Outlooks - Nov 2012 by Nicolas Tallarico

N OVEMBER 2012

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CANADA’S NATIONAL GAY MAGAZINE PUBLISHER PATRICIA SALIB EDITOR IN CHIEF JIM BROSSEAU TRAVEL EDITOR RANDALL SHIRLEY FASHION DIRECTOR ADAM WEBSTER ART DIRECTOR NICOLÁS TALLARICO CONTRIBUTORS JODY BOYNTON, DEREK DOTTO, BRYEN DUNN, PHILIP FRANCHINI, DR. MALCOLM HEDGCOCK, BECCA HENSLEY, TRACY HOWARD, BRAD MCPHEE, CASEY WILLIAMS, DAVID WRIGHT EDITOR AT LARGE BRETT TAYLOR ADVERTISING & OTHER INQUIRIES (416) 792–2400 EDITORIAL INQUIRIES EDITOR@OUTLOOKS.CA OUTLOOKS IS PUBLISHED 10 TIMES PER YEAR BY THE MINT MEDIA GROUP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 542 PARLIAMENT ST. TORONTO, ON, M4X 1P6 THE MINT MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT PATRICIA SALIB DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS REGGIE LANUZA DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING RYAN LESTER CONTROLLER LUIS VARESSIS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT LIDIA SALVADOR

ON THE COVER MATT FOR SUTHERLAND MODELS (SUIT AND SHIRT BY ARMANI, TIE BY DUCHAMP; ALL AVAILABLE AT HOLT RENFREW STORES ACROSS CANADA. WATCH BY ARMANI EXCHANGE). ADAM WEBSTER, PHOTOGRAPHER. STYLISTS, ASHLEY GALANG & CARLTON ELLIS. MARK GONZALES, MAKEUP AND GROOMING OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN OUTLOOKS MAGAZINE ARE THOSE OF INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE MAGAZINE. ALL CONTENTS ARE COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN PART OR IN WHOLE WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT. THE APPEARANCE OF AN AD IN OUTLOOKS MAGAZINE DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE MAGAZINE ENDORSES THE ADVERTISER. THE APPEARANCE OF A MODEL OR OTHER PHOTOGRAPHIC SUBJECTS DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE THEIR SEXUALITY. BEFORE YOU MAKE TRAVEL PLANS, DOUBLE-CHECK DATES, TIMES, AND PRICES. THINGS DO CHANGE. WHILE EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE ACCURACY, OUTLOOKS AND ITS CONTRIBUTORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ERRORS IN CONTENT.

4 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2012

ISSUE 205

EDITOR’S NOTE

TRAVEL

06 | THE OUTLOOK IS GOOD

13 | TRAVEL TALK Encountering bias on a road trip

OUTFRONT

26 | WHISTLE GAILY THIS WINTER The fest that puts a glow in the snow

07 | I SPY Triple threat on the music scene 08 | FOOD & DRINK For palate pleasers, go West, young man

30 | PEDAL POWER Biking, carefully, through Amsterdam

FEATURES

10 | WELLNESS Is there a trainer in your future? 12 | HOUSECALLS Slow progress on the HIV front 14 | MONEY$TYLE Reflections on financial planning

18 | SOLO…SO WHAT To be gay, single and doing just fine 21 | ’TIS BETTER TO GIVE Cheery gifts for that long list

ART & CULTURE 44 | FRAMED: ANDREW BRIGGS Pop icons and a brush with reality 46 | FLASHBACK The importance of being Oscar

FASHION 34 | CHEERS! Dressing up for the holidays 43 | THE BREAKDOWN You’re in the army now…almost

34 CHEERS!

15 | WHEELS Driving a BMW for superheroes 17 | CIVILITY Keeping cool in the heat of the holidays

FOOD P. 8

SEA-LICIOUS

30 PEDAL POWER OUTLOOKS

EDITOR’S NOTE

THE OUTLOOK IS GOOD

he notion of what it is to be gay has been uprooted as surely as Dorothy’s house in The Wizard of Oz. If those words sound vaguely familiar to you as an Outlooks reader, it’s probably because I wrote them in my editor’s

you’ll find, yes, a rainbow of lifestyles, tastes, political views and spiritual beliefs. In other words, the days of neatly categorizing Team Gay—if they ever existed—have long since passed. If there is one generalization to be made about the gay community, it is that person-for-person, there are more disposable dollars than in the populace at large. Canada’s LGBT travel market alone is estimated to be in the neighbourhood of $8 billion—that’s billion with a “B.” Smart companies have taken note of a market that hasn’t been fully tapped, even in 2012. Here at Outlooks, it’s our mission to deliver for an LGBT audience that shares one common goal: to live a thoughtful life to its fullest.

note just about a year ago. Little has happened since to change that notion of diversity. Thankfully. On Canada’s sprawling LGBT landscape,

aving watched so many people die of HIV-related illnesses before we even knew about AIDS, I hope I can be forgiven for wondering about contracting HIV in the many years since we’ve been “enlightened” about it. As our medical columnist, Dr. Malcolm Hedgcock, reports in Housecalls on page 12, “younger gay men in particular are still being infected at unacceptably high

rates.” Yes, as Hedgcock also reports, there are some remarkable drugs available, prolonging the lives of people with HIV far longer than many of us dreamed possible. And the possibility of a vaccine looms ever larger. But even though the drugs that manage the disease are called a “cocktail,” there’s nothing glamorous about dealing with a condition that could kill you. The heavy topic that is sexual behaviour can’t be covered in the space of this column. It’s not as simple as the quaint admonition I sometimes utter in speaking to 20-ish gay guys: “Be safe.” Still, whatever our personal HIV status—and whether we mark the holidays with a Christmas tree or a game of poker— take those two words as my holiday gift to you.

Jim Brosseau Editor In Chief We’d be delighted to hear from you. Share your thoughts on the magazine and stories you’d like to see covered in its pages. Email us at editor@ outlooks.ca. Many thanks.

Talk Back SeptembeR 2012

eXCluSiVe tHe PROFeSSOR OF gaY identitY tRaVel: MOntReal, naSHVille & MORe StaYing FRiendS WitH YOuR eX CautiOn: gOing Veggie WitH CaRe KnOWing HOW tO BuY a CaR

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6 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

A WAY TO BE GAY? I found your story in the September Outlooks on David M. Halperin’s thoughts about gay culture [“A Way to Be Gay?”] to be most interesting. It’s a good thing, I guess, that we have to stand back and count up all the characteristics involved in being gay. Seems like a lot of work, but I am glad Mr. Halperin has taken the time to do it. J. FRIEDMAN, TORONTO

THIS WAY, DJ The photo of writer and DJ Bryen Dunn, which ran in the July-August 2012 issue of Outlooks, was taken—as seen at left—by Michael F. Paré.

I SPY

OUTFRONT VIVEK SHRAYA Multimedia Man

Vivek Shraya’s creative passion infuses his work in music, film and writing. “Even though all three media involve a writing base, music has always come first,” declares Shraya, who’s been writing songs since he was a teenager. “It’s my one true love.” The Edmonton native’s albums of acoustic folkrock, electro synth-pop and other genres include an engaging cover of the White Stripe’s Seven Nation Army. “One of my favourite shows was playing at a small club in Paris,” he recalls. “It was my first show outside of North America, and I was extremely nervous. But after the first song, people started dancing and bobbing their heads.” He’s also had his song Fevered featured on an episode of the popular TV show Degrassi. When he felt the need to step back from music, Shraya wrote his first book, God Loves Hair. The collection of 21 short stories has been used in educational settings, in part because of the way he demonstrates the connection among such themes as sexuality, gender, race and religion. He once had the opportunity to do a reading at Pride in Bangalore, where his mother grew up. “It was so surreal to be at the literal intersection of queerness and my cultural background,” he reflects, “sharing the stories in spaces where these references were understood and appreciated.” He’s now writing a second book, with the working title Body & Body. As for film, Shraya has released Seeking Single White Male, Ache in My Name and, most recently, What I LOVE About Being QUEER, titles that leave little space for misinterpretation of the subject matter. “There is usually a specific intention tied to each film, so I end up calling the works exactly what they are to avoid confusion,” he says. “For instance, queer is a necessary word for me, because it implies a spectrum of sexual desire and attraction in ways that other labels do not.” The result in the latest film is an 18-minute foray into the minds of 34 ordinary queers that counters the mainstream disapproval of homosexual culture as presented in Shraya’s former works.

