METROSOURCE NY - AUG/SEP 2023

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:

 dofetilide

 rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

 Have any other health problems.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may a ect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

 Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.

 Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

 Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

 Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

 The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side e ects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION

 This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5.

 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. © 2023 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0250 04/23

#1 PRESCRIBED HIV TREATMENT*

No matter where life takes you,

ELIAS SWITCHED TO BIKTARVY

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

Person featured takes BIKTARVY and is compensated by Gilead.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and at BIKTARVY.com.

WELCOME TO OUR FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME HEALTH AND WELLNESS ISSUE. My summer started off with participation in a number of vibrant Pride events, which always puts a smile on my face. Celebrating and connecting with members of our growing community has a vital impact on emotional well-being. We aren’t alone!

A couple of other community events I reveled in during the early summer months included the first Equality Wine Fest in Palm Springs, CA. This festival showcased wineries, eateries, artists and retailers which are owned or operated by women, or members of the LGBTQ+ or BIPOC communities sponsored by www.LGBTwinesociety.com. The love in the ballroom was palpable! Then I got a fix of vitamin D and exercise during my annual visit to Sonoma County, CA for Gay Wine Weekend in July where we danced the night away in a vineyard at La Crema Winery and splashed about during Sunday’s spirited pool party sponsored by www.GEDmag.com.

While many of our nation’s major Pride events take place in June, there are still dozens of events coming up in late summer and early fall. Maybe a good opportunity to plan a weekend getaway to one of these lively cities yet to host their 2023 Pride:

• Long Beach, CA – Aug 5 & 6

• Austin, TX – Aug 12 & 13

• Silicon Valley, CA – Aug 26 & 27

• Las Vegas, NV – Oct 8 & 9

• Phoenix, AZ – Oct 15 & 16

• Savannah, GA – Oct 21 & 22

• Palm Springs, CA – Nov 5 & 6

And for those of you adventurous souls, some wild weekends coming up include:

• Southern Decadence, New Orleans, LA – Aug 31-Sept 4

• Folsom Street Fair, San Francisco, CA – Sept 24

• Fantasy Fest, Key West, FL – Oct 20-29

I do agree with Jane Lynch in that, “We shouldn’t have to have a Pride season. Everybody should have pride in who we are all the time.” It’s a wonderful aspiration for our community to embrace. Please see the context of this quote and other insights from this multi-talented entertainer in our feature article this issue. You’ll see why Jane Lynch earned a spot on our cover.

While at the Equality Wine Fest in Palm Springs, I had the pleasure of meeting two Metrosource readers from Tulsa, OK who have been avid readers for many years. They were kind enough to share some of their city’s mustdo cultural, culinary and arts highlights as well as the philanthropic spirit that’s alive in Tulsa. I was also reminded during our pleasant chat of the work we still have to do in the heartland to achieve mainstream LGBTQ+ acceptance. There are a whole lot of people in our community who live in-between LA and NYC.

My new friends from Tulsa shared that they thoroughly enjoyed reading the original interviews we include in each issue. I was flattered, and also driven, to make sure we deliver that level of quality with this latest round! In addition to Jane Lynch, our writers have caught up with model, activist and life coach Barrett Pall; Tonywinning American playwright and screenwriter, Matthew Lopez; and bestselling author Steven Rowley whose new novel The Celebrants has been named a summertime must-read.

We’re also taking you abroad with visits to two vibrant European cities. You’ll take a “honeymoon” in romantic and budget-friendly Budapest, Hungary and then plunge into the brisk fjords of Oslo, Norway where the health and wellness regimens at the historic Sommerro House will intrigue you.

If you thought kombucha was just a tea drink with some noteworthy health benefits, just wait until you read what it can do for the health of your skin. One reputable skin care company has launched a new line of kombucha-based products that you’ll want to learn about. As always, we’ve curated some of the hottest new things to read, watch, and listen, as well as places to visit this season in our Scope section.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Metrosource as much as we enjoyed creating it. I wish our readers health and happiness as we close out summer 2023.

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BE HAPPY, IT’S GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH!

COVER: Jane Lynch

Photography by: Maarten DeBoer/NBC

CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

BENTLEY ROBLES “HOPE U CRY”

INDIE CHICANO POP PRINCE BENTLEY ROBLES HAS BECOME ONE OF THE DEFINING VOICES OF NEW YORK UNDERGROUND. Live 365 named him to the “10 LGBTQ+ Artists You Should Know in 2022” list, with the song going strong on Spotify’s “OBSESSED” playlist for 6 months straight. Bentley is kicking off a whole new era with the recent release of his latest smash “HOPE U CRY.” As the lead single from his forthcoming sophomore EP,“HOPE U CRY”is quintessential Bentley Robles: a synth-pop breakup anthem with sharp tongued lyrics, bass synth, and emotive drums that make you want to cry, dance and scream as it all climaxes into a dance break that will hit you like cold water.

Bentley says, “Have you ever been so f--ed over by an ex that you fantasize about their life crashing and burning? I have. ‘HOPE U CRY’ is an anthem for that. I wanted to write a song where every lyric feels cathartic to sing, something you can belt in your car to get the anger out. I think I delivered, now I just want my EX to hear this in every club he enters this summer. I hope he cries.”

Bentley has had a whirlwind year as he continues to establish himself an indie pop staple in the music industry, landing several Spotify editorial playlists (including ‘OBSESSED’, ‘BRILLO’, ‘Fresh Finds’ and more) with huge pop bangers like “i hate the weekend,’ ”kiss my friends”, and the sweaty synth cover of ABBA’s “lay all your love on me” which has since gained over 1.5M streams on Spotify--marking his first single to achieve over 1M streams on the platform. This summer, he’s on tour across North America with fellow pop artist Tom Aspaul for the Planet Fantastic Tour (the pair also collaborated on a new ABBA cover “Gimme! Gimme! Gimmie!” out now for Pride Month) and released collaborations with Zee Machine (the viral TIkTok single “See Me Naked”) and Gregory Dillon (“don’t listen to this song”). Boisterous, fiery, impassioned, and a shameless Cancer sun boy, Bentley has been hailed as“the future of pop”by Monster Children, and has become one of the

THESCOPE

defining voices of New York underground. His early 2023 singles landed him on UPROXX’s artists to watch list, Bentley teases his sophomore EP project saying, “I don’t want to give too much away, but I’ve been promising my fans an EP since last year. Being an indie artist, releasing bodies of work can be tough. I wanna make sure what I deliver is top notch. I’ve written over 50 songs and gone back and forth on which ones are the best. I feel happy about the ones we’ve chosen. Expect pop perfection.”

DITA VON TEESE LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY – “A JUBILANT REVUE”

JUBILEE THEATER, HORSESHOE

LAS VEGAS OPENING OCTOBER 5, 2023

INTERNATIONAL QUEEN OF BURLESQUE, DITA VON TEESE, IS DEBUTING DITA LAS VEGAS: A JUBILANT REVUE, AT HORSESHOE LAS VEGAS, OPENING IN THE JUBILEE THEATER ON THURSDAY, OCT. 5, 2023. Dita is debuting a new show merging her signature burlesque acts with the celebrated iconic Las Vegas show Jubilee aesthetic, including incorporating some of the show’s original costumes and sets.

DITA LAS VEGAS: A Jubilant Revue is heralded as the most lavishly staged burlesque production ever, anywhere. This is the art of burlesque at its most bona fide and beautiful embodiment—from choreography to costumes, stage production to razzle dazzle. Dita’s own marquee revues are the grandest staged and most attended worldwide, selling out millions of seats in landmark theaters. On the crystalspeckled heels of the recent European and U.S. Glamonatrix tour, this new Vegas revue marks the inaugural arrival in this glittering city for the undisputed Queen of Burlesque.

As Marquee Star and under her exacting Creative Direction, with this 75-minute nonstop show, Dita tips her hat to the spectacular spirit of Jubilee of yore and the historic theater at Horseshoe, putting to maximum effect its epoch-making hydraulic lifts, floating platforms and renowned passerelle. The iconic Jubilee costumes created by the legendary Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee will sparkle again under the klieg lights, as Dita and Company conjure the verve of the Vegas showgirl in a re-imagined way as only she can.

“It’s been my dream to create a show that honors the great American art forms of burlesque and the showgirl,” notes Dita. “After many tours across Europe, Australia, the U.S. and Canada, to secure a home in Las Vegas— the showbiz capital of the world—and with the vaunted Jubilee legacy, well, I couldn’t be more ecstatic. I visited the show many times before it went dark, never getting enough of the spectacle of feathers and rhinestones! It was the ultimate showgirl revue, from the theater to the MackieMenefee costumes.”

Collaborating with Dita to stage this unprecedented show is Director and Executive Producer

Michael Schwandt, among the most dynamic trailblazers in creative and stage direction for live experiences today. Schwandt’s extensive body of work includes innovative live stage spectaculars, such as Cirque du Soleil’s R.U.N. and the groundbreaking global hit TV series “The Masked Singer.” Other notable work includes Miss Universe, The World Cup, Ringling Bothers and The Olympics. His roster of superstar artists includes Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, Diplo, Katy Perry,

Bush, and Janelle Monae, among many others.

DITA LAS VEGAS: A Jubilant Revue will electrify the Jubilee Theater stage select Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 9 p.m., including special New Year’s Eve weekend performances on December 28, 29, 30 and 31.

For a complete show schedule and to purchase tickets, please visit ticketmaster.com/DitaVegas.

For more on Dita, visit dita.net, as well as on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter @ditavonteese.

high school, Las Encinas, and the clash between the wealthy and working-class students.

The series explores many different concepts and themes, and the twists and turns keep you coming back for more. Think of it as a mixture of the TV shows Gossip Girl, Riverdale and How to Get Away with Murder. The cast has changed significantly over the seasons; however, it looks like one of the original cast members, Omar Ayuso, will be reprising his role as Omar Shanaa in Elite season 7. Along with the return of Ayuso is the addition of seven new cast members.

ELITE SEASON 7 PREMIERES ON NETFLIX ON OCT. 20, 2023. AND BEFORE YOU EVEN WATCH AN EPISODE, SEASON 8 HAS ALREADY BEEN SLATED. This popular teen series on Netflix was created by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona and follows a group of students attending the fictional prestigious

Elite has been renewed for an eighth season. Netflix has also announced new cast members Ane Rot and Nuno Gallego are joining the series, and Mina el Hammani, who recurred for the first three seasons, will return as Nadia. Production of the new episodes will begin in August.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/elite

Dita Von Teese by Albert Sanchez & Pedro Zalba

LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF ART

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

CHRISTIAN WALKER: THE PROFANE AND THE POIGNANT (SEP 22 - JAN 7, 2024)

A SEASON IN DELHI

(RELEASE DATE NOVEMBER 12, 2023)

BY SCOTT ALEXANDER HESS

SET AGAINST THE DAZZLING BACKDROP OF MODERN DELHI, A GAY COUPLE’S IDYLLIC INDIAN JOURNEY TAKES A DARK TURN WHEN A SECRET INFIDELITY IS REVEALED. Newly-married New Yorkers Brant and Lloyd are enjoying the great beauty and frenetic atmosphere of Delhi until Brant’s recent infidelity is revealed to his husband. Left alone in what was supposed to be their honeymoon bungalow, Brant discovers a diary buried in the garden that was written by a diplomat’s wife, Carol, who had a torrid, scandalous affair in Delhi in 1950. Brant connects with the 90-yearold Carol first on the page—and eventually, in person—discovering a bond that transcends time and culture.

Inspired by the works of Paul Bowles (The Sheltering Sky) and Lawrence Osborne (The

Forgiven), A Season in Delhi is both modern and timeless, driven by a fascination with the great disparity of privilege and wealth; the flawed beauty of the human spirit; and the complexity and humility we face when we engage first in reckless deception, then forgiveness, and— ultimately—redemption.

Scott Alexander Hess is the author of seven novels, including Skyscraper, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, and The Butcher’s Sons, which was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2015. His latest fiction—a pair of novellas, The Root of Everything & Lightning—was named a best book of 2021 by St. Louis Librarians. His writing has appeared in HuffPost, Genre Magazine, The Fix, Thema Literary Review, and elsewhere. Hess co-wrote Tom in America, an award-winning short film starring Sally Kirkland and Burt Young. He teaches fiction writing at Gotham Writers Workshop and curates Hot Lit, an LGBTQIA+ themed monthly newsletter. He was a 2022 Lambda Literary Judge and a semi-finalist for America’s Next Great Author. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Hess lives in New York City with his husband.

CHRISTIAN WALKER: THE PROFANE AND THE POIGNANT IS THE FIRST MUSEUM EXHIBITION SURVEYING THE WORK OF ARTIST, CRITIC, AND CURATOR CHRISTIAN WALKER (1953-2003). Active in Boston and Atlanta from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, Walker was a pathmaking Black, gay photographer who made compelling and experimental work about queer sexuality, race, and their intersections. In the mid-1980s, his artistic practice shifted from documentary photography and portraiture toward alternative photographic processes of multiple exposure, archival appropriation, and integration of paints and non-traditional materials. Walker’s artworks, criticism, and exhibition-making addressed myriad subjects, including queer public sex, interracial desire, HIV/AIDS, censorship, drug use, and Blackness and whiteness in public and private image cultures. By contextualizing Walker within his artistic and activist communities in Boston and Atlanta, this exhibition situates his photographs, critical writings, and curatorial projects as vital contributions to the histories of art and photography.

More at leslielohman.org.

VISIT

MATTHEW LÓPEZ IS BEAMING RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

THIS AUGUST, AMAZON PRIME RELEASES THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE, THE TALE OF ALEX AND HENRY, THE SON OF THE US PRESIDENT FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE SON OF THE KING OF THE UK – SHENANIGANS AND POLITICS ENSUE. The film, both sultry and sweet at the same time, is based on the New York Times bestselling book by Casey McQuiston. The book was an instant hit, and with the charm, stellar cast (including Uma Thurman), and truly heartful direction, this film should be no less. At the film’s helm is the king (or queen) of the stage, mastermind Matthew López, making his feature film co-writing and directing debut. Let’s hope if the film sweeps the award shows, he has enough room on his shelf next to his Tony Awards, Olivier Award, Outer Critics Circle Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Drama League Award, GLAAD Media Award, and a handful of others. Despite his youth, he’s already achieved more on the stage as a playwright than most writers accomplish in a lifetime.

I WAS ALWAYS TELLING STORIES FROM THE GET-GO.”

Though he is entertainment’s hardworking darling, he wasn’t always the center of attention. His awkward childhood was a blessing in disguise.

I wasn’t very popular [laughs]. I was that kid who was popular with adults, but not with other kids. I read a lot of books as a kid, and I listened to a lot of musical theater cast albums. I was largely out of step, I kept to myself, and I cocooned a lot. Whether that was because I was a little queer Puerto Rican kid in Panama City, Florida, I don’t know. That may have been a coping mechanism. But I think the result is that I learned how to use my imagination. I was an incredibly imaginative kid. I dreamed up scenarios in my head, I put on plays. So, I think I was always telling stories from the get-go, and fortunate for me that I actually turned that into a career!

Entertainment was in his blood. Not only was his father in the original West Side Story film, but his aunt is actor Priscilla Lopez, who originated the role of Diana Morales in A Chorus Line. The real spark, though, was thanks to Broadway itself.

My parents took me to New York for the holidays one year. Not only did I see my first Broadway show, I saw my first piece of theater ever, which was Peter Pan, the musical with Sandy Duncan. It lit my fuse. It absolutely set the course of the rest of my life on that one matinee when I was five years old. There was something there. Obviously, there’s something incredibly magical and fantastical about Peter Pan. There’s something about being a forever kid that is very appealing. I think there’s a lot of Peter Pan in me. There’s a reason my character in The Inheritance, Toby, is named Toby Darling - he’s named after the kids in that story.

López’s pieces couldn’t be more different. Not banking on the success of a previous subject matter, each of his plays tells a tale more different than the other. His breakout play was the Off-Broadway production of The Whipping Man. Taking place immediately after the Civil War, it centers around two former slaves who encounter their former master, all of whom are Jewish. It explores the different ways people can remain enslaved – addictions, prejudices. It was a hit and extended four times with López winning the John Gassner New Play Award. His next three plays, Somewhere, Reverberation, and The Legend of Georgia McBride, were all hits unto their own, with subject matter ranging from a theatrical family in 1959’s Manhattan (a tip of the hat to West Side Story), to agoraphobic victims of violence, to a down-on-his-luck Elvis impersonator who turns to drag for redemption. It was his fifth major play, The Inheritance, that sealed López’s place in the theatre. Called“the most important American play of the century” by The Daily Telegraph, the play takes place 30 years after the AIDS epidemic and explores the relationships and connections gay

I THINK THERE’S A LOT OF PETER PAN IN ME.”

PAGE : PHOTO BY ROB YOUNGSON/PRIME

men make across generations and social classes, asking the question, what responsibilities do we have for the youth who come after us? It was an instant critical success, sweeping the awards season, including 11 Tony nominations. With each play so wildly different than the other, he doesn’t seem burdened by the need to stick with a style or theme.

I guess I don’t like to repeat myself. I have a tendency when I do anything, I do it with an obsessive quality. It really becomes the only thing that I can think about and when I’m done, I don’t want to think about it again. And so, I think that sort of lends itself to wanting to try different things and try different kinds of storytelling. At the end of the day, I’m fascinated by people who are not me. I’m stuck with me; I’ve been me for all my life. I think that I’m not one of those people who really needs you all to watch my therapy session. I did a fair amount of that in The Inheritance, and I feel like I’m done. I’d rather really explore other people. I think there’s also a part of it that kid who spent much of his childhood in his room alone, reading books and listening to music. So, when I, as a writer, as a creator, get to sort of take bits of people who actually exist in the world whom I know or have observed,

and then turn them into my characters, I sort of encounter the world that way. Maybe it’s because it’s safe. Look, I’m not a shut-in, I’m very much in the world and I definitely have very healthy relationships with other people, but many writers are, before anything else, observers. And I feel like I’m the same way.

Not only did The Inheritance win the Olivier, Drama Desk, Drama League, and GLAAD Media Awards, but López made theatre history as the first Latino writer to win a Tony for Best Play. After such success, where do you go from there? Did he feel the pressure to strike gold again?

I’m going to fail at things, it’s inevitable. I’m a human being. I’m flawed. I’m just a person telling stories. I’m truly fortunate that I get to tell the stories that I want to, and that I’ve been supported along the way and been given the chance to tell them. I don’t ever take that for granted. If you can accept that failure is inevitable, then it just relieves you of the pressure to succeed. And you can just simply tell the story you want to tell in the best way you know and hope that you know your instincts are right and that people will respond to it. So far, so good.

Matthew just won this year’s Tony for his cowriting musical adaptation of the classic film Some Like It Hot. So, yeah, so far, so good.

Always one to challenge himself, he is shifted from the stage to the screen for the adaptation of Red, White & Royal Blue. Filled with romance and comedy, it also has substance but is never heavyhanded. It is simply a love story first. For someone who has witnessed the evolution of LGBTQ content on the stage and screen, this type of content is the future in representation and a sign that we have moved on to a new level of storytelling.

