IN Toronto Magazine: July 2010

Let the Games Begin DJs Dwayne Minard, Denise Benson & Jamal’s Pride & summer parties

Gaga over Gaga

RETRO COOL

Fashion from TO’s Philip Sparks THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

Pride 2010

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A

fter Scott Dagostino’s story on Pride Toronto Award winners was published, “A Pride of Community Lions,” some recipients declined their awards in protest over Pride Toronto’s decision to ban the words “Israeli apartheid” from this year’s Pride, including Michelle Walker (Community Service), Jane Farrow (Honoured Dyke), Gloria Careaga and Renato Sabbadini (International Grand Marshals) and Alan Li (Grand Marshal).

As many as 23 current and past award recipients and honorees returned their honours including James Loney, Zahra Dhanani, Sky Gilbert, El-Farouk Khaki, Rachel Epstein, Gareth Henry, John Greyson and Salah Bachir.

For more on this story, see page 8.

A

s we went to press with this issue Pride Toronto reversed its ban. Now it will require Pride participants to sign the City of Toronto’s anti-discrimination policy.

For more on this story, see page 12.

THE MINT MEDIA GROU P PRESIDENT

Patricia Salib

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Reggie Lanuza

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Nelson Tomé PROJECT COORDINATOR

Jara Solis

THI S I SSU E CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Paul Gallant, Krishna Rau

CONTRIBUTORS Nicola Betts, Chris Jai Centeno, Scott Dagostino, Peter Knegt, Keith Loukes, Glenn Mackay, Kent Monkman, Brian Phillips, Corey Pierce, Michael Pihach, Kevin Ritchie, Steph Rogerson, Ryan Russell, Adam Segal, Richard Silver, Michael Thorner, Chris Tyrell, Anna Von Frances, Jenna Wakani, Lulu Wei

ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Glenn Mackay.

WARDROBE: Bustle (available at JacFlash, GotStyle and Anti Hero).

MAKEUP: Karleigh Johnstone.

LOCATION: Maro

CORRECTION

Pride grand marshals and honoured groups are no longer chosen by popular vote but selected by a jury of former Pride award winners. Incorrect information appeared in our last issue.

Glenn Mackay

Make the scene DJS SPIN US ROUND

by Kevin Ritchie

THE LOF T

Lulu Wei

YOUR Jenna Wakani

LETTERS

CONTENTS

WEEK WORKOUT

by Michael Pihach

Philip Sparks MEN’S SUMMER FASHIONS

by Chris Jai Centeno

PRIDE POLITICKING by Michael Pihach .....................................................................................................................

TORONTO’S SEXY STREETS by Brian Phillips ....................................................................................................

CENSORSHIP & HATE by Krishna Rau......................................................................................................................

SOCCER: THE GREAT EQUALIZER by Scott Dagostino ...............................................................................

OPEN HOUSE: HOTEL LIVING by Gordon Bowness.......................................................................................

RELATIONSHIP ADVICE with Adam Segal............................................................................................................

DISPLAY CASE : ICE CREAM by Steph Rogerson..............................................................................................

WHAT FLAVOUR PRIDE? by Michael Pihach & Kevin Ritchie........................................................................

THE FRINGE FESTIVAL by Gordon Bowness........................................................................................................

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT by Peter Knegt ...........................................................................................................

STYLIN’ with Chris Tyrell .....................................................................................................................................................

CAUGHT IN THE ACT by Michael Pihach.................................................................................................................

SEX & HEALTH with Dr Keith

........................................................................................................................................

LEARN TO STRIP AT HOME by Ryan Russell ......................................................................................................

T H E AT R I U M 571 Adelaide St. E, Toronto 416.601.1454 ardevents.com

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TalkExchange

MARCH

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DRUM

Parade by Pierre Durette is part of the carnival-themed group show, The Greatest Show on Earth, running Fri, July 2 to 24 (noon to 6pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, noon to 8pm on Thursday and Friday) at Xspace (58 Ossington Ave). Boylesque perform opening night; closing reception Fri, July 23. Participating artists include Brett Despotovich, Alexis Mitchell, Amanda Nedham, Aldo Parise, Margaret Saliba and Carolyn Tripp.

(416) 849-2864. xspace.info.

The personal is political

We asked Torontonians what was the most political thing they’ve ever done at Pride by Michael Pihach

My decision not to go.

I have attended, but found I didn’t identify with the singular gay identity the festival projects. Pride is overcommercialized — with its gay-for-pay beefy boys in TD green bootyshorts — and largely apolitical, as streets full of suburbanites consume a caricature of gay life.

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Andrew Fraser Stewart Cheering for four people on a Conservative Party considers himself to be centre left, I know showing support for Conservatives is often frowned upon, especially at gay events. Being gay community is often the most controversial thing one can do.

Michael Pihach

Russ Martin

Ben Simbulan

Zahra Dhanani

Voting in the 2004 federal election on the Monday after Pride. I partied all weekend, but still made it to the polls.

After Pride Toronto banned the term “Israeli apartheid” the Pride Coalition for Free Speech organized four demonstrations, 10 deputations to City Hall, three community forums and various media campaigns. 23 past Pride honorees gave back their titles, including me; I have never felt as honoured, standing in solidarity with thousands of community members.

James Hutchison Squirting former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman with a squirt gun. He was in the Pride Parade. I got him in the torso.

Ryan Tartaglio

Josh Levy

Marching in the Pride Parade with the Eastern Canada LeatherSIR/ Leatherboy group wearing a chainmail gladiator skirt and mooning a religious group holding a ‘God Hates Fags’ sign.

I remember a “die-in” was 17. We all lay down on the pavement and people drew chalk outlines around us in remembrance of those lost to the AIDS crisis.

INSIGHT

In their own words Todd Klinck and Mandy Goodhandy, coowners of the Church St bar Goodhandy’s, were named Grand Marshals for this year’s Pride Parade after physician Alan Li declined the honour, along with many other past and present honorees, in protest over Pride Toronto’s decision to ban the term “Israeli apartheid.”

Here are their takes on the controversy.

“We support free speech. We encourage dissent. We encourage Queers Against Israeli Apartheid to march in the parade, whether authorized or unauthorized.

“We now have the chance to march with a loud, colourful, uncensored marching contingent of supporters related to the causes and events that we have directly dealt with inside our nightclub Goodhandy’s over the past four years. We want to draw attention to the fact that our community involves sex workers, trans people, nudists and fetishists; that sex positivity is important. Our issues are inherently interwoven with the issue that has caused this massive rift and controversy: freedom of speech, freedom of expression.

“To those of you who are returning your past Pride Toronto honours, we respect you. To those of you who are questioning our integrity by not joining the other honourees in returning our honour, remember, sometimes it is better to have someone on the inside supporting the cause. We feel that returning our honours and refusing to lead the parade would be counterproductive to the overall goals of the community.”

“I have been actively involved in many social justice movements locally and internationally for the last 30 years. I was a keynote speaker at the second Pride celebration in 1982. I thus remember very clearly our community’s battles against censorship that attempted to invalidate our concerns, minimize our struggles and silence our voices.

“Pride’s recent decision to ban the term ‘Israeli apartheid’ and thus prohibit the participation of the group Queers Against Israeli apartheid from Pride celebrations this year is a slap in the face to our history of diverse voices. Pride’s choice to take preemptive steps to censor our own communities’ voices and concerns in response to political and corporate pressure shows a lack of backbone to stand up for principles of inclusiveness and anti-oppression. It also allowed Toronto City Council and other levels of government to evade their responsibility to engage in public debate and to promote awareness and understanding on this critical human rights issue.”

Todd Klinck and Mandy Goodhandy excerpted from their open letter; in full at facebook.com/notes/todd-klinck/trust-us/413733516512

Alan Li excerpted from his letter to Pride Toronto’s board; in full at queersagainstapartheid.org

Very Very Tweet Tweet Gaga Like it or not, in two short years Lady Gaga has captured the zeitgeist of a generation. Like

Madonna, and late ’80s Europop. In many of her songs, she utilizes the consciously-constructed minor verse/major chorus classic pop formula to maximize listener response. Dynamic production is only icing on this confection. You only need to be

Meeno photo

make no mistake: Based on her skill as a pop composer, her savvy in assembling a creative machine of producers, stylists, designers, videographers and promotional marketing strategists who seem to up the ante with each audio and video release, I am a fan. She understands how to package material for maximum exposure and impact. As well, Gaga shrewdly understands the power of social media and information networks, intimately connecting regularly with her fan base which she aptly calls her “little monsters.”

iconic powerhouse like Beyoncé allows herself to appear as a supporting character in someone else’s video, a true artist is commanding some serious respect from the music community.

Gaga is here to stay, and tweeps are tweeting about her prior to her two-night stand at the Air Canada Centre on Sun, July 11 and 12.

“Photo: I’m pretty sure Lady Gaga is wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs hat… http://bit.ly/91SFfG” “2 weeks ’til the @LadyGaga party at the Barn (Toronto) Lady Gaga & Britney Spears — Circus Ball. $5 ’til midnight, $10 after.”

“Lady Gaga $200 ticket in Toronto... who wants it?”

“I hate Toronto on Fri & Sat nights. My name is not Blondie, Goldie Locks or Lady Gaga. Please go home.”

Michael Thorner tweets at twitter.com/michaelthorner.

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Flirty swagger

Have you felt the new sexy vibe on Toronto streets? by Brian Phillips

T

ake a walk from the Eaton Centre to Queen and Spadina some Friday night — there is an undeniable sexiness, almost a swagger, on city streets. For those of us of a certain age, this attitude is new and very exciting.

My baby, WorldSalon, sprang into existence 20 years ago at the corner of Jarvis and Adelaide in the St Lawrence Market neighbourhood. My business and life partner at the time, John Taccone, and I were babies ourselves and in those early days we wondered what we had gotten ourselves into, especially on those mornings we had to navigate the individuals

Jenna Wakani photos

from St James Cathedral across the street would chime and our worries would evaporate.

Our neighbourhood has changed dramatically since then. Sparkling new condos have sprouted from parking lots and old gas stations. Fantastic restaurants, bars and galleries have replaced typewriter stores, tanneries and defunct court houses.

Back in the late 1800s, St Lawrence

Market was at the water’s edge, the many sailors serviced by a thriving red light district. Now new animals haunt the streets — young, sophisticated, urban professionals that writer Richard Florida dubs places to dump their hard-earned cash and have a good time. Also referred to as “echo boomers,” older kids of the baby boomers, they are motivated by the “three T’s” — talent, tolerance and technology.

To that let’s add a fourth T: Toronto.

Our city has attracted large numbers of this highly desired group who are the new “thought leaders” of our communisidewalks from Roncesvalles to Jones.

Friend and hair goddess Pamela Neal is known as the go-to girl for A-list music celebs; she has worked on videos for David Bowie, Björk and Marilyn Manson and most recently designed hair for Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning in Floria LA for the last four years, she returns to Toronto regularly to clip the locks of her devoted clients, so she’s in a good position

to notice how much the city is changing.

Neal. “I think it’s partly due to the amount of younger people.

“As Toronto gets older, it is becoming more grounded, more solid, in spite of all the new buildings. Nowhere else that I have travelled has the cultural diversity; every country is represented here and everyone seems to get along — not like in L.A.” Neal’s old neighbourhood on Ossington has twice as many people as when she moved away. Many of the new young businesses that have moved in, lured by cheap rents and the authenticity of the old world scuzziness, have cre-

is what is giving Toronto its culture and excitement.”

Kia Waese and partner Jerry Waese opened RAD, an exclusive clothing store inal building at the corner was demolished, replaced by one designed by Kohn Shnier architects. “We wanted to coolify a kooky corner,” says Jerry Waese, a former

builder and software specialist.

“Day and night, twenty- and thirtysomethings pulse by our sidewalk en route to drinks, music and rare specialty foods,” he says. “Sexiness is a property of the mind and Dundas West has a freshness with undertones of the exotic and forbidden.” has grown up. Our derelict waterfront is budding out. Liberty Village, City Place, Don Mills, Regent Park, River City, College St — there are so many pockets in this city that are being transformed.