Zachary Ayotte

In between the creative pursuits for which he’s best known, Shraya works as a facilitator for a drop-in writing program called Pink Ink. At Toronto’s George Brown College, he’s a human-rights advisor, as well as the school’s positive-space coordinator. But his music isn’t going anywhere. After all, he says, “I have been singing as long as I can remember.” (vivekshraya.com)

— BRYEN DUNN

OUTLOOKS

FOOD & DRINK

CHEF BRADLEY CUMMING

SEA-LICIOUS Spring rolls are not always the sort of dish that spurs cries of joy from food critics or other foodies. But in the hands of Executive Chef Bradley Cumming, of the Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler, the Aubergine Grille’s Dungeness Crab Spring Rolls are sure to garner much more than garnishes— of the verbal kind, that is. But for all their culinary artistry, these attractive treats, Cumming acknowledges in sharing his recipe, could be the star of your next dinner party. To wit: INGREDIENTS

1 red pepper 1 green pepper 1 carrot 1 leek 1 zucchini 1 clove of garlic 1 small chunk of ginger 1 lb Dungeness crabmeat 2 eggs 1 package spring roll wrappers

METHOD

Thinly slice all the vegetables. Chop the garlic and ginger. Stir-fry the vegetables, garlic and ginger. Remove from heat and let cool. 8 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

Even with all the demands that come with being executive chef of the Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler, Bradley Cumming still finds time for one of his great passions: travel. It is in many ways through his journeys around the globe that Cumming has found inspiration for the sumptuous menus he creates for the world-famous resort. Having worked alongside such noteworthy chefs as Ben Pernosky and Vincent Stufano, Cumming gained an appreciation for the value of passing on one’s kitchen wisdom. Today, he makes mentoring a top priority—helping to ensure good things for generations of palates to come .

Pick through the crabmeat and remove any shells that you find. Ring out the crabmeat to remove any water. Crack the eggs in a bowl and lightly whisk. Lay out a few sheets of spring roll wrappers (they will dry out if you do too many at once). Take a small bunch of veggies and lay them in a line in the middle of the wrapper. Sprinkle a generous amount of crabmeat on top of the vegetables. Brush the sides of the wrapper with egg. Fold in two opposite corners and roll tightly. Place on a tray. Repeat until you’ve used up all of your ingredients. Deep-fry at 350 F for 3 to 4 minutes or until the spring roll is golden brown.

The Aubergine Grille 604-905-5000 westinwhistler.com

FOOD & DRINK

Cool in Calgary The extra chill in the air and those shorter days tell us that autumn has unmistakably taken hold. With that in mind, the Sandstone Lounge in the Hyatt Regency Calgary is serving The Twisted Crantini. Created by Tracy Burton, the loungeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior bartender and mixologist, the drink brings out the best in apple and cranberry flavours. With a nod to the changing foliage, it is enlivened with coloured ice cubes and spiced up with a twist of Calvados (apple brandy). Sipping The Twisted Crantini in the warmth of the Sandstone can be a sweet antidote to a nippy night (Hyatt Regency Calgary, 700 Centre St. SE, 403-717-1234, calgary.hyatt.com).

Lindsay Goldthorpe

INGREDIENTS: 1.25 oz. Belvedere Pure Vodka 0.25 oz. Calvados (Apple Brandy) 2 oz. White Cranberry Juice

Shaken and garnished with cranberry-apple ice cubes; served in a martini glass.

OUTLOOKS

WELLNESS

TWICE AS NICE MAKING THE MOST OF A TRAINER OR “GYM HUSBAND” BY JODY BOYNTON

“H

10 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

Gonga Salvador

ey buddy, give me a spot?” Have you have been grinding it out at they gym when your interest and/or progress starts to stall? Truth is, we all work harder when someone else is watching. So adding someone else to the mix can help pique your interest and up your results. Don’t get me wrong: These relationships (and they are relationships) do have their ups and downs. Yes, trainers can be expensive, but their value per workout may be worth it. That’s especially true if it gets you the goals you seek; the knowledge and experience gained in the process are yours to keep. Sure, a training partner is cheaper than hiring a trainer, but a good “gym husband” can be as hard to find as a real one! As a personal trainer with several years’ experience, I am admittedly a bit biased when I say that most people should have a good trainer at least once in their lives. An ideal length of time would be at least three months. That would ensure you’d get some real work done. Even just a couple times a week can increase your skill, strength and confidence. If you’ve never hired a trainer or been a training partner, you only know what you know. Perhaps you’re a genius, gifted with natural ability, but likely not. By widening your exposure to another person’s techniques and skills, you build up your own workout vocabulary. Often, money is the big limiting factor when it comes to hiring a trainer. But I find scheduling is always one of the most difficult parts of kicking up your workout regimen. If you’re lucky and find a training partner with greater skills than your own, it’s a win for you. Make sure, then, that you bring something to the table—things like enthusiasm, motivation, drive and, yes, even humour are all welcome! Trainer or training partner, the relationships can be pretty close. You are in each

other’s personal space, and you may see each other five days a week. So it’s easy to either get caught up in relationship drama, or for your non-gym partner to see this bond as a threat. Try and keep things focused on the workouts, at least while you’re at the gym. The same goes for a trainer: You can be great friends, but that’s not what you’re paying him for; you’re paying to get fit, learn and help attain your fitness goals. The fact that you get along great is a bonus! In my training career, some of my best personal gains have been made with the help of a training partner. It can be a friend or just an acquaintance, as long as you’re both at similar skill levels and have similar goals. It’s also important that at least one of you knows something about training form and technique. If you are both kind of greenhorns, then maybe you could think about splitting some sessions and getting a trainer together. Again, it is cheaper and it could be a much better use of your workout time. But there’s always a risk when you add a third to a relationship that one of you is going to run off with the new one…. What should you look for in that so-called

“gym husband” of yours? I know of very few “muscle couples” who are also couples outside the gym. Kudos to those who can pull that off! If that training partner is or becomes too much of a friend, you might end up gossiping too much, or venting the whole time or, even worse, deciding to go for Thai food and beer instead of lifting. (Been there, done that!) A good floor partner should be present, not on the phone or cruising—especially while you have 100 pounds above your head. He should be able to detect when your form is off, helping you to make the necessary corrections and improve your lift. You both need to have correct spotting techniques, so that neither of you allows a dumbbell to land on the other’s face! And last but not least, be encouraging, motivating and, dare I say, fun. Outside drama doesn’t need to be brought into the gym. And, importantly, you must both be respectful of each other’s time and not bail on your workouts, leaving your “other half” high and dry. I’ve had quite a few wingmen in the gym over the years—gay, straight, male, female— it doesn’t really matter. What matters is

OUTFRONT

that you’re there for the same reason. I haven’t had a serious, long-term (more than fling) gym-relationship for many years, but I had two really great ones this past summer and fall. As a result, I’ve made some huge changes to my training and my physique. My current gym husband is also a trainer. Just FYI, he’s straight, 30 pounds heavier than me and 10 years younger. (We have similar schedules and strengths, and that’s a plus.) The age and weight differences are part of what really pushes me to keep up! That’s kind of ideal because if you are always the stronger one, you tend to slack off. When you really have to work to keep up, you will make gains. Now we all recognize that relationships take work. So hiring a trainer may be the best option for those who have the resources but not a lot of time. Also, if you don’t have the skills you need in the gym, acquiring them can make it a lot easier to eventually find a workout partner. The more you know, the better. I find some clients are a little insecure about or wary of having a trainer at their regular gym, so for those folks, there are many trainers who will use

smaller, more private spaces. Bear in mind, you might have to do a little extra searching for that trainer. If you’re hiring a professional, you will find lots of flash and pretty pictures out there. But look for substance. If you choose strictly on bicep size, the attendant skill may or may not be there. Check for references, and ask about upgraded skills and certifications. Look for nationally recognized certifications with requirements for continuing-education credits. Not everyone agrees, but I contend that professional trainers should generally have their own liability insurance. Some of the big-box gyms put their staffs under their blanket-liability policies, but to protect yourself, you should look after all angles. Most important, if you can, observe your would-be trainer interacting with his clients. Does his personality make you feel that he’s someone with whom you could get along? Does he listen to his clients? What sort of interactions does he have with clients? How often does the phone come out, and where is the trainer’s attention and focus while the client is working? If all of this checks out, then are the exercises appropriate to the cli-

ent and his skill level: If you are watching his client do squats and it sounds like popcorn popping, maybe that trainer knows some exercises but doesn’t really understand mechanics or realize he’s stressing tissue out! In the end, you’re hiring trainers for their skills, but then you can multiply what you get out of the experience if you practise what you’ve learned with a workout partner. It’s like learning a new language: You’ve got to get out there and speak it. If it’s time to kick up your workouts, think about making a connection. Remember, though, that new relationships take work, so make the time and make those stepped-up workouts productive.