At the end of the day in a story like this, you need to care. Sometimes in order to make an audience care, you need to put your heroes in danger, but you also want the audience to fall in love. And there is nothing more deliriously fun than falling in love. Just as Alex and Henry fall in love with each other, the audience has to fall in love with them. And that is such a fun thing to be able to create. That’s a fun story to tell. I never thought that we were making something completely lightweight and disposable. I definitely didn’t want the movie to feel disposable. I didn’t want people to see it and then forget about it the next day, because the characters stayed with me after I read the book. I wanted the movie to feel exactly the same way the book felt. I wanted those characters to linger in the audience’s mind once the movie was over in the days, in the weeks after they’d seen

A SEX SCENE IN A MOVIE IS LIKE A SONG IN A MUSICAL.”

PAGE : PHOTO BY ROB YOUNGSON/PRIME

the film. And that was the most important thing to me.

I grew up in the ‘80s and the ‘90s and the only queer media I was able to consume was all about dying of AIDS, or how to hate myself. There are great works that came out of that time. There are tremendously beautiful pieces of traumatic literature, movies, and even television at the time. But I’m very grateful that I am able to participate in the creative process now. I think one of the exciting things is the scope of representation and the number of people who I, as a queer creator, get to both work with and get to watch their work. With this explosion of storytelling, what I’m eager for is the beginning of a conversation between these pieces, between queer creators. Are we creating a constellation of individual pieces that don’t cohere in any kind of a cultural narrative? Or are we actually building some sort of a tapestry that generations from now can look back at the work we are making right now, and be able to tell a story about who we were as a society?

Directing this film was at the top of López’ to-do list.

I read the book and I basically stalked (producers) Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter until they relented and let me make the film. I read the book in early 2020 just before the pandemic, and I was so crazy in love with it. I felt crazy in love with Alex and Henry. I read it in a day and a half, and I was obsessed with it. I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I said ‘I have to make this movie.’ I’m grateful that my passion didn’t read as insanity and they all said yes. It has been my very happy obsession for the last two years.

This film also marks Matthew’s debut as a director. Even with all of his stage awards and successes, doing film is an entirely different beast. What were the first few days of filming like?

Nausea every morning [laughs]. The best bit of encouragement I got was from my 78-year-old director of photography, Steven Goldblatt, who worked with Mike Nichols and Francis Ford Coppola. He said to me, after the first hour of the first day, “You will no longer be an inexperienced filmmaker, you will simply be an unpracticed filmmaker, and that will take care of itself over time.”

I remember those words almost verbatim because they really calmed me. I was surrounded by incredibly experienced people who taught me how to make a film, especially through the pre-production process.

The most daunting thing was that we had a Covid shutdown about three weeks into production. So, I went into the edit because I had nothing else to do, and I figured I’d go ahead and get started cutting the movie. That was the most helpful thing for me because I came back to the set once we went back into production, and I had a week’s worth of knowing how to edit a film. It changed the way I made the movie. I wish I had sat in on someone else’s edit because the most daunting thing was simply trusting that I had what I needed and trying not to overshoot and avoid undershooting. Someone else knew where to put the light, someone else knew where to put the camera, and I knew how to talk to actors from my experience in theater.

about the book. I knew that I’d be committing heresy if I didn’t bring that into the film. A sex scene in a movie is like a song in a musical. It really does need to either charm you or teach you something about the characters and move the plot along. The other thing, too, is that you’re asking two performers to do something that is really vulnerable, and you don’t ever want to ask too much of them, and you don’t ever want to make anybody feel uncomfortable or forced into doing something. We were conscientious about how we approached each one of these scenes. I spent a lot of time with my intimacy coordinator mapping them out. We really paid particular attention to what story are we telling with each and every one of these intimacy scenes

I think for me, it was how do you have the movie in your head before you’ve even made the movie? That was the practice I needed to gain.

The leads in the film are hot, hands down. And the film does not shy away from the physical aspect of Alex and Henry’s relationship. Even though straight mainstream films are saturated with sex scenes, there is a bit of tension when watching same-sex coupling in a mainstream film. With the political attacks on our community focusing on our alleged hypersexual and grooming nature, why was it so important to keep these scenes in, naked and all?

Our sex is beautiful. The way we have sex is beautiful. Our intimacy is beautiful. Consensual sex between two humans is a beautiful thing, and it’s one of the wonderful things about being alive. The book is very steamy, very sexual, and I really love that

so that we could turn around and speak to Taylor and Nick and explain to them exactly why we were asking them to do what we were asking them to do. Beyond just sort of the mechanics of the filmmaking, to tell the story of Alex and Henry and not include the fact that they are very passionately, physically attracted to one another, is to not tell the full story of Alex and Henry.

The full story of Alex and Henry is beautifully crafted and a joy to watch. No doubt it will join the library of queer films that become a staple of viewing not just for the queer community, but for everyone. No doubt López’s film career will meet the same success as his stage career for the simple fact that any one of his projects comes from the heart. Obsession has its payoffs. ■

Red, White & Royal Blue streams on Amazon Prime on August 11th.

JANE LYNCH

NOT JUST PLAYING GAMES

INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE BY HER TALL STATURE, SIGNATURE VOICE, AND IMPECCABLE COMEDIC TIMING, JANE LYNCH’S CAREER CREDITS READ LONGER THAN A CVS RECEIPT, TAKING PART IN SOME OF TV AND FILM’S BEST-LOVED PIECES. Born and raised in Illinois, she would eventually move on to Chicago and work for over a decade with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and, at the time of her audition, was one of only two women picked to join The Second City comedy troupe. Her on-screen career started in 1988 with a small role in Vice Versa starring Fred Savage, and after a string of commercials in the ’90s would be handpicked by her Frosted Flakes director, Christopher Guest, to appear in the truly hilarious film, Best in Show. She would become a regular with the Christopher Guest troupe, also appearing in A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration, quickly becoming an audience and critic favorite.

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

I HAVE NO BUCKET LIST. I JUST STAY AS PRESENT AS I CAN.”

Despite her being very recognizable, she has avoided being typecast and has popped up in an array of on-screen insta-hits. Her TV appearances include her iconic, tracksuit-wearing turn as Sue Sylvester in Glee, as well as recurring roles in Two and a Half Men, The L Word, Criminal Minds, The Good Fight, Party Down, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and voice work for American Dad!, not including guest spots on an even longer list of fan-favorite shows. On the big screen, in addition to her Guest films, she’s appeared in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Julie and Julia, and Role Models, and voiced characters in Shrek Forever After, Rio, and the Wreck-It Ralph films. On stage, she took part in Nora Ephron’s off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore, wrote and starred in the award-winning play Oh Sister, My Sister, appeared with Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Brad Pitt in a performance of Dustin Lance Black’s play 8, making her Broadway debut as Miss Hannigan in the 2013 revival of Annie, and most recently, playing Mrs. Bryce in the Funny Girl revival. A decade ago, she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and to date, has received five Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. With an indelibly strong presence on screen and on stage, chatting with her, she is

down to earth, intimate, and ready to share her opinion.

Her personality shines through in her hosting gigs. She’s hosted VH1’s The DoSomething Awards, the Primetime Emmy Awards, and SNL. She has also become the queen of the game shows, hosting Hollywood Game Night and the latest reboot of Weakest Link. What does she love most about hosting game shows?

I love to have parties. I love watching people have fun, and I like to be in charge of it. I don’t like going to parties, I don’t like playing games, but I like to be in charge and help everybody have fun!

This Pride season, Weakest Link, now in its third season, featured a panel of drag queens on an episode titled “Drag Extravaganza!” WooWoo Monroe, Lili Whiteass, Scarlet Envy, Cierra Symone, Pickle, Kat Sass, Olivia Lux, and Gila Moonstar all competed to outlast one another in this biting of the press-on nails high-level trivia. The show included the tagline, “They have beauty and brawn, but who has the brains to be crowned champion?” With the current political attacks on the drag community, presenting the episode seemed, pardon the pun, pretty ballsy. What were the conversations behind the scenes for that episode and why was it so important to

follow through in presenting it?

Well, it didn’t come out of a reaction to what was going on. In fact, we planned to do this probably over a year ago. It was just one of the great ideas that our executive producer had. We did wrestlers, we did a soap opera cast, Christmas characters, and we did drag queens. So, it ended up being very timely and a good idea. A very good idea. I’m really glad that we did it.

We can’t respond to the whim of every bigot and every bigot movement. You just have to go forward and keep it normalized. Men have been dressing up as women for centuries, and probably even further back than we have recorded history. We have to just keep moving forward and weather this storm. We will get past it. It’s just really an overreaction swinging way out into the right stratosphere, and we will come back to center. But until we do, we stay the course - it is a normal thing.

Lynch has certainly been witness to, and part of, the current boom of continued LGBTQ content in the mainstream world to the point that we even have Hallmark movies! What is Jane’s take on the trending representation in front of and behind the camera in opposition to what is happening to our

PAGE : PHOTO BY CHRIS HASTON/NBC

WE CAN’T RESPOND TO THE WHIM OF EVERY BIGOT. KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND WEATHER THIS STORM.”

community politically?

It makes total sense - when things are changing and start to normalize in society, there’s an even bigger reaction. I think Donald Trump was a reaction to the election of a Black president. We’re into extreme reactions right now and the opposition to the arc of justice, going more toward justice, is always something very, very extreme and when it looks inevitable, it’s like, “We’ve gotta get this back!”

With headlines today leading with what actors came out, or how they identify becoming media fodder, there was never a moment where Lynch had her media coming out. She just was who she is, without the fanfare, without the spotlight on her sexuality. Her lifestyle was always her norm.

When I came out, when I came on the scene as an actor, Melissa Etheridge had already come out, Ellen had come out, K.D. Lang had come out, so I really didn’t need

to. They kind of blazed the trail, leading to people getting used to us. I just found myself in their wake so I didn’t have to have a press conference or anything else. I’m a character actor, I’m not the lead actor. There’s not as much interest in me as there was say, Ellen. I mean, she really took one for the team.

With her many roles in well-known projects, her career and characters didn’t seem to be limited by her sexuality as her star continued to climb. Why does she think she never got pigeonholed by the industry?

I think it didn’t happen to me because I show up and I do my work. Most of Hollywood just wants good work. Now, there is something to be said about the romantic leads that they want those folks to have straight vibes on them. I think we’re still a long way off from that being normalized. Some people’s careers have been hurt, but like Ellen really stuck her neck out. She was the first one,

she was very popular, and it could have all ended for her. She’s someone who really had to face it. But I think we just keep doing our work.

Growing up in the Midwest, in a Catholic environment, staying there through college, acting would be a source of identity while her sexuality was blossoming, contrary to the norm accepted in her Illinois community.

I didn’t want to be gay for sure because nobody else was. I just wanted to be a part of the group. So, it was a big secret. I suffered over it a lot. That part was hard growing up and I didn’t know anybody else like me. Any whispering about homosexuality was about how weird it was and how sick it was and how perverted it was. Now that’s not my parents telling me this at all, we didn’t talk about it at all. But it was the environment, and I didn’t know anybody like that and if there was anyone - my parents’ friends who were - they were definitely closeted. Any members of our family who might’ve been, and there had to be, we all have gay people in our family, weren’t able to express their true selves.

So that part was tough, and I have a very sensitive nature, so I suffered over that. Getting into theater is the best antidote for that, it’s teeming with gays (ha!) and understanding that just by being in the arts itself, you’re always exploring human nature and the different expressions of human nature. I didn’t encounter any homophobia in our little theater community in Chicago. Not all of us were out either. I wasn’t sure until I was in my late twenties. It wasn’t the most fun thing in the world. I know other people didn’t suffer it as much. I think it depends on the person’s nature, how sensitive they are, and how much they want to be a part of the world. I didn’t want to be banished, as Romeo says.

Living in big cities like Los Angeles or New York, it is easy to become more comfortable with living your true life. We hear from our readers in the Midwest that our articles, our issues, are their only source of feeling normal whether they are in the closet or live in an area where being a part of the LGBTQ community is not welcome. Coming from that environment, how does Jane think we can best support those members of our community that are far from our safe spaces?

It’s a tough one because they put themselves in danger. But I loved - and I know this doesn’t sound like it’s the answer, but it

is AN answer and I think it can be effective - Dan Savage’s campaign, “It Gets Better.” We can’t go in there and change their parents and change their relationship with their parents and change how the teachers treat them. We can’t do that. But we CAN tell them it does get better. And there are places where you’ll be loved and fricking name the cities down to, the streets! Roscoe and Clark in Chicago! Come to LA, go to New York, go to Chicago! Unfortunately, if you stay (in little towns) your path is laid out for you. Either accept that, this is what it’s going to be and hopefully, it will change, or go where people love you, go where you’re accepted .

The word “iconic” is bandied about so often, but truly a number of Lynch’s roles are truly iconic and even have become memes. Who can forget Sue Sylvester’s clap backs, Christy Cummings’ relationship with Jennifer Coolidge’s Sheri Ann, or Jane’s version of Annie’s Little Girls? With this library of characters and hosting gigs, what has been a pinnacle personal moment for Lynch?

I don’t know that I’ve ever had that moment. You always think that you should have them. Like it should have been here, and it should have been there. I think it’s kind of a myth that we say, “I made it!”You just move on to the next job. And it’s not like I don’t love what I do. I remember the first season of Hollywood Game Night where we actually shot it in a house. It was a really rough shoot and when I got through the sixth one, I remember driving home and going, “That was something!” Because you were almost not in the moment, we were working through to the end. That felt good. It felt good that we pulled that off, there’s nothing better. But I don’t think I said, “I made it!” I’ve walked away from jobs like the first season of Party Down, remember that ending going, “Oh my God, this is the best.” And I knew it while I was in it. “This is one of the best experiences in my life.” So, I mostly remember the joyous ones, the Christopher Guest movies, getting through a day where you improvise, and you always hope the muse shows up because you’re improvising. You don’t know how it’s going to go, it’s the great unknown. You’re always hoping that the magic shows up - and it does. It always does and never lets you down. And at the end of the day going, oh, even more than I could have ever dreamed

came out of today. Those are my high points. Are any roles or genres left on Lynch’s bucket list?

I have no bucket list. I really don’t. I never have. I don’t have any idea of what I want to do, or even if I want to do it. I love where I live. I live in a little kind of rural community and I’m very happy here and I feel very satisfied artistically. We’ll see what happens. Like when I talk to my friends about this, they’re like, “Eh, you’re not done.” But we’ll see. I just stay as present as I can.

A personal gem for Lynch is her musical touring shows with The Office’s Kate Flannery. If you haven’t seen one, run, don’t walk, and catch their Christmas show, A Swinging Little Christmas. It’s a hoot and the perfect showcase for Lynch’s musical and comedy prowess, and her unbeatable chemistry with Flannery.

It’s a great show if I do say so myself. We play little venues like City Winery and stuff like that. Some bigger theaters too with 800 to 1,000 seats, but nothing large. They’re very intimate. They’re very fun. We have a beautiful five-piece band called the Tony Guerrero Quintet. We have an album, Swinging Little Christmas from which we perform music with a lot of fun and funny lines here and there and Kate acting like a drunken fool - in the most delightful way. What’s funny is, Kate barely

drinks but she plays a very good “I’ve had a couple too many cocktails” person.

There is no stopping Jane Lynch. She delights as she trailblazes, never shying away from who she is. Her message to our community this Pride season?

We shouldn’t have to have a Pride season. Everybody should have pride in who we are all the time. It is fun to go to the parades and dress up and do the crazy stuff. I love that. I never want to lose that. But, I hate that we’re in a place where we have to go, “Hey, we exist and we’re going to have some fun and, just remember, we’re equal to you!” It’s a shame. It felt like we were past that. I think the response to the fact that we’ve been integrated into society as being just as standard a human being as anybody else really created a crazy backlash that a lot of people are capitalizing on and putting gasoline on the fire.

Just keep going. Stay present. They say, “I don’t want it in my face.” Just being who you are is not putting it in anybody’s face. So don’t listen to the haters. They’re screaming really loud right now because things are changing, we’re ascending. Society is ascending into a much more equal-loving place. ■

You can follow everything Jane at JaneLynchOfficial.com

GO WHERE PEOPLE LOVE YOU, GO WHERE YOU’RE ACCEPTED.”

HUNGARIAN HONEYMOON: BUDAPEST

BY MONTE MATHEWS

IT’S SURPRISING HOW MANY CITIES LAY CLAIM TO BEING “THE PARIS OF ….” THERE’S BUCHAREST, ROMANIA WHICH CALLS ITSELF “THE PARIS OF THE EAST.” And so does Prague, Istanbul, Beirut and Shanghai. There’s Montreal, “The Paris of North America,” not to be confused with Buenos Aires, “The Paris of South America.” Not to be outdone, Kansas City was given the moniker “The Paris of the Plains” in the 20th century Jazz Age. We nominate a new Paris of the East, Budapest, Hungary. We think it’s the perfect place to honeymoon. And we’ve even found the perfect hotel.

Budapest has everything Paris has but one: You won’t break the bank in Budapest.

Hungary’s capital has glamour to spare. It’s a wildly romantic place whose architecture alone is a spell-binding mix of styles ranging from Renaissance to Rococo. Its broad avenues are lined with shops, cafés, and pastries that rival anything in the French capital. It’s famous for music, museums, and immense thermal baths that are fed by Hungary’s subterranean hot springs. And most of what’s on offer in Budapest is well within budget. But it’s not just the money you’ll save. It’s that Budapest will always belong to you both. Once you visit here, it’s officially ‘your place.’ Its restaurants quiet little tables for two are yours. Its sidewalk cafés are your Starbucks (and yes, there are actually 33 Starbucks and counting. But buyer beware, they don’t appear on TripAdvisor’s records until #129.) Instead, go to our local favorite restaurants and coffee bars set out below.

Budapest is an out-sized city built when it was one of two capitals of the Austria-Hungarian Empire.

You may wonder why everything in Budapest is, well, big. Its magnificent Parliament Building is the second largest Capitol in the world and built when Hungary was three times larger than today’s Hungary is. In punishment for being on the wrong side in both the 1st and 2nd. World Wars, Hungary’s territory was reduced to its present size. But that still didn’t prevent the city from being, after Berlin, the second largest city in central Europe. It now contains 1/5th of the country’s entire population. And that’s not counting its thousands of commuters. And if ogling has a special fondness for you, more than half the country’s gorgeous university students study here. But look away, you’re on your honeymoon, remember?

Budapest is actually two places: Buda and Pest. Which side to choose?

A river runs through the city dividing it into Buda on one side and Pest on the other. That river is the magical Danube or, in Hungarian, the Duna. The Budariver is on a hill overlooking Pest and the River. It’s been residential long before the baroque Buda Palace was completed in 1769. Destroyed or damaged most recently in World War II, it’s been completely restored. It’s well worth a visit as is the whole Castle Hill. You’ll be amazed by the tiled spire of the medieval Church of Our Blessed Lady, more commonly called Matthias Church. Its interior stenciling is as much of a draw as the Fishermen’s Bastion, built on the site of an ancient fish market. From this vantage point, you can see

Visit Buda but stay in Pest.

It’s the Pest side where you’ll find the action. And right in its center is one of the greatest boutique hotels in Europe. Situated practically in the lap of the historic St. Stephen’s Basilica, it’s steps from a glorious square surrounded by shops, restaurants, cafés, and music venues. It’s 5 minutes from the renowned Chain Bridge, the chic stores of Andrassy Avenue and the newly reopened Budapest State Opera House. The Aria Hotel Budapest is truly unmatched in every way.

