Horizon Magazine by Horizon Magazine

WWW.HORIZONBARCELONA.COM

Robert Pattinson Talks Playing Gay in ‘Little Ashes’ Beaches and Boys of Brazil

APRIL 2009

No 35

233,000 Americans May Unknowingly Have HIV

Homme Renovation Life without barriers

Good mood food

Taste: Most Memorable Meals (a teaser)

Super food

Pedro Virgil photography

Life Ball Fashion Show 2009: Patricia Field presents The Blonds!

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

CONTENTS

contents

lifestyle

4 homme renovation 6 233,000 americans may 8 10 11

unknowingly have HIV life without barrier lady gaga Interview ronnie kroell Interview

food

13 taste: most memorable meals (a teaser)

15 super food 16 good mood food

travel

18 beaches and boys of brazil

photography 22 pedro virgil

fasion

38 life ball fashion show 2009: patricia field presents the blonds!

38 4

features

41 robert pattinson talks playing gay in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;little ashesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

news 44

HORIZON EDITOR: Shane Brookman DESIGNER:

cozy www.cozydesigner.com

CONTRIBUTORS: John Rushton, Pedro Virgil SPAIN ADVERTISING: sales@horizonbarcelona.com UK ADVERTISING: Tel: 0791 7565 800, 0207 969 1475, sales@horizonbarcelona.com DEPOSITO LEGAL: B-25119-2009 EDITORIAL: Twist Media, S.L., info@horizonbarcelona.com LONDON OFFICE: Tel: 0791 7565 800, www.horizonbarcelona.com, info@ horizonbarcelona.com COVER: Pedro Virgil, www.pedrovirgil.net The appearance, mention or likeness of any person or organisation in editorial or advertising in no way suggests sexual or political orientation. Photographs used to illustrate editorial do not depict the real lives, behaviour, or sexuality of the models. Submissions of text, photographs or any other material will be taken as consent to pUblish said material. No part of the magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers.

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

LIFESTYLE

Homme Renovation By Stephen J. Lucin

In a culture where so many people are brought up to be ashamed of their bodies and unaware of the natural functions of their many parts, Enrique Ramirez, lead esthetician, founder and owner of face to face nyc day spa, located in New York City’s Flatiron District, has found ways of helping these extremely self-conscious individuals to be less so by introducing treatments that may seem otherwise, and to many, risqué, but which serve the specific purpose of helping individuals to become more comfortable with their own reflections. For five years, Ramirez has offered clients of his spa a variety of treatments such as body waxing, facials and massages, all of which he perfects and personalizes. And since a large portion of his clientele is gay men, roughly 70 percent, he has created

various treatments as part of his “homme renovation” menu for guys looking to take better care of their skin. One such treatment off of this menu is the Y-Chromosome Facial, which oversees and remedies guy-related issues like razor burn and in-grown

hairs. “I saw a discrepancy in the marketplace for guys who like to take care of themselves beyond just shaving and putting on deodorant,” says Ramirez. “Because of this discrepancy, I found an

opportunity where I could offer guys a comfortable place to come and learn about the many services available to them. There are so many men who like to take care of their skin and their bodies, but there aren’t many spas that are

welcoming to them. At face to face nyc, we welcome everyone and never turn anyone away.” But personalized and innovative treatments are not the only things keeping this boutique New York City spa as a leader in the highly competitive industry. By creating a super private, cozy, small and personal day spa focused predominantly on individual care, Ramirez has created and fostered an environment where spagoers can enjoy their visits

LIFESTYLE with peace of mind and relaxation. And because of this, the spa has gained notoriety within various top-tier media outlets. Ramirez is even a recurring skincare expert on the “Derek and Romaine Show” on Sirius Satellite Radio because of his knowledge of the industry, as well as for his ability to help individuals, nationwide, to learn of ways to help themselves maintain positive beauty regimens. Other treatments at face to face nyc, those such as anal and genital bleaching, have been introduced to not only help enhance a person’s physical appearance, but to also reinforce their self-esteem. These treatments which were once popular among porn stars and strippers, have been streamlined into the mainstream and have become among the many consistent treatments sought after by repeat clients. Anal and genital bleachings are simple, 15-minute treatments that lighten the pigment around the anus and genital areas. They are safe and painless, and offer clients comfort in knowing their “lower regions” are consistent in color with the rest of their body. Other treatments thought to be risqué are the various waxing and hair removal treatments being offered to men. Ramirez goes beyond simply offering chest and back waxing, he also offers genital waxing with his “South of the Border” and “Marble Sac with Shaft” waxes, along with a “Crackdown” wax specifically for the anus.

“A lot of men prefer these waxing treatments because, as opposed to shaving, they offer longer-lasting results,” says Ramirez. In March, face to face nyc will be celebrating its 5-year anniversary as a place that has offered clients a comfortable setting for various treatments and services. Following its anniversary, face to face nyc will continue to be a spa that offers men a setting where they can feel welcome to explore the skincare treatments they desire. Enrique Ramirez will also continue to lend his skincare expertise to the spa industry by continually

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

working to enhance services and create new treatments that will help individuals reach the level of self-esteem and confidence they require and deserve.

