Echo Magazine - Arizona LGBTQ Lifestyle - May 2020

INSIDE:

Social worker Dominic Miller Fitness tips to combat the COVID-19 quarantine

PLUS:

Bone & Basil crafts wellness items for the body and soul Meet Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride 2020

THE MIND AND BODY ISSUE

Finding peace and strength in a challenging time

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | Vol. 31, #8 | Issue 728 | May 2020 | COMPLIMENTARY

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INSIDE THIS

Dominic Miller; photo by Tyler Norris.

ISSUE Issue 728 | Vol. 31, #8 | May 2020

NEWS 8

Editor’s Note

12 News Briefs

COMMUNITY 34 Without Reservations 36 Bands 38 At the Box Office 40 Recordings 42 Between the Covers 44 Talking Bodies 46 Not That You Asked

Out & About 16 Miss and Mister Phoenix

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Dominic Miller The Vice President of Outpatient Services at Southwest Behavioral & Health Services is dedicated to improving the health services of underserved populations and to developing programs specifically for the LGBTQ community. He shares his personal and professional journey with Tim Rawles.

Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride 2020; photo by Alex

Pride 2020 18 The Affinity Tour 49 Project Nunway Yuma

Meet Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride 2020

INSIDE:

Social worker Dominic Miller

PLUS:

Bone & Basil crafts wellness items for the body and soul

Fitness tips to combat the COVID-19 quarantine

Meet Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride 2020

THE MIND AND BODY ISSUE Finding peace and strength in a challenging time

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | Vol. 31, #8 | Issue 728 | May 2020 | COMPLIMENTARY

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Even though Phoenix Pride’s massive annual April event has been postponed due to the Coronavirus, we can still celebrate this year’s Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride.

Timothy Rawles talks to Tyra Marie and Owen Parker about royal life and getting through a global pandemic.

Have kids at home during the COVID-19 quarantine?

Currently, children and caregivers are working side by side — at home. Everyone is trying to adjust and manage the best they can. These tips from Kimberly Blaker may help with the challenges.

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Chanelle Sinclair / iamchanelle photography.

Bone & Basil infuses their wellness products with positive energy

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Gretchen Weidman’s new business offers soothing and healing hand-mixed brews and salves, each infused with Reiki energy. Find out how this busy single-mom wants to make you feel better, especially during these trying times.

Local business owner Anthony Dynar makes his foray into raising funds Owner of the Mane Extension salon in Scottsdale, Dynar has taken time during the COVID-19 quarantine to raise $10,000 for a local charity. He says that’s just the beginning.

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Falling James; photo by Gem Zee.

Her story: LA icon, Falling James Moreland

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Dog Depression is a real thing Find out why your dog is feeling down and how you can help combat those sad-pup blues.

Falling James is an integral part of LA culture. A decadeslong voice of the LA Weekly, she has reported on the people and places of that vast city and beyond. She talks with Tom Reardon about her life, including her journey as a trans woman, a writer, and a musician. A longer web-version of this interview can be found at echomag.com/fallingjames-2020.

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WEB EXCLUSIVE Singer Justin Utley: A change agent who lived an “American Nightmare” The singer-songwriter’s new single “American Nightmare” from the album Scars is a haunting portrait of his personal experiences, which include surviving conversion therapy. Visit echomag.com/justin-utely-american-nightmare for an inside look at this performer’s life.

Singer Justin Utely; photo by Ryan Bakerink.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

By Amy Young

I

’d like to start out by saying that our team at Echo hopes that you are staying safe and strong in the midst of the Coronavirus. We know, in many cases, that is easier said than done.

It has changed life as we know it, and if there’s a COVID-19 story that you would like to share or information you think is pertinent, please don’t hesitate to email editor@echomag. com and we’ll go from there.

This was supposed to be our annual Travel issue. So, obviously that was a bust.

We nixed that and went forth with the following month’s Mind and Body issue. It seemed appropriate. Physical and mental health and strength are a privilege we don’t take for granted. Hopefully some of these stories will provide information, inspiration, entertainment, and a laugh or two (Buddy Early, I’m looking at you!)

Our resident fitness expert Tia Norris offers ways to workout at home that can help the body and battle the harder emotions that come from a universally stressful time.

Michelle Talsma Everson tells us about Anthony Dynar, an area businessperson who has used some time during COVID-19 to raise money for the organization Duet, whose mission is to help people age with compassion and dignity.

Everson did double duty this issue and interviewed Gretchen Weidman of Bone & Basil.

Her handmade healing salves and bath brews, infused with Reiki energy, are soul soothing.

There is also a feature on Dominic Miller, the Vice President of Outpatient Services at

Southwest Behavioral & Health Services. He and his clinical team are working on developing LGBTQ-specific programs for adults and adolescents. He shares his current and future efforts with Tim Rawles.

Kimberly Blaker also gave us a couple of articles this month. One will help you understand your dog’s depression and what you can do to help. The other may provide some sanity to those who are struggling with creating structure for their kids who are now learning at, or from, home. We see your Facebook posts — we know you’re out there!

Falling James Moreland has been a fixture of the LA cultural scene. First as a member of the Leaving Trains, a band she founded in 1980, and as a writer for different publications, including LA Weekly for just as long. She talks with Tom Reardon about those early days, along with her journey becoming a trans woman. Check the web for a longer version of the interview.

If you’re doing the quarantine takeout, Jeff Kronenfeld’s piece on NakedQ might have you wanting barbecue — or some tasty sides if meat’s not your thing. There’s plenty more to dig into, like TV shows to stream and books to read.

We appreciate you and are sending everyone strength. We are all in this together.

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHER: Bill Orovan ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Bill Gemmill EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR: Amy Young CONTRIBUTORS: Kimberly Blaker Grace Bolyard Edward Castro Jenna Duncan Buddy Early Michelle Talsma Everson Melissa Fossum Justin Keane Jason Kron Jeff Kronenfeld Laura Latzko

Logan Lowrey-Rasmussen Tuesday Mahrle Judy McGuire Ashley Naftule David-Elijah Nahmod Tia Norris Timothy Rawles Tom Reardon Terri Schlichenmeyer Colby Tortorici Megan Wadding

ART DEPARTMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: nightfuse.com.

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING: Ashlee James

Amy Young is the managing editor of Echo Magazine. A longtime journalist, her work has appeared in numerous publications, regional to international.

Please contact her at editor@ echomag.com.

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Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. ACE Publishing, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers or advice columnists. Publication of a name, photograph of an individual or organization in articles, advertisements or listings is not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation, unless such orientation is specifically stated. Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of ACE Publishing, Inc. 8

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Phyllis and her wife Del Martin at a Pride parade.

NEWS BRIEFS

NCLR mourns loss of civil and LGBTQ icon Phyllis Lyon, 95 Story and photos courtesy of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)

O

n April 9, the National Center for Lesbian Rights mourned the loss of a beloved friend and LGBTQ civil rights icon. Phyllis Lyon, 95, passed away peacefully from natural causes at her home in San Francisco. Lyon, along with her wife Del Martin, was one of the nation’s first and most visible lesbian rights activists who dedicated her life to combating homophobia, sexism, violence, and racism. Phyllis’ contributions to the LGBTQ equality movement will be felt for many decades following her passing.

“Phyllis Lyon was a giant. She was an icon, a trailblazer, a pioneer, a role model, and a friend to the many of us who looked up to her,” said NCLR Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon. “Her activism changed what we thought was possible, and her strength inspired us. Her vision helped forge our path and made organizations like NCLR possible.

And although the path is lonelier without her, we know the way because of her.”

In 2004, Lyon and Martin became the first same-sex couple to be married in the state of California, and subsequently became plaintiffs in the California marriage equality case, represented by NCLR, which helped to ensure that the fundamental right to marry under the California Constitution belongs to all individuals, including samesex couples. Phyllis and Del were married in 12

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Lyon and Martin were married by S.F. mayor Gavin Newsom when the CA marriage ban was overturned in 2008.

California by former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on June 16, 2008, after 55 years together.

“Our country has lost a civil rights icon and one of the most legendary figures in the LGBTQ movement,” said NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter. “I was proud to represent Phyllis Lyon and her longtime partner Del Martin in the historic 2008 California Supreme Court case that struck down California’s marriage ban. Getting to know Phyllis and Del was the honor of a lifetime. Our movement would not be possible without their unflinching courage and willingness to live openly and proudly as lesbians, even at a time when doing so subjected them to vicious stigma and persecution.”

Phyllis began her work in civil rights activism after she received a degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley in 1946. Shortly after graduating, Lyon met her partner Del and the two began working on behalf of lesbians in their community. Lyon and Martin both devoted their lives to working towards full LGBTQ equality, healthcare access, advocacy on behalf of battered women, and issues facing elderly Americans. Their many contributions over the past five decades helped shape the modern LGBTQ movement.

Lyon and Del are credited by the venerable Reverend Cecil Williams for helping shape an LGBTQ-inclusive vision for Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco — including programs that helped shelter and protect LGBTQ youth who sought refuge in San Francisco to avoid discrimination and persecution in their hometowns. The couple was also co-founders of the Daughter of Bilitis, the first political and social organization for Lesbian in the United States.

In 1956, they launched “The Ladder,” the first lesbian newsletter, which became a lifeline for hundreds of women isolated and silenced by the restrictions of the era. Activists established Lyon-Martin Health Services named in honor of Phyllis and Del in 1979.

“Phyllis Lyon is truly an iconic figure in the history of LGBTQ and women’s rights. Her life was marked by courage and the tenacious belief that the world must and could change,” said Kate Kendell, former NCLR Executive Director. “She and her love of over 50 years moved from the shadows to the center of civil life and society when they became the first couple to marry in California after Prop 8 was struck down in 2008. Few individuals did more to advance women’s and LGBTQ rights than Phyllis Lyon. From the moment I started as Legal Director at NCLR, Phyllis and Del were fixtures in my life. Our monthly lunches gave me the chance to learn at their feet about my own history and the story of much or our movement. I got to be a part of not one but two weddings with them! First in 2004 and then in 2008. After Del’s death in August of 2008, I still had Phyllis in my life, even as dementia took a lot of her memory, she never lost her spirit, joy or sense of humor. I will miss her every day but am comforted knowing she and Del are finally together again.”

A celebration of life honoring Phyllis is being planned by the family. Visit http://www. nclrights.org/ for details.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.

Since its founding, NCLR has maintained a longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the LGBTQ community’s most vulnerable. http://www.nclrights.org NEWS

Complete the 2020 Census today.

The 2020 Census is here! You can respond online, by phone or by mail. Complete the census now to help your community receive funding for important resources.

Learn more at iCount2020.info

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Looking for a job?

Browse our classifieds for LGBTQ-friendly postings.

Have a property to rent?

Post a free classified with us to reach our readers!