We love the Aria Hotel so much; we went out of our way to go back.

On quiet Heregprimás Street, The Aria Hotel Budapest is dedicated to music. Every one of its 49 guest rooms and suites are a celebration of artists in classical, opera, contemporary and jazz music. Assuming your partner shares your taste in music, request a room in your favorite genre. Open the door and walk into rooms dedicated to

commemorating a composer or an artist. Irving Berlin, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Mozart, JS Bach, Diana Ross are all celebrated in rooms whose décor, art and sound systems are finished in minute detail. Even the books on the coffee table celebrate whatever artist’s room you select. Caricatures by Josef Blech adorn the walls. Famed architect Zsolt Szecsi and master interior designer Zoltán Varró transformed a 19th century bank building into a limestone-clad intimate luxury hotel with the atmosphere of a private home and a to-die-for rooftop bar and restaurant.

The lobby is the heart of the hotel.

Leaving the pleasures and splendor of your honeymoon hotel room is a tough call. But leave you must for the splendors of the Aria Lobby, the Harmony Spa, the Café Liszt and the spectacular High Note Sky Bar. In the Music Garden Lobby, follow the piano keys and find a perfect spot to have a beautiful (and included) breakfast up until 11:00am. And after a day of touring, what’s more welcoming than complimentary wine and cheese from 4pm to 6pm. To one side of this skylit room,

incredible views of all of Pest on the other side of the river.

High Note Aria

Gellert Spa Bath-Palace-Budapest

Music Room Lobby Aria

Cafe Liszt Library Aria

Jazz Wing Room Aria

you’ll find the musical director’s library. Yes, the Aria employs a musical director to select music to listen to in your room via iPads and 55-inch flat TVs. All rooms are soundproofed with double noise protection to allow every guest to hear their music and theirs alone.

The Café Lizst offers a selection of irresistible cocktails and treats, its wall autographs of famous Aria guests. Across the hall is the intimate “Library,” where guests dine on fine cuisine.

The Harmony Spa is an amazing place. It has both Swedish and infra-red saunas, a steam bath, an indoor pool, jacuzzi, an aquatic exercise bicycle, and a fitness center with cardio equipment.

The spa pampers with an array of treatments featuring Hungarian thermal mineral waters

coupled with Hungarian natural herbs and seed extracts. And of course, the Aria provides music playlists customized to your preferences. There’s even a treatment designed for couples.

The High Note Sky Bar is in a class all by itself.

One step inside the rooftop bar on the Aria’s 7th floor and you’ll see why the High Note is consistently on the lists of Best Roof Top Bars anywhere. And in Budapest, it’s the only year-round full-service rooftop garden terrace there. Apart from its unbelievable views of the city, it offers dining, cocktails, and sunbathing. One of its unique features is a drinks menu that pinpoints the sights - all ten of which feature a cocktail created to salute each place. Just point the menu in the direction of the Basilica next door. And if you’d care to combine your honeymoon with a destination wedding, the High Note features a glassed-in pavilion that accommodates 40 people.

Where to go in Budapest:

For a wonderful overview of the city, hire a guide in a luxury car through the Aria concierge. In 3 or 4 hours, your well-informed guide can show you the lay of the land – on both sides of the river. And his luxury car has permissions to park

closest to the sites you want to see. Splurge, it’s worth every forint, which is Hungary’s official currency. (Currently 350 forints to the US dollar.)

Cruise the Danube after sunset.

Budapest outdoes itself by lighting every key monument along the Danube River. And the best of all ways to see it is from the decks of the sightseeing boats that cruise its waters after dark.

Silverline’s 6 Course Dinner Cruise with a window table (a must) will set you back $109.57 each. Or opt for unlimited drinks and that window table for $278.90 per couple. The concierge at the Aria will make all reservations for you.

Sip cocktails at Széchenyi, Budapest’s most opulent thermal bath.

The crowning jewel in a city famous for them, you can soak in these 77°F waters and toast each other from one of the pop-up bars at Szechenyi in City Park. Or choose the Gellért Spa behind whose Art Nouveau façade is a water palace.

Don’t miss Budapest’s quirkier museums.

By all means, visit Buda Castle’s Hungarian National Gallery and Pest’s Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art. But don’t miss such only-inBudapest galleries as The House of Houdini. A

Matthias Church Tile Roof

private museum in Harry’s hometown, escape artist David Merlini highlights Houdini’s memorabilia and his own artistry every 30 minutes. Reservations are essential. Go to www.houseofhoudinibudapest.com to make them. Then there’s the Flippermúseum which is filled with vintage arcade and pinball games.

Experience Budapest’s coffee culture.

Coffee and cake are a Budapest ritual. And there’s a good reason Café Gerbeaud is wildly popular with locals and tourists alike. And it’s not just for the coffee. It has its own cake!

Gerbeaud cake combines a ground walnut and jam filling with layers of sponge cake covered with chocolate. When you visit Buda Hill, you’re practically on top of Ruszwurm, the oldest Café in Budapest at Szethátháromság utca 7 in the Castle District. Its pastries so delighted

Queen Elizabeth “Sissi,” (1837-1898) Austrian Empress and Queen of Hungary - and more recently The Empress on Netflix - sent couriers to pick them up for her breakfast.

The tip of the iceberg in restaurant recommendations.

There are, at last count, 3,028 restaurants in Budapest. Since the city attracts not only tourists but chefs from all over the world, you can find whatever you fancy at all price points. We even have friends who raved about the pizza they ate at Local Korner, Semmelweis utca 17. Turns out Local Korner tops Trip Advisor’s list too. For a taste

GAY POLITICAL CLIMATE:

The government of Hungary is currently led by Viktor Orbán, who has been roundly criticized for an anti-transgender law his government passed in the middle of the pandemic. But Hungary is part of the European Union. And the EU won’t stand for any laws attacking the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Everyone, from Emanuel Macron of France to Angela Merkel of Germany piled on Orbán. This prompted Viktor to declare himself a fighter for LBGTQ+ rights stating: “I am a fighter for their rights. I am a freedom fighter in the communist regime. Homosexuality was punished and I fought for their freedom and their rights. So, I am defending the rights of the homosexuals.” Whatever Orbán’s views are, Hungary is far richer in the EU than it would be if it weren’t. So, economics win and, by extension, the LGBTQ traveler wins. There was nowhere in Budapest where this writer and his partner felt the least bit unwelcome.

of Hungarian cuisine accompanied by live music, we loved Rezkakas Bistro at Sas utca 3. But if a Michelin star is your guide, Hoppá Bistro at Oktober 6 utca, not only has one, it’s also a great value according to the guide.

There’s never a bad time to honeymoon in Budapest.

In spring, Budapest streets are filled with the scent of linden trees. Summers can be hot, but

the city has multiple places to cool off. Think of those thermal baths. Fall is brilliant as the treelined boulevards burst into color and the crisp air encourages walking everywhere. Finally, there’s the joys of winter - cold yes, but Budapest’s central park, City Park becomes a fairy tale landscape when its lake transforms into a magnificent ice rink rimmed by castles. ■

Happy honeymoon!

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY MONTE MATHEWS

Interior Matthias Church

"Bringing together wine "Bringing together wine lovers and LGBTQ+ friendly lovers and LGBTQ+ friendly wineries, restaurants, hotels, wineries, restaurants, hotels, and others for a community and others for a community experience." experience."

HUMOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WAY THROUGH EVERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR ME.”

STEVEN ROWLEY

TALKS GRIEF, LOSS, JOY AND CELEBRATION

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

WHAT A COMPLETE THRILL AND JOY TO TURN ON THE TV FOR MY USUAL MORNING VIEWING OF THE TODAY SHOW TO FIND NY TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR STEVEN ROWLEY ENJOYING HIS CHAT ABOUT HIS LATEST NOVEL, THE CELEBRANTS, AS AN OFFICIAL TODAY SHOW READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK. As part of his mega book tour that took over a month, he was in the spotlight as never before, having earned his way with his previous novels, Lily and the Octopus, The Editor, and The Guncle, each earning a number of accolades from critics and readers alike. Not a bad start for having published his first book at the age of 45. Each novel is masterfully crafted, with the inclusion of queer characters so perfectly woven into the story, the books are not limited to the LGBTQ community but rather appeal to all audiences while telling our stories.

Growing up in Portland, Maine, writing was an inherent part of Steven’s life from early on.

It was a great place to grow up, I have a lot of good memories from there. Of course, as I entered high school and my teenage years, I couldn’t wait to get out. In part, because at the time it seemed like gay men had to leave in order to come out and be themselves wherever they grew up. But as a kid, I really loved it. I was always a writer. I used to write short stories and my dad would bring them into his office and photocopy them. And I was like, wait, there can be

more than one copy of something I write? And I think a little light bulb went off then. I always thought that I wanted to be a writer and yet, Maine felt very far away from publishing. And I thought, oh, maybe you have to be a kid who grows up in Manhattan or have a society name or something to be a writer. But then lurking in the background was Stephen King in Maine.

As soon as I graduated from the children’s room in the library, I went straight for Stephen King and read everything he wrote. I was probably the loner, creepy horror kid.

Thank goodness for my mom too. I have the career I have today in part because she insisted that I have a public library card and brought me regularly to use it. So grateful for that.

A running theme in Steven’s books is grief. Particularly grief due to loss. And while that seems depressing, his novels are not. They are filled with humor and joy, deeply emotional, for sure, but always optimistic. Having recently experienced a great loss myself, his latest novel The Celebrants came at a unique time. Better than a grief guidebook, his story and how his characters dealt with loss brought tears to my eyes more than once, not out of sadness, but out of hope and belief in the strength of the human spirit.

There’s an honesty about the difficulty in life, and I do write a lot about grief and grieving, but in a way that feels hopefully uplifting and also funny, because humor has always been the way through every difficult time for me. For the gay community at large, it has been such a coping mechanism through years of bullying and then AIDS and rejection from our own families and building found families, which is another theme I think in my work. I think that grief

in particular can feel very isolating when we’re in the throes of it.

The truth of the matter is, it’s such a uniting part of the human experience. If we’re fortunate enough to love, we’re going to lose it eventually. So many people have been there, and I don’t know why there’s not more of a communal understanding of grief, particularly in the last couple of years. We’ve lost so much, not only just in the US but worldwide, so much loss. It’s not even just the loss of a person, it’s a loss of time, and certainly togetherness. I don’t think we’re dealing with that quite as headon as we should be.

Why can we not all unite sort of around it? To the extent that in this country we’re very immature on a lot of issues, and grief is sort of one of them. We’d rather not talk about it than talk about it. Hopefully, my books feel like a place where people can go and that there’s some healing in reading them.

Rowley has such a grasp on the stages of grief, how it looks from the outside, and how it feels from the inside. What is his direct relationship to grief?

It’s just a part of life for me. I haven’t suffered loss any more than anyone else, I

haven’t lived a particularly tragic life. Most recently before writing (The Celebrants), I lost one of my best friends from college. There is something unique about losing a close contemporary for the first time that makes you sort of question your own mortality in a way. I think it stems back to some trauma that we don’t really talk about, particularly for a gay man my age - I’m 52.

I came out 30 years ago in the very early 1990s when more men were dying of AIDS than even in the 1980s. When I came out, I assumed that life would be very sort of lonely and sad and short. I think there’s inherited trauma from that - when the opposite has been true. Life has been full of community for me and very joyous and comparatively long from what I was expecting. So, I’m still working through that trauma. I also try to write about gay men in middle age now too, because I’m missing that generation above me, for those who are sort of five or 10 years above me. We’ve lost so many of those beautiful voices, so I’m also trying to create examples or work through what it’s like to age, hopefully gracefully as a gay man.

Called a Big Chill for our times, The Celebrants focuses on a group of college friends through

decades-long friendships and promises to each other and to themselves, reunited to honor a pact to throw each other living “funerals,” celebrations to remind themselves that life is worth livingthat their lives mean something. Rowley does not glamorize these characters - they are each flawed, they fight, they love, they cry, they feel defeated, they feel reborn … all of these nuances culminating into a deeply emotional connection between reader and story. You feel like these people are your friends, you understand them, you are them.

I had great fun concocting this particular group of characters. It’s my most diverse because it’s an ensemble and I wanted the friends to be as diverse as my friends are in real life. But that meant truly writing characters, for the first time, that were different from me and my perspective.

I’ve heard some pushback from readers, like, well they fight, and they squabble and it’s like, why are these people friends? Well wait, you don’t fight with your friends a little bit? I mean, there’s something particular about longstanding friendships. Those people who knew you before you were married or before you had your career and you were full of hopes and dreams, and you didn’t know what life was going to be and still know you in love. Now those are

really special friendships because I think those are the people that you can let your guard down with them. You don’t have to present as your most perfect self around those people, which means you can be messy sometimes.

These were particularly difficult characters to say goodbye to. And I did have a moment because I also narrated the audiobook. I remember the audio engineer looking at me as I finished recording the last page. He was like, oh, look at you, you’re crying. And I’m like, I’m not crying. I’m sweating. But I thought, oh wow, that’s going to be the last time I’ll probably ever read this book from cover to cover. There was a real sort of moment of having to say goodbye to these characters that I came to love so much.

Rowley’s last book, The Guncle, really put him on the map. Telling the story of a gay uncle, living in Palm Springs, who is unceremoniously given guardianship of his niece and nephew after tragedy took their parents. The book was an instant success and proved that mainstream readers will in fact read a book centered around a gay character. It was about family, love, and grief – regardless the sexuality. For Rowley, not being published until he was in his mid-40s had its advantages in telling stories with gay characters.

I wasn’t publishing books in the 1990s when I was first starting writing. At that time, books were sort of relegated to a section in a bookstore or only at queer-owned bookstores. They certainly didn’t have the ability to break out in the mainstream. I certainly wouldn’t have been talking about them on the Today Show. It was just a fortune of the moment in time when I broke through and also the culture had changed enough.

But there’s a real backlash now to that too. The Guncle is a book that has been embraced broadly and read widely. However, since we have ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills and stuff popping up in Florida, I can see the evolution. The Guncle came out in May of 2021, Don’t Say Gay in 2022. I had no problems for that first year. Then suddenly once that policy passed in Florida, I was the victim of a targeted Twitter hate campaign because the book is about a gay man being the caretaker for young children. All sorts of insults were hurled at me for daring to write a book that celebrated everything that the community can offer children, from

empathy and understanding and love of self and total acceptance of self. It’s a tough moment in the culture, too. I’ve gotten both sides of it.

A truly beautiful part of Rowley’s real life is his husband, Byron Lane, a writer himself who just released his sophomore novel, My Big Gay Wedding, also to critical acclaim. How do two novelists exist in the same household?

Not only do we exist in the same household, but we also had the same publication day for our new novels. It really is something that a lot of people would assume was a nightmare. But I think we’re good at it. One, our house is quiet, which is nice. Byron might have a different answer because I type too loudly. I’m a loud, loud typist. But we each have an understanding of the job. Novel writing can be a very solitary endeavor, most novelists don’t get to see anybody else do the job.

Like, how often do you talk to your agent or to your editor? Or what does your cover look like? Or what do you do when you don’t like it? All these sorts of

behind-the-scenes things and now we can see each other and help each other through that and give each other advice to navigate the publishing process, which can be very emotionally fraught. In terms of the craft too, even when we’re just writing, we are each other’s first readers. I think the challenge is just knowing what he’s asking for at the moment. Is he asking me to read something as a spouse? In which case I just want to be encouraging. Is he asking me as another writer and looking for notes? So, it’s just to be sensitive about the role that we’re wearing at any given moment.

Each of Rowley’s novels is being worked on as an on-screen treatment in some form or the other. With the current writers’ strike, that is paused and he is already at work on his next novel, for release already next year. Not able to give any details, he simply said that his fans will be very, very happy. A Guncle sequel? Hmmm …

His Pride message to the community is in line with his writing.

Stay strong. Celebrate, right? I wrote a book with the theme of celebrating; celebrate the people in your life who mean something to you. We’re all good with a catty comment and a funny line at brunch and sometimes undermining our friends. It’s part of the language, it’s part of how we show our affection, but there’s nothing wrong with balancing that with some genuine thoughts about how important our friends and our found community are to us as well. If anything, I’ve come through Covid a bit of a mush now and through writing this book. I tell my friends too much maybe now how much they mean to me. They’re like, we know. I’m like, all right, all right, just making sure. Time is limited - and it goes by really fast.

The other message I have is that life is sort of cyclical right now and we gain rights and there’s a step backward and we feel like we’re in real danger for steps backward. We must be vigilant for the most vulnerable members of our community right now, and that is the trans community. We cannot forget everyone’s rights as we move forward. ■

You can follow everything Steven at StevenRowley.com

The Celebrants is now on bookshelves or available to order online.

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

and ultimately placed fifth in his debut season. Six years later, he returned to the most recent season of All Stars with a more refined look and a far-from-subtle determination to win. In both seasons, he caused a social media storm of fan comments – whether fans loved her or dished her, she was on everyone’s lips. He has expanded his brand beyond Drag Race by performing in theatre and releasing new music. A drag queen who can legit sing? That is a commodity. With a wink to Queer Eye, Alex was part of a drag queen team for TLC’s Dragnificent! helping brides get ready for their big day. Whatever Alex does, he does it big. He was born for the spotlight.

won the coveted

PERFORMER ALEX MICHAELS WALKED INTO THE WERK ROOM FOR RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE SEASON 9 AND INTRODUCED ALEXIS MICHELLE TO THE WORLD. Giving us full Liza Minelli, he

Snatch Game

DRAG IS A TOOL IN MY KIT FOR TELLING STORIES.”

Alex’s relationship with drag started very early on, playing professional gigs way before Drag Race. Becoming a diva herself, she learned from the greats.

I have been playing dress-up since I was about three. Halloween is the ‘gateway drug’ to drag and my first Halloween in drag was at 12. My first professional gigs came around 19 years old for me. Dressing up stemmed from adoration of powerhouse female performers like Carol Burnett and Judy Garland. Something I’ve only realized more recently is I was also starting to tap into the femme/ female energy I identify with.

Not concerned about heeding societal pressures and being defined by his drag as a boy growing up, it was the theatre world he was most worried about being judged by. Early on, their drag and theatre worlds would remain separate, something that would change in later years.

My biggest concern wasn’t so much about gender identity as it was about being

typecast within the theatre community. I was very secretive about doing drag until I started auditioning for Drag Race, which was sort of my second coming out. It was very liberating.

His theater career would include off-Broadway stints in Big Apple Circus and Field of Mars, Chapter One, and in both regional/national tours for Hair, Little Shop of Horrors, and Oklahoma! As his acting credits grew, so did his professional drag gigs. He auditioned for every season of Drag Race from Season 2 on, finally being cast in Season 9. He learned the winning formula not just for his audition tape, but for how he would deal with the other queens and Drag Race fans.

I think I finally figured out that a ‘this is me, take it or leave it’ energy works best. Years later, I was told by the highest-up folks that I could’ve been cast many times before and that they’d been watching.

And what does he think sets him apart from the other queens?

