Peach Magazine Issue V2-37 | Art in Atlanta

The Queer Art Scene

Art International: Infinity and Beyond

New Gay In Town: End of the Cruise

Saturnalia Presents ROME

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CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

V2-37

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EDITORIAL

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From the Editor The Atlanta art scene is thriving, and part of that is owed to an emerging queer art scene that represents various forms of expression and a community that continues to grow. So, this issue is dedicated to art!

We teamed up with artist and photographer Alli Royce Soble, who has worked as an artist for more than 25 years in Atlanta, and we asked her to curate some of the most notable artists coming out of the South right now.

Steve Tyrrell steve@peachatl.com

CONTRIBUTORS Jamie Kirk Branden Lee Gregg Shapiro

We also feature the upcoming Infinity Mirrors exhibit at the High, and Gregg Shapiro interviewed Roy Guzman, who co-edited the poetry anthology Pulse/Pulso: In Remembrance of Orlando – a tribute to the lives lost in the Pulse nightclub massacre.

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Of course, the issue is stuffed with lots of other exciting content – like a new edition of New Gay In Town and a motivational column by Jamie Kirk – and you have another perfectly plump edition of Peach in your hands.

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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.

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6 | 09.12.18

Saturnalia Party Productions Presents: ROME Saturnalia Party Productions strikes again and is back by popular demand – this time with ROME, another immersive party experience that will take you back to ancient times.

Saturnalia is back, and as with their first party, it is in the spirit of an ancient Roman festival that celebrated all the pleasures of life in the name of the Roman god Saturn.

This time, Saturnalia gives you the opportunity to come together and party like they did in ancient ROME. Experience a Roman festival like never before with new shows, attractive hosts, great music, and a festival atmosphere that will elevate your experience even more than the first party.

This time the venue will be the Heretic which will be transformed into an otherworldly environment with stunning visuals, amazing sound, and DJs to party the night away Roman style. As always, costumes and looks are encouraged but not required.

Go to Eventbrite to purchase your tickets. VIP passes are $30, and general admission is $20.

Pre-sale tickets will stop selling September 30, but tickets will be available at the door.

The What, When and Where!

What: Saturnalia Party Productions presents: ROME When: Saturday, September 15 at 10 pm – 3 am Where: The Heretic Atlanta

8 | 09.12.18

NEW GAY IN TOWN: End of the Cruise

By Branden Lee Branden Lee is a writer and actor living in Atlanta. Follow Branden on Instagram and Twitter @Brandensss. Watch Branden on his YouTube channel SexxxPerTease.

10 | 09.12.18

Black Gay Pride was a wild and crazy weekend, as it should be. I had a ton of fun going to lots of clubs, hooking up, getting drunk, and having a bit of an orgy. It was an amazing weekend, but now that it’s over the guilt is setting in.

Did I really do all that? Slutty Summer was certainly slutty, but now that it’s over I feel like I need to repent. I’m torn between being fully sexually liberated, but also craving some conservativeness.

Even when it’s not pride, Atlanta is full of sex and debauchery.

There are strip clubs, sex clubs, bathhouses, and cruising spots literally everywhere. You can always find sex in Atlanta. This city is full of tons of sexy men, no matter what your type is. Atlanta can practically rival Vegas in terms of being a vacation destination where you want to go to get wild and crazy and have lots of sex.

So, sex is easy and common in Atlanta, which is why the STI and HIV rates are so high. I remember reading this article, and the writer was discussing why STI and HIV cases were so high in Atlanta, and his reasoning was that so many men are at their sexual peak here. With so many hot men readily available, it’s easy to hook up first and ask questions later. With so many venues for anonymous sex, it’s not

surprising guys are getting it on without even learning their sexual partner’s name or status beforehand.

I’ve always been the cautious type, but the longer I’ve been in Atlanta, the harder it’s been to maintain that since sex is so readily available.. Which is exactly why I’m in this stage of guilt and repentance for all the slutty things I’ve done lately.

Topping one of my FWBs unprotected, partaking in an orgy at a bathhouse, hooking up in public places. I’m a mess. I feel like I need to go celibate or something. I love sex too much to give it up. I don’t think I’m a sex addict. I’m just young and at my sexual peak in a city full of a seemingly endless supply of sexy, hot, fit, and horny men. Everyone is getting it in and getting it on in Atlanta.

September means cuffing season and time to get into a relationship before the cold and holidays begin.

