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Contents
DECEMBER 25, 2019
V3-50 PEACH ATL MEDIA, LLC 925b Peachtree St. NE #168 Atlanta, GA 3030
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MANAGING PARTNER Brian Sawyer brian@peachatl.com
OPERATIONS Jeff Anderson Sales and Development Director
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jeff@peachatl.com
EDITORIAL Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director
From the Editor
mikkel@peachatl.com Brian Sawyer
Another year has zipped by, and we are stepping into a new decade. I can’t help but look back at the year, and once again, it’s safe to say that it has been full of challenges, both good and bad. Should I have one wish for 2020, it would be that we all get a little better at thinking about the longer perspective instead of being super reactive here and now. It’s not all instant gratification of a like on social media or a sound bite on TV, and sometimes we just need to change our lens to get that 20/20 vision where things make sense and come together anew. Even though there are lots of things to celebrate in 2019, I am also looking forward to 2020 and welcome new challenges and even more focus on creating the best, most picked up, and only weekly guide to LGBTQ+ Atlanta. I have just finished the editorial calendar for the year, and call it my 20/20 vision, but I am confident that we will continue to be your premier guide to Atlanta. Happy New Year, and be safe, Peaches!
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The content of Peach ATL Media is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. The opinions expressed by any writer, advertiser, or other person appearing in the Peach ATL Media are not necessarily those of this publication, its management or staff. The information and materials appearing in the magazine are not guaranteed or warranted as to accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found or offered for a particular purpose. It shall be your responsibility to ensure that any products, services, or information available through Peach ATL Media meets your specific requirements. Peach ATL Media is not responsible for claims made by advertisers, content of information, changes, events, and schedules. The magazine contains information and material which is owned by or licensed to Peach ATL Media, including but not limited to articles, advertisements, design, layout, graphics, and logos. No part or portion of Peach ATL Media may be reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of the publisher. Unauthorized use of Peach ATL Media may give rise to claims for damages and or criminal offenses. Your use of the information or materials in Peach ATL Media is strictly at your own risk.
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New Year’s Eve is about letting loose, celebrating a year that has passed, and welcoming a new one.
By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photo courtesy of Boy Next Door
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#GayTwitter icon Laura Dern’s queer cultural contributions – being the first to hug Ellen DeGeneres after she came out publicly, the Renata Klein memes, the belted khaki shorts in Jurassic Park – are bountiful fodder for social media hyperbole. Every big and little thing Dern does – a new pair of glasses! Baby Yoda! – is met with great, dramatic exaltation from queer Dernheads on Twitter. Once, I even read a tweet that asked us to imagine what the gay world would be like if gay men treated other gay men like they treat Laura Dern. She is beloved for a vast filmography that includes parts in, of course, Jurassic Park, Twin Peaks, HBO’s gone-too-soon Enlightened, and on DeGeneres’s sitcom Ellen, where she portrayed DeGeneres’s out lesbian love interest, Susan. More recently, she’s acquired International GIF Fame thanks to her scenery-chewing performance as one of the messy Monterey Five on Big Little Lies: the aspirational “I will not not be rich” Renata Klein. Surely, too, #GayTwitter hasn’t forgotten that Dern also played one half of a lesbian couple trying to conceive in the 2005 indie comedy Happy Endings. Your straight mom who doesn’t even know what Twitter is loves Laura Dern too, but not like you love Laura Dern. Actually, on #GayTwitter, Dern is your mom. Her four-decade career, which began in the early ’70s, continues its upswing, where the 52-year-old actress can be seen in two of this year’s best movies: as Scarlett Johansson’s steely divorce lawyer in director Noah Baumbach’s Golden Globe-nominated Marriage Story, currently on Netflix, and in writer-director Greta Gerwig’s contemporary take on Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women as Marmee, the March sisters’ mother. In Gerwig’s richly moving update, the mother-of-two shares at least one obligatory parenting principle with her onscreen