3700 N. Halsted St. #2-S Chicago, IL 60613 773.975.0264 Editorial: boieditorial@aol.com Advertising: boiads@aol.com
EDITORIAL Mike Macharello: Publisher Rick Karlin: Editor
layout & design Titanium Graphics, Inc.
advertising Freddie: freddie@boiMAG.com Dave: dave@boiMAG.com National, Rivendell Media: sales@rivendellmedia.com
photographerS Eamonn Sexton, Ken Brown, KAB Photography
COVER DJ Escape, NYC http://www.djescape.com
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
Quote of the week:
If you’re going to create the drama, at least supply the popcorn.
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By Rick Karlin Chicago may be beautiful in the summer, but sometimes you just want to get away from it all, and this is the perfect time of year to do it. Late July through mid-September is when you’ll find the best weather for outdoor fun. And there’s no place better to enjoy that than Wisconsin. After all, it’s just 45 minutes to the border, an hour and a half to Milwaukee, less than three hours to Madison and just a little more than that to Wisconsin Dells. If you’re up for a bit of a longer drive, you can get to Door County in less time than it takes you to drive around the lake to Michigan.
Delight in Door County Door County is often referred to as the Midwest’s answer to Cape Cod and there are many similarities. Like Cape Cod, Door County’s mystical light has drawn artists for generations. The waters surrounding the peninsula and islands attract boats that range from kayaks and canoes to recreational watercraft such as sailboats, speedboats and pontoons. For accommodations, you can’t beat the comfort, relaxation and romance at Chanticleer Guest House. Nestled among the orchards of Door County, this is truly one of the most unique bed and breakfasts in Wisconsin. Choose a suite in the renovated 19th-century farmhouse or cone of four pond-side cabins. All suites and cabins are equipped with a fireplace and double whirlpool tub and include breakfast delivered to your room. If you prefer sunbathe pool-side, rather than in the waters of Green Bay, the heated pool and outdoor sauna will be perfect for you. For more information on Chanticleer Guest House call 920.746.0334 or go to www. chanticleerguesthouse.com. For more information on Door County attractions, events and dining, go to their website at www.doorcountynavigator.com.
Doin’ The Dells The Dells have been a favorite weekend getaway spot for more than 100 years. Whether you prefer the natural beauty of the Dells and surrounding forested areas or the frenetic pace of the main strip with its plentiful amusement parks, water parks and carnival-like attractions you’re certain to find a good time. It may be “The Waterpark Capital of the World”, but there’s always more around each and every corner, with animal shows, brewery, winery and distillery tours, casinos, golf, live entertainment, spas, scenic tours and kitschy museums, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. The gay-owned and operated Captain Dix/Rainbow Resort is a unique experience. This quote from Trip Advisor sums it up completely “Don't go in expecting the Ritz because you will be disappointed. However, if you want to relax, socialize with others a bit, take some long nature walks and enjoy the Dells, then stay here. The hospitality is great, the people are friendly and the drinks are good and cheap.” Owners Gary and Andre have converted the former artists’ colony, located on 24 acres, into an adults-only LGBT rustic resort. Continued on following page>>
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Friday and Saturday and until 10 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $12 There will be more than 30 entertainment stages at the fair. Among the performers scheduled to appear at the fair are; Boston, Jason Derulo, Justin Moore, Steppenwolf, Kenny Rogers, Gwen Sebastian, Herman’s Hermits, SaltN-Pepa and country stars Lee Brice and Chris Young.
Relax by the pool, play games, or hike while enjoying the towering pines and sandstone bluffs. Standard rooms and whirlpool cabins surround main building which houses Captain Dix bar and the Artist’s Glen dining room. The restaurant offers everything from surf & turf to Wisconsin favorites and a bit of Southern Creole and is open until 10 p.m. Captain Dix bar features theme nights and non-stop parties all summer long. Accommodations include standard suite (one room with a queen and a full bed or with one king bed), one bedroom cabins with either two king beds or a king and sofa sleeper or a two bedroom cabin with a queen and a full bed. All cabins offer refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, satellite TV, DVD player, wi-fi and private bath with a whirlpool. For more information on The Dells go to www.wisdells.com. For more information about Captain Dix/Rainbow Resort call 608.253.1818 or go to their website at www.captaindix.com.