We all have a part to play in keeping this energy alive and healthy. Getting involved in our communities, finding ways to live more sustainably, taking pride in what we have achieved thus far and dreaming about what is to come will keep us on the path of future prosperity and harmony.

Says Jerry Waese, “Every city does not need a Ripley’s attraction. Our identity is here in our people, our art, our hospitality and our courage.”

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Miscommunicating discrimination

As adversaries hurl accusations at each other, the legal landscape of censorship and hate speech in Canada is shifting underneath them by Krishna Rau

T

he run-up to this year’s Pride in Toronto — the 30th anniversary of one of the world’s biggest gay, lesbian and trans celebrations — has been marked by controversy and plagued by persistent questions of censorship and hate speech.

But while the term hate speech has been thrown around pretty freely, the legal and social realities of hate speech in Canada may be getting lost in the storm of accusations.

Pride Toronto had decided to censor the phrase “Israeli apartheid,” essentially banning the group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA), after coming under pressure from corporations, politicians and advocacy groups who claimed the phrase constituted hate speech. Pride pointed to a motion put before Toronto City Council

Hate Speech Around the World CANADA

Our hate speech laws are similar to those found in many western countries, most of which rely on the “incitement of hatred.” There are no records of prosecutions for the phrase “Israeli apartheid.”

ISRAEL

Israeli law does ban “the arousal of hatred, contempt or disloyalty toward the State or its lawfully constituted administrative or judicial authorities; the incitement or provocation of Israel residents to attempt changing by unlawful methods anything established by an enactment; the creation of discontent or resentment among Israel residents; the promotion of the population.”

And yet, at a Pride parade in Tel Aviv this June, a group called Israeli Queers Against Apartheid marched to protest Israeli policies.

GERMANY

Volksverhetzung (sedition) outlaws publicly inciting hatred or insulting the “human dignity” of parts of the population. Even if the act is committed abroad, if it is available in Germany — via the internet, for example — it can be prosecuted.

ICELAND, SWEDEN & UNITED KINGDOM

Potentially, in these countries, incitement may not be necessary. Expressing hatred of identiamong others — may be illegal if it’s seen as distressing or alarming.

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by mayoral candidate Giorgio Mammoliti to withdraw funding from Pride if QuAIA were allowed to march. drawn after Pride Toronto announced its ban.

“City council directs the city clerk to advise the Pride organizers that the City of Toronto’s 2010 funding and support will be revoked if Pride Toronto does not invoke the City of Toronto’s anti-discriminating policies and if Queers Against Israeli Apartheid participates in this year’s Pride Parade,” read the motion. Pride Toronto reversed its ban on June 23, now requiring Pride participants to sign the city's antidiscrimination policy.

Jewish advocacy groups such as B’nai Brith supported Pride’s original ban. “We wish to commend Pride Toronto for taking the correct and courageous step of restricting the hateful messaging of QuAIA,” stated Frank Dimant, B’nai Brith Canada’s execuPride Parade is about diversity and promoting human rights. Issues that clearly do not mesh with the hateful messaging and antiSemitism we have witnessed from QuAIA in past years.”

imously by the Ontario legislature earlier this year which condemned proIsraeli Apartheid Week is condemned as it serves to incite hatred against Israel, a democratic state that respects the rule of law and human rights, and the use of the word ‘apartheid’ in this context diminishes the suffering of those who were victims of a true apartheid regime in South Africa,” the motion read.

QuAIA responds to such accusations by pointing to the use of the term “apartheid” by Israeli politicians, academics, journalists and activists, as well as by South African activists like Archbishop

Desmond Tutu and the Congress of South African Trade Unions. opposes

anti-Semitism.

aggressively brands any criticism of Israel, its actions, and its policies as antiSemitic, generally without citing evidence of this supposed anti-Semitism,” states the QuAIA website.

While Pride Toronto wrestles over whether or not to ban a “hateful” phrase, the country may be loosening its hate speech restrictions.

LET IT OUT

Despite the varied success of such political pressure, legal experts say invoking hate speech usually backfires.

“By ever prosecuting someone, all you do is give a relatively marginal group a platform they would never otherwise have to spread their message,” says Brenda Cossman, a professor in the University of Toronto’s faculty of law, and director of the Sexual Diversity Studies program at the perfect example of this. A myriad of groups are coming to the defence of QuAIA that would otherwise never agree with them.”

In fact, no legal case has yet been made against the phrase “Israeli apartheid” under either the Canadian Criminal Code or any federal or provincial human rights acts. In fact, QuAIA were allowed to march without incident in a Pride parade in Edmonton in June. genocide and inciting hatred against any Rights Act equates expressing or inciting

discrimination or hatred against an identifiable group with the actual act itself. In both cases, gay men and lesbians are protected by the legislation, although that inclusion took years of struggle. Despite scaremongering, there have been no prosecutions of priests, rabbis, imams or churches for preaching against homosexuality.

But Cossman, who has written extensively about free speech and the law, sees some irony in the fact that the idea of hate speech, formulated to protect groups like gays, is now being used to divide the community.

She says such protections are outdated.

could have used hate speech laws, but that was long before gays were in the code. enough social acceptance.”

Recent events seem to vindicate Cossman’s position.

Human rights complaints alleging antiIslamic hate speech filed against journalists Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant have led to widespread calls for human rights commissions to concentrate on cases of actual

Corey Pierce

discrimination, rather than speech complaints. Even the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, the administrative body of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and a CHRC report has called Section 13 of the Act — which has been used against internet sites and telephone hate messages — unconstitutional. A parliamentary commission is currently looking at its repeal.

Stephen Boissoin, an Alberta pastor who published an anti-gay letter in a local newspaper in 2002, was found guilty by the province’s human rights commission in 2007 of promoting hatred under the Alberta Human Rights Act. But the ruling was overturned by an Alberta court last year, with the judge stating that the letter was “jarring, offensive, bewildering, puerile, nonsensical and insulting,” but not hate speech.

Alberta courts.

Cossman says she’s sympathetic to cases such as the one against Boissoin, but they don’t work.

“I think at least the intention of hate speech laws is something I could agree with in principle. I just don’t think they accomplish their objective.” ■

By the book THE CRIMINAL CODE STATES: “Everyone who advocates or promotes genocide

“everyone who, by communicating statements in any public place, incites hatred against any likely to lead to a breach of the peace” and “everyone who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, willfully group.”

MAN RIGHTS ACT STATES: “It is a discriminatory practice to publish or display before the public or to cause to be published or displayed before the public any notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation that expresses or implies discrimination or an intention to discriminate, or incites or is calculated to incite others to discriminate.”

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“It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate telephonically or to cause to be so communicated, repeatedly, in whole or in part by means of the facilities of a telecommunication undertaking within the legislative authority of Parliament, any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reason of the fact that that person or those prohibited ground of discrimination.”

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Give&take

by Kevin Ritchie

high from the rush of receptive body parts flailing between flashes of the strobe light. One body strays from the crowd and walks toward the DJ booth where it timidly waits for the selector to notice.

Seemingly the DJ doesn’t notice this lost lamb with a Britney Spears request on the brain. But she sees him, alright, she’s been waiting for him. Maybe even dreading him.

Requesting a song at a nightclub is delicate business.

Someone’s ego usually ends up bruised — or worse.

Earlier this year at an indie dance party at Augusta House in Kensington Market, a vindictive patron, apparently

NAME THAT TUNE We asked each DJ to name a quintessential song that best encapsulates the vibe of their parties.

DENISE BENSON “Jerk It” by Thunderheist “Thunderheist is something I heavily put my stamp on and the Cherry Bomb girls have been open to since the

ics, the hip hop and a strong female presence, so I would have to give it up for them.”

DWAYNE MINARD “Higher Love” by TJ Cases featuring Yvonne “Sexy groove. Playful keyboard hook.

Positive vibe.”

JAMAL “Get Into It” by Alan T “One of my favourites of all time is Alan T. He’s pretty much

because he crosses over, and that’s exactly what I do.”

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upset that the DJs had not yet played her request, ripped floor ground to a halt.

Most DJs are mindful of this urge to request. In the best of times, the clubber will ask for a song that gels with the DJ's set. But often the request is a complete non sequitur. For DJs intent on a long-term career, it’s important to balance what the audience wants to hear with songs they don’t yet know they want to hear.

Denise Benson, Dwayne Minard and Jamal are three veteran DJs playing at this year’s Pride festivities who have not only succeeded at the game by playing music on their own terms, they have introduced Toronto to new sounds and created unique party spaces for diverse audiences.

Cozmic Cat (aka Paula) to throw a monthly jam called Cherry Bomb at College St bar Andy Poolhall. Aimed at lesbians and their friends, the mandate is open format — sets can include everything from house, rock, reggae, dubstep to pop, techno and even a little Top 40.

“Both of us are party rockers. We’re both crowd pleasers,” says Benson. “We wanted to play music that we loved and introduce people to new sounds alongside one: Keep the music diverse, keep it interesting, bring people new things.”

Benson, who has been DJing for gay and mixed audiences in the city more than two decades, is also a club columnist for Eye Weekly, has covered underground music as a correspondent for a variety of outlets including CBC Radio Two, and programmed for CKLN. Cherry Bomb is one of two current residencies; the other is Synchro Fridays with DJ Andrew Allsgood, also at Andy Poolhall.

In May Benson and Cat began organizing a series of hip-hop focus and featured acclaimed Detroit-based rapper and activist Invincible, Philly DJ Benny E and local a year and book underexposed queer and queer-friendly acts from Canada and abroad. On Sat, July 3, they’ll bring the Cherry Bomb vibe to Pride for the official Dyke Day feature live performances by up-and-coming rapper/poet jazz, house vocalist Pip and Latin electro-groove act Lido Pimienta.

“As part of introducing people to new music we’re also interested in supporting artists and people who don’t necessarily get programmed,” she says. “We can bring a built-in, loyal audience and expand their fan base. So that’s important to us as well.”

As Benson gets older, she’s becoming more selective about the gigs she plays, but the challenge for her — and any DJ with an educational mindset — is a timeless one.

“I think that is the constant challenge or fine line between giving people what they know or being self-indulgent,” she says. “It’s always that give and take and that’s what’s kept it exciting for me.”

Dwayne Minard has been DJing house music for gay audiences for the past decade. He fell into DJing in the early 1990s when he landed an evening job as a performer and DJ, spinning Motown, disco and Top 40 at 1950s retro pub Studebakers. For 10 years he learned to mix, read a crowd and feel comfortable on stage. When the bar closed in 1996, he realized DJing was more than a part-time gig.

“After about six months I realized there was something missing,” he says. “I realized at that point this is a passion, this wasn’t just fun. I was yearning to get back and I always had such great respect for house DJs because I thought I could never play that. I was just a Top 40 DJ

Photography by Glenn Mackay. Wardrobe: Bustle

T

here’s a familiar exchange that happens in nightclubs all across the world. At peak hours, the dancefloor is jammed with a sweaty, drunken

NEGOTIATING DESIRES

Whether at Pride parties or their regular events, veteran DJs Denise Benson, Dwayne Minard and Jamal balance the music they love with the music the crowds demand.

INSIGHT

York DJ played a mash-up of the Denise Belfon soca classic “Work It” over a house 16

july 2010

Glenn Mackay. Wardrobe: Bustle

who did weddings.”

He started taking DJing seriously and things started to happen. He began landing gigs at clubs in London like Pacha, headlined at Fly Nightclub, teamed up with producer Gavin Bradley and landed a track on UK compilation Hed Kandi.

When he DJs the Central Stage at Pride (10pm, Sun, July 4), he’ll spin his new remix of pop artist Amanda Morra’s new track “Kisses.”

Despite his success, promoters at the city’s gay clubs prefer to program international acts in headlining slots, making it harder for local DJs like Minard to build a following. So Minard started his own jam, a monthly house music bash with DJ Mike B at Straight called Mr Big (next one: Sat, July 17). Aimed at gay men in their 30s, the party brings a progressive, big room house vibe to the multi-storey Church St bar’s intimate dance floors.

