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EDITORIAL Mike Macharello: Publishor Dallas Zabran: Production Rick Karlin: Editor
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photographerS Eamonn Sexton Ken Brown, KAB Photography Oliver Aguilar
COVER Alan Somar
editorial contributors Gregg Shapiro, Ace Magyar, Parker Carr Sue Deaunym, Anita Taylor, Michael Elder
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boiMAG
weekend get-aways By Rick Karlin
What Chicago may lack in topographical variety, we more than make up for in proximity to a variety of lifestyles. Sure we don’t have an ocean but Lake Michigan is close enough (and you don’t have to worry about sharks or jellyfish). Chicago is the ideal place to be if you’re thinking of taking off for a long weekend. In less than a three hour drive, you can be in another city or a quaint small town. So that’s how we’ve sorted out our favorite weekend get-away locations. All are within a three hour drive from Chicago and offer plenty of things to do, great places to eat and, of course, shopping!
City Life
If you want to get away, but still enjoy the vibrant hum of city living, you have a number of options available, from Chicago’s little sister, Milwaukee, to the hipster vibe of Madison or the blue collar appeal of Rockford.
Milwaukee, WI: 93 miles north of Chicago
In an hour and a half you can drive up to Milwaukee, or jump aboard Amtrak and get there in the same time. The downtown boiMAG
and hip neighborhoods are a lot like Chicago, at half the price.
Where to Stay: the deco chic Hotel Metro, Iron Horse Hotel, the opulent Pfister Hotel, Hotel of the Arts (a Days Inn!) Where to Shop: Milwaukee Public Market, Downtown Books, Where to Eat: Honeypie Café, Hi-Fi Café, Comet Diner, Roots Where to Drink: Kruz Bar, Woody’s, LaCage, Harbor Room, Hybrid, Walker’s Pint, Alterra Coffee (now called Colectivo). Where to Gay: Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, Proud Youth Theater, Milwaukee LGBT Film/Video Festival What to See: Milwaukee Art Museum, the Pabst Mansion, Harley-Davidson Museum, Riverwalk, Third Ward What to Do: Take your picture with the Fonzie statue.
WTF?: Safe House is a spy themed restaurant, you need a password to enter, and martinis come via pneumatic tubes.
Tournament (Aug. 16-17) What to See: Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, What to Do: cruise around Madison, WI: 147 miles Lake Mendota and Menona northwest of Chicago WTF?: Ella’s Deli on Quirky and hip, as a college town Washington is a combination should be. Rich with culture as of a Jewish(ish) deli, ice cream a state capitol should be. Filled shop and the place where all with beauty, as everyplace your childhood toys and games should be. Madison, about a ended up. two and half hour drive from Chicago, is filled with small town Rockford, IL: 90 miles charm and big city amenities. west of Chicago Illinois’ third-largest city is emerging as an up and coming place to live, with a revitalized downtown, an emerging food scene, cultural attractions and beautiful public parks and gardens. Where to Stay: HotelRed, Arbor House, Mansion Hill Inn Where to Shop: Dane County Farmers Market, along Monroe St. and State St., A Room of One’s Own Feminist Bookstore Where to Eat: Bluephies Restaurant and Vodkatorium, L’Etoile, Green Bush Where to Drink: Shamrock Bar, Plan B, Woofs, Five Nightclub, Cardinal Bar Where to Gay: StageQ, OutReach Pride Parade (Aug. 10), Madison Pride Volleyball
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Where to Eat: Stockholm Inn, Chocolat, Josef-Barbados Oyster Bar, Octane Where to Drink: Office Nite Club, Someplace Else II, Oh’Zone, Social Urban Bar Where to Gay: Spectrum LGBTQA Center What to See: Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rock River Recreation Path, Coronado Performing Arts Center What to Do: Forest City Queen riverboat tours WTF?: Burpee Museum of Natural History
communities offer a nice mix of gays and straights and plenty of small town charm.
