force haunted Summoning Ghosts: The Art of Hung Liu, a career retrospective at OMCA in which she resurrected the past she was forced to bury. “I don’t have survivor’s guilt,” she said. “I have survivor’s responsibility.”

Best crack installation team: The Asian Art Museum, which consistently offers informative scholarship and immaculate, imaginative presentations of works from places and eras often bewildering to West-

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN

CHEYENNE JACKSON

SHARON MCNIGHT

SIERRA BOGGESS

December 31 - Two Shows

January 16 - 17

Armored kneeling archer, Qin dynasty (221206 BCE), China. Terracotta, excavated from Pit 2, Qin Shihuang tomb complex (1977).

January 10 - 11

ern audiences.

Most awesome blast from the past: China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy. The show of 10 astonishingly well-preserved emissaries from the ancient world made one understand what it must have been like for those Chinese farmers who stumbled upon the archaeological find of the century: the 2,200 year-old remnants of a burial complex housing a legion of over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers.

Best museum show: Richard Diebenkorn: The Berkeley Years, 1953-1966. Ably curated by FAMSF’s Tim Burgard – someone needs to give this brilliant, erudite man the key to the city – this gorgeous survey was exhilarating and extensive without being overwhelming. Though I’d been an admirer of Diebenkorn, this show made me a believer.

Best gallery show: American Beauty: The Opulent Pre-Depression Architecture of Detroit at the Meridian Gallery. The highly detailed, large-format color photographs of Detroit’s crumbling public buildings marked the arrival of an important talent, Philip Jarmain, a Canadian photographer on a quest to document the fast-disappearing architectural heritage of a city once known as the Paris of the Midwest.

Most welcome sight: Liz Taylor in her prime, posing for a picture on the set of Cleopatra wearing a gold snake watch by Bulgari, the only word she knew in Italian, according to Richard Burton.

Runner-up: Matisse from SFMOMA, a tiny jewel-box of familiar early works by the French master that’s like an intimate gathering of old friends, at the Legion.

Biggest ego trip: David Hockney’s Bigger Exhibition is an act of

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monumental hubris. He had the run of the de Young to display a whopping 398 works, many of them epic in size if not impact. Yes, he’s a spectacular colorist and the show a crowd-pleaser, but this is an indulgent exercise with a demonstrable lack of restraint. Was there no one in sight to rein in the artist’s excesses and just say no? Where is Nancy Reagan when you need her?

Biggest miscalculation: The Exploratorium opened its new, expansive and more accessible digs on the waterfront with a big roll-out, mucho press attention and everything but the blare of trumpets. But after visitors failed to show up in the expected numbers, many longtime employees were laid off.

Coolest take on a classic: Down the Rabbit Hole. The LA-born Camille Rose Garcia, who grew up on a diet of 60s sitcoms, cartoons, comic books, outlaw rock and outsider art, gave Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland a Goth makeover at the Walt Disney Family Museum.

Curiouser & curiouser: The Clock. Swiss-American video artist, composer and punk-rock enthusiast Christian Marclay constructed the most novel presentation of the year from thousands of film clips featuring images of clocks, watches and other famous cinematic moments referencing time, editing them together for a 24-hour video montage that would’ve given the March Hare palpitations (at SFMOMA.) Best photography exhibition with a cause: Eye Level in Iraq: Photographs by Kael Alford and Thorne Anderson. In a show that was a departure for the de Young, which rarely displays news photographs, a couple of American photojournalists working outside the military embed program told the story of the war from the Iraqi point of view, providing an atypical perspective of the conflict.

Best discoveries: Bay Area photographer John Chiara, who delivered Embarcadero at Interstate 80, a pair of astounding super-sized pictures for which he stationed himself underneath the Bay Bridge and aimed upward with a huge custombuilt box camera. The result was a flaming orange and black industrial landscape that resembled the inside of an erupting volcano (at Pier 24); Ryan McGinley, who epitomizes downtown cool while being about as hot as a young New York City artist can be, breezed into town with an entourage and charisma to burn (at Ratio 3.)

Our Beats are here to stay: Like “The Dude,” Allen Ginsberg and his band of warriors abide. In CJM’s Beat Memories: The Photographs of Allen Ginsberg, the poet captured the lads – William S, Burroughs, Neal Cassady, Gregory Corso and Jack Kerouac – his darling companions and co-conspirators who risked their liberty to live free and write about it, changing the map of the literary world in the process.t

January 18

For tickets: www.feinsteinssf.com Feinstein’s | Hotel Nikko San Francisco 222 Mason Street 855-MF-NIKKO | 855-636-4556

089000.01_HNSF_Feinsteins_Bay_Area_Reporter_12_26_MECH ROUND #: MECH Trim: 5.75in x 7.625in Bleed: none Live: 5.75in x 7.625in Color Space: CMYK Fonts: Futura

Courtesy of the artist and Meridian Gallery

“Michigan Theatre, Architects: Rapp and Rapp, 1926,” photographed in 2013 by Philip Jarmain.

SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)

LIGHTS DIM. SNOW FALLS.

BUY TICKETS NOW!

sfballet.org

A uniquely San Francisco Nutcracker.

NOW THROUGH DEC 29 Due to popular demand, extra post-Christmas performances added!

“The jewel in San Francisco’s holiday entertainment crown!”

— Los Angeles Times Lead Sponsors

Sponsors

The Herbert Family The Swanson Foundation

Yurie and Carl Pascarella Kathleen Scutchfield The Smelick Family

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<< Out&About

Out &About

O&A

22 • Bay area reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

Singin’ in the Rain and…

Timey wimey

by Jim Provenzano

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ou’ll notice a few movies mentioned here. That’s because lots of live stuff is closed for a few holidays, but also because it’s interesting to consider the timelessness, the cinematic immortality, of cinema, here between years, straddling then and when. To celebrate the New Year, check out our select listings, with more over in BARtab.

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi

Cuba for Keeps @ Krowswork Gallery

The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. Holiday shows, including tap-dancing Christmas trees and more thematic characters, now on sale. $25$160. Wed & Thu, 5pm* (* = under 21 allowed) & 8pm (also Dec 26). Fri & Sat 6:30* & 9:30pm. Sun 2pm* & 5pm*.

Christmas Eve special 2pm*. New Year’s Eve 7pm & 10:15pm (with champagne).

Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 421-4222. http://beachblanketbabylon.com/when/ Holidayschedule%202013.shtml

Multimedia exhibit by Milli West, Ignacio Barrios and Reynier Leyva Novo about infatuation, memories and imagery of Cuba and its people. Fri & Sat 1pm-5pm.

Thru Dec. 28. 480 23rd St., Oakland.

(510) 229-7035. www.krowswork.com

A Christmas Carol @ Geary Theater American Conservatory Theater’s 37th annual lively and lavish musical production of Paul Walsh and Carey Perloff’s stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story stars James Carpenter (Scrooge), Ken Ruta (the Ghost of Marley) and many of A.C.T.’s MFA and Young Conservatory students. $20-$95. Wed-Sat 7pm (no show Dec. 24, 26, 28). Sundays 5:30pm. Several 1pm & 2pm matinees.

Thru Dec. 28. Geary Theatre, 415 Geary St. 749-2228. www.act-sf.org

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Fri 27 The Oy of Sex

David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition @ de Young Museum New exhibit of 300 portraits, still lifes, and landscape paintings by the gay British painter. Free-$25. Thru Jan. 20. Also, The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, an exhibit of 150 pieces of exquisite Italian jewelry made between 1950 and 1990, including gems from Elizabeth Taylor’s personal collection. Thru Feb 17. $10-$25.

Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. (til 8:45pm Fridays) Thru Dec. 30. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. 750-3600. www.famsf.org

Foodies, the Musical @ Shelton Theater Morris Bobrow’s musical comedy revue of songs and sketches about food. $32-$34.

Fri & Sat 8pm. Open run. 533 Sutter St. (800) 838-3006. foodiesthemusical.com

Josh Klipp and The Klipptones @ Palace Hotel The local jazz crooner and his band perform weekly shows at the hotel’s lounge, which draws a growing swingdance audience. 7pm-11pm. 2 New Montgomery. www.joshklipp.com

…A Night at the Opera (see New and Classic Films, Thu. 26)

Thu 26 The Book of Mormon @ Orpheum Theatre The mega-hit multi-award-winning musical comedy parody about the wacky religion returns. Ticket lottery $29. Other $80$210. Tue-Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm. Sun 1pm & 6:30pm. 1192 Market St. (888) 746-1799. www.shnsf.com

Cirque du Soleil @ AT&T Park The visually stunning Montreal circus brings their new show Amaluna, loosely based on Shakepeare’s The Tempest, to their big tent. $50-$140. Tue-Sat 8pm. FriSun 4:30pm. Also Sun. 1pm. Thru Dec. 31.

Third St. at Terry A. Francois Blvd. www.cirquedusoleil.com

David Barnett @ West Coast Leather Exhibit of landscape and male figure studies by the local painter. Thru Dec. 31.

400 Castro St. www.davidbarnettart.com

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy @ New Asia Restaurant The 21st annual comedy and dinner nights feature Gary Gulman, Adrianne Tolsch, Samson Koletkar and hostess Lisa Geduldig. $44-$64. 6pm seven-course dinner shows, 9:30pm cocktail shows with vegetarian dim sum. Partial proceeds benefit SF and Marin food banks and the SF Jewish Home. Thru Dec. 26 (yes, including Christmas Eve and Day). 772 Pacific Ave. www.koshercomedy.com

New and Classic Films @ Castro Theatre Dec. 26, The Wizard of Oz, (1pm, 3:30, 5:45, 8pm.) Dec. 27, True Romance (1:45, 7pm) and Pulp Fiction (4pm, 9:15). Dec. 28, The Kinsey Sicks, live 20th anniversary comedy concert (see Dec. 28). Dec 29, Some Like it Hot (2:15, 7pm) and The Fortune Cookie (4:35, 9:15). Dec. 30, The Marx Brothers’ A Night at the Opera (3:45, 7pm) and Duck Soup (2:20, 5:30, 8:45).

Dec. 31, Singin’ in the Rain (2pm, 4:15, 9:05). Jan. 2, Blue Jasmine (2:30, 4:45, 7pm, 9:15). $8.50-$11. 429 Castro St. 6216120. www.castrotheatre.com

Smuin Ballet @ YBCA The local ballet company’s annual concert includes Michael Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet, and works by Amy Seiwert and Robert Dekkers. $45-$65. Wed-Sat 8pm.

Tue, Sat Thu and Sun 2pm. Sun 7pm.

Thru Dec. 28. Lam Research Theater, 700 Howard St. 912-1899. smuinballet.org

Fri 27 Avenue Q @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty’s Tony Award-winning puppet/human musical parody of Sesame Street gets a local production. Warning: not for kids and includes puppet nudity! $25-$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Jan. 12. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. nctcsf.org

Thu 26 Smuin Ballet’s The Christmas Ballet

Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love @ PBS

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The Oy of Sex @ The Marsh Alicia Dattner’s solo show explores her life with ex-boyfriends, family, love addiction, and how they all sometimes clash. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sat 8:30pm. $20-$100. Thru Jan. 18. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

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Tristan & Yseult @ Berkeley Repertory West Coast premiere of Emma Rice’s innovative acrobatic and music-filled adaptation of the classic mythical love story. $20-$72. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed 7pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Extended thru Jan. 18. Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org

Well Strung @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The all-male string quartet plays and sings classical and string arrangements of pop songs. $25-$40. 7pm. Also Dec. 28 at 7pm.

Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 6631063. www.well-strung.com feinsteinssf.com www.ticketweb.com

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory @ Paramount Theatre Screening of the original 1971 Gene Wilder film version of the darkly funny Roald Dahl children’s book. $5. 8pm. 2025 Broadway, Oakland. (800) 745-3000. ticketmaster.com

Sat 28 Can You Dig It? @ The Marsh Berkeley Don Reed’s autobiographical solo show explores the 1960s: Beatles, Black Panthers, MLK, JFK and the KKK. $20-$50.

Sat 8:30pm and Sun 7pm thru Dec. 15.

