Palm Springs or Bust! The Original Dinah Shore Weekend is turning 25
#StandWithMonica Hear from the transgender ASU student who took on Phoenix prostitution law and won
LGBT NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | Vol. 26, #14 | Issue 666 | March 26 -April 9, 2015 | COMPLIMENTARY
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inside this issue Issue 666 | Vol. 26, #14 | March 26, 2015
features
NEWS 10 4 Your Information 12 News Briefs 14 Students attend fifth annual Queering Arizona conference 15 Datebook 18 Hope in the Face of AIDS gala honors local heroes PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS 46 Without
Image courtesy of Micah Bazant, micahbazant.com
Photo by Fernando Hernández
Reservations 48 At the Box Office
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50 Opening Nights
Palm Springs or Bust Hit the road for the Original Dinah Shore Weekend’s 25th anniversary.
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#StandWithMonica Transgender ASU student and activist shares her side of the story.
54 Recordings 55 Between the Covers COMMUNITY 56 All Over The Map 57 Balanced Living
DEPARTMENTS 60 Classifieds 62 Nightlife Guide 66 Lambda Directory
Photo by Fernando Hernández
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Palm Springs or Bust! The Original Dinah Shore Weekend is turning 25
Hear from the transgender ASU student who took on Phoenix prostitution law and won
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The Wild, Wild Best Arizona’s EOY 2015 titleholders prepare for national pageant.
ON THE COVER Jacqueline Weinstein (left) and Briana Milam prepare for their first-ever weekend trip to The Dinah. Photo by Fernando Hernández.
#StandWithMonica
LGBT NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | Vol. 26, #14 | Issue 666 | March 26 -April 9, 2015 | COMPLIMENTARY
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Trans-Formative Creations Local youth share trans identities and journeys through art.
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inside this issue
notes from the managing editor By Kara J. Philp facebook.com/EchoMagazine twitter.com/EchoMagAZ Kara J. Philp is managing editor of Echo Magazine and can be reached at kj@echomag.com.
W
se’re not even April yet, and Pride is already in the air! Get your calendar and start penciling in the engagements, entertainment and everything else you don’t want to miss, because it’s coming quick. Let’s start with the pageants. Congratulations to all the new titleholders crowned in the Phoenix Pride and the Arizona Entertainer of the Year pageants. We have more for you on the AZEOY pageant in “The Wild, Wild Best” on page 41. Echo would also like to congratulate to the newly crowned Miss and Mister Phoenix Gay Pride: Trixxie Deluxxe, Miss Charlie’s, and Dee Jae Galaxy, Mister Cash Inn. We’ll have more on these two in the coming weeks. From here we head right into the 10 Days of Pride, officially March 28 through April 10.
For all the details, see “Datebook” on page 15. And then, don’t forget, the Phoenix Pride Festival will take place April 11-12.
final reminder to vote for your favorite 2015 Echo Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards finalists at echomag.com/vote.
Pride is also about celebrating local leaders and advocates.
Last call is Monday night, and from there you’re cordially invited to join us from 8-10 p.m. April 9 at Club Downtown for Echo’s biggest event of the year: our annual Readers’ Choice Awards ceremony. Come out, say hi, enjoy a night of not-to-miss entertainment and find out who will take home Echo’s highest honors.
As part of International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS’s gala, Kirk Baxter will receive the Hope in the Face of AIDS Award. Liz Massey has more on the man that, along with a group of community volunteers, founded Phoenix Body Positive in “Making A Positive Impact” on page 18. Once Monica Jones’ conviction for “walking while trans” was overturned, she sat down with Hana Khalyleh to share her story. Find out what’s next for the ASU student and activist in “#StandWithMonica” on page 30. Before we get too far off the topic of celebrating, I should add that this is your
Lastly, and most importantly, we have a big Echo announcement that we can’t wait to share with all of you. So, we thought, where would be the most appropriate place to make such a high-profile reveal? And, as you might have guessed, the answer is the Readers’ Choice Awards ceremony. Now you have to come. See you there!
on echomag.com Web Exclusives
Photo by Bill Gemmill
Devils’ Pride The LGBT chapter of the Arizona State University Alumni Association raises funds for scholarships at its annual dinner. echomag.com/devils-pride
Leslie Gore Take a look back at the legacy of LGBT icon – from her teen years as pop singer to PBS days hosting episodes of “In the Life.” echomag.com/leslie-gore EchoMag.com
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Celebrating 25 Years of News, Views, Culture and Community PUBLISHER: Bill Orovan ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Bill Gemmill Editorial MANAGING EDITOR: Kara J. Philp CONTRIBUTORS: Cait Brennan Anthony Costello Alexis Getscher Laura Latzko Art Martori Melissa Myers Mark Ogle Desi Rubio Richard Schultz Megan Wadding
Alex Chambers Dave O. Dodge Hana Khalyleh Lorraine Longhi Liz Massey David-Elijah Nahmod Hans Pedersen Terri Schlichenmeyer Michael J. Tucker Nate Whitten
Production ART DIRECTOR: Geoff Hulme PHOTOGRAPHY: Gregg Edelman, Nightfuse.com, Cinthia Schmidt Advertising ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Ashlee James ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Brit Kezar ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Gregg Edelman National Advertising Representative: Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER: Cinthia Schmidt Copyright © 2015 • ISSN #1045-2346
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P.O. Box 16630 Phoenix, AZ 85011-6630 Biweekly Readership: 50,000 Phone: 602-266-0550 Non-Phoenix Metro: 888-EchoMag Fax: 602-266-0773 Subscriptions: $29/year
Email: manager@echomag.com Website: EchoMag.com Member:
Echo Magazine is published by and is a trademark of Ace Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of including any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed in are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff or ACE Publishing, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers. Publication of the name or photograph of a person or organization in articles, advertising or listings inis not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation of such organizations or persons (unless such orientation is specifically stated). Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of ACE Publishing. Free copies limited to one per person.
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ON THE RECORD “Same-sex couples have a right to equal protection under the law … Polls show overwhelming support across the country for marriage equality. It’s time for the court to act.” – Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said upon joining 225 other mayors and 40 cities in signing onto a friend-ofthe-court brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to end marriage discrimination nationwide March 6.
ENTERTAINMENT SiriusXM announced March 17 that Andy Cohen, popular late night talk show host of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live,” will now also executive produce an allnew channel featuring entertainment personally curated and presented by Cohen exclusively on SiriusXM. In addition to producing the new SiriusXM channel, Radio Andy, Cohen will also host a weekly radio show exclusively on the 24/7 channel for SiriusXM listeners nationwide. Radio Andy and Cohen’s new radio show are scheduled to launch later this year.
SOCIAL MEDIA When Michael C. Hughes of Rochester, Minn., posted this selfie on his Facebook page, the message went viral. The photos caption read, “Florida’s #hb583 and Minnesota’s #sf1543 will make guys like me use women’s facilities. This is what that will look like. Trans people aren’t trying to access bathrooms to creep on people in there, #wejustneedtopee — with Katie Cowden and Brae Carnes.” Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #wejustneedtopee.
“I love radio, and the creative challenge of programming a channel around people I’m passionate about is intoxicating,” said Cohen. “Personally, I’ve been looking for an outlet where I can do more long-form interviews, and SiriusXM is the perfect home for my brand of uncensored, deep and shallow talk. Furthermore, I consider Howard Stern a media role model, so working under the same roof will be a thrill.”
BY the numbers The percentage of LGBT Americans who report experiencing discrimination, according to HRC. The organization’s new polling data, released March 17, shows strong support for a federal non-discrimination law protecting LGBT people from discrimination in employment, housing, access to public places and other areas. For more information on the report’s findings, visit hrc.org/blog. 10 |
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4 your information
news briefs
Phoenix Film Festival Documentary Features Local Flag Football Team The Phoenix Hellraisers are one of three flag football teams being featured in F(l)ag Football, a documentary that will be presented during the 2015 Phoenix Film Festival.
YOU’RE INVITED! ApRIl 9, 2015 8pm-10pm @ ClUb DOwNTOwN 702 N CENTRAl AVE.
You’re Invited to the 2015 Echo’s Readers’ Choice Awards Join Echo Magazine April 9 for a star-studded line up of performers and presenters, a few hundred of our most loyal readers and our 125 finalists during an evening celebrating our local community and its supporters.
hip-hop solo dance routine by a local DJ, an over-the-top drag number by a special queen and an aerial/contortionist performance that you’ll have to see to believe. As part of the festivities, attendees are invited to have their photos taken on the red carpet before the entertainment begins.
Also as part of this glamorous annual event – which will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. at Club Downtown, 702 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix – Echo is proud to reveal the winners in all 25 categories of its Readers’ Choice Awards.
This event is free to all Echo readers. All proceeds from Echo’s $5 suggested donation at the door will benefit Aunt Rita’s Foundation.
Hosted by The Nashlee Effect, the evening’s entertainment will include a
For more information, or to RSVP, visit facebook.com/ echomagazine.
The documentary follows the three teams on their journey to the National Gay Flag Football League’s annual Gay Bowl and highlights the athletes’ efforts in training, playing, redefining perceptions of masculinity and illustrating what it means to be a gay athlete. The film festival, which runs March 26-April 2, will take place at Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., in Scottsdale. F(l)ag Football will show at 7:20 and 9 p.m. March 30.
Phoenix Phantomz Announce 2015 Season Schedule
Venom April 11, the California Quake May 23, the North Country Stars May 30 and the Sacramento Sirens June 13 at ASU Preparatory High School (735 E. Filmore St., Phoenix). Kick off for all games takes place at 6 p.m.
The Phoenix Phantomz, a women’s tackle football team, recently announced that the team will host four home home games as part of the 2015 Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL) season.
The Phoenix Phantomz inaugural season was 2011. They hold the Pacific Southwest Division title for 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The Phantomz will host the New Mexico 12 |
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Find out more about the documentary from the Phoenix Hellraisers at echomag.com/flag-football. For more information on F(l)ag Football, visit flagfootballthemovie.com or phoenixfilmfestival.com.
For more information or game tickets, visit phoenixphantomz.com. news briefs
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A QUEER PERSPECTIVE LGBT students attend annual conference By Laura Latzko
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or the fifth consecutive year, students engaged in group discussions, interactive activities, literary analyses, teambuilding exercises and personal stories, as part of the Queering Arizona conference – the only LGBT student activism conference in the state. Hailing from universities and community colleges throughout the state, 172 students shared their insights on queer fashion, identities, activism, microaggressions, faith, community organizing, inclusive queer spaces, asexuality and being a good ally. Representatives from the Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project (QUIP), the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, HERO and professors facilitated conference workshops. Francisco Galarte, an associate professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies at University of Arizona, gave the keynote speech and led a fashion workshop. Galarte, also the faculty fellow for the Office of LGBTQ Affairs at the university, said the fashion workshop allowed him to get into a broader discussion with the students on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and class issues. Three representatives of QUIP shared the ways in which LGBT people, especially transgender women, are subject to harsh treatment inside of Arizona’s detention centers. Ezequiel Santos of QUIP, a “DREAMer” who came to the United States at age 2, said he’s faced issues obtaining a driver license, getting financial aid and finding acceptance in different communities. “Being undocumented, you hear people telling you to ‘go home,’” Santos said. “In Mexico, you’re considered more American than Mexican. You get lost in this gray area of identity.”
FROM A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE Following the conference, students shared their thoughts on the conversations and experiences this forum provided them. Cassanda Bizon, Northern Arizona University Bizon, the president of NAU’s PRISM, found herself engaging in a poignant discussion on race as a participant in the “On Being ‘Other’ and Queer” workshop. “All my life I was told that I’m too white and I can’t be Mexican and I couldn’t be both. So being in college and having that identity revisited has been really nice for me,” Bizon said. “When you are in elementary school, you don’t understand … It’s easy to get lost in the system, and it’s easy for teachers to take away your identity and replace it with what they perceive you as … When you go to college, and you learn about intersectionality, you learn you can be both and just because you don’t look it doesn’t mean you aren’t it.” Christina Yelvington, UofA According to Yelvington, attending a workshop called “Engaging Faith Groups” vastly changed her perspective on how LGBT people fit into faith organizations and helped her to build bridges within herself. “Sometimes I feel queer folks are excluded from the religion conversation in a lot of ways. We turn on the TV, and there’s some rich old white guy telling me that, ‘I’m going to hell because who I love is wrong,’” Yelvington said. “It felt good for me to see there are plenty of queer folks who are a part of the faith community who don’t feel that way, that there is a place for queer folks in faith.” Dayna Broder, UofA Broder went into Queering Arizona not knowing what to expect, being the only person at the conference in a wheelchair, she said she felt compelled to speak up about ableism. “Nobody really accounted for disabilities when they planned this program. It was interesting to go in with my chair and point out, ‘This is ableism. You didn’t account for this at all,’” Broder said. “I wasn’t the only
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disabled person. I might have been the only obviously disabled person there. One of the things that really makes me angry is having ableism glossed over. Going there and being a representative gave me a chance to really discuss with the program directors ways they could make their programs more accessible.” Kerry Yamauchi, NAU Yamauchi, who attended the conference in makeup and heels, said the event allowed him to express himself, opened up conversations with others and gain awareness about watching his own speech and actions as a queer activist “As a queer activist, I want to practice damage control in the way that I speak, and the way that I act. It made me question how much I understand and how much I need to work to become a better activist,” Yamauchi said. “Even walking around campus in makeup and heels and holding your head up high and being confident … really shows people that, whether or not they are OK or not with queer people, this is a reality of the world.” Nic Alavi, Arizona State University The discussion of microagressions in the “No Fats, No Fems, No Blacks” workshop gave Alavi a deeper understanding on finding and responding to oppressive language in everyday life. “… The most important form of activism is in my social interactions with coworkers,” Alavi said. “I’m out at work, and every now and then, I get things like misgendering or I get statements about my sexuality, which are really implicit and subtle. I think it is important to take this knowledge of how that is a microaggression and turn it into a conversation.” Laura Latzko is a Phoenix-area freelance writer, originally from Michigan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English and communication studies from Hollins University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.
April 9
10 Days of Pride
Mesa Human Relations Commission will present the film The Home Stretch at 6 p.m. at the Mesa Public Library – Dobson Ranch Branch, 2425 S. Dobson Road, Mesa.
at Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix. phoenixgaychamber.com April 4
MARch 28
Celebrate Pride with your fourlegged friends at the official Pet Pride event from 2 to 5 p.m. at BS West, 7125 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale. phoenixpride.org April 3
Join Phoenix Pride and the Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for their joint 35th anniversary celebration from 6 to 9 p.m.
phoenixpride.org
Celebrate Pride with the entire family at Family Day. A variety of events will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center, 801 N. Second Ave., Phoenix.
April 9 April 8
ASU presents An Evening with Laverne Cox, during which the trans actress and activist will give a Pride week lecture from 6 to 8 p.m. at ASU’s Wells Fargo Arena, 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe.
phoenixpridelgbtcenter.org April 5
You’re invited to the grand opening of Rebel & Divine’s “I Have A Dream” trans-focused clothing and shoe bank from noon to 12:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church
You’re invited to the 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards where a star-studded lineup of performers and presenters will announce the winners of our coveted annual awards from 8 to 10 p.m. at Club Downtown, 702 N. Central Ave, Phoenix. echomag.com/2015-erca
April 8
Gay Skate will take place at Great Skate, 8 p.m., at 10054 N. 43rd Ave.
1407 N. Second St., Phoenix.
unitedskates.com/public/ glendale
facebook.com/ RebelAndDivineUCC/events
YOU’RE INVITED!
Date book MARch 28 and April 4
Trans* Spectrum Arizona will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center, 801 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. phoenixpridelgbtcenter.org
April 3
april 4
The Phoenix Gaymers will host a monthly ice cream social from 6-8 p.m. at Mac Alpine’s Soda Fountain, 2303 N. Seventh St, Phoenix, AZ 85006, 801 N. Second Ave., Phoenix.
