12/08/17, Vol. 8 Issue 21

What is TRUVADA for PrEP?

Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP?

TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a prescription medicine that is used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex.

This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1. To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: ® Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. ® Also take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about TRUVADA for PrEP? Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. ® Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.

While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. ® You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. ® If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. ® To further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: ® Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners. ® Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you. ® Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners. ® Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. ® If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: ® Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV and stop taking TRUVADA, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.

What are the other possible side effects of TRUVADA for PrEP? Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: ® Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking TRUVADA. ® Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. ® Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. ® Bone problems, including bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA for PrEP? ® All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis. ® If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if you should keep taking TRUVADA. ® If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can be passed to the baby in breast milk. ® All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRUVADA may interact with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. ® If you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA, your healthcare provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. These medicines include certain medicines to treat hepatitis C (HCV) infection.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Important Facts about TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following page.

TVDC0139_PrEP_B_10x10-5_GeorgiaVoice_Vogue_p1.indd 1-2

I'm passionate, not impulsive.

I know who I am. And I make choices that fit my life.

TRUVADA for PrEP™ is a once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when taken every day and used together with safer sex practices. ® TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex. ® You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP.

Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you.

Learn more at truvada.com

7/26/17 9:56 AM

IMPORTANT FACTS

This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEPTM (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.

(tru-VAH-dah) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative.

• Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1.

• You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you were exposed to HIV-1 or have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

• See the “How To Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information.

TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA for PrEP is a prescription medicine used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1.

• To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health.

Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status.

• Take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.

HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1.

• Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

• Use TRUVADA for PrEP together with condoms and safer sex practices.

• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP” section.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

• Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

• Bone problems.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight.

These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.

BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis.

• Have any other medical conditions.

• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

• Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can pass to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP.

HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners.

• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you.

• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners.

• Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.

GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV infection.

• Go to start.truvada.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit start.truvada.com for program information.

TRUVADA FOR PREP, the TRUVADA FOR PREP Logo, the TRUVADA Blue Pill Design, TRUVADA, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

Version date: April 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0139 07/17

TVDC0139_PrEP_B_10x10-5_GeorgiaVoice_Vogue_p1.indd 3

7/26/17 9:56 AM

GEORGIA NEWS

HIV-positive youth lobby lawmakers on tackling HIV, homelessness Youth HIV Policy Advisors made presentation at World AIDS Day event

for LGBTQ youth is prioritized and understood in the context of HIV,” she said.

By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com Georgia Equality’s Youth HIV Policy Advisors (YHPA) hosted a World AIDS Day policy and action brunch on Dec. 1 at the Center for Civil and Human Rights, making a case for the link between housing and Atlanta’s HIV crisis and making a series of asks of the many city, county and state officials in attendance.

This marks the fourth year of the YHPA, a program that pairs lawmakers and Atlanta youth living with HIV to work together to fight the city’s HIV epidemic.

The event attracted an array of local lawmakers, including: state Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta); state Reps. Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain), Park Cannon (D-Atlanta), Michele Henson (D-Stone Mountain), Sheila Jones (D-Atlanta) and Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur); Atlanta Board of Education members Leslie Grant and Matt Westmoreland; Atlanta City Councilmembers Felicia Moore and Alex Wan; East Point City Councilmembers Thomas Calloway and Karen Rene; Dekalb County Commissioners Larry Johnson and Jeff Rader; and Johns Creek City Councilman Chris Coughlin.

Former Atlanta City Councilman and Fulton County Commissioner and current Fulton County Chair candidate Robb Pitts was also in attendance.

Housing as HIV prevention Lawmakers are becoming more and more familiar with the troubling HIV rates in Atlanta. The city ranks fifth out of all metropolitan areas in the U.S. in the number of new diagnoses, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What they may not have known was the effect that housing has on those numbers, and vice versa. According to the Atlanta Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), it’s estimated that over 17,000 people www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Youth HIV Policy Advisors members Myles Mason and D’Angelo Morrison, left to right, were emcees for the Dec. 1 policy and action brunch at the Center for Civil and Human Rights. (Photo by Patrick Saunders)

living with HIV in metro Atlanta will be unstably housed this year, and that number is expected to grow. The National AIDS Housing Coalition says that homelessness is predictive of HIV risk behaviors and that proven HIV prevention strategies have been shown to be less effective with people who are unstably housed. And LGBT youth of color are disproportionately likely to experience homelessness and contract HIV during their lifetimes.

“What these young people are asking for isn’t radical,” said Emily Brown, HIV and education programs director for Georgia Equality.

“They’re asking our city officials to see homelessness as the public health crisis that it is.

Housing is HIV prevention and healthcare for people living with HIV. We won’t end our HIV epidemic without addressing homelessness.”

Among the requests the cohort made of the lawmakers in order to tackle the problem: n Increase the capacity for housing people living with HIV in metro Atlanta n Increase shelter and emergency resources for homeless youth in metro Atlanta and make sure that they are safe and welcoming for LGBT youth n Decrease the paperwork burden placed

on housing applicants n Improve the HOPWA grant contracting and reimbursement processes for housing providers n Improve the monitoring and oversight of housing providers and provide technical assistance to ensure they meet the standards of Housing First n Learn about HIV and its social determinants from experts n Get to know how HIV and homelessness impact their district “We have a lot of work to do in educating the entire City Council about the importance of housing in our fight against HIV, but the Council president’s engagement as a leader is crucial,” Brown said.

Moore and Wan, who were sitting at the same table, would face each other in a runoff for Atlanta City Council president just days later. But Brown noted that neither Atlanta mayoral candidate (Keisha Lance Bottoms or Mary Norwood) in the Dec. 5 runoff took part in the event.

“We’re facing a general housing crisis in Atlanta, and it’s up to our new mayor working in tandem with Council to make sure housing

‘See the humanity’ For Myles Mason, becoming a part of the YHPA cohort was a no-brainer.

“Being that I’m [HIV-positive], I felt that it was my duty to spread awareness any way that I can,” he told Georgia Voice. “I felt that this was a perfect fit to inform others about what people in my situation go through, and what we’re asking from you is to see the humanity.”

Mason was a co-emcee of the World AIDS Day event, and he caught the attention of all in the room toward the end when he brought his grandmother — who raised him — up to the front of the room.

“She just found out recently in the past year that I was HIV-positive and it’s been weighing heavily on her and she basically just asked if there was any assistance for parents and people like her who have a child in this situation,” he said.

It was an emotional moment for Mason and his fellow cohort members.

“For them to see and hear an older person from a generation that basically looked at us and frowned at us and looks at our community as a bunch of wild children, to show some respect for me and my situation and my cohort, it was definitely an inspirational moment for all of us,” he said.

Mason has been paired up with state Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain) and will be meeting with her soon to talk about HIV and homelessness.

He said he’s learned a lot so far by taking part in the program, admitting that he was naive on some issues, specifically homelessness.

“I just assumed a homeless person was someone who lived in a cardboard box, but when you think about it, homelessness is really someone that doesn’t have anything of their own,” he said. “If you can’t provide for yourself or at least get something in your name or have mail come to your house, that evaluates as someone that’s homeless. My goal from here on is to get myself involved with the community to tackle the issue that occurs in this community and become a better advocate and a better person more importantly.”

December 8, 2017 News 5

GEORGIA NEWS

Pride Medical, Inc. pursues secondary litigation against Fenuxe Magazine Plaintiff alleges transfer of publication ownership was fraudulent

By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN Fenuxe Magazine came under new ownership in September, but new litigation alleges that the transfer was a fraudulent business deal.

“It is Pride Medical’s contention that the transfer of assets by TW Media was done solely for the purpose of avoiding subjecting that asset to a judgment that they knew Pride Medical was about to get,” attorney Michael Shane Welsh told Georgia Voice.

Welsh represents Dr. Lee Anisman, retired owner of Pride Medical, Inc., which sued TW Media and Fenuxe Magazine over misleading advertising claims. [Editor’s Note: Lee Anisman is a Georgia Voice shareholder] “Pride Medical, Inc., did get a judgment on TW Media and Fenuxe Magazine for an advertising fraud claim that we had pursued in DeKalb County Superior Court. We are in the process of collection action responding to that judgment,” Welsh said. “We have also learned that in the 12 months and maybe six months prior to the entry of the default judgment against TW Media and Fenuxe Magazine, the owner of Fenuxe Magazine transferred — or purported to transfer — ownership of the magazine to another entity.”

According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, Fenuxe Magazine Management, LLC was formed on Sept. 14, listing Brian Sawyer as its registered agent. TW Media — the company involved in the Pride Medical lawsuit — was administratively dissolved in December 2016, but Fenuxe Magazine continued to be published under its name.

Sawyer is also the registered agent of Goliath Media LLC and Peach ATL Media LLC, the latter of which is a rebrand of David Magazine that was first owned by William Duffey-Braun and Mike Fleming. Fleming, a previous editor of Goliath, David and Peach, also owns Project Q and the newly launched Q Magazine.

Fenuxe Magazine, one of four glossy LGBT magazines published in Atlanta, is at the center of a legal battle alleging business fraud.

The magazine’s former owner, Tyler Calkins, was handed a default judgment in October, requiring him to pay more than $100,000 in damages based on a related advertising lawsuit.

“It is Pride Medical’s contention that the transfer of assets by TW Media was done solely for the purpose of avoiding subjecting that asset to a judgment that they knew Pride Medical was about to get.”

—Attorney Michael Shane Welsh “We are also going to be pursuing a judgment individually against Tyler Calkins because we believe as the owner of the company he has personal liability for the judgment of the company,” Welsh said. “We’ll be pursuing it in conjunction with whoever he sold the magazine to because we don’t really believe that he sold it. That is a subject that’s going to be in litigation and the parties against whom we are going to be pursuing this fraudulent transfer case have not been identified officially yet.”

Calkins is still listed on the Fenuxe website as publisher and editor in chief, but on the masthead of the most recent digital issue, Sawyer is

listed as publisher and Mikkel Hyldebrandt as editorial director. Hyldebrandt is also editor of Goliath and editorial director of Peach ATL. A “Jerry Springer”-type situation The original lawsuit included counterclaims defendant Tyler Calkins brought against plaintiff Lee Anisman and Pride Medical. Those counterclaims, Georgia Voice reported in 2014, included alleging that Anisman threatened to rape Calkins and ruin his business.

In those counterclaims, Calkins stated he became a patient at Pride Medical as part of rewarding a loyal advertiser. He said at one

point he, TW Media and Anisman entered into an agreement to purchase Georgia Voice, but that deal later fell through.

As for the claims of rape threats, Anisman filed a motion accusing the defendant of “merely attempting to create a nearly ‘Jerry Springer’-like atmosphere to this litigation, in order to embarrass Plaintiff and its owners, and to conceal and obscure public attention upon the fraud which it and Mr. Calkins apparently perpetrated upon their clients and customers, including Plaintiff.”

CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

6 News December 8, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

GEORGIA NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Anisman also said in that motion he has evidence of a romantic relationship between he and Calkins, who denies such a bond ever existed.

Welsh said Calkins’ counterclaims were dismissed, so he chose to dismiss the case and re-file it.

“It’s around the time that we re-filed it that Mr. Calkins and TW Media began considering options to get around the lawsuit, and they decided to ignore that lawsuit,” Welsh said. “There was no attorney in the re-filed case. The attorney, Todd Poole, said he was not authorized to accept service and wasn’t representing TW Media at the time I communicated him.”

TW Media never responded to the re-filed suit, which is where the default judgment came from.

Pride Medical alleged that TW Media entered into an advertising contract with them by sharing false information, including the number of issues printed and the number of people seeing each issue. That led to Pride Medical “paying significantly more for advertising revenue than it was getting,” Welsh said.

On Oct. 20, Pride Medical came before the Superior Court of DeKalb County for a final hearing on the suit against TW Media and Fenuxe Magazine. Judge Fatima A. ElAmin ruled that Pride Medical was entitled to damages for breach of contract and attorney fees, totaling $101,391.92.

The next actions will happen in about 90 days, after which Welsh anticipates being in “full collection mode.”

“At this point Pride Medical simply wants to get its money back and it wants to get paid on the judgment it has on these entities,” Welsh said. “If we can do that without having to file suit for fraudulent conveyance, that’d be fine.”

Calkins and Sawyer were unable to be reached as of press time.

