Guy Magazine Issue 270 by Multi-Media Platforms

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January 21, 2015 #270

BRASS PG 28

SCREEN SAVOR PG 38

TRAVEL PG 60

Bobby Blair Founder, Multimedia Platforms Richard Hack Publisher / Editor-in-Chief 954-380-8563 x3103

Kevin Hopper Associate Publisher Daniel Hicks Managing Editor 954-380-8563

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Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists, feature writers or other contributors are not necessarily the opinions of Multimedia Platforms, LLC or its staff. All advertisements, pictures, text and illustrations are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized and have secured proper written consent for use thereof. Multimedia Platforms, LLC shall not be held responsible for any errors, loss or expense or liabilities on advertisements accepted after the weekly deadline. Publication of the name, photograph of any person, or advertisement contained in this issue is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person, advertiser, or organization. Partial or complete reproduction of any advertisement, news article, feature, or photograph from Multimedia Platforms is strictly prohibited. Multimedia Platforms, LLC is a registered trademark. A $30 or 1.5% (whichever is greater) fee will be charged for all NSF checks. © 2015, Multimedia Platforms LLC. All rights reserved.

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Chock Full of…

“GRAND” BARTENDERS

Boardwalk stars tend the bar at the Grand Resort and Spa

CHOCK-FULL OF TALENT

GALLERY XO owner Tommy with artists Brian, Donald and Kipp showing their work for Art Walk

CHOCK-FULL OF FITNESS

ART WALK VIP

Fitness guru David Levison (center) shares a moment with friends at Hunters Nightclub

BRING ON THE FUNK!

Hunters is fast getting a reputation as a great place to go dancing

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January Art Walk Featured Artist Lisa Botto Lee and Alan

THEY STICK TOGETHER

A game of billiards on Friday night at Sidelines Sports and Video Bar in Wilton Manors theguymag

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Photos by Big Dewitte and Tony Fowler

CHOCK-FULL OF SOUND DJ Chuck Knowles spins for Hunters Haus Party

FOR MEN WHO ENJOY PLAYING WITH WOOD… … and are not carpenters in the traditional sense, there’s Sidelines Sports and Video Bar

“B” HIND YOU

A WELL-HUNG GALLERY

(left to right) Guy Magazine photographer Big Dewitte with artist Chris Lopez and Oscar at Gallery XO

PRETTY IN PINK

Jennifer McClain in top form in the Manchester Room at Alibi share with us on guymag.net

Boys having fun on Friday Night GROWL at B Bar and Grille

CHOCK-FULL OF SMILES

Hunters Nightclub bartenders Joe and Natasha radiate positive energy even in the parking lot theguymag

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College Football Championship Night at Sidelines Photos by Adrianna Cortez

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MMPPHH!!

DUNGEON TIME. LET’S PLAY.

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HEY THERE LITTLE CUB.

MAIN STORE

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CRUISING THE BOYS!

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Kristine W at The Manor

Photos by Big Dewitte

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INTERVIEW

Polished Brass An Interview with Perry Brass by

GreGG Shapiro

There are so many ways to describe Perry Brass that it’s difficult to know where to begin. First and foremost, Brass is a writer. He writes poetry, fiction, non-fiction, plays, and has even collaborated with composers (such as Fred Hersch) who have set some of his work to music. A prominent figure in the literary world, Brass runs his own publishing house (Belhue), is the recipient of literary awards, and is one of the coordinators of the annual Rainbow Book Fair, among other activities. Brass, an educator and longtime activist, co-founded the Gay Men’s Health Project Clinic, now known as the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York. However, these facts only scratch the surface. I interviewed Brass, who will be speaking at the Stonewall Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, on Jan. 24 at 5 p.m., in early 2015. Gregg Shapiro: You describe yourself as an “uninhibited spirit” on your website. How do you think others can achieve that status? Perry Brass: By throwing off influences and problems that keep them inhibited. In my next book, The Manly Pursuit of Desire and Love, I ask a very important question: “If you are not happy, what’s keeping you from being happy?” The answer is fear. Fear of being hurt, rejected, or humiliated, fear of your deepest desires and the feelings under

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them—not knowing how to express these desires safely, and how to satisfy them. And of course fear of the real person inside you, whom you’ve been hiding from for so many years. And fear of actually being alive, because of the “price” you’ve been taught for so long you’ll be forced to pay. As a gay kid who left home at the age of 17, in 1965, by hitchhiking from Savannah, GA, to San Francisco, I realized I could pay the “price” for my own freedom and happiness—that I could leave an environment of total racism and homophobia, and become the person I wanted to be. I was lucky to make that choice. I’ve known too many young people who could not, and ended up destroying themselves through drugs, or a life they hated, through depression and suicide. In my earlier book The Manly Art of Seduction, I talked about the importance of “valor,” of realizing your own value. It’s very hard to allow yourself to lose inhibitions if you feel that you are not valuable enough inside to be the real person you are. GS: Recently, in writing about Russian artist Yevgeniy Fiks, you pose the question “Whom are you really a spy for—your country, other people . . . or yourself?” How would you answer that for the Agenda and Guy magazine readers? PB: I think it’s hard to be gay and not be a “spy for yourself,” because inevitably, at some theguymag

