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EDITORIAL Mike Macharello: Publisher Rick Karlin: Editor
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photographerS Eamonn Sexton Ken Brown, KAB Photography
COVER David Bromstad, Color Splash, HGTV
editorial contributors Gregg Shapiro, Parker Carr Sue Deaunym, Anita Taylor, Michael Elder
VIEW boiMAGazine ONLINE AT: www.boiMAG.com BOI Magazine, Inc. © 2000−2015 All rights reserved For our online readers, blue and underline text are active links
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By Anita Taylor
When I was growing up all of my parents’ friends homes were decorated in one of three styles popular with middle class families of the time; Early American, French Provincial or, for the avant-garde, Scandinavian Modern. Wealthier families decorated with family heirlooms and true antiques; Queen Anne, Chippendale and Federal Style pieces. Art Deco had a resurgence in the '70s As time has passed, Art Deco and Art Moderne have fallen out of style, although in a few years those pieces will be considered antiques, so we may see them return. What’s hot now is mid-century modern, which encompasses everything from the streamlined pieces of the '50s, to the Jetson-like décor from the '60s and the crunchy granola earth-tones from the '70s. Within that category are genres such as tiki, Scandinavian modern and pop.
Late '60s designs featured macrame In the ‘70s design forms from the 20th century came back in style. A lot of the discos from that era were done up in Art Deco or Art Moderne styles, which were originally popular in the '20s and ‘30s. Erte prints were seen in many a gay man’s apartment. It was also the first time when furniture from a past period was coveted. They really couldn’t be called antiques, which generally are at least 100 years old, so a new category was created, vintage.
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Classic lines of mid-century modern A new trend, harkening back to the '30s and '40s, Hollywood Regency, makes great use of mirrored furniture pieces, and white leather upholstery. I can’t imagine the mauve and turquoise look from the '80s will return anytime soon, but who knows? Continued on following page . . .
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. . . Continued
Vintage finds, whether from stores carrying vintage goods or flea market or thrift stores, are a great way to add a bit of flash to your home décor without spending a fortune. Quality is the most important aspect when considering vintage furniture. When you find a style you like, learn about the manufacturers from that era. The more you understand about the piece's history and provenance, the more likely you are to find pieces of value. However, that being said, buy only what you really like, because furniture styles go in and out, and values fluctuate up and down accordingly. When buying vintage furniture, look for undamaged pieces which have been well cared for, with original finishes, hardware, if possible. Check drawers and doors to make certain they operate easily. Examine the piece from all sides, looking for water damage, repairs and alterations. Unless you are buying high-end pieces, there may be minor flaws in the finish that can be hidden with a carefully placed display item, or the furniture may be positioned so that the flaws are not as noticeable. If you like the lines of a piece, but the finish is not in good shape, you can always freshen it up with a light sanding and a coat of paint or varnish. Remove the hardware before you paint or varnish the piece for the best results. Where can you find great vintage furniture? If you’re looking for pieces that are already finished, a good place to start is vintage stores. There are, literally, hundreds in the Chicago area. Vintage Garage Chicago features dozens of vintage stores and collectors is a good introduction. It is held the Third Sunday of the month in a parking garage on Broadway just north of Argyle and is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and admission is just $5. www.vintagegaragechicago.com
Retro (Photos from Wall to Wall Retro) If you prefer to hunt out pieces and don’t mind a little DIY work, you can save money by searching through thrift stores and flea markets. Check out Wall to Wall Retro in Elgin for a spectacular collection of vintage art and collectibles. www.walltowallretro.com Zurko Promotions produces a number of antique shows as well as flea markets in Wheaton, Grayslake and Belvidere in Illinois and Shawano and Antigo in Wisconsin (if you hit the Antigo market, make a weekend of it and do some whitewater rafting on the nearby Wolf River). www.zurkopromotions.com Of course, there are always those thrift shops. The Brown Elephant tends to charge a bit more than some others, but it supports the Howard Brown Health Center, so it’s for a good cause. Goodwill is always a good source for vintage items, especially in smaller towns. boiMAG
By Rick Karlin
How could we run a design issue and not include the hotties from HGTV? From the outset HGTV has known what its viewers like, sexy men fixing up a house. It is the fantasy of both straight women and gay men. Many of the show hosts have worked as male models, a few as underwear models. Google any of their names with the word “shirtless” and you’ll get hundreds and hundreds of images. We’re not the only ones to notice the handsome guys from the network. Web sites have run articles with titles such as Bizzfeed’s “15 All-Time Hottest Hotties of HGTV” or IHeartHGTV.com’s “Viewers’ Choice: HGTV Hotties”. Even HGTV’s own webpage features an article entitled “HGTV's Hot Hunks Are Bringing Sexy Back” The acronym HGTV may officially stand for “House and Garden TV” but to us it will always be “How Gay TV”. Don’t believe us, get a load of the eye candy that populates this network. Here are our choices for HGTV’s hottest hosts (we’ve indicated those who are openly gay in bright red, which makes them hotter in my mind).
