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CELEBRITY CHEFS Share Their Holiday Recipes Wayne Johnson
As the winner of the Today Show’s Domestic Diva contest and now a contributor for NBC 5 Chicago with his “Wayne’s Weekend” segments, he explores everything from cooking and party planning, to home decorating. Wayne defines himself as a special event jockey, habitat craftsman, metro chef and urban explorer. Good news guys, Wayne is single. He offered to share one of his favorite recipes with us.
Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Roasted Pine Nuts Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter 1 lg. onion, finely chopped 2 jalapeños, seeded and finely minced 3 cups pure pumpkin puree 2 cloves garlic, minced 6 cups chicken stock 1/2 tsp. salt 2 chicken bouillon cubes 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional) 3 Tbs. all-purpose flour 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts garlic croutons, for garnish
This dish is also great served in a pumpkin soup bowl. Simply cut the top off of a medium sized pumpkin (reserve the top). Scoop out the seeds and rinse the inside of the pumpkin, turn upside down to drain. Just before ready to serve, place the pumpkin in an oven that has been preheated to 250º oven, warm for about 10 minutes. Ladle the soup into the bowl and place the top back on the pumpkin and serve.
Duff Goldman Since Thanksgiving and Hanukkah occur at the same time this year, we asked the Food Network star and the Ace of Cakes for to share his family’s recipe for potato latkes. Slightly Adapted Mamo’s Potato Pancakes Ingredients: 5 large or 6 small firm Yukon gold potatoes 1 large onion, halved 1 large egg 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour or matzo meal Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper Vegetable or canola oil, for frying Directions: Peel the potatoes, immediately
immersing them in very cold water as you finish each one. Remove the potatoes from the water. Grate the potatoes and onion with a food processor fitted with the grating blade. Don’t press too hard on the potatoes going in -- just enough to get them through. Transfer the potatoes and onion to a fine-mesh strainer; squeeze out all the water into a bowl. Let the potato starch settle, then pour out as much Directions: Melt butter over medium heat. water as possible, leaving the starch in the Add onions and jalapeños and sauté until bowl. Add the potato-onion mixture to the soft. Add garlic and cook for about two more bowl and mix in the egg, flour, 1 teaspoon salt, minutes. Add pumpkin, chicken stock, salt, and pepper to taste. Heat a well-seasoned and bouillon cubes. Bring soup to a boil and cast-iron skillet with a thin layer of vegetable simmer for about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and puree in a blender in small batches. oil over medium heat. Scoop large spoonfuls of the potato mixture into the pan and flatten Return to a medium heat. Add cream here them out (thin pancakes = crispy ones). Fry if you choose, making sure not to boil soup. until golden on the bottom, then gently flip Take out 1 cup of liquid and blend it with the and fry the other side, 3 to 4 minutes per side. flour in a small bowl, stirring until all lumps are gone. Add mixture back to soup. Cook for Drain on paper towels. (If you have to wait to serve, re-crisp them on a baking sheet lined an additional 5 minutes until flour mixture is fully heated and incorporated. Season soup to with clean paper towels in a 350 º oven.) Serve with applesauce, sour cream or with sugar. taste. Ladle soup into serving bowls. Sprinkle Continued on next page.... boiMAG with toasted pine nuts and garlic croutons.
Holiday Recipes Continued.....
The Hearty Boys, Steve McDonagh and Dan Smith The Hearty Boys was born in the small Chicago kitchen of Steve and Dan more than a dozen years ago. However, their careers shot into the stratosphere after they won the first season of The Next Food Network Star. Now, in addition to their restaurant and catering company, and a successful line of cookbooks, they guys have added father to their bios. Here is one of their favorite recipes.
Indian Pudding Ingredients: 4 cups milk ½ cup cornmeal 1/3 cup molasses 1/3 cup maple syrup ¼ cup butter 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ginger ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1 egg ¼ cup brown sugar Directions: Pour the milk into a saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and slowly add the cornmeal. Let simmer 15 minutes and add the molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Stir well. Beat the egg in a small bowl and temper it with some of the hot liquid, stirring as it’s added. Add the egg mix back into the pudding, stir well and pour all into a greased half pan. Cover tightly and place in a 350º oven for 1 ½ – 2 hours.
