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• LIAMS L I W R A OUTLOOK’ S EXPANSION • INTERVIEW: D
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2 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY OWNERS AND PUBLISHERS Michael Daniels & Chris Hayes EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / ART DIRECTOR Chris Hayes hayes@outlookmedia.com
SNAPSHOT
MARY ANN BRANDT AND HER MARY BAND OF LADIES IN WAITING TOOK TO THE STAGE AT WALL ST. FOR THEIR ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A TWIST - THIS TIME THEY TOOK A LOOK AT THE GIRLS IN ALL FOUR SEASONS. THEY CROWD LOVED IT! PHOTOS BY CHRIS HAYES.
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR / PHOTOS Robert Trautman traut@outlookmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mette Bach, Danielle Buckius, Wayne R Besen, Chris Crain, Jennifer Vanasco, Tom Moon, Regina Sewell, Leslie Robinson, Gregg Shapiro, Mick Weems, Julianne French, TF Barton, Romeo San Vicente, Jeff Fertig, Simon Sheppard, Tristan Taormino, Dennis Vanke, Mario Pinardi, Rick Kramer, Aaron Drake, Jennie Keplar, Scott Varner, Derrik Chinn, Dan Savage, Felice Newman, Tim Curran, Chris Hughes, Stephen J Fallon, Felice Newman, J. Eric Peters, Crystal Hawkins, Brent Wilder, Matthew Burlingame, Jacob Anderson-Minshall, Matthew Veritas Tsien, Cheri Meyers
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READERSHIP: 210,000 PEOPLE / MONTH Outlook Weekly is published and distributed by Outlook Media, Inc. every Thursday throughout Ohio. Outlook Weekly is a free publication provided solely for the use of our readers. Any person who willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over copies of Outlook Weekly with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading it shall be considered guilty of the crime of theft. Violators will be prosecuted. The views expressed in Outlook Weekly are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or personal, business, or professional practices of Outlook Media, Inc. or its staff, ownership, or management. Outlook Weekly does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any interpretation, advice, opinion, or view presented. Outlook Media, Inc. does not investigate or accept responsibility for claims made in any advertisement. Outlook Media, Inc. assumes no responsibility for claims arising in connection with products and services advertised herein, nor for the content of, or reply to, any advertisement. All material is copyrighted ©2008 by Outlook Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008 VOLUME 13 NUMBER 11
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
LOTS OF PFLAGERS CAME OUT TO HONOR DON AND JANET BRENNAN FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE GLBT COMMUNITY INCLUDING MARY JO KILROY, RUSS GOODWIN AND THE BROWNS. PHOTOS BY PEG ALLEMANG
SNAPSHOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........2 ABOUT TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........3 COMMENTARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......4,6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........8 OUT BUSINESS NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......11 INSIGHTOUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......13 FEATURE: HOMES, GARDENS & TOURS . . . . . . . .15-22 DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......24 ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......24 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......25 INTERVIEW: DAR WILLIAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......27 SEX TALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......28 SAVAGE LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......29 SPOTLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......30 THE LAST WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......31 SCOPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......31 NEXT WEEK: GAY CONVERSION THERAPY
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 3
ABOUT TOWN by Chris Hayes
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 THE SECRET TO MY SUCCESS Linkout @ Camelot Cellars, 958 N High St, www.linkoutcolumbus.com: Enjoy a selection of red, white and blush wines while mixing and mingling with other Young Columbus LGBT Professionals. Light Hors d’oervres will be served. 6p-8p; $25. YOU AMUSE ME 10-Year Anniversary Celebration @ A Muse Gallery, 996 W Third Ave, 614.299.5003, www.amusegallery.com: “Director’s Choice” of works by artists who have been with the gallery since its beginning: Helen Rinke, Mitzi Prince, Russell Whiting, Bebe Krimmer and Signe Stuart. Opening reception is tonight! 6p-9p; free. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 SAVE OUR SCHOOL Antioch College Alumni Fundraiser @ Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson St, Cincinnati, 513.680.3345: The Cincinnati Antioch College Alumni Chapter will be holding a fundraiser to raise money for the [Antioch] College Revival Fund a 501(c)(3) and the Non Stop Liberal Arts Institute of Yellow Springs, OH. Raffles, free wine, presentations and more. 7p-10p; cover. NICE TAN LINE Bikini Beach Party @ Liquid, 1100 N High St, 614.298.3000, www.liquidhotspot.com: Come get wet or drown yourself in a martini at this beach party. Featuring the AQUA girls on the video wall and frolicking Liquid Ladies in their bikinis! Homemade bikini contest. 10p; cover. HOP TO IT 3RD Annual Columbus Microbrew Festival @ North Market, 59 Spruce St, 614.463.9664, northmarket.org: Now in our third year, the Columbus Microbrew Festival will be adding Friday evening hours to this locally-brewed beer event held at the North Market. The Festival was such a success last year that all seven participating microbreweries are coming back and we are starting the fun a day earlier than previous years! Come taste some great handcrafted ales from Columbus’ and Zanesville’s master brewers! The Columbus Microbrew Festival will be held in the farmers’ market plaza on Fri 5p–9p, Sat 12p-7p on the 2nd floor of the market house. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 FACTORY MADE Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms @ Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St, 614.292.3535, wexarts.org: An internationally touring exhibition on view in its only U.S. stop. The installation will fill all of the Wexner Center’s galleries (and beyond), featuring a spectacular design that will allow for experiencing Warhol’s work across all media - truly, Warhol like you’ve never seen it before. Key dates include: press preview and opening party September 12; Velvet Underground tribute featuring Robert Forster September 13; a conversation between John Waters and Vincent Fremont October 3; and a symposium November 14–15.
GRAB YOUR FLANNEL AND FORGET YOUR BRA 19th Annual Ohio Lesbian Festival @ Frontier Ranch, 8836 York Rd SW, Pataskala, OH 430629026, www.ohiolba.org, www.myspace.com/ohiolesbianfestival: The festival is open to ALL womyn: lesbian, bi, trans, queer or straight. The line up for the 2008 festival is amazing: Bitch & Ferron, Judith Casselberry & Juca, Kelli Dunham, Sistah Ngoma, Early Girl, God-Des & She, Tracy Walker, Nervous But Excited, Donna Mogavero, Robin Stone, Alexis Antes, Hotchachas, after hours DJ party with DJ Carol, Mamma Sutra & DJ Ororo til 2 AM!, The Limelight Stage is being produced by Viva’ Valezz! featuring burlesque, drag kings, belly dancers and more! This year’s fest will also include a Poetry Tent featuring many amazing regional spoken word artists as well as an open mic-bring your words to share! Daycare is available. 11a-2a; $30$40. CHALK IT UP TO… Via Colori @ Goodale Park, viacolori.com: The Chalk art fest returns to the Short North tonight and tomorrow. 130 chalk drawings will be created directly on the streets around Goodale Park Awesome Art, fabulous food and great entertainment will punctuate the weekend. Free. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 ROGER THIS IS JUDAISM, JUDAISM THIS IS ROGER Introduction to Judaism @ Cong. Tifereth Israel, 1354 E Broad St, 614.253.8523, mungar@tiferethisrael.org: Cong. Tifereth Israel’s new Introduction to Judaism Course for 2008-2009. Columbus’ most comprehensive and dynamic course on Basic Judaism taught by Rabbi Michael Ungar. The class meets on Sundays throughout the year for a total of 27 sessions. Call for more info. For more information or to enroll, contact Rabbi Michael Ungar 11:15a-12:45p. SEX ED AND THE CITY An Evening with David Eigenberg, (Steve) from Sex in the City @ The Lodge Bar, 165 Vine St, 614.224.0761, www.ppaoaction.org: Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio Action Fund presents this evening with David Eigenberg. You all know and love David as “Steve Brady” in Sex and the City. Meet him in person at our September fundraiser! Bid on the chance to have breakfast with ‘Steve.‘ 6p-8p; $25 Donation (includes drink ticket). TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 IT’S ALL ABOUT ME, INC Kaira Sturdivant Rouda: Real You Incorporated @ Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N High St, 614.292.3535, wexarts.org: Kaira Sturdivant Rouda, president of Real Living and a founding donor of the Wexner Center, leads a lively discussion based on her new book, Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs. She’ll be joined by four other notable women from the central Ohio business community - Bev Bethge, Jeni Britton, Kim Holzer, and Elizabeth Lessner - for this event, which begins with a reception and concludes with a book signing. RSVP. 6p-8p; free. SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
4 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
COMMENTARY By Cheri Meyers, SpeakOUT Founder
California’s Proposition 8 - Allies Are The Key To Stopping It But LGBT Organizations Are Failing To Attract Them With Tired Strategies Have you seen the 60-second ‘Garden Wedding’ advertisement released by Let California Ring, a project of the Equality California Institute, which asks “What if you couldn’t marry the person you loved?” If not, you can view it online at www.letcaliforniaring.org. The multi-million-dollar ad is currently being aired on cable stations in California which attract younger voters who are thought to be most likely to support same-sex marriage. Which begs this ally to ask the following questions; Is this specific commercial the best use of their money? Aren’t they just preaching to the choir by only airing it on stations which target youth audiences? If they are truly concerned about “changing the climate in California ” as their website declares, then shouldn’t they be reaching out to the undecided crowd? And last, but certainly not least, what is up with this terrible commercial? Now I’m no marketing expert, and I’m sure there are many much smarter people making the decisions in this all-important ballot initiative, but this commercial makes zero sense to me as an ally (their targeted audience). The obstacles the heterosexual couple face in this ad are trivial…tripping over cans, getting blocked by wedding attendants. It certainly left no impression on me to link the commercial to the upcoming ballot initiative. For the amount of money Let California Ring spent on this ad, I think they should have showcased the real issues in a ‘non-political way’…like perhaps showcasing the same heterosexual couple’s evolution from just meeting to racing to the court house to apply for a wedding license - only to discover that the doors won’t open for them. I’m sure that the fine people of Let California Ring have the best of intentions, but when we are talking about finite resources (like time and money) they need to get the most bang for their buck. This commercial isn’t that - and since every LGBT organization from here to San Francisco is asking us to send contributions to California to help stop Proposition 8...well, shouldn’t we be assured that our money is being spent wisely? For as long as California has been fighting for same-sex marriage, I feel like the LGBT organizations and community should have been spending their time and money educating the general pub-
The Reader Poll Last week we asked:
What’s the best home &/or garden tour in town? Victorian Village - 50% Olde Towne East - 20% lic on this issue much earlier. It is a classic mistake that I see ‘gay organizations’ make all the time. They wait until a proposition is on the table before they go knocking on John/Jane Q. Public’s door. Let’s face it – the LGBT community is just not large or rich enough to stop or pass an issue (which directly affects their lives) without the help of straight voters. That’s why a substantial amount of time, energy and money needs to be set aside by these groups to reach out to the straight community (not just straight politicians) in order to build lasting relationships and accepting mindsets. Then they would have an established base to reach out too when anti-gay legislation comes up for a vote. Instead, most groups spend the majority of their resources within the LGBT community – only venturing outside the ‘triangle community’ as a reaction to a volatile situation. If we want to succeed in preventing anti-gay legislation, however, we need to do so by purposefully creating a base foundation within the straight community through constant proactive outreach and education beginning as early as middle school. The equality issues that the LGBT community faces are too important to leave up to chance. We
cannot hope that every straight person out there is going to have an “ah-ha moment” and go through a social awakening without prodding. Here in Ohio we have our own issues to address – one being the removal of “Issue One” from our state constitution. We activists have been told by the powers that be to be patient, to allow the court cases to form our path…but one thing we know is that in the end it will likely take a ballot initiative to remove this blight on our state, and that means we will need all the allies we can get. I just hope that Ohio’s LGBT groups won’t wait until a few months before the vote to spend any money or energy reaching out for help. (That’s how we got into this mess in the first place!) Ohio’s LGBT organizations should be doing the ground work now…years before the actual vote occurs. I’ll leave it up to my readers to decide if this is happening here in Ohio or not, but I encourage each of you to think about the main reason we are in this boat to begin with...hint: it has more to do with a lack of education than actual bigotry. When it’s our turn in the national spot light - let’s make every effort (and every penny) count by not making the same mistakes.
Northwood Park Historic in the University District - 10% German Village Haus & Garten Tour - 20%
NEXT WEEK’S QUESTION: Have you ever gone through some sort of gay conversion therapy?
For more info on SpeakOUT: www.speakoutcols.org
Log on to: www.outlookweekly.net to take this week’s poll.