Jody Boynton is a NSCA certified personaltraining instructor, weight-loss coach and nutritional practitioner based in Toronto. His advice is not necessarily intended for all readers, whose individual strength and overall health should be considered before undertaking any fitness or related programs. He may be reached at jodyboynton@gmail.com.

HOUSECALLS

PROMISE AND PREVENTION DESPITE PROGRESS, MANY MILES REMAIN ON THE ROAD TO A CURE FOR HIV BY DR. MALCOLM HEDGCOCK

12 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

3D Stock

espite major advances in the medical treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, life with the illness can still be difficult. Even the best medications have side effects, and, in some places, the stigma surrounding HIV status is as prevalent as ever. Yet gay men (and younger gay men in particular) are still being infected at unacceptably high rates. This is why novel prevention strategies are a hot topic, and there have been a number of discoveries over the past few years that show promise in preventing the spread of HIV. In 2009, we saw the results of the most promising vaccine to date. The result of a collaboration between U.S. and Thai researchers, the vaccine was administered to 16,000 people in Thailand who were at low to moderate risk of HIV acquisition. Though new infections in both groups were rare, the vaccine was shown to be 31 per cent effective. While these results were a breakthrough for vaccine researchers, they really only represent a stepping stone in the development of more effective strategy. Creating a highly potent vaccine for HIV is so difficult because the virus exists not in a single form but in a swarm of millions of different variants. Not only that, those few areas of the virus that remain unchanged between variants—and therefore the best targets for a vaccine—are hidden beneath a cloak of sugar molecules. This is a very clever virus, but the Thai vaccine seems to have found one of HIV’s weaknesses. A completely different strategy called preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has also shown promise in recent trials. During PrEP, an HIVnegative individual takes medication that we usually use to treat HIV on a daily basis in order to decrease the chances of transmission. The main study looking at this technique involved 2,470 men who have sex with men, and 29 transgendered women. Those who received the active medication (called

Truvada) were 44 per cent less likely to become HIV positive when compared with those taking a placebo. But here’s the interesting part: It turns out that many people who were supposed to be taking the medication actually weren’t—and it was these people who became positive. If we looked only at the efficacy in people who consistently took the proper medication, the success rates would be much higher. While it is effective, daily preventive medication is expensive and introduces a few concerns. Some people will have gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea, and there are questions about decreasing bone density and kidney function with long-term use. Also, you must be absolutely certain that you are HIV-negative before starting PrEP, or ANY future HIV therapy could be more complicated. Furthermore, some researchers have worried that people may be more likely to have risky sex if they feel they’re being “protected” by a medication. Luckily, this study did not show an increase in self-reported risky sex or in acquisition of other sexually transmitted infections—suggesting that this phenomenon does not occur. A final strategy called “treatment as prevention” involves an HIV-positive person starting antiretroviral therapy regardless of

the strength of his immune system. We have seen very clearly that the risk of transmission becomes very low when the positive partner correctly takes his or her medication, gets regular follow-up to ensure the medication is working properly and avoids other sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis or herpes. While all of the modern strategies are exciting and provide hope for our community, we can’t forget that a cheap and exceptionally effective prevention tool has been around throughout this epidemic: condoms. Condoms must continue to be a part of our safersex practices because even after all of these years, we still don’t have a perfect method of preventing HIV transmission in sexually active men who have sex with men.

Malcolm Hedgcock is a family doctor in Toronto with a special interest in conditions that are common in the LGBT community. The information contained in this column is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease and in no way should substitute for consultation with one’s own healthcare professional. Send questions or comments about your health concerns to Housecalls at editor@outlooks.ca.

TRAVEL TALK

A SLUR TOO FAR ENCOUNTERING A CHILLING REMINDER THAT THE BAD OLD DAYS AREN’T ENTIRELY BEHIND US BY RANDALL SHIRLEY TRAVEL EDITOR

We were sad about losing the very good deal, but we were proud to walk away with our dignity.

his very isolated incident made me think about how fortunate we are across Canada. I’ve travelled to all the 13 provinces

and territories and rarely seen my sexuality raise an eyebrow. Meanwhile, in many other parts of the world, our gay brothers and

WE COULD NOT COMPREHEND A MATURE PERSON USING SUCH A TERM IN A BUSINESS SETTING. mature person using such a term in a business setting. The offender likely thought we were out of earshot. Instead, he lost their dealership a sale. Travelling home to Vancouver in our rental car, we talked about what had happened.

servatives convince politicians and citizens that we are some kind of threat. And there are countries where it’s much worse for gay people. Obviously, in much of the world, gays have bigger worries than whether or not they can openly shop for a car without discrimination. However, I believe that it’s

Branko Kosteski

t’s been a while since I’ve felt discriminated against as a gay person—especially when travelling in Canada. But a recent experience changed that. Hopefully, our response to that situation helped effect change on the part of the offender and others involved. Due to a major car problem while traveling in one of B.C.’s smaller interior cities, my husband, Denni, and I found ourselves shopping for a new vehicle. For test-drives, we presented very much as a couple—any salesperson would have known we were gay, and no salesperson made us feel anything but normal. We decided to strike a deal on a model we particularly liked. Shortly before the deal was to be negotiated, Denni overheard one of the employees— not our salesman—use a very homophobic slur. When our sales guy stepped away to consult with his boss, Denni asked me, “What does the term ‘fudge packer’ mean to you?” “It’s an incredibly rude slur against gay people,” I responded. “Why?” Denni explained, and within moments he went directly to the sales manager’s office to inform him and our salesman what he had heard, and that we would be ending the deal and walking away, which we did. The shocked sales manager tried to apologize—but not nearly quickly or thoroughly enough for us. We felt sick. We could not comprehend a

sisters are not so fortunate. Countries I’d love to visit, including Serbia, Russia and Ukraine—places I think of as having relatively educated, bright populations— are sliding backward in gay people’s ability to be out and open, as closed-minded con-

only by being out while doing such mundane things that we ever really become accepted. The fact that discrimination still exists in Canada on any scale is a reminder, in my view, of how important it is for gay people to be open and out when we travel, as well as in our hometowns and workplaces—there’s a reasonable probability someone gay works at the aforementioned car dealership. Now, off you go to our travel pages for adventures in Whistler (page 26), where you shouldn’t find any discrimination, and on page 30 to Amsterdam—another place where gays are warmly welcomed, but where it’s been reported elsewhere that some citizens would prefer we present as straight. Travel smart, travel safe, and, whenever you can, improve the world by travelling out! OUTLOOKS

MONEY$T YLE

WEALTH CARE SAVINGS STRATEGIES THAT MAKE SIX AS LUCKY AS SEVEN BY BRAD MCPHEE

n November, I always concentrate on things to remember. Perhaps it is because in childhood, Remembrance Day had such an impact on me. From a minute of silence held in the school auditorium, it became a day of quiet reflection on those who had come before me and died for me to enjoy the freedom and quality of life our society affords us. It is sombre and yet it is at the same time liberating. With those two ideas in mind, here are six points to consider about your finances as the year draws to a close.

TV, you insure your car: Be sure to insure your income.

If you want to enjoy your twilight years, 40 is the starting line for financial planning. I often say to clients, “Give me 20 to 25 years and I can fix most everything.” I do have clients who are investing while in their 30s. In fact, I have one committed guy who migrated from Australia in his 20s who saves and does not touch his investments. That’s great, and if you can do it then you will benefit in the

The vast majority of wealthy Canadians got to be that way by saving one month at a time. It’s not about lotteries or putting things off until “later.” Nor is it about waiting for your next pay raise. The path to riches is relatively straight and narrow (even though we personally may be neither). Spend less than you earn. Save some each month. Repeat.

