CONTENTS MAY 15, 2019
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From the Editor
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Creating your own space can make a world of difference in your life. It doesn’t have to be an expensive total renovation, but a few choice items can easily freshen up the way you live. Take a look at our guide on page 16 and get a few more tips on page 46. And speaking of freshening up, we spoke to beauty expert Tassy Waliany about a few but very effective ways to give your exterior a refresh – and yes, we are talking botox and fillers. Our celebrity interview this week is with Molly Shannon – known from Will & Grace and Saturday Night Live. The SNL alum talks LGBTQ following and reclaiming Emily Dickinson’s sexuality on page 18. Add to that a Q&A with the Rainbow House Coalition, a fitness column by Darren Floro-Bryant, and another installment of Jeff Fuller’s Gen X Files (about the Golden Girls yay!), and you have a juicy issue of Peach in your hands. Enjoy!
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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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IGNITE YOUR SUMMER! The What, When, and Where What: Joining Hearts Ignite! Margarita and Beer Bust When: Saturday, May 18, 3-7 pm Where: Midtown Moon
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Joining Hearts continues heating up for their main pool party in July with the Ignite! Margarita and Beer Bust at Midtown Moon. Since 1987, Joining Hearts has been raising awareness and funds to support prevention, care, and housing assistance to those impacted by HIV/ AIDS in Atlanta. Having perfected the ‘party with a purpose’ platform, the organization presents a lineup of excellent fundraising events culminating in the big pool party in Piedmont Park. Their next fundraiser fires up Midtown Moon with the Ignite! Margarita and Beer Bust. A $20 entry ticket gets you bottomless beer and margaritas while DJ Neon the GlowGoBear spins sexy beats. There will also be raffles and performances to keep you entertained.
Rainbow Housing Mobilized By Mikkel Hyldebrandt
As you read this there are over 900 homeless young people on the streets in Atlanta – and nearly 80% of them are LGBTQ. Peach spoke to Rick Westbrook, who launched the Rainbow House Coalition just six months ago, about the progress of the organization in their work to combat the growing problem of homeless LGBTQ youth. It has now been six months since the Rainbow House Coalition was launched – how has the public received it? The response from the community has been incredible; we already have one house up and running. I was encouraged and proud of how quickly we were able to mobilize and get things done. Rainbow House Coalition is different from Lostn-Found. RHC is geared towards providing safe, affordable housing solutions for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. What milestones and accomplishments have been made since the launch of Rainbow House? We have many accomplishments to be proud of, too many to list here but these are the highlights. • We have a very active board & conduct face to face monthly meetings • In record-breaking time we have achieved our 501c3 status • Opened our first house, which included furnishings • Website launched at rainbowhouseatl.org These highlights and many more successes I attribute to the board and the community’s willingness to help. Have you been able to set new goals and milestones based on your success so far? Since homelessness is an ever-changing landscape, this is a difficult question to answer. What I can attest to is RHC’s dedication to continuing to develop and provide access to safe, affordable, clean housing solutions for LGBTQ+ homeless youth. Times are changing, and we need to develop new innovative strategies to support a much larger portion of the homeless at large. RHC focuses primarily on the LGBTQ+ community. “No one deserves to be forgotten,” Dear Evan Hansen. You are resurrecting the popular Possum Show, but you have a new venue and concept for it. Tell us about it? The East Point Possums had a great run for 20 years! Our last show had over 2000 people in attendance and raised a record amount of money for charity and increased awareness. We knew we were maxed out in the outdoor space in 10 | 05.15.19
East Point and many people in Atlanta still did not know about the show. After a nearly two-year hiatus, we looked at how to create a fundraising tool building off the success’ the Possums created. “The Possum Show presents” will be a new way for us to bring entertainment as well as fundraising to a host of activities in the future, not just drag shows. But let’s not get it twisted, although fun and sometimes campy, I will use this opportunity to draw focus and educate our community for awareness. Part of the Possums success is the organic, homegrown, southern hospitality events with a kick. When we looked at big entertainment for fundraising, such as national entertainers from RuPaul’s drag race the missing element is local community focus. While everyone loves a drag celebrity, we wanted to do something different and not like every other club or charity event. We decided to continue the tradition and celebrate how creative and original our local drag and performer scene is here in Atlanta. This year’s show will bring you the best camp performers with a production show in an immersive party. “The Possum Show Presents: Summer Camp” is a fundraiser for Rainbow House Coalition and will be at Variety Playhouse (an indoor event!) on June 8th at 8 pm. It is a themed party with interactive audience participation during the show. Expect all things summer camp and campy! Guests are encouraged to come in costume and be creative with the theme. For tickets and information go to variety-playhouse.com. Anything you’d like to add? Yes! Get your camp attire, splash the bug repellant, and get your tickets today. There are still a few VIP tables available. Come to The Possum Show Presents: Summer Camp, snap a pic with me and the others and share on social media to promote awareness. Lastly, I would like to thank the entire board for their tireless efforts. Every member puts in countless hours and always willing to say yes. To the community at large, I am proud of Atlanta for facing difficult problems, or issues head on, and we could not do this without your continued love and support – thank you! One day I see a tiny homes village for young homeless LGBTQ+ people, surrounded by container home condo apartments for our aging LGBTQ+ seniors. Until we all have a safe place to lay our heads at night.
