PURE NOSTALGIA BACK TO THE FUTURE IN CONCERT NOV 30–DEC 1
JOHN DENVER: A ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY WITH THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
DEC 13
FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCERTS
MERRY & BRIGHT* WITH CHARLES LAZARUS DEC 15
ELF IN CONCERT DEC 20-22
HOLIDAY DATE NIGHT THE BEST OF BACH DEC 5–6
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY: TONY DESARE WITH THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA DEC 11
Volume 30, Issue 769 • November 14-27, 2024
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor Noah Mitchell 612-461-8723
Editorial Assistant Linda Raines 612-436-4660
Editor Emeritus Ethan Boatner
Contributors Layla Amar, Lakey Bridge, E.B. Boatner, Buer Carlie, Natasha DeLion, Arthur Diggins, Alyssa Homeier, Terrance Griep, Elise Maren, Jen Peeples-Hampton, Linda Raines, Alexander Reed, Gregg Shapiro, Randy Stern, Susan Swavely, Carla Waldemar, Todd P. Walker, Emma Walytka, Spencer White
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Administrative Assistant Michael Winikoff 612-436-4660
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Founders George Holdgrafer, Stephen Rocheford
Inspiration Steven W. Anderson (1954-1994), Timothy J. Lee (1968-2002), Russell Berg (1957-2005), Kathryn Rocheford (1914-2006), Jonathan Halverson (1974-2010), Adam Houghtaling (1984-2012), Walker Pearce (1946-2013), Tim Campbell (1939-2015), John Townsend (1959-2019), George Holdgrafer (1951-2024)
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BY NOAH MITCHELL
Local Grinch Repents?
Trying to come up with an idea for my column for the Holiday Entertainment & Markets issue before Halloween had passed did not come naturally to me. I’ve always been a bit of a codger when it comes to ringing in the holiday season — Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving, let alone before Halloween, prompt me to groan and complain rather than get excited.
Can’t we do one thing at a time? Where is the patience? Isn’t this all an effort by big corporations to start hawking expensive decorations you’ll only use for one month out of the year earlier?
While I’m not ready to admit I’m entirely wrong about any of those complaints, as I struggled to come up with a cheery holiday column, I pondered why early starts to the holi-
days bothered me so much. Sure, there might not be a logically air-tight reason to start selling Christmas decorations in October. So what?
While I truly cherish spending time with family and reflecting on gratitude at Thanksgiving, it’s not like Christmas decorations and music are replacing many vibrant Thanksgiving cultural artifacts throughout November. I’ll never hear my favorite Thanksgiving song? Less space for insensitive pilgrim and Indian costumes? Oh, the horror!
The Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” soundtrack is all-time stuff and I only let myself listen to it for one month every year. There are more good Christmas movies than one can reasonably watch in a month. More importantly (by far), it can’t hurt to reflect on the values Christmas celebrates —
OUR LAVENDER | A WORD IN EDGEWISE
BY E.B. BOATNER
love, family and faith, if that’s your thing — for at least an extra few weeks.
I recognize that my biggest problem with the holiday season being a mild fatigue toward its charms is a massive privilege. If the holidays are a difficult time for you for more serious reasons, please don’t take this as an inducement to try to force yourself to enjoy cheesy Hallmark movies.
However, whether your family is the one you were born with or one you’ve found over the years, I hope that you start celebrating them extra early as your local supermarket turns red and green this November. I, for one, can confirm that “A Charlie Brown Christmas” sounds just as good in October as it does in December.
Welcome to My Home! Come Right In!
I had an epiphany years ago, alone in a darkened room watching the (then-)new film, “Boys Don’t Cry.” Why is that person acting that way? Don’t they know how foolish, how dangerous they’re behaving? My mind rambled on, safe in my own room with the foreknowledge of what was to come; and then the lightning struck —
“And just why did you drink, hang un-chuted in a plane’s open door to photograph jumpers, drive your VW Bug to document an outlaw motorcycle club run? And…”
When a friend had asked a similar question, I’d replied, “I prefer to fear something concrete, in the moment, than endure that ongoing fear of …” well, I didn’t know exactly what, but it had always, always been there — until that movie moment. It was the fear of being untethered, homeless though I had a house, but who and where was I?
This remembered moment, watching the short life of Brandon Teena play out, dreading the inevitable, resurfaced as I read Upton Rand’s book on gay campgrounds (See this issue’s “Books” column.) In his own background, he’d felt the longing and emptiness of not having a “place” or a “family,” some certainty that there is a space where you will always be ac-
cepted, included, just be “yourself” with others even if not always in agreement on every issue.
What the author found — and shares — about his two visits to Freedom Valley Gay Campground in New London, Ohio, was healing camaraderie, friendship, trust — family, if you will. Of course, not all children, straight or gay, are cherished, since not all parents received loving acceptance as children.
How many times are children, little boys in particular, told not to cry, not to show emotion, to not to do this or that because they’d become weak or effeminate? Humans come genetically equipped to feel, but much promise is squashed in male children just as little girls are taught to be not too smart, too assertive. It’s amazing the race has accomplished what it has given that at any time half of the population is being forbidden to shine.
Rand self-describes as having lived most of his years pre-Freedom Valley “emotionally walled off,” and his amazement at suddenly, having entered the campsite, finding himself in a safe space, beginning to remove a brick here and there as he settled in, until he’d opened a portal broad enough to survey a brand-new world.
If this sounds hokey, suspiciously feel-good, consider how it echoes, if I may suggest, the very sentiments infusing Kenneth Grahame’s classic, “The Wind in the Willows.” Its tales of friendship, fellowship and home that have lived in the hearts not only of children but also grownups for well over a century.
To be neither forbidden to do something you want to do nor urged to try something you’d rather not, whether involving childhood piano scale practice or adult donning of leather accoutrements, is freeing! Time is a boon: time to think, time to try, time to engage with new acquaintances, time to just be. Brandon Teena had no such luxuries; their time ran out.
A plus in this electronic age is the ability to connect at any distance in a moment. Leaving camp needn’t mean separation from new acquaintances, notes Rand. Continue conversations, make plans for “next time,” and watch your friendships thrive.