2120 Allston Way. 282-3055. themarsh.org

Crackpot Crones @ Eddy Theater Terry Baum and Carolyn Myers second annual comedy sketch show, with decidedly lesbian and feminist themes from the veteran wits. $15-$20. Saturdays 3pm & 6pm. Sundays 3pm. Thru Dec. 29.

156 Eddy St. www.crackpotcrones.com

Crosscurrents @ MoAD Africa and Black Diasporas in Dialogue, 1960-1980, an exhibit of contemporary art.

Thru April 13. $5-$10. Wed-Sat 11am-6pm.

Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St. 358-7200. www.moadsf.org David Allen

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American Masters presents the new documentary about the prolific awardwinning film and Broadway composer. 9pm PST. www.pbs.org

This exhibition is organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in collaboration with Bulgari. Curator’s Ci and Wells Fargo. Patron’s Circle: Jeri Dexter.

Media Sponsor

Sautoir, 1969. Platinum with sapphires and diamonds. Formerly in the collection of Elizabeth Taylor. Bulgari Heri

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast @ Curran Theatre

The Kinsey Sicks @ Castro Theatre

Touring production of the Broadway musical based on the Disney animated film. $45-$180. Mon-Fri 2pm. Sat 2pm & 7:30pm. Sun 12pm & 5:30pm. (no shows Dec 25, 31 or Jan 1). Thru Jan. 5. 445 Geary St. (888) 746-1799. beautyandthebeastontour.com shnsf.com

The beloved campy drag a cappella quartet returns to their homeland after a national tour of America’s Next Top Bachelor Housewife Celebrity Hoarder Makeover Star Gone Wild! Enjoy this 20th anniversary concert, then a postshow discussion with the cast. $25-$40.

8pm. 429 Castro St. 392-4400. www. kinseysicks.com www.castrotheatre.com

Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley Shotgun Player’s production of Anthony Neilson’s darkly comic play is set in an Edwardian traveling theatre troupe, whose backtage lives sometimes overshadow their characters. $20-$35. Previews thru Dec. 12. Opens Dec 13. Wed & Thu 7pm.

Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Jan. 11. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org

In Grand Style @ Asian Art Museum In Grand Style, Celebrations in Korean Art During the Joseon Dynasty, a new exhibit of works from 1392-1910. Thru Jan. 12. Also, Proximities 3: Import/Export, an exhibit that explores Asian uses of commodities and ideas; thru Feb. 23. Free (members)-$12. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. 581-3500. www.asianart.org

Our Vast Queer Past @ GLBT History Museum See the new exhibit, Vicki Marlane: I’m Your Lady, which displays video, images and ephemera documenting the pioneering local drag, cabaret and carnival perfomer, known for decades of performances. Thru Feb 28, 2014. Also, The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus: Celebrating 35 Years of Activism Through Song, includes archival materials from the historic chorus, leadcurated by Tom Burtch, with a touchscreen display by multimedia producer John Raines. Other permanent exhibits as well. Reg. hours Mon-Sat 11am-7pm (closed Tue.) Sun 12pm-5pm. 4127 18th St. 621-1107. www.glbthistory.org

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Out&About>>

December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay area reporter • 23

Peter Stackpole: Bridging the Bay @ Oakland Museum

New Exhibits @ Museum of Craft and Design

Exhibit of 1935-36 photos showcasing the original construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Thru Jan 12, 2014. Also, Above and Below: Stories From Our Changing Bay, about our landscape and its people. Thru Feb 23, 2014, in the renovated Gallery of California Natural Sciences. Special Friday night holiday-themed early evening event thru Dec. 5pm-9pm. Special New Year’s Eve daytime hours. Wed-Sun 11am-5pm (Fri til 9pm). Thru June 30. 1000 Oak St. (510) 318-8400. www.museumca.org

Dogpatch warehouse is now a museum store, gallery and program space. Inaugural exhibitions are Michael Cooper: A Sculptural Odyssey, 1968-2001 and Arline Fisch, Creatures from the Deep. Mon-Fri 9:30am5:30pm. 2569 Third St. 773-0303. sfmcd.org

The Santaland Diaries @ Eureka Theatre David Sinaiko stars in the 12th annual local production of the witty play based on David Sedaris’ short story about working as a Macy’s store elf. In repertory with Santa Claus is Coming Out. $25-$35.

Various times. No show Dec. 25. Thru Dec. 29. 215 Jackson St. (800) 838-3006. www.combinedartform.com

Science Exhibits @ The Exploratorium Visit the fascinating science museum in its new Embarcadero location. Free-$25. Pier 15 at Embarcadero. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm (Thu night 6pm-10pm, 18+). 528-4893. exploratorium.edu

Various Exhibits @ California Academy of Sciences New exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth. Special events each week, with adult nightlife parties most Thursday nights. $20$30. Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm.

55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. calacademy.org

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Tue 31 Bearracuda @ Beatbox Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the bear clan, DJs Paul Goodyear and Matt Stands, $20. 8pm-4am. 314 11th St. www.bearracuda.com

Bell-Ringing Ceremony @ Asian Art Museum Say goodbye to 2013 at the 28th annual striking of a giant temple bell. Free with admission (free/$8$12). 11:30am-1:30pm. 200 Larkin St. www.asianart.org

Popular exhibit transforms the floral gallery into a fluttering garden with 20 species of butterflies and moths. Reg. hours, 10am-4pm. Free-$7.

Tue-Sun 10am-4:30pm. Extended thru March 16, 2014. 100 JFK Drive, Golden Gate Park. 831-2090. www.conservatoryofflowers.org

Foodies, the Musical @ Eureka Theatre Theatre Rhino’s New Year’s Eve production of the wacky comedy about food, and eating food. $20-$25. 8pm. 215 Jackson St. at Battery. (800) 838-3006. www.therhino.org

Marathon Meetings @ Castro Country Club All-day gatherings at the LGBT and friends sober space. 7am-12am. 4058 18th St. www.castrocountryclub.org

Masquerade Ball @ Davies Symphony Hall

OLCE VITA & B EYON D 1950–1990

EM B ER 21, 2013–FEB RUARY 17, 2014

ce its founding in Rome in 1884, Bulgari has become ymous with innovation and luxury in jewelry design. With eathtaking pieces, this exclusive US exhibition highlights a eriod in the evolution of Bulgari’s distinctive Italian style and elry loved and worn by celebrities and jet-setters, including veral from the legendary collection of Elizabeth Taylor.

Sat 28

Butterflies & Blooms @ Conservatory of Flowers

Celebrate the new year at the San Francisco Symphony’s annual masked gala with drinks and desserts, which includes a concert with Sasha Cooke and Kelly Markgraf; after-party with Hit Waves and the Peter Minton Orchestra. 21+. $85-$180. 9pm-1am. 201 Van Ness Ave. 864-6000. www.sfsymphony.org

Michael Feinstein @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The jazz pianist-singer returns to his new nightclub for a New Year’s Eve concert. $100-$150 (7:30pm) and $150-$395 (11pm) includes a champagne toast and party favors. $35-$45 food-beverage minimum. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com www.feinsteinssf.com

New Bohemia NYE @ The Armory Crystal Method, the electronic music whizdudes play beats and grooves and headline a new over-the-top New Year’s Eve event, with dozens of areas, DJs, kink-themed demos, performances and ambiance. $60$150. 9pm-2am. 1800 Mission St. www.newbohemianye.com

The Kinsey Sicks

New Year’s Hoedown @ Hotel Whitcomb

Jason Lazarus: Live Archive @ Contemp. Jewish Museum

Sundance Saloon offers its fifth annual New Year’s Eve country western dance in the beautiful ballroom of the elegant, historic Hotel Whitcomb. Hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls will be two-steppn’ and line-dancin’ right up until midnight and beyond. Party from 8pm-1am.

Beginner’s dance lessons from 8-9PM. Optional dinner from 6-8pm. Advance tickets: $25, available at Sundance Saloon, (550 Barneveld) $35 at the door of Hotel Whitcomb. Dinner and dance: $55, in advance only. 1231 Market St. www.sundancesaloon.org

Exhibit of unusual work by the Chicago artist who explores collective public archives, personal memory, and the role of photography and collecting in contemporary art and identity. Also, Special Community free Day, with kidfriendly activities, Dec 25, 11am-4pm. Also, two exhibits about Jewish life: To Build & Be Built: Kibbutz History (thru July 1) and Work in Progress: Considering Utopia (thru Jan 20). 2pm-5pm. Free (members)-$12.

Thu-Tue 11am-5pm (Thu 1pm-8pm) 736 Mission St. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

Not Your Normal New Year’s Eve @ Marines’ Memorial Theatre Jill Bourque and Brian Copeland’s comedy night, with guests Laurie Kilmartin, Brent Weinbach, Kellen Erskine, Casey Ley, Dan St. Paul, Joe Klocek and mash-up DJ Lucio K, with a early balloon drop. $45-$199.

8pm. 609 Sutter St. 392-4400. www.nynnye.com

Streets of San Francisco NYE @ Fort Mason Moby headlines an evening concert and New Year’s Eve party. 9pm-2am. Buchanan St at Marina. $200-$236. www.StreetsOfSFNYE.com

Texas Rose Dance @ Lake Merritt Dance Center, Oakland The queer women’s trans-inclusive country-western two-stepping and linedancing night includes a New Year’s Eve celebration with drinks (champagne and non-alcoholic) at midnight. $10-$20. 8pm12am. 200 Grand Ave., Oakland. www.lakemerrittdancecenter.org

Wine Train @ Napa Valley Celebrate New Year’s Eve on wheels, with a deluxe sparkling wine, food-filled celebration. $65 (after-party only) $240$270. 4:30pm-1am. (800) 427-4124. www.winetrain.com/holiday

New Gear’s Eve @ SF Eagle Casey Spooner of Fischerspooner and DJ DamNation spin tunes, and Josh Runyon performs at this fetish gear New Year’s Eve event created by Moni Stat, Jeff Johnson and friends. $15-$20. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Golden Gate Park • deyoungmuseum.org

ircle: Mr. and Mrs. Carl F. Pascarella. Benefactor’s Circle: Mrs. George Hopper Fitch, Dr. Alan R. Malouf,

New Year’s Eve Comedy Fiesta @ Brava Theater

itage Collection. Photograph by Antonio Barrella, Studio Orizzonte Roma

Marga Gomez, Dhaya Lakshminarayanan and Micia Mosely perform stand-up for a holiday party with dancing, a champagne toast and DJ Mark Mark. $30. 9pm. 2781 24th St. www.brava.org

Storefront Church @ SF Playhouse

Mon 30

Local production of Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley’s uplifting holiday-themed drama. $20-$100. Tue-Thu 7pm, Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm and Sun 2pm. Thru Jan. 11. 450 Post St. 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org

All About Image @ Robert Tat Gallery

U.S. Department of Illegal Superheroes @ Galería de la Raza Neil Rivas’ multimedia exhibit, a mix of dark parody and journalistic critique of government agencies, immigration policies, and race-based politics. Free. Reg hours Wed-Sun 12pm-6pm. Thru Jan. 18. 2857 24th St. at Bryant. 826-8009. galeriadelaraza.org

Sun 29 Andres Zorn @ Legion of Honor Exhibit of the Swedish masterpainter’s works; also, paintings by Matisse from the SF MOMA holdings. Also, Darren Waterston: A Compendium of Creatures (thru Dec), and permanent exhibits (ongoing). $10-$25. Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave. 750-3600. legionofhonor.famsf.org

New exhibit of exceptional images from a variety of 20th and 21st-century photographers. Thru Feb 22. 49 Geary St. #410. 781-1122. www.roberttat.com

California Native Plant Bloom @ SF Botanical Gardens Seasonal flowering of hundreds of species of native wildflowers in a century-old grove of towering Coast Redwoods. Free$15. Daily. Golden Gate Park. 6612-1316. www.SFBotanicalGarden.org

How to Survive a Plague @ PBS Indepdenent Lens prirst national broadcast of David France’s compelling Academy Award-nominated documentary about the Treatment Action Group of ACT UP New York. www.pbs.org

Wed 01 Safeway Holiday Ice Rink @ Union Square Rent a pair of skates and enjoy the downtown tradition. $5-$11 10am11:30pm daily thru Jan. 20. www.unionsquareicerink.com

Thu 2 Hymns to Hermes: The Poetics of James Broughton @ SF Public Library Local activist and archivist Joey Cain’s exhibit of the gay poet and filmmaker includes rare personal items from his estate. Exhibit thru Jan. 16. James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center, Main Library, third floor, 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

Magic Parlor @ Chancellor Hotel Whimsical Belle Epoque-style sketch and magic show that also includes historical San Francisco stories; hosted by Walt Anthony; optional pre-show light dinner and desserts. $40. Thu-Sat 8pm. 433 Powell St. www.SFMagicParlor.com

Road Show @ Eureka Theatre Theatre Rhinoceros presents the Bay Area premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s rarelyproduced musical (with a book by John Weidman). Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru Jan. 19. 215 Jackson St. at Battery. (800) 838-3006. www.therhino.org

Twisted Sisters @ City Hall Gallery Twisted Sisters: Reimagining Urban Portraiture, a large-scale photo exhibit and art exchange between SF and Zurich. Thru Jan. 27. SF City Hall, North Light Court, and various outdoor kiosks. www.sfartscommission.org

To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For bar and nightlife events, go to www.bartabsf.com, and our new merged section, www.ebar.com/bartab

New Year’s Eve X 3 @ Palace Hotel Joshua Klipp and the Klipptones perform at the this trio of dining and dancing packages at the Pied Piper Bar & Grill: four-course early dinner (6pm, 6:30 seating; $75), six-course dinner-dance (8:30, 9pm, 9:30 seating; $115), and lounge seating with champagne toast (9:30, 10pm, 10:30 seating. $80). 2 Mongomery St. 512-1111. www.sfpalace.com

New Year’s Events @ Ritz-Carlton Enjoy any of a series of elegant meals and parties at the top-notch hotel.