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ANOTHER STAR IS BORN By Gregg Shapiro
Photo: Automatik Entertainment
For his feature film directorial debut, actor Max Minghella, son of the late Oscar-winning filmmaker Anthony Minghella (“The English Patient”), tells a familiar tale with a twist. “Teen Spirit” (Bleecker Street), combines the melodramatics of “A Star Is Born” (still fresh in our memories from Bradley Cooper’s 2019 remake) with the TV talent show competition concept. Seventeen-year-old Violet (Elle Fanning in a breakthrough performance) lives on the Isle of Wight with her religious, Polish immigrant single mother Marla (Agnieszka Grochowska). Violet’s days of drudgery include farm work, selling eggs at the farmer’s market, waitressing at a billiard hall and going to school. Even going to a party, where classmate Luke (Archie Madekwe) attempts to make smalltalk, is an unpleasant experience for her. Violet’s one source of joy is singing. She sings in the church choir. She also sings in a pub, unbeknownst to Marla. At the pub, she meets Vlad (Zlatko Buric), a former opera star from Croatia who has fallen on hard times. Violet is initially suspicious of Vlad’s kindness and interest in her, but, as she soon discovers, she is going to be relying on him for more than she expected. UK TV talent competition show “Teen Spirit” is having auditions in her small town and, like some of her classmates, Violet signs up for auditions. The audition process not only includes singing but also a rigorous dance routine. It’s made clear at the beginning of auditions that only five people will be moving forward to compete in London. Violet makes the cut. But, because of her age, she needs to bring a parent or guardian with her the next day to sign paperwork. Knowing full well that her mother would never approve, Violet reaches out to Vlad. He not only agrees to accompany her but also to be her manager, as well as give her voice lessons. 12 | 05.15.19
The next day Violet auditions for the judges, including Jules (Rebecca Hall), one of the show’s producers. She performs an incredible rendition of the Robyn song “Dancing On My Own.” Jules is critical of Violet, remarking on how unpolished she is, but she allows Violet to advance to the next round of competition in London. Now Violet and Vlad must convince Marla to let her compete. The meeting of the three of them is one of the funniest and most touching scenes in the movie. Additionally, Violet, who has begun to hang out with Luke and his bandmates, recruits the young musicians to be her backing band for the show. For small-town girl Violet, the scene in London is seductive and overwhelming. Keyan (Ruairi O’Connor), a Teen Spirit champion, hits on Violet, which only causes her more confusion. In addition to that, Jules offers Violet a recording contract, regardless of whether or not she wins the competition, potentially shutting out Vlad. However, Jules must sign it before she goes on TV to compete. As is to be expected, the drama is turned up to 11. Violet and Vlad have a major disagreement. Violet drinks too much the night before the competition. Vlad assaults Keyan in a club and then disappears on a bender. Don’t let all that crush your (teen) spirit, as a fairy tale ending is lurking in the wings. Whatever you do, don’t leave before the credits roll as there are lots of wonderful surprises in store.
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Exterior Refresh By Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Whether you keep your cosmetic procedures to yourself or openly share that you have had a little help, treatments that refresh your look are definitely on the rise. And new advanced ones can even target and improve your skin too! Peach spoke to beauty expert Tassy Waliany, owner of Be Flawless Atlanta, about what you can do for your skin right now.
Before any treatment, it is essential to establish what you want to achieve instead of focusing on the treatment itself. Reducing lines on your face can be achieved both with treatments like botox and fillers – it simply depends on how you approach it. “I always explain how the different treatments work in the initial consultation, and whenever a client comes back, we engage in another conversation about how to maintain or improve the results,” Tassy, the owner of Be Flawless Atlanta, explains, “it is really important for me to talk to the client about what they want, but also to prevent overdoing it – my goal is to achieve a natural result, so people notice that you look great and not that you have had ‘something done’.” That is also the same reason why Tassy focuses on a few but effective treatments that can give you results quickly, fairly painless, and naturally.
Wrinkle Reducers Products such as Botox® and the alternative Xeomin® both reduce wrinkles and lines by relaxing the underlying facial muscle it is injected into. It is by far the most popular non-surgical treatment and is often used to relax lines on the forehead and around the eyes where the more dynamic facial lines form. Cost: $175+ Pain Level: Mild to moderate
Check out beflawlessatlanta.com for more information.