Whether in a high-rise or a burrow by the riverbank, “Home” means security, coziness, and your space where you welcome friends with open arms. And about time!
For those of us who (rightly) consider New Orleans a primo party town, mark your calendars: Mardi Gras, when all the Carnival fun abruptly ends, comes on March 4 this season as somber repentance sets in. So, party on until the deadline.
But for those of us foodies short on airfare, feathered headwear and “throw” beads, there’s good news: We no longer have to head to Louisiana to savor that dining Mecca’s repertoire of beloved Creole dishes. Scoot, instead, to mid-town Lake Street’s Coliseum Building, where newly-launched Lagniappe offers a list of illustrious New Orleans cocktails and a menu to match.
The lofty room’s piney-green walls, hung in salon style with eclectic artworks and Scarlett-type fringed velvet curtains, is the site of Lagniappe, a café that opened mid-October. The name (say lawnYAAP) translates as “a little surprise gift,” and, true to its promise, your server delivers a complimentary freshening vodka-strawberry pick-me-up to aid you in perusing the menu.
Later, I proceeded to a classic Vieux Carre, described as “an Old Fashioned’s French cousin,” and for my friend, a Sazerac. No regrets. (Wine and beer are available as well, of course.)
The kitchen’s chef, air-lifted from The Big Easy, has crafted a menu that reads like an almanac of classic Creole dishes. The list of apps (shareables rightly called For the Table, $10-18) makes it mighty easy to simply say “One of everything.” But sanity reared its ugly head and we narrowed our wish list down to two, starting with a platter of boudin balls.
You won’t find boudin balls in fancy restaurants, and that’s the joy of them. I’ve eaten my fill from a cooler inside a gas station. Here, the golf-ball-size spheres of sausage, crusty from a fling in the fryer, are fabricated from the customary hardscrabble leftover bits and pieces of pork and whatnot (here, chicken livers too and, for some unknown reason, cheese curds). They’re served with a tasty, bright remoulade.
Next, we summoned the fried green tomatoes, also served with remoulade. Thin-sliced and nicely tart, they wear an ever-so-thin veil of crumbs, not the too-often-customary heavy overcoat. Nice dish. Next time: the pimento cheese, served with pork cracklings (I should have warned you: This is not the place for health food), the mussels andouille, also served with cracklings, and the barbecued shrimp beside stone-ground grits. Oh, and the soups! Gumbo YaYa, rich with chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp, crab, the New Orleans trinity of onion, bell pepper and celery — and rice. A traditional turtle soup, complete with sherry, wins a place on the menu, too.
Choosing an entrée ($22-30) is like being forced to choose your favorite child. After an anguish of indecision, we went for the most classic among classics: the crawfish des Allemands and the jambalaya. The crawfish, curled into balls the size of a quarter, mined a hearty roux-based étouffée and arrived with a tender, sweet slab of quick-blackened catfish atop the rice-based presentation. Just fine.
Even better, the husky, dark and thick jambalaya, rich with chicken, andouille, smoked sausage, tiny shrimp and a toss of sweet and tasty mussels to pry from their ebony shells. Again, it’s based on the proverbial veggie trinity. Easy to like.
The menu continues with the same crawfish in a creamy pasta-ready sauce, a husky pork chop served with grits and barbecue sauce, redfish upon a bed of greens and more. Sides not to ignore (I did, to my eternal regret) include grits enriched with cream and butter, braised greens salted with bacon and tasso ham, and jalapenoinfused cornbread.
There are desserts, too, and just the two you’d yearn for if you were smart enough to leave room (we didn’t): bread pudding a la mode (Natch. New Orleans is not a city in which to count calories, or fat) and Bananas Foster, the dessert that made Commander’s Palace famous. It’s intended to serve two and priced accordingly (and out of my range) at $20 — constructed (and set aflame) tableside and served a la mode. If you’re still able to stumble to the door, you’ll be happy to remember that there’s a free parking lot right beside the building. A shout-out to Sinoun, our beyond-excellent server, too.
Laissez les bons temps rouler, y’all!
Lagniappe
Coliseum Building
2700 E. Lake St.
(612) 315-2366
www.lagniappeonlake.com
Photo courtesy of iStock/Robert Kirk
MENU
STARRING CHANHASSEN DINNER THEATRES’
FAVORITE DUO
“White Christmas” is a quintessential holiday show. Whether you have experienced the stage adaptation before, watch the classic 1954 film on repeat every winter or have yet to experience this little slice of 1950s magic, the Chanhassen Dinner
Theatres’ production of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” is sure to delight.
“White Christmas” is a nostalgic, fresh offering to the already robust holiday theater options here in the Twin Cities.
The storyline of “White Christmas” follows two former war buddies and current singing sensations, Bob Wallace (Michael Gruber) and Phil Davis (Tony Vierling), as they follow sisters Betty (Ann Michaels) and Judy Haynes (Andrea Mislan) to their upcoming gig at a resort in an unseasonably warm Vermont. When the quartet arrives, they discover that Davis and Wallace’s former general is the owner of the resort. The result is a heart-warming musical comedy that easily resonated in a particular era of post-war America. The show’s themes of love, friendship, sisterhood, gratitude and the holiday spirit are just as resonant now as they were seventy years ago.
One of the strengths of “White Christmas” is its powerful mix-and-match duos. Bob Wallace and Phil Davis are the first duo; sisters Betty and Judy Haynes are the second duo. The third and fourth duos are the romantic pairings of the first two: the infatuation between Phil and Judy making the third and the will-they-won’t-they romance of Bob and Betty making the fourth. It feels appropriate that Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ favorite duo, husbands Michael Gruber and Tony Vierling, are central to this production of “White Christmas.”
Frequent readers of Lavender might remember Michael and Tony from their interview with us last year. The couple frequently perform together, but “White Christmas” is special because their characters are at the center of the production.
“It’s a rare and delightful opportunity to get to play two characters who are best friends,” Gruber says. “[Our characters are] similar to our own personalities and highlight our own individual talents.”
Vierling continues, “Performing with Michael is always such a privilege. We know each other so well, and trust each other so much, that it makes the process that much easier. We are very lucky!”