For more information, visit echomag.com/classifieds.

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Miss & Mister Phoenix Pride Pageant 2020 March 15 at Doubletree by Hilton, Tempe.

Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2020-photos.

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The 2020 Affinity Tour

Thirsty Donkey Tap House and Sports Grill, Casa Grande Photos by Logan Lowrey-Rasmussen

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2020-photos.

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Dominic Miller is a social worker in a time of social distancing

Dominic Miller; photo by Tyler Norris.

By Timothy Rawles

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FEATURE STORY

C

aregivers and patients in Arizona’s mental health population have a relentless leader in their community.

Dominic Miller is the Vice President of Outpatient Services at Southwest Behavioral & Health Services, but he hopes his reach goes far beyond that, and to some it does.

Miller is openly gay and grew up in North Phoenix. Through the years he’s moved around some but has always stayed close to home. He now lives in Arcadia.

Professionally, he says he wants to improve health care systems for underserved populations. His goal is to provide more access to integrated mental and physical health services to these groups.

“I have experienced health care disparities as a minority myself and am committed to seeing our state and national health care systems change and improve,” he says.

Miller holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work, and a master’s degree in public administration, all three from Arizona State University.

“I provide individual therapy on a part time basis to a caseload of clients involved in the Federal Justice System,” Miller says. He is devoted to that and will always serve his patients one-on-one when he can.

This kind of dedication may come from his upbringing in a traditional but supportive family.

As a Latino, Miller is proud of his Mexican heritage and travels south of the border many times a year.

“I am obsessed with reggaeton, and love dancing to salsa and electric cumbia,” he says. ”I am lucky to have an uncle, Tio Ramon, who is a doctorate level specialist in Mexican Art history, Diego Rivera, and Frida Kahlo, so I think I was inspired at a very young age. I am currently a bachelor but am very committed to being a dad of an adorable French Bulldog in the future.”

Often, Latinx men and women describe the difficulties of growing up gay in a traditional household. Miller says that his wasn’t so bad, most of the difficulty came at a point of intersectionality.

“I remember constantly trying to identify with my different backgrounds and I think, like many of us, learned to survive by becoming a sort of a social chameleon before coming out,” Miller explains.“My family is very large — I have 30 first cousins, for example — and traditional in the sense that we come from communities with somewhat more conservative backgrounds.”

He identifies himself as a Chicano, or as he describes it, “a person of Mexican descent born in the U.S., but,” he adds, “I also am Italian and have some German heritage, hence my last name ‘Miller.’”

Perhaps the biggest conflict he had was with the Roman Catholic Church and later being a part of a Protestant evangelical

FEATURE STORY

community in college, “I remember my coming out process in college being confusing and painful because my church leaders did not agree with who I was and my decision to be the healthiest version of myself — out and supported. I eventually got to this point where I decided that others should not be afforded the decision to interpret my sexual identity as ‘wrong’ or ‘evil’, and I moved on.”

In fact, Miller says his ecclesiastical leaders may have been his biggest bullies growing up, not in a physical way, but an emotional one.

“I am happy to say that through my own healing process I can discern healthy boundaries and don’t harbor any hate or ill will to those who have different beliefs than I do.”

Luckily his parents were very supportive of his coming out process especially his mother who he calls the “the best person on the planet.” Although that might be true, it appears his whole family rallies together not only to support him but each other.

They are a clan of creatives full of talent and that allowed him to explore all the facets of himself.

“I think my parents wanted to make sure I was supported in finding who I was and allowing a place for me to home in on my interests,” Miller says. “I particularly cherished moments at my grandparent’s house in Maryvale on the west side of Phoenix.

They lived there for decades and I can still remember smells of my grandmother’s cooking, her beautiful green garden, and a large stone statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the backyard.”

When he was 21, Miller took on another task, perhaps paying forward all the support he got from his own family. He was matched with a student through a non-profit program based just west of Downtown Phoenix called Neighborhood Ministries. He mentored this student all the way through high school.

“He then went on to study out of state at a college on a scholarship. He’s an amazing person and I learned so much from him. His family moved to Arizona from Mexico when his mother was pregnant with him to provide him and their family an opportunity for a better future.”

That future may lie in how Arizona votes at the polls. Miller says Latinos are slated to be the largest voting minority group in 2020. “I’ve read reports that Krysten Sinema won the U.S. Senate seat over Martha McSally by the small margin of 2.3%. With stakes that close, it is absolutely imperative that everyone who can vote, does vote. I think Latinos have a huge presence in Arizona and should be involved in forming the political landscape of the state through voter representation.”

As previously stated, Miller is Vice President of Outpatient Services at Southwest Behavioral and Health Services. He also oversees other programs at the facility such as their clinical and administrative operations of programming in Maricopa, Gila, Yavapai, and Coconino counties.

“I get to travel to Payson, Prescott Valley, and Flagstaff often and I love it,” he says.“ Needless to say, I’ve never been busier in my life, but I truly feel grateful to have landed what I consider a dream job very early in my career. I supervise a fantastic team of directors and really would be nothing without them.”

Since taking the position as Vice President, Miller is working with his clinical team to develop programming specifically for LGBTQ+ adults and adolescents, “I would never take full credit for that though, I have an amazing team that did the majority of that work. We would love to expand this kind of work in rural areas in Arizona where there is less support.”

Since the curve of the pandemic is still moving on an upswing, Miller and his staff are taking care of patients as it is considered an essential business. They have moved the majority of their services to telehealth and telephonic methods of delivery.

“It has been quite the challenge moving everyone over to telehealth seemingly overnight, but I am happy to say we are doing very well through all of the changes and anxiety a pandemic provokes,” Miller explains.

As for more people needing more mental health care services during the pandemic, Miller says the necessity is there especially for people who are already suffering from depression or social isolation. He says it’s “important for them to stay connected and find new ways to cope with challenges at a distance from others.”

In the end, Miller just wants people to be aware of mental health issues and how they intertwine with physical ones. He adds that being informed helps break down stigma and the obstacles to getting important healthcare.

“A lot of gaps in care can be linked to what we call ‘the social determinants of health’ or economic and social conditions that influence health status,” he says, “I would say get involved, know your community and the different agencies doing the work and find out ways to volunteer or help. I always encourage my friends and family to be thoughtful and consider that everyone has their own mental health and physical health journey. You will never know someone and understand how you can help them without openness, empathy, and a willingness to listen to their story told by them. Also, health care workers are truly on the frontlines of this pandemic right now, so if you know one, thank them.”

Timothy Rawles is an award-winning journalist and California native who moved to Arizona with his husband and two children in 2019. He attended San Francisco State University many years ago and somehow managed to pass math and continue pursuing his journalism degree.

His story is not as interesting as the people he writes about, but Timothy has discovered that everyone has one, and good or bad, they all share the same thing; heart.

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Crowning achievements: Meet Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride Tyra Marie Empress XIII; photo by Scotty Kirby..

By Timothy Rawles

J

ust because Phoenix Pride has been postponed until November doesn’t mean the community is going to let the glitter settle. The event has been rescheduled for Nov. 7-8 to help flatten the curve of the coronavirus, but its ambassadors are rising above the pandemic to prove yet again nothing can keep the community down.

Canyon Railway and Hotel.

Owen Parker and Tyra Marie are Mister and Miss Phoenix Pride 2020, respectively.

They will represent not only the annual celebration, but the entire community.

This year might be the most difficult one in recent memory, but both are up for the job, they have overcome personal obstacles themselves, so they know the importance of placing a light at the end of the tunnel.

Tyra has worn many crowns. She is a former Miss Gay Phoenix America, Miss Gay Arizona America, Arizona Entertainer of the Year and Empress XIII of the Imperial Court of Arizona. She is also an Arizona State University graduate.

Tyra identifies as gay and is originally from Lake Havasu City, Arizona. When in drag he prefers the pronoun “she” so we will respect that in this article since this persona is how she will represent Miss Pride Phoenix.

Mister Pride Phoenix, Owen, is originally from Fort Myers, Florida, but grew up in Williams, Arizona, a small historic town just west of Flagstaff. The town is probably best known for tourism, especially the Grand 22

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This Pride couple have known each other for about three years, and both have a deep sense of community which comes in handy during this restrictive time of shelterin-place and stay-at-home orders. The challenge is unlike anything they have had to endure, but they are no strangers to giving of themselves in order to help others.

“During my reign as Miss Gay Arizona America 2013 I raised over $8,000 and as Empress XIII of the Imperial Court of Arizona I helped raise over $62,000 for various non-profit organizations throughout the state,” she explains. “In 2019, I created the Tyra Marie Hispanic Scholarship Fund that awards scholarships to students of Hispanic descent who demonstrate a strong academic record, financial need and that are planning to pursue their undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited U.S. college or university.”

FEATURE STORY

Photo by Alex Campos.

Photo by Alex Campos.

Sadly, Owen does not have a relationship with his parents anymore and has lived on his own since he was a teenager.

Fortunately, the LGBTQ community is often a stand-in for men and women who have been ostracized from their blood relations. For Owen, becoming Mr. Phoenix Pride brings with it a sense of family that he wouldn’t otherwise have. He says the community put in a lot of hard work to make him Mr. Phoenix Pride and he is both humbled and enthusiastic.

“It also brings me great joy and excitement that I get to reign through such a time as this, where everything is different and nothing is the same. It requires reigning in a new and creative way. I have always considered myself a uniquely creative outof-the-box thinker. This time requires that more than ever.”

His sentiments are shared by Tyra, who says being crowned is a dream she’s worked hard for and she carries with the utmost reverence. “I wanted to follow the footsteps of formers for whom I have lot of

“I was bullied throughout elementary school and once I got into high school, I was lucky to have the protection of my cousins,” she recalls. “They would get into fights with anyone that would say anything to me. This is where my parents finally started to realize that I was different.”

After being constantly tormented in school, it was her mother who became an inspiration and said to defend herself and report the persecutors. “She also encouraged me to be better than my bullies and show them I would always be the bigger person. I did just like my mother encouraged and in 2001, I graduated top of my class and got accepted to Arizona State University.”

Owen also comes from a religious family, but his story is completely different than that of Tyra’s. He came out in his midtwenties and in doing so his life changed forever.

“I was actively involved in church and went to bible college before coming out,” Owen says, “There were a lot of hard times of dealing with self-doubt and the internal struggle of letting others down.” He says coming out cost him lots of friends and family. “Everything I knew got flipped upside down. However, just like a Phoenix, I rose from the ashes and will continue to do just that throughout my life. That is one of my favorite analogies in life as we all go through several Phoenix moments throughout our lives, just like the current situation we are in with the coronavirus.”

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THERE ARE LOW RESOLUTION IMAGES Photo by Scotty Kirby.

