VIRGINIA magazine
I S S U E N O . 1 4 | VO L. 4 | T R AV E L 2 0 1 8
AU T UMN E Q UAL I T Y THRO U GH S TO RY TELLI NG
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Issue No. 14
Our Staff. Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Justin Ayars, JD Managing Editor & Creative Director Jesse La Vancher Art Director John Dixon / Runningfire Design Director of Communications Steven Yavorsky, MBA Web Designer Taylor Pace Logo Designer Umbrella Management Group, LLC Advertising Manager Joy Farmer sales@qvirginia.com National Advertising Rivendell Media Collegiate Fellows Kyle Bevenour Lily Boock Aaron Keen Kristopher Patrick McKeever Q Virginia Contributors Justin Ayars, JD Kyle Bevenour Vic Bosak Wirt Confroy Ryan Evans Ash Hobbs Meredith Jenkins Stephen Kent Jones Patricia Keppel Jesse La Vancher Kennedy Levi Jen Little Beth Marschak Jess Simmons Bob Swisher John Tanzella Bobbi Weinstock Jerome West Michele Zehr
Q VIRGINIA PUBLISHING OFFICE The Brookwood | 1342 Flynn Road | Richmond, Virginia 23225 | info@qvirginia.com Q Virginia magazine is published by Q Media, LLC. Q Media, LLC is Virginia’s Official LGBTQ Media Company. It’s mission is to promote equality through storytelling.
6 | Q Virginia
© Q Media, LLC 2018. Q Media owns and/or operates various physical, digital and broadcast media platforms, as well as events/services, including, but not limited to, Q Virginia magazine, The Q Guidebook, qvirginia.com, Q Consulting, Q Weddings, The Q Expo and virginiagayweddings.com. All rights reserved.
VIRGINIA
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FOREWORD
I am pleased to support Q Virginia magazine, as a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA),
in their efforts to amplify the voices of our community and promote equality through storytelling. They show through their work that no matter how crowded it has become in the digital universe, there is ample room for regional publications that support diversity and inclusion in their local communities. I’m especially proud to support this edition, the Travel Issue, because it is the place where our missions intersect.
The IGLTA is dedicated to
We understand that travel is a
advancing LGBTQ travel glob-
luxury for many, so it’s import-
ally. We provide information
ant to note that it doesn’t have
and resources for LGBTQ trav-
to involve a journey at great
elers and help to educate the
expense. Traveling is about a
tourism industry worldwide
change of scenery, a way of
on the importance of making
breaking free of daily routine.
those travelers feel safe and
Why not spend a day wander-
welcome. Our membership—
ing around Richmond’s Lewis
consisting of tour operators,
Ginter Botanical Garden? Or
travel agents, hotels, airlines,
drink in the gorgeous Virginia
events, destinations and
mountain views on Skyline
media in more than 80 coun-
Drive, which runs through
tries—is committed to treat-
Shenandoah National Park?
ing all travelers with respect.
Whether you are driving to
We have a great collection
another town in Virginia,
of members, like Q Virginia,
crossing a state line or flying
in the mid-Atlantic region,
to another country, the deci-
as well as across the United
sion to explore and embrace
States. But you’ll also find
a different destination is the
businesses ready to welcome
first step to erasing borders
you in places as far-flung as
and becoming more open to
Sri Lanka, Colombia, New
the world in which we live. It’s
Zealand and South Africa. This
beautiful out there!
globe-spanning array of welcoming travel companies is
I hope that the readers of
waiting to for you at iglta.org,
Q Virginia will take inspiration
where you’ll also find travel
from this issue and plan an
discounts and calendars that
adventure of their own, near
showcase LGBTQ tours, events
or far, very soon.
and Prides around the world. Yours in travel, This becomes even more profound for LGBTQ travelers when they are able to connect with other members of
John Tanzella
their community while on
IGLTA President/CEO
the road, which is why LGBTQ Pride events and festivals have become such a magnet for travel. We get to experience a new place alongside people who share our struggles and dreams—definitely a reason to celebrate!
qvirginia.com | 9
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Welcome to the Autumn/ Travel Issue of Q Virginia! Can you believe that summer is already over? And I never made it to the beach! No matter, I have some BIG news: I’m elated to announce that this is our first 128-page issue! Never before have we filled so many pages with stories from across our region and beyond!
10 | Q Virginia
We’ve divided this mammoth Travel Issue into three expeditions. Before you begin your journey, John Tanzella, the President & CEO of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (one of our proud partners), will welcome you and prepare you for the road ahead. Our first destination in this Travel issue is Virginia! After all, Virginia is for Lovers! We’ll take you on excursions from the rugged, far-flung Southwestern corners of the state (ever been to Abingdon or Bristol?) to the juxtaposing urban and bucolic landscapes of luxurious Loudoun County—home to both DC’s Wine Country and Horse Country. We’ll guide you through Richmond’s great outdoors and Virginia Beach’s hip ViBe Creative District. We’ll take you hiking along the Appalachian Trail, antiquing in Charlottesville and ghost hunting in Mathews County (we do love Halloween!). After that exhausting journey, we’ll take a brief respite at home where we’ll help you make the most of this beautiful season. Here, you’ll find gorgeous autumnal accents for your abode, from seasonal flavors to decorating tips. Don’t miss our in-depth guide to blending and brewing your own herbal tea. There’s nothing like a good cuppa to lift your spirits! For our final excursion, we’ll canvass the state and dive deep into the heart, mind and soul of our diverse community. First, we’ll explore exciting developments happening across
the state. Did you know that Staunton, Virginia is hosting its first annual Pride Festival this October? (We’re sponsoring this historic event, so don’t miss it!) Or that the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News ushered in a new era of musical theater this summer by hosting a workshop for a revolutionary new musical about America’s first transgender mayor? Our next stops include unearthing the storied history of Pride in Richmond and discovering what traveling is like for three transgender/ gender-nonconforming individuals from Southwestern Virginia. Wrapping up this final leg of our journey, we’ll trek across the country to UCLA where our friends at OutWrite Newsmagazine shared a powerful piece with us about being “The Gay Cousin” at Thanksgiving. As the weather cools and the leaves transform our lush, green Commonwealth into a kaleidoscope of color, I hope you enjoy reading this special Autumn/ Travel Issue of Q Virginia as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Wherever life’s journey takes you, we’re thrilled that you’ve decided to bring us along as your travel companion. Buckle up and let’s go!
Cheers,
Justin Ayars, JD
Quitters Win. SOMETIMES
QuitNow.net/Virginia 1.800.784.8669 LGBT people smoke at rates that are 68% HIGHER than the rest of the population.
Let Rocktown rock your next vacation! Centrally located in the Shenandoah Valley, Harrisonburg is an excellent hub to plan your next travel destination. Whether you travel to the area for ethnic and farm-to-table dining, endless outdoor adventure, warm hospitality, signature music festivals, or for all these reasons; Harrisonburg is ready to Welcome You! Let Us Entertain You Autumn is the perfect time to spend at Harrisonburg events. From the Shenandoah Mountain Bike Festival to the Rocktown Turkey Trot, there’s so many opportunities to enjoy! Taste for Every Appetite Harrisonburg’s variety of locallyowned restaurants will take you on a culinary trip around the world. Whether you prefer to dine rooftop, out on the patio, in a historic building, or among local art, there’s a restaurant for you in the dining destination of the Shenandoah Valley. www.VisitHarrisonburgVA.com
#Hburgrocks
CONTENTS 19 / VISIT: SOUTHWEST
28 / BEACH VIBE
31 / CVILLE ANTIQUES
33 / VISIT: HISTORY
41 / TRAIL TALES
43 / VISIT: LOUDOUN
51 / RVA OUTDOORS
57 / HAUNTED VIRGINIA
65 / AUTUMN OHM
“ To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen qvirginia.com | 13
CONTENTS 75 / FALL FARE
80 / ABODE ACCENTS
88 / THE CORMORANT
92 / STAUNTON: LOVE
95 / TRANS THEATER
101 / RICHMOND PRIDE
106 / ACTIVITY & UNITY
109 / DISCOVER GENDER
113 / THE GAY COUSIN
“ To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” – Danny Kaye 14 | Q Virginia
2018-2019 Season Performances SEPTEMBER 23 29
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System The Australian Pink Floyd Show – Time 2018
OCTOBER 11
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
NOVEMBER 1 3 17 23 26
ABBA – The Concert Peppa Pig Jason Bishop Magic Jason Mraz and Toca Rivera Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
DECEMBER 1 4 18
Dave Koz & Friends Christmas A Charlie Brown Christmas Cirque Dreams Holidaze
JANUARY 11 22 26
FEBRUARY 6
Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra
10
Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar
14
“Spamalot”
21
The Temptations and The Four Tops
MARCH 5
Mayumana
8
The Russian National Ballet Theatre – Giselle
9
Graham Nash
10
Scharoun Ensemble
16
Celtic Woman
25
“The King and I”
31
Artrageous
APRIL 12
Richmond Ballet: American Masters
25
Joan Baez
27
“Jersey Boys”
MAY
Canadian Brass Bumper Jacksons MOMIX: Opus Cactus
7
“The Sound of Music”
23
Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show
1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, Virginia
“It is
neither wealth nor splendor,
but
tranquility and occupation
which
give happiness.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Meet | Virginia
qvirginia.com | 17
MEET | VIRGINIA
AB I N G D O N BRISTOL
INSIDE BY, PATRICIA KEPPEL EDITED BY, MEREDITH JENKINS
Looking for an unforgettable three-day weekend? Escape parts of Virginia underrated most to one of theBY, RAYCEEN PENDARVIS, HRH to explore Abingdon and Bristol in scenic Southwest Virginia.
F R I D A Y
meet virginia | abingdon & bristol
TRAILS & ALES MORNING Begin Friday with a drive out to Abingdon and make a quick stop at The Market for lunch. This spot is a true hidden gem in Southwest Virginia. They source all of their ingredients from local farms and distributors.
AFTERNOON After lunch, go to the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop where you can rent mountain bikes to ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34-mile rail-trail that runs from Whitetop Station inside Mount Rogers National Recreation Area to downtown Abingdon. The trail is a leisurely downhill ride, but you’ll have the option to choose a shorter bike route if 34 miles seems a bit daunting. As the sun sets, head over to Wolf Hills Brewing and enjoy a flight of their excellent brews.
EVENING For dinner, try dining at either 128 Pecan (upscale southern fare) or Morgan’s (fine dining, specializing in hand-cut steaks). After dinner, stroll over to the Barter Theatre to catch a show. Anointed the “State Theatre of Virginia,” the Barter Theatre has been a staple of the community since 1933. After the show, walk across the street to have a drink at the Martha Hotel, an elegant historic property that blends old southern charm with modern luxury.
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S A T U R D A Y
meet virginia | abingdon & bristol
PADDLIN’ & PICKIN’ MORNING Wake up early on Saturday for breakfast at Blackbird Bakery in Bristol. Then, hit the road heading west for Adventure Mendota River Outfitters. They’ll get you geared up and ready to explore the North Fork of the Holston River in kayaks. After your leisurely outdoor adventure, head back towards Bristol and grab lunch at the Burger Bar. This classic burger joint looks like something straight out of the 1950s. Legend has it that country music star, Hank Williams Sr., ate his last meal there.
AFTERNOON Next up, pay a visit to the iconic Birthplace of Country Music Museum. The museum traces Bristol’s history in country music back to 1927 when the famed Bristol Recording Sessions brought together some of the most important acts in country music, including the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Then, spend an hour or so browsing the shops off State Street in Downtown Bristol. Don’t miss the Paramount Theater, a national historic landmark built in 1931 that embodies the beauty of Art Deco architecture.
EVENING Round out the evening with a stop at Bristol Station Brews & Taproom for a tasting, followed by a few brews with dinner at nearby Studio Brew. This artisan craft brewery typically has over 15 brews on tap that you can pair with a wood-fired sandwich or pizza for an incredibly tasty (and filling) dinner.