Atlanta, gay and glossy If the transfer of ownership of Fenuxe Magazine is found by the courts to be fraudulent, it is unclear what the fate of the publication will be. Fenuxe claims a tenure as “your longest published & only source for Edgier [sic] content,” according to an email blast sent around Thanksgiving from the “Atlanta Peach, Goliath, and Fenuxe Magazine Team.”

Atlanta’s LGBT media scene found itself in a tizzy earlier this year when David Atwww.thegeorgiavoice.com

lanta disappeared from newsstands and was replaced by Peach ATL. At the time, David Atlanta and its owner, David Thompson, were embroiled in another separate legal matter with the now-owner of Peach, Goliath and Fenuxe, among several other individuals.

Now, the three are joined by a fourth glossy: gay news website Project Q launched

Q Magazine this fall, a nightlife- and features-heavy publication that includes news and columnists.

Q Magazine co-owner Mike Fleming told Georgia Voice that he and co-owner Matt Hennie felt this was the right time to go to print because they wanted to deliver a glossy magazine that took into account the skills and T:7.458”

experience of Project Q’s staff. That’s in part where their new podcast component comes in, as Hennie already has a voice for radio and enjoys in-person interviews. To expand that into a podcast was a natural thing, Fleming said.

And as a new year approaches, Atlanta’s LGBT media landscape continues to evolve, with signs pointing to more changes to come.

Every story in the rainbow Stirring romances. Inspiring dramas. Uplifting biographies. Pride comes in many stories.

XFINITY X1 is the first to provide a diverse, complete, community endorsed LGBTQ entertainment experience. Just say “Pride” or “LGBTQ” into the X1 Voice Remote to search this one-of-a-kind collection. With XFINITY X1, it’s Pride all year.SM

I Am Jazz available at xfinity.com/stream

El Canto Del Colibri available on XFINITY Stream app

Discover more about the LGBTQ Film & TV Collection at xfinity.com/findyourself

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. © 2017 Comcast. All rights reserved.

December 8, 2017 News 7

NEWS BRIEFS Grady’s Ponce Center celebrates 25th anniversary On Nov. 30, government, business and medical leaders came together to celebrate 25 years of treating patients and conducting research at Grady Health System’s Ponce de Leon Center.

Known as the Ponce Center, the facility houses one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive programs for the treatment of advanced HIV and AIDS and is part of the Emory Center for AIDS Research.

Thursday’s event also recognized the Fulton County Commission, DeKalb County Commission and others who have recently committed funding towards a planned $23 million renovation and expansion.

“When this facility opened nearly 25 years ago, no one knew what the future would hold. What was clear was that there were people who needed compassionate medical care and a commitment to identifying ways for them to live with what was then a new disease,” said John Haupert, chief executive officer of the Grady Health System, in a press release. “While we should all be proud of the progress we have made, AIDS remains a growing epidemic, especially here in Atlanta, which makes the modernization of this facility even more important.”

Grady announced its renovation plans for the Ponce Center earlier this year as part of a capital campaign that will also fund the construction of a new Center for Advanced Surgical Services. Since that time, both the Fulton County Commission and DeKalb County Commission voted unanimously to provide half of the funding needed to complete both projects. Gilead Sciences, Inc., a longtime partner of Grady with regard to HIV and AIDS, made the lead corporate gift towards the Ponce Center project.

“Our company is committed to providing innovative solutions to help those living with HIV and AIDS and to ultimately finding a cure,” said Dr. Trevor Hawkins, senior director of medical affairs, Gilead Sciences. “The work being done at facilities like the Ponce Center is critical not only to the treatment of current patients but also to stemming the epidemic. We look forward to seeing what we can achieve through our continued partnership.”

The program closed with an announcement by Dr. Carlos del Rio, co-director of the Emory Center for AIDS Research, that the Emory Medical Care Foundation would

Government, business and medical leaders celebrated the 25th anniversary of Grady Health System’s Ponce de Leon Center on Nov. 30. (Courtesy photo)

make a $2 million contribution, upon approval from the Emory University Board of Trustees in the spring of 2018.

Trans House Atlanta Program receives $15,000 grant Trans Housing Atlanta Program (THAP), a community-led service nonprofit that provides safe housing and supportive services centered on transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, announced a grant award from the Homestead Foundation for $15,000.

“These funds are crucial to maintaining and growing our capacity to respond to the housing crisis we’re in,” said Jamie Roberts, THAP co-founder and 2017 Pride grand marshal, in a press release. “Homelessness and housing instability hits the trans and gender non-conforming particularly hard, as we deal with structural discrimination from within the local shelter system, as well as suffering disproportionate effects of the lack of affordable housing in the core counties of the Atlanta metro area.”

Since THAP began in early 2014, they’ve continued to organize a co-operative housing organization operated by its membership with a core group of volunteers, and in 2016 provided 50 individuals with emergency housing assistance, security deposit and util-

ity assistance, transportation assistance and other direct services, as well as dozens more to locate affordable housing services and access as well as education and advice about housing law and the eviction process. The organization says it has doubled its capacity every year to offer these services.

Nasheedah Muhammad, deputy director of Lost-n-Found Youth and member of THAP, said that part of THAP’s success is “Because of its community-based collaborative and cooperative nature, the THAP model is built for rapid response in a way that I have never seen.

As a trans woman, I’m very pleased to support an organization that does so much for its clients and is really making a tangible difference in the lives of Atlanta’s transgender citizens.”

THAP also collaborates with other nonprofit advocacy organizations, such as Georgia Equality and Project Affirm, to do research and document the experiences of trans and gender non-conforming individuals who attempt to access homeless shelters in the greater Atlanta metropolitan region.

THAP continues to make progress in its capital campaign to raise $50,000 to purchase its own house to serve as a hub of its service provision, having raised over $10,000 this year so far.

THAP is a co-operative housing organization operated by its members.

8 News December 8, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.

What Is Mytesi?

Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).

Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:

Tired of planning your life around diarrhea?

Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi.

Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi?

Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).

Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant?

• Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother?

• It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you

What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines?

If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.

What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi?

For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.

Rx Only Manufactured by Patheon, Inc. for Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Francisco, CA 94105 Copyright © Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

For Copay Savings Card and Patient Assistance, see Mytesi.com

Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested in South America.

Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com.

NP-390-14

• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE

NATIONAL NEWS

Mixed bag of arguments in Supreme Court cakeshop case Opponents spar in Dec. 5 hearing on Colorado baker that refused to make wedding cake for gay couple

everyone else to people simply because of their either race, religion, national origin, gender, and in this case sexual orientation.”

By CHRIS JOHNSON, WASHINGTON BLADE courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association

The U.S. Supreme Court concluded arguments Dec. 5 in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case with no clear indication of whether it would rule, as swing-vote U.S. Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy expressed skepticism of the Colorado nondiscrimination law, but also sent conflicting messages.

As the American Civil Liberties Union’s national legal director David Cole argued before the bench, Kennedy remarked the attorney’s claim the baker, Jack Phillips, denied a wedding cake to the same-sex couple based on their identity, rather than objections to same-sex marriage, was “just too facile.”

Kennedy also maintained “tolerance is essential” in society and accused the Colorado Civil Rights Commission of being “neither tolerant, nor respectful of Phillips’ religious beliefs,” noting a line in commission’s ruling calling the baker “despicable.” Kennedy also mentioned “other good bakery shops that were available.”

But Kennedy also questioned whether denial of wedding cake compromised the dignity of the couple — a principle of significant importance to the justice — and questioned why selling ready-made cake to a couple wouldn’t be speech as opposed to custom cake. Kennedy also envisioned after a ruling in favor of the baker religious groups sending messages to bakeries to “not make cakes for gay weddings.”

Making cake an artistic act?

In the aftermath of the hearing, reporters in the Supreme Court press room speculated the Court could rule by remanding the case to the Colorado Civil Rights Commission with instructions to be more tolerant of Phillips’ religious beliefs. Another possibility was a ruling specifically crafted to apply to Colorado’s nondiscrimination law without

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case on Dec. 5.

(Photo via WikiCommons/Sunira Moses)

nationwide implications.

The petitioner in the case, Phillips, argues that making a wedding cake is inherently an artistic act of expression protected under the First Amendment, therefore he should be able to deny wedding cakes out of religious objections to same-sex couples like Charlie Craig and David Mullins, who sought to buy a cake for their wedding in 2012.

The Colorado Civil Rights Commission determined Phillips’ denial of service to the couple amounted to unlawful anti-gay discrimination under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. Although state courts have affirmed that ruling, the Supreme Court agreed to take up the case earlier this year.

U.S. Associate Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, the Obama-appointed justices, made the strongest case for the Colorado nondiscrimination law and at times were seemingly trying to coax Kennedy, who has a long history of ruling in favor of LGBT rights, to side with the same-sex couple.

When Kristen Waggoner, senior vice president of U.S. advocacy for the law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, approached the issue of dignity by saying “in this case, dignity cuts both ways” and the Colorado

law is demeaning to Phillips, Sotomayor shot back that that wasn’t the case.

“It’s not denigrating someone by saying, as I mentioned earlier, to say: If you choose to participate in our community in a public way, your choice, you can choose to sell cakes or not,” Sotomayor said. “You can choose to sell cupcakes or not, whatever it is you choose to sell, you have to sell it to everyone who knocks on your door, if you open your door to everyone.”

Asserting society has “competing beliefs,” Sotomayor recognized LGBT people “have been humiliated, disrespected, treated unequally” and enumerated the history of discrimination against them, such as LGBT people being denied medical treatment. That history, Sotomoyor said, justifies a nondiscrimination law in public accommodations.

“We’ve always said in our public accommodations law we can’t change your private beliefs, we can’t compel you to like these people, we can’t compel you to bring them into your home, but if you want to be a part of our community, of our civic community, there’s certain behavior, conduct you can’t engage in,” Sotomayor said. “And that includes not selling products that you sell to

Far-reaching implications Kagan peppered Waggoner with questions on why wedding cake would be considered inherent, but not other wedding services such as jeweler or a hair stylist. Waggoner said neither of those cases would be the same as a wedding cake because they’re not speech.

“I’m quite serious, actually, about this, because, you know, a makeup artist, I think, might feel exactly as your client does, that they’re doing something that’s of great aesthetic importance to the wedding and that there’s a lot of skill and artistic vision that goes into making a somebody look beautiful,” Kagan said.

In one telling moment when Kagan enumerated other professions and brought up chefs, Waggoner denied a chef at a wedding was engaged in expressive speech, prompting Kagan to say “woah” in disbelief.

“The test that this court has used in the past to determine whether speech is engaged in is to ask if it is communicating something, and if whatever is being communicated, the medium used is similar to other mediums that this court has protected,” Waggoner replied.

There was little time for attorneys to make their cases before the Supreme Court without interruption as justices continually peppered with inquiries and challenged, but on occasion were able to make the points they had prepared.

Cole, representing the American Civil Liberties Union and the same-sex couple, emphasized the far-reaching implications of ruling in favor of being allowed to deny wedding cases to LGBT people.

“We don’t doubt the sincerity of Mr. Phillips’s convictions, but to accept his argument leads to unacceptable consequences,” Cole said. “A bakery could refuse to sell a birthday cake to a black family if it objected to celebrating black lives. A corporate photography studio could refuse to take pictures of female CEOs if it believed that a woman’s place is in the home. And a florist could put a sign up on her storefront saying we don’t do gay funerals, if she objected to memorializing gay people.”

10 News December 8, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Your health doesn’t work a 9-5.

You can always reach one of our after-hours pharmacists at 888.AvitaRX. They’re available to assist with any prescription side-effects or other questions and concerns you may have.

Getting Better, Together.

avitapharmacy.com/atl Dekalb Health Pharmacy 1428 Scott Blvd • Decatur, GA Phone: 404-270-9242 Avita Pharmacy is a proud member of the Long’s family of pharmacy solutions.

WITH US

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

PO Box 77401 • Atlanta, GA 30357 P: 404-815-6941; F: 404-963-6365

EDITORIAL

Editor: Patrick Saunders psaunders@thegavoice.com Editorial Contributors: Ashleigh Atwell, Cliff Bostock, Dyana Bagby, Melissa Carter, Dallas A. Duncan, Jim Farmer, Elizabeth Friedly, Shannon Hames, Just Toby, Bill Kaelin, Ryan Lee, Robbie Medwed, Ronni Radner, Matt Schafer, Dionne N. Walker, Simon Williamson

PRODUCTION

Art Director: Rob Boeger rboeger@thegavoice.com

BUSINESS

Managing Partner/Publisher: Tim Boyd tboyd@thegavoice.com

SALES

Sales Executive: Dixon Taylor dtaylor@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

All material in Georgia Voice is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of Georgia Voice. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. We also do not accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers.