Coming from a religious Hispanic family, Tyra says there was never any talk about sexuality in the house. The topic was ignored, considered taboo, so she did what most closeted men and women do, she hid her feelings to keep the peace.

“Myself and my roommate were actually sick with all the symptoms (of coronavirus) for several days. However, we have both tested negative for COVID-19 and are well into our recovery now.”

In their personal time, Tyra and Owen enjoy exercise and the outdoors. Tyra works on her gowns and goes for long walks with her dogs while Owen says he keeps up a steady workout routine.

As for this year’s Pride festival, they say it’s going to be like no other in the city’s history. Not only will it be a milestone celebrating 40 years, but it will also be an example, maybe even a template, on just how the community will come together after this global crisis ends.

PLEASE UPLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION PICS

“This pride will be memorable in so many ways,” says Tyra. “We will be coming off a dark time in our history so it will be a time to reunite and celebrate humanity.”

Owen agrees. He adds that this year the entertainment and events will still bring out the crowds, but the power of unity, love and freedom will take centerstage just like history has done before in times of uncertainty.

THANKS respect and admiration. I have always been a community ambassador and I know being crowned Miss Phoenix Pride puts me in a position to continue to help our community.”

Being told to stay at home and away from the public goes against what the LGBT community stands for. Both Tyra and Owen are following those orders but remain united in finding ways to ease the panic of isolation to their allies.

Earlier this month they participated in an online virtual Pride which featured live drag performances, DJ sets and community discussions.

Both of them are lucky enough to be employed by companies that allow them to operate remotely. Owen works in digital media and e-commerce marketing. He says he and his roommate had a health scare last month.

“In many ways I think it may feel like some of the original festivals; just our queer community coming together to be queer out loud in public,” Owen says. “I cannot wait to see love embraced and joy overwhelm our community all at the festival in November. Just talking about it brings the biggest smile to my face.”

Timothy Rawles is an award-winning journalist and California native who moved to Arizona with his husband and two children in 2019. He attended San Francisco State University many years ago and somehow managed to pass math and continue pursuing his journalism degree.

His story is not as interesting as the people he writes about, but Timothy has discovered that everyone has one, and good or bad, they all share the same thing; heart.

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How to work from home with kids during COVID-19

By Kimberly Blaker

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s COVID-19 sweeps the planet and country and shelter in place orders and precautions are taken to protect our health, Americans are trying to adjust to a new normal. School and work closures have families staying home except for essential needs. Kids are already feeling stuck and miss their friends, activities, and routines.

Many parents, however, are learning how to work from home while juggling educating and caring for their kids.

This new family dynamic, coupled with the anxiety and stress from what’s happening in the world, may make it seem impossible to get anything done. So follow these tips to develop a routine and environment that works best for you and your family.

Create and Follow Routines Kids thrive on consistent routines like those they have at school. So make a list of what your family needs to get done throughout

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the day — work calls, completing tasks, school Zoom meetings, schoolwork, meals, chores, and anything else. Be sure to include some time for fun, as well!

Now, start filling in a schedule with the activities that occur at set times and work in other responsibilities and activities to create a family schedule. Include your kids in the planning, so they feel involved and more willing to follow the routine. Then, post the schedule where the whole family can see it. Also, be sure to adjust the design of the schedule for the age of your kids. Younger children benefit from straightforward visuals using bright colors, precise times, and pictures to make the schedule clear.

school time. With older kids, sit down and make a written contract. If you have younger kids, work together to create a poster with visuals. To make it clear, talk about what different parts of your schedule, especially your work time, look and sound like, and what everyone should and shouldn’t be doing.

Set Clear Expectations

This will probably be a difficult adjustment at first. It can help to set up a visual reminder to let your kids know when you cannot be disturbed except for emergencies. Create a sign outside your workspace that clearly states the beginning and ending time of your work hours. This can help kids to be more patient. For younger kids, use a countdown clock so they can anticipate the end time.

Kids and adults tend to do better when there are clear expectations set beforehand.

Agree on a set of rules and expectations for the day regarding your work time and their

Having a particular place in which you work can help set you up for success. If you’re not used to working from home, recreating

Designate a Workspace

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Create a sign outside your workspace that clearly states the beginning and ending time of your work hours.

a space that feels like going to a workplace can get you into a better routine and improve your focus. Try to create your workplace away from the main areas of your home and, if possible, with a door you can close. These tricks will also help remind your kids not to disturb you when you’re in your workspace.

Make your workspace as similar to the one at your job as possible. You can also play music or wear noise-canceling headphones to reduce distractions if another adult or older child is there to care for the younger ones.

Once you do arrive at your workspace, reset to adjust your mind from home life to work life.

Ask for Help This isn’t the time to try to do everything yourself. If you have a partner at home, take turns spending time with the kids so you can each have uninterrupted time to focus on work or time to yourself to recharge. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or are struggling to get something done for work, talk to your boss or team about the situation before things become too difficult.

Everyone is affected in some way by the COVID-19 outbreak and therefore, will likely understand. If you’re struggling to balance work and being home with the kids, try talking to them at their level. Kids are more

Even if a strategy works one day, it may not work the next.

aware and understanding than we often realize. So an open conversation with them may help.

Be Flexible No one knows how long this is going to last, and everything about sheltering in place is new. So realize it will take time to adjust.

Even if a strategy works one day, it may not work the next. This is a difficult time for kids as well, who may not fully understand what’s going on or be able to handle it emotionally.

Unexpected things will come up in your work, with your kids, or any other aspect of your life. So, try to build in some wiggle room because you’ll likely need to make changes as you go. For example, if the day is going really smoothly, perhaps work a little longer to accomplish a bit more in case things don’t go smoothly on another day.

Stay Positive Focus on the positive aspects of being home with your kids, even while trying to work and adapt to this new and unusual situation. Remember, the circumstance is only temporary. Things will eventually get done, and everyone is trying their best to manage right now with their own set of challenges and obstacles. Try to balance work and quality time with your family while you’re all stuck at home. The effort you make to do so can help your family bond and turn a tumultuous time into one filled with good memories.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family writer. She also does blog and content writing for a variety of industries and is an expert in on page SEO.

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casual hobby; she’d make bath brews and gift them to friends. “There’s a long history of baths not being just to get clean but to promote relaxing and self-care,” Weidman says.

Handrafted wellness

Once she started to make her bath brews in earnest, she noticed they were becoming more and more popular. She then realized that she had a legitimate business model literally in her own hands and Bone & Basil was born. Just launched in January, Bone & Basil already has a growing following on Instagram (@bone_and_basil) and the products can be found at Abundant Space in Scottsdale.

Gretchen Weidman is brewing up some self-care in a time when we need it the most

By Michelle Talsma Everson Photos by Chanelle Sinclair / iamchanelle photography

G

retchen Weidman, like most of us, wears a lot of hats.

She’s a proud mom, the creative director at an East Valley salon, and now, a small business owner. In a time when most of us could use some help relaxing for even just a moment, Weidman created Bone & Basil, her one-woman shop for bath brews and

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salves that promote self care.

“I’ve always been a cook and a big believer in plants, herbs and things of the earth,” Weidman says. “In my own personal beliefs, I am a Reiki master and have shamanic practices, so that energy and knowledge goes into everything I do.”

Weidman started her small business as a FEATURE STORY

“I’m 41 and on my feet all day but there’s going to be a point where I can’t do this forever,” she shares. “I’d love to see Bone & Basil become something bigger so that I can help people and have something when I retire from hair.”

With big dreams of her own small shop in downtown Phoenix — a place where she’s lived for more than 15 years after moving here from the East Coast — Weidman is passionate about her products.

“I’d love to have a small store downtown, somewhere cozy with plants, crystals, and a coffee nook,” she shares.

Right now, Bone & Basil offers four bath brews and two salves, all of which are hand mixed at home for each person when they order them. She says that the most popular bath brew is her Relax Brew and the most popular salve is the one for pain.

“I put Reiki energy into each product; I believe that there is universal energy and I am the conduit for it,” she shares.

The ingredients that Weidman uses in her brews and salves are all-natural. She uses organic herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs and other similar businesses, and she sources from Starwest Botanicals as well.

Her products most often include four main elements: magnesium salt and pink Himalayan salt (to absorb trace minerals out of the feet); arnica (to help bruising and heal skin); and calendula (to keep skin soft and smooth and can also be used as an anti-inflammatory).

With each item being made by hand, how does she know which brew or salve a person needs the most? “I just talk to them — that’s what I love about Instagram, you can get to know people and have a genuine conversation,” Weidman says. “You can learn a lot just by genuinely asking someone ‘How are you?’ whether they become a customer or not.”

A single mom to a busy preteen, Weidman includes her daughter in her growing small

business. “She helps me put labels on bags and other tasks like that; I think it’s a good lesson for her to see her mom hustle and stay busy and motivated,” she shares.

Weidman considers herself an ally and supports the community in any way she can.“ Equal rights, including LGBTQ+ rights, are huge to me,” she says. “I have family members

and my closest friends identify under the LGBTQ+ umbrella — I will always be their ally in the biggest way.”

Weidman hopes that those who try her brews and salves come away with “a better sense of self care for themselves.”

“Sometimes, self-care can be as simple as a bath,” she notes.

“Especially during this pandemic, when you can’t go to a spa, you can physically relax your body with a bath and brew. The brews I make touch four out of the five senses — all of them besides taste,” she says.

With social distancing in mind, Weidman is happy to drop off products at a customer’s doorstep while such measures are needed.

“For those who are open to the holistic end of things, my bath brews and salves can be a different and fun way to breathe deep and relax — something we all need right now.”

To learn more about Bone & Basil, follow or direct message Weidman on Instagram @ bone_ and_basil or e-mail boneandbasil@gmail.com.

Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance writer, editor and PR pro. A graduate of NAU, she’s been writing for Valley publications for more than a decade. You can find out more at mteverson.com.

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One of Duet’s grandfamilies.

“Success unshared is failure” A local entrepreneur makes his first major donation to a nonprofit

By Michelle Talsma Everson; photos courtesy of Anthony Dynar

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nthony Dynar knows what it is to build a business — and a life — from the ground up.

That’s why, when he was able to connect with other local entrepreneurs and raise $10,000 for Duet, a local nonprofit, he had reason to celebrate.

“I know what it’s like to have absolutely nothing, to be homeless, to go through the struggle to make it, and be successful.

Success unshared is failure,” Dynar says about the donation. “One may not have a lot of money, but anyone can do something to help somebody else out. That’s called success and anyone can do that. After all, aren’t we are all just waves of the same sea?”

Dynar has led a fascinating life and career.

Currently, he is the owner of Mane Extension in Scottsdale; a salon that recently moved from Tempe to Scottsdale right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the move,

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Dynar took an interest in politics — helping to be a voice for those in the beauty industry in support of S.B. 1401 last year. The legislation, introduced by State Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R-23), removes excessive and unnecessary occupational licensing requirements to blow-dry, shampoo, and style hair, according to Governor Doug Ducey.