Ahmed Hassan former host “Yard Crashers” Sadly, no longer on the air, the handsome host added some much-needed diversity to the network.
Scott McGillivray host of “Income Property” He turns basements in moneymakers, I’d rather he turn mine into a dungeon.
Chip Wade "Curb Appeal: The Block” Hairless and muscular, he can whack my weeds anytime. 10 boiMAG
Anthony Carrino & John Colaneri co-hosts “Kitchen Cousins” It’s better when you keep it in the family.
David Bromstad
John Gidding
“Color Splash” Another openly gay star, the winner of “HGTV’s Next Design Star” is pretty, talented and he gives back to the LGBT community.
“Curb Appeal” He’ll makeover the front of your house, but what about the backside?
Drew and Carter Oosterhouse
“Carter Can”, “Million Dollar Rooms” and “Red Hot & Green” A former model and real-life carpenter/ contractor.
Jonathan Scott Identical twins “Property Brothers” One finds properties, the other fixes them up, what’s not to love?
Vern Yip
“Next HGTV Star” The openly gay father is married, but we can dream can’t we?
Jamie Durie
“Outdoor Room” This Aussie landscape designer was born, appropriately, in Manly, a suburb of Sydney.
Eric Stromer
Antonio Bellatore “The Antonio Treatment” Here’s one for the bear hunters, a winner of “HGTV’s Next Design Star”.
The Evanston native, hosted HGTV Showdown, he’s also an actor and musician. He can bring his tool belt or instrument to my house anytime.
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By Anita Taylor
Trends come and go, but style remains constant. The best way to keep your interior designs looking fresh is to incorporate a few of the trends into your existing space, replacing old trends with new ones rather than overhauling your home with a complete makeover. For example, painting one wall in a room a deep or vibrant color as an accent wall is out. The trend now is to create a focal point using wall paper. Choose a wallpaper print that works in the colors of your room and apply over the paint on the contrasting accent wall and you have added a trendy twist to your room’s décor. Here are the top five trends in interior decor.
bowl or vase. Mixed and matched finish colors will also be a big trend. Switch out the faucets with ones mixing metals and you’ll freshen up the room instantly.
Paper Trail
Go For The Gold
Many designers are panning for gold, by advocating the color for fixtures. Of course, if you never switched over from gold fixtures in your bath, you may simply leave them and be considered trendy. If you’ve installed polished nickel, chrome or stainless steel, I suggest you leave them in place and add some gold tones by introducing accent pieces, such as a gold glass
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“Wallpaper is coming back in a big way,” says designer Jamie Beckwith of Beckwith Interiors. Whether it’s a digital print or nature inspired textures, wallpaper is a great way to add a bit of design into otherwise boring rooms, or play up architectural details. They key is to use wallpaper sparingly. We’ve all seen those rooms where the all the walls are covered from top to bottom with the same wallpaper. You needn’t go that route, create an accent wall, or use wall paper below a chair rail, or as a back splash. Whatever you choose, make certain that the product is easily removable.
Am I Blue?
While bright colors seems to be on the way out, blue in any incarnation from baby to navy seems to be the exception. Again, rather than do a room from top to bottom, replace a few throw pillows, or add an area rug for a pop of Continued on following page . . .
