2021 Pride Savoirflair Magazine by KP Media

NEW ENGLAND’S LGBTQ MAGAZINE

VOL. 15

NO. 2

I DO

Jewelry Designer

Police Officer & Nurse Wed

RONY

TENNENBAUM

Books

REMODELING THE GAY WAY

GAY BAR

On YouTube

Why We Went Out

PRIDE

Cars

DRIVING LGBTQ NEW ENGLAND

TATTOOS

Two of Us

O ENT PY A

Rachel Maddow and Susan Mikula C

M PL

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CONTENTS PRIDE TATTOOS | FUN DESIGNS BY BO RODRIGUEZ

BOOK REVIEWS | LAST CALL: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE, LUST, AND MURDER IN QUEER NEW YORK | ELEANOR GAY BAR: WHY WE WENT OUT

10 14

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

REMODELING THE GAY WAY | ON YOUTUBE BY MARK ADAMS

TWO OF US | RACHEL MADDIOW + SUSAN MIKULA BY CHLOE BELLE

I DO | POLICE OFFICER & NURSE WED BY SHARON LEVINE

JEWELRY DESIGNER | RORY TENNENBAUM BY NICHOLAS MCCARTY

CARS | DRIVING LGBTQ NEW ENGLAND BY JOHN AXELRO

MARKETPLACE SERVICE DIRECTORY COMMUNITY OWNED AND FRIENDLY SERVICES

20 27 32

BOSTON PROVINCETOWN NORTHAMPTON PROVIDENCE MASSACHUSETTS

CONNECTICUT

VERMONT

MAINE NEW HAMPSHIRE RHODE ISLAND

PUBLISHER Mary Kennedy

PHOTOGRAPHY COVER: Almy | Julie Ryan

EDITOR Sharon Levine

DISTRIBUTION Crevier Distribution | CTM Distribution Breakaway

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Nicholas McCarty

ADVERTISING INFORMATION All inquires may be addressed to KP Media, 333 Washington St. #714 Boston, MA 02108 (617) 423-1515 e-mail: kpmedia@aol.com

©2021 All Rights Reserved. M. Kennedy Publishing, Inc. SavoirFlair Magazine may not be reproduced in part or whole without the written permission of the publisher. Advertising content is the sole responsibility of individual advertisers. Advertisers participating in this guide are not necessarily LGBTQ, but openly welcome the LGBTQ community.

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PRIDE TATTOOS

By Bo Rodriguez Since Neolithic times, tattoos have been a tribal expression of community. Our community has expressed our pride with every kind of tattoo design. These designs are just a small sampling of the thousands of images from this unique form of body art.

ON THE EAR

This small tattoo is out and proud, yet unobtrusive. The placement allows for an earing or two, as well. The design is pretty simple and the iconic colors of the rainbow sit comfortably on the ridges of the ear, mimicking a waving flag. It is a great design that is as unique and proud as its wearer.

UMBRELLA

This umbrella is made with geometrical figures, filled with all the colors of the rainbow. It has a prism effect, and the black outlines make it seem like a stained glass window. The design is playfully simple, cute even. The placement on the arm might not be ideal— a broader surface like a back or a buttock might be better, but then who would see it?

THE WRIST

These creative tattoos work well on the wrist. The simple droplets in the rainbow colors fit neatly on the underside of the wrist with a bracelet-like feel. On the side of the wrist is a barcode tattoo which is a uniquely simple, subtle and current design. It’s on the outside side of the wrist so it doesn’t hide its pride. The wearer must get lots of comments on this tattoo! The rainbow heartbeat is a sleek and creative design that makes its message very clear: this person is a proud member of our community, with every beat of their heart.

10 savoirflairmagazine

RAINBOW HEARTS

Rainbow hearts are a beautiful design, whether they are worn on the arm, leg or anywhere else. Whether it’s a single heart or a cluster of hearts, with or without words, it speaks volumes to the world. The colors are vibrant and significant at the same time.

BORN THIS WAY

Words, the equal sign and a splash covering the inside of the upper arm is a large statement tattoo that settles the nature/nurture argument in an unmistakable visual body art way. Dramatically colorful, this rainbow splash is also unequivocally prideful.

CREATIVE LINES

The combination of contour lines and colors in this psychedelic leg tattoo looks pretty amazing! It is a great design overall, unique and also proud at the same time.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

Many LGBTQ people have found creative ways to show their support for our community. This lesbian Queen of Hearts tattoo is a great way to break the stereotype in a very fun and creative way. This design is pretty awesome, with vibrant colors and striking design that does not need a rainbow to convey its significance. savoirflairmagazine 11

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Book Review x 3

Book Review x 3 Book Reviews by Terri Schlichenmeyer

“LAST CALL: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE, LUST, AND MURDER IN QUEER NEW YORK” BY ELON GREEN c.2021, Celadon Books | $27.00 / $36.50 Canada | 257 pages There’s time for one last round. One for the road, as they say. A tip for the barkeep, a final toast before you go, one more clink before you drink, and, as in the new book “Last Call” by Elon Green, be careful on your way out the door. The roadside maintenance worker had been around awhile, long enough to know when something was unusual. It was May 1991, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the last trash bag he hefted seemed too heavy. When he poked the final

14 savoirflairmagazine savoirflairmagazine 14

one of eight bags, he saw freckles and called the State Police. He hadn’t touched anything in the bag, but he was ordered to have an AIDS test: the naked man inside was identified as Peter Stickney Anderson of Philadelphia, a banker and father who was gay. Slightly more than a year later, on an otherwise-lonely stretch of road in New Jersey, two Transportation Department workers discovered another pile of trash bags that seemed “not quite right.” Inside the bags was the meticulously-dismembered body of Thomas Mulcahy, a detail they knew instantly because the killer left Tom’s ID behind. In May of 1993, a street worker, Anthony Marrero, was found dismembered in a series of plastic bags identical to the ones Mulcahy had been left in. By this time, officials had homed in on a few facts: the bags came from a certain store in Staten Island. They were tied in a specific way, and the bodies were cut with almost-medical precision. Still, despite the heinousness of the crimes, little-to-no attention was paid to them outside the gay community. On July 29, 1993, Michael Sakara, an affable, thoughtful man told panhandlers as he left a Manhattan bar that he was “going upstate” with a companion he’d met that night. Less than 48 hours later, Michael’s head and arms were discovered in a plastic bag. Police from two states put their collective heads together and got nothing but loose ends, and the case went cold. Years later, they’d muse about how close they’d actually come to a solution...