Where to Stay: Douglas Dunes Resort, Art House, Beechwood Manor, Belvedere Inn, Kirby House B&B, SunCatcher Inn, Campit Outdoor Resort Small Town Flavor Where to Shop: Amaru A weekend is just about the Leather, Del Sol, Good Goods, right length of time to explore Pink Patio, Saugatuck Antique the charms of a small town. Pavilion, Tuck’s Christmas Shop Most have enough going on to Where to Eat: Hercules Bar and keep you occupied for at least Grill, The Glenn, Toulouse, Blue a couple of days. The reason Frog at Douglas Dunes you’re there is to relax, so take Where to Drink: Zing, it easy and allow yourself to Everyday People Café, Dunes move at small town pace. Resort, Coral Gables’ Annex piano bar and its outdoor Tiki Saugatuck and Bar Douglas, MI 140 miles Where to Gay: Douglas from Chicago Dunes resort pool (day passes Long called the Fire Island of available), T dance on the Deck the Midwest, the twin cities of and shows in the cabaret room Saugatuck and Douglas actually What to See: Saugatuck Center seem more like the Provincetown for the Arts, gallery hop in of the Midwest (albeit with less along Butler and Water streets bars and clubs). The lake side in Saugatuck and in downtown boiMAG
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Douglas, Star of Saugatuck cruise What to Do: Hungry Village Tour’s two hour “Culinary Walk”, Saugatuck Center for the Arts (“Death Trap” through Aug. 10, “Beehive” Aug. 15-31), sunbathe at Oval Beach, tour the Fenn Valley Vineyards and Wine Cellar WTF?: Saugatuck Dune Ride, a 35-minute thrill ride over the dunes and through the woods, it stops at one of the area’s highest dunes which you can climb and then “sand surf” down.
Sunset Coast (New
Buffalo, St. Joseph, Union Pier and Benton Harbor, MI): 70
miles east of Chicago
A little over an hour’s drive and a world away. Watch the sun set, instead of rise, over Lake Michigan while you enjoy the pristine beaches, great shopping and fabulous restaurants. The majority of the gay life is in people’s homes, so chat folks up and you may get an invitation. Where to Stay: Sans-Souci Euro Inn and Cottages (New Buffalo), Goldberry Woods B&B (Union Pier) Where to Shop: P&G Mullins,
Downtown St. Joseph Where to Eat: Journeyman Distillery, Schu’s, Thornton’s Home Town Café, Caffe Tosi, Oink’s Dutch Treat Where to Drink: Pack up the wine beer and cocktail shaker, the best drinks are your own Where to Gay: OutCenter - Southwest Michigan’s GLBT resource center, G2H2 community social event Aug. 13. What to See: Did we mention Lake Michigan? What to Do: Road trip to Greenbush Brewing, New Holland Brewery or Bell’s Brewing, Sarett Nature Center WTF?: While the Midwest Wizard of Oz Festival has moved to Orland Park, check out the Yellow Brick Road, gift shop and museum. boiMAG 11
Shelf Life Beach By Paige TurnerReads
A fun campy novel, a book of short stories and a Boystown soap opera are all on the reading list for a summer road trip or list at the beach. Mario LópezCordero, writing in his blog in “The Huffington Post” noted five rules for a gay summer beach read; "1. Make it Sexy, 2. Make it Smart, 3. Make it Juicy, 4. Make it Funny and, 5. Make it Quick". These books check off all the must-haves... ‘Boystown’ author Jake Biondi released the highly-anticipated second book of the series earlier this month. The serialized story featured installments, each ending with a cliffhanger. Last November, the first ten ‘episodes’ were published in book form as ‘Boystown Season One’, ending with the lives of several main characters in peril. “Boystown Season Two” picks up with the aftermath of the warehouse shootings that ended book one. “While I won’t reveal who lives and who dies, I will say this: lives will be forever changed,” says Biondi. “Boystown Season Two” is available at Unabridged Bookstore as well as online at amazon.com and itunes. Readers may also order the books directly from Biondi’s website: www.JakeBiondi.com
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Our own music columnist, Gregg Shapiro’s latest book, “Lincoln Avenue: Chicago Stories” features 12 sharply observed stories filled with memorable characters and dialogue reflecting on what it meant to grow up gay in Chicago during the 1970s and 1980s. Given Shapiro’s background as a music journalist, it’s no surprise that it is imbued with the pop music of the day while relationships with family, boyfriends and others are explored through stories such as “Lunch with a Porn Star” and “Marilyn, My Mother, Myself.”
