March 31, 2011 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

Come on down to sunny Mexico

Beyond Joan Crawford

Long a top gay tourist destination, Puerto Vallarta is bustling and as fun as ever.

Director Todd Haynes on his remake of ‘Mildred Pierce.’

BARtab Out in Style Chic Spots Bar Reboot

see Arts

page 8

see inside

BAYAREAREPORTER

Vol. 41

. No. 13 . 31 March 2011

▼

Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971

Britney Spears visits the Castro Kors

departs EQCA

by Lisa Keen

▼

R

page 11

261 personnel discharged under DADT

by Chuck Colbert uring its final year as federal law and military policy, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has resulted in the discharge of 261 members of the armed forces.

The Department of Defense num- Alexander Nicholson bers for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines stand at 250, while the Department of Homeland Security, with authority for the Coast Guard, discharged an additional 11 guardsmen.

News of the latest gay-related discharges, under a nearly 18-year policy that was supposed to allow gays to serve as long as they were not out, came March 24 from Service-

▼

D

page 13

Geoff Kors Rick Gerharter

by Seth Hemmelgarn

Dan Nicoletta

op star Britney Spears visited the GLBT Historical Society Museum in the Castro last Sunday after her mini-concert at Bill Graham Auditorium where she was given a brief tour by curator Gerard Koskovich, who pointed out Harvey Milk’s bullhorn in one of the display cases. For more on Spears’s visit see stories on pages 6 and 26.

P

fter helping to push through dozens of laws to strengthen protections for LGBT Californians, working to elect politicians who support full equality, and trying to win marriage rights for the state’s same-sex couples, Geoff Kors, executive director of the statewide lobbying group Equality California, is stepping down today (Thursday, March 31).

A

▼

epresentative Barney Frank on Wednesday, March 30, re-introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, characterizing it as “winnable.”

But the bill, which seeks to Rep. Barney Frank prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity by employers, is unlikely to move during the current congressional session – primarily because the Republican Party controls the House.

Frank (D-Massachusetts), one of four

page 12

Milk school launches spring fundraiser

by Matthew S. Bajko s budget deficits continue to shrink the amount of funding allocated toward education, public schools are being hit particularly hard. Teachers have received pink slips while funding for everything from school supplies to toilet paper has been cut.

The fiscal troubles mean parents increasingly have to foot the bill. And no longer do simple bake sales cut it.

In order to maintain beloved teachers and support staff, arts and gym classes, and classroom incidentals, parents are hosting lavish fundraisers or starting campaigns to round up donations.

The Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, a kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school in the heart of the Castro District, is no exception. The public alternative school, named after the city’s first openly gay elected official, has been ramping up its fundraising efforts over the last several years to maintain coveted professional staff and extracurricular activities.

“Our priority in the past was ‘fun raisers.’ We would get families together to share what our school is about and celebrate our diversity. Over the last couple of years, we had to learn how to change a ‘fun raiser’ into a fundraiser,” said Jennifer Dunn, the mother of a first grader at the school.

Dunn, who sits on the board of the Friends of Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, said the school’s fundraising arm, in addition to paying for projects like greening the schoolyard or a week-

A

•••FIRST

OF

Rick Gerharter

Students from Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy grades kindergarten through second perform their hip-hop routine during last year’s school street fair.

long camping trip for the fourth grade, finds itself focused these days on also raising money to pay for staff who otherwise would have to be laid off.

In addition to three coordinator positions – mainly stipends given to teachers to take on additional roles – the friends group is paying for three staff positions cut from the school budget this year: a student adviser; parent liaison, and literacy

TWO

paraprofessional.

To help cover the cost, at $100,000 for the year, the school is launching a spring fundraiser it has dubbed the Milk Money Campaign. It will launch Monday, April 4 and run through May 22, which coincides with Milk’s birthday and the second observance of the unpaid state holiday in honor of

SECTIONS•••

▼

Frank: ENDA ‘winnable’

page 12

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

COMMUNITY

NEWS

▼

Jane Philomen Cleland

Grand marshal voting begins

hile it was raining Saturday, March 26, public voting began for the community grand marshal for this year’s LGBT Pride Parade. Getting an early start to the balloting is Jamie Fountain, left, a Pride board member, as Pride board co-chair Alex Randolph looks on. Voting continues online at www.sfpride.org through April 10. Additional public polling places will be at the Bench and Bar, 510 17th Street in Oakland on Friday, April 1, from 6 to 9 p.m.; Mr. S Leather (8th and Harrison streets in San Francisco) on Saturday, April 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; and Project Open Hand, 730 Polk Street on Saturday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

W

Savage empowers gay adults to address LGBT Kids

by Matt Baume an Savage’s “Eureka” moment came as he was returning home from addressing a crowd of college students.

As a nationally syndicated sex advice columnist and advocate for LGBT equality, Savage lamented that his college-campus speaking engagements didn’t reach LGBT high schoolers in need of support. He knew he’d never get an invitation from schools, or permission from parents, to address their children.

“Then I realized that I was waiting for permission that I didn’t need anymore,” he said. In the era of YouTube and social networking, parental permission had become an obsolete barrier.

Soon after, Savage, 46, launched the It Gets Better Project, a grassroots invitation to LGBT adults to record messages of support about their own difficult childhoods. He was joined by his husband, Terry Miller, who had previously shunned the spotlight but was moved by the cause.

“I wanted to reach out to the kids I was reading about,” Miller said.

The couple posted their video and hoped that it would attract a few dozen responses. Instead, they got a few thousand.

Savage and Miller spoke about their experience at a San Francisco event marking the publication of the It Gets Better book, a compilation of essays based on some of the video contributions.

Held March 25 at San Francisco

D

Matt Baume

Authors Dan Savage and his husband, Terry Miller, signed copies of their new It Gets Better book during an appearance at San Francisco State University.

State University, Savage and Miller’s talk drew an audience of several hundred, including some of the book’s contributors.

So far, the accomplishment that Savage is most proud of is saving the lives of teens who might have considered suicide due to abuse and isolation. The second achievement, he said, is “destroying that inhibition that we didn’t have a right, as LGBT adults, to talk to LGBT kids.”

He went on, “That was the old order, and it fell apart when the It Gets Better Project went viral. ... We weren’t waiting for permission anymore.”

In addition, the project has raised tens of thousands of dollars through book and T-shirt sales. Of the money

raised, only enough to pay for the website is retained, with the remainder split between the Trevor Project, the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Savage hinted at the future of the It Gets Better Project, noting that they’re working on a curriculum that could be provided to schools.

Savage’s appearance wasn’t without some controversy, with one individual handing out fliers that accused Savage of representing “co-option of Queer struggle” and “collaboration with the Gay Bourgeoisie,” and of making racist, transphobic, and fatphobic remarks in the past.

Savage shrugged off the complaints, arguing that his outspoken nature makes it easy for opponents to pick inflammatory statements out of context.

“I’m not the perfect messenger,” he said. “But the perfect messenger didn’t show up to launch this project.”

He also acknowledged that the It Gets Better Project won’t end bullying by itself, and that action is also needed to secure protection for LGBT students.

But Savage said that his focus with It Gets Better is to provide messages of support to isolated youth, and to sustain the project long into the future.

“Where are red ribbons now?” he said, referring to the popular symbol of AIDS support. “Red ribbons are in dresser drawers and landfills. But 10 years from now, these videos can still do their job.”▼

No hold for Green card applications for married gays Christopher Bentley, press secretary for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, issued a two-sentence statement Monday saying: “USCIS has not implemented any change in policy and intends to follow the president’s directive to continue enforcing the law. USCIS has issued guidance to the field asking that related cases be held in abeyance while awaiting final guidance related to distinct legal issues.”

In a phone interview Tuesday, Bentley clarified that the statement refers to the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits any federal agency

by Lisa Keen short-lived “hold” on green card applications from immigrants who are in marriages with same-sex partners who are American citizens quickly ended Wednesday, just two days after immigration officials said such applications would be accepted.

U.S. immigration officials said Monday, March 28, that the applications would be accepted and “held in abeyance” until the Department of Justice provides “final guidance related to distinct legal issues“ involved in such cases.

A

Immigration attorney Lavi Soloway

▼

2

page 6

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

3

4

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

OPEN

BAYAREAREPORTER Volume 41, Number 13 31 March 2011 eBAR.com PUBLISHER Thomas E. Horn Bob Ross (Founder, 1971 – 2003) N E W S E D I TO R Cynthia Laird A R T S E D I TO R Roberto Friedman ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko Seth Hemmelgarn Jim Provenzano CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dan Aiello • Tavo Amador • Matt Baume • Erin Blackwell Roger Brigham • Scott Brogan • Victoria A. Brownworth Philip Campbell • Heather Cassell • Chuck Colbert Richard Dodds • Raymond Flournoy • David Guarino Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell • Robert Julian John F. Karr • Lisa Keen • Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble Michael McDonagh Paul Parish • Lois Pearlman Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Bob Roehr • Donna Sachet Adam Sandel • Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Ed Walsh • Sura Wood

A R T D I R E C TO R Kurt Thomas DESIGNER Scott King P H OTO G R A P H E R S Jane Philomen Cleland Marc Geller Rick Gerharter Lydia Gonzales Rudy K. Lawidjaja Steven Underhill Bill Wilson I L L U S T R ATO R S & C A R TO O N I S T S Paul Berge Christine Smith G E N E R A L M A N AG E R Michael M. Yamashita D I S P L AY A DV E R T I S I N G Colleen Small Scott Wazlowski C L A S S I F I E D A DV E R T I S I N G David McBrayer N AT I O N A L A DV E R T I S I N G R E P R E S E N TAT I V E Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863 LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad

were fewer abortions. According to the Associhere are some troubling signs among the ated Press, he said that the reason Social SecuriRepublican presidential hopefuls that ty is in trouble is because there aren’t enough should alarm LGBT voters. In Iowa, site of workers, which he blamed on the country’s the first caucus, potential candidates are trying to “abortion culture.” We don’t think there is any one-up each other on social issues, including kind of abortion culture in this country; most same-sex marriage, instead of talking about the every politician who discusses the topic wishes country’s two wars, a military action in there were fewer of them. But outlawing Libya, and the still-sputtering economy abortion isn’t going to replenish Social with the recent spike in gas prices.

Security coffers and Santorum knows it.

Many of the Republican presiMississippi Governor Haley Barbour dential wannabes are pandering to made several tone-deaf comments referthe lowest common denominators – ring to the civil rights era. He praised the prejudice and fear – in an effort to win pre-segregation Citizens Council, a white the popularity prize and raise money. Samesupremacist organization. And as a sex marriage had largely faded as a hot butprominent social conservative, he ton topic in the last couple of years pledged last weekend to reinstate as the economy tanked and unemE DITORIAL “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the miliployment grew. Even the Tea Party tary’s anti-gay policy that was refocused on anger over the president’s pealed last year (although it has not been implehealth care reform and fiscal issues like the namented yet). Gay blogger Joe Jervis tional debt and largely stayed out of social issues.

(Joe.My.God) pointed out that Barbour is the That all proved to be a winning strategy as Rethird prospective 2012 GOP presidential candipublicans took control of the House of Repredate to make such a promise, “because gay solsentatives and inched closer to becoming a madiers are going to be too busy cruising other men jority in the Senate. to effectively kill the bad guys.”

Now some of these same politicians are desBut perhaps no one should give the commuperate to break out of a crowded field of potennity pause more than Minnesota Representative tial presidential candidates and have seized on Michele Bachmann. She is rapidly stepping in to marriage equality as one of their key issues. fill the void left by the floundering Sarah Palin Iowa is one of five states where same-sex marriages are legal, but the state has paid a heavy price for that equality. Three Iowa Supreme Court justices were bounced from office last November because of their 2009 decision to allow same-sex couples to marry. A large chunk of financing for the campaign to remove them came from Newt Gingrich, who funneled $125,000 to a group behind the effort. Gingrich, a former House speaker, is exploring a presidential bid and is widely expected to run. But the fact that he‘s been married three times causes some distress among Christian conservatives. No doubt Gingrich – who has a lesbian half-sister – has figured out that opposing marriage equality for gays will play well in Iowa and other early states and will take some of the sting out of his own personal story.

Former Senator Rick (“Man on Dog”) Santorum traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire several times and is weighing a presidential run, pledging to take on social issues. Just this week in New Hampshire, Santorum said that the Social Security system would be in better shape if there

T

Bay Area Reporter 395 Ninth Street San Francisco, CA 94103 415.861.5019 www.ebar.com News Editor • news@ebar.com Arts Editor • arts@ebar.com Advertising • advertising@ebar.com Letters • letters@ebar.com

A division of Benro Enterprises, Inc. © 2011 Published weekly. Bay Area Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement which the publisher believes is in poor taste or which advertises illegal items which might result in legal action against Bay Area Reporter. Ads will not be rejected solely on the basis of politics, philosophy, religion, race, age, or sexual orientation.

Advertising rates available upon request.

Our list of subscribers and advertisers is confidential and is not sold. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, and writers published herein is neither inferred nor implied. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork.

and while most observers don’t expect Bachmann to run for president, she has a strong following in Iowa, where Mike Huckabee won the caucuses in the 2008 contest. Bachmann is not only intellectually dishonest, she makes Fox News look credible. But make no mistake, she is working to change the focus of the 2012 race toward social issues. In Iowa last weekend, the New York Times reported that she fired up the crowd at an event when she declared, “Social conservatism is fiscal conservatism.”

Most people don’t see it that way. Fiscal conservatism as a political ideology means smaller government and lower taxes. It does not mean passing anti-gay legislation that would put the government in people’s homes or deciding whom they can marry. But Bachmann doesn’t care that she’s muddying the waters. All she cares about is raising her profile, perhaps for national office.

So far the potential GOP presidential candidates make up a weak field. And there are Republicans out there who see it that way, too. Iowa Republican activist Doug Gross told the Times, “We look like Camp Christian out here. If Iowa becomes some extraneous right-wing outpost, you have to question whether it is going to be a good place to vet your presidential candidate.”

Indeed.

Welcome to the start of the next presidential race.▼

Together we can s I write my last opinion piece in the Bay Area Reporter in my capacity as executive director of Equality California, I’ve reflected on the collective accomplishments of California’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and we have much to be proud of. We have come leaps and bounds over the past decade – passing 71 pieces of LGBT legislation, including the nation’s first marriage equality bill and the nation’s most comprehensive protections for LGBT individuals, coming closer than any state to winning a marriage equality ballot measure, helping elect countless supporters of full equality to office, and moving public opinion to majority support for equality. Yet despite these phenomenal gains, we still have a long way to go to achieve true equality and acceptance both here in California and throughout our nation.

That was brought home to me last week when I was in Sacramento testifying on three pieces of G UEST Equality California-sponsored legislation. As we push aggressively forward with the largest pro-equality legislative package in state history, the rhetoric from our opponents has become even more harmful. Their attacks on legislation authored by state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), sponsored by Equality California and co-sponsored by GSA Network to include LGBT history in social science instruction, were some of the nastiest we have seen in years. Their bullystyle attacks on rights and protections for LGBT individuals – including LGBT youth – are unacceptable. Our adversaries are not reasonable, they are not honest, and they are not concerned with who they hurt in their quest to deny us the same rights they enjoy.

Someone recently asked me why our opponents are escalating their attacks just as poll numbers are indicating that we likely have reached the proverbial tipping point. The an-

A San Francisco Bay Area Publicity Club

▼

Early signs troubling in prez race

by Geoff Kors

Best Bay Area Community Newspaper 2006

FORUM

swer is exactly that. They know we are at the moment that history will likely record as the time we won the battle for hearts and minds, and they lost. So they are fighting us with everything they have to stop us from succeeding. But we cannot allow them to change the course of history and deny us our equality.

The way we continue our progress here in California is to maintain our no-compromise approach to equality. Equality California’s success is due in large part to the fact that we do not settle for anything less than full equality for the entire LGBT community. We only endorse candidates who support full equality. We fight for legislation that has never been introduced anywhere else in the country knowing we may not succeed in our first attempt, but also knowing that unless you try you have no chance of success. We do not support legislation that leaves any part of our community behind because it is morally unjust and politically naive to do so. We support a broad array of social justice issues, as LGBT people come from every community, and we must stand O PINION with our allies whenever there is need.

And that is how we need to advance our rights both here in California and nationally. Our community must stop supporting candidates who are not fully supportive of true equality – from marriage to insurance coverage for transgender individuals to protections for LGBT youth and seniors – either a candidate is with us or they are against us. We should not provide our endorsement or our money to any candidate who is unwilling to put in writing that they support complete equality. And it is time to advance a comprehensive equality bill in Congress that outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and calls for equality in all of the nation’s laws. Supporting such legislation does not mean we give up our fight for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and other pressing issues. But we must advocate for bold legisla-

a

tion that will help us achieve full equality.

As I leave my position at Equality California I am writing, one last time, to ask you to take action to help us advance equality.

Send an email to the governor asking him to support all 11 Equality California-sponsored pieces of legislation. And if you can, join us in Sacramento for one of our lobby days, speak out at a hearing, or volunteer to phone bank to help us pass these bills. Information is available at tinyurl.com/4bqzvjf. This year’s bills will change the lives of people not just here in California but throughout the nation. If we are successful, California will be the first state to include protections based on gender identity and gender expression in every single legal code in our state. We will be the first state to require schools to include LGBT history in social science instruction. Imagine growing up and learning about Harvey Milk, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, Ambassador James Hormel, and other heroes.

Together, we are creating the kind of nation where all young people can grow up feeling loved and cherished for who they are. We are creating the kind of nation where people can reach their full potential. We are creating the kind of nation where two people in love can get married, raise their family, and share in the joys of life, without facing the pain and hardship of government sanctioned discrimination.

In addition, I want to thank the B.A.R. for covering our fight for equality and providing me and Equality California the opportunity to share news, strategy, and views with the community. The B.A.R. is an essential voice and we all need to support an independent LGBT press.

Finally, thank you for your support and continued commitment over the years during the joys and heartbreaks of our collective fight for true equality. It has been a true honor and a privilege to have served our community.▼ Geoff Kors, whose last day as executive director at Equality California is March 31, served in that capacity since April 1, 2002.

▼

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

LETTERS

Free Bradley Manning

nor largely target the middle class, most of whom are not covered by generous defined benefit pension plans, as the I’ve been doing support work to free Private First Class state and local employees are. Before going to the voters to Bradley Manning for some time now, but I didn’t know he increase the tax burden on the productive members of sowas gay until I read Victoria A. Brownsworth’s and Lisa ciety, shouldn’t the governor and Legislature show that all of Keen’s articles in the March 17 Bay Area Reporter [“More the special interest spending of the last few decades has been March madness,” Lavender Tube, “Manning comments lead cut out of the state budget? to official’s ouster”]. This sincere young man is undergoing unconscionable torture for his efforts to expose the lies of Colin V. Gallagher the USA’s wars for oil and empire. The LGBT community San Francisco should launch a front burner campaign to help free our brother from his distress. To me he’s as Wiener’s balanced take on dogs big a hero as Daniel Ellsberg was in revealing As a 45-year resident and voter in San Franthe lies behind the Vietnam War with his Pencisco, I was very pleased to read Scott Wiener’s tagon Papers. As an 85-year-old WWII veterGuest Opinion piece [“GGNRA’s off-leash dog an, I took part in the poorly-attended anti-war plan is a bad idea,” March 17]. It is balanced protest at the UN Plaza on the rainy Saturday of and reasonable, unlike the opinions of the March 19. I wore a cap reading: “World War II GGNRA in its Environmental Impact Study Veteran” on the front, with a button reading, M AILSTROM regarding dogs in the GGNRA. And the study “Veterans for Peace” on one side and “Unions, is just that – opinions. Most of the statements Yes – War No” on the other, with a “Free are contradicted by actual scientific studies or are not Bradley Manning” button on the front strap of my shoulder backed up at all by any data. There are lots of statements bag. I saw numerous other buttons and stickers in support about what dogs “might” do rather than factual statements of Manning being worn by other anti-war and labor acregarding what dogs really do do. tivists that day. It’s time our community joins in this camSince the GGNRA is not an elected body, we must depaign in a major way to support one of our own. pend upon our elected officials to keep them reasonable and honest. I am so glad we have Scott Wiener looking out for Harry Siitonen our city.

Berkeley, California Joanne Scott San Francisco

Thanks from a Gaga ‘little monster’ Thank you Lady Gaga for the Oakland concert on March 22. Exciting, transporting, inspiring, and fun is what it was.

Claws up!

Ryan Meek San Francisco

A state budget solution Contrary to your editorial “California on the edge” [March 24], balancing the state budget through additional cuts beyond the $11.2 million already agreed to by the governor and the Legislature can be done in a way that does not specifically harm students, the poor or the elderly.

Spending cuts and revenue measures that would bring the budget closer to balance, but would not target these groups generally, include: 1) Eliminating the entitlement of convicted felons to food stamps; 2) Restricting the taxpayer-supported Cal Grants program from giving financial aid to illegal aliens; 3) Rescinding the eligibility of public safety officers under California Labor Code Section 4850 to one full year of salary, tax-free, following an on-the-job injury; 4) Requiring that ADAP beneficiaries make co-payments for their medications as other chronic disease patients must; 5) Barring homeowners who can afford their home health care through taking a reverse mortgage on their residences from eligibility for In Home Support Services; 6) Eliminating the tax-exempt status of California and municipal bonds; 7) Requiring that all new state employees enroll in a defined contribution retirement program in place of CALPERS. The tax increases or extensions proposed by the gover-

Praise for Heartbeats I was so pleased by David Lamble’s very fine review of Heartbeats [“That obscure object of queer quebecois desire,” March 17]. It was an intelligent and thoughtful account of one of the best films I’ve seen so far this year. That Xavier Dolan is so young in his career as a filmmaker is even more remarkable. Still, my enjoyment of the movie was greatly enhanced when, the day after viewing it, I read Lamble’s outstanding review. This is why the B.A.R. is so indispensable to the arts community and film lovers in particular.

Tom Higgins Oakland, California

MUMC prez doing a great job As the former District 8 supervisor, I love both former MUMC President Patrick Batt and our current MUMC president, Steve Adams.

However, I take issue with Mr. Batt’s harsh criticisms of the leadership and direction provided by Steve Adams [Mailstrom, March 24].

MUMC is the envy of merchant associations throughout our city. Monthly meetings draw over 100 attendees and merchants and stakeholders attend because it is a vital source of information and input to city officials and other decision makers.

Steve has done an incredible job as MUMC president.

Many good things have come about including the farmer’s market and Jane Warner Plaza, among others.

Thank you, Steve. You are doing a great job for our community.

Bevan Dufty San Francisco

SF civil grand jury seeks members f you’ve wanted to help address city government inefficiencies or hold city officials accountable, the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury is now accepting applications for the 2011-2012 term.

Presiding Judge Katherine Feinstein announced the openings last week as she said that the civil panel is important for the city.

“Citizen involvement in San Francisco civic issues has a well-established history which has enriched our city,” Feinstein said in a press release. “I would like to invite citizens from diverse backgrounds to serve on our civil grand jury to assure that the city’s vibrant diversity enhances the work of its members.”

The application deadline is April 15. Eligibility requires applicants to be U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old. Applicants must also have lived in the city and county of San Francisco for at least one year, among other requirements.

