Next 050516 issue 007 by Multi-Media Platforms

CONTENTS

MAY 05, 2016 | VOL 007

24. Alex Seifert Soars

We go backstage at Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba with Orlando cutie Alex Seifert.

THE NEXUS

14. The Month in Photos 16. What's Next | Rocco Steele's 10/7 20. What's Next | Why Drag?

FEATURES

30. Brief Encounter: Marco Marco 46. Spotlight: Sandra Bernhard 55. Last Call: Cody Cooper

NEXT STEPS

57. Fitness: Want to Break Through Your Plateau? 60. Travel: 8 Reasons to Visit Thailand 64. Dining: Wahlburgers

NEXT MONTH

67. Calendar of Events

SHOT IN THE DARK

72. Party Pics On the Cover

Alex Seifert Photo credit: Charles Wolf PUBLISHER Scott Spar - Publisher scottspar@wirld.com EDITORIAL Alexander Kacala - Contributing Editor ART Kevin Broady - Art Director CONTRIBUTORS Jameer Baptiste, Edith J. Colon, Tony Edge & Gaby Shulruff PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Davis & Monet Photography CORPORATE

Peter Jackson

President & Group Executive Publisher Kevin Hopper - Vice President | Operations Maura “Mumball” Lane - VP | Sales & Marketing Dennis Dean - Vice President | Creative Richard Hack - Vice President | Content Jeff Sterling -Vice President | Finance Keith Chamlee - Corporate Circulation Director C. Lawrence Rutstein - Chairman of the Board Tim Hart - Chief Financial Officer

Robert "Bobby" Blair Founder & CEO

64 8

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THE

GAY D.D. · WEEK IN PHOTOS · WHAT’S NEXT

Why Drag?

On Your Coffee Table BY JAMEER BAPTISTE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAGNUS HASTINGS

PAGE 20

mojomanswimwear.com

Your Swimwear & Underwear

DESTINATION

653 Maguire Blvd Suite #800 Orlando, FL 32803 (407) 558-0725

Sunday 12PM - 5PM Monday - Saturday 10AM - 7PM

PHOTOS BY SCOTT SPAR

THE MONTH IN PHOTOS

Barbara Poma, Owner of Pulse Nightclub and her staff at the Orlando Aids Walk.

Eric Rollings, Chair Soil and Water Conservation District 3 and Patty Sheehan, City of Orlando Commissioner District 4.

Terry DeCarlo, Director of The Center in Orlando and his partner Bill Huelsman.

Rocco Steele’s

SPOTLIGHT

10/7

After a year of busting his dick for all of your favorite porn studios, the 10 by seven meat slinger is hoping to invade your drawers. BY: MIKELLE STREET

n the two years since he filmed his first porno for Ray Dragon, Rocco Steele has made an oversized name for himself. Picking up awards for “Best Co*k,” Mr. New York and Mr. International through the Hookie awards as well as “Hottest Co*k,” Fan Favorite and Best Group Scene from the GRABBYS, the 51-year-old’s rise to the top of the industry has been nothing short of meteoric. And now, the in-demand daddy who launched his own X-rated site last May featuring homevideo-quality clips with a rotating group of talent, seems to be making an exit.

“Porn was always just a stepping stone for me,” Steele says, having filmed with the likes of Chi Chi LaRue, Men.com, TimTales and Lucas Entertainment in the past. “It wasn’t supposed to last more than a year. Because it got really big, really fast, I let it go on a little longer.” As of last month though, the Ohio-native officially took a step in another direction with his own underwear line. Using his porn name Rocco Steele, the law school graduate launched his 10Seven line of boxer briefs via his online shop RoccShop.com. “I come from a corporate retail background,” Steele explains. Prior to his stint as a porn star, the 5’ 10” creative logged 14 years in the fashion and beauty industries working on the corporate and visual merchandising sides. “I always knew that I wanted to sell a product, but I didn’t know what it was — I just knew I wanted it to be easy to make, easy to ship and something I knew something about.” But it understandably took time to get there. 10Seven has been iterating in Steele’s mind since he left his corporate job two years ago. At the time, the untrained entrepreneur was already working on designs and had taken out a trademark for a brand under a different name. “Getting into underwear seemed obvious to me because I was approaching 50 years old and I was bitching and moaning that I couldn’t find underwear that was appropriate for me as a maturing gay man. I didn’t want to wear neon colored, bikini, banana hanger briefs that were out there on the market; they just looked silly on me and I didn’t feel comfortable.”

