Fall Dine & Drink
Wine Bar & Bistro owners Jill, Brandon, and Kay.
Photo courtesy of Brandon Witzel
26: Photo courtesy of Chef Shack, 10: Photo courtesy of Jen Peeples-Hampton, 14: Photo by Joey Amato, 18: Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
2013 Quorum Business Leader of the Year 100 S 5th St, Suite 2300, Minneapolis MN 55402 rmoltaji@financialguide.com
Volume 30, Issue 792 • October 2-15, 2025
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor Noah Mitchell 612-461-8723
Editorial Assistant Linda Raines 612-436-4660
Editor Emeritus Ethan Boatner
Contributors Lakey Bridge, E.B. Boatner, Natasha DeLion, Alyssa Homeier, Terrance Griep, Shane Lueck, Elise Maren, Jen Peeples-Hampton, Linda Raines, Aspen Rush, Gregg Shapiro, Randy Stern, Susan Swavely, Natalie Trimble, Sommer Wagen, Carla Waldemar, Todd P. Walker, Emma Walytka, Spencer White
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Founders George Holdgrafer, Stephen Rocheford
Inspiration Steven W. Anderson (1954-1994), Timothy J. Lee (1968-2002), Russell Berg (1957-2005), Kathryn Rocheford (1914-2006), Jonathan Halverson (1974-2010), Adam Houghtaling (1984-2012), Walker Pearce (1946-2013), Tim Campbell (1939-2015), John Townsend (1959-2019), George Holdgrafer (1951-2024), Julie Dafydd (1951-2025)
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BY NOAH MITCHELL
Death, Taxes and …
As I write this column, fall has not yet set in.
The leaves have only just begun to fall. The temperature continues to tread water and hold its head above 70. Summer humidity remains, yet to give way to crisp air that calls for extra layers of clothing and much more frequent application of lotion and lip balm.
By the time you read this, that will all have changed — along with who knows what else. I can guarantee, however, one thing that will remain the same: at some point, you’ll need to eat!
For those nights when you want to try something new with friends, have something special to celebrate or just can’t be bothered to cook, we have several options for you to consider.
First off is chef Yia Vang’s Vinai, reviewed by Carla Waldemar. While I have complete trust in
her expertise, she makes it sound so delicious that I’m inclined to head to Northeast and check her work myself.
If you find yourself on the other side of the Mississippi at Mill City Farmer’s Market, or, still on the east side but just a tiny bit further south in Bay City, Wisc., follow your nose to Chef Shack. The “Godmothers of Food Trucks in the North” offer their award-winning concoctions in both locations every weekend.
Milly’s Wine Bar & Bistro, whose owners grace the cover of this issue, offers delicious wine, paired wonderfully with an inspired origin story. If you, like the founders, are in search of somewhere in the Mill District to spend time with friends or family over some drinks that will warm your cheeks against the fall chill, look no further!
If you prefer your liquid layers a little stron-
ger, consider supporting MACV’s mission to end veteran homelessness, which disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ veterans, by purchasing a bottle of “Seven Star Selection” whiskey via Four Roses Bourbon’s Charity Barrel Program.
Finally, if you’d like to celebrate National Coming Out Day, hear some great speakers and enjoy a delicious meal, join the Twin Cities LGBTQ+ business community at Twin Cities Quorum’s NCOD Luncheon (and keep an eye out for the Lavender table)!
So, when, inevitably, you have to eat a meal at some point between this issue’s publication and the winter solstice, I hope you find something in this issue worth getting out of the house for — whether you’re looking to spend time with good people, support a good cause or just eat good food.
BY E.B. BOATNER
AI and Me — Curiosity Makes Three
Perhaps that “and” implies too strong a connection; I know virtually nothing about AI other than it’s a phenomenon that can whiz through everything you’ve asked about and give you information on your (very) specific question. If you’re a high school student, this may give you enough information to write a dangerously similar theme to your classmates, who, having input the same question, will have received the same answer.
I see AI as useful for more accurate medical diagnoses, where a tool that can search for every similar odd symptom noted through time will be a boon. An offering of sources a doctor might not first suspect, indicating, perhaps, lupus, which may present differently from patient to patient.
But, as I understand it, initial information must be input for the AI machinery to begin to recognize and gather similar information.
When I recently searched “Nazis stealing Maastricht ant collection,” an “AI response” replied, “No record of an ant collection: None of the available documentation detailing Nazi looting, including records of plundered artifacts from the Netherlands, mentions a specific ant collection from Maastricht.”
But there was. In 1911, Erich Wasmann’s already world-famous collection accompanied him from his Jesuit monastery to St. Ignatius College in Valkenburg, Netherlands, transferring later in 1941 to the Natural History Museum in Maas-
tricht. A collection then of over 1,000 ant species, 200 termite species and 2,000 myrmecophiles (insects co-existing with ants) which the Nazis looted and shipped to Berlin.
John Wendell Bailey returned them post-war, for which he was awarded the Order of OrangeNassau, with Swords, one of the highest awards of the Dutch government. (Bailey also garnered the French Government’s Croix de Guerre with Gold Star for participation in the liberation of the Nordhausen concentration camp.)
I’d known about the ants for some time — Bailey was my great-uncle — but I didn’t discover Order of Orange-Nassau until further (non-AI) online research using his name with “ants” reeled in the “Dipterists Society,” a site devoted to those flies.
Their “Fly Times Supplement 7” (2024) contained an article by Neal Evenhuis (Senior Curator of Entomology, Bishop Museum, Hawaii) titled “Wasmann/Schmitz Collections During World War II.” Ants (and my uncle) appeared under the “Dipterist” aegis because the Nazis had also seized the Hermann Schmitz collection of phorid “true flies,” some of which ended up in a wicker basket atop Rembrandt’s rolled-up “The Night Watch” in the Sint Pietersberg Caves in Maastricht.
My curiosity piqued by the Dipterists Society logo, an angular fly riding atop a balloon, holding its string, I quested further. I discovered that, more than a cartoon, “The logo and seal from
the Society is adapted from the ‘Fly Times’ frontispiece provided by Jeff Cumming, which is an empidid male holding an earth-like balloon.” (FYI, there are over 3,000 described species of Empididae.)
Like turtles, levels of knowledge continue all the way down, but they must first be brought to AI’s attention before AI can bring them to ours.
I have just read, and will review in “Books” 793, Robert M. Edsel’s “Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and a Forever Promise Forged in World War II.” There, on page 67, one reads of the Nazis ransacking the Maastricht history museum: “They even stole a world-famous ant collection.” There was no mention of Jesuit priest Erich Wasmann (1859-1931), who amassed the ant collection (or Jesuit entomologist Hermann Schmitz, whose phorid fly collection was also looted and travelled east on a freight car with the ants); that was not the author’s main concern, but the Nazi looting was known and noted.
There’s no harm in using AI for sources for your high school (or college) essay, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find lots, lots more. Things that might pique your own curiosity. As Shakespeare’s Hamlet said to his friend, “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” And who knows from whom the Bard pinched that?
BY LINDA RAINES
Jen Peeples-Hampton
Where did you grow up, and what was that like?
I grew up in Minneapolis, and it was a mix of cold and warm. Cold winters but warm family. Literally, there were nine of us, so we huddled often, lol.
Describe your perfect day.
Wake up early, go to the gym, maybe play on the game system (PS5), definitely go for a walk in the sun and do a bit of grounding. A day to be able to breathe and rest is my ideal.
How long have you been a writer, and how’d you get into it?
I’d like to say I’ve been writing my whole life, but I’ve been doing it intentionally since college (2016). I was able to help student-athletes who needed academic support in English studies, and this allowed me to grow in this craft.
What are you reading/watching/listening to these days?
Right now, I am working my way through Dante’s Inferno. This is my third time reading it. I think it reminds me to control what I can and to keep gratitude as a neighbor. Also, I’m listening to a podcast by the name of “The Grey Area.” For my philosophy folks, please give it a listen.