Everyone shines in this production, starting with the ensemble and moving all the way through the entire cast. Gruber, Vierling, Michels and Mislan make the backbone for the rest of the cast to work off of. Other highlights include Jon Andrew Hegge’s molasses-slow interpretation of Vermonter Ezekiel, Michelle Barber’s charming take on former starlet Martha Wilson and everyone’s favorite Twin Cities’ voice, JoeNathan Thomas, as the General. Of course, 9-year-old Jenalia Valerio and 11-year-old Malee Cenizal, who alternate in the role of Susan Waverly, are also a delight.
From a purely visual point of view, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres pulls out all the stops for this special Christmas show. Costumer Rich Hamson worked with a vibrant palette, bringing whimsical creativity to every character. He crafted sexy, cartoony costumes for the flirtatious showgirls Rhoda (Maureen Sherman-Mendez) and Rita (Renee Guittar) and hit Christmas themes hard in all of the group numbers.
Hamson set the bar high (and then continued to meet it) with the shamrock green and Barbie pink design of “White Christmas,” which features simultaneously hilarious and beautiful Christmas tree poodle skirts. The Haynes sisters were also introduced in their beloved blue dresses and feather fans from the 1954 film, demonstrating Hamson’s ability to pay homage to the source material while also making bold, refreshing choices.
Nayna Ramey’s set design was similarly delightful, constructing minimalist spaces for the Ed Sullivan Show and the train and using more maximalist design to build out the barn and resort where the bulk of the show takes place.
Although this adaptation has some overlap with the movie, there are also differences.
“It is a very smart adaptation,” Gruber says. “It artfully preserves all the classic moments we love from the film but also offers some delightful surprises as well.”
One of the things that separates this production from other holiday staples in the metro area is that “White Christmas” — unsurprisingly for those familiar with the show — incorporates a lot of dance. Choreographer Tamara Kangas Erickson created a visual treat that — though a workout — is just as fun for the cast as it is for the audience.
“I personally love all of the dancing!” Vierling says. “The musical numbers are so much fun and very energetic! It’s good old-fashioned song and dance, very nostalgic!”
“White Christmas,” of course, is known for its titular song (which is presented as a spirited singalong at the end of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ production) but also includes classics like “Sisters” and plenty of beautiful B-sides for the uninitiated.
For Gruber, a show highlight is the sweet ballad about practicing gratitude to combat sleeplessness.
“My favorite moment is the scene where I sing ‘Count Your Blessings’ to Susan Waverly and then with Betty Haynes,” Gruber says. “It is a beautiful bit of storytelling both funny and touching.”
Do yourself a favor and put Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” on your holiday bucket list this year. The costumes, the music and the nostalgia, all centered around one of our favorite duos, make White Christmas a delightful addition to anyone’s holiday season.
“I hope audiences leave feeling full of the Christmas spirit!” Vierling says. “It’s such a classic holiday tradition, we’re so thrilled to be sharing it every night with people.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, ticket sales for "White Christmas" have been incredibly popular. Most November and December performances are fully sold out, though there are some remaining tickets in January. There are other fun seasonal offerings at Chanhassen, though. The Fireside has nine holiday themed concerts running from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, including a new concert by Lori Dokken called “Singin’ In The Kitchen” which has three performances on Dec. 10 and 11 including a matinee! For the entire list of holiday events, visit ChanhassenDT.com.
The Twin Cities offers a sparkling array of shows, events, performances and holiday markets to indulge your quest for holiday entertainment and cheer. Lavender has compiled a list of some of the samplings, but be sure to check out LavenderMagazine.com for much more!
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”
Through January 25, 2025 • Chanhassen Dinner
Theatres, Main Stage, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen www.chanhassendt.com/whitechristmas
A Handmade Holiday Market 2024 – Brühaven Craft Co.
November 2 to December 22 • Brühaven Craft Co., 1368 LaSalle Ave., Minneapolis www.mplscraftmarket.com/marketfeed/a-handmade-holiday-market-2024
“Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas!”
November 5, 2024 to January 5, 2025 • Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis www.childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/the-grinch-24-25/
“A Christmas Carol”
November 9 to December 29 • Guthrie Theatre, Wurtele Thrust Stage, 818 S. Second St., Mpls www.guthrietheater.org
Gingerbread Wonderland 2024
November 19, 2024 to January 4, 2025 • Norway House, 913 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis www.norwayhouse.org/gingerbread-wonderland
“Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas At Pemberley”
November 20, 2024 to January 5, 2025 • Lyric Arts Company of Anoka, 420 E. Main St., Anoka, Minn. www.lyricarts.org/georgiana-and-kitty
“Cinderella”
November 21 to December 31 • Theater Latte Da, 345 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis www.latteda.org
Minneapolis Christkindl Market
November 22-24, November 29 to December 1, December 6-8, December 13-15, December 20-22
• Fridays 4-9 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. • North Loop Green, 350 N. Fifth St., Minneapolis www.minneapolischristkindlmarket.com
Uptown Winter Wonderland Holiday Market
November 23 • 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Seven Points, 3001 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis www.eastbdemakaska.org/events/holidaymarket
2024 European Christmas Market
November 29 to December 22, every weekend • Fridays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Union Depot, 240 E. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul www.stpaulchristmasmarket.org/
2024 Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt
November 29 to December 1 • Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Excelsior East Public Parking (behind Excelsior Brewing), Excelsior, Minn. www.excelsiorchristmas.com
“Scrooge In Rouge”
November 29 to December 29 • Tickets $15-$30 • Ages 14+ • Open Eye Theatre, 506 E. 24th St., Minneapolis www.openeyetheatre.org
Photo courtesy of BigStock/nd3000
EXPRESS YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF
“Hard Candy Christmas” — Drag Show with Nina DiAngelo
December 1 • Drag Brunch in Main Theatre, 1 p.m. • Drag Dinner, 7 p.m. • Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen www.chanhassendt.com
Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity”
December 5-22 • Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul www.penumbratheatre.org
December 6-7 • 7:30 p.m. • Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 S. Fourth St., Minneapolis www.tcgmc.org
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
December 6-7 • Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis www.hennepinarts.org/events/nutcracker-magical-christmas-ballet-2024
Julmarknad Handcraft Market & Festival
Preview Night December 6 • Festival, December 7-8 • American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis www.asimn.org/experience/festivals/julmarknad/
Miss Richfield 1981 — “Phony Baloney For The Holidays”
December 6-22 • Illusion Theater, 3754 Pleasant Ave. S., Minneapolis www.illusiontheater.org
Circus Juventas’s Annual Holiday Show — “Blizzard!”