That would be ideal, but also not really at a time when I’m still enjoying being single and slutty. You can’t pre-

dict or force love; it happens when you least expect it. I would like a boyfriend in the fall, but I also don’t have the patience to deal with someone else’s drama, bullshit, and problems.

It’s a lot to reconcile. I’m sure many other gay men can relate. Gays always complain everyone is looking for sex, which makes it hard to find genuine love. It’s easier just to have sex and not get into a relationship.

Relationships come with stress, problems, drama. It’s not all happily ever after. You have to join your life with someone else’s and take on everything that’s going on with them and give them your all. That’s difficult and also doesn’t seem worth it until you actually find the one person that makes you want to put them first and forsake all others.

I’m still open to love and a relationship, while also enjoying being young, slutty, and free. I just want to proceed with more caution going forward.

peachATL.com | 11

Documenting Atlanta

By Mik Hyldebrandt Chris Heard Dances (Alli Royce Soble) Alli Royce Soble is a native Atlantan who works full-time as an artist and documentary photographer, and she has been documenting Atlanta and exhibiting her work for the last 25 years. Peach talked to the artist about her work and the Atlanta art scene.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a full-time working Artist and Documentary Photographer. I do freelance portrait work and photograph all kinds of folks from actors, chefs, lawyers, and designers. When I am not on a freelance gig or working on my next show, I work part-time with Atlier Props and Design. It is a film and television prop studio on the west side of town where I photograph and catalog all the items that we rent for our website. I have several paintings that have been rented out for on set design.

You may see a Soble painting in a scene on the television show STAR or in the reboot of Dynasty!

Tell us about your artwork and your work as an artist?

I am multifaceted and work in various mediums. Currently, abstract expressionism and drawings of male faces on paper.

My portfolio is mostly acrylic paintings on both canvas and wood. As a photographer, my deepest passion is to document life. I have been capturing life in the LGBTQIA scene for over 25 years. My earlier works from the 1990’s are now archived at The Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library of Emory University. I have been showcasing my work in various places throughout the city.I am self-represented. I work and live out of my loft in Inman Park.

What could Atlanta do better for creating an even better art scene?

All we can do is keep producing, submitting to shows, and do the work. Artists and friends of artists need to show up and support one another. We should always continue to lift each other up and spread the word when there are events, projects, and exhibitions.

Tell us about your current artwork? Do you have any upcoming shows or events?

I just had my solo exhibition at Callanwolde earlier this year. Recently, I had an Open Studio Art Sale in June, and I will plan on having another one in the coming months. I will continue documenting political rallies and mentoring teens on photojournalism at Vox Teen Communications.

One of my concepts, The Soble Sessions, is based on the experience between the artist and the sitter. We have a two-hour session where you come to my space and enjoy coffee or wine for the first 30 minutes or so where we take in the space and chat. Then we sit across from each other, and you will pick out 2-3 colors, and then I will then begin working on various pieces of paper to create something based on our energy and influence. At the end of the session, you can choose two pieces that speak to you the most.

Anything you’d like to add?

I am taking appointments for portraits, headshots, and political work. I can be reached at alliroyce@mac.com.

To view my most current style of work, follow me at INSTAGRAM @roycetakespics – and check out #houseofsobolovitz for glances of photography and fine art.

What is it about Atlanta that attracts artists right now?

Atlanta is a special place. It is an amazing Southern town with a wonderful mix of neighborhoods, each having its own flavor. A metropolitan city, Atlanta welcomes diversity and embraces its QUEER Community. Artists can express themselves fully without fear of judgment.

Artwork by Alli Royce Soble

12 | 09.12.18

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The Queer Art Scene of Atlanta

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Photo: Shutterstock.com

Since Atlanta attracts queer people from all over Georgia who come to the city to live their true lives, the metro area is also a hub for a growing queer art scene. Peach talked to Atlanta artist, Alli Royce Soble, about how the queer art scene is developing – and she gives you her favorites of the art scene as a working artist in Atlanta for the past 25+ years.

How do you think the Atlanta art scene is doing right now?

The Art Scene in Atlanta is multilayered.

There are various avenues for expression.

I find that queer artists have created their own niche and the community continues to be enriched by the folks that participate. Art expressed through visual arts, music, dance, and spoken word. The DIY element of creating space to show and share with the community is continuing to grow.

What do you think are the strengths of the queer Atlanta art scene right now?