Who or what inspires you?
The younger version of myself inspires me as well as my young nieces, who are full of curiosity and energy. I think they are a natural caffeine for me because their personalities keep me young.
Favorite qualities in another person?
The older I get, the more I appreciate the patience of someone. Patience is more than a virtue — it’s a literal way of life. If you are willing to slow down, lovingly, it creates a life that will almost never be void.
Least favorite?
I’d have to say people who litter. That’s sort of an ick for me.
Where’s your happy place?
My happy place is around the people I love, and who love me. Sometimes society can be cold and harsh, but again, a warm home helps keep balance. Oh yeah, and right now, Jamaica!
What is your motto?
“A tree is known by its fruit.” I actually have this tattooed on my left thigh in Latin. It reminds me to embrace good character in order to continue to produce exceptional results.
Photos courtesy of Jen Peeples-Hampton
BY CARLA WALDEMAR
Viva Vinai
Vinai is the name of the refugee camp in Thailand where Yia Vang’s Hmong parents got married and bore the son who’d grow up to become a messiah of Hmong cuisine in Minneapolis. So, that’s what he named his ambitious restaurant in Northeast: Vinai. It’s dedicated to introducing our minds and palates to the rich fare of his heritage — and now, therefore, ours.
But this isn’t his first rodeo. His first endeavor, Union Hmong Kitchen, debuted as a pop-up on Lake Street, then found a home in Northeast’s Graze space. Vang’s celebration of his Hmong heritage didn’t go unnoticed: By now, he’s probably as familiar with a TV camera as a kitchen range. He’s been tapped as a James Beard finalist and dubbed Chef of the Year by Esquire magazine, among tons of accolades.
But Vinai is different. It ventures into fine dining territory, now occupying a space that started life as Dangerous Man Brewery. The dining room is an enormous arena of clean, contemporary bones starring banquettes and tables backed by a view of the working kitchen. And, I warn you right now, it’s loud. Prepare for your server to kneel by your table to make her voice heard above the chatter of a full-full-full house at 5:30 p.m. on a recent Tuesday. (I’m assuming by 7 p.m., there’s a line out the door stretching into a neighboring suburb.) Chances are you’ll spot the chef/patron himself, in his signature orange apron, patrolling the room now and then (nice touch, Chef).
Our server nimbly took our drinks ($15-17) order: mine, the 1988 New Fashioned, adding spices and lime and cardamom bitters to the usual suspects, and my companion’s Night Market, mixing gin with chile liqueur (didn’t know there was such a thing!), watermelon and lime to achieve a hint of heat to undercut the tasty fruit.
We skirted the list of snacks (eggplant spread, curried rice ball, deviled eggs, etc.) and raced right to, um, more snacks in a column entitled “Yog Peb Xwb” ($1821), which translates to “It’s just us,” or “enticing and yummy,” if you ask me — particularly if you start off the evening with an order of shrimp and pork toast. But even before you place your order, a gift from the kitchen appears: chunks of compressed watermelon touched with mint to savor while you study the menu.
Sure, you’ve had shrimp toast in many a Chinese restaurant, but Chef Yia has a little fun with his rendition, starting by spreading the mixture onto giant slabs of Texas toast. The shrimp and pork, ground up and mixed, emit a sweet-cum-savory aura, inventively abetted by a dollop of even sweeter apricot chili served on the side. One of the best dishes of the evening.
Next, the laab carpaccio — an icon of Hmong cooking which featured a vast platter lined with paper-thin leaves of the ruddy raw beef, along with pickled red onion, shallots, snips of herbs, a drizzle of Thai chili oil to freshen the palate and a mound of purple sticky rice — crunchy and sticky, for sure, but pretty modest in flavor. Pretty presentation. Or choose fried catfish or grilled lamb’s heart for your starter, both sprinkled with fish sauce.
Weigh your options next between grilled meat, braised meat and/or rice-based entrees: $17 for noodles to $61 for the double-cut, and famous, pork chop, which we skipped to spare our pocketbook. Instead, we centered on the kitchen’s also-renowned Hilltribe grilled chicken, $29.
The generous portion of breast meat proved moist and tender and a willing playground for the ribbons of raw cabbage and Southeast Asian sofrito that elevated the dish via a sauce, apricot in tone and sweet-tart in flavor. It’s boosted by a brave zing of heat that delivers a long and satisfying finish. A coconut-ginger vinaigrette contributes yet another layer of taste to the preparation. You’ll discover a note of that ubiquitous fish sauce, too.
Finally, we shared a heaping platter of crabby fried rice ($25), which is just what it sounds like: mounds of fried rice, laced with hints (but not an overdose) of garlic, festooned with morsels of sweet blue crab and enriched with just what we needed, right? Crab fat. Nice indeed, but not rave material, just “normal” nice. And that’s fine.
There is a dessert menu, indeed ($14 each), but we failed to save room. If you’re better at this trick than I, prepare to enjoy mango madness, chocolate lava cake with ice cream or passionfruit cheesecake, and head home smiling.
Vinai
1300 NE Second St. (612) 749-6051 vinaimn.com
Hilltribe Grilled Chicken, 802 Noodles, 1988 New Fashioned.
Pride Journey: Milwaukee, Wisc. An LGBTQ Enclave of Culture, History and Charm
Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisc., is a city that often surprises first-time visitors. Known historically as a hub for brewing and manufacturing, Milwaukee has transformed into a vibrant cultural destination with world-class museums, iconic tours and a thriving LGBTQ community. From the famous Miller Brewing Tour to the innovative Milwaukee Art Museum, the city offers a little something for everyone. Whether you’re a lover of history, art, beer or nightlife, Milwaukee deserves a spot on your travel radar.
While its breweries and motorcycles may get much of the spotlight, Milwaukee also boasts a welcoming and vibrant LGBTQ culture. The city has long been recognized as one of the Midwest’s most inclusive destinations, offering a variety of queer-owned businesses, bars and cultural events.
Walker’s Point, located just south of downtown, is the heart of Milwaukee’s LGBTQ scene. The neighborhood is home to a variety of bars, nightclubs and cafes that cater to the community. Venues like D.I.X., Fluid, LaCage and Krux are all within a few blocks of each other, while Walker’s Pint is a popular hangout for the lesbian community.
Milwaukee also hosts PrideFest, one of the largest and most celebrated Pride festivals in the Midwest. Held in June, the event brings together music, performances, parades and activism, drawing visitors from across the region.
Combined with the city’s dedication to inclusivity, PrideFest underscores Milwaukee’s role as a safe and affirming place for LGBTQ residents and travelers alike.
In addition to nightlife and festivals, the city also supports LGBTQ arts and culture. Local theaters and galleries frequently highlight queer voices, while organizations like Diverse & Resilient advocate for equality and representation. Their mission is to achieve health equity and improve the safety and well-being of LGBTQ people and communities in Wisconsin.
Few cities are as synonymous with beer as Milwaukee. Often called “Brew City,” its brewing history dates back to the 19th century when German immigrants introduced their traditions to the region. Today, visitors can still experience that heritage firsthand on the Miller Brewing Tour.
Located in Miller Valley, the Miller Brewery combines more than 160 years of history with modern innovation. The tour walks guests through the brewing process, from the massive brew kettles to the bottling lines, and of course, ends with a tasting session. It’s an authentic glimpse into Milwaukee’s past and present, one that showcases why beer remains an integral part of the city’s cultural identity.
But Miller is only the beginning. Dozens of craft breweries now call Milwaukee home, giving beer enthusiasts endless opportunities to sample IPAs, stouts and lagers that reflect the creativity of the city’s new wave of brewmasters.
Beyond beer, Milwaukee is also known worldwide as the birthplace of Harley-Davidson. The Harley-Davidson Museum, located along the Menomonee River, is a must-visit attraction for anyone interested in American history, engineering or motorcycle culture.