32% SO U RC
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
E : USA TODAY
CATEGORY
NOV 2 ’04
SEP 08 ’08
DIFFERENCE
AMERICAN DEAD
1,122
4,155
3,033
AMERICAN WOUNDED
8,124
30,568
22,444
IRAQI CIVILIAN DEAD
16,342
94,782
78,440
NATIONAL DEBT
$7,429,629,954,236
$9,669,798,894,468
DAYS ‘TIL 2008 ELECTION
1,463
57
$2,240,168,940,232 (1,406)
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 5
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
6 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
COMMENTARY by Mickey Weems
Katy Perry’s hit song, “I Kissed a Girl,” inspired Pastor Dave Allison of Havens Corners Church in Blacklick, Ohio to put up the following message: I KISSED A GIRL AND I LIKED IT THEN I WENT TO HELL Some people cheered the sign as a wake-up call for America Gone Bad. Others were upset with what they saw as Public Desecration of the Fag. Personally, I was delighted when I saw it. It struck me as something vintage and totally camp, like an old poster from a low-budget horror movie. I bet more than a few Gay people want it as a poster to put up in their homes. Possibilities for a humorous article about the sign are endless. But before I wrote one such masterpiece, I needed to give Havens Corners Church a chance to have its say. I called up the pastor, thinking he would refuse to speak with me about it. I introduced myself as a Gay journalist. Game over, I thought. He’ll either hang up right now, or put me on hold until I go away, just like Focus On The Family did a few years ago. But no, Pastor Dave was willing to talk with me. I was surprised. Pleasantly. All kinds of people have talked to him about the sign. “I’ve had calls from places like California and Nova Scotia,” he said. In the midst of our 3 conversations, he had phone calls from Orlando and Cleveland. FOX and MSNBC had run the story. I asked Pastor Allison why he put up the sign. He said it was a “loving warning” to teenage girls who might think homosexuality was cool. He realized that kids experiment. Girls might kiss each other just to be cool, or to get the attention of boys. If that’s all such a kiss is, a youthful indiscretion, it would not lead to damnation. If young women took it further, however, it would be sinful and could have catastrophic consequences for all eternity. “But I’m not like the Fred Phelps crowd,” Dave said. He does not believe in spreading a message of hate. However, when he reads his Bible, it tells him that homosexuality is wrong, period. He feels he must make sure that young people aren’t misled by churches that favor political correctness over God’s message. Nevertheless, he took the sign down after approximately 24 hours because some people were confused by it, especially children and the elderly who didn’t know the context of the song. Without that context, the sign appeared harsh and not terribly loving. But the hellcat was out of the bag. Calls of support and condemnation soon began pouring in.
and unnecessary showboating is too much like buttless chaps and Fred Phelps. Or, Heaven forbid, Fred Phelps in buttless chaps. By engaging in frank and civil dialogue, both sides can be respectful towards each other without feeling like either side is kissing butt. My first “but” would explore alternative gender expression: “But what if the song was ‘I Kissed a Drag Queen’?” “Did the girl know she was kissing a drag queen?” asked Dave. Yes, I said. Then she could go to Hell because the Bible forbids men dressing as women, he answered. But it wouldn’t be the girl who was sinning, I said. What if she really, really loved the drag queen and wanted to marry? To his credit, Pastor Dave kept his cool when I played the queen card. But he wondered why I would bring up such a situation. I answered truthfully: there was a couple, a man and woman who were deeply in love. The husband liked to dress up in women’s clothing. The wife was all right with it. One day the man tearfully told his wife he wanted to undergo a sex change, but was afraid she’d leave him/her. The wife looked at him and spoke what I consider to words of true love: “I guess I’ll become a Lesbian.” Being a journalist in the Gay community, I’ve heard of this scenario more than once. But I could tell that Dave had never dealt with anything like it, not even as a hypothetical situation. It was outside of his box. I Kissed an Alien My second “but” would be about sexual fluidity. “But what if she kissed an alien?” “You mean she’s like Captain Kirk on Star Trek?” he asked. I added that the alien was female for 6 months, and male for the rest of the year. For Dave, it came down to procreation, whether or not they could produce a child, which he felt would be highly unlikely. The issue of sinfulness and going to Hell began to take a back seat. But Dave brought it up front once more. Over and over again, he kept bringing in Scripture, which doesn’t discuss girls kissing drag queens, aliens, male husbands who undergo sex changes or anything else that could confuse the issue.
I Ate a Pig Pastor Dave pointed out verses that condemn homosexuality as an abomination and associate it with other forms of depravity. But many Christians have not inquired about the definition of “abomination” as it is used in the Old I Kissed a Drag Queen Testament. It does not necessarily mean “wrong” or Pastor Dave is like many good people in America “evil.” It means “unclean,” “mixed” or “confused,” who honestly believe homosexuality is wrong, no ifs, For example, pigs are abomination, but they are not ands or buts. As Gay people, what can we do to help evil. Simply put, pigs are mixed up. They are conthem overcome homophobia? fused animals. The best thing we can do is show them our “buts.” The ancient Hebrews deeply cared about purity, as I don’t mean “show our butts” like those tacky do Orthodox Jews today. They felt that pigs are untrolls in Pride parades across the nation who run clean because pigs have cloven hooves like cattle, around in buttless chaps (a contradiction in terms, but they don’t chew their cud (regurgitate their food since their hairy asses are hanging out). I mean that and chew it again) like cattle do. This mixing of conwe should calmly engage them in dialogue. The tradictory animal characteristics in a pig was con“buts” we show them are reasonable objections to sidered symbolic of human actions undesirable by homophobia. G-d, such as when Hebrews mixed with people who Intolerance towards Gay people is un-Christian worshipped other gods. Both were abominations. and sinful in the eyes of God, and we must make it I pointed out to Dave that, sex was seen in Hebrew clear that we hate the sin, not the sinner. culture as having a male role (penetrator) and a feDialogue is infinitely better than confrontation, male role (penetrated). When men had sex with men, SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
Showing Our Buts one man (the bottom) was considered womanish. Such a man would be mixed up, an abomination, as would the man who mixed him. Same thing applied to women-on-women. I Raped a Girl I then turned to the rules regarding the rape of a virgin girl. If a virgin girl was raped, the rapist must marry her because she was abomination (unclean, no longer pure). Nobody else would have her since she was used goods. But most of us don’t hold to this kind of thinking any more. Did Dave expect this rule to still apply? “I know all about the arguments that rules against homosexuality are like rules against not eating shellfish, wearing cloth made of different thread, and other prohibitions that are no longer followed by Christians,” he said. Times did indeed change with regards to these rules. But he did not feel that rules against homosexuality were in the same class because anti-homosexual statements can be found in the New Testament. But what if statements about sex and gender were inconsistent within the Bible itself? Pastor Dave is from a church that allows women to preach. The same New Testament that occasionally condemns homosexuality also says women should be subservient to men. At the same time and in the same Good Book, women and men are equals in the eyes of God. Biblical rules governing sex, family, rape and the rights of the individual usually favor men over women. More and more Christians, however, are rejecting such rules. For the most part, Christians no longer insist that women be so subservient (sooner or later, Catholic and Mormon authorities will catch that wave too), it stands to reason that Christian doctrine can also accommodate Gay folks. As women assert their Godgiven rights not to be limited by a narrow reading of the Good Book, so can Gay Christians and their Straight allies. Every Christian I know (including Pastor Dave) believes the letter of the law is never as important as the spirit of the law, and the basis of all Christian law is love. If, as St Paul says, there is neither male nor female in the eyes of God, then the gender and sex mixing of drag queens, transsexuals, and homosexuals shouldn’t be a problem that love cannot overcome in favor of the oppressed.
is raped to death instead of him. In Ohio State football, that same tradition of men gang-banging a perceived male threat is continued as OSU fans scream for their team to “F—k Michigan!” and proclaim that “Michigan sucks!” In both statements, sexual penetration is verbally forced upon Michigan. The sin of Sodom was rape. Raping men to put them in their place is a Straight man’s game, not an ancient Gay tradition.
Redemption I could tell that Dave felt he was at a disadvantage in our talk. He didn’t agree with me on much of what I said, but he hadn’t thought things over the way that I had. I told him I did not want to defeat him, nor did I want to win the argument. What was more important was that our communities get to know each other. He had gotten some calls from some angry Gay people, and he was afraid somebody would come in and disrupt his service. He as also troubled by the possibility of violence. I assured him that violence from the Gay community was highly unlikely, but that there could be a kiss-in on the grounds of or near his church. He couldn’t understand why some Gay people were so upset. I told him why. Gay people have learned through bitter experience that, too often, there is but a short distance between saying faggots are going to Hell and punching them in the face, burning them alive, blowing up their bars or leaving them to die on a fencepost. I also told him I don’t think he would ever do such things. Neither do I support anyone going into his church and disrupting his service. A protest is one thing. Being a butthole to people you don’t even know is another. Pastor Dave Allison strikes me as a good man who is trying to do the right thing. He had been warned by somebody who had read Outlook Weekly not to even talk to me (“Do you know what kind of trash is in that paper?”). But he did it anyway. Dave is courteous, intelligent, and willing to listen. We should be the same way with him and those like him. When he saw that the “Kiss and Hell” sign was not sending the message he’d anticipated, he replaced it with this: THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST GOD LOVES US AND FORGIVES OUR SINS I Raped a Man Pastor Dave feels this message is just as imporSooner or later, I knew the conversation would turn tant for him as it is for anyone else, Gay or Straight. to Sodom and Gomorrah, and it did. Pastor Dave beIf members of my beloved Gay community decide lieves God destroyed Sodom because of homosexual- they want to get out of line with regards to the “I ity. KISSED A GIRL” sign, I will stand with Havens CorWell, I said, let’s look at the story in the Book of ners Church, not because I believe in their Genesis. theology, but because I believe Two strangers (angels in disguise) showed in its minister. up at the gates of Sodom. They were taken in by Lot, a God-fearing man, who treated them with courtesy. But men of Sodom came to Lot’s door, and demanded that Lot throw the strangers out into the street to be raped by the mob. The next day, God destroyed the city. There is similar story in the Book of Judges: a stranger shows up at a Hebrew city with his mistress. The couple is given shelter by a local man. Men of the city come over and demand the stranger be given to them to be raped. Instead, the stranger throws his mistress out, whereupon she
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 7
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
8 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
SPORTS
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED US BRING THE WORLD SERIES TO COLUMBUS IN 2010!
Columbus Wins Bid to Host 2010 Gay Softball World Series by Darrin Ebbert It’s official. Columbus will be the host city for the 2010 North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance’s (NAGAAA) World Series. Columbus was awarded the bid over Dallas, Texas by the NAGAAA board and 37 member-city delegates prior to the beginning of this year’s Series in Seattle. Members of the Columbus 2010 Bid Committee traveled to Seattle to present their bid, which included formal presentations, an evening reception, and a final question and answer session. After the votes were read out loud one by one, Columbus had won in a landslide by a final tally of 35-5. Brian Lawrence, Co-Director of the Columbus Bid Committee said, “I was confident that we had a chance to win the bid, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine we would win the vote by such
Columbus Teams Compete in Gay Softball World Series Two teams from the Columbus Lesbian and Gay Softball Association traveled to Seattle the week of August 24th to compete in the annual Gay Softball World Series. Tradewinds Grizzlies and Somewhere Else OZ competed in the C and D divisions respectively. This was the first year since 1990 that Columbus teams have been eligible. Participating teams must come from a NAGAAA member city to take part in the Series. NAGAAA stands for the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association. Teams start pool play on Tuesday and Wednesday to determine seeding in the tournament. Once pool play ends, the actual tournament begins on Thursday and teams continue playing through the rest of the week until they lose two games and are eliminated. In the D division, Somewhere Else OZ won two regulation games before being eliminated. They finished in the middle of 30 teams. Unfortunately, OZ had an unlucky draw, having to play the #1 seed Seattle Atomic, twice. Seattle Atomic eventually went on to win the D division. But, OZ did not come home empty-handed. The team was presented with the Best Sportsmanship Trophy at the awards ceremony following the tournament. The winner of the award is determined by a vote of all other division teams. OZ player Joe Stefanko found his first World Series experience to be a memorable one, “What a great time we had in Seattle. Hopefully we will get to travel to Milwaukee next year to play in the 2009 GWS. And when the World Series comes to Columbus, Ohio in 2010, everyone will have the opportunity to experience the fun, friendship and SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
an overwhelming margin. I think it is fair to say Dallas may have been a little over-confident at their prospects and that we poured our heart and soul into this bid.” Lawrence thinks that the win was remarkable since Columbus just joined NAGAAA again in 2008, after having not been a part of the organization since the early ‘90s. “We knew that Dallas had recently hosted the event in 2004, and that most of the voting delegates were not very familiar with Columbus. Our goal was to capture the spirit of our GLBT community and highlight how convenient and fun Columbus would be for their teams. Our presentation included energetic and funny videos, and the reception included picture murals that showed off all the great neighborhoods and attractions in our city.” But perhaps the biggest selling point of all was
Columbus’ unique ability to hold the Series in one park just a few minutes drive from downtown, something no other NAGAAA member city has the capability to do. Dallas Aldridge, commissioner of the Columbus Lesbian and Gay Softball Association and co-chairman of the Columbus Bid Host Committee probably appreciates Berliner more than anyone at this point. “We’re so fortunate to have such a great facility like Berliner here in Columbus and we definitely think we can host an amazing World Series there. We’re all looking forward to getting started.” The Series will be held at Berliner August 16th21st, 2010 and approximately 3,000 players, officials, and fans are expected to attend. If you are interested in getting involved with the 2010 Planning Committee, please send an email to info@clgsa.net.
competition that comes with this event.” In the C Division, Tradewinds Grizzlies finished 13th of 47 teams. The Grizzlies managed to win four games during regulation play, two of which were exciting last inning come-from-behind victories. They almost managed to pull off a third comeback, but came up short in a tournament-ending 3-run loss. CLGSA Commissioner Dallas Aldridge said, “For our first year in the Series, I was very glad to see that our teams were competitive. The World Series contains the best teams from leagues all over the country. Next year, the GSWS will be held in Milwaukee and the CLGSA is hoping to send even more teams to compete. Columbus is eligible to send two teams in each division (A,B,C and D), and the CLGSA will start the 2009 season in May with signups in March and April. Interested players can send an e-mail to info@clgsa.net or visit our website clgsa.net for more information.
Spicegirls – placed in the final standings of MIST. Q-Bar took third place in the C-Competitive Division. Molly Woo’s finished second in C-Recreational Division. Spicegirls took second in the D-1 Division. No Columbus competed in the D-2 Division. Two other Columbus teams – Stix-n-Chix and eXile Pirates – also competed in the tournament. The results for each division: C-Competitive: 1. Knoxville Thunder; 2. Cleveland Twisted Bears; 3. Columbus Q-Bar C-Recreational: 1. Chicago Force; 2. Columbus Molly Woo’s; 3. Cleveland Twisted Sisters. D-1: 1. Detroit Funteam; 2. Columbus Spicegirls; 3. Cleveland Crossover D-2: 1. Madison Madd Dawgs; 2. Detroit Liberty Bar Rebels; 3. Pittsburgh Outkasts MIST is a rotating tournament held each Labor Day weekend and rotating among several cities, typically Columbus, Cleveland and Detroit. Cleveland hosted the 2008 tournament, which featured four divisions of play. This year’s MIST included 36 teams – a record for the tournament. Cincinnati – a new MIST partner city – will be the tournament host in 2009.
