Frontiers Vol. 31, Issue 17 by Frontiers

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:00 PM

Page FC1

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:26 PM

Page IFC1

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 1

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 2

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 3

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 4

001-017 3117.qxd

12/7/12

4:41 PM

Page 5

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 6

001-017 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:03 PM

Page 7

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 8

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 9

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 10

INSIDE VOL. 31, ISSUE 17 / DEC. 12-25, 2012

8 3 LIZA

by Stephan Horbelt

The legendary Liza Minnelli stops to chat about her upcoming Orange County performance with MenAlive. PHOTO: RUVEN AFANADOR

FRONTIERSLA.COM

001-017 3117.qxd

12/7/12

2:52 PM

Page 11

105488 amron

DECEMBER 25, 2012

001-017 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:31 PM

Page 12

INSIDE

VOL. 31, ISSUE 17 / DEC. 12-25, 2012

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER ........................................18 LEADING BY EXAMPLE Sherita J. Herring........................................20 NEWS News Briefs ..................................................22 California Bill Prohibiting Psychological Abuse of Gay Minors Will Go Into Effect Jan. 1 ..................................................26 LGBT Leaders Excited By Progress and Historic Baldwin Victory ..........................28 SOCAL GUIDE Events Calendar..........................................42 Snapshots ....................................................44 Arts Calendar..............................................45 Nightlife Calendar......................................48 Eating Out.....................................................52 ENTERTAINMENT Film Reviews................................................54 Music Reviews ............................................56 Theater Reviews ........................................58 Little Miss Know-It-All..............................60 Out & About ................................................61 Billy Masters................................................62 Queersay ......................................................63 HEALTH Zero to Savvy ..............................................64 HIV Living ....................................................65 X-Meth..........................................................66 CITY GUIDES West Hollywood ........................................67 Orange County............................................68 Long Beach ..................................................69 Palm Springs................................................70 FRONTIERS MARKETPLACE Listings ..........................................................76 Business Profile ..........................................77 FRONTIERS4MEN Adult Classifieds ........................................78 Sex Ed............................................................84

LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE by Michelle McCarthy Don’t panic if you’re not done with your holiday shopping just yet! We’ve got a few ideas that will help you wrap up your gift list.

HAVE YOURSELF A YUMMY LITTLE CHRISTMAS by Mike Ciriaco Frontiers serves up some of the most scrumptious holiday appetizers and snacks the city has to offer.

MAUI COUNTRY by Aaron Drake

The cozy town of Hana on Maui’s eastern shore combines natural beauty with modern comfort and some good old-fashioned peace and quiet.

‘DUSQUE’ TEASES AUDIENCES FOR NEW YEAR’S

by James F. Mills

Fifty Shades of Dusque: An Erotic Musical Journey is a titillating one-night-only performance coming to the Desert this New Year’s Eve.

COVER PHOTO OF LIZA MINNELLI BY Ruven Afanador

FRONTIERSLA.COM

Frontiers magazine is published by Frontiers Media, LLC., 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA. 90036, and distributed throughout Southern California. Up to the first three copies of any single issue are free; additional copies are $10 each. Violators caught stealing or destroying issues will be prosecuted under California Penal Code 484. For magazine subscriptions, please call (323) 930-3220. The contents of Frontiers may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Letters to the editor, artwork, photography, manuscripts and other correspondence may be submitted to Frontiers at the above address. We cannot acknowledge or return material unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Allow at least three months for processing. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Frontiers is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation or the HIV/AIDS status of such person or organization. Copyright © 2012, Frontiers Media, LLC.

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 13

APRIL 3, 2012

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 14

ONLINE Find these articles exclusively at

facebook.com/ frontiersmagazine

twitter.com/ frontiersmag

youtube.com/ frontiersweb

A SERIOUS MAN by Lawrencer Ferber

ENTER TO

WIN!

Alan Cumming dishes on his lack of an inner drag queen, working with his Down Syndrome co-star on Any Day Now and why Sylvester Stallone, attached to the film during one of its earlier incarnations, hates Woody Allen. frontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews

Join the club and enter to win a one-year Crunch Fitness gym membership! tinyurl.com/CrunchContest

BOOK REVIEWS by The Bookworm

In need of a good read? Read our reviews of My Husband and My Wives by Charles Rowan Beye and October Mourning by Lesléa Newman. frontiersLA.com/BookReviews

WHY WE LOVE

GAY L.A. Sponsored by DiscoverLA.com

We've taken on the challenge of listing Los Angeles’ cherished landmarks, celebrated hotspots and famed destinations from A-Z, all of which are fun and exciting for both the L.A. local or SoCal visitor! frontiersLA.com/WhyWeLoveGayLA 14

FRONTIERSLA.COM

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Gary M. Kramer

Frontiers catches up with gay writer/director Dan Steadman and the straight Joseph Kim to talk about their amusing and poignant holiday film, Red Lodge. frontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews

001-017 3117.qxd

12/7/12

2:56 PM

Page 15

DECEMBER 25, 2012

001-017 3117.qxd

12/6/12

6:01 PM

Page 16

FrontiersLA.com Volume 31, Issue 17 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Phone: (323) 930-3220 Sales Fax: (323) 857-0560 Administration Fax: (323) 848-2058 Accounting Fax: (323) 857-0503

Publisher / CEO / Editorial Director: David Stern Creative Director: Ed Baker Managing Director of Integrated Media: Dustin Tyner Associate Publisher: Frank Morales Editors: Aaron Drake, Stephan Horbelt News Editor: Karen Ocamb Editor-at-Large, PositiveFrontiers.com: Alex Garner Senior Art Director: Garett Yoshida Associate Art Director: George Skinner Graphic Designer: Michelle Aguirre Editorial Intern: Aaron Batts Art Intern: Shannon O’Brien Advertising Directors: Kevin Browne, JC Gardiner, Vic Gerami, Brenda Stevens, Billy Wright Palm Springs Advertising Directors: Vic Gerami, Jeff Rosenberg

National Advertising Representatives: Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Art Traffic and Distribution Manager: Hope Dunn Classifieds Manager: Frank Perez Accounting: Merrill Franks, Frank Perez

Advertising Inquiries: salesmanager@frontiersLA.com Editorial Inquiries: editors@frontiersLA.com Advertising Artwork Trafficking: art@frontiersLA.com

To contact our staff Email address format:

firstname.lastname@FrontiersLA.com

Contributing Writers Aaron Batts, Jackie Beat, Christopher Cappiello, Mike Ciriaco, Peter DelVecchio, Aaron Drake, Lawrence Ferber, Gossip Gay, Greg Hernandez, Stephan Horbelt, Gary M. Kramer, Jim Larkins, Dan Loughry, Billy Masters, Michelle McCarthy, Dana Miller, James F. Mills, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Dominik Rothbard, Nick Rufca, Aaron Savvy, Les Spindle, Paul V., Michael Weinstein Contributing Photographers and Illustrators Ruven Afandor, Gabe Ayala, Matt Baume, Brenden-John Photography, Aaron Drake, Greg Gorman, Glen Hanson, Jake Kale, Michael Lamont, Joan Marcus, Karen Ocamb, Martin Salgo, Craig Schwartz

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

IN MEMORY OF BOB CRAIG, FOUNDING PUBLISHER

©2012 Thanks to the dawn of the information age, we believe distribution/circulation not only encompasses hard copies printed and the pass-on rate of those hard copies, but web browsing and electronic copies being downloaded by our growing online readership. This has become a substantial boost to the number of readers of our magazine. Currently, an average of 30,000 hard copies are printed biweekly. Studies have shown each hard copy has a probable “pass-on rate” of two to three, meaning each hard copy taken will be seen by two to three additional readers. With the pass-on rate alone, estimated readership can conservatively average 55,000 to 90,000, not encompassing visitors who visit us online at FrontiersLA.com.

FRONTIERSLA.COM

001-017 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:07 PM

Page 17

DECEMBER 25, 2012

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

FRONTIERSLA.COM

6:04 PM

Page 18

018-033 3117.qxd

12/7/12

4:33 PM

Page 19

INTRODUCING THE FRONTIERS AWARENESS & EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Dear Readers, Let me start by telling you that I am a storyteller. After several years of studying journalism and creative writing in college, I found that one of the best ways to communicate is by sharing a story that illuminates an idea or passion. So I hope you’ll indulge me for a moment as I share a condensed version of my personal journey these last 25 years that have led to the formation of the Frontiers Awareness & Education Foundation. My first job in journalism was in sales at EDGE magazine, then the main competitor to the popular L.A. gay publication Frontiers, published by Bob Craig. Not long thereafter, in February of 1988, I discovered I was HIV-positive. Like many of us who are longterm survivors, I spent the next 10 years living in the moment, grateful to be alive, burying many loved ones, honing my craft and dancing my youth away at the PROBE. Suddenly, having HIV was no longer a death sentence. I had resisted taking HIV medications until the triple cocktail came out, but eventually started a course of treatment that worked amazingly well. I realized I was going to live a long, fruitful life. I also realized that my health and well-being needed to go deeper and beyond the pharmacological, so I started studying thinkers such as Neale Donald Walsch, who calls for developing a consciousness based on thoughts, words and action.

Our movement for full equality has come a long way, and today we see a number of out journalists in the mainstream media. But as longtime civil rights activists know, it is imperative to remain vigilant, lest minority rights conferred by the majority be taken away. And the changes can be subtle. Recently, for instance, the updated Associated Press Stylebook, a Bible for most journalists, eliminated the word “homophobia”—a word commonly understood as “anti-gay” by much of the world. How, then, are we to describe the very act when it occurs? The mission of The Frontiers Awareness & Education Foundation is to train and nurture the next generation of LGBT journalists to understand the full range of issues and subtleties within our diverse LGBTQ community. We also want to provide multiple platforms for the range of LGBTQ voices to speak for themselves, to tell their own stories. To accomplish this, we are developing exciting educational programs, community grant initiatives, scholarship and student internships and multimedia ventures. Additionally, we will always bear in mind and seek out members of our community who are still voiceless and invisible and—as happened with myself—give them the ability to share beyond their immediate sphere of influence. I’ll close with these thoughts, words and actions.

But what good was an expanded consciousness if it was not shared? Together with Bob Craig and Mark Hundahl—the owner of PROBE who became my business partner—we created IN Los Angeles magazine. The story of IN LA and our subsequent purchase of Frontiers in 2007, a number of years after Bob’s AIDSrelated death, is featured in the new book Gay Press, Gay Power: The Growth of LGBT Community Newspapers in America.

Thoughts: Acceptance is great, but assimilation can be ruinous. The LGBTQ community should always have its own unique voices and a supportive platform to express those voices.

Over the years, Mark and I have had many conversations regarding the social and corporate responsibility of Frontiers Media and how to ‘pay it forward’ through a nonprofit arm of Frontiers, ensuring continued accurate and fair representation of LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS issues. About a year ago, I decided to take action on this project, and now The Frontiers Awareness & Education Foundation has an official 501(c)(3) status, a great board of directors, a managing director—and we are planning our initial programs.

Actions: It takes a village to fortify this home, just as we came together and helped one another during the AIDS crisis. I urge you to please help support our new Frontiers Awareness & Education Foundation. Your financial support is urgently needed today to implement our education and outreach programs and to begin realizing our mission to support and share the stories of our youth and our community as a whole. Your donation is tax-deductible!

Words: Words matter, and they have power—to share a perspective, change the future or save a life. The words of the LGBTQ community must always have a safe home.

Please donate generously. The future of LGBTQ news and community coverage is counting on your support. Make secure donations at FrontiersFoundation.org via PayPal, or feel free to make checks out to The Frontiers Foundation and mail them to 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA, 90036. Thank you and happy holidays, David Stern

DECEMBER 25, 2012

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:46 PM

Page 20

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Leading by Example

Empowering the Community By James F. Mills Sherita J. Herring loves empowering people, helping them to grow and meet their potential. A native of Kansas City, Mo., who moved to Los Angeles in 1988, Herring’s motto is “You are your only limitation.” As founder and president of the 18-year-old Kreative Images Foundation, she helps people create nonprofits and coaches small businesses on effective growth strategies. A mother of two sons (ages 35 and 32), grandmother of two (ages 6 and 2), Herring also facilitates workshops on nonprofits and corporate governance for CEO Space, a corporate/professional training seminar held bimonthly in Las Vegas. How did you get involved with nonprofits? I learned how to write grants, develop programs and do fundraising while a director at the Weingart YMCA [Vermont Avenue at Century Boulevard]. I also oversaw the front desk and back office staff. That’s what helped me learn the inner workings of a nonprofit. Before that, I had been the administrative assistant for the CFO of YMCA of Los Angeles, but took the position at Weingart because I wanted to be at a facility where my boys could take advantage of what the Y offered. My colleagues were shocked that I wanted to leave the corporate office and go to a Y, especially one in what they considered a bad community. I saw it as an opportunity, and it was. Community seems to be your passion. Why is that? I volunteered in the prisons for over three years. I helped reduce the recidi-

FRONTIERSLA.COM

vism rate by 75 percent. There’s absolutely no one who wants to live in a cage. If you can open their eyes to better opportunities, things that they never even thought they could do, then that’s what makes me want to work in community. The same thing happened there. These guys found that they could do other things. I linked them to programs and services through grants and nonprofits. Did you know that many of them could start a nonprofit and get a grant quicker than they could get a job? You’re a candidate for the Los Angeles City Council in District 9 [the termedout Jan Perry’s seat]. If you’re elected, how will this nonprofit experience help you do the job? I’ve seen a lot of money come into this city. I also know of other dollars that many of the other Council people just don’t know about because this is the area that I’m in—the grants arena. I can bring something to the table and to the city that most city officials know nothing about because they haven’t been in that arena. They’ve only been looking at the dollars that come from the state and federal. So, when their budgets are cut, they just start to lay off. What I will try and show them is you don’t have to lay off. There’s so much other money that’s sitting there. In fact, millions of dollars go back every year untapped. You moved from District 8 into District 9 [which includes South Los Angeles] specifically to run for the seat. Why is that? This is the district that has the lowest income, the highest unemployment, the highest instances of obesity, heart disease and childhood diabetes, the highest

number of single-parent households. When I look at what I’ve done over the past 20 years, which is develop programs to empower those same issues, what better district for me to run in than this one? Why do you believe so much in empowering people? As the daughter of a preacher, I believe in my gut that God gave all of us a talent, a skill. Whether it’s poetry, singing, laying concrete or whatever, everyone has a passion. Community happens to be mine. If I can show them that, we’re going to reduce domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse, racial issues, gang problems. When people are doing what they love, they don’t do the unhealthy things. You also taught grant writing and computer training classes for two years at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. How was that experience? I loved it. I encouraged many of my clients to take classes there, it was such a good facility. But I also got dirty emails from people saying, “I thought you were a woman of God, why would you teach there?” Why wouldn’t I teach there? I don’t judge people by their sexual orientation, their race or religion. I judge people by their character. facebook.com/SheritaForCityCouncil

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:47 PM

Page 21

DECEMBER 25, 2012

018-033 3117.qxd

12/7/12

2:48 PM

Page 22

NEWS By Peter DelVecchio & Karen Ocamb

O’Connor Takes the Helm at EQCA John O'Connor began his tenure as executive director of Equality California on Dec. 3, an EQCA release states. Prior to coming on-board at EQCA, O'Connor served as executive director of the LGBT Community Center of the Desert in Palm Springs, where, according to his bio, he "planned and executed a complete turnaround in restructuring of the organization." Prior to that, O'Connor was founding director of The California Hall of Fame and deputy director of the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts. He has also worked at the Gill Foundation as, among other things, “a top national funder of LGBT issues,” and served as program director “of David Geffen’s foundation, and the manager of charitable giving for DreamWorks SKG.” "Building on EQCA’s legacy of accomplishment, I intend to move the organization forward as the statewide voice on LGBT equality,” O’Connor said in the statement. O'Connor believes much has been accomplished, but also that much remains to be done. "Advocacy on health care disparities and a strong voice in the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act is critical," he says. "Youth, transgender people and seniors continue to experience harsh discrimination, and we must work for equality on their behalf. And we must continue to ensure that the laws we pass are fully implemented and enforced." There is more to equality than law, however, according to O'Connor. "Outside the arena of legislation, we must continue to win people's hearts and minds in communities throughout the entire state. We can legislate until we are blue in the face, but until people truly embrace us in all our diversity, we will not achieve full equality. So, together, we will continue this work, because we stand for full equality and nothing less."

APA to Change Transgender Diagnosis The latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, “The DSM,” the American Psychiatric Association's primary reference for mental illness diagnoses, will replace the term "gender identity disorder" (GID) with "gender dysphoria," The Advocate reports. “Gender dysphoria” will be defined to involve “a marked incongruence

between one's experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender." "All psychiatric diagnoses occur within a cultural context," said Jack Drescher, a member of the APA DSM revision committee. "We know there is a whole community of people out there who are not seeking medical attention and live between two binary categories. We wanted to send the

message that the therapist's job is not to pathologize.” Not all advocates are happy with the change. "We rely on [a GID diagnosis] in employment discrimination cases to explain to courts that a person is not just making some superficial choice," said National Center for Lesbian Rights Legal Director Shannon Minter.

Supreme Court to Take Prop. 8, DOMA Cases SCOTUSblog.com reported that at 3:13 p.m. on Dec. 7, the United States Supreme Court announced it would review the constitutionality of both the federal Defense of Marriage Act (United States v. Windsor) and California’s Proposition 8 (Hollingsworth v. Perry). From SCOTUSblog: “About two decades after the campaign to win the right to marry for same-sex couples began, the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon agreed to consider—but not necessarily to decide—some of the most important constitutional issues at the heart of that national controversy. Each side gained the opportunity to make sweeping arguments, for or against such marriages. But the court left itself the option, at least during the current term, of not giving real answers, perhaps because it lacks the authority to do so.” The cases will be argued in March, with decisions expected in June.

SPEAK OUT “We have a two-party system in this country, and that’s what half of our two-party system is.” —MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on former Penn. Republican Senator and 2012 presidential hopeful Rick Santorum’s becoming a columnist for World Net Daily, a far-right website known for advocating birtherism and similar discredited theories.

FRONTIERSLA.COM

“This sort of attack, whether it is proven to be a hate crime or a crime derived from one man’s hate of another human being, should not happen to anyone in this country.” —Mallory Owens, a young Alabama woman attacked and beaten Thanksgiving day by her girlfriend’s brother, in a statement. Go to gofundme.com/ 1ldc7k to help defray her medical expenses.

"I have lived in and loved the city of Los Angeles for 58 years, and I am happy to be a servant of the people and their languages and traditions." —Out poet Eloise Klein Healy, named the first Los Angeles Poet Laureate by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Dec. 7. Go to her website, eloisekleinhealy.com, for more.

018-033 3117.qxd

12/7/12

2:49 PM

Page 23

DECEMBER 25, 2012

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:47 PM

Page 24

NEWS By Peter DelVecchio & Karen Ocamb

LGBT Groups Gain Financial Strength Betsy Butler

Butler Concedes to Bloom Assemblymember Betsy Butler conceded to her opponent, Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom, on Nov. 30 in the contentious race for the 50th Assembly District, LGBTPOV.com reported Dec. 3. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk had not yet completed vote counting, but Butler considered Bloom’s 1,536-vote lead insurmountable. "It was an honor to have the amount of support I received, and I look forward to working with the people of the 50th Assembly District in the future. I called Richard Bloom and wished him congratulations and good luck," Butler told LGBTPOV.com. Butler and Bloom, both Democrats, were the survivors of a hard-fought primary in which LGBT activist Torie Osborn and gay Republican Brad Torgan also competed. Butler represented the 53rd District but ran in the newly drawn 50th District at the request of out Assembly Speaker John Pérez, D-Los Angeles. Bloom declared victory Nov. 28, two days before Butler’s concession.

