METROSOURCE NY - DEC21/JAN22 by Metrosource

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.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, 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 effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

 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-the-

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect 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.

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects 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, KEEP BEING YOU, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0467 06/21

REAL

BIKTARVY

PAT I E N T S

KEEP BEING YOU. 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. Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com Featured patients compensated by Gilead.

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

ALL I WANT

FOR CHRISTMAS! ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS THIS SEASON BY GIVING LESS PRESENTS AND MORE PRESENCE ‘Cause I just want you here tonight

NO MATTER YOUR DENOMINATION, YOU KNOW IT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON when you hear Mariah

Holding on to me so tight

Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.” While it might

What more can I do

be a bit maudlin, the lyrics do ring true for what is

Oh, Baby all I want for Christmas is you

VIEWS

EDITOR’S LETTER

important during the holidays – love, respect, family, and laughter. According to Billboard, the jingle has

All the lights are shining

charted every single year since it came out in 1994,

So brightly everywhere

when it was initially released. And the holidays just

And the sound of children’s

would not seem the same without Mariah’s familiar

Laughter fills the air

PUBLISHER Bent Share Entertainment, LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Westman COPY EDITOR James Delyea CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A Reyes MARKETING DIRECTOR Christopher Jackson FEATURE WRITER Alexander Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ben Rimalower

Jeffrey James Keyes Kevin Perry Megan Venzin Michael Westman Paul Zahn Steve Gottfried NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING

song in the background – And everyone is singing I don’t want a lot for Christmas

I hear those sleigh bells ringing

There is just one thing I need

Santa won’t you bring me

I don’t care about the presents

The one I really need

Underneath the Christmas tree

Won’t you please bring my baby to me quickly

Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

I just want you for my own More than you could ever know

I don’t want a lot for Christmas

Make my wish come true oh

This is all I’m asking for

All I want for Christmas is you

I just wanna see my baby Standing right outside my door

I don’t want a lot for Christmas There is just one thing I need, and I

I just want you for my own

Don’t care about the presents

More than you could ever know

Underneath the Christmas tree

Make my wish come true

I don’t need to hang my stocking

Baby all I want for Christmas is you

Los Angeles 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., #438 Long Beach, CA 90803 New York 511 Avenue of the Americas, #901 New York, NY 10011 800.818.0480 info@metrosource.com

There upon the fireplace Santa Claus won’t make me happy

All I want for Christmas is you, baby.

With a toy on Christmas day During this holiday season, the most important I just want you for my own

gift you can give is the gift of your time and your per-

More than you could ever know

sonal presence to your family and friends during this

Make my wish come true

season. Enjoy the holidays this season by giving less

All I want for Christmas is you

presents and more presence. I remember the family get-togethers when I was young – it wasn’t quite

I won’t ask for much this Christmas

as chaotic as the Griswold household, but extended

I won’t even wish for snow, and I

family came into to stay, we read Christmas stories

I just wanna keep on waiting

and listened to music, we drank hot cocoa out of

Underneath the mistletoe

special mugs, cooked up a huge feast, and yes, there was always some type of drama, but, this all made

I won’t make a list and send it

for wonderful memories that I hold dear to this day.

To the North Pole for Saint Nick

So, whether it is presents or presence you are giving

I won’t even stay awake

this holiday season, give from the heart.

To hear those magic reindeer click

and prosperous new year!

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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On behalf of all of us at METROSOURCE, we wish you all a happy holiday season, and very healthy

Subscriptions: One year (6 issues): $24.95; 12 issues: $39.95. Reproduction of any article, listing or advertisement without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organizations appearing in Metrosource are supportive of the gay community. Mention of any person, business or organization is not a reflection of their sexual orientation. ©2021 Bent Share Entertainment, LLC.

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METROSOURCE.COM

December 2021/January 2022 | VOLUME 32, NO. 6

CONTENTS

THIS PAGE: KARAMO BROWN BY LEIGH KEILY • PHOTO COURTESY OF CARMEN CARRERA • TYLER HENRY BY MICHAEL CIANFRANI

31 36

21 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 26 KARAMO BROWN PERFECTLY DESIGNED

31 CARMEN CARRERA TRANSFORMING STANDARDS

36 TYLER HENRY HOLLYWOOD’S FAVORITE MEDIUM HAS A NEW SHOW

COVER: Karamo Brown Photographer: Leigh Keily METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

DEPARTMENTS

December 2021/January 2022 | VOLUME 32, NO. 6

CULTURE

7 THE SCOPE

HEALTH 40 Holiday Grooming

Cynthia Lee Fontaine Shines as a Glorious Navidad Gueen in Her Festive Song “Bring Me the Holidays,”

Holiday Gift Sets to Pamper Yourself or Your Friends

TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENT

46 Switzerland A Place in the Clouds

10 Jasmine Davis Life Beyond The Chi

16 Tom MacRae Telling LGBTQ Stories with a Dash of Camp Everybody’s Talking About

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

METROSOURCE.COM

VIEWS

4 EDITOR’S LETTER

All I Want for Christmas! Enjoy the Holidays this Season by Giving Less Presents and More Presence

THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF JASMINE DAVIS • TOM MACRAE PHOTO BY THE OTHER RICHARD/PA • LAKE TSEUZIER IN VALAIS SWITZERLAND PHOTO BY MARTIN STEINER

CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

BRING ME THE HOLIDAYS BY CYNTHIA LEE FONTAINE RUPAUL’S

DRAG

RACE’S

THESCOPE

LISTEN

“MISS

CONGENIALITY” WINNER CYNTHIA LEE FONTAINE SHINES AS A GLORIOUS NAVIDAD QUEEN IN HER FESTIVE SONG AND MUSIC VIDEO,

“BRING

THE

HOLIDAYS,”

THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF CYNTHIA LEE FONTAINE

CULTURE

by Cynthia’s boyfriend, Armando Barrientos, the jazzy ballad with its pop influence ushers in the joyous spirit of the holiday season, whisking listeners on a magical journey through an enchanted Christmas Forest.“Adoro la temporada Navideña,” says Cynthia Lee Fontaine from her Austin home. “It’s the time of year I reflect fondly on my childhood memories with my family in Puerto Rico. Amo a mi familia!” Fontaine also holds a deep love for the island of Puerto Rico.“What makes Christmas in Puerto Rico special is the music, the dancing and oh, the food,” she continues. “On Christmas Eve, we would prepare a turkey and a ‘lechon’ (roast pig), a very traditional dish in Puerto Rico. Around midnight, the adults would celebrate with hugs and kisses and then check on the children to make sure we were sleeping because Papa Noel would be coming soon! Early Christmas morning, the children would wake to presents under the tree and after opening all the gifts, we would gather for our traditional breakfast with the leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner. It was always so much fun!” Cynthia Lee Fontaine was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her father had three children from his first marriage and two children with Cynthia’s mother. Cynthia’s parents divorced when she was young, and her mother had another child (Cynthia’s younger brother) with her second husband. Christmas was a time for all the siblings to get together. “My favorite Christmas was when I was five years old, and my two big sisters and

THESCOPE

RELEASED NOVEMBER 11. Co-written

big brother surprised us by coming to Puerto Rico on Christmas Eve. It remains, by far, one of my most cherished Christmas gifts ever.” Cynthia Lee Fontaine is the stage name of drag performer Carlos Díaz. Cynthia competed on the eighth and ninth seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race, winning the title of Miss Congeniality in season 8. Sadly, after filming, Cynthia was diagnosed with stage one liver cancer. Fortunately, by season 9, she was in remission and returned to the competition on the second episode as the 14th queen of the season. “My Christmas wish for all my Cucu fans is that they have joy and happiness this Christmas season, and a prosperous and healthy and happy New Year. Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo 2022!” Cynthia Lee Fontaine’s“Bring Me the Holidays”is available on all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music. Visit CynthiaLeeFontaine.com. METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

WATCH

SINGLE ALL THE WAY

NETFLIX – DECEMBER 2, 2021 SINGLE ALL THE WAY IS NETFLIX’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED, FIRST GAY HOLIDAY FILM AND TELLS THE STORY OF A GAY MAN NAMED PETER WHO ASKS HIS BEST FRIEND TO POSE AS HIS BOYFRIEND ON A CHRISTMAS VISIT HOME, BUT THEIR PLAN - AND FEELINGS - CHANGE WHEN HIS FAMILY PLAYS MATCHMAKER. Directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer and

CULTURE

THESCOPE

starring Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Kathy Najimy, Luke MacFarlane, Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Robertson, and Jennifer Coolidge. Assembling such a roster of rainbow riches required a robust vision (pardon the alliteration – we’re excited!) When screenwriter Chad Hodge sat down to pen the story, he conjured up the tale of queer camaraderie, farcical misunderstandings, and the good intentions that bind us all together, even through the most trying times.“I made a list of all the things I personally wanted to see in a holiday rom-com,”he recounts for Variety.“The list ran the gamut, from honestly portraying the uniqueness of gay friendships and relationships, to the often-hilarious dynamics of our families, to Jennifer Coolidge. I am so grateful to Netflix for embracing all of it. I can’t wait to see it come to life.” A winning Christmas tale if we have ever seen one.

HERE’S TO US HARDCOVER – DECEMBER 28, 2021 BY BECKY ALBERTALLI AND ADAM SILVERA Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera reunite to continue the story of Arthur and Ben, the boys that readers first fell for in the New York Times bestselling rom-com What If It’s Us. Ben survived the first year of college, but he’s feeling more stuck than ever. His classes are a slog, his part-time job working with his father is even worse, and his best friend Dylan’s been acting weird for weeks. Ben’s only bright spot is his writing partner Mario, who has been giving him a lot of Spanish lessons and even more kisses. Mario’s big Hollywood dreams make Ben start to dream bigger - and the choices he makes now could be the key to reshaping his future. So why can’t he stop thinking about a certain boy from his past? Arthur is back in New York City for the first time in two years, ready to take the theater world by a storm as the world’s best ... uh, intern to the assistant of an offoff-Broadway director. Of course, it sucks

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

READ

to be spending the summer apart from his sweet, dependable boyfriend, Mikey, but he knows their relationship is strong enough to weather the distance. Which is why it is no big deal when his ex-boyfriend Ben stumbles back into the picture. And it is fine that Ben’s blissfully happy with some mystery boy. First loves are special, but it is way too late for what-ifs. Right? Even as the boys try to shake off the past, they keep running into each other in the present. Is this the universe trying to tell them there is a do-over in their future? Here’s to Us is sure to be welcomed by fans old and new of these authors and their previous collaboration, What If It’s Us. Critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera combine their talents in these smart, funny, heartfelt novels about two vastly different boys who cannot decide if the universe is pushing them together - or pulling them apart.

METROSOURCE.COM

SEE

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY ERINSHALL

THE ICONIC QUEER BAND BETTY RINGS IN THE HOLIDAYS WITH HOLLY JOLLYPOCALYPSE, THEIR SEASONAL

BETTY TOURS THEIR HOLIDAY CONCERT: HOLLY JOLLYPOCALYPSE!

CELEBRATION OF SONGS, STORIES, AND HARMONIES SMOOTH AS THE ROAD PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.

Join BETTY’s Alyson Palmer and sisters Amy and Elizabeth Ziff as they welcome their annual Very Special Guest, Gloria Steinem (NYC only), along with killer musical guest performers for a memorable night like no other! For 35 years, BETTY’s distinct vocals have been heard on radio, film, and TV, and ten albums. For the juiciest backstory, listen to BETTY: Girlband, the Podcast, available everywhere. U.S. Arts Envoys who travel the world in non-Covid times to empower girls, women, LGBTQ+ and marginalized communities, BETTY is thrilled to be back in real life to spread wildly infectious cheer - and sleigh! Concerts are December 5th at The City Winery in Washington D.C.; December 9th at Urban Artifact in Cincinnati, Ohio; December 13th at The City Winery in New York City; December 18th at The Razz Room in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Visit www.hellobetty.com for more information. METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

JASMIN DAVIS LIFE BEYOND THE CHI BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ WHEN I FIRST MET ACTOR, MODEL, AND MUSICIAN JASMINE DAVIS, I WAS IMMEDIATELY AFFECTED BY HER TINY STATURE, COY GLANCE, AND SHY DEMEANOR. And while I am used to

actors not resembling the characters they portray on screen, the total transformation from Imani, the strong-willed powerhouse we see on Showtime’s The Chi struck me. I knew immediately her shyness did not come from fragility, it came from the quiet, powerful calm of someone who has been through a lot and seen it all. The Chi is a visceral, coming-of-age drama, centered around the mostly Black community that resides in Chicago’s South Side and deals with consequences that arise from racial inequality and the impact of drugs, lack of access to higher education and mental health services, political duress, police brutality, and family violence. It is not a show for the weak of heart. Truthfully, the first few episodes made me feel like a foreigner in this world as depicted through the eyes of a community I have been called to support, but never completely grasping the full scope of issues affecting another minority community. I found myself binging all four seasons, engrossed by the stories of these interconnecting lives. While I will never pretend to know the full extent of the struggles of the Black community, there are similarities to the hopes and dreams and treatment by others that my own minority community has fallen victim to. Suddenly the world didn’t seem so foreign to me. The show has become a critical and viewer hit for Showtime, with Season 5 on the horizon. Just like we want the eyes on our LGBTQ-driven media, our community must support other minority-driven projects. But should we be labeling shows according to their minority makeup, whether it be that “gay show” or that “Black show?”

