METROSOURCE NY - DEC22/JAN23

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

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

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:  Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may a ect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

 Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.



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



Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%). These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

GET MORE INFORMATION

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2022 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0008 01/22

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

– HOLIDAY LIGHTS. THROUGHOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I’m starting to see the bright outline of homes when the sun goes down. As I stroll through the city at night, colorful twinkling lights illuminate the way.

Somehow people shine brighter during the season as well. As we celebrate our accomplish ments with co-workers and plan gatherings with friends and loved ones, something lights up inside us.

Our writers at Metrosource have captured some interesting celebrity insights, sourced delightful holiday gifts and useful products, as well as uncovered some entertaining activities to light up your hearts this season.

Each year around this time, I try my hand at baking. I do make a mean walnut brownie. Now if I were really adventurous with my sifter and rolling pin, I’d attempt a triple-decker ‘piecaken’ and really wow the family. But maybe I’ll leave that to the experts like Zac Young who was named one of the Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America. In this issue we’ve captured his inspiring story from the wig department at Radio City Music Hall to Top Chef on the Food Network.

After ringing in 2023 on New Year’s Eve and the holiday visitors have headed home, the remainder of the month of January is actually an ideal time for a weekend getaway. Flights and lodging are often deeply discounted and the crowds and wait times are almost non-existent.

PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

COPY EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

MARKETING DIRECTOR

FEATURE WRITER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bent Share Entertainment, LLC Michael Westman

James Delyea

Cesar A Reyes Christopher Jackson Alexander Rodriguez

Ben Rimalower

James Delyea

Jeffrey James Keyes Mark Thompson Megan Venzin Michael Westman

NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING

Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

Speaking of music, you’ll want to check out some of the shows and albums out this season. Our Scope section has some euphonious options such as Joss Stone’s debut Christmas album Merry Christmas, Love. Or the traveling tour Jinx & DeLa Holiday Show which promises new songs and antics that will “test the limits of stupidity” from RuPaul favorites BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon.

There are a couple of movies that top my viewing list this winter. One of them is Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies, the Jim Parsons romantic drama that’s sure to be an emotional wrench. (Find out the behind-the-scenes scoop in our cover feature Jim Parsons: In a Whole New Light.) The other is the next installment of the all-star romp Knives Out which brings back Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) in a whole new whodunit scenario with a fresh all-star cast including one of my favorites, Leslie Odom, Jr.,

A trip to California’s Wine Country is quite enjoyable during winter months with its mild climate, picturesque countryside and gay-welcoming establishments. Check out www.LGBTwinemap.com for ideas on where to sip, stay and eat. A must-do (and must-drink) in Sonoma County is a visit to Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery. You can find out more about their cel ebrated winemaker, Theresa Heredia, in this issue.

If you’re looking for a more active winter getaway adventure, Sin City Classic Sports Fes tival will welcome over 10,000 LGBTQ+ athletes competing in 24 different sports to Las Vegas from Jan 12-15. It’s the largest gathering of its kind on the planet.

However you choose to celebrate, please know the team at Metrosource appreciates your readership throughout the year and wishes each of you a healthy and happy season. May the ‘holi day lights’ in your hearts glow bright.

Cheers!

Los Angeles 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., #438 Long Beach, CA 90803 New York 511 Avenue of the Americas, #901 New York, NY 10011

800.818.0480 info@metrosource.com

Subscriptions: One year (six issues): $29.95 Subscribe online at metrosource.com

Reproduction of any article, listing or advertisement without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organizations appearing in Metrosource are supportive of the gay community. Mention of any person, business or organization is not a reflection of their sexual orientation. ©2022 Bent Share Entertainment, LLC.

Advertisers in Metrosource acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for same as advertised. Metrosource assumes no responsibility or liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers. The appearance of any person, model, business or organization in this publication, by name, advertisement or photograph is not an indication of sexual orientation.

Advertisers and their agencies assume all responsibility and legal liability for the content of their advertisements in Metrosource. Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials.

Metrosource reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content. All contents are copyright Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved. Content may only be reproduced with written permission from Bent Share Entertainment, LLC.

Metrosource assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserve the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion.

WINTER IS UPON US AND THE LONGER NIGHTS OF DECEMBER AND JANUARY ALWAYS BRING ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE SEASON

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

COURTESY HENNESSY WINKLER

• NICK ADAMS

PHOTO BY BELLA MARIE ADAMS

by Jesse Dittmar

THE JINX & DELA HOLIDAY SHOW

MULTIPLE DATES AND CITIES

THESCOPE

ATTEND

YOU BETTER WATCH OUT… YOU BETTER NOT CRY… BENDELACREME AND JINKX MONSOON ARE COMING TO YOUR TOWN! The Queens of Christmas are coming back to your town with the wildly successful, internationally acclaimed Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show! Another holiday season brings another year of fabulous spectacle, whip-smart comedy, brand new songs, and annual favorites. Join the sugary DeLa and spicy Jinkx for an evening the New York Times says is “sure to lift your spirits and make you howl with laughter.”

BenDeLaCreme says, “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show is joyous, hilarious, surreal ist, communal, and heartwarming. Nothing makes me feel more connected to the good in the world than the seas of people we get to celebrate the season with night after nightlaughing, cheering, and being in our feelings together. I’m so lucky to get to experience that each year, and I hope you all will experi ence it with us.”

Jinkx Monsoon (who just won All Stars -Season 7) adds, “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show will take everything you expect from a drag queen variety show, and spin it on its side. It will test the limits of stupidity, while being unexpectedly deep and reflective. We strive for entertainment while always prov ing that the holidays are for you to celebrate however you want to.”

BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon are the sole writers of their holiday shows, a major achievement for two drag artists who tour at such a large scale each year. Jinkx says, “I think it is important that the show is created BY us, so it’s decidedly FOR us, and those like us. So often, queer and drag stories are written by outsiders, and lack an authenticity that queer audiences crave. Cre ating the show ourselves, from the ground up, ensures that that authenticity is infused in every aspect of the production.”

Together, this pair is an unstoppable delight. Visit www.jinkxanddela.com for news, merchandise, tour dates and tickets.

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY

DETECTIVE BENOIT BLANC (DANIEL CRAIG) IS AT IT AGAIN, WORKING TO SOLVE A MYSTERIOUS MURDER, THIS TIME ON A BEACH IN GREECE. The all-star cast includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista. The first Knives Out followed a squabbling family, but as in many other places, Glass Onion takes a different approach. Norton plays Miles Bron, a tech billionaire who invites his coterie of friends to a private island for a murder mystery party - all larger-thanlife personalities. Smack in the middle of it is Detective Benoit Blanc and his signature accent, played by Daniel Craig.

“They’re all performing,” writer and director Rian Johnson told Netflix. “They’re all operating in an elevated way. It’s not a family in the middle of New England working their stuff out. These are people who are all making their living, whether it’s as politicians or as rock star scientists, or as fashion magnates.”

“It was a no-brainer, really, just to come and work with Rian again,” Craig added.“We had such an amazing cast in the last one and I didn’t know how we were going to top that, but we’ve equaled it. The working experience, just to come on set and make these movies, is such fun.”

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery comes to Netflix on December 23. Get ready to laugh.

JOSS STONE MERRY CHRISTMAS, LOVE

enthuses.

Nearly two decades ago, Joss exploded on the music scene with her platinum-selling, breakout debut The Soul Sessions (also on S-Curve). Since then, she has won a Grammy (plus four addi tional nominations), released two platinum-certified albums, collaborated with everyone from Mick Jagger and Smokey Rob inson to Raphael Saadiq and The Roots, and many more. Joss recently won The Masked Singer UK in 2021 and celebrated the ten-year anniversary for Soul Sessions Vol. 2 this past July.

Inspired by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Michael Buble, Merry Christmas, Love celebrates the holiday season with fifteen classic Christmas tracks including favorites such as “Let It Snow,”“Jingle Bells,”“Silent Night” and more, plus two new original songs written by Joss,“If You Believe” and “Bring on Christmas Day” - a track celebrating her lifetime love for the joyful holiday.

Joss returns to Nashville, her current hometown and the city where Merry Christmas, Love was recorded, for her debut per formance at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry on Saturday December 10th.

Download and stream at https://hollywoodrecs.lnk.to/MerryChristmasLove.