Take Back the Night, a violence prevention event, will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. at Civic Space Park, 424 N Central Ave, Phoenix.
phoenixpridelgbtcenter.org april 6
One Community and SWAY Events will host a Young Professionals Network event, which will include activities, talks and a cocktail reception, from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Saguaro, 4000 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale.
takebackthenight.org
April 1
A new support group for the women of the LGBTQ community will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center, 801 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. phoenixpridelgbtcenter.org april 1
Join Arizona’s Children Association for a Grow Your Family Orientation, and learn more about becoming an adoptive or foster parent at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center, 801 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. phoenixpridelgbtcenter.org
ApRIl 9, 2015 8pm-10pm @ ClUb DOwNTOwN 702 N CENTRAl AVE.
april 4
International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS present the Hope in the Face of AIDS gala from 5:30-9 p.m. (pre-conference 3:30-5:30 p.m.) at The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 340 N. 3rd St., Phoenix. (See story, page 18.)
through june 21
The Andy Warhol: Portraits exhibition is on display at the Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. phxart.org/exhibition/warholportraits
iapaindia.org/event/hope-dinner
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Making A Positive Impact IAPA honoree Kirk Baxter discusses the global AIDS pandemic By Liz Massey
F
or a quarter of a century, Kirk Baxter (pictured) has been one of the most identifiable faces associated with AIDS activism in Phoenix. In 1990 he founded Phoenix Body Positive with a group of community volunteers, and the organization – now known as Southwest Center for AIDS/ HIV – is a statewide leader in programs focusing on prevention and education, nutrition and wellness, counseling and clinical trials research. Echo caught up with Baxter to discuss his experience in the local fight against HIV, and find out how these efforts fit into the global picture. Echo: What was your reaction upon learning you would be receiving the Hope in the Face of AIDS Award from the International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS (IAPA)? Baxter: In the case of this particular award, I was both humbled and excited. Although my overall body of work in the field of HIV services has contributed to a more global response, my direct work on the international front is relatively new, starting several years back as a member of the IAPA Dinner Committee. I remain excited about this honor, because I join the ranks of past IAPA awardees who I’ve had the pleasure to serve with – for many years – who I very much love and respect. Echo: How have the battlefronts of the AIDS pandemic changed since you founded Body Positive in Phoenix in 1990? 18 |
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Baxter: In Arizona, we have collectively done a stellar job of creating an overall continuum of care for HIV/AIDS that indeed, serves as a model for the nation. Thanks to the Arizona AIDS Policy Alliance, Equality Arizona and HRC, we have also made significant headway, politically. That said, among our citizenry, there remains a growing sense of complacency – particularly among our youth and unfortunately, among their elders, in the form of donor fatigue. There is nowhere near enough new people from our community stepping up to help. To those leaders who do continue to carry that torch, I salute you! Echo: How does the course of this disease in other countries end up impacting the spread of HIV locally? Baxter: In speaking with Bruce Weiss, deputy director for the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, I was reminded that we live in a very mobile world, where people travel easily (and often) among nations. That mobility enables the spread of new strains and subtypes of HIV to actively move between countries – both into and out of the United States. By monitoring international news reports, I’ve learned that researchers have identified new and more aggressive forms of HIV recently in Cuba. A unified response has always been required to stop this pandemic. Echo: Why is it important for Arizona students to understand how HIV prevention efforts are progressing in countries such as India? Baxter: We can all be very proud of the tremendous work of IAPA in India and that of HEAL International in Tanzania. What has been fascinating to me, is that lessons learned through HIV prevention
programs developed abroad, have had a profound impact on the success of strategies applied locally – in particular, to impoverished at-risk youth. For those who question, “Why get involved with helping India?,” I remind you that our own nation was very slow to respond, yielding a profoundly devastating result – one that has most certainly, impacted the rest of the world. Echo: How can Echo readers broaden their perspective of the global impact of AIDS/ HIV? Baxter: A great start, would be attending the 2015 Hope in the Face of AIDS Dinner! Additionally, a significant body of evidence is found on the IAPA web site and information on this topic is available from UN AIDS, the World Health Organization and the Clinton Global Initiative. A great way to learn more directly would be to volunteer. Echo: Is there anything else you’d like to mention? Baxter: Having been diagnosed with AIDS in 1990, I am very blessed to still be alive. I owe much of that success to many of the people who are involved with IAPA, far from the least of which is Debbie Rubenstrunk, who was most definitely the first HIV services champion to invite me back in – at a time when I was losing my will to live. For others who may be struggling to survive, I highly recommend that you get involved. A sense of purpose has indisputably proven to be a key ingredient to rebuilding a healthy immune system. From my own experience, I know that for a fact! Hope in the Face of AIDS gala 5:30-9 p.m. April 4 (pre-conference 3:305:30 p.m). The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel 340 N. 3rd St., Phoenix. Tickets: $150; 480-279-7194 iapaindia.org/event/hope-dinner Liz Massey has been involved in LGBT community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine. She can be reached at lizmassey68@gmail.com.
news
Assist Globally, Honor Locally Hope in the Face of AIDS gala focuses on HIV prevention efforts in India There’s more to the HIV/AIDS pandemic than what happens within the borders of the United States. One local nonprofit, the International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS (IAPA), focuses on making an impact on the spread of the disease in India, the world’s second most populous country. IAPA, a student-run federally registered nonprofit organization based in Arizona that provides HIV related services to communities in South India, will continue its unique blend of local/global advocacy with its Hope in the Face of AIDS gala April 4. The gala, which will take place at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, will honor individuals for their role in halting HIV and give patrons a closer look at the international work done by the organization. Echo asked Debbie Rubenstrunk, a development consultant for IAPA, to walk readers through the evening’s highlights. GETTING GLOBAL Everyone who purchases a ticket to the gala is also invited to attend the Hope Dinner Pre-Conference, which has the theme “The Global Fight Against HIV,” at 3:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. Dr. Doug Cunningham will moderate a discussion featuring Dr. Ben Young, chief medical officer of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, and former Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano, who is now CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. ARIZONA’S AIDS HEROES The gala will honor several local and regional HIV advocates, including Kirk Baxter, founder of Phoenix Body Positive, and Carol Williams, a director of the women’s clinic at the McDowell Healthcare Center. (Visit echomag.com/hope-gala for a full list of award recipients.) GOOD MORNING, INDIA Rubenstrunk said one of the highlights of the evening will be a live Skype call between the gala and the organization’s ground operations in India. Because there is a 12-hour time difference between Phoenix and India, attendees are able to see the children and adults impacted by IAPA’s work during a typical day. “The Skype part of our event helps people connect to the work we do a little more,” Rubenstrunk said. “When people are familiar with what we do, they often say, ‘How can I not help?’” DOLLARS AND SENSE With tickets priced at $150, the gala is one of the most affordable fundraising dinners in town, according to Rubenstrunk. More importantly, she said, the exchange rate in India allows IAPA to do more with the money raised than a similar amount spent in the United States. “Each dollar we raise is worth $6 in India,” she said. “Contributions go much further over there.” Between the pre-conference and the dinner itself, there will be a cocktail hour starting at 5:30 p.m. Attendees can bid on silent auction items, purchase items handcrafted in India, or purchase one of 20 “mystery boxes” for $100, which contain interesting merchandise and other goodies. If an attendee’s taste for bidding isn’t sated during the silent auction, there will also be a live auction during the dinner portion of the event. - Liz Massey
• Family/Civil
• Immigration • Criminal
602-314-1340 2627 N. 3rd St. • Suite 102 Phoenix, AZ 85004 EchoMag.com
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NOH8
OUT ‘n ABOUT NOH8 Photo Shoot March atScottsdale W Scottsdale Hotel March 2020 at W Hotel Photos by Kara J.J.Philp Philp Photos
For more photos of this event visit echomag.com/gallery.
For more photos of this event visit echomag.com/gallery.
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Flat Fee Family Law feature story
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FEATURE story
Palm Springs or Bust!
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or 25 years lesbians from all walks of life, and from the furthest reaches of the globe, have make the annual pilgrimage to Palm Spring in search of everything from fun in the sun to live performances by some of today’s freshest female musical acts. This over-the-top celebration of women, by women and for women – also billed as the “biggest lesbian event of its kind on the planet” – takes place just four hours away from Phoenix, making it a perfect road tripworthy weekend getaway. Echo caught up with two Arizonans, who also happen to be “Dinah virgins,” before they hit the road. Jacqueline Weinstein, an
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Arizona native, said she’s looking forward to her first visit to Palm Springs and plans to incorporate some shopping and hiking into her wild weekend. “I’m going to The Dinah with a really fun group of girls because I heard it’s a blast and it is a present to myself for recently coming out to both my family and professionally,” Weinstein said. “I’m more of a spectator when it comes to crazy pool parties, so I’m hoping to be entertained. I’m just excited to be a part of this big anniversary – and to see Meghan Trainor perform!”
I’m looking forward to relaxing for a couple days, meeting new friends and making some great memories.” Because of the proximity, Arizona has always been well represented at the event. “We love our Arizona contingency,” said Mariah Hanson, the event’s founder and producer, adding that the Grand Canyon State is a really important market. “The Arizona girls know how to party! We’re welcoming you guys with big smiles. It’s going to be an incredible year. We’re just really excited.”
According to Briana Lyn Milam, who lives in Surprise, Ariz., the 25th anniversary – combined with the fact that she’s single – was reason enough to finally see what all the fuss was about.
Club Skirts presents The Dinah
“In the past 25 years styles have changed, attitudes have changed and The Dinah continues to attract different crowds of people from all over the world to come and party,” Milam said. “I’m finally making the trip because my friends said it’s a blast. Palm Springs is gorgeous and it’s always nice to take a break from the Arizona heat.
Evening Entertainment: Palm Springs Convention Center 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs
April 1-5 Pool Parties, Host Hotel: The Hilton – Palm Springs 400 N. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs
Opening and Closing Parties: Zelda’s Nightclub 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs thedinah.com
feature story
The Dinah: Weekend Itinerary The Dinah Official Opening Pre-Party April 1 | 8 p.m.-midnight Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club Dinah Comedy Night April 2 | Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; show starts at 9 p.m. Palm Springs Convention Center (For comedienne details, see page 26.) The Dinah Opening Party April 2 | 9 p.m.-midnight Zelda’s Nightclub TGIDF Pool Party April 3 | noon-5 p.m. Hilton Hotel’s Main Pool An Evening in Concert with Christina Perri April 3 | Doors open at 8 p.m.; show starts at 9 p.m. Palm Springs Convention Center The Dinah White Party featuring Ivy Levan April 3 | 9 p.m. Palm Springs Convention Center
The Cabana Girl Pool Party featuring Crystal Waters April 4 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Hilton Hotel’s Main Pool Battle of the DJs April 4 and 5 | beginning at noon Hilton Hotel’s Main Pool An Evening in Concert with Meghan Trainor April 4 | Doors open at 8 p.m.; show starts at 9 p.m. Palm Springs Convention Center The Black Party featuring Bebe Rexha April 4 | 9 p.m. Palm Springs Convention Center The Wet and Wild Pool Party featuring Rose Royce April 5 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Hilton Hotel’s Main Pool The Dinah Closing Party featuring E11even April 5 | 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Zelda’s Nightclub
Currently nominated and 4-time winner of Echo Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award for Outstanding Salon! Jacqueline Weinstein and Briana Lyn Milam are hitting the road to Palm Springs for the first time. Photo by Fernando Hernández
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The Original Dinah Shore Weekend is turning 25 By Megan Wadding
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hat started out in as a small, onenight event at the world-renowned Palm Springs Modern Art Museum in 1991 has evolved into a five-day lesbian rite of passage that recorded more than 15,000 attendees from all over the world in 2014 alone. This year, the annual Club Skirts presents Dinah Shore weekend – the largest lesbian event in the world – is celebrating its 25th anniversary April 1-5. And, in true Dinah Shore fashion, the Palm Springs party weekend promises a show-stopping concert lineup, pool parties, comedy shows, celesbian guests, one-of-a-kind vendors, a beer pong tournament as well as a few new surprises. Mariah Hanson, founder and producer of the legendary event said she never expected it to become this massive or successful. Palm Springs or Bust “I started out with the idea of bringing a fantastic event filled with great entertainment and thousands of women to the desert during the golf tournament,” Hanson said in a phone interview with Echo, “but I never thought it’d reach the status that it enjoys today.” Hanson, who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, said after only one visit to Palm Springs she said she knew it would make a perfect host city for her event. “It’s a big spring break town. I had been 24 |
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“It’s a big spring break town. I had been out there once and I felt like it had so much potential to be a world-class event, because the town is world-class.” Mariah Hanson
out there once and I felt like it had so much potential to be a world-class event, because the town is world-class,” she said. “We grew with the town. It was very Republican when I started and now it’s not only very Democrat, but very gay.” Hanson added that Palm Springs has always been very welcoming to The Dinah and the two enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship. “[Palm Springs] considers Dinah Shore weekend one of the top five signature events for the city. That’s a very important statement to be making to the LGBTQ community,” Hanson said. “I love working out of Palm Springs. I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Hanson is expecting thousands of women from around the world to descend upon Palm Springs for The Dinah, many of them first-timers and many of them from Arizona.
“It’s exciting to be there for the first time and I find that first-timers tend to overdo it early on,” Hanson said. “Pace yourself. There’s a lot to do. And you don’t want to miss a show.” A Music Mission About six or seven years ago Hanson said she had a vision of The Dinah becoming a powerful music festival and upping the entertainment ante has been particularly important to her since. “I was in a position where I could [focus on the music] because the event was doing so well,” Hanson said. “We’ve been allocating a lot of the event to greater and greater headliners, because we really wanted to make a stamp on the entertainment community by offering the very best talent.” Since then, The Dinah has become known for booking some of the music industry’s biggest names, such as Iggy Azalea, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and The Pussycat Dolls, just before they hit the threshold of superstardom. Because of this, Hanson said, The Dinah is becoming widely known as a launching pad for up-and-comers. Although Hanson’s been asked to share the method to her music madness, she won’t tell. “It’s called the ‘Dinah Secret Sauce,’ secret being the operative word,” she said. “I do have a formula that I’ve kind of developed over the years, but I don’t talk about it because then everyone could do it.”
lesbian community. “I think [we] have been really instrumental in having the mainstream media and entertainment look at the lesbian community as a viable economic market,” Hanson said. “I think women have always lagged a little bit behind the guys in terms of economics and acceptance, so I think The Dinah makes a really important statement for lesbians. I’m really proud to be a part of it.” Until Next Year Hanson prides herself on actually attending all of the weekend’s events to make sure everything is first-class and runs smoothly. “I’m responsible for everything, so nobody is going to watch the event like I do. I’m not out on the dance floor dancing – I supposed I have in the past,” she joked. “But I am there making sure it is a well-run, safe event.” But, year after year, Hanson admitted that the best part of the job is walking away at the end of each Dinah Shore weekend with a feeling of celebration and a job well done.
In celebration of the 25th anniversary, Hanson said they went all out on their entertainment line-up. “It’s probably the best we’ve ever had. I’m really excited to showcase these performers,” Hanson said. “Meghan Trainor is the it-girl right now, so that’s fun. And Christina Perri, who doesn’t have a crush on her?” Other entertainers throughout the weekend include rising talents Ivy Levan and Bebe Rexha, Crystal Waters, Rose Royce, Holy Child, Olivia Sommerlyn and E11even. Aside from star-studded entertainment, Hanson said a new event, called Celebrity Beer Pong, was created to replace the regular Celesbian Dodgeball event. The celebrities involved include “Girl/Girl Scene” web series star and creator Tucky Williams, the cast of “L Word Mississippi,” “The Real L Word” season one cast member Tracy Ryerson, actress and stand-up comic Bridget McManus and plenty more. The Power of the “L”
this may be the last time they perform at a smaller venue. “I remember when I announced Iggy Azalea, everyone said ‘Who’s that?’ With someone like [her], it’s pretty cool to see them in an intimate surrounding,” Hanson said. “Everyone was mad at me for booking Katy Perry and The Pussycat Dolls … I kept getting ‘Who’s that?’ But people are starting to catch on now that ‘Who’s that?’ could be the next big thing at any given moment.” Hanson’s vision is to see The Dinah continue to grow, especially in terms of its talent. “We’re moving towards it becoming a very prominent music festival,” Hanson said. “I think we’ve actually gotten there ... We always want the event to stay relevant and be women-centric. We’re focusing on music because that’s a common denominator that brings all of us together at any moment.” According to Hanson, The Dinah has also given credence to the buying power of the
“It’s pretty amazing to be able to look at the event at any given time and just see so many women having the time of their lives and knowing that you partially helped make that happen, and to live out loud, to be in this important group in this city for five days,” Hanson said. “That’s a real sense of celebration and accomplishment for me, because I think it’s so good for our community.” Although Hanson prefers to follow her over-the-top event up with some relaxation and “horse-camping,” she admits that the planning for next year’s event starts immediately. “We start planning the next Dinah right after one ends,” she said. “We’re already negotiating contracts for the next year.” Megan Wadding is a freelance writer and travel addict with a degree in journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @MeganWadding.