The museum tells the story of the company’s rise from a small workshop in 1903 to an international symbol of freedom and rebellion. Visitors can admire
Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee skyline, The Harley-Davidson Museum, Margherita pizza at Tre Rivali, Golden Girls at the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. Photos by Joey Amato
more than 450 motorcycles and artifacts, including some of the earliest Harley models ever built. Interactive exhibits allow guests to understand the mechanics behind the bikes, while rotating installations highlight the brand’s cultural impact.
Even if you’ve never ridden a motorcycle, the Harley-Davidson Museum is captivating. It captures not just the history of a company, but the evolution of an American icon that has influenced fashion, music and even film.
Every city has its quirks, and in Milwaukee, that eccentric charm shines brightly at the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. This one-of-akind attraction celebrates the playful, nostalgic world of bobblehead dolls.
Home to the world’s largest collection of bobbleheads, the museum features everything from sports figures and celebrities to political leaders and cultural icons, including the Golden Girls. Exhibits highlight the history of bobbleheads, their evolution over the decades, and the artistry that goes into creating these fun collectibles.
It’s a lighthearted stop that perfectly balances Milwaukee’s more serious cultural offerings. Visitors often leave smiling, realizing they’ve just experienced one of the most delightfully unexpected museums in the country.
No trip to Milwaukee would be complete without a visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum. Not only is it one of the city’s most prestigious institutions, but it’s also an architectural marvel. Designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, the museum’s Quadracci Pavilion features the “Burke Brise Soleil,” a stunning moveable structure resembling a bird in flight that opens and closes throughout the day.
Inside, the museum houses an impressive collection of more than 25,000 works of art, spanning from antiquity to contemporary pieces. Highlights include works by Georgia O’Keeffe — who was born in Wisconsin — as well as European masters and modern innovators such as Roy Lichtenstein. The museum regularly hosts traveling exhibitions, ensuring there’s always something new for visitors to discover.
More than just an art institution, the Milwaukee Art Museum serves as a community hub, bringing together locals and tourists for lectures, performances and special events. Its location on the lakefront makes it the perfect starting point for a day of exploring the city’s waterfront parks and scenic trails.
Foodies will also find plenty to love. Milwaukee’s culinary scene is booming, with chefs combining Midwestern traditions with global flavors.
Don’s TV & Repair Shop is not what you think. As guests walk through an inconspicuous door, they enter a lobby filled with ’80s-era arcade games and electronics. A host asks for a secret password and then opens a secret door that leads into the restaurant/speakeasy portion of the building. Don’s specializes in burgers and shakes, so ordering any of those is a home run. We happened to go on a day when all burgers were 99 cents with the order of a drink. This was a deal we couldn’t pass up. The burgers were cooked perfectly, and the boozy shakes tasted incredible. A full bar menu is also available if you aren’t in the mood for a shake.
For a date night meal, head to Tre Rivali at the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel for upscale Mediterranean cuisine. While the menu consisted of a variety of shareable dishes and homemade pastas, we decided to share a few pizzas. The four of us split the Truffle Mushroom, Margherita and Calabrese. Each had its own distinct flavor, and the crusts were cooked perfectly in the wood-fired oven. My favorite among them was the Truffle Mushroom, which was prepared with ricotta, taleggio, mozzarella, truffle pecorino, roasted garlic and truffle salt, served on top of a white sauce.
What sets Milwaukee apart is its balance of tradition and innovation. It’s a city that honors its brewing and industrial roots while embracing creativity, diversity and progress. Most importantly, Milwaukee is a city that welcomes all. Its thriving LGBTQ culture, combined with its Midwestern warmth, ensures that every visitor feels included. For travelers seeking a destination that blends history, culture and community, Milwaukee is a city worth discovering.
BY NOAH MITCHELL
‘Dance TV: Halloween’ Turns Broken Glass into Seasonal Magic
“A disco ball is hundreds of pieces of broken glass put together to make a magical ball of light. You are not broken. You are a disco ball.”
“And that is a quote that has an unknown author. I did not come up with that quote, but when I first saw that, I was like, ‘Oh, that is what “Dance TV” is,’” says “Dance TV” creative director Andy Frye. “It’s like, empowering and uplifting, and also pays homage to the dance floor with a disco ball.”
So, that’s “Dance TV.” Their Halloween show runs October 15-18 at Zeitgeist in Duluth. See you there!
Oh, you still have more questions? Well, you and your insatiable curiosity are in luck. Frye has plenty more to share about the project he’s been working on since 2019.
“‘Dance TV’ is a live theatrical experience that takes you behind the scenes of a fictional hit television show called ‘Dance TV,’” Frye says. “So, think, like, ‘Solid Gold,’ ‘Club MTV,’ ‘Soul Train,’ ‘American Bandstand,’ with a modern, irreverent flair.”
The audience sees all the action, both on- and off-camera, according to Frye. The show incorporates digital elements into its core identity as a theatrical production (and not an actual TV show, as Frye often finds himself explaining).
“Dance TV: Halloween” also features an original script and original soundtrack (available now on Spotify and Apple Music), both created by Minnesota artists.
But how did it all get started? Again, Frye has the answers.
The first two glass shards that would become the disco ball that is “Dance TV” came together in a Zumba class. Frye was attending a class taught by Christine Pfeiffer Stocke, and once the two connected, they became “instant friends,” he says.
Domita Sanchez, Amber Burns, Brianna Hall-Nelson, Alex Loch. (Opposite page) Antony Ferguson, Amber Burns, Kelly Killorin. Photos by Terry Norton
In addition to now being a co-creator of “Dance TV,” Pfeiffer Stocke had previously danced on a TV dance show and was also a writer. Once he found that out, Frye says, the ideas that would become “Dance TV” immediately began to form.
“We started workshopping it at the Brewer’s Garage in Duluth, Minn., and it was a little bit more of, like, a club, theater, concert, hybrid type of environment,” Frye says. “The project really pays homage to the dance floor.”
Frye and Pfeiffer Stocke took “Dance TV” from workshops at Brewer’s Garage to a residency at LUSH Lounge & Theater in Minneapolis. They had built up some momentum and were ready to continue to evolve “Dance TV.” But, like most of 2019’s best laid plans, things didn’t work out exactly how they expected.
Being forced to take time away from the stage during the COVID-19 pandemic helped Frye realize what “Dance TV” was, what it wasn’t and how to transition it from a club environment to a sit-down theater.
After that time to reflect, Frye and Pfeiffer Stocke were able to prepare and then premiere the original “Dance TV” show at Zeitgeist in 2023, followed by another in 2024.
“From the success of that show and what we learned, and what worked, and what audiences were really responding to, we knew we wanted to keep going,
creating new work,” Frye says. “But, [we] didn't want to keep doing the exact same thing, and also make it so that you didn't need to have seen the first one in order to come to see our new show.”
“Just like those dance television shows, and lots of television shows. have the like the Halloween episode, the Christmas episode, or the holiday [episode], you know, leaning into the season,” Frye continues. “So we, instead of doing the sequel, we're doing ‘Dance TV: Halloween.’ We have ‘Dance TV: Holidays’ also in the works, and ‘Dance TV: Beach Party,’ and [are] kind of leaning into these seasonal aspects.”
So, “Dance TV: Halloween” will combine the goals of building on the original “Dance TV” while also differentiating itself, remaining accessible to new and old audiences alike, and celebrating the season. That’s not enough for you? Well, it’s also a dance party!
“This isn't a drama. This is really just meant to be fun,” Frye says. “So, put on a fun outfit, grab some friends!”
The end of the show isn’t the end of the night, either. The “Dance TV” team is hosting afterparties following the end of the night’s last show at Vikre Distillery on Thursday, Blacklist Brewing Co. on Friday and, on Saturday, at The Flame Duluth, where a costume competition will begin at 11 p.m.