Fri, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., TuesThurs, 9 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sat, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sun, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Enrique Ramirez is one of the world’s foremost skincare experts, and founder of New York’s prestigious celebrity hotspot, face to face nyc day spa. Enrique’s spa is one of only a handful of spas internationally that specializes in men’s skincare treatments. face to face nyc is located at 20 West 20th Street, New York, NY, USA. (212) 633-0404. w w w. f a ce to f a ce nyc. co m . Hours of operation are Mon-

LIFESTYLE

233,000

Americans May Unknowingly

Have HIV An estimated 233,000 Americans are unaware that they are infected with HIV, an HIV research cooperative has announced. Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call to routinely test everyone between the ages of 13 and 64, more than 20 percent of the approximately 1.1 million Americans with the virus are unaware they have it. Members of the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research, based at the George Washington University School of Public Health, made the announcement at a forum meeting in Arlington, Va. The lack of routine testing presents a major health hazard: People who are unaware that they are HIV-positive may be responsible for up to 70% of new sexually transmitted infections, the Baltimore Sun reports. Experts said that routine testing is hampered by stigma associated with the virus as well as inadequate health insurance coverage for such tests. Out-of-pocket costs for the blood and saliva tests that screen for HIV can run between $80 and $120. According to The Washington Post, only 5% of those who present with serious symptoms of the disease in hospital emergency rooms are being tested for HIV. 6

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

LIFESTYLE

LIFE WITHOUT

BARRIERS Our pathway in life is full of all kinds of obstacles, some manmade and others quite natural, just ‘stuff’ that happens and hinders or at times retards what we are wanting to do. Of course not having anything defined in mind isn’t the best way to go forward because we end up being totally disappointed for no other reason than we are getting bored at the constant drabness of life as there appears to be no reason nor goal nor anything to achieve other than move forward by our fuzzy thoughts. The stability of our mind is crucial and a number of factors affect how we think and what we do. Our attitude to life plays a vital role in not only how we view life itself, but how others view us too, and if they don’t like us we aren’t going to get the best of help. The other thing that we need is love it’s not often that love is mentioned in context to life itself but without love we have no purpose or reason to go on, we just exist to exist. With love in our hearts we can actually feel wanted, needed and better as a human being, and when all those things come together we shrug off all the rubbish that hits us as opposed to taking it all to heart and brooding over it all. With love in our hearts whether it’s from our partner or best friend / girlfriend we become more animated, brighter and don’t seek to look upon aspects of life with dull overtones, we see brightness and hope and opportunity. With love life is not only about us but it’s about making it a good place for everyone, even those we aren’t so keen on. It’s important that our perspective on life is good and positive as we are the only ones who can walk our pathway, no one else no matter who gives us a helping hand or what opportunities avail themselves to us. We are the only ones to ever live in our own skin so whatever we do in life comes from us, good, bad or indifferent. Whatever we think, say or do originates from our minds no one else’s, and if we choose to follow someone else or copy them and it all goes drastically wrong it’s still our fault, we chose to follow no one else did so on our behalf. It’s a process of making clear who we are and thus we must be in charge of our lives all the time, regardless of circumstances. Being in charge of who we are and not wavering gives us the ability to be the best at all times, it doesn’t mean we can’t get

things wrong nor at times not know what to do, but it’s still far better than following the dream or ambition of someone else who has different ideas towards the end goal in life, and that end goal for them won’t include you! If we could only just sail through life without the headaches and at times mental torment it would be just so good, but many of our problems are self generated and are needles. Having an open mind and humility is a big plus point, arrogance, jealousy, greed, envy, etc, all the negative emotions will just tear away at our thoughts and feelings and pull us down similarly if our partners are negative then it becomes an even bigger struggle too. One must never ever ask advice from someone who has aspirations less than your own otherwise their answer will be full of their own insecurities and fears and have nothing to do with what you are looking for or the helpful advice you are seeking. We often have defined ideas of what we want to do and how we want to do it based upon what we already know and a great deal on what we think, however much of what we

think could be totally wrong. Out there in the wide world there are endless opportunities that are available that we don’t even know exist, and it would be a shame if we negated our ideal job or position for the sake of searching for a narrow band opportunity because we know no better. Our walk in life allows many opportunities to cross our pathway but only if we are alert will we see them and not allow them to pass us by, which happens to so many people. Being vigilant is paramount at all times especially in today’s topsy turvy environment where even small problems can have large repercussions.