matriarch: they both love their children unconditionally. A safe place for her daughters, Beth, Meg, Jo and Amy, she is wise, tender and merciful – so understated Dern tells me she thinks she would make a really boring meme for the gays. But watch the Oscar-nominated actress ruminate on how she’s angry “nearly every day of my life” and how she’s “not patient by nature,” as she explains to Jo that she wants only the best for her, and then watch Dern demolish her husband’s prized room full of pricey collectors items in Big Little Lies with a baseball bat. In other words, Laura Dern will not not have range. In conversation, Dern is everything #GayTwitter already knows her to be: gracious, warm, thoughtful and generous (like a mom, she tells me “lots of love” before we part). Get her talking about sexual identity in film, and like her career as of late, she’s an unstoppable force – six minutes over our scheduled block of time, I was the one ending our talk. Her voice bubbles and bursts as she giddily reacts to the mere existence of a Laura Dern Gay Twitter. In between
those moments, Dern traversed talking points like how her famous actor parents, Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd, raised her in a household that embraced otherness; the gratitude she received from parents of LGBTQ kids for doing Ellen, and how her own coming-of-age may have been different if she were growing up with the gender and sexual fluidity of our modern era. One of your first lines in Little Women is “Call me mother.” Just making sure that you’re well aware that that’s exactly what every gay man on Twitter wishes you’d say to him. (Gleefully shrieks; enthusiastically laughs.) That’s going to be a meme. But here’s the only thing we have to change in the meme: I don’t know that they want Marmee to say that. I think they want Renata Klein to say that! (Laughs.) I think they want their memes to say whatever Laura Dern says. Oh my god, that’s adorable. I feel very honored. (Laughs.) How has social media changed your awareness of gay culture’s affection for you? I mean, I see it. You must. Awww. Well, let’s just start with social media in general: I think I’m very lucky to be over 40 and discovering social media, because it gets to be a deep place of connection and instant information about the world and culture and the needs of the world. So as a woman, as an activist – and to connect me to other people and, yes, gay culture, as you say (laughs) – it’s the greatest thing in the world. But I’m not discovering who I am and being defined by it, and I don’t know how my children’s generation is handling it. It seems incredibly overwhelming, and I think I would’ve been way too insecure to navigate it well. So I just get to be in the fun of it. And in that way it is just the best time ever. Particularly, with Big Little Lies, to see the joy that is being had, to play dress up as our characters – well, even with Star Wars too – I did start to discover the fun of memes and just, you know, I never laughed so hard or had a better time or made more great new friends. Have you ever sent a Renata Klein meme in a text? (Reflects.) No, I have never sent (one). In fact, I send memes of other actors sometimes to people, which is really fun. I always send Oprah memes, because you look up Oprah and it’s always the perfect meme for something. I think Noah and Greta texted me something recently that really made me emotional in an overwhelming way and I sent what I’m told is a meme of myself crying in Blue Velvet. Which is the meme Greta wore on her sweater recently at the Gotham Awards, where they presented you with the 2019 actress tribute. She did! They’ve hit the hip-hop world, and I think it’s time because they’re amazing. Raf Simons (who designed the coordinated sweaters she and Baumbach wore as part of his 2019 fall | 13
collection) is a genius, and any designer that also pays homage to (Blue Velvet director) David Lynch makes me so happy.
parents for being part of something that gave them more understanding around their loved one coming out was what just really hit me hard.
I’d like to talk to you about your devoted LGBTQ following. How do you explain this connection you have with LGBTQ fans, Laura? Where did that start? When were you aware? I’m pausing, frankly, because I probably need your help with this answer.
I watched that episode when I was a teenager with my mom and it helped me to eventually come out to her. Aww. Literally top three moments of my entire life: staring into (DeGeneres’s) eyes and feeling her shake as I was holding her hands, the tears welling up as she said those words for the first time in her life, out loud. So I just feel so lucky to have been on that journey with her, and then in and around the tragedy of the loss of Matthew Shepard for (human rights organization) Amnesty International we did a lot of fundraising concerts.