State Fair-y Tales
For a taste of Wisconsin country life, stop by the Wisconsin State Fair, running from Aug. 6-16 at Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 S. 84th St. in West Allis, less than 30 minutes from Milwaukee and two hours from Chicago. The fair opens at 8 a.m. daily and is open until 11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, until midnight on
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Of course food figures prominently at the fair and there will be hundreds of vendors. On “Crazy Grazin’ Day”, Aug. 11, more than 50 food vendors offer sample-sized portions at reduced prices! Pick up a “Crazy Grazin’” brochure or look for posters displayed at participating vendors. For more information, go to http://wistatefair.com.
Live Your Own Game of Thrones
If you can't get away for a weekend, get away for a century or two by heading up to the Wisconsin border and live out your own version of "Game of Thrones", but without the beheadings, please. The Bristol Renaissance Faire recreates a medieval village, complete with jousting, wenches, and, of course, good food. Whether you dress in costume or not, you're certain to have a good time. Open weekends through September 7, the first weekend in August features a costume contest. Go to www.renfair.com/bristol for more information.
Legendary Dance Party Comes to Chicago by Billy Waters
DJ Escape spent more than 15 years on the road catering to crowds and event promoters by allowing mainstream radio to dictate what he played in nightclubs. It left him feeling like he lacked an identity as a genuine artist.... a sentiment to which many DJs today can relate. In 2013 he was given the opportunity to produce a weekly residency at Sankeys, with his party named, “Sunday Service”. This residency allowed him to express himself and shine as an artist with his own unique format playing his own style, while he developed his brand and re-introduced New York City to the concept that developed into "Served", as tour events. “I stopped giving the crowd pop mixes weekly,” he says, “I invented my own Served party where I could re-interpret the best that house music has to offer into something fresh and modern. The dance floors have truly been embracing the classy, updated house vibe. Club-goers are going to be introduced to underground artists, and hear new things that they never imagined would be done in a club, things that people forgot existed. I rework them and since they are my own creations, you can’t hear them anywhere else.” The formula DJ Escape uses pairs legendary DJ/Producers; Hex Hector, Tom Stephan (a/k/a Superchumbo), Manny Lehman,
Hector Romero, and Razor ‘N Guido with legendary divas and nightlife artists including, Inaya Day, Kristine W, Veronica, Robin S and Joi Cardwell. Interesting enough, DJ Escape has remixed, co-written, and/or produced original tracks for all of these artists with his legendary studio partner, Tony Coluccio. Escape explains, “This is my passion and my art. It’s what many people feel has been missing since the ‘90’s. I want to give back to the people on the dance floor all the love they have given to me over the years. I just want to put a smile back on everyone’s face again. I’m excited to be bringing my Served party to Circuit, the longest running dance club in Chicago, which is celebrating more than 17 years!” "Served", will make its Chicago debut at Circuit Night Club on July 25 with the internationally renowned artist Sandy B. She will return to Circuit's stage and perform some of her anthems like ‘Make The World Go Round,’ ‘Ain't No Need To Hide,’ and her forthcoming single ‘Seize The Opportunity.’ "For venue information, go to www.circuit.club. boiMAG 13
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QMUSIC By Gregg Shapiro