Hanson said there has been talk among music managers about The Dinah and its power. “They’re going, ‘Every time they play this lesbian event, they take off’,” Hanson said. “Lesbians are getting credit for being early adapters, spending money, buying CDs and actually altering the launch [of these] careers.” This year’s headliner, 2015 Grammy nominee Meghan Trainor, had not been launched into superstardom when Hanson initially booked her. Hanson said that with her knack of booking the next big thing, you really don’t know which performer will take off next. Hanson added that for some of the entertainers scheduled to perform this year, EchoMag.com
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Meet the Funny Ladies of The Dinah Dana Goldberg Echo: This is your first time performing at The Dinah, are you excited? Goldberg: I’m stoked. I’ve been there a couple times as a guest. It’s going to be an incredible 25th anniversary; I can’t wait to get out there. Echo: How do you write material for an alllesbian crowd? Goldberg: I think with an all-lesbian audience, you’re basically playing to your community. In order to get people to laugh, they have to be able to relate to your material, so it’s the perfect breeding ground for lesbian material. You feel out your audience and if they’re reacting to the material, you keep it. If not, you change it on the spot and give them what they want. Echo: How would you describe your comedic style? Goldberg: Smart and edgy. I can definitely get a little dirty, but I’m not a crass comedienne. My comedy is the kind that will make you laugh when the joke comes out and then repeat it later. Echo: What’s your background? How did you get started? Goldberg: When I was 17, I decided to do a 10-minute standup routine for the high school talent show and I won. Whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I was growing up, I said a stand-up comedienne, which was very weird as a child. Echo: Were you funny as a child? Goldberg: My kindergarten teacher told my mother I was the funniest five-year-old she had ever met. I was bored and got trouble in class a lot. I think I had a really good sense of humor since I was young. Echo: What comedians inspire you? Goldberg: Growing up, I watched a lot of the old
comic relief. I still cry whenever I see Robin Williams’ videos or pictures. He was brilliant. And Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg. I kind of studied them not knowing I was studying them. Now it’s my colleagues, like Suzanne Westenhoefer, Gloria Bigelow and Erin Foley and all the brilliant women and men who I learn from, look up to and share a stage with. Echo: What are your jokes about? What do you like to talk about? Goldberg: The Dinah is a party weekend, but I’ll definitely hit on politics because of everything that is happening nationally. I’m good at making people laugh at the most serious topics. My
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family is a very funny Jewish family. My ex-girlfriend and my present girlfriend both come up in my show. Echo: What other projects are you currently involved with? Goldberg: I’ve been touring nationally. I do a ton of work with the Human Rights Campaign and I’ll be doing several of their dinners. I’m working on a sitcom pilot that hopefully we’ll be able to take to network at some point. Echo: Are you going to stay the weekend? What are you looking forward to most? Goldberg: I’m definitely staying Thursday and Friday. I want to be there for the Meghan Trainor concert.
Gloria Bigelow Echo: This will be your second time performing at The Dinah. What is it like? Bigelow: I think the thing about The Dinah is that everyone is there to have a good time so everyone wants to laugh and have fun. Sometimes, you’ll get in front of an audience and you know you’ll have to work hard to make the people laugh. But The Dinah feels like entertaining in your home. You want to have a good time, I want to have a good time, let’s have fun. Echo: Are your jokes different when it’s all lesbians? Bigelow: For this kind of audience, [my set] is probably going to be pretty gay. Normally, I kind of tend to be like, topical, social and political, and I’m usually commenting on some part of my identity, whether it’s the black part, the gay part or the woman part. I don’t think that will change, but I think I’m definitely going to dust off my fun, lesbian material and find some inspiration while I’m there too. Echo: Did you always have an interest in comedy? Bigelow: I grew up watching a lot of comedy and my parents were really into comedy. I watched a lot of comedy that was not appropriate for me to be watching as a kid. Growing up, you didn’t really see a lot of
Echo: Will you be staying for the whole Dinah weekend?
black, female comics that I could personally relate to. But I had no idea that [stand-up comedy] was a profession, or something that I could do.
Bigelow: I stay the whole time, whether I’m performing or not. Me and a couple of friends get a house and stay for the whole thing. We’ve probably gone to about six of them.
Echo: How did you get started in comedy? Bigelow: I got a master’s degree in acting, but I just didn’t like the whole acting thing. I didn’t like the auditioning; I didn’t like the trying to be small and not eating anything. But then I met a woman one night at a party right after I had just moved to New York City, and at the end of the conversation she was like, “Wow, you should try stand-up.” She told me to write about stuff that makes me angry. I started writing and writing. I still tell some of those jokes that I wrote back then. Echo: What and who inspire you? Bigelow: I’m inspired by comedy in general. I used to live in New York City and on a Friday night I used to love to just go from club to club and just watch people do their thing. I like comedy that says something. I’ve always liked George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Wanda Sykes and people who have something to say about the world, but do it in a funny way. Echo: What other projects are you currently working on? Bigelow: I’m working on a book about my misadventures in New York City and I’m working on putting out a comedy story album, which will be released later this spring.
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Dinah Leffert Echo: Are you excited to perform at The Dinah? Leffert: I’ve never performed there before, but I’ve been there before. I’m super excited. Echo: Is your preparation for an all-lesbian show different than a regular show? Leffert: I think lesbians are smarter, so the jokes need to be smarter. I’ve performed for mainly a mainstream club and to survive in clubs, you have to appease men. But I think this is going to be great. I have a lot of respect for the audience. I’m pulling out my best A game. Echo: What were you like as a child? Was your family funny? Leffert: It’s something I grew up doing. Being funny was valued pretty highly in my household. My brother was the funny one and I was younger and I think I was trying to steal some of his spotlight. Echo: How did you first get involved in comedy?
Leffert: My background is in theater. I grew up with a desire to be an actress. I’ve been in more than 20 plays. Comedy was my calling and I didn’t realize it. My two best friends, who don’t know each other, pushed me. One of my friends told me she was jumping into a comedy class and it sort of incited this jealous feeling inside of me. It created a healthy competition. Echo: What is your comedic style? Who’s style do you admire? Leffert: I’m always looking for some sort of social commentary that I can make funny. I really have been watching Margaret Cho. She has this San Francisco vibe that I know very well and she is so hilarious. I was watching her talk about real things and have a real message and then make it extremely hilarious, and I thought, that’s what I want to do. Echo: Who are your favorite comedians? Leffert: My number one will always be Richard Pryor. I just feel deep about him. He just makes me love him, care about him, I want to cry for him, but laughing all the time. That’s what I grew up with. Also Eddie Murphy. I guess I don’t think of him as an influence, but I guess he is. Echo: What other projects are you
currently working on? Leffert: One of my friends had me host the premiere of the movie Crazy Bitches. It just got released on iTunes. It’s a really hilarious comedy. Now we’re working on the tour. The storyline is campy and fun. I’m also a documentary filmmaker and I have a film under review for distribution at a pretty major network right now. It’s a youth soccer documentary about a team that I followed around to the national championships twice. It’s about the stories of who they are. I’m just crossing my fingers. I’m writing a script with somebody too. I have my hands in a lot of pots. Echo: Do you plan to stay for the other Dinah events? Leffert: I would be remiss not to hang out and be there. It’s like Burning Man for ladies.
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FEATURE story
#StandWithMonica
Transgender ASU student takes on Phoenix prostitution law and wins By Hana Khalyleh
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t’s been nearly two years since transgender Arizona State University student Monica Jones was arrested by Phoenix police on suspicion of manifesting prostitution. According to Phoenix Municipal Code Section 23-52(A)(3), soliciting an act of prostitution includes “waiving of arms,” “stops or attempts to stop or engage passersby in conversation” and/or inquiring if someone is a police officer. The arrest came as a result of the now defunct Project ROSE (Reaching Out to the Sexually Exploited), a collaborative effort between ASU’s school of social work and the Phoenix Police Department. The project’s goal was to curtail prostitution by offering suspected sex workers aid, education and services, but was met with harsh criticism and called “targeting” and “flawed.”
In the year and a half that followed, Jones’ case gained national attention – thanks in large part to transgender actress Laverne Cox’s mention of Jones’ conviction during her award acceptance speech at the 25th GLAAD Media Awards in April 12, 2014 (watch the speech here: glaad.org/ mediaawards/25/recap). It was in that same speech Cox coined the term “walking while trans.” The story continued to gain momentum and visibility across social media with the hashtag #StandWithMonica and locally with the “I Stand With Monica” campaign. Then, on Jan. 26, Jones’ appeal led to the overturn of her conviction. “My conviction being vacated is important but it is a small win in our larger fight for justice. There are so many trans women and cisgender women who might be charged under this law in Phoenix, and similar laws across the country,” said Jones after winning the appeal. Jones was represented by a legal team from Perkins Coie LLP. “Throughout this case we stressed that Monica was convicted in an 30 |
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unconstitutional trial, under an unconstitutional law, of a crime she didn’t commit,” said Alexis Danneman, who, with Jean-Jacques “J” Cabou, represented Jones in her appeal. “We are thrilled that the case is finally over and that Monica was vindicated. We’re proud to have achieved a great victory on behalf of a deserving client. We’re also very grateful for the support Monica received from people all
over the country.” Jones shared her thoughts on the appeal process, her activism in Phoenix, the challenges that she’s faced and the changes that she’s had to make in her life since her arrest in 2013. Echo: What was your reaction when you heard the conviction was overturned? Jones: I was happy, definitely, but my feature story
Image courtesy of Micah Bazant, micahbazant.com
Jones was one of those women, but she fought the charges, as well as Project ROSE and the manifestation laws, arguing that they targeted trans women and women of color in poverty-stricken neighborhoods.
Laverne Cox (left) visits Phoenix to #StandWithMonica. Photo by Leah Jo
focus was still on the constitutionality of the manifestation law and how to work towards removing that. I really hope that it gains more attention and we continue to work on it. Mine was not an isolated incident. Echo: What had been the most difficult hurdle for you since May 2013? Jones: Self care. Learning to take care of myself and not wear myself out. Echo: Are you back at ASU this semester? Jones: Of course, some of my classes took a hit [and] had to be put on hold. Right now, I just have to get back in the motion of things and [adjust] to not needing to be worried about the arrest. Echo: What made you pursue a degree in social work? Jones: There are so many reasons. It had to do with my intersectionalities. For one, I’m a trans woman. Then, I’m an AfricanAmerican, I’m a person with disabilities and, being an activist, it felt like it was the perfect opportunity for me to dive into advocacy and actually helping others. My friend suggested social work to me, and I read through it, and it was a great thing for my activism. Echo: Your cause gained significant visibility when Laverne Cox came to town, tell me about that experience? Are you two still in touch? Jones: We don’t have a strong relationship, but I feel we have a strong bond because she’s a trans woman of color. It was our shared desire to be advocates for trans women, and her speaking of my case at GLAAD, that really kept us together. Now we just tweet each other from time to time. Echo: How, would you say, the world’s perception of the trans community is changing? Jones: The visibility of trans people trans women and trans women of color. It’s just about having the focus not only on gay marriage, but on the struggles of the trans community and being more inclusive. Echo: Was it difficult for you to adjust to the role of an activist and a symbol for
Monica Jones and supporters gather for an interview. Photo by Alec Robinson
trans women of color? Jones: Yes, it was, because I’m a human being. I have flaws. It was just a matter of needing to watch what I say and being politically correct. That was the hard part of this whole process. Echo: How has your approach to activism changed since 2013? Jones: I’m more direct. I’m not shy about my activism. I’m more aggressive in my approach when regarding issues of sex work and being trans, poverty and trans, trans and color— I tie the two together. Echo: How have your friends and family responded and supported you through this ordeal? Jones: My family supported me just by being a safe space for me and being there for me. My friends were definitely my voice of reason; they were the ones pushing me and spreading word of my case on social media. Echo: What can the rest of the LGBT community do to assist transgender members? Jones: People just need to be aware of trans problems, like the violence and negative attention trans women of color face by “walking while trans.” We face a lot more harassment because we can be picked out of a crowd – even within the LGBT community. [Walking while trans] is a part of every aspect of life. Echo: How can the LGBT community be more inclusive of people of color? Jones: By being aware of their own biases and presence, and keeping that in check. People consider gay marriage the biggest issue, but that’s within the white cis, lesbian/gay community. What about things like healthcare, equal treatment and poverty? Basic things like that. The challenges of people of color, even within the LGBT community, are not represented.
Echo: What would you say are the unique challenges for trans people of color? Jones: Having multiple intersectionalities – like being trans while being a person of color. You already expect the marginalization of people of color, but mix it with the marginalization of the trans community and it multiplies. Our unique challenge is to overcome the struggles that accompany both groups in separate communities. Echo: What are some issues that you feel still need to be addressed in Arizona? Jones: The issues surrounding “manifestation” laws need to be addressed. Project ROSE isn’t doing anything currently, and I think that’s largely due to the media coverage of my case. Echo: What are your main objectives with your work with Sex Workers Outreach Program (SWOP; swopphoenix.org)? Jones: Spreading “how to be safe” education and fighting manifestation laws. When they decriminalized sex work in Australia, the spreading of new cases of HIV went down. The LGBT community and people of color are highly affected by HIV. African Americans are only 13 percent of the American population, but make up about half of the HIV-positive population. SWOP wants to reduce the spread of HIV when it comes to sex work. Echo: What would you like to say about Project ROSE? Jones: It was misguided. Project ROSE had really good intentions, but it tackled the problem in a way that targeted women, specifically women of color. I know they are trying to protect women – definitely really good intentions, but badly executed and hurtful. Echo: What it was like working with Perkins Coie? EchoMag.com
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Image courtesy of Micah Bazant, micahbazant.com
Jones: They are lovely. My lawyers were [Jean-Jacques] “J” Cabou and Alexis [Danneman]. They really helped me out and I think they really cared about my issue. I could tell they were invested. Echo: Do you consider yourself a feminist? Jones: Of course I’m a feminist! I grew up in a house full of feminists. [Feminists] have a really bad rap, but because I stand for the empowerment of women, I am a feminist. Echo: In what ways has your life changed since May 2013?
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Jones: I travel more. I go to places I’ve always wanted to go. Also, I embrace my angry black trans woman personality! Echo: What’s your plan for the next chapter of your life, now that the conviction has been overturned? Jones: Just to maintain and continue my advocacy work in any way I can. This week, I’m leaving to Geneva in Switzerland to speak with the U.N. about trans rights. (Editor’s Note: Shortly after this interview, Jones left for Geneva, Switzerland to speak with the U.N. about trans rights.) If you missed Laverne Cox last time she came to Phoenix in support of Monica Jones, you’re in luck. An Evening with Laverne Cox 6-8 p.m. April 8 ASU’s Wells Fargo Arena 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe. Tickets: $12.54; eventbrite.com (search Laverne Cox) Hana Khalyleh is an ASU student and Echo intern who also runs a biweekly blog that critically analyzes the progress of the digital gaming community. 32 | march 26, 2015 • EchoMag.com
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FEATURE story
TransFormative Creations Local youth share trans identities and journeys through art show By Laura Latzko Artwork by Rori, 18
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or transgender individuals of all ages, coming out of the closet is met with complicated questions from therapists, healthcare providers, insurance companies, peers, teachers and school administrators. For youth, answering these questions can be a daunting task. But, because art offers a label- and pronoun-free world of creative expression, Trans* Spectrum of Arizona and one n ten have joined forces to present the first-ever Trans Youth Art Show at the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center. The art show, which will include sketches, a board game, a documentary, collages and other forms of trans-specific art, will kick off April 3 and be on display through the end of the month. According to Mel Rodis, Trans* Spectrum support group facilitator and leadership team member, art allows youth to share their feelings on their own journeys and their transitioning process in ways they might not be able to with words. “Sometimes kids don’t have the emotional maturity to express themselves in words,” Rodis said. “Art is a way they can easily express themselves and work out what they are going through during their transitions.” Rodis, who facilities Trans* Spectrum’s support groups for younger kids and teens 34 |
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“Sometimes kids don’t have the emotional maturity to express themselves in words. Art is a way they can easily express themselves and work out what they are going through during their transitions.” Mel Rodis
on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, said bullying, mis-gendering and not getting to play sports because of gender identity are common topics. “Sometimes I’m surprised at the depth of conversation they have at meetings,” Rodis, said. “They are really processing complex thoughts and emotions during those discussions, so I’ll be interested to see how they express those concepts through art.” Rodis added that trans youth are typically more resilient when faced with transition-related adversity than their adult counterparts. As someone who transitioned at age 36, he feels inspired by the youth.