There are three things we need to spend our hard-earned dollars on. Spend some for now. Spend some to protect the now. Spend some for the future (otherwise called saving). The single-largest asset most of us will have during our lifetime is our income. It is, in fact, what pays for all the rest. Make sure that some of your income is spent to protect your largest asset. You insure your

14 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

You may still be sexy at 60, but by then you also need to simplify your life and know your retirement strategy. Just what does that mean? For most Canadians, that retirement date happens along at age 67, and with the new Canada Pension Plan rules, it is likely this will continue or perhaps even creep upward. Six is the most harmonious of all the numbers in numerology. It is the only number considered to be in harmony with all the others. That is really the goal in our finances, as well: to be in harmony with ourselves and with all others in our lives. Six is the number of balance and that is why six was also the right number for this list. All things in balance. Of course, you need to enjoy life now but not at the expense of your future. Yes, you can accomplish two things at once financially. With the right type of insurance, you can both protect your life for your loved ones and also build cash within the policy that can be used later either as collateral (tax free) or withdrawn (and tax paid). It may be a numbers game but it is a game we all play each and every day. So make sure that you learn how to make it pay. redmal

Your money will double every time you hit the number 72. That’s right…the rule of 72. If you earn 8 per cent for nine years you’ll double your money; if you earn 6 per cent for 12 years, you’ll double your money. Remember to save, and when you do, make sure you set reasonable guidelines for how your money builds. A good guideline is to double your investments every decade.

long run. But too often, there are competing priorities, like education (or paying off loans), a first-home purchase and even marriage that make age 40 your absolute due date for serious saving.

If 50 is the new 40, that only means you need to save more money for a longer retirement. By 50, you have been paying taxes for a few decades. It’s time to make sure you have a tax strategy put in place and that you begin to faithfully follow it.

Brad McPhee is a Vancouver-based consultant with Investors Group and past chair of the Gay and Lesbian Association of B.C. Views expressed in Money$tyle are solely McPhee’s. Outlooks, as well as Investors Group and its affiliates are not responsible and cannot accept any liability. The column is intended as a source of information and not a solicitation to buy or sell investments, nor to provide investment, financial, legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice. If you have a personal-finance question, email it to editor@outlooks.ca.

WHEELS

WHAT SUPERHEROES DRIVE PUT ON YOUR BIG-BOY PANTS FOR THE SLEEK, SMOOTH AND SPEEDY BMW M6 BY CASEY WILLIAMS

2013 BMW M6 FOUR-PASSENGER, RWD CONVERTIBLE

BMW

Powertrain: 412 kW/560 hp 4.4-litre Turbo V8, 7-speed automatic transmission Suspension f/r: Electronic Ind/Ind Wheels: 19”/19” alloy f/r Brakes: disc/disc fr/rr with ABS Must-have features: Style, power Fuel economy: 10.3 litres/100 km (combined) Assembly: Dingolfing, Germany Base/As-tested price: $128,900/$145,115

uperheroes, your car has arrived. Whether escaping from evil foes or dating your favourite cat (wo)man, the BMW M6 Convertible lays it down. Some of its features are more the evil-villain type, but it’s all part of the show. You’ll submit to any superhero contract when you focus your laser eyes on the M6’s slick skin. The Black Sapphire Metallic example looks like it crept from deep inside a dark cave, shining its way out with LED headlights. Sinister ground effects, slinky 19-inch alloy wheels and Michelin ZR-rated tires keep the car grounded. Long and low, the super sled looks super chic with its flying-buttress canvas roof flowing into the rear deck. Batmobiles never looked so good. If Superman wanted the road-going equivalent of his cape and tights, he’d eat kryptonite for the M6’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. It generates 412 kW/560 hp—enough to press the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds and to a 250 km/h top speed. Choose the M Driver’s Package for a pass to 305 km/h. All of the power goes through a seven-speed, double-clutch automatic transmission with manual shift mode. An automobile this heavy has no right to be this fast, but you’ll hear no complaints from me. The Man will melt his AmEx with ratings of 10.3 litres/100 km. Spiderman casts a wide web to control

the chassis, whether fighting Iceman or the Incredible Hulk. The suspension and steering can be adjusted for “Comfort,” “Sport” and “Sport Plus.” Sport Plus tightens for track days while Comfort softens touring and commuting. Active M differentials vary output to the rear wheels for directional stability under full Hulking throttle and for graceful acceleration around corners. Even with special powers like electronic stability control, you’ll want to change the summer tires before the Iceman cometh. Apparently, the Joker played around inside. The M-edition heated leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles, heated Merino leather seats, soft close automatic doors and headsup display are divine. I also appreciated the Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning and active Blind Spot Detection systems. BMW’s premium audio system provided this flick’s soundtrack. Front seats are roomy, but even while wearing tights, Robin would have a snug fit in back. Craftsmanship abounds. But, for what dark reason did BMW skip a Park function on the gear selector? After consulting the owner’s manual, I understand one has to leave the car in either Drive or Reverse, and shut the engine off with the start/ stop button, and then the car automatically goes into Park. Forget muscles: Drivers need telepathic powers. I’m still no fan of the array

of iDrive menus it requires to find favourite songs, adjust the bass or navigate—all functions that take seconds in a Chevy. The easiest feature is the power top, wherein one button does it all. I could get used to all of this superhero stuff. But there’s no sneaking around Gotham in cloak, because the M6 draws crowds everywhere it goes. Driving one could make you feel immortal. While the M6 looks like it busted out of a secret Bavarian lair, some parts should not have emerged so fast. An extra-stellar $145,115 as-tested price puts it against the Cadillac CTSV, Mercedes-Benz E550 and Audi S5. A frequent business traveller to Montreal, Casey Williams is a contributing writer for Gaywheels. com, the Chicago Tribune and the New Yorkbased LGBT magazine Metrosource. He lives with his partner of 11 years in Indianapolis, where Williams is a columnist for that city’s newspaper, the Star. OUTLOOKS

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CIVILIT Y

SEASON OF SLIPPING UP YES, THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO KEEP YOUR COOL AS HOLIDAY TEMPERATURES RISE BY JIM BROSSEAU enjoy a little extra cash when there are presents to be purchased? Keep in mind that a tip is both thanks for the previous year and the one to come. (Think about that the next time you surrender your hair to the colourist.)

ou’ve made it through Thanksgiving. Good. But now the holiday season’s biggest challenges to good behaviour begin. In our overscheduled lives, this time of year forces us to scrawl another dozen or so items onto our to-do list. We know those who were born to cook, to shop, to entertain. The rest of us do what we can and hope for the best. For the Alphas (and elfs), it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone shares your zest for the holiday season. It’s a time of year that brings a flood of memories, and they’re not always pleasant. Loved ones who’ve passed away are recalled with particular poignancy. And, especially now, those facing economic hardship can feel particularly marginalized as friends—still in a position to do so—set new standards for living it up. In the flurry of holiday activity, it can be easier than ever to forget our manners. That’s not good. Nobody wants to be thought of as Scrooge. Here are a few tips for keeping your head when a season steals your heart. AVOID WORKPLACE-PARTY DISASTER. It may be party time, the eggnog might be spiked and the guy in accounting is looking damn hot in that red vest. But you’re at the

office not the bar. If you know your limit, take care not to exceed it. When you embarrass yourself at home, you might get a cold shoulder the next morning. At the office, the consequences could be far worse. (Bonus tip: Be careful slow-dancing with the boss.) DRESS FOR THE OCCASION. Yes, we’re much more casual today than our parents ever were, never mind their parents. But it’s a time of year in which—if you’re lucky—generations will gather, reuniting with friends and relatives sometimes only seen once a year. Sure, jeans have found their way into just about everything except an audience with the Queen (and who knows how much longer that protocol will hold). As you dress for dinner at Grandma’s or drinks with your parents, think about what they may be wearing or how they’d like to see you dressed. If it means changing your outfit, it won’t kill you— leave that to Grandma’s fruit cake. REMEMBER TO TIP. The mechanic, the hairdresser, the doorman, the housekeeper. Yes, the list can go on and on. Where do you draw the line? When it comes to holiday-time tipping, there isn’t one. It’s best to trust your gut. Who doesn’t