Here’s the thing about Jackie DeShannon. Even though her breakthrough hit, “What The World Needs Now Is Love” was written by someone else (Burt Bacharach, in fact), she was also a good songwriter in her own right. In fact, she co-wrote her next big hit, “Put A Little Love In Your Heart,” as well as “Bette Davis Eyes,” a hit for Kim Carnes. With that in mind All The Love: The Lost Atlantic Recordings, which compiles producer Tom Dowd’s 1973 sessions with DeShannon, as well as bonus tracks that include collaborations with Van Morrison, features covers and originals. The covers, including “Drift Away” (a hit for Dobie Gray), Fleetwood Mac’s “Spare Me A Little of Your Love” and Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” are all given the respect that they are due. Of DeShannon’s originals, “Grand Canyon Blues” and “Speak Out To Me” are the best. Even a few years into a new decade, sometime you will stumble across a band or a solo artist that owes a debt to the previous time. British rock act Bad Company was one such band. Bad Company’s self-titled 1974 debut, newly reissued in an expanded double disc set by Rhino, sounds like it belongs in 1967 as much as it does in the mid1970s. Libidinous lead off track and single “Can’t Get Enough” is pure blues-
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A rash of reissues
rock bluster and suggests that is of its time, yet still holds up as a classic all these years later. “The double CD deluxe edition contains the original album along with a second disc of Bsides, alternate versions and outtakes. Bad Company didn’t waste much time getting its second album, the doubleentendre titled Straight Shooter out to the fans. Similarly packaged as the previously mentioned eponymous reissue, Straight Shooter was most notable for the hit single “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” In the early 1980s, years before Wilco, Ryan Adams or Bloodshot Records, there was a style of music known as cowpunk. The Textones’ major-label debut album Midnight Mission has been reissued with the original album cover art as well as five bonus tracks. How cool was this band? Cool enough to attract big name talent such as Ry Cooder, Don Henley and Gene Clark, among others, to perform with them on the album. The Textones 1987 second album, Cedar Creek has also been reissued and includes eight bonus tracks from a live concert. Simple Minds had been at it for a while before they began to break through in 1982. However, it was 1984’s Sparkle In The Rain, reissued in an expanded 30th anniversary double disc deluxe edition, that changed everything. Working with producer Steve Lillywhite (of U2 fame), Simple Minds’ sound and style morphed into a flattering imitation of Bono and The Edge. Simple Minds began getting a taste of the hit single life with songs such as “Speed Your Love To Me,” “Waterfront” and “Up On The Catwalk.” Of course, the band’s biggest success would come year one year later with the release of Once Upon A Time and the single “Alive and Kicking.” Nevertheless, Sparkle In The Rain, which also contains a respectful version of Lou Reed’s “Street Hassle,” certainly set the stage and still sounds exhilarating, 30 years later. The second disc of the package includes a selection of rarities and B-sides.
Motor Mouth "On the Road again" By Parker Carr
This issue’s theme “weekend get-aways” and the article on DJ Escape made me think of when I was a kid and my parents would pile all of us kids in the car and escape to some vacation destination. This was long before Gameboys or iPads. The only mobile entertainment we had was avoiding my mother’s shoe, which she took off and flailed at us from the front seat if we got too rambunctious. Maybe that’s why I always felt a kinship with the 1983 film, “National Lampoon’s Vacation”. If you squinted hard enough my parents could look like Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo. Squint a little harder and I could even pass for their son Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall). While we didn’t have a dead Aunt Edna to cope with, we did have a gaseous dachshund. With the remake/sequel of the “National Lampoon’s Family Vacation” in which a grown-up Rusty decides to recreate the trip with his family, I got to thinking about other great family road trip movies. I started compiling a list of my favorite road trip movies, it was way too long. So I eliminated any that weren’t about families with kids. Finally I was left with a decent list of some pretty good movies.
"Little Miss Sunshine" 2006. A sullen teenager, a depressed gay uncle, a too optimistic pre-teen, an irascible grandfather and parents, wonderfully played by Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear all traveling in a barely operating VW bus make for one of the most realistic depictions of a family on film. The terrific script and touching performances got this film an Academy award nomination.