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Dale Levitski
Dale worked at a number of toprated restaurants including Trio and LaTache before he competed on season 3 of Top Chef and season 8 of Top Chef All-Stars. Until recently he was executive chef at Sprout and Frog N Snail. He is no longer a part of the company, taking some time off to spend time with his partner, travel, enjoy the holidays, and consider a new direction. We did get a recipe from him, though.
Ambrosia Taffy Apple Crepes Ingredients: Crepe Batter 3 cups whole milk 2 large eggs 1 cup all purpose flour 1 Tbs. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1tsp. ground cinnamon 1 pinch ground ginger 1/2 tsp. butter (or non-stick spray) 1 pinch salt Filling 4 Ambrosia apples, cored and diced 1 1/4 cups cider vinegar 2 Tbs. unsalted butter 1 Tbs. sugar Directions: Add milk, eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla cinnamon, ginger and salt in a blender. Blend for 1 minute and set aside. Heat skillet on medium. Melt the butter (or use non-stick spray) to season the skillet. Pour 1 1/2 ounce of the crepe batter in the skillet. Swirl to coat the pan for 30 seconds to a minute and flip with spatula. Cook for another 30 seconds Place the crepe on a piece of parchment paper. Repeat the process, layering each crepe with parchment paper. Set crepes aside. In a sauce pan, over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the apples and sugar and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the cider vinegar to de-glaze the apples. Spoon mixture along center of crepe and roll ends over, top with whipped cream if desired. Continued on following page....
Holiday Recipes Continued.....
Stephanie Izard The first female winner of Top Chef got her culinary start in Chicago, working as sous chef at LaTache (with Dale Levitski) before branching out on her own with Scylla, and then teamed up with the team behind the BOKA restaurant group to open Girl & the Goat and Little Goat diner. Her debut cookbook, Girl in the Kitchen came out two years ago. This is one of our favorites from her recipes. Pan-Roasted Cauliflower Ingredients: 1 head cauliflower 3 Tbs. butter 1 tsp. olive oil 1 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Directions: Cut the head of cauliflower in half and cut out most of the stem. Slice the florets into 1/4 inch slices. Heat the butter and oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the cauliflower and toss to coat with the butter and oil. Saute until the cauliflower releases much of its liquid and begins to brown, 5 -10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to sauté for an additional 10 minutes, tossing often. Cook the florets until they are just tender. Add the salt and pepper and adjust seasoning to taste before serving.
Sandra Lee
Who better to come up with a quick and easy recipe for a gorgeous bird to act as the centerpiece of your holiday feast, than the beautiful Sandra Lee? The queen of semihomemade offers us a recipe that will certainly wow your guests.
Cranberry Glazed Turkey Ingredients:
1 fresh whole turkey (approx. 12 lbs.) 3/4 cups butter, softened / 3 Tbs. fine herbs, divided 1 Tbs. crushed garlic / 2 Tbs. orange marmalade 1/2 cup orange marmalade 2 Tbs. dehydrated onion flakes 2 Tbs. poultry seasoning 2 tsp. kosher salt / 1 tsp. pepper 2 oranges, sliced 2 leeks, sliced and washed 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1/2 cup orange juice 1 can jellied cranberry sauce
Directions: Preheat the oven to 450º. Remove giblets and neck from turkey and rinse inside and out with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels; set aside. In a small bowl, combine softened butter, 1 tablespoon fine herbs, crushed garlic, 2 tablespoons marmalade, and onion flakes. Use a fork to mix together until well combined. In a small bowl combine poultry seasoning, 1 tablespoon fine herbs, salt, and pepper. Use your hand to carefully loosen the skin around the entire bird. Work half of the butter mixture under the skin of the entire turkey. Rub the remaining butter mixture on the outside of the skin and season with the poultry seasoning mixture inside and out. Stuff the inside of the turkey cavity with oranges and leeks. Truss if desired. Add any leftover oranges and leeks to a shallow roasting pan; pour in broth and set aside. Insert a pop-up thermometer at an angle about 3 inches down from the neck cavity and 2 inches from the breastbone, in the thickest part of the breast. Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Place in oven and reduce temperature to 325 º. Combine orange juice, remaining marmalade, jellied cranberries, and remaining fine herbs in a small saucepan and simmer until jelly melts. Continue simmering until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes; keep warm. After the turkey has cooked for 2 hours, brush on the glaze mixture. Return the turkey to the oven and cook until the thermometer pops up or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 180 º, about 3 hours total. Remove from oven and let turkey rest 15 minutes before carving.
