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INSIDE
VOL. 31, ISSUE 22 / FEB. 20-MARCH 5, 2013
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A Downtown Revival by Michelle McCarthy Producer Larry Kennar and star/executive producer Darryl Stephens chat about Logo TV series DTLA, why they chose to focus on Downtown and how young actors are jonesing to play gay.
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LEADING BY EXAMPLE Mitchel Moore ............................................16 NEWS News Briefs ..................................................18 L.A. Mayoral Candidate Eric Garcetti, an Activist on LGBT Rights ......................20 Wendy Greuel Wants to be L.A.’s First Female Mayor ....................................22 13th C.D. Candidate Matt Szabo Wants to do Big Things ............................28 For Candidate Mitch O’Farrell, the 13th C.D. is Home ..............................29 SOCAL GUIDE Calendar ......................................................40 Snapshots ....................................................42 ENTERTAINMENT Music Reviews ............................................50 Theater Reviews ........................................52 Out & About ................................................54 Little Miss Know-It-All..............................55 Billy Masters................................................56 Queersay ......................................................57
CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF AT WEHO FORUM by Peter DelVecchio Nine candidates vying for two seats on the West Hollywood City Council faced off in a public forum at City Hall.
DTLA BY THE NUMBERS by Stephan Horbelt DTLA has become the go-to spot for L.A. gays looking to escape the gay ghetto and live a big city life.
CITY GUIDES West Hollywood ........................................58 East Side ......................................................59 Orange County ..........................................60 Long Beach....................................................61 Palm Springs ................................................62
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FRONTIERS MARKETPLACE Listings..........................................................68 Business Profile ..........................................69 FRONTIERS4MEN Adult Classifieds ........................................70 Sex Ed ............................................................76
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PRINT MATTERS by Stephan Horbelt
We spotlight 14 popular zines that are not only of interest to the LGBT community but also prime examples of the artform’s daring ingenuity.
COVER PHOTO Courtesy of Logo Network
MODELS: Darryl Stephens & Matthew Stephen Herrick
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URBAN EATS by Nick Rufca
When you’re hungry, you can always go downtown. Here are six of our favorite DTLA restaurants.
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 © 2013, Frontiers Media, LLC.
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FEBRUARY 19, 2013
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ONLINE Find these articles exclusively at
facebook.com/ frontiersmagazine
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QUEEN OF COMEDY
youtube.com/ frontiersweb
by Michelle McCarthy
FIND US ON
After Lately returns and comic favorite Fortune Feimster is bringin’ the laughs. frontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews
INSTAGRAM! Follow Frontiers on Instagram @frontiersLA and we’ll follow you back! Also, share with us your favorite L.A. photos by tagging them with #whyilovegayla. We’ll be picking our favorite images and posting them online at FrontiersLA.com!
BOOK REVIEWS by The Bookworm
In need of a good read? Read our reviews of Dr. Ruth’s Guide for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver by Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer and The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon. frontiersLA.com/BookReviews
REDISCOVERING WHY WE LOVE
L.A.’S BROADWAY
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
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by Mike Ciriaco
Red Line Tours takes spectators on an adventure through Downtown L.A.’s most historic theatres. frontiersLA.com/Features
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FrontiersLA.com Volume 31, Issue 22 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
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Contributing Writers Aaron Batts, Jackie Beat, Christopher Cappiello, Peter DelVecchio, Gossip Gay, Greg Hernandez, Stephan Horbelt, Jim Larkins, Dan Loughry, Billy Masters, Michelle McCarthy, Dana Miller, James F. Mills, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Dominik Rothbard, Nick Rufca, Kevin P. Taft, Paul V. Contributing Photographers and Illustrators Gabe Ayala, Chris Bennon, Brenden-John Photography, Glen Hanson, Jake Kale, Michael Lamont, David A. Lee Photography, Longrada Lor, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Jonathan Sirand
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©2013 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.
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BUILDING COMMUNITY
Leading by Example
Heart of Los Angeles: Mitchel Moore Makes a Safe Haven for Youth By Michelle McCarthy Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) founder Mitchel Moore didn’t have any intention to create a nonprofit organization. But after Catholic Big Brothers turned him away from its volunteer program because he was gay, Mitchel didn’t allow the experience to discourage him. In 1989, he established HOLA, which provides underserved youth with programs in academics, arts and athletics.
agents of change. And now, 25 years later, it is happening!
How did HOLA get its start? I was working as the tenor soloist at Immanuel Presbyterian Church and decided to open up the old gymnasium to provide a safe haven for the neighborhood kids who had nowhere else to play except the alley and the parking lot. There were a lot of gang shootings during that time, and several people were killed in the area around the church. The Rampart District was known for being one of the most violent areas of our city. I couldn’t imagine how these kids survived each day as they walked out of their overcrowded apartments onto the streets, how they could focus on school and make plans for their futures. College seemed out of the question. I, along with two other guys, literally started with one basketball and the five boys who showed up on that first Saturday. Each week, more and more kids came to play in the gym, and it wasn’t long before we realized that we had to offer more than just basketball—as there wasn’t room for all the kids.
What types of programs do you provide? We offer our core programming in the arts, athletics and education, but each of these areas has developed and expanded to include many unique opportunities. HOLA has a beautiful art gallery where the visual artists exhibit their paintings, drawings, ceramics and sculptures. We partner with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for YOLA at HOLA, a program that provides more than 250 elementary and middle school students with music education and private lessons six days a week. We have a new state-of-the-art recreation center that houses a beautiful gymnasium (thanks to the L.A. Lakers), a computer lab and several classrooms. We also have a soccer field and outdoor skateboard park. HOLA’s educational programs are some of the finest in the inner city, with students coming from as far as East L.A., South L.A. and the San Fernando Valley to participate in our college prep classes. For the past two years, 100 percent of our graduating seniors have attended fouryear colleges and universities throughout the country. HOLA provides mentors and adult advisors for all the high school juniors and seniors.
What are you hoping to accomplish? I want HOLA to provide hope for a brighter future. Eventually, I would like for HOLA’s leadership to be comprised of young people who benefited from HOLA’s programs; young people who grew up at HOLA, went off to college and returned to their own neighborhood to work as
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How do kids qualify to attend HOLA? Any child can attend HOLA. We maintain very high standards and require a lot of the students, but if they are willing to accept HOLA’s values and participate accordingly, they are welcome. All the programs are free to the families.
What's an average day like for a child who attends HOLA? Filled with positive activities and lots of love. Lots of friends. During the week-
days, HOLA’s programs begin at 3 p.m., or as soon as school is out, and continue on into the evening. Some of the high school programs are evening and weekend classes, depending on the time of year. Sports programming is year-round, and YOLA at HOLA takes place six days a week. We offer computer and academic classes for all ages five days a week. What kind of feedback have you received? I still hear from “kids” 24 years later about how they couldn’t have made it without HOLA. How HOLA was a family to them. How HOLA saved their lives. It’s incredible. And now with Facebook, I remain connected to so many of those original boys and girls. It’s incredible to return to HOLA now and see so many of the staff members who were students back in the day. I attend weddings, birthdays, high school and college graduations, and a few funerals, unfortunately, of HOLA alumni. So many of those original students are now parents, and some even have their children involved with HOLA today. It’s a wonderful feeling! heartofla.org
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NEWS By Karen Ocamb & Peter DelVecchio
Military Extends Benefits to Same-Sex Partners The Pentagon will begin the rulemaking process to extend to "same-sex domestic partners of military members" certain benefits currently available to military spouses, according to a Feb. 11 Department of Defense memo signed by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. The benefits will include dependent ID cards, the right to shop in steeply discounted military commissaries and exchanges, joint duty assignments where both partners are servicemembers and space-available travel on military aircraft. Panetta's memo acknowledges that other benefits, such as health care and housing allowances, are still prohibited under the Defense of Marriage Act. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide the constitutionality of certain provisions of that law later this year. The move came too late for Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan, a lesbian soldier who came out the day “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” was repealed. Morgan lost her battle with cancer Feb. 10, according to an OutServe/SLDN release.
Quick Pic
Republican Florida Senator and Tea Party darling Marco Rubio has been widely lampooned for taking a swig from a bottle of water during his Feb. 12 televised reply to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.
Resolution Asks L.A. to Cut Ties with St. Petersburg, Russia Working with the ACLU/SC and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, openly gay L.A. City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl introduced a resolution Feb. 12 to cut ties with “sister city” St. Petersburg, Russia, to protest their March 2012 ordinance banning "public action aimed at propagandizing sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism among minors.” “The passing of this resolution sends a strong message that the city will not tolerate discrimination against our LGBT brothers and sisters in a sister-city relationship,” said Rosendahl. James Gilliam, director of the ACLU/SC’s LGBT Project, said St. Petersburg “has sent a chilling message to LGBT youth both in Russia and abroad: hide yourself, don’t speak up. Now it’s time for the mayor and the City Council to show St. Petersburg and the world that our city has nothing in common with that sort of intolerance.”
State Dept. Issues New LGBT Travel Info The U.S. State Department has issued new travel guidelines for gay people venturing abroad on its website at travel.state.gov. The post reminds travelers that “[a]ttitudes and tolerance toward [LGBT] persons vary from country to country” and that “[m]ost LGBT travelers encounter no problems while overseas, but it helps to be prepared and research your destination before you go." The post includes a link for “Country Specific Information,” and notes that the department’s annual Human Rights Report also includes a section regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in each country. The page also answers questions regarding passport, HIV and other issues, and explains how to obtain help if problems arise abroad and the traveler does not feel comfortable seeking help from local authorities. Immigration issues are addressed as well, including visas for same-sex spouses, foreign residents, work permits and non-immigrant U.S. visas for foreigners.
SPEAK OUT “Every time Dick Cheney laughs, an angel gets stabbed in the dick.” —Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, regarding former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney’s recent criticism of President Obama’s second-term national security appointees as “second rate.”
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“Oui.” —The French National Assembly Feb. 12 approved a law that would legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children, blog.seattlepi.com reports.
“I really, really believe in my conscience and the morals I’ve developed in my lifetime in the Catholic Church.” —Mike Moroski, a former administrator at Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, regarding being fired by the church for refusing to take down a blog post favoring marriage equality, as reported at towleroad.com.
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NEWS
L.A. Mayoral Candidate Eric Garcetti, an Activist on LGBT Rights By Karen Ocamb
Reporting on a Feb. 7 Hollywood fundraiser for Los Angeles Councilmember Eric Garcetti in his race to become L.A.’s next mayor, L.A. Observed’s Kevin Roderick said Garcetti’s “years of blogging, posting on social media ... make him seem like the cool guy candidate.” The L.A. Times’ Michael Finnegan detailed Garcetti’s cultural competency, writing that the candidate “prides himself on his ease with the city's diverse cultures. He sees his mixed ancestry ("I have an Italian last name, and I'm half-Mexican and half-Jewish," he says) as a powerful part of his appeal in a city where voters for decades have split along racial and ethnic lines in mayoral elections.” Unmentioned so far is Garcetti’s deep relationship with the LGBT community. But the LGBT vote could matter greatly in the March 5 municipal election primary. Turnout is expected to be so low, some politicos speculate that an insignificant progressive vote will be split among Garcetti, his chief rival L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel and Councilmember Jan Perry to propel gay conservative Republican attorney and radio talk show host Kevin James into the run-off. But while it’s doubtful the LGBT electorate will vote for James simply because he’s gay, LGBT voters are expected to turn out to advance
PHOTO: KAREN OCAMB
Freedom to Marry’s Marc Solomon (left) with Garcetti
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a bevy of gay candidates for City Council seats and City Controller. For years, Garcetti has been ubiquitous in the LGBT community. But his commitment goes back further than imagined. “I kind of cut my teeth as an activist working on issues of equality and civil rights,” Garcetti told Frontiers in a Feb. 13 phone interview. “When I was in college in New York, I worked with ACT UP. I was the leader of a group called the National Students Coalition Against Harassment, which was a nationwide student organization dealing with hate crimes—sexism, homophobia and racism on college campuses. In some ways, I started my work as a political activist around issues of human rights and taught human rights as a professor. I headed up the Young Advocates for Human Rights Watch, worked for the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights dealing with issues of homophobia. Back then, that was more of what we were dealing with than the issue of equality. “In England, when I was a Rhodes Scholar, I was active in human rights work for the LGBT community there—the age of consent, issues of same-sex partner benefits, education access for gay teachers and other things like that in my time at Oxford. So no matter where I’ve been, it’s been a strong current of my work and how I evolved as a political activist.” Among his achievements as a councilmember, Garcetti designated The Black Cat
and The Mattachine Steps as historic landmarks, and in 2002 expanded the Equal Benefits Ordinance to cover the airport, the port and the Department of Water and Power, requiring them to give equal benefits to same-sex partners for their employees before they could get a city contract. “That was a huge piece of legislation,” Garcetti said. Garcetti also promises to implement the California FAIR Education Act. “This is a mandate, and I will speak up and speak out for this to be universally in all of Los Angeles’ schools.” “I’ve never shied away from a fight. I think I’m somebody who’s always looked at the uncomfortable spaces and places of politics and embraced a good struggle for justice,” Garcetti said. “I’ve made sure the LGBT community is not only always at the table, but that voices we don’t hear within the community are heard— homeless, transgender, poor seniors. The diversity of the LGBT community reflects the diversity of the city, and I think I’m the candidate who best embodies a progressive vision that has also produced results. ... We don’t have to make a safe choice in this election. We can make a bold choice, because it’s rooted in somebody who has turned around the kind of heartland of this city—Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park and Atwater Village—and I’ll take that vision citywide.” Freedom to Marry National Campaign Director Marc Solomon has known Garcetti since 1999 when the two were among the Rockefeller Foundation’s 24 Next Generation of Leaders. "I'll never forget Eric's guidance when many were pressuring us to settle for civil unions in the early days of the fight in Massachusetts. I called him in a moment of real challenge, and Eric reminded me that civil unions were just a legal agreement but that marriage was about love. 'Fight for love,' he urged me. After Eric offered those words, I've never once turned back,” Solomon told Frontiers. “For the 15 years I've known Eric, full equality for every aspect of our LGBT community has always been a core priority and value. ... Eric will fight hard until every member of our community is fully respected under law, and he will amplify that voice nationwide. I cannot imagine a better person to be mayor of any great American city." Please go to ericgarcetti.com for more info, and to FrontiersLA.com for the full interview with Eric Garcetti.