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S U N D A Y
meet virginia | abingdon & bristol
PICNICS & PONIES MORNING Kick-start your last day in Southwest Virginia at White Birch Juice in downtown Abingdon. Besides a handful of healthy breakfast entrees, the restaurant blends up an array of smoothies, cold-pressed juices and wellness shots using simple, locally sourced ingredients. After breakfast, explore downtown Abingdon’s shops and pick up a picnic lunch from Zazzy’s Coffee Roasters.
AFTERNOON Grab your lunch and hit the road for about an hour towards Grayson Highlands State Park. When you arrive, park at the base of the Rhododendron Trail inside Grayson Highlands where your outdoor adventure will begin. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot the resident wild ponies along the short quarter-mile hike to the top of the trail. Once there, you can connect to the Appalachian Trail to further explore the mountains.
DEPARTURE Once you return from the trail, it’s time to pack up and start your trip back home. Before you leave the region, swing by the town of Independence and stop for a bite at Roots At Grayson, Bistro and Tavern. This place has amazing food, a great atmosphere and reasonable prices. Save room for dessert made by a European baker! Oh, and ask the owner about the cool history of this sweet restaurant.
qvirginia.com | 25
WHERE TO STAY… THE BLACK DOG INN Named for the inn’s four-legged resident, Hadley, this is a historic restored property in the heart of downtown Abingdon. Featuring beautiful woodwork and antique furnishings, the renovated inn also has plenty of modern amenities. CREEPER’S END LODGING This unique Abingdon property consists of two charming cottages that hold seven apartment-style suites. Each room has its own unique layout that caters to every type of guest, from families with small children to solo travelers.
ABINGDON & BRISTOL
HILTON GARDEN INN This property in Bristol offers comfort, convenience and affordable accommodations just a few miles from the downtown area. THE BRISTOL HOTEL Opening in October 2018, this historic boutique hotel in downtown Bristol is conveniently situated just off State Street and will offer a rooftop bar, gourmet restaurant and stunning rooms at affordable rates.
26 | Q Virginia
ESCAPE WITH US. Your next adventure Photo by Lindsey Walters.
Photo by Lindsey Walters.
starts in Staunton.
10 S MARKET STREET STAUNTON , VA 24401 1.877.682.4236 AMERICANSHAKESPEARECENTER.COM
enjoy the historic town, incredible dining, charming lodging, & thrilling theatre
Beyo nd th Virgin e Bo ia Be ardw a alk: ch’s By, J ViBe erom Crea e We st tive 28 | Q Virginia
Illust
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VIRGINIA BEACH may be best known for miles of beaches, its iconic three-mile-long boardwalk and laid-back coastal lifestyle. Yet, just a few blocks back from the resort area, a renaissance of sorts is happening. Nestled within the oceanfront area is Virginia Beach’s own cultural arts enclave: The ViBe Creative District. Established on April 21, 2015 and encompassing 13 blocks between the Convention Center and the boardwalk, the ViBe is a non-profit initiative designed to foster creativity and community in Virginia Beach. A hub for artists and spirits, roasters and restaurants, workouts and wares, museums and more, the ViBe is where the city’s creative businesses have set up shop to share their passion and inspire a sense of discovery in locals and visitors alike. The district boasts artisanal shops, art studios, vintage boutiques, luxury and antique furnishing specialists, a variety
of culinary arts, a locals’ sub shop and even the Chesapeake Bay Distillery. While you can find all manners of artwork within the quaint shops and coffeehouses that comprise the area, the district is a work of art in and of itself. Look no further than the murals— most of which were done by local artists—that fill the ViBe with wonder and color and you’ll see exactly what I mean. To see all of these murals by foot makes for an easy, one-mile walking tour that is a must for all who are visiting. Whether you’re just passing through or a longtime resident, there’s always something special going on. Weekly and monthly events like the Old Beach Farmer’s Market, Art Market, Green Market, First Fridays and Second Saturdays give a taste of the town, bring homegrown ideas to life and allow you to be a part of entertainment and community art projects. Visit the 18th Street Parklet to see dozens of hand-painted fence murals created by local art students, amateur and professional artists. Take a walk on the wild side on one of four crosswalks designed by area artists and painted by the public. And be sure to keep an eye out for large-scale public art projects in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach’s Office of Cultural Affairs. A mix of East Austin and East Coast surf, the flavor here is 100% local. Beyond the boardwalk, a little off the main drag and a lot off kilter, The ViBe Creative District showcases the heart and soul of Virginia Beach.
qvirginia.com | 29
day trip | shopping
5
Antiquing Hot Spots in Charlottesville Antiquing. Some call it a passion. Others a sport. For me, it’s an obsession. Whenever I’m in Charlottesville on a weekend, I find myself searching for records, vintage clothing and hundreds of other random and unique knick-knacks that I never knew I absolutely had to have! These five antique stores give their customers a walk through the past where each item has its own unique history and timeless distinction.
BY, JEROME WEST
qvirginia.com | 31
C
CIRCA
I adore Circa. It is my most frequently visited antique store, not only because of their convenient location right next to C’ville Coffee (I need to stay caffeinated), but because they have three buildings in a row full of antiques. The business is family-run and everybody there is always friendly and willing to help. Because of the high turnover of their inventory, new items come into Circa every day, so their selection is always new and unique.
P
PATINA ANTIQUES, ETC.
Patina is a three-story house that sits approximately half a mile from the Downtown Mall. Each room in this antique wonderland is filled with creative and exceptional items including pictures, furniture, clothing and so much more. I believe that the majority of people who visit will leave with an antique treasure of their own. PRO TIP: While there is an entrance on East High Street, they have a parking lot off of 11th Street NE.
32 | Q Virginia
L
LOW VINTAGE CLOTHING
While you can find antique furniture at Low on the Downtown Mall, they really specialize in clothing and accessories. If you like to rock out in 50’s dresses or 70’s denim, this is the place for you! My favorite section is toward the back and is stocked with hundreds of great albums from various decades and genres.
O
OYSTER HOUSE ANTIQUES
Oyster House Antiques has a warehouse on Preston Avenue and a main retail shop on the Downtown Mall. Their inventory is inspired by China and the environment seems to take you there as soon as you step in the store. You’ll find loads of furniture in their warehouse and the staff there is both knowledgeable and helpful. The retail store’s convenient location in between Citizen Burger and the Jefferson Theater makes it a great place to stop by when you’re spending a day on the Downtown Mall!
I
IKE’S UNDERGROUND
Ike’s Underground Vintage Clothing and Strange Cargo is hidden under the Tea Bazaar on the Downtown Mall. Without a doubt, you can find some of the most interesting and curious items in this shop. The first time I wandered into Ike’s, I felt like I was on a treasure hunt because everything seemed so mysterious and hidden. This is definitely a true “hole-in-the-wall” in Charlottesville’s antique scene. When you stumble down this enchanting rabbit hole, you’re in for an experience you’ll never forget!
M EET | VIRG INIA
AP P O M AT T OX FARMVILLE
INSIDE BY, PATRICIA KEPPEL EDITED BY, MEREDITH JENKINS
For a charming weekend in Central Virginia, hit the road to Farmville and Appomattox, located aboutHRH an hour and 1.5 BY, RAYCEEN PENDARVIS, hours from Richmond, respectively.
F R I D A Y
meet virginia | appomattox & farmville
WAR & PIZZA MORNING Stop by the Appomattox Visitor’s Center around 9:00am to get some information on local sites. Your first stop should be the American Civil War Museum, where General Lee’s sword and uniform are on display. In addition to stories of major historical figures, the museum also shares the history of average soldiers, women and African Americans. Before leaving, drop by the gift shop to browse locally made pottery, Civil War reproduction items and great history books.
AFTERNOON Drive back into town for lunch at the Babcock House, a charming B&B and restaurant that utilizes local, seasonal ingredients to craft fresh Southern fare. After lunch, get back on the road towards Farmville and head to Sandy River Outdoor Adventure Zipline Park. The course takes up to three hours to complete and will definitely work off any extra calories from your lunch.
EVENING Finish your Friday with dinner at Effingham’s, which is located inside the Hotel Weyanoke (where you’ll be staying). The casual vibe of this modern pizzeria and market is very relaxing. The menu is created from family recipes and highlight the freshest local ingredients from the region. Nosh on the delicious artisan grilled pizzas made in their wood fire oven.
qvirginia.com | 35
S A T U R D A Y
meet virginia | appomattox & farmville
AMBIANCE & ANTIQUES MORNING To start off Day 2 of your Farmville adventures, rent a bike from The Outdoor Adventure Shop located at the downtown trailhead of High Bridge Trail State Park. While the High Bridge Trail runs for about 31 miles, it is only a 4.5-mile ride to High Bridge, which towers 125 feet above the Appomattox River and affords stunning bucolic views.
AFTERNOON Return to downtown Farmville and stop by Uptown Coffee Café for lunch. Next, do a little shopping at a few of the local antique shops along Main Street in Farmville’s Historic District. The largest and most impressive of these is Green Front Furniture Company, which is housed within 16 shops and warehouses spanning one million square feet! If you love modern furniture as much as I do, you’re in luck. There are several buildings devoted to this très chic style.
EVENING Wrap up your shopping and walk to Third Street Brewing, Farmville’s first craft brewery. On most Saturday evenings, the brewery hosts local musical acts and food trucks. After your brews, have dinner at the Hotel Weyanoke’s upscale Italian restaurant, Campagna. Finish the evening with a nightcap at Catbird, the hotel’s rooftop bar.
qvirginia.com | 37
S U N D A Y
meet virginia | appomattox & farmville
COFFEE & COLLEGES MORNING Grab breakfast at Sassafras Coffee Bar inside the Hotel Weyanoke, then stroll across the street to check out the Longwood University campus. Although right in the downtown area of Farmville, the campus is quiet and charming, with plenty of lush green landscapes. A few miles outside of Farmville, Hampden-Sydney College is an all-male private college with another beautiful campus worth seeing.
AFTERNOON Before wrapping up your weekend, stop at The Fishin’ Pig right outside of HampdenSydney’s campus for lunch. Known for their smoked meats, the restaurant is a must for any fans of Virginia barbecue and a fantastic last meal in Farmville.
DEPARTURE After lunch, wander through the campus of Hampden-Sydney College to walk off your food coma. Spend some time admiring the gorgeous architecture, stunning greenery and handsome student body. If hunky college men make you swoon, be sure to pack some smelling salts. After your weekend in Appomattox and Farmville, I have no doubt that you’ll return to explore this charming region in Central Virginia.
qvirginia.com | 39
WHERE TO STAY…
APPOMATTOX & FARMVILLE
WEYANOKE HOTEL Book your stay at this recently opened hotel across from Longwood University in downtown Farmville. The rooms are upscale and spacious, and many even have their own private balconies with patio furniture. There’s also a coffee shop, rooftop bar and two on-site restaurants.
SANDY RIVER OUTDOOR ADVENTURE RESORT If you’re looking for an outdoorfocused overnight option, consider staying at this unique place where you can rent a luxury tipi for a rare “glamping” experience. Inside, you’ll find separate bedrooms, full bathrooms with showers, kitchens and even living room areas complete with TVs and couches. Now that’s what I call “roughing it!”
40 | Q Virginia
s ’ a i n i g r i V g n i k i H l i a r T n a i h c a l a p Ap onfroy ins By, Wirt C dith Jenk re e M , y B Edited
Virginia is home to 544 miles of the esteemed Appalachian Trial (AT), more miles than any other state. Every year, hundreds of brave hikers set out on the 80-year-old footpath in hopes of “thruhiking” its 2,190 miles spanning from Georgia to Maine. There’s often talk on the AT about iconic places and must-see spots in Virginia— the sunrise at McAfee’s Knob, the wild ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park and the famous Blue Ridge Parkway and scenic Skyline Drive. One thru-hiking couple, Staige Davis and Andrea Parra, shared some of their experiences and insights about their journey through Virginia. qvirginia.com | 41
How long have you been hiking? STAIGE: There are many answers to this question! We both started hiking when we were kids, thanks to schools, summer camps and our families. I remember my father taking my sisters and me on camping trips to places in Virginia like Bear Creek Lake State Park. I was hooked for life! [On] this trip … we started at Springer Mountain in Georgia on March 5th. We hiked for about 460 miles through Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee before crossing into Virginia at the end of April. Then we did more than 500 miles of hiking in Virginia!