So, what is “Dance TV: Halloween”? It’s a lot of things: theater show, dance TV show, dance party, and a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community through the arts. Frye, after some thought, added one more shard to the ball: “It's going to be the Halloween event of the season!”
“Dance TV: Halloween” Zeitgeist
222 E Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802 Oct. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m., Oct. 17 and 18 at 6 and 8:30 p.m. dancetvstudios.com
BY GREGG SHAPIRO
‘Plainclothes’
make the men: an interview with Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey
“Plainclothes”(Magnolia), the directorial debut by queer filmmaker and screenwriter Carmen Emmi, is not as simple as the title might suggest. There is also a double-meaning at play as neither of the main characters — Lucas (Tom Blyth) and Andrew (out actor Russell Tovey) — is dressed in their respective “uniforms” when they first meet.
Already “certified fresh” on rottentomatoes.com, “Plainclothes” features such stellar performances by Tovey and Blyth that it’s likely to be the movie that will not only make the actors bigger stars than they already are, but also earn them well-deserved Oscar nominations. Tom and Russell kindly made time for a Zoom interview shortly before the film was released in theaters.
Continued on page 20
Gregg Shapiro: Russell and Tom, I’d like to begin by asking each of you to say a few words about what attracted you to the roles of Andrew and Lucas, respectively, in “Plainclothes.”
Tom Blyth: Lucas, for me, is someone who’s going through immense difficulty and is facing up to some self-truths. I’m always drawn to characters who are trying to understand themselves in a serious, deep way. Probably because I’m doing that as well. I come at this from a psychological standpoint, so I think I’m drawn to a character who is going through psychological turmoil. And the script is absolutely beautiful. That was my main draw.
Russell Tovey: I second that the script is beautiful. For me, dialogue connects me straight away to a character. When I started reading Andrew, I was like, “Oh, yeah, I want to say these lines.” I wanted to do a film in Syracuse. I thought Syracuse sounded like a beautiful, wonderful paradise. Parts of it are like paradise, and other parts, not so much. But it was a great experience. It’s new writing and a new director. It always feels so exciting when you get a script like this. These don’t happen all the time. So, it was an easy yes.
GS: I’m glad you mentioned that because “Plainclothes” is the feature-length directorial debut for Carmen Emmi, who also wrote the screenplay. What are the advantages of working with a first-time filmmaker for an actor?
RT: I don’t know if it’s an advantage, but you feel the excitement. You feel a responsibility, I guess, to be your best for them. You want them to have the best experience ever. In the way that Andrew wants Lucas to have the best experience ever in this film, with his first time with someone, with a gay man, with a man. We, as actors, want to make sure that Carmen wants to continue working after we finish his film, for sure. You’ve got someone who is so excited and so full of gratitude. He’s experimental. That’s what’s so shocking about the way that Carmen made this film. I had no idea what was going on when we first started. When he pulled the camcorder out when he was doing certain shots. I was like, “I don’t understand this,” but it was so intoxicating working with him on his first film. What he does next and where his trajectory is going is so brilliant.
TB: There’s a bravery in a first-time filmmaker, I’ve noticed, that is simultaneously bravery and anxiety. They know what they want to do, and they’re working from instinct because they’ve not been told no too many times by producers, or financiers, or whatever it may be.
RT: They’re not jaded yet.
TB: They’ve not gotten the outside critiques which filmmakers throughout their careers get. There’s this bravery of, “I’m just gonna enact my vision.” Then there’s this anxiety because it’s their first big film. That anxiety feels collaborative because they don’t think they know it all, and they lean on everyone else as much as they lean on their own vision. So, it creates this incredible mix of boldness and collaboration, which you don’t always get.
GS: “Plainclothes” is set in 1997, almost 30 years ago, at a time before Grindr and other hook-up apps, when there were limited options available to gay men for casual interactions. Do either of you find it shocking to think about how much things have changed and advanced in 30 years?
RT: Thirty years is basically Tom’s whole life.
TB: [Laughs]
RT: The world just gets faster and faster, doesn’t it? I mean, what can you do? It is shocking for so many other things, that it’s terrifying at the speed of the way that everything’s going. I miss CDs. I miss them. You can quote me on that. The way that queer people, or anybody, can find connections with people online now is fascinating and brilliant and terrifying and rewarding and depressing, and all of those feelings completely. But there’s something romantic about the way that these guys meet that feels furtive and dangerous. That’s the situation that so many people were in. There weren’t safe spaces created for people, so they were pushed to the margins,
and they ended up in dangerous situations. This is a very dangerous situation, but through this place of adversity and danger, something beautiful grows.
TB: Russell and I have both talked about this recently. I do think we have this feeling, even more so this year than last year when we were making this film, that it is more necessary than ever because it does feel like we’re moving backwards at the moment, politically and socially. I don’t think we even knew a year ago, when we were making it, how much a year later it would feel like the wheel of time is going backwards. I’m very proud to be able to champion this film, right now especially.
GS: Thank you for saying that, Tom. “Plainclothes” also reminded me of how police departments have changed in their attitudes towards gay men. From entrapping them in restrooms to, at least here in the States, actively recruiting them to join the force.
TB: I don’t know much about police policies, to be honest with you. I would be lying if I said I did. I did a lot of research on them in the ‘90s, but it’s probably very different to now. Around the conversation of representation and policing, how can you expect people who are supposed to be bastions or representatives of a community, as a whole, without representation from that community? I don’t understand the people who think that you could have a small minority of white, lower-middle-class to working-class men, policing everybody else. They won’t be able to always have the empathy needed to police a community. I think that’s why we run into trouble in policing. I think the idea that there should be representation in policing is integral.
GS: The thrill and risk of sex in a public place, whether a mall men’s room or a greenhouse, gives “Plainclothes” a distinctive eroticism. The scene in the greenhouse was especially touching. Can you both please comment on that?
RT: Well, it was hot. And we’re playing that it’s cold outside, so we’re bundled up in layers. Not much sex goes on in the bathrooms because everyone seems to be caught, or it’s very momentarily sexy and fraught, and then it ends. So, for our characters to have that time where we can be free — it’s not a bed, it’s not a house, it’s not domestic — it is still somewhere that’s furtive. But for us to have that moment where we can close the door and be free with each other is so beautiful. Someone said the other day that when they watched it, that when you go into the greenhouse, all the flowers feel like “The Wizard of Oz.” It goes into Technicolor. Before that, everything’s grey and muted, and that door opens and you’ve got all of this sort of Oz. This beautiful world where they exist, and they’re amongst flowers and foliage and botanicals, and it’s historical. That’s so true! I’m sure Carmen’s considered that, because one of his favorite films is “The Wizard of Oz.” That is such a beautiful way to turn the story, and that is the truth of that scene. These guys are finally in their utopia.
GS: “Plainclothes” is set in upstate New York, which meant that you both had to master not only an American accent, but also a regional one.
TB: I would never claim to have mastered anything because I’d be shooting myself in the foot. But we had a really great dialect coach called Sam Lilja. It’s a small-budget film, so we didn’t get a ton of time with Sam, but the time we did get was really valuable. I’ve been lucky enough to live in the States for the past nine years, so I often don’t know what my actual voice is anymore, which I think is helpful. It makes me able to pretend to be other people.
RT: I’ve worked and lived in the States for many years. I spend a lot of time when I go to the States, just speaking in the accent until someone British from home spots me, and they call me a freak. I will go into, like, diners or restaurants or stores and talk in an American accent so that it just becomes second nature. That felt important. I think the Syracuse accent … it’s not typically what we know as the Bronx, New York or Queens accent. It’s more neutral, but there are twangs. A lot of the cast and crew, Carmen especially, were from Syracuse. So that noise you need is around you all the time. If it had been a British crew, it might have been a little harder to stay on in that sound. But I think we both were able to tune into it because everyone around us was talking in it.