“ELEANOR” BY DAVID MICHAELIS c.2020, Simon & Schuster | $35.00 | 698 pages

In his afterword, author Elon Green explains why this story captured his fancy. Who were these four men? Were there

Life, as they say, is an open book.

others? Most importantly, why didn’t this murder spree get

When you’re born, someone else starts writing it for you,

the regional attention it deserved?

but it doesn’t take long for you to be your own author.

Green answers his own questions in this book but there’s

Through the years, you’ll scribble ideas, compose thought-

more. There are biographical sketches of four good men

fully, add chapters, and crumple pages. Your life’s book

here, each rounded out so well that you may wish you’d known these guys. None of them fit a mold – Green captures that clearly—and he subtly, kindly reminds readers that they were someone’s son, friend, or father. And then, just as it seems like there’s no conclusion to this tale, Green brings in the killer, whom he tantalizinging doesn’t immediately name. In those pages lie some one of

might be a series of quick notes, long essays, one-liners or, as in “Eleanor” by David Michaelis, you could build an epic story. In today’s world, we might call Eleanor Roosevelt’s mother abusive: Anna Hall Roosevelt never had a kind word to say to her daughter, often mockingly calling little Eleanor “Granny.” It’s true that Eleanor wasn’t lithe and beautiful like her mother; she was awkward and stern, a Daddy’s girl

the edgiest, most shoulder-clenching, most psychological-

for an often-absent, alcoholic father.

ly-taught chapter you’ll read this year.

Orphaned by the time she was 12, Eleanor had been

So lock the doors. Pour yourself a strong one, and down

long-told that she was homely and plain but school chums

the hatch for fortification. You’re looking for hair-raising

knew her as a caring girl with a sharp mind. That intelli-

true-crime, and “Last Call” is the one to have around.

gence later caught the eye of the dashing Franklin Roocontinues on next page

savoirflairmagazine 15

Book Reviews continued from previous page

sevelt, a somewhat-distant cousin who courted her with the nose-holding approval of his mother. It was a good match, but only for a short while: too quickly, it was apparent that Eleanor and Franklin were colossally mismatched. She needed him to need her but he couldn’t – not in the way she wanted, so she found love in the arms of another man and a woman. Her compassion for others, a rather acquired sense, helped buoy his ambition; his ambition gave her a reason to dig in and reach out to their fellow Americans in need. Despite that it invited controversy from Washington insiders, Roosevelt changed the office of the First Lady by ignoring what past First Ladies had done, once they reached the White House and beyond... Readers who are not deep historians are in for many layers of surprise inside “Eleanor,” the first being Roosevelt’s early life, and the racism she exhibited as a young woman. Famously, she was a champion of African Americans during the years of her husband’s time as President and beyond, and she strove for equality, but author David Michaelis shows a sort of axis of attitude that the former First Lady experienced. His portrayal is balanced with compassion: Michaelis lets us see a transformation in the pages of this book and it’s fascinating to watch. Rather than romanticize Roosevelt, Michaelis paints her as someone with flaws that she may not’ve overtly acknowledged but that she learned to work around. This becomes abundantly clear in tales of the warmth Roosevelt craved but was denied by her husband and the relationships she enjoyed in open secret, including

ton Lin, like most teenage boys, imagined going to the bar

a passionate love she shared with reporter Lorena Hickock

– though in his case, Lin imagined what it was like in a gay

and a much-debated, possible affair with State Trooper

bar. Ironically, he says, “I can’t remember my first.”

Earl Miller. Such tales are told matter-of-factly and without

As someone with a foot in each of two continents, he does

salaciousness, though you may feel a whoop of delight at

have favorites, places that are now closed, re-named,

a supposedly-staid Depression-era White House that really

or been moved. He’s danced in them, had sex in them,

was a den of dalliance.

drank and moved through gay bars with his “companion,

Don’t let its heft frighten you away: “Eleanor” may be wide

the Famous Blue Raincoat,” and anonymously, and with

but so’s its story. Indeed, you’ll be carried away when you

friends-not-friends.

open this book

Some bars were carved out of a back room or basement, or a place that used to be something else, maybe another

“GAY BAR: WHY WE WENT OUT” BY JEREMY ATHERTON LIN c.2021, Little, Brown and Company $28.00 / $36.00 Canada | 320 pages The stool over by the window is all yours. Might be because you’ve spent a lot of time there. It’s the right height, you can easily watch the door from there, and the bartender knows your favorites, so why not? As in the new book “Gay Bar” by Jeremy Atherton Lin, it’s one of the best places to be. Long before it was legal for him to go there, Jeremy Ather-

16 savoirflairmagazine

bar. They’re cavernous; or they’re small and packed with men dancing or doing drugs; or they’re thick with bachelorette parties and tourists, to the annoyance of the gay men who’ve claimed that bar. Those usurpers don’t know the legacy of feeling gay, but “it goes pretty deep.” Some bars have opened just for the night. Others were raided once upon a time, or will close before a month has passed. Overall, they’re an important part of being a gay man, pre-Stonewall, pre-AIDS, post-epidemic, and now. And yet, says Lin, “...there does remain something embar-

Book Reviews rassing about a gay bar.” Still, try to stop him from fondly remembering nights in the Castro or Los Angeles or London... Absolutely, you could be forgiven for wondering what you got yourself into while reading the first couple dozen pages of “Gay Bar.” Unabashedly, without preamble, author Jeremy Atherton Lin leaps right into a hazy description of a night out or two, in a chapter that seems fragmented, like a broken strobe light. Clarity comes, but later, and it’s fragile. Part of the haze might be due to the autobiographical nature of Lin’s story: there are bars in his tales, but the focus here is more going to bars, with the implied assumption that readers are familiar with those he mentions or others exactly like them. This, of course, may not be true; still, Lin’s sex-and-booze-filled tales of drag, dance, and la dolce vita are compelling, woven with gay history, interesting then-and-now comparisons, and blisteringly-explicit tales of being a young gay man. And then again, while these stories take readers through the doors of a gay bar, once we’ve literarily entered, there are times when we’re abandoned, the music’s too loud, and we want to just go. Like a song you don’t particularly like, though, that won’t last long. Really, the surreality of “Gay Bar” is not insurmountable; in fact, if you wait it out, you’ll be glad you did. So look for it – and take a seat.