Tennis Ends with Awards Banquet
Columbus teams score at MIST tournament The Labor Day holiday was a banner weekend for Columbus’ gay softball league and teams. Not only did our city win the bid for the 2010 NAGAAA World Series, Columbus teams made their mark at the Midwest Invitational Softball Tournament (MIST) in Cleveland. Three Columbus teams – Q-Bar, Molly Woo’s and
With over 138 members participating in singles, doubles and singles challenge ladder play this past season, CMTO enjoyed its largest participation in its 15 year history. At our first annual banquet, held Sunday night at East Village bar and restaurant, over 50 awards were given out for both the regular season play and the end of season tournament. CMTO would like to thank all who participated this past year. We are looking forward to an even bigger and better league in 2009. If you are interested in tennis and would like to
The 2010 Bid Host Committee Dallas Aldridge - Co-Director Brian Lawrence - Co-Director Sam Schisler - Business Development Darrin Ebbert - Communications Andy North - Sponsorship/Committee Member Rodney Sweigart- Chase Pride Chair Craig Little - Secretary Matt Hamparian - Treasurer Zip Duda, Barry Bassetti II, Kevin McLain, James Barrett – Committee Members A very special thanks to the following people for all of your hard work and dedication: The Columbus Sport Commission The Columbus Recreation & Parks Department Mayor Mike Coleman Governor Ted Strickland Robert Trautman – Bid Book Design Jeremy Dineen & Jimmy Haskins – Video Creation and Editing Paul Feeney – LCD Graphic Presentation Patrick McCarthy – Photo Banner Production and Corn Hole Door Prizes Kickstart, Coffee, Go - for your generous Scooter Donation Thank you to our wonderful sponsors: Chase Pride Group, Score Bar, Q Bar, Roy G Biv (Axis, Havana, Union), Wall Street, Tradewinds II, Exile, Club Diversity, Outlook Weekly and Stonewall Columbus
find out more about CMTO, please visit our web site: www.CMTO1.org. REGULAR SEASON WINNERS DOUBLES - Roddick Division: Winners Win Coffin & David Johnson, Runner-Up Jim Ryan & Ryan Donahue; Ashe Division: Winners Brian Katz & James Ferguson, Runner-Up Bill Mahon & Pete Puzakulis; Graf Division: Winners Dan Butler & Matt Means, Runner-Up Chris Hackett & Bob Osner; Seles Division: Runner-Up Ray LaVoie & Bill Lyon. Agassi Division: Winner Geoff Kaufman , Runner-Up Chris Mcmanus, Borg Division: Winner Dennis Ginty, Runner-Up Michael Evanichko, Federer Division: Winner Mark Buckingham, Runner-Up Bill Wagner, Nadal Division Winner John Cox, Runner-Up Deron Fetz, Connors Division: Winner Jerry Reber, RunnerUp Jimmy Ryan , Evert Division: Winner Steve Wroten, Runner-Up Ben Mizer, Navratilovia Division: Winner Chad Foust, Finalist Ray Lavoie, Chang Division: Winner Bryan Coyne, Runner-Up David Burgess TOURNAMENT WINNERS 2.5 Tournament: Winner Geoff Kaufman, Singles Finalist Michael Evanichko, Doubles Winner James Ferguson & Brian Katz , Doubles Finalist Larry Bayes & Grant Cassidy; 3.0 Tournament: Winner Mark Buckingham, Finalist John Cox , Doubles Winner Dan Butler & Matt Means , Finalist Chris Hackett & Bob Osner; 3.5 Tournament: Winner Ryan Donahue, Finalist Steve Wroten, Doubles Finalist Doug Blinco & Gary Burmaster; 4.0 Tournament: Winner Erick Gale, Finalist David Burgess, 3.5 Tournament Doubles Winner Mario Desantis & Jeff Liebrecht; Challenge Ladder: First Place Erick Gale, Second Place Bryan Coyne, Third Place Mitch Gomulinski; Challenge Ladder Tier Two: First Place Jerry Reber, Second Place Jeff Liebrecht; Challenge Ladder Tier Three: First Place Russell Tier, Second Place Doug Hescht, Most Matches Played Andrew Choi.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 9
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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 11
OUT BUSINESS NEWS
OUTLOOK MEDIA
IS EXPANDING! In this time of economic tightening, we’ve seen some big changes in the media scene of Ohio. In Columbus, Alive! was acquired and retooled by The Columbus Dispatch, CM Media (parent corporation for The Other Paper, Suburban New Publications, Columbus Monthly, and Columbus CEO) was purchased and is being run by Dallas based American Community Newspapers and the Dispatch is reporting continued drops in subscriptions. In Cleveland, the two alternative weeklies Scene and The Free Times have merged into one publication to stay viable, The Plain Dealer finally admitted that its circulation is falling and the community’s own Gay People’s Chronicle has pulled back to every other week. Despite the trend of mergers and reductions, we at Outlook Media, and our flagship products Outlook Weekly, Radio Outlook and Network Columbus, are growing. As we write, Radio Outlook has expanded from an hour to 90 minutes, moving to the top of the Saturday morning lineup on WVKO 1580 AM; Network Columbus has grown to one of the largest networking event in the city; and by year’s end, Outlook Weekly will be on the ground in Cleveland every week. We’re adding another staff member and doubling our office space to accommodate our overall growth needs. Beginning September 22, Adam Leddy will join us as Managing Editor, giving both of us more
time to focus on our continued growth and increasing our coverage, depth, and base. When we bought the company two years ago, we made a commitment to the community and ourselves. We committed to be a self-sustaining, independent, relevant voice for the urban progressive community that would continue for generations to come. That commitment is as strong today as it was then, and thanks to you – our dynamic readers and business-savvy advertisers – we are able to expand our outreach far ahead of schedule. This success is because of you – and we thank you for your support. We would be remiss not to give a special shout out to our resident art/design/aesthetic guru – the Original Bedazzler, Robert ‘Traut’ Trautman – without whom we could never have come so far so fast. We can’t tell you how proud and humbled we are to be a mouthpiece for the community each week – a community we are all part of. Please continue to read us, share us with your friends & colleagues, and advertise with Outlook Weekly, Radio Outlook and/or Network Columbus. Working together we can make strengthen our community, and make a difference in the world around us. Again, thank you for your support, and all best! Michael Daniels & Chris Hayes
ADAM LEDDY – IN HIS OWN WORDS We asked Adam to give us a brief bio of himself, in his own words. We think you can tell – he’s going to fit right in here! Adam Leddy is proud to join Outlook Weekly after serving for nearly two years as Equality Ohio’s Development Manager and resident cut-up. In addition to his responsibilities raising funds for the organization, Adam had a hand in EO’s statewide communications, outreach, and education efforts. His professional background includes successful stints with the Wexner Center for the Arts, the Ohio House Democratic Caucus, and Barack Obama’s 2004 Senate campaign. A terminal activist, Adam is proud to have volunteered countless hours with Equality Ohio, Stonewall Columbus, and other pro-equality or-
ganizations, not to mention innumerable candidates for elected office. He is a 2004 graduate of the Human Rights Campaign’s Youth College program and an occasional graduate student in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University. Adam is a fiercely proud resident of Grandview and a fervent booster of Central Ohio in general and its LGBT population in particular. He is a product of southeastern Pennsylvania, where his parents, ardent supporters of PFLAG, still reside and continue to cheer him on. Turn-ons: • Identity politics (my own) • Mirrors • Long walks to the refrigerator • Men in 3-piece suits; chicken in 12-piece buckets Turn-offs: • Identity politics (other people’s) • Travolta apologists • Mutinous pirates • Bulleted lists
NATIONWIDE RECEIVES 100 PERCENT RATING FROM HRC The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) announced today that Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (Nationwide), one of the country’s largest insurance and financial services organizations, received a top rating of 100 percent in the 2009 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), an annual survey conducted by the Foundation. The index rates companies on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, (GLBT) consumers and investors. This is the fourth year that Nationwide has received a 100 percent rating from the Foundation. “It is an honor to participate in the index and receive this recognition once again. It speaks to our commitment to create a workplace where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged,” said Terri Hill, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Nationwide. “We believe a diverse and inclusive workforce and work environment are critical to our goal of being a
company that consumers think of first for their many insurance and financial services needs,” Hill says. Nationwide joins the ranks of 259 other major U.S. businesses which get top marks for their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees and consumers. The CEI rated 583 businesses in total, evaluating GLBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination policies, transgender health benefits and domestic partner benefits. Nationwide’s efforts in ensuring GLBT equality in each of the survey’s main criterion earned it the prestigious 100 percent ranking. The Foundation is an advocate for practices and policies that support and protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals and their families. HRC educates others on key issues such as healthcare, housing, parenting, schools, financial planning, workplace policies and law that impact the GLBT communities.
BROWNING INVESTMENTS & CRIPE ARCHITECTS + ENGINEERS PLAN TO DEVELOP INDIANA BUSINESS COLLEGE COLUMBUS, OHIO CAMPUS Browning Investments, Cripe Architects p + Engineers and Indiana Business College announced today a partnership to p develop a new campus in Columbus, Ohio. Groundbreaking for the new p campus is scheduled for Spring 2009. This new campus will be the 15th educational facility of Indiana Business p College. The College as an institute of higher learning serves nearly 5,000 p students through its 12 campuses within Indiana, in addition to an online p division and The Chef’s Academy. According to Indiana Business College President Ken Konesco, “Indiana p Business College was founded in 1902 and has been providing qualified p graduates to the workforce for 106 years. As the educational needs of the p Midwest continue to grow and expand, we see tremendous opportunity for p our highly skilled graduates not only in Indiana, but Ohio as well. We are very p excited about extending our organizational aim of ‘We change lives, one p student at a time ®’ beyond Indiana and into Ohio. Additionally, Indiana p Business College is excited to partner with Browning and Cripe Architects + p Engineers on this initiative.”
Browning Investments is currently finalizing site selection for the 15,000-p square-foot facility. The campus will be situated on 4 acres, and will be p owned and developed by Browning Investments, one of the Midwest’s p recognized leading commercial developers. “We are proud to partner with Indiana Business College as they continue their p success into the Columbus market,” said Dennis Dye, Executive Vice President p of Browning. “This is an exciting project and we look forward to a long p relationship with Indiana Business College.” “This is an exciting time for Indiana Business College as they grow into Ohio p and as they continue their commitment to providing quality higher education. p We are proud to be serving Indiana Business College on this project and to p also be continuing our partnership with Browning,” stated Fredrick J. Green, p AIA, NCARB, President and Chief Operating Officer for Cripe Architects + p Engineers. Cripe will provide architectural design, civil engineering and owner’s p representation services for this project.