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life. Old sewing tables being used for kitchen islands, dry sinks being setup as bars are just a couple of the trends I’ve seen.
Thoroughly Modern
color. The trend for wall colors is toward the neutrals with pale pink being the exception.
Mid-century modern elements, from architecture to furniture, continue to be popular. The key is to add elements, not turn your entire house into a set for the The Jetsons or Brady Bunch. The trend is great for inspiration, but shouldn’t take over the house. Find a great mid-century modern dresser, refinish it (perhaps in pale blue), wallpaper the drawer fronts, add new hardware (gold perhaps) and re-purpose it as a sideboard, television stand or bar and you’ve incorporated the top five design trends in one piece. Incorporating a fusion of styles into room décor gives it a fresh twist and offers an opportunity to follow trends without being a slave to them.
Four Fads Fade Away
Nature Will Nurture Nature prints and earthy colors and textures are very big. So is recycling old pieces to give them new life. Being green is also being taken quite literally as houseplants make a comeback, with furniture being designed to hold plants. However, we’re seeing a modern twist in the greenery. No more ferns or philodendrons, now it’s bamboo and ginger and other exotic plants. Vertical gardens, which began to be used in landscape design are moving indoor, sometimes serving as room dividers. Old furniture is renovated, often with unexpected finishes, to give it a new
Bright colors Coral, purple and teal are out. “It’s hard to work with such saturated colors,” says designer Jamie Herzlinger. While these cheerful hues are certainly fun, they are not built to last. Solid painted accent walls Solid accent walls, especially in red, will fade as wallpaper and textured wall coverings become predominant. Matchy-Matchy Eclectic, multi-era decor is in and matching wood furniture is out. Dining areas will feature tables and chairs from different eras, and living “suites” of matching upholstered pieces are dead. Size Does Matter Over-sized prints, whether in upholstery or painted on walls, is out. The tired trend has played itself out as we move toward more subtle variations in pattern and texture. boiMAG 15
By Anita Taylor
If you’ve ever read someone’s profile on a hook-up site or in a classified, you know that what you read isn’t always what you get. The hottie who describes themself may not be exactly what you expect when you actually meet them. Reading the classified ads when trying to find an apartment can be an equally daunting task. The description in the ad often does not correspond to what you have pictured in your mind. As with any other exploration of the unknown, it helps if you speak the native’s language. Here’s a list of helpful words and terms to keep in mind. Charming: so small that you might think you are looking at a walk-in closet. Sunny: the reflection of the window of the high-rise across the street is blinding or it has a western exposure that will turn your apartment into a sauna in the late afternoon. Recently Renovated: the landlord slapped a coat of cheap white paint on the walls and put peel and stick floortiles in the kitchen and bath. Exposed Brick: the contractor ran out of drywall, so you’ll be able to gauge wind speed without leaving your sofa. Rooftop Deck: there’s a door to the tar-papered roof, inaccessible for seven months of the year. Penthouse: a fourth-floor walk-up. Live-in Owner: your comings and goings will be monitored 24/7 and any noise above a mumble will be cause for a phone call. Elevator Building: a space roughly the size of a phone booth that rattles and shakes all the way up.
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24-hour Doorman: someone who sleeps in your lobby, waking only to treat your visitors rudely, while letting criminals come and go at will. Tasteful Décor: a light fixture which appears to have been imported from Versailles (Illinois). View of Lake: If you stand on a chair and lean out the window. Up-and-Coming Neighborhood: you’ll need a Kevlar vest to walk the streets and your car will be broken into on a weekly basis. Close to nightlife: next door to a nightclub playing thumping house music until dawn and loud street traffic. Close to Public Transportation: you could hand a cup of coffee to commuters riding the el. Partially Furnished: the last tenant left a cum-stained sofa. Close to Shopping: no street parking. Newer Appliances: the fridge is from the 1990s and there’s a science experiment growing on the back shelf. 1+ Bedroom: there’s a small alcove the size of a toaster oven. Opulent Bath: a clam shaped sink and a dirty fiberglass bathtub. European Bath: tiny, but it has a bidet. Loads of Storage: a closet. Fixer-Upper: it looks like a bombed out Iraqi compound. Eclectic: nothing matches Contemporary: Ikea fixtures Jewel Box: so small that you can touch opposite walls at the same time Open Feel: no interior walls, the bathroom is enclosed by a curtain. Stately: old fashioned. Homey: smells like grandma. Off Street Parking: a four foot wide space wedged between a brick wall and the dumpster. The best way to find an apartment is to work with one of the many apartmentfinder services. Usually there is no charge to the prospective tenant (other than a credit check fee).