How did you plan your trip?
have Andrea as a hiking partner and our friends on the trail. Even the friendly shuttle drivers and shopkeepers in trail towns have a way of reminding me what a treat it is to be out here.
Did you visit any of Virginia’s Trail Towns? Did you experience any special “Virginia Trail Magic?” STAIGE: We went through several trail towns. As I mentioned, Damascus is a perennial hiker favorite and it’s hard not to have a good time in such a hiker-friendly place. But there are other great towns that are not quite as well-known. For example, we really enjoyed Buena Vista, which had a
ANDREA: The most important trip planning exercise was doing “practice” weekend backpacking trips as often as we could. We enjoyed weekend trips at Grayson Highlands State Park, the Three Ridges Wilderness, Cold Mountain and McAfee Knob—all in Virginia!
Were there any Virginia AT stops or places you were looking forward to visiting? STAIGE: So many! Damascus marks the entrance to Virginia on the AT, so it’s a big milestone to get there. I felt a big sense of accomplishment for having walked all the way to my home state. Another place we were really looking forward to was Devil’s Backbone Brewery in Nelson County. The food and drinks were amazing, and they have a free campsite for thru hikers!
What were some of your favorite overall experiences? ANDREA: We had an absolute blast in Damascus relaxing with friends from the trail and enjoying the hiker hospitality in town. We were especially glad to be in Damascus because it poured rain while we were there, but we spent those nights warm and dry in a hostel. At Devil’s Backbone, we met up with several of our friends from Charlottesville, grabbed lunch from a trailside grill/gas station called Trent’s Grocery and spent a lovely evening swapping stories from the last few months during an impromptu five-hour picnic next to the beautiful, [yet] ironically named, Dismal Falls. STAIGE: We also enjoyed other stops along the way. We couldn’t pass up Skeeter Dogs in Wytheville or [Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee] in Daleville. We loved the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands, the Dragon’s Tooth monolith, McAfee Knob and the Tinker Cliffs. But we’ve also had long stretches of not much to see, rocky trails (my personal nemesis) and relatively cold, wet weather. A few times I’ve wondered if I was getting a touch of the infamous “Virginia Blues.” I’ve been plagued by very sore feet, but new stretching routines, new boots and new “compression socks” sent down from my family are helping a good deal. Every time I’ve felt down—a little bored or too tired to hike on, someone else in the incredible community out here has picked me up. I’m lucky to
42 | Q Virginia
retro budget motel, an Italian restaurant with hiker-sized portions, a hiker-friendly library on Main Street and an Amish grocery for exciting resupply options. We had a great trail magic moment on Mother’s Day when we were hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway. A local woman brought an amazing spread of sandwiches, pastries, chips, fresh fruit and drinks to a place where the trail crossed the Parkway. She kept saying, “Call you mothers and let them know that there’s another mother out here taking care of you!” It was so sweet.
What Virginia adventure would you like to tackle next? STAIGE: We’ve been dreaming of a road trip! Andrea loves driving down windy, scenic backroads and I love exploring tucked-away small towns. Virginia has both of those in scores! Staige Davis is an outdoor enthusiast who also enjoys yoga, reading and indulging in Virginia’s local food scene. She calls both Richmond and Charlottesville home.
Andrea Parra is a native of Bogotá, Colombia who moved to Virginia to attend UVA. In addition to backpacking, she spends her weekends rock climbing and whitewater kayaking.
For more places to explore throughout the state, visit Virginia.org/LGBT.
MEET | VIRGINIA
LOUDOUN COUNTY
INSIDE BY, PATRICIA KEPPEL EDITED BY, MEREDITH JENKINS
Looking for a mini vacation where you can indulge a bit? Look no further than Loudoun County, home of DC’s Wine Country, Horse Country, an incredible craft brewery trail and a healthy mix of both urban BY, RAYCEEN PENDARVIS, HRH areas and country living.
F R I D A Y
meet virginia | loudoun county
BEEF & BREWS MORNING After checking into the Lansdowne Resort & Spa, take a short drive over to the charming downtown area of Leesburg to visit Delirium Café, the first U.S. location for the Belgian-based brew cafés. In addition to serving the European brewery’s delicious creations on draft, they offer over three dozen house-made Genevers (a Dutch-style gin product infused with fruits, herbs, peppers and other tinctures). As this is currently the only place in Virginia concocting their own Genevers, you won’t want to miss this unique tasting experience.
AFTERNOON For lunch, head to Purcellville and stop at Monk’s BBQ for a plate of some of the finest barbecued meats you’ll ever eat. Then, wander down the street to Catoctin Creek Distillery. They craft awardwinning rye whiskeys and gin on-site. Order a tasting of the liquors straight or try their seasonal cocktail tasters. A window-covered wall gives you a glimpse of the distilling process. Keep an eye out for Frank the pug, the owner’s pet and the unofficial mascot of the distillery.
EVENING End the day at Crooked Run Brewery in Sterling. Step inside the new brewery and sample some of their unique creations, including the Raspberry Empress Sour IPA, a one-of-a-kind pale ale that is a local favorite. If you’re hungry, order some tacos or tostados from the on-site Senor Ramon Taqueria location. Travel back to Lansdowne for a good night’s sleep or call an Uber to check out the nightlife options in downtown Leesburg.
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S A T U R D A Y
meet virginia | loudoun county
BARN CATS & BON BONS MORNING For breakfast, the buffet at Riverside Hearth in the hotel has everything you could possibly want. Plan to leave the resort around 10:30am to make the 30-minute drive over to Stone Tower Winery, which opens at 11:00am, for tours and tastings. Stone Tower has two separate tasting rooms: The Harvest Bar, a spacious family-friendly area, and The Tower View Tasting Room, a 21+ space. Next, stop by Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, the oldest winery in Loudoun County. Owner Lew Parker crafts interesting varietals from the over 13 acres of grapes grown on-site. Keep an eye out for Flint, the extremely friendly resident barn cat that was once voted “Most Recognizable Barn Cat.�
AFTERNOON Drive back to Leesburg for lunch at King Street Oyster Bar, a seafood restaurant that has an outstanding selection of fresh oysters. After lunch, journey north along Route 15 to Fabbioli Cellars. This winery pairs current varietals with carefully curated small bites (think cheeses, meats and chocolates) to complement the wines. You may be a bit worn out after all those wine tastings, so consider heading back to Lansdowne for a little down time.
EVENING For dinner, make reservations at The Conche ahead of time, as Saturdays are always busy. This new Leesburg restaurant is a chocolate-lovers dream, serving creative cocoa-infused cocktails, desserts and even entrees. During the meal, you can watch chocolatiers through a glass wall as they make beautiful chocolate bon bons. Before you leave, order some to take home with you.
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S U N D A Y
meet virginia | loudoun county
BOUTIQUES & BAGUETTES MORNING After a final luxurious night at Lansdowne, travel to Middleburg, a quaint, small town filled with antique shops, local boutiques and endless charm. Located in the heart of horse country, many of the shopping destinations are fairly expensive, but perusing the streets while window shopping is still a worthwhile experience.
AFTERNOON Break for a quick bite at the Market Salamander, a gourmet market and open kitchen that serves a wide array of breakfast and lunch offerings. After lunch, make a final stop at Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery. Their new barn location on the outskirts of town welcomes visitors to sample their dry cider creations, while a smaller tasting room in the heart of Middleburg’s Main Street features their liquors, including rums, apple brandy and the only absinthe made in Virginia.
DEPARTURE On your way out of town, you simply have to drop by Red Truck Bakery in Marshall for a slice of their seasonal, award-winning pies, which have been heralded by both President Obama and Oprah as personal favorites. Oh, yes… you’ll be back.
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WHERE TO STAY…
LOUDOUN COUNTY
LANSDOWNE RESORT & SPA This property has all the amenities you expect at a luxury hotel in Virginia, but without the steep price tag. The property holds two 18-hole and one nine-hole golf course, several on-site restaurants—including Coton & Rye, where you can enjoy dinner and a limited-edition Catoctin Creek whiskey made exclusively for the resort—and a world-class spa that utilizes local wine products in their treatments. If the weather permits, take a walk along the Potomac River located behind the resort and explore Northern Virginia’s natural beauty.
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MEET | VIRGINIA
RICHMOND’S OUTDOORS
INSIDE
JUST TWO HOURS SOUTH OF DC AND SITUATED BETWEEN SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK AND VIRGINIA BEACH, THE RICHMOND REGION’S CONVENIENT LOCATION MEANS YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO FAR IF GETTING OUTDOORS IS ON YOUR ADVENTURE AGENDA. qvirginia.com | 51
“10 Coolest Cities to Visit in 2018.” -Forbes Magazine #2 in the “25 Cities Where Millennials are Moving.” -Time, 2017 “10 Under the ‘Gaydar’ LGBTQ Cities.” -Trivago Magazine America’s “Best River Town.” -Outside Magazine, 2012
best river town BY, RYAN EVANS EDITED BY, MEREDITH JENKINS
If anything could outshine this historic capital city’s national acclaim for its buzzworthy art and restaurant scenes, it would have to be its robust network of outdoor offerings. In 2012, Outside Magazine named Richmond America’s “Best River Town.” There are dozens of parks, hiking trails and other recreational spots along the James River within city limits and more amazing scenery nearby, from the Dutch Gap Conservation Area and Point of Rocks in Chesterfield County, to Echo Lake Park in Henrico. meet virginia | richmond
David Shannon, James Beard Award nominated chef and owner of the award-winning L’opossum restaurant in Richmond’s Oregon Hill neighborhood, embraces the city’s natural wonders. “Most of my kitchen guys love to go fishing along different sections of the river from Texas Beach to Brown’s Island,” Shannon says. “I don’t get down as much as I want, but my boyfriend is always down there. He is always rowing with the Virginia Boat Club or kayaking without me.” Visitors are sure to have riotous fun at Shannon’s celebrated L’Opposum— described by Condé Nast Traveler as resembling a collaboration between Liberace, Andy Warhol and Nick Cave—or the ever popular drag brunch at Godfrey’s. But good food and creative culture are only a few of the lures that bring first-timers in and convince repeat visitors to return again and again.
richmond’s boomerang effect
"I RAISED MY CHILDREN HERE AND STILL FIND MYSELF IN AWE AT JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL RICHMOND IS." – AYANNA OBIKA Part of being in Richmond is being outside in Richmond. Whether you’re up for rafting the nation’s only class IV urban rapids, conquering the James River Park System or Pocahontas State park trails on a mountain bike, wandering through the Historic Hollywood Cemetery (home to the final resting places of six Virginia governors and presidents John Tyler and James Monroe) or strolling Richmond’s Carytown shopping district, the city and surrounding counties have something for everyone. If you’re planning a weekend trip or possibly looking to lay down roots, there’s plenty to fall in love with here.
Locals talk about the city’s boomerang effect. Plenty of young urbanites move away only to return after they find everything they’re looking for is right where they left it. For natives such as Ayana Obika, a U.S. Army veteran, a permanent return to the area was not always inevitable. Ultimately, the city’s energy kept pulling her right back in. A member of the board of directors of Diversity Richmond and founder of Gratitude Rising Events, Obika grew up crisscrossing historic Bryan Park in the city’s Northside where she admired the landmark’s hundreds of thousands of azaleas. The spot, like so many of the Richmond region’s beautiful attractions, has a complex history. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the site where Gabriel Prosser, an enslaved blacksmith at a nearby farm, planned a slave insurrection later dubbed Gabriel’s Rebellion.