“States are implementing stringent requirements for extensive, expensive schooling and licensing perform entrylevel tasks,” Dynar wrote in a paper while participating in activism to help move the bill forward. “These antiquated regulations are stifling the creative entrepreneurial spirit that is the heartbeat of the beauty community.”

While working as a licensed cosmetologist the past 15 years, Dynar has also worked on local magazine covers and national television series.

Mane Extension Bar is a Paul Mitchell focused salon. “Paul Mitchell’s focus is always community first,” salon owner Dynar says.

In addition to his work in the beauty industry, Dynar worked at Michael A. Pollack Real Estate Investments as an executive assistant and licensed real estate agent for more than a decade. Pollack, a well-known local businessman and philanthropist, would prove to be one of his supporters for his first FEATURE STORY

So, how did an entrepreneur in the middle of a business-altering pandemic put together $10,000? With the help of his extensive video game collection and his fellow entrepreneurs.

Dynar found out about Duet through his partner and was immediately drawn to the nonprofit’s grandparents raising grandchildren service area. Duet offers support for grandparents raising grandchildren through free-of-charge support groups, legal guidance and assistance, funds for extracurricular activities, information and guided assistance, educational workshops, and outings.

Charitable business owner Anthony Dynar.

major charitable contribution.

“When grandparents raising grandchildren come to Duet, they are often in turmoil,” explains Patricia Dominguez, MSW, director of kinship care services for Duet. “They are often confused and scrambling to find resources and help. Duet is that lifeline to making sense of their situation and provide them with hope. This donation will make a huge impact to grandfamilies facing many challenges.”

To help the “grandfamilies” that Duet serves, Dynar took his substantial video game and system collection and sold it to 1UP Games in Mesa.

“When you’ve been doing this as long as Tim [the fellow shop owner] and I have, you meet many different video game collectors,” says Nick Harron, co-owner of 1UP Games.

“I opened 1UP Games to meet people like Anthony; gamers that are good people.

Anthony selling his collection seemed crazy to me at first because I know how long it takes to acquire that much stuff. To donate the money he got from selling his games to a charity is a beautiful thing.”

A portion of the donation includes gift cards to 1Up Games. Dynar hopes that the grandchildren Duet serves can successfully enjoy their time at home in quarantine, but also still keep in touch with their friends as many games can be played multiplayer online. He also hopes they provide electronics and games to families who may otherwise not be able to afford them.

for myself,” Dynar says. “My reputation as a licensed real estate agent and cosmetologist funded this donation.”

With his first major charitable donation under his belt, Dynar looks to the future — he hopes to continue with his career success and bright ideas so that he can make another major donation to another local nonprofit soon.

“I hope to continue to be able to do this

[make donations],” he says. “Hopefully this is the first of many. It’s part of my personality to want to give back to the community.”

Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance writer, editor and PR pro. A graduate of NAU, she’s been writing for Valley publications for more than a decade. You can find out more at mteverson.com.

“I remember playing games endlessly and because they were so challenging it was a lot of fun,” he adds.

Once Dynar his former boss, Michael Pollack, knew about the donation, Pollack stepped in and donated $4,000 to help round the donation amount to $10,000.

“Duet is an incredibly important organization in our community,” Pollack says.

“They provide vital services to homebound adults, family caregivers, grandfamilies, and many others here in the Valley. I believe anything we can do to support this organization is a win-win for not only those they serve but also our community at large.”

“All of these local businesses are where I came from, where I grew up and built a name FEATURE STORY

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Yes, dogs do get depressed — here’s why and what you can do

By Kimberly Blaker

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s most dog owners will attest, dogs do feel a range of emotions. They may not experience sadness quite the same as humans because dogs lack self-consciousness. But they can experience anxiety and depression, says Dr. Carlo Siracusa at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, in “Do Dogs Feel Sadness?” by Kate Hughes.

The development of dogs’ emotions is equivalent to that of a two or two-and-a-halfyear-old child, according to researchers. So the sadness they experience is less complex than that in human adults. For example, human adults can feel sad or depressed as a result of ruminating about their failures, imperfections, or something they did or didn’t do. Since dogs, like very young children, lack self-consciousness, they don’t experience this type of sadness. Nonetheless, dogs can experience sadness or get depressed for a variety of other reasons.

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Causes of depression in dogs Because dogs are social animals, receiving a lack of attention, or being left alone for long periods, can affect their mental health. When dogs are confined to a crate or bathroom for extended hours, it can lead to depression. So allow your dog to spend as much time with family as possible.

When dogs are confined to a crate or bathroom for extended hours, it can lead to depression.

Similarly, a lack of exercise can also cause depression. This can be particularly problematic for pets that are crated or confined to small areas for many hours at a time. While crate training for puppies is

beneficial for housebreaking, they should never be crated for more than four hours at a time without an extended break.

Once your puppy is housebroken, a crate can provide a cozy spot for your dog with the crate left open. But dogs need companionship, exercise, and stimulation, which they cannot experience in a crate. So as your dog grows, limit confinement and when it is necessary, preferably to a larger room.

Also, find out how much and what types of exercise are appropriate for your dog’s breed and age, and make sure your dog regularly gets the exercise it needs.

Another cause of depression in dogs is when a family member is depressed. Recent studies have found dogs recognize human emotions. In May 2012, a study was published in the Animal Cognition journal. The study found dogs responded more strongly when FEATURE STORY

people were crying as opposed to talking or humming. In this case, the best remedy may be to get treatment for yourself or the depressed family member, which should alleviate your dog’s sadness.

Dogs also experience depression when they lose a family member, whether it’s another pet or human companion. Sometimes dogs improve if a new pet is introduced, but not always. When a dog loses its owner, this can be particularly devastating.

An interesting 2013 study was reported

by CBS News online. In “Study: Dogs bond with owners similar to babies with parents.»

Researchers observed that the “secure base effect” phenomenon that›s experienced by babies also occurs in dogs. Like babies, dogs are more likely to interact with things and other people when they feel the secure presence of their caregivers. If your dog has lost a beloved family member or caregiver, those closest to your dog should intervene and give it extra love and attention.

Another cause of depression in dogs is punishment. Animal behaviorists say when dogs are repeatedly punished with shock collars or other physical means, dogs come to feel helpless. Not only can it cause aggression in dogs, but it can also cause dogs to withdraw. The best method for training dogs is with rewards for positive behavior. This is not only better for their emotional health, but it’s also more effective.

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Like babies, dogs are more likely to interact with things and other people when they feel the secure presence of their caregivers.

Finally, certain medical conditions, such as thyroid problems, can cause depression.

If your dog is depressed, and especially if there’s no apparent reason for it, have your dog checked out by your veterinarian.

Signs your dog is depressed The most common symptoms of dog depression are similar to those in humans.

They include: • sleeping more than usual • withdrawal or hiding • loss of interest in food • loss of interest in things it previously enjoyed, or inactivity • excessive licking, particularly of their paws • self-mutilation (in more severe cases, often related to separation) anxiety What to do if your dog is depressed First, if you suspect any of the reasons above is causing your dog’s depression, try to remedy the situation that’s causing it. This will often resolve your dog’s sadness. But if your dog doesn’t improve, an antidepressant can help, particularly in anxious dogs. Dogs are prescribed many of the same antidepressants as humans. But always talk with your veterinarian before giving one to your dog.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family writer. She also does blog and content writing for a variety of industries and is an expert in on page SEO.

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The Leaving Trains — Miss Koko Puff, Falling James, and Melanie Vammen. Photo by Jack Gould.

Her story: A conversation with L.A. journalist and musician Falling James Moreland

By Tom Reardon

T

here is an alternate universe somewhere in which “Falling” James Moreland is currently the president of the United States.

listening to each other? The days and nights are ripe for conversation, dialogue, and debate. It’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to cast doubt on things we were brought up to trust.

Before we ponder quantum physics, though, let’s ponder the universe in which we currently reside.

We chanted oaths nearly every day of our youth to honor and obey, right?

We are living at a time when it feels like there are multiple roads all converging into one seemingly disastrous point. Some of these roads are cultural, economic, pandemic and bizarro world political. They all seem to have contradictory signs on them that say things like: “Flee” or “Stay Where You Are.” Or, “Change is Coming” but “Please don’t Change,” and, lastly, “Buy a shitload of toilet paper, rice, and beans.”

And, if we really stop and look at it good and hard, the point where these roads all converge is one that we cannot yet see.

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It is okay to ask questions.

It is also the time to rise and be heard. It makes sense that if we look beyond the fear and each embrace our identity, we can make better choices and find a voice for ourselves in these strange times.

It is the time to be strong even if we are scared because when the going gets rough, the tough get weird and wild and ready to rock.

Which brings us back to the idea of Moreland as president. If not now, when would be a better time for a trans woman, punk rock guitar playing, poet, and journalist to be president?

Moreland, 58, is a lifetime resident of Los Angeles, and actually was a former candidate for president who first ran for office in 1988 on a platform solidly built around Native American rights, gender equality, and marijuana legalization. During our discussion, she did mention spending some time in the wilds of southern Oregon, growing up helping a family friend build a cabin which sounds like an essential part of any presidential biography.

She grew up moving around Los Angeles a fair amount after her parents divorced and was a relatively early convert to the city’s burgeoning and influential punk rock scene in the mid-1970s, which would turn out to be formative in her life.

“My first show was the Ramones, (The) Runaways, and The Quicks sometime in January of 1978. In that sense of the early punk scene, which started roughly around ‘76 and, really, was bigger in 1977, so I already felt like a latecomer by the time I started going to clubs. That show led to seeing The Runaways in the clubs and seeing The Quick, who I was so amazed by them that it led to me going to all these club shows. For one thing, a lot of them were $3. Places like the Starwood and the Whisky (A Go Go) would have two bands a night, like the Go Go’s and the Alley Cats, and the Alley Cats would be headlining because The Go-Go’s were relatively new,” remembers Moreland.

(It would not be bad to have a president who went to shows like these.)

These shows had a profound effect on Moreland’s desire to be in a band herself.

With some high school friends, Moreland started a band called The Mongrels who were, as she readily admits, not quite ready to jump on any of the epic shows she was seeing as often as possible. Originally a drummer, Moreland played a cardboard box that had once contained a television and a broken cymbal in the Mongrels and the band never got a chance to play live.

“I never took music classes; I had no idea.

We never could afford that. It seemed like a bus I had missed when I was growing up as much as I loved music. I never thought it could happen to me or I could make it. I thought you had to be born to do it,” says Moreland.

In 1980, though, Moreland became the front person for The Leaving Trains who she often refers to as something of a punker, yet sloppier version of the better-known Minneapolis band, The Replacements.