FORMER SCHOTTENSTEIN’S DEPARTMENT STORE ON PARSONS AVENUE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW HEALTH CENTER After sitting vacant and abandoned for several years, the former Schottenstein’s Department Store located at 1887 South Parsons Avenue was demolished today by Mayor Michael B. Coleman and area residents to make way for the John R. Maloney Health Center. “This is the beginning of the transformation of Parsons Avenue. Redevelopment of this site will serve as a catalyst for the Greater Parsons Avenue Vision Plan that we created with area residents, bringing more businesses and jobs to this commercial corridor,” said Mayor Coleman. Forty-seven properties along Parsons Avenue have been purchased for the redevelopment efforts and the former IGA grocery store, which was adjacent to Schottenstein’s, was also recently demolished. The Mayor has set aside $750,000 to begin design work on the new Maloney Center and $4.9 million has been set aside for construction in the 2008 voted bond package to be voted on this November by Columbus residents. Voter approval of the 1.6 billion, 6-issue bond package will allow the city to borrow money through the sale of City bonds to finance large capital projects at a cheaper rate
and save the City nearly $30 million. “A healthy neighborhood is a strong neighborhood. Over the last two years, our Columbus Public Health team has worked closely with the South Side Health Advisory Committee to help address the health challenges faced by their neighborhood,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long. “We continue our commitment to bring city and neighborhood leadership to the table – together we can help this important neighborhood reach their optimum health.” Families living on the South Side will now have two places to receive quality health care when the new Maloney Center opens by 2012. The site of the temporary center, located at 3781 South High Street will be made permanent, doubling the access to health care for area residents. South Side residents worked with officials through 2006 on an extensive public input process where the Greater Parsons Avenue Vision Plan was created. Goals listed in the Plan include economic revitalization, enhanced community policing efforts and housing redevelopment. SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 13
INSIGHTOUT by Regina Sewell
Deep in the Heart of Texas The stars at night are big and bright Deep in the heart of Texas. The prairie sky is wide and high Deep in the heart of Texas. When you drink Pearl beer you’ll have to cheer Deep in the heart of Texas. -American popular song - FUBAR version I’m in Texas, visiting my parents. It’s only been a few days and yet I think I truly understand what Ram Dass meant when he said, “If you think you’re enlightened, try spending a week with your family.” As soon as I walked into the house, I remembered why I used to joke that my parents went better with beer. By the time we sat down to dinner, I was starting to obsess about vodka. I hate being drunk and despise vodka. Who knew I could get unhinged so quickly? Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. It did. At dinner, my father told me about his new favorite recipe, one that he created with me in mind. But let me back track. My father loves to eat as much as I love to bike and swim. So where my eyes may take on the starry eyed look of a heroin addict when talking about her drug of choice when I talk about a great bike ride, my father’s eyes twinkle when he talks about food. You might think, “How nice! A moment of father, daughter bonding.” I, however, cringed. I know my father and spent my childhood having to eat his self-created recipes. He offered to make me a dairy free, wheat-free variation of quesadillas. Both wheat and cheese send my digestive system into mutiny so this really was a touching gesture. Unfortunately, my ability to take in the love was colored by an intense nausea. “What kind of dairy free, wheat free quesadilla could be that bad?” you ask. Test if for yourself: Take one tin of sardines in soy oil. Mash them up and spread them on a corn tortilla that’s been dipped on both sides in
warm olive oil, fold the sardine-laden tortilla in half, and heat until lightly crispy. At least my nausea disrupted my thirst for a can of Pearl beer followed by a vodka chaser. If you had ever taken a sip of Pearl Beer, you’d understand that this truly was a blessing. Unfortunately, my nausea also served as a memory portal. I found myself flooded with all sorts of traumatic food memories. There were the green eggs and ham he used to make me for breakfast, the tuna fish salad with mayonnaise, raw peanuts, chopped apples and celery that he made for lunch, and the “Son of a Gun Stew” made with a sundry of cow bits including the kidneys, intestines, heart and liver, that he made for dinner. And mind you, I wasn’t allowed to leave the table until I’d eaten whatever I’d been served. I spent hours at the table staring down things my father had made trying to dissolve whatever it was with laser beams streaming out from my eyes. Ahh, but memories are rarely so simple. The real problem wasn’t the food; it was the messages that got imbued with food. In my family, family meals were mandatory, fun was not. The table became a battleground. Sure, we had fun some times, but it was also the place where my father issued his criticisms. Other than the table, my father rarely talked to me unless I was in trouble, so what he said at the table seems to carry added weight. So food, at least my father’s food, has been imbued with destructive messages like, “There is something wrong with you.” “You are not good enough.” “You are not worthy.” and, “You are an absolute failure.” And, as a child, he used my lack of appreciation for his cooking, my lack of desire to eat anything but pickles, snow cones, peanut butter sandwiches and bean burritos, as evidence for all of these messages. Contemplating the sardine quesadilla, these messages flooded my brain and I felt like I was 12 years old. I could not connect with that adult part of me that knows how to
be present and breathe. Fortunately, my parents are old school Methodist (they don’t drink), so there are no bottles to drown in. Instead, after dinner, I picked up my guitar and tortured them with my latest songs. At least my father appreciates a good twang when he hears it, and honey, when I’m in Texas, I sing with a twang. My mother, well, bless her heart, she has never really cared much for music, but she at least tried to smile and pretend she enjoyed it. I comforted myself with the thought that the damage I was inflicting on her wouldn’t be permanent because she’d probably forget that I sang to her anyway. Unfortunately, when the truth of this thought sunk in, my heart almost exploded and my eyes teared up. Today, my dad and I went on a road trip — father, daughter bonding. We dropped off the recycling and he told me that the psychiatrist had declared that Mom’s memory had declined sharply in the last 6 months and that she was going to need extra care soon. His goal, he said, was to try to wait until after Christmas. We talked about logistics - the need to do some renovation on the house, where they would move - near my brother and his wife or near other family near Dallas, and what kind of facility they would look for. Suddenly, he’s no longer the “old man” that used to yell at me and call me a loser, and I’m not the 12 year old who can’t do anything right. He’s the man who has confessed to me via e-mail how hard it is to watch a once vibrant and alive woman stumble around in confusion. He is the man who, no matter what, loved and still loves my mother. And he is the man who holds my tears when they leak out as I confess that it breaks my heart to think about what it must be like to be inside her head, realizing that she’s confused and not be able to do anything about it. Reflecting on this encounter back at the house, I am struck by how much I have let my memories color the here and now. Ram Dass,
(yes, I’m on a Ram Dass kick,) notes, “In our relationships, how much can we allow them to become new, and how much do we cling to what they used to be yesterday?” I spent my teenage years hating my father, mostly because I didn’t think he loved me back and hatred seemed less painful than disappointment. Ram Dass’s words provide an interesting challenge: Can I see my father for the man he is, not the monster I thought he was. Can I, the woman I have become, “be here now,” with the man he has become? Damned if Ram Dass doesn’t point to an answer. He says, “Your problem is you are too busy holding on to your unworthiness.” And it’s true. I feel guilty for not being a good enough daughter. He may have given me the messages, but I’m the one that believed them for years, even when I was old enough to understand that his condemnation came from a very hurt and angry place. And now, watching my mother drift off into never never land (only she’s not smiling), part of me feels like I should be able to “fix” her too. I am a counselor. I have a Ph.D. I know a lot about energy work and massage and herbal treatments. But the reality is that it’s Mom’s dementia, 76, Regina, 0. And no one even really knows how to “fix” dementia. Not me, not her psychiatrist, not Superman, not Peter Pan... no one. To finish, again with Ram Dass: “Our whole spiritual transformation brings us to the point where we realize that in our own being, we are enough.” At least this is easier than trying to “fix” my mother’s dementia. And it’s a lot better on the liver than quaffing Pearl beer with vodka chasers. Regina Sewell is mental health counselor in Worthington, Ohio. You can read more of her essays, ask questions or find ways to contact her through her website: www.ReginaSewell.com.
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OUTLOOK SAYS:
GO BUCKS!
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OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 15
VOYEURS
WA NT E D The 34th Annual Victorian Village Tour of Homes and Gardens, presented by Dooley & Company Realtors, will open its doors and garden gates on Sunday, September 21st from 10a-6p. “This years Tour of Homes and Gardens is a wonderful collection of residences ranging in size and scale and style that will appeal to many different tastes,” said Joe Spinelli, who is this year’s returning tour chair. “ The 10 homes showcased on this year’s tour illustrate the beauty of our neighborhood, whether it is in the form of a one year old new build or a 100 year old restoration.” With the splendor of Goodale park and tree lined Neil Avenue as our backdrop; the homes on this year’s tour weave a wonderful tapestry of elegant living. “We have so many different housing options available in the Short North which has fueled the investment and energy that have made our collective neighborhoods the most exciting place to live in Columbus,” said Joe. In addition to Victorian Village homes, a beautiful and unique renovation in The Circles of Dennison Place plus the King Avenue Methodist Church will be showcased. This year’s tour includes 7 vintage, quintessential homes created around the turn of the last century, each one exemplifying the meaning of restoration and renovation. “The attention to detail showcased by the homes on this year’s tour is truly outstanding” said Pat Lewis, head of this year’s home selection committee. “You will be able to
COME TAKE A PEEK AT THE 34TH ANNUAL VICTORIAN VILLAGE TOUR OF HOMES SEPTEMBER 20TH & 21ST walk through multiple floors of our tour homes experiencing the transformation that each passionate home owner has bestowed with their own unique style,” said Pat. Of architectural note on this year’s tour are the homes of Jeff Smith and Haley Boehning. Jeff Smith’s house, a grand stone mansion built in 1890, overlooks Goodale Park, and after many years of renovation and restoration, has been returned to a beautiful, single family home. Haley Boehning’s home, unique for Victorian Village for its decidedly arts and crafts heritage, has been meticulously updated with a two story addition containing a master bedroom suite and a chef’s kitchen anchored by a 13 foot long center island caped with beautiful soapstone counter tops. Both homeowners engaged the talents of urbanorder Architecture, local experts in historical architectural renovations and restorations. Steve Hurtt, principal, said that working on homes in the Short North is both a joy and a challenge. “Creating homes that meet the needs of today’s lifestyle and still respect the character and history of the neighborhood is an on-going passion for our firm,” said Steve, who is also a resident of the Short North. Of course, the short north has seen an influx of new construction in the past 5 years. From High street, to Neil Avenue, this year’s tour will showcase 3 newly constructed homes as well. Tour goers will
get to experience a high rise condominium with a bay window and twin balconies, a 4-level townhouse with elevator overlooking Goodale Park, and a 3,400 sq. ft., 4 story new build on Neil Avenue, designed to blend in seamlessly with its 100 year old neighbors. As a special feature of the 2008 tour, we are pleased to be able to include the unique sanctuary of King Avenue Methodist Church. With architectural influences from the Victorian, Medieval Gothic, and Byzantine periods, this majestic structure has recently undergone a $1.8 million chancel and organ renovation. Tickets for the tour may be purchased online for the discounted price of $15 with no additional service charge. The Saturday evening Preview tour and dinner sponsored by SDG Security is also a wonderful option. The preview tour is from 4p-6p, followed by a reception in an outstanding home in the “Circles” plus dinner in a private neighborhood residence – all for a $100.00 donation to the Victorian Village Society. This year’s preview starts at a Preview Party with cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres at the lovely home of James & Rudine Bishop, 397 W 7th Ave. Voyeurs then move to a fabulous dinner in one of three amazing homes. First choice is Greg Zanetos - Cocoa Manor, 76 Buttles Ave serving a casual buffet in a spectacular Victorian Village setting.
Cocoa Manor is a grand home overlooking Goodale Park Lake and the downtown skyline. This preview dinner presentation will be a buffet for 30 people – something to please everyone’s palette. There are a wide variety of seating options – the formal dining room, the kitchen alcove, around the pool, the outdoor courtyard, or a choice of terraces and balconies. One thing for sure, there will be plenty of chocolates and toffee. Next on the list is Randy Carr & Dennis Bulley - Corbett House at 1153 Neil Avenue. They will be serving a delicious surf and turf prepared by the hosts in their fabulous gourmet kitchen to a total of 12 guests. And finally Joe & Stacey Blasko - 1027 Neil Avenue will be a hosting an Italian Feast to an already sold out slate of 20 guests. As always, the tour is a wonderful picture into this historic neighborhood. The main tour on Sunday is from 10a-6p. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the tour. Besides online, advance tickets can also be purchased at the Urban Gardener, 940 N High St or Spinelli’s Deli, 767 Neil Ave. Tickets can be purchased for $20 the day of the tour in front of Spinelli’s Deli. All funds raised from the tours go to enhance the community – a neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places. For more info or to get your tickets: www.victorianvillage.org. SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
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FEATURE STORY continued
house 10
PEEKABOO
A LOOK INTO THE LIVES OF THIS YEAR’S HOMES AND THEIR INHABITANTS
House 1 802 Neil Avenue Monte Young & Peter Madril In April of 2006, Peter and Monte packed up their belongings (including ChaCha, their English bulldog, and Pancho, an American bulldog) and moved across country from San Francisco to Victorian Village. Their San Francisco home was a total of 800 square feet home and their present home is 2800 square feet - thus they have had one great shopping experience over the past couple years! Most furniture purchases were from Global Living and Grandview Mercantile. They love bold, unique objects, e.g. the statue from India in the front hall and the bridal carriage in the living room. The East Indian dining room set with red leather chairs was purchased when they were living in California and barely fit into their dining room but the scale is perfect in their new home. They have also collected significant artwork – most from local artists. They had a great idea for brightening up a dark hallway – the “Hall of Mirrors” — a collection of beautifully framed mirrors filling the entire wall like a puzzle. The guest bedroom features another interesting collection – matchbox cars and trucks in an old retail display cabinet. The third floor bath has a 7’ x 12’ open “shower room” plus a media room displaying a special painting – a picture of their puppies painted by Monte’s mother. House 2 366 Wilber Avenue Dena Gost David Iler purchased this double two years ago with the intention to do some simple renovations. But, as the work progressed, it became apparent that this structure needed some serious demolition and re-building. When David purchased the building it was a three-family unit that he eventually gutted to the shell. While doing so, he thought of a unique idea to make the third floor more livable – finishing it out so the space is divided into front and rear rooms rather than down the middle — giving both homeowners more usable space. This is why the stairs run in opposite directions in each condo. The first floors of the original doubles had walls diSEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
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viding the living room, dining room, and kitchen. David’s goal was to create one large open space which he did by removing a fireplace that was in the middle of the house and moving the stairs to the interior wall. While the floor plans of each condo are almost mirror images, Dena and Linda got involved early enough in the renovation process that they could choose their own finishes. Dena’s condo was completed just prior to the tour and she will be moving in later this month. House 3 368 Wilber Avenue Linda Jakes Linda Jakes and Dena Gost were looking to buy a double when they drove past this property while it was under renovation. They were immediately drawn to the detail and craftsmanship of the new roof and soffit. They were so impressed that they sought out David Iler and each decided to purchase one of the condos. David had some clever ideas for solving renovation challenges, giving the condos an updated look while maintaining much of the original historical character. The window in the living room area is high on the wall because it was originally in the stairwell landing before the stairway was moved to the other side of the room. The kitchen island is angled to accommodate the position of the original window location. The wall in the guest bedroom is a unique treatment of framing exposed brick creating an attractive architectural touch. The guest bath has a beautiful granite counter top called “Fire and Ice” as well as a stained glass window in the shower made by David’s mother. Notice the unique design of the stair railings – wood banisters with glass panels in place of the traditional balusters. Linda has enjoyed living in this space over the past several months. House 4 964 Neil Avenue Dave & Mona Barber Dave, Mona, and their daughter, Elise, all made the move from German Village to Victorian Village in January 2008. Choosing a home at this point in their lives was a major decision since they were hoping to
find someplace where they could raise a family and be content for the next 20 years. They had always spent much of their time in Victorian Village while visiting friends in the area and enjoying the various Short North restaurants and art galleries. They were delighted to find this new build in the heart of Victorian Village and, since moving in, have been pleasantly surprised to find so many young couples with children living nearby. The builder, Dan Frye, routinely uses high-end finishes and the latest in appliances (French door refrigerator, battery-operated lawnmower, high-efficiency tankless water heater) so they made very few changes. With help from designer, Debra Mosic, they added touches that reflect their tastes and needs – such as the bold yet warm paint colors, custom-built bookcases in the media room, and vibrant stained glass patterns that echo the dining area chandelier. The brick Queen Anne exterior blends with its century-old neighbors while the interior is open and spacious (3479 square feet) and welcomes their preference of contemporary furnishings including the new orange leather sectional sofa from nearby Roche-Bobois and a sparkling stairwell chandelier from Collier West. House 5 357 West 7th Avenue Laura Kresty & Chuck Paros When Chuck and Laura purchased the home in 1989, daughter Morgan was a baby and daughter Devyn was not born yet. Chuck was a shop teacher with aspirations to become an architect and Laura worked at OSU taking courses towards her PhD. Both girls are now in college. At the time of purchase the structure was in utter disrepair necessitating a total gut job prior to rebuilding. With the support of family, friends, and patient neighbors Chuck and Laura saw this as an opportunity to design the home to fit their family’s lifestyle and, while attending OSU to obtain his masters in architecture, Chuck did much of the work himself. His first project became converting the back of the house into a two-bedroom home where the family lived for several years while the front was renovated. The first floor is a mix of old and new materials and contains a studio and a dual bedroom suite separated by a
brick fireplace. The second floor has an abundance of natural light, maple floors throughout and consists of the living room, office, kitchen, dining and guest room. Custom designed stairs transition to the third floor master suite, which is a modern open space with a dormer addition and roof deck that Chuck built for his birthday. House 6 299 King Avenue King Avenue United Methodist Church The history of King Avenue United Methodist Church dates back to 1888 when the congregation met above a bakery on nearby Sixth Avenue. In 1889 the current lot at King and Neil Avenues was purchased for $5,500 and a small stone chapel was built. The congregation soon outgrew this structure and a second church was built in 1904 with a seating capacity of 1800 and a cost of $54,000. It was one of the largest churches in Columbus at the time. In 1918, while repairs were being made on the roof, a fire destroyed this church within two hours. On October 8, 1922, the third and present church was dedicated. The new structure was similar in size and appearance to the one that burned but with many advancements and improvements and at a cost of $400,000. A recent capital campaign “Notes and Nails” raised $1.8 million to renovate the chancel and pipe organ. Architecturally, the church is a mosaic of many styles – Victorian, Ancient Byzantine, Medieval Gothic, and English Perpendicular with touches of Richardson Romanesque. The diverse architecture is much like the diversity of the church family – inclusive of any race, gender, sexual identity, nationality, ethnicity, or economic status. King Avenue nurtures, welcomes, and honors all people as God intends. Please Note: The church will not be open to tour until after 12 Noon due to Sunday church services.
