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INSIDE
VOL. 31, ISSUE 24 / MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2013
32 L.A.
AFTER DARK by Stephan Horbelt Whether you’re looking for cheap draft beer, hand-crafted cocktails, prime people-watching or the city’s best happy hours, we’ve got you covered with this look at gay L.A. nightlife culture.
PHOTOGRAPHER: COVER MODEL: MAKEUP & GROOMING: LOCATION & FURNISHINGS:
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JOHN FALLON, johnfallonstudio.com VLADIMIR SHMYGOL, winner of Frontiers’ Go-Go Appreciation Day 2012 contest NATE COOPER, nate@solarnoise.net NEPTUNE GLASS WORKS, neptuneglassworks.com | WESTIN MITCHELL DESIGN GROUP, westinmitchell.com (WH)ORE HAÜS STUDIOS, whorehausstudios.com
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INSIDE
VOL. 31, ISSUE 24 / MARCH 20 - APRIL 2, 2013
LEADING BY EXAMPLE Cliff Teston....................................................16 NEWS News Briefs ..................................................18 Will Negativity Screw Turnout for L.A. Election Run-Offs? ....................................26 SOCAL EVENTS GUIDE Calendar ......................................................46 Snapshots ....................................................48 Eating Out ....................................................54 ENTERTAINMENT Film Reviews ................................................56 Music Reviews ............................................58 Theater Reviews ........................................60 Drive ..............................................................62 Little Miss Know-It-All..............................63 Billy Masters................................................64 Gossip Gay ..................................................65 Out & About ................................................66
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HEAVY ROTATION by Stephan Horbelt
Find out what goes on at the 50+ gay bars of the L.A. area, presented by day of the week. No matter what you’re looking for, this comprehensive guide has you covered.
CITY GUIDES West Hollywood ........................................67 Orange County............................................68 Long Beach ..................................................69 Palm Springs................................................70
36 O-69! by Michelle McCarthy Legendary Bingo’s creator and producer Jeffery “BingoBoy” Bowman is celebrating 15 years of raunchy ballcalling and drag queen spankings with a two-day celeb-athon April 9-10.
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HEALTH Off the Couch ..............................................76 FRONTIERS MARKETPLACE Listings ..........................................................78 Business Profile ..........................................79 FRONTIERS4MEN Adult Classifieds ........................................80 Sex Ed ............................................................87
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WHITE PARTY GOES TO THE EXTREME
YOUR GUIDE TO GAY LAS VEGAS
by Mike Ciriaco Us Angelenos like to play as hard as we work, and luckily SoCal has its own neon-lit Sodom and Gomorrah just across the state line.
by Mike Ciriaco “This year, we are doing everything to the extreme in terms of décor, sound, lighting and staging,” says the mastermind behind White Party Palm Springs, Jeffrey Sanker. “We’re going over the top to really create a total sensory experience.”
PHOTO BY: John Fallon johnfallonstudio.com MODEL: Vladimir Shmygol
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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
ANA MATRONIC IS GONNA LET YOU HAVE IT! by Stephan Horbelt
facebook.com/ frontiersmagazine
twitter.com/ frontiersmag
The female lead singer of your favorite dance-pop band, Scissor Sisters, kikis exclusively with Frontiers about her love of Drag Race, her plans for a solo record and what exactly she has planned for White Party’s sea of sweaty revelers. frontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews
youtube.com/ frontiersweb
Frontiers sat down with Tracie Bennett, who plays Judy Garland in the critically acclaimed show End of the Rainbow, playing Downtown at the Ahmanson through April 21. frontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews
WIN! Go to Facebook.com/FrontiersMagazine on Friday, March 22, for a chance to win Sushi Dan gift certificates!
BOOK
REVIEWS by The Bookworm
In need of a good read? Check out our reviews of The Vatican Diaries by John Thavis and Where You Are by J.H. Trumble. frontiersLA.com/BookReviews
FIND US ON
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!
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AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW by Michelle McCarthy
BAR LISTINGS
SEX TALK
Go to FrontiersLA.com/BarListings to find updated listing info on the L.A. area’s 50+ gay bars, organized by neighborhood.
by Stephan Horbelt
If you weren’t watching That Sex Show, which just wrapped its first season on Logo, you missed out on a raucous good time involving love, sex and raunchy discussion. Hear what show regulars Heidi Hamilton and Dr. Mike Dow had to say about the experience. (Spoiler: They had the time of their lives.) frontiersLA.com/ ExclusiveInterviews
JACK PLOTNICK by Gary M. Kramer
Being wrong has never been so right! Frontiers jumped on Skype with out comedic actor Jack Plotnick to discuss his latest role—an odd fellow whose life takes some strange turns when his beloved dog is kidnapped. Read the interview and watch the trailer for the new film Wrong. frontiersLA.com/ExclusiveInterviews
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FrontiersLA.com Volume 31, Issue 24 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Phone: (323) 930-3220 Sales Fax: (323) 857-0560 Administration Fax: (323) 848-2058 Accounting Fax: (323) 857-0503
Publisher / CEO / Editorial Director David Stern Creative Director Ed Baker Managing Director of Integrated Media Dustin Tyner Associate Publisher Frank Morales Editor-in-Chief Stephan Horbelt News Editor Karen Ocamb Editor-at-Large, PositiveFrontiers.com, Brenden Shucart Senior Art Director Garett Yoshida Associate Art Director George Skinner Graphic Designer Michelle Aguirre Jr. Graphic Designer Shannon O’Brien Editorial Intern Aaron Batts Advertising Directors Kevin Browne, JC Gardiner, Vic Gerami, Brenda Stevens, Billy Wright Palm Springs Advertising Directors Vic Gerami
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Contributing Writers Michael Anthony, Aaron Batts, Jackie Beat, Christopher Cappiello, Dr. Greg Cason, Mike Ciriaco, Peter DelVecchio, Lawrence Ferber, Gossip Gay, Greg Hernandez, Stephan Horbelt, Gary M. Kramer, Dan Loughry, Billy Masters, Michelle McCarthy, Dana Miller, James F. Mills, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Brian Padgett, Dominik Rothbard, Steve Siler, Paul V. Contributing Photographers and Illustrators Gabe Ayala, Bravo TV, Brenden-John Photography, Matthew Brian Denman, John Fallon, Ryan Forbes, Glen Hanson, Paulo Murillo, Karen Ocamb, Brian Padgett, Josh Rice, Rolling-Blackouts.com, Craig Schwartz, Jonathan Sirand
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IN MEMORY OF BOB CRAIG, FOUNDING PUBLISHER
©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
Pride Card Services Offering Businesses a Simple Way to Give Back By Michelle McCarthy For every business, credit card processing is a necessary evil that ranks right up there with electrical power or telephone service. So Pride Card Services asked, “Why not turn that necessary bill into a donation that creates something good?” Merchants who process credit card transactions with Pride Card Services are able to contribute to their community without having to reach into their own pockets to come up with the donation. Cliff Teston of Pride Card Services—CEO and president of Pride’s parent company for 17 years—told us how. How did the concept for Pride Card Services come about, and when? It was a perfect storm. My partners and I have always been involved in our community, both individually and through our company. But in 2012, we were able to take our involvement to the next level when we developed our internal sales force. As part of that change in strategy, we made the wonderful decision to hire Aaron Slominski as our senior vice president of sales. Aaron made the suggestion that we combine our payment processing services with charitable giving to our community. We loved the idea, and Pride Card Services was born! Explain how Pride Card Services works. When a merchant first signs with Pride Card Services, we donate $250 in their name to a charity of their choice. Each month thereafter, we continue to donate up to 20 percent of the net income we receive from the merchant’s account. Businesses that sign with Pride Card Services will see up to a 20 percent reduction of their current credit card processing bill. Simply bring us a current statement and we will save that business money.
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How much has Pride Card Services helped channel to charities? Our charitable business is still very young, but it’s already doing great things in the community. We launched the program only six months ago, but we’ve already exceeded $10,000 in donations! AIDS Project Los Angeles was the very first charity that trusted us with their donor list—a precious commodity for any charity. As we continue to sign up merchants through this program, participating charities will benefit greatly from a consistent monthly stream of gradually increasing donations for a normalized donation cycle with no out-of-pocket cost of fundraising. Which charities are people donating to? We currently are working with APLA and other local charities, and we are planning to expand to other regions to replicate this phenomenal success. Merchants in the community—or any merchants, for that matter—who are supportive of these causes should contact us. We will save them money and support our community at the same time. Did you consciously go into a line of work in which you would be making a difference? No, the charitable aspect of my work has been a serendipitous development. I’ve been involved with banking and banking services since I was 18 years old. I started as a proof operator, then a bank teller and so forth. However, I always wanted to give back to the community that helped me, and today I’m extremely happy to be able to make a big difference in the community I love and have benefited from for so many years.
Why do you think it’s so important to give back to the community? Long before Pride Card Services, equality and gay rights activists built this community that allows people like me to love openly, live openly and build a successful business. Simply put, it’s a debt I owe. In their honor, I want to give back to this community, so we continue to support causes that are important to all of us. What kind of feedback have you gotten? When we talk to merchants about this program, they tell us it’s a win-win proposition for them. In fact, it’s a win-win-win scenario for everyone involved. We win, the merchant wins and the charities win. So, “Of course! Why wouldn’t I sign up?” is the kind of response we’ve been getting, and we couldn’t agree more. Contact Pride Card Services by calling (888) 590-4977 or find the organization online at 4pride.com.
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NEWS By Karen Ocamb & Peter DelVecchio
Parents Petition for 6-Year-Old Transgendered Girl The parents of a 6-year-old transgendered girl are petitioning a Fountain, Colo., school district to reverse a decision that would prohibit their daughter from using the girls’ restroom at school, according to the petition posted at change.org. First grader Coy Mathis was born anatomically male but has reportedly identified as female since the age of 18 months. Until winter break last December, Coy had been permitted to use the girls’ bathroom at school. The school, however, is now giving Coy “three options for where to go to the bathroom—the boys' room, the staff bathroom with adults or the nurse's bathroom, which is used by sick children,” Coy’s parents, who have four other children, say in the petition. "Coy is not sick, she is not an adult, and she is not a boy,” Coy’s parents say. "Coy is a girl. She wears girls' clothes, is addressed by everyone at the school using female pronouns and has been accepted by her classmates and teachers as a girl. But if the school separates her from all her classmates to use the bathroom, they are singling her out for mistreatment in teaching her classmates that it's OK to discriminate." At an early age, Coy began asking her parents “when [they] were going to take him to the doctor so that they would give him girl parts so that his body would be a girl,” Coy’s mother says in a video posted at KatieCouric.com. “Once the psychologist affirmed that Coy was in fact transgender, we really needed to let Coy be who she was,” Coy’s dad says in the clip. Coy’s parents have filed a discrimination complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division on behalf of their daughter because, as they say in their petition, they want her "to have the same educational opportunities as any other Colorado student."
Gay Man Wins $13.2 Million for Wrongful Conviction A gay man who spent 11 years behind bars for a murder he did not commit has won a $13.2 million wrongful conviction verdict in federal court in Ohio, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported March 8. The jury determined that two detectives had manipulated the evidence against David Ayers, now 56,
because he is gay. Ayers, a Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority security officer at the time of the crime, was convicted in the beating death of 76-year-old Dorothy Brown, a resident in one of the authority's buildings. The detectives accused Ayers of the slaying, even though they knew he
was gay and the female victim had been sexually assaulted. Ayers was freed in 2011; he then sued for wrongful conviction. "Hopefully, this verdict will convince the prosecutors to run a DNA search to find the real killer, who is still on the loose," said Russell Ainsworth, one of Ayers' lawyers.
Boy Scouts Survey Pack Leaders on Gay ‘Scenarios’ The Boy Scouts of America is surveying pack leaders and parents regarding certain gay ‘scenarios’ that could arise should the group modify its current total ban on gay participation, Towleroad.com reports. The group has postponed a vote on modifying the policy, initially scheduled for February, until May. Among the scenarios described is one in which "Johnny's mom," a lesbian, is unanimously nominated by "Johnny's friends and their parents" to serve as "den leader." Survey recipients are asked if this would be acceptable to them. The survey also asks, among other things, whether it would be appropriate for a gay scout and a straight one to share a tent on an overnight camping trip, and whether a troop chartered by a church that considers homosexuality wrong should be allowed to deny membership to a gay boy. It is not clear what use the group intends to make of the survey results.
SPEAK OUT "The National Catholic Reporter said Pope Francis called adoption by gay and lesbian people a form of discrimination against children. The real discrimination against children is the pedophilia that has run rampant in the Catholic Church with little more than abetting from the Vatican." —GLAAD President Herndon Graddick on the new pope.
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“I’d like to send a respectful and considerate word and reject the homophobic remarks made by Nicolás [Maduro] today. ... It’s absolute fascism.” —Venezuelan presidential candidate Henrique Capriles responding to remarks by his opponent, Vice President Nicolás Maduro, insinuating that Capriles is gay, a charge he denies, as reported at blabbeando.blogspot.com.
“My mother’s life and death left me with a belief that our obligation is to use every moment we have on this earth to make it a better place, to make other people’s lives better, to make sure nobody is left behind because they might need a little more help.” —Out New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announcing her run for New York mayor, as reported at LGBTPOV.com.
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NEWS By Karen Ocamb & Peter DelVecchio
Robinson Delivers First State of LGBT Military Service Address Allyson Robinson—transgender West Point grad, Army vet and new head of OutServe-SLDN—delivered the first-ever state of LGBT military service address at the group's gala in Washington, D.C., March 9, LGBTPOV.com reports. Gays have served openly in the military since the September 2011 implementation of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Robinson set the goal of increasing the group's current active-duty membership of 6,000 to 14,000 by the end of 2014, noting, “that's one for every soldier, sailor, airman, marine and coast guardsman kicked out under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” Robinson also announced the opening of membership to veterans and straight allies “to take advantage of the full strength of America’s diverse military family—and to ensure we’re not leaving anyone behind.” Despite obvious progress, however, Robinson acknowledged that "the fight for full LGBT equality in our armed forces is far from over."
Quick Pic Michael Douglas will star as the late, closeted glam piano maestro Liberace, and Matt Damon will play his chauffeur and lover, Scott Thorson, in an upcoming biopic directed by Steven Soderbegh. The two grace the cover of Entertainment Weekly’s March 15 edition.
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AntiMarriage Equality Conference Set for San Diego The Ruth Institute, described on its website as "a project of the National Organization for Marriage," will sponsor what it calls a "protect marriage conference" in San Diego beginning May 30, according to a release from the group. The three-day conference "for university students and young adults" is being called "It Takes a Family to Raise a Village." The Ruth Institute was founded and is run by Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D., or simply "Dr. J" as the group's website jauntily calls her. "Dr. J" has said, among other things, that marriage equality would amount to “a hostile takeover of the whole civil society," that "everybody who reads Genesis—Protestant, Catholic, Jew, Mormon—everybody ... supported Prop. 8,” and that marriage equality supporters are "at war with Mother Nature," according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance against Defamation Commentator Accountability Project. She has also called the LGBT rights movement "anti-human," adding that "the job that religion does in most people's lives, they are filling it up with Earth worship." The San Diego conference will be for 18 to 30-year-olds, and will be "an intense interdisciplinary, interfaith program that will help make an informed and compassionate case for natural marriage—one man, one woman for life." Speakers will include Morse; Bill Duncan, director of the Marriage Law Foundation; and Robert Gagnon, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary professor and author of The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. The keynote speaker for the gathering's closing gala dinner will be "Hollywood insider, former FBI counterterrorism agent and Catholic father of nine, Tim Clemente," who will speak about “Hollywood's War on Love, and What We Can Do About It."
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NEWS
Will Negativity Screw Turnout for L.A. Election Run-Offs? By Karen Ocamb Turnout for the March 5 elections in the City of Los Angeles was shocking and historically low—16 percent for the city alone, 14 percent when votes for L.A. Unified School and Community College Districts were factored in. With 2,237,678 residents registered to vote for L.A. mayor, city controller, city attorney, city council and the school boards, a total of 320,920 people cast their ballots. Reasons for the low voter turnout vary from “election fatigue“ (given the seemingly perpetual campaigns for the past few years), waiting for the inevitable run-offs on Tuesday, May 21, and voter apathy with no big issue or charismatic candidate to inspire voters to exert the effort—ironic when so many voters elsewhere in the country are fighting voter suppression tactics and voter ID laws, something that L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson told the L.A. Daily News was responsible for the failure of Measure A, the failed measure for a half-percent sales tax. “No one expected a turnout as low as this,“ Wesson told Rick Orlov. “When you have more voters, you get a completely different dynamic. What is disturbing is there are people around the world that have better turnouts than we did.“
Wendy Greuel
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“When you look at past races, what gave Antonio Villaraigosa so much of a turnout was he was an inspirational figure,“ said openly gay Eric Bauman, L.A. County Democratic Party Chair. “What led Valley voters in the past was the feeling that Downtown wasn't listening to them. You did not have that sense in this election.“ Or voters may have just become die-hard cynics—especially after the L.A. Times reporting on Measure A that questioned the “sky is falling“ rhetoric from supporters such as Wesson, Mayor Villaraigosa and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. Matt Szabo—the openly gay 13th Council District candidate (he lost) and then-deputy mayor who negotiated a contract between the city and the Coalition of L.A. City Unions that saved the city from bankruptcy in May 2011— said city officials were using “fuzzy math“ to inflate the significance of the shortfall in order to get the measure passed. Villaraigosa initially stood behind the numbers, but two days after the measure’s defeat on March 5, he told The Times “the economy's getting better“ and therefore the projected deficit could be less than $100 million. “So I don't expect that we're going to have draconian cuts,“ he said. But adding to the cynicism, apathy and election fatigue, there’s significant confusion over what were once considered simple constructs. For instance, education “reform“ candidate Kate Anderson was soundly defeated once it was revealed that outside billionaires such as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Walmart and Fox’s Rupert Murdoch, who are apparently dedicated to dismantling the teachers’ union, poured millions into the race to defeat LAUSD school board member Steve Zimmer. (An interview with Zimmer about education reform is coming up in a future edition of Frontiers.)