Well, I guess I wonder if it was before you did “The Puppy Episode” on Ellen in 1997 or after that. I mean, I would say I feel privileged to have been raised by independently minded, radical artist parents, and I think that they have lived their lives relating to and feeling like and understanding the other, as actors, as humanists. My home was never not filled with people who might have categorized themselves as the other. There was never a conversation or a sit-down that happened in my childhood that involved same-sex relationships or quote “people of color” or disability. My upbringing was being raised by everyone. My mother’s assistant, starting from when I was age 6, was the most wonderful man in the world, and when my friends were being dropped off by a really perky, cute, blonde babysitter, I had this most amazing man, Tony, and he would babysit me. Sometimes we’d go to his apartment after school if my mom wasn’t home. I met his partner, who was the most amazing man, and they were the sweetest, most loving and maternal people in my childhood, and this amazing couple. And I remember being 7 and them explaining to me, when I was like, “Are you guys married?” – as a 7-year-old would ask, when two people loved each other – that they weren’t allowed to.
Melissa Etheridge, who is one of my best friends in the world, and I did these presentations and rock shows to raise awareness, and we had our intro. She’d be like, “My name’s Melissa Etheridge, and I’m a lesbian,” and I’d go, “My name’s Laura Dern, and I play one on TV” (laughs) and just from that Amnesty tour we had so much fun meeting so many people who were so grateful for that show. It was an amazing moment. So yeah, definitely that was a shift. But I guess (regarding) my previous comment: It never occurred to me it was a community; it was a part of my childhood. And that’s why I forever am grateful to my parents to have raised me that way. Let’s shift to Little Women, which is essentially a story about identity. Absolutely.
You’ve said doing “The Puppy Episode” shaped and continues to shape you as an activist, advocate and parent. How did it affect you in those ways? I would say, yes, that that moment was pretty profound. And you could feel the gratitude of the moment for everybody involved – and the consequence. That’s part of what made it so amazing, that I was so thrilled (DeGeneres) asked me, and I got to be part of that experience. And then after it aired, I did not work.
And we see that particularly with Jo (portrayed by Saoirse Ronan), who, as a rebel spirit, has been sort of a literary queer icon. More than any of the other films, this version strongly alludes to Jo’s queerness. How might this particular version of Little Women resonate with the LGBTQ community more than previous iterations? I would say particularly held in Greta’s work, in the adaptation, in the spirit of the film, but also in not only Saoirse’s performance but in the relationships between myself and Saoirse and between she and Timmy’s characters (Timothée Chalamet plays Jo’s neighbor, Laurie). I think that there’s a real gender fluidity between she and Timmy’s characters: role play, a real comfort in self, a real clarity about longing and different kinds of love and redefining what love looks like in their relationship. It’s my interpretation and I believe Greta’s, because (Saoirse) and I have a scene where we are talking about love, that I am letting her know that she should be free to love who she wants. I think it’s very clear that that mother is letting her know that she knows she needs to be her true self and whatever that looks like for her is incredible.
But still, you seem to have gratitude for being a part of that moment. What kind of acknowledgement did you get from the LGBTQ community at the time? There were a lot of threats and challenges in the immediate, and then, suddenly, after some weeks passed, the letters started coming in. The thank-you letters from parents and grand-
So you think Marmee would be accepting of a queer Jo. What’s incredible is when I was growing up – and I don’t know if it was this way for you – it was like, are you straight or are you queer? And my kids don’t define it like that at all. Love is love. And it’s so gender-fluid that none of them are being defined. They don’t identify as any-
That was such a huge part of my childhood, not understanding that. And I am just so grateful to my parents that I got to be a kid who, at 7, wouldn’t understand that, instead of being confused by a same-sex couple. And I’m raising biracial children, and it’s not part of their life’s conversation, but it certainly is part of their story. So I don’t know. I feel like it’s just always been my life, and I feel very lucky for that.
