OMG 1
OMG 2
OMG 3
OMG 4
OMG 5
When I turned 30 last year, it wasn’t as big of a deal as I had previously made it out to be. I immaturely thought that anyone in their 30’s was too old to go out and enjoy the nightlife. Being in one’s 30’s meant settling down and completely avoiding any party-esque lifestyle. By the time I turned 25 years old, each and every birthday after that was solely viewed as just one more year closer to turning the big 3-0. Now as I look back, being in my 30’s is much more of a happy and rewarding experience as opposed to when I was in my 20’s. Back in my 20’s, I was still struggling with who I was and who I wanted to be. I was constantly broke. I was still in the midst of making ridiculously bad ideas that I have now learned from. What was all the big fuss about turning 30 and getting older in general besides my own personal thoughts? To coincide with our Youth & Beauty Issue, the cliché sayings hold true: Age is honestly nothing but a number and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Love,
Okie Okesene Tilo,
Executive Editor P.S. Happy 1-year Anniversary to our friends & family at Flamingo in St. Pete, Florida! I was 18 years old, newly graduated from Armwood High School and about to start my very first semester at the University of South Florida. Back then, I wanted to become a lawyer. I was 18 years old
Today, I am 30 years old, the editor for OMG! Magazine and the marketing director for The RITZ Ybor in Tampa, FL.
OMG 6
Oil of Olay® Regenerist DNA Superstructure UV Cream with SPF 25 Unlike other moisturizers, this SPF 25 cream adds softness to your skin without that expected greasy film that other moistures may leave.
Demi Moore The 47 year-old superstar never fails in looking prettier and more youthful as the years go by. The ultimate M.I.L.F. has even managed to look younger than she did back in her 1980’s Brat Pack days.
Sojourn by Elan S Elan Sassoon’s professional product line is making waves in the hair industry with its high grade quality shampoos, conditioners, sculpting taffy products and wet/dry gels.
Cherry Softlips® Enjoy the classic taste of cherry ChapStick® with an added SPF 20 to leave your lips silky smooth all day long with this proven lip balm.
Rachel Zoe The most famous American fashion stylist is back on Bravo with her hit reality series, The Rachel Zoe Project that follows the icon and her associates as they dress everyone from Demi Moore to Cameron Diaz.
This issue’s column will focus on what health & beauty products EVERYONE should be using as well as tributes to a fashion and an age-defying icon that EVERYONE should aspire to be like. OMG 8
Crest® 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects Experience an even teeth whitening without those noticeable white spots that other whitening pastes, strips and trays can leave.
Neutrogena® Micro-mist Airbrush Sunless Tan This spray is a must-have for all tanorexics who happen to miss a day soaking up the sun. A quick fix that can darken anyone up to two shades. signature modern, colorful and playful style.
OMG 9
Youth & Beauty
"W
hen people find out how old I am (I turn 25 this year), they are usually quite shocked. I'm carded at every bar and club that I frequent and occasionally am even asked to show my ID to purchase R-rated DVD's. The absolute most embarrassing moments are when I'm pulled off a dancefloor by a security guard requesting to get a second look at my license. The best line I've heard yet is, "Wow, they make great fake ID's in Florida!" Despite these occasional annoyances, I know that at age 35 I'll be more than happy to still be considered a "twink." And instead of rolling my eyes when asked what my secret is, I feel obliged to reply: Don't smoke. Don't drink. Cover your face when you tan. Oh, and a little La Mer skin cream won't hurt." - model Hunter Woodham
OMG 10
OMG 11
Photographer: Gary Randall Model: Hunter Woodham
OMG 12
Photographer: Gary Randall Model: Hunter Woodham
OMG 13
1.
2.
Its no big secret that celebrities dabble a little with plastic surgery. Some, however take it a bit further than others. So we created the OMG! spectrum of Cosmetic Destruction. 1.) Excellent- Megan Fox
3.
4.
2.) Satisfactory- Ashlee Simpson 3.) Fair- Heidi Montag 4.) Poor- Courtney Love 5.) Unsatisfactory- Nicole Kidman
5.
6.) Downright Inhuman- Jocelyn Wildenstein
6. OMG 14
OMG 15
OMG 16
OMG 17
OMG 18
OMG 19
W
hen I first heard Eminem’s debut single “My Name Is” back in 1999, I surely never thought I’d hear from him again in 2000. Or 2001. Or 2010. Eleven years after the release of his first single, Eminem has maintained a uniquely strong chart and pop culture presence. How many top ten artists saw us through the end of Clinton, all the way through Bush and into Obama? With his chart-topping new album “Recovery,” Eminem has proven himself to be a durable commercial commodity. While babes and boys come and go, what is it about this thirty-eight year old man that continues to intrigue?
