NASHVILLE
November/December 2014
Nashville’s
Hottest Bartenders
Crystal Clear: Chatting with a
Crossover Legend
LeAnn Rimes
has ONE wish for Christmas
TH ROUGH JANUARY 4, 2015 Kandinsky: A Retrospective is organized by the Centre Pompidou, Paris and the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Platinum Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Hospitality Sponsor
A NNE AND JOE RUSSEL L
D O W N TO W N N A SH VI LLE 9 1 9 B R O A D WAY
FR I STC EN TER . O R G
This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
THE FR IST CE NTE R FO R T H E V I S U A L A RT S IS SU P P O RTE D I N PA RT B Y
Wassily K and insky. Black G rid , (d etail) 1922. O il on c anvas. C ol lec t ion C entre Pomp id ou, M usée n at i o n al d ’ ar t m o de r n e / C entre d e c reat ion ind ustriel le, Paris, Beq uest of M rs. Nina K and insky in 1981, AM 81-65-44. Ph o t o gr aph © C e n t re Pomp id ou, M NAM -C C I / Servic e d e la d oc umentat ion p hotog rap hiq ue d u M NAM / Dist. R M N-GP © 2 0 1 4 Ar t i st s Ri gh t s Soc iety (AR S), New York / ADAG P, Paris
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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Temperatures are falling, which means, believe it or not, another year is swiftly coming to a close. With a new year right around the corner and only a promise of an ever-increasing frenzy of festivities, now is the time to stop, take a breath (or two) and appreciate. Take a moment and appreciate the changing landscape and history that you’re bearing witness to. At press time, same-sex couples have won the right to marry in 32 states with another three clearly fighting the changing tide of history. But what about Tennessee? While Tennessee is one of the remaining fifteen states barring same-sex marriage, that could surely have changed by the time this issue hits your hands. Take a moment and appreciate the hardworking volunteers and organizations, such as those with the Tennessee Equality Project, making sure that Tennessee is not only Ready for Day One with marriage equality but for actively pursuing SAFE schools in East Tennessee and providing monthly discussions, meetings and opportunity for engagement statewide. While many are expectant of marriage equality, what happens when posting your wedding photo on Facebook leads to your termination? There’s much work on the horizon to change attitudes statewide so we can pursue transgender inclusive workplace protections. Looking back also means looking forward and appreciation leads to celebration. I’m happy to announce that we’ll begin accepting nominations for the 2014 UNITE Persons of the Year Awards which will be presented at our second anniversary party in March 2015. The award will honor those persons in our community who have gone above and beyond to make Nashville a better place for the LGBT community to live. Please submit your nomination at joey@unitemag.com or post on our Facebook page. And if that wasn’t enough of a reason to celebrate, dig into this issue of UNITE and celebrate ‘ONE’ Christmas with LeAnn Rimes, grab a holiday cocktail with some of Nashville’s favorite bartenders, pick up a new recipe or two or maybe even a new favorite holiday playlist. And remember, reach out and ask those around you how they are spending their holidays. You never know who might be spending it alone. Happy Holidays from the UNITE family!
Joey Amato managing editor Joseph Brownell creative director Blake Kniffin Publisher
Jesse Walker Book Reviewer Sebastian Fortino Business editor A.J. Busé Business correspondent Michael Burcham, PhD, Business writers Dan J. Groover, Lisa Howe, Blake Kniffin Fitness Editor Mark Allyn Nimmo Food & Wine Editor Erica Rains, Joshua Simpson HEALTH EDITOR Brian Hooper, MDiv, PsyD Life & Style Writer Kyle Kressin, Milton White Political Editor Jim Schmidt Arts & entertainment editors
Matthew Jeffers Sam Felker, Melissa Toyos, Taylor Wirth
Account Executive contributing writers
Tyler Chapman, Mark Farrar, Sam Felker, Scott Glasgow, Joseph McLean Gregory, Lisa Howe, Rana Mukherji, Darrin Otto, Gordon Publow, Chris Robinette, Jeff Rymer, Jim Schmidt, Ro Toyos Advisory Board
Rivendell Media (908) 232-2021 Unite Magazine (615) 852-6660 joey@unitemag.com
national advertising Contact
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cover photo by Sara Hertel
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table of contents
TASTE page 44
L E A N N R I M E S CHA PT E R
1
Her First Christmas Album in Over 10 Years
Includes the Christmas classics: Silent Night, Blue Christmas, & a playful new rendition of I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
FEATURE LEANN RIMES BARTENDERS CRYSTAL GAYLE COMMUNITY UNITE NEWS
16 21 28 8
CULTURE KANDINSKY RETROSPECTIVE
10
LOCAL STAR BRIAN PARKER VICKI YATES HARRISON PERRY
12 14 18
STYLE ENTERTAINING IN STYLE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
30 42
HEALTH SMOKING IN THE LGBT COMMUNITY
32
FOOD IN THE KITCHEN A NEW HOLIDAY TRADITION
34 36
BUSINESS COMMUNITY MARKETING RESULTS
38
BOOK FIRST COMES LOVE
40
MUSIC SOUNDS OF THE SEASON
46
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UNITE NEWS
TN State Museum
PRESENTS SPARKLE & TWANG
Sparkle & Twang 2013 photo by Moments By Moser
The Tennessee State Museum will present its annual Sparkle & Twang on Friday, November 14 at Lexus of Nashville. The fundraiser, co-chaired by Jennifer Parker and Mary Seng, will have a ‘Boots and Bling’ theme and all guests are highly encouraged to dress to impress. During the event, the museum will salute their 2015 Costume & Textile Institute Inductees: Moziah Bridges, Imogene + Willie designers Matt and Carrie Eddmenson, Johnathan Kayne, Stacey Rhodes and Olia Zavozina. For more information, visit www.tnmuseum.org.
LGBT Book TouR COMES TO NASHVILLE
Kristin Russo
8 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Kristin Russo and Dannielle Owens-Reid, co-founders of the LGBTQ youth organization Everyone Is Gay, have just released This Is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids: A Question & Answer Guide to Everyday Life for parents of LGBTQ youth. The book speaks to parents who want practical, straightforward advice on how to communicate and better parent their LGBTQ child. This November and December, the duo embarks on a 21-city Family Is tour, along with Canadian author Vivek Shraya, who wrote the short-story compilation God Loves Hair. The tour will stop in Nashville on Sunday, December 7, at 2:00 p.m. at Parnassus Books. Here they will share inspiring stories from their books and foster conversations about LGBTQ youth issues, parenting, and diverse representations of family.
NASHVILLE'S NUTCRACKER
RETURNS TO STAGE
photo by Karyn Kipley Photography
For the seventh year in a row, Nashville Ballet returns with one of Nashville’s favorite annual holiday traditions, Nashville’s Nutcracker, on December 6. Through December 23, 2014, the Nashville-themed holiday classic will be in residence at TPAC’s Jackson Hall for a total of 12 performances, featuring well-known Nashville characters and landmarks. Due to popular demand, two matinee performances have been added at 2 p.m. on December 22 and December 23. “Nashville’s Nutcracker is the perfect opportunity to incorporate Nashville’s rich history into the joy and wonder of the holidays,” said Paul Vasterling, Nashville Ballet’s Artistic Director & CEO. “After seven seasons presenting Nashville’s Nutcracker to the community, the magical and festive production has become a local favorite. Including Nashville’s strong history in the story only makes it more special.” Tickets to Nashville’s Nutcracker are on sale now starting at $28 and can be purchased at www.nashvilleballet.com or by calling (615) 782-4040.