Screen Savor: What's Up? Docs! By Gregg Shapiro Originally making its cable premiere during Pride month 2014, Ben Cotner and Ryan White’s same-sex marriage doc “The Case Against 8” is now available on DVD. Following the historic gay marriage trajectory, from the 2008 California Supreme Court case ruling permitting same sex couples to marry through the crushing blow of the passage of the Proposition 8 ballot initiative and ultimately to the two couples that challenged Prop. 8's constitutionality by filing a lawsuit with the federal government, “The Case Against 8” lays it all out for us.
It’s fitting that Roger Ebert, a man who loved and devoted his life to film, should be given a tribute as reverent and celebratory as the informative doc “Life Itself”, based on his memoir. It’s also appropriate that Steve James, a filmmaker who’s 1994 doc "Hoop Dreams" was one of Ebert’s favorites, should be the person helming “Life Itself”.
Ebert’s story is as fascinating and powerful as the best filmmaking. An only child from Southern Illinois, he developed into a well-respected journalist while still an undergrad. His love of writing led him to grad school in Even though we know the outcome (the Chicago where he got a job at the “Sungood guys won!), because we become Times” newspaper, leading to not only intimately acquainted with the plaintiffs a career as one of the most beloved – gay male couple Jeff and Paul and film critics of his generation, but also a lesbian couple Kris and Sandy – "The Pulitzer Prize. Case Against 8" becomes a nail-biter as we watch the couples swing from high Director James expertly interweaves to low through the process that lasted intimate film footage from as recent almost five years. As interesting as the as 2013 with an array of clips from couples’ stories are, additional details, the critic’s storied past, including his including their legal representation coverage of the Cannes Film Festival, as by Ted Olson, the most prominent well as his contentious TV pairing with conservative lawyer in America who the late Chicago Tribune film critic Gene was George W. Bush’s solicitor general Siskel. It was, of course, through Siskel (and won the contentious Bush v. Gore and Ebert’s film criticism programs 2000 recall vote) and David Boies, Al that the duo became international Gore’s campaign attorney, often take superstars and their thumbs up/thumbs center stage. down rating system became their trademark. If there’s one complaint – and you can be sure religious fanatics and right The interviews, including a majority wing wackos will make this observation with Ebert’s widow Chaz, flesh out – “The Case Against 8” is proudly and the portrait of the man. But it’s the blatantly one-sided. You probably unforgettable scenes with Ebert himself, gleaned that from the title, but the at the end of his life, as cancer took its superior attitude (earned and deserved!) devastating toll on him, that make Life grows tiresome and works against the Itself well worth experiencing. Blu-ray cause. DVD bonus features include special features include an interview deleted scenes and the Hot Docs Panel with director James, deleted scenes, the with the filmmakers and plaintiffs. Sundance Tribute and more. boiMAG 21
QMUSIC
Electronic Diva Music By Gregg Shapiro
Fiercely forelocked electro goddess Elly Jackson of La Roux took a risk waiting almost five years to release her second album, the aptly named Trouble In Paradise. Regardless, few second albums have been worth the wait and the payoff with this one is substantial. “Upright Downtown” is the hottest `80s Bowie homage ever recorded. “Kiss and Not Tell” is so infectious it may as well be the flu. “Cruel Sexuality” makes being cruel to be kind an inviting option. “Sexotheque” is the soundtrack to horizontal dance instruction and “The Feeling” feels good all over. Electro evangelist Lights (aka Canadianborn Valerie Poxleitner) is about as subtle as Pat Robertson. On “Portal,” the opening track of Little Machines, she rhymes “immortal” with “your portal.” Can you guess whose portal she’s singing about? The daughter of missionaries, Lights doesn’t hesitate to preach to both the converted and