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Polished Brass

INTERVIEW point, you are seeing things from the outside in—you realize you are an outsider and you are looking at the world with enough distance and clarity to see yourself, too. The fact that so many gay men can understand this, and know it, presents an amazing advantage for us, although psychically it also has its toll. It’s difficult for us to feel a real part of a group, and like most people we do want to feel that way: Humans are group animals, so of course LGBT people have formed groups of their own. Being an outsider with that outsider status was an important issue and question for gay men of my generation, but I still see it being asked, in one way or another all the time by younger men. They may not ask it in these exact words, but they feel it. GS: You named your press, which has published all of your books, Belhue Press. What is the genesis of the name? PB: It was named for my wonderful sister Nancy Belle and my husband, Hugh. I wanted to name my press for both of them, so came up a long time ago with Belhue Press. GS: As a Southern Jew, you are in good company, alongside Tony Kushner, Randy Newman, Alfred Uhry, and the late Dinah Shore, to mention a few. In what ways do being Southern and Jewish influence your poetry and your fiction? PB: Interesting question. Jews and Southerners are both great story tellers, and some of the first writers I was drawn to were either Jewish or Southern, like the Jewish writers Philip (and Joseph) Roth, J.D. Salinger, and Isaac Bashevis Singer, and the Southern writers William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor, and Carson McCullers among others. Singer was a great influence: earlier I wanted to be the gay Isaac Bashevis Singer, in that Singer could swing from intensely spiritual narratives to very sexual ones, from stark realism to magical storytelling. He was an Eastern European Jew, but this background did not limit him, but added a dimension that his own great sensitivity and sexual openness deepened. I wanted to write queer folk tales, courtly tales, sagas, and realistic stories; I wanted them to be clearly, openly humane, without the grating internalized homophobia that has colored so much of the gay writing published mainstream. I’ve always believed that that strange, share with us on guymag.net

hardly definable quality we call “gayness” does provide a very clear passageway to the heart; many if not most Jews would agree to this about their Jewishness as well. Being a Southern Jew certainly put me into another realm; I used to say that being one made it a lot easier for me to come out healthily. In other words, having a background that was so different made the “queer” difference easier; still I had to go through some trials by fire to understand that. I had to be able to leave my Southern and Jewish background in order to see them, and not be trapped by them. Living in New York has been good for that. Both groups have made me ask what is the price of the truth? Being truthful in my Southern background, during a period of almost total racial segregation, which I talked about in my gay, Southern, Jewish comingof-age novel King of Angels, was almost completely denied. But there was something so utterly “queer” about the Jewish part that it filtered through the Southern part and genuinely enriched it. I have found these feelings to be true for other Southern gay Jews I’ve met: certainly in my youth there was an underground aspect to being a Southern Jew—it was important not to “flaunt” your religion—so this often made us understand and recognize the presence of each other, and value it. How “queer” can anything get? Also, Southerners and Jews find themselves economically marginalized a lot more than other people want to believe. Since I came from an impoverished Jewish background in the South, I could be more direct in my work about the struggle for economic existence than a lot of queer writing has been. I loathe gay novels where the protagonists exist “stylishly” without ever being aware of money and the struggle for it. These “Fire Island dramas” where everybody lives on looks and money they never work for have never been a part of my life. But most importantly both groups have a great oral tradition, of being aware of the music of language, and that has been important in my poetry and prose. I like words that dance in your mouth and in your head, that have texture, that you can taste, smell, and touch as well as listen to, and I have strived to use them. GS: In addition to being a writer, you are also an educator. How do you think being a teacher influences your writing? theguymag

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Polished Brass

INTERVIEW

PB: Beautiful question! I want to write as clearly as possible, and as understandably as possible. I hate academic writing, and in many ways I have been blessed not to have to write in that way. I started out as a freelance journalist before I published books, so I had to get the ideas across and still keep the flavor of what I was writing. These objectives are important in teaching too. I’d like to do more teaching, on a short-term basis. I think it’s a rewarding and important thing to do. GS: How do you think being a writer influences your teaching? PB: I have a need to go deeper with students, and also at this point I can understand what works and what doesn’t very quickly. Being a writer means that you understand some of the process of editing (explanation: I still need good editors!) and basically that is what a teacher does—you show students how to read and edit their own work. But being a writer is a very solitary occupation, and it’s draining, so the amount of time and energy I can spend teaching has always been limited. GS: You live in the Bronx, which is a long way from your Southern roots. Do you think you might someday return to the South to live? PB: There is no telling. It is not completely out of the picture. Escaping a New York winter has been my intention for years, and I like the texture of life down South a great deal, the more intimate closeness to other people, the sheer graciousness that is rare in New York. It does happen, and I find New York still to be a very magical place, but it’s rare. GS: This interview is taking place a few days after the terrible violence in Paris, as well as shortly after the racial upheaval that was a big part of the news in the U.S. during 2014. Do you think it is a writer’s responsibility to write about these events? PB: Absolutely. It is hard for any writer not to be shaken by them. I’ve had my own work censored on several occasions and have had threatening mail sent to me. It’s very disturbing—but to go through what happened in Paris is absolutely shocking. I’m also a full member of PEN, which works against this kind of threat to writers and journalists, but all of us, especially queer writers, understand

