9.25.13 #68
Janelle Monáe
Opens Up About Gay Inspirations, Gender-Bending and Lesbian Rumors ‘Get Wet’ with
Krewella Avicii
Stays ‘True’ on Debut Album
m o r f e t o r N o t A the Edi 9.25.13 Issue #68
STAFF MANAGEMENT David Thompson Publisher | david@davidatlanta.com Elijah Sarkesian Editor in Chief elijah@davidatlanta.com Joe Ragsdale Art Director ragsdale@davidatlanta.com Bob Gunby Sales Director | bob@davidatlanta.com
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Get Ready for a Busy Month
Over the last few years, October has turned into one of the busiest months for our community. Think about it: Out on Film runs Oct. 3–10, Atlanta Pride goes Oct. 11–13, and AIDS Walk happens Oct. 20. Just with those events alone – and you know there are plenty more in the month, too – there’s plenty to do in the month of October. That’s where we come in. Keep an eye out for our next few issues, where we give you the details on where to go and what to see. We’re also giving you tons of exclusive interviews with some great people coming to town. Be sure to see us out and about, too! We’re sponsoring a fun-filled night of films on Oct. 4 in conjunction with Out on Film, and we’ll be at the Georgia Aquarium with Atlanta Pride on Oct. 11 with a special treat. See you soon!
Elijah Sarkesian
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TOC
9.25.13 Issue #68
Cover >
Janelle Monae 16 Krewella 24 Avicii 28
Feature > Michael Urie 32 Memphis 42 Domino Presley 54
Seen@ > My Sister’s Room 10 Jungle: Turnabout 22 Mary’s 38 Oscar’s 48 Museum Bar 42 Club Rush 58 Gilbert’s / Felix’s 66
16
24
28
54
The Rest > Untucked with Brent Star 12 Creep of the Week 14 the Scene 60 Bartab 62 Datebook 64 Comics 68 Fairyscopes 72 Classifieds 73 Favorite Bitch 74 Bitch, Please! 76
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Sometimes You Gotta Suck on a Wild Cherry Sucret!
L
et’s go back…way back to 1999. An aspiring camp queen by the name of Wild Cherry Sucret auditioned for the famous camp drag group, The Armorettes, and didn’t make it. But as Aaliyah used to say, “If at first you don’t succeed, get up and try again”. In her case, she wiped her mouth, got off her knees and with a load of determination, she tried it again the following year and made it in. She has been helping them raise the millions of dollars that they’ve raised to date to benefit folks living with HIV/AIDS.
However, today she’s with them only part time because of her busy schedule. She is co-chair for Entertainment and the Coordinator for the annual Starlight Cabaret show for the Pride festival (not to mention co-emcee). She also host a game segment for the popular Big Gay Game show every third Wednesday at the Jungle for a year now, and sister girl has her own Monday night show at Blake’s (Brain Freeze Trivia and Family Feud combo, $500 given away each week!). With all that hosting duty, she could probably use a wild cherry sucret…speaking of which…
customer walked up to me and said that he was positive and that this was the first time he had laughed since finding out. That’s why I do it. To give people an escape from their lives and just laugh and have a good time. Tell us the your wildest moment as an Armorette?
Where did you get that name?
Definitely the Trailer Park Christmas Show. One year I decided to do Bing Crosby’s White Christmas…as a KKK In 1995, I was actually a part of a singing “drag group” in member. People lost their minds. iPhones were out and Athens and one day we decided to pick a name for our group. everyone was filming it. I finished the number and walked We chose the “Sucrets” because someone had a sore throat away. Knomie Moore got on the mic and was like, “Um… and there was a tin of Sucrets on the cocktail table – Honey come back out here and show the audience it was a black Lemon, Eucalyptus and Wild Cherry – The Sucrets. We were person doing it”. I guess it’s a legendary story now because a hit performing Best of My Love by the Emotions. people still talk about it today. Well I’m glad you didn’t have Ibuprofen on that table! So what do you enjoy most about being Wild Cherry Sucret?
And on that note, we’re at the end of our interview, any advice you’ll like to give an aspiring camp queen out there?
Making people laugh! That’s why I do it. I remember when the Armorettes worked at Backstreet back in the day, a
Make it funny! You don’t have to look crazy or ugly. Just make it funny! You can be pretty like me!
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Our Movies • Our Stories • Our Lives What is Out on Film?
Out on Film is Atlanta’s own LGBT film festival. We’re in our 26th season. Out on Film was created in 1987 to inform, entertain, educate and enrich the regional LGBT community by recognizing the creative work of LGBT artists and professionals.
What films will be shown?
Out on Film selects a variety of films for our LGBT audiences, including comedies, dramas, romances and documentaries. In addition, we screen multiracial and multi-cultural films.
Where is the event?
The majority of films are shown at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, 931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta GA 30308. Additional screenings will be held at other local venues.
How do I buy tickets?
Tickets can be purchased at www.outonfilm.org, the Landmark theater, and online at the Landmark’s website. Please visit www.outonfilm.org for more ticket information.
Are there other activities?
Yes. Out on Film schedules opening and closing night parties plus events before and after select films, including Q&As with filmmakers.
How can I learn more?
For details about films and schedules, including trailers, special events, and volunteering go to
www.outonfilm.org
Atlanta’s LGBT Film Festival Celebrating Pride at the Movies
October 3 - 10, 2013 Landmark Midtown Art Cinema v
This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner agency - the National Endowment for the Arts.
creep
of the week: Tony Perkins
On Sept. 12, Perkins took to the right-wing airwaves to express his outrage over Betty Crocker’s pastry pandering and to urge one-penis-one-vagina marriage supporters to boycott the brand in order to show Ms. Crocker who’s cake boss. “At Betty Crocker, the only thing they’re mixing up is their priorities. If you ask conservatives, Betty Crocker’s latest promotion is a recipe for disaster,” Perkins begins, shamelessly employing back-to-back baking-related puns. Perkins continues, “In Minnesota, where parent company General Mills is headquartered, Betty Crocker decided to donate wedding cakes to the first homosexual couples who exchanged vows on the first day that counterfeit marriage was legal.” Silly Betty Crocker. One doesn’t bring cake to a gay wedding. One brings protest signs depicting sodomy and the flames of hell. Tsk, tsk, tsk. For shame. Perkins goes on to quote Laura Forero, a spokesperson for Betty Crocker, as saying, “Betty celebrates all families” and, “We don’t want to be old fashioned.” “Unfortunately for General Mills, the majority of Americans think natural marriage is anything but old fashioned,” Perkins went on. “And they’ve made it tough on companies like Target, Starbucks, and JC Penney who disagree.”
By D’Anne Witkowski
I
f Tony Perkins knew you were coming he’d have baked a cake. That is, so long as you aren’t gay and the cake mix doesn’t have a certain homo-loving tart’s name on the side of the carton. Because apparently Betty Crocker is to loving gays what Chick-fil-A is to hating them.
You see, back on Aug. 1, Minnesota became the latest state to allow same-sex couples to get legally married. You know, to each other rather than to unsuspecting straight people. And so Betty Crocker baked up some cakes and brought them on over in order to celebrate with the newly wedded couples. Because what’s a wedding without cake? Even if that cake is made from a box mix, which in many circumstances would be kind of sad, but in this historic instance was totally awesome. Or, not so awesome if you ask Perkins, president of the anti-gay Family Research Council, a group with a name that only makes sense if you put ironic quotation marks around “Family” and “Research,” because they are anti-both. 14 // davidatlanta.com
If by “made it tough on” he means “made no discernable impact and claiming anything else is laughable,” then he has a point. But the fact is, recent boycotts launched by Christian fanatic groups like FRC don’t do anything but give a bigot a sense of righteous indignation when they, say, fill the cart with Duncan Hines Devil’s Food cake mix instead of Betty Crocker Angel Food cake mix. In fact outside of the insular world of the anti-gay right, the majority of Americans don’t even know these boycotts are going on. “Know where your money is going,” Perkins warns, and though he’s still talking about groceries, this warning is appropriate for anyone thinking of sending money to the National Organization for Marriage, which runs the Dump General Mills boycott page online, or to fraudulent groups like his own FRC. And then Perkins ends with someone truly, and unintentionally, inspired. “When you’re at the store,” he warns, “think outside the Betty Crocker box!” Yes, the phrase “think outside the box” is cliché, but it’s not Perkins hackneyed phrasing that had me laughing out loud. It’s the fact that Perkins apparently does not know or did not think about the fact that “box” is slang for “vagina.” So Perkins is basically warning you to keep Ms. Crocker’s box out of your basket. You know, for the children.