The Queer Art Scene has an array of Artists with various forms of expression: photographers, dancers, performers, musicians, craft masters, theater, and mixed media shapeshifters. I appreciate magazines like Wussy Mag, and theater is another amazing space for our queer culture to exist and express them14 | 09.12.18

selves. 7 Stages Theater just had Trans Actor and Activist, Scott Turner Schofield’s, one man show, Becoming a Man in 127 Steps.

Why do you think there is such a strong need for a queer art scene right now?

We are in a very dark time right now. I feel like we have stepped back decades in our fight for civil liberties. We need to be able to express ourselves fully, unapologetically, and with mighty expression. Queer Artists must stand united through our voices, our art, our expression, and our documentation of it all. We use our art as a vehicle for change, to help educate, to push and pull the mainstream norms, and to heal from our emotional wounds. Our community is necessary to exist, so we may continue to inspire and also have a safe space to escape from the demons that may invade our worlds.

Artwork by Alli Royce Soble

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The Queer Art Scene of Atlanta The Atlanta queer art scene is bustling right now. Here are a few favorite artists coming out of the South curated

by Alli Royce Soble.

Jody Fausett

John Folsom The multimedia artist from Kentucky uses digital photography, mixed media, and found materials to explore the narrative potential of images. johnfolsomonline.com

The photographic artist is born and raised in Georgia and currently exhibits at one of the most prestigious Atlantan galleries, Jackson Fine Art. Jody’s captivating portrait style is some of the best photo art coming out of the South right now. jacksonfineart.com

Amber Bradshaw The director, dramaturg, producer, and playwright Has a strong focus in new works and script development. As the Managing Artistic Director of Working Title Playwrights, she is deeply involved in the evolving entertainment industry in Atlanta.

Barry Lee Barry Lee i s a n Atlanta-based multimedia artist, whose playful and colorful depictions of happy creatures and people can be seen as murals all across the city.

about.me/amberbradshaw

barryleeart.com

Allison Shockley The Atlanta-based multi-media artist has been making and exhibiting drawing, painting, sculpture, and photography since 1998. A common theme for her artwork is free-flowing, organic forms that seem to have been caught in a state of flux. allisonshockley.com 16 | 09.12.18

Suellen Parker Suellen’s unique style combines sculpture and photography to create lifelike characters in clay that are then photographed and digitally painted and enhanced. suellenparker.com

Infinity and Beyond

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

The High Museum of Art brings a major international exhibition right to the heart of Atlanta. As part of the exhibition’s national tour, “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” is a major survey exhibition that examines the evolution of the celebrated Japanese artist’s immersive mirror rooms that create the illusion of infinite space while exploring the artist’s central themes, such as the celebration of life and its aftermath.

“Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” is organized by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Smithsonian’s Modern and Contemporary Art Museum.

The exhibition will be on view at the High from Nov. 18, 2018, through Feb. 17, 2019. Ticket info at high.org.

Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, born 1929), All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins, 2016, at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, wood, mirrors, plastic, glass, and LEDs. Collection of the artist. Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore and Victoria Miro, London. © Yayoi Kusama. Photo by Cathy Carver

Yayoi Kusama with recent works in Tokyo, 2016. Courtesy of the artist. Art © Yayoi Kusama. Photo by Tomoaki Makino

Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, born 1929), installation view of Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 2017 (Life [Repetitive Vision], 1998). Art © Yayoi Kusama.

Photo by Cathy Carver

(Background) Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, born 1929), Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, 2013, wood, metal, mirrors, plastic, acrylic, rubber, LEDs, and water. Courtesy of David Zwirner, New York. © Yayoi Kusama.

18 | 09.12.18

The Notorious RGG

An interview with Pulse/Pulsoco-editor Roy G. Guzmán

By Gregg Shapiro

Co-edited by queer writers Roy G. Guzmán and Miguel M. Morales, the breathtaking poetry anthology Pulse/Pulso: In Remembrance of Orlando (2018, Damaged Goods Press), is a literary tribute to the 49 lives lost (and 53 wounded) at the Pulse Nightclub in June 2016.

Containing the work of 18 poets, including Caridad Moro-Gronlier, Chen Chen, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Monica Palacios, James A.H. White and Tessara Dudley, Pulse/Pulso is a powerful, poetic memorial to lives lost and forever changed on that fateful night. I had the honor of speaking with Guzmán about the anthology, as well as his own writing in September 2018.