Sandy Spain Exhibit OPENS AT OUTCENTRAL
Guardian
photo by Sandy Spain
Local artist Sandy Spain will present her second exhibition at OutCentral beginning on November 10. All pieces on exhibit will also be available for acquisition through December. With pieces titled “Unburdened--Body-Mind--and Soul,” “Heavenly Guardian” and “Looking In,” one can only imagine the spirituality which Spain captures in her new collection of works.
EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD BEGINS WITH A SMILE
Ron York
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RELEASES NEW ALBUM Returning to his musical roots, Nashville art entrepreneur Ron York is launching a new chapter in his colorful history releasing his first full-length CD of original, instrumental music entitled Renderings. Partnering with legendary music producer/engineer Ron “Snake” Reynolds, York has composed and performed 16 original songs on the CD which will be released November 16 and available on Amazon, iTunes and at his award-winning art gallery, York & Friends Fine Art, as well as additional art venues throughout the area. Timed to his annual York & Friends Holiday Open House Benefit, York
& Dental Implants
will host a benefit and CD release party open to the public, free of charge, on November 16, from noon to 5:00 p.m.. Unveiling his new musical work, a portion of any art and CD sales will benefit the Belmont Mansion. The historic home is located on Belmont University and is York’s alma mater where he studied voice and piano.
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CULTURE
Song
images courtesy of the Frist Centre for the Visual Arts
Kandinsky Retrospective
OPENS AT THE FRIST by Joey Amato
The Frist Center for the Visual Arts presents Kandinsky: A Retrospective, an exhibition celebrating a lifetime of work by Wassily Kandinsky (1866– 1944) in the Center’s Ingram Gallery from September 26, 2014–January 4, 2015. Chronicling four decades of artistic evolution—from early figurative works to exuberant experiments in abstraction and color—this exhibition invites visitors on an extraordinary stylistic journey of one of the most innovative modern art masters of the twentieth century.
10 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Kandinsky: A Retrospective is drawn largely from the collection of the Centre Pompidou, Paris, and features more than 100 paintings, drawings and other works. A majority of these stunning works were part of the artist’s personal collection and were given by the artist’s widow, Nina. Additional paintings from the Milwaukee Art Museum, including works by Gabriele Münter, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, further an appreciation of the artist in the context of his contemporaries. Organized chronologically and spanning the artist’s periods in Russia, Germany and France, the exhibition begins with paintings from the early 1900s including landscapes, painted folk tales and figurative works. “These works show how the young artist was influenced by major styles such as Art Nouveau, Impressionism, Symbolism, and Post-Impressionism,” says Frist Center Chief Curator Mark Scala. In a period of experimentation and movement towards more symbolic work, Kandinsky and other
turn to Impressionism, further demonstrated his belief that art should comfort and convey inner meaning rather than provoke and express political views, as other avant-garde Russian artists believed.
Black Grid
like-minded artists founded Der Blaue Reiter (the Blue Rider) in 1911, a group of artists based in Munich who emphasized the expression of extreme psychological conditions in their art. “Kandinsky made a radical move away from recognizable subject matter in the belief that painting’s most important property was its capacity to dissolve the outside world and evoke inner conditions,” says Scala. Kandinsky felt that music has the capacity to induce spiritual feelings within listeners through its formal arrangement of melodic sounds, harmonies and rhythms. He believed that “painters could similarly ‘orchestrate’ the elements of art—color, form, and line—to trigger pure emotional experiences,” Scala mentions. In the theoretical treatise Concerning the Spiritual in Art, Kandinsky wrote that “color is the keyboard. The eye is the hammer, while the soul is a piano of many strings. The artist is the hand through which the medium of different keys causes the human soul to vibrate.” In 1914, Kandinsky returned to Russia, his country of birth, and married Nina Andreevskaya in 1917. Facing financial hardship and material shortage during World War I and the Russian Revolution, his artistic output was somewhat limited. However, the paintings that Kandinsky did complete, some marking a re-
Back in Germany during a period of heady intellectualism in the 1920s at the Bauhaus, a highly influential German art school, Kandinsky favored geometric works and created monumental decors, including the large scale mural panels he and his students designed for the Juryfreie Kunstschau—Berlin (Non-juried Art Exhibition—Berlin). The panels, built for a never-realized museum lounge, were intended to immerse the viewer in a complete aesthetic experience. A 1977 reconstruction of this room is a highlight of this exhibition, and as Kandinsky initially desired, lets “the viewer ‘stroll’ within the picture.” In stark contrast with the rigid geometry of the Bauhaus period, Kandinsky’s paintings from the end of his life and career in France are recognized for their joyful use of biomorphic forms, which reflect the influence of Parisian light and nature as well as Surrealism. For more information, visit www.fristcenter.org
Your Nashville Symphony Live at the Schermerhorn
HOME ALONE in HD
DAVE BARNES
with the Nashville Symphony
A Very Merry Christmas
JIM BRICKMAN
TONY BENNETT
On a Winter’s Night
with the Nashville Symphony
December 6
December 9
December 7
December 11 & 12
A Nashville Symphony
NEW YEAR’S EVE
HANDEL’S MESSIAH
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY
with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
The best of Gershwin, Strauss, and more
December 18 to 20
December 31
Multicolored Ensemble
615.687.6400 | NashvilleSymphony.org
local star
Brian Parker (upper left), Rainy Day on 2nd Avenue (bottom left), The Scream (upper right), Playing with Napkins (middle right), Vitruvian Man (bottom right). photos by Barry A. Noland
12 | UNITE MAGAZINE
Local Gay Artist Likes to Play . . . WITH NAPKINS by Joey Amato Brian Parker was born into a family of talented artists in Kankakee, Illinois – in what he calls “a town so pitiful that David Letterman donated two gazebos to lessen the sting of being rated the worst area to live in the United States.” Growing up with traditional art medias, Parker exhibited talent as a painter and sculptor early in life, but he also developed a fondness for temporary art. He would spend hours on paper flower bouquets, Lego creations or sand sculptures at the beach, but, after completion, was satisfied to see them all disappear. This is the basis of his latest endeavor, Playing with Napkins. In early 2013, Parker began his avocation as a napkin artist. After coffee, he began playing with his napkin and noticed that it looked like an angel. He took a pic, posted it to Facebook, and people liked it. Soon after, his napkin art became popular. After much encouragement, Parker decided to assemble his napkin creations in an art book. Seeing the crowdfunding successes of several friends, he turned to Kickstarter to fund his first art book, Playing with Napkins. Parker launched his fundraising campaign on July 26 and support reached $10,000 in ten days. The project was entirely funded in less than two weeks. How did Playing with Napkins come to fruition? I made my first napkin art piece in summer 2013. I
had just started joining my husband, Barry, on his Sunday coffee jaunts, and one mid-July morning at Ugly Mugs, napkin art was born. It was quite accidental. We had finished our coffees and I was ready to leave, but Barry likes to linger and I was crashing his routine. So we lingered. As it turns out, that was a good decision. Barry was consumed in an app, and I was absent-mindedly playing with my spoon and napkin. I looked down and realized I had made an angel. I shared a pic of it, and people liked it; so I made another one the next week. Before long, the artwork had a following. Soon friends were suggesting that I make a book.
Check PlayingWithNapkins.com for a complete list of retailers and book signings. Playing with Napkins will be released Nov. 20th. His first book signing will be at Parnassus Books on November 22nd. Additional signings are scheduled for Dec. 4th at NuMynd Studios and Dec. 7th at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Brian serves as a board member of the Nashville Jazz Workshop and the MHRC Support Fund for The Community Foundation. He is active in the Nashville community and is a member of the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce and regularly contributes artwork and design services to fundraising events and often serves as a featured artist.