front, the spandex and the fly front is going to be more comfortable because the fabric can expand and give you more room.” But eventually sketches weren’t enough; Steele needed money. “Everything that I had to pay for came from a year of selling my dick,” the porn star explains, giving reason to his months of fucking on film with his own 10 by seven. “Just like a year of traveling the world, doing shows, doing videos, escorting; just a full year of literally busting my dick and the whole time I was putting everything away.” The fruits of that labor are still blossoming as even though no new work has been filmed for his site RoccoSteeleStudio.com, and money for the production of that has been funneled into producing underwear, the site still pulls in revenue. “I’ll never be out of the business completely, I’ll always have a connection,” Steele explains. “Every once in awhile I get a call from Falcon and I love shooting for them so I will always say yes to Falcon if they knock on my door, but I’m done for the most part with shooting.” “Merchandise, specifically my underwear, is the new chapter in my life. I want Rocco to be known as the former porn guy who now does underwear.” And with orders coming in as far flung as Saudi Arabia, and a brief style expected to hit come late summer, he’s definitely hot on that path.

“We don't all have gogo boy bodies,” Steele continues. “We can’t all fit into Andrew Christian underwear.” For those that can’t (or don’t want to), the former Hustlaball performer set about designing a pair of boxer briefs that read both conservative and sexy. The brother of three sisters, he even called in his nephews for advice on what his new product should look like. The resulting design, which combines elements from some of Steele’s favorite underwear styles that are already on the market, features a medium rise gunmetal waistband that falls in line with the designer’s #bulletproof hashtag, a classic fly front and a cotton blend fabric. “No matter what your build is, these underwear are going to fit you,” Steele says of the fabric. “If you got a bit booty in the back, the spandex is going to expand to fit you. If you’ve got a lot of junk in the

BOOK

WHAT’S

et a gander at Bianca Del Rio, Courtney Act, Jackie Beat, Adore Delano, Jinkx Monsoon, Lady Bunny, Detox, Sharon Needle and others in Why Drag?, a coffee table book, depicting well-known drag queens and accompanying short essays hitting bookstore across the country on May 17. The visually captivating book is the brainchild of photographer Magnus Hastings. Hastings’ name has become synonymous with drag queens ever since he traveled to Sydney, Australia to focus on its thriving drag scene. While there, the publishing industry took notice, and he was offered a ten-page spread by Blue magazine to showcase his dazzling work. From that point on, Hastings’ demand skyrocketed and after returning home in London, he worked with leading publications around the globe that yearned for the chance to showcase his amazing knack at capturing the drag community and personas in the most appealing and radiating light. It was a dream come true for the sought after photographer. “I think a big part of Why Drag? is rooted in that little effeminate boy who was shamed out of doing what made him happy,” says Hastings. “I grew up resenting that childhood version of myself until one day, I had such a wave of love for him. I realized how extraordinary and beautiful he was, how fearless. Somehow I think this honors him.” Hastings first made a name for himself in the London gay scene with his explosive exhibition at The Box in central London. His majestic way of capturing colorful details that provoked awe in viewers was noticed by Time Out magazine, and they picked up the show, quickly honoring him as a respected name throughout the photography and publishing world. He became a prominent photographer taking pictures of numerous celebrities for publication covers like QX, Boyz, Attitude, Bent and AXM. He later went on to shoot for the publications GQ magazine, People magazine (USA), Cosmopolitan (Italy), Glamour (UK) and many more, while always keeping his burning passion for the art of drag. In 2010, Hastings had the amazing opportu-

nity to work with Boy George snapping beautiful shoots of queens that appeared in Boy George’s 2011 coffee table book, “The King of Queens.” Their work together was so synergistic that a love for one another solidified an agreement that Boy George would write the foreward of Hastings’ book. That time came in 2015 when Hastings’ hugely successful 2014 drag photo and short essay exhibit in NYC, titled "Why drag," was noticed by publishings' Chronicle books, which offered Hastings a book deal. He immediately spent the rest of 2014 and the year 2015 photographing 135 interesting and prominent drag queens throughout the United States asking each one, “Why drag?” As promised, the fun and endearing book has a foreward written by Boy George. Hastings has recently partnered with award-winning filmmaker Dimtry Zhitov on a feature length documentary of the book. “I want people who don’t know drag to be opened up to its beauty and its comedy,” says Hastings. “It’s a wonderland, and I want people to go there.” ---Jameer Baptiste

ALEXANDER SEIFERT FLIES HIGH IN

N o uB a CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

ON THE COVER

nce upon a time, a door opened and two worlds collided. Dreams clashed with reality. The mundane mixed with the marvelous. It was no longer possible to tell where one world began and the other ended. This new place was called La Nouba.

La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary and stimulates the imagination from beginning to end with daring acrobatics, dazzling choreography, vibrant music and whimsical characters in Disney Springs Westside at Walt Disney World Resort. BY ALEXANDER KACALA

Continued on page 26 u

We went backstage with Canadian bred, Orlando hunk Alexander Seifert who flies high 470 shows a year as a Powertrack and Trampoline artist. He opened up to us about his journey with the show, some obstacles along the way, and what he loves so much about Orlando.