House 7 1029 Neil Ave Chris Stenger & Rob Pettit Thomas Capell started construction of this Queen Anne vernacular home with two-story barn in 1895 but financial difficulties required him to sell the house at sheriff’s sale. Over the years this single
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house 9
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house 1 family home transitioned into a duplex and back again. When the current owners acquired it in 1993 the living space was upstairs while the first floor remained an office for Chris’ graphic design business, Stenger Creative. Renovations began as soon as they moved in - woodwork was refinished, ceilings and walls were re-plastered, a third floor bath was added, three fireplaces were updated to gasburning, and the crown molding and ceiling medallion was hand-painted in the second parlor. When Chris moved his office out of the home in 2005 the first floor was reclaimed as living space. The second floor kitchen and dining room became a bedroom suite and the first floor received a beautiful new kitchen. Painted cabinets with intricate molding were chosen to complement the grand Victorian design of the home. Appliances were hidden behind cabinets in keeping with the “old world” flavor of the room. A surprise awaits on the third floor - the former attic is now a contemporary showcase for their art and glass collection. House 8 853 North Park Street Haley Boehning Boehning purchased this 1910 arts and crafts home in 2004, hoping to restore the original home as much as possible while urbanorder architecture and Ketron Custom Builders created a 700 square foot addition where the self-professed ‘slow food fanatic’ would spend most of her time. The home mixes modern and vintage well: chandeliers and modern lighting from Collier West blend seamlessly with restored woodwork and new built-in cabinetry. The first floor – called ‘kitchen stadium’ by her friends – easily accommodates multiple cooks with SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
MAP OF THE TOUR
house 3
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house 8 its 13’ soapstone island, 48” commercial range and cozy breakfast nook. In the new second story master bedroom, a picture window frames a huge black walnut tree believed to be about 150 years old – a perfect complement to the brancholier that hangs from the cathedral ceiling – so large 30 branches had to be temporarily removed to fit through the doorway. The master bath vanity is an antique sideboard (also from Collier West) with twin contemporary sinks. Behind a pocket door is a Philip Stark designed tub and marble shower. Throughout the home, new gallery molding allows the owner – a board member of the Ohio Art League – to display her collection of art by Ohio artists. House 9 845 North High Street, #402 (The Dakota) Steve Shellabarger & Andy Miller Steve Shellabarger is a veteran home renovator – having worked on 15 homes since 1968 - seven of which have been on either the German Village or Victorian Village home tours. This is his first experiment with living in a finished high-rise condo and he is thoroughly enjoying the experience with so many restaurants and shops just outside his front door. This is the “city home” for Shellabarger and Miller since they also have a “lake home” at Buckeye Lake. This unit is unique - there are no others like it in the Dakota. The living room features a bay window flanked with twin balconies. The horse head over the fireplace is actually a family heirloom having hung over the family livery stable near the Phillips House Hotel in Dayton approximately 130 years ago. Shellabarger is considering taking it to the “Antique Road Show” to learn more about it and determine its worth. The pop art piece over the
house 2
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house 5 kitchen island is his cocker spaniel “Maggie” done by the Dakota concierge. Shellabarger has dabbled in antiques and collectibles most of his life as evidenced in the unique furniture and various displays throughout his home.
is the rooftop terrace - a beautiful and comfortable “outdoor room” complete with hot tub, soothing sounds from the fountain across the street, and incredible views of Goodale Park and the downtown skyline.
House 10 104 Buttles Avenue Bill Heffner Bill Heffner had lived in his new loft at The Buggyworks for only seven months when he became aware of this new town home. His ultimate desire was to live in an urban setting “on the water” and this was the unique space that provided exactly what he wanted. When he purchased this new condo in May of 2007 all the walls were white. He immediately commissioned interior designer Rob White of White Space to add a blend of uniqueness to his new environment. Bill had worked with Rob White since 1986 and was confident he would be pleased with the results. Since the “Freshwater Condos” were less than three years old most of the enhancements were cosmetic. The first floor powder room was rebuilt, new fireplace tile was added, six flat screen TVs were installed, new custom closets and cabinets were added in the bedrooms, and a mirrored bar with new sconces visually expanded the dining area. An elevator connects the lower level office, exercise area, media room, and laundry with the upper level master suite with a second laundry room. To indicate the level of detail in the cosmetic renovation, all floor registers were switched from metal to wood and recessed soap and shampoo pockets were installed in all showers - only to name a few. The rear courtyard off the kitchen features a wetlands water bog and the home’s crowning glory
House 11 773 Dennison Avenue Jeff Smith & Dwayne Sattler In 1928, multiple foreclosures were filed on the property and William H. Fish died the following year. In 1932 the home was sold at sheriff’s sale for $7,000 to Buckeye State Building and Loan. It changed hands several more times until 1978 when a previous owner purchased it and updated mechanicals and stripped woodwork. When Smith purchased the home in 2005 it had not been lived in as a single family residence for almost 80 years. Smith’s first project was making the third floor into livable space, including a second kitchen, so he would have a place to live while work was being done the floors below. The home is almost 5000 sq. ft. with six fireplaces – three wood and three gas – with all being original except the fireplace in the dining room. Each floor has its own HVAC unit. The original nursery is now a bathroom and the upstairs parlor became the master bedroom. The original bedroom, bath, and trunk room were converted into the master bath and guest room. The original carriage house was demolished in the 1950s. It was reconstructed in 2008 on the same footprint, with similar appearance, and using the same stone at the base as was used in building the main residence a century ago.
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BEST OF FALL HOME SHOW RETURNS TO OHIO EXPO CENTER
Organizers of the BEST of Fall Home Show, presented by Teeters Windows & Remodeling, announced today that the 2008 show will take place September 12-14 at the Ohio Expo Center. Now in its fourth year, the show has grown substantially each year as it introduces thousands of Central Ohio consumers to the best ideas in decorating, entertaining, landscaping and home improvement, just in time for fall and the coming holiday season. With more than 300 exhibits, attractions and events highlighting the very best there is for every area of the home, this year’s show promises to be bigger and better than before. The BEST of Fall Home Show offers three days of opportunities for guests to gather information on everything from making improvements and browsing inspiring fall landscapes to decorating with flair and shopping for antiques and accessories. Specific areas of interest will include: Designers Showcase, presented by AT&T Real Yellow Pages: Top local decorators and interior designers display home décor ideas Landscapes That Inspire: Professional landscapers offer living landscape displays and concepts Furniture & Furnishings: Featuring fine furnishings for the home, inside and out Gourmet Marketplace, presented by Midwest Kitchen & Bath: Filled with easy, creative cooking concepts, recipes, products and entertaining ideas The Corner Antique, presented by Spas Direct: Shop for treasures and advice from the region’s top antiques and collectibles dealers The Home Idea Center Stage, presented by Basement Living Systems by Champion: Offering interesting and informative home improvement, decorating and entertainment presentations and events SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
SPECIAL EVENTS VERN YIP TO APPEAR AT BEST OF FALL HOME SHOW HGTV star and interior designer Vern Yip will bring his makeover magic to Columbus when he appears at the show on Saturday, Sep 13. Yip, a competitor on HGTV’s all-new Summer Showdown, host of Deserving Design, a judge on HGTV’s Design Star and one of the original designers on TLC’s Trading Spaces, will be the headliner on Saturday at 1p and 4p. An award-winning interior designer based in Atlanta who has been featured on “Today” and “Oprah,” Yip is known for his uncluttered designs and his ability to make over a room on any budget. His style balances clean lines with an inviting sense of warmth, and he’s not afraid to combine several furnishing styles.
COLUMBUS’ OWN “QUEEN OF CAKES” TO APPEAR AT BEST OF FALL HOME SHOW While the stars of one of the most popular Food Network shows, Ace of Cakes, hail from Baltimore, central Ohio boasts its own ace cake and pastry chef, Sue Larson of Le Gateau. The New Albany native, who has garnered an international reputation as one of the finest pastry chefs, will make two appearances at the Best of Fall Home Show. Best of Fall Home Show guests can see Larson at work when she takes the stage on Friday, Sep 12, from 4:30p-5:30p to demonstrate spectacular holiday cake and pastry decorating techniques. She’ll also appear at the show on Kids Day, Sunday, Sep 14, from 2p-3p, when she’ll show how to
create whimsical cookies just for kids. She’ll offer a sampling, too. With dual art degrees and extensive international culinary training, Larson has the talent to build cakes so extraordinary they’re almost too dazzling to eat. Yet her cakes, cookies and pastries are as delicious as they are beautiful. Larson comes from a family of artists and sculptors and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art. A former art teacher, she worked in advertising and set design before beginning her career in edible arts. She has trained with worldclass pastry chefs from the United States and France, and won both gold and silver medals for her wedding cakes and sugar sculptures at the Societe Culinaire Philanthropique Competition in New York City. A member of I.C.E.S. and one of just three women to be voted into the oldest culinary society in New York, the Chefs de Cuisine Association of America, Larson works out of a her professional kitchen at Le Gateau in New Albany, where she creates spectacular cakes and pastries for clients from all over Ohio and across the United States.
BBQ, BUCKEYES AND BEST OF FALL HOME SHOW FEATURED AT TAILGATE Central Ohioans can really get into the Buckeye spirit before the kickoff of the OSU-USC game at the BEST of Fall Home Show, presented by Teeters Windows & Remodeling. On Saturday, September 13, from 2p-4p, a Buckeye tailgate party will pump up the crowd, with QFM 96’s Joe Show leading the cheers. In addition to meeting Joe Show, tailgate party guests will sample pulled pork barbecue and fresh coleslaw from Columbus’ premiere place for “Q,” City Barbecue. City Barbecue’s pulled pork, brisket and barbecue chicken are favorite staples of the best Buckeye tailgate parties. In addition, the first 500 guests to stop by the tailgate will receive a “Fiesta in the Shoe.” This collectible poster is emblazoned with a spectacular color photograph from The Dispatch capturing
the excitement of the Buckeyes’ in over Michigan in 2002, which sealed the national championship and sent the Bucks to the Fiesta Bowl. Beyond Joe Show, City Barbecue and the poster giveaway, tailgaters will enjoy corn hole and ladder golf. Plus, the fan decked out in the most festive Buckeye wear will win a copy of the 66-page book Legends of Scarlet & Gray and limited-edition set of 12 medallions that chronicle the history and tradition of Buckeye football.
KIDS TO MEET BRUTUS BUCKEYE AT BEST OF FALL HOME SHOW KIDS DAY OSU mascot Brutus Buckeye will be on hand at the show on Kids Day, Sunday, Sep 14, from 12:30p-1:30p. Guests can look for him at The Dispatch Booth. Kids are encouraged to visit dispatchevents.com and download the “Brutus on Parade” coloring page, color it in their very own style and bring it to Brutus at the BEST of Fall Home Show. Brutus will then give each child a special “Brutus on Parade” Collectors Card, featuring the story of Brutus and “Brutus on Parade.” Parents are invited to bring their cameras. Brutus on Parade” was developed by The Ohio State University to assist in raising funds for the renovation of the William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library. The exhibit features more than 30 of the 6’2”, 150-pound fiberglass statues, each with a 2,000-pound concrete base to keep it stable. The Brutus statues, sponsored and created by local businesses and designers, are outside the Jerome Schottenstein Center through October. The show opens Friday, Sep 12, and runs through Sunday, Sep 14, at the Ohio Expo Center. Show hours are Friday Noon – 9p, Saturday 11a –8p, and Sunday 11a – 6p. Tickets are free at all Columbus area Kroger locations, or $5 at the door. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free. For show information and on-going updates, log on to www.dispatchevents.com.