BE PATIENT. Crowding this time of year is simply unavoidable. So why let it get the better of you. Careful not to snap at that ticket agent or sales clerk because you’ve been waiting in a line for 15 minutes. Chances are the people waiting on you are about as frazzled as you are—only they have to smile. The season provides us with a great opportunity to show what we’re made of. Rather than fight a fellow customer for the store’s last copy of that book you wanted—or step on the gas to claim that parking space near the mall entrance— try being the bigger person. Some claim that’s the best gift you can give yourself. BE GRATEFUL—OR PRETEND TO BE. In the season of mistletoe, as is true throughout the year, the sexiest two words in the English language can be “thank” and “you”—in combination, that is. And with all the gift-giving and other gestures of goodwill, there can be more reasons than ever to show your gratitude. As has been noted before in this column, it’s no so much how you say thanks as that you say thanks. Whatever your beliefs, whatever you financial circumstances, the music, decorations and overall mood of the season generally can’t help but draw you into the bonhomie. However you mark the holidays, it’s always good to remember that giving can be the surest way of receiving. Visiting a forgotten neighbour, fattening that cheque to your favourite charity or finding a little more time for your partner can, as the song goes, make the season bright. How bright is up to you. Do you have questions about navigating social situations? Share them with Civility at editor@outlooks.ca. OUTLOOKS

knape

18 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

SOLO… SO WHAT IS SOCIETY AT LARGE LEARNING WHAT MANY GAYS ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE SINGLE LIFE?

BY DAVID WRIGHT

part from same-sex marriage, one of the most remarkable social trends of the early 21st century isn’t the number of people—straight or otherwise—rushing into wedlock; it’s the steady rise in the proportion deciding to remain single and live alone. This recent surge in singledom is steepest in the U.S., where half of the adult population is now unmarried, up from 22 per cent in 1950. But it’s a truly global phenomenon, reaching into far-flung pockets of the planet you’d probably least expect, such as Asia and the Middle East. Today in Canada, a quarter of all households are listed as “single occupant.” In Toronto, it’s more than a third. And one of the neighbourhoods identified as the most densely populated with these live-alones is Church and Wellesley, a.k.a. the Gay Village. Living alone and being single don’t necessarily go hand in hand, of course, but they do represent two sides of one freshly minted coin. In the same way that traditional concepts of marriage are being

redefined, the formerly inviolable notion of the happy couple is being challenged, too. Ironically, it was once widely presumed that anyone who remained unmarried at middle age was probably gay. Times have changed, but we’ve always been trailblazers in this realm, proving that a man or woman can go it alone in life—not just happily, but for many of us, better off in the long run. I know this myself. Like most people, I grew up believing that one day I’d settle down with Mr. Right, and we’d spend the rest of our lives together. I gave it a few good tries but decided to take a rest after my third unsuccessful attempt. Don’t get me wrong: There’s nothing greater than cohabiting with your significant other in domestic bliss. I enjoyed (almost) every minute as someone’s better half. But it didn’t take me long to realize I was just as comfortable functioning outside a relationship. One year as a single gay man soon turned into two, then five. Well into middle age, I’ve now spent twice as much of my adult life alone as I have as part of a couple. OUTLOOKS

Provincetown Tourism Office

There were moments of doubt, for sure, times when I wondered if there’s something wrong with me. Throughout history, single folk have often been regarded with suspicion, even disdain. This is especially true for unwed women, who have long been labelled “spinsters” and “old maids.” But, tellingly, the recent worldwide trend has been largely fuelled by the empowerment of women: Among other things, financial independence allows them to marry later in life or not at all. Who needs a partner when being single affords a new sense of security? After a while, I stopped wondering about myself, realizing that my doubts weren’t triggered from within but by preconceptions projected onto me by concerned friends and relatives. I understood that I was single because I wasn’t trying to be anything else, no longer afraid to answer the question “Why are you still alone?” There hasn’t been a lot of research into this topic from a queer perspective, but people like me can take solace in the findings of one study, Single by Choice? Assessing and Understanding Voluntary Singlehood Among Mature Gay Men. In his thesis, University of Massachusetts professor Andrew Hostetler reveals that up to 60 per cent of gay men choose to be single, and this fosters a different kind of empowerment: “an idiosyncratic ‘narrative strategy’ and a form of secondary control that preserves ego integrity.” Sounds good at first blush, but is the preservation of ego just a euphemism for selfishness, this “narrative strategy” another name for self-delusion? In my own unscientific poll of several single gay friends and colleagues, I got some interesting answers. One respondent, who happens to be an ex-boyfriend, said, “Yes, voluntary singlehood is a selfish pursuit (ahem), and that a committed relationship demands the ultimate self-sacrifice—putting someone else’s feelings ahead of our own.” Another friend attributes our penchant for the single life not to selfishness, per se, but to a slightly distorted sense of self—a varia-

One-man pursuits suit many singles just fine.

20 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

tion of the Peter Pan syndrome. Gay men, as this notion goes, are natural-born dreamers, hard-wired idealists, which is probably why so many of us make great artists, writers and interior designers. But it’s also a mind-set incompatible with certain harsh realities. When a date or mate doesn’t meet with our wildly idealistic expectations, we’re often disappointed and quickly lose interest, retreating to

WHEN A DATE OR MATE DOESN’T MEET WITH OUR WILDLY IDEALISTIC EXPECTATIONS, WE’RE OFTEN DISAPPOINTED AND QUICKLY LOSE INTEREST, RETREATING TO UNATTAINABLE FANTASIES. unattainable fantasies. Meanwhile, a lesbian friend asserts that the global rise in singles and live-alones is part of an altogether new interpretation of selfhood, a byproduct of today’s Internet Age. Gay or straight, male or female, many of us now (perhaps mistakenly) believe we can have our social and sexual needs met online. Instead of genuinely opening our hearts exclusively to that certain someone, we’re literally laying ourselves bare to perfect strangers—connecting virtually en masse while in reality coupling with no one at all. Lost boys and digital diversions aside, I think some people simply weren’t meant to be in a relationship. Gay men seem especially adept at cultivating different kinds of joy in a quiet life of relative solitude. I, for one, find nothing more satisfying than coming home to an empty apartment after a day at the office, kicking my shoes off and cooking myself supper, then reading the paper while a favourite piece of music plays softly in the background. What some might call isolating, others consider liberating. Which isn’t to say there aren’t occasional twinges of loneliness in Neverland, or the odd romantic interlude. But it would take a swashbuckling pirate to swoop down and sweep me off my feet—and a sturdy hook to yank me from the solitary pleasures and homespun comforts I’ve grown so accustomed to. I’m well aware that historically humans do better in pairs, but at this point, I really don’t need someone to “complete me.” When the issue of same-sex marriage first surfaced about a decade ago, there was a joke making the rounds that, of course, gay people should be entitled to suffer equally, too. No matter how many times I heard it, that punch line always got a good chuckle. But now that singleness is on the rise everywhere—increasingly embraced across broader segments of society—who gets the last laugh? Choosing this lifestyle in ever-greater numbers, straight people have made it less stigmatized and ultimately easier for gays to accept something many of us may have always known to be true.

‘Tis Better to Give...

OUR SAMPLING OF HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT WILL MAKE YOU THE HIT OF THE SEASON •

Nutcracker keepsake ornaments (above) from Kurt Adler. $18 a set; Holt Renfrew; holtrenfrew.com OUTLOOKS

• TIES THAT BIND You can’t go wrong when the tie bears the name Ermenegildo Zegna, especially if it’s from the Silver Collection. $225; Harry Rosen; harryrosen.com

UPPER CASE • Good little doggies deserve a treat, and this Jonathan Adler cookie jar for “Puppy Uppers” will tell them they’re extra-special. Holt Renfrew; holtrenfrew.com

• MISSION MISSONI The purchase of these charming stuffed animals supports Holt Renfrew’s fundraising drive for OrphanAid Africa. $50 each; Holt Renfrew; holtrenfrew.com *

• ON THE WATCH The Déjà vu collection will have you wondering when you’ve seen a timepiece design so creative before. $130; Projects Watch dealers; projectswatches.com

GRAND OPENINGS • The Stress Less Automatic Lever Corkscrew will lend elegance to your next party (plus, you can tell guests it’s recommended by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers).$99.99; Trudeau; shoptrudeau.com

• SWEATER WEATHER V-necks are chic, durable and light when they’re made of Sea Island cotton in this John Smedley knit. $250; Harry Rosen; harryrosen.com

• CALL ME • BATTER UP You’ll be making pancakes just so you can smother them in genuine maple syrup from the state of Maine. $29.95; L.L. Bean; llbean.com

22 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

You’ll help your iPhone case stand out from the rest—fashionably—with a Marc by Marc Jacobs case. $45; Holt Renfrew; holtrenfrew.com *Prices, where noted, may vary.