What has the reception been thus far? The reception has been great! The feedback from my Kickstarter campaign was fast and enthusiastic. The project was funded in less than two weeks. I was getting requests from printers and friends said they wanted to carry it in their shops. I was being interviewed. It was a lot of fun. How do you plan to market your book and when will it be released? I will have several book signings and Playing with Napkins will be in several book and gift outlets in Nashville. I am approaching national retailers also. A private investor is funding a larger print run so that I can fill larger orders.
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STRAIGHT ALLY VICKI YATES by Blake Kniffin
photo by Blake Kniffin
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down for a cup of coffee with Vicki Yates from News Channel 5. Excited by the chance to meet the personality that fills my living room each night, I arrived at the coffee shop early anticipating her arrival. Promptly on time, as if arriving for a newscast, Yates walked in and greeted me with arms wide open. She didn’t miss a beat as she graciously bought my favorite cup of joe. Despite having one of the most recognizably-beautiful and consistent faces on Nashville’s evening news, Yates is a grounded individual with a check-your-ego-at-the-door personality.
was asked to fill in for a sick reporter. She recalls being dressed in a totally inappropriate hot pink sweater and jeans while standing in the middle of a grocery store, mic in hand, shaking from nerves. Having thought she’d blown her one shot, Yates was thrilled to be offered a position as a part-time reporter and production assistant. She soon learned of a reporter position available at a sister station in Toledo, Ohio. Yates lobbied for it hard by consistently calling for eight solid months before landing an interview. Her efforts paid off, and she was offered the position. Eager for the opportunity, she uprooted her life and made the move to Ohio.
Not even a year later, she found herself auditioning for an anchor/news reporter position at WKRC-TV in Cincinnati. It was in Cincinnati that Yates partnered with friend Cheryl Billings-Morris to do a series on what it was to be gay. The year was approximately 1982, and the pair travelled from San Francisco to Kentucky interviewing people from different walks For years, Yates has anchored the evening news of life in order to get an understanding of how their sexuality impacted their day-to-day lives. and her family of four. During that time, she’s garnered five Emmy Awards, raised three chil- The duo got quite a mixed response from the community on the series. Yates took the critidren, and even interviewed President Obama. cisms like a professional. Having grown up with a very dear friend of her mother’s being gay, Her story begins in the Midwest. Yates was no stranger to the negative feedback she received. This was a pre-HIV awareness era, and simply mentioning the word gay on air was quite groundbreaking. In fact, Yates Born and raised in Michigan, Yates got her recalled being shocked that her news director allowed them to do the series at all. start as an intern at a local CBS affiliate. Not above cleaning the bathrooms like any humble While in Cincinnati, Yates and Billing-Morris also teamed up for a series called, “Bundles of intern, Yates will never forget the day that she Joy,” in which the duo explored the challenging world of parenting multiples. It was for this
14 | UNITE MAGAZINE
series that Yates earned her first Emmy. As if foretelling her own future, Yates would later go on to give birth to a set of twin boys. In 1984, Yates found herself a new home at Pittsburgh’s KDKA-TV where she anchored and reported for five years. Pittsburgh proved to be the setting of multiple personal milestones for Yates. It was there that she gave birth to her daughter and twin boys. It was also in Pittsburgh that Yates and her then husband made the difficult decision to part ways. In 1990, the newly divorced Yates moved to Nashville. Apprehensive about moving to the South as a single, black mother of three, Yates was bound and determined to make a fresh start. When looking for a home, she remembers specifically asking if the neighborhood was integrated. Assured that it was, Yates quickly found out after the closing that it was her family’s arrival that integrated the neighborhood. Aside from the instant culture shock, Yates quickly felt at ease among her new friends at Channel 5. She went on to describe the station’s unique ability to consistently remain a close-knit family over the last twenty-four years. That is not the industry standard. I’m told the broadcast industry can be quite cut throat and cold. This stands as a testament to the character of the individuals that comprise the Channel 5 team. It’s no wonder that Yates has put down her roots here. I asked Yates if she could recall the exact moment she was told she would have the opportunity to sit down with President Obama. Obviously a flashbulb memory, she instantly recalled the day and time in 2011 that it happened. She was informed on a Tuesday and was sitting in the White House on Thursday.
Filled with an overabundance of anxiety, she could barely keep herself together. The president invited four reporters from across the country to sit down one on one with him to ask non-vetted questions. Each reporter was allowed seven minutes in the Diplomat Room of the White House with him. Yates recalls being led into the room and wandering what type of pomp and circumstance went along with being introduced to the president. She sat in silence for what seemed an eternity and was finally interrupted by a gentle tap on the shoulder. “Hi, Vicki. I’m Barack,” he said.
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She turned and greeted the president and was taken aback by the lack of formality that accompanied the introduction. Certainly a long way from that grocery store in Michigan (and much better dressed), Yates kept her composure and conducted her interview. She was lucky enough to steal nine minutes rather than seven and will never forget his kindness. We went on to discuss the fact that President Obama is the first sitting president in US history to acknowledge and support the LGBT community’s struggle for equality. “[It’s really something] when the leader of the free world accepts you for who you are,” she said. “No one is any better than anyone else.” Yates left me with some great words of wisdom of which I’ll share. “Don’t let anyone else define you. Know who you are.” Tune into News Channel 5 every weeknight at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to catch the latest with Vicki Yates.