With what would become, over the years, a revolving cast of co-conspirators and Moreland now on guitar, the Leaving Trains began to attack the LA scene with their unique blend of punk, psychedelia, and raucous power pop. There was also the occasional foray into the bluesy, druggie Doors-like sound, as well, making for a fine combination of sight and sound.

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It helps that Moreland is a truly wonderful and eloquent writer who has supported herself over the years as a journalist. This path was something that she started in high school after a fiery letter to the editor of the school paper resulted in a challenge from the school journalism teacher, Mrs. Clark, to be part of the solution, rather than just complain about the problem.

“I didn’t expect that. I was used to being an outsider and not being part of the school clubs and I was like, ‘Wow. Okay,’ so I did, and I loved it and I never really stopped. I’m more known for my band, but there was a period of time where I was mainly a news writer before I got into more music writing at The L.A. Weekly,” says Moreland.

Many readers may have seen the “Falling James” byline over the last three decades where Moreland has described the sights, sounds, and occasionally the smells of the Los Angeles music scene. Most recently, Moreland has kept her city in the know about the best shows in town to check out, but with the coronavirus shutting the music scene down everywhere and drastic cuts to many news source budgets impacting Moreland and her peers around the country, at least for the time being, this has been put on hold.

Admittedly, Moreland can be a “caustic” voice as a writer, and maybe this is still part of the punk rocker coming out in her, but she has also evolved to seeing something more noble in her chosen profession.

“There is so much great music going on that I would much rather focus on some really cool new band like The Paranoyds or Egrets on Ergot, than explaining why the Eagles and Phil Collins, or in the case of The Police (the band), oppressive. There is plenty of terrible music that we still like anyway or music we just have as comfort food. I’ve tried not to waste as much time on people who are completely wrong in their taste in music and just be more accepting, but also trying to make people aware that there is some really great stuff going on and many times they are playing for free in your neighborhood,” says Moreland.

(A journalist as president would be a nice change of pace. Someone who likes to tell true stories?)

She is also hopeful that even with all the uncertainty surround the music industry, of which she says she’s never really felt a part FEATURE STORY

of, that something positive will come of the change we see around us all.

“Part of me wants to be optimistic and hope maybe this will help dismantle some of the corporate structure that has taken over, even the club scene, where creativity is starting to be affected by it. I think there is starting to be a bland normalcy to a lot of music when at least some music is supposed to be rebellious and inspire,” says Moreland.

Falling James; photo by Gem Zee.

Over their career, The Leaving Trains built an impressive discography with albums like Kill Tunes (SST Records, 1986) and 1987’s Fuck (also SST) showing both a primal energy and growing sound that continued to evolve through the early 2000s. The song “What Cissy Said” off Fuck is a true masterpiece and a wonderful example of the band, and Moreland, firing on all cylinders. While this may sound glamorous, the financial success that many of their peers may have tasted was not something The Leaving Trains ever found.

Rebelling against the norm is part of who Moreland is, but it also must be authentic to the woman who lives with her kitties, as she refers to them.

During The Leaving Trains days, Moreland began performing more and more in women’s clothing and this was something that caused issues for band mates and fans, even though it was something she was more comfortable with.

“We lost a lot of fans when I started becoming trans in public all the time. (There were people) who felt that I was no longer my real self and I was being dishonest because before that, I was being more honest because I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. But now that I’m wearing high heels and stockings, I’m suddenly dishonest. The real truth is that this how I’ve been dressing my whole life.

Wearing pants was dishonest because I never liked that and when I realized I didn’t have to keep doing it or finally got brave enough to not care what people thought,” says Moreland before continuing: “This is a common thing for a lot of trans people. You lose a lot people. If you come out and you’re trying to live your life the way you really are, you lose a lot of friends and it’s very hard for any romantic partner and for some family members. It’s so hard that many (trans) people go back or they give up and they kill themselves because you can very easily from your social network or support group. Some people can be that horrified by it or that unaccepting of it.”

The truth that Moreland’s fans know her for, and truly should be much more wellknown for, is refreshing. She is well-versed in the bullshit fantastica that is current U.S. politics and has a lot say about the state of our current and ongoing affairs. In conversation, she seems ready for another run at the Presidency, even if she didn’t quite come out and say it. For someone who was once married to Courtney Love and a guest on The Jerry Springer Show, she is an incredibly private person, at least from the information you can find on the internet.

Having said that, Moreland is not about to shy away from standing up for what is right.

“The only thing I can do is just keep complaining and making art and putting up mirrors and putting up roadblocks, whatever is appropriate to draw attention to things and I think we all need to take that attitude.

We must start looking at changing things ourselves and we have to realize that maybe

we are going to be up against forces that aren’t going to be democratic and aren’t going to change. We may have to do a lot more than just write an angry opinion letter or voting for someone who is the lesser of two evils.

There is going to be a point where we must start saving (people) and not letting our tax dollars go to funding these multinational war corporations. It’s really about all of us considering ourselves to be our own presidents and our own parties and taking action in the neighborhoods we live in,” says Moreland.

Maybe it’s time for a president who isn’t always spouting off about how great they are and, instead, maybe it is time for someone like Falling James to take over. (That wouldn’t be terrible at all.)

An extended version of this interview can be found at echomag.com/falling-james-2020.

Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.

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WITHOUT RESERVATIONS

NakedQ’s Scottsdale location.

Baring it all: Dining in with NakedQ Story and photos by Jeff Kronenfeld

T

wo men held an impromptu tailgate party as I pulled into the parking lot for NakedQ in Scottsdale. Don’t worry, they were more than six feet apart.

I could smell the meat roasting in oak and pecan wood even as I parked a safe distance away. HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center loomed across North 90th Street, bringing to mind the patients and healthcare workers battling within. I counted my blessings, pulled on a scarf and went to pick up my order.

This was a few days before Governor Doug Ducey issued a statewide stay-athome order. Like all restaurants still open, NakedQ shifted to exclusively dine out or delivery. Of its three locations, two are still grilling. Not being in delivery range of either this store or the Phoenix location, I made the quick trip north on a snowbirdless freeway.

Oren Hartman opened NakedQ in 2014. He traded a job as an executive at a Fortune 500 tech company to run his own

meat-smoking startup. Before exiting the corporate life, Hartman visited barbecue joints from Texas to the Carolinas and beyond on his travels for work. While august grill masters still debate which region’s special sauce has the most magic, Hartman puts his faith in the flesh.

In fact, the restaurant’s au naturel name derives from Hartman’s simple but effective philosophy of barbecue: good meat doesn’t need bells and whistles. Starting with high-quality cuts, the meat gets a

A two side platter with brisket and pulled pork from NakedQ. 34

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DINING OUT

A two side platter with sausage and ribs from NakedQ.

simple rub then it is off to the smoker.

That’s pretty much it, but this doesn’t mean you can get that sauce you’ve been craving either. NakedQ offers four basic sauces, including a sweet, a spicy, a North Carolina vinegar-based, and — last but not least — a South Carolina mustard sauce. The inclusion of the latter golden variety is just one instance of NakedQ going above and beyond. I love the stuff, but I am biased, hailing myself from the Palmetto State.

Another instance of NakedQ’s exceptionalism is its response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They have been distributing free food to healthcare workers, first responders, laid-off hospitality workers and anyone else who needs a meal. The foods they’ve given out by the hundreds include chicken sandwiches, BBQ, spaghetti, and chicken soup. “We know that so many people in our community are going through some tough times right now, not just restaurants,” reads a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “We’re proud to be a part of the Arizona hospitality community that’s pulling together and helping to feed people in need.”

The two men manning the store and half-ton rotisserie smoker proved as friendly as the message. My meal was neatly prepared and packaged upon arrival. When I threw them a curveball by adding a pound of pulled chicken at the last minute, they didn’t flinch. The meat by the pound option is a little like the gift that keeps on giving. We used the smokey soft chicken for sandwiches, chicken salad and to spice up other meals during this extended staycation from hell. Wet naps are available, almost as hot of an item these days as toilet paper.

Once I had already committed to leaving my house, it seemed reckless not to go very big. Thus, I ordered a pair of two meat platters. To be gluttonously clear, that was two just for yours truly. For the first, DINING OUT

I choose sliced brisket and pulled pork.

You can get the brisket chopped, but the staff recommended sliced, so, of course, I listened. I listen to the experts for my meat as well as my health. The brisket’s exterior was charred dark as a tree trunk in a forest fire, albeit much tastier. The rich smoke had visibly saturated the first quarter inch or so of meat below the caramelized surface.

This yielded to the lighter inners, which were tender. The light marbling of fat rounded out the flavor.

The pulled pork burst with its own unique flavors. It was savory, a little sweet and even had a hint of that umami or monosodium-glutamate-like goodness. I closed my eyes, masticated and forgot to be anxious for a few precious moments.

Like everything at Naked, this complex taste emerged organically from the meat itself.

For the second two meat platter, I went with jalapeno hot links or ribs. The sausage was spicy, but not overpoweringly hot.

With toilet paper hard to come by, this helps conserve a hopefully-temporarily scarce item. The heat played well with the deep smoke oomph. The flecks of fat smoothed out the mix, especially when the dog is lavished with a generous coat of that South Carolina gold. Likewise, the ribs had the right mix of crunch on the outside and tender fattiness inside. I coated mine in a blend of the spicy and sweet sauces.

For my significant other — a teacher learning how to be a YouTube channel and IT specialist — I ordered the sliced turkey sandwich. She is far less carnivorous than I but dabbles in the occasional slice of bird.

She particularly loved the mustard sauce, describing it as oozing with an almost honey-like sweetness. I, of course, had to sample it. I found it as tender and moist as she reported.

The barbecue is the main attraction for sure, but the sides are nothing to sneeze at, even if you are wearing a face mask. We

The sliced turkey sandwich from NakedQ.

shared them, but platters come with two sides and cornbread, while the sandwiches come with one side. The cornbread is chock full of corn kernels, jalapenos and butter. They were delicious and I didn’t regret ordering extra. The mac and cheese shined with smoked gouda and a peppery kick.

The beans were like something an old prospector might feed you around a campfire. They were soft, filled with pork flavor and even had a few meat treats thrown in like marshmallows in a children’s cereal. We tried both varieties of coleslaw. The traditional creamy kind was satisfactory, but I definitely preferred the vinegar variety. It’s not for everyone, but I found its pungent astringency refreshing.

It’s an excellent pallet cleanser as well. The potato salad was creamy and disappeared quickly.

In a final piece of excess, I also grabbed one of their oversized sea salt chocolate chip cookies. If you have never had the pleasure of a salty cookie, there’s no better time than quarantine to pick up a new bad habit. When you order or pick up food, don’t forget to give people plenty of space.