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Remodeling the Gay Way

on YouTube

TERRELL AND JARIUS WITH CHILDREN

by Mark Adams YouTube channels are a great way for the LGBTQ community to showcase their home improvements and design talents, and at the same time their parenting journeys, coming out stories, and relationship and marriage tips. We sampled three male couples who have taken us with them on their remodeling voyage.

TERRELL AND JARIUS AT T & J FAMILY – BASEMENT TOUR Terrell and Jarius are YouTube stars with 81K followers, at TandJfamily. They have just moved into a 7,300 sqft house—just short of mansion status. They are giving a tour of their huge basement, which is still in the final stages of being finished—they are the third owners of the home, but they are the first ones to finish the basement. We meet them as we descend from unpainted walls at the top of the stairs to gleaming white walls below (is this primer, or are they are going for a stark look—we don’t know, but stay tuned). At the bottom of the stairs, Terrell takes us to the kids room, which he says will have a chalk wall, a tv, and a gaming system. He says that each of their two kids will get a wall, and they debate whether to install one tv for each of them on the same wall. In the next room, Terrell shows us a long, curved wall where he wants to install classic arcade games like MarioKart, but Jarius says that he wants to install a bar for the game room, where people can settle. (They repeatedly ask for comments and feedback in the comments, so if you get up to speed with their channel, you can probably chime in on their design dilemmas.) On the other side of the living room, Terrell and Jarius show us a room with a wall of windows, which they say will be the home gym, with exercise equipment and another tv and speakers throughout the basement. Next is the guest bedroom, where their parents and other guests will stay. They show us one of the design problems they have had to solve in this house: old ductwork that needs to be covered with an insert along at the top of the wall. They have put in mini-duct units to complement the air ducts that already existed from the upstairs heating and cooling, but they haven’t been able to work around the ductwork, which juts into the room along the top of the wall. The next room (this place is huge) is going to be the recording studio, where they record a ton of sponsored videos for content across platforms. This is where they’ll install a green screen and a monitor. They take us to the outside of the movie room, where Terrell says that they want to build out a concession stand with a popcorn machine and old movie posters outside, and a tv on the wall, so you don’t miss the movie while you’re getting food. Jarius says that he is most excited about the theatre, which will have a platform in the back, to elevate a row of chairs—they can fit two rows of four movie theatre seats—so they can see movies projected on the wall opposite (although they’ll have to reduce the size of the projection, to accommodate the ductwork at the corner of the wall and ceiling). This concludes the tour of about 2,300sqft of space. They say that they’ll post another video when they’re done, so stay tuned!

TAYLOR PHILLIPS AND JEFF O'DONNELL – OUR RENOVATION IS OVER On another channel, YouTube stars Taylor Phillips and Jeff O'Donnell are a few days away from moving in to their new place, which is almost finished. They’re about to pay the painter and the cleaning crew, and the gas is getting hooked up. They start by showing us the stove, still in its crate: a 48-inch six-burner Zline stove with a griddle and two ovens—Jeff is clearly over the

20 savoirflairmagazine

moon! Next they unbox the fridge: they are so excited about their appliances that they speak in Scottish accents, and Jeff names the fridge Penelope. They start peeling off the plastic coverings on the window panes, and you can almost feel the satisfaction of getting a finger nail under the plastic sheet, and letting the sunlight flood into the room. They start pulling up floor mats, vacuuming construction dust, and rearranging building materials to make way for the cabinets in the open floor plan. Builders arrive to install the kitchen cabinets and sink under a wall of windows. The rest of the kitchen will be along the side wall, and the stove and more cabinets will be part of a huge island. They give us a quick tour of the bathrooms, one with light tile, one with dark, and by the time the videographer makes it back to the kitchen, the dark wood cabinets are nuzzled up next to the six-burner stove, waiting for countertops under the exposed beams of the vaulted ceiling. Cutting ahead to Wednesday before the Friday move, we get a final glimpse of the house. The details look great, it’s all just waiting for final touches, and to start being lived in.

DUSTIN AND BURTON, RAISING BUFFALOES – BE OUR GUEST Burton (the hot nerd) and Dustin (the hot mess) are gay dads who are raising adopted twins, a boy, Stone, and a girl, Holland, who came with the adopted last name Buffalo. They are building out the apartment above the garage, anticipating the time when the

kids, who are currently sharing a room, will want rooms of their own. But they also want a place for guests, and they plan to use a nook as an office. Following Dustin and Burton up the external stairs, we enter a one-room apartment where the wall framing and and ceiling beams are all exposed. You can see into the eaves. Dustin says they wanted to get rid of them, but they couldn’t for structural reasons. That leaves them with about 450 sqft, where they will have a kitchenette with a two-burner stove and a mini-fridge, and a bed on a built-in platform with drawers to conserve space. Their office will be in a dormer, facing out the window. Back at the design website, they choose a weathered-looking gray tile with white stars for the floor, and a fresher, brick-looking white tile for the bathroom walls and the backsplash above the kitchen sink. When we see the space next, Dustin and Burton follow the kids up the stairs. The walls have been taped and spackled. The

kids dart in and out of the eaves, and play on the stage where the bed will be. The tile is in and looking great, although the space sounds huge because of the echoes. Next will be the trim work, and the builder needs to do the backsplash in the kitchen, after the cabinets go in, and put in a little window in the shower. This was another part 1: You’ll have to keep an eye out for the second half of this project, and the completed apartment.