New Year’s Eve dinner at Parallel 37, 5pm-12am. $150. 773-6168. New Year’s Eve party in the Lounge, 9pm-1am. Bottle service and in-room dining. Jan 1, New Year’s Day a la carte breakfast, 6:30am-12pm.

600 Stockton St. (800) 241-3333. ritzcarlton.com

Jan 2 Road Show

<< Books

24 • Bay area reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

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Master of light & shadows

by Tavo Amador

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any stars of studio system Hollywood (ca. 1925-65) remain a vivid presence less for their movies than for the photographs taken of them during that era. Tinseltown established nearly impossible standards of beauty that millions of fans admired and strove to attain.

Movie historian and photographer Mark A. Vieira unequivocally credits one man with the invention of the classic glamour shot, and in his magnificently illustrated and impeccably researched George Hurrell’s Hollywood (Running Press, $60), he proves his case.

Vieira has published books about Hurrell before, but this one is different. It includes previously unseen photographs – in many cases, from negatives thought lost. Thus, we see Hurrell (1904-92) applying the techniques he used on Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Marlene Dietrich, Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, and others on Julie Andrews, Bianca Jagger, Alex Haley, Neil Diamond, David Bowie, Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, and Liza Minnelli. Many of these later subjects did not meet traditional standards of beauty, but Hurrell made them look sensational yet still recognizable.

Hurrell was discovered by gay silent-screen star Ramon Novarro, whose popularity as a Latin Lover in the 1920s was second only to Rudolph Valentino’s. Novarro introduced Hurrell to Shearer, an actress with few illusions about her appearance. She was desperate to play The Divorcee (1930), a sexually liberated part. Her husband, MGM’s Head of Production Irving Thalberg, doubted she was right for it. After viewing Hurrell’s stills, which made her look very sexy, he changed his mind. She won an Oscar for her performance.

Shearer wasn’t easy to photograph.

She had a lovely profile, but her eyes were small, and one tended to turn in. She worked diligently to correct that problem, and Hurrell learned to light her very carefully. Consequently, she was regarded as one of her era’s great beauties. “I wish I looked like that,” she candidly admitted.

Shearer may have been first, but Crawford was Hurrell’s muse. She had 33 sessions with him during a 16-year period, most involving publicity for one of her movies. Hurrell said she was the most naturally photogenic of his subjects because her face was almost perfectly symmetrical. Her huge eyes, exceptional cheekbones, full lips, fine nose, and crisp jaw-line caught his light in a breathtaking fashion. (He airbrushed her freckles.) She also loved posing, was tirelessly inventive, and intuitively realized that his images would help sustain her career.

People only familiar with the older, hard Crawford will be astonished by the sexually charged beauty Hurrell captured.

Like Shearer, the bisexual Dietrich knew she needed careful lighting, otherwise she would look like “a potato with hair.” She learned as much about how to be lit as any professional cameraman or photographer, and was exacting in her standards.

Dietrich claimed that Mexico’s Dolores Del Rio was the most beautiful woman in Hollywood in the early 1930s, and a shot of her by Hurrell gives credence to her statement.

Carole Lombard, whose image is on the book’s cover, was notorious for her raunchy humor, and was one of the period’s finest comic actresses.

Yet Hurrell turned her into a mysterious temptress.

Hurrell would play music, tell stories, do whatever he thought necessary to relax his sitters. His usually effective approach failed with Greta Garbo. She didn’t like him, and their few sessions were tense. Still, she admired his results, even if she seldom smiled for him.

At Warners, he enhanced Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney’s appearances – neither was a typical matinee idol. He transformed the naturally handsome Errol Flynn into a god. Even Bette Davis, famous for deriding glamour, posed for Hurrell. He found a sensuous

quality in her rarely seen on the screen. She sat for him a final time while shooting 1962’s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

The 1940s were a difficult period for Hurrell. He underwent a bitter divorce, was drafted into the armed services, and returned to find a changing industry. While he still shot imposing women like Rita Hayworth, Mae West and Jane Russell, he was often asked to photograph dull starlets. Life magazine popularized a new type of photography which made Hurrell’s work look artificial and dated. Always mercurial, he withdrew, and struggled for many years.

A fortuitous meeting with publicist John Kobal helped bring Hurrell back. He photographed many of the leading personalities of the 1960s. Kobal was instrumental in the re-evaluation of Hurrell’s great achievements, making his original prints prized collectors’ items and worthy of museum retrospectives.

Vieira’s extensive knowledge of how the studio system worked and the impact it had on the era’s famous personalities adds color to his discussions of Hurrell’s subjects.

For example, he points out that Crawford’s resentment of Shearer was largely unjustified. Shearer was always gracious about her younger rival’s success, and the two socialized. But Crawford complained, especially in later years, that she had to fight for good parts while Shearer simply asked Thalberg for them. While there is some truth to Crawford’s claims, Vieira correctly points out that they were very different types and would rarely have competed for the same role.

Vieira’s assessment of Hurrell’s inventiveness and technical brilliance reflects his own skills as a photographer. He includes an amazing double portrait of Grace Jones and Dolph Lungren, one of Arnold Schwarzenegger staring into a mirror, and exquisite ones of Diana Ross. As Sharon Stone writes in the gracious introduction, posing for Hurrell was a privilege. Anyone interested in how movies and photography have shaped the contemporary world will be fascinated by this remarkable volume and appreciate Vieira’s superb achievement in compiling it.t

t

Music>>

December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay area reporter • 25

Best classical releases, 2013

by Tim Pfaff

I

could – but I won’t – make a Best of 2013 list comprised only of recordings of music by Benjamin Britten. It was that kind of centennial for the great gay composer, who, in terms of recordings at least, outpaced the 200-year-olds Wagner and Verdi. Top of the heap in Britten recordings was a new DVD of his most famous work, Peter Grimes (Opus Arte), in a live La Scala performance from 2012. Superb all around, the Richard Jones-directed production, wonderfully conducted by Robin Ticciati, moved the opera decisively out of its Suffolk coast roots and into the universal. Britten’s string quartets span his output, and the Takacs Quartet’s recording of all three (Hyperion) literally put the many fine contenders out of the competition. The Third, a work from Britten’s final year, receives a phenomenal performance that crawls right inside you.

Besides being easy on the eyes, Ticciati is becoming a more interesting conductor with every appearance, and his recording of Les nuits d’ete and La mort de Cleopatre, with mezzo Karen Cargill, in an ongoing Berlioz cycle for Linn, was as dramatically acute as it was stylistically sensitive. This is a mop to compete with The Dude’s.

Not that Wagner had a bad year.

Two of its crowning new recordings featured tenor Jonas Kaufmann, first in Wagner, a series of scenes and the Wesendonck-Lieder (Decca), and then as Siegmund in a superb live Mariinsky Theatre Die Walkuere under Valery Gergiev that also featured San Francisco favorite Nina Stemme as Bruennhilde.

It’s no accident that Kaufmann similarly figured in the two most important recordings of the comparatively disappointing Verdi Year, with another fine CD of arias (Sony) and the tenor solos in Decca’s new live recording of the Requiem from La Scala. With the first we learned that Kaufmann will be the Otello we hoped – in three years. With an ideal set of soloists and other musicians, Daniel Barenboim led a masterful Requiem that went for substance over spectacle.

Elsewhere on the operatic front, gay early-music wizard Christophe Rousset led a steamy Cherubini Medee (BelAir Classiques) in a savvy modern production. And even though gay composer Thomas Ades’ The Tempest appeared in a dedicated performance from the Met (DG), his gay colleague George Benjamin won opera-of-the-young-century award for Written on Skin (Nimbus), an intricate, involving, and ultimately emotionally shattering piece of music theater. Both composers also conducted.

Bridge’s new release of Franz Schreker’s Die Gezeichneten, a neglected 20th-century opera that’s coming back into its own, memorializes a stunning, live, James Conlon-led Los Angeles Opera production from 2010 that I was lucky enough to be in the house for. More on it soon, but I’ll tip my hand by saying that I almost dreaded spinning the CDs for fear that my ecstatic response to the performance was merely hormonal or something. But it’s better than I remembered.

Piano recording of the year goes to Mitsuko Uchida for her sublime, searching Schumann Waldszenen, Sonata No. 2, and Gesaenge der Fruehe (Decca), the last a powerful demonstration of the profundity of

the composer’s seldom-played final work for the piano. Andras Schiff, a pianist on whom I blow hot and cold, hit one out of the park with his double-header CD set (ECM New Series) of the Beethoven Diabelli Variations, on a modern piano (with the final sonata) and then on a worthy fortepiano (with some of

the late Bagatelles). Recordings of recent years might actually put Beethoven’s late (and some think greatest) piano work back on recital stages.

Two exemplary recordings of Bach’s St. John Passion – a Stephen Layton-led one (Hyperion) that pleaded no musicological case other than the greatness of the work, and John Butt’s musthear, ear-opening version (Linn) that placed the Passion in a liturgical context – were so different that a newcomer to the repertoire might not know they were of the same work. Rene Jacobs crowned a lifetime’s experience of the St. Mat-

thew Passion as both performer and conductor with an arresting new recording (Harmonia Mundi) that makes investigations into performance practice that turn out to be almost literally revelatory.

The dreaded Box Set rose to a new kind of prominence in 2013, with the recording companies seeking enhanced revenues with important releases of back stock at commandingly low prices. Decca’s Britten: The Complete Works and Britten: The Performer headed the list, but conductor Claudio Abbado’s 80th birthday yielded two sets, The Decca Years and The Symphony Edition (DG), the latter Biblical for most

lovers of the repertoire. And Abbado’s two new DG recordings of late Mozart wind concertos and Schumann’s Second Symphony, both with his hand-picked Orchestra Mozart, were among the year’s finest.

The three must-have music books of the year were Barry Millington’s Richard Wagner: the Sorcerer of Bayreuth (Oxford); Paul Kildea’s Benjamin Britten: A Life in the Twentieth Century (Allen Lane), a page-turner that also is the most authoritative Britten bio; and Robert Craft’s Stravinsky: Discoveries and Memories (Naxos Books). The last topped the other revelations about the 2013 centenary of The Rite of Spring – about which the recording companies appropriately went wild – with the “revelation” that Stravinsky had sex, and fell in love, with men at the time he wrote The Rite. Hard to beat that for getting the music world’s attention.t

HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM

Find peace in our galleries of world-renowned art, bring family and friends for fun quality time, and maybe even get some shopping done. www.asianart.org.