How did you become involved with La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil? Since I watched my first Cirque show at age 11, I knew that Cirque du Soleil was my ultimate dream goal. I auditioned in 2008 and later sent in my demo video for their database. Soon after retiring from gymnastics, I received a phone call from headquarters offering me a contract to join the cast of La Nouba in sunny Orlando. I immediately accepted the contract to be a Powertrack and Trampoline artist. We specialize in flipping, jumping and tumbling across the stage, performing various tumbling elements on both the trampoline and powertrack. Any obstacles along the way? I suffered a major injury to my right knee in July, 2015 that required surgical repair of a torn meniscus. That left me out of the show and all performances for nearly eight months. After an intensive rehabilitation program with therapy five days a week with Cirque Trainers and Physical Therapists, I was able to fully reintegrate into the show March, 2016. What were you feeling after your first show back after your injury?

good friend brought him to watch the show. We hit it off from there. He is currently studying to be a Nurse Anesthetist. What’s next for you? I’m currently finishing up the last year of my Bachelors degree in Kinesiology at the University of Calgary in Canada. If the opportunity arises, I would love to move to Vegas and join one of the eight Cirque du Soleil shows they have there. I’m still young in my profession and am excited to see what opportunities of growth I have with the company. In the meantime, I love what I do right here in sunny Orlando, Florida and enjoy the cast of talented people I currently work with, and the friends I have made outside of work. What is your favorite thing about Orlando? The best thing about Orlando is the hot sunny weather all year long. Being from Canada where it snows a lot, having great weather makes it feel like I’m on vacation all the time. For more information about La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, visit cirquedusoleil.com/ lanouba.

Since I had made a full recovery. I felt immensely energized to be back on stage flipping and doing what I love--although I did have to get used to being upside down again! What is the hardest thing about being a Cirque performer? The hardest thing about being a Cirque performer is staying in top notch shape and performing to the best of my abilities for all 470 shows a year! I love what I do so coming in to work is no struggle. Also, working with some of the best athletes and talented performers, it gives me all the motivation I need to continue to work hard. You’re taken, right? How did you and your partner meet? Joe and I first met at Disney’s Gay Days a couple years ago. We happened to cross paths a couple weeks later when a really

“

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE PROPS TO ANY PART OF ME, IT SHOULD BE MY HANDS.” -- MARCO MARCO

Marco Marco: Cracked Open BY JAMEER BAPTISTE

BRIEF ENCOUNTER

arco Marco has showcased his uber successful underwear line for the first time in Miami and just recently Orlando. It was a unprecedented occurrence as he never really left the LA landscape to produce one of his highly talked about runway shows. The neon colors, elaborate wear and eccentric models put him in a class of his own never to be duplicated and always original. He's not one step ahead of the game, the hard worker is in a league of his own.

Vox. Her attitude and image told my story. I knew she would go out on the runway and flick everyone off. That was my vibe.

We were lucky to be able to steal Marco Marco away from his busy schedule to probe the designer about his unique quirks both on and off the runway. Have you yet to break your 15 plus years without taking a selfie? I think I might have, just not of my face. I've been very careful about it. It's gotten to the point where I can feel a camera flashing from across the room and I'll quickly cover my face so I don't photobomb it. What made you decide not to ever take a selfie of your face? A part of it's because it just doesn't make sense to me. I never liked to take pictures of myself. I always thought it was a little dorky. Plus, if people are following me, it's because they like what I'm doing and not because they want to see my face. If you want to give props to any part of me, it should be my hands. Your runway shows are so crazy exciting and unique. Where do you get your inspiration for them? I am surrounded by amusing people like my friends and people, I consider my family out here in LA. They all are so wild and crazy so they're my inspiration. I'm always thinking, "What can I do to make their heads turn?" It's a love letter to all my friends. Your designs are just as unique as your runway shows, how do you come up with your inspiration for your collections? It depends. I never know what it's going to be. Sometimes it's an image. Sometimes it's a song. For my first show, it was Vicky

VICKY VOX

How does it make you feel that you can include drag queens and gay boys in heels in your runway shows? I feel like I should be able to do whatever I want to do. And they are who I would want to see in my shows. The first season people thought that maybe it was a gimmick. But, no, it wasn't because they are all strong and wild characters, which represents my vision--a diversity of models. What encouraged you to start designing? When I went to school, they actually told me that I should be a costume designer. I wanted to be a scenic designer, but I guess my drawings were "costumie." But what really encouraged me was when I finally did get into costume design school, I was the only one who knew how. The girls there were kind of catty as if they were superior to me. I think it was that's what really pushed me. I had a bone to pick.