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The city’s challenging history is not lost on Obika, who launched a walking tour of historical architecture she calls “Built By Blacks,” after a book by Selden Richardson. “The architecture is just so amazing in every neighborhood,” Obika explains. “You just have to look past the unloved parts and imagine what it might have been. It’s gorgeous, and if you don’t get out of your car you miss that stuff.” Unofficial Richmond ambassador Shannon Timberlake always finds time to unwind outside. That can mean powering through downtown adjacent trails in Forest Hill that connect to the Buttermilk Loop Trail or seeking a quieter escape to Pocahontas State Park or Henricus Historical Park in Chesterfield County. Timberlake plans her adventures around the season.
meet virginia | richmond
“I prefer the river when it’s quiet, so my favorite time to go is around wintertime. During the fall and summer, I love to get out on the water rafting and water boarding. Finishing any day out with any one of the amazing restaurants we have around town is another great way to enjoy the region.” Timberlake also likes to take visitors on a stroll through Carytown’s picturesque shopping district. Carytown is home to Babe’s, a Richmond LGBTQ icon that bills itself online as the city’s “Everybody’s Bar.” They host some of the best drag nights in Richmond and even have an outdoor volleyball court. When it comes to sports, Richmond houses a professional soccer team, the Richmond Kickers, and a minor-league baseball team, the Flying Squirrels. It’s also home to the James River Women’s Rugby League and the River City Rollergirls, a badass group of women any one of whom could probably make John Cena cry.
No matter what you’re looking for, Richmond probably has it. When the sun goes down and you’re ready for something different, you’ll quickly realize there is a reason Richmond’s dining and arts scenes are so prolific. The abundance of so many amazing options has led to restaurants collaborating instead of competing, building off one another and working to create a better overall dining experience for locals and visitors. “The fact that we have an incredible concentration of talent and energy, and so many options have contributed to my success,” Shannon shares. “The more creative people you have, the more cool and unique dining there will be.” Beer aficionados will appreciate the region’s 33 craft breweries, made easy to locate and visit thanks to the Richmond Beer Trail. Recently garnering accolades from both Hop Culture and Vinepair, Richmond’s #1 status as a craft beer destination comes naturally. Stone Brewing Co. calls Richmond its East Coast home and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery just opened its second location on the far west end of the region just past the Short Pump Town Center. No matter what you’re looking for, Richmond probably has it. Kayaking, rafting, hiking, urban adventures, biking, rec leagues and tons of parks. The best part of living here is discovering your favorite spot. Unlike other areas that sell themselves on their outdoor activities with little to offer otherwise, the Richmond region has an incredible history, world class beer and dining scenes, and more murals and art galleries than you could visit in a weekend. It’s no surprise most people who leave always come back and those who come to visit tend to stay. qvirginia.com | 55
“No matter who you are, where you’re from or who you choose to love, we welcome you in Richmond.” __
MAYOR LEVAR STONEY
Mayor Stoney strives to ensure all people can live & work in RVA. Explore the city’s dynamic & fulfilling career opportunities today!
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/richmond/default.cfm
M EET | VIRGINIA
HAUNTED -SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES-
Enter if you dare… BY, MEREDITH JENKINS
OLD HOUSE WOODS MATHEWS | VIRGINIA
A
ccording to many who follow paranormal places in Virginia, Old House Woods is reportedly the most haunted place in the entire state. Old House Woods is a 50-acre plot of land located in Diggs and sits on Whites Creek across from the Chesapeake Bay. There have been so many differing paranormal experiences and sightings reported at this location that it’s hard to keep track! For example, it’s supposedly always ten degrees cooler in the woods than outside of the woods. Many have reported seeing a concentrated green light hovering above the woods. This light has even chased some out of the woods! Other sightings include ghost pirates, ghosts of British soldiers burying gold, ghosts of headless cows and an evil witch floating through the woods. Many reports describe a strong feeling of unease and even anger both in and around the woods. Some people report that they were attacked by ghostly apparitions. The most common and infamous sighting is that of a three-masted Spanish galleon ghost ship that floats above the bay and into the woods. From ghostly pirates and soldiers to malevolent spirits and flying ghost ships, there is definitely something going on in Old House Woods. Do you dare to explore them for yourself?
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WITCH’S POND STAFFORD | VIRGINIA
W
itch’s Pond is just to the right off of Telegraph Road in Stafford, Virginia. There is supposedly a sacrificial stone table that has Latin words carved all over it near the pond, although the table is said to be fenced off. Many who have visited Witch’s Pond report that there are dead animals hanging from the fence surrounding the stone table. Locals report the apparition of a woman (apparently known as “Edith”) standing beside the table at Witch’s Pond. Visitors also report hearing the eerie sound of a woman screaming in the distance. Some people have reported seeing a shadow person at the pond. Others have reported getting scratched by an unseen force. One person recounted that one of her relatives and her boyfriend had gone to Witch’s Pond three times and set up a Ouija board on a tree stump to talk with a ghost named “Ethan.” On the third visit, there were mysterious fishing hooks on the tree stump, but “Ethan” was not available to communicate. Some years later, the pair moved away from the region. While they were unpacking in their new home, the female relative found the Ouija board in a box and said, “Oh, I haven’t seen this in a while.” At that very moment, her boyfriend screamed in the other room. He had a fishing hook stuck in his leg.
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AUBURN PLANTATION MATHEWS | VIRGINIA
L
ocated on the North River in Mathews County, Auburn Plantation was built in 1824 by Philip Tabb. It became the home of his son, Dr. Henry Wyeth Tabb, until 1863. The house saw its fair share of tragedies, the most famous being when Dr. Tabb’s daughter, Mary Eliza, fell down the grand staircase in the foyer on her wedding day. Dr. Tabb found her mangled at the bottom of the stairs and she died that evening. On that day, a new tradition in the house was born—Mary Eliza’s white leather wedding slippers were to remain in the house, handed down to each subsequent owner. In the 1970s, John Lennon and Yoko Ono purchased the house. Being very superstitious, Yoko refused to keep Mary Eliza’s wedding slippers in the house. She even had the house exorcised and the basement filled with sand, two methods she had heard were sure-fire ways to ward off unwanted spirits. After John Lennon’s death, the plantation’s new owners spent a lot of money emptying the basement of all the sand that Yoko had placed there. Once all the sand was removed, they started hearing and seeing ghosts. In the mid-90’s, David—the brother of one of the owners of The Inn at Tabbs Creek—had a close encounter with the ghost of Mary Eliza. Back then, he had a small catering business and was hired to do a cocktail event at Auburn on New Year’s Eve. After the festivities, David was left alone to clean up the mess. As he was finishing up, he heard a loud tumbling noise that sounded like someone had fallen down the grand staircase. He ran to the foyer to see if anyone was injured only to discover that he truly was the only person in the house… or was he? He ran out of the house, jumped in his truck and sped off littering his catering supplies all over the road. David never believed in ghosts… until that night. 60 | Q Virginia
COHOKE CROSSING WEST POINT | VIRGINIA
O
utside of the small town of West Point in the Tidewater region, there’s a little-known railroad crossing known as “Cohoke Crossing.” During the warm summer months, onlookers gather hoping to see a mysterious yellow light that forms along the railroad tracks. The single yellow light appears to emanate from either a lantern or an old-timey steam engine train. Several stories surround this mystery light. One involves a brakeman that was decapitated in the 1800s. During one of his nightly rounds, he hopped off the train with his trusty lantern to check the connection between two of the cars. When he leaned between the cars, the train suddenly lurched forward and instantly decapitated him. Some say his spirit wanders the tracks at night carrying a lantern in an endless search for his missing head. Another story involves a Civil War train filled with Confederate soldiers that disappeared before reaching its destination. The train was likely ambushed by Union soldiers and burned somewhere along the tracks. Could the mysterious light be the engine from the ill-fated Confederate train and its ghostly passengers? Whether the mysterious light at Cohoke Crossing comes from the lantern of a headless trainman, the engine of a Civil War ghost train or some other some other eerie entity, it’s definitely a good place to visit if you want to experience the paranormal. If you do venture to these terrifying train tracks, be sure to take a friend with you for protection. Otherwise, you could end up a sad footnote in the long and storied history of Cohoke Crossing.
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Autumnal | Accents
"Of all machines the human heart is
the most complicated
and inexplicable." —Thomas Jefferson
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Enjoy an ambiance that will radiate joy and happiness.
Say "I do" to your dream wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner with an intimate ceremony followed by an elaborate reception to celebrate your special day. Learn more by visiting ritzcarlton.com/tysonscorner. TYSONS CORNER
2017 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
Š
THERE’S NO PLACE
like Ohm By, Jesse La Vancher
How to Make Your Own Herbal Tea Blend Grabbing a new box of tea whenever you're at the grocery store feels like the right (and healthy) thing to do. However, there’s something even better you can do—create your own herbal tea blend at home. There’s a certain mystical quality to the art of blending tea. It’s esoteric, a bit hippie and a lot exotic. With this guide, you’ll be able to convince your friends you’ve just returned from an enlightening trip of self-discovery—even if it was just to your garden and back.
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RECIPE
AUTUMN TONIC TEA Autumn Tonic Tea is full of herbs that will nourish the body and give it the nutrients it needs to stay healthy through the cold winter months. INGREDIENTS 4 parts nettle leaf (Urtica dioica) 3 parts spearmint leaf (Mentha spicata) 3 parts lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) 2 parts mullein leaf (Verbascum thapsus) 2 parts (combined) dandelion leaf and root (Taraxacum officinale) 2 parts red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense) 1 part rose hips (Rosa spp.) 1 part ginger root (dried, cut and sifted)
DIRECTIONS Combine all of the dry ingredients and store in a cool dry place. To brew, boil 4 cups of water and pour over the tea blend. Let it steep between 15 minutes and 8 hours. Strain the herbs out and enjoy hot or cold. Sweeten as desired (or not at all). Enjoy this amazing tonic to keep your health in order for the cooler months ahead. To truly appreciate the Autumn Tonic Tea (and impress your friends), let’s explore its humble, yet potent, ingredients. Each has a unique history and a plethora of health benefits. Some even have fascinating folklore that traces the evolution of humanity itself. Prepare yourself as we take a deep dive into the teapot of life.
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MULLEIN Common Names: Mullein, Aaron's rod Botanical Name: Verbascum spp. Plant Family: Scrophulariaceae Mullein is very grounding. Although most commonly known as a respiratory tonic, it is a wonderful lymphatic tonic that helps prevent colds and coughs from settling deeply in the lungs. It’s also an anti-inflammatory and great for musculoskeletal pain.
Overview
European and North American cultures have used the silvery green leaves and bright yellow flowers of mullein in herbal traditions for thousands of years. Today, mullein can be found at health food stores, usually in the form of soothing leaf tea or an essential oil.
History & Folklore
Dioscorides, a Greek physician pharmacologist and botanist, was one of the first to recommend mullein’s use in lung conditions around 2,000 years ago. It was used as a hair wash in ancient Roman times—the leaf ash to darken hair and the yellow flowers to lighten it. Over the centuries, cultures have used the plant for purposes ranging from making candle wicks, curing wounds and serving as “nature’s toilet paper” to warding off evil spirits, ensuring fertility and finding love. When European colonists brought mullein to the New World, native cultures incorporated the plant into their daily lives: The Abnaki tribe made the plant’s root into necklaces for teething infants; the Cherokee applied its leaves to cuts and swollen glands; the Navajos smoked the plant and called it “big tobacco.”
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DANDELION Common Names: Dandelion, lion's tooth Botanical Name: Taraxacum officinale Plant Family: Asteraceae This nutritious herb has high levels of A and B vitamins, calcium, potassium and magnesium. It also contains both insulin, which helps the body process sugars more efficiently through the liver, and pectin, which helps detoxify and nourish the body and support proper hormone function.
Overview
Dandelion is an incredible plant that has been used for thousands of years in Chinese and Arab cultures as a restorative tonic, edible food and in herbal beers and wines. Native to most of Europe, Asia and northern Africa, it’s now naturalized all over the world and commonly found growing alongside roads and in lawns as a common weed.