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Two of Us

RACHEL MADDOW AND SUSAN MIKULA By Chloe Belle Rachel Maddow and her photographer partner Susan Mikula call Massachusetts, home with a house in Cummington. Like many successful couples, they also have a second home in Provincetown. Maddow grew up on the West Coast, in a conservative Catholic family with her older brother. It was no surprise that Rachel would grow up to have an exceptional intellect; since her parents said she’d taught herself how to read as a child by the age of four. Some might think that growing up in the San Francisco area is a liberal’s dream come true but the Castro Valley is a Republican bastion in the San Francisco Bay area. “Everybody thinks of the Bay Area as really liberal, but the place I grew up in was really homophobic and really racist,” she said to afterellen.com. “Talking about racism and homophobia and the threats to people who are different in America is not something that liberals make up to get sympathy. continued on next page It’s real.”

savoirflairmagazine 27

RACHEL MADDOW AND SUSAN MIKULA continued from previous page

made her even more popular among photographers. Like her

As a 15-year-old high school student, Maddow became involved

partner Rachel, Susan has never hidden her lesbian identity.

in HIV/AIDS issues, along with prisoners’ rights and LGBTQ is-

Surprisingly enough, Susan took Rachel to an NRA event at a

sues.With activist credentials solidly in place, she entered Stan-

shooting range for their first date, which Rachel later quipped

ford as a 17-year old in 1990, and she came out by posting flyers

was "as close as [she has] ever gotten to the NRA" (via Huff-

in her Stanford dorm. After graduation, Rachel went to Oxford

Post). (Rachel is for stricter gun control measures, but once

on a Rhodes Scholarship, then returned to the U.S. to write her

admitted to CBS Sunday Morning that shooting ranges are just

Ph.D. dissertation. She settled in Northampton, where a high

plain "fun.") So, how did they both fare at the range? "Susan has

school friend had opened an inn where she could live rent-

the hand-eye coordination," Maddow told Rolling Stone. "But

free, while she wrote. “I was a waitress, bike messenger, bucket

I can't control my movements." In addition to shooting, the

washer at a coffee bean factory, yard help, landscaping laborer,

pair had the chance to practice their archery and tomahawk

and handywoman,” Maddow has said. “I went for a job at a

throwing skills. This first date led to yet another unorthodox

video store and got turned

excursion when Rachel and

down because I didn’t know

Susan went for a walk in a

enough about movies.” One

graveyard later in the evening.

of these odd jobs changed her

According to Rolling Stone, "At

life. In 1999, Rachel was rec-

a moment of nearly transcen-

ommended for a job helping

dent silence and beauty, while

a photographer with some

they were looking serenely

yard work on her property

at 19th-century gravestones,

in Cummington. "I drove out

Maddow took a gigantic prat-

there, she answered the door,

fall. Mikula says that was the

and it was love at first sight,"

moment when she fell in love

Rachel told the Guardian.

with Maddow." In a nod toward the hundreds

Susan Mikula grew up in New

of years when gay couples

Jersey and New Hampshire in a family that nurtured her love for photography from a young age. Her sister became a professional medical photographer, and Susan told the Provincetown Banner that photography is a "time-honored" tradition in the family and "a big part of who we are." The Banner wrote

developed their own ways of recognizing relationships, Maddow and Mikula decided not to marry. In an interview with The Telegraph, Maddow said she wanted to make sure she did not “lose the creativity” by relying on the traditional institution of marriage.

that Susan took "courses in color theory at Hampshire College

What many of Rachel’s fans don’t realize is that her current

in Amherst, Massachusetts," but never received professional

career started out in the low-wattage stations of Western Mas-

training in photography — a fact that makes her work even

sachusetts’ Pioneer Valley. Maddow got her first on-air job as

more impressive. After a stint as an accountant, then years

a sidekick on the Northampton radio show Dave in the Morn-

working in the art industry and serving on an art jury, she had

ing. She read the headlines and set up the punch lines for host

her first solo photography exhibition in 1998. She uses older

Dave Brinnel. Maddow found that she loved being on the radio,

technology to produce her photographs, including pinhole and

where the audience responded to her energy, humor, and point

Polaroid cameras. There’s a haunting, dreamlike quality to her

of view.

work which has been exhibited in Provincetown, Northampton, New York City, and galleries around the globe. She has continued to use Polaroid cameras, despite the advances in technology, and doesn’t use any photo enhancing tools, which

28 savoirflairmagazine

After other stints on National Television programs, MSNBC gave Maddow her own berth in 2008. From the beginning, The Rachel Maddow Show was a rating success, and the first primetime news show hosted by an openly lesbian.

RACHEL MADDOW AND SUSAN MIKULA Rachel’s success has come from her intelligent takes and her

cast with Marc Maron that Mikula also urges Maddow to take

reasonable tone. She Rachel said in an interview, “I think an

care of herself by exercising and sleeping during these episodes.

overt part of storytelling [is] to think about the emotional content of what you’re doing,” Maddow has said. “One is your tone of voice … if you are raising your voice,

In November 2020, Susan’s health interrupted Rachel’s show, when Rachel Maddow tweeted that she would be taking a break from The Rachel Maddow show

people will hear less of what you have

to quarantine after a "close contact"

to say.” Her goal: “Be persuasive, be au-

had contracted coronavirus. When she

thoritative, and have a voice that people

returned to the show, Rachel filmed

can listen to.”

from her home instead of from the stu-

The Rachel Maddow Show was America's

dio, because Susan had tested positive

highest-rated news show on cable tele-

for COVID-19, and she was suffering

vision, and it has won Emmy Awards, but

from it.

in spite of her success, Rachel has said that “I'm not a TV anchor babe. I'm a big lesbian who looks like a man.” In her biography, Rachel Maddow: A Biography, Lisa Rogak writes that “Maddow has taken a truly unorthodox path to stardom and never apologized or changed who she is to get to where she is today.” As Rogak put it, she has never stopped embracing her sexuality as a lesbian pundit and is a self-described butch with short hair and black-rimmed glasses who reads comic books, goes to monster truck rallies, loves to fish, and describes herself as an “amateur mixologist of classic cocktails," Rogak's writes. Despite Rachel’s success, she has had to struggle with her own demons. Rogak's biography reveals her battle with depression. “One of the manifestations of my depression is that I lose my will - and thereby the ability to focus,” Rachel has said. “If I'm not

On her first show back on the air Maddow joked about her rough appearance but took a serious turn when she described Susan’s nightmare with Covid. Before revealing Mikula's COVID-19 diagnosis, Rachel had told her viewers, "Susan really is the center of my universe ... I'm one of the lucky people on this Earth who has a life like that.” When she described her experience with COVID, she said that “at one point we really thought that there was a possibility that it might kill her." Quarantined by herself, Rachel cared for Susan from afar, while Susan became dangerously ill then finally recovered. Maddow urged her viewers to take COVID-19 seriously and to think about their loved ones before engaging in any activities that could potentially expose them to the virus.