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FEATURE
CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS WITH LEANN RIMES by Jesse Walker For nearly the past twenty years, LeAnn Rimes has been a household name in the entertainment industry. Her career began at age thirteen with her debut cd, Blue, containing the smash hit of the same title. After multiple other hits from the same record, Blue achieved six times multi-platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America, a feat rarely accomplished by today’s top selling artists. Rimes’ career has not been completely smooth sailing from her initial success. She faced legal battles through contractual disputes and her personal life became the topic of heavy media scrutiny. However, Rimes has prevailed over her challenges and has proven her music to be the motivation for continued success as seen through multiple albums, books, philanthropy, and even a VH1
16 | UNITE MAGAZINE
reality show with her husband, Eddie Cibrian, titled LeAnn and Eddie. Rimes’ fans can enjoy new holiday music that was recently released on October 28, a decade since her most recent holiday collection. One ChristmasChapter 1 features six of Rimes’ favorite holiday tracks previously recorded by other artists. We recently spoke with Rimes about the new music, new tour, and life after her reality television show. One Christmas- Chapter 1, which as implied by the title and confirmed by Rimes, is just the first installment of her holiday music project with two subsequent collections coming in 2015 and 2016. “These are songs I feel myself gravitating towards during the holiday season. It was music that I wanted to pull that was a little bit different
than what most people would do,” Rimes says of music on her new EP. One of the tracks fans will enjoy is “Hard Candy Christmas,” originally written by Carol Hall
photos by Sara Hertel and performed by Dolly Parton in the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. “Maybe if we get around Nashville in the next few years, Dolly will have to pop in [at a concert],” Rimes jokes. “I have always wanted to sing with just myself and a steel guitar. Paul Franklin is absolutely incredible and probably the only person I would ever do something like that with.” Rimes went into the studio, turned down all of the lights, and sang the emotional tune under the glow of Christmas lights. “I was crying half-way through,” Rimes adds, “and was like ‘we have to stop…hold on a minute!’” Rimes will hit the road in December bringing her new Christmas music to fans across the United States but she wanted to the make the announcement unique. To announce the tour, she recruited some of her elf friends, including two men from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and her assistant, Kiki, to participate in the video while she sang the Christmas tour announcement on the beach in July while wearing a parka over a bikini. In the video, Rimes sings that there will be something “really, really special in New York City” so we, of course, asked if she would tell us what the big secret is and nearly succeeded. Rimes laughs, “You almost could have caught me though, I was like ‘wait a minute, have they announced that yet?’ No, not yet! So I can’t talk about it!” Rimes did release a ‘sequel’ to the first announcement of the tour just before Halloween that serves as a tour reminder featuring the now famous elves… but in a Halloween theme. Rimes will also bring along rising star Levi Hummon on the tour. “He is such a great, young talent, so we are excited to have him out on the tour,” Rimes adds. Season one of Rimes’ reality show on VH1, LeAnn and Eddie, recently concluded with its eighth and
final episode. When asked about a season two, Rimes is keeping that open ended. “We had a lot of fun working together but I think for now, since I am so busy with music stuff and touring, it would be hard to fit in [season two], but we might revisit that again in the future.” Rimes says that she learned a lot about the whole process of putting a television show together by watching her husband, actor Eddie Cibrian who has been seen in Sunset Beach and CSI: Miami among other projects, contribute to the production side of the show while she just “went to work and played.” Although Rimes spends most of her time in Los Angeles, she still takes frequent trips to Nashville for work and to visit family. She tries to fit in a few extra days to take her stepsons out to her father’s farm so they can ride horses and four-wheelers, activities not as common where she lives in Los Angeles. Rimes was with Curb Records for twenty years, just recently ending her contract in December. “I almost rushed into something and I am glad I didn’t,” Rimes says as she discusses where she is musically at this point in her career. “I have been taking my time to figure out what that next step is for me musically.” She notes that her music will always be from an honest place and will have her roots involved, but at this moment, she is being creative in her writing to figure out what her next sound will be in what Rimes calls her “rebirth.” As for country music’s current state, Rimes says she cannot be incredibly positive about it. “I miss old school country music a lot. I miss the stories and the humanity of it. Not everything was about
a truck, a six-pack, and a dirt road,” Rimes says as she mentions that country radio seems to just be the same twelve songs over and over. The lack of women today in country music has, as Rimes put it, contributed to the “narrowing down” of country music so much to become another format that is now pop music. Stale is how Rimes describes the genre and hopes that something or someone comes along soon to break the trend. “There used to be something to me that separated [country music] from every other genre and it doesn’t anymore,” Rimes says, “so, that saddens me.” Rimes has consistently been a major ally in supporting the LGBT community, a slowly growing but still rare tendency for country music stars. “I think of it as everyone’s human and everyone just deserves the same right to love, marry, and be with the people they want to be with,” says Rimes. “I have never seen a division in my mind in any way … but it’s sad that a lot of people feel like they have to not say anything or hold back their true feelings out of fear.” Some country music stars feel like their career may suffer if they take a stand that some people may not agree with. Rimes adds that her support has always been from her heart and simply “human to human.” LeAnn Rimes is nowhere near slowing down her career. As she embarks on her Christmas tour in December, fans can continue to expect more great music from Rimes in the near future as she works on new projects. With multiple endeavors, such as her reality show, complete, Rimes can resume her efforts in breaking down barriers in music and paving her own route. For the latest news and holiday tour dates, visit www.leannrimesworld.com.
UNITE MAGAZINE | 17
Harrison Perry
local star
NAILS THE DETAILS IN RETAIL by A.J. Busé You might be able to take the boy out of his small Southern town, but you can never take away his fashion sense. That certainly holds true for Harrison Perry, who took the helm as store manager of ReCreations Furniture in Nashville a year ago. Born and raised in Savannah, Tennessee, on the banks of Pickwick Lake near the Alabama border, Perry attended MTSU where he got his degree in Business Administration and Marketing. And he has certainly put that degree to good use.
How May I Help You? “I’ve always been interested in fashion,” Perry quips. So what better place to start his sartorial career than as a personal stylist at Bachrach menswear at The Mall at Green Hills? The management was keenly aware that Perry worked hard, paid acute attention to detail and customer satisfaction, and seemed to genuinely enjoy what he was doing. They were so impressed, in fact, that he was asked to manage a struggling Bachrach store in Lexington, Kentucky, then to open and manage the chain’s first Atlanta location. That experience later led to management jobs at Abercrombie & Fitch and Brooks Brothers.
photo by MyL Pack with MPACK Photography
ReCreations Furniture 4319 Sidco Drive Open 7 days
ReCreations Plus Outlet 2600 Fessey Park Dr. Wed-Sat 10a-5p
Christmas open house at Sidco
Nov. 6-8, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Nov. 9, 1 p.m. – 5 p. m. Select Christmas accessories now on sale 50%-70% off. 18 | UNITE MAGAZINE
“I certainly had lots of experience in retail settings throughout the Southeast,” he proclaims. So he continued on that path, right? Not so fast... “About this time I began seeking the guidance of a Career/Life Coach, who pointed me in the direction of non-profit management.” Leaving the world of men’s clothing after 12 years, Perry became membership manager at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, then was director of development and marketing for the Southeastern Flower Show. Covering five acres and attended by 20,000 people annually, it is the largest flower show in the country. But why stop there? He then worked in development for the Atlanta Opera and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. With the hope of growing more than one high-profile business
at a time, he opened Harrison Perry Public Relations in 2002, focusing on high-end retail clients, interior and landscape designers and, of course, a number of charities, including the Atlanta AIDS Walk. “I liked to call my business a luxury, leisure and life enhancement boutique,” has says proudly.
Upward-Facing Dog To become more balanced and healthy, Perry began practicing yoga about three times a week. “It’s very grounding for me,” he says. “It helped me realize I needed to return to my roots.” And so, about four years ago, he returned to his small hometown of Savannah, reconnecting with family, friends and townspeople. A natural networker and self-described extrovert, he was soon engrained in the business community and even won the “Volunteer of the Year Award” from the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce. A fitting accolade, since his grandfather was founding president of the group. He worked in his family’s real estate business and continued his PR career as a writer/photographer for VIP Pickwick Lake, a monthly magazine for the resort community, all without having to hide his sexuality. After nearly three years, Perry moved back to Nashville and worked once again in the non-profit and retail areas. In fact, he returned as a personal stylist at Bachrach in The Mall at Green Hills, the store where he began his retail career back in the 1980s. “I really enjoyed being back in retail and working one-on-one with people,” he says with a beaming smile.
Re-Creating His Career Putting his networking skills to good use, Perry had gotten to know Tim Causey and Richard Epperson socially. The owners of ReCreations Furniture created a new position of store manager and hired him for the job after the three discussed ways to grow and diversify the fine furniture, decorative accessories and lighting store. He’s in charge of operations and sales, as well as helping the in-house design team with visual presentations of merchandise. “It is refreshing to work hand-in-hand daily with the owners rather than in a large corporate structure,” he says. “It gives me a vital feeling and I love the exposure to interior design and fashion.” The store also has a brand new, instore fine and estate jewelry business called Prima Jewelers. From his small resort home county to a large metropolitan city, Nashville is now the best of both of those for Perry. And from a retail clerk to menswear manager to owning his own PR firm, the best of Harrison Perry is now here, too.