Mitch O’Farrell
Indeed, while cynics, election loafers and the uninspired may choose to stay home and let a few thousand civic-minded citizens or passionate politicos determine the city’s next leaders, the May 21 run-offs actually are emblematic of an increasingly more complex clash of issues and loyalties that may be deconstructing old demographic voting patterns. For instance, considering there were (a historic) six openly gay candidates in the March 5 primaries (three in the 13th C.D., with Mitch O’Farrell as the top vote-getter, winner Mike Bonin in the 11th C.D. and Ron Galperin in the run-off, and Cary Brazeman for City Controller— plus Republican radio talk show host Kevin James running for mayor), logic suggests the LGBT community would turn out in large numbers. But there is nothing that directly measures the LGBT population in the city of L.A., and there was no highly publicized effort targeting the LGBT community other than Stonewall Democratic Club endorsements and Frontiers interviews. Gary Gates, the renowned demographic scholar at the Williams Institute, extrapolated
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Will Negativity Screw Turnout for L.A. Election Run-Offs?
this: “Gallup estimates suggest that about 3.5 percent of adults (age 18+) in the U.S. identify as LGBT. According to Census 2010, 0.55 percent of households in the U.S. are same-sex couples. In the city of Los Angeles, 1.01 percent of all households are same-sex couples. So the percent of same-sex couples in L.A. is 1.84 times higher than the U.S. percentage. If it is also true that the percent of adults who identify as LGBT in L.A. is 1.84 times higher than the national average, then it would imply that 6.44 percent of adults in the city of Los Angeles identify as LGBT. Census 2010 suggests there are roughly 2.9 million adults in L.A. If 6.44 percent identify as LGBT, it would mean that there are roughly 187,000 LGBT-identified adults.“ The Center for the Study of Los Angeles Loyola Marymount University conducted an exit poll for which student volunteers asked, “How would you describe your sexual orientation? Straight, bisexual, gay or lesbian, or other?“ Center Associate Director Brianne Gilbert told Frontiers that in previous elections, people who identified as bisexual or gay or lesbian totaled about 10 percent. In this election, the percentage of respondents in those two categories was only 6 percent. However, there is a caveat: “Given that our methodology looks at racially homogenous precincts (five white, five black, five Latino, five Asian and then five mixed precincts) throughout the city of Los Angeles, it’s possible that figure has more to do with the sampling than actual turnout,“ she said. “We do not have reason to believe the voter turnout of
Nury Martinez
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the LGBT community was lower in this election than in other recent elections.“ (See their website for full results—lmu.edu/csla.) Of the six percent of bi/gay/lesbians who responded, 35.6 percent voted for Garcetti, and 28.04 percent voted for Greuel, with James getting 14.82 percent, Perry 16.57 percent and Emmanuel Pleitez getting 4.96 percent. Interestingly, of the 93 percent of straights who responded, 33.27 percent went for Garcetti and 29 percent went for Greuel. “It looks like LGB identity (they have no information on transgender voting patterns) did not have much impact on voting, as the LGB and straight voting patterns were basically the same,“ Gates told Frontiers after looking at the Center data. “Given the sample size, I don’t think the L/G versus B differences are anything but statistical noise (there were probably less than 70 total LGB respondents, perhaps 10-15 bisexual). The margin of error on the overall LGB vote is such that I’m sure there is no statistical difference between LGB and straight respondents.“ Does this mean that the LGBT community— which has long advocated having an out LGBT person “at the table“ in government, business and civic affairs—now votes more for an issue than for “identity-politics”? Surely how candidates speak, take action and vote on LGBT issues is of considerable importance. But now, in such an LGBT-friendly city such as Los Angeles, perhaps the consideration is based more on frequency and quality of that support rather than casual acceptance of equality. For instance, LGBT voters no doubt marked the name of longtime LGBT ally Mike Feurer for L.A. City Attorney over incumbent Carmen Trutanich, who occasionally shows up at LGBT events. Feurer bested Trutanich by almost 44 percent compared to the incumbent’s 30 percent. And surely while Councilmember Dennis Zine has been good on issues of equality, LGBT voters went for Ron Galperin, a fixture in Democratic Party politics, often accompanied by his husband, a rabbi. That run-off is considerably closer, with Galperin getting 37.12 percent to Zine’s 37.03 percent. In a field of four candidates vying for the 11th C.D., Mike Bonin won outright with more than 61 percent of the vote to replace his retiring mentor, openly gay Councilmember Bill Rosendahl. “I think my victory shows the voters of the 11th district were looking for a candidate with deep and long ties to our neighborhoods, but with
Eric Garcetti
enough knowledge of how the system works to fix it and change it so that we can move Los Angeles forward, do good and get things done,“ Bonin told Frontiers. “My victory is also a tremendous affirmation of Bill Rosendahl, of his agenda of moving our neighborhoods in a positive direction and of his relentlessly optimistic spirit and fiercely progressive (and incredibly large) heart.“ “He’s a great guy,“ Rosendahl said of Bonin. “He listens to his constituents. He’s independent, like me. No one owns him. And he understands the bureaucracy. I predict he will become one of the most powerful members of the city government.“ Interestingly, Bonin has endorsed Garcetti while Rosendahl has endorsed Greuel, with whom he worked on several council issues. With the departure of Greuel and Jan Perry, the L.A. City Council could have become all male— except the special election to fill the 6th C.D. seat (vacated by now-Congressmember Tony Cardenas) features two prominent San Fernando Valley women—former State Assemblymember Cindy Montañez and LAUSD School Board member Nury Martinez—who are vying with four male candidates. Montañez, who is backed by State Controller John Chiang and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, was an equal rights champion regularly endorsed by the Equality California PAC. She’s now endorsed by HONOR PAC and the California Democratic Party. But that endorsement was a squeaker, with Montañez winning by only two votes to make the 60 percent endorsement cut-off, which was challenged by Martinez (Bauman threw the challenges out). Martinez is endorsed by Villaraigosa, and perhaps more importantly, by the Services
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NEWS
Will Negativity Screw Turnout for L.A. Election Run-Offs?
Employees International Union (SEIU). In this case, while the vote will be held on May 21, if there is no candidate who secures 50 percent plus one, there will be a run-off between the top two candidates on July 23. But the race is a prime example of split loyalties. Dolores Huerta, cofounder of the United Farmer Workers, is an icon in the civil rights and labor movements. Here she’s backing Montañez, while SEUI is backing Martinez, who campaigns with Greuel and who is endorsed by Huerta. Meanwhile, according to the Center for the Study of Los Angeles exit poll (see tinyurl.com/bcl49ug), Garcetti won 48.9 percent of Latinos polled (22.7 percent ), while Greuel garnered only 24.3 percent of the Latino vote. They were about even with the white, nonHispanic vote (55.1 percent of those polled) at 30.9 and 30.5 percents respectively. However, Greuel did much better among African-Americans (12.4 percent of those polled), with 24.4 percent to Garcetti’s 14.5 percent. The Asian vote came in at 6.8 percent of those polled—with
John Choi
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Betsy Butler (left) and Cindy Montanez
Garcetti getting 43.8 percent and Greuel getting 28.1 percent. The Centers’ Gilbert told Frontiers she guesstimated that the LGBT vote was actually larger than the Asian vote in this poll. All of this is going to make a difference in the 13th C.D. race between openly gay Mitch O’Farrell and John Choi, who, as former Economic Development Director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, has considerable labor support. O’Farrell, the former field representative for Eric Garcetti, won in a race among 12 candidates with 18.44 percent (or 3,535 votes) to Choi’s 3,158 votes for 16.47 percent. “Mitch has been working side by side with us for years to improve our Hollywood communities,“ says longtime LGBT activist John Gile. “And he is a leader in the gay community as well, always helping out.“ A March 14 article in the L.A. Weekly writes, “More than any City Council candidate in recent memory, Choi, who will face former Eric Garcetti field deputy Mitch O'Farrell in the May 21 runoff, is a creation of L.A.'s political king-making system, dominated by [Choi's boss at ‘County Fed,’ Maria Elena] Durazo and Villaraigosa.“ O'Farrell told the Weekly that Villaraigosa's appointment of Choi to the Public Works Commission “set the stage for him to run. ... It gave him entry.“ Choi, who the Weekly dubbed as “fiery,“ retorted, “Mitch O'Farrell has been running for this office for the past 10 years. Everybody knows
it. If the mayor was setting me up for a run,“ Choi adds, “why did he endorse one of my opponents?“ (Villaraigosa endorsed his recently departed number two policy adviser, Szabo, in the March 5 Primary.) The thrust of the Weekly’s article seems to demonize labor and the union movement. Ironically, a former L.A. Weekly writer, Harold Meyerson, has a huge article at The American Prospect entitled “If Labor Dies, What’s Next?“ detailing the gradual but steady disappearance of labor unions, and with it, the erosion of their political power. As part of an upcoming online interview, (please see the interview with O’Farrell at tinyurl.com/a9r6np3), Choi—who won the endorsement of the L.A. County Democratic Party—said his campaign manager Shaun Daniels is gay and that he expects to roll out LGBT endorsements in the near future. “I think that in this race, Mitch is more than just gay, and I am more than just my support from labor,“ Choi said, “and I believe Mitch feels the same way.“ But to distinguish themselves, all the candidates will no doubt turn to negative advertising and innuendo—all of which may well add to the “screw you“ attitude that votes seemed to have evidenced in the March 5 primary. So the key question is: Who will run L.A., and who will decide that on May 21? Will LGBT voters turn out, and for whom?
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L.A. AFTER DARK
By Stephan Horbelt Photos by Rolling Blackouts
FOR CHEAP DRAFT BEER Sometimes nothing seems more satisfying than an ice-cold pint of draft beer, and luckily there are quite a few places to gulp one down here in L.A. They seem to be most popular (and the cheapest) at weekend beer bust parties, and none is more popular than the Classic Beer Bust at Faultline. There you’ll pay a dollar or two for a cup of cheap swig, listen to rock and pop tracks and fight your way through a balls-to-the-wall crowd (which is of course half the fun). For those over on L.A.’s Westside, The Roosterfish is a great spot for near-the-water drinking, and on Sundays you can get some burgers and dogs with your beer. Motherlode in WeHo features ridiculously cheap pitchers of beer depending on when you go, as does The Gold Coast anytime you stop in. And if you’re looking to make a night of beer-guzzling, you won’t find it cheaper than at Cub Scout at Eagle L.A., where draft beers are only $2 all night long.
CELEBRATE HAPPY HOUR While gay L.A. isn’t game for celebrating happy hour quite like other cities (SF comes to mind), there are still quite a few happy hour celebrations worth stepping into after the long workday. Fiesta Cantina is probably WeHo’s most popular, offering 2-for-1 drinks not only from 4-8 p.m., seven days a week, but again from 10:30-12:30. Prepare to step over a few people (and maybe puddles, too), but with a special that nice, it’s worth it! The $5 Happy Hour at Eleven down the street is pretty tempting as well, offering up $5 well cocktails, beer and wine—and yummy eats— Monday through Friday, 5-8 p.m. For a swanky happy hour experience, mosey into St. Felix (either the WeHo or Hollywood locale) for half-off cocktails and cheap bites.
PRIME PATIO DRINKING LOCALES
FOR HAND-CRAFTED COCKTAILS
ROLL WITH A YOUNG CROWD
The gay Angeleno loves securing a prime spot on a patio, particularly when there’s a cocktail in hand and the sun (or moon) shines overhead. With weather as perfect as we get here in L.A., there are naturally tons of places great for patio-hopping, like tried-and-true haunt The Abbey, WeHo’s quintessential every-bar, where more than half of the nightclub is itself a patio. Moving over to the East Side, half of Faultline features prime patio real estate—with go-gos, the DJ booth and a firepit, oh my!—and Rockwell in Los Feliz showcases one of the city’s most beautiful courtyards, great for a weekend brunch or sophisticated nighttime revelry.
On the occasion you’re seeking out a drink requiring bartending skill and not just a heavy poor, gay L.A. has several fine dining spots where you can drink with your pinky in the air. The Abbey is known for its plethora of flavored martinis and mojitos, which are worth every penny you’re asked to shell out. St. Felix is another go-to bar, with sumptuous cocktails like the much-loved Pear Manhattan and Firecracker (grapefruit vodka, lime, cranberry and jalapeño—yes, please!). The return of Silver Lake’s Black Cat—in its Sunset Junction location, sharing the name of the spot’s historical gay bar where LGBT demonstrations preceded Stonewall—means there’s one more spot on the East Side to grab a delectable hand-crafted cocktail.
Tigerheat at Avalon is known first and foremost for the 18-and-up crowd it attracts, second for the sense of ‘Oh, I must be old now’ anyone over 27 feels upon entering, third for its DJs’ weekly binge of delicious, syrupy pop music. Another spot rife with young’uns is Rage, which allows the under-21 set indoors Thursday through Sunday. A Hollywood venue unlike any other is Boardner’s, which invites 18-and-up guys and girls to party it up on Mondays (Blue Mondays, ‘80s night), Wednesdays (Club Moscow, vinyl and bands) and Saturdays (Bar Sinister, goth/fetish night). Don’t forget, though, that young crowds also beckon chicken hawks—those ‘young-at-heart’ older men who prey upon the vulnerable!
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ROLL WITH THE YOUNGAT-HEART If you’re like most people who are old enough to pay for a rental car, the last thing you’re looking for is a bevy of tweens ambushing your favorite watering hole. You need not worry at WeHo’s Gold Coast or Trunks, where things skew a bit higher in age but not in drink prices. Most bars on L.A.’s East Side also feature crowds of a more mature variety, as do many gay bars in the Valley.
TEAR UP A DANCE FLOOR
WATCH YOUR FAVE VIDEOS
DRAG YOURSELF HERE
L.A. gays know how to cut a rug, even though they’d never refer to it as such. At Jewel’s Catch One, still around from the early ‘70s as a gay club catering to black gay and lesbian communities, you used to find Madonna tearing it up on the dance floor. Metropolitan (which you most likely know by its old moniker, The Factory) is WeHo’s big danceteria. If you’re looking to dance alongside hotties of the Latin persuasion, look no further than Hollywood’s Circus Disco and Arena. And for a different kind of dancing, check out Oil Can Harry’s in the Valley, where the guys line-dance and listen to Country & Western music ‘til the cows come home.
The return of West Hollywood’s Revolver in 2011 had gays throughout the city ecstatic to once again watch gayfavorite music videos and comedy clips among their booze-fueled brethren. The place is a smorgasbord of visual stimulation. Fubar is known for the frenetic, clever video montages it displays at certain parties, most notably Big Fat Dick and its annual Halloween and Christmas parties. And for a different type of ‘video’ (the penis-in-butt variety, to be blunt) head East and stand in front of the many screens at Faultline or Eagle L.A. Disclaimer: Some are not for the squeamish.
L.A. is a great city for drag, evidenced by the fact that most parties in town feature a late-night performance or two, are hosted by drag queens or simply have dolled-up patrons guzzling at the bar. Rage in WeHo is home to Dreamgirls every Tuesday night, a drag show that presents the best of the best in female illusionists to a hungry crowd. Echoplex plays home to Trannyshack when it barrels into town from San Francisco, and Hamburger Mary’s (in both WeHo and Long Beach) offers up drag numbers on a regular basis. Plaza, a popular bar among the Latino set, has a drag show where performers belt out numbers in both English and Spanish.
SLEAZE IT UP Certain parties around town are just known for being raunchy and sleazy (and fun), and many—like Big Fat Dick, Stripper Circus and Hooker Casino—make it very clear what you’re getting. Absolut Underwurld, a Thursday underwear party at Faultline, has patrons strip down to their skivvies while enjoying discounted drinks. Hot Rod, a last-Wednesdayof-the-month party at Micky’s, features go-go gods, rockin’ music, fetish shows and a crowd that loves to grope.