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thing but loving people, and I feel like Jo is an even more modern icon in that she loves men, she loves women, she loves being alone, she loves her own independence, she doesn’t want to be tied down by relationships, she feels attracted to everybody. That is Jo. Do you think having less restrictions at Jo’s age would’ve changed the way you explored your own sexuality? I think about that sometimes. I do too. I think certainly removing stigma from our own childhoods would make us all wildly different. And I say that not just in sexuality but as artists: If shame had been removed we wouldn’t have had to define, like, “OK, well, you’re a writer, and you’re an actor and you’re straight and you’re gay.” “And if you like dresses” … I mean, my son (fashion model Ellery Harper), who has an amazing girlfriend, spent his childhood so comfortably – like, literally his entire childhood – loving to be in dresses, loving manicures; he loves fashion, he wants to design, he’s always painting his nails, he’s always wearing rings, he loves to explore. And he doesn’t need a definition. Ahh! You sound so inspired by him. I really am. I do believe that it would have shaped me differently. I don’t know what my choices would’ve been, but they definitely would’ve been different, without question. Regarding your role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I want to ask you what it’s meant to you to have Holdo celebrated by the queer community for her interspecies lust? (Excitedly, boisterously laughs.) Is that the most accurate way to describe her sexuality? I think that’s genius! (Laughs.) And I know there was lots of very interesting speculation about her sexuality. It’s so exciting to play a character in that world that also will not be defined. I praise both (writer-director) Rian Johnson for his creativity, and I praise Oscar Isaac (who portrayed Poe Dameron) for playing up his sexism toward what a leader should look like. And so it is not just a character on a page, and it is certainly not me as an actor bringing that to it; it’s me only as one of the participants in creating an iconic character based on what everybody invested in it. It really was exciting what they wanted a hero to look like. I mean, all the way to having the privilege of (Star Wars composer) John Williams – I mean, such an icon – come up to me to say, “Do you like your theme?” And I said, “What?” He goes, “Laura, it’s the first time, ever, that it was such a profound moment that I just took score out and went silent.” Isn’t that beautiful? She was like the ultimate badass that even John Williams went, “No, there should be no sound.” I’m like, amazing.
it’s all possible. How gorgeous that, if we think of the resistance as an advanced species, that we might consider fluidity as one of their traits, as opposed to the less-evolved being the outsider or the outliers. I don’t know. I like our club, guys. I like that the other – whatever that looks like – are now the popular kids. It’s invigorating and inspiring, and I could talk to you more about sexuality and identity, but I know you have a busy day of press. But I am thrilled to talk to you, and I am thrilled to talk about what it means to think differently about everything. I’ll share that, for example, when I’m trying to understand who I am as a woman at this moment in my life and what that looks like, I have the privilege of meeting a lot of different writers to say, “I need someone who’s gonna get me.” One muse was (Enlightened co-creator/writer/producer) Mike White, and more recently I had the great, good fortune – the person I’m currently collaborating with on an idea is (Slave Play playwright) Jeremy O. Harris because I feel like he’s gonna get what it is to be a woman in her late 40s trying to understand her sexuality. So you know, we all are figuring it out together. It’s an exciting time. So my love affair is equal to anybody’s who’s willing to be a part of this party. It’s a really exciting time, and I feel privileged to talk to you. Thank you. I admire the choices that you make and continue to make. To end, let’s bring this back to the beginning: What are your parting words for all of Laura Dern Gay Twitter? (Laughs hysterically.) Oh my GOD! Because you know, they’re gonna read this, Laura. Um… (ponders deeply, committing wholeheartedly to the question like the professional #GayTwitter icon she is). Let’s see: May we never again read or hear the quote, “I’m gay and I’m proud,” ’cause, girlfriend, if you’re gay, you already know you’re proud! It’s redundant! I’m over that! -As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.
What did you think of the fan-fiction that said Holdo and Princess Leia were lovers? Did you read any of it? I did! And Rian was like, “God, that sounds fantastic.” I can’t say it’s true, or that was in our minds, but I love that we live in a world where 16 | follow us @ peachatlmag
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PUMP HOLIDAY RECOVERY EDITION @ THE HERETIC PHOTOS BY SNOW
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OUT LOUD
cabaret, concert & comedy series
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Inspired by the real letters between Mary Woolley and Jeannette Marks spanning from 1899 to 1937, this fast-paced comedy asks: What is revolution? What does it mean to be at odds with the world? How do we fulďŹ ll our potential? And how the hell do we grow old together?