20 | 09.12.18

When did you start writing poetry?

I started dabbling in poetry back in high school.

During my freshman and sophomore years, I attended William H. Turner Tech (in Miami), and there I met some fellow rockers. We’d write fan poetry inspired by The Smashing Pumpkins, you know, the kind of poetry one writes before inevitably reading Nietzsche [laughs]. The title of one of my poems was something like, “We Are the Machines of God” [laughs]. I’d carry a wallet with a metal chain strapped to my belt loops. That’s when I first read Amy Tan and James McBride and connected so much with their work. That’s also when I started writing poems inspired by Emily Dickinson. I guess you can say Emily became my first patron saint in English. Rubén Darío was the first poet whose work found my heart.

Are you strictly a poet or do you also write prose?

I am probably 85% poet. I like how coming up with that random percentage is suddenly making me feel like an impostor [laughs]! I write a lot of academic essays and have published book reviews and long Facebook posts [laughs]! In my MFA, I took a fiction workshop and a few nonfiction classes. I am in awe of prose writers’ relationship to productivity. I love writing short stories, and I’ve written a few, but, afterwards, I feel like going on a long vacation [laughs].

Who are some of your favorite living poets?

Patricia Smith, Natalie Diaz, Diane Seuss, and Terrance Hayes have been some of my biggest inspirations. But I’m also a huge fan of the work my fellow poets are publishing. Emerging poets. Spoken word poets. Ultimately, my current, former, and hopefully future students might be my favorite living poets because I can witness, in real time, what poetry does to them and, in turn, how they grow into poetry. Teach a child a poem and that might just turn into your carpe diem incarnate!

Do you remember where you were when you first heard about the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub?

Yes, I definitely do. I was having a hard time sleeping and woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. I checked my phone and, at first, couldn’t believe what I was reading on Twitter. The shooter was still inside and authorities couldn’t say how many people had been killed. Pictures of cops and people who’d been at the club were being shared. I’ll never forget those images. I remember going back to bed and, in the dark, trying to catch a glimpse of my boyfriend at the time. I started to cry. Many of us will never forget that night.

Did you write any poems in response to the tragedy? If so, please say something about the experience.

My poem, “Restored Mural for Orlando,” was born out of those chaotic days. There was so much I was trying to contend with. I was afraid. Like many others, I too was grieving. At first, I felt this ineffable sense of misery. I had already finished my second year in the MFA program. I’d speak to my friends in Miami and we’d exchange our disbelief. About a day after “Restored Mural for Orlando” appeared on NPR’s Latino USA, my friend, D. Allen contacted me about the possibility of turning the poem into a chapbook that would also have a Spanish translation, which Marco Antonio Huerta completed. For the next year or so, we were able to raise over $2000 for the victims and Pridelines, an organization in Miami that was incredibly supportive of me when I was struggling with my queerness. The chapbook has also been taught in several colleges around the country.

What can you tell me about the process of soliciting work from poets for the anthology?

The anthology was originally supposed to come out through a press that has since gone defunct. After read-

ing “Restored Mural for Orlando,” they solicited me to become an editor, but I told them I couldn’t take on such a project without a co-editor. I am so grateful that, after a few heart-to-heart exchanges, Miguel came on board. From the beginning, we decided we had to publish work exclusively by queer and trans people of color, since we were seeing more straight white writers take lots of space.

You describe the arduous process of finding a publisher for the anthology as being marked by “elitism, classism, and a blatant disregard for queer and trans people of color and indigenous peoples”. Did this come as a surprise to you?

I can sometimes be a gullible Gemini. Or too idealistic.

It’s not that I didn’t imagine we’d face these challenges; it’s more that we were struck by the severity of so many microaggressions. Editors questioning the validity of the anthology, questioning why we’d chosen certain pieces, wanting to reroute the entire project, questioning Miguel’s Puerto Rican background because most of the victims were Puerto Rican. Editors telling us the anthology wasn’t long enough, that it wasn’t academic enough, that it needed more content from established voices, that everything that had to be said about Pulse had already been said and that that chapter was over.

Editors telling us that a writer responding to a tragedy doesn’t automatically make it publishable, as if Miguel and I had never edited anything before. It was cruel and disheartening. Above all, we believed in the work and had to apologize to our contributors for the time it took us to find a home for the anthology.