Unsolicited editorial material is accepted by Georgia Voice, but we do not take responsibility for its return. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit any submission. Guidelines for freelance contributors are available upon request.

A single copy of Georgia Voice is available from authorized distribution points. Multiple copies are available from Georgia Voice office only. Call for rates. If you are unable to reach a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 26-issue mailed subscription for $60 per year. Checks or credit card orders can be sent to Tim Boyd, tboyd@thegavoice.com Postmaster: Send address changes to Georgia Voice, PO Box 77401, Atlanta, GA 30357. Georgia Voice is published every other Friday by The Georgia Voice, LLC. Individual subscriptions are $60 per year for 26 issues. Postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices.

The editorial positions of Georgia Voice are expressed in editorials and in editor’s notes. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Georgia Voice and its staff.

To submit a letter or commentary: Letters should be fewer than 400 words and commentary, for web or print, should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Email submissions to editor@thegavoice.com or mail to the address above.

Join us online: facebook.com/thegavoice twitter.com/thegavoice instagram.com/thegeorgiavoice youtube.com/user/GAVoice

12 Outspoken December 8, 2017

Food, drink and my unhealthy lust

BY PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com

“[El Azteca] is no frills, nothing fancy and will never win a James Beard Award, but it’s a great neighborhood spot and one of the waiters sounds like a character from ‘Toy Story.’”

Putting this issue together made me hungry. Why? It’s our annual Food and Drink issue of course.

It got me thinking about my own culinary preferences, and for me that begins and ends with Mexican food, for which I have an unhealthy lust for. The cheese dip, the salsa, the margarita, all of it, the entire experience.

The addiction started when I was a boy and my parents would take my brothers and I to El Azteca in Sandy Springs. The El Azteca love continued into adulthood as I moved closer intown and checked out the one on Ponce, which was not good and is now called El Ponce (which is Spanish for “The Ponce”).

Much better was the one on Peachtree Street near Collier Road, which I frequent to this day. It’s no frills, nothing fancy and will never win a James Beard Award, but it’s a great neighborhood spot and one of the waiters sounds like a character from “Toy Story.”

I have branched out to other Mexican restaurants though, and Nuevo Laredo in West Atlanta is definitely of the city’s best. Super long lines on weekends but worth the wait.

If closer into Midtown, Senor Patron in the Spire building is always a safe bet. Their cheese dip in particular is among the best if you like it with a kick. Although, I just read that they failed a health inspection on Nov. 1; however they received an “A” on reinspection later that month.

Mezcalito’s in Grant Park was a somewhat recent find for me. Get the chicken enchiladas with monterey jack cheese, tomatillo and red salsa — you will thank me.

For tacos, Bartaco and Taqueria del Sol get most of the local notice (and for good reason),

but venturing out farther has its rewards, as I found out when I went to Tacos el Don in Acworth. If you’re feeling adventurous, you’ll be rewarded when you order up the tongue tacos.

And now I’m hungry again.

But enough about my specific tastes and let’s look at what we have going on in this special issue.

If there was one Atlanta food topic we kept coming back to and kept hearing from people about when brainstorming for this issue, it was food halls. You have your mainstays like Sweet Auburn Curb Market to the new(ish) kids on the block in Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market, and we fill you in on those but also give you a sneak peek at what’s coming — and it’s gonna be good.

Dallas Duncan is always on point with food trends, so she tells you about rolled ice cream, meal kits and more to keep an eye out for as we enter 2018.

And food trucks was another big topic.

We got to thinking, what if someone had food truck meals (and snacks) all day, from morning to midnight? That’s what Elizabeth Friedly did, and she survived to tell the tale.

Our food critic Cliff Bostock definitely wasn’t going to be left out of the fun. In this issue, Cliff offers up his picks for the best restaurants in a number of neighborhoods around the city.

And do you have an amateur chef in the house? Check out our page of the hottest kitchenware and appliances to snatch up this season.

It’s the holidays, so peruse the issue and allow yourself to indulge a bit on what stands out for you. Happy hunting!

FEEDBACK Re: “Jeff Cleghorn: Why I’m voting Mary Norwood for Atlanta mayor,” Nov. 22 “As of the writing of your article, there may not have been any reference to LGBTQ issues on Keisha Lance Bottoms’ campaign site, but a quick check today revealed platform points related to our issues are present — mixed in with other concerns such as traffic, housing, etc. I personally endorse neither candidate as I am not an Atlanta resident (I am about 60 miles north), but my interest in this mayoral race lies in how LGBTQ issues are treated, and my hope is that mayoral candidates for other metropolitan cities will be influenced to include LGBTQ concerns as a part of their platforms, further influencing future state and federal candidates to consider doing the same. I can dream, can’t I?” -Anthony P. via www.thegeorgiavoice.com Re: “Atlanta mayoral candidates vie for LGBT vote as runoff nears,” Nov. 29 “Mary might be independent but it’s too much of a risk under a Trump governance. Wake up!”

-Dee Nyce via Facebook “Mary is honest, the other one corrupt.”

-George Maynard via Facebook Re: “Cathy Woolard endorses Mary Norwood for Atlanta mayor,” Nov. 29 “The mayor of any major city seeks federal funds frequently. Denouncing the current person in the White House who has shown himself to be a petty little grudgeholder isn’t a good play, even if it doesn’t give some folks the warm fuzzies they demand.”

-Deb Aziz via Facebook Re: “Georgia Equality endorses Mary Norwood for Atlanta mayor,” Nov. 29 “How do you reconcile this with the endorsement of Park Cannon? All of this seems so very embedded in racial politics to me. Why Norwood? And I’d love to hear what Park has to say for Keisha as well.

How about an open discussion vs. a hierarchical pronouncement?”

-Linda Meredith via Facebook Want to be featured in Feedback? Leave a comment to a story via social media or on our website, or email editor@thegavoice.com with the subject line “Feedback.” www.thegeorgiavoice.com

IN THE MARGINS

By Ashleigh Atwell

Ignorance still abounds on HIV/AIDS Ashleigh Atwell is a queer lesbian writer and organizer born and raised in Atlanta.

About a month ago, what I thought was a see why the tweet was wrong. He claimed to joke turned into an educational session. I was be worried about chefs possibly contaminatperusing one of several Facebook groups that ing food or infecting people on purpose beclog my timeline. A member posted a screen- cause he’s met “unsavory people” in kitchens. shot of Twitter user @bakedalaska complaining Sadly, he wasn’t the only one. Another about June’s, a Canadian restaurant that only person repeated the blood-in-food theory. employs HIV-positive people. “Canada has a A third swore she knew how HIV/AIDS new restaurant staffed entirely by HIV+ chefs was transmitted but said she wouldn’t eat at to ‘smash stigma,’” he wrote. “You’re a bigot June’s because of “bad apples.” I was flabberif you don’t want to catch AIDS from your gasted. In an era where we have commemofood.” I rolled my eyes and went to the com- rations, ad campaigns and countless organiment section to see who had a similar reaction. zations, there are still adults that don’t know Typically, when someone is willfully ignorant the most basic facts about HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, HIV-positive people were beand bigoted, they’re mocked and jokes fly.

Instead, it was a hot mess and I had to be- ing viewed as predatory, and that stigma has come an educator.

One group member who consequences. Michael Johnson was sentenced AF_ATL_Ad_GeorgiaVoice_HalfPageHor_10x5_Male_FINALOUTLINES_Print.pdf 2 9/26/2017 5:32:53 PM claimed to work in the food industry didn’t to 30 years in prison for allegedly infecting two

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

“Sadly, there is still shame attached to HIV/AIDS. Medical advancements don’t mean much if people don’t even want to get tested because they’re scared of being labeled or judged.” partners and exposing four more people to the virus. According to media reports, this conviction was handed down despite the prosecution’s inability to prove Johnson was the person responsible for the transmission.

More than 30 states have HIV criminalization laws. People who disclose also risk being reported to the authorities, being beaten or killed. Cicely Bolden was killed by her boyfriend, Larry Dunn, when she disclosed after they had sex. According to CBS News, Dunn told the police “she killed me, so I killed her.”

Although Google places a wealth of information at our fingertips, it is clear that people are still largely uneducated about HIV/AIDS. The virus used to be a death sentence, but medical advancements have allowed HIV-pos-

itive people to live long and healthy lives. Sadly, there is still shame attached to HIV/AIDS. Medical advancements don’t mean much if people don’t even want to get tested because they’re scared of being labeled or judged.

Atlanta has been likened to a third-world country, and a majority of diagnoses come from the South. Those facts might be shocking until you remember that abstinence-only education is prevalent in our schools. Consequently, those kids grow up thinking it’s possible to “catch AIDS” from food.

As a society, especially here in the South, there has to be a cultural change. We shouldn’t just talk about HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day or when there’s a chance to wear red or use a Snapchat filter. We can’t afford to go backward.

December 8, 2017 Outspoken 13

WHAT IS GENVOYA®?

GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years and older who weigh at least 77 pounds. It can either be used in people who are starting HIV-1 treatment and have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. These include having an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL) for 6 months or more on their current HIV-1 treatment. GENVOYA combines 4 medicines into 1 pill taken once a day with food. GENVOYA is a complete HIV-1 treatment and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines.

GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses, you must keep taking GENVOYA. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about GENVOYA?

GENVOYA may cause serious side effects: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking GENVOYA, your HBV may suddenly get worse.

Do not stop taking GENVOYA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.

Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys.

If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking GENVOYA. • Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

• Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.

•

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking GENVOYA? •

•

Who should not take GENVOYA?

Do not take GENVOYA if you take: • Certain prescription medicines for other conditions. It is important to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA. Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider.

• The herbal supplement St. John’s wort.

• Any other medicines to treat HIV-1 infection.

What are the other possible side effects of GENVOYA?

Serious side effects of GENVOYA may also include: • Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking GENVOYA.

•

•

•

All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection.

All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Other medicines may affect how GENVOYA works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to take GENVOYA with all of your other medicines.

If you take antacids. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take GENVOYA. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if GENVOYA can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking GENVOYA. If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Important Facts about GENVOYA, including important warnings, on the following page.

Ask your healthcare provider if GENVOYA is right for you.

GENVOYA.com GENVOYA.com

GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

SHOW YOUR

POWER

Take care of what matters most—you. GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day complete HIV-1 treatment for people who are either new to treatment or people whose healthcare provider determines they can replace their current HIV-1 medicines with GENVOYA.

IMPORTANT FACTS This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(jen-VOY-uh) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GENVOYA

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF GENVOYA

GENVOYA may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking GENVOYA. Do not stop taking GENVOYA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

GENVOYA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About GENVOYA” section.

• Changes in your immune system.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

• Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea.

These are not all the possible side effects of GENVOYA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking GENVOYA. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with GENVOYA.

ABOUT GENVOYA GENVOYA is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 77 pounds and have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. GENVOYA can also be used to replace current HIV-1 medicines for some people who have an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL of virus in their blood), and have been on the same HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months and have never failed HIV-1 treatment, and whose healthcare provider determines that they meet certain other requirements.

• GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others.

Do NOT take GENVOYA if you: • Take a medicine that contains: alfuzosin (Uroxatral®), carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Carnexiv®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®), cisapride (Propulsid®, Propulsid Quicksolv®), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine (Cafergot®, Migergot®, Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), lovastatin (Altoprev®, Mevacor®), lurasidone (Latuda®), methylergonovine (Methergine®), midazolam (when taken by mouth), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®, Dilantin-125®, Phenytek®), pimozide (Orap®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®), sildenafil when used for lung problems (Revatio®), simvastatin (Vytorin®, Zocor®), or triazolam (Halcion®).

• Take the herbal supplement St. John’s wort.

• Take any other HIV-1 medicines at the same time.

•

GET MORE INFORMATION • • •

This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

Go to GENVOYA.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit GENVOYA.com for program information.

BEFORE TAKING GENVOYA Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

• Have any other medical condition.

• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

• Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA.

HOW TO TAKE GENVOYA • •

GENVOYA is a complete one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine.

Take GENVOYA with food.