PRIME PEOPLEWATCHING PARTIES If you’re on the hunt for crowds who really go all-out to look the part of hedonistic, crazed booze hounds (a look that requires creativity, skill and sometimes your grandmother’s fur coat), look no further than Evita, a party at BLOK in Hollywood that has taken the reins from its predecessor, Mr. Black L.A. At Silver Lake’s Los Globos, hipsters, self-described ‘art fags’ and club kid-types converge at A Club Called Rhonda for nonstop dancing. And the city’s most stylish ne’er-do-wells dress up and keep the weekend alive for one more night at Mustache Mondays at DTLA’s La Cita. APRIL 2, 2013
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L.A. AFTER DARK
OGLE GO-GOS HERE
ON THE HUNT FOR CELEBS
MINGLE WITH A HAIRY CROWD
Certain parties are known for their gogo dancer man candy, either because there seem to be more dancers than patrons or because the guys are just so damn smokin’ hot. You’ll find sexy guys packing heat at Stripper Circus and Hooker Casino, both of which take place at Here Lounge in WeHo, and also at Guys Gone Wild, taking place every Thursday at The Abbey. If you prefer your man candy with a chiseled jaw and hairy chest, check out the über-fun (and packed) Meat Rack on second and fourth Saturdays at Eagle L.A. or the Tuesday night party Rimjob at MJ’s, both in Silver Lake.
Everyone loves a gay bar, including nongay celebs, a fact proven by many a pop princess and reality TV star around town. The Abbey has quite a reputation for playing host to everyone from Christina Aguilera to the Sex and the City gals. Over at popular Saturday party Rasputin, among the consistently atcapacity crowd you’re sure to find a VIP mixing her own drinks inside a booth. New party Evita has recently bestowed hosting duties upon New York gay royalty Amanda Lepore and Cazwell. Even East Side party Brutus at Faultline has seen its share of celeb spottings, with past patrons including Rufus Wainwright and Rosario Dawson.
Sure, the East Side is well-known for its celebration of body and facial hair. At Silver Lake establishments like Akbar, Faultline and Eagle L.A., you’re bound to find a bar full of bearded, furry-chested men swigging beer and booze, and yeah, occasionally you’ll overhear a ‘woof’ or other animal mating call. But thanks to Otter Pop, a party at Micky’s taking place the first Wednesday of every month, WeHo has a party celebrating the hirsute among us as well. If you’re more turned on by a scruffy face than a full-on beard, stop into GYM Bar, where you’ll likely find a pack of gays who happen to like football and happen to despise plucking their brows or manscaping.
INDULGE IN SUNDAY FUNDAY It’s not exactly a secret that L.A. gays love to drink and get wild on Sundays, preferably starting in the early afternoon and oftentimes ending long after the sun has gone to sleep. You’ll see this both in WeHo and on the East Side. In WeHo, it’s all about Robertson Boulevard, with The Abbey and Here Lounge drawing cute boys in their Sunday best, which usually includes flip-flops and tanks when the weather’s nice. Popular Tom Whitman party Size has been drawing the city’s clean-cut all-American types for nearly a decade. On the East Side, Sunday drinking options are all about Faultline’s beer bust, where the men are packed like sardines under the hot sun, and Eagle L.A.’s BBQ grill.
EAT WHILE YOU DRINK Plenty of L.A.-area gay bars offer up delicious eats with their cocktail menus, meaning you can kill two birds without leaving the same stone. The Abbey and St. Felix over in WeHo offer a plethora of great eats, and Hamburger Mary’s is perfect if you’re craving dinner, drinks and a show. Head east to enjoy the tavern-style ambience of Black Cat, which serves up market-fresh cuisine. Of course, if you’re just in the mood for cheap bar eats to accompany your margarita or oversized Corona, grab some nachos or queso from Fiesta Cantina.
LEATHER LOVE Head to Eagle L.A. for BLUF (Breeches & Leather Uniform Fanclub) the second Friday of every month and GEAR every third Friday to get your leather daddy fix. Sure, not everyone’s rocking the black and shiny at these parties, but dressing up is strongly encouraged. The Bullet Bar in North Hollywood welcomes a leather crowd in its neck of the woods, and down south in Long Beach, Pistons is a refuge for those who love to rock leather and fetish gear. 34
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Heavy Rotation MONDAY Blue Mondays An ‘80s-themed night out for the 18+ crowd. Boardner’s
Club Moscow A night of vinyl and live performances for the 18+ set. Boardner’s
Goddess L.A.’s biggest trans night with a midnight show. MJ’s
Cocked & Loaded A sleazy night of dancing, drinking and go-gos. Revolver
Monday’s A Drag Weekly screenings of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Eagle L.A.
Cockfight A hip party for scruffy hipster types. Cha Cha Lounge
Musical Mondays Current and oldschool musical theater video clips. Eleven
Cocktails with the Stars Q&As with your favorite porn gods. Micky’s
Mustache Mondays Great DJs, performances and people watching. No facial hair required. La Cita
Craft Night Feeling crafty? A different art project every week. Akbar
Piano Bar Join Jose Promis and guests for a night of ivory tickling. Akbar Showgirls An always raucous drag revue in WeHo. Micky’s Spank A chill night out with beer pong and darts. Fubar Tranny-Oke Karaoke with balls, hosted by Courtney Act. Revolver
TUESDAY Abbey University A night targeted to the younger college crowd. Abbey Beretta A cold-cocked night for the ladies. Revolver Boys Night Out Make it a hot night out with the Latin boys. Circus Disco Dreamgirls Revue Consistently presents some of the best drag performances in town. Rage Drunk on Stage A night of LGBT stand-up that costs just $5. Akbar Evita A hedonistic dance party perfect for people- and celebwatching. BLOK Lip Tickler Dance music, performances and an early hosted bar. Micky’s Manhole Tuesdays Top 40, pop and hip-hop tracks, with dirty dancers. Motherlode Recess Tigerheat presents this 18+ night with concert ticket giveaways. Eleven Rimjob L.A.’s filthiest night, complete with fetish shows and hot go-gos. MJ’s Soul Time DJ Victor Rodriguez bares his soul. First and third Tuesdays. Akbar
Delicious Best of hip-hop, Reggaeton and R&B, with Salsa and Merengue. Arena Hot Rod The sleaziest party in WeHo, 2-for-1 til midnight. Last Wednesdays. Micky’s Legendary Bingo Games start at 7 and 9 p.m. Hamburger Mary’s WeHo Next Music Wednesdays A weekly DJ competition. Eagle L.A. Otter Pop A night for the hairy boys of West Hollywood. Micky’s Stripper Circus Hot go-gos, cheap booze and carnival games! Here Lounge Sucker Punch An East Side happy hour with cheap drinks and quirky entertainment. Faultline
THURSDAY Absolut Underwurld Pants check, specials on Absolut and quarter pool. Faultline B Bar A weekly night for bears, cubs, otters and other furry critters. Eagle L.A. Big Fat Dick Trashy music and an infamous photo competition. Fubar Club Nur The Middle East and its fans find their way to Silver Lake. MJ’s Guys Gone Wild Hot go-go dancers and video giveaways. Abbey Objects in Motion Bears in Space beckons furry boys with vinyl tracks and cheap drinks. Akbar Pan Dulce Boys, booze, food and música. Two levels of entertainment. Micky’s
Tightwad Tuesdays Cheap men and cheap beer. Eagle L.A.
Secret Service A James Bondthemed party with some of L.A.'s hottest guys. Revolver
WEDNESDAY Acoustic Live! Catch today’s top young musical talent. Eleven Club Chile Latin night with $3 beers and margs all night. Rage
FIND THESE NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS ONLINE AT
FrontiersLA.com/NightlifeListings
Tigerheat Where the young boys go to dance the night away. Avalon Transfix A party where every girl has a secret. Club Cobra
FRIDAY A Club Called Rhonda A dance party for the gender-queer and club kid types. Monthly. Los Globos Big Bad Wolf Act like a pig around these sexy gents. First Fridays. Faultline Big Gun Fridays The video bar brings out the big guns on the weekends. Revolver BLUF The breeches, leather and uniform fan club. Second Fridays. Eagle L.A.
GO TO
FrontiersLA.com/BarListings TO FIND OUR LISTINGS OF THE
L.A. AREA’S 50+ GAY BARS
SATURDAY Anthem Saturdays Dance and indulge in the late-night happy hour. MJ’s
Cub Scout Bears and cubs earn their merit badges. First Fridays. Eagle L.A.
Bar Sinister A goth/fetish night for the 18+ crowd. Boardner’s
D.I.L.F. Tunes to attract L.A.’s hot older daddies. Second Fridays. Faultline
Bootie L.A. The best bootleg pop tracks. First and third Saturdays. Echoplex
Dirty Pop A raunchy, late night of dancing. Micky’s
Boys Night Tons of sexy go-gos, dancing til 4 a.m. Arena
Dreamgirls A drag show followed by all-night dancing. Hamburger Mary’s LB
Brutus Hot boys search for hidden treasure. Second Saturdays. Faultline
Evolution Fridays A megaplex dance club packed with hot WeHo guys. Metropolitan
Flashback WeHo's video bar specializes in '80s and ‘90s tracks. Revolver
Fresh Fridays World-class DJs come to WeHo for a breath of fresh air. Eleven
Flight House, electro and progressive music. Circus Disco
Fresh Meat Fridays Step inside for a raunchy show with porn gods. MJ’s
Full Frontal Disco A super-sexy, sleazy dance party. First Saturdays. Akbar
Function A dance party with no inhibitions. Fourth Fridays. Akbar
Furr Trade A night for the hairier among us. Third Saturdays. Faultline
Gear Leather, uniforms, rubber and fetish wear. Third Fridays. Eagle L.A.
Goddess Calpernia Addams hosts a night of drag and burlesque. Hamburger Mary’s WeHo
Game Boi A gay Asian video dance club. Rage
Hooker Casino A raunchy casino right in West Hollywood. Here Lounge
Grunt A military-themed night. Last Friday of the month. Eagle L.A. Gummy Bears A sexy Latino leather bear cub club. Fourth Fridays. Faultline Pumped Detox hosts a night of talented drag performances. Hamburger Mary’s WeHo
Saturday Beer Blast Cheap beer all day long. GYM Bar Saturday Night Slut Cheap drinks, cute dudes, no attitude. Fubar
SUNDAY Club Outrageous High-energy diva anthems and all-night drink specials. Rage Bears in Space A draft beerdrenched East Side lot party, held during summer months. Akbar Classic Beer Bust Drink super cheap draft beer in the sun. Faultline Decade Music from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. $5 Cuba Libres. Micky’s Deven Green The hilarious comedienne breaks out her electric ukulele. Akbar Drag Brunch Brunch with bottomless mimosas. Hamburger Mary’s WeHo Lumberjacked For bears, cubs and otter admirers. First Sundays. Eagle L.A. Maryoke A karaoke night with a cash prize. Hamburger Mary’s WeHo
John A night of debauchery for the distinguished gentleman. First Saturdays. Faultline
Selene Luna’s Dog & Pony Show The variety show where anything goes. First and third Sundays. Akbar
Meat Rack Find a hot piece of meat every second and fourth Saturday. Eagle L.A.
Size The WeHo version of Sunday school, with drinking games and cute boys. Here Lounge
Raunch Get raunchy with hot porn go-gos every third Friday. Faultline
Private Society Two dance floors and a midnight bartender performance. Eleven
Street Life Chris Muckley of KCRW and guests spin indie and retro tunes. Second and fourth Thursdays. Akbar
Rebelde Top 40 and Latin beats with a midnight performance. Fubar
Rasputin A packed WeHo party with guest hosts and multiple dance floors. Robertson
Thirsty Thursdays A free party with go-gos and a bartender stripdown. Here Lounge
Sinful Fridays The decadent drinks and hot men are downright sinful. Abbey
Ruffhaus Hot men, cheap booze, retro videos. Fourth Saturdays. Faultline
Sophomore Sundays Cheap drinks and dirty dancers. Revolver Sunday Beer Blast Cheap beer all day long. GYM Bar Swag Sundays A celebration of hip-hop and R&B. Hamburger Mary’s LB White Party Sundays Enter to win WP passes. Abbey APRIL 2, 2013
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PHOTO: RYAN FORBES
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If you venture into your local veteran’s hall for a round of blue-haired bingo and get a little too rambunctious (i.e. have fun), you’re sure to be shushed and then asked to leave if it continues. Case in point: When Legendary Bingo creator and producer Jeffery “BingoBoy” Bowman went to check out a session of standard bingo years ago with Go-Go’s guitarist Jane Wiedlin, they lasted about two games before they were escorted out. Their crime? Too much talking, too much laughter. Jeffery recalls, “The people were just so mean and like, ‘Shhhhhhh, be quiet!’ And the guy calling the balls was so serious. It was like, [in a monotone voice] ‘Beeeeeeeee 3.’” But bingo at Hamburger Mary’s in WeHo is a whole different animal, and inappropriate behavior is not only encouraged—it’s demanded. The music is loud. Drag queens hand out leatherstrapped spankings to anyone who calls out a false bingo. (Yes, people do it on purpose all the time.) When you win, you have to run around the room while the crowd throws wadded-up bingo cards at you and chants, “Pelt them! Pelt them! All the way down, and all the way back!” And celebrity guest ballcallers toss out sassy calls and responses such as “It’s our favorite number, O-69, dinner for two, sauce on the side!” If that doesn’t paint a clear enough picture of the debauchery that is Legendary 36
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Legendary Bingo Celebrates 15 Years By Michelle McCarthy Bingo, Jeffery lovingly refers to the fourtimes-a-week event as “The Monster.” “We do our best to control it, but it’s just this over-the-top, everybody screaming and yelling sort of thing. Whatever happens ... happens.” Legendary Bingo is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year (it’s been at Mary’s for nine) with a two-day celeb-athon April 9-10. Jeffery is working on getting the cast of a hot show to sit in as ballcallers, and sources tell us there’ll be appearances by Niecy Nash, Florence Henderson, Charo, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jennifer Love Hewitt. “I’m calling everyone I know—and I never do this,” Jeffery says. “I don’t ask for publicity or favors, but for the 15th anniversary, I’m going out of my comfort zone because I want to make a big splash.” A quick gander at the endless list of celebrity guest ballcallers who have graced Mary’s stage over the years shows that Jeffery has no problem pulling in the big guns—Molly Shannon, Leslie Ann Warren, Paris Hilton, Eric McCormack, Jeremy Sisto, Eliza Dushku, Kevin Smith, Mink Stole, Jeff Probst, Ana Gasteyer, Tippi Hedren, Chaz Bono and Linda Blair. And then there are the celebs
who stop by regularly with their friends and family members simply to play some bingo—Rachel McAdams, Lily Tomlin, Brittany Snow, Hayden Panettiere, Anna Kendrick, Mila Kunis, Zac Efron, Michael Cera, Jonah Hill and Kellan Lutz. “We get all these major celebrities who come in,” he says. “All of a sudden there’s Mila Kunis having a smoke out in front. What’s fun is, people just leave them alone.” But there’s one celebrity guest ballcaller who really stands out in Jeffery’s mind. “Anna Nicole Smith was—I can’t even explain it. She quacked like a duck. People were just mesmerized by anything that came out of her mouth. She looked amazing and was having such a good time. But as the night went on, it got weirder and weirder until she couldn’t actually speak.” Jeffery started Legendary Bingo in April 1998 at Stonewall Gourmet Coffee in West Hollywood. At the time, he was working at AIDS Project Los Angeles as an event coordinator and putting on fancy thousand-dollar-aperson events. But he wanted to create a fundraising event that was community-based and would allow anyone to
support their favorite cause without having to shell out 200 bucks for a ticket to a gala. The proceeds from every session of Legendary Bingo go to a different charity. In 15 years, it has raised more than 4 million dollars for local, national and international charities and organizations, including animal rescues, HIV/AIDS charities, cancer charities and many more. “This event has created a really cool atmosphere where younger people do something good for charity but still have a really good time. They’re not sitting at some boring dinner or awards show. My wish for the world is that more club events were for charity. It attracts so many different kinds of people, and they all sit in the same room together, which levels the playing field. It’s not gay bingo at all—it’s gay, straight, young, old, black, white. There’ll be a table of Beverly Hills housewives sitting next to a table of cute gay guys sitting next to a table of the red hat ladies who are all 90 years old. People come in wheelchairs, and people bring their kids. They’re all there and all are having a good time. Everyone is welcome.” For updated information on Legendary Bingo’s 15th anniversary celebration, go to bingoboyinc.com. Catch Bingo every Wednesday night at Hamburger Mary’s in West Hollywood, with shows at 7 and 9 p.m.