Quick Pic

West Point grad, Army vet and OutServe-SLDN board member Sue Fulton marries partner Penelope Dara Gnesin Dec. 1 at West Point’s Cadet Chapel, the first same-sex marriage performed at that facility.

FRONTIERSLA.COM

Even as public opinion evolves in favor of gay rights, resulting in landmark victories for marriage equality at the ballot box in the Nov. 6 election, LGBT advocacy groups are also experiencing significant improvements in their financial positions, according to a new report from the Movement Advancement Project. The 2012 National LGBT Movement Report indicates that “[f]ollowing several years of declining revenue, [LGBT] social justice organizations experienced a 17 percent revenue increase from 2010 to 2011," according to a Dec. 5 MAP press release. The report assesses the LGBT movement's financial situation by examining "40 major LGBT organizations, which collectively represent 69 percent of the budgets of all LGBT social justice organizations." Those organizations project an 11 percent increase in expense budgets over 2011, for a combined budget of $158.4 million. "Individual donors are increasing their giving to LGBT organizations—and seeing results," MAP Executive Director Ineke Mushovic said. "There is still a lot of work to be done, but the election left no doubt that Americans support equality for LGBT people. The time for change is now, and it's heartening to see more and more donors supporting the organizations who are working tirelessly to make that change a reality." Challenges remain, however, since the revenue of anti-gay organizations "still greatly outstrips that of participating LGBT organizations,” MAP says. Also, while revenues have increased, only three percent of LGBT adults have donated to one of the 40 organizations the report covers. The participating organizations also received an average of 44 percent of their 2011 revenue from their 10 largest contributors. And some organizations are in trouble. National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jerame Davis also issued a press release on Dec. 5: “As the year closes, we're facing a budget deficit of over $30,000, and if we do not bridge this gap, we will likely be forced to close our doors.”

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:47 PM

Page 25

DECEMBER 25, 2012

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:47 PM

Page 26

NEWS

California Bill Prohibiting Psychological Abuse of Gay Minors Will Go Into Effect Jan. 1 By Karen Ocamb On Dec. 4, U.S. District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller rejected a request by the antigay National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality to block SB 1172 from going into effect on Jan. 1, 2013. The new law prohibits state-licensed therapists from practicing the discredited junk science of so-called “reparative therapy” on LGBT minors in an attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“We are confident the courts will continue to uphold this life-saving law, which simply requires licensed mental health practitioners to follow professional standards and to refrain from using practices that have no basis in science or medicine." —NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell

In response to NARTH’s request in advance of a hearing on their lawsuit challenging the federal constitutionality of SB 1172, Mueller concluded that so-called “sexual orientation change efforts,” or SOCE therapy, “is subject to the state’s legitimate control over the professions." She also wrote that California law

FRONTIERSLA.COM

"prohibits a therapeutic practice deemed unproven and potentially harmful to minors by 10 professional associations of mental health experts." Mueller also thinks that, "Plaintiff therapists are not likely to prevail on the merits on their First Amendment claim" in their lawsuit. However, the day before, another judge from the same U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California—Judge William B. Shubb— ruled in limited response to a second request for an injunction filed in conjunction with a second lawsuit opposing SB 1172 that three plaintiffs in that case were temporarily exempt from enforcement of the law as the case proceeds through his court. Shubb said he was concerned about the First Amendment rights of the plaintiffs and the possibility of them being disciplined for something they said to a patient in a therapeutic setting. Shannon Minter, Legal Director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights—which won the right to intervene in the NARTH case on behalf of Equality California—said he was "disappointed" by Judge Shubb’s ruling. But, he said, "We are confident that as the case progresses, it will be clear to the court that this law is fundamentally no different than many other laws that regulate health care professionals to protect patients." On the other hand, Mathew Staver, chair of the Christian group Liberty Counsel—representing NARTH, four counselors and two families in their lawsuit—told the Associated Press that he intends to seek an emergency injunction from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to block the law until the courts decide whether it is constitutional. "I'm really stunned by [Mueller’s] decision," Staver told AP. "I think Judge Shubb's decision was really on the money." Not surprisingly, the author and sponsors of SB 1172 disagreed. “On behalf of the untold number of children who can expect to be spared the psychological abuse imposed by reparative therapy, I’m thrilled that today’s ruling by Judge Mueller will continue to protect our children from serious harm,” said SB 1172 author state Sen. Ted Lieu, a former prosecutor and graduate of Georgetown University’s Law School, in a press

release. “As for the ruling yesterday by Judge Shubb, while I disagree with his decision, he wrote it very narrowly to temporarily delay the law so it applies to only three plaintiffs. The net effect of these two rulings is that SB 1172 takes effect Jan. 1 for everyone except for three individuals.” "This law will put a stop to one of the most dangerous and discredited forms of discrimination against LGBT youth," said new Equality California Executive Director John O'Connor, whose first day on the job was Monday, Dec. 3. "We are extremely pleased that the [Mueller] court’s decision will allow the law to go into effect on January 1, 2013, as planned, and young people in this state will no longer have to fear that they can be subjected to these dangerous practices by licensed therapists. Every day that licensed therapists are permitted to engage in these dangerous and discredited practices is another day that our youth are placed at risk of depression, substance abuse and attempted suicide. The state has a duty to protect minors from conduct by licensed health care professionals that is both harmful and offers no benefit to health. We commend Senator Ted Lieu, the bill’s author, the California Legislature and Governor Brown for taking decisive action to protect California’s young people and their families." NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, a lawyer, said, "[The Dec. 4] decision acknowledges that the anti-LGBT groups who have filed this case have no viable legal grounds for their attempt to block these desperately needed protections for California youth. Every leading mental health organization has concluded that these practices, which claim to be able to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender expression, have no basis in science and expose young people to a serious risk of physical and emotional harm. We are confident the courts will continue to uphold this lifesaving law, which simply requires licensed mental health practitioners to follow professional standards and to refrain from using practices that have no basis in science or medicine." Bills similar to SB 1172 are now being considered in other state legislatures. There is no word yet if those efforts will be put on hold as the two lawsuits proceed.

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:47 PM

Page 27

DECEMBER 25, 2012

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:47 PM

Page 28

NEWS

LGBT Leaders Excited by Progress and Historic Baldwin Victory By Karen Ocamb There is something absolutely stunning about seeing a bunch of really smart, powerful LGBT people giddily sharing their stories of political gains with each other. The comfort of commonality, the unguarded honesty of fellow frontline soldiers at a fabulous hotel in Long Beach enjoying a brief respite from the literal and symbolic downpour outside—the Victory Fund’s 2012 LGBT Leadership Conference Nov. 29-Dec. 2 was a gathering of hopeful but realitybitten elected officials. From accessible star U.S. Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin to

U.S. Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin and Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe

FRONTIERSLA.COM

the Wyoming House of Representatives’ Cathy Connolly, the conference celebrated the extraordinary victories of out candidates on Nov. 6 and discussed the difficult roadblocks ahead, including the struggle for global equality in a plenary keynoted by U.S. Ambassador David Huebner. In the hallway among waves of well-wishers, Baldwin and Victory Fund Executive Director Chuck Wolf agreed: “There’s a lot to smile about.” I talked with Baldwin about how she came out to Los Angeles, hosted by ANGLE at the house of the late Dr. Scott Hitt, when she was first seeking election to Congress. Many of us were unaware of how very progressive Wisconsin was and were thrilled to hear how she

was inspiring college students with a famed Margaret Mead quote that is now oft repeated by others. “I just had to vacate my House office as they get them ready for the incoming class, so I’ve gone through 14 years of boxes and files, finding all of the old stuff, which is really cool,” Baldwin said. “Let me repeat that quote that is so inspirational to me: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ “That quote inspires me and many others to this day,” Baldwin continued, “and I think is very reflective of the way you begin when you think about, ‘Maybe I’ll run for office. Maybe I’ll ask a few friends to help. Maybe there’s a lot of doubters out there that don’t think it can be done—but it always starts somewhere, and everybody can make a difference.’ At the tail end of the campaign, when the organization isn’t just one or two people but a large group of thoughtful and committed citizens—and yet, you’re still trying to reach that last one and say, ‘Your vote matters. You could make the difference. Please do.’” Asked what advice she would give prospective candidates, Baldwin stressed authenticity. “I think in terms of being out while running for office, it does matter, because voters care about integrity,” Baldwin said. “And they know when somebody is being inauthentic or hiding something or holding secrets. And so, while my sexual orientation rarely came up on the campaign trail, it was well-known and I think did matter to people in terms of their sense that I had integrity and that I would always be honest. “That said, any election for public office— if you are seeking to win—is going to be about the voters and what they care about and what they’re struggling with,” Baldwin continued. “And this 2012 campaign cycle occurred during a time when people were really struggling in Wisconsin and really frustrated with the disconnect between their lives and what they saw many state Legislatures and the Congress debating—which had no connection to their lives.

018-033 3117.qxd

12/7/12

2:49 PM

Page 29

DECEMBER 25, 2012

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:47 PM

Page 30

NEWS

LGBT Leaders Excited by Progress and Historic Baldwin Victory

“We made our campaign for U.S. Senate about the voters. So many people talked about the race as ‘Tammy versus Tommy’ [Thompson, her Republican opponent] as though it were a personality contest, as though the candidates were the most important thing. They all got it wrong. We won because we were responding to the very real struggles that people in Wisconsin have, and talking about how we would help to respond to those challenges as a member of the U.S. Senate. That’s why I won. It doesn’t hurt to be right on the issues, also.” I also noted how openly gay California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, a former labor leader, talks about how labor contracts often offer job protection and domestic partner benefits for LGBT workers when state and local laws or companies do not. With all the talk about “jobs, jobs, jobs,” why is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the executive order regarding federal contractors not being discussed more—though Rep. Jared Polis is apparently taking over the lead from retiring Rep. Barney Frank on ENDA? “Because the election just happened, and people are convening in Washington, the new members aren’t yet sworn in. But obviously we have a new freshman class coming into the House that’s really exciting. I expect the larger strategic conversations to probably begin in January,” Baldwin said. “And you know, I’m the founder of the LGBT Equality Caucus in the House—of course, I’ll be departing and hopefully organizing similar efforts in my new job. But that said, I think there’s a real opportunity at the beginning of any legislative session—and regardless of who controls the House of Representatives— to get folks together and talk about how you can strategically advance the issue. See whether there might be—because Democrats still control the Senate—see where there’s an opportunity to perhaps move first there. Perhaps use the LGBT Equality Caucus to shine a greater spotlight. “But I will tell you that since the election, the LGBT Equality Caucus in the House has already had a briefing on Capitol Hill on the future of ENDA,” Baldwin continued. “Now, this is outside experts—including some of the organizations represented here today—talking about the prospects and the need, including the executive order campaign. So those conversations are underway. But I think involving the incoming members who will be able to play real critical roles will be important.” Including transgender people? “Absolutely. The briefing that I just referred to did include a representative from Mara Keisling’s group, the National Center for Transgender Equality.” Asked how it feels to make history, Baldwin said, “I have to quote my election

FRONTIERSLA.COM

U.S. Ambassador David Huebner (left) and Masen Davis, Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center

night speech, which I will quote later today: ‘I didn’t run to make history. I ran to make a difference.’ But what’s historic is that, on all the challenges I was running to face, the voters of Wisconsin chose me to help be the champion in the Senate. And that’s historic. And it’s pretty cool.” Political consultant and lobbyist Steve Elmendorf, who was a senior advisor and then chief of staff to House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt for many years and served as deputy campaign manager for U.S. Senator John Kerry during his 2004 run for president, said he’s pleased with how far and how fast the LGBT movement has come. “I think we’re doing great. I think the glass is more than half full. The fact that we won an election in four states—which we’ve never done before—we elected a lesbian Senator where it really wasn’t an issue in the election at all; that we’ve elected six members of the House, not to mention all the down-ballot stuff—to me, it’s just stunning,” Elmendorf said. “I think it’s a sign that things have changed very quickly and they’re going to keep changing, because it’s all demographic, and younger people don’t care, don’t want to be told what to do in both parties—so I think it’s only inevitable. We’ve got to keep working, but the fact of the matter is in 2004, when I worked for John Kerry, we had a big debate about whether we could be for civil unions, and we

ended up being for civil unions. The next time we have a presidential candidate in 2016, you won’t be able to be a viable Democratic candidate for president and not be for marriage,” he said. “[To achieve ENDA], we have to get a Democratic House. As long as you have a Republican leadership in the House that is unwilling to even allow it up for a vote, it’s not possible. Now, one of the things we all have to do is build up our Republican base. But I think we’re a way’s away.” Elmendorf also said Obama needs to sign the executive order banning discrimination in federal contracts. “I think it is a big deal, and he needs to do it in the first six months of the year. I think it’s a very significant issue, because it sends a signal—not just a signal—but most businesses do some business with the federal government, so it sets a standard that people have to meet,” Elmendorf said. “I think we need to continue the dialogue with him we’ve had that has given us all the good things we’ve gotten. I think he’s very positive. I don’t really think he needs pressure. I think he’s going to do the right thing. I don’t think it’s a big debate, frankly. I’m not really worried about whether or not they’re going to do it. If it hasn’t happened in six months, then I think you can talk about what else you need to do. But I think people who are talking to them need to keep talking to them—and it’s going to happen.” To see photos from the conference, go to tinyurl.com/cmn2t5x.

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

3:47 PM

Page 31

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

018-033 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:49 PM

Page 32

LastMinute Gift G

By Michelle McCarthy

3. Raffi Jewelers Nothing says jingle bells like a little ring-a-ding—preferably with diamonds. A Swiss Army watch wouldn’t be a bad idea, either. Hit up Raffi Jewelers for the finest in custom jewelry. 8934 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo, (310) 652-7407; raffijewelers.com

1. BlockParty WeHo A gay department store right in the middle of West Hollywood? Yes, indeed. Hit up BlockParty for anyone in need of clothing (YMLA, Pistol Pete, N2N), novelty (lubes, poppers) or casual wear (hoodies, jackets, jeans, swimwear, thermals, message tees). Plus, there’s a $9.99 underwear table featuring Papi, Private Structure, Clever and many more—in case you want to send a very special Yuletide message. 8853 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo, (424) 245-4014; blockpartyweho.com

2. Maximillian Gallery

Art for every age and taste can be found at this den of creativity, which showcases the contemporary art of emerging and established artists. The emphasis is on urban, graffiti and street art. One-of-a-kind original art and limited-edition art gifts can be purchased starting at $20 and on up to $20,000. 1200 Alta Loma Rd., WeHo, (323) 546-9615; maximilliangallery.com

FRONTIERSLA.COM

4. Silver Lake Conservatory of Music Give the gift of music with a gift certificate for music lessons. Created by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, the conservatory offers instruction to people of all ages. One-onone music lessons are $30 per half hour and $60 per hour. Note: A onemonth commitment is required. 3920 Sunset Blvd., L.A., (323) 6653363; silverlakeconservatory.com

5. LIMON Spa & Nail Boutique Gift the gift of glamour with a manicure or pedicure. Gift certificates are available, with services featuring luscious fresh-squeezed organic lemon juice and dead sea salt. The perfect gift for that someone on your list who needs pampering, patrons can enjoy a cup of tea and relax while getting their hands perfected for all those holiday parties. 624 N. Doheny Dr., WeHo, (310) 777-8813

6. Off the Wall Antiques After 30 years on Melrose, OTWA made the move to La Cienega, but you can still expect the same inventory of unique and oddball items. From silver-covered serving platters ($3,500) to a Hollywood Regency Boudoir Bench ($900) or a Clockwork Orange Korova Milk Bar Maiden ($3,500), you’ll definitely be able to fill your kitsch quota. 737 N. La Cienega Blvd., WeHo, (310) 6521185; offthewallantiques.com

7. Traveler’s Bookcase We all have friends who have wanderlust burning deep within. Don’t cure it. Fan the flames with a few selections from this bookstore. Traveler’s carries a large selection of travel books, maps and globes. Get bit by the bug. 8375 W. 3rd St., L.A., (323) 655-0575; travelbooks.com

8. Cirqit-K Do you have someone who likes to stand out in a crowd? Along with skinny shorts (bright or basic), skinny pants (plaid, checkered, bright and basic), tank tops and graphic tees, Cirqit-K offers glow-in-the-dark wristbands and LED shoelaces, armbands and wristbands. Party out loud. (559) 917-0515; cirqitk.com

018-033 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:57 PM

Page 33

The motivating factors that can lead to holiday shopping procrastination vary: fear of food court cuisine; an evolving, post-modernist stance on how society judges naughty versus nice; or perhaps family and friends who are simply harder to buy for than the spawn of Donatella Versace and Marc Jacobs. Whatever the cause is for your affliction, we’re here to help. Check out these last-minute gift ideas— and then go enjoy a hot toddy.

Guide 9. Shine Gallery

12. Pressed Juicery

You can picture Pee-Wee Herman picking up a few toy provisions (to go along with his headlight glasses) at this vintage memorabilia shop located at L.A.’s historic Farmers Market. They offer posters, tin toys, art deco, chalkware, vintage stock clothing, jokes and magic tricks, radios, X-mas items and Halloween masks, souvenirs and one-of-a-kind rarities. 6333 W. Third St. #134, L.A.; shinegallery.com

Overheard conversations in L.A. will often include discussions about juicing, juicers and juice bars. What people won’t mention is the mess involved in going the DIY route. Leave it to the professionals and order juice for your friends and family members from Pressed Juicery. They offer cleanses and a menu of drinks that target specific ailments and body parts. 8714 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo, (310) 854-4407; pressedjuicery.com

10. OK

13. Woof Dog Boutique

Unique is the only word to describe OK. Walk in and browse the selection of bottle openers (crow, hammer, monkey), sculptures (hands and hearts) and even stuff for the kids (Day of the Dead bibs). There’s stuff for the home or office, and even jewelry, wallets and watches. 1716 Silver Lake Blvd., L.A., (323) 666-1868; okthestore.com

Admit it—we know your dog is on your gift list. Forget the usual Santa sweater attire and go for the unconventional. He or she will look divine in Woof Dog’s top hats, glasses, wigs, socks, shoes, undies, beanies, yarmulkes or bow ties. They also offer dog grooming, pet food, vet care, dental care and more. 3172 Glendale Blvd., L.A., (323) 661-7722; woofdogboutique.com

11. Alpha and Apt2B Pop-Up Shop If one-stop shopping is your thing, we have a gem for you. Alpha and Apt2B have joined forces for a holiday-themed, six-week affair (through Dec. 31). Stock up on apparel, gadgets, books and home décor items from Apt2B and Alpha, along with selected furniture from Apt2B (Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday from noon-6 p.m.). 8134 W. 3rd St., L.A.