LIFESTYLE through enough, we just say things based upon our initial thoughts and feelings and never really get down to who is controlling “my life” me or the circumstances around me. It’s got to be the “me” aspect that controls life and once that’s been settled much of the detritus in life just washes away. How we react to anything is symptomatic of our thought process and how we enjoy life follows on from that. So if life is full of ups and downs it’s us more than circumstances that have allowed all that to happen, and the reactions that follow. To live life is to enjoy it, there’s no real option that we should choose not to enjoy it, yet so often many people just pile misery on to more misery and then have nothing better to do than complain about it all, yet they created it in the first place. Regardless of what happens, just get on with life the more you talk about downfalls and stuff that’s happened the more you give it gravitas and then the whole thing becomes larger than it originally did and the mind takes it on as something even greater and we then feel even worse. Keeping quiet and keeping one’s council is by far the best way to get over something and enjoy the better things that await us in the future ahead What we say is a reflection of who we are or and what we do, we can talk ourselves into of us. By all a situation because we just don’t think it means talk Our mental state is also a vital one for if that gets out of kilter then we are basically done for, it controls not only who we are and what we do but our whole bodily functions too, so we need to look after our mental health and not get carried away via negative emotions and allow those little ‘mind gremlins’ that come out to play and start talking rubbish to us and trying to thwart our lives for no other reason than we have allowed it to happen. Looking at life with a positive mind set makes a world of difference it instils excitement and great possibilities as opposed to trepidation and fear and other negative stances that cause daily dread and this take the edge permanently off life. Cool, calm and collected is the order of the day and to a large extent that can be achieved provided you don’t immediately start making excuses as to why it’s impossible, for if you do that you’ve just committed yourself to what you didn’t want to happen, become un-cool, un-calm and definitely un-collected.

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

about your problem once to get it off your chest but don’t make a “soap drama” out of it or it will start to rule your thoughts. Our total stance in life emanates from within, what we wear, how we talk, what we say, how we say it, our body language, our ability to laugh and smile all make great impressions upon others, and someone with a bright positive attitude exudes that feeling subliminally and already makes people feel at ease without having said a word. Being too serious about anything can eliminate spontaneity and thus make conversations dull and boring even if they have a good interest element within. When life needs our full attention we need to give it all we can and not create more barriers by not being fully conversant with what we are doing and who we are. We need to be on top of the situation so that we can master fully what needs to be done and not be reduced by our own hand or devices in the presence of others. Knowing how we can personally shine is a strength it’s this strength that separates the “men from the boys” or the “wheat from the chaff” in every circumstance. Respect for ourselves is paramount, for if we can’t respect ourselves then we can’t expect others to either. Making a positive move in life greatly improves what we need to do when and how and that ensures greater success in all our endeavours.

John Rushton, writer, broadcaster, author and lecturer, helps people in transition from multi-national companies, top corporate ‘movers and shakers’, celebrities and sports personalities and those that just need to ‘get on’ with life, here and now. www.thelifealchemist.com

The TOP10

LIFESTYLE

Lady Gaga has been taking the world by storm with her new #1 record “The Fame.” Now the confirmed headlining performer for White Party Palm Springs 20th Anniversary is “getting us all hot and showing us what shes got” at the main event Saturday Night at The Palm Springs Convention Center. 1) Just last year at White Party Palm Springs you performed at the pool party and in just one year you are headlining the 20th Anniversary in Palm Springs. How does that feel? It’s incredibly rewarding and I am really happy that it’s coming full circle. 2) Who has been your favorite White Party Performer to date? Well, I would have to say Tracy Young. She was the DJ that was on before performance. She was super accommodating to my DJ, Space Cowboy. 3) Since you are from NYC… Out of all the artists who performed live at The Saint, which one has most inspired you? I wish I had been around for the Saint. I’m about 30 years too young for that one. I know it holds major status as one of the gay iconic clubs of the 80’s. I’m sure I would have loved it but I’m not completely familiar with what songs and artists broke from there. I’ll have to start doing my research on it. 4) Where is your favorite hang out in West Hollywood? What is your preferred drink/ cocktail? Honestly, when I moved to LA last year, I barely went out. I was there to write and produce and that was my life 24/7. Once I slow down for a minute I would love to hang more. I have enjoyed performing at all the clubs such as The Abbey. I really loved Here Lounge too. 5) You like to play “the nice girl” in the tabloids but you have got to have that inner diva. What is something that drives you crazy, what is your biggest pet peeve? Oh.. I have an outer diva too…trust me…lol… I guess when I put on a show whether it’s a secret small club gig or it’s a huge venue like MSG, I put my all 100% into it. No matter what and I expect the same from everyone that’s working with me to have the same attitude.