@DavidAtlantaGA // 15
Queen Dream Janelle Monรกe on her gay inspiration, genderbending and lesbian rumors B Y C H R I S A Z Z O PA R D I photos: Marc Baptiste 16 // davidatlanta.com
The ambiguity of Janelle Monáe can be summed up in her own two words: “top secret.”
I think it’s awesome. I think it’s uniting; I’m a uniter. I won’t allow myself to be a slave to my own interpretation of myself nor the interpretations that people may have of me. I just live my life, and people can feel free to discuss whatever it is that they think and use whatever adjectives they feel. It’s a free country. You’ve said The Electric Lady was inspired by a female silhouette you were painting. You saw her as a new 21st century woman who’s not marginalized. Are there any real-life women you would call “electric ladies”?
That – and, “I’m sorry, I can’t tell you” – is all she says about her pompadour when asked how it stays in a perfect pouf. It’s the kind of James Bond elusiveness that’s left a lot to the imagination since the Kansas City native spawned Absolutely. They’re walking all around every day. You can her fembot alter ego. find a lot of them in the community, nurturing the community. Electric ladies don’t have the same shape or hair color or The Electric Lady, the third in the saga, is designed to be a background, but our number one commonality is the ability prequel to the narrative of 2010’s The ArchAndroid. It’s very to want to be the change that we want to see. We want to gay – but it doesn’t mean she is. see positivity. We want to see the community cleaned up. We know that we have to go out and be leaders and take action People have speculated that the album’s first and make it happen. single, “Q.U.E.E.N.,” alludes to your attraction to women. And on “Givin Em What They Love,” Can the electric lady be a lesbian or transgender you refer to a woman who follows you back to woman? the lobby for some “undercover love.” Are people reading too much into the lesbian themes of this Oh, absolutely. Absolutely! album and applying them to you? Is the android an artifice that allows you to be more I actually have never heard that. This is the first time I’m earnest, especially politically and even sexually, hearing it. But I will say that a lot of my work always comes than you would be otherwise? from an authoritative stance, so it may not be about me; it may just be about a story, or something that I’ve witNo, no. The android represents the form of the new other. You nessed, or my imagination. You just never know. can parallel the android to someone who has been ostracized or discriminated against or marginalized, like you would of a A lot of people are relating this music directly to gay man or woman. Or African Americans during slaveries, you. even post slavery. Immigrants. The excommunicated. The untouchables. And the negroids. There are so many parallels And that’s fine. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with to the android – and it’s important to speak about the future, being gay or lesbian or straight or black or green or purple, as well – so it’s just my way of communicating to my audience so I’m OK with that. and anyone listening that these people, they walk amongst us. As an artist and as a human rights activist, I feel it’s my duty “Q.U.E.E.N.” uses phrases like “throwing shade” to speak out against any discrimination or marginalization of and “serving face,” which are often heard in drag people who might not have the power to gain control of their culture. Has the drag world influenced your style rights. and how you present yourself and your music? Why is standing up for the oppressed, particularly Yes. I think it is an art form that’s so funny and so inspiring, the gay community, important to you? so I use it in my lyrics. I have gay friends who speak in this language, and it’s just hilarious and entertaining and I Because I can relate. I can relate being a woman and being thought it would be cool to, you know, give them something African American. There are definitely stereotypes that I am to kiki about. fighting against. There is marginalization. There is sexism. So many things that I think we’re mutually having to go Because of your fondness for suits, people have through. And I have parents, I have friends, I have loved ones described you in some ways as being a drag who come from working-class backgrounds and who have king. oftentimes definitely felt oppressed. And I have friends who are gay. I have people I love and care about, and I feel like I Right. want to use my platform to bring awareness and talk about that. “Q.U.E.E.N.” was written for those who are oftentimes How do you feel about the term “gender bender” marginalized. I mention the word “marginalized” a lot, but it’s as it’s applied to you? important that people understand what that word means and what we can do to get rid of it. @DavidAtlantaGA // 17
Do you feel that artists have a responsibility to stand up for causes they believe in, or is doing so simply a personal choice you’ve made? It’s a personal choice. I don’t think the world should put any pressure on artists to be leaders; it’s just been a personal choice of mine. Your heart has to feel propelled to want to be a leader. If that’s your calling, you go after it. From the beginning, your hope was to unite people and bridge gaps among various communities, including the LGBT community. How is The Electric Lady an extension of that career mission?
encourage healthy self-expression and selfimage for future generations? By just allowing your kids and the people around you to be themselves. We have so many different ways to live marketed to us in the media – what we should look like, what beauty is – and it’s so important to embrace the things that make you unique, even if it makes other people uncomfortable. You never know whom you’ll free by just being yourself – flaws and all.
I just think it’s so important that at a young age we teach our kids and those whose future we’re nurturing that it’s OK to love whomever it is that you love and whom you’re attracted to – and it’s OK to like a dress if you’re a boy I think that The Electric Lady is interested in a purple and to like a pantsuit if you’re a girl. These are just fears state – not a red one or a blue one, but mixing those that previous generations have placed upon us, or people colors together and creating something that everyone can who’ve tried to control us and make us believe that this is believe in. With more compassion for one another, we will just bad. But I think whenever you stop the true essence be more united and able to look past our religious beliefs of a person loving who they are – the god-given person and sexual preferences and realize that we came into this that they’ve been blessed to be – that is a crime. world together and we’ll leave together, and so we have to protect each other and protect ourselves while we’re What does being part of the queer community here. mean to you? I have songs on The Electric Lady – from “Sally Ride” to “Electric Lady” to “Q.U.E.E.N.,” and the list goes on – where I definitely thought of the gay community in terms of a community that is oftentimes discriminated against and marginalized. Again, when I speak about the android, it’s the other. And I think, again, you can parallel that to the gay community, to the black community, to women – we have so many things in common, and we sometimes don’t know it when we allow small things to get in the way. So this music is meant to inspire and bring wings to those who are weak and grace to those when they are strong. You’ve told Rolling Stone that “the lesbian community has tried to claim me.” How did they try to claim you? I was just making an observation. You know, the straight community has tried to claim me as well – sorry, maybe that didn’t get written in the article. But the straight community tried to claim me, the android community tried to claim me, the Hispanic community tried to claim me. We can go on and on. (Laughs) It just feels good to be loved. And no disrespect to anybody. You have challenged and redefined the concepts of masculine and feminine fashion in a way that really resonates with the queer community. How do you personally think our society can begin to 18 // davidatlanta.com
It means everything. I feel like I have a community to continue to write music for and inspire and empower. There are so many people in the queer community who have committed suicide for being shunned by their families, there have been hate crimes – and I’m just about love. I’m ready to unite. I want to make sure that I’m living on Dr. King’s dream. I feel like it is my job as a descendant of that dream to stand up for other civil rights and human rights.