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Dermal Fillers Dermal fillers do just what they say – the fill out the skin to restore volume, tightness, and smooth lines and folds. A dermal filler will also stimulate collagen production in the skin which will have a mild plumping effect of its own. The most common areas are smile lines that form between mouth and cheek and around the lips. Fillers are also used to plump the skin to recreate volume and reshape the face. There are several products out there, and the most common ones are Juvederm®, Radiesse ®, and Versa®. Cost: $425+ Pain Level: Moderate to higher
Aquagold® Treatment One of the newer treatments is the micro-infusion facial which combines the known benefits of wrinkle reducers and fillers with high-tech skincare solutions delivered deep into the dermis of the skin. The little device is made of 24-carat gold needles, and each is smaller than a hair follicle, so the micro-infusion is relatively painless. You can create a custom-made solution for your skin by combining, for example, the benefits of Botox, which on the surface of the skin will tighten pores and smooth texture, with a brightening serum which will improve your skin’s texture and clarity within a few days and with results lasting three to four months. Or you can do a plumping filler with a collagen serum to improve the surface and barrier of the skin. The choice is yours. Cost: $450-550 Pain Level: Mild to moderate
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Queering a Literary Icon By Chris Azzopardi Photos: Greenwich Entertainment
Consider this: Emily Dickinson was not all grandma curtains and sad, sad, sad. But she was fun! She was funny! And she was – says at least one very convinced filmmaker – a lesbian with a sizzling sex life. Of course, many have noted the likelihood of the 19th-century poet’s queer bent, but based on research and the reexamination of Emily’s letters that uncovered erasures using spectrographic technology, writer-director Madeleine Olnek is taking a hard, gay stance on the popular poet’s sexuality in her comedic drama, Wild Nights with Emily, which seeks to rectify the totality – she wasn’t some spinster, either – of Dick-inson’s identity. “Homoeroticism for the whole family,” Olnek emphasizes, noting the film’s PG-13 rating so that parents can take their kids to the film to experience the Dickinson she says, according to all schol-arly evidence, was the lover of her sister-in-law, Susan Gilbert Dickinson (played by Susan Ziegler). On her side of lesbian history is Saturday Night Live alum Molly Shannon, whose Dickinson is fresh, femi-nist and heroically queer. Though the 54-year-old actress catapulted to Hollywood fame by taking a good two-handed whiff of her armpit stench as zealous Catholic schoolgirl and “superstar” Mary Katherine Gal-lagher on SNL, Shannon’s career after 2001, when she left the late-night sketch show after six years, has since drawn upon her NYU education for more serious dramatic fare. Shannon and Olnek, who met while studying drama at NYU, recently spoke about Dickinson as an LGBTQ hero, gay censorship and being met with resistance. And the Molly18 | 05.01.19
obsessed gay guys doing their best Mary Katherine impression? You bet she has stories about catching them in the act. If only I could’ve learned about gay Emily Dickinson in high school. Why is it important to reexamine who she was in terms of her sexuality? Molly Shannon: That’s such a great question. And this idea that I grew up with, like you – that Emily Dick-inson was a victim, a frightened woman who spoke to people through walls, had no desire to have her voice heard, wanted her poems burned upon her death – it really sabotages people today, women and men. People who are struggling to get their voices heard, who are looking for role models. So I think that it’s really important that we tell the truth about her: that she was a trailblazer, she’s an LGBTQ hero. In the mid-1800s, how she was able to eventually rise out of obscurity and become recog-nized as part of the literary canon is just incredible. And I think it’s important because it examines sexism through the lens of comedy, making the film more approachable. I just feel like the “reclusive spinster” thing just doesn’t really work anymore. It’s now time to tell the truth. And our movie, instead, reveals a woman whose efforts to get published were repeatedly rejected by this sexist, oppressive establishment. It’s important to realize she was a very gifted writer who was experiencing rejection so she can serve as a role model to modern female writers with similar struggles currently. Madeleine Olnek: Yeah, I think that’s a good point because probably what you remember from school is this idea of, “She
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Sara Bareilles wanted to see herself be brave. Of course, she summoned you to do the same atop a bop that wouldn’t take no for an answer, but she’s been a work in progress herself. She followed her own be-bold guidance for her fifth solo album, Amidst the Chaos, making timely feminist assertions (“Armor”) and using coded language to write songs that could be about love but were actually written, mournfully, longingly, with a specific loved one in mind: Barack Obama. Amidst the Chaos is Bareilles’ first studio album in six years, the last being 2013’s The Blessed Unrest. (She also wrote the music and lyrics for Broadway’s Waitress the Musical, which opened in 2015.) hid her poems away.” But the truth is that her work wouldn’t have even been published if after her death her sister hadn’t paid for it to be a vanity publication. Because the story always told was, “She was a good girl and she didn’t want to be published, she didn’t want attention. She just lived simp-ly and modestly, and then after her death the world worked the way it should and recognized her.” But that wasn’t true. She actually put all these efforts into getting published. Madeleine, before doing this film, were you surprised to find out that Emily Dickinson’s sexuality hadn’t been