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING SINGER AND SONGWRITER JOSS STONE’S DEBUT CHRISTMAS ALBUM MERRY CHRISTMAS, LOVE REPRESENTS A LIFELONG LOVE OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC, AND A QUEST TO PRESENT THE MUSIC IN A TIMELESS BUT AUTHENTIC WAY. “It was ambitious to do this, but it was such a joy to make my dream project come true,” Joss

16TH ANNUAL SIN CITY CLASSIC SPORTS FESTIVAL

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 12-15, 2023

THE 2023 FESTIVAL, WHICH IS THE LARGEST ANNUAL LGBTQ+ SPORTING EVENT IN THE WORLD, will return to Las Vegas and include new competitions: pickleball and sand volleyball. Hosted at the Flamingo Las Vegas, the Sin City Classic now features a total of 24 sports consisting of approximately 10,000 LGBTQ+ athletes and allies from around the world.

“Now in our 16th year, the Sin City Classic continues to grow and evolve. This year we see the addition of pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and sand volleyball, adding to the diverse lineup of competitions and events that the fes tival offers. We’re excited that the festival continues to expand and offers ways for all members of our diverse community to participate,”said GLASA Commissioner and Sin City Classic CoExecutive Director Dr. Jason Peplinski.

Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA) created the Sin City Classic in 2008 as an LGBTQ+ softball tournament meant to provide a safe and competitive atmosphere for LGBTQ+ athletes. Over the past 16 years, the tournament has grown to include 24 sports and approximately 10,000 athletes and fans. GLASA remains committed to creating the best experience pos sible for a diverse roster of dedicated athletes who participate and the fans and allies to come to enjoy the festival.

For more information about the Sin City Classic or to register your team, please visit www.sincityclassic.org.

ARMY OF LOVERS

BY K.M. SOEHNLEIN

FRANCISCO

($20.95)

A POWERFUL NOVEL BORN OUT OF THE AUTHOR’S

ACTIVISM

VIBRANT QUEER COMMUNITY OF THE ’80S AND ’90S. Army of Lovers tells the story of Paul, who after arriving in New York full of idealism discovers the queer community gathering strength in the face of government inaction and social stigma associated with HIV. As he protests, parties, and makes a new home, he finds himself pulling away from his HIV-negative boyfriend to pursue an intense bond with a passionate, HIV-positive artist. Paul’s awakening parallels ACT UP’s rise, successes, and controversies. And then everything shifts again, as he and his family find themselves thrust into their own life-and-death struggle that tests their faith and their bonds even further.

With praise from fellow authors Armistead Maupin and Andrew Sean Greer among others, Army of Lovers was released with debut readings in San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs.

“Soehnlein

—Armistead

“Sometimes, your personal history overlaps with actual history,” says Soehn lein. “For me, that was the AIDS activist movement. I wanted to write this book because I lived through something historic: the queer community saving itself from extermination.”

Applauding the fact that other writers and filmmakers have and still are docu menting the history of AIDS activism, Soehnlein’s aim with Army of Lovers is to “give readers an emotional, psychological, even spiritual experience of what it was like to live it. My generation of gay men came out into the early AIDS epidemic. There was no glorious ‘before’ time, and we weren’t sure if there was any future for us either.”

For those who did not live through the era, but especially for those who did, Army of Lovers might best be seen as a time machine conjuring up the music, media, fashion, and political arguments of 30 years ago. One that revisits the real joys and excitement of being young at a time when you could rent an apartment in New York for a couple hundred bucks a month on the one hand, yet also have to deal with the hovering specter of HIV descending on your inner circle on the other. Visit www.kmsoehnlein.com to purchase this, or the author’s other works.

SAN

AUTHOR AND LAMBDA AWARD WINNING NOVELIST K.M. SOEHNLEIN CREATES

OWN

INSIDE THE

delivers a sprawling portrait of our darkest days, capturing all the anger and heartbreak and heroic love that forged who we are today. If you want to know how it felt, read this.”

Maupin, author of Tales of the City

ZAC

YOUNG DISHING WITH A TOP CHEF

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

EVERY YEAR, VIEWERS TUNE INTO FOOD NET WORK’S HALLOWEEN BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP JUST TO SEE WHAT COSTUMES ZAC YOUNG, NAMED ONE OF THE TOP TEN PASTRY CHEFS IN AMERICA BY DESSERT PROFESSIONALS, WILL BE WEARING. From Liza to a headless bellman to Chuckie to a sassy cupcake, Zac has worn them all, giving the looks and dishing out witty cri tiques by the pound. No stranger to TV, he is a thriving entrepreneur behind the scenes as the founder of both PieCaken Bakeshop and Sprinkletown Bakeshop, providing sweets and treats nationwide with his signature style. We must admit, the PieCaken has given us more than our fair share of calories through the holi days, in between, and on the weekends.

This master chef first got interested in food as a retaliation against the most ironic of child hoods – treatless and sugarless.

I have the most amazing family ever. My mother, Sue Young, is truly the kind est, most loving, most incredible mother, except for the fact that food was not love. We ate so we didn’t die. My mother was way ahead of her time in gluten-free, veganism, and farm-to-table. I mean, we’d go shop at the food co-op which now, as an adult, actually is incredible because my relationship with food is so much better. We were eating kale and quinoa before you could pronounce it. But it was challenging growing up because no one would trade snacks with me at lunch. “I have some hummus! You guys want some hummus?” And they’d respond, “What’s that? That’s not a Dunkaroo!” So, yeah, I think baking was my final act of rebellion because honestly, nothing else worked. Crashed cars? Mom would say, “That’s fine. That’s what insurance is for.” I came out, she’s okay, “Honey, I always knew.” Then I go for, “Mom, I want to be a pastry chef.” And she retorts, “I didn’t raise you with those values.”

But my grandmother was an incredible cook. She was a Renaissance woman way ahead of her time. She owned a restaurant, owned an antique store, owned racehorses. She was a feisty, independent, slightly ornery woman but just the most amazing cook. My biggest food memories growing up were with her during the holi days, because Sue Young wasn’t cooking!

“Turkey? Not in my oven!”

Despite his petite stature and frame, Zac’s personality is bigger than life. He adds the perfect dash of humor to everything he does and the constant twinkle in his eyes lets you know his mind is always cooking up something new. His way of looking at things is deliciously unique, apparently a childhood trait.

I was the kid who no one knew what to do with. In eighth-grade biology class, the teacher came in and I was dancing with the skeleton. Who does that? I was also the kid who they had to stop sending to the principal’s office because I loved the principal. I would rather be in the prin cipal’s office than in class with my peers. I was kind of this slightly rambunctious, misfit kid. I never really related to my peers except in theater and in dance. And I was always with the adults.

Theatre was a big part of Zac’s life. He attended a performing arts high school and was singing and dancing his way through puberty. His theatrical interactions would take him from New England to New York City, not finding any passion in his college education, he left school after two years. His first professional designs were not in the kitchen, but rather for Radio City Musical Hall, by way of odd jobs.

When I was doing any form of theater, I’d always find myself in the costume shop hanging out. One day, one of them said to me, “If you’re going to hang out here, we’re going to put you to work. Here’s a seam ripper.” They started showing me how to sew and let me into their design process. I ended up spending more time in the costume shop than I did in rehearsals.

When I moved to New York, I did a couple of survival jobs. The first one, I worked coat check at Tao, in the Lindsay Lohan days. It was just crazy. I actually made more money working coat check at Tao, minute by minute, than I do now. I got a job as a busboy at Tavern on the Green. I had no clue what a busboy did, by the way, and lied my way into that job. I don’t think I ever bused a table the entire summer, which is what a busboy does. I stood there offering the tables bread. I was like, oh, this is great, I can be the bread boy and just like dole out the bread from the basket. I sold furniture, and then this opportunity came up. I knew the head of wardrobe at Radio City, she was the mother of a friend of mine, and I just ended up knocking on her door and

saying, “Hey, l would love to work here on the Christmas show.” So I ended up work ing in the wig department.

During his Radio City time, especially during the holidays, his personal hobby would start to thrive, putting the PieCaken and Food Network on the horizon.

I really wanted to make Christmas cookies, so I went to Williams-Sonoma and bought a KitchenAid (like you do when you’re interested in something) and this basic cookie cookbook. Let me teach myself how to make cookies. I became obsessed with the creativity within the confines of science just based on the cook ies. So, I would make an oatmeal raisin cookie and thought, that works really well, now what if I add blueberries? Fresh blueberries don’t work. What if I add chocolate-covered pretzels to the peanut

butter cookie? Oh, this works. I ended up waking up every morning at 5:00am before a six-show day and baking a few batches of cookies and bringing them into work and pawning them off. And then it turned into people wanting to buy them for Christmas presents. Oh, cookies for cash! Radio City was winding down for the season and Sue Young, a vegan mom of all people, said, “You’re not auditioning, you’re not talking about going onto another show in wardrobe or hair, all you’re talking about are your cookies. Why don’t you go to culinary school?” For me, that never was a thought, I didn’t even know that existed. So, I went to apply to culinary school to make cookies. Well, they didn’t have a cookie program, so I ended up with pastry.