Do you have a muse? I am surrounded by amusing people like my friends and people I consider my family out here in LA. They all are so wild and crazy so they're my inspiration. I'm always thinking, what I can do to make their heads turn. It's a love letter to all my friends. What can you tell us about your anticipated new swimwear line? It's all very new to me. I am trying to infuse swimwear with that same kind of fun, bright attitude that you see in my underwear. There will be a lot more prints than what you see in the underwear. I'm excited. Who is Marco Marco outside of the wellknown celebrity designer? I'm just a little kid in West Hollywood who likes to hangout with my friends. But I really don't do much other than work on the company, so I completely associated myself with the brand. When you were younger did you ever think that this would be your life? No, I really fell into making clothes. I never had a plan or a notion. I was just inspired to make things and this is the journey that making things led me to. I was always the kid that said "yes" to everything, even with things were out of my scoop of comfort. It took me where it took me. Would you say you are a city boy or a country boy at heart? I'm probably a city boy, but I also love quiet time, and I love folk music and animals. So I am a little bit of a country boy, but if I had to pick

one, it would be city boy. Who do you most admire? I admire so many people for so many reasons. I admire my parents a lot. They are the smoothest people. They know how to be piosed and intelligent, but they still will be the ones dancing on the table by the end of the night at a party.Marco Boys What underwear brands do you own, other than your own? What do you mean other underwear brands. There are other underwear brands? That's news to me. What is the perfect cut of underwear for Marco Marco--boxers or briefs? I like a trunk, a boxer-brief. I wear a lot of briefs, but if I was going to take my pants off to show somebody, I would want to be in boxerbriefs, I think my legs look must flattering in them. What does the future hold for Marco Marco? In the immediate future, what you see now is what you are going to see more of. I'm really interested in taking the seeds that I planted in the ground and cultivating them. Hopefully, it will grow organically like everything else has. I never had a plan. It all just came to me through my journey. I just need to keep my eyes open.

HAPPY GAY DAYS 2016!

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SPOTLIGHT

Sandra Bernhard The outspoken diva opens up about politics, performing, and Caitlyn Jenner.

BY ALEXANDER KACALA

Sandra Bernhard is fearless.

he actress, comedian and singer is best known for her role on Roseanne where she portrayed Nancy Bartlett, the first openly lesbian character on a network sitcom. More recently, she appeared in several episodes of the hit CBS sitcom Two Broke Girls and hosts her own radio show, Sandyland, on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy. Bernhard continues to tour nationally and overseas with her new live show “Feel the Bernhard,” spotlighting her own unique, sharp blend of hysterical insight and outspoken views, with rock-n-roll, cabaret, standup and a little burlesque. Bernhard is bringing her show to the Parliament House on Saturday, June 4. We had the opportunity to catch up with the opinionated diva to find out what she’s preparing for the Orlando crowd, her real thoughts on Caitlyn Jenner, and who she is supporting this election season.

Let’s begin talking about your show at the Parliament House on Saturday June 4, 2016. I kind of go where people want me, ya know? It’s always nice to be included in a fun gay weekend. I know the crowd will be geared up for it. It’s fun to get to perform live after all these years. Keep it fresh, cutting edge, and relevant and have the audience still in tune with me. People keep wanting you. The whole weekend is incredible. It’s you, Estelle, Betty Who, Deborah Cox ... I know it’s a great line up. I am flattered and delighted to be a part of it.

things have evolved; and in other ways, they haven’t. That is what is so great about doing smart work that is coming from your own experiences in life. For sure, things have opened up, but we still have so far to go. RuPaul talks about how doors open and close constantly. How things move in cycles. I feel like that ideology can be applied to politics with what’s happening in North Carolina and Mississippi with the trans community. Exactly. Absolutely.

I saw you in Philly a few years ago. Your drink stayed full the entire show. It had ice in it. It’s impossible to really drink while you are performing. It’s just there to keep your whistle wet. The show was incredible. I was listening to some of your tracks this morning on Spotify. I listened to the one, “Sara.” That’s my long time relationship. We have been together for 17 years. Tell me about your show on Radio Andy. It’s called SandyLand. I curate music every day. I have amazing guests and I like to have people on – everybody from Justin Vivian Bond to Bette Midler to Jane Fonda to Susan Sarandon and on and on and on. I try to have in-depth conversations that range from talking about show business to politics to day-to-day life. I try to keep it open and flowing. It has been a great experience. I feel like Bette Midler has redefined Twitter. Yeah she is really into it. Good for her. I started little interesting conversations about things and it back fired. And for my money, it’s not worth it. But she seems to be hanging in there with it. She is absolutely hilarious. She is. She is. Bryan Peak on Facebook wanted me to ask you about your inspiration for Without You I’m Nothing and whether or not the politics of the piece are still vital today. Well, yes and no. I know it was ahead of the curve. We talked about all sorts of interesting gender issues, sexuality, relationships, and women’s place in society. To a certain existent,