GENVOYA, the GENVOYA Logo, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, SHOW YOUR POWER, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: September 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. GENC0177 11/17

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

Gifts for the

Kitchen Aficianados Kilner Fermentation Set $29.99 Cook’s Warehouse

Calphalon Premier Space-Saving Hard Anodized Nonstick 3-Piece Cookware Set, 8” Stack $160 Williams Sonoma

Ferment your very own foods packed with vitamins, minerals and probiotic cultures with minimal effort; improve your diet with simple blend of vegetables, water and salt. Ideal for creating live cultures of sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles and more; instruction leaflet with recipe ideas included in set. Made from non-toxic, non-porous glass; odor and stain resistant.

Coravin Model Two Elite Wine Pouring System $349.99 Cook’s Warehouse

A unique wine system that pours wine without removing the cork so you can enjoy the rest of the bottle another day.

Never again compromise on when and how to enjoy a glass of wine every day.

Say goodbye to cluttered kitchen cabinets with this cookware set. The pans and flat glass lids are designed to nest and stack neatly in any order, saving up to 30 percent of storage space.

Where to purchase COOK’S WAREHOUSE

Ansley Mall 1544 Piedmont Ave NE #403-R Atlanta, GA 30324 404-815-4993 CooksWarehouse.com

STRIPPAGGIO

Emory Point 855 Emory Point Drive #C-135 Atlanta, GA 30329 404-963-5921 Strippaggio.com

Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Sample Gift Box $24.95 Strippaggio

This delicious four-pack includes the best of both worlds with samples of some of Strippaggio’s most popular extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Includes Basil olive oil, Cook’s Blend olive oil, Barrel Aged balsamic and White balsamic. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Primitives by Kathy MiMi Tea Towels $9.99 each Cook’s Warehouse

Primitives by Kathy tea towels are made from strong, high quality cotton for softness and durability.

WILLIAMS SONOMA

Ponce City Market 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Suite 160 Atlanta, GA 30308 404-810-7486 Williams-sonoma.com/stores/us/ga/ Atlanta-Ponce-City-Market/ December 8, 2017 Eat, Drink & Be Merry 17

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

Food hall feeding frenzy Here a food hall, there a food hall, everywhere a food hall. That’s what it’s felt like the last couple of years in Atlanta, and it’s just getting started. But a big salute goes out to Sweet Auburn Curb Market, which has been a mainstay to downtown for years. Check out a rundown of the newbies and the soon-to-be’s below.

Dancing Goats Coffee Bar

Stop in and enjoy the screened porch with an espresso drink or one of their single origin coffees prepared at the manual brew bar. Free Wi-Fi. BatdorfCoffee.com

Skyline Park

Marrakesh

Ton Ton

Atlanta restaurateur Guy Wong’s Japanese concept serves ramen, yakitori, and sushi.

TonTonRamen.com

City Winery

Pon

Hip, intimate venue with a New American restaurant, bar and on-site winery.

CityWinery.com/Atlanta

Offering regionallyinspired dishes. Seasoned meat kebabs, freshly made hummus and tahini, a variety of regional spices and cheeses and fresh pita bread made daily.

MarrakeshPCM.com

Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, including biscuits, sandwiches, chicken by-the-piece, mini pies and shakes – to cure all cravings.

HopsChicken.com

it y M C ce

Capturing the spirit of the classic mid-century American cocktail culture, offering lunch and dinner service.

TheMercuryAtl.com

An elevated beer garden located on the roof of Ponce City Market with a unique indoor-outdoor space offering sweeping unobstructed views of Atlanta’s skyline spanning from Buckhead to downtown.

Nine Mile Station serves craft beers, made-to-order libations and delicious, shareable food.

9MileStation.com

Brezza Cucina Pizzeria Italian and New American influences with signature seasonal dishes such as the JW chicken and woodroasted duckling.

BrezzaCucina.com

The Mercury

Nine Mile Station

ket ar

Rooftop revelry and splendid scenic vistas for everyone! Perched high above the hustle and bustle of Ponce de Leon Avenue on the top of Ponce City Market, Skyline Park is a premium destination for those seeking delicious food, refreshments and good times for all ages.

SkylineParkAtlanta.com

Hop’s Chicken

18.21 Bitters

Biltong Bar

Botiwalla

Offering organic, all-natural beef jerky, hand-held savory pies, South African wines and craft cocktails.

Biltong-Bar.com

A new chapter in mind blasting Indian street food from the team behind Chai Pani.

Botiwalla.com

Central Food Hall

Whether they’re biking in for a cool-down snack or bringing a group together for lunch and shopping, Ponce City Market quickly made a name for itself as the vanguard of Atlanta’s BeltLine. Opening a few months after nearby Krog Street Market, Ponce City Market is both food and retail destination.

PonceCityMarket.com/food-hall

A Prohibition-inspired shop offering premium bitters, syrups, tinctures, shrubs, old-fashioned tonic, ginger beer and craft cocktail mixers to craft a better cocktail.

1821Bitters.com

ALSO FEATURING: Collier Candy Company Instagram.com/CollierCandyCo Farm to Ladle FarmToLadle.com Honeysuckle Gelato HoneysuckleGelato.com King of Pops Bar & Good Grub Atlanta.KingOfPops.net Lucky Lotus Facebook.com/LuckyLotusJuiceBar

Jia

Bellina

A gourmet Italian market offering slow-cooked foods and fresh ingredients.

Bellina-Alimentari.com

Minero

A casual Mexican concept by James Beard Award-winning Chef Sean Brock.

MineroRestaurant.com

18 Eat, Drink & Be Merry December 8, 2017

A Szechuan-inspired restaurant from Dahe Yang and chef Jiguo Jiang of Tasty China and Peter Cheng’s Tasty China 2.

JiaAtlanta.com

H&F Burger

H&F Burger by James Beard Award-winning chef Linton Hopkins highlights Hopkins’s famous burger. hfburger.com/ ponce-city-market

El Super Pan

Offering Latin-inspired sandwiches, baked goods and hot plates by day with Latininspired small plates at night.

ElSuperPan.com

W. H. Stiles Fish Camp

James Beard Award-winning chef Anne Quatrano’s is a casual-style fish shack featuring a raw shell counter, housemade sandwiches and steamed fish bowls.

Starprovisions.com/ whstilesfish-camp/

Saint Germain Facebook.com/SaintGermainFrenchBakery Simply Seoul Kitchen SimplySeoulKitchen.com Spiller Park Coffee SpillerPark.com The Tap on Ponce AtTheTap.com

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

Yalla

Contemporary Middle Eastern food featuring shawarma and kebabs, falafel, fresh-baked pita and laffa and a variety of salads, fresh vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

YallaATL.com

Featuring a menu that showcases a list of items including sushi rolls and rice bowls, including a create-your-own option.

Facebook.com/ Makimono.Atl

Varuni Napoli

Authentic Italian cuisine and Neapolitan pizzas.

Offering beer, wine and house-made limoncello.

Varuni.us

Fred’s Meat & Bread

Featuring Todd Ginsberg’s acclaimed burgers and fries and a full menu of classic sandwiches including cheesesteaks, banh mi, po’ boys and more.

FredsMeatand Bread.com

Offering Asian steamed baos filled with delicious meats and local vegetables.

Famous for their roasted pork belly bao.

SuzySius.com

The Little Tart Bakeshop Fresh-baked pastries handmade with local, seasonal and organic ingredients. Coffee drinks from drip to espressos, cortados, lattes and more.

LittleTartAtl.com

reet M t S

Grand Champion BBQ

ket ar

Makimono

Bar Mercado

A casual, multi-regional Spanish tapas restaurant and bar that aims to capture the authentic, relaxed feel of a traditional tapas bar by offering small, flavor-packed dishes that are easily shared. Behind the bar, guests can enjoy a selection of tapas-size beer, Spanish wines and straightforward cocktails.

BarMercadoAtl.com

Krog

Ticonderoga Club

Colonial era–inspired tavern serving seafood, sandwiches and craft cocktails from the powerhouse pouring trio of Greg Best, Regan Smith and Paul Calvert.

TiconderogaClub.com

Suzy Siu’s Baos

Krog Street Food Hall

Atlanta’s first modern food hall opened in November 2014 and, at the time, had a concept that was relatively new to the U.S. Bar Mercado is the newest restaurant at Krog Street, and its sister food stall Recess is slated to open soon. The faces behind Decatur restaurant Kimball House also have plans for an eatery in the market.

KrogStreetMarket.com

Superica

A Mex-Tex inspired restaurant with a casual and lively atmosphere influenced by Ford Fry’s Texan roots.

SupericaAtl.com

An award-winning barbecue experience – Grand Champion BBQ focuses on local ingredients and purveyors bringing the freshest product to this new destination and highlights the flavor of the Q. GcbBq.com

Gu’s Dumplings

Chef Gu and his wife provide an authentic Szechuan culinary experience featuring dumplings, noodles and other popular stir-fried dishes to the neighborhood.

GusDumplings.com

Richard’s Southern Fried

A quick service fried chicken concept by executive Chef Todd Richards offering diners three flavor options: Classic, Hot and Richards’ Hot. RichardsSouthern Fried.com

Urban pL8

Offering a wide variety of affordable, clean, and healthy cuisine in addition to their popular Paleo offerings.

UrbanpL8.com

ALSO FEATURING: Hop City Bar HopCityBeer.com Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Jenis.com/Scoop-shops/Jenis-krogstreet-market XOCOLATL Small Batch Chocolate XocolatlChocolate.com

Restaurants and eateries within walking distance to Krog Street Market

Irwin Street Market

BoccaLupo Tucked away in Atlanta’s historic Inman Park neighborhood is BoccaLupo, an Italian-American eatery owned by Atlanta-native chef Bruce Logue. An intimate restaurant that focusing on extruded and rolled, hand-cut pastas.

BoccaLupoAtl.com

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Serpas

Bell Street Burritos

Offering aapproachable cuisine with an edge handcrafted by New Orleans native chef and owner Scott Serpas. Best described as “true food,” the innovative American dishes encompass fresh ingredients that emit comforting flavors with a touch of Southwestern and Asian styles.

SerpasRestaurant.com

Just around the corner from Sweet Auburn is the stall for Bell Street Burritos, offering up bean, green chile, potato, broccoli, chicken, pork, ground beef, steak and shrimp burritos and quesadillas, plus tacos, salads and sides. If you can’t make it to the Curb Market for lunch, Bell Street also has brick and mortar locations in Buckhead and Inman Park.

BellStreetBurritos.com

Just around the corner from Krog Street Market is Irwin Street, a more compact dining destination.

Irwin Street prides itself on providing artisan-sourced to-go food and casual dining. Visitors can pop into Irwin St. Coffee & Tea for a pastry and cappuccino, dart by Jake’s for a scoop of homemade ice cream, sip on cinnamon hot chocolate from J.D. Rothschild’s and peek at the food and gift market.

IrwinStreetMarket.com

Rathbun’s Restaurants The Krog Street area is also home to three restaurants owned by noted chef Kevin Rathbun: Rathbun’s Restaurant, serving up modern American dinner fare; Spanish-style wine and tapas destination Krog Bar; and Kevin Rathbun Steak, which was named one of the best steakhouses in the U.S. this year by Travel + Leisure.

KevinRathbun.com/restaurants.html

Revolution Doughnuts & Coffee Experience the doughnut revolution in the South. Return to a time when doughnuts were simple and tasty – made from scratch with real food ingredients and without all the pre-fab mixes, funky oils, preservatives, fillers or stabilizers that the big doughnut chains use.

RevolutionDonuts.com

December 8, 2017 Eat, Drink & Be Merry 19

n Micro F e te

d oo

Hall

The Ca n

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

Square Bar

Fred’s Meat & Bread

Classic sandwiches, handcut fries and old-school sodas at Krog Street Market and now open at The Canteen.

From the team behind The General Muir and Yalla.

FredsMeatandBread.com

TGM Bagel

Inspired by the flagship restaurant The General Muir, but with its own fresh take – offers sandwiches, toasts and bagels; pastries and desserts and healthful grab-and-go items alongside a full coffee menu featuring locally-roasted Batdorf & Bronson coffee.

TheCanteenAtl.com/Tgm-bagel-1

Yalla

The Canteen Food Hall

Owned by the culinary team that runs The General Muir at Emory Point and both Fred’s Meat & Bread and Yalla at Krog Street Market, The Canteen was inspired both by the larger food hall concepts and the space it now occupies.