December 6-15 • Under the Big Top in St. Paul www.circusjuventas.org/holiday-show-2024/
2nd Annual Holiday Harbor Village
December 6-7 • Downtown Grand Marais www.visitcookcounty.com/event/holiday-harborvillage/3672/
The Metropolitan Ballet presents “Nutcracker” December 7, 8, 21 and 22 • Hopkins Auditorium, 2400 Royals Dr., Hopkins, Minn. www.metroballetacademy.org/ballet-performances-events-twin-cities
Red Undie Run
December 7 • Noon • Mill Ruins Park across Stone Arch Bridge and Back, Minneapolis www.aliveness.org/calendar-events/#red-undie-run
“The Little Mermaid” at the Ordway — Pride Night
December 10 • 7 p.m. • Ordway, 345 Washington St., St. Paul www.ordway.org/events/disneys-little-mermaid/
“Singin’ in the Kitchen” — presented by Lori Dokken
December 10-11 • Shows at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. • The Fireside Theatre, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen www.chanhassendt.com
Trailer Trash’s Trashy Little Xmas Show — “Home For The Holidays”
December 13-14 • Friday show 7 p.m., Saturday show 8 p.m. • The Hook and Ladder Theatre & Lounge, 3010 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis www.thehookmpls.com
A Holly “Dolly” Christmas Drag Brunch December 14 • 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. • Roxy’s Cabaret, 1345 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis www.roxyscabaret.com/show-schedule
Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy December 14-22 • State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis www.hennepinarts.org/events/loyce-houltonsnutcracker-fantasy-2024
Merry & Bright with Charles Lazarus
December 15 • 2 p.m. • The Minnesota Orchestra does not perform on this program • Minnesota Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis www.minnesotaorchestra.org
“Christmas…With a Whole Lot of Soul!” featuring Ginger Commodore & Friends December 15-16 • Shows at 7 and 7:30 p.m. • The Fireside Theatre, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen www.chanhassendt.com
December 17-20 • Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, The Fireside Theatre, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen www.chanhassendt.com
Third Annual Queer Holiday Market
December 18-19 • 5-9 p.m. • Hosted by Urban Growler to benefit The Aliveness Project Urban Growler, 2325 Endicott St., St. Paul • 5-9 p.m. both days www.aliveness.org • www.urbangrowlerbrewing.com
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
December 20-22 • Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis www.hennepinarts.org/events/cirque-dreamsholidaze
“Elf In Concert” with the Minnesota Orchestra December 20-22 • Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. • Minnesota Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis www.minnesotaorchestra.org
Belfast Cowboys — “Musical Mistletoe”
December 20 • 7-11:30 p.m. • The Hook and Ladder Theatre & Lounge, 3010 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis www.thehookmpls.com
A Christmas Celebration with the Steeles
December 21-22 • Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis www.hennepinarts.org/events/a-christmas-celebration-with-the-steeles
Sounds of Blackness The Night Before Christmas
December 23 • Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis www.hennepinarts.org/events/sounds-of-blackness
“An Andy & Bing Christmas” featuring Mick Sterling & Wayne Anthony
December 26-30 • Shows at 1 p.m., 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. • The Fireside Theatre, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen www.chanhassendt.com
A New Year’s Celebration: Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue
December 31 to January 1 • Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday at 2 p.m. • Minnesota Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis www.minnesotaorchestra.org
“Vintage Vegas New Years” featuring Mick Sterling & Cate Fierro
December 31 • Shows at 1 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. • The Fireside Theatre, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen www.chanhassendt.com
All events are subject to change or cancellation, so please check their websites before making plans to attend.
Dress like a Star with Area Stars!
A change in the seasons means new clothing for the weather, so why not shop a fashionable and sustainable brand? Area Stars is a luxurious eco-friendly fashion brand that strives to give back to its community in style! The company was started in 2017 by Scott Sussman and his husband, AJ Majumdar. They both run the entire fashion brand and have dedicated much of their time, energy and remarkable eye for fashion to building a brand that their customers can be proud to wear every day.
The talented design team behind Area Stars’ sharp and comfortable style draws its inspiration from aesthetics around the globe. The team creatively integrates modern and traditional designs into their clothing line, including jewelry, handbags, and other accessories. The brand works with acclaimed designers and other industries to create an elegant, personal spark for their customers.
Area Stars’ clothing line and accessories can be found in high-end department stores such as Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Rent the Runway, and more. If you’re not able to shop in person, Area Stars has an easy-to-
navigate online store that showcases all of the latest trends. You can feel assured that while wearing one of Area Stars’ striking dresses or stylish pants, you are dressing your body with exceptional materials. All of the clothing is made with the finest natural and organic cottons and silk. Not only that, but through their website you can also access Area Stars’ hip blog that gives you all the latest tips and tricks for keeping your wardrobe sleek and glamorous.
Creative masterminds Scott Sussman and AJ Majumdar deeply believe in wearing clothing that makes you feel like a star.
“Area Stars was started as a result of our retailers wanting certain types of fashion jewelry merchandise from the brands we represented at the time, and they were not getting. AJ and I took a stab at putting together a fashion jewelry collection, which was initially bought by retailers such as Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Rent the Runway, Von Maur and others,” Sussman explains.
These visionaries believe you should shop Area Stars for many reasons.
“The brand name Area Stars was formed because we wanted people of all sizes and ethnicities to feel like a star in their own area. Using this philosophy, we work on developing trend-right products that are affordable at the same time,” Sussman exclaims.
Area Stars is not only an eye-catching fashion brand, but they also make sure to give back to their community.