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Holiday Recipes Continued.....
Ina Garten
Anyone who watches The Barefooot Contessa on Food Network knows that Ina loves her gay boys. While she wouldn’t share any of their phone numbers, she did share this favorite holiday recipe.
Caramelized Butternut Squash Ingredients: 2 medium butternut squash 6 tsp.) unsalted butter, melted 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut off and discard the ends of each butternut squash. Peel the squash, cut in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into 1 1/4 to 1 -1/2 inch cubes and place them on a baking sheet. Add the melted butter, brown sugar, salt and pepper. With clean hands, toss all the ingredients together and spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast until the squash is tender and the glaze begins to caramelize, 45 to 55 minutes. While roasting, turn the squash a few times with a spatula, to be sure it browns evenly. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.
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Anne Burrell
The graduate of The Culinary Institute of America appears on and hosts a number of shows on Food Network. Her recipe is a nice change of pace from the traditional turkey entrée.
Braised Short Ribs Ingredients: 6 bone-in short ribs (about 5-6 pounds total) Extra-virgin olive oil 1 large Spanish onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 ribs celery, cut into 1/2 inch pieces 2 carrots, cut into 1/2 inch pieces 2 cloves garlic, smashed 1 1/2 cups tomato paste 2-3 cups hearty red wine 2cups water 1 bunch fresh thyme, tied with kitchen string 2 bay leaves Salt Directions: Preheat the oven to 375º. Season each short rib generously with salt. Coat a large pan with olive oil, bring to a high heat. Add the short ribs and brown very well, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove them from the pan. Puree all the vegetables and garlic in the food processor until it forms a coarse paste. Drain the fat, from the short rib pan and add pureed vegetables and brown until they are very dark and a crust has formed on the bottom of the pan. Scrape the crust and add the tomato paste. Brown the tomato paste for 4 to 5 minutes. Deglaze with wine and reduce the mixture by half. Return the short ribs to the pan and add water it just covers the meat. Add herbs, cover the pan and bake for 3 hours. Check periodically during the cooking process and add more water, if needed. Turn the ribs over halfway through the cooking time. Remove the lid during the last 20 minutes of cooking to let things get nice and brown and to let the sauce reduce.
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CHICAGO SPOTLIGHT
Gaylon alcaraz
by Gregg Shapiro Gaylon Alcaraz is a community organizer and human rights activist. She is the executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund and was a founding board member of Affinity, an organization dedicated to developing leadership skills for black lesbian and bisexual women. She is one of the 2013 inductees into Chicago’s Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
When did you come out and what was the experience like for you? I was never in the closet. I was always the radical doing something in my family, was pretty much used to my “antics”! There just wasn’t that big hoopla around the way I chose to live and experience my life. Please name five of your GLBT heroes and say a few words about why you chose them. There are too many to name; of course James Baldwin, Bayard Rustin, Audre Lorde and Ruth Ellis She came out in 1915 in Springfield, Illinois! ), Mary Morten (my friend, mentor, sister), the women of Affinity Community Services (where I learned about radical activism and black women loving black women. It informed my politics and framework about GLBT work and community.) Finally, I want to acknowledge two “sheroes”; LaKeesha Harris and her wife Janean Watkins. They are activists, mothers, wives, friends, sisters, and human beings. I am profoundly impacted by knowing them!
scene” and many were turned off by our social services and activism. But when we would go into spaces where young women could ask us questions or pull us to the side and share their story, I knew we were making an impact. When black women would pack our office space for programs, I knew we were making a difference, we did good, we did our job. The contribution here in Chicago impacts the world overall. Many of our sisters have moved on to new lives and experiences (Africa, London, etc.) but will always carry Affinity in their hearts.