IN GRAND STYLE: Celebrations in Korean Art during the Joseon Dynasty Final Weeks—Closes Jan 12 Much of Korean culture today derives from the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), when personal milestones were celebrated with elaborate procedures. Discover these colorful ceremonies with more than 110 exquisite artworks.

PROXIMITIES 3: Import/Export Through Feb 23 In Proximities, our trilogy of contemporary art exhibitions, Bay Area artists grapple with ideas emerging from Asia’s cultural and geographic vastness. This final installment explores trade and commerce as influences on Asia’s global presence.

28TH ANNUAL JAPANESE BELL-RINGING CEREMONY Tues, Dec 31, 11:30 am, FREE with museum admission Gather your loved ones and say goodbye to 2013 by striking a giant 16th-century temple bell from Japan (it’s an actual object from our collection). According to Buddhist belief, each ring of the bell wipes the slate clean of bad experiences and ill luck. Bask in the positive and peaceful vibes, and stick around for art activities.

Please note, get your numbered ticket at the admission desk upon arrival (doors open at 10 am). You’ll need it to ring our bell.

Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art & Culture 200 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102 415.581.3500

In Grand Style was organized by the Asian Art Museum in collaboration with the National Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum of Korea based on the exhibition Scenes of Banquets and Ceremonies of the Joseon Period held by the National Museum of Korea in 2009. Presentation at the Asian Art Museum is made possible with the generous support of Koret Foundation, Samsung, The Korea Foundation, The Bernard Osher Foundation, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Silicon Valley Bank, Jamie and Steve Chen, John and Barbara Osterweis, and Suno Kay Osterweis. Image: Royal Protocol for King Jeongjo’s Visit to His Father’s Tomb in Hwaseong (detail), 1800–1900. Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Album; ink and colors on paper. Courtesy of National Museum of Korea.

Proximities was organized by the Asian Art Museum. Presentation at the Asian Art Museum is made possible with the generous support of Graue Family Foundation, Columbia Foundation and an anonymous donor. Image: Untitled, 2012, by Byron Peters (Canadian, b. 1985).

Single image projection, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

26 • Bay area reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

<<

Kinsey Sicks

From page 17

On December 28, The Kinsey Sicks return to the street of their birth for a special 20th Anniversary Homecoming Show at the Castro Theatre. Joining them will be the original Trampolina, the fabulous Chris Dilley, and Trixie Version 1.0, the splendid Maurice Kelly. After the performance, audience members whose sides have not split open with laughter are invited to participate in a special Q&A moderated by Deborah Doyle of the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center of the SF Public Library.

What better way to get the lowdown on the quartet’s new highheeled show than by speaking with Rachel’s alter ego, Ben Schatz?

Jason Serinus: What’s with the title of your new show, America’s Next Top Bachelor Housewife Celebrity Hoarder Makeover Star Gone Wild!?

Ben Schatz: We were concerned it was too short. You’ll be amazed what we almost mentioned but didn’t. For example, For the Straight Guy. But it had to fit on one page. As they say in Hollywood, it is “inspired by” Amer-

ica’s Got Talent. Because this is our 20th Anniversary Show, it covers some of our best songs as well as some new songs. It’s funny, it’s biting, it’s filthy, it’s got gorgeous music, and it goes places where a show simply shouldn’t.

People should buckle their seat belts and prepare for a bumpy ride.

The producers of America’s Got Talent asked us to audition three years in a row. Each year we said no.

After our third “no,” they went to two of our agents and begged and pleaded and promised that if we said “yes,” they would fly us in for the auditions. In all likelihood we’d get passed on to Vegas, and as a result, appear on national TV. We went, got standing ovations, and got passed on to Vegas. At that point, higher-level producers started looking at our lyrics more and vetting our material. I had assumed that since they had been recruiting us for three years, they knew who we are, and were looking for someone interesting and controversial. But when we got to Vegas, they mysteriously lost interest in us, and we disappeared from history. Ironically, they had filmed the trailer for the show before the Vegas session, and we were the trailer’s highlight. So all

Reach more than 120,000 consumers per week and the only audited and verified audience of LGBT newspaper readers in the San Francisco Market.

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during the show, they kept showing the trailer, and everyone kept asking what had happened to us. Then they relented, posted our audition on Hulu, and got so many nasty comments from people asking why they didn’t let us go farther that we redisappeared. We learned a lot about what reality TV is really about. But this show is not about our experience; it’s about the insights we use to satirize reality with more hilarious/ vicious accuracy.

One of the things I like most about this show is that it’s one of our most accessible. It’s just as filthy, it’s just as political, but it’s about something everybody has exposure to and has perspective on. Honestly, I think it’s one of the best shows we’ve done.

Given that you’re returning to a very different San Francisco, do you expect to attract the new techie crowd that is taking over downtown and transforming many neighborhoods?

There will be free sushi with every ticket.

Of the original quartet, you and Irwin remain.

Yes, the two old Jews, or the two old lawyers, depending upon how you want to look at it. Trixie has been with us over 10 years, and Trampolina for over five. So despite our unstable psychological profiles, we’ve had great stability among our cast.

When you first started The Kinsey Sicks, did you ever imagine that you’d be doing this 20 years later?

Well, no. But fortunately, I learned that America is a large country filled with people with bad taste and discretionary income. If you keep moving, you can keep suckering new people into paying to see your show. We perform maybe 80-100 shows a year. I never imagined I’d be doing something that gives me such joy. I was an executive director of queer nonprofits and

Courtesy The Kinsey Sicks

The Kinsey Sicks learned about reality TV the hard way.

an attorney for people with HIV. It was incredibly meaningful, important, and valuable. This feels just as meaningful and valuable, but it’s so much fun, too. We go to conservative places, rock people’s worlds, and stretch their boundaries. People go crazy. To me, if you can make people laugh with you and like your

characters, you can open them up emotionally and intellectually in a way that I never could when I was an advocate or talking head. It’s such an incredible joy.t For tickets to the 8 p.m. show, go to www.CityBoxOffice.com or call (415) 392-4400.

A New LGBT Science Fiction Epic

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order today at mlrpress.com amazon.com ebook or paperback

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December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 27

Film 2013

From page 17

1. We Steal Secrets Alex Gibney moves into an elite class of filmmakers with this timely tale of tormented whistleblowers. Julian Assange is the public face of WikiLeaks, exposing superpower secrets. PFC Bradley Manning slips into the narrative from a tiny dot in cyberspace. Unlike the loquacious Assange, Manning never talks onscreen. Instead we see him striking a flirty party pose, recalling a boyfriend’s nickname: Jean Harlow. He confesses that he won’t mind getting caught for his document dump, except for the legacy of his portrait plastered around the world in boy drag.

2. Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia Nicholas Wrathall’s cauterizing bio begins with his illustrious subject at his gravesite. From a 10-year-old coached by his dad to fly a small plane, to a 23-year-old having his “notorious” gay novel savaged

by The New York Times, to following Faulkner’s advice to write for money, Vidal is America’s mid-century gay gadfly, lacing his Ben-Hur script with a queer subplot. We see Vidal debunking JFK, trading barbs and almost blows with hetero bully-boys Buckley and Mailer, and leaving his Italian home after the death of his boyfriend.

3. 12 Years a Slave Adapting Solomon Northup’s harrowing 19thcentury memoir (with John Ridley), Anglo/Caribbean director Steve McQueen treats his stoic protagonist (emotionally agile Chiwetel Ejifor) as if he were buried alive. McQueen depicts America’s original sin with almost unbearable moments of Northup’s stay on Louisiana plantations, aided by brave performances from Paul Dano and Michael Fassbender.

Dano’s overseer Tibeats is craven to his betters while capable of astonishing violence towards his slaves.

Our last view of this vicious cur offers hints of future crimes by a rural white class who will replace the primordial shame of slavery with the intractable virus of Jim Crow. It falls to Fassbender to deliver the lash, the ferocious whippings that are symbols of slavery’s worst excesses. As McQueen’s observant camera reminds us, we are all, in some insidious way, kin under the skin.

4. 42 Brian Helgeland depicts how agonizing the struggle is for any despised minority to get their foot in the door. 42 climaxes at the apex of baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s first season in a Brooklyn Dodger uniform. Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, and Harrison Ford as the Biblically-inspired businessman/prophet Branch Rickey, shine as two of history’s most unlikely allies at the dawn of America’s Civil Rights Movement.

5. Kill Your Darlings This engrossing new film about a longforgotten murder that launched the Beat Generation kicks off with a toast from the pillow lips of Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan), prettiest boy at Columbia in 1944, to the ears of horny aspiring poet Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe). John Krokidas exposes us to future literary titans when the boys have yet to write a word, regaling us with drunken parties, schoolboy pranks, and a knife murder that threatens to silence a trio of great voices: Kerouac, Burroughs and Ginsberg.

6. Inside Llewyn Davis The Coen Bros. use profane monologues, counterintuitive casting (Justin Timberlake as the cuckolded half of an early-60s folk duo), goofy plot digressions, and a Kerouac-worthy subplot to deliver the season’s most original comedy/drama, a pre-Dylan tribute to the folk-song movement that begins and ends with a troubadour beaten in a West Village alley.

7. Dallas Buyers Club After an explosion of acting-out behavior in which he sheds more skin cells, brain cells and T-cells than the Lord ever intended, Ron Woodroof (skeletal Matthew McConaughey), dying

Dane DeHaan and Daniel Radcliffe in director John Krokidas’ Kill Your Darlings.

Scene from Cannes winner Blue Is the Warmest Color.

from HIV, finds himself in a charity hospital ward. For macho Ron, things are even worse than they seem, for behind a curtain is flamboyant fellow patient Rayon (Jared Leto, pushing his body and craft to the limit). A pre-op MTF transsexual, Rayon will be an unsettling angel of mercy for Ron. Standing over this battered cowboy, more bone than muscle herself, Rayon gives an instant review. “Relax! I don’t bite. I guess you’re kind of handsome in a Texas-hick, whitetrash, dumb kind of way.”

8. Test This entertaining time capsule, set in SF’s modern-dance world, makes playful use of that fateful moment when the first blood test for the HIV virus debuted. It’s 1985, and lithe, pretty young dancer Frankie puzzles out how to please an illtempered choreographer who hates the idea of a queer dancer performing a piece swimming in gay visual metaphors. Chris Mason Johnson’s film climaxes in a dance-your-assoff between Frankie (Scott Marlowe) and his slutty new bed partner, Todd (Matthew Risch).

9. C.O.G. In Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s funny adaptation of David Sedaris’ essay, out actor Jonathan Groff channels a prideful sissy-boy on the verge of hilarious pratfalls with two middle-aged Mr. Wrongs: a dildo-collecting supervisor and an angry, Bible-thumping vet (openly gay Denis O’Hare).

10. Crystal Fairy In Sebastian Silva’s hippie film, Jamie, a young “Ugly American” drug tourist played with saucy glee by Michael Cera, seeks a beach trip fueled by Chile’s favorite hallucinogen. His plan to get high and naked with three longhaired Chilean brothers is complicated by an impulsive invitation to a “feral” girl, Crystal Fairy, to join the boys’ drug picnic. The presence of this New Age-spouting young woman pushes Jamie into a dark place. It’s a tribute to the leads and the strong hand of Silva that we can be enchanted and repulsed by both.

11. Valentine Road Marta Cunningham examines the 2008 school shooting of queer teen Larry King by classmate Brandon McInerney.

The HBO doc includes a candid poll of the jurors in McInerney’s murder trial, indicating a disturbing bias against the murdered boy.

12. Fruitvale Station Ryan Coogler’s version of the Oscar Grant story – the African American dad martyred by a squadron of out-ofcontrol BART police – is a detailed,

understated drama. Michael Jordan, as Grant, has the nuanced charisma of a young Denzel Washington.

Coogler provides a suspenseful moral parable overflowing with the kind of incongruities that pepper the lives of our martyrs: Harvey, Matthew and Tyler Clementi.

13. Blue Is the Warmest Color Both Cannes’ award-winning female leads deliver naturalistic performances that transcend their muchballyhooed extended sex scenes.

But Blue will forever be praised or damned by filmgoers’ gut-level reactions to 10 minutes of simulated sexual gymnastics that leave standard film-sex in the dust.

14. Before Midnight In the brilliant third part of Richard Linklater’s two-decade spanning trilogy, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy stroll through a paradise-on-earth slice of Greece.