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Sneaker Up: Columbus Landmarks Foundation 2008 Fall Walking Tours Looking for an entertaining way to get a little exercise and enjoy the beautiful fall weather? Columbus Landmarks Foundation (www.columbuslandmarks.org) walking tours provide the perfect way to get to know our historic neighborhoods. The 2008 Fall Walking Tour schedule includes two-hour guided visits to Glen Echo Historic District, Grandview Heights, Merion Village, Clintonville, Iuka Ravine Historic District and Green Lawn Cemetery. Walking tours cost $7 for Columbus Landmarks members and $15 for non-members. This year also marks the 20th season of the popular Halloween Tours beginning in late October. These tours feature ghostly stories associated with some of our city’s finest historic structures. This year’s tours include Spooky South Walking Tours, Dead End Bus Tours and Tales from the Crypt. 2008 FALL WALKING TOUR SERIES SCHEDULE:
SEPTEMBER Sunday, September 21, 2p- 4p Glen Echo Historic District - Nature Meets Architecture At the time it was platted, c. 1908, Glen Echo was the first planned sub-division outside the city limits of Columbus, whose northern boundary was today’s Hudson Street. Today the neighborhood is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and its identity is intimately connected with the ravine, Glen Echo, in which the neighbors take great pride and volunteer time in helping to preserve and protect. A number of Arts & Crafts bungalows will be highlighted on the tour. Tour begins on the boulevard at the corner of Arcadia and Glenmawr Avenues. Saturday, September 27, 10a-noon Grandview Heights - The Country Club District Along with Marble Cliff, Grandview Heights was one of Columbus’s first two autonomous suburbs where many wealthy families built their summer mansions at the turn of the last century. Because of its geographically-elevated area noted for scenic vistas and cool breezes, the locale became known as the “Country Club District” and the site of eight existing Frank Packard-designed homes, varying from Tudor to Spanish hacienda to eclectic styles. However, the area is best known for its lovely Arts & Crafts homes. Tour begins at the Grandview Library, SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
1685 West 1st Avenue, but please park on the street near the library so that library patrons may use the library lot. Sunday, September 28, 2p- 4p Merion Village - Architecture and the Many Faces of Columbus The entrepreneurial skills of the Merion family, who settled on 1800 acres of the Refugee Tract in the early 1800s, gave the area its first businesses associated with the canals. Over time, the Merion Village neighborhood was built up between the 1890s and World War I, and many housing styles are associated with that period, including bungalows. The area is becoming the “in place” to be for young families, but many of the older residents who have been here for 3 and 4 generations are descended from the original German, Irish, Italian, and Hungarian families who came to work in the steel mills and factories of the South Side. The neighborhood is rich in stories and fascinating history - the German “Schutzen Platz;” historic schools and churches, including one, St. Leo’s which is opened only for special occasions - like this tour and has been recognized by Landmarks for its preservation efforts; and houses moved and saved from demolition. Tour begins at the Merion Village Information Center, 1330 South 4th Street.
OCTOBER Saturday, October 4, 10a–noon Clintonville - A Tapestry of Amazing Streets Clintonville’s history dates from the 1840s when its first post office opened in the Arcadia Avenue area, but its early claim to fame was its politics temperance and abolitionist. As the area filled in along High Street to Worthington, developments knit together already existing pockets of housing and created new ones - a tapestry of lovely and varied housing. The tree-lined streets are filled with early 20th century homes from American Four Squares to Lustron homes. However, Clintonville also boasts some of the loveliest bungalows and Arts & Crafts houses. Tour begins at 112 Arden Road. Saturday, October 11, 10a–noon Open House at Euro-Classics (a free event) 3317 North High Street A chance to browse Roycroft’s-Home-Away-FromHome with a cup of coffee and a piece of coffeecake
(made from a 1915 recipe), meet others who love and are knowledgeable about Arts & Crafts furniture and styles, and drool over (and perhaps buy?) that fantastic bookcase, art lamp, tile or table you will see. Arts & Crafts enthusiast and preservationist Franco Ruffini will share stories of how his collecting passion started 25 years ago and has not stopped since. Come share your story. For 21 years, Euroclassics has been the store in Columbus for lovers of all things Arts & Crafts and early Modern. If you have yet to discover this gem, prepare to be amazed. You are in for a treat. Store is located just south of East North Broadway, parking on the street. Sunday, October 12, 2p- 4p Iuka Ravine Historic District - Urban Nature at its Grandest Listed in both the City’s and the National Historic Registers, the Iuka Ravine, developed 1900-1912, is one of Columbus’s most remarkable concentrations of houses, designed by prominent local architects and reflecting the influence of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Located east of The Ohio State University, the beautiful, natural environment provided by the ravine heightens the beauty of this tour but is little known by most Columbus residents and visitors. Tour begins in front of the Indianola Presbyterian Church, East 18th and Waldeck Avenues. Saturday, October 25, 10a- 12 noon and Sunday, October 26, 2p– 4p Green Lawn Cemetery Tour - The Dead Do Tell Tales - Art, Architecture, and a Thousand Stories This premier Central Ohio cemetery has served the city since the late 1840s. It is an outstanding example of the Cemetery Beautiful movement which transformed the concept of the church graveyard into the Victorian park-like landscape setting of monuments and markers. Here nature, fraternity, philosophy - concepts of the movement - combine with the natural terrain of the land to complement unusual monuments and landmark mausoleums. The 1902 chapel, designed by Columbus architect Frank Packard features mosaics and windows by the Tiffany Studios. There are 1000 stories about who is buried here - just one of them is about why Frank Packard did not design an Arts & Crafts mausoleum for himself. Tour begins at the Green Lawn mausoleum (the 1902 chapel) near the center of the cemetery, past the cemetery offices, 1000 Greenlawn Avenue.
Halloween Ghost Tours - Get your tickets before they vanish! For the 20th eerie season, Landmarks is offering a host of haunting activities featuring ghostly stories associated with some of our city’s finest historic structures. Whether you join us for a guided walking tour or the all new bus tour, you’re sure to unearth much about our city’s phantom past. Advance registration or tickets sales are required and group size is limited. Dress for the weather - these tours are held rain or shine! All tours start at 7:00pm. Town Street Walking Tour - October 23 & 30 Commence at the Kelton House and hear hair-raising tales about this neighborhood’s historic buildings plus see the exquisite 19th century homes that line this impressive street. Tickets are available online at www.columbuslandmarks.org or by calling 614.221.4508. $7 members/ $15 non-members Dead End Bus Tour - Various dates Join us for this mysterious bus tour and visit historic and seldom seen landmarks. Listen as Columbus’ ghost stories come alive. Visit forgotten cemeteries and other eeeeerie sites. There will be multiple stops on and off the bus. Tickets are available online at www.columbuslandmarks.org or by calling 614.221.4508. $25 Tales From the Crypt - November 1 Come spend an evening in one of the most lovely and mysterious places in Columbus. Join the Green Lawn Abbey Preservation Association for a night of history and tales of those who have gone before as the Green Lawn Abbey Mausoleum opens its doors once again on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 7pThis tour is not suitable for children under 12. No restroom facilities available on premises. Tickets are available online at www.columbuslandmarks.org or by calling 614.221.4508. $7 members/ $15 nonmembers About Columbus Landmarks Foundation Columbus Landmarks Foundation was founded in 1977 by a dedicated group of historic preservationists and local residents who were committed to preserving Columbus’ architectural heritage. Since that time, Columbus Landmarks has played an integral role in educating the community, encouraging responsible public and private sector enhancement of historical areas and structures, and promoting the highest standards in the design and construction of new buildings and spaces. Our membership includes nearly 500 individuals and corporations that remain devoted to Columbus Landmarks’ mission and vision.
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DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD by Romeo San Vicente
BERNHARD AND CUMMING ACCEPT A DARE It’s great that young performers seem to be coming out of the closet right and left these days, but there’s still something to be said for those pioneers who were in-your-face about their sexuality back when it was an even scarier career prospect for a working actor. So cheers to the divinely decadent Sandra Bernhard and Alan Cumming, both of whom are slotted to appear opposite Emmy Rossum in Dare. Rossum, Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights), and Ashley Springer (Teeth) play three high school senior best friends who embark upon the biggest risk of their lives. It can safely be assumed that it’s not toilet-papering someone’s house. The film also stars Cady Huffman and SNL vet Ana Gasteyer, and it will Dare to be seen onscreen in 2009.
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS IS READY FOR HIS CLOSE-UP
WILL A NEW TITLE BOUNCE SONDHEIM TO SUCCESS?
THOMAS JANE IS HUNG
Gay authors like Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, and Truman Capote have all been the focal points of movies in recent years, and now it’s time for legendary American playwright Tennessee Williams to shine. The gay genius behind such 20th-century masterpieces as A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is the subject of Tenn, an upcoming biopic from director Taylor Hackford (Ray, An Officer and a Gentleman). Tenn will examine Williams’ dysfunctional family life and how the painful incidents of his early years were reflected in his powerful dramas. No one has yet been cast in the title role, but given the Oscars won in recent years by the stars of Capote and Ray, not to mention the chance to play a tormented gay alcoholic creative genius, expect Hollywood A-listers to clamor for the part.
You just can’t keep a good show down. Bounce, the latest creation from musical-theater deity Stephen Sondheim, got mixed reviews in its outof-town openings a few years back and never managed to make it to Broadway. But now it looks like the show, which features a gay lead character and Sondheim’s first man-to-man love song, will finally make it to the Great White Way under a new name. Road Show, about reallife brothers (and con artists) Wilson and Addison Mizner, is set to begin previews in New York in October, with Michael Cerveris (who took over for John Cameron Mitchell in the original stage production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch) and Alexander Gemignani in the lead roles. The Mizners would no doubt admire Sondheim’s tenacity. Hopefully, audiences will, too.
If gay men loved Sex and the City, a comedy about four fashionable female friends and their search for the perfect man, they’re really going to get enthusiastic about Hung, which follows a middle-aged high school basketball coach who decides to capitalize on a specific physical situation he, well... Look, the show’s called Hung, people, you figure it out. HBO has announced that the exceedingly hunky Thomas Jane (The Punisher) will fill the shorts of the leading character in an hour-long pilot. Romeo reported previously on the directorial involvement of the very cool, very funny Alexander Payne (Sideways), so Jane’s casting just made some good news better. And since Jane also appeared in Boogie Nights, it can be assumed the he knows as much about endowments as the MacArthur Foundation. Can a cable series be built around what a man is sporting between his legs? Gosh, let’s hope so.
Romeo San Vicente’s mind is always aiming below the belt. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.
ARTS by Michael Daniels
Go To Hell – at Easton Shadowbox’s newest show, Raisin’ Hell, mixes the group’s usual blend of sketch comedy and rock-n-roll, this time with a brandnew themed show, introducing new characters and bringing back some old favorites. The opening night show fired on most cylinders, with standout performances on both stages. First, how the Hell did they convince Columbus’ favorite weatherman – ok, maybe for Outlook readers he ranks right behind Marshall McPeek – Jym Ganahl?. Jym’s video spots for “The News – BIG and small” are nothing short of hysterical. He first debuted on the Shadowbox vidscreen in their musical production Return to the Forbidden Planet, and we hope to see him with regularity. Comedy skits that hit the mark included “The Exorcister” wherein three misguided spazoids plot an exorcism to relieve one’s sister’s monthly demonic curse, “The Gothparents” where a gothed-out teen’s parents explore their own dark side to spend time with him, and a gutbusting spoof of West Side Story entitled “Sci Fi Story” with the Trekkis and the Jedis duke it out over turf while Luke and Uhura fight for their intergenre love. And Dr. Mystery chasing the Holy Grail must be seen. Head comedy writer Jimmy Mak’s sketch SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
comedy once again shines, and performances by David Whitehouse, Julie Klein, Katy Psenicka, and Matt ‘The Beast’ Buchwalter are in top form. Who knew the Beast did scrapbooking? We now have video to prove it! On the Bill Who? side of the stage, Matt & Jennifer Hahn and Chris Lambert tear it up, and watching Jerrod Wigton sing (he and Mary Randle belt out a very convincing “Epic”), sweat, and play tambourine wearing only a vest and tight fitting jeans is, for us, worth the price of admission in itself. [Yes, I admit it. Jerrod is my new str8boy crush at the ‘Box, now that we don’t see Adam Fauth on stage much anymore. Adam, however, still has the city’s most kissable lips … gay or straight, boy, girl, or trans … sigh …] The music in this show is familiar to most, and done with true rock and reverence. Stephanie Shull’s “Highway to Hell,” Carrie Lynn McDonald’s “Renegade,” Jennifer’s “Walk This Way,” and Julie’s “Time” were, as usual, right on. But Stev Guyer stole the show. The whole show. This nothing-short-of-bloody-fucking-amazing rendition of “Cry Little Sister,” backed by Katy’s choreography of 7 dancers and 4 backup singers, all in perfect staging and costuming
is, without question, the best single song performance I’ve seen at Shadowbox in the five years I’ve been attending. When Gerard McMahon released “Cry Little Sister” as a single in 1987 for The Lost Boys Soundtrack, director Joel Schumacher said, “‘Cry Little Sister’ blew us all away. It was more than a song. It was like a religious experience.” So is Stev’s. Go now. Raise some Hell with Shadowbox.
Raisin’ Hell runs every Thursday at 7:30p and Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30p and 10:30p until Nov 15. Tickets cost $30/$20 students and seniors. For reservations contact the Shadowbox box office at 614.416.7625 or go online at www.shadowboxcabaret.com. Shadowbox is sponsored by Coca Cola, Costume Specialists, Crawford Communities, Genesis Audio, Mark Hefner Photography, Outlook Weekly, The Team, and WCBE.
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CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
REAL ESTATE
FLORAL BUSINESS 70-year-old family-run floral business for sale. Established clients, great location. Please call Mary McCarthy at Sunbelt Business Brokers, 614.734.8338, for more information.