JAN 30–FEB 15, 2020
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essence or personality of Blake’s with each dish and have something for everyone on the menu as well. There are currently 14 items that will change seasonally. Here are a few highlights of our current menu: Fried Green Tomatoes, Shrimp Tacos, Garlic Noodles, Lobster Mac and Cheese, Chicken Satay, Quesadillas with Shrimp, Beef or Chicken, Chicken and Waffles, and my unique spin on Nachos - we call it the Twisted Mix. Blake’s is mainly known as a favorite watering hole – how do you plan to change people’s perception of the place as an eatery? We don’t want to change people’s perception of Blake’s. I’m new to the area, and I’m learning that Blake’s is a popular destination in Atlanta. I’ve been brought on staff to add a distinctive spin to the typical expectation of bar food. Why do you think it is important for Blake’s to offer a new and improved menu? Blake’s has had a presence in the community for over 30 years. I believe the community is deserving of a place where they can enjoy music, meet friends, and have a few drinks without ever having to leave to get great food.
By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Blake’s on the Park is expanding their services to now include a new and improved bar food menu. To head that endeavor, they have hired James Bear nominee, chef Sumetra “Sam” Promanee. Peach spoke to Sam about his new gig and how he hopes to elevate the Blake’s experience even more. Can you tell us a little about your background as a chef? To make a long story short, my training started as far back as I can remember at my family’s Thai Restaurant where I helped with prepping and cooking as a daily chore. Throughout my teenage years, I worked with different chefs during the food truck boom in the late 90s in San Francisco and Los Angeles California. The most prominent restaurant I worked for was Craft LA (Los Angeles) under Chef Tom Colicchio, where I met my mentor Chef Ray England before joining the Navy. After my time in the Navy, I followed my mentor Chef Ray to Charleston, South Carolina, where we set out to change dining as people are accustomed to. We began doing “Pop-Up” restaurants around Charleston. We would take a butcher shop and make it into a popular ramen late night spot. Or take a doughnut shop or a local brewery, and we would make fresh bagels or some of the best fusion dishes. After doing that for 12 years, we had started a Pop-Up revolution that inspired chefs around Charleston.
Looking ahead into 2020: where do you hope to take this endeavor? My goal is to contribute my culinary expertise in preparing outstanding food so that Blake’s customers become familiar with experiencing quality food in a casual atmosphere In closing, can you list three things that patrons should definitely pick off of the menu? Of course, my ego would say everything is great on the menu, so you can’t miss it. But if I had to choose only three, they would be the Garlic Noodles, Fried Green Tomatoes, and my Shrimp Tacos (pictured below). Anything you’d like to add? I look forward to bringing my favorite flavors from different regions around the world into our dishes and sharing them with our patrons. Our spectacular New Year’s Eve event will feature a gastronomic display and give customers an opportunity for a sampling of our food.
You have been brought in to design a full and revamped menu for Blake’s on the Park – can you share what will be on the menu? In designing a menu, I wanted to capture the 24 | follow us @ peachatlmag
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Originally from Ohio (and a proud OSU Buckeye), Scott has lived in Atlanta for 19 years with his husband, Roger. He owns a consulting company that manages clinical drug trials for the pharmaceutical industry, and before that, he served as a combat medic with the US Army. Scott is an avid runner, and he is currently training for an Ironman Triathlon, and on top of that, he is getting certified to solo skydive. He also loves travel for fun and work, and he has flown over three million miles. There’s absolutely no stopping this handsome 50-year-old!
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December 25 – January 8 STAFF PICK!
Cruise Control
Find your release after all the holiday pressure as DJ Mister Richard lays the hot soundtrack for your cruising pleasure. Friday, December 27, 10 pm – 3 am Atlanta Eagle
Unholy Night
Above & Beyond
Have you been naughty or nice this year? It is time to roast your chestnuts, stuff that turkey, and don your queer apparel as Evah Destruction and Lucy Stoole host an unholy night of fun.