What are your future goals and aspirations? Currently I am in my doctoral program at Roosevelt University. I plan to continue writing books, teaching and impacting organizations. I am staying involved in What do you consider to be your most reproductive justice work within the prosignificant contribution to the GLBT choice movement. community in Chicago and at large? My work with Affinity Community Words of wisdom to the next GLBT Services. We were doing the work of generation. being visible when it wasn’t the thing Live. Life. Out. Loud! to do! We weren’t a part of the “party
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Rick Karlin s Big Bite
Thanksgiving Dining While we all admire the Norman Rockwell painting of the family gathered in the dining room at Thanksgiving, in today’s world many folks don’t have the time or kitchen space (or know-how) to prepare such a lavish meal. Luckily there are plenty of restaurants willing to take over the cooking (and clean-up!) tasks for you. Horizon Café will feature a fourcourse dinner, including ham, turkey and sides, available for dine-in at $22 or for takeout or delivery for $24. Mama’s legendary apple butter pumpkin pies are available for $15, order in advance. On Thanksgiving Eve and Day, Kit Kat Supper Club will offer a 50% discount off martinis and cocktails, as well as a 33% discount off the dinner tab with a canned good donation or nonperishable food item for Vital Bridges’ “Harvest for Hope” community food drive. A special prix fixe menu will be offered in addition to Kit Kat’s regular dinner menu. The classic Thanksgiving feast includes a pumpkin pie martini, Kit Kat salad, herb-marinated roasted turkey breast, traditional stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry and pineapple relish, and pumpkin pie tart for only $20 with canned good donation ($40 without donation). Diva Kinley Preston will entertain. Tavern on Rush will feature a threecourse dinner, $41.95 for adults, $16.95 for children 12 and under. For parties of four or more, family style service is available. Thanksgiving dinner will be available in the bar and dining room areas.
Weber Grill is serving up a threecourse meal of Caesar salad, smoked turkey, whipped sweet potatoes, grilled asparagus and pumpkin pie for $28.95; $9.95 for kids under age 11. Delightful Pastries has expanded its pie menu for Thanksgiving. In addition to traditional selections such as apple, pumpkin and pecan are the not-sotraditional apple-caramel, cranberryfudge, coconut-chocolate, and bourbon-chocolate pecan. All pies are $25, and serve 8-10 people. Savory pies such as the spinach lamb ($58), veggie quiche ($42), or ham quiche ($42) are also available. Orders may be placed at any Delightful Pastries location. Gibsons in Oak Brook will offer a special three-course menu from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Menu options include roasted butternut and acorn squash soup, roast turkey served family style with housemade cranberry sauce, candied yams, roasted green beans with almonds, mashed potatoes, seasonal stuffing, apple cobbler with streusel topping, pumpkin pie and banana cream pie. Reservations are recommended, Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in Rosemont offers a choice of sliced turkey or prime rib accompanied by unlimited sides such as corn bread, stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies and biscuits. It’s $32-$40; $17-$20 for children. Desserts are available at an added cost. Continued on next page....
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BIG BITE
Continued....
Acadia offers an exotic take on the holiday with a four-course meal featuring game consommé and pumpkin ravioli with porcini, wild boar with mustard seeds, turkey roulade, cranberry turkey sausage, lobster truffled bisque, green bean casserole and potato puree. The meal finishes with a roast apple, white cheddar and pecan ice cream dessert. Dinner is $65; $25 additional for wine pairings; $20 for children. Chicago Firehouse will present a buffet that features Caesar, asparagus salad and Waldorf salads, smoked salmon, seafood platters, pork tenderloin, polenta, stuffing, carving stations featuring turkey and prime rib and a sweet table. The buffet is $50; $20 for children ages 5-12. Zed 45’s feast includes beef, fish, pork, turkey, maple-bourbonbacon-glazed ham, green bean casserole, cranberries and sweet potatoes with homemade marshmallows plus a buffet of soups, salads, charcuterie and artisan cheeses for $49; $24.50 for kids ages 7-12; free for kids under age 7. Pumpkin cheesecake with brown sugar pecans or s’more pie with homemade peanut butterand-banana ice cream are available for an additional $10.