So began his time at the Institute of Culinary

Education. He had found his place, all of the elements that he loved so much came together in one experience.

It’s funny, going into culinary school I knew nothing. But you also like to think that you know everything, right? So you learn one technique, and think “I know how to do this!” After the initial cockiness I found out that, no, there are seven ways to peel a grape, you need to fully immerse yourself in this. But what I fell in love with was the same thing I loved with cookies, which was this creativity within the structure of science. What I realized was (after years of therapy too), as a creative kid and person, the structure of rules, having that to play with and to push against and to bend a little bit - I need that. I crave that. It was art, design, science - all of these things that I was randomly good at came

together in one field.

Zac’s first big professional food gig with the esteemed Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery was a story for the books. Not a fairy tale, mind you, but a sitcom scene.

Bouchon Bakery was opening in the Time Warner Center, this was a huge opening. I was still in culinary school, and we had to do internships at the end of culinary school. So, I got a job working front of house, working the bakery counter there so I could ingratiate myself with the organization and become the first intern there. I was awful, I was so bad. I was great at the front of the house. I can sell a baked good. But again, coming out of culinary school, I had no clue how these things operated, zero clue. On my second day there, I was taking a shortcut, clearly. I needed to soften some peanut butter, so

I took the whole jar of peanut butter and popped it in the microwave. Except, when you open a jar of peanut butter, there’s a little foil ring on top. Next thing you know smoke is billowing out of the climate con trol chocolate room that probably cost half a million dollars to build out, and the fire alarm at Time Warner is going off. They didn’t fire me, which I am very grateful for! I could have also just walked out, but I was too dumb to do that. I thought, oh, well, I lived to scoop cookies another day.

That’s the attitude, gumption, and bright ness that Zac infuses into his teachings and his mentorship. What works in the kitchen also works in life. The challenges, the mishaps, the successes, all of it. He stresses to his bakers that nothing goes according to plan, and you have to pivot and adapt and finish the dish. He went to study a bit in France, worked four years as pastry chef at Alex Guarnaschelli’s Butter restau rant in midtown New York, and started a donut revolution making The New York Times Top Ten Donuts in NYC.

Talking to Zac is like talking to that bestie who can keep you chatting at happy hour for hours. And though we’ve seen him on Top Chef: Just Desserts, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Worst Cooks in America, and, of course, the Baking Championships, his personal life hasn’t been in the spotlight, it’s been his skillful creations and comedic critiques. But the more he chats about his journey, the more the jokes and quips give way to the personal Zac. His successful and col orful career did not come without its bumps and bruises. Though his career is centered on food, his relationship with eating hasn’t always been the healthiest. With body image being a big part of anyone’s life, it is even more so as a part of the gay community.

It’s something that I haven’t talked about publicly. I mean, all my friends know. My weight has been up and down my whole life. I was a chunky kid through high school. (The Bar Mitzvah album – if you dig in my Instagram, you’ll see the picture.)

During my last season at Radio City, I was just disenchanted with entertainment and what I was doing. Not necessarily Radio City, but just my life in general. I stopped eating because it was the only thing I could control. It got to the point where I think I was 107 pounds. Everyone started commenting about it and I thought I was fitting into the twink archetype. My

mother came to see the Christmas show and broke down in tears and said, “You don’t look healthy, something is very wrong here.”

Zac returned home with his mother for a few weeks, getting treatment from the family doctor.

I tell him I’m obsessing over calo ries and what I’m putting in my body because it’s the only thing I can control. Instead of going the anorexia treatment route, he went the OCD route saying, “this is where your brain is going, and this is what your focus is on.” So, once he broke that cycle and with medication and whatnot, all of a sudden, all of that obsession went away. I came around to the fact that it was the only thing I could control in my life because the rest of it wasn’t great. Then there was the ques tion of, is it really a good idea for me to go to culinary school given all of these food issues? He said, “Let’s try it and see what happens.” And so, six months later, I had gained 15 pounds, which is good, and everything worked out well for me.

Coming out of that and recognizing my relationship with food and also pulling in some of the values that my mom gave me growing up in terms of valu ing food as fuel as opposed to seeing it as - oh, isn’t this tasty. Now, I would say I have a very healthy relationship. Of course, do I overcompensate at the gym? Absolutely. Every summer I think, oh, time to break out the caftan, cut carbs and stop drinking! Those influences don’t go away. My key is obsessing over it. And when it starts to go down that spiral, it’s not worth it.

For better or for worse, food is the common denominator of our lives. That’s one of the reasons that I love what I do because it’s the universal language and it’s something we can all relate over. And when it comes to our relationship with food and our bodies, that should be the easiest of conversations. And instead, it becomes taboo. Or it becomes comparative.

From cutting it up with fellow Baking Championship judges Carla Hall and Stepha nie Boswell, selling out and shipping out his signature PieCakens to a drooling nation, fill ing national contracts with Costco, to charming us on social media, his life is full. As he nears a

YOU CAN HIDE A LOT UNDER GLITTER“

milestone birthday, he looks back and reflects on how he has changed the most.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot, especially where it comes to food. Times change, food changes, right? I feel like now I am simpler than ever. I became known for over-the-top sparkles, fire, sprinkles, and glitter. Don’t worry, that is still there. But I find myself going back to these very simple roots. What I’m baking at home or on the weekend is something that is at its core, simple. And I feel like I value the simplicity of even a slice of cake. You can hide a lot under glitter.

I’ve become much more self-aware, and a lot of that is being able to celebrate myself. Being on Bravo and Top Chef, I knew I filmed a TV show, but I never realized anyone would say anything to

me about it in real life. When people start commenting, you get a little bit of an ego. I shut it off and strive to be humble. I feel like that is such a noble quality. I still have so much more to do. So why would I lead with anything that I’ve done?

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. You got a promotion at work. You started from nothing. You were the first person in your family to go to college. There are all these things to celebrate, and I feel like we should celebrate ourselves more. For me, marching into 40, I feel like I can be a little more comfortable. ■

Check out Zac’s goodies at PieCakenBakeShop.com and follow him on IG: @Zac_Young

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

during World War II, a simple love story between a cowboy and a farm girl told against the backdrop of the establishment of the state of Oklahoma was a great escape for theatergoers. Departing from the glitzy and bombastic musicals of the era, Oklahoma! was scaled down yet beautiful in its storytelling. The instant hit earned a special Pulitzer Prize, has spawned numerous revivals earning Tony and Olivier Awards on the way, a film version earning four Academy Award nominations, and too many to count high school productions. The music continues to have a major presence in musical theatre and “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” and “People Will Say We’re in Love” are at the forefront of the Rodgers and Hammerstein library. While offering an escape for wartime audiences, certain musicals of the time still snuck in socially and politically evocative themes through hit songs, dance numbers, and lush scores.

Now, for the first time in over 40 years, a FirstClass Equity production of the musical tours North America, Oklahoma! is back. Under the direction and reimagining by Daniel Fish, this is not your grandma’s musical. Those darker subjects and subtle storylines are now center stage, brightly lit. Infamously coined “Woke-lahoma,” the revival touring production throws all theatre conventions out the window. You have never seen or heard Oklahoma! like this, ever. Told in the present time, the show is stripped of fancy sets and a theatre orchestra. Without changing the script, the show is thrust into our current social malaise without apology and shoves a mirror at our current nation, bumps and all. Gone are the lyrical sopranos and well-polished baritones, these actors are singing from the heart without pomp and circumstance.

To add to the modern take, the lead charac ters that generations of theatergoers have come to know are played by multiracial, non-binary, and trans actors. Gasp! Not without controversy, the production has elicited both walkouts as well as standing ovations from brand-new audiences. Is

mainstream theatre ready? Ready or not, audi ences are seeing trailblazing actors take to the stage as the show swept across the nation. Trans actor Hennessy Winkler made waves in LGBTQ and theatre history with his portrayal of Will Parker, the love-seeking cowboy and Broadway’s every man in chaps and boots. And for the controversy regarding the show? He is ready for it.