What are your thoughts right now on Caitlyn Jenner? My thoughts right now are what they have always been. I think she was a right wing, Republican, man who was sexist and didn’t have too much insight into woman. I think she is someone who is transitioning into a woman, but who still doesn’t understand that much about being a woman – or has that much respect for woman. I find it very confounding. At times with her I find a certain tokenism. How she really puts men in certain boxes and women in certain boxes. Where her definition of gender is very rigid and stereotypical. Continued on page 48

I think she is an opportunist to a great degree. I don’t think that is helpful for a lot of people’s causes when they are really trying to make changes and affect changes in culture. Ya know? It’s a complex situation. What did you think about Donald’s Trump “woman card” statement to Hillary? Yeah I heard it. She said, “I’m gonna play it.” Or whatever she said, “I’m gonna play it to the fullest exist.” What else is she going to say? It’s all theatre. It’s all crazy. He is who he is. I don’t know how much he believes in anything he is saying. He too is an opportunist and taking advantage of people who are frustrated and are not particularly insightful themselves. We will have to see how it all plays out. I feel pretty positive that it will have a good outcome in the next election. Who have you been supporting this election? Hillary.

I feel like the gays love Hillary. I’m not sure what she slipped into the Kool-Aid, but the gays seem to love Hillary. I mean, she is a woman. She has been in the trenches for 50 years. She cares about people. She has made mistakes like all politicians. Some missteps. But I think she genuinely cares about the people who need support and evolution. I don’t see why that would be a conflict. I don’t think she has given anyone any KoolAid. I think she is right on with her message. What are some songs you are going to be performing at the Parliament House? Oh I never tell people what I am singing. I never give that away. The show tells a story. It’s not like a set list. The songs weave in and out of the show. It’s nice to have people come and turn off their phones and settle into SandyLand and just be present.

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ADDITION

3 BARS UNDER ONE ROOF

M-F 4PM -2AM SAT &SUN 12PM -2AM

LAST CALL

Cody Cooper WHERE YOU CAN FIND HIM? Behind the bar at Royal Tea Sundays at Eve Nightclub every Sunday. WHERE HE LIVES? Orlando FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE? Ginger Balls SINGLE OR TAKEN? Single GRINDR OR SCRUFF? Tindr BOXERS OR BRIEFS? Boxer briefs. STAY IN OR GO OUT? Stay in. FAVORITE TV SHOW CURRENTLY ON? Fear the Walking Dead TURN ONS? Nice legs and glutes TURN OFFS? Indecisiveness and dishonesty Visit Cody at EVE Nightclub every Sunday. EVE NIGHTCLUB 110 S ORANGE AVE, ORLANDO, FL 32801

TRAVEL • FITNESS • DINING

WANT TO BREAK THROUGH YOUR PLATEAU? RAISE THE INTENSITY LEVEL BY TONY EDGE

e all start out with different goals in mind when we start down the road to getting healthy and changing our bodies through proper nutrition and exercise. Many times, we'll get excited and stay motivated for the first several weeks to a month, and then we hit the dreaded "PLATEAU." Our progress stalls out and we can't seem to lose those last few pounds of body fat or gain any more muscle/strength. In this month's column, I'm going to give you some exercise techniques and tips that I've used when I've been focused on the goals of gaining muscle (bulking) and losing body fat (cutting), and help you avoid the dreaded Plateau.

Many times people confuse the principles of TIME and INTENSITY when it comes to their individual goals. For example, I've had clients and people tell me, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tony, I had a great workout at the gym! I was there for 2.5 hours and sweated my a@s off.â&#x20AC;? Or I'll get many people who'll say, "I've lost 30, 50, 100 pounds, and now my progress has stalled! I can't seem to get under *** pounds." Just because you spend more TIME in the gym or doing any given exercise, doesn't mean that said workout routine/cardio routine was INTENSE. If you can have a great intense workout in 45 mins-1 hour, why spend several hours a day at the gym?

FITNESS Focusing too much on cardio and not incorporating strength training. When you’re looking to lose body fat, many people have a tendency to think 'more is better.' That explains why you see some people spending excessive time on that treadmill next to you at the gym for over an hour. According to most studies, the 'fat burning zone' is somewhere between 25-45 mins max and keeping your target heart rate at around 65-75%. Any more time spent doing cardio, and you can actually put your body in what's referred to as a catabolic state and you'll wind up losing muscle tissue instead. This in turn could lead you to put back on all of that fat that you previously lost! Also studies show that after you do strength training with weights that your metabolism stays elevated up to 20 hours afterwards. Try doing H.I.I.T. (High Intensity Interval Training) and mix strength training with a cardio. Take 1-2 upper body exercises such as chest press and dumbbell curls, do one set of each for 8-12 reps and then hop on the treadmill for 30 seconds to 1 minute at a brisk walk or jog of 4.5 m.p.h. Not getting an intense workout and/or changing things up often enough in your routine. If you're a male, studies show that after working out for 45 mins up to 1 hour and 15 minutes, your natural testosterone levels begin to drop which is bad news if your trying to make progress. For both men and women, working out too much can cause over training and can lead to muscle loss. The best way I heard it put into words was, "Every time I'm at the gym I try to do a few more pounds, one more different exercise, or one or two more reps." What this person was saying was ALWAYS try to change things up. More recently the term “muscle confusion” has been made popular in the mass media. This doesn't mean that your muscles have a 'brain' but that the hum a n body can