depressed and I'm on and I can focus, I

During Mikula's COVID-19 battle,

can think through something hard and

Maddow said, "Susan and I have been

without interpretation and without

together for more than 21 years. It

existential emptiness that comes from

was love at first sight. That has never

depression.” Susan helps Rachel put her depression in perspective. "The time when it's hardest is when I have forgotten that this happens to me, and so I don't know what it is, and she will say, 'you are depressed,'" Maddow told CBS Sunday Morning. "And just being able to identify it, and then knowing that it's not gonna be forever and that it will pass and that it will ease at some point helps." In 2019, the MSNBC anchor revealed on the WTF pod-

waned." Calling the artist "the organizing principle of my life," she added, "my relationship with Susan is the only thing, at the end of the day, that I would kill or die for, without hesitation." At the end of the day, Maddow credits her devoted partner of over 20 years, artist Susan Mikula, with her success and happy life. "I have a great life — a great job, the world's greatest relationship, an awesome dog," Maddow told InStyle in 2019. We think Susan would say the same. savoirflairmagazine 29

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I DO

BIANCA & EMILY’S WEDDING

Interview questions by Sharon Levine Photography by Julie Ryan

What was your proposal like?

Bianca (Dintino) LaRosa, is 27 years old and original-

September and I told her that we were going to meet

ly from Worcester, Massachusetts, but currently lives in the Boston area. Originally from Weymouth, Massachusetts, Bianca’s partner Emily LaRosa, is 30 years old and has been living in the Boston area since college. Bianca is a registered nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and Emily is a police officer in Boston. Both have found themselves immersed in the recent pandemic but despite this taxing time managed to find the time to get married in style. How did you meet? We were both employed at Tufts Medical Center, in Boston, MA. Bianca was a registered nurse, and Emily worked in the Police and Public Safety Department. We were introduced by a co-worker of Bianca’s. 32 savoirflairmagazine

Our proposal was a surprise. Bianca’s birthday is in my sister and her boyfriend for a drink before going out to dinner just she and I. I planned a surprise engagement party, so when we arrived at the restaurant to meet my sister and her boyfriend, all of our family and friends were already there waiting for us. Bianca was the only one that didn’t know what was going on. Can you describe your wedding attire? Bianca wore a white “Sottero and Midgley” dress which was actually the first dress that she tried on while wedding dress shopping. For shoes, Bianca wore navy blue colored “Badgley Mischka” heels. Emily wore a navy blue and black colored velvet suit jacket, with a white dress shirt, black colored tuxedo pants, a black colored tie, and black colored patent leather loafers.

What was your ceremony like? Our ceremony was held at the “Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel” in Boston, MA. The ceremony was small and very intimate, only including our immediate family members and closest friends. How did you pick your venue for your wedding?

A Doctor that Bianca worked with suggested the venue, which is why Bianca started researching. Bianca ended up pitching it to Emily and we both agreed that it was what we wanted.

Left: The ceremony at the Fairmount Copley Plaza Hotel Right: The kiss under an ornately decored arbor Below: Bianca and Emily immediately after the ceremony

What did you like best about it?

Please describe the décor. Our ceremony was in the Oval Room at the Fairmont

What we liked best about the venue was the interior

Copley Plaza. This room was primarily gold and red,

design because it had a Victorian elegant feel to it.

with touches of white. We would say this room had a

It was absolutely beautiful and had the most perfect

traditional Victorian-era design. Also, we had dinner

white hallway that we were able to take our wedding

after in the Grand Ballroom, which also had a Victori-

photos in.

an-era design, with gorgeous gold molding and paintings on the ceilings and beautiful white balconies. The

How many guests? Special guests? Wedding party? There was a total of 19 guests. All of the guests were

hallway in which we took our wedding photos was a ceiling to floor white marble.

special, but the biggest surprise was Emily’s college

What was the most memorable moment?

roommate, Mary, who flew in from Canada for the

For both of us, the most memorable moment was see-

weekend. We did not have a wedding party, but we

ing each other for the first time when the doors opened

each had both of our sisters stand with us during the

for Bianca to walk down the aisle with her father. Em-

ceremony.

ily was already standing at the alter and they both locked eyes and teared up.

34 savoirflairmagazine

Other special moments? Our chaplain, Ali, had asked us if there was someone special that we wanted to honor during our ceremony. We both immediately knew we wanted to honor Emily’s grandmother, Peggy. Ali did a wonderful job with readings and truly capturing Peggy’s spirit. During this time, Ali also had Bianca and Emily light two candles that were sitting in gold-colored angel wing candle holders. Any favorite stories of guests or experiences from your event? Emily’s two best friends came from Canada and Colorado to surprise her for our wedding. Bianca’s best friend flew in from North Carolina to be there for our wedding. It really meant a lot to us that they took the time and risk to travel for us during a pandemic. Above: Bianca’s father escorts her to the altar

continues on next page

Below: The couple enjoys the two layered vanilla cake at the reception

savoirflairmagazine 35

Can you describe the cake and cuisine?

Emily because she is a police officer, and a white rose

We had two cakes, one at the Fairmont Copley Plaza

with a red heart for Bianca because she is a nurse.

and one at the after-party. The cake at the Fairmont

At the Fairmont Copley Plaza, there was a three-course

Copley Plaza was a two-layered vanilla cake with Mad-

meal. It started with a butternut squash soup with

agascar vanilla frosting, it had gold chains of fondant

candied walnuts. For the second course, we gave our

streaming down the side of the cake with two white

guests the option of a green-peppercorn crusted short

frosting roses at the top of the cake. The cake at the

rib, orange, and fennel roasted chicken, and salmon

after-party was made by a family friend who is a profes-

encrusted with Dijon mustard. The third course was

sional pastry chef. This cake was three layers; the top

the vanilla cake.

two were salted caramel toffee, and the bottom layer was carrot cake. The cake topper for this cake was a

What was special about your honeymoon?

gold outline of two women, one in a suit and one in

We haven’t taken a honeymoon yet due to Covid-19.

a dress, and next to them it said “Mrs. & Mrs.” Also,

Neither one of our jobs really allow for us to travel. We

down the side of this cake, there were rainbow-colored

agreed that we would revisit the honeymoon discus-

roses made of frosting. At the bottom of the cake,

sion when traveling became more reasonable.

there was one frosting rose that was black and blue for

36 savoirflairmagazine

Is there anything you’d like to add? We did have an after-party at Emily’s aunt’s house, which allowed us to have a few more friends be able to celebrate our special day with us. This wedding was exactly what we envisioned to be, even before COV-

PHOTOGRAPHER INFORMATION Julie Ryan www.photographybyjulieryan.com

ID-19 happened. We actually got masks made for all of our guests as party favors too.