My theatricality and performance chops. There are incredibly gifted performers in this industry, and a lot of the drag artists from places like NYC especially, come from a performance background. So, I’m not alone in this category but it is part of what makes me special. I’m also pretty polished for a theatre gal.

His debut season taught him a lot, not just about his actual drag, but how reality TV is edited and perceived by the audience.

I learned that I’m tenacious. I also learned that if you don’t figure out your abandonment issues in therapy, you maybe blame people on camera for your poor fashion choices … misplaced expectations [laughs].

Declaring ”Broadway is back in the house and ready for action” and ”I want that crown, I want that title, I want that legacy,” Alexis returned to the Drag Race franchise for All Stars. Fans noticed immediately that her level of drag was on the up and up, and she came to slay. Publicly stating her

HALLOWEEN IS THE ‘GATEWAY DRUG’ TO DRAG.”

PAGE : PHOTO BY THE CLAVEL

disdain for the voting process, the lipstick drama and how Alexis played the game would make for much fan chatter. What was it like returning to the show?

Knowing how the machine works is a blessing and a curse. You know how to handle yourself (sometimes) but having that information can make staying out of your own way and out of your head even harder [raises hand].

As to the subject of drag’s evolution and the Drag Race universe expanding, Alex doesn’t limit the growth to blatant commercialism.

I think the beauty of it becoming more commercial is that more artists can make their livelihoods and careers in this business. Of course, that has an impact on the art. But then before you know it, something wild, like the current right-wing attacks on the drag community surface, and we are thrust back into activism. This art form will always be slightly fringe. Emmys and all.

Unlike Alex’s earlier years, his music career, his theatre career, and his drag can now all coexist.

I used to see them as separate and as I’ve become more and more myself, I realize their connection. I’m an actor first. It informs how you sing and how you tell the story. Drag is a tool in my kit for telling stories. It’s also deeply about self-expression. So, these are all intrinsic parts of who I am and just a diverse garden to tend to.

The truth is, while there are two names, they’re one and the same Alex/is. Just the attire changes. But Alexis really is my female side and Alex is my more male side. I’m fluid. I’m in between. Navigating the two is really about finding my most authentic self.

Alex, under the Alexis persona, released Lovefool under Broadway Records. Featuring 10 tracks with music ranging from The Cardigans, to Blondie, to Cy Coleman, it’s campy yet sincere and presented unabashedly. Alex co-produced the album with popular musician Brandon James Gwinn, who has also produced for Trixie Mattel and Pandora Boxx. The energy is Alexis, and the skill and passion for music is Alex.

In Lovefool, Brandon James Gwinn and I created the album that I would make if I was already a leading lady on Broadway. It is a loving tribute to albums I grew up on from the likes of Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, and Christine Ebersole. Music removes the separation between people. It brings our humanity closer together. Art is a universal language and music is the medium I find to be the most common ground experience people can share.

Alex’s immediate focus is music, with her summer anthem, “God is A Queen,” an electropop bop that swerves just south of musical theatre. She had a direct mission with this song, taking a stand against the political oppression of the drag community.

The attacks on drag happening now are merely diversions from the real dangerous actions the GOP is taking on trans people and stripping the queer community of equal rights. We saw it with the recent SCOTUS decisions. So, focus on the real issues at hand and VOTE, and trust that drag will be fine because it’s always been about celebration.

Alex’s summer anthem follow-up is “Heaven on the Dance Floor,”where we are presented with a sultry Alexis, purring her way into the dance beat. This is just a sample of more new music that is on the way.

Of the four pop/disco songs I created with 808 Annie and Mason Rose this year, we really built “Heaven on the Dance Floor” from the ground up. Building the feeling layer

by layer. It’s about how joy and release can be born out of the dark crevices. That’s the essence of queer joy and this is meant to be an anthem for our community.

There are so many different directions that Alex can explore next. Music? Theatre? Drag? Yes to all. She hints that there is a lot more theatrical goodness coming our way, and perhaps even some more kitchen content. Have you seen her spots on YouTube’s Cooking is a Drag? It’s never a drag chatting with Alex, and he left us with a message for the LGBTQ community for this Pride year.

Celebrate loudly, visibly, and always safely - not just now, but all year. Visibility is more important than ever, as a constant reminder that we’re not going anywhere, but forward. And protect trans people! ■

You can follow Alex on IG: @AlexisMichelleOfficial and check out their music, streaming wherever you get your music.

Barrett Pall USING HIS INFLUENCE

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

AT FIRST GLANCE, SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY BARRETT PALL, WITH HIS GOOD LOOKS AND SCULPTED PHYSIQUE, FITS THE MOLD OF THE CURRENT TREND OF POPULAR, GAY INFLUENCERS. With literally millions of followers across his YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok, he has always been in the public eye from his career as a professional model, starting when he was just a freshman in college. Yes, he is attractive. But after you stop scrolling and really look at his material, you see he is much more than what meets the eye.

In addition to his social media presence, he has been a professional life coach for the past eight years, graduating from NYU with a Bachelor of Science in Communication, Culture, and Media, focusing his studies on human interactions, social processes, journalism, and politics. He is certified in Behavioral Change from the American Council of Exercise and has since created his own methodology that incorporates the mind, body, soul, and emotional space. He has traveled to all seven continents, taking part in humanitarian work throughout different sectors in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Kenya, and was named an official UN Partner in 2019. He has meshed his social media and life coaching skills to provide messages of acceptance, self-affirmation, and positivity while calling out attacks on inequality or the promotion of misogyny. Though he is the first to admit that he is still discovering himself and coping with life’s obstacles, he has overcome a path laden with bullying, personal demons, and even sexual assault. His journey of self-discovery started very early on, out of necessity.

As a kid, I was very badly bullied, and I did not have any kind of connection to the way that I looked. It wasn’t something that was praised. I was very obviously queer without being out because as a child, especially in the nineties, it was just like you were a kid. But at school, I was “the faggot” and it wasn’t meant to be nice. That really put this deep level of empathy into just what it’s like to be a different person. It’s really what has enabled me to become the person that I am today, which is the person that I needed as a kid.

My parents were always very cool with me being me, and I’m grateful for that because I know that’s not everyone’s experience. But we also had a lot of struggles in terms of financial insecurity and experiencing homelessness in different parts of my life. While people have gotten to know the adult version of me, the young me was very insecure, very scared. I didn’t really talk. I was afraid people were going to just be mean and make fun of me - my voice is what gave me away. I was not welcomed into a lot of spaces. But, my best friends to this day tend to be women because they really gave me that safe space.

Recently, Barrett shared a journal entry that he wrote when he was 13 years old, heartbreakingly detailing how much he hated his life and how much he was tormented by bullies and even himself trying to come to terms with his sexuality.

It’s wild to read through those journals because the feelings and the emotions are so

raw and so real and so right there because it was written down on the page. I’ve journaled for as long as I can remember and I’m grateful for that. Being able to go back and read my own words and, in some weird way, read them as if there’s someone else’s is really healing. Part of what I wanted to do with sharing that entry was letting just all those young people, and people who are older as well, know that we’ve always been around, we’re always going to be around, and through a lot of work and conscious effort, we can heal and find ways to have things be better. There’s the campaign It Gets Better and I’m a big proponent of that and I like to remind people it doesn’t just get better; it can be amazing if you let it be.

I LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE IT DOESN’T JUST GET BETTER; IT CAN BE AMAZING

Barrett’s looks have been a double-edged sword, and continue to be. Around 16, his braces came off, he got contacts, and started to grow into his own. It wasn’t until he started exploring circles outside of his school that people started to welcome him. He vividly remembers the first time someone referred to him as their“hot friend.”

It literally was just something I had never even thought of, and it was never something that people had given me any insight other than me being just something different. Because of the disconnect for so long, I still have a weird disconnect with it and modeling put another disconnect to it. I call this [my face] my “avatar.” I’m going to have fun with it while I have it, but I don’t want it to be where all my value comes from.

He does know that a lot of his social media success started because of his looks, and certainly his early modeling career was literally focused on how he presented. Does he continue to feel

overshadowed by his own body?

I really appreciate this question. No one’s ever asked me this before, but the answer quite frankly is yes. I don’t want to complain. I know that this is part of my toolkit, and if it helps people look at me and then listen to me, then great. But there’s definitely been moments where I have felt like that has been the main focus and it’s been hard. Again, I don’t want people to be like, waa-waa, you’re a victim. No. I understand that there’s a privilege with it, but it’s definitely brought a different set of things that have made some of my life easier and some of my life a little bit more difficult. Why it’s so important for me to talk about the fact that it’s like an avatar is that it’s changing, it’s going to get old and it’s going to get wrinkly and it’s going to do all these things that all bodies do. It’s just to remind people that this is not where our main source of value should come

from. And with the rise of social media and being one of the first models on social media, I recognize how I was used to push where we’re at today. And it’s why it’s so important for me to speak out because I see so many people falling into the trappings of it.

And just like everyone else, especially from the gay community, there are struggles with body image. Something Barrett talks about often on his social media.

I’ve nitpicked every single part of myself. Growing up my dad told me I had a big nose. And that’s something that has stayed with me to this day. I’ve been told in casting, to my face, you’re not tall enough, you’re not attractive enough, you’re not muscular enough. I was told by agents that I needed to have an insane body. At the time I wasn’t looked at as unhealthy, but I was exercising two and a half hours a day and I don’t think anyone should be exercising that much. I never got to a dangerous place and I’m grateful for that. But I look at my career and understand how I very much have had to work through my own issues of body dysmorphia.

Unfortunately, the community can be one of the meanest communities when it comes to this stuff. And for anyone who’s struggling through this, I just want them to know - I’m going to keep saying it - this is your avatar, and it is your home and this is the only one we get. And if we are not kind to this, we are doing ourselves a disservice because we should feel safe and happy in this home. I definitely want to say that it’s a struggle. I work on it every day. I have to remind myself every day of the wisdom that has been shared with me. But if we’re not kind to ourselves, it’s going to make it that much harder to believe when someone else is being kind to us. I really hope everyone can find someplace to just be compassionate and loving to themselves.

His sexual assault would come at age 19 when Barrett, still a virgin, was forced into oral sex by a photographer on a photo shoot. Still coming to terms with his own sexuality, it took him a bit to even address it himself, much less make it public.

The hardest part for me was just thinking that that was something that I had done, and I blamed myself, the way I think a lot of survivors do. It wasn’t something that was talked about publicly. It wasn’t until the MeToo movement. I know exactly where I was when I had the realization that I had to speak up. I was sitting in Oprah Super Soul

I WANT TO MAKE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE FEEL SEEN, HEARD, AND HAPPY.”

Sunday conversations. I went to it live at the Apollo Theater in New York, and she was sitting there talking to Selma Hayek and she said something, and I just looked at my friend who I’d gone there with, and I was like, this thing happened to me. I had alluded to it, but I know if I’m going to continue to advocate for others the way that I do, I need to advocate for myself. I was nervous to take away space from women who were finally having their voices heard, but I just knew that it was the right thing to do. And it’s a conversation that’s ongoing.

Being tainted by the modeling world, he shifted his focus to becoming a life coach. He offers personal coaching and offers insight and motivation on his website and social media. He’s worked with everyone from Fortune 500 CEOs and royalty to celebrities and members of the queer community. What inspired his shift to life coaching?

I’ve always loved helping people. I think it comes from the fact I didn’t really have help. I remember my mom talking to my guidance counselor when I was in 7th grade, and they talked about this “white knight”thing. There’s definitely a balance of making sure you’re not falling into a savior complex. But I got into fitness professionally when I was in between my first bout of leaving the entertainment industry and figuring out what I wanted to do next. I was a trainer at Barry’s Bootcamp and ended up with my first client being someone quite well-known, and then followed by several private clients. The theme that I kept finding while I worked with people one-on-one is that while they needed to change their bodies in a way that made them feel better, what most people are really looking for is just a safe space to talk through things. Because of the world we live in, changing our body has technical results that you can see and that are measurable, but the thing that I think most people are looking for, in general, is really a place to find healing. I’m grateful that this has been the journey my career has gone on and it’s continuing to evolve and I’m excited to see what happens next.

Even as a qualified and learned life coach, he is open about the work he continues to do for himself.

Being honest and upfront about the fact that I am still struggling through my own issues of body dysmorphia and processing

what aging is like, is important to me. I’m also consistently honest about the fact that I am struggling with family stuff and that I wish my family was what we see on social media and on TV. I want to make as many people as possible feel seen, heard, and happy.

As with any social media personality, there will always be people that will get behind their keyboards and leave comments of disapproval or even hate. Barrett works hard to take this in stride, and not let it affect him mentally, because he knows what the mission of his content is.

The mission is what I’ve known since I was young, and it’s just to make this world a little bit better than how I came into it. Even for the people who leave me hateful, mean comments, I’m still fighting for their rights. It’s hard when it comes from our own community. I’ve talked about this before, a lot of gay men have been very mean to me. At the end of the day, I’m rooting for you. I want to see you live your best life and be successful and find love and find peace and find happiness. If I can help someone else just feel a little bit more seen, heard, and understood, and find their way to healing, then I think it’s all been worth it.

His message to the LGBTQ community this Pride season is clear:

You are valuable, you are important, you are worthy, you are deserving, you are loved, and there is nothing wrong with you. We hear a lot of people saying awful things about our community. But I also want to highlight that word, community. We do better when we are unified. And unfortunately, there are a lot of people who are looking to get rid of the “T” in our community, and that’s not okay. I can’t imagine what transgender people are going through right now. As a person who experienced such visceral homophobia and hate throughout my entire life to this day, we have to remember what that’s like so that we have the empathy and the fire to stand with our brothers, sisters, and non-binary family members in this fight because it is a fight. And while we may never see true equality or peace, we have to fight so that it doesn’t get worse. ■

You can find everything Barrett at his website, ArtisanandKing.com

BY MARK A. THOMPSON

PLUNGE INTO YEAR-ROUND SUMMER VITALITY OSLO

IN PREPARATION FOR IMMERSION INTO AN 8°C POLAR PLUNGE POOL, IT’S NECESSARY TO BREATHE CORRECTLY. THAT’S WHAT THE WIM HOF METHOD INSTRUCTOR TOLD US, A GROUP OF TRAVEL JOURNALISTS ON THE VERGE OF HYPERVENTILATING. Shivering in our swimsuits, we stood in front of the ice-cold Roman bath at Sommerro House in Oslo, uncertain as to who would plunge first. According to the extreme athlete Wim Hof, also known as the Iceman, prolonged exposure to arctic waters is beneficial in combatting numerous physiological ailments. Fortunately, we didn’t yet know that the Iceman’s corneas had frozen solid and blinded him during an attempt to set the record for the longest under-ice swim.

Whether or not you adhere to Wim Hof’s claims and methods, ice bathing has been a Nordic tradition for generations. In recent years, a new generation of young Norwegians have revived the Nordic sport of wild swimming, plunging into the North Sea and espousing the reputed health benefits which include lowered stress levels and reduced rates of inflammation and infection.

All along Oslo’s harbor in front of the Oslo Opera House and the Munch Museum, numerous floating saunas await passengers for a journey into Oslo Fjord. Founded in 2018 by a female commercial pilot, KOK has a fleet of nine floating saunas which offer two-hour sauna cruises captained by a slightly sadistic skipper who fuels the sauna to nearly infernal temperatures while insisting, “This hurts me more than it does you.” Once your skin has parboiled

like a lobster, there is no choice but to launch into the frigid waters of the North Sea.

Just to be clear, the temperature of an 8°C polar plunge is less than half the normal body temperature of a human. And the North Sea is hardly much warmer, even during the summer months. And yet, no matter where you position yourself along Oslo’s waterfront, you’re bound to see people plunging into the polar waters of Oslo Fjord.

For years, Oslo residents learned to swim at Vestkantbadet, the city’s most historic public baths which opened in 1932 in a massive subterranean space beneath the head offices of the city’s electrical company. Ninety years later in the autumn of 2022, Vestkantbadet reopened as an urban wellness center within the new luxury hotel Sommerro House.

One of Vestkantbadet’s most notable features is its Art Deco swimming pool with its iconic wall-sized mosaic created by Norwegian artist Per Krohg. Rendered in stylized shapes and brilliant colors, Krohg’s mural, titled “Swimming Women and Seals,” is a testament to Norwegian fortitude and wellbeing. Krohg received global recognition for his inspirational murals at the United Nations Security Council, and similarly, his Sommerro House murals reflect the luxury hotel’s focus on holistic health.

The prevailing philosophy at Sommerro House is a respect for the eight-hour regimen of a 24-hour day: eight-hour workday, eight hours of sleep - and a decided emphasis on a full eight hours of recreation. Regardless of

Located in Oslo’s historic Frogner neighborhood, just down the street from Norway’s Royal Palace, Sommerro House reopened its landmark Art Deco building after a meticulous two-year reconstruction and restoration. What was once the headquarters for Oslo’s electrical company has been transformed into a cultural haven for locals and visitors. Conceived by the London/ New York design firm GrecoDeco, Sommerro House honors the building’s Art Deco provenance with period architectural details and an original wrought-iron central staircase that climbs to a vertiginous skylight.

In addition to Vestkantbadet’s swimming pool, there’s also a heated rooftop pool and year-round sauna with sun terrace which is particularly alluring during the golden hour. The

NORWAY

where you wander, and even when attired in a spa bathrobe, the relaxed atmosphere at Sommerro House seeps into your bones. Named for the Norwegian word “sommerro” which translates to “summer calm” in English, Sommerro House evokes Henry James’ iconic quote, “Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Oslo’s summers are notable for their long days and white nights, a season of light and brightness which is refracted throughout the sun-dappled Sommerro House.

panoramic rooftop views of Oslo and its fjord provide a perfect complement to the cocktails served at TAK Oslo where award-winning chef Frida Ronge serves her acclaimed Nordic-Japanese cuisine.

The numerous amenities at Sommerro House include various restaurants and cocktail lounges, as well as a private screening room, library, and bakery, which makes it very easy to linger on property - especially when so many attractive Norwegians fuel the buzz. Let’s not forget that Norway is one of the world’s most LGBTQ-friendly nations, with same-sex marriage and adoption rights, and full rights in the

KOK Floating Sauna.

Photo by Kristin Lorange

The Twist, Kistefos Museum.

Photo byKim Erlandsen

military. Sommerro House’s reopening has infused the Frogner district with new energy, which is evident nearly every evening at Ekspedisjonshallen (the former Expedition Hall) where locals and visitors revel in the sounds of the Sommerro Soul Band.

A member of Legend, Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Historic Hotels Worldwide, Sommerro House is only a short walk from Oslo’s new waterfront cultural district dotted with“starchitecture.”The opening of the Oslo Opera House in 2008 was followed by the Astrup Fearnly Museum in 2012 and the Munch Museum in 2021- and now the newly-completed National Museum has become the latest must-see attraction. In spite of numerous construction delays and the public’s initial distaste for its fortress-like exterior, the National Museum opened to visitors in June 2022. As a repository for Norway’s largest collection of art, the $650 million museum checks all the boxes for an immersive visual experience with more than 80 galleries.