“Promoters want you to have a following but if they don’t support you and put you in the place of a headliner, then people don’t look at you as that,” Minard says.

“If I’m going to push a little further, it’s going to be with stuff like Mr Big and my own parties. It’s a mutual thing. You have to push to become bigger but the crowd has to be there to support and hopefully want to make you bigger.”

Another in-demand DJ in the city’s gay scene is Jamal Brereton, aka Jamal. He DJs at least six times a month and is a resident at Fly, Byzantium, the Barn’s weekly College Night party and at Montreal club Unity. His Pride gigs include Drama Queen at Cheval on Fri, July 2 and the Guvernment on Sun, July 4 for Prism’s Revival party.

An obsessive record collector and Jamaican culture junkie during his teenage years, Jamal is a self-taught DJ and promoter who grew up spinning reggae at basement jams, backyard BBQs and warehouse parties. He moved downtown at 19 and networked his way into the city’s VIP lounges, developing a love for lounge and house music.

A pivotal moment was hearing Lord G spin at now-defunct Peter St club System Soundbar, a favourite haunt back in the day where he met DJs such as Luscious,

DJs can lead their fans to appreciate new sounds and upand-coming acts.

SCENE MAKERS

beat. “It just kind of intrigued me — it was almost calypso,” he says. “It was the type of vibe you’d get in a reggae party.” he tries to create at all his sets. He is unforgiving when talking about DJs who meticulously pre-plan their sets; he prides himself on an ability to read any crowd at any moment. For that reason, he can’t say what to expect during his set at Pride’s Central Stage on Sun, July 4 (9:15pm, just before Minard).

“Clubs are very scared to give DJs that type of power to be able to decide when to play these things. A lot of DJs don’t even bother to fight for a sense of sound, they’ll just play a kind of jukebox,” says Jamal. “You have to be a DJ that is not going to play the norm and still be able to entertain the crowd.” building a home studio and working his Rolodex to land remix gigs and crossover into the straight or mixed club scene.

“I don’t necessarily follow trends. I make my own way and I try to be as original as I possibly can every time I play.” ■ KEVIN RITCHIE spins at Big Primpin on Fri, July 2 at Wrongbar. For more Pride and July party info, turn to page 28.

L I V I N G & H E A LT H

     

How to look your best in three weeks ust because you can fit into a 32 waist, doesn’t mean you are a 32 waist,” says personal trainer and health guru Jody Boynton.

Boynton feels some men make a common blunder when tracking their progress trying to lose weight — equating success with the ability to squeeze into a pair of tight, ill-fitting pants. “You’ll still see rolls,” says Boynton, “unless, of course, erwise known as muffin top — are precisely what get some gay men thinking about their body every spring. As throngs of topless, body-on-parade Pride and other summer parties loom, many toss the potato chips and hit the gym. For the dedicated, this process typically begins in February, allowing four to five months of conscious pec pumping and ab crunching that garners hot results in time for the big weekend. Others are not as organized and scramble to get in shape once June rolls around.

While getting fit is never a quick fix, you can, however, take steps to quickly improve. Boynton, who works at Extreme Fitness at Richmond and John, says it starts with a healthy no-holdsbarred diet. “If you consume lots of fibre and water, you can actually lose weight,” he says. Stock up on lentils, beans, peas and all-bran cereal. Drink two to four litres of water per day and eat small meals (300 calories each) regularly, every three hours. “Consistency is the key,” meaning a well-balanced breakfast (oatmeal or quality cereal) and lean meat or fish, greens or vegetables and some carbs, like sweet potato, the rest of the day. “Stop eating four hours before you hit the sack,” says Boynton, suggesting a protein, like chicken, and salad for dinner.

And say goodbye to those sugary alcoholic coolers, beer and, yes, pot. “Beer and marijuana promote estrogen in the body,” says Boynton, and estrogen packs on pounds. If you must drink, Boynton suggests sipping on something light, like

healthy, watch your milk consumption too. “Milk makes little cows into big cows,” says Boynton.

If you’re seriously overweight, the best activity you can do in three weeks is to walk or cycle in the morning and before supper: 30 minutes during week one, 60 minutes by week three. For the moderately pudgy, embracing cardio every other day, adding a circuit-style workout for the entire body, four days a week, will get you steps closer to sporting that dream Speedo.

Guys who are already ripped but want to look bigger at Pride should focus on their shoulders and back. “Lots of guys ignore their back because they can’t see it in the mirror,” says Boynton.

Follow these diet and workout tips and your best summer body is merely weeks away. Will you feel good? It takes “abs” to spell “absolutely.” ■

“CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY”

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The Great Game Can soccer make the world a better place? by Scott Dagostino

“

S

occer is not ashamed of what is,” announced FIFA spokesman Gunter Kohl on June 15. “Soccer is a gay sport.” Okay, Gunter Kohl doesn’t actually exist and this coming-out press conference was just a video

many enthusiasts feel soccer is indeed the gay-friendliest of sports.

“But don’t call it soccer,” insists Ole Calderone, cheering on England’s team in his red-and-white jersey. “It’s football or footie.” Calderone says he became a fan while living in the UK. “You live over there, you have to pick a team,” he says, and once you do, “you will find yourself riveted and falling in love with the sport.”

Football is ingrained in the culture of England where it was invented in the sion and “association” football, which the nickname-loving Victorians turned into “rugger” and “soccer” before exporting the sports to the world. While living in Wales, Calderone says soccer was essential in connecting him to other fans and making friends. “Much the same as the way the gay world works, your friends become your family.”

Michael Fiorino is a U of T student and bartender who plays with Downtown Soccer Toronto, a gay and lesbian co-ed

was “just right for me.”

“I kind of felt I was born to play it because my dad enrolled me in it,” Fiorino says. “It was really big in Durham region and it was less expensive to enrol kids in soccer than in hockey.” soccer a sport that brings people together.

After six years, DST now has 10 teams and 220 players. “You have players of all skill levels,” says Jordan Stewart, director makes for evenly matched teams. “When they hear about the league, I think a lot of people show up not expecting a really high calibre of play,” says Stewart, “but they find it’s a serious game. It’s not overly competitive — we have a good time — but it’s a good quality game of soccer.”

As a fan, Calderone loves what he calls “the ebb and flow of the beautiful game.” player Cristiano Ronaldo’s inability to keep a shirt on makes him a gay blog staple. Calderone admits to a huge crush on English players Wayne Rooney and Joe Cole and French former Manchester called him Ooh-La-La Cantona,” he laughs. Soccer stands apart from other sports in that the players gay men love

tend to love them back.

Freddie Ljungberg, Swedish soccer star turned Calvin Klein model, told the New rumour for a long time. I don’t mind at all. I am proud of that... so many gay people have amazing style.” England’s David Beckham, who models underwear for Armani, once told Sports Illustrated, “Being a gay icon is a great honour for me.”

But if soccer stars are beautiful, ripped and gay-friendly, it doesn’t explain why hospital coordinator Tara Sameshima and marketing manager Kim Alke are camped in front of a game on TV at Yonge St pub Gladaman’s Den. Vuvuzela jokes aside (referring to the South African horns blaring throughout the World Cup), what’s in it for lesbians?

“It’s a great excuse for drinking in the afternoon,” Alke laughs, “but it’s a lot of fun for getting some healthy competition going. It’s a sport you can play anywhere.” cent women. “One of the big goals,” says Stewart, “is to bring in more women and even it out.” It was a female friend who got him playing soccer to begin with. “She was playing in a lesbian softball league and she wanted something we could do together.

I kind of tripped into it but I’m glad I joined.”

Sameshima says she likes how soccer “lets people from other countries celebrate where they’re from.” When Italy won the World Cup in 2006, she says, “we rushed to Little Italy the second the game was over and it was a huge party all night long.” Fiorino celebrated too. “As soon as the game was over, my friend and I doubled up on my bike and rode around waving an Italian flag.”

Keph Senett started a travel blog (personalsa.wordpress.com) while travelling in South Africa last fall. “It kind of turned into soccer activism,” she says.

She loves how the sport connects people, east and west, young and old, male and female, straight and gay, calling the game “a great equalizer.” In a co-ed league like the DST, she says, “there are opportunities for growth and support and knowledge-sharing that you don’t find in sport in general.

“Not to get all misty about it but soccer really can make the world a better place.” ■ DOWNTOWN SOCCER TORONTO

play games at Withrow Park, near Danforth and Logan. downtownsoccertoronto.com.

L I V I N G & H E A LT H

OpenHouse

For the past seven years, artist and designer Bruno Billio has lived in a tiny apartment in the Gladstone Hotel that purposefully blurs the line between art installation and life by Gordon Bowness • photos by Nicola Betts

What makes for good design? Good design requires research and care and joy… shit is not fun to make.

How did your hunger for good design first manifest itself? As a little kid I could always get my mother excited about moving things around in the living room. She’d say, “Oh, I’ve tried so many And I’d be like, ‘Yes it does ’cause I moved it there this morning when you were at the bank.’ I redid our whole house when I was a teenager.

You grew up in North York, a child of Italian immigrants, and went to Italy by yourself at 17. When I went to Europe I realized, wow, I’m not crazy.

Everyone is as sensitive to their environment. Here, life was about working hard, Christmas, Easter, birthdays and weddings. In Europe, there was a living history, a neighbourhood where your grandparents and great grand-parents lived, a thousand-year-old church, a road where

20

july 2010

connections to history whereas here in North America that was just in books.

You couldn’t relate to it, not walking down Sheppard Ave. Why do you constantly rearrange this apartment? Because suddenly it’s not like yesterday anymore. It’s like fresh sheets — ah, everything’s better now.

I can start anew.

And you make sculpture that entices us to look at common objects anew. I was always aware of — or was fishing for it — that change of perception, whether from moving furniture or arranging objects. Once I found it, it became a tool that I could use.

How long did you study in Europe?

My intention was to study in Milan. But it’s very expensive. I told my parents I had saved up to study but all I had was a plane ticket. I was 19. I knew all these amazing people, however, from my time worktook me under their wing when I got to Milan: theatre artists, architects, design-

me, plus I spoke Italian, French and English. I skipped school and went right into studio as an assistant, did research, did translation. I worked with some amazing masters for three years. And I socialized with them. I learned just as much that way, by conversation, by listening, by going to shows.

When you came back to Toronto in 1994 your training wasn’t recognized. So I got a warehouse space and decided to do sculpture. I wanted to throw parties. I wanted to have people have people over for dinners….. Let’s talk about what you did this week, what you want to do next week. Let’s talk about that self-defined notion of education and conversation.

What do you think of all the development going on? I’m thrilled about all the construction on Queen St. I’m right in

the middle of it. I wake up 6 o’clock in the morning to the grinding of steel. It gets me excited. Finally something’s going on are moving in — who are turned on by a city evolving. No one gave a shit 30 years ago; no one was moving downtown, they were getting out. amazing, so I feel like I live in the centre of the country, of North America. It’s incredibly cool. have much room for stuff.

I have to be vigilant. If something comes in, something goes out. But I’m a Gemini.

I love something; then I hate it. But really, if I find something beautiful, it’s still beaube there. Someone else now has an opportunity to love it.

architecture. Apart from my laptop and iPod, it doesn’t look modern in here at all, even though I have a neon light streaking through the ceiling. It all flows together. doors are architecture but they’re also like art works. Everything holds its own.

If this room was empty it would still be

Much of your art consists of stacks of books, stacks of suitcases, chairs stacked on shoes. Why? I like to be stacking is a way of me organizing my objects, my possessions, and giving them a function. I love books. Now what do I do with them? I can give them away or I can become sculpture, they become blocks of colour with font. It’s a form of recycling.

Plus I love these shapes for the drama.

It’s what I call embracing laziness. Every form has its function. If I do nothing with them, they’ll do what they do, right?

Simple things are magic. apartment because I’m using the space as if there was no technology around me other than

me to the hotel. I always wanted to live in an old house, with its simple charms.

What’s best about living in a hotel?

It has a really big cool factor. I mean, walking to my front door is pretty amazing each time. Knowing that there are a lot of people in the building — who own the building, who work in the building, who come to the building — who are happy.