Q&A

by Joshua Miller

6) You are very hands on with your image. What goes into the design and creation of your live shows? It’s constantly evolving. Keep watching because it’s going to change again soon. Let me know thoughts, always love to get feedback. 7) You are known for your sickening Drag Queen fashion sense. I have heard about a clothing line in the works. Any idea of what it will be called? Will there be a men’s line or will it be exclusively for TranzStarz and women? I’m still working on it, but I can’t imagine creating clothing for just women. I definitely see my fashion ideas crossing into all sexes. 8) The Music on “The Fame” is very sexual and aggressive, is you the same way in between the sheets? “If” you were a gay man, would you be a top or bottom? I’m both... why limit yourself. Personally I think I being exclusively “anything” gets a bit boring when it comes to sex. 9) You explore your sexuality quite a bit, especially in the new music video for “Love Game” in the phone booth with a HOT female. What would you consider your sexuality to be? “Muffin–Sexual” …lol 10) If you could combine four different celebrities/ inspirations to be your perfect partner/lover who would it be? Well I used to sleep with a guy that gave me multiple personalities and multiple orgasms so I‘ve already been there…ha

White Party Palm Springs 20th Anniversary tickets on sale at www.jeffreysanker.com Please visit www.joshuami11er.blogspot.com for more on West Hollywood Nightlife and Gossip!

LIFESTYLE

The

TOP 10 Ronnie Kroell Q&A by Joshua Miller Photo Bill Diodato

Ronnie Kroell is the Mega Gay Star of TV last season on BRAVO, and just like any typical gay with that gay gene, he is also wants to sing and release music. You have to be MOREgeous [more than gorgeous] to make it in music. Ronnie seems to think he has what it takes. Do you?

1. We all know of you through BRAVO’s hit TV Show “Make me a Supermodel” Did you know this was going to catapult you into gay stardom? Am I? I didn’t get that memo. I was just me on the show, and I’m flattered by the overwhelming support and praise I have received since the show aired. 2. Are you dating anyone? If not, what is your “type” and what do you look for in a partner? I’ve been insanely busy! Between recording my record, modeling, and working on a few acting projects, it leaves little time for my love life. I’ve never really had a type, per-se; I just find men who are independent, driven, and warmhearted the most attractive. But of course, easy on the eyes never hurts either.

Tyson Beckford... of course. He’s such an amazing guy. He’s been able to overcome so much and stay so grounded and down-to-earth, even after so many successful years in the industry. And his portfolio of work is just incredible; I would love to have a book like his one-day. (HE OBVIOUSLY SKIPPED THE IMPORTANT QUESTION) 6. What artists have inspired you to sing? Who do you look up to? Frank Sinatra, Jason Mraz, Chet Baker, Maroon 5, Savage Garden, Dolly Parton

3. You recently hosted Instinct Magazines “Leading Men of 2008” parties nationwide. What was the best part of that? It was so much fun to be able to travel across the country and meet my amazing fans

7. If you were to have a duet with ONE artist, who would it be? why? Dolly Parton, she’s unbelievable. When I was younger, my mom and I would call into radio stations and request her songs and dance around the house together. As an artist, I admire her tenacity, charisma and her fearlessness in the face of naysayers.

4. You are now venturing off into Music. Does this mean that you are retiring from Modeling? I love modeling. I am actively pursuing acting, modeling and music - the tri-fecta. 5. Everyone has a favorite top Model, who is www.horizonbarcelona.com yours? Are you a Top or a Bottom Model? LOL.

8. I couldn’t help but to notice on the track “Taste of her Sin” you say “her” instead of “his.” You are already openly gay. Do you feel you might be selling out to mainstream pop music? No, not at all. When I’m creating music, I’m not doing so for issue 35any particular group. I’m telling a story... painting a picture. My personal

orientation shouldn’t and will not dictate my art. “Taste of Her Sin” happens to be about a girl, the next single might be about boy; I’m just letting the music guide me. 9. Do you have any advice for the new contestants of “Make Me a Supermodel?” Be true to yourself and make the most of success may come their way. But above all else to remain humble and gracious to those who have believed in them from the beginning. 10. When will a full album/ EP become available? Soon, very soon. You can hear Ronnie’s music as well as video @ www.myspace.com/ronniekroell2020 Please visit www.joshuami11er.blogspot.com for more on West Hollywood Nightlife and Gossip!

FOOD

Taste: Most Memorable Meals Our fall issue gathers the insider secrets of (a teaser) some of the world’s most renowned gay and lesbian chefs. Here’s a tasty teaser to whet your appetite for more.

In Provincetown, Mass., we ate lobster rolls nearly ever day for dinner. After coming out of a tea dance we’d be starved and ready for the street food at the oyster shucker’s window, where we’d devour Wellfleet oysters and paper cups full of creamy clam chowder.

Jennifer Biesty, contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef

It was 15 degrees out in Denver and we had grilled buffalo sausages stuffed with cream cheese and topped with onions caramelized in Coke. Chef and TV personality Susan Feniger, Border Grill, Santa Monica, Calif Sautéed vegetables with chicken for lunch at Fred Segal in Los Angeles. Bruce Bozzi Jr., restaurateur, the Palm Restaurant Group The best dinner in New York is Nova sliced fresh by seasoned countermen at Zabar’s. Get that with Zabar’s scallion cream cheese and then go next door to get a sesame seed bagel at H&H Bagels and put it all together. Raphael Kadushin, food journalist, Madison, Wisc