Celebrating Three Years in Nashville Now with a splash of ladies Three Levels of Luxury with something for everyone 11 - 7 (Mon - Thurs) | 10 - 5:30 (Fri - Sat) 2222 12th Ave S | (615) 915.0722 | thelabelnashville.com
NASHVILLE'S HOTTEST BARTENDERS UNITE got up close and personal with some of Nashville’s hottest bartenders. The next time you visit your favorite watering hole, pay them a visit and ask them to make their specialty cocktail. You will not be disappointed. UNITE MAGAZINE | 21
Gabriel Diangeli Bar/Club: Tribe Specialty Cocktail: I make a “Blackberry Lemonade” that will knock your socks off. Favorite Song/Artist: My favorite song has to be “What does the Fox Say” by Ylvis. However, my favorite artist is Lady Gaga. Nights of the week tending bar: I work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and soon to be Saturday. One thing people don’t know about you: I was homeschooled. Celebrity Crush: Definitely Jensen Ackles. My heart skips a beat when I look at those eyes.
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photo courtesy of Gabriel Diangeli
Zeke PEnnington Bar/Club: Seen Nashville Specialty Cocktail: Blueberry Orgasm Favorite Song/Artist: Jason Mraz “I’m Yours” Nights of the week tending bar: Thursdays-Saturdays One thing people may not know about you: I love spaghetti more than anything Celebrity Crush: Henry Cavill
photo by E. Lemons
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Malachi Taylor Bar/Club: Canvas Lounge Specialty Cocktail: Old Fashioned Favorite Song/Artist: “Crush” by Dave Matthews Band Nights of the week tending bar: Wednesday night, Thursday afternoon, and Friday night One thing people don’t know about you: Even though I have an overwhelming fear for wasps or any airborne/stinging insect and I think they’re all jerks, I still find them a little intriguing. Celebrity Crush: Jake Gyllenhaal has tickled my fancy a time or two.
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photo courtesy of Malachi Taylor
BRODY WARNER
Bar/Club: Stirrup Nashville Specialty Cocktail: Dirty Martini Favorite Song/Artist: Pat Benatar Nights of the week tending bar: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday One thing people may not know about you: I want to run away with the circus. Celebrity Crush: Zac Efron photo courtesy of Brody Warner
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Kyle Meeks
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Bar/Club: Play Dance Bar Specialty Cocktail: Pink Panther Favorite Song/Artist: I have so many, currently I would say ILYSB by LANY. You can catch the Princess doing it occasionallyon the stage at Play. Nights of the week tending bar: Wednesday and Friday thru Sunday One thing people don’t know about you: When I’m not at Play, I’m usually either in the gym, doing home improvement projects, or at an antique car show. Most people are surprised to learn that I’m so handy around the house with building and remodeling things. I’m also mildly obsessed with antique muscle cars and more than mildly obsessed with fitness. Celebrity Crush: At the moment, definitely Jack Falahee as Connor Walsh on How to Get Away with Murder
photo courtesy of Kyle Meeks
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feature
Crystal Gayle embodies all the qualities that her name implies – even though that name came to her in quite an unusual fashion. Born Brenda Gail Webb, “Crystal” was suggested by her older sister, Loretta Lynn. “Loretta told me since there was already a ‘Brenda Lee’ currently successful in the music industry, ‘Crystal’ would be a wiser choice,” stated the vibrant Gayle as we peered out over Nashville from a conference room in the newly expanded Country Music Hall of Fame. Recently, Gayle was given a spotlight exhibition featuring one-of-a-kind personal items from her treasure chest along with personal items passed down from her family. “It’s such an honor to be asked to exhibit here,” she states. “I’m glad I’m such a pack rat.” One of the most popular items in the exhibition is a dress that once belonged to Loretta, noting that she received all her older sister’s hand me downs. As her beloved sister Loretta so aptly put it, she too was a “coal miner’s daughter” before she was a platinum-selling singer and a world-class entertainer. Gayle’s biggest supporter at the time was Loretta who gave her the best advice she ever received as an artist. Loretta said: “stop singing my songs or you’ll only be compared to me. You go middle of the road and don’t record anything you think I would record.” That advice surely paid off. Gayle’s self-titled debut album became a huge smash. “Wrong Road Again,” (the first of many hit singles with producer Allen Reynolds) became her debut Top 10 record while “I’ll Get Over You” became her first #1
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Crystal Clear CHATTING WITH A CROSSOVER LEGEND by Joey Amato
photo courtesy of Webster Public Relations
single. By her fourth album, We Must Believe in Magic, Gayle became the first female artist in country music history to achieve platinum album sales. Driving the engine of the album was the song that was to become her enduring career signature song: “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” Gayle’s meteoric rise led to an unusual turn of events: following in the footsteps of
Eddy Arnold, Patsy Cline, Ray Price and so many more of her musical heroes, Gayle’s music seamlessly crossed over into the mainstream. As her success grew, the list of awards and accolades she received also grew. Gayle was awarded CMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year for two consecutive years, and she took home a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance, thanks to her
beloved “Brown Eyes” – a song that she today admits she has never grown tired of singing. Gayle also racked up three Top Female Vocalist statuettes from the Academy of Country Music. Breaking through the unusual genre boundaries faced by most artists has given Gayle a beautiful advantage: doing projects close to her heart just for the sheer love of the music in question. One of the most
meaningful was “Crystal Gayle Sings the Heart & Soul of Hoagy Carmichael,” a stunning, critically acclaimed collection of 15 of the great composer’s favorite classics. “One of my personal career highlights was getting to meet and sing with Hoagy on a television special,” Gayle recalls. Gayle is currently wrapping up her latest album, which she recorded with her son Chris and will feature a collection of her favorite country classics. She revealed that “Ribbon of Darkness” is among the featured songs on the album which is scheduled for release later this year or early 2015. “This album brings back so many great memories. We recorded the first song I ever sang on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. They just don’t write songs like that anymore.” And Gayle is right. The current ‘bro-country’ trend – a catalog often hyping pickup trucks, drinking and women – is a far cry from country music’s traditional sounds. Gayle points to pop music – or rather a lack of male presence in – as the culprit. “A lot of male-oriented country music is taking over what pop music is lacking. Country is filling that void in a way,” referring to male rock artists of the 90s and early 2000s. While country music’s men may be filling a pop void, there is certainly no shortage of crossover queens. Gayle helped pave the road for Shania Twain, Faith Hill and even the current crossover queen, Taylor Swift. “Taylor {Swift} is a great role model for kids. I think she wants to do things in a classy way and it’s so respectful.” Gayle also pointed out that much jealousy exists in the industry after artists achieve a certain level of success, similar to that of Swift. “It also happened with Dolly, Shania and even myself in a way when I crossed over into the mainstream.” Always gracious and generous with her time and talents, Gayle has been awarded the coveted “Celebration of Light Award” in recognition of her myriad humanitarian efforts, among them the Make-A-Wish Foundation for whom she has recorded the official theme song, and the Arthritis Foundation for whom she has served as telethon co-host for three years. Fittingly, the “Celebration of Light Award” was Waterford Crystal. She has also donated over 10,000 items to celebrity charity auctions as part of her commit to giving back. Most recently, she performed at the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala TASTE. At home in Nashville when not touring, Crystal continues to make the world a little more beautiful just by her presence. She enjoys spending time with her two children, Catherine and Christos, her grandson, Elijah, and her husband, Bill.