explored to this extent? Olnek: It’s depressing that it’s the first time that people have heard about it, because an article (in The New York Times Magazine) did come out in 1998. And I wrote a play, but it was in downtown New York. I got good reviews for the play, but the reviews were “Madeleine Olnek decides to imagine, ‘What if Emily Dickinson were a lesbian?’” like it was my imagination. It was treated like something I made up. And the resistance to it is interesting: It’s as much of a resistance to what a rebel she was. The scholar Martha Nell Smith, who put together EmilyDickinson.org, which is the reason you can see all of Emily Dickinson’s letters online, said that she found, when she was working and writing about this, there was as much resistance to the idea that Emily Dickinson had an intellectual collaboration/partnership with a woman as a romantic one. Like, people were like, “No, no, no, a woman couldn’t have been Emily’s main influence.” So the story, in terms of its censorship, is really about it being about two women together as much as it is about gay censorship. Molly, what kind of considerations did you have to make when it came to portraying Emily and her sexuality in this film? Shannon: I really just looked to Madeleine to guide me because Madeleine is a scholar, and then we worked closely with Martha Smith, who is also an Emily Dickinson scholar. So I really just looked to them. I was asking Madeleine questions because I really wanted to get it right. And I just felt passionate about telling this story because I can’t believe this whole woman’s true history was kind of erased and not repre-sented the way 20 | 05.15.19
she was. I feel like this story still sells on the cover of magazines. The heartbroken spinster story still sells! It sells magazines! Cover of Us and Star, and people love this shit. They buy it. What is it that we’re so attached to this brokenhearted woman thing? It’s horrible, I hate it. I don’t like to contribute to that. It’s just ridicu-lous. Why is this still going on? How much consideration did you give the ethics of outing someone posthumously before making this film? Olnek: She herself wrote lesbian poems, so she outed herself on the page. Now, granted, at one point when she sent in some poems for publication, she changed the gender of some poems herself just in hopes to get them printed, but she left so many poems that were love poems to women. And because her work is so complicated, of course, some people couldn’t understand what they were about and would come up with all kinds of funny things. But let me tell you something that’s very important: Very close to her death she wrote a letter to Sue which said, “Remember what Hamlet whispered to Horatio?” And what she was talking about is Hamlet, as he was dying, had said to Horatio, “Tell my story.” And that really was important to her. Martha Smith believes that the book of poems that (Emily’s niece) Mattie brought together – The Single Hound, that came out right after Susan’s death – that Susan probably actually worked on it with Mattie and said, “If I die, you can put this out,” so there’s no doubt we have in our minds that they wanted people to know. Also, I mean, Emily Dickinson was a poet. Poets are lovers. They have big emotions. And that becomes po-ets. It’s not like we’re “outing” someone who was an accountant. Emily also never married, although she had offers; it’s like she clearly wanted to live life on her own terms. She couldn’t, of course, at that time have come out. It was a big deal that her father recused her from coming downstairs for morning prayers; she was allowed to use that as writing time. So she couldn’t have rocked the boat at home. She needed to choose her battles carefully, but she loved two women that we know about. But Susan, she was in love with. And when you write a poem that ends with “Sue
forever more,” I mean, can we say we’re outing her? (Laughs) That’s an actual ending line to her poem that’s published! So, she wrote her letter and called her the only woman in the world. Just incredibly romantic letters. Molly, you’ve been committed to making more LGBTQ-themed films. What qualities do you look for in a story that is LGBTQ-themed? Shannon: Let me think here. I guess passion with the writers/ directors. I really identify with that. Like this is so special. Madeleine is so passionate about this movie and it comes from her heart, so to me, it’s like, what an opportunity for me. I remember when Madeleine pitched me the movie she wrote pages and pages about all this information that she had from her scholarly research and working closely with Martha that I was like, “How could I not do this? I’ve never been offered anything like this in my life! This is so cool!” So I really do just kind of see how I feel in my heart: Do I feel passionate? Or eh, this doesn’t seem fun. It’s a meter as simple as that. As someone whose LGBTQ following has seemingly grown over the years with your work in queer-inclusive films like Other People and Miles, when were you first aware you had an LGBTQ following? Shannon: I was in the West Village when I first started Saturday Night Live and I remember it was the first really warm day. It was suddenly in the 70s and people were wearing sandals and everybody was so excited and I hadn’t been on SNL that long. I remember walking by an outside cafe and I heard a man – the man didn’t see me, but I just heard a guy, a stranger, go (affects SNL “Joyologist” Helen Madden’s voice), “I love it, I love it, I looooove it!” And I was like, “Oh my god,” then he saw me and he was like, “Oh my god!” He got so embarrassed and turned red and I was just like, “What?! Maybe I’m influencing people!” There was another time I was in a cafe in the West Village where I lived, eating breakfast with my then-boyfriend. We were sitting at the glass window and a man just came right up while we were eating right in the window and did “SUUUPERSTAR!” My boyfriend just looked away and ignored him and continued eating, and then that relationship ended soon after. (Both laugh.)