14. Body Sculpt Wrap Blended with a potent formula combining natural herbal ingredients, these Body Sculpt Wraps can be placed on any area of the body you wish to tone, tighten and firm. They promote the depletion of excess fat and toxins stored in adipose cells in the treated area. As a result, engorged cells shrink back to their normal size when the fat and toxins leave. The process takes approximately 45 minutes. (818) 6185590; bodysculptwraps.com

DECEMBER 25, 2012

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:37 PM

Page 34

LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE 15. Syren

19. Bark Ave L.A.

23. Charity Donation

Are his skinny jeans just not tight enough for him? How about some latex? Syren sells latex shorts and briefs, and rubber boy shorts, jock straps and thongs. Or you can take it up a notch on your riding crop and gift-wrap fetish wear that includes hats, hoods, straitjackets and chaps. 2809 1/2 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A., (213) 989-0334; syrencouture.com

Looking for a special gift for your best furry friend? How about a vacation? The new Barkation headquarters, formerly the Bark Hotel, promises your pet will experience a positive, playful holiday getaway. 545 S. Main St., L.A., (213) 748-7485; barkavela.com

We’ve gotta remind ourselves every now and then that the holidays aren’t only about the accumulation of “things.” If you truly have friends or family members who have everything, why not donate to a charity in their name? Just make sure to choose a cause near and dear to their hearts. Some suggestions: APLA (apla.org), Hope for Paws (hopeforpaws.org), L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center (laglc.org), Homeless Healthcare (hhcla.org).

16. L.A. Body Mechanics Everyone’s got some kinks to work out. Who wouldn’t love a gift card for a massage? Two-time Ironman triathlete David Wachtel’s treatments include deep-tissue massage, circulatory massage, facilitated stretching, joint mobilization and oscillation, structural integration, Thai massage and trigger point therapy. (323) 836-1852; labodymechanics.com

17. Reyes Winery So it’s not Napa Valley. But if you’re looking for a place to take your Secret Santa for a little wine tasting that’s close (enough) to the city, this is a great day-trip destination. Located 45 minutes outside Downtown, Reyes Winery is a solid up-and-comer that provides a nice selection of premium wines. (Check Yelp for a $30 or $50 deal.) 10262 Sierra Highway, Agua Dulce, (661) 268-1865; reyeswinery.com

18. The Original Tomboy The Huckleberry Denim Jacket, from designer Alicia Hardesty, is the talk of the season. It features 100 percent USA denim, YKK zipper details, pockets galore, a menswear-style fit, partial lining and is vintage washed. Wear it anywhere and everywhere. theoriginaltomboy.com

FRONTIERSLA.COM

20. Beer of the Month Club Want to boost your friend status with an acquaintance? Sign him up for a beer of the month club and quickly rocket to BFF status. With a Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club membership, you get 12 12-ounce bottles of beer each month so you can enjoy the holiday spirit all year long. (800) 625-8238; beermonthclub.com

21. Candle Delirium There’s something so comforting about walking into a home during the holidays that’s illuminated with candles. Fragrances such as pumpkin spice, cinnamon and evergreen are especially inviting. At Candle Delirium, you can choose from a large selection of candles for every occasion. They also have diffusors, room sprays and bath and body products. 7980 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo, (888) 656-3903; candledelirium.com

24. Pomp & Posey Formerly located in West Hollywood, Pomp & Posey recently took its wares strictly online. You can order from an outstanding collection of gift and home accessories with a distinct sense of style in the tradition of fine European boutiques—from unique to the exclusive. pompandposey.com

25. Wanna Buy a Watch? You’ll win the gift-giving competition with a unique watch from this Melrose store. They specialize in the finest vintage and contemporary used watches, antique platinum diamond engagement rings and antique and classic wedding bands for men and women. Tell ’em what time it is. 8465 Melrose Ave., L.A., (323) 6530467; wannabuyawatch.com

22. Urban Pet Before you pose with your pets for the family’s annual holiday card, make sure they’re all having good hair days. Urban Pet’s True Blue is an eco-friendly pet shampoo and conditioner that will leave your best friends’ coats silky smooth and smelling great. Then reward their good behavior with Dogsbutter—a delicious, lip-smacking treat from Dog for Dog—that's sure to put a wag in their tail. Dog for Dog supports local rescues and donates product for every jar purchased. 4475 Santa Monica Blvd., Silver Lake; theurbanpet.net

26. Up Dog Yoga and Cycling After the overindulgence of the holidays comes to a close, the list of New Year’s resolutions will be quick to follow. And that thing always includes promises to get back into shape. Whether your friends are into yoga or cycling, this workout hub is a perfect fit. They can ride like a bat out of hell or Namaste themselves to a better body. 8599 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo, (310) 360-7200; updogfitness.com

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:37 PM

Page 35

DECEMBER 25, 2012

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:37 PM

Page 36

Have Yourself A Yummy Little Christmas BY MIKE CIRIACO "Whoever heard of a skinny Santa?" inquired Mrs. Claus as she urged her husband to eat in the claymation classic Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer. The She-Kringle's quote evokes the true spirit of the Yuletide season—it's not gift giving or world peace, but guiltlessly stuffing our faces. At this point in December, most gay Angelenos have already traded in their Andrew Christian speedos for bulkier Armani sweaters, so those extra pounds will be festively camouflaged. Which is fortunate, since L.A.'s myriad restaurants and caterers dish out a variety of tastebudtickling goodies you're likely to encounter at this year's multitude of winter parties. Just in time, Frontiers has compiled some of the most scrumptious holiday appetizers and snacks the city has to offer.

Japanese-Style Chicken Meatballs

Reibekuchen

Pumpkin Bread

Gingered Yam Soufflé

This holiday season, Sammy's Woodfired Pizza serves up more than just their signature gluten-free pizzas. Executive Chef Jeff Moogk actively strives to turn patrons on to new ingredients and unfamiliar combinations of flavors or textures to enhance that sense of fun and originality. A prime example of Moogk's creative spirit is the JapaneseStyle Chicken Meatball. Served with a Japanese tare sauce, these tangy little morsels are a perfect way to kick off any winter party. Since Sammy's uses locally sourced, organic and sustainable items whenever possible, you can nosh with a clear conscience. Multiple locations. sammyspizza.com

Any homo of the Hebrew faith will attest that latkes signify December just as much as menorahs and dreidels. This Hanukkah, our Jewish brethren can find a tasty potato pancake from an unexpected—if not somewhat ironic—source. Wirtshaus German Restaurant and Beer Garden offers mouth-watering Reibekuchen, which is simply Bavarian-style potato pancakes with mascarpone cheese, served with applesauce. This appetizer works as a perfect prelude to one of the seasonal entrées, such as the Elch Gulasch (an elk-based dish) or Sauerbraten (homemade marinated beef with spatzl and red cabbage). 345 N. La Brea Ave., L.A., (323) 931-9291; wirtshausla.com

In agrarian cultures, gourds, such as pumpkins, were some of the last crops to be harvested. This late-season cache resulted in an abundance of pumpkin meal used for autumnal and winter delicacies like pumpkin bread. It may be surprising to find such a simple and traditional item at Marcona. The Melrose sandwich shop is best described as a New York-style deli infused with Mediterranean flare and West Coast sensibility. But Marcona is as adept at baking its own homemade pumpkin bread as it is at slinging Merguez lamb sausage-filled Spanish Gyros or its spiced pork shoulder sensation, Lomo. 7368 Melrose Ave., L.A., (323) 9519991; marconarestaurant.com

When it comes to catering your holiday party this December, don't forget the obvious. Each of Gelson's service delis is overseen by a professional chef who will help take the hassle out of your holiday meal. This Christmas, try a new take on the classic sweet potato dish with Gelson's gingered yam soufflé. It'll fit right in with the traditional turkey, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes. After all, the best home cooking is when you don't have to cook. Multiple locations. gelsons.com

FRONTIERSLA.COM

034-053 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:55 PM

Page 37

DECEMBER 25, 2012

034-053 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:13 PM

Page 38

LIZA

THIS YEAR, ORANGE COUNTY SPELLS WINTER SPECTACULAR WITH A ‘Z’ BY STEPHAN HORBELT

LIZA—if you name it, she’s accomplished it, and undoubtedly excelled at it.

Her show business pedigree requires no enumeration, really, as her nearly five decades of accomplishments have been so very well-documented—and besides, who on Earth has the time to recall such a lengthy syllabus? In short, Liza Minnelli is part of a select group of individuals whose accolades and distinctions not only span the gamut but have widened it as well. Bestowed with honors left and right—an Academy Award, a BAFTA, two Golden Globes, an Emmy, a Grammy Living Legend Award, four Tony Awards and copious nominations, to scratch the surface—it appears the only thing she has not attempted is the art of relaxation.

To this day—63 years after her first on-screen appearance, 47 years since her first Tony Award and 12 years in the wake of a potentially career-haulting bout of encephalitis—we’re still unable to count Liza down for the count. This month, the iconic performer returns to Southern California, performing with a full band and MenAlive, the Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus, in a Winter Spectacular at Segerstrom Hall that can only be described as fitting a living legend. Liza began her career in the entertainment industry onstage, and while she has very successfully ventured into film and television—her celebrated performance in 1972’s Cabaret perhaps her most recognized accomplishment, with contributions to Arthur, Arrested Development, Sex and the City 2 and Saturday Night Live also among her résumé—it seems that Liza always returns to the artform that initially sparked her interest. “I don’t know what keeps me coming back to the stage,” the living legend had to say over the phone while on a rehearsal break. “I just remember when I saw my first Broadway show and thought, oh man. See, I wanted to be an ice skater; then I saw Bye Bye Birdie and thought, maybe I’d rather do that. All the kids were in it and everything—it looked like such fun.”

FRONTIERSLA.COM

The stage isn’t the extent of Liza’s upcoming work, however. Fans will be happy to hear that her plans to return to the small screen are definite as well. “I’m doing Arrested Development again,” she says, and while everything the 66-year-old entertainer relates to me comes across as lively and convivial, she seems particularly elated about returning to the critically acclaimed sitcom. “It’s such fun. It’s just wonderful to work with everybody again. That man [Larry David] is so wonderful.” As someone who has garnered so many awards throughout the years, has broken so many box office records and has a litany of ‘firsts’ under her belt, I had to know whether there were any accomplishments that stood out as particularly meaningful for Liza. “They all did. They’re so exciting at the moment,” she remarked. “Winning the Academy Award and singing next to my father were incredible. And all of the others. I remember them all very well.” One other night stands out in her mind—”I remember my first Tony Award. I didn’t have a dress, so I was wearing my agent’s dress when I won it. [Laughs]” How times have changed. Earlier this year, Liza released the historic concert album Legends of Broadway: Liza Minnelli Live at the Winter Garden, marking the first time the entire 1974 concert had seen release. The show itself, dubbed simply Liza, was momentous, selling out an entire month’s run of concerts at the Winter Garden Theatre in 36 hours.

034-053 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:14 PM

Page 39

Asked what she remembers about that 1974 show, Liza recounted, “I remember how exciting it was, and I remember being with Fred [Ebb, one of the show’s songwriters] and Marvin [Hamlisch, the show’s musical director]—all of these wonderful people. What pops up the most is gratitude, and having worked with so many talented people, and always looking for the talent. I’m grateful. I don’t like ‘yes people’—I want to learn. “I remember it was very exciting. It was wonderful. But yeah, I’m sure I was on top of the world, because that was a first. It was the first time I think an artist had performed in a Broadway house in a concert as a show.” I would be remiss if I failed to mention in these pages Liza’s lengthy stint as a supporter of the world’s gay community and AIDS charities, support that Liza noted is motivated by “the people that I’ve lost, and my respect for them. And always fighting for the underdog. I just don’t think some things are fair.” Speaking of the gay community, Liza’s upcoming performance with MenAlive is sure to be one for the history books. Asked what we can expect from the two-night holiday show, Liza remains brief and humble:—“A good show, I hope!”—as if there were any doubt. Expect a high-energy night filled with spectacular effects, dancers, glitzy costumes and over-the-top moments. Liza and her band will perform a full set of Broadway classics, pop standards and holiday tunes—many with the chorus accompanying.

Rich Cook, the founder and artistic director of MenAlive, has been working with Liza’s musical director Billy Stritch on the Winter Spectacular since June. “Liza decided what she wanted to do with the chorus, and Billy and I proceeded to work out the arrangements,” Cook tells us. “Some of her choices were classics of hers. Of course, ‘Cabaret’ is one of those. Then another she selected just for this show is ’It's the Holiday Season,’ written by Kay Thompson, her godmother. There are more of her classics we're doing together, but I can't give it all away!” The MenAlive Winter Spectacular will be Liza’s first Orange County performance in nearly 20 years, and marks her first-ever performance with a gay men’s chorus—simply one more milestone under her belt. With all that Liza Minnelli has accomplished throughout the years—the accolades, the occasional setbacks and the industry landmarks—in many ways she has become a persona bigger than any one indvidual. Not simply a gay icon, she has become the embodiment of entertainment in any medium, a legend of dynamic proportions. Asked whether she ever stops to contemplate the significance of all she’s accomplished, she very adamantly answers, no. “I think when you stop to think about it, you get satisfied. And if you get satisfied, I don’t think you work as hard. I’m grateful—extremely grateful. And the gratitude makes me always want to do better.”

MenAlive’s Winter Spectacular with Liza Minnelli comes to Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, Dec. 13-14, 8 p.m. For more info and to order tickets, go to SCFTA.org.

PHOTO: RUVEN AFANADOR

DECEMBER 25, 2012

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 40

Reconnect on Hawai’i’s Valley Isle

MAUI

COUNTRY Hana Highway

By Aaron Drake

Wailua Falls

FRONTIERSLA.COM

Maui, Hawai’i, is seemingly already a world away from the grind of Los Angeles. But the cozy town of Hana on the island’s eastern shore is even secluded from the rest of Maui. It’s a bit of a trek to reach it—yet the journey there is equally as stunning as the final destination. The roughly 52-mile winding Road to Hana from Kahului Airport is the literal definition of ‘taking the scenic route.’ The highway’s more than 620 curves are surrounded by a lush tropical rain forest made up of rare trees and exotic plants, sweeping ocean views and romantic waterfalls that can make for endless photo opportunities. The drive itself can take upwards of three hours, but it’s highly worth it as the start to any romantic getaway. Rent a car, grab a CD guide and map, load up on snacks and hit the road. Among the stops you definitely won’t want to miss along your path are Ke’anae Arboretum, Black Sand Beach, Seven Sacred Pools of ‘Ohe’o and Wailua Falls. The latter two are past Hana’s one and only resort,

Travaasa Hana, but worth continuing the drive for sometime during your stay. Keep an eye out for waterfalls all along the route, as certain times of the year are better than others depending on rainfall, and fruit stands, which offer up local tropical fruits and freshly baked banana bread. If you’re not in for a three-hour drive (that 5.5-hour flight from LAX can leave you itching to hit the beach), Travaasa Hana is pairing up with Mokulele Airlines to offer twicedaily, complimentary 20-minute flights from Kahului to Hana Airport when you book a three-night, all-inclusive stay. Otherwise, flights are $59 each way, which is about equal to a tank of gas. No matter how you travel to get here, once you arrive, time will melt away. Travaasa Hana’s friendly staff will greet you with a traditional lei and a warm “Aloha” beneath a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains from the resort’s open-air lobby. While here you may spy many honeymooners, longtime couples celebrating anniversaries or witness a few tying the knot. The resort offers a few different accommodation options depending on your budget (or the importance of the occasion)—23 low-rise garden-

view suites, 47 plantation-style Sea Ranch Cottages and four condos. During my visit, I stayed in one of the oceanview cottages and didn’t feel like I was at a resort at all. There was nothing but a stretch of lawn between the private Jacuzzi on the back deck and the sea cliffs overlooking a roaring blue Pacific. Travaasa’s at first panicinducing “no TVs, internet, radios or alarm clocks” policy was suprisingly easy to adapt to, and a welcome reminder of what peace and quiet felt like pre-Facebook. There’s nothing quite as calming as falling asleep to the sound of the waves—just to be woken up in the middle of the night by a fleeting rainstorm. The resort, formerly the legendary Hotel Hana-Maui, is literally the center of town. If you blink, you’ll miss the remainder of Hana, made up of a general store, Hana Ranch Restaurant, two churches, a baseball field and Hana Cultural Center & Museum. Hana is populated by a community of families that have lived here since its beginnings. I highly recommend you check in at the resort’s activity center to rent bikes and take a romantic ride through town, out to the world-famous Hamoa Beach. On the property, the Ka’uiki Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Footsteps

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 41

HAWAIIAN HIDEAWAY

Fairmont Kea Lani

Travaasa Hana

away is the award-winning spa at Travaasa Hana. Here you can take part in a heavenly spa experience designed just for couples, Hana Couple’s Escape, which combines an organic myrtle saltwater foot soak with a sun-dried clay foot mask, a soothing full body massage and a hot oil scalp treatment. A host of experiental programs are available on and off-property. On-site, try your hand at the ‘ukulele, lei making, hula dancing, coconut husking or cock-

tail recipes—just to name a few—each guided by a patient kumu (teacher). My personal favorite experience was the coastal horseback ride departing from the Hana Ranch stables across the street from the resort. Rides can range from one to three hours on trusty horses, and this one cut through a particularly beautiful piece of land owned by the one and only Oprah herself. The world over, it’s without a doubt one of the most majestic places you’ll find.