@DavidAtlantaGA // 19
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Getting ‘Wet’ with
Krewella BY DY L A N M I C H A EL 24 // davidatlanta.com
O
ne of the biggest EDM groups out right now is Krewella, as evidenced by their hit single earlier this year, “Alive.” They are not only named after my favorite Disney villain of all time (spelling aside) – they make music that is deep, danceable and can make you feel so many emotions, you’d think you were going through menopause! Krewella is made up of sisters Jahan and Yasmine Yousaf (both half Pakistani, quarter German and a quarter Lithuanian) and Chris Trindl, better known as “Rain Man.” I’ve been a fan of Krewella since they dropped their Play Hard EP in 2012, so when I got the opportunity to speak to Jahan one on one to talk to her about the future of Krewella, as well as the past and how it feels to be the new face of EDM pop music, I jumped at the chance! Here’s what happened: Hi Jahan! How are you? Fine, thanks! I’m exhausted! We’re going through Phoenix, Arizona right now – no, wait. Scottsdale, Arizona. Sorry, I can’t even keep up with where we are now! Ah, the joys of touring! (Laughs)
As a group, we’ve only been together since 2007, but I was in choir my whole life. Yasmine was in an indie band when she was only 14, and Chris has always played guitar since Well, that’s awesome that you guys are that busy! he was 10. As far as our “big break” goes, I don’t think that So, jumping right into this! For those of us who there was one moment. There wasn’t one moment where it don’t already know you, introduce yourselves! wasn’t clear what we had to do to make this work. We had to continue writing, and working, and creating. If we got lazy, Well, my name is Jahan, and I make up one-third of the band we would fall off the grid, you know? But I will say that there Krewella with my older sister Yasmine and our producer are key moments in our career that have been placed on a Chris, or “Rain Man.” My sister and I write the songs, lyrics timeline. and melodies, and Chris produces the tracks for us. We played our first big festival of 1,000 people a year ago: Fabulous! I know you said that you two ladies are Meltdown Dallas. And it was the first time that we played for sisters, but how did you connect with Chris? a group of people that were chanting FOR us and knew our music. And we’ve gotten to a point now that, luckily, it hapI actually met Chris back in 2007 when I was in high school pens every time we play. You know, with 30 other major DJs and partying in the metal scene. At the time we were all at the same festival, with that happening, I feel like we’re in school, so the idea of a band just kinda started out as a doing something right. hobby. In the beginning, we were producing 80s dance pop type music. I would write to it and it was just a good time. Also, the shift from dance radio to top 40 radio was amazing. None of us took it seriously because, we though, at 16, the It’s that crazy moment when my friends and family hear us idea of doing music as a career just wasn’t feasible. Now I’m on the radio. Or people find out about us by hearing our song amazed by how often I meet people who are younger than I in Jamba Juice. It’s just crazy. am and producing/DJing. It’s crazy! A couple of years after we started, we began focusing on making real music. Since Billboard declared “Krewella will be huge this year” after this year’s Ultra Music Festival, do How did y’all decide on the name “Krewella”? you feel any pressure to live up to hype? I actually thought of the name when I was coming up with lyrics. I like names that stick out that you remember forever. There are so many bands that “The (Blanks)” or “The (Blank Blanks)” and they tend to get lost in the fray. The name isn’t unique. But what I like about Krewella is that it sticks like glue. Everyone knows the characters, so the name already has this dark feminine vibe combined with the beautiful melodies we create!
You know what? Our team, managers, everybody we work with are so challenging anyway, so no. (Laughs) We, as a group, don’t take breaks and we always try to do better. We’re used to the “hype” by now. But I don’t pay attention to what people say; I’m only competing with myself. Every night that I perform, I’m trying to perform better than the last time. It’s the same with writing – I’m never satisfied, always growing.
How long have you been in the music scene, and what was your “big break”?
Who are your influences? Do you have any off the wall influences? @DavidAtlantaGA // 25
(Laughs) Now this is a tough question! It’s funny, because we don’t actually agree on anything! The only influences that we can all agree on are: System Of A Down, Fallout Boy and Linkin Park. But that’s musically. As far as writing goes, we’ve been influenced by Incubus, and top 40 songwriters like Ester Dean. Chris is still inspired by metal, the same metal he listened to years ago! How did it feel to win “Best Breakthrough Artist” at the International Dance Music Awards? That was SO amazing because we were up against artists that we’re huge fans of. Artists that have been around much longer than us, and it was such an honor. The good thing about the dance music scene is that there is a very tightknit 26 // davidatlanta.com
community, so we know all the radio guys, and it’s just amazing to get recognition for our work. What can we expect on your new album Get Wet? It has a song for every emotion: there’s a party song, there’s a song that if you’re sad, it can feel like your best friend. There’s a song to rage to if you feel full of anger and hate. It’s full of energy, and melodically, we went through so many production phases. So, this album is by far better than anything else we’ve ever written. Make sure to scoop up Krewella’s album Get Wet when it hits stores Sept. 24, and look for them when they come through town on Nov. 7! For more information on Krewella, hit up krewella.net.
Staying
‘True’ Avicii Opens Up About His New Album
T
wo-time Grammy nominated producer/DJ Avicii, a.k.a. Tim Bergling, releases an all new studio album True, out now via PRMD Music/Island Records. Despite global successes in concert, on the radio and in video, this will be Avicii’s first full album ever. In this exclusive chat with the superstar international DJ, mixer, and producer, Avicii talks about his new album, spinning at gay clubs, performing with Madonna, the shift in LGBT rights across the world and working with Adam Lambert. Congrats on making a great record. The record is not just about the singles. It’s a nice ride all the way through. It’s one of those records that you can listen to from start to finish.
job on the demo, we were like, “Why go look for someone else? It’s brilliant as it is.” There was another song we did with Adam. It was about going down on a girl. He was like “well it’s not for me, but I’ll sing it. I’ll do it for the people, I’ll go down for the people” One way or another we all go down! I don’t know how you did it, but you’ve managed to put all these different genres together, and managed to make a balanced record. Whether you are hitting a dance vibe, a traditional bluegrass vibe or a rock vibe. One of the tracks, “Liar Liar” has a 60’s psychedelic vibe keyboard to it. Let’s talk about the track for a minute.
Thank you. One of the tracks on True that we are hoping is the next single is “Lay It Down” with Adam Lambert. What was it like working with Adam?
“Liar Liar” was done with Aloe Blacc and Blondfire [an indie band from LA]. I was kinda mashing two tracks together. I already had two ideas, so I pulled them together and they just kind of worked well mashed into one.
It was great. Adam has an amazing voice. More than anything, What is the keyboard sound in that track? he’s also a great writer. But his voice is just insane! He’s like a reincarnation of Freddie Mercury. Actually more like a mixture It is farfisa. It’s an amazing keyboard sound that hasn’t been of Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant. used in a long time. Is that what attracted you to working with Adam? His showmanship as a performer? Yeah, I think so. It was Nile Rodgers that kinda had the connection with him and brought him down to put the vocals on a demo that Nile and I did. We weren’t even intending to have him sing on the final track. But then he did such an amazing 28 // davidatlanta.com
It has a classic vibe. When you listen to that track it reminds me of something coming out of Los Angeles in the 60’s. For sure. A lot of the elements on this record are like that. Their sounds give different imagery and a lot of different influences. Like we have a kazoo on one track. There was a lot of
experimenting in general on the record.
would you like to comment on the changes?
You definitely get that that from the record. You get the live feel, the traditional and non- traditional instruments come through, even when they are played over a heavy beats driven track.