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the vulnerability of our profession on so many levels. It’s painful. GS: Have you written about or do you plan to write about them? PB: I have been writing about them all along, as any serious writer would be: I have written about things that need to be said, that have to be said, and that also need to be understood. In several of my books—such as The Substance of God and Carnal Sacraments—I have written about the threats and attractions of fundamentalism and how that colors our lives. We are now living in a time of great spiritual and religious turmoil because our very concepts of identity are in flux and in question. What are you, what are you going to do with your life, how are you going to live it? Those questions are now really up for grabs and the grabbing is very, very hard. I have been writing about these questions for years and the writing is going to continue. GS: Have you started working on your next book? PB: My next book, The Manly Pursuit of Desire and Love, will be out in June. The real question is what is my next book after that one? I want to write more fiction, publish more poetry, do more essays on the Huffington Post. I feel that I have a lot to say in those forms, and I am happy that I can continue working in them. GS: You are going to be reading at the Stonewall Gallery in Wilton Manors. Can you please say something about what you have planned for the event? PB: Yes, I’d like to talk about the themes in my work—I have published 18 books, am in about 30 anthologies or critical studies, have had 70 poems set to music, written plays, essays, and reviews—so I want to talk about that, and also about what is “gay literature,” and what can we still get out of it and where is it going? I feel that we have only just scratched the surface of the stories of ourselves. There is so much more to go, and I still want to keep going there. Since I am also one of the four coordinators of the New York Rainbow Book Fair, the largest LGBT book event in the US, I am in touch with a lot of what’s going on in queer writing, and I can say that there is a lot of wonderful writing going on—the problem is just getting people to see it. theguymag

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15th Anniversary Bash at the Grand Resort and Spa Photos by Tony Fowler

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SCREEN SAVOR

Humble Song BY GREGG SHAPIRO

Intimate indie Song One (Cindedigm/ Film Arcade) is the full-length feature film debut from writer/director Kate BarkerFroyland. The film opens with busker Henry (Ben Rosenfield) performing in a New York subway for change. On his way home, Henry is hit by a cab and ends up in a coma. Henry’s itinerant sister Franny (Anne Hathaway), a wide-eyed PhD candidate in anthropology, is in Morocco studying the nomadic tribes when she receives a phone call from her mother (Mary Steenburgen) telling her about

Henry’s situation and asking her to come home to New York. Complicating the situation is the fact that Franny and Henry haven’t spoken in a few months following a disagreement over Henry’s decision to drop out of college to become a full-time musician. Back in New York, wracked with guilt, Franny spends time at Henry’s bedside, talking to him, apologizing, crying. At his apartment, she locates his guitar case, which contains his journal, and within those pages she begins to learn new things about Henry. One thing she learns is that Henry is a fan of James Forester (Johnny Flynn, who sounds like Ray Davies of The Kinks), a musician who earned indie fame and fortune with an album he released five years earlier, but has been experiencing a

The Humbling (Courtesy of Alchemy)

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creative dry spell. Franny seeks James out to tell him about Henry’s admiration of his work. Song One begins to sound familiar here, like a song you’ve heard before, when Franny and James seek comfort and solace in each other, inspire each other and fall in love at an especially vulnerable moment for both of them. However, at less than 90 minutes, Song One doesn’t have enough time to become grating. Instead, the combination of music (original tunes by Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice) and additional live concert scenes by Sharon Van Etten, The Felice Brothers, Dan Deacon and other hipster types, helps to elevate the story. Hathaway, Flynn and Steenburgen all turn in decently subtle and believable performances.