“It was sort of a re-thinking of that idea, taking those aspects of a walkup that work well in that small space,” said co-owner Ben Johnson. “Because of the foot traffic and the nature of the folks over there, we’re going to get a very heavy carry-out business, as opposed to the food hall — people get it and eat it there because going to the food hall is their destination. We want to be part of people’s daily life more than a traditional food hall would be.” The Canteen is set up with fresh-pressed juices and bagels available during breakfast, lunch and dinner options and a bar in the evening. On Sundays, a newly launched brunch offers combined menu favorites from each restaurant.

TheCanteenAtl.com

Contemporary Middle Eastern food featuring favorites like falafel, hummus, shawarma and kebabs, Also serving fresh, seasonal “salatim” (salads) and handcrafted, all natural, low sugar sodas inspired by Middle Eastern “gazoz.” Yalla’s menu is very friendly to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diners.

YallaATL.com

Serving fresh pressed juices, energy shots and smoothies (until 3 p.m.).

As the day progresses Square Bar transitions to a full bar with frozen drinks, a focused selection of classic cocktails, beer and wine — not only to support The Canteen’s food stalls, but also as a standalone neighborhood destination.

TheCanteenAtl.com/Square-bar

Atlanta food halls opening soon

Caravaca Market

at 782 Peachtree Street

The Collective

at 771 Spring Street Coming to Midtown in February 2019, The Collective aims to be a 10-option food hall as part of the 20,000-square foot Coda building in Tech Square. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Collective will include “chef-driven, unique eateries featuring a sampling of cuisines from across the world with communal seating areas” that open into a large outdoor “living room.” Attempts to reach the leadership team were unsuccessful as of press time, but the AJC revealed that diners will be able to choose from healthier food stalls, international street food and American staples, as well as a coffee shop. Plus, plans include a full-service centrally located bar — and open carry permitting.

20 Eat, Drink & Be Merry December 8, 2017

The next food hall headed to Atlanta will be across the street from Saint Mark on Peachtree Street. With an “opening soon 2017” banner across the top of its website, this regional cuisine-inspired dining spot is ready to welcome customers quite soon, though an official date has not been announced.

Caravaca Market’s “top-notch, gourmet food” concept is the brainchild of author, TV host and chef Harry Pagancoss. It will include a provisions market with grab-and-go meals and drinks, a craft beer and pizza eatery, Harry Bakes Café, a wine bar and more. A flower shop and newsstand are also planned for the venue.

“Enjoy a glass of wine or craft beer with your friends as our team serves up delicious small plates of regional cuisine — made with the freshest ingredients and infused with an undeniably global sensibility,” Pagancoss’ welcome letter reads on the website homepage. “We want all of our guests to come away with a new appreciation for the sublime possibilities life puts in our path.”

CaravacaMarket.com

Main & Main

at Colony Square Midtown’s famed Colony Square building is under redevelopment, and a food hall called Main & Main was named as the anchor point. According to Atlanta Business Chronicle, Main & Main will have close to a dozen restaurants, a beer garden and will serve as the setting for hundreds of annual events at the building. Charleston, South Carolina, chef Steve Palmer — owner of Oak Steakhouse — will be “chef curator” for the concept. His restaurant Sukoshi will be the first tenant.

The first phase of the re-imagined Colony Square will open next year, with Main & Main coming summer 2019.

ColonySquareMidtown.com/reimagined/main-main

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

December 8, 2017 Ads 21

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

Cliff’s picks for best eats by neighborhood Georgia Voice food critic Cliff Bostock is your culinary sherpa through our foodie city

By CLIFF BOSTOCK What follows are some of my favorites in some of our city’s neighborhoods. Atlanta’s restaurant growth remains in manic overdrive. At this point, finding a good restaurant requires no more effort than throwing a dart at a map. What does take effort is getting there in this traffic-knotted city with inadequate parking. Uber and Lyft may be your only hope. Oh. I’ve skipped Buckhead. Sue me.

CHAMBLEE/BUFORD HIGHWAY CORRIDOR I start here, because it offers endless choices of my two favorite flavors: cheap and exotic. Vietnamese is my favorite cuisine.

Pho, the dense broth with meats and herbs of your choice, is best at I Luv Pho, while a broader menu (including juicy salads) is at Co’m Vietnamese Grill. Chinese? Right now, it’s the Sichuan fare at Yummy Spicy.

Don’t be a wimp. It’s not that spicy.

MIDTOWN/ANSLEY PARK I know you love your nook in the queen bees’ high-rise on Peachtree, but the rest of us despise trying to find parking. So if we don’t want to Uber, we go to the Midtown periphery. I still love the fried chicken at both Mary Mac’s, which happily removed the huge photos of post-slavery kitchen laborers long ago, and the Colonnade, where the gay crowd has grown nearly as old as the oxygen-tank-toting blue hairs. Roxx is good for a burger and a beer. Fuck the line and head directly to a bar seat at Taqueria del Sol. Rather pricey Atmosphere still outdoes nearly every French restaurant in town. You may hate vegetarian, but try to be healthy one day in 2018. Go to Green Sprout and order the tofu skin stuffed with sprouts.

Closer to the beehive district: Empire State South, South City Kitchen, Campagnolo, STK Atlanta, Ecco. I’m going to slip Murphy’s, actually in Virginia-Highland, in here.

INMAN PARK Don’t be an idiotic purist. Let your tongue fall in love with Chef Bruce Logue’s brilliantly Americanized Italian food at BoccaLupo. For something more traditional from Northern Italy, hit Sotto Sotto. You must go to Billy Allin’s Bread and Butterfly. It’s open 7:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. most days. How can you not love a bistro whose name is drawn from “Alice and Wonderland”? Perfect omelets, roasted pheasant and pastries to die for. You can, by the way, get off the train at the Inman Park station and waddle across the street to Allin’s Proof Bakeshop for a light breakfast or lunch. Do not fail to order an almond croissant.

GRANT PARK My go-to is Grant Central Pizza, which is in walking distance of my home. Go Wednesday for the special of chicken piccata. I also like the kitschy, unpredictable Mi Barrio for Mexican, and Ria’s Bluebird for breakfast. The Shed (American) and Gun Show (crazy-delicious American served dimsum-style) are both on Glenwood on the way to East Atlanta Village.

DECATUR First up is Cakes and Ale, which offers a café lunch (ricotta and persimmon butter sandwich?) and dinner (gimme that duck leg). The Iberian Pig is probably the first area restaurant to offer real Spanish cooking. Many regard Community Q’s barbecue as the best around. Chai Pani offers Indian street food concoctions. Gastropubs are everywhere; Leon’s is my favorite.

OLD FOURTH WARD This is a huge section of intown Atlanta with confusing boundaries. Technically (I’m told) it includes EATS, the city’s best bargain, on Ponce de Leon. At completely the opposite end price- and location-wise is Staplehouse.

You have to pay a $25-per-person deposit in advance, and expect to spend more for Chef Ryan Smith’s kitchen alchemy. This is also the hood with Krog Street Market (KSM) and

Clockwise from top: Cakes and Ale, Bread and Butterfly, lamb stew at Co’m Vietnamese Grill and Staplehouse. (Courtesy photos)

Ponce City Market (PCM). I don’t have space to list the many worthwhile choices. At PCM, consider: El Super Pan (Latino sandwiches), Hop’s Chicken and Ton Ton’s ramen. At KSM: Todd Ginsberg’s famed burger at Fred’s Meat & Bread and his Middle-Eastern fare at Yalla, plus the tapas at Bar Mercado.

WEST ATLANTA This is another oversized, ill-defined neighborhood. Lately, I’ve been in love with the way-west B’s Cracklin’ BBQ. Try the brisket sliders. Steven Satterfield’s Miller Union has garnered national fame for its fidelity to farm-fresh Southern cooking. Bacchanalia remains the city’s crowning jewel, and its café-market, Star Provisions, really is unparalleled. Yes, I will have the prosciutto baguette with butter and parmesan.

Also: Bocado, JCT, Bone Garden and the (incomparable) Optimist for seafood.

22 Eat, Drink & Be Merry December 8, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

2018’s predictions for trendiest food Unicorn treats, rolled ice cream and new cuts of meat on the list

By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN Artisan baked goods, hazy New England IPAs, poké bowls, farm-to-table restaurants — all food trends embraced wholeheartedly by Atlanta’s culinary scene and foodies alike. As 2017 rolls to a close, social media addicts look to what the next Instagram-worthy item is for 2018.

There are more than 154,000 Instagram posts hashtagged #UnicornFrappuccino following the national release of the hot pink and bright blue drink by Starbucks earlier this year, but Atlanta has its own unicorn treats to put it on the map. BB’s Bagels in Alpharetta bakes up unicorn-inspired, rainbow bagels to throw some schmear on. Duluth-based Mac Lab Bakery & Cafe regularly puts out multicolored macarons — delicate cookie sandwiches made from egg whites and almond flour, filled with a flavored cream — but it’s Fruity Pebbles unicorn macarons that are some of the first to get gobbled up.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL Artisan ice cream scoops are out, and rolled artisan ice cream is in. In Atlanta, the place to grab this food trend is I-CE NY, owned by David Koonvirarak, whose college friend invented the sweet treat in Thailand six years ago. Rolled ice cream quickly grew to 250 locations in Thailand alone, joined by a number in the U.S. “I decided that we should do something here in Atlanta. We decided it would be on Buford Highway,” Koonvirarak said. “Buford Highway is kind of like my favorite area to come and get food, but a lot of places there are third-generation Oriental restaurants. I want to change that. I want to have the contribution that changed the face of Buford Highway and invite more people to come to the area.”

And they flock to I-CE NY for this unusual style of serving ice cream. Rolled ice cream is

created by pouring a liquid ice cream base on a special surface. The mix-ins, like cookies, are added, and the mixture is chopped and swirled over the surface until they achieve an ice cream consistency. Once that occurs, the ice cream is spread out into a thin sheet and then sections of it are rolled up and placed in a cup. Toppings are added, and the treat is served.

Though customers can order candy and cookie mix-ins, I-CE NY builds its menu on internationally inspired flavors like green tea and piña colada. In Atlanta, the most popular flavor is mango sticky rice.

“Some people drive to our store just to have that dessert. It is a play on Thai dessert, which is a sticky rice with mango. We use a coconut-infused sweet rice and we put that on top of our mango ice cream and it just pairs perfectly well together,” Koonvirarak said.

For the holidays, ice cream junkies can scream about chocolate and sweet cream peppermint ice cream, which features their choice of chocolate or sweet cream rolled ice cream mixed with Thin Mint cookies and crushed peppermints, garnished with sprinkles and more cookies.

SAVOR THE TRENDS Though rolled ice cream and unicorn macarons may be perfect for foodies looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, there’s plenty to be desired on the other side of the spectrum. According to the National Restaurant Association, the top two food trends for 2018 are savory: new cuts of meat and housemade sauces.

C. Ellet’s may be one of the premier places for new cuts of meat and different preparations.

The steakhouse in the Battery is the latest restaurant concept from Linton Hopkins, the name behind H&F Burger, Hop’s Chicken, H&F Bread, Holeman & Finch, Restaurant Eugene and the former Café at Linton’s in the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Though Holeman & Finch is also known for its in-house charcuterie, C. Ellet’s menu focuses on great steak and beef.

Diners can opt for a massive Tomahawk ribeye, weighing in at 38 ounces. This particular cut is a bone-in Angus ribeye served

Top: Meal kits, like this from Atlanta-based PeachDish, serve up chef-developed recipes and locally sourced fresh ingredients ready to cook at home. (Photo courtesy Kate Blohm for PeachDish); Above, left and right: Rolled ice cream is a Thai dessert that is taking the dessert world by storm. Atlanta’s I-CE NY serves up both internationally inspired flavors like mango sticky rice, and American favorites like the holiday sweet cream and chocolate peppermint. (Photo via Instagram)

to look like the Braves logo. Thirty-ounce Porterhouse steaks and a more delicate Frenched presentation of filet mignon are also available. There’s also a dry-aged cheeseburger, which offers a more pungent depth of flavor than traditional ground beef.

If it is traditional ground beef you desire, however, the metro’s numerous burger boutiques’ — Yeah! Burger and Flip Burger Boutique, for starters — housemade condiments are menu staples. At Flip Burger, sauces like flavored mayonnaises and pomegranate ketchup are available, and Yeah! Burger offers its homemade Yeah! Sauce.