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e t i h W y t r a P the
White Party 2013 Goes to the Extreme By Mike Ciriaco
Goes to
E M E EXTR By Mike Ciriaco
Easter and White Party have little in common. With the exception of both holidays revolving around scruffy, half-naked men with chiseled abs famous for being prominently hung, the two celebrations are ideological opposites. This year's White Party Palm Springs falls on the weekend of March 29, overlapping with Easter. According to Jeffery Sanker, the “high priest of gay nightlife” and mastermind behind the White Party franchise, the occasion emphasizes less of the sacred and more limit-pushing. "This year, we are doing everything to the extreme in terms of décor, sound, lighting and staging," says Sanker. "We’re going over the top to really create a total sensory experience." This experience is fueled by the high-caliber
musical talent that graces White Party Palm Springs’ stages every year. Keeping with 2013's extreme theme, Sanker promises the weekend will flaunt the biggest international lineup of DJs ever assembled, including Ryan Kenney, DJ Pornstar, Danny Verde and Peter Rauhofer. "I’m always excited to hear all of them," beams the nightlife hierophant. "This year I’m really looking forward to Danny Verdi’s set. I’m so excited to hear his European sound." The big names don't stop with the musical talent. Real Housewife of Miami Adriana De Moura is slated to reign as Queen of White Party 2013. She will be accompanied by Amazing Race runner-up and Chippendales star Jaymes Vaughan, who will be serving
WHITE PARTY PALM SPRINGS EXTREME WEEKEND 2013 SCHEDULE Friday, March 29
Saturday, March 30
Sunday, April 1
Splash Pool Party The weekend heats up at the Renaissance Hotel for the weekend's first pool party, featuring music from DJ Ryan Kenney.
Splash Pool Party The largest pool party in the desert continues at the Renaissance. Presented by Flex Spa, and featuring music from DJ Pornstar and DJ Grind. VIP cabanas available.
Sunday Pool Party Sunday Funday at the Renaissance Hotel with DJs Andy Almighty and Casey Alva.
Bulge Underwear Party Sponsored by Andrew Christian, with music from Dave & Gerardo and Dani Toro.
White Party Extreme 2013 Main Event Don your whitest apparel and hit up this signature Saturday night event at the Palm Springs Convention Center, featuring performances by Sean O’Grady, Danny Verde and Peter Rauhofer. Climax After Hours Ride the momentum of White Party with sets by Paulo and Jackinsky.
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Sunday T Dance The largest outdoor dance party in the world features music from DJ Manny Lehman and DJ Wayne G. Closing Party: Supersized DJ Tony Moran and DJ Rosabel join forces to spin for the last shout of the weekend.
as the very first White Party Ambassador. "The White Party Ambassador not only represents the event itself in terms of interviews, visibility and awareness. He is also chosen because he is a role model for our community in general and a real ‘Renaissance Man,’” Sanker explains. "Jaymes embodies those qualities perfectly. He’s also a really great, friendly, approachable guy!" The White Party Palm Springs royal court is rounded out by the sassy puppet Madame, who assumes the mantle Dame of White Party 2013. For those who were zygotes during her heyday, Madame was the partner of notable puppeteer Wayland Flowers. To Sanker, the tart-tongued Madame fits White Party like a glove. "White Party is known for its divas, both onstage and on the dance floor. Madame is the ultimate diva, so she’s a perfect fit. She’s also very funny and never afraid to speak her mind. This is a great chance to introduce a whole new generation of young gay men to her sassiness as she embarks upon her comeback. She will make a great co-host on the White Carpet for arrivals. You won’t be able to miss her—she’ll be perched atop the White Carpet bar, offering her banter and commentary alongside Jaymes and Adriana." Other notable entertainers featured this year include Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic, Alexis Jordan, Carmen Electra and L.A.’s favorite gender-bending bitches—Willam, Detox and Vicky Vox. All these elements crescendo not just towards this year's extreme weekend, but ultimately to White Party Palm Springs’ silver anniversary next year. "We are making everything extra big and bold. We’re adding more entertainment elements that will make performances even more interactive with the crowd. And as a bit of foreshadowing of things to come for next year, our 25th anniversary, White Party Palm Springs will permanently move away from Easter weekend where it is this year to the last weekend of April." jeffreysanker.com
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Luxor
Despite its laid-back veneer, Los Angeles is inhabited by a mostly goal-oriented populace. From entertainment professionals to business owners to artists of every imaginable discipline, Angelenos toil to achieve their dreams. But they play as hard as they work. Fortunately, SoCal has its own neon-lit Sodom and Gomorrah just across the state line. Las Vegas was conceived as a gangster amusement park in the 1950s and continues to dispense hedonism to its copious tourists, especially the gays. We’ve compiled the following guide to highlight the best LGBT-friendly attractions and amenities Sin City has to offer.
4 Places to Lay Your Head 1. Luxor It’s hard to miss Luxor's onyx pyramid shooting the world's brightest beam of light from its apex. But even better than the Egyptian décor is the hotel's LGBT-friendly attitude. Luxor hosts the strip's original gay summer pool party, Temptation Sundays, and offers LGBT packages. luxor.com/lgbt 2. Blue Moon Resort Vegas' sole gay resort features a clothingoptional pool compound, a world-famous Jacuzzi grotto with a 10-foot waterfall and a 200-square-foot steam room. bluemoonlv.com 3. Wynn This luxury resort provides its LGBT guests with a Pride Concierge to make dinner reservations, arrange show tickets and suggest gay-friendly nightclubs. wynnpride.com Mandarin Oriental
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4. Mandarin Oriental While the Mandarin Oriental is a non-gaming resort, it does provide a two-story spa, several dining options and is stumbling distance from the Strip’s finest—the perfect hotel for gay visitors who are looking to avoid gambling but take advantage of every other sin. mandarin oriental.com
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Drink and Drag
Hoover Dam
6 Fun Vegas Attractions 1. Krave Movie Theater Guest House Films co-founders Rob Williams and Rodney Johnson have teamed up with Krave Massive's mastermind Kelly Murphy to open an LGBT movie theater in the world's largest gay nightclub. Guest House Theaters plan to screen queer-themed films ranging from contemporary features to classic retrospectives. kravemassive.com 2. Drink and Drag Another innovation from Kelly Murphy, Drink and Drag is the world's first drag queen-staffed bar and gaming venue. The site features 12 bowling lanes, billiards, 100-inch projector console gaming, interactive gaming chairs, air hockey and table-top board games. drinkanddrag.com
3. World Famous Gold & Silver Reality television enthusiasts will recognize this pawn shop as the setting of Pawn Stars. Check out the cache of hocked treasures and possibly catch a glimpse of Old Man Harrison, Big Hoss and Chumlee. gspawn.com 4. Stratosphere Tower Standing upright at a hulking 1,149 feet, this is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. The Stratosphere is a perfect place to snap pics for Instagram, and if you’re a thrill junkie, try Sky Jump Las Vegas, a controlled freefall off the sructure’s 108th story. stratospherehotel.com
5. Hoover Dam Ever wonder where Vegas gets the electricity to power all those glitzy neon lights? Take a tour of nearby Hoover Dam and learn everything you didn’t know about hydroelectricity. 6. Desert Adult Books This old-school adult shop offers a wide selection of titillating DVDs as well as a heavy dollop of raunch. Be sure to check out the vintage peep show rooms in back. mysexystore.com
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Piranha
4 Places to Party Vegas-Style 1. Krave Massive Aspiring to be the largest nightclub in the world, Krave Massive is slated to open spring 2013 and is guaranteed to amaze small-town visitors and big city dwellers alike. kravemassive.com
3. Share Las Vegas' newest gay nightclub is eager to share the love with parties like Pop Thursday and the Vegas incarnation of WeHo’s own Stripper Circus. sharenight club.com
2. Piranha Voted ‘Best Gay Nightclub Experience’ by Seven magazine, the all-new Piranha— located in the Vegas ‘Fruit Loop’—showcases a different party every night of the week. piranhavegas.com
4. Buffalo This low-key leather dive bar is great for East Siders who may be visiting. Think of it as the Faultline of the Vegas 'Fruit Loop.' tinyurl.com/buffalovegas
3 Places to Eat Like a Queen
Sage
1. Firefly This tapas bar is perfect for large groups who enjoy sharing multiple dishes. The atmosphere is chill, and while signature cocktails are available, we'd recommend the house specialty—three-day-marinated sangria. fireflylv.com 2. Mon Ami Gabi The Vegas Strip's iteration of a classic French bistro. Indulge in traditional Gallic cuisine, including onion soup au gratin and roast chicken & frites. Pair your meal with one of the restaurant’s 80 boutique French wine varietals. monamigabi.com
3. Sage Located inside the Aria Resort and Casino, Sage tends to attract a prominent international foodie crowd. The specialty here is splicing contemporary American comfort food with global influences. arialasvegas.com APRIL 2, 2013
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Britney Spears
4 Shows to See 1. Shania Twain Shania Twain made history last November when she stampeded more than 40 horses down the Vegas Strip, effectively publicizing the arrival of her new show, Still the One, at Caesars Palace. The kinetic production escorts audiences through the various phases of Shania's life and career, featuring hit songs like “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” and, of course, “Still the One.” Runs through June 2013. shaniainvegas.com 2. Zumanity Check out the more sensual side of Cirque de Soleil as the French Canadian performance troupe tackles adult themes in this erotic cabaret at the New York New York Hotel. cirquedusoleil.com
3. Britney As of February, it’s been confirmed that Britney Spears will start a residency at the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino. While all the details aren’t currently in place, gays everywhere have already commenced drooling. planethollywood resort.com 4. Divas Las Vegas Can't wait to get your Britney fix? Divas Las Vegas gives you the next best thing. America's Got Talent's Derrick Berry— also known as Derricka—serves up fresh Britney realness with a posse of fellow female celebrity impersonators. thequadlv.com/shows
Fremont Street Experience
3 Prime Vegas Photo Ops
1. Fremont Street Experience This pedestrian mall occupies the area once known as Glitter Gulch. The street now serves as home to the city’s New Year’s Eve festivities and offers up picture-worthy spots like the Viva Vision LED canopy, nightly light and sound shows and the Neonopolis entertainment complex. vegasexperience.com
2. Eiffel Tower Find a bit of Parisian romance in the heart of Vegas. Ascend to the apex of this iconic replica to nab pictures of the breathtaking view—and then enjoy the French cuisine offered at the restaurant located beneath it. eiffeltowerrestaurant.com 3. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas The quintessential Vegas landmark, this sign serves as a bridge between the heydays of ‘50s Vegas and the present. Gather your friends and strike your best Rat Pack poses.
PREVIEW: Las Vegas Pride Who would have thought a city of sin could have so much pride? 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the Las Vegas Pride Parade and Festival (Sept. 6-7), which celebrates and educates the community by promoting diversity and LGBT pride. While performances at the Clark County Amphitheater have not yet been announced, last year's entertainment included the talents of tart-tongued out comedian Leslie Jordan, DJ Pornstar, singer Matt Zarley and Cirque de Soleil's kinkiest offspring, Zumanity. The only confirmed element thus far is Vegas Pride Royalty title-holder Selena D'Angelo. The transgendered Hawai’i native galloped the globe as a celebrity stylist before evolving into a stage performer and relocating to Vegas. The fiery diva has merited several titles, including Miss Galaxy and Miss Gay Las Vegas. You won’t want to miss her. lasvegaspride.org
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Matinée Idol Matinée is asking fans to “feel the revolution” this Memorial Day—the party revolution, that is. The festival that has become world-famous for reimagining the elaborate party experience with blazing pyrotechnics and production by Cirque du Soleil and Matinée Ibiza will return to Las Vegas with the biggest dance festival of the summer. Taking place Friday, May 24, through Monday, May 27, The Matinée Las Vegas Festival will play host to over 8,000 clubbers dancing to 20 of the world’s leading DJs at eight high-energy party events. “In today’s over-technologized world, people want a real interactive experience,” explains Paul Nicholls, part of the production team behind Matinée North America. “We combine fantasy elements from concerts, theatrical stage shows, Hollywood films and even video games into one giant offline spectacle.” “A Matinée party is all about awe and extravagance,” continues Matinée North America’s Patrick Crough. “We partner with the hottest and most cutting-edge acts from around the world. For this year’s Matinée Las Vegas Festival, we've teamed up with the Las Vegas production Absinthe. We are integrating several of their amazing Cirque acts into our main events. It will be breathtaking.” Matinée launched over 15 years ago in Ibiza. Since then, it has evolved internationally with lavish events including CircuitFestival Barcelona. When party founders decided to expand the brand into North America, they asked Crough and Jake Resnicow to oversee and produce all parties in the United States and Canada. They made their Las Vegas debut in 2011 with the first Matinée Las Vegas Festival. It included jaw-dropping spectacles, including one that involved synchronized swimmers performing in a glass pool of water set on fire. The evening capped with a surprise performance by pop singer Natasha Bedingfield. They plan to pull out even more stops this Memorial Day. They have 44
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upgraded the main event to one of Vegas' hottest and most exclusive clubs, Vanity at the Hard Rock Hotel, where the dance floor is a massive 14,000 square feet with an outdoor terrace and fire pits. The weekend will feature eight events over four days and nights, including main events and afterhours parties at the city’s hottest clubs, as well as pool parties at the weekend’s host hotel, Rumor. Each party will feature original themes designed to take revelers on a weekend-long journey. The weekend’s DJ lineup includes some of the world’s most innovative icons in dance music, including Matinée Spain all-star DJs Taito Tikaro, Javier Medina and Flavio Zarza. Billboard number one remixers/producers Hector Fonseca, Alyson Calagna, DJ Theresa, Ed Baily, Brazil's Rodolfo Bravat and red-hot rising stars Nina Flowers, Justin Dawson, Ryan Kenney, Luis Perez, Derek Monteiro and Billy Lace will also headline. Las Vegas is the perfect city to launch the party revolution, says Resnicow. “In Vegas, partiers can do what they want, when they want. There are very few restrictions and absolutely no last calls. Now, that’s a revolution.” Weekend passes start at $99. The exclusive and luxurious Rumor Hotel is the weekend’s host hotel, where suites start at $129 per night. Rumor will also provide guests with complimentary shuttle service to all weekend events. For more information, visit matinee vegas.com.
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EVENTS
NIGHTLIFE
THEATER
EXHIBITS
go to FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment for more listings Wed. | March 20
WASTED ON A BOY Cavern Club Theater
Wed. | March 20
OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL El Capitan Theatre Watch Disney’s latest in digital 3-D at one of Hollywood’s most legendary theatres. You’ll see the journey of Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, who is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant land of Oz. Eye-popping costumes from the movie are now on display. Through April 30. elcapitantickets.com Wed. | March 20
BEAROMETER Micky’s What kind of bear are you? Come find out at Bearometer. From smooth to scruffy to full-blown hairy. Whether you are a bear or just a bear at heart, this night welcomes all. DJ eur-O-Steve, Stefano Rosso, Dominick Munafo and David Laflamme host. mickys.com Wed. | March 20
SOCAL SOCIAL CLUB MIXER The Crocker Club Join SCSC for another special evening of cocktails, conversations and new connections. This month the mixer will take place in DTLA. Complimentary light appetizers until 8 p.m., drink specials and raffle drawing. socalsocialclub.com
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Join actor and comedian Sam Pancake as retraces his journey through showbiz, from being forced as a child to do drag in a minstrel show in Appalachia to being labeled “Hollywood's Go-To-Gay Guy” by The Advocate. Stories will be told, mud will be flung, names will be named. Drink up and enjoy! brownpaper tickets.com Wed. | March 20
END OF THE RAINBOW Ahmanson Theatre End of the Rainbow offers unique insight into the inner conflict that inspired and consumed one of the most beloved figures in American popular culture, Judy Garland. It’s December 1968, and Judy is about to make her comeback ... again. In a London hotel room preparing for a series of concerts with both her new young fiancé and her adoring accompanist, Garland struggles to get “beyond the rainbow.” Through April 21. center theatregroup.org Thu. | March 21
SPRING AWAKENING La Mirada Theatre Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Spring Awakening is a musical adaptation of Frank Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play about the trials, tribulations and exhilaration of the teen years.