Wild Nights with Emily made me consider the ways in which we recognize someone posthumously. When that time comes, how do you think the way people will describe you will differ from the way you’d describe yourself? Shannon: Well, I hope that nobody will say, “She was zany.” I don’t like that. I hope that people know that I can be deadly serious. My friend John C. Reilly talked about me and he was like, “Molly can be deadly serious!” I joke around but I really am more serious in real life than people would think. Serious and thoughtful. And I love asking questions and learning. So I don’t think I’m just some zany comic. But people are gonna remember you for SNL and Mary Katherine Gallagher, right? Olnek: I want them to remember her for Emily Dickinson. Shannon: Awww! Olnek: And for her birthday I want to give her a cake that has her as Emily Dickinson on it, because this is a huge moment that we’re reclaiming a story and it’s so important. And the fact that Molly is playing this part literally means that people are going to understand who Emily Dickinson really was. -As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multi-tude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in GQ, Vanity Fair and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.
How do you feel about the progress we’ve made in terms of how LGBTQ people are portrayed in modern films and also the kind of LGBTQ films being made? Olnek: It’s interesting. As an older person who has seen a lot of queer films and has talked to young peo-ple, what I think is that every generation thinks they are the first people to complain. (Laughs) “Oh, we’re so mainstream!” But people were saying that in the ’80s! Which is ridiculous, in the late ’80s, ’90s, con-sidering, “Oh, it’s mainstream, it’s sell-out.” People were accusing… like now it’s homogenized. So I’ve heard that story over and over, and I actually think that there’s always been people making experimental queer work and there’s always been people making mainstream queer work and they have always existed side by side. It’s just that it’s new to the younger people watching them.
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ATLANTA BUCKS BEER BATTLE @ ATLANTA EAGLE PHOTOS: ANDREA DWYER
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DIVINE'S FACES MAY 2019
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In the guise of satiric exploitation-horror, the all-female cast of The Secretaries takes an unflinching look at the warping cultural expectations of femininity. Pretty Patty Johnson is thrilled to join the secretarial pool at the Cooney Lumber Mill under the iron-fisted leadership of sultry office manager Susan Curtis. But she soon begins to feel that all is not right—the enforced diet of Slim-Fast shakes, the strange clicking language between the girls, the monthly disappearance of a lumberjack. By the time Patty discovers murder is part of these office killers’ skill set, it’s too late to turn back!
By The Five Lesbian Brothers
MAY 2-18, 2019
Tickets: $15 and up Out Front Theatre Company 999 Brady Avenue, Atlanta
www.OutFrontTheatre.com
SUNDAY DRAG BRUNCH @ ECLECTIC BARISTRO & BAR PHOTOS: ANDREA DWYER
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30 | 05.01.19
FITNESS UNITED How the fitness class format has evolved By Darren Floro-Bryant There are so many options out there now for a quick and easy workout in a class format, but is a class environment right for you? In years past, fitness classes or aerobics were designed to accommodate a very large group of fitness enthusiasts, but also a very niche demographic. Fitness classes of the past had everyone doing the exact same moves at the exact same time. Remember Step classes and good old-fashioned aerobics classes? And who can forget the choreography? These classes are still effective today, and still serve a great purpose, but now there are so many styles and influences. Classes are catering to a wider variety of individuals with very different fitness levels, needs, and goals. Let’s talk about a few types classes offered out in the fitness industry today, that are available to everyone and what makes them appealing. Spin Class in the past was simply exercising on a stationary bike, music in the background, an instructor motivating you to adjust your pedal tempo and resistance fluctuations, and sometimes a video screen in front of you taking you through a variety of terrains. Today, the music is louder and even often the pace-setter, the intensity is greater, and sometimes the bikes move or pivot to give the sensation of a more realistic ride. Even the screens have been improved to immerse you in the environment to match the ride. Spin classes are great for cycling enthusiasts, but also for individuals loving the group feel while still working as an individual towards your own goal. Boot Camps have always come and gone into the fitness scene and always with an added twist. The basics are the same, a format that loosely follows a military boot camp training session based mostly on calisthenics, body weight exercises, and rudimentary non-conventional resistance training (i.e., using sandbags, truck tires, logs, et cetera) to whip you into shape. Boot Camps are an awesome option because they can really be done anywhere and are often offered by many gyms and independent trainers throughout a city. HIIT classes (High-Intensity Interval Training) were built on the backs of the original styles of aerobics classes, resistance training, cardiovascular machines (treadmills,