“Things were very different when I was growing up. I knew my gender was different when I was a kid. I knew that I wasn’t an average kid,” he said. “I didn’t have the words for it then, [now] I can identify that I was transgender then. It just wasn’t an option back then to transition as a kid.” Rodis said his hope is that the art show provides community members who are not trans with a better understanding of trans issues and identities. “A lot of times, the ‘T’ is silent and invisible,” Rodis said. “This is an opportunity for the trans community to be visible, but it is also an opportunity for the kids to say, ‘This is who we are, we’re here and we’re going to tell you about ourselves.’” The art show opening will take place from 6-9 p.m. April 3 and will include pizza, ice cream sundaes, a beanbag toss, a 50-50 raffle and other art-related activities. Additionally, youth will be selling artwork to fund their own transition process or to raise donations for Trans* Spectrum. Trans Youth Art Show 6-9 p.m. April 3 Phoenix Pride LGBT Center 801 N. Second Ave., Phoenix transspectrum.org
MEET THE ARTISTS Evan | 16 | Ahwatukee
he keeps me involved in art,” Tami said. “I always tried to foster that in him. I tell him, ‘Do what you love, follow your passion.’”
Rori | 18 | Peoria
For the art show, Evan has been working on a graphic art project in which he changes the gender of noteworthy figures from as far back as the 1400s to the present day.
Rori, who has worked on a number of different projects for the art show, will be showcasing a comic strip with a female trans superhero.
Evan said he plans to rework such famous paintings as “The Mona Lisa” and “The Kiss” for the art show.
According to Rori, it was his love of comic books, such as Naruto, that inspired him to create a comic dealing with issues pertinent to his life.
“Trans people have been there throughout history but have not been depicted,” Evan said of his motivation for the project. Evan, who wants to go into film, shares an interest in art with his mom, Paula, a painter.
In the comic, the superhero saves a trans boy who is being bullied while using the boy’s bathroom – an issue Rori said many trans individuals have experienced, himself included.
Baylie hopes to spark conversations about transgender issues with an interactive board game. The game, based on the board game “Life,” was a collaborative effort between Baylie, Evan and two other trans youth. “[Life] was my favorite game because you could choose whatever gender you wanted,” Baylie said. The four youth artists plan to white out the colors on the blue and pink “Life” characters to make them more gender neutral and will also create a completely new board. The premise of the game is that characters start at one gender and encounter such trans issues as insurance, marriage, kids, name changes, transitioning on the job and gender reassignment surgery before ending at the “finish” which is the other gender. “This was to teach as well as entertain,” Baylie said. “A lot of people don’t know what transgender people have to go through to live their lives.”
“You don’t need a super HD camera to make something good,” Aubrey said, adding that her biggest challenge was working with older equipment, including VHS tapes. “I like the raw feel. I don’t want it to be perfectly edited. If you take away the high-quality camera and the content is good, then you know it’s good.”
“Art just caught on really intensely,” he said. “I’ve always been connected with art.” For the art show, Rori has also developed a charcoal sketch of a confident trans girl with online bullying messages surrounding her and a drawing depicting the evolution of a figure from a female to male.
In the documentary, trans youth and adults share their own personal stories of transitioning and touches on the important issues of family support or lack therefore for trans youth and adults.
Rori, who previously had his art displayed at a school district art show in Peoria, said he doesn’t intentionally set out to make a statement through his work, but sometimes “the statement comes later.”
“What really gets me the most is parents not accepting you,” said Aubrey, whose parents and oldest sisters have come to be her greatest allies. “Family is really supposed to always be there. With this, they can disappear.”
Sam |16 | Mesa
Baylie | 17 | Mesa
For the art show, Aubrey shot a documentary on her father’s old video camera.
For the film, Aubrey interviewed a teen from her school, youth and adults from the Trans* Spectrum support groups and trans activist and speaker Julian Melson. Aubrey also shared her own personal story in the film.
Rori added that art, and comics, have been an important part of his life since an early age.
Artwork by Baylie, 17
Aubrey | 13 | Phoenix
Sam, a jewelry-maker, oil painter and sculptor, said his love of art started at a young age, when he would draw fairy creatures. Sam, whose work was previously featured at a Mesa school district art show, said he was inspired to make a statement about gender identity through his drawings for this show. According to Sam, his drawings depict people of different races and genders with their heads replaced by colorful plants. And one of the characters in his plant series was inspired by his favorite musician and spoken word artist. Sam’s interest in art has been nurtured by his mom, Tami, who attends monthly art education workshops with him and often wears jewelry he’s created. “I think it’s a two-way street. I think
Aubrey’s father, a local documentary filmmaker, is helping her with the documentary project. Aubrey’s mom, Meredith, who works as a nurse, said she and her husband “freaked out” when Aubrey told them she was trans. Over the last year, their attitudes have changed as they have become more educated on trans issues. “This whole experience with Aubrey in the last year has made me rethink gender. It’s given me a new perspective,” Meredith said. “I was completely ignorant of practically everything, and I consider myself a pretty educated and open-minded person.” Laura Latzko is a Phoenix-area freelance writer, originally from Michigan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English and communication studies from Hollins University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.
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At the Center of the Center Phoenix Pride LGBT Center expands available programs and services By Laura Latzko
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utside, a seemingly endless line of people wait to fill boxes with fresh produce as part of the Produce on Wheels With Out Waste (POW WOW) program; inside, the Rainbow Room fills to capacity for Equality Arizona’s first annual Equality and Justice Conference. This is a typical Saturday at the Phoenix Pride LGBT Center. Since Phoenix Pride acquired the 1 Voice Community Center last September, and moved to the new location at the northeast corner of Second Avenue and McKinley Street, the organization has been able to “reach the community in new ways that fit with its overall goals,” according to Joshua Judd, the center’s coordinator.
Library
“As a center, we’re a physical space for the mission of Phoenix Pride to really manifest,” Judd said. “Phoenix Pride celebrates the history, diversity and future prosperity of the LGBTQ community, and the center is the center of that mission. It’s a safe
Art Cube
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space for our community to get together to meet, socialize and build those bonds that strengthen the community.” The center comprises a tech center, complete with six Internet-ready computer workstations; the BJ Bud Memorial Library, boasting the 7,000 books from the former center’s library; green, yellow, orange, blue and rainbow rooms, meeting rooms of various sizes and setups; and The Art Cube, which exhibits pieces from different artists every month, including the Trans Youth Art Show throughout the month of April. “Not only is the center a resource for the community, but it’s a good place to be part of the community,” said Justin Owen, Phoenix Pride executive director. “We wanted to create a place where you wouldn’t just go if you needed something, you’d go because you want to.” The center offers a wide range of groups, programs and events for people of all ages – from HIV testing and support groups to
Blue Room
Kung Fu and Tango classes – on a quarterly basis. Current scheduling will run through March and new offerings will begin in April. “The LGBTQ community has always been about diversity and intersectionality and embracing people from all walks of life, so the center is a natural fit for all kinds of events, whether it is a political campaign or a fundraiser,” Judd said. According to Judd, the center has a fulltime staff of three and requires 40 to 60 volunteers on a regular basis to operate at full capacity. “We took an aggressive step when we moved to the center,” Owen said. “When we moved in here, we didn’t know if we’d fill up the space. Now we are running out of space.”
As part of the move, Owen said, Phoenix Pride made a commitment to offer services and programs to previously underserved populations, such as seniors and youth aging out of one n ten’s programs. As a result, the center now has more healthrelated, computer-oriented and familyfocused programs and services. Through community and volunteer support, fundraisers and donations, Owen said his goal is to continue to expand center’s role in the community. Stay tuned for job and small business resource fairs as well as social and networking events in months ahead. For more information, or a complete list of services and resources available,
Rainbow Room
visit phoenixpridelgbtcenter.org. For up-to-date event and program information, like them at facebook.com/ phoenixpridelgbtcenter. Phoenix Pride LGBT Center 801 N. Second Ave., Phoenix 602-712-0111 Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Tue-Sat Sun, Mon and after hours by appointment only. Laura Latzko is a Phoenix-area freelance writer, originally from Michigan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English and communication studies from Hollins University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.
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10 DAYS OF
Saturday, 3/28 – Phoenix Pet Pride, BS West 2:00-5:00pm Bring your 4-legged friends and join us for Phoenix Pet Pride! You and your pooch can mingle on the patio or participate in one of five pet pageants, hosted by the fabulous Olivia Gardens. Special prizes & pet-friendly vendors. All friendly, leashed animals welcome! Suggested donation: $5.
Friday, 4/3 – Phoenix Pride & GPGLCC 35th Saturday, 4/4 – Rainbow Families, Anniversary, Phoenix Theatre 6:00-9:00pm Phoenix Pride LGBT Center 1:00-4:00pm 35 never looked so good! Join the GPGLCC & Phoenix Pride for a chic birthday party. Sip on cocktails, enjoy wonderful company and conversation, and a toast to another 35 years of prosperity for Phoenix Pride and the GPGLCC.
Help us celebrate the diversity of our families, strengthen our community bonds, and connect in a safe and welcoming environment with other LGBTQ parents and kids! Kiddos will enjoy crafts and parents can partake in the artsy fun or enjoy light refreshments and conversation.
Sunday, 4/5 – Trans* Shoe & Clothing Bank Wednesday, 4/8 – An Evening with Grand Opening, Rebel & Devine UCC Noon Laverne Cox, Wells Fargo Arena 6:00pm The Trans* focused young adult clothing closet seeks to bring hope to those it will be serving. Join us Easter Sunday for thier Grand Opening and ribbon cutting, as we celebrate Rebel & Divine and the community they serve.
Wednesday, 4/8 – Gay Skate, Great Skate Glendale 8:00pm Dust off your rollerskates, or rollerblades, if you’re fancy, and skate the night away for PRIDE SKATE! Admission is $10, which includes 3 hours of skating and skate rental. Dress in your best Rainbow attire because there will be a prize for the best costume!
Thursday, 4/9 – Echo Reader’s Choice Awards, Club Downtown 8:00pm Join Echo Magazine, The Nashlee Effect and a star-studded line up of performers for Echo’s biggest event of the year: The annual Readers’ Choice Awards ceremony.
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Actor, model, activist, & star of Orange is the New Black: will be speaking about important issues surrounding the Transgender community. Tickets are $10,available at www.10DaysofPride.org. Thursday, 4/9 – Mesa Human Relations
Commission presents the film: The Homestretch, Mesa Public Library – Dobson 6:00pm
Join us preview screening of “Homestretch”, a documentary that follows three LGBT homeless youth through a Chicago winter. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the organizations: HRC, one n ten, and Tumbleweed.
Friday, 4/10 – ION Magazine’s Splash Bash, Wyndham Garden Phoenix Noon8:00pm When the temps go up,ION Arizona throws the coolest bash in town! Free cover from noon-1pm or all day with your Phoenix Pride VIP Experience ticket. This event is 21+.
Phoenix Pride Parade Sunday April 12th @ 10am
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the hiGh eNerGy hot BeAr DANCe PArty! APril 11th
10pm
No Cover
4 DeCks – 3 Artists – 1 exPerieNCe exteNDeD outDoor PAtio | GoGo BeArs | leD DANCe Floor AmAziNG GiveAwAys AND Door Prizes | liGht show
4343 North 7th Avenue Phoenix facebook.com/stacysatmelrose
602-361-6560 EchoMag.com
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LGBT LGBT Community Day Community Day March. 15 at the Arizona OUT ‘n ABOUT Community LGBT Friends & Family Day March 15 Arizona Renaissance Festival March Renaissance Festival Photos 15 by Arizona Gregg Edelman Renaissance Festival Photos by Gregg Edelman
For more photos of this event For photos of this event visitmore echomag.com/gallery. For morevisit photos of this event echomag.com/gallery.
Photos by Gregg Edelman
visit echomag.com/gallery.
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Mr Arizona EOY 2015 Ismael Ramirez
FEATURE story
Other titles include Mr Gay AZ USofA 2011 and 2013 and Mr Gay Westcoast USofA 2012.
The Wild, Wild Best
Echo: What does being crowned Arizona Entertainer of the Year 2015 mean to you? Ramirez: That I still have it (lol). It means I learned to step out of my box and do things I wouldn’t normally do
Arizona’s EOY 2015 titleholders prepare for national pageant
Echo: Describe your style as an entertainer, who are your inspirations? Ramirez: I’m a dancer who ranges from Latin music to hip-hop and acting. My inspiration is the audience Echo: Any message you’d like to extend to all involved in AZEOY? Ramirez: Shout out to both my sons, Cruz Carter and Roman Holiday, my mother who help me out and to my beautiful boyfriend, love you AJ B.
By Kara J. Philp
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he 2015 Arizona Entertainers of the Year were crowned in four categories March 7 at the Wyndham Garden Phoenix Midtown.
Echo: What was your favorite category and why? Ramirez: Presentation is my favorite because you have to catch [the judges] attention in such a short time.
The winners include Femme Arizona EOY 2015 Nova Loza, Mr Arizona EOY 2015 Ismael Ramirez, Miss Arizona EOY 2015 Tyra Marie Jimenez, and King Arizona EOY 2015 Jensen C. Dean. According to Richard Van Stone, the pageant’s co-promoter, the entertainer of the year system focuses on appreciating entertainers of all styles. “In the past the system has been graced with dancers, live singers, comedy, magic acts and various other styles,” he said. “We do not have a set mold that you have to fit in. We want you to bring you to the system and showcase your talents and abilities.” Arizona EOY was founded by Jalissa Michaels eight years ago and Van Stone and his partner Kevin Hilzendeger took it over two years ago. “To date it’s our biggest pageant ever and we are so humbled that so many people share in our EOY dream,” Van Stone said. “We would like to thank everyone for the love and support we’ve received this year. The National EOY pageant will take place from July 21- 26 in Louisville, but first, here’s what Arizona’s entertainers of 2015 had to say: Femme Arizona EOY 2015 Nova Loza Echo: What does being crowned the firstever Femme Arizona Entertainer of the Year 2015 mean to you? Loza: Being crowned Femme AZEOY 2015 means everything to me. My passion has always been to perform ... It feels amazing to receive such an honorable title after my 13 years of dancing. Echo: Describe your style as an entertainer; who are your inspirations? Loza: My biggest inspiration is Lady Gaga. I love to impersonate her because she does
Echo: Everyone loves talent; tell me about your performance. Ramirez: I made Pinocchio come to life and had him dancing and acting whatever the heck she wants to and it’s fierce. Echo: What was your favorite category and why? Loza: My favorite category has to be talent! There’s nothing more I love to do than to dance. I love to hear the audience cheer and get everyone up out of their seats, especially when I share the stage with my friends who tear it up with me. Echo: Tell me about your talent performance, Loza: My talent was my forte: Lady Gaga! It begins slow with my two men who have brought me to life then goes into high energy dancing. We have lifts and quick changes, which took quit a bit of rehearsing. Echo: Biggest lesson you learned through this experience?
Echo: What specific measures did you take to prepare for this pageant? Ramirez: I made sure what I did was creative. Echo: Do you think co-ed pageants offer audiences something better/different? Why? Ramirez: Yes, different styles for different audiences. Echo: Biggest lesson you learned through this experience? Ramirez: Don’t leave things for last minute. Echo: Any advice for entertainers just starting out? Ramirez: Find yourself, and what you’re good at, and run with it.
Loza: DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! It feels like a bigger weight on your shoulders when you leave everything for the last minute. Plan ahead and everything will come at ease. Echo: Any advice for entertainers just starting out? Loza: The advice I would give is to stay true to yourself and remember to stay humble. Even when you feel that you have reached your highest point, don’t forget where you came from and the people who helped you get there. Read more of Nova Loza’s interview at echomag.com/nova-loza.