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Style
ENTERTAINING IN STYLE
by Milton White
Fall may be my favorite time of the year for fashion but nothing beats the holidays for entertaining. As we think of attending or hosting a holiday soiree we should take a cue from the runway as we prepare to look our more festive. For women as well as men there’s the 60’s Youthquake influence. Tom Ford did a stovepipe pant for men, which was reminiscent of the Beatles circa 1964. Saint Laurent did a fabulous collection filled with short, flirty 60’s inspired dresses perfect for any holiday party. While there was a tremendous amount of color and prints on the ready to wear runways – which would be perfect for most events – the standout for formal or black tie
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occasions was what I called “sheer illusions.” Beautiful, sexy pieces that were wholly or partially sheer and always in black Speaking of black-tie attire, this year’s color of choice for men is brown. While navy has been the black-tie/red carpet color alternative for the last few seasons, the prediction is that it will be replaced by brown worn either as a standout smoking jacket or as a full tuxedo with coordinating furnishings. As a guest, your best accessory is a hostess gift. Flowers and wine tend to be the most popular. If you bring flowers you should bring them prearranged in a vase. You don’t want your host or hostess to have to worry about cutting and creating a floral arrangement when they have other things to tend to. I wouldn’t expect the wines to be served as it may not compliment the meal. I am paraphrasing etiquette expert Dorothea Johnson. You may also want to consider a fabulous coffee table book, coasters, napkins, exotic spices, infused and/or homemade sauces, candles, scented and flavored sugars or something for the bar be it liquor or utensil. I once received a Rosemary bush! I hope to entertain various friends and family throughout the holidays and am looking to fashion influencers and icons as I begin to plan menus. If you are looking for an editorial entrée I might suggest Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour’s favorite chicken pot pie recipe created by Chef John DeLucie. She has served it for many years at the CFDA/Vogue Fund Awards. Another option would be Steak and Potato Dauphinois from the uber-talented Vogue creative director that stole the show in September Issue, Grace Coddington.
If a fashionable appetizer is needed one needs to look no further than superstar celebrity stylist, Rachel Zoe’s Crack Salami. And no dinner party, no matter how informal is complete without a stylish dessert. I would suggest Simon Doonan’s pumpkin pie or my very own decadent chocolate chip cookie bars. Doonan is Barney’s creative ambassador-at-large and rose to fame after the publication of his first book, Confessions Of A Window Dresser. His favorite pie is by Alice Waters. And me, I’m just a little ole fashion editor, celebrity stylist and sometimes publicist. My recipe is an adaptation of the tradition Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie recipe. Speaking of recipes, here is Anna Wintour’s favorite party dish!
Anna Wintour’s Favorite Chicken Pot Pie Ingredients:
• 3 chicken breasts, cut up • 6 chicken thighs, cut up • 1 medium onion, diced • 2 celery stalks, sliced • 3 whole carrots, peeled and chopped • Salt and pepper • 2 cups baby carrots, chopped, blanched and shocked in ice water • 1 cup of frozen peas, blanched and shocked in ice water • 1 cup of crimini mushrooms, quartered, sautéed in butter and cooled • ½ cup of pearl onions (fresh or frozen), peeled, blanched and shocked in ice water • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry • 1 egg, beaten
Chicken sauce
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour • ¼ cup of chicken broth (from leftover stock) • ½ cup of heavy cream • ½ teaspoon of Tabasco • ½ teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce • Salt and pepper
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 425 F. Place chicken, onion, celery, carrots, salt and pepper in large stockpot and cover with water. Simmer until chicken is no longer pink (approximately 25 minutes). Strain broth and set aside to use in chicken cream sauce. Remove chicken and let cool. Cut the chicken into bit size pieces. Melt butter in medium saucepan. Once butter is melted, stir in flour. Add reserved chicken stock and heavy cream. Stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. In nonreactive bowl, combine baby carrots, peas, mushrooms, pearl onions and chicken. Pour mixture into a 9 by 13 casserole dish. Pour chicken sauce over the mixture. Cut puff pastry to fit casserole dish, leaving a 2 inch border. Cut a hole in center of pastry to allow steam to escape. Brush egg over edge of serving bowl as food glue and around crust. Lay puff pastry over filing crimping edges, trim edges if necessary. Bake until crust is golden brown and filing is bubbly (approximately 25 minutes). Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
health
SmokiNG'S Toll in LGBT Communities by Joseph Brownell Like many smokers, Brian was a teenager when he picked up his first cigarette. Smoking seemed daring to him—a symbol of freedom and independence. When he was 20, Brian started living openly as a gay man and discovered that smoking seemed to be everywhere he went in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. People were even smoking on the dance floor at clubs. By then, Brian was smoking a pack a day, and cigarettes had nothing to do with freedom. His addiction to cigarettes now controlled him. Everyone knows that smoking increases the risk for lung cancer, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, and other smoking-related diseases. But many people do not know that smoking is especially dangerous for those who are living with HIV. Brian had already beaten tough health problems— including being very sick with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)—but he had not quit smoking, even though he tried many times. At age 43, Brian had a blood clot in his lungs, a stroke, and surgery on an artery in his neck. “It took a stroke for me to actually stop smoking,” said Brian. For months after the stroke, Brian couldn’t work or even dress himself. Today, his right hand is still weak, so he can no longer work as a waiter or teach pottery classes. Ellie never smoked cigarettes but worked in smokefilled bars that served the LGBT communities. When she was in her mid-thirties, Ellie started having asthma attacks. After several hospital visits and with the help of her doctor, Ellie realized her asthma attacks were triggered by people smoking where she worked. She was forced to choose between her health or keeping her job that she loved. Ellie chose her health. Today, Ellie works in a smoke-free environment. “Everyone deserves to work in a smoke-free workplace,” she says. Brian and Ellie, both members of the LGBT communities, are featured in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Tips From Former Smokers (Tips) campaign. The Tips campaign shows the harsh reality of the health problems linked to smoking.
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Smoking, Stress, and MarFor more inforketing in LGBT Communities Smoking rates are high in LGBT communities. In 2012–2013, 27.7% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals smoked, compared with 17.3% of heterosexual/straight individuals. This high rate may be partly due to the stress related to prejudices and stigma that members of the LGBT communities can face on a daily basis. It may also be because tobacco companies aggressively market tobacco products to LGBT communities, spending millions to place tobacco ads in LGBT magazines and newspapers and on Web sites of interest to this population. “The tobacco industry has established a presence in the LGBT communities that is dangerous and deadly. The higher smoking rates mean more members of these communities are experiencing more smoking-related diseases—claiming many more LGBT lives,” said Dr. Tim McAfee, director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “CDC is dedicated to reducing smoking rates in the LGBT communities.” Evaluation results of the 2012 Tips From Former Smokers campaign were published on September 9, 2013, in the medical journal, The Lancet. They indicated that: • An estimated 1.6 million Americans tried to quit smoking because of the campaign. • At least 100,000 smokers are expected to stay quit for good. • An estimated 6 million nonsmokers talked with friends and family about the dangers of smoking, and an estimated 4.7 million additional nonsmokers recommended cessation services to their friends and family. “Smoking is something that you do have control over,” Brian said. “You can stop. And it’s worth your life to stop smoking.”
mation about the Tips campaign and resources for quitting smoking, visit www.cdc.gov/ tips. For help quitting, call 1-800-QUITNOW. November 20 is the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. Held on third Thursday of November each year, the program encourages smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day.