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

FOOD

The best dinner in New York is Nova sliced fresh by seasoned countermen at Zabar’s. Get that with Zabar’s scallion cream cheese and then go next door to get a sesame seed bagel at H&H Bagels and put it all together. Raphael Kadushin, food journalist, Madison, Wisc. Mexicana Mama in NYC. I can still see and taste the exquisite chiles en nogada. None that I have had since then even comes close -- even here in Mexico! Chef David Sterling, founder of Los Dos Cooking School, Mérida, Mexico My most memorable dinner was my last night working at the Windows on the World in NYC’s World Trade Center. We started with the roasted foie gras, glazed in sauternes, and accompanied by a galette of pears and potatoes. The veal shank “tres Migueles” came sealed in parchment with cumin, garlic, and other Mexican aromatics, then roasted in its own juices. I had no idea then that I would be saying goodbye that night to many of my colleagues for the very last time. Andrew Freeman, restaurateur and restaurant consultant, San Francisco Mario Batali’s Otto in NYC. We started with a white bean, rosemary, and olive oil bruschetta that was so simple -- mounds of creamy perfectly cooked white beans seasoned beautifully atop a thick slice of toasted baguette. A small, thin, crisp-crusted pizza came next loaded with a variety of roasted wild mushrooms -- heavenly! The pasta, a very al-dente Bolognese, was rich but light. Our next serving was the seafood board. A variety of cold and hot seafood samplings served in small white ramekins (seven in all), everything from fried crispy tidbits to chilled squid salad. Next came the cheese and charcuterie boards. The server came to the table carrying a large jar of amber colored honey speckled with what looked like tiny black flakes. It was black truffle honey! He then proceeded to spoon some of the liquid gold onto the charcuterie board. I’d never

tasted anything quite like it before. It had the flavor of an earthy, almost musty tasting molasses, great with the cheese. The evening ended with olive oil gelato sprinkled with sea salt and drizzled with pure olive oil. Reggie Southerland, contestant on The Next Food Network Star and chef at Say Cheese gourmet shop and café, Los Angeles Istanbul’s Seyhmuz Kebap Salonu behind the Grand Bazaar has the best kebabs served with salad and hot flatbreads baked to order. In nearby Lebanon, sit on the front terrace in the sun overlooking the old Roman ruins of the Byblos Port with fattoush salad and fried baby squid at Bab El Mina restaurant. Chef Christine Manfield, East @ West, London Israeli cherry tomatoes from Israel. They grow in warm houses in the south of Israel in such abundance that they are always in season and always dirt-cheap. Gil Hovav, Israeli TV food personality The Makroud cookies and fig liquor, called boukha, in Hammamet, Tunisia. Chef Jamie Lauren, Absinthe, San Francisco An unusual dish in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, was rabbit in tomato and apricot mash -- very spicy yet sweet. Chef Rudy Kerremans, Café Des Artistes, Ubud, Indonesia

I love the smorgasbord at Ulriksdals Wardshus, an endless buffet of the kind of food you actually want to eat, starting with a cold seafood table featuring 11 different Baltic herrings in various marinades. The setting is also gorgeous -- a country inn just outside Stockholm sitting in the park of an 18th-century palace. Raphael Kadushin, food journalist, Madison, Wisc. There is a little shop in Paris right off the Rue de Rivoli in the Marais that has the best damn chocolate éclair I’ve ever tasted. Chef Larkin Mackey, Larkin’s, Los Angeles In Spain’s Basque country at Mugaritz, crushed potatoes, broken eggs, and a “vegetable coal” -- or a dish of sweet scallops, acorns, and root vegetables -- are interrupted only by the faint bitterness of olive oil. Chef and food personality Tony Tan, Melbourne On a beach on Koh Samui, Thailand, tables were set in the sand just above the waterline. The catch of the day really was caught that day -- we picked out our fish, it disappeared into a hut and returned perfectly cooked. That was the night I decided to open a seafood restaurant. Chef Christine Keff, Flying Fish, Seattle

Want to lower your cholesterol levels, reduce your risks of heart disease and cancers, regulate your blood sugar, and help boost your health in countless other ways? Don’t reach for a pill bottle. Instead, try adding socalled “super foods” to your diet that pack enormous nutritional and disease-fighting punches. Many also can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism and burning fat and calories. Here are eight super foods that the website Hungry-Girl. com recommends adding to your diet today to improve your health and help you stay trim. 1) Lean protein. The body burns more calories while digesting protein than it does digesting fats or carbohydrates. But make smart choices, like lean meats and especially fish. Beans are also an important source of healthy protein. 2) Whole grains. Not only do whole grains provide needed carbohydrates and fiber but they have been shown to reduce risks of stroke, heart disease, and type II diabetes, as well as helping reduce the buildup of belly fat. 3) Grapefruit. This citrus fruit is low in calories but packed with vitamin C and antioxidants that help burn fat and keep your immune system healthy.