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NEWS
Wendy Greuel Wants To Be L.A.’s First Female Mayor By Karen Ocamb
There was a moment during President Obama’s State of the Union address on Feb. 12 when he said, “We know our economy is stronger when our wives, our mothers, our daughters can live their lives free from discrimination in the workplace, and free from the fear of domestic violence,” noting that the Senate just passed the Violence Against Women Act. “And I ask this Congress to declare that women should earn a living equal to their efforts, and finally pass the Paycheck Fairness Act this year.” The camera cut away to two Republican women sitting frozen-faced and another turning away. Renewing the Violence Against Women
Act ran into trouble this time because protections for the LGBT community and Native American women were included. There has always been more of an intersection between discrimination faced by women, minorities and the LGBT community than many have realized. For more than 30 years, L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel has worked to end discrimination through this nexus. Now she is seeking to become the first female mayor of Los Angeles, though she must first face March 5 primary challengers City Councilmembers Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry, gay conservative Republican radio talk show host Kevin James and former aide to Mayor Villaraigosa, Emanuel Pleitez. For 10 of her 20 years in office, Greuel was a senior aide to L.A.’s first African-American mayor, Tom Bradley, during which time the two made historic advances for LGBT rights and people with HIV/AIDS. “When I was working for Tom Bradley in the ‘80s, I actually was the liaison to the LGBT community,” Greuel told Frontiers during a phone interview Feb. 13. “I spearheaded our efforts to create the first city/county AIDS task force to address an issue that—at that time—the county was unwilling to address [other than Supervisor Ed Edelman]. ... I was the staffer, go-to, policy— all of that—and really worked hard at a time when so many individuals were discriminating against the LGBT community out of fear and misinformation and, I think, homophobia. I was proud to work for a mayor who said, ‘We’re going to stand up and we’re going to be counted and say that it’s not OK.’“ Greuel recalls how Torie Osborn, then-executive director of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center, asked for Greuel’s help when the Center was going to lose its insurance. Greuel recommended that Bradley call the CEO of the insurance company and threaten to hold a press conference asking people to boycott that insurance company because they were discriminating and homophobic. Osborn was incredulous. But Bradley made that call, and the insurance was reinstated. Greuel also set up a number of AIDS programs, used the mayor’s office to ask the City Council for money for condoms and bleach to stop the spread of AIDS, and was responsible
Wendy Greuel and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez at Greuel's Boyle Heights headquarters PHOTO COURTESY: GREUEL CAMPAIGN
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for establishing the City AIDS Coordinator position, headed first by Being Alive’s Dave Johnson, then Phill Wilson (subsequent founder of the Black AIDS Institute) and then former ACT UP member Ferd Egan. “Tom Bradley was the unlikely older AfricanAmerican mayor who was a leader on this issue,” Greuel said, recalling the emotional scene when Bradley got a standing ovation at one of the first APLA AIDS Walks. “I feel honored that I not only learned from him but toiled with him on issues that were really important to the LGBT community. He stood for equal rights throughout his entire career—and that was my mentor. And to be the liaison to the LGBT community during some very difficult times was for me a moment I know I learned a lot about standing up for the right things.” In its endorsement of Greuel, Honor PAC President Alfred Fraijo Jr. noted that she “stood alongside our organization in the fight to defeat Proposition 8” when she represented San Fernando Valley’s 2nd Council District. Greuel also noted that as a councilmember, she fought for the city’s Equal Benefits Ordinance. “I’m going to be mayor for all of L.A. No part of L.A. will be left behind,” Greuel says. “You’re going to get the same services, no matter where you live. And I’m going to be a mayor that makes sure everyone has their equal rights and that I use the voice of the mayor of the second largest city—and yes, the first woman mayor of L.A.—to ensure there’s no discrimination.” “I have known Wendy for more than a decade, and I know she understands how to get things done,” says her friend, openly gay California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez. “Throughout her career, Wendy Greuel has fought to create jobs, return million of dollars to small businesses and improve Los Angeles’ streets and public transit system. Wendy understands the needs of working people and of business owners alike and can bring them together to rebuild our economy. Wendy will be a fighter for Angelenos across the city, and she has my enthusiastic support." For more info, go to wendygreuel.org, and go to FrontiersLA.com for the full interview.
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NEWS
Candidates Square Off at WeHo Forum By Peter DelVecchio Nine candidates vying for two seats on the West Hollywood City Council in the March 5 election faced off in a “Candidates Forum” Feb. 6 at City Hall. In the incumbents’ corners, Mayor Jeff Prang, first elected to the council in 1997, and John Duran, a councilmember since 2001. Challengers included Sam Borelli, Tom Demille, Nick Garzilli, Christopher Landavazo, Steve Martin, Tristan Schukraft and Rusty Wiggs. Borelli, a communications consultant, has been a West Hollywood public safety commissioner since 2003. Demille, running for the fourth time, is a 20-year WeHo resident and a graduate of the Sheriff’s Department of Community Policing Academy. Garzilli describes himself as a "Sustainable Transport Entrepreneur." Landavazo is an L.A. Sheriff’s Department deputy and educator. Martin served on the WeHo City Council from 1994-2003 and is an advocate of term limits. Schukraft describes himself as an “entrepreneur with experience creating and managing global companies.” Wiggs is executive director of a Beverly Hills psychology practice. At the outset, each candidate was asked to state his “first priority.” For Garzilli, it was to put on a “solar pride festival in West Hollywood Park,” in part to showcase a solar-powered “personal rapid transit network” he advocates. Schukraft wants to see “more community involvement,” possibly involving phone apps showing city issues and councilmembers’ votes. Martin identified reaching consensus on development and preservation of the city’s character.
Bringing back trust in government and in the city’s leaders on such issues as development and public safety was Borelli’s top concern. Prang said protection against “overdevelopment,” increased investment in public safety and expansion of parkland are his priorities. Landavazo wants to see more civic engagement, which he said basically means “listening to our community first and making decisions second.” Protection and repair of the city’s “aging housing infrastructure,” including rent-controlled units, would be Duran’s first priority. For Demille, issues affecting seniors, women and children would be paramount. Wiggs said development issues need the most attention. With the next topic, traffic, the fireworks began. “In the last two years,” Martin said, “we’ve seen a lot of irresponsible development,” which he said Prang and Duran had voted for. He cited parking and congestion issues associated with several project developments, adding that the ‘Marriott at Sunset and Doheny’ issue “had a lot to do with the fact that ... the lobbyist for the hotel ... also happens to be the consultant for Jeff Prang and John Duran.” Prang responded that he has “led the way” on traffic issues his entire time on the council, asserting that the city has created 1,700 new parking spaces and instituted other measures to alleviate traffic and parking problems. Duran said he had voted against the Sunset Millennium project, which he said “Martin championed and passed through” when he was on the council. Clashes also arose over the topic of “devel-
opment agreements,” which the moderator said “may circumvent current zoning laws, such as allowing billboards where [otherwise] not allowed” and which “cannot be appealed except through the courts” and “have been increasingly utilized by council over the past decade.” Martin called such agreements “an invitation for corruption,” saying “developers are buying their way around the general plan” in exchange for offering the city “quote-unquote benefits.” “There’s no accountability,” he said, adding that “these decisions are made behind doors.” He called for a moratorium on development agreements. Prang responded that the city benefits from development agreements, citing such things as licensing fees for signs on Sunset Boulevard. The mayor nonetheless agreed that “we need to tighten up development agreements” because “it does give developers the opportunity and actually sometimes the incentive to try to get something that we would have otherwise not allowed.” He also said he “voted against the general plan because [he thought] it allowed too much development.” Duran also defended development agreements, contending that they are only used when they confer a public benefit, and citing the LaBrea Gateway at LaBrea and Santa Monica, which he called “something that’s fantastic, that’s actually doubled property values on the east side.” When the discussion turned to the city’s budget, and what should be increased or decreased, some of the candidates criticized West Hollywood’s spending on certain special events, including last year’s “Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day” and the “End of the World” event to mark the purported prediction by the ancient Maya that the end would come on Dec. 21, 2012. The forum made it plain that many significant issues face the city of West Hollywood and that the candidates have substantial differences of opinion on those issues. Video of the forum will be replayed on WehoTV Monday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m., and Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. You can get a DVD of the broadcast by calling (323) 848-6593.
PHOTO: PAULO MURILLO
Please find an extended version of this story at FrontiersLA.com/ElectionCentral, as well as video interviews with the candidates and photos from the forum.
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NEWS
13th Council District Candidate Matt Szabo Wants to Do Big Things By Karen Ocamb
After the Jan. 24 Hollywood Chamber of Commerce-sponsored debate between candidates for the 13th City Council District, more than one observer compared the performance of gay candidate Matt Szabo to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s congressional testimony on Benghazi the day before—thanks to his ease with explaining big ideas and having complicated facts at his fingertips. Apparently respected former 13th District Councilmember and Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg Matt Szabo was also impressed. Days later she endorsed Szabo. “There are a number of truly extraordinary candidates in this race, but Matt Szabo is best prepared for the job, has the most progressive vision and the kind of commitment to the community we need on the City Council,” Goldberg said. Szabo, a former deputy mayor to L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, is not shy about pressing for more than safe ideas. “I'm running for office because I want to do big things for the people of the 13th District and the city of Los Angeles as a whole,” Szabo told Frontiers. “I've worked for more than a decade in the highest levels of city government. I know how the city works. And I want to put it to work on behalf of the residents of my district. Specifically, I want to build upon the tremendous progress we have made in the areas of renewable energy, new open/green space, public transportation and public safety. “I understand how consequential this time is for Los Angeles— a time of tremendous potential, but also peril,” he said. “The city is not yet financially stable. I understand thoroughly this very immediate challenge and how to address it. It is a very real question whether or not the city will be able to continue to provide services and make the progress necessary to fulfill the promise of Los Angeles. I will not let this city go bankrupt ... [but] I thrive and perform best in tough situations and when stakes are the highest.” Please go to FrontiersLA.com for more of Matt Szabo’s interview.
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NEWS
For Candidate Mitch O’Farrell, the 13th Council District is Home By Karen Ocamb
The Taglyan Cultural Complex on Vine in Hollywood was packed Jan. 24 with supporters for the 13th City Council District candidates debate sponsored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. But there was something different about supporters of gay candidate Mitch O’Farrell. They were not only pulling for him to do well; they seemed to love him. Shortly after the debate, the Hollywood Chamber’s PAC endorsed O’Farrell. But it’s the support of longtime residents such as Wes Joe, who Mitch O’Farrell worked with O’Farrell on designating The Black Cat bar and the steps up to Harry Hay’s Mattachine Society home as historic sites. “During a site visit on a rare, moist, summer day, it was Mitch who remarked that he could feel Harry's spirit on the hill,” Joe told Frontiers. “So last April, on Harry Hay's birth centenary, we were able to celebrate the naming of the Mattachine Steps on Cove Avenue just above the Silver Lake Reservoir.” Even O’Farrell’s reasons for running for the seat being vacated by his former boss, Councilmember Eric Garcetti, are personal. “I know and love the 13th District so much,” O’Farrell told Frontiers. “Over the last 31 years, I have been rooted here; from Hollywood in 1982, moving to Glassell Park in 1992 when I met my partner George Brauckman and we began making a life together. ... No one knows the 13th better or has the experience or the track record of making improvements here. I am very eager to put all of that experience to greater use as the next councilmember for the 13th District. ... [A]s a gay man who is in the age group that was hit hardest by the [AIDS] epidemic, but was given the privilege and luxury of being alive and thriving, I feel a duty to give back in a big way to all of society, beginning with my own neighborhood and the 13th District.” Please go to FrontiersLA.com for more of Mitch O’Farrell’s interview.
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Reasons You Could Call DTLA Home
If you think of Downtown as a place to work but not call home, think again. DTLA has become the go-to spot for L.A. gays looking to escape the gay ghetto and live a city life of steel and concrete. Plus, despite what you may think, DTLA has all the amenities you need to call any neighborhood home. 1. Grocery Stores Find your fresh produce and meat at Grand Central Market, or opt for the big-name Ralphs Fresh Fare, which offers everything you’d expect plus fresh sushi and dry cleaning. 2. Pharmacies Take your pick of CVS, Rite Aid or Walgreens, all of which have DTLA locations. 3. Veterinarian & Pet Services DSN Vet Clinic offers spay and neuter services, has an online pharmacy and is available for emergency or walk-in service. Bark Avenue offers grooming, boarding, daycare and training.
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4. Liquor Stores There’s no shortage of quaint shops that sell hard-to-find liquors and microbrews Downtown. 5. Gyms Popular DTLA gyms include Gold’s Gym, 24 Hour Fitness and the gym at Los Angeles Athletic Club. 6. Barbershop Stop into old-school barbershop Bolt Barbers or L.A. Barber College for a cheap new ‘do or beard trim. 7. Shoe Repair You’re bound to do a little more walking once you move Downtown, and this neighborhood has you covered.
The view from Perch
Great Views of DTLA
1. City Hall Observation Deck Catch the DTLA skyline (for free) in all its glory from the 27th floor observation deck, open weekdays til 5 p.m. 201 Main St., Civic Center. lacity.org 2. Perch This aptly named French bistro offers delicious food and craft cocktails in a breathtaking rooftop setting. 448 S. Hill St., Gallery Row. perchla.com 3. Bona Vista Lounge With a name that means ‘great view,’ what did you expect? Even better, the Westin Bonaventure’s 34th-floor lounge revolves! 404 S. Figueroa St., Bunker Hill. thebonaventure.com
“My favorite spots in DTLA for home furniture and accessories? For that one-of-a-kind custom piece, I recommend (SUB) URBAN Home (101 W. 5th St., suburban-la.com) and Cleveland Art (110 N. Santa Fe Ave., clevelandart.com). If you’re looking for something vintage, I love the L.A. Flea Market (every third Saturday at Dodger Stadium). And for something a bit more mainstream, I always send people to iSquared (758 S. Spring St., isquaredhome.com).” —Paolo Ricartti
3 DTLA Tips Remember the streets of DTLA (from East to West) with this simple rhyme: “From Main we Spring to Broadway, and over the Hill to Olive. O, wouldn’t it be Grand if we could Hope to pick a Flower on Figueroa?” Think DTLA isn’t safe? The area has eight different Business Improvement Districts, all of which have security patrols on the streets. DTLA is safer than you think! One of the easiest ways to get around DTLA (besides walking) is the network of buses called the DASH. For 50 cents, you can travel from one end of DTLA to the other. ladottransit.com
#DTLA on Instagram Originally opened in 1901, Angel’s Flight is one of DTLA’s most popular landmarks, shuttling passengers up and down Bunker Hill’s steep incline. It’s so damn quaint that it makes for a great photo. Suggested filter: Willow
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Sassony Arcade
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Ways to Make DTLA Jury Duty Bearable
Sure, you can walk over to the L.A. Mall (201 N. Los Angeles St.) for lunch with everyone else in the jury pool. Or you can live a little and check out what DTLA has to offer! 1. American Apparel Factory Check out the sweatshop-free factory that makes all your favorite cotton basics, located right in the heart of DTLA. Find some cheap irregular product at the factory store. 747 Warehouse St., Produce District. americanapparel.com 2. Sassony Arcade You won’t hear this place described as “classy,” but it’s a retro arcade great for a game of PacMan or two. 724 S. Broadway, Jewelry District.
