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inside VO L . 3 2 , I S S U E 24 | M A R . 1 9 - A P R . 1 , 2 0 14
50 NEUTRA p.
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ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN FALLON, JOHNFALLONSTUDIO.COM / INSTAGRAM: @JOHNFALLON MODEL: MALEK ALQADI, DESIGNER AT JUNESTREETARCHITECTURE.COM / INSTAGRAM: @JUNESTREETARCHITECTURE / (310) 360-3910 LOCATION: A+D ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN MUSEUM, 6032 WILSHIRE BLVD., L.A., APLUSD.ORG MAKEUP AND HAIR: JACOB AGUIRRE USING MAC COSMETICS, JACOBADAMAGUIRRE.COM STYLIST: WILLIAM CLARK JR., DION PERONNEAU AGENCY / INSTAGRAM: @WILLSTYLEUX SUIT BY NAUMAN PIYARJI, PIYARJINAUMAN@GMAIL.COM
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inside VOL. 32, ISSUE 24 | MAR. 19 - APR. 1, 2014
NEWSBOX News Briefs ....................................................23 Special Reports ..............................................28
THE GAY AGENDA............................33 CALENDAR Events Calendar ............................................57 SnapShots........................................................58 Eating Out........................................................59
ENTERTAINMENT TV ......................................................................67 Music Reviews ..............................................68 Film Reviews ..................................................69 Theater Reviews ............................................70
COLUMNS Little Miss Know-It-All..................................71 Billy Masters ..................................................72 Gossip Gay ......................................................73 Drive ..................................................................74 Out & About....................................................75
CITY GUIDES West Hollywood ............................................76 Palm Springs ..................................................72
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FRONTIERS MARKETPLACE Listings ............................................................79
FRONTIERS4MEN Adult Classifieds ..........................................80
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HEALTH Sex Ed ..............................................................87 Off the Couch ................................................88
PHOTO CREDIT: JOSE GUZMAN COLON
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Malek Alqadi photographed exclusively for Frontiers by John Fallon
Frontiers magazine is published by New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC, 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA. 90036, and distributed throughout Southern California. Up to the first three copies of any single issue are free; additional copies are $10 each. Violators caught stealing or destroying issues will be prosecuted under California Penal Code 484. For magazine subscriptions, please call (323) 9303220. The contents of Frontiers may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Letters to the editor, artwork, photography, manuscripts and other correspondence may be submitted to Frontiers at the above address. We cannot acknowledge or return material unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Allow at least three months for processing. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Frontiers is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation or the HIV/AIDS status of such person or organization. Copyright Š 2014, New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC.
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FRONTIERSLA.COM VOLUME 32, ISSUE 24 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 470, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Phone: (323) 930-3220 Sales Fax: (323) 857-0560 Administration Fax: (323) 848-2058 Accounting Fax: (323) 857-0503
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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER We are living in an exciting time in the United States. From the West Coast to the East Coast, LGBTs have experienced historic progress in the communities we live, work and play in. California has led the way for several decades on many issues important to us, including marriage equality. With the rapid changes we are experiencing, Frontiers is also changing! Our new company, New Frontiers Media, is building on Frontiers’ pioneering 32-year history serving gay readers in Southern California and beyond by creating an innovative media platform with a fresh and engaging approach. Gays in Los Angeles wield a tremendous amount of influence through Hollywood and the media, politics, business and philanthropy. Frontiers will celebrate our power by presenting our stories and lifestyle to the world. We’re two issues into the new Frontiers, and already you’ll see quite a few changes. The news section, led by Karen Ocamb, has been expanded with more stories and analysis, photos from key charity events and galas around town and a ‘cheat sheet’ of important dates. The recently added Gay Agenda section continues to blossom as it examines the best of SoCal’s gay sensibility. With this issue, Frontiers’ entertainment section has been completely redesigned by our Art Director Garett Yoshida, the goal being a more fun and informative section for our Hollywood-savvy readers. Speaking of design, this issue is also our Design Issue, featuring a look at the newly produced line of furniture designed by Richard Neutra, a block-by-block guide to the West Hollywood Design District, a survey of major Los Angeles renovations making our lives better and Dana Miller’s opinionated list of the city’s 25 gay design landmarks. You’ll also find our Editor-in-Chief Stephan Horbelt’s entertaining talk with Peaches Christ and Jinkx Monsoon, who are coming to town for Return to Grey Gardens, and an interview with the original Catwoman herself, Julie Newmar. We just launched the first of many new events to come with Frontiers Night Out at the L.A. Opera, enjoying a stunning performance of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd. Readers and fans had access to discounted tickets and our exclusive afterparty at the Bunker Hill Bar & Grill, where Liam Bonner, the production’s titular character, regaled us with tales of life in the opera, while local drag personality Momma towered over us in a ‘40s sailor costume that was certainly top-heavy. (Snapshots from the evening by photographer Dusti Cunningham accompany this letter.) We appreciate our partnership with the L.A. Opera and look forward to bringing you more entertaining events with our many friends in the biz. We certainly agree with Sir Elton John in his song “Honky Cat”—”Oh, oh, change is gonna do me good.” Enjoy, Michael Turner Publisher
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AFRICAN GAYS SEEK LEGAL HELP African gays—living in the U.S. and in Africa—are bombarding American legal aid groups with pleas for help in response to a wave of anti-LGBT sentiment and legislation sweeping over Africa, the Washington Post reports. Uganda’s recently enacted law mandating life imprisonment for certain “offenses” has loomed largest in the news, but Liberia and Nigeria also have draconian anti-gay statutes, and homosexuality is generally banned throughout Africa. Homosexuality has been increasingly attacked because of AIDS and such factors as mounting religiosity and anti-Western sentiment. Many of those seeking aid living in Africa are looking to leave, while many in the U.S. seek desperately to avoid having to go back. All Out, an organization pushing for global LGBT equality, is calling for multinational companies operating in Africa to commit to protecting African LGBT employees, an All Out release says. So far, French telecommunications company Orange has pledged legal and security assistance to gay workers. —P.D.
“[Leaders don’t] wait to be something to do something.” —California’s Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom addressing the California Democratic Convention on March 8.
“And the thing that I think is getting a little tiresome is the gay community have so bullied the American people.”
“I have and always will stand my ground.”
—U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in a recent interview with Lars Larson, host of CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference.
—Actor Kristian Nairn (Hodor on HBO’s Game of Thrones) coming out in response to a question from fan site WinterisComing.net, which asked him about his large gay ‘bear’ following. APRIL 1, 2014
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LGBT Latino HONOR PAC Holds Inaugural Gala With its inaugural gala on Saturday, March 22, at the Japanese American National Museum, HONOR PAC squarely takes claim to being an established political group on the California scene, home to the largest LGBT Latino population in the country. Beginning in 2005 when it was primarily known within the Latino community as a political action committee, the organization splashed onto the mainstream political radar in 2008 when prominent activists and elected officials, such as Supervisor Gloria Molina, helped open HONOR PAC’s ‘No on Prop. 8’ office in East L.A. This debut event, “It’s a Love Affair – HONOR PAC 2014 Gala,” will honor Richard Blanco, the first LGBT poet to speak at a presidential inauguration. The gala is being co-hosted by HONOR PAC co-founder State
Sen. Ricardo Lara, a 2013 David Bohnett Foundation LGBT Leadership Fellow and one of 10 named by the White House last year as a “Harvey Milk Champion of Change” recipient. “Our inaugural gala will celebrate those elected leaders and allies whose advocacy has strengthened our community, as well as the supporters who have supported our efforts,” says Alfred Fraijo Jr., HONOR PAC President. “The gala will also be a call to action in a critical election year where the diversity and composition of the California Legislature and statewide elected offices will depend on mobilizing our communities and supporting pro-Latino LGBT candidates.” Please go to the HONOR PAC’s website, honorpac.org, for ticket information. —K.O.
Ban on Trans Military Service Bogus, Obama Could Fix
First Transgender Billionaire Makes Forbes Mega-Rich List Forbes’ annual “Richest People on the Planet 2014” list includes all the usual suspects, from Bill Gates to Mark Zuckerberg. But this year’s 1,644-member billionaire’s club includes its first trans individual—Jennifer Pritzker, a retired army lieutenant colonel and Hyatt Hotel fortune heir who is now the CEO of a private wealth management firm. Currently worth $1.8 billion, Pritzker publicly announced she identified as a woman in 2013. The Forbes list has only seven LGBT individuals, making up about .4 percent of the entire list. One of these elite spots is secured by L.A.’s own David Geffen. Worth $6.1 billion, Geffen is known for his philanthropy and long history in music, theater and film. —Brenden Shucart David Geffen
Richard Blanco
Jennifer Pritzker
There “is no compelling medical reason” for the ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military, an independent commission concluded in a report released March 13. Additionally, President Obama could lift the Defense Department ban without approval from Congress, according to the Associated Press. “We determined not only that there is no compelling medical reason for the ban, but also that the ban itself is an expensive, damaging and unfair barrier to health care access for the approximately 15,450 transgender personnel who serve currently in the active, guard and reserve components,” commission leader and former surgeon general Dr. Joycelyn Elders told AP. “I hope their takeaway will be we should evaluate every one of our people on the basis of their ability and what they can do.” —K.O.
Failure to Repeal Trans Law is a Democratic Conspiracy, says Tea Party’s Orly Taitz When the attempt to repeal trans student accessibility law AB 1266 failed, the organization Privacy for All Students was obviously not happy. Now Orly Taitz of Tea Party “birther” infamy has gone paranoid, contending that the referendum failure was a “voter suppression” conspiracy by Democrats. Autumn Sandeen, a San Diego-based blogger for The TransAdvocate, tape-recorded a PFAS meeting in Diamond Bar on March 10 wherein Karen England, head of the longtime anti-LGBT Capitol Resource Institute, told the approximately 50 attendees that their efforts to get the law overturned were not over. PFAS intends to file lawsuits and “claw back” the approximately 17,000 petition signatures tossed out as invalid by the Secretary of State, according to Sandeen. “We, the voters—we signed the petition . Thousands of people signed,” Tate said at the event. “Now they throw it away saying that thousands of signatures were not proper. ... We can fight this.” —K.O. Orly Taitz
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DATEBOOK March 18-20 National Seniors Foundation holds “Know Your Rights” town halls at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center (March 18), Long Beach Bixby Park Center (March 19), Boyle Heights City Hall ( March 20). For more info, go to ncpssm.org.
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LGBT MEDIA CONVENING 2014, Washington, D.C., Feb. 28 - March 2 — News Editor Karen Ocamb was happy to attend this year. (1) Openly gay Calif. Assembly Speaker John Pérez was at the Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting that weekend and dropped by the opening reception, where he met popular ThinkProgress blogger Zack Ford. (2) Bilerico Project Editor-in-Chief John M. Becker (left) shares a moment with Shin Inouye, the White House’s openly gay director of speciality media. (3) Mark S. King, HIV blogger at My Fabulous Disease, asked pertinent questions about the oft-overlooked subject of HIV/AIDS. (4) Transgender computer scientist, military expert and Huffington Post blogger Brynn Tannehill (left) with African-American activist and TransGriot blogger Monica Roberts. PHOTOS BY KAREN OCAMB
March 31 This is the Affordable Care Act signup deadline to avoid the tax penalty. Find info at coveredCA.com and see President Obama’s outreach to youth at funnyordie.com.
April 12 GLAAD Media Awards featuring Bridgegroom’s Shane Bitney Crone and The Fosters’ cast. For info, go to glaad.org.
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March 22: HRC GALA Vice President Joe Biden will keynote the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles gala on March 22, with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, appearing as a “special guest.” Television director, producer and Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay will receive the HRC Visibility Award at the blacktie dinner at the RitzCarlton/JW Marriott. California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who refused to defend Proposition 8 in court after her election in 2008, will be a featured speaker. L.A. LGBT checkbook activists will be interested in hearing a congressional update from HRC President Chad Griffin, especially regarding the prospects for passage of the currently pending Employment NonDiscrimination Act. More info at hrcladinner.com.
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2 PALEYFEST OPENING NIGHT, Dolby Theatre, March 13 — PaleyFest 2014, a two-week-long festival for TV lovers, opened with a bang, reuniting the cast and crew of Veronica Mars. (1) Creator/Exec Producer Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell. (2) Francis Capra poses for a selfie with audience members. (3) Cast members Ryan Hansen (left) and Chris Lowell. PHOTOS BY KEVIN PARRY FOR PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA
JEFFREY SANKER SCORES A STAR, Palm Springs, March 13 — White Party Founder Jeffrey Sanker was honored on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in front of LuLu California Bistro, located at Palm Canyon Drive and Arenas. Sanker was joined that day by the Queen of White Party 2014, Carmen Electra, and Palm Springs Mayor Rob Oden gave an animated speech in Sanker’s honor. PHOTO BY BRAD FUHR
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Republican Activst Fred Karger (right) has made a habit of speaking out against same-sex marriage opponents National Organization for Marriage and its founder, Brian Brown (left).
KARGER DEPOSED BY ‘DISCOMBOBULATED’ NOM Republican activist grilled over leaked documents
BY KAREN OCAMB For weeks after being subpoenaed by the U.S. Justice Department and the National Organization for Marriage in the lawsuit NOM filed against the IRS last October, gay Republican political activist Fred Karger fretted nervously about what would be asked of him. He studiously prepared documentation, hired a good (and expensive) attorney, and walked into the U.S. Attorney’s office in Downtown Los Angeles on March 12 as prepared as he could be. “During the past month I have had to produce four pounds of documents, emails, texts, press coverage, notes and other records and send them to the Justice Department—all because NOM is out to destroy me,” Karger said after his deposition. The NOM lawsuit against the IRS—National Organization for Marriage v. United States of America, et al., singled out Karger because of the ethics complaint he filed against the anti-gay organization with California’s Fair Political Practices Commission. NOM claims it has “irrefutable proof” someone from the IRS illegally leaked its confidential 2008 tax returns to the Human Rights Campaign with the list of donors’ names unredacted. 28
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HRC discovered that Mitt Romney had contributed $10,000 to the ‘No on Prop. 8’ campaign in 2008 through one of the groups listed on NOM’s IRS return. HRC apparently made the information available to the Huffington Post’s Sam Stein, who published a story in the context of Romney’s presidential run. Stein linked to the leaked IRS report, a scan of which is still posted on Huffington Post (tinyurl.com/d5kvmfw). Acting IRS Commissioner Steven T. Miller told Congress last May that an internal investigation by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration was conducted and “found that those disclosures were inadvertent, and there’s been discipline in one of those cases for somebody not following procedures.” Nonetheless, the NOM lawsuit is proceeding, with all discovery to be filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia by March 14, in advance of a final pretrial conference to be held March 20. For roughly four and a half hours in a tiny white-walled room with no pictures or air conditioning, crammed with six people hunched over a conference table, Karger answered question after question. Surprisingly to him, however, half of the questions asked by NOM’s lawyer, John
Eastman, were objected to as being beyond the scope of the lawsuit. “He was discombobulated,” Karger said of Eastman. “And it made me relax.” Indeed, the entire session seemed like a grueling waste of time, which Karger believes was NOM’s point all along. The DOJ attorney started off the deposition asking “basic stuff.” “I think he was trying to determine how I found out about the documents—NOM’s 90 Schedule B returns. Where did I get them? Was I working with HRC? He didn’t ask that, but those where his concerns,” Karger said. “I told them I got it off the internet. I was not involved with procuring documents or releasing them, which is why I’m convinced they’re just harassing me.” When it was Eastman’s turn to depose Karger, the man whom NOM presents as its esteemed legal spokesperson was strikingly unprepared. “I could see John Eastman sweat. I kept my jacket on at all times,” Karger said later. “He bumbled through nothing but inane questions. He was trying to establish that I was a political expert at campaign finance and reporting. I said I worked in politics for well over 30 years but didn’t really do the finance reports. You paid law firms to do that. So I wasn’t quite the expert.” Eastman, Karger said, “was on a fishing expedition. He was all over the map. He must have pulled out 50 new exhibits—a lot of it he hadn’t even shown to the Department of Justice attorney. It was a very embarrassing session, as far as I’m concerned, for this distinguished law school professor and former [law school] dean. He was confused, he was out of order. I had to have him repeat questions. “I kept waiting for the smoking gun. He asked question after question and he’d pull out all these papers—many of which were stories I’d written or [Frontiers had] written about the terrible things I had said about NOM. And he’d make me read a lot of these,” Karger said. “And he asked me about my animus toward NOM and I said, ‘Absolutely. They’ve done tremendous damage to members of my community. Yes, I speak out against them.’ I was respectful, but now and then I’d make what I thought were important points against NOM.” We’ll see what—if any—of the information pertaining to the lawsuit is made public, though if this deposition is an example, that may only serve to politically embarrass NOM further. Karger is paying attorney fees out of pocket, so he and friends have set up a defense fund at Rights Equal Rights to help defray costs. Go to rights equalrights.com/donate for more info.
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WHY DO CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS SEEM SO UNHAPPY? Voter apathy a problem at the California Democratic Convention TEXT & PHOTOS BY KAREN OCAMB There was an odd feeling rippling through the California Democratic Party at the Westin Bonaventure in Downtown Los Angeles, March 7-9. With the economy turning around, a Democratic supermajority in the state legislature (that passed a budget predicting surpluses and a rainy-day fund) and a governor who signs progressive legislation and wants to now focus on climate change, it was hard to understand
why California Democrats would seem unhappy. To be sure, pockets of the 3,000 delegates burst into applause to show support for their favored candidate or cause. For instance, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke to a near-empty auditorium, even though later his ‘10th anniversary of marriage equality’ party was a hot ticket. But the undercurrent of negativity and disenchantment was palpable. Eric Bauman, the openly gay Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party and popular Chair of the Los Angeles
Democratic Party, tried to persuade delegates not to buy into the negativity, which he attributed to predictions of seriously low voter turnout in the 2014 mid-term elections. “I look at the last four years and I don’t feel negative. If we let ourselves be buried in this conventional wisdom and negativity, we will have no possibility of success,” Bauman told the crowd. “I feel like we sometimes turn ourselves in on ourselves and forget to really see what it is we do. ... We win when we give hope
SNAPSHOTS FROM THE CONVENTION
Sheila Kuehl addressed the LGBT Caucus. (Kuehl made LGBT history in 1994 and could do it again if she’s elected L.A. County Supervisor for the 3rd District.)
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Pelosi visited Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom backstage after his rousing speech to a near-empty auditorium.
Though Gov. Jerry Brown was well-received by the majority of delegates, protesters pressed him to ban “fracking.”