We have a whole new generation now that loves this Rodgers and Hammerstein piece. So even if you’re upset by it, it’s getting people to love classic musical theater. It is not the same orchestrations, but it is the same music and the same story, and I think that’s important. I mean, what is the ater if not to challenge an audience, if not to have them leave with questions, if not to stir something up? And if you can take such a classic piece as this and bring it to today and let it touch people in a different kind of way, that is really giving it more life.

Not only is this production of Oklahoma! a milestone for theatre, but it is also a milestone for

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA! HIT THE BROADWAY STAGE ALMOST 80 YEARS AGO. Premiering

Winkler on his path as a trans man. This is not his first brush with the musical.

My dad was always a really big fan of Oklahoma!, it’s his favorite musical. And so, I grew up knowing it, watching it, and hearing the music. He was always captivated by how the voices were used in the elements of nature, like how the sopranos in Oklahoma! replicated the wind sweeping down the plane. I grew up as a fan of all these old musicals.

In the mid-2000s I was called back for Oklahoma! as Ado Annie, actually. So, for me to be able to play Will Parker, her love interest, basically the male Ado in the show, has really been full circle as an actor and as a transman. It has beauti fully marked my journey in all those ways. I am just so grateful to be a part of it. And to be honest, I am such a Will Parker anyway. Daniel (Fish) made it clear to all of us when we got this job that we were cast because he wanted us in these charac ters. He wanted us to wrap the characters around who we are and not necessarily become another person. So, we were able to bring ourselves to them.

Bringing Hennessy’s true self to the stage has not been a quick journey. Even as the the atre scene has always been known to push the envelope, trans actors have not been given many opportunities to find their voice on mainstream Broadway.

I came out about 10 years before I started physically transitioning. The reason I held off so long on doing that was because I was an actor. My book was filled with female songs, I was trained as a female, I danced as a female, and I did not want to start all over. I feel like even before a trans person, I am an actor. I am a storyteller. I had done well looking like a woman, I thought I was strong. I had an incredible high belt and soprano notes and was afraid to give that up. All those years and years and years and years of training.

So, that was a whole pick your battles type thing. People would “she” me all the time, but I was going out for female roles. So long as my close friends and family that knew I was a man used the correct pronouns, I was fine with that. I knew what I looked like, and I know the world I’m in. It’s been very affirming now, after having transitioned. This is my first job

ONCE I SHOW UP, I’LL BLOW YOUR SOCKS OFF”

since and it is the universe telling me I’m on the right track, you know? It’s like they didn’t know I was a man, but they could sense that something (and this has been my whole life) was off. It’s like they could see me even though they didn’t know.

I was never really in any closet. I don’t go around saying, “Hi! I’m trans Hennessy!” I just like to meet people as myself, and if they find out about me being trans or if I can use it to my advantage in this industry, which we’re at a point in time now where I can, I will play that card to get jobs, to get work, to talk about it. You have to take the good things that you can when you’re given a situation like this in the world. We are at a time in history now where it’s just like this weird cusp of a wave and I’m going to ride it. I’ll ride the trans wave. I’ll check your boxes in casting, whatever you want, just give me the job. Because once I show up, I’ll blow your socks off.

Being part of a trailblazing production is not without its drawbacks. While bigger cities like Los Angeles may be more open to trans actors retelling classic theatre in a progressive way, not every city is quite ready. Just look at our political division that’s going on from state to state, city to city. Marking Hennessy’s first national tour, he was completely aware of the danger, even from the stage.

We traveled with a security guard. We traveled through the South in all those states that hold this musical in the fabric of their upbringing. We had chunks of the audience leave after Act One. Good riddance to the people who left. We know why you’re leaving and we probably don’t want you here anyway. We’ve upset a lot of people with this show. It’s been wild ride. But it can also get disheartening sometimes.

We’ve spoken directly to the audience to remind them we are not avatars, but human beings, and they need to stop having a full-out, loud voice conversation in the front row - we’re working. We’ve had people screaming at us as they walked out. But that’s what I was saying about theater, if it doesn’t jostle something in you, what are we doing here? So, while all that sounds negative, I think we all collectively came to this place where it was like, yeah, okay, this is what it is and we know what we’re doing and what we’re here for. We

AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT I’M DOING OPEN UP DOORS FOR OTHER TRANS MASCULINE AND TRANS MALE ACTORS”

have a story to tell and we are gonna tell it. And if it pisses you off, then you can leave. And hopefully, ideally, you’ll question why it pissed you off so much. But, you know what? Those were also some of the most powerful places we were in because I’d have young trans guys in the middle of Alabama emailing me being to say, “Oh my God, this, this musical saved my life.” Or like, “I can’t believe that you’re up there doing this. I never thought it was something I could do,” or “I saw myself up there.”That’s worth all the walkouts, that’s worth a whole theater of walkouts.

Headlines for the show have quickly picked up and highlighted the presence of trans actors. While Hennessy is lauded for his charm, stage presence, and skill, he is often categorized as being trans first. Does he ever feel overshad owed by the use of his personal labels when it comes to his profession?

My trans advocacy and queer advocacy comes in the form of “if you ask me about it, I want to talk about it.” I decided that at the beginning of this tour. Also, for me as a trans man, trans male erasure in the indus try is a real thing. A lot of people don’t know we exist. They know that our sisters exist, and so I’ve really revelled when people do their research and find out that I’m trans and mention that, or when they ask me about it, I love it. It helps me feel seen. I’ve taken the opportunities as often as I can to talk about it. I’m proud to be a trans man. I’m on a Broadway tour and I would love to see what I’m doing open up doors for other trans masculine and trans male actors trying to do the same thing that I’m doing. If you come to see the show, you’ll see that I’m a professional actor, that I show up. But trans-masculine represen tation is something that I really hold dear to my heart. And I’m honored to be a voice of that to extent I can.

Who can say how quickly a production like this one will inspire other productions to cast trans actors in mainstream roles. Who can say how Oklahoma! will affect other classic presenta tions of shows, or even how high schools start to present the show. In the words of Oklahoma!’s hero Curly,“Country’s a-changin’, got to change with it.” ■

For more information about the show, head to OklahomaBroadway.com

Follow Hennessy on IG: @HennessyHaole

ONCE I WAS OFFICIALLY OUT IN THE PRESS, I FELT VERY HAPPY.”

THIS PAGE: JIM PARSONS

PHOTO BY KRISTIN CALLAHAN/ACE

PICTURES/SHUTTERSTOCK

IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT

Every day the show airs in constant reruns and it’s hard to imagine that the iconic show is gone. As some TV actors suffer the fate of losing their career by being typecast as the very character that earned them fame, Parson’s career continues to thrive and though he looks back affection-ately at Sheldon, his focus is on the future. This season sees the premiere of Spoiler Alert, an emotional roller coaster of a film that will no doubt garner headlines that read “Jim Parsons, Like You’ve Never Seen Him Before!” Indeed, this is Parsons at his most intimate, his most vulnerable. Sheldon is clearly a figure of the past.

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

Parsons was raised in a suburb of Houston. His dad owned a plumbing business while his mom was a teacher. Parsons’ personality devel oped early. He recounts his early childhood as being a good, sweet, and obedient kid, although not the greatest student. Even in his middleaged adulthood, he still feels the need to be that good kid.

The acting bug bit Jim early at the age of six, playing the role of the Kola-Kola bird in a school production of The Elephant’s Child. His journey to becoming a nine-time Emmy Award nomi nee (winning four), four-time Golden Globe nominee (winning for Big Bang), and one of the highest-paid actors in television, had begun. His parents would be his first fans.

They were incredibly supportive, and they loved me doing theater. They certainly weren’t stage parents. We didn’t have many audition opportunities, or we didn’t know about them. And I wasn’t even curious about them. I didn’t know myself when I first went to college I was going to really venture, full throttle into it. I thought it was an iffy career choice and obviously risky. I went to college for one year, not majoring in theater, and I was like, “nope, I think I need to try this.” My mother was rightfully worried about it and it was really my father that kind of told her, “We have to let him try. You know, why did we bother to send a kid to college if we’re gonna say, don’t do what you wanna do?” Thankfully he did that. She wasn’t unsupportive. She was just scared for me.

Parsons would go on to appear in a number of plays while getting his degree at the Uni versity of Houston and graduate school would bring him to Southern California. Classical the atre would be his muse, and he was one of seven students accepted into a special two-year course in partnership with San Diego’s Old Globe The ater. Who knew that his training in Shakespeare and the like would serve as the foundation for his success in a sitcom?