For more on Ismael Ramirez, visit echomag.com/ismael-ramirez. EchoMag.com
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Miss Arizona EOY 2015 Tyra Marie Jimenez Other titles include Miss Gay Phoenix 2011 and Miss Gay Arizona America 2013. Echo: What does being crowned Arizona Entertainer of the Year 2015 mean to you? Jimenez: It is very special. It’s another chance at competing at a national level and having the chance of becoming a national titleholder. It’s also another opportunity to work in our LGBT community and give back to our community, which has been very supportive of me. Echo: Describe your style as an entertainer, who are your inspirations? Jimenez: I love the glamorous style of drag: big hair, big jewels and the sparkly costumes. I get inspiration from a lot of different entertainers. Locally, I love the stage presence of Mya McKenzie and the humor of Barbra Seville and Celia Putty. I am also a big fan of Roxxxy Andrews. Echo: What specific measures do you plan on taking to prepare for the national pageant?
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Jimenez: I have already started planning for Nationals. First and more important was to create a budget so I can start saving up for my expenses. Echo: Do you think co-ed pageants offer audiences something better/different? Why? Jimenez: I believe they offer something different. We are able to get a more diverse audience and that gives us more exposure for future co-ed pageants. Read more of Tyra Marie Jimenez’s interview at echomag.com/tyra-marie-jimenez. King Arizona EOY 2015 Jensen C. Dean Other titles include Mister Rainbow Cactus 2012, Mister Phoenix Gay Pride 2012, Mister Phoenix Gay Pride 2013 and King Phoenix Entertainer of the Year 2015. Echo: What does being crowned King Arizona Entertainer of the Year 2015 mean to you? Dean: For me this means a whole new path on my drag journey. This is a higher level of performance and competition than I have experienced before [and] a huge opportunity for me to reach new goals and meet amazing new people. Being able to take the legacy that Gunner Gatlyn started last year and continue to help it grow and evolve is such an honor as well; this is something I’m very excited to have the opportunity to do. Echo: Biggest lesson you learned through this experience?
Dean: Just roll with it. Pageants have a lot of moving parts and things going on and you can’t always plan things down to the minute like you might like to. You have to really be able to adapt to the situation and conditions you’re given and make them work to your advantage. Things happen, including the air conditioner in your hotel room starting to pour water all over the bathroom while you have 6 people all trying to get into face for the pageant (totally happened to me on Sunday). Echo: Any advice for entertainers just starting out? Dean: Have fun! The biggest thing about drag is it is supposed to be fun. If you’re not having fun you’re not doing it right and you need to find a way to change things up to make them fun for you. Also remember it is not only OK to ask for help, it is encouraged; learn from mistakes that people have already made and save yourself the trouble. Read more of Jensen C. Dean’s interview at echomag.com/jensen-dean.
AZ Entertainer Arizonaof Entertainer of the Year the Year OUT ‘n ABOUT
March Wyndham March 8 8 at at Wyndham GardensGarden Phoenix Midtown Phoenix Midtown Photos by Fernando Hernandez Photos by Fernando Hernández
For more photos of this event visit echomag.com/gallery.
For more photos of this event visit echomag.com/gallery.
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dining
PAZ
OUT ‘n ABOUT St. Patrick’s Day March Paz in Phoenix March 1717atat Paz Photos by Kara J. Philp
Photos by Kara J. Philip
For more photos of this event visit echomag.com/gallery. For more photos of this event visit echomag.com/gallery.
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WITHOUT RESERVATIONS
French Grocery
Story and photos by Mark Sterling-Ogle
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’ve driven by the French Grocery, at the corner of Seventh and Maryland avenues in Phoenix, many a time, but never made the time to stop in and try their “continental & creole” … until recently, when I had the opportunity to grab lunch with a friend.
The cheese selection is also eclectic, with whole wheels on display. Although the selection varies, an array of soft, semisoft, Bleu and aged cheeses are regularly available.
The café/market was most certainly a convenience store at some point, with big plate-glass windows that allow natural sunlight to flood the dining area. There are only a few tables, enough to seat a maximum of about 30 guests, and the space is lined with deli-style cases and a wide variety of vintages and varietals.
We wandered around, among browsing shoppers, until my friend spied a basket of menus and a sign directing us to seat ourselves. After perusing the menu, making selections, and realizing we had yet to be acknowledged, someone from behind the counter informed us that there was no table service during lunch. This cleared up the confusion and cued us to head to the counter to order.
While there’s an emphasis on French collections, with a mixture of Italian, Spanish and German, there is also quite an array of small producers whose craft wines speak to the region’s specialty and terroir. Guests are invited to enjoy a bottle in-house with their meal for a $10 corkage fee.
For sipping, I selected a delightful Sancerre, 100-percent sauvignon blanc, which provided a perfect balance of citrus and mineral tones. Don’t expect the bottle to be presented with traditional wine service here; ours was opened behind the counter and simply poured into our glasses without a taste or nod. Shrimp and Corn Bisque
For savoring, I went with favorite of mine: Saint-André. This cheese has a soft buttery texture, tangy and edible rind and tastes like an intense version of Brie. I asked that it be opened and plated with a small, freshly baked baguette so it could come to room temperature (for enjoying after our meal). Then I ordered several selections for the two of us to share and, although there was only one employee preparing lunch items, the plates were delivered right to our table. The soup du jour was a wonderfully seasoned shrimp and corn bisque. The shrimp were not overcooked and offered a nice ‘pop’ when bitten into, even though the soup itself should have been served much warmer. The roast beef sandwich Au Jus, easily our favorite selection of the day, comprised a large, freshly baked baguette and healthy slabs of slow roasted beef (horseradish mayo or garlic aioli optional). The pan drippings, served on the side for plunging the bread into were a perfectly salted treat. Around for a century, croque-monsieur is simply a grilled ham and cheese. It originated in French cafés and bars as a quick snack. Typically, Gruyere or Emmental cheese is used and then finished with a bit of béchamel sauce, also known as white sauce, which is made from a roux and milk. It is one of the mother sauces of French and Italian cuisine and adds another layer of luxury to an already rich sandwich.
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Here, the bread is cooked with a panini grill, giving it a unique presentation. They dining
do use Gruyere cheese and thinly sliced ham. I opted to have it croque-madame style – so named because the egg resembles an old fashioned ladies hat – and it came out with a perfectly cooked over-medium fried egg perched atop. Unfortunately, the ham seemed to get lost betwixt the large pieces of toast on this buttery and crunchy delight. Our last entrée was a crêpe with spinach and mushrooms in Mornay sauce – a béchamel sauce with shredded or grated cheese added. While the two crêpes were beautifully cooked and indeed stuffed with sliced mushrooms, the spinach seemed bland and was almost certainly frozen at one time. The sauce was not much help either, perhaps due to the cool serving temperature.
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None of the sandwiches come with side dishes, but chips or pomme frites (fries) are available for a nominal charge. When the pomme frites I ordered finally made it out of the kitchen, I found the mix of shoestring and thin sweet potato fries not as hot as I would have preferred. I cleared our table for dessert (meaning, I was forced to move our dishes to one of all the open tables to make room) and went to the pastry case with high hopes. My friend is a fan of creme brulee, but I was skeptical of the custard in small aluminum pie tins on display, but we decided to give it a go anyway. The top was caramelized perfectly, but we weren’t pleased with the consistency of the dessert as we got closer to the bottom of the dish.
CATCH AN ANEJO TEQUILA FLIGHT WITH US TO BEGIN
The dinner menu has classic French dishes: beef bourguignon, shrimp étouffée, and les moules marinieres (a large bowl of PEI mussels steamed in wine, shallots, tarragon), all sounding very nice. The header of the menu, however, is now quite foreshadowing to me: “We do things a bit differently at night. Have a seat, a glass of wine and enjoy your company. Good food comes to those who wait. If you are in a hurry, we are happy to refer you any one of the fast food restaurants that dot our landscape in Phoenix. We are deliberately different.”
Exploring Our 400+ Tequilas ® TM TM
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7 1 1 4 E .S T E T S O N D R I V E S U I T E 1 0 5 - S C O T T S D A L E ,A Z 8 5 2 5 1 - B A R R I O Q U E E N . C O M
After our luncheon experience, I think I will be satisfying my craving for French cuisine someplace else. French Grocery 5345 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix 602-277-0101 Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Tues-Fri 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat Closed Sun-Mon frenchgroceryinc.com Mark Sterling-Ogle is a graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute who has experience working in Valley restaurants. EchoMag.com
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AT THE BOX OFFICE By Hans Pedersen
Furious 7 In theatres April 3 | PG-13 | 140 minutes
Salvation Army Video release March 31 | 81 minutes
This debut film by Moroccan author Abdellah Taia is based on his partly autobiographical tale of growing up in an impoverished Muslim family. In this story, young Abdellah learns that people’s actions betray their words as he grows up in the midst of various family conflicts. But as a young adult, with his sexuality awakening, he finds older men begin to take advantage of him. Actors Said Mrini and Karim Ait M’Hand play Abdellah as a boy and a young adult in this French Moroccan film.
The tragic death of Paul Walker before this film’s completion puts a sad tinge on this installment in the series. In the latest story, Ian, the brother of Owen Shaw, ultimately wants retribution against Dominic and his “family.” Co-stars Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel help keep this muscle-fest pumping, with director James Wan maintaining a firm grip on the wheel as he steers home the latest Furious storyline in a graceful way that will hopefully satisfy fans of the late Walker.
Big Eyes Available on iTunes April 3 | PG-13 | 106 minutes
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter In theatres April 3 | 105 minutes
A brilliant charmer from Sundance about a young office worker in Tokyo whose imagination runs wild when she mistakes the Coen brothers’ movie Fargo for a documentary. She ultimately heads out on a quest to find a treasure she believes is buried in a remote area of North Dakota. Executive produced by Alexander Payne (The Descendants) and directed by Nathan and David Zellner, the movie follows the young Japanese woman on a wild adventure filled with oddball characters. 48 |
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Painter Margaret Keane creates those big-eyed cutie-pie children in paintings from the 1950s. Some consider those doleful, doeeyed characters to be a bit freaky, so it’s fitting Tim Burton is director of this colorful biopic about the artist. The film shows how her painting career began, and chronicles the way her husband (played by Christoph Waltz) began taking credit for her artwork. Amy Adams won the Golden Globe for her performance in the film and Jason Schwartzman and Terence Stamp co-star.
Hans Pedersen is a freelance writer based in Phoenix.
movies
Best of Enemies Cautionary tale of culture wars screens at 2015 Phoenix Film Festival By Hans Pedersen
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here once was an era where the media did not generate controversy – at least, that’s the premise of this “cautionary tale” about the 1968 network television debates between liberal Gore Vidal and conservative William Buckley. When Best of Enemies premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, one staffer described it as a story about “the dawn of theatrical punditry.” The documentary is just one of many movies you can catch at the 2015 Phoenix Film Festival. The two directors of Best of Enemies, Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon, just won the Oscar for best documentary for their dynamite film 20 Feet from Stardom, but here the pair move from the stage into the political spotlight. Their latest film centers around defenders of both sides of the culture wars of the 1960s, focusing on the acid-tongued televised debates between prolific writers Vidal and Buckley. The two intellectuals were hired by cash-strapped ABC to help fill time during their convention coverage, and the movie suggests they essentially wound up spawning a new way of inciting controversy on television. This film explores the lives of both men, with Vidal notably one of the first people who was publicly out of the closet. The movie touches on his books –The City and the Pillar and Myra Breckinridge – which were among the first to explore gay and trans stories. Vidal stood up for our community at a time when few others would, and became a lightning rod in these debates. Best of Enemies also delves into Buckley’s background as the founder of the magazine, the National Review, and his appearance for more than three decades on the public television show “The Firing Line.” Rich with clips from the ABC debates, Best of Enemies is stocked with a glorious assortment of footage. Someone must’ve really had to dig through a lot of old film canisters to find all these vivid network movies
Gore Vidal looks at William F. Buckley with disdain in 1968 during one of their debates on ABC. Photo courtesy of Sundance International Film Festival
promos with crude sweeping animations that date back to an era when culture was ossified thru three or four channels on the tube.
systems are what are causing strife.
In addition to outtakes and interviews that give this culture clash greater context, the film includes the footage of violence in the streets of Chicago. Those dramatic clips show how, from their living rooms, Americans witnessed the out-of-control tactics and brutality of the Chicago Police Department that year.
The directors seem to ignore Vidal’s regular appearances on Bill Maher’s shows like “Politically Incorrect” and “Real Time,” perhaps because they don’t fit in with the premise he was on the demise, yet Vidal continued to speak truth to power even in his final years.
The doc ultimately does a splendid job of underscoring how the debate between the two archrivals was truly about the culture wars raging in the streets of America, and in the streets of Chicago during the Democratic Convention. The movie also details the shameful moment when, after Vidal calls his rival a “crypto-Nazi,” Buckley lashed out with an anti-gay epithet. The movie goes on to suggest that shouting the homophobic remark haunted Buckley for the rest of his years. The horror that people felt when Buckley used the word “queer” on live television is striking, as if suddenly the nation was sensitized to hate. Most of the time these men spar with their piercing wit, so despite the fierce exchanges, this is not a movie filled with a lot of yelling. What is fascinating is how passionately both men feel about their positions, which seem to embody the modern opposing belief systems that have dominated American politics since. Actor Kelsey Grammer does a splendid job voicing the writings of right-wing Buckley, who thinks Vidal is defending a collapsing social order. John Lithgow is also wonderful at reading the reflections of Vidal, as he argues that outdated Victorian value
But the movie tries to suggest that in the years before their deaths, Buckley’s career flourished while Vidal’s floundered.
One can quibble with how the movie portrays Buckley and Vidal. But the film ultimately shows how identity politics of the modern era were shaped through these debates, and the directors reinforce that point while keeping the focus squarely on 1968. Best of Enemies 2015 Phoenix Film Festival 9: 10 and 10:40 p.m. March 31 5 and 6:30 p.m. April 2 Harkins Scottsdale 101 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Scottsdale phoenixfilmfestival.com
TAKE IT ONLINE F(L)AG FOOTBALL Find out more about the documentary that stars the Phoenix Hellraisers, screening at 7:20 and 9 p.m. March 30 as part of the 2015 Phoenix Film Festival, at echomag.com/flag-football.
Hans Pedersen is a freelance writer based in Phoenix. EchoMag.com
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OPENING NIGHTS By Richard Schultz
Dolce Vita’ Italy of the 1960s, [we’ve created] a world pulsing with youthful energy and color,” said David Ira Goldstein, the show’s artistic director.
Romeo & Juliet
Arizona Theatre Company
For the first time in its history, ATC will stage the beloved classic that promises to be a startlingly fresh and imaginative take on this poetic masterpiece of young love. As one of Shakespeare’s most beloved masterpieces, the tragedy begins on the streets of Verona, Italy and follows the longstanding feud between two established families, the Montagues and Capulets, which prevents Romeo and Juliet from being able to openly profess their love. What ensues is a story of love, revenge and star-crossed fates with a result that forces the families to face the results of societal strife in a tragic climax. “Taking full advantage of modern projection technology, and set in the colorful world of ‘La
Shakespeare’s poetic masterpiece of jealousy, prejudice and betrayal takes on a bold new theatricality under the creative hand of award-winning director Kirsten Brandt, who makes her ATC debut here, and scenic, lighting and projection designer David Lee Cuthbert. The cast includes Chelsea Kurtz as Juliet, Paul David Story as Romeo, Richard Baird as Friar Laurence and Leslie Law as the Nurse.