Th for ing
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Democrats don’t need “binders of women.” They’ve got Nancy Pelosi (left), Annise Parker (center) and Toni Atkins.
to people, not fear and anger.” Even San Francisco Democrat House Leader Nancy Pelosi, one of the most powerful women in Congress, had difficulty rousing the crowd’s enthusiasm, falling especially flat when talking about women. “When women succeed, America succeeds,” Pelosi said, to no response. “Let’s do that again—when women succeed, America succeeds.” Pelosi started applauding to give the crowd a clue. Longtime Democratic strategist Bob Mullholland said he thinks the turnout in November could be worse than the 50% turnout in 2002. Right now, Gov. Jerry Brown’s popularity is higher than President Obama’s, and he expected to sail to re-election, as Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Kamala Harris are as well. But, Mullholland told Frontiers, “People don’t vote to reward someone” for the good job they’ve done. It certainly seemed some delegates were more interested in giving their elected officials a reality check. Brown was booed during his speech by protesters wanting a ban on “fracking.” Maryland Gov. (and marriage equality hero) Martin O’Malley offered a keynote, which to some sounded like a tryout for a possible run for the Democratic presidential nomination. Of course, he was speaking to an auditorium
es,
full of delegates already wearing “Ready for Hillary [Clinton]” buttons, which might explain why his remarks felt a bit flat. A non-Californian who did arouse the crowd was Houston’s lesbian Mayor Annise Parker. Recently re-elected for a third term and elected in January as president of the Democratic Mayors Association, Parker was tasked with explaining how to win in a red state. “I am so frustrated in spending time with people who believe as I believe, and we only talk to each other,” she told Frontiers. “And the circle doesn’t grow. We have to grow the circle. It’s almost as if we say, OK, we’ve achieved this. Now we can go take a break. Well, you can’t ever stop working for human rights,” Parker said. Perhaps one reason for the pall of disenchantment at the convention was the realization that the June primary—and probably the top-two November elections—are pitting good Democrat versus good Democrat. One state race of particular interest to the LGBT community that could be heavily impacted by low voter turn out is Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez’s race for State Controller. He is running against strong LGBT ally Betty Yee, a member of the Board of Equalization. Early on, California Democratic Party Chair John Burton called for “no endorsement” in the contested races for State
The most moving moment during the entire convention was when the California LGBT Caucus gave transgender legislative staffer Evan Minton a standing ovation for his courage.
Controller and Secretary of State, and the convention complied. One incredibly bright ray of hope was the meeting of the Party’s LGBT Caucus. There was enthusiasm galore when lesbian Assemblymember Toni Atkins, the incoming Speaker of the Assembly, took the podium. “We didn’t just climb out of the valley of deficits,” Atkins told the LGBT Caucus of California’s Democrats. “We rose to the summit of surplus. We stepped back from the precipice and we strode to the pinnacle. We took a state that seemed to be the punchline for a national joke and we made it a how-to guide for successful governance.” Stonewall Democratic Club member Heidi Shink, who is the only out lesbian on the party’s platform committee, also delivered some exciting news. She successfully introduced and got added three LGBT items to the platform—a 20-page document that heretofore only had one LGBT item approved. By convention’s end, the party’s faithful were still concerned about voter apathy, though they were confident the state would still elect Democrats and liberal-leaning independents. But there is a danger beyond 2014 if the California Democratic Party doesn’t address why so many Democrats still seem so unhappy.
State Sen. Mark Leno (left), author of the original marriage equality bills vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, poses with the incoming Senate Pro Tem leader, Sen. Kevin de Leon.
L.A. Mayor and strong LGBT ally Eric Garcetti (right) poses with his openly gay Deputy Chief of Staff Rick Jacobs, who’s on leave as head of the Courage Campaign. APRIL 1, 2014
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BY STEPHAN HORBELT
DON’T MISS:
HOMO RIOT March 1 saw the premiere of art exhibit The Season of Spring at Flower Pepper Gallery in Pasadena, a group show featuring new work by gay street artist Homo Riot. You’ve likely seen HR’s work plastered around town—ya know that photo of two bearded ‘bears’ kissing in Gene Simmons makeup?—and now you have a chance to see his output in a more proper setting. Also included in the show are gay artist Robert Fontenot (his bread dough sculptures are pretty awesome) and Julian Callos, who is offering an ‘art pack’ of his “L.A. Nightlife” piece that includes three one-of-a-kind zines.
NORMA JEAN HEADS TO JERSEY Pretty soon you won’t be able to sneak a peek up Marilyn Monroe’s skirt anymore—at least not in Palm Springs, anyway. The massive statue (34,000 pounds!) that has for the last two years turned desert dwellers’ heads and appeared in many a Palm Springs vacay pic is moving on up to the East Side. The 26foot-tall statue is leaving California for Hamilton, N.J., where it will be part of a larger exhibit honoring Seward Johnson, its designer. Marilyn’s going away party is planned for March 27, five days before she hits the road (though Palm Springs officials are apparently hoping to get her back someday).
FOR THE LOVE OF PASTA Al Bacio may be the newst addition to that loud, bustling strip of Sunset Boulevard between San Vicente and La Cienega, but inside it’s a sleepy Italian ristorante that delivers where it counts—the food! The next time you’re craving fresh pasta, consider your decision made. Al Bacio makes everything from scratch, using top-of-the-line ingredients. One plate of the Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe or the Acquerello Risotto Invecchiato un Anno con Quaglia Brasata (my personal favorites), and you’ll have discovered your new favorite hangout. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that the restaurant’s executive chef, Christian Simionato (pictured), Al Bacio 8741 Sunset Bl is easy on the eyes. vd., WeHo Oh, and for those who choose their $$$$ (310) 657-1182 restaurants by perusing gossip rags, Al albacioristorant Bacio has also been a hit among the Hole.com lywood elite. Recent diners have included Colin Farrell, Steve Martin and tons of local news personalities.
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By Eddie Shapiro To most people, Julie Newmar will always be Catwoman, indelibly slinking across TV screens in the original Batman series. But long before Newmar first purred, she was a Tony Award-winning actress and dancer on Broadway, and she’s featured in my book, Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater (Oxford University Press). Newmar and I will be chatting about her days on The Great White Way at The Grove’s Barnes & Noble on March 26, but for Frontiers, we discussed topics gayer than musical theater—as if such a thing is possible.
There’s a drag queen movie named after you, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. For your whole career you have been a gay icon. Actually, I think you prefer the term ‘deity’ to ‘icon.’ ‘Icon’ is far easier to spell. And you can’t be a living deity. [Laughs] So what do you prefer to be called as one who is revered? Hmmm. “Takes too long too dress, mannered but friendly.” You think the gay community loves you for being mannered but friendly? Oh, I can’t answer questions about what other people may think about me. Dare I? When someone says something nice about you, you shut up and take it in! I’d have to ask my brother. He gives fabulous parties in San Francisco. He’d know. I think it still comes down to the simple fact that I’m tall. Tall? We’re not gonna go with statuesque? That implies the joints don’t move. [Laughs] Well, yours certainly do. You were dancing from the time you were a child and on Broadway dancing in your teens. If you want beautiful legs, ballet class! The boys aren’t bad, either. I mean, look at the tush. I share your sentiments! You are joining me at Barnes & Noble to discuss my book, but you wrote a book of your own, The Conscious Catwoman Explains Life on Earth. How did that come about? It just sort of oozed forth. You know it’s tongue and cheek with a title like that. It’s a how-to book. Growing up I had stacks of how-to books. My favorite was How to Win Friends and Influence People. Seriously dog-eared. I read them all the time.
You are about to do a how-to seminar at Salon Goo on Fairfax in May—“How to be a Great Beauty (even though you think you’re not one).” That was a fluke of my imagination. I decided to have a little séance at that salon. As females, what we do is enhance ourselves. A man’s eyeballs open up and the iris gets wide—we pay attention to those things. So you squeeze in your waist, you enhance the bust. All of that. Well, you have made a career of knowing exactly how to accentuate the positive. Exactly! Thank you! Put that in bold letters! Do you ever miss doing musicals? It was a huge flourishing time of my life. It was rare and heavenly, and every night you get to perfect the craft, the art or whatever it is that we do. I don’t think it’s too lofty to call musical theater ‘art.’ I can do anything artistic—anything. I am geared for that. Numbers are a struggle. Every Tuesday I sit with my bookkeeper and I can barely walk to the dinner table after that.
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Conversations the Great W with omen of Musical The ater 384 pages, $3 9.95 Oxford Unive rsity Press
You’re on Facebook. You sound surprised. I am. I never learned to keep a diary. If I had, I would have a very good biography, but now it’s all forgotten. But today we put it up on Facebook and it’s like your electronic journal, and you get feedback from people who think that you are an absolute drip. And they’re probably right! It’s wonderful.
Catch Eddie Shapiro’s conversation with Julie Newmar at The Grove’s Barnes & Noble, 189 The Grove Dr., L.A., on March 26. 34
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By Andrew Johnston
IT’S TUNE-UP TIME!
Meet the men behind the bulges of the RuPaul’s Drag Race Pit Crew
Chances are that every Monday night when you’re not living for the queens, you’re gagging over the Pit Crew. Whether serving up celebratory cocktails after challenges or serving up body during them, RuPaul’s own equivalent of Barker’s Beauties work long and hard for their money. But there’s more than meets the eye candy with this handsome quartet, comprised of Shawn Morales, Miles Davis Moody, Jason J. Carter and Simon Sherry-Wood. They are the unsung and well-hung heroes of RuPaul’s Drag Race—the Pit Crew!
PHOTO: DAVID KHINDA
PHOTO: NICK LOVELL PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO: MICHAEL STOKES
PHOTO: MICHAEL STOKES
SHAWN MORALES
MILES DAVIS MOODY
JASON J. CARTER
SIMON SHERRY-WOOD
@brightside009
@milesdavismoody
@jjcforever
@simonsherrywood
Tied with Jason for most senior Pit Crew member, Shawn has arguably become as iconic for scrufflovers as Farrah Fawcett was for blondes. Drag Race fans know him for his signature mustache and tattoos, but they might be surprised to discover their significance. The mustache is pure homage to Tom of Finland, and the tattoos are a callback to an anime series called Full Metal Alchemist—more specifically a character named Greed. You’ve gotta love a hunk who isn’t afraid to geek out! In addition to his work on the show, Shawn is popular in L.A. for his nightlife promoting— he throws a party called Big Bad Wolf at Silver Lake haunt Faultline and a weekly Drag Race screening party at Eagle L.A.
Miles came into our hearts and homes last season as part of the show’s “Whatcha Packin’” minichallenge—along with 20 other Andrew Christian models, who were apparently tossed back by producers after they got one look at this beefcake. With wit as big as the moose muzzle he keeps in his pants, Miles describes the Pit Crew’s downtime on the Drag Race set thusly: “Shawn does push-ups, Jason does mock interviews with himself in the mirror, Simon pretends to be Courtney Act. I just sit back, sip my drink and perfect my side-eye.” Watch your back, Bianco Del Rio, because Miles may give you a run for your money.
Devoted Drag Race fans will remember Jason as the heart-stopping “Aha! moment” from Season 3’s Pit Crew open call. This multitalented actor/model/host wandered onto the Drag Race track almost by accident. “I was actually off from work that day and a producer emailed me. Something told me to just do it. I guess trusting your gut really does pay off!” Not that there’s much gut to trust—have you seen his body? Jason insists that he used to be skeletal—“I was like the male version of Kate Moss!”—but consistently working out, eating right (a weakness for In-N-Out Burger notwithstanding) and not drinking or smoking is his secret.
One of two new additions to this season’s Pit Crew, reality TV junkies might remember Simon from The Real World: Paris. So how did his smiling Irish eyes get the gig? “I went into the World of Wonder offices thinking it was a callback and actually met with Ru! He asked me to tell him a joke [which is far too obscene to print]. RuPaul laughed and said, ‘Consider that stolen!’” Simon is a world-class model who has shared the frame with Hollywood bad girls like Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan, but did that prepare him for dealing with the queens of Season 6? Who was the bigger diva, Lindsay Lohan or Darienne Lake? “Darienne Lake, just because she’s six divas in one!”
Catch RuPaul’s Drag Race on Logo, Monday nights at 9 p.m. 36
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10 PACIFIC THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE
DESIGN CENTER
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When the PDC opened to the public in 1975 it was only a 750,000-square-foot building clad in blue glass. Since then it has become Southern California’s epicenter of interior designers, architects and the design community at large.
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Since 2005, Elton John has hosted the annual AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party at the PDC. It’s renowned as one of Hollywood’s most high-profile parties, with tickets by invitation only.
7. BY KARINE JORET, Design Enthusiast and PDC Fan
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The three buildings of the PDC measure 1.2 million square feet, equivalent to 14 acres.
3. With the recent addition of the red building to the city’s iconic Pacific Design Center, the heart of WeHo grew three sizes larger. Designed by architect Cesar Pelli, Center Red completes the massive, colorful complex, begun with Center Blue (dubbed “The Blue Whale”) in 1975 and continued with Center Green in 1988. Most dynamic of the three siblings, the red building is composed of two sloped office towers, six and eight stories high, resting atop the greatest gift a building can give to SoCal—multiple stories of parking. —Mike Ciriaco
The Pacific Design Center 8687 Melrose Ave., WeHo pacificdesigncenter.com
The PDC hosts 120 showrooms, ranging from outdoor and indoor furniture, rugs, textiles, fabrics, leathers, electronics and accessories. Meandering through the PDC, you’ll stumble upon the upscale furniture designs of Janus et Cie and luxe outdoor furniture of Brown Jordan; furniture showrooms by the likes of James Perse, Armani Casa and Andrew Martin; and textiles from Kravet and Edelman Leather.
The PDC is open to the public through its special Design Services offering. If it’s time for a home remodel and you don’t have a designer in mind, the PDC has a staff to help you shop with all the benefits of a personal shopper and interior designer.
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Spectra is a turn-key event space located on Center Blue’s third floor. It’s often used for weddings, bar mitzvahs and corporate events. Many enjoy Spectra’s large outdoor terrace and sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills.
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Over 2,100 product lines are found within the PDC’s walls, a mix of interior and exterior collections.
Wolfgang Puck got his start in WeHo with Spago, so Red Seven on Center Green’s ground level is a homecoming of sorts for the famed chef. The restaurant is open weekdays for lunch.
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A 388-seat, state-of-the-art luxury film venue called The SilverScreen Theatre sits upstairs and can be rented out to show your latest film or television offering.
The Museum of Contemporary Art’s 3,000-square-foot satellite location, MOCA Pacific Design Center, features side-by-side work of budding and established artists, located right on the PDC grounds.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER
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BY GEORGE SKINNER
THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF A LOW-BUDGET DECORATOR You often hear that money can’t buy taste, but I’m here to tell you that taste doesn’t always have money. I myself am burdened with an excess of good taste but am lacking in cold, hard cash. No one ever oohs and ahhs over a nubby black futon from Ikea and a curbsidescored coffee table, so I’ve been forced to get creative with my interior design desires— and I don’t mean in the “Annie-get-your-glue-gun” kind of way. I mean creative sourcing—the world of bargain-hunting and sale-stalking, perfect for those who’d like to live like Martha Stewart but whose bank accounts insist they spend like Stuart Little.
FREEWAY BUILDING MATERIALS
HOME DÉCOR CENTER
Z GALLERIE OUTLET
BAUER POTTERY COMPANY
“Holy f*cking sh#t. Don't tell anybody.” That would be the best Yelp! review ever, and it’s for this place, owned and operated by Alejandro Acevedo for more than 30 years. FBM specializes in objects built before 1960—doors, toilets, windows, lighting fixtures, and the list goes on. This wonderland of salvage has been accumulated from decades of L.A. construction and demolition. 1124 South Boyle Ave., Boyle Heights. freewaybuildingmaterials.us
Deep in the heart of Compton, HDC specializes in rugs, decorative accents and wall décor. It’s without a doubt the place to go if you’re looking for a wall-to-wall area rug, and the friendly, helpful staff (read: not pushy) is always willing to cut you a deal. While the bulk of inventory is Persian-style rugs, they also carry modern designs, all excellent quality. HDC will even clean your rug (recommended every two years) starting at just $60 for a 5’x8’! 18554 S. Susana Rd., Compton. homedecorcenter.com
Nothing makes my heart beat faster than the word outlet. Imagine my joy at discovering this one in Gardena, selling floor models, scratchand-dents and customer returns. (Lots of couches—people don’t know how to measure!) I’ll warn you now: ZGO is more free-for-all than quiet perusing. They open at noon, but you should get there by 11:15, because once the door opens, the game is on, and this is no spectator sport. 1855 W. 139th St., Gardena. zgallerie.com
Thanks to America’s continued obsession with all things Mid-Century Modern, prices for single pieces of iconic designer Russell Wright’s ceramic dinnerware have skyrocketed out of control. If you don’t have a gazillion dollars to spend on a teapot, say hello to Bauer. Launched in 2000 and located just outside DTLA, Bauer produces new pieces based on original works from the ‘30s and ‘40s, and they’ve been granted exclusive rights to reproduce Wright’s American Modern—from the original molds! 3051 Rosslyn St., Glendale. bauerpottery.com
Insider tip: FBM’s inventory is exposed to the elements and has been collecting grime for years. The place is dirty and cluttered, so wear sensible shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Insider tip: HDC offers a Yelp voucher for $100 dollars of merchandise for only $50! Don’t leave home without it, and don’t leave the store without visiting the clearance section.
In this land of perpetual sunshine and 70-degree weather, nothing beats a day spent shopping for ‘gently used’ items en plein air. Slather on the sunblock and grab a heavy-duty tote, because here are our favorite SoCal flea markets and swap meets. Downtown Flea Chinatown
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Insider tip: Keep the $150 delivery fee and rent a U-Haul right down the street for $50.
ROSE BOWL FLEA MARKET The second Sunday of every month. Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena. rgcshows.com/rosebowl
Insider tip: Showroom Sale! Deeply discounted display items and ‘seconds’ are available to the public one weekend every month. The next dates are April 12-13. (Go to the website for more info.)
PASADENA CITY COLLEGE FLEA MARKET First Sunday of every month. Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. pasadena.edu/fleamarket
MELROSE TRADING POST Every Sunday. Fairfax High School, 7850 Melrose Ave., L.A. melrosetradingpost.org
SANTA MONICA AIRPORT OUTDOOR ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLE MARKET First and fourth Sunday of every month. Santa Monica Municipal Airport, 3223 Donald Douglas Loop S., Santa Monica. santamonicaairportantiquemarket.com
LONG BEACH ANTIQUE MARKET Third Sunday of every month. Long Beach Veterans Stadium, 4901 E. Conant St., Long Beach. longbeachantiquemarket.com
DOWNTOWN FLEA CHINATOWN Fourth Sunday of every month. 727 N. Hill St., DTLA. dtflea.com
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TOP DESIGN AN OPINIONATED LIST OF L.A.’S GAY DESIGN LANDMARKS
BY DANA MILLER For as long as anyone can remember, Los Angeles has been openly bashed by pundits, writers, comics and curmudgeons. It used to be for the smog; now it’s for the Kardashians, carmageddon and the Lakers. (Alright, some shots are valid.) We take great offense when our town is taken to task for purported lack of history, significant contributions, style or beauty. Angelenos know that L.A.’s true magnificence is long and could be parsed a million different ways. For this design and architecture-focused issue, we’ve put our own twist on a must-see list: Whether designed by LGBT architects, the former home of a gay icon or simply fabulous in just the right way, here’s our list of L.A.’s inspiring gay design landmarks.
PHOTO: YAGEEK
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BINOCULARS BUILDING 349 Main St., Venice
LIBERACE PENTHOUSE
BROAD MUSEUM
7461 Beverly Blvd., Mid-City
111 S. Grand Ave., DTLA
Mr. Showmanship had plenty of over-the-top places around town, but this penthouse was one of Liberace’s favorites. He said, “I just love it. I love being on top.” The building was designed by Netherlands-born theatre muralist Anthony Heinsbergen in 1958, and the 5,000-square-foot penthouse had several fireplaces, too many mirrors and a swimming pool. The entire place was restored to its chic style for HBO’s recent Behind the Candelabra. If you’re ever feeling fruitfully flamboyant, good news—the penthouse can now be rented out for special events.
As for the anticipation of cool new buildings, nothing comes close to the still-under-construction Broad, which will open in 2015 to show off the 2,000-strong Broad Art Foundation collections. Philanthropist Eli Broad hired Diller, Scofido + Renfro to build his threestory Honeycomb-style concrete and steel structure. Best reason to start lobbying for an invite to the museum’s opening party? Partner Chris Renfro made Out magazine’s most eligible bachelors list.
LOS ANGELES MUSIC CENTER AND WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL 135 N. Grand Ave., DTLA LA’s premiere cultural destination offers a wonderfully distinctive variety of venues. The paradoxically luxe-minimal Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was designed by Weldon Becket and opened in 1964. The more intimate Ahmanson Theatre opened in 1967 along with the circular Mark Taper Forum. Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall completed the campus in 2003. Guided tours of the buildings are available.
The concept of a building with giant binoculars over its entrance was the brainchild of one of the most creative and whimsical giants in the world of advertising, the late Jay Chiat. Wanting something incredible at the front of his new Frank Gehry building, he placed a pair of binoculars in front of the architect’s model—the rest is history. Chiat reached out to his friends Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen to design the sculpture, and the building is now Google’s Los Angeles headquarters.
CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN
12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove
Mount Lee, Hollywood Hills
This magnificent building has all the drama of a good soap. It’s the largest glass building in the world, has one of the biggest musical instruments in the world (an organ) and was designed by the best-known openly gay architect in the world, the late Philip Johnson. His client was the televangelist Reverend Robert H. Schuller of the Reformed Church of America. Schuller’s TV ministry went bellyup in 2010, and the Roman Catholic Church will reopen it next year as Christ Cathedral. Tours will be available, but in a case of the Second Coming or earthquake, keep in mind the place is made of glass.
It’s arguably the most recognizable image of this place we call home. Erected in 1923 for local real estate developer as “Hollywoodland” by the architect Thomas Fish Goff, it’s allure goes beyond its original real estate draw into a more sordid part of our collective psyche. In 1932 a starlet named Peg Entwistle was found dead there, and just recently a man was arrested for dumping his boyfriend’s severed head under the sign— totally in tune with the sometimes beautiful, sometimes nightmarish pull Hollywood itself has on so many of us.
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PHOTO: CHRISTIAN DIONNE
PHOTO: BLACK CAT TAVERN
TOP DESIGN
BLACK CAT TAVERN 3909 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake
PANTAGES THEATRE One of the last great and grand vaudeville houses built in America, the Pantages was designed by theater expert B. Marcus Priteca and constructed for the astronomical sum of $1.25 million in 1930. The grand lobby is decorated in a zigzag geometric design in gold and henna shades highlighting three magnificent, frosted glass chandeliers. Over the years the Pantages has hosted the Academy Awards and even an Elizabeth Taylor birthday benefit in the early days of the war on AIDS. Today it’s an elegant venue for touring Broadway shows like Wicked and The Lion King. Tours are conducted by day.
THE SCHAFFER HOUSE 527 Whiting Woods Rd., Glendale Both understated and a masterpiece, architect John Lautner’s modest 1949 Schaffer House was designed around the site’s existing oak trees. The private home holds such style and simple elegance that fashion demigod Tom Ford used the place in his beautiful movie, A Simple Man.
CECCONI’S RESTAURANT
PHOTO: SHEHZADKHALID
6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.
CAPITOL RECORDS TOWER 1750 Vine St., Hlywd. This famous round building was based upon an original idea created by a 24year-old architectural student named Lou Naidorf. Opened in April 1956, it was only a coincidence that the round creation looks like a stack of records. Mega artists such as Nat King Cole , Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland have all created of hits in “The Tower,” and today both Elton John and Katy Perry call Capitol home.
VISTA THEATRE 4473 Sunset Dr., Los Feliz The Vista is a real rarity. Designed by Lewis A. Smith in 1923 as a theater and vaudeville act performance space, in 2014 The Vista remains a single-screen showplace. The architecture style is Egyptian and the neon marquee is worth the drive.
8764 Melrose Ave., WeHo This is another example of ‘it ain’t the size of the wave, it’s the motion.’ Lawyer, democratic fundraiser, bank founder and bathhouse owner Sheldon Andelson once owned the gay mess hall at this location called Trump’s. The atmosphere was pastel, the food was passable and the company was amazing. Then, in 1994, Peter Morton of Hard Rock fame opened Morton’s, and it became the industry hotspot, with the likes of Barry Diller, David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Mike Ovitz as regulars. When Vanity Fair began their famous Oscar Party, Morton’s was the only place to be. That’s massive history in an unassuming yet historic building.
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ELEVEN NIGHTCLUB 8811 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo Over the years, lots of folks have called this Italian Revival-style building home. Designed in 1922 by Beverly Hills architect Asa Hudson , its first tenant was a bank, but by 1969 the location had morphed into one of the most successful recording studios in the entertainment business. Prince, Donna Summer, Patti Le Belle and Cher all recorded hits at Larrabee Sound Studios. Today, the building with the large circular arched windows, medallions, heavy stone and detailed molding lives on as Eleven Nightclub, opened in 2007 by Rich Grossi.
UNION STATION 800 N. Alameda St., DTLA It has been called the “Last Great American Rail Station,” and in May this Amtrak and Metro hub will celebrate its 75th anniversary. Partially designed by John and Donald Parkinson (the architects behind L.A.’s City Hall), its onlyin-L.A. mix of Dutch colonial, mission revival and streamline modern style, has gotten it called the city’s one true architectural masterpiece. It’s outside patio remains a hot commodity for weddings, both straight and gay.
THE FACTORY 652 N. La Peer Dr., WeHo Perhaps not architecturally significant at first glance, this building’s rich history is important to our community. Built in 1929 as the Mitchell Camera Company making movie cameras for its owner, 20th Century Fox, the location house would change forever in 1967, when Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Paul Newman and a few others opened a straight club called The Factory. Later, entrepreneur Scott Forbes would become the architect of a different sort, creatively renovating the space to become Studio One, the most successful disco in America. Forbes was quoted as saying he “planned, designed, conceived it for gay people. Gay male people.” Seven nights a week, over 1,000 gay people would bask in Forbes’ creation of music, MDA, poppers, fog and strobe lights.
This art deco building was built in 1939, and while the building’s bones are interesting and the gastropub there now is solid, the real story of the edifice is that it was a birthplace of the Los Angeles gay movement. It opened as a gay bar called Black Cat back in November 1966. Just two months later, on the night of New Year’s Eve 1967, undercover cops arrested several patrons and three bartenders for kissing as they celebrated the new year. Those arrests led to a nearby riot, and just days later a protest caused additional arrests. All of this led to creation of The Advocate newspaper, and all of this occurred over two years before the Stonewall Riots in NYC.
THE COLONIAL HOUSE 1416 Havenhurst Dr., WeHo This 1929 Monterey-style colonial was designed by famed architect Leland A. Bryant, who also designed the Sunset Tower. Bryant’s work has always been popular with glamorous Hollywood types. The Colonial House has been home to Clark Gable , Jamie Lee Curtis , Julia Roberts, Katy Perry and Bette Davis. Of designer Bryant, Adrian Scott of L.A. Conservancy says, “He was all about creating a kind of exotic fantasyland with architecture.”
THE WARNER ESTATE 1801 Angelo Dr., Bev. Hills Built for movie mogul Jack Warner and his wife Ann Warner, this nearly 10-acre demesne was purchased by multimedia mogul David Geffen in 1990 for $47.5 million, at the time the highest price ever paid for a private home. Geffen reportedly sunk another $45 million into renovations of the neoclassical mansion. The home is, sadly, not open for tours. On buying the property from the Warner estate and personally overseeing its detailed re-do, Geffen described his careful renovation to original glamour as “an act of grandiosity.”
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...and L.A.’s newest entry for immortal design status... EMERSON COLLEGE
PHOTO: PRAYITNO
5960 W. Sunset Blvd., Hlywd.
GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY 2800 E. Observatory Ave., Griffith Park
THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
Of course the art deco design by architects John C. Austin and Frederick M. Ashley, the views, the telescope and the public programs are all terrific. But almost as important is gazing at the bust of James Dean and remembering that hot scene from Rebel Without a Cause.
39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena
THE LOT STUDIOS 1041 N. Formosa Ave., WeHo Built in the 1910s as Hampton Studios and taken over by superstars of the ’20s Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, this studio is famous for being the first location in Hollywood to design custom offices and pied-a-terre for its clients. So many legendary films, from Robin Hood to Some Like It Hot, were made here. Since the custom offices for folks like Frank Sinatra and Charlie Chaplin all included bedrooms, rumor has it these lofts saw a ton of same-sex romps, because right outside was ground zero for male hustlers in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
THE GREENACRES ESTATE 1740 Greenacres Dr., Bev. Hills Funny man and major movie star Harold Lloyd built his dream house in 1928 at a cost of $2 million dollars—a 32,000-square-foot Mediterranean revival home on 16 prime Beverly Hills acres. Billionaire Ron Burkle bought the place in 1993 for $20 million dollars. If you are a major philanthropic type, there is a good chance you will hang here one day—Burkle is famous for opening up his home for both Democratic and AIDS fundraisers.
THE PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER 8687 Melrose Ave., WeHo The blue, red and green buildings were designed by architect Cesar Pelli, and the hulking mass is West Hollywood’s skyline, love it or hate it. The location once displayed the largest collection of the AIDS Quilt in Southern California.
Designed by Elmer Grey in 1924, this Spanish colonial revival-style theatre has been called a masterpiece. Though it has often fallen on hard times—it was dormant for 17 years beginning in 1969 during an expansion Frank Gehry floundered for financial reasons—these days, openly gay TV and stage director David Lee, co-creator of both Wings and Frasier, has overseen a string of great productions.
WATTS TOWERS 1761-1765 E. 107th St., L.A. This remarkable piece of architecture and art was not a hit at first and was condemned for demolition at one time. Italian immigrant and construction worker Simon Rodia designed and constructed the Watts Towers in his spare time over a 33-year period from 1921 until 1954. His masterpiece is 17 major interconnected sculptures made of structural steel and pipes and covered with mortar, decorated with old glass and broken pottery. There are tours available Thursday through Sunday.
THE PICKFORD CENTER FOR MOTION PICTURE STUDIES 1313 Vine St., Hlywd. Now home to the folks who put on the Academy Awards, the pedigree of a building in Hollywood does not get richer. Built in 1948, Herman Speckler dethis Claude Beelman/H sign was created for television and radio broadcasts and has been home to KCBS, KCET, the 1984 Olympic broadcasts, The Dating Game and The Gong Show. In the 1990s, with a loan from David Geffen, it became headquarters for AIDS Project Los Angeles. Today the Academy’s offices are there, as well as the official Academy Film Archive and a 286-seat theatre that’s available to rent. It is the oldest surviving building in Hollywood designed specifically with television production in mind.
By Thomas Jones Architect Thom Mayne was called “the bad boy and angry young man of Los Angeles architecture” by The New York Times when he won the 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize, but he was happy on March 11 when he gave a talk on his firm Morphosis’ new building, Emerson College Los Angeles, on Sunset Boulevard. “I’m proud of this building. I think we really bloody nailed it,” says Mayne, who is responsible for such landmarks as the CalTrans District 7 building downtown and Pomona’s Diamond Ranch High School. “It is pretty strange,” Mayne says of Emerson L.A., the local campus of Boston’s Emerson College, where 200 students will soon occupy two rectangular dorm blocks framing an eye-catching, curvilinear structure. “It’s not a circle or a square or a Platonic shape. These Boston people are coming here, and they’re like, ‘What the fuck?’ But they saw it as a generator of urban activity.” Mayne, who says he once told a client his heroes were Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, presented a slideshow of his work leading up to ELA (as the Emerson building is called). “The best client I could ever have is between ages 5 and 17,” says Mayne. “They’re still completely open to new ideas.” Mayne tries to open minds in Los Angeles to new architectural ideas, knowing many will reject them. “Architecture frightens people,” he said. Similarly, Mayne is intensely aware of ELA’s urban context. The Sunset side of the building is dominated by windows that give views of landmarks like the Capitol Records building and loom over the street, giving outsiders views into the school. The outdoor central stairway, which also serves as an amphitheater, directly faces the Hollywood sign. “Like the Metropolitan Museum or the New York Library, the stairs are a public space. We were making a little town, kind of.” The building embraces and improves the town it is part of. Mayne says he is relieved the project outlasted a lawsuit filed by a neighboring property owner and dismissed in 2011. “There were people trying to stop the project. That was really horrible. It took a squad of lawyers.” Mayne says sometimes success takes determination. “I’m a pointer dog,” he says. “If I bite you and hold onto you, good luck— I won’t let go.” Mayne believes the ELA building will be good luck for its neighbors. “It challenges the conservatism of Hollywood,” he says.
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Clifton’s Cafeteria
The Forum
Dodgers Stadium
L .A. OUR CITY
The 405 Freeway
GETS A FACELIFT
LAX International Terminal
BY MIKE CIRIACO Los Angeles is a mecca of cosmetic surgery. Every day, countless Angelenos spend small fortunes to suction out fat, cold-sculpt cellulite and even rejuvenate the old baby-maker. But these cosmetic procedures aren’t just limited to botoxed housewives and rhinoplastic trust fund princesses— with our city’s recent slew of architectural renovations, it’s as if Los Angeles itself has gotten a facelift. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite local spots that have recently undergone the knife (or are still under anesthesia) for a little nip and tuck.
ACE HOTEL
THE FORUM
CLIFTON’S CAFETERIA
DTLA
Inglewood
DTLA
No neighborhood is enjoying L.A.’s renaissance of renovation more than Downtown. After decades of disrepair, it’s easy to forget that DTLA’s Broadway was the epicenter of L.A. culture, housing department stores and ornate movie palaces, like the United Artists Theater. Of course, hipsters are now more familiar with the building’s current incarnation—our very own Ace Hotel. Opened earlier this year, the combined efforts of GREC Architects and Commune Design have retained the building’s Spanish gothic elements, and a balance of glamour and minimalism is the hotel’s primary design theme. Contrasting the exterior’s decorative flourishes, hotel rooms are relatively stark, utilizing geometric simplicity and monochromatic MDF furniture. While some public spaces have been stripped back to reveal their original concrete surfaces, the 1,600-seat theater embraces its opulent roots and benefits from a restoration of intricate wall and ceiling moldings. The rooftop lounge, aptly dubbed Upstairs, leans closer to contemporary style, fusing an indoor/outdoor design point of view that amalgamates Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House and the now-defunct Les Deux Nightclub.
In many ways The Forum is a West Coast sister to New York’s Madison Square Garden. Both venues were designed by architect Charles Luckman—The Forum in 1967 and Madison Square Garden the following year—and as of 2012 both are currently owned by The Madison Square Garden Company. The acquisition resulted in a much-needed facelift for the fading concert venue, which until recently saw only a spattering of booked shows. Once again sporting its 1960s red paint job, the building’s new interior is as stunning as its exterior. The bowl-shaped space now boasts 17,500 comfortable seats, an LED ceiling, a fully revamped sound system and new dressing rooms with fun artist amenities (such as golf simulators and vintage video games), as well as a VIP Forum Club. The cherry topping this parfait of West Coast cool is a giant Hotel California record spinning on the building’s roof (pictured above). The Forum has already celebrated its new digs in style, recently welcoming The Eagles for a six-night run, with Queen and Adam Lambert scheduled to perform on July 3.
An L.A. Landmark, Clifton’s is both the oldest surviving cafeteria-style restaurant in L.A. and the oldest of its kind in the world. A portmanteau of its eccentric founder Clifford Clinton’s name, it originated as a kitschy Depression-era cafeteria that often allowed the hungry, unemployed masses to pay what they could, if anything. During one 90-day period, the eatery allowed 10,000 people to eat for free. Nearly a century later, after decades of decline following Downtown’s post-WWII diaspora, real estate developer Andrew Meieran has put $5 million towards remodeling and resuscitating the iconic dining establishment, which is projected to reopen its doors this May. The renovated Clifton’s will include a new basement bar housing historic local relics, a third floor sitdown restaurant showcasing a “cabinet of curiosities” and a fourth floor Polynesian-themed restaurant/bar named South Seas—an homage to Clinton’s Olive Street cafeteria of the same name that thrived in the ‘40s and ‘50s. The first floor and mezzanine will retain its Disney forest theme and continue to hash out comfort staples such as pot roast, mashed potatoes and Jell-O.
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Westchester
Herringbone at the Mondrian
Los Angeles is equal parts career-driven and image-obsessed. When an Angeleno needs to fly to and from his hometown, he wants to do it with style. Fortunately, LAX unveiled its newly renovated Tom Bradley International Terminal back in September, which now features a multitude of visual flourishes to satisfy even the most judgmental of travelers. Costing $1.9 billion, this LAX collagen injection included the addition of nine new gates large enough to accommodate the most recent jumbo jet designs, as well as over 60 new restaurants and luxury stores and a refurbished Villaraigosa Waiting Hall. As travelers wait to board their planes, they can now relax on one of many new post-modern chairs and sofas sporting sleek, monochromatic color palates and asymmetrical designs. These comforts are augmented by the litany of new public art installations decorating the terminal. Even the building itself is an artistic accomplishment. Designed by Curtis Fentress, the roof is inspired by the Pacific Ocean’s breaking waves, filling the halls with natural sunlight. In L.A., form doesn’t just follow function—it finesses it.
DODGERS STADIUM Chavez Ravine
THE MONDRIAN HOTEL West Hollywood When the Mondrian Hotel debuted in 1996 as the premier Sunset Strip hot spot, its Starck design was the apex of modern chic. The problem with concepts like ‘modern’ and ‘chic’ is that they quickly become outdated. By 2008, the hotel’s once-trendy space age aesthetic and Creamsicle color palette had lost its allure. In order to regain its cool factor, the establishment has undergone a series of cosmetic enhancements over the last few years, most notably the 2013 renovation of its ultra-trendy Skybar. Soaring above the clouds (or, more accurately, the smog) on the building’s rooftop, Skybar’s current design features an ivy-framed poolside oasis perfect for the young Hollywood crowd to soak up rays during the day and amp up to the beats of worldrenowned DJs at night. The Mondrian’s renovations continued into 2014 with the reinvention of former restaurant Asia de Cuba as the brand-new Herringbone. Adorned with white Carrara marble and Italian Cyprus trees, the restaurant specializes in high-end surf and turf. More importantly, the Mondrian once again specializes in style and sophistication.
When it comes to sports, ‘enhancements’ usually involve players injecting themselves with steroids. Dodgers Stadium, though, will be enjoying a far more benign bolstering this year. Following last year’s renovation of the Dodgers Clubhouse, the MLB franchise is now tackling the visitors’ clubhouse, relocating it closer to the visitors’ dugout in time for Opening Day. Additional improvements include expansion of the entries at the field level, upgrades in the electrical infrastructure and new food services such as Tommy Lasorda’s Italian and hot-offthe-grill BBQ. I guess pumping one’s body with sodium is slightly better than pumping it with 'roids?
THE 405 West L.A. While the threat of Carmageddon may have negatively spun the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project, the reality is that Los Angeles survived, and construction is scheduled for completion later this year (fingers crossed). In exchange for years of stop-and-go gridlock, Angelenos will finally receive a 10-mile HOV lane, improved supporting infrastructure to the San Diego Freeway and widened lanes from Santa Monica to Ventura. Hopefully this will result in less traffic, allowing the city’s glamazons to arrive at their tummy tuck appointments with fewer hassles.
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FOOD & DRINK 1. THE ABBEY FOOD AND BAR 692 N. Robertson, abbeyfoodandbar.com 2. CECCONI’S 8764 Melrose, cecconiswesthollywood.com 3. CRAIG’S 8826 Melrose, craigs.la 4. ED’S COFFEE SHOP 460 N. Robertson
“This area is home to everything from highend fashion—rendered by the likes of Stella McCartney and John Varvatos—to the best names in interior design. Where else can you take your afternoon run past Christopher Guy, the Pacific Design Center and Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design? Organic juiceries, fair-trade coffee shops and spectacular dining are the cherry on top.” —Craig Susser, Owner, Craig’s Restaurant
5. GRACIAS MADRE 8905 Melrose, gracias-madre.com 6. HEDLEY’S 640 N. Robertson, hedleysrestaurant.com 7. IL PICCOLINO 350 N. Robertson, ilpiccolinorestaurant.com 8. LEMONADE 9001 Beverly, lemonadela.com 9. LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN 8607 Melrose, lepainquotidien.us 10. PETROSSIAN PARIS 321 N. Robertson, petrossian.com 11. SUR RESTAURANT AND BAR 606 N. Robertson, surrestaurantandbar.com 12. TORTILLA REPUBLIC 616 N. Roberstson, tortillarepublic.com
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13. URTH CAFFÉ 8565 Melrose, urthcaffe.com
“When I opened on Robertson Boulevard, everybody thought I was crazy because it was too sleepy. Today it’s one of the most chic destinations in the world. You can have a full day and night of fun and glamour between the West Hollywood Park, Sur, vegan Mexican food at Gracias Madre, Christian Louboutin, Varvatos, spa days at Kinara and the great nightlife. It’s all within a few blocks.” —David Cooley, Founder, The Abbey
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BY MICHELLE MCCARTHY
E WEST HOLLYWOOD DESIGN DISTRICT
DESIGN “The design district is like a one-stop shop that captures the trendiness of L.A. life. My girlfriends and I have a tradition of getting together for Sunday brunch at our fave spot, Petrossian, where the lavender mimosas are just divine. We get French manicures at Beverly Nails and shop at all the trendy boutiques. Now that I’m a mother, I love spending endless hours at the baby boutiques on Robertson Boulevard to design my daughter's nursery.” —Robina Benson, President and Owner, Niche
“A perfect day in the West Hollywood Design District starts with breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien. We’d hit up the West Hollywood Library and Park—the public art at those locations is amazing and unique to the city. Lunch would be at Cecconi’s, which is a family favorite. (My son can’t get enough of the truffle pizza.) Then we’d walk to the shops— everything from Design Within Reach and James Perse to my personal favorite, Phillip Lim. We’d probably end with happy hour at Tortilla Republic, which has the perfect portion sizes for dinner and great margaritas!” —Karen Kuo, Showroom Manager, Robert Kuo
“For a mind-clearing break from the work day, I like to take off from our shop on Melrose and Huntley, cross the street and grab a coffee and scone from Le Pain. Then I'll pop into Sydney Harbor Paint for some color inspiration, make my way over to Woven Accents to check out the new installation, meander through MOCA at the PDC, enjoy my scone in the park by the library, then duck in to check for new periodicals. From there I’ll cut through to Robertson and up to Heritage Classics to gaze longingly at a vintage Ferrari Dino. Then on my way back to work I check out what funky new threads the folks at Maxfield’s are bringing in. A nice break indeed.” —James and Gwen Jurney, Co-Founders, Seize Sur Vingt
30. BARKER BLACK 450 N. Robertson, barkerblack.com 31. CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN MEN 657 N. Robertson, christianlouboutin.com 32. CHROME HEARTS 600 N. Robertson, chromehearts.com 33. GREGORY’S 147 N. Roberstson, blog.gregorysshoes.com
14. CHRISTOPHER GUY 8900 Beverly, christopherguy.com
22. MURRAY’S IRON WORKS 8632 Melrose, murraysiw.com
34. JAMES PERSE 8914 Melrose, jamesperse.com
15. DESIGN AROUND OBJECTS 8767 Beverly, daohome.com
23. NICHE 8770 Beverly, nichebeverly.com
35. JOHN VARVATOS 8800 Melrose, johnvarvatos.com
16. DESIGN WITHIN REACH 8612 Melrose, dwr.com
24. PHYLLIS MORRIS 655 N. Robertson, phyllismorris.com
36. KITSON MEN 146 N. Roberston, shopkitson.com
17. FLOR 9020 Beverly, flor.com
25. ROCHE BOBOIS 8850 Beverly, roche-bobois.com
37. KLEIN EPSTEIN & PARKER 367 N. Robertson, kleinepsteinparker.com
18. KARTELL 313 N. Roberstson, kartellstorela.com
26. STUDIO BECKER BY TROY ADAMS DESIGN 9008 Beverly, studiobeckerla.com
38. MAXFIELD 8825 Melrose, maxfieldla.com
19. LIGNE ROSET BY LINEA 8843 Beverly, ligne-roset-usa.com
27. WALL STREET GALLERY 302 N. Robertson, wall-streetgallery.com
20. MAHARAM 8552 Melrose, maharam.com 21. MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD DESIGN 8500 Melrose, martynlawrencebullard.com
28. WATERWORKS 8580 Melrose, waterworks.com 29. WIRED CUSTOM LIGHTING 8607 Melrose, wiredcustomlighting.com
“My favorite part of the Design District is the northern most block of Robertson—a block I literally never need to leave! I can take my daughter to the park and the library, get a massage at Kinara, buy Louboutins, pick up flowers at Lily Lodge to take home, shop at Phillip Lim last-minute for an event, go to At the Beach to get a spray tan and have one of the best margaritas in town at Tortilla Republic.”
39. 3.1 PHILLIP LIM 631 N. Roberston, 31philliplim.com 40. SEIZE SUR VINGT 8618 Melrose, 16sur20.com 41. TOMMY HILFIGER 157 N. Roberston, tommy.com
FASHION
—Jamie Adler, President, CEO and Brand Director, Phyllis Morris APRIL 1, 2014
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PHOTO: JOHN FALLON
Boomerang Chair (1942)
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NEUTRA NOW
Richard Neutra
California modern design is back, as crisp and clean as ever BY BILL STERN
Even though California’s Mid-Century architecture is a retro style, it’s so well-suited to how we live today that it seems as indigenous as our faux-historic Spanish Colonial Revival style—previously the preferred way to say “California.” In the 1920s, when Vienna-born Richard Neutra began designing homes in Southern California, he was a design revolutionary. He brought super-clean rectilinear International Modern style—with flat roofs and white walls—from Europe and adapted it to the free-wheeling indoor/outdoor lifestyle appropriate with the permanence of our sunny skies. As Los Angeles architect Barbara Bestor aptly says, “I particularly admire the way Neutra adapted to the climate here and used architecture to dematerialize the boundaries between outside and inside.” A good Modernist, Neutra eschewed decoration, though he did bring distinctive shapes to the furniture he designed for his houses. His Boomerang chair—also called the Channel Heights Chair for the San Pedro subsidized military housing development for which it was designed in 1942—is distinguished by side panels foreshadowing the vogue for the biomorphic, kidney-shaped elements that proliferated in housewares, swimming pools, art and advertising during the ‘50s. The chair was intended to be used outdoors as well as indoors. Some of Neutra’s furniture, like that wartime chair, is more sensual than what we usually consider postwar Mid-Century Modern. The virtual absence of metal, which had been coopted by the war effort, led Neutra to use wood as exposed structural elements. Then, after the war, he returned to the 1930s Hollywood movie glamor of Streamline Moderne, favoring chrome-plating over then-de rigueur blackened steel framing. Much of Neutra’s architecture, dotted as it was (and mostly still is) throughout California—from the Strathmore Apartments
Lovell Easy Chair Steel (1929)
Cantilever Chair Steel (1929)
Alpha Seating Single (1929)
in Westwood to the Kaufmann Desert House in Palm Springs— was visible both in life and in Life, the mass market magazine. His furniture was much less visible since it was custom-designed for individual homes and not available to the public. But the current popularity of Mid-Century Modern homes and apartments and the furnishings designed to be used in them has made it commercially viable to reproduce furniture of the period—and, in Neutra’s case, to produce models that never went into commercial production or are being realized for the first time. Many of these reissues, currently being produced by the German company VS with modifications by Neutra’s son Dion, can be seen in an exhibition at the A+D Museum on Wilshire Boulevard. Among them are new versions of chairs Neutra originally designed for the Lovell Health House (1929), the Branch House (1942), the Channel Heights Housing Project (1942) and the Tremaine House (1948). There’s also Neutra’s Camel Table (1940) which can be configured as a dining table or a coffee table. Contemporary architecture’s take on the modernism of Neutra and other mid-century architects—even with the current use of multiple planes, blocks of color and the occasional Gehry-esque broad-noodle facade—makes Neutra furniture feel right at home in the here and now. Visit The Neutra Furniture Collection at A + D Arcitecture and Design Museum, 6032 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., through March 27. aplusd.org Bill Stern, Executive director of the Museum of California Design, is the author of, among other books, California’s Designing Women 1896-1986 (Museum of California Design, 2013).
Boomerang Chair (1942)
Cantilever Chair Wood (1942)
Tremaine Side Chair (1948)
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Ion Hotel, Iceland
iT House, Joshua Tree
Negril, Jamaica
Castle Green, Pasadena
The Courtyard at La Brea, Los Angeles
Park Avenue, New York
PHOTOS BY ART GRAY
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PHOTO OF ART GRAY BY NATE LINDAMAN
BY KAREN OCAMB Space really is the final frontier for architectural photographer Art Gray, recipient of the 2014 Stars of Design Award in the Field of Photography from the Pacific Design Center during WestWeek 2014. He joins what the PDC calls the “bestin-class representation of creative iconoclasts” across a range of artistic disciplines—a class that includes the late famed photographer Herb Ritts, for whom Gray once worked. Gray is honored by the award but seems unabashedly humble, more interested in talking about art, photography and architecture than puffing himself up with any blip of bluster. Sitting in the second floor common room of West Hollywood’s latest affordable housing project, The Courtyard at La Brea, Gray, with the curious artistic look of a sophisticated yet scruffy surfer, boasts about his friend, architect Patrick Tighe, for whom he photographed the housing structure. Gray has a penchant for giving back and has documented several nonprofit and environmentally innovative projects, often pro bono. The 49-year-old, single longtime resident of Venice has traveled the world on assignment, producing many award-winning photographs and two breathtaking books. He remains loyal to Interior Design magazine, where his career was launched in 1996. He also shoots for Sunset and Architectural Digest, among other publications, and has started using digital videos as a new way of walking through and looking at space. And it is space that keeps him enthralled—how people use and move through space, how light bounces off objects in space, how architecture defines space. As an avid surfer and a former gymnast-turnedstuntman, Gray is also keenly aware of how his own body moves through space. They are sensibilities borne of an imaginative childhood and a delight in light and nature intertwined with fortuitous circumstances. “I grew up in a really small town in rural Western Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh. My mom didn’t drive. We lived really far out, and I had two older sisters—much older than me. So I kind of spent my childhood by myself, running around, mostly in nature,” Gray tells Frontiers. Around 1975, Gray was smitten with some photographs his sisters brought back from a field trip to the nearby Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater house. “I was just fascinated that a river went underneath a house,” says Gray. “I think that was my first connection with architecture and nature. I was just this kid who spent all day running around in the apple orchard across the street playing in the woods. From that point on, architecture was a strong draw. Anything architectural was interesting to me. And also a ticket to somewhere else, somewhere different from what I was used to seeing. And I wanted to see more. “We didn’t travel much at all. My family didn’t have a lot of money,”
Gray continues. “But from early on, architecture was in my head. I think it was junior high. It’s kind of funny that I take pictures for magazines now, because if you sold a bunch of magazines in those magazine competitions, you won prizes. I won a camera—a Polaroid Land camera, which was amazing. You could take photos and they instantly came out. I’d never seen that before. So I used up a lot of Polaroid film taking a lot of pictures. However, architecture was still the draw, so I continued my education geared to architecture. At 14, I designed a house for my parents, which we had built—that was probably the best experience that I had with my dad before he passed away.” The family moved to Michigan when Gray was 12, and he ended up going to architectural school at the University of Michigan. Halfway through, he took an elective photography class and had an epiphany. “You know when you see—you put the paper in the chemicals and the image comes up—to me I was hooked. I was like, wow! There was something about having it be so instant that was very appealing to me,” Gray says. Three years into the College of Architecture—a goal for which his father had saved his whole life—Gray’s mother bought him a Nikon camera. “That was the start of it. At that point, I didn’t know there was a career in architectural photography. But because of all those magazines I sold in high school—I was always pouring through them, looking for the ultimate dream house for my parents—I discovered there was.” Today, Gray looks for the intersection of art and technicality. “There’s always something interesting in how light hits things. I don’t know if it’s from all those years running around in the woods as a kid,” Gray says. “And the idea of how architecture works as a machine for living—how it affects every aspect of everyone’s life. Most people don’t really think about it, but to me it’s fascinating how people use a space. That’s one of the most interesting things when I’m working on a project. It’s interesting how people use spaces.” Check out Art Gray’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ArtGrayPhotography.
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PEACHES CHRIST and JINKX MONSOON Team Up for a Return to Grey Gardens
Jinkx Monsoon
“I’ll talk about the premise, because it’s brilliant,” a singsong voice casually remarks over my recent Skype conversation. I can tell he genuinely believes that. He then pauses briefly and continues. “The idea with Peaches Christ shows is always that it’s not us playing the characters in the movie—it’s adapted to be paralleled with the drag performers playing the roles. It’s not that we’re playing Big Edie and Little Edie—we’re playing Big Peachy and Little Jinkxy, and we met 40 years ago to do this show. The premise is that she’s my adopted drag mother and we’ve been living in this theatre as it crumbles around us, doing our Grey Gardens show even though audiences have stopped coming. It’s as if we’re not even aware there’s an audience in front of us. We’re just telling a documentary crew about our experience.”
Thus goes a description of Return to Grey Gardens as told to me by Jinkx Monsoon. I’m speaking to the now-world-renowned Seattle-based drag performer, the celebrated winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5, because he’s one of this fully realized stage production’s two lead performers. Many familiar with his art would say Jinkx was born to play “Little Jinkxy.” Also on the call— the instigator of this technological ménage à trois—is Peaches Christ, a drag performer who needs no introduction among homosexuals and film lovers of the perpetually overcast Bay Area. Peaches’ eponymous brand of drag-driven musical stage shows—parodies of gay culture’s
AFTERK DAR
s through rist takes u Peaches Ch of her ooky history the often sp ass events M t h o Midnig sc ci an Fr an S
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1998: First Midnight Mass “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! was the first ever Midnight Mass, and it featured a Tura Satana look-alike contest. Drag queen Putanesca showed up in her Tura look, cartwheeled across the stage, karate chopped me and took home the gold.
most cherished cult films—are consistently sold-out affairs at the Castro Theatre. But while San Francisco gays recognize her as a goddess— an idol of the city’s storied drag culture and a brand—the name Peaches Christ is heard only within conversations among Los Angeles’ most savvy gays. Return to Grey Gardens—the brainchild of Peaches Christ, a fulfillment of the writer/director/performer’s creative energy—could be the production that finally reconstructs that dynamic. “Los Angeles has always been someplace where I’ve loved coming and doing shows,” says Peaches, “and I’ve done events at [Silver Lake’s] Vista Theatre, but this really is an attempt to do what we do in San Francisco, and quite literally. We’re bringing the whole show to L.A.”
2002: Mink Stole at Midnight Mass “My idol Mink Stole was the first celebrity I ever asked to come and be honored at one of our Midnight Mass ‘Idol Worship’ shows. Not only did she accept the invitation, but we've done multiple shows and a movie together since then. I sincerely love her.”
The “whole show” is a onenight-only 90-minute performance featuring a cast of Peaches Christ and Jinkx Monsoon, local drag favorites Squeaky Blonde and Lady Bear, the hunky Thomas Dekker (star of Gregg Araki’s Kaboom and Peaches Christ’s own All About Evil) and “a chorus of dancing cats and raccoons”—lest you thought for a second the show would be lacking humor. Immediately following the show, audience members will be invited onto the stage for self-submission in the “Either Edie Costume Contest,” wherein a few audience members are sure to be praised for spirited and detailspecific impersonations of the famed Big Edie and Little Edie Grey Gardens personas. Those personas, the female protagonists of the 1975 Maysles
2005: Tura Satana at Midnight Mass “I could never have imagined that years after the very first Midnight Mass I would have the opportunity to share the stage with the legendary Tura Satana. She was a magical, powerful woman who inspired so many of us, and I feel truly blessed to have known her so well before she passed away in 2011.”
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BY STEPHAN HORBELT
brothers documentary being parodied in Return to Grey Gardens, hold much significance for Peaches Christ and Jinkx Monsoon, whose initial meeting and friendship is incidentally centered around the film. “We had a lot of mutual friends, and I’m a huge, huge fan of Peaches’ work,” says Jinkx. “I went to San Francisco for a couple gigs that I was doing, and I set up a lunch date for us to meet. We instantly connected, and we have so much shared aesthetic and so much shared love of the art form. Actually, the first time we met, we discussed doing Grey Gardens, and it wasn’t too long after that we had the whole plan booked and started working on it. It seemed like in a flash we were doing a show together.” “That lunch that we had was actually the afternoon of the ‘Snatch Game’ Drag Race episode [the Logo show’s famed episode in which Jinkx Monsoon impersonated Little Edie]— it aired later that night,” Peaches remembers. “I had seen her as Little Edie in the advertisement, but the actual episode hadn’t aired. Jinkx was in town to host a screening of it. “We talked about it at lunch because Grey Gardens was always on my list to celebrate. You know, I’m in the business of creating events that celebrate cult movies. I was always very reluctant to do Grey Gardens because it’s so precious to me and so special, and the women in that movie are so special. I wanted it to be an homage and really good. So when we talked about it that afternoon, it just felt right.” That prescient feeling was vali-
2007: John Waters at 10-Year Anniversary “John Waters, my lifelong hero, came to honor us on our 10-year anniversary at a show both Mink Stole and Tura Satana also attended. The Mayor of San Francisco gave us a commendation, and John Waters gave us his seal of approval, which has always felt like the best compliment I’ve ever gotten.”
dated last October during a run of Return to Grey Gardens through San Francisco and Seattle, both performers’ hometowns, in which the show received rave reviews to sold-out crowds. In the annals of Peaches Christ Productions—with an archive spanning 16 years and including productions of Trannie Dearest, Showgirls and, most recently, Clueless—Return to Grey Gardens is one for the history books. “I know it’s gonna sound really convenient, but Return to Grey Gardens is really special,” remarks Peaches. “I think the tone of it is so different, because it isn’t just outrageous, hilarious camp. There’s sort of a pathos to it that’s a little bit darker and maybe a little more thoughtful. Jinkx in this role is so dazzling. It might sound like lip service, but this is definitely at the top of my list of favorite productions.” For those who aren’t familiar with the 1975 Grey Gardens documentary, the theatrical production’s previous run up the West Coast has shown that a posthaste screening is recommended though not required for L.A. attendees. “I didn’t know how anyone would be able to get into the stage show without seeing the movie beforehand,” says Jinkx Monsoon, “but quite a few people say they simply came to see a wonderful show. They loved it with no context.” “Which is so surreal to me,” Peaches Christ adds. “I’m so married to the content that we’re celebrating that I can’t imagine what it would be like to see any show of mine without an understanding of the film. But I guess it works!”
2007: Elvira performs at Midnight Mass “The Mistress of the Dark came and actually performed onstage with us, singing and dancing at the closing show of our 10th annual season of Midnight Mass. I remember being terrified by her fierceness, and I still have to pinch myself sometimes, thinking, ‘Am I really friends with Elvira?’”
Peaches Christ
RETURN TO GREY GAR DENS LOS ANGELE S April Wilshire Eb 5 ell Theatre PeachesChr ist.com
2012: Pam Grier Tribute “The diva herself accepted my invitation to attend a giant Pam Grier tribute in her honor, and she was so engaging and empowering that when I was conducting my interview with her at the sold-out show you could have heard a pin drop. She will always be Foxy!”
2014: Clueless with Willam “Our most recent show was a fully theatrical original parody show sending up the ‘90s classic Clueless and starring yours truly, Willam as Cher and Mahlae Balenciaga as Dionne. Folks were starting to think I may never do a Clueless show. As if!” APRIL 1, 2014
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Events
Nightlife
Theater
Exhibits
PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER LOGAN
Events Guide 3224
Thu. | March 20
OBJECTS IN MOTION Akbar
Through April 26
FLORAL JOURNEY Autry National Center Art and spirituality converge with trade and commerce in Floral Journey: Native North American Beadwork, a groundbreaking exhibition. Through 250 unique objects and personal stories, it’s the first of its kind to explore how beaded floral designs became a remarkable art form as well as a means of economic and cultural survival for the Native North American people. theautry.org Thu. | March 20
CONVERSATIONS WITH COCO: LIZA Renberg Theatre The eighth installment of the Center’s ongoing series Conversations with Coco—Miss Coco Peru’s series of live, unscripted interviews with celebrated performing artists—welcomes the legendary Liza Minnelli. This is one for the history books. lagaycenter.org
On the third Thursday of the month, Chris Bowen (Cub Scout, Brutus) presents a night of allvinyl house, disco and techno tracks. L.A. drag ingenues Cupcake Canne and Killer host and perform off-the-cuff numbers for the crowd. akbarsilverlake.com Fri. | March 21
MILEY MONTANA: THE MUSICAL Second City Hollywood Hannah and Miley are sisters. Of course there’s sibling rivalry, but can they twerk it out? The Second City celebrates 50 years of cutting edge satiric revues and continues to deliver the leading voices in comedy while touring the globe. Fridays though April 18. secondcityhollywood shows.com Fri. | March 21
TOM’S ANGELS Pistons Bar The L.A. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence request your presence at this benefit for the Tom of Finland Foundation in Long Beach. There will be a Mr. ToF contest, special treats from Sir Cakes A Lot, raffle prizes, drink specials and a silent art auction. $5. worldoftomof finland.com
Thu. | March 20
Fri. | March 21
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
L.A. DELI
Select Cinemas As part of the 2014 Royal Ballet Cinema Season, audiences across the U.S. will be able to experience the Royal Ballet’s signature work and Tchaikovsky’s score. It’s the pinnacle of classic ballet, a perfect marriage of choreography and music. American Sarah Lamb dances the role of Princess Aurora. fathom events.com
20 Feet from Palm Springs Follies Darlene Love Joins the Desert’s Famed Show BY MIKE CIRIACO
Darlene Love’s soulful singing during 20 Feet from Stardom’s Oscars acceptance speech further cemented her into the forefront of pop culture. Long a celebrated talent of the music industry, Love now basks in a new spotlight as she headlines the very last production of Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. Love shared her beautiful voice with Frontiers, discussing the famed desert show, the Academy Awards and the difficulties involved with singing backup. How did you get involved with Palm Springs Follies? They’ve been asking me to do this show for almost 10 years, and I really haven’t had the time to give up this big a block— two months—for one project. They called when things were a little slow, and we didn’t know we were gonna win the Academy Award. They really ended up getting in at a good time.
Marilyn Monroe Theatre L.A. Deli is a series of comedic sketches that take place in a Hollywood delicatessen, giving the audience a wicked and hilarious look inside show business. The cast of outrageous, shameless and sometimes certifiable characters includes movie and TV producers, writers, directors, actors, their wives, ex-wives and a very patient waitress named Kathleen. Through April 27. plays411.com/ladeli
Walk me through the Oscars acceptance speech. First of all, I was asked to do it the night before, because only two producers for a documentary get to go up. Harvey Weinstein told me he wanted me to go up and sing. I said, Sing what? He said “Lean On Me.” I didn’t think that was the right song. I stopped for a moment and said, Alright, Lord, what should I sing? That’s how I got that song. When I went up, my whole thing was to thank the Lord for letting me be here all these years and getting me to this point, which I thought would never happen.
FABULOUS PALM SPRINGS FOLLIES
Plaza Theatre March 11 - May 18 psfollies.com
At what moment in your career did you finally feel like a star? Quite a few years ago, when I moved from Los Angeles to New York with the help of Steve Van Zandt, my career took off as a solo artist. Once I started getting a lot of jobs, singing for a lot of people, the press picked up on it. They are the people who motivate you into what you become, because you try to keep up with everything that’s going on. When I got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I said, OK, this is it. I have arrived. Were there any aspects of being a backup singer that we didn’t see in 20 Feet from Stardom? I think the film hits upon the most important parts of what background singers have to go through—if they want to become the artist who becomes the star that walks that 20 feet. It’s the motivation that makes you want to be the star headliner. It takes a lot to come from the background, because you have a lot of obstacles in the way. People want you to sing background for them. What’s the next step for Darlene Love as an artist? To keep doing what I’m doing. I’m so thankful that I’m still able to do it—and I’m enjoying it!
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Fri. | March 21
MUSINK OC Fair & Events Center Presented by Travis Barker of Blink 182, the tattoo and music fest Musink will celebrate its seventh year with a lineup that includes performances from The Descendents, Transplants and Gorilla Biscuits. Also featured are 300 renowned tattoo artists from around the globe. Through March 23. musink.frontgatetickets.com Fri. | March 21
SPIT Faultline Spit returns to Faultline every third Friday of the month, offering a hang ‘n’ cruise alternative for those seeking out alternative rock, post-punk and New Wave. DJs Paul V. and Tommy Rocker provide the soundtrack, while shirtless bartenders provide the stiff drinks. faultlinebar.com Sat. | March 22
DON’T JUDGE A BOOK 8254 Melrose Ave. Author Michal Gregus debuts his second project, a book called Don’t Judge A Book, in which he discusses the fact that we’re all guilty of using our insecurities to make assumptions and judgments based on appearance. This launch party is a fundraiser benefiting The Center’s LifeWorks program. dontjudgeabook.org
4 REASONS
MUPPETS MOST WANTED WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN The success of the Muppets stems from their ability to dazzle children and adults simultaneously. Even though you’re now a little older, we’ve broken down four ways the new Muppets film will make you feel like a kid again. Catch the film in theatres starting March 21. —M.C. 1. THE MUSIC
2. THE CAMEOS
3. THE WEDDING
4. JANICE
With Kiwi cutie Bret McKenzie penning Muppets ditties, the songs are guaranteed to venture into weird and funny terrain. Of course, it’ll be hard to top “I’m Gonna Always Love You,” Kermit and Miss Piggy’s duet.
Danny Trejo’s deadpan imitation of Fozzie’s “wocka wocka” will easily ascend into the pantheon of other unforgettable Muppets cameos, including those by Madeline Kahn, Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers, John Cleese, Elliott Gould, Steve Martin and Richard Pryor.
Spoiler alert! The pig and frog finally tie the knot. The puppet couple were technically wed before, at the end of Muppets Take Manhattan, when Piggy tricks Kermit into the bonds of matrimony during the premiere of their Broadway show.
Our fingers are crossed that the Electric Mayhem flower child blurts out another one of her trademark overshares, like, “So I told him, Look, buddy, I don’t take my clothes off for anybody, even if it is artistic.”
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EATING
OUT
RARE BY DRA
I’S 8720 W. Suns et Blvd., WeH o (310) 360-1525 $$$$ Drais.net/Rare
» HUSTLER THURSDAYS | THE ABBEY |
Photos by Rolling-Blackouts
A SUNSET STRIP JOINT BY BRIAN PADGETT
You might know Victor Drai from his eponymous club atop the W Hollywood, locale of many an epic night out. But for those looking to get the party started a little bit earlier, the nightlife impresario has opened an over-the-top steakhouse on the Sunset Strip that will have you salivating over sizzling steaks in a sumptuous setting. Begin your evening with a tipple in the bar while perched on a sexy black leather barstool or in one of the front wall’s cozy
champagne mignonette and spicy cocktail sauce. Dig into the spicy Pacific tuna tartare with avocado, crunchy taro chips, avocado, shallot and a bit of chili (for a kick). The artichoke salad with arugula, trumpet mushroom and parmesan—drizzled with lemon vinaigrette—is light and fresh, while the plump sautéed Mexican white shrimp with fresh garlic and lemon zest almost make a meal unto themselves. While the seafood offerings on chef Patrick Florendo’s menu—like the wholeroasted loup de mer with fennel and lemon—are mouthwatering, it’s the meat you’ve come for, so skip straight to the juicy Snake Farms Wagyu hangar steak and the succulent New Zealand rack of lamb, or share the 36-ounce prime porterhouse for two with your sweetheart. If you’re feeling decadent, add on the Maine lobster tail, along with your choice of classic sauces like the béarnaise, a Burgundy reduction or a spicy horseradish cream. STANDOUTS: Rare Manhattan, Wagyu steak Enjoy an array of sides, like selections (above), lobster-truffle mac & cheese, French green beans with shallot, bananas foster bread pudding garlic and lemon; caramelized Brussels sprouts with balsamic, honey and almonds; and Yukon Gold tables. The Rare Manhattan with Old Overmashed potatoes. hold rye, Cynar and Byrhh liqueur will put For an end to your Sunset Strip sojourn, some hair on your chest. try the decadent bananas foster bread pudThen settle into one of the red velvet ding with vanilla ice cream and candied banquettes or plush floral-print chairs and walnuts, or the ultra-rich frozen Godiva start off with a selection of lusciously briny chocolate candy bar with peanut butter Kumamoto oysters served over ice with a crunch and chewy caramel.
Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment. APRIL 1, 2014
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“‘Drama Queen’ by Eric Lane Barnes. It’s one of the funniest songs I’ve ever heard lightheartedly addressing the issues of those people who always thrive on drama and overreact to every possible situation—not that a chorus with over 240 gay men would ever have any drama queens in it.” —Joe Nadeau, Artistic Director
GOD SAVE THE
QUEENS Most queens lie about their age after they turn 30, but not the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles—the older they get, the louder they belt it out. In honor of turning 35 this year, GMCLA packs the Saban Theater of Beverly Hills for the second show of the season, God Save the Queen(s): A Not So Proper British Invasion. The concert will showcase a cross-section of the UK’s greatest contemporary music, from The Beatles and Bowie to Radiohead and Adele. After 35 years, you’d think these warblers had already sung it all, but in honor of the anniversary, several chorus members share the tunes they hope to tackle in the next 35 years. —M.C.
“This is probably pretty me-specific, but when I was first coming out as a sad, lonely freshman in Nebraska, a friend here in California with whom I’d chatted online a bunch sent me the song ‘Someone’s Waiting for You’ from Disney’s The Rescuers. It was just what I needed to hear at the time, and having just listened to it again after so many years, I still get teary from it.” —Jadrian Johnson, Chorus Member
“Well, I wanna do a whole Latin show paying tribute to the great Latin artists—Ricky, Gloria, Shakira, Celia Cruz, Arturo Sandoval, and I can go on and on.”
“A tribute to the music of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Too obvious.” —John Duran, WeHo Councilmember and Chorus Member
“I don’t believe we’ve ever performed ‘I Had a Dream’ from Les Miz! Who can forget the spinetingling moment when Susan Boyle performed it a few years ago on Britain’s Got Talent?!” —James Geiger, Chorus Member
“‘I Am a Rock’ by Simon and Garfunkel, because it’s a beautiful song, and each one of us is a rock—for ourselves, for the chorus, for our community and for the world.” —Peter Johnson, Chorus Member
“GMCLA needs to do a show that focuses on gay characters depicted in Broadway musicals. There are so many glorious choices! Two stand-outs—’One’ from A Chorus Line and ‘Sweet Transvestite’ from The Rocky Horror Show. The whole audience—male and female, gay and straight—will sing along!” —Jim Roman, Chorus Member
—Chris Verdugo, Executive Director
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Sat. | March 22
PLASTIC FANTASTIC Eleven Nightclub
» BFD 11TH ANNIVERSARY | FUBAR |
Photos by Rolling-Blackouts
The nightlife impresarios behind Mr. Black L.A., Evita, Rasputin and Summertramp—Luke Nero and Andrés Rigal—present WeHo nightlife’s latest fête, a weekly Saturday party that promises the city’s hottest DJs and a team of hosts dubbed Botoxed Bitches. eleven.la Sat. | March 22
LEEE BLACK CHILDERS EXHIBIT
Sun. | March 23
Lethal Amounts
Micky’s
L.A. art gallery Lethal Amounts celebrates its one-year anniversary by flying Childers out to exhibit his critically acclaimed and world-renowned photo retrospective titled Drag Queens, Rent Boys, Pickpockets, Junkies, Rock Stars and Punks. There will be a performance by Squeaky Blonde and a Q&A with Childers, Holly Woodlawn, Joe Dallesandro and more. Through April 19. lethalamounts.com
End your weekend by dancing up a storm at thisWeHo party, where you’re sure to hear nothing but the classics. Indulge in disco-dancing go-go boys and live drag performances before you head back to work on Monday. mickys.com
DECADE
Tue. | March 25
GOLDFRAPP: TALES OF US AMC Burbank
Sat. | March 22
HAM: SLICES OF A LIFE Renberg Theatre This is the Renberg debut of celebrated singer/actor/author Sam Harris in his acclaimed new solo show, which highlights his career spanning 30 years as a Broadway, concert, recording and acting star. The show incorporates humorous and poignant stories from his book of the same title. Through March 23. lagaycenter.org/theatre
Tales of Us was a unique cinema event marking the return of one of music's most breathtaking and critically acclaimed bands, Goldfrapp. In this encore performance, a never-beforeseen film inspired by the 2013 album— followed by an intimate live performance exclusively for cinema audiences— results in a stunning audio and visual experience. goldfrapp.com/film
Sat. | March 22
PERSIAN NEW YEAR LACMA In the city with the largest Iranian population outside of Tehran, Nowruz (Persian New Year) provides a wealth of L.A. activities. Presented by The Farhang Foundation, the weekend will include two parts—the 6th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival on Saturday, with celeb appearances and red carpet arrivals, and the Sixth Annual Nowruz Celebration on Sunday, with several free activities throughout LACMA. farhang.org/nowruz Sun. | March 23
CONNECTED FASHION FESTIVAL DTLA Connected Fashion Festival is a DTLA block party event featuring a sample sale with an eclectic mix of current clothing brands, live performances by emerging indie bands, music from quality DJs and a wellcurated selection of food and fun activities. connected fest.com
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Tue. | March 25
TNT Micky’s Tuesdays just became da bomb! Sam Ortiz, Tom Whitman and Flip present Totally Nineties Tuesdays, the newest party to hit WeHo. Hosted by Mayhem Miller and featuring resident DJs Josh Peace and Casey Alva, you’ll hear your favorite ‘90s hits all night long. No cover all night. mickys.com Wed. | March 26
TUFF BINGO FUNDRAISER Hamburger Mary’s WeHo Trans United with Family and Friends is a nonprofit organization helping transgender and gender non-conforming individuals with financial assistance towards living expenses and transition costs. This night of Bingo will be used toward scholarships and grants for TUFF’s recipients. $20 suggested donation for 10 games. Win great prizes! facebook.com/tufforg
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Thu. | March 27
Fri. | March 28
DON GIOVANNI
MENALIVE SPRING SHOW: THE BEATLES
Select cinemas Part of the Royal Opera House Live Cinema Season, Mozart’s sublime tragic comedy is a classic. Shifting Giovanni’s sex life into a darker place, director Kasper Holten shows the character’s womanizing as a way to stave off his own mortality. Through March 30. screenvision.org/roh
Irvine Barclay Theater The Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus salutes the Fab Four in celebration of 50 years since The Beatles’ American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The 120-man chorus will perform songs from all areas of the Beatles universe. Through March 29. thebarclay.org
EATING
OUT
SCOPA ITALIA
N ROOTS 2905 Washing ton Blvd., Veni ce (310) 821-110 0 $$$$ ScopaItalianRoo ts.com
Sat. | March 29
COLLAPSE
L.A. LEATHER PRIDE: LEGION
REDCAT
Circus Disco
Composed by Daniel Corral and produced by Beth Morrison Projects, Collapse is a vividly sardonic show with interactive visuals and satiric songs about the environmental catastrophes caused by humans. Through March 29. redcat.org
This is the official dance party of Los Angeles Leather Pride, presented by the Los Angeles Leather Coalition. Expect sets by DJs Paulo and Joe Gauthreaux, plus a colossal architectural lighting show. laleatherpride.com/2014
Thu. | March 27
Sat. | March 29 Fri. | March 28
SHADES
SOVEREIGN BODY
Macha Theatre
Historic Lankershim Arts Center
Written by Tom Hartley, produced and directed by Odalys Nanin, Shades centers around Miguel, a troubled high school student who enjoys taunting gays. When a gift from his girlfriend ends up changing his life forever, Miguel sets off on an often-comedic course of selfacceptance of his own sexuality. Through April 19. machatheatre.org
As a wife and mother of two grown daughters welcomes an uninvited Thanksgiving dinner guest, a family’s life is forever challenged and changed. Is she losing her mind and body or owning them once and for all? Sovereign Body is the epic story of a family’s journey to healing. Through May 10. roadtheatre.org Fri. | March 28
THE SHIT SHOW The Good Nite This rowdy stand-up comedy show headlined the 2013 TBS Just for Laughs Festival and now makes its L.A. debut. The Shit Show was founded in Chicago and grew to be such a hit that it has expanded to Los Angeles. Half-party and half-show, it features top comics and audience prizes. shitshowcase.com Fri. | March 28
FRESH CLASSIC FRIDAYS Eleven Nightclub It’s one of the most popular nights in West Hollwood, with some of the city’s hottest man candy as well. The party features world-class DJs, dancers and pop artist performers, which makes for one hell of an entertaining night. eleven.la
Sun. | March 30
MIX TAPE AIDS LIFECYCLE FUNDRAISER Akbar Mix Tape, which takes place every last Sunday of the month, will this month benefit AIDS LifeCycle. You’ll hear everything from Siouxsie to Selena, plus have fun with raffle prizes, a kissing booth and tarot readings. 4-9 p.m. akbarsilverlake.com Sun. | March 30
AIDEN JAMES The Hotel Café Nationally touring singer songwriter Aiden James returns to L.A. for a concert featuring guitars, synthesizers, piano and power vocals. Aiden is no stranger to performing in SoCal, though this will be his first appearance on Hotel Cafe’s legendary stage, known for breaking big acts like Sia, Katy Perry and Sara Bareilles. hotelcafe.com
SCOPA IT OUT BY BRIAN PADGETT
Former Top Chef contender Antonia lemon, chives, parsley and Parmigiano— Lofaso has been consulting on menus around and the crispy squash blossoms—with burtown for years now, but she brings her rata, zucchini, walnuts and fried herbs—but experience to bear in this second outing the star attraction is the juicy meatball with her Black Market Liquor Bar partners. hero with stracciatella and arugula. Though This Marina del Rey eatery—turning out listed as a starter, it’s easily a main course tasty small dishes and handcrafted cockor a good dish to share. tails—would put any East Side hipster If you still have a hankering, try one hangout to shame. of the pasta dishes, like the rigatoni with The space is cavernous yet convivial, meaty oxtail, dandelion greens and ricotta with tightly squeezed bistro-style tables salata, or one of the four mains, including up front and raised communal tables and the 24-ounce T-bone or the whole sea expansive booths in back. It’s the towering bream with fennel frawn, lemon and basil. back-lit bar, though, with neat rows of liquor bottles shining like luminaries, that is the real eye-catching element here. Start with one of the specialty house cocktails, like the Bullocks Wilshire—bonded bourbon, eight-year Demerara rum, Cynar and maraschino— or what is fast becoming the house favorite—the West Side with vodka, orgeat almond syrup, cucumber, mint, lime and angostura bitters. On the food side, stick STANDOUTS: the West Side cocktail, meatball to the selection of small plates hero, Sicilian tuna, oxtail rigatoni, chocolate that heads up the menu. The panna cotta romanesco with currants, mint, Pecorino Romano and hazelnuts is light and tasty; the Sicilian tuna with potato, celery, quail Either goes great with the creamy and rich egg and capers comes together kind of like polenta that’s made with whole milk, the best tuna-potato salad picnic combimarscarpone and parmesan. Finally, for nation of your life. dessert, keep it simple with the chocolate On the hot side, popular options include panna cotta, the crispy cannoli or the fluffy, the fried cauliflower and cardoon—with piping-hot zeppoli.
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SIZE Here Lounge It’s a West Hollywood party that has survived nearly a decade of plying cute gay boys with booze and getting them to cut loose on the patio. The party regularly features amazing sets by local DJs and special guest performances. tomwhitmanpresents.com Through May 11
MACBETH A Noise Within Directed by Tony Award nominee Larry Carpenter, this marks the first time in 11 years that the company has presented The Bard’s timeless dark tragedy, which portrays the violent ambition of Macbeth and his wife, whose ascension to the Scottish throne through bloody means ultimately causes their own demise. Through May 11. anoisewithin.org Through May 26
A MILLION AND ONE PIECES Forest Lawn Museum This is an exhibition of enchanting contemporary furniture and inventive sculptures masterfully hand-crafted from vibrant LEGO bricks by celebrated designer David Tracy. This lavish show is Tracy’s first solo museum exhibition and features 32 pieces utilizing thousands of LEGO bricks. forestlawn.com
A GALLERY OF GURUS With an exhibit 1,300 years in the making, the Norton Simon Museum presents its first large-scale exhibition of Himalayan Buddhist pieces, In the Land of Snow. Comprised of nearly 40 works of art, the exhibit includes awe-inspiring sculptures of the Buddha and Buddhist deities as well as thangka paintings, including one monumental piece measuring over 20 feet in height. That work depicts the Buddha of the Future flanked by the Eighth Dalai Lama and his tutor, and is painted on silk with an elaborate embroidered mounting. Much of the exhibit examines the transmission of Vajrayana Buddhism—also known as Tantric Buddhism— from its Indian origins to Nepal and Tibet. The highly esoteric rites and yogic practices of this Buddhist sect couldn’t be learned from texts alone, requiring active instruction with a mentor. Many of the most significant teachers are depicted within the paintings and sculptures on display. Most prominent is a gilt-bronze statue of Padmasambhava, the Indian monk invited by the Tibetan king to introduce the religion to his country. In the Land of Sno A series of public programs has also been w B ud dhist Art of : organized in conjunction with the exhibition. As Himalayas the a whole, In the Land of Snow is an intellectual and spiritual treasure trove ideal for molding your Norton Sim on Museum own lover into a scholar. —M.C. March 28 August 25 nortonsimon .org Tara, Nepal or Tibet, c. 1300, gilt-copper alloy with semiprecious stones and pigment, 34 3/4 in x 11 in x 5 1/2 in (88.3 x 27.9 x 14 cm), The Norton Simon Foundation
L .A . HER LEAT E: PRITD t Bind a h T s e i T he
Thank your sirs and prepare for another, because Leather Pride is hitting up Los Angeles. Taking place March 23-30, this year’s celebration of leather, military fetish and machismo pays homage to ancient Greco-Roman warriors. The theme conjures images of the Sacred Band of Thebes, a Greek army comprised entirely of male lovers. (The theory was that if a soldier fought next to a man he loved, he would battle harder to keep him alive.) Similarly, Leather Pride endeavors to unite the city’s leather scene into a fraternal phalanx of fetishists under the banner “Building the Bonds of Brotherhood.” With respect to the motto, we’ve strapped together six ways you can bond with your fellow leather lovers. —M.C.
1. HOP ON A HOG
3. GIVE A BEAR HUG
5. JUDGE YOUR PEERS
Motorcycles are synonymous with leather culture, making the Chariots of Fire: Leather Pride Ride II an ideal way to jump start the week. Join Satyrs MC and Payasos L.A. as they cruise the streets and dip into several of their favorite hotspots en route to Bullet Bar. March 23, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., starting at ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, 909 W. Adams Blvd., L.A.
Guzzle a beer while rubbing fuzzy elbows with the grizzlies of Los Angeles at Prowl & Growl: Dominus Gladiatorem, the official meet-and-greet before the Mr. Los Angeles Leather competition. March 27, 8-10:30 p.m., Micky’s, 8857 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo
Join throngs of spectators and spout off your opinions as musclebound leather men compete for Los Angeles Leather Pride’s ultimate title at the 15th Annual Mr. L.A. Leather Contest and LEGION dance party. March 29, Circus Disco, 6655 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.
4. SUIT UP
6. FEAST WITH A WINNER
Try on the local uniform fetish scene for size at The Assembly, L.A.’s hottest uniform event. Don your fanciest military, law enforcement, fire prevention or formal leather gear for a night of noshing, boozing and socializing with some of the hottest men in uniform SoCal has to offer. March 28, 7:30 p.m., Rough Trade Gear, 3915 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake
Wrap up the week by cruising down to Long Beach and brunching with the newly coronated Mr. Los Angeles Leather at the Victory Brunch & 11th Annual Southland Honors Awards. March 30, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Pistons Bar Long Beach, 2020 E. Artesia Blvd., Long Beach
2. ROLL WITH THE HOMIES Hanging with leather-clad dudes on roller skates at the Hades on Wheels event isn’t just a kitschy way to explore the scene—you may find a special kinkster to join you for the couples skate. March 26, 7:30-11 p.m., Moonlight Rollerway, 5110 San Fernando Rd., Glendale
Find more info on L.A.’s Leather Pride week at laleatherpride.com/2014.
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5 FILMS TO WATCH OUT FOR AT HOLLYWOOD HORRORFEST
» GINGER | EAGLE L.A. |
Photos by Rolling-Blackouts
Between the restless spirits roaming the Roosevelt Hotel and the reckless douchebags rolling their Land Rovers through stop signs, Hollywood is terrifying enough. This month the town gets even scarier, though, as Hollywood Horrorfest rears its head. Running March 28-29 at the New Beverly Cinema, the fest showcases the best and bloodiest in independent horror filmmaking. To ensure you don’t miss out on the festival’s most grisly and gory moments, here are the films that should be on your radar.
Billy Club A comedy horror from Drew Rosas and Nick Somner—the team behind Blood Junky—Billy Club corrupts the wholesome American pastime of baseball by incorporating elements of classic ‘80s and ‘90s slasher pics. Fifteen years ago, Billy Haskins lost his little league team the big game and was teased mercilessly. Billy snapped, murdered his coach and two teammates and was eventually institutionalized. Now, years later, a mysterious figure dressed as an old-fashioned umpire starts killing off the team’s surviving members. Screens Friday, March 28, 3:30 p.m. Free
The Howling This red carpet screening of Joe Dante’s cult classic film adaptation of Gary Bradner’s werewolf novel showcases how a self-aware, satirical tone can elevate a horror film from mediocre to memorable. The bloody lycanthropic tale is balanced by the inclusion of character actors like John Carradine, Kenneth Tobey and Slim Pickens, as well as a healthy peppering of subtle wolf-themed jokes. The screening leads up to Dante being honored with the first annual Price Award for achieving an iconic status in the horror/fantasy genre. The award—named after master of the macabre Vincent Price—will be presented by his daughter, Victoria Price. Screens Friday, March 28, 7:30 p.m. $10
HOLLYWOOD HORRORFEST March 28-29 New Beverly Cinema hollywoodhorrorfest.com
The Lackey This festival entry is notable for its lack of traditional sci-fi/horror elements, but don’t expect a hippiedippie love-in—the film is still a brutal bloodbath. The action-packed shoot ‘em up follows reformed criminal Jude St. Clere, who discovers he has a daughter by his junkie ex-girlfriend. The destitute protagonist takes on one final job in order to feed the starving child, which lands him in the middle of two feuding mob factions. He tackles the conflict the only way an action hero can—in a blaze of gunfire. Screens Saturday, March 29, 2:30 p.m. Free
Return of the Living Dead The zombie genre has enjoyed a renaissance in the new millennium, so this classic is a perfect wrap-up. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the darkly comic iteration of the Living Dead series is notable for introducing the now-canonical concept of zombie brain-eating as opposed to mere flesh-eating. The red carpet screening serves as a reunion for the cast and crew and will feature a Q&A and the festival’s closing night awards ceremony. Screens Saturday, March 29, 8 p.m. $10
Find more photo albums — and additional photos from these events — at FrontiersLA.com/Entertainment. APRIL 1, 2014
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THE DEMONS ARE BACK A new season of Da Vinci’s Demons returns to Starz on Saturday, March 22. Based on the life of the Renaissance genius, the plot will move onto the mysterious five-year gap in Leonardo Da Vinci’s life. With only theory to account for his whereabouts from 27 to 32 years old, the writers relish the freedom to play fast and loose with the historical drama. Series lead Tom Riley will be sailing off to the new world, continuing his quest from last season to find the mystical Book of Leaves. Upon his Atlantic crossing he’ll encounter the Incans, who don’t appreciate his brilliance and choose him as their next human sacrifice.
SET YOUR DVR Friday, March 21
BLONDIE’S NEW YORK
»
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Punk goddess Debbie Harry and her Blondie band members take you through the success of their seminal album Parallel Lines. (10 p.m. on Smithsonian Channel)
BERKUS RETURNS
Sunday, March 23
The sexy and stylish Nate Berkus returns to TV in the March 23 premiere of NBC's American Dream Builders. He hosts this home makeover competition series, in which two teams of designers try to create décor miracles in a matter of days.
Seth MacFarlane is responsible for this reboot of the popular 1980s Carl Sagan series, hosted by our nerd crush, Neil deGrasse Tyson. (9 p.m. on FOX) Tuesday, March 25
FAMILY MATTERS
THE KROLL SHOW
After seven seasons, the CBS hit How I Met Your Mother starring Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segel and Josh Radnor comes to a conclusion on Monday, March 31, but CBS executives don’t seem to want to let it go. The network has already given a ‘thumbs up’ to a spinoff series with an all-new cast, called How I Met Your Dad starring Frances Ha’s Greta Gerwig. —Nathaniel Grey
Are you going through Looking withdrawals? Find our recaps of all eight HBO episodes at bit.ly/1oJIDgz.
COSMOS
THE RACE HAS BEGUN! Find recaps of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 every Tuesday morning following the new ep at FrontiersLA.com!
The funniest show you aren’t watching, Nick Kroll’s season finale features guest apps by Amy Poehler, Katy Perry, Laura Dern and Seth Rogen. (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central) Tuesday, April 1
THE MINDY PROJECT » Funny lady Mindy Kaling finally returns to our TVs. The show’s last ep featured an up-in-the-air kiss with Chris Messina. Fingers crossed it all works out! (9 p.m. on FOX) Tuesday, April 1
INSIDE AMY SCHUMER Also returning is the raunchiest comedienne this side of cable TV. (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central) —Stephan Horbelt APRIL 1, 2014
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Q&A “I've always been a big Liza Minnelli fan, but she has been somewhat difficult regarding my sort-of-obsession with her mother. We don’t cross paths, and I don’t think that’s an area she particularly rushes to— [laughs]—for probably very good reasons. I’m playing a little bit with that fact, and it’s an olive branch of sorts, but it could also be read as somewhat tongue-in-cheek.” —RUFUS WAINWRIGHT tells Frontiers about his latest track, “Me and Liza.” The upbeat song appears on his recent 'best of' compilation, which he will be supporting at DTLA’s Orpheum Theatre on April 18. Get Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright now, and look for the full interview with your favorite ‘baroque pop’ singersongwriter in our April 2 issue.
New Releases Now available 311, Stereolithic Ledisi, The Truth George Michael, Symphonic Sisyphus, Sisyphus
March 25 Barry Manilow, Night Songs Boy George, This is What I Do Kylie Minogue, Kiss Me Once Shakira, Shakira
April 1 Kaiser Chiefs, Education, Education & War Steel Panther, All You Can Eat Thievery Corporation, Saudade
music METRONOMY
FUTURE ISLANDS
Love Letters (Because Music)
Singles (4AD)
*****
*****
This is a perfect album made up of 10 perfect songs, clocking in at a brisk 42 minutes. You really don’t need any more information. It’s ‘80s-inspired electronica-meets-‘70s bubblegum R&B with startlingly unique production. The songs are spectacular, and the recent single and title track “Love Letters” sounds much better in the context of the album, if anyone was worried. As a whole, Love Letters rewards with repeated listens but is also instantly enigmatic. I’d say the band has found its footing, but its last two albums are just as good. This is the best of spring’s indie-darling releases. Prime Cuts: “Monstrous,” “Reservoir,” “Never Wanted” —Dominik Rothbard 68
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After three releases of noisy, semi-experimental synth-pop, these Baltimore contenders muscle down on the songwriting, add some soul to their frosty grooves and remember to have fun. This could be some outreach after moving to a major label; it might also be boys growing up and learning to better deal with life’s contradictions. Regardless, the best surprise here is that singer Samuel T. Herring is no longer the wan electro wallflower of yore but a confident belter in the vein of Fine Young Cannibals’ Roland Gift. Glossy, machine-tooled surfaces are always better with some messy grit in it. Prime Cuts: “Seasons (Waiting on You),” “Back in the Tall Grass,” “Spirit” —Dan Loughry
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music video
film NYMPHOMANIAC Opens March 21
*****
Lars von Trier’s latest provocation is less an erotic epic and more an elegant meditation on good and evil. Seligman (Stellan Skarsgaard) finds Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) lying in the street. He takes her home, and she confesses her sins to him. Curiously, Seligman compares Joe’s losing her virginity and seducing men on a train to fly-fishing. More curiously, while Nymphomaniac showcases genital montages and some explicit sex, the best vignettes are a darkly funny sequence featuring Mrs. H. (Uma Thurman) visiting her husband at Joe’s, and a tender episode involving Joe’s hospitalized father (Christian Slater). While Joe may be numb to feeling, viewers will certainly be stimulated by this first installment of Nymphomaniac. —Gary M. Kramer
Iggy Azalea “Fancy” ft. Charli XCX Iggy Azalea may be an Aussie, but even across the Pacific she felt the draw of ‘90s film perfection Clueless—so much so that the pop star/rap star parodies the Alicia Silverstone vehicle in her new music video. Azalea recreates the whole gang—Dionne, Amber, Christian and Murray (sorry, no Elton here)— and Charli XCX plays a post-makeover Tai to perfection while delivering the song’s catchy hook. Revisit your favorite SoCal teens as they fidget in class, stand around the tennis courts, drink up at the Val party and—gasp!— drive on the freeway. —S.H.
Now Showing
March 21
300: Rise of an Empire The Single Mom’s Club Better Living Through Chemistry Enemy
Divergent Muppets Most Wanted
theatres
also in
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL Now playing
*****
Wes Anderson’s eighth feature film is, well, Wes Anderson-y. How many filmmakers make you conjure their style with the mere utterance of their name? Tarantino, maybe. Altman, absolutely, but he’s gone. Anderson’s meticulously crafted worlds are unlike anyone else’s. Sure, they are precious, yet when he’s on, he’s a joyful master. The Grand Budapest Hotel is a magnificent lark set between World Wars—a microscopic farce about the end of not just civilization but a civilized way of life (embodied, imperiously, by a spirited Ralph Fiennes). Unless you absolutely loathe Anderson’s sophisticated storybook fables, you’ll want to check in to this hotel immediately. —D.L.
March 28 Noah
BAD WORDS Now playing KARMIN Pulses (Epic)
*****
For those who think Die Antwoord is too edgy, this debut from duo Karmin is tailormade for you. Aimee Heidemann and Nick Noonan are good time kids offering radio-friendly pumped-up kicks on Pulses, which is exactly what this record does—13 mostly banging cuts that mix electro, pop, reggae and rap (in that inimitable way that white kids rap). Hooks are courtesy of Heidemann’s electro-femme vocals, brief earworms that nestle into your brain. Substance is on the light side, but fun is at a premium here. Prime Cuts: “Gasoline,” “Puppets,” “Acapella” —D.L.
*****
Jason Bateman’s a dick. Not the actor, but his character Guy Trilby, a middle-aged malcontent in Bateman’s directorial feature debut, Bad Words. Trilby finds a loophole in the spelling bee guidelines and proceeds to antagonize the spelling bee bureaucrats, overzealous parents and pre-teen competitors that he undermines mercilessly. Andrew Dodge’s screenplay is cruel and concise, Bateman’s direction assured and his rapport with his actors flawless—especially Kathryn Hahn as an investigative journalist and Rohan Chand as the young loner who befriends Trilby. Bad Words is wildly inappropriate on many levels, but also one of the best comedies in recent years. —D.L.
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theater AHMANSON THEATRE 135 N. Grand Ave., DTLA Through April 13 | centertheatregroup.org
concert review
*****
Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s Harmony is one of the most thrilling and moving pieces of theater to come along in years, the true story of six men who form a singing group in Germany right before World War II. While they become international sensations, they also suffer the terrors of Nazi occupation. That’s not to say the show is a downer. By giving each of the men distinct personalities and goals, Sussman and Manilow easily get the audience to hold them close—hoping for them to survive in show business and in life. But by the time the show is over and we learn the fates of each of the men, it was easy to become overwhelmed with emotion for lives lived and lost, and loves lost and kept. While the story takes a solemn turn, the music is at once rousing and powerful. Every performance is a showstopper, and the ballads—while sometimes starting tepid—build to such power that you could feel the audience wanting to jump to its feet and cheer. This is the accomplishment of the stunningly talented cast, with the standout being Shayne Kennon as “Rabbi” Josef. His heartstopping tenor can raise the roof and break your heart in equal measure. He’s matched by an unequivocally phenomenal cast. This world premiere musical deserves a place on Broadway. It is one of the greatest musicals of the decade. —Kevin P. Taft
Hi Fashion
JD Samson & MEN, Hi Fashion, Sister Mantos
SLOWGIRL GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood Through April 27 | geffenplayhouse.com
The allure and limitations of laptop electronica were on display March 7 at The Bootleg Bar. Headliners JD Samson & MEN—as well as supporting acts Hi Fashion and Sister Mantos—ran the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime (often during the same song). Of the three performers, Hi Fashion made the biggest impression, yet let’s start at the beginning with Sister Mantos—or, as my French companion said during the first song, What the fuck?! Sister Mantos took the stage in a codpiece, fright wig and giant headpiece that immediately fell off and was tossed to the side of the stage. And then it got stranger, in a low-rent, old-school performance art kind of way. Many wig changes/danceable tunes later, the audience was charmed. Hi Fashion took no prisoners, opening with a stage of dancers posed like a Greek chorus in mummified duds and mesh masks, its music tempered by hiNRG dance beats and the sweet femme vocals of Jen DM. The two are fast becoming L.A.-based electro legends. JD Samson & MEN finished off the night with a professional, low-key set, highlighted by second song “Credit Card Babies” and the confidence of inspirational musicians, yet the set was nearly as thin as Samson’s mustache. After the crazy catchiness of the opening acts, the headliners—solid as always—failed to truly catch fire. —D.L.
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PHOTO: MICHAEL BROSILOW
The Bootleg Bar March 7, 2014
***** In a superbly acted and handsomely appointed production, Geffen Playhouse imports artistic director Randall Arney’s 2013 Steppenwolf mounting of Greg Pierce’s gently moving Slowgirl, a smart and unforced drama about two lost souls searching for healing and redemption. In a classic two-handed premise, bookish, middle-aged Sterling (William Petersen) has left a damaged life in the States for a jungle hideout in Costa Rica. When his seemingly self-assured teenage niece Becky (Rae Gray) faces possible jail time for a party prank gone wrong, her family sends her to decompress with her remote, monkish uncle. Pierce boldly eschews plot pyrotechnics in favor of character and relationship, and C.S.I.’s Petersen is richly nuanced as Sterling, while Gray is wonderful as the troubled teen. Special mention goes to Richard Woodbury’s exquisite sound design for placing us in the middle of the jungle, where Arney’s lovingly crafted production leaves us glad we came. —Christopher Cappiello
concerts
COMING SOON
ARTIST
VENUE
DATE
Kings of Leon London Grammar Cut Copy Fitz & The Tantrums Blood Orange One Republic Gavin DeGraw Janelle Monáe Röyksopp | Robyn Tori Amos
The Forum El Rey Hollywood Palladium Hollywood Palladium El Rey Hollywood Bowl Greek Theatre Hollywood Bowl Hollywood Bowl Greek Theatre
March 21 March 25 April 1 April 5 April 14 June 5 June 18 June 22 June 29 July 23
PHOTO: CRAIG SCHWARTZ
HARMONY
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LITTLE MISS KNOW-IT-ALL
SELENE LUNA’S SECRETS The 3’10” burlesque star and comic genius reveals her taste for Sinbad, George Costanza and El Bulli
PHOTO: AUSTIN YOUNG
BY JACKIE BEAT
A trail-blazing little person in the entertainment world, Selene Luna—at 3’10”—is a small package with a very big presence. A veteran of the stage and screen, she cut her teeth performing in clubs and art venues and quickly became a darling of Hollywood’s underground scene. An original member of the Velvet Hammer Burlesque, Luna tours internationally and performs regularly with the undisputed Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese. Luna is probably best known for her role in the feature film, My Bloody Valentine 3D and her stint as Margaret Cho‘s assistant in Vh1’s The Cho Show, a performance that landed her a nomination for MTV LOGO’s NewNowNext Brink of Fame: Comic Award.
If this were speed dating, how would you describe yourself to a complete stranger in just one sentence? I’m an uptight, free spirit and an unwed, childless, stay-athome mom!
Hold onto your seat, it’s about to get real… What’s your favorite color? And think of a pretentious new name for it. “Palm Springsmarine,” or The Color Formerly Known as Turquoise.
If you could watch only one movie every single day for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? The 7th Voyage of Sinbad from 1958. It’s a film about a princess shrunken by an evil wizard— the story of my life! But seriously, I’m a severe escapist and that movie has all the elements I crave in entertainment— history, to-die-for aesthetics, adventure, romance, culture and my all-time favorite movie component, fantastical stop-motion monsters! #Cyclops
If you could come back in your next life as anyone or anything, who or what would you be? A gay man’s lapdog.
Complete this sentence: “I could not live without…” Money, dick and weed! What celebrity would you like to have wild, passionate dirty animal sex with? Tommy Lee Jones. Describe, in detail, your death row meal. Total no-brainer. A 45-course meal, along with wine pairings, from El Bulli restaurant in Catalonia, Spain. Sadly it’s closed now, but they would reopen it in honor of my pending execution! What song title could also be the name of your autobiography? “Because I Got High” by Afroman.
Worst job you’ve ever had? I’ve had more bad jobs than I can remember, but "Customer Service Executive" for Comcast Cable comes to mind. I can’t even get into the depth of ignorance and illiteracy that plagued that call center. Share your favorite beauty tip with us. Half lashes! “Corner/Half/Demi” lashes are comfortable, weightless and super easy to apply. Half lashes intensify the depth of your eyes without looking fake, and they blend easily with your real eyelashes. Who or what is your spirit animal? George Costanza from Seinfeld. Tell me a secret! I have a sink drain phobia. Finally, be a total shameless whore and plug whatever you want. Catch my radio show, Lunatic Fringe, every Tuesday at 5 p.m. PST on UBNradio.com, and come see The Dog & Pony Show at Akbar (4356 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake) on select Mondays at 8 p.m. It’s all on SeleneLuna.com.
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THE WORLD OF BILLY MASTERS
COLUMNS
OODLES OF OSCARS DISH & SCRUB-A-DUB-DUBBING WITH TOM DALEY BY BILLY MASTERS
I really hoped that staying up until the crack of dawn and including oodles of Oscars dish in the column that came out hours after the awards ended would satiate the need of my readers. But, alas, I was mistaken—at least if I am to believe the deluge of emails that flooded Billy Masters International. So let’s address the most popular questions right off the bat.
‘THE VIEW’ FROM THE CHEAP SEATS Why are Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg upset about The View not being included in the Oscars? Since the telecast was on ABC, the network engaged talent from its many daytime shows during the pre-show. As Whoopi said, “It was a shame to walk down the red carpet and see every other ABC daytime show represented— except for Rachael Ray—and we weren’t there. We are the only show—and I hate to ring my own bell, but what the hell? The View is the only show that has an Oscarwinner on the panel, and I thought it was a crying shame that we weren’t there.” Barbara was lucid enough to add, “We don’t get promos. We are sort of the stepchildren of ABC.” She’s getting ballsy now that she’s preparing to leave—the show, I mean. (Although I’m sure her time on Earth is drawing to an end as well.)
lie to you about that. I was like, Where you going with the pizza, babe?” I understand his thoughts—everyone from Letterman to little ol’ me has had a pizza delivered during a live show. But, again, everyone played along and it came off as fun—at least for me.
RUDE TO THE BROOD Why didn’t they do anything with Judy Garland’s kids? Just having them stand up was kinda anti-climactic. Well, first off, if you are lumping them together as a
HOST-ON-HOST SHADE Did Neil Patrick Harris really dis Ellen as a host? Yes and no. When asked what he thought of the Oscars, he said, “I thought Ellen was great. I was watching the show, anticipating some big opening number, and then she just walked out and told some jokes and brought everyone down in a casual way. It was lovely.” That sounds OK, right? Except he went on, “That pizza bit went on for a while, didn’t it? I won’t
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A MATTER OF TIMING In an intriguing story, Rosie O’Donnell just revealed that she attempted to come out of the closet a decade earlier
“I don't know which one was Liam and which one was Chris. I just know that they're both hot as fucking hell.” —Meryl Streep shares her opinion on the Hemsworth Brothers, a feeling I suspect we all echo.
than her first (perceived) public statement. Back in 1992 (four years before launching The Rosie O’Donnell Show), she was interviewed for Cosmopolitan. The writer asked, “Are you gay?” and Rosie replied, “Yes.” Why didn’t we ever read that? As Rosie explains, “I remember Helen Gurley Brown took it out of an interview that had been done with me. ... She was protecting me because at that time it would’ve been a huge issue, right?”
SELFIE CONTROL What is this controversy about who owns the “selfie” Ellen DeGeneres took? It was her phone, so it’s hers, right? Wrong. First off, it wasn’t her phone. Ellen has an iPhone. This was a Samsung—a major sponsor of the show (to the tune of $18 million). Ellen planned to take a selfie with Meryl Streep and then mostly cut Meryl out of it. What she didn’t anticipate was that all those other celebs would want to play, too. The minute Ellen handed the phone to Bradley Cooper to take the photo with his enormous hands, the photo legally became his.
has nothing to do with anything—does Liza know any straight men? Anyway, in the grand scheme of things, just standing up was really the right call for the Garland-Minnelli-Luft-Gumm brood. In fact, I was sure it was more than Liza could handle—that is, until she charged Lupita Nyong’o like a linebacker.
Murray Bartlett of Looking
manner, I reckon. During their courtroom proceedings, the couple appeared as a united front, asking the judge to dismiss the case. The judge acquiesced, but not before looking at Weir and saying, “Nice hairdo.” You wouldn’t find that on Judge Judy.
ASK BILLY: WHO’S YOUR DADDY? Karl in Albany writes, “Do you know anything about Murray Bartlett, the hot daddy on Looking? He looks amazing for an older guy.” I find it très amusant that Dom is being referred to as a “daddy”—especially since his character is 40. Is that what now constitutes a daddy? What does that make Scott Bakula? Grandpapa? In real life, Bartlett is 42, openly gay and Australian! Yes, who knew? In addition to his TV work, here’s something interesting—he appeared in the Australian tour of The Boy from Oz playing Hugh Jackman’s lover. Nice work if you can get it! And with that, I hope we have heard the last of the Oscars—at least until next year. Of course, you won’t have to wait another year for more gossip. You can get the latest dirt each and every day at BillyMasters.com—the site that never stands on ceremony. If you’ve got a question for me, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Weir is accused of domestic scratching! So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.
SCRUB-A-DUB Lorna Luft, Joey Luft and Liza Minnelli arrive at the Oscars
group, you’d have to find something they could all do together. Could they sing? One and a half can; one can’t. Talk? One and a half can; not so sure about the other. Could they even walk? Two can; one can’t. This sad fact was made obvious when TMZ caught up with Liza Minnelli the day after the awards. While strolling down the street, she needed two men (one on each side) to help her step up onto a curb—and even then she needed to get a running start and a bit of a push. And here’s a question that
You know where you need protection? In a locker room. Somehow someone took a photo of Tom Daley showering and— well, it’s pretty steamy, as you’ll see on BillyMasters.com.
BITING COMMENTARY Shortly after returning home from providing colorful commentary for the Olympics in Sochi, Johnny Weir found himself in a New Jersey courtroom regarding a case of domestic biting. Yes, biting. A month before the Olympics, Weir’s hubby Victor Voronov filed a police report accusing the skater of biting him in a malicious manner—as opposed to a playful
British diver Tom Daley
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QUEERSAY
FEISTY ART HEIST
BY GOSSIP GAY
Lord knows that if you're a lover of scantily clad muscle men sporting suggestive, sexy wares while giving good face, you no doubt have more than one of a certain photographer’s coffee table books in your home. Yes, while many aspiring photogs are penny-pinching to make ends meet, this behind-the-camera artist is snapping shots of WeHo’s hottest hunks and raking in the big bucks. I found this to be true the night of the Oscars, when I was invited (through a friend of a friend of a friend’s soon-to-be ex-boyfriend) to the photographer’s Hollywood Hills home for little Tinseltown celebratory soirée. A 4,000-square-foot cliffside mansion with a little cottage out back surely screams success, does it not? Everybody who is—or, more appropriately, was—anybody in the world of queer fashion photography was there. It was truly a “Who the hell is that?!” event. Needless to say, the night was intoxicating—and by that I mean no one ate and everyone mainlined vodka with a Vicodin chaser. The night was typical and predicatable, but what’s the gossip? Well, as the night was winding down, things got real dramatic, real fast. You see, while 12 Years a Slave was taking home the trophy, I was preparing to schlep back to my hellish life in the ‘Hollywood Flats.’ Too many Smirnoffs in to drive, I was stumbling to the front door to wait for my cab when one of the most eyerollinducing RuPaul’s Drag Race queens stopped me dead in my drunken tracks. About six inches away from my eardrum, she let out a sibilant shriek, deafening everyone within earshot: “Someone stole the Tina!” The room fell silent, followed by a few dramatic gasps, followed by more silence, followed by a rentboy asking his sugar daddy, “Who’s Tina?” At first, I thought the Tina this babbling queen was kvetching about was the drug, but I was wrong! You see, it turns out the homeowner owns a three-foot canvas print of his favorite snapshot—a still of Ms. Tina Turner mid-’rolling down the river’ during a particularly manic rendition of “Proud Mary.” In fact, I had noticed the piece when I first walked in, and I remember thinking, “That’s hot!” But it was gone! Somewhere between Ellen’s awkward pizza delivery and McConaughey’s questionable acceptance speech, someone had lifted the extralarge pic and sauntered out the front door. It goes without saying that drama ensued. Accusations were hurled and tears were shed. The abovementioned mess of a drag queen even dumped the contents of her purse out onto the shag carpet, screaming, “I didn’t take it! I didn’t take it!” (Uh, honey, no one thought you crammed a three-foot canvas into your faux-leather Hot Topic messenger bag, m’kay?!) I offered to allow a pat-down from the poolboy, who not-so-politely declined— and by ‘not-so politely’ I mean he gave me a once-over, cringed and said, “Old men are so gross.” Then I was asked For more QueerSay, go to to leave. In fact, we were all asked to FrontiersLA.com/QueerSay. leave. Only “the closest of the phoDrop your dirty little secrets at tographer’s friends” were invited to QueerSay@hotmail.com. stay, presumably to mourn the loss of And don’t worry, I never give up my deep throat! their dearly departed Tina.
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DRIVE
COLUMNS
THE COUPE SCOOP
BY STEVE SILER
Less practical. More personal. Always desirable. In an age when cars are expected to hold more people, carry more things, be smarter, go faster and do it all while sipping less fuel, the good old-fashioned two-door remains an innately self-indulgent and decidedly personal form of transportation. With sleek, low-slung bodies and fewer unsightly cutlines than staid sedans, coupes are also prettier, more expensive and less accommodating in back—limitations that somehow make them that much more desirable. Coupes have become an endangered species of late, though, with many folks— including us gays—finding our way into four-doors or crossing into crossovers. I’m happy to see that two-doors are making a bit of a comeback, with about a half-dozen new models being introduced this year. Here are three of our favorites for your perusal.
2015 BMW 2-Series
2015 Lexus RC
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe
2015 LEXUS RC
2014 BMW 2-SERIES
Base Price: $40K
Base Price: $33,025
Base Price: $40,000 (est)
The Lexus IS sport sedan is really, really fun but would be even better as a coupe. Well, behold the coupe version: the 2015 Lexus RC. It has a different name but it’s essentially the same car, with two fewer doors and a nearly identical interior. The RC’s styling is even more, um, expressive, than the sedan, but coupes are all about style, so why not? It brings a sense of occasion without brutalizing your eyeballs the way some muscle cars do. If the frisky IS is anything to go by, the RC will be sweet to drive—perfect steering, revvy six-cylinder engines and sparkling handling—fulfilling every promise its rowdy styling makes. If that’s not enough, a hopped-up RC-F will be introduced later with even crazier styling and ridiculous amounts of horsepower. Pricing for the RC will start around 40 large when it arrives later this year.
BMW has not one but two all-new coupes coming out for 2014—the 4-Series and the 2-Series. I have chosen to highlight the 2-Series for three reasons: It’s an all-new model, with no four-door counterpart (the larger 4-Series is essentially a 3-Series coupe); it’s cheaper; and it’s better looking. As with the 4-Series, BMW has never offered a 2-Series, though it effectively replaces the 1-Series coupe that’s been sold here in previous years. Smaller than the 4-Series but blessed with much of what makes the 3- and 4-Series models so great—rearwheel-drive handling, zesty turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines and fabulous transmissions— the 2-Series is scrappy and rather badass compared to the debonair 4-Series. The rear seat is pretty small, but then, if you want a big back seat, BMW makes plenty of nice four-doors you can check out. Coupes are personal, remember?
Standing in stark contrast to the overwrought Lexus RC is the slick Cadillac ATS coupe. Designed to go head-to-head with the BMW 4-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe, the upcoming ATS coupe embodies Cadillac luxury and elegance at its very best, with uncluttered lines and conventional proportions. It could almost be considered too understated, at the risk of getting out-blinged in the showroom next to the dressy new CTS sedan and the chrome-drenched Escalade. In any case, the ATS coupe will more than flatter its owner and more than coddle him inside its gorgeous interior. Seriously, if you haven’t been in a Cadillac cabin lately, you’re missing out—and the ATS coupe will feature a boatload of technology, ranging from slick, app-based infotainment, OnStar services and even 4G wireless hotspot connectivity. It’ll also be quick, with a choice of a 272-hp turbocharged four-cylinder or a 321-hp V-6 under the hood. Make mine black.
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2015 CADILLAC ATS COUPE
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OUT & ABOUT
PHOTO: WENN.COM
HEY, IDIOT, BEING FAMOUS DOESN’T MAKE YOU A STAR! BY DANA MILLER
I think it’s likely that Justin Bieber is a major asshole. I have no real clue— just an innocent observation. He is hot, (in a twink sort of way) on the cover of the new Rolling Stone. I have seen him move on the tube, and that was cool. I’m fairly certain he has style, but he is not a star. I’m also cognizant and cop to a generational gap here, yet even with a gun to my head I couldn’t name a single song of his. We are likely not far off from “Justin who?” I do wonder when the fascination will ebb on the shenanigans of folks like Bieber, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Chris Brown and the rest of the bundle. I understand the existence of multi-million dollar entities whose job it is to report on the crud of celebrity. I just miss the real stars of yesterday—that old Hollywood magic, the glamour. For no apparent reason I have been blessed to be around lots of celebrities. I managed almost every teen idol of the ‘80s, produced tons of TV with talented people and have been involved in some dumb way with iconic folk. The days of real talent and the bright celestial shine of mega-stars and glamour do seem numbered. Back in 1982 I was lucky enough to work on a TV show that was a benefit for The Actor’s Fund. It was called Night of 100 Stars, and it was just that. We taped the program at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, and it was a spectacular evening in many, many ways. Logistics dictated that it turned into an eight-hour taping, but the rare treat to be backstage with 100 true stars was astonishing. Check out just some people that were there—Princess Grace Kelly, Jack Lemmon, Liza Minnelli, Jimmy Stewart, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Goldie Hawn, Mary Tyler Moore, Al Pacino, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, Robert DeNiro, Lena Horne, Warren Beatty, George Burns, Milton Berle, Cher, Bette Davis, Pearl Bailey, Myrna Loy and so many more— all packed together backstage and all introduced by host Orson Welles. I watched as people approached a
beer-guzzling Paul Newman in the greenroom, asking him to take off his sunglasses so they might see those blue eyes. All night he gave the same response with a smile: “Fuck You!” Elizabeth Taylor grandly strolled in late (she was always late), and I cracked up as Lauren Bacall rushed up with “Hi, Liz.” Taylor just shot back, “It’s Elizabeth.” I sat and chatted for an hour with Sammy Davis Jr. as he applied his own makeup, likely something he’d done for 50 years. I even fooled around with one of the hottest movie stars of the time in a broom closet, something that is now laced with irony as he is still in the closet. Just a remarkable evening. Magical moments like Night of 100 Stars and the memories created was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The stage at Radio City has many levels and lifts to change scenery. Strolling downstairs, in the middle of a stage elevator that would soon reveal him was 82-year-old James Cagney sitting by himself in a wheelchair. This Oscar-winning actor has been called one of America’s greatest screen legends. He was the biggest box office star in the ‘30s and ‘40s. I had the most amazing discussion with him. We talked at length about life, liberty and the pursuit happiness. He had marvelous tales of all the greats, and then it was over. He was lifted to the stage and the audience went crazy. A few weeks home, back in California, I received a gift of true honor and class. Jimmy Cagney had remembered my name, tracked down my address and sent me an autographed picture. I cried at the sheer element of simple yet phenomenal and exceptional elegance. As Justin Bieber flatlines by peeing in mop buckets, proudly getting baked for his kid fans to see, disrespecting a deposition and egging his neighbor’s home, I can’t imagine a simple act of benevolence to a young fan would ever occur to him. In Hollywood today, half the people are trying to be discovered and the other half are afraid they will be. APRIL 1, 2014
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WEST HOLLYWOOD
CITY GUIDES
New WeHo Flag Ends One Debate, Ignites Another
PHOTO: PAULO MURILLO
BY PAULO MURILLO
A new flag with rainbow color blocks embedded into the West Hollywood logo was hoisted over City Hall on Thursday, March 6. It’s a compromise concluding months of heated debate over whether permanently flying the rainbow flag at City Hall would be insensitive toward heterosexual WeHo residents, or whether the city was being stripped of its gay identity when the flag was removed in January. Response to the new flag has been favorable, though a new dispute is bubbling with regards to the rainbow logo’s copyright. West Hollywood resident and owner of Block Party, Larry Block, a preeminent advocate of flying the new flag at City Hall, believes the rainbow logo should be in the public domain. Larry Block According to Block, people are so enamored by the new flag that he’s received several requests for its reproduction, which he would like to sell at his store. “I’m getting a lot of calls to buy the flag,” he told Frontiers. “I emailed the City Council and also [City Manager] Paul Arevalo. I want to make a T-shirt, but they won’t let me because it is trademarked property.” Block says he went to City Attorney Michael Jenkins to ask about making the new flag available to the public. He’s also speaking to his own attorneys regarding the flag’s ownership. “My new battle is to ... allow people to have these flags as public domain and not just something that hangs from a building.” “I’m hoping everyone at gay Pride will be waiving a City of West Hollywood flag along the parade route,” Block added. “I’m willing to give 10 percent of the proceeds to the city and push the city to have tourists all over the world celebrate the city’s flag. I don’t know if I can sell them, but I’ll let everyone know that West Hollywood city flags are in production.” Councilmember John Duran strongly opposed permanently flying a rainbow flag over City Hall, believing it was not inclusive to all residents, but he now says he’s pleased over the change. “I think it was a good compromise, because it incorporates the thought that gay people have always been a part of the history of West Hollywood. At the same time it’s not just a Pride flag. I’m really happy with it.” Asked what he thought about Block’s intention to sell the new flag on merchandise, Duran said he had no comment.
MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT SHOCKS THE COMMUNITY On March 7, Dawn DaLuise—owner of Skin Refinery, a skin care business aiming to serve Hollywood celebrities in the heart of Boystown— was arrested for an alleged murder-for-hire scheme against an esthetician competitor who moved in next door to her business. According to Deputy Peter Gomez of the Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, detectives were investigating a different case when they stumbled upon info regarding a solicitation to murder, which led to DaLuise’s arrest. The alleged target was Gabriel Suarez, a WeHo resident and owner of Smooth Cheeks, a salon specializing in skin care services and body waxing. Smooth Cheeks opened at 8543 Santa Monica
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Boulevard in April 2013. Suarez claims his hard work garnered him a loyal client base and that he had no need to move in on the competition. “I built my own shop from the ground up,” Suarez told Frontiers. “For eight years I’ve worked at high-end spas where I was located next to other estheticians. I’m completely caught by surprise by everything that has happened.” Suarez says the sinister attempt on his life has taken its toll. “I feel scared,” he said. “I haven’t been able to sleep, and I don’t want to be alone. I’m scared that she’s going to be let out and that my life is going to be in danger.” Despite the scare tactics, Smooth Cheeks is open for business. “I want to put this behind me
Dawn DaLuise
Gabriel Suarez
and continue to serve the community in the same building where I invested a lot of my time and energy. I’m here to stay.” According to online arrest records, DaLuise was held at the WeHo Sheriff’s Station with a $1 million bail. She’s scheduled to face a judge on March 19. —P.M.
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PALM SPRINGS
PHOTO OF SCOTT HINES VIA FACEBOOK
ANTI-GAY MAILER TURNS RANCHO MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL RACE UGLY BY JAMES F. MILLS The Rancho Mirage City Council election may not take place until April 8, but the campaign leading up to that election turned ugly when a blatantly homophobic mailer was sent out, targeting an openly gay incumbent who is up for re-election. In mid-February, some Rancho Mirage voters opened their mailboxes to find an anti-gay postcard attacking openly gay Councilmember Scott Hines with the message “Send Hines Packing Back to Palm Springs (where he belongs).” The postcards feature a shirtless picture of Hines with a caption in rainbow-colored lettering that says “No More ‘Fab’ Party Guy Scotty.” The letters of the message line up vertically to spell out “FAGS.” The mailing was sent out without a return address, so no one knows who sent it. Hines, an educational technology company CEO and former Air Force Intelligence officer, has been careful not to point any fingers, but many residents suspect the postcards came from his campaign opponents, a group Hines sometimes refers to as “The Gang of Four.”
“The Gang of Four has painted themselves into this corner with all of their nasty emails and mailers attacking me,” Hines told KESQ Channel 3. “So it’s reasonable that people of Rancho Mirage would point the finger. We have not done that. You’ve not heard any accusations from our campaign.” That group of four, running a joint campaign under the banner “Experience You Can Trust,” consists of three Rancho Mirage City Council incumbents—Dana Hobart, Ted Weill and Iris Smotrich—plus political newcomer Charles Townsend, a furniture store owner and interim CEO of the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce, the longtime life partner of the late Gordon Moller, a Rancho Mirage Councilmember who died in 2012. Hines’ four opponents flatly deny they had anything to do with the postcard and suggest it came from Hines supporters seeking to discredit them. “We suspect this postcard was probably sent by someone or some group friendly to Mr. Hines,” read an email the group sent to The Desert Sun. “The four of us would absolutely never
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CITY GUIDES
This mailer was distribu
ted throughout the Ran
authorize anyone to distribute a mailing like this piece that belongs in the gutter. We suspect that the postcard was mailed by someone who sought to create the impression that it was mailed by the ‘Experience You Can Trust’ team.” In fact, Hobart, an attorney who has served on the Council for 12 years, so adamantly denies the accusations, he’s filed a complaint with state Fair Political Practices Commission asking for an investigation to find out who sent the postcards. Hobart has also called for all six City Council candidates to take a lie detector test. Stuart Ackley, a former CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, is also a candidate. Hines’ campaign manager, Richard Oberhaus, told The Desert Sun, “Whether or not the Gang of Four is responsible for this despicable mailer is for voters to decide based on past, present and future campaign tactics. Scott takes his colleagues at their word that they had no involvement; however, what is clear is that Dana Hobart and his cronies have created a climate in Rancho Mirage where someone out there thinks this kind of attack is OK, and that is most regrettable.” Meanwhile, political fundraising group
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cho Mirage area.
The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has not surprisingly condemned the mailer. “We stand with Councilman Hines in solidarity against these egregious campaign tactics that focus on Hines’ sexual orientation—these types of tactics should never be tolerated for any candidate,” said Torey Carter, Chief Operating Officer at the Victory Fund, in a statement. “Councilman Hines has a long track record of supporting the LGBT community, and we are proud to have endorsed his re-election campaign.” Hines says the shirtless photo of him was taken on a family vacation three years ago. The image was on his iPhone, which was stolen from his City Hall office in December, according to a police report. Hines was first elected to the Rancho Mirage City Council in 2010 by a mere 11 votes. That 2010 election was also ugly, with many of the city’s 9,500 registered voters receiving robo-calls and mailers saying Hines would “infect” the Council with ‘Palm Springs style’ (i.e. gay) politics. This year’s City Council election is being conducted entirely by mail. Ballots were mailed out by the Rancho Mirage City Clerk’s office on March 10.
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PUMPED UP PROSTATES By Jim Larkins Before their debut on thousands of seedy websites, negative pressure vacuum pumps had the noble duty of giving life to the limp. The transparent tubular mechanisms drew blood into penis capillaries, creating otherwise impossible erections for men with chronic diabetes or circulatory disorders. But it wasn’t until shady profiteers began promoting these peter pumpers as tools for permanently increasing the size of one’s manhood that they started to get a bad rap. There was just never any scientific proof to support the claims of such colorfully tagged devices as the Big Bazooka, Blue Veiner, Fireman’s Pump and Bull Fighter. With the help of a pump, a man can temporarily elevate from the hamsterhung set, but that glory is short-lived. Once the pressure is released, the newly transformed stud’s member will return to its former disappointing dimensions. So considering they haven’t done much more than dupe the desperate into handing over a substantial chunk of their paychecks with no real hope for return on investment, you might ask why even give these cocky contraptions any thought or promotion. Well, penis pumps may have found redemption as serious aids in at least one important area of medical science. Surviving prostate cancer is certainly grounds for celebration, but, sadly, along with the loss of the prostate can come the inability to produce and maintain an erection. Because it is virtually impossible to perform radical prostatectomy surgery without disturbing nerves that control the erection process, erectile dysfunction (ED) is an almost guaranteed byproduct of the procedure. This is insult to injury for those men who probably experienced some degree of ED due to the cancer in the first place. The good news is, with the help of vacuum therapy, the prostateless masses may not have to endure a flaccid future. A growing number of studies indicate that vacuum therapy has an important role to play in prostate surgery recovery. Run Wang, Director of Sexual Medicine at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital in Houston, Texas, and Kenneth Jacobsohn at the University of Texas Health Science Center recently published data on the use of vacuum therapy to help prostate surgery patients regain erection capabilities. Dr. Vipul Patel, MD, Director of Robotic and Minimally Invasive Urological Surgery at Ohio State University, is another proponent of phallic pumps. Dr. Patel, who has overseen nearly 1,000 surgeries, routinely prescribes vacuum therapy for post-prostatectomy patients. All things considered, prostate cancer may not currently be high on your list of urgent issues. But just keep in mind that, considering the lifetime risk for prostate cancer is one out of every six men, a penis pump might someday become your new best friend.
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be exactly what he wants. He may like the bad attention! And just a hint: If you don’t give him enough good attention, he may settle for the bad attention—because it’s better than no attention at all. The first thing to do is to stop getting upset, because it ain’t working! A word of warning: It will get worse before it gets better. When you stop giving him the attention he wants, your man will actually do it more to get your attention. Just hang in there and keep on doing nothing. Eventually he will realize you are not going to give him what he wants and will belch less. But if you have trouble doing nothing, there is a second option.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR MAN
BY DR. GREG CASON
PART 3: Stop His Bad Habits
In Part 2 I pointed out that when you display appreciation for his good deeds, he’s more likely to do those things again in the future. In this part I will show you the flipside—how to get him to stop doing something you don't want him to do anymore.
Many of you have already mastered the most destructive methods of punishment—criticizing, condescending and shouting. Some take the less obvious but still destructive path of icing someone out, denying sex or doing something passive-aggressive like putting salt in his coffee by accident. All of these tactics will eventually backfire on you. The fact is that if you act like a shrew every time your man steps out of line, you are only creating a ticking time bomb. Punishing your man may cause him to feel more angry, depressed or anxious. As a result, in the future he will be more likely to yell back, outright lie, avoid your sorry ass or finally decide he’s had enough and split.
THE BASIC PRINCIPLE When your man does something and it’s followed by something unpleasant or unsatisfying, he’ll tend to do it less in the future. That ‘something’ that causes him to think twice about his deeds is called a punishment. But punishment is something that can easily backfire, so you have to perform it with great precision and care. (Something our S&M-loving brothers and sisters have long known.)
THE BEST PUNISHMENT IS TO DO NOTHING. Let’s say your dude frequently excretes gaseous emissions from one of his two primary orifices. (In other words, he burps and farts a lot.) You don’t consider yourself a prude, but this is going too far. Every time he does it, you yell that you’re disgusted and call him ‘gross.’ With each passing silent-but-deadly moment, you get louder and more upset, but nothing seems to work. Well, if he hasn’t stopped, your dramatics may
What do you do when your dog misbehaves? Punish him! What do you do when your man misbehaves? Punish him! It sounds fun at first, but if you don't do it right you’ll be the one feeling the pain. In my previous two articles, I showed you that— like your dog—your man can be trained. Both are animals, and both will do tricks for treats, especially when it involves getting a bone.
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THE NEXT BEST PUNISHMENT IS DISAPPROVAL. If you’re going to use disapproval, follow these rules: (1) Tell him. As soon as your man lets one go (or does whatever problem behavior you are trying to squelch), tell him you don’t like it and leave it at that. Don’t raise your voice, use profanities or embarrass him. Just say it and be done. (2) Do it every time. Every single time your man does his offensive behavior, call it out. Otherwise, he will get the message that sometimes it’s OK. (3) Don’t be a bully or a wimp. Meet your man eye-to-eye and tell him. Remember, you are his partner, not his parent. (4) Give him props for doing something else. When your man does something desirable, call that out, too. Remember that your man runs on appreciation—appreciate him and he will do more of that for your attention rather than farting at the dinner table. Just don’t be discouraged if he still does it every now and then. NOTHING IS GONE FOREVER. Punishment doesn’t eliminate behavior—it merely suppresses it. The offensive behavior will come back, sometimes out of the blue. When it does, don’t freak! Just repeat the steps above. It may be difficult, but if you focus on appreciating your man for what he does well and ignoring or disapproving what he does not, you are going to end up getting a better acting man. But what if you’ve tried all your tricks and he still won’t change? There is one magic solution that will bring you a happier home. I’ll share that with you next issue in the final installment of this series.
Dr. Greg Cason is a licensed psychologist based in West Hollywood, specializing in cognitive therapy with individuals and couples. He can be contacted at DrGreg.com.
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