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

There’s a simple answer, yet not so simple. First, we need to keep making minority-focused shows in a non-stereotypical but more human and universal way, because we all have similarities. We may not come from the same upbringing or have the same belief systems but, for the most part, many of us all want the same thing - to be heard and seen in some manner and to love and be loved. One aspect that I couldn’t get used to, was the constant use of the N-word, whether it be as used in jest, affection, or as an insult. The continued use of derogatory terms used for the LGBTQ community has often been discussed among our group. What is Jasmine’s take? It’s not a question of why it is okay for this word to be used in every scene, but why it gets used at all. That reason is because Black people have taken a word that was used to degrade them and used it to empower themselves and express how prideful it is to be Black in America. Jasmine joined the show in Season 3 but is no stranger to the world of The Chi. She grew up on the streets of the Chicago, being witness to the crime wars, drive-bys, and even addiction in her own family at a very early age. As her character Imani, she brings the heart and support system to the family her character has created with her drug dealer boyfriend. She’s a badass, she’s unapologetic, she’s a goddess. It isn’t until mid-season that we find out that Imani is trans. It is done quietly but effectively. Show creator and Emmy Award Winner Lena Waithe had wanted to include a trans character from the beginning of Season 1 and was excited to bring Jasmine on and finally realize that diversity on her own show. Lena’s goal was to reveal the character as part of the norm, without pointing the finger or creating a bombastic reveal. Imani is a real person who happens to be trans. As the character developed, Jasmine knew she had to come out. Early in her childhood, she knew she was different but also knew that she would have to pass as a cis woman in order to survive the streets. Her coming out was swallowed up by the media with every interview or press coverage calling attention to Jasmine’s being the first out trans actor on The Chi playing the first trans character on the show. She was immediately made an activist and spokesperson for the trans community when in reality she wanted to talk about her acting, her character development, her craft. I am grateful when I get to inspire anyone in any way that adds and brings love and light to this world. But I never asked to be a spokesperson. It was forced on me unknowingly. I just wanted to be an actor, yet I understand there’s a certain responsibility in being an influencer, and I use the word “influencer” because celebrities in the entertainment world were the original influencers. However, there’s becoming a thinner line between arts and politics, and some of this is used for good, but there’s a dark side to it. That’s what we as artists must make sure of - that being an influencer is not used for the wrong reasons. Coming out during COVID was a complete nightmare. I was very scared for many reasons. Yet, it helped me grow as a human, and some of the lessons I’ve learned - and am still learning - are priceless. Sooner or later, someone was going to out me anyway - I just beat them to

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

METROSOURCE.COM

the punch. [Laughs] As an artist and a storyteller, Jasmine took charge of her character making the role of Imani a collaboration with the show’s creative team. What comes across the most in chatting with Jasmine is how much affection she has for Imani. During the process, creator Waithe has become Jasmine’s mentor and friend. The positive response for Jasmine’s character has been immense, due partly to the loving relationship she and co-star Luke James have presented – they are a couple in love, nothing more. As part of the character list of The Chi, it proves that you can’t represent a community or talk about women without showing all individuals from those communities. Jasmine’s life has been full of creative evolutions. She’s been a hairdresser, studied cosmetology, has worked as a model for several years, and graduated from the University of Southern California with a BA in Sociology minoring in Gender Studies. She also spent time learning improv at Second City where, despite being the only minority in her class, broke out of her bubble, coming into her own and working through her dyslexia. I would say to anyone who is blessed to have dyslexia, look at it as a gift. I say that because some of the most successful people in the world have or had dyslexia, like Richard Branson, Tom Cruise, Leonardo Da Vinci, Walt Disney, Whoopi Goldberg, Albert Einstein, and Guy Ritchie, to name a few. Even with the success of The Chi, Jasmine knows that being part of the entertainment isn’t without its flaws. After coming to Hollywood and receiving a series of “no’s,” she was destined to play transgender superhero Dreamer in CW’s Supergirl. That was going to be her coming out. One audition away, she learned that the role ultimately went to someone else. If she were to base a television show on her own life? I would call it “Imperfections.” I really don’t think life is meant to ever be perfect as there are no lessons in perfection. In my opinion, the lesson is in the journey and the journey is the lesson. She has used her creativity during downtime between seasons to release a clothing line, Saint J’s Brand, made of sustainable items that celebrates diversity. She has also released her first single “BLISS” under her pop artist alter ego JAS-ZEY for her EP Never Give Up. I come from a family of musicians and singers, and I started writing pop songs at the age of 12. I never did anything with it until now, but the desire was always there. You get to see different aspects of my personality, like how three-dimensional I am, and I can be seen in more ways than one. So, what’s next for this entertainment chameleon? We will just have to wait and see. I know where I want to go, and I know it’s more than possible to get to the level I’m working toward. The real question is how soon I get to the next level, so I can get to another level, and so on. Also, as you probably know, my agent and manager don’t allow me to talk about pending projects but believe me, we have some exciting things on the horizon! ■ You can follow Jasmine on Instagram @theJasmineDavis

METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

PAGE 10 & 12: PHOTOS COURTESY OF JASMINE FAVIS

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.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect 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.

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, KEEP ASPIRING, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0370 04/21

DIMITRI LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP ASPIRING.

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. See Dimitri’s story at BIKTARVY.com. Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

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

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

METROSOURCE.COM

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY THE OTHER RICHARD/PA

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT

THERE’S A CERTAIN JOY AND OPTIMISM THAT JUST EXUDES FROM WRITER TOM MACCRAE. Chatting

with him instantly feels chummy, as if you are sharing a drink in a pub with a longtime friend. It’s this same familiarity with a sense of hope for the future that has fueled the wildly popular Amazon film, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, based on the stage musical, based on the 2011 documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, featuring the real Jamie and his coming of age in the world of drag. The film was a welcome breath of fresh air and became a global sweetheart despite both the screen and stage versions being postponed during COVID. With over 1,000 sold-out shows on the West End, and now with the success of the film, MacCrae (who penned the play, screenplay, and lyrics with co-writer Dan Gillespie Sells) has become the latest personality to join the ranks of Ryan Murphy, Steven Canals, and Greg Berlanti in telling LGBTQ stories with a dash of camp and a whole lot of heart. Tom is completely self-taught and received a BAFTA early on in his career, has written for Doctor Who, Comedy Central UK’s Threesome, and The Librarians. And now with a major hit on his hands and already working his next musical, how does he explain his success for someone who never took a writing class?

Not knowing what you’re doing is quite useful. I’m talking about creative industries specifically where if you can invent it with enough imagination, you can make it become true. I think when you really do believe you know what you’re doing is probably when you’re going to start producing stale content. So, it’s good to keep testing yourself and throwing yourself in at the deep end, and that’s all I’ve ever done. And if I’d done a writing course, I’d have left with that piece of patriarchy or “look, I’m a writer.” Well, that would be very false confidence because you’re not a writer until you’re writing and you’re not a good writer until you’re writing good stuff. So, to never go in thinking that I deserve to be there, but that I had to earn my place with every job just kept me keen and hungry. But a couple of years ago, me, Dan, and Johnny (who created Jamie) were made Doctors of the Arts by Sheffield Hallam University, which is where the Jamie stage version opened and where it’s set. So suddenly, we had this very formal day where we all got this kind of education we’ve never had and this fantastic qualification. So now I am qualified! Like, I’m a, literally a doctor. It’s come quite late in my career, ha!

TOM MACRAE

TELLING LGBTQ STORIES WITH A DASH OF CAMP BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

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Tom does not usually write about his own life, but rather focuses on other characters. But similarities to the real Jamie can be drawn. And perhaps these shared similarities are what have made the movie so relatable to other gay kids, and really anyone who feels like an outsider, from a small town. He wasn’t an introvert, he wasn’t that chatty kid in class, he was just … different. His coming out was not a Hollywood dream. I just was kind of lost. I was in the wrong place. I grew up in a little village, which is a small town, but smaller, then even smaller than that. And I love it now, but it was not a nurturing place for a kid who wanted to make movies and theater and write songs and all this stuff I got to do. I was the odd one out and I never worked out how to fit in. And now, I fit in there very well. I think I’ve figured how to have different sides to my life. But as a kid, I just wanted to escape. That was all I was interested in. I didn’t care about school or anything. I wasn’t particularly academic. And I just was looking to run away, which to be fair, I’ve never stopped doing. I’m always running somewhere. I was 17 and sort of came out without me wanting it to. So, I had the fallout of having never even kissed a boy. I didn’t think there were any gay kids, in hindsight. So, it was so hypothetical and suddenly I was having to explain who I was, and I didn’t know. It was really horrible, but it wasn’t so for very long. My mum and dad were pretty good. And then they were absolutely great. So now, I can sort of talk about it without any residual pain, but it was not fun at the time. There is a part of the musical’s denouement during which Jamie’s best friend, Pritti, confronts Dean, the school bully. That moment and Tom’s perfectly crafted speech make for a powerfully touching highlight and is presented in the film exactly as it was in the stage version. That experience during filming would serve as a learning point for MacCrae. Everything she says in that speech is me, at that age. It’s what I wish I could have said to the “Deans” in my life. I think two of them were called Dean, which is why I use the name. Something I really did learn when shooting the film, was how these 16, 17, 18-year-olds (most of them straight) who played our Year 11 responded to the content of Jamie and the queer issue, and the drag, and gender-bending and all that, and just how completely relaxed and open-minded they were about it all. These weren’t posh kids, these weren’t stage school kids, they were kids from the area we found by doing an open casting call. I realized, since I had been at school, just how much it’s all moved on. And then I got to go back to my old school to do a speech day. I hated being there the first time around and going back this next time with all different staff and all different kids I saw how much they really wanted to have an inclusive community at the school. They had a group for trans kids at the school and an active LGBT club. And the teachers were proactively pushing that kind of conversation to be happening. And I thought, well, the world has all changed. I mean, it’s not perfect and this is only Dan Gillespie Sells, Tom MacRae, Jonathan Butterell, Noah Leggott. one small part of the world, but in the UK, it really attend Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has moved on a lot. And I’m happy that Jamie gets Sheffield Premiere. Photo by Anthony Devlin to become a part of that. Getty Images Europe The music of Jamie, though modern, captures the charm of earlier feel-good musicals and does not alienate musical theatre lovers from any genre. A doer, Tom just jumped

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Max Harwood (center) and the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Max Harwood and Sarah Lancashire in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Photos by John Rogers/Amazon

into the creative process of writing a musical for the first time with both feet. His songwriting partner, Dan Gillespie Sells, is a popular English singer-songwriter best known for his rock group The Feeling. Their friendship, and their work, was kismet. We met at a rally. We were being political. I was with a friend of mine (Russell Tovey), and we all just really hit it off. So, we started hanging out and I was a really big fan of Dan’s band, and still am. He had been watching my sitcom Threesome, which was on TV at the time. And so, we ended up hanging out and we’d go out and get drunk. I was quite excited because I’d never had a friend who was a pop star before and we’d say, “We should write a musical! We should write a musical. Yeah, we’ll write a musical!” And then one day Dan rang me whilst we were both sober and said, “Let’s actually do it.” So, we’ve been friends for a little bit before it happened, but our friendship has always been involved in some way with either talking about or writing a musical. I did the lyrics and Dan did the music. Normally with his band, he did both. Normally, I would do neither. So, there was a point when we had to figure out how that worked, so we went to watch a lot of shows to research how others were working together. And, at one of those, we bumped into someone who ended up introducing us to (director) Jonathan Butterell, who’d seen the Jamie documentary, which inspired the stage show. That’s how that all came together. I think that’s why it works is we just did it and it just came together. And now looking back, I could probably break down why it works. But at the time we were just like, if we’re having fun and we like it, then it’s probably okay. And luckily enough other people have the same kind of sensibilities which allowed us to find this huge audience, which we didn’t really know was an outlet. Tom’s favorite part of the film? It’s the new song, “This Was Me,” without a doubt because it’s so powerful and it’s also where Dan and I have our cameos with our parents dressed as drag nuns. It was the first shot of the first day of filming. It was a little cobbled sheet, which we were pretending was somewhere in London, but was literally just opposite the theater where we opened. So, it was kind of an amazing day of everything coming full circle. We had John McCrea, who was the original Jamie in the METROSOURCE.COM

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West End, playing young, Richard E. Grant in the flashback with Max (Harwood), who was now the movie version of Jamie, having his first day. And there we all were with me and Dan in these ridiculous heels, all done up, tottering along. And then the song is probably my favorite one of all the songs we’ve written. I think the moment is really powerful. It’s how we honor the fallen and it’s our kind of letter back to those times and those days, AIDS, the 80s, and London and drag, and the police and everything, and trying to make sense of that for a modern audience. Meeting the real Jamie and his mom was a bit surreal for MacRae, and the characters he and Dan had created for the musical, though unplanned, fit the real-life versions like a glove. Well, we saw the documentary and I just watched it once because I didn’t want it to influence me too much. Although I absorbed way more than I realized. There is so much of it in the show. But we decided not to meet Jamie until we’d written it so that we didn’t have any competing version of Jamie New, who’s my fictional version, and Jamie Campbell, who’s the real boy. We met Jamie and we played him the songs and he knew this musical was in the works, but he didn’t know (even when we just had our two weeks at Sheffield) that it was a major production, with a band in a proper theater, with a proper budget, a cast of 30, and sets and costumes, and magic and all the rest of it. Jamie had no idea it was going to be all of that. And then we played him the songs, which we’d had all demoed up. He thought it was going to be the two of us at a piano crooning out some show tunes in the top floor of a pub. And instead, we had this lavish production and played all the songs. He found it very, very emotional as you might expect, particularly “He’s My Boy,” which is the big mother/son song. Then we met his mother Margaret on the night before we opened the show. And it was amazing because she’d come out with these little sayings like, “what is normal anyway?” We looked at each other because they were literally lines from the show that I’d written, I’d made up. There were three or four times where she just said things that were almost word-for-word lines of dialogue that I’d given her character, from my imagination, in the show. And we said to her at the end of the night, “You’ll think that we’ve gone home and rewritten it when you see it tomorrow. But I promise you, everything is as it

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Jonathan Butterell, Tom MacRae, Jamie Campbell, Margaret Campbell. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Roy Haylock and Layton Williams with the cast of the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Photo by Johan Persson

was before we met.” And Margaret always says to me, “You were in my head, you were in my head.” And somehow, yeah, we were. We have this very beautiful and quite strange relationship where it’s like I’m her mind reader. They are a wonderful family who loves the show, and we love them. In addition to his film and screen work, MacRae has published three children’s books and will be writing the live action/CGI adaptation of MG Leonard’s Beetle Boy youth geared books. He is also knee-deep in writing

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a new musical but is sworn to secrecy. Now with theatre returning, Jamie’s global reach continues with a continued UK tour (with Bianca Del Rio playing the role of Loco Chanelle in Liverpool), Japanese, Australian, and Italian tours, and a Los Angeles debut in January at The Ahmanson. The world is literally talking about Jamie. Check out our in-depth podcast chat with Tom on Metrosource Minis, as we chat about his parents, sci-fi, reboots, and his take on current drag culture, available on metrosource.com or wherever you get your podcasts. ■

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The ZVOX AV50s noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones sound wonderful - immersive, realistic, high-fidelity sound including tight, accurate bass. But that’s just the beginning. With advanced noise cancellation technology, noise from jet engines, wind, crowds, and air conditioners are all reduced or eliminated. Try them on your next plane trip - you’ll be amazed at how relaxed you feel when the plane lands. The AV50s use ZVOX AccuVoice technology to give a boost to voices while they reduce unwanted noise. So, you understand dialogue clearly, without having to turn up the volume. You can connect the AV50s using the supplied cord, or connect to your phone, tablet or laptop computer using aptX Bluetooth technology. With an optional Bluetooth transmitting device, you can also connect to your TV. Light and comfortable. The AV50s are lighter than many noise cancelling headphones - less than half a pound. The AV50s have a microphone in the right ear cup that allows you to make hands free phone calls with your cell phone. You hear the caller - but not the crowd around you. The slim carrying case, only 2.5” thick, and fold-flat design, makes travelling with your AV50 headphones a breeze. Visit www.zvox.com for details and sale offers.

The Linus Beanie can be worn by anyone who wants to look chill, but still feel super warm. The Linus Beanie has an added brimmed and matching non-removable pom pom. It offers a completely new look. This beanie is made with a unique merino and alpaca wool blend, making it equal parts cozy and functional, and zero parts itchy. Sh*t That I Knit creates high-quality knitwear and accessories that make you feel good. Their products are sustainably sourced, eco-friendly, and handmade by women in Peru who are working moms earning a fair wage. Donating “Knit Kits,” the company helps teach young adults undergoing cancer treatment how to knit. It’s an all-around feel-good purchase! Visit www.shitthatiknit.com.