The work celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, poignancy and passion you will never forget. Through March 30. lamiradatheatre.com Thu. | March 21
SHE The Village at Ed Gould Plaza The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Advocate & Gochis Galleries present this exhibition of work by three female artists—S.A. Bachman, Mary Grace McKernan and Joan Scheibel. From painting to politics to photography, it’s an extraordinary range of expression. Free. Through April 21. lagaycenter.org Fri. | March 22
FUSION FESTIVAL Hollywood & DTLA Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Fusion is the only multicultural LGBT film festival of its kind. It will include world and L.A. premieres of short films and features and a gala party that highlights and celebrates the diversity of the LGBT community. Held March 22-23 at the Egyptian Theater and REDCAT. outfest.org/fusion Fri. | March 22
GRUNT Eagle L.A. Now one of The Eagle’s most popular monthly parties, it comes complete with a military theme. Get your head buzzed in the corner of the bar if you don’t think you look the part, but otherwise enjoy the bar’s fun, rough-and-tumble crowd. eaglela.com
Fri. | March 22
Sat. | March 23
STRIKE A POSE
HITCHCOCK MARATHON
Irvine Barclay Theatre
Birch North Park Theatre MenAlive, the Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus, will unravel the music of the Material Girl in a delightfully madcap salute to Madonna. The renowned choral group will take the stage for three performances of Strike a Pose, a lovingly over-the-top show guaranteed to dazzle the Queen of Pop herself. ocgmc.org Through April 14
TRIBES Mark Taper Forum At the center of Tribes is Billy, the youngest son of a raucous family of intellectuals obsessed with self-expression. As his parents and siblings verbally spar and compete for attention, Billy, who is deaf, catches what he can by lipreading. When Billy meets Sylvia, a young woman who is an expert at sign language and is losing her hearing, his life is transformed. center theatregroup.org Sat. | March 23
GENESIS AWARDS The Beverly Hilton This gala supports the lifesaving work of The Humane Society. Hosted for the second year in a row by Dancing with the Stars’ Carrie Ann Inaba, the gala celebrates the role that news and entertainment media play in advocating for animals and recognizes the achievements of other high profile honorees. humanesociety.org/genesis
FilmOut San Diego, San Diego’s only LGBT film festival, will continue its monthly screening series with a four-film marathon of Hitchcock favorites. Proceeds will benefit FilmOut’s 15th LGBT film festival. An all-access pass is $20. filmoutsandiego.com Sat. | March 23
Meat Rack: Off the Hook Circus Disco Off the Hook returns just for L.A. Leather Pride Weekend featuring Meat Rack favorite DJ Peter Giokaris and the debut of DJ Aron. Expect hot studs, leather men, muscle daddies and plenty of meaty, masculine madness on the dance floor. Presale tickets at showclix.com. Sat. | March 23
MOSTLY BAROQUE Alex Theatre, Glendale The L.A. Chamber Orchestra adds a dash of Stravinsky to a decidedly Baroque program conducted by Music Director Jeffrey Kahane, who also takes a turn on the harpsichord to perform selections from Handel’s Water Music as well as Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major. laco.org
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Through March 24
Wed. | March 27
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
STRIPPER CIRCUS
Pantages Theatre
Sun. | March 24
SANDPIPERS’ CHARITY FASHION SHOW Beverly Wilshire Hotel
STONEY AWARDS Universal Sheraton Stonewall Democratic Club, the oldest Stonewall political club in the nation, will acknowledge Abbe Land, Executive Director of the Trevor Project and Mayor Pro Tempore of the City of West Hollywood, with a 2013 Stoney Award. Playing MC for the event will be Ray Ford, who played Luther on Don’t Trust the B in Apt 23. stonewall-dems.org
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 Thu. | March 28
PIECES (OF ASS) Fonda Theatre
A special day of fashion, shopping and fun, this 21st annual fashion show will raise money for philanthropic programs benefiting individuals and families in need in the South Bay communities. Runway seating is $150. sandpipers.org Sun. | March 24
30 YEARS OF CELEBRATION Celebration Theatre 30 Years of Celebration, a benefit for Celebration Theatre, will honor four-time Emmy nominee Sharon Lawrence with its second annual Vibrant Voice Award as an ally to L.A.’s LGBT arts community. Scheduled to perform are Jane Lynch, Sean Hayes, Wendie Malick, Jane Leeves, Valerie Bertinelli, Lainie Kazan, Drew Droege, Sam Pancake, Alec Mapa, the cast of The Color Purple and more! celebration theatre.com Sun. | March 24
MARCHES IN MARCH First Congregational Church of Los Angeles The Freedom Band Foundation of L.A. presents a free concert. Under the baton of new Artistic Director Justin Raines, The Gay Freedom Band of L.A. presents a retrospective of how one of the world’s great musical traditions has been adapted, adopted and transformed by American society. gayfreedomband.org
FRESH Eleven Nightclub
Here Lounge Sun. | March 24
Catch Me If You Can captures the astonishing true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a worldclass con artist who passed himself off as a doctor, lawyer and jet pilot all before the age of 21. It’s a cat-and-mouse chase with a swinging ‘60s score. hollywoodpantages.com
Fri. | March 29
Through June 30
STANLEY KUBRICK LACMA Stanley Kubrick was one of film’s all-time legendary directors, and his efforts reconceived the genres in which he worked. The exhibit spans 50 years, beginning with his early photographs for Look magazine and continuing with his groundbreaking directorial achievements. His films are represented through a selection of annotated scripts, production photography, set models, costumes and props. lacma.org Tue. | March 26
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Pantages Theatre This is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self, but time is running out. Through April 7. hollywoodpantages.com Tue. | March 26
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
PIECES (of ass) returns to L.A. for a special onenight-only engagement to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Off-Broadway phenomenon. The piece explores what it is that defines an attractive woman—from the perks and privileges to the problems and pressures. piecesla.com
DIVORCE PARTY, THE MUSICAL
Sun. | March 31
COMEDY FUNDRAISER
SIZE Here Lounge
Nerdist Show Room Matt Dwyer and nonprofit organization Jail Guitar Doors have partnered with Nerdist for a night of comedy featuring Horatio Sanz, Rob Delaney, Matt Braunger and more. The organization provides musical instruments and opportunities to help rehabilitate prisoners. Help fund in-prison musical programs and instruments. jailguitardoors.com
THE BATHHOUSE SHOW The Comedy Store Queen of Queens Shawn Pelofsky is back with her monthly show featuring some of the best gay and gayfriendly comedic talent in L.A. Enjoy a "full facial" of stand-up comedy and cabaret with Chip Pope, Danielle Stewart and more, plus a special surprise guest comedian. Showtime 8 p.m. thebathhouseshow.com Sat. | March 30
Thu. | March 28
The Royalty Group presents Desert Tea at the Pool 2013 with DJs Tracy Young and Dawna Montell, sponsored by Interior Illusions and Big Muscle. Get a room at the Saguaro for the weekend and make it a mini-vacation. Presale tickets at showclix.com.
Fri. | March 29
El Portal Theatre Divorce Party, the Musical promises a night of laughter and solidarity for all. The story centers on Linda, who is still reeling from the collapse of her marriage. All she wants to do is have another bowl of Chubby Hubby ice cream, but her friends decide to help her move on to a new beginning by throwing her the mother of all divorce parties. elportaltheatre.com
DESERT TEA AT THE POOL The Saguaro Palm Springs
It’s one of the most popular nights in West Hollwood, with some of the city’s hottest man candy as well. The party features world-class DJs, dancers and pop artist performers, which makes for one hell of an entertaining night. eleven.la
Sat. | March 30 Through April 7
Sat. | March 30
MASH APPEAL
CAMELIA LA TEJANA
Skinny’s Lounge, NoHo
Terrace Theater, Long Beach
Starting this night and every Thursday night thereafter, DJ Paul V. will man the decks at Skinny's Lounge and offer up every musical genre from the ‘60s to the 2Ks, mainly in remix and mashup form. $6 drink specials all night. No cover. bit.ly/VMtuBq
Outlaws. Love. Deceit. Camelia la Tejana: Only the Truth is based on a popular Mexican ballad, “Contrabando y Traicion.” This docu-opera, lifted from the headlines, follows Camelia and her lover as they smuggle drugs across the border to L.A. The score fuses classical and Mexican influences. longbeachopera.org
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. | April 1
MUSTACHE MONDAYS La Cita Keep your weekend going here at the home of resident DJs Total Freedom and Josh Peace. Dress up, drink and dance the night away. $4 Absolut cocktails until midnight. $5 cover. Through April 14
THE NETHER Kirk Douglas Theatre A detective investigates a highly interactive site in which taboo acts of secret desires are blurring the boundaries of right and wrong, and of virtual and real. She finds herself in a battle of wills with a charismatic suspect and wrestles with the question, is it a crime if the blood is just bits of computer code? centertheatregroup.org
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» JOHN | FAULTLINE |
Photos by Rolling Blackouts
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WHITE PARTY SUNDAYS | THE ABBEY | Photos by Rolling Blackouts
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» EVOLUTION FRIDAYS | METROPOLITAN NIGHTCLUB Photos by Josh Rice
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FUNCTION | AKBAR | Photos by Rolling Blackouts
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VIGNETTE SUNDAYS | VIGNETTE
Photos by Brenden-John Photography
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STRIPPER CIRCUS | HERE LOUNGE | Photos by Brenden-John Photography
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Go to Facebook.com/FrontiersMagazine on Friday, March 22, for a chance to win Sushi Dan gift certificates!
SUSHI DAN:
SERVING FISHY REALNESS TEXT & PHOTOS BY BRIAN PADGETT
Nestled next to the Sundance Five Cinemas and Crunch Gym nently featured on the Rockin’ Sushi menu, what could be a stanat the 8000 Sunset shopping center, Sushi Dan—the industrial chicdard spicy tuna roll is elevated thanks to the secret, extra spicy meets-Tokyo trendy eatery—has served as both a seafood sancsauce and creamy avocado topping. The chefs’ skillful precision tuary and local watering hole for WeHo denizens for nearly a is evident in their chilled spicy mackerel. Beautifully presented in decade. With the enticing combination of a colorful lettuce cup filled with shaved a 2 a.m. closing time and an extensive cockice, the freshness of the protein is hightail list, Sushi Dan’s Sunset Strip staying lighted both visually and flavorfully. Sushi Dan power is evident. Sushi Dan proudly offers its patrons live The amiable company of sushi chefs uni. Dramatically arranged in its spiny 8000 W. Sunset Blvd., WeHo Peter Yang and Kay Baek is complemented shell and topped with roe, the creamy (323) 848-8583 by their culinary creations. We highly recrichness of the urchin is unparalleled. sushidanla.com ommend sitting at the sushi bar—not only Repeat visits are warranted to sample this to discuss customized dining options but timeless delicacy until the close of urchin also to take advantage of complimentary season. Neither the menu’s fusion dishes— edibles reserved exclusively for bar patrons. Moreover, your barstool inspired by the colorful amalgam of Southern California ingredimakes for the best seat in the house when Chef Yang prepares ents—nor its traditional fare should be missed. The Nabeyaki udon your Hidden Dragon roll flambé-style. The powerful combination noodle soup, made thick with egg, kamaboko and mushrooms, for of crunchy shrimp tempura and thinly sliced salmon, drizzled example, continues to be a popular menu mainstay. lightly with eel sauce, surely packs a punch. Any way you slice it, Sushi Dan has something to rock everyone’s The spiciest dish at Sushi Dan, however, is the 911 Roll. Promipalate.
Noodles The noodle is one of cuisine’s most deliciously diverse ingredients. Equally astounding is the number of restaurants dishing it up throughout the Southland.
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Orochon Ramen
Chabuya Tokyo Noodle Bar
Otomisan Restaurant
Hakata Ramen Shin-Sen-Gumi
Famous for its stratified spiciness levels, this L.A. hotspot has a dedicated cult following. 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St, #303, Little Tokyo. (213) 617-1766
Soba and udon and ramen, oh my! Don’t let the variety overwhelm you—everything is fantastic. This area isn’t dubbed “Little Osaka” for nothing. 2002 Sawtelle Blvd., West L.A. (310) 473-9834
Some of the most flavorful Japanese food can be found at this unassuming East Side hole in the wall, and the noodle bowl portion size is generous! 2506 E. 1st St., Boyle Heights. (323) 526-1150
We don’t like braving city traffic any more than the next person, but the authenticity of this SGV eatery is truly an exception. Add extra noodles for a mere 99 cents for the ride back home. 8450 E. Valley Blvd., #103, Rosemead. (626) 572-8646
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ENTERTAINMENT
FILM
REVIEWS COME OUT AND PLAY Starring Eben Moss-Bacharach, Vinessa Shaw, Daniel Giménez Cacho Opens March 22
*
A senseless, vapid and thoroughly inferior remake of a 1976 Spanish cult horror film considered one of the finest examples of the "killer kid" genre (Who Can Kill A Child?), this film begins as an American couple, Francis (Moss-Bacharach) and the very much pregnant Beth (Shaw), are on vacation in Mexico. Determined to check out a tiny, quaint island, they rent a tiny boat and, once arrived, find what appears to be a recently deserted town—aside from some small, peculiar-acting children. Soon enough, they discover that the island’s children have gone batshit and slaughtered the adults. So much for a peaceful vacation! Masked, one-named director Makinov, who posits himself as a deadpan serious anarchistic Banksy, essentially recreates the visual style of the original—and lots of lovely Mexican abandoned island scenery—but that’s about it. We don’t care one whit about the characters, who behave in Horror Movie Cliché 101 manner, nor is the whole moral quandary of murdering a child an issue for even a second. Perhaps that explains the name change? These kids are transparently evil, possessed little monsters, so we’re basically waiting around for their inevitable slaughter. What a tedious, useless miscarriage. —Lawrence Ferber
DORFMAN IN LOVE
HUNKY DORY
K-11
Sara Rue, Haaz Sleiman, Elliott Gould Opens March 22
Minnie Driver, Aneurin Barnard, Tom Rhys Harries Opens March 22
Goran Visnjic, Kate del Castillo, D.B. Sweeney Opens March 15
****
A modest romantic comedy—and a valentine to Downtown L.A.—Dorfman in Love opens with scenes of traffic—a fitting metaphor for twenty-something San Fernando Valley resident Deb Dorfman (Rue), who is stuck in her life. Deb is a doormat who cares more for others than for herself. She lives with her widowed father (Gould, acerbically funny), who is unappreciative and curmudgeonly. She covers for her deadbeat brother Daniel (Jonathan Chase), and secretly pines for Jay (Johann Urb), a hunky reporter who relies on Deb for pep talks. When Deb agrees to spend a week cat-sitting and unpacking Jay’s Downtown L.A. loft, she gives his place—and her life—a makeover. But it is Deb’s budding friendship with the too-good-to-be-true Cookie (Haaz Sleiman), an artist and neighbor, that makes Dorfman in Love so appealing. The film’s lopsided romantic triangle generates little dramatic tension, and a subplot about Daniel cheating on his wife is lame, but overlook these flaws. Dorfman in Love succeeds because Rue is terrific and engaging as the wisecracking, young romantic who becomes empowered navigating the Metro, and Sleiman is simply irresistible. This romcom may be cliché, but it features just enough wit, style and charm to satisfy cynics. —Gary M. Kramer
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***
This spirited musical drama—based on a true story— chronicles Vivienne (Driver), an unconventional teacher at a Welsh high school struggling to mount a rock opera version of The Tempest. Set in the summer of 1976, the storylines feature characters ranging from Davey (Barnard), a pupil with a great voice and greater romantic problems, to Kenny (Darren Evans), a skinhead who gets Vivienne into trouble, and Evan (Harries) an unashamed queer teen. Hunky Dory overemphasizes the sexual and social despair of these working-class kids, but the film glosses over the attitudes towards an interracial relationship, and Evan’s coming out seems to be the last and only word on sexual identity. Moreover, even though Vivienne seems to be the only adult who has the kids’ interests in mind, she behaves pretty inappropriately—giving Kenny cigarettes and kissing Davey and inviting him to sleep over. Despite these rough patches, Hunky Dory is pretty fabulous during its musical numbers, which showcase period songs by David Bowie among others. It is also touching when the characters express themselves and talk about being outsiders and different. While Driver is inspiring, the students all have limited character arcs. Nevertheless, each one seems authentic. —Gary M. Kramer
**
The prison drama K-11 gets its name from the LGBT unit of the Los Angeles county jail—“a sanctuary for broken toys” says one character. This is where Raymond Saxx, Jr. (Visnjic) finds himself incarcerated, having been accused of homicide but too drugged up to recall what happened. This lurid film, directed by Jules Stewart (mother of Kristen), chronicles how Raymond, who is straight, uses his wits to adapt to his new, unfortunate circumstances. However, Raymond’s plotlines, which involve trying to clear his name and saving Butterfly (Portia Doubleday)—a young trans girl he befriends—from the clutches of a child molester (Tommy “Tiny” Lister) are not particularly compelling. Instead, the wild, over-the-top performances by Mousey (del Castillo), a transgender queen bee, and officer Johnson (Sweeney), a corrupt, drug-taking/dealing guard, steal the film— in part because these actors seem to have been instructed to play everything bigger! It works in distracting viewers from the various prison movie clichés and contrivances. Stewart never makes her film’s unusual setting interesting—even when the prisoners get to flaunt their talents at a fashion show. As K-11 builds to a climax in which the oppressed get a chance to mete out justice, there is surprisingly little satisfaction. —Gary M. Kramer
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ENTERTAINMENT
MUSIC
REVIEWS
David Bowie The Next Day (Columbia)
On his latest release, The Next Day, iconic rock star David Bowie reclaims past glories and reminds us why he’s in the rock canon of great artists. I mean, this is Bowie we’re talking about, and some iteration of his personae (the Thin White Duke, Ziggy Stardust, et al.) has influenced the music we listen to today. Yet 33 years since his last great record, Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps), he has something to prove. While it’s not a perfect record, The Next Day is certainly inspired—by the specter of death, the lure of nostalgia and the ease of a chameleonic artist relaxing for the first time in years. In the first song and title track, wherein he updates the jagged swing of “Fashion,” Bowie essays a theme that haunts the record: “Here I am, not quite dying,” he wails, and from there on out he looks back at past triumphs (the Berlin-obsessed “Where Are We Now”) and forward to the unknown future that both welcomes and wails against his own impending death (“You Feel So Lonely You Could Die”). But until he leaves us for his own eternal “Space Oddity,” it’s good to know we can still expect—and receive—surprising things from our greatest musical shape-shifter. —Dan Loughry
Gold Fields
Hurts
Kate Nash
Black Sun (Astralwerks)
Exile (RCA Records)
Girl Talk (Have 10p Records/Fontana)
Once again, Australia is on fire when it comes to the marriage of indie rock and electronics, and Gold Fields sure offers a bustling mixture of flavorful ingredients. From the Klaxons-esque opening track “Meet My Friends” through ending track “Anxiety,” rhythms surge with modern yet tribal beats. While much of the band’s output is geared for progressive dance floors, a nice chunk of this stellar debut offers some ephemeral, yacht rock gems (so perfectly executed on the eerie and hypnotic “Happy Boy”). Meanwhile, the sinister yet beautiful chill wave heard via "Ice" wouldn’t sound out of place on The Cure’s Disintegration album. Lead single “Dark Again (Lights Out)” remains a glistening, infectious concoction of shimmering harmonies and chiming guitars that beg for repeated spins. Elsewhere, songs like “Treehouse” and “You’re Still Gone” soar on layers of synthesizers and heartbeat thumps. Singer Mark Fuller keeps everything warm with his falsetto (and at times quirky lyrics), and the band sounds tight, focused and wholly organic. This melodic and meticulously produced effort might remind you of Cut Copy and Friendly Firesmeets-Spandau Ballet or ABC, offering a perfect marriage of contemporary yet retro-inspired disco-rock charms. While this union is nothing new lately, this one is indeed golden.