Back in the late 1990’s, most commercial rap focused on babes and bling. Out of left field, Eminem’s debut single “My Name Is” displayed a self-depreciation and wit that set it apart. While lyrical references to Nine Inch Nails and Primus may date the track a bit, its funky and breezy beat has aged gracefully. Eminem’s debut single sounds as fresh today as it did when it dropped eleven years ago. The same cannot be said for most tracks released at the time. In the early years of his career, Eminem outraged and shocked with his graphically violent lyrics and cocky demeanor. Not a week went by without hearing the rapper accused of a homophobic or misogynist remark. As the social and political climate became more tepid and politically correct, Eminem remained singular and outspoken. While Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera bared it all to get the public’s attention, it was what we didn’t know about Eminem that kept us guessing. How serious were his remarks? Was he being tongue in cheek? Does he really want to dump his wife in the lake or was it just an extension of a public persona? OMG 20
The rebellious alpha male has always been very marketable. From James Dean to Vince Neil to Sylvester Stallone, the American public has always loved their men to be strong and cocky. Eminem certainly emerged as a post-modern version of this tried-and-true archetype. As his career unfolded, Eminem eventually revealed a dark vulnerability. In releases like his semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile and the bleak tale of fan-worship gone bad “Stan,” Emimen displayed a gritty genuineness otherwise absent from the pop landscape. Who knew the mocking self loathing of “My Name Is” would prove to be such a creative goldmine? As the second half of the 2000’s unfolded, Eminem consistently balanced his standard foul-mouthed raps with brutally honest explorations of drug addiction, depression and other gritty fare. His output remained fresh and interesting. While other long-term rap artists like Snoop Dogg have stayed on the radar by becoming cartoonish caricatures of themselves, Eminem has managed to mature respectably while remaining relevant. With his latest single, “Love The Way You Lie,” Eminem has paired up with Rihanna to release perhaps the most honest examination of love and violence to ever top the charts. His latest album “Recovery” finds Emimen at the top of his game, eleven years after his first top ten hit. As the music charts get increasingly vapid and young, this thirty-eight year old man from Detroit continues to intrigue. Eminem has built a long-term career by bravely airing out his insecurities and flaws in public. Love him or hate him, there is something captivating about watching someone forge their path with such honesty...missteps and all. While other artists rely on gimmicky wardrobes and facelifts to stay in the public’s favor, Emimen has done so by doing exactly the opposite. Eminem has stayed famous for being heroically flawed and human.
OMG 21
OMG 22
OMG 23
Steps
1. Use a primer such as M-A-C® Fix + or a good emulsification moisturizer. This will adhere the makeup for an “all day” look. 2. Apply lighter or brighter colors to the lid and create a crease line with a darker contrasting color. Highlight the brow bone. 3. The trick to a finished look is blend, blend, blend. The 217 brush makes this extremely easy. Follow up with a spritz of Fix+ to seal in the color and set your look.
Tips
1. Cleanse your face before application. Makeup will not adhere to a dirty face. 2. Apply mascara and eyeliner last. After applying eyeliner with a pencil/pen, seal in color with carbon eye shadow. 3. Highlight under the eyes for a glowing refreshed look. Highlight with a lighter powder or concealer. Finish with a powder overlay. 4. Lashes, Lashes, Lashes! Go to your local wig shop and buy weave glue, because it is black like the lashes and works better than eyelash glue.
M-A-C® Fix + can be used as a base moisturizer or as a finishing coat to seal in applied makeup. Beauty in a bottle. M-A-C® Carbon Shadow is a black shadow made with actual carbon particles that can be used as shadow, eyeliner, eyebrow filler or eyelash pigment. M-A-C® 217 Brush: This natural white goat hair brush can be used for anything from application to blending and cutting creases. For more information on M-A-C® products, please visit www.maccosmetics.com.
OMG 24
OMG 25
"What is wrong here,” I’ve constantly asked myself. “I’ve tried every product known to CVS Pharmacy. I wash my face twice a day… and I still have acne?"
I
remember it specifically. I felt feelings of frustration, powerlessness and despair. I was scheduled to meet a date in 3 hours. The night before when we met, my skin looked amazing and now I suddenly looked 10 years older. I was so annoyed I remember throwing my Braun® razor across the room. As the German razor smashed against the wall, I made a decision that it was time to beat this thing called skin. So I gave myself a challenge and I eventually learned its game. In fact, I learned it so well I became a New York Model. I want to now impart my knowledge upon you OMG! readers. There is an inherent lie in skincare for men. You won't believe me. You will continue to buy the same products and you will continue to age your skin faster than I can write this OMG! story. So let's stop here for a second. If you want to look younger, have less acne and actually try something new then by all means, please keep reading. Otherwise, get ready to look at your future through a leathery face. The two biggest components of skin care are moisture and protection. Moisture: Your skin was greasy when you were 17 years-old. You are not 17 anymore. After you turn 20, your skin dries out. How does your body fix this problem? It makes oil. That oil clogs pores. You get acne. You want less acne? Moisturize twice a day with a high moisture face cream. Counter-intuitive, right? Yeah, but this actually works. Even more important. You don't want wrinkles? Moisturize every morning and every night for the rest of your life starting at 18. Trust me. You'll thank me when you are 40. Your skin is like a piece of paper. If it's really dry (think burnt paper), it's going to crinkle and make wrinkles. Adding regular cream keeps those wrinkles away (think of how a wet piece of paper smoothes out.)