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BEAR BLOCKS $49.99 For the fitness buff on your list, Bear Blocks are a revolutionary body weight fitness device that protect your wrists and maximize the focus on your muscles. When not in use, the blocks slide together to create a cube that is 3.5 inches deep and 4.5 inches wide. This makes for easy storage and easy packing. When you slide the cube apart you have two incredibly strong and comfortable blocks to support your wrists and hands for many different body weight routines – push-ups, planks, mountain climbers, burpees, bear crawls, handstands, downward dog, chaturanga dandasana, and many more. Bear Blocks were designed with the correct angle and surface to protect the wrist bones and ligaments from pain, fatigue and possible injury. For more on the story of Bear Blocks and to order yours, visit www.bearblocks.com.

NEFT VODKA $37.00 (750ml) NEFT is packaged in a container that is as unique as its taste: a portable and unbreakable barrel that closely resembles a small oil drum, which conveniently keeps NEFT cold for hours. This is a premium vodka with a crisp, distinct flavor, blending perfectly into your favorite handcrafted cocktail. The purity of NEFT’s two clean ingredients – pristine, oxygen-rich spring water from the Austrian Alps and only four, gluten-free, non-GMO ancient rye grains farmed in lower Saxony – means minimal impurities, which is reflected in the need for only one distillation. The result is a creaminess on the tongue, a rounded earthiness, and a slightly smooth finish so good you’ll want to sip it neat. NEFT has supported the LGBTQ+ community through donations and sponsorships for organizations such as Project Angel Food, GLAAD, and others. Since debuting in the U.S., NEFT has received multiple accolades and awards including: “Best Vodka” out of 170 other global entrants, back-to-back Double Gold medals at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a 98-point rating from The Tasting Panel magazine. Visit www.neftvodkaus.com for all the information and in-store or online purchase options.

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*Any health, wellness, medical or cosmetic claims contained in this feature should be verified with the product provider and your healthcare professional.

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WINE A TASTING COURSE - FROM GRAPE TO GLASS By Marnie Old $25.00 (Hardcover)

BOOK IDEAS: SASSY PLANET: A QUEER GUIDE TO 40 CITIES, BIG AND SMALL By Authors David Dodge, Nick Schiarizzi, Harish Bhandari, and Illustrator Braulio Amado $24.95 (Paperback) For decades, LGBTQ travelers have congregated in predictable places: queer-friendly cities like New York and Berlin, or beach towns such as Mykonos and Fire Island. But as progress and visibility expand across the globe, so do queer people’s travel options. Drawing on their own extensive travel experiences, as well as the perspectives of local DJs, artists, activists, drag performers, DIY historians, and longtime residents (many of them found through the biggest advantage gay travelers have over their straight counterparts: ‘hookup’ apps like Grindr and Scruff), the authors of Sassy Planet offer up the latest on what’s hot in 40 cities around the world. Traveling in the US? Check out RuPaul’s Drag Race star Alaska’s recommendations for Pittsburgh, where she first got her start. Planning a trip to Japan? Read about the 300+ queer bars packed into Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood. Even in countries

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where homosexuality is sanctioned, you’ll read about emerging pockets of queer acceptance and culture. You’ll also find the very latest info on where to go in major destinations, from the Por Detroit parties in Mexico City to new Brooklyn hot spots. The book features interviews with local celebs, best-of lists, and littleknown hideaways all packaged with helpful insights, cool bits of regional culture, queer lore - and of course, plenty of sass to spare.

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The ultimate course for wine lovers! Learn your sauvignon blanc from your chardonnay and your merlot from your grenache. Smell, swirl and taste your way to transforming from wine novice to expert. The pages of this wine book make a comprehensive, no-nonsense wine tasting course that covers every aspect of wine from grape to glass. Explore the nuances of your favorite red and white and discover new cultivars. It explores fun wine facts and explodes myths, giving you everything you need to talk, taste and enjoy your favorite vintage. Can’t smell honeysuckle in that glass of sauvignon blanc, or wondering which end of a bottle of Chianti is the “nose?”With this immersive guide to all things wine, you’ll soon become an expert. Pour over vibrant infographics and learn through “Did you know?” boxes as you try out a selection of taste tests and get a handle on grape varieties and regions. This wine guide is a beautiful gift for the wine lover in your life, or the book for beginners you’ve been searching for to enjoy, understand and appreciate wine. Visit www.penguinrandomhouse.com

ANTONI: LET’S DO DINNER By Antoni Porowski $30 (Hardcover) Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski shares exuberantly easy dinners for every night of the week in Let’s Do Dinner. Dinner with Antoni means satisfying meals full of clean protein and loads of vegetables, with splurges of carbs and decadence. Simple, yes, but always special. Antoni keeps shopping lists short and steps and pans to a minimum. Pulled chicken nachos, pasta carbonara with scallions and peas, or pan-seared steak with harissa butter and crispy potatoes - it’s all good for post-work evenings or casual entertaining. Antoni shows how to crank the flavor, make exciting suppers from pantry staples, create new takes on classics by swapping in one surprising ingredient, and build a rousingly flavored vegan grain bowl. Plus, he lets you in on the secret weapons in every kitchen that get great food on the table fast. Antoni tells us a little about the book,“My dinners throughout the week tend to follow a pattern. On Monday and Tuesday, I typically stay plant-based, with a white bean chili, crispy tofu on an arugula salad, or a one-pot cauliflower and chickpea curry in a gingery, creamy broth made with coconut milk. By Wednesday, though, I want something more substantial, like meatballs and eggplant, made uber-easy by that “fast cooker” hiding in plain sight: my broiler. At the tail end of the week, I lean into decadence with a skillet-seared steak luxuriously slathered with spicy butter. I pair that with a fresh parsley salad, one of the sleeper hits in this book. On other nights, I fall back on another one of my secret weapons, eggs, and make a soft scramble with shrimp and scallions.”

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KARAMO BROWN PERFECTLY DESIGNED BY PAUL ZAHN step to take. Growing up there was TIES WHOSE STAR WATTAGE AND this constant fear that one of ADVOCACY WORK HAS EARNED my identities would get me THEM THE HONOR OF BEING hurt or killed. Not just being KNOWN GLOBALLY BY A SINgay, but would I be harassed GULAR NAME. Visionaries like because I was Black or be Oprah and Iyanla have shed hurt by the police? Would I be their surnames as they have harassed by someone who did helped people successfully navinot like that my parents were gate the ups and downs of livnot from this country? ing a fulfilling life. Now, there is However, he also used this a new addition to this esteemed The cast of Queer Eye Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Tan France fear to begin his enlightenment and Antoni Porowski. Photo by By Kathy Hutchins journey with a very valuable list of trailblazers – Karamo Brown. The Emmy nominated lesson by honoring his identities television host became a household name as a part of the Fab and leaning on a tight knit group of friends to help him progress Five when the hit series Queer Eye debuted on Netflix in 2018. on his journey. As the culture expert, Karamo uses his big heart and background It taught me early on to not be ashamed of any part of my in social services to help reshape people’s outlook on life while identity and to also honor them - they deserved to be honored winning the hearts of viewers around the globe. Following the and protected. My best friends Ray and Trey - these people success of Queer Eye, Karamo added author to his resume - writwere warriors in protecting my identities. They were doing ing his motivational memoir Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purit unconsciously because they were young and going through pose, and co-authoring a best-selling children’s book with his son their own things. They knew if there were moments that I Jason ‘Rachel’ Brown titled I Am Perfectly Designed. Additionally, was unprotected - they would help. Karamo has also made a splash in Hollywood as an actor - reWith the internet readily available nowadays, Karamo encourcurring on the final season of Netflix’s Dear White People, guest ages people looking for “warriors” of their own, to turn to groups starring on TBS’ Miracle Workers and even appeared in Freeform’s like The Trevor Project or the LGBTQIA Center in their closest city. first gay rom-com, The Thing About Harry. Most recently, he sucAfter navigating a challenging upbringing, Karamo knew he cessfully launched his own line of grooming products called was destined to live his dreams but the path to this goal was not MANTL. However, Karamo’s journey to Hollywood stardom was always clear. His first foray into the world of show business proved not without a few bumps in the road. to be a pivotal moment in defining where his journey was headed. Born in Houston, Texas to first generation immigrant parents, In 2004, he joined the cast of The Real World: Philadelphia as the Karamo knew what fear looked like from an early age. Karamo first openly gay Black man on a reality television show. However, made the brave decision to come out of the closet at the age of 15 the lesson he learned from this experience stays with him to this and during the pre-internet years in the South - this was a risky day - intention versus impact. HOLLYWOOD

HAS

SELECT

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THIS PAGE: THE CAST OF QUEER EYE BY KATHY HUTCHINS/ SHUTTERSTOCK

GROUP OF FAMOUS PERSONALI-

THIS PAGE: KARAMO BROWN BY LEIGH KEILY

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My intention was to go on The Real World to have fun, get drunk and have a lot of sex. The impact was it forced me to be responsible for my actions. It forced me to understand the language I use and that there are people watching. When you are doing things, your intention may be one thing but if the impact is different - it negates what your intention was. So even though my intention was to have fun - there was something greater. The impact of being one of the first openly gay Black men on reality television changed that. Once I realized the impact of me being on that show, and needed to be better as a human being and better for others, scared me. The pressure after realizing his impact from being on The Real World brought Karamo to a dark place in his life. He turned into a“West Hollywood party boy”in an effort to manage this pressure and fear. I was afraid to realize I had to be responsible for my actions and I had to be better for myself. I just did not want that pressure. I was scared if I could handle what was next. I was getting high, drinking, wasting money. It got bad with the tremendous amount of drug intake and everything else - I had suicidal ideations.

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THIS PAGE: KARAMO AND JASON BROWN. BY RAEN BADUA • IMAGE BY DEBBY WONG

Karamo and Jason Brown

THIS PAGE: IMAGE COURTESY OF KARAMO BROWN

Fortunately, a friend and his family stepped in, and a new life changing revelation brought Karamo to the next stage of his journey - fatherhood. After returning from a Real World/Road Rules Challenge trip, Karamo was greeted with papers for back child support. Initially, he thought it was a joke but quickly realized a quick fling with a former female best friend resulted in a child. The female friend moved shortly after the encounter and prior to cell phones and the internet - staying in touch with people was challenging. His new role as a father lead him to another vital next step - healing himself from years of trauma. This is when I was in my darkest place, and I had to get my life together and go meet my kid. I was healing myself and trying to reflect on what lead me there. What were the

while working the OWN job and at the same time compiling his various unpaid appearances on shows like Access Hollywood, HSN and CNN. With this footage, he found an agent who saw his vision. Karamo knew this was a vital component to his next step, as well as sage advice to anyone navigating a journey. The job at OWN Network was the catalyst I needed to feel affirmed. Find people in your life that see the vision for you. Sometimes out of desperation we get with people who don’t see the vision. People settle because of fear they will miss out. My vision, paired with a new agent “warrior,” forged the way to this next chapter. After hearing news of a re-boot of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Karamo knew he needed to be a part of the show. However, Karamo was not a chef or a hairdresser, but he brought something very unique to the table that makes Queer Eye such a special show.

things from my past that made me not feel safe? What was killing me on the inside? But inadvertently, I was also looking at this young boy who had ten years without a father, and I had to figure out how to help him heal. If I didn’t, he would be going through these same things in ten years. By this point, Karamo had also adopted his biological son Jason’s half-brother Chris, so fatherhood was his priority. Karamo harkened back to his childhood warrior support ideal and sought out a safe space in the form of group therapy at the Houston LGBTQIA Center. For nine years, I fell off the face of the earth, started raising my kids, didn’t do anything in television - it was all about healing and self-discovery. I was able to get it out. I was able to talk it out. Even if you don’t have a group to talk to, look in the mirror and talk it out. The truth of the matter is, if you don’t talk these monsters out, they become bigger and bigger. The next step was writing down what I was saying to myself so I could see them. I turned to the local library for books on healing, trauma and more to continue my journey of healing. Following this period of healing, Karamo was ready to pursue his dream of being a host in Los Angeles. He spent his time juggling fatherhood, working in social services and on the Hollywood audition circuit. His first hosting gig came by way of Oprah’s OWN Network. He continued working full-time in social services

After watching past episodes, I realized that what was missing was mental health. I have a background in mental health. I thought, maybe I can shift this into talking about emotions and not art galleries. He and his agent persevered, and Karamo went through to the final audition stages. With his almost four decades on a rollercoaster ride of life experiences, Karamo earned a spot on one of the most heartwarming and acclaimed shows of the past decade. The award-winning show, renewed for a sixth season, is known for its strong representation amongst the LGBTQ community and communities that include people of color. In addition to Karamo, Queer Eye features Antoni Porowski, food and wine expert; Tan France, fashion expert; Bobby Berk, design expert; and Jonathan Van Ness, grooming expert. Karamo now uses his experiences to help heal people. I tell people there is nothing you went through that I haven’t been through myself: from addiction, to abuse, to heart break, to anger, to love, to success. I have experienced it all, but I also took the time to heal and learn from it. Karamo has picked himself up on many occasions, leading up to where he is today. He also leaned on “warriors” at times along his journey for support. Luckily, the world now has Karamo Brown - a warrior of our own and a special friend helping to navigate this thing called life. ■

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KARAMO’S HOLIDAY GIFT PICKS THE GIFT FOR ANYONE IN YOUR LIFE - MANTL MANTL is Karamo’s range of skincare products for the face and scalp and makes for the perfect gift for anyone in your life. Karamo shares,“I decided to create an empowering and inclusive brand with products everyone can enjoy. You can use MANTL on your face or scalp (or both), regardless of gender identity, skin tone or skin type.”

Karamo recommends gifting his new favorite bottle of bubbly - Veuve Clicquot Rose Rich. He exclaims,“It is the best thing! I am giving these bottles like you cannot imagine. I bought two cases and every time I go to a dinner party, I bring one!”

THE GIFT FOR YOUR BAE “I am old school. I love a handwritten note. We have lost that art. Write something for your bae about the growth you have had together, your time together. That would definitely win me over,” he gushes.

THE GIFT FOR THE KIDS IN YOUR LIFE I Am Perfectly Designed, a book co-written by Karamo and his son Jason ‘Rachel’ Brown, about feeling comfortable in your skin and loving yourself - exactly as you are. The book is a wonderful gift for any kid. Karamo also suggests the Queer Eye Lego Set because “it is iconic” and perfect for any age.