The London-based trio returns with electronic music group therapy that combined with the exceptional production skills of IrisESP101 guarantees you a multi-sensory experience. Tickets via Eventbrite.
Saturday, December 28, 9 pm The Heretic
Heyday ‘80s Dance Party
Sunday, December 29, 8 pm – 1 am Believe Music Hall
Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus Auditions
The AGMC will be holding their last audition The 80s’ aren’t over yet! The first retro dance for the 39th season. To schedule an audition, party of the year to get you in the mood for the please email matt.mitchell@voicesofnote.org. roaring 2020s. For more info, please visit VoicesOfNote.org/ AGMCAuditions/. Saturday, January 4, 10 pm – 3 am The Basement
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Sunday, January 5, 1-6 pm St. Mark’s
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1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 1544 Piedmont Ave NE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
Dining 38 Eclectic Bistro
Fitness 30 Gravitee Fitness
e. nt mo ed
.
clubs 28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino
39
36 38
Retail 26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights
41
Pi
20
Dining 24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx
Av
ge Rd Brid hire Ches
28
25 B ire
E
35
24
BJ Roosters Sequel Tripps Woof's
42 The Den
26
.N
.
r.
Dr
Rd
BARS 20 21 22 23
40
32
oe
h
36
nr
on
es
er
Mo
dm
Ch
ll D
kn
27
33
. NE
Pi e
29
idde
ul
31
IX
34
x Rd
Manchester St. NE
Piedmont Rd. NE
22
42 L
Fa
BL
Le no
30
Lambert Dr.
PU
St.
.
A l co
1600 Piedmont Ave NE 1425 Piedmont Ave NE
Retail 39 Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE 40 Brushstrokes/Pleasures 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
Fitness 41 Equilibrium Fitness
1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite L
NOT SHOWN
Mary's Sister Louisa’s Church Swinging Richards Lips Atlanta The T
1287 Glenwood Ave SE 466 Edgewood Ave SE 1400 Northside Dr NW 3011 Buford Hwy NE 465 Boulevard SE
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33
A snapshot of Gay Atlanta’s favorite destinations. View their ads in Peach ATL & visit their websites for weekly event listings.
Bars & Clubs
EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD
Retail
MIDTOWN
MARY’S
MIDTOWN
amsterdamatlanta.com
1287 Glenwood Ave SE
AMSTERDAM
502 Amsterdam Ave. NE
ATLANTA EAGLE
marysatlanta.com
SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH
BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com
306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
sisterlouisaschurch.com
CHESHIRE
SWINGING RICHARDS
SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO
1400 Northside Dr NW
ANSLEY
BULLDOGS
Dining
BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR
FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
MIDTOWN
1447 Piedmont Ave NE
736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
10thandpiedmont.com
atlantaeagle.com
306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
BLAKE’S ON THE PARK
blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE
893 Peachtree St NE
friendsonponce-atl.com
466 Edgewood Ave SE
swingingrichards.com
10TH & PIEDMONT
MY SISTER’S ROOM
991 Piedmont Ave NE
66 12th St NE
einsteinsatlanta.com
mysistersroom.com
TEN ATLANTA
tenatlanta.com
990 Piedmont Ave NE
THE T
modeltatlanta.com
EINSTEIN’S
1077 Juniper St NE
GCB & PLEASURES
brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE
BARKING LEATHER barkingleather.com
1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A
Fitness
931 Monroe Dr
MIDTOWN
frogsmidtown.com
G’S
CHESHIRE
219 10th St NE
gsmidtown.com
HERETIC
HENRY’S
2069 Cheshire Bridge Road
132 10th St NE
henrysatl.com
BJ ROOSTERS
JOE’S ON JUNIPER
2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE
1049 Juniper St NE
bjroosters.com
boynextdoormenswear.com
FROGS CANTINA
465 Boulevard SE
hereticatlanta.com
2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
joesonjuniper.com
URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com
500 Amsterdam Ave NE
CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com
2201 Faulkner Rd NE
SEQUEL
LA HACIENDA
Spas/Baths/Adult
TRIPPS
900 Monroe Dr NE
MIDTOWN
CHESHIRE
FLEX SPA
LAS MARGARITAS
76 4th St NW
1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Circle N
WOOFS
woofsatlanta.com
2425 Piedmont Road NE
lahaciendamidtown.com
lasmargaritasmidtown.com 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
flexspas.com
CHESHIRE
ANSLEY
ROXX
MIDTOWN MOON
1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
THE DEN
DEKALB
2135 Liddell Drive NE
1492 Piedmont Ave NE
FELIX’S
1510 Piedmont Ave NE
THE HIDEAWAY
LIPS ATLANTA
thedenatlanta.com
atldragshow.com
3011 Buford Hwy NE
1544 Piedmont Ave NE
MIXX
mixxatlanta.com
1492 Piedmont Ave NE
OSCAR’S
oscarsatlanta.com
1510 Piedmont Ave NE
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10 TIPS FOR A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE Atlanta knows how to party so stay safe!