change and adapt to whatever new exercises you throw at it. In other words, you have to always change things up to keep that bod guessing! In your workout/nutrition journal <hint, hint>, try doing something as simple as trying a new piece of cardio equipment, a new exercise, or try adding a few more reps and go to failure on that chest exercise! Try doing a superset of two exercises (which is two exercises combined with no rest in between) or if your feeling really ambitious, try doing a giant set which is combining three exercises. One of my favorites to do with chest and biceps involve supersetting flat bench press for one set of 6-12 reps, and then immediately rack the weight, sit on the edge of the bench, and do seated alternating dumbbell curls to failure. Not getting proper nutrition and getting enough rest/sleep. You can have the best trainer, the best workout routine, and the most high-end well equipped gym, and it won't matter if you're not feeding your body with the appropriate foods and getting enough rest. Studies show that around 2/3 or more statistically of any physical goal is dependent on proper nutrition. Make sure to get at least 1/2 of your bodyweight in ounces of water (and, no, alcohol and regular or diet sodas don't count). A close second to that is getting a solid 6-8 hours of sleep -- in other words listen to your body! Many times we like to think that we're machines and we're invincible and nothing could be further from the truth. Our body needs time to rest, recover and use all of that water and nutrients in the food to rebuild tissues and function at peak performance. Hopefully some of these tips can help you break through those stubborn plateaus and take your body and your routines to the next level!! See you in the gym! Tony Edge C.P.T.

REASONS TO VISIT THAILAND FROM THE BUDDHIST TEMPLES TO THE GAY CLUBS, HERE ARE EIGHT REASONS WHY THAILAND IS WORTH THE TRIP.

Thailand is a country long respected for the visibility of its LGBT community, and they continue to welcome us as visitors with a red carpet. While a great distance away, the trip to this far-off destination is well worth the travel - and here are eight reasons why.

BY ALEXANDER KACALA

TRAVEL 8. IT’S CHEAP Sure, getting there can be expensive with flights going west over the Pacific. But once you are there, it is cheap. Currently, one Thai baht is equal to .029 dollars. A filling entrée at lunch would run approximately 70 baht. That is two dollars. 7. THE TEMPLES An integral part of Thai culture is Buddhism. One of the ways to honor and celebrate this important part of Thai culture is to visit some of the many beautiful temples that dot the landscape with their golden steeples. Some temples that are not to be missed for their unique characteristics are the Big Buddha in Phuket, the White Temple in Chiang Rai, and the The Temple of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok. 6. TROPOUT TropOut is an exclusive weeklong travel festival for gay travelers from all corners of the globe. The first ever was set at the tropical paradise of Phuket’s Bang Tao Beach. Taking the concept of a gay cruise and putting it on land in an intimate environment, gays can come together and experience a destination together as a group. The Australian-based endeavor will return to Thailand in 2017. 5. THE ELEPHANTS The symbols of Thailand, elephants are everywhere. While many of the elephant tourism attractions do not provide high standards of living for the magnificent creatures, there are some that do. Among them, the Anantara Resort and Elephant Camp in the north of Thailand in the middle of the Golden Triangle, a region that borders Myanmar and Laos made famous for its opium past. The gorgeous resort is tucked on a ridge overlooking lush jungles and an elephant camp. Established in 2003 as a traditional mahout village, the camp works alongside the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation to perform street rescues, provide employment and a comfortable lifestyle for elephants and their entire mahout families. 4. THE FOOD Usually when you ask a Grindr date about their favorite food, the first cuisine they rattle off is Thai. Well, you or your Grindr fling will not be disappointed by the bounty that awaits. Obviously there is extraordinary Pad Thai on every menu