It’s like when you are a kid and you’re in a big crowd or a party and you hide, like under a coat. People can’t see you but you’re peeking out through a buttonhole or something. So you’re safe and at the same time it’s all crazy around you.

You’ve had Wednesday night dinners pretty regularly since 1994.

Why is entertaining so important to you? When you invite someone to your table and you share food, it creates a bond and a friendship that, even if it never goes beyond that, is very strong. When you’ve sat at someone’s table, maybe only once, you’ve shared something magical and perenergy is crazy in here.

Form equals function in both design and life.

All I have to do is set the table up, prepare the food, make sure the champagne is on ice. And the rest happens by itself.

What’s behind the curtain? I can’t tell you. ■

“Yellow-Black Tower” is part of the MOCCA group show continuing until Aug 15. 952 Queen St W. mocca.ca. This fall look for Billio’s installation on the exterior of the Gladstone Hotel for Nuit Blanche. brunobillio.com

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Neighbourhood in focus

T

Kensington Market by Richard Silver

o my mind the Queens of Kensington have got it all: Living in the centre of the city in Victorian houses, lofts and laneway Chinatown, shop for bagels, thousands of vegetables and cheeses, run home and then head off to the theatre district in 30 minutes.

Tour the alleys, dim sum restaurants and the incredible cultural diversity that has existed in Kensington Market for years. You cannot beat the prices for clothes, food and those soon-to-be “family heirlooms” that you may be selling at next year’s yard sale.

If you have visitors in from out of town stop dragging them to the CN Tower and spend the afternoon walkis open seven days a week including holidays (kensington-market.ca). If it catches your interest, there are tons of housing options close by. It is really the beating heart of Toronto.

22

july 2010

Converted buildings like the Kensington Market Lofts are usually more reasonable per square foot than new condos (but keep an eye on those maintenance fees).

Multiple-generation living abounds on nearby streets, perennial centre of new immigrant communities of Jews, Italians, Portuguese and Chinese. Many homes have summer kitchens in the basement and parents’ flats on the second and third floors. Houses here are valued in terms of the number of bedrooms rather than the amount of renovations.

Streets to the north of College have got some narrow but cheaper Victorian semis and attached homes. For the growing number of same-sex “kiddy couples” the area schools and diversity are huge bonuses.

If order and cleanliness is your thing, Kensington Market is not for you.

Confusion reigns and a good sense of humour is a must. ■ is a salesperson with Bosley Real Estate and blogs at torontoism.com

RICHARD SILVER

RelationshipAdvice WITH ADAM SEGAL

“

I feel like I’m about to make a big decision about the future of my relationship. I’ve been dating a guy for about four months now and it feels like we’re close to entering into a committed relationship.

Here’s the thing: I don’t know if I’m a fool for contemplating a nonmonogamous relationship. My boyfriend and I have both been burned in past relationships by cheating and it makes me wonder whether polyamory works. Is it possible to mate for life like swans or are we all just horny bunnies?” Raymond in Riverdale

H

lar question. I commend you for pausing to reflect at this important cross-

Anyone who tries to sell you on either monogamy or polyamory as the ultimate relationship format is likely the equivalent of a snake oil salesperson. Both monogamy and polyamory come with their share of complexities — it might just be a matter of figuring out which set of challenges you feel up for. son you identified for considering an open relationship is based on unresolved wounds and a fear of re-injury. I remember being at a New Age spa that had an ornate framed print which stated, “Be motivated in your life by desire, not fear.”

It was accompanied by an image of a goddess wearing bell bottoms staring over the edge of a steep cliff. So you have to ask yourself: What do you really want?

I passionately believe that it’s your responsibility to figure out what you want and go for it, even if it’s unconventional.

And no matter which you choose, you should know it will hurt at some point.

But monogamy’s not a guaranteed rainples who dress the same and call each other nauseating nicknames also (gasp!) suffer from sexual dry spells and anxiety over all the bunny hopping they’re missing out on.

Your assumption that monogamy necessarily equals deception is just as wrong as saying open relationships are necessarily the best way to live your wettest dreams.

know full well that they have to be up ongoing questions you and your partner Is sex with random guys at the gym fair game or are you supposed to stick to mutual pals? Is there a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach, or are you up for hearing Jealous much? Is your place off limits, or is it the only acceptable destination?

Will these trysts be scheduled or is 24-7 cruising permissible? It’s probably a good idea to agree to always being amenable to revisiting these questions and negotiating Word of caution: For some people, the prospect of an open relationship can be super scary. If you want to try it, I’d recommend learning about it as much as you can before jumping in. You’re going against tradition, but you shouldn’t go it alone. Do you know anyone in a healthy open relationship? Talk to people. Do some research. Your heart will thank you for it.

Non-monogamous relationships are and not always in a good way — and they take tonnes of work, maybe even a relationship therapist once in a while. But if you’ve both been respectful with each other, and caring, I can pretty much guarantee you’ll grow from the experience no matter what happens. ■

works in private practice in downtown Toronto. Ask him your relationship or mental health question at relationship@intorontomag.com.

P1397 RL In Toronto:RL

4/23/10

12:56 PM

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Thinking outside the triangle.

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Tune in to the The Shaun Proulx Show Fridays at 7:30 p.m. E.S.T. Find more at outtv.ca

DisplayCase

I scream, you scream, we all scream for fun design

by Steph Rogerson COOL ARCHITECTURE

Dutch Dreams ice cream parlour (78 Vaughn Rd; dutchdreams.ca) combines Nederlander kitsch with the best ice cream in the

Proud to be

Delicious

60 flavours served in homemade waffle cones with whipped cream and fruit. Family owners Jr’s wife Dina have been running the show for almost 30 years. Look up the street and see the giant ice cream slide.

PICTURE PERFECT

Toronto artist Jill Henderson’s 100 Ice Creams blueprint poster is smart and whimsical. I love it so much, I have one.

One hundred drawings of 100 different ice creams — what’s not to love? Posters are $25 at Art Metropole (788 King St W; artmetropole.com).

LIGHT IT UP

Don’t curse the darkness, light an ice cream lamp.

Studio Brillantine (1518 Queen St W; studiobrillantine.com) has a number of ice-cream-inspired designs, from piggy banks to bowls to Italian gelato scoops. My favourite is the $68 floor lamp aglow with soft-serve goodness.

BECAUSE OF TV

If you watch a lot of the Food Network, you know the importance of perfection. Williams-Sonoma (100 Bloor St W; other locations at williamssonoma.com) has a $26 Piazza Ice Cream Scoop less steel scoop has a cog-and-ratchet mechanism that is, yes, spring loaded. Ideal for ice cream, gelato, sorbet or cookie dough.

416-481-7658 www.josearato.com

LISTINGS & EVENTS

TALL SHIPS Toronto Waterfront Festival (see Pleasure & Play).

STRUT WITH PRIDE

July in

DJ SANDY DUPERVAL College Prism at Fly (see Nightlife & Parties).

george@knightklight.com

STAMP Stars in Pasolini’s Teorema at Cinematheque.

QUEEN GALLERY Midrash, photography

please strut responsibly.

26

july 2010

LADY GAGA The Monster Ball returns.

TERENCE

GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

STRUTWINES.COM

Universal Music

Sam Taylor Wood

ELTON JOHN “Saturday Night’s Alright,” in Hamilton?

by Oscar Wolfman. 11am-6pm. Tue-Fri. 1pm-5pm. Sat. Until Tue, July 13. 382 Queen St E. (416) 361-6045. queengallery.ca.

GLADSTONE HOTEL That’s So Gay group show. Until Sun, July 18. Gladstone Hotel.

1214 Queen St W. See page 37 CLARK & FARIA Ethereal spaces and sculptural objects. New paintings from Vancouver-based artist Holger Kalberg.

10am-6pm. Tue-Sat. Noon-5:30pm. Sun. Until Sun, July 25. 55 Mill St bldg #2. (416) 703-1700. monteclarkgallery.com.

JUSTINA M BARNICKE GALLERY

Scream. Soapstone sculpture from Inuit artist Samonie Toonoo paired with drawings by Ed Pien. 19th-century symbolism tears into the present. Noon-5pm. MonSat. Until Aug 21. Hart House.

7 Hart House Circle. (416) 978-8398. jmbgallery.ca.

XSPACE The Greatest Show on Earth.

Fri, Jul 2-24. 58 Ossington Ave. (416) 8492864. xspace.info. See page 8.

ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO Pride tours celebrating the gallery’s gay, lesbian and bisexual art. 11:30am & 2:30pm. Sat, Jul 3 & 4. $19.50; free Wed eve. 317 Dundas St W. (416) 979-6648. ago.net.

MARIE BOURDAGES Outré, Montreal artist’s erotic expressionistic paintings.

Noon-midnight. Until Tue, July 6. Party.

9pm. Sat, Jul 3. Macleod Auditorium.

1 King’s College Circle.

TORONTO OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITION

Hundreds of artists and craftspeople hocking their wares. There’s gold in all those kitschy hills. New this year: Artist workshops, speaker series and walking tours. Free. 10:30am-7:30pm. Fri, July 9 & 10. 10:30am-6:30pm. July 11. Nathan

Phillips Square. Queen and Bay St. torontooutdoorart.org.

STEPHEN BULGER GALLERY Mister G, photomontages by French artist Gilbert Garcin, the former owner of a lamp manufacturer who began his photo career at the age of 65. First commercial showing in Canada. 11am-6pm. Tue-Sat. Thu, July 22-Sep 25. 1026 Queen St W. 504-0575. bulgergallery.com.

FILM & VIDEO PIER PAOLO PASOLINI “Poet, playwright,

Christian, moralist, pornographer, populist, artist: 32 years after he was murdered by a teenage hustler (who later tried to recant his confession), Pier Paolo Pasolini remains, perhaps above all, a subject for furious argument,” writes the New York Times’ AO Scott, quoted in Cinematheque Ontario’s summer program. “In an era

LISTINGS & EVENTS

the City

Nicola Betts

IAN LYNCH Joins the Gay for Comedy Gala (see Theatre & Dance)

LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL Opening night.

CYNDI LAUPER At Pride’s new Queen’s Park Stage.

CLAM SLAM The Toronto Roller Derby League’s Pride match at Downsview Park.

PRIDE PARADE The main event.

Joan Marcus

I AM LOVE Tilda Swinton and Mattia Zaccaro star in the Italian drama.

Magnolia Pictures

DJ BLACKCAT The Urban Jungle

CARIBANA The big parade heats up Lake Shore Blvd W and Exhibition Place.

at the Barn.

when Italy produced a bumper crop of the cinema, he may have been the most prodigiously talented…. More than three feel like news.” Cinematheque’s retrospective runs Tue, July 8 to Aug 6 and includes his heralded The Gospel According to St starring Terence Stamp, The Decameron, Salò or 120 Days of Sodom. $6 members; $10 non-members. Jackman Hall.

317 Dundas St W. (416) 968 FILM cinemathequeontario.ca.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT Opening Fri, July 9. See page 42.

I AM LOVE Tilda Swinton (speaking Italian) stars as the matriarch of a rich tradition-bound Milanese family in Luca

with Sasha Van Bon Bon, Kitty Neptune, in the perfectly-run home begin with a daughter coming out as lesbian and the arrival of a sexy man who lights sparks in Swinton’s character. Opens Fri, July 16.

THEATRE & DANCE ALEGRIA Youthful joy battles fuddy-dud-

diness in Cirque du Soleil’s classic piece of acrobatic theatre originally from 1994. $40-$115. Until Sun, July 4. Air Canada Centre. 40 Bay St. cirquedusoleil.com.

GAY FOR COMEDY GALA Debra DiGiovanni, Richard Ryder, Ian Lynch, Scott Thompson hosts. A fundraiser for 2. Panasonic Theatre. 651 Yonge St. (416) 872-1212.

THE DEATH SHOW The Scandelles present a delightfully morbid burlesque show

Jillian Camarta, Trixie Easybake, Beever, Lucas Silveira, Nolan Natasha, Faye Slift and more. $20. 8pm. Fri, July 2. Buddies in Bad Times (Chamber). 12 Alexander St. (416) 975-8555. thescandelles.com.