Hurts, the UK’s most current purveyors of perfect pop, have released a sophomore LP, Exile, after three or so years of moodily pomading their hair. Taking their cues from equal parts Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode, Exile features 14 songs destined for the iPods of every gothy Anglophile that’s ever had his heart broken. It’s a very competent album, but it’s a bit relentless. Hurts’ debut LP featured several huge singles, bombastic synthpop dripping with mascaraladen tears. It’s not different here; it’s just all a bit glossier. Exile suffers from being overlong and lacking that huge single, but there are moments to be enjoyed throughout. “Miracle” is impossibly catchy; “The Road” sounds exactly like Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” but in a good way. “Heaven” is a stomper, but is relegated to bonus-track status. “Sandman” adds a healthy bit of distortion into the mix, for which Hurts should be commended. Trying to dirty things up while still wearing those pristine matching suits—it’s admirable. Unfortunately, the production is so glossy it smooths over the edges that actually make Hurts interesting. This is a good album, and it had the potential to be great, but everyone can’t strive for greatness, right?
Kate Nash is a mess. She’s a mess. I can’t stress this enough. Her first album, Made of Bricks, is one of the most wonderful, outsidethe-box albums in my collection. It’s always funny, fresh sounding, thoughtful. There was a passion behind the (then unknown) artist who made this music. Nash’s second LP, My Best Friend Is You, combined the lighthearted pop ingenuity of her debut with a harder edge (often attributed to her boyfriend Ryan Jarman of The Cribs) to a much less successful effect. It is with bated breath that fans awaited Nash’s third LP, Girl Talk, and unfortunately I’m here to tell you ... she went the wrong way. Raw and edgy works if you’re PJ Harvey or Courtney Love, but Nash’s appeal was that she was the quirky everywoman. Listening to her embarrassingly confessional lyrics is akin to watching your quirky teen sister go on a slutty drug bender—it’s not cute. The amateurish lo-fi production only contributes to the unprofessional din. A few songs might’ve held their own with a different producer, a different band and maybe a different boyfriend, but we’ll never know. Girl Talk should’ve been scrapped at its inception. What a waste of Kate Nash’s potential. Avoid.
—Paul V.
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—Dominik Rothbard
—Dominik Rothbard
Reverend & The Makers @Reverend_Makers (Cooking Vinyl) No, that’s not a typo on the album name—this UK quartet really did name its third disc after its Twitter handle. Now, don’t be hating, because they don’t want your minds—they want your butts. Dancing, that is. After a heavyon-the-politics last disc, R&TM return with a colorful palette of hedonistic themes, pulsing electronics and chugging guitars, perfectly executed on lead single “Bassline” (the party anthem). Its answer song, “Out of the Shadows,” immediately follows that up, which is the post-party comedown tale. Speaking of politics, I’m guessing its rhythmic nod to Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “Two Tribes” is no accident. Band singer/songwriter John McLure writes about the small moments in life, such as “Warts ‘n All,” which is a bubbly, funky ditty where he opines about girls posting their terrible pictures on Facebook. The rest of the disc thrusts proudly with 21st century Britpop that melds indie melodies with hyper-caffeinated electronics. Even “Depth Change” dabbles in some dubstep, reggae wobble. Clearly this isn’t rocket science; it’s meant to be a party record about cheap drugs, gritty realism, ebullient escapism and sex. And on that level, it succeeds with shades of Happy Mondays, Elvis Costello or classic Primal Scream. —Paul V.
Spencer Day The Mystery of You (Concord Records)
For his fourth release, The Mystery of You, openly gay crooner Spencer Day delves deeper into both his songcraft and, from the evidence of these 13 songs, his soul as well. Written in the wake of a rough break-up, Day leads us through a journey into and out of love that—despite the “adult contemporary” surface—is as sharp, tough and heart-wrenching as, to pick three similarly themed examples, Joni Mitchell’s Blue, Richard and Linda Thompson’s Shoot Out the Lights, and X’s Wild Gift. These are all post-relationship and/or post-divorce works noted for their warts-and-all passion and exacting songwriting. The Mystery of You veers wildly between the sweet, trepidatious tumble into first love (the title track, which might be the best song Chris Isaak never wrote) and the melancholy fallout of betrayal (“I Don’t Want to Know”). Though Day is known as a crooner in the Sintara/Bublé mold, the music here casts a wider net, taking in ‘60s pop (“Something Wicked”), Roy Orbison melodrama (“The Answer”) and Dusty Springfield soul (“Soul on Fire”). And “Nevermind” may be the greatest tune ever written about a long-neglected, overripe rock and roll subject—the painful process of attempting to become friends with your ex. It’s a stark, heartbreaking coda to a near-perfect record. —Dan Loughry
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THEATER REVIEWS TRIBES MARK TAPER FORUM | 135 N. Grand Ave., DTLA Through April 14 | centertheatregroup.org It’s not surprising that some of the most powerful moments in a play about being deaf are silences. But those magical moments in director David Cromer’s shimmering production of Nina Raine’s Tribes still take our breath away, as a fantastic cast (all transplants from Cromer’s 2012 Barrow Street Theatre production in New York) wrestle with arguments about communication, respect, listening and loving. It’s a courageously ambitious play and a profoundly provocative production. Like so many great plays, Tribes is about a family. While we never learn their surname, we certainly learn the quirks and character of this precocious brood, with the sententious, academic father, Christopher (Jeff Still), offering an opinion on everything, while his wife Beth (Lee Roy
Rogers) struggles for respect for her nascent novel-writing. The couple’s three grown children are all living at home, with Daniel (Will Brill) a bundle of neuroses as he works on a thesis project proving language is pointless, and sister Ruth (Gayle Rankin) trying to launch a performance art career singing opera in local pubs. The noisy verbosity of their openingscene arguing leaves out deaf younger brother Billy (Russell Harvard), as he is unable to catch enough to lip-read and nobody pauses to fill him in. When Billy, who was born deaf, falls for Sylvia (Susan Pourfar), a young woman rapidly going deaf, his immersion in deaf culture—including learning to sign for the first time—causes a rupture in the dysfunction of the bohemian household. When Billy finally stands up
PHOTO: CRAIG SCHWARTZ
for himself, firing off a fusillade of pentup anger in ASL while Ruth translates, we feel as if we are intruding on a very private family moment. Raine pours a lot into this dramatic cocktail, offering almost too many different ways in which we hear but don’t listen, speak but don’t communicate. ASL sequences are translated via Jeff Sugg’s projected surtitles, forcing the audience to focus our eyes like a lipreader desperate not to miss a beat. It’s an effective device. Under Cromer’s fine direction, the terrific cast feels like a true family— loving, judging, hurting, controlling and ignoring each other as families do. Harvard is touching early on, and formidable
in his ASL rage. Pourfar’s Sylvia holds her own against the high winds of Still’s Christopher, and Brill is riveting as the tortured, underachieving Will who can’t live without his brother. His final moment with Harvard transcends any parochial specifics of deafness and speaks for all wounded souls. Scott Pask reworks his in-the-round, Barrow Street set design for the Taper, resulting in a beautiful, detailed set that, ironically, creates some hearing challenges. Keith Parham’s dramatic lighting and Daniel Kluger’s jarringly effective sound add rich layers to Cromer’s carefully crafted production. Kudos to CTG for bringing it west. —Christopher Cappiello
WOLVES CELEBRATION THEATRE | 7051B Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. Through May 5 | celebrationtheatre.com The Celebration Theatre has been on a hot streak for a couple of years, and I had never seen a Steve Yockey play but had heard good reports. Add the talents and track record of director Michael Matthews to the mix, and I was primed to enjoy the world-premiere production of Wolves. Imagine my disappointment when, a scant 65 minutes after it began, Yockey’s contemporary drama ended in a haze of shouting, blood and overturned furniture without ever engaging my interest in the characters and their situation. The play centers on Ben (Nathan Mohebbi) and Jack (Matt Magnusson), two young gay men who recently broke up but continue to share a small apartment in an unnamed big city. It is clear that Ben still carries a torch, and his neurotic behavior and strange obsession with the “wolves” out in the “forest” of a city become worse when Jack talks about going out to a bar. When Jack returns later that night with a guy—who
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he playfully calls “Wolf” (Andrew Crabtree)—things get ugly. It’s not clear if Yockey intends the play to be a fable, a parable, or a Twilight Zone episode written for Logo. The tone is further confused by the presence of a creepily perky but removed narrator (Katherine Skelton), who has undefined power over the proceedings and a special relationship with Ben. Skelton is skilled and sure, but the character is written with a snarky archness that is more Kathy Griffin than Rod Serling. We never have any idea why she needs to tell us this story. Mohebbi and Magnusson give strong performances, and have clearly worked on the relationship. Under Matthew’s skilled direction, they do wonders to own the seemingly endless discussion at the top of the play about whether Jack should go to a bar. As short as Wolves is, it is oddly overwritten, with elements like Ben’s paranoid, stream of
PHOTO: MATTHEW BRIAN DENMAN
consciousness monologues feeling like clunky devices. Crabtree’s Wolf has some fine, quiet moments that the play could use more of before it dissolves in a stream of angry shouting. As always, the Celebration has gathered top-notch talent to put on the show. Kaitlyn Pietras’ set is appropriately spare given what has to happen to it, and Matthews uses Tim Swiss’ creepy lights
and Cricket S. Myers’ startling sound to enhance key moments. Since it’s listed in the program, it’s not giving away anything to praise Matthew Brian Denman’s work as “blood FX supervisor,” and Michael O’Hara’s costume design had to include a plan to get all that blood out after every show. If only Yockey’s slim tale didn’t feel so anemic. —Christopher Cappiello
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DRIVE By Steve Siler
Good Bye, Bud Vase Hello, Good Times
Lamborghini Veneno
2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Base Price Range (incl. dest/del): $25,790 — $28,690 EPA Fuel Econ (city/hwy): 21/27 (2.5); 21/29 (turbo); 28/41 (diesel)
Beauty and the Beast I don’t care how old you are—I hope you have some poster space on your bedroom walls, because Lamborghini and Ferrari are still producing the fastest sculptures on earth. Earlier this month at the Geneva Auto Show, both of these Italian archrivals debuted their fastest, most extreme and most expensive street cars ever. The beastly, 740-hp Lamborghini Veneno features retina-searing styling and a stabilizing dorsal fin aft of the cabin and will cost a whopping $4 million. Only a dozen will be built. The decidedly more beautiful Ferrari La Ferrari makes a stratospheric 951-hp and is a—gasp!—hybrid. Some 499 will be sold for a comparatively cheap $1 million-plus. Either one would be welcome in my garage—or at least on my wall. Ferrari La Ferrari
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Let’s get this out of the way: the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible isn’t the butchest beast on the road. It can’t stare down a Humvee nor arm-wrestle a Mustang GT. Hell, it couldn’t even spook a Miata on a moonless night. It is, however, a fun, functional and highly enjoyable convertible that’s hard to dislike. One that more than makes a case for itself on beautiful sunny days such that we Southern Californians are so lucky to enjoy nearly 300 times per year. Like its hardtop counterpart, the Beetle ragtop recently got a complete, wheels-up makeover, adding creases to the fenders, updated head- and taillamp designs and a flatter windshield, all of which add some testosterone to the design—not much, but some. The soft-top design exactly mimics the coupe’s arching roofline and disappears in just 9.5 seconds, which is warp speed for such a big top. (Yes, I just said “big top” in a Beetle review.) Even better, the customization opportunities are tremendous, with my favorite available feature being the ‘50s-inspired baby-moon wheels. No More Bud Vase The interior makeover is even more striking, replacing the kitschy bud vase and the oceans of cheap-looking plastic with a sophisticated vertical dashboard with dual glove boxes, the upper featuring a flip-up door, an homage to Beetles built decades ago. There is adequate space for four adults, all of which can enjoy their favorite tunes on the excellent Fender stereo, should that option box have been checked. Fun to Drive—Seriously On the road, the ‘13 Beetle Convertible is the most confident Beetle ragtop ever built. I flogged the heck out of a 200-hp turbo model in the hills of Malibu, with a smile on my face the whole time. I’m not sure I got anywhere near the ‘21 mpg city/29 hwy’ fuel economy VW promises, but I didn’t care. The Beetle is also available with a 170-hp fivecylinder engine as well (21/27 mpg), while folks with fuel economy on the brain can choose VW’s stellar diesel four-cylinder as an alternative, rated at 28/41 mpg. The 2.5 comes standard with an automatic transmission, while the others offer a choice of manual or automatic transmissions.
As far as four-seat convertibles go, few come as cheap as the Beetle. Only the tiny Fiat 500C and Mini Cooper Convertible cost less, neither of which are as comfortable (nor much more masculine, for that matter). Including destination charges, the base price range starts under $26K for the 2.5 up to near $29K for the miserly diesel.
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COLUMNS
ILLUSTRATION BY
GLENHANSON .COM
Dear Readers, This issue’s column is yet another one of those online questionnaires that self-centered types such as myself cannot seem to resist! Here’s more about me than you probably care to know, and feel free to answer the questions yourself and post it on your blog or Facebook page! Are you currently in a serious relationship? I take all my relationships seriously, so yes. What was your dream growing up? To be a cast member of Saturday Night Live. I even wrote them a letter. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could read and write music. If I bought you a drink, what would it be? It’s not the kind of drink you can really buy someone at a bar, but my favorite beverage is ice-cold carrot juice. What was the last book you read? The uncorrected proof of the book I helped Ross Mathews write with Taya Faber. It’s called Man Up! It’s really good, and you can pre-order it on Amazon! What zodiac sign are you? I’m about as Leo as they come. In other words, it’s all about me! Any tattoos and/or piercings? Explain where. Where do I start? Both ears are pierced—one three times. (It was the ‘80s, cut me some slack. I had a goatee, too!) I have 11 tattoos: “DS” on the back of my neck, “Beautiful” on my inner left forearm, my dog Baby on my upper right arm and the following on my inner right forearm: The word “love,” three stars, a butterfly, the Chinese character meaning “love” and the phrase “I will serve no other master.” I am essentially a 12-year-old girl. Worst Habit? Treating total strangers who I’ve known for 30 seconds (waiters, etc.) as if they know me and my sense of humor. Also, making facial expressions and talking as if I am in drag when I am not. What is your favorite sport? Anything involving attractive, physically fit men in very little clothing—gymnastics, swimming, diving, wrestling, etc.