The couple are preparing for either their best sex or their biggest brawl, or both.

15. The Great Gatsby Baz Luhrmann fleshes out the novel’s allknowing narrator, Nick Carraway.

Toby Maguire’s Nick relates the rise and spectacular demise of his friend Jay Gatsby. Tobey’s wry, grounded take, rooted in craft and his friendship with DiCaprio, allows a modern audience to see Leo’s stylized Gatsby as more than a petulant nouveau riche interloper, to grasp that Gatsby is at heart a story of class warfare, disguised as a doomed love affair.

16. Blue Jasmine Cate Blanchett is over the moon in the best Woody Allen drama since Match Point. It’s rare anyone has a script inspired by two of our finest tragedians: Tennessee Williams and Bernard Madoff.

17. Enough Said keeps us laughing and rooting for this season’s top romantic odd couple: Julie LouisDreyfus and the late James Gandolfini, showing why he was so much more than his Shakespeare-worthy suburban mob guy.

18. Nebraska Oscar may bless 77-year-old Bruce Dern’s careertopping take on a Montana codger who imagines, against all odds, that he’s won a million bucks. Alexander Payne’s astringent comedy has Woody’s bitter wife dancing on the graves of his old drinking buddies.

19. Prisoners This gripping rustbelt thriller has us fear for the fates of a trio of besieged souls (Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Dano) who push their art and bodies beyond all reasonable limits.t

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8

New Year's Eve

Muscle Up

NIGHTLIFE PORN

11

SPIRITS

SEX

Shooting Stars

SOCIETY

ROMANCE

LEATHER

PERSONALS

Vol. 43 • No. 52 • December 26-January 1, 2014

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Fab Four Well Strung perform at Feinstein’s at the Nikko

by Jim Provenzano

Well Strung.

T

hey started on the streets of Provincetown, in a way. Now, Well Strung, the acclaimed string quartet, is touring the country with their signature classical pop crossover instrumental and sung arrangements.

Yes, they also sing. We spoke in a conference call with first violinist Edmund

Bagnell, second violinist Christopher Marchant, cellist Daniel Shevlin and violist Trevor Wadleigh from their various homes in New York City. The quartet will perform at Feinstein’s at the Nikko December 27 and 28.

See page 2 >> Scott Henrichsen

A Very Marga New Year Brava Theater hosts New Year’s Eve Comedy Fiesta

by Ronn Vigh

M

arga Gomez and I were once sitting across from each other at the hair salon but didn’t really know each other enough to speak up and say hello.

Then, through the stand-up comedy scene, we ultimately became friends. Now, two weeks before Christmas, doing this interview with Marga was a great excuse for us to get together and share some, ahem, lots of spiked eggnog and see each other before the Christmas holiday and discuss Marga’s upcoming New Year’s Eve Comedy Show, “Brava’s New Years Eve Comedy Fiesta.”

Marga Gomez on stage.

David Wilson

Ronn Vigh: You’ve done a New Year’s show yearly for quite a while now, but does Marga Gomez make New Year’s resolutions?

Marga Gomez: My New Year’s resolution in 2014 is to smile more. I’ve already begun....

I learned this tip in a Buddhist book I bought at the airport. Now I smile when I exercise, I smile when I’m stressed and I smile when I masturbate- and my orgasms

are way better when I’m smiling. But I don’t smile when I’m with somebody else, because it looks like I’m going to kill them.

What’s the longest you ever kept a New Year’s resolution?

Usually about a week. This year I had a resolution, though I made it in October. It was more like a new month’s resolution. It was to make my bed every day and it was amazing for a week and now.... I have shoes on my bed. Do you make your bed everyday?

It gets made but I don’t do it, ever. My boyfriend does.

Does he have a sister? Or maybe even a mother?

Yes, but I believe they are both straight.

I’m experienced with straight women!

As I mentioned, New Year’s Eve shows are becoming a tradition for you, how many years have you been doing these shows?

I’ve been doing New Year’s at Brava for two years, but before that I did a New Year’s See page 3 >>

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2 • Bay area reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

<<

Well Strung

From page 1

Known primarily for the unusual string arrangements of pop songs that lend themselves to covers, like Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” as well as hits by Adele and Lady Gaga, the ensemble is formally more than a year old.

“Our first show was in may of 2012, in New York at Joe’s Pub,” said Christopher Marchant of the sold out gig.

Before the group formed, Marchant was spotted playing his violin shirtless on a street in Provincetown.

“Mark Cortale [the show’s co-writer and producer] had approached me about doing a solo in a show, but it wasn’t really appealling to me at the time, so I brought up the idea of forming a quartet,” said Marchant. “I knew a couple people at first and then sent out messages to friends that we were looking for a cellist who could sing, which was Daniel. I asked him if he was interested, since he was living in Denver at the time.”

Shelvin said yes, with Wadleigh and Bagnell joining soon afterward after New York

EDITOR Jim Provenzano DESIGNERS Jay Cribas, Scott King ADVERTISING SALES Scott Wazlowski 415-359-2612 CONTRIBUTORS Ray Aguilera, Matt Baume, Scott Brogan, Heather Cassell, Coy Ellison, Michael Flanagan, Dr. Jack Fritscher, John F. Karr, T. Scott King, Sal Meza, David Elijah-Nahmod, Adam Sandel, Donna Sachet, Jim Stewart, Ronn Vigh

auditions.

What they didn’t expect or deliberately decide was that all four performers are openly gay.

“It was more happenstance that we all are gay,” said Shevlin.

“I think when we were creating the first show we had, with a Provincetown audience in mind, that the repertory was probably a little more gay. I wouldn’t call it campy, but something that a gay audience would react to.”

Shevlin added, “As we’ve progressed, we’ve focused on making music the main part of our show. While it’s wonderful to be embraced for being gay, the show is not for gays only. We’ve definitely evolved in the past year.”

The repertory of pop songs amuses audiences who might be leery of classical music.

“That was part of the concept from the beginning, to juxtapose classical with pop, and make some connection between the two worlds,” said Marchant.

The juxtoposition of genres is apt, as Shevlin explained. “While the classical composer were popular music at the time, that’s why we choose pop music from our times. A lot of people have asked us about doing covers of other genres. But we’ve stuck to the pop versus classical format, and that works well together.”

First violinist Bagnell added, “I think there is something about Mozart being the pop star of the day. Our audiences may think classical music is scary.

But then, they get this mix-up of stuff and find that they love, say, Dvorjak. We’re highlighting that this music is acceptable for a general audience. Just because it’s a hundred years old, it still is really quite accessible.”

Asked about their arrangements, violist Wadleigh said that there are arrangements available for most pop songs online. But for their four-part string performances, they work with colleague David Levinson.

“Daniel and Chris have both done work that we perform in the show as well,” said Wadleigh.

Tom Hafner Friend Elicerio

Violinist Chris Marchant in a recent photo shoot for DNA Magazine.

“It’s nice having someone in the group and people we know to change the part to our voices, and make it work for our needs.”

Shevlin noted how unusual a four-part vocal and string arragement of any song is.

“We sing in most of the songs, although at first, we would play

more. But now, because that’s the thing that’s working, we’re singing more. That is something that’s less common.”

While they have demurred on requests, they are considering original music to add to their repertory.

Said Marchant, “Once we figure

PHOTOGRAPHY Biron, Marques Daniels, Don Eckert, Lydia Gonzales, Rick Gerharter, Jose Guzman-Colon, Georg Lester, Dan Lloyd, Jim Provenzano, Rich Stadtmiller, Monty Suwannukul, Steven Underhill BARtab is published by BAR Media, Inc. PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT Michael M. Yamashita CHAIRMAN Thomas E. Horn VP AND CFO Patrick G. Brown SECRETARY Todd A. Vogt BAR Media, Inc. 225 Bush Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94104 (415) 861-5019 www.BARtabSF.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad Member National Gay Newspaper Guild Copyright © 2013, Bay Area Reporter, a division of BAR Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Scott Henrichsen

Well Strung.

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out where our strengths really lie and, we will branch out.”

Branching out into hunk territory is a place the quartet seems comfortable, Marchant in partiular. Along with posing nude with a strategically-placed violin, he’s performed in a Provincetown production of Naked Boys Singing. Marchant also sang, acted and played violin in the touring productions of Spring Awakening and the acclaimed recent revival of Sweeney Todd.

Each of the performers’ musical background vary, with some theatre adding to their diverse talents. Raised in Ohio, Marchant said there were a lot of opportunites for him.

“I grew up playing violin and choir and theatre in college,” he said. “Instead of being really strong in one area, I’m sort of a jack of all trades, and it worked out really well.”

Wadleigh, raised in the suburbs of Seattle, started violin in fifth grade. “By high school, I got really into it, but not any theatre,” he said. “Now that I’ve moved to New York City, it’s the perfect atmosphere to delve further that way.”

Also a member of the String Collective of New York, Wadleigh has performed at Carnegie Hall, taught viola at the University of Puget Sound Community Music Community and is also a co-founder of the Puget Sound Animal Rescue.

Shevlin’s production credits as an actor and cellist include Edward Albee’s The Sandbox, and tours of Rent and Cabaret.

Into 2014, the quartet will be criss-crossing the country for various upcoming concerts.

“Our spring is rapidly filling up,” said Bagnell. “We’re going to be in Atlanta, Puerto Villarta, and the Chicago area. We’re also hoping to do more recording.”

The group’s music can be purchased on their website.

Bagnell, whose show credits range from Charlie Brown musicals to performing with drag singer Varla Jean Merman, said, “We all live in New York, but we’ve been on the road constantly. New York has become a kind of a place to stop between dates out of town the past few months. It’s been fun.”

So, what are the audiences like?

Do they vary from a more urban crowd to the Midwest?

“We do get repeat fans viewers, and whether they’ve seen us in P-town or New York, they’re very much into the shows,” said Shevlin. “We’re never quite sure what we’re going to get in smaller towns, which sometimes are more excited.”

One such ‘rural’ show was the quartet’s performance in Yountville, California as the opening act of an early December performance of the drag musical parody Christmas With the Crawfords.

Marchant said, “It’s very interesting to watch the different responses, like it’s a string quartet, so they have to be quiet.

We love it when people recognize a song and giggle. The more vibrant they are, the better it’ll make the show.”

So feel free to clap, laugh and tap along as Well Strung performs.t Well Strung, the all-male string quartet, plays and sings classical and string arrangements of pop songs at Feinstein’s at the Nikko. $25-$40. December 27 and 28 at 7pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.well-strung.com www.feinsteinssf.com www.ticketweb.com

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December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 3

Marga

Have you worked in a restaurant before?

Yes, and I’m a terrible waitress.

I was fired. I had a job in Noe Valley and I was fired after two weeks. They fired me by saying that the money was always off when I worked, but I think the real reason was that I was such a terrible waitress. But they didn’t know how to tell me that, so it was easier to call me a thief.

From page 1

show at Theatre Rhino for seven years. It’s my favorite holiday. My parents were entertainers who would work on New Year’s Eve and they would come home with all the party hats and noisemakers people left behind and I would play with them... because I was an only child.

What’s ahead for Marga Gomez?

I’m premiering my tenth solo show, and it’s really the most ambitious thing I’ve ever done. I’m playing all different characters, creating afictional romantic comedy, and it’s running for two months at The Marsh. And, I’m also going to perform at an Olivia vacation’s cruise to Amsterdam!

Your show is called Brava’s New Years Eve Comedy Fiesta.

What makes it a fiesta?

Brava Theater has this really cool large lobby with couches and Art Deco furnishings.

Before you go into the theatre they have a full bar with real alcohol and music and you can come at 8pm for an hour before the show and have cocktails, mingle, cruise people in the lobby, then go in to see the show and then come back out and DJ Mark Mark will be there spinning past midnight.

Brava Theatre is known for real kick-ass receptions and you can dance the night away after our show and that’s why I wanted to do New Year’s with them!

Before the interview, we were discussing the signature questionnaire in Vanity Fair inspired by Marcel Proust, so I thought I’d end by asking you one question from it. And that is, ‘What is the quality you most like in a man?’

Gayness.t

Will you be dancing?

Depends what you mean by dancing. I will be moving. I’m not going to do anything crazy.