FRINGE FESTIVAL Continues until July 11.

See page 39.

HARRIET’S HOUSE . Tara Goldstein’s drama on mothering, adoption and samesex families. $18. 8pm. Fri, July 2-4. Hart House Theatre. 7 Hart House Circle. (416) 978-8849. uofttix.ca.

HOMO NIGHT IN CANADA The B-Girlz host a nutty night of comedy featuring Kristen Becker, Cocky (Ted Morris, Stephen Sharpe and Doug Taylor), Ian Lynch, Vong Sundara, David Tomlinson and more.

All proceeds go to support Temba House

available exclusively at

intorontomag.com

27

LISTINGS & EVENTS

Pride

(a South African hospice) and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. $25. 8pm. Sat, July 3.

Buddies (Chamber). 12 Alexander St. (416) 975-8555.

A TASTE OF EMPIRE

Weekend

Nicola Betts

Cahoots Theatre Projects present the world premiere of Jovanni Sy’s one-man show.

Sy prepares a traditional Filipino dish as he recounts stories of conquest and colonialism.

Guillermo Verdecchia directs (both are former Cahoots artistic directors). $30adv; $40 door. 8pm. Tue-Sat. Tue, Jul 6-24. Market Kitchen. South St Lawrence Market. 93 Front St E. totix.ca.

LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL Apparently

TRANS MARCH 7pm. Fri, July 2. Departs from Church St and Hayden down Church to Wood.

DYKE MARCH 2pm. Sat, Jul 3. Departs from Church St and Hayden to Bloor, over to Yonge and down Yonge to Wood, then back to Church.

PRIDE PARADE 2pm. Sun, Jul 4. Departs from Church St and Bloor, over to Yonge, then down Yonge to Gerrard, then back to Church. pridetoronto.com.

STAGES Two stages run all weekend: The big South Stage (at Church and Wood) and the rammed-full DJ Central Stage (on Church, south of Maitland). Friday night highlights

at 11pm with a Glee-infused Project Dance followed by America’s Best Dance Crew’s Vogue Evolution. New this year is the big stage in Queen’s Park open Saturday and Sunday. Will the crowds travel that far for big name acts, part of the community fair and trees and grass? The highlight will be Cyndi Lauper’s appearance at 9pm, Saturday. Both days too is the big Wellesley Stage (across from the Wellesley subway station) —

TLC_Pr005_InTO-1_8H-V2.indd 1 28 july 2010

Saturday closer Jully Black (11pm) and Sunday closer Honey Dijon (10pm) are going to pop. Also Saturday/Sunday: the Village Stage (at Wellesley just east of Church) where you can get up close and personal with fantastic local burlesque and drag performers late afternoon/evening; the Alexander Parkette Stage outside Buddies (12 Alexander St) with youth programming Saturday and alt-rock on Sunday; the Paul Kane substance-free zone (on Wellesley just west of Church); and the Proud Voices reading series in James Canning Park (just east of Yonge, north of Dundonald). Sunday only is Blockorama in George Hislop Park (just east of Yonge, north of Isabella), always worth the trip for a great vibe and dancing on the grass. A highlight is com. For more highlights, see page 34.

BEER GARDENS In addition to Pride’s beer gardens at all the stages (except the Village Stage) one of the best places to kick back is The 519’s beer garden in Cawthra Square Park (behind 519 Church St). It’s the biggest annual fundraiser for the community centre. 1pm-11pm Fri-Sun. the519.org.

resistance is futile. Becky Gulsvig stars as the sorority dynamo taking law at Harvard. $28-$124. 8pm. Tue-Sat. 2pm.

Wed, Sat & Sun. Wed, Jul 7-Aug 8. Princess of Wales Theatre. 300 King St W. (416) 872-1212. mirvish.com.

RAIN A multimedia concert that pays tribute to all stages of the Beatles’ storied career.

This revamped touring production stops in Toronto before it heads to Broadway.

With Joey Curatolo, Joe Bithorn, Ralph Castelli, Steve Landes and Mark Lewis. $30$99. 8pm. Tue-Sat. 2pm. Wed, Sat & Sun. Sat, July 10-Aug 1.

Canon Theatre. 244 Victoria St. (416) 872-1212. raintribute. com.

A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY

The magic of a summer holiday turns several hearts upside down. László Marton directs the Soulpepper production of one of the masterpieces of Russian literature.

Featuring Diana Bentley, Fiona Byrne, Hazel Desbarats, Tal Matamoros, Nancy Palk, Michael Simpson, David Storch, Charles Vandervaart, William Webster and Joseph Ziegler. $31-$75. Mon, Jul 12-Aug 7.

Young Centre. 55 Mill St. (416) 866-8666. soulpepper.ca.

LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE A collection of

stories by sisters Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron (You’ve Got Mail, Julie & Julia and The Sisterhood of the Traveling July 16-Aug 7) stars Paula Brancati, Andrea Martin and Louise Pitre. The second cycle (Aug 10-Sep 4) stars Lauren Collins, Wendy Crewson and Cynthia Dale. Directed by Karen Carpenter, the director of the New York production. $35-$65. 8pm. Tue-Sat.

10/06/18 12:31 PM

EVERYMAN JOURNEYS INTO THE SURREAL

Gilbert Garcin at Stephen

opening Thu, July 22.

2pm. Wed & Sat. Panasonic Theatre. 651 Yonge St. (416) 872-1212 .lovelossonstage.ca.

ROCK & POP ELTON JOHN The rocket

man doesn’t land in Toronto this time but Canadian stops include Sault Ste Marie! For now, locals will have to make do with a jaunt to Steeltown. $86.50-$165.50. 8pm. Sat, July 10. Copps Coliseum.

Hamilton. (416) 872-1212.

LILITH Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Tara MacLean, La Roux, Mary J Bilge, Kelly Clarkson, Lights and more. $32-$105. 2:30pm. Sat, July 24. Molson Ampitheatre. 909 Lakeshore Blvd W. lilithfair.com.

LADY GAGA The Monster Ball returns for two nights. $65$190. 8pm. Sun, July 11 & 12.

Air Canada Centre. 40 Bay St. (416) 870-8000. See page 9.

CLASSICAL & JAZZ SUMMER MUSIC IN THE GARDEN Twenty free

outdoor concerts in the Toronto Music Garden kick Waters, traditional Mohawk songs from the Ahkwesasne Women Singers plus the world premiere of Agamiing (On the Shore), a new work

by Barbara Croall. 7pm. Thu, July 1. 475 Queens Quay W. (416) 973-4000 harbourfrontcentre.com/torontomusicgarden.

SATURDAY NIGHT CABARET SERIES Comedic vocalist

and cabaret artist Sharron Matthews. July 10. Swellegant jazz crooner John Alcorn July 17. The undiva Heather Bambrick. July 24. $15. 10pm.

Young Centre. 55 Mill St. (416) 866-8666. youngcentre.ca.

ANTON KUERTI The Austrian-born Canadian pianist and recent recipient of the Governor General’s performing arts award for lifetime artistic achievement opens the Toronto Summer Music Festival (July 20-Aug 13) with a program of Schumann. $30-$75. 8pm. Tue, July 20.

Koerner Hall. 273 Bloor St W. (416) 408-0208. torontosummermusic.com.

ART OF TIME ENSEMBLE

Erich Korngold’s Suite, Op 23, for Two Violins, Cello and Piano anchors an evening of new music inspired by Korngold performed by composers Martin Tielli, John Southworth and Danny Michel. 8pm. Thu, July 29.

Walter Hall. 80 Queen’s Park.

(416) 408-0208. torontosummermusic.com.

PLEASURE & PLAY BABES ON BLADES Women’s

Pride hockey tournament.

10am start. Thu, July 1 & 2.

Canlan Ice Sports. 1120 Martin Grove Rd, Etobicoke. hockeypridetoronto.com.

TALL SHIPS A dozen tall ships are docked along the waterfront from HTO Park West to the Westin Harbour Castle. Ship decks tours: $12.

10am-5pm. Thu, July 1-3.

LISTINGS & EVENTS

Au musée 1999/Courtesy Stephen Bulger Gallery

9am-noon. July 4. On the last day at 2:30pm there’s a sail-by out the Western Gap past Ontario Place (with a licensed Galley on the Beach at HTO Park East). Part of the Redpath Toronto Waterfront Festival. towaterfrontfest.com CLAM SLAM The Toronto Roller Derby League’s celebration of queer roller gals.

The Clam Diggers versus the Vagine Regine Canada. $12 adv; $18 door. 7pm doors; 8pm start. Fri, Jul 2. The Hangar. Downsview Park. 75 Carl Hall Rd, #2. torontorollerderby.com.

PRIDE & REMEMBRANCE

FRIENDS FOR LIFE BIKE RALLY The annual fundraiser for Toronto PWA Foundation (more than half its operating budget comes from the event) sees scores of riders cycling from Toronto to Montreal in a mind-expanding, body-building expression of community. The show hits the road Sun, Jul 25, departing from Queen’s Park at 9am. bikerally.org.

CARIBANA Festivities run Thu, July 15 to Aug 15. The big parade is Sat, July 31.

10am-6pm. Free; $20 for seating in the exhibition grounds. Lake Shore Blvd W and Exhibition Place. caribanafestival.com.

NIGHTLIFE & PARTIES STARRY NIGHT Celebrity

bartenders like Dean and Dan Caten and Traci Melchor help raise money for the 519 Centre. All ages. Outdoor party in Cawthra Square Park. Free.

6pm. Thu, July 1. the519.org.

PRISM A series of seven parties continues. Prism College with DJ Sandy Duperval from Montreal and a performance by pornstar Brent Everett. $15. 10pm-4am. Thu, Jul 1. Fly. 8 Gloucester St. Bootcamp, the leather and militarythemed party with DJs Manny Lehman, Hector Fonseca and Jeremy Khamenko and a performance by pornstar Spencer Reed. $50.10pm6am. Koolhaus. 132 Queens Quay E. Aqua, the foam and squirt-gun party decamps from the lakeshore to the heart of the village, with DJs Ana Paula, Isaace Escalante and Mike Vieira.

With a performance

by Lena Love (but not Kelis as previously announced). $25. 1pm-8pm.

Pride’s Wellesley Stage.

Across from the Wellesley subway station.

Olympus is

the big one with DJs Tony Moran, Abel, Micky Friedmann and Mark Falco. The main show features Brazil’s Amannda with Lena Love pulling in late night duties. $65. 10pm-8am. Sat, July 3.

Sound Academy. 11 Polson St. Revival keeps it going with DJs Peter Rauhofer, Honey Dijon, Kitty Glitter, Cesar Murillo, Kid Madonny, Shawn Riker, Jamal (see page 14) and Deko-ze, with performances by Alan T and Flava. $70. 10pm-3am. Sun, July 4.

Guvernment/Sky Bar. 132 Queens Quay E. $175 passes. prismtoronto.com.

HEY REBEL DJ Vivi Diamond and a performance by Lena Love. All ages. $10. 9pm. Thu, Jul 1. Great Hall. 1087 Queen St W. pridetoronto.com.

CULTURE SHOCK A righteous, hilarious vogue ball from House of Monroe and DJ Blackcat. $20. 9pm doors; 11pm show. Thu, Jul 1. Buddies in Bad Times (full facility). 12 Alexander St. (416) 975-8555.

TGI SWAGGER Urban women Pride party with DJs Stunts, Helen Harris, Recklezz and more. $15 adv; $30 VIP. 10pm-4am. Thu, Jul 1. Empire.

50 Cumberland Ave. lovinyourswager.com.

STRUT DJs Roxanne and Cat get hundreds of women steamy by the lake. With MC Deb Pearce and a performance by Elana Hart and her band Alchemy. $35 adv. 8pm doors. Fri, July 2.

Palais Royale. 1601 Lakeshore Blvd. (416) 533-3553. palaisroyale.ca.

In Spot Watusi

by Anna Von Frances

B

efore we could say “hot spot” Ossington Ave blossomed into a maze of tiny bars and lounges.