Make sure you get a good and wholesome meal
Tip generously – the staff are at work for you on this night
Plan your night in advance to your best ability Patronize your local gay bars and clubs
… and keep an eye on your friends
Make plans for transportation – a designated driver, carpool, or a ride-share
Celebrate among friends
Don’t use fireworks (or firearms!)
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Know when enough is enough – do you really need that last drink?
Keep your phone charged!
www.peachatl.com
WE'RE HIRING Playmates and Playmates and soul mates... soul mates...
WE ARE SEEKING Motivated, Hard-Working, Innovative People to be Our Next Superstar Ad Sales Representatives.
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We’re closer to Atlanta than you think! Get the details on these and other great upcoming events on our website calendar. Membership Required * Must be 21 to Enter
Masquerade Ball
January 18, 2020
Potluch/C Dinners - overed Dish Saturday N 6:30 pm ights |
37
Text your Peach Pits to 540-30-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com
Which one is it? “Happy Impeachment” “Merry Impeachment” I don’t want to offend anyone…
Stop crying about your problems on the internet. Bottle them up inside and disguise them with dark, inappropriate humor, you know, like a grown-up.
ASKING FOR A FRIEND Is it rude to toss a Xanax in someone’s mouth while they’re talking? I’ll get over it – I just gotta be dramatic first.
I don’t chase after men – but if he has tattoos I might just powerwalk…
Gurl, you are the candy wrapper in the trash – I don’t even want to chew you up and spit you out..
People are so judgmental. I can tell just by looking at them!
Please allow children to believe in Santa. You believe in essential oils and no one is ruining it for you.
Common Sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never use it.
Can we just admit that 2019 secretly destroyed us all a little? 38 | follow us @ peachatlmag
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GEMINI (May 21 - Jun. 20) Sure, you used to have so much fun, way back when, with all those people that were so much more interesting and awesome. Oh, just stop it. Looking at your life through rose colored glasses with 20/20 hindsight would make anyone feel like crap. Life is good today -- enjoy it.
CANCER (Jun. 21 - Jul. 22) Thinking of someone special you met recently could weigh heavily on your mind today. You’ll look back with fondness on your brief encounter with Mr. Man, and you’d give him a call if you knew his name and his phone number.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)
LEO (Jul. 23 - Aug. 22)
Bold, daring and impetuous, you’ll blast through today like Speed Racer. You may not even know how fast you’re going as you whiz along. But look up ahead ... there’s Racer X, and he’s flagging you down, inviting you in for a pit stop.
Your passion for travel may be tempered by an anemic bank account. So relive past travels by going through photo albums of your many adventures. There’ll be pictures of you in Sydney, you in Vienna and you in Ibiza wearing nothing but a smile.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)
VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sep. 22)
It’s a good day to make karmic connections, so seek out people who strike a spiritual chord. You’ll have a renewal of spirit as you learn with your new friends how to bond with your inner selves. One guy in particular will show you a glimpse of heaven that you’ll want to see more of.