Romeo & Juliet Through April 12 Arizona Theatre Company Herberger Theater Center 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix Tickets: $36-$72; 602-256-6995 arizonatheatre.org Photo courtesy of Arizona Theatre Company
Laughter on the 23rd Floor Fountain Hills Theater
From Neil Simon’s real life experience on the Sid Caesar show comes this sidesplitting comedy following the writing, fighting and wacky antics in the writers’ room of a weekly variety show. While chaos reigns backstage, star Max Prince battles with NBC executives who fear his humor is too sophisticated for Middle America. With characters based on his co-writers, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar, Simon perfectly showcases the hilarious jokes and banter of the original kings of comedy. Set in the writers’ room of the fictional “Max Prince Show,” Lucas, the new guy, the youngster hoping to become a permanent part of the team. Although the show is funny and popular, the network wants to cut it to an hour instead of 90 minutes. The budget-conscious bosses want to save money and fire one of the writers. By the time of the 1953 Christmas party, the situation has grown much worse. The show provides a generous dose of nostalgia and life lessons. Laughter on the 23rd Floor Through April 5 Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills Tickets: $28; 480-837-9661 ext. 3 fhtaz.org 50 |
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Denise Jolly & Sonya Renee Taylor
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Mesa Arts Center
Theater Works
This evening of body-positive spoken word spotlights two of the nation’s most recognized and unique voices: Denise Jolly, who will present Be Beautiful, and Sonja Renee Taylor, whose platform is The Body is Not an Apology. Jolly is the former executive director of Youth Speaks Seattle, co-host and facilitator of the Seattle Poetry Slam and poetry curator for The Round, a live multidisciplinary collaborative arts show. In 2013, she ranked 5th in the Women of the World Poetry Slam. According to Jolly, she likes doing great things with amazing people and being moved by art, community and how the two work together. After a meteoric rise to performance poetry superstardom in 2004, Taylor has redefined the role and impact of women in poetry slam since her whirlwind arrival on the scene, consistently ranking at the top of every major national and international poetry slam she has competed in. Taylor ‘s success can be attributed to her commitment to writing poetry that stays true to her roots as a humanitarian and social justice activist. Denise Jolly & Sonya Renee Taylor April 3 Mesa Arts Center 1 E. Main St., Mesa Tickets: $22; 480-644-6500 mesaartscenter.com
Marking the 50th anniversary of the original production, this notorious play that tells of a pleasant rogue who chooses to serve a short sentence in a mental institution rather than go to prison. This, he learns, is a big misstate. He clashes with the fierce head nurse and accomplishes what the medical profession has been unable to do: he leads his fellow patients out of their introversion, and back towards “reality.” Based on the 1962 novel written by Ken Kesey, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is a play, written by Dale Wasserman, that helped change how the nation treated mental illness. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest March 27-April 19 Theater Works 8355 W. Peoria Ave., Peoria Tickets: $35; 623-815-7930 theaterworks.org
TAKE IT ONLINE For more on Broadway in Tucson’s presentation of Once, which runs March 31-April 2 at UA Centennial Hall, visit echomag.com/opening-nightsMarch-26-2015. Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.
theatre
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Our Own Kind of Universe Local performer aims to revive the art of cabaret By Richard Schultz
T
he Valley’s desert persona can, at times, extend to its cultural offerings. What is commonplace in other parts of the country is often more rare and more difficult to find here. Often described as a short program or floorshow offered in a nightclub setting, cabaret falls into this category. But one local performer hopes to ignite new interest this art form that’s steeped in tradition. Hector Coris, an East Coast transplant who moved to the Valley with his partner in 2010, is determined to find an audience by launching what he hopes will be an ongoing series of cabaret style shows. “Cabaret performance virtually doesn’t exist in Phoenix. It’s just so different from anything else being offered in town,” Coris said. “I hope to … really give Phoenix a taste of what I like to call ‘New York style’ cabaret.” Knowing Coris’ background and passion for cabaret, David Hock, executive producer of the Scottsdale Musical Theater Company, suggested SMTC rent the Studio Theatre at Tempe Center for the Arts and “give it a whirl.” Coris is an award-winning vocalist and director who has appeared in numerous musicals around the Valley, particular with the Scottsdale Musical Theater Company where his performance as Max Bialystock garnered rave reviews in The Producers. He has also written the lyrics to several acclaimed musical comedy revues. “I have many peers from the New York cabaret world and other parts of the country whom I admire and happily call friends,” Coris said. “They provide inspiration for this new venture. Broadway vocalists
like Barbara Cook and Patti LuPone lead this great double life of acting in musicals and then doing smaller, personal concerts.” The performance, Our Own Kind of Universe, is a result of Coris’ preparation over the past five years as he has been assembling a set list since his first solo show in New York in 2009. He acknowledges it was tough to narrow down the list of his favorite songs including works from well-known songwriters like Kander and Ebb, Lyle Lovett, Stephen Sondheim, Harry Nilsson and Rufus Wainwright. He also plans to incorporate works from somewhat obscure names like Joe Iconis, Christine Lavin, Zoe Lewis, and David Friedman. “I chose songs that had a unique point of view, as well as songs that I could put a distinctive spin on. Eventually, a theme emerged. The title of the show is part of a David Byrne lyric. It’s like a slideshow of portraits and stories that point to how one looks at the world and how the world perceives the person. The songs have both a universal and global perspective seen through a tiny microscope.” Coris will share the stage with Marina Blue Jarrette, who played “Ulla” in The Producers.
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Jarrette will open the show with a set of her own. “Once I heard her sing, it was a no-brainer who I wanted to join me for this inaugural event,” Coris said. “No matter what she sings, she sounds magnificent.” The Producers music director Curtis Moeller also joined Coris and Jarrette and created inventive arrangements that evolved throughout rehearsals. Coris, along with Hock, hope to curate a series of cabaret performances to feature some of the Valley’s best talent in the future. “It might take a long time to build an audience, but I think once people catch on that this type of programming exists, it will soon become a regular occurrence. It can have a life of its own,” Coris said. “Cabaret is so rewarding. I’m hoping that more performers in town will take up this gauntlet of telling stories and sharing songs. There’s just nothing like it.” Our Own Kind of Universe 7:30 p.m. April 6 Tempe Center for the Arts 700 Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe Tickets: $20; 480-350-2822 scottsdalemusicaltheater.com Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix.
theatre
A Day in the Life
Andy Meyers (right) and Mark DiConzo (left) in Arizona Broadway Theatre’s Les Miserables. Photo courtesy of Arizona Broadway Theatre
Echo goes behind the scenes with actor and director Andy Meyers release debut By Richard Schultz
L
iving your dream can be exhausting, but most often it is exhilarating. Just ask Andy Meyers, a director and actor who has spent the past six months as a guest artist at Arizona Broadway Theatre. His daily routine is vigorous as he wears many hats at any given time – depending, of course, on what productions he has his hand in. Meyers, who is currently featured in the ensemble of Les Misérables, is busy performing nightly while also preparing the lead role in not one, but two other musical productions: The Emperor’s New Clothes and Sweet Charity. He will also be directing an upcoming production of Pinocchio. Meyers is also currently the artistic director at Fort Peck Summer Theatre in his home state of Montana. There, he’s led the company to record-breaking seasons,
splitting his time between hiring and managing a staff of 35 or more, marketing, directing, choreographing and performing. He’s also served as a guest director, puppeteer and/or actor at various theatres around the country, including the Tony Award-winning McCarter Theatre, Missoula Children’s Theatre and Papermill Theater. As an actor, his notable credits include the national tours of Annie and Bus Stop, and his Off-Broadway role the 35th Anniversary revival of Dames at Sea. He holds his Master’s in Musical Theatre from The University of Montana. Meyers recently gave Echo Magazine a behind-the-scenes look at a typical day in the life of a busy theatre artist. Echo: What’s a typical day for you? Meyers: I get up early and prefer not to rush into my day. I then start my water routine to avoid becoming dehydrated. I always vocally warm-up in the shower. I’ll take a walk for 40 minutes. I always have a destination. Often it is for bagel and coffee and then I’ll review material for the day. Echo: When does your day of rehearsals and performances begin? Meyers: Rehearsals begin at 10, but I usually arrive at 9 a.m. At ABT, we rehearse until 6 p.m. with an hour lunch break. When I was directing The King and I for ABT earlier this year, I utilized a structured approach to the rehearsals. I write endless notes in advance as part of my preparation. I don’t want to waste anyone’s time [and] by arriving early, I’m available to the cast. I also like to touch base with the staff and update them on any new information during the lunch break. Lunch is also a great time for me to work on my lines.
Andy Meyers as part of the ensemble in Les Miserables. Photo courtesy of Arizona Broadway Theatre
theatre
Echo: Les Miz is such an iconic show; what’s it like to be part of this production? Meyers: This is my first time performing in Les Miz. There are so many are fans of the
show who truly love the songs and story. For some, it’s their first time at ABT. This show is so well structured and it flies by because we are so busy. It’s a steady pace, but not frantic. Everyone in the company doubles in multiple roles. As part of my preperformance, I check all my costumes and props. ABT’s crews are terrific and have it all ready and make it easier for the actors. Make up takes about 15 minutes. I have my routines put my mind in performance mode. I have nine costume changes. Echo: How do you maintain the energy for such a full day of both rehearsals and performances? Meyers: I have to admit that I am a big fan of naps. Sometimes you just have to power through it all. The directors here are understanding about the need to conserve energy in rehearsal. By doing so, I can be full energy for a performance later that same day. [Beyond that], the cast and I truly get lost in the music and that gives us energy. Echo: How do you spend your day off? Meyers: I’m a movie buff. So, I always want to catch up on movies. Hiking trips are great too. I like when I play tourist. It’s great to see other local shows as well. I’m impressed with how much young talent is here in the Valley. Les Misérables Through April 4 Arizona Broadway Theatre 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria Tickets: $70-$105.50 623-776-8400 azbroadway.org Richard Schultz is a playwright, actor, director and freelance writer based in Phoenix. EchoMag.com
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recordings By Cait Brennan
Marina and the Diamonds Froot
Neon Gold/Atlantic |
Jobriath
Jobriath A.D. Factory 25 |
Jobriath’s list of firsts is inspirational and heartbreaking – he was the first openly gay rocker ever signed to a major label, back in 1973. And 10 years later, he was the first rock star to die of AIDS complications, alone and forgotten. With heavy-hitting celebrity fans like Pet Shop Boys, Morrissey and Def Leppard, though, the controversial, maddening, pioneering artist’s legacy simply couldn’t remain lost to cruel history. At the height of the glam era, Jobriath and his powerful manager, Jerry Brandt, took dead aim at David Bowie’s cagey, contradictory statements about his sexuality. Bowie’s gay drag came on and off more often than a prom queen’s promise ring, but Jobriath dared to declare himself “rock’s true fairy,” and Brandt’s bombastic hype machine practically anointed Jobriath as the second coming. The resulting backlash sunk his critically lauded debut album, and drove Jobriath from the business. His saga is chronicled in director Kiernan Turner’s documentary Jobriath A.D., which is out now on DVD with a new album of neverbefore released material from Jobriath’s audacious, provocative (and ultimately cancelled) stage musical, Popstar. With orchestration from the London Symphony, slated for the Paris Opera House, Popstar sounds like it would’ve been a Gaga-esque dream; Jobriath announced he’d appear dressed as “King Kong being projected upwards on a mini Empire State Building. This will turn into a giant spurting penis and I will have transformed into Marlene Dietrich.” Alas, that’s a spectacle we’ll never see, but the 14 tracks here help show what might have been. Popstar isn’t the perfect introduction to Jobriath – pick up the Lonely Planet Boy compilation for that one – but along with Turner’s loving documentary, it’s a marvelous addition to his legacy. 54 |
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Marina Diamonds’ exciting debut, 2010’s The Family Jewels, was a true gem, loaded with thoughtful, complex tunes and tasty New Wave hooks. “I Am Not A Robot” is but one of its treasures. The follow-up, 2012’s Electra Heart, was a blatant run at pop stardom, with mixed results; its overblown narrative about American celebrity doesn’t quite land, and the record company meddling feels blatant. Thankfully, she’s finally thrown off the artifice and embraced the wonderfully weird indie-pop promise of her debut. Recorded with a live band for the first time (“Marina and the Diamonds” is not a band name; you, dear listener, are one of her “Diamonds”), Froot opens with intimate “Happy.” Marina’s voice sounds pure, unadorned by pop trickery. It’s a heartbreaker, a cry for hope in the darkness, and it’s one of her most powerful songs. The title track brings back the electropop with some Tori Amosworthy vocal runs and some hilarious Americanisms like “This ain’t my first time at the rodeo.” Do they have rodeo in Wales? That’s a deeper question than we can answer here. The fantastic “I’m A Ruin” combines the electro sound of her pop hits with the raw, stripped-down power of her voice, while “Blue” is all pulsing synth and layered Marina vox. It should have a place on your local hit radio station, if there’s any justice. Toucan Sam title aside, Froot is a basket of musical joy.
Scott Bradlee & Postmodern Jukebox
Selfies on Kodachrome postmodernjukebox.com |
The concept of rendering current hits in an anachronistic style goes back at least as far as Bill Murray’s lounge singer in “Saturday Night Live” circa 1975, and usually isn’t half that good. But what Scott Bradlee and his revolving cast of musical geniuses create is something far more special and valuable than your neighborhood Richard Cheese wannabe. On their latest album, Selfies on Kodachrome, Bradlee & PMJ bring past eras to life again – and uncover the beauty that often lies hidden in modern pop. In her own hands, Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” is catchy but callow (and Lorde probably wants the melody back); in PMJ’s hands, “Blank Space” becomes a vampy cabaret torch song, with a sexy vocal from Ariana Savalas that puts Taylor out of business. Likewise, Whitney Houston’s hoary chestnut “The Greatest Love Of All” comes to life again as a swinging ‘30s-‘40s delight. Even Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up” gets the jazz-age treatment, with a finger, snapping arrangement and ragtime piano brilliance from Bradlee, and Katy Perry’s “Roar” goes gloriously Motown. Sure, it gets silly after a while – “Stacy’s Mom” in particular seems a bridge too far – but for every one of those, there are three gorgeous, mind-bending treats, like their screamingly funny twist on Tove Lo’s “Habits,” or Shoshana Bean’s smouldering, shoo-bop cover of the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” This is no novelty album, though. Listening to Selfies on Kodachrome, you’ll forget the famous hits and lose yourself in top-notch arrangements and amazing vocals that easily outpace the originals. Bradlee, who created some of the time-travel covers used in Bioshock Infinite, deserves every one of his millions of YouTube plays, and Selfies on Kodachrome is as fun as music gets. Cait Brennan is a singer/songwriter and freelance writer based in Phoenix.
music
between the covers
Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis By Terri Schlichenmeyer
relationship was typical – until she intercepted love-letters from Alice to Freda, professing faithfulness and plans to elope.
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ooner or later, it happens to us all: You meet someone and things go well, you spend time together and, soon, you’re in love. And then something happens and you fight, you break up and it’s the worst. Your heart is shattered and you think you might die. The good news is that you don’t die. Or, as in Alice + Freda Forever by Alexis Coe, someone does die because her former lover couldn’t take “no” for an answer. When teenager Alice Mitchell met slightly younger Freda Ward at the Higbee School for Young Ladies in Memphis, Tenn., no one was surprised that they became close. In the 1890s, it was common for “proper American women” to enjoy friendships with other women that included sleepovers and deeply affectionate gestures. In Memphis, they called it “chumming,” and it was perfectly normal. But Alice and Freda took their friendship further: they fell in love. Family and friends weren’t sure what to think. Alice’s mother suffered psychological problems, Alice’s father mostly ignored her and her best friend saw nothing amiss. Freda’s mother was dead and her father was grieving. Her sister noticed, though, and figured the books
Alice had decided she could live as a man and support the couple, perhaps in St. Louis. Freda agreed – or did she? She loved to make Alice jealous by flirting and talking about boys, and when her family finally ended the relationship with Alice, she seemed to easily forget about their love and their plans.
evokes black-and-white movies and Sherlockian dramas. But since we know whodunit, the mystery is solved and there’s little left to do but follow, with modern eyes and jaws wide open, the aftermath, complete with scandalized city, sordid trial and a difficult choice for the defendant’s life. Meant for readers ages 16 and up, I surely think an adult could enjoy this true crime story. With an old-timey atmosphere,
murder reminiscent of a Victorian detective novel, chaste romance and mild edgeof-your-seat action, Alice + Freda Forever is a book I happen to think you’ll like. Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis By Alexis Coe, illustrations by Sally Klann Pulp, an imprint of Zest Books | $16.99
Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm, lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 13,000 books. She’s been reading since age 3 and, to this day, she never goes anywhere without a book.