you open. But don’t stop there. Rice is such an integral part of Thai cuisine that the words for rice and food are one in the same: khao. Many of the dishes are flavorful proteins with robust flavors. Tom yum is a soup usually cooked with shrimp and is characterized by its distinct hot and sour flavors, with fragrant spices and herbs generously used in the broth. 3. THE GAY NIGHTLIFE IN BANGKOK Bangkok is a sweeping city filled with skyscrapers that touch the sky. No wonder its nickname is City of Angels. The vibrancy is felt best at night when the city comes alive. This especially is true of gay nightlife that brings people far and wide for its openness and craziness. Visit Soi 2 (with its many dance clubs) and Sol 4 (bars and restaurants) in Patpong for the gay nightlife hot spot of Bangkok, where both locals and tourists flock to have a great time and mingle. Telephone Bar (114/11 Silom Soi 4, Silom Road, Bangkok; telephonepub. com) is a popular destination, where you can pick up the house phone (yes, the phones do work) and dial the extension of the nearest gay guy who has caught your eye and say “hello.” 2. THE BEACHES Thailand’s most popular beach destination is Phuket with spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets and the warm, blue Andaman Sea. Just a short 45-minute journey from Phuket will transport you to the tropical paradise and famous islands of Koh Phi Phi, the ultimate tropical getaway in Thailand made infamous in 2000 by the film The Beach. Amazing white sandy beaches and breathtaking rock formations rising from the turquoise water surround the islands--making you feel like you’re in the world’s best paradise. 1. THE PEOPLE The people of Thailand are the country’s most prized possession. They greet you with a smile, and welcome you with arms wide open. Their loving attitude is seen in every interaction they have with you. A famous expression that every visitor should learn is “mai pen rai.” Translated it means “no worries.” This sums up life in Thailand perfectly--allowing the Thai people to keep their cool through the ups and downs that life delivers. As a visitor, it’s impossible to not have some of that zest for life rub off on you--reminding us that we are only one blade of grass in a field that stretches wide.

WAHLBURGERS BY SCOTT SPAR

fter a few months of anticipation, I’m finally here at Wahlburgers, the burger joint on Orange Ave. Now let’s make one thing clear, if you’re going to Wahlburgers you’re going for some great food, shakes and desserts. Wahlburgers is a burger chain made popular by brothers Mark Wahlburger (Former rapper Marky Mark and Calvin Klein underwear model) and his brother Donnie Wahlburger (New Kids On The Block) plus the A&E reality show Wahlburgers.

DINING Once inside, you’ll find the restaurant decorated with pictures of the Wahlburg family as well as posters from various movies and shows in which the famous brothers have appeared. You’ll also find a few different dining options. There’s a fast food side where you can order your food to go or to have it delivered directly to your table; or you can ask to be seated for a full table dining experience. You can also choose to sit at the bar where the full menu is available as well. Aside from the fame of the owners, what’s made this restaurant chain so popular is that beyond the name, they are just a great downhome place to grab a burger and all the glory that comes along with it. They serve some of their burgers with a secret spicy Wahl Sauce and Government Cheese. Now, I’m not sure about you but I had to ask my server, “Can you tell me what government cheese is?” My server had educated me that government cheese was at one-time part of a Federal feeding program subsidized by the government for the low income working class people. See, you learn something new everyday! After taking some time to scan over their extensive menu. I decided to go with the ever-so-good O.F.D. burger (which stands for Originally From Dorchester) ($9.50), the city in which the Wahlburgs grew up. My burger (which was available in a single, double or triple) came with homemade tomato jam (like catsup but whole lot better), Swiss cheese, bacon and mushrooms. All I can say is that after the first bite, I found my self not being able to put the burger down until it was gone. Now that I’ve told you the amazing burger that I ordered, let me tell you about some of the sides that they offer. They serve up great sweet potato tots (that’s what I ordered and LOVED) ($3.25), a huge serving of house-made onion rings (yeah, had those too…lol) ($3.25) which were lightly battered and full of flavor , good ‘ol yukon gold fries ($3.25), and Alma’s (Mark and Donnie’s mother) macaroni salad ($3.95). As full as I was after downing a burger, some

tots and onion rings, there was no way I could leave this place without having dessert-and having dessert I did, lol! I ordered a grilled banana fluffanutta ($3.50) which in laymen's terms is peanut butter, bananas, marshmallow fluff and Nutella sandwiched between two slices of bread and grilled. This was simply fantastic and nothing less than a complete orgasm of the taste buds - something I highly recommend when you visit Wahlburgers, Now even though this restaurant is famous for their burgers, if you’ve got some friends who are not burger lovers or who are vegetarians, not to worry. There are plenty of things for them to choose from as well. So my friends, if you’re looking for a restaurant that serves up a fun atmosphere, some great food and incredible desserts than Wahlburgers is where you’ll want to go - I promise you won’t be disappointed.

WAHLBURGERS 200 S Orange Ave Downtown Orlando 407-293-7777 65

MONTH

WHAT TO SEE & WHERE TO BE IN MAY PHOTO: MICHAEL WAKEFIELD

CONTACT SCOTTSPAR@WIRLD.COM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE LISTED. LISTINGS ARE FREE AND SUBJECT TO EDITORIAL DISCRETION.