I have family and friends that are gay and it’s an important issue for me. I grew up in Sweden. So it’s really not that much of an issue in Sweden the same way it is for gay marriage in America. Even within the society in general. At least from what I feel growing up. I’ve never had any friends That’s definitely the point of True. That was my main goal being homophobic or never even heard any parents being and to achieve a sound that works on and off the dance floor. homophobic. I’ve never even seen that. But in America, you still see homophobia. It’s getting better but you can tell that What was it like working in LA? You actually sat it still exists. still for a minute in LA around the time of the Grammys. I know you were out there for more Talk to me about your charity House For Hunger. than a couple of weeks. It’s great that you are doing charitable and philanthropic work at an early stage in your career. I loved it. That’s when I feel the best, mentally, physically and everything. Just not having to travel constantly, doing a Thank you. It is a joint thing with my manager, Ash couple of shows a week but on weekends have a house to go Pournouri. We wanted to do something for charity for a back to. It doesn’t necessarily have to be LA, but of course while. We didn’t want to just do a charity show. We wanted I love LA. I’ll probably be there for the next couple of years. to do something more. Something bigger and something The work is there and it’s such a creative environment. that hasn’t been done before. It’s sort of what we try to do with everything we approach. We always set the bar very Did you learn how to drive out there? high right from the start and that’s what we are still doing. We are actually going to go back and look at how the money Ha… No. I’m still using my uber app. (laughing) we raised was put to use through the charity, so that is something that I am excited about. For more information, The other track on the record that resonated with visit houseforhunger.org. us is “Addicted To You” I could see that instantly becoming a gay anthem . Last question: what was it like working with Madonna on her last tour? (Laughs) Yes definitely it has that very house diva-ish vibe. So yeah I can see that. It was amazing, I played at Yankee Stadium twice and that was definitely a big gay show. There were a lot of very Have you ever played at a gay club? animated people, a lot of drag queens and tons of fun. I have played at gay clubs. I haven’t played at an exclusive gay night in America yet. But there have been gay clubs and spaces that I’ve played in. When I spin, it isn’t just gay people that come out; it’s for everyone. It’s a lot calmer, there isn’t as much violence and more about fun. Just less bras being thrown at me! The gay community has always been the primary audience that drove dance music into the mainstream. In the last 10 years, that has changed somewhat with dance music being driven by the wider festival circuit and the mainstream, what are your thoughts on that? Well it’s constantly changing and evolving. As for the gay community, especially with house music (which is what I do), that’s where it started. I worked a lot with Nile Rodgers and we’ve done about 6 or 7 tracks together and we spoke a lot about that too. It’s just funny, ‘cause all his music started and rooted in the gay community and so many gay people have been his audience for such a long time. Not only has danced music changed in the past 10 years, but so has the shift in LGBT rights across the world. Have you felt the changes or @DavidAtlantaGA // 29
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Catching Up with
MICHAEL
URIE Actor talks breaking from Ugly Betty, sexually mysterious new role and being Barbra BY CHRIS A Z ZOPARDI 32 // davidatlanta.com
photo: Christopher Beyer
M
ichael Urie doesn’t mean to disappoint you. It’s just that after basically becoming Marc St. James on Ugly Betty, the hit ABC comedy that launched his career, he’s often expected to be a flamboyantly catty queen. And he’s not. His role in Petunia, a new indie from Wolfe out now on DVD, is almost the antithesis of Marc: aloof, not-so-effeminate and sexually ambiguous, George is the kind of man the 33-year-old actor has longed to play.
In addition to his enigmatic part in Petunia, Urie talked about entertaining the idea of a polyamorous relationship, the trick to impersonating Barbra Streisand and not living up to people’s Ugly Betty expectations. George is a different role for you. What was it like stepping into his shoes for Petunia? That’s exactly what I was so excited about when I read it. I thought it was such a good script. Halfway through reading it I was laughing at situations based on character traits, not just jokes and physical bits. I was really interested in it because I love – as you can probably imagine – camping out and being silly and being the center of attention and the colorful one, but it was really great and exciting for me to tone it down and play a more introspective character. Did you know filmmaker Ash Christian and his work before this script came to you?
Yeah! That was another thing that I thought was really cool – that there was this character (Ash) wrote who wasn’t entirely happy in his marriage but wasn’t necessarily looking to get out of it. I loved the scenes where George wants to have his cake and eat it too. The moment where he thought maybe he could have a wife and a boyfriend – that was really interesting. And obviously I know that’s not a healthy thing, but I can’t say I haven’t thought about it. (Laughs) Well, there are people in polyamorous relationships who seem to make it work. What are your thoughts on poly relationships, and do you think you could make one work? I don’t know. Ultimately, if I could make that work, obviously all three parties would have to be 100 percent on the same page. One partner is plenty of work anyway. That would be the thing for me. I mean, I’m lucky in life that I’m quite busy, so keeping up with one partner is plenty, but what I loved about (George) was the idea that maybe I could vicariously see what that felt like. I don’t think it would actually work for me personally. Maybe for other people, or maybe as an experiment for a period of time. I don’t think Ryan would be so into it. (Laughs) Currently you’re starring in the off-Broadway production of your one-man show Buyer & Cellar.
I got to know it because of this. He and my partner, Ryan, are old friends, so I knew him socially. He’d also been on an episode of Ugly Betty, but I didn’t work with him, so I didn’t know him from that. I remembered his work, though, because he’s a great actor as well. Are you and your family anything like the Petunias? (Laughs) No. Nooo! I think the three boys’ dynamic is a pretty specific thing and my parents – we’re from Texas – spent most of their lives in Texas. I have an older sister who’s about seven years older than I am and is married to a woman, so we have a very different thing going on. She’s in northern California, I’m in New York, my parents are now in Virginia. We get along very well but don’t meddle in each other’s lives like the Petunias, so there’s a lot less friction and conflict in our family. Helps being so far apart from each other. Yes, it does! It absolutely does. So the time together is isolated and lovely. (Laughs) You’ve been with women in the past, and you identity as “queer” and not gay. So was this sexually mysterious role something you were interested in on a personal level? @DavidAtlantaGA // 33
photo: Wolfe Releasing
Because of it, you’ve said you’re more invested in Barbra Streisand than you’ve ever been. What have you learned and observed about Barbra from doing this show that even her most devoted gay fans wouldn’t know? In preparing for this show and preparing to play her, what was most beneficial to me was not her singing, which is what she’s most popular for I would imagine, and not her interviews – for the most part she keeps interviewers at arm’s length and she’s pretty guarded – but it was her performances in movies. And I’m certainly not the first person to discover that Barbra Streisand is a great actor, but I realized that when we watch her in movies, especially movies like Funny Girl or What’s Up, Doc?, we get to see that sense of play that you don’t really get in her concert banter or in interviews. That to me is the real her.
Will you bring the show on the road? I hope so. I would like to. We’ll see. There are some rumblings but nothing to report just yet. I would like to do it. We’re gonna stay in New York for a while longer and there are certainly other cities I would like to play in, so I think so. Within the last year, two gay-themed shows were canceled after just one season. One of those was your show, Partners. Do you think gay-themed shows are tough sells on major networks?
I don’t know if it’s a gay-themed show thing. I think network television is a very tricky beast, and ultimately I feel like Partners could’ve found its footing. Unfortunately we had a lot of episodes – there were seven episodes that never saw the light of day – that are brilliant. But it’s tricky. Networks are becoming more and more niche, and Partners really belonged amongst different shows. We were surrounded by very funny That is the her that we have in our play, and our play is a shows like How I Met Your Mother and 2 Broke Girls, but fictional story of what it might be like to work for her and her street shops that she keeps in her basement – that is very maybe we needed to be in a different crop of shows. I think it was less about the gay thing and more about just finding a real, by the way. (Laughs) It’s sort of a fantasia on that, and so I found that watching her silliness in movies, and watching family of shows that we fit better in. But it’s funny: Six-and-athat fun that she had and is now continuing to have, is the real half million viewers is a lot of people. A lot of people saw that her. And I don’t know her. I have never met her. I don’t know if show, but on CBS, that unfortunately is not a hit and I get it. I ever will. But that, to me, is probably the Barbra that is really Though it would’ve been nice if they would’ve nurtured us. there if you were to break down the barriers ... and live in her Look on the bright side: At least you got to kiss mall. (Laughs) Brandon Routh. 34 // davidatlanta.com
(Laughs) That’s exactly right! There was a really funny blooper that, of course, nobody will get to see where we did the kiss and then I messed up a line and I said, “I’m sorry, can we do it again?” Your role on Ugly Betty as Marc St. James was so iconic and sometimes, when you essentially almost become that role, it’s hard for people to separate you from the character. Did you experience that at all? Absolutely. In real life I’m more like George in Petunia than Marc. I enjoy playing characters like Marc, but me personally, I’m not generally like that. I can get excited, but I’m not bitchy or fashionable or a sycophant or any of the things that Marc was, but those characters are so much fun to play. What I found very quickly when that show started and was at its height in popularity – I was new to L.A. – was that I was not meeting anyone’s expectations. People wanted me to be Marc. They wanted me to be like that, and then immediately, as soon as they’d lay eyes on me they knew I wasn’t. Especially when they started talking to me, they realized, “Oh, he’s not that,” or they’d think I was playing coy or being shy. That was a very interesting period for me to realize that, on the one hand, I liked the attention but I wasn’t going to be able to give people what they wanted. I had to remain aloof and keep myself in an air of mystery because I wasn’t going to be what they wanted. I wasn’t going to be the king gay – the catty, stylish, fashionable, funny guy they all wanted me to be. That just wasn’t in my nature. I needed someone to clothe me and give me lines to say in order to be that. It was an interesting lesson learned, actually. How did it feel knowing you couldn’t be that person to them? I felt bad. But it was probably for the best. I don’t really wanna be like that guy. It’s not in my nature. There have been rumors of an Ugly Betty movie. Are you open to the idea? Oh my god, are you kidding? All I want in life is to work with those people again. I’m always trying to come up with ways to get back with all of them. We’ve really remained as tight of a group as we were without being able to see each other on a daily basis. I know everyone of us would jump at a chance to make a movie. Unfortunately, it’s not our call. I hope it happens. I think it would be terrific. Are you looking at any new TV roles? Nothing in particular, but I would love to get back on TV. My appetite was very much whetted with Partners last year. We shot that in front of an audience – that’s where my bread is buttered, being out in front of an audience. Doing a multicamera show, it’s so much fun. It’s like the best of both worlds for me. @DavidAtlantaGA // 35
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MADE FOR
MEMPHIS BY JOSEPH BROWNELL
P
ut on my blue suede shoes and I boarded the plane. Well, not exactly, but armed with my iPod and Cher’s version of the Mark Cohn hit “Walking in Memphis,” I headed up to the land of the Delta Blues to see exactly what it felt like to walk with my feet ten feet off of Beale.