• GENTLE JUNGLE The wild comes lovingly alive in these holiday tree ornaments from Jonathan Adler. $25; Holt Renfrew; holtrenfrew.com

SOCK IT TO ’EM • Get noticed down there—not there. Make your ankles a conversation starter in these Pantherella striped socks in merino wool. $90 (three-pack); Harry Rosen; harryrosen.com

• BEACHY KEEN The Vilebrequin name has become synonymous with fun, and these printed swim trunks uphold that reputation. $235 to $275; Harry Rosen; harryrosen.com

• CASE CLOSED Show ’em you’re serious about getting the job done with this leather two-compartment briefcase at your side. Smythson dealers; smythson.com

MY PAD • A venerable British leather purveyor brings its thoughtful craftsmanship to its latest iPad case. Smythson dealers; smythson.com

ALL BOTTLED UP • Entertaining just got a pop of colour. Lend a little style to your wine bottles with these duo-tone bottle stoppers. Trudeau; shoptrudeau.com OUTLOOKS

• WRAPPED IN STYLE You’ll go out on the town with cool confidence in this handsome Ermenegildo Zegna reversible jacket. Get ready to turn heads. $2,995; Harry Rosen; harryrosen.com

ON THE MONEY • Flashing your cash will draw attention to your style when your green resides in the Estate International Bi-fold wallet, in black leather from Fossil. $48; The Bay; thebay.com

• A CANINE CHRISTMAS Fido likes the holidays, too. Get your pet dog into the spirit of the season with a fun, stuffed snowman from Jax and Bones. $16; Holt Renfrew; holtrenfrew.com

• DRESSED FOR SUCCESS Look like you know what you’re doing (even if you don’t) donning this Kaitlyn Yarn-Dyed Apron. $57.95; Williams-Sonoma; williams-sonoma.com

FOR GRILL SEEKERS • In red for the season (or a variety of other colours), this Fyrkat Mini Picnic Charcoal Grill will lend a touch of glamour to cooking outdoors. $50-$60; Bodum dealers; bodum.com/ca

• TEA TIME Flavour and convenience are the watchwords with an individual clip tea infuser. Trudeau; shoptrudeau.com 24 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

SLIDING SCALE • The kids in your life will thank you this winter each time they take their colourful Slope Sliders out for a spin. $24.95 each; L.L. Bean; llbean.com

• HEAVY DUTY Give yourself a shot of macho with the ruggedlooking Machine watch from Fossil. $160; The Bay; thebay.com

ASCENDING GLORY • Graciousness will blossom with this fine Mercury Glass Log vase, available in votive, small and large. $8-$39; West Elm, westelm.com

• MYSTERY SOLVED The cook in your life will enjoy the ease of identifying leftovers with these smart-looking glass tags. They come with their own marker. $9.99; Trudeau; shoptrudeau.com

A DOG’S LIFE • If your canine thinks he’s human, now he can be— well, almost. L.L. Bean’s Field Coat for Dogs is based on the company’s same model for people. $29.95 to $59.95, small to large; L.L. Bean; llbean.com

• LINKED TO STYLE Accentuate the positive with a pair of cuff links from this assortment of industrial-strength elegance. $175 ($298, watch); Harry Rosen; harryrosen.com OUTLOOKS

WHISTLE GAILY THIS WINTER A PROUD TRADITION THAT BLANKETS THE SLOPES IN JOY

Tourism Whistler/Steve Rogers

BY RANDALL SHIRLEY

ub-a-dub-dub in the steamy hot tub….In my fantasy version of a ski vacation, the bubbling hot tub is full of hot gay men, just outside a gorgeous ski lodge with extra-large snowflakes falling. What happens within the mist that engulfs the scene, well, let’s just say it adds to the steaminess. This is not what happens at any ski resort I’ve ever visited, and that includes the hotels and lodges at Whistler during gay ski week (gaywhistler.com). At least it’s not exactly what happens. Yes, there’s a hot tub and lovely ski lodge, but not all the men are hot (according to my taste), and not all the people in the tub are gay men. Thus, not much chance of a rub, let alone the a-dub-dub.

26 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

The tub my husband and I experienced during the 2012 version of the annual gay ski week, a.k.a. WinterPRIDE, was on the deck at the Aava Whistler Hotel. The Aava is the official host hotel for the upcoming February 2013 edition, so staying there may increase your chances of happy hot-tubbing (aavawhistlerhotel. com). There were plenty of gay guys in the tub during our après ski time—that magical window between skiing/boarding and dinner—and they were plenty friendly. And when the handsome guys across from me started talking about their cupcake shop in the States, well, even the straightest folks realized they were at Whistler during a very gay time. Going into its 21st season, Whistler’s gay ski week is one of two

events I believe every gay Canadian should experience at least once. (The other is Alberta’s gay rodeo.) From the queer tracks in the snow on Monday morning to the final beats of the DJ’s music on Sunday morning, the village of Whistler becomes a place that welcomes us with wide open arms. Yes, Whistler is gay-friendly anytime—and if you can’t make WinterPRIDE you should still visit Whistler in winter. But during gay ski week, the rainbow flag is everywhere we look, and I’ve met gay skiers from Australia, the U.K., Ontario and all over the U.S. who come to enjoy this magic mountain time. While the event is commonly known as “gay ski week,” the word “ski,” (or snowboard for that matter) is only a part of what

the experience is all about. WinterPRIDE brings together a community—albeit a community with a large percentage of people focused on skiing and snowboarding. For some people, participating in WinterPRIDE is as important as attending a summertime Pride event. And what would Pride be without a parade? I’d never seen a mountain parade before, and joining scores of gay skiers and boarders to accompany a very, very long Pride flag as it was paraded down the main face of Whistler Mountain was an experience nonpareil. At the bottom, many skier/boarders ditched their equipment, and non-skiers joined the flag to continue the parade through the wintry walkways of Whistler Village—eventually endOUTLOOKS

Tourism Whistler/Brad Kasselman Randall Shirley

Another perfect day on the slopes at Whistler (above); Blackcomb alights the night (right, top). Friends enjoy the bonhomie of WinterPRIDE (right, bottom).

ing with the town’s mayor proclaiming official WinterPRIDE week. This was never really in my fantasy of gay ski trips, but I found the parade particularly moving. For the non-skiers/boarders, there are certainly plenty of fun distractions throughout the week. Time in Whistler’s lovely spas is the perfect daytime diversion, and yet others go off to enjoy activities like dog-sledding, snowshoeing and zip-lining at a time when there’s a high likelihood of other gays doing the same thing. (WinterPRIDE arranges some of the events but can only guarantee an all-gay group if they sell out.) There are also culinary activities, such as a wine mixology workshop, as well as health-focused events. But for me, and for a big chunk of attendees, it’s all about the mountain experience. So for the non-skier in our household, we chose a first-ever ski lesson! While it wasn’t the raging success I’d hoped for, my husband committed to skiing again, and we returned to Whistler later in the season—a reminder that you non-skier/boarders could at least give it a try. As ski mountains go, Whistler and Blackcomb (side-by-side mountains, one resort) are dazzlers. I’ve been lucky enough to ski them both many times and am continually amazed at their variety of terrain—from bunny hills to steep ’n deep—and how beautifully the mountains are maintained. During chairlift rides, skiers from Europe often tell me the Whistler experience leaves others in the dust, er, powder. Exploring mountains of this magnitude can initially be daunting. 28 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

Smartly, WinterPRIDE organizes group skiing/boarding for anyone who wants to join in—you only have to buy your lift ticket (whistler blackcomb.com). Groups meet at 9:50 am at a preannounced loca-