Wayne Hoffman, author of “Sweet Like Sugar” and “Hard” says, “…the stories in Lincoln Avenue are like a stack of faded Polaroid’s from our collective gay past - each capturing the hopeful novelty and awkward uncertainty of youth in a single frame.” “Lincoln Avenue: Chicago Stories” will be available in bookstores in early Sept. and on major on-line retailers and in eBook formats by Sept. 2. “Switchblade” by Carson Taite brings back Texas lesbian bounty hunter, Luca Bennett. This time she’s got girl trouble of her own thanks to her on-again, offagain relationship with police officer Jessica Chance. Her new case pits her against the local police force. It’s a romance novel blended with a classic detective story. Available as an e-book from Bold Strokes Books at www.boldstrokesbooks.com. Finally, our editor Rick Karlin has written a behind the scenes (and screens) Hollywood novel worthy of Jackie Collins or Jacqueline Susann. “Show Biz Kids” follows the lives of six children growing up in Hollywood’s “Golden Age" trying to step out of the
shadow of their famous parents, is a fun and campy read. Part of the fun is in guessing which famous stars inspired each character; who could Pricilla Best, daughter of musical film star Rosie Campbell and her fey movie director husband, be based on? Wo inspired the character of Angelina Ferrara, the daughter of a famous puppeteer and a top model or Jonny and Jenny Mason, children of the film giant Justin Mason, who struggle after their mother’s suicide? While the book, which was published in 2006, may be hard to find in bookstores, it is available through on-line retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. boiMAG 17
Rick Karlins Grinder
As anyone who has been to Milwaukee can attest, Alterra Coffee is practically a religion. It is what Intelligentsia is to Chicago squared. After years of fending off offers from Starbucks and the like, the owners of the chain have finally sold their name to Mars’ beverage division. Mars will be using the Alterra name marketing single-serve office coffee worldwide. The management at Alterra will maintain its stores and product, but is changing its name to Colectivo, which they say “…reflects more of who we have become and where we want to go as a company…nothing has changed except the name.”
Openings & Anniversaries:
The 4-Star Restaurant Group (Smoke Daddy, Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar and Dunlay’s) announced today its plans to open The Windsor, an upscale full service restaurant in Streeterville… White Oak Tavern & Inn, opening later this summer in Lincoln Park, will be “a neighborhood tavern serving Midwestern sourced, farm driven food and drink”. Defining itself as “refined rustic” the dining room will feature a communal farm table, reclaimed barn doors, and plush booths and couches. Seating capacity is 90, with additional seating for up to 35 people available on a sidewalk patio… It’s hard to believe And Now in Lobster News: that ten years have gone by since Crew Love lobster? Head over to Navy Pier on opened its doors 2004. While the official Aug. 16 & 17 for “The Great American birthday is in July, the folks at the bar Lobster Fest” (or is that feast?) where and pub are celebrating with a big you can enjoy succulent morsels of the birthday party, on Wednesday, Aug. crustacean and get prime viewing for 13. It will be a party you won’t want to the air and water show… Bow & Stern miss… Duran European Sandwiches, Oyster Bar has brought back its lobster a West Town café has launched a new roll, for one night a month. Beginning breakfast and bakery program, as well on July 31 and repeating every last as an array of summer menu additions. Thursday of the month thereafter, the The new breakfast menu includes sandwich will be available for $18. individual quiche, made to order bagel sandwiches and a “European Breakfast”, Truckin’: which includes cottage cheese, Chicago’s most popular food trucks will hardboiled egg, sliced tomatoes and join some of the city’s top chefs and cucumbers, multi-grain toast, ham, restaurants at this year’s two-day and fresh fruit. Among the additions "Chicago Food Social" on Aug. 23 and to its summer menu are “The Beatnik”, 24 in the parking lot of Kendall College. with goat cheese, arugula, baby beets, Between sets of performing bands live pickled carrots, and chives; and “The cooking demos by featured guest chefs Slovak”, hand-breaded Chihuahua will take place in a large tent and local cheese on sautéed garlic arugula with mixologists will display their cocktail marinated mushrooms and chives. New making skills. The event will also house-baked goods include croissants, feature a bloody Mary bar. For more scones, muffins, tea cookies, buns, tarts information, go to and cupcakes. www.chicagofoodsocial.com boiMAG 19
Motor Mouth
On the road again: Ten great rides for the road By Parker Carr
Avoid TSA screenings, baggage claim, and hours-long delays at the airport, take a road-trip. The road trip is an American family tradition, and it doesn’t have to end up like National Lampoon’s American Family Vacation, especially if you pick one of these rad rides. The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is as at home on the streets of Chicago as it is on the back roads of Colorado (where the streets are probably in better shape). You can easily fit what you need for a nice road trip in the 36.3 cubic-foot cargo hold, even more if there are just two of you, as the split folding rear seat can make room for even more stuff. The Grand Cherokee is offered with a V-6 paired with an eight-speed automatic, with 420 lb-ft of torque, it can tow up to 7,400 lbs., so strap on the camper! The EcoDiesel should get close to 30 mpg on the highway (sans camper, of course).