Can you please say something about the healing that can occur from reading, as well as writing, poetry?

Someone said that poets are the new journalists. While I can agree with the spirit of that statement, I’ve been lucky to see all the places I hadn’t thought poetry could walk into. I know reading and writing poetry became highly restorative for me. It can still move me in ways other things rarely do. I also think poetry anthologies, in particular, serve an important place in literature, by showing us and exemplifying new forms of community, visibility, accountability, responsibility, history, and the future. I’ve seen people cry after reading a poem. I’ve seen how poetry can change a person’s life. It’s like a second birth.

What can you tell me about your forthcoming debut poetry collection?

At the moment, the collection is titled Catrachos and Graywolf Press will be publishing it in spring of 2020.

Immigration, violence, queerness, poverty, racism, language, despair, and hope are some of the themes I look at. Florida is the setting for many of these poems, as is Honduras, my birthplace. I want these poems to grieve with you, to dance with you, to confide in you, and to listen to you. I feel incredibly grateful to get to write and share this work.

peachATL.com | 21

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Thank You, Atlanta!

Our mission is to bridge communities to brighten the lives of Georgia's children in need.

24,372 Backpacks Donated Since We Started

See you next year!

Cody moved to Atlanta three and a half years ago from Dallas. He has been doing hair for 12 years, he currently works at Rudy’s Barbershop at Ponce City Market where he specializes in incredible fades, and you may have seen him zipping around the city as the Barber On a Bike. Dancing is his therapy, and he digs deep in the ATL dance scene as one of the hosts of Deep South, a monthly party by Vicki Powell that brings a kaleidoscope of rad DJs to Atlanta, but he also loves Choloteca and Chaka Kahn Hacienda. Catch Cody on Instagram @barberonabike.

Cody Patterson Photo: Mark Morin

Photo: Mark Morin

30 | 09.12.18

Mission Statement

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This WILL Work!

By Jamie Kirk

One of our most valuable possessions is free will. If we did not have free will, we would not have responsibility either. Free will holds us accountable to something and for something. If we didn’t have free will, we would wander around aimlessly simply waiting for life to happen to us. But since we have free will, the responsibility of our decisions and choices we make falls on us alone. The good news is that as much as we have a responsibility, we equally have limitless possibilities of total joy, peace, and fulfillment.

Often, we have the tools we need at our disposal to achieve our goals. But it’s how we use the tools we have that make us effective.

There is only so much blaming and victim energy you can exhibit before realizing we actually have to do our part.

Every single one of us is called to do a great thing. Doesn’t matter how big or small; a great thing is a great thing. However, we have to take responsibility for the great thing we have been called to do. We can’t expect our friends and family to help us more than we are willing to help ourselves. We all need help from time to time and often can’t do it alone, but there is a fine line between the level of help we are asking for. Sometimes crying for help, is just plain crying.

There comes a point when you have to seek out “the best right choice.” When you take 32 | 09.12.18

the time, energy, and effort to assess what options you have and make the decision (based on all your data points) that makes the most sense. Not being concerned with if it’s your heart or head talking, but just listening and evaluating.

Free will is awesome because if we choose wrong, we can choose again and again and again. Being able to acknowledge a poor decision and learn from it really helps us better execute a Plan B. Looking for the lesson and avoiding the pitfalls the next time is what makes us unique. As humans, one of our primary purposes in life should be to live easier. Ensure that our life is not being made to be a struggle. Free will allows us to deliberately and consciously execute to a plan that works for our life.

Take a few minutes and think about the choices you have been able to make. Think about the decisions that you have made that gave you the power of control. Think about the responsibilities of those choices - that’s free will, and it feels good once you recognize and embrace it.

Jamie Kirk works for a software company and is a certified spinning instructor. He also enjoys yoga, swimming, bicycling and running. He aspires to start a blog about what we put in our bodies not only fuels our body but our mind and spirit as well. Follow Jamie on IG @tysonsdad

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Sept 12 – Sept 19

Ritual: Hocus Pocus (Witches and Warlocks Party)

4U: A Symphonic Celebration of Prince w/ Atlanta Symphony

As a prelude to Halloween, RITUAL invites you to jump on your broomstick and fly to the Heretic for the Hocus Pocus: Witches & Warlocks Party! This is the first of three parties with spooky themes before Halloween.

The first and only estate-approved Prince celebration, 4U, will present the music of Prince like never before with a full symphony orchestra. Tickets and info through Live Nation.