uncoverted on songs such as “Same Sea,” “Don’t Go Home Without Me,” “Slow Down” and “How We Do It.” Queer heathens may also dig “Running With The Boys,” “Speeding” and “Muscle Memory.” Kiesza wails and belts like an old-school house music diva on her aptly titled full-length debut Sound of a Woman. “Hideaway” is the kind of house music jam that has been missing from DJ booths and airwaves for years and we have Kiesza to thank for, well, bringing it out of hiding. “No Enemiesz” is another direct-to-the-dance-club cut that qualifies Kiesza for instant disco diva status. Her reinvention of Haddaway’s “What Is Love” as a dramatic 22 boiMAG
ballad. Thankfully, she gets back to the business at hand on “The Love,” “Giant In My Heart” and “Over Myself.” Charli XCX has been perfecting her trademark brat-pop on her own records (her 2013 full-length debut True Romance, for instance) as well as via her collaborations with others (including Iggy Azalea and Icona Pop). Kicking things up, while not losing her sneering edge on Sucker, Charli collaborated with Rostam Batmanglij (the gay member of Vampire Weekend) on the solid album closer “Need Ur Love” as well as Rivers Cuomo of Weezer on “Hanging Around.” The Charli we’ve come to know and love can be heard loud and clear on slamming dance numbers such as “Break The Rules,” “Sucker,” the bombastic “Boom Clap” and the new wavy “London Queen.” Paloma Faith takes a more organic approach to her sound and style on A Perfect Contradiction. Belting in a retro fashion, like a sober Amy Winehouse, Faith is as comfortable at the disco “Impossible Heart,” the dazzling Pharrell tune “Can’t Rely On You” and the soulful “Mouth To Mouth” as she is spinning out like a vintage jukebox angel on Diane Warren’s “Only Love Can Hurt Like This” and “Taste of My Own Tears”. Faith deserves to be better-known than she is and this album is a good place to get acquainted. If you had never heard Devotion, Jessie Ware's strong 2013 debut album, then her second disc, Tough Love, is perfectly serviceable. But the trouble with the disappointing Tough Love is that Ware not only doesn’t live up to expectations, it’s as if she didn’t even bother trying. Ware was by no means expected to replicate the mastery of her first album, but nothing on Tough Love comes close to the vigor and spirit of songs such as However, Ware does make good use of electronic elements on “Keep On Lying,” “Want Your Feeling” and “Cruel.” Jessie Ware performs on Apr. 6 at Metro.
Las Tablas
Rick Karlin's Las Tablas Founded in 1991 by Chef Jorge Suárez and Soraya Campos, Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse opened when few people in Chicago were familiar with Colombian cuisine. After developing a devoted clientele, a fire destroyed the original Irving Park location. The Suárez family, moved Las Tablas to small space at 2965 Lincoln Ave. It was at that spot that Las Tablas became a “find.” It soon outgrew that space and moved to its current Lincoln Ave. location. Further success encouraged the family to open a second location in the Portage Park neighborhood. The name Las Tablas comes from the wooden boards on which the restaurant serves most of the dishes. The restaurant’s rustic wooden tables and chairs, handmade and imported from Colombia, add to the casual and familial ambiance to the establishment. The menu offers such Colombian staples as empanadas, arepas, churrasco, and the bandeja paisa (Colombia's national dish). Las Tablas was the first Colombian restaurant in Chicago to introduce dishes such as “Matrimonio”, a combination of flame-broiled steak and chicken breast is among the most popular entrees. Entraña, the traditional Colombian preparation of skirt steak, was named among "America's Best Bites" by “Chicago Best” on WGN. Las Tablas is the only Colombian restaurant in Chicago that works with special aromatic herbs from the Andes called "guascas". These herbs are an essential ingredient to the famous ajiaco soup from the region around Bogotá. In addition to unique and award-winning cuisine, Las Tablas also serves sangria, mojitos and martinis made from fresh fruits, and original cocktails made from Colombian rums and liquors.