Gallery Bar
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Great Pools of DTLA
1. Eastern Columbia Building Without a doubt, it’s the city’s coolest body of water, thanks to the gorgeous turquoise clocktower that butts against it. Unfortunately, you’ll have to know someone who lives in the attached lofts. 849 S. Broadway, Historic Downtown. easterncolumbialofts.com
3. Gallery Bar The bar at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel is stunning, with quite a storied history and veteran bartenders to boot. Of course, we aren’t recommending you get sloshed on your jury duty lunch break, but we wouldn’t blame you if you did! 506 S. Grand Ave., Financial District. milleniumhotels.com 4. Apliiq Nowhere else can you walk in and customize your own pocket tees, tanks or hoodies like this. 440 Seaton St., Arts District. apliiq.com
#DTLA on Instagram Like any city’s Chinatown, our Old Chinatown Plaza, located along Broadway above DTLA, is a vibrant, colorful locale great for snapping pics. It’s also home to some of the best dim sum you’ll find anywhere. Recommended filter: Rise
2. Los Angeles Athletic Club You’ll need a gym membership or a staycation at the attached hotel to appreciate this 25-yard lap pool and its gorgeous stained-glass roof. 431 W. 7th St., Jewelry District. laac.com 3. The Rooftop Bar & Pool Old faithful for many trendy L.A. residents, at DTLA’s Standard Hotel, you’re looking to see and be seen—with a stunning vista of the cityscape behind you. 550 S. Flower St., Financial District. standardhotels.com 4. Hotel Figueroa Full of charm, this Moroccan-themed hotel has a stunning, quaint pool area. You’re guaranteed to feel as if you’ve left DTLA’s noise and bustle behind. 939 S. Figueroa St., Entertainment District. figueroahotel.com 5. ION Rooftop Pool Bar Considered by many a hidden gem of L.A., this pool sits on the fourth floor of the J.W. Marriott Downtown. Perfect for summer fun or happy hour drinks! 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Entertainment Center. lalivemarriott.com Eastern Columbia Building
3 Pet-Friendly DTLA Spots Believe it or not, DTLA is a great place for Fido and the cats to call home, as evidenced by these favorite destinations of pets and their loving owners. 1. Saslow Dog Park Busiest right before work and right after the work day, this park isn’t the fanciest. And yeah, your pup is sure to leave a bit dirty, because the park is mostly dirt. But Rover will love it here, which means you will, too. 1004 E. 4th St., Arts District 2. The Standard One of the city’s trendiest hotels, all rooms here are pet-friendly. Three cats or dogs are welcome for a $100 fee. Don’t let your pets miss out on your DTLA fun. 550 S. Flower St., Financial District. standardhotels.com 3. Pussy & Pooch You’ll find more than pet food and accessories at this chic pet boutique with a playful twist. Pussy & Pooch also offers a full-service and self-service bathhouse; “Pawbar,” the in-store pet café; and monthly socials. 564 S. Main St., Historic Downtown. pussyandpooch.com
“A really great men’s boutique is Apolis (806 E. 3rd St., apolisglobal.com). They travel around the world looking for high-end men’s fashion and accessories and co-create specialized items with manufacturers in Bangladesh, India, Peru and elsewhere.” —Charlie Altuna
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#DTLA on Instagram Grand Central Market is a no-brainer if you’re looking for international diversity in your grub. It’s been a bustling hub since 1917, and the colors of the various vendors’ offerings make for great snapshots. Suggested filter: Earlybird Downtown Independent
Travel the World by Landing at These 3 Spots
L.A. Live
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You don’t have to leave L.A. to feel like you’ve landed in Tokyo, Paris or New York. No currency exchange required.
“CB-1 is my favorite gallery Downtown (207 W. 5th St., cb1gallery.com). Clyde Beswick, the gallery director, consistently brings one great show after another, with artists like Chris Oatey, Laura Krifka, Alexander Kroll and Lorenzo Hurtado Segovia, just to name a few.” —Victor Rodriguez
The ‘Cornfield’
1. DoubleTree Hotel Formerly the Kyoto Grand, this Little Tokyo hotel’s half-acre rooftop garden has winding paths, mini-bridges and a waterfall, and it’s a popular spot for weddings. 120 S. Los Angeles St., Little Tokyo. doubletree3.hilton.com
2. Syrup Desserts Grab a nutella crêpe, a strong cup of coffee and a seat while taking in the bustling nature of our fair city. Open late night. 611 S. Spring St., Historic Core.
Options for the Night Owl 1. DTLA Art Walk You’re missing out if you haven’t ventured Downtown on the second Thursday of the month. It’s a celebration of the area’s galleries, artists, restaurants, bars and shops, starting early (around noon) and running late. Map out your itinerary at downtownartwalk.org.
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2. Mustache Mondays There’s only one place in L.A. for the gays to get rowdy and tear up a dance floor on Monday nights. This weekly party brings in a slew of frenetic guest performers and DJs with indie cred. La Cita, 336 S. Hill St., Gallery Row. lacitabar.com
3. L.A. Live It’s L.A.’s version of Times Square, which will draw some and repel others. Chain restaurants abound (though some are still worthy, like Katsuya), as do live music venues, with Staples Center, Club Nokia and the Grammy Museum all within a stone’s throw. 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Entertainment District. lalive.com
3. Max Karaoke Studio Absorb Japan’s culture by indulging in its most fun pastime. Max’s has one of the best songbooks in town—it’s huge— and you can bring in your own food and drink. I encourage you to get sloppy and belt out “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” 333 S. Alameda St., Little Tokyo. maxkaraoke studio.com
Theatres for Catching a Flick
1. Downtown Independent Expect a hip selection of cult movies, foreign films and quirky events. Don’t forget to check out the theatre’s rooftop patio, a haven for film nerd hipsters. 251 S. Main St., Gallery Row. downtownindependent.com 2. Regal Cinemas Catch the latest blockbuster at this giant, 14-screen complex. The theater recently announced that all films are only $7 on the first Tuesday of the month. 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Entertainment District. regmovies.com 3. Electric Dusk Drive-In Catch a flick ‘60s-style—on a parking garage rooftop with carhops taking orders. Don’t have a car? There’s a designated seating area just for you. 240 W. 4th St., Gallery Row. electricduskdrivein.com 4. REDCAT Here you’ll find work of local filmmakers alongside curated retrospectives and other interesting exhibits. 631 W. 2nd St., Bunker Hill. redcat.org
‘Veg Out’ at These 4 DTLA Green Spaces DTLA isn’t all urban jungle. Sometimes you require respite from steel and concrete. Here’s where you get it. 1. ‘The Cornfield’ L.A. State Historic Park covers 32 acres of open space on the edge of DTLA, and it’s perfect for biking, jogging or a picnic. It’s also great for a snapshot of the DTLA skyline. 1245 N. Spring St., Chinatown
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2. FIDM Park Grand Hope Park sits in front of the Fashion Institute. Beware: the park’s playground naturally attracts—gasp!— families. 919 S. Grand Ave., South Park
3. Angels Knoll “A hillside oasis among the towers of the urban jungle,” the benches here were made famous by the film 500 Days of Summer. 356 S. Olive St., Bunker Hill
4. Maguire Gardens Pop open a book alongside the gorgeous gardens, fountains and pools that surround DTLA’s Central Library. A great place to relax. 630 W. 5th St., Financial District
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DTLA’s Best Happy Hours
With the amount of people slaving away at day jobs Downtown, it’s no surprise that you can find happy hour specials at just about every DTLA bar and eatery. Here are some of the neighborhood’s best.
1. First & Hope This classy American bistro offers up $5 bar bites, $5 draft beer and $7 well drinks Tuesday through Friday, from 5-10 p.m. 710 W. 1st St., Bunker Hill. firstandhope.com
#DTLA on Instagram Everyone loves a fountain, and the historic Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain —with its wade-able membrane pool— is a gorgeous specimen, great for a photo. Suggested filter: Walden
2. Octopus Can’t make it out for drinks right after work? Octopus offers a reverse happy hour (9:30 p.m. to close) with super-cheap specials on everything from appetizers and sushi to beer, sake and liquor. 727 W. 7th St., Financial District. octopus restaurant.com
DTLA’s 24-Hour Options There’s always something to do Downtown, whether it’s pigging out after a late night of bar-hopping, indulging in a pre-sunrise breakfast or riding bikes among the area’s historic landmarks. No matter what time of day you find yourself enjoying DTLA, these options are always on the table.
1. The Original Pantry Since 1924, this place hasn’t closed and has never been without a customer, surviving the difficult years of the Great Depression and WWII by serving generous portions of traditional American eats. An L.A. landmark. 877 S. Figueroa St., Entertainment Center. pantrycafe.com 2. Spring Street Parklets These brand-new parklets (a term for small parks made from parking spaces) are located on Spring between 6th and 7th. Based on a San Fran model, these are the first to include exercise equipment along with seating areas and a foosball table. Best of all, they’re up for enjoyment any time of day. 3. Pacific Dining Car Perfect for those in search of a more upscale eatery for odd hours of the day, this popular restaurant—known for its amazing steaks—serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea (3-5:30 p.m. daily), dinner and late-night dishes. 1310 W. 6th St., City West. pacificdiningcar.com
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3. Engine Co. No. 28 Step into this restored fire station anytime to enjoy happy hour prices. From 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, you’ll find beer, wine, well drinks and great appetizers for $5. 644 S. Figueroa St., Financial District. engineco.com
4. The Edison Everyone loves this transformed 1910 power plant (it once supplied electricity to all of DTLA), and even more so weeknights from 5-7 p.m., when select appetizers are $5 and one cocktail is only 35 cents. 108 W. 2nd St., Old Bank District. edisondowntown.com
5. Lucky Strike Suspend your snooty attitude and give this place a try, either for happy hour or before a show at Staples or Club Nokia. The bowling alley’s Monday through Thursday specials include $3 draft beer and $6 martinis. 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Entertainment Center. bowllucky strike.com
“I’ve been living Downtown for years, and it's been great watching things change! I love Uncle John's Cafe (834 S. Grand Ave., ujcafe.com) for breakfast, Baco Mercat (408 S. Main St., bacomercat.com) for lunch, Sugarfish (600 W. 7th St., sugarfishsushi.com) for sushi, Bottega Louie (700 S. Grand Ave., bottegalouie.com) for the scene and Pete's Cafe (400 S. Main St., petescafe.com) for late-night dining.” —Hank Green
The Pantry
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Perfect DTLA Staycations Just in case your post-work happy hour gets a little out of hand, there are plenty of great Downtown hotels where you can lay your head—for a night or an extended weekend.
1. Ritz-Carlton / J.W. Marriott Towering above the L.A. Live entertainment megaplex, these high-rise hotels ensure there will be no shortage of daytrips during your DTLA stay. Plenty of restaurants, live music venues and other attractions are steps away. 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Entertainment District. lalivemarriott.com, ritzcarlton.com Ritz-Carlton/J.W. Marriott
2. The Historic Mayfair Rooms at this 1920s hotel are air-conditioned and affordable— and they come with free WiFi. It’s Old World service for the modern age. 1256 W. 7th St., City West. mayfairla.com 3. O Hotel This boutique hotel—one of the only in DTLA—has a minimalist, New York feel. While you’re calling the O home, be sure to check out the on-site spa, which offers great deals on massages, facials and mani/pedis. 819 Flower St., Financial District. ohotelgroup.com 4. Los Angeles Athletic Club It’s known mostly for its fancy athletic and social club, but the hotel rooms here—particularly the club-themed suites—are topnotch and boast great views of the city. 431 W. 7th St., Jewelry District. laac.com
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The Mayan
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DTLA Districts for Finding the Perfect Gift
1. The Fashion District L.A. residents know that Santee Alley is your best bet for finding designer duds, bags and accessories, but search the rest of the district for great finds as well. 2. The Flower Market Located on Wall Street between 7th and 8th, many shops in the Flower Market are wholesale only, but others are your onestop shop for gorgeous cut flowers and greenery. 3. The Toy District It’s a mixed wholesale/retail area where you’ll find traditional toys (dolls, action figures, video games) and also electronics, silk flowers and who knows what else.