The 2014 Impala shares its bones with the roomiest Cadillac sedan you can buy, making it a comfy and spacious road-trip ride. There’s also 18 cubic feet of space in the trunk, so go ahead and pack the large make-up case. That huge V-6 gets you from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, making it easy to check out that hot trucker again. Get the eAssist four-cylinder model and you’ll get 35 mpg highway, but you’ll trade off on power. Ah the age-old dilemma, power or money? Continued on following page >>
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If you come across a new (or slightly used) 2013 Jetta Sportwagon TDI, snap it up. While it’s not packed with as many techy bells and whistles as other German luxury cars, it more than compensates for it with efficient use of space and miserly gas usage. There’s a surprising 33 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and the turbo-diesel gets up to 42 mpg on the highway. With 236 lb-ft of torque and a snappy dual-clutch transmission, it’s also fun to drive. Best of all a new one should run way under $20k, a slightly used only about $15k. If you don’t need a lot of room for luggage and there’s only two of you, live out your summer fantasies flying down the highway in a 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray. The sporty two-seater is quick, fuel-efficient, and roomy enough that you won’t feel cramped. The 460-hp LT1 V8 will rocket from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds and still gets close to 30 mpg on the highway, thanks to the seven-speed manual transmission and aerodynamic design. Cargo capacity is a reasonable 22 cubic ft. The 2014 Honda Crosstour is essentially a tall, all-wheel-drive, version of the Honda Accord wagon. With a 278-hp V-6 it’s quick on the pick-up, yet it still delivers 31 mpg on the highway. Surprisingly, there’s only 26 cubic feet of room behind the rear seats, but that can be expanded by folding down the rear seats. There’s also a hidden utility box beneath the cargo floor . The perfect place to store the jewelry. The turbocharged 250-hp 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT delivers 28 mpg highway and the redesigned 2014 model is roomier than ever before. With 34.4 cubic feet of storage in the rear, you can pack a lot of junk in your trunk. A crossover that balances power with a roomy interior is a rarity. Like all Subarus it’s got an allwheel-drive system. The 2014 4Runner is as butch as it gets and it can handle just about anything you can throw at it. The cargo hold is 47 cubic feet, it's available with off-road capabilities (but you gotta choose the right options) and can tow up to 5000-pounds. All that power comes with a trade-off in fuel economy. The 4WD model gets just 22 mpg highway Say what you want about the boxy Honda Element, it’s like the Swiss Army knife of cars. Need more storage space? Take out a row of seats and leave them at home. Got some big stuff to transport? Its back entry can take in more than a leather daddy at Touché on F.I.S.T. night. The rear seats fully recline to the size of a small cot, which makes team driving long distances more pleasant. The upholstery is a stainresistant scuba suit-like material and the floors are covered in urethane, making the occasional spill of soda or coffee a non-issue, and cleaning out those crumbs from road trip snacks a breeze. (BTW, did you know that calories don’t count if you’re driving more than 50 mph?) It’s offered in two or four wheel drive with a choice of 5-speed manual or automatic. Fuel efficiency isn’t the draw here, only about 25 mpg hwy. boiMAG 27
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Chicago's
in the know ... ON THE GO!