Further afield, about an hour’s drive from Oslo, is Kistefos, a spectacular sculpture park with more than 50 sculptures, many of which are site-specific. Named for the waterfall that once powered a paper pulp mill, Kistefos includes works by Olafur Eliasson, Yayoi Kusama, Fernando Botero, and numerous other artists whose sculptures coexist in blissful harmony with nature. Certainly, the most well-known building at Kistefos is Bjarke Ingels Group’s The Twist, a mesmerizing sculpture that bridges the water with a suspended art gallery. Fascinating

Villa Inkognito Study.

Photos by Francisco Nogueira

Francisco Nogueira

Pipkin KItchen at Villa Inkognito

Villa Inkognito Suite Bathroom

Conservatory of Lily Pad Lounge at Villa Inkognito

from every angle, The Twist has become one of Norway’s most celebrated attractions.

For those visitors to Oslo who prefer a curated collection of decorative objects in a sumptuous setting, Villa Inkognito offers the pleasures of a private residence, complete with house staff and personal chef. Originally built for a wealthy industrialist, the 19th century Italianate mansion housed the Algerian Embassy in the 1980s before its recent reopening as Villa Inkognito. Comprising a total of 11 rooms and suites, the Villa is connected to Sommerro House via a skywalk outside the fourth-floor Tower Room. Guests at the Villa have access to all the amenities at Sommerro House, including Vestkantbadet and its multiple treatment rooms, gym, infrared saunaand, of course, that cold-plunge pool.

According to various studies, a two-minute ice bath can reduce wrinkles. Still not tempted? One polar plunge a day can burn off 200 calories while reducing stress. Need more motivation? There’s also the relief of sore muscles and greater circulation. “Control your breath, slow and steady,” commanded the Wim Hof instructor as she counted down the seconds. And once you’ve hit that two-minute mark, your reward is the infrared sauna - where you might consider doing it all over again.

That’s how they do it in Oslo. That’s the key to allyear summer vitality that keeps Norwegians healthy and looking good. And that’s why they’re so happy. So, plunge into Oslo - you’ll be glad you did. ■

Heritage Suite at Sommerro House

Ekspedisjonshallen Seating

To Søstre at Sommerro House. Photos by Francisco Nogueira

Exterior Terrace at TAK restaurant atop Sommerro House

BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

OVER THE PAST DECADE, KOMBUCHA HAS GONE FROM A LITTLE-KNOWN TEA DRINK TO A FULL-FLEDGED INDUSTRY. Its health benefits are widely accepted and the product has been popping up everywhere from candy to hot sauce. And now many are touting the use of kombucha tea products in their skincare regimen. We decided to investigate for ourselves by trying the new kombucha products from a renowned organic skincare company and were delighted with the results. Sound interesting?

Since 1958, ÉMINENCE

ORGANIC SKIN CARE has been using sustainable farming and green practices to create natural, organic, and Biodynamic products. Many of the hand-picked fresh ingredients are combined with pure waters drawn from a thermal hot spring lake containing minerals and trace elements found nowhere else on earth. Their reputation has created a loyal celebrity following including the likes of Laura Dern, Hillary Swank and Zooey Deschanel.

Their KOMBUCHA MICROBIOME line are luxury skin products with pre, pro, and postbiotics for an exhilarating experience for your skin.

Kombucha SKINCARE’S LATEST BUZZ:

While we can suggest some of the best skincare products on the market for you, before choosing the perfect products for your skin, it’s best to identify your personal skin type for maximum results. Once you have pinpointed your skin type, you’ll be headed in the right direction to selecting the products that will work best for you.

DRY SKIN

Your skin feels dry and tight, and sometimes you can see flakes on your cheeks, chin, and forehead. Fine lines may be present around your eye and lip contour areas. It is important to use moisturerich products such as a daytime moisturizer, and a moisturizing treatment at night to repair your skin while you sleep. Weekly moisturizing masks will keep your skin soft and supple and will reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

NORMAL SKIN

Your skin is best described as well-balanced. It has even moisture and hydration, uniform texture, and minimal sensitivity. While your skin may show slight variations in oiliness and dryness, it does not endure persistent skin concerns or conditions. To keep your skin even and toned, a good skin care routine including cleansing and moisturizing is a must.

COMBINATION SKIN

Your skin is both dry and oily. With more active oil glands in your T-zone, you tend to exhibit the characteristics of oily skin on your chin, nose and forehead and normal-to-dry skin on your cheeks, jawline and hairline. The best approach for combination skin is to address the needs of each area individually. Use different skin care products and techniques to control excess oil in your T-zone and replenish moisture elsewhere.

OILY SKIN

Your skin is shiny, has visible pores and is prone to spots and blemishes. Makeup seems to slide off your skin as soon as it is applied. Oily skin has the benefit of not showing lines easily but needs to be maintained to help prevent breakouts and to control shine.

SENSITIVE SKIN

Your skin has fine pores, can be easily irritated and is prone to redness. Sensitive skin is often genetic and can also react to poor diet, changes in weather, hormonal imbalance and certain cosmetic products. Sensitive skin must be treated with the correct skin care products that are gentle and soothing to heal your skin and relieve your symptoms.

1A thorough cleanse clears your skin of oil and debris that can lead to clogged pores and dullness. It also prepares your complexion for further treatment, making it easier for your skin to absorb the beneficial ingredients in the rest of your routine.

KOMBUCHA MICROBIOME FOAMING CLEANSER $46

Refresh and purify skin to reveal a healthylooking glow. Crafted with targeted micellar technology, this liquid-to-foam cleanser gently removes impurities without over-stripping moisture from the skin. Kombucha, ginger, white tea and jasmine work in unison to refresh and balance the microbiome and look of the skin without compromising the moisture barrier. Suitable for all skin types.

Toning completes the cleansing process by conditioning your skin and adding beneficial vitamins and minerals to your complexion. Unlike alcohol-based toners of the past, today’s toners, essences and facial mists support the effectiveness of your cleanser by adding replenishing ingredients that support your skin’s health. Cleansing and toning work together like shampoo and conditioner: both steps help keep the skin as healthy as possible.

KOMBUCHA MICROBIOME BALANCING ESSENCE

$52

Restore the look of balanced skin with this nourishing essence. A blend of pre, pro and postbiotics works harmoniously to enhance the appearance of luminosity and gently primes the skin ahead of your full skin care ritual. White tea and jasmine flower soothe dry, dull skin for a healthy-looking glow. One of the key ingredients, Kombucha Ferment (Postbiotic), is derived from fermenting black tea, which is rich in postbiotics and nourishes the skin microbiota, enhancing the look of skin smoothness, luminosity, and clarity. Suitable for all skin types.

Your daily routine should include a serum, concentrate or facial oil. These potent formulas contain concentrated amounts of active ingredients to target concerns and neutralize the effects of environmental stressors.

KOMBUCHA MICROBIOME LUMINOSITY SERUM $110

Illuminate the appearance of the skin with a lightweight serum designed to give you a vibrant-looking glow. Kombucha, white tea, ginger and jasmine unite with microbiome-friendly pre, pro and postbiotics to bring out a visibly renewed look. Perfect for all skin types, this gel serum can be used daily to even tone and boost the look of the skin’s luminosity.

An additional treatment to indulge in is a face mask. Face masks contain high amounts of concentrated vitamins and nutrient-rich ingredients which absorb efficiently into the skin, making it appear healthy and resilient. In addition to their hydrating and firming benefits, masks can be used to control more persistent skin concerns like acne, large pores and dark spots.

KOMBUCHA MICROBIOME LEAVE-ON MASQUE $70

Bring comfort and serenity to dry, dull-looking skin with a rich slow-absorbing masque. A luxurious step in your routine, this formula features ginger and pre, pro and postbiotics to visibly renew the appearance of the skin while supporting your moisture barrier. Ideal for all skin types, this masque helps the skin appear hydrated and healthy.

Of course, the final and most crucial step in every skin care routine is sun protection. Daily and consistent sunscreen use helps protect skin against the damaging rays that contribute to skin irritation, premature aging, and the formation of certain skin cancers. Year-round, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen or SPF moisturizer to shield your skin from exposure.

You can visit www.eminenceorganics.com/us for more skin care tips, product information, and purchases.

RAISE YOUR VIBRATION

BY MEGAN VENZIN

THE HUMAN ENERGY FIELD CONSISTS OF FIVE LAYERS: THE PHYSICAL, THE ETHERIC, THE EMOTIONAL, THE MENTAL AND THE SPIRITUAL. When we engage in healthy exercises, dine on clean foods, bask in chill beats, and practice self-care we bring balance to those layers. Such acts raise our vibration and enable us to live our best lives.

If your aura is feeling a bit dull right now, that’s understandable - the world (and New York specifically) tends to be an overwhelming place. Thankfully, there’s plenty of reasons to feel lifted, even in the dog days of summer. Our hand-picked outdoor raves, food festivals and fitness classes should get you back to feeling brilliant in no time.

WARM UP 2023

August 4, 11, 18 & 24, 2023

MoMA PS1

22-25 Jackson Ave.

Queens, NY 11011

www.momaps1.org

End your week on a high note with MoMA’s cool and eclectic Warm Up 2023 summer event series. Last year, Warm Up swapped its longtime day party format in a slew of Friday night shebangs, inviting guests into their fully transformed courtyard for evenings filled with live performances, DJ sets, interactive art installations and curated eats. Sister museum to midtown’s MoMA, the PS1 location is a hub for unique, left-field exhibitions. So, when you’ve danced your heart out to sets from tastemakers like Jersey club king DJ Sliink, Discwoman stalwart SHYBOI and many others, you’ll have a chance to peruse what’s on display outside of typical museum hours. It’s a unique experience paired best with craft cocktails, of which there will be plenty flowing. Admission is free for guests with Long Island zip codes, so if you live across the bridge this may become your tried-andtrue sunset spot.

ANJUNABEATS OUTDOORS

August 5th, 2023

The Rooftop at Pier 17

89 South St.

New York, NY 10038

www.anjunabeats.com

Above & Beyond’s signature ABGT aka “Group Therapy” events have earned a reputation as safe spaces to connect and release in the presence of amazing trance music and some of the EDM scene’s friendliest crowds. Recently, the trio’s legendary label announced a new show concept where dance lovers can similarly unite and let go of their worries in a few of America’s most stunning locations. Guess what, New Yorkers - you’re in luck! On August 5th Anjunabeats Outdoors hits The Rooftop at Pier 17 where landmark views and sky-high vibes are destined to be endless. Enjoy sets from the imprint’s finest acts: names like Ilan Bluestone, Gabriel & Dresden, Mat Zo, Amy Wiles and so many more. In addition to a sensational day of grooves, attendees can also expect a decadent food and beverage program, surprise guests and exclusive meetups with label artists. If your plan is to fly the coop in August, we’ll have you know the tour is stopping off in some of Montreal and Denver’s most picturesque places, too.

Takeover @ The Brooklyn Mirage Photo by Selects15

Summer Fridays by Ryan Muir

ELEMENTS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

August 11th - 14th, 2023

Long Pond, PA

www.elementsfest.us

Music is like food for the soul, which is why anyone with a good taste in tunes is headed to the nearby Poconos for Elements Music & Arts Festival come August. This year’s multi-day event features top-tier names from the jam and electronic worlds like North American dubstep legend Skrillex, alongside techhouse favorite John Summit and This Never Happened label boss, Lane 8, whose phone-free sets are the stuff of modern rave magic. In addition to artful, immersive stages and groundbreaking productions, guests can also experience a full range of wellness programming in the form of yoga and movement classes, meditation sessions and sound baths. There are tons of queer artists on the bill worth showing up for, too like color bass innovator Moore Kismet, live electronic couple Gioli & Assia and melodic house darlings, Eli & Fur. So go ahead and be in your element - this festival has a little something for everyone.

BLACK VEGFEST PRESENTS: SPREAD LOVE 2 VEGAN FOOD FESTIVAL

August 12th, 2023

Weeksville Heritage Center

158 Buffalo Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11213

www.blackvegfest.org

Join over 75 vegan chefs and inspiring speakers (such as the famous vegan physician Dr. Milton Mills) at Black VegFest’s summer hang. Rooted in a mission to shed light on black liberation, animal rights, healthier living, and the environment, the Spread Love 2 Vegan Food Festival is an all-day celebration of delicious eats and much-needed activism. Taking place both indoors and out at Brooklyn’s Weeksville Heritage Center, food fans can feel good about the plant-based meals they’re indulging in as they engage in panel discussions on black food cooperatives, animal liberation, and more. To emphasize the passion behind this important affair, we’ll share a quote from Francis Peña, one of Black VegFest’s organizers: “At Black VegFest, we are engaging with our people, bringing them in and sharing and learning with each other. This is our power. And we want us, our people, to have that power and take it wherever it needs to go.”We hear you loud and clear, and we’re all in, baby.

Elements Music & Art Festival

ELECTRIC ZOO

September 1-3, 2023

Randall’s Island Park

New York, NY 10035

www.electriczoo.com

Electric Zoo is always a favorite fall gathering, but the 2023 edition is gearing up to be super special. In addition to an all-star lineup and upgraded production, this year’s stage takeover roster also features the fest’s first-ever Dreamland Stage, presented by esteemed tastemaker Jake Resnicow. “The Dreamland stage at Electric Zoo Festival serves as a beacon of empowerment and representation,” Resnicow shares of the new addition.“By spotlighting LGBTQ+ artists, we not only showcase their incredible talents but also inspire the next generation of diverse artists and fans. It’s about creating a space where people can express themselves freely, connect authentically, and celebrate the beautiful spectrum of identities within our community.”Also, the scene’s sax-iest man GRiZ, is slated to play three distinct sets over the course of the weekend before taking an indefinite hiatus, so the stakes are high for wub chasers. If bass ain’t your bag, additional offerings from CityFox and the Brooklyn Mirage, the debut of John Summit and Dom Dolla’s ‘Everything Always” Stage and a headlining set from the Kaskade and Deadmau5 super group Kx5, should fill the gaps. Plus, three-day passes are available at their lowest price in festival history. As if you needed a better reason to go wild for Labor Day weekend.

Electric Zoo

GRiZ

DAKOTA JONES

September 22, 2023

Berlin Under A 25 Avenue A New York, NY 10009 www.dakotajonesband.com

If you dig the intoxicating vibes of legendary songstresses like Chaka Khan and Anita Baker, then Dakota Jones should already be on your radar. But if you’re only now hearing about the Brooklyn-based funk band, your timing is just perfect, because the quartet will ring in the first days of fall at the intimate Berlin Under A spot in Alphabet City on September 22nd. Fronted by singer/songwriter

Tristan Carter-Jones, Dakota Jones has been on the rise since their inception eight years ago, garnering cheers in publications like The Times, DIVA Magazine and Billboard for their rich sound that “harnesses a timeless groove and magisterial queer black power.”The show should be a celebratory one given the newest single from their forthcoming long-player Heartbreakers Space Club just dropped. It’s called “Countdown” and it’s a triumphant ode to love in all of its complex forms.

“This is my favorite song on the album,” Carter-Jones shares of the hot release.“It’s a song about how love is bigger than everything, love conquers all the big bad feelings that come at you every day, it conquers all the big bad things around us. When you focus on love, things get a hell of a lot simpler.” So, love yourself, by catching Dakota Jones in a small-cap room before they blow TF up.

Dakota Jones photo by Alexandra Johnson

FRONT RUNNERS NEW YORK: FUN RUNS

Saturday mornings 10am

Tuesday nights 7pm

Central Park

Intersection of West Dr. & Terrace Dr. (Across from Daniel Webster monument) New York, NY 10023

www.frny.org

“I really need to start jogging again.” Be honest … how many times have those words escaped your lips lately? It’s okay if that figure is high - the Front Runners want to see you make your fitness goal a reality. Every week, New York’s LGBTQ+ running group hosts fun runs in Central Park that stride at a social pace, making it a welcome environment for seasoned racers and newcomers alike. Distances range in length up to six miles, so you can start modestly and work your way to 5K hero and beyond. Queer runners and allies who live in Brooklyn can engage in the same style of fun runs on Tuesday nights in settings such as Prospect Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Pick your favorite route, sweat it out and then grab a nourishing dinner with new friends. You’ll be happy you took the leap.

BRYANT PARK YOGA: WEDNESDAY EVENING CLASSES (6PM)

Through September 27, 2023

Bryant Park Lawn

New York, NY 10018

www.bryantpark.org/activities/yoga

Work is stressful. That’s why we have the ideal midweek remedy queued up for you. Instead of leaving the office and squeezing directly into a jam-packed subway car, you can wind down your Wednesdays with free yoga classes on the Bryant Park lawn! Each week (through September 27th), the certified team from Essential Costa Rica will be on hand to lead students of all levels through a 60-minute flow bursting with active and restorative asanas. So, bring your own mat and skip the rush hour commute. Class kicks off at 6pm, and exactly one hour later you’ll be primed and ready to catch the tail-end of happy hour or enjoy a leisurely meal in midtown with friends. And if you’re a morning person, there are Tuesday morning classes starting at 10am. Who says weekdays have to be so heavy? Register for a free ticket and feel lighter.

Photo b y Miguel A Amutio for Unsplash

RIVERDEL

THE ORIGINAL VEGAN CHEESE MONGER

BY MEGAN VENZIN

A SHARP, AGED CHEDDAR IS A WORK OF ART. It packs a funky punch that comes only as a result of patience, precision and top-of-the-line ingredients. Then there are gooey triple creams that boast sensual qualities capable of turning a bitter day into a rather spectacular one. Cheese is - dare we say - magical. Other words commonly associated with wine’s best friend include: luscious, decadent and rich.“Vegan”rarely makes that list… unless however, we’re talking about Riverdel, a local purveyor that assumes the title of New York’s “original vegan cheese monger.”

“It took me more than 30 years of my life to realize that, if I call myself an animal lover, then I shouldn’t be eating them,” says Riverdel Owner, Michaela Grob.“When I made the connection, I just couldn’t anymore. Plus, when I learned about what’s happening in the agriculture industry, I decided it wasn’t something I could support any longer.”So instead, the savvy business woman began to put her money where her mouth is. Literally.

Grob grew up in Austria, where cheese is a mealtime staple. Her upbringing fueled a desire to bring those familiar European traditions to the stateside tables of ethical eaters.

“I would pop into supermarkets to see what kind of vegan cheese options they had, but ultimately I had to travel all over the country to find the best ones,” Grob shares, speaking with a

subtle accent. “I thought it would be great to have one place where [customers] know everything is vegan and there’s a decent cheese selection - then they’d be less worried about missing out by switching their diet.”

So, Grob dreamed up that place and made it a reality - first in Brooklyn, where her brainchild launched in 2015, and quickly became a popular destination for its handcrafted sandwiches. That location has since closed its doors, and now Riverdel finds its home in the upscale Essex Market. Here, fans of life’s finer things will discover a wellstocked stall set up like a traditional cheese shop.

Vegan varieties are available by the quarter pound, each prepared by local artisans like Cheezehound (Fleishmann’s, NY), Conscious Cultures Creamery (Philadelphia, PA), and Rind (Brooklyn NY). Flavors such as Porcini Blue, Cashevre Italian Herb, and Double Cream Saffron Pistachio, tease the taste buds and bring incomparable zest to a dairy-free lifestyle. Pair these smooth, spreadable delicacies with other specialty items like baked crackers, toasted nuts and meatless “charcuterie” for a new-age cheeseboard that satisfies cravings while making a positive impact.