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What happened to Barry Levinson? The man behind `80s classics such as Tin Men, Diner, Rain Man, Avalon and Good Morning, Vietnam, has stumbled in recent years. His latest, the homophobic, transphobic and misogynistic The Humbling (Millennium), based on a Philip Roth novel with a screenplay by co-written by Buck Henry, won’t do much to help his cause. Actor Simon (Al Pacino, feasting on the scenery), has an emotional breakdown in front of a full house, tumbling from the stage in the midst of a Shakespeare soliloquy. His recovery, which involves a stay in a rehab facility where he is treated by Dr. Farr (Dylan Baker) and befriended by fellow patient Sybil (Nina Arianda), is quick and soon he is back at home. Shortly after his return, Pegeen (Mumblecore diva Greta Gerwig) shows up on his doorstep. The daughter of friends of Simon’s, Pegeen admits to having a crush on him since she was a girl, although now she is a lesbian, currently involved with Louise (Kyra Sedgwick), the dean of the women’s college where Pegeen teaches. Simon, who is having difficulty “separating a scene from a play from the reality of real life,” is suddenly drawn into a drama that not even Shakespeare could have written. First, despite his agent Jerry’s (Charles Grodin) hounding, Simon refuses to return to the stage. Second, flirtatious and devious Pegeen begins a romantic relationship with Simon. This doesn’t sit well with Louise, as well as Pegeen’s F to M trans ex Prince (Billy Porter), who was formerly known as Priscilla, or either of Pegeen’s parents. To quote Othello, as Simon does, “chaos is come again.” Sybil wants to engage Simon in a plot to murder her husband. Pegeen, who continues to have relationships with other women while she is involved with Simon, is going through Simon’s money like there’s no tomorrow. There are even hints of incest in the story. Reminiscent of Birdman (although nowhere near as original) in the way it presents an actor questioning his craft and talent, The Humbling misses its mark throughout. If this is Levinson’s attempt at making a mumblecore film, he’s better off sticking to what he did best in the past.

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BAR MAP 40

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13) THE MANOR 2345 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

14) MONA’S 502 E Sunrise Blvd Fort Lauderdale

8) INFINITY LOUNGE 2184 WIlton Drive Wilton Manors

9) JMARK’S 1245 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale

3) BOARDWALK 1721 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale

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5) CUBBY HOLE 823 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale

4) CORNER PUB 1915 N Andrews Ave Wilton Manors

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10) LE BOY 1243 NE 11th Ave Fort Lauderdale

12) LIPS 1421 E Oakland Park Blvd Oakland Park

7) HUNTERS NIGHTCLUIB 2232 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

2) B BAR AND GRILLE 2209 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

11) LE PATIO 2401 NE 11th Ave Wilton Manors

6) DAPUR 1620 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale

1) ALIBI 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

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18) PJ’S CORNER POCKET 2340 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

17) NEW YORK GRILLED CHEESE 2207 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

16) NAKED GRAPE 2163 Wilton Drive Wilton manors

15) MONKEY BUSINESS 2740 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale

25) SIDELINES 2031 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 26) SMARTY PANTS 2400 E Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale 22) RUMORS BAR & GRILL 2426 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

24) SCARFONE’S 2150 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

23) SCANDALS SALOON 3073 NE 6th Ave Wilton Manors

21) ROSIE’S BAR & GRILL 2449 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

20) RAMROD 1508 NE 4th Ave Fort Lauderdale

19) PROGRESS 2440 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

30) VILLAGE PUB 2283 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

29) TROPICS 2000 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

28) 13 I EVEN 2037 Wilton Dr Wilton Manors

27) THE STABLE 205 E Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale

PUZZLE

Straights from the Heart

ACROSS 1 Gay-friendly Hutcherson of The Hunger Games 5 ‘Enry’s fair lady 10 Gay-friendly singer of the Jonas Brothers 14 Invitation to a top? 15 Rock’s Pillow Talk costar 16 North Sea feeder 17 Baudelaire’s well 18 Gay-friendly comics creator Morrison 19 Capital of Österreich 20 With 22-Across, gayfriendly satirist and faux homophobe 22 See 20-Across 24 Canon camera 25 Colette’s king 26 Freddie Prinze role 29 James Beard cookbook meas. 32 Orderly display 36 Mane, to The Lion King’s Nala 37 Gay-friendly country singer Parton

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39 Tubbies’ prefix 40 Xena deity 41 MacDowell of L’Oréal ads 42 Med. care grps. 43 Where to find Trojans 44 Tough nuts to crack 46 WSW opposite 47 With 49-Across, gay-friendly Scandal creator 49 See 47-Across 51 Go head to head 52 Queen’s “We ___ the Champions” 55 Fed. book balancers 56 Gay-friendly producer of The Fosters 60 Put in a position 61 Stars that shoot off 62 Love of Lesbos 64 Connive with a con 65 “Don’t even bother” 66 Title role for Jodie Foster 67 Delilah portrayer Lamarr 68 Gay rodeo target 69 Saving Private Ryan event

DOWN 1 Blow ___ (oral encounters) 2 Like a top 3 Barrie buccaneer 4 Nags the hubby 5 Rims 6 Aftermath of love? 7 Broadway lyricist Gershwin 8 Silvery metal 9 The Maltese Falcon actress Mary 10 Experience at the Cathedral of Hope 11 Eurythmics’ “Would ___ to You?” 12 Good buddy 13 He got into Superman’s pants 21 Boo’s partner 23 Long, in Hawaii 26 An elf-made man? 27 Hard to bear 28 Like Button’s blades, at times 29 Collette of The Hours 30 Construction co. project 31 What a Muscle Mary wants to be 33 Got nostalgic about gay icons of the past 34 Garbo line ender 35 Frida Kahlo’s sis 37 Carvey, who cross-dressed as the Church Lady 38 Linda Hunt’s The ___ of Living Dangerously 44 Rosie O’Donnell’s Exit to ___ 45 “Beat it!” 48 Age of a new nonagenarian 50 Hover menacingly 52 Online exaggeration? 53 Stage show 54 Use a rubber 56 Agree 57 Chelsea Pines and others 58 Look at a hottie in a bar 59 Meredith Grey’s kid 60 Skeptical ejaculation 63 Cunning