New York rapper Cazwell performs live May 25.

MAY MAY 3

BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. Dr. Phillips Performing Center of the Arts, 455 S. Magnolia Ave Orlando, drphillipscenter.org. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of Carole King’s remarkable rise to stardom. Runs until May 8.

MAY 6

FLEX FRIDAYS. Southern Nights Orlando, 375 S. Bumby Ave, Orlando, southernnightsorl.com. Roxxy Andrews leads the pack at this weekly party. Show times are 11:00 pm and 12:30 am. 18 and up welcome.

MAY 7

MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND AT BOK TOWER GARDENS. Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Whales. Treat Mom to a beautiful day at the Bok Tower Gardens with live carillon concerts at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Goes until May 8. Free admission offered to Mothers on Mother’s Day. SWANK SATURDAYS. Southern Nights Tampa, 1401 E. 7th Ave, Tampa. Roxxy Andrews and Jade Embers perform at this weekly party. Show time at 12:00 am. 18 and up welcome. SUICIDE SATURDAYS. Savoy, 1913 N. Orange Ave, Orlando, savoyorlando.com. Every Saturday. 18 and up welcome.

MAY 10

2 DOLLAR TUESDAYS. BarCodes Orlando, 4453 Edgewater Drive, Orlando. All day every Tuesday, enjoy domestics, imports, mugs and wine for $2.

MAY 12

COLLEGE NIGHT THURSDAYS. Club Main Street, 1295 E. Main Street, Lakeland. Every Thursday.

MAY 16

AMY SCHUMER. CFE Arena, 12777 Gemini Blvd, Orlando, amyschumer.com/tour. Funny girl Amy Schumer brings her stand-up routine to the CFE Arena.

MAY 21

DERRICK VS. CHI CHI. Parliament House, 410 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, parliamenthouse. com. RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 stars Derrick Barry and Chi Chi Devayne perform. Show times are 10:00 pm and 12:00 am. Doors at 8:00 pm.

MONTH

AUTOMOTIVE www.fmauto.com

COLLISION CENTER AND MECHANICAL We Buy and Sell SERVICE Cars

Collision Care Certifications

1119 S. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando 32805 Phone: 407.835.0005 Email: fmauto@fmauto.com

MONTH MAY 25

CAZWELL LIVE. Pulse Nightclub, 1912 S. Orange Ave, Orlando, pulseorlandoclub.com. New York rapper Cazwell performs live with college night cast Angelica Sanchez, Mrms Adrien, Kai’ja Adonis, and birthday boy Axel Andrews. Event pricing may occur. 18 and up welcome.

MAY 27

CENTRAL FLORIDA’S BBQ BLOWOUT. Oviedo Mall, 1700 Oviedo Mall Blvd, Orlando, bbqblowout.com. Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout is smokin’ ready for its fourth year. This Florida BBQ Association- sanctioned event has quickly become a signature event in the community.

GAY DISNEY WEEKEND PREVIEW MAY 31 GAYDAYS AT THE DOUBLETREE BY HILTON. Orlando Seaworld 10100 International Drive, Orlando, gaydays.com.

JUNE 1

NEON HITCH. Pulse Nightclub, 1912 S. Orange Ave, Orlando. 18 and up welcome.

JUNE 3

ERICKA JAYNE. Parliament House, 410 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, parliamenthouse. com. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star performs live. 18 and up welcome. ONE MAGICAL WEEKEND. B Resort, 1905 Hotel Plaza Blvd, onemagicalweekend.com. Runs all weekend until June 6.

JUNE 4

SANDRA BERNHARD AND DEBORAH COX. Parliament House, 410 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, parliamenthouse.com. Funny lady Sandra Bernhard and club diva Deborah Cox both perform live. 18 and up welcome. GLOW - A GAY DISNEY WEEKEND UNDERWEAR PARTY. Venue 578, 578 Orange Ave, Downtown Orlando. Unite Events presents this special underwear party for Gay Disney Weekend.

JUNE 5

ESTELLE AND BETTY WHO. Parliament House, 410 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, parliamenthouse.com. Pop singer Estelle and Betty Who both perform live. 18 and up welcome.

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MISS FLORIDA AT LARGE PAGEANT

PHOTOS BY JAMEER BAPTISTE

NICOLE T. PHILLIPS MISS FLORIDA F.I. AT LARGE 2016

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ORLANDO AIDS WALK

PHOTOS BY SCOTT SPAR

THIRSTY FOR MORE? OF COURSE YOU ARE. CHECK OUT ALL OF THE PHOTOS YOU CAN HANDLE AT NEXTMAGAZINE.COM!

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MARCO MARCO FASHION SHOW

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