TB: I think Russell and I also work in a similar way, which is that we stay in it on set when we need to and then are able to jump out if we need to go back to zero and reset, as well, and have a funny moment. It’s nice when you work with someone who has a similar sensibility to you and isn’t too constricted and has to stay in it all the time, or never wants to stay in it. It was nice to be able to play off each other like that.
GS: The scenes throughout the movie with Lucas and his family are highly charged and reach their peak in the film’s final mo-
ments, while the scene where Andrew’s family appears at his place of work is also emotionally devastating. Can you say something about how you prepare for those kinds of scenes?
RT: You just get in the zone. The crew and the cast were incredibly professional and respectful, and liked actors. Sometimes you work at jobs, and you feel like they don’t like actors [laughs], which isn’t helpful. Across the board, everybody wanted this to be a beautiful experience, and it was. When we needed that time, it was available to us. I think Carmen was very sure of that. Carmen did something amazing, which I’ve tried to take onto every job since, is that he plays music into scenes. We all know what that feels like, when you’re on public transport or in the back of a car and a song comes on and you can sort of imagine this make-believe, Hollywood ending of your life. Music is a kind of fast hack into emotions, and I think that that made a massive difference for me.
TB: That scene, in particular, was really intense. I remember that day being really intense. I remember leaving the scene feeling dissatisfied and feeling like I hadn’t done it right. I think that’s because that’s how Lucas feels. Carmen said that to me. He could sense that I was beating myself up about how the scene had gone. He was like, “Why would you be feeling good about it when Lucas is feeling bad?” Lucas goes there to profess his love for a man for the first time, that he truly does love, and he basically is told to grow up, that he’s being with unrealistic, because Andrew has his own life, and he’s shown up there inappropriately to interrupt his life. He’s put Andrew’s life and his family in jeopardy. Andrew’s protecting himself and his family, and so Lucas is incredibly angry at himself, and Andrew, and disappointed and confused. I think I felt confused and disappointed and sad, which is sometimes how it goes. You put yourself fully in the circumstances of the scene, even if that doesn’t make you feel like you’re doing it right.
Twin Cities Quorum to host annual National Coming Out Day Luncheon
The 32nd annual National Coming Out Day (NCOD) Luncheon will take place on Friday, Oct. 10.
Twin Cities Quorum is inviting LGBTQ+ community members and allies to join them in celebration of authenticity at its annual National Coming Out Day (NCOD) Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 10, at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. The event aims to provide attendees with a space to network, elevate LGBTQ+ voices and drive meaningful impact across Minnesota.
This year will mark 32 years since the luncheon first began. Quorum’s Executive Director Rebecca Waggoner Johnson says that the organization has grown its luncheon attendance numbers from approximately 200 to 500 guests over the course of several years.
The event offers a marketplace expo from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., where attendees can network with Quorum’s diverse members, sponsors and community partners. The luncheon portion of the event goes from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will include speeches from a list of guest speakers.
Sebastian Dziuk is one of the confirmed guest speakers at the NCOD Luncheon. Dziuk is a veteran who served in the Minnesota National Guard for over a decade and was one of the first out transgender soldiers. He is also a speaker and founder of an email/marketing agency.
He speaks at both LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ events, sharing his lived experience as a trans man with others and emphasizing the importance of trans representation in all settings.
“It’s important to me because I think there isn’t always the most trans representation when we talk about LGBT issues, and especially for trans men,” Dziuk says. “I know how important it is to see representation in all areas of life, whether it’s at an LGBT event or at a non-LGBT event, and so I’m happy to be able to provide some of that representation, not just for me, but for trans men.”
A topic that Dziuk plans on covering at the NCOD Luncheon specifically is the importance of coming out at a pace that feels comfortable to each individual. He explains that a person will likely face the experience of “coming out” multiple times in their life as they continue to evolve and enter new environments. He wants others to know that the process shouldn’t feel like a race.
Both Dziuk and Waggoner Johnson emphasize just how crucial it is that LGBTQ+ allies make an effort to support queer community members. Waggoner Johnson says that approximately onethird of Quorum’s members identify as allies of the community.
“We want to create a space where people can come together to grow and thrive,” Waggoner Johnson says. “Ultimately, we want to build, con-
nect and strengthen the LGBTQ+ and allied business community in Minnesota and, in order to do that, we have to include allies.”
“Many Journeys, One Minnesota” has been selected as this year’s luncheon theme, emphasizing the importance of and commitment to creating a state where all people can present their whole selves in every aspect of their life while being embraced for exactly who they are, according to Quorum’s website.
“One of the reasons we came up with the theme this year is because Minnesota is a trans refuge state and ‘Many Journeys, One Minnesota’ is a project that we’re actually doing to capture the stories of people who are moving here as trans refugees,” Waggoner Johnson says.
The project was first launched at 2025 Pride, and it involves Quorum members and eventgoers writing welcome notes to trans refugees and other LGBTQ+ members moving to Minnesota. Letterwriting will be available to luncheon attendees if they wish to participate.
Tickets to the NCOD Luncheon are $70 for members and $90 for non-members. A vendor table at the marketplace expo costs $175 for members and $225 for non-members. Visit twincitiesquorum.com to learn more about the upcoming event.
Milly’s Wine Bar & Bistro: Born out of Friendship
Nestled in the Mill District of Minneapolis is Milly’s Wine Bar & Bistro. Opening its doors in the summer of 2023, Milly’s quickly became a place where many in the area could go to relax and spend time with one another while still feeling as safe and comfortable as they would in their home. While it now seems hard to imagine the Mill District without the eye-catching wine bar, there was a time when Brandon Witzel and the two other owners, Jill Mortenson and Kay Phillips, had not even met.
In 2013, 10 years before Milly’s opened, Witzel had not even considered becoming a restaurant owner. Instead, his days were spent operating his design business, Quinn Design. He first connected with Mortenson and Phillips through this business when the two had hired him to help design their condo.
Soon, the three discovered that they had a lot in common. It wasn’t long before they found themselves not only becoming friends, but also deciding to join together as business partners. Through their combined interests and talents, they decided to work together flipping houses.
“I never, ever had restaurant on my bucket list,” Witzel says. “I have a design business by trade. … We became friends, and then we were flipping a couple houses. … And that building just kind of popped up one day as Jill was driving home from the dentist.”
Without a common space to meet and discuss their work, the three often found themselves seeking other places to connect, favoring those that served wine. Phillips and Mortenson longed for the same atmosphere they had found within their favorite wine bars that they’d frequent during their part-time residence in Manhattan, N.Y. Over time, they began to discuss the idea of an office space or other form of “commercial real estate,” according to Witzel.
As luck would have it, a charming brick building with plenty of promise opened up within the Mill District. Initially, the three had considered turning the building into a shared office. But as time went on, they considered doing something a bit riskier.
Brandon, Jill, GM Zach, Kay, Chef Zach, Sommelier Timothy (back). Photos courtesy of Brandon Witzel
“We kept having meetings and finding places to have wine, and we’re like, there’s nothing in the Mill District. And we thought, well, they love wine bars in New York. We’ll just build one, and it’ll be kind of fun to have one in the neighborhood.”
Combining all of their talents, the group spent time working on bringing their concept to life. Witzel applied knowledge from his design business and his previous experience working at restaurants to help lay out the space and plan for the specific needs of the business. Mortenson and Phillips used their business experience to shape Milly’s as well. Further, they applied the things they learned through their many years of travel to help cultivate Milly’s into more than just a regular bistro — a space informed by different cultures and places.
“So, they live in the village in Manhattan part-time, and they have their favorite spaces. So, over the course of a few years, I went back and forth, and we explored those and looked at some new ones,” Witzel says. “And they travel pretty regularly, so they were sending inspiration from Paris and London … They’re currently in Sweden at a wine bar right now.”