Left: Emily and Bianca at the reception in the Grand Ballroom | Below: Colorful and happy farewell outside the Copley Fairmount Hotel

37 savoirflairmagazine

savoirflairmagazine 37

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JEWELRY DESIGNER RONY TENNENBAUM By Nicholas McCarty

Rony Tennenbaum has been revolutionizing the bridal jewelry industry, by merging fashion, ethics, and timeless design in engagement, wedding, and anniversary rings. Showcasing high-end designs beyond rainbows and triangles, the Tennenbaum jewelry line distinguishes itself by focusing on love. Rory has been in the jewelry industry for over 30 years and says, “I’ve been a gay man all my life. The one thing I can honestly say is I know both worlds pretty well and know how to combine the two perfectly.” This East Coast designer has created collections of engagement and wedding rings that reflect the latest fashion trends, while also incorporating everything that is timeless and classic about bridal jewelry. Voted as one of the Innovators by InStore Magazine, Tennenbaum and his brand are rapidly expanding across the nation, reaching a new generation of jewelry consumers through independent retailers and premier jewelry chains in major bridal markets including California, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, Florida,Virginia and Connecticut. continues on next page

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savoirflairmagazine 43

JEWELRY DESIGNER RONY TENNENBAUM

continued from previous page

Tennenbaum’s collections are created with “outside the box” designs that let his customers express themselves in fresh and innovative ways. Tennenbaum’s contemporary Wedding Jew-

elry designs represent a growing movement in bridal jewelry fashion, which pays attention to individual storytelling, and mirrors the tastes and desires of modern wedding customers, privileging the sentimental over the traditional. More than simply giving you a design that is distinct from other designs, Tennenbaum’s jewelry lets you showcase your personality and individuality. As Rony states on his website, “My line comes from who I am and the things I wish human beings would

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44 savoirflairmagazine

feel towards one another: beauty, tolerance and above all pride.” “I believe that rings are an intimate part of any relationship,” he says. “They represent a commitment two people are making towards one another for good times and bad. I find great pride

and joy in creating these rings for couples. It is exciting to think they will be wearing these symbols of love as long as they live. In a way, I am a part of the harmony they call love. I get excited every time a couple chooses to embark on their journey of love with rings I created.” Rony says that as a human being, his mission “is to help enrich lives while sustaining a healthy environment on earth.” “As an LGBTQ individual,” he continues, his mission is “to see that equality prevails for all walks of life regardless of gender, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, creed, education, or income. As a Jewelry Designer, to create beautiful works of art that people wish to adorn each other with, and enjoy for generations.” “As an LGBTQ jewelry designer,” he concludes, “I want to create inspiring jewelry that gay, lesbian,

JEWELRY DESIGNER RONY TENNENBAUM transgender, or otherwise, would want to wear to make them feel special, confident, proud, and unique, and which will help them express their love before the world.” Tennenbaum’s jewelry also demonstrates a commitment to the environment by using what he

calls EcoGold, which recycles gold from the Earth’s existing metal supply. He does not purchase gold from mining companies, since every ounce of new, open-pit gold requires 30 tons of mine waste. His EcoGold is .9999 pure fine gold mixed with ecofriendly alloys from existing metal supplies. He says, “we can still enjoy the luxury of adorning ourselves with this precious metal. By making use of Earth’s existing metal supply, we can continue to make a difference day by day, preserving the earth’s natural resources and protecting both wildlife and human rights.” Tennenbaum is also actively committed to manufacturing his gold products within United States. He says that “over the past three decades, we have seen a decline in manufacturing in the USA. As offshore labor has taken over a

good portion of most industries, the jewelry industry has been hurt very badly. The majority of products today are made either in China or India.” We are very proud to be the beginning side of a trend that will help return our economy to where it belongs and put the United States back on its feet.” Tennenbaum has also implemented a Seal of Tolerance to fight people’s prejudices, and educate people about political or environmental issues related to diamond mining or LGBTQ issues. He developed a “Rainbow Diamond” symbol as an authentic Rony Tennenbaum Seal of Tolerance and Acceptance. “I am a strong believer,” he says, “that we are all born equal and society needs to learn a higher

“This Seal of Tolerance and Acceptance,” he continues, “guarantees that behind every piece of jewelry I create, stands a commitment to raise awareness and spread understanding.” Rory Tennenbaum is truly an exemplary member of our LGBTQ community. His work and life provide examples of responsible commitment to combat homophobia and the environmentally ethical use of products made in the United States.We are proud of this talented artist.

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The Hobart Village Antique Mall is a multiple dealer shop featuring fine collectables, jewelry, hand painted china, sterling silver, oriental items, books, postcards, linens and so much more.

With a large selection of furniture, including tables, chairs, beds in mahogany, oak, and pine from the early nineteenth century to mid-twentieth century, Antique treasure hunters spend hours browsing an enormous floor space with room settings. www.hobartvillage.com