WHEN THE HANDSOME GUYS ACROSS FROM ME STARTED TALKING ABOUT THEIR CUPCAKE SHOP IN THE STATES, WELL, EVEN THE STRAIGHTEST FOLKS REALIZED THEY WERE AT WHISTLER DURING A VERY GAY TIME. tion on Whistler or Blackcomb, depending on the day—the gays are unmissable! You simply join a group based on your self-determined skill level, and away you go. If you miss the meeting point, as I’ve often done, you can always catch up during the official lunch stop—everyone congregates in a preannounced on-mountain lodge to chat and flirt over the resort’s quality on-mountain food—choices range from resort

Tourism Whistler/Ziptrek Ecotours

WinterPRIDE

Randall Shirley

classics like chili to surprises like Vietnamese pho. One of WinterPRIDE’s great aspects is simply the number of gay skier/boarders it brings together in one place—and not everyone participates in the organized ski/board groups. I’ve been part of unofficial ski groups that mix-and-match throughout the day, with people coming and going as we simply bump into each other. Nor does everyone choose the same lodging, which, to me, is both a plus and a minus. WinterPRIDE doesn’t have the non-stop, overtly gay feel of an all-gay cruise, but the critical mass of gays is large enough to be very noticeable throughout the village and on the mountain. The negative side is that people get so spread out through the village that it can be hard to just bump into someone a second time—especially people who stay in farther-flung condos. Many of the condo types I’ve met travel in small groups, creating their own micro social scene. Condo dwellers also seem likely to “eat-in” some evenings, and we’ve had great times with friends in the condo setting with a crackling fire in progress. “Social” and “scene” are both key words at WinterPRIDE, and the après ski and evening programs ensure that those who are looking for lots of connection time can get it. Each afternoon features après ski cocktails in a preannounced pub or other location, and evenings have a suggested restaurant or two, although no restaurant in the village can accommodate the entire WinterPRIDE crowd. As resorts go, Whistler is a foodie one (see Food & Drink, page 8), and if you don’t manage to make reservations with the crowd restaurant, there are scores of options. A great way to try several is with Whistler Tasting Tours, a fun and beautifully run service that gets us

Rainbow flags at meeting places for gay skiers and guides (clockwise from upper left); the welcoming Glacier Lodge; camping it up on the slopes; zip-lining is but one of the week’s activites; the fun goes inside.

into several restaurants in one evening, with a different taste in each (whistlertastingtours.com). At a spot called Kypriaki Norte the tour introduced me to the best Greek lamb I’ve ever tasted (kypriaki.net). My favourite Whistler dining is breakfast/brunch at Elements Urban Tapas, where the French toast stuffed with brie and ham is outstanding (elementswhistler.com). Of course, it wouldn’t be a gay gathering without nightly parties. There’s a spot to dance the night away every night of the week, but highlights include a pool party at a community centre and the Saturday Snowball, which transforms the village convention centre into a winterthemed thump ’n’ boom, complete with a well-known DJ. Frankly, my legs can’t handle a lot of dancing after skiing, so my husband and I enjoy a couple hours’ worth—then share hugs and kisses with lots of people we’ve met before heading to our comfy bed at the Aava. The hot tub bubbles outside our window, but after several days surrounded by gays while skiing, eating, dancing, shopping and relaxing, I realize that WinterPRIDE has replaced my fantasy of the perfect gay ski event. And, besides, I’ve got a hot man in bed with me. Rub-a-dub, indeed! THE DETAILS: The nearest airport for WinterPRIDE is Vancouver International. Whistler is approximately two hours from the airport by car. For more information, including condo rentals and coach/bus service, see whistler.com. Additional WinterPRIDE event info: gaywhistler.com. OUTLOOKS

30 OUTLOOKS NOVEMBER 2012

Netherlands Board of Tourism and Commerce Office

PEDAL POWER IN AMSTERDAM GETTING INTO A CITY’S BIKING RHYTHMS AND RULES

BY BECCA HENSLEY

orget Rembrandt, canal houses, cheese so aged it tastes like crispy caramel, nefariously intoxicating coffeehouses, tulips, Delft china, antiques to die for and a not-so-seamy Red Light District. What leaves the biggest impression on me when I visit the treasure trove that is Amsterdam is life in the bike lane. Absolutely the first thing you have to know about Amsterdam is how to ride a bike Amsterdammer style: Never two abreast, cross tramlines with care, yield to the right, etc. And, at the very least, as a pedestrian, know how to dodge them. According to recent statistics, there’s nearly one bike per person in Amsterdam, with 600,000 of them rolling through the cobblestone streets of this 900-year-old city. Young, old, rich, poor—everybody pedals. And nobody wears a helmet. Nobody. In a city with countless canals, narrow thoroughfares and more than a thousand bridges, bikes rule. (To live like a

local, do consider renting one, if just for a day—or take a scenic bike tour.) But it’s not simply a question of streets crowded with bicycles at all hours: I look out the window of my hotel in the hip Jordaan area at 2 a.m. and see perhaps 30 bikes pass below me in 15 minutes. What really awes even the bike-savvy visitor is the way Amsterdammers ride. It’s as if they were born with two wheels attached to their bodies rather than two feet. They appear totally at ease, which means they do on their bikes what the rest of us do sitting down—or at least walking very slowly. Fearless, they pile myriad people onto bikes, including tiny children who sit either in front or behind their parents (both if there are two kids) or in a sort of wheelbarrel-like contraption resembling a bicycle basket on steroids, elongating the vehicle’s front. On this clear day in the central part of town, a woman carries OUTLOOKS

All Photos Netherlands Board of Tourism and Commerce Office

four dogs on her bike: three in the bucket and one in the handlebarmounted child’s seat. Another local ferries children, dogs, groceries and toys, all ensconced in the bucket of her brightly painted conveyance. I see an elderly woman cycling, steering with one hand and holding an overflowing bag of groceries with the other. I’m nearly mystified as I observe one man, kids balanced like bookends, talking on his mobile phone yet somehow lugging boards and other building supplies at the same time. And I nearly look away in disbelief at the sight of another guy—with an adult passenger sitting behind him— texting with furious abandon while cruising into oncoming traffic. All at once, it seems fairly routine when one fellow, after exiting an antiques store, rides away clutching what appears to be a valuable vase. When it begins to rain, just about all the bikers, in shades of Mary Poppins, pull umbrellas from their bags and hold them aloft to shield themselves—and their passengers—without even stopping. Rain or shine, lots of runway-ready guys pedal by in business suits, carrying their briefcases, naturally; many women cycle in spiked heels and short, tight dresses. Nearly everyone seems to tote a neatly wrapped bouquet of tulips. Even youngsters manifest superhuman biking skills, buzzing through the streets without benefit of training wheels. And, it goes without saying that people eat while biking—even messy foods like french fries crammed into paper cones, crowned with mayonnaise.

hether you decide to bike or choose another means of transport, you won’t have time to spin your wheels in dynamic Amsterdam, still ablaze with a glow that hearkens to the Dutch Golden Age. Known for, among many other things, its diamonds and bulb flowers (more than half a million sprout in parks and public gardens),

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LOTS OF RUNWAY-READY GUYS PEDAL BY IN BUSINESS SUITS, CARRYING THEIR BRIEFCASES, NATURALLY. NEARLY EVERYONE SEEMS TO TOTE A NEATLY WRAPPED BOUQUET OF TULIPS. AND, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT PEOPLE EAT WHILE BIKING, EVEN MESSY FOODS LIKE FRENCH FRIES. the city continues on a creative trek that fuses futuristic buildings, like Renzo Piano’s NeMo, with 16th century gabled houses, windmills and houseboats. Newcomers and repeat visitors can’t help but be swept up by the city’s storied arts heritage, with such attractions as the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and Hermitage, among others. (And speaking of history, no first-time visitor should miss

A peddler’s paradise: Gay or straight, old or young, bikers rule in Amsterdam (opposite and this page). There seems no limit to what can be accomplished on two wheels in this enchanting old city.