In addition to taking inspiration from their favorite wine bars around the world, the owners of Milly’s take pride in creating a space that reflects their values. From something as simple as Witzel making sure to keep plenty of lively plants around, to the more impactful decisions, such as their choice to make Milly’s a welcoming and open space for all.
“Jill is very big into reading, so our entire building is a Little Free Library. Kaye used to be traveling all the time for work and always wanted a place where she could go in and feel comfortable without being harassed … So, the whole goal was safe for a single person or a single woman or a single man to come in and read in peace without being bothered,” Witzel says. “And then especially for us, since we’re 100% LGBTQ owned, to be a safe space for everyone.”
While Witzel never intended to own and run a restaurant, he, along with Mortenson and Phillips, quickly fell in love with the community that Milly’s has created. Together, they have pitched in ideas and concepts that have formed together to make the unique wine bar. But a good wine bar would be nothing if it did not have excellent wine, and Milly’s has that covered as well.
Since the beginning, Witzel shared that wine director Timothy O’Neil has worked with Milly’s to make sure that the wine is up to par.
“Our sommelier, Timothy, has been with us since day one … Every quarter, we switch it up to a different region of the world,” Witzel says. “So, we did, like, spring into Spain, fall into France. We did an American summer that was just coast to coast, and then now we’re gonna move into a European fall. So, it’s gonna be kind of like the smash hits that we’ve had throughout. … Our motto is come for a glass, stay for a bottle.”
For those longing for a visit to a space that welcomes everyone with open arms and serves delicious bites, Milly’s Wine Bar & Bistro may be just the place to attend. Once inside, expect to be greeted by familiar faces, both of the staff and customers. For more information about Milly’s, please visit their website at millysmpls.com.
‘Street’s Eats’ – Local Chefs Lisa Carlson and Carrie Summer Turn Nutrition Into Inspiration at the Chef Shack
Serpentine Vietnamese mutterings combine with staccato Farsi shouts. Played-with-the-eyes-open blues combine with plaintive, just-picked-corn-on-the-cob pitches. Hands of every size, shape and color combine with homemade, jiggly jewelry pieces dangling from earnest displays like earnest acrobats. These combinations, along with a hundred others, form the center of a unique hybrid of transaction, and within the center’s boundaries, one of the many businesses on parade has turned combination into an unapologetic art form — Chef Shack is where it’s at.
“Chef Shack is a mobile kitchen serving up some of the tastiest street food in Minneapolis,” the company website boasts. “You can find the Chef Shack at the Mill City Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.”
Poised on four licorice black tires, Chef Shack’s four licorice red sides are festooned with circus poster prose: “‘Top 10 creative food trucks in the USA’ by Yahoo News,” “James Beard Foundation Semi Finalist,” and the ever-helpful “Eat.” Windows become counters that become places of commerce, where cuisine is exchanged for currency.
Photos courtesy of Chef Shack
Between those scarlet walls, different delectable combinations, as outlined by the business’s website, take shape: “At the market, you’ll find their famous Indian-spiced mini donuts fried to perfection, bison burgers, grass-fed hot dogs, bacon brats, sweet potato tacos, pulled pork nachos, market salads, and more.”
At Chef Shack, the integral combination from which all other combinations combine is the commingling of self-described “co-chef-owners”: Carrie Summer combines her skills as chief creative officer with the talents of chef de cuisine and lead travel planner, Lisa Jean Carlson. They met in 2001 when Carlson hired Summer to work at a restaurant Carlson then owned … and they eventually became partners in both life and business.
“We are a couple involved in a romantic, business, travel and cohabitation relationship for almost 25 years,” Summer declares.
The business part of that relationship took on a new dimension in 2007. After having worked a table displaying their motley wares at the Mill City Farmers Market, Carlson and Summer co-created Minneapolis’s first licensed food truck, where they focused on street food that is as accessible as it is affordable. Their specialties in those salad days incarnated in another unlikely combination, mini donuts and gazpacho.
“Some of the best food in America is coming from street trucks, a stand and trailers,” the self-styled Godmothers of Food Trucks in the North proclaim together. “We think people are adventurous and take a chance!”
Carlson continues: “The evolution of cuisine globally has surpassed my expectations … and energetically and on a metaphysically level; it’s a deeply connecting mystery of alchemy.”
The alchemical cuisine evolved within the Godmothers’ magic hands … as did the alchemical business creating the alchemical cuisine.
“We bought our restaurant property in Bay City, Wisc. — across the Mississippi from Red Wing, Minn. — in 2012 … the bar is 105 years old,” notes Summer. “Our restaurant and food trucks span between Minnesota and Wisconsin for nearly 20 years now.”
The wheel-free establishment’s name is, naturally enough, Chef Shack Bay City.
An outsider may conclude that Carlson and Summer have broken into the big time … but the big time looks smaller from the inside.
“I think people assume chefs have a very glamorous life,” Carlson supposes. “However, it’s a very complicated and challenging physical and mental discipline to execute at a high level consistently. We prioritize rest and meditation for creativity with hydration, fitness and nutrition to perform optimally.”
That dedication to self-care might surprise some … but the Chef Shack crew considers it a necessary ingredient to ongoing success.
“Working with food is an endless multi-disciplinary medium that is ever changing and utilizes all senses to create,” Summer insists. “It’s also working with people with no exact formulas; that’s ever-changing. For these reasons, it’s held my attention for decades.”
That attention has become a common one among chefs and non-chefs alike.
“With the rise of the Food Network and humans recognizing the alchemy between ingredients and the chemistry of creation, food is an art form, and it has been elevating rapidly in the last 40 years,” Summer observes. “I’ve been in the business over 30 years now.”
“It’s actually been nearly 40 years in hospitality for me,” Carlson garnishes. “It’s a whole lot more glamorous and respected than it used to be, but it’s still a blue-collar profession.”
That elbow grease quality forces a high level of dedication … and combines with a specific kind of freedom, as well.
“We own our land and trucks,” Carlson says. “We do what we want!”
Chef Shack
chefshackbaycity.com
millcityfarmersmarket.org/vendors/chef-shack/
One Bourbon, Seven Stars and a Chance to Make a Difference
Opportunities often arise unexpectedly from the connections we make. A simple conversation about weekend plans can spark a life-changing journey.
That’s how The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) found the Four Roses Charity Barrel Program. MACV, whose mission is to end veteran homelessness in Minnesota, learned about Four Roses from a supporter who believed it’d be a great fit, according to MACV Chief Operating Officer Jon Lovald. The program invites organizations to select a private barrel through a guided tasting experience, and the proceeds from the sale support the nonprofit’s mission.
For the last 35 years, MACV has been providing various forms of support to help end veteran homelessness in Minnesota. They can provide or link someone to housing, help with low-level legal services, connect people to medical services and provide financial services.
“Any number of things that would be connected to your stint in housing instability, we provide or connect you to another organization that provides it,” Lovald says. “You can expect that somebody’s gonna try to help you. We’re not here to judge how you got into that situation; we are just looking for a solution that will provide you with housing.”
Lovald says many things could lead someone to this situation, but more often than not, they’ve already exhausted all their current resources and need that extra help. At the start, MACV asks a lot of questions, such as validating your service, but that’s so they can determine what resources you’re qualified for and how they can provide support.
MACV helps anyone who served, regardless of the time they served or their discharge. It’s important to them to say, “If you raised your right hand and you served, we’re here to help,” according to Lovald.
“I think that’s very important to the LGBTQ community because when I started serving in the ‘90s, we had a thing called ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” Lovald says. “There were a lot of people who found themselves being pushed
Photos courtesy of Shaun Riffe
out of the military with less-than-honorable discharges because of their orientation, which is very much putting them at a disadvantage from the time that they get out of the military, moving forward.”
MACV services can be used beyond finding housing, including for help with legal challenges that come with being part of the queer community, like legal changes to names, passports or driver’s licenses.