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stationary bikes, et cetera), calisthenics, and one on one training. In the class environment, everyone is doing the same exercises at their own intensity level. The plus side with HIIT classes is you can even split up the class into smaller HIIT stations or grouping and have the participants rotate in smaller more focused groups allowing them to push even more intensely. The great thing about HIIT classes is they can be somewhat individualized because each participant chooses how intensely they want to perform each exercise in the HIIT circuit. There are even Muscle Circuit classes now that have taken 1on1 personal training and adapted it to a class format. They generally take a workout program designed for an individual client and make modifications or adaptations to satisfy a large number of participants for maximum results. There are minimal cardiovascular elements added, but rather a greater focus on resistance training and muscle building. Although they are less individualized to 1-on-1 training, these are a great way to follow a traditional workout program, but in a group setting. And let’s not forget Cross Fit classes. They follow a similar format to a HIIT class, but they incorporate a higher percentage of Olympic weightlifting moves, powerlifting, and strongman type exercises. Cross Fit classes have a little more of a competitive element to them. This is great because it can add a different dynamic but can also add a great element of comradery to the workouts pushing each other to the next level. These are just a few of the styles of classes that are offered out in the world of fitness, but there are even more specialized classes that are a little more streamlined and focused on specialized training offered in a group setting. Classes are a great way to get a structured workout at a lesser cost, but they do come with pros and cons like; are you comfortable exercising in a group, and are you able to work out on a strict(er) schedule? Whether that is a motivator or a deterrent for you depends entirely on your disposition and the type of class format that appeals to you.
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WHY GAY MEN LOVE THE GOLDEN BY JEFF FULLER
Growing up in the late 80s and early 90s, I didn’t fit in really well with the other boys at school, so I often spent my Saturday nights at home watching television. One of the shows I always enjoyed watching was The Golden Girls, a sitcom on the air from 1985 to 1992 that centered on four older women living in South Florida. It seems strange to think how this show connected with me. Years later, I would find out that this TV show was also a favorite among other gay men of my generation. And even today, a younger gay generation has been enjoying the show in syndication. The show’s main characters consisted of Dorothy, intelligent, plain and tough, always quick with a cutting remark; Blanche, the vivacious, promiscuous and often salacious southern belle; Rose, kind, innocent and sometimes naïve, who shared stories from growing up in rural Minnesota; and Sophia, Dorothy’s elderly wisecracking mother, whose stories of growing up in Sicily often imparted nuggets of wisdom. The presence of gay writers and producers on The Golden Girls probably had something to do with its appeal, even to someone like me who had not yet connected to a gay community of any kind. Initially, the show even had a gay character, a houseboy named Coco, who appeared in the pilot but was dropped in later episodes. Significantly, in the relatively conservative late 80s and early 90s, the show often discussed gay issues. In one of the episodes, Blanche has to come to terms with accepting that her younger brother Clayton is gay. The show also featured a same-sex marriage long before such a thing was legal in any part of the country. Another episode brought up HIV/ AIDS, a somewhat taboo topic for television sitcoms in those times. The Golden Girls also had a lot of raunchy humor, although a lot of the jokes went over my head when I was younger. In an interview, Rue McClanahan, the actress who portrayed Blanche, was asked why gay men seemed to love the show. She said that the reason was her character Blanche and that most gay men wanted to be her. The character of Blanche was confident, proud of her sexual prowess, and always seemed to have a different 34 | 05.15.19
man in every episode. It was actually somewhat groundbreaking at the time to have a woman over 50 asserting her sexuality. The Golden Girls was ultimately about how friends can come together and form bonds as strong as a family. Appropriately, the show’s theme song is “Thank You for Being a Friend.” Gay men and women, sometimes rejected by their own biological families, often create their own family of choice through strong friendships. Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia, even with all of their jokes at one another’s expense, also formed an endearing and supportive family of choice, often meeting together late at night to eat cheesecake to discuss their problems with men. In gay men’s lives, friendships are often the most enduring bonds we have. As much as we may make fun of each other, our friends are often the people in our lives that we know we can always count on. -Apart from being a Gay Generation-Xer, Jeff Fuller is an attorney, writer, travel blogger, historian, and military spouse. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jeff went to college, graduate school and law school in the Southeast. He has called Atlanta home for the last decade but recently moved to DC to follow his husband on his military career. He occasionally blogs at journeyingjeff.com.