The civil grand jury’s upcoming term runs from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. After initial screening, eligible applicants are interviewed before Superior Court judges select a pool of 30 jurors. The 19 members of the grand jury are then selected randomly, with the remaining 11 individuals serving as alternates.

Generally, applicants must be prepared to devote at least 15 hours per week to civil grand jury service. The

I

entire panel typically meets at the Civic Center courthouse from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays, and separate committee meetings are scheduled as necessary. Members receive a $15 per diem for each meeting attended during the term.

Beate Boultinghouse, president of the San Francisco chapter of the California Grand Jurors’ Association, pointed out that grand jurors contribute to the betterment of the community.

“In light of the current tough economic times, the role as a citizen N EWS watchdog takes on great importance,” Boultinghouse said.

Visit www.sfsuperiorcourt.org and click on the civil grand jury link for more information and to obtain an application. For more information, contact court supervisor Gary Giubbini at (415) 551-3605 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email ggiubbini@sftc.org.

tivities.

A discussion will follow the screening. There will be a lasagna dinner (with vegetarian option) served at 6:30 p.m. The suggested donation at the door is $4 for the movie, or $9.50 with the dinner option. Sliding scale and work exchanges are available.

For more information contact (415) 864-1278 or bafsp@earthlink.net or visit www.socialism.com.

c

Screening of WikiRebels Friday The Freedom Socialist Party will present a screening of the documentary, WikiRebels on Friday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. at New Valencia Hall, 625 Larkin Street in San Francisco.

This timely documentary about WikiLeaks showcases alternative media’s role in disseminating information – in the form of leaked cables and other documents – to the public about government and corporate ac-

‘Rainbow University’ comes to RCC

On Saturday, April 2, the Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County will be transformed into “Rainbow University.”

Just for the day, the East Bay LGBT center will present several workshops and classes on a variety of topics.

Community members can learn about LGBT history, get tax and financial planning advice, study religion and spirituality, decorate a cake, and even explore their inner drag queen. The sessions have been designed to educate, inform, enlighten, and entertain, with the overall goal of helping to build community.

“We feel that Rainbow University will provide a space for community members to pass on knowledge and share special skills with one another,” said Ben Barr, executive director of the center. “We hope that people walk away from Rainbow U with some new

B RIEFS

▼

compiled by Cynthia Laird

page 13

5

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

COMMUNITY

NEWS

▼

Spears visit was a team effort by LGBT leaders

by Matt Baume t took a gay village to bring Britney Spears to San Francisco, starting with mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty and extending to bar owners, drag queens, and cheerleaders.

The saga started with Mark Robertson, a producer at ABC’s Good Morning America and a longtime friend of Dufty’s. In late 2010, Dufty said, Robertson called him to propose shooting a Britney Spears promotional video in the Castro.

That set off months of discussions and negotiations. From the beginning, Dufty felt strongly that the show should feature local celebrity drag queens.

“While people may jet around Brentwood trying to spot Cameron Diaz, our drag personalities are our celebrities,” Dufty said. “They raise money constantly for different charities. They add a lot to the vitality of the Castro. I was straightforward with Mark that I felt it was really important that they be onstage and be part of the program.”

Producers for GMA asked Heklina, Sister Roma, Juanita More, Pollo del Mar, and Bay Area Reporter society columnist Donna Sachet to introduce the show Sunday, March 27 at the Bill Graham Auditorium. The mini-concert featured three songs from Spears’s new album, Femme Fatale, which was released Tuesday. (The taping was moved from the Castro due to weather concerns.) With almost no direction, the five queens improvised banter that ranged from insults to couture to an endorsement of Dufty’s mayoral bid. That segment of the show wasn’t aired, but Spears did Tweet a photo of her father posing with Heklina and Pollo.

I

www.ebar.com

Matt Baume

6

Britney Spears greeted a throng of people outside QBar in the Castro last Sunday, where she talked to bar owner John Bellmore and Tim Eicher, one of the new owners of Edge.

“I was happy to meet Britney, but I was much more happy about the fact that her visit to the Castro and the museum will bring publicity to the neighborhood,” Wiener said.

“This is an amazing neighborhood with a rich and storied history. Anything that showcases our neighborhood to the country and the world is a good thing.”

In addition to raising the profile of local personalities, venues, and nonprofits, the event was a moneymaker for Under One Roof. For several days preceding the taping, the retail shop displayed a wax Britney likeness in the window – courtesy of the Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf – and encouraged fans to take their picture with it in exchange for a donation.

The statue was removed just prior to her visit.

Dufty also estimated that 40 to 50 people were hired locally to work at the event.

With the excitement of the visit fading, Dufty now looks forward to the city’s next big musical guest. With no major problems and the crowds feeling generally upbeat, he considers the experience a huge success.

“I hope to do more of it,” he said.

“I met with a lady at Jive Records and I hope to follow up.”

At the top of his wish list for future visitors: Rihanna and Diana Ross.▼

Green card

United States. While most immigrants who apply for green cards must wait for a visa number to become available in order obtain one, an “immediate family” member, such as a spouse, does not have to wait.

Soloway cautioned that “not all married couples – gay or straight – are eligible to file” the petition and application necessary to obtain a green card.

“All need legal advice,” said Soloway, “but especially gay couples, because they’re filing [for a green card] in the current context – when it can’t be approved under current law.

The greatest concern for some of those couples is that filing now would be the wrong move. They can end up in deportation that can’t be delayed.”

“But with the proper guidance from attorneys,” said Soloway, “many couples whose concern is imminent deportation can persuade courts and government attorneys to adjourn deportation proceedings based on pending, marriage-based applications.”

Soloway’s firm represents a binational lesbian couple in New York who just last week secured a hold on a deportation proceeding. The hold was granted based on the couple’s marriage in Connecticut last year. An immigration judge in Manhattan ruled March 22 that the deportation proceeding against Monica Alcota should be adjourned until federal courts determine the constitutionality of DOMA. Soloway said he believes this is the first time an immigration judge has put a deportation proceeding on hold to allow a same-sex couple the opportunity to pursue an immigration petition based on their marriage.▼

▼

Cheerleading troupe Cheer SF also warmed up the crowd with cheers and stunts before the main act.

In addition, Dufty pushed for the inclusion of the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center, which supports LGBT youth, and Larkin Street Youth Services, which supports homeless and at-risk youth.

Spears was unable to visit the programs, but GMA taped segments with them and recognized the organizations on air and during the Sunday performance.

After the taping, Spears made a brief visit to the Castro, where she toured the GLBT Historical Society Museum, where she met with Supervisor Scott Wiener. She also stopped

by Under One Roof, and waved to fans at Q Bar, which was in the midst of throwing a Spears-themed party.

She also briefly greeted Q Bar owner John Bellemore.

Those visits were at Dufty’s recommendation, he said.

“This is huge, to have her go to the historical society,” he told the B.A.R. “A lot of the programming that they do now is to reach out to schools, and just having pictures of her there next to Harvey Milk’s bullhorn, that’s big.”

Wiener said he hoped Spears’s visit to the neighborhood would bring attention to the Castro.

page 2

from recognizing marriage licenses granted to same-sex couples.

Bentley said the statement was issued in conjunction with the March 25 publication of an article on the Daily Beast website. That article noted that some binational same-sex married couples were wondering whether the U.S. attorney general’s announcement February 23 – that the administration would no longer defend DOMA as meeting heightened constitutional scrutiny – would improve their chances at obtaining a green card.

It further noted that officials in two USCIS districts (Washington, D.C., and Baltimore) “informed attorneys from the advocacy group American Immigration Lawyers Association that cases in their districts involving married gay and lesbian couples would be put on hold.”

Apparently, after a couple days, USCIS determined there would be no change and that same-sex binational couples would not, in fact, be eligible for green card applications.

LGBT immigration advocates were furious with the sudden change Wednesday and launched an online petition drive.

Lavi Soloway, an immigration attorney and specialist in LGBT issues, said in an interview that the USCIS announcement would stop indefinitely the deportation of immigrants who have applied for green cards based on their same-sex marriages to American citizens.

A green card entitles a foreign citizen to permanent residence in the

▼

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

POLITIC S

Gay man is face of health care reform in the West

by Matthew S. Bajko ime has yet to spring forward in the office of Herb Schultz, the Western regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, whose governmental home when in San Francisco is inside the concrete bunker of a federal building at 7th and Mission streets.

During an interview last week with the Bay Area Reporter, his first one-on-one sit down with a gay news outlet since being appointed to the job last year, Schultz’s clock was running an hour behind as he and his deputies had forgotten to reset it earlier this month. Considering Shultz spends 85 percent of his time on the road, the oversight is understandable.

As the regional director for the department’s Region IX, the openly gay Schultz oversees the largest territory compared to his counterparts in the agency’s nine other regions.

Along with the mainland states of Arizona, California, and Nevada, Schultz also oversees Hawaii, the territories of American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and Guam, as well as the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau.

“I have not been to Palau. I have been in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands,” said Schultz, 48, whose main focus over the last 12 months has been to promote the Obama administration’s P OLITICAL health care reform act.

He has held hundreds of meetings throughout his region to discuss the controversial law’s provisions, which started being rolled out last year and will be fully implemented by 2014. At that point all Americans will be required to have health insurance while no one will be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition such as being HIV-positive or having breast cancer.

“We are reaching out to communities to assist them and have them help us with the implementation of this law,” said Schultz.

With the law under attack in statehouses and on Capitol Hill – where Republicans in the House derisively call it “Obamacare” and are trying to defund the government’s ability to carry it out – much of Schultz’s time is spent not only defending the law but clarifying the public’s misperceptions about its status. Last week marked the oneyear anniversary of its passage.

“I think with any big new monumental changes, if you will in terms of significant law, it takes awhile but we are committed and working everyday 24/7 with our partners to continue to outreach and educate and make sure we inform everybody as thoroughly and as clearly and as culturally linguistically appropriate as we possibly can,” he said.

Despite the relentless attacks against the health care reform act both legislatively and judicially, Schultz was adamant that it would not be derailed.

“We will not go back to the day when some could be denied health insurance because someone had a pre-existing condition,” said Schultz.

Health issues have been a predominant concern in both Schultz’s professional and personal life for the last two decades. Twenty years ago he learned he was HIV-positive and, at the time, didn’t believe he had much longer to live.

Rick Gerharter

T

U.S. Health and Human Services regional director Herb Schultz

“When I found out, when I tested positive, there were no protease inhibitors. There were no drugs other than AZT. I thought I had five years and that would be it,” recalled Schultz, who at the time was in Washington, D.C. working in the health care field.

Instead, he survived to see the first set of antiretroviral drugs be approved, and in 1998, he moved to Los Angeles. Within five weeks there he attended a service at a local synagogue and met his partner, Stuart Leviton, an attorney who serves on California’s Fair Employment and Housing Commission. The couple registered as domestic partners and splits their time between a home in Noe Valley in San Francisco and a rental in West Hollywood.

April will Schultz’s N OTEBOOK mark one-year anniversary since joining the Obama administration.

“I am thrilled to be alive and well and working in this administration to implement a historic law,” he said.

Schultz has spent most of his professional life in government service. He was deputy director of external affairs for the California Department of Managed Health Care and served as director of the Advisory Committee on Managed Health Care.

He then became an undersecretary for the state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency and was tapped by former Governor Gray Davis to be the agency’s acting secretary. The position made him one of the highest-ranking out officials in Davis’s cabinet.

Despite his being “a very strong Democrat,” Schultz was also a top official in the administration of former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

During Schwarzenegger’s first year in office, Schultz served as acting director of the California Employment Development Department.

After a short stint in the corporate world, Schultz rejoined the Schwarzenegger administration as the governor’s senior health policy adviser between 2006 and 2008, when the state failed to enact its own health care reform legislation. Following that defeat, Schultz remained a senior adviser to the governor and was appointed director of the California Recovery Task Force, which oversaw how stimulus money awarded to the Golden State was spent.

The relentlessness of his governmental roles did take its toll on Schultz. During the heated debate over California’s health care reform plan, Schultz packed on 40 pounds.

The reason, he said, was simple.

“Comfort food,” said Schultz, who at the time was barnstorming around the state, holding 1,500 meetings to sell the reform plan.

Having been “thin as a rail” grow-

ing up, Schultz said it was the first time in his life he had to battle a weight problem. Seeing how a friend had trimmed down using Weight Watchers, Schultz signed up for the program himself.

“I went online and, in 18 weeks, I lost 36 of the 40 pounds. I did it completely online. I didn’t do the meetings,” he said. “I was stunned to see how many people had been on that program or shared similar stories of what they did.”

In his new role, Schulz said he is working to see that HHS is able to assist those “individuals who are in desperate need of help.”

“We are serving as a one-stopshop. This is a vast department that hits every American in one way or another in terms of programs, services, and that can be daunting,” said Schultz.▼ Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check www.ebar.com Monday mornings around 10 a.m. for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion. This week’s column profiled Russian lesbian activist Polina Savchenko, who met with local counterparts this week.

Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ twitter.com/politicalnotes.

Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 861-5019 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

www.ebar.com

7

8

▼

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

TRAVEL

sst, don’t tell anyone, but now is one of the best times of year to visit Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The water is warmer, there is still plenty of sun, and the hotel rates are lower than during the busy winter months. Hotel rates drop even more

by June 1, but that is the start of the rainy season, although it generally rains in the evenings, so your day at

P

the beach probably won’t be rained out.

Gay Puerto Vallarta is showing no signs of slowing down. More and more tours, hotels, bars, and restaurants are actively courting the gay community. That trend is backed by a recent survey. A 2010 poll by San Francisco-based Community Marketing, a gay marketing firm, found that Puerto Vallarta is the most popular gay foreign destination in the

Americas, narrowly beating Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.

The gay scene in Puerto Vallarta is on the south side of the city in an area known as Zona Romantica, or the Romantic Zone. Some also call it the Old Town, but that is a misnomer since downtown Puerto Vallarta is much older.

Zona Romantica is also where the city’s public beach is located. Los Muertos Beach starts near the Rio Cuale, which is the river that separates downtown from the Romantic Zone. The unofficial gay section of the beach is called Blue Chairs Beach. It is on the southern end of Los Muertos Beach in front of the Blue Chairs Hotel. But immediately to the south, the Green Chairs Beach is just as gay, and the section of the beach to the north in front of the Lido Beach Club is nearly as gay.

One of the best features of Puerto Vallarta is that everything is easily walkable. Don’t think of renting a car here. There are a couple of dozen gay bars and about a dozen gay hotels within easy walking distance.

And Puerto Vallarta is very safe. The city often gets painted with a broad negative brush after reports surface on drug-related violence mostly in border towns of Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta as a tourist destination has a long gay legacy. The 1964 movie, Night of the Iguana , first put Puerto Vallarta on the map as a resort destination. That film was based on a story by gay playwright Tennessee Williams. Elizabeth Taylor, who died last week, was not in the movie but she tagged along with Richard Burton, with whom she was having an affair. Both Taylor and Burton were married to other people at the time and the paparazzi descended on the city, giving it priceless publicity.

Gays helped fuel a second renewal in Puerto Vallarta just over 20 years ago. That’s when the city’s gay founding father, Paco Ruiz, first opened his landmark gay bar Club Paco Paco. For a time, Club Paco Paco and Balcones were the only gay

Wet and Wild cruise staff member Abraham Zavala takes a quick break while the boat is near Los Arcos.

bars in town. Ruiz stood up to regulatory authorities and refused to pay them bribes. He was eventually arrested after refusing to be closed by them after two lesbians were seen kissing in his bar. He publicly talked about his troubles during an international TV talk show that was broadcasting from the city. The additional media attention and public sympathy for Ruiz’s plight eventually resulted in changes and more acceptance of gays in the city.

Gays are now entrenched in Zona Romantica, where you will find the rainbow flag everywhere. Olas Altas is Zona Romantica’s main street and gays played a huge part in the resurgence of the street and neighborhood.

Daylife A number of gay-focused tours are a must for any visitor to Puerto Vallarta. It is a good idea to take a tour near the start of your vacation.

You will meet new friends that you will run into all week long.

For more than 10 years, Diana’s Tours has developed a loyal following. It is run by Diana DeCoste, a gay woman and a fixture in Puerto Vallarta. Her daylong tour runs every Thursday and sometimes on Fridays if there is a big demand. The cruise books up early in the busy winter months, so book ahead if you are traveling then. Diana’s Tours has the distinction of being the number one ranked tour, gay or straight, in Puerto Vallarta on www.TripAdvisor.com.

The tour includes a continental breakfast, a stop at a beachfront restaurant and unlimited booze, soft drinks, and snacks. The first stop is the landmark Los Arcos, the huge hollowed out rocks through which you can snorkel. The tour guests are mostly gay male, but lesbians are welcome and it is straight friendly.

The Wet and Wild gay cruise is another way to spend a fun gay day on the bay. The tour departs Puerto Vallarta twice a week with half-day sunset cruises on Wednesday and half-day day cruises on Saturday.

The tour is almost exclusively gay male and although the staff maintains a fun atmosphere, it tends to be very sexually charged. Near the start of the cruise they announce that it is the goal for everyone to leave drunk and having gotten laid. The cruise includes a full complement of friendly strippers who work the crowd for tips.

For the more adventurous, several tour companies offer gay zip-line and ATV tour days. For a complete list check out www.GayGuideVallarta .com or when you get in town, visit the concierge desk at the Blue Chairs Hotel for information and tickets to all gay excursions. Jeff Scates usually works the concierge desk and is a great resource for all things gay in Puerto Vallarta. Beware of timeshare salesmen who promise free tours in exchange for viewing a presentation.

I had two friends who wound up spending most of the day in a pre-

sentation that was supposed to take 90 minutes. In the end, they never got the tour they were promised and wound up having to pay the salesman $40.

Nightlife A new service called Gay Vallarta Bar-hopping is a must for first time visitors or for returning visitors who want to know what’s new in the city.

The $40 tour includes five bars and two nightclubs with free drinks at all stops. The tour starts out at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and begins with a stop at the Fuego Restaurant, where you can grab a bite for 50 percent off. Another tour on Wednesdays includes a longer restaurant stop and includes stops at gay local bars. The tour also includes a package of coupons valued at $40.

The most popular gay bars in town are Paco’s Ranch, Club Manana, and La Noche. La Noche recently expanded and took over the furniture store next door, more than doubling its space. People tend to start at La Noche or one of the smaller gay bars in Puerto Vallarta, before moving on to Paco’s Ranch or Club Manana, which are open all night for dancing (but you won’t see anyone in there until after midnight and they don’t really get going until after 1 a.m.). Paco’s Ranch is open seven nights a week but Club Manana is only open weekends, at least until the start of the busy winter season, which gets under way around Thanksgiving. (The smaller stripper bar, Tease, that is attached to Club Manana, is still open every night.)

Club Manana is the largest gay club in the city and has an open-air dance floor, so if you are sensitive to cigarette smoke, this is the place for you to breath free. Smoking is still allowed in bars in the city.

There are no lesbian bars in Puerto Vallarta but both Club Manana and Paco’s Ranch are womenfriendly. The smaller lesbian-owned Apaches bar on Olas Altas is always busy and is also women-friendly.

The Chill Out Lounge is also owned by a lesbian couple and is known for attracting a very diverse crowd.

Apaches and the nearby Sama martini bar are great places to stop and people watch along Olas Altas. Sama is known for its exotic cocktails, so check out the menu before ordering your same old. The Palm is a cabaret space right next to Sama. It is the spot where gay-friendly acts perform.

The bar on the roof of the Blue Chairs Hotel is a must-stop at sunset. Check out the schedule of entertainment first. Every night starts off with male strippers. Some nights also feature drag shows, karaoke, or gay bingo.

Strippers are a big trend in gay Puerto Vallarta. The newest gay bar in town is Wet Dreams. It features strippers who take it all off and shower in a glass booth behind the main bar.

▼

by Ed Walsh

Ed Walsh

Puerto Vallarta: A great gay spring getaway

page 12

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

9

10

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

THE

SPORTS

PAGE

▼

Gay Games history was dedicated to her life partner, Jenny Bonney.

In her introduction, she calls res we sit sidelined one dreary cent Gay Games the world’s “largest rained out afternoon after aninternational participatory lesbian, other, our playing fields gay, bisexual, transgender and interstretched out submerged and soaked sex event,” then follows as the misbefore us, Bay Area LGBT athletes sion to demolish homophobic barrineed something to entertain our ers through sports participation minds. grows ever larger. Emerging splinters Might I recommend a rather acain queer community and politics demic book that takes a look at the play out in disagreements things we do when we do the things on how best to build an we do? The Gay Games: A hisinclusive playing field in tory, by Caroline Symons, is a sports world built a scholarly text examining largely on exclusive the quarter-century histopower hierarchies. The duelry of the Gay Games ing roles of the event in changthrough 2006 that shows the ing perceptions in inward, event in its context as mover personal directions and outand movee in sports, soward, public percepcial, cultural, and polititions are examined as is cal worlds. seemingly oxyJ OCK TALK the Like any good history, moronic effort to bring it offers dramatic teninclusive unity to disions and furious battles and, after verse expression. tantalizing with a number of possiIn Symons’s balanced telling, each ble bright or gloomy outcomes, Gay Games rendition had its victoleaves the future an undiscovered ries mixed with shortcomings. The country waiting to be tackled.

Games launched with a theme of inSymons, a senior lecturer in the clusion, but initially made a conSchool of Sport and Exercise Science scious decision to exclude leather and the Institute of Sport, Exercise and drag. Gay Games II came as the and Active Living at Victoria Univerworld was being rocked by the onset sity, Australia, conducted dozens of of AIDS and provided a sense of reinterviews with participants and orlief and fighting back, but avoided ganizers and examined hundreds of direct mentions of the illness. Gay documents, synthesizing her work in Games III expanded the cultural vichronological and thematic order. sion of the event but for the first time The book is an expansion of her docgenerated massive debt. Gay Games toral thesis published last year, which IV were the first major multisport

by Roger Brigham

A

S

event to develop a transgender inclusion policy but drew criticism for making the event “too commercial.”

Gay Games V had the highest female participation but was knocked for giving women too much favoritism during registration. Gay Games VI had the best sports competitions of any Gay Games but created a bad local legacy for gay events because of its financial bankruptcy. Gay Games VII in Chicago miraculously finished in the black but the Gay Games staggered forward with an uncertain future as the rival World Outgames siphoned off European registrations but ended more in debt than all the previous Gay games hosts combined.

Symons documents the disagreement over how the apartheid-inspired boycott of South Africa could be reconciled with the Gay Games mission of inclusion helped spur development of the international Federation of Gay Games when founding San Francisco Arts and Athletics handed the Gay Games off, as well as the landmark efforts the Gay Games have made to create models for the fair and inclusive integration of transgender and intersex athletes in gender-divided sports.

As I came later to Gay Games politics, I found Symons to be very illuminating in her discussions of the early years and for the most part dead-on in her accounts of more recent events and issues. I did think her discussion of the drug-testing policies for 2006, in which I was a participant during development, was

Author Caroline Symons

slightly bungled. As the Gay Games continued to seek mainstream sanctioning for sports, drug-testing was sporadic in Gay Games starting in 1994. She writes that in 2006 World Anti-Doping Agency protocols were used in three sports (wrestling, powerlifting, and physique), with powerlifters having the option of being untested “guest lifters” not eligible for medals.