By Sue Deaunym
BITTER BURGER
The franchise owner of the new Culver’s in Wrigleyville is Justin Obriecht, who has made many anti-gay comments. Obriecht wrote in his blog, “Radical homosexual activists exploit the involuntary sexual confusion all LGBT individuals experience, in order to turn them into pawns for the cause that normalizes the very thing that’s destroying their lives. While those same LGBT individuals are thirsty for truth, but the church, the only place they can get such truth, is too concerned about numbers and political correctness, to worry about their salvation.” Then, in an attempt to placate matters, Obriecht wrote, “As far as my comments in my blog in relation to LGBT matters, that was in regards to my previous church and pastor. I currently live in East Lake View and am moving in July to a home even closer to the restaurant… I currently employ, serve and am friends and family with several LGBT individuals. I’ve spent most of my life in and around the gay community and am excited to not only serve that community but employ it and continue to be a part of it.” His comments were made only a year ago. I personally doubt he has changed his opinion that much. You can see Obriecht’s blog containing the letter at: http:// justinobriecht.com/a-warning-forwillow-chicago/
BARBIZ
Circuit Night Club continues its "Divine Decadence" cabaret series on Friday, July 25 features "Amy and Freddy Take on Annie Lennox", comic Tony Tripoli and singer Trish Keporos. Tix are $35 for gen. adm., $45 VIP. First show's at 7, second at 9... Touche hosts a Fetish Flea Market noon-5 p.m. on On July 27. Later that night, there's a "Victory Beer Bust" for Mr. Midwest Rubber 2014. In addition to an opportunity to swoon over the new Mr. Midwest Rubber, there's a raffle and buffet. Don't worry if you spill something during the buffet, it will wipe right off... Sidetrack brings a GLBT storytelling show (and who can tell stories better than us?) to its stage on Tuesday, Aug. 5. "OUTspoken" will feature storytellers who identify as LBGTQ with stories told from their perspective. It kicks off with Jim Bennett, Patrick Gill, Kareem Khubchandani, Tracy Baim, and Kim Hunt, and then will run the first Tuesday of every month... Happy 10 anniversary to Crew. You don't look a day over eight.
MARKET DAYS MADNESS
This Aug. 8 and 9 is NorthHalsted Market Days and we all know what that means. Half (or more) naked folks roaming the streets (Yea!), Continued on following page >> boiMAG 29
... ON
in the know THE GO! ...Continued Continued...
lots of drunks (Ewww!) and more parties than you can shake your stick at. All while entertaining more than 100,000 visitors to the Halsted Strip. My favorite thing to do is watch the nuclear families from the 'burbs try to pull their kids away from the She-Devils. The kids think the square-dancing drag queens are clowns and the parents don't know what to think, except, "WTF?"... If it's Market Days that also means all sorts of other fun parties, Cram kicks it all off on Aug. 7 with its annual cocktail party cum fashion show (which is very different than a "cum fashion show") with hot models wearing very little clothing, sizzling music and cooling cocktails. The event will be hosted by Teri Yaki and CircuitMom... Speaking of CircuitMom, she will, no doubt, be spending the Monday after Market Days with her feet in a bucket of water and cold compresses on her eyes, as she's also producing and hosting "Volcanic Revolution" at The House of Blues that Saturday... Am I the only one that finds the selection of performers for this year's Market Days to be ______, (fill in the blank)? There will be tons more in our next issue; your guide to NortHalsted Market Days. 30 boiMAG
COMMUNITY CHATTER
Although many of us have done a few tricks on Halsted, on July 26 you can support AIDS Foundation of Chicago and see "An Evening of Magic", the first professional magic show to be staged in Boystown. It will be a full-fledged show full of comedy, inexplicable magic, and mystery that will send you home deeply enchanted. For tix go to http://magical.brownpapertickets. com/. .. Stop by Taste of Lincoln
Avenue on July 26 or 27 and enjoy some of the treats that the straight version of Halsted has to offer. While there may not be as many hot shirtless men in attendance, you can still enjoy one of those giant sausages (from a food vendor)... Speaking of giant sausages, do you like big meat? What a silly question, everybody likes big meat. If you want to see a display of some of the biggest meat on Halsted, go to The Ram on July 31. Well you can probably see big meat there any night, but on July 31 they're holding a "Big Dick" contest. It's always fun to see the couple of nervous straight boys who choose to compete. I've offered to be the official measurer and/or fluffer numerous times, but they never take me up on my offer. Maybe you'll have better luck.
FIT TIPS By Michael Elder
Pull-Ups for power and strength
ranging from seasoned athletes to general fitness enthusiasts. Pull- ups are challenging, but they are also probably the single greatest exercise to train the back. Along with pushups, this movement will create significant increases in strength and power for the upper body. The major muscles targeted in this exercise are the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, posterior deltoid, and teres major. Other muscle groups such as the middle and lower traps, biceps, and brachialis act as synergist muscles for this movement.