Memphis looks poor, but once you look beyond what meets the eye, you find that Memphis is rich in history, music and food.
Unfortunately, I missed the ghost of Elvis but did catch the famous Peabody Hotel ducks. I wasn’t able to locate Justin Timberlake’s house but jammed to the street musicians and performers on Beale Street. Memphis also provided the chance to reflect on our nation’s history and the ongoing struggle for equality with the National Civil Rights Museum. And, of course, I chowed down on some Memphis BBQ. You see from the outside looking in, one might think
Both history and music buffs, rejoice. Memphis boasts a stellar lineup of sites and attractions to visit.
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Key Memphis Sites and Attractions
First, make sure you check out Graceland. Graceland has several different touring packages, including a $70 VIP tour for the biggest of Elvis fans. Advance ticket purchase is recommended and can be found at elvis.com
After Graceland, check out the legendary Sun Studio. Nicknamed the ‘Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ Sun Studio was the setting to the jam session between Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins on December 4, 1956. That day also serves as the story for the hit Broadway play, Million Dollar Quartet.
Graceland
Other musical sites, tour and attractions include: the W.C. Handy Home and Museum, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the St. Blues Guitar Workshop. Memphis also hosts the country’s National Civil Rights Museum, which is a must-visit for any Memphis tourist. The Museum is built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Currently the National Civil Rights Museum is undergoing renovations but several exhibits chronicling key events in the Civil Rights Movement as well as the assassination of Dr. King remain open. Admission is $10. Quack, Quack. That’s right, if you’re going to Memphis, you have to check out the Peabody Hotel Ducks. Since the 1930’s, when weary owner and companion left their live decoy ducks in the fountain following a hunting trip, the Peabody Hotel Ducks have been a Peabody tradition. Stars in their own right, the Peabody Ducks have graced the small screen from Oprah to Bert and Ernie and hundreds flock daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to see the hallowed mallards march the red carpet from Duck Palace into the lobby fountain.
Lorraine Motel
Memphis Neighborhoods Flanked by the Mississippi River, downtown is by far the most bustling area of Memphis. It’s where you’ll find the Peabody Hotel and at its southern tip, you’ll find the National Civil Rights Museum. And from the Orpheum Theatre, where you can catch the best in Broadway and concerts, to the nightly celebrations of Blues and BBQ on Beale Street, downtown is the hub of Memphis nightlife. Beale Street is calmer during the day so be sure to check out the “brass note” markers along Beale Street to fully appreciate the area’s rich blues’ history as well as influence. Day or night, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Rum Boogie Café are two hot spots to check out. If you venture south down Main Street, you’ll arrive at the South Main Arts District, which has evolved over the years as the hushed cousin of Beale Street. You’ll find small boutiques, art galleries as well as lower-key restaurants and clubs. Although downtown is easily navigable on foot, carry cash and take a ride on the Main Street Trolley that will take you from one end to the other for only $1. Midtown Memphis plays host to several neighborhoods worth checking out. First, though Overton Park, much like Piedmont Park, is a 342-acre anchor to Midtown. The @DavidAtlantaGA // 43
parks hosts concerts and movies and is also the home to the Memphis Zoo. Arts fans will want to check out Overton Square, a thriving theatre district with several playhouses and boutique movie theater. And just a mile down Cooper from Overton Square, you’ll find Cooper-Young, the funky neighborhood that boasts the locally-owned Goner Records as well as Burke’s Book Store and several great dining options. On Saturdays, the area hosts the Cooper-Young Community Farmer’s Market. Memphis LGBT Community Memphis has a bold LGBT community. Situated in the Cooper Young area of Midtown, you’ll find the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC). With extensive programming, the MGLCC is the center to Memphis LGBT life and the host of their annual OutFlix Festival, which last month celebrated 16 years of LGBT cinema. Memphis has three area LGBT bars. For a karaoke crowd that is diverse, but mostly lesbian, check out Dru’s Place (1474 Madison Ave.). It’s important to note that Dru’s Place only serves beer but you can bring in your own liquor for a small bottle fee. Also, there is a two-drink minimum so remember that when planning your visit. For the gay male crowd, head over to what is considered Memphis’ leather bar, The Pumping Station (1382 Poplar Ave.). With an industrial set-up, much like The Cock Pit, the bar is kind of cramped in the front (patrons and pool) but is much roomier than you would believe. Head towards the back with several tables or the outdoor deck complete with a secret space encompassing a tree for a good time.
Club Spectrum
Central BBQ Finally, if you’re in Memphis to shake it, then head over to Club Spectrum (616 Marshall Ave.). I didn’t get the chance to visit but was told the club hosts drag performances and boasts two dance floors. Expect a cover. Memphis Food BBQ—there’s nothing wrong with eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. After seeking out the opinion of many, we ended up at Central BBQ, which has many Memphis locations, including downtown and midtown. The line at the midtown location was out the door but the service was fast and the pork was perfectly smoked. Other BBQ recommendations (that we didn’t try) were Pig on Beale and The Bar-B-Q Shop. Outside of BBQ, Memphis has plenty of diverse food options. In the South Main Arts District, check out the Arcade Restaurant and South of Beale (SOB). Arcade Restaurant serves classic breakfasts and Southern plate lunches that will surely hit the spot. While, SOB was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and worth dropping in for crafted cocktails and their Duck Fried Rice as well as their yummy Jack and Coke Bread Pudding. Also, make sure you seek out The Cheesecake Corner for some of the most delicious cheesecake I have ever tasted. 44 // davidatlanta.com
Over in Cooper-Young area of Midtown, you can try Sweet Grass for higher-end, low-country cuisine or for meat-free dining check out Imagine Vegan Café. And if you happen to catch a show over in Overton Square, make sure you check out Café 1912.
Big Boi and more in 2013 and is sure to have a 2014 lineup to rival. Plus, tickets were less than $100 for three days. The 2014 event takes places May 2-4 and the Cooking Contest takes place May 15-17.