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SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
26 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 27
INTERVIEW by Gregg Shapiro
Promised keeper: an interview with Dar Williams On Promised Land (Razor and Tie), longtime friend of the LGBT community Dar Williams has cultivated a set of songs that ranks with her finest and most unforgettable work. Tunes such as “It’s Alright,” “The Easy Way” and “You Are Everyone,” along with earthy tunes such as “The Tide Falls Away” and “Holly Tree,” as well as knockouts such as “Go To The Woods” and “The Buzzer,” find Williams at the top of her craft. And her covers of “Midnight Radio” (from “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) and Fountains of Wayne’s “Troubled Times” indicate that Williams hasn’t lost her knack for selecting marvelous material to interpret. I spoke with Dar shortly before the release of Promised Land. Gregg Shapiro: 2008 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the release of your debut album The Honesty Room. Did you mark the occasion in any special way? DW: No, I actually think I was recording. We’re still chugging forward. If we didn’t have this album, maybe we’d be doing more with The Honesty Room. GS: The Promised Land cover photo and the message of the song “Go To The Woods” (“But what I fear more, what I fear most/More than the man, the beast, or the ghost/Is that the woods are disappearing./So when I go back, when I finally dare,/You know the woods’ll be gone,/You know they just won’t be there.”) made me wonder if this disc is your An Inconvenient Truth? DW: I think Promised Land is kind of a challenge, at this point. There’s nothing that we can’t do right now, and we’re really poised. Actually, I talked to my congressman John Hall, formerly of the band Orleans, he’s a friend and he said that “this country is poised with its good will.” And I think we’re poised with technology and poised with a local food movement where people are going to their farmer’s markets. I think that the world is capable of being the promised land. As long as we don’t feel like it’s a given, as opposed to something that we earn. Where I live right now, we have a beautiful garden, we have great neighbors, we have a fabulous farmer’s market, there’s artwork from artists all around me whose art is going to be in the CD booklet; which is kind of an old fashioned idea, having a CD booklet. The Hudson River went from being a cesspool to being a place where you can mostly swim. You still don’t eat the fish. But I live in a place where people are working hard to live in a way so that it is the promised land that it looks like. Even Mayor Bloomberg in New York wants to plant a million trees and turn it into a green city. There’s a big subsidized recycled vegetable oil heating company going into New York (laughs). So, basically, the promised land is ours if we are willing to share it. It’s not ours if we’re going to fight over it. GS: Back to “Go To The Woods,” for a moment. The song features guest musician Suzanne Vega. Is Suzanne someone who played a pivotal role in your musical diet as a singer/songwriter? DW: She was really unafraid of being a one and only Suzanne Vega. I remember when I heard (the album) 99.9, I thought, “What are they doing to Suzanne Vega, and then I heard that this was her request. And then it became one of my favorite discs. Suzanne chose to take the reins in terms of what her evolution would sound like. That kind of playfulness
with the genre, while sticking to really amazing songwriting, was really a great thing for everybody that I was working with. GS: “The Buzzer” is one of the most fascinating tracks on the album. What was the inspiration for that song? DW: I dreamed that I was in some big German opera with Shawn Colvin and the melody of “The Buzzer” was actually her song. And I was like, “Aw, she got the good song.” That was part of it. But the first line in my head was, “I press the buzzer,” so if I’m writing a song saying “I press the buzzer,” then clearly this is about the Milgram science experiments. The obedience to authority experiments of the early sixties were testing people’s willingness and ability to inflict pain on strangers if a person ordered them to. There’s a lot of detail in the song that’s not accurate. It took place in the basement of a Yale dorm, it didn’t take place in pre-fabs out off the highway. But they repeated the experiment in 2005 and I think that’s what pushed my unconscious to bring that whole perspective of that song from the back of my brain to the front. In the early sixties, if people were willing to inflict pain on others and in 2005 when that study had done so much work in our society for us to look at elements of fascism in our hearts and it had the exact same results, then maybe we have to look at a new experiment. Instead of an experiment of a civilization where we’re not put in the position of inflicting pain or we’re in a society where we have more social strength, we don’t feel like we’re cornered into making those decisions. The interesting story to me wasn’t, “What would make me not do this?” The interesting story was, “What if I had inflicted pain? What would happen?” The truth about those experiments was that everybody, in the sixties at least, who did press the buzzer, as it were, came back and said their lives had been really changed. GS: That makes sense after having had such a heavy responsibility placed on them. DW: Right, exactly! Actually, after that experiment, a lot of ethical questions about these experiments were raised. I think as I get older, I’m less interested in the people who do things right all the way and more interested in the people who do things wrong and how they acquire wisdom. Because as I get older, the people who’ve done things right all the time, I’ve come to understand that they’re as addicted to doing things correctly as any addict is. I found that those people don’t have the same toolboxes. The ones who have made mistakes have toolboxes, the ones who have done things right all along are sort of ineffectively self-righteous (laughs). I guess I’m just really interested in flawed people and how we can find atonement and redemption right now, because we really need all hands on deck. I think that’s probably why that song came up for me. But these songs really do just emerge. They bubble up. I don’t really choose the topic. And I did laugh when I realized that this was going to be writing about. GS: You have a history of superb taste in cover tunes. “Midnight Radio” (from Hedwig and the Angry Inch) is no exception. Why did you choose that song? DW: It’s actually a two-layer song. The first time I heard it, was in the movie. I fell in love with the song
the first time that I heard it. The other layer is that I went to college with (out songwriter/musician) Stephen Trask. I remember meeting this totally cool guy who was best friends with my hall-mate freshman year. He has a strong sensibility and if he had a religion it would be music. He and Laurel, his best friend and my close friend, turned me onto Yoko Ono and Meredith Monk and Nina Hagen and Kate Bush. They really got me into these experimental women. Then he would sit down and play Tammy Wynette and Elton John and he loved John Lennon. But he had a real fervent love of this music. When you have that, you discover the freak in yourself. We’re all freaks (laughs). You discover what deep reach music has. Then as I got older, I wrote music, like the song “Are You Out There?” and “I Won’t Be Your Yoko Ono” which were influenced specifically by Stephen. I was specifically struck by the power of late-night radio as I was driving back from gig and it reminded me of Stephen because it was eclectic and the presenters were presenting it as essential and important to this subterranean world of important people that sometimes our society doesn’t recognize. The song (“Midnight Radio”) is, to me, about everything that sprang from Stephen in my sensibility about music and the people who listen to it. GS: Is there a possible stage musical in your future? DW: (laughs) It’s really funny that you should say that. I really have to wait for projects to come to me in terms of what’s floating my boat. For the last 10 years, I’ve been picking up and putting down a children’s musical. But I have to put in my research time, so thanks for the reminder. It would take place on an island that over-mines itself. Actually, Laurel, my common friend with Stephen, was the person with whom I talked about it originally. She gave me some helpful ideas. Basically, these people destroy this island that they love so much and then the island comes back and heals itself with a warning that people can’t do this anymore and then they learn to recycle (laughs). GS: That’s very timely! The Promised Land album also includes the Fountains of Wayne cover “Troubled Times.” You mentioned Shawn Colvin, who recorded an album of cover tunes, so are there any chances of an entire album of cover tunes by you? DW: Never, never, never. I really don’t want to do that. She’s a real master. She says that music saved her life – I don’t want to call her a freak, but if I call her a freak it would be in the most positive sense. I toured with her and the way she leaned over her guitar and listened to the chords as she would play along with people, I could see her as a teenager picking out these songs. She just has that. But I don’t think I would do a covers album, but I’m really happy to find songs (to cover on albums). Although I got this great e-mail from a kid who wrote, “The Fountains of
Wayne song “Troubled Times” is untouchable!” And then, in parentheses, “i.e., not to be touched” (laughs). You can just imagine this kid typing away and imagining that Fountains of Wayne would be really upset if they heard this cover, which, of course, they were not. They were very funny and happy. It’s exposure and they knew that I did it as an homage. But it was like this kid writing out of “Midnight Radio”land. “You touched Fountains of Wayne! How dare you!” GS: I know that Joan Baez did a cover of your song “If I Wrote You.” Are there any other Dar Williams covers out there that you are aware of? DW: You know, this would be a really great time to thank these gals. One day, $200 showed up on my music printout, and I didn’t recognize the names, so I Googled it and then I remembered that this woman had passed me a disc that she and her family had done that had “You’re Aging Well” on it. The real money maker in songs is when your song ends up on a TV show or some kind of interesting compilation. Joan was a big deal, but Joan was a big deal at every chakra. She was a friend, a role model, it was extremely fun. It was incredible exposure to her audience. Everything that Joan was was beyond what showed up on a printed statement. Peter Mulvey covered “The Ocean,” Richard Shindell covered “Calling The Moon.” But Joan did three of my songs and to this day that’s been very powerful. GS: As someone with a sizeable following in the LGBT community – if someone wanted to use a Dar Williams song for their same sex wedding, how would you feel and what would you recommend? DW: There are two things that make me feel like I could die tomorrow. One is when I hear about a teenager who’s locked herself up in her room with only my music, which happened once. Every time I’m having a career low, I think about that girl. And the other is hearing that somebody wants to use one of my songs at their wedding. I wrote a song called “You Rise and Meet The Day” for my husband that I sang at a friend’s wedding, and both she and her husband were happily divorced from other people and instead of going on the rebound they had written in their journals and done a lot of yoga (laughs). The song “You Rise and Meet The Day” is a song about people who put in the work for the world and to the world and still rise in the morning and meet the day and show that kind of commitment to the people they love. I would especially recommend that song for anybody in the LGBT community, because it’s an affirmation of a really important social movement, right now, to be married. It’s a statement. It’s joyful, but it’s also important and courageous. So that one I would put an exclamation point on recommending! Actually, it was used at a wedding on the Cape (Cod) that some friends of ours went to, for the first dance, I think. There were tears (laughs).
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
28 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
SEX TALK by Simon Sheppard
SPEAKING OF
Disappointments
No, you can’t always get what you want - or even, despite what the old Rolling Stones’ song says, what you need. Sure, sex is supposed to be great, one of the peak human experiences. And we’ve all been raised on tales of “happily ever after.” But, dude, that’s in fairy tales. In our beds, things can get more complex. Let’s face the awful fact: sometimes booty can be a bust. “He was so cute and nice,” says one young man. “We went out on a few dates before we landed in bed. But the sex I’d been looking forward to turned out to be pretty disastrous. Boring, awkward, you name it.” Even the best-oiled sex machine has an off night, of course. But sometimes a dingusbased disappointment can be difficult to surmount. “We told each other that it didn’t matter,” our young guy continues, “and that we could get beyond it. But neither of us had much interest in trying again, and we drifted apart. Sad, really, but there it is.” Long-term relationships, too, are vulnerable to screwing-related screw-ups. Says one homo who’s had a honey for years, “My partner hadn’t done me in a while, and I was really looking forward to it. But he took so damn long to get ready - fussing around with lube, rearranging the bed - that I got frustrated and kind of pissy. We ended up fighting instead of humping.” Not every setback is an outright disaster. Recalls another fellow, “I was having really great sex with someone new, but I just couldn’t get him to come. He told me that he usually took a really long time to get off, but that didn’t help. I took it personally. Neither of us ever came that night, but we did go to bed together again. That second time I didn’t expect him to nut, so things felt OK.” Expectations - inflated or otherwise - often go hand-in-hand with disappointment. It can be a physique-related frustration. Perhaps the guy whose face you find fabulous has a body that, for one reason or another, turns you off. And there’s the size thing. Despite what you may read in online ads, not every man has eight thick inches. You may order out for an extra-large, but don’t be surprised when what gets delivered is a medium-sized mouthful. It’s still tasty, right? Sometimes the script doesn’t play out as planned. That proffered “sensual massage” SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
turns out to be clumsy rather than erotic. The man who boasts he’s a dominant top becomes a big ol’ bottom once the shades are drawn. The self-described submissive who told you he wanted to explore bondage changes his mind once the knots are tied. Then there are emotional letdowns. You’re having such a great time with Mr. Right Now that you figure he may be the love of your life. But as soon as he comes, he heads right out the door, and never returns your e-mails. Or the guy who’s a stud in bed turns out to be a dud out of it. And there’s always that old stand-by: infidelity. Despite reams of perfect-sex pornography and bookshelves full of sex advice, it’s best to be prepared: Not every coupling will be a colossal success. One hyperactive homosexual who claims to have had hundreds of partners says, “One of the good things about being promiscuous is that there isn’t all that much riding on a session of casual sex. Sure, there are men who’ve become sex buddies of mine, but often when I say goodbye to a guy, I’m content knowing that we’ll probably never see each other again.” One need not be a slut to shrug off setbacks. A sense of humor helps, too. Though we may stake a lot of our self-worth on sex, it’s basically best to step back and keep a sense of proportion, rolling with the penis-deflating punches. Though, as one middle-aged man says, “It’s easy to make jokes about impotence...unless it’s happening to you.” Advice? Don’t place unrealistic demands on your sex partner...or yourself. Being caught up in expectations can make a guy miss out on what’s actually taking place. Life is full of surprises, good and bad. So take things as they come, including coming. As our self-anointed slut says, “Sure, a stiffy can give rise to all sorts of dreams. But when it comes to sex, it’s best not to anticipate anything in particular. That way, whatever swell stuff does happen turns out to be a delightful surprise.” And that sounds good. Simon Sheppard is the editor of Leathermen and Homosex: Sixty Years of Gay Erotica, and the author of Sex Parties 101, Kinkorama, and In Deep: Erotic Stories, and can be reached at SexTalk@qsyndicate.com. Visit Simon at www.simonsheppard.com.