HOME-COOKED WITHOUT THE HASSLE Many of Atlanta’s food trends require eating out, but when it comes to meal kits, eating in is well, in.

“There’s a growing recognition among people that food really is directly related to

their health and that cooking with whole foods, not the grocery store but the ingredients, produces healthier outcomes,” said Judith Winfrey, president and co-founder of PeachDish. “What we do is put together kind of set recipes and all of the fresh ingredients you need to prepare them. We ship from a warehouse in Atlanta all over the country in little refrigerated boxes these meal kits.”

PeachDish’s meals are sourced locally, and Winfrey said she takes pride in writing a letter each month to customers telling them about their ingredients and the farms they’re from. The popularity of its business model hasn’t gone unnoticed: PeachDish was recognized by both Forbes and the New York Observer as the country’s best meal kit service.

“Meal kits make a really convenient way for people to prepare the foods they want to prepare. You don’t have to do a lot of the thinking, don’t have to do a lot of shopping,” Winfrey said.

24 Eat, Drink & Be Merry December 8, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

Food truck finds

no matter what time of day We take an all-day culinary tour of Atlanta’s food trucks to cover every meal and snack

By ELIZABETH FRIEDLY Atlanta has a wealth of great food. Sometimes it just so happens to be served out of a truck. I ate breakfast to dinner to midnight snack from the traveling cooks all around the city. Check out some of the best dishes for each meal and where to find them.

BREAKFAST Crepe Masters (crepemasters.com) Crepe Masters pops up at farmers’ markets and events cooking savory, sweet and breakfast crepes to order. They fold your crepe into a paper cone right off the skillet. I ordered the eggs florentine crepe stuffed with spinach, provolone, mushrooms and pesto sauce. You look like you’re holding a giant waffle cone, but the crepes are delicious and filling hot food.

MORNING SNACK King of Pops (kingofpops.com) You’ve seen their ubiquitous carts with the rainbow umbrellas all around town and even indoors. King of Pops lets you choose from creamy or fruity flavors. I went with raspberry lime. The pops are never bland or watery.

There isn’t much lime, but it’s still full of flavor.

LUNCH Yumbii (yumbii.com) Yumbii is known for combining Mexican and Asian cuisines. They offer tacos, rice bowls and crazy-sounding nachos with cucumber kimchi. I ordered two stir-fried tofu tacos. All tacos are seasoned with “red Asian BBQ” sauce.

It has just the right amount of spice for a wannabe like myself. If only I hadn’t had to fight through so much lettuce to reach my tofu.

Clockwise from top left: The Little Tart Bakeshop, The Pickle, Crepe Masters, Mix’D Up Burger, Deep South Biscuit Co. and King of Pops. (Photos by Elizabeth Friedly)

DESSERT Little Tart Bakeshop (littletartatl.com) The Little Tart Bakeshop can also be found at pop-up farmers’ markets in the city.

They specialize in flaky, glazed pastries and lovingly made tarts. I ordered a small almond cake. It may not be flashy, but it is so buttery and dense, you can’t help being impressed.

MID-DAY SNACK The Pickle (thepickleatl.com) The Pickle’s menu is a jumble of comfort foods. They have cajun beans and rice, quesadillas, crab cake sandwiches and even barbecue. I was drawn to the paper sign for

“homemade lavender berry-limeade.” It’s so pink that you might expect Minute Maid sugar levels, but it’s surprisingly light tasting. I’m told it has a mixture of raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. I swear I can taste all of the above and the lavender flavor underneath.

DINNER Mix’D Up Burger (mixdupfoods.com) They’re styled as rock’n’roll gourmet burgers. I order a Santa Fe: black bean burger with pico de gallo, cheese, ancho mayo and avocado puree. It may look sloppy, but this burger was just right. You could see the actual ingredients in the patty instead of a pureed mass. The outside of the burger also

had the best charred texture. Even the bread was delicious.

LATE NIGHT SNACK Deep South Biscuit Co. (deepsouthbiscuitco.com) Deep South Biscuit Co. might be the best post-bar snack. They serve cathead biscuits with delicious sweet-salty flavor combos. I tried the Southern Buddha biscuit. This has two fried green tomatoes plus goat cheese, homemade pimento cheese, peach-pepper jam and aioli. It’s impossible to fit into one bite. When you do though, it’s worth your while. The fried green tomatoes had a great crunch and the biscuit crumbled in the best way.

26 Eat, Drink & Be Merry December 8, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

GO OFF THE EATIN’ PATH

Eating here isn’t just a meal, it’s an experience.

Whatever you crave, you are guaranteed to find a dish you won’t forget, and one that won’t be duplicated anywhere else. Exceptional dining can found every day on Buford Highway’s International Corridor and throughout Atlanta’s DeKalb. Visit us at OffTheEatinPath.com and DiscoverDeKalb.com

#DISCOVERDEKALB

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART ATLANTA | HIGH.ORG/HOLIDAYS

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Al Taylor, What Are You Looking At?

Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design

There’s something for everyone at the High this holiday season.

From three new exhibitions to festive cocktails and family-friendly programming, it’s all here for you.

MAKING AFRICA IS ORGANIZED BY

MAKING AFRICA IS FUNDED BY

MAKING AFRICA MAJOR FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY The Fulton County Board of Commissioners

AL TAYLOR: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

THE GERMAN FEDERAL CULTURAL FOUNDATION Sarah Eby-Ebersole and W. Daniel Ebersole

PREMIER EXHIBITION SERIES PARTNER

“A Fire That No Water Could Put Out” EXHIBITION SERIES SPONSORS

PREMIER EXHIBITION SERIES SUPPORTERS Anne Cox Chambers Foundation The Antinori Foundation Ann and Tom Cousins Sarah and Jim Kennedy Jane and Hicks Lanier Louise Sams and Jerome Grilhot

CONTRIBUTING EXHIBITION SERIES SUPPORTERS: Barbara and Ron Balser, Corporate Environments, Peggy Foreman, James F. Kelly Charitable Trust, Jane Smith Turner Foundation, The Lubo Fund, Margot and Danny McCaul, and Joyce and Henry Schwob.

GENEROUS SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY The Alfred and Adele Davis Exhibition Endowment Fund, Anne Cox Chambers Exhibition Fund, Barbara Stewart Exhibition Fund, Dorothy Smith Hopkins Exhibition Endowment Fund, Eleanor McDonald Storza Exhibition Endowment Fund, Forward Arts Foundation Exhibition Endowment Fund, Helen S. Lanier Endowment Fund, Howell Exhibition Fund, and John H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland Exhibition Endowment Fund.

Images: Cyrus Kabiru, Caribbean Sun, 2012. © Carl de Souza AFP/Getty Images. Sheila Pree Bright, #1960Now_Selma_50th: Bloody Sunday 50th Anniversary, Selma, AL March 2015, Courtesy of the artist. © Sheila Pree Bright. Al Taylor, 6-8-9, 1988, Glenstone Museum, Potomac, Maryland. © The Estate of Al Taylor.

E

N

T

T A T B G L

A T N LA EN

AR T

REVIEWS S

TER AIN M T

Drag the Halls All-star cast of ‘A Drag Queen Christmas’ dashes through the snow, heads to Atlanta

By J. MATTHEW COBB Since VH1’s Emmy-award winning reality-TV competition “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has turned households on to the art of drag, female impersonators from all over are now climbing the ladder toward superstar status — with many of them breaking out from www.thegeorgiavoice.com

their ordinary late-night club routines and pageantry regimen. Now you can find many of the “Drag Race” alums releasing their own Billboard-charting singles, spin-off shows, viral YouTube videos and even headlining national and international tours.

Just in time for the holiday season, “A Drag Queen Christmas” — a 30-date drag all-star tour — has been revived and is now working its way down the roadways of America. It is expected to roll through town this month at the historic 1,800-seat Buckhead Theatre. This time, the tour comes with a bundle of “Drag Race” queens from Sea-

son 9 (winner Sasha Velour, Trinity Taylor, Shea Couleé, Farrah Moan, Aja, Eureka O’ Hara) and a fresher, sleeker update. Billed the “Naughty Tour,” there’s enough bait inside this edition to lure the Grinch from out of Mount Crumpit.

Shade for days For starters, the rounds of saucy reading — one of the key ingredients behind “Drag Race’s” sudden popularity, with roots stemming from the iconic 1990 documentary “Paris is Burning” — is definitely part of the act. Taylor, who now lives infamously in the

world of memes for the catchphrase “I call shade” and serves as the daring host, promises to drop nuggets of shady coal into the stockings of those in attendance.

“Of course there’ll be shade,” Taylor told Georgia Voice. “You must not have ever seen me host! I’m the shadiest of them all, except for Miss Bianca [Del Rio].”

Devout viewers of the hit TV show will also get a chance to witness Taylor work alongside longtime rival Eureka O’Hara, who left Season 9 early due to a leg injury. Since leaving CONTINUES ON PAGE 30

December 8, 2017 A&E 29

Kim Chi is among the many drag queens lined up for the Atlanta stop of ‘A Drag Queen Christmas.’ (Photos courtesy Murray & Peter) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

the show, their relationship has improved and the trading barbs have reduced just a little.

“It’s kind of a love-loathe thing, mostly love these days,” Taylor, a Season 9 finalist, confirmed. “We have learned when to walk away from each other when we have been around too long, but I have so much respect for her.”

“Drag Race: All Stars” Season 3 contender Chi Chi DeVayne and Season 8 finalists Naomi Smalls and Kim Chi are also suiting up for the sleigh ride to Atlanta. “Drag Race” favorite (and Season 4’s Miss Congeniality) Latrice Royale will also make a reindeer pit stop here, where her closing performance — a Nutcracker-inspired festival of flag throwing and rifle tossing — ranks as one of the show’s highlights. There’s also a wider selection of holiday favorites showcased with spot-on lip syncing, witty humor and dashing wardrobe showcases. Some performers even spice things up by performing live.

Large crowds throughout tour Murray & Peter, the brains behind the holiday drag fest, pretty much refrain from the spotlight. However their body of work speaks for itself. In the past, the Detroit-based entertainment booking duo has presented shows featuring top-notch marquee talent including Belinda Carlisle, Margaret Cho, the Naked Magicians and even the late Joan Rivers.

Nowadays, their social media handles seem to overrun with outrageously queer-empowering photo and video content of their incredible top-tier drag revues. This year alone, they’ve supervised the laugh factory of “Haters Roast: The Shady Tour” and the “record-breaking” successful “War on the Catwalk,” a gargantuan 37-date roll-out of Season 9 contestants.

It’s all about drag for them, hence their acquired business web domain “dragfans.com.”

Taylor, who also hosted “War on the Cat30 A&E December 8, 2017

Details

“A Drag Queen Christmas: The Naughty Tour” Sunday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m.

Buckhead Theatre Tickets: $40-$160 www.ticketmaster.com walk,” is enjoying the hosting job, despite the onstage pressures that come with large crowds and being spontaneous.

“It’s a little overwhelming when you think of the size of these theaters and the amount of people,” Taylor said. “I have to keep their attention and not let them become bored. It’s not an easy job especially when my hosting is all off the cuff. But I like a challenge!”

The holiday tour also sashays into a few deep pockets and corners of the Midwest and Southeast (like Durham, North Carolina, and Wichita, Kansas), portions of the U.S. slowly making progress in the area of equal rights for the LGBT community. With the holiday season being an emotional time for a number of queer people, particularly in today’s climate of political unrest and uneasiness, and for those without traditional families to turn to, “A Drag Queen Christmas” promises to make the season bright.

The cast knows a thing or two about how difficult this time of year can be.

“It has many emotions attached [to it],” said Taylor, an Alabama native now residing in sunny Orlando. “I don’t really have blood family near, but I do have chosen family that I will be spending holidays with, as well as my boyfriend Leo.” The two-hour show includes a 20-minute intermission. $40 general admission tickets are available, as are VIP packages allowing fans the opportunity of earning premium seating, exclusive tour merchandise and top priority for meet-and greets before the show. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

ACTING OUT

By JIM FARMER

‘Tom of Finland,’ ‘Shape of Water’ shine among December film releases Finland’s official Academy Award submission for this year and another entry in an exceptional year for LGBT film, “Tom of Finland” charts the legendary illustrator Touko Laaksonen, whose drawings became part of gay pop culture. What might seem to some as a sexy leatherman romp, however, turns into a compelling character study instead.