Travaasa Hana 5031 Hana Hwy, Hana, Maui, (808) 248-8211; travaasa.com/hana

Ka’uiki Restaurant

Voted “Best U.S. Island” this year— and best destination overall—by Conde Naste Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, Maui has no shortage of luxurious resorts and adventures waiting to be had. A gay hotspot on the island is a hidden stretch of sand you’ll lovingly come to know as Little Beach. The island’s only unofficial nude beach, it’s popular with locals and tourists alike, and the perfect place to make friends or get some sun sans tanlines. Nearby is Makena Beach & Golf Resort (makenaresortmaui.com). Besides being walking distance to Little Beach, the resort features five floors of recently renovated rooms and suites with partial and full shimmering ocean views. The grounds, spanning 1,800 acres, are a fabulous wedding and honeymoon destination—able to accommodate ceremonies or events with up to 5,000 people. The resort offers special packages for wedding parties and an in-house wedding planner to assist with all the details. The most romantic meal you may ever experience will be here, in the hotel’s oceanside cabana. Watch the sunset as your own private butler serves from a multi-course menu created by the resort’s Executive Chef Marc McDowell. You absolutely must request Wilma, a sweet, longtime local who will provide you with excellent service, as well as entertaining tales and inside tips on Maui life. Makena Beach & Golf Resort offers a full menu of activities so you never need to leave the grounds. You can take up golfing at the resort’s 18-hole golf course (with a killer Café on the Green that was recently rated #1 in Wailea by Trip Advisor), putting green, tennis and volleyball courts, a fitness center, day spa and beach activities, such as kayaking, snorkeling and standup paddleboarding. A handy outdoor kitchen and bar is stationed poolside, which serves up yummy wood-fired pizza and bespoke tropical cocktails made from herbs grown in the resort chef’s own garden. If you do decide to take a day trip from here, I recommend heading to old

Lahaina Town on the western side of the island. Here you can browse the quaint shops as you stroll along Front Street. Ululanis Shave Ice (ululanisshaveice.com) is an absolute must while you’re here (with locations in Kahului and Kihei also). This frozen treat alone is worth making the trip for, as Ululanis prides itself as having the best shave ice in the world. The charming staff takes a few extra minutes to make sure each order is perfectly refreshing, touting flavors like coconut, lychee and guava. Your mouth will be very happy you stopped by. From here, continue west and you’ll find the most thrilling ziplining experience on Maui, Kapalua Adventures (gozipmaui.com). The five-line course scales the West Maui Mountains and is ideal for couples, with side-by-side lines, culminating in a picnic lunch. A little further up the road from Makena Beach, in Wailea, you will find the perfect spot to travel with friends or little ones in tow. Family-friendly resort Fairmont Kea Lani (fairmont.com/ kea-lani-maui) boasts luxury amenities and exciting activities right at the resort. Take part in one of the best cultural programs on the island that delves into Hawaiian history, and quickly learn a few Hawaiian language basics with the hotel’s cultural coach Jonelle Kamai. Following your cultural lesson, put your new knowledge to the test and experience what I considered the most delicious meal I encountered while on the island—the hotel’s recently renovated restaurant, Ko (korestaurant.com). Here you’ll experience fine dining with Executive Chef Tylun Pang’s fresh, locally sourced cuisine influenced by the clash of cultures that made Hawaii what it is today. The Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, Korean and Japanese dishes are made from island family recipes passed down through the generations. Though it feels like it’s a world away from little Hana, on this side of the island you can catch a memorable sunset—just a small reminder you’re in one of the most beautiful locales on the planet. DECEMBER 25, 2012

034-053 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:14 PM

Page 42

SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE

EVENTS FRI., DEC. 14 MOSCOW IN L.A. The Moscow Ballet brings The Great Russian Nutcracker to Los Angeles for one day. This special 20th anniversary production features 40 dancers bringing all the joy of the traditional holiday story—but with Russian flair. Everything is set to Tchaikovsky’s complete Nutcracker Suite score. 4 & 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $28. The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. nutcracker.com

FRI., DEC. 14 A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS Upright Cabaret’s A Broadway Christmas is a magical holiday revue that combines the best of Broadway with the carols of Christmas. It’s the perfect event to put you in the holiday spirit, starring Lillias White, James Tormé and an all-star cast, hosted by American Idol’s James Hernandez. Annenberg The-

ater, 101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs. uprightcabaret.com

SAT., DEC. 15 JAMES BOND UP FOR AUCTION The most comprehensive collection of James Bond movie posters to ever reach the market will be a part of Profiles in History’s Dec. 15-16 Hollywood auction. Every title in the popular series is represented with an extensive range of regular release posters, stills and other rare ephemera, and the collection also includes truly scarce ‘holy grails’ of Bond poster collecting. Profiles in History, 26901 Agoura Rd., Ste. 150, Calabasas Hills. profilesinhistory.com

SAT., DEC. 15 HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will kick off its 34th Season when it returns to the Alex Theatre, Dec. 15-16, for its annual

MOSCOW

BALLET

JAMES BOND UP FOR AUCTION holiday musical extravaganza, Holiday Spectacular 2012, with special guests Creative Planet School of the Arts. Students of the school will perform alongside the chorus in some of GMCLA’s most beloved signature performance numbers. $15-75. 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. gmcla.org

SUN., DEC. 16 HOLLYWOOD MASTER CHORALE The Hollywood Master Chorale mixes things up for the holidays with Sweet Was The Song, featuring an array of music from jazz tunes to classical oratorios to carols, plus three “Hallelujah” choruses not written by Handel. 7:30 p.m. $20. Hollywood Lutheran Church, 1733 N. New Hampshire Ave., L.A. hollywood masterchorale.org

Hemingway and L. Frank Baum. Profiles in History, 26901 Agoura Rd., Ste. 150, Calabasas Hills. profilesinhistory.com

THU., DEC. 20 HOT LAVA HOLIDAY SHOW Honolulu's legendary Don Tiki brings together musicians, vocalists and dancers to reinvent the jungle jazzy sounds of exotica for the first-ever L.A. performance of Don Tiki’s Hot Lava Holiday Show. The band features Hawaii's top musicians with experience ranging from punk to jazz fusion to world beat. Fans can expect the band's signature tunes as well as some holiday songs. 8 p.m. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A. laphil.com

SAT., DEC. 22

TUE., DEC. 18

ONE NIGHT ONLY

THE WORLD’S GREATEST

Paula Poundstone brings her legendary comedy to Long Beach for one intimate night only. It’s a breast cancer benefit at the Ernest Borgnine Theatre, and after the show she’ll also hold a meet-and-greet with autographs and pictures. Opening music provided by Robby Ravenwood. 7:30 p.m. 855 Elm Ave., Long Beach. artfulthinking.org

Profiles in History is proud to announce that personal correspondence and manuscripts from the world's greatest authors will be included at its latest auction, The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector. The auction will include 300 of the most important manuscripts in its collection, including works by Dickens,

SAT., DEC. 22 F@#K THE MAYANS Mack & Poppy return to L.A. to celebrate the holidays with It’s Christmas! (F#*k The Mayans!) for two shows only. Assuming the world doesn’t end the day before, the duo will present both favorite tunes and new material for an irreverent evening of song and laughter that’s sure to be talked about—at least until New Year’s Eve. 8 & 10 p.m. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at door. Cavern Club Celebrity Theater, 1920 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake. mackandpoppy.com

MON., DEC. 24 A CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA Bring the whole family to L.A.'s biggest, Emmy-nominated holiday show at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the 53rd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration. More than 20 choirs, music ensembles and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of L.A. celebrate the season during this free three-hour extravaganza. Even parking underneath the music center is free! 3-6 p.m., 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A. kcet.org

For more Events Calendar listings, go to FrontiersLA.com/EventsCalendar. 42

FRONTIERSLA.COM

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 43

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 44

SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE

HOOKER CASINO HERE LOUNGE

PHOTOS BY BRENDEN-JOHN PHOTOGRAPHY

FRONTIERSLA.COM

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 45

THEATER THE ADDAMS FAMILY The spooky, cooky Addams Family hits the stage for the holidays in a musical featuring an original story—and it's every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. But everything is bound to change on the fateful night they meet Wednesday's “normal” boyfriend and his parents! Dec. 18-30. Tickets $20. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. scfta.org

CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS A “Jewish Christmas show” for people of all ages and faiths, here we meet Shirley Abramowitz, a young Jewish girl who, much to her immigrant parents’ exasperation, is cast as Jesus in the school’s Christmas pageant. Mr. and Mrs. Abramowitz, with the help of a much-older Shirley, capture a timeless and universal tale of what it means to be an Ameri-

can during the holidays. Through Dec. 30. Tickets $4772. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. geffen playhouse.com

DONNY & MARIE—A CHRISTMAS IN LOS ANGELES In the holiday tradition of the Osmond Family Christmas television specials, the legendary Donny and Marie invite all of SoCal to celebrate the joy of the season in true Osmond fashion. With a dash of Christmas spirit and the entertainers’ trademark show-stopping production numbers, Donny & Marie bring us Christmas songs and holiday cheer, plus hits from their illustrious careers. Dec. 4-23. Tickets start at $25. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd. broadwayla.org

THE GAYEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER! This holiday camp-fest opens at the time of the annual holiday production for a struggling gay theater company. Drama is brewing as the straight, potsmoking tech guy offends the eclectic playwright, causing

him to walk out and take his script with him. Now the crazy and drama-addicted team has just a few weeks to produce the gayest Christmas pageant ever! Dec. 14, 15, 29, 30. Tickets $20. The Avery Schreiber Theatre, 11050 Magnolia Blvd., NoHo. averyschreibertheatre.com

IN HEAT IN HOLLYWOOD— HO HO HO A sexy, hip, irreverent and delirious thrill ride through midlife, this autobiographical comedy is about a small-town boy who moves to Hollywood and plunges into the choppy waters of coming out, absurd hookups, Sunday night clubbing, 9-to-5 office drudgery and facing his own mortality, all while trying to find his glow and maintain his dignity at the Hollywood/ Wilcox police station. Through Dec. 23. Tickets $25. Skylight Theatre, 1816 1/2 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. katselas theatre.com

JUDY & COMPANY Spend a magical evening with Judy Garland and perhaps even some of her most famous gal

CONEY ISLAND

CHRISTMAS

OTHER DESERT CITIES pals, including Carol Channing, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn and Liza Minnelli! Peter Mac's cabaret-style show captures the audience, entertains everyone and you never know who might show up. Two drink min. Tickets $20-30. Oil Can Harry's, 11502 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. friendofjudy.com

NOTHING TO HIDE Masterful magicians Derek DelGaudio (2011 Close-Up Magician of the Year) and Helder Guimarães (2011 Parlour Magician of the Year) pair with director Neil Patrick Harris to take audiences on an imaginary journey through a jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring series of vignettes. Through Jan. 6. Tickets $64-149. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. geffenplayhouse.com

PHOTO: MICHAEL LAMONT

OTHER DESERT CITIES It’s Christmas Eve in Palm Springs when Brooke presents her Reagan-adjacent parents with a tell-all confessional novel that turbocharges the holidays and the Wyeth family dynamic with ever-shifting alliances and politics. Other Desert Cities received a 2012 Tony nomination for Best Play and in its West Coast premiere will close out the Taper's 45th season. Through Jan. 6. Tickets start at $40. Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave.,

Downtown L.A. centertheatre group.org

THE NUTCRACKER The Long Beach Ballet pulls out all the stops for the 30th production of the holiday classic. This year boasts a flying sleigh, a live horse, onstage pyrotechnics, astounding stage magic and a cast of over 200 dancers. Returning to perform is Melissa Sandvig, Season 5 finalist of So You Think You Can Dance, along with guest performers from Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. Dec. 15-16, 2223. Tickets $28-65. Long Beach Terrace Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. longbeach nutcracker.com

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS An updated version of the classic tale, this show for all ages features family-friendly magic with a comedic twist, dancing, a live miniature pony and contemporary music from Katy Perry’s “Firework” to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” A starstudded cast is led by Ariana Grande as Snow White, Charlene Tilton as the Wicked Queen and an on-screen appearance by Neil Patrick Harris as The Magic Mirror. Through Dec. 23. Tickets $3272. The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. pasedenaplayhouse.org

For more Arts Calendar listings, go to FrontiersLA.com/ArtsCalendar. DECEMBER 25, 2012

PHOTO: CRAIG SCHWARTZ

SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE

FURR TRADE FAULTLINE

PHOTOS BY ROLLING BLACKOUTS

FRONTIERSLA.COM

Page 46

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 47

DECEMBER 25, 2012

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 48

PHOTO: ROLLING BLACKOUTS

SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE

WED., DEC. 12 KNOCK OUT At Suckerpunch, the East Side’s most happening happy hour, you’ll hear the best in music you won’t hear anywhere else, see twisted visuals and—best of all—drink for cheap! $4 well drinks and premium taps. Faultline, 4216 Melrose Ave., Silver Lake. faultlinebar.com

FRI., DEC. 14 RAUNCH ‘N’ ROLL Editor Stephan Horbelt and Jay Krymis host Fubar’s annual Raunchy Rock ‘n’ Roll Xmas party. Bang your head to rock and dance tunes while gawking at go-gos and getting loaded. Special performance by The Gay-Gay’s. Fubar, 7994 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. fubarla.com

FRI., DEC. 14 WORKIN’ GIRL Rhonda’s back and celebrating host Gregory Alexander’s birthday, which means it’ll be a doozy. A Club Called Rhonda will feature the L.A. debut of the UK’s Julio Bashmore. RSVP for $5 entry and drink specials

before 10 p.m. by visiting rhonda says.net. $15 after. Los Globos, 3040 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake.

SAT., DEC. 15 SLUT IT UP The Gay Pimp himself, Jonny McGovern, and Greg McKeon present Saturday Night Slut at Fubar, a new party perfect for cheap sluts (no cover), drunk sluts ($1 well drinks and domestics from 10-11 p.m.) and nasty sluts (a dark room). Expect an overload of go-go guys and a 1 a.m. “towel dance” that may leave you breathless. 7994 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. fubarla.com

MON., DEC. 17 FELIZ NAVIDAD Spend a night this holiday season with two of your favorite chicas from Tijuana, Kay Sedia and Chi Chi Rones. Feliz NaviDIVAs is a night of song, stories and laughter—all in a Mexicali dialect. Be prepared that you just might pee your chonies. Four shows, Dec. 17-18, 8 & 9:30 p.m. Cavern Club Theater, 1920 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake. cavernclubtheater.com

WED., DEC. 19 IN THE CENTER OF THE RING You’ve never been to a party quite like Stripper Circus, with carnival games and chances to win cash and prizes all night long. Now it has more strippers than ever, plus weekly live performances! 8 p.m. $5 includes early open bar. Here Lounge, 696 N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. herelounge.com

THU., DEC. 20 THE SECRET’S OUT Thursdays have been shaken and stirred with Tom Whitman’s latest party, Secret Service. Get your gay weekend started on a Thursday night with resident DJs Drew G and Casey Alva. No cover. Revolver, 8851 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. tomwhitmanpresents.com

FRI., DEC. 21 END OF THE WORLD Start your weekend off right at Raunch, a monthly party held at the East Side’s beer-guzzling stronghold. This month’s party also marks the end of the world (according to that pesky

RAUNCH Mayan calendar), so who knows what’s in store. James Cerne DJs. Faultline, 4216 Melrose Ave., Silver Lake. faultlinebar.com

FRI., DEC. 21 GET IN GEAR As part of the bar’s Fetish Fridays series, every third Friday of the month is GEAR, a night where leather, uniform and sportswear enthusiasts can dress up and flaunt their sexual proclivities. You’ll find a little bit of everything, including a laidback crowd of beer-drinking buddies. Eagle L.A., 4219 Santa Monica Blvd., Silver Lake. eaglela.com

SAT., DEC. 22 ROYAL FLUSH

HOOKER CASINO

Oceanfront Balinese

Guest House

FRONTIERSLA.COM

The team behind Stripper Circus brings you Hooker Casino, transforming Here Lounge into the world’s dirtiest casino. Win $100 or be a judge for the ‘Best Ass’ contest at midnight—or just drink,

dance and find someone to rub up against. 696 N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. herelounge.com

SAT., DEC. 22 RUSSIAN LOVE MACHINE Rasputin is the Saturday night party everyone’s been talking about. There’s no cover (although you can pay $5 to bypass the line) and no rules here. A team of Russian Dolls make up the host committee. Robertson, 665 N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. facebook.com/ RasputinLA

SUN., DEC. 23 RETROSEXUAL End your weekend by dancing up a storm at Decade, a WeHo party where you’re sure to hear nothing but the classics while tearing up the dance floor. Indulge in disco-dancing gogo boys and live drag performances before you head back to work on Monday. Micky’s, 8857 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. mickys.com

For more Nightlife listings by day of the week, go to FrontiersLA.com/Nightlife.

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 49

DECEMBER 25, 2012

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 50

SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE

BENT-CON 2012 BURBANK

PHOTOS BY MATTBAUME.COM

FRONTIERSLA.COM

034-053 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:59 PM

Page 51

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 52

SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE

STEAK BY THE SEA:

THE GOLDEN BULL BY NICK RUFCA

I’ll begin with a confession: for years, I’ve walked by The Golden Bull steakhouse, located in Santa Monica, with only a mildly curious glance thrown in its direction. I love neighborhood joints, and the Bull is situated near the strand of beach I frequent most. Yet nothing about the unassuming appearance of the Bull’s exterior beckoned The fact that our extra dirty marme to come back when I wasn’t in my bathing tinis and strong Manhattans went down suit and flip-flops. easy in a place like this wasn’t shocking. What an error in judgment. A recent The quality of our steaks, cooked to perouting to the Bull on a Friday night upended The Golden Bull fection and priced quite reasonably, made all of my expectations, beginning with the me wonder why I hadn’t been stopping warm and inviting ambiance that greeted my 170 W. Channel Rd. in for dinner on a regular basis for years date and I as we entered the front door. Santa Monica prior. My 12 oz. prime rib was thickly cut, Would we like a seat in the bar or the (310) 230-0402 tender and the shade of pink that true separate, main dining room? Upon a quick, goldenbull.us careful inspection of both areas, the decicarnivores envision when they dream sion became surprisingly tough. Scanning about meat. The filet served to my date, the cozy dining area, jovial families and groups he declared, was the best he could of friends held court at large tables in the room’s corners. At smaller remember having in recent memory. Did we overdo it when we two-tops, couples of varying ages clinked wine glasses and laughed ordered both the delicious Golden Bull bread pudding and the tasty over dinner. Back in the intimate bar, a large fireplace cast a romantic mocha ice cream pie for dessert? Possibly, but a place like this invites glow over deep leather booths, while a bartender rigorously shook you to stay awhile, linger over your food and drink as long as desired. a cocktail tumbler over her head. We figured the closer to this parNot to mention that after waiting this long to dine at the Bull, I ticular action, the better. simply have to make up for lost time, don’t I?

Classic Steakhouses For a city that sees a steady stream of trendy eateries come and go, Los Angeles has a surprising number of classic steakhouses that remain refreshingly ‘old school.’

FRONTIERSLA.COM

The Musso & Frank Grill

Taylor’s Steakhouse

Pacific Dining Car

Recent upgrades to the menu and dining room had some Musso fans fretting that Hollywood’s oldest restaurant may lose its way. No worries—the classic atmosphere prevails, the gin martini is still the best around and many of the respected waitstaff have been wearing the Musso’s uniform for over 25 years. mussoandfrank.com

When serious steak-eaters say they’re on Team Taylor, they’re not talking Twilight. With locations in both Downtown and La Canada, meat aficionados swear by the Culotte—a tender and flavorful cut of top sirloin. taylorssteakhouse.com

A true Mad Men-type dining experience can be had at either the Downtown or Santa Monica locations. The combination of red leather booths, strong martinis, and a dimly lit dining room make menu items like Filet Oscar and Roquefort Steak seem like the only appropriate thing to order. pacificdiningcar.com

034-053 3117.qxd

12/6/12

4:35 PM

Page 53

DECEMBER 25, 2012

054-069 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:30 PM

Page 54

ENTERTAINMENT

FILM

REVIEWS THIS IS 40 Starring Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Albert Brooks Opens Dec. 21

####

This Is 40 is a big film full of little scenes. Writer-director Judd Apatow’s fourth feature film is his most rounded, human offering to date. (Those who dislike his type of comedy will scarcely warm to it here.) By concentrating on two minor characters from Knocked Up—Pete and Debbie, a married couple fast approaching milestone birthdays—he polishes some of the rougher, vulgar edges of past efforts in a story that’s rooted in a very specific milieu (upper-class Angelenos) and finds the universal in it for everyone (relationship struggles, the anxiety of aging and the like). Paul Rudd—doughy here, financially despondent, undersexed—is more everyman than ever while pulling off inspired fits of physical comedy (a scene with him, a mirror and his legs akimbo to check a growth on his anus is a modern classic). Leslie Mann plays shrill to perfection (many feel she’s nothing but shrill), yet there’s carnal warmth in her performance; when she gets some life-changing information, her face is a battlefield of vastly different—and equally humorous—emotions. The film is overlong, as are all his projects, but a welcome, contemporary addition to great, messy L.A. film comedies. —Dan Loughry

ANY DAY NOW

THE COLLECTION

LES MISÉRABLES

Starring Alan Cumming, Garret Dillahunt, Isaac Levya Opens Dec. 14

Starring Josh Stewart, Emma Fitzpatrick, Lee Tergesen Now Playing

Starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway Opens Dec. 25

The plot sounds like a saccharine TV movie-of-theweek, but Any Day Now is a remarkable—and remarkably affecting—film about a gay couple in 1979 Los Angeles fighting for custody of Marco (Levya), a teenager with Down syndrome. Rudy (Cumming) is a drag queen who eyes Paul (Dillahunt) in the audience one night. After a quickie in the car, the men eventually come to forge a stronger bond when Rudy opts to take care of Marco, his arrested neighbor’s abandoned child. Paul, a lawyer, obtains emergency legal custody, but they soon face court appearances and, eventually, scrutiny of their queer lives. Any Day Now shows, without lecturing, just how hard legal rights were—and in some places still are—for samesex couples. The film’s chronicle of justice will wring strong emotions from viewers. That’s not to say the film isn’t biased, but its points are cogent and compelling, and never didactic. There are also many poignant moments—from Rudy watching Marco singing to a heartbreaking letter Paul reads (in voiceover). Cumming, who is fantastic here, also gets to showcase his fabulous voice, especially when he movingly covers Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released,” the song that gives this top-notch film its title.