Even better, have it delivered. You can ask to have the food left on your doorstep, minimizing the chance of exposure for you or your food-bearing delivery angel. Most apps offer this option now as well. And, most importantly, tip everyone generously.

It’s the most we can do until we address the systemic issues that allowed this predictable outbreak to get so out of control.

Jeff Kronenfeld is an independent journalist based out of Phoenix, Arizona. His writing has been featured in Java Magazine, the Arts Beacon, PHXSUX, and the Phoenix Jewish News, where he received the Simon Rockower Award for excellence in news reporting from the American Jewish Press Association. Links to his previously published work are available at www.jeffkronenfeld.com.

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Herdís Stefánsdóttir. Photo by Ugla Hauks.

BANDS

Meet Herdís Stefánsdóttir The musician and composer is creating the soundtrack for HBO’s new drag-themed show, We’re Here

By Tom Reardon

H

erdís Stefánsdóttir is a name you need to know even if it is a bit of a mouthful for the average American.

While the 32-year-old composer and musician currently lives in Los Angeles, with her boyfriend, Dustin O’Halloran, who is also a composer and their 15-month-old daughter, Ísold Aurelia, Stefánsdóttir is from Reykjavik, Iceland and at the time of our discussion, was hoping to get back to her native country as soon as possible.

It’s a hectic time for Stefánsdóttir in our world of social distancing. She’s hard at work on the musical score for a new HBO show, We’re Here, which is set to begin broadcasting on the cable giant on April 23 of this year but would like to get home to Iceland if her flights will just stop being canceled. She’s also got a toddler to think of, but fortunately O’Halloran is able to take over much of the day-to-day parenting duties while she creates music for her first TV show.

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To say it’s been a whirlwind for the talented Icelandic talent is an understatement, but it also seems that she is just getting started.

While Stefánsdóttir’s name is not quite synonymous with epic movie and tv scores just yet, it probably will be soon. If you saw 2019’s The Sun is Also a Star then you have heard her beautiful, haunting work. In the past four years, she has worked on several short films, two features, gotten her MFA from New York University and had a child.

Prior to taking the leap as a composer, she was also part of an acclaimed electronic duo, East of My Youth, which released a number of music videos and an EP, West of My Future ltd., in 2017.

The future is truly in the palm of Stefánsdóttir’s capable hands. We sat down with the pianist for a long phone chat just days after our world was, for lack of a better expression, told to just stay home.

Echo: Strange times. It feels weird to be

talking about a TV show.

Herdís Stefánsdóttir: It’s very existential.

That’s a great way of putting it. It seems like everyone in Phoenix has become a hoarder. Is it the same in LA? It seems like it. I think so. At least it looks like it. It seems like shelves are empty everywhere in the world.

At what age did you figure out music would be the path for you?

Pretty late, honestly. You always hear about people doing music at the age of five or something, but it wasn’t like that at all for me.

I studied the piano from the age of eight, but it was always just something I did on the side. Like a hobby, even though I was always very musical and really loved music. I went to high school and was always focused on very practical things like, maybe I will be a doctor or a lawyer or, you know, something that will earn me money.

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That was the focus I was taking. I actually started studying law when I was 20 years old. It didn’t fit me at all. I was very miserable.

To a profound level, I was miserable. I really hated it. That is when I started playing the piano a lot and started writing music. I was 21 years old and hadn’t really written any music before. That was a surprise. I was like, “Whoa!” I didn’t know I could do that.

I started teaching myself and studying (music) theory and music history and doing it as a hobby. I wrote a choir piece for my grandmother’s choir and started teaching myself how to arrange music, like string quartets.

It wasn’t until my friend, who was studying at the Art Academy in Iceland, told me that you could study music composition and I was like, “What, you can? That’s cool!” I didn’t know you could do that, but I decided to apply to art school, and I got in. So that’s how it started, but I was always telling myself that you can’t make a living doing music and this was just a hobby and I’ll just try this out and go back to law school or whatever and then that never happened.

You’re very fortunate to have been able to take that leap of faith and you were blessed with some talent, too.

It’s really strange. You can’t really escape it.

In my case, I was always trying to, because I didn’t really believe there was something I could do or spend my life doing, I was constantly trying to have the backup plan of doing something more practical, but (my music) kept growing and becoming a bigger part of my life and I just kept doing it. I guess that is what ultimately led me to the path of being a composer.

When you started to write your own songs, was it like people always say about the proverbial floodgates opening?

Yes, it was. I would go to classes in the morning and I would come home and just play the piano and study music on my own.

It was probably a year of studying music on my own, reading books, and trying to figure things out. It was just pure passion because I loved it and I got really into it.

You were part of a group at one point, correct? East of My Youth?

Yes, we were a duo.

Is that still going on?

No, it’s not going on. I’ve been focusing the last year on my first solo record.

Do you like collaborating with others or do you prefer to work alone?

Both. (Laughs).

It’s a tough question.

It is a tough question, but I felt like it was important for me to start doing things on my own. I wanted the challenge. As a composer, it’s kind of funny to now be in a quarantine, because it is the same. You’re always alone.

Sometimes it can be so refreshing and inspiring to work with other friends and ENTERTAINMENT

collaborate and you learn a lot from it, so I definitely prefer to mix both approaches.

What was your first opportunity to work on a film score?

When I was doing my undergraduate degree in Iceland, I did some short films and I worked in theater, too, and I worked with dancers.

This was a kind of thing I was experimenting with and then I did my masters at New York University and that was emphasized in film scoring. There I worked with a lot of directors and did some short films, as well.

Growing up, did you pay attention to the music in film before you decided to go down that path?

Oh, yes, yes, yes. Absolutely. I love film. I love cinema. (Music) is such a big part of cinema.

What do you think makes a good film score?

It needs to tell a story. It’s so different for every film because they all have completely different aesthetics and there are so many different approaches to making a film. You might make a film where you want to make the score in front and the score has a voice and it stands out and then another filmmaker might want the score to be almost invisible and weave in with the story. I think it is hard to say that there is one way of having a great score.

What is your process like as you work on (new HBO real life series) We’re Here?

I watched the first episode and started thinking about what I can add to it and how I can make music that adds an extra dimension and maybe makes it special. I try to think outside of the box and think about how this is an unscripted reality series and what can we do to bring out the emotion and heart without being cheesy or going into a cliché.

There is constantly new ideas and new characters that are coming so I think it is a bit different than writing music for a fictional series where you’re developing scenes that already have a storyline or a plot. Each episode (of We’re Here) is independent and every episode has different stories. This is the first time I am working on a TV show, so I am just learning something new every day.

Were your familiar drag culture prior to working on the show?

Yes, absolutely. I’m a big fan of drag. I’m very into RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Is that part of what drew you to being interested in working on the show?

I had no idea what it was really about until I watched it, so I think what really drew me into being excited to work on it is that I think it is very important and I think it is a beautiful show and it’s funny and I think it touches on a subject within drag that maybe hasn’t been shown. RuPaul’s (show) has all the drama and entertainment but this is the real story behind the people that have maybe been alienated in society and each one has gone through their own struggles to come to the

ultimate path of having the confidence to go into drag. I think it’s interesting and a new perspective.

The show starts soon, correct?

Yes, this is happening in real time. I’m going to be writing music while the first episodes are still airing.

Wow. Do you enjoy working that way?

(Pauses) I can’t say that it’s pure enjoyment to be under the gun and creating music, but you definitely get into good shape. You get into good musical shape.

I bet. I assume you’ve worked with deadlines before, but …

Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is just a different type of deadline because every time you’re finishing something there is a new episode coming in and new things are happening in the stories. This is a new experience for me.

I’m just taking it day by day.

As you get to know the stories and the people in them, do you get a feel or a theme for each person?

Yes. It is starting to happen like that. This is how the sound is evolving, I feel. Maybe there is a new story or a new character that comes in and I’m like, “Hmmn. Wait. This guy or this girl, they need this …” and there are definitely new sounds emerging through the episodes. A lot of the themes I’m writing can be reused because they can also fit to something else, too.

It’s funny because I’ve never written guitar music and it’s not an instrument I’ve used a lot, but maybe I’m working on the show and I think, “Well, this dude, he needs some electric guitar. That’s just what he needs, and I need to do that.” So, it’s also kind of interesting for me to explore with instruments and things that I would not normally use in my own music.

What would you like to do next?

I would like to do a dark project. My own music is pretty dark. It’s a different type of expression to work like that. I would be interested in doing something completely different that would take me down a different road. I’m putting that out in the universe. Not that the world needs more darkness, I mean, God, not now, but maybe next year when we are all feeling better again, we can produce more dark shit (laughs).

Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.

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AT THE BOX OFFICE

What to stream while quarantined W e may not be able to frequent our favorite local movie theater but there is plenty to watch on the various streaming platforms available. Here are some highlights.

By Tuesday Mahrle

Netflix

Hulu

Unorthodox — this four-part mini-series is based on Deborah Feldman’s book, Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots. Follow lead character Esther Shapiro (Shira Haas) as she flees the insular society of her ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, and an arranged marriage with little more than a passport and an envelope of money.

Parasite. This dark comedy thriller won five awards at the 92nd Academy Awards. It finally finds a home on Hulu in April. Watch as the Kim family slowly infiltrates the lives of the Parks in a story of the haves and have-nots.

Director Bong Joon-ho has an additional film, Snowpiercer, on Netflix worth a watch

Amazon Prime The Florida Project. From the lens of sixyear-old Moonee, The Florida Project follows the lives of attendees of a budget motel over a single summer. Despite the difficult surroundings, the rebellious Moonie makes mischief and adventures wherever she goes with fellow kids at the motel

Disney Plus Togo. In 1925, a diphtheria outbreak occurred, mainly affecting children. While the lifesaving serum was slated to be flown into Nome, Alaska, weather proved the trip impossible. With every moment meaning life or death, musher Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe) and his huskies braved nearly 700 miles in harsh conditions to save the small Alaskan town.

HBO (As our May issue comes out in mid-April, we wanted to note that for the month of April, HBO has opened multiple shows, movies and documentaries for free.)

Barry. Bill Hader stars as Barry Berkman, a depressed, low-rent hitman in this Emmy Award-winning dark comedy. Barry travels to Los Angeles to fulfill a hit on an aspiring actor but instead finds himself in an acting class Gene Cousineau played by Henry Winkler.

Tuesday Mahrle is a film critic and host of “Whiskey and Popcorn,” a Phoenix-based movie podcast.

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RECORDINGS

I

t feels odd to be reviewing new music this month. I’m hoping that will change next month, but for now, I really want to celebrate music in general so I’m picking songs that make me feel good. Maybe they will help you feel good, too. Maybe they will inspire you to make some music of your own or a playlist of songs that you love or maybe they will just open a door to a new favorite or two or for you. Either way, I want to give you all this gift because we are in this together and we need to feel good right now, both physically and mentally. It’s not the time to sit around and feel bad, friends. It’s the time to live, even if that means living large in the living room.