Grob says more than 75 percent of the“cheeses” she carries are nut-based, including Riverdel’s own Pepper Billy which is made from cashews and raw cultures that contribute to its irresistible tang and texture. Others are made from soy or grain. Those

made with oat milk provide an especially creamy mouthfeel and round flavor.

For those exploring the idea of adopting a dairy-free or vegan lifestyle, Riverdel currently offers online classes for amateur cheese-makers to learn tricks of the trade. A portion of their proceeds go to support animal sanctuaries around the country.

Grob also extends to them some words of advice.“Start small. You want to feel like your horizon is opening rather than closing,” she says.“You would not compare a cow cheese to a goat cheese, and so you shouldn’t try to compare a cow cheese to a nut cheese. However, you’ll find nut cheeses can have the same satisfaction.”

And though at Riverdel some varieties sell out quickly, satisfaction is always in surplus. ■

Location:

Essex Market, Stall 35 88 Essex St. New York, NY 10002

Hours:

Tues - Fri 11:30AM - 7PM

Sat. 10AM - 7PM

Sun. 10AM - 6PM

riverdelcheese.com

IT TOOK ME MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF MY LIFE TO REALIZE THAT, IF I CALL MYSELF AN ANIMAL LOVER, THEN I SHOULDN’T BE EATING THEM.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RIVERDEL

CURTAINS UP: AUTUMN ON BROADWAY

And while we’re gazing backward, Stephen Sondheim fans still unsatiated after recent revivals of Company, Into the Woods and Swee, can look forward to the first Broadway revival of his beloved 1982 cult flop, the reverse chronological Merrily We Roll Along at the Hudson Theatre (previews September 19, open-ended). If those peerless songs weren’t enough, this acclaimed production, transferring from New York Theatre Workshop, boasts three brilliant stars in Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe.

Also retrospective, but certainly with contemporary political resonance, Ossie Davis’s Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch at the Music Box Theatre (previews September 7, open-ended) comes back to Broadway starring Tony-winner Leslie Odom, Jr. Kenny Leon directs a promising ensemble cast certain to deliver this timely tale of the Jim Crow South

Leslie Odom Jr.

photo by Tony Duran

Proving that cabaret can encompass all the bite of New York’s fiercest counterculture, Joe’s Pub offers a typically stimulating lineup of shows to entertain this late summer season:

• Jeff Hiller

August 4 - August 9

• Jackie Hoffman

August 8 - August 15

• Joey Arias

August 10 - August 13

• Claybourne Elder

August 12 - August 13

• Michelle Collins

August 16 - August 22

• Betty Buckley

September 29 - October 1

And uptown, but not uptight, 54 Below features some of the best from Broadway and beyond:

• Isaac Mizrahi

August 3 – 6

• Ann Hampton Callaway

Sings the Seventies

August 9 - 12

• Jason Danieley: Without a Song…

August 18 & 19

• Ben Crawford: Songs

I Like to Sing That I Hope

You’ll Like to Hear

August 24 - 26

• Adam Pascal

August 30 - September 2

• Bradley Gibson:

Songs of My Heart

September 7 & 8

• Santino Fontana

September 10 - 14

• Christine Andreas: Paris to Broadway

September 15 & 16

• Laura and Linda Benanti: Mothers Know Best

September 19 - 23

Jeff Hiller

Betty Buckley

Michelle Collins

Claybourne Elder

Joey Arias

Jackie Hoffman

Isaac Mizrahi

Ann Hampton Callaway

Jason Danieley

Ben Crawford

Adam Pascal

Bradley Gibson

Santino Fontana

Christine Andreas

Laura and Linda Benanti

And no current New York City cabaret roundup could be complete without mention of The Green Room 42, the most exciting thing to happen to 10th Avenue since the Highline.

When the Green Room 42 opened in 2017, people wondered whether the business model of nightclub with no food or drink minimum could last. Time has proven it can thrive, fueled by a diverse and exciting community of up-and-coming theatrical performers and theatre lovers on stage and in the audience, and providing an artistic home to some of the most interesting cabaret talents of the next generation, and even a few of the previous ones.

Inaugurating the newly renovated Green Room 42 this summer are:

• Natalie Joy Johnson

August 4

• Austin J. Danza

August 5

• Nathan Madden & Brenna Yeary

August 12 & 14

• Liz McCartney

August 20

• Brett Boles

September 7

• Paul Iacono

September 7

• Jodie de Guzman

September 8 & 10

• Linda Purl

September 11

• Tanner Callicutt

September 13

• Daniel Nolen & Billy Recce

September 15

• Sara Jean Ford

September 22

And finally, the perfect marriage of summer and entertainment lies just 46 miles outside the city on Fire Island, where Daniel Nardicio has reinvigorated the Ice Palace to offer world class performances for fans who don’t want to change out their swimsuits:

• Broadway Sings Beyonce

August 17

• Chita Rivera

August 19

• Patti LuPone

August 26

• Amber Martin: Bette, Bathhouse & Beyond

August 26

Natalie Joy Johnson

Nathan Madden

Brenna Yeary

Liz McCartney

Paul Iacono

Brett Boles

Tanner Callicutt

Sara Jean Ford

Linda Purl

Patti LuPone

Chita Rivera

Amber Martin

CHELSEA BARRACUDA

This Chelsea lounge features cool music, cute crowds, wild drag shows, and talent competitions hosted on the tiny stage in the rear. Rumor has it RuPaul visited to “scout” Bob the Drag Queen at this classic watering hole. 275 W. 22nd St. at Eighth Ave., NYC 212-645-8613

BOXERS CHELSEA

A big gay sports bar outfitted with flat screens broadcasting all manner of games, multiple counters, pool tables and a smoking patio out back. A long bar faces a pizza oven dispensing mouth-watering pies to munch on while watching “the game”. Hottest bartenders in town? See for yourself! 37 W. 20th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., NYC 212-624-5942. boxersnyc.com

THE EAGLE

This dark and cruisy leather bar to end all leather bars boasts a great rooftop deck and some of the sexiest, burliest guys in NYC. 554 W. 28th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-473-1866. eagle-ny.com

GYM

At this popular after work sports bar, a team of plasma-screen TVs broadcasting the hottest games, a pool table, and a basement dugout. Who are those cuties behind the bar? Pop in to get to know them (Admit it, you already follow them on IG). 167 Eighth Ave. between 18th and 19th Sts., NYC 212-337-2439. gymsportsbar.com

EAST VILLAGE/LOWER EAST SIDE

THE BOILER ROOM

A throwback to the days when the East Village was a haven for the punky and funky, this dark and comfy no-frills lounge is popular with the college set, attitude-free, and rocks with an eclectic mix of music and scruffy pool players. 86 E. 4th St. at Second Ave., NYC 212-254-7536

OSCAR WILDE

Acclaimed mixologist Johnny Swet sets the scene at this clever cocktail lounge. Ironically situated at the former headquarters of NYC’s Bureau of Prohibition, this glorious tribute to Ireland’s great writer is the gastropub to end all gastropubs. Marvel at relics such as their Belgian piano from the late 1890s, antique clocks, and intriguing bronze statues celebrating the late great Portrait of a Dorian Gray scribe. 45 W. 27th St. at Sixth Avenue., NYC 212-213-3066. oscarwildenyc.com

REBAR

Sexy Chelsea hangout where G Lounge (may she rest in peace) used to be. This neighborhood bar has a masculine industrial décor, a hot staff, and draws all kinds of men (especially local muscle bears) and boasts not distractions – sports, porn, dancers or otherwise. Their concept is simple: people meeting people. 225 W. 19th St. between Seventh and Eighth Aves., NYC 212-929-1085. rebarchelsea.com

EAST VILLAGE

CLUB CUMMING

Willkommen, Bienvenu, New York! Alan Cumming opened the swank new East Village performance-based club, and everyone’s invited. Cumming teamed up with Benjamin Maisani, Darren Dryden and Daniel Nardicio for this sassy adventure. Think backstage of an actual Berlin Cabaret where anything goes. Drag Race viewing parties, Drink & Draw, knitting (yes, knitting), and Cabaret (of course!) 505 E. 6th St. between Aves. A and B, NYC 212-777-2555. clubcummingnyc.com

THE COCK

Longtime late-night haven for naughty go-go boys and those in search of debauched shenanigans. Late nights are the infamous and the ever-popular Monday nights culls an elite yet shameless crowd of naughty boys and nightlife glitterati. 29 Second Ave. between First and Second Sts., NYC. thecockbar.com

NOWHERE

Ultra-mellow East Villager with distressed rustic décor, a pool table and what may be the smallest back room ever. 322 E. 14th St. between First and Second Aves., NYC 212-477-4744. nowherebarnyc.com

PHOENIX

The typically crowded Phoenix holds video games, a pool table, a jukebox, and a diverse crowd in an exposed-brick space as uncomplicated as its vibe. Daily Happy Hour runs from 4-8 and Saturday nights Wrecked party brings all kinds of cute boys (& Queens) to the East Village. 447 E. 13th St. at Ave. A., NYC 212-477-9979. phoenixbarnyc.com

HELL’S KITCHEN/MIDTOWN WEST

ATLAS SOCIAL CLUB

Josh Wood, Benjamin Maisani, Pablo Raimondi, and Asi Mazar hit a home run with the starry opening of the Hell’s Kitchen hotspot. When celebs like Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, and Cher start making cameos the neighborhood definitely takes a closer look. 753 9th Ave. between 50th and 51st Sts., NYC 212-262-8527.

FAIRYTAIL LOUNGE

Glittery centaurs and other enchanted-forest motifs distinguish this cozy lounge in way-west H.K. Theme parties, specialty cocktails and guest DJs add interest. 500 W. 48th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-648-3897

FLAMING SADDLES

When they’re not mixing up vodka sodas in glass steins, bartenders jump up on the bar to do choreographed boot-scootin’ to Achy Breaky-type tunes at this one-of-a-kind Hell’s Kitchen tavern. Red saloon décor and a small selection of down-home nibbles add to the authentic Western feel – call it Coyote Pretty. 793 Ninth Ave. at 53rd St., NYC 212-713-0481. flamingsaddles.com/nyc

HARDWARE

Cheap drinks are poured at the front bar and fun tunes are spun for the rear dance floor at this easy-breezy neighborhood haunt. In the summer, a garage door swings up, letting the scene spill onto the street. When DJs aren’t doing their thing, live performers like Shequida, Lagoona Bloo, Brita Filter, Boudoir Lefleur & Kimmi Moore hit the stage. Opens at noon daily. 697 Tenth Ave between 47th and 48th Sts., NYC 212-924-9885. hardware-bar.com

HUSH

Missing Therapy? Hush! There’s a naughty new bar in town and there’s never been a better time to check it out. Well, if you stop by before 9:00 p.m. you can get $3 off all drinks. The space is cute, hennies. We’ll see you on the dancefloor. 348 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves. NYC hushhk.com

INDUSTRY

The owners of Barracuda and Elmo opened this capacious venue features couch-filled nooks, a game room with a pool table and an industrial design that’s a nod to its parking-garage past. Holly Dae, Egypt, Pixie Aventura, and Kizha Carr shake things up on a weekly basis at this popular hotspot. 355 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 646-476-2747. industry-bar.com

THE Q NYC

Alan Picus and Frankie Sharp joined forces with Billy Porter, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Carver, and Jake Shears to open one of the most epic nightlife spaces in NYC. Think four floors right smack in one of the biggest gayborhoods in the world. Pop in any night of the week and dance you’re a** off. 795 8th Ave. between 48th and 49th Sts., NYC theqnyc.com

RISE BAR

Kings of NYC nightlife royalty joined forces for a tres fabuleux yet unpretentious Hell’s Kitchen watering hole right in the middle of everything. Dance all night every Friday and Saturday, you deserve a little R&R, don’t you? 859 9th Avenue., NYC 646-892-3313. risebarnyc.com

THE RITZ BAR & LOUNGE

This upscale boy boîte boasts plenty of places to perch on multiple levels inside and outside — although the kickin’ sound system makes it hard to settle down. 369 W. 46th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-333-2554.

THE SPOT

Happy Hour happens every day until 9:00 p.m. at The Spot. Pop in for weekly parties and catch local nightlife celebs like Ariana Trenta, Brenda Dharling, Pissi Myles, and more. Looking for Drag Brunch? Look no further! Seating happens at 12:15 and 2:30 every Sunday. Bring your dollars! 599 10th Avenue, NYC thespotbarnyc.com

EAST SIDE

THE TOOL BOX

This two-level dive bar hosts dance parties with a DJ and cute go-go boys on Friday and Saturday nights on the main floor, while the downstairs is a cozier lounge. 1742 Second Ave., between 90th and 91st Sts., NYC 212348-1288. thetoolboxnyc.com

THE TOWNHOUSE

Two levels of mature gents and their younger fans humming along to dance tracks and swaying to songs from Chicago and everything in the Jerry Herman oeuvre. 236 E. 58th St. between Second and Third Aves., NYC 212-754-4649.

UNCLE CHARLIE’S

This effervescent lounge, tucked on top of an unassuming store on a quiet block, boasts a patio and piano room, which hosts live entertainment. 139 E. 45th St. between Third and Lexington Aves., NYC 212-661-9097. unclecharliesnyc.com

UPPER WEST SIDE

SUITE

This adorable lounge attracts Columbia gays with their leopard-print lamps, cozy leather banquettes and the occasional drag star entertaining on the small stage. 992 Amsterdam Ave. between 109th and 110th Sts., NYC 212-222-4600. suitenyc.com

UPTOWN

ALIBI LOUNGE

This popular Harlem bar & lounge is a great spot for after work. Everybody need an alibi, right? Choose from their selection of specialty cocktails and order a little nibble, while you’re at it. 2376 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. at 139th St., NYC 917-472-7789.

WEST VILLAGE

CUBBYHOLE

Called home by the local lesbian crowd (though a few boys are usually thrown in for good measure), this small, unpretentious West Village bar features a capricious décor that’s heavy on the fish. 281 W. 12th St. at Fourth St., NYC 212-243-9041. cubbyholebar.com

THE DUPLEX

The Duplex is the city’s oldest continuing cabaret/piano bar. Downstairs, the staff performs in between bouts of serving. Upstairs is a more traditional boy bar and an intimate room that books cabaret acts. 61 Christopher St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-255-5438. theduplex.com

THE HANGAR

Neighborhood guy’s guy bar that attracts a diverse crowd grooving to classic gay tunes. 115 Christopher St. between Bleecker and Hudson Sts., NYC 212-627-2044

HENRIETTA HUDSON

Jam-packed lesbian club/lounge with a multicultural crowd that’s gay-boy friendly. 438 Hudson St. at Morton St., NYC 212-924-3347.henriettahudson.com

JULIUS’

Once the Village’s oldest continuously operating bar went gay in the 1950s, it would go on to become the city’s oldest gay bar. On a normal night, it’s a comfy place for cheap drinks, burgers, and fries, but once a month, the party Mattachine turns it into a crowded, rowdy dance affair with excellent vinyl music. 159 W. 10th St. at Waverly Pl., NYC 212-243-1928. juliusbarny.com

MARIE’S CRISIS

Old-school sing-alongs are on tap at this long-running piano bar. There’s no fuss and no frills at this late-night theater queen hot spot. Stop in and “sing out, Louise!” 59 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-243-9323. mariescrisis.us

THE MONSTER

A Sheridan Square stalwart where fabulous guys and dolls sing along to their show tunes upstairs while legendary DJs play to the fun crowd downstairs. 80 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-924-3558 Open Mon-Fri, 4pm-4am; Sat & Sun, 2pm-4am.

PIECES

You’ll either be singing to retro dance tracks or laughing at the antics of drag queens at this longtime West Villager. Ms. Vodka Stinger’s B-Movie Mondays are always worth a stop. Show starts at 8:30 sharp. 8 Christopher St. at Sixth Ave., NYC 212-929-9291. piecesbar.com

ROCKBAR

For boys who prefer fur over sheen, there’s this butched-up bar with a fistpumping soundtrack and cheap drinks. Things get steadily burlier and beefier as the night goes on…attend one ROCKSTRAP and you’ll be more than hooked. If you’re on GROWLr there’s a good chance your notifications will start to flutter inside. 185 Christopher St. at Weehawken St., NYC. rockbarnyc.com

STONEWALL

Daddies, faux thugs, and girls who like girls rule the roost at this two-story birthplace of gay pride. Every night of the week offers a different theme, from drag-hosted game shows to karaoke to beer blasts. 53 Christopher St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-488-2705. thestonewallinnnyc.com

TY’S

This Ye Olde Boy Bar serves a loyal and friendly Christopher Street clientele — young, old and everything in between. NYPD and Firemen especially welcome. 114 Christopher St. between Bleecker and Hudson Sts., NYC 212-741-9641. tys.nyc

OUTER BOROUGHS & BEYOND

3 DOLLAR BILL

Self-declared as “Brooklyn’s Premiere Queer Bar & Performance Venue”, 3 Dollar Bill is known for their legendary parties and literally brining all the fine boys & gurls to the yard. They are the largest queer venue in Brooklyn and ready for your visit. Go ahead & live your life at 3 Dollar Bill (but be sure to look cute!) 260 Meserole St. Brooklyn 3dollarbillbk.com

ALBATROSS

Homey Astoria bar with a pool table and jukebox. Sultry bartender/host Dean Dante heats things up with his now legendary parties where everyone has a chance to explore their fantasies. 36-19 24th Ave. at 38th St., Astoria, NYC 718-204-9045. albatrossastoria.com

C’MON EVERYBODY

Popular Brooklyn Queer space, known for great cocktails, fun parties, and hot live music shows. C’mon Everybody is a queer owned and operated bar and independent venue that was founded by the desire to amplify the underserved creative voices of the LGBTQ/QTPOC people (and allies). 325 Franklin Ave. Brooklyn cmoneverybody.com

FRIEND’S TAVERN

This bar seduces the large Latino gay community with theme nights and daily drink specials. 78-11 Roosevelt Ave. at 78th St., Jackson Heights, Queens 718-397-7256. friendstavern.net.