A shame she did not spare a few paragraphs for wrestling and physique, because Chicago actually showcased four possible approaches to drug-testing and how to balance “fair play” competition concerns with the mission of including HIVpositive athletes. The majority of the sports had no testing; in wrestling, officials announced they would visually screen candidates and that led to a few substance abusers to drop out so no testing was actually done; and in physique, competitors had

their choice of Tested and Untested groups, both eligible for medals, no questions asked. No one is or was entirely satisfied with any of the approaches, but what makes the Gay Games unique is that it is the athletes themselves who are shaping the policies, experimenting with approaches, and making the effort to be inclusive.

It is that participatory empowerment, not sheer size, that makes the Gay Games different – and important.

“The Gay Games have been an alternative Games,” Symons writes. “In a largely homophobic and heterosexist world the staging of the Gay Games, the implementation of progressive participation policies and the development of an extensive international lesbian and gay sports movement have been significant achievements. Inclusive policies and practices along with their affirmation and celebration of LGBTIQ sport and culture make the Gay Games unique.”

Gay Games is offered by Routledge Taylor and Francis Group (www.routledge.com) with a steep publish-on-demand textbook price of $138. The publisher is offering a discount for bulk orders of up to 50 percent, so folks interested in purchasing might want to contact longtime Gay Games supporter Derek Liecty, who is collecting orders. He can be emailed at spoker@sbcglobal.net. ▼

85 nations sign UN statement defending LGBT people n what LGBT advocates described as “a stunning development for the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” 85 nations signed a pro-gay statement that was read out by Colombia’s representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 22.

The statement “express(es) concern at continued evidence in every region of acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity” and “call(s) on states to take steps to Ambassador Susan Rice end acts of violence, criminal sanctions and related human rights violatime these issues are addressed there is tions committed against individuals measurable increase in state support.” because of their sexual orientation or Nigeria’s representative spoke gender identity.” against the statement, purportedly on Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to behalf of the council’s Africa Group. the United Nations, called the stateThe representative said the terms “sexment “historic.” ual orientation” and “gender identity” “As the United States continues our are undefined, talked about God, and important work in the Human Rights said it takes a man and a woman to Council this week, we are proud to make a baby. At the end, however, recognize a historic statement, he said that laws that crimisigned by a record 85 nations, nalize sexual orientation reaffirming the rights of all should be expunged. people – regardless of Pakistan also spoke who they are and whom against the statement on they love,” Rice said in a behalf of an official bloc statement. of 57 majority-Muslim LGBT and human nations. Russia opposed rights organizations, inthe statement, as well, saycluding Amnesty InterW OCKNER’ S ing it rejects discriminanational, the InternaW ORLD tion and violence against tional Gay and Lesbian LGBT people but should Human Rights Combe allowed to limit rights for reasons mission, and Human Rights Watch, of public morality. The representative hailed the action. reportedly said that “these people” “Today’s statement enjoyed the should not be granted “special rights.” support of the largest group of counIn a separate U.S. statement, tries to date on the topic of sexual oriHuman Rights Campaign President entation, gender identity and human Joe Solmonese said: “The [Obama] rights,” said the advocacy groups in a administration has laudably reafjoint media release. “It builds on a simfirmed its commitment to the philosilar statement delivered by Norway at ophy that LGBT rights are human the Human Rights Council in 2006 rights by joining today’s statement be(on behalf of 54 states) and a joint fore the U.N. Human Rights Council. statement delivered by Argentina at With over 80 nations jointly particithe General Assembly in 2008 (on bepating in the statement, the message is half of 66 states). It is clear that every

I

www.ebar.com

clear that hate violence against LGBT people should not be tolerated by any government.”

ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, called the statement “a very significant step forward towards international consensus on LGBTI people’s rights.”

“The strength of this statement makes the defense of discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexual, trans and intersex people on the basis of a mistaken sense of ‘tradition’ or ‘natural order’ more untenable than ever,” said the group’s co-secretary general, Renato Sabbadini. “Homophobia and transphobia are more and more acknowledged for what they truly are: the last crumbling pillars of a patriarchal order which belong with other dark pages of our past, like slavery and the Inquisition.”

ILGA noted that more nations of the Southern Hemisphere signed this year’s statement, and it highlighted the signatures of Dominica, Honduras, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Seychelles.

A statement from the White House said, in part: “Over the past months our diplomats have been engaged in frank, and at times difficult, conversations about the human rights of LGBT persons with governments from around the world. This morning, at the United Nations Human Rights Council, some 85 countries joined the United States in reaffirming our joint commitment to end acts of violence and human rights abuses on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The president is proud of the work we have done to build international consensus on this critical issue and is committed to continuing our determined efforts to advance the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The U.S. State Department said, “This statement adds new references not seen in previous LGBT statements

▼

by Rex Wockner

page 11

▼

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

11

OBITUARIES

Robert McHenry, known for work in recovery community, dies

by Cynthia Laird ongtime Cole Valley resident Robert S. “Bob” McHenry died Saturday March 19, at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. The cause was metastatic cancer, which was discovered only days before his death. He was 83.

Mr. McHenry, who arrived in San Francisco in the early 1950s with his friend and companion Henry Fajardo, achieved some fame in local gay leather circles in 1961, when he appeared in a Life magazine photographic report on the gay and leather culture of Folsom Street.

Fajardo died in the late 1980s.

Mr. McHenry also distinguished himself for his service to others, particularly in the recovery community.

In 2010 he was recognized for his 30 years of dedicated volunteer service by the Bay Area chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism. He volunteered for many years on the San Francisco Suicide Prevention Hotline.

He also was a leader in the Accept al-

L

World News ▼

page 10

at the U.N., including: welcoming attention to LGBT issues as a part of the Universal Periodic Review process, noting the increased attention to LGBT issues in regional human rights fora, encouraging the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue addressing LGBT issues, and calls for states to end criminal sanctions based on LGBT status.”

The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 states that aims to strengthen and protect human rights worldwide.

Barcelona unveils gay monument Barcelona Mayor Jordi Hereu unveiled a monument March 20 to gay and transgender people persecuted throughout history.

The large marble triangle is located in Ciudadela Park, next to the Catalonian Parliament.

ENDA ▼

page 1

openly gay House members, said it’s critical that lobbying for the bill begin now.

Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), the only out lesbian in Congress, said the bill is crucial and urged her colleagues to approve it.

“It is extremely important for Congress to recognize and address discrimination that exists in employment against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

It is up to Congress to assert that such discrimination is illegal and un-American,” said Baldwin, co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

The bill is typically assigned to the House Committee on Education and Labor, now chaired by Representative John Kline (R-Minnesota). In 2009, during a committee hearing on the bill, Kline said his many concerns about the bill in previous years “have not been alleviated” by its recent rewrite.

Kline said then that ENDA “creates an entirely new protected class that is vaguely defined and often subjective.”

Specifically, he objected to the language of the bill prohibiting discrimination based on “perceived sexual orientation.”

A press person for Kline’s committee office did not return a call by press time Wednesday, but given that the

cohol and drug addiction program.

He was often known in these circles simply as “Mac.” He helped and supported the work of the Alcoholics Rehabilitation Association in the Haight.

He volunteered at the San Francisco Symphony and was a supporter through the years. He supported liberal and humanist causes including the Human Rights Campaign Foundation of Washington, D.C. and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Those wishing to remember him can send contributions to one of these foundations, friends said.

Born in Newburg, New York on November 18, 1927, Mr. McHenry was the last of three boys born to William Stewart and Jane McHenry.

He attended Newburg Free Academy then followed his older brothers Bill and David for a short stint in the United States Air Force. Mr. McHenry then went on to pursue studies in Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Chicago. Friends said that his intelligence, sensitivity and booming bari“This is a necessary monument to remember the discrimination, repression, humiliation, persecution, attacks and assassinations that the LGTB community suffered for centuries and very especially during the Franco dictatorship,” said Antonio Guirado, secretary general of the Catalonian LGBT umbrella group Gay Lesbian Coordinator. “We are honored as citizens to see recognized the persecution suffered, and above all the still-unmet challenge for social normalization.”

Gay Lesbian Coordinator honorary President Jordi Petit added: “This is the fourth monument erected in Europe in memory of homophobic and transphobic barbarism – following in the footsteps of Amsterdam, Berlin, and the Nazi extermination camp Mauthausen in Austria. It is the only one in the south of the continent and is very suitable for the city that is the seat of the Mediterranean Union.”

Obama, Brazil champion OAS LGBT rapporteur During a visit to Brazil on March 19, President Barack Obama joined

language of the bill has not changed since 2009, there seems little likelihood that Kline will enable a committee hearing or vote on the bill this session.

Still, supporters of the measure said it’s important to have the bill in the congressional hopper, as it provides a tool around which supporters can lobby legislators to support the measure in a future session.

Julie Edwards, a spokeswoman for Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), said Tuesday that Merkley is working with his fellow co-sponsors to prepare ENDA for re-introduction there “in the next few weeks.”

The Senate is still controlled by Democrats and the bill received a hearing in the last session. But it did not get a vote in committee.

The last time ENDA got a vote in the Senate was 1996, when it came within one vote of passage. The Senate was controlled then by Republicans.

A version of ENDA passed the House in 2007.

But in both the House and Senate vote, the version of ENDA on the floor was one that included only sexual orientation, not gender identity.

By 2009, the LGBT organizations stood firm and insisted that ENDA also included a prohibition on discrimination based on gender identity.

And in 2009 and this year, ENDA does include both.

The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund issued a statement Wednesday, saying that 47 per-

Bob McHenry

tone voice made him a gregarious and magnetic personality from a young age. Mr. McHenry’s voice was heard often on the radio in college and then in the heyday of AM radio on Poughkeepsie’s WKIP.

Mr. McHenry’s love of classical music led to a veritable obsession with and mastery of the technical specifics of the gradually developing technology for “Hi-Fi” sound reproduction.

This led to his lifelong work in the design of custom electronic equipment and systems. He started working for Fred Eber at Eber Electronics shortly after his arrival in San Francisco in the early 1950s. In the coming decades he anticipated the audiophiles’ desperate search for accurate reproduction of musical performances. He left Eber’s to found World of Sound on Market St. in 1967. Later he went into private design and consultations, creating and installing hundreds of systems in the Bay Area. As a designer and developer Mr. McHenry was also drawn to architecture and interior design, especially lighting systems. He operated Bright Ideas Lighting for a number of years. He purchased and subsequently extensively renovated two buildings on Carl Street. He resided in one or another of the distinctive apartments for all of the ensuing years. He

often lived in his own construction zones as he designed and executed his next renovations and improvements.

He was consulted for and mentioned in Justin Spring’s recent book The Secret Historian about the life of Samuel Steward.

Mr. McHenry loved dogs, especially the three boxers he kept in succession through the years, Tattoo, Puella, and Lacey. They loved to get out and walk all over the San Francisco peninsula from the N Street tunnel to Fort Funston and beyond.

Friends recalled that Mr. McHenry was a brilliant conversationalist, a charming companion, a consummate gentleman, and a blast to hang out with. He was always quick with a quip or a precise and insightful observation.

Mr. McHenry is survived by his friend Mark Skalsky, nephews David McHenry of Stone Mountain, Georgia and Billy McHenry of Carson City, Nevada; and nieces Marcia McHenry of Sandy Springs, Georgia and Jean Minuta of Washingtonville, New York. ▼

Spanish students arrested over chapel protest

Barcelona Mayor Jordi Hereu unveiled a monument March 20 to gay and transgender people persecuted throughout history.

with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to call for establishment of an LGBT rights “special rapporteur” (or special representative) at the Organization of American States.

In a statement issued three days later, the White House added: “President Obama believes that advancing the human rights of minorities and

cent of transgender people surveyed reported being fired or denied a job because they are transgender.

The “gender identity” language would protect not just people who are transitioning from one sex to another, but also those whose outward appearance does not conform with common expectations for their gender.

A press release from Frank’s office noted that there are no laws in 29 states to prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in employment and none in 38 states to prohibit gender identity discrimination.

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese issued a statement, pitching ENDA as a jobs bill, an appeal that would presumably attract more Republican support.

“Passing ENDA is a key element of making sure all Americans can get back to work and get our country moving again,” said Solmonese.

Lambda Legal Education and Defense Fund Executive Director Kevin Cathcart took a similar approach, saying, “With ENDA now re-introduced, it is time for Congress to make good on its promise to focus on the top priority of all Americans – good jobs and economic security.”

Republicans have said publicly they want to focus on jobs.

But Republicans have also indicated they want broad exemptions for religious organizations, and that is something that does not sit well for many supporters of ENDA. ▼

the marginalized is a fundamental American value. The president was pleased to announce during his trip to Brazil that he and President Rousseff agreed to promote respect for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals through the establishment of a special rapporteur on LGBT issues at the Organization of American States. This special rapporteur will be the first of its kind in the international system.”

Four students at Spain’s Madrid Complutense University were arrested March 18 by national police on charges of desecrating a place of worship.

Displaying slogans on their bare torsos, the four students and others entered the university’s Somosaguas Chapel and read out a manifesto against recent homophobic and macho statements made by Roman Catholic bishops and the pope.

Local reports said at least one female couple allegedly made out near the altar. The church reportedly was empty at the time but for two girls, one woman, and the chaplain.

If convicted, the protesters could spend up to a year in jail.

Sixty professors at the university have signed a manifesto supporting the protesters and secularism at the university but not “the manner in which [the protest] developed.”

Madrid’s archbishop later staged a “healing mass” at the chapel that was attended by about 1,000 people.▼ Bill Kelley contributed to this report.

12

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

COMMUNITY

Milk school ▼

page 1

the late supervisor, who was killed inside City Hall along with then-Mayor George Moscone in 1978.

“Last year we had budget cuts so extreme we lost six positions from the school budget. What we were able to do is save three of those positions for that year. But it gets us in a situation of now every year we have to come up with additional funds to get those

three positions,” said Dunn.

Enrollment at the school is expected to grow from 247 students to 251 at the start of the new school year this August. Half of those students will come from families facing socioeconomic issues and qualify for free or reduced lunch.

“The student body is getting bigger but the resources necessary are not. In terms of resources to support the dynamical types of students we serve, absolutely not,” said the school’s principal, Christina Velasco.

With the school’s parent population unable to afford the burden by itself, it is reaching out to the larger LGBT community and corporate donors for help.

“Because public schools are getting less federal and state funding, it really does take a village to raise a child. We are really glad we are situated in the Castro and have wonderful, beautiful people who support our public schools,” said Velasco.

Last year the school initiated its Milk Day-inspired fundraising drive

EQCA

Mixed bag on marriage Besides the successes, however, Kors is also known for the unsuccessful campaign to defeat Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban that California voters passed in November 2008.

While the No on 8 campaign kept pace with the Yes on 8 side in the money race – each raised more than $40 million in what became the most expensive social-issue initiative race ever – the campaign was hampered by ineffective TV ads and slow responses to the fear-mongering by protectmarriage.com. Kors and Kate Kendell of the National Center for Lesbian Rights were only two of the 16 people on the No on 8 executive committee, but they became the public faces of the campaign. Kors bore the brunt of the LGBT community’s anger in the months following Prop 8’s passage.

This week, he said the campaign was “a 24/7 effort, and having the voters take away our rights was a painful experience, I think, for the whole community.”

Last November, EQCA saw the most successful elections in its histo-

Puerto Vallarta ▼

page 8

Accommodations Casa Cupula, owned by San Franciscan Don Pickens, is a gay boutique hotel and one of the finest hotels – gay or straight – in Puerto Vallarta. It is on a hill just a short 10minute walk from Olas Altas and the heart of gay Puerto Vallarta. Amenities include a new gym, a pool, and two hot tubs. Continental breakfast is included in the hotel’s fabulous Taste Restaurant. The restaurant is worth stopping by for cocktails or for a meal anytime. It’s easy to see why this place consistently gets great reviews.

The Blue Chairs Hotel, under the direction of gay American sales manager James Berryman, is getting better than ever. A second rooftop deck and a new wading pool were added on top of the roof deck. Blue Chairs also has a couple of lookout decks on top of the top floor, complete with a replica Statue of Liberty.

All the hotel’s rooms have been re-

Rick Gerharter

Kors, 49, announced his decision to resign in December, saying at the time, “I felt I’m ready to do some different things.”

He joined EQCA on April 1, 2002 and quickly set about re-branding what had been known as the California Alliance for Pride and Equality, which formed in 1998.

In an interview this week, Kors said the toughest time was his first two years at the organization, when there were only two staff, the organization was in debt, and there was no office.

“It was touch and go whether we were going to be able to keep a statewide LGBT organization in California,” said Kors.

At the time he joined EQCA, California’s same-sex couples had less than 15 legal rights and protections; there are now more than 400. There are also more employment and housing protections for transgender people.

EQCA, which also includes the educational branch Equality California Institute, now has a budget of roughly $6 million to $6.5 million.

Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs and Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors talked outside the federal courthouse in San Francisco before the Proposition 8 trial began last January.

ry, and some of the results could help gain marriage equality in California.

Every candidate that the group’s political action committee endorsed for statewide office won, including Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris, both Democrats.

EQCA boasts of only endorsing candidates “who are 100 percent for full equality.” For the first time in decades, all of California’s top state officeholders are now Democrats.

When he was attorney general, Brown refused to defend Prop 8 in court, and Harris has said she won’t join the case either. Their positions could be critical as backers of the measure are appealing a federal judge’s ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.

A 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel has asked the state Supreme Court to weigh in on whether Prop 8’s supporters have standing to bring forward the case. Kors and others are hopeful that without Brown and Harris’s support, Prop 8 will become a thing of the past and marriage rights for same-sex couples will be restored.

Legislative record Kors has pointed to last year as the most successful legislative session in EQCA’s history. Termed-out Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed several EQCA-sponsored bills, including a bill aimed at helping youths obtain mental health counseling without parental consent.

However, Schwarzenegger also vetoed some EQCA-backed bills, includmodeled and the hotel is fighting to repair the damage to its reputation during the rocky transition between the former owners, who had leased the hotel to the current owners, who are the longtime owners of the building.

Hotel Mercurio is a great choice in the heart of gay Puerto Vallarta, just a half-block from Olas Altas street. Its budget rates include a fabulous buffet breakfast. This is particularly a good place for anyone traveling alone. You will easily make new friends at breakfast or during the hotel’s poolside daily cocktail hour.

The Hotel Amaca underwent a complete top-to-bottom renovation following its previous incarnation as the Descanso del Sol. The hotel is on a hill just a five-minute walk from the heart of gay Zona Romantica. It prominently displays the rainbow flag at the top of its upper deck.

Eating out The Swedes Restaurant is owned by a Swedish couple who took over the old space occupied by the Picnic Restaurant. The space is built into a hillside on Olas Altas and features

ing one that would have clarified members of the clergy do not have to perform same-sex marriages.

Proposals that EQCA is supporting this year address school safety and transgender rights, among other issues.

In a recent interview, out state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who’s worked with EQCA on numerous bills, praised Kors.

Kors is “so creative in his legal expertise,” said Leno, and “we have accomplished more than any other state.”

Leno said that someone involved in the search for Kors’s replacement had asked him what “the talent base” should be and pointed out that Leno and his colleagues “have accomplished everything, short of marriage.”

“There will be less legislating to do,” said Leno, which raises the question, “What’s the organization’s ongoing mission?”

Kors gave some indications of that in an interview this week. He said that Matt Bunch, a former aide for out Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), and Daniel Gould, who’s been deputy director of EQCA’s LGBT Health and Human Services Network, joined EQCA’s Sacramento staff in the past month and a half.

He said that tasks there would include trying to prevent cuts to LGBT health and human services and obtaining funding for organizations that do culturally competent work in those areas.

Morgan Granander, left, and Rikard Ekbom, right, are owners of the Swedes Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta.

great street views and nice ocean breezes. While everyone is welcome, the owners boast that they proudly are a gay restaurant. The restaurant features dishes from different parts of Europe and yes, even a Swedish dish or two.

▼

and raised $65,000 toward its goal of $80,000, said Velasco. It also hosted a pancake breakfast and carnival the day of the holiday to raise funds; both events will be coming back this year but will take place Saturday, May 21.

The school hopes this year’s Milkthemed fundraiser will result in 200 donors signing up to contribute at least $25 on a monthly basis. It is also looking for businesses and corporations willing to make matching grants.

“The Milk Money Campaign is a way for us to continue to do a lot of

the programming we do at our school,” said Velasco. “The local businesses in the Castro have been incredibly generous. We are really reaching out to corporate donors who can do some matching funds.”

Those interested can enroll online starting next week through the website www.friendsofharveymilk.org.

“We would love it if we had 200 people sign up for recurring donations at the $25 or $50 level. Our treasurer would get up and do a little dance,” said Dunn.▼

In addition, said Kors, EQCA’s formed a federal political action committee, so it will not only be endorsing in federal races, but will also be “playing a much larger role in congressional and Senate races, which is going to be critical, given the redistricting next year.” The boundaries for legislative and congressional districts in the state are expected to be redrawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission by the end of the year.

Rick Jacobs, the out chairman and founder of the progressive Courage Campaign, which works for full equality in California and nationwide said he met Kors “years and years ago when EQCA was still a small organization, maybe more of an idea in some ways than it was a reality.”

The two men have been at odds at times, with Courage viewed as a more grassroots organization to EQCA’s more button-down approach. Both groups waged canvassing efforts in 2009 to persuade voters to support marriage equality after the state Supreme Court upheld Prop 8 and it appeared that there might be an initiative on a future ballot to restore marriage rights. During the community-wide debate over whether to return to the ballot in 2010 or 2012, Courage (2010) and EQCA (2012) came down on opposite sides of the matter. As it turned out, however, there was no ballot measure last year, largely because the large organizations like Courage and EQCA took a wait and see stance after the filing of the federal Prop 8 lawsuit.

Jacobs said through tenacity, strategy, and commitment, Kors has “accomplished an enormous amount for LGBT people in California.”

Asked if he’d applied for Kors’s job, Jacobs said, “No” and laughed. “I’m a little busy,” he said.

tive director post.

Another applicant for the job is Molly McKay, who had previously worked with EQCA and is currently national media director for Marriage Equality USA and an attorney.

McKay said what EQCA needs to do next is engage the community and solicit feedback from allies, elected officials, and others, and have regional town halls.

“Geoff has been so successful in advancing the legislative agenda, that there needs to be a new look” to see how the organization can serve and support continued education, outreach, and advocacy, she said.

Robin McGehee, who co-founded the national group GetEqual, also praised Kors, saying that, among other things, he “created an amazing landslide of LGBT legislation in California that began to set a bar and precedent for other states to look to about creating state rights while we wait on federal rights.”

McGehee, who once criticized EQCA for not being supportive enough of the 2009 Meet in the Middle for Equality rally she helped organize in Fresno, said she wouldn’t consider taking on the EQCA director’s job herself.

“Fundraising is just not my forte,” she said. Kors has been a prolific fundraiser, and developing relationships with donors is one of the specific duties listed in the job description.

Cary Davidson, chair of the EQCA board’s search committee, said about 50 people have applied for Kors’s position. He said the search firm Morris and Berger has been asked to get additional information from approximately half of the applicants.

Davidson said that pool includes “a very diverse group of people from inside and outside the state of California.” He said the hope is for the new executive director to be selected by the end of May or beginning of June.

Candidates for next director Jim Carroll, EQCA’s managing director, will become interim executive director Friday, April 1. He said his plans involve “keeping the ship steady.”

Carroll’s current salary is $130,000.