OMG 26
Protection: People's skin does not wrinkle because of their age. Wrinkles are actually primarily caused by sun damage. Sunlight causes 80% of skin aging. Easy solution: Use face lotion with SPF every single day. I so wish someone had told me this when I was 18 so I could have locked in my youth. After about 25 years, your skin can no longer repair itself very well. You are left with a life of wrinkles and larger pores. So take note of at least one thing that you read above: SPF everyday.
OMG 27
Y
es, I have been doing Botox for several years now. No, I am not ashamed. Yes, it hurts just a little. Yes, it’s worth it. And Yes, I do believe I needed it. I am 27 years-old. My forehead was an insecurity of mine. I had deep lines from years of sun damage and lack of moisturizing. I have always been one to say that if you don’t like something about yourself, you should fix it. So I have had Botox for years now and don’t ever intend to stop. Have an insecurity like mine? Botox isn’t the only option. So explore which option might be best for you. And the rest is filler.
OMG 28
Juvéderm is used by cosmetic, dermatological and plastic surgeons to soften deep folds and reduce wrinkles. The substance is largely hyaluronic acid, a substance normally found in the skin, muscles and tendons of mammals. Juvéderm’s prime use is removing nasolabial folds or “smile lines,” creases of skin which run from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth. It is also used as a lip augmentation agent and to fill in hollow places and scars on the face. Juvederm is eventually absorbed by the body, usually within six to nine months, causing the patient to undergo repeat injections to maintain the younger look. Juvéderm is also used by physicians to plump lips, which also lose fat and internal shape with normal aging. Restylane is a specific formulation of non-animal sourced hyaluronic acid most commonly used for lip augmentation. Restylane is injected under wrinkles and aging lines of the face such as the nasolabial folds, melomental folds, "crow's feet" and forehead wrinkles. It may also be used for filling aging-related facial hollows and "orbital troughs" (under and around the eyes).
The process has a fast recovery time of 2 to 3 days. However, it is not permanent; reapplication is recommended approximately every six months. Botox, or botulinum toxin A is a neurotoxin that is used clinically in small quantities to treat strabismus and facial spasms and other neurological disorders characterized by abnormal muscle contractions. It is also used by cosmetic surgeons to smooth frown lines, straighten out forehead wrinkles and treat the signs of aging under the eyes temporarily. Botox is also approved for the treatment of severe underarm sweating, a condition called primary axillary hyperhidrosis. Small doses of purified botulinum toxin injected into the underarm temporarily block the nerves that stimulate sweating. So there you have it. Whether your face looks like a dried up old leather Coach® bag or you just need a little refreshment to combat some aging, now you have the information to not only read between the lines but to erase or fill them.
OMG 29
When I first met Brandon Taylor Miller, he was sporting blue hair and shoving other gay guys at a club we both were at. Instantly, I knew we would become great friends.
Summing up Brandon’s look brings you back to the East Village circa mid1980. Brandon’s style is inspired by juxtaposition: mixing the conservative with the edgy.
Studying at Parsons lent Brandon to trying out different looks most would not touch. Often sporting the traditional skinny jean, Brandon adds his own flair by wearing them in stripes or leopard print. It is important when picking out printed fabrics that the look is authentic (ie. leopard print actually looks like real leopard).
Forever in a black leather jacket, Brandon chooses jackets with studs and a rocker edge. Sometimes featuring pins and patches, Brandon will often times layer a black hoodie underneath the jacket. He often wears an old rocker t-shirt (Bowie, Siouxsie, Sex Pistols) under his jacket.
OMG 30
Keeping with is juxtaposed style, he normally sports pointed black dress shoes. He can also, at times, be found in a suit vest with no under shirt, again adding to the crossing of his look.
Accessory-wise, Brandon often wears black studded bracelets or black hats (cocked back in a very 80’s English way). Another thing often accessorized with is hair color. Brandon has dyed his hair everything from black to blue to leopard bleach spots.
To master such a specific, edgy (often done terribly wrong) look with such great authenticity and balance is not something most can pull off so effortlessly. Brandon is a great example of someone who does not over-process and never comes off as trying too hard at his own Personal Style.
OMG 31
OMG 32
OMG 33
OMG 34
OMG 35
Al Nomura Photography
written by Okesene Tilo
I
Andre
w Sw aine
Phot o
graph y
t was another typical sunny summer day in Tampa, Florida when I went to the Lora’s Creative Hair to meet the son of hair stylist icon and living legend Vidal Sassoon.
He was warm, personable and rich in stories that my originally planned formal interview turned more into a casual and friendly conversation about life, family, passion and travels.
His name is Elan Sassoon and he recently launched Sojourn, a newer professional product line based on “positive chemistry, ecological integrity and some of the good business practices lost in recent years” earlier this year. Upon first meeting Elan Sassoon, I couldn’t help but notice the genuine sincerity that surrounded him.
The name of Elan’s line, Sojourn represents “owning one’s own journey and taking responsibility.” Born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, he’s lived everywhere from Las Vegas to Miami and currently resides in Boston.