Do you have a negative or optimistic attitude? I am so optimistic that I can toy with pessimism. Worst thing to ever happen to you? When my house was broken into and they let my dogs run away, it was horrible. But I got my dogs back, so it shouldn’t really count. When I was essentially raped by a boyfriend who decided to get me over my “mental block” about a certain sex act while I was sleeping. But I woke up before it actually “happened,” so it shouldn’t really count. I feel blessed that I am having trouble answering this question. I think I would have to say when my dog Baby died. Tell me one weird fact about you. My biggest fear is being stabbed with a filthy, foodcovered knife—specifically a carving knife that was used to cut a Thanksgiving turkey about two hours ago. I’m not joking. What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly? Unless you were one of two people, I would be annoyed but pleasant. And do not ask me if you are one of those two people. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? Since my entire career is based on being a clown that is simultaneously cute and scary, I refuse to answer this question. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? A bigger cock! Ask any of my ex-boyfriends and they’ll tell you. What color eyes do you have? Brown. And I hate fake colored contact lenses more than anything! Do not have brown shame! Fake blue eyes suck. Ever been arrested? Yes, but for something so boring it’s not even worth mentioning. If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it? Put it towards my double hip replacement surgery. In one word, how would you describe yourself? Funny. Do you believe in a god? I refuse to be so arrogant as to think I know anything about this subject. But I do “pray” and thank “God” for all my blessings. I think Love and Nature and Intelligence and Creativity are “God.” APRIL 2, 2013
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"He likes to get me on my back." —Ewan McGregor talks about his photo shoot with Bruce Weber for the Oscars edition of Vanity Fair. Double entendre intended, I'm sure.
Valerie Harper
If I am to continue writing this column, I'm going to need to be put on medication. Clearly I am far too invested in the lives of people I barely know. We’ve all heard the news that Valerie Harper has brain cancer. That sounds bad enough, but it's even worse. What she has is leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, which is a type of cancer that's located in the fluid surrounding the brain. It's not something that can be removed or operated on— it's circulating. As a result, her doctors told her on Jan. 15 that she could have as little as three months to live. Ironically, that is the same day her autobiography, I, Rhoda, was released. She was also about to start a national tour of the play Looped, which earned her a Tony nomination. (She's also producing the show with her husband.) So put yourself in Val's position. She's gotta get out there and hawk her autobiography by doing interviews and book signings. She's in the middle of rehearsals for a tour that she's got money in. And she finds out she has weeks to live. Needless to say, she can't tour. But Val, being Val, handpicked Stefanie Powers to replace her (after tracking Powers down in Dubai, where she was appearing in Love Letters with David Soul). As for her autobiography, Harper does a handful of interviews and an abbreviated book tour, acting as if she doesn't have a care in the world. At a Los Angeles book signing, she spent five minutes showing a woman exactly how to tie a scarf on her head to get the "Rhoda look”— and this is a month after being told her prognosis. (We'll post the video on BillyMasters.com.) She appears as her usual joyous self, even mentioning that her hair is getting so long that she needs to get it cut. As Val told People magazine, "I 64
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don't think of dying. I think of being here now." Harper will be making a flurry of TV appearances this week to discuss her condition and raise awareness for cancer research. Back to Looped, which I saw when the tour kicked off in Fort Lauderdale. Stefanie Powers playing the role of Tallulah Bankhead is rather fitting. The play revolves around the enormous difficulty Bankhead had during post-production of her last film, Die, Die, My Darling—and the "darling" in the film was Miss Powers! Stefanie had two weeks to learn the play and make it her own. From the moment she walks out onstage, her Tallulah is in complete command. She's extraordinary. She holds her facial muscles in a way that gives her Bankhead's hooded eyes, wide mouth and angular features. Her voice is a marvel, and she's found the music and cadences that were so distinctively Tallulah. Thanks to Matthew Lombardo's wonderful script and Rob Ruggiero's expert direction, there are tons of laughs. I'd say the first 20 minutes would rival any sitcom. While Harper was brilliant, Powers has found a way to truly become Tallulah. Only when reliving Bankhead's maiden attempt at A Streetcar Named Desire does she let some vulnerability
show, and it's as authentic as every other emotion in this tour de force. If the play comes to a city near you, it's something you shouldn't miss. Check out more details at LoopedonTour.com. I have a very special connection with The View. The week I moved to Hollywood 16 years ago, the show debuted. I've also been very close to numerous past and present hosts. So I was sad (but not entirely surprised) when I heard that Joy Behar will be leaving when her contract is up in August. Behar is an ambitious woman who has always had side projects. Her own show on Current TV will end once the network is acquired by Al Jazeera (unless she invests in a wardrobe of burqas). That frees her up
for a new gig, and as luck would have it, Behar has a fan in Jeff Zucker, the new president of CNN. After two recent meetings, it's been rumored she could be returning there. (The network also owns HLN, where she previously had a highly rated show.) For now, all Joy will say about these changes is, "It seemed like the right time. You reach a point when you say to yourself, 'Do I want to keep doing this?' There are other things on my plate I want to do. I've been writing a play; I've been neglecting my stand-up." When asked about the meetings with Zucker, she said, "CNN would be a great place.” Reports of the death of Drop Dead Diva have been greatly exaggerated. The producers found a way to cut costs and bring the show in for a price that Lifetime found too good to pass up. Look for a new season this summer, which makes me happy, because I'm curious what will happen now that real Jane is inside the judge's body. Once Jennie, Tori and Shannon stopped showing up on the reboot of 90210, I lost all interest. Apparently I wasn't the only one, since the show will fade into the sunset at the end of this season. If any of you have stuck with it, you're probably very familiar with Trevor Donovan (Neubauer), who plays the gay character, Teddy. Fear not—he won't be off the air for long. Next season, he'll join the cast of Joey and Melissa, which is either a lateral move or a demotion, depending on your point of view. This means we haven't seen the last of his
Trevor Donovan
abs, which turned up again in this month's Cosmo. I'll post the pic—along with his delicious derrière—at BillyMasters.com. mash. I'm getting quite worried about Sm It's gone from a show where every episode seemed to be written by a different person to a show where every scene seems to be written by a different person. While I still think the good outweighs the bad, I am troubled that every week I read that the ratings have hit a new low. Our "Ask Billy" question comes from Javier in New York. "I love Scandal and that hot-ass papi, Huck. What can you tell me about him? Any nude photos? I heard he was gay." Guillermo Diaz
I first saw Guillermo Diaz in Just One Time, a movie that hit gay film festivals back in 1999. Actually, I really first saw him the previous year in the eight-minute short that helped raise money for the feature film (it was part of Boys Life 3, which also included Jason Gould's Inside Out). You can be forgiven for not recognizing Diaz—the hunky man today bears little resemblance to the adorable but slight youth from 15 years ago. In the intervening years, he's worked consistently in a variety of projects, from Stonewall and Party Girl to Chappelle's Show and Weeds. Yes, he is gay and very open about it— so open that he posed nude for Pinups magazine in 2010. When asked why he did the shoot (as it were), Guillermo said, "I love this photographer, and it was a new and cool way to express myself." How Madonna of him. You can enjoy the fruits of his labors on BillyMasters.com. When posing nude is considered passé, it's definitely time to end yet another column. Check out BillyMasters.com, the site that caters to its members. If you have something you'd like me to look into, send a note to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before I turn up on Al Jazeera TV! Until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's Bible.
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Queersay STARBUCKS SLUT When I write my works of art (like the column you are currently reading), Gossip Gay doesn't like to be alone. I call it my need to socialize, and my therapist calls it low self-esteem; either way, when I put pen to paper, I need to be around hotties. And that's why I find myself at the Big Gay Starbucks each and every day, sitting at that group table in the center of the caffeine-enthused haunt, pounding away on my iMac. Yes, the eye candy is delicious, but the judgmental stares are paralyzing, especially the glaring queer eyes of the muscle queen daddy I’m calling the Starbucks Slut. He's buff, he's beautiful and he's truly tall, dark and handsome—but he is, as his moniker states, a true slut. Yes, through an equally slutty slut that sits across from me daily at my grande table, I’ve learned this: "That guy has a profile on Adam4Adam. He lists himself as a bodybuilder, and he loves young guys—like, we're talking 20-year-old young. He's constantly having guys meet him here and then he takes them up the block behind the Ramada for like an hour. I don't know what they do, but I think you know what they do, if you know what I mean." Gossip Gay wasn't grossed out. If nothing else, I found myself erect with excitement. I sauntered over to the Starbucks Slut, flipped my hair, batted my hungry eyes, struck up a conversation and babbled about how beautiful I thought the alley behind the Ramada was. But it was a no go, for I’m in my late 20s and this daddy wasn't having me. Yes, despite the trenta iced coffee with no sweetener I bought him, he wasn't drinking it in. That's $4 I’m never going to get back—and one pillow I’m never gonna bite behind a Santa Monica Boulevard alley dumpster!
A RASPY VOICE Gossip Gay is a true Hollyweird A-lister. I've got moles in every port—and every reality show, including NBC's The Voice. Yes, my bestie queer bro is a mover and shaker on the set, and he has long kvetched, bitched and moaned to me about the inner workings of that mainstream trainwreck. In the past, we've reported on stories including but not limited to Christina's penchant to binge-eat cobb salads and BLTs with extra bacon, Christina's habit of "retardiness" (his words, not ours!), Christina's addiction to vodka and vomiting in public and Christina's need to be told how great her streaky tan and short-shorts look on those thunder thighs. All of this is alleged, of course. Well, my PA friend has long been at his breaking point. Apparently life for the over-worked staff is worse than ever. So he whines to me over wine at St. Felix: "We are coordinating two seasons at once! The one that just wrapped with Shakira, it's just not good. She's so damn boring, and she was pregnant, so she was super demanding. People say I'm sensitive, but I think she got super bitchy at times. And the season after that, who even knows what's going on there! Everyone on the set is drunk. Honestly, totally drunk for real! They pretend to be happy, but everyone is on their last leg and prays for death. This is the worst job I've ever had, and I used to work in reality TV at E!" But what made me cringe most of all? Although the show is a Mark Burnett subsidiary, most of the staff doesn't get health insurance. That is just wrong, and so un-Obama of Mr. Survivor! Drop me your at dirty little secrets m. Gossip Gay has spent over 15 years in .co queersay@hotmail r give the Tinsel Town trenches, but this reality ve I ne And don't worry, oat! set sounds totally tragic. But never fear— up my deep thr as the season progresses, I'll be back with y, go to For more Queersa eersay. much more smack-talking! Qu m/ .co ntiersLA Fro
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CATHARTIC WALKS Since January, my family has been to hell and back with death. Time heals all, and of course there is sun on the other side. Yet all of this turmoil has got me thinking about people I have lost. Taking care of my sweet Mom has led me back in memory to Jose and Kitty Menendez. They were friends of mine whose sons committed parenticide. These two cute boys who went to Princeton and whom I thought I knew well walked in and blew their parents’ heads off with Mossberg 12-gauge shotguns when Jose and Kitty were eating strawberries and cream on a couch watching a James Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me, on N. Elm Drive in Beverly Hills at a home where both Prince and Elton had once lived. Can you even begin to comprehend that? Kitty was rendered "unrecognizable" from the wounds by police reports. Jesus. Her kids shot her face off. Jose was my friend. Kitty was a fun drunk who I quite liked as well. Jose was direct from Cuba—a tough, brilliant dude. He was once president of Hertz Rent-A-Car, but I met him as president of RCA Records. He was a damn good president of a record label for the time. At RCA, Jose gave me everything I ever wanted. I really don't know why, but we loved one another. I was a personal manager in the vast, crazy music world who had artists on RCA, and getting promotion, video, tour and recording money from the corp was always the name of the game. I was producing a bad movie in San Francisco and a kid cold-called and asked to meet me. His name was David Fincher. He is now a very famous movie director. He came to a hotel bar to meet me and said he wanted to direct music videos but could only do it on weekends. He had a full-time gig at George Lucas' ILM, and apparently they didn’t know of his ambition. Seems silly now, yes? His story boards were amazing. He listened to my clients’ songs and created a total visual story. So wonderful. I knew I needed to hire this kid. I called up Jose and asked for $250,000 for a video and told him a
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first-time kid director who could only work on weekends would be in charge. He said yes instantly. There was no challenge. No scrutiny. I was sitting at home two weeks later and I get a call from labelmate Annie Lennox, then of the Eurythmics. She wanted to know, "How do you get everything from Jose?" Jose was tough on artists. The next day, Darryl Hall from Hall & Oates, a group also on RCA, phoned with the same question. Looking back, I don't know. We just loved and respected one another. He just never said no to me. Jose left RCA and moved to a television/movie company on the Sunset Strip called Carolco. In a turn, my innovative pal and perhaps genius NYC disc jockey friend moved to Tinseltown and a bunch of us started this thing called "Pirate Radio" here in L.A. It did change the world of radio here for a bit. Out of nowhere, Jose gave us a TV show hosted by my DJ friend Scott Shannon. It was called Smash Hits, and it was on television for seven years. Jose and I did business for a very long time. So over two decades ago, his kinda hot, flaky, tennis-playing boys—his sons—one August evening walked in on their parents and blew their brains out with guns they bought easily a few days earlier in San Diego. They then went off and spent a million bucks in a week on Rolex watches and Porsches. Lyle and Eric Menendez were finally sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Thank God. I miss Jose. I miss Kitty. Jose's impact on my life was exceptional. I cannot play it down for a second. And as I ramble about my mother's home while she gets better, I am still so stupefied by kids killing parents. Hell, killing anyone is amazing to me, but shooting your mom? Kitty's worst offense was too much scotch. Jose's was likely a tad worse. But neither deserved a death sentence. Anyway, time heals all, but hopefully not for Lyle and Eric Menendez. I suppose reflection and I guess evolution is all I’ve got to go on, so it is what I will use to get by.
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CITY GUIDES
CONCRETE REPAIRS IN EFFECT ALONG SMB
THE CITY LAUNCHES NEW, FREE CITYLINE ROUTE BY PAULO MURILLO March 1 was proclaimed Cityline Day by the West Hollywood City Council to celebrate the launch of new routes and free shuttle services that went into effect in early March. The proclamation took place on Feb. 19 at the West Hollywood Library auto court, where councilmembers and Cityline bus drivers stood in front of a Cityline mini-bus for photos. Cityline has been West Hollywood’s own shuttle bus since it was first established in 1992, with a current estimate of 200 riders per day and 64,000 per year. Following analysis of city-supported transit, the new free route aims to improve alternative, community-based modes of transit and will provide a vital link between people and services. A new bus has been added to reduce wait time. Shuttle buses now travel on two routes along Santa Monica, San Vicente and Sunset Boulevards. Overlapping has also been eliminated to offer a more efficient service.
The mini-bus operates in the neighborhood and stops almost everywhere in WeHo. Major stops include the WeHo Library, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, parks, City Hall, the post office and other commercial areas. It’s a friendly alternative to the larger bus system. Shuttles arrive approximately every 30 minutes, operating Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. They do not run on Sundays or major holidays. Other efforts to improve vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the city of West Hollywood include the installation of new bike lanes, free bike racks for WeHo business, rapid flashing beacons along Santa Monica Boulevard to improve pedestrian visibility and a number of other mobility programs that now include the free Cityline shuttle. Visit weho.org/cityline for maps and timetables. Copies are also available at City Hall, Plummer Park and the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
What are your thoughts on the new, free Cityline shuttle services? “Public transportation is important. I wish I had known the city offers this service. I don’t know how a city like this could not have a free shuttle with all the traffic. It’s economical, and it’s friendly. I’m from Philadelphia, where public transportation is a way of life." —Geoffrey Vitrano
Concrete repairs began along Santa Monica Boulevard on March 11 and will continue through April 12 depending on weather conditions. Repairs are scheduled Mondays through Fridays between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and span from the east city limits near La Brea to the west city limits at Doheny. Damaged and cracked concrete will be removed and replaced with new concrete. Work includes small areas of sidewalks, curbs, street gutters, various corner ramps and curbs on the medians of Santa Monica Boulevard. Expect delays. One travel lane may be temporarily closed to vehicles in the vicinity of a repair while the contractor is working, though a traffic lane will always remain open during these repairs. The contractor has made adjustments to the repair schedule to reduce the amount of time that a lane will be closed. All lanes will be open to traffic by 4 p.m. each day. There will be full access to business and parking throughout the construction. Temporary “No Parking” signs may be posted on meters where improvements are being made. For questions or concerns, call Mila Sologub of the city of West Hollywood’s Public Works Department at (323) 484-6338.