GOOD JUDY

Good Judy is a lounge, dance floor, piano bar, patio, and home for Queers + allies to join together in unity and solidarity. Meet your Good Judy for happy hour and plan on closing the joint! 563 5th Avenue, Brooklyn goodjudybk.com

ICON ASTORIA

Fasten your seatbelts because you’re in for an unexpected ride at this hot NYC bar nestled into the backyard of Astoria. Beefcake dancers and NYC nightlife legends flock to this unassuming watering hole for great beats, impressive drag performances, and all-around friendly faces. 31-84 33rd Street., Astoria, NY 347-808-7592. iconastoria.com

GINGER’S

Especially popular with lesbians, this long and dark bar has a popular jukebox and an outdoor garden. 363 Fifth Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn 718788-0924

METROPOLITAN

This B-burg bar is comfy and cozy with a fireplace, jukebox, and a sprawling warm-weather patio. 559 Lorimer St. at Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn NYC 718-599-4444. metropolitanbarny.com

MUSIC BOX

Fun neighborhood bar great if you’re in Jackson Heights and looking for a pint or a little fun. 40-08 74th St. at Roosevelt Ave. 718-457-5306

THE ROSEMONT NYC

Sexy mixed Williamsburg cocktail bar with a great happy hour and fun weekly entertainment. Looking for Mr. Right, Mr. Right for tonight or just a fun gurls night out? They’ve got you covered. 63 Montrose Ave., Brooklyn, NYC 347-987-3101. therosemontnyc.com

ACCOUNTING – COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY

ACCOUNTING

Dikman, Bernard L , C P A

37 W 20th St, Ste 703, NYC 212 929-4299

Woloshen, Robert A CPA

29 W 15th St, Ste 1 NYC 212 843-3486

www rawcpa com

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture-NYC

80 Fifth Ave, Ste 906 NYC 212 874-0898

www acupuncture-nyc com

ADOPTION SERVICES

Friends in Adoption NYC 800 982-3678

www friendsinadoption org

AESTHETIC SERVICES

Advanced Dermatology Associates

200 Central Park South #107 NYC ........................................... 212 262-2500 NYC 212 246-0800

www.adv-derm.com

Lexington Plastic Surgeons

113 E 39th St, NYC 646 374-2410

www try lexingtonplasticsurgeons com/metrosource

Sexual Health Men

290 Madison Ave 6th Fl NYC 973 493-7607

www sexualhealthmen com

Stoller, Roy B , D O 515 Madison Ave, Ste 1205 NYC 212 920-4499

www hairdoctornyc com

ALLERGIES

Aziz, Michael, M D , FRSM

Midtown Integrative Medicine

509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC 212 906-9111

www michaelazizmd com

ARCHITECTURE

David Stern Architecture

www davidsternarchitecture com

Torre, Martin B RA AIA Architecture + Planning PLLC 605 E 14th St, #8 NYC 646 257-9081

ATTORNEYS

Bing, Steven E 276 5th Ave, Ste 1008 NYC 212 286-1666

Chianese & Reilly Law, P C 122 E 42nd St, Ste 3900 NYC 212 953-6447 100 Merrick Rd, Ste 103E Rockville Centre, NY 516 599-2020

www awclawyer com

Chou, Luna, Esq NYC 212 226-2610 www lunachoulaw com

Goldman, Jeffrey E , Esq 501 Fifth Ave #1900 NYC 212 983-8999 NYC 212 949-5085 www jgoldmanlaw com

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC 44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC 212 495-0317 www sciaccalaw com

Long & Associates NYC 212 360-0394 www landapllc com

Parker | Waichman LLP 6 Harbor Park Dr Nationwide 800 JUST-CALL www yourlawyer com

Tesler, Richard, Esq 41 W 72nd St NYC 212 362-6961

CATERING

Li-Lac Chocolates

West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC

Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC

Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC 212 924-2280

www li-lacchocolates com

Paul Evans Catering 20 W 20th St NYC 212 321-1822 NYC 212 243-4494

www paulevanscatering com

CLOTHING

Dave’s New York 581 Ave of the Americas, NYC Toll Free 800 543-8558

www davesnewyork com

Jackson Boutique

www jacksonboutiquenyc com

CONTRACTORS/CONSTRUCTION

ABS Design & Construction NYC 212 731-0642

www abs-construction-nyc com

COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY

Angers, Marc E , M A Oxon, L C S W /L P Licensed Psychoanalyst, NCPsyA NYC 917 678-7929

Barneson, Jeff, LCSW

119 Washington Place NYC 212 252-2314

www jeffbarneson com

Blatter, Andrew, LCSW NYC 917 442-5213

www andrewblatter com

COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY – DENTISTS

Bloom Psychotherapy NYC 19 W 34th St, PH NYC 347 921-0431

www nycbloomtherapy com

Campbell, Robert D , LCSW Psychotherapy for Individuals & Couples NYC 646 783-8155

www robertdcampbell com

Davies, Ann Conant, M S W , L C S W 740 West End Ave, Ste 1 Cell 917 923-2257

Dicker, Phyllis D , L C S W , A C S W , B C D NYC 718 855-5171

Factor, Rhonda J , PhD 85 5th Ave, Ste 912 NYC 347 834-6057

www rhondafactorphd com

Jarratt, Kent, L C S W 19 W 34th St, NYC 212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ 917 686-6179

www kentjarratt com

Johnson, Thomas E , L C S W Chelsea 212 645-3952

Kingan, Peter L , Ph D 99 University Pl, 4th Fl NYC 917 428-2431

Koetting, Michael E , L C S W NYC 212 741-2606

www koettingpsychotherapy com

McFadden, Stephen, LCSW SEP 435 W 23rd St NYC 212 627-8419

www smcfadden com

Nelson, Joshua, Ph D 71 W 23rd St, Ste 1115 NYC 646 512-0043 www jnelsonphd com

Rayhill, Daniel, Ph D 276 Fifth Ave #1101 NYC 212 683-2454

Ross, Steven, LSCW Union Square 917 406-7900 www stevenrosstherapy com

Schuetz, Volker, PsyD 1133 Broadway #913 NYC 212 470-9024 www nychangemanagement com

Schwartz, Alan, M D , Psychiatrist West Village/Chelsea NYC 212 727-0923

Tallent, Marc, Ph D 51 Fifth Ave NYC 212 645-5795 http://therapists psychologytoday com/rms/33692

COUNSELING/SUBURBAN

Kingan, Peter L , Ph D 31 Oak St Patchogue, NY 631 447-6425

DATING SERVICES

SEE ALSO INTRODUCTION SERVICES ManMate NYC 212 564-4025 www manmate com ManMate Dinners For 8 NYC 212 564-4025 www manmate com Wheaton, Grant Dating Coach NYC 212 564-4025

DENTISTS

Babushkin, Howard, D D S , L L C 525 West End Ave #1G, NYC 212 874-2880

www manhattanoasisdentistry com

Cassidy, J R , D D S West 10th Dental P C 45 W 10th St NYC 212 982-5883

www west10thdental com

De Bonis, William B , D D S World Wide Plaza Dental Associates 370 W 50th St NYC 212 333-2650 www wwpdental com

NEW YORK DIRECTORY

DENTIST (CONTINUED) – HAIR REMOVAL

Lew, Spencer, D D S 30 E 40th St #706 NYC 212 286-1717

www nycdental com

LuxDen Dental Center

2579 E 17th St, Ste 11 Brooklyn 718 382-3444

www luxden com

Rosa, John D , D D S , P C 40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ 201 626-2700

Sengos, Demetrios, D D S West 10th Dental P C 45 W 10th St NYC 212 982-5883

www west10thdental com

DENTISTS/PERIODONTISTS

Bizzell, Steven J , D M D , D A B P 50-02 5th St Ste B, Long Island City 718 530-6539

www licdentalassociates com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

DENTISTS/SUBURBAN

Rosa, John D , D D S , P C 40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ 201 626-2700

Dermatology

Advanced Dermatology Associates

200 Central Park South #107 NYC ........................................... 212 262-2500 NYC 212 246-0800

www.adv-derm.com

(SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)

Arora, Navin, DO, FAAD Arora Dermatology

115 Broadway, Ste 1800 NYC 212 244-1252

www aroraderm com

Goldman, Barry D , M D

150 Broadway #111 NYC 212 962-1115

Juva Skin & Laser Center

60 E 56th St #2 NYC 212 421-9501

www juvaskin com

Lumos Dermatology

Peter Chien, MD, PhD

37 E 28th St, Ste 304 NYC 646 820-1716

www lumosdermatology com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

EMPLOYMENT

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) 1700 Stadium Way LA 213 847-LAFD

www joinlafd org

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) 700 E Temple St, B-38 LA 866 444-LAPD

www joinlapd com

EVENT PLANNING & EVENT

SPACE/RENTALS

SEE ALSO CATERING, WEDDING SERVICES

Elite Private Yachts NYC 866 862-7245

www eliteprivateyachts com

www entertainmentcruises com/new-york

Hornblower Cruises & Events Pier 40, NYC 646 832-2805

www hornblowerny com/metrosource

Houston Hall

222 W Houston St NYC 212 582-2057

Patina Events - Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn 718 307-7133

www patinaevents com

The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr NYC 212 870-6762

www trcnyc com

Yachts for All Seasons NYC 212 534-6380 Cell 917 864-7670

www y4as com

EVENT SERVICES

Big Apple Event Audio Visual 519 8th Ave, Ste 815 NYC 212 518-3175

www avnycrentals com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Ameriprise Financial Services

Lance R Kash, Financial Advisor, CFP® 122 E 42nd St #2215 NYC 646 964-9400

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC 44 Wall St, 12th Fl, NYC 212 495-0317

www sciaccalaw com

New York Life/NYLIFE Securities

Marlon J Altoe 420 Lexington Ave, 15th Fl NYC 646 227-8605 Cell 646 761-4372

www newyorklife com/agent/maltoe

Peloso-Barnes, Julia A , CFP, CPM, CRPC Purchase, NY 914 225-6391

www advisor morganstanley com/the-pelosobarnes-group

FITNESS/GYMS/PERSONAL TRAINERS

Mercedes Club 550 W 54th St NYC 212 265-1111

www themercedesclub com

FLORISTS

la Fleur d’Harlem 203 W 144th St NYC 646 850-5973

www lafleurnyc com

FRAMING

14th Street Framing Gallery 225 W 14th St NYC 212 691-8156

GIFTS

Li-Lac Chocolates

West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC

Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC

Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC

Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC 212 924-2280

www li-lacchocolates com

GUEST HOUSES/B&B’S

Chelsea Pines Inn 317 W 14th St NYC 212 929-1023

Colonial House Inn 318 W 22nd St NYC 212 243-9669

Incentra Village House 32 8th Ave @ W 12th St NYC 212 206-0007

www incentravillage com

MisterBandB

www misterbandb com

HAIR REMOVAL

Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC 212 262-2500

NYC 212 246-0800

www adv-derm com

NEW YORK DIRECTORY

HAIR REMOVAL – PHARMACIES/DRUGS

Brisk N Posh

132 Crosby St, Ste 8E NYC 212 433-4477

www brisknposh com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S

5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

HAIR REPLACEMENT/REPLICATION

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S

5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

Stoller, Roy B , D O

515 Madison Ave, Ste 1205 NYC 212 920-4499

www hairdoctornyc com

HOTELS

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Atlantic City, NJ 609 317-1000

www outatborgata com

Foxwoods Resort & Casino

www foxwoods com

The Graham & Co

Phoenicia, NY 845 688-7871

www thegrahamandco com

Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Ave - Chelsea 125 W 26th St NYC 212 430-8500

www hi-nyc com

Hotel Hayden 127 W 28th St NYC 844 423-6004

www hotelhaydennyc com

Hotel Henri 37 W 24th St NYC 844 277-9123

www hotelhenrinyc com

Opus Hotel Vancouver 322 Davie St, Vancouver, BC Canada 604 642-6787

www opushotel com

Sandman Suites on Davie 1160 Davie St

Vancouver, BC Canada 604 681-7263

www sandmanhotels com

Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel 1088 Burrard St

Vancouver, BC Canada 604 331-1000

www sheratonvancouver com

Sunset Marquis

1200 Alta Loma Rd West Hollywood CA 800 858-9758

www sunsetmarquis com

VIVE Hotel Waikiki

2426 Kuhio Ave

Honolulu, Hawaii 808 687-2000

www vivehotelwaikiki com

INSURANCE

HealthSherpa Toll Free 844 346-9476

www metrosource healthsherpa com

INTRODUCTION SERVICES

SEE ALSO DATING SERVICES

ManMate NYC 212 564-4025

www manmate com

LASER VISION CORRECTION

SEE ALSO OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

Coad, Christopher T , M D , F A C S

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC 212 220-0066

www chelseaeyeophthalmology com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

LIPOSUCTION

Marfuggi, Richard M D , D M H, F A C S 50 E 69th St, NYC 212 317-1188

Denville, NJ 973 377-8950

www askdrm com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St, NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

MARKETING SERVICES

Brand2Fly

San Jose 408 763-7924

www brand2fly com

GayVan com Travel Marketing

www gayvan com

OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

Coad, Christopher T , M D , F A C S

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St

NYC 212 220-0066

www chelseaeyeophthalmology com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

OPTOMETRISTS

Coad, Christopher T , M D , F A C S

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St, NYC 212 220-0066

www chelseaeyeophthalmology com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

West Village Eyecare Associates 10 Sheridan Square NYC 212 242-6592

www eyecarenyc com

PAIN MANAGEMENT

Samuelson, Stefan T , MD 44 E 12th St, Ste MD1

PERIODONTISTS

Bizzell, Steven J , D M D , D A B P Periodontist 50-02 5th St Ste B Long Island City 718-530-6539 www licdentalassociates com

PET

NEW YORK DIRECTORY

CVS Specialty 126 8th Ave NYC ........................................... 212 807-8798

(SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)

Mayfair Chemists 21 Seventh Ave, NYC 212 242-1444 New London Pharmacy 246 Eighth Ave, NYC 212 243-4987

New York Chemists 77 Christopher St, NYC 212 255-2525

www newyorkchemists com

Thompson Chemists & Thompson Alchemists 137 Thompson St 449 West Broadway NYC 212 598-9790

www thompsonchemists com

Village Apothecary 346 Bleecker St NYC ........................................... 212 807-7566

www.villageapothecary.com

(SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Galán, Antonio, PT, DPT, MBA, CHC

RestoreRehab Physical Therapy

664 10th Ave NYC 212 245-5259

www restorerehabpt com

Symbio Physio Therapy 214 W 29th St, Ste 901 NYC 917 338-6268

www symbiopt com

PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES

Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC 212 262-2500 NYC 212 246-0800

www adv-derm com

Amida Care NYC 855 462-6432

www amidacareny org

Astor Medical Group

67 Irving Place, 5th Fl @ E 18th St NYC 212 253-2968

www astormedical com

Central Park Medical Associates

200 Central Park South #107

NYC 212 262-2500 NYC 212 246-0800

www.centralparkmedicalassociates.com

Coad, Christopher T , M D , F A C S

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology

157 W 19th St NYC 212 220-0066

www chelseaeyeophthalmology com

Dillon, Stephen, M D Int Med , Inf Dis 314 W 14th St NYC 212 620-0144

Dormer, Anita L , M D , F A C C P 22 E 72nd St, 5th Fl NYC 212 535-5905

Fonville, T W , Int Med 29 Fifth Ave @ 10th St NYC 212 674-1020

Goldberg, Edward S , M D Int Med , Gastr 121 E 60th St, 3rd Fl NYC 212 980-8800

Hsu, Ricky K , M D 154 W 14th St, 4th Fl NYC 212 627-7560

Icochea, Rosendo S , M D 117 E 18th St NYC 212 387-9199

Jaeger, Lawrence D , D O 200 Central Park South #107 NYC 212 246-0800 NYC 212 262-2500

www adv-derm com

Jarratt, Kent, L C S W 19 W 34th St, Penthouse Ste NYC 212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ 917 686-6179

www kentjarratt com

Leach, Eric G , N P 154 W 14th St, 4th Fl, NYC 212 627-7560

Lexington Plastic Surgeons

113 E 39th St NYC 646 374-2410

www try lexingtonplasticsurgeons com/ metrosource

Mandell, William, M D Infectious Diseases

31 Washington Sq West NYC 212 475-8833

Marfuggi, Richard A , M D , D M H , F A C S 50 E 69th St NYC 212 317-1188 Denville, NJ 973 377-8950

www askdrm com

Maze Sexual & Reproductive Health

Maze Men’s Health

Maze Women’s Health

Maze Labs

Maze Cord Blood 633 Third Ave, Ste 9B NYC 646 585-8980

www.mazehealth.com

(SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)

Midtown Integrative Medicine

Aziz, Michael, M D , FRSM 509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC 212 906-9111

www michaelazizmd com

Namdar, Isaac, M D Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist 425 W 59th St NYC 212 262-4444

1090 Amsterdam Ave NYC 212 663-2210

www newyorkentspecialist com

www namdarmd com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St, NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

Pearl, Alan, M D , Psychiatrist 135 W 70th St, NYC 212 724-5188

Samuelson, Stefan T , MD 44 E 12th St, Ste MD1 NYC 212 993-8573 NYC 212 594-1600

PLASTIC SURGERY

Dr WW Med Spa and Laser Clinic 85-16 Queens Blvd, 2F, Elmhurst, NY 139 Centre St #224, NYC 718 457-0707

www drwwmedspa com

Lexington Plastic Surgeons 113 E 39th St NYC 646 374-2410

www try lexingtonplasticsurgeons com/ metrosource

Marfuggi, Richard A , M D , D M H F A C S 50 E 69th St NYC 212 317-1188

Denville NJ 973 377-8950

www askdrm com

PHARMACIES/DRUGS (CONTINUED) – PLASTIC SURGERY

PLASTIC SURGERY (CONTINUED) – RETAIL

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St, NYC 212 257-0007

www omniaestheticmd com

Sexual Health Men

290 Madison Ave 6th Fl, NYC 973 493-7607

www sexualhealthmen com

Skintology

Cosmetical Aesthetics

157 E 57th St, NYC 181 7th Ave, NYC 212 989-6555

www skintologyny com

PODIATRISTS

Ciment, Ethan J , D P M

Collins, Michael, D P M

Chelsea Foot & Ankle Center 37 W 20th St, Ste 308, NYC 646 929-4149

www chelseafootandankle com

REAL ESTATE

Bonavita, David

Compass NYC 212 501-8281

www davidbonavita com

Chroughan, Judy

Julie B Fee Sotherby’s

49 Purchase St Rye, NY 914 262-5323

Coldwell Bank Residential Brokerage

JC Waterfront – Team Francesco

Robert G Harris

1 2nd St, Ste 1 & 4 Jersey City, NJ 201 604-4200

Cell 646 334-0559

Enzo Morabito Team

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Bridgehampton 631 537-6519 Cell 516 695-3433

www theenzomorabitoteam elliman com

Hendler, Lisa E

Berkshire Hathaway Blake Realtors

Kinderhook, NY 518 929-4519

McGrotty, Amy, JD

Castelli Luxury Real Estate Services

Fort Lauderdale, FL 954 347-1732

www amy castellihomes com

Powell, DeWayne A

Town Residential NYC 917 748-5100

www townresidential com

Prince, Keith A

Brown Harris Stevens NYC 917 826-3451

www brownharrisstevens com

TF Cornerstone

www tfc com

Wright, Daniel Compass NYC 917 304-4270

REAL ESTATE/SUBURBAN

Habeeb-Clark, Deborah Keller Williams Hudson Valley, NY 845 800-5413

Perasso, Matt

Prominent Properties/Sotheby’s International Realty

2 Main St, Edgewater, NJ 201 840-8898 Cell 917 834-0454

www goldcoastcribs com

RETAIL

Eva’s Supplements

11 W 8th St (bet 5th & 6th Aves) NYC 212 982-2500

www evassupplements com

• Guidance from a patient advocate and pharmacists trained in HIV therapy

• Timely Rx refill reminders

• Contactless delivery at no extra cost or pick up at any CVS Pharmacy®* retail location

*Where allowed by law. In-store pick up is currently not available in Oklahoma. Puerto Rico requires first-fill prescriptions to be transmitted directly to the dispensing specialty pharmacy. Products are dispensed by CVS Specialty and certain services are only accessed by calling CVS Specialty directly. Certain specialty medication may not qualify. Services are also available at Long’s Drugs locations. ©2020 ProCare Pharmacy, L.L.C. and affiliates. 75-53590A 121820

Call 1-800-362-7828.