You don’t have a signature Marga Gomez dance move?

The cabbage patch. And, I’ll do the bump. I injured my knee this year, so I will only do things in my upper body. I really belong to the Latinos Who Can’t Dance Club. I hate to say this, but I dance like Elaine in Seinfeld. It’s really strange. I dance like there is a white teenage boy inside me really trying to get out. But I like mosh pits. If a mosh pit happens, I’m in.

I’m a terrible dancer myself.

I don’t think any comedian should dance, really, because we’re deep down all too selfconscious.

Okay, you’re not keen on dancing. But do you have any fears?

David Wilson

Micia Mosely, Marga Gomez and Dhaya Lakshminarayanan (left-right) perform at this year’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Fiesta.

Right now, my biggest fear is that someone on MUNI will elbow me in the eye. I just got new glasses.

A lot worse could happen on MUNI, though.

Oh, wait. I know my biggest fear is that my teeth will crumble out like in that dream where they all fall out.

I hate those.

Oh wait, my most common fear is missing a plane. I’ve been so close. But, I haven’t. They often shut the door right behind me.

I’ve missed a plane twice.

They shut the door right in front of me. I’m afraid of drowning.

Driving?

No drowning. But, now that you say that, I realize both you and my boyfriend don’t know how to drive.

There. That’s my New Year’s resolution! And, I know someone in his fifties who just got his license this year and his life has really changed because of it. I really want to learn but it doesn’t mean I have to do it.

Just learn.

Have you ever thought of going by a stage name?

I was just thinking about that.

Getting a different persona, because I really want to do an act different than mine, maybe more offensive than I usually do, but I’m really afraid of offending somebody. I’m kind of a codependent comedian.

Then I thought, if something is funny and I feel it, I should be able to say it, but I can’t do that now as Marga Gomez, so I should just get a new name and do it and bring that act to different clubs.

So, you also have costars at the New Year’s Eve Comedy Fiesta?

Oh yeah, I got to have my crew and we’re all friends. DJ Mark Mark has worked with me on the other New Year’s Eve shows and I have comedians, Dhaya Lakshminarayanan and Micia Mosely.

They’re the perfect combination of silly and intelligent.

What’s your most memorable New Year’s Eve? Well, on New Year’s Eve 2012, I injured my leg and had to get surgery. I was trying to keep up with the hot Latinas dancing and I hurt my leg. So, I’ve learned that New Year’s is better if I’m on stage. It’s the safest place to be.

Kent Taylor

Marga Gomez.

If you weren’t Marga Gomez the entertainer, what do you

suppose you would be doing?

I’d probably run a restaurant.

Isn’t that the same as show business?

The New Year’s Eve Comedy Fiesta at Brava Theater stars Marga Gomez, Dhaya Lakshminarayanan and Micia Mosely, who perform stand-up for a holiday party with dancing, a champagne toast and DJ Mark Mark. $30. 9pm. 2781 24th St. www.brava.org Marga Gomez’ Lovebirds plays at The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., January 23 through March 15, 2014. www.themarsh.org www. margagomez.com

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

4 • Bay Area Reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

Party like it’s 2014

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Fun events to ring in the New Year

by David-Elijah Nahmod

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ith a multitude of possible celebratory events the Bay area offers for celebrating New Year’s Eve, we decided to focus on a variety of events, starting off with one the high-class venues, and its musical proprietor.

Singer, music historian, author, and uber-handsome Michael Feinstein, who has done so much to keep the American popular songbook in the public eye, will be singing for his supper at Feinstein’s, his elegant club inside the Nikko Hotel, on New Year’s Eve. Feinstein takes to the stage at 7:30pm and 11pm to perform a wide range of standards.

Audiences will bathe in the glittering opulence of music, song, and good drink, all in a setting right out of an old MGM musical.

“The City has always been a special place for entertainment with a rich heritage that I’m proud to be a part of,” Feinstein said in a brief interview. “I adore performing in the City and am thrilled with the way our new room at Hotel Nikko has been created. The City is still the most unique and individual place in our country, and that is largely due to the contribution and cultural point of view of the gay community.”

The musical icon offers a hint of what attendees can expect. “The show will be a true celebration,” he said. “A combination of upbeat Great American Songbook classics that I’ll perform with our fine jazz group as well as what I call heart songs. We made it through a rollercoaster year and we’re here and ready for the next. The stroke of midnight will be as joyful a celebration as we can muster.”

Guests who attend the 7:30 show will see in the New Year simultaneously with the wild revelers in New York’s Times Square. There’s a $35 minimum food and beverage charge for this performance.

Things will get up close and personal for the 11pm show, which has a food/beverage minimum charge of $45. Those who purchase tickets for the Upfront section of Feinstein’s get an autographed copy of Michael’s book The Gershwins and Me, and a chance to meet Michael at a private reception. $100-150 (7:30pm) and $150-395 (11pm). 222 Mason Street. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins.aspx Here are a few other upscale alternative options for the New Year. Whatever you do, enjoy the night and be safe.

California Honeydrops Bay Area R&B meets the streets of

California Honeydrops

New Orleans in this fabulous New Year’s Eve show at Yoshi’s SF, the City’s incomparable jazz club. An opening set by DJ Harry Duncan will be followed by a Sam Cooke/ Louis Armstrong/hip hop inspired set. Shows at 8pm and 10:30pm. $46 General admission, $59 VIP, $75 for an all night dance pass gets you into both shows. Tickets are limited, so order now. 1330 Fillmore. 6555600. www.yoshis.com Latino New Year Join DJ Carlitos for some wild

New Year’s Eve, a night of wild, unconventional comedy, live music and a room full of balloons. Mashup artist DJ Lucio K will provide musical mayhem as a variety of comics take to the stage. Tickets start at $45, 609 Sutter Street, 2nd floor. 392-4400. www.nynnye.com Masquerade Ball Enjoy a touch of Mardi Gras with a wonderfully grand New Year’s Eve party at Davies Symphony Hall. Enjoy a spectacular concert, followed by a fabulous after-party.

Michael Feinstein

and 7:30pm. 429 Castro Street. 6216120. www.castrotheatre.com

Santos Gerardo

Latino New Year’s Eve at Club 21.

Join Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor at 2pm, 4:15pm or 6:30pm for this rollicking look at early Hollywood.

And you can still party afterward if you want to.

On New Year’s Day, the Castro will screen Truman Capote’s sophisticated masterpiece Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The always elegant Audrey Hepburn shines as Holly Laugh in the Golightly in this New Year magical fable Not Your set in New York Normal New Year’s City.

Holly Eve, a night of eating an ice comedy, music and cream cone as balloons, features she carries her Jill Borque and fur wrap while David Allen Brian Copeland, gazing into who take to the Not Your Normal New Year’s Eve hosts Jill Borque and the window of stage at 8pm at the Brian Copeland.

Tiffany’s remains Marines Memorial an all time Theater to present iconic movie their fifth annual Not Your Normal Shake your groove thing with Hit image. $8.50-$11. 2pm, 4:45pm Waves on the First Tier, or waltz the night away on the great Davies stage as the Peter Mintun Orchestra plays your 1930s Hit Parade through the stroke of midnight. Spirits will be available. $115-195. 201 Van Ness.

864-6000. www.sfsymphony.org and wooly dancing to a Latin and Hip Hop beat at Club 21, Oakland’s premiere club for hot Latin gay guys and their friends. In between dances, enjoy a complimentar y buffet, a champagne fountain, go go boys, six (count ‘em, six) full bars, and a great big dance floor. 8pm until 5am. 221 Franklin Street, Oakland.

(510) 268-9425 www. club21oakland.com

Movies at the Castro Theater Not up for a party? Head on over to the beautiful Castro Theater, the City’s historic, incomparable movie palace, where you can end 2013, and start 2014, with some great Hollywood classics, on the big screen, as they were meant to be seen.

On December 31, the Castro offers three showings of Singin’ in the Rain, one of MGM’s greatest song and dance extravaganzas.

Napa Valley Wine Train Feel like leaving town? Hop aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train, departing at 4:45pm from 1275 McKinstry Street, in Napa.

The annual Blackjack Ball kicks off with sparkling wine, gourmet food and a twilight ride through Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Wine Train is one of the few active historic railroads in the USA. Echoing the glory days of train travel, you’ll enjoy a heart meal and great meal along with some fabulous scenery aboard an exquisitely restored Pullman car from the early 20th Century. Followed by an on board 10pm after party, with a DJ, casino games, photo booth, and dancing through the New Year. Gourmet Express: $240 per person. Vista Dome: $270 per person. After party only: $65 per person. 1275 McKinstry Street, Napa. Reservations: (800) 4274124. www.winetrain.com/holiday New Year’s Hoedown Sundance Saloon offers its fifth annual New Year’s Eve country western dance in the beautiful ballroom of the elegant, historic Hotel Whitcomb. Hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls will be twosteppn’ and line-dancin’ right up until midnight and beyond. Party from 8pm-1am. Beginner’s dance lessons from 8-9PM. Optional dinner from 6-8pm. Advance tickets: $25, available at Sundance Saloon, (550 Barneveld) $35 at the door of Hotel Whitcomb.

Dinner and dance: $55, in advance only. 1231 Market www.sundancesaloon.org Starlight Room New Year’s Eve More elegance abounds at the Starlight Room, high above the City inside the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. The dinner party starts at 7pm on December 31 and continues until next year, January 1, 2014 at 2am. $225 gets you a table for the entire evening, with dinner. Just wanna party? $100 gets you in at 10pm for a New Year’s Eve dance. Party favors and a midnight glass of champagne will be served. 450 Powell. 395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com t

Masquerade Ball at Davies Symphony Hall

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December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

Champers, sweetie!

Bubbly beverages on a budget (small, large or magnum)

by Jim Provenzano

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hether you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party, attending as a guest, or ordering at a bar or nightclub, you want to know your bubbly. Not every bottle is good champagne, obviously. In fact, some of it isn’t even champagne. A few local wine merchants offered tips on making a choice before you pop the cork.

Ian Becker is the Wine Director for Arlequin, the Hayes Valley wine shop with one of the best collections in the city. With a popular next-door café and wine-tasting events, the shop also sells by the glass, so you can try out some non-bubbly wine. ( 384 Hayes St. www.arlequincafe.com) Becker’s also the wine director for The Absinthe Group, which owns the popular nearby restaurant-bars Absinthe and The Boxing Room in Hayes Valley, and The Comstock Saloon in North Beach. The man knows his wines.

“Champagne is a really interesting region. They use old vines and its soil is unique to that region as well.”

But Becker is sure not to discount sparkling wines altogether. “Almost every region in the world that produces wine also makes sparkling wine.”

The top of the line brands, of course, include Moët & Chandon, Tattinger, Perrier Jouët, Pol Roger, and Veuve Clicquot. Depending on the year or the seller, a retail bottle will cost anywhere from $30-$50.

That’s good for impressing your host, or guests.

Tiny Bubbles

But what if you’re on a budget or attending/hosting an event where quantity is more important than quality? And what if you want to be a little different in your choice?

Since I happened to be in North Beach one celebratory night with a chum, I chatted with Shadi, manager of Coit Liquor (585 Columbus Ave.

BARtab

Arlequin Wine Merchant.

Becker confirmed the definition of what we think of as the popular celebratory drink.

“When we say champagne, it’s from Champagne, France, that region.

Anything else is just a sparkling wine,” he said. “In California, we have a history of intentional disinformation with some people calling their wines champagne, when in fact, it’s a lie. It’s sparkling wine.”

There are currently no ways to prevent false labeling, so a buyer needs to check the label. “They can’t change the [wine-labeling] laws right now, and I think it’s really confusing for some people,” Becker added.

Not that one can’t enjoy a good sparkling wine. It’s the cheap ones that give champagne a bad reputation.

“When people say champagne gives them a headache, that’s a bad sparkling wine they drank,” said Becker.

To get the bubbles, lower-grade vintners add a second fermentation by adding more sugar and “concentrated grape must, which is juice, in a way,” Becker explained.

So, why are the more well-known champagnes and sparkling wines better?

“They take a more delicate hand with the process,” said Becker.

BARtab

Jeroboam-sized Tattinger at Coit Liquor.

and absolutely what you call the back-up.”

To impress your guests or host, a dollar amount may not be the point, but it helps.