He said he didn’t know what he’d be paid for the interim position.

“I hope they give me a bonus, but I’ll see,” said Carroll. Kors’s salary is $180,000.

Carroll also said, “I have thrown my hat in the ring” to keep the execu-

Ed Walsh

▼

page 1

NEWS

The gay-owned El Mole de Jovita Restaurant is known for its gourmet mole, the famous Mexican sauce.

The upscale beachfront Club Lido Restaurant opened in November and has already drawn a loyal following. It’s just north of the Blue Chairs Beach.

El Arrayan, in downtown Puerto Vallarta, makes it to the top of everyone’s list as one of the best Mexican restaurants in Mexico. It’s owned by Carmen Porras, an out lesbian originally from Mexico City.

The aforementioned Taste Restaurant at Casa Cupula is a restaurant not to be missed for gourmet food with great views but with moderate prices.

Getting there and around Alaska Air and United fly nonstop to Puerta Vallarta from San Francisco International. The flight is a little over three hours.

A taxi from the airport to Zona Romantica costs about $25. It’s about $10 cheaper to get a taxi back to the airport because taxis are accessed a fee to pick passengers up at the airport.

Plans for the future Kors said that he and his partner, James Williamson, who works at a private equity firm, would take a break for several months, starting in June, and do some traveling. They plan to base themselves in Palm Springs.

After that, said Kors, “Whether it’s a staff position or a board position, I intend to be fully engaged in continuing to fight for LGBT equality.”▼ A much better way to go is to reserve a car through Diana’s Tours (www.dianastours.com). It only costs $20 for the same ride and you will be treated like a VIP with someone holding your name on a sign as soon as you exit customs.

You can also walk the pedestrian bridge across the highway to the yellow taxis on the other side. Fares are negotiable but expect to pay $5-$10 less than you would pay for a taxi from the airport.

Once you get in town, cab fares are set at 40 pesos, or about $3.35, for anywhere within the Romantic Zone or downtown. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips unless they give you extra service such as helping you with luggage. As mentioned, Puerto Vallarta is very walkable but it’s a good idea to take a cab back to your hotel late at night if you are alone or have had a lot to drink.

For more information, the excellent guide, Gay Guide Vallarta, is published by former Bay Area resident Mark Page, and is a great resource. You can pick up a free hard copy in town or check it out online at www.gayguidevallarta.com.▼

14

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

â–ź

CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL SERVICES

LEGAL NOTICES STATEMENT FILE A-033387000

STATEMENT FILE A-033425800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as VIET DUONG CO. LTD.,150 Escolta Way,San Francisco,CA 94116.

This business is conducted by an individual, signed Jack Vy Viet Duong. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on 03/01/11. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/02/11.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as VICTORIOUS ADAPTATIONS, 3334 San Bruno Ave.,#6, San Francisco,CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Victor Williams. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on 03/17/11. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/17/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033415700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as REGENCY COMMONS I, 3344 Fillmore St.,San Francisco,CA 94123. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, signed Jonathan Soffer. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on NA. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/14/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033415600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as REGENCY COMMONS II, 3334 Fillmore St.,San Francisco,CA 94123. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, signed Jonathan Soffer. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on NA. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/14/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033368300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as MAX MAIDS, 207 Peabody St.,San Francisco,CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Haileab Gebreselassie. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on NA. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/23/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033426000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as BEST OF TIMES VINTAGE,685 Lakeview Ave.,San Francisco,CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Lorry Thomas. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on NA. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/17/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033429700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as REAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, 1234 Castro St.,San Francisco,CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Jeffrey J. Panzer. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on 10/01/10. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/21/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-032656700 The following persons have abandoned the use of the ďŹ cticious business name known as CAFE PESCATORE,2455 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94133. This business was conducted by a limited liability company, signed Evan M. Mallah. The ďŹ cticious name was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/23/10.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011

COUNSELING PSYCHOTHERAPY Individuals & Couples Work Gay Men’s Therapy Groups DAVE COOPERBERG LIC # MFT 12549

(415) 431-3220 www.TruthAndCompassion.com

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011

Serving the Bay Area Since 1973

The following person(s) is/are doing business as STAR EAST HAIR & BEAUTY(II), 1100 Clement St.,San Francisco,CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Joe Chan. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on NA. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/10/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033421900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as KAHN & ASSOCIATES,1550 Bay St.,#251,San Francisco,CA 94123.

This business is conducted by an individual, signed Howard Kahn. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on 06/15/93. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/16/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033448900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as CASTRO LOCKSMITH, 2616 24TH Ave.,San Francisco,CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Stephen Green. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on 08/01/91. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/29/11.

MAR 31,APR 7,14,21,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033446600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as PEGASUS BUILDERS, 250 Olmstead St.,San Francisco,CA 94134.

This business is conducted by an individual, signed Gearoid O’Sullivan. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ďŹ ctitious business name or names on NA. The statement was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/28/11.

BANKRUPTCY

PATRICK MCMAHON ATTORNEY AT LAW

(415) 543-9338 ~ Hablamos Espanol We Specialize in: Chapter 7 & Chapter 13 703 Market Street, Ste 1109 San Francisco, CA FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

TECH SUPPORT MACINTOSH HELP

WWW.QUEERHYPNO.COM Hot Mental Resources - Results.

E13W

COUNSELORS CHECK OUT THE NEW IMPROVED BAY AREA REPORTER ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS @

Law Offices

SHELLEY S. FEINBERG, ESQ.

WWW.EBAR.COM

Serving the gay community since 1999

Upload Photos and Video and

GET RESULTS!

• Probate • Wills and Living Trusts • LLC/contracts • TIC Agreements • Domestic Partnership

MAR 31,APR 7,14,21,2011

Flood Building 870 Market St.

With BAR classiďŹ ed advertising Call David @ 415-861-5019 for more info

EIB

CAREGIVER

FLAT FEE shelleyfeinberg.com 415.421.1893

Male Caregiver Looking for room for exchange. I have excellent references.

I would be home at night, ďŹ x breakfast and dinner. I have to work for beneďŹ ts outside the home.

415-713-3275

* home or office * 20 years exp * sfmacman.com

E15W

Rick 415.821.1792

NURSING SERVICES

LICENSED MALE NURSE 41 Seeks A Home Health Care Position.

Interested in a long term commitment to a chronic or acutely ill patient. Providing assitance in daily living. Please Contact Michael @ 415-595-8540

E14W

The following persons have abandoned the use of the ďŹ cticious business name known as CAFE PESCATORE,425 North Point, San Francisco, CA 94133. This business was conducted by a limited liability company, signed Evan M. Mallah. The ďŹ cticious name was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/19/10.

CATERING

ebar.com

TACOS FOR YOUR PARTIES Looking for Taco Bar Catering?

We offer Mexican tacos and more. We use 100% Mesquite. Meats grilled on site. www.takobarcatering.com Juanita Repetto 888-351-6218

TAX DIRECTORY

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-032501402

E13W

W.E.L. Tax Services You work hard for your money, let us work smart to help you keep it!

The following persons have abandoned the use of the ďŹ cticious business name known as TUSCAN INN,425 North Point, San Francisco, CA 94133.This business was conducted by a limited liability company, signed Evan M. Mallah. The ďŹ cticious name was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/19/10.

Bill Lentini

u

415-252-7552

www.weltax.com

]

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-027586800

To advertise, call David @ 415-861-5019 or for more details.

Troubleshooting. Installation. Tutoring.

We’ll fix your computer - PC or Mac at your home or office throughout the Bay Area

PC/Mac troubleshooting: Rob Cohen 415.244-3305 rob@sfcomputech.com

E14W

ebar.com

Feel lost?

Feel like a Monster?

Call one of the counselors you see here!

ADVERTISE YOUR TAX SERVICE IN THE BAY AREA REPORTER CLASSIFIEDS

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011

Improve Self-Esteem Develop Meaningful Relationships Master Self-Defeating Patterns Overcome Anxiety & Depression Move beyond Fear & Grief Become More Fully Alive

STATEMENT FILE A-033407600

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-032501401

The following persons have abandoned the use of the ďŹ cticious business name known as CORE PILATES ON 17TH, 3388 17th St.,San Francisco, CA 94110.This business was conducted by a limited liability company, signed Chandler Moore.

The ďŹ cticious name was ďŹ led with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/07/04.

• • • • • •

or find one online at: ebar.com EIIBW

DOMESTIC PARTER TAXES Website: http://hrblock.com H&R Block is the expert in the intricacies of California’s QualiďŹ ed Domestic Partner taxes. 800hrblock to set up an appointment today.

E15W

BOOKS FOR SALE Night Flight https://www.smashwords.com/books/v iew/42746 Love. Guilt. Obsession. Passion.

Determination. Emotions and events collide between a woman, her daughter and her same-sex partner in this lesbian ďŹ ction eBook by new novelist Alessa Adamo. Only .99 at Smashwords.com. Use coupon code LN63P at checkout. Avail in all eBook formats. Expires May 20, 2011.

E13W

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER 15

▼

CLASSIFIEDS

RENTALS

HOUSEHOLD SERVICES

MOVERS

LUZ HOTEL • Daily $65/Nite • • Gay & Pet Friendly • 415-928-1917

E VA N T E R Z U L L I ʼ S

GOT CATS?

CAT CAREGIVER AVAILABLE

Room 4 Rent In the Modesto Area.

Call Jim @ 209-840-2043 After 3pm

E16W

SAN FRANCISCO RENTAL GEM! At top of Silver Terrace Hill House.Hilltop View. Garden. Garage 2 Bedrm. 2 Bath, 2 Large Closets.

New Appliances + Washer & Dryer Double Pane Windows. W/W carpets. $2000/Mo. Leave Msg. 510-814-9875

Free 1/2 hour consultation Call Jeanine 415 861-7216 (SF) GAY OPERATED FOR OVER 30 YEARS

E13W

SFO_CARPENTER @SBCGLOBAL.NET

CLOUD 9 CANINE Dog walking, pet sitting, play groups.

Insured, CPR Certified, Dog Tech Certified. Excellent References.

Sky 415-531-5905 sky@cloud9canine.com

Check it out @ Call David @ 415-861-5019 for more details

NEED EIB

Hauling 24/7 441-1054 Lg. Truck

Architecturally Remodel on 7+ acres. 3 bed, 2 bath home plus cottage. Fireplace, open beam ceilings, 6-Brn.Dynasty range, open floor plan, sunroom.$595,000. www. 200austincreek.com Call Terri Mironicki 707-953-7654

ebar.com

BAY AREA REPORTER CLASSIFIEDS - GET RESULTS!

EI B

E15W

For expanded Classified and Personal listings, visit the BAYAREAREPORTER online at:

E15W

MAXWELL PARK TUDOR $492,000 - 4715 Allendale Ave. Oakland Open Sun 1:30 - 4 pm, 3 bdrm, 1 bath, updated, hdwd floors, fp landscaped yard.

Traci Lewis (510) 677-6674

ELECTRICIAN?

REMODELING, TROUBLESHOOTING, SERVICE CHANGES NO JOB TOO SMALL • LOW RATES LIC# 897793

POST PICTURES UPLOAD VIDEO

HAULING

AN

IN HOME OR OFFICE Call 415-577-1665 Peter

USE BAY AREA REPORTER’S ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS @ WWW.EBAR.COM

BAYAREAREPORTER

415-407-2765

CA. Lic# 731608

GET A JUMP ON YOUR COMPETITION

WWW.EBAR.COM

TWIN PINNACLES CONSTRUCTION FROM THE FOUNDATIOIN TO THE FINISH

COLORFAST PAINTING CO.

License #939026

• Commercial/Residential • Interior/Exterior • Quality Craftsmanship • Over 20 Yrs. Experience

E13W

WWW.GAYREALESTATE.COM Instant Free Database of San Francisco's Top Gay Realtors

• Bath/Kitchen Remodel • Windows/Siding • Decks/Dry Rot • Remodels

(415) 350-4801

E14W

UPLOAD 5 PHOTOS, AND A STREAMING VIDEO TO SHOW OFF YOUR PROPERTY!

Ashfield Construction

YRS LOCAL REFERENCES

Housecleaning since 1979.

Many original clients. All supplies.

HEPA Vac. Richard 415-255-0389

CHECK OUT OUR NEW IMPROVED CLASSIFIEDS ONLINE

CAZADERO

A Full2 0 Service. Handyman

E17W

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

EI B

Handyman Services

Cleaning Professional 25 Years Exp (415) 664-0513 * Roger Miller

REAL ESTATE

BAY AREA REPORTER CLASSIFIEDS -GET RESULTS!

UPKEEP

Remodeling • Foundations Additions • Kitchens Bathrooms • Decks • Painting

FREE ESTIMATES (415) 238-9349

(415) 861-7167....

13W

Call for Free Estimate colorfast@gmail.com

ebar.com

CA Lic. # 786219

Brookline Electric 415-239-5393 Small Jobs Now

E08W

CASTRO MAINTENANCE CO (415)724-2097 anthonycastro4@aol.com

BAYAREAREPORTER DEADLINE NOON on MONDAY. Payment must accompany ad.

No ads taken over the telephone. If you have a question, call 415.861.5019.

Display advertising rates available upon request.

RATES Newspaper and website:

First line, Regular All subsequent lines Web or e-mail hyperlink

8.00 5.00 5.00

CAPS

double price

BOLD

double price

X-BOLD triple price PAYMENT ■ Cash ■ Personal Check ■ Money Order ■ Visa ■ MasterCard ■ American Express Minimum $10 charge.

Indicate Type Style Here ▼

CLASSIFIED ORDER FORM

X-BOLD Stops Here ▼

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

E12W

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

CONTACT INFORMATION

Card Number

Name

Expiration Date

Address

Signature

City

Name

Number of Issues

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

CAPS Stop Here ▼

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

CREDIT CARD PAYMENT

I I I I I I I I I I I I

BOLD Stops Here ▼

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

Regular Stops Here ▼

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

MAIL WITH PAYMENT TO: Bay Area Reporter 395 Ninth Street SF, CA 94103

Telephone

OR FAX TO: State

Zip

415.861.8144

OR E-MAIL: Classification

Amount Enclosed

baradv@aol.com

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

▼

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

COMMUNITY

News Briefs ▼

page 5

skill sets and with an increased sense of connection to the community.”

Tuition to this one-day event is a suggested donation of $10 and includes lunch. But no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with lunch at noon. Classes will be over by 5 p.m.

To see the complete class and workshop schedule, visit the RCC website (www.rainbowcc.org) or check out the center’s Facebook page.

People can pre-register by contacting Alpha at alpha@rainbowcc.org or (925) 692-0090, ext. 5. The center is located at 3024 Willow Pass Road, Suite 200, in Concord.

Harris to speak at Family Walk State Attorney General Kamala Harris will be the special guest speaker at Beyond Differences’ second annual Family Walk and barbecue luncheon on Saturday, April 2 in Mill Valley.

Beyond Differences is a nonprofit that relies on the leadership of an 11member teen board of directors that facilitates upper elementary, middle school, and freshman high school assembly programs about social isolation.

The event will honor the teen board and will feature the premiere of a new film about social isolation in schools.

The Family Walk begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the barbecue luncheon at noon and a program at 1 p.m.

Events take place at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto.

Beyond Differences was started by the parents of Lili Rachel Smith, 15, a high school freshman who died in her

DADT ▼

page 1

members United, a DADT repeal advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. The organization requested data under the Freedom of Information Act, which provides for public disclosure of documents and information controlled by the federal government.

Roughly three-fourths, or 180 of the 250 discharges from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, fell under the category of “statement,” according to a March 4 DADT separations tally provided by the Defense Manpower Data Center. Another 65 discharges were in the category of “act,” with five discharges classified as “marriage.”

The information provided by the Coast Guard to Servicemembers United did not include classification categories for its discharge numbers.

Overall, the Army led the way in total number of discharges, tossing out 93 soldiers. The Air Force discharged 64 airmen, the Navy booted 54 sailors, and the Corps discharged 39 marines.

Across the four branches, statement discharges accounted for twice as many as those categorized as act, except for the Army, which reported four times as many – 74 classified as statement compared to 18 categorized as act.

The 2010 fiscal year time period for the numbers reported ran from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010.

“While this latest official discharge number represents an all-time annual low, it is still unusually high considering that the secretary of defense issued a directive half-way through the fiscal year to make it much harder for military units to discharge troops under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” said Alexander Nicholson, executive director of Servicemembers United.

Nicholson was referring to guidelines, issued last March by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, designed to reduce the number of gay discharges.

There were several regulatory policy changes last year, as debate raged over repealing the anti-gay policy. One raised the rank of military officer who could initiate investigations and authorize separations to flag officer – admiral or general. Another change disallowed “hearsay” and “overheard statements,” along with confidential or privileged information as trigger

13

NEWS

sleep in October 2009 due to medical complications. The organization has grown in popularity because of its unique leadership team and the recent media coverage of school bullying.

Tickets to the event are $25 each or $50 for a family. More information can be found on the Beyond Differences Facebook page.

New ‘circle’ groups for gay men On Saturday, April 2, Gay Community Circles will kick off its spring program to bring together gay men to break a sense of isolation and loneliness, and instead build meaningful relationships and community.

Gay Community Circles is an eight-week program where gay men meet for a two-hour discussion on specific topics every week. These topics include: growing up gay, coming out, love and relationships, sex and sexuality, health and wellness, and others.

Joselito Laudencia, coordinator for the San Francisco Gay Community Circles, noted that each circle is deliberately kept small and has no more than 10 participants in order for each person to share fully their thoughts.

There are several circles on different days and times, and different locations in the city, to accommodate participant schedules.

While the kick-off event is free, each circle costs $75 for the remaining eight weeks.

The kick-off takes place from 10 a.m. to noon at SFSEC, 2118 Hayes Street (at Cole). For more information and to register, go to gaycommunitycircles.com.▼ More News Briefs are online.

mechanisms for fact-finding investigations of suspected violators of the policy. Additionally, a third party was no longer considered as a “reliable source” of information for initiating investigations.

The 261 discharges last year are significantly lower than numbers from previous years. By comparison, 499 members of the armed forces were discharged under DADT in the 2009 fiscal year, with 715 discharged in 2008 and 696 tossed out in 2007, according to a count by Servicemembers United.

Altogether, 14,316 military personnel have been discharged under the policy, according to the organization’s unofficial count, which included the National Guard.

And yet, Nicholson said, “Despite this law clearly being on its deathbed at the time, 261 more careers were terminated and 261 more lives were abruptly turned upside down because of this policy.”

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said the findings point to the need to quicken the implementation of last year’s legislation repealing DADT. “Even one discharge under the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy is too many,” Sarvis said. “These numbers underscore the need to accelerate the timeline for training and repeal. The reality is that investigations continue and service members are still in danger of being discharged. We look forward to certification by Secretary Gates, Chairman Mullen, and the president as we move toward full repeal. Until we achieve full equality for all LGBT service members, the job is not done.”

During a lame-duck session of Congress last year, a bipartisan majority of lawmakers voted to repeal DADT and President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law on December 22.

But before the ban is lifted, Obama, Gates, and Mullen must certify that openly gay service will not undermine military readiness and effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the armed forces.

The various military branches are currently training their forces in order to implement the policy change. Gates has said he will not recommend certification until training for repeal is implemented throughout the service branches.

After certification, a 60-day congressional review period is also required before DADT is finally repealed.▼

BAYAREAREPORTER

CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

STATEMENT FILE A-033363900

41 ON-SALE BEER AND WINE EATING PLACE MAR 17,24,31, 2011

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are:BUN MEE LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at:2015 Fillmore St,San Francisco, CA 94115-2708. Type of license applied for:

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are:MISSION BAY FOODS COMPANY LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at:2 Henry Adams St,San Francisco, CA 94103-5016. Type of license applied for:

41 ON-SALE BEER AND WINE EATING PLACE MAR 17,24,31, 2011

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are:FARES H MOHAMED, MOHAMED ABDULLA MOHAMED, NAGI H MOHAMED. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at:500 Bayshore Blvd.,San Francisco, CA 94124.

Type of license applied for:

21 OFF SALE GENERAL MAR 17,24,31, 2011

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are:AMERICAN AIRLINES INC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at:San Francisco International Airport Terminal 2 SP D2 205,San Francisco, CA 94128-3161. Type of license applied for:

51- CLUB MAR 17,24, 31, 2011

STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE# CNC-11-547563

In the matter of the application of JENNIFER KRISTY KERN for change of name and change of gender. The application of JENNIFER KRISTY KERN for change of name and change of gender having been filed in Court, and it appearing from said application that JENNIFER KRISTY KERN filed an application proposing that his/her name be changed to JONATHAN FLYNN KERN and his/her gender be changed from female to male.

Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Room 218 on the 5th of May, 2011 at 9:00 am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033400200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as YUMI BOUTIQUE, 1737 Post St.,#301,San Francisco, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Mei Ng. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 3/08/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/08/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033396500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as AESTHETIC LASER CONCEPTS, 490 Post St.,#1701,San Francisco, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Nui Laosaengthong. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 3/01/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/07/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033383700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DESIGUAL, 101 Powell St.,San Francisco, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company signed Thomas Meyer. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/30/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/02/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

The following person(s) is/are doing business as AMANA MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, 1298 Valencia St.,San Francisco, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a general partnership signed Francis Hamdi. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/22/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/22/11.

STATEMENT FILE A-033392700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as 1.YOBOKRA PRESS, 2.YOBOKRA, 555 Clayton St., #30,San Francisco, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual signed Charles Schoellenbach. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/04/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/04/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033379000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as QUIC PIC GROCERIES, 2146 Mission St.,San Francisco, CA 94110.

This business is conducted by an individual signed Gwen Ma. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/28/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033339200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LOVEBIRD PHOTOGRAPHY, 1359 Hayes St., #7,San Francisco, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual signed Jen Siska. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/10/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/10/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033380900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CUMAICA COFFEE CO., 2800 California St., San Francisco, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual signed Sergio Guerrero. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/01/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033387300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DIESEL DELIVERY SF, 237 Kearny St., #289,San Francisco, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual signed William Hoag. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/02/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/02/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033381200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE CITY SMOKE SHOP AND GIFTS, 644 Polk St.,San Francisco,CA 94102. This business is conducted by a husband and wife, signed Teofilo Pena. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/01/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033343400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE LIVING ROOM, 1735 Polk St.,San Francisco,CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, signed Linda Nguyen. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/11/11.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-0320106-00 The following persons have abandoned the use of the ficticious business name known as DIBBS BBQ & GRILL,1109 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 94115. This business was conducted by an individual, signed Issa Dabai. The ficticious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/21/09.

MAR 10,17,24,31,2011

ebar.com

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are:KATANA YA SF LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at:422B Geary St. San Francisco, CA 94102-1223. Type of license applied for:

41 ON-SALE BEER AND WINE EATING PLACE MAR 24,31,APR 7,2011

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are:CHILLI CHA CHA THAI NOODLE CAFE. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at:3166 24th St. San Francisco, CA 94110-4033. Type of license applied for:

41 ON-SALE BEER AND WINE EATING PLACE MAR 24,31,APR 7,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033419200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LIMO TRANSPORTATION, 2142 42nd Ave.,San Francisco,CA 94116.