When to Visit Other notable festivals include: four days of Rock ‘N’ Roll Memphis is more than likely not recommended during the during Goner Fest, held Sept. 26-29, and RiverArtsFest, blazing heat of a September Saturday, but the city boasts held Oct. 27-29. a near year-round calendar of festivals and events includBeyond Memphis ing its month long cultural celebration, Memphis in May. Quite possibly the largest of Memphis’ festivals, the annual Memphis in May is a month-long international celebration in conjuncture with the Beale Street Music Festival and World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. 2014 honors are bestowed upon Panama and Memphis will pay tribute to the cultures and traditions through many events in May. The Beale Street Music Festival was headlined by The Black Keys, Sheryl Crow,
You can easily do Memphis in two and a half days, so you may want to carve out sometime for a half-day trip to Tunica, just 35 minutes or so south of Memphis, to get your gambling fix. With several casinos and concerts, the drive is worth the chance to hit the jackpot. Check upcoming concert listings at tunicatravel.com/entertainment as we missed Diana Ross performing.
South of Beale
@DavidAtlantaGA // 45
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DOMINO
Behind the Camera BY ELIJAH SARKESIAN
F
rom drag queen to adult film actress, Domino Presley’s career has been built in large part on her appearance. The sometimes-Atlanta resident’s physical transformation has won her a significant share of fans, particularly in the adult industry. But there’s more to Domino Presley than what’s shown on camera. I spoke with Domino recently about her identity as a trans woman, misconceptions she contends with, and more. You identify as trans. When did you realize that your body didn’t necessarily represent your gender? I was in third grade when I first told someone I thought I was supposed to be a girl. There’s a line that runs down your gooch and when I was a child I was convinced my parents wanted a boy so bad they sewed up my vagina and that was the scar. But I didn’t realize I could transition until I was 19 or 20. Have you had to deal with misconceptions about yourself from others because you identify as trans?
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Oh, all the time. People assume we all have STDs and are prostitutes. Not true. I’ve never had an STD. [Laughs] You spent some time performing as a drag queen. How did you get your start in the drag scene? I needed to pay rent and there was a competition at Hoedowns hosted by Charlie Brown. The winner got $500. I competed and won. I really enjoyed performing so I eventually turned it into a regular thing. What led you to start your adult film career? What all does that career entail for you personally? When I was little I saw a Playboy magazine under my parents bed and ever since then I wanted to be one of those girls. The kind of girl men jerk off to. But I’m way more interested in the modeling aspect of it. I’m not one hundred percent comfortable being naked and aroused in front of a group of men I’m not interested in. It’s not just fucking on film. There’s a lot of work that goes into it and a lot of it is extremely uncomfortable. They want you to be pretty with jizz in your eye.
Who would you say is your main audience in your adult film career? Straight men. People are so focused on putting a label on everyone but people also forget that people are into some fucked up shit. Gay men don’t really watch my porn, why would they? I look like a girl, I just happen to have a penis. Being transgendered is a completely different gender, so the people that are into us just don’t have a label yet (other than tranny chaser). And most guys don’t admit they’re into trans girls because they’re scared of what other people think. I’m a chick with a dick, not a dude with boobs.
ready to shoot for a few new DVDs: Tranny Astronauts in Outer Space which is being directed by legendary Buddy Wood and I will be playing the role of Queen Domino, Shemale from planet Shemalia. I’m also in talks about a role in an actual movie. It’s an urban comedy and that’s all I can say. Is there anything else you would like to add? Yes! Follow me on Twitter, @DominoPresley.
What was the general response to your transition into the adult film industry? Very few people were supportive. But the ones who did support my decision were greatly appreciated – EJ Aviance, Alissah Brooks, Destiny and Shawnna Brooks. People tend to look down on my job but then again they don’t pay my bills. My Atlanta friends started being more supportive the more popular I got. Shade. You fairly recently moved to California, if I understand correctly. What led to the move? Will you still be spending time here in Atlanta? Well, moved back. I lived there for three years, then came back for a year and half (sort of for a guy in Midtown, but that didn’t work out). I also have family here so I’ll be back every now and then. California is just where I’m meant to be. I work out there, my boyfriend lives there, you can make anything happen for yourself out there… And pot is legal! What projects do you have coming up that you’d like to share with our readers? I have new sets being released on every major trans adult site coming out within the next couple months. I’m getting
@DavidAtlantaGA // 55
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theScene 1
10th & Piedmont 991 Piedmont Ave. NE
14 Cowtippers
27 Jungle
40 The Model T
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Amsterdam 502 Amsterdam Ave. NE
15 Daiquiri Factory
28 Las Margaritas
41 Tripps
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Atlanta Eagle 306 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE
16 Einstein's
29 Manifest 4 U
42 Urban Body Fitness
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BJ Roosters 2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd.
17 F.R.O.G.S
30 Mixx
43 Woof's
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Blake's 227 10th St. NE
18 Felix's
31 Oscar's
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Bliss 2284 Cheshire Bridge Rd.
19 Flex Spa
32 Opus 1
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Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave. NE
20 Friends
33 Roxx
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Brushstrokes 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE
21 Gatsby's
34 Sam's Hair Salon
Le Buzz 585 Franklin Rd. SE Marietta, GA
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Bubbles Salon 1579 Monroe Dr. NE
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Mary's 1287 Glenwood Ave. SE
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My Sister's Room 1271 Glenwood Ave. SE
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Club Rush 2715 Buford Hwy. NE
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Sister Louisa’s Church 466 Edgewood Ave. SE
13 Club Eros
26 Joe's on Juniper
39 The Hideaway
Swinging Richard's 1400 Northside Dr. NW
893 Peachtree St. NE 1492 Piedmont Ave. NE 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE 2219 Faulkner Rd. NE
1600 Piedmont Ave. NE 889 W. Peachtree Str. NW 1077 Juniper St. NE 931 Monroe Cir. NE 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE 76 4th St. NW
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2103 Faulkner Rd. NE
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708 Spring Str. NW Not Shown: Cockpit 465 Boulevard SE
1086 Alco St. NE
736 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE 931 Monroe Dr. NE 219 10th St. NE
1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 2000 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd.