Don’t sign up for any arduous tasks or intense activities. In fact, don’t sign up for anything: Give yourself the entire day for you to do as you like. Left to your own devices, without plans, you’ll find unlikely and lovely activities.
PISCES (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) When faced with moral dilemmas you can always be counted on to do the right thing. While this may keep you from having as much fun as some of your more unscrupulous friends, at least you can sleep at night, even if it is alone.
ARIES (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) The morning blues may bring out your insensitive side. Off-the-cuff remarks may be more biting than you think, so watch what you say before you say it. Having pals call you a thoughtless so-and-so will be no way to start the day.
LIBRA (Sep. 23 - Oct. 22) Your bold ideas will be met with positive responses today, making for smooth sailing in anything you do. So try to come together with a group of folks and work on a common goal; your ability to lead your crew to an impressive result will be the talk of the town.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) Impulse spending may buy you nothing but trouble today. It may be tough, but keeping your urges in check will be well worth it. Avoiding anything with the words, Dolce, Gabana, Burberry or Diesel will also do you a world of good.
TAURUS (Apr. 20 - May 20)
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)
Taking risks with your romantic life is not advised today. So don’t throw yourself at any Tom, Dick or Harry who gives you approving looks. You’ll have no idea what you’re getting into, and once he puts that dog collar on you, there may be no taking it off.
You’ll feel on top of the world today and it will show. Your buoyant demeanor will grow as the day progresses -- as will your confidence in yourself. Using this optimistic energy to ask someone you like on a date could bring unexpected yet positive results.
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By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Trouble in the love department? With sex? Or just people in general? Send us your queries, questions, and problems, and you’ll get answers served straight up and with a little ice.
After all the December excesses, I really want to do an alcohol-free detox kind of January. But my friends are getting on my case about it! It sounds like they are ready to practically exclude me from the circle if I can’t meet up for a drink anymore. Is that fair? What can I do to stay connected that doesn’t involve getting wasted with my friends? Sincerely Keeping It Dry
Dear Keeping It Dry Assuming you are doing this as a cleanse and not because you have a problem with alcohol, this one is pretty straight-forward: Explain to your friends what you are trying to do, and let them know that you are feeling pressure from them when it comes to drinking. If they are truly good friends they’ll come around and understand your reasons for going sober for a month. And if they think that meeting in bars is the only thing you can do, try to engage them in activities that don’t necessarily include alcohol, like watching a movie at your house, or taking your pets for a good, long walk. It’s only a month, and there is nothing wrong with taking it easy for a while – your friends should understand that. And before you know it, January is over!
After leaving a party one night, I felt a little frisky and went to a bathhouse for the first time ever – and I loved it! I would actually go as far as to say that it was one of the best sexual experiences I have ever had! Just that feeling of just throwing myself into all these hot men without any pretenses really did it for me – I was sexually free and liberated and I stayed for hours and made out, sucked, fu**ed, and got fu**ed. It was incredible! But afterward, I felt a little dirty, and I’m concerned that I may have engaged in some unsafe sex practices because I was slightly inebriated while there. I want to go cruising like that again, but how do I take better care of myself? Sincerely Cruise Control
Dear Cruise Control There is nothing wrong with exploring your sexual boundaries and trying out new things! You’re lucky to have experienced some of the best sex of your life – and how to get it! But – as your slight taste of remorse afterwards reminds you – you should never put sex before your safety. So think about what it was that subsequently made you feel a little bad about the situation, and use what your instincts are telling you to set a few rules and boundaries for yourself for the next time you want to cruise at a bathhouse. A few rules of thumbs are (a) carry condoms and lube, and (b) if you bottom, you want to put the condom on the guy yourself. Also, consider getting on PrEP but please don’t rely on that alone to engage in sex without condoms because STIs are rampant right now. Finally, it is a good idea not to flash cash there, and you should always make a note of where the exits are. Happy cruising!
NEED ANSWERS? REACH OUT TO US, AND YOU WILL GET THEM! SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO OUR EDITOR AT MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM.
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