OMG 36
He’s an owner of six salons in Boston and various other cities and is the proud father of two children (ages 5 and 10-years-old) with his wife of fifteen years. Elan cites the modern architecture of Zaha Hadid and the paintings of Frank Stella as inspirations. I’ve often wondered about family members of such famous and acclaimed icons, and if what was accomplished by their relatives completely hinders or cloaks any of their own personal success. Like his product name, Elan is clearly on his own and individual journey that is garnering success. He states that he is more than happy to launch a new product without the famed Sassoon last name tag because of the excitement in the challenge. Noticing an obvious lack of education craved by so many in the industry, Elan strives to bring about revitalization in the hairdressing community with the introduction of more quality products, professional training and camaraderie. He is backed by his Sojourn team that includes co-founder Lawrence Williams, creative director Melissa Stone and director of chemistry Rob Guimond, all on the same crusade to give a voice back to the stylists of the world.
So far, Elan’s Sojourn products, all listed at 4.5 to 5.5 pH, are being carried in an astounding 250 hair salons around the country in less than six months time. • For more information on Sojourn, please visit www.sojournbeauty.com • For more information on Lora’s Creative Hair located at 1108-C South Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33629 (behind GrillSmith), please visit www.lorascreativehair.com “One of the things I look forward to most each day is the camaraderie that comes from being part of the hairdressing community.” -Elan Sassoon
Posted in PEOPLE by ADRIANA SASSOON
One of the many tasks on Sojourn team’s checklist is reintroducing the 4.5 to 5.5 pH level hair products to counteract the marketing deception of “pH balanced” products introduced in the 1990’s. The hair’s natural pH balance is between a 4.5 and 5.5 scale. Anything higher opens up the cuticle of hair, washing out color and drying out locks. Elan points out that “pH balanced” products were introduced solely based on the low costs and amount of time involved in production. “pH balanced could mean that the products were balanced at any high number greater than 5.5,” he further explains.
OMG 37
OMG 38
OMG 39
OMG 40
OMG 41
I
have lived in many different places and since coming out, I've been a volunteer for HRC in Los Angeles and North Carolina. Three years ago, it was natural that when I moved from North Carolina to Florida to volunteer to work with HRC in Tampa. I was an active member in this group for two years before it disbanded in November. I am writing this blog because honestly, I am sick and tired of hearing comments about the sniping that goes on between GLBT groups. I suggest that comments be kept to oneself unless one involves themselves. Walk the walk and know what is actually going on. The backstabbing and assumptions that thrive in the activist community have become out of control. Most people are simply blind to the facts.
OMG 42
An example of this is a meeting I had last August with Nadine Smith of Equality Florida at Bella Bravo, where I frankly asked her why so many people at HRC had warned me against her. “She’s a vulture who swooped in, tried to take charge and claimed any initiative or event as a coup for Equality Florida.” She quickly responded that she had no idea where those accusations stemmed from and dismissed it as just talk. I knew this at the time to be false because I remembered when Zeke Fread arranged the Channel 8 protest back after Pride last year. Next thing you know, she was nowhere to be seen. As soon as the media trucks pulled up, there she was practically sprinting to get in front of a camera. You could see her on every channel that evening taking credit.
We went on about other issues concerning the equality battle in Florida to which she presented her well-polished speech about phone banking. She had me sign a paper on which I pledged $35 to Equality Florida. We finished our lunch civilly and parted, deciding to work together. Later that night, I left my card at a bar in the Ybor City district of Tampa, Florida and had to close the account and open a new one. It was a year later that I discovered that my hard-earned $35 would have gone towards Nadine's nearly $100,000 annual salary. Translation: her monthly earnings equal almost as much as what my mother receives from SSA in a year. The very next month, our HRC chapter planned an event for the Don't Ask Don't Tell 'Voices of Honor' Tour.