By Tom Reardon

“Deep” — Pearl Jam I’ve got to go with this one because Pearl Jam has a pretty darn decent new record out and admittedly, I kind of wrote them off a while ago. When their classic Ten record came out in 1991, I was a bit of an early adopter and fell in love with the record before they became the radio darlings they became. And no, I’m not patting myself on the back here at all. I was just lucky to know some folks who were living in Seattle in those days and told me to check out some of these new fangled “grunge” bands that were coming out in the late 1980s.

Anyway, “Deep” is a song that just rocks and was never one of the big radio rotation songs, so I never got sick of it. Even though it is not the happiest song ever, it makes me happy. It has that big, Billy Duffy-esque (The Cult) riff at the beginning and just dives in from there.

When the sultry Mr. Eddie Vedder jumps in and starts singing, I’m hooked.

“My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style” — Dream Warriors Another song from 1991. Will this be a trend?

I was 21 and living in Berkeley when I first heard this record on KALX. Several of the DJs on KALX played a lot of rap and hip hop music and when this song would come on while I was out doing deliveries for Roxy Food Market, I would just bebop in the little piece of shit Dodge Colt the owner bought so I could make my rounds delivering groceries and sandwiches. Dream Warriors were a Canadian outfit who had a couple of minor hits but had this super groovy sound 40

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that you can’t help but just feel great when your listening to it. Turn it on, turn it up, and enjoy. If you haven’t heard it before, I’ll say it now: You’re welcome.

“Play My Song” — Redd Kross

Hit the way back machine for 1987, friends, and join me for track two off of one of the best feel good records to come out of the 1980s. Redd Kross was firing on all cylinders in these days (and they still pump out some pretty great music, b-t-dubs) and “Play My Song” is just one of the songs on this record that I love, but if I had to choose just one to dance around my living room or play air drums in the car, this is it. There’s some groovy sitar in there, too, that makes you think that maybe, just maybe, the McDonald brothers were listening to some George Harrison and watching I Love You, Alice B. Toklas with Peter Sellers every now and then.

“Bohemian Like You” — The Dandy Warhols The newest of the four songs I’m sharing, but still clocking in at a robust 20 years old, “Bohemian Like You” always puts a smile on my face. Maybe it’s because singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor is always playing around with lyrics and poking fun at hipster culture while continuing to champion it. The proud yet selfdeprecating thing is something I’m always a sucker for. Also, if you’ve seen the wonderful movie, Igby Goes Down, the music editor (Lori Eschler) on the film used it brilliantly in a scene set in a bougie Hampton Beach home owned

by Jeff Goldblum’s smarmy character, D.H. Baines. Like two of the other songs on this list, it’s just a bouncy one that you can’t help but shake it a bit while you’re listening and the rest of the album is pretty damn stellar, too.

Next month we’ll get back to taking a look at new (or new-ish) music and I’ll try out my new ranking system based on social distancing. Be safe, stay well, and remember that hoarding is never, ever attractive.

Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.

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BETWEEN THE COVERS

By Terri Schlichenmeyer Because of their youth, LGBTQ teens also need help with learning “social service navigation.”

Habits such as alcohol and other addictions may be of issue to LGBTQ adults seeking good healthcare, but doctors sometimes don’t know what tests to ask for. They may be uninformed about caring for someone with bisexual or same-sex preferences, or who’s transitioned.

They may have a “stigma” about HIV or be unaware of cancers that particularly plague LGBTQ individuals. As a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender adult, being your own, highly vocal advocate is key.

One thing is for certain: Bodies and Barriers is timely — not because Covid-19 treatment is based on sexuality but because other maladies that may arise are, and since healthcare is on your mind anyhow, this book is invaluable.

Bodies and Barriers: Queer Activists on Health edited by Adrian Shanker, foreword by Rachel L. Levine, MD, afterword by Kate Kendell c.2020, PM Press $20.00 / higher in Canada 208 pages

Y

ou woke up this morning feeling pretty good.

That was quite a relief: in these frightening, uncertain times, every day of wellness is a bonus — especially when you consider that healthcare for a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer patient can be different than what straight people require.

Too bad healthcare providers don’t always know that. But read Bodies and Barriers, edited by Adrian Shanker, and you’ll feel more empowered to tell them.

If you were to look for books or articles that address health care issues for LGBTQ patients, you will likely find an abundance of it. The problem is, says Shanker, most of it was written by people who are not lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.

“Every person providing care for humans is providing care for LGBT humans,” he says, but it’s time that “Our stories about our bodies” be told. And so here they are.

For the youngest LGBTQ patients, physical and mental healthcare may be different than for their heterosexual peers, and it’s different than that which LGBTQ adults may need. Socially, for example, kids struggle with issues that adults are better-equipped to handle. Parents, as one story indicates, can be the best allies of all.

Young adults likewise have issues that seem tied to their age and vulnerability.

Homelessness can exacerbate health issues (and vice versa); teens may suffer from depression, suicidal notions, and bullying.

Healthcare needs may extend to the dangers of “sex in the digital age” and a lack of maturity.

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Through a series of variously-authored essays, broken into sections based on age, editor Adrian Shanker offers a chorus of voices that display a variety of viewpoints and frustrations that could perhaps ultimately teach healthcare workers a thing or two. Readers shouldn’t be surprised to note resignation in these stories, or the occasional bit of anger and outrage, but there are also plenty of essays that impart a calm but determined tone. It’s in these that an LGBTQ reader will find comfort, camaraderie, and a way to speak up.

Be forearmed with information and beware.

Know how to demand from your doctor that which you need, and don’t leave without it.

Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and read Bodies and Barriers. Having this book feels pretty good.

H

ere’s mud in your eye.

Salud! Bottoms up! Here’s to the ones we’ve loved and lost. Cheers, and all those other things you say as you hoist a few with your pals in a pub. Drink up. To friendship.

To love. To health. Actually, here’s to you, then let’s raise a glass to In Praise of Beer by Charles Bamforth.

It may not be exactly summer yet. It might not be hot outside, or 5 o’clock somewhere, but imagine a glass in front of you, filled with something “cold, bright, and fizzy ...”

In Praise of Beer by Charles Bamforth c.2020, Oxford University Press $24.95 / $32.95 Canada 165 pages into liquid (Bamforth says dairy cows love “spent grains”). The brewer has to know about local water sources, hops and yeasts, the kind of packaging and caps he’ll use (cans are best; brown bottles are a close second), and then he›ll have to know how to put all this information together.

And that will determine the kind of beer you’ll ultimately get in your frosty glass, whether it’s a “top fermentation” or a “bottom fermentation” beer, or something else, like a shandy or dry beer. On that note, Bamforth is not a fan of odd ingredients in the making of his beer.

Know that it’s essential for you to “pour with vigor.” Please don’t stuff garbage into an empty bottle. Foam is important, so pay the right kind of attention to it. Keep in mind that beer can accompany fine dining. And remember: beer is good – and it’s also “good for you.”

Much like an icy-cold but thoroughly new-toyou brew on a blistering-hot day, “In Praise of Beer” is a truly refreshing surprise. Reading this book, in fact, is like sitting in an adult classroom, and the instructor’s brought a six-pack to share.

Says Bamforth, who has worked with the brewing industry for over 40 years, the answer often “boils down to,” a preference between craft beer and the big brands. What many beer drinkers don’t understand is that, increasingly, the big brands own many of those so-called craft beers. Still, to be a true “craft” brewery, there are rules ...

Author Charles Bamforth teaches, but his experience also allows him to entertain with facts that only an insider would know; peeks at brews, breweries, and beer-drinking overseas; and sneaky humor of the LOL kind, but not so much that it makes you spit out your beer.

This is all packaged in a skinny book that talks the talk plainly in a way that avoids high-brow nonsense by treating average beer drinkers like the connoisseurs they are.

Another thing beer aficionados don’t generally know is that making beer is much more complicated than making wine. A brewer must first decide on the grain he’ll use (“the main location” for growing barley is Idaho) and how to process it

In Praise of Beer isn’t going to make you an expert on your favorite drink, but you’ll learn enough to make you better appreciate what’s in your mug. Get this book, pull up a seat, and take a sip.

Thirsty yet? So, what do you order?

ENTERTAINMENT

also reason to think that viruses altered the “genetic landscape ... from its very beginnings.”

And there’s the keen “importance of the viral contribution to the deep levels of ecological balance ...”

Viruses can be good. We just need to remember to take precautions.

Your body aches, your head throbs, and this book isn’t going to do a darn thing to fix any of that. Virusphere doesn’t even have a list of tips for you to use. And yet, if you wonder how in the world this happened, it’s a book you’ll want.

In scientific terms, author Frank Ryan explains where viruses evolved, their contagiousness, and how they work. It’s a complex subject that’s broken into understandable parts, but this is still not a skimmable read that you’ll finish in an evening. No, it demands that you to pay attention.

Virusphere: From Common Colds to Ebola Epidemics: Why We Need the Viruses that Plague Us by Frank Ryan c.2020, Prometheus Books $24.00 / higher in Canada 278 pages

Y

our hands are raw.

But let’s face it, you’ll do anything to avoid getting sick or carrying the coronavirus home or to work. Nobody needs to be ailing when it’s almost spring. From what you can see, nobody needs to be exposed to this virus at all but read Virusphere by Frank Ryan because the virus needs you.

Imagine not having to get a flu shot ever again.

Imagine a world without colds, sniffles, raw noses, coughs, it would be magnificent to the average person, but not to Frank Ryan. He says he knows “that a world without viruses would not be one in which I would care to live.”

To understand what surely seems like an odd thing to say, we should understand a few things about a virus — but first, you’re pretty awesome: your body is made of “roughly 30 to 40 trillion cells,” including microbes that are necessary for you to live and thrive. That might sound like Virus Heaven, but the truth is that viruses are picky about who they inhabit. The rhinovirus, for instance, thrives best in human nasal linings. The polio virus exists exclusively in humans. Bats are the natural hosts for rabies, on the other hand, and if a dog or skunk or human gets the rabies virus, then ... oops.

What we must remember, says Ryan, is that viruses don’t target us out of a sense of anger or righteousness. They have no brains and they “are not evil … but they are not free to do as they please.” Their only job, if you will, is to replicate inside their host in order to survive — which is scant comfort when you’re flat on the sofa.

Maybe this helps — there’s evidence that the presence of some viruses found in the human body helps boost the immune system. There’s

ENTERTAINMENT

No problem: Ryan imparts a certain excitement about those things that cause misery, which makes this book like a peek into a hospital laboratory, or a tour of a geneticist’s workspace. Don’t be surprised, therefore, if Virusphere gives you a teensy bit of respect for viruses, bacteria, and microbes. Don’t hesitate to put this book in your hands.