Classical text can be very dense. Having these wonderful instructors and taking their classes about how to break that down and to learn how to make it believable and just to understand it, really paid off dividends for me. With Big Bang there was some denser, or at least complicated, dialogue that sometimes referenced

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, JIM PARSONS PORTRAYED THEORETICAL PHYSICIST SHELDON COOPER IN THE RUN AWAY HIT BIG BANG THEORY

scientific terms and things like that. Not that I played any sports, but I think of it like practicing with a heavy baseball bat. And then when you swing with a regu lar bat in your hand, it really just flies. It was like that. Once I had honed myself with this dense material, a little less dense felt comfortable.

It was also during his college years that Jim would start to consider his burgeoning sexual ity. His coming out would develop over time in his personal life, and even longer in his profes sional one.

There was this one guy in our theater department who I just had such a crush on. And I always say it was the moment of realizing that my feelings for another person, in that way, could be in full color. It wasn’t black and white. I don’t mean to imply insincerity with the affection I felt for my girlfriend - we were very close, but it was just different. There was a real rain bow connection as it were. It just felt like there was that aspect in my life that I’d never seen in color before. Then I started coming out to my friends and coworkers, but it was many years later before I came out to my family. And that was really when I met Todd, who would eventually become my husband. I was out in so many aspects of my life that the family seemed just easier to keep at bay. And I thought, who cares? Until I met somebody that I was like, “oh, I’d like them to know him. While I think of him romantically, I also think of him as family, and he should know my family.” And that’s when I took that step which was late in life, certainly later nowadays.

Jim’s success did not happen overnight. He has recounted auditioning anywhere from 15 to 30 times for pilots during the early years, and those in which he was cast somehow never came to fruition. His outlook in a sea of “noes” remained optimistic. Talking to Jim is refresh ingly positive, the optimism that got him through his early career seems to permeate how he looks at life, often from a unique perspective.

I was much more fed through the “yeses” which were fewer. I even think of very early on getting asked to do directors’ projects when I was an undergrad. I just felt like even one other student saying, “I trust you to come in here and be able to do this and help me with this

project.”Those are the kinds of things that just really added up more than the “noes” did for me. There’s somebody out there who wants to work with me! By the time I was out there auditioning I had a decent grip on the fact that I wasn’t going to be the right choice for everything.

I understood that there were a million reasons why or why not somebody gets cast. And, I also have to be honest, overall, I typically enjoyed auditioning. I really did. I enjoyed that little chance to play that role, even if only for those two minutes in the room. The only thing that scared me was just, oh God, money. I mean, of course, everybody’s afraid of not having enough money to eat or pay rent.

While reading the pilot for Big Bang Theory, Parsons was taken with the language and rhythm that was to become the signature of a character that would launch his career to stardom. Show creator Chuck Lorre was skeptical that Parsons

could recreate his first audition as it was so spot on. Needless to say, Parsons nailed his callback. In September of 2007, the nation was introduced to Sheldon, a nerdy, socially apathetic, odd man who had a penchant to insult people using sci ence. How did such a character who, on paper, seems less than likable become so beloved?

I can’t fully claim to know why any thing would click for an audience, but I do suspect that they’re not dissimilar from what clicked for me which was that there was a certain level of broken. Maybe that’s a key for every character is to kind of find what you might call broken in them, or a little off-kilter, askew. With Sheldon, it was very much that he didn’t have a great ability to communicate with other people either to express himself or to fully understand what they were expressing. Looking back, I can see that was the major head line for me of what both was the clue into who he was and also the thing I ultimately

Jim Parsons, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch, Simon Helberg, Johnny Galecki & Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting at Parsons’ star ceremony (Photo by Featureflash Photo Agency)

always enjoyed most about playing him all through 12 years - that misdirect of infor mation and not quite getting it. I really do think that was it. It wasn’t science I’ll tell you that, because I didn’t know diddly squat and I left not knowing much more, but the science was a brilliant comedic hurdle is how I looked at it. And a shield -there were a million reasons why he was using science.

The show was a hit. Nerds across the nation felt cool as the show blended pop culture, comedy, and science fiction into a perfect recipe. Everyone was watching. With Big Bang in heavy syndication, does Parsons ever feel overshad owed by Sheldon?

Not as an actor and not really as a person. Although, since it’s been a few years now since doing the show, I have noticed a funny phenomenon of walking into a crowd of people who I don’t know and I can see a lot of them recognize me

from that show, and that’s been true for many years now. But what I realize has changed is that since we’re not doing the show anymore, it’s not as much at the fore front of my mind. And so, I can’t tell you exactly in words what that change means, but it feels different to me. I don’t feel like I’m carrying it quite as much with me any more. That is something with time and the chance to do other work, which I’ve been lucky enough to do, can give one perspec tive. It feels like healthy growth. We’ll see. Time will tell.

As the award nominations started to pile up, so did the media frenzy around Parsons. The media wanted to know about the man behind the character. Despite having been with his nowhusband about five years before the Big Bang success, he was still not publicly out. What was it like skirting the subject?

I was anxious about it in a way that I was anxious in any situation for the first

few years, which was just like, “how did I sound?” Suddenly you’re talking and you just look back on it and say, “Did I sound like an idiot?”I was anxious about the fact of one day I’ll be talking about my more private life in this way and I don’t know exactly how it’ll come out. I’m not exactly sure it’ll be received. Once it was addressed, not only was it a relief in the terms I was just saying it, but I felt ownership of my life experience that I hadn’t realized I was missing.

Not unlike coming out to my family when that finally happened, it was just something that didn’t seem the biggest deal to me. And then once I was officially out in the press, I felt very happy. I felt very part of a group. I felt very supported. I felt proud, not of myself, but just to be who I am and to be part of a segment of the human race that I’m part of.

Parsons came out in 2012, without pomp and circumstance, in an interview for the New York Times for a stage show that he was doing where the interviewer casually talked about his identity as a gay man.

I believe the question was something like, “did doing The Normal Heart mean more to you as a gay man?” I was never asked, “Are you gay?” I was told. I still feel very thank ful to him that he handled it that way. It felt very right because I didn’t so much feel like I was an actively hiding person. It was really the most non-newsy way to make some news I had ever been a part of.

Parson’s latest film Spoiler Alert, based on the biographical novel, is a romantic drama following the final 11-month period of photographer Kit Cowan’s life, from his diag nosis with terminal cancer to his death, through the eyes of his 14-year partner, and later spouse, MichaelAusiello.Parsons playsAusiello,joined by actors Sally Field,Bill Irwin,and BenAldridge.The film covers it all – coming out,open relationships, relationship struggles,and,ultimately,the terrify ing end to a relationship. Parsons also produced and was involved in the film a few years before Big Bang even ended. Having been absorbed in making the film, his sitcom role is far in the rear-view mirror,even though audiences and crit ics will still compare the two performances. For them it may be a surprise performance. For Jim, it all seems very natural. He is an actor first and foremost.What affected him most that made him want to do this film?

Jim Parsons at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theater in Los Angeles (Photo by Kathy Hutchins)

Number one was really that a human being, in this case, Michael, took this incredible journey, God willing once in a lifetime. It’s something that fortunately a lot of people don’t have to go through. That’s what really made me interested and what was so breathtaking to me as this journey he went through, with this person who was so important to him. On the heels of having gone through a very similar journey with his mother before that, but he was a much younger man then and didn’t have nearly the resources or the autonomy to help or do anything. I don’t know that he was making amends for his mother, but I think there must have been a part that made him feel so helpless as a child losing his mother to cancer. And I think there was definitely an aspect of like, “I am not letting them go down without a fight on my end this time.” Just the way those super tragic events like that can break open your heart and there is a gift to them, as awful as they are, you see life in a fuller and deeper way going forward and that is a reward. But it doesn’t make the journey

Jim Parsons as Michael Ausiello and Ben Aldridge as Kit Cowan in direc tor Michael Showalter’s Spoiler Alert (Photo by Giovanni Rufino/Focus Features)

Ben Aldridge as Kit Cowan, Jim Parsons as Michael Ausiello, Sally Field as Marilyn and Bill Irwin as Bob in director Michael Showalter’s Spoiler Alert

(Photo by Linda Källérus/Focus Features)

easy. So, I would say that was it. I was really super drawn to this person, fallen down a rabbit hole and just whisked one way and the other and spit out on another side with these things that I’ve learned, and these people that I’ve lost and, and this life still ahead of me, and what am I going to do with it?