Photos courtesy of Scott Sussman
Photo: Jason Niedle
“Area Stars is a charitable brand at its core. Ever since the beginning of the brand’s formation, we have donated to Housing Works, which is an organization that works with and benefits people living with HIV/ AIDS. Many of these recipients are women and BIPOC, so we are happy that we’re helping in our own way,” Sussman explains. “Recently we started working with Lotus House in Miami. Lotus House is a women’s and children’s shelter that not only provides housing but also resources so that they can eventually find housing outside the system and jobs. In November, we are sponsoring an event with Lotus House where we will be providing clothing and jewelry to the residents so they can go on job interviews. Events like this are very important to Area Stars.”
Area Stars is recognized by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce as an LGBT Business Enterprise. Area Stars knows how important it is to be able to express your queer identity, and they aspire to give you the clothing that helps you feel most like yourself. Area Stars’ clientele can shop feeling assured that their money is going towards making the world a better and more fashionable place.
So, as you change your wardrobe this fall, make sure to check out Area Stars at one of your high-end local retailers and walk out feeling like a star!
To shop Area Stars’ exquisite fashion taste online, be sure to visit their website here: areastars.com
STRIP DOWN SHED STIGMA
DECEMBER 7, 2024
DETAILS
1 MILE FUN RUN · ROLL · WALK for HIV/AIDS awareness. Come as you are, undies encouraged! FREE to register and participate. 10:30 AM Check in at Tom’s Watch Bar 12:00 PM Red Undie Run Starts 1:00 PM Warm Up After Party at Saloon MN
Jason Hackett Kare11 Sunrise Anchor
Memorable and Beloved - This December, The Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus Refrains From Restraint
In music, a refrain is a song’s repeated line or phrase, usually found at the end of a verse.
According to one definition, “A refrain’s repetition makes it memorable and beloved, and it ties the song together.” The refrain is sometimes known as a chorus, as in the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus … which is no stranger to using repetition to make things memorable and beloved.
The Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, of course, is the decades-old queer institution that identifies itself as “a volunteer community chorus whose mission is Building Community Through Music. Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus seeks to provide its members with rewarding musical experiences and to promote social exchange.”
That social exchange often revolves around social change. Professes the website: “As an organization that celebrates diversity and uses music as a way to transform, educate and heal, the Chorus works towards the elimination of homophobia and intolerance through community outreach.”
Such outreach is a refrain unto itself, one that manifests in all sorts of ways, including the TCGMC’s annual holiday concert. This year’s version is entitled “Wranglers & Refrains: A Homespun Holiday.” Like any respectable refrain, it’ll assert itself twice: once on December 6th and again on December 7th, both concerts beginning at 7:30 p.m. and taking place at the TCGMC’s home court, Ted Mann Concert Hall.
Lyric lovers worried about the theme superseding the season needn’t fret. As the TCGMC puts it, “With traditional holiday songs too, this concert will be a hoot.” The group’s website elaborates: “This shindig is a feast for the ears, eyes, and heart! Imagine Prairie Home Companion meets the Grand Ole Opry meets holiday cheer, and you’re halfway to toe-tappin’ and hat-tippin’! Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton? Check!”
Wranglers, by definition, are professionals who work with beasts of burden … and sometimes those beasts are other wranglers as will be on full display during 2024’s concert, “a holiday hoedown with line dancing, Santa Claus, fiddles, and more.”
The free-range festivities will be abetted by the Chorus’s newish executive director, Dennis Whipple, who’s engaged in a refrain of his own: the Minnesota native founded and led Saint Cloud’s GREAT Theater. According to his TCGMC profile, “Dennis Whipple is a creative arts executive with experience in strategy, financial management, fundraising, and marketing with a record of strategically growing institutions’ missions, objectives, and brand awareness.”
Chorus photos by Lou Zurn
Those yin-yang-y attributes got Whipple noticed by them fancy East Coasters a few years back. Answering their call, Whipple served as managing director of Brooklyn’s Page 73 Productions (“We launch the careers of playwrights”) and director of operations for Millburn’s Paper Mill Playhouse (“The State Theater of New Jersey”).
But the Gopher State had trapped Whipple’s heart within its figurative buck teeth, pulling him back to his native soil.
“It’s like that old saying goes,” Whipple muses, “‘You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.’ Since I came back to Minnesota, I’ve been reminded that being gay is my attribute.”
His orientation is not the only attribute Whipple draws upon in his capacity as the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus’s executive director. “I find myself blending my artistic experience with my love of numbers,” he notes matter-of-factly. When he assumed his current role this past summer, Whipple had his work cut out for him.
“We needed robust action,” he remembers. “We still needed rejuvenation after COVID.”
That rejuvenation is now well underway, catalyzing the relationship between the TCGMC’s members, sponsors, and audience, and tying them together like a refrain … or a Chorus.
“We’ve added twenty-eight new members,” the numbers-loving executive director reports. “It’s the strongest we’ve been in two decades.”
Most importantly, the Chorus’s art form benefits from these moves. “It’s all coming together in this production,” Whipple says.
As the North Star State’s nights grow longer and the North Star State’s days grow colder, “Wranglers & Refrains: A Homespun Holiday” is sure to make the season memorable and beloved. Or, as their website puts it, “Grab your boots and plaid, and two-step on over to TCGMC’s holiday hootenanny, Wranglers and Refrains: A Homespun Holiday!”
Wranglers & Refrains: A Homespun Holiday
December 6 & 7, 2024 @ 7:30pm
Ted Mann Concert Hall
2128 S. 4th St., Minneapolis
General admission regular-price tickets are $45 for adults, $25 for students. www.tcgmc.org www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/def75258-e6e2-437e-9f3c-e2e8fa993dea
BY ARTHUR DIGGINS
The Comeback Kid!
“When you think you’ve worked hard enough — you haven’t.”
Jimmy Finch, singer and Minneapolis-based voice teacher, was born in show-biz powerhouse Los Angeles, but raised in conservative Lansing, Mich. within a quiet and reserved family and community who have proven to act as both a benefit and a challenge to him. His second-chance comeback as a headlining musical performer forms part of the inspiring story of a determined talent.