Is there any subspecies of horror more maligned than torture-porn? Sure, loads of it is atrocious, yet some of it—the first Saw, a loony team-building satire called Severance—is quite effective. The Collection— written by Marcus Dunston and Patrick Melton (writers in the Saw series), directed by Dunston— falls somewhere in between: it’s almost good and not quite awful. A serial killer dubbed “The Collector” slaughters a lot of people in highly visual fashion (and keeps one lucky victim for his collection). At a girls’ club night out, Elena (the highly appealing Fitzpatrick) watches as friends are killed. In one scene, it’s beneath a giant combine from the ceiling. In another, a group is crushed to death. She escapes to become his latest human souvenir, but not before Arkin (Stewart) escapes, only to be strong-armed into helping lead a ragtag group to The Collector’s lair (a dilapidated hotel) to save her. The movie frontloads the best kills—for gore hounds, the first halfhour is like bloody Christmas—but after that it’s a long slog though tired genre tropes—over-amped sounds, exploding heads, etc. What’s being collected, it seems, are the same old horror clichés.

Let’s get this out of the way up front—I loathed Les Misérables when I saw it in New York soon after its opening. The operatic songs, the nonstop turning of the stage like a demented Lazy Susan—the damn show couldn’t end soon enough for me. Yet the film version’s another matter entirely. It’s not perfect—the live singing distracts nearly as much as it adds in emotional heft. (Good as she is as the tragic Fantine, Anne Hathaway’s voice is constricted when she’s on the verge of tears, which is always; and Russell Crowe—a solid Javert—has little range.) Except for Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the innkeepers, Thénardier and Madame Thénardier, the piece is humorless (Baron Cohen and Bonham Carter are not only inspired clowns here—they’re necessary). But Tom Hooper’s vision of this well-loved document of musical theater is a triumph. The naturalistic setting grounds the plot machinations in a reasonable facsimile of 19th century France. Hugh Jackman has his best screen role yet as the perennially redemptive Jean Valjean. Eddie Redmayne is a fetching Marius with a pure high tenor—that voice is pure romance. And the songs have held up well.

#####

—Gary M. Kramer

FRONTIERSLA.COM

—Dan Loughry

####

—Dan Loughry

054-069 3117.qxd

12/7/12

4:42 PM

Page 55

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

054-069 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:30 PM

Page 56

ENTERTAINMENT

MUSIC

REVIEWS

Ke$ha Warrior (RCA)

I don’t think there’s another pop star who elicits quite the same love/hate relationship with the press and her fans as Ke$ha does. It’s easy to love her ballsy, bawdy, unfiltered opinions and ‘I don’t give a f#ck!’ demeanor. But it’s just as easy to hate her when all that appears calculated and pretentious. But here’s the deal: you simply cannot deny her ability in making earworms that drill clear through your skull. Granted, her topics du jour don’t stray far from her familiar “YOLO” themes of partying, drinking and sexing, but dare I say the girl is finally starting to actually rock a little. Case in point are two of her best tracks, “Dirty Love”—a duet with the iconic Iggy Pop that’s a foot-stomping, hand-clapping hell of a jam—and The Strokes-inspired “Only Wanna Dance With You.” She wails ‘em both out with no AutoTune assistance, and Peaches or Joan Jett would be proud. Of the electropop bangers we’re gonna be hearing for the next year, they are aplenty, such as lead single “Die Young,” the defiant title track, and the gettin’ rowdy “C’mon.” But it’s the ballads (“Wonderland,” “Love Into the Light”) that reveal the true talent this girl has up her sleeve. —Paul V.

Martin Rossiter

Outasight

Neimo

Solange

Sufjan Stevens

The Defenestration of St. Martin (Drop Anchor Music)

Nights Like These (Warner Brothers)

Beast (Big Field Records)

True (Terrible Records)

Silver & Gold: Songs For Christmas Volume 2 (Asthmatic Kitty)

U.K. Britpop band Gene—often compared, witheringly, to The Smiths—operated from 1995 until 2004. As second-tied Smiths, they were never more than a cult concern in the U.S. (though their final tour here was a sell-out). I thought they were fantastic—melodramatic, tuneful, occasionally campy—while also acknowledging how spotty their records could be. (Like so many before them, their first, Olympian, is their best.) Vocalist Martin Rossiter—he of the dramatic and often quivering tenor—returns after nine years with The Defenestration of St. Martin, and in keeping with his legacy it’s just as inconsistent as his former band’s work. Part of the issue here is the monochromatic settings of the songs. All 10 are piano ballads; without the offset of ex-Gene guitarist Steve Mason (or drums and bass for that matter—hell, even an occasional violin or cello might help), the bare bones point up that voice, which tends towards the histrionic. Good news is that the 10-minute opener “Three Points on a Compass” is a triumph—just when you think it’s going to run out of steam, Rossiter punches it up with an emotional yelp and a run of arpeggios. And throughout he downplays as much as the material warrants.

You probably spied Outasight (né Richard Andrew) on The XFactor recently, or heard his “Tonight Is the Night” in a Pepsi commercial. (You’ll hear that one and think, “Oh yeah, I love that song!”) And on his proper fulllength debut, this talented Big Apple MC/crooner proves he chose the correct band name. Opener "Let's Go" starts the party off right, kicking in with hand claps and a fierce guitar riff as he spews out some elastic rhymes, which flow even harder on the Chiddybang duet “Shine.” This dude can rock a Friday night hang at the college rock sports bar (“I’ll Drink to That”), heartily nod to U2 or Coldplay (“Perfect Words”), touch some heartstrings (“Under Lock and Key”) and switch on the neon electro (“Ready Set Go”) without breaking a sweat. Also on the club tip is the self-revelatory “If I Fall Down.” He’s like the smooth white-boy offspring of Taio Cruz or Bruno Mars, or best pals with the band fun. Trying to mix and match all these sounds on one album could easily come off as phony or forced, but instead the whole thing is just a winning, feelgood, ‘let’s hang, party and sing’ kind of affair. Out of sight, man.

Fans of British electro rock can agree this year’s seen a dearth of quality LPs. Happily, as 2012 draws to a close, a ‘Hail Mary’ for the NME set comes from the unlikeliest of sources—France. Neimo are a quartet of young men making the kind of music you hoped The Killers would continue to make. Beast is the first LP from the band since 2008’s breakthrough, Moderne Incidental, and what a difference the time off has made. As if they’re writing songs for their life, not one of Beast’s 14 songs fails to make an impact. The album opens with a cluster of singles the band has been releasing over its hiatus. “Lauren Bacall,” “Fight, Fight, Fight” and “Control” all experiment with angular pop, each with bold shout-along choruses. You can hear echoes of Foals, fronted by a heavily accented David Bowie. “Dancing Shadows” is a five-minute-plus epic showstopper that should end the next USB mixtape you give to your boyfriend. “See the Sun” gets in your head and never lets go. It smells like a future single. Other highlights include a nifty Dannii Minogue cameo and the enormous heartbreaking album closer, the titular “Beast.” Fans of Interpol, The Strokes, The Killers, Muse, Editors—you know who you are. Seek this one out.

It can’t be easy to be Solange Knowles. Whatever you do will be compared to your more popular (and insanely overrated) sibling. It doesn’t help that though you released your debut in 2003, it’s taken nearly a decade to find your musical voice. Yet that’s where Solange finds herself with the release of True. She’s replaced the wan hip-hop and starry-eyed R&B of both Solo Star (2003) and Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams (2008) for a sleeker, electro-based sound, and she’s come into her own. Her voice is as weedy as her sister’s—they aren’t fantastic singers, but they know how to phrase. And she’s more interesting shape-shifting here than hewing to genre standards. Both the single “Losing You” and “Some Things Never F*cking Work” could be great Madonna singles circa-1986— they’re the kind of open-hearted pleas that are pop manna. And the soft bedroom aesthetic of the current indie-mien is evident in songs such as “Locked in Closets” and “Looks Good with Trouble”— the tuneful melodies lay atop beds of sooth synthetics. Solange may be chasing another trend here— it’s hard to tell. But she’s never sounded this relaxed, engaging or just plain ready to join Beyoncé at the top of the charts.

Indie kids have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. Obama’s still in office, The Black Eyed Peas are listed as “on hiatus” on Wikipedia and Sufjan Stevens is still as crazy as ever. One of the world’s most prolific weirdos releases his second (!) box set of Christmas albums. Silver & Gold: Songs For Christmas Volume 2 spans five years worth of Sufjan’s batty festive output. And man, if it isn’t awesome. If you’re a SuFAN (I just made that up), you probably know what you’re in for, but novices cannot only enjoy five discs (nearly 60 tracks) of holiday and/or winter-themed Sufjan music (recorded between 2006 and 2010), but also delight in endless temporary tattoos and stickers. You also get a holiday ornament and an 80-page book filled with essays that range from curmudgeonly to downright bizarre. The music is terrific. If you're a fan of Illinois-era Sufjan, stick with Volume 6 ("Gloria!") or the overstuffed Volume 7 ("I Am Santa's Helper"). If you're a fan of 2010's The Age Of Adz, then skip right to Volume 8 ("Infinity Voyage"), where things go well past the holidays and veer toward outer space. There's over 20 Sufjan originals mixed with the jumble of reworked holiday classics and covers (Prince?!). You'll still be sifting through all this by the time next Christmas comes around.

—Dan Loughry

—Paul V.

—Dominik Rothbard

—Dan Loughry

—Dominik Rothbard

FRONTIERSLA.COM

054-069 3117.qxd

12/7/12

5:13 PM

Page 57

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

054-069 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:30 PM

Page 58

ENTERTAINMENT

THEATER REVIEWS ANYTHING GOES AHMANSON THEATRE | 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A. Through Jan. 6 | Tickets $20-120 | centertheatregroup.org If there’s a heaven, it must feel something like watching three tiers of skilled musical theater pros percussively tap dancing their hearts out to a glorious Cole Porter score. If so, there’s a little bit of heaven at the Ahmanson, as the recent Broadway revival of Porter’s 1930s classic Anything Goes comes to town in a sparkling national-touring production that is oh-so-easy to love. Director Kathleen Marshall took home her third Tony for the show’s choreography, and the dancing is the star of this deliciously playful and wonderfully escapist show. Sure, there’s a story, and even some lovely Porter ballads, but it’s all just a glorious excuse to get to the next big number. Anything Goes ostensibly tells the

story of young stockbroker Billy Crocker (Erich Bergen), who has fallen for debutante Hope Harcourt (Alex Finke) and stows away on a London-bound ocean liner with Hope and her stuffy British fiancé, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Edward Staudenmayer). Billy’s naughty nightclub singer pal, Reno Sweeney (Rachel York), plots with him to upend the engagement, while a two-bit gangster, Moonface Martin (Fred Applegate), and his mol, Erma (Joyce Chittick), add to the shenanigans. In an iconic Broadway role originated by Ethel Merman and reimagined a generation ago by Patti LuPone, York is delightful. All legs and jazzy charm, her Reno is softer than her predecessors, but still unquestionably in control.

PHOTO: JOAN MARCUS

Bergen takes a potentially cardboard leading man and finds myriad comic shadings, while injecting a true star’s easy instinct for punctuating his dance moves. Applegate brings years of scenestealing splendor to Moonface, winning our hearts with a slow take or a skip. A surprising highlight is the combination of powerhouse voice and comic careening that Staudenmayer reveals in the late number, “The Gypsy in Me.” Derek McLane’s Broadway set is recreated, with the ship’s three handsome decks put to imaginative use by Marshall’s spectacularly sprawling staging. Martin Pakledinaz’s costumes are gorgeous, from tuxes and gowns to sailor suits and Reno’s sexy togs. Timothy Crouse and John Weidman have

revised their 1987 revision of the original book, a commingling of versions by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. There are still a few too many Yale jokes, but the slimmed-down script keeps the champagne bubbling. But it really comes down to the music and dancing. Hearing a huge live orchestra playing songs like “You’re the Top” and “It’s De-lovely” is a dream in our digital world, and Marshall’s moves are intoxicating. She turns the visual vocabulary of salvation and devotion on its head in a wondrously sensual “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” and whips the cast into a sensational tap soufflé in the title song that caps Act One. Unplug and set sail. —Christopher Cappiello

THE SECOND CITY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL: TWIST YOUR DICKENS! KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE | 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City Through Dec. 29 | Tickets $20-65 | centertheatregroup.org The venerable tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ classic Victorian-era novella A Christmas Carol has long been a holiday-season staple on Southern California stages, including the popular annual remounts at South Coast Repertory and A Noise Within. In film and TV musicals, we’ve seen warbling Scrooges such as Mister Magoo (Jim Backus), Albert Finney and Kelsey Grammer. We’ve also seen gay Scrooges and female Scrooges in liberal stage and film adaptations. What were we to expect from a new Christmas Carol stage version from the venerable Second City improv/sketchcomedy troupe? In this wild and irreverent take on the famous story, the “twist” in the title says it all. It’s like holiday eggnog liberally sprinkled with marijuana. Concocting this intoxicating yuletide brew were Bobby Mort, who writes for Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, and SC alum Peter Gwinn, a former writer on the same show. This script, helmed 58

FRONTIERSLA.COM

by the company’s resident director Marc Warzecha, offers a steady stream of laughs, but there’s room for improvement. Some of the gags and sketches land more solidly than others, and the connection with the Dickens tale seems primarily a vague framing device. Perhaps that won’t matter to diehard fans, who will revel in the goofy anachronisms (such as a LADWP laborer in Victorian England) and the irreverent tone toward a cherished yarn. A skit suggesting the orphans from Oliver Twist cleverly brings the Dickensian humor full circle, while characters from other famous works— such as Annie, It’s a Wonderful Life and Charles Schultz’ Peanuts cartoons— garner plenty of chuckles. There’s less audience interaction than one might expect, though an ensemble member (best unidentified), posing as a heckler, screams out to crusty Ebenezer (the delightfully sardonic Ron West). The grumpy heckler challenges the anachronisms and the show’s loose

PHOTO: CRAIG SCHWARTZ

structure, then eventually joins his colleagues for the onstage shenanigans. The gifted performers (West, along with Frank Caeti, Larry Joe Campbell, Dan Castellaneta, Amanda Blake Davis, Brian Shepanek and Jean Villepique) have plenty of opportunity to demonstrate their versatility in the wide-ranging sketches, and come up with scattered zingers during the improvisational moments. The show is bolstered by its handsome and imaginative production design. Tom Buderwitz’ highly functional and elaborate set is a visual feast. Likewise

superb are Leah Piehl’s clever costumes, Brandon Baruch’s rich lighting effects, Cricket S. Myers’ sound and David O’s superb vocal musical direction and original music. Various celebrity guest stars will make brief appearances. On opening night, a game and amusing Tom Everett Scott was there to introduce a skit and to plug his new film Parental Guidance, co-starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler. Think Saturday Night Live-meets-Masterpiece Theatre on steroids. —Les Spindle

054-069 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:43 PM

Page 59

DECEMBER 25, 2012

054-069 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:18 PM

Page 60

ENTERTAINMENT

ILLUSTRATION BY

GLENHANSON.COM

HOW THE BITCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Every gay up in WeHo liked Christmas a lot, But the Bitch, who seldom stepped foot in WeHo, did NOT! The Bitch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now please don’t ask why, no one quite knows the reason. It could be her wig wasn’t screwed on just right. Or perhaps that her cheap Payless pumps were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all May have been that her penis was two sizes too small. But whatever the reason, she stood there onstage, Hating the faggots and dykes with blind rage. For she knew every WeHo gay, so tanned and buff Was now primping and tweezing and bleaching and stuff. “And they’re waxing their back hair!” she snarled with a sneer. “Tomorrow is Christmas, it’s practically here!” Then she hissed and just stood there, looking quite stunning, “I must find some way to keep Christmas from coming!” For tomorrow the sodomites and carpet-munchers Will roll out of bed around 1 for their brunches. In his “Born This Way” T-shirt and his Freedom Rings, Every drunk little faggot actually sings. They sing Barbra and Judy and Liza, it’s scary! Young ones lip sync to Katy Perry. Madonna, Beyoncé—so many choices, Warbled out in effeminate, weak little voices. And the more the Bitch thought of those fags trying to sing,

FRONTIERSLA.COM

The more the Bitch thought, “I must stop this whole thing! Then she got an idea! An awful idea! The Bitch got a wonderful, awful idea! Their apartments were empty, no one was at home, Disowned by their families, they can’t be alone. To the gay bars they flock to spend all of their money, Fools who think Nicki Minaj is talented and Kathy Griffin is funny. From her sassy new wig, she removed a hairpin, And picking the lock, she let herself in. The place was atrocious, she had no idea That so many homos were into Ikea. She slithered and slunk, with a smile most unpleasant Around the whole room, and she took every present. DVDs, Mp3s, PS3s, Wiis, She stomped extra hard on a few CDs. Yes, thanks to the Bitch, no queen would re-gift The latest whine-fest by that c*nt, Taylor Swift. Roller blades, workout gear, bronzer and more, Skimpy little slut shorts and tank tops galore. Male grooming products, the latest iPhone, Marc Jacobs underwear, his stinky cologne. A huge HD TV with surround sound system, And so many drugs she could barely list ‘em. Oxy and crystal, crank, crack and ice, Two 8-balls of coke when just one would suffice. Poppers and Special K, plenty of X, And their stockings stuffed full of perverted gay sex:

Magazines, dirty books, dildos this long, Huge bottles of lube and a twoheaded dong. Butt plugs and anal beads, soon to be shoved, “Have pity on them, they just want to be loved.” The Bitch laughed to herself as she filled up her bags, Taking everything dear to the tired WeHo fags. Once full, she twist-tied them and gave them the boot, Kicking the presents right down the trash chute. Then she slunk to the fridge, she ate the gays’ food. She guzzled and gobbled and choweddown quite rude. She ate wilted arugula, baked Brie and paté, Free-range turkey, Kalamata olives and crème brulé. Basmati rice with Maui onions and sun-dried tomatoes, Rustic Tex-Mex sage-infused roasted new potatoes. Chilean sea bass and pumpkin ravioli, Which she gladly washed down with a bottle of Stoli. Then the Bitch went postal on the fags’ Christmas tree, Tearing it limb from limb, as pissed-off as can be. For instead of a star, at the top was the face Of Mimi Imfurst from RuPaul’s Drag Race. With curled lip and raised eyebrow, she said, “See ya’ later!” Then turning to leave, the Bitch smelled Aveda! She turned around fast and saw a sleepy gay— Little Sasha Jay Gay, who was 19 if he was a day.

From the neck down he looked just like Vin Diesel, But his face was of Jesus, played by Jim Caveizel. Slack-jawed, the Bitch couldn’t help but watch As her eyes moved down to his wellendowed crotch. From the waist down he looked like a tripod or easel. In his shorts bulged what looked like a furious weasel. ‘Twas a face you would kiss and a body you’d nuzzle, Thanks to those Diesel, Caveizel, weasel pieces of the puzzle. Rubbing his big sad eyes he asked “Why?!” Then added, “I’m kinda drunk, blind as a bat and bi!” The Bitch started sweating, she needed to think, Then she smiled at the boy and gave him a wink. “You couldn’t go drinking, ‘cause you’re underage, You had to stay home like a pup in a cage. Well, your friends felt so bad that you couldn’t have fun That they hired you a hooker and I am the one. Your Christmas present is me, you see, I have been hired to satisfy you— sexually!” The boy wasn’t waxed or bleached or tan, And he f*cked like only a 19-year-old can. They did it three times, then did it once more, And the Bitch finally felt like a hot little whore. And what happened then? Well, in WeHo they say That the Bitch’s small penis grew three sizes that day!