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THIS PAGE: IMAGE COURTESY OF MANTL • IMAGE COURTESY OF VEUVE • BOOK COVER COURTESY OF CARLOS MEDEL • PHOTO COURTESY OF KARAMO BROWN

THE GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAY PARTY HOST

FROM THE RUNWAY TO THE BOARDROOM

TRANSFORMING STANDARDS BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ CARMEN CARRERA IS MANY THINGS. SHE IDENTIFIES AS A CIS-PASSING, HETEROSEXUAL TRANSWOMAN OF LATINX HERITAGE, BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, SHE IS AN ENTERTAINER, MODEL, ENTREPRENEUR, SISTER, AND DAUGHTER. She has surpassed her role as a con-

PAGES 31-35: PHOTO COURTESY OF CARMEN CARRERA

testant on RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Third Season and has become one of the leading, if more outspoken, activists for the LGBTQ community. She is not afraid to speak her mind and now with her company, CC3 Entertainment, she is giving support and a platform to a diverse family of personalities from the activist, sports and fitness, beauty, fashion, and entertainment and media industries.

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Kulie Sonique Love and Carmen Carrera. Courtesy photo

CC3 entertainment started as a way for me to provide jobs to LGBTQ influencers during the pandemic. I understand how difficult things can be when there’s not enough work and it feels like there’s no hope. CC3 was created so that LGBTQ plus influencers and creators can continue to feel inspired and hopeful for their future. She is considered a pioneer for the trans community, such as challenging the use of pejorative words used by the LGBTQ community and beyond to describe or refer to transgender people. She challenged the Drag Race community, and even RuPaul herself, and would not be pressured to subscribe to casual lingo just to remain part of reality TV. In doing so, she progressed the discussions and awareness that needed to be had between other minority communities. Now trans contestants have been celebrated in the mainstream drag faction. Even with the boom in trans personalities coming out in mainstream Hollywood and being depicted in popular media, Carmen believes we still have a long way to go. I feel like currently in the media we are tokenizing cis passing trans women versus representing what the trans experience looks like across the board. Trans representation should not look like cis passing trans people only. Trans representation should include all spectrums of the transgender umbrella and the reality of the standards that society places on both the male and female roles and how the trans community fits or doesn’t fit into those boxes. Trans representation should include blazing the trail of personal identity

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and the difference between gender and sexuality. Carmen’s path to becoming the confident advocate she is now has not been an easy one. She not only has she dealt with the bigotry that does exist within the gay community towards trans people, but she has also had to contend with it in the Latinx community, an important part of her heritage that she values outside of her personal identity. Honestly speaking, my experience as a trans person in the Latin community has been one of fetishization and oppression. I think my immediate family are the only ones who truly accept me and respect me the correct way. However, lately, there’s been a lot more acceptance and conversations around acceptance and what that looks like which I’ve been a part of. I feel very hopeful that I will be able to develop a more grounded sense of belonging in the Latinx community. Has she also dealt with the inequities that exist between males and females in the business industry? Luckily, I have not yet experienced resistance as a woman in the business world, however, I have tons of experience with resistance for being a transwoman in the entertainment industry. It’s because of that experience I feel I have enough backbone to deal with sexism. Realistically speaking, most of the work I do is specifically designed to cater to the LGBTQ community, so I’m a bit less likely to deal with sexism. Now, that’s not to say I will never run into it or have to deal with it at some point. Just know, however, I’ll be ready for it when I do.

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And she is ready; she is not afraid to cause a stir. She appeared in ABC’s Primetime: What Would You Do?, marking the first time she publicly revealed herself to be transgender and took part in a filmed, social experiment challenging the norms of what is acceptable behavior towards someone who is trans. Using her looks to promote her activism, she appeared in David LaChapelle’s work for the annual AIDS charity Life Ball, appearing as two different versions of herself – as both the Biblical Adam and Eve with exposed genitalia stating, “Your gender should not matter in your heart or in the way you express your personality ... My message is: beauty has no gender. At the end of the day, beauty is beauty.” Her beauty has landed her high-profile modeling gigs for products and campaigns beyond the LGBTQ community. A petition, greatly covered by the media, went viral, challenging the producers of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. She was not cast, but it did draw attention to that brand’s decades-long lack of diversity. The modeling industry tries to be inclusive but the problem with the modeling industry is that it’s still infected with toxic ideals of body image and tokenization at its core. Elitism runs rampant and unfortunately, it is still the business model. I have always drawn from my real-life experiences to build up my self-confidence. In the real world, my beauty and my body are enough. If I ever feel insecure or uncertain, I focus on putting in the work to simply live healthy and strong. The gym is my best friend.

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Her bold statements and provocative ideas have not made her the unchallenged activist. I am open to learning and I have much empathy for people’s feelings. I don’t allow the pressure of being politically correct to affect me or get in the way of what I’m doing. I am a human being, and I will make mistakes too. I have made many mistakes! However, I think it comes down to the openness and ability to learn and move forward with passion and education. I try to be as respectful as possible. That empathy is something she believes is the key for the gay and trans community to unite. I see the gay community as my brothers and sisters. We should be more loving toward one another and have more empathy toward what we individually experience as LGBTQ people. The world already judges us and continues to place false narratives and negative ideologies onto us. It’s best that we create positive and loving spaces for one another because the world doesn’t give that to us. My hope for the LGBT community in the future is to find more healing and comfortable spaces to thrive in the world. I think if we work together, we can really create a very powerful front against adversity, policy reform, poverty, healthcare, and disenfranchisement. And her view on the changes in current drag culture, now seeing it from the sidelines? Drag culture has evolved, as it always has, to be more inclusive of newer forms of art and the nuances that come from the next generation of queer people. Drag has always been a safe space for queer people

to express themselves and feel accepted in a safe setting. I think it’s important that we continue to be more inclusive of queer people and all our beautiful forms of art versus trying to tell people what is or isn’t drag. ■ You can follow Carmen on IG @Carmen_Carrera

THE MODELING INDUSTRY TRIES TO BE INCLUSIVE BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE MODELING INDUSTRY IS THAT IT’S STILL INFECTED WITH TOXIC IDEALS OF BODY IMAGE AND TOKENIZATION AT ITS CORE. METROSOURCE.COM

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TYLER HENRY HOLLYWOOD’S FAVORITE MEDIUM HAS A NEW SHOW BY STEVE GOTTFRIED TYLER HENRY HAD HIS FIRST PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE BY AGE 10. By

19, he had his own reality TV series Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry which ran four seasons on E! Entertainment and put him on the map as the go-to medium for an eclectic assortment of celebrities that would include actors, rock stars, rappers, and Olympic athletes, many of them from the LGBTQ community. Part of the charm of the show was watching this decidedly un-Hollywood neophyte paired with celebrities whose work he often had no familiarity. It was a humbling reality check for celebrities accustomed to being recognized and fawned over, having to explain who they are. As Tyler would begin his trademark scribbling - a process which helps him connect with spirit - messages would come through from their loved ones. It wasn’t long before jaws were dropping, tears flowing and skeptics turning into believers. Think what you will about mediums, it’s hard to argue with the level of success he’s had with two reality TV series, a live tour, two national best-selling books and a waiting list of 300,000 for private one-on-one readings. I had the opportunity to sit down for a Zoom chat with the spirit world’s favorite millennial to discuss a wide range of topics from his new TV show dropping in early 2022, for an as-yet-to-be-disclosed streaming service, the bombshell discovery about his own family, a recent health scare which required emergency surgery, and other cosmic quandaries like who he’d like to play him on Saturday Night Live.

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PAGES 36-39: TYLER HENRY BY SERGIO GARCIA

My new show is very different from Hollywood Medium. This one really shows the ins and outs of my everyday life, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep at night. It’s caught me in some of the most vulnerable moments of my life. Because of COVID, we had been doing it virtually which was interesting. I was able to do readings for people across the country, just everyday people, not celebrities like I’d done on Hollywood Medium. And that was really gratifying, to be able to read people who really needed it from different parts of the world. Once it was safe, I was able to travel and knock on people’s doors and surprise them and have meaningful moments. Do you miss reading celebrities? I don’t miss it a single bit. There’s a lot less ego involved. It’s a lot easier for me to read everyday people, and I just enjoy it more. It’s where I started and where my passion has always been. Tyler also revealed that he got some unexpected revelations about his own life while shooting his new show. I discovered that my mom was taken as a child from her biological parents. So, the show documented how this kind of happened as I figured out who my real family was. The woman who took my mom ended up being a convicted murderer who killed two people and went to prison for 30 years. It has been a very interesting journey to say the least. I had a feeling that it was very possible that the woman wasn’t my mom’s biological mother. But anytime I would mention it to her, she would say, “Oh no, but we look too much alike, so we have to be related.” But I had gut feelings throughout my childhood that something was kind of off. It wasn’t until we took a 23andMe test and got the genetic results, where I came back Italian and realized “uh oh, I thought I was French.” So, it just goes to show, mediums don’t know everything. There are still blind spots where it can be difficult to read ourselves. Speaking of blind spots, while Tyler also is a medical intuitive, meaning he’s able to detect health issues in people he’s reading, his own health scare in early 2020, took him completely by surprise. I was getting ready to do a live show and was actually lying in bed and I felt some chest pain and very quickly realized it was not the result of a spirit coming through. It was a medical thing. I was rushed to the hospital, went into emergency surgery and they found that my lung had basically been resting near my heart. I was in bad shape. They told me I had the lungs of a 70-year-old. Which was not reassuring. But I suspect that I had COVID very early on and that might have been why my lung collapsed in the first place. Even to this day, I’m still kind of healing and processing all that, and I still get shortness of breath. How is the taping schedule for your show? Is that wearing on you? It’s been good. We finished up a few months ago, but it was a

very intensive schedule. They really packed in as many readings as they could in a short period. The readings do take a lot out of me, so I’ve had to pace myself. When I must do seven in a week, by the seventh one I’m ready to tap out. But I do think it makes me better at what I do, and I find that growth is on the other side of my comfort zone. Not knowing who I’m reading entails handling a certain level of discomfort on a regular basis. So that’s been a big part of my job - just trusting that what will happen will happen. Seeing as how Tyler was only 19 when he started his first TV show and from a conservative background, I was curious to find out how his sexual orientation was addressed. Being gay was acknowledged from the get-go on the show in scenes with my mom and Charlie (the driver), however it was never much of a focus because Hollywood Medium was 95% readings and celebrity stories. Producers always encouraged me to be myself. Everyone involved insisted on keeping everything real, and with that convey the honest reality of a person new to Hollywood with a unique talent who just happens to be gay. Though not everyone can relate to being a medium, everyone can relate to feeling like an outsider at some point. To embrace what makes us different requires courage to be who we are despite those who don’t understand us. Sticking true to that individuality allowed me to share four seasons of an incredible show that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible if I stayed in the psychic closet. Being able to convey who I was in my orientation made sharing that vulnerability even more meaningful. Tyler tells me that it is important to be true to himself and to honor what makes him different from the people around him, and that the same sentiment applies to being a medium as it does to being gay. I had to honor who I was and what I felt organically despite criticism, despite people not being supportive. If anything, being gay was a good trial run for some of the difficulties I would deal with coming out of the psychic closet. If anything, it’s just made me more of an individual, more myself, and I love that. When we can honor who we are, there’s great power in that. Similarly, with being gay and being a medium, these were things I was bullied for. Yet today those are the very things people applaud me for. That was only the result of having the courage to embrace those things. It seems only natural that, after all the work Tyler has done delivering messages from the spirit world that the dearly departed would show their appreciation. Tyler explains that’s how he met his soul mate, Clint Godwin. Clint’s grandfather had passed away tragically shortly before we met. Clint contacted me. I gave him a reading and relayed why his grandfather had passed away. He sadly took his own life. I just shared the reasoning that came through with him and he validated that had been what his family had long suspected. And from there we just had an immediate bond. I knew the second I saw him. I METROSOURCE.COM

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was like, this is my person. And that’s only grown stronger every day over five years now. I think it’s very necessary with the nature of my job to have a strong support system when I come home. My boyfriend has just been the best human being on the planet. I am very lucky. Tyler goes on to explain their dynamic and what makes the relationship work. I would say, if anything he very much is not Hollywood. He’s not about fame. He’s not interested in attention. He likes to fly under the radar. Which is good, especially because so much attention, both good and bad, gets placed on me, he very much is just kind of quietly supportive, which is really helpful. We’re both very similar in a lot of ways. We’re very quiet, we like our alone time. We don’t have a big social circle. I think it does help to be intuitive in any relationship. And for me, it really has served me throughout my life to get a sense of who is going to resonate in the long run and maybe who isn’t. I certainly don’t get any shortcuts because I’m a medium. But with our relationship, it has been very helpful. In terms of the afterlife, are there consequences for people who do bad things? I would say everyone who’s ever come through seems to acknowledge they’ve gone through a process. I call this process a life review. I believe every consciousness sees the ripple effect of how their actions and inactions affect the greater collective. Whether you lived in this life with a conscience or not, I believe when we transition, we see the impact that we’ve had for better or for worse. And we must come to terms with it. I don’t believe it comes from a place of punishment from a judgmental God. I just really believe it’s the result of learning and the result of consciousness expanding in its awareness. So, you can think of it in this life like a drop of water and then when we transition, we kind of become like a vast ocean of consciousness. I think that ultimately lends some degree of acceptance about how we lived and how we died. And through that acceptance they find peace on the other side. But I believe it’s really through that process of understanding