The venue and most details were arranged when I was contacted by a member of Equality Florida asking if they might help promote the event. I agreed only to find that shortly thereafter our event was plastered all over Equality Florida's Facebook page as being hosted by them along with Service Members United and HRC. Nadine even went so far as to contact D.C. in an attempt to have the event turned over to Equality Florida’s control as 'they were already in the state and it would be easier'. National refused and Equality Florida backed out of the event entirely: withdrawing support and actually arranging another event for the same evening. What kind of childish behavior was that? What kind of support for our mutual cause? After our HRC chapter was dissolved, the opportunity to work with many different groups was offered to me. I chose Stand Up Florida. After joining this group, more and more unsavory facts were revealed about Equality Florida's operation. The backstabbing of smaller but hungrier-forachieving-our-goals organizations has been relentless, the obsession to be seen as 'first in everything' and most damningly the money trail. This has been a sad revelation to me in a struggle where unity of purpose is so very necessary. This year at St. Pete Pride, Mr. Farmer from Equality Florida pushed a clipboard into my chest asking me to join. I quickly responded that I wouldn't contribute a dime towards Nadine Smith's salary. He protested that she didn't earn that much. (Please note that the Directors of Stand Up Florida are all volunteers and never earn a penny.) However, I had done my homework and presented Mr. Farmer with tax forms showing that between 2006 and 2008, Ms. Smith had received a $20,000 raise. What equality has been achieved in Florida during that period or any other to warrant such a reward? I received no answer but was told, as he scurried away, to research groups that had been around for as long as Equality Florida's 13 years. I did. By contrast, Equality North Carolina has been in existence 30 years and their Executive Director, as per
their tax forms, receives no compensation and is a true volunteer. Salaries such as Nadine's are subsidized by donations and I, for one, see no return on investment in equality improvements in our state regardless of boasts and rhetoric to the contrary. Stand Up Florida had been contacted twice by youth groups requesting help in attending various conferences and events. I learned from these GLBT youths that Equality Florida had turned them down. Mr. Farmer had said there was no money budgeted for it and that youth funding had been cut. $50 gas money for a youth group from Orlando to attend a rally in Tally was too much? Hypocritical… especially when recent publicity releases had shown that several gala dinners had bagged half a million dollars. Later, I am to discover between all the different Equality Florida names that they have accumulated a total of over $100,000 in travel expenses in a year. The next clash was experienced attending a Hillsborough Democratic Caucus meeting last month where Stand Up Florida wanted to question Alex Sink's campaign manager, Stephen Gaskill, on why his candidate, leading in polls for the Democratic nomination for Governor and endorsed heavily by Equality Florida, didn't stand for Marriage Equality. She supports only the dregs of 'civil unions', and actually said this was on religious grounds when she knows that civil government is separate. As we all know, marriage bestows 1138 specific benefits that civil unions do not. Mr. Gaskill could only respond that 62% of Floridians were against Equal Marriage. Well, I call that 'political homophobia': trading our rights in order to be liked. As the Prop 8 trial decision has now solidified: even if 90% of Floridians were against Equal Marriage… it doesn't make them right. So why would Equality Florida and other organizations lavish such endorsements on this candidate when Brian Moore, a clear supporter of Equal Marriage was on the very same ballot? The excuse gave was that she has the funding unlike Brian Moore. Looking back at when their funding came in, she didn’t have it either until all these groups began endorsing her. She came to our events, our homes, our neighborhoods begging for our
money but yet she doesn’t believe we deserve the same rights as she has. Our group, admittedly, became quite impassioned and the Director and her partner felt they needed to bang their gavels loudly. I'm not ashamed of becoming overenthusiastic when my basic civil rights are at stake and are being dangled for votes. The most recent incident of sabotage which inspired me to write this blog involved some of the individuals from that Hillsborough Democrats meeting revoking their endorsement of Stand Up Florida's approach to the NOM counter-protest in Orlando on August 8, 2010. Angry that we had disrupted their meeting by questioning Alex Sink's cowardly position on Equal Marriage, they pulled their support and began a campaign of false accusations that our group would be engaging in disruptive shouting matches with NOM members. This would play well to NOM's video audiences about the GLBT community's lack of civility. They were successful in scaring some of our allied groups and sponsors to abandon our rally and join the Celebrating Our Families rally being held the same day. One group who did not cave in was a fresh youth group, Come Out Orlando, who told us that Equality Florida had specifically contacted them to break away from our long-planned event because we would make a mockery of it. This other rally had its own agenda, which was fine, and had been arranged by Zeke Fread, Cathy James and Phyllis Hunt. One would never know who had worked hard on it once Equality Florida decided to take it over and slap their name all over it. Ultimately, Stand Up Florida and its allied organizations presented one of the most well-orchestrated, dignified and moving programs I've ever been privileged to be a part of. We stuck with our plans to NOT engage NOM. Instead, we spoke of our families, held beautiful banners, sang hymns, held candles, prayed for NOM, supported our community, had fun, and were featured prominently in positive terms on four TV News Channels. Why all the negative drama? Why can't we work together? I think the answer lies in being more passionate about our goals for Equality, and less passionate about power, recognition and big salaries. This is all a possibility.
"The views expressed in this column by Stand Up Florida do not entirely reflect those of OMG! Magazine's staff, advertisers or publishing company."
OMG 43
OMG 44
OMG 45
OMG 46
OMG 47
OMG 48
OMG 49
OMG 50
OMG 51
OMG 52
OMG 53
OMG 54
OMG 58
OMG 59
OMG 60
OMG 61
It may sound a little premature but I’m feeling the fall season right now. Labor Day has passed, the college guys are back in town for classes, True Blood is wrapping up its third season. Yeah, it definitely feels like fall. Hurricane season is in full swing and I’m already making Halloween plans. Yup, I’m ready for it to become cooler and for that crazy freight-train of holidays to come a-rolling in. With all that comes some great end of the summer music to keep ya dancing before the ball drops in Times Square. This is music industry primo time, kinda like the ratings sweeps on TV. Lots of amazing releases. The following is a sample of what you’ll be requesting at the DJ booth door after just a few listens: “To Paris With Love” by Donna Summer, My favorite disco diva drops an anthem with perfect end of summer timing. She’s actually said in recent interviews that she rushed to get this out for our enjoyment before we lost those hot late summer T-dance days. She plans to release two albums this fall: one of dance tracks and the other of her favorite standards. “To Paris With Love” is another Donna classic that chants the silky mantra “if you’re looking for love… then you have to go to Paris.” Craig C’s mix is commercial, but the Eddie Amador offering brings the vocals front and center over a seductive “I Feel Love” beat track with vocal layering that’s so Paris-pastry delicious it’s gotta be fattening. I’m booking my airfare to the “City Of Lights” as we speak. I hear rates are cheap these days. “Do For Love” by Vinny Troia featuring Jaidene Veda Here’s an amazing cover of the old quiet storm classic by Bobby Caldwell from 1978. This time we’ve got a female vocal, a Dave Aude mix and a combination that has me dancing in the booth (my gut-sense barometer that it’s a great song). Dave’s mix channels a Ralphi Rosario circuit sound around the familiar vocals with great success. It’s definitely not a screaming diva track or some pop fluff from the princesses, so it may take a while to get noticed but mark my words… this one is sublime quality.