“A veteran is a veteran is a veteran. If we have homes where there’s shared living, if a trans person identifies as a woman, they’re going into the woman’s house and vice versa,” Lovald says. “There’s just that level of we meet you where you are and who you are and help you from there.”
MACV’s goal is to provide services to as many veterans as possible, so it hosts fundraising opportunities throughout the year to reach as many supporters as possible. They campaign with WCCO Home for the Holidays and Give to the Max, partner with many companies and organizations, and host hobby-based events such as golf, hunting, fishing and more.
This is their first time partnering with Four Roses, and it doesn’t come without sensitivity. With many veterans struggling with substance abuse or recovering from addiction, Lovald says it was important to look at the benefits and risks.
The impact made through this fundraiser would make it possible for them to provide services to more veterans and reach a new audience of supporters, which is why they partnered with Blue Team Alpha, a veteranowned business, which will promote the bottle, brand it with their logo and match each purchase, doubling the impact.
“It’s trying to reach people that maybe MACV hasn’t reached yet, and this is just another venue or forum to do that, and I think it’s a creative way … with a focus on how we can assist as many veterans as we possibly can,” retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Jon Jensen says.
A team of six travelled to the Four Roses Kentucky distillery in July to sample 10 barrels of bourbon and pick the best one to bring back to Minnesota. They ended up choosing a bourbon aged 10 years and 4 months with notes of deep oak, mellow spice and rich baking spice, aka Barrel Strength Four Roses OESK. It’s also one of Four Roses’ 10 unique bourbon recipes and a standout among its profiles.
“They hide the mash bill and they hide the age of the bourbon while you’re tasting and you don’t find out what everything is until after you’ve selected a barrel,” Jensen says. “The bottles that they’re gonna get from Four Roses will be that exact barrel … It’s the exact bourbon that we got to taste that day.”
Continued on page 30
MACV named the release “Seven Star Selection,” acknowledging the leadership of their selection team. The seven stars represent the three retired army generals on the selection team: Neal Loidolt, MACV president and CEO (retired U.S. Army Major General/2-star general); Jon Jensen, MACV board member (retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General/3-star general); and Mike Wickman, MACV supporter (retired U.S. Army Major General/2-star general).
“It’ll be our intent to have their three signatures on each one of these bottles and number these bottles, especially people that we’ve served with are gonna find these to be more valuable because of that,” Lovald says. “It’s gonna be a very good bourbon, it was just another opportunity to make this special not just for us, but for the people who are buying these bottles.”
Bottles are priced at $150 and will directly support outreach, housing and services for veterans through MACV. Only 100 bottles are available in this release and can be reserved at go.mac-v. org/l/898231/2025-09-10/6njr33.
Find more information about The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans at mac-v.org.
Fall into Reading 2025: Books about Writers
In many ways, the late, Black, gay writer James Baldwin had been writing his own story for years. However, with “Baldwin: A Love Story” (FSG, 2025) by Nicholas Boggs, readers now have the first major biography of one of the definitive writers of the 20th century, gay or straight. Boggs, who played a considerable role as co-editor for the 2018 Duke University Press reissue of Baldwin and illustrator Yoran Cazac’s 1976 children’s book, “Little Man Little Man,” has created a stunning and meticulously researched book. While it’s hard to believe that no such Baldwin biography existed prior to this,
we can all be grateful to Boggs for writing one. A perfect autumn read to curl up with as the seasons change.
Speaking of children’s books, Arnold Lobel was the author and occasional illustrator of more than 30 books for young readers, including the beloved “Frog and Toad” series, and also illustrated several others. Additionally, Lobel had the distinction of being one of an elite group of writers who received both Newbery and Caldecott Medals. Lobel, who came out later in life after being married to a woman, died from AIDS complications in 1987. What better way to pay tribute to a celebrated children’s book author than with a children’s book about him? “Outside In and the Inside Out: a story about Arnold Lobel” (Viking/
Penguin, 2025), written and illustrated by Emmy Kastner, is just that book. Following Lobel from childhood illness and recovery through his love of storytelling and drawing into his career in the “buttoned-up business world” and eventually his life as a lauded children’s book author, without shying away from his finding “a new world with a new love.”
The first biography of the queer, Greek poet known as C.P. Cavafy (1863-1933) in more than
50 years, “Constantine Cavafy: A New Biography” (FSG, 2025) by Gregory Jusdanis and Peter Jeffreys, is cause for celebration indeed. A poet whose body of work continues to be translated to this day, the fact that Cavafy openly wrote poetry consisting of queer subject matter at the time he did is reason enough to read his work. Cavafy authorities Jusdanis and Jeffreys scrupulously researched their subject, and the book takes us from his early years with his family in his Egyptian birthplace through time in England (Liverpool and London) and Turkey (Istanbul) to his return to Alexandria. Featuring 16 pages of photos, it is a fascinating portrait of a brilliant and groundbreaking poet.
Poet and MacArthur Fellow Edward Hirschis, at present, the president of the Guggenheim Foundation. His memoir, “My Childhood in Pieces: A Stand-Up Comedy, A Skokie Elegy” (Knopf, 2025), is exactly what you would expect from the title. Combining humorous bits presented in poetic language, Hirsch takes us on a guided tour of his early years in Chicago and his family’s eventual northern migration to suburban Skokie, Ill., where he spent his formative years.
Community Connection brings visibility to local LGBTQ-friendly non-profit organizations. To reserve your listing in Community Connection, email advertising@lavendermagazine. com.
ANIMAL RESCUE
Second Chance Animal Rescue
Dedicated to rescuing, fostering, caring for, and adopting out dogs and cats into forever homes.
P.O. Box 10533 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (651) 771-5662 www.secondchancerescue.org
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
Quorum
Minnesota's LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce working to build, connect, and strengthen for a diverse business community. 2446 University Ave. W., Ste 112 St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 460-8153 www.twincitiesquorum.com
ENVIRONMENT
The Nature Conservancy
TNC is an environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive. 1101 W. River Pkwy., Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1291 (612) 331-0700 minnesota@tnc.org www.nature.org/minnesota
EVENT VENUES
Landmark Center
A classic venue, with a grand cortile and beautiful courtrooms, accommodates celebrations of all sizes.
75 W. 5th St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 292-3228 www.landmarkcenter.org
GRANTMAKERS/FUNDERS
PFund Foundation
PFund is the LGBTQ+ community foundation that provides grants to students and grants to non-profits. PO Box 3640 Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 870-1806 www.pfundfoundation.org
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Aliveness Project
Community Center for individuals living with HIV/AIDS – on-site meals, food shelf, and supportive service.
3808 Nicollet Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55102 (612) 824-LIFE (5433) www.aliveness.org
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS
Radio K
Radio K is the award-winning studentrun radio station of the University of Minnesota.
330 21st. Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 625-3500 www.radiok.org
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
MEDICAL SERVICES
Red Door Clinic
HIV and STI screening, treatment, education, and referrals. Doxy PEP, nPEP, PrEP, and Reproductive Health. 525 Portland Ave., 4th Fl. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 543-5555 reddoor@hennepin.us www.reddoorclinic.org
MUSEUM
Bell Museum, University of Minnesota
Discover Minnesota’s rich natural history through engaging exhibits, wildlife dioramas, and an exciting planetarium experience!
2088 Larpenteur Ave. W. St. Paul, MN 55113 (612) 626-9660 bellinfo@umn.edu www.bellmuseum.umn.edu
Minnesota Historical Society
Create your own adventure at MNHS historic sites and museums around Minnesota. www.mnhs.org
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Enjoy masterpieces from all over the world & every period of human history. Free admission daily!
2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 870-3000 www.artsmia.org
Science Museum of Minnesota
Mississippi Riverfront Museum featuring dinosaurs, hands-on exhibits, Omnitheater films, and interactive science performances. Café onsite.