But Alice didn’t forget. Enraged, she stalked Freda for weeks, trying to get her away from her family. She thought that if she could talk to Freda, everything would be all right. But, when Freda ignored Alice just outside a downtown storefront, Alice suddenly understood that she’d never have Freda’s love again. And if Alice couldn’t love Freda, then nobody would. Sounds like the basis for a great novel, doesn’t it? Girl meets girl, girl loses girl, tragedy ensues, The End? Nope, not by a long shot, because Alice + Freda Forever is all true. In her introduction, author Alexis Coe explains how she became nearly obsessed with the story of star-crossed lovers, cold-blooded murder and unrequited love, and why she knew this story needed telling. What’s nice is that, in setting the scene for this tabloid-like tale, Coe writes in a voice you’d want for this kind of book: one that EchoMag.com
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ALL OVER THE MAP
Unlucky Charms By Liz Massey
A
few weeks ago, when I realized that Echo was going to publish its 666th issue, I was amused at the thought that some regular readers will avoid picking up this issue for the sole reason that an issue number with ominous associations graces its cover.
on other subgroups we don’t know or understand. Even within the LGBT tribe, I’ve heard assumptions that all gay men are promiscuous, all bisexuals are untrustworthy and all trans people are confused.
On the other hand, I definitely can relate to their superstition: When I was in grade school, I zealously avoided the number 13. For at least one year that I remember, I wouldn’t even write it out (I would substitute the letter “M” instead).
Just as you don’t have to accept projections from others, they are under no obligation to accept them from you. I have found that when I’m engaging in a projection, everything is just “too easy” … the explanations I’m crafting are too convenient, and not grounded in observed behavior or a give-and-take dynamic. It’s embarrassing to admit we haven’t seen a person or a situation with clear eyes (and the projection can be of non-existent positive qualities, as well as negative ones), but it’s better to figure it out and change rather persist in one’s delusions.
Studies indicate that the less proactive a person is, the more they tend to believe in superstition. The reason LGBT people and their allies should care about all this is because the dynamics of superstition are a handy demonstration of how the psychological concepts of projection and scapegoating work.
Stand with those being scapegoated. It’s very hard to withstand bullying and projection alone. It’s all too easy for the target of a projection to read silence in the face of attacks as complicity.
When someone projects their inner ambivalence and fear onto something or someone external, bad things happen. The fear-monger’s inability to own his or her own shortcomings or vulnerabilities means they see them in others. The current crop of anti-trans “bathroom bills,” the infamous “gay panic” criminal defense, even garden variety “sissy” jokes reflect society’s fear of the feminine, which underlies almost all anti-LGBT bias.
As I said a few paragraphs ago, engaging in projection doesn’t make us evil – it makes us human. Our community plays “fill in the blank,” too, projecting 56 |
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If you care about the person doing the projection, you can say, “Sorry, this isn’t about me,” and leave the door open to talk to them in the future … about something else. If you don’t, and you can disengage in a civil way from the projector, you’re under no obligation to continue a relationship with someone who cannot see you for who you are. Own our own projections.
Although I am proud of the fact that I eventually overcame my fear of 13, to the point that I chose it as my soccer jersey number in junior high, the memory of my superstition keeps me humble when discussing it. It is a part of human nature to want to control seemingly uncontrollable phenomena.
If these projections are so obviously false, you might ask, why haven’t they been completely debunked? One of the dynamics that a scapegoater can rely upon when smearing an individual or disfavored group is bystander apathy. The world rewards those who bully, to the point that in many situations, the bully is seen as “strong” and the scapegoat and any would-be defenders are seen as whiny complainers.
Lovingly disengage from the projection.
While engaging in projection may be a profoundly human activity, it’s also possible to resist the temptation to embrace it. We can reject toxic projections – whether we are the target or the source – when we: Recognize a projection is occurring. If you are being projected upon, you’ll generally sense something is wrong. The projection – often delivered in strident, judgemental tones – will seem to come out of left field, because it doesn’t actually relate to you or your behavior.
The British philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell said, “Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.” Our tribe has three big tools to combat projections: curiosity about the content of the projection; compassion for all parties involved; and community, which we can provide to those who are the targets of projection. All three of them shine the light of wisdom on a phenomenon that too often thrives in darkness. Liz Massey has been involved in LGBT community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine. She can be reached at lizmassey68@gmail.com.
ALL OVER THE map
balanced living
Burned Out? Get Fired Back Up!
By Nate Whitten
your boundaries are probably askew and you’re very passionately giving more to the company than to yourself. Fix that! • Your environment. This doesn’t mean you have to quit your job and relocate, but you may be able to find a new challenge in a department at your current employment that you’ve never considered before. • Your passion. When Marc Anthony said, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” he didn’t mean you can make a living by doing your passion. He meant, love what you’re doing and it won’t feel like work. You’re not getting anything for free, but if you love what you do it’ll feel like it. RELATIONALLY
H
ave you found yourself burned out at the gym, with your job, your relationship, or all of the above? Don’t panic, it happens to everyone. Burnout is a term that refers to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in various areas of living. Burnout has been assumed to result from chronic stress with the work that you are putting into any type of activity or relationship. It’s not the activity itself that you have lost interest in, but the effort and energy that you are expending is draining you of the joy you once felt through the activity. Burnout doesn’t necessarily mean you need to stop doing what you’re doing, and changing your approach or motivation can revive the fire that you once had. Use these tips to help evaluate what can help you propel your life forward with excitement and success, and what needs to be released that may be perpetuating your burnout experience. PHYSICALLY It’s very normal to get burned out at the gym or while working on your physical fitness. If you are putting in a lot of energy and not seeing fast enough results, the experience can become arduous. This often happens because you are OVER training. One of the symptoms of overtraining is depression – a sure sign it’s time to make some changes to regenerate
HEALTH & wellbeing
the passion you once had by changing: • Your gym. The same equipment and set up can get stale. Not to mention the scenery of the physiques surrounding you. • Your workout. You should change up your routine every six weeks. This means trying different techniques like Tabata, aerobic classes, heavy weights, outdoor workouts, longer versus shorter workouts, more or fewer training days.
I know your relationship is different; you’re love fire will last beyond eternity. But, no. It won’t. Just like the romantic fire in the cozy fireplace, you need to stoke it every once in a while to keep it going. Try making this one change to your relationship to see if you can’t revive that dwindling flame:
OCCUPATIONALLY
• Your expectations. Change is inevitable – you’ve changed, she’s changed, he’s changed and we’ve changed – so try letting go of the expectations you had as you packed the U-Haul. To avoid burnout, allow for – and encourage – personal growth and endeavors by giving both of you space for exploration and learning. If you make room for individual flames you’ll always be in a new relationship, always excited to learn who this person is waking up next to you (not like the old days, when it was coyote ugly). This will allow you to see them as a whole new energetic person to get to know and fall in love with all over again from year to year.
Another very common type of burnout occurs in the work place. When monotony turns into burnout, this can result in frequent job changes. But the problem isn’t the job; it’s you. If you don’t want a 10-page resume by the time you are 30, try changing:
Obviously, everything can’t change overnight. It took months or years to get to this burnout. But start making changes today and it won’t be long before your burnout burns out and you’ll be flaming once again, so to speak.
• Your goal. If you’ve been trying to lose that last 10 pounds for the past year without any results, try focusing on a new goal. Rather than looking at the scale, aim for a different pant or dress size. Sometimes when you focus on one thing for too long you lose sight of other more effective ways to attain it.
• Your motivation. Are you at this job for money or personal fulfillment? If it’s for the money, let your job become a tool to get what you want. But don’t expect validation from it. If you work for personal fulfillment, but are burned out,
Nate Whitten is a successful living coach and personal trainer in Phoenix. Find out more at natewhitten.com. EchoMag.com
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business cards For a complete listing of all Echo display advertisers, please see our Lambda Directory on page 66.
Matthew Milana, D.D.S. Cosmetic & family Dentistry
Serving Phoenix LGBT Communit y Since 1983 • Tax Audits
• Free Electronic Filing With Tax Preparation
• Accounting for Small Businesses and Corporations
dentist
• Income Tax Preparation and Planning for Singles & Couples
(Fed. & Most States)
Dr. Milana, D.D.S.
Bob Lind, EA
(602) 841-5414
Near Bethany/43rd Ave., Phx
camelwest@aol.com
We Create Beautiful Smiles
4214 E Indian School Rd STE 102
602-955-2121
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
602-957-2170
www.MilanaDDS.com
fitness
Valdez Refrigeration All your heating and cooling needs
Attorney at Law
attorneys
Serving Our Community For Over 30 Years Personal Injury/Civil Litigation Bankruptcy | Family Law Estate Planning
|
(602) 956-9555 DWOConnor@aol.com 2850 E. Camelback, Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85016 A Debt Relief Agency
Free Initial Consultation
• • • • • • • Nello A Rossi MD • 2 0 1 E a s t M o n t e r e y Wa y • Phoenix AZ 85012 • w w w. W i l l o M e d i S p a . c o m • (602) 296-4477 •
Botox ® Latisse ® Radiesse ® Juvéderm ® XC Juvederm Voluma™ Sermorelin Chemical Peels Testosterone Therapy HCG Therapy Facial Lipoatrophy SkinMedica ® Neova ®
E ODUS Eric
HAIR STUDIOS
hair salon/barberS
Office 602.266.0812 E-mail ZOUCHAVALDEZ@hotmail.com All major credit cards accepted. K39-ROC177793 Res and Comm
Dean W. O’Connor
cosmetic
Arcadia Dentistry
Camelwest Tax Service
2449 E. Indian School Road Phoenix, 85016
life coaching
air conditioning /heating
accountants/tax preparation
To advertise your business here, call 602-266-0550.
Complimentary Consultation 58 |
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•
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LOCAL BUSINESS
religeous group • Trained Movers in Uniform • Fully Insured & Bonded • Packing & Unpacking Services • “Family” Owned & Operated
(602) 242-2180
retail
mortgages moving & storage
509 W. McDowell Rd Phoenix, AZ, 85013 (602) 271-9146 Easleys.com
2905 W. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85017 email: info0167@twomen.com
www.TwoMenPhoenix-WestValley.com Each franchise independently owned and operated
See why we say, “Our business is fun!” PERSONALIZED FINANCIAL STRATEGIES
painting
C AMELBACK R ETIREMENT P LANNERS Melissa Myers
CFP®, CLU, ADPA®
2720 E. Camelback Rd, #200, Phoenix 602.424.7503 camelbackrp.com
retirement
with an understanding of LGBT issues
Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network; Member FINRA/SIPC, A Registered Investment Advisor
roofers
pest control
Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor SM
(623) 939-4389 AZ. Lic. #I-2362 B
8602 N. 39th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85051
real estate
Your best source for news and entertainment.
FREE
is GOOD! Why pay to wait for the news? Echo Magazine is available FREE at more than 200 locations 26 times a year.
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ECHO CLASSIFIED SuBMISSIONS Mail: Echo Classifieds, P.O. Box 16630, Phoenix, AZ 85011-6630. Fax: 602-266-0773 • E-Mail: classified@echomag.com
BASIC CLASSIFIED RATES
The minimum cost for a classified ad is $19.00 - Includes up to 140 characters. Free bolding of the first 3 to 5 words. Additional characters: 141-240 is $35.00, 241-340 is $45.00, 341-440 is $55.00, 441-540 is $65.00
AZ IMPROVEMENTS Home & Business 602-434-5577 Residential & Commercial. Kitchens- Baths- Countertops- PaintingFlooring- Roofing - Office. Quality Work/ Fair Price. ROC 233352KB02
OTHER OPTIONS
Boxed ads $7.00, colored backgrounds $18.00 Photos $23.00 each up to two images (landscape format) Hyperlinks $12.00 Immediate online placement $25.00 plus cost of ad
SuBMIT YOuR AD
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All ads must be PRE-PAID and SUBMITTED by mail, fax, e-mail or in person ONLY by the designated deadline date to make it to print.
uPCOMING DEADLINES
Ad copy and payment must reach Echo’s office by noon, eight business days before the publication date.
Publication Date – April 9 • Ad Deadline – April 1 Publication Date –April 23 • Ad Deadline – April 15
ACCOMMODATIONS AND TRAVEL ARIZONA ROYAL VILLA RESORT A men’s clothing optional mini resort. From $89.95. Centrally located. Pool, spa, Sun tanning day passes $15. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. WI-FI. A Drug Free Community. 602-266-6883 www.royalvilla.com
HEALTH AND FITNESS Yoga Instructor? Let the community know that you are there to support them Call today to place your ad in our Health and Fitness section. 602-266-0550 x100 FLEXSPAS.COM PHOENIX Private Gay Men’s Club. Array of amenities, room sizes, saltwater pool, new steam room www.flexspas.com 602-271-9011 Personal Training. Guaranteed Results From Beginner to Competitive Body Building and Sports Conditioning. Rob Morley Fitness. 602-370-1316. 1st Session Free!
HELP WANTED Chute is now accepting applications for employment up to 32 hours a week, hourly rate monthly bonus. 4 pm - 12 am, and 12 am - 8 am, must have a clean work history and transportation to work. Call Ray at 602-234-1654 60 |
march 26, 2015
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The Sky is the Limit! The more you sell, the more you make! Are you a “people” person? Are you motivated to enrich your lifestyle? Do you have sales skills and at least 2 years experience? Do you care about the GLBT community? If you answered “yes” to all four questions, you owe it to yourself to contact Bill Gemmill at Echo Magazine, 602-266-0550 x106, or send your resume to Manager@echomag.com. Part time positions also available. Echo is an equal opportunity employer. This is not a Call Center position. Miss the deadline? For a $20 fee, plus the cost of the ad, you can have your message online tomorrow! Call Cyndie at 602-266-0550.
HOME SERVICES READER NOTICE: Under Arizona law, all residential and commercial contractors are required to be licensed by the state unless they fall under the handyman exemption for projects which require no building permit and are less than $750 for the total contract price. For more information or to verify the license status of an Arizona contractor, call 602-542-1525, 888-271-9286 or visit www.rc.state.az.us. Lyons Roofing - Check out our ad in the Business Card Section!!!
EchoMag.com
Blake Housecleaning. Serving all parts of the Valley. Housecleaning with customer service. 480-241-5651 www.blakehousecleaning.com Brian’s Bzzy Buns Home Cleaning Service Take the sting out of housework! Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly. Bonded Quality Work. Buzz 602-510-5493 for free quote Desertscape Nursery 623-492-0799 36544 N 7th Ave Phoenix 85086. Open 8 a.m.-1 p.m. daily. One free five gallon plant with this ad. No purchase necessary. Eduardo’s Cleaning Serving all Parts of the Valley Quality Service, See our all (A) reviews on Angie’s List. weekly, bi weekly, $30.00 Off with this Ad Call Eduardo 602-334-3234 eduardoscleaning@gmail.com Landscape Installation and Makeovers Sprinkler Repair. Trees, shrubs, gravel, sod, brickwork, outdoor lighting, trimming, clean-up, etc. Charlie 602-481-8571 ROC 180193 Licensed Contractor, BBB accredited. The Naked Butler Cleaning and any and all other services. Green products used. Reasonable rates, days/eves availability Bonded and insured. VISA/MC accepted. 602-486-1053 please leave message/text or thenakedbutler32@gmail.com Your Handyman Service - AZ MR. Fix It “No Job Too Small” is our motto. We fix garbage disposals, drywall, plumbing, irrigation, electrical and more. 602-589-7274 azmrfixit.com RICH VARNUM PLUMBING 623-583-4170 Licensed, bonded and insured. No job too small. Reasonable rates. Free estimates. Residential/ Commercial. ROC 152031 www.RichVarnumPlumbing.com
“PlumberTime” 480-393-9736 plumbing service Residential-Commercial Lic & Bonded 285180 www.PlumberTime.net Jeff@PlumberTime.net
MASSAGE THERAPISTS READER NOTICE: Local law requires that only Arizona State Licensed Massage Therapists can advertise under this listing. License numbers are required on all massage therapist ads. All therapists listed below have their licenses on file with Echo Magazine. For more information or to verify the license status of an Arizona massage therapist visit www.massageboard.az.gov/
Massage Kai PERSONAL SPA 14 Years Anniversary - Thank you for your support. The best combination of therapeutic and relaxation massage. www.MassageKai.com 602-300-3071 MT# - 00717P Massage in the East Valley. Therapeutic and relaxing. Over 20 years experience. In call/out call service. Call/Text Andrew 480-516-7648. MT# 18359. . Reduce your stress and increases your energy by receiving a therapeutic massage. Vincent 602-618-1467 MT# 04689P
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES READER NOTICE: Under Arizona law, all residential and commercial contractors are required to be licensed by the state unless they fall under the handyman exemption for projects which require no building permit and are less than $750 for the total contract price. For more information or to verify the license status of an Arizona contractor, call 602-542-1525, 888-271-9286 or visit www.rc.state.az.us.