As directed by Dome Karukoski, “Tom of Finland” opens as its titular character (played

by Pekka Strang) is a soldier in World War II, where his time in battle shapes the rest of his life. Later — while living with his condescending sister and in a relationship with their handsome male roommate, Veli (Lauri Tilkanen) — Tom works at an advertising agency, drawing on the side. His erotic pictures of men — muscled, leather-clad, often on motorcycles — are ground-breaking and liberating but come in a time in the repressive Finnish society of the 1950s when homosexuality is outlawed and gay men can be imprisoned.

His work eventually finds its way to America, though, and to Bob Mizer, the Los Angeles editor of Physique Pictorial magazine.

His artwork starts to peak in the late ’70s and early ’80s, but when the AIDS crisis hits, soon some are claiming his work is misplaced against the backdrop of what is going on.

“Tom of Finland” tackles a lot of (perhaps too much) material and what happens here seems to have been fictionalized somewhat.

Given the subject matter, it’s not as sexy or lusty as it might be. Nonetheless, it’s very enthralling with a convincing performance by Strang, spanning several decades. The movie effectively shows how the meek Touko became Tom of Finland and also gives the subject some overdue attention for creating work that even he didn’t realize the impact of.

In other film news, the just-opened “The Shape of Water” should be a strong contenders at this season’s Academy Awards, as well as a film that appeals to the LGBT community.

Sally Hawkins stars as Elisa, who works alongside her friend Zelda (Octavia Spencer) in a government laboratory as a cleaner in the Cold War era of the early ‘60s. Elisa doesn’t speak and communicates via sign language. She is also a virgin, although she www.thegeorgiavoice.com

Pekka Strang as Touko Laaksonen in ‘Tom of Finland.’ (Photo courtesy Kino Lorber)

Details

“Tom of Finland” Landmark Midtown Art Cinema www.landmarktheatres.com “The Shape of Water” Landmark Midtown and AMC Phipps Plaza www.landmarktheatres.com and www.amctheatres.com

certainly thinks about sex a lot. Away from her job, her housemate Giles (Richard Jenkins) is secretly gay — he and Elisa go to a nearby diner often so he can make contact with the waiter there.

Zelda and Elisa soon discover there’s a creature (Doug Jones) being held in a tank, captured by her boss (Michael Shannon, making a fine villain). Elisa develops a kinship with the creature, at first feeding him eggs, then eventually becoming enamored with him.

As directed by Guillermo del Toro of “Pan’s Labyrinth” fame, this has a lot of tones and shades. Sometimes those tones can crash together — one moment it’s a romance, then a musical homage, then some shocking violence comes out of the blue. Yet it’s a gorgeous looking, exquisitely made film with cinematography and art direction that are often breathless.

The cast is exceptional — especially Hawkins and Shannon — and the romance isn’t as corny as it sounds. “The Shape of Water” proves to be right up the director’s alley and is also likely to resonate in the LGBT community, with Elisa, Giles and the creature all certified outsiders standing up against authority.

December 8, 2017 Columnists 31

UP ALL NIGHT WITH TOBY

By TOBY

My breakfast favorite and surprise spot for wings

STORAGE SPECIALS •Free Truck Rental with Move-In •12 Month Price Guarantee •24-Hour Access •Heated & Cooled Units •Security System •Clean, Well-Lit Facility •Loading Dock 726 Ponce de Leon PL NE Atlanta, GA, 30306

404-913-8977

We sell boxes & packing supplies!

1 Month Free First Month Free

New Customers. Select Units. Expires 6/30/2018

25% Off

Boxes & Packing Supplies www.morningstarstorage.com

32 Columnists December 8, 2017

Offer Never Expires.

If you know me, you probably would know that I love food. Being Latin, I grew up surrounded by food and drinks. Since I’ve been in Atlanta, the struggle has been real between eating at home or going out. I have tried to find a balance, but hey, Atlanta has some great places to sit down and feast on your favorite dishes. This week, I am not going to tell you which are the top-rated restaurants in the city and how they compare; instead I am going to tell you what my personal go-to places are for food.

There are a few breakfast places in Atlanta that always blow my mind. When I moved here four years ago, my financial advisor was in town and said “Oh my God, Toby, we need to go to my favorite place in town — it’s a neighborhood diner/restaurant right in Inman Park.” She was referring to Folk Art. Bitch, when I tell you I became obsessed with this establishment, I’m not joking! Every visitor (family, friends, everyone) I had in town I would take to Folk Art. This place has charm and southern hospitality out the ass, and ever since it got national recognition on the popular Food Network show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” it’s been hard to go there without a line wrapped around the block. But! If you get a chance to go there, my absolute favorite dish is the Folk Southern Fried — Oh. My. God. It comes with the most amazing homemade biscuits, which are moist and crumble in your mouth and are served with fried chicken, a fried egg and some sickening sausage gravy. Just thinking about this dish has me salivating.

But if you’re not into fried chicken in the morning, there are plenty of other options — just make sure you taste the biscuits. If you get the chance to go early and get a table during brunch and you like seafood, hands down their lobster roll is totes exquisite. I really can’t find words to describe how immaculate this roll is — try and you’ll understand what I mean.

Now, let me tell you one other thing I love

“Bitch, when I tell you I became obsessed with this establishment, I’m not joking!

Every visitor (family, friends, everyone) I had in town I would take to Folk Art.” about Atlanta. The city has a lot of neighborhoods and neighborhood bars where the locals go to mingle. That place for me is local gay sports bar Woofs on Piedmont. I literally call it my Cheers. I walk in and the whole staff greats me with a happy face, basically no one is a stranger and if you’re a new face I most likely will say hello and introduce you to a few folks. Either way, everyone there knows I love wings, and I know there are some amazing places in Atlanta for wings, but let me tell you Woofs wings are fucking delicious. Almost every Sunday I go in with some close friends and drink beer and eat wings. They always have the same bartenders that day — John Clayton and Nic. I always sit with Nic because he’s a good friend, he knows I’ll get either a beer or a vodka soda then order 10 lemon pepper or hot wings (or a mix of the both). I kid you not, these wings are juicy, delicious and mouth-watering. I get sad when I’m on my last one — I suck those bones dry! If you haven’t checked them out, go on Wednesdays when its 75 cent wings. Just know that people come just to eat wings, and sometimes it’s so busy you have to eat them standing up. Either way, enjoy eating up and if you see me at Woofs, don’t be shy — say “hiiieee”! Or if you go, tell the staff that Toby sent you in to try their scrumptious wings.

Just Toby is an award-winning Atlantabased photographer, promoter and social media manager who indulges in drag queens, food, local establishments and shiny things. www.thegeorgiavoice.com

770-321-3433

snappyservices.com Snappy Makes Homes Happy!

$75 OFF

ANY SERVICE CALL, NEW & EXISTING CUSTOMERS

•Heating •Attic Insulation •Cooling •Plumbing •Electrical •Energy Audits

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

December 8, 2017 Ads 33

B

BETS T ES

T A T GB

A T N LA T

S

L

Our Guide to the Best LGBT Events in Atlanta for Dec. 8-21

EVEN FRIDAY, DEC. 8 – SATURDAY, DEC. 9

The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus rings in the holiday season with “Bells, Babs and Beyond,” featuring handbells, Barbra Streisand songs and holiday favorites made popular by the chorus over the years, featuring AGMC’s acclaimed string quartet and the Handbell Choir of Morningside Presbyterian Church, 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday, The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road N.W., Atlanta, GA 30305, www.voicesofnote. org/events/bells-babs-beyond-the-37thannual-holiday-concert/

FRIDAY, DEC. 8

The award-winning “Tom of Finland,” about the legendary gay pop culture icon, opens at the Midtown Art Cinema today, various showtimes, www.landmarktheatres.com With congregations connected to T’ruah around the country (the rabbinic call for human rights), Congregation Bet Haverim is hosting a Human Rights Shabbat celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, partnering with the AIDS Quilt and The NAMES Project, 7 – 8:30 p.m., 117 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, www. facebook.com/events/135353957162213 After a sold out premiere in June, Queer Drunk History returns. WUSSY MAG and Queeriety bring you a night of queer improvisers, stand-up comedians and sketch writers. The evening will feature two sets by Atlanta’s finest group of queer comedians, Queeriety, including an improvised version of Queer Drunk History

34 Best Bets December 8, 2017

SATURDAY, DEC. 9

Celebrate the season by donning your most festive Speedos and holiday outfits for the Atlanta Santa Speedo Run to raise money for Bert’s Big Adventure. Check-in opens at noon and the run kicks off at 2 p.m. A costume contest, raffle and fundraising winners will be announced after the run, and the party will continue until the last of Santa’s elves call it a night. The run will begin and end at Hudson Grille Midtown, 942 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.facebook.com/events/328495250952105 (Photo via Facebook) with some of the ATL’s finest drag queens, 9:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m., 7 Stages Theatre, 1105 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.facebook.com/ events/127476167947150 Joe Whitaker & The DILF Party present the DILF Atlanta/Jingle My Balls Daddy Jock/Underwear party. The night will feature hot music, hot men and plenty of dancing, with music by DJ Tommy K of Seattle, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m., Heretic Atlanta, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook.com/ events/338692186599891

SATURDAY, DEC. 9

Worthmore Jewelers selected HIV/ AIDS housing support nonprofit Living Room as the beneficiary of this year’s gingerbread house contest. Patrons

will vote in-store on their favorite design today and tomorrow, with the winning house receiving a gift card from Worthmore.

Every “vote” is a $5 donation that goes to Living Room, 10 a.m. today through 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 500 Amsterdam Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30306, www.facebook. com/events/148701545758615 Christmas with the ASO has become a staple for Atlanta families during the holiday season, with special guests the Gwinnett Young Singers and the Morehouse College Glee Club, today at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m., Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.atlantasymphony.org/ConcertsAndTickets/Calendar/2017-2018/ Holiday-Christmas-with-the-ASO

CONTINUES ON PAGE 35

EVENT SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, DEC. 9

Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker will share some of her favorite seasonal stories today. Following storytime, children will make their own snowpeople and enjoy hot cocoa, 3 – 4 p.m., Ponce de Leon Branch Library, 980 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30306, www.facebook.com/ events/546738982333281 (Photo via Facebook)

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LGBT EVENT Submit your LGBT event for inclusion in our online and print calendars by emailing event info to editor@thegavoice.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 Spoken word, music and artistic lesbian lovers will join forces tonight for Lesbian Language, a noncompetitive, nonjudgmental open mic. The featured artist and host is Ms. Meek, 6 – 10 p.m., Little 5 Points Center for Arts & Community, 1083 Austin Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.facebook.com/ events/133441760745791 The Friends Friday Bowling League annual Christmas party is hosted by Ruby Redd. Featured performers this year include Dame Leona, Sue Nami, Stella D’Oro, LaTonya O’Hara, Berlinda Wall, Tequila Mockingbird, Holly Walden, Kissya and Anne Drogyny. Mixx Atlanta, 6 – 9 p.m., 1492 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.facebook.com/ events/514731815577161 Lost-n-Found Youth Thrift Store hosts Casino Night, with DJ Stitch, professional-style casino games by Monte Carlo Productions and an auction. A $20 suggested donation includes food and alcohol and a handful of funny money for the casino. 7 – 10 p.m., 2585 Chantilly Drive N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook. com/events/139068713412188 Grindr and opera music … can a combination get any more delightfully outrageous than this? Tim Evanicki Productions presents “GRINDR: The Opera,” which combines a variety of genres from baroque to contemporary pop and uses one of the most popular dating apps in existence to peer into the everevolving landscape of gay relationships. This “unauthorized parody” runs tonight at 8 p.m. through Dec. 10 at Out Front Theatre, 999 Brady Ave. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318, tep. ticketleap.com/grindratl/

SUNDAY, DEC. 10

Getting NFFLA football withdrawal? Join in today for some good old fashioned pickup games. Afterward, participants will meet up

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13

Check out the Atlanta Ballet’s beloved “The Nutcracker” at the Fox Theatre tonight at 7:30 p.m., running through Dec. 17, 660 Peachtree St. N.E,, Atlanta, GA 30308, www.foxtheatre.org (Publicity photo) at Woofs for some Sunday Funday and NFL football. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Boulevard Crossing Park, 560 Englewood Ave. S.E., Atlanta, GA 30315, www.facebook.com/events/239694986564487 Brent Star is part of a holiday version of Drag Queen Storytime today.