I also really, really enjoyed getting the chance to explore on-screen a very intimate, and if I may say so, realistic, take on a relationship between two men - a romantic relationship in that way. Not that I haven’t been in this area in some way before, but this was just so intense. And to get to take this journey with another gay actor was very moving. It was incredibly fun and exciting. But it was very emotional much of the time. But honestly, I have to tell you, usually laced with joy, even the hard parts. I felt so grateful to have the chance to go on to mimic going on that journey to just taste a little bit of what it was like and almost steal from his harrowing experience to glean some things from myself about it.

Does Parsons think this is a gay film?

Yes, but I don’t think it’s the headline. I think it’s a secondary factor. I think it is a love story, and maybe that’s what it is more than anything. It’s just a love story. It’s a story about what it is to be a human and be vulnerable and risk having your heart broken, and can you even live a full life without having your heart broken? A lot of me believes after working on some of the answers that no, to live a full life means not only to risk getting your heart broken, but knowing it will be broken. It will be broken if you allow yourself to love and to be loved in whatever form that means to you. Then right after that, I do think it’s a story of a gay couple. We assume at the price of admission that you are completely okay, as it were, with a gay relationship. We’re not dealing with instructing or introducing you or bridging a thing. That’s the given. It’s kind of ironic to say it’s not a gay film first and foremost when that’s also the given.

The film is for sure a tearjerker and will undoubtedly join the ranks of Beaches and

Terms of Endearment. Playing this role and the emotional journey has changed Jim in his own life.

It has for sure awakened me. It has made me hungrier to explore more things. I don’t even know if I can get more specific than spending time with certain friends of mine that I have not been with in several years. It’s not a feeling I’m completely unfamiliar with, even though it’s a completely different circumstance in its own way. I lost my father when I was in my twenties. He passed away in a car accident.There was no journey like they go through here, but there was, and is, the continuing journey of once you’ve seen someone leave life early like that, it’s close to you. It changes your perspective on whatever time you’re fortunate enough to still have on earth.And that is something for me that I learned more and more about as my own years go on. ■ Spoiler Alert is now in theaters

TO LIVE A FULL LIFE MEANS NOT ONLY TO RISK GETTING YOUR HEART BROKEN, BUT KNOWING IT WILL BE BROKEN.”

Todd Spiewak and Jim Parsons attends the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Arturo Holmes)

2022

GIFT GUIDE

FOOD &WINE

BOARDERIE

Boarderie is the first and only company delivering a delightfully simple way to give and share pre-assembled cheese and charcuterie boards. Handcrafted quality and prearranged, ready-to-graze dis plays are delivered overnight nationwide and provide a premium gifting experience and a perfect complement to your holiday gath erings.

With Boarderie, there is no shopping, cutting, or prepping required. Boards are shipped temperature-controlled and perfectly arranged. With each board you can expect an artful presentation, each display-worthy and featuring a tapestry of unique ingredients that arrive looking exactly as they do in the pictures, and a gourmet curation featuring individually selected hand-cut cheeses and meats sourced from award winning producers around the world.

“Our vision has been perfected over 20 years in hospitality, and we think it shows.You’ll see our expertise reflected in deliciously dis play-worthy arrangements, catering-level quality, and chef-inspired pairings,”said Aaron Menitoff Co-CEO of Boarderie.“Whether you’re giving, celebrating, or sharing at home, at an event or at work, you’re free to enjoy a grazing experience that delivers all of the flavors with none of the fuss.”

Boarderie offers three premium boards this holiday season:

Arte Cheese & Charcuterie Board ($239) pictured

• 35 hand-selected artisan cheeses, meats, dried fruits, nuts and chocolates artfully arranged and ready-to-serve

93 points from Wine Advocate

In 1875, Jacob and Frederick Beringer purchased 215 acres of prime Napa Valley land, establishing Beringer as a key player among the few wineries in operation at that time. Since then, Beringer has carefully cultivated a diverse portfolio of prized vineyards across many Napa Valley appellations. One of the most unique and beautiful properties in Napa Valley, the Beringer Estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Beringer Private Reserve represents the pinnacle of the Beringer portfolio. Former chief winemakers Myron Nightin gale and Ed Sbragia created the Private Reserve program in 1977 with the goal of crafting Napa’s finest cabernet sauvi gnon. The Private Reserve chardonnay was introduced with the 1978 vintage, and together these wines have earned three decades of extraordinary accolades, including two“Wine of the Year”awards. This layered, rich, creamy, and complex chardon nay is classically Californian with expressive aromas of citrus blossom, jasmine, and lemon curd, supported by more tropical ripe flavors of white nectarine, peach, and grilled pineapple. Tour the estate and all their wines at www.beringer.com.

• 3 boxes of crackers

• Keepsake acacia wood board

• Bamboo cutlery kit

•Serves 10-12

Diletto Cheese & Charcuterie ($159)

• 19 hand-selected artisan cheeses, meats, dried fruits, nuts and chocolates artfully arranged and ready-to-serve

• A box of crackers (Rosemary & Olive Oil)

• Keepsake acacia wood board

• Bamboo cutlery kit

• Serves 5-6

Ciccetti Cheese & Charcuterie Board ($129) pictured

• 15 hand-selected artisan cheeses, meats, dried fruits, nuts and chocolates artfully arranged and ready-to-serve

• A box of crackers (Rosemary & Olive Oil)

• Keepsake acacia wood board

• Bamboo cutlery kit

• Serves 3-4

Visit www.boarderie.com for all their delicious offerings.

FOOD &WINE

ETUDE 2018 GRACE BENOIST RANCH ESTATE PINOT NOIR

($47 Carneros)

94 points from JamesSuckling.com

The Etude Carneros Pinot Noir is a true reflection of the winery’s estate vineyard, Grace Benoist Ranch, tucked away in the far northwest corner of the Carneros ap pellation, just on the southwest corner of Sonoma. Unlike most of Carneros, which is largely uplifted bay bottoms with soils composed of clay, the soils at Grace Benoist Ranch are variations of soils influenced by volcanic origin. Combining these welldrained, rocky upland soils with the extreme western location closer to the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay make this site an ideal place to grow Burgundian varieties.

This pinot noir presents a vibrant ruby red, garnet color, with aromas of lifted red berries, black cherry and fresh strawberry, alongside earth and spice notes of cedar, pink peppercorn and crushed tea leaf, finishing with brown baking spice notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. Rich, round and silky with bright acidity and long, finegrained tannins that suggest the opportunity to age a bit, for further development of

Visit www.etudewines.com for tastings and wines.

PIE COMPANY

($39.99 two-pack)

Willamette Valley Pie Company can make your entertaining easy this holiday season by scratching off the baking of pies from your “to-do” list. With their new line of prod ucts, this local-farm-turned-pie-company is one of the original all-natural pie compa nies with nearly 100 years of family farming history in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.

Made with non-GMO, local and sustainably sourced ingredients, Willamette Valley Pie Co. offers 9-inch fruit and cream pies, 5-inch mini pies, as well as a variety of hand pies, cobblers, crisps, and frozen fruit. Their new product line includes the first 100% all-butter crust pies on the market, featuring fan favorites like the Dutch Caramel Apple Pie, Triple Chocolate Cream, Pumpkin, and scratch-made Key Lime Pies that incorporate farm-fresh ingredients you would use at home.

These pies and cobblers not only taste great and are loaded with local sustainably sourced all-natural fruit, but they also help support the local community through fun draising programs that raise thousands of dollars each year for organizations in need.

To honor this, Willamette Valley Pie Co. will continue to be committed to making the best all-natural pies while supporting small businesses and their local community.

The frozen, ready-to-bake pies are available direct to consumer via their website and in brick and mortar stores like Whole Foods. In fact, they just won the Supplier of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. For all the yummy goodness, visit www.wvpie.com.

HOLIDAY STYLE

RIEDEL VELOCE

($79 sets of two)

Brand new in 2022, Riedel Veloce looks and feels handmade, but this glass collection is, in fact, produced by machine, using state-of-theart technologies and is a true precision tool.

Wine-lovers the world over understand that Riedel wine glasses are developed in different shapes and sizes, for specific grape varieties. Only such advanced machine production can guarantee such precise glass design language, in harmony with the respective profile of the grape variety.

Recognizing the evolution of modern wines, the Riedel family has adapted the glass shapes for cabernet /merlot and for riesling, following an intensive new round of comparative tastings.