Ken: 602-971-5799
Obamacare & Medicare plans We’re ready to help - Call Now. classifieds
Straight Eye For The Queer Computer. Solving your computer problems since 1983. Viruses, upgrades, repairs, internet. Call Art: 602-319-6569 The Wax Whisperer specializes in male and female Brazilian waxing. Audra 480-322-1219 or www.waxwhisperer.com
REAL ESTATE
RENTALS RESIDENTIAL 1 Bdrm Casita 600 sq ft. Private. $600 no utilities incl. parking, private backyard. Coin op laundry, FREE WIFI And Satellite TV. Doug 602-999-6091 12th St. and Indian School, Available April 1st. 2/1 Bdrm Apt 925 sq ft. $800, includes water and gas. Covered parking coin laundry. Available Immediately. Doug 602-999-6091 12th St. and Indian School.
1 br, 2 br & Studios. Rents start at $525. Call for move-in special. Large units with hardwood floors and granite countertops. Covered parking, swimming pool & sauna. On site manager and maintenance personnel. Convenient Arcadia location. 2930 N 52nd St. To view call 602-840-3053. Gay owned and managed.
1 BDR Apartments from $549 2 BDR Apartments from $699 Great location in Central Phoenix. The Melrose District. Friendly, quiet and safe area. Just blocks from two light rail stations. Walking distance to restaurants, shopping, coffee houses and night clubs. Pool Views, Cable/Satellite Ready, DSL Compatible, Covered Parking, Laundry and much more. 4425 N. 8th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85013. By Appointment Only. Please call Jason 602-538-0555
Near VA, spacious 1 Bedroom unit, tile throughout. French doors open to your own quiet park setting, covered parking. Laundry on site. Gay Owned and Operated. $635 mo. with 1 yr lease. 602-694-8606 2 Bdrm 1 bath $650 + Deposit. Wood floors throughout. Lots of old charm. Updated appliances. 15th Ave and Van Buren 623-693-1496
Under New Management!! LGBT owned and managed property in the heart of Central Phoenix, The Heart of Melrose District, now renting Studios starting at $395 1 bedroom starting at $435 to $525 and 2 bedrooms 2 bathroom starting at $595 to $695/mo. Pet friendly. Enjoy everything from Restaurants, Nightlife, Shopping, Gyms & Light Rail within walking distance. $199 Security Deposit $99 1st month’s rent (OAC). Melrose Apartments 4444 N. 7th Ave Contact Michelle Guzman at mguzman@excelresidential.com or call 602-277-8170. Monday through Friday 9 am to 6 pm.
26th St & Campbell, LGBT, safe, friendly, quiet, large 1 Br, AC ceiling fans, pool, enclosed courtyard, covered parking, laundry, starting at $610/mo. 602-840-1882
ROOMMATES Furnished room in private home. N.W Phoenix $420 per month (utilities included) + $180 security. POC Roger 602-677-8002 Roommate wanted to share large remodeled home. Near Bethany Home and 19th avenue. $600 studio (private bathroom) Includes utilities, washer/ dryer, WiFi, Cable TV, walking distance to mall/ light rail, includes use of gym equipment (weights/ elliptical machine/ versa climber etc.) Pet friendly. Looking for easy going employed drug-free person. 407-361-8000
How much longer will you put off quitting tobacco?
Learn how to double your chances of successfully quitting. 9976-1_BTCD_LGBT_FINAL.indd 1
EchoMag.com
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Greenway Pkwy 21
8
Gra nd . Ave
17 © 2015
32nd St.
143
10
Broadway
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C L e
Neighborhood Bar Full Restaurant Dance Club
16
Mesa Chandler
Baseline
N r d
101
10
*MAP IS NOT DRAWN TO SCALE
Bar Codes: M Mostly Males F Mostly Females MF Mixed Male/Female
.
4
6 202
Roosevelt
9 20 Van Buren
12
Av e
1
15 McDowell 13 10
24th St.
25 3 19
5t h
23
Scottsdale Rd.
Tatum
16th St.
51
2
22
14
Lincoln
40th St. 44th St.
7 24 28 2 5 11 17 26 Indian School 17
10
Cr
27
Camelback
Thomas
ve Ca Northern 7th St.
Central
7th Ave.
27th Ave.
43rd Ave.
51st Ave.
Glendale 18 Bethany
Shea Blvd
ee
N
Dunlap
Cactus
k
Thunderbird
Country Dancing Leather/Bears Entertainment (drag, strippers, etc.)
1
aNVIL 2424 E. Thomas Road
M, d, L 602-956-2885
15
THe MIdNIGHT MINe 2237 N. Seventh St.
M, F 602-754-3121
2
aPoLLo’s 5749 N. Seventh St.
MF, N, e 602-277-9373
16
NUToWNe saLooN 5002 E. Van Buren St.
M, N, L 602-267-9959
3
Bar 1 3702 N. 16th St.
M, N, e 602-266-9001
17
off Chute Too 4115 N Seventh Ave
Me 602-274-1429
4
Bs WesT 7125 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale
M 480-945-9028
18
oz 1804 W. Bethany Home Road
MF, N 602-242-5114
5
BUNkHoUse 4428 N. Seventh Ave.
M, N 602-200-9154
19
PLazMa 1560 E. Osborn Road
MF, N 602-266-0477
6
CasH INN 2140 E. McDowell Road
F, C 602-244-9943
20
reBar/BLIss 901 N. Fourth St.
MF, N, r 602-795-1792
7
CHarLIe’s 727 W. Camelback Road
M, C, e 602-265-0224
21
raINBoW CaCTUs 15615 N. Cave Creek Road
MF, N 602-971-1086
8
CrUIsIN’ 7TH 3702 N. Seventh St.
M, e 602-212-9888
22
rosCoes 4531 N. Seventh St.
M 602-285-0833
9
eLeMeNT 14 718 N. Central Ave.
d 480-650-3248
23
royaL VILLa INN 4312 N 12th St.
M 602-266-6883
10
Fez 105 W Portland St.
MF, r 602-287-8700
24
sTaCy’s @ MeLrose 4343 N. Seventh Ave.
M, F 602-264-1700
11
HarLey’s BIsTro 4221 N. Seventh Ave.
MF, r 602-234-0333
25
THe CHUTe 1440 E. Indian School Road
M 602-423-1654
12
FLex sPas PHoeNIx 1517 S. Black Canyon Hwy
Me 602-271-9011
26
THe roCk 4129 N. Seventh Ave.
M 602-248-8559
13
karaMBa 1724 E. McDowell Road
d 602-254-0231
27
TICoz resTo-Bar 5114 N. Seventh St.
MF, r 602-200-0160
14
koBaLT Bar@Park CeNTraL 3110 N. Central Ave.
MF, e 602-264-5307
28
zoaN 4301 N. Seventh Ave.
F 602-265-3233
nightlife
daily bar specials & events
S
m
Bunkhouse $1 drafts and HH prices all day and night
7 and 10 p.m.: Free-to-join poker. HH prices for participants. Winners get $10 Bunkhouse bar tabs
charlie’s Super HH 4-7 p.m., $3 pitchers; $3 Long Islands open to close
2-8 p.m. 2-for-1 well and domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 8 p.m.-close, 1/2 off cocktails and beer for those in underwear, $3 Jack Daniels
w
t
f
S
see ad p. 62 7 and 10 p.m.: Free-to-join poker. HH prices for participants. Winners get $10 Bunkhouse bar tabs
9 p.m. Karaoke
Underwear night: $1 off all drinks if in skivvies!
8 p.m.-close: 8 p.m.-close: $2.25 Miller family $2.25 Bud family products products
2-8 p.m. 2-for-1 well and domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; $3 Three Olives vodka flavors, 8 p.m.-close
2-8 p.m. 2-for-1 well and domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-for-1 cocktails and beer openclose
2-7 p.m. 2-for-1 well and domestics, $3 pitchers; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well and domestics, $1 drafts 10 p.m.midnight
Noon-7 p.m. 2-for-1 well and domestics; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well and domestics, $3 Absolut and Bacardi flavors 10 p.m.-midnight
HH 11 a.m.8 p.m.; Martinis & Massage 6 p.m.; $5 Martinis, $5 Bacardi flavors; Garden Variety Revue with Olivia Gardens 9 p.m.
HH 11 a.m.8 p.m.; Trivia Night w/cash prize 9 p.m.; $4 Stoli cocktails 8 p.m. – midnight
The HH Hotspot $3 signature cocktails, $2.75 domestics, 2-4-1 call drinks; 10-11 p.m. video bar
HH 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Showtune night 7 p.m.-close; Celia Putty’s 2 Girls One Cup Show (every 2nd Sat)
2-4-1 ALL DAY; $3 monthly charity shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 and dance
Thirsty Thursday; HH and $1 draft pint, 4-8 p.m.; $1 draft pint AND wells, 8 p.m.midnight; live DJ, top 40 and dance, 8 p.m.close
HH, 4-8 p.m.; $3 monthly charity shots ALL DAY; $2 Kamikaze shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 and dance, 8 p.m.close
HH, 4-8 p.m.; $3 monthly charity shots ALL DAY; $2 Kamikaze shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 and dance, 8 p.m.-close
see ad p. 8 2-8 p.m. 2-for-1 well and domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-for-1 cocktails and beer 8 p.m.close
see ad p. 65
koBalt HH 10 a.m.8 p.m.; Bar Match Buy-In Dart Tourney 2 p.m.; 2-4-1 call drinks 7-8 p.m.; Karaoke 9:30 p.m.
t
HH 11 a.m.Karaoke 8 p.m.; 9:30 p.m.; Drag Race viewing HH open to close at 7 p.m.; $5 Absolut cocktails
stacy’s @ Melrose see ad p. 39 $1 Rolling Rock pints and well drinks until 10 p.m.
Karaoke, 9 p.m.-close; HH and $3 monthly charity shots ALL DAY
HH, 4-8 p.m.; $1 draft pint, $3 monthly charity shots, $4 Mojitos and Caipirinhas ALL DAY; live DJ
(Subject to change without notice; check with bartender when ordering.)
EchoMag.com
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| 63
OUT ‘n ABOUT
Brides of March
Brides of March March 14 at Charlie’s Phoenix
March 14 at Charlie’s Phoenix Photos Edelman Photos by by Gregg Gregg Edelman
For more photos of this event For more photos of this event visit echomag.com/gallery. visit echomag.com/gallery.
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lambda directory Please support our advertisers who help keep Echo free.
CHAT LINES Guy Spy Squirt
LIFE COACHING p. 36 p. 64
COSMETIC PROCEDURES
Nate Whitten
MORTGAGES Lone Star Home Lending – Silva, Richard p. 67 Pinnacle Capital Diaz, Roseanna p. 59 Pinnacle Capital Schachter, Jeremy p. 3
Call the Echo sales office at 602-266-0550 to inquire about adding your hyperlinked email address or website to your listing in the Lambda Directory online.
Arizona Medical Aesthetics & Laser Center p. 28 Willo Medi Spa p. 58
ACCOUNTANTS/ TAX PREPARATION
Deaf Access of Arizona p. 32
Two Men and a Truck
DENTISTS
PAINTERS
Camelwest Tax Services – Lind, Bob p. 58 Hockensmith, Robert p. 32 Quatrone, Jeffrey PLLC p. 15
ATTORNEYS Allen, Tyler p. 42 Gillis, Laura p. 20 Hayes Esquire PLLC p. 67 Law office of Jose Saldivar p. 19 O’Connor, Dean p. 58 Phillips Law Group p. 9 Salvador and Associates PLLC p. 27 Udall Shumway Law Firm p. 28 Victor, Mark J. p. 32
AUTO DEALERSHIP Camelback Subaru
p. 2
COUNSELING SERVICES
Arcadia Dentistry My Dentist Open Wide Dental
MOVERS
p. 58 p. 28 p. 5
EVENTS Bears of the West p. 36 Bianca Del Rio p. 51 Echo’s Readers’ Choice Awards p. 13 GPGLCC p. 4 Phoenix Frontrunners p. 29 Phoenix Pride p. 16, 17, 29, 38, 44 Viva Aunt Rita’s p. 11
HEALTH AND FITNESS Avenger Fitness LLC FLEXSPAS.COM
p. 58 p. 62
FERTILITY IVF Phoenix
p. 21
AUTO SERVICES
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
Community Tire
Valdez Refrigeration
p. 37
BARS & CLUBS Bunkhouse Charlie’s Kobalt Stacy’s @ Melrose
BEVERAGE COMPANIES Alliance Beverage Distributing Co.
p. 68
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p. 58
HOME SERVICES p. 62 p. 8 p. 65 p. 39
Semeruco Cleaning
p. 67
INSURANCE Liberty Mutual – Kosse, Michael Health Markets – Powell, Amy
p. 58
p. 59
Hula’s Modern Tiki Squid Ink Sushi
RETAIL Easley’s Fun Shop The Mattress Man
Camelback Retirement Planners p. 59 Goetz, Calvin p. 3
ROOFING Lyons Roofing
SALONS
PEST CONTROL
R Salon Salon Exodus
Rainbow Bug Connection p. 59
PHARMACIES p. 37
PHOTOGRAPHY Cyndi Hardy Photography p. 67
REAL ESTATE Portland on the Park
p. 27
REALTORS Brauer, Brad Dahl, Jan Delgado, Fred Hertzog, Shawn Hoedt, Matthew Leiber, Butch Oesterle, David Yale, Nicholas Zea, Andrew – Desert 2 Mountain
p. 59 p. 55
RETIREMENT PLANNING
Don’s Painting Service p. 59
Fairmont Pharmacy
p. 47 p. 47
p. 3 p. 3 p. 3 p. 3 p. 3 p. 67 p. 3 p. 3 p. 59
RELIGIOUS GROUPS
p. 59 p. 23 p. 59
SMOKING CESSATION Ashline
p. 61
STD INFORMATION AND TREATMENT Ashline Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS
p. 61 p. 33
TESTOSTERONE THERAPY Willo Medi Spa
p. 58
TITLE AND ESCROW Empire West Title – Rust, Steven p. 67
TRAVEL San Marcos La Laguria Chateau p. 65 * Denotes more than one location.
Community Church of Hope p. 59 p. 67 p. 67
LANDSCAPERS
RESTAURANTS Barrio Queen p. 47 China Chili p. 47 Hana Japanese Eatery p. 47
Semeruco Landscaping p. 67
EchoMag.com
LAMBDA DIRECTORY
REAL ESTATE
Butch Leiber, Realtor Uptown Realty 602-390-1399 HOME LOANS
Richard Silva, Sr. Loan Officer LoanStar Home Lending MLO# 422347 NMLS# 1094582
602-373-3654 AUTO/HOME/LIFE INSURANCE
Michael Kosse 480-688-5482 Liberty Mutual Insurance HEALTH INSURANCE
Amy Powell Health Markets Insurance 520-440-5802 License #OH90041
TAX & ACCOUNTING Photo by: Cyndi Hardy Photography 2015
We can help.
Jonathan Bengel, RTRP JB Financial 602-502-0027 LANDSCAPING
What do you need?
Hermann Braasch Semeruco Landscaping 602-561-1356 HOUSE CLEANING
Giselle Braasch Semeruco Cleaning 602-451-4357 FAMILY LAW
Need a clean home or office? Call Giselle Braasch, Semeruco Cleaning 602-451-4357
INTEGRITY SERVICE EXCELLENCE
IBCAlliance.com
Cody Hayes Hayes Esquire, PLLC 480-300-5777 PHOTOGRAPHY
Cyndi Hardy Cyndi Hardy Photography 623-252-1582 TITLE AND ESCROW
Steven Rust Empire West Title 602-327-1525 EchoMag.com
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ECHO MAGAZINE
| march 26, 2015
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ECHO 666
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VOL. 26, Issue 14
ECHOMAG.COM