Finch first became interested in music at the age of 4 or 5, he says, when his grandmother, who played the church organ, let him sit on the bench with her as she played. “And she’d let me play a note once in a while,” he recalls.
Finch says his first big good influence was, oddly, a nay-sayer in the person of a high school music teacher. “She was not terribly supportive and not super kind, but all of her no-you-can’t-do-this just inspired me to work harder,” Finch says.
Being gay was “not the popular thing” at the conservative Christian school Finch attended, he recalls, “and that was resonated in the reactions of the teachers as well. So, I would win the state competition, but never get a solo in the school choir. I took the negative energy that was pushed in and thought, well, I’m just going to work harder and be the best.” Choirs, Christmas Pageants and musicals followed this solid resolve.
After his high school years, Finch attended Spring Arbor University, which he described as a private, Christian, Liberal Arts college in Michigan with deep connections to his family. “My great-grandparents were on the Board of Trustees, my grandmother went there during World War II — this was where you go to college” in his family, he says.
At this school, Finch began his first formal voice lessons and honed his piano and conducting skills. “Some of the teachers were good,” he says, while some were less helpful. College-level musical theater and opera performances were also part of his education. Finch graduated from this institution with a bachelor’s of arts in music in 2008.
Following his graduation, Finch was hired as Choir Director at Los Altos Christian Church in Albuquerque, N.M., based on his response to a craigslist ad and a phone interview. “They took a chance on this 22-year-old who had never done this job before,” he recalls. Finch held this position from 2008 to 2012.
Graduate school came into play during his time as a choir director. Finch earned a master’s in voice performance and a master’s in choral conducting at the University of New Mexico and made his professional operatic debut in a production of Carmen in 2009.
At the University of New Mexico, Finch says he studied with the late Marilyn Tyler, who was leading soprano at the Dutch National Opera for 30 years before she began her teaching career. “She was the person who believed in me,” Finch says. “You have to find that person.”
His New York City debut some time later found him singing the tenor solos in Mozart’s Requiem with the Church of the Holy Trinity chorus and orchestra … but he is a baritone. “I worked really hard on the high notes,” he recalls.
Finch says he took a break from full-time musical pursuits from 2012 until last year, working in property management, but keeping his musical interests alive as Choir Director at GraceTrinity Community Church in Uptown. However, and despite success in the field, he says he “hit a wall” last summer, with the realization, “I just can’t do this anymore.” He quit his professional pursuits with no clear plan on what-next, but he maintained his position as Choir Director at Grace-Trinity.
Photos courtesy of Jimmy Finch
Enter Lorie Line, Minnesota Musical Hall of Fame member and long-time solo performer who was looking for the right baritone with whom to share her otherwise one-person “Christmas with Lorie Line” show. Finch replied to a social media ad for a performer, sang Christmas carols for Line and established a personal rapport with her, and is now about to embark on his second holiday tour with the noted singer.
After accepting the position with Lorie Line, MacPhail Center for Music reached out to Finch, who joined the vocal teaching faculty. Finch has been at MacPhail since January and now has 17 students at the school’s downtown location.
This second-chance performing and teaching career means the 37-year-old Finch is getting a bit of a late start as a significant musical force … but it’s happening!
What does the Christmas with Lorie show consist of? “I like to describe it as classical crossover,” Finch says. “Think Josh Groban kind of stuff. All the feel-good parts of the holidays. Very Hallmark Christmas — uplifting and upbeat.”
Last year’s tour with Line found Finch in 30 cities in 30 days, a grueling schedule he recalls as a good time. “This year, we’re doing 34 cities in 36 days,” he says. The tour starts in Phoenix on November 20 and takes in a Midwestern-plus collection of states, including several performances in Minnesota towns and cities.
Finch’s advice to would-be musical performers: “You have to work harder than you think is possible. When you think you’ve worked hard enough — you haven’t. Practice more than you think is necessary. Pedal to the metal until you drop. Don’t give up. You never know when something you’ve always dreamed about will fall in place.”
For tickets to the “Christmas with Lorie Line” show, go to: www.lorieline.com/tour
For more information on Jimmy Finch, including private voice lessons, go to: www.jimmyfinch.com
BY EMMA WALYTKA
Nine‘Working to Five’ with Nina DiAngelo at Roxy’s Cabaret
Join Nina DiAngelo, Monica West and BeBe Zahara Benet at “A Holly Dolly Christmas” Drag Brunch at Roxy’s Cabaret in Minneapolis on December 14 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
With Dolly-themed cocktails, prizes for the best Dolly Costume and door prizes, even Jolene would attend “just because she can.”
It all started in 2019 when Roxy’s director Nina DiAngelo was approached by Sam and Dion Turner, the owners of Nicollet Diner, an establishment with a 24-hour breakfast menu.
The Turners offered the opportunity to create a cabaret concept to be part of the relocation and expansion of The Nicollet Diner, DiAngelo says.
Since opening its doors in October 2022, Roxy’s Cabaret has been a premier destination for drag, brunch and entertainment in the Cities. Roxy’s is dedicated to one of DiAngelo’s best friends and a drag legend in the Midwest, Roxy Marquis, who lost her five-year battle with cancer just before the project was about to begin.
DiAngelo, working over sixty hours a week in “every position imaginable,” designs all of the visuals, menus and anything that falls under the
print or digital umbrella while not performing in drag.
“I enjoy every part of it, from creating the looks to choosing the music,” DiAngelo says. “I just love the vibes from the creative process and the digital elements.”
Impersonating Dolly for nearly ten years, DiAngelo says she has performed as a multitude of different characters but especially loves being Dolly because she is “just so over the top.”
Getting ready for drag shows is fully dependent on what you’re getting ready for, DiAngelo says, but it typically takes her an hour and a half to get into full drag — her record is 45 minutes.
“Dolly, she’s always been a superstar,” DiAngelo says. “But, she’s just so relevant right now, and has always done such a great job of being authentically and unapologetically herself.”
According to DiAngelo, Parton’s publisher reached out to her through Roxy’s website, providing Roxy’s with Parton’s cookbooks to hand out as “Dolly Door Prizes.”