The GEN X Files
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OCTOBER 11-13,2019 atlantapride.org
May 15 – May 22d
Britney Bash Dj Pat Scott returns to the Atlanta Eagle for the annual Britney Bash that not only kicks off summer but benefits PALS Atlanta. Saturday, May 18, 10 pm – 3 am Atlanta eagle
Peach Party 2019 The weekend presents you with a long list of DJs at venues across town including Heretic, Ten Atlanta, District, and Buckhead Theatre. See the full lineup and get tickets at peachpartyatlanta.com. May 17-19 All Across Atlanta
AIDS Vaccine 200 The two-day 200-mile bike ride raises money for the Emory Vaccine Center and other Atlanta-area organizations that provide services for persons affected by HIV/AIDS. Whether you ride, volunteer, or simply support, your contribution raises important funds for HIV/AIDS research. Learn more at actioncyclingatl.org May 18-19 Emory Vaccine Center
Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic Tour
Disclosure US Tour
Sample all craft cocktails served up by some of the South East’s best bartenders and cast your vote to determine who should get the title. Entry is free with registration at Eventbrite.
The English electronic music duo visits Atlanta on their extensive U.S. Tour. It has been three years since they were touring stateside, and they are ready to give you a masterclass DJ set.
Thursday, May 16, 9 pm – 12 am Midtown Moon
Thursday, May 16, 10 pm Ravine
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THE 32ND HRC GALA & LIVE AUCTION @ THE HYATT REGENCY
PHOTOS: MH & FRAKE
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wedding & commitment ceremonies • thirty years experience within our community • in-house award-winning metrotainment bakery • sustainable, local, seasonally-inspired custom menus • experienced, friendly staff of catering professionals • extensive network of award-winning local venues www.epiceventsatlanta.com | 404.991.9128
MIDTOWN 1
Monroe Dr. NE
14
Amsterdam Ave.
NE ve . tA
Piedmont Park
on
11
dm
6 12th St. NE
18
Pi e
Juniper St. NE
14th St. NE
7
9
2
10th St. NE
10
. NE
19
oe Dr
e. NE Piedmont Av
Juniper St . NE
Peachtree St. NE
3
Monr
Charle s Alle n Dr . N E
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
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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
P o n ce D e Leo n Pl . N E
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
When the world throws you Let be your savedandgay.com
Cheshire 23
ansley 21
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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 38 Eclectic Bistro
Fitness 30 Gravitee Fitness
NE
.
clubs 28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino
e. nt mo ed
39 38
Retail 26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights
41
Pi
28 20
Dining 24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx
Av
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Ches
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25
BJ Roosters Opus 1 Tripps Woof's
31 Manifest 4 U 42 The Den
35
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BARS 20 21 22 23
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32
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36
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31 er
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33
. NE
Manchester St. NE
Piedmont Rd. NE
22
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34
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BL
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30
Lambert Dr.
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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
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
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
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
gsmidtown.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
FELIX’S
LIPS ATLANTA
THE HIDEAWAY
3011 Buford Hwy NE
1086 Alco St NE
TRIPPS
woofsatlanta.com
1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 1544 Piedmont Ave NE
MIXX
mixxatlanta.com
1492 Piedmont Ave NE
OSCAR’S
oscarsatlanta.com
1510 Piedmont Ave NE
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lahaciendamidtown.com
lasmargaritasmidtown.com
DEKALB
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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peachATL.com | 45
10 Interior Design Tricks to Update Your Home Full make-over or little update?
Decorate with living plants
Use decorative mirrors for light and space
Mix up patterns and textures
Area rugs soften hardwood floors
Wallpapers are great for adding color and texture
Change up your color palette with accent accessories
Lighting is a great way to set a mood
Add natural elements Canopy beds are making a comeback Pick a new paint color
46 | 05.15.19
WE'RE HIRING Playmates and soul mates...
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Text your Peach Pits to 540-30-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com
Me: I think I am ready for a move Him: Why do you say that? It is so obvious you are trying way too hard to get with the in crowd.
Me: I’m not sure Atlanta has more in store for me! Him: Oh that again – so no one is talking to you on Scruff?
Me: Well, that too!
Dad Joke Alert Summer is almost here! I got so excited I just wet all my plants!
Him: Sis, how about trying a couple of new photos?
I fell asleep with my Grindr open – there should be an alert like Netflix like “are you still looking?”
Ok, Millenails, I will say this once and for all: coconut oil is not intended for lube!
You know I am going to turn the fiercest lewk when you tell me it’s super casual and not be extra…
Asking for a friend t is reason enough not to date someone if their texts are green, right?
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I love the weekends when I leave work Friday and I don’t see straight people until I show up Monday for work again.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21) The spotlight beckons this week to make you the star of the show. Now more than ever it’s time to prioritize your goals and focus on those that matter most. Along with this you’ll be motivated to overcome challenges and explore new pathways to greater happiness.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) New adventures open up for you as a focus on exploration coincides with a restless need to travel. You might also be motivated to study, perhaps to gain a certification, or try lecturing, teaching, or getting published.
GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)
This can be a great time to showcase your (ahem) abilities or advertise your “goods and services”. However, you could also make a lot of money promoting and selling other people’s “products”. So maybe you should try and be a pimp!
The current lineup can be helpful if you’re an entrepreneur or businessperson with ambition. Being practical and down to earth, it helps to make a plan before you get started. Your social life perks up to people with power and influence.
CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22) Finances look set to improve with Jupiter now in your money sector. This is a time when the more effort you put in, the more you’ll get out. Or maybe the more you put out, the more your finances improve? Go talk to a Gemini.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18) You’re in a phase when relationships are at an alltime high. Your social life may get busier and busier, which you might quite enjoy. However, career matters also get a boost as the wee progresses. Watch out for pit falls and all may be ok!
LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22) You’ll be a beacon of warmth and natural this week. Yet home and family matters may get you all stirred up. Stay away from bar friends that will lead you down a bad path. The New Moon in your sign on Saturday is perfect for making a fresh start.
PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20) A feeling of vitality and radiance could give you a boost that not only enhances energy levels but also gives you that feel-good factor. Romantic opportunities coincide with intense exchanges, where control battles and a desire for power could unleash sexual desire.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22) You’re in a natural phase when exploring your fantasies, paying attention to your intuitive impulses about sex, and becoming acquainted with your deeper purpose is very much in the fore. You may want to take time out to reflect, meditate and maybe stretch before you tackle those fantasies.
LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22) The “fun meter” is set on high, with a delightful focus on dating, socializing, and even romance. You’ll be in your element when organizing events, matchmaking, and generally bringing folks together.
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ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19) This is a mixed week in because Uranus entered its retrograde phase, possibly bringing out the rebel in you. If financial matters have been rather slow to improve, progress can now be made. A strong determination to overcome challenges in this area will encourage you to put 100 percent into solving problems for good.
TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20) If you want to stay friends with someone, it’s best not to rock the boat. However, this week can be excellent for detailed work, planning, and organization. You can make great strides if you put your mind to it. Relationships could become a lot more passionate through the weekend.
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.
W
hen I started dating my boyfriend, I told him that I prefer to have an open relationship, but that we could have a ‘grace period’ before going into it. Well, now I think it is time, and my boyfriend is suddenly saying that he is not sure if he can go through with being in an open relationship. I want to be with him and commit to him, but I also want to sleep with other people. What do I do? Sincerely Open Season Dear Open Season When you go into a new relationship, you often say things that will make you look better or will make you feel closer to that person. And sometimes those things we say end up working out fine as something we actually want later even though we didn’t really want it in the beginning. Or, like in your case, that thing becomes an issue that needs to be dealt with. So what is happening here is that you have told your boyfriend that you want an open relationship at some point, and he somehow agreed to it verbally or non-verbally because it was kind of a premise for the relationship. And now he is making it clear that he is not into an open relationship. Right now. You say nothing about how long you have been together, but it doesn’t seem like a long time, so start by giving him some time. If this is a radical idea to him, he may still be processing that thing you said about having an open relationship at the very beginning of the relationship. You need to respect that if you want to be with him, but you can also engage in conversations with him about what he feels about opening up the relationship, and why he is hesitant. Once you build that trust, he may open up to the idea. And he may now, in which you need to decide if he really is the one for you.
S
o, my friend and I like to go out and have a good time, drink, and dance. We’ve been doing it for years and years, but then things changed. Specifically, we were really drunk, we went to my place to crash (he doesn’t live in the city), and we end up having this crazy, drunken, but amazing sex. The next day we hang out a little without ever mentioning the sex incident, and then he leaves. Now, we’re only texting sporadically, and when I asked him if he wanted to go to a music festival with me, he declined, which seems very unusual. Did I ruin our friendship forever? Sincerely Drunken Log Dear Drunken Log First of all, take a deep breath and relax your shoulders a little. Hooking up is not wrong, and neither is hooking up with a guy who self-identifies as straight – it’s the hot plot of many porn flicks! Maybe this was the first time he had gay sex, and you introduced it to him, so that’s cool. What’s not so cool is that you did it with a good friend. Hooking up is great, but it also comes at a price. If he is insecure about his sexuality, then he might act awkwardly towards you from now on. So give him some time, and let him take the next step. Maybe you’ll be able to talk about this at some point or forever keep it your unspoken secret. As for you, you just need to step back a little and give him that space.
NEED ANSWERS? REACH OUT TO US, AND YOU WILL GET THEM! SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO OUR EDITOR AT MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM.
52 | 05.15.19
Flex is hiring all positions and all shifts