Riedel Veloce is an impressive development based on state-of-the-art technology. The glass is taller than the Riedel Extreme collection and has a thinner stem and finer bowls. A specially developed machine, at Riedel’s Weiden factory, enables stems that are the equal of those made by hand by a master glassmaker. The base, with a diameter of 100 mm, is a new standard for large glass shapes and is the maximum that can be produced by machine.

The weight of Riedel Veloce is remarkable and has been reduced considerably from that of the Extreme collection. The perfect balance and feel which suggests a handmade glass. With each varietal name etched on the base of the glass, Riedel Veloce is the perfect for those who love to entertain and are looking to expand their entertaining collection, or to gift those who fancy themselves a wine connoisseur

Maximilian Riedel selected the Italian name “Veloce”, meaning “fast”, in reference to the modern machine technology that makes it pos sible to bring a glass that is handmade, in so many aspects, onto the machine and produce it quickly and in large quantities. An homage to technology, as glassmaking by hand has become a declining craft.

Riedel Veloce is the perfect glass for wine connoisseurs. A modern glass with impressive balance and feel, appealing price and dish washer safe. And like all Riedel glasses, Veloce presents the wine at its best!

TEA FORT É

Handcrafted luxury tea blends, designdriven accessories and exquisite pack aging come together for an experience worth savoring every day. Steeped in over 35 countries, Tea Forté is proudly featured at leading hotels, restaurants, resorts and retailers.

Tea Forté works directly with growers to produce the definitive expression of every type of tea featured. Their ingre dients represent less than 1% of all the teas available worldwide.

Tea Forté’s pyramid infuser is the elegant signature of the brand. Unwrap, steep and reveal the exquisite nature of the whole leaf teas, herbs, fruits and flowers within. Each handcrafted infuser is designed to allow the blends to luxuriantly unfurl into each deliciously aromatic cup.

Tea Forté’s signature pyramid infus ers are made from lab tested, FDA approved, food grade, recyclable PET and handcrafted into pyramid shape without the use of any chemical additives, colo rants or adhesives. The pyramid infuser also complies with FDA’s safe for food contact packaging specifications and does not contain gluten or GMOs.

pouches)

• One Warming Joy Petite Tea Tree (4 pyramid infusers)

• One porcelain Café Cup with lid in Red

• One Warming Joy KATI® Steeping

HOLIDAY STYLE

HORNITOS® BLACK BARREL® TEQUILA ($29.99)

Hornitos® Black Barrel® Tequila is a super smooth, triple aged, 100% agave tequila uniquely aged to embark distinct and complex whiskey notes. The tequila starts with 100% agave Hornitos® Tequila, which is aged in traditional American oak barrels for 12 months. Once the soft, smooth, complex flavor of the añejo tequila has been achieved, the liquid is placed in deeply charred American oak barrels for four months to ensure that the tequila breathes through the caramelized layer of sugar, imparting the rich character, golden amber color and smoky notes traditionally found in whiskey.

Lastly, the tequila is aged in specially toasted American oak barrels for two months to give it a creamier, vanilla character to add depth and complexity to the final spirit. Easy to drink and unforgettably smooth, Hornitos® Black Barrel® Tequila was the most highly awarded tequila of 2016*.

Signature Cocktail - Hornitos Black Barrel Tequila Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

1 ½ parts Hornitos® Black Barrel Tequila

1 part simple syrup

½ part amaro liqueur

2 dashes bitters

2 dashes orange bitters

Instructions:

Combine simple syrup, Hornitos® Black Barrel Tequila, amaro and bitters. Add ice and stir. Strain over fresh ice and garnish your tequila Old Fashioned with an orange peel. For more information, visit www.HornitosTequila.com.

REBELS AND OUTLAWS SACRED CEREMONY WINTER SOLSTICE CANDLE

We’ve been on the hunt for high quality queer candles and Rebels and Outlaws Sacred Ceremony creates not only candles but works of art that are the best of the best. These candles, designed with intention by makeup artist and rebel, James Vincent, and activ ist and outlaw, Jeremy Meek, are developed “to allow artists and mystics to tap into the universe and find their muse while creating an unforgettable experience.” Each candle is prepared with blessed inspiration, poured with the best intentions, under the influ ence of the moon. The Winter Solstice Candle was prepared to celebrate Yuletide and the longest night of the year. It serves as a reminder through the winter months that we must appreciate and celebrate the dark and the light. In particular, we love the crafts man and attention to detail with each of these truly special candles.

The Winter Solstice Candle features traditional winter herbs and florals of fir, pine cone, frankincense, cedar, and vanilla. The days might seem dark but allow these candles to bring you a bit of comfort this season. Other candles include Artists and Angels (an art driven and muse-oriented candle with scents of blood orange, cinnamon, neroli, and fir), Energize and Align (with a full range of crystals to bring balance to chakra energy and life), The Law of Attraction Candle (for attracting whatever you might be looking to focus on bringing into your life), and Love, Love & Love (celebrating love with scents of vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, sandalwood, and patchouli to help jumpstart the libido this holiday season). Who needs mistletoe when you have the aphrodisiac in this remarkable candle? Stock up at www.rebelsandoutlawsnyc.com.

TRAVEL

EZQUEST ULTIMATEPOWER 120W CHARGING STATION

($69.99)

The UltimatePower 120W USB-C charging sta tion with GaN technology can simultaneously quick charge 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A devices for fast, efficient charging at home, in the office, or on the go up to 120 Watts. And it comes with an EU pin converter so you can use this char ger when you travel. This small (smaller than a credit card) but powerful charger has foldable US plugs and no messy cables for optimized portability, that will make it perfect for traveling worldwide with universal 100V - 240V voltage so you can charge in any country that uses a US or European plug.

flossing high-quality polyester bristles reach deep into grooves, under the gum line, and between teeth to break up plaque and brush away food residue before it gets a grip on your teeth. These high-quality adult foldable travel toothbrushes are constructed with ergonomic comfort grip handles and are made for easy packing. Grab one at www.amazon.com or other fine retailers.

STNKY BAG PRO

STNKY Bags are your number one travel companion to sort, store, carry, wash and dry everything from sweaty gym clothes, laundry when you travel, scrubs, and just about anything else that gets dirty or sweaty. STNKY Bags lock in those germs and smell from your gear while you go about your day. Then, when it’s laundry time, there’s no need to touch your dirty stuff. Just open the bottom zipper, turn the bag in side out and your STNKY Bag becomes a wash bag. Throw it in the washer and dryer, bag and all, and you’ll be ready to go again! STNKY washable bags help make your active lifestyle easier. Visit online at www.stnky.us.

BODY & MIND

MODERN NIRVANA ORACLE DECK

($24.95)

From Amenti Oracle author Jennifer Sodini, and the found ers of the spirituality and wellness platform Modern Nirva na: actress, singer, and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Kat Graham, four-time Emmy-winning journalist and energy healer Frank Elaridi, and master breathwork instructor Bry ant Wood - comes a deck for finding clarity around the gra dients of love, loss, levity, and each chapter of the human experience. A sensory experience inspired by avant-garde ‘80s fashion, The Modern Nirvana Oracle Deck includes a guidebook and 50 beautifully illustrated cards by renowned artist Natalee Rae Miller inside an elegant, easy-to-travel, metallic gold box with lifting ribbon and a magnetic clo sure. Each card will provide an inspiring quote, ageless wisdom for our modern lives, breathwork and meditations, and a mantra designed to further activate the intentions within the cards.

The goal of Modern Nirvana is to be a catalyst for trans formation in people’s lives, to inspire them to take control of their spiritual and physical wellbeing, by sharing both ancient practices and modern bio-hacks. Their motto is “If you are human, you have the potential to be superhuman.”

Visit Modern Nirvana at www.modernnirvana.com.

BALANCE YOUR BUZZ

($29.99 pack of 20)

Say goodbye to hangovers this holiday season with Balance Your Buzz electrolyte drink mixers. Simply add the travel-size packet to 8 oz or more of water and your choice of alcohol to replenish what alcohol depletes - for a better tomorrow. The BYB proactive formula is full of essential vitamins that keep you hydrated and your body feeling great and ready for tomor row (while you get to enjoy a tasty and refreshing cocktail).

Balance Your Buzz was developed by a naturopathic phy sician who’s created supplements for years. All flavors were developed to mix with alcohol, and include: Passion Fruit, Mixed Berry, Coconut Blood Orange, Lemon Lime, and Apple Cider. Gluten-free, low calorie, low carbs, and with no preser vatives, no sodium, and no sugar.