History & Folklore
The first written record of a culture using dandelion is in ancient China’s Tang Materia Medica (659 B.C.). Arab physicians began keeping written records of its use in the 10th century. Traditional Chinese medicine refers to dandelion as “Xin Xiu Ben Cao” or “Pu Gong Ying” and believes it clears heat from the liver, has a beneficial effect on the stomach and lungs, and that it can uplift one’s mood and support lactation. In the United States, various indigenous cultures considered dandelion to be a prized edible, a gastrointestinal aid, a cleansing alternative and a helpful poultice or compress. The Aleut steamed leaves and applied them topically to sore throats, whereas the Cherokee made a tea of the plant (leaves and flowers) for calming purposes.
Autumnal | Accents
GINGER Common Names: Ginger, shunthi Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale Roscoe Plant Family: Zingiberaceae Ginger encourages movement of fluids throughout the body. It is also an antimicrobial herb and great for digestive stagnation and upset stomachs. Ginger has been valued as a zesty spice and a reliable herb for centuries, with the first recorded uses found in ancient Sanskrit and Chinese texts. It has also been utilized in Greek, Roman, Arabic and Unani Tibb traditional medicine practices.
History & Folklore There are various accounts of ginger being exported from India to the Roman empire around 2,000 years ago. Since then, ginger has been a staple of European life. King Henry the VIII was especially fond of the spice. During his reign in the 1500s, one pound of ginger was worth one sheep. Since ancient times, ginger has been prized for its “heating up� qualities, which made it an essential ingredient in love potions. Many cultures also believed that planting a ginger root would ensure financial success.
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SPEARMINT Common Name: Spearmint Botanical Name: Mentha spicata L. Plant Family: Lamiaceae This delightful mint, which is subtler than peppermint, adds a delicious flavor and a nice vitamin C boost to your home-made herbal teas. Like most mints, it’s a wonderful digestive aid.
Overview
A hardy perennial mint with bright green serrated leaves, spearmint has served as an important medicinal herb for millennia. Originally native to Mediterranean countries, it is now common in many parts of the world.
History & Folklore
The Bible records that the ancient Pharisees paid tithes to their temple with anise, cumin and spearmint. Beginning in the 14th century, spearmint was used for whitening teeth. Its distilled oil is still used to flavor toothpaste and chewing gum, although it is not as commonly used as peppermint.
Autumnal | Accents
ROSE HIPS Common Names: Rose hips, dog rose, dog brier, brier rose Botanical Name: Rosa spp. Plant Family: Rosaceae Rose hips are full of vitamin C, antioxidants and all sorts of good things. You often see them in vitamin C supplements.
Overview
Rose hips develop on wild roses as the flowers drop off. The rose hip is actually the fruit of the rose. These fruits are one of the most concentrated, naturally occurring sources of vitamin C on earth. They are deciduous shrubs native to Europe and western Asia. Rose hips have a tart flavor and can be used to make jelly, jam, soup or oil. They are also commonly used in tea and liquors.
History & Folklore
During World War II, the British government collected rose hips to make rose hip syrup as a source of vitamin C to replace citrus fruits that, at the time, were impractical sources of nutrition.
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LEMON BALM Common Names: Lemon balm, balm, bee balm, Melissa, Melissa balm Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis L. Plant Family: Lamiaceae Lemon balm is a wonderful nervine used to ease anxiety, stress and tension. It is antiviral, antispasmodic and wonderful for stomach aches, pains, nausea and gas.
Overview
Used since ancient times to calm the heart and body, lemon balm uplifts the spirit and adds zest to any culinary dish. It has been used to sweeten jam and jellies, as an addition to salad and as a flavoring for liqueurs and various fish and poultry dishes. Lemon balm is also used in perfumes, cosmetics and furniture polish. It’s often used in tea, as an essential oil and in topical ointments.
History & Folklore
The use of lemon balm goes back thousands of years to the ancient Romans and Greeks. One of its first recorded uses was as a wine infused liniment. Nicholas Culpepper— botanist, avid astrologer, physician and author of Complete Herbal (1653)—wrote that lemon balm was ruled by the planet Jupiter and associated with the zodiac sign of Cancer, thus giving it the ability to affect emotions. Lemon balm was used in spells to heal broken hearts and also to attract romantic love.
Autumnal | Accents
RED CLOVER Common Name: Red clover Botanical Name: Trifolium pratense L. Plant Family: Fabaceae This plant is chock-full of wonderful nutrients including calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine and vitamin C, as well as isoflavones. It’s known for its blood purifying and antioxidant properties.
Overview
Red clover is a low growing perennial native to northwest Africa, Asia and Europe. It has since been naturalized and cultivated in many parts of the world, including North America. The flower heads are collected in full bloom during the summer months.
History & Folklore
For centuries, red clover has been eaten raw and used in a variety of herbal teas. Long ago, Druids believed that it could ward off evil spirits and witches. Medieval Christians believed it had religious undertones: Three lobbed leaves signified the Holy Trinity and four lobbed leaves represented the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
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NETTLE Common Names: Stinging nettle, nettle Botanical Name: Urtica dioica L. ssp. dioica Plant Family: Urticaceae This prickly plant is incredibly nutritious. It’s high in magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, vitamin A and various B vitamins. Nettle also supports healthy urinary functions and acts as a mild diuretic. For centuries, cultures across numerous continents have used nettle as source of food, a topical ointment and for herbal tea. Many cultures in Northern Europe used its high-quality fibers, which FALL are comparable to flax or hemp, to weave cloth.
COCKTAILS
Autumnal | Accents
FOOD BEAT
ROASTED PUMPKIN
soup INGREDIENTS 1 pumpkin (4 lbs.) 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 3 sprigs fresh thyme 1 leek (halved and thinly sliced) 3 3 cups chicken stock 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 1/3
cup grated Parmesan cheese
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 2. Using a paring knife, cut a tapered circle around the stem of the pumpkin (as if you were making a jack-o’-lantern). Remove the top of the pumpkin and trim any stringy bits. Scoop out the pumpkin seeds with a spoon and discard (or save, if desired). 3. Place the rosemary, thyme and sliced leek in the cavity of the pumpkin. Pour in the chicken stock and season with black pepper. Add the grated Parmesan cheese, then replace the top of the pumpkin. 4. Transfer the whole pumpkin to the prepared baking sheet and roast in the oven until the exterior of the pumpkin is golden brown and shiny, and the flesh inside is very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (If the exterior is browning too quickly, reduce the oven temperature to 375°F.) 5. Remove the pumpkin from the oven and take off the top. To serve the soup, scoop several spoonfuls of pumpkin flesh from the inside, place in a bowl and top with a ladleful of broth. Finish with more pepper and Parmesan cheese, if desired.
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FOOD BEAT
SKINNY TANDOORI BUTTER SWEET
potato fries INGREDIENTS 3m edium sweet potatoes cut into 1/4 wide strips 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons butter 1/2
cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic finely grated 1 teaspoon brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1/2 1/2
teaspoon ground ginger teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon saffron (optional) 1/4 –1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper,
depending on your taste 1/2 teaspoon salt + pepper chopped fresh cilantro + flakey sea salt for serving INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 425°F degrees. Place cut potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle with oil + melted butter. Add the Parmesan cheese, garlic, brown sugar, cumin, smoked paprika, ginger, cinnamon, saffron (if using), cayenne, salt and pepper. Gently toss with your hands or two spatulas to evenly coat. Spread the fries among two baking sheets in one even layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes, then flip and bake for 15-20 minutes more at 400°F degrees. You want the sweet potatoes to be crispy, but not burnt.
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FOOD BEAT
SQUID INK
pasta
INGREDIENTS SERVES 6 1 1/3 pounds flour 6 eggs 8 1/2 ounces squid ink 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon sea salt Pasta maker required METHOD 1. Mix together the flour and sea salt and place on a clean surface. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the oil, squid ink and the eggs. Using a fork, work the wet ingredients into the dry until it comes together to form a dough. 2. With clean hands, begin to knead the pasta. Continue to knead the dough for 10-15 minutes until it becomes silky smooth. This is an important step in the pasta-making process as it ensures the gluten in the flour develops resulting in beautifully fine pasta. 3. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and refrigerate for 1 1/2-2 hours, then divide the dough into 12 pieces, re-wrap 11 of them and leave 1 out to work with. 4. Flatten the piece of dough and feed it through the thickest setting on the pasta maker. Fold it in 3 and roll it through again. Repeat this process 10 times. This develops the silky texture of the pasta. 5. Work through each of the settings until you have reached the narrowest (at this stage you are no longer folding the pasta in 3). Make sure to pass the dough through 5 or 6 times before moving on to the next setting. Once you have rolled out your sheet, lay it flat on the bench and cut thick strips from the sheet approximately 3/4 inch wide. Hang the pasta up to dry (this will take around 2 hours). On broom handles between 2 chairs is a good place, or on a clothes horse. 6. Repeat steps 5 and 6 with the remaining balls of dough. qvirginia.com | 77
FOOD BEAT
CONCORD GRAPE W/ROSEMARY & BLACK PEPPER
sorbet INGREDIENTS 2 1/2 pounds Concord grapes, stems removed 1/2
cup honey
2 large sprigs rosemary 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns Food processor and ice cream maker required INSTRUCTIONS Toss the grapes into a food processor and process them for 45-60 seconds, until they form 3 or 4 cups of a coarse and lumpy, vibrantly purple slurry. If your food processor is small, work in small batches until you’ve processed all the grapes. Transfer the puree to a saucepan, pour in the honey, and drop in the rosemary and black peppercorns. Simmer the mixture over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes, until slightly thickened and deeply fragrant. Set a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl and pour the puree into the sieve, straining out the grape seeds, rosemary, and peppercorns. Cover the bowl and transfer it to the refrigerator. Allow the puree to chill for at least 12 hours. Churn the puree in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Spoon the sorbet into a container, cover tightly, and store it in the freezer. It will keep for up to 2 weeks.
78 | Q Virginia
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA FEBRUARY 24, 2019 at 1 PM
k s u h n r Co rland Ga
Start with a piece of sisal rope. Wrap it with broomcorn, corn tassels (stalks are available at farmers markets) or other dried grasses. Place corn along the rope single file or gathered in bundles of three. Wire corn securely in place. Autumnal | Accents
Fancy Pumpkin Display
It’s simple to decorate pumpkins with just a few supplies from the hardware or crafts store. Create stylish seasonal decor with some rose gold and black paint and place them all around the house.
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Canning Jars
Peel off the labels of pickle jars and use a cord kit (paperlanternstore.com) to illuminate each one. Equipped with a dimmer and hung at varying heights, they provide the ideal mix of rustic and industrial ambiance. Autumnal | Accents
Fall Table Setting
Host a stylish autumn get-together without breaking the bank by recycling things around the house. You can fill an oversize jug with branches of leaves cut from the yard for a free and festive centerpiece. qvirginia.com | 83
simple and monochromatic
The coming of Autumn does not mean you need to decorate your house in wall-to-wall orange. Keep it simple and monochromatic. Adorn your abode with white pumpkins, gourds and mums rather than adhering to a traditional auburn palate. Autumnal | Accents
Dried Flower & Herb
Create a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors on your tabletop by mixing bunches of blooms and foliage in a rainbow of hues. The savory scents of the dried herbs will subtly enhance the aroma of a special meal.
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Virginia | Voices
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My Soul’s
journey with a
cormorant
By, Michele Zehr Virginia Voices | Charlottesville
When someone says, “I’m going on a journey,” I immediately picture a solitary place in nature where one could allow themselves to unravel into a gooey mess of “I don’t know.” I call this the Soul’s journey. It is the ultimate journey that takes you within yourself, where a deep listening happens and you wake up one day realizing you can no longer ignore the impulses that drive you to Live your most authentic self—even if that means other people judge you...
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You’ll be confronted by everything that terrifies you, but it is exactly those experiences that are standing between you and Living your most authentic self. You are tested. It is painful. Maybe you run because it’s just too scary right now, but eventually you are tested again.
Virginia Voices | Charlottesville
There comes a point when it is more painful to continue living as someone you’re not, so you begin to say “yes” to those things which scare you the most, and this is when you begin consciously participating in your Soul’s journey.