Just be sure to wash them first.

S

omething doesn’t feel right.

Things are off a little bit, or a lot. One point’s out of place, another seems slightly askew, and once you spot a problem, you can’t unsee it. Casual observers, heck, even professionals might think the picture’s perfect, but you know better. As in the new book Gone at Midnight by Jake Anderson, some things just don’t add up.

A sunny southern California vacation always sounds good to a northerner, especially in January. And that’s the reason ChineseCanadian student Elisa Lam was in Los Angeles that winter, 2013, though her parents worried about her traveling solo.

For the choice of hotel alone, they had reason to fret says Anderson, the Cecil Hotel — Lam’s chosen destination — was in a sketchy area, near Skid Row. It’s possible that Lam didn’t know the area, he suggests, or its history.

Built in 1924 with the intention of bringing luxury and opulence to downtown Los Angeles, the Cecil Hotel was constructed with the wealthy in mind, but it also included several rooms for long-term residents. Almost immediately after its opening, though, problems arrived: a number of arrests occurred in the hotel, crimes were committed in its rooms, and several murders and more than a dozen suicides happened there. By the 1970s, in fact, the Cecil was known as “Suicide Hotel.”

But Elisa Lam didn’t realize that or didn’t care. She checked into the Cecil Hotel with two women that she’d apparently just met, and who ultimately complained to hotel management that Lam was acting weird. Indeed, Lam had only recently realized that she’d suffered from

Gone at Midnight: The Mysterious Death of Elisa Lam by Jake Anderson c.2020, Citadel Press $26.00 / $35.00 Canada 368 pages depression for many years. But was she suicidal?

No one knows, and we never will: in mid-February of 2013, Lam’s nude body was discovered floating inside the Cecil Hotel’s water supply tank, under suspicious circumstances; officials said she drowned, and Anderson says they refused to comment further.

But Lam’s friends were outraged. They told Anderson that there was absolutely “no way” Elisa Lam killed herself.

You might have seen the video, shocking as it is. It shows a slight Asian woman, and what looks like fearful behavior. In Gone at Midnight, author Jake Anderson says that body language experts saw things differently, and he explains.

That’s all good, at first. Very good: it’s the stuff horror movies are made of, and Anderson plays into that creepiness by hinting that the Cecil is haunted and that the building seemed to call to him as he was researching this book.

Read, check the windows, see if the hairs don’t rise on your arms.

Again, very good — until this book’s breathy prose, esoteric details, and personal information start to feel outsized. There’s also a lot of biography here, and a lot of it is Anderson’s.

That’s relevant, to a point, but it shifts the focus too much.

Still, this chilling tale of obsession and gruesomeness is great for murder-mystery fans who also like a bit of paranormal sprinkled in.

Turn on the lights, don’t read at night, and Gone at Midnight could be just right.

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.

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TALKING BODIES

better, and bestows benefits on other people as well, when you emit positivity. Yes, this is a difficult situation. Yes, many people will die, and many people will go bankrupt and worse.

I am not recommending burying your head in the sand and pretending we’re sliding down rainbows riding unicorns, right now. However, as a motivational professional, it’s essential that we stay determined to make the best of this situation and to help others when we can, and to work through our own negativities and adversities for the greater good.

Keep appointments with your team of mental health professionals or consider establishing one. Therapists are riding the digital wave of offerings and are more affordable and accessible than ever. If you’re struggling, reach out to a professional who can help you de-stress and cope in healthy ways.

Minding your mind and body during COVID-19

By Tia Norris

W

ell … that certainly was unexpected.

With the majority of us now working at home — and really, entirely living at home — I think it’s safe to say that we’re all dealing with novel mental and physical challenges in this unprecedented time. As if self-care wasn’t hard enough for many people when the world was quasinormal, COVID-19 has thrown a figurative atom bomb into the wellness equation. Many of my clients have reported critical disruption to mental health, physical movement, nutrition, stress management, and other vital components of wellbeing. Let’s talk about some ways to stress less, move more, and take better care of ourselves during the virus era: Mental health Keep your routines and schedules. It’s imperative that we all keep as close to a routine as possible right now — for things like showers and hygiene, getting dressed for work, eating and drinking at the same times, working out at the same times, etc.

As an example: I am working from home right now, but I will drive around the block before “clocking in” to give my mindset an opportunity to shift into work mode. It’s a no brainer that hygiene, rituals of comfort, and basic nutrition will boost productivity, focus, and feelings of wellbeing throughout your entire day, at work and beyond.

Read or watch the news once per day and check your sources vigorously. Beware, the mountains of misinformation piling up by the second regarding the virus. You simply cannot trust hearsay of “he said, she said, I 44

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saw this new law going into effect tomorrow invoking Martial Law, etc.” Bluntly, I simply do not trust what people say verbally anymore until I’ve read it as a government mandate or an explicit CDC guideline. There is simply too much exaggeration, critical misunderstanding, and, frankly, bullshit circulating faster than the virus itself right now. Check the news once per day to get the facts; and then go about your day as normal. Think critically and check your sources.

Avoid hoarding. Does anyone understand the toilet paper hoarding? My gosh, people.

Enough, already! Verified sources report that supply chains and production for essential goods is working seamlessly, and there’s no need for hoarding. Stockpiling goods produces unnecessary panic. Panic and stress are not just abstract topics — they’re biological, meaning they have serious consequences on your wellbeing. Stop the negativity where you can — and hoarding is an easy corner to cut. Shop normally, please.

Emotional health Call your friends and family. Widen your e-circle. It’s indisputable science that humans are social creatures. We are not meant to be in isolation. Take advantage of the technology available right now to video with one, or several, of your favorite people all at once.

Set weekly meet-ups. Play games via apps where you can see each other. Check in with your loved ones, regularly. Together, we can get through this and to the other side.

Commit yourself, fiercely, to being productive, helpful, and positive during this time. This is a choice. It is easier, and feels

Physical health Find a structured program to suit your goals, equipment, and skill level. Online training has never been so affordable, accessible, and effective. The best trainers in the world right now are working overtime to produce lucrative, ass-kicking workouts with little to no equipment right now. Find a routine, sign up for it (don’t just vow to follow it, add an extra layer of accountability with an actual human being), bring some friends, and get to work.

Set reminders for nutrition, hydration, and supplements. It’s tragic how easy it is right now to forget the basics, and, unfortunately, nutrition and hydration are among the first to go. As mentioned above, try to stay as much on your regular schedule as possible. And, consider setting reminders on your phone, or downloading apps to do so, to ensure that you’re taking care of yourself physically. If you’re not putting enough fuel in the tank, there’s no way your machine will perform for you when the time comes. Prioritize your physical health to feel your best mentally, emotionally, and beyond.

Embrace the new environment, skills, and challenges of your new routine. New = fun and exciting. Learn to conquer pushups, handstands, and pistol squats. Get creative with props around your house or consider starting to construct your own home gym.

Attitude is everything, and the more you fight the changes right now, the harder things will be.

It’s more important than ever to take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically. The sooner you can find your new normal, the more quickly you’ll adapt and the faster this time period will go — for you, your loved ones, and all of us. Adapt, adjust, and move forward.

Tia Norris is the president and head trainer at FitPro, LLC, a local fitness company. Find out more at fitprollc.com.

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45

NOT THAT YOU ASKED

trouble. They’d be better off learning about B.C. (Before Corona) from Chrissy Teigen or maybe or one of those TV judges. They all seem pretty smart.

Nonetheless, if it is up to me, I suppose I’m not one to shirk my responsibilities.

My words to the next civilization, however, would be brief. The list of things I will not tell them about is much longer than the list of things I will tell them: I will not tell them about The Bible, or about religion at all.

I will not tell them about Capitalism, borders, or patriotism.

I will not tell them about how two men sitting upright in bed together on thirtysomething was a milestone, and how it led to countless advertisers pulling their commercials.

I will not tell them that Crash beat Brokeback Mountain and Munich in a Best Picture race.

I will not tell them about cancel culture, NASCAR, or podcasts.

Still, there are a few things I will tell them: I will tell them about Law & Order, but not about Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

I will tell them about rediscovering Little Debbie products in the waning days of the pandemic.

Life A.C.: After Corona

By Buddy Early

A

s I am writing this, I have been quarantined in my apartment due to the Coronavirus pandemic for, oh, I guess about six months. Actually it’s been 13 days. Either way I’m going to need someone to tell me if I’ve lost weight or gained weight when we are done with this.

I can’t tell.

Speaking of tangents, it’s impossible at this time to tell when we might be done with this, thanks to young people who think you can have as many as you want over to a house party as long as you know them. (Coronavirus only spreads amongst strangers, apparently.) If you ask me, “social distancing” is a phrase that was never specific enough, and it has led to people interpreting it in some peculiar ways.

Words that should have been used instead were quarantine, isolation, and stay the fuck home.

One thing I know is that, despite not knowing when, we will get through this.

But who knows what the world will be like when we emerge from quarantining, or

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even by the time you are reading these words. Maybe everything will be business as usual. Maybe we will be a better society.

Maybe we surface into a world greater than anything we’ve ever known before?

Perhaps, miraculously, we will have flying cars, pills that taste like an entire meal, and robots that perform sex acts. (“Alexa: give me a hand job.”) That would be cool, huh?

Or maybe we will have entered the apocalypse we’ve all been preparing for. Sure, I’ve watched too much of The Walking Dead and numerous end-of-theworld films — so many that I could give a Top 10 list — so my imagination runs wild at the slightest suggestion of “everything is different from now on.”

Maybe this column is the first of several that will serve to educate the next civilization about what life was like. Maybe it’s my charge to help them understand the former Earth. Maybe I’m the last chance we have to impart wisdom and knowledge to those who come after us.

If that is the case then they are in big

So, if you’re keeping track: I will tell them about Law & Order and Little Debbies.

Yep, that’s all.

But that’s all stinkin’ thinkin’ — as Al Franken would say. Maybe it’s the Little Debbies Zebra Cakes talking, but despite my imagination running amok I still choose to think we come out of this as a better society. Not just the same, but better.

I am hopeful that when things return to normal, they won’t be … well, normal. We will transform into a nation that is more kind, more patient, more selfless and understanding. We will achieve perspective and appreciate cultures, leading to less racism, sexism and homophobia. We will come to an agreement that people are worth more than $7.25 an hour and nobody needs, or deserves, a billion dollars. We will be ashamed that it took a crisis like this to accept that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

This utopia sure seems like pie-in-the-sky given our B.C. point of view. But in A.C., maybe we get smart.

Buddy Early grew up in Tempe and has been involved in various communities across the Valley since.

He is a former managing editor of both Echo Magazine and Compete Magazine.

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