To enter, no costume is required — but dressing Dolly-esque with her signature voluminous blonde wig and custom t-shirts that read “I love Dolly” or “The Dolly Fan Club” is certainly welcome and encouraged, DiAngelo added.
Photo courtesy of Nina DiAngelo
Walking into the music, all of Dolly’s hits from “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene” and sprinkles of Christmas songs from “Holly Jolly Christmas” to “Christmas Without You” are sure to make an appearance, according to DiAngelo.
What makes Dolly’s music so spectacular is the vast scope her music encompasses, the element of fun her lyrics have and the uniformity in performing them, according to DiAngelo.
To fully display Dolly’s reach, songs from her 2023 “Rockstar” album can be expected to make an appearance, along with some of her Christmas music, according to DiAngelo.
“It’s hard to find somebody else, other than Dolly, that’s so committed to just being a good person,” DiAngelo says.
Roxy’s will be not only serving looks but also food from The Nicollet Diner’s full menu, including all-day breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, soups, and a new diner menu that will include elevated appetizers by the end of this year.
DiAngelos’ favorite? The chicken and waffles. House-made waffles topped with golden-fried chicken breasts meet sweet and savory red-eye gravy and maple syrup for a superb breakfast combo.
In today’s vast sphere of technology, DiAngelo says the introduction of video components and LED lights have created an expansive, showstopping element to Roxy’s drag shows.
“As far as Roxy’s building, everyone is welcome in that part,” DiAngelo says. “We are not a club or a nightclub, we are a restaurant and a cabaret that has so much to offer.”
More upcoming Drag Brunches:
“It’s gonna be WICKED! Broadway Leading Ladies Drag Brunch”
Saturday, Nov. 16 at Roxy’s
“Dolly and Friends, Hard Candy Christmas Drag Brunch”
Dec. 1 at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Tickets may be purchased now through Dec. 14 online at Eventbrite for $15 each.
Visit www.roxyscabaret.com for more information on other upcoming shows.
Roxy’s Cabaret
1333 Nicollet Mall
(612) 887-6997
www.roxyscabaret.com
Trunk Show Nov 14–16
Lavender
Community Connection brings visibility to local LGBTQ-friendly non-profit organizations. To reserve your listing in Community Connection, email advertising@lavendermagazine. com.
ANIMAL RESCUE
Second Chance Animal Rescue
Dedicated to rescuing, fostering, caring for, and adopting out dogs and cats into forever homes.
P.O. Box 10533 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (651) 771-5662 www.secondchancerescue.org
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
Quorum
Minnesota's LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce working to build, connect, and strengthen for a diverse business community. 2446 University Ave. W., Ste 112 St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 460-8153 www.twincitiesquorum.com
ENVIRONMENT
The Nature Conservancy
TNC is an environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive. 1101 W. River Pkwy., Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1291 (612) 331-0700 minnesota@tnc.org www.nature.org/minnesota
EVENT VENUES
Landmark Center
A classic venue, with a grand cortile and beautiful courtrooms, accommodates celebrations of all sizes. 75 W. 5th St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 292-3228 www.landmarkcenter.org
GRANTMAKERS/FUNDERS
PFund Foundation
PFund is the LGBTQ+ community foundation that provides grants to students and grants to non-profits. PO Box 3640 Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 870-1806 www.pfundfoundation.org
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Aliveness Project
Community Center for individuals living with HIV/AIDS – on-site meals, food shelf, and supportive service. 3808 Nicollet Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55102 (612) 824-LIFE (5433) www.aliveness.org
Family Tree Clinic
We're a sliding fee sexual health clinic and education center, now in Minneapolis. 1919 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis MN 55403 (612) 473-0800 www.familytreeclinic.org
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Keane Sense of Rhythm
Celebrate your true self with Tap dance!
1st week free, Join us now!
2161 University Avenue W., Ste. 117 St. Paul, MN. 55114 (612) 251-4744 info@tapcompany.org www.tapcompany.org
NAMI Minnesota
(National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Providing free classes and peer support groups for people affected by mental illnesses.
1919 University Ave. W., Ste. 400 St. Paul, MN 55104 (651) 645-2948 www.namimn.org
Red Door Clinic
HIV and STI screening, treatment, education, and referrals. Doxy PEP, nPEP, PrEP, and Reproductive Health. 525 Portland Ave., 4th Fl. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 543-5555 reddoor@hennepin.us www.reddoorclinic.org
LIBRARIES
Quatrefoil Library
Your LGBTQ+ library and community center. Free membership, events, and e-books/audiobooks. Check us out!
1220 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 729-2543 www.qlibrary.org
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS
Radio K
Radio K is the award-winning studentrun radio station of the University of Minnesota.
330 21st. Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 625-3500 www.radiok.org
MUSEUM
Minnesota Historical Society
Create your own adventure at MNHS historic sites and museums around Minnesota. mnhs.org
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Enjoy masterpieces from all over the world & every period of human history. Free admission daily!
2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 870-3000 www.artsmia.org
Walker Art Center
Showcasing the fresh, innovative art of today and tomorrow through exhibitions, performances, and film screenings.
725 Vineland Pl. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 375-7600 www.walkerart.org
PERFORMING ARTS
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
The nation's largest professional dinner theater and Minnesota's own entertainment destination.
501 W. 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317 (952) 934-1525 www.ChanhassenDT.com
Children’s Theatre Company
Children’s Theatre Company excites the imagination with world-class family-friendly theatre for kids, teens, and adults.
2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 874-0400 www.childrenstheatre.org
Guthrie Theater
Open to the public year-round, the Guthrie produces classic and contemporary plays on three stages. 818 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 377-2224 www.guthrietheater.org
Minnesota Opera
World-class opera draws you into a synthesis of beauty; breathtaking music, stunning costumes & extraordinary sets. Performances at the Ordway Music Theater - 345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (612) 333-6669 www.mnopera.org
Minnesota Orchestra
Led by Music Director Designate Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra, one of America’s leading symphony orchestras.