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

4) Green tea. In addition to being very low in calories and reducing rates of heart disease and cancer, this super food also has been shown to raise the body’s metabolism, which helps burn fat. 5) Spicy foods. Not only do spicy foods increase your heart rate and metabolism, which helps burn fat, but they also have been shown to reduce arthritis pain, high blood pressure, cold and flu symptoms, and even migraines. Most hot sauces, as well as cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes, are very low in calories. 6) Light dairy products. Low-fat or fat-free dairy foods provide calcium and protein without the additional fat. Among the health benefits of dairy products are reduced risks for osteoporosis, reduction of high blood pressure, and a reduced risk of dental cavities. 7) Cinnamon. Studies have shown that cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body, lowering risks for diabetes and weight gain. It also has been shown to have antimicrobial activity, particularly with regard to slowing the growth of the problematic yeast Candida. 8) Apples. Packed with natural soluble fiber, apples also contain pectin, which limits how much fat your cells can absorb. A type of pigment in apples called flavenoids also has been shown to help prevent heart disease.

super food

FOOD

good mood food If you are beating back the winter blues, you should know that eating well and staying fit can help.

Find ways to keep up your activity level during the winter months and keep an eye on portion sizes to limit the “winter fat” that so many of us end up fighting each year. Keep blood sugars under control if you have insulin resistance or diabetes. Beyond that, there are some foods that can help you keep the badmood blues at bay. Foods that supply good amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and folate are good choices to improve mood. The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are certain varieties of fatty fish that live in cooler temperatures such as

salmon, tuna, and trout. Here are amounts you’d need to eat of some of the more popular and particularly potent seafood varieties to get about a gram of omega-3s: herring, 1½ to two ounces; salmon, two to four ounces; rainbow trout, three to four ounces; sardines, two to three ounces; white tuna (canned, in water), four ounces; Pacific oysters, two to three ounces. While they are not as potent for this job, you can also try flaxseeds, walnuts, and eggs fortified with omega-3s. Don’t overdo intake, though, because higher doses can worsen

blood-sugar control. Sticking to between a half and 1½ grams of omega-3s per day is your safest bet. Dietary folate equivalents are measurements that help compare folate levels in foods that may be absorbed differently. A deficiency in folate in the blood can cause depression, and although depression doesn’t necessarily indicate a folate deficiency, it is not a bad idea to emphasize highfolate foods this winter. Examples are enriched cereals and breads, legumes, and even some fruits and vegetables. About 400 micrograms

per day is recommended. You should know that overdoing this nutrient can cover up problems you may have with vitamin B12, so easy does it! This list will give you an idea of how much you will consume in selected foods: readyto-eat breakfast cereals, 100–400 DFEs per cup; cooked lentils, 180 per half cup; cooked pinto beans or chickpeas, 140 per half cup; dry-roasted sunflower seeds, 150 per half cup; orange juice, 60–100 per cup; asparagus, 100 per five spears; cooked spinach, 100 per half cup; cooked broccoli, 45 per half cup; romaine lettuce, 40 per half cup. Also remember that having balance in your diet is as important as emphasizing these foods for mood. Eat well to stay well this winter! Fields-Gardner is the director of services for the HIV nutrition company Cutting Edge and is a member of the International AIDS Society and the American Dietetic Association’s Dietetic Practice Group on HIV and AIDS. She is the author of Living Well With HIV and AIDS: A Guide to Nutrition and a coauthor of HIV Medications: Food Interactions and A Clinician’s Guide to Nutrition in HIV and AIDS.

FOOD

Tel 020 7969 1475 Mob 0791 7565 800 info@eumigration.com

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

TRAVEL

Beaches and Take a headlong dive into the surf, sand, and soul of Brazil’s obsessively sexy beach culture. With 5,000 miles of coastline, there’s a lot to choose from. Brazil is guilty of a torrid love affair with the sun. When it’s raining in Rio, locals hurry by with umbrellas cloaking expressionless faces like shocked victims of sudden infidelity. But when it’s sunny, especially in the summer months (our winter), it seems the entire population can be found basking on the sand. Spanning the equator and nearly 5,000 miles long, the shimmering Brazilian coastline is host to regions as diverse as the arid northeastern flatlands of Salvador, the misty Atlantic rain forest of the Discovery Coast near Porto Seguro, and the mountainous tropical zone of Rio de Janeiro. So there’s a perfect beach for everybody: lovers, divers, hang gliders, snorkelers, surfers, nudists, or dime-store mystery readers. Most big urban beaches, like Ipanema and Copacabana in Rio, and even some smaller beaches have sections primarily for gays and lesbians. New Year’s Eve and carnival (the infamous four-day midsummer celebration during late February) are siren calls for travelers all over the world to drop their anchors and let the tide wash them onto Brazil’s shores. It was raining when I arrived in Rio last September, so I escaped driving north to Búzios, where cariocas (citizens of Rio de Janeiro) go to really cut loose. Búzios was a lazy fishing village until it was