The menu’s appetizer offerings include an empanada combination plate. Other meal starter options include crab cakes, meatballs in criolla salsa, arepas and "Frutos del Mar"; a combination of char-grilled shrimp, calamari and baby octopus lightly marinated in a garlic-white wine sauce served with house salad. “Patacon pisao” presents a flat, crisp green plantain topped with melted cheese and either shredded chicken in mushroom sauce or pulled beef or “aborrajado”, a sweet plantain filled with guava and topped with melted cheese is another Colombian treat. Colombian specialties that are becoming favorites of Las Tablas’ regulars include "bandeja paisa" (char-broiled rib-eye steak served with fried pork belly and chorizo), char-grilled salmon with guascas and quail egg, "costillas de cerdo a la brasa con salsa de maracuya" (char-grilled, smoked pork ribs with passion fruit BBQ sauce) and "pargo rojo" a crispy, whole red snapper. In late 2014 Joseph Mendez joined the staff of Las Tablas as general manager. He brings years of experience in the hospitality industry, having worked at The Drake Hotel, Sofitel Hotel, Le Colonial, Carnivale and as bar manager at Roscoe’s. His goal as he says, “... is to bring my talents and reputation from Gold Coast to Lincoln Park and ultimately take the Lincoln Park restaurant to the next level in the Chicago dining scene. 2942 N. Lincoln Ave. 773.871.2414 4920 W. Irving Park Rd. 773.202.0999 www.lastablas.com boiMAG 25
Motor Mouth
AUTO SHOW WINNERS Best Concept honors went to the racy Toyota FT-1. The striking coupe is a By Parker Carr considered to be a forbearer of a soonto-be announced Toyota sports car. A The Chicago Auto Show is the only close runner-up for Best Concept was major auto show that polls its attendees’ the ready-for-production, four-door favorite vehicles and exhibit. For the Buick Avenir. tenth consecutive year, consumer voters proclaimed their favorites in five categories in the Chicago Auto Show's “Best of Show” balloting, winners in the contest's five categories were:” According to the results, voters considered the Ford GT Mustang the Best All-New Production Vehicle. Though the GT was a run-away favorite, the Acura NSX and Mercedes-Benz AMG GT also garnered a considerable number of votes, finishing second and third, respectively.
The BMW i8 took the honors for Best Green Vehicle. The unique hybridelectric sports car can reach 60 mph in less than four seconds, has a top speed of 155 mph and a cruising range of 300-plus miles. It topped runner-up Chevrolet Volt and third-place finisher Ford Focus Electric.
Taking top honors as Best Exhibit was Ford. With its new GT as a centerpiece, the Ford display was consistently one of the most popular at the show. Additional display properties in the Ford exhibit included Hank the Robot, the Mustang Dynamometer, an extensive commercial display and the mini-F150 track for kids. Posting a close second was the Chevrolet display followed by the extremely popular Jeep exhibit.
Every year the tightest race of all is the pick for “Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway.” This year was no different as the Ford Mustang GT350 and Bugatti Veyron battled neck and neck to the last day. Blue Oval fans mashed the gas on the final day to put the Mustang GT350 on top. In all, nearly 8,000 consumers voted for best of show. For more information, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.
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Chicago's
in the know ... ON THE GO!
By Sue Deaunym
Rebirth
Jesus isn’t the only one to come back to life in the spring; Dave Gassman, who purchased the building that housed Spin in 1998, sold the club (but not the building) in May 2014 to Jason Zilberbrand and Jordan Zabinger, who opened Whiskey Trust and Chloe’s in the space. When those businesses didn't work out, they brought in LKH Management (Hydrate, Elixir, Replay) to re-brand and run the businesses. LKH Management closed Chloe’s and opened it as a reincarnation of the legendary leather bar, Manhole. It was a nice try but too late as Zilberbrand and Zabinger shuttered everything in December when, according to Gassman, the duo went bankrupt. Gassman has taken the Spin space back and will partner with LKH re-open Manhole in the former Chloe’s space redevelop the upstairs (original Spin space) into a new concept. No date on the opening of either club has been set yet. Personally lots of us would like to see Spin come back.