48 savoirflairmagazine

savoirflairmagazine 48

Flaunt it...Advertorial

Hobart Village

Antique Mall Chloe Belle with Dick Fiorentino

Hobart Village Antique Mall is located in picturesque North Central Massachusetts. The name of the mall is derived from the historic Inn located on the property. The Inn was built in 1774 on a land grant given to William Hobart. Prior to and during the revolution the tavern in the Inn was a gathering place for the townspeople. An old register, now in the possession of the Fitchburg Historical Society, contains the names of famous people who stayed there, including: General Stonewall Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Ward Beecher and Brigham Young. In the late spring of 1994, Dick and Janice Fiorentino, along with their daughter, Robin Silva, and their son-in-law, Tony Silva decided to buy the old Elsa Williams’ buildings in W. Townsend. This large property has been completely transformed and now houses the Hobart Village Antique Mall. The complex measures 16,500 sq. ft. and boasts a wide selection for its customers to explore. The second floor of the old Elsa Williams’ warehouse has become a group shop for antiques and collectables. It has 10 rooms, 85 glass cases, 8 open shelf units and 15 open booths and hosts over 80 dealers. Located on the first floor of

the complex is the West Village Antique Shop. West Village is a large shop filled with estate furniture, glass, china, prints and lots of accessories. Across the hall is the Re-Creation Rooms. This shop has a large selection of reproduction country furniture made in the New England Area including hand crafted farm tables, painted cabinetry, tiger maple furniture and mission oak furniture from the Amish in Pennsylvania. The many accessories include mirrors, prints, yellow ware, candles, country hanging lamps and much more. These rooms give the customer a quality alternative to our fine antiques. continues on next page

savoirflairmagazine 49

Flaunt it Advertorial Hobart Village Antique Mall continued from previous page

How would you

What makes Hobart Village different from other

characterize these

collectible stores?

clients versus non

The shop is different from others due to the fact that

LGBTQ community

we carry a wide variety of antiques and collectables. We

members?

also carry used furniture, and we also have new furni-

Gay guys love an-

ture made by the Amish and Mennonites which attracts

tiques, such as silver,

younger generations that want better quality furniture.

high style figurines,

An alternative to Ikea, Wayside and Bobs stuff.

doesn’t have to be antique, Just pretty and decent quality. Do you have any LGBTQ staff? Yes I have a friend who comes in on Saturday mornings sits behind the counter and his job is talking to people. We have been friends for about 40 years, he loves antiques, and I guess you could say he is the only person other than me who can speak about antiques.

What are some of the popular trends in recent years?

The trend is away from brown furniture, and more

What advice would you give someone who wants to

toward painted and colored stains. The trend of the Mil-

purchase an antiques?

lennials is more toward mid century modern.

Buy what you like, if you liked it some one else will like

it also.

What’s the antique market like currently? In todays marketplace its hard to make a mistake in buying things, young people are not interested in antiques so the prices have dropped dramatically. Not to repeat myself young people do not want antiques .

What makes you proud of owning a business like Hobart Antiques? I am not a proud man, my favorite word is reasonable. What is the biggest challenge in the retail and service end of your business? Selling things fast enough, 25 years ago you could sell Do you have many LGBTQ customers?

whatever you bought quickly. Kids don’t want stuff.

Yes a lot of gay guys, I have had many gay people cus-

They have been programed to not have to much clutter,

tomers over the years.

bear walls etc.

50 savoirflairmagazine

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Driv ing LGBTQ New England

by John Axelrod with John, Joe, Jean, and Deb Ever since New England’s early days, the northeast has been an epicenter for progressive thought and action. Vermont and Massachusetts were two of the earliest states to outlaw slavery, and they were both active in the Underground Railroad and in the Abolitionist and Suffragette movements. That legacy is alive and well in modern times, for Vermont was the first state to implement Civil Unions, and Massachusetts was the first state to legalize LGBTQ Marriage. This history provides a foundation of social justice and equal rights for any trip through the stunning scenery and the thriving social scenes and communities of New England. We asked two of our favorite gay and lesbian couples to drive to some of our favorite New England LGBTQ spots and give us their impressions.

JOHN+JOE PROVIDENCE

It was mid-day when my partner John and I packed our Outback and started our trip from our home in Gloucester to the smallest state in the country, Rhode Island. Bypassing Boston traffic, we headed from route 128 to Providence on 95 south, an easy highway ride, which took us right into the city of Providence, home to a thriving, and diverse LGBTQ community. We have gone to Providence’s Pride Event every year. It is unique to the city, with a festival in the day and the Illuminated Night Parade in the evening. This LGBTQ community knows how to have fun. There are more clubs in Providence than any other city in New England, not to mention two, yes two, baths, which are virtually nonexistent in any other New England city, where they were closed during the AIDS epidemic. Many of the clubs are located in and around Snow Street downtown. We made a stop at the popular, unassuming Eagle Bar for an afternoon drink. Jim, the friendly bartender, told us that the bar has outdoor seating in good weather. He also directed us to Hotel Providence, where owners Mark and Mikey have arranged a discounted rate for Eagle Bar patrons, in case we wanted to stay over. We missed Mikey, who is usually at the bar. The Eagle is typical of Providence bars, with none of the so-called attitudes of other cities, that will not be named.

PROVINCETOWN After our stop in Providence, we took 195 east to 495 then to route 25 toward the Cape. Some people like to go over the Bourne Bridge but I (Joe) always take the scenic route along the Cape Cod Canal to the Sagamore Bridge, then it’s route 6 all the way to Provincetown, Mecca to the LGBTQ community. We found a quaint little guesthouse to stay at for our overnight rest. We arrived on Friday, in the midst of the gallery stroll, which is when galleries open their doors to everyone, with tables of cheese and crackers and free-flowing wine. Other than the gallery walk, there’s a gay men’s schedule in Provincetown: Brunch, beach, tea dance, post-tea dance cocktails, dinner, entertainment, lounging, and then clubbing. It ends with a 1 a.m. slice of pizza at Spiritus. After the stroll, we stopped off at The continues on page 54

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DRIVING LGBTQ NEW ENGLAND continued from page 52

Atlantic House, a gay bar which is also referred to as the A-House. Sitting at the bar, we were befriended by a klatch of winsome men from Montreal. This was their annual sojourn to Provincetown, which they loved. In conversation, we learned that various groups throughout the year flock to Provincetown for annual events— Leather week, Women’s Week, Single Men’s Weekend to name a few. The next morning, we took a scenic drive through the stunning National Seashore and bid the town goodbye, then on to the next.