Navigating the strip has become increasingly difficult. It’s easy to miss fantastic haunts.

Watusi is just such a place. It’s kitsch in a palatable format, an Austin Powers den of ’60s throwback without the punch line, the perfect venue to work your fave Mad Men vibe.

layout has a hall-like feel, with a long bar down one wall and seating along the other that snakes around to the wait staff all have this ’60s stewardess vibe about them in kitten heels and surf rock and ’60s garage rock from the DJ posted at the end of the bar from Wednesday to Saturday nights (closed Sundays). It’s not a raging bender of a

bar, more a martini lounge that happens to serve food.

Owners Darryl Fine and Jill Dickson of the Shanghai Cowgirl and Bovine Sex Club have joined forces with Allan form, they have not forgotten the food in their quest for a superior bar atmosphere. Shared eating is encouraged, which means lots of big tables with litmet upscale tapas with lovely twists on old favourites like sushi, fries, shrimp, flat breads and dips, even pizza and ribs.

Similarly the cocktail menu is rife with old favourites presented in new ways and off-kilter names including the retro cool Harvey Wallbanger.

My personal fave is their dirty martini, it’s the dirtiest on the block, daddy-o.

110 Ossington Ave. (416) 533-1800. watusi.biz.

Paula Wilson

RUN A 5km run and walk raising money this year for Fife House, the new Pride and Remembrance Foundation and the Mark S Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies. Start: 10am. Sat, July 3. Church and Wellesley. priderun.org.

BARK FOR LIFE A noncompetitive dog walk to raise funds and awareness for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Free. 1oam. Sat, July 3. Allan Gardens. Jarvis and Carlton. pridetoronto.com.

WOMEN CRUISING Fourhour boat cruise with the ladies of WRIB. $77. 6:30pm11:30pm. Sun, Jul 4. Depart from 207 Queens Quay W. wrib.ca.

deals at scores of restaurants.

In the $25 dinner category: Bangkok Garden (on Elm), Bar Italia, Byzantium, Café California. $35: Brassaii (see page 31), Czehoski, Globe Bistro, Ultra. $45: Bymark, Canoe, Prime (Windsor Arms).

Fri, July 9-25. toronto.ca.

Paula Wilson

n Bulger Gallery

SUMMERLICIOUS

CAZWELL

Sun, July 4 at the Great Hall.

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july 2010

LISTINGS & EVENTS

In Spot Brassaii

by Anna Von Frances

Paula Wilson

RIDE A women’s dance with

DJs Deb Parent and the Toronto Amazons Motorcycle Club. A fundraiser for Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape. $20adv; $25 door. 9pm-2am.

Fri, July 2. Opera House. 735 Queen St E. ridedancetoronto.com.

DRAMA QUEEN Superstar designers Dean and Dan Caten host the Toronto debut of this hit of a party from Montreal that attracts a mix of cool straight and gay folk.

With DJs Jamal (see page 14) and Undercover. 10pm-2am.

Fri, July 2. Cheval. 606 King St W. (416) 363 4933.

BAD GIRLS CLUB Hip hop to slow jams from DJs Recklezz, Michael Mayhem, Infamous Soundcrew and JJ Rock with a performance by NYC’s Kin4Life. $15 before 11:30pm.

10pm-3am. Fri, July 2.

Guvernment (Orange Room).

132 Queens Quay E. TRANS FORM NATION

The Funkasia/Transverse Afterparty with DJ Zahra Dhanani, House of Monroe and more. $10adv;$15 door.

10pm-3am. Fri, Jul 2. Phoenix Concert Theatre. 410 Sherbourne St. Facebook: Trans Form Nation.

WARM UP PARTY With

performances by Lovers Love Haters, Fagget Fairys, MEN and DJ Triple X. $10. Fri, July 2. Great Hall. 1087 Queen St W. pridetoronto.com BIG PRIMPIN ’ DJs Blackcat, Kevin Ritchie and Phil V. $5 before 11pm; $10 after. 9pm doors. Fri, July 2. Wrongbar.

1279 Queen St W. Facebook: Big Primpin.

MASSIVE ATTACK For a cool crew of men and women.

With DJs Blackcat, Unruly Twin and JJ Rock. $10 before midnight; $15 after Sat, Jul 3.

Grand Hive (check out that patio) 504 Jarvis St. EPIC WEEKEND The Beach Ball is a licensed party on the beach (clothing optional but most people work something skimpy), with DJs Salva Di Nobles and Theresa plus performances by Grammy Award-winning Estelle and Erika Jayne. Ferry line bypass for advance ticket holders. $47. Noon-8pm. Sat, July 3. Hanlan’s Point, Toronto Island. Ferries leave from bottom of Bay St. Splash Bash is a licensed water and foam party in Yonge-Dundas Square during and after the big Pride Parade. With DJs/ producers Freemasons, Brett Henrichsen and Alyson Calagna plus performances

by Girlicious and Sofonda. $58. Noon-8pm. Sun, July 4. Yonge and Dundas. Both AIDS Committee of Toronto. epicweekend.ca.

YES, YES, Y’ALL You want to hear what’s new in hip hop and dancehall? Check out DJs Hollyrock, Sammy D, Elle Nino, J-ill and a performance

by Brooklyn-based OMG Michelle. $12 adv; $15 door.

Wreckroom. 794 Bathurst St. Facebook: YES YES Y’ALL. CHERRY BOMB DJs Ritu, Amita, Cozmic Cat and Denise Benson (see page 14).

$15. 10pm. Sat, July 3. Revival.

783 College St. cherrybombtoronto.com.

OFFICIAL PRIDE CLOSING PARTY Performances by rap-

per Cazwell, Panic Bomber, Roney and Nani with DJs Delicious and Sumation. Free.

10pm. Sun, July 4. Great Hall.

1087 Queen St W. pridetoronto.com.

THE CARRY ON DJs Adam K, Jelo, Robb G, TK, Chiclet, Don Berns and more. Free before 12:30am; $5 after.

10pm doors. Sun, July 4.

Phoenix Concert Theatre.

410 Sherbourne St. WIENER With DJs Dwayne Minard (see page 14) and Shane Percy, a performance

by The B Girlz and more. $20 adv. 10pm-3am. Sun, July 4.

Courthouse. 57 Adelaide St E. MR BIG House music for more mature tastes. With DJ Dwayne Minard (see page 14) and Michael Boyuk.

Cover TBA. 10pm. Sat, July 17.

Straight. 553 Church St. (416) 926-2501.

URBAN JUNGLE WEEKEND

The Glamity, DJ Blackcat’s soca and reggae party, is the Unruly Twin and HotKnife.

“I get regulars from the US and the UK showing up at my parties during Caribana,” says Blackcat. “Locals always appreciate new faces. The energy is exciting.” $10 before midnight. Fri, July 30. Sunday is more pop and house. The Barn. 418 Church St. The Sunday drag ball is outside in “The yard” at Zipperz. 72 Carlton St. 2pm-10pm.

T

he new Brassaii opened this spring to great fanfare. Located on the hot King West strip, it doesn’t quite fit in — that’s why we like it. It’s one part bar, where guys in V-necks get bottle service for their girlfriends in Lycra, and one part afterwork lounge, for a more diverse clientele functional space that few resto-lounges (read: restaurant in a nightclub) have in the middle, separates the back lounge and restaurant from the café at the derful meal at, say, 9pm while the Bay St set have the 10th after-work drink without interrupting each other.

Here’s a hot tip: Try something from selection of cocktails that will run you $12 to $17 that are both unique and worth the price.

You can eat there, it seats 80, but I’d say they put about 150 people standingroom only in there on weekend nights.

ing. It’s still not a club at that point, more of a great place to meet friends for (spun by DJs from the lounge on the weekends) is a mix of pop, old school and some house, but most definitely focussed on the 25-and-up crowd.

I’m convinced that because the space is about 30 feet in from the street a lot of the bridge-and-tunnel set is kept at bay, attracting a more eclectic, city crowd. You have to know about it to end up there; you won’t just stumble on Brassaii naturally like the rest of the bars and clubs that litter King West.

Brassaii serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday to Friday, with a great restaurant aspect also helps to diversify the crowd. Is it the Drake Hotel of King West? Not exactly but it’s most definitely the closest thing to it.

461 King St W. (416) 598-4730. brassaii.com.

Paula Wilson

THE ALTERNA QUEER

The Pride and Remembrance Run takes caring to the streets on Sat, July 3.

WALK THE WALK

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31

LISTINGS & EVENTS

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july 2010

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Sheraton and its logo are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

ART & DESIGN

Got your “energy” drinks and outfits all lined those squirt-gun-carrying party animals ready to go nonstop. Here’s a partial schedule… of course you are doing more.

Is Pride a bit too rainbowy for you? More of a Queen Wester? Here are five Pride recommendations — on and off Church St — for the alterna lover in you.

Do all the Pride crowds and hoopla exhaust you? Here’s a low impact Pride weekend.

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june 2010

Trans Form Nation

AsianXpress (AX) Pride

10pm. Fri, July 2

10pm-3am. Fri, July 2

meets pop meets Bollywood vogue-a-thon draws all genders and races. Presented by Funkasia, the party features DJs Zahra, Relentless, Blackcat and Nik Red plus performances by America’s Best Dance Crew’s Vogue Evolution and Toronto’s House of Monroe. The craziest thing organizer DJ Zahra has seen at a Funkasia event? “A half-naked trans Bollywood diva grind with [former Toronto Mayor] Barbara Hall.” Phoenix Concert Hall. 410 Sherbourne St. $10 adv; $15 door. (416) 586-9914.

Top-40 remix, vocal house, club anthem and hip-hop. Performers Chanel, Flo, Takeme Spears and J-Mag hit the stage alongside a crew of hot back-up dancers and go-go boys.

Ultra-cool venue this year: the Steam Whistle Brewery. “I'm hoping the CN Tower lighting system will be showing Pride colours as it did in past years,” says organizer John Wotta. $25 adv; $30 door. 255 Bremner Blvd. (416) 586-9914.

Culture Shock

Saidah Baba Talibah 5:30pm. Sat, July 3

The city’s pre-eminent vogue collective House of Monroe battle all comers in this international competition. Categories run from classic (best face) to cartoon (best anime character) to complicated (best hand performance). All ages. $20. 9pm doors. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. 12 Alexander St. (416) 975-8555.

Festival of Fire

Eclectic vocalist, dancer and actress Saidah Baba Talibah will take over the Dyke Day Afproject. During an opening gig for British soul rocker VV Brown in April, Talibah burned down Wrongbar with her powerful pipes and then marched a victory lap around the club with her band, which includes a horn section, in tow. Be sure to catch her Dyke Day performance between local power punk trio The Cliks and Halifax-based electro pop act Ruby Jean and The Thoughtful Bees.

Free. 1pm-11pm. Queen’s Park. pridetoronto.com.

Chaka Khan & Macy Gray 6pm. Fri, July 2

Ring in Canada Day the traditional way with a sizzling 25-minmous for synching pyrotechnic blasts with music. Organizers say the music for Canada Day’s evening show will be “all Canadian.”

Fingers crossed they play Celine. $35 (includes access to Ontario Place attractions). If you don’t care for the music part, pack the sangria and head to Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island for great views. Shows continue July 2, 3 and 10. Ontario Place Marina. 955 Lake Shore Blvd. (416) 314-9900.

This free outdoor Toronto Jazz Festival gig brings together the timeless R&B queen that is Khan and pop soul singer Gray, whose sound is maturing as it ventures into new territory. Yonge-Dundas Square. torontojazz.com.