054-069 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:30 PM

Page 61

ENTERTAINMENT

LIVIN' LIES LIKE IT’S LIFE The trajectory of the life of Dean Gross when we met appeared to be beeline straight and fairly free of teen angst and gloomy growing pains. His dad Barry ran RCA Records on the West Coast and Barry was my pal. One day he asked if I might find a place for his 18-year-old son to work in my entertainment company. Aside from the aforementioned fact that I liked Barry Gross, I managed a couple of artists on RCA so me giving his son a job was a calculated mixed goulash of kissing tail and quid pro quo. Young Dean was soon touring the world as a roadie for one of the biggest teen idols of the ‘80s, living and learning life, making bank and becoming a card-carrying heathen savagely boning babes in exchange for backstage passes and a quick pic with a superstar. Over time I came to like Dean a lot. He was always the life of the party, quick with a story or a joke and perpetually seemed to have my back. He promptly became my right hand guy. As the years passed, Dean followed me through my career. For almost 20 years Dean was next to me for virtually every professional and personal success and tragedy that was tossed my way. Along that journey he found the love of his life, married Claudia and together they raised two strapping boys, Brian and Brandon. We were all family. All dealing with life and loss and love together for years. It was good to have Dean there. And then, it wasn't. Life isn't about what you get, it's about what you do with what you get. What I did next was insane. I will never forget the call. My business manager was telling me Dean was stealing me blind. It wasn't just stealing. It was an inconceivable embezzlement of faith, honor, trust and innocence, as well as money. He signed my name. He grabbed my cash. He paid his mortgage with checks from my account. In cahoots with a bookkeeper in Beverly Hills, this lad I had nurtured and trusted with my everything had betrayed me with staggering spite, arrogance, disrespect of the highest order and in doing so had belied all bonds of friendship. What he really did was hurt me like no one had ever intentionally done before. So then what insane thing did I do? I let him go. I didn't press charges. The Beverly Hills cops were incredulous. My biz manager almost fired me. Dean's book-

keeper compadre in crime got six months in jail. I allowed Dean to go on with his life presumably crippled with guilt, yet free to stroll. What a putz I was. Why? Perhaps I could have stopped him. Because sadly, since we parted, this heister had been busy gnawing on other prey. Over the past decade, Dean's name would occasionally surface in conversation, rarely in a positive light. Someone would point out that his online résumé was in truth, mine. All the credits and contacts belonged to me. Without a doubt he was around in those days to witness them. But his supporting player role now in print had become a leading man tour de force. He stole my résumé and ratcheted the damn thing up a few notches! I kinda thought it was funny. Then a good friend called in a panic. "Where is Dean?" the billionaire exclaimed. "I dunno," was all I could muster, wondering why the hell this guy was looking for that idiot. "I lent him a ton of cash and now he's disappeared.” See, another element of my insanity was I didn't rat on Dean. I let them think he had just moved on. Uh Oh. Last Aug. 23, Dean Peter Gross admitted guilt and accepted a plea deal from the federal government on charges he masterminded an $18 million Ponzi scheme and diverted $6 million for his personal use. He is facing 20 years in federal prison. This dolt had never masterminded anything except getting 18-year-old girls to put out for a T-shirt. Now I was incredulous. So there it is. Right there. If I had pressed charges all those years ago and he had served his six months, would it have changed things? Who the hell knows. But I do find solace in karma. You know, how our deeds or actions impact the entire cycle of cause and effect. Basically, I get by believing if you are a dick in life, you will pay for it in death. Naïve? Perhaps. Maybe stupid. Yet what post-death, faith-based outcome isn't? We haven't a clue, so we rationalize ourselves silly to get through another day. It is far easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend. This whole unseemly chapter is so sad and disappointing. But there are worse things than disappointment and I have lived through several of them already. But I'm here to tell you: I’ll take insane over stupid any day.

DECEMBER 25, 2012

054-069 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:30 PM

Page 62

ENTERTAINMENT

"When I eventually looked in the mirror, I just thought I looked like my gay brother." —Anne Hathaway tells how she felt after seeing her new haircut for Les Misérables. It's good to know she has such a cute brother!

Last week I was in New York City, and the timing was perfect. There's a chill in the air, decorations are everywhere and people are generally speaking in a good mood. But even my jolly mood was tested by some of the plays I went to see. The revival of The Heiress sports a sumptuous physical production and a great supporting cast (particularly the riveting Judith Ivey, who never disappoints). But imagine, if you will, the lead being played by a high school drama student—and not even the best actress in the school. That would prepare you for the performance coming out of Jessica Chastain. What's perplexing is that on paper, it seemed the perfect role for the winsome film actress, who is Juilliardtrained and well-versed in classical theater. Inexplicably, her entire portrayal came off completely false and one-note. This led to an unintentionally funny moment towards the end of the play, when her suitor says, "You've really changed." That got a laugh—at least from me—because for the better part of two hours, she'd had that same blank expression on her face and spouted lines with the same monotone delivery. Some people blame the director, so I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt. But, oy, that's a lot of doubt! The next night, it was off to the opening of Theresa Rebeck's new play, Dead Accounts. I must confess, I went into this with some trepidation. After all, one doesn't expect much out of that thespian Katie Holmes—although, after Jessica Chastain, the bar was set quite

her head and shoulders above Miss Chastain. The play itself has interesting ideas that are never fleshed out or go anywhere. Rebeck writes good dialogue, but doesn't know how to tell a story. The real reason to go is for Norbert Leo Butz, who gives a riveting (if somewhat maniacal) performance that will surely not be forgotten at the Tonys. The rest of the play, however, will likely be a distant memory by then. Remember when Jennifer Holliday said that last summer in St. Louis was the last time she'd play Effie in Dreamgirls? Well, forget it. She's just signed on to do yet another run of the show next summer. This will be at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va., from Aug. 22-25 in and out. Tickets go on sale Dec. 8 at WolfTrap.org. If you miss her this time, have no fear—I predict you'll have at least another dozen opportunities in the near future. For years, Greg Louganis has been trying to get cast on Dancing with the Stars. And for some reason, one of the most notable athletes in American history has been snubbed. But fear not—all of Greg's efforts with ABC may yield unexpected fruits ... as it were. The network has announced that Louganis will be a part of Celebrity Splash, a new competition show based on a hit in the Netherlands that finds celebrities attempting Olympic-style diving. Louganis will be a judge and help coach some of the contestants. Who will join him on the judging dais? Well, these shows usually like a quick-witted gay-ish personality with a background in the event. Have I men-

Greg Louganis

Katie Holmes

low. Perhaps that is why Holmes' performance is oddly satisfying. She clearly aspires to be the latest ex-Mrs. Tom Cruise to transform herself into a serious actress. Alas, she ends up somewhere between Nicole Kidman and poor Mimi Rogers. What Katie has going for her is that she wants it so badly, you almost root for her. She is certainly not completely devoid of talent. She has some presence. She has some vocal range. That alone puts 62

FRONTIERSLA.COM

Dirk Shafer

tioned lately that I earned my letter in springboard diving prior to my stand-up career? I'm just sayin'... Hold onto your hats (or whatever else you can get your hands on)—it's time for Billy's Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions. Yes, each week until Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa, I will share some unique ways to make the spirits bright and, of course, gay. My first choice is a DVD from my dear friend Dirk Shafer—a former Playgirl centerfold and "Man of the Year" (both in the magazine and mockumentary) and talented auteur behind the flick Circuit. Since many of us want to look like Dirk, he's sharing his secrets in SwapoutWorkout with Dirk Shafer. This DVD includes ways to work out virtually anywhere, and focuses on core strengthening, Pilates, circuit and weight training. Since he's maintained (and improved) his physique since his 1992 Playgirl shoot, he must be doing something right. To order the DVD, go to SwapOutWorkOut.com. To see him naked, pick up the latest issue of Playgirl where he's returned as a centerfold some 20 years later. Or simply go to BillyMasters.com. Our next DVD makes me very happy and proud. Hollywood to Dollywood is a documentary about the official Billy Masters twins, Gary and Larry Lane. (Yes, I'm so big, I have my own twins.) This film follows my boys on a cross-country journey to present Dolly Parton with a screenplay that they wrote. OK, it's mildly stalker-ish (not that I'm one to judge), but the real heart of the film is the story of these two brothers and their relationships—with their boyfriends, their parents and each other. Even as a close friend, I found myself often really touched. The film also features other pals of mine, like Leslie Jordan and Chad Allen. I hear you can even catch a glimpse of moi in some previously suppressed segments— in addition to a nice shout-out in the final

credits. As usual, you can pick this DVD up at Amazon.com. I bet many people on your list would like to have sex with a celebrity, right? Well, have we got the gift for you—a Justin Bieber sex doll! Now, to be accurate, it's not called that. To find it, you must look for the "Just-In Beaver Love Doll” with the subtitle "I'm NOT GAY (OK, maybe a lil').” Well, that should keep the lawyers away. The doll, which has numerous points of entry, is made of some special puncture-proof plastic— like they use on blimps! And it's dishwasher safe, which I think is a must in our busy world. Best of all, it's only $26. But, wait, there's more—for you ladies out there, the same company makes a Miley Cyrus female doll called the "Finally Miley Love Doll.” That variety touts "3 Achey Love Holes.” And I believe it's toothless. We recently received two "Ask Billy" questions about a hit HBO series. Larry in Washington, D.C., asks, "Did you see Bobby Cannavale's nude scene on Boardwalk Empire? Was that really his dick? WOW!" And Karl in New York City wrote, "Was Billy Magnusson really nude during his sex scene last night? It was really hard to tell." Little Billy Magnusson's sex scene primarily showed his delectable derrière. But our techs were able to reveal a quick glimpse of his nether-regions. However, since it's after post-coital, don't expect much. Bobby Cannavale is a different matter entirely. His nudity occurs while having sex—and while using restraints. I think this is a perfect example of coitus interruptus—with the addition of blood. As he walks down the hallway, his penis has not completely deflated, exhibiting a good amount of ‘swing.’ You can see for yourself on BillyMasters.com. When you can look like a Playgirl centerfold for the price of a DVD, it's time for me to order one and end yet another column. Maybe after the holidays, I could work out with Dirk in a series of web videos to see what results he can get out of me. On the other hand, that sounds terribly exhausting. While I weigh the pros and cons, you can check out BillyMasters.com, the site that always leaves you breathless. Feel free to send any questions along to Billy@ BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Katie Holmes wins a Tony! So, until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's Bible.

054-069 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:30 PM

Page 63

ENTERTAINMENT

Queersay LET'S GET PHYSICAL! Everyone out there knows Del Shores, right? He's a writer, director, comedian and artsy-fartsy Los Angeles mover-andshaker. If you've seen Sordid Lives or Southern Baptist Sissies, they spewed from this guy's mind! But most importantly, Del is Gossip Gay's best friend—like, total best friend. Like, best friends forever. Like, he used our guest bathroom once at a house party and looked at us and said, "Oh, this is your place? Cool." Yeah, he may technically not know who we are, but the few stolen glances and awkward moments of silence that we've shared are good enough for Gossip Gay! And it's those uncomfortably clandestine interactions that most likely got us on to his mass email list of (guesstimating) 10,000 close personal friends. And it's being on that list that got us an invite to his comedy show Downtown at First & Hope. It was last Sunday, so we had a choice to make. Either decline and spend the afternoon shooting mojitos at the Abbey with boys who pay for their CVS toiletries by giving horizontal handshakes in the alley behind Circus of Books, or take a drive in our ever-fab Smart Car and descend into the doldrums of Downtown Los Angeles. We went with the latter. Anywho, we get to the show, saunter in and take our seat. Hysterics ensue; picture a variety hour with an eclectic mix of music, performance art, stand-up and even a girl singing an opera song about "putting it in her butt" while accompanying herself on the ukulele—high-brow camp at its most LGBTQ, for sure. All is well, until about 15 minutes into the show when the host takes to the stage and things turn utterly gosh-damn fabulous. It is announced that the group who just walked in late—the woman who literally took the open seat next to me—was none other than the Olivia Newton-John. No, folks, not a drag queen playing Olivia NewtonJohn; not a crackwhore named Sandy who wore leather pants in high school to seduce a Scientologist; the original Xanadu-enthused ONJ! Now, typically, Gossip Gay is the star of the audience in any show. You know— we're that guy who laughs loudest, hoots the heartiest and talks back to the standup (because we're just that cool, and the audience needs to know how truly cool we are). But ONJ was giving us a run for our money. Each time we LOLed, she ROFLed; whenever we tossed our hair back and let out a Julia Roberts-like cackle, she chortle-clapped and Mary Katherine Gallagher kicked! While she may have stolen Gossip Gay's attention-drawing thunder, we have to give it to ONJ. She looks amazing and sounded great when the host pressured her to get up onstage to sing Del a happy birthday song. We love you, ONJ! And for the record, even though we told you this about 72 times and you just stared back at us with kind (but secretly terrified) eyes—as a mother would do if a rabid black bear was holding her first-and-only-born baby—we know you love us, too. Like Del, you're now on our BFF list. Accept our Facebook friend request already, will ya?! Let's get physical together!

For more Queersay, go to FrontiersLA.com/Queersay. DECEMBER 25, 2012

054-069 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:34 PM

Page 64

HEALTH

WITH AARON SAVVY, ACSM Certified Trainer

FITNESS GUY Though I need to lose weight, I don’t like taking fat burners because of how jittery and nauseous I get. Any suggestions? —Josh, Hollywood Though our bodies make a low dose of L- carnitine, you can buy it in a higher dosage. L-carnitine coverts body fat into energy, avoiding the heart racing and nausea. The energy that is created simply burns the unwanted body fat away. I suggest either taking it in a 250 mg or 500 mg for effectiveness. With that said, avoid taking it two to three hours before going to bed. Though you will not have the jittery effect, you will be awake with alertness. I seem to catch colds and flus easily. Is there anything I can take to help prevent this? —Stan, Los Angeles First and foremost with any sickness, if symptoms worsen I always suggest seeing your physician. The current flu virus pandemic has individuals and national leaders looking for H1N1 remedies. While there is no known cure for the common cold, elderberry extract has been proven to be one of the most effective H1N1 remedies. Elderberry lozenges prevent influenza by attaching or binding to the influenza virus, rendering it incapable of attaching to a host cell, thereby preventing infection. Elderberry lozenges also contain flavonoids, which are antioxidants that stimulate the immune system, as well as anti-inflammatory agents that reduce pain and fever. Goji berry juice has also been traditionally used for the following reasons, among many others:

• It has more beta-carotene than carrots (which converts to vitamin A) and a complete spectrum of antioxidants. • It has vitamin E, which is almost unheard of in fruits. • It has 500 times more Vitamin C by weight than oranges. • It has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Goji berry juice has no harmful effect, and there is no prescribed amount of consumption. Anyone can take it in reasonable quantity.

• To help the body detox, clean the blood and build the immune system Here are some additional facts about this marvelous fruit:

Train with Aaron Savvy! Call (310) 439-8766 to learn more.

• To strengthen the heart and alleviate heart palpitations

FRONTIERSLA.COM

• It has 21 trace minerals, including zinc, calcium, germanium, selenium and phosphorus.

I think I have tendinitis in my elbow. What can I do to cure this? —Tony, Palm Springs Tennis elbow, or tendinitis, is caused by continuous overusage of the joint, resulting in an inflammation that can be downright painful. The best remedy is rest. Depending on the severity, it can take two to six weeks for it to heal. I would buy an elbow support strap that will help alleviate the pain. With that said, do not wear the strap while working out. The strap is a doubleedged sword. While it takes pressure off of that direct location, it will put stress elsewhere, creating yet again the same problem. It is best to wear it outside of the gym when performing your daily activities. Stay very light on the weights. Do not work through the pain! Gentle massaging to the forearm will increase blood circulation. Icing after your workouts for 10 minutes will aid in less inflammation and irritation.

• To boost the function of the immune system

• It contains B vitamins and 19 amino acids, including the eight essential amino acids.

054-069 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:34 PM

Page 65

HEALTH

WITH MICHAEL WEINSTEIN PHOTO: GREG GORMAN

President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) president@aidshealth.org — aidshealth.org

LIVING FOR TODAY

‘Living for today’ sounds so romantic. We conjure up a picture of some amazing, mind-blowing experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives. It is as if we have been magically transported into the frame of a movie in which one cosmic moment delivers us from our humdrum daily life. In this transformative moment, any risk is worth taking and the consequences pale by comparison to the rewards. Certainly we have all had amazing experiences that we do remember for a lifetime. There are places we have traveled that were so breathtaking we will never forget them. There are times where a sexual experience carries us to a level we seldom go. Drug experiences can blow people's minds. We joke about what would happen if we were hit by a truck and died. We talk about bucket lists of things we always wanted to do before we die. We have seen how our lives can change in a moment. We all dread the phone call we might receive about a loved one dying. We imagine getting the bad news that we have been diagnosed with a dreaded disease. Living for today doesn't make enough of an allowance for tomorrow. Unfortunately, HIV is permanent. That spur-of-the-moment decision leaves you with a lifetime of hurt. If you start deducting from that instant of pleasure all of the days, months and years that you have to take medicine, you go into deficit very quickly. When you think about the financial and emotional costs, would it still seem worth it? The fact that HIV is treatable does not mean that it is not still a deadly virus. The HIV medications are still powerful compounds that have serious side effects. Bottom line—what you get in an instance will stick with you for a lifetime. There is no man hot enough, no experience tantalizing enough, nor a night on the town that is truly worth a lifelong infection. If you are negative, staying negative is a conscious choice. If you are positive, not passing the virus is a personal responsibility. Sacrificing a lifetime of infection for a moment of ecstasy is a bad trade off. It is possible to live for today while still keeping an eye to your future.