“Get Outta My Way” by Kylie Minogue 2010 is another comeback year for Kylie. I wouldn’t be surprised if Aphrodite wins the dance album Grammy, it’s THAT good. Following on the heels of her Billboard #1 smash “All The Lovers,” we are served this euro-trance goodie. It’s instantly familiar and perfect for driving to South Beach or laying by the pool. Harder tribal mixes are starting to surface so all the formats will be covered. This is serious pop dance that doesn’t leave ya feeling guilty for loving it.
“Suck My Kiss” by Ultraviolet Sound Edward and Bella are okay, but truth be told, I’m a True Blood whore. Vampires are big business these days. This little ditty has all the earmarks to be huge by Halloween. It’s queer quirky with references to sucking, blood in your veins, getting a fix, etc. If they ever do a video for this song and not get all fangy, I’ll eat an issue of OMG!. I love this track. Johnny Vicious gets the nod for remixing; his initial offering is straight forward and digests easily.
“Peacock” by Katy Perry “Are you brave enough to let me see your peacock?” The former Christian singer and California “I Kissed A Gurl" goes right for the gay man’s obsession with this release. “I’m hoping it will be a gay-pride anthem,” Perry recently told Entertainment Weekly. ”Peacocks represent a lot of individuality… It’s not just like, ‘I wanna see your bulge.”’ And then she went on to clarify: “It does have the word cock in it, but art is also in fart! It’s all in how you look at it.” Hector Fonseca boasts a mix that unfurls all the colors of the song. This is gonna be massive but don’t look for NBC to use it in a network commercial anytime soon. Thanks for turning it up with MyFlexRadio.com! Remember... “You ARE What You LISTEN To!” MyFlexRadio.com hot new iPhone App! Download it now for FREE in the App Store and turn it up! It’s your inside connection for GREAT MUSIC, your eQuests, Artist Info, Giveaways and tons more! Follow us: facebook.com/myflexradio |twitter.com/myflexradio Dance-House-Circuit-Tribal-Chill and more. YOUR MUSIC
OMG 65
ALLINACCESSORIES.COM Cases * Car Chargers * Holsters * Bluetooth * and much more.
Contact us today and order your Pride Accessories. Available for Phones, iPhones, iPads, PDA’s and Laptops.
WE’VE GOT Pride Contact Us: fdiaz@allinaccessories.com * Phone: 954-251-1995
website: allinaccessories.com
OMG 72
W
hat’s good South Florida?! I miss doing the fun things in this crazy state. Hitting the beach whenever I want. Going shopping: spoiling myself or the next female I can call my housewife. You know how it is when you want to go have some freedom and get away from work or school but you just can’t for (insert any reason here). Anyway, I wanted to talk to you talented people out there with skills in graffiti art. Florida is covered everywhere with graffiti from local artists and gang members all creatively expressing themselves. I have traveled down to Miami and back on the train, and saw nothing but graffiti on
the way to and fro. I like to call my trips on the train “Graffiti Tracks.” When you ride the train, what do you expect to see other than cars, buildings, some homeless bums and more buildings? However on most train trips, you’re bound to see nothing but graffiti. The graffiti is actually stunning: art of a different medium that can’t be found in the most prestigious art galleries. Okay, so graffiti is a vandalism crime that shouldn’t be taught towards others. Although I don’t perceive it as a negative influence at all. Rules are never followed and free art is sprayed across abandon buildings, cars and walls and I love it.
Art is something you’re born to do. What one makes out of it can be something that is second nature to life. No matter what talent you’re given, you shouldn’t be scared to show it off. It’s hard to find those who enjoy the same hobby: that’s why internet exists these days. We network with others who are hiding. LOL! For example, I went to an art store in Lake Worth and a bunch of people who are involved in art have their own little business. Well I came across this magazine called WeMerge and read about a group of people who all rally behind artists all struggling to get to the top. They’re even holding an Expo for graffiti legend artists who have been around since the 1980’s. Art is beautiful no matter what form. Support your local artists: painters, photographers and graffiti artists. Keep it crazy and keep on sprayin’!