DTLA Venues for Live Music 1. Pershing Square This all-purpose DTLA space offers up an ice rink in winter months and acts as a summer stage once things warm up. This summer, bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets to the park for free outdoor music three days each week, with some of the biggest names in pop music playing on Saturday nights. 532 S. Olive St., Old Bank District. laparks.org
2. Grammy Museum Part of the L.A. Live complex, in addition to the museum’s rotating exhibits (currently Whitney Houston and Columbia Records showcases), catch an intimate performance by a music legend in the 200-seat Clive Davis Theatre. 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Entertainment District. grammy museum.org
Pershing Square
3. Grand Star Jazz Club A cornerstone of DTLA’s Chinatown, this restaurant/ nightclub offers up a crazy mix of live music, from jazz and old-school hip-hop to DJs spinning their own creations. You’re also sure to love the light-up dance floor. 943 N. Broadway, Chinatown. grandstarjazzclub.com
#DTLA on Instagram
Now follow Frontiers and tag us on Instagram! @frontiersLA
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5. Onyx Lounge This candlelit bar and restaurant draws in patrons with its reverse happy hour specials (MondayWednesday, 10 p.m.midnight) and its featured live music on weekends. You’ll find a jazz trio here for Sunday brunch and Aaron Durr playing originals and covers on Saturday evenings—perfect for classy weekend revelry. 118 W. 5th St., Historic Downtown. onyxloungela.com
“When I'm looking to grab a drink Downtown, I go to Spring St. Bar (626-B S. Spring St., springstla.com) because I like the craftsman beer selection and outdoor seating. Spring is a busy part of Downtown, and I enjoy the energy and the people-watching.” —Brian Harris Krinsky
4 Before the opening of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the 48-mile L.A. River supplied the city with its fresh water. Now it’s heavily polluted and parts are teeming with homeless residents, but some parts are downright gorgeous, with heavy vegetation and wildlife you wouldn’t expect in the heart of our big city. Suggested filter: 1977
4. The Mayan With its indigenousinspired décor, The Mayan makes a dramatic backdrop for any event held here, whether it be a Lucha VaVoom Mexican-style wrestling show, allnight (and morning) circuit party or a raucous rock concert. 1038 S. Hill St., South Park. clubmayan.com
1. Olvera Street The oldest part of DTLA, this landmark area has since been converted into a Mexican marketplace. In 1921, it was featured prominently in Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid. Now an attraction for tourists and locals alike, it’s the place to come for Mexican eats and cultural items. 2. Union Station With its gorgeous architecture and gardens, it’s no wonder that L.A.’s main railway station has been featured in films including Pearl Harbor, Speed and The Dark Knight Rises. 800 N. Alameda St., El Pueblo. amtrak.com
Movie Sets of DTLA With L.A. being such a movie town, it’s no wonder DTLA has played the role of backdrop for many a blockbuster and famed film. Here are four notorious film locations. 3. Millennium Biltmore Hotel Upon its grand opening in 1923, it was the largest hotel west of Chicago. The hotel’s exterior was meant as an homage to L.A.’s Castillian heritage, while the interior—with its frescoes, marble fountains and columns—is a return to Old World charm like no other. Films shot here include Vertigo, King Kong (1976), Airport, Ghostbusters and Pretty in Pink. 506 S. Grand Ave., Financial District. millenniumhotels.com 4. Bradbury Building An architectural landmark of DTLA, you’ve seen this 1893 building star in films including Chinatown, Blade Runner and The Artist, and also in several music videos. 304 S. Broadway, Old Bank District
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ZINE: Despite hard times for the print publishing industry these last few years, the creativity and resourcefulness of artists, writers and photographers is as strong as ever. Zine culture, which originated in the ‘70s and saw a resurgence in the mid-’80s, is very much alive and well today. Zines have always been a unique blend of art and commerce. While they utilize the format of commercial print publications, zines often contain no advertisements, and the content is frequently too risqué for newsstands. And unlike mass-produced magazines, zines are collectors’ items, keepsakes that are held onto and cherished for their intrinsic artistic value. The past decade has seen an exciting resurgence in the number of gay and queer zines, many of which have broken down barriers—not only with regard to what is often counterculture and subversive art or photography, but also in their transition from underground artform to a mainstream vehicle of communication to the LGBT community. Below I spotlight 14 zines (in no particular order) that are not only of interest to the LGBT community but are also prime examples of the artform’s daring ingenuity.
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Straight to Hell
They Shoot Homos Don’t They?
First published in 1973, S.T.H.—also known as The Manhattan Review of Unnatural Acts and various other titular hilarities—is the oldest gay zine still in existence and has seen multiple editors through the years. It specializes in raunchy pics and reader-penned sex stories, often detailing authors’ most spectacular sexual exploits. These autobiographical accounts, full of explicit detail, are a collective ‘fuck you’ to sexual repression and censorship. In the world of S.T.H., the male homosexual lifestyle is the universal experience, not relegated to being the tawdry ‘other.’ straight-to-hell.net
02 BUTT BUTT is the perfect example of what began as an underground zine and later became a commercial phenomenon, influencing countless other gay and queer publications along the way. BUTT is unfortunately no longer a print publication, though its sensibility—a fun mix of arty and sleazy on trademark pink paper—carries on at buttmagazine.com, a blog that also includes a social networking component, appropriately dubbed Club Butt.
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A homemade publication—often noncommercial, inexpensively produced and self-published— usually devoted to specialized and unconventional subject matter
This ‘hetero-friendly’ periodical is design-heavy and meticulously laid out, featuring the artistic output and writings of various individuals in each issue. They Shoot Homos Don’t They? issues contain a central theme, such as “The Positive Issue” and “Gay Power.”
04 Handbook This quarterly pictorial celebrates the nude bodies of three guys in each issue, alongside interviews and a bevy of editorial interesting to gay men. “Handbook Dick,” a section found in each issue, presents images sent in by readers. handbookmen.com
05 Kink This streamlined, gorgeously designed magazine comes from Spain, published by the artistic team Paco y Manolo since 2006. The Spanish-language zine consists mostly of photographs of European men—identified solely by their first names—in various states of undress. pacoymanolo.com
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Pinups
JIMMY
Adam Villacin
New York resident Christopher Schulz is the creator of this black-and-white photography-centric zine, each issue of which contains portraits of a singular model. Readers are able to disassemble the issue’s pages and reassemble them into an oversized poster. Pinups centerfolds are not the plucked and waxed models of traditional gay media, but men who are comfortable with showcasing their nude bodies to the world. pinupsmag.com
This “L.A.-based queer zine with beard appeal” is independently published in the hills of Silver Lake and aims to give a voice to the unheard. JIMMY is largely photography-driven but also features various contributors’ poetry, prose and fine art—all through the lens of an East Side aesthetic. jimmythezine.com
Straight L.A.-based artist Villacin produces zines that collect his illustrations of various subcultures and couple them with an absurdist sense of humor. In one zine, “Monstrous Manual of Genital Afflictions,” Villacin presents sexually transmitted diseases as a folio of Dungeons & Dragons-esque monsters. adamvillacin.com
07 Anal Magazine Anal has become somewhat of a brand in its native Mexico, thanks to its blog and publication-sponsored events. This zine features the work of various erotic photographers, artists and writers, with text in both Spanish and English. Past issues have featured fun components like erotic coloring book pages and paper dolls. anal-magazine.com
08 Starrfucker Created by photographer Jeremy Lucido after years of working in the gay porn industry, Starrfucker is a mish-mash of erotic art and photography along with the occasional interview. Many contributors to Lucido’s black-and-white mag are local to the L.A. area. The upcoming seventh issue (“The Beefcake Issue”) will feature up-and-coming model and porn sensation Benjamin Godfre. starrfucker magazine.com
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prvtdncr & bodega vendetta
Original Plumbing
Artists prvtdncr and bodega vendetta have been collaborating since 2005, and together they produce printed zines as a means to dispense their work, best described as colorful and cheeky collage-style art. The sewn-together zines—with titles like “Gay Teeth” and “Homosexual Robot” —are made in editions of 50 and available at printedmatter.org.
11 meat This quarterly art-smut zine was begun in 2010 by London editorial photographer Adrian Lourie. Inspired by BUTT magazine, meat features unretouched pinup images of regular guys in their own clothes—and out of them—celebrating the diversity of ordinary men, particularly those of the British variety. meatzine.com
Independently published and distributed out of Brooklyn, Original Plumbing is a quarterly zine documenting the sexuality and culture of FTM trans guys. The true diversity of this segment of the LGBT community is portrayed through photographs, personal narratives and interviews. originalplumbing.com
14 Cop Dad L.A.-based Justin Jorgensen created this “magazine of the exceptional personal experience” as a collection of true stories, told by the individuals who experienced them. Stark honesty and unique subject matter characterize the nonfiction here. You’ll find no fiction, poetry, commentary or critique. As the zine’s name implies, it’s “just the facts.” copdad.com
In addition to these zines’ own websites, many of these—and countless others—can be found and purchased at PrintedMatter.org, the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of artists’ publications. In the L.A. area, some of these zines can be purchased at Antebellum Gallery (1643 N. Las Palmas Ave., Hlywd.), Bookmarc (8407 Melrose Pl., L.A.), Family (436 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A.) and Skylight Books (1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz). MARCH 5, 2013
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A Downtown
Revival Logo’s ‘DTLA’ Brings the Gay Drama Back to Life
By Michelle McCarthy It’s been seven years since the last gay drama series hit the airwaves—a fact that producer Larry Kennar (The L Word, 50 First Dates) wanted to change. His latest project, DTLA (short for Downtown Los Angeles) on Logo, is a scripted dramedy that follows the lives of a group of friends—both gay and straight—in the City of Angels. We spoke with Larry and DTLA star/executive producer Darryl Stephens (Noah’s Arc) about why they chose to focus on Downtown, the project’s lack of a script and how young actors are jonesing to play gay.
What is DTLA about? Larry: It’s about a group of friends going through life and love and loss. They’re people who happen to be gay and are friends. Not every person on the show is gay, and it’s not about having to be gay. The actual story is about a couple, Lenny and Bryan, who are breaking up, and how it affects their group of friends. How much was scripted and how much was improvised? Larry: I wanted to try to make it as real as possible, so a lot of it was not scripted. Some days I would literally show up and say, “You’re going to say this and you’re going to say that. You’re going to talk
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about it, cry and walk out the door.” I knew what the scenes and stories were going to be, but I always encouraged people to go off the script. I wanted to find the moments that felt organic. Also, pretty much all the characters and stories had elements that were contributed from the actors. That’s how I created the characters—I sat down with the actors and learned about them. I wanted them to relive those stories in a way. I wanted their opinions because I wanted them to be emotionally invested. Darryl: I’m much more comfortable with a script and then improvising around it. I needed to know exactly which points I was hitting. I would have to write scripts
out for myself. I like having the freedom of improvising, making the emotions real in that way, but I’m not great just jumping on a set and having no words. Which stories did you use in the script from your own lives? Larry: The relationship between Lenny and Bryan is based on a relationship of mine. I’m Lenny. All the crazy things I’ve gone through in my life—there are pieces of that in every story. Darryl: The storyline around Matthew and Marky was something that actually happened to me. I had a boyfriend who was acting in a play. I was at the play with his mother when he got naked. [Laughs] Having input in the story allowed me to personalize it. It’s such a different process than if you’re doing a show on a network and the script is locked. Did you consciously go after gay actors? Larry: Not really. Most of the actors who auditioned were straight. It was like, Can I get any gays in here? I found that the younger generation didn’t seem to mind playing gay. They thought, Who cares?
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DTLA’s Ernest Pierce (left) and JC Jones
It’s not a big deal. Brokeback. Darryl was someone I went after because of who he is. There were some iconic figures that I wanted to have, like Sandra Bernhard and Melanie Griffith. But I found that people really want to play gay. Was that surprising to you? Larry: Yes. I think it shows how far we’ve come and also that a different generation isn’t as afraid of it. It’s just not an issue. It was a draw to get certain celebrities to do my show because they got to play gay.
gay show that’s kind of like Girls but with gay guys. So I think it’s coming around again. I want DTLA not to be just a gay series but something that all people can identify with. Why did you want to focus on Downtown Los Angeles? Larry: I wanted to tell stories that took place in a very urban area that was not gay-specific. I wanted to have the feeling that these people are friends not because they’re gay. Most of my friends are straight. I have a lot of gay friends, but
Darryl, you’ve played gay and straight characters. Is there a difference for you? Darryl: I played a transgendered woman on Private Practice, and I’ve never wanted to be a woman. Regardless of the gender or sexuality, if you can understand where the character is coming from— most operate out of love or fear or fear of losing love or not finding love. All those things apply to each person. The sexuality is almost completely irrelevant. If there’s no longer a stigma attached to playing gay, why are there so few gay shows? Larry: There just hasn’t been any interest on the television network’s side to develop gay dramas for a long time. The storylines on the network shows are safer because they don't explore the sexual side of things. Some of the images we’re seeing with gay programming may be stereotypical to some. I don’t consider Drag Race a gay show; it’s a fun show. People know that not every gay man is like one of those drag queens, but there is something about the humor that travels further. People just weren’t trying to do it, so I said, “We have to do it or else it’s going to be obsolete.” I hope that if we continue to be successful that there will be other opportunities for gay scripted shows. After Queer as Folk and The L Word, nobody wanted to copycat those shows. So instead we’re going to have gay characters on series in strong supporting roles. Now HBO is developing a
Darryl Stephens
they’re my friends because they’re my friends, not because they’re gay. I’ve been met with a lot of negative reactions—“Why aren’t you doing a show that is set in WeHo?” or “There’s no gay scene in Downtown L.A.” Well, there is, and who cares if there isn’t? I wanted it to be a public place where everyone can exist as opposed to walking down a hall, turning the corner, opening a door and seeing guys with their shirts off dancing to circuit music. That’s an exciting world, but I wanted the show to take place where everyone could exist. DTLA airs Fridays on Logo. For more info, go to logotv.com.
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EVENTS
NIGHTLIFE
THEATER
EXHIBITS
go to FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment for more listings Wed. | Feb. 20
Thu. | Feb. 21
Fri. | Feb. 22
Sat. | Feb. 23
Sat. | Feb. 23
WICKED
OBJECTS IN MOTION
LIGHTNING STRIKES
TRIBAL BITCH
SNOWSHOE RACE
The Factory & Ultra Suede
Big Bear
Akbar
Bootleg Theater
This party marks a return to the bar where it all began for Bears in Space, a monthly party drawing L.A.’s sexy, hirsute boys to the dance floor. Indulge in the cute crowd, cheap drinks and great vinyl tracks every third Thursday of the month. Free.