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that they get there. When we think of punishment or justice, I do think it’s a little more complicated and nuanced than heaven or hell. But there certainly is an accountability that seems to come through resoundingly. And I’ve brought through a lot of people – and some people who maybe didn’t live the best lives or did things that were not kind – and I do believe they reckon with that when they pass away. Does Tyler filter what comes through on his readings? There are definitely times where I have a hard time conveying what I need to say. I liken my job to that of a mailman in the sense that I don’t write the letters, I just deliver the message. So, I view it as a responsibility not only to the living person but also the departed person to deliver what I’m getting in a way that’s going to click with the person I’m reading. In a way that will do the message justice, so to speak. And so, with that, I have to kind of not filter myself, but simultaneously be diplomatic and considerate of people’s emotions and feelings and what they might be going through. It is a fine line, and I am always learning and growing and figuring out how to do that better. I think I kind of got thrust into a situation very early on as a teenager, being 19 years old and then getting a TV show where I was put in situations where I had to navigate some very serious topics that required a lot of diplomacy. I don’t think I had the maturity to the extent that I will 10 or 20 years from now. But I do my best. In 2016, Tyler read Matt Lauer, and was aware of what was coming. For those unfamiliar with the story, Matt Lauer was fired as the anchor of NBC’s Today amid allegations of sexual misconduct. I said to Matt that his father was coming through, saying he would need to step away from his current job. And then I gave the month in which he needed to step away. And I said, you know, this is just necessary. So that’s kind of the inside scoop. In all honesty, I didn’t fully know why. I was just kind of relaying this change that I saw happening and around the time in which it would. And we obviously know the rest of that story. It’s also not my job to judge the person I’m reading. What I’ve learned is that everybody is human. Everybody has things they’re not proud of, everybody has things they can do better. And when I’m reading somebody, I must come from a place of compassion despite what’s going on in that person’s life. And that can be the most challenging part – not applying judgment to what I might be seeing or feeling. Do you get recognized a lot when you’re out in public? A good amount. Even with a mask on, I think my voice is so “up here,” people are like “oh it’s you!” And then you know I’m very smiley, you know I smile with my eyes. So, people recognize that a lot. But I love it and it’s nice to see the impact the E! show [Hollywood Medium] had on people. It’s so much more than just like “oh, I’m a fan.” It’s more about what the work represents. Being a public figure in anything ideological – be it politics or religion – is very polarizing. What I do falls into the religious category for a lot of people. And so, I’ve had to deal with a lot of criticism. And that can be very painful. Being under a microscope. But I have to remember why I do the work, why I started when I was 16. I was graduating early and trying to become a hospice nurse. For me, it has always been about leaving people better than I found them. And that’s never changed. I try to focus on that, but it can be very difficult. The grieving process when someone dies is a natural process of mourning a person’s physical absence. But it can certainly be a very hard process for many. I think it’s normal to grieve the physical absence of a person. I always

say readings are never a replacement for the loved one being here. They may substantiate the idea that there’s a continuation of consciousness. Grief is a natural part of life and sadly suffering is a very real part of life. In my own life I have experienced great grief – physical loss. I have not wanted to get out of bed in the morning because I’ve lost someone or an animal. And that’s coming from a medium. I think grief is a natural process of mourning that physical absence – even if you know that there’s a spiritual connection. It may dampen the blow a little bit, but it certainly doesn’t act as a replacement for their presence. Tyler’s interview with the one and only Larry King, was like a tennis match. I remember watching that interview and feeling like I was on the edge of my seat because the questions kept coming, one after another. Tyler seemed unflappable. We got off on a very interesting foot. I went into the restroom right before my interview. I open the door and see this shadowy figure standing there, holding something … and he turns around and it’s Larry King peeing. I looked at him, he looked at me, and we both screamed. Then he said, “Tyler, I thought you were psychic. You should know I was in here.” Not only did I have to see Larry in that position, but then I had to go into an interview with him. That was how we met, and it will forever be seared into my consciousness. Obviously, he’s an icon and skepticism was an important part of his life just by virtue of being a journalist. And I didn’t mind that one bit. I think he asked some great questions that a lot of people never did. He was supposed to be a guest on my show during Season 4, but Larry passed away before we got the chance to do it unfortunately. He was a lovely man. He spent his whole life pursuing answers. And so, I hope wherever he is at, he got them. After some weighty topics, I decided to end things on a light note by asking Tyler if he’s ever been parodied on Saturday Night Live. He replied that he hadn’t, but that he’d consider it an honor. When I asked which cast member he’d like to impersonate him, he didn’t hesitate. Oh Kate McKinnon, absolutely. She’s got the hair. ■ METROSOURCE.COM

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BULLDOG SKINCARE TRIO SET www.us.bulldogskincare.com $19.99 Step up your skincare game this holiday season with Bulldog’s Skincare Trio set. Bulldog is known for their fresh products that help you to feel healthy and get clean without much effort. Lather up their Original Face Wash and get up close and personal with the Original Shave Gel before finishing off with the Original Moisturizer that will leave your skin ready to trim the tree, fire up the Yule Log, or head out for some caroling with family and friends. These products

BODY

HEALTH

are great for normal skin, and include aloe vera, camelina oil, and green tea.

GET INTO THE HOLIDAY

GROOMING GROOVE

HOLIDAY GIFT SETS TO PAMPER YOURSELF OR YOUR FRIENDS BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

CEYLON SKINCARE SET www.ceylonskincare.com $85.00 Patrick Boateng II, Founder, Ceylon by Anim Labs created the Ceylon (named after Ceylon tea, one of the original ingredients) as a company dedicated to providing the best

THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US AND IF GROOMING GIFTS AREN’T ON YOUR

possible skincare products for men of color worldwide. Cey-

RADAR, IT’S TIME TO PAY ATTENTION. While the Zooms of 2021 are

lon’s skin regimen, perfect for pigmented skin and those

ending, that blue light has really done a number on us. We’ve investigated a wide range of kits, sets, duos, and even a variety of Advent calendars to not only get you holiday spirit, but pamper you along the way. Regardless of whether you’re shopping for friends, family, lovers, or yourself, we’ve got you covered.

struggling with common skin problems, includes their fa-

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cial wash, facial toner, and facial moisturizer. This gift set is a wonderful starter package, intended as a skin regimen for twice-daily usage.

DR. BARBARA STURM’S ADVENT CALENDAR 2021 www.drsturm.com $495.00

CHAPSTICK 12 DAYS CALENDAR

Why not dabble in excess this holiday season? Dr. Barbara

www.chapstick.com $14.99

Dr. Sturm’s most loved products including their cleanser, lip

Pucker up, ChapStick’s 12 Days Holiday Advent Calendar

balm, face cream, face mask, eye cream, brightening serum,

includes twelve assorted flavors of both classic and holiday

night cleanser, glow drops, and more. Inspired by her moth-

favorites to countdown to the holiday of your choice. This lip

er’s advent calendars, each door opens to reveal a skincare

balm advent calendar allows you to get in the holiday spirit

surprise for each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas Day.

Sturm’s Advent Calendar for 2021 features a selection of

with Candy Cane, Sugar Cookie, Pumpkin Pie, Holiday Cocoa, and more. Each holiday lip balm tube is perfect for stashing in your coat pocket, backpack, desk drawer, or man purse so you have it ready whenever your lips feel dry. Tuck this fun Christmas-themed box right under the tree with a big bow or let it make a stocking pop this holiday season.

EVERY MAN JACK CEDARWOOD BODY KIT

FREDERICK BENJAMIN THE HAIR REGIMEN

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www.shop.frederickbenjamin.com $30

Every Man Jack’s 2021 body kits come in several different

Stock up on Frederick Benjamin’s 3-step best-selling

sets including Cedarwood, Crimson Oak, and Sandalwood.

routine, the Hair Regimen. This set includes an invigo-

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ing Creme. What’s that great smell? Products in this

sage. The Cedarwood Body Kit includes a full-size body

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wash, 2-in-1 shampoo, and aluminum-free deodorant.

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Need to update your dopp kit? Every Man Jack is also offer-

that itchy scalp in the new year!

ing $15 Dopp Body kits in Aged Bourbon, Sea Salt, Cedarwood, and Sandalwood.

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

GAGE FOR MEN GREENER AND CLEANER SET

JACK BLACK THE BEST OF JACK www.getjackblack.com $20

www.gageformen.com $36

Jack Black upped their holiday game this season with a

This set includes the GAGE for Men Daily Shampoo and

whopping ten limited edition gift sets to fill your loved one’s

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stockings.“Keep cool and carry on” this holiday season with

refillable 2 fl. oz. bottles, and a marker. Planning on traveling

the best of Jack Black holiday gift set. This collection includes

after the holidays? This set has you covered. GAGE for Men

Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser (their best-selling body

founder Bennie Pollard’s product line features easy-to-use

wash), Cool Moisture Body Lotion, and the award-winning

hair care products which can create any look in a jiffy.

Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25. Just open the box and feel

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energized, clean, protected, and greatly appreciated through the new year. For more lip attention, The Balm Squad ($25) is a well-rounded collection of four lip balms including Natural Mint & Shea Butter, Limited Edition Mango & Mandarin, Limited Edition Lavender Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF

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25, & NightMode Lip Therapy. Start 2022 off with perfectly moisturized lips!

J.R. WATKINS AWAKEN BATH REGIMEN www.jrwatkins.com $59.96 J.R. Watkins has delivered potent, plant-based home and body remedies, crafted with North American ingredients since 1868. Their Awaken Bath Regimen, crafted to stimumonths. Wake up from the cold with their Creamy Body

GENTLEMEN’S HARDWARE BEARD SURVIVAL KIT

Wash, Aromatherapy In-Shower Mist, Bath Elixir, and dry

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off before lathering on their nourishing Sugar Body Polish.

Ready to tame your mane? The Beard Survival Kit from

High-quality ingredients include bergamot, coriander, jo-

Gentlemen’s Hardware is a quality way to cleanse, tame,

joba, cactus water, and more! Upgrade your pampering this

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Beard Wash, Beard Oil, and a unique angled wooden Beard Comb. Wash away everyday dirt as you smooth and detangle the beard and finish off with a nourishing and high-quality Beard Oil. This kit is vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, with recyclable metal tubes and packaging. Hitting the road for the holidays? These travel-friendly products will fit perfectly in your carry-on.

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KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 LIMITED EDITION HOLIDAY ADVENT CALENDAR www.kiehls.com $99 Kiehl’s Since 1851 is celebrating its 170th holiday season with a collection of the brand’s most beloved skincare products encased in whimsical, limited-edition packaging designed by partnering artist Marylou Faure. The collection houses iconic Kiehl’s formulas including cleanser, face masks, facial serums, moisturizers, and more. Open a door from Deceminside. This set is literally chock full of goodies to tackle the

NATURA 12 DAYS OF CARE ADVENT CALENDAR

most comprehensive skincare holiday list including Kiehl’s

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newest products like the popular Retinol Skin-Renewing

Natura, established in 1969, is a Brazilian global cosmetics and

Daily Microdose Serum. It’s literally $250 worth of products

personal care company that is devoted to conserving the Amazon

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rainforest and believes in caring for people and the planet. This

ber 1st through December 24th to reveal a small gift hidden

festive decorative box with 12 days of haircare, skincare, and body care is a wonderful surprise for the season. Pop a little gift out each day for 12 wonderful selections of body care products made from ethically sourced ingredients from Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. Products include their Acai Hand Cream, Patauá Strengthening Shampoo, Chronos Firming and Radiance Face Cream, and Murumuru Restoring Conditioner.

LA CHATELAINE SOAP SUPPLY FOR MEN www.lachatelainebeauty.com $78 We gasped and clutched our fake pearls when opening this soap set, perfect for the man in your life who could use a little pampering. La Chatelaine’s soaps are 100% pure vegetable-based soaps crafted in Provence with ethically sourced natural and organic ingredients. Blended with porganic shea butter, organic calendula, organic argan oil, and vitamin E, these soaps will protect and nourish the skin. Fragrances include Deep Blue Sea, Sandalwood, Citrus Zest, Moroccan Mint, Vetiver Cedar, and Bourgon Vanilla for any kind of mood. Lather up, boys! METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

NATURA BISSÉ DIAMOND WELL-LIVING DUO www.naturabisse.com $110 Need a reset? Turn a page on a whole new you with the transformative Diamond Well-Living duo this holiday season. Check into the spa in the comfort of your home with the vibrant ginger fragrance of Diamond WellLiving The Body Scrub paired with Diamond Well-Living The Dry Oil Detox - a wonderful body oil that intensely nourishes the skin while restoring. Exfoliate with Dead Sea salt crystals to remineralize the skin then follow up with a seaweed blended with chia seed, grape seed, and sunflower oils for intense hydration. If you’re looking to really shake up your routine, the Na-

HEALTH

tura Bissé Essential Shock Intense Line set is just the right kit. This special combo set will help reveal a hydrated, firm, and revitalized complexion for you to reveal on New Year’s Eve. Fortified with natural collagen and elastin amino acids, this pair includes the Essential Shock Intense Cream and Es-

PAYOT PARIS BLUE TECHNI LISS SET

sential Shock Intense Eye & Lip, a specific eye and lip contour cream to help minimize the appearance of signs of aging in this delicate area.

BODY

www.us.payot.com $110 Is Zoom fatigue getting you down? PAYOT Paris understands that blue light exposure is an important matter to take seriously. The PAYOT Paris Blue Techni Liss collection shields skin from blue light and repairs any damage that’s been done. Included in the sleek holiday pouch is Blue Techni Liss Jour Day Cream, Blue Techni Liss Regard Eye Gel, and a soothing Blue Techni Liss Chromo Peeling Mask. Speed up cell regeneration with this set that responds to our skincare needs so you can log into your next video meeting with confidence.

SUSANNE KAUFMANN 2021 ADVENT CALENDAR www.susannekaufmann.com $586 Susanne Kaufmann have been pioneers in sustainable, natural skincare since 2003. The brand combines Founder

PAYOT PARIS ADVENT CALENDAR

Susanne Kaufmann’s expertise in natural ingredients and

www.us.payot.com $90

sustainable living. This year’s advent calendar features

The stars have aligned with the 2021 PAYOT Paris Advent Calendar.

a broad array of best-selling, award-winning skincare

The pale-blue gift box is adorned with twinkling stars, a crescent

paired with a selection of body and bath products that

moon, and a gilded sun. After this year we all could use a little bless-

are curated and ready to be opened in anticipation of

ing, and this gift, an homage to our solar system and all its magical

Santa’s arrival. Some selections in the calendar include

possibilities, gets everything right. Open the adorable, dated doors to

the Hyaluron Serum Moisturizing, Body Oil, Warming

find twenty-four mini PAYOT surprises nestled inside the calendar,

Foot Cream, Mineral Body Lotion, Eye Rescue Stick and

including a Bubble Mask for peeling, Masque Blue Techni Liss Week-

Eye Cream Line T feature in full-size. The calendar is lux-

End, Pâte Grise Blotting Papers, and travel-sizes of bestsellers like My

urious, recyclable, with products packaged in recyclable

Payot Crème Glow and Eau Micellaire Express. With over $260 worth

glass, sourced in Germany. Go ahead and splurge this

of products for just $90 this calendar is one that will move quickly!

holiday season, you and your loved ones deserve some

skincare philosophy with her values for innovation and

extra cheer to close out the year.