This business is conducted by an individual, signed Kwok Man Chan. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/15/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/15/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033416000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as 780 SWEETS, 161 Capp St.,San Francisco,CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Kristopher Ramirez. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/14/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033413100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as INGENIOUS3D.,123 10th St.,San Francisco,CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Christopher Sherrill. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/11/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/11/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033378600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LA FARMACIA, 2600 Lawton St.,San Francisco,CA 94112. This business is conducted by a general partnership, signed Michael Walker. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/25/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/28/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033408200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SERENA MITNIK-MILLER, 1502 Great Highway,San Francisco,CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Mara Serena St. Peter.

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/10/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033356100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as OPEN IMAGERY,588 Sutter St.,San Francisco,CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, signed Charles H. Anderson. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/17/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011

STATEMENT FILE A-033388900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE ALL FAMILY PROJECT, 1800 Market St.,PMB 89,San Francisco,CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Charles H. Anderson.

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/19/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/03/11.

MAR 17,24,31,APR 7,2011

Masterpiece Theatre for the win

Trophy matron

Butterfly kisses

‘Upstairs Downstairs: Complete Series, 40th Anniversary Edition,’ plus new series on PBS.

Catherine Deneuve stars in Francois Ozon’s film ‘Potiche.’

Custom Made Theatre Company mounts a revival of ‘M. Butterfly.’

page 28

page 23

page 21

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

BAYAREAREPORTER

Vol. 41 . No. 13 . 31 March 2011

▼

Mother of all

melodramas

Director Todd Haynes on re-making ‘Mildred Pierce’

Evan Rachel Wood and Kate Winslet in Todd Haynes’ Mildred Pierce.

by David Lamble

y Courtesy HBO

T

If you’re a true fan of Crawford’s impressively underplayed career comeback, if you relish Blyth’s monster vixen and Jack Carson and Eve Arden’s pushy best friends, or the film’s shotgun marriage of feminine melodrama and manly noir, you may have a gag reflex toward any revisionist version, however faithful to Cain’s novel. But if you’re open to a totally fresh take on Mildred, scrubbed clean of noir but resonating with the reality of a driven mother sur-

viving the Great Depression determined to see that her daughters have everything denied her, then the miniseries, overflowing with rambunctious, hard-drinking characters, may prove as addictive as one of Mildred’s home-baked pies.

Adapted by Haynes and Jon Raymond with copious chunks of Cain’s signature dialogue, Mildred Pierce is a tour de force of the Depression-era world where men were mothballed from the workforce

while women enjoyed perks first envisioned during the 1920s’ unprecedented prosperity. The new Mildred is explicit not only erotically, but also about the revised rules for extramarital affairs. In episode 1, no sooner has Mildred (the implacably

Split image: the life of Ethel Waters • by Tavo Amador

A

portant recording star, successful vaudevillian, nightclub and radio performer, a major musical and dramatic Broadway actress, star of several movies and many television shows. She was famous for her devout if unconventional Catholicism, and infamous for her vicious temper, foul language, and cruel treatment of others. Yet her image was warm and loving. She managed her career with fierce tenacity. Her fluid love life included guilt-free affairs

•••SECOND

OF

with women and men.

Born (1896) near Philadelphia to a teenage mother who had been raped and felt ashamed about it, she grew up in poverty amidst a troubled family. Her maternal grandmother provided the only consistent affection she received. Tall (5’9”), skinny, and too dark to be considered pretty, she nonetheless believed she

▼

lthough Ethel Waters’ 1977 death was front-page news in The New York Times and other major newspapers, to many readers she was simply an overweight character actress. As Donald Bogle shows in Heat Wave: The Life and Career of Ethel Waters (HarperCollins, $26.99), she was much more. Her accomplishments were exceptional for any artist, but astonishing for an African-American woman of her generation. She was an im-

page 28

TWO

SECTIONS•••

▼

his past week I was privileged to watch Mildred Pierce and Mildred Pierce: first the sumptuously produced, impeccably cast, hilarious at times and always scrupulously faithful version of James M. Cain’s provocative Depression-era novel mounted for HBO by queer auteur/provocateur Todd Haynes, and then the 1945 Joan Crawford/Ann Blyth/ Michael Curtiz Oscar-winning warhorse that is still one hell of an entertaining ride.

page 28

18

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

OUT

THERE

▼

Rites of spring San Francisco Botanical Garden Society

R

“Rosa Californica” by Maria Cecilia Freeman, part of Rose Studies at the Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture.

plants she paints in her own garden.

She works from live plants, revisiting the roses at different times of the year to capture their development. Many of these varieties grow in the SF Botanical Garden. Freeman’s work features wild and older garden rose varieties, and emphasizes species that have played a critical role in the development of widely-grown garden roses. Turns out a rose is not just a rose is a rose.

Room for a quick concert tip: on Sunday, April 3, 4 p.m., singer Jil Aigrot appears in concert at Kanbar Hall, JCCSF, 3200 California St.As a concert singer, Aigrot is known from popular French television shows Qui Est Qui and C’est L’ete, and in 2006, she was cast as the voice of Edith Piaf in the film La Vie en Rose. Tix ($45-$55): (415) 292-1233 or www.jccsf.org/arts.

All earthly beauty must perish, and of course the world lost a major beauty with the passing of Elizabeth Taylor last week. Amador will offer an appreciation of her life and career in our next issue. But no less a loss last week was that of great 20th-century gay playwright Lanford Wilson, 73. Wilson was a pioneer in creating gay characters in plays that visit gay lives like Fifth of July and The Hot l Baltimore.

Rest in springtime peace.

Publish, not perish The 23rd annual Triangle Awards, honoring the best lesbian and gay fiction, nonfiction, and poetry published in 2010, will be presented on April 28 in New York City. The Publishing Triangle is an association of lesbians and gay men in publishing.

Author Alan Hollinghurst is the 2011 recipient of the Bill Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement, named in honor of the legendary editor of the 1970s-80s. Hollinghurst, a novelist, scholar, and activist, won the Man Booker prize for his fourth novel, The Line of Beauty, in 2004. Since his dazzling debut The Swimming Pool Li-

Steven Underhill

Waters, despite being an incredible bitch, was also deeply religious, and would often be heard praying aloud. aindrops keep falling on our While filming Cabin in the Sky, she reheads, and it might as well be sented the young Lena Horne and spring. Out There greeted the made life miserable for everyone. Just season by busting out of the house and before a big scene, Horne broke a into the symphony hall on Monday bone in her leg. Consequently she night, where the Saint Petersburg could not dance, and the scene had to Philharmonic led by conductor Yuri be restaged. When Waters arrived on Temirkanov offered a Rimsky-Kothe set and saw what happened, rsakov Scheherazade that she beamed and was heard to brought us right back to say, “God works in mysteriour Russian roots. We ous ways.” also heard pianist NikoModels like this week’s lai Lugansky in the Herbert greet the springRachmaninoff piano time by getting out there concerto 2. with a pose. Nature-lovers This weekend we’ll be see the spring in by stopping back at Davies Hall for to sniff a rose. OT’s secHerbert Blomstedt conond picture this week is ducting the San Francisfrom Rose Studies, a show O UT T HERE co Symphony in the of watercolors and drawSibelius Symphony 2, ings by Maria Cecilia and pianist Yundi in the Tchaikovsky Freeman on display through April 30 piano concerto 1. Catch up with the at the Helen Crocker Russell Library symphony season with music critic of Horticulture, San Francisco BotanPhilip Campbell in this issue. ical Garden, in Golden Gate Park.

Also this week, arts writer Tavo The artist lives and works in Santa Amador reviews the new biography of Cruz, where she grows many of the stage and screen star Ethel Waters.

by Roberto Friedman

Model Herbert greets the springtime near the Golden Gate Bridge.

brary in 1988, Hollinghurst has published The Folding Star (1994) and The Spell (1998). His new novel The Stranger’s Child will be published in October by Knopf.

The Judy Grahn Award honors the American writer, cultural theorist and activist best known for The Common Woman (1969) and Another Mother Tongue (rev. ed., 1984). It recognizes the best nonfiction book of the year affecting lesbian lives. Finalists for the Judy Grahn Award for Lesbian Nonfiction: Terry Castle, The Professor and Other Writings (HarperCollins); Emma Donoghue, Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature (Alfred A. Knopf); Barbara Hammer, Hammer! (Feminist Press).

The Randy Shilts Award honors the journalist and his groundbreaking work on the AIDS epidemic for the SF Chronicle. Shilts (1951-94) was the author of The Mayor of Castro Street, And the Band Played On, and Conduct Unbecoming. Finalists for the Randy Shilts Award for Gay Nonfiction: R. Tripp Evans, Grant Wood (Alfred A. Knopf); Wendy Moffat, A Great Unrecorded History: A New Life of E.M. Forster (Farrar Straus Giroux); Justin Spring, Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward (Farrar Straus Giroux).

The Audre Lorde Award honors the American poet, essayist, librarian, and teacher. Lorde (1934-92) was nominated for the National Book Award for From a Land Where Other People Live, and was the poet laureate of New York State in 1991. Among her books are Zami (1982) and A Burst of Light (1989). Finalists for the Audre Lorde Award for Lesbian Poetry: Elizabeth J. Colen, Money for Sunsets

(Steel Toe Books); Jen Currin, The Inquisition Yours (Coach House Books); Eleanor Lerman, The Sensual World Re-emerges (Sarabande Books).

The Thom Gunn Award honors the British poet Gunn (1929-2004), who lived in SF for much of his life.

Gunn was the author of The Man with Night Sweats (1992) and many other acclaimed volumes. Finalists for the Thom Gunn Award for Gay Poetry: Paul Legault, The Madeleine Poems (Omnidawn); Eric Leigh, Harm’s Way (University of Arkansas Press); Michael Walsh, The Dirt Riddles (University of Arkansas Press).

The Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction is named in honor of the novelist and man of letters, and goes to an outstanding first novel or story collection. Finalists for the Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction: Michael Alenyikov, Ivan and Misha (Triquarterly/Northwestern University Press); Katharine Beutner, Alcestis (Soho Press); Catherine Kirkwood, Cut Away (Arktoi Books).

The Ferro-Grumley Awards for lesbian and gay fiction honor the memory of authors Robert Ferro (The Blue Star, Second Son) and Michael Grumley (Life Drawing), life partners who died of AIDS within weeks of each other. Finalists for the Ferro-Grumley Awards for LGBT Fiction: Daniel Black, Perfect Peace (St. Martin’s Press); Lucy Jane Bledsoe, Big Bang Symphony (University of Wisconsin Press); Daniel Allen Cox, Krakow Melt (Arsenal Pulp Press); David McConnell, The Silver Hearted (Alyson); Eileen Myles, Inferno (OR Books); Michael Sledge, The More I Owe You (Counterpoint Press). Congrats to all the finalists.▼

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

19

▼

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

MUSIC

by Philip Campbell ormer Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Herbert Blomstedt was back on the podium at Davies Symphony Hall last week for the start of a two-week visit as Conductor Laureate. The solidly traditional program was pleasurable as expected, and the presence of violinist Arabella Steinbacher in her SFS debut added some needed interest, but there were moments when we couldn’t help pondering the math of these regular homecomings. We may finally be approaching the point of diminishing returns.

First we consider whether Blomstedt ever really thought of San Francisco as home in the first place. During his decade-long tenure (1985-95), he made it clear that he wasn’t a local celebrity or had any intentions of becoming one. He seldom participated in the extended musical or social life that teems around the Symphony, and projected a sternly benevolent paternal image. No harm in that, of course, but a decade and a half with current Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas, the go-getter of all go-getters, has taught us a whole new way of looking at our cultural leaders. I don’t think Blomstedt has any plans to conduct the YouTube Symphony anytime soon.

In his 10 years here Blomstedt did, however, bring the orchestra to international prominence, and managed to garner some prestigious awards for their sterling recording collaborations along the way. There were two Grammy Awards and some very prestigious recognition on the European front.

The maestro is now in his 80s, though honestly, he seems to be aging backwards. Can he really be standing that ramrod straight and exerting such tautly coiled energy at his advanced

F

age? Must have something to do with the dietary or lifestyle rigors of his staunch Seventh Day Adventism, or maybe it is simply the benefits of all those years of upper-body workouts.

Whatever the physical reasons for his amazing vitality, Blomstedt has always maintained the artistic sensibilities of musical leaders of another era.

His intense involvement with the great Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig alone and his fairly strict adherence to the core repertoire, revisiting certain masterworks repeatedly, has eventually brought an air of discipline and perfection to all of his performances. What one might find fussy in another interpreter is evidence of attention to detail and markings with Blomstedt. That may be why he is renowned for his magnificent control over the sprawling scores of Anton Bruckner and a way of making Beethoven sound utterly authentic.

Last week, Blomstedt applied those principles to the beloved Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Opus 95, From the New World by Dvorak. I was lucky enough to come from a generation below Blomstedt, when music appreciation was taught in the schools, and parents interested in culture actually tried to turn their kids on to classical music. The New World Symphony was a natural starting point in the genre for young minds.

The ecstatic response of the encouragingly mixed-age audience last week to Blomstedt’s traversal of the score said that even contemporary listeners still respond to the familiar strains of Dvorak’s lovely pastiche. From the vigorous first movement Adagio-Allegro molto through the famous “Goin’ Home” English horn Largo, right up to the thrilling cascade of the concluding Allegro con fuoco, Blomstedt had the audience enthralled.

San Francisco Symphony

Blomstedt: Benjamin Button?

San Francisco Symphony Conductor Laureate Herbert Blomstedt.

Me, maybe not so much, for the orchestra seemed slightly underpowered, and there were a few gaffes along the way. The Conductor Laureate’s way of dividing the strings helped add a richness to the sound and combated the lifelong problem of dry acoustics in DSH (no news to Herb). The contribution from hornist Russ deLuna also added lovely personality.

If there was any real problem with the performance, it was a general lack of personality or deep emotional commitment. After all, we have heard this score often enough to get a little teary-eyed even before the Largo starts. Blomstedt’s insistence on form and precision drained some of the pleasure away.

The elegant Swede (though he was born in the USA) returns again this week with a program that includes the gloriously tuneful Sibelius Symphony No. 2 and a solo turn by Yundi (he dropped the last name) in the equally melodic Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1. Blomstedt’s Sibelius recordings with the SFS are legendary, and Yundi is higher on my list than most young Chinese piano superstars-in-the-making, so count me in. I have a feeling Herbert Blomstedt’s returns to Davies Hall will outlive us all.▼

Collective virtuosity

by Tim Pfaff t’s hard to imagine a better marker of the bridge between the two Mahler Years – the 150th birth anniversary in 2010, and this year’s centennial of his death – than the new DVD release of the Ninth Symphony with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra under Claudio Abbado (Accentus), recorded in three concerts at the festival last August and released early this year. For that matter, it’s hard to imagine a greater Mahler recording over the two-year span.

There will never be agreement over which of Mahler’s symphonies is the greatest, and for many of us it’s the one we’re listening to at the moment. But it’s safe to say that of the completed symphonies, it’s in the Ninth – which he didn’t live to hear – that Mahler reached farthest into the future. It was hardly an accident that it was the fare for last summer’s Lucerne Festival, where Abbado’s hand-picked orchestra, the best of the best, converge on Lucerne annually to commune with their maestro of choice.

The Ninth always has been my favorite, and Abbado and the Lucerne players long my favorite interpreters, enough so that I got up in the middle of the night for the live stream of the first performance, which seemed so far and away the most visionary Ninth I’d ever heard I’ve longed for the DVD to settle my first impressions. I find it more impressive, more transporting, with every hearing.

It’s become a bit of a cliché that

I

at this stage in his career, Abbado doesn’t “do much” as a conductor, as regards baton work or hand gestures. But the camera is on him enough of the time here to show how much in fact he does do, and what it yields. The earthiness of the

clock, work like deep breaths.

For all the individual and collective virtuosity of this orchestra, there’s never anything excessive about the playing. The extremes are in the near and total silences. Without the visuals of the DVD, masterfully directed by Michael Beyer, the filament of sound is so fine you might not know when the players have ended the long opening paragraph for strings that opens the Adagio. The lowering of the lights in the hall seems the only appropriate response to the final minutes of the work, so soft, slow, spacious and sad. Legendarily, Abbado won several minutes of total silence from his audience before the applause began, as music of another kind and place – the very kind of music Mahler always sought to write – filled the hall.

Shabby treatment

Laendler movement and the wildness of the Rondo-Burleske, never in my experience more vivid than here, are visibly the product of Abbado’s keeping the hounds on a very tight leash. It’s in the expansiveness of the more famous outer movements that the freedoms won over a lifetime of conducting this score become clear.

Both unfold over luxuries of space and time, and the rhythmic movements and tempo relationships, timed with the precision of a nuclear

I won’t venture an opinion on the movie Hereafter beyond saying that I was startled to see Clint Eastwood credited not only with the direction but also with the music.

Such original music as I heard sounded like the product of some expensive musical hardware and software he may have given himself for Christmas, but what really shocked me was the grotesque version of the Adagio Sostenuto of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto Eastwood used to accompany the twin boy’s story. Even if the concerto was partly the product of hypnosis by a neurophysiologist treating Rachmaninov’s depression over the bad reception of his First Sympho-

▼

20

page 23

▼

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

21

THEATRE

Chinese gender checkers

by Richard Dodds he exotic fantasies that turned “The Mysterious East” into a familiar catchphrase have rapidly evaporated in the relatively brief time since M. Butterfly played to its first Broadway audiences in 1988. Of course, they were already of considerably less mystery by this point, and props go to Richard Nixon for being a master un-magician, but when current debates hinge on which is the most popular search engine among the Chinese and the amount of U.S. debt they own, lotus blossoms have left the hothouse.

Even when it was new, M. Butterfly was already a look back into a cultural legacy when Puccini’s Madama Butterfly provided a template for fantasizing Westerners. Yes, Butterfly was a Japanese rather than Chinese character, but that was a blurry distinction as far as many outsiders where concerned. That’s certainly the case with Rene Gallimard, the central character in David Henry Hwang’s play that is receiving an estimable, intimate production by the Custom Made Theatre Company.

Gallimard was Hwang’s fictionalized rendering of the real-life Bernard Boursicot, a low-level French diplomat stationed in Beijing in the 1960s.

While Hwang has amped the story to accommodate broad cultural and political commentaries, M. Boursicot’s actual story came already outfitted for a strange-but-true drama. In life as well as in the play, the French diplomat for two decades carried on an affair with, and passed state secrets to, a crossdressing Chinese opera singer whom he believed to be a woman.

At least, this is what he claimed to be true at his treason trial, and Hwang has provocatively imagined how such a self-deception could be possible by examining gender roles both in worldwide terms and in a specific East-West dynamic. Our socially awkward hero, a variation on the 40-year-old virgin,

Jay Yamada

T

Rik Lopes, left, and Sean Fenton play unlikely lovers in M. Butterfly, now being presented by Custom Made Theatre Company.

needs an archetypically submissive woman – think Cio-Cio San in the Puccini opera – to express his masculinity.

At the Gough Street Playhouse (formerly the Next Stage), director Stuart Bousel has effectively used the space to economically present Hwang’s play of contemporary narrations, sweeping flashbacks, and extended reveries. With audiences sitting on three sides of the performing area, Bousel literally brings the play to the audience. There’s a minimum of fuss about the production in technical terms, but the play and its messages still come strongly to life.

Considerable credit must go to Rik Lopes as Gallimard and Sean Fenton as Song Liling. As written, Gallimard can be something of a milquetoast cipher, but Lopes gives the character ample personality, and if it’s not exactly a sympathetic personality, it is suffi-

Identity crisis

by Jim Piechota The Intimates

by Ralph Sassone; Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $24

he evolution of a friendship is at the heart of New York City novelist Ralph Sassone’s charming if uneven debut The Intimates. The story is a simple one, but handled with an engaging tone and an uncomplicated narrative flow that make for easy reading.

It follows two friends, Maize and Robbie, who met while they were in high school, became slightly estranged, but are reunited and become closer over the course of time. But there are secrets, deep, dark ones, and depending on one’s level of experience, private thoughts that can be embarrassing to be forthcoming about, even to a best friend. Perhaps this need for concealment is the result of both Robbie and Maize being reared in households that were neither compassionate nor affectionate.

From high school and into their college years, both share just about every aspect of each other’s lives (including a New York apartment), though each harbors secret feelings and past memories. Maize had a crush on her school guidance counselor and a dalliance with a collegeentrance interviewer; Robbie lost his virginity to “J,” a smitten male college professor and “paragon of selfcontrol” who begins confessing mixed feelings for Robbie to friend and “pity pimp” Tonia, though he

T

▼

eventually loses all semblance of reality when Robbie breaks off the relationship.

Robbie takes center stage for a good portion of the novel, with his adventures visiting his divorced father in Italy, and ridiculously trailing Dad’s new girlfriend Clarissa to discover if she’s being faithful. Meanwhile, Maize has had enough of her abusive realtor boss, though she still pines away for a musician co-worker, all of which is diligently transcribed into a journal she keeps.

Robbie’s transformative ruminations about his embittered parents toward the novel’s conclusion seem tacked onto the narrative as an attempt to reconcile a few chapters of

page 23

ciently and recognizably human. In the role of his unlikely and duplicitous paramour, Fenton suggests a harsh femininity that both satisfies and rules Gallimard, and his late-in-the-play transformation into a male persona is gripping. Versatile supporting work is provided by Kai Morrison, Kira Shaw, Karen Offereins, Xanadu Bruggers, and Paul Stout in a variety of roles.

Playwright Hwang is not exactly a concise writer, and points can feel repeated and scenes stretched further than they should be. But Custom Made has tackled this ambitious script with a confidence that is wellearned.▼ M. Butterfly will run at the Gough Street Playhouse through April 16.

Tickets are $28, available at www.custommade.org.

www.ebar.com

22

▼

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

TV

Shock & awe, take 3

by Victoria A. Brownworth month ago, who could have imagined we’d be yearning for the sheer simplicity of Charlie Sheen’s bipolar antics on the tube? The humanitarian crisis and nuclear threat in Japan, coupled with the latest war in the Middle East, would make anyone yearn for tabloid-TV relief. Where are Lindsay, the Kardashians and TMZ when you need them? We didn’t even get a pratfall out of Fat Actress Kirstie Alley on Dancing with the Stars, or a wardrobe malfunction from the excessively buxom Wendy Williams, who looks more like a drag queen than ever, but is far less graceful.

As was so often was the case during her life, Elizabeth Taylor saved us – alas, this time with her death, which has been a TV bonanza. ABC even led World News Now with the story on the day of her death. Barbara Walters did a stellar episode of Nightline on the actress. Tabloid-TV shows from ET to Extra had story Immortal screen goddess Elizabeth Taylor was all over the tube last week. after story. We watched and smiled and sobbed. to Young & the Restless. Bierdz repriskiss and a real kiss, not one of those We met Taylor once back when fake gay kisses we’ve seen before. So es his role as Philip Chancellor, who we were covering AmFar, and we of course we loved it. Jackson, not so is also gay, on the highest-rated daywere struck by her beauty, charm, much. Here’s what she had to say in time soap. Here’s the dilemma: There immense graciousness and activist her weekly column for the conservaare currently no gay characters on fervor. Taylor has been ill and out of tive World Net Daily: “Did you see daytime except for Bierdz. He’s it. His the limelight much of the time in reis a recurring role, and his sexuality Glee this week? Sickening! And becent years, but she always made it to has been taken off the table. For a sides shoving the gay thing down our AIDS fundraisers, even if it meant artime we thought there might be a rothroats, they made a mockery of riving in a wheelchair with an oxymance with the MIA Latino gay Christians again! I wonder what their gen tank. She was always friend to the character Rafe, who has been on and agenda is? Hey, producers of queer community, and off the show over the past two years, Glee, what’s your agenda? throughout her career but in addition to an age difference One-way tolerance?” some of her closest of about 20 years, there’s also the fact Jackson added, “And I friends were gay men: that Rafe has never had an actual stodon’t care what is politiMontgomery Clift, ryline except for a week when he was cally correct. Everyone James Dean, Rock bedded by Adam Newman, who was knows that two men on a Hudson. She was manipulating him for legal reasons. wedding cake is a comefierce in the truest (Rafe’s an attorney.) dy skit, not an ‘altersense of the term.