the poignance—and yet hopefulness—of some time spent at the Anne Frank House.) Antiques hunters know to hit the gallery-lined Nieuwe Spiegelstraat. Meanwhile, cheese nibblers will have found their nirvana (my favourite shop: Tromp, located in an old house on Utrechtsestraat). While there’s no shortage of modern boutique-style hotels, when I sleep in Amsterdam I want to be immersed in history. The luxurious Hotel Pulitzer (pulitzeramsterdam.com) in the Jordaan comprises 25 converted and intertwined 17th- and 18th-century canal houses. No beam-exposed, soaring-ceilinged, canal-facing room is quite like any of the others—and the hotel boasts its own solid-teak canal cruiser (circa 1909), outfitted with brass bits, Art Nouveau fretwork and Tiffany lamps. Another historic lodging option is the so-Art-Nouveau-it’s-Gothic Grand Hotel Amrath (amrathamsterdam.com). Built in the Amsterdam style in 1916 to house six major shipping companies, this five-star hotel is awash in nautical symbolism and sits surrounded by canals. Lavish amenities include a spa and a free mini-bar. But the real adventure is the unusual architecture and its stunning adaptation from office space to hotel. Wherever you sleep in Amsterdam, don’t be surprised if your dreams reimagine tableaux of this city on wheels. Nearly all of mine did. (General information: Holland.com. Bike-rental recommendations: macbike.nl;orangebike.nl)

INTO THE NIGHT When you’ve returned or locked your bike for the day, you’ll find more than a little to keep you entertained in Amsterdam. If it’s not quite the “gay mecca” it was a generation ago—and what is?—it nonetheless remains one of the most open cities in the world for LGBTs. That said, it is a city, one in which cultural diversity doesn’t always spell benevolence toward gays. So you can’t leave your street wisdom back home. For a sampling of what you might not find back home, here are a few sites to check out: AMSTERDAM FOR GAYS amsterdam4gays.com GAY AMSTERDAM gayamsterdam.us GAY CITIES, AMSTERDAM amsterdam.gaycities.com

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Cheers! The Lowdown on Dressing Up PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM WEBSTER

STYLED BY ASHLEY GALANG & CARLTON ELLIS MAKEUP AND GROOMING BY MARK GONZALES MODELS: MATT & KYLE FOR SUTHERLAND MODELS 34 OUTLOOKS APRIL 2012

NEWS

SUIT AND SHIRT: ARMANI TIE: DUCHAMP (BOTH AVAILABLE AT HOLT RENFREW STORES ACROSS CANADA) WATCH: ARMANI EXCHANGE SHOES: NUNN BUSH

NEWS

JACKET: CHRISTOPHER BATES WATCH: DIESEL BELT: GAP T-SHIRT AND JEANS: JOE FRESH GROOMING NOTE: DERMALOGICA TONER AND INTENSIVE EYE CARE

36 OUTLOOKS MONTH 2011

NEWS

SWEATER, JACKET AND PANTS: FRENCH CONNECTION

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NEWS

(THIS PAGE) JACKET: ZARA WATCH: FOSSIL SHIRT: CHRISTOPHER BATES (OPPOSITE) JACKET AND POCKET SQUARE: HUGO BOSS (AVAILABLE AT HOLT RENFREW STORES ACROSS CANADA) SHIRT: JOE FRESH WATCH: FOSSIL

38 OUTLOOKS MONTH 2011

JOHN VARVATOS COAT – FIROZ TAILORED WAX SUIT – FIROZ VIVIENNE WEST WOOD DRESS SHIRT – FIROZ

NEWS

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NEWS

SHIRT: FRENCH CONNECTION BELT: GAP WATCH: DIESEL PANTS: CHRISTOPHER BATES GROOMING NOTE: KIEHL’S OIL CONTROL MOISTURIZER

40 OUTLOOKS MONTH 2011

NEWS

SHIRT AND BELT: GAP PANTS: FRENCH CONNECTION WATCH: DIESEL GROOMING NOTE: KIEHL’S OIL CONTROL MOISTURIZER

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NEWS

(LEFT) CARDIGAN: GAP SCARF: FRENCH CONNECTION WATCH: DIESEL (RIGHT) TIE: BANANA REPUBLIC SHIRT: GAP WATCH: MICHAEL KORS GROOMING NOTE: LUSH ULTRABALM (ON BOTH)

42 OUTLOOKS MONTH 2011

ST YLE

The Breakdown: MILITARY MUSCLE Camouflage is back this season, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doing anything but blending in. This time around, the battle-ready print is being put to work on tailored garments, like the shirt (below) from Hamilton 1883 for Project Wooster. Paired with classic black pieces in the military vein, it takes on a polished air that will keep you from looking like you just came out of the trenches. At ease, soldier! - DEREK DOTTO 3

1. Camouflage print shirt by Hamilton 1883 for Project Wooster at NomadShop.net $255 2. Olive green wool cardigan by Club Monaco $99

3. Double-breasted knit collar peacoat by Wings+Horns at NomadShop.net $685 4. Black slim-fit jeans by Gap x BLK DNM $98

5. Woven fabric belt by Club Monaco $50

6. Two-tone leather combat boots by Diesel at Town Shoes $325

David Hawe

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ART & CULTURE

Framed: Andrew Briggs POPS OF COLOUR TO SHAPE POP CULTURE

ndrew Briggs becomes tongue-tied when asked into which genre he would place his work. “Tough question,” he says. “I remember being in art school, and our teacher asking if we were to pick a category, what would it be. To this day, I am still unsure. I am influenced by so many artists—all of whom are in different genres themselves.” But then the Vancouver artist comes up with a description that just about nails it: “I’m a bit of a mix of Andy Warhol meets Jackson Pollock with a twist of Briggs.”

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It’s precisely that twist that keeps viewers of the 30-year-old’s work from getting too comfortable with their comparisons to any world-famous artists. Briggs has carved out a style that could only have come from his years spent experiencing an array of cultures. As he puts it succinctly, “Travel has been an essential part of the stimulus that runs my creative engine.” That engine has been fired up on such diverse continents as Europe and Asia. The energy of Japan—“an efficient futuristic country when in the cities,” Briggs says—has informed many of his recent

works. And then there is the lyricism influenced by his enchantment with Italy: “The people there are surrounded by historical buildings, which are sewn together by newly built infrastructure that is a snapshot of the lives and souls of the citizens.” But if an affinity for architecture lends drama to much of Briggs’s work, so, too, does the drama inherent in pop culture’s icons. “My love for painting famous individuals is tied to the deep connection we feel to them and the interconnection we share because of them,” Briggs reflects. “A famous person becomes another family

ART & CULTURE

member or friend, despite his actual separation from our day-to-day lives.” The passion Briggs expresses for his celebrity subjects becomes apparent in his renderings of them. An appraisal of more than a few seconds reveals depths of personality often overlooked in the frequent haste to pigeonhole famous personalities. One way in which Briggs draws out something unexpected in those high-profile men and women is through his considered uses of colour. “I think of colour like a dance sequence,” he says. “In order to move from one space to the other, you need steps in-between. Colour is that for me. One colour plays off the next and so on and so forth. I love bright colours.” His favourite is hot pink, a risky choice for some—not so for Briggs. But colour selection can be all for much of his work: “In

some cases, it makes or breaks the piece. I have whitewashed many paintings because the colours haven’t worked out.” Briggs’s career is working out in part because of the teachers (he’s an alum of Emily Carr University of Art + Design) and others along the way who offered guidance and encouragement. “I have learned that one can’t do everything himself,” he reflects. “There are experts out there that can help you. That has been the biggest evolvement—letting others help me along the way. There are some things that perhaps I may have missed if it wasn’t for them.” Things even a 30-year-old is ready to pass on to budding artists.

www.harrisongalleries.com

The artist: Andrew Briggs

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ART & CULTURE

FLASHBACK

On the Wilde Side

is death may have been 112 years ago this month, but writer Oscar Wilde (captured on this page in an 1882 photograph by Napoleon Sarony) continues to loom large in the LGBT community. Not bad for a man who only lived to be 46 years old. When he died on November 30, 1900, Wilde was perhaps as famous for such works as The Importance of Being Earnest as he was for a same-sex affair that led to imprisonment. He notably said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;No man is rich enough to buy back his past.â&#x20AC;? Yet by earnestly struggling to simply be himself many decades before the first cultural concessions to sexual freedom, Wilde would more than assure his place in the future.

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