made famous by Brigitte Bardot, who spent a summer there in 1964 with her Brazilian boyfriend. Bardot’s legacy has transformed Búzios into a resort town: Top-tier guesthouses and pampering hotels nestle in its hills. As much as I liked my sunga (bikini), I couldn’t wait to take it off and let the sun envelop me. I’d parked close to Praia Olho de Boi, a naturist beach on the eastern tip of the Búzios peninsula, at an adjacent fishermen’s beach, Praia Brava. From here a red dirt path meanders up and over the mountain separating Brava from Olho de Boi. Along the way I met three proud fishermen carrying the morning’s catch (this evening’s dinner), a burnished mare grazing on hillside vegetation, and a small crab skittering down the basalt that frames the beach. The morning sun smiled on me as I windmilled down the steep path, tore off my sunga, and raced across shell fragments worn smooth by the waves to float in the warm tidal pools that make this cozy cove a bather’s paradise. Though not specifically a gay beach, Olho de Boi is popular with gay men and straight couples, resulting in a relaxed mix of blissed-out nudists. If Ipanema is where Brazilians go to cruise, and Búzios is where they go to relax, then Porto Seguro is where they go on honeymoon. Here in the Bahia, 600 miles north of Rio, Brazil was born. Pedro Cabral, a Portuguese explorer, discovered this coastline in 1500, and it retains a rustic, historic authenticity. Small pousadas (guesthouses) are the rule in the neighboring beach town of Arraial d’Ajuda. The beaches here are narrow and tranquil, the waters clear and green. The surf is calm, tempered by a long offshore reef system, and when you wade into the waves the sand is so soft that your ankles sink into the seabed. You literally become one with the beach as the water cascades ashore in a cool, gentle froth. Just south of Porto Seguro is the Atlantic rain forest, large parts of

which are still protected. I wanted to see the savage coast and booked a trip through Selvagem Adventure, a gayfriendly company that specializes in taking visitors to the remote cliff towns that date to the earliest Portuguese missions. Eduardo, Selvagem’s owner, put his Land Rover into four-wheel drive, and we chugged through arroyos cut deep into dirt roads from the recent rains. A swath of blue appeared to the east. As we approached the last hill before the coastal town of Espelho, the Atlantic wind pushed the southern clouds behind us into the forest. We trekked down a wild oceanside bluff and found ourselves facing a lashing steely sea. To our right was infamous Praia do Amores.

“How did it get the name?” I asked. “In the 1950s, before TV,” explained Eduardo, “Teenagers used to come down here at night. Now away from their families, they would light bonfires, talk, and have sex for the first time. And even now”--his eyes lit up--”it is very private.”

TRAVEL

Boys of Brazil the finest aspects of every urban beach you’d ever been to, you’d wind up on Praia Ipanema in Rio, a mile-long strip of soft natural sand blessed with tropical weather virtually year-round. It has the surf of Waikiki--and its surfer mentality-with the diversity and tolerance that comes from big-city life and centuries of cultural blending.

Bordered by sharp coral formations that were left behind when the seas last receded, Praia do Amores was uninhabited this cloudy morning. But our presence there triggered the sun to fight its white cover and cast it away. I pretended I was a castaway as we wound north down the flat white virgin sands to Praia Espelho. I stood on the veranda of a gracious guesthouse and watched the sun advance from the sea. A great band of vibrant green striped the cobalt cloud shadows one cresting wave at a time, until what came crashing to the shore was not just meringue foam-or salt or wind or sand--but the very soul of Brazil, the equatorial inferno of the bright spring sun.

Ipanema shares with Waikiki a glorious vista of natural beauty (Rio has Sugarloaf, Honolulu has Diamond Head) and a promenade of luxurious hotels ringing the ocean. Yet Ipanema-and its more famous neighbor, the curvaceous Copacabana--also contains the playground athleticism, contented faces, and gleaming hard bodies of Mediterranean beach towns. There’s the happy backbeat of lapping surf, soccer balls smacking off thighs, the slap of paddleballs on wood. Silent capoeira dancers leap to these rhythms and to the laughter that accompanies another Brazilian invention, futevole, which resembles beach volleyball (only it’s played with a soccer ball, and you can’t use your hands).

In an open-air café that night in Arraial d’Ajuda, a bossa nova singer swaggered to my table and handed me a gourd to shake in rhythm to his fingerpicking. “Tall and tan and dark and lovely,” he sang gently, “The girl from Ipanema goes walking / And when she passes, each one she passes goes, ‘Ah.’ “ I understood then the true nature of saudade, my longing deep as ocean blue for Rio de Janeiro. For if you could bring together

Rio’s beaches are a wonderful mix of locals and tourists, as in Barcelona or on Venice Beach in Los Angeles, with room on the sand for necessities like jungle gyms and free weights. Brazil promotes a culture of the body, and the most beautifully honed muscles in the world are here. Ipanema has inherited the drumming counterculture of Holland’s Zandvoort, and like the Caribbean beaches of Montego Bay, Jamaica, it is fragrant with bonfires, incense, and marijuana without Montego’s homophobia or violent hustling. It has the