One exercise that has been around since the dawn of mankind is the all too famous pull- up. Pull- ups have long been a staple in training programs for everyone, 34 boiMAG
You can perform pull-ups by grasping a sturdy bar with a firm overhand grip and your hands separated by a distance roughly equal to your shoulder width. With your arms straightened, allow your body to hang from the bar. Next, pull yourself upward toward the bar, leading with your chest, while Continued on following page >>
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contracting the shoulder blades together. While you’re pulling, focus on keeping your body straight without arching or swinging. Once your chin is over the bar, you can lower yourself to the initial position, without allowing your elbows to lock or your feet to touch the floor. If you are new to exercise, normal body-weight pull- ups may be too challenging for you. Don’t fret. Most gyms have machines that allow you to perform this exercise with assistance. As a former competitive gymnast who did enough Pull- Ups for at least three lifetimes, I can attest to the powerful benefits of this beloved exercise. Now start pulling! Michael Elder has been working as a fitness professional in Chicago for the last fifteen years. He comes from a background in gymnastics and is certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He can be reached directly through his website: www.MichaelElder.com.
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iMUSIC
By Gregg Shapiro
The voice of Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles, steps out on her own on her first solo disc That Girl. Produced by Rick Rubin, who retains Nettles’ trademark modern country sound, That Girl feels a little underwhelming when all is said and done. Collaborating with interesting songwriting partners, including Sara Bareilles and Richard Marx (!), Nettles plays it safe throughout, even on the one cover tune, Bob Seger’s “Like A Rock.” If you’re listening to That Girl it probably has something to do with Nettles’ powerful voice and you won’t be disappointed when she belts out on tunes such as the title track, “Falling,” “Know You Wanna Know” and “Good Time To Cry.” The prolific Shelby Lynne takes a gospel detour on her new five-song EP Thanks. Described by Lynne as “a way to express” her “love and gratitude to the universe,” she sounds truly grateful. Anyone familiar with her music won’t be the least surprised by these songs especially because her voice is custom-made for singing in a spiritual fashion. Gratefully, for listeners who may or may not share her path, the songs are general enough, expressing gratitude to a “Lord,” allowing you to say "Thanks" to whichever Lord you are affiliated.
D i x i e d i va s
Norah Jones may have first gained attention as a folk-influenced jazz vocalist, but in the dozen years since her best-selling, award-winning debut disc, she has dabbled in a variety of musical styles. Not her first time at the rodeo (see her 2006 group effort with The Little Willies), Jones returns to her Americana roots as one third of Puss N Boots (along with Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper) on No Fools, No Fun. Performing live and studio versions 38 boiMAG
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of songs by Rodney Crowell (“Bull Rider”), Neil Young (“Down By The River”), Roger Miller (“Tarnished Angel”) and Wilco (“Jesus, Etc.”), as well as originals such as Dobson’s “Sex Degrees of Separation” and Popper’s “Always,” these country kittens are almost purr-fection. Still the gold (or is that platinum blonde?) standard when it comes to country super-stardom, Dolly Parton, approaching her 50th (!) year as a recording artist, returns to her roots on Blue Smoke. The disc boasts a pair of duets – “You Can’t Make Old Friends” (with fellow plastic surgeon devotee Kenny Rogers) and “From Here To The Moon and Back” with Willie Nelson, who appears to have wisely avoided the plastic surgeon’s knife, that are equally pleasant. Parton, who has always shown good taste in cover material, does so here with renditions of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice” and Bon Jovi’s gospel rouser “Lay Your Hands On Me.” Parton originals “Home,” “If I Had Wings” and “Try” are also deserving of mention. 40 boiMAG
For years, Rosanne Cash has been the urban queen of contemporary country, infusing her songs with a wit and wisdom that comes from being a New Yorker. You can hear it firsthand in the song “Modern Blue,” from her latest album The River & The Thread. Cash could be singing about the Mississippi River as easily as the Hudson River. Her worldly approach has always given her songs a distinctive sophistication and the songs on The River& The Thread are no exception, especially “The Long Way Home,” “World of Strange Design,” “Night School” and “Money Road.” From the beginning of her career, Cash’s stepsister Carlene Carter also experimented with an alternative country vibe, working with Graham Parker and The Rumour and (ex-husband) Nick Lowe. That period wound down during the mid1990s and Carter experienced a period of profound hardship. Six years after making an unexpected, but welcome, comeback, Carter continues to impress with Carter Girl, a loving homage to her Carter Family kin, including mother June Carter Cash. With the exception of Carlene’s