Friday, September 14, 10 pm – 3 am

Saturday, September 15, 8 pm

The Heretic

Verizon Amphitheatre

STAFF PICK!

Music Midtown The massive music weekend will once again take over Piedmont Park with an impressive lineup of the most current acts and artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and many, many more. Go to musicmidtown.com for the full lineup and passes.

September 15-16 Piedmont Park

DEEP SOUTH Resident’s Night

Fuego! Featuring Ranny and DJ Daniel

Deep South takes it all back to Atlanta with a special Weaver resident’s night that will showcase all of the incredible Ranny and DJ Daniel Weaver heat up the Atlanta Eagle. talent harbored within the queer DJ collective. Vicki This is Ranny’s first time in Atlanta so prepare to get fired Powell, Robert Ansley, Ash Lauryn, and Brian Rojas will up by his scorching Brazilian beats. deliver individual sets throughout the night while serving Saturday, September 15, 10 pm incredible beats and family vibes.

Saturday, September 15, 10 pm The Music Room 38 | 09.12.18

The Atlanta Eagle

NFFLA MARGARITA BUST AT ZOCALO PHOTOS: Sher Pruitt

40 | 09.12.18

You deserve Personalized Care & Individual Attention – that’s what we deliver at Family Health Care of Atlanta • Participating in many clinical trials • Certiied HIV Specialist, American Academy of HIV Medicine • 20+ years experience in Family & HIV Care SPECIALIZING IN DERMATOLOGY, STD’S, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, UROLOGY, PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

peachATL.com | 41

MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

14

Amsterdam Ave.

12th St. NE

NE ve . tA

Piedmont Park

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11

dm

6

18

Pi e

Juniper St. NE

14th St. NE

7

9

2

10th St. NE

10

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19

oe Dr

e. NE Piedmont Av

Juniper St . NE

Peachtree St. NE

3

Monr

Charles Allen Dr. NE

12 W. Peachtree St. NW

15

16

4th St. NE

8

13

BARS Amsterdam Blake's Bulldogs Friends The Model T My Sister’s Room Ten Atlanta

5

Dining 502 Amsterdam Ave NE 227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 699 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 66 12th St NE 990 Piedmont Ave NE

9 10 11 12

10 th & Piedmont Campagnolo Einstein's F.R.O.G.S

clubs 13 Atlanta Eagle

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

spa/bath 15 Flex Spa

42 | 09.12.18

991 Piedmont Ave NE 980 Piedmont Ave NE 1077 Juniper St NE 931 Monroe Cir NE

fitness

retail 8 Barking Leather

4

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Ponce De Leon Pl. NE

Spring St. NW

17

76 4th St. NW

16 17 18 19

G’s Midtown Henry’s Joe's on Juniper La Hacienda

219 10th St NE 132 10th St NE 1049 Juniper St NE 900 Monroe Dr NE

billards/Darts drag dancers leather non-smoking area Patio

’ Cheshire 23

ansley 21

37

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Piedmont Park BARS 2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Cir NE 2425 Piedmont Rd NE 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd

32 33 34 35 36

Midtown Moon Felix's The Hideaway Mixx Oscar's

805 Lambert Dr. NE, Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

Spa / bath 2103 Faulkner Rd NE 2135 Liddell Drive NE

1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 1544 Piedmont Ave NE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

Dining 37 Cowtippers 38 Eclectic Bistro

Fitness 30 Gravitee Fitness

NE

.

clubs 28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

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39 38

Retail 26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

41

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28 20

Dining 24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

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.

25

BJ Roosters Opus 1 Tripps Woof's

31 Manifest 4 U 42 The Den

35

24

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40

32

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36

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29

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33

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Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

22

42 L

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34

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BL

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30

Lambert Dr.