paparazzi
victory fund brunch
photos courtesy of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute
UNITE MAGAZINE | 33
D DINING
In the Kitchen
WITH CHEF JOSHUA SIMPSON
Rustic Apple Galette
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Ingredients: Serves 8 For the dough:
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 tsp. salt • 1 Tbs. sugar • 16 Tbs. (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces • 1/3 to 1/2 cup ice water
For the filling:
• 2 lb. apples, such as Granny Smith or Macintosh, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices • 1/2 cup sugar • 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice • 1/2 tsp. cardamom • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg • 1/4 tsp. salt • 1 1/2 Tbs. cornstarch • 1 egg, lightly beaten • Sugar for sprinkling • 1/4 cup apricot jam • Lightly sweetened whipped cream for serving
Directions: To make the dough, put the flour, salt and sugar in a bowl. Put the butter in another bowl and place both bowls in the freezer for 10 minutes. Transfer the flour mixture to a food processor and pulse about 5 times to blend. Add the butter and pulse 15 to 20 times, until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 1/3 cup of the water and pulse twice. Squeeze the dough with your fingers; it should hold together but should not be sticky. If it is crumbly, add more water - 1 Tbs. at a time, pulsing twice after each addition. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gather into a ball and flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Place a baking sheet on the bottom rack of an oven. Position another rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 400° F. Line a second baking sheet with a Silpat nonstick liner and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
To make the filling, in a large bowl, stir together the apples, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and cornstarch. Set aside. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let stand for 5 minutes. Place the dough between 2 sheets of lightly floured waxed paper and roll out into a 12-inch round. Brush off the excess flour. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Arrange the apple filling in the center of the dough, mounding the fruit slightly and leaving a 2-inch border. Gently fold the edges of the dough over the apples, pleating loosely. Brush the dough with the beaten egg. Lightly sprinkle sugar over the apples. Bake until the crust is golden and the apples are tender, about 1 hour. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the galette cool completely, about 1 hour. Just before serving, in a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the jam. Brush the apples with the jam and let cool. Cut the galette into 8 slices and accompany each slice with a dollop of whipped cream.
F food
photos by LA Photographie Nashville
A NEW HOLIDAY TRADITION
NO UGLY SWEATERS by Erica Rains Ugly sweater parties are not on my to-do list, ever. Many of our clients at The Chef and I, LLC have asked for something different – a more elevated experience – this holiday season, so the message is clear: people are over it and you have got to shake things up before your party falls victim to being another forgotten Christmas party. This year, try throwing those horrid sweaters out and bring back the holiday costume party. And I’m not talking just cufflinks and a little extra mascara. If you have an organization that is looking for something different, consider something specific and themed. If you theme something that’s different and fun, then themed doesn’t have to be a bad word. Try favorite holiday cartoon characters, such as Frosty and Rudolph, or go more glam with a holiday masquerade.
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Erica Rains and her husband, Executive Chef Chris Rains, own The Chef and I, LLC – a culinary firm in Nashville with a large catering division, interactive restaurant, cooking classes and corporate teambuilding program. With 20 years as a published magazine journalist, Erica writes about the people, food and events that make this city delicious.
One of my favorite sources of inspiration is a costume shop. You don’t have to be ready to purchase or rent anything, but I find that starting somewhere like this may actually help you create an event that is unique and inspired. When visiting a costume shop, ask if they have anything you may take a photo of or maybe an online link and share with your guests to give them some inspiration. In Nashville, I suggest heading over to Performance Studios and see what costumes might inspire your snowflake soiree or Santa wonderland and then ask guests to dress accordingly. The folks there are always fun to work through different ideas and scenarios. Currently, they have costumes for a Dickens-style event, masks and gowns for a holiday masquerade ball, and cute elf and Santa options for men and women among others. Although if you opt for Santa, be prepared to be warm all night long while wearing the plush velvet suit, a faux Santa belly, a wig, hat, gloves and boots. Now that you have been inspired and inspired your guests, add a great element to the evening that mimics what we’ve seen at many Halloween costume parties: costume contests. The best
PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY Santa, or most authentic Dickens character could be in your categories, but don’t forget to come up with a fun prize or two that you could give the winner(s). Find some friends who like to be involved in interactive parts of an event and ask them to judge. If you feel comfortable, ask a few friends who are attending if they could help with a gift certificate. Maybe they own a restaurant or work at a hotel. Perhaps there is a clothing store certificate or spa service someone can give away. Something as simple as a bottle of wine would work for a prize. Healthy competition with creative elements like costume contests are often such a great way to spice up any event. So take a sleigh ride over to Performance Studios to see if anything sparks your imagination and get ready to have the event everyone talks about this season when you host an amazing holiday party with an interactive element that involves your guests. Send your holiday costume photos to the writer at erica@thechefandicatering.com and we can’t wait to see what you come up with! Happy Holidays and happy costume shopping! For more information, visit www.performancestudios.com for more costume information, including store hours and www.thechefandicatering.com for more information on how Erica can help your holiday party.
lhurst@villagerealestate.com LON HURST (615) 946-3177 mobile REALTOR ®, ePro, ABR (615) 383-6964 office
www.villagerealestate.com
Mikha’el the Warrior Sandy Spain
(615) 383-6966 fax
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marketing
RELEASES RESULTS OF NEW SURVEY by Jesse Walker 34,415 respondents from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in 123 countries participated in the 8th annual survey. 170+ LGBT media, events and organizations worldwide partnered with CMI in this year’s study, helping to gain wide representation from across the community.
A sample of 2014 key findings of LGBTs living in the United States: • Economic Confidence: 45% of LGBT participants living in the United States indicated they are positive about their current economic situation, 25% indicated negative economic answers, and 30% were more neutral. However, older LGBTs are far more confident about their economic situation than younger LGBTs. • Political/Social Concerns: When asked about social concerns, LGBT discrimination (98% of LGBTs) and affordable healthcare (95%) rose to the top of the list of concerns. • Corporate LGBT Outreach and Motivation to Purchase: Pro-LGBT policies have encouraged
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the LGBT community to purchase many brands. The write-in exercise was unprompted and required respondent recall of the brands that have “done the best job of outreaching to the LGBT community in the past year.” Topping the list for 2014 are Starbucks, Target and Nabisco products. However, the overall list of brands purchased was extensive and yielded some differences among gay men and lesbians. • Negative Brand Recognition: Once again, Chick-fil-A has the most negative reputation within the LGBT community, by far. 70% of LGBTs indicated this company as a brand they are boycotting because of its anti-LGBT reputation. • Multicultural Corporate Outreach: African American, Latino and Asian American LGBTs report similarly: Each community feels more positively towards companies that outreach to their specific communities, but all of these segments feel that corporate America does not do a good job in their outreach to LGBT communities of color. • Weekly Alcohol Consumption: Again in 2014, spirits (especially vodka) outperformed beer and wine consumption among gay men. For the first time, spirits was also the top-performing category among lesbians. LGBT millennials’ favorite wine variety is Pinot Gris, while LGBT baby boomers prefer Pinot Noir. Transgender community alcohol consumption rates were much lower than those of gay men or lesbians. • Home Remodeling: Gay men are only slightly more likely than lesbians to pursue a major home remodel project. • LGBT Relationship Terminology: Marriage Equality has risen to the most favorable term when speaking about LGBT relationships, of note there is still significant reluctance among LGBT baby boomers to use the terms husband and wife. Partners and spouses are still their preferred terms within relationships. However, millennials are much more likely to respond positively to the terms husband and wife. • LGBT Sports Interest: Lesbians are somewhat more likely than gay men to describe themselves as interested in sports or to describe themselves as athletic. The WNBA earns the highest ratings on being seen as supportive of the LGBT community (driven by lesbian/bi women). Of note, the NFL had an 8% positive gain since 2013. • LGBT Baby Boom: More and more same-sex couples are having children. The concentration is especially high among lesbians age 30-44, with 27% of lesbians reporting a child under 18 in the home. • Pet Companionship: Lesbians (76%) are more likely to care for pets than gay men (62%). This is especially true for cats: 46% of lesbians vs. 28% of gay men care for a cat. • Media Consumption Changes: Engagement with LGBT media is generally stable, with digital media experiencing significant growth and print media staying the same in readership. Millennials are voracious media consumers, and they are significantly increasing their media consumption in all categories. • Personal Communication: Smart phones, email, Facebook and texting are nearly universal in the LGBT community. Landlines have now fallen below 50% ownership among all LGBTs, and only 17% among LGBT millennials. The full report download is available at no charge by clicking on the “LGBT Research” menu tab at CommunityMarketingInc.com.