Grafitti is located at 18th St & Lexington st in the Mission District. San Francisco, California. Photography by Rob Paterson
FLORIDA
GUIDE
M:FI:(LM'I>M>(I:L<H <HNGMR
8
6
7
1
5 9
2 3
10
4
YBOR CITY
9
CHELSEA NIGHTCLUB 1502 N. Florida Ave 6 813-228-0139 7 CITY SIDE 3703 Henderson Blvd. (813) 350-0600 8 VALENTINES 7522 N. Armenia Ave 813-936-1999
10
GAYBOR COALITION
gaybor.com
1
TampaProMassage (813) 368-0532
CZAR VODKA BAR
2
3
4
HILTON GARDEN INN TAMPA YBOR HISTORIC DISTRICT
TRIBECA COLORSALON 1600 E 8th Ave 813-242-4080
1700 East 9th Ave. Tampa, Florida 33605 813-769-9267
HOWARD JOHNSON 111 W. Fortune St. 813.223.1351 JOFFREY'S COFFEE & TEA COMPANY
5 5
1600 East 8th Ave. Tampa, Florida 33605 813-247-4600
HAMBURGER MARY'S 1600 E 8th Ave 813-241-6279
SPECIAL VENUES The RITZ Ybor 1503 E 7th Ave 813-247-25550
FLORIDA
GUIDE
M:FI:(LM'I>M>(I:L<H <HNGMR 5
6
3 4
PARTNERS
2924 5th Ave N. St. Pete 727-827-2831
46th Ave S
PENINSULA INN & SPA
2937 Beach Blvd. Gulfport (727) 346-9800
34th St. S
37th St. S
2
PUB 5
4
55
2 CHILL CHAMBER 3501 US 19 (UNIVERSAL PLAZA) MANILOWS NIGHTCLUB
16153 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, NEW PORT RICHEY 727.597.1200
6
3 BUSINESSES
TRIBECA SALON South Tampa 920 West Kennedy Blvd 850-250-0208 www.tribecasalon.com
FLORIDA
<>GMK:E ?EHKB=: Orange
1
FIRESTONE 578 N. Orange Ave. Downtown Orlando 407-872-0066
2
3 4 5
RAIN 4732 S. Kirkman Rd Orlando 321-276-9466
6 7
GUIDE
FLORIDA
<>GMK:E ?EHKB=: 5 1
6
2 4
3
7
TEAHOUSE &
(321) 422-8610
GUIDE
FLORIDA
GUIDE
NE 27th Ave
LHNMA ?EHKB=: Access Rd
9
E Oakland Park Blvd
Bayview Dr
NE 32nd St
Access Rd
10
5 8
9
NE 26
th Te
rr.
NE 30th Pl
2
1
7
8
4 10
6 14
11
15
13 12
3
WEST PALM BEACH BARS HG ROOSTERS 823 Belvedere Rd. (561) 832-9119 HOTEL NIGHTCLUB 700 South Rosemary Ave. (561) 651-1110 MONARCHY 212 Clematis St. (561) 835-6661 THE LOUNGE 517 Clematis St. (561) 655-9747 WILTON MANORS ATOMIC/BOOM NIGHTCLUB 2232 Wilton Dr. 1 (954) 630-3556
BILL’S FILLING STATION 2209 Wilton Dr. 2 (954) 567-5978 EDEN 3 2387 N Dixie Hwy. (954) 630-3556 GEORGIE’S ALIBI 4 2266 Wilton Dr. (954) 565-2526 5 GIGI & GAVIN’S GOURMET CHOCOLATES 2041 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors, FL 954-626-0629 THE MANOR 2345 Wilton Dr. (954) 626-0082 ROSIE’S BAR & GRILLE 6 2449 Wilton Dr. (954) 567-1320
SCANDALS SALOON 7 3073 NE 6th Ave. (954) 565-3084 SIDELINES SPORTS BAR 8 2031 Wilton Dr. (954) 563-8001 9 TROPICS 2000 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors (954) 537-6000
BUSINESSES BALL 2252 Wilton Dr. (954) 537-4120 BOTTOMS & TOPS 2258 Wilton Dr. (954) 562-6670
CHIC OPTIQUE 2228 Wilton Dr. (954) 567-3937 DENNIS DEAN GALLERIES 2440 B. Wilton Dr. (954) 530-2789 GAYMART 2228 Wilton Dr. (954) 630-0360 ROCK HARD ADULT STORE 2301 Wilton Dr. (954) 318-7625 RUFF RIDERS 2043 Wilton Dr. (954) 318-7625 TINY TREASURE 10 PUPPIES 2043 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors, FL (954) 630-1751
GIGI & GAVIN’S GOURMET CHOCOLATES & COFFEES 954.626.0629 2041 WILTON DR. TO THE MOON 2205 Wilton Dr. (954) 564-2987 VERTIGO SALON 2420 Wilton Dr. (954) 530-0946 RESTAURANTS COURTYARD CAFE 2211 Wilton Dr. (954) 563-2499 GALANGA THAI KITCHEN & SUSHI BAR 2389 Wilton Dr. (954) 202-0000 HUMPY’S PIZZA 2244 Wilton Dr. (954) 566-2722 ISLAND CITY BISTRO 2037 Wilton Dr. (954) 563-2266
JAVA BOYS 2230 Wilton Dr. (954) 564-8828 JUICEBLENDZ 2248 Wilton Dr. (954) 358-0772 LIPS RESTAURANT 1421 E. Oakland Park Blvd TROPICS 2004 Wilton Dr. (954) 463-4269
SEA MONSTER 13 2 S New River Dr. West (954) 767-6200 14 TORPEDO BAR 2829 West Broward Blvd. (954) 587-2500 VOODOO LOUNGE 15 111 SW 2nd Ave. (954) 522-0733
FT. LAUDERDALE CLUBS
CLUB FT. LAUDERDALE 110 NW 5th Ave. (954) 525-3344 GAY SKATE 2604 S FEDERAL HWY (954) 547-3419 LEATHERWORKS 501 NE 13th Street (954) 761-1236 PRIDE FACTORY 850 NE 13th Street (954) 463-6600 TROPIXX VIDEO 1514 NE 4th Ave. (954) 522-4749 PRIDE Center 2040 N. Dixie Hwy.