DECEMBER 25, 2012

054-069 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:34 PM

Page 66

HEALTH

BY PETER DELVECCHIO

LETTING GO OF ‘STUFF’ Our society measures what it calls “success” in terms of money, possessions and status. The plastic surgeon with his trophy wife and his castle on the cliff in Malibu? Winner. The Walmart janitor renting a room in his mom’s double-wide by the tracks in Santa Ana? Loser. We know zip about them as human beings, but we feel perfectly comfortable slapping on the labels, right? And this “success” is a one-way ratchet. You must always be striving for more. Struggling. Competing. Winning. No time-outs. No slacking off. No back-sliding. But the most destructive part of all this is that we confuse this simplistic, elbow-throwing notion of success, this relentless pursuit of “stuff,” with happiness. Once I make partner, I’ll be happy. If I could only find a place west of La Cienega, I’d be happy. That new Audi would sure do the trick. So we make partner, and we move, and we buy that car. And lo and behold, nothing really changes. It’s not a whole lot different from addiction when you think about it—just chasing a different dragon. Well, duh, you might say. Everyone knows money doesn’t buy happiness! Agreed. Everyone at least claims to know that, but how many really, truly believe it? How many act on it? And what response do they get when they do? Case in point—my partner and I just sold our house in Mt. Washington, out by Glendale, and moved back to an apartment in West Hollywood. When we told friends about our plans, most assumed we must be breaking up, or that we’d lost our jobs. My ex-wife thought I must be back on drugs until I handed my partner the phone and he convinced her otherwise. Why else but because

FRONTIERSLA.COM

of some calamity would we be stepping down a rung on the ladder? Were we nuts? No. Actually, just the opposite. It didn’t come easily or overnight, but we’d shed the delusion that advancing a square or two on the game board automatically improves your life. We’d bought the place at least in part because I figured we were supposed to. I was an attorney, after all. A “professional.” Just about everyone in my law school class had owned their own homes for years. Blah, blah, blah. My partner and I loved the house, but over time, we came to realize we’d be much happier back in the old ‘hood, living in an apartment for half the money and with zero responsibility beyond rent. We decided we didn’t care what anyone else thought, and it was the right move. So here’s the thing, at least as I see it—success, as we tend to define it, is not the same thing as happiness. Success is an external construct foisted on us by others. A straitjacket even. I’m convinced that chasing it when our hearts aren’t really in the hunt plays a big role in why some of us, myself included, turn to drugs. Happiness, on the other hand, is entirely personal, and it doesn’t come from “stuff.” You have to find it within yourself. I believe learning how to pursue happiness, and accepting that it’s OK to do so, can be a huge plus for recovery. Call me a slacker, but nowadays I care much less about living up to my potential for “success” than I do about how close I’m coming to my potential for happiness. Peter DelVecchio is a reporter for Frontiers and an attorney. He is also writing a book about his experiences with meth.

054-069 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:31 PM

Page 67

CITY GUIDES

THE CITY BEGINS 22ND ANNUAL FOOD AND TOY DRIVE

WEST HOLLYWOOD CELEBRATES THE END OF THE WORLD ... SORT OF BY PAULO MURILLO As the song from the rock band R.E.M. goes, “It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.” In the spirit of feeling fine, the city of West Hollywood is joining local businesses to celebrate the “end of the world,” or better put, the end of the Mayan Calendar. On Friday, Dec. 21, starting at 9:12 p.m., local businesses—including restaurants and bars along Santa Monica Boulevard—will partner with the city to celebrate “The End” by providing special promotions throughout the night. Though people may be quick to think this falls under the category of an “only in West Hollywood” type of event, many other cities in the Western hemisphere are celebrating the end of the Mayan calendar, including Guatemala City, Guatemala. Known as the 2012 Phenomenon, many believe the ancient Mayan Long Count calendar predicts transformative events will occur on Dec. 21, 2012. Various astronomical alignments propose there will be a significant spiritual change that will kick off a new era on

Earth. Others have interpreted this “new era” as the cataclysmic end of days. “Whether Dec. 21 marks the end of the world, the beginning of new human consciousness or just another Friday night, West Hollywood is always there for a cheeky moment and a reason to celebrate,” Councilmember John Duran stated in a city press release. WeHo businesses participating in the celebration include The Abbey Food & Bar, Block Party WeHo, Eleven Nightclub, Fiesta Cantina, Micky’s West Hollywood, Revolver Video Bar and the Yogurt Stop. The event is co-sponsored by the city of West Hollywood, West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Visit West Hollywood. For more information on this special event, please call Ian Owens, Deputy to West Hollywood Councilmember John Duran, at (323) 848-6460, or visit the city website at weho.org.

DO YOU BELIEVE THE WORLD WILL END ON DEC. 21? “I think we would have heard more about it in the news. The world was supposed to end in 1999. Then who can forget Y2K? There’s always all this talk but nothing ever happens. The world is gonna end when the world ends. No matter what they predicted, we’re all still here.”

“No, I don’t. I thought the world ended already? According to Harold Camping from that Christian family radio show, Jesus Christ returned to Earth last year on Oct. 16. The Rapture happened already, folks. Right now we’re all living in a postapocalyptic world.”

—James Ramirez

—Michael Berlin

It’s the time of year for being of service and giving back to the community. The city of West Hollywood is partnering with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for the 22nd Annual West Hollywood Food and Toy Drive. The goal is to make this holiday season a most wonderful time for those in need. Donations are now being accepted through Monday, Dec. 24, with the hopes of helping over 900 families that struggle to make ends meet. The West Hollywood Food and Toy Drive provides families in our community with a holiday meal and two toys for every child in a family. For $65, anyone can help one family in the West Hollywood area. Three families can be assisted for $165. New, unwrapped toys and clothing are needed, as well as monetary donations. Store gift cards, coupons and discount cards are also encouraged. Families in need are identified with the collaboration of school guidance counselors, teachers and principals. To make a monetary donation, visit the cashier’s window at West Hollywood City Hall, 8300 Santa Monica Blvd., open between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, please call Bonnie Smith or Kristin Cook in the city’s Public Safety Division at (323) 848-6371.

SPEAK OUT “I think a lot of people would like to think that the world could end. I think it would make things a lot easier, but unfortunately, no, I think we’re going to wake up the next day and everything will be the same. We’re all going to have exactly the same problems and opportunities that we have today.” —Robert Sumrell

DECEMBER 25, 2012

054-069 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:36 PM

Page 68

CITY GUIDES

ORANGE COUNTY

OC CENTER PLANS TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR LGBT SENIORS BY GREG HERNANDEZ The Center Orange County sent out cards in recent weeks expressing its best holiday wishes to regular donors. The cards also included an envelope that Executive Director Kevin O'Grady hopes will be returned with donations as the Center looks to close out the calendar year by raising a significant amount of money for programmingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;especially for programs for LGBT seniors. They are looking to expand their current services beyond a weekly support/discussion group and occasional meals organized by volunteers. "We are really trying to raise visibility of senior LGBT folks. The older they get, the more invisible they become," O'Grady says. "Any additional services that we offer seniors, even if it's recreation or education, nutrition classes, we are going to need funding for. This is a time to remind people that they can make a gift for the holidays in someone's name and that it's also a tax write-off." O'Grady says the Center is planning to hire a full-time case worker dedicated to senior services, who will begin work early next year. Among the worker's focus will be making seniors aware of life-prolonging benefits, protections, services and institutions that their heterosexual neighbors take for granted. "We want to seriously get into issues, including seniors being discriminated against in care facilities, and make sure seniors know all the benefits they are entitled to from federal and state governments," he says. "We want to help them get those benefits.' 68

FRONTIERSLA.COM

Those over 55 are far less likely to be open about their sexuality than those under the age of 40. Part of their survival strategy in decades past was to remain invisible and secretive, and to distrust mainstream institutions such as health care, government agencies and faith communities. The Center plans outreach by partnering with senior centers around Orange County and forming senior gay-straight alliances. "The whole plight of LGBT seniors is something we should all be concerned about," says O'Grady. "There is so much discrimination in care facilities, heath care workers who have never worked with LGBT people before, clients in housing facilities. There are huge amounts of work to be done." The Center's senior social is held every Tuesday at 11 a.m. and lasts until 12:30 p.m. The group has participated in such activities as OC Pride, Santa Ana First Saturday Art Walks and dinners at Memphis restaurant. They have also included and have attended events with the Rainbow Club in Laguna Woods and Gay Neighbors Friends and Families in Santa Ana. "Even for the people who come to the group once a week, they say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the first time they've had to connect with others in the community their own age," says O'Grady. "This is a generation who fought for most of the civil rights we have now. We have a responsibility to fight for them now that they need us." Donations can be made online at thecenteroc.org.

054-069 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:31 PM

Page 69

CITY GUIDES

LONG BEACH

THE CENTER & C.A.R.E. PROGRAM ANNOUNCE FIRST LONG BEACH AIDS RIDE BY GREG HERNANDEZ Beginning next year, Long Beach will have an AIDS ride to call its own. Officials from The Gay and Lesbian Center of Long Beach and The Comprehensive AIDS Resource and Education program at St. Mary Medical Center announced their new annual fundraising event during a ceremony that took place on World AIDS Day. Attendees were on-hand to commemorate World AIDS Day and were surprised by a group of a dozen riders who rode in as part of the dramatic surprise announcement. They then went on to participate in the annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade. "We got a very warm welcome from the thousands of people lining the parade route," said Ron Sylvester, president and chairman of the Center. The inaugural Long Beach AIDS Ride will kick off on the morning of Nov. 30, 2013. It will be a one-day bike ride that will begin at the Junipero Beach parking lot and wind down the Southern California coast. Riders will be able to choose between a 40-mile or 70-mile route, both of which will end back at the Junipero Beach lot. "We definitely wanted an event that was challenging enough for a regular rider, but still doable for the more ‘weekend casual rider’ as well," Sylvester said. This fundraising event is to support local Long Beach efforts in the areas of education, prevention and treatment of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and

related illnesses. Organizers say the event is also a platform "to increase positive, life-affirming experiences" for people affected and infected by HIV, and to encourage activism in the Greater Long Beach community. "This is money that is going to be raised locally that is going to stay local in Long Beach and help people of the Greater Long Beach community," said Sylvester. "This is really a community effort." "This is the first time the Center and C.A.R.E. have come together on this level to address the needs of our community,” says Robert Stohr, C.A.R.E.’s manager of client services. “We realize that by combining our expertise and efforts, we can make a much bigger impact for Long Beach, and we hope, members of the Greater Long Beach community." Sylvester expects more than 200 cyclists to register for the ride in its first year. It will be held annually on the Saturday closest to World AIDS Day. "We thought if we launched at 200 riders that would be a great goal, but we would be more than happy to beat that goal and we are certainly prepared for it," he said. To register or for more information, visit the Long Beach AIDS Ride Facebook page, which will take you to the Active.com registration site, or contact the Center at (562) 434- 4455. centerlb.org DECEMBER 25, 2012

070-075 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:39 PM

Page 70

CITY GUIDES

DESERT

HOT TOPIC

CABALLEROS PUT ON SOME HOLIDAY MUSIC BY JAMES F. MILLS

To add to your comfort and joy during the holiday season, Caballeros, the gay men’s chorus of Palm Springs, is offering a holiday concert fittingly titled “Comfort & Joy.” “We really want to help get people into the holiday spirit,” explains David Sanchez, the president of Caballeros. “We’ve got a great concert filled with holiday songs people know and love.” There are two performances of the concert, Saturday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m., at Temple Isaiah, 332 W. Alejo Road in Downtown Palm Springs. Caballeros will sing a mix of

FRONTIERSLA.COM

traditional and contemporary holiday songs, including “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “What Child is This,” “I'll Be Home for Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Joy to the World” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” One of the highlights of the show is “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” “It’s three different movements of ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,’” says Sanchez, who reports the group started rehearsing for the holiday concert in August. “It goes from very light to very serious to very light. It’s a very fun song; the chorus really enjoys that one. It will definitely put people in the holiday mood.”

070-075 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:39 PM

Page 71

DECEMBER 25, 2012

070-075 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:39 PM

Page 72

CITY GUIDES

DESERT

HOT TOPIC

Another highlight isn’t a holiday song per se, but fits nicely into the concert—”You Are My Star,” written by Caballeros’ artist director, the renowned choral composer Robert Seeley. “Robert wrote that song one day for someone he was in love with. He couldn’t afford to buy him a Christmas gift, so instead he wrote him a song,” says Sanchez. “It’s absolutely beautiful talking about ‘I couldn’t afford you this, so I wrote you this song. I think about you, but now that you’re gone, you’re still in my thoughts and you are my star.’” The holiday concert is the first of three concerts Caballeros will do this season. In April, the 14-year-old chorus performs “Metamorphosis” (also written by Seeley), which deals with bullying in

FRONTIERSLA.COM

the schools. Then in the summer they’ll do a cabaret-style show, a first for Caballeros. With members ranging from ages 30 to 84, the 80-member chorus will be hosting a recruitment drive in January. “We’re hoping to get up to 100 men in the chorus,” says Sanchez, who joined the group in January 2012 and became president in August. ”We want the community to recognize the artistic value of our chorus,” he says. “We’re very much a group that’s interested in giving back to our community. We want to ensure that there is a chorus for the future so that other men who have a desire to sing can be a part of it.” caballerosps.com

070-075 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:38 PM

Page 73

DECEMBER 25, 2012

070-075 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:39 PM

Page 74

CITY GUIDES

‘DUSQUE’ TEASES AUDIENCES FOR NEW YEAR’S BY JAMES F. MILLS Christmas may be a time for the nice, but New Year’s Eve has always been a time for the naughty. This New Year’s Eve in Palm Springs, things will get even more risqué than usual as an erotic show helps welcome in 2013. Fifty Shades of Dusque: An Erotic Musical Journey is a one-night-only, musical theater revue performing at the Hotel Zoso, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive in Downtown Palm Springs, on Monday, Dec. 31. The show comes as part of a full package that includes cocktails, dinner, DJ and dancing to ring in the new year. A portion of the proceeds benefit Desert AIDS Project. “Dusque is a playoff of burlesque,” says publicist Kerry Hendrix. “It’s the first of its kind that’s being put on here in Palm Springs. This gives you a real experience for New Year’s. I think people are hungry for something to do that’s not just going to a nightclub, hanging out, having a few drinks, kiss-kiss-hug-hug and then going home. This will be a full evening and one that you will definitely remember.” As the name implies, this show takes its cues from the best-selling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey, which has become a cultural phenomenon. “You’re going to see a lot of skin,” says Hendrix. “But its not just gratuitous sexuality up onstage. There’s an intelligent, heartfelt story involved. The 74

FRONTIERSLA.COM

imagery is very fluid. There’s something there for everyone [both gay and straight]. The images change and blur until you’re like, ‘Hold on. Is that male or female?’” Adding to the provocativeness, Dusque cast members will change costumes not backstage, but onstage behind sheets that are backlit. Internationally known superstar model Tosh Yanez, who recently was the cover model for the Palm Springs Pride issue of Frontiers, serves as Dusque’s master of ceremonies. “I’m excited to be a part of this,” says Yanez, who producers cast because he reminded them of Christian Grey, the protagonist of Fifty Shades. “I really feel confident about the talent that they brought together for this show. It’s of a caliber that I am proud to share the stage with. The dancers are phenomenal. They’re at a Broadway level. If I wasn’t in the show, I would definitely want to see it.” Yanez thinks Palm Springs is ready for this unique way to ring in the new year. “I hope the audience is prepared to be excited and a little naughty,” Yanez says. “It’s certainly not your typical New Year’s Eve-type thing. It’s going to push some envelopes and get people in the mood.” kimandjimproductions.com

070-075 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:38 PM

Page 75

DECEMBER 25, 2012

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/10/12

10:45 AM

Page 76

MARKETPLACE

MarketPlace JOBS AVAIL./WANTED

DOCTOR DAVE’S EXAM Physicals 323-460-4071 [75SC1119]

ATTENTION ADVERTISERS

Professional Cleaning-Bar & Party 310-398-6243 www.maidinla.com [75SC1717]

Read your ad carefully when it initially appears. We are not responsible for errors or minor copy changes after first issue of publication. If an error is found, please contact the classifieds department immediately for corrections. Frontiers assumes no responsibility for error or omission of copy. The right to reject, edit, cancel and determine proper placement of a classified ad is the right of this publication. [04CS0000]

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

ANNOUNCERS

MAID IN LA

HEALTH INS. WWW.NBIA.COM APPLY ON LINE AETNA, ANTHEM, CIGNA BLUE SHIELD, KAISER CAlic#0589208 - Gay & Weho [75SC1021]

(323)-937-5390 Personal or Business income tax preparation.Domestic partners and out of State returns welcome. Clear and reasonable fee structure. IRS problems? Under Audit? Salary/bank accounts garnished? Unfiled income tax returns? Tired of the worry? Will help you answer letters from IRS and the Franchise Tax Board. Free consultation. Call: Dean A. Wong, CPA. [85SC1824]

ROOFING Roofing & gutters Best price in town! 100% satisfaction guaranteed We do all roofs. T&U Roofing Lic# C39872976 Bonded Insured Call for free estimate Ask for Ed 310 927 1723 [85SC1717]

BODY WAXING IN OC Full body Brazilian wax for men available in our salon in Fullerton evenings 6PM to 12AM. 714-996-6246. Michaelpatricwaxing@hushmail.com MichaelPatricWaxing.com [75SC1617]

No experience necessary Host music/talk-shows for our radio stations. P/T $10-15/hr, $200+ per show plus fantastic benefits 323-468-0080 714991-1966. [15SC2221]

BODY HAIR TRIMMING 75.00 Complete trim. Back and shoulders -trim/shave 30.00 Excellent quality work. Call for appt. 323 651-5050 In WeHo [75SC1716]

OLDER/MATURE

SMOOTH AS A CENTERFOLD 323-651-1725

Men Wanted 4 XXX Videos, Be 30 - 70 U love Sex Immediate Work Great Pay. Call Mark 323-209-3019 [15SC1717]

INCOME TAX

ROOMMATES

Butt/Bikini/Brazilian waxing. Total body wax, trims & shaves. Professional fast and clean. [75SC1717]

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

HOUSECLEANING PLUS DAVE 323/460-4071.

MASSAGE THERAPY

BUSINESS SERVICES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

FEET TREATMENTS

[85SC1321]

HOME IMPROVEMENT [85SC1717] T01632

A DOMESTIC ANGEL.. DAVE 323-460-4071 [85SC1624]

[65SC1624]

HANDYMAN EXPRESS

424-789-0347

BBB A+ RATED SINCE 2001 ALL HOME REPAIRS HONESTY VALUE INTEGRITY (323) 574-9245 CONTRACTOR LICENSE 494338 MICHAEL

S w e d i s h / D e e p Ti s s u e / K u n d a l i n i

[85SC1318] P05148

PERSONAL SERVICES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

[75SC1217]

F R O N T I E R S L4A M. C EN O.M COM

PC HELP $45 Teach Help Fix Advise; Take pix of you & upload to net; Good w/beginners; Emergencies ok; Let’s talk Chris 323 261-8894 [85SC1717]

I clean apts, condos, or small houses, wkly or twice monthly. Excllnt. service, dependable, good rate. (310) 339-1235 [85SC1717]

A GARDEN OF EDEN Msge-Hydrothrpy-Scrubs-Facial+ Ft Trtmnts+ Dave 323-460-4071!

Specializing in Personal (RDP/SameSex),Business, and Prior-Year Amendments. Experienced CPA/Former IRS Agent, Serving the Community with Pride since 1996. ed@mofradfinancial.com mofradstaxservices.com [85SC1717]

CARPENTER/HANDYMAN

MANNY’S CLEANING

[65SC1624]

IF IT IS TAX, WE DO IT 310-382-0584

Bookcases, Mouldings, Decks, Doors & Windows, Stairs, Fencing and Gates, Drywall, etc. I do it all! 30 yrs in business for all your needs and wants. Call 323-668-2989 References Avail.