SPEAK OUT “I think it’s great. Coming from New York, everyone uses mass transit, so I’m used to riding the bus and taking the train. Being in Los Angeles and without a car recently, it’s so difficult to get anywhere. You have to plan hours in advance. A more efficient shuttle in WeHo is long overdue.” —Sal Ianniello
“Maybe now I will see more than zero to two people on the shuttle. I actually saw four in there yesterday. This is subsidized transportation but on a smaller scale. There is nothing novel about a shuttle bus. At LAX all the shuttle vans cause much of the congestion. Remember, nothing is free. We are paying for this service through our taxes.” —Nick Garzilli
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ORANGE COUNTY
SHANTI OC NOW OFFERS ON-SITE HIV TESTING BY GREG HERNANDEZ To help people become aware of their HIV status, Shanti Orange County is for the first time offering on-site HIV testing at its Laguna Hills headquarters every Friday afternoon from 2-5 p.m. The test, which is 99.3 percent accurate, is free, and the results are available in 20 minutes. "The nice thing about coming to a place like Shanti is it's not a medical facility," says Sarah Kasman, Shanti OC Executive Director. "It's not somebody's primary physician, so they don't have to notify their insurance company. It can be completely anonymous." Kasman wants to get the word out about the free and anonymous testing, because if someone is HIV-positive, the sooner they know and get treatment, the better their health and quality of life. "What's really important now is that people can remain undetectable with HIV for a lifetime if they get tested early, if they get into medical and pharmaceutical treatment right away," she says. "Not only is it not a death sentence, but it's a completely manageable disease if detected early, if treated early. People identified as HIV-positive really can help in their own care and manage the disease." While Shanti is now offering on-site testing for the first time, its other HIVrelated services have long been in place. "The best part of it is if they test positive, they can segue right into our case management and our mental health services as well as our post-diagnosis education program," Kasman says. The weekly on-site testing became possible through a partnership with The 68
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Center OC in Santa Ana, which has had testing for more than 20 years. The addition of Shanti gives South County residents a facility closer to home. "We just didn't have the funding for it, and now we have the partnership, so we are just absolutely thrilled," says Kasman. "We used to refer to other testing sites all the time. Now we don't have to." She says the group at highest risk for HIV in Orange County right now is those aged 13 to 24, who prefer anonymous testing for a variety of reasons. But South County has long been in need of more testing sites. "We know that in the South County corridor, other than Laguna Beach Community Clinic, there's no other testing going on in South County—specifically anonymous HIV testing," Kasman says. "We are really offering it up to people in South County to come in. They don't have to make a reservation, and it's free. We have the relationships and resources to link them to all the services available in Orange County. Shanti OC is located at 23461 S. Pointe Drive #100, Laguna Hills. The Center OC is located at 1605 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana. Its testing hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m to 6 p.m., Tuesdays 1:30-6 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, or to make an appointment at either location, call or email Josie Lopez at (714) 953-5428 x208 (josie.lopez@thecenteroc.org) or Tony Viramontes (714) 953-5428 x207 (antonio.viramontes@thecenteroc.org).
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LONG BEACH
THE CENTER LONG BEACH PRESENTS ‘CALFORNIA LANDSCAPES’ BY GREG HERNANDEZ
When you walk into The Center Long Beach these days, you might think you've walked into an art gallery. The Center began using its walls to feature the work of LGBT artists at the start of the year. It’s currently featuring a collection entitled “California Landscapes” by Greg Fritsche. Fritsche has been a resident of Long Beach since 1980 and specializes in oil-on-canvas landscapes. The inspiration for many of his paintings has been the California coast and such spots as Carmel, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, La Jolla and Laguna Beach. His work will be featured at the Center through April 30. In May, artist Donald Tiscareno will return with works that were not featured in his first exhibit, which ran in January and February. Tiscareno sold 10 paintings during his exhibit and donated 15 percent of the proceeds to the Center. Fritsche, who is also donating 15 percent of his proceeds, has so far sold five. "This a wonderful way to engage the community and profile some of our most talented local artists," says Phyllis Schmidt, a boardmember of the Center and chair of the art committee. "We look forward to welcoming the community into the Center every two months for a new show." Schmidt says the Center is open to considering any local artist for a future
exhibit. They must have at least 24 paintings or pieces of art to fill the walls of two rooms, and the artist is responsible for hosting an opening reception. 'We haven't been inundated or overwhelmed with a waiting list or anything like that so far," she says, but she hopes that changes once word gets out. "We have so many people coming and going in the Center, and this is a cultural way to get a message across and to help artists," she says. "It's subliminal advertising in a way. I'm heartsick that the schools aren't doing more in a society that is cutting up the arts and humanities." The Center can be found at 2017 E. 4th St. in Long Beach and is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m. centerlb.org APRIL 2, 2013
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DESERT
HOT TOPIC
LESLEY GORE It’s her party, and she’s bringing it to Palm Springs. BY JAMES F. MILLS 1960s teen singing sensation Lesley Gore, best known for her hit “It’s My Party,” has joined The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies for a two-month gig, bringing her best-known songs to the Broadway-caliber song-and-dance extravaganza playing at the Plaza Theatre in Downtown Palm Springs. “Two years ago, for the Follies’ 20th anniversary, I came in and did the January through March slot,” said the 66year-old Gore, who lives in Manhattan with her partner of 31 years, jewelry designer Lois Sasson, and publicly came out as a lesbian in 2005. “It was very successful. I had a wonderful time, and they enjoyed having me. So this is actually a reappearance. I’m very grateful to be having it again.” She’s thrilled to be spending time in the Coachella Valley, calling it “one of the more spiritual places on Earth,” and performing for the Follies audience, calling them “bar none, the best.” Follies-goers can, of course, expect
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the Brooklyn-born, Tenafly, New Jerseyraised Gore to perform “It’s My Party,” her million-selling record celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. “They wouldn’t let me out of Palm Springs if I didn’t do that. If I don’t do ‘It’s My Party,’ I will be crying,” laughed Gore, who was a junior in high school when it topped the charts. Also on the playlist is “Judy’s Turn to Cry” (“my bitchiest song ever,” she says) along with “That’s the Way Boys Are,” “She’s a Fool,” “Maybe I Know,” “Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows” and her protofeminist song, “You Don’t Own Me.” While “Party” is the song that put her on the map, it’s “You Don’t Own Me” that she’s most proud of. “I think of ‘Its My Party’ more as a pop ditty. I think it’s a great record, and I think Quincy [Jones] did a remarkable job producing it. It’s part of the fabric of pop music of that time,” said Gore, who is currently working on both a book and a musical of her life. “But ‘You Don’t
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HOT TOPIC
Own Me’—that had an impact that has grown over the years, has grown in terms of my performance and really gives me something to lean on, really gives my career some gravitas.” Last year, a producer created a video of women lip syncing “You Don’t Own Me” while images connected to women’s health and women reclaiming their rights appeared on screen, something Gore thinks helped influence the presidential election in Barack Obama’s favor. “That’s the kind of thrill that you
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can’t buy,” she said of the video. “It’s not like selling records. It’s not like selling books. It’s the influence that the song had on people during a very crucial time. It’s not money in my pocket, but it certainly makes my heart swell.” In addition to her daily shows at the Follies, Gore will also be appearing at some of the Dinah Shore weekend events. Her exact schedule for Dinah weekend wasn’t set at press time. psfollies.com
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SEX COMEDY MAKES DESERT DEBUT BY JAMES F. MILLS
A man pretending to be gay in order to bed women is the premise behind a new sex comedy making its world debut in Palm Springs. Mr. Horn is a bawdy sex romp presented by the Desert Ensemble Theater Company, playing March 30-31 at the Annenberg Theater in the Palm Springs Art Museum. “It’s a comedy about seduction,” reports playwright Tony Padilla. “It’s a Casanova-type story about a socialclimbing Lothario who pretends to be gay to win the confidence of the men, then proceeds to seduce their wives. The problem is, he falls in love with one of the women and it spoils his plan.” While this may sound like a thoroughly modern play, it’s actually set in London in the late 1600s. Mr. Horn is based on a Restoration-period comedy called The Country Wife. “I saw The Country Wife a few years ago,” says Padilla, a native of Cuba who was raised in Monterey. “I liked the idea and the story but thought the language was a little too arched for the general public. So I followed the basic storyline of The Country Wife but wrote it with more modern dialogue. People aren’t talking in verse, so it’s easily understood. 74
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It’s Steampunk Restoration.” Funny and provocative, the play offers reflections on social climbing, the true meaning of love and people’s assumptions about sexuality. By setting it in the late 1600s, Padilla feels people will better be able to see aspects of our modern society. “Sometimes you need some distance in order to see yourself,” says Padilla, who moved to Palm Springs 20 years ago and helped found Desert Ensemble Theater Company two years ago. Earlier this season, the company staged the 2009 Tony-winning play God of Carnage and the holiday romp Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some). Even though Mr. Horn, which takes its name from the fact that the main character is constantly horny, is playing during White Party weekend, Padilla hopes people will catch one of the comedy’s four performances (Saturday and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.). “This is an alternative if you’re not doing White Party,” he says. “Or if you need a break from all the White Party activities, this is a fun show with lots of laughs.” detctheatre.org
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HEALTH
OFF THE
COUCH
By Dr. Greg Cason
COU PHOTO
TV F BRAVO RTESY O
FORGET ME NOT
What do you do when you screw up and forget? What if you forget your partner's birthday, your anniversary or (goddessforbid) their court date? Unfortunately, I have had to answer this question for myself more than a few times. Well, not the court date one (those are tough to forget). Dr. Greg Cason is a licensed psychologist based in West Hollywood, specializing in cognitive therapy with individuals and couples, both gay and straight. He can be contacted at (877) 437-4734.
Screw-ups seem to go with the territory in relationships. Like two sides of a coin, if you are going to be together with someone and fulfill their wishes, you are also going to end up pulling away or pushing against them and making them miserable. Oh, I am not saying that misery is a forgone conclusion in a relationship. At least, not the new ones. Relationships in the beginning stages seem to have few problems. Every quirk and bad habit seems cute and endearing. If some misstep happens, the loving couple looks at each other longingly and everything seems to be OK again. But as time rolls on, those little quarks get annoying, and those habits really do seem bad. Conflict becomes a part of every relationship, and it is how the couple handles that conflict that will either bring them closer or tear them apart. If you are with someone long enough, you are going to have a little—or a lot—of both. Most conflicts in relationships are due to some obvious misstep by one or some misperception of the other. One person does something and the other gets in a huff. But there is no misstep like forgetting. The person who is on the ‘forgotten about’ side experiences neglect and can feel lost, alone or even betrayed. So how can you remember? I mean, the obvious thing is to put your dates in a calendar. The electronic calendars on your computer or
phone also have settings for reminder alerts. I like those, because you can set them for a week out, which gives you time to order online and have a present in your hand by the date. That's been my go-to. There are other nifty memory strategies. Tying the date to another date is good. My partner's birthday is near Valentine's Day. When I start seeing pink hearts appearing everywhere, I know I need to start doing some shopping (or get antipsychotic medication). My birthday is in the fall, right after school starts. So back-toschool ads mean I have to start dropping casual hints, such as giving my partner a catalogue number and a 20 percent-off coupon. There is also software like "Remember the Task" and “Secure Reminder,” and most flower services allow you to register important dates and will send you an email to remind you to buy their product. I could go on, but this is not about what to do to prevent the problem, rather what to do once you have it. First thing, forgive yourself. Everyone does it. In fact, if you have a normal brain, then you will forget things you perceive to be trivial or irrelevant so you can retain other more important things. This was even demonstrated in a Stanford University study published in Nature Neuroscience in 2007. Scientists were able to show that by forgetting irrelevant information we can remember relevant stuff better. Now, before you start honking at me that
birthdays and anniversaries are relevant, I'll honk back that they may not be relevant to what is going on at the moment. If you have a lot of stress at work, a loved one who is ill or the IRS is breathing down your neck, your brain may selectively focus on the stress of the moment versus the mundane of everyday life. It's the brain's way of conserving energy and maximizing efficiency. But just like those annoying hybrid drivers who slow the flow of traffic to squeeze out an extra mile per gallon, the brain slows the flow of information to focus on the stress at hand. The next thing to do is immediately take corrective action. Don't get defensive; don't pretend nothing happened; don't play the victim yourself and blame it on the taxman. When you get called out, immediately take responsibility and say "I'm sorry." I know—two words that may not seem like they mean very much, but they do. They are also two words that seem to be difficult for a lot of people to say. If that is you, then you need to practice in front of the mirror. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.” Saying it does not mean you are weak—it means you are taking responsibility, and that takes strength. And being strong and taking responsibility you must. Acknowledge your mistake, apologize and make it better. Still buy that gift, sign that card and take him out to dinner—and set up a reminder for next year. Everyone makes mistakes, but the real mistake is not to learn from them.
If you have any questions and/or comments, please direct them to: Frontiers, 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036, or email them to feedback@frontiersla.com. 76
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Roofing & gutters Best price in town! 100% satisfaction guaranteed We do all roofs. T&U Roofing Lic# C39872976 Bonded Insured Call for free estimate Ask for Ed 310 927 1723
Additions, remodels, bathrooms, kitchens, windows, flooring, painting interior/ext., custom decks, stucco, block walls, driveways & more. Lic#884762 Bonded/insured Free estimates CALL ED 310.927.1723
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MARKETPLACE
BUSINESS
PROFILE
LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES BY MICHELLE MCCARTHY Gay matchmaking service Eligible Partners began after its company founders realized there were very few options for gay and lesbian singles who wanted a monogamous relationship. For years, bars and the internet were the only options, and Eligible Partners’ clients were not interested in either. “Our services allowed our clients to meet people they had things in common with while maintaining confidentiality and carrying on with their busy schedules,” the company states. “We have been in business for more than five years and have had people travel from all over California and in some cases from other states to use our services.” Eligible Partners provides a very personal one-on-one approach to matchmaking and is exclusively for same-sex relationships. What’s unique about the service is that it’s not online or telephone-based. The company has focused on getting to know its clients’ individual preferences and has tailored its services to meet their needs. Each client is assigned his (or her) own personal matchmaker who works with him throughout the process. This matchmaker will keep in touch with him before and after each introduction and take feedback to see what worked and what did not work in order to improve future introductions. Clients must be single, financially stable, emotionally available and serious about starting a long-term relationship with the right person. The process begins with a private consultation with one of Eligible Partners’ relationship counselors in a confidential and comfortable atmosphere. “We get to know each and every candidate to learn about their past relationships and understand their needs, wants and desires so we can determine what has worked and what has not in order to find them their ideal partner,” the company explains. “We do an in-depth compatibility analysis to ensure each match provided is a quality match. We screen each and every individual to make it a safe and effective way to meet that special someone. Our company puts aside the stereotypes and matches people based on individual preferences.” Fees are individualized based on each client’s needs and wants. Eligible Partners does not charge for the initial consultation, which is a good time to learn about one another and to determine whether or not the process is a fit. “We have many very happy clients who are thrilled to work with Eligible Partners,” the company says. “Some have met a partner who they are sharing their lives with, and others have broadened their social circles, made lots of new friendships and are still in the process of searching for love.” For more information, check out eligiblepartners.com or call (877) 967-7250 for a free consultation.
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RELATIONSHIPS
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS Read your ad carefully when it initially appears. We are not responsible for errors or minor copy changes after first issue of publication. If an error is found, please contact the classifieds department immediately for corrections. Frontiers assumes no responsibility for error or omission of copy. The right to reject, edit, cancel and determine proper placement of a classified ad is the right of this publication. [00CS0000]
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SEX ED
THE TROUBLE WITH TESTES BY JIM LARKINS Balls, nuts, nads—call them what you will. There is an undeniable bit of irony that comes with testicular ownership. In order to function at their optimum level, our testes must be kept a short distance from the heat of the body. Unfortunately, this positioning places them at a greater risk of injury than other organs. We naturally take precautions to avoid risk, but for some guys, testicular trouble is just an unavoidable inevitability. The impact injury is a fairly common cause of testicle pain. Creative clichés aside, anyone who’s ever gotten their “nuts racked” knows this experience is anything but amusing. If the blow isn’t too severe, one can expect to begin recuperating within a few minutes. Sometimes it’s what you don’t do that can give your balls the blues. When ejaculation is prolonged, a damming of sperm-carrying tubes can cause a dull, aching sensation in the testicles. If you happen to be partnerless at the time, this is easily resolved by masturbating to ejaculation. Infections of the testicles can cause biological havoc as either the testicles or the epididymitis absorb microorganisms. The result: an infected set of gonads that is sore, swollen and hot to the touch. Antibiotics are the best bet for a quick recovery. Men who are not immune to the mumps commonly experience this malady.
There are also conditions known as varicose testicular veins and hydrocele. Those unsightly blue branches that sometimes grow along the legs can invade the testicles as well. Also known as varicocele, this feels like a sack of worms in the upper portion of the testicle and usually causes the veins— rather than the testicles—to become tender and painful. A jockstrap is often all that is needed for recovery. A sac of translucent fluid that collects around the testicle is known as a hydrocele. This can be the result of an injury or caused by part of the embryonic sac surrounding the testicle during gestation. Another not-so-uncommon condition is the hernia, which consists of a small loop of intestine that pushes through a weakened section of abdominal wall. The resulting pain is usually centered in the abdomen and can be made worse by sneezing or coughing. A hernia is corrected with an operation called a herniorrhaphy. Sometimes testicular torsion can occur, resulting in loss of blood flow to the testicle, along with severe pain. This problem can just go away on its own, but sometimes requires surgery. If torsion isn’t dealt with in time, gangrene can set in, causing the testicle to die. Finally, testicular cancer, which, because of a lack of pain can easily turn deadly, is also very easy to treat. Keep an eye out for signs, such as a slight swelling in one testicle.
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