For solution to this puzzle, go to: www.guymag.net/category/puzzle theguymag

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INTERVIEW

Vickie Bennett

How to Succeed in Business in a (Gay) Man’s World by

Cliff Dunn

Photo by Big Dewitte

There’s a scene in an episode of Cheers in which someone who hasn’t been to the bar in over 20 years walks in and orders a beer from bartender Woody Harrelson, and tells him the place has changed a lot— even the wall behind where Norm was sitting (the joke being that although the guy hadn’t been there in years, bar regular Norm was still sitting in the same spot). where restaurants and bars— o Inanda town restaurant and bar owners—come

and go, it’s refreshing for a long-time local to see the familiar face of someone who, like ourselves, has come down the long and winding South Florida LGBT road and lived to tell about it. Vickie Bennett, the co-owner of Beefcakes Grill, located adjacent to Boardwalk Bar, is one such someone, a presence so familiar you can’t remember when you didn’t see her at least once a week. That may not be surprising, since she had worked in all facets of food and beverage for at least 40 years. Bennett got her start in hospitality as a bartender in her hometown

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of Akron, Ohio, at the city’s legendary nightspot, The Tangier. “I worked there in the late 1970s,” Bennett explains, “but it had opened years earlier, and was known for bringing in headliner entertainers.” In fact, in its more than 65 years, The Tangier has hosted such acts as Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons, The Righteous Brothers, James Brown, and Natalie Cole, among many others. “I started as a cocktail waitress and then became a bartender at The Tangier,” Bennett recalls. “Of course, I was a kid and I didn’t know the first thing about making a drink. “But my customers were patient and they theguymag

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INTERVIEW liked me, so they would tell me what they wanted to drink, and then they would tell me how to make it,” she adds with a laugh. While working at The Tangier, Bennett rubbed shoulders—and poured cocktails—for popular performers like singer/actress (and 1970s game show regular) Jaye P. Morgan, comedian Rip Taylor, and Liza Minnelli. “I also served Geraldo Rivera, who was in Akron investigating a judge who was supposed to have a ‘thing’ for S&M [SadoMasochism] and bondage,” she says. “Geraldo was in town for about two weeks, and we spent a lot of time with him and his girlfriend. He was full of surprises,” confides Bennett, who will go into the specifics only after the recorder is shut off. Ask her yourself; maybe she’ll spill (the details that is). After Vickie’s Wild Akron Days, the nowexperienced mixologist took her show on the road, and brought her energy and winning attitude to South Florida. In the early 1980s, Bennett worked at the now-legendary Backstreet, a Fort Lauderdale institution that attracted a huge gay crowd as well as straights who were looking to have fun until the wee small hours. (Backstreet later became The Edge, Chili Pepper, and other venues; its current incarnation as Revolution LIVE/America’s Backyard.) The huge half-block sized dance-and-party venue attracted star performers including disco legends Hazel Dean and Sylvester, and offered guests an outside swimming pool and Jacuzzi, an outdoor tiki bar and courtyard stage with dance floors. Backstreet was also the home of locallylegendary drag performer Belle Kinkaid, who stood at six-feet-seven-inches barefoot and wore 14-inch heels. Recalls Bennett: “I was working on New Year’s Eve at Backstreet the night that Belle Kinkaid was hoisted above the dance floor by [DJ] Bob Miro, and he literally dropped Belle onto the dance floor. Bob’s cigarette hit the vinyl record he was spinning, Belle’s champagne bottle hit the dance floor, and then so did Belle. Of course, the show went on.” After Backstreet, Bennett was hired to bartend at The Copa, another long-popular Fort Lauderdale gay nightclub, which was then owned by John Castelli, who remains influential in South Florida today as a successful realtor. share with us on guymag.net

“John and Bill [the late Bill Bastiensen] and I had such a fun time, everyone came to The Copa—including Madonna, before she was ‘Madonna’.” While working at The Copa, Castelli approached Bennett about helping him open a new concept establishment near Downtown Fort Lauderdale. “The Cabaret hadn’t really been done before in these parts,” Bennett says. “We created a beautiful venue, with a stage and intimate tables, and of course the best drag performers. “The Cabaret was really in the forefront of bringing drag entertainment to a mainstream audience. We had a lot of gay customers, but many, many straight couples, and lots of older people, who really enjoyed having access to this kind of show.” The Cabaret was also an early showcase for the talents of many local and national drag entertainers who had their early experiences at the nightclub, including recognized talents like Tiffany Arieagus, Amy DeMilo (who lives and works today in Central Florida), and Electra. Although only open for two years (it closed in 1995), The Cabaret perfected a successful formula that has been built upon in the years following by clubs like Lips and other popular drag/dinner venues. Bennett continued to work, taking her business acumen and warm charm to other successful gay clubs, including The Coliseum, which was owned by the successful club owners who would later open The Manor on Wilton Drive. In 2008, Bennett (who apparently was convinced she wasn’t working hard enough) took on two gigs: as a bartender at Bill’s Filling Station on Wilton Drive (where she gets to sling drinks with fellow Copa alumnus Carl Niblett—a/k/a Miss Kitty), and as coowner of Beefcakes Grill, which occupies the outside deck at Boardwalk. The duties haven’t slowed the energetic and ambitious Bennett down one bit. “It’s a lot of work,” she acknowledges, “but if you love it, it doesn’t feel like a lot of work.” For those with an interest in food and beverage, Bennett says this: “Have a lot of patience. Have a lot of money. And have a passion for the work. “I love what I do, and I hope it shows in what I do.” theguymag