All Types, High quality and Fast Installation. FREE Estimates Call 310-570-2723. 10% discount with Ad. LIC. C39 957909 [85SC1717]

DAVE 323-460-4071

KOOL POOL Service-Repair-Remoding 1-Month free service with one year agreement or 3- months with 2 year agreement FREE estimates 323-299-1666 Gay Own Company [85SC1119]

LSAT COACHING

ROOFING

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

[85SC2120]

Top scoring Yale Law grad will help you score your max. Competitive rates. 310-940-2144 [85SC1318]

[75SC1624]

Roommate wanted male 25 to 35 years old In shape auto n Reference required. Free Rent in exchange for Some Duties and responsibilities. call 818-762-5269 [45SC1717]

DADDY DON’S TAX SERVICE 323-656-7532 INDIVIDUAL, RDP/SAME SEX COUPLES PARTNERSHIPS, LLC, AND CORPORATE TAX RETURN PREPARATION. DONALD ANSPAUCH, IRS EA 93602

Additions, remodels, bathrooms, kitchens, windows, flooring, painting interior/ext., custom decks, stucco, block walls, driveways & more. Lic#884762 Bonded/insured Free estimates CALL ED 310.927.1723 [85SC1717]

ANNOUNCEMENTS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

JOHN CARPENTER Trying to locate this person, Please help, Not much to go on. He’s a little guy, about 5’6 I think his age now would probably be mid to late 40’s Possibly 50. Respond to: Box 766 Roswell, GA. 30077 [105SC0917]

ORANGE COUNTY CA

REMODELING Kitchens, Bathrooms, Room Additions, High Quality In a Timely Manner Guaranteed. FREE Estimates. Call 310-570-2723. 10% Discount with Ad. LIC. B 957909. [85SC1717] DAVE’S PARTY HELP! Set up + serve. 323-460-4071. [85SC1624]

SLAMMER STUDENT NIGHT Slammer Student Night October 24th, 8pm-4am. All students with current ID, save $5 on entry to the club. Take a break from school and cum play at Slammer. 3688 Beverly Blvd. LA, CA 90004. 213-388-8040 www.slammerclub.com [105OC1717]

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/7/12

12:27 PM

Page 77

MARKETPLACE

BUSINESS

PROFILE

SAM JACOBSON: FINDING THE RIGHT HOME FOR YOU BY JAMES F. MILLS With the economy improving, more people are thinking about buying a house. The first step in that process is finding a realtor. One of the most successful realtors in the area is Sam Jacobson. With listings from Beverly Hills to the Hollywood Hills to Silver Lake, Jacobson knows the area and can help people find a house they can call a home. “If I am working with a client, that client is my first priority. I am in constant contact with them, and I am working for them,” says Jacobson, who suggests setting up an appointment to determine if it will be a good fit. “Once I am working with a client, I will give them 110 percent of my time and attention.” A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Jacobson recommends people first make sure they have enough money for a down payment and get pre-approved for a bank loan. He also recommends attending as many open houses as possible to get an idea of what you like and don’t like. What style do you want? Is a view important? Do you want a pool? How close do you want to be to schools and parks? “Go to open houses; see as many homes as possible, because sometimes we don’t always know what we like until we see it,” says Jacobson, who comes from a family of realtors. “The earlier you start, the better. You want to be in a place where you can act

quickly and have your pre-approval letter from the bank.” While some people find their dream house right away, more often it takes time. “It’s almost like dating. The more dates you go on, the more likely you will find the right partner,” Jacobson says. “The same is true with houses.” He says when people find the right house, they generally fall in love with it instantly. “If it’s right, you’ll know it,” he says. “I never try to sell anything just to make a deal. I’m not motivated by that. I’m motivated to make people happy.” He works with many gay couples. “I love working with gay and lesbian clients, because I feel that they have such amazing taste,” says Jacobson. “Being a gay man who lives in this area helps me understand my client’s needs and provide the best possible service.” He advises same-sex couples, at least until same-sex marriage is legal in California, to take the title as a “Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship.” Doing that assures that both partners share ownership and use of the property. Also, in the event of death, it automatically assures sole ownership to the surviving partner. samjacobsonla.com

OLDER GAYS

FOR SALE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLECTOR WILL BUY Your gay porn collection DVDs, mags, photos, books, 8mm films. Call Phil 323 230 9606 What do you have? [115SC1717]

Meet new friends at Project Rainbow! Free every Wed. 12-2pm In lounge at Plummer Park, West Hollywood 213621-3180 www.ProjectRainbowLA.org [135SC1322]

LA PRIMETIMERS For mature gay men & admirers. Monthly social & buffet. (323) 733-6412 www.laprimetimers.org [135SC2120]

ORGANIZATIONS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAY AND LESBIAN ATHEISTS/HUMANISTS Meet monthly. 818-554-9858 galah.org galahla@aol.com [135SC0718]

Market DECEMBER 25, 2012

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/7/12

12:27 PM

Page 78

.COM

TO ADVERTISE CALL 323.930.3220 OR SEE THE ORDER FORM ON PAGE 87

MODELS / ESCORTS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

HUNG BJ PRO Amazing mouth+tongue-Thick 9 “ Dick Anything Goes, NO PNP. 323-828-2015 [165SC1717]

EDUARDO TOP 323-706-7779 RIGO BOTTOM 323-812-6626 Two guys 7.5 Uncut top Latin guy 5’7 140lbs Slim body available any time. Sunset & Western.

BLACK MONSTER COCK VGL TOP $250 Jo 310-720-2835 [165SC1121]

MASSAGE / BODY RUBS

[165SC1717]

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

11X8 “THICK DICK Discreet BM 6’2, 180, nice & smooth skin. Buddies Avail 24/7 for you. *82323-347-9275 [165SC1717] P05340 [165SC1717] T02437

81/2 UC TOP Model Masseur you wont be disappointed Call Dan 310-854-3521 [165SC1717]

ALEX NEW IN HOLLYWOOD Escort services 323-770-5719 Sunset and Western, Sexy and masc Latin guy. [165SC1717]

HOT T I M E Jack 6’4” 200 8C 310-749-8532 Pics & info jackXXXsanders.com [165SC1717] [165SC1717] T02352

FOOTNYRMOUTH Size 10.5 Wides in your face or anywhere else you want em Dom Biker dude shows you How JT 323-702-4953 [165SC1718] Sexy Dom Japanese Masseur 8I8-3I49699 [165SC2019]

[175SC1717] T02272

BLONDE BOY!! GDLKG White/European 26 yrs 5’11 165lbs Slim Build Smooth Skin Blue Eyes Bubble butt 7.5 Uncut Big Loads! Kissing Oral Mild to Kinky or Massage call/text: Justin 323-592-0909 West Hollywood [165SC1717]

EDUARDO 323-706-7779 7.5 Uncut top Latin guy 5’7 140lbs Slim body available any time. Sunset & Western. [165SC1717]

[175SC1717] T02357

THE ULTIMATE MALE! MASCULINE, GOOD LOOKS, AND BUILT! TEXAN BODY BUILDER/CONSTRUCTION WORKER 6’3 245LBS. of Pure Natural Muscle. 36y/o. Dirty Blond Hair/Blue Eyed Hot White Male. Big, solid and rock Hard From Head to Toe...All of it! over 12 yrs Experience. Erotic Massage/Safe Fantasy by the Best Kenny 818-908-8888 [165SC1621] P05266

FRONTIERS4MEN.COM

Top vers 41 in good shape 7” un thick 140 lbs like to please mature gentlemen. Oral expert. Serious calls only please. no blocked numbers and out only 310-507-3709

O.C. HUNG 8+ Nude Massage 714-342-6951

[175SC1717]

SHOWER SCRUBS!!!! DAVE 323/460-4071.

[165SC1717] P05334

[175SC1624]

DAD BIG 10”TOP In good shape, 6’4” black man 4 a good time. Pals are also available! Call (323) 273-2137 [165SC1717]

ROMAN 323-445-2640 5’11 200LBS MASCULINE VERS/TOP [165SC1617] P05320

BUTTS ONLY! Ass need work? Massage Fingers Spank Toys leather sexy muscle dad does it all! 213-580-4704 [175SC1717]

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:56 PM

Page 79

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/7/12

12:27 PM

#1 HOT ITALIAN!! Beef! masc 6’ 220 VGLKG+9” Treat yourself to sensual bodyrub W/Incredible release. In/Out 24/7 Mark 323 5400930 [175SC1717] P00541

Page 80

MUSCLEWORKS

XXHUNG MASSUER

Musc/masc Irish athlete, pro-trained, focuses on yr specific needs. DT, Swedish, erotic. WeHo Ez park Discreet No attitude Sean 323 658-8860. Late OK! [175SC1717] P03733

6ft4 Musc Smooth Swedish Deep tissue on table In-calls only Central Hollwood Total nude Total release Handsome Friendly guy www.hugehunguy.com 323 252 3412 [175SC1717] P04962

NEW HOT MUSCLE Xtra Hung Nude Erotic Strong Hands Great touch Vglkg can Host 24/7 Matt 310-967-2033 [175SC1717] P05287

OC ASIAN 5’3” 122 36 Y/O W/Compact Gym Body Gives sensual/Theraputic Massage on Yr specific needs. In/Out 714-588-1117 $80.00 [175SC1718]

ZEN SHIATSU MAINTAINS STRENGTH SUSTAINS VITALITY! Feel soothing energy ripple through your body releasing the tension and pain of muscle fatigue. Call Shiatsu Master, Pascal: 310-409-7515. LEGIT [175SC1217]

MANLY MSG + $5OFF M4M YOUNG THAIBOYPRIVATE ROOMS.. 4903W PICO BLVD. LA. CA. 90019 (323)-937-5183/323-836-4017

5’9” 180 Friendly Discreet Masc Deep Sensual Full Body Contact 8yrs exp Table In $60 Out $85 Str8 Married Gay Bi Welc Shower EZ park 323-309-9881 [175SC1312]

MASCULINE FRIENDLY MASSEUR 5’7 160LBS OUT ONLY $70 ANDRES 818334-7172 [175SC1718] P05341

[175SC1717] P05293

SEXY TRAINER

SPA PACKAGES!!!

Will massage you and guaranteed to make you feel your best. Contact 818434-6572 [175SC1717] P05345

DAVE 323/460-4071 [175SC1622]

NEW IN L.A. Hot Itln masc 6’ 220 VGLKG+9” Treat yourself to sensual bodyrub W/Incredible release. In/Out 24/7 Marco (323)6921062 [175SC1717]

WHAT U WANT2 Fullbody massage+more by handsome all Italian guy 5’11 168 81/2” Versatile /fun. 323-874-5762 [175SC1717]

OC LONGBCH LA Black masseur 5F4 130# lean muscular Handsome face Smooth Oceanview Massage Michael 562 714 4270 MCVisa [175SC1717]

FRONTIERS4MEN.COM

NUDE MASSAGE Masculine, worked out, muscle jock offers a combination of Thai, Swedish, Deep tissue & erotic styles for your pleasure. Very high number of repeat clients. San Fernando Valley and LA areas. Tim (818) 625-8094. [175SC1717] P05254 Latin Swimmer Body Smooth touch. Erick, 19yrs, Out. (323)407-2148 [175SC1719]

Release stress w/VGL model, masseur/healer. (323) 533-4775 [175SC1717] P05264

SUPERB MASSAGE Relax into Fall with a good-looking, fit, laid-back expert in the arts of relaxation and rejuvenation. Discreet, professional, tension relief at a bargain-hunter’s price...What more could you ask for? Scott 323-384-7574 VISA/MC, AMEX, DISC. accepted. [175SC1717]

Grand Opening Fullmonthaispa 15% discount Special! M4M YOUNG CUTE THAI BOY. Private Rooms and complimentary Showers 4781 Santa Monica Blvd, LA Ca 90029 call us at 323-663-6558 text us at 213-458-9544 [175SC1717] P05326

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:56 PM

Page 81

DECEMBER 25, 2012

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/7/12

12:28 PM

Page 82

Dave

PERENEAL MASSAGE!! 323-460-4071. Awsome.

Let this Greek Italian give you a massage the way you like it. (818) 205-5766. [175SC1717]

[175SC1624]

MATURE & SEXY

FULLERTON

Hung European Hard Big U/C Gives Nude Full Body Mass&More Jack 323-6611720 [175SC1717]

Will give you a full-body massage in the nude, by goodlking GM 35y. 5’11” 185# $40in/$60+out Eric 714 879-5293 24/7 [175SC1518]

CLASSIC MASSAGE! By handsome friendly discreet white 26 yrs 5’11 165lbs Blonde 323-592-0909 Jason West Hllwd [175SC1717] $5 OFF OUR HOT NEW ASIAN & LATINO BOYS We now have two locations featuring all private rooms! #1. 4875 Melrose Ave LA 90029 323-464-7793 Melrose & Western #2. 1253 N Vine St LA 90038 323-960-9084 Fountain & Vine 323-828-2089 [175SC1717] P05246

Legit massage by Ray (818) 503-0453 [175SC1621]

HUNG FUN CMT Table, Diligent, Playful, Oral + More, Thick 9” Dick. Shower Avail, EZ Parking 323-828-2015 [175SC1717] [175SC1717] T02419

HOT LATIN MIX Give full body massage in nude 28Y 150lb 5’9 9 Uncut 24/7 call 323-4672758 Julio [175SC1717]

[175SC1318] T02290

SEXY ITALIAN I Will massage you in the nude 81/2 Uncut top. Call 310-854-3521

310-749-8532 Jackson. Nude full body stress release. Handsome,masculine & fun. In/Out weho. sensational [175SC1717] P05333 SENSUAL SALT BATH with Jonathan (323)460-4071 [175SC1624]

[175SC1717] [175SC1717] T02400

EROTIC DADDY RUBS 323-428-3066 [175SC1717] P05327

Masseurmeister big strong German hands will do the job. $45/hr. $70/1.5hr. (818) 997-7972 [175SC1217]

BOYS4MASSAGE $35/HR THAI BOYS NEW YOUNG SEXY & FRIENDLY THAI BOYS MASSAGE IN PRIVATE ROOM

GREEK GOD - STILIOS Swedish Massage Therapy by Certified W/Table. Call Stelios 310-634-8168. [175SC1717] steliostherapy@yahoo.com [175SC1717] T02307 [175SC1617] T01863

FRONTIERS4MEN.COM

P05342

1#5608 San Vicente L.A. 90019. 323934-4548. 2#5589 Pico Blvd, L.A. 90019. 323634-0869. 3#5838 W. Manchester Ave. 90045. 213-281-8542 [175SC1717] P05299

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:57 PM

Page 83

DECEMBER 25, 2012

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:57 PM

Page 84

FRONTIERS4MEN.COM

SEX ED

Prostate Predicament BY JIM LARKINS

If prostate cancer seems like a faroff, remote issue for you, keep in mind that the disease is the most common cancer in men, with 37,000 diagnoses surfacing each year resulting in an alarming 10,000 deaths. The optimist may not take the prostate cancer prospect too seriously, but if you ever do find yourself battling this scourge of the male species, new breakthroughs in medical science are offering new hope. A treatment involving a highly focused ultrasound is one of the latest forms of artillery in the war on prostate cancer. The therapy goes right to the cancerous tumor and obliterates it with a superheating process—all this without the usual overnight hospital stay. Nine out of 10 cases that underwent high-intensity focused ultrasound, HIFU, experienced none of the usual major side effects ordinarily associated with traditional therapies. These patients were also still free of cancer 12 months after treatment. The positive results are double those linked to current traditional surgery or radiotherapy. Considering the possible debilitating consequences of conventional treatment, like incontinence and impotence from having the prostate removed, this is great news for the prostate cancer victim. HIFU treatment directly targets tumors as small as a grain of rice. A number of medical experts have gone on-record as believing that the

FRONTIERS4MEN.COM

results of this new therapy are very encouraging. They are optimistic that large-scale trials can now begin so that treatment can be offered routinely, as early as within the next five years. The leader of the study at University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust and University College London, Dr. Hashim Ahmed, said, “This changes the paradigm. By focusing just on the areas of cancer, we reduce the collateral damage to surrounding tissue.” “Our results are very encouraging,” he says. “We’re optimistic that men diagnosed with prostate cancer may soon be able to undergo a day case surgical procedure, which can safely be repeated once or twice, to treat their condition with very few side effects. This could mean a significant improvement in their quality of life.” The research program is led by Professor Mark Emberton of UCL and UCLH. He claims, “Focal therapy offers harm reduction—it is a strategy that attempts to redress the balance of harms and benefits.” Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said, “We welcome the development of any prostate cancer treatment that limits the possibility of damaging side effects such as incontinence and impotence. However, we need to remember that this treatment was given to fewer than 50 men, without follow-up over a sustained period of time.”

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:57 PM

Page 85

DECEMBER 25, 2012

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/7/12

12:29 PM

Page 86

WOW ONLY $50

RELATIONSHIPS

TRY PERSIAN STYLE A unique Massage 323-449-0894 By Esan [175SC1119]

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

MUSCULAR LATIN

GWM 57 5’10 177 BL Red HIV- Yng. Seeks Lover Rel 18-40 emp 4 LTR. Pic to: W.D. POB 955 South Pasadena CA 91031-0955 Serious Guy [205SC1717]

Good relaxing massage by Latin Men with great touch. 33 in great shape 5’10 175 lbs. In or Out 323-513-8875 Angel [175SC1717]

SGV/IE

Classy, Fun 6’2 220 Blk muscle Husky & Older guys preferred Host or Travel. (818) 738-3578

Let me help to release your stress. Friendly asian 6’1 190 in/out call ming 626-297-3030 [175SC1717]

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

[175SC1717] P05195

[175SC1717] T02368

MASSAGE + MORE From Italy Versatile n fun for awesome good time! 323-874-5762 [175SC1717]

MEN’S HEALTH SPA Jacuzzi Dry & Steam Sauna Shiatsu & Fullbody massage 8a-10pm. Out calls also In the South Bay 310-707-3248. Pain Clinic Doctor Available. [175SC0218]

HOT LATIN 6’ 175 Lean smooth runners Build provides affordable Massage Table & Oils In Calls only In Sherman Oaks Relaxing Time Martin 818-404-3944 [175SC1718]

ORANGE COUNTY CA

AWESOME MSG Cert pro Strong/sensitive touch Erotic/relaxing Nice guy/body Spiritual 7am-11pm Chuck 714 743 8275 No calls after 11pm [175OC1321]

[175SC1717] T02439

S&M [175SC1717] T02318

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

SLAVE WANTED Master seeks totally mature obedient slave age looks not important attitude is you will be Hooded collared bondage spanking Tit play sling cage there for my pleasure call after 6pm 323-547-3124 Sir [185SC1723]

MUSCLE BEAR MASSAGE Tired of Boys? Looking for REAL MAN? 5’11, 220 lbs, 41y, 81/2 uc VERY Masculine, Handsome, Build, Hairy & Inked Muscle Bear will give you a body rub of your life. ALL MAN! Vers Top. Pete 323-606-3300 [175SC1717] P05347 Asian Age 30 Wonderful erotic body Rub N a lot more Call X porn 323-590-3991 Nguyen [175SC1717] P05346

FRONTIERS4MEN.COM

WANT TO MEET

Silver Fox likes to play with Guys with Long Straight Hair 310-836-1176 [215SC1618]

WHERE LOCAL MEN MEET!! Send Messages FREE! (323) 648-3999, (213) 316-1006 Use Free Code 7927, 18+ [215SC1318] GWM 55 top 5-8 215lbs Semi Hairy looking for fun time you me st have your place, couple ok call 909-920-1835 [215SC1720]

WANT XHIBITIONIST! LEE WORSHIPER LA 323-665-7217 [215SC1119]

VIDEOS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAVE HORNY HOLIDAYS WITH US!! KNIGHTBREEDERS.COM [245SC1520]

MAN FETISH KINKVIDEO.COM Boot Sock Foot Tickle Trample Cock Rim Spank Fuck BDSM! Free broch DVD/VHS/VOD 415-436-9840 KV-FR, POB 14108, SF, CA 94114 [245SC1717]

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:57 PM

Page 87

#31.18 #31.19 #31.20 #31.21

12/12/12 12/26/12 01/09/13 01/23/13

12/26/12 01/09/13 01/23/13 02/06/13

DECEMBER 25, 2012

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/7/12

3:39 PM

Page 88

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:57 PM

Page 89

076-bc 3117.qxd

12/6/12

5:58 PM

Page 90