Leading performing arts center with two stages presenting Broadway musicals, concerts & educational programs that enrich diverse audiences. 345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 224-4222 info@ordway.org www.ordway.org
Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus
An award-winning chorus building community through music and offers entertainment worth coming out for! 1430 W. 28th St., Ste. B Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 339-SONG (7664) chorus@tcgmc.org www.tcgmc.org
RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL
All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church
A welcoming, inclusive, safe place to explore and discover God’s love for ALL God’s children. 3100 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 824-2673 www.agcmcc.org
Many Hearts, One Song; Many Hands, One Church. Find us on Facebook and Twitter. 1900 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-7400 www.plymouth.org
St. Philip's Lutheran Church
We invite and welcome those of every spiritual background, ethnicity, gender orientation, or economic situation. 6180 Hwy 65 Fridley, MN 55432 (763) 571-1500 www.splcmn.org
University Baptist Church
Creating safe and inclusive spaces for 175 years, UBC stands proudly with our LGBTQ+ family. 1219 University Ave. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 (612) 331-1768 www.ubcmn.org
Westminster Presbyterian Church
An open and affirming congregation, welcoming persons of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. 1200 Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 332-3421 www.westminstermpls.org
SENIOR LIVING Friends & Co
Fostering meaningful connections for older adults for 50+ years. Offering quick drop-in chat line, phone & visiting companionship services.
2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 260-S St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 721-1400 www.friendsco.org
Lyngblomsten Community Services
Empowering older adults to live well at home through caregiver support, memory-loss enrichment, & wellness education. 1415 Almond Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108 (651) 632-5330 www.Lyngblomsten.org/CommunityServices
Senior Community Services
Providing non-medical services that meet the changing needs of older adults & support their caregivers. 10201 Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 335 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 541-1019 www.seniorcommunity.org/lav
SOCIAL SERVICES
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Serving all Minnesotans with personcentered services that promote full and abundant lives.
lssmn.org | (651) 642-5990 | (800) 582-5260 Employment Opportunities | lssmn.org/careers PICS (Partners in Community Supports) | picsmn.org
Pooled Trust | (888) 806-6844
Supported Decision-Making | (888) 806-6844
TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
Westopolis
Minnesota’s Sweet Spot! Visit us for exceptional dining, attractions, shopping, hotels and event space.
1660 Hwy 100 S., Ste. 501 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 426-4047 www.westopolis.org
Fair Trade Minneapolis. Meet us for up-cycled gorgeous art made by parents being paid fairly for their work with Papillon Marketplace in Haiti! Metal wall art, holiday ornaments, jewelry, ceramic mugs, Haiti Fiends Dolls, and greeting cards! November 9, 10, 16, 17, 30 and December 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22. 10am-2pm. Field and Festival Holiday Market at Wagners Garden Center • 6024 Penn Ave S • Minneapolis, MN 55419. (612) 516-2025 fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign/fairtrade-minneapolis/
OUR AFFAIRS | BOOKS
BY E.B. BOATNER
Books
“Dead in the Frame”
Stephen Spotswood
Vintage Crime
$17.00
If you’ve not yet read Spotswood’s first four Pentecost and Parker mysteries, I’ll lay heavy odds once you read this one, you’ll not stop until you’ve devoured the others as well (I did). They’re narrated by Will (née Willowjean) Parker, former runaway, traveling-circus, multi-gigged performer, current amanuensis to New York’s premiere lady detective, Lillian Pentecost. Street-smart but short on book learning, Will’s narrative echoes the hard-boiled Chandler/Hammett repartee prevalent in the City’s crime-ridden 1940s. Here, Will returns from vacation to find Pentecost in jail, framed for killing a shady millionaire philanthropist, himself a collector of murder paraphernalia displayed to an elect circle in his mansion’s Black Museum. Morals, mores, loves and lusts swirl in dark eddies around the entire cast. Trust me — you’ll seek the previous four.
“Gay
Campgrounds: The Ultimate Guide to Gay Camping Travel Guide (Gay Men’s Field Guide Book 2)”
Upton Rand KVP
$5.99 e-book, $14.99 paperback, $35 hardcover
Rand writes with openness and joy, eager to share the treasures he and Rex (his Pug) discovered at Freedom Valley Gay Campground in New London, Ohio. Two months after his divorce, our narrator is “more than ready for a fresh start.” Sex will, of course, be involved in this adventure, but true freedom, he learns, comes through emotional bonds; connections and friendships that are forged through open conversations — all new revelations precious to someone who’s lived life “emotionally walled off.” There are activities galore including the Bond of Leather, Private Clubs, Pool Time and just time. There are tips on packing for your next trip and a curated list of US male-only gay campgrounds, but assuring there are many LGBTQ+ areas, besides those in his purview.
“That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America”
Amanda Jones
Bloomsbury Publishing
$29.99
Louisiana middle-school librarian Amanda Jones spoke, with some 30 others, at an evening library meeting, sharing her concern for the inclusion of books with stories and characters relevant to all students. She woke to an e-mailed death threat and accusations of “grooming” children. She was targeted by specific groups, accused, among a plethora of lies defying common sense, of giving youngsters books on performing anal sex. Jones details her decision to fight back, to confront these organized, proliferating hate groups. Though painful, Jones’s arduous path is a beacon to educators who love teaching, who love their charges and who love books. Valuable chapters, pragmatic and specific, advise how to respond to hate in one’s community, how to keep records, how to seek counsel and what groups are available nationwide.
“Bless Our Sleep”
Neil S. Plakcy
Samwise Books
$4.99 ebook, print TBA
Miami, 1968. Enter George Clay, honorably discharged, Navy Master-atArms qualified for a class C investigator license. Cash shortage; becomes late-hour bouncer at Cockpit bar, gay-after-dark. First client seeks heirloom signet ring stolen during blow-job from teen (aka “Worm”) in wooded park. Luckless at pawnshops, Clay roams the park and finds … a corpse. Male. Young. Plakcy has adroitly set wheels in motion. Clay has many balls to juggle: client’s assignations must be kept from family and police, Worm’s connections with wealthy, private school teens must be explored — gingerly — tweaking darker threads to drugs, always aware that where drugs exist, there also lurk the elite criminal power-lords as well. Plakcy explores the money/power paths of a Miami not so much bygone, as a foreshadowing of today’s phoenixed glitter.
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