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

METROSOURCE.COM

A PLACE IN THE CLOUDS THIS QUAINT SWISS DESTINATION KNOWN FOR ITS SKI SLOPES AND WINE MAKING HAS A FEW OTHER CULTURAL TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE DURING THE OFF-SEASON BY MEGAN VENZIN

THE AIR JUST TASTES BETTER IN THE ALPS. THERE IS A DISTINCT CRISPNESS THAT LINGERS ON THE TONGUE AND AWAKENS THE NOSE. Each bite is a bit

more savory. Every scent’s a bit sweeter. Surely elevation plays a role in that sterling quality - a few days spent among the jagged vistas are invigorating in ways that feel foreign to city folk like ourselves. A few hours after we’ve touched down in Europe and it’s clear: we’re far too accustomed to trudging down bustling avenues packed with taxi cabs and freight trucks. Why do we accept that the smog we inhale is simply an accessory to the metropolitan lifestyle? Really, that’s just how it is? Maybe it doesn’t have to be. In Valais, a municipality located two hours outside of Geneva, Switzerland by train, these gas-guzzling vehicles are few and far between. In the bucolic resort town of Crans-Montana, commuting is as simple as popping into a bubble lift and hopping off at a designated plateau along the tree-lined gradient that overlooks rows of quaint, low-rise structures below. Make sure to watch your step - these globe-shaped transporters never make complete stops, but some would say that’s half the fun of riding (the other half is peering upon frosty peaks that pierce clear, blue skies.) Lovers of snow sports, French-inspired gastronomy and designer shopping will be hard pressed to find a better vacation spot than this lake set village, which also happens to be just a short journey away from the sustainable pastures of Colombier. In this preserved society, tourists can stay over in traditional chalets and watch Swiss farmers herd the very livestock that produce the

Valais Blacknose sheep in Valais on a rainy summer day. Photo by Schame Bisse Du Ro. Photo by David Carlier

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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Lee Burridge at Caprices. Photo by David Holderbach

Colombire. Photo by Retouchées

creamy foundations of the region’s signature raclette. On these grounds, massive wheels age patiently in humble cheese caves until hungry visitors come back to indulge in a hearty, post-hike meal. We do eventually embark on one of those outings, and don’t worry, we’ll revel in that lactose-laced experience later. But to start, Metrosource descends upon the lesser-known Swiss hideaway Crans-Montana for louder reasons. For the past 18 years, music lovers have traveled across the globe to experience Caprices Festival, and even as the planet fights its way out of a lengthy pandemic, that tradition lives on. And now, we’re a part of it. This one-of-a-kind gathering started as a haven for live music nearly two decades ago, and as tastes and trends transformed, so did the beloved event’s sonic offerings. Today, Caprices is for the house heads of the world - fans of all things deep, soulful, minimal, and disco-tinged. Techno’s a vibe, too. Audiophiles who enjoy the opposite side of that stylistic spectrum are the same beat-seekers who spend long weekends losing themselves in the queer parties and hedonistic halls of the hallowed Berghain nightclub. In fact, many of the artists on this year’s lineup - among them Ben Klock, Apollonia and Marco Bailey - grace the decks at the salacious Berlin nightlife monolith. This week the surroundings are a bit softer, but don’t be fooled. The drilling claps and lighting fast BPMs are still mercilessly satisfying. Playing tunes geared toward the former ilk is Modernity Events resident Giorgio Maulini, an artist and Crans-Montana transport known for his vinylonly sets and dreamy lounge-house productions. “After so much time [spent] not seeing our music industry buddies, it felt A cable car at the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland in the sunset. Photo by Elizabeth Wirth

great to all be together joking, having a couple of drinks, and listening to some of the finest artists in the game,” he shares with enthusiasm in his voice. He’s feeling optimistic after emerging from a lengthy lockdown that left many largescale events cancelled or limited the year prior.“It is awesome also to share this experience with fans, the public and everyone attending the festival because they charge the whole place with this beautiful energy demonstrating why electronic music events are so important in our culture.” The festival’s three unique stages brim with the free-spirited folks Maulini mentions. Compared to those at other European bashes, this bunch possesses a certain lighthearted nature that we find irresistible. Caprices offers a welcome contrast to the sometimes moody, intense themes that permeate packed underground haunts in spots like Amsterdam and Paris - in other words, we feel amongst our silly flock here in the hills. Perhaps, they’re driven by the unbridled joy that fellow festival goers emanate as they shimmy their way toward their first dancefloor back? Or maybe the Swiss locals are an inherently effervescent crew, dawning two-piece suits plastered in colorful all-over prints, tiny purple sombreros, and mile-wide smiles. We must say these are some of the most accepting new friends we’ve met as of late. We are in our zone. METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

Caprices Festival

The Yellow Heads at Caprices. Photo by David Holderbach

“People from all around the world, no matter their sexual orientation, color, class, religion, culture, origin, political thoughts are just getting together to dance under the same roof united by love,”Maulini says with pride as he describes the type of crowd one might find at the annual celebration.“Sincerely, the world needs way more of this. That’s what makes me have faith in the future of humanity and in a healthy, tolerant and inclusive society.” Caprice runs for two consecutive weekends, and for the more than 2,500 attendees who make the tune-fueled pilgrimage it proves to be an airy, COVID-safe bash. Attendees must provide full proof of vaccination or take a rapid test before soaring 2,200 meters upwards toward the transparent Modernity Stage where internationally renowned artists like Lee Burridge, DJ Tennis and WhoMadeWho dazzle crowds with their unique discographies which range in style from party-ready breakbeats to playa-tinged live sets. A quick excursion beyond the tent’s seethrough walls offers unforgettable scenes of the range’s most famous summits, which kiss the clouds in plain view. Words simply cannot do this place justice, but Maulini gives it a shot. “From our Modernity Stage you can see Zermatt, Mont-Blanc, Weisshorn and the glacier of The PlaineMort just to name a few,” he shares passionately. “We are so deep into nature that it makes it hard to believe that there is actually a music festival happening at this spot.”He’s not lying - tucked far above the pedestrian-filled sidewalks, only ticket holders can feel the telltale vibrations of bass beneath their boots. “I always believed that being surrounded by nature is how humans find their true selves,” Maulini goes on. “For artists and fans, it really becomes a one-ofa-kind experience because the connection you feel

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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Caprices Festival

among nature has a direct impact on how you feel towards others and yourself. It is a positive energy recharging experience, and the music is the universal language through which we can all understand and communicate with each other.” Maulini gives the impression that he’s a product of the mountains, but he spent his youth in his native country of Venezuela. His first visit to Crans-Montana 10 years ago proved to be a life-changing one, and he now serves as a ski guide during the high holiday season when Caprices typically takes place (in 2021 it took place in September due to COVID-19.) “Every year I still get surprised by the wonders of these snowy mountains,” he shares wistfully. “Don’t miss the April edition of Caprices if you want to witness this for yourself.” We second that recommendation.

Colombire. Photo by Retouchées

Though we’re tempted to push ourselves at the Signal or Forest Stages which run until 5am and feature stage partners from festivals around the world such as Detroit Movement, TechnoV and Sunwaves, we make the reasonable choice to call it an early night on Friday. When morning comes, we take breakfast at the aweinspiring Hotel Royale. The intricate wooden facade makes the outside of these luxury accommodations look almost like a toy model, like something that was painstakingly whittled in a worker’s shop. There are only a few minutes to admire the supreme craftsmanship before we start a winding drive that brings us to the town of Sion where we meet our tour guide Nathalie who gives us a lesson on the area’s present, past, and future. We watch a herd of huge black cows and bulls scale the hillside with a grace unexpected of such large beasts. Massive bells on their necks rattle and echo across the landscape, generating an enchanting symphony that rings like a tribute to simpler times. “They can recognize the sound of their own bells,”Nathalie explains. “And if they get lost, the bells help the farmers find them, and bring them home.” A cacophony builds as the animals enter trailers that will be used to transport them to lusher lowlands. “It’s the end of the season,” Nathalie continues. “So now, they must go somewhere else to eat.” We’ll also be going somewhere else before we can eat. Nathalie, who reveals with some reluctance that she serves as a police officer by day (“I never like to say,”she says with a laugh) reveals that this is her first time giving an English-speaking tour, and that this side hustle is one she pursues out of pure passion for the outdoors, and history as well. Our trek follows an intricate path of man-made waterways, or “bisses” as they’ve been called for hundreds of years. Since the 14th century, these stone structures have served as valuable vehicles for irrigation. To this day, they play a role in the agricultural practices in Valais and are an attraction for those who prefer sustainable tourism attractions.

Colombire. Photo by Retouchées

Bisse Du Ro. Photo by David Carlier METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

Aerial view of Crans-Montana village center with many like chalet style hotel and residence in Valais, Switzerland. Photo by AsiaTravel

Château de Vaas in Flanthey

The bisses contribute to a verdant natural landscape which is good news for us - Nathalie also happens to be an expert forager, and that skill will make our lunch even more lovely. “The herbs on the trail are no good,” she warns. Shortly after she lends words of caution, we see a dog lift its leg in a familiar gesture. She points in its direction before adding,“See, that’s what I mean!”Good call, Nathalie. We make our way down a less-traveled road. Not long after we pass a flowing waterfall, Nathalie spots some fresh thyme and a patch of Lady’s Mantle, a wild green that has therapeutic benefits and is known as a homeopathic remedy for cramps and other ailments. And bonus: it’s delicious! We discover this for ourselves when we sit down for lunch at Le Relais, a critically acclaimed restaurant with a terrace that overlooks the nearby valley. It’s a perfect spot to take down a plate (or three) of freshly melted raclette, warmed by the wood-fired stove that sits outside of the main dining room. We eagerly watch our server use a knife to coax the viscous cheese out of the wax wheel and onto our plates. It stretches, steams and lands before us - in that moment we achieve unadulterated, dairyinduced nirvana. Raclette boasts a richer flavor than the standard Swiss one might remember from their childhood ham toasties. Each bite is perfectly salty, pungent, and subtly sweet on the backend and with a bit of a bite that makes it a perfect companion to all things crunchy and chewy. And so, we enjoy our gooey lunch with our wild finds, as well as with fresh vegetables, cornichons, cured prosciutto, capicola, salami and freshly baked breads. “I promise Swiss people do not eat like

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

terraces all along the valley. Crans-Montana is south-facing, giving a lot of sun and heat to the fruits, and therefore, sugar.” Ah, that makes good sense. A healthy earth produces healthier grapes! So that must be why we feel near invincible even after a couple of bottles? That’s what we tell ourselves anyway. The fendant is pleasing on the palate - this white variety is bright and fruity with an immaculate finish. Why yes, we will have another glass! Pierre lets us know, however, that there are other sips to explore in this part of the countryside. “Château de Vaas in Flanthey or Chateau de Villa are places to visit to learn all about the history of winemaking in our region,” he suggests.“Of course, a stop at wine cellars is a must to taste cornalin, amigne, petite arvine, heida,

Sunrise and morning at Lake Tseuzier with barrage in Valais Switzerland in September. Photo by Martin Steiner

this all the time,” Nathalie assures us. But what we’re really thinking is, “Why the hell not? This is fantastic!” We partake in another serving of the hot cheese, not sure of when we’ll get to experience another experience quite as divine as this one (spoiler alert: we do fondue on Sunday, and it’s a close second). We take down a chilled bottle of Fendant - a Chasselas wine from the Valais region - as the raclette reappears before us. The vin, too, is so clean we manage to escape without the hint of a hangover. Now we know we must be dreaming. “The Rhone River flowing down the valley gives this region a special soil perfect for vineyards,” explains Pierre-Henri Mainetti, Sales Manager for Crans-Montana Tourism & Congress. “You have seen how it is organized - with so many walls built with local stones assembled without cement,

METROSOURCE.COM

humagne rouge or the more common pinot noir or syrah.” If only we had more time… Back in Crans-Montana we nap off our lunch and venture up to the late-night stages where we dance off our raclette reserves to the booming sounds of hard-techno. Inside this packed, warehouse room, it feels a bit more like a weekend we might have in our native New York. We step outside to catch our breath and are quickly reminded of how nice it feels to be far away from those busy city streets. As the air hits our lungs with a nourishing infusion of vitality, we look around and see people laughing, connecting, and exuding a rare authenticity that only presents itself after dark. If we could, we’d bottle this unusual hint of clarity. But we can’t, so instead we’ll just attempt to carry the remnants of this feeling forever. ■

DECK THE HALLS

BY MEGAN VENZIN

REMEMBER THE UTTERANCES OF “NEW YORK IS DEAD?” THAT PHRASE SOUNDS SO FOOLISH NOW AS OUR PROUD CITY PROVES RESILIENT ONCE AGAIN (SOUNDED FOOLISH THEN

AVALON EMERSON AND BEN UFO

Avalon Em

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David Bla

Knockdown Center 52-19 Flushing Ave Maspeth, NY 11378 December 3rd, 2021 If you’re a fan of breakbeats, analog electronic music, or something equally funky be sure to check out queer producer and DJ Avalon Emerson this December when she brings her Berlin-inspired sound back to Knockdown Center, a renovated warehouse venue which recently entered the ranks of DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs. Amidst relocating upstate during the pandemic with her partner, the Coachella and Pitchfork Festival veteran has also been hard at work on a brand new album that she may very well show off at this late-night Brooklyn affair (and if you have the chance, venture downstairs to BASEMENT, a spot that aspires to be as hedonistic as the highly-exclusive Berghain, where Emerson is a familiar face.) Ben UFO, another sound design whiz who cut his teeth in the haunts of London, joins her on the lineup. For tickets visit https://knockdown.center/

NEW YORK

we must say, the city has never looked more alive. Theatres are full! Festive attractions are packed! And fullyvaccinated tourists from all around the globe are accepting the invitation to come and see all that the big city has to offer. So gather together with your friends and family and revive those annual traditions we put on hold last year, and don’t forget to start a few new ones too. The next two months are packed full of shows, sights and parties, each carefully crafted to help you end 2021 on a high night, and start 2022 off right.

NY SCOPE

TOO, IF WE’RE BEING HONEST). The holidays are here, and

ck 2020

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

MURRAY HILL: A MURRAY LITTLE CHRISTMAS Joe’s Pub 425 LaFayette St. (at Astor Pl.) New York, NY 10003 December 14th-18th Murray Hill aka Mr. Showbiz (recurring star in Amy Schumer’s forthcoming Life & Beth on Hulu) is bringing his next-level yuletide variety show to Joe’s Pub for four nights in December along with a cast of guest stars like burlesque legend Bridget Everett as well as Angie Pontani, Inyang Bassey, Ike Ufomadu, The Nutcrackers Band, and many more. Mr. Showbiz says he hopes this show will pull you out of your state of existential dread and carry you through the holiday madness. It’s been a tough year and you deserve to laugh - that’s a fact. Tuesday night shows have a special $10 ticket price. Get yours at www.publictheatre.org

Murray H

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NEW YORK

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Film Phot

The Cutting Room 44 E. 32nd St. New York, NY 10016 December 11th & 18th TWIRLED HISTORY star Dominick Pupa is back with a one-man show that will have you dancing in the aisles and howling with laughter. The NYC-based artist developed his unique style as a warm-up comedian for shows like The View, Tyra Banks and Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, meanwhile honing his craft as a solo performer. In this special holiday extravaganza he promises to offer his signature brand of merrymaking complete with “Jokes. Songs. One Elf. No Shelf.” For tickets visit https://www.dommentary.com/

HONEY DIJON Knockdown Center 52-19 Flushing Ave Maspeth, NY 11378 December 17th, 2021 This month Knockdown Center’s lineup is so nice we’re listing them twice. On the 17th catch Honey Dijon, a force in dance music who also happens to be a champion for trans visibility and LGBTQ+ artists in the space. The New York native will ignite the dancefloor with her irresistible blend of high-energy house, techno and disco beats, which is perfect, because we know you need to blow off some steam before Christmas travels are underway and mom is micro-managing your work in the kitchen. For tickets visit https://knockdown.center/

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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Honey Dijo

ELROW PRESENTS: ROWS ATTACKS! Avant Gardner 140 Stewart Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11237 December 11th, 2021 Are you ready to shake it with sexy space aliens and aspiring astronauts? The Ibiza-born party brand, Elrow, will revive their acclaimed ROWSATTACKS! themed gathering this season with a very special tour stop at Brooklyn’s famed Avant Gardner. All ticket holding space cadets will be transported through a confetti-filled vortex of visual and sonic fanfare with sets from artists like Andrea Oliva, Archie Hamilton, Bastian Bux, Chelina Manuhutu, Cloonee, Detlef, Ilario Alicante, J. Worra, Lee Foss, LP Giobbi, Martin Ikin, Tini Gessler, Westend and more. So grab your helmets and your portal guns, and prepare for a day into night bash that’s out of this world. Mark our words, on December 11th you’ll see why the folks at Elrow are considered to be among the galaxy’s top party makers! For tickets visit https://za.fan/elrowP1 ElRow