I approached the Cormorant and immediately saw that it was injured but still alive enough to hiss at me. I couldn’t see its injury, but there was blood in the water that was getting drawn back into the ocean as the tide continued rising.
2013 was the year I began consciously participating in my Soul’s journey and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself, “Why, oh why didn’t I take the blue pill?” (For my fellow The Matrix fans). I have been tested in ways I never could have imagined and, through it all, Mother Nature has played a primary role in my unraveling. She always shows up at exactly the right moment, in exactly the right form and guides me to understand something about myself that I hadn’t previously understood. I’ll be honest, it’s often not pretty.
I felt this immense pain begin to rise up in my chest while at the same time feeling like I was getting slugged in the gut, and I immediately said to myself, “Oh Michele, don’t let yourself get attached or upset, it’s going to die anyway. Just keep walking. There’s nothing you can do for it.”
In January 2016, I was walking along Surfside Beach, S.C. and I was in deep contemplation about the state of my life. I felt totally untethered and had for the past three years, but then something up ahead caught my attention. At first, I thought it was one of those huge black trash bags that was buried and only partially sticking out of the sand, but then I realized it was a Cormorant—an aquatic bird that can weigh up to 11 pounds who not only flies but also dives and swims underwater to hunt fish.
So, I kept walking. I got about 100 feet away and stopped. I asked myself, “What are you afraid of? What are you trying to avoid feeling?” I couldn’t just walk away knowing that dying bird was going to slowly drown as the tide rose; it seemed cruel. I went back and that immense pain in my gut and chest immediately returned. I couldn’t numb it if I was going to engage with this bird and I felt panicked because I didn’t know how to help. I needed towels to wrap it up so I could move it clear of the high tide which was coming in quickly, but I was a good distance from my hotel.
Have I ever mentioned I really dislike beach running? I ran to my hotel, got towels, ran back, wrapped the Cormorant up and moved it higher on the beach…whew made it. Next part of the plan was to find a veterinarian who might treat an injured sea bird, so I started making calls and to my great surprise, I found one that was a few miles away.
On my way to the vet, I held the Cormorant in my lap. It was wrapped in several white hotel towels (sorry Surfside Beach Hotel!), and it was still bleeding but no longer fighting me. After checking in, a woman called my name. I handed her the Cormorant and explained what happened. She said, “The good thing about you bringing it here is that dying from dehydration is a painful experience, and that is what it would have faced had it been left on the beach. If this Cormorant dies, it won’t suffer that pain here.”
Feeling powerless to help while witnessing another’s suffering is the worst kind of pain. Who wants to feel that? And yet, my Soul’s journey invited me to confront this.
A few days later, I was back home still thinking about the Cormorant and how I tried to intentionally numb out my pain by dismissing it. By saying “yes” to that which terrified me the most, I had to acknowledge my own powerlessness to alleviate another living Being’s suffering, and that meant I had to feel the pain of that harsh truth. Mother Nature was teaching me how to “be” with another’s suffering and my own inability and powerlessness to end it. I understand why people choose to keep walking.
Nine months later, my non-profit, the Center for Earth-Based Healing (earthbasedhealing.org), received its first funding in history. My staff and I offer traumainformed ecotherapy (naturebased) programs for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. The Cormorant’s gift to me was the awareness that I will feel pain while bearing witness to the suffering of others, but I am strong enough to hold even that, and I needed to learn this about myself if I was going to do the work I do today.
In case you are wondering, I called the veterinarian the day after I dropped off the Cormorant. The woman told me that it died, but it didn’t suffer, so maybe I helped it a little bit. Because I was willing to feel my own pain, it ultimately gave the Cormorant some relief in its last hours on Earth.
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VIRGINIA’S SHENANDOAH VALLEY EMBRACES THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY BY, JEN LITTLE In the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, just 45 minutes northwest of Charlottesville, something amazing is happening in the town of Staunton. Located between Harrisonburg and Lexington off of Interstate 81, Staunton is not your typical small Virginia town. Through visionary leadership, this welcoming community has become a beacon of inclusivity in the region and a model for other communities across the Commonwealth.
Meet Chris Wood
Staunton resident, Chris Wood, believes in leadership that empowers others. His career and work in the community epitomizes that belief. Wood and his partner, Mark Wilkinson, own a home decor and artisan bath store, Redwood & Co., in downtown Staunton. Although Wood is a military brat, Staunton is Wilkinson’s hometown. The couple moved to Staunton to care for family, open their store and raise their son.
Entrepreneurial Vision Meets Community Leadership
Chris and Mark
Virginia Voices | Staunton
Wood incorporates his entrepreneurial background into his work in the nonprofit sector. Recently, he and his friend, Joe Kapp, cofounded and launched LGBT Tech in downtown Staunton. LGBT Tech is a national nonprofit that operates at the intersection of the LGBTQ community and technology with a focus on research, policy and programs.
One of those programs is PowerOn, which places much needed technology in the hands of homeless and at-risk members of the LGBTQ community. This technology helps people in need connect with other members of the LGBTQ community, assists with educational efforts and even provides a measure of safety by making mobile phones available to those who would otherwise be without.
Wood asked his board at LGBT Tech to act as the fiscal sponsor for the new center and, after receiving approval, announced the first of a series of listening sessions to make sure the community was heard. Wood and the LGBT Tech team are currently in the process of synthesizing input from community members from across the region and will begin providing services later this year.
As soon as LGBT Tech affixed their letters to the front door of their office on Augusta Street, the phone started ringing with people asking for resources within the LGBTQ community. Wood quickly realized that members of the LGBTQ community in his hometown and, indeed, throughout the entire Shenandoah and Appalachian region, needed support systems and resources.
Wood’s vision and rallying call sparked others in the community to step forward with innovative ways to serve LGBTQ youth, adults and seniors in our region. Simply put, Wood started a movement.
The Shenandoah LGBTQ Center
On July 13th, Wood learned of a young man who intended to take his own life because of the isolation he experienced after coming out. Fortunately, first responders were able to get that young man the help he needed. Stories like these are becoming all too common across America. Sadly, a lack of acceptance and limited resources for people who come out can cause members of the LGBTQ community to develop suicidal thoughts and, sometimes, act upon them. To stem this devastating tide and prevent future tragedies, Wood decided to create a LGBTQ community center for the Shenandoah Valley and Appalachia region. Rather than contacting media outlets or sending out a press release, Wood turned to Facebook and did an emotional live video that called on the community to rally together behind him in establishing the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center in Staunton.
Staunton Pride
The community’s support for both LGBT Tech and the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center caught the attention of the Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Citizen Action Network (SAWCAN), a local nonprofit organization. SAW-CAN reached out to Wood asking how they could help his team create the first Pride celebration in Staunton’s history. Thanks to Wood’s entrepreneurial leadership style and ability to empower others, an exciting new community-based collaborative project was born.
After much work, Staunton is set to have its first Pride Weekend from October 5-7, 2018. Current plans for Staunton Pride include spaces for 50 vendors, a beer garden, food trucks, live entertainment and kids play area. On Saturday the 6th, IndiePop sensation and LGBTQ rights supporter, Catey Shaw, will take to the stage as the event’s headliner. The Clocktower Restaurant & Bar, as well as its Downtown 27 nightclub (located at 27 Beverley Street), will host a Staunton Pride Drag Show on Saturday night. The goal of Staunton Pride is to celebrate and support all members of our community in order to increase acceptance and inclusivity in the Shenandoah Valley. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center. Staunton-based designer, Marc Borzelleca, has provided the branding for Staunton Pride. Presale of Staunton Pride merchandise is now available online: stauntonpride.org/pridestore. For more information about Staunton’s inaugural Pride celebration, look up @stauntonpride on social media and visit Staunton Pride’s website, stauntonpride.org.
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Season Tickets on Sale NORFOLK. RICHMOND. FAIRFAX.
VAOPERA.ORG
Stu For Silverton Comes Out at the Ferguson Center for the Arts By, Justin Ayars, JD & Kyle Bevenour
THIS PAST AUGUST, THE FERGUSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS (FERGUSON CENTER) AT CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY (CNU) IN NEWPORT NEWS HOSTED A TWO-WEEK WORKSHOP FOR A REVOLUTIONARY NEW AMERICAN MUSICAL CALLED STU FOR SILVERTON (STU).
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STU? TELL ME MORE Illustration: Tiffany Prothero
Stu follows the true story of Stu Rasmussen who, in 2008, became America’s first openly transgender mayor when elected to the post in Silverton, Oregon. According to the show’s director, Andrew Russell, “Stu is a beautiful story about a small town dealing with great change in a big country dealing with great change.” When Rasmussen was elected, groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church came out to protest. To their surprise, the residents of Silverton came out to support their newly elected mayor. “Over 200 townsfolk showed up, put on women’s clothing and marched the Westboro Baptist Church out of town,” Russell explains. “How that’s not a musical, I don’t know.” No good musical is complete without a good score. New York-based singer-songwriter
Virginia Voices | Newport News
Breedlove, who is known for collaborating with artists such as Lady Gaga, composed the music and wrote the lyrics for Stu. Cast member Eden Lane calls Stu, “A good, old-fashioned American musical with some deceptively complex music theory behind it. You can hear elements of The Music Man, La Cage Aux Folles and Legally Blonde in this production.” Bianca Leigh, a musical theatre veteran, agrees with Lane. “The first musical I did was in 1969. This script is beautifully written, and the lyrics are very intelligent. All the characters are really interesting and fullbodied. I think this could easily go to Broadway.” It would be a mistake to categorize Stu as a musical about a trans mayor in rural America. “The play is about Silverton looking at itself, taking
a chance on new ideas and coming together to save the town,” Leigh explains. Speaking for the entire cast—which, is comprised of many talented trans performers—Josephine Kearns asserts, “We don’t see this as telling a trans story. We see this as telling an American story that happens to be about a trans person.” Lane views the two-week workshop at the Ferguson Center as a chance to “hone a really wonderful diamond. This is real theater, and real theater tells real stories with real people. There are facets of characters in Stu that will be unfamiliar to people. But, when they leave, they will realize that these people are as familiar to them as their own families.”
Why Bring Stu to Newport News?
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To answer this question, you need only look to the Ferguson Center’s innovative leadership. Bruce Bronstein, the Ferguson Center’s Executive Director, explains how Stu came to CNU: “I wanted to find a way for the Ferguson Center to differentiate itself from the competitive marketplace by asking, ‘What’s next?’ I was just looking to bring new, great theater to Newport News and we just happened to be blessed with Stu. We are on the precipice of something really special here and can be part of some world changing theater.” Echoing Bronstein’s sentiments, Lori Jacobs, the Ferguson Center’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations, notes that the 14-year-old center “wants to be the epicenter of culture in our community and beyond. We want to engage, inspire and challenge people. And present them with ideas and work that they’ve never thought about before. I think, through this experience with Stu, we’re finally becoming the performing arts center that we always wanted to be.”
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So, How Was It? The Ferguson Center went the extra mile to provide a truly safe space for everyone involved with Stu. They hired a gender consultant as well as a vocal coach who specializes in working with transgender singers. Extolling his experience directing Stu at CNU, Russell notes, “There are 20 ways this should have been really fucking hard that were not hard because of the special collaboration with the Ferguson Center.” Lane couldn’t agree more. “Someone told me this is the first time they’ve had this kind of development workshop here. I don’t believe that. There are many well-established facilities that could take a lesson from the way this organization has supported the creative team and the talent that has come here. I would have never visited Newport News before, but I will again, now. Just not in August.”
On a personal note, Lane explains how Stu exemplifies the progress that society and musical theater have made over the years. “I haven’t done a musical for 28 years. When I transitioned, I had to leave behind my old life completely. That was the standard. Now, younger people, gender non-conforming people, trans people and
Virginia Voices | Newport News
non-binary people are not just blazing new trails for themselves, but they are welcoming people like me back.” The entire experience was both emotional and unforgettable for everyone. “Just working on a show with these themes with so many of our trans siblings has been really overwhelming,” Kearns notes. For Daya Curly, this experience has been nothing short of life-changing. “I retired from performing when I transitioned thinking that was my only option. And I grieved for years. It’s hard to understate how this experience made me feel validated. Everything in my life is going to be pre and post Stu.” Commenting on the story of Stu, Kearns astutely remarks, “There is a place in this world for trans stories to be told that aren’t fraught. Stories that are happy and loving and warm. People want to hear those stories, and we have the people to tell them.” Thanks to the remarkable collaboration between the creators of Stu and the visionary leadership at the Ferguson Center at CNU, one such story was told this summer right here in Virginia.