“When it comes to quality, actual champagne, you will know the quality,” said Shadi. “You’ll taste it when you spend a few more dollars. I prefer the small vineyards. I don’t like the big vineyards, because the bigger production’s not always higher. But some brands you buy just for the name, not the quality.”

Trendy wines that may impress your host, Shadi says are “the ones people recognize right away, like Veuve Cliquot, which we sell like crazy. But these companies spend

BARtab

Mumm Napa’s SF Giants edition, and Veuve Cliquot at a corner store.

www.sfcoitliquor.com), whose large-sized champagne bottle (called magnums and jeroboams) display caught our eyes.

“With bubbly, we go to a lower sparkling wine. Always the best deal is the Cavas or the Proseco. They’re a great value for a good bubbly drink,

a lot of money on billboards, TV commercials, and when someone like a rapper sings about Crystal, people want it, but that doesn’t mean anything. It’s just marketing.”

Shadi recommended mediumpriced champagnes and sparkling wines that are dryer and have smaller bubbles. “Lesser brands are fine for, like, mimosas at brunch. You don’t want to spend fifty or sixty dollars just to mix it with orange juice.”

Asked to name his least favorite sparking wine, Shadi bluntly said, “Cook’s. I wouldn’t even wipe the toilet with it.”

Wine Time

BARtab

A trio of highly-valued Champagnes at Arlequin Wine Merchant.

Bargains that you won’t want to flush can be had, even at upscale shops.

Among Arlequin’s stock are the Chidaine Montlouis Brut ‘Methode Traditionelle’ from Loire, France. At $21.50, it’s made from 100% Chenin Blanc, and it’s organic.

The Bohigas Cava ‘Reserva’ Brut Penedes from Spain goes for a mere

BARtab

Pol Roger champagne at Arlequin.

$15.

Of course, before and after the ritual toast, you may be having dinner or after-drinks. For a tasty alternative, Arlequin sells a bevy of bottled wines from Spain that can compliment a serious dinner. Becker recommended the Adega Vella Godello Ribera Sacra. The 2011 wine sells for a reasonable $18.

“What I like about Godello is that it’s one of those wines that people wouldn’t just grab off the shelf,” he said. “They’ll be surprised by the taste.”

And don’t discount the Zinfandels.

“Zinfandels also have a broad appeal, and we have bins from small producers,” Becker said. He noted the Berkeley-produced Broc Cellars Vine Starr Zinfandel. That 2012 California wine is $26.

“What I like about it is it’s a chardonnay alternative, more aged in stainless steel versus the buttery oaky taste one thinks of.”

And what if you really want to celebrate with over-the-top flair?

The 1999 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs ‘Mesnil’ Champagne will cost you $355. You’d better enjoy every sip.t

<< On the Tab

6 • Bay area reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

f E TAB eON TH 25-January 1,

December

2014

★

Fri 27

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Sun 29

Bad Girl Cocktail Hour @ The Lexington Club Every Friday night, bad girls can get $1 dollar margaritas between 9pm and 10pm. 3464 19th St. between Mission and Valencia. 8632052. www.lexingtonclub.com

Fedorable @ El Rio Free weekly queer dance party, with gogos, prizes, old groovy tunes, cheap cocktails. 9pm-2am. 3158 Mission St. 2823325. www.elriosf.com

Go-Beaux @ Beaux Gogo-tastic weekly night at the new Castro club. Bring your dollahs, ‘cause they’ll make you holla. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Disco Daddy at the Eagle BARtab

Happy Friday @ Midnight Sun Open during renovations, the popular video bar ends each week with gogo guys (starting at 9pm) and drink specials. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Hard @ Qbar

We don’t jus

DJ Haute Toddy spins electro beats; cute gogo guys shake it. $3. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

We

Jon B. @ Yoshi’s The handsome soul singer, songwriter and producer performs for two nights with his band. $29-$34. 8pm & 10pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

Josh Klipp and The Klipptones @ Palace Hotel The local jazz crooner and his band perform weekly shows at the hotel’s lounge, which draws a growing swingdance audience. 7pm-11pm. 2 New Montgomery. www.joshklipp.com BARtab

Sashay into the New Year!

Gym Class @ Hi Tops

Thu 26

Enjoy cheap/free whiskey shots from jockstrapped hotties and sexy sports videos at the popular new sports bar. 10pm-2am. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Comedy Thursdays @ Esta Noche The revamped weekly LGBT- and queerfriendly comedy night at the Mission club is hosted by various comics (1st Thu, Natasha Muse; 2nd Thu, Emily Van Dyke; 3rd Thu Eloisa Bravo and Kimberly Rose; 4th Thu Johan Miranda). No cover; one-drink min.

8pm. 307916th St. www.comedybodega.com

Fuego @ Watergarden, San Jose Weekly event, with Latin music, half-off locker fees and Latin men, at the South Bay private men’s bath house. $8-$39. Reg hours 24/7. 18+. 1010 The Alameda. (408) 275-1215. www.thewatergarden.com

Jukebox @ Beatbox Veteran DJ Page Hodel (The Box, Q and many other events) presents a new weekly dance event, with soul, funk, hip-hop and house mixes. $10. 21+. 9pm-2am. 314 11th St. at Folsom. www.BeatboxSF.com

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy @ New Asia Restaurant The 21st annual comedy and dinner nights feature Gary Gulman, Adrianne Tolsch, Samson Koletkar and hostess Lisa Geduldig. $44-$64. 6pm seven-course dinner shows, 9:30pm cocktail shows with vegetarian dim sum. Partial proceeds benefit SF and Marin food banks and the SF Jewish Home. Thru Dec. 26 (yes, including Christmas Eve and Day). 772 Pacific Ave. www.koshercomedy.com

Magic Parlor @ Chancellor Hotel Whimsical Belle Epoque-style sketch and magic show that also includes historical San Francisco stories; hosted by Walt Anthony; optional pre-show light dinner and desserts. $40. Thu-Sat 8pm. 433 Powell St. www.SFMagicParlor.com

The Monster Show @ The Edge

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland Eight bars, more dance floors, and a smoking lounge; the largest gay Latin dance night in the Bay Area. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www. club21oakland.com

Picante @ Esta Noche Weekly show with drag queens and the Picante Boys; hosted by Lulu Ramirez; DJ Marco. 9pm-2am. 3079 16th St. 841-5748. www.jceventssf.com

Release @ Club OMG Weekly party at the intimate mid-Market club; rotating hosts and DJs, Top 40 dance remixes, giveaways, gogo hunks. Free before 11pm. $3. 9pm-2am. 43 Sixth St. www.clubomgsf.com

Some Thing @ The Stud

Cookie Dough’s weekly drag show with gogo guys and hilarous fun. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Mica Sigourney and pals’ weekly offbeat drag performance night. 10pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences

Well Strung @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko

Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. $10$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

The all-male string quartet plays and sings classical and string arrangements of pop songs. $25-$40. 7pm. Also Dec. 28 at 7pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.well-strung.com www. feinsteinssf.com www.ticketweb.com

Pan Dulce @ The Café

Sat 28

Amazingly hot Papi gogo guys, cheap drinks and fun DJed dance music. Free before 10pm. $5 til 2am. 2369 Market St. www.clubpapi.com www.cafesf.com

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle The weekly live rock shows have returned.

9pm-ish. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Fri 27

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Enjoy the intimate groovy disco night with DJ Bus Station John. $7. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Underwear Party @ Powerhouse Strip down to your skivvies at the weekly cruisy SoMa bar night.

10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhouse-sf.com

VIP @ Club 21, Oakland

Jon B. at Yoshi’s

Hip Hop, Top 40, and sexy Latin music; gogo dancers, appetizers, and special guest DJs. No cover before 11pm and just $5 after all night. Dancing 9pm-3am. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. Holiday shows, including tap-dancing Christmas trees and more thematic characters, now on sale. $25$160. Wed & Thu, 5pm* (* = under 21 allowed) & 8pm (also Dec 26). Fri & Sat 6:30* & 9:30pm. Sun 2pm* & 5pm*.

Christmas Eve special 2pm*. New Year’s Eve 7pm & 10:15pm (with champagne).

Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

edgeon The Kinsey Sicks @ Castro Theatre

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland

The beloved campy drag a cappella quartet returns to their homeland after a national tour of America’s Next Top Bachelor Housewife Celebrity Hoarder Makeover Star Gone Wild! Enjoy this 20th anniversary concert, then a post-show discussion with the cast. $25-$40. 8pm. 429 Castro St. 392-4400. www.kinseysicks.com www.castrotheatre.com

Xmas party with Pancho Claus, plus DJed tunes, gogo hotties, drag shows, drink specials, all at Oakland’s premiere Latin nightclub and weekly cowboy night. $10$15. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Tue 31

Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Bootie SF @ DNA Lounge Weekly mash-up dance night, with resident DJs Adrian & Mysterious D. No matter the theme, a mixed fun good time’s assured. $8-$15. 9pm-3am. 21+. 375 11th St. at Harrison. www.BootieSF.com www.DNAlounge.com

Club Rimshot @ Bench and Bar, Oakland Weekly hip hop and R&B night. $8-$15.

9pm to 4am. 510 17th St. www.bench-and-bar.com

2

New Bohemia NYE at The Armory

t

On the Tab>>

December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay area reporter • 7

Block Party @ Midnight Sun

Sun 29

Mon 30

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle

Cock and Bull Mondays @ Hole in the Wall Saloon

Weekly screenings of music videos, concert footage, interviews and more, of popular pop stars. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 8614186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Specials on drinks made with Cock and Bull ginger ale (Jack and Cock, Russian Mule, and more). 8pm-closing. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room

Karaoke @ The Lookout

The weekly burlesque show of women dancers shaking their bonbons includes live music. $10. 9pm. 647 Valencia St. 5527788. www.elbo.com

The classic leather bar is back, with the most popular Sunday daytime event in town. 3pm-6pm (Also now open daily 11am-2am). 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Brunch @ Hi Tops Enjoy crunchy sandwiches and mimosas, among other menu items, at the popular sports bar. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Disco Daddy @ SF Eagle Stay after the popular beer bust, or come by later for retro groovy disco tunes spun

by DJ Bus Station John. $5. 7pm.-12am.

398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Paul K hosts the amateur singing night.

8pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com

Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun Honey Mahogany’s weekly drag and musical talent show starts around 10pm.

4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

st cover it...

Live It.

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gay-friendly comedy night. One-drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com

Latino New Year @ Club 21 Join DJ Carlitos for some wild and wooly dancing to a Latin and Hip Hop beat at Club 21, Oakland’s premiere club for hot Latin gay guys and their friends. In between dances, enjoy a complimentary buffet, a champagne fountain, gogo boys, six (count ‘em, six) full bars, and a great big dance floor. 8pm until 5am. 221 Franklin Street, Oakland. (510) 268-9425 www.club21oakland.com

Masquerade Ball @ Davies Symphony Hall Celebrate the new year at the San Francisco Symphony’s annual masked gala with drinks and desserts, which includes a concert with Sasha Cooke and Kelly Markgraf; after-party with Hit Waves and the Peter Minton Orchestra. 21+. $85-$180. 9pm-1am. 201 Van Ness Ave. 864-6000. www.sfsymphony.org

Michael Feinstein @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The jazz pianist-singer returns to his new nightclub for a New Year’s Eve concert. $100-$150 (7:30pm) and $150-$395 (11pm) includes a champagne toast and party favors. $35-$45 food-beverage minimum. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com www.feinsteinssf.com

New Bohemia NYE @ The Armory

Let EDGE Media Network bring you the very latest in LGBT news, entertainment, nightlife and more.

nthenet.com Full of Grace @ Beaux New weekly night with hostess Grace Towers, different local and visiting DJs, and pop-up drag performances. This week, DJ Robin Simmons. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Salsa Sundays @ El Rio Salsa dancing for LGBT folks and friends, with live merengue and cumbia bands; tapas and donations that support local causes. 2nd & 4th Sundays. 3pm-8pm.