Borrowed from the title of a Klaus Nomi song, this show marks the first collaboration between NY icon Joey Arias and acclaimed singer/songwriter Kristian Hoffman. In addition to a Nomi song or two, expect ‘70s rock anthems, popular standards and original material. Through Feb. 23. tinyurl.com/arias-bootleg-LA
Reflex and Pure Music present this party with international DJs/producers Paulo and Serving O’vahness. Purchase tickets beforehand for $20 or $30 at door. 10 p.m.-6 a.m. reflexpresents.com
The Fifth Annual Snowshoe the Bear 5K and 10K races begin in Big Bear Village, ascending into the forest on snow-covered trails and then descending back to a welcoming festival atmosphere in the heart of the village. The event is open to all ages and skill levels. snowshoe thebear.com
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire and winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, Wicked tells the story of two witches, and how these unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Through March 17. scfta.org Wed. | Feb. 20
GLOBAL GREEN PRE-OSCAR PARTY Avalon Hollywood
Kick off the year’s Oscar celebrations with this 10th annual party. Hollywood’s elite activists and greenminded celebs will enjoy a night of entertainment, cocktails and dinner, with a performance by a surprise guest. globalgreen.org/ preoscar
Through April 26
SANCTIFIED: SPIRITUALITY IN CONTEMPORARY ART Vincent Price Art Museum
Birch North Park Theatre
FilmOut San Diego continues its monthly screening series with this Baz Luhrmann masterpiece, voted number one in a survey of FilmOut audiences as the film they wanted to see on the big screen. filmoutsandiego.com
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IN FOCUS: ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE Getty Center
This exhibit explores transcendence, shamanism and divinity as rubrics of meaning. The show proposes two different approaches to creating secular images of the sacred: The first is composed of artists who make work that is derived from ritualistic action in the studio; the second is a depictive account of aura both serious and cynical. vincentpriceartmuseum.org
Wed. | Feb. 20
MOULIN ROUGE
Through March 24
Thu. | Feb. 21
BFD: THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY Fubar
It’s hard to believe that Mario Diaz’s BFD started bringing raunch to WeHo a full decade ago. Celebrate the party that just wouldn’t die with DJ Riley More, special guest Vicky Vox and the BFD Go-Go Brigade. Free.
One of the best-known and most controversial photographers of the 20th century, Mapplethorpe’s highly stylized explorations of gender, race and sexuality Mapplethorpe became hallmarks of the period. In Focus contains 23 images dating from the early ‘70s to the late ‘80s, including key prints, rarely shown mixed-media objects and Polaroids. getty.edu Fri. | Feb. 22
A TRIBUTE TO THE SUMMER OF LOVE Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
The six members of Aquarius infuse humor and history into this show where they perform as ‘60s greats including Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Jimi Hendrix and more. A groovy time is guaranteed for all. civic artsplaza.com
Sat. | Feb. 23
SPOTLIGHT ON BEETHOVEN Ambassador Auditorium
Music Director Jeffrey Kahane serves as musical “tour guide” for an exploration of Beethoven’s seminal masterwork, Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58. This one-nightonly event will allow audiences to hear a major work with new ears, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation. laco.org Sat. | Feb. 23
SQURRRL Akbar
This San Fran party returns to its L.A. nest with DJs, performers, art installations and pure animal instincts! DJs Papa Tony and Tater Swift will play alongside L.A. regulars Ryan Jones and Michael Carrera. $4.99. akbarsilverlake.com
Sun. | Feb. 24
DAPPER DAY Disneyland
Join a fashionable crowd and visit the Disneyland parks in style during Dapper Day’s Spring 2013 event. It’s a day to visit the parks with other stylish guests, featuring an itinerary of fun events throughout the day. Discounted group-rate park passes available. dapperday.com Through March 31
COMPANY Crown City Theatre
In the multi-award-winning show Company, the plot revolves around Bobby (a single man unable to commit to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), five married couples who are his best friends and three girlfriends. Company is among the first musicals to deal with adult themes and relationships. brownpapertickets.com
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Through March 1
Mon. | Feb. 25
Wed. | Feb. 27
Through March 3
BACKBEAT
A TRIBUTE TO AFRICANAMERICAN AUTHORS
STICKY FINGERS
OKLAHOMA!
Downtown Independent
Carpenter Performing Arts Center
Ahmanson Theatre
Set in 1960, Backbeat is the story of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe embarking on their journey from Liverpool to the red light district of Hamburg, where the Beatles were born. The show features rock classics like “Money,” “Twist and Shout,” “Good Golly, Miss Molly” and more. centertheatregroup.org Sun. | Feb. 24
HOLLYWOOD’S BIGGEST NIGHT Trio Restaurant
To celebrate the 85th Annual Academy Awards, Trio in Palm Springs hosts its yearly event featuring orange carpet arrivals, hostess Bella da Ball and the Oscars pre-show and awards telecast. Tickets $150-200, dinner and drinks included. aidsassistance.org Sun. | Feb. 24
DECADE
Renberg Theatre
This free event at The Center will feature readings and songs from great individuals including Carlease Burke, Iona Morris, Michael Shepperd and Jennifer Leigh Warren. Reservations are required. After the tribute, adjourn to the opening of Ain’t Just Paint, artwork from the personal collection of CCH Pounder. lagaycenter.org/theatre Tue. | Feb. 26
PERFORMANCE ANXIETY The Pleasure Chest
Get your laughs and lube in the same place at the return of this popular comedy night hosted by Eli Olsberg and TJ Miller. Enjoy free beer, 15 percent of purchases and live spots by some of L.A.’s best comics. 8-10 p.m. $7. pleasurechest.com
Micky’s Tue. | Feb. 26
End your weekend at Decade, where you’re sure to hear nothing but the classics while tearing up the dance floor. Indulge in disco-dancing go-go boys and live drag performances before you head back to work on Monday. mickys.com Through April 1
PAPERLAND DAC Gallery
This exhibit presents a collection of handmade zines and prints created by ECF Art Center Artists and a select group of supporting L.A.-based artists. Themes explored include nature, patterns, abstraction, spirituality, portraiture and more. Proceeds will benefit the Art Centers, a SoCalbased nonprofit organization that has mentored special needs artists since 1968. dacgallery.com
EVITA Blok
Luke Nero and Andres Rigal of Mr. Black L.A. have brought this new party to the masses, taking place in a different Hollywood venue but showcasing the same hedonism and joie de vivre you’ve come to expect. Past weeks have featured guest appearances by the likes of Amanda Lepore. Free. facebook.com/evitalosangeles Wed. | Feb. 27
ODYSSEO Downtown Burbank
Join Outfest for the 25th anniversary screening of this outrageous cult comedy that features the most outrageously ‘80s hair and fashion choices ever captured on film. Actress Melanie Mayron and director Catlin Adams and other special guests will be present. brownpapertickets.com Wed. | Feb. 27
STRIPPER CIRCUS Here Lounge
You’ve never been to a party quite like this, with carnival games, WeHo’s cutest boys and chances to win cash and prizes all night long, now with more strippers than ever. $5. herelounge.com Sat. | March 2
BRAZILIAN CARNAVAL: EXOTICA Club Nokia
Odysseo
Sun. | March 3
LAMBDA LEGAL LOVE LOUNGE Bugatta
The 10th annual Love Lounge event is a gathering of L.A.’s finest young professionals, looking to dance and party. Event includes open bar, a DJ and prizes. Buy your tickets beforehand, as the event typically sells out. 5-8 p.m. lambdalegal.org
Through March 5
VAN GOGH'S ‘SELF PORTRAIT’ Norton Simon Museum
One of 36 self-portraits by Van Gogh and among the last he painted, "Self Portrait" was executed as he recovered from a severe breakdown in Saint-Rémy in the summer of 1889. The loan is part of a special exchange program between the Norton Simon Foundation and the National Gallery of Art. nortonsimon.org Through March 17
Don’t miss the longest-running Brazilian Carnaval celebration on the West Coast, featuring an all-star Brazilian band and nonstop dancing. The event has drawn a crowd of 2,500-plus revelers for the past 12 years. brazilian nites.com Sat. | March 2
JOHN Cavalia’s Odysseo is a theatrical experience, an ode to horse and man that marries the equestrian arts, aweinspiring acrobatics and high-tech theatrical effects. Set under a 38-meter-tall White Big Top, audiences will be transported around the world as more than 50 horses and an international cast demonstrate their intimate bond. Through March 10. cavalia.net
Two cowboys flirt with and fight for the women they love just before Oklahoma is officially entered into the Union. Ovation Award nominee David Gaines makes his L.A. directorial debut in this 70th anniversary production, featuring song favorites “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” and “People Will Say We’re in Love.” musical.org
Sun. | March 3
SIZE Here Lounge
This Tom Whitman weekly party celebrates nine years of great Sunday afternoons. Expect to find a gorgeous group of guys imbibing and dancing before starting up the work week. tomwhitman presents.com Mon. | March 4
QUEER SEX WORKS: MONEY, POWER, SEX
QUEERS PRINT ONE Archives Gallery & Museum
ONE celebrates its 60th anniversary with this exhibit, exploring LGBTQ publishing and activism in L.A. and featuring a range of queer magazines, newspapers and newsletters—from foundational homophile publications to groundbreaking gay liberation and lesbian-feminist titles and numerous DIY zines. onearchives.org
REDCAT
Faultline
This East Side watering hole’s newest party is for the distinguished gentleman, featuring music by DJ McB and James Cerne. Because sometimes you just want a classy piece of meat—or at least a dressedup one. faultlinebar.com
With a wide range of piercingly personal perspectives, this screening of experimental films made by queer and non-queer artists explores a markedly different outlook about sex work. $10. redcat.org
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STRIPPER CIRCUS | HERE LOUNGE |
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CUB SCOUT | EAGLE L.A. |
Brenden-John Photography
Rolling Blackouts
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FULL FRONTAL DISCO | AKBAR | Rolling Blackouts
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SUPER BOWL SUNDAY | THE ABBEY | Rolling Blackouts
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JOHN | FAULTLINE | Rolling Blackouts
FIND MORE PHOTO ALBUMS — AND ADDITIONAL PHOTOS FROM THESE EVENTS — AT FRONTIERSLA.COM/ENTERTAINMENT FEBRUARY 19, 2013
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URBAN EATS:
DTLA’S BEST RESTAURANTS
The Parish
BY NICK RUFCA
PHOTO: LONGRADA LOR
Industriel
Bottega Louie
Industriel
Bestia
Bottega Louie
Billing itself as ‘urban farm cuisine,’ Industriel offers adventurous French cuisine utilizing farmers market discoveries and locally sourced ingredients. The journey begins when you walk through the door: the artfully decorated space ranges from funky and fun (honey-bear containers hang in a large cluster from the ceiling) to the somewhat morose (portraits of depression-era farmers). The popular Skull and Bones dish is marrowbone and tongue. The crispy pig ears are served with pickled strawberries. For the truly ravenous—a black angus rib-eye “poutine,” served with kale and gravy, is the way to go. 609 S. Grand Ave., (213) 488-8020; industrielfarm.com
Italian food with a modern, California twist, Bestia was immediately embraced and celebrated by foodies and critics alike upon opening last fall. Begin with Grigliata di Polipo (grilled octopus, well paired with warm lentils and salsa), or the Carpaccio di Bue (tender beef carpaccio with a cured egg, arugula and parmigiano cream). The Pizza coi Salami has housemade salami, brussel sprouts and breadcrumbs packed onto its flavorful crust. Whatever you order, be sure to save room for the persimmon and pistachio cream tart. 2121 E. 7th Pl., (213) 514-5724; bestiala.com
Alma
Aside from being jam-packed all day, so noisy you almost have to shout to be heard and there often being an hour-long wait, Bottega Louie is a Downtown favorite still worth mentioning. For some strange reason, these caveats all manage to be part of the appeal of this bustling restaurant on the edge of DTLA’s Jewelry District. Here, you can’t help but be transported to a New York state of mind. It’s hard to go wrong with the food, but one way to assuredly go right is the amazing Trenne dish—pasta sautéed until crispy and served with braised rib-eye, kale and gravy-like sauce. 700 S. Grand Ave., (213) 802-1470; bottegalouie.com
The small, simple and sleek space is appropriate for new-kid-on-the-Downtown-block Alma, which boasts a focused menu in which the chef is firmly in creative control. The options change daily, depending on what is in season and available at the local market, but reserve hope that the incredible tofu and seaweed beignets will be available when you visit. Also memorable is the savory chicken liver toast with date jam. If there’s ever a place where the tasting menu may be the smartest option, Alma is it. 952 S. Broadway, (213) 444-0984; alma-la.com
Mexican fare for the hipster set with a rock ‘n’ roll vibe to match. The ‘chewy chips’ pair well with the impressive tequila selection, and Más Malo’s Coke carnitas have a considerable cult following— they’re made with a tasty combination of the classic soda, orange juice and savory meat. In the end, I personally find it impossible to resist the simple pleasure of their most famous dish—the ground beef and pickle taco platter. 515 W. 7th St., (213) 985-4332; malorestaurant.com
The Parish Arguably the hottest dining and drinking spot in the Downtown area at the moment, The Parish is a modern, edgy take on the traditional English-style gastropub. The food ranges from the expected upscale bar fare (rotisserie chicken, hanger steak) to the decidedly different (fried frog legs, mashed celery root). The gourmet burger does not disappoint. 840 S Spring St., (213) 2252400; theparishla.com
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ENTERTAINMENT
MUSIC
REVIEWS
Sharon Needles PG-13 (Sharon Needles)
Andy Warhol famously said, “In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes,” and if the queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race are any indication, the future is now. And you might be thinking: “Oh God, Sharon Needles made a record?” Fear not, freaks, because this infamous ghoulish glamazon can not only sing, she’s delivered a tuneful, infectious and, dare I say it, fun record! Hell, even when she’s mainly reciting the alphabet on the dance floor banger “Ouija Board” or vamping in the morgue on “Dead Girls Never Say No,” they’re backed up by earworm melodies. Fabulous guests include Amanda Lepore on (what else?) “I Wish I Were Amanda Lepore,” and tranny-punk legend Jayne County gives Ministry’s “Jesus Built My Hotrod” a run for its piss ‘n’ vinegar moshpit money on “Hail Satan!” Speaking of Ministry, Needles’ sublime cover of “Everyday is Halloween” is even more haunting and daunting with Armen Ra on theremin. But it’s “Kai Kai” (featuring Ana Matronic and Needles’ boyfriend Alaska) whose “fish-fry” truly stinks up the place with drag fierceness. All in all, Needles butters her bread with big and bouncy electropop ditties, a few punk-indie blasts and just enough gothic chills to scare the children. As it should be. —Paul V.