ART & DESIGN

Michael Pihach & Kevin Ritchie

Beach Ball

Aqua

Take Back the Dyke

Noon-8pm. Sat, July 3

1pm-8pm. Sat, July 3

2pm-5pm. Sat, July 3

“We’re lucky to have SuperMartXe from Ibiza, who hold a Guinness World Record for throwing the largest party in the world,” says Epic Weekend promoter Joseph Patrick on scoring the internationally recognized party brand. Co-organized with Toronto drag sensation Sofonda Cox, the outdoor bash takes place at Hanlan’s Point, the clothing optional beach on Toronto Island. “We’re

Topless hunks and over-the-top club glamour take over the parking lot across from Wellesley subway at Aqua, one of seven action-packed Prism parties running through July 4 ($175 passes). Formerly held at Sunnyside Pavilion, the swimsuit meets squirtgun party welcomes DJs Ana Paula, Issac Escalante and Mike Vieira and hypnotic stage artist Lena Love. $25.

Wellesley Stage. Across from the Wellesley subway station. prismtoronto.com.

Looking for some free-form fun? “I did this to impress a girl,” says burlesque artist Sasha Van Bon Bon on why she spearheaded this indie demonstration competing with Pride Toronto’s Dyke March. The rally is a response to Pride Toronto’s decision to ban the phrase “Israeli apartheid.” “We don’t need money to be proud. We are dykes. All we need is a can of lentils and some sunscreen.” Expect marching, screaming, strutting, protesting, chanting, rolling and dancing. Free. Nathan Phillips Square.

Queen and Bay. Facebook group: Take Back The Dyke. MP

DJ Sensimilla & MC ENA

Yes Yes Y’All

Vazaleen

11pm. Sat, July 3

9pm. Sat, July 3

9pm. Sun, July 4

The in-demand Danish duo’s deep dark club jams started popping up on blogs back in 2007, and two years later they scored a minor club hit with the raunchy ode to fat-bottomed girls “Feed the Horse.” The twosome, aka Fagget Faiirys, headline a day of largely dance-oriented acts on Pride’s Alterna Stage alongside JD Samson’s new wave band MEN, local

Brooklyn-based lesbian rap inferno OMG Michelle make their T-dot debut at the popular hip-hop monthly. Best known for the house party anthem “You Don’t Know Michelle,” the group features four female MCs and one gay dude, producer DJ Kingdom. On a regular night, YYY can draw 900 partiers so arrive early to take advantage of the fullylicensed makeshift patio in the parking lot. $12 adv; $15 door.

WreckRoom. 794 Bathurst St. Facebook: YES YES Y’ALL

Legendary queer punk piss-up Vazaleen returns as a fundraiser for the Will Munro Fund for Queer and Trans Youth Living with Cancer, the namesake trust for event’s impresario who died in May after a two-year battle with brain cancer. “Will always felt that it was important that Pride took place outside of a four block radius,” says Munro’s brother, Dave Munro. “This is a celebration of

Theresa and Salva Di Nobles, Estelle (“One Love”) and Billboard princess Erika Jayne perform. Pornstars Roman Heart, Benjamin Bradley and Bobby Clark host. (Splash Bash, Epic’s second party, at Yonge-Dundas Square, is the following day.) $47 (includes ferry); $95 for both. epicweekend.ca.

Mitt and indie rockers Coko Galore. Free. 3pmmidnight. South Stage. Church and Wood. pridetoronto.com.

to allow them to live.” Montreal indie rockers Lesbians on Ecstasy return to the Vazaleen stage, as does larger-than-life hostess Andrew Harwood. DJs Jaime Sin, Adrienne Kammerer and Dead Cops are on the decks. $10. Wrongbar. 1279 Queen St W. Facebook: Memorial Vazaleen. KR

Gay for Comedy Gala

Harriet’s House

Lea Delaria

8pm. Fri, July 2

8pm. Fri, July2-4

4pm. Sun, Jul 4

ence and a straight audience? “Gay audiences are smarter and more savvy,” says cultural observer and cuddly comedian Richard Ryder. The Gay for Comedy Gala, a zany variety show hosted by The Kids in the Hall’s Scott Thompson also features Debra DiGiovanni, Ian Lynch,

What’s Pride without a little drama? Love, loss and adoption in a same-sex family resonate in Harriet’s House, Tara Goldstein’s play about a Toronto mother in the process of coming out to her three of identity, best intentions, the roles of mother, daughter, sister elyn Wickett. Hart House Theatre. 7 Hart House Circle. (416) 9788849. uofttix.ca

national TV in the US, but this jazz crooner has an amazing set of pipes. Take a break from thumpa-thumpa house music and spend Pride afternoon under the tree in Queen’s Park relaxing to silky says Mary Zondanos, Pride Toronto’s entertainment program manager, on the decision to program jazz this year. All That Jazz also features the John Alcorn Quintet and trans jazz artist Jennifer Leitham. Free. 1:30pm-5pm. Queen’s Park. pridetoronto.com. MP

Randolph Dancers and Lady Gay Gay. ParPanasonic Theatre. 651 Yonge St. 1 (800) 461-333. ticketking.com

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ART & DESIGN

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ART & DESIGN

Bending the truth

What is gay? An identity… a state of mind… a slur? Is it pretty colours or antiestablishment activism? Maybe it’s a manatee, as in this joyful but disturbing print on silk from Pandy Ramada. The group show That’s So Gay, curated by painter and arts writer Sholem Krishtalka, tackles our tempestuous relationship with language, its ongoing appropriation and reappropriation. Featuring works by Claire Egan, Chris Curreri, Daryl Vocat, Ed Pien, Sojourner Truth Parsons, Sharon Switzer, Lori Newdick, Will Munro, Kris Knight, Grant Heaps, Stephen Andrews and more, the show continues until Sun, Jul 18 at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St W). There’s a curator’s tour at noon on July 2 and a panel discussion at 7pm on July 8. (416) 531-4635. gladstonehotel.com.

NOT Pics & text from Torontonians away nding under dney Biennale, sta Here I am at the Sy now installed r paintings that are this winter on fou e Feast of at the biennale: Th Inspirational works AES & F, by hannel installation Trimalchio, a nine-c owski. nk Ja n tia Inside by Chris and Live From the art venue, l na tio en nv co most un Cockatoo Island, the d former peride away, a rugge is a 30-minute ferry ls and rocky ne ustrial site with tun nal colony and ind re a little mo backwards! It was wear and not walk my Versace ut tho wi s rou l glamo challenging to fee

In addition to the Sydney Biennale, this year Toronto-based artist Kent Monkman has shown at the Context Gallery in Derry, Northern Ireland and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in BC. kentmonkman.com.

XO Kent intorontomag.com

37

ART & DESIGN

   

Sorry with the Fringe on top

Two plays tackle very different forms of redemption by Gordon Bowness

new play An Evening with Tammy Faye, a cabaret journey through Faye’s life.

“I feel like so many people have the wrong idea about Tammy Faye,” McDonough says, “so her voice and her words are very important to me. It means a lot to me to be able to tell her story from her point of view.”

In the writing the play McDonough did reams of research; she has plenty of Tammyisms at the ready, like “If you don’t like the way I look, look the other way” and “I plan on looking this way until I am 100. I am going to be buried in my eyelashes and makeup.”

So is the play just a camp send-up? “I

Karen Wright

couple until Bakker’s spectacular fall from grace: imprisoned for fraud and plagued by allegations of rape and hush money.

A lot of mascara ran down that cherubic face of Tammy’s during those years. But she had — and has — a surprising second career as an author and TV celeb, talking endlessly about her change of heart — her divorce from Jim, her renunciation of his right-wing views, and her newfound faith in humanity, all of humanity, including the gays.

Writer and actor Shannon McDonough, cohost of the gay and lesbian travel series Bump, was seduced by Tammy Faye’s story. “She was such an odd character,” says McDonough. “Any time I saw her on TV when I was a kid, she was either crying with her mascara running down her face or she was being ridiculed. I actually felt protective of her.”

McDonough says that, after she saw Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato’s 2000

Steven Mifsud

A

historical sense of eyeliner and hustling gives a dark hue to two of this year’s Fringe festival offerings.

Jim Bakker was a high-powered televangelist in the 1980s, host of the popular — and lucrative — PTL Club. His wife Tammy Faye, instantly recognizable by her heavily made-up eyes, was his dutiful

would say that there is a camp element to way to do Tammy without it; she was so over the top. As wacky as she was, her earnestness was what made her so endearing.

I think the heart of the piece is Tammy’s refusal to give up. She always stood up for herself, she faced her demons head on and

An Evening with Tammy Faye and Being at Home with Claude are two of the 150 plays at this year’s Fringe.

PAST SINS

the message she wanted to give to oth-

to arrive in the city for Expo ’67.

today as it did with theatre audiences 23

loving yourself — that is Tammy’s story.”

And mascara of choice? “L’Oreal Waterproof Lashout.”

An Evening with Tammy Faye runs at

enigmatic hustler and the world-wise police inspector.

on our own terms, no matter how extreme the means, can and does have an effect of a great lie.” To Lee the hustler character represents a common drive to liberate ourselves from our self-made prisons. “When in reality [we’re] adding more locks and chains and turning the light out.

A

nother ’80s icon of sorts also makes an appearance at the Fringe. Being at Home with Claude is a famous Canadian play by René-Daniel Dubois that debuted in 1985. It was turned into film, starring a luscious Roy Dupuis, in 1992.

For the Fringe, the play returns to where it premiered in English in 1987,

place in 1967 over one night in Montreal.

A gay hustler confesses to murder, but he refuses to identify himself to police, threatening a scandal as the world begins

in this show and the attempt — a most vile and perverted attempt to be sure — to discover one’s real self and where one may find their place in the grand scheme of things,” says Alan Lee, who is making his hustler is searching for a place to belong and a shelter from the storm, a place to rest and to call home. At home with Claude, he can escape from his life of mere survival and feel a sense of love and belonging.”

Even though it was written at a time when homosexuality was viewed very differently than it is today, Lee feels the play will still resonate with modern audiences. theatre,” says Lee. “It stands just as true

tunnel for a hustler who shut out the only ‘light’ he may have ever had.”

Being at Home with Claude stars Ryan Fisher, Lorne Hiro and Ross Tundo and features live piano accompaniment by Frank Horvat. It runs at the Tarragon July 1 to 10. ■ continues until Sun, July 11.

Most plays cost $10. (416) 966-1062. fringetoronto.com.

THE FRINGE

intorontomag.com

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ART & DESIGN

 

Vintage-driven nonconformist

With Philip Sparks, everything old is new again

BOY WONDER

T

july 2010

photos by Jenna Wakani

Philip Sparks’ experience in theatre informs his impeccably tailored, trendy-meets-traditional designs. Pictured at right is part of his spring/summer 2010 collection.

oronto’s Philip Sparks is somewhat of an anomaly in the fashion world. While some designers crave the big spotlight of fashion weeks and the backing of big money, his do-ityourself approach has garnered an overwhelming response in the industry.

Fashion insiders in the city agree that the 28-year-old boy wonder is one of the most consistent and hottest menswear designers working in the country right now.

In just over three years, his collections have been picked up by Holt Renfrew and are presently stocked at independent retailers like Delphic on Queen St W, UPC in Yorkville and Belisi on the Danforth.

His array of comfortable and style-forward footwear (laced-up boots I swear by) can be found at Town Shoes.

“We’ve always done our own thing,” says Sparks. “We do what works for us.”

Having graduated from Seneca College’s

40

by Chris Jai Centeno

fashion arts program as valedictorian in 2003, he credits part of his success to his experience working in costume design.

His work in theatre — most notably with the Canadian Opera Company, the Stratford Festival and the National Ballet of Canada — was more specific to menswear, a unique perspective that gave him his head start in fashion. clothes and the design is what is traditionally taught in fashion school,” says Sparks, ”like researching a period, finding tailoring books, testing, all of that stuff was part of my job and what inspired me in the menswear that I do.

“I got to work and learned the traditional way of doing things — the long and rudimentary, sometimes spending weeks pad stitching a lapel of a jacket and understanding the details,” he says.

Clues to his background can be found in inspirations like old photographs that

convey a sense of nostalgia. With it comes an idealized yet familiar look in his clothes that shoppers recognize. A Sparks design is vintage-driven nonconformist and isn’t cookie-cutter.

“When I come across an image or a vintage piece, what I try to do is file those ideas. I catalogue all of that as a start, to have a sense of what I want to do this year or sometimes a year and a half or two before. We always try to work that into making a cohesive collection and theme it by keeping it consistent. Spreading out into many different directions could be a problem in a season.”