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online
Hound and Hammer is a boot company forged from the flames of the urban adventurer’s wanderlust. Our company is a bridge from the working world to the open road. The Hound and Hammer Man—traveling with his trusted canine, camping, surfing, exploring, filling his life with the present moment.
Qvirginia.com
RICHMOND TRIANGLE PLAYERS SEASON 26 / 2018–2019
Come see what all the fuss is about!
SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM By Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine
AUGUST 8 – SEPT 1, 2018
THE LARAMIE PROJECT By Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Project
SEPT 26 – OCT 20, 2018
WHO’S HOLIDAY By Matthew Lombardo
NOV 14 – DEC 15, 2018
AN ACT OF GOD By David Javerbaum Presented as part of The CityWide Acts of Faith Festival
FEB 13 – MARCH 9, 2019
SEVEN HOMELESS MAMMOTHS WANDER NEW ENGLAND GET TICKETS AT RTRIANGLE.ORG OR CALL (804) 346-8113
By Madeleine George
And make sure you check our web site at rtriangle.org for our Sister Series, cabaret nights, special events, and performers checking in from all over the country!
RICHMOND TRIANGLE PLAYERS AT THE ROBERT B. MOSS THEATRE 1300 ALTAMONT AVENUE, RICHMOND, VA 23230 MEDIA SPONSORS:
The 2018-19 Season Is Supported In Part By Funding From
APR 10 – MAY 4, 2019
GREY GARDENS Book by Doug Wright, Music by Scott Frankel, Lyrics by Michael Korie
JUNE 12 – JULY 13, 2019
A Brief History of Pride in Richmond By, Beth Marschak with help from Stephen Kent Jones, Bob Swisher and Bobbi Weinstock Edited By, Meredith Jenkins
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Pride celebrations in Richmond have a long heritage stretching back to the early 70’s. To fully appreciate Virginia PrideFest 2018, it’s important to know just how far our community has come over the years.
1970s The Richmond Women’s Festivals in the early 1970s were the first outdoor public festivals in Richmond with an LGBTQ flavor. The Richmond Women’s Alliance, which included Richmond Lesbian-Feminists, sponsored the festivals. The first was in Monroe Park and the second two were in the Byrd Park Dogwood Dell-Carillon area. These festivals included speakers (like Rita Mae Brown), music, information tables, vendors and workshops. On October 8, 1977, Richmond’s growing community of activists hosted a support rally for gay and lesbian rights in Monroe Park in response to Anita Bryant speaking at an event in town. On June 23, 1979, Richmond had its first real Pride event to mark the 10th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The “Richmond Lesbian and Gay Pride Day: Death of Denial… Birth of Pride” included a motorcade from Azalea Mall to Byrd Park, a picnic lunch and an evening dance at the Sheraton Hotel.
1980s Several years passed before the next Pride event in 1983, which took place at Byrd Park and featured a picnic lunch, local speakers and music. The Richmond Lesbian/Gay Pride Festival of 1984 at the Byrd Park Carillon Pavilion was Richmond’s first formal pride event and the beginning of annual pride festivals.
Virginia Voices | Richmond
Women’s Festival Flyer – 1974
Jacqui Singleton – 1984
Lesbian & Gay Pride Day Flyer – 1979
The day’s events included an opening address by Art Runyon, keynote speaker Adam DeBaugh, musical entertainment from Jacqui Singleton, Jan Hampton and the Gay Men’s Chorus, lunch, sports, a sing-along and an interfaith worship. The theme for the Lesbian/Gay Pride Festival on September 14, 1986 was “and Justice for all.” David Scondras and Meryl Friedman were the keynote speakers for the 725 folks who came out to Byrd Park. The musical lineup included Eileen Edmonds, Cindy Lapton, the Inside Out Band and Suede. This was the first year there was sign interpretation. After incorporating in 1986, the Richmond Lesbian and Gay Pride Coalition planned a Pride weekend for September 18-20, 1987. This first Pride weekend included a Friday film festival, late night show and disco at Scandals, a Saturday gala reception, “In Concert” at Fieldens, a Lesbian-Feminist Dance, Sunday Brunch at Christophers and a PRIDE festival at Byrd Park with a performance by the D.C. Different Drummers (which, had to be moved to The Pyramid due to rain). By 1988, the Richmond Lesbian/Gay Pride Coalition had educational forums throughout the year. qvirginia.com | 103
The theme for that year’s October 2730 Pride weekend, which moved indoors to the downtown Richmond Centre, was “Unmasking.” 1988’s Pride weekend included similar events plus a Halloween party and community awards. The weekend’s programming included Meryl Friedman, Bill Harrison, Rosalyn Richter, the Washington Sisters, the D.C. Different Drummers, Chris Burnside and many others. The September 24, 1989 Pride festival returned to the Richmond Centre with the theme “Family Reunion.”
1990s The September 21-23, 1990 Pride weekend theme was “Walls + Bridges: Replacing Prejudice with Pride.” This year featured the first annual Silver Triangle awards and included, among other things, a dedication of quilt panels for the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The September 6-8, 1991 Pride weekend theme was “Shattering the Myths/Celebrating the Realities.” Notably, this year saw the return of a Pride Parade thanks to sponsor OUT! Richmond. “Pride=Power” was the theme for the October 2-4, 1992 weekend, which featured an expanded schedule that began with a film festival on Friday and concluded with an “Over the Rainbow” party on Monday. In 1993, Richmond’s Pride weekend from September 10-12 was largely a response to lesbian mother Sharon Bottoms losing custody of her son, Tyler. That year’s theme was “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now… We’re on the Move” and included a Mardi Gras Celebration, Pride Gaymes and a concert by gay singing duo Romanovsky and Philips. Sharon Bottoms and her partner, April Wade, joined in 1993’s Pride Parade, which saw over 1,000 participants—the largest parade to
Virginia Voices | Richmond
Richmond Pride Parade – 1991 date. The themes for Pride weekends in 1994 and 1995 had similar activist tones, “Justice: The Rainbow of Equality” and “Remember, Fight, Win,” respectively. With Pride participation dwindling in the mid-90’s, the Pride Coalition brought Pride weekend back to Byrd Park in 1996 using the theme “Alive With Pride!” That year, Pride joined forces with Virginians for Justice, had a parade through Carytown and a festival at the Carillon in Byrd Park. This move more than quadrupled the number of attendees. Building on this momentum, the 1997 Pride kept the same theme and location. In 1998, the Pride Coalition Board was burned out. By July, they had not made any plans for that September’s Pride weekend. Beth Marschak contacted Kelly McHugh of the Pride Board and others concerned about this and called an emergency community meeting. Their efforts resulted in a low-key Pride on September 27 using the same theme as the previous two years. A smaller, but enthusiastic turnout revitalized the Pride Coalition. In 1999, Pride returned to the downtown area with a Parade down Grace Street that culminated with a festival in Festival Park.
Richmond Pride Weekend – 1993
2000s - Today In 2000 and 2001, the Pride Coalition hosted a street festival on Grace Street with the theme “Takin’ It To The Streets.” In 2002 and 2003, Pride moved to Festival Park. As the new millennium marched on, the leadership and name of Richmond’s Pride festival changed to accommodate the region’s ever-changing community. In 2008, the organization received its 501(c)(3) charitable status with the IRS and became Virginia Pride. In recent years—thanks to the leadership of James Millner, a dedicated Board of Directors and a host of volunteers— Virginia Pride has relocated to Brown’s Island and is now the state’s largest LGBTQ festival drawing crowds in excess of 30,000 people.
From Richmond’s Women’s Festivals in the early 1970s and the first Lesbian and Gay Pride Day in 1979 to Pride Parades in Carytown and a massive festival on Brown’s Island attended by the Governor, the evolution of Pride in Virginia’s capital is a story of the region’s diverse, dynamic and determined LGBTQ community and its allies. As Virginia Pride prepares to host the largest LGBTQ festival in the state’s history this fall, it’s important to remember the humble beginnings of Pride in Richmond and the protagonists who valiantly ushered the organization through challenging times and brought the community together for the past five decades.
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org . A V s e tur OutVen
Unity Through Activity: OutVentures is Changing the LGBTQ Scene in Hampton Roads By, Vic Bosak
Making friends as an adult can be hard. Trying to make them as a member of the LGBTQ community, even in today’s ever-evolving society, can still be a daunting task. “Is there a place where I’ll be accepted?” “Can I be the real me once I get to know new people?” That’s where OutVentures comes in.
Virginia Voices | Hampton
The goal of OutVentures is to provide an outlet The goal of OutVentures is to provide an outlet for for members of the LGBTQ community to members of the LGBTQ community to interact interact with others in a positive, uplifting with others in a positive, uplifting environment environment while doing the things they love to while doing the things they love to do or have do or have always wanted to try. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to try. Perhaps you’ve wanted to try wanted to try kayaking. Maybe you prefer the kayaking. Maybe you prefer the creative creativeenvironment environment of painting. Or maybe of painting. Or maybe you want to be you wantable to be able to enjoy benefits ofwhile local to enjoy the benefitsthe of local venues venues while knowing you’re in a safe, accepting knowing you’re in a safe, accepting crowd. OutVentures seeks to provide you crowd. OutVentures seeks to provide youwith with those opportunities and much more. those opportunities and much more. As a long-time resident of Hampton As a long-time resident of HamptonRoads, Roads, I’ve I’ve recognized our community’s desire for recognized our community’s desire for social social outlets other than bars and online apps. outlets other than bars and online apps. Having Having done brief stints in Boston, Charleston done brief stints in Boston, Charleston and DC, I’ve and DC,witnessed I’ve witnessed theimpact positive the positive that impact bringing that bringingmembers members of the LGBTQ community of the LGBTQ community together in togetherorganized in organized have. groups groups can have.can My goal is toMy replicate goal is to replicate those experiences here in those experiences here in Hampton Roads. Hampton Roads.
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I began working on creating camaraderie-building events in 2017 launched OutVentures earlier I began working on and creating camaraderiesummer. In just a few short months, the group buildingthis events in 2017 and launched has established itselfsummer. as a fun, activity-based social OutVentures earlier this In just a few outlet where members of established our region’s LGBTQ short months, the group has itself can find true fellowship. as a fun,community activity-based social outlet where members of our region’s LGBTQ community can find true fellowship.
rules are “Our“Our onlyonly rules are toto be kind, be respectful be kind, be respectful of one another and, of one another and, above all, have FUN!.” above all, have FUN!.” ― Vic Bosak – Vic Bosak I asked a few people who have come to some of our
I asked aevents few people who have toof some to describe what theycome thought this new of our events to describe what they thought of organization. Jesus Aviles, a Florida native and this newmember organization. Jesus Aviles, a Florida of the U.S. Navy, notes, “OutVentures is a native and ofgroup the U.S. Navy,who notes, verymember welcoming for anyone wants to be out “OutVentures is a very welcoming group for for and do various activities while not being judged anyone who wants to be out and do various who they are or the level of fitness or skill they are at.” activities while not being judged for who they are or the level ofHampton fitness Roads or skill they are ” is, Long-time resident, Billyat. Muth, “excited to interact with others in the community in
Long-time Roads resident, Billy waysHampton other than in a bar or club, and to form some new friendships. also excited to experience new things, Muth, is, “excitedI’m to interact with others in the somein which may be outside comfort zone.” community ways other thanofinmy a bar or club, and to form some new friendships. I’m also excited to experience new things, some which may be outside of my comfort zone.”