3 p.m., Posman Books Atlanta, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., C-197, Atlanta, GA 30308, www.facebook.com/ events/197318104173235

MONDAY, DEC. 11

It’s Climax Monday at the Atlanta Eagle, 7 p.m. – 3 a.m., 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308, www.atlantaeagle.com

TUESDAY, DEC.12

Come eat, drink and be merry with the PALS Atlanta Drag Queens for Jingle Balls Bingo. 7:30 – 11:30 p.m., Lips Atlanta, 3011 Buford Hwy. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329, www.facebook.com/ events/146748292618667

THURSDAY, DEC. 14 – DEC. 16 “Will and Grace” star Leslie Jordan takes the stage tonight through Saturday.

This latest performance follows his successful solo outings based on his Tennessee upbringing and subsequent adventures, 8 p.m., Out Front Theatre Company, 999 Brady Ave. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318, tep.ticketleap.com/lesliejordan/

THURSDAY, DEC. 14

Roswell Winter Puppet Series presents “The North Pole Fa-La-La-La-LaFollies.” This sparkling holiday production combines music, live vocal performance and a zany and colorful cast of characters including a wisecracking fruitcake, tumbling teddy bears, the “not-so-abominable” snowman and much, much more, 10 a.m., through Dec. 16, Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell, GA 30075 Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals hosts its annual holiday party

CONTINUES ON PAGE 36

EVENT SPOTLIGHT WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13

Singer Norwood performs carols from his new album tonight, with partial proceeds benefiting Lost-n-Found Youth, 7 p.m., Trinity Spiritual Living Center, 1095 Zonolite Road N.E., #100, Atlanta, GA 30306, www.trinitycenteratlanta.org/one-voice (Publicity photo)

December 8, 2017 Best Bets 35

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Industrious Atlanta West Midtown, 976 Brady Ave. N.W., Ste. 100, Atlanta, GA 30318

yoga poses, gentle breathwork and simple meditation, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Kashi Atlanta Ashram, 1681 McLendon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.facebook. com/events/1393405290767784

Is Atlanta the year you plan to complete your novel? Join Charis for a special panel on Paths to Publication especially for women authors. The panel includes bookseller and hybrid press author Libby Ware as a moderator, hybrid press author Charlene Ball and self-published authors Lynn Hesse and MaryAnn Hopper. Each author will talk about their respective paths and the state of the industry today. 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com

OnStage Atlanta presents the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” by Philip Grecian, based on the movie by Jean Shepherd and directed by Cathe Hall Payne, running through Dec. 17, 8 p.m., 2969 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030, www.onstageatlanta.com

FRIDAY, DEC. 15

SATURDAY, DEC. 16

Holiday Trans and Queer Yoga, led by transgender yoga teachers Naga Giri and Amala Jaya, is tonight. This support group meeting and yoga class is open to all who self-identify as queer, trans or anywhere along the variant sexuality and gender path, as well as their partners, friends and allies.

The two-hour meeting will explore classical

Don’t miss A John Waters Christmas, featuring stories from the legendary filmmaker, 8 – 10 p.m, Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.variety-playhouse.com Join Charis Books & More for an all-day party to help get in the spirit and get holiday shopping done early.

Everything in the store will be 10 percent off. Free gift wrapping is available with any book purchase, and there will be lots of special homemade treats to enjoy while shopping. This will be the last holiday party

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

in this Charis building before they move in late spring. 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E, Atlanta, GA 30307, www.facebook.com/events/1520277728067793 Grab your bow ties, fancy clothes and dancing shoes and join Interfaithfamily for its annual prom-themed Hanukkah party, Promukkah 5778. Enjoy drinks and nosh, music and dancing, a photo booth (with take-home magnets), corsage- and boutonniere-making station, vintage promthemed movies and live entertainment.

8 p.m., Industrious, eighth floor of Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308, bit.ly/2AdvUQ6 Atlanta Freedom Bands kicks off its 25th performance season with “Christmas Cathedrals.” The 2017 holiday concert transports you to the setting of a grand cathedral with immersive, expansive music featuring a 70-piece wind symphony joined by DHPC’s beautiful organ and special guest harpist. 8 – 9:30 p.m., Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, 1026 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30306, www.facebook.com/ events/132208020816722

The Armorettes Christmas Show features the likes of Trashetta GaLore, Kellie Divine, Autumn Skyy, Nurse Holly and more, 8 – 10 p.m., Heretic Atlanta, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324, www.facebook.com/ events/1505324149540819

TUESDAY, DEC. 19

Topher Payne has taken over the role of Crumpet in Horizon Theatre’s annual “The Santaland Diaries,” based on David Sedaris’ “Holidays on Ice,” running through Dec. 31, 8 p.m., 1083 Austin Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.horizontheatre.com

THURSDAY, DEC. 21

Charis and Cliterati pair up to present an inviting and fierce open mic and reading series on the third Thursday of every month. December’s theme is the end of the year show-out showcase. It’s an opportunity to share favorite poems, stories and songs from 2017. 7:30 – 9 p.m., Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com

To advertise, contact: sales@thegavoice.com

PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT CONTACT: SALES@THEGAVOICE.COM 36 Best Bets December 8, 2017

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

t ha nks ATLANTA PRIDE FESTIVAL Oct. 13-14, 2018 | atlantapride.org T HAN KS TO A L L O F O U R F RI E N DS A ND SPONSOR S! SE E Y ’A L L N EXT Y EA R!

www.thegeorgiavoice.com

December 8, 2017 Ads 37

THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID

By MELISSA CARTER

UGA – and me – headed for the Rose Bowl When it was announced last weekend that the University of Georgia would be playing in the Rose Bowl, I thought it ironic because I was selected to be in the Rose Bowl parade eight months ago.

I have watched the Rose Bowl parade since I was little. A New Year’s tradition for my mother and me, we were amazed year after year at the artistry of each float and wondered about the time it takes to put such beauty together.

If you have never watched the Rose Bowl parade, then you are unfamiliar with the fact that each float in the parade is required to be organic. In other words, all the colors you see in the design are made from natural ingredients such as roses, rice, tree bark, coffee, etc. Only the mechanics of the float can be man-made, but all decor comes from nature.

Now imagine the time it must take to put that together, coupled with the knowledge that the float can’t be decorated too far in advance or the flowers and other materials will die before the parade begins.

Never did I think I would actually participate in the Rose Bowl parade. At best I’d hoped to see it in person someday but never really knew how I was going to make a trip like that happen. Then, several years ago, I emceed a Georgia Transplant Foundation event and learned a fellow transplant recipient would be riding on the Donate Life Float. This float was dedicated to transplant recipients and donors, where recipients would ride on the float and donors — whose families bravely gave their organs upon death — would have their portraits depicted in organic pictograms.

Happy for and envious of her at the same time, I wondered if that would ever be a possibility for me. Were all recipients allowed to ride the float, or had she achieved the honor in a way I would never qualify for?

Then, a couple years later, another recipient I knew rode on the same float and I asked her how the selection was made. She explained the application process that was

“I head out to California after Christmas and not only ride on the float but also help decorate it in the days leading up to the parade. What a way to ring in 2018!” open to all recipients, that finding a sponsor was one of the requirements and wished me luck. I decided to make the effort as sort of a “bucket list” venture, and thanks to Piedmont Healthcare who stepped up as a sponsor, I was selected for the 2018 float in the early months of 2017. That means I head out to California after Christmas and not only ride on the float but also help decorate it in the days leading up to the parade. What a way to ring in 2018!

My University of Tennessee Volunteers had the worst season in the history of the school’s football program, and even though I’m still frustrated by my own team, I am always happy to see the SEC rise to the top of the rankings … even if I don’t like the university represented. And due to the fact that UGA is fighting for that championship spot — and it’s through the Rose Bowl that they’ll get there — it will be fun to see the Atlanta area well-represented in Pasadena on New Year’s Day. Melissa Carter is recognized as one of the first out radio personalities in Atlanta and has been heard over the years on B98.5 and Q100 and can currently be heard daily on the Progressive Voices podcast “She Persisted.”

Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCarter.

38 Columnists December 8, 2017 www.thegeorgiavoice.com

SOMETIMES ‘Y’

ATLANTA’S FIRST URBAN WINERY, INTIMATE MUSIC VENUE, RESTAURANT & PRIVATE EVENT SPACE

By RYAN LEE

The gift of rejection: a Christmas story In the early hours of last Christmas, as the crowd at Bulldogs was exiting onto Peachtree Street and Santa was approaching Hawaii, I programmed into my phone the number of a handsome guy with whom flirtatious glancing had turned into conversation, and conversation had turned into dancing that paid homage to the concept of immaculate conceptions.

At a dignified hour later that day, I sent him a text message and received an auto-reply indicating an invalid number, my humiliation confirmed when I called and reached an error message. By miles, it was still the best Christmas Eve I’ve had in more than 25 years.

Being gay is often considered a complicating factor during the holidays, with angst over whether to bring a partner home, or enduring the company of family members whose relationship with you makes the North Pole feel balmy. As someone whose estrangement from family is unrelated to sexual orientation, my homosexuality is a seasonal lifeline.

The distance between me and my family, most notably my mother, is something I usually try not to bemoan. I feel assured she knows I love her, and I have never doubted her love for me, but we both recognize the benefits of being apart.

It feels like I manage these emotions and voids sufficiently enough throughout the year that my holidays are not filled with dread and loneliness. But then Christmas Eve comes along, and the closing of Kroger at 6 p.m., starts the most difficult 24 hours of my year; there’s something about a ‘roundthe-clock grocery store being locked and darkened that amplifies my solitude, and lets me know that I am supposed to be, expected to be, elsewhere and with others.

Christmas Eve used to serve as a de facto family reunion for the Lees, and receiving presents from relatives I barely knew embodied the material luxury of my early childhood. There is a video of one of these gatherings, when I was 10 years old, which is so beloved for its hilarity that my family would watch it during any www.thegeorgiavoice.com

“Being gay is often considered a complicating factor during the holidays, with angst over whether to bring a partner home, or enduring the company of family members whose relationship with you makes the North Pole feel balmy.

As someone whose estrangement from family is unrelated to sexual orientation, my homosexuality is a seasonal lifeline.” gathering until we stopped gathering.

The day after the video was shot, Christmas morning, I awoke and saw my mother, for the first time, with a black eye and gashed lip. It is as definitive a date as any to the end of my childhood, and the Christmases that followed rarely felt less emotionally brutal, primarily due to my parents’ drug addictions.

The Christmas traditions of my adolescence are situational homelessness and, “I’ll take care of you and your sister when I get my tax return.” My adult holiday ritual is stocking up on survival supplies, hunkering in my apartment and hoping the next 24 hours pass as fast as Santa races around the globe.

I was about to enter this emotional fortress last Christmas Eve when one of my friends invited me to Garden Lights at the Botanical Garden, and afterward we met other friends at Bulldogs. Atlanta has always felt like a ghost town when Kroger closes, so I was comforted by how crowded the club was, and grateful to be among family, in the gayest sense of that word.

Meeting a guy with whom I shared a mutual attraction had me feeling like a kid on Christmas morning, and my disappointment when I learned he hadn’t given me the correct number was a nice distraction from the melancholy Santa usually brings.

NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH! 11am-3pm | mon-sat

dec 11

Christmas with the Celts dec 22

Kris Allen Something ‘Bout Christmas

Get tickets at CityWinery.com/Atlanta or Call 404-WINERY1

Become a VinoFile Member to Purchase Tickets 48 Hours Before the General Public

650 NORTH AVENUE NE, SUITE 201, ATLANTA, GA 30308 PONCE CITY MARKET | CITYWINERY.COM | 404.WINERY1

Ryan Lee is an Atlanta writer.

December 8, 2017 Columnists 39

Holiday Gifts You'll Find Tough to Give Up Reactor Fermi: The ultimate fusion of sport and casual styling for men and women.

14k yellow gold and diamond flexible coil ring.

Lika Behar Necklace: Oxidized sterling silver with 24k gold and diamonds on adjustable chain.

Belle Brooke Petite Half Moon Earrings: Sterling silver and diamonds.

gayest

RE Y STO R L E JEW TOWN IN

Amsterdam Walk + 500 Amsterdam Ave. + Atlanta + 404/892-8294 Decatur Square + 117 East Court Square + Decatur + 404/370-3979 www.worthmorejewelers.com