His style marries the right amount of tailoring and trendy all-around appeal that 18-year-olds to men in their 40s would encapsulates all that nostalgia, where he reinterprets a classic in a modern way.

Fashion addicts looking for summer staples, denims and casual shirts are a must.

Some looks in Sparks’ spring/summer 2010 collection, like the cotton rowing sweater and matching seersucker tuxedo vest and shorts, are an ode to ’50s Canadian railway ads and past summers at the cottage.

Currently, Sparks is in production for his next fall offering. While summer has barely marked its way on to our calendar, I say bring on the cold weather after salivating over Sparks’ fall coats. Other standout pieces include blazers and a few whimsical accessories such as fur gloves. A new collection of limited edition clothing is also available each month, on his website and in the showroom, that complements his main line. ■

PHILIP SPARKS

designs can be found at philipsparks.com.

ART & DESIGN

 

Summer’s All Right

Hilarious lesbian parenting comedy is the feel-good movie of the season by Peter Knegt

Hood or, gasp, Sex and the City 2, a different kind of summer movie has come to save your spirits: Lisa Cholodenko’s talked about films to come out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Kids has the heart, humour and insight all but absent from most of this year’s summer offerings. And it just so happens to have two lesbians as its lead characters.

Following a tempestuous summer in the lives of long-term couple Nic and Jules (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore), the film sets up a doozy of a situation to examine a modern family: As the couple anticipates their daughter Joni’s move to college, their lives are sent into an emotional tail-

spin when Joni (played by Alice in Wonderland star Mia Wasikowska) — who has just turned 18 — is convinced by her younger brother Laser (Josh Hutcherson) to make use of her newfound status as a legal adult to seek out the sperm donor from which both of them were born. Enter Paul (Mark Ruffalo), a loveable but hopeless man-child who immediately hits it off with his newfound biological children and creates significant tensions among essentially every character in the film. tic across the board, with Bening, Moore and Ruffalo already being whispered as strong contenders for ally Cholodenko (who previously wrote and directed 1998’s High Art and 2002’s Laurel Canyon) and cowriter Stuart Blumberg’s script that

is Kids’ strongest asset. Its power lies in how consistently funny and deceptively lighthearted it feels. In the end, the affecting nature of the film creeps

Suzanne Tenner/Focus Features

T

orontonians are about to get a breath of cinematic fresh air. After weeks of trudging through the summer movie doldrums

scenes leave you with the immediate realization that there is much more at play here than simply a sharp romantic comedy.

Set in California, Nic and Jules occasionally reference each other as married, but beyond that the film refrains from being overtly political. other, and their children are delightfully unfazed by their parents’ sexuality. And it’s through this subtlety that Cholodenko actually gives us an incredibly profound entry into the canon of gay-themed film. ■ THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

opens Fri, July 9.

“To me, that’s just intellectual and not emotional and not cathartic,” says writer/director Lisa Cholodenko, “and not why I like to go see movies.”

NOT AN ISSUE FILM.

Lisa Cholodenko’s mass appeal “I didn’t want to pretend like it didn’t exist,” Lisa

Suzanne Tenner/Focus Features

had its glowing debut at Sundance. “I wanted to really get into the architecture and the emotional life of these two women [parenting couple Nic and Jules, played by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore], and a lot of that is informed by their gayness. But I didn’t have an agenda.

“Gay people don’t walk around saying ‘in my gay life,’ ‘with my gay lover,’ ‘this is my gay issue.’ You know, we’re

Cholodenko says she felt that if politics became the strongly about — and was more interested in — were going to fall by the wayside. me, that’s just intellectual and not emotional and not cathartic and not why I like to go see movies. I like to be drawn in viscerally and emotionally.”

Such authentic examinations of a same-sex family don’t come around too often, and Cholodenko’s quest to allow her audience to be drawn in provides Kids a mainstream accessibility most gay-themed indies don’t really aim for. And it’s this accessibility that could turn Kids into an unlikely summer hit.

“I want it to perform well,” Cholodenko says. “I feel like with part of the population. And it’s good timing [with same-sex marriage debates raging in the US]. I didn’t plan it, but it’s good fortune. So I hope it reaches wide, and has an impact.” debuts in theatres Fri, July 9.

EMOTIONAL DOOZY.

42

july 2010

Annette Bening and Julianne Moore star in The Kids Are All Right.

Peter Knegt

ART & DESIGN

Stylin’ with Chris Tyrell Your June fashion sense was busting out all over

FARLEY looks comfortable and ready for anything in his high untucked shirt.

ROGER brightens up a business look with a colourful shirt and patterned tie. Vests are always in style.

NELL shows how to channel a retro vibe while still looking very modern with punches of colour and a spectacular head wrap.

Perfectly elegant in summer black and killer heels: DR SHIR LEY ZABOL raises the bar for minimalists.

PAULO is a hunk on his way to the gym, looking sexy in his rolled up shirt and pants.

intorontomag.com

43

Caught IN the act

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by Michael Pihach

SUMMERWORKS LAUNCH PARTY, LOWER OSSINGTON THEATRE

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LUMINATO’S PRIMA DONNA OPENING, ELGIN THEATRE

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NATIONAL BALLET’S MAD HOT GALA, FOUR SEASONS CENTRE

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Nina Arsenault .

Dan Daley, Anusree Roy Matt Baram, Naomi Snieckus, Ron Pederson Matt Barber Michael Rubenfeld Brendan

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Grundy Carole Pope . Rufus Wainwright, Jorn Weisbrodt Janice Price, Pierre Morrissette Alexander Neef Kevin O’Leary Sonia Rodriguez, Kurt Browning Lynda Prince Mary Murphy Karen Kain Suzanne Rogers Kevin Garland, David Briskin, Jennifer Fournier Jonathan Renna, Jiri Jelinek Veronica Tennant, Marc Boyman,

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Tom Hayes Austin Armstrong, Jamie Thompson David Lovell, Tara Comisso, Kalev Nisbet Mark Clamcy, Sebastien Granger Andrew Bockner Shawn Hewson, Kelly Clipperton Cindy Miller, Rebeca Silver, Rosemary Nelson Carol Sewell, Karen Bell Robert Gage Larry Laslo Samer Shaath

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intorontomag.com

45

S P O N S O R E D B Y S PA E X C E S S

SEX

Sex & Health WITH DR KEITH

“ Y

I am totally freaked about catching something at Pride. I understand the basics but am not willing to be chaste or wrap myself in plastic head-to-toe. Please advise how to have fun and be reasonably safe.” Steve es, yes, yes. Pride is coming up. And there is a reason why we see a spike in sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates after. We all know why: Party, fun, drinking, celebration… and booty. For a lot, it’s all about the booty.

So attention class, school is in session. Let me give you the survival guide for keeping your junk in tip-top shape… and avoid having a souvenir which could change your life forever.

Let’s start our lessons by sorting the common STIs into two categories: ones you can cure and the ones you can’t.

Lesson number 1: You want to

Herpes is spread through contact (touching, rubbing, sucking, licking and so on) with the sores.

Unfortunately, it can also be spread before and after the sores appear,

good news about herpes is that the consequences to your health are usually quite minimal; it’s a nuisance more than anything.

So my cherished students, the key take-home point is this: Wear condoms and don’t touch things that shouldn’t be there.

Lesson number 2: Infections that are not the end of the world if you catch ’em (’cuz you can get treatments to make ’em go away).

Gonorrhea, chlaINFECTIONS YOU CAN INFECTIONS YOU CAN mydia and syphilis NEVER GET RID OF GET RID OF are treated by antiHIV Hepatitis A biotics and basiHepatitis B Gonorrhea Hepatitis C Syphilis are all spread by Herpes Chlamydia unprotected anal HPV sex. But we’ve Molluscum contagiosum already been over this. Remember avoid the STIs you cannot get rid of. lesson 1: Wear a condom. Problem Hepatitis B, C and HIV are all solved. transmitted by contact with body But — here’s the thing that most fluid and/or blood. Having sex with- people don’t realize — you can get out condoms is therefore a no-no ’em by oral sex (blowing someone or because cuts happen, even small getting blown). And it doesn’t take ones you can’t see, and of course a PhD in obviousness to realize that there are fluids all over the place. no one likes wearing condoms for (But I hopefully didn’t need to oral sex, or even sucking on rubber tell you that.) Because of this tak- (flavoured or not). So most people ing ejaculate (cum) in your mouth don’t wear them. carries some risk, but small. Risk Since these infections are treatable increases if you have sores in your if you’ve tested positive for them, it’s mouth or just flossed which allows not worth stressing about. So dear those pesky viruses entry into your learners, a reasonable work-around body. And all three of these viruses is my second take-home point: Get tested regularly (even if you don’t can cause serious illness.

Hepatitis B is preventable by vac- have symptoms), especially after cination; just go get it if you haven’t being very active. Your medical provider will treat you accordingly. already.

Another problem solved.

Hepatitis A is transmitted through anal contact of any kind. And preventable by vaccine. So get that one too. Yet another problem easily solved.

But what about HPV and molluslesions to break out anywhere on your body, especially your tender parts.

I saved these infections for last for two reasons: a) there’s very little you can do to prevent yourself from getting these nuisance-makers except by avoiding contact with the lesions, and b) your provider should be looking at your “parts” regularly during your screens (see take-home point number 2 above) and can treat you then if they are found. Life is way too short to worry about these guys, ’cuz if it happens it happens. Try to take a good look at what you’re gonna be bumping and grinding into. But if you do catch ’em, get your medical professional to zap ’em for you.

Pride is meant to be fun, and to have fun. Be educated but not paranoid about infections. Follow my lessons and you will be minimizing risk to your health while maximizing fun.

Inspect your partners’ business before getting nasty. Protect yourself by always using condoms — no exceptions. Detect any “unwanted passengers” you may have acquired during your sexual travels by getting a checkup a few weeks after Pride (sooner if you have symptoms, obviously).

Inspect. Protect. Detect.

Happy Pride everyone and be safe. works in emergency in a Toronto hospital • Send him your sexual health question at sexhealth@intorontomag.com

DR KEITH LOUKES

This column should not be viewed as medical advice; always consult your physician.

intorontomag.com

47

SEX

istock.com

Heat up the bedroom Learn how to strip from the pros

by Ryan Russell

E

ver wanted to give your partner a good old-fashioned striptease?

You like the idea, but what happens after your pants hit the floor? Let’s ask a pro.

Caspian Marlowe is not only a talented dancer but part of the brains behind Toronto strip club Remington’s and its recent (and hugely successful) repackaging. He gave me the lowdown on gettin’ down and gettin’ it on.

“If people think too much you can see it,” Marlowe says. It’s all about comfort and confidence. “Sell it,” Marlowe advises.

back and forth across the stage, and he just smoked!”

Although Marlowe is taking a short break from dancing this spring, you can catch him around Toronto, often in tails and top hats, strutting to the beats of Billie Holiday and Holly Cole.

So how do you actually move to the the ’80s, a daisy in a pot,” says Marlowe.

“Dancing is like being one of those flowers. You just kinda let the music go through you completely. Your hips and your feet and your arms and shoulders 48

july 2010

are all different parts of the rhythm.”

I’ve been with my fella for going on 12 years now, how do I keep it fresh? “It obviously isn’t going to be about the surprise anymore. It becomes more about creating that kind of electricity. of feeling special and appreciated. And as a lover, it’s your job to figure out what that is and do it even if it’s not what you would do — we instinctively do what we want our partner to do [to us].” Marlowe says you have to reorient that self-centredness. “Find out the five things that make a person feel loved. And if you don’t know, just ask them.

“I think that 50 percent of sex with a regular partner is when you’re not having sex.”

Marlowe’s advice comes down to one precept: Focus on your partner and the happiness you can create for him or her, ’cause it’s right now — that is how to make the moment special. Make it right now.

Don’t make it the third time. Just be that moment, whatever you’re doing.”

So why not give your partner something special tonight?

IN THE MOMENT Focussing on your partner's mood is crucial.

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