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 29
SAVAGE LOVE by Dan Savage
I’m a middle-aged guy. My boyfriend has just left his teens. We originally got to know each other because I like to tie up muscular young guys and he’s a muscular young guy who likes getting tied up. But he’s a smart, funny kid and after a few months we started actually liking each other. Not to get all mushy on you, but at some point that like turned to love. Here’s the problem: My boyfriend’s parents who are a little younger than I am - were snooping around in his room and found video clips on his computer that clearly illustrated our activities. He still lives with his parents and they were, prior to this discovery, entirely ignorant of their son’s sexual orientation and sexual interests. They’re now threatening all the things asshole parents usually threaten: to kick him out, to stop paying for school, to disown him. He has stayed at my place many times and my first reaction was, “Come live with me, you don’t need that kind of crap in your life.” But the more I think about it, the more I wonder if it’s the right thing to do. They are his family. Would I really be acting in his best interests if I helped him walk away from them, even as horrible as they’re acting? I can put him up at my place. I can pay for his schooling. Heck, I’d be proud to do it. But I wonder if I’d be facilitating a decision he’d one day come to regret. Plus, we’re in Boston and he isn’t yet 21. On top of everything else, is there a chance the law could decide to bite me in the ass? Not The Bad Guy I really can’t do my best work, NTBG, without actually seeing those video clips. But let me give it a shot… Your boyfriend is of legal age, so I don’t see how you could possibly be in trouble with the law. (Unless those bondage videos were made before he reached the age of consent, which I’m hoping they were not.) His parents might not like the fact that their son is gay and a bondage freak, or that he’s involved with an older man, but there’s not a lot they can do about it. Besides, of course, tossing him out, disowning him, and refusing to pay for his education. If they do toss him out and refuse to pay for his education, NTBG, you should take him in and pay for his education. Don’t do anything - or anything else - that might antagonize your boyfriend’s parents. No confrontations, no accusations, no scenes. Write them one polite letter. Tell them you appreciate how distressing it must have been for them to learn about their son’s interests the way that they did, and tell them that, despite how they
may have interpreted those video clips, you mean their son no harm, that you love him, and that you intend to look out for him and keep him in school. Close by telling them you’re going to encourage your boyfriend to keep the lines of communication open with them. It could be emotionally tricky for a while, perhaps a long while, as his parents adjust to the big kinky news. But that’s what happens when you snoop: Sometimes you find out things that you didn’t want to know, didn’t need to know, or weren’t ready to know. As for the boyfriend, it’s entirely possible that he may one day blame you for his estrangement from his parents. You can inoculate yourself against those charges by refusing to come between him and his parents, and making sure he sees you doing whatever you can to lay the groundwork for an eventual reconciliation. Moving on, NTBG, you say you’re in love, and that’s swell. But just between us grown-ups: Very few people wind up with the person they met and fell in love with in their teens. At best, you’ll have a few great years with this kid. But this can be a really successful relationship even if, as the song goes, “it’s only for now,” if you play your cards right. And unless his parents are seriously nuts and your boyfriend desperately needs the legal protections of marriage - he needs you to be his next of kin in case of a medical emergency, for instance - I wouldn’t marry his hot and kinky 20year-old ass, if I were you. And if he does need the legal protections of marriage, make him sign a prenup. Speaking of hot teenagers and asshole parents and vows that you may come to regret… The 17-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin, the GOP’s vice-presidential nominee, is pregnant. The news was released by the McCain campaign during a busy news week - a major hurricane, the Republican National Convention, Dick Cheney getting us into a war with Russia - so it may not have received the coverage it deserved. So allow me to bring you up to date, gentle readers… Seventeen-year-old Bristol Palin got her ass knocked up five or so months ago by 18-year-old Levi Johnston. Among the hobbies listed on Levi’s since-yanked MySpace page - “fishing, shoot some shit, and just fuckin’ chillin’” - was this revealing tidbit: “I don’t want kids.” But Bristol, says her mom, “made the decision on her own to keep the baby,” and is now engaged to Levi “Shootin’ Shit” Johnston. As the adoptive parent of a child born to a pair of unwed teenagers, I’m certainly not in favor of abortion in all circumstances. But I believe that it’s a choice teenagers should be able to make for
themselves - with input from their families whenever possible - and, so it seems, does the GOP’s VP nominee. Sarah Palin is pleased that her daughter made the decision - on her own - to keep the baby. But Sarah Palin doesn’t believe that other girls should be able to make their own decisions. Sarah Palin believes abortion should be illegal in almost every instance - including rape and incest. So Bristol Palin is being celebrated for making a choice that Sarah Palin would like to take away from all other American women. Apparently, today’s GOP believes that choice is a special right reserved for the wayward daughters of Republican elected officials. Oh, and Sarah Palin also believes that birth control shouldn’t be made available to teenagers, she opposes medically accurate sex education, and she backs abstinence-until-marriage sex “education.” Sigh. The GOP has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into abstinence “education” programs during the Bush years. I believe this enormous investment of public funds begs the obvious question: Is our children abstaining? Sarah Palin’s aren’t. Despite this massive outlay on the part of the American taxpayer and the example set by her Christian parents, Bristol Palin became sexually active while still in high school. Excuse me, but if abstinence education can’t keep the daughter of the evangelical governor of Alaska off the cock, what hope is there for the daughters - and some of the sons - of average Americans? I’m a cad for even writing this, of course, because shortly before Bristol and Levi were paraded before cheering throngs at the Republican National Convention, the Palins asked the media to respect their daughter’s privacy. Another special right: When it comes to respecting your family’s privacy, Palin and the GOP see no need. They want to micromanage the most intimate aspects of your private life. And if their own kids fail to live up to the standards that Palin and the GOP seek to impose on your family, well, that’s a private matter between the Palins, their daughter, their God, and the thousands of screaming imbeciles in elephant hats waving McCain/Palin signs on the floor of the Republican National Convention. Download the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at www.thestranger.com/savage. mail@savagelove.net
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
30 • OUTLOOK WEEKLY
ABOUT TOWN SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Day Stage starts @ Noon Schedule in performance order: • Hot Cha Cha’s • Donna Mogavero, Robin Stone & Alexis Antes: Singer/Songwriters in the Round • Nervous but Excited • Tracy Walker • God-dess & She
OHIO LESBIAN FESTIVAL 11A, SATURDAY, SEP 13 The 19th Annual Ohio Lesbian Festival just keeps getting better! The Festival is delighted to announce the late addition of God-des & She and the Hot Cha Cha’s to the day stage lineup. The Festival will take place at Frontier Rance in Kerkersville, Ohio on Saturday, September 13th, 2008. The Ohio Lesbian Festival is not-forprofit, volunteer driven womyn only event designed to promote womyn’s economy, community and art. The Festival recognizes that in the world at large, heterosexism and woman hatred are the norm. The Festival was founded on the premise that Lesbians and queer womyn need opportunities and spaces to recognize and support each other, to define our culture, to find our own strengths and to be empowered. All womyn are welcome. These late additions are on top of an already rockin’ line-up featuring Bitch & Ferron, Judith Casselberry & JUCA, Comedian Kelli Dunham, Nervous but Excited, God-des & She and an amazing line-up of Home-grown Ohio Performers including
the Hot Cha Cha’s, Tracy Walker, Sistah Ngoma, Donna Mogavero, Alexis Antes, Robin Stone and Featured Ohio Performer Early Girl. If that is not enough, last year the Festival added the Limelight Stage to showcade local performance artists and entertainers. The 2008 Limelight Stage is presented by Viva Valezz! and features burlesque, kings, belly dancing, spoken word and more! Still not convinced the Festival has something for everyone? For 2008 The Festival has added yet another performance venue. A Spoken Word Salon will run throughout the day and feature local and nationally known spoken word artists, poets and authors. Festival gates open at 11a and the fun continues until 2a, concluding with an After Hours Party Dj’d by local Ohio favorites DJ Carol, Mamma Sutra & DJ Ororo. For more information, to volunteer or to buy tickets visit: www.OhioLBA.org
Night Stage starts @ 7:30 Schedule in performance order: • Sistah Ngoma • Kelli Dunham • Judith Casselberry & JUCA • Bitch & Ferron • Early Girl Limelight Stage • Viva Valezz! • Miz Ginger Jones • Unecc • Dolphin Dance • Khalida Tribe • Colelea • Kate Queen • Raks Jahanni • Anna the Annadroid • Dharma • LUSTER Dela Virgion After Hours Party Join DJ Carol , Mama Sutra and DJ Ororo for a rocking late night dance party. After the Night Stage ends – the party really kicks in! Come Dance your butt off till 2a!
COLUMBUS N EXT M EE TING: OC T 8 , 6P -8P; LOC ATION : WEXNER CENTER ; S PEA KER : PA ULA B RO OKS WWW.NETWORKCOLUMBUS.COM
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008
OUTLOOK WEEKLY • 31
fin
THE LAST WORD by Vic Basile
Love, Family, Friendship, and the Voting Booth It is hard to imagine an election more important to the future of our community than the one we face in November. That is why we must do all that we can to prevent our families and friends from voting for candidates who oppose our equality. They must be made to understand that how they vote affects our lives in the most fundamental ways possible; that when they vote for homophobes, they damage our shared bonds of love, trust and friendship. The reality is that they can’t truly love or respect us, and knowingly vote for candidates who would deny us the same equality and freedoms they enjoy. The two are simply incompatible. While they may be unaware of their candidates’ positions on these most basic human rights issues and are supporting them for completely unrelated reasons, they are nevertheless complicit in a political struggle that seeks to deny us our full equality. Those who see themselves as our friends and yet vote for opponents of our equality need to understand that friends treat each other with respect and dignity, and as equals. They need to know this is not an act of friendship and certainly not one of love. The same is true for family members. Friends and family can disagree about the economy, national security, taxes and the environment, and still genuinely care about each other. Can the same be said when one participates, however passively, in the oppression of the other? It doesn’t really matter whether the issue is race, gender, religion, sexual orienta-
tion or gender identity. The behavior is shameful and excruciatingly painful. To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, the greatest injustice “is not the strident clamor of bad people, but the appalling silence of good people.” Most Americans today would not knowingly vote for someone they thought to be racist, anti-Semitic or misogynistic, yet they don’t think twice about voting for homophobes. They just don’t make the connection and we let their actions go unchallenged. Shame on us! Friends tell me about their Bush/McCain-supporting Republican parents, but go on to say how accepting they are of them. When I ask how that is possible, how loving parents could support someone who wants to hurt their child, I get a blank look or a glib comment about how “that’s just the way they are.” It isn’t the way they are - they just don’t know any better and it is our job to teach them. Sometimes I hear (and sadly, this often comes from gay people) “they aren’t single issue voters and consider many issues when deciding how to vote.” What does it say about our sense of self worth when we accept from our parents the explanation that taxes are more important than our dignity, safety and equality? Why are we are so reluctant to challenge them when their behavior so adversely affects our lives? Ending our silence is the only way to educate the people we cherish most that our equality is important and that it requires respect. Love and friendship demand nothing less.
Imagine our electoral power when we, our families, friends and us, vote as a bloc. The 2008 election promises to be a cliffhanger, providing us with the opportunity to determine the outcome. Never have the stakes been higher or the issues clearer. If we fail to put a friend in the White House, if we fail to elect a more GLBT Congress, if we allow the far right to select the next Supreme Court justices, our long battle for equality will
be stalled for decades. This threat is horrifyingly real. We have come too far at too great a cost to be silent now. Let’s do our part to make certain that our families and friends have our equality in mind when they enter the voting booth. Vic Basile was the first executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, a co-founder of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and currently advocating through www.lgbtforobama.com.
HOROSCOPES by Jack Fertig
ARIES (Mar 20 - Apr 19): Individual initiative, your usual forte, is now your biggest stumbling block. Take time out to meditate, rely on your intuition, and talk over ideas with friends before moving forward. Keep any competition friendly!
CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22): Getting out of your shell could help your career, but that incentive isn’t as appealing as it should be. How about the promise of new adventures and passionate romps? Don’t mix work and pleasure, but one can follow close behind the other.
LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22): Your competitive streak is great at work and play, but not in matters of love. Synergy is still more effective than competition. Find ways to bring perceived opponents onto your team.
CAPRICORN (Dec 21 - Jan 19): What actions best serve your ambitions? Anything you do will be much noticed and talked about. Pay close attention, and you can guide the conversation to your advantage. Be clear about what you want, and you can achieve a great deal.
TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 20): Be careful of sweets and your kidneys, but don’t worry too much about your health. Work can be therapeutic, if you don’t overdo it. Your boss can be supportive and sympathetic. You may need her or his help in solving problems with colleagues.
LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 22): “Open mouth, insert foot” doesn’t scare a fetishist. Your playful improvisations can get you out of trouble almost as easily as you get into it. Arguments and scandal can create more opportunities than problems, so dare anything!
SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21): What you really need is rest and meditation. But long, hot baths with music, soothing salts and candles, and an enjoyable book are your preferred escapes. Be creatively indulgent. Take time to enjoy everything from shopping to toweling off.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 18): Though you embrace new ideas playfully, you’ll find yourself being drawn into arguments about them. Don’t worry about being right. Say your piece to draw it out. The more you listen, the more you learn.
GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 20): Efforts to look brilliant can backfire too easily - if not immediately, then in a few weeks. Consult with your boss and colleagues to make more room for revision, or at least to be able to spread the blame if things go wrong.
VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22): You can handle your own money problems easily. A partner makes things more complicated. It’s best for both of you to keep accounts as separate as possible. Financial agreements made now will start unraveling soon.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 20): Too many friends making demands on your attention force you to choose where you really belong. This doesn’t have to be a permanent, set decision. Know the differences among your family, your tribe, and your friends, and the choices will be easier.
PISCES (Feb 19 - Mar 19): Can there be too much sex? It really is about quality, not quantity. Like chocolate, when it’s not terrific, you just want more. You know it’s really good when you’re so satisfied you don’t need more for a while.
Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977, is a founding member of the Association for Astrological Networking. He can be reached for consultations at 415.864.8302, www.starjack.com, and by e-mail at QScopes@qsyndicate.com.
SEP 11 - SEP 17 2008