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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

1287 Glenwood Ave SE 466 Edgewood Ave SE 1400 Northside Dr NW 3011 Buford Hwy NE

peachATL.com | 43

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

BARKING LEATHER

1400 Northside Dr NW

805 Lambert Dr NE

BULLDOGS

Dining

2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

MIDTOWN

736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

communitashospitality.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

MODEL T

991 Piedmont Ave NE

699 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

einsteinsatlanta.com

modeltatlanta.com

EINSTEIN’S

MY SISTER’S ROOM

1077 Juniper St NE

66 12th St NE

frogsmidtown.com

mysistersroom.com

TEN ATLANTA

tenatlanta.com

990 Piedmont Ave NE

CHESHIRE

SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO

ANSLEY BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1447 Piedmont Ave NE

GCB & PLEASURES

brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

FROGS CANTINA

Fitness

931 Monroe Dr

MIDTOWN

G’S

communitashospitality.com 219 10th St NE

HERETIC

HENRY’S

2069 Cheshire Bridge Road

132 10th St NE

BJ ROOSTERS

JOE’S ON JUNIPER

hereticatlanta.com

barkingleather.com

henrysatl.com

URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com

500 Amsterdam Ave NE

CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com

bjroosters.com

joesonjuniper.com

2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

1049 Juniper St NE

OPUS 1

LA HACIENDA

Spas/Baths/Adult

900 Monroe Dr NE

MIDTOWN

1931 Piedmont Circle N

CHESHIRE

FLEX SPA

WOOFS

LAS MARGARITAS

76 4th St NW

2425 Piedmont Road NE

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

CHESHIRE

ANSLEY

ROXX

MANIFEST 4U

MIDTOWN MOON

1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

ANSLEY

FELIX’S

COWTIPPERS

1086 Alco St NE

TRIPPS

woofsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

lahaciendamidtown.com

lasmargaritasmidtown.com

cowtippersatlanta.com

THE HIDEAWAY

1600 Piedmont Ave NE

1544 Piedmont Ave NE

DEKALB

MIXX

LIPS ATLANTA

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

3011 Buford Hwy NE

mixxatlanta.com

OSCAR’S

oscarsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

44 | 09.12.18

atldragshow.com

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

flexspas.com

manifest4u.org

2103 Faulkner Rd NE

THE DEN

thedenatlanta.com

2135 Liddell Drive NE

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AID Atlanta NEEDS YOU!

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10 am to 10 pm daily In Midtown off Cheshire Bridge Rd CALL NOW ! Butch 404.876.5111 peachATL.com | 45

TOP 10 ARTSY THINGS TO DO IN ATLANTA

FROM CUTTING-EDGE TO COMMUNITY-INSPIRED PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM, WIKIPEDIA, PR

MODA Museum of Design

High Museum

SCAD FASH

The Goat Farm

Krog Street Tunnel

Atlanta Contemporary

Atlanta Beltline

Center for Puppetry Arts

Woodruff Arts Centre 46 | 09.12.18

Michael C. Carlos Museum

Sunday Funday = Playmates and soul mates...

MISERABLE MONDAY

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Text your Peach Pits to 256-60-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com Illustrations by: Jerel Ely

If God hates gays, why did he make poppers?

Asking for friend: Is it possible for your spirit animal to have rabies?

Him: I want to take you out!

Me: Like out on a date?

Him: What else would it be?

A body like this doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes years of neglect and a whole bunch of pizza.

Me: Maybe you wanted to take me out like in kill me

If you believed in Santa when you were a kid, you can believe in yourself for just 10 seconds today.

Typical! My fortune cookie read: “You’ll be hungry again in one hour.”

How do straight people have sex? Like, who is the guy and who is the other guy?

Just had to walk out of the grocery store because my crush was in there, and I couldn’t let him see me buying toilet paper – so I’ll have to come back…

Yeah, I don’t think he’s that smart. I don’t think I would get a reaction if I told him a chemistry joke!

48 | 09.12.18

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

You’re always the first to dive in, and all you get for your efforts is a face full of mud. Spontaneity is a good thing, but sometimes it’s better to stick your toe in the water first. So look before you leap today.

It could be the best way to save face.

Today will be as good as finding out that Liza Minnelli will be performing a private show just for you in the comfort of your home! Or it could be as bad as discovering that she has no intention of leaving once the show is through, and she needs someone to rub her bunions.

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

New opportunities may knock on your door today, but you won’t be home. That’s because you’ll get tired of waiting for them, and rush out before they could come to you. Impatience will be your Achilles heel today, especially after you realize what you’ve missed out on.

Avoid starting conflicts at work today. A mercurial temperament will make you combative and hard to work with. But coworkers will be ready and they’ll be more than glad to take you on. Their claws will be longer, sharper and faster than yours, and they’ll relish using them on you.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

Heeding your friend’s advice could save you a lot of heartache if you’d only take note. But you choose to go your own way instead. You’ll wish you had listened when they warned you about your latest boyfriend. You may have discovered earlier that he’s a she, and not a very pretty one at that.