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunnar’s Daughter (Blueblack Hussar Records) Adam Ant has never kept his mental illness secret. He often cites his bipolarity as reason for his 17-year hiatus from the music business. Despite public pleas from friends and family that he’s not ready, Ant has finally made his long-awaited comeback, and it’s ... something. At 17 disparate tracks, Adam Ant is the Blueblack Hussar... is notable for the fact that its title is not the strangest thing about it. Adam Ant, always a fan of the writing partner, chose three collaborators for this album. 3 Colours Red (memba them?) guitarist Chris McCormack, Morrissey’s main man Boz Boorer and, most notably, former Ant and longtime co-writer Marco Pirroni. The Pirroni tracks are best, echoing the manic energy of Adam Ant’s early material. The Boorer tracks seem to be aping for the AOR chart success of Ant’s sole hit single from the ‘90s, “Wonderful.” Unfortunately, the thing that unifies these tracks is their awful, awful production. I can’t stress this enough—the album sounds like a series of demos. Vocals float in and out, drums are both muffled and too loud at the same time. A handful of performances should’ve been re-recorded. There are some decent tracks here, but for an album that took 17 years to make, this is quite a disappointment. —Dominik Rothbard
Billy Hough and The X-Loves
Venice (Garagedog Records) The description of Billy Hough & the X-loves song cycle Venice as “graphically detailing the breakup of his relationship in the California sun” from his press release is undeniably dead-on. These 11 tracks are a sleazy take on the singer-songwriter confessional, alternating between tender honesty and lacerating, often selfinflicting, humor by Hough. The music veers from a comfortable alt-country vibe (the perfect “Kentucky Farm”) to dark cabaret (“Yom Kippur”) to plaintive balladry (“Nobody Died”). Helped by bassist Susan Goldberg, Hough’s brothers Paul and Matt, with violins and backing vocals by überfan (and Violent Femmes frontman) Gordon Gano, Venice was recorded without the help of any technology available post1972, giving the tunes a warm, ramshackle vibe while surgically detailing the ugly fallout from Hough’s relationship with an adulterous boyfriend. Hough doesn’t hold back, especially on highlight “It’s All My Fault,” which sounds like early-period Gavin Friday with a lyrical frankness that rivals Marianne Faithfull’s seminal “Why’d Ya Do It?” for discomfort: “I left to meditate on your total lack of class / I tried to stay together, but my dick I guess was shorter, ‘cause when I left you called him back to f**k you up the ass.” Ouch, and bravo. —Dan Loughry
Darwin Deez
Delphic
My Bloody Valentine
Songs For Imaginative People (Lucky Number)
Collections (Polydor)
MBV (My Bloody Valentine)
Darwin Deez—actually, Darwin Smith—is a super gay-friendly, slightly wacky artist/musician based in North Carolina whose debut buzz caught UK ears and charts in 2010. He’s a bit hard to peg musically—a little bit lowfi indie rock, a little bit electro and little bit ‘80s retro funkpop. Vocally, he reminds me of Ben Gibbard (Deathcab for Cutie) a little, and he generally sings in a falsetto. His trademarks are existential, observational lyrics set to spacious instrumental arrangements and twinkling guitar sounds, and freedom and freedom of expression are two key themes throughout. On the bassthumped “Good to Lose,” he offers up a slacker mantra: “A career track, to the fridge and back. The new face of last place.” There are some moments of hooky charm, such as the noodling, slow jam lament informing “Redshift” and grungy lead track “Free (The Editorial Me),” which is off the wall, buoyant, fuzzy and enticing. But in all honesty, his musical schizophrenia starts to wear thin. There are snippets of good ideas in many tracks, but too often they don’t congeal to fully formed, memorable songs. It’s like Deez is trying to put together a puzzle and only has the corner pieces.
Poor Delphic. The timing’s just never gonna be right for these guys. While slowly building a following in 2008/2009 in the UK with their signature otherworldly synthpop, Passion Pit came from behind and stole their momentum. While they holed away to craft their second album of pure pop, M83 took over the airwaves sounding just like … Delphic’s first album. Seemingly always the underdog, Delphic finally release their sophomore album, Collections. It seems like the years between albums were full of self-doubt. Delphic’s ability to craft melody out of splicing James Cook’s liquidy vocals has been replaced with a need to craft Katy Perry-esque choruses out of middle-of-the-road dance pop. Collections is a competent record, but it’s not what the fans were looking for, and it’s not going to give them an edge against the latest crop of synth giants. In a claim to differentiate themselves, the band states it’s been influenced by R&B for this album, but there’s barely a trace of soul. This is an album that favors precision over heart, but when you’re making pop music with machines, precision’s a given. It’s the emotion that’s lacking, and ultimately that will be Delphic’s downfall.
It’s been two decades since the last release from this U.K. foursome. Yet when that record’s the game-changing Loveless, there are a lot of expectations to overcome. And though it takes its own sweet time getting there— with what initially seem like fumbling steps—guitar innovator Kevin Shields and his swarthy helpmates Belinda Butcher (femme treacle), Colm Ó Cíosíg (drums) and Debbie Googe (bass) practically reinvent the form of rock ‘n’ roll again. Where Loveless was expansive and destructive—heavy, elemental, unlike anything you’d ever heard before—M B V is internal and ruminative—sludgy, primal, unlike anything you’d ever heard before (except, for the first few tracks, like Loveless). If the words were hard to understand before, now they’re impossible. Much of M B V sounds as if it were recorded underwater; it forces you to listen closer, turn it up and concentrate. Yet around its midsection, beginning with the wordless “Is This and Yes” on through the crushingly stratospheric “Wonder 2,” the songs emerge from the murky depths. Of course, to many people this type of musical abstraction will always seem like noise, and you’d be hard-pressed to argue. But for many of us— myself included—this is the modern sound of nirvana. —Dan
—Paul V.
—Dominik Rothbard
Loughry
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THEATER REVIEWS THE GIFT GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE | 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood Through March 10 | geffenplayhouse.com While Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith’s darkly comic play The Gift is a fairly slight 90-minute examination of contemporary values and responsibility, it contains one Albeeesque twist that is so shocking that it challenges some of our most basic notions of acceptable behavior and is reason enough to make a trip to the Geffen for this American premiere. Staged with brisk efficiency by Maria Aitken, the play brings together two American couples vacationing at the same luxury resort. Sadie (Kathy Baker) and Ed (Chris Mulkey) are a wealthy, childless, 50-something California couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. New York arts journalist Chloe (Jaime Ray Newman) and her artist hus-
band Martin (James Van Der Beek) are younger, hipper, better educated and much poorer (they won their vacation in a raffle). In a long evening of shared wine and stories, the two couples develop an unlikely connection. When a sudden storm upends a boating excursion the next day, Martin saves Ed’s life, leaving the wealthy Angelenos eager to repay the young New Yorkers with a gift. When the two couples meet a year later to celebrate the “first year of Ed’s new life,” Chloe and Martin reveal how they would like to be repaid. While we see their unusual request coming much sooner than Sadie and Ed, it is still surprisingly disturbing, even in our age of celebrity bad behavior. Murray-Smith’s writing is clever, but
PHOTO: MICHAEL LAMONT
the characters are unevenly drawn in her script. The playwright seems unsure how sophisticated Sadie is, and Chloe never says anything that supports her supposed brilliance. Ed has the greatest journey in the play, as his “borrowed time” inspires him to learn about art and culture, going from someone who doesn’t “see the point of fiction” to a man spouting ideas and terminology straight out of the most pretentious art journals. It is an interesting but less-than-credible transformation. With that said, the cast is mostly excellent. Baker is an engaging and appealing narrator, while Mulkey—perfectly cast as the self-made man—is especially marvelous conveying Ed’s newfound passion for art. Newman and Van Der
Beek establish a strong sense of their relationship while managing to add something sinister to their interactions. Derek McLane’s handsome, multipurpose set is used to great effect. (But can we please have a moratorium on all-white interiors with high-end sectionals?) Peter Kaczorowski’s lights move us from L.A. to the tropics, indoors to the high seas, while Howard Werner’s media design adds effective touches with projections and color. The Gift is not perfect. But a play can provoke without perfection, and this intermissionless evening left me pondering questions of selfishness, responsibility and the role of the artist in society. That’s pretty good. —Christopher Cappiello
JEKYLL & HYDE PANTAGES THEATRE | 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd Through March 3 | broadwayla.org
Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse’s Jekyll & Hyde has been that little engine that could—or wanted to—for decades now. From concept album to strippeddown staging to various tours and restaged local versions, the musical about the infamous scientist who splits his personality into good and evil has been so eager to be the next Phantom of the Opera, you almost just want to give them credit for trying. In the new staging directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, which is having its pre-Broadway run at L.A.’s Pantages Theatre, they give it all they’ve got. Starring American Idol alum and Tony nominee Constantine Maroulis (Rock of Ages), along with Grammy Award-winning R&B superstar Deborah Cox, this revamped staging certainly looks like the big glossy musical Jekyll & Hyde should have always been. The production design by Tobin Ost is spellbinding without going over the top, and the performances by everyone involved are pitch perfect. 52
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The only real problem with the show is something the players involved can’t avoid—and that’s the source material itself. There are a handful of memorable songs, but they aren’t on par with the greats like Les Mis or Chicago. The story itself is fairly easy to follow, but certain key transitions and plot points get muddled by hard-to-understand dialogue or song lyrics. (It’s helpful to have a basic understanding of the musical’s plot.) The opening of the show has Jekyll trying to get the local hospital to allow him to attempt an experiment that will help him get rid of his father’s madness. As a result, he has two solo numbers, both of which are fairly static and unspectacular. The ending has the same problem. Much like West Side Story, it just kind of ends tragically and the curtain falls. No big number. No high note. Just death. That said, once Jekyll tries the experiment on himself and Hyde is born, the musical comes to life. Actually, it comes to life as soon as Deborah Cox shows up
PHOTO: CHRIS BENNON
as prostitute Lucy Harris. I was skeptical how an R&B singer (proficient as she is) would handle the work of Wildhorn and Bricusse, but man, that girl can blow. From “Bring on the Men” to “A New Life,” she repeatedly brought the audience to its feet. She’s really that phenomenal, and quite frankly, she steals the show right out from under Maroulis. Maroulis is a capable performer and his upper range is spectacular. My issue was his lower range, where his rock style has him sliding into notes rather than hitting them dead on. As a result, the melodies tended to get lost, and a duet
with his fiancée Emma (the excellent Teal Wicks) was confusing to the ear. Once he becomes Hyde, however, his performance is absolutely dynamic and the songs fit his voice flawlessly. He nails the endings of songs with hurricane force and he certainly is an electric performer. But, again, it’s Cox that truly surprises. While she has been on Broadway before as the title role in Elton John’s critically acclaimed Aida, it has been a while since she’s taken the stage. Here she truly makes us realize that a Broadway star has been reborn. —Kevin P. Taft
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WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? Love is so odd. How it falls on you and how we often fail to pull it off. I lost my brother this week. And it fell on me like a giant tree. Not so much as a kind kid memory, because I did not truly like him. He always called me faggot. Yet he was my brother. Love is odd. I am now trying to get close to his kids. Love is so odd. My other brother is stoic. I get it. He is trying to get through it. My mom is a steady mom. As is yours, right? My dead bro's son is not OK yet, and his daughter is getting to it, and we are collecting ashes. Love is odd. But my mom is kinda in love. Odd, right? His name is Will. So there we are. Love is odd. My mom is 85, and she is kinda in love. She lost a son in death yet found Will in love. My best friend has helped me toss this about and given me, as always, great joy. My best friend has kept me in this game. Friendship is a blessing. Love, and perhaps death, is a damn game. I have given so many damn eulogies in my life to reconcile this stuff. We do have to talk about death. People die. And maybe love. My sweet boy Matthew died almost 25 years ago. He was the love of my life. And it just rocked my world. I maybe have put so much more importance to his passing than I ever should have. Then the real truth is, I have never dealt with it. I never truly spoke to a soul about it. I talked with Matthew Murray's mom this week, and she said, "Get over it.� So how does all this work? How do we move on? I just truly believe we need to work so much harder on love and family. Our family at Frontiers just lost a leader in Mark Hundahl. Death is so damn real. Perhaps as people in our lives die now beyond this thing titled AIDS, people like me need to wake up and make peace with it. Because people now and forever will die in our natural life. Not of the plague of my generation, they are just going to pass. The deal to discuss, with most of us, is about love. Just reconciling love as we know it. I lost a generation to AIDS. So did you. Death always happens. As does love. Love and death are so odd. Kinda funny, right? Take a moment to tell the folks you love that you adore them. I cannot imagine anything you do today will be more important. Tell someone today you love them. Because love is odd. And death. Well, folks die.
Love, and perhaps death, is a damn game.
malibudana@aol.com
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ILLUSTRATION BY
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Close your eyes and you’ll swear legendary lady Billie Holiday is back from the dead. Open them and you’ll see that amazing voice is in fact emanating from the one and only Joey Arias. But there is so much more to Arias than simply his infamous, uncanny ability to channel Holiday. We spoke on the phone recently about his upcoming L.A. show, RuPaul’s Drag Race and sex with Ben Affleck. Welcome to LaLa Land, darling. I always think of you as the quintessential New Yorker. Be honest, what do you love about Los Angeles? I think L.A. is Never Never Land for Peter Pan! But it is lovely. That’s why all my friends live there. Tell us all about your new show, Lightning Strikes. It’s a collaboration with Kristian Hoffman, who wrote all the Klaus Nomi tunes. I met Kristian many years ago, and he’s always been the writer and sensitive to his surroundings. You did Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity for an eternity in Las Vegas. What was that experience like? Cirque is an amazing company to work for. First class! It was lots of work and exploring. There were times we all became frustrated, but that’s what happens when it’s time-sensitive— and sexual! The subject matter was a journey of sexuality and pure sex! I loved that the straight guys had to makeout with me. We had to break boundaries, so of course I was in heaven!
What do you consider Hell? Hell is someone who fucks with you. Let’s just say “idiots.” And you know what I'm talking about! You’re a drag icon. Share with my readers a beauty tip. Being a drag icon is lots of work. The gym, facials, eating almost nothing because of the corsets. Get lots of rest and, if possible, stop talking at 6 p.m. until the next day after noon. Stop talking? I could never! Speaking of drag, do you ever watch Rupaul’s Drag Race? I used to watch, and I’m very happy for Ru, but it’s not my thing. I’m a jazz singer and an artist, like yourself. A young queen might think that’s the only possible way to get through. Not true! You have to have talent to sustain your career, and it will guide you. If you had your own TV show, what would it be called? Keeping It Real! Not sure what I would do, but it would be real! If you could have a one-night stand with any celebrity, who would it be? Ben Affleck. He’s a man. And I know that he would be the honey bear trying to get the honey out of my honey hole!