KT Vick, along with his husband, Richard,
KT Vick, with his husband, Richard, echo echoalong Muth’s comments. “We believe OutVentures Muth’s comments. “We believe OutVentures provides excellent opportunities to meet new friends provides opportunities and excellent form lifelong friendships.” to meet new friends and form lifelong friendships.” As OutVentures moves forward, we want the
As OutVentures moves forward, we wanttothe community to know that all are welcome join us, community to know that allidentity, are welcome to regardless of age, gender physical abilities or regardless limitations. We angender open group in which join us, of are age, identity, everyone has aor voice in how we move forward. physical abilities limitations. We are an open group in which everyone has a voice in how we move forward.
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Discovering Gender Project Does being transgender/gender non-conforming impact the way you make travel plans? Are there places that you avoid when traveling? Do you research an area prior to traveling to it? Have you had any negative/positive experiences while traveling?
ASH HOBBS | DISCOVERINGGENDER.ORG | JESS SIMMONS
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h t i Ed I have been traveling all my life with my family and friends; sometimes I go by myself. I find it very difficult to travel, especially when I am alone. I have never experienced anything terrible while traveling, though. When I stop to go to the bathroom, I do get called “sir” or people say things like, “Excuse me, sir. You are going to the wrong bathroom.” I often find myself sticking my chest out so that people stop telling me that I am in the wrong place. I also get disapproving looks. Sometimes people comment under their breath about me, too. I make sure to get gas in well-lit areas and check in with friends that know I am traveling. I carry a concealed firearm for safety, as well. I am not going to let anything get in the way of doing what makes me happy. I have just as much right to be in these places as anyone else.
V i r gi ni a Vo ic e s | R o ano k e
Amanda When traveling, I am always conscious of where I am going and if I will feel comfortable or not. The tiniest stare or comment has a way of setting me off and derailing me from my intended relaxation. Usually, my partner Julia calls ahead of time to see if the place we want to book is accepting and if the surrounding areas are, too. The majority of the time it is accepting. A hotel in NYC even asked my preferred pronouns on a recent trip. We also search for restaurants and rest stops that have non-gendered restrooms. Road trips are a little difficult for me because of the rest stops. There are always questioning looks in places like that. Recently, while on vacation with my partner to the Finger Lakes, we were able to find a restaurant on Google (called Stone Cat) that said it was a transgender safe spot. Normally, Julia scopes out the bathrooms for me. When she came back she told me I should go check it out. I was hesitant at first, so I didn’t go. While we were walking out, I peeked over and saw signs on the doors that said “Either” on one door and “Or” on the other, with a sign in between that said “We don’t care.” There need to be more of these around.
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Hailey
I always research to see if there are any LGBTQ+ safe spaces nearby; restaurants, bars, or coffee shops. I like seeing and being a part of my community in new cities. You never know who you’re going to meet and it’s always nice if you’ve had a rough day to walk into a place where everyone just understands who you are and doesn’t question it. I have had some negative experiences while traveling. Every time I walk into a bathroom I have a mini-panic attack. It’s usually in rest stops where there are a plethora of different kinds of people and families who look at you like you are an alien. Haven’t you ever seen someone with short hair and hips before? I’ve gotten comments and looks from people that were not very nice. I’ve heard people say “dyke” under their breath more times than I can count. There have also been whispers of “Is that a boy or a girl?” from people behind me. Nothing particularly serious has happened, but there have been things that made my ears perk up and that made me check out my surroundings more. It tends to make me more aware of myself, then anxiety kicks in, and I tense up. Even going out of your comfort zone in your own hometown or neighborhood can give you a quick reality check that not everyone is going to be accepting.
V i rgi ni a Vo ice s | R o ano k e
I AM THE GAY COUSIN @ THANKSGIVING BY, KENNEDY LEVI EDITED BY, JEROME WEST
THERE’S ONE IN EVERY FAMILY… AND IT MIGHT BE YOU. A GLIMPSE INTO THE ART OF SURVIVING BEING QUEER AT YOUR FRIENDLY FAMILY THANKSGIVING. qvirginia.com | 113
PROLOGUE T
hanksgiving is a holiday and that means I have to see my family. I’m already dreading it. I know, it sounds callous, it sounds hardhearted, I sound like the Grinch that Stole Thanksgiving… and that might be the worst Grinch of all because Thanksgiving isn’t exactly about resentment. I mean, look at the damn title. Sure, I could say this resentment stems from the fact that this holiday commemorates a bunch of white immigrants taking advantage of the Native Americans’ hospitality, which precipitated genocide and colonizing them as a historical “thank you” that we’re meant to re-enact annually (with pie included). I mean, if that doesn’t cause a bit of resentment in you as well, perhaps Thanksgiving can be a day of reflection. But that isn’t where my resentment began or ended. It had a lot to do with the fact that there’s one in every family; that one was me. Yes, I am the Gay Cousin. Worse, I’m the Trans Cousin. But let’s focus on the gay, because whether you like it or not, if you’re a part of this beautiful rainbow at a family Thanksgiving table, you are The Gay Cousin.
What does it mean to be The Gay Cousin? Well, let me tell you what it meant to me. V i r gi ni a | Vo i ce s
ACT I At
eight years old, I had to hug people I didn’t want to. I had to play games with my hormonal and sometimes sadistic older cousins when all I wanted to do was eat my face off, steal a glass of wine ( Jewish, we start early, that’s my excuse) and enjoy the warmth of the house. Inevitably, conversations about normalcy would lead to mating habits, because it’s totally appropriate to talk to children under ten about making a life-commitment to a partner and popping out kids. Just think about that.
How many of us young queers had to suffer through those cold-sweat inducing talks? Even at that age, I knew that I couldn’t tell them that all my crushes had been on girls and I wanted to be their boyfriend, not anyone’s wife. I believed my feelings were odd, perhaps even invented or insane. I was odd and invalid. That is what I internalized, since that was the resounding theme.
“ I was unacceptable.”
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ACT II At
16, I was a bit of a fuck-up. Who wasn’t? I spent most of my time getting high with my friends and making out with all of them to dull the pain of being bullied, even the “straight” ones. Mostly the “straight” ones. That was kind of the only option at a Christian private school. I liked to slink around in suits and reveled in comparisons to Shane McCutcheon (from Showtime’s The L Word), though I also kind of hated myself for it. I also had to go to Thanksgiving again, like I did every year. My cousins were now dating people, some were fucking them. I sat there quietly, stirring my yams with brown sugar and thinking bitterly that I’d probably fucked more people than they’d ever dreamed of in the past year… but I couldn’t say anything. It was better to be a prude than gay. It was better to pretend to be unloved than gay. It was better not to talk about the fact that I’d just gotten out of a three-year relationship with my best friend because we started talking about college and I told her I couldn’t leave everything behind and travel the world with her or that I was in an abusive long-distance relationship. I couldn’t laugh with them or lower my head and tell a story that would humanize me; to tell the truth would instantly dehumanize me. I would become The Gay Cousin. I especially couldn’t tell them about the fact that I’d come out to my parents as transgender and they refused to use the proper pronouns for me or talk to the family. I missed my real family: The shadow cast of Hedwig and the Angry Inch where my identity was respected and celebrated for the first time; where I felt attractive, alive, powerful and a part of something. Those people were the family I needed, a bunch of queer gothic misfits who told me I wasn’t wrong if I was weird. The people I could love. The people who would help me survive this fucked-up gender mess at all costs.
V i rgi ni a | Vo i ce s
ACT III
I am now in my early 20s. I have come out to my family as transsexual, though I have not given them a solid answer as to my orientation, partially because it’s so sticky on its own. I had been fucking men in grimy places and enjoyed the way they smelled, the way they would leer at me over the table and tell me their boyfriend was out of town, so they needed a man to keep them company for the night. I have a partner of five and a half years and they’re genderqueer, though at the time they were presenting as female. We don’t explicitly tell them we’re together. They never ask, either. My older cousin and his girlfriend are treated like newlyweds every time the family congregates, and my single, but dating, cousins are asked about their plans. No one asks about us or the love of my life. My obnoxious aunt, however, does stop her work over the cranberry sauce to gleefully comment on how “masculine” my haircut looks, how it’s “better” and congratulates me on that. I feel good for a minute before I realize that she thought I looked feminine with the medium-length, shaggy hair I was completely comfortable with. This was a compliment based on gender essentialism, that a boy should look like a boy and that is “better.” That if I am to be a boy, I should be masculine. That masculinity is praiseworthy in a trans boy, even though I’m actually quite femme and ill at ease with traditional masculinity. The compliment didn’t feel so great going down. I heard the words “normal” and “masculine” a lot that night. And, of course, I was a good, upstanding trans person and not the awful, dirty sort that flaunts their lifestyle in others’ faces: Sexless. Loveless. A virgin atoning for my sins, a person who had to earn my humanity back after all these years by adopting normalcy as a personal credo. I sigh and laugh as my partner and I help ourselves to Jack and coke so the laughs come out smoother and less like jagged knives. qvirginia.com | 117
EPILOGUE T
hanksgiving is coming this year. There’s nothing I can do to stop it. I’ll have to face questions about what I’m doing with my life and tell them that I’m no longer teaching at the acting studio. I’ll have to explain that going off hormones for my health has dramatically affected my prospects in my acting career and that my manager doesn’t know what to do with me; that the industry wants nothing to do with a truly androgynous boy who doesn’t fit comfortably in a binary presentation. I will have to endure their suspicious gazes, as if they know better regarding what I’m talking about than I do, as if this wasn’t my lifelong dream and goal for the past 17 years. I will squeeze my partner’s hand while I do this, and I will take out my e-cigarette and smoke like a chimney if I don’t excuse myself for a toke first. They will not ask about our relationship and will treat us like we’re roommates and very good friends with a lease together when we tell them that we’ve moved into married housing at UCLA. My cousins with their vanilla jobs, degrees (some more useless than others) and heterosexual, cisgender relationships will be questioned with a more positive, affirming tone. V i r gini a | Vo i ce s
I’ll go to Thanksgiving this year and eat their food while exchanging absolutely filthy glances with my genderqueer masculine-identified/presenting partner. I’ll hang out with my stoner aunt who makes paintings and pottery, the one who treats me like I’m queer but also human. The one who sees me and knows the depths and possibilities of my heart. I’ll be thankful for my parents coming around and loving me deeply, even while we were at risk of estrangement. I’ll be thankful for my artistic aunt who takes no shit and has a heart as big as the sunflowers in bloom that she paints. I’ll be thankful for my partner and the way their hand feels in mine, the way they can calm me, the way they rub my belly and lament that it’s not sticking out to their satisfaction, the way I love them so complexly and so purely that I could spend my every waking moment with them and never tire of their presence.
T
hey will be asked how things are going and coyly teased about their sexlives. My uncle will likely say something racist and I’ll hold my tongue, so we don’t get into a screaming match about how he built his company on the backs of the immigrants he wants to degrade or that he, himself, is an immigrant.
“ Who knows whether I’ll be praised for acting normal or not this year? I’m the Gay Cousin. I always have been, and I always will be.” qvirginia.com | 119
Happy Thanksgiving, homos. I’m Kennedy Levi and I’m thankful for being in the mighty league of Gay Cousins.
This year,
I am The Gay Cousin again and you might
be, too. Just remember that your blood doesn’t always determine who your family really is. “Family” is the people who love you, the people who encourage you, the people who know that you are intrinsic to this world and you have so much to offer because of your experiences, no matter what they are. “Family” is the people who appreciate what you bring to the table and the unique way you do it. “Family” is where you can be The Gay Cousin and so much more than that, because you are a fascinating, irreplaceable human being in somebody else’s life. So, eat up, be gay and don’t ever let this holiday make you feel bad about what you need to do to survive, who you are or whom you love. Give thanks for yourself and the love you make. You are not too complicated to deserve that, and your secrets are not your shame; they are the shame of everyone else who refuses to open their heart to you. Credits
A big thank you to the staff at OutWrite Newsmagazine—UCLA’s source for queer journalism, creative writing and illustration—for allowing us to reprint portions of this story, which originally appeared on November 25, 2014. For more information, visit outwritenewsmag.org.
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