PREVIEW book
FIRST COMES LOVE
by Jesse Walker
In his new book First Comes Love: Portraits of Enduring LGBTQ Relationships, author B. Proud captures images of LGBT couples across the nation. Here are just a few excerpts of the couples that are highlighted.
Anna and Eli, together 12 years
Anna Thompson and Eli VandenBerg began their relationship almost 12 years ago as a lesbian couple. Anna had been dating Eli’s ex-girlfriend, now a trans man. Eli laughs as he explains, “Anna has tried very hard to be a lesbian, but all of the women she has dated have transitioned to men.” Anna and Eli agree that the transitioning was not easy, but that being a trans couple does not define their relationship. “It’s genuine trust and partnership and respect,” says Anna. They have learned that everyone transitions together. “It’s you and everyone around you,” says Eli. “You transition as a family and as a couple and you have to be there for your partner as much as they are there for you.”
Chris and ABilly, together 36 years
They met when Chris called a hotline number for the Gay and Married Men’s Association (GAMMA), a support group that ABilly helped found for gay and bisexual men married to women. Through continued involvement with GAMMA, the two became a couple. Now together for 36 years, they agree that their shared experience of Anna and Eli
Chris and ABilly
Del and Harriet
photo from First Comes Love: Portraits of Enduring LGBTQ Relationships (Soleil Press) © B. Proud 2014
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bk
having been married to women has helped strengthen their relationship. ABilly explains, “Our relationship is by no means traditional. It’s not traditional in the sense that a lesbian or gay or bisexual or transgender couple would think of us. And is not traditional in how a heterosexual couple would think of a couple being together for 36 years. We’ve been able to mold our relationship in a way that makes sense for us.”
Del and Harriet, together 45 years
Del Filardi and Harriet Rubin met on a hockey field in 1969. They were both physical education teachers and coaches, but it was a different era and being openly gay in the school systems was definitely not the norm. Del’s pickup line: “Would you like to come into my office?” Harriet’s answer: “Why not?” And so it began. “It was 1969. Nobody was out,” Del remembers. “You went to clubs in New York to dance but you were always afraid of being raided. You kept everything secret and circulated discretely.”
b-kreative, llc
Home and Leng, together 19 years
Home and Leng “took a break” at one point in their 19-year relationship, during which Home took an 11,000-mile road trip around the country, stopping several times to go hiking in national parks. Each time, he quit his hike after about 30 minutes. This befuddled him. He and Leng would often go very deep into the woods together for days at a time. And then it dawned on him. “The purpose of being in relationship with each other is because we can go deeper into the world together than I can go by myself. I called Leng and said, ‘I want to come home… you’re the one! I want to go deeper with you.’”
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Jack and David, together 25 years
From the start, their relationship was never expected to last but a few years, let alone 25. David and Jack met in 1989 in Philadelphia, through a mutual friend and AIDS activist shortly after each was diagnosed with a fairly misunderstood and often fatal disease—HIV/ AIDS. Above and beyond the normal pitfalls and struggles faced by any couple, Jack and David have been fighting to survive for the entire duration of their relationship. Jack remembers, “When we first met, we were mushy and we talked about how we would like to grow old together but didn’t expect to.” David adds, “We passed our expiration date and somehow did get to be old, looking forward to getting older.”
Santiago and Pablo, together 23 years
Santiago went to Venezuela in 1991 to seek alternative medical attention for HIV/AIDS because there were no suitable medications available at the time. There, he met Pablo and began to fall in love. Fearing for his health, Santiago asked Pablo to come to New York to share with him what might be his last year of life and Pablo agreed. Pablo arrived with a six-month visa, which he was able to renew only once. At the end of a year, Santiago, still very much alive and in love, asked him, “Please stay?” and Pablo stayed. From that time on, he was undocumented and remained so for 20 years, staying in the shadows, never traveling, never going to visit his family, not being there when his father died.
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• Walking distance to Vanderbilt, Music Row & restaurants • Delicious on-site catering & reserved dining facilities • Complimentary parking 615.340.7500 • reservations@scarrittbennett.org • 1008 19th ave s • scarrittbennett.org A non-profit education, retreat and conference center, Scarritt-Bennett creates space where individuals and groups engage each other to achieve a more just world. Your support, through the rental of our historic facilities and donations, helps us to offer programs that continue our mission.
Style
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Beardition Men’s Grooming Products shampoo, conditioner, and oil for $59.99 items sold individually beginning at $12
Demon Riff and Bickley Beanies starting at $54.99 Designer Scarves materials ranging from cashmere to reconstructed vintage ties prices vary
Demon Riff Trucker Hats with leather and silver detail starting at $149.99 To see more, visit The Label at 2222 12th Avenue South or online at www.thelabelnashville.com
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Jewelry starting at 34.99 brands include Doxahlogy, Fearless Memories, and many more with varying price points
Your ceremony. Your way. Call for your personalized consultation with our Social Events Specialist and mention the word “rainbow” to receive a special gift. www.millenniumhotels.com
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offerings and finish your playlist with some of our favorite holiday tunes.
Idina Menzel- Holiday Wishes (available now)
The holidays are right around the corner, so if your favorite stores and restaurants haven’t already begun playing their combination of classic and contemporary carols, just know the flurry of Frosty the
Snowman is soon to turn into a blizzard. Before you go all bah humbug and rip off Rudolph’s nose, check out some of this season’s anticipated holiday 3.625 x 4.875 live / 3.875 x 5.125 trim
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It wouldn’t be surprising, as we approach the first-year release anniversary of Disney’s super-smash Frozen, that you would still be humming the ice queen’s swan song “Let it Go,” but being the voice behind Elsa just isn’t enough of a holiday takeover for Idina Menzel. She’s aiming for the title of Christmas Queen with her first album of holiday music, Holiday Wishes. While the collection is mostly traditional tunes, Menzel does cover the Joni Mitchell classic, “River” and teams up with Michael Bublé for “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” True fans will want to make sure they pick up the Target Deluxe Version with two bonus tracks.
Darius Rucker- Home for the Holidays (available now) There is a part of us that wishes this album had been titled Hootie for the Holidays (it’s okay to admit you miss them, too) but Darius Rucker’s country career has taken off and debuts his first solo collection of holiday tunes. Rucker’s twelve-track collection features the classics “I’ll Be Home Christmas” and the Sheryl Crow-assisted “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” the corny “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and two Rucker originals, “Candy Cane Christmas” and “What God Wants for Christmas.” “I am so excited to finally make a Christmas album,” Rucker said in a release. “This has been a lifelong dream and I hope my fans enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed making it.”
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Songs to round out your Holiday Playlist: Kelly Clarkson, “Wrapped in Red” The title track from Clarkson’s 2013 holiday album of the same name was only one of 14 presents Clarkson gave fans last year. The album is packed with her interpretations of classic, several originals and her “Silent Night” duet with Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood. Sugarland, “Little Wood Guitar” The tale of a young girl chasing her neon and family dreams after receiving an unexpected gift for the holidays – hint, it’s a wooden guitar – is an incredibly crafted original holiday tune. From the duo’s 2009 holiday album Gold and Green, you might also want to check out Jennifer Nettles on “Nuttin’ for Christmas.”
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