NEW YORK DIRECTORY

SCHOOLS– WINE & SPIRITS

SCHOOLS

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School

185 Court St, Brooklyn 718 858-5100

www bhmsny org

Rudolf Steiner School

15 E 79th St NYC 212 535-2130

www steiner edu

SPA/SALON SERVICES

Brisk N Posh

132 Crosby St, Ste 8E NYC ........................................... 212 433-4477

www.brisknposh.com

(SEE AD THIS ISSUE)

TRAVEL

Bucks County Pennsylvania

www visitbuckscounty com

Kennedy Travel 130 W 42nd St #401 NYC 212 398-0999

Toll Free 800 237-7433

www kennedytravel com

Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce

36 Main St Ogunquit, ME 207 646-2939

www visitogunquit org

Sullivan Catskills Catskills, NY 800 882-CATS

www sullivancatskills com

TRAVEL/GETAWAYS

Foxwoods Resort & Casino

www foxwoods com

Visit Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA 215 599-0776

www visitphilly com

WEDDING SERVICES

Bespoke Matchmaking 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 8th Fl NYC 888 422-6464

www bespokematchmaking com

Elite Private Yachts NYC 866 862-7245

www eliteprivateyachts com

www entertainmentcruises com/new-york

Feinstein’s/54 Below

254 W 54th St, Cellar NYC 212 302-5559 x114

www 54below com

Gatherings Floral Design

www gatheringsfloraldesign com

Hornblower Cruises & Events Pier 40, NYC 646 832-2805

www hornblowerny com/metrosource

Houston Hall

222 W Houston St, NYC 212 582-2057

Li-Lac Chocolates

West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC

Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC

Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC

Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC

Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC 212 924-2280

www li-lacchocolates com

Make My Cake NYC 212 234-2344

www makemycake com

Manhattan Penthouse NYC 212 627-8838

www manhattanpenthouse com

New York Zoos and Aquarium NYC 718 741-3836

www nyzooevents com

Oheka Castle 135 West Gate Dr Huntington, NY 631 659-1400

www oheka com

Our Wedding Officiant NYC Peter Boruchowitz NYC 917 523-1438

www nyc-gay-weddings com

Patina Events - Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn 718 307-7133

www patinaevents com

Paul Evans Catering 20 W 20th St NYC 212 321-1822 NYC 212 243-4494

www paulevanscatering com

The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr NYC 212 870-6762

www trcnyc com

Yachts for All Seasons NYC 212 534-6380 Cell 917 864-7670

www y4as com

WILLS

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC 44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC 212 495-0317

www sciaccalaw com

WINE & SPIRITS

Cork Wines & Spirits 1450 Washington St Hoboken NJ 201 942-9964

www corkwines net

NEW YORK DIRECTORY

FIRE ISLAND PINES – CHERRY GROVE

FIRE

ISLAND PINES – CHERRY GROVE

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

ATHLETIC

ATHLETIC

CLOTHING/GIFTS

HARDWARE

BIG APPLE SOFTBALL LEAGUE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10011 212 696-7482

BIG APPLE SOFTBALL LEAGUE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10011 212 696-7482

LANDSCAPING/FLORAL

CHEER NY CHEERLEADING Felipe Hernandez 888 671-7312 www.cheerny.org

CHEER NY CHEERLEADING Felipe Hernandez 888 671-7312 www.cheerny.org

LIQUORS/WINES

The

com

Pines Harbor Realty 36 Fire Island Blvd Pines 631 597-7575

RESTAURANTS

Blue Whale Pines 631 597-6500 www bluewhalefireisland com

Cultured Elephant Pines 631 597-6500 www thepinesfireisland com

Grove Pizza & Restaurant Cherry Grove 631 597-6766

Pines Bistro & Pizza Pines 631 597-3597

TRANSPORTATION

Sayville Ferry River Rd NYC 631 589-0810

NORTH JERSEY G&L BOWLERS Belle Aire Lanes West Caldwell, NJ 201 823-2250

NORTH JERSEY G&L BOWLERS Belle Aire Lanes West Caldwell, NJ 201 823-2250

NY GAY POOL LEAGUE PO Box 1502 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 496-4585

NY GAY POOL LEAGUE PO Box 1502 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 496-4585

NY RAMBLER’S SOCCER CLUB, INC. 917 767-9789 www.nyramblers.com

NY RAMBLER’S SOCCER CLUB, INC. 917 767-9789 www.nyramblers.com

CITY CRUISERS MC Old Chelsea Station PO Box 1614 New York, NY 10011 www.citycruisers.com (gay men’s motorcycle club)

CITY CRUISERS MC Old Chelsea Station PO Box 1614 New York, NY 10011 www.citycruisers.com

EZRYDERS SNOWBOARDING

445 W 46th St #4D New York, NY 10036 www.ezryders@ondbdx.com

EZRYDERS SNOWBOARDING 445 W 46th St #4D New York, NY 10036 www.ezryders@ondbdx.com

FAST AND FABULOUS CYCLING P.O. Box 23008, Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 567-7160

FAST AND FABULOUS CYCLING P.O. Box 23008, Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 567-7160

FRONT RUNNERS NY P.O. Box 87 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 799-8781 www.frny.org

FRONT RUNNERS NY P.O. Box 87 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 799-8781 www.frny.org

GARDEN STATE GAY BOWLING LEAGUE www.gsgbo.com

GARDEN STATE GAY BOWLING LEAGUE www.gsgbo.com

GOTHAM VOLLEYBALL P.O. Box 961 New York, NY 10034 212 388-8208 info@gothamvolleyball.org

GOTHAM VOLLEYBALL P.O. Box 961 New York, NY 10034 212 388-8208 info@gothamvolleyball.org

KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUB P.O. Box 720161 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 815-3244

KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUB P.O. Box 720161 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 815-3244

LONG ISLAND RAVENS MC CLUB c/o Long Island Eagle 94 Clinton Ave Bayshore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org

LONG ISLAND RAVENS MC CLUB c/o Long Island Eagle 94 Clinton Ave Bayshore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org

MONDAY NIGHT FOURPLAY BOWLING LEAGUE Syosset Bowl 631 842-5166

MONDAY NIGHT FOURPLAY BOWLING LEAGUE Syosset Bowl 631 842-5166

NYC GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE www.nycgaybasketball.org

NYC GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE www.nycgaybasketball.org

OUT OF BOUNDS NYC & TEAM NEW YORK PO Box 372, Times Sq Station New York, NY 10108 www.oobnyc.org

OUT OF BOUNDS NYC & TEAM NEW YORK PO Box 372, Times Sq Station New York, NY 10108 www.oobnyc.org

PINK PONG NY Sunnyside, Queens 718 623-2926 www.pinkpongfoundation.org

PINK PONG NY Sunnyside, Queens 718 623-2926 www.pinkpongfoundation.org

SUN/MON/TUE

NIGHT TEAMS c/o Chelsea Piers AMF Bowl Pier 60, New York, NY 10011 212 835-2691

SUN/MON/TUE NIGHT TEAMS c/o Chelsea Piers AMF Bowl Pier 60, New York, NY 10011 212 835-2691

SUNDANCE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SOCIETY www.sundanceoutdoor.org sundanceoutdoor@yahoo.com

SUNDANCE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SOCIETY www.sundanceoutdoor.org sundanceoutdoor@yahoo.com

TEAM NEW YORK AQUATICS 212 691-3440 (hotline)

TEAM NEW YORK AQUATICS 212 691-3440 (hotline)

CULTURAL, ETHNIC & SOCIAL

APICHA 400 Broadway New York, NY 10013 212 334-6029 www.apicha.org

CULTURAL, ETHNIC & SOCIAL APICHA 400 Broadway New York, NY 10013 212 334-6029 www.apicha.org

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY 5001 Angel Canyon Rd Kanab, UT 84741 435 644-2001 www.bestfriends.org

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY 5001 Angel Canyon Rd Kanab, UT 84741 435 644-2001 www.bestfriends.org

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

BIG GAY MEN OF NEW YORK 9111 Liberty Ave #662 Ozone Park, NY 11417 631 780-2807 www.convergence.nyc

EMPIRE CITY MEN’S CHORUS P.O. Box 1017 New York, NY 10185 empirecitymenschorus.org

GAY & BI FATHERS FORUM OF GREATER NY PO Box 1321, Midtown Sta New York, NY 10018 212 721-4216 (recording) 718 728-0476

GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION (GLAAD) 150 West 26th St New York, NY 10001 212 807-1700 www.glaad.org

GAY FATHERS OF NY 245 Eighth Ave #897 New York, NY 10011 212 388-2618

GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300 www.gmad.org

GAY MEN OF THE BRONX PO Box 511, Bronx, NY 10451 www.gmob.org

IMPERIAL QUEENS & KINGS OF NY 70-A Greenwich Ave #120 New York, NY 10011 212 229-5900 x3655

IN OUR OWN WRITE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 x305 (monthly readings)

IN THE LIFE 30 West 26th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 255-6012

JERSEY CITY LESBIAN & GAY OUTREACH (JCLGO) 113 Pavonia Ave #247 Jersey City, NJ 07302 201 333-5725

LATINOS & LATINAS DE AMBIENTE/NY (LLANY) 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 367-1092

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 www.gaycenter.org

LESBIAN & GAY NATURAL HISTORY GROUP OF NY 80 Garfield Pl Brooklyn, NY 11215

718 965-0013

LESBIAN HERSTORY ARCHIVES PO Box 1258 New York, NY 10116 718 768-3953

LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF GAY AND LESBIAN ART 26 Wooster St New York, NY 10013 www.leslielohman.org

LIVE OUT LOUD 45 West 36th Street, 6th Fl New York, NY 10018 212 378-4095 www.liveoutloud.info

THE LOFT-LOWER HUDSON VALLEY LGBT CENTER 252 Bryant Ave White Plains, NY 10605 914 948-2932 www.loftgaycenter.org

THE L.I. GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL ORG P.O. Box 360 East Northport, NY 11731 www.liglff.org

LONG ISLAND GAY & LESBIAN YOUTH 34 Park Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 665-2300 www.ligaly.org

LONG ISLAND RAVENS M.C. c/o The Long Island Eagle 94 North Clinton Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org

MALES AU NATUREL (MAN)

MEN’S NUDIST GROUP 347 704-0704 www.males.org

MEN OF ALL COLORS TOGETHER NEW YORK PO Box 1518 Ansonia Station, NY 10023 NYC GAY MEN’S CHORUS 561 Seventh Ave, Ste 803 New York, NY 10018 212 344-1777 www.nycgmc.org

NYC PRIDE 154 Christopher St, Suite 1D New York, NY 10014 212 807-7433 www.nycpride.org

PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS (P-FLAG) PO Box 553 New York, NY 10021 212 463-0629

THE POINT FOUNDATION 5757 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 370 LA, CA 90036 866 33-Point www.pointfoundation.org

PRIME TIMERS c/o Don Hargus 208 Anderson St, Suite 8DS Hackensack, NJ 07601 201 488-4839

QUEENS L&G PRIDE COMMITTEE PO Box 580445 Flushing, NY 11358 718 460-4064

QUEENS PRIDE HOUSE

76-11 37th Ave Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 429-5309

QUEENS RAINBOW COMMUNITY CENTER 30-74 Steinway St, 2nd Fl Astoria, NY 11105 718 204-5955

SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR GLBT ELDERS (SAGE) 305 Seventh Ave New York, NY 10001 212 741-2247 www.sageusa.org

SOUTHERNERS/L&G MEN IN NY PO Box 881 New York, NY 10008-0881

STONEWALL CHORALE Box 920, Old Chelsea Sta New York, NY 10011 212 971-5813

STONEWALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 119 West 24th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 367-1155 www.stonewallfoundation.org

TRI STATE LG&B STUDENT COALITION 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014

HEALTH/ COUNSELING

AIDS CENTER OF QUEENS COUNTY 97-45 Queens Blvd #1220 Rego Park, NY 11374 718 896-2500

AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP) 800 542-2437

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION 475 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 637-2970 888 AIDS-CARE www.ahfpharmacy.org

AIDS HOTLINE/NYC DEPT OF HEALTH 311 Broadway, 4th Fl New York, NY 10007 800 TALK-HIV

AIDS RELATED COMMUNITY SERVICES

2269 Saw Mill River Rd Elmsford, NY 10523 914 345-8888

AIDS SERVICE CENTER NYLIVEC

64 West 35th St New York, NY 212 645-0875 www.ascnyc.org

THE ALLIANCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE 64 West 35th Street, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10001 212.645-0875 www.alliance.nyc (SEE AD PREVIOUS PAGE)

AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH 120 Wall St New York, NY 10005 212 806-1600

ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT 240 West 35th St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 714-1184 212 714-1141 (Hotline)

BAILEY HOLT HOUSE 180 Christopher St New York, NY 10014 212 337-3000

BAILEY HOUSE 275 Seventh Ave, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 633-2500

BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER AIDS CLINICAL TRIAL UNIT DIV OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 350 East 17th St, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10003 212 420-4519

BODY POSITIVE OF NY 19 Fulton St Suite 308B New York, NY 10038 212 566-7333 800 566-6599

BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS 165 West 46th St #1300 New York, NY 10036 212 840-0770

BROOKLYN AIDS TASK FORCE 465 Dean St Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 783-0883

CALLEN LORDE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER 356 West 18th St New York, NY 10011 212 271-7200

CHEST (CTRHIV/AIDS EDUCATION STUDIES & TRAINING) 250 West 26th Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 212 206-7919

DESIGN INDUSTRIES FOUNDATION FOR AIDS (DIFFA) 200 Lexington Ave #1016 New York, NY 10016 212 727-3100

F.E.G.S. MANHATTAN COUNSELING CENTER 80 Van Dam St New York, NY 10013 212 366-8289

FRIENDS HOUSE IN ROSEHILL PMB#248 50 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10010 212 995-5000 www.friendshousenyc.org

GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300

www.gmad.org

GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS 446 West 33rd St New York, NY 10001 212 367-1273 212 367-1489 800 243-7692 www.gmhc.org

GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER 166 Ave of the Americas New York, NY 10013 212 294-8142 212 294-8100 www.godslovewedeliver.org www.racetodeliver.org

GREENWICH HOUSE 80 Fifth Ave New York, NY 10011 212 691-2900

HEALTH EDUCATION AIDS LIAISON PO Box 1103 New York, NY 10113 212 873-0780

HETRICK MARTIN INSTITUTE 212 674-2400 www.hmi.org

HEALTHSHERPA 844 346-9476 www.metrosource. healthsherpa.com

HISPANIC AIDS FORUM, INC. 213 W 35th St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 868-6230 www.hafnyc.org

HIV STOPS WITH ME www.hivstopswithme.org

INSTITUTION FOR HUMAN IDENTITY 322 Eighth Ave, Suite #802 New York, NY 10011 212 243-2830 www.ihi-therapycenter.org

LI ASSN FOR AIDS CARE (LIAAC) 631 385-AIDS (hotline) 631 385-2451

MEN OF COLOR AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM (MOCA) 125 Worth St, Box 67 New York, NY 10013 212 788-4402

MEN’S HIV SUPPORT GROUP 212 877-8227 x214

MINORITY TASK FORCE ON AIDS 475 Riverside Dr New York, NY 10115 212 870-2691

NAMES PROJECT NJ P.O. Box 716 New Brunswick, NJ 732 249-3933

NAMES PROJECT NYC 75 Varick St #1404 New York, NY 10013-1917 212 226-2292

NYC DEPT OF HEALTH OFFICE OF G&L HEALTH 125 Worth St, Suite CN67 New York, NY 10013 212 442-6944

PROJECT ACHIEVE New York, 212 305-2201 Project ACHIEVE (Union Square) New York, 212 388-0008 www.nycvaccine.org www.hopetakesaction.org

THE SAMARITANS OF NEW YORK SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE PO Box 1259 New York, NY 10159 212 673-3000 (24 Hours)

TALK SAFE + PLUSES 203 West St #408 New York, NY 212 604-1500

TREVOR PROJECT 9056 Santa Monica Blvd #100 West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 271-8845

VILLAGE NURSING HOME DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM 133 West 20th St, Ground Fl New York, NY 10011 212 633-1616

LEGAL

LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND 120 Wall St #1500 New York, NY 10005 212 809-8585

LEGAL (L&G LAW ASSN OF GREATER NY) 799 Broadway #340 New York, NY 10003 212 459-4873

LESBIANS

LESBIANS ABOUT VISUAL ART 118 Fort Greene Pl Brooklyn, NY 11217

LES HERSTORY ARCHIVES PO Box 1258 New York, NY 10116 718 768-3953

LESBIAN MOTHERS @ THE LOFT 180 East Post Rd Lower Level, White Plains, NY 914 948-4922

POLITICAL

LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS OF NY Radio City Station PO Box 2321 New York,

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES

PRIDE DEMOCRATS 70 Greenwich Ave New York, NY 10011 212 613-6039

STONEWALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 119 West 24th St, 6th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 367-1155

STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB 212 561-9008 www.stonewalldems.com

STONEWALL REPUBLICANS PO Box 650052 Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 718 357-7075

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LESBIAN AND GAY AFFIRMATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPISTS 250 West 15th St New York, NY 10011 212 517-1722

FSIX FINANCIAL SERVICE INDUSTRY EXCHANGE www.fsix.org

GAY OFFICERS ACTION LEAGUE PO Box 2038, Canal St Sta New York, NY 10013

NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NY 340 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10108 646 964-5027 www.nglccny.org

OUT PROFESSIONALS 332 Bleecker St #149 New York, NY 10014 212 462-9255

THE PUBLISHING TRIANGLE 332 Bleecker Street #D36 New York, NY 10014 www.publishingtriangle.org

REFERRALS/ SWITCHBOARDS

G&L SWITCHBOARD P.O. Box 693 New York, NY 212 989-0999

THE GAY PARENTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUND New York, NY 10011 www.menhavingbabies.org

TREVOR PROJECT 212 545-0081 www.thetrevorproject.org

RELIGIOUS

BROADWAY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 263 West 86 St, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10024 212 316-5700 www.bwayucc.org

CHURCH OF ST PAUL & ST ANDREW 263 West 86th St New York, NY 10024 212 362-3179

COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NY 40 East 35th St New York, NY 10016 212 683-4988 www.ccny.org

CONGREGATION BEIT SIMCHAT TORAH 130 West 30th St New York, NY 10001 212 929-9498

DIGNITY NEW YORK PO Box 1554 New York, NY 10150 646 418-7039

Brooklyn - 718 565-2171

Metro NJ - 973 857-4040

New Bruns. - 732 968-9263

Nassau - 516 781-6225 Suffolk - 631 654-5367

INTEGRITY/NEW YORK (LBGT EPISCOPALIANS) PO Box 20067 New York, NY 10011 212 691-7181

MARBLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH 1 West 29th St New York, NY 10001 212 686-2770 www.marblechurch.org

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NY 446 West 36th St New York, NY 10018 212 629-7440 www.mccny.org

MIDDLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH 112 Second Ave @ 7th St New York, NY 10003 212 477-0666 www.middlechurch.org

NOT SO CHURCHY www.notsochurchy.org

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH Reverend Mark Erson 81 Christopher St. New York, NY 10014 212-242-5737 www.stjohnsnyc.org