GRAND CENTRAL HOLIDAY FAIR

s Tour

Attack

Vanderbilt Hall 89 E. 42nd St. New York, NY 10017 December 18th - 24th, 2021 There’s nothing more magical than Grand Central Terminal all done up for Christmas! If you’ve got a Metro-North commute on the horizon, be sure to take a stroll through the Grand Central Holiday Fair, which boasts all of the artisan creations and upscale booths you could want, in the cozy indoors of one of New York City’s most famous architectural sites (if you don’t mind the cold we recommend checking out the markets at Union Square, Columbus Circle and Bryant Park’s Winter Village, too.) Find something for everyone on your list, from the friend with the impeccable self-care routine to the chocolate lovers in your life, Grand Central Holiday Fair is the gift that keeps on giving, and in terms of convenience it really can’t be beat. For hours and more information visit https://www.grandcentralterminal.com/ Grand Cen

tral Holiday

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

Fair

Important Facts About DOVATO

This is only a brief summary of important information about DOVATO and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and treatment. What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO? If you have both human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including: • Resistant HBV. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV infection before you start treatment with DOVATO. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the HBV can change (mutate) during your treatment with DOVATO and become harder to treat (resistant). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in people who have HIV-1 and HBV infection. • Worsening of HBV infection. If you have HBV infection and take DOVATO, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking DOVATO. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. ° Do not run out of DOVATO. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your DOVATO is all gone. ° Do not stop DOVATO without first talking to your healthcare provider. ° If you stop taking DOVATO, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your liver function and monitor your HBV infection. It may be necessary to give you a medicine to treat hepatitis B. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking DOVATO. For more information about side effects, see “What are possible side effects of DOVATO?” What is DOVATO? DOVATO is a prescription medicine that is used without other HIV-1 medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults: who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines when their healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements. HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in children. Who should not take DOVATO? Do not take DOVATO if you: • have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine that contains dolutegravir or lamivudine. • take dofetilide. Taking DOVATO and dofetilide can cause side effects that may be serious or life-threatening. What should I tell my healthcare provider before using DOVATO? Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection. • have kidney problems. • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. One of the medicines in DOVATO (dolutegravir) may harm your unborn baby. ° Your healthcare provider may prescribe a different medicine than DOVATO if you are planning to become pregnant or if pregnancy is confirmed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. ° If you can become pregnant, your healthcare provider may perform a pregnancy test before you start treatment with DOVATO. ° If you can become pregnant, you and your healthcare provider should talk about the use of effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with DOVATO. ° Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are planning to become pregnant, you become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant during treatment with DOVATO. ©2021 ViiV Healthcare or licensor. DLLADVT210014 March 2021 Produced in USA.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take DOVATO. ° You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. ° One of the medicines in DOVATO (lamivudine) passes into your breastmilk. ° Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines interact with DOVATO. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. • You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with DOVATO. • Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take DOVATO with other medicines. What are possible side effects of DOVATO? DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO?” • Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with DOVATO. Stop taking DOVATO and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters or peeling of the skin; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; problems breathing. • Liver problems. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with DOVATO. Liver problems, including liver failure, have also happened in people without a history of liver disease or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or “tea-colored” urine; light-colored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area. • Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Too much lactic acid is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms that could be signs of lactic acidosis: feel very weak or tired; unusual (not normal) muscle pain; trouble breathing; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy or lightheaded; and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat. • Lactic acidosis can also lead to severe liver problems, which can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the signs or symptoms of liver problems which are listed above under “Liver problems.” • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female or very overweight (obese). • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after you start taking DOVATO.

SO MUCH GOES INTO WHO I AM HIV MEDICINE IS ONE PART OF IT. Why could DOVATO be right for you? DOVATO is proven to help control HIV with just 2 medicines in 1 pill. That means fewer medicines* in your body while taking DOVATO. It’s proven as effective as an HIV treatment with 3 or 4 medicines. Learn more about fewer medicines at DOVATO.com DOVATO is a complete prescription regimen to treat HIV-1 in adults who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines when their doctor determines they meet certain requirements. Results may vary. *As compared with 3- or 4-drug regimens.

What are possible side effects of DOVATO? (cont’d) • The most common side effects of DOVATO include: headache; nausea; diarrhea; trouble sleeping; tiredness; and anxiety. These are not all the possible side effects of DOVATO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Where can I find more information? • Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. • Go to DOVATO.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling. Trademark is owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies. March 2021 DVT:6PIL

New to treatment? Considering a switch?

Ask your doctor about DOVATO.

SUNRISE ALEGRIA - NEW YEAR’S DAY 74 Wythe Ave. Brooklyn, NY January 1st, 2022 Keep the vibes high as you roll into New Year’s Day at Ric Sena’s iconic Sunrise Alegria party featuring two floors (“The Room” and “The Roof”) devoted to DJs, dancing and damn good times. Sena’s production design promises to kick 2022 off in style while names like Ana Flor, Edu Quintas and Jesus Montanez bring the beats to keep your spirits soaring from noon until well after sunset. Consider yourself warned: this hot and bothered hang is for the wild ones. Tickets are available at 222 8th Ave., or online at https://www.ricsenapresents.com Sunrise Ale

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MACHINE HALLUCINATION ARTECHOUSE® 439 W 15th Street New York, NY 10011 Runs through January 2nd Refik Anadol’s critically acclaimed Machine Hallucination returns to ARTECHOUSE®’s Chelsea location for a limited run through January 2nd. Fans of the cutting-edge projection art space may remember Anadol’s creation as the inaugural exhibition, which includes photos and footage of NYC, and is loosely inspired by its ever changing landscape. There’s a new twist this time around though - the Rx bar at ARTECHOUSE® is finally here and the expert mixologists will be slinging out craft cocktails for guests to enjoy while a world of visuals takes shape around them. For tickets visit https://www.artechouse.com/location/nyc/

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE ORCHESTRA WORLD TOUR Carnegie Hall 881 7th Ave. New York, NY 10019 January 8th, 2022 If your New Year’s resolution requires that you get in touch with your inner gamer, then you’re in luck! Kick off 2022 with more than 100 classically trained musicians as they bring to life new music from the hit 2020 remake of SQUARE ENIX’s classic video game, Final Fantasy VII. For this edition of the Final Fantasy world tour, Grammy Award-winning conductor Arnie Roth leads the orchestra and fans on a melodic retelling of the adventures of Cloud, Barret and Tifa, with exclusive high-definition backdrops from makers of the beloved epic. Oh, and Cloud does drag especially well this time around, so definitely keep an eye out for those impeccably revamped moments. For tickets visit www.carnegiehall.org

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REALITY GAYS LIVE! WITH MATTIE AND POODLE! Gramercy Theatre 127 E. 23rd St. New York, NY 10010 January 28th & 29th, 2022 “Bring me my red bag and my makeup!” because we’re doing it LIVE! Jake “Poodle” Anthony and Matt “Mattie” Marr are taking their celebrated sass on the road, and fans of the Reality Gays: Trash TV and GayDD podcast will have a chance to see the southern duo throw shade IRL at Gramercy Theatre for two nights only this January. Enthralled by the lengths some wild lovers will go to find their match, Mattie & Poodle have turned this obsession toward outrageous reality shows like TLC’s 90-Day Fiance, and trust these gay BFFs have plenty of shade to throw at these passionate soulmate-seekers. That said, it’s all in good fun - aren’t we all looking for our little slice of heaven? Tickets available at www.livenation.com

Mattie and

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Ben Crawford & Meghan Picerno in Broadway’s The Phantom of the Opera. Photo by Matthew Murphy

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BY BEN RIMALOWER FORGET THE TIMES SQUARE BALL DROPPING ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, THE FABLED BLOCK HAS NEVER BEEN MORE LIT THAN IT WAS FOR THE REOPENING OF BROADWAY’S LONGEST-RUNNING MUSICAL, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, OCTOBER 22ND.

The countdown began at 7:30pm with powerful speakers blasting the overture through its thunderous climax as the iconic chandelier was broadcast hurtling down the familiar hundreds of feet of LED screen. The after affair was a Broadway block party with the show’s landmark composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber (Baron Lloyd-Webber, thanks to the Queen) and DJ (Beats by Dre, and all) mixing everything from his own tunes to Lady Gaga to the Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out,” in a booth perched above 44th Street. Slightly less exciting was the Tony Awards, which (to be fair) had a lot of business to get through between letting the world know Broadway has reopened post-COVID shutdown and paying at least some lip service to a dozen or so decades of Black subjugation and marginalization, not to mention a longer than usual “In Memoriam’’ segment, given the more than two years that have passed since the 2019 Tony Awards. One surprise was Jeremy O. Harris’s Slave Play (perhaps too racially and sexually provocative for the voters) losing the big prize to Matthew Lopez’s The Inheritance (acclaimed at the time but bloated and not as important in retrospect). Both plays had closed prior the shutdown, but the good news is Slave Play is back for a limited run (August Wilson Theatre, through January 23rd). Another not-to-be-missed production shuttering in January is the acclaimed revival of the Tony Kushner-Jeanine Tesori musical Caroline, or Change (Studio 54, through January 9th). I was too young, shallow, and distracted to fully appreciate the original incarnation of the chamber opera in 2004, although I certainly fell hard for Tonya Pinkins’s watershed performance,

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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which should have won the Tony over Idina Menzel in Wicked. Back then, the story of a Black maid working for a Jewish family in 1963 Louisiana as the Civil Rights movement was gaining momentum seemed remote and uninteresting to me. Maybe I was just drunk. This time, from the moment I walked into the theater and saw the Confederate statue center stage, I was transfixed. By the time Sharon D. Clarke delivered the showstopping 11 o’clock number“Lot’s Wife,”I was ugly crying under my mask.

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For anyone concerned, Broadway theaters currently require both masks and proof of vaccination. Broadway box office grosses appear to be down for some shows. The Broadway League (a theatre trade association) has dispensed with its usual reporting of detailed sales data in favor of a weekly aggregate of all main stem shows, so it’s hard to say specifically, but a couple of recently opened acclaimed shows have posed early closing notices. Still, if you want to see hot tickets Hadestown, Hamilton, or Six, you better get on it. And all shows tend to get a boost

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over the tourist trod holiday season. Historically, producers have taken advantage of this with augmented holiday performance schedules, sometimes as many as 10 shows/week, although this strategy is under scrutiny right now due to a groundswell of support for actors’ labor rights. The theater piece I’m talking about most these days is actually the Netflix film adaptation of Rent author Jonathan Larson’s Tick Tick Boom, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, and Robin De Jesus. Its easily

the best movie musical in years, although I still haven’t seen Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake (opening in cinemas December 10th) and should mention I also loved Jon Chu’s recent movie version of Miranda’s In The Heights. The first new Broadway show to start performances in December, on the 6th, is MJ The Musical (Neil Simon Theatre, open ended). Yes, that MJ - Michael Jackson. This is the longawaited jukebox musical of his songs, telling his life story, anchored in pre-production for his 1992

Dangerous Tour. Directed and choreographed by ballet master Christopher Wheeldon, who had a hit with Broadway’s An American in Paris, it could be good. I don’t know whether I am more curious about how I will feel about it, or about how it will be received. Another powder keg of questions awaits the December 20th first preview of Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster in The Music Man (Winter Garden Theatre, open ended). The perennial favorite from Broadway’s Golden Age is often considered one of the musical theater’s finest examples of the form. Disgraced mega producer Scott Rudin has removed his name, but it remains to be seen if his taint lingers to damage the production. There are also concerns about the misogyny inherent to the piece. In that regard, my money’s on Sutton and hit maker director Jerry Zaks (Hello, Dolly!) to navigate the story in a way that will work for today’s audiences without diminishing what is good about the show. But we shall see! The final Broadway show to begin this year, on December 21st, will be Skeleton Crew (Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, through February 20th) by Dominique Morisseau (Ain’t Too Proud), starring Phylicia Rashad and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. This relevant drama, exploring shifting class alignments in a Black Detroit family during the 2008 financial crisis, was well regarded in its 2016 Off-Broadway run and truly no performance by superhuman thespian Phylicia Rashad should ever be skipped.

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Some Off-Broadway highlights of the moment include: • Black No More (Public Theater, January 11th through February 27th), Oscar winner John Ridley (12 Years A Slave) and Tariq Trotter (aka Black Thought from The Roots) have created this new musical, set in the Harlem Renaissance, and based in part on the Afrofuturist novel by George S. Schuyler. It features a first-rate cast including Brandon Victor Dixon (Judas in the John Legend Jesus Christ Superstar) and Tonywinning diva divine Lillias White. • Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Minetta Lane Theatre, January 11th through February 20th), a fresh look on Eugene O’Neill’s classic starring stage stalwarts Elizabeth Marvel, Bill Camp and Ato Blankson-Wood, directed by the brilliant Robert O’Hara (Slave Play). • Intimate Apparel (Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center, January 13th through March 6th), Two-time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage musicalizes her popular play, in collaboration with opera and theater composer Ricky Ian Gordon and sought-after director Bartlett Sher. Straddling the line between theater and cabaret (and straddling several other lines as well) counter-culture legends Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman recreate their star making demented duo of louche, lush, and loud lounge entertainment in Kiki & Herb SLEIGH at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music Strong Harvey Theater, through December 4th).You only have a few chances to catch them, but it would be a mortal sin to miss the biggest holiday resurrection since Easter – and I mean the first one. For more “alt cabaret,” the coolest venue in town, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, has reopened with some major talents to celebrate the season. • Supernova Bridget Everett holds court on the stage where Amy Schumer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Abby, Ilana and all the other cool kids first fell for her tsunami of voice, comedy, and “Titties”of course, with opener Celisse (through December 4th). • RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Peppermint (the first trans woman to originate a leading role on Broadway, in Head Over Heels), performs A Girl Like Me (December 5th and 6th). • The self-proclaimed“hardest working middle-aged man in show business,” preeminent drag king Murray Hill delivers the old school joy like no one can in A Murray Little Christmas, with opener Ike Ufomadu (December 14th through 18th).