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THE WEEK Thursday

1/22

The Second City o Some of the most talented comedians began in America’s premier improve and sketch comedy troupe, The Second City. Based out of Chicago, the company is known for its classic scenes, songs, and improvisation. Saturday Night Live heavily recruits from the troupe for their show. Some alums that have had successful careers include Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Tim Meadows, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Tonight, the company takes it act on the road and arrives in Miami. Expect improvisations about the strangeness of South Florida. 8:00 p.m. South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center. 10950 SW 211th St. Cutler Bay. 33189.

Bianca del Rio (Photos courtesy of Murray Hodgson. MPPresent)

_________________ Friday

1/23

The Hit Men o The Hit Men are hit makers of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. They performed and/or recorded with mega-star acts including Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, The Critters, Carly Simon, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, and Barry Manilow. After almost fifty years in the background, these friends have reunited in order to form this special group. They perform classic songs with the same fervor that allowed the creation of the hits that they contributed to so many years ago. Tonight’s performance will highlight what makes their music transcend generations: sharp notes, spot-on vocals, and high energy. 8:00 p.m. Coral Springs Center for the Arts. 2855 Coral Springs Dr. Coral Springs. 33065

Zap Mama and Antibalas

Bonnie & Clyde, Zap Mama, and Bianca del Rio BY

PATRICK ROBERT

o Belgian artist Marie Daulne is most commonly known by her stage name, Zap Mama. The polyphonic and Afro-Pop musician is known for her strong voice— something that is its own soulful instrument. Her career has spanned over two decades, starting with the album Zap Mama in 1991 and continuing up into her latest album from 2009, ReCreation. This world music icon will also be performing with Brooklyn-based Antibalas for a night of eclectic sounds. 7:00 p.m. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. 701 Okeechobee Blvd. West Palm Beach. 33401.

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THE WEEK Saturday

1/24

Bonnie and Clyde: A Musical o The enduring story of America’s greatest Depression-era criminals is given the musical treatment in Slow Burn Theatre Company’s newest production. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, Bonnie and Clyde went from small-town nobodies in West Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes and the Texas law enforcement’s worst nightmare. As they chase their dreams for fame, the lovers’ reckless behavior turns their thrilling adventure into a downward spiral— they’re forced to stay on the run, resorting to robbery and murder to survive. As their fame grows, the inevitable and notorious end of their lives draws nearer. 8:00 p.m. Slow Burn Theatre Company at West Boca Performing Arts Theater. 12811 W. Glades Rd. Boca Raton. 33498.

T.I o There’s much to “know” about this Atlantabased rapper, songwriter, and producer who has received multiple Grammys for his critically acclaimed music. Since signing his first major record deal with Arista Records in 1999, T.I. has released nine studio albums, including his most recent album, Paperwork. Some of his most successful singles include “What You Know,” “Whatever You Like, “ “Live Your Life,” and “No Mediocre.” T.I. is also known for his stints in prison, most recently having released his seventh studio album, No Mercy, while incarcerated. Thankfully, T.I. is free again and able to perform at the BB&T Center. 8:00 p.m. BB&T Center. 2555 NW 136th Ave. Sunrise. 33323.

_________________ Sunday

1/25

Bianca Del Rio o RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio has been a fixture of the gay community club scenes of New Orleans and New York City for years, often performing with legendary drag queen Lady Bunny. The self-proclaimed “clown in a dress” is known for her quick-witted comedy, effortless style, and unique ability to make audiences cry from laughter. Her “Rolodex of Hate” tour will feature a mix of typical drag queen camp, cabaret, and stand-up material sure to keep every type of audience entertained. 7:00 p.m. Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 201 SW 5th Ave. Fort Lauderdale. 33312.

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2037 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors 13-even.com

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THE WEEK

The Mix at Scarfone’s Coal Fired Pizza - 1/28 (Big Dewitte)

_________________ Monday

1/26

Steve Ross o The cabaret king is best known for his gorgeous voice and relaxed persona. His new show I’m in Love with Vienna explores the fascinating connections between the Viennese and German composers and the American Songbook. Operettas by Franz Lehar, Emmerich Kalman, and Robert Stolz will be featured with Viennese-born composers like Sigmund Romberg and Frederick Loewe. A special salute will be paid to Kurt Weill—a prolific musical immigrant and refugee known for songs “September Song” and “Speak Low.” 7:30 p.m. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. 701 Okeechobee Blvd. West Palm Beach. 33401.