“Paper Moon” 1973. Ryan O'Neal played a depression-era con man who ends up saddled with the daughter (real-life daughter Tatum O'Neal)he didn’t know he had as they travel across the country scamming folks left and right. Along the way they meet up with some hysterical characters including a down-on-herluck diva (the late Madeline Kahn, in one of her best performances). I dare you not to cry, even as you’re laughing. “We're the Millers” 2013. Although it didn’t get critical acclaim, and is thoroughly predictable, this story of a pot dealer creating a fake family in order to smuggle a huge shipment of weed across the Mexican border in an RV is delightful. True they aren’t biological family, but I always felt like the characters played by Jennifer Anniston and Jason Sudekis would end up together and adopt the teenage runaway they trick into playing their daughter. “The Sugarland Express” 1974. A tragi-comedy based upon a true story about a woman who breaks her husband out of prison so they can kidnap their child from foster care. Goldie Hawn is magnificent as the mother; at times split your sides comical and at others heartbreakingly dramatic. For younger viewers, you’ll see where Kate Hudson gets her looks. Too bad she didn’t inherit her mother’s acting ability as well. “The Wizard of Oz” 1939. It’s got a kid (Dorothy), it’s got family (Auntie ‘Em) and they’re on a Yellow Brick Road trip. Although it’s a stretch how could I not include the gay iconic movie? boiMAG 21
FIT TIPS
Isolate Those Lats
By Michael Elder
The Lat Sweep is one of my all-time favorite exercises because it is the only exercise that truly isolates the lats. The lats, or “wings” as some people like to call them make up a good portion of the back musculature so taking time to isolate them can really help to bring about a nicely defined look. If you are not already incorporating this exercise into your back training, I would highly recommend that you do so.
For a great pump, use the straight-arm pull-down as a pre- exhaust move before compound exercises such as rows, or as a finishing move at the end of your back workout. Concentrate on making your lats do the work. Don't allow your elbows to bend, which would elicit greater involvement of the triceps to assist in the move. Make sure you don't use momentum to go into the next rep. Doing so will decrease the tension on your lats and could result in injury, particularly when using heavier loads. For a greater stretch on the lats, increase your forward lean and allow the bar to travel above your head, thereby increasing the range of motion. As I mentioned previously, isolation exercises are often over looked in favor for compound movements. While compound exercises should remain the main focus of your training, isolation movements can give you that extra edge and help to bring about a nicely defined look.
With the Lat Sweep To perform the exercise: • Stand facing the weight stack at a lat pull-down or cable station with your feet shoulder-width apart. • Reach up and grasp a standard lat pull-down bar or long straight bar with an overhand (pronated) grip, hands shoulder-width apart, arms straight. • Start with the bar at shoulder level, arms extended and parallel to the floor. • Bend your knees slightly, keeping your head straight and lower back in a natural arch. Lean forward a bit and inhale deeply. • Keeping your arms straight, pull the bar down toward your thighs in a wide, sweeping arc, focusing on using just your lats as you pull. • Exhale as you pass the midpoint of the move, and squeeze your lats hard once the bar reaches your thighs. • Return to the starting position in a smooth, controlled motion, stopping once your arms are parallel to the floor.
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. boiMAG 25
Sweet & Sour Love By Gregg Shapiro Twenty years after Noah Baumbach’s well-received directorial debut Kicking and Screaming the writer/director has made his most accomplished film to date with"While We’re Young" in which Ben Stiller plays Josh, a doc filmmaker whose glory is fading fast because it’s taken him almost ten years to complete the follow-up to his well received debut. He lives in the shadow of his acclaimed filmmaker father-in-law Leslie (Charles Grodin), especially since Leslie also employs Josh’s wife Cornelia (Naomi Watts). Childless Josh and Cornelia are also forced to endure the new-parent gushing of old friends Marina (Maria Dizzia) and Fletcher (Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz). They meet hyper-hipster Brooklyn couple Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried). Jamie is a filmmaker who claims to be a fan of Josh’s work. Darby makes ice cream. Before you know it, the two couples begin to socialize. Jamie offers to help Josh with his film, including pep-talking him before Josh meets with a potential, but clueless, investor. If it all sounds too good to be true, it is. The unraveling is painful and draining. Each revelation of deception is painted in darker and darker tones. There’s an unexpectedly upbeat ending that is a pleasure to watch. DVD +Digital bonus special features include a series of behindthe-scenes vignettes with the cast and more. Gay, Israeli filmmaker Eytan Fox, director of contemporary gay classics including The Bubble, Walk On Water, Yossi & Jagger, as well as its sequel Yossi, ventures into Almodovar’s arena with the colorful, sugarcoated coated comedy, Cupcakes, making a sweet arrival on DVD. On the night of the UniverSong competition, a group of friends and neighbors – gay schoolteacher Ofer, lesbian singer/songwriter Efrat, assistant to the Minister of Culture Dana, blogger Keren, former beauty queen Yael and baker
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Anat – gather together to watch the event on TV. That night, they also end up writing a song together, which unexpectedly launches them into the running to represent Israel in the following year’s UniverSong competition. With their chance to make it big right before them, the sextet is determined not to let anything get in their way and get to Paris to compete. Fox proves himself to be as adept at comedy as he is at drama. Cupcakes also features tunes by Scissor Sisters’ Babydaddy (aka Scott Hoffman). Don’t be surprised if you walk out singing. In Hebrew with subtitles. The meager DVD bonus features include the original theatrical trailer.