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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• Matt Rogers, the voice of the iconic Twink on Netflix’s Q-Force co-hosts along with SNL’s Bowen Yang, of the essential podcast Las Culturistas, in his deliciously incorrigible Have You Heard of Christmas? (December 19th and 20th). • Sandra Bernhard, the unquestionable ne plus ultra of downtown, puts her requisite capper on the year that was in Bern It Down, with opener Unitard (December 26th through 31st). • You have got a little time to recover for the wallop of Kinky Boots’ Kevin Smith Kirkwood reprising his uncanny and unforgettable Classic Whitney (January 24th only). Big name cabaret abounds at Feinstein’s/54 Below with a host of stars to delight, notably: • The woman who made cabaret once again a household word across America, “real housewife” Luann De Lesseps stars in her brand-new A Very Countess Christmas (through December 13th). • Broadway and TV star Norm Lewis (Porgy and Bess, Scandal) debuts (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays (December 16th through 24th). • The man whose very name signifies first class cabaret premieres Get Happy: Michael Feinstein Celebrates The Judy Garland Centennial (December 15th through 26th). • Storm Large, of the genre-bending band Pink Martini and the reality show Rock Star, appears December 20th and 21st. • Broadway’s original Annie, Andrea McArdle, is even better onstage than she is on Cameo. Book both and make her tell her Carol Channing story! (December 27th through December 29th). • Tony nominated sisters Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway have been singing together since long before they recorded Ann’s theme song for The Nanny. Their latest joint is Broadway The Calla-Way (January 4th through 8th). • “The Four Phantoms” (Brent Barrett, John Cudia, Franc D’Ambrosio, and Ciarán Sheehan) deliver more than just the music of the night (January 13th through 15th).

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John Lloyd Young

• Her mom was the mother of sitcoms, so does that make Lucie Arnaz a TV show or at least the sister to one (a sis-com)? She’s also a bonafide Broadway star and will remind us why in I Got The Job! Songs From My Musical Past (January 19th through 22nd). • The latest installment of long running series Sondheim Unplugged celebrates its new recording on Yellow Sound Label and available wherever music streams (January 23rd). • He won a Tony playing Frankie Valli and is back to make the ladies (and many of us gentlemen) swoon, John Lloyd Young is Broadway’s Jersey Boy (January 25th through 30th). A notable in cabaret and jazz is that we have a new venue, Chelsea Table + Stage, and the perfect show to experience it for the first-time would-be singer songwriter Anthony Nunziata’s Together for Christmas album release concert (December 4th). Of course, if it’s jazz you want, Birdland is known as “The Jazz Corner of The World.”It is a wonderful place to just drop by early or late whenever you’re in midtown and feel like hearing fabulous music, but especially every Monday for Jim Caruso’s open mic Cast Party and every Tuesday for Susie Mosher’s hysterical The Lineup. Other special highlights of the season are: • A Swinging Birdland Christmas (now in its 12th year) starring the gifted Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch (December 21st through 25th). There is no better accompaniment for your holiday parties. • Marilyn Maye is easily the queen of cabaret. In fact, it is an understatement considering she was Johnny Carson’s favorite singer and counted Ella Fitzgerald among her fans. (December 29th through January 2nd). And finally, my podcast co-host, Daniel Nolen, and I have our own weekly comedy variety and game show, Cast Offs with Ben and Daniel, at 6:30pm on Wednesdays, starting December 8th at the den of the demimonde, Club Cumming. We would be really tickled if y’all dropped by. ■

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

Lucie Arnaz

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Billy Stritch, Klea Blackhurst and Jim Caruso start in Swinging Birdland Christmas

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NEW YORK BAR SOURCE BAR SOURCE Edited by Jeffrey James Keyes

CHELSEA BARRACUDA Cool music, cute crowds, wild drag shows and talent competitions hosted on the tiny stage in the rear. 275 W. 22nd St. at Eighth Ave., NYC 212-645-8613

BOXERS CHELSEA Big gay sports bar with games on flat-screens, pool tables and a smoking patio. A pizza oven dispenses mouth-watering pies, but the bartenders are even hotter. 37 W. 20th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., NYC 212-624-5942. boxersnyc.com

THE EAGLE This dark and cruisy leather-and-Levi’s clubs boasts a great rooftop deck and popular events for specific fetishes. 554 W. 28th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-473-1866. eagle-ny.com

GYM Popular after work sports bar with plasma-screen TVs broadcasting games, a pool table and a basement dugout. 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 for the punky and funky, this 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

BOXERS WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

FAIRYTAIL LOUNGE Glittery Centaurs and other enchanted-forest motifs distinguish this cozy lounge in way-west HK with theme parties and guest DJs. 500 W. 48th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-648-3897

Boasting NYC’s Best Happy Hour seven days a week, this way uptown outpost of the gay bar phenomenon always offers incredible eye candy. 3820 Broadway at 159th St., NYC. boxersnyc.com

FLAMING SADDLES

WEST VILLAGE

When not serving vodka sodas in glass steins, bartenders jump on the bar for boot-scootin’ to Achy Breaky-type tunes. 793 Ninth Ave. at 53rd St., NYC 212-713-0481. flamingsaddles.com/nyc

HARDWARE Enjoy cheap drinks at the front bar and fun tunes on the rear dance floor when live performers like Jan Sport, Marti Gould Cummings, Brita Filter and Paige Turner aren’t on stage. 697 Tenth Ave between 47th and 48th Sts., NYC 212-924-9885. hardware-bar.com

INDUSTRY Big venue with couch-filled nooks, a game room with a pool table, and industrial design that’s a nod to its parking-garage past. Tina Burner and Kizha Carr shake things up. 355 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 646-476-2747. industry-bar.com This neighborhood fixture attracts tourists, locals and theater pros from both sides of the footlights with strong drinks, cheap prices and friendly staff. 656 Ninth Ave. at 46th St., NYC 212-307-1503

POSH A mixed bag of Hell’s Kitchenites and the occasional celeb spill out onto the sidewalk as this lounge spins pop and dance tunes. 405 W. 51st St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-957-2222. poshbarnyc.com

RISE BAR

REBAR

This upscale boy boîte had places to perch on multiple levels, but a kickin’ sound system makes it unlikely you’ll settle down. 369 W. 46th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-333-2554. ritzbarandlounge.com

EAST VILLAGE CLUB CUMMING Willkommen to this sassy, performance-based club from Alan Cumming, Benjamin Maisani, Darren Dryden and Daniel Nardicio. Picture backstage at a Berlin nightclub where anything goes from Drag Race viewing parties to (of course!) cabaret. 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 seeking debauchery from the naughty to the nightlife glitterati. 29 Second Ave. between First and Second Sts., NYC

NOWHERE Ultra-mellow East Villager with distressed 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 Find folks enjoying video games, a pool table, a jukebox and the diverse crowd in an exposed-brick space with an uncomplicated vibe. 447 E. 13th St. at Ave. A., NYC 212-477-9979. hoenixbarnyc.com

HELL’S KITCHEN/MIDTOWN WEST ATLAS SOCIAL CLUB Josh Wood, Benjamin Maisani, Pablo Raimondi, and Asi Mazar hit a home run with this HK hotspot, where celebs like Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, and Cher have made cameos. 753 9th Ave. between 50th and 51st Sts., NYC 212-262-8527. atlassocialclub.com

BARRAGE This HK lounge has au courant accouterments and outrageous drinks. Late happy hour from 11pm to midnight is the perfect time for a discount. 401 W. 47th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-586-9390

BOXERS HK This outpost of the Chelsea sports bar features a large ground floor, basement game room dubbed The Dog Pound, and big rooftop patio. 742 Ninth Ave. at 50th St., NYC 212-951-1518. boxersnyc.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 212 691-5127

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Home to the local lesbian crowd (and a few boys), this small, unpretentious bar features a capricious décor heavy on fish. 281 W. 12th St. at Fourth St., NYC 212-243-9041. cubbyholebar.com

THE DUPLEX

Downstairs at the city’s oldest continuing cabaret/piano bar, the staff performs while 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

Manly neighborhood bar with a diverse crowd. 115 Christopher St. between Bleecker and Hudson Sts., NYC 212-627-2044

HENRIETTA HUDSON

9TH AVENUE SALOON

Acclaimed mixologist Johnny Swet sets the scene at this cocktail lounge, ironically situated at the former headquarters of NYC’s Bureau of Prohibition. The gastropub is a tribute to its great Irish namesake and displays a collection of related relics. 45 W. 27th St. at Sixth Avenue., NYC 212-213-3066. oscarwildenyc.com Sexy Chelsea hangout where G Lounge used to be with ondustrial décor and sexy staff drawing all kinds of men (especially local muscle bears). 225 W. 19th St. between Seventh and Eighth Aves., NYC 212-929-1085. rebarchelsea.com

CUBBYHOLE

Kings of NYC nightlife joined forces for this fab yet unpretentious watering hole right where you can dance all night every Friday and Saturday. 859 9th Avenue., NYC 646-892-3313. risebarnyc.com

THE RITZ BAR & LOUNGE

THERAPY The modern duplex draws a fierce crowd to weekly shows by legendary performers like Pixie Aventura. Don’t miss Paige Turner’s infamous Sunday night Slurp show. 348 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 212-397-1700. therapy-nyc.com

EAST SIDE THE TOOL BOX This two-level dive bar with a cozy downstairs hosts parties with DJs and go-go boys on Friday and Saturday. 1742 Second Ave., between 90th and 91st Sts., NYC 212-348-1288. thetoolboxnyc.com

THE TOWNHOUSE Two levels of mature gents and their younger fans swaying to live songs from the Jerry Herman oeuvre. 236 E. 58th St. between Second and Third Aves., NYC 212-754-4649. townhouseny.com

UNCLE CHARLIE’S After a remodel that put its piano in the center of the action, this effervescent lounge is once again going strong with live entertainment and multiple bars. 139 E. 45th St. between Third and Lexington Aves., NYC 212-661-9097. unclecharliesnyc.com

UPPER WEST SIDE

Popular lesbian lounge with a multicultural crowd. 438 Hudson St. at Morton St., NYC 212-924-3347.henriettahudson.com

JULIUS’

On a normal night, the city’s oldest gay bar is a comfy place for cheap drinks, burgers and fries. Once a month, Mattachine turns it into a crowded, rowdy dance party 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. Stop in and “sing out, Louise!” 59 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-243-9323. mariescrisis.us

MONSTER

Sheridan Square stalwart where fab guys and dolls sing along to show tunes upstairs while DJs spin for a diverse crowd downstairs. 80 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-924-3558 Open Mon-Fri, 4pm-4am; Sat & Sun, 2pm-4am. monsterbarnyc.com

PIECES

Bop to retro dance tracks or laugh at drag queen antics like Ms. Vodka Stinger’s B-Movie Mondays. 8 Christopher St. at Sixth Ave., NYC 212-929-9291. piecesbar.com

ROCKBAR

For boys who prefer fur, there’s this butched-up bar with a fist-pumping soundtrack, cheap drinks and very sexy parties. 185 Christopher St. at Weehawken St., NYC. rockbarnyc.com

STONEWALL

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

TY’S

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

OUTER BOROUGHS & BEYOND ALBATROSS

Homey Astoria bar with a pool table and jukebox. 36-19 24th Ave. at 38th St., Astoria, NYC 718-204-9045. albatrossastoria.com

SUITE This adorable spot attracts Columbia gays with leopard-print lamps, leather banquettes and drag entertainers. 992 Amsterdam Ave. between 109th and 110th Sts., NYC 212-222-4600. suitenyc.com

WEST END LOUNGE

ICON ASTORIA

Beefcake dancers and NYC nightlife legends flock to this unassuming Astoria watering hole for great beats and impressive drag. 31-84 33rd Street., Astoria, NY 347-808-7592. iconastoria.com

Columbia boys and neighborhood cubs converge at this Morningside watering hole for Topless Tuesdays, karaoke nights, and local drag queens. 955 West End Avenue between 107th and Duke Ellington Blvd., NYC 212-531-4759. thewestendlounge.com

GINGER’S

UPTOWN

B-burg bar with a spacious patio. 559 Lorimer St. at Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, 718-599-4444. metropolitanbarny.com

ALIBI LOUNGE Popular Harlem bar that’s a great spot for after work. Bring some cash for the jay-dropping go-go boys on Man Crush Mondays. 2376 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. at 139th St., NYC 917-472-7789.

Popular with lesbians, this long, dark bar has a jukebox and an outdoor garden. 363 Fifth Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn 718-788-0924

METROPOLITAN

THE ROSEMONT NYC

Mixed cocktail bar with eclectic entertainment and a big back deck. 63 Montrose Ave., Brooklyn 347-987-3101. therosemontnyc.com

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NEW YORK DIRECTORY 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

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

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

ATTORNEYS

Paul Evans Catering

David Stern Architecture www.davidsternarchitecture.com

Bing, Steven E.

276 5th Ave, Ste 1008 NYC �� 212 286-1666

20 W 20th St NYC ��212 321-1822 NYC ��212 243-4494 www.paulevanscatering.com

Chianese & Reilly Law, P.C.

CLOTHING

122 E 42nd St, Ste 3900 NYC �� 212 953-6447 100 Merrick Rd, Ste 103E Rockville Centre, NY �� 516 599-2020 www.awclawyer.com

Midtown Integrative Medicine 509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC �� 212 906-9111 www.michaelazizmd.com

Dave’s New York

581 Ave of the Americas, NYC Toll Free ��800 543-8558 www.davesnewyork.com

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

Jackson Boutique

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

CONTRACTORS/CONSTRUCTION

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC

COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY

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

ALLERGIES Aziz, Michael, M.D., FRSM

CATERING

ARCHITECTURE

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

www.jacksonboutiquenyc.com

ABS Design & Construction

NYC ��212 731-0642 www.abs-construction-nyc.com

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

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021

NEW YORK DIRECTORY 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.

COUNSELING/SUBURBAN

DENTISTS

Kingan, Peter L., Ph.D.

Babushkin, Howard, D.D.S., L.L.C.

31 Oak St Patchogue, NY ��631 447-6425

DATING SERVICES SEE ALSO INTRODUCTION SERVICES

ManMate

NYC ��212 564-4025 www.manmate.com

740 West End Ave, Ste 1 Cell ��917 923-2257

ManMate Dinners For 8

Dicker, Phyllis D., L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W., B.C.D.

Wheaton, Grant

NYC ��718 855-5171

NYC ��212 564-4025 www.manmate.com Dating Coach NYC ��212 564-4025

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

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

VILL AGE APOTHECARY T H E C O M M U N I T Y P H A R M AC Y T H AT C A R E S

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

for your

1133 Broadway #913 NYC ��212 470-9024 www.nychangemanagement.com

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Schwartz, Alan, M.D., Psychiatrist

fOR OTC PuRCHAsEs & nEw CusTOmERs OnLY. LImIT 1 PER CusTOmER

West Village/Chelsea NYC ��212 727-0923

Tallent, Marc, Ph.D.

51 Fifth Ave NYC ��212 645-5795 http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/33692

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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

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com

EMPLOYMENT

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

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)

Peloso-Barnes, Julia A., CFP, CPM, CRPC Purchase, NY ��914 225-6391 www.advisor.morganstanley.com/the-pelosobarnes-group

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)

FITNESS/GYMS/PERSONAL TRAINERS

1700 Stadium Way LA ��213 847-LAFD www.joinlafd.org 700 E Temple St, B-38 LA ��866 444-LAPD www.joinlapd.com

EVENT PLANNING & EVENT SPACE/RENTALS

Mercedes Club

550 W 54th St NYC ��212 265-1111 www.themercedesclub.com

METROSOURCE NY - DEC21/JAN22

Articles inside

KARAMO BROWN

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

CARMEN CARRERA