2201 Faulkner Rd. NE 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 1551 Piedmont Ave. NE 1049 Juniper Str. NE
990 Piedmont Ave. Ne 2135 Liddell Dr. NE 794 Juniper Str. NE 1544 Piedmont Ave. NE
Bar/Cocktails
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Bartab
got an upcoming event? calendar@davidatlanta.com
MONDAY
hideaway 1/2 Price Beer model t Party with Elvis - 9 pm BLAKE’S Game Night - Trivia / Family oscar’s Ruby Redd’s After Party - 10 pm Feud 11pm | Back to back episodes of Will swinging richards 2-4-1 VIP Room & Grace 9pm upstairs ten atlanta Drag-a-maki w/ Kitty BURKHART’S Blue Monday Karaoke w/ LeClaw 8:30pm Angelica D’Paige 11:30pm tripp’s Free Taco Bar 5pm COCKPIT Big Red Cup All Day, specials xcess ultra lounge Raquell Lord’s EAGLE Music Videos with Scotty Talent Show 10:30pm, Sophia Mcintosh & FELIX’S Free Pool Fab 5 +1 11:30pm, 18+ FRIENDS Manic Mondays DJ opens - 2 pm woof’s Food Special, Trivia 8pm HERETIC Jukebox drag with Knomie Moore HIDEAWAY $2.50 Domestic Beer JUNGLE Stars of the Century Show 11pm blake’s Texas Hold’Em Poker 7pm, “Guys MODEL T Monday Night Madness Free & Dolls” with Shawnna Brooks. 11pm Pool - 10pm - 2am OSCAR’S Service Industry Night with Eric BURKHART’S Twisted Thursday w/ Phoenix 11:30pm swinging richards Hip-Hop Night, cockpit Dirty Boy Bingo w/ Ruby Redd Sponsored by Hennessy 8:30pm eagle Balls Deep Karaoke w/ Mikey ten atlanta Poker Night TRIPP’S Monday Nite Madness w/ Tana 9pm felix’s Karaoke w/ Brett & Tyler 10pm friends Where Girls Who Like Girls Meet WOOF’S Texas Hold ‘Em Poker 8pm Girls with Regina Simms 8-closing Gilbert’s Wine tasting 6-10pm heretic 3 Legged Cowboy Night 9pm BLAKE’S POP! Karaoke w/ Sasie Monroe hideaway Service Industry Night 11pm | Back to back episodes of Will & jungle Crazy Bitch Bingo 8pm Grace 9pm upstairs mIXX Gentlemen Cocktails with Aaron & BURKHART’S Trivia Tuesday Karaoke w/ Matt at 6pm Angelica D’Paige 11:30pm model t Party Time with Michael - 9 pm club rush “Tipsy Tuesday” 18 & up oscar’s Twisted Thursday with Eric Open until 4am swinging richards 2-4-1 VIP & Entry COCKPIT 80s Party 9pm, specials 5-8pm xcess ultra lounge Turnt Up Thursday EAGLE Tuesdays w/ Tony woof’s Food Special, Country Music 7pm FELIX’S Smirnoff Martini Night FRIENDS Let’s Make A Deal with Ken 6 pm Gilbert’s Industry Night (complementary 10th & piedmont Live DJ 10 PM pizza after 10pm) HERETIC 2-Step Tuesday, dance till 11pm blake’s 5-9pm TGIF, Charlie’s Angels Drag Show w/ Charlie Harding 11pm HIDEAWAY Trivia with Wil 9 pm BURKHART’S Fab Five w/ Angelica JUNGLE We Are Family 9pm D’Paige 11:30pm MIXX Piano with David Reeb at 8pm club rush “Got Leche” Free entry until MODEL T Wii Tuesday Afternoons 2pm 11pm 18 & up - Open until 4am 9pm $2.50 beer / $3.0 well vodka OSCAR’S Show Tune Tuesday with Chad- cockpit DJ Diablo Rojo, guest VJ/DJ’s eagle DJ Dance Party 8 pm friends Happy Time Friday Kelly & Ken 6 pm SWINGING RICHARDS 1/2 Price cover heretic FUR Friday WOOF’S Industry Day Free Wii 5pm hideaway Kick Back Fridays! jungle Dinner and a Movie 7 pm; The Other Show with Edie Cheezburger 9:30pm BLAKE’S 5-9pm Doug’s party pop hits, mixx Ron’s End of the Week Party 4pm | Charlie Harding’s Hard Body Party 11 pm Grown & Sexy Dance 10 pm BURKHART’S Humpday Karaoke w/ model t Friday Bagels - 10 am | Texas Darlene Majewski 11:30pm Holdem Poker 8 pm COCKPIT Balls Deep Karaoke 10pm oscar’s Music Video Night EAGLE Underwear Night with Tony swinging richards T-Shirt Review,$10 Friends Hump Night with Regina Simms ten atlanta Music by George Greenlee Gilbert’s Karaoke 10pm-2am tripp’s Afternoon Delights 4pm heretic Pig Dance Black Out Party DJ woof’s Atlanta’s Best Social Night 6pm Stan Jackson 10pm-3am NO COVER
THURSDAY
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
WEDNESDAY
62 // davidatlanta.com
SATURDAY
10th & piedmont Live DJ 10 PM blake’s Open at 1pm, Daring Divas 11pm BURKHART’S Extravaganza w/ Shavonna B. Brooks 11:30pm cockpit DJ Diablo Rojo, guest VJ/DJ’s eagle DJ Dance Party felix’s Karaoke w/ Brett & Tyler 10pm friends Free Pool and Cheap beer with DJ! 2 pm - 6 pm Gilbert’s All you care to eat brunch (cooked to order) 11-4pm heretic Varies: Club Night or 3 Legged Cowboy Night - 10pm hideaway Open at 12:30pm! Saturday Night Party jungle Ruby’s Redd Light District 9pm; Club Night, Various Guest DJ’s mixx Guest DJ’s Dance 10pm model t Texas Holdem Poker - 3 pm | Party with the M&M Boiz - 9 pm oscar’s DJ Christopher Kind swinging richards T-Shirt Review $10 ten atlanta Music by George Greenlee tripp’s Afternoon Cookout 3pm xcess ultra lounge 25+ FREE til 12am woof’s Game Day All Day
SUNDAY
10th & piedmont Bellini Brunch 11 AM & T-Dance 4 PM blake’s Open at 1pm - High Energy Music & Video w/ Bill Berdeaux & Daryl Cox BURKHART’S Armorettes Drag Show club rush Hip Hop and R&B - 18 & up Open until 4am cockpit PBR Beer Bust felix’s Bloody Marys & Mimosas friends Open @ 2pm; Dinner @ 4pm while it lasts Gilbert’s All you care to eat brunch (cooked to order) 11-4pm and Karaoke 6-11:30pm hideaway Atlanta’s Favorite Bloody Mary Bar! 12:30 pm Jungle Harness @bckspce atl behind Jungle (No shirt, No cover) 6pm las margaritas All You Can Eat til 3pm mixx Old School Sunday Dance 7pm model t Sunday Dinner with Ron 3:30 pm oscar’s Sunday Fun-day ten atlanta Music by George Greenlee tripp’s Buffet of Goodness - 3 pm | Karaoke - 7 pm woof’s Bloody Mary bar, PBR special
Let’s Re-Elect Mary Norwood
Your Independent voice on Atlanta City Council!
“I know Atlanta, and you know me. Through the years I’ve turned to the LGBT community for advice, insight, wisdom, and guidance. Through the years, as a united front, we’ve worked to deliver this message:
Equality means Equality for Everyone. Together we’ve worked for dignity, distinction, and equality. We’ve challenged. We’ve advanced. We’ve seen progress. We’ve only just begun. Together we will work for change.
Together we can make a difference.” www.marynorwood.com Facebook: Mary Norwood Twitter: #VoteforMary Home: 404-237-3774 Mobile: 404-824-1014
y r a M
theRundown Inman Park Restaurant Week
Datebook
Through Sept. 29 • Inman Park (Hurt St at Edgewood Ave)
Restaurants from Inman Park come together to host the annual fall version of Inman Park Restaurant Week benefiting the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB). For more information, visit inmanparkrestaurantweek.com.
Zane Carney
Thursday, Sept. 26 • 8 p.m. • Vinyl (1374 West Peachtree St) Featuring James Bay and Brian Wiltsey. For more information, visit centerstage-atlanta. com
30 Seconds to Mars
Friday, Sept. 27 • 7:30 p.m. • The Tabernacle (152 Luckie St NW)
Featuring the Danish rock band New Politics. For more information, visit tabernacleatl.com
The Color Run
Showtime Premiere of Masters of Sex in Atlanta
Running the Happiest 5k on the Planet paint race. For more information, visit thecolorrun. com
Come join HRC and Showtime for a special preview screening of the first episode of new series Masters of Sex, starring Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as the real-life pioneers of the science of human sexuality, William Masters and Virginia Johnson. The screening’s this Thursday, Sept. 26, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema (931 Monroe Dr NE). For more information, visit hrc.org
Saturday, Sept. 28 • Atlanta Motor Speedway (1500 N Highway 41, Hampton)
Fall Out Boy
Saturday, Sept. 28 • 7:30 p.m. • Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta)
Join Fall Out Boy with Panic at the Disco and more special guests. For more information, visit ticketmaster.com
Russell Brand
Saturday, Sept. 28 • 8 p.m. • The Tabernacle (152 Luckie St NW)
English comedian, actor, and author Russell Brand performs. For more information, visit tabernacleatl.com
Martina McBride
Saturday, Sept. 28 • 8 p.m. • Chastain Park Amphitheatre (4469 Stella Dr) Country singer Martina McBride makes her way to Atlanta. For more information, visit ticketmaster.com
Dine Out for Charis
Monday, Sept. 30 • Lawrence’s Cafe • (910 W. College Ave, Decatur)
Join Charis for a dine-out with 10% of your meal proceeds benefitting Charis Books. For more information, visit charisbooksandmore. com 64 // davidatlanta.com
This Week in Theatres Baggage Claim: Get the title? Because she works on an airplane, and she’s dealing with her ex-boyfriends. It’s funny! Lolz. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2: As far as kids movies go, there are so many worse options – at least based on the first film. Fingers crossed that this one holds up.