Thierry Mugler designed your costumes for Zumanity and other projects. How did you meet? What’s he like to work with? I met him in 1980 at his first fashion show in New York City with Klaus Nomi right after we did Saturday Night Live. He loved us, and we slowly built our relationship. I’m known as “Madame Mugger,” his crocodile!
You’d have to fight me for him, bitch! Everyone knows I loves me some Ben Affleck! Finally, if you could sing only one song for the rest of your life and career, what would it be? “You’ve Changed.” I always sing that in every show. It’s about love gone awry, and maybe one day, just one day, you'll change. I just want to say that everyone has a voice. You have to have a voice. Don’t be afraid to speak out for your rights and who you are!
What’s your idea of Paradise? Having everything done for me, not lifting a finger. Please feed me! And I'm not talking about being in a hospital. On an island!
Lightning Strikes, featuring Joey Arias and Kristian Hoffman, plays the Bootleg Theater—2220 Beverly Blvd., L.A.—Feb. 22 & 23. Tickets $25-50. foldsilverlake.com MARCH 5, 2013
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"For one thing, we decided to sing softly at soundcheck, because our microphones were always turned down to half the volume that Diana's was set at." —Mary Wilson explains how her mic ended up just as loud as Miss Ross' during The Supremes’ reunion at "Motown 25.”
Destiny’s Child
If I'm being honest, I really don't care about the Super Bowl, Beyoncé, or for that matter, Destiny's Child. I don't have anything against them, but I can pretty much take 'em or leave 'em. Personal feelings aside, I do have a job to do, so I tuned into the halftime show like everyone else. Regarding the muchtouted Destiny's Child reunion, I thought the half a song they did was fine. But it takes a ballsy gal to ask her former partners to sing backup on one of her solo hits. And wasn't it magnanimous for Beyoncé to let Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams each have a solo line. You know what would have been even better? If their mics had been on! It would behoove all members of singing groups to read Mary Wilson's cautionary tale, Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme. My interest was piqued when I heard that Beyoncé's publicist tried to get various websites to remove certain photos from her client's performance. Why? The e-mail from the mouthpiece said, "As discussed, there are some unflattering photos on your current feed that we are respectfully asking you to change. I am certain that you will be able to find some better photos." Better, yes, but not as much fun as the ones on BillyMasters.com. After losing a bet on the San Francisco 49ers winning the Super Bowl, Mario Lopez paid up by streaking through The Grove, where Access Hollywood is filmed. While I'm sure the unseasonably frigid temperature in L.A. didn't help in the bulge department, Mario showed he was a man of his word as he ran in his purple panties (from his own Rated M line of undies, naturally). If you missed it, you can check it out on our website. Last week, I went to see The Deep Throat Sex Scandal, a play by David Bertolino. The first half of the play is 56
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about the straight porn business, the political climate, free love, all that. We learned that the flick was released just as NYC Mayor Lindsay was trying to shut down the porno theatres. And that's what the second half of the play deals with. Although the notoriety made the film a hot ticket (once Jackie Kennedy goes, the term "porn chic" is used), it also led to numerous legal tussles— including defining what obscenity is and how far-reaching the First Amendment is. This play owes a huge debt to the works about the gay porn industry by Ronnie Larsen—specifically Making Porn and Shooting Porn (both of which also had long lives in the same venue, the Zephyr Theatre). Bertolino's play is directed with great sensitivity by someone who knows this world inside and out—Jerry Douglas, one of the most prolific and lauded gay porn directors of all time. When it comes to promotion, the producers have also picked up three tricks from the Larsen playbook—promoting the nudity in all ads, charging a premium for front-row seats (which include a post-show meet-andgreet) and including bona fide stars onstage. Opening week, Sally Kirkland and Bruce Vilanch were fabulous in their cameos. In fact, the entire cast is
Sally Kirkland and Bruce Vilanch
good, with at least one (depending on your taste) very cute naked boy to look at. Upcoming special guests will include Christopher Knight and Nina Hartley. You can get more information at DeepThroatThePlay.com. Remember all those people suing John Travolta? One of those guys is Fabian Zanzi, the Royal Caribbean crew member who claims Johnny dropped his robe and exposed his erect penis after asking for a "neck massage.”
Allegedly, Zanzi was offered $12K to go away—an offer he declined. Johnny's lawyer tried to get the suit thrown out of court. No dice. Then they tried to avoid trial and simply go through arbitration. The judge ruled it goes to court. Most pundits predicted that this turn of events would make a settlement amount skyrocket if Travolta didn't want details of his "neck massage" on live TV. And that's what seems to have happened. Hours after the judge's ruling, both parties dropped the case without any details being revealed. Let this be a lesson to you—if John Travolta asks you to rub anything, say "Yes!" This story is for you soap fans out there—specifically fans of the soaps on CBS (well, come on, they're the only ones that matter). When original cast member Ronn Moss abruptly left The Bold and the Beautiful this summer, people were perplexed. How could matriarch Stephanie Forrester (played with aplomb by multiple Emmy winner Susan Flannery) die of cancer without a tearful scene with her beloved son? Rumors circulated that Moss would be back as part of Flannery's endless goodbyes, which seemed likely since she was leaving only three months after he did. But, alas, it was not to be. No Moss, no Ridge, no goodbye. Most people assumed it was Ronn who refused to come back, but how wrong they were. Insiders tell me that Moss asked to return to give both the character and the actress a proper send-off. His request was nixed by the powers that be. I hear Flannery herself begged for them to reconsider. But, alas, bitterness lingers on the palate. Adam Lambert got a pleasant surprise for his 31st birthday. While he was out celebrating with friends at Bootsy Bellows nightclub, David Arquette adroitly pulled off his clothes and gave Adam a lap dance, which looked awfully professional—like this was not his first time on a man's lap. Davey also made sure enough photographers were on-hand to capture the momentous occasion, which you can see on Billy Masters.com. Our "Ask Billy" question comes from Kevin in Seattle: "Did you see the guy who is the First Daughter's baby daddy on 1600 Penn? He's so hot. Is he related to the guy who played Jane
Leeves' young boyfriend Lloyd on Hot in Cleveland?" Not only are they related—they're the same person. Robbie Amell is a very hot 24-year-old actor from Canada who you might have also seen on
Robbie Amell
Revenge or Pretty Little Liars. FYI, he's also in the new Chris Colfer flick Struck by Lightning. He may be straight, but he's still hot enough to turn up on BillyMasters.com. I'm gonna slip in an extra celebrity nude—but, I must confess it's really the child of a celebrity. Snoop Dogg's son.... And let's stop there for a second—did you expect I would ever write the words "Snoop Dogg's son"? Because I didn't. Anyway, his son allegedly took some nude photos in a locker room and sent them to some woman, who then leaked them to her friends. Why? I can see about 10 reasons ... on BillyMasters.com. When I'm writing about the children of people I don't care about, it's definitely time to end yet another column. I'm still laughing about Beyoncé trying to suppress bad photos. If I did that, I'd disappear from the Internet completely— with the exception of BillyMasters.com, the site that holds nothing back. I'm off to the Filth2Go Beach House in Fort Lauderdale for the next few weeks, but I'm always just a mouse click away. Feel free to write me at Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before John Travolta shows up on an RSVP Cruise. Until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's Bible.
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Queersay ROCKIN' THE RICAN Well, well, well—apparently y'all do read my column, because last week, yours truly received 74 emails regarding our Rent-A-Rican and racism post. Overwhelmingly you have decided that the Village Variety Pack comedy troupe's viral video "Rent-A-Rican" (tinyurl.com/cjzrssn) is not racist but pure comedy gold (or at the very least, gold-plated). So says Carl M.: "I think it is funny, and I wish more parties I went to were like this. People always stereotype that gays throw the best parties, but it's not true. Most parties in West Hollywood are full of pretty people that totally suck." Echoes David A.: "It's making fun of white people, not Puerto Ricans, and isn't the "Rican" Puerto Rican himself anyhow? It's fun. Get over it." Rants Alexis N. (in a 350+ word email, no less): “Why would this even be considered news? I hate the Huffington Post for writing about this. This is not news. It's Comedy Central lite!" And perhaps summing it up best is Terrence L., saying: "Lo que sucede es que no todos somos así. Y nos ofendemos porque las personas de otros lugares pensarán que sí!" (Whatever that means, we assume it's party-licious, pro-Rican positive!) Yes, 3 to 70, you voted that the Rican made you LOL a bit—even perhaps ROFL a tad. It was only Tricia C. that was left undecided: "I wish there were more of the cat. The dog was in it a lot but the cat was only in it for two seconds. More of the cat would have been funnier." Yes, folks, leave it to the creepy cat lady to walk the fence!
QUEERSAID There is nothing Gossip Gay hates more than a woman at the gym. Sure, we'll march against the Republicans to ensure that you have the right to control your body and all its girly functions, but when it comes to you taking up space on the weight room floor and thereby edging out Ryan Kwanten or an equally adorable homo-adjacent hottie from within our visage—oh, how we hate thee! And apparently some of them hate us, too. We overheard with our queer little ear this week at the 24 Hour Fitness in West Hollywood two grown and reasonably intelligent-looking women talking about life in WeHo—the shopping, the eats, the men, all delightfully complimentary until one of them mumbles, "Yeah, it's really a shame this gym is overrun with fags." Dear Ms. FakeBoobs McFatAnkles, Gossip Gay asks thee to shut thy gullet. Not only will it silence the hate that spews forth from thy mouth, but it will also limit your caloric intake and stop those Tonya Harding thighs from continuing to thunderously expand. P.S. You smell like feet and beets. We hate you.
For more Queersay, go to FrontiersLA.com/Queersay. MARCH 5, 2013
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2ND ANNUAL INSTALL: WEHO SEEKS VISUAL AND PERFORMANCE ARTISTS
WEHO TAKES A STAND IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION ON GUN CONTROL BY PAULO MURILLO Gun control in the U.S. continues to be a hot button topic. The city of West Hollywood adopted a resolution in support of federal legislation on gun control regulations. The resolution, initiated by Mayor Pro Tempore Abbe Land, backs the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 (Senate Bill S. 150), introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein; The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act (HR 332), introduced by Congressmember Adam Schiff (HR 332); and the Fix Gun Checks Act (HR 137), the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act (HR 138), the Gun Show Loophole Closing Act (HR 141) and the Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act (HR 142), all four of which were introduced by Congressmember Carolyn McCarthy. The recent West Hollywood resolution was adopted in response to innocent victims who lost their lives in recent mass shootings, particularly the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings in Newtown, Conn., where 20 children and six adult staff members were fatally shot.
“I applaud Senator Feinstein, Congressmember Schiff and Congressmember McCarthy for their dedication to preventing future tragedies like the one in Newtown,” Land stated in a city press release. “This is a big step in preventing the growing instances of mass violence, and the time for Congress to act is now,” she added. In 1996, West Hollywood was the first city in California to ban the sale of Saturday Night Special handguns, thanks to Mayor Pro Tempore Abby Land’s efforts. Thirty-one other cities passed similar legislation. She also co-authored ordinances requiring mandatory reporting of lost or stolen firearms, and the posting of warning signs where guns and ammunition are sold. Studies show that eight percent of all firearm deaths in the developed world occur in the U.S., where the firearm homicide rate is up to 19.5 times higher than other countries. For more details on gun control regulations, visit weho.org.
DO YOU THINK THE CITY PASSING THIS RESOLUTION HAS ANY EFFECT ON PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES TOWARDS FEDERAL GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION? “I think this is an important stance and definitely a positive thing. Things have to start somewhere, and what better city to inspire other cities to take the same approach in favor of gun control than West Hollywood? Especially at a time when anyone can go on a killing spree." —Michael Myette
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“Any positive steps towards reducing violence in our community will affect people’s thinking. In order to achieve any real change at the federal level, communities must take action. I applaud the city of West Hollywood for taking a stance and demonstrating the importance of this issue.” —Kevin Smith
Attention LGBTQ-minded artists in the Greater Los Angeles area— INSTALL: WeHo is seeking visual and performance artists to participate in the second annual INSTALL: WeHo—a pop-up installation that continues to serve as a forum for established and emerging LGBTQ artists and contributors. The deadline to submit is March 15; selected artists will be announced March 22. The event will set up overnight at the El Tovar Parking Lot adjacent to the WeHo Library on June 2. “Good Queer” is the theme for this year’s INSTALL: WeHo. What does it mean to be a good queer? Does it mean challenging the traditional definitions of homosexuality and heterosexuality? Does it mean embracing the LGBTQ letters that have come to represent those under the queer umbrella who need more explicit protection? How does it affect our private and public lives and perceptions? INSTALL: WeHo is part of One City One Pride. It is supported by the city of West Hollywood, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Pasadena Arts Council, The California LGBT Arts Alliance and Frontiers. Visit installweho.com for complete guidelines.
SPEAK OUT "Gun control is a good idea, and WeHo should lead by example. A gun should be registered and people should know how to use it responsibly. I hate to be a size queen, but a semiautomatic rifle isn't going to cut it if you argue that your right to bear arms is a way to defeat a tyrannical government. Those F-15 fighter jets will laugh." —Richard Morales
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SILVER LAKE, LOS FELIZ, ECHO PARK & BEYOND
1111 Sunset Blvd.
2 EAST SIDE PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT BY STEPHAN HORBELT Two areas of Los Angeles’ East Side are currently scheduled for facelifts, meaning more contemporary housing for area residents. As TheEastSiderLA.com reports, a project dubbed 1111 Sunset Blvd., just east of Echo Park in Victor Heights, has recently been “stripped down to its steel and concrete skeleton” and is formally awaiting its transition to a high-rise 92-unit apartment building with a ground-level café. Developer Linear City has reportedly been involved with several Downtown L.A. loft projects. This development, formerly the Metropolitan Water District office building, has been vacant for more than 20 years, and so far, area residents have expressed approval of the much-needed change. One commenter remarked on The Eastsider’s story, “I’m glad to see this graffiti-covered eyesore getting a lift,” with another commenting, “Linear City did a wonderful job transforming Industrial Street in the Arts District. ... Also, all of their buildings seem to attract amazing restaurants. This will be a very good thing for this area.” Linear City expects the project to be completed by February 2014.