Today will not only be a productive day, but it’ll be lots of fun, too! So you’ll leave work with a song in your heart and a spring to your step. Take this positive energy with you after work. Guys won’t be able to resist someone as buoyant as you, and the fun may continue right into the night.

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

Your emotions will be easily ignitable today. Unfortunately, loved ones and coworkers will provide the fuel needed to set you off. But hold your tongue before railing on them for little details. Flipping out on your partner because you can see his nose hairs is way out of line.

Run for the security of home after this stressful day.

There you can flop on the couch and channel surf.

There’s bound to be reruns of The Mary Tyler Moore Show on TV to cheer you up. A little Mary and the gang can take your nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

You bring the party with you wherever you go. Today will be no different as you liven up the workplace with your mirth and pranks. But some may not appreciate your brand of fun. Forcing them to wear wigs while warbling “There’s No Business Like Show Business” won’t be comical to them.

Keep a first date loose and informal tonight. Choose a dinner spot that’s fun, lively and non-threatening.

Somewhere romantic with strolling violin players serenading you with songs of love may have him bolting for the door. Disappointing, but at least you’ll get to take home one helluva doggie bag.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

You’ll wake up today feeling aggressive and combative. But don’t take it out on those around you. Hitting the gym would be a healthier way of releasing hostility, and it’ll be a lot safer for those unfortunates who have to face you today.

Today will be puzzling to you, a mystery wrapped in a riddle. This confusion will extend into your social life where guys will be just as bewildering. You may finally meet the guy you contacted through Craigslist and you didn’t know that swimmer’s build meant having a body like Norm from Cheers.

50 | 09.12.18

WHAT happened was . . .

What Happened Was...

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.

When I asked my friend if there was some reason why I can’t seem to attract a man, he very bluntly told me that I sometimes look a little creepy. Apparently, it’s an eye thing that can make people a little afraid of me … How do I stop being creepy?

Sincerely Creeper Dear Creeper Wow, your friend was blatantly honest, wasn’t he? If there is some truth to his rather insensitive response, it could be that when we feel insecure or shy, we tend to build barriers that manifest themselves in body language and facial expression – and that can come off defensive or even downright scary as in ‘stay far away from me!’ So, your appearance does the talking for you. Good news is that it is totally fixable. Be more conscious of your body language and practice having an open and relaxed posture in the mirror. When it comes to your face, smiling with your eyes and mouth always works wonders.

Practice these at home and with friends, and you’ll be sure to feel a difference. Just ask your friend!

Why is it so difficult to date gay men? Most seem to be focused solely on hooking up, and others will say anything to get you in bed only to be dishonest and shady afterward. I want to find a special someone, but this dating game is taking a toll on me. Where are all the good guys?

Sincerely Honestly Looking Dear Honestly looking Yes, modern-day dating – especially in the gay environment – is a complicated affair. Hookup and dating apps have made sex readily available so that also means that a major part of the human element of flirting, courting, and dating has been taken out of the equation – or at least modified from what it used 52 | 09.12.18

to be. For you, I would suggest that you take a break from the dating game since it is obviously causing you grief. Lesser focus on finding Mr. Right and experiencing the negative side effects of modern-day dating may even change your perspective and teach you to look for love in other places. That’s not saying that once you stop looking, he will magically appear, but rather that while eliminating the negativity from your life, you create a new way of looking more positively at things. And that’s pretty attractive at any rate.

A couple of guys I have hooked up with have suggested that I get more into douching, but I’m really not sure what I should get to clean out. A little help, please?

Sincerely Clean the Basement Dear Clean the Basement First of all; you can go a long way in simply keeping it clean back there and eating sensibly and fiberrich for a ‘bottom-friendly’ diet. Those are the mere basics. There are plenty of things you can do to actually douche back there, which is to rinse out the rectum. For you, there are so-called bulbs that are filled with warm water, and then the tip is inserted into your rectum, and the warm water is pumped into the rectum in a controlled manner. Afterward, you simply release the water, and maybe repeat the ritual until the water is clear(er). The good thing about a bulb is that it won’t ‘over-fill’ you, and the water pressure is very low and controlled – much unlike a showerhead attachment!

NEED ANSWERS? REACH OUT TO US, AND YOU WILL GET THEM! SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS VIA OUR EDITOR AT MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM.