12/03/21, Vol. 12 Issue 18

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VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 18

About the cover:

Cover image by Shutterstock.com / Tim Paza May

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PO Box 77401 • Atlanta, GA 30357 P: 404-815-6941; F: 404-963-6365 BUSINESS Principal/Publisher: Tim Boyd tboyd@thegavoice.com EDITORIAL Editor: Katie Burkholder kburkholder@thegavoice.com EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Cliff Bostock, María Helena Dolan, Jim Farmer, Olivia Martin, Sydney Norman, Danté Rhodes PRODUCTION Art Director: Rob Boeger rboeger@thegavoice.com SALES Sales Executive: Dixon Taylor dtaylor@thegavoice.com Sales Executive: Jim Brams jbrams@thegavoice.com Business Advisor: Lynn Pasqualetti Financial Firm of Record: HLM Financial Group NATIONAL ADVERTISING: Rivendell Media 908-232-2021 sales@rivendellmedia.com Publisher Emeritus: Chris Cash FINE PRINT

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EDITORIAL

Punishment, Self-Defense, and Kyle Rittenhouse Katie Burkholder If you’ve kept up with the news or even have any social media at all, you’ve undoubtedly heard the name Kyle Rittenhouse countless times by now. If, by chance, you haven’t, I’ll give you the rundown.

Rittenhouse, then 17 years old, traveled from Illinois to Kenosha, Wisconsin, for a protest. The protest was in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was left paralyzed after being shot by a police officer. Rittenhouse didn’t come to protest, though. As the demonstration turned violent, he answered an online call for “patriots” to come “protect our lives and property” by doing just that, armed with an assault-style rifle.

Rittenhouse shot three of the protestors, killing two: Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber. Both men were unarmed but engaged with Rittenhouse; Rosenbaum chased and threw a plastic bag filled with hygiene products at him, and Huber chased and hit him with his skateboard.

Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges: first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree attempted intentional homicide, and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.

The case sparked controversy around what the right to self-defense means. The verdict indicates that Rosenbaum and Huber were deemed enough of a threat to Rittenhouse to justify murder as self-defense — even though they were the unarmed victims of his shooting attack. To me and many others, this verdict signifies how the assumptions of violent intentions that are thrust upon Black Lives Matter protestors by police, the media, and the right, are justification enough for murdering them.

This is reminiscent to me of “gay panic” defense strategies, in which a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is used as justification for the perpetrator’s violent reaction, including murder. In other words, gay and trans people are seen inherently as threatening enough that someone can justifiably murder them in the name of defending themselves from their “advances.”

While this is outrageously blatant homo/ transphobia, only eight states had passed bans on this defense as of 2019.

learning from his mistake, we make the conversation about why he did what he did instead of what he actually did — and what he actually did was preemptively end the lives of two young men and deeply hurt all the lives those men touched.

In other words, Rittenhouse and others on the side of the defense distanced themselves from Rosenbaum and Huber’s humanity. In the words of Kariann Swart, Rosenbaum’s fiancée, “… in this case, it feels like the victims’ lives don’t matter.”

Narratives about what kind of people are threatening permeate our understanding of self-defense. This makes the designation inconsistent and subjective, given with ease to those who are aligned with the system of power — like Rittenhouse — and taken from those who are victims of it — like Black sex trafficking victim Cyntoia Brown.

This inconsistency shows that “self-defense” has effectively become a pass to condone and excuse violence against marginalized people. As “religious freedom” has become an excuse for people to discriminate against LGBTQ people, self-defense is the excuse for reacting erratically to fear of marginalized people.

Because their humanity was not honored

by Kyle, the judge, or the jury, the best way we can honor it now is by remembering them as they were — human beings who tragically lost their lives. The following was originally reported by NPR (www.npr. org/2021/11/20/1057571558/what-we-know3-men-kyle-rittenhouse-victims-rosenbaumhuber-grosskreutz).

The Rittenhouse case, and other “selfdefense” cases like it, perfectly reveal the shortcomings of equating punishment with accountability. Outside of a punitive framework, Rittenhouse’s intentions don’t really matter in the slightest. Intentional or not, those men are dead, and that’s in and of itself is tragic.

The problem is when perpetrators are forced to embrace defensiveness over accountability in order to avoid a sentence of confinement, mistreatmic, systemic abuse, and social rejection that’s associated with a felon status. When we force Rittenhouse to ardently defend instead of understanding, owning up to, and

Joseph Rosenbaum was 36 years old and leaves behind Swart and a daughter from a previous relationship, of whom he was fighting to get custody. Rosenbaum struggled throughout his life, experiencing homelessness, molestation, prepubescent drug abuse, and mental health issues. He spent most of his adult life in prison. While Swart pressed charges against Rosenbaum for assaulting her during a fight, she was open to reconciling things and remembers him as “goofy,” saying “he’d make you laugh out of nowhere.”

Anthony Huber was 26 years old and leaves behind his girlfriend Hannah Gittings, who was at the protest with him, and his parents, who said they were “heartbroken and angry” over the acquittal. Like Rosenbaum, he also struggled with his mental health and spent time in jail. But he was also artistic, an avid skateboarder, and a friend of Jacob Blake, and according to his obituary, he “died a hero fighting for a cause he believed in.”

December 3, 2021 Editorial 3

NEWS BRIEFS Staff reports Read these stories and more online at thegavoice.com.

Atlanta Gets Perfect Score on HRC’s Municipality Equality Index The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has released their 2021 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), an annual report scoring cities across the U.S. on their dedication to LGBTQ equality.

This year, 506 cities were scored on five areas: non-discrimination laws, municipality as employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ equality. 110 of the cities scored a perfect score of 100, including Atlanta. Of these cities, 39 have more comprehensive non-discrimination laws for trans people than the state, 99 have an LGBTQ liaison, and 84 have an openly LGBTQ elected or appointed official.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms celebrated Atlanta’s perfect score in a statement posted to Facebook.

“Our Administration has made it a priority to ensure Atlanta is a more equitable and inclusive city for our LGBTQ community,” she said. “Thank you to HRC for recognizing our efforts, and thank you to our City officials, LGBTQ Advisory Board, and partners for their counsel and support in moving equality forward for LGBTQ Atlantans.

Atlanta technically received a score of 112, receiving a perfect standard score as well as 12 bonus “flex points” for having all-gender single occupancy facilities; city employee domestic partner benefits; youth bullying prevention policy for city services; services for/support of LGBTQ youth, people with HIV/AIDS, and the transgender community; and openly LGBTQ elected or appointed municipal leaders. This makes 2021 not only the ninth year in a row Atlanta has received a perfect score, but also its highest score yet.

Other cities in Georgia didn’t fare as well.

Decatur received an 86, falling short on municipal services and law enforcement.

Savannah received an 80, and AthensClarke County received a 68, both falling short on municipal services, municipality as employer, and law enforcement. Columbus received a 58, falling short on all sections 4 News Briefs December 3, 2021

Atlanta gets perfect score on HRC’s municipality equality index. PHOTO BY ISTOCK.COM except law enforcement. Sandy Springs received a 33, falling short on all but leadership on LGBTQ equality. AugustaRichmond County received a 28, Avondale Estates received an 18, North Druid Hills received a 7, and Roswell received a 5. Each scored low in every section.

Alliance Defending Freedom Gives Up Longstanding Discrimination Case Nine years after telling a gay couple she could not prepare a flower arrangement for their wedding because of her religious beliefs, the owner of a flower shop in Washington State has agreed to pay $5,000 to settle the dispute and withdraw her long-shot bid to get the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in her favor.

The issue, however, has not gone away. The Alliance Defending Freedom — the group that helped Arlene’s Flowers owner Barronelle Stutzman with her effort to circumvent the Washington State laws against discrimination based on sexual orientation — have other cases queued up. One is in the U.S. Supreme Court, and the other is likely to land there next year.

While the florist has agreed to withdraw the latest of her several petitions from the U.S. Supreme Court, she has not agreed to stop discriminating. Instead, the 77-year-

old businesswoman said she would retire and leave the business and let her “beloved employees” run the business.

The gay couple, Rob Ingersoll and Carl Freed, said they would contribute the $5,000 settlement money to a local PFLAG chapter and match it with a $5,000 contribution of their own.

But Stutzman’s statement made clear that she was concerned about losing. She said the lawsuits filed against her when she refused to serve the gay couple threatened to force her to “pay a devastating price” for asserting her religious beliefs in the marketplace, “including being threatened with the loss of my home, my business, and my life savings.”

Neither Stutzman nor the Alliance indicated how that business would proceed now.

According to briefs filed in the case, Arlene’s Flowers is a “closely-owned family business.”

The ACLU’s statement about the settlement indicated Stutzman’s withdrawal of the petition for rehearing “leaves in place the two unanimous decisions from the Washington Supreme Court that the Constitution does not grant a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people.”

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

COMMUNITY

Stephen Hough Plays Saint-Saens PUBLICITY PHOTO VIA ASO

Pride in the Arts ASO and Dad’s Garage Host LGBTQ Events Katie Burkholder When it comes to enjoying Atlanta’s abundance of arts, there are a few new ways for LGBTQ people to get their fix — both the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and Dad’s Garage are hosting LGBTQ-specific events in the coming months.

The ASO has launched a new way to enjoy the renowned organization. In Unison is the ASO’s new group for LGBTQ patrons and their friends. These events, happening once a month over the next six months, will give LGBTQ Atlantans an opportunity to network and meet artists and musicians.

The event kicks off with a performance from the ASO (to which In Unison attendees get premium seating) then concludes with a post-concert networking cocktail reception and artist meet and greets. Access to both the show and event will cost $55; those who already have a ticket for the performance can get access to the post-show festivities for $20.

The first In Unison event was held on November 20. Upcoming shows are as follows: Thursday, December 9 at 8pm: Christmas with the ASO Saturday, January 15 at 8pm: Stephen Hough Plays Saint-Saens 6 Community December 3, 2021

Sunday, March 20 at 3pm: Stutzmann and the ASO Chorus Saturday, April 2 at 8pm: Mandolinist Avi Avital Returns Thursday, May 19 at 8pm: Verdi’s Aida in Concert For tickets and more information, visit aso. org/concerts-tickets/special-offers/in-unison.

Every year, Dad’s garage — a comedy improv theater — hosts their annual holiday show, Invasion: Christmas Carol. The concept is simple: a cast of Dad’s Garage improvisers rehearse a straight-up scripted adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas story.

However, every night a new improvised character will show up to wreak havoc. The character could be anyone — like Mr. T, Elmo, Martha Stewart, or Jesus – but no one in the audience or cast will know until the they step on the stage. Hilarity ensues, laughs are guaranteed, and every night Scrooge’s past, present, and future unfold in a completely new way.

The show will run from December 3 through 29, but for one night only, queer attendees will be able to enjoy the show with a twist. On December 17, the show will be adapted specifically for an LGBTQ audience. Tickets are $36.50 and the show starts at 8pm. For tickets to this Pride night performance, visit dadsgarage.com.

To get $5 off, use code IXC2021FAN at checkout.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

FOOD & DRINK

The Story of Mediterranean Grill Olivia Martin

After moving to Turkey to study to be a dentist, Palestinian chef Said “Sam” Mousa decided to move to the United States to pursue that education. When he arrived in 1974, he took a different path: starting out as a dishwasher in Chicago, he ended up climbing the restaurant-industry ladder there, then moved his family across the country to open a restaurant here in Atlanta.

Now, he owns four restaurants in Georgia.

In an interview with Georgia Voice, Mousa discussed Mediterranean Grill and his journey to becoming a beloved Atlanta-area restaurateur.

“I was a busboy in Skokie, Illinois, outside Chicago, and I learned [about restaurant operations],” he said. “And I started thinking one day I would have my own business— that’s when I was 21 years old.”

He opened Mediterranean Grill on December 22, 2001, as a response to a need for Mediterranean restaurants he saw in Atlanta. This month, the flagship store in Decatur will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

“I used to visit the great city of Atlanta, and I found out that it could use this concept of Mediterranean regional foods, so I made the decision to quit my job, sell my house, and move the family to the city,” Mousa said.

“It was great timing … because the city was really hungry for this kind of food and there was no Mediterranean restaurant.”

After two decades and expansion across the Metro Atlanta area, the COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges for restaurants and small businesses like Mediterranean Grill. Customers are excited to see the store back open, but struggles with hiring and maintaining financial footing abound.

“The future is unknown, but the restaurant business is going to change, and everybody has to adapt,” Mousa said. “Everything we need for the restaurant business is hard to 8 Food & Drink December 3, 2021

Mediterranean Grill owner Said Mousa is pictured with Las Margaritas owner Oscar Valdivieso. FILE PHOTO

Yet Mediterranean Grill has worked hard to keep prices down and stay afloat. During the early days of the pandemic, the restaurant offered costumers a discount. However, some of the customers — many of whom were doctors working at the affiliated hospital — requested to pay full price.

“We believe in hiring people who want to work from the beginning, it didn’t matter your color, your intentions, the way you think, if you believe in God or don’t believe in God, if you’re straight or gay, we don’t pay attention to those things,” Mousa said.

“We had the best people here for years, and when they left here to go to school, someone said, ‘Working in the Mediterranean Grill is a school of life.’”

“It was hard to stay [open], so we offered half price off for two months,” Mousa said. “And I had doctors who came to me and said, ‘Listen, I want to pay full price to support our favorite restaurant.’”

Beyond the care Mediterranean Grill exhibits for its employees, it also really focuses on customers and their experience. Lasting relationships with customers can span years and circumstances.

When Mousa retires, the business will pass on to key members of his team: his sons and some of his most trusted employees. But he is not retiring just yet, as he continues to commit himself to the great customer and employee experience that he sees as central to running a restaurant.

“The restaurant business is people’s business,” Mousa said. “It’s how you deal with your customers, your community, your employees. We pay close attention to our employees, and that’s why we have people here who’ve been with us 19 years, 18 years, 16 years, and they’re going nowhere. They became like family, and we care about them.”

get nowadays, and if you find it, it’s triple the price.”

The restaurant is able to build a great team because of the way in which they champion hiring people who want to work.

“We have good relationships with customers,” he continued. “I have seen kids who are going

“We believe in hiring people who want to work from the beginning, it didn’t matter your color, your intentions, the way you think, if you believe in God or don’t believe in God, if you’re straight or gay, we don’t pay attention to those things.

We had the best people here for years, and when they left here to go to school, someone said, ‘Working in the Mediterranean Grill is a school of life.’”

Mediterranean Grill owner, Said “Sam” Mousa to medical school here, and their parents used to be students here and eat here. Like this doctor who brought his son who was in medical school. He said, ‘I want what I used to eat, when I was a student at Emory.’”

Of course, customer service is not the whole story without delicious food to back it up.

Despite rising prices of raw ingredients, Mediterranean Grill continues to make everything in-house daily and sources local ingredients.

“We have buyers who buy from the source, and they go get stuff locally,” Mousa explained. “We try to shop small and use quality ingredients.”

If great customer service sounds good to you and you want to try some of these incredible ingredients, you can visit Mediterranean Grill at one of its four locations in Decatur, Midtown, Marietta, or Athens.

Check out the menu and order online at mediterraneangrill.com.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

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December 3, 2021 Ads 9

FOOD & DRINK

For the Love of Food Halls New food hall at Colony Square makes a splash Katie Burkholder If there’s one thing Atlanta has a wealth of, it’s food halls. The upscale version of a mall food court, food halls bring together a handful of quality restaurants in a communal eating space. Typically making up for a dearth of fast food and chain restaurants is a collection of unique and high-quality eateries, making a food halls a great and easy choice for someone looking to try a new restaurant.

Some of Atlanta’s best-known food halls are Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market.

Now, there’s a new one on the scene.

Politan Row, located at Colony Square in Midtown, only opened in June of this year, and already, the spot is wildly popular — Vogue called it “one of the best food halls in America.” I visited recently to see if it lived up to the hype.

The hall itself is both sleek and cozy, with modern architecture, warm lighting, and a variety of seating, ranging from booths and tables to couches and armchairs. The walls of the spacious hall are lined with the food stalls and the seating circles around the huge 40-seat bar at the center of the room.

One of the benefits of eating at a food hall is the variety of options, which makes it a great option for meeting with a large group of friends. When it came to diversity, Politan Row delivers with nine food options spanning a range of nationalities and flavors.

If you’re looking for a more traditional meal, you can get a Neapolitan pizza from Belli Pizzeria, a burger from Federal Burger, or a sandwich from Zaddy’s.

There’s also a slew of Asian comfort foods to choose from: Vietnamese classics like pho and banh mi at Bun Mi Grill, Japanese favorites like hibachi and ramen at Gekko, 10 Food & Drink December 3, 2021

Birria Ramen from Pretty Little Tacos

Inside Politan Row at Colony Square PHOTOS BY KATIE BURKHOLDER and bubble tea at Unbelibubble.

One of the things that sets Politan Row apart from Atlanta’s other food halls, however, is its unique, multicultural fusion options — which I opted for during my visit. Along with tacos, Pretty Little Tacos has a birria ramen, a fusion between the spicy Mexican stew and the Japanese noodle soup. I was genuinely surprised by how delicious this soup was. I got it with pulled chicken and a medium spice level, and both choices proved to be perfect. The chicken was tender and flavorful, and the broth was just spicy enough without being inedible. Topped with fresh onions and cilantro, this dish was both hearty and fresh, making it a great choice regardless of season.

I also tried the New Delhi pizza from Tandoori Pizza and Wings, which puts an Indian spin on their dishes by making their pizzas with

naan bread and either chutney or tiki masala marinara and soaking their wings in Indian spiced yogurt. The pizza, which was topped with red onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, jalapenos, and mozzarella, was good, but was a little dry. I probably would not order it again, but I am tempted to try their wings.

As with all food halls, the prices are a little steep, but still reasonable. Both of the dishes I tried were $13, which I thought was fair for the birria ramen but too high for the New Delhi pizza. What makes Politan Row better than Atlanta’s other food halls, though, is the convenience.

Parking in the Colony Square parking deck is easy, with the Politan Row entrance only steps away from the escalator out of the garage, and your first two hours of parking are validated. Validation is done by an attendant at a host stand at the hall’s entrance — just

New Delhi pizza from Tandoori Pizza and Wings be sure you get a receipt from wherever you eat for proof.

While I’m not sure Politan Square is one of the best food halls in the country, I do think it’s the best in the city. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy lunch, a fun date night, or a spot to get together with friends for drinks, Politan Square is a great choice. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, and I know I’ll be back soon.

MORE INFO Politan Row at Colony Square 1197 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30361 404-228-7941 Monday–Thursday: 11am to 10pm Friday–Saturday: 11am to 11pm Sunday: 11am to 9pm

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

FOOD & DRINK

Holiday Mocktail Recipes Sydney Norman In a culture obsessed with alcohol, it can be difficult to navigate the waters of sobriety around the holidays. If you don’t feel like having to explain to that uncle why you aren’t imbibing or you simply want a fun, non-alcoholic drink when you’re the designated driver, we’ve got you covered.

RASPBERRY NO-JITO

Ingredients: • 4 Fresh Mint Leaves (plus a few for garnish) • 2 Tbsp. Simple Syrup • ¼ cup Raspberry or Cran-Raspberry Juice • 3 Fresh Raspberries (plus a few for garnish) • ½ cup Sprite or club soda Assembly: 1. Combine one part granulated sugar and one part water in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil for two minutes. Allow to cool before use.

2. Place fresh raspberries, mint leaves, and simple syrup in the bottom of a glass.

Utilize a muddler (or a large wooden spoon) to mash the fruit and combine.

Keep the mint leaves intact if possible.

3. Add ice to the glass.

4. Add Sprite or club soda.

JUST PEACHY

Ingredients: • 1 can of Peach Juice • The Juice of Half a Lemon • 2 Tbsp. Simple Syrup • Grenadine • Ice • Granulated Sugar Assembly: 1. Make simple syrup by combining equal parts granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil for two minutes. Allow the mixture to cool before use.

2. Pour some granulated sugar into a shallow dish or plate. Run a lemon wedge 12 Food & Drink December 3, 2021

Raspberry No-Jito

Just Peachy

Frozen Holiday Piña No-lada • Sprite, Cranberry Sprite, or a lemon lime seltzer water • Cranberry Juice • Mint Sprig for Garnish

The (Not-So) Dirty Bird around the rim of a glass and place the rim into the sugar.

3. Add several ice cubes to your glass.

4. Combine 2 Tbsp. of simple syrup, the juice of half a lemon, and a dash of grenadine to the glass and stir to combine.

5. Top off with peach juice and garnish with a lemon wedge.

FROZEN HOLIDAY PIÑA NO-LADA

Ingredients: • 2 Cups of Ice • 6 oz. Cream of Coconut • 1 cup of Pineapple Juice

The Nice List COURTESY PHOTOS • A dash of Cranberry Juice Assembly: 1. In a blender, combine ice, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice. Blend until smooth.

2. Pour the drink into a glass, leaving room at the top for juice.

3. Top the drink off with cranberry juice.

4. Optional: garnish with a pineapple chunk.

THE (NOT-SO) DIRTY BIRD

Ingredients: • Black Food Dye • Grenadine

Assembly: 1. Several hours before you plan to make your drink, combine a few drops of black food coloring with water and pour into a silicone ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Place a few black ice cubes into a glass. Pour in one part sprite or seltzer water and one part cranberry juice. Add a dash of grenadine.

3. Optional: garnish with a few sprigs of fresh mint.

THE NICE LIST

Ingredients: • Pomegranate Juice • Lemon-Lime Seltzer • Fresh Mint Sprigs • Granulated Sugar Assembly: 1. Pour granulated sugar in a shallow dish.

Use lime or water to moisten the rim around the top of your glass. Place the glass in the sugar to coat the rim.

2. Add ice cubes to the glass.

3. Pour one part pomegranate juice and one part lemon-lime seltzer.

4. Add a few fresh mint leaves to garnish.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

FOOD & DRINK

The Georgia Voice’s Favorite Fares ROXX Tavern (1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd. NE) ROXX is a go-to spot for meeting with friends, with traditional American comfort food and great outdoor seating. Because to the recent fire on Cheshire Bridge, make sure you plan your route accordingly.

As seasoned locals, the Georgia Voice staff know a thing or two about Atlanta eats. If you’re looking for a new spot to feast at, we’ve got you covered.

KATIE BURKHOLDER

EDITOR Gaja Korean Bar (491 Flat Shoals Ave. SE) Gaja is an uber cool Korean spot in East Atlanta Village (EAV). The atmosphere is awesome, and the food is even better! Try the Gochujang Fried Chicken; it’s covered in sweet and spicy gochujang sauce and tofu ranch.

El Tesoro (1374 Arkwright Pl. SE) If you’re looking for a new Mexican place, you’re sure to love El Tesoro. The spacious outdoor seating is colorful and fun, making it a great place to enjoy an authentic Mexican lunch on a beautiful day. Their Asada de Res taco includes fresh cut skirt steak that’s been marinated for 48 hours and twice seared, plus raw onion and cilantro. It’s fresh and oh so tasty.

ParkGrounds (142 Flat Shoals Ave. SE) ParkGrounds is one of my most-visited spots in Atlanta. Part coffee shop, part café, and part dog park, it’s a great place to do some work, watch some pups play, or just enjoy some good weather. Their Hot Ham Scram Sandwich is the perfect breakfast sandwich, made with ham, scrambled egg, cheddar, tomato, and sriracha mayo on your choice of bread.

Julianna’s Crepes (775 Lake Ave. NE) Enjoy a variety of sweet and savory crepes at this small, cozy location. My favorite is The Viking, which is filled with wild lingonberry compote and cream cheese.

RUSS BOWEN-YOUNGBLOOD

SALES Papi’s Cuban and Caribbean Grill (216 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE) Try the Empanada Sampler, Jerk Chicken Breast, or the Black Bean Soup.

Midtown Moon (1492 Piedmont Ave. NE) If you’re looking for delicious bar food paired with fabulous drag performances, TheGeorgiaVoice.com

Campagnolo (980 Piedmont Ave. NE) This lesbian-owned Italian restaurant is absolutely fabulous. Come on a Friday or Saturday evening from 10pm to 1am to enjoy the live piano stylings of Robert Ray. Agave (242 Boulevard Ave. SE) Enjoy their Native American décor, Southwestern dishes, and a cozy fireplace.

JIM BRAMS

Clockwise from top left: The Empanada Sampler at Papi’s Cuban and Caribbean Grill, Lasagna Matta at Campagnolo, the Twisted Soul Fried Chicken plate, and Pasta Carbonara at amano. COURTESY PHOTOS look no further than Midtown Moon. My favorites are the Fried Pickle Chips and the Applewood Burger.

If you’re looking for a special night out in the Virginia Highland neighborhood, look no further.

Mama’s Cocina Latina (1958 Piedmont Rd.) What’s better than authentic Latin cuisine?

Authentic Latin cuisine served 24/7! Be sure to try the Sizzling Fajitas and Chicken and the Nachos Supremo.

Parker’s on Ponce (116 E Ponce de Leon Ave.) Parker’s has the best steak in Decatur. It’s a must-try!

Lips Atlanta (3011 Buford Hwy. NE) There’s no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than with a drag brunch, complete with Chicken and Waffles and a Frozen Peach Margarita.

DIXON TAYLOR

SALES Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours (1133 Huff Rd. NW) Twisted Soul is the best place in Atlanta for modern soul food — and it’s lesbian-owned to boot!

Nowak’s (1397 North Highland Ave. NE)

Terra Terroir (3974 Peachtree Rd.) This Brookhaven restaurant has both a delectable menu and a beautiful patio to enjoy it on!

Babette’s Café (573 North Highland Ave. NE) Enjoy a little slice of Europe in Inman Park!

This converted cottage provides a cozy environment to enjoy fare from France, Italy, and Spain.

Cafe Alsace (121 E Ponce de Leon Ave.) This Decatur spot is truly unique, serving wine and afre from the Alsace region of France, like Boeuf Bourguignon and Spaetzle.

SALES La Hacienda (900 Monroe Dr. NE) Whether you’re interested in excellent TexMex or authentic Mexican cuisine, La Hacienda is a great choice. We suggest the Pozole Verde, Pescado a la Mexicana, and the Camarones al Mojo de Ajo. Don’t forget to wash it down with a margarita!

TIM BOYD

MANAGING PARTNER AND PUBLISHER Poor Calvin’s (510 Piedmont Ave. NE) If you’re looking for fun and creative Asian fusion in an intimate setting, Poor Calvin’s is the way to go. Their best dishes are the Lobster Wontons, filled with cream cheese and caviar and topped with a mango glaze and truffle balsamic; the Crispy Beef, covered in a sweet soy glaze and served with greens and rice; and for dessert, the Peach Empanadas.

ROB BOEGER

ART DIRECTOR amano (587 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE) This cozy cottage with a snug bar and patio offers handmade pasta dishes like their Bucatini alla Bolognese, Pasta Carbonara (tagliatelle, house pancetta, grana, spring peas, and a farm egg). There are also a number of eclectic desserts like the Bananas Foster bread pudding (banana, caramel, salted caramel gelato) or the Affogato (a local vanilla gelato ala mode with espresso).

December 3, 2021 Food & Drink 13

GIFT GUIDE

Spread the

Holiday Spirit(s) Katie Burkholder

Give the gift of a rich bourbon, tart cider, or tasty cocktail this holiday season!

A. Atlanta Hard Cider Co. Pomegranate Craft Cider Give the gift of a locally made cider this year! This beautiful blush pomegranate drink is everything you need in a cider: it’s crisp, sweet, tart, and refreshing. Don’t like pomegranate? It also comes in honey! $11.99 for a six-pack, Tower Beer, Wine, and Spirits; 2161 Piedmont Rd. NE; 404-881-0902; in person and online: buckhead.towerwinespirits.com.

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B. Legends 100 Proof Bourbon At 50% ABV, this Georgia-made bourbon is not for the faint of heart, but with slight overtones of caramel, chocolate, and rye with a hint of cocoa, it goes down creamy and warm. $66.99 for 750ml, Tower Beer, Wine, and Spirits.

C. Portland Syrups Beverage Mixers Make a delicious and unique cocktail with ease with these delicious mixers. A little drop into your beverage goes a long way to add flavor and depth. Flavors include strawberry lemon-lime, mojito, mango habanero, root beer, ginger, spicy ginger, hibiscus cardamom, rose cordial, vanilla-spice rooibos, bright chai, marionberry, and citruspassion. $10.99 for 100ml, Citizen Supply at Ponce City Market; 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE; 678-705-9145; in person.

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D. Rivulet Pecan Liqueur If you’ve never tasted notes of pecan in your holiday cocktail, you’re missing out. This world-class luxury liqueur makes for a perfect holiday gift — drink it neat; on the rocks; in a Brown Recluse with cynar and brown ale; or a Southern Manhattan with bourbon, orange bitters, and a twist. $31.99 for 750ml, Tower Beer, Wine, and Spirits.

E. Johnnie Walker 12 Days of Discovery What better way to count down the 12 Days of Christmas than with whiskey? This gift set includes 12 50ml bottles: two Johnnie Walker Black Labels, two Johnnie Walker Double Blacks, two Johnnie Walker Gold Labels, two Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years, and two Johnnie Walker Blue Labels. $89.99, Tower Beer, Wine, and Spirits.

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F. Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon There’s no better time than the holidays to splurge on a nice wine! Wine critic James Suckling gave this Chilean wine a score of 100 points, calling it “a testimony to balance, harmony, and transparency in a great red.” Want to make it even more special?

You can get a custom message engraved on the bottle for $20 extra. $99.99, Tower Beer, Wine, and Spirits.

14 Gift Guide December 3, 2021

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

GIFT GUIDE

For the

Festive Foodie

A

Katie Burkholder

Got a food fanatic on your holiday shopping list? No matter your budget, you can give them the gift of a great meal.

A. Yonanas Classic Dessert Maker This incredible tool will completely change up your dessert routine!

Throw in some frozen over-ripe bananas along with your favorite fruits like blueberries and raspberries or some dark chocolate and out comes a delicious, creamy, and healthy treat that looks and tastes like soft serve ice cream. The maker includes 36 recipes and comes in silver, mint, coral, and red. $35, Yonanas; online: yonanas.com.

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B. Ultimate Sous Vide Bundle Once limited to the pros, sous vide is now available in your own kitchen! This technique, which means “under vacuum” in French, involves vacuum-sealing food in a bag before cooking it to a precise temperature in a water bath, producing restaurant-quality results! This bundle has everything you need to get started: a Joule for heating the water, Weston Food Saver Bags, an 8 quart Cambro container and lid, and the Weston Pro Advantage Vacuum Sealer. $499.95, The Cook’s Warehouse; 1544 Piedmont Rd. NE; 404-815-4993; in person and online: cookswarehouse.com.

C. Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine Amp up your morning coffee game! This espresso maker grinds the beans right before brewing, and with interchangeable filters and both automatic and manual operation, it’s perfect for both beginners and connoisseurs. $699.95, Williams Sonoma at Ponce City Market; 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE; 404-8107486; in person and online: Williams-sonoma.com.

D. Williams Sonoma Deluxe Cheese & Charcuterie Hamper This lavish European charcuterie spread makes an unforgettable gift for your favorite foodie. The collection of hand-selected delicacies includes meats, cheeses, spreads, olives, peppers, crackers, and artichokes from Italy, Spain, France, and Switzerland, all packaged in an adorable picnic basket. $199.95, Williams Sonoma; online only.

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E. Dapper Animal Ceramic Measuring Cups These adorable measuring cups make the perfect gift for the foodie who has everything. The set of four includes a cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, and 1/4 cup. $32, West Elm at Ponce City Market; 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE; 404-872-9574; in person and online: westelm.com.

F. Home Pasta Bundle What’s better than a delicious bowl of pasta? A delicious bowl of homemade pasta! This set is a great deal! It includes a Browne stainless steel rotary cheese grater, an HIC gnocchi board and ravioli form, an RSVP all-purpose shaker, the Norpro wooden pasta drying rack, and the Marcato Atlas 150 red manual pasta machine. $295.95, The Cook’s Warehouse.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

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December 3, 2021 Gift Guide 15

DANTÉ RHODES THE GAYLY DOSE

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GAYLY DOSE

Food for Thought Dante Rhodes A love of food is something that is so ingrained in American culture, especially in the South! My career is in the restaurant industry. I live it every day, and I love it.

Growing up in the South, many of us have memories of helping to wash turnip greens and shuck the corn. Some of us learned how to bake the perfect biscuit, a skill that is invaluable.

Cooking is a favorite pastime from coast to coast. Staying home and learning new recipes was a silver lining of the pandemic for many of us. Exploring cuisine from various cultures and sourcing new and inventive ways to make your favorite dishes was a great way to stay busy during quarantine. Personally, I love finding new Thai recipes. The flavors are always a hit for me. The curry spices are so unique and rich in flavor. And then there’s family recipes and the special tradition of passing down family recipes. Grandma’s sweet potato pie and Mom’s mac and cheese are always crowd-pleasers. Hands down, you know it will taste good at every bite.

Beyond cooking, eating out is another event that we love. Dining out is where things can always get a little more interesting!

The foodie trend is everywhere and helped many of us survive the pandemic. Foodies 16 Columnist December 3, 2021

— people whose passion for food and trying new restaurants and dishes is their hobby — have been a driving force in the upscaling of the restaurant world since the mid 1980s.

Whether it’s a fun brunch with a group of friends or an intimate dinner with the love of your life, the shared moments and conversations over good food and drinks are priceless. With the launch of new foodrelated apps like Seated, the dining out experience is expanding in ways that in the past didn’t seem possible. And with the everchanging market, restaurants will continue to put their best food forward.

Food will always have a special place in my heart. Going to my favorite restaurant or searching for recipe ingredients at the grocery store will always bring a feeling of euphoria to me, one that is irreplaceable. As we grow older and question how we choose to live our lives, let’s make sure we not forget to give food the special attention it deserves.

Dante Rhodes is a founding chief host and lifestyle expert of The Gayly Dose, an Atlanta-based podcast hosted by an all-gay cast. Unique in its mission and follow-on format, weekly episodes are known for their real conversations — featuring real live guests — about things that matter to the community and their listeners. Purposefully candid and brutally honest, the cast speaks on a range of topics including monogamy, body issues, coming out, dating apps, and growing up gay in the church. Listen at thegaylydose.com.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

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December 3, 2021 Ads 17

MARÍA HELENA DOLAN REELING IN THE YEARS

‘Bewitched’ and Be Gay!

taught you the best incantations … and here you are, married to a mortal!”

María Helena Dolan

When I was a kid, we watched a TV sitcom called “Bewitched.”

Running from 1964 to 1972, it featured Samantha and Darrin — a young, shiny, white, middle-class, suburban couple — everything you should aspire toward.

Mom does manage a truculent truce when Sam tells her father she’s married a mortal.

The tuxedoed Maurice cannot believe it. His daughter, with one of those creatures? The horror! Objects in the room explode, and more blow apart as his anger increases.

Endora attempts to intervene: “Times have changed, Maurice. This happens in the best of families.”

As in all marriages, marrying a witch means marrying your spouse’s whole nutty family.

But Sam’s relations have one central thing in common: they’re all witches.

Grrr: “Well, not in my family!”

Sam interjects: “Well, it has. I’m married. It’s over and done with.”

Allegory? About queerness? Hell yeah!

“Bewitched” was loaded with some of the gayest stuff around, just brimming under the surface.

Good and beautiful witch Samantha (played

by Elizabeth Montgomery, who was the loveliest, most supportive queer friend imaginable) marries the mortal Darrin Stephens (who, after a recasting, was portrayed by gay actor Dick Sargent). Sam’s mother, Endora, was played by a scenery-chewing Agnes Moorehead, one of the (allegedly) more prominent ladies in “Hollywood’s Sewing Circle” — you know, those women who, erm, socialized closely together, so to speak. Reliable source Paul Lynde said this of Ms. Big Red Head: “The whole world knows Agnes was a lesbian — I mean classy as hell, but one of the all-time Hollywood dykes.”

As Endora, this fabulous character actress goes all out as a bitchy drag queen godmother with a helmet of flaming red hair, eye makeup that flows on and on, the largest chunky jewelry around, and the brightest prints in the pre-Carnaby Street days.

Sam’s father is Maurice (played by actor Maurice Evans). He’s also Endora’s mostly absent husband. He exists in what looks to be a continually partying, mostly open relationship with Her Royal Redness.

18 Columnist December 3, 2021

Maurice thunders back: “I can’t understand it! A girl of your background, your breeding … It shows a complete lack of respect!”

While Sam might’ve shown a lack of respect, actress Liz Montgomery certainly demonstrated — no, she lived — capital-R respect in real life.

Cast of Bewitched (clockwise from left): Maurice Evans, Agnes Moorehead, Dick Sargent, Erin Murphy, and Elizabeth Montgomery. PUBLICITY PHOTO Esmeralda (rendered by lesbian actress Alice Ghostley) is the Stephens’ housekeeper/nanny.

Of course, she’s also a witch, as you can’t have a prying mortal in such a fundamentally witchy familial position. And don’t forget their long-suffering neighbor Abner Kravitz (personified by George Tobias).

Finally, there is the irrepressible Uncle Arthur (played by the equally irrepressible Paul Lynde of “Hollywood Squares” fame, known widely as “Liberace without the piano”).

“Bewitched” was the #1 rated sitcom for four of its eight years. Yet clearly, the witchhunting days of the mid-1960s inform some of the episodes’ scripts. Even measured

doses of coming out carry risk; the witch hunters can pull you down, tarring and feathering included.

Wishful queer viewer supposition? Nay nay!

The show’s producer, Danny Arnold, actually underscored this in a 1965(!) interview: “I saw a great opportunity to accomplish something … (we) pointed the finger at bigotry. (People are) prejudiced about witches — who are definitely a minority group … It is a direct parallel to some of our social problems of today.”

There are even episodes where Samantha fights for the rights of witches! But first, she must win over her own parents. Endora laments: “I must say I can’t see where I went wrong. I brought you up as a proper witch,

Her father was the ultra-conservative actor, Robert Montgomery. She hewed to the most liberal of lines. She hated oppression in every form and fought tirelessly for the rights of all. That included working for global peace.

She particularly supported the disabled, as well as Black and Indigenous peoples.

But her time, money, publicity and fundraising especially went to queers and AIDS. She was among the first to advocate for people with AIDS, AIDS research and AIDS charities.

Even closer to home, she best friended HIV-positive Dick Sargent when he was outed by Star magazine in 1991. She urged him to publicly come out and provided support. Her love and all of her efforts did not go unnoticed: in 1992, they reigned as co-Grand Marshals in Los Angles’ Pride Parade.

TheGeorgiaVoice.com

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December 3, 2021 Columnist 19

JIM FARMER ACTING OUT

Michael Urie Headlines Gay Holiday Comedy ‘Single All the Way’ Jim Farmer It’s safe to say that during the holiday season, Christmas romcoms are a constant go-to for actor Michael Urie. He loves the genre, but he started acting in them begrudgingly because of his partner Ryan Spahn’s and his family’s love for them.

“I have an aunt who watches them yearround,” Urie told Georgia Voice. “They are a phenomenon.”

Urie stars in the new gay holiday movie, “Single All the Way,” which has just premiered on Netflix. In it, he plays Peter, a gay man who always seems to be single.

Not wanting his family to meddle in his love life this season, he invites his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) home to pretend to be his boyfriend. Peter’s mother (Kathy Najimy), however, has already set Peter up on a blind date with her hunky trainer (Luke Macfarlane). The film also stars Barry Bostwick as Peter’s father and Jennifer Coolidge as Aunt Sandy.

The actor had always wanted to be in a romantic comedy, and while there are few

From left: Philemon Chambers, Jennifer Coolidge, and Michael Urie star in Netflix’s ‘Single All the Way.’ PUBLICITY PHOTOS queer ones in the mainstream, this one promised to be high profile: “You don’t get much more mainstream than Netflix.”

Urie was already a big fan of the work of Chad Hodge, the film’s writer, so when the script came his way, he jumped at it.

“It was such a great script, sweet and so funny,” he said. “The roles were so choice — Mom and Aunt Sandy and the gay guys. Michael Mayer is such a great director, and this was exciting. I really wanted to be a pioneer in this

Michael Urie plays Peter in Netflix’s new Christmas rom-com ‘Single All the Way.’ 20 Columnist December 3, 2021

genre of queer holiday rom-coms.”

Having watched the film recently, Urie said he was pleased with how it came out.

“Sometimes you make a movie or a TV show and you have an idea and — it’s not like that,” he said. “You never know how it’s going to turn out. This came out exactly how I wanted it to.”

Urie is also proud to be making a queer film that isn’t about coming out, homophobia, shame or trauma.

“It’s about finding love, being single and having a meddling family and Christmas,” he said. “All of these things that are universal; straight people go through these things.

Queer people deal with these, too. We have a protagonist who is gay but none of the conflict in his life surrounds being gay. That’s refreshing. There is a place for those movies that help spread awareness of homophobia and all those things that have made queer cinema vibrant all these years, but now we are in a place where we can share these stories of the ways in which we are the same. We don’t just have to share the ways we are different.”

The film is also a reunion for Urie and Macfarlane, who were classmates at Julliard, Urie said: “Luke has been in dozens of these Christmas movies as a straight guy. He’s gay.

He is like a brother. Going to drama school together is like family. Getting to reconnect after all these years to work in a genre that he knows so well was lovely.”

He was also impressed with newcomer Chambers.

“We read together on Zoom during the pandemic,” Urie said. “That is how we met, and we did a chemistry read together. From the moment we started acting together, I knew he was terrific. I see the truth in his eyes. He is beautiful. He is adorable and funny, and I hurt when he hurts.”

Urie shot to fame in the ABC series, “Ugly Betty.” The actor also appeared earlier this season in the well-received gay-themed film, “Swan Song,” and next year he’ll be seen in the horror thriller, “Summoning Sylvia,” and as Bob Crewe in “Jersey Boys Live!”

“Single All the Way” is currently streaming on Netflix.

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CLIFF BOSTOCK OLD GAY MAN

Tips for Eating Out from a Former Food “Critic” Cliff Bostock I’ve written a restaurant dining column for Creative Loafing, “Grazing,” for more than 30 years. For most of that time, it was weekly and required me to eat out five days a week.

I did not start writing it because I particularly wanted to; I was editor of the paper and the initial writer left after three years. I couldn’t find a replacement who could sustain the weekly schedule, so I took it over.

I refused to call myself a critic, and we always had someone else on staff to take that official role. My goal was mainly to write humor and commentary against the backdrop of eating out. I broke all the official rules of dining criticism. Despite that, I got branded a critic, received many job offers that mystified me, and eventually became pretty sick of the whole business. Nonetheless, I did learn a few things I can share.

First, your company is as important as the food on your plate. The holiday season is a clear example of that. Dining with your family and friends is more important than whether the turkey led a life of luxury before mama overcooked it. When I began writing, the AIDS epidemic was still raging.

Most of my friends died, and my social life turned into dinners after funerals with other survivors. Sometimes this was in a fancy restaurant, but it was more often in queer favorites like the Colonnade and the King and I, where the atmosphere was informal and the staffs were supportive.

22 Columnist December 3, 2021

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / FOTO ROJAS

Second, this ritual of breaking bread is universal worldwide. Most Americans live in a fantasy of exceptionalism in which a president who refers to the rest of the world as “shithole countries” earns fist-pumping from a near majority. My favorite dining has always been along Buford Highway, a huge corridor of constantly changing restaurants serving food from around the world. It has always mystified me how intimidating the WASPs in my life find these largely inexpensive restaurants. Walking through their doors is a transit to another culture and sometimes an occasion for self-examination of our inevitable, culturally embedded prejudice. It’s hard to maintain bigotry when the food on your table is delicious and the hospitable immigrants are anxious to help you with the language barrier and teach you something about the world way outside your door. It’s a cheap way to travel.

Third, you can go ahead and use Yelp to get a vague consensus manipulated by a

fucked-up algorithm, but your best bet is Eater Atlanta (atlanta.eater.com). It does an incredibly good job keeping up with the dining landscape. The best real critic in the city is Christiane Lauterbach at Atlanta Magazine. She has, for years, explored the fringes of the city’s international dining. She is equally dependable with the fancier spots, but intolerant of pretensions. Follow her on Twitter (@xianechronicles). Also check out Jennifer Zyman (@jenniferzyman on all platforms) and her podcast, “The Food that Binds” (@FoodThatBinds). Mike Jordan (@ mikejordanatl on Instagram) is cool on Thrillist, and What Now Atlanta (whatnowatlanta. com) is on top of openings and closings like nobody else. Bob Townsend at the AJC (ajc. com) writes the best “first looks.” Certainly, the most entertaining video source is Atlanta Eats (atlantaeats.com).

Fourth, stop embarrassing your table by treating servers like crap. This means always tipping at least 20 percent after taxes, even if you are ordering at a counter. The tips typically support the entire staff, all of whom are mostly underpaid. If your meal is slow coming to the table, it’s rarely the server’s fault, so don’t punish them for that either.

And, by the way, the server is not your new best friend, so unless they get extra-friendly and you’re okay with it, stick to business.

Don’t flirt. Everyone nearby will cringe.

Fifth, stop asking the server what they like on the menu! They may have been told to push a particular dish, especially a special, or they

will likely recommend the least adventurous item in order to avoid blame if you hate it.

It is okay to ask what is most popular, but that usually means nothing. If your food is served inadequately heated or has some other problem, ask the server to take it back to the kitchen. Don’t make a scene.

Seventh, and I hate to say this, but sometimes you need to be cautious about your health.

During the time I was visiting restaurants constantly, it was not unusual to get a “stomach virus.” About twice a year, I got seriously sick.

If you’re concerned, you can go online and check health department inspection scores.

No restaurant is intentionally filthy, and most that fail inspection instantly do what they need to to improve their score. Years ago, during the annual invasion of Pensacola, I ate at a really grimy oyster shack and, yep, I got hepatitis. It turned out the place had been closed more than once.

Eighth, plan your dining out. The cost of dining out has increased significantly since COVID arrived. The dining scene will likely never be what it was before, when competition kept prices and profit margins low. The solution for many is simply to dine out less often or take advantage of pop-ups, which actually serve some of the city’s most interesting food now. You can find some listed on Eater and Facebook.

Ninth, wear a mask, sit outdoors, or order takeout. Flush the toilet and wash your hands after using the restroom. Smile.

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December 3, 2021 Ads 23