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The Boarding House gives thanks to Dionysus with a four course $55 per person prix-fixe dinner on with choices from each course to choose from, ranging from traditional to vegetarian, as well as the option to add wine pairings. The Florentine offers the classic holiday experience, with an Italian twist, for $65 per person. Wine pairings are an additional $25. The InterContinental Magnificent Mile will offer a buffet brunch from noon to 3 p.m. Traditional dishes such as roasted turkey with cranberry corn bread stuffing and slow roasted honey glazed ham with mustard crust and herb crusted leg of lamb with olive jus will be available. Rick Aguilar Studio photography will offer complimentary family portrait. The brunch is $58 for adult, $25 for children. For those who love to entertain at home, but would rather leave the cooking to the pros, there are a number of options. Smoke Daddy will provide a smoked-turkey is $65 for an 11 pound bird, $85 for a 20 pounder. Cornbread stuffing is $8 per quart, and gravy $10 per quart . All orders will be available for pickup the day before Thanksgiving (or anytime requested before that), and are picked up cold with heating instructions. Trump Hotel will prepare dinner for from two to four people for $275, or six to eight for $385 for pick-up on Thanksgiving Day. Orders must be placed by Friday, Nov. 22,. And, if you can’t wait until Thanksgiving to celebrate, Oceanique is hosting a Beaujolais Nouveau dinner on Friday, November 22. The five course prix fixe menu is $95 per person, all inclusive.
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Disco Dawns iMUSIC Again By Gregg Shapiro
December will mark 25 years since we lost the late gay disco diva Sylvester. Thankfully, people have not stopped feeling “mighty real” or experiencing the “disco heat” since his passing. A legendary figure in the entertainment world, Sylvester’s influence has remained strong. His backing vocalists Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes, originally known as Two Tons of Fun would later morph into The Weather Girls. His classic 1978 dance tune “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” was covered reverently by queer performers such as Sandra Bernhard and Jimmy Somerville, as well as the R&B artists Byron Stingily. Ralphi Rosario’s Mighty Dub Mix of that track kicks off the new Sylvester CD comp (also available as a pink double vinyl set) Mighty Real: Greatest Dance Hits. Although it doesn’t include Sylvester’s later collaborations with the late synth genius Patrick Cowley, Mighty Real does an effective job of celebrating groundbreaking dance-floor fillers such as “Dance (Disco Heat),” the Giorgio Moroder-esque “Stars,” “Can’t Stop Dancing,” “Body Strong,” and, of course, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).” He may be gone, but Sylvester’s talent and contributions live on and in mighty real fashion. Thirty years after it was released, Success, the debut disc by the previously mentioned Weather Girls is being reissued in an expanded import edition. Success boasts The Weather Girls’ trademark single “It’s Raining Men,” the exhilarating title cut and a a disco reading of “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair” is also a novelty. The bonus material includes a number of 12” versions of songs, particularly “It’s Raining Men.”
In the 21st century, disco is no longer the sole domain of the gays. But one listen to the infectious “Safe And Sound,” which opens Capital Cities’ full-length debut album, In A Tidal Wave of Mystery, and there is no doubt as to the song’s roots. Many of the tracks bear the influence of vintage disco updated for modern ears. Capital Cities also proudly wears a new wave influence on its sleeves in songs such as “Love Away,” “Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast” and “Kangaroo Court.” Grammar by Body Language will also keep your body busy on the dance floor. The Brooklyn quartet pursues an organic sound on its new release which includes a second disc of instrumental versions of all 11 tracks. Sensational dance tunes such as “The Chasing,” “Well Absolutely” and “Lose My Head,” speak directly to our feet and hips. Ari Gold owes as much to the late Sylvester (for paving the disco way) as he does to the aforementioned Patrick Cowley for his production and songwriting work. Gold even incorporates an old school diva vocalist (a la Sylvester), in this case Sarah Dash of Labelle fame, on “Sparkle,” one of the tracks on his “Play My F**kin Remix, remixed retrospective.” Not Sir Ari Gold’s first time at the remix rodeo, Play… reaches all the way back to his 2000 debut disc for its source material and has fun reinventing these songs in new, remixed settings. Pillowtalk, a primarily instrumental recording, by the aptly named Pantyraid, sounds more like music you might hear in a strip club with pole dancers. It has a 21st century bump and grind energy. In other words, it’s hard to have pillow talk when your mouth is full of suggestive tunes such as “That’s The Spot,” “Stay Up Tonight,” “No Self Control,” “Just For You” and “Brooklyn Angel.” boiMAG 25
theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Chicago hip-hop sensation the Q by Rick Karlin Brothers turn up the volume on Charles Dickens’ classic story in “A Q The Chicago theater community will Brother’s Christmas Carol” running Nov.. present a wide variety of offerings this 30 - Dec. 22. holiday season. The roster includes classic David Sedaris’ classic comedy, “The Chicago favorites and some new works: Santaland Diaries” returns to Theater Wit for the 10th year, Nov.. 21 - Dec.. 29. Hell in a Handbag’s new holiday show, “Christmas Dearest” features more ‘Tis the season for original comedic zaniness from the warped mind of one-acts showcasing the dysfunctional David Cerda, playing at Mary’s Attic, chaos the holidays tend to bring to Nov. 29 – Dec. 28. us all in “Holidaze”, presented by Step Up Productions at The Anthenaeum About Face Theatre’s holiday hit Theatre. Nov.. 29 - Dec. 22. musical “We Three Lizas” is back with a new book and expanded score playing Piccolo Theatre sheds new light on an Nov. 2 – Jan. 5 at Stage 773 old tale by Hans Christian Andersen in “The Snow Queen, Or When Christmas “It’s A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play,” Freezes Over” at the Evanston Arts now in its twelfth year at American Depot. Nov.. 8 – Dec.. 21. Theatre Company, Nov. 22 - Dec. 29, and “It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in “Miracle on Wells Street” is Second Chicago!”, presented by American City’s new holiday sketch comedy Blues Theater at the Greenhouse show, performed by touring company, Theater, Nov. 25 – Dec. 29. featuring a mix of material pulled from the Second City archives, as well as The House Theatre presents its The original material, Nov.. 20– Dec.. 31, at Goodman Theatre presents the UP Comedy Club. beloved Chicago tradition, Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol”, Nov. The 21st anniversary production of 16 - Dec. 29 “Hellcab” portrays the story of a cab driver as he transports a bizarre and Join Buddy the Elf in his adventures to mysterious array of customers - the New York City as Broadway in Chicago gritty streets of Chicago on Christmas presents “Elf The Musical” at the Eve, at Profiles Theatre, Nov.. 8 – Jan. Cadillac Palace Nov 26. - Dec. 15. 12. National Pastime Theater brings back Provision Theater presents “A its rock and roll Hanukkah musical with Christmas Memory” and “The “Hannukatz, The Musical” at the Preston Thanksgiving Visitor” based on the bestBradley Theater, Nov. 29 - Dec. 30. selling books by Truman Capote, Nov.. 20 – Dec.. 29. Theo Ubique offers an update on a classic music tradition with “A Very For further information on these holiday Merry Madrigal” in the Cabaret Theatre shows, check out their website at at No Exit Café, Nov.. 23 – Dec.. 22. www.chicagoplays.com. 26 boiMAG
SCENE
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... OH NO! in the know
Harry Taint who used to write this column, has been reassigned. Sue Deaunym takes over for him after a career writing for a number of publications in Chicago.
Street Talk
Congrats to Steve Grand on making the Out 100 in Out Magazine. Not to detract from Steve, he deserves it, but I think it might also have something to do with the way the magazine’s editor was drooling over him when he was in town for Market Days… HRC’ (which stands for Helping Rich Caucasians, uhm, I mean Human Rights Campaign) holds its annual gala and dinner on Saturday, Nov. 16 at The Fairmont. VIP tickets are $350... If the idea of spending Thanksgiving with your family makes you want to drink, head over to Circuit Night Club the night before where they’ll be serving up taffy apple martinis. That ought to give you a nice hangover. After a day with the family and mucho guajolote you’ll want to head back to Circuit for La Noche Loca… Mary’s Attic will be filled with ‘hos for its country music hoedown on Nov. 23.
Questions
Tuesdays Sidetrack celebrates women and plays all the diva videos. And that’s different from every other night how?... Tuesdays is also Pop Quiz night at Hamburger Mary’s. How come the more I drink, the smarter I feel, but the dumber I look?... What Halsted Street bar owner got led away in handcuffs (and not in a fun way)? ChicagoPride’s website first reported that Frank Elliot, former owner of the Velvet Rope Ultra Lounge, which was destroyed by a fire last year, has been charged with two counts of arson and one count of insurance fraud, you can read more about it at http:// chicago.gopride.com/news/article. cfm/articleid/48992049.… Have you ever been skewered on Halsted? Soon there will be a bar-restaurant specializing in skewered meat. I can just imagine
where this concept came from, perhaps over dinner and drinks with Patrick from Circuit?? Well honey, I guess it’s true about the best ideas are stolen.. Oh, and about that bingo board at D.S., seems we seen this idea somewhere on Halsted too, “it’s just bingobitch!”... Michael Kutza said what about the way Reeling is being operated?... Does Mark Zubro ever sleep? He has two new books out at once, something even Scott Turow hasn’t managed.