_________________ Tuesday

1/27

Megan Hilty o Hilty’s Broadway career began in performances of Wicked and 9 to 5: The Musical, but it was her star-making turn on the TV series Smash that led to her current fame. She sang many songs from the show, including the Grammy Award-nomishare with us on guymag.net

nated “Let Me Be Your Star.” Her one-of-a-kind voice has helped her find a wide range of avenues to perform, most notably as the voice of a slew of Disney cartoon characters. When she is not starring in a Broadway or TV show, HIlty performs well-received concerts like tonight’s, at the Crest Theatre. 8:00 p.m. Crest Theatre. 51 N. Swinton Ave. Delray Beach. 33444.

_________________ Wednesday

1/28

The Mix o New coal fired pizza restaurant Scarfone’s hosts this month’s premiere LGBT networking event, The Mix. Each month, Guy Magazine and the Wilton Manors Development Alliance present two hours of cocktails and hors d‘oeuvres for Wilton Manors’ business professionals. Rub shoulders with lawyers, advertising agents, writers from this magazine, and many other successful professionals from our glittering community. The Mix allows for new business opportunities and chances to grow startups. This week’s Mix also offers a chance to win a $500 advertising certificate with Guy Magazine and Florida Agenda. Come enjoy a few drinks and strong connections. 6:30 p.m. Scarfone’s. 2150 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors. 33305.

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*High oxygen transmissible lenses: Dk/t = 138 @ -3.00D. Important information for AIR OPTIX® COLORS (lotrafilcon B) contact lenses: For daily wear only for near/far-sightedness. Contact lenses, even if worn for cosmetic reasons, are prescription medical devices that must only be worn under the prescription, direction and supervision of an eye care professional. Serious eye health problems may occur as a result of sharing contact lenses. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. Side effects like discomfort, mild burning or stinging may occur. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor.

Ask your eye care professional for complete wear, care, and safety information.

4/14

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CARTOON

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TRAVEL

More Trending Vacation Spots By Rick kaRlin

Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) has just released its 19th Annual LGBT Travel Survey. The survey provides a snapshot of LGBT travel motivations, perspectives and purchases. The survey indicates that while motivated to travel to a destination by a wide variety of factors, “returning to a destination previously enjoyed” was number one. While we all like the familiar, vacations are a time for adventure. That doesn’t mean you need to jump off a cliff, swim with sharks or scale a mountain. You can have an adventure by heading to a new destination. In our last column, we looked at some vacation destinations that are less frequently visited, but appear to be on the edge of becoming hugely popular. We round out the list with a few more entries.

Rotterdam, Netherlands Amsterdam is popular because of its liberal reputation; marijuana and prostitution are a

part of everyday life. It is also a city steeped in history. However, you should also consider the scrappier port city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. To use one of the comparative phrases we all saw on the SAT; Amsterdam is to San Francisco as Rotterdam is to… The answer is Chicago. Just like the Windy City, Rotterdam is a bustling town known for its architecture and ethnic neighborhoods. In Rotterdam’s city center the MVRDV-designed Markthal (Dominee Jan Scharpstraat 306) is a domed horseshoe-shaped structure housing 96 stalls selling everything from local cheeses to exotic spices brought to this diverse city by immigrants. There are also nine restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. Rotterdam’s gay community gathers at a cluster of bars and clubs around the Van Oldenbarneveltstraat and in the Westblaak neighborhood. Strano (Van Oldenbarneveltstraat 154, 010 412 8 11, www.cafestrano.nl) is a meeting point for many before heading out to other clubs. KeerWeer (1 E Westblaakhof, 010 413 12 17, www.keer-

Erasmus Bridge Rotterdam (Photo by Hansenn)

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weer.nl) is a small, friendly bar in the Centre that is open until dawn. Nostra (Van Oldenbarneveltstraat 127A 30 12 GT, 010 213 22 22, www.nostra.nl) is a popular daytime hangout. Apollo on the ground floor of the COC, Rotterdam’s Gay Community Center, (Schiedamsesingel 175, 010-41 41 555, www. cocrotterdam.nl) has a café and attracts a young crowd. Loge 90 (Schiedamsedijk 4/A, 3011EB, www.loge90.nl/) is one of the most lively gay bars in Rotterdam and a landmark for the past 20 years. The Moods (Gravendijkwal 92 3014 EH, 010 225 17 25, www.themoodsbar.nl) is a club, bathhouse and cinema, all under one roof and all very cruisy. Stay at the Mainport Design Hotel (Leuvehaven 77, 10 217 5757, www.mainporthotel.com), a new (it opened in 2013) hotel offering fabulous views. It’s centrally located, within walking distance of many of Rotterdam’s best sights, shops and gay nightlife. Mainport’s “Spa Heaven” includes a nude Turkish Hamam and Finnish sauna. A swimming pool and gym are also available. You might want to plan your trip to coincide with Ahoy Arena on Apr. 18 when Rotterdam will host Gay Fantasy, Europe’s biggest indoor gay dance party. For more information, go to www.gayrotterdam.com.