3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 The popular country western LGBT dance night celebrates a decade and a half of fun foot-stomping two-stepping and linedancing. $5. 5pm-10:30pm with lessons from 5:30-7:15 pm. Also Thursdays. 550 Barneveld Ave., and Tuesdays at Beatbox, $6. 6:30-11pm. 314 11th St. www.sundancesaloon.org

Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. December shows A Miracle on Powell Street, take on a holiday theme. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com

Monday Musicals @ The Edge The casts of local and visiting musical soften pop in to performs at the popular Castro bar’s musical theatre night. 7pm2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Crystal Method, the electronic music whizdudes play beats and grooves and headline a new over-the-top New Year’s Eve event, with dozens of areas, DJs, kink-themed demos, performances and ambiance. $60$150. 9pm-2am. 1800 Mission St. www.newbohemianye.com

New Gear’s Eve @ SF Eagle Casey Spooner of Fischerspooner and DJ DamNation spin tunes, and Josh Runyon performs at this fetish gear New Year’s Eve event created by Moni Stat, Jeff Johnson and friends. $15-$20. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

New Year’s Eve @ Starlight Room

Texas Rose Dance @ Lake Merritt Dance Center, Oakland The queer women’s transinclusive country-western two-stepping and line-dancing night includes a New Year’s Eve celebration with drinks (champagne and non-alcoholic) at midnight. $10-$20. 8pm12am. 200 Grand Ave., Oakland. www.lakemerrittdancecenter.org

New Year’s Eve X 3 @ Palace Hotel Joshua Klipp and the Klipptones perform at the this trio of dining and dancing packages at the Pied Piper Bar & Grill: four-course early dinner (6pm, 6:30 seating; $75), six-course dinner-dance (8:30, 9pm, 9:30 seating; $115), and lounge seating with champagne toast (9:30, 10pm, 10:30 seating. $80). 2 Mongomery St. 512-1111. www.sfpalace.com

Wine Train @ Napa Valley

Enjoy any of a series of elegant meals and parties at the top-notch hotel. New Year’s Eve dinner at Parallel 37, 5pm-12am. $150. 773-6168. New Year’s Eve party in the Lounge, 9pm-1am. Bottle service and in-room dining. Jan 1, New Year’s Day a la carte breakfast, 6:30am-12pm.

600 Stockton St. (800) 241-3333. www. ritxcarlton.com

Celebrate New Year’s Eve on wheels, with a deluxe sparkling wine, food-filled celebration. $65 (after-party only) $240$270. 4:30pm-1am. (800) 427-4124. www.winetrain.com/holiday

Wed 01

New Year’s Hoedown @ Hotel Whitcomb

Bottoms Up Bingo @ Hi Tops

Sundance Saloon offers its fifth annual New Year’s Eve country western dance in the beautiful ballroom of the elegant, historic Hotel Whitcomb. Hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls will be two-steppn’ and line-dancin’ right up until midnight and beyond. Party from 8pm-1am.

Beginner’s dance lessons from 8-9PM. Optional dinner from 6-8pm. Advance tickets: $25, available at Sundance Saloon, (550 Barneveld) $35 at the door of Hotel Whitcomb. Dinner and dance: $55, in advance only. 1231 Market St. www.sundancesaloon.org

Not Your Normal New Year’s Eve @ Marines’ Memorial Theatre Jill Bourque and Brian Copeland’s comedy night, with guests Laurie Kilmartin, Brent Weinbach, Kellen Erskine, Casey Ley, Dan St. Paul, Joe Klocek and mash-up DJ Lucio K, with a early balloon drop. $45-$199.

8pm. 609 Sutter St. 392-4400. www.nynnye.com

Streets of San Francisco NYE @ Fort Mason Moby headlines an evening concert and New Year’s Eve party. 9pm-2am. Buchanan St at Marina. $200-$236. www.StreetsOfSFNYE.com

Torch @ Martuni’s

New Year’s Eve Comedy Fiesta @ Brava Theater

Celebrate a sexy and sexual new year; whether tattooed gay porn stud Derek Parker drops his balls remains to be seen, but he will surely drop his drawers (at 9pm and 11pm) at this X-rated holiday celebration. Party from 9pm-midnight. $25 includes dessert and champagne. 729 Bush Street. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Veronica Klaus hosts the weekly night of cabaret, jazz and blues music, with Tammy L. Hall and special guests. $15. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.facebook.com/veronica.klaus

When the Ball Drops @ Nob Hill Theatre

Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni’s

Play board games and win offbeat prizes at the popular new sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Queer Salsa @ Beatbox Weekly Latin partner dance night. 8pm1am. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ El Rio Women’s burlesque show performs each Wed & Fri. Karaoke follows. $5-$10. 7pm.

3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com

So You Think You Can Gogo? @ Toad Hall New weekly dancing competition for gogo wannabes. 9pm. cash prizes, $2 well drinks (2 for 1 happy hour til 9pm). Show at 9pm.

4146 18th St. www.toadhallbar.com

Trivia Night @ Harvey’s Bebe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly night of trivia quizzes and fun and prizes; no cover.

8pm-1pm. 500 Castro St. 431-4278. www.harveyssf.com

Thu 02 Pan Dulce @ The Café Open Thanksgiving night; enjoy amazingly hot Papi gogo guys, cheap drinks and fun DJed dance music. Free before 10pm. $5 til 2am. 2369 Market St. www.clubpapi.com www.cafesf.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Retro disco tunes and a fun diverse crowd, each Thursday; DJ Bus Station John plays records. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Want your nightlife event listed?

Make your New Year’s resolution to send PR, sweetie. Email events@ ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.

Tue 31

Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht (aka Trauma Flintstone). 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.dragatmartunis.com

Sports Night @ The Eagle The legendary leather bar gets jock-ular, with beer buckets, games (including beer pong and corn-hole!), prizes, sports on the TVs, and more fun. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Tue 31 13 Licks @ Q Bar Weekly women’s night at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Bearracuda @ Beatbox Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the bear clan, DJs Paul Goodyear and Matt Stands, $20. 8pm-4am. 314 11th St. www.bearracuda.com

e

When the Ball Drops stud Derek Parker

New Year’s Events @ Ritz-Carlton

The dinner party starts at 7pm on December 31 and continues until next year, January 2, 2014 at 2am. $225 gets you a table for the entire evening, with dinner.

Just wanna party? $100 gets you in at 10pm for a New Year’s Eve dance. Party favors and a midnight glass of champagne will be served. 450 Powell. 395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com

Marga Gomez, Dhaya Lakshminarayanan and Micia Mosely perform stand-up for a holiday party with dancing, a champagne toast and DJ Mark Mark. $30. 9pm. 2781 24th St. www.brava.org

Tue 31

New Year’s Hoedown at Hotel Whitcomb

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

8 • Bay area reporter • December 26-January 1, 2014

Muscle Up

by John F. Karr

F

irst of all, if you don’t go for muscles and muscly men, David L. Chapman’s latest book on male bodybuilding photography, ain’t the book for you.

Second, if you do go for muscles and muscly men, and you run to get the book, you’d better have catholic taste.

Because while Universal Hunks has any number of crisply reproduced photos of Anglo bodybuilders, the book devotes a good deal of its 352

Anonymour Pakistani bodybuilder; no doubt his impressive upper body won all those medals

pages with over 300 illustrations to what other cultures have made of Western physique ideals.

It’s all in the subtitle: A Pictorial History of Muscular Men Around the World, 1895-1975 (Arsenal Pulp Press, p a p e r , $29.95) The book’s Introduction, by Douglas Brown, sometimes d r a p e s some basic information in academic jargon. But it does make clear that Universal Hunks highlights diverse historical contexts in a global sweep, to bring under one cover a better understanding of the diversity of cultures and traditions as regards the art of the physique.

And it nails right on the head the very thing that draws us to the art of the physique and its practitioners: “Muscular men...exist at the nexus of sport and sensuality.” Meaning, there’s a lot here for all you homos to drool over.

“Modern muscle-building purely for the purpose of achieving an ideal physique was a practice born in Europe, expanded and organized in North America, brought to Asia and

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Africa by colonial powers, and adopted in South America and Australasia.” Universal Hunks visits each of those continents, with sections for all the nations of Europe, the three regions of Africa (North, Sub-Saharan, and South), and Asia from the Middle

East of Iran and Israel through China and Mongolia (!) to India and Japan. Then it’s on through what used to be called Oceania (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands), and all of North and South America (excluding the USA). Whew!

t

Among this ethnographic feast: the book’s glossy paper delivers the best reproduction I’ve yet seen of a famed, circa 1906 photo of William Bankier—such a pretty blond hunk that painter John Millais gave him the stage name, Apollo. There’s a 1962 pic of the guy who played Darth Vader (James Earl Jones was only the voice); David Prowse wears a singlet cut so narrow across the chest that his nipples and huge pecs simply explode outward on each side. And I laughed at the caption regarding English hottie John Hamill, which notes his “almost complete lack of modesty.” Ask me nice and I’ll show you the hard-on shots he made with a buddy when everyone else was still in posing straps. Modesty? Lovely John never heard of such a thing.

The French illustrations get spicy; the text explains that in favor of a tight and rippled abdomen, they eschewed massive muscles (while I especiallhy chew them). In the German section we learn why beer steins have lids. Not to keep the fizz in, but to keep the flies out. We also get a mere mention of a guy I guess I’ll have to research—Sascha Schneider was openly gay, congregating male models in his studio in the early 1900s, where he painted nudes in classical poses. And while Chapman traces through several Balkan and Bohemian countries the development in the late 1800s of male physical culture clubs and associations for young men, he neglects to see them funneling toward See page 9 >>

David Prowse may look nerdy in this 1962 photo, but years later, with a cape and helmet, he became super-villian Darth Vader.

Don’t just take our word for it.

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t

Read more online at www.ebar.com

December 26-January 1, 2014 • Bay Area Reporter • 9

The Leather column will return next week.

Happy Holidays!

Rich Stadtmiller

Our trusty Santa, photographer Rich Stadtmiller, gets a cuddle from hunky bartender Charles Garrett.

Muscles and friendship from a Russian duo, circa 1910, mimicking a wedding pose—the seated youth quite coquettishly.

A group of well-built men from Fiji were gathered for this circa 1900 photo by New Zealand physical culturist F.A. Hornibrook (center).

Handsome Israeli bodybuilder Rafael Halpern, in a 1948 photo, invented a credit card that won’t function on the Sabbath.

<<

Muscle

From page 8

the Nazi youth movement— although he does point out how some of the groups were actually suppressed by the Nazis. I guess this contradiction is a subject for another book.

Despite Russia’s long history of homophobia, some of the

book’s most homo-erotic photos appear in its Russian section.

And what about Israeli demigod Rafael Halpern, oiled and taut, handsomely mustached in 1948; he later invented a credit card that wouldn’t work on the Sabbath. And then we get to the real exotica—the meeting of Western physique ideals with the cultures of Africa, the

Far East, and Oceania. Where English settlers in Africa thought of the natives as savages, and withheld respect and political power, we can now appreciate the native’s own traditions of male display and bodybuilding.

In China, India, and elsewhere, we see bodybuilders who sought to combine the self-control of Confucianism, the equality of Buddhism, and the brotherhood of Christianity. And the section on India may start out with the strangest looking, gangly wrestlers, but it concludes with a generous succession of superbly beautiful guys—deep umber skin tone and extreme smoothness being fine enhancements to muscle. And as Universal Hunks stops pretty much short of the steroid era, it highlights the more naturally developed arms of South Sea Islanders, with their beach and ocean based work culture. Now you know the ancestry of those AussieBum guys.t

On the web For extended bar, club, theatre and all manner of nightlife listings, check out BARtab online at www.BARtabSF.com.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 26-January 1, 2014

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December 26-January 1, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ Bay area reporter â&#x20AC;˘ 11

Shooting Stars photos by Steven Underhill Scary Santas and creepy Clauses abounded December 19 at The Lookout Bar (3600 16th St.) as Suppositori Spelling, Mercedez Munro, Holotta Tymes and Ginger Snapp performed raucously festive drag acts with their A Nightmare Before Christmas theme. It seems everyone was naughty; how nice!

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For more photos, and to arrange your own wedding, headshot or portrait photos,

call (415) 370-7152 or visit www.StevenUnderhill.com

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The Bay Area Repo

rter wishes its read e

Rick Gerharter/James LaCr oce

rs the very best in 2

014!

Happy ! r a e Y New