Don Jon: There’s a great message to the film, but we’re still thinking of the scenes where Joseph Gordon-Levitt watches porn. Gah. Enough Said: See James Gandolfini in one of his final roles before his untimely death earlier this year.
Inequality for All: This documentary follows former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich as he looks to raise awareness of the country’s widening economic gap. Populaire: In this French film set in 1958, Rose is a terrible secretary but a demon typist. Her handsome boss plans to turn her into the fastest girl in the world. Rush: Go for Chris Hemsworth’s body, stay for Daniel Bruhl’s performance.
@DavidAtlantaGA // 65
66 // davidatlanta.com
Comics
68 // davidatlanta.com
BRAKES REPLACE PADS
$59.99
Most cars and light trucks. See store for details. Not valid with any other offer. Does not apply to previous purchases. Must present coupon at time of service. Resurface/replace rotors additional. Offer expires 10/25/13
OIL CHANGE
$17.95
Most cars and light trucks. See store for details. Not valid with any other offer. Does not apply to previous purchases. Must present coupon at time of service. Offer expires 10/25/13
@DavidAtlantaGA // 69
70 // davidatlanta.com
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@DavidAtlantaGA // 71
fairyscopes ARIES (March 20 – April 19): If malaise hits, focus on
LIBRA (September 23 – October 22): Enjoy the
what’s bothering you and get into action. Your voice is even louder and more forceful than usual. If you feel a need to yell at others, talk gently – at least first – with a trusted friend.
fruits of your labor, but be careful not to over-indulge. Too much partying could make you sick, or bring latent problems to the surface. If friends offer health advice, the less you like it, the more you should listen.
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): Playful flirtations
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21): Too much
are likely to overstep bounds. Scale it back just a little bit! Optimistic financial plans are way too much. If it looks too good to be true, it is. Get solid, reliable advice before putting your money anywhere.
individual initiative can be your downfall, but with forethought, intuition and advice from friends, you can do almost anything – within reason. If you’re not entirely happy where you’re working, get résumés to wherever you’d rather be.
GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Keep your hands busy, ears open and mouth shut – except for lovemaking. Sex is great, but verbal intercourse can get contentious. Housecleaning is the most productive and second best way of working off that energy.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 20): Stay way back from the line between flirtation and sexual harassment. You’re a little too frisky. In the right time and place, that can work for you spectacularly, but elsewhere it could undermine your professional reputation.
CANCER (June 21- July 22): Indulge yourself with a
CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 19): Your
massage, a day at a spa, a long leisurely visit at a museum or a scenic hike. The company of a very close, trusted friend is ideal; don’t settle for anyone less. Solitude is good for the soul, too.
drive is strong enough to achieve nearly anything. Keep your mind focused on necessary work and away from arguments, especially at home. Sex may not solve any problems, but it can help you endure them.
LEO (July 23 – August 22): Venus brings you even
AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): Your mouth is the magic door to trouble. Think ahead, listen attentively and be very careful about the right time and place to get down and dirty. Remember what you must never, ever do in your own back yard!
more charm and gorgeousness entering your sign on the 6th. She’s pretty amped up, so be careful not to overdo it. Those friends who are encouraging you, are they laughing with you or at you?
VIRGO (August 23 – September 22): Friends mean well. Bless their hearts, if not their brains. Criticizing them will backfire and their ideas could prove springboards to better ones. You need an outlet; save your kvetching for a very trusted and patient friend.
72 // davidatlanta.com
PISCES (February 19 – March 19): Trying to be helpful around the house can cause trouble with your partner or roommates. Talk, and match actions to words. An argument with a friend can bruise your ego, but brave it and clear the air.
CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED
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Relieve your tensions from Head to Toe with a Full-Body Massage by licensed therapist
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ADVERTISE with the South’s longest-running LGBT weekly publication! Call us at 404.418.8901 x3 for rates & info @DavidAtlantaGA // 73
H
i, babies! It’s my first week and quite evident that I needed to sashay my ass into Atlanta. While I do appreciate those seeking advice on what to do about their misfit best friends, or the roommate from hell that fucked their man and moved out in the middle of the night owing back rent, it’s the relationship woes that are the most fun! This week, let’s take a look at a few CHEATERS who are definitely in need of some good advice. You know they came to the right place, hunty!
somebody wants new dick, there really ain’t shit you can do about it, other than let them go and get it. Well, maybe there’s one more thing you can do… cut the bastard on the way out! Dear Miss Tiger, I’m having an affair with a married man. I used to be okay with our arrangement but now I’m in love with him. I should also tell you I’m gay. How do I ask him to leave his wife?
Dear Miss Tiger, —Patrick My partner and I have been together for nine years. We bought a condo and now I’m regretting that decision. Our very gay next-door neighbor is tearing our marriage apart! He takes advantage of the fact that my husband works in construction and constantly asks him over for help with repairs. When my husband returns home, he smells as if he’s just showered. Should I ask him if they’re having an affair? —Carlos Dear Your Whoring Neighbor Can Only Tear Apart What’s Already Broken, Let me tell you something, boo. Do you really have to ask what you and I already know? The only fucking thing your man is working on next door is the plumbing… more specifically, the pipe between your neighbor’s fucking legs. It looks like his seven-year itch came two years late – let’s hope that “itch” doesn’t spread into a nasty rash that has all three of you motha fuckahs down at the free clinic!
Dear Tips For Fucking a Politician or Preacher Who’s On the Down Low, This bullshit is another case of a man wanting to have his cake and eat it too. Literally. So, bend the fuck over and serve that son of a bitch another slice. I’m sure you get off at the fact that he’s married. You know you’re bragging to all your friends about the ‘straight’ dick you’ve been riding. I’m also confident in saying that you feel absolutely grand in the role as mistress. Now that all this chaos has caught up with you, you’ve come looking for sympathy disguised as advice. If you wanted someone to feel sorry for ya, then you should’ve picked up a local paper and written Dear Abby and not Miss Tiger. P.S. Next time you deep throat your man’s cock, just try and get use to the taste of wifey’s pussy, ‘cause he’s not about to leave her to come and play house with you!
Dear Miss Tiger, My boyfriend is fucking my twin brother. Tell me what to do! —Matt Dear Why Ya Mad Because I Thought Twins Shared Everything,
Need advice? Write me and get the goddamn answers you’ve been looking for!
Miss Tiger
Advice columnist • SiriusXM radio personality ... and everyone’s #FAVORITEBITCH Website FavoriteBitch.com Twitter @MissTiger Advice If you knew what to do, as in how to pick a man worth keepask@misstiger.com ing, your ass wouldn’t be in this situation. Let’s see… it looks like you’re the gum that lost its flavor, so now your man’s chewin’ on a new piece. Darling, when 74 // davidatlanta.com
Your place has three times as much dog hair as your dog. Guess who won’t be coming back.
A lot of you guys say you can’t stand flakes. I’ve heard it said a gazillion times. I wonder when those of you saying this shit are going to realize: you’re the flakes!
If you constantly correct my grammar on a date, I assume your dick is a shriveled semicolon you don’t know how to use.
I don’t understand why people think they have so many haters and feel like mentioning it all the time. I think the people you’re referring to just don’t really care. No need to build this drama in your head.
If your main objection You smell like for trimming a smoked your body pack of hair is cigarettes. because No, I won’t you’re a be kissing man, that’s you. Seek just stupid. help.
76 // davidatlanta.com
So you take all my money, you’re on every known hookup site, and you consider yourself an artist. Yeah – a con artist. I’m not mad, I’m just done.
You should really be talking more if you’re on a date. That’s what people do on dates. Otherwise, I’m just going to start drinking more or leave. Haven’t decided yet… If you’re a stripper working at a gay establishment in search of tips, how dare you call me a faggot. Not only is it wrong for being derogatory and insensitive, but your working at a gay establishment. You should at least be fired! *This page reflects the bitchiness of the community not David Atlanta or its publisher (although we’re bitchy too!)
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