We’re not sure why Y&R can’t nate lifestyle!’

Queen of the big L AVENDER T UBE There, I said it! give Bierdz more than three lines per screen, she didn’t Ridiculous!” day or why they can’t open up his deride the small Something’s ridiculous, all right. character, but if there were, say, a gay screen. She starred on General HosWe remember back when Jackson used and lesbian media organization that pital and did numerous made-forto appear half-naked on SNL, had a monitored TV representation (yes, TV films and specials. She appeared GLAAD, we’re talking to you), persense of humor and seemed to be preton Oprah, Larry King Live and in sevhaps they could ask that question. ty tolerant of anything. She had no eral interviews with Walters.

Donald Trump was on Letterman comment about the impromptu kiss The panoply of her roles, the March 25 chatting politics and the Charlie Sheen planted on Jimmy Kimamazing photos and videos and film state of the nation. Letterman said, mel when Sheen arrived as a surprise clips, the fashions, the crazy love af“He’s not running [for president]. He guest last week. The Sheen/Kimmel fairs and that fantastic activism (she just wants us to think he’s running so kiss was long and on the lips. We’re not told Walters she had received death we’ll ask him questions about it, but sure what the point was, but then we threats for her support of people he’s not running.” We hope Letterdon’t understand the point of anywith AIDS when no one else would man, who is quite politically savvy, is thing Sheen does. He presented Kimstep forward, and that yes, it was terright. Trump told the women of The mel with a mug that had foxes pastrifying), the violet eyes to die for – it’s ed on it. Does this mean Fox is lookView a few days earlier that he had been fabulous revisiting the movie ing at Sheen? So much for the fami$600 million of his own money to legend. Taylor famously told Walters ly-values mantra over there. spend on running. We suggest he her tombstone should read: “Here take some of that cash and get some lies Elizabeth Taylor, she hated being Wake-up call new hair before he does anything called Liz.” Who would dare? Taylor else.

Over on ABC, we have to say that was extraordinary, and we were so Speaking of makeovers, the folthe recent political unrest in the Midfortunate to have her on our side. lowing exchange on ABC’s One Life dle East and North Africa and the reAnn Hathaway is one of many acsultant mayhem seem to have woken to Live brightened our whole day tresses who grew up in awe of Taylor, Christiane Amanpour out of her stuwhen we heard it. The ever-versatile and was asked by Extra how she felt por or whatever has made her so Tuc Watkins, who plays gay Bob, husabout her. After lauding Taylor, dull-witted since she left CNN for band of Lee, on Desperate HouseHathaway went on to talk about the wives in prime time, and metrosexuThis Week. She really is at her best as latest Glee controversy: “The Kiss.” an international reporter. She likes al David on OLTL in daytime, acHathaway, a friend to queers herself, being the girl in the boy’s world, and cused his Uncle Clint, who had kidnoted, “It must be so hard to be a gay handles it well. Plus, Middle Eastnapped him: “You left me in a desert teen. I thought maybe I could come ern/North African leaders seem to prison to rot. They tortured me every on and play his [Kurt’s] lesbian aunt like talking to her. Perhaps ABC day.” Clint: “Tortured you how?” or something.” should just send her back to the David, exasperated: “They withheld Hathaway’s response was a far cry streets and let Jake Tapper have This astringent. I’m going to hold this gun from that of SNL alum Victoria Jackon you until your pores are so big Week back. Tapper loves the Washson, who, like that other SNL alum you could smuggle a toddler in ington melee as much as Amanpour Dennis Miller, has gone over to the them.” A scene destined to end up on loves the international blood and dark (that is, raving lunatic conservYouTube, we have no doubt. guts. That’s a switch we’d like to see. ative) side. Jackson went nuts over And since we don’t know from one Now, please. the gay kiss on Glee between Kurt day to the next if these really are the It’s with mixed feelings we note (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren End Times, be sure to stay tuned.▼ the return of gay actor Thom Bierdz Criss) last week. It was the boys’ first

A

bartabsf.com

www.ebar.com

▼

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

FILM

Music Box Films

radical new products, Babin thinks he’s a daddy and Suzanne’s new consort, and everything is sunshine and lollipops, until Suzanne’s conservative daughter decides to put Robert back in charge.

Based on a 1970s period play by Barillet and Grédy, Potiche will appeal to fans of Ozon lite: it has the romantic, candy-colored, cartoonish ambience of 8 Women or Sitcom. But watch out, there remains a real edge,

Judith Godrèche and Catherine Deneuve in Francois Ozon’s Potiche.

Deneuve anew

by David Lamble penly gay director Francois Ozon’s period farce Potiche is about how anarchy in the bedroom can reverberate on the shop floor. The despotic owner of a provincial umbrella factory, Robert Pujol (Fabrice Luchini), confronts his small town’s Mayor Babin (Gérard Depardieu), threatening to reveal a dirty little secret in the big man’s past. It seems that 25 years back, Babin had a one-day tryst with Pujol’s wife Suzanne (Catherine Deneuve), resulting in a now grown and somewhat fey man-child, Laurent (Jeremie Renier). Pujol threatens to expose Babin’s shenanigans unless the mayor forces Suzanne to relinquish control of the factory.

“It would cost you dearly if I were to reveal that your affair resulted in a little runt, my son Laurent.”

“Your son is my son?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“How strange life can be. One minute you’re a weary old militant, the next you’re a young father. By coming here to blackmail me, you’ve made me the happiest man alive!”

Babin’s happiness is short-lived.

Suzanne reveals that not only is he not Laurent’s papa, but the cherished moment was only one of many she enjoyed: with the local accountant, a traveling tennis pro, etc. “So Pujol married a bourgeois nymphomaniac,” quips the now-furious politician the moment before he orders Suzanne out of his tiny car and to the indignity of walking back to

O

Abbado ▼

page 20

ny, the movie’s treatment of it was shabby.

As if on cue to clean up the musical record, along came Abbado’s new recording of the piece, along with the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with Yuja Wang and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, recorded live at the Teatro Comunale in Parma a year ago (DG). Not only do these priceless performances more clearly reflect the almost classical restraint we hear in the composer’s own record-

Intimates ▼

page 21

aimless plot progression.

Sassone falls into a few pitfalls typical of debut novelists. Some of the descriptive passages, meant as more serious narrative embellishments, read as humorous and overwritten. Robbie’s abandonment of his relationship with “J” was done “so cruelly and brutally it made the backs

23

town in high heels.

Before the credits roll, Madame Pujol will be betrayed by a rightwing coup within her randy little family, watch her artistically-inclined gay son free himself from an incestuous hetero relationship only to succumb to a queer one, then gather her forces to exact a bittersweet revenge not only on her pig of a husband, but also on lovesick Babin.

Ozon has set himself a dicey task, especially for an American audience: to reveal how French women have sought to free themselves from the double-bind/double-standards birdcage of bourgeois marriage and go after real power, without relinquishing their feminine charms.

To Ozon, a potiche is a peculiarly French “object of little value and no real practical use that you put on a mantel.” In Act I, Deneueve is a human potiche or trophy wife who gets screamed at by her asshole hubby regardless of how obliging she tries to be. Her slightest deviation from her Robert’s rules of order brings swift rebuke. “Your job is to support my opinions.”

Predictably, the only freedom from a raging type-A hubby is that hubby’s physical collapse, which in this case neatly coincides with a wildcat strike, led by Babin, at the umbrella factory. When Robert is taken hostage at the factory and he physically attacks Laurent for trying to negotiate his release, the only solution is for Suzanne to don her best jewelry and turn the place upside down. Pretty soon the workers are appeased, Laurent is designing some

ings of the works than even Stephen Hough’s of a few years ago, they’re as involving as you could ever want.

Wang’s playing is pellucid, revealing detail after detail usually buried in the welter of notes, yet it’s also uncommonly sensitive. Abbado’s multiple recent recordings of this work testify to his belief in it, and he gets to its heart. Her dazzling performance leaves no doubt that the Paganini Rhapsody is Wang’s favorite of the Rachmaninov works for piano orchestra (as it is mine), and it’s elevating to hear the rhapsodic Andante cantabile variation as the rare beauty it is, not as a gooey climax.▼

of his own teeth ache.” Robbie’s unbridled passion for new boy Daniel is having “emigrated to the Dictatorship of Sex,” and “he was one of its serfs.”

But the author retains a dexterous grasp on themes of ambivalence and the intricate machinations of a sexual encounter. This is a finely written debut, with a few structural and character-based seams to suture to ensure that Sassone’s next foray into gay fiction is a more memorable one.▼

a dark, satiric underside to the bubbly Champagne surface of this boulevard comedy. The seemingly removed world of 1977, when a Communist French mayor still could call the shots, and bourgeois women were just learning how to flex their power, is meant to comment on today’s financial crisis-absorbed world, where a female presidential candidate (Ségolene Royal) can’t quite muster the electoral

clout, and an actress/first lady (Madame Sarkozy) demonstrates that soft power still has its place.

Potiche is most entertaining in its glorious reunion between Deneuve and Depardieu. For queer fans, especially of earlier, darker Ozon classics like Criminal Lovers, there’s the sight of action star Jeremie Renier equipped with a trim waistline, a poufy hairdo and the dirty little secret of an incestuous half-brother. ▼

24

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

Glen Meadmore @ Thee Parkside, Friday

OUT& ABOUT Fri 1 >>

a facelift. Enjoy new events and décor.

Fundraiser for mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty 7pm-8:30pm ($100). General public after 9pm. 1225 Folsom St. www.kokbarsf.com

7 Sins … One More Time! @ Exit Theatre

Ka-Boom @ Red Vic Movie House

Comedian James Judd returns with his acclaimed solo show about his misadventures in various odd jobs, and a 5th grade book report about Patty Hearst. $24-$40. FriSun 8pm. Thru April 10. 156 Eddy St. 2061651. www.theexit.org

Gregg Araki’s latest ambisexual film is also a horror-comedy parody of hilarious proportions. $6-$9. 7:15, 9:15 (also 2pm & 4pm Sat). Thru April 2. 1727 Haight St. 6683994. www.redvicmoviehouse.com

All I Wanted to Say @ The Garage Silvia Girardi and collaborators premiere a multimedia theatre work about online communication and miscommunication. $10$20. 8pm. Also April 2, 6, 7. 975 Howard St. www.975howard.com

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley

Mark Andreiko’s Manhunter

by Jim Provenzano

s LGBs and Ts, it seems we’re constantly fighting injustice, bigotry and violence. But mostly we’re fighting plain old stupidity.

Fortunately, our champions, real and fictional, are smart cookies, and know the difference between a costumed hero and a crazy masked lunatic disguised as a friend. Here’s hoping you do, too.

See heroism in action at the Human Rights Film Festival at University of San Francisco, the 9th annual screening of films about global rights issues and activism. Free. 12pm each day, March 31-April 2. Presentation Theatre, 2350 Turk Blvd. at Masonic. www.usfca.edu/artsci/hrff/ Enjoy a pair of unlikely heroes in PeeWee’s Big Adventure and Edward Scissorhands at the Castro Theatre, two of Tim Burton’s popular films.

April 1; PeeWee at 7:30pm, Edward at 9:20pm. $10. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com Vote for your hero by participating in the SF Pride Grand Marshall Voting at various venues. Vote for your favorite local heroes for Grand Marshall, and for our community nemesis with The Pink Brick. April 1, at Bench & Bar (510 17th St., Oakland), 6pm9pm. April 2 at Mr. S Leather (8th & Steve MacIsaac’s sexy comics Harrison), 11:30am-3:30pm. April 9 at Project Open Hand (730 Polk St.) 11am-3pm. SF Pride office, 30 Pearl St. Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm thru April 8. Also online at: www.pridesf.org Who are our superheroes? Sometimes they’re “enemies of the state.” Find out about a few at WikiRebels, the documentary about activists who’ve unleashed a torrent of information about government-corporate collusion and heinous domestic and foreign policies. $4-$9.50 (optional buffet).

April 1. 6:30pm. New Valencia Hall. 625 Larkin St. www.socialism.com Fictional heroes can inspire. Wondercon, the 25th annual enormous comic book, TV and movie convention, brings thousands of fans and artists, actors, directors, composers and producers together for three days of fantasy fun. Celebs include Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Smith, Henry Cavill, Kellan Lutz, Elvira, Toby Haynes (Doctor Who director) and many more.

Gay superheroes? Oh, yeah. Prism Comics hosts a booth (#319) and two panels with LGBT comic artists Marc Andreyko (Manhunter, about the adventures of Kate Spencer, a federal prosecutor-turned superhero, who’s tired of seeing guilty criminals evade punishment. Andreyko’s also a co-writer for True Blood comics), Brian Anderson (So Super Duper), Ed Luce (Wuvable Oaf), Steve MacIsaac (Shirtlifter, Sticky), Justin Hall (Glamazonia), and other comically delicious talents. (Writing Queer, April 2, 6pm, Room 250; Queer Youth and Comics, April 3, 12:30pm in Room 254) April 1-3. 747 Howard St. www.wondercon.org All those costumed cool peeps should inspire you to show off your superhero drag at Hunks & Heroes at Truck. Win comics and porn prizes; a portion of proceeds benefit The Trevor Project. April 2. Happy hour 6pm9pm, and full out fest 9pm-2am. 1900 Folsom St. www.trucksf.com Wrestlers and saints are like superheroes. See a striking visual combination in the art of John O’Reilly at Hosfelt Gallery at a dual exhibit of his homoerotic montages; also, abstracts

by Reed Danziger. Opening reception April 2, 4pm-6pm. Thru May. 430 Clementina St. 4955454. www.hosfeltgallery.com ▼

A

John O’Reilly’s saintly wrestler montages

Cal Performances presents the celebrated dance company, performing classic and recent dance works by Ailey, Robert Battle Judith Jamison and others. Program A: Anointed, Cry, The Hunt and Revelations.

Program B: Three Black Kings, In/Side, Forgotten Time and Revelations. Program C: The Prodigal Prince, Memoria, and Revelations. $34-$62. Tue-Fri 8pm. Sat 2pm & 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru April 3. Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave., UC Berkeley campus.

(510) 642-9988. www.calperformances.org

Dandelion Dancetheater, Kegan Marling @ CounterPulse Duo concert of Artist Residency Commissions, Jump ship mid way and Friend, with gay and relationship themes. $14-$17. ThuSun 8pm. Thru April 3. 1310 Mission St. at 9th. (800) 838-3006. www.counterpulse.org

Beardo @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley The always entertaining Shotgun Players present playwright Jason Craig and composer Dave Malloy’s eccentric, hilarious and strange updated variation on the story of Rasputin, the Russian mystic, starring Ashkon Davaran, the YouTube sensation who sang and wrote the popular SF Giants tribute version of “Don’t Stop Believin’”). $17-$26. Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm (Wed 7pm starting April 6). Thru April 24. www.shotgunplayers.org

The Busy World is Hushed @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Keith Bunin’s drama about a minister who finds her faith at odds with her estranged son. $24-$40. Runs Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm, thru May 1. 25 Van Ness Ave at Market St., lower level. 861-5019. 8972. www.nctcsf.org

Loveland @ The Marsh Ann Randolph returns with her solo show about a sexually frustrated woman who flies home and faces the greatest love of her life.

Fri 8pm. Sat 5pm. $20-$50. Thru May 8.

1062 Valencia St. at 21st. (800) 8383006. www.themarsh.org

Mark Johnson @ Magnet Opening reception for Montgomery-Ward and the Office Adonis, the artist’s exhibit of retro ad-inspired art. 8pm-10pm. Thru April. 4122 18th St. at Castro. 581-1613. www.magnetsf.org

The Objects of Our Affection @ SF Public Library Exhibit of wit and humor books by Phyllis Dillers, David and Amy Sedaris, P.T. Barnum and many others. Thru May 31. Skylight Gallery, 6th floor, 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

Orgasm, Inc. @ Roxie Theatre Liz Canner’s inside look at how a pharmaceutical corporation tried to create a “female Viagra.” $5-$9.75. Thru April 7.

Special post-show receptions April 2 at Good Vibrations; post-show panels on various dates. 3117 16th St. www.goodvibes.com www.roxie.com

Paul Taylor Dance Company @ Novellus Theater SF Performances presents the world-famous iconic modern dance company in three programs of classic works and Bay Area premieres. Program A: Cloven Kingdom, Black Tuesday, Promethean Fire. Program B: Orbs, Also Playing. Program C: Brief Encounters, Three Dubious Memories, and Brandenburgs. Post-performance cocktail party with the dancers April 2. $35-$60.

Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru April 3.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Novellus Theater, 701 Mission St. 978-ARTS. www.sfperformances.org

Pearls Over Shanghai @ The Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers’ revival of the comic mock operetta by Link Martin and Scrumbly Koldewyn, performed by the gender-bending Cockettes decades ago, and loosely based on the 1926 play The Shanghai Gesture; with an all-star local cast. $30-$35. 18 and over only! Fri & Sat 8pm. Closing April 9. 575 10th St. at Division. (800) 838-3006. www.thrillpeddlers.com

Regrets Only @ New Conservatory Theatre Gay playwright Paul Rudnick’s latest comedy, set in a Manhattan penthouse with various uptown characters about to celebrate a wedding. $15-$36. Thru April 3. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

PeeWee’s Big Adventure

The Eccentricities of a Nightingale @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley Tennessee Williams’ fascinating 1976 revision of his 1951 play Summer and Smoke. $10-$45. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm. Previews thru April 7. Thru May 8. 2081 Addison St. www.auroratheatre.org

Fool’s Gold @ Oddball Film Guest curator Monty Cantsin screens a collection of strange short films, including Little Rascals and Marx Brothers shorts.

8:30pm. Also, April 2, The Future Has Arrived … From the Past!, odd retro science fiction (now laughable) short films. 8pm. $10. 275 Capp St. 558-8117. www.oddballfilm.com

Glen Meadmore @ Thee Parkside The gay country crooner and his Hot Horny Born Again Revue perform at the punk and alt. music nightclub’s anniversary party. No cover. 21+. 9pm. 1600 17th St. at Wisconsin. 252-1330. www.theeparkside.com

Grand Opening @ Kok Bar The SoMa bar formerly known as Chaps II got

Rock of Ages @ Curran Theatre American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis stars in the 80s-set arena rock straight love story set to the music of Journey, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar and more. $30$99. Tue-Sat 8pm. Wed, Sat, Sun 2pm. special midnight show April 8. Thru April 9. 445 Geary St. (888) 746-1799. www.shnsf.com

Ruined @ Berkeley Rep Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about the harrowing lives of women in Africa. $14.50-$73. Tue-Sat 8pm, (Wed 7pm). Thu, Sat, Sun 2pm. Sun eve 7pm. thru April 10. Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. at Shattuck. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Singing at the Edge of the World @ The Marsh Cabaret, Berkeley Randy Rutherford’s inspirational autobiographical solo show, with music, about his life as an Alaskan folksinger overcoming congenital hearing loss (captions for hearing impaired at first three Saturday shows). $15-$50. Thu & Fri 8pm, Sat 5pm. Thru April 16. 2120 Allston Way, near Shattuck.

(800) 838-3006. www.themarsh.org

Talking With Angels @ Royce Gallery Shelley Mitchell’s solo play tells of multiple characters searching for meaning and sur-

vival in Nazi-occupied Hungary. $21-$35.

Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 21. 2901 Mariposa St. at Harrison. www.talkingwithangels.com www.roycegallery.com

Twelfth Night @ Buriel Clay Theatre African American Shakespeare Company performs Shakespeare’s most popular comedy, re-set in San Francisco’s 1940s club scene. $15-$35. Sat 8pm, Sun 3pm. Thru May 1.

762 Fulton St. at Webster. (800) 838-3006. www.African-AmericanShakes.org

West Coast Painters @ John Pence Gallery Opening reception for a group exhibit of realist painters, from landscapes and still lifes to portraits and nudes. 6pm. Thru April 30.

Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat til 5pm. 4411138. www.johnpence.org

Xanadu @ Retrodome, San Jose Touring production of the mirthful musefilled musical comedy based on the strangely lovable film, complete with roller-skating disco numbers set to the original music, and a script that takes a satirical edge. $24$44. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Extended thru May 8. 1694 Saratoga Ave. (408) 404-7711. www.TheRetroDome.com

Sat 2 >> The African Queen @ Castro Theatre

Humphrey Bogart-Katherine Hepburn classic in a new 35mm print. $10. 2pm, 4:30, 7pm, 9:20. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Be an Angel @ Lookout HIV awareness and testing campaign, themed with the May production of Angels in America. $25 gets you a photo with wings. 1pm. 3600 Market St. www.AngelsinAmericaSF.com www.lookoutsf.com

The Black Swan Experience @ Lumiere Theater Heklina and Sister Roma cohost the new interactive screening of the Oscar-winning over-the-top film. Dress as your favorite character! Free. 12am. 1572 California St. at Polk. www.iwasperfect.com

Davis Davis: Planet X @ Marx & Zavattero Gallery Exhibit of eerie space-age toy battlescapes with a pre-Sputnik flavor of paranoia. Thru April 23. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 77 Geary St. 2nd floor. 627-9111. www.marxzav.com

Eadweard Muybridge @ SF Museum of Modern Art Fascinating exhibit and the first-ever retrospective examining all aspects of artist Eadweard Muybridge’s pioneering photography. $9-$18. Daily 11am-5:45pm (closed Wed.).

151 Third St. 357-4000. www.sfmoma.org

Gay Community Circles @ SFSEC First day of an 8-week program of support, caring and friendship for gay men. $75. 10am12pm. Meetings at other locations, too. 2118 Hayes St. www.GayCommunityCircles.com

Mobile Suit Gundam UC @ Viz Cinema/ New People World Japanese anime trilogy is screened in subtitled and English-dubbed shows all day. Also April 3. $8-$26. DVDs on sale, too. 1746 Post St. 525-8600. www.vizcinema.com

The Oldest Profession @ Brava Theatre Evren Odcikin directs Paula Vogel’s satiric comedy about senior women prostitutes in the Reagan ‘80s who decide to work themselves to death. $10-$25. 8pm. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru April 9. 2781 24th St. at York. 647-2822. www.brava.org

Olmec @ de Young Museum Exhibit of colossal ancient Mesoamerican face sculptures. Thru May 6. Also, Balenciaga and Spain, a fashion exhibit focusing on the influence of Spain on the work of haute couture master Cristóbal Balenciaga. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. 750-3600. www.deyoung.famsf.org

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

Lemo Ponifasio’s Tempest @ YBCA, Thursday. scale) for two months. Teusdays, 7pm-9pm.