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Nicaragua If you’re the type who enjoys eco-adventures, skip Costa Rica and head north a bit to Nicaragua. With both Pacific and Caribbean coasts, you’ll marvel at the geographic diversity; beaches, lakes, islets, volcanoes, rainforests, and reefs, all within hours of each other. The vibe is a mix of colonial and bohemian and the biggest selling point is that it’s dirt cheap. Gay life in Nicaragua has been a bit of a roller coaster in this predominantly Catholic country. After some LGBT civil rights gains in the early ‘90s, the Christian right tried to undermine the GLBT community. Following some minor setbacks, Nicaragua is becoming more progressive. Under new laws same sex relationships are legal and the age of consent is 18. The country’s capital city, Managua, holds an annual pride parade, but even in big cities discretion is the key. There are few street names in Managua. In order to find places, you need to use a landmark or call for directions. The main gay venues in Managua are late night dance club Tabu (505 2222 2222, a block down the street from the Teodolinda Mansion) and Bar Q at the Barcelo Montelimar hotel. In Granada, Nicaragua’s other sizeable city, expat gays used to gather at the second floor de Mi Terra. It recently closed, but should be reopened by the time you read this. Granada’s gay-friendly hotel, Joluva (505 2552 0555, joluvanicaragua.com), is quaint with just three rooms and a small apartment. The owner knows everything that’s going on in town and where all the hot parties are happening. If you are looking for an escape, then check out San Simian (011 505 8813-6866), an LGBT-friendly eco resort located in Laguna de Apoyo with five bungalows right on the shores of a volcano crater lake. You won’t be completely cut off as they have wi-fi. In Managua, stay at the gay-owned Viva Nicaragua guest house in Barrio Ticuantepe (505 8743 3700, no web page, but you can find them on Facebook), which has just four rooms, but boasts a swimming pool and is only 15 minutes from downtown Managua. Some of the other destinations that are destined to become hot spots include; Leipzig, Germany, Cartagena, Colombia and Playa del Carmen in Mexico. Check out these places now while they’re still relatively unspoiled. Nobody likes sloppy seconds. theguymag

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FITNESS

Your Best Defense against the Flu this Season BY TOM

BONANTI

We are lucky here in South Florida for many reasons, not the least of which is our fabulous, tropical weather. Sure, we may get a cold snap now and then during January or February (Yeah! Like 72 degrees is really cold?). There is also that occasional gray, rainy day, but at least you never have to shovel drizzle. One thing we can’t escape is the onslaught of flu season which seems to set in and claim its victims everywhere around this time every year like clockwork. Never think you are above it! Just listen and behold the coughing, snorting and gurgling in the checkout line at Whole Foods, in the break room at work, and even in the gym as you work out. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can be mild to very severe with symptoms that include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, dry cough, sore throat and runny nose. People with the flu may feel nauseous and have vomiting and diarrhea, although these symptoms are more common in children than adults. Flu can lead to pneumonia and other serious illnesses for people who are particularly vulnerable such as those with compromised immune systems. November through March is Flu Season in the United States. While a flu shot is the best protection against the virus, there are several other ways to help avoid the flu: • Try to avoid contact with people who are obviously sick. • Stay home if you are sick. That means the gym too! Working out while you are sick will cause more harm than good. Never even attempt to work out with a fever, body aches and chills. Stay home and rest and drink plenty of fluids. • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. • Wash your hands often to avoid spreading germs. • Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes to help keep germs from entering your body. It is especially important for people who fall into one of the following high risk categories outlined by the Centers for Disease Control to

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get a flu shot: • Children age 6-59 months and their household contacts and out of home care givers. • Women who will be pregnant during the flu season. • People aged 50 or older. • People of any age who have certain chronic medical conditions. • People who live with or care for anyone at high risk. • Health care workers. Those at high risk should contact their primary care physicians to discuss where and when to get the flu shot. SOME HEALTHY MEASURES TO WARD OFF THE “BUG.” • Get lots of fresh air. Take fresh air breaks at work and invest in some leafy plants for your workplace. The air in the workplace and in closed up planes can be especially toxic. • Get sufficient sleep to give your body time to repair, replenish, and detoxify itself. • Keep stress in check, as it can depress the immune system. • Don’t forget your workouts: daily exercise helps to boost your immune system. • Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to ensure hydration. • Eat lots of brightly colored veggies and fruits loaded with vitamin “C” to help keep your immune system strong. • Stay away from fast foods and sugary foods as these can drag your immune system down. Contact Tom at trainertomb@aol.com with all of your questions. Visit my one on one gym at www.pumpnincgym.com or call today (954) 557-1119 to set up a free consultation. theguymag

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HEALTH & FITNESS

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