120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 221-9444 www.smm.org
PERFORMING ARTS
ARENA DANCES
ARENA DANCES presents innovative contemporary dance, fostering community, dialogue, and inclusion through performance and education 711 W. Lake St., Studio 308 Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 804-0238 www.arenadances.org
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
The nation's largest professional dinner theater and Minnesota's own entertainment destination. 501 W. 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317 (952) 934-1525 www.chanhassendt.com
Children’s Theatre Company
Children’s Theatre Company excites the imagination with world-class family-friendly theatre for kids, teens, and adults.
2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 874-0400 www.childrenstheatre.org
Guthrie Theater
Open to the public year-round, the Guthrie produces classic and contemporary plays on three stages. 818 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 377-2224 www.guthrietheater.org
Minnesota Opera
World-class opera draws you into a synthesis of beauty; breathtaking music, stunning costumes & extraordinary sets. Performances at the Ordway Music Theater - 345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (612) 333-6669
www.mnopera.org
Minnesota Orchestra
Led by Music Director Designate Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra, one of America’s leading symphony orchestras.
1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 371-5656, (800) 292-4141 www.minnesotaorchestra.org
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
Leading performing arts center with two stages presenting Broadway musicals, concerts & educational programs that enrich diverse audiences. 345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 224-4222 info@ordway.org www.ordway.org
Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus
An award-winning chorus building community through music and offers entertainment worth coming out for! 1430 W. 28th St., Ste. B Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 339-SONG (7664) chorus@tcgmc.org www.tcgmc.org
RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL
All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church
A welcoming, inclusive, safe place to explore and discover God’s love for ALL God’s children. 3100 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 824-2673 www.agcmcc.org
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
Everyone is welcome at Hennepin Church! Vibrant Worship. Authentic Community. Bold Outreach. 511 Groveland Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-5303 www.hennepinchurch.org
Plymouth Congregational Church
Many Hearts, One Song; Many Hands, One Church. Find us on Facebook and Twitter. 1900 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-7400 www.plymouth.org
St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ
We are an Open & Affirming, Progressive Christian Community. Real Church. Real People. Real Life. 2129 Commonwealth Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108 (651) 646-7173
www.sapucc.org
Westminster Presbyterian Church
An open and affirming congregation, welcoming persons of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. 1200 Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 332-3421 www.westminstermpls.org
SENIOR LIVING
Lyngblomsten Community Services
Offering caregiver education, resources, support groups, and The Gathering (daytime respite, memory-loss enrichment program)
1415 Almond Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108 (651) 632-5320 caregiving@lyngblomsten.org www.lyngblomsten.org/CServices
Senior Community Services
Providing non-medical services that meet the changing needs of older adults & support their caregivers. 10201 Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 335 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 541-1019 www.seniorcommunity.org/lav
SOCIAL SERVICES
Friends & Co
Fostering meaningful connections for older adults for 50+ years. Offering quick drop-in chat line, phone & visiting companionship services.
2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 260-S St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 721-1400
www.friendsco.org
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Serving all Minnesotans with individualized services that promote full and abundant lives.
lssmn.org | (651) 642-5990 | (800) 582-5260
Foster Care and Adoption | chlss.org | (651) 646.7771
PICS (Partners in Community Supports) | (651) 967-5060
Pooled Trust | (888) 806-6844
Supported Decision-Making | (888) 806-6844
TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
Westopolis
Minnesota’s Sweet Spot! St. Louis Park & Golden Valley offer exceptional dining, attractions, shopping, hotels and event space.
1660 Hwy 100 S., Ste. 501 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 426-4047
www.westopolis.org
Estimates 7:30am-4:30pm
Love, literature, and lattes
www.inkwellbooksellersco.com
426 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414 763-209-8117
Account Executive Lavender Media is seeking to add a Twin Cities based full time Account Executive to our sales team. We are looking for an outgoing, organized, self-driven & motivated professional with excellent phone, writing and presentation skills. Candidates should enjoy working directly with clients who are interested in growing their business through Lavender advertising and event sponsorships. Candidates must be local. Compensation: $1,500 base + commission every issue (two weeks) and an employee benefits package that includes group health, dental, life insurance and LTD. Applicants should have experience with Mac software environment, Excel, Word, social media platforms & database software such as Filemaker Pro. They should exhibit an elevated level of organization, attention to detail, the ability to work as part of a team, effective communication, self direction, enjoys working with new people and has a natural drive to grow. Please send your cover letter and resume to stephen.rocheford@lavendermagazine.com
Thank you Mom and Dad
This week is a travel week, with my first stop in Chicago — a city that has always held a special place in my heart. After landing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, I head straight for the Blue Line train. Anyone who has flown into O’Hare knows it’s a traveler’s challenge: if you choose a cab, Uber or rental car, you’ll almost always face gridlock that stretches the drive into an hour, no matter the time of day. The train, on the other hand, takes about 45 minutes. So, train it is.
I always sit on the right-hand side of the train, and here’s why: It brings back some of my sweetest memories. Along the route, we pass the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago. That was the hotel where I stayed during my very first visit to Chicago, more than 52 years ago. At that point, I had never experienced such an upscale hotel, but the memory isn’t really about the hotel itself. It’s about why I was in Chicago — and who I was with.
Not long before that trip, I had disrupted the “CBS Evening News” with Walter Cronkite. At the time, with only three major TV networks, Cronkite’s show was the nation’s most-watched, yet our community was invisible. My campaign was to change that, to bring LGBTQ+ people into view. (A quick side note: Wanda Sykes later produced a documentary about that movement called “Visible: Out on Television,” which features that campaign.)
Phil Donahue, who then had a nationally syndicated talk show, invited me on to discuss my “zap” — as we called those disruptions — and the larger issue of LGBTQ+ invisibility. He went against FCC expectations to give me a national platform to talk about it.
But here’s why that hotel means so much to me. On my second appearance with Phil Donahue, he asked me to bring my parents along. He wanted to talk not just with me, but with them — about what it was like having a gay son. That conversation became the first of its kind on American television. Each time I pass that hotel, I can still see my mom and dad’s faces: their excitement about the trip, their nervousness about being on TV and their courage in stepping into such unfamiliar territory.
And as I sit here writing, I’m filled with emotion. I can still hear their voices from that show — full of love, pride and a quiet determination. They spoke about family, about standing by one another and about how proud they were to see their son fighting for a cause that, as they put it, “helped people.”
So I’ll stop here before the emotions overwhelm me. All I really want to say is: Thank you, Mom and Dad.
OUR
BY JAMES D. ERICKSON
Game Changer: For All
On the sidelines, where the game charges forward, a new force rises— not in the roar of the crowd, but in the precision of each move, the power of each leap, the strength that defies expectations. Male cheerleaders don’t just stand—they soar, each jump a declaration, each cheer a challenge: We are here, we will not be sidelined.
But we—female cheerleaders—have always soared. We’ve always leapt higher, we’ve always powered through the grind, fighting for recognition, fighting for respect. And now, we stand stronger than ever. More than athletes, more than cheerleaders—we are revolutionaries, breaking the line, rewriting the playbook, changing what it means to cheer, to play, to be unapologetically us.
The Vikings lead, not just with vision, but with heart. Their energy surges through every cheer, through every jump, through every pom-pom raised high. Together, we are rewriting the future, and it’s written in every leap, every breath, every moment of unity. This is the future, and we’re rewriting the game for all.
Now, it’s time for every team, every player on the field, to understand: Strength is not just power—it’s unity, lifting each other, no matter who you are, no matter who you love. This is our play— to rise together.
To the other teams: The clock’s ticking. Step into the new era, lead with courage. Show the world that sports are for all. Cheer is for every voice, every heart, every fan who deserves to see themselves not just as spectators, but as part of the game.
Our game.
So rise with the Vikings. Let the stands shake with pride, with power, with inclusivity. The future is here, and it’s calling your name. Together, we can make the game a place for everyone.
©2025 James D. Erickson. All rights reserved.
VOICES | POETRY