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

open gay life of parts of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Sitges, Spain, with an entire section dedicated to gays and lesbians. Cariocas practice the “any excuse for a party” joie de vivre of boozy Midwestern lakefronts, giving it a cruisy down-home feel with plenty of beer and boom boxes, even steamed corn on the cob. This close to the equator, the Atlantic is warm and welcoming year-round, and if the surf’s high, it only means it’s happy to see you and wants to take you for a ride. My friend Rostand, cofounder of Rio G, a gay and lesbian travel center just off the beach, was not impressed. “There’s nobody here,” he protested. I looked around. There were at least 200 people on the gay beach: coupled barbies (gay yuppies) lounging with friends and small children, single buffies (muscular machos) strutting from parasol to parasol, a happy threesome of two guys and a girl toweling each other off. “Today it is completely empty. It is like having sex without an orgasm. You must return in the summer when there are 2,000 of us.” I didn’t agree with him then, but now that I’m back in the States I know he’s right about one thing. I have to go back and the sooner the better.

FOOD

cozyDesigner.com

FOOD

tel. 07717748034 kris@cozydesigner.com

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

24/7

WEB & GRAPHIC DESIGNER FLASH HTML LOGOS POSTERS MAGAZINES & more ...

PHOTOGRAPHY

PEDRO VIRGIL BIOGRAPHY Pedro has been shooting fashion, sport and advertising for the last five years. Having a background of four years in SPFX and prosthetics, he worked in film and T.V. and visual art direction before making the transition to photography. He describes his work best, as a fusion of mood, special effects, lighting and cinematography

Pedroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work can be viewed online at: www.pedrovirgil.net contact and enquiries : +61 415 248 919 email : info@pedrovirgil.net

to create a photograph that perfectly tells a story. Having a great passion for sport, animals and nature, his work usually involves : motion , vivid colors and great locations. A cross section of Pedroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photography ranges from high fashion, to motion picture stills, special effect shoots, celebrity editorials and portraits, to sport and beauty. Over the years, Pedro has worked with a long list of corporate clients and prestigious clientele, but whether the job is big or small; it is always 100% that he puts in, to capture the perfect moment.

PHOTOGRAPHY

CORPORATE CLIENTS:

SPORTING STARS: NRL

FOXTEL / FOX8 CRICKET AUSTRALIA 3 MOBILE Australia’s Next Top Model (FOX8) PROJECT RUNWAY AUSTRALIA (FOX8) FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR (FOX8) SONY ERICSSON ADIDAS COTY AUSTRALIA GAZAL McGRATH FOUNDATION Australian Vogue Tourism Australia Australian Idol Cosmopolitan Magazine (Australia & U.K.) CALVIN KLEIN ( USA, AUSTRALIA) VAN HEUSEN SFX SORTS (Australia & U.K.) MISS UNIVERSE AUSTRALIA Miss World Australia Who weekly Magazine Harpers Bazaar CLEO magazine 9-5 magazine CHANNEL TEN ROLEX WATCHES EXECUJETS ASN : Australian Sport and Nutrition NRL : National Rugby League In Style magazine BRUNO BANANI Men’s Fit Underwear National Breast Cancer Foundation Surf Life Saving Australia DNA magazine Singleton and Ogilvy OROTON

Johnathan Thurston Sonny Bill Williams Andrew Johns Matt Cooper Brett Stewart David Williams Amos Roberts Ben Ross Nick Youngquest Ashley Harrison Brent Webb Paul Whatuira Michael Witt Riley Brown Stuart Webb

PLAYERS Daniel Conn Mark Minichiello Luke O Donnell Liam Fulton Brad Tighe Greg Bird Justin Hodges Andrew Johns John Morris Kurt Gidley Brendan Hunt Josh Perry Luke Quigley Clint Newton

CELEBRITIES SHOT: Actors Heath Ledger Nicole Kidman Russell Crowe Rebecca Gibney Marcus Graham Melissa George Chris Hemsworth Beau Brady Luke Jacobs Luke Carrol Alex Dimitriades Helena Christiansen Rodger Corser Grant Denyer Aaron Jeffery

(underbelly) (ALIAS) (Home & Away) (Neighbours) (McLeods Daughters) (The Alice) (Head on, underbelly) (supermodel) (Underbelly) (Australia’s got Talent) (Mcleods Daughters)

SINGERS/RECORDING ARTISTS:

MISC CELEBRITIES:

TONI BRAXTON ELTON JOHN Brian Mcfadden (westlife) Kylie Minogue Danni Minogue Human Nature Christine Anu Vanessa Amorossi Cosima De Vito Melissa Tkautz Brielle Davis Kate Ceberano Deni Hines Tammin Sursok Tiffani Wood

Anthony Mundine Ben Cousins Shannon Taylor Paul hurricane Briggs Joshua Ross Daniel Batman Matt Shirvington

www.horizonbarcelona.com

issue 35

(boxer) (AFL) (boxer) (boxer) (100 m sprinter) (400m sprinter) (100m sprinter)