8 BOARDWALK 1721 N. Andrews Ave. (954) 463-6969 9 COZMOS 2674 E. Oakland Pk Blvd 954-616-8239 THE DEPOT 10 1243 N.E. 11th Ave. (954) 568-7777 JOHNNY’S BAR/ 11 NIGHT CLUB 11 1116 West Broward Blvd (954) 522-5931 LIVING ROOM 12 300 SW 1st Ave. (888) 992-7555
D>R P>LM CLUBS/BARS
INNS/GUESTHOUSES
BUSINESSES
Village of Wilton Manors, Fl. 33305 954-463-9005 MIAMI AZUCAR Too! (new location) 427 Jefferson Ave. (305) 502-2096 CLUB AQUA 2991 Coral Way (305) 448-2214 CLUB SUGAR (formerly Azucar) 2301 SW 32nd Ave. (305) 443-7657 DISCOTEKKA 950 NE 2nd Ave. (305) 371-3773 HALO LOUNGE 1625 Michigan Ave. (305) 534-8181 PALACE BAR & GRILL 1200 Ocean Drive (305) 531-7234 SCORE BAR 727 Lincoln Road (305) 525-1111 TWIST 1057 Washington Ave. (305) 538-9478
ASSOCIATIONS
Beauty is a Beast. I
remember a skinny little 6th grade kid with chicken legs looking in the mirror and telling himself: "You will never ever be really physically attractive, so you had better work hard on your personality so that people will like you.” We all look at young attractive people and think about how great they must have it. The world is a place of vast possibility to the attractive and young. All they have to do is reach out and snatch it. However, most of them don’t.
What we tend to forget is that with youth comes an inherent insecurity and lack of knowledge about both the world and oneself. We were all once young. Remember how everything seemed just slightly out of our reach? We all felt that we weren’t good enough despite our appearance. Everyone in the room could be staring at us, but we were too busy to notice. We were staring at ourselves and pointing out the flaws.
My body is my body. It is the only one I will ever have. If I don’t take care of it, nobody else will. If I don’t like something about it, I have to fix it. I may abuse it. I may strain its limits sometimes. I may even break it. At the end of the day, I have to find a way to love it because it is not going anywhere. Let’s not pretend that we don’t live in a generally superficial society. Let’s consider that all of the horrible things you think about yourself are just in your head and do not actually exist in the real world. EVERYBODY would change something about themselves if they could.
As we age, we experience love, pain, death, laughter, admiration and success. We see that most things are within our grasp and realize the power that we have over our own lives. We have relationships and heartbreaks, stories which become etched into our memories and onto our faces. The beauty of aging is a purposeful thing. The beauty of youth is a happy accident.
So just take a moment to say to yourself: This is it. This is my body. I can morph it and alter it into different shapes, but it isn’t a practice body and it isn’t magically going to change itself. I will have this body until the day that I die and it is perfect. Every single person on his planet, from those young and insecure beauties to the wrinkled and wonderful feels exactly the same way. We are too hard on ourselves. That skinny little kid was too hard on himself. I don’t plan to change the self-perceptions of the entire world. I plan on just changing my own. Will you?
That skinny little kid did all the right things to become as attractive as possible. He worked out, ate right and even made little adjustments here and there with moisturizers, illegal horse hormones and Botox. But what is the inherent truth that I, the former skinny little kid, learned about beauty?
I have lived in New York City for two years but will always be a Florida boy at heart. Each issue, my column will document the craziness I have encountered in my journey from the bottom of the U.S. to the top.
E N J O Y T H E F L O R I D A T H AT Y O U O N C E F E L L I N L O V E W I T H
Fly Islands to the
————— a b o a r d —————
SeaCoast
airlines
FLIGHTSEEING ADVENTURES T A M P A B AY • K E Y W E S T Available for charter anywhere in Florida or the Southeast.
A I R L I N E
O F
T H E
C O N C H
R E P U B L I C
1-866-302-6278 SeaCoastAirlines.com