Wedding Bell Blues
You know that old saying, ’If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it still make a sound?” Well the same could be for the Gay Liberation Network rally celebrating Marriage Equality. They threw a rally and nobody came! To be fair, the same 60 folks that go to everything they do showed up to hear Andy Thayer lisp his way through an announcement. If you wanted to see how to celebrate it right, you needed to head over to Sidetrack where the news media gathered on the day of the vote and the next night’s celebration. That’s how you do it folks.
Apologies
The gals at Parlour were a little miffed (or is that muffed?) that we didn’t list the information about where to buy tickets when we ran the Jessica Kirson interview in the last issue, when she appeared there. I guess the fact that we ran a full page interview with the comedian and mentioned she was appearing at Parlour wasn’t enough. Well, we apologize, so here’s the info. on where you could have gotten tickets, www. brownpapertickets.com/event/490859.
This Just In
There’s an Egoist Underwear event at its new location on Halsted St. on Thursday, Nov. 21st 8-930pm, with Addicted hot underwear models and complimentary (as in FREE) beverages. The party will continue at Hydrate with an open bar (as in FREE) from 9:30-11pm. boiMAG 29
ASK ACE
... SEX & RELATIONSHIP ADVICE
Morose on Melrose
My husband just got a job in another city, so we have to sell our home of 10 years. This is by far the best place that I’ve ever lived in and we poured our hearts and souls into it, fixing it up and rehabbing it. Unfortunately, we bought at the height of the market and are going to sell for about $100,000 less than what we paid for and invested in it. We don’t have the option of waiting for the market to recover. We have enough equity that we will at least walk away with something, but it breaks my heart to take such a loss, especially on the place of my dreams. I can’t shake off this feeling of failure.
Dear MOM,
What failure? You got to live in the place of your dreams for 10 years, which is more than many people will ever have the opportunity to do. Not to diminish your pain, but if you look at the big picture, you may feel better than if you focus on your loss. You lived there for ten years for $100,000. That’s $10,000 a year. At today’s market, would you even be able to rent a place like that for less than $1,000 a month? I think not. Moving is always stressful, try to focus on the positive; enjoy your memories of your time in your own home and think of the memories you’ll make in your new one. Good luck!
passed, my boyfriend wants to get married. I want my family to come to our wedding this summer, but don’t know how to break the news to them.
Dear HFTH, You don’t seem to feel as if “that town” and
“your family” are your “home” anymore, and you won’t until you feel accepted there. The only way to do that is to be open and honest with your family. Rather than look at it as a painful experience (which I’m admitting it might be), it may be easier to look at it as sharing your joy with them. Tell them that you met someone you love and that you’re going to get married. After they express their happiness for you, tell them his name and a little about him. Just remember that their reaction is a reflection of them, not you. If they are not willing to accept you and share in the happiness of your life, it’s their loss. It may be painful at first, but in the long run you’ll be happier knowing you were honest and open with them.
Bored by the Bowl
My girlfriend and I are going to spend Thanksgiving with a bunch of her friends. They are all jocks and I find sports boring. I know that after dinner they are all going to plant themselves in front of the television to watch football for hours. I want to be supportive and feel a part of it, but I just can’t get into sports. I don’t want to feel like I’m not part of the group, but the thought of sitting there, in boredom, watching the games makes me shudder. What can I do?
Dear BBTB,
If you don’t want to watch the games, don’t. The fact that you don’t want to do so is probably more of an issue for you than it is Thanksgiving. They are very conservative for anyone else. Offer to clean up after dinner, and live in a small town, which is why I freeing everyone else from having to do so. moved to a big city. At home, I am totally out to everyone, and have recently met the I’m certain that gesture will endear you to everyone and they won’t mind you not being man of my dreams. I have never come out to my family, they just wouldn’t understand. a part of the viewing party. After you’ve cleaned up, go for a walk or retire to another Before I fell in love, it didn’t matter that room and watch an old movie or read a book, much. But now that gay marriage has anything but mope.
Homo for the Holidays I am going back to visit my family for
Ace Magyar has a BA in communications, a MA in sex therapy and a PHD in zoology. He is a registered couple’s counselor specializing in the GLBT community. Send your questions to ASK ACE at boieditorial@aol.com
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