SPOTLIGHT Trending STORY Scott Kearnan
Hit List NEWS, NOTES AND TO-DOS FOR EVERY GAY AGENDA
Ryan O’Callaghan
and painting (his work is represented by Boston’s Gallery NAGA). Thanks for the delicious memories, sir!
SIP THE TEA at Teatotaller,
a café in Somersworth, New Hampshire that describes itself as an “oasis of queer, hipster, coffee, tea and pastry goodness.” This summer the spot caused a stir with a roadside billboard featuring a young male model in short-shorts and pink accessories (including makeup) posed seductively alongside the cheeky phrase “I like my men like I like my coffee—with breakfast at Teatotaller.” The ad earned national notice, drawing both criticism and praise. Its model, Michael Cummings, told the New Hampshire Union Leader that the image was about a “gay guy breaking gender norms.” Tea: spilled. More: teatotallerteahouse.com
RAISE A TOAST to Louis Risoli.
In July, the popular, famously gracious maître d’ retired after working 34 years at 39-year old
Louis Risoli
L’Espalier, arguably Boston’s most established fine dining restaurant. Risoli’s run may be a city record for the role, one that traditionally represents an apex of hospitality and the “face” of a dining establishment, but is increasingly endangered as new restaurants move toward more casual settings. Risoli is also a nationally known cheese expert who served as the restaurant’s fromager. He’s looking forward to spending more time with his husband, who is also retired,
BID ADIEU to the first gay bar to open in Vermont in 10 years, which closed in July just four months after opening. Though known as The Bridge Club in its final weeks, the Winooski bar debuted under the name Mister Sister, which drew criticism as a transphobic slur; owner Craig McGaughan defended the moniker as inclusive. Escalating controversy caused two Pride Center of Vermont board members to resign when the organization did not immediately denounce the name (it later did), and McGaughan’s eventual name change (accompanied by a GoFundMe campaign) were unsuccessful. The bar website fired a parting shot: “Fake social justice terrorists put us out of business.”
SCORE ONE for former New
England Patriots player Ryan O’Callaghan, who recently came out as gay in a story on OutSports. The offensive tackle, who played for the Pats from 2006 to 2008 (he later joined the Kansas City Chiefs), told the site that he started playing football as a way to conceal his sexuality, and that once his career ended—and his “beard” was gone—he abused painkillers and even contemplated suicide while struggling with his sexuality. Today O’Callaghan is in a happier, healthier place— and, he tells “Boston Spirit,” working on a book about his story. Touchdown! More: outsports.com
KEEP AN EYE OUT for “Before Homosexuals,” a new documentary from Emmy award-winning director John Scagliotti, who has quite a resume: he produced the acclaimed documentary
PUBLISHER David Zimmerman EDITOR IN CHIEF James Lopata MANAGING EDITOR Robert Phelps [rob@bostonspiritmagazine.com] ART DIRECTOR Dean Burchell CONTRIBUTING LIFESTYLE EDITOR Scott Kearnan [lifestyle@bostonspiritmagazine.com] CONTRIBUTING ARTS EDITOR Loren King CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alyssa Gillin, Tom Joyce, Natalie Nonken, Kim Harris Stowell CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Joel Benjamin COVER PHOTO Elena Seibert ON THE WEB [bostonspiritmagazine.com] TALK TO US [feedback@bostonspiritmagazine.com] EDITORIAL CONTACT [editor@bostonspiritmagazine.com] PUBLISHING AND SALES CONTACT [publisher@bostonspiritmagazine.com or 781-223-8538] THE FINE PRINT Boston
SEP|OCT 2017 | VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 5
Spirit magazine. A Division of Jake Publishing, LLC Published by Jake Publishing, LLC. Copyright 2004 by Jake Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without the written permission of Boston Spirit magazine. Neither the publishers nor the advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found in the magazine. The publishers accept no liability for the accuracy of statements made by advertisers. Publication of the name or photograph of any person, organization or business in this magazine does not reflect upon one’s sexual orientation in any way. Boston Spirit Magazine, 398 Columbus Ave. #395, Boston, MA 02116
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