3105 Shattuck Ave. www.eliconley.com

Soundtrack for a Revolution @ Jewish Community Center Award-winning documentary features vibrant renditions of the Civil Rights Movement’s freedom songs. $5-$15. 7pm. Also, performance by the Harlem Gospel Choir April 1, and Breach of Peace, a photo exhibit about the Freedom Riders in the Katz Snyder Gallery. Kanbar Hall, 3200 California St. at Presidio. 292-1233. www.jccsf.org/arts

Wed 6 >>

Molly McKay @ The Bellevue Club, Oakland

Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave @ Legion of Honor Exhibit of amazing paper costumes by the acclaimed Belgian artist based on classic historical royal garb including Elizabeth I and Marie Antoinette. Free-$10. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. Thru June 5. 100 34th Ave. at Clement St. 750-3600. www.legionofhonor.famsf.org

Spring Open House @ The Crucible, Oakland

temporary queer culture. Thru May 19.

James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center, 100 Larkin St. third floor. www.sfpl.org

Marga’s Funny Mondays @ The Marsh, Berkeley Marga Gomez, “the lesbian Lenny Bruce” (Robin Williams), brings her comic talents, and special guests, to a weekly cabaret show. $10. 8pm. 2120 Allston Way. (800) 838-3006. www.margagomez.com www.themarsh.org

Q Comedy @ Martuni’s

Demonstrations (like a molten metal pour), flaming acts, and info on metal, fire and other media crafts workshops at the fascinating industrial arts studio. Art for sale, too. Free. 12pm-4pm. 1260 7th St. (510) 444-0919. www.thecrucible.org

Host Nick Leonard, Ray Ferrer, Mary Van Note, DJ Real and Uni and her Ukelele with your Femcee SF Drag Legend Cookie Dough. Partial proceeds go to benefit the SF Ducal Charity Fund. $5-$15. 8pm. 4 Valencia St. www.Qcomedy.com

Teatro Zinzanni @ Pier 29

Ten Percent @ Comcast 104

Caliente is the new show at the theatre-tentdinner extravaganza, with twin acrobats Ming and Rui, Vertical Tango rope dance, plus magic, comedy, a five-course dinner, and a lot of fun. $117-$145. Saturday 11:30am “Breve” show $63-$78. Wed-Sat 6pm (Sun 5pm). Pier 29 at Embarcadero Ave. 438-2668. www.teatrozinzanni.com

David Perry’s new talk show about LGBT local issues. Mon-Fri 11:30am & 10:30pm, Sat & Sun 10:30pm. www.davidperry.com

Sun

3 >>

Bali: Art, Ritual, Performance @ Asian Art Museum Expansive exhibit of more than 100 historic art works in exhibits that showcase the practicality of the performing and visual arts in this beautiful culture. Special performances and interactive workshops throughout exhibit run. $7-$17. Tue-Sun 10am5pm. Thu til 9pm. Thru Sept. 11. 200 Larkin St. www.asianart.org

Black Swan @ Red Vic Movie House Over-the-top psychological thriller set in the competitive ballet world. $6-$9. 2pm, 4:15, 7pm, 9:20. Also April 4 at 7pm & 9:20.

1727 Haight St. 668-3994. www.redvicmoviehouse.com

Cabaret Showcase Showdown @ Martuni’s Trauma Flintstone and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy cohost the third round of the second annual singing competition; this month the theme is Best R&B/Urban Pop. Contestants bring sheet music for two songs. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.dragatmartunis.com

Jason Graae @ The Rrazz Room

Tue 5 >>

Ben Thompson @ Booksmith Author of Badass: The Birth Of A Legend Spine-Crushing Tales of the Most Merciless Gods, Monsters, Heroes, Villains, and Mythical Creatures Ever Envisioned discusses his badass book and website. 7:30pm. 1644 Haight St. 863-8688. www.booksmith.com

Denise Perrier @ The Rrazz Room Local blues, pop and cabaret singer performs at the intimate nightlcub. $30. 8pm.

Also April 6. 2-drink minimum. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. at Ellis. (800) 3803095. www.therrazzroom.com

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gayfriendly comedy night, and celebrates his birthday, with Candy Churilla, Susan Maletta and Yayne Abeba. One drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com

Hope to Japan @ Hotel Nikko Fundraiser for Japan earthquake-tsunami relief efforts, with drinks, food and live music. $150. 6pm. 222 Mason St. www.hopetojapan.com

Singing Classes @ La Peña Culterual Center, Berkeley Fun, non-competitive singing workshop for LGBTs, led by Eli Conley. $200 (sliding

Acclaimed singer performs a Jerry Herman tribute. $30. 4pm. Also April 4, 8pm. 2-drink minimum. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. at Ellis.

(800) 380-3095. www.therrazzroom.com

Jessica Rivera @ Hertz Hall, Berkeley Soprano performs works by Schumann, Debussy and Atash Sorushan’s “Fire Angels,” a 9/11 tribute. $48. 3pm. Bancroft Way at Telegraph ave. UC Berkeley campus. (510) 6429988. www.calperformances.org

Betty’s List and Smart Women present the Marriage Equality activist, music by violinist Shelly Crouse-Monarez, and an optional buffet dinner. $10 5:30pm reception, 6:30 program, 7:30 dinner ($ extra). 525 Bellevue Ave. at Lake Merrit. RSVP 503-1375 or SmartWomenEvents@aol.com www.bettyslist.com

Our Vast Queer Past @ GLBT History Museum New exhibit from the GLBT Historical Society, with a wide array of rare historic items on display. Free for members-$5. Wed-Sat 11am-7pm. Sun 12pm-5pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley Cal Performances presents the acclaimed cellist, who performs with his ensemble of musicians from 20 countries in a truly global concert of music. 7pm. $45-$125. Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave. (510) 642-9988. www.calperformances.org Also, April 7, 8pm at Davies Symphony Hall, SF. $45-$125.

201 Van Ness Ave. www.sfperformances.org

Thu 7 >>

Sizzle @ Mission Control Susie Bright, Madison Young, Shar Rednour, Thea Hillman and Penny Barber read at Femina Potens’ sexy women’s literary night ($10, 8:30pm). Bright hosts an Erotic Journaling Workshop ($15, 7pm). 2519 Mission St. www.feminapotens.org

Lemi Ponifasio/MAU @ YBCA Tempest, a dance-theatre-ceremony by powerful Samoan New Zealand ensemble, about the erosion of freedoms post-9/11. Thru April 9. Special pre-show conversation April 7 with director Peter Sellars and Ponifasio, 7:15pm. $25-$30. 8pm (April 7, 8:15pm).

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Novellus Theatre, 701 Mission st. www.ybca.org

Regreturature @ Swedish American Hall Litquake and the SF Writer’s Grotto present an evening of works that “should not see the light of day,” with authors David Ewing Duncan, Cameron Tuttle, Stephen Elliott and others. Jack Boulware MCs; Marc Capelle performs music. Cash bar. Proceeds benefit Litquake’s 2011 literary festival. $12-$15. 8pm. 2174 Market St. www.litquake.org www.cafedunord.com

SF Hiking Club @ Golden Gate Bridge Enjoy the scenic promenade along the iconic bridge with LGBT hikers. Meet 6pm at Crissy Field Center, 1199 East Beach St. 577-9367. www.sfhiking.com

Thunder From Down Under @ The Rrazz Room

Ashkon Davaran is Beardo @ Ashby Theatre, Friday

Australian Vegas-style male strip group performs their sexy act. No full nudity (darn) and more popular with women, but gentlemen welcome (yay). $35-$55.

8pm. (April 7-9, 12-14) 7pm April 10, 17. 9:30pm April 15 & 16. 2drink minimum. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. at Ellis. (800) 380-3095. www.therrazzroom.com

Outlook Video @ Channel 29 Monthly LGBT news show. This month, Bay Area Reporter Publisher Tom Horn; Westboro Baptist Church protests, Zoe Dunning on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and City Hall marriage equality sit-in. 5pm. Also streaming online. www.outlookvideo.org

To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com.

Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication.

Rockabilly Q @ Milk Bar The Queer Jitterbugs present Sunday Swingout, a mixed ‘straight’ friendly weekly night of social dancing to DJed and (twice monthly) live music. $3-$15. 8:30-11pm, lesson 8:30pm. 1840 Haight St. at Stanyan. (415) 305-8242. www.QueerJitterbugs.com

Mon 4 >>

For more bar and nightlife events, read BARtab inside this issue, and go to

In Paths Untrodden @ SF Public Library

Walt Whitman’s Calamus Poems and the Radical Faeries, curated by Joey Cain; an exhibit of the gay poet’s influence on conPak Han

www.bartabsf.com

ebar.com

25

▼

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

SOCIETY

Britney Spears-orama

by Donna Sachet nder One Roof jumped on the Britney Spears mania bandwagon by borrowing her wax likeness from the Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf to display in its Castro Street window. Photos with the smiling figure were available for a small donation, and on Friday night, we led a panel of judges in selecting the best Britney look-alike, assisted by Supervisor Scott Wiener and Mr. SF Leather Darren Bondy.

Saturday night’s celebration of the nine-year anniversary of the LGBT Community Center, Soiree 9: La Dolce Vita, was a smashing success! The gala packed nearly 1,000 people into two floors of the Galleria Design Center. The main floor featured appetizers, a generous bar, and entertainment emceed by Raja Gemini of RuPaul’s Drag Race, assisted by our own Heklina. R.J. Helton, Monistat, Barnaby’s, Leigh Crow, Miss Rhani, and Honey Mahogany were among the performers of crowd-pleasing numbers. Many attendees nodded to the Italian cinema theme with form-fitting dresses, slim suits, dapper hats, and other whimsical accessories, dancing well into the night.

The Center has arrived at a new level of diverse support, indicated by the variety of guests, O N T HE including Medjool’s Gus & Bahya Murad, Wells Fargo’s Alec Hughes, EQCA’s Geoff Kors, Jim Carroll, Andrea Shorter, Shanti’s Kaushik Roy, Commissioner Cecilia Chung, GLAAD’s Juan Barajas & Kevin Lemons, PAWS’ John Lipp, Bebe Sweetbriar, James Holloway, Geoffrey Grimes, Greg Lugotti, Jim Haas, Julian Chang, Audrey Joseph, Paul Tan, Bob Michitarian, Matt Macado, Doug Piper, and elected officials Supervisors David Campos and Scott Wiener, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, and City Treasurer Jose Cisneros.

We returned to the Castro in time to pop into the Krewe de Kinque thank-you party for the volunteers at this year’s Bal Masque VIII, held earlier in the month, and hosted by new King and Queen of Mardi Gras, Frank Vera and Garza. A hefty check for $4,000 was presented to benefi-

Steven Underhill

U

Britney Spears appears at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.

ciary Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, and a fitting celebration ensued, complete with jambalaya, corn bread, and Southern spirits.

Britney Spears’ original plans for a free Castro concert may have been stymied by unpredictable weather, but she arrived in San Francisco and delivered an electrifying performance at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Sunday for an adoring fanbase. Less than 24 hours before the concert, we were asked to join a bevy of extraorT OWN dinary drag queens, Roma, Heklina, Juanita, and Pollo del Mar, on stage to warm up the audience and introduce the headliner. (We all updated our resumes the instant the event was over.) As we arrived at the heavily guarded VIP entrance, lines of the 6,000 waiting ticket-holders were snaking down several streets. We were caught up in the complexity backstage, receiving last-minute changes and sometimes conflicting directions. Within minutes we ascended the stairs onto the stage, presenting the thousands of attendees with a beautiful representation of the glorious variety of drag, welcoming ABC’s Good Morning America and Britney to SF. The excitement of the capacity audience was palpable, particularly when Cheer SF took the stage with their acrobatic routines. Although the stage lights were

Steven Underhill

C

A Britney Spears fan in San Francisco.

blinding, we found among the throngs Bevan Dufty, David Perry, Michael Micael, Joshua Cook, David Glazer, Branden Just, Jeffrey Costello, Daniel Lippold, Bevin Shamel, Stephen Harris, and Leroy Morvant.

GMA hosts Robin Roberts and Sam Champion introduced the iconic entertainer to perform three songs from her new album Femme Fatale, each featuring elaborate choreography, special effects, and set designs.

If the enthusiasm of this crowd is any indication, Femme Fatale is poised for tremendous success, returning its star to her former posi-

▼

26

page 27

Coming up in leather & kink >> Thu., Mar. 31: 2012 Bare Chest Calendar Semi-Final #9 at the Powerhouse (1347 Folsom). 9:30 p.m. Go to: www.barechest.org or www.powerhouse-sf.com.

Thu., Mar. 31: Etiquette, Protocol and Postures: An Educational Series of Formal Kink, Part 1: Etiquette, presented by Bethie Bee at the SF Citadel (1277 Mission). 8 p.m. $20. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Fri., Apr. 1: Truck Wash at Truck (1900 Folsom). 10 p.m.-close. Enjoy the live shower boys and drink specials.

Go to: www.trucksf.com.

Fri., Apr. 1: Pre-Grand Opening Party of the new Kok Bar SF (1225 Folsom). Benefiting Bevan Dufty for Mayor.

7 p.m. $100 donation suggested. Followed by the Grand Opening of the bar to the public at 9 p.m. Go to: www.kokbarsf.com.

Fri., Apr. 1: Bent: Close Encounters, a play party for kinky youth hosted by Stefanos and Cheryl at the SF Citadel. 9 p.m. $20. Bent is for kinky youth: 18, 19, 20s, 30s. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Sat., Apr. 2: Back Bar Action at the Eagle Tavern (398 12th St.). Back patio and bar open to all gear/fetish/leather. 10 p.m.-close. Go to: www.sfeagle.com.

Sat., Apr. 2: Monthly Leather, Boots & Uniform Event sponsored by BLUF and Hot Boots at the SF Eagle (398 12th St.). No cover. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Go to: www.hotboots.com.

Sat., Apr. 2: Bearracuda SF at Club 8 (1151 Folsom).

Sponsored by Scruff for iPhone & Android and Steamworks. 2-for-1 drink specials before 10 p.m. $6 before 10 p.m., $8 after. Go to: www.bearracuda.com.

Sat., Apr. 2: Hell Hole Fisting Party at Mr. S Leather Play Space (385A 8th St.) 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Doors close at 12 a.m. $25, a men-only event. Go to: www.hellholesf.com.

Pre-Party Novice Workshop has been cancelled.

Sat., Apr. 2: The Mustache Riders present 2nd Annual Evening of Dirty Mustache Riding hosted by Sister Roma & Monistat at the Powerhouse. 9 p.m. $5 cover benefits AIDS Life Cyclist 5482. Jell-O shots, 50/50 raffle, pedaling dirty boys. Go to: www.mustacherider.org.

Sun., Apr. 3: Castrobear presents Sunday Furry Sunday at 440 Castro. 4-10 p.m. Go to: www.castrobear.com.

Sun., Apr. 3: PoHo Sundays at the Powerhouse. DJ Keith, Dollar Drafts all day. Go to: www.powerhousesf.com.

Mon., Apr. 4: Peer Rope Workshop hosted by Madame Butterfly and Mr. Madame Butterfly at the SF Citadel.

7:30 p.m. Doors close at 8:30 p.m. $10. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Tue., Apr. 5: Humiliation Play presented by Keri at the SF Citadel. 8 p.m. $20. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Tue., Apr. 5: Ink & Metal followed by Nasty at the Powerhouse. 9 p.m. Go to: www.powerhouse-sf.com.

Wed., Apr. 6: Naked Buddies at Blow Buddies. This is a male-only club. Doors open 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Play til late.

Go to: www.blowbuddies.com.

Wed., Apr. 6: Wolf! for Furry Men on the Prowl at the Watergarden (1010 Alameda, San Jose). 4 p.m.-Midnight.

Featuring adult videos of hairy guys, plus a red zone and club music. Lockers are half-off. Go to: www.thewatergarden.com.

Wed., Apr. 6: STD Awareness at the Center for Sex & Culture led by the SF Dept. of Public Health (1349 Mission St.). Doors 7 p.m., program 7:30 p.m. Discussion will focus on STDs framed around comprehensive sexualhealth dialogue. Go to: www.hellholesf.com.

▼

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

KARRNAL

Porn time-capsule

by John F. Karr t’s often said that the past can rise up and bite you on the ass. That’s nothing. In the two volumes of Vintage Bareback – Underground Kink, it rises up to shove right in our asses electrified rods, zucchini, Jalapeno peppers, green olives and, almost prosaically after those rarefied items, fists.

The two DVDs are the latest package of gay erotica that’s historic, sometimes hysteric, and not just a little horrific. It’s also at all times a wonderment – this stuff is the granddaddy of gay porn. Two earlier volumes in the series focused on vintage barebacking. This new set covers an eyeopening array of kink. The films have Scene from Leather Orgy, part of Vintage Bareback – Underground Kink, Vol. 2. only recently been unearthed by Mark Kliem, the curator of Lavender Lounge (disclosure: Mark also set up bottom drains from a spigot. had been codified, when its attendant the glossy archive of my reviews at In an hour and a quarter, Volume 2 appliances had to be self-imagined www.KarrnalKnowledge.com). Origiand created rather than picked up at delivers more fisting, giant dildos, and nally shot on film to be shown in XXX some local haberdashery of hurt. gallons of piss. It also has a full menu movie theatres more than 40 years And a strange lot there are. There’s a of produce and sandwich makings. In ago (we’re talking the early 70s and cock-ring sort of thing fashioned Sex Salad, a trio use salad dressing as possibly the late 60s), the films were from an industrial clamp, with sharp lubricant before getting the aforedubbed down to 8mm film for mailsteel edges that are screwed down mentioned olives and Jalapenos in order home sales. It’s this rare footage tighter and tighter on the scene’s their asses, and doing creative things of hardcore, pre-condom loops curly-haired, blond twink with cored-out tomatoes and cucumthat have been unearthed in bottom. His nipples are bers. I’m not into food-sex; I found it a tireless feat of porn archaebrutalized to the point of all pretty tedious – especially when the ology, and then digitally drawing blood, and you next movie, Triple Decker, has them enhanced, color-correctwon’t believe what goes playing with peanut butter and jelly. ed, and suitably soundup his ass, from the Yuck. The subsequent two movies, tracked. That’s not to say strange, glowing electric Recycled Beer and Piss Party, do all a lot of the footage doeswand, to dildos of increassorts of thirst-quenching things with n’t still look archaic. ing size, some of them piss. The thirst for cum is sated, too, But it’s been spruced sprinkled with chili pepwhen Piss Party lets the pissers shoot up as much as possiper before insertion. their cum into each other’s mouths.

K ARRNAL ble. And the new apt, Demo is Leather Orgy is self-descriptive, and K NOWLEDGE justSelf-Suck atmospheric and occathat: a hunky guy the fisting scene Kiss the Rosebud desionally witty music with hairy chest and riplivers one astounding view of a guy goes a long way in bringing the anpling abs gets his dick in his mouth, diving full-face into a most expansive tique films closer to contemporary where it lets loose his cum and then rosebud. tastes. There’s zest and humor in these streams his piss. Cowboys in Leather You don’t have to be an historian glossy packages. or a nostalgist to seek out stuff as old features legendary performer In a little over an hour, Volume 1 as these loops. It’s not altogether unRichard Locke in a scene that minindulges in strange and savage S&M, rewarding to see where we came gles leather and Western apparel. It’s self-suck, and kinky cowboys (alfrom, porn-wise, and the historic actually an infomercial for a line of though one could view a cowboy footage of Underground Kink is pretoys, including ball-stretchers, ballfetish as a kink unto itself). Hardwares weights (one of them dangling a sented with the care and respect it is over a half-hour of hard-hitting horseshoe from a nutsack), titdeserves. You may even be able to get S&M, featuring peculiar and scary clamps, paddles, and wrist- and off on some of it. There were mohomemade devices – this is a vision of ankle-restraints. For a finale, Locke ments that brought up that old tinthe days before the S&M experience fills a bucket with his piss, which his gle in me. www.pornteam.com▼

I

On the Town ▼

page 26

tion in the galaxy of pop idols.

As we returned to the Castro, a puzzling traffic jam and police presence turned out to be evidence that Britney had fulfilled her promise to visit the site of LYRIC. Additional unscheduled stops included Q-Bar, Under One Roof, and the GLBT Historical Society Museum. The stories

of Britney’s whirlwind visit to SF will grow with time and live on for years to come.

The first weekend of April includes Lord Martine and Trigger’s second annual White Party on Saturday night, where the décor, drink specials, and performances will blow you away. Get advance VIP tickets to avoid the line. After that, head to DBL DoS Productions’ Pound at that much talked-about new space Public Works, 161 Erie St. Patrick Devin

and DJ Grind promise you a great late-night dance party with hot men, stiff drinks, and nonstop stimulation.

On Sunday, the Imperial Court will host Investiture, where the new Emperor and Empress, Frankie & Saybeline, announce the members of their Court, outline upcoming events, and kick off their reign. The celebration occurs at Infusion Lounge, the posh downstairs club at 124 Ellis St., starting at 4 p.m.▼

bartabsf.com

27

28

▼

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

DVD

Servants’ quarters Upstairs Downstairs: Complete Series, 40th Anniversary Edition (Acorn Media, 21 discs)

or the past decade, American daytime soaps have suffered from plummeting ratings, causing a number of shows to be cancelled.

These once wildly popular offerings are now a dying breed. Something is missing from them, and viewers are tuning out in droves. Current soap producers might want to have a look at the now-legendary Upstairs Downstairs. Produced for British television during the early-to-mid-1970s, the drama focuses on the elements that first intrigued soap audiences when the genre began: Characters.

Upstairs Downstairs trains its eye on one household, fashionable One Eaton Place in Edwardian England.

The wealthy, aristocratic Bellamy family resides upstairs. The servants live their lives downstairs. The show’s 68 episodes follow these lives over a period of 27 years, beginning in 1903.

It’s pure soap opera. As real-life historical events take place around them (the sinking of the Titanic, WWI, the Roaring 20s, the Crash of 1929), the

F

Mildred Pierce ▼

page 17

dogged Kate Winslet) kicked out her jobless, once-wealthy hubby Bert (Brian F. O’Byrne) from their Glendale Spanish bungalow than Mildred’s best friend Lucy Gessler (Oscar-winner Melissa Leo) advises her on how to manage the sudden advances from Bert’s one-time real-estate partner, Wally Burgan (James LeGros).

Mildred is the opposite of a kept woman. Her initial success in the restaurant and baked-goods business will leave the men in her life feeling that her apron strings have become a noose. One of the narrative strengths of the book which Haynes employs to great advantage is having the audience know only what Mildred knows, so she is blindsided by a series of sucker punches, many launched by her resentful teenage daughter Veda (played at 11 by Morgan Turner, at 17 and beyond by Evan Rachel Wood).

Fueled by Haynes’ mastery of the domestic drama and his sagacious updating of the work of melodrama masters Douglas Sirk and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, HBO’s Mildred Pierce is a timely guide for surfing through a prolonged economic slump.

Haynes gives us flashes of hardscrabble living offset by the era’s gorgeously designed motor cars.

On the record The last time I sat down with Todd Haynes, the gifted queer director was

Ethel Waters ▼

page 17

was sexy. She first attracted attention as a dancer, soon became celebrated for singing raunchy songs (“Shake That Thing,” “My Handy Man”), blues (she popularized W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Woman” after hearing a male transvestite sing it), and later, Broadway tunes.