BOSTON We took route 6 to route 3 and arrived in Boston late in the day. We stayed at the Oasis Guest House, a small LGBTQ owned lodging, which advertises itself as being in the Back Bay, although most Bostonians know this area as the Fenway. For decades, the Fens (a grassy conservation area) was a know cruising area for gay men. Boston has a handful of permanent LGBTQ clubs but if you’re into clubs it pales beside Providence. This may be an effect of the higher liquor license and real estate costs: this town is expensive! After we parked our car for $40—for 24 hours! Ouch! —we walked to Boylston Street, strolling along Clarendon Street from Copley Square which was particularly enjoyable, with nicely kept Victorian row houses on both sides of the street. This area has been completely gentrified by our community, starting in the 1970s. The historic buildings and no doubt the interiors have been carefully and artfully revived. There are beautiful old churches and restaurants on every corner, plus the performing arts theater Boston Center for the Arts on Tremont

Street. We were in Blackstone Square that night and there was a six-piece horn band that was playing to a dancing crowd. After we got take-out at one of the famous South Ends eateries, The Beehive. It was a little pricey but both of our Dry Aged Smash Burgers were perfect. Then we headed back to the guest house so we could make an early start to Maine in the morning.

OGUNQUIT We only drove for about an hour from Boston, north on 93 to 95 to Ogunquit Maine, a little town that sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ogunquit River. Ogunquit has all the charm of a seaside city. We checked in at Moon over Maine, a quaint guest house with spacious rooms named after planets. We stayed in Uranus (no jokes please), a generously sized room with king beds, a private bath, and a microfridge. It was on the top floor, in the front of the house, so it had great light. Later, we stopped off at a bar called The Front Porch. Where we encountered yet another Jim, a crusty bar fly who gave us unsolicited advice about who to avoid in this close-knit community. Needless to say, we wouldn’t be there long enough to heed his advice. Unfortunately, we would not be there long enough to take advantage of the Ogunquit Playhouse, either, which is host to summer theatre and the gorgeous Marginal Way showcases coastal views that are simply incomparable. Some of the shows for 2021 are Dirty Dancing, Mystic Pizza, and On Your Feet. From Ogunquit, we handed the Driving LGBTQ New England baton over to our lesbian best buds Jean and Deb.

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JEAN + DEB NEW HAMPSHIRE

Driving in our Prius Prime from Jamaica Plain in Boston via US-3 north to I-93 north, in just two and half hours, we arrived at the historic Highlands Inn, whose motto speaks volumes “A lesbian paradise.” We can honestly attest that this is it! Upon arrival, we had the pleasure of meeting co-owners Jenny Wackerle and Gia Koumantzelis. They told us that they purchased the inn in 2012 after vacationing here since 1992. They were both social workers in Massachusetts prior to becoming inn owners. They were married in Massachusetts in 2006, and spent their honeymoon at The Highlands Inn! We found out that Jenny and Gia are retiring and selling the Highlands, which they are hoping to sell to another lesbian or lesbian couple. We reserved the cottage; a rustic, cozy, and private building that is separate from the main inn. We also found out it is dog-friendly. Next trip we’ll bring the dog! The cottage has a small deck in front, which was a great place to sit and view the stars at night. There were lots to do at the inn so boredom was never an issue for us. It was a tad cool when we visited, but the heated outdoor swimming pool was a delight, and the beautiful surroundings, with woods laced with hiking trails, kept us engaged. The Highlands is also known for their women’s music

concert series, which attracts lesbians from all over the country. Unfortunately, we didn’t plan our visit at a time when any concerts were scheduled. The next morning, we were treated to a hot breakfast of eggs, toast, and coffee at the Inn. At breakfast, we met two other friendly couples from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, both of whom had been coming to the inn for years. The couple from Rhode Island, Jan and Maria, were married at the inn, and owners Jenny and Gia assisted in the planning. They told us the wedding packages start at $500. After our first visit to the Highlands Inn, we can attest that it is truly a peaceful, special, and safe lesbian space, where women can gather and feel free to be themselves. We hope the next owners will continue this tradition.

NORTHAMPTON We left the Highland Inn early, starting out on scenic route 142, making our way to route 117, then route 302 connecting to route 91 directly to Northampton which bills itself as “Paradise City,” though the city has many other nicknames including Noho, Lesbianville, the Emerald City, and the Happy Valley. On the banks of the Connecticut River, the city is nestled among scenic forests, farmland, and the mountains of Western Massachusetts. We have vacationed here in the past and have been to a few Northampton Pride celebrations as well, so we were fairly familiar with the town. continues on page 58

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DRIVING LGBTQ NEW ENGLAND continued from page 56

The exit off of route 91 took us directly to Northampton center to our accommodation; the historic Northampton Hotel. We were fortunate to get a booking in one of the luxury guest rooms in this popular hotel. We stayed in the Parkside Queen. Yaas, queen! The room was gorgeous with oversized windows offering stunning views of Coolidge Park and downtown Northampton. When we went to get a bite, we met the manager Jeffrey Hoess-Brooks whom we had met years earlier, at one of the Northampton Pride celebrations. He didn’t quite remember us, but he was absolutely charming and he gave us advice about several of the new restaurants. We strolled to Main Street, seeing lesbians, young and old, couples and single women—no wonder this town is nicknamed Lesbianville. By the way, the name was coined in April of 1992, when The National Enquirer tabloid ran an article titled “Strange town where men aren’t wanted.” This caused quite a stir! The Enquirer wrote, “10,000 cuddling, kissing lesbians call it home sweet home!” This sounds great to us but we didn’t see much of kissing and cuddling on the street, just walking and talking. Downtown Northampton’s Main Street is full of great little shops

and eateries. There are spas, specialty shops, clothing stores, you name it. Right in the center of town, there’s Thorne’s marketplace, a sizable indoor mall that’s true to Northampton’s aesthetic since it’s not really mall-like at all. Individual specialty shops populate five levels decorated with historic tin ceilings, hardwood floors, a majestic staircase, and old and new stained glass windows. Being true lesbians, we were drawn to the lower level, to one of our favorite stores, Acme Surplus, which sells lots of stuff cheap, including tape, socks, tarps, stuffed animals, et cetera, et cetera. We purchased an aluminum spray bottle and we were happily on our way. There’s so much to do and see in Northampton that you could visit for a month and not take it all in, with historically preserved buildings, a raucous music scene, first-rate museums and art galleries, eccentric shops, and eclectic restaurants. Not to mention that Northampton is home to a top-ranked women’s liberal arts school, Smith College. We did not have time to do half the things we wanted to do, so we were sad to leave Northampton that afternoon but vowed to come back for another mini-vacation soon.

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