Over in Silver Lake, as reported by Curbed L.A., a long-vacant, half-acre Silver Lake lot—located at 1310 Tularosa Drive just south of Sunset Junction— will soon see eight small houses built. As Curbed L.A. explains, the Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance has been PHOTO: CURBED L.A. used heavily in the Silver Lake and Echo Park areas to allow several small houses to be built on a single parcel of land. Originally the lot was slated for condo construction by developer Metro Investments, but the firm apparently changed course in 2010, opting instead to go with small lot houses. Art Simonian of Metro Investments claims that the eight units are aimed at the “sophisticated and refined Silver Lake buyer,” and that each of the three-level units will be between 2,000 and 2,200 square feet with three or four bedrooms, outdoor space, a two-car garage and views of Downtown. Construction of the eight homes is scheuled to begin before the end of 2013 and will reportedly last about one year. The homes are likely to be snatched up quickly due to the fact that they’re walking distance to Sunset Junction and the Silver Lake farmers market. MARCH 5, 2013
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ORANGE COUNTY
CENTER OC HONORS NFL PLAYER CHRIS KLUWE AT INDIGO BALL BY GREG HERNANDEZ
Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe is straight, but he's become one of the loudest voices for LGBT equality. The Center Orange County has taken notice of Kluwe's activism and has announced that it will be honoring the NFL star at The Indigo Ball, the Center's major fundraising event taking place on April 20. "There's a famous quote that the arc of history tends to bend towards more freedom, not less. You are really seeing that right now," Kluwe said in an interview. "Our generation's civil rights struggle is for gay rights because there's a subset of America that pays their taxes, serves in the military and is not treated the same as everyone else. That's discrimination, that's not what America is built on." Kluwe's visibility as an LGBT activist grew exponentially last September when he blasted Maryland Assembly Delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. in a withering, profanity-laced letter that included the now famous phrase "lustful cockmonster." Kluwe’s masterful use of language and his well-reasoned sentiments in the letter to Burns caused it to go viral. He wrote it after the legislator complained to the owner of the Baltimore Ravens when linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo made public statements in support of same-sex marriage. The athlete, a married father of two, has since appeared on such shows as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Colbert Report and appeared on the cover of Out magazine. 60
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"I was just writing it and I hoped that people would be entertained and also educated by it," he said. "While it's great that people latched onto it, it's also kind of sad, the fact that we have to celebrate someone doing the right thing as opposed to pointing out when someone does the wrong thing. It should be news when someone does the wrong thing, it shouldn't be news when someone stands up to someone else." Asked how his life has changed since becoming a famous LGBT activist, Kluwe said, "Mainly just more interviews. [Laughs] That's about it. I'm still the same person. I guess more people are paying attention now." Kluwe will be the star attraction at an annual gala that was given a hip new name last year and will be held at Lyon Air Museum located at the John Wayne Airport. The hangar doors open up onto the tarmac so guests can watch planes take off and land. All proceeds benefit the Center and go into its unrestricted fund to support all programs and services. Last year's event drew 320 people and raised enough money to account for almost 20 percent of the Center's current operating budget. Also being honored at the ball will be longtime Center supporter and LGBT community advocate Michael Losquadro, who is the only openly gay man currently serving in the Orange County Sheriff's Reserves. thecenteroc.org
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LONG BEACH
‘COMING OUT’ EXHIBIT EXPLORES LONG BEACH’S LGBT HISTORY BY GREG HERNANDEZ An exhibit celebrating Long Beach's rich LGBT history will be unveiled Feb. 23 at an event featuring special guest Melissa Etheridge. "Coming Out in Long Beach: An Exhibit of the LGBT History Project" includes an exhibit with stories, photographs, artifacts and an interactive timeline that documents the contributions and milestones of the city's LGBT community. "It was really a community and committee effort to make all of this happen," said Julie Bartolotto, executive director of the Historical Society of Long Beach. Among the biggest contributors were The Center Long Beach, Long Beach Pride and the Lambda Democratic Club. "As we started to tell people that we were thinking of doing this, they put us in touch with key people and now we have this huge collection," Bartolotto said. "The community has added all these wonderful things to the timeline, and that's what has driven the show. We know when different programs started, when different bars were popular. The show is chronological dating back to 1914." Etheridge was invited because of her connection to the lesbian bar Que Sera, where she regularly performed before all the hit records, the Grammys and the Oscar.
"Her gold record that we will display is on display regularly at Que Sera, which is where she played twice a week before she got signed with Island Records in the 1980s," Bartolotto said. The collection includes photographs and newspapers, buttons, pins and fliers dating back many decades. “There are handmade fliers from the ‘70s and ‘80s before people were making fliers on computers, lots made by artist Ray Lowen," Bartolotto said. "People have wonderful collections that they have shared. Some will become part of our permanent archives while others are just for the show. We will have a really good collection about the history of the community that will live on past the show. We've also done several oral history interviews." The event takes place from 7-10 p.m. at the Historical Society of Long Beach Gallery, 4260 Atlantic Ave. Tickets are $100 ($90 for HSLB members). Admission includes hot hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, a ribbon-cutting program from 7:30-8 p.m. involving Etheridge and a party with a silent auction and live music. "It should be a fun party," said Bartolotto. "People will get to enjoy seeing the show." hslb.org
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RED DRESS PARTY PROMISES A FUN TIME FOR A GOOD CAUSE BY JAMES F. MILLS Red is a color that gets noticed. It’s exciting. It’s vibrant. It stirs people up. So, when you get a bunch of people gathered together in red dresses, you know something big is going to happen. That’s the idea behind the Red Dress Party, a fundraiser to benefit the LGBT Community Center of the Desert held on Saturday, March 2. “The wearing of a red dress, regardless of age, gender or sexual orientation, serves as a powerful symbol of solidarity with people who have been ostracized at some point and also reminds us that we are all brought together for one night to support a common cause,” says Gary Costa, interim executive director of the LGBT Center. Beyond supporting the programs and services the Center offers, the Red Dress party is simply a great time.
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“It’s one of the most fun parties in town,” adds publicist David Gray. “Everybody is there wearing anything from haute couture to the ridiculous and the sublime. It’s just a whole lot of fun.” Because it’s so much fun, the Red Dress Party attracts a wide spectrum of people—millionaires to drag queens to people who’ve never done drag before to people just in town for a quick visit. “Last year, the first year of the party, the social editor of Palm Springs Life came and said it was one of the best parties she’d ever attended and that she’d never miss it again,” recalls Gray. “She’s attended thousands of parties in her career, so that was a fantastic compliment. She just loved the atmosphere and the spirit.” Some attendees will go all out on their outfits. Others will just throw
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PHOTOS: DAVID A. LEE PHOTOGRAPHY
something together. Because there’ll be such a mix of fashions, there’ll be a contest for the best outfits. “We’ll have a great fashion runway,” says Gray. “People will hoot and holler. It’ll be fun.” Local celebrities will serve as judges for the runway show, judging outfits in five categories: Couture, Sexiest, Outrageous, Entourage and Best Marilyn. That last category was added because Palm Springs is in the midst of Marilyn Monroe fever ever since the Forever Marilyn statue was unveiled last fall. “Marilyn has become a big thing
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this year, so we decided to add this as a new category,” says Gray. “I can’t wait to see what people do with it.” Speaking of Marilyn, she’s rumored to have stayed at the Sand Acre Estate, the Movie Colony luxury hacienda where the party is taking place. “Last year we did it at the Loretta Young house,” says Gray. “This year, we chose the Sand Acre Estate since it can accommodate a bigger party. The house is gorgeous. There are a lot of people who may want to come just for a chance to see the house.” thecenterps.org
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TRIO ROLLS OUT THE ORANGE CARPET FOR THE OSCARS BY JAMES F. MILLS Will Argo win Best Picture? Will Daniel Day-Lewis take home another gold statue for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln? Will Jessica Chastain get Best Actress for Zero Dark Thirty? And who will get the Best Director award since Ben Affleck was snubbed in the category? Those are some of the burning questions movie lovers are talking about as the 85th annual Academy Awards approaches. Many in the Coachella Valley are having Oscar viewing parties on Sunday, Feb. 24. Among those parties is a gala at Trio Restaurant, 707 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Downtown Palm Springs. Trio’s glittering soirée, which they’ve named “Hollywood’s Biggest Night,” will feature orange carpet arrivals (a Trio signature), a six-course meal, champagne and hostess extraordinaire Bella da Ball, plus the ceremony playing on big screen TVs throughout the restaurant so you won’t miss a minute of the excitement. Even better, proceeds for the event benefit the AIDS Assistance Program. “Hollywood’s Biggest Night is always a great experience here at Trio, and you can just feel the energy and the excitement in the room as our guests watch the TV monitors and wait for the winners,” says Tony Marchese, co66
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owner of Trio. “For a short time our restaurant is part of Hollywood, and it is a magical feeling. Traditionally, Oscar night is generally a slower night in the restaurant business, so when we created this event for AAP, it was a winwin for both of us.” Tickets for Hollywood’s Biggest Night are $150 per person or $200 for VIP seating, which includes a six-course prix-fixe dinner, well drinks, wine and champagne. Tickets must be purchased in advance. “Trio is the best place in the valley to view one of the most entertaining and highly anticipated awards shows in the world,” says Mark Anton, CEO and executive director of AIDS Assistance Program. “With bubbling champagne, a sumptuous meal and the company of good friends, you don’t have to travel to Tinseltown to experience the magic and excitement of Oscar night, and we expect this year’s event to be another resounding success.” Founded in 1991, AAP provides food vouchers to approximately 500 lowincome members of the community who have HIV/AIDS each month. aidsassistance.org
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BUSINESS
PROFILE LAGLCC: SUPPORTING LGBT BUSINESSES BY MICHELLE MCCARTHY Marquita Thomas
The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1979 by a collective of LGBT business owners who felt disenfranchised by the California Legislature at the time. It was a safe space for them to come together and support one another. As time went on, the organization transitioned into a networking and support group in which members can find likeminded business owners who share their value systems. And with the economy still sluggish, what better time for business owners to come together and pool their collective resources? The professions represented within the organization run the gamut—from accountants to women’s success coaches, attorneys, graphic designers, photographers, realtors and fitness trainers. The LAGLCC, which covers all of Los Angeles County, has more than doubled its membership over the past year. “As the chamber has increased its visibility and as people come to more and more events, they see the unique value proposition that we offer,” says Marquita Thomas, LAGLCC’s executive director. “We’ve had a huge influx of members; we’ve gotten practically a new member every day for the past year.” How does membership specifically benefit business owners? Well, LAGLCC holds a monthly networking event, better known as its First Thursday Mixers. The group also hosts educational seminars, women’s mixers, a monthly networking luncheon at the Abbey and a speaker series—along with traditional chamber of commerce events like ribbon cuttings. “In a city characterized by congested
freeways and increasing ‘disconnect,’ LAGLCC members are committed to supporting one another and building trusting relationships,” according to LAGLCC’s website. While a lot of the events take place in West Hollywood, LAGLCC is making an effort to branch out to different locations. An upcoming new members’ brunch will take place in the Valley. The organization is also planning to do a joint mixer in the Valley with the Studio City and Toluca Lake Chambers of Commerce. “We partner a lot so our members can get as much visibility as humanly possible and interface with as many business owners as possible,” Thomas adds. “We also help to align our small business owners with local government officials so they can have a voice in things that impact their business. That can be anything from permits and passes to parking and fixing the streets.” The LAGLCC maintains close working relationships with sister organizations in Long Beach and other nearby communities, as well as with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. Thomas says she recently received a testimonial from one of LAGLCC’s newest members about how she secured a client less than a week after becoming a member. “She was ecstatic. And that is something we hear from a lot of our members—and that it happens pretty quickly. That’s because our membership is full of people who want to support like-minded business owners.” To join the LAGLCC, simply visit the org’s website, laglcc.org, fill out a brief profile and pay the membership dues.
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SEX ED
PHALLIC FOUL BY JIM LARKINS
For an organ that gives us such intense pleasure, the penis can sometimes be the least aesthetic of a guy’s anatomical attributes. But hey, love is blind, right? When unsightly anomalies do occur, you’ll want to know what they are and what, if anything, can be done to correct them. Pearly Penile Papules (PPP) might sound like the beginning of an adult tongue twister, but these raised, globular bumps situated along the rim of the corona, or penis head, can seem somewhat … alien. Although PPP is not an STD, it is a non-malignant variation of genital warts and can sometimes be mistaken for the real thing. The condition doesn’t require intervention except for cosmetic reasons. In this case carbon dioxide laser treatment is used. Another noninfectious condition that actually occurs in about 90 percent of the male population is called Fordyce’s Spots. These appear as raised dots along the shaft of the penis. Fordyce’s Spots do not require treatment, but if there are appearance concerns one can use Tretinoin gel or cream along with alpha hydroxy acid agents like those used to treat acne. The uncircumcised philistine sometimes brandishes yet another phallic flaw known as Phimosis, which is the inability to fully retract the foreskin. Although this is a harmless phenomenon among prepubescent males, it needs correction at about 18 years of age. Noninvasive treatments for Phimosis include applying topical steroid cream to the narrow part of the foreskin for 4-6 weeks, discontinuing any unusual
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masturbation or stretching of the foreskin—this will permanently expand the preputial ring that prevents retraction. Surgical solutions include circumcision or the less harmful preputioplasty. One of the oddest penile disorders can also be one of the most physically debilitating. Peyronie’s Disease or curvature of the penis is a connective tissue disorder that occurs in one to four percent of men. A slight bend in the penis is normal, but extreme conditions can cause pain upon erection and can make intercourse difficult or impossible. For treatment, it is imperative that one seeks a qualified professional who specializes in this condition. Just ask Mike McKown what can happen if Peyronie’s isn’t treated properly. McKown is the poster boy for Peyronie’s surgical mishaps. When his condition became so severe that he couldn’t have sex, he chose to have it surgically corrected. Unfortunately, he mistakenly went under the knife during the inflammatory phase of his condition. This caused his penis to become unnaturally twisted, and he even suffered a substantial reduction in penis size. Along with his now smaller, twisted piston, McKown came away from surgery with a penile pump that continually malfunctioned, causing artificially induced erections at inopportune times. Finally, as if he hadn’t suffered enough, the pump herniated, which led to yet another surgery to replace it. Lesson learned? Sure, McKown had to do something about his condition, but if one cares enough about his partner, he’ll see past his slightly unsightly phallic features.
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