Although billed below the title, she stole Irving Berlin’s As Thousands Cheer (1933) from its white stars, Marilyn Miller and Clifton Webb, by introducing “Heat Wave” and the powerful “Supper Time,” a ballad about a racist lynching. She didn’t consider herself a jazz singer, but influenced Billie Holiday (whom she had fired) and Ella Fitzgerald, among others.

Vincente Minnelli directed her in another Broadway success, At Home Abroad (35), becoming an ardent admirer. She stunned audiences and critics with a haunting dramatic performance in Mamba’s Daughters (39), a

viewer is pulled into the intricacies of these characters’ daily routines, their dreams and desires, friendships, loves gained and lost, betrayals. Unlike today’s youth-oriented soaps, Upstairs Downstairs offered equal screentime to younger and older characters, to the pretty and the plain. There was no need for glamorous location shoots or movie-star cameos. What makes the series so riveting is the sight of superb actors playing richly developed characters, and speaking well-written, believable lines.

The first few episodes focus on Sarah (Pauline Collins), the newest maid engaged in the Bellamy household. She’s got quite a story to tell, claiming to have an aristocratic background of her own. She says she was cheated out of her rightful inheritance, and is working in service until her lawyers can restore her to her rightful position. Parlor maid Rose (Jean Marsh, who co-created and cowrote the series) sees right through Sarah’s fantasies. They become roommates and close friends. Rose even teaches Sarah how to read and write. But Sarah continues to yearn for something better, often getting herself into trouble in her quest for the brass ring.

Other colorful downstairs characters include Gordon Jackson as Hudson, the stern butler, and Angela Baddeley as Mrs. Bridges, the boisterous cook. Both have lived their lives in service. They know their place in life, and they accept their lot with dignity. They’re quite formal with each other, addressing each other by their last names at all times. But viewers can see what others in the house cannot: that they each feel an unrequited, unspoken love for each other.

The downstairs folks emerge as far more interesting than their upper-class counterparts. Many of them found themselves in service because they had no other options. Many of them have no family other than each other. In spite of the formalities their positions dictate, they become a self-contained family unit.

Upstairs, the Bellamys live a life of privilege that the servants envy, yet Lord and Lady Bellamy and their children suffer from the same yearn-

ings and broken romances as the working-class folks at the bottom of the stairs. Their pain can cut just as deeply, as when Lady Bellamy goes down with the Titanic, or when her son commits suicide when he loses his fortune in the stock-market crash.

The series dared to touch upon a then-delicate subject. In 1905, Alfred the Footman (George Innes) has a secret love affair with houseguest Baron Klaus Von Rimmer (Horst

Janson). Alfred is forced to leave the Bellamy household in disgrace, and ultimately comes to a bad end. This storyline is an accurate portrayal of what it was like to be gay 100 years ago. Dialogue in which Alfred is referred to as a “pervert” might offend today’s audiences, but such dialogue is an accurate representation of the period.

Largely shot on video (a few brief outdoor sequences were filmed) Upstairs Downstairs survives the test of time. The acting, writing, elegant sets and costumes, and interactions between characters are top-notch.

Acorn Media presents a beautifully bound box set, offering all 68 episodes on five discs; 24 of them feature lively commentaries from surviving cast members. There’s also a five-part retrospective documentary, and a fun 1975 TV special: in Upstairs Downstairs Remembered, British TV talk-show host Russell Harty interviews the cast, all of whom appear in character.▼ Sun., April 10 on PBS, Masterpiece Theatre will premiere Upstairs Downstairs series 6. Jean Marsh returns as Rose in brand-new episodes set in 1936.

back to work right away.

The audience knows only what Mildred knows, so she is blindsided by a series of sucker punches, many launched by her resentful daughter Veda.”

None of the men really work. The women run the world in this story.

These women are not feminists, but they’re strong women. It’s an interesting distinction, which you make really clear here.

These women act because they have to. They’re facing severe challenges, and they have to put bread on the table. But there’s no sense that this is liberationist. There are no flags being waved in the process.

Courtesy HBO

by David Elijah Nahmod

Director Todd Haynes with Kate Winslet on the set of Mildred Pierce.

tionship, it has to reduce a lot down.” earning kudos for his Jean Genet-inspired anthology film Poison. Two decades later, the still shockingly boyish (at 51) filmmaker has firmly established himself as one of the most accomplished of the early-90s generation of New Queer Cinema artists.

Here are excerpts from my conversation with Haynes in the Green Room of the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas.

Haynes began by discussing the 1945 Michael Curtiz Mildred Pierce. “I haven’t watched it for years. It’s never been my very favorite. I admire it: it’s an incredibly beautiful piece of filmmaking. It’s Hollywood filmmaking at its finest. But in terms of the themes, in terms of the mother/daughter rela-

David Lamble: Since you did it “straight,” so to speak, it was funnier, and more apparent where the queen/camp DNA was. I was laughing all the way through. How did Kate Winslet become involved?

play about a multi-generational black family. She toured the country in it to great acclaim.

Minnelli cast her in his film debut, MGM’s Cabin in the Sky (1943), an all-black musical. Now matronly, Waters clashed with the 26-year-old Lena Horne, who had been signed to a seven-year contract by the studio, a first for an African American actress.

Horne, who, as an unknown chorus girl at Manhattan’s legendary Cotton Club, had watched Waters bring down the house singing “Stormy Weather,” felt the full torrent of the older woman’s horrifying temper. The talented Horne represented everything Waters feared: youth, a light complexion, “European” features, and charismatic sex-appeal. Waters is excellent, memorably singing “Taking a Chance on Love” and “Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe,” but in her two scenes with Horne (who superbly performs “The Honey in the Honeycomb”), the latter’s youth and beauty prevail. Ironically, Horne starred in Stormy Weather (43), and to Waters’ undying fury,

appropriated the title song so successfully that it became her signature tune.

Waters’ vitriolic behavior kept her off the screen for six years, but she earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for Pinky (1949), playing the grandmother of a mixedrace girl. She returned to Broadway in triumph as Bernice, the African American cook in the 1949 dramatization of Carson McCullers’ moving novel, The Member of the Wedding, co-starring Julie Harris. Before taking the part, she demanded changes, including making Bernice religious. She insisted on singing “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.”

Her performance became legendary.

She repeated it for the 1952 film, in which she was first billed, but Columbia Studios head Harry Cohn loathed the movie and cut her key scenes.

Despite obesity and declining health, she worked steadily on television, appeared in the poor film version of William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury (1959), and traveled the country making personal appearances in almost any venue. She had earned

Todd Haynes: Mildred is described not only as a dirty blonde, but also as a young mother, much younger than Joan Crawford is to Ann Blyth in the film. Mildred was 17 when she had Veda, so she’s 28 when we meet her in the story, which covers a nine-year span in LA throughout the Depression. Kate happened to fall right in the middle of that age-span.

Mildred has this intense way of coping by applying herself physically

to her tasks, an intense work ethic, and a physicality about how she executes that. She’s hands-on. Coupled with that is this sexual thing with Monty Beragon, the Guy Pearce character, who’s fantastic. It’s a risqué, sexual kind of role play that they enter into together. In their sex is the one place where she feels kind of turned on by wearing the uniform, as opposed to it being something she has to hide.

James LeGros as Wally, that’s an astonishing transformation. The sex scene that Mildred and Wally have is so funny, it’s like a road grader and a truck colliding.

There are character actors who we thought of for Wally, and James came in and he just did this reading for me that blew me away. It was so specific: the language, the dialect, the voice, that husky, scratchy voice of his.

Even at the end when he sets the claw in on Mildred, and for good reason, she’s been profligate in a bubble mentality as we say, in the last episode when he sits down and rejoins the creditors at the table, there’s this look of sad pain and resignation that adds a real note of compassion to that character.▼

Monty becomes somewhat of a gigolo in her hands. It’s a very curious relationship – it’s almost like she’s tipping him the way she hates to be tipped in a restaurant. She’s turning him into what she didn’t what to be herself.

Neither of her two primary guys go

HBO’s Mildred Pierce airs in five episodes on the following schedule: Parts 1 & 2 air 4/2 on HBO main channel, plus 2/3, 22. Part 3 debuts on 4/3 (9:15 pm), plus 4/5, 6, 7, 9. Part 3 airs on HBO 2 on 4/4, 9, 10, 22. Parts 4 & 5 debut on HBO on 4/10.

large sums of money, but spent lavishly on clothes, automobiles, jewels, homes, supporting her mother and other relatives.

Bogle, author of an acclaimed biography of Dorothy Dandridge, recreates the little-known world of black vaudeville, black media, and documents the horrifying racism black performers faced. He brings to life important artists like Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (whose ego and temper matched Waters’), Josephine Baker, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, the Nicholas Brothers, Katherine Dunham, Hattie McDaniel, and Louise Beavers. He takes the reader into hidden black Hollywood.

Not surprisingly, Waters distrusted most whites. She hated the term “black,” preferring “Negro” or “Colored,” and seemed confused by the modern civil rights movement.

Younger generations disliked her portrayals of loyal domestics. Some dismissed her as “Mrs. Uncle Tom.” Yet Waters was embraced by first lady

Eleanor Roosevelt, who praised her as a person and a performer. She crashed through barriers and relentlessly fought prejudice.

Bogle believes her toughness resulted from her brutal fight to succeed and remain on top. Actor Ossie Davis understood. Her hardness was the exterior of the black experience. Holiday was its interior. She was soft and was destroyed. “Ethel Waters was not soft, was not destroyed by the process, although she might destroy someone else. She had the hardness, the iron, and that power to survive even at someone else’s expense. You can blame her if you want to. But we certainly understand where it came from. She was a great artist.

And a mean woman.”

Bogle’s prose is compelling, his research impeccable, and his biography includes superb photographs of a little-known world. Heat Wave is a magnificent achievement. Anyone interested in popular entertainment and the ugly, damaging-to-all history of American racism will find it difficult to put down.▼

▼

MUSIC

10 for 2011

by Gregg Shapiro While we sit and wait for indecisive Lily Allen to make up her mind about whether or not she’s going to retire from music, we have Eliza Doolittle (born Eliza Sophie Caird) to hold us over. Exhibiting flashes of Kate Nash, Amy Winehouse and V.V. Brown, Doolittle’s self-titled Capitol debut is a genuinely good time, due as much to her flair for co-writing catchy pop songs as to her ability to sell them with her expressive voice. Shaking her moneymaker on “Moneybox,” skating away on “Rollerblades,” making excellent use of vintage samples on “Go Home” or wailing soulfully on “So High,” Doolittle does a lot to earn a listener’s attention.

2. Like Eliza Doolittle, Oh Land (a.k.a.

Nanna Øland Fabricius) performs under a pseudonym. As the latest Swedish pop import, Oh Land complements fellow Swedes Robyn and Lykke Li on her eponymous Epic debut. She doesn’t really break a cold sweat until “Sun of a Gun,” the third track. “Voodoo” is for dancing, and “We Turn It Up” sounds like it comes from “out in the streets.”

In her frostier moments, Oh Land still radiates a delightful warmth 3. Lady Gaga shouldn’t be the least bit surprised if her labelmate Ellie Goulding pulled up alongside her on the dance charts with cuts from her debut disc Lights (Cherry Tree/Interscope). The glowing title cut is not only a sunny dance track but also an object lesson for the religiousfanatic electro artist. An acoustic guitar is at the center of the dance tune “Guns and Horses,” while the dreamy “Starry Eyed” glitters like a mirror ball. “Animal” lets your inner beast loose on the dance-floor. Goulding’s

1.

piano and vocal rendition of Elton John’s “Your Song” lives up to the bonus in bonus track.

4. Anna Calvi knows her way around a guitar and proves it on “Rider to the Sea,” the instrumental opening number on her self-titled Domino debut. Calvi maintains the moody and haunting spirit of the opener on “No More Words” and “Love Won’t Be Leaving.” But it’s the showstopper “Desire” that has to be heard to be believed.

5. Is it fair to ask whether or not model-turned-singer Karen Elson would have a recording career if she weren’t married to the ubiquitous Jack White (of White Stripes)? Discuss. Elson proves to be both a decent songwriter and performer on The Ghost Who Walks (Third Man/XL).

6. It’s been a long time since a singer came along who deserved even the smallest comparison to the legendary Nico, but Anika earns it with her self-titled Stones Throw/Invada

29

31 March 2011 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

debut album (produced by Portishead’s Geoff Barrow). Aside from Anika originals “Officer Officer” and the dubby “No One’s There,” the disc consists of an unusual cross-section of cover tunes, including Yoko Ono’s “Yang Yang,” a pair of 60s girl-singer tunes and distinctive renditions of songs by Bob Dylan (“Masters of War”) and Ray Davies (“I Go To Sleep”). Anika is novel, but more than just a novelty.

7. Growing more crowded by the minute, the female singer/songwriter circle continues to expand. In order to stand out, an artist needs to do something to distinguish herself from the

BAYAREAREPORTER

PERSONALS

MASSAGE

G REAT BODYWORK

NUDE , EROTIC MASSAGE BY WELL BUILT, WELL HUNG, MASC. GDLK / MAN. NEAR CIVICCENTER IN / OUT

415

290-1136

LOVING STROKES Nurturing, Sensual Healing, Satisfying

rest. Stacy Clark comes close to doing that with songs “Fireworks” and “Not Enough” from her debut disc Connect the Dots (Vanguard). But it’s the kind of album that makes you wonder what else she has up her sleeve.

8. Farmer’s Daughter (19/Jive) is the sterile and predictable debut disc

by Crystal Bowersox, the “American Idol runner-up” (and why in the world is that a badge of honor anyway?). For a singer/songwriter who first made her name on the coffeehouse circuit, Bowersox sounds remarkably eager to put some distance between that identity and that of American Idol contestant. In addition to an unnecessary remake of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” to which she adds nothing, most of the remaining songs aren’t particularly memorable.

9. Not only does out cabaret diva (and life-partner of Kelli Carpenter) Anne Steele have a gorgeous, powerful voice, but she has fascinating taste in music on her debut Strings Attached (PS Classics). Sure, she dips into the standards pool on “Tennessee Waltz,” Sondheim’s “Move On” and the overly performed “Smile.” But she also takes a number of risks that pay off unexpectedly.

Her version of Jon McLaughlin’s “Indiana,” Sara Bareilles’ “Gravity” and Jason Mraz’s “If It Kills Me” are three examples. Her interpretation of Lady Gaga’s “Speechless” and Pink’s “Sober” fare better than Britney’s “Toxic” (paired with Duffy’s “Mercy”) or “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” which falls flat. Steele closes the disc on an uplifting note with “Falling Down,” written by Kenny Davidsen, who plays piano on the disc.

10. Naomi Greenwald’s fittingly named debut disc Darkbloom (Transom) opens with “Evan Williams” and “Price You Pay,” a pair of twangy tunes. But before you get too comfortable in the saddle she shifts gears and goes in a piano-pop direction.

This kind of variety, which continues on the retro-reflection of “Dark Times” and the rocking “Desire To Fall,” is what makes Darkbloom so enjoyable.▼

STRONG HANDS SENSITIVE & EXPERIENCED From Stress Reduction to Simple Relaxation

STEVE C.M.T. 821-2985

ASIAN ECSTACY Fremont, Jim CMT * Great Hands * Mature $40/HR (510) 651-2217

E18W

SEXY ASIAN $60 Jim 269-5707

E14W

Castro $50/$70 Jim 415-621-4517

E15W

HAIRY MASSEUR

Erotic Relaxing Full Body Massage by hairy Irish/Portugese guy. All Bay Area.

(510) 912-8812 late nights ok.

E13W

Superb Full Body Sensual Massage

By Handsome friendly Asian CMT In/$45/Hr Oakland, Nr. BART EZ PARK Out To Hotels /$65/Hr. Entire Bay Area Call Shin 510-502-2660 Late Hrs. OK

E15W

DADDY MASSAGE ME SIR

510-830-8768 Out calls only. All Bay Areas. Let DADDY care for you.

E15W

ASIAN EAST BAY, KJ CMT

Swedish Deep Tissue Thai Massage 510-420-0112 $70/In - $90/Out

E13W

• USE CONDOMS • BE WISE - 24/7 East Bay Excellent Massage Duane CMT 510.830.8549

Late Hours OK E1B

E13W

LEANMACHINEMASSAGE.COM Welcomes slender men for deeply satisfying massage. Quiet, Private.

Near MUNI/BART 415-452-9635

E13W

Friendly, tall, hung,6'3", 190, hung 8" x 7" $80/hour & $110/90 min. for in calls. Add $20 for out calls in Call /text me at 415-235-2555. http://www.fillmorerub.com

E13W

FullBody Massage 7 Days a Week In&Out Calls. 415-350-0968

Call Shin # 510-502-2660 Body Electric CMT offers full body erotic massage. 5’11’ 170lbs, mutual touch ok $80/hr willbeing.com Will 415 821 6477

E13W

Asian CMT massage 510-779-8234

15W

USE THE BAY AREA REPORTER ADULT SERVICES CLASSIFIEDS! IN PRINT AND ONLINE. CALL 415-861-5019 FOR RATES AND DEADLINES. HTTP://EBAR.COM MAKE YOUR PHONE RING!

E13W

E16W

BEST MASSAGE 23 years old 5'9 150lbs 7" uncut/thick.black hair and brown eyes smooth Soft skin 213 804 1939 eriss@eriss.net Website: eriss.net

E13W

*EXCELLENT MASSAGE*

Nude,Swedish, Erotic, Prostate 60 120 min. sessions: $85 & up. 6’3”, 198#, Blond, CMT SF 415-706-9740

E15W

Asian CMT In Sunnyvale. In -$50, Out$70 Michael 408-400-9088 or 408-893-1966

E15W

Genital &/or Prostatic Certified Sexological Bodyworker Health and Pleasure. Goal Focused 415-796-3215,Post and Hyde.

"Dr. BLISS" is IN! I love touching men and it shows! Massage is my artform. 415.706.6549 http://bodymagicsf.blogspot.com/

Superb Sensual Massage

By Handsome Athletic CMT. Full Body Soothing Satisfying In/$45 Hr. Oakland Near Bart Clean, Pvt., Shower EZ Park Out/ $65 Hr. Entire Bay Area

E16W

MASSAGE FOR SENIORS ONLY DAVID 415 806-3150 WILL TRAVEL

13W

COREMASSAGE4MEN.COM Pelvis-Hips-Thighs-Low Back-Abs Jeff Gibson 415-626-7095 SF

E13W

Check out our expanded Personals Section online at

ebar.com.

EIB

30

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 31 March 2011

▼

PERSONALS

PEOPLE

HOOK UP FAST!

Call. Cruise. Connect.

San Francisco

415.430.1199 Oakland

510.343.1122 Palo Alto

650.223.0505

t Try i E!* FRE

Concord

925.695.1100 San Jose

408.514.1111

USE FREE CODE 5377 TM

1-888-634-2628

MegaMatesMen.com

24/7 Friendly Customer Care 1(888)MegaMates 18+ ©2010 PC LLC

DEADLINE NOON on MONDAY. Payment must accompany ad.

No ads taken over the telephone. If you have a question, call 415.861.5019. Display advertising rates available upon request.

RATES Newspaper and website:

First line, Regular All subsequent lines Web or e-mail hyperlink

8.00 5.00

CAPS

5.00 double price

BOLD

double price

X-BOLD triple price PAYMENT ■ Cash ■ Personal Check ■ Money Order ■ Visa ■ MasterCard ■ American Express Minimum $10 charge.

Indicate Type Style Here ▼

CLASSIFIED ORDER FORM

X-BOLD Stops Here ▼

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

CONTACT INFORMATION

Card Number

Name

Expiration Date

Address

Signature

City

Name

Number of Issues

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

CAPS Stop Here ▼

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

CREDIT CARD PAYMENT

I I I I I I I I I I I I

BOLD Stops Here ▼

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I

Regular Stops Here ▼

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

MAIL WITH PAYMENT TO: Bay Area Reporter 395 Ninth Street SF, CA 94103

Telephone

OR FAX TO: State

Zip

415.861.8144

OR E-MAIL: Classification

Amount Enclosed

Check out our expanded Personals Section online at:

ebar.com.

BAYAREAREPORTER

ebar.com

Find someone special.

baradv@aol.com

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

MEN CRUISING MEN Match & Reply FREE! 415-430-1199 SF 510-343-1122 East Bay Use FREE Code 5818, 18+

EI B

Male. 70. Active, Healthy. Interests: Sports Car Racing. 5Ks., etc. Never actively gay. Now finally realize the beauty of the male body. Want to meet men 40-60 who share same or like interests. Help me integrate into the gay lifestyle.

209-480-7071

E13W

31 March 2011 . BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com

CHILANGOSEXY

I like to give pleasure; versatile, horny.

MEAT MARKETS

EDUARDO 415-374-4439

MODEL/ESCORTS

31

USE THE BAY AREA REPORTER ADULT SERVICES CLASSIFIEDS! IN PRINT AND ONLINE. CALL 415-861-5019 FOR RATES AND DEADLINES. HTTP://EBAR.COM MAKE YOUR PHONE RING! EIB Edgy Escort For Xtreme Clients

HOT*COOL*24HRS. Out* 860-5468*$150 Hr.* E13W

Asian uncut cute boy.Cute younger boy.Clean and smooth body 5.5” uncut Versatile.$120 in/out.

415-724-3641

E13W

Hotels outcalls/$50/80 in 724-3252

E12W

BLK MASCULINE TOP Handsome, Hung, and Stays Hard.

Clean, Friendly. Older Guys & Bears Welcome. Discrete - In or Out Cedrick 510-776-5945

E10W

Thickest Dick 9X7.5 All Scenes Confident Top Nick 415-615-0933 E13W

ERISS. SLIM LEAN LATIN GUY Massage and escort companion very clean,masculine, laid back, 7inch thick uncut. im 5'9tall and weigh 150lbs.jet black hair. brown eyes,smooth skin .Eriss 213 804 1939 Website: eriss.net

E13W

Straight Baptist Boy. Amazing massage. Mouth watering cock. 510221-7706. Available 24/7. William

Hard Top. Masculine dominate Italian 5’11”, 180lbs. Top Fat thick long lasting 8/5. 415-684-4837

HIV+ TOP/VERS.6’3” 198# 8” Blond Hot. Friendly 415-706-9740

WELL HUNG JERSERY BOY IS BACK TWENTY SOMETHING YNG. GL ,DOWN TO EARTH FRIENDLY & FUN WHITE BOY 5/5 130 LB DRK EYES & HR HUNG 8X7 THK @ 856-308-5884 (ERIC) ANY TIME

E12W

Youthful Caucasian, Blonde, Blue.

415-320-1040

E13W

E13W

• USE CONDOMS • BE WISE - 24/7

E13W

E1B

Bondage 2 Buttplay. Toys/FF/S&M Sling/Hose. Anthony 415-763-8677.

E13W

Attractive Friendly White guy 6'1" 185lbs 30's 415-320-1040 Pictures at http://skot2trot.com

E13W

E13W

Hot twink import. Youngest, hottest twink on this site, guaranteed! YES IM OF AGE.. 24/7 Super friendly,Matt 530-903-8646

E13W

Middle Eastern Versatile 29yo Versatile /169cm/ 64kg/ 8" curved and cut (650)743-0036. hunk_25@live.com

E13W

ADULT JOBS OFFERED HOT GUYS 4 PORN Looking 4 Hot Guys For Adult Films. RU 18-40, In Good Shape? apply @ factoryvideos.com/casting

E48W