own “Me and the Wildwood Rose” (which originally appeared on her 1990 I Fell In Love album), the songs are all Carter Family compositions on which Carlene leaves her mark. Guest artists Willie Nelson (“Troublesome Waters”) and Kris Kristofferson (“Blackjack David”) also join Carter for duets on this celebratory effort. [Carlene Carter performs at City Winery on Aug. 9.] Keeping with the sisterly theme, Put Your Needle Down, the second album by the Alabama-based The Secret Sisters (Lydia and Laura Rogers), picks up where the first album left off and improves on it by sharpening the edges. More raucous and rowdier than its predecessor, Put Your Needle Down makes a lasting impression, like a tattoo. Stompy and rompy songs such as “Rattle My Bones” (which does just that), "Iuka,” the sharp “The Pocket Knife,” the colorful “Black and Blue,” the retro country rocking “I Cannot Find A Way” and “Good Luck, Good Night, Goodbye,” and the heartbreaking harmonies of “Let There Be Lonely,” prove that sisterhood truly is powerful, secret or not. boiMAG 41
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ASK ACE by Ace Magyar
Road Rage My best friend and I went on a cross-country car trip and by the end of the vacation I was ready to kill him. Our styles of travel are totally different. I like to stay in quaint inns and B&Bs, he prefers chain motels and hotels. I enjoy exploring funky neighborhoods and going to museums, his idea of sight-seeing is driving around and seeing as many famous things as possible, without ever getting out of the car! After spending two weeks with him, I don’t know if I ever want to see him again. I think he feels the same way as he hasn’t called or texted me since we’ve been back. It’s a shame because other than that we’ve been great friends for 10 years. Dear RR, Let this be a lesson to everyone; take a weekend trip with a friend before signing on to anything bigger. You say that other than this, you are well suited as friends, so I assume the relationship is important to you. If you are certain he feels as badly as you do about the trip, and want to maintain the relationship, call your friend and get together for drinks and coffee. Don’t even bring up the trip at first. Wait until you’ve both relaxed a little, then broach the subject, saying something like, “I know that our trip together wasn’t what either of us expected, but I really value our friendship and want to make certain that we can put that behind us. If you’re not certain how he feels about it, or if he feels that there’s nothing wrong, just continue your friendship and don’t suggest any joint trips. If he does, then you can bring up your different styles of vacationing and say, while you think that you’re great friends, you may not be the best traveling partners. Handled correctly, this can be a funny story that you two share. Just because you’re friends doesn't mean you have to want to do the things together all the time. Troubled Traveler I went back to my hometown after being away for more than a year. I was there on business and knew that I would have little free time. Knowing that I couldn’t make plans with everyone I wanted to see, or who wanted
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to see me, I e-mailed a group of people and suggested that we meet for cocktail hour at our favorite bar and go out for dinner afterwards. About a dozen people responded. My best friend for many years was going to pick me up from the airport, we’d go back to his place where I could shower and we’d hang out a bit. Then I’d leave my luggage and work computer there and we’d meet up with others at the bar. Bad traffic delayed me getting to his place, but we still had about a half hour before we went to meet up with my friends. When it was time to go, he announced that he had an upset stomach and wasn’t going to go to the bar. I was disappointed, but understood (he has health issues), so I said it was no problem and that I’d come by to pick up my things after cocktails and if he felt up to it, he could join us for dinner. He then informed me that I couldn’t leave my things and come back because he had a guy coming over for a hookup. I was hurt that he’d put a hook-up before our time together, but didn’t say anything for fear of really losing my temper. I took my luggage and computer went to meet the dozen or so other people waiting for me. I put my things in the bar’s coat check and prayed nothing would happen to them. The next day I sent my “best friend” an e-mail telling him how upset and disappointed I was with him. Rather than an apology, he told me I was overreacting. Was I? Dear TT, In a line uttered by Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford in “Mommie Dearest” when some accuses her of over-reacting, “And I think you’re under-reacting!" You have every right to be angry and disappointed in your friend, as he failed on so many levels it is almost unbelievable. If this is how a person who is supposedly your best friend treats you? Then you need to examine the relationship. Was this an isolated incidence or part of a pattern of behaviors on both your parts? Speak to your friend and give him the opportunity to apologize for his behavior. If he doesn’t offer an apology, it might be better to let this relationship go and spend time with your "real" friends. Ace Magyar has a BA in communications, a MA in sex therapy and a PhD in zoology. He is a GLBT couples' counselor. Send your questions to boieditorial@aol.com with ASK ACE in the subject line.