Black Alphabet Film Festival
What began as a conversation about the lack of exposure of films that explore the Black LGBTQ experience birthed the Black Alphabet Film Festival (BAFF), Chicago’s first Black LGBTQ film festival. Since its inception in 2013, BAFF has worked to encourage storytelling, cultivate new dialogues and educate communities about the cultural and social contributions that Black LGBTQidentified people have made upon the world. This year’s festival will open at The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts on July 23 and 24 on the University of Chicago campus and then moves to Center on with two full days of screenings on July 25 and 26. with a kick-off party July 21 at The Silver Room in Hyde Park.
Chicago's
in the know ... ON THE GO!
By Sue Deaunym
Post Pride Patter
Yes that was Lady Gaga having dinner on the Saturday before the Pride Parade at Chicago Diner… While an official decision regarding the fate of the Pride Parade is still in limbo, officials say the added security measures along the route reduced the mayhem. Police arrested eight people as a result of the #BlackOutPride protest that brought the parade to a halt for about ten minutes. The parade was a bittersweet day for many who mourned the loss of long-time activist Bill Kelley. He participated in one of the first gay rights protests in the ‘60s in Philadelphia and was instrumental in many advances for the LGBT community in Chicago. There will be a memorial for Bill on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m. at Center on Halsted.
Halsted Happenings
The city closed Roscoe's for a few days for exceeding its occupancy capacity on Pride day, but since then has reopened... Sidetrack welcomed the cast of “Kinky Boots” to Monday show tunes. It’s getting to be a tradition that touring companies of musicals stop in the club on their dark night. BTW, the bar kicks off a new event on Wednesday, July 29. “Sync It!” will be a monthly lip sync contest.?
Around Town
Matt Harvat, aka Circuit Mom and Revolution are teaming up for another kick-ass event. “Rise of the Villains” is being held the Saturday of Market Days weekend and will bring together DJs Joe Gathreaux and Tiago Vibe at the House of Blues…. The J/O contest at Touché a couple of weeks ago certainly drew a big crowd, so you can bet they’ll be repeating that event, and in case you were wondering, the “Dungeon
Master” night scheduled for Saturday Aug. 8 has nothing to do with that game for nerds. Just so you don’t show up with your cards and dice… Cram will hold its annual Market Days party on Thursday, Aug. 6, and that means studly bartenders, raffles, live DJ and more fun that we can’t mention. RSVP on their Facebook page if you want to go... Speaking of Market Days (and aren’t we all?) “Alegria” returns that Sunday, Aug. 9., at Transit… I want me a “Taste of Lincoln Ave.” and some of those hot straight boys on July 25-26. Or maybe I’ll go shopping at the “Andersonville Summer Sidewalk Sale” all that same weekend.
In Other News
Monday, Aug. 3 kicks off the final Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. When the event closes on Aug. 9 it will become a part of history. After so many years, it’s a shame it has to close down. The festival’s founder chose not to continue rather than welcome trans women. C’est la vie...
Stage Notes
“Bette, Live At The Continental Baths” opens Friday, July 24. The Hell in a Handbag show is a musical tribute to the Divine Miss M (love the ad recreating her first album) starring Chicago’s newest diva (Yes, Amy Armstrong there’s room for two!) Caitlin Jackson. BTW Miss Jackson (if you’re nasty) can be heard on the new original cast recording of “Witches Among Us” written by Scott Free and our own Rick Karlin… Handbag’s Halloween show is going to be a new piece by wacky David Cerda. “Scream, Queen, Scream!” opens Sept. 25 and runs through Halloween. It is inspired by late-night horror shows and stars Ed Jones. Need we say more? boiMAG 29