Telling Tales
Sidetrack hosts the annual “OUTspoken! LGBTQ Stories” on Monday, Apr. 7. The show is presented by those who identify as LBGTQ. … On Saturday, Apr. 11, Sappho's Salon at Women and Children First explores gender and feminism with new co-host Eileen Tull. Since it’s a lesbian event, there is a sliding scale admission and hummus will be served... Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen dish in an appearance at The Chicago Theatre on Saturday May 16... ... CGMC’s spring concert celebrates Stephen Sondheim’s 85th birthday. “We’re Still Here: Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus Celebrates Sondheim”. For info on its various venues and performance dates, go to www.cgmc. org... In Canada they’re so damn proud that one Pride celebration per city isn’t enough. Montréal Pride will organize the
first edition of Canada Pride from Aug. 11 to 2 in 2017 in addition to Montréal Pride. The Canada Pride program of events in 2017 will span about ten days, including two full weekends of activities, similar to WorldPride and EuroPride. For more information, check out www.fiertemontrealpride.com.
Bar Banter
Touché will host Trident Windy City’s “Cupcake Wars” on Apr. 12… Speaking of Touché, have you ever wondered what you’d look like as a leather daddy or boy? Head to the bar Apr. 17 and take part in “Leather Eye for the Preppy Guy”, a leather makeover contest to benefit Groceryland Pantry… Joan Armatrading, who won’t talk about being a lesbian, is on her final world tour, appearing at City Winery Chicago on Thursday, Apr. 23… That’s followed by someone who has no trouble talking about his sexuality, Rufus Wainwright. He has shows on May 5 and 6… Madonna has a new CD coming out. Jackhammer hosts the city's release party on Mar. 27 and Phoenix handles the duties for the 'burbs on Apr. 2... Dixie Lynn Cartwright is hosting the "RuPaul's Drag Race" screenings at Sidetrack on Mondays and she's better than any of the "gals" on the show... Man's Country will hold an Easter Egg roll on Saturday Apr. 4. Somehow I think, "he is Risen" has another meaning there.
Party All the Time
The Wonka Ball annual benefit for About Face Theater on Friday, Apr. 10 at Moonlight Studios pays homage to Andy Warhol... Moonlight will also play host to the Chicago Red Dress Party the following night, Saturday, Apr. 11… The AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s 30th Year Gala on May 16 features Amy Landecker, of the Golden Globe winning comedy series “Transparent” as master of ceremonies. .. The Rainbow Wedding Network's wedding expo is at the Hard Rock Hotel on Mar. 22... The Chicago Flower Show runs through Mar 22 at Navy Pier. boiMAG 29
FIT TIPS
PLAYING IT SAFE Part 2
CABLE EXTERNAL ROTATION
By Michael Elder
I’d like to continue my discussion of the importance of rotator cuff training in this article. My last article covered external rotation for the rotator cuff. This time, I would like to explain internal rotation. Once again, there are different ways to effectively train the internal rotators, but using cables is probably the most common and the easiest to understand. And it is also very similar to performing cable external rotation, as I described it in my last article. This is not a glamour exercise. Nobody is going to come up to you and say “Wow, you’ve got a hot looking subscapularis!” This exercise is for overall health, motor function, and injury prevention, as is external rotation. It is very important to perform both of these exercises equally to avoid muscular imbalances. Performing rotator cuff exercises on a regular basis along with other shoulder exercises that focus on the deltoid muscles will build a strong and secure shoulder. As I mentioned before, it is the most fragile joint in the body. We must do our part to play it safe.
To perform this exercise: 1. Stand next to a cable pulley with your body positioned slightly forward of the cable boom. Grasp the single hand cable attachment using the arm closest to the cable. 2. Move your elbow against your side, keeping it bent at 90 degrees with your arm pointed towards the pulley. This is your starting position. 3. Pull the hand cable attachment toward your body by rotating your shoulder until your forearm is located across your abs. You will be moving in a semicircular motion with your hand coming in toward your belly button. 4. Slowly move back to the starting position. 5. Repeat the movement for the desired number of reps and then start with the other arm.
Michael Elder has been working as a fitness professional in Chicago for the last fifteen years. He comes from a background in gymnastics and is certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He can be contacted directly through his website, www.MichaelElder.com.
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