PETZOOP – COMPLETE PET

The Zoop Complete Pet Bundle will take care your furry friend and household with all the essentials –

• Health + Odor Grooming Towels eliminate the main cause of bad body odor and many other skin problems. One towel lasts six days.

• Health + Odor Grooming Wipes for on the go grooming.

• Stain + Odor Pro Eliminator Spray doesn’t just deodorize or mask scents – the extra-strength Enzyme-Powered Natural Stain and Odor destroyer with Zoop’s Proprietary Odor Neutralizer Technology cuts through pet urine, pet poop, pet vomit, pet diarrhea, and more, leaving you with a clean fresh home.

Zoop products are made with all natural ingredients to keep everyone safe – pets, people, and the planet! All their formulas are non-toxic and maximum strength applications with proprietary ingredients that eradicate smells, whether they are in the carpet or on your pet.

The Zoop family of pet products are available at www.zoopbrand.com.

HRC RAINBOW DOG LEASH ($19)

Show your pride with this heavy duty six-foot long pet rainbow leash featuring the HRC logo and “rainbow

100% of purchases on the www.shop.hrc.org website fuels the fight for equality. For over 40 years, the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) mission has been to inspire and engage individuals and communities, while striv ing to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people plus community members who use different language to describe identity are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. Show your pride, while supporting the ongoing fight for equality. You can learn more about HRC at

PRETTYLITTER

If you are a cat lover you will know that felines are noto rious for hiding illness. Unlike traditional cat litter, Pret tyLitter keeps tabs on your cat’s health by changing color when your cat has a potential health issue, so you can get them help before it becomes an urgent medical situation. The silica (crystal) litter could save you big money on ex pensive vet bills, not to mention it could save your cat’s life. The soiled litter will show the following:

• Dark yellow/olive green indicates urine within the typi cal range.

• Orange may indicate metabolic acidosis or kidney tu bular acidosis.

• Blue may indicate certain types of urinary tract infec tions or increased risk of stone formation.

• Red may indicate bladder crystals, feline lower urinary tract disorder, or certain types of kidney disease.

PrettyLitter traps odors instantly and eliminates mois ture, so you’ll never smell your cat’s dirty business again. Easier cat care and fresh litter is just around your doorstep. No need to add baking soda for extra odor absorption. Ditch the pine pellets and upgrade to silica cat litter!

PrettyLitter also gives back to the community through donations to many organizations, including The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (supporting the Black trans community) and the Shanti Project/PAWS (supporting low-income seniors and people living with HIV in San Francisco).

Grab a bag at a retailer near you or visit www.prettylitter.com.

PHOTOS BY BELLA MARIE ADAMS

NICK ADAMS

LOVING HIS QUEER-FORWARD CAREER

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

He’s

Astaire Award nomination for Best Dancer, and has been

Hall of Fame. He is instantly recognizable by his signature smile, powerhouse vocals, and yes, that body that held Mario Lopez to task. His theatre credits have taken him from appearing in classic Broadway hits that include Guys and Dolls, Chicago, and A Chorus Line to appearing in Wicked and the critically acclaimed North American Tour of Lincoln Center Theatre’s Broadway production of Falsettos. Film work has included a dash of everything from HBO’s The Other Two, Netflix’s Invent ing Anna, Sex and the City 2, to Hulu’s big gay summer hit, Fire Island. This fall, he took part in the world premiere of DRAG: The Musical, written by Drag Race’s Alaska, and appeared alongside New Kids on the Block’s Joey McIntyre, drag’s Jackie Cox, and Jan Sport, sharing some scene-chewing scenes with Alaska herself.

Nick’s love affair with musical theatre started at eight years old when a touring production of A Chorus Line came to his home town of Eerie, Pennsylvania. Fifteen years later, he would join a revival of the show on Broad way. His first trip to New York City at age 15 to see his first Broadway musical, Chicago, would also prove to be fate.

The show was still very new and fresh then, so it was dangerous and electric. It was such a massive hit, and I was so excited. I love Kander and Ebb, this was just a huge weekend for me. I also saw Cabaret that weekend. I just remember sitting there thinking, how do I ever get there? It just seemed so unattainable and so lofty. And then I made my Broadway debut in Chicago.

His Broadway debut came hot on the heels of completing his studies at the presti gious Boston Conservatory. He booked his first musical and was met with a string of shows. His success was a double-edged sword, find ing his voice on stage was easy, but who was he as a person?

I didn’t even give myself another option of what to explore or do with my life, because I was just so in love with this art form since I was a kid. I was in the city for less than a week and then got Chicago. I left and was just sort of on this streak of show to show. I was so grateful to be in the right place at the right time and was prepared to meet the moment. I think that was really the key to that happening. It worked out in my favor, but I’ll tell you, after doing so many shows in New York, the hard part for me was then I felt like that was normal. And when that didn’t happen, I immediately thought who am I, what is my worth? I was so used to the routine of school, that sort of regimented structure, to then immediately joining the workforce and doing shows. That’s all I knew was just to be in a show. I didn’t know my identity as an adult in New York City without it. And so that part of my life, once I wasn’t always booking and always in a show, was hard for me to

NICK ADAMS IS AN ENTERTAINER ON MANY LEVELS. ACTING, SINGING, DANCING, FILM, STAGE, AND MORE, HE’S DONE IT ALL.

won Audience Choice Awards from Broadway.com, received an

honored by the American Theatre

THE LENS THAT WE ARE PORTRAYING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HAS BROADENED.”

sort of navigate, but like the best life experience because I had to find who I was outside of just what I do.

Nick’s relationship with his body and the recognition of his fitness would be put into the spotlight when he appeared in A Chorus Line. The production featured a highly cam paigned appearance by Mario Lopez. Soon the focus would shift from Mario’s talents and body to Nick’s. Comparisons between the two performers’ bodies would soon become headline-grabbing.

It was wild - it was overnight. I was an ensemble dancer, and then suddenly, I’m in the National Enquirer. My mom was looking at pictures of me in the National Enquirer in underwear and my body, comparing it to people. That kind of changed things a little bit and for a period there, people that were in our industry knew what I did and what I had to offer, and that’s why I was being employed. But then I kind of felt for a minute like, oh, (my body) is all that people think that I am and that I have to offer. For a minute, I started to believe that, maybe that’s why you’re working. But then I had to get back to like, “you were doing this, you were part of this industry before there was any light shed on that.” And yeah, of course, l have been cast in certain things that require a certain aesthetic or something, but I don’t think, had I not been able to bring what I bring to the table just personally, I would’ve had any of the opportunities that I had. There is certainly pressure because it’s been this sort of inflated thing that I obviously have had some hand in con tributing to because I know how to capitalize on it in a way when I need to. It’s been a lifestyle commitment.

I try to just focus on what I’m doing, and I’ve always done that. I don’t pay attention to what seems extraneous or doesn’t relate to who I am as a human. That’s part of the way you’re taught to package yourself and be a product and sell yourself and all of that. That came from when I was in college and my teachers said I was not going to work because I was so teeny. I was just a skinny little gay thing. They said, “You can’t be gay, and you can’t be thin. You

must like look like a leading man if you want to work.” I was like, well, I’m going to do whatever it takes to do this because this is what I want. I wanted to move to New York and be as employable as possible. That’s really where my fitness came from.

In Hulu’s Fire Island, Nick plays a lessthan-likable, uber-fit “Cooper,” alongside Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho, Matt Rogers, and film writer and star Joel Kim Booster. The highly anticipated film was a hit and brought topics like body issues, classism, and racism in the LGBTQ community to light. Nick believes the future of LGBTQ filmmak ing is bright.

I think the way the movie presented it is very true to life. What’s also interesting is when I meet people now after that, even in interviews for press junkets and things, everyone would ask me, “Oh, are you very much like this character?” I’m nothing like that. Which was why it was so fun to play. We have all met that guy. We know who that guy is. And so, I had a lot to draw from, people that I’ve met.

The queer community is becom ing more and more mainstream with every film that is made. I think the lens that we are portraying the com munity through has broadened. We are no longer limited to only tragedy or over-sentimentality. We are show ing all sides of an experience that isn’t always universal and is very complex. I am thrilled at all the opportunities that continue to come and the stories we can share.

Shortly after finishing Fire Island, Nick was asked to be in the studio concept album for DRAG: The Musical. Unknowing what the future of the project was, Nick went in to record the album while recovering from a bad foot injury from shooting Fire Island. The music from the album was well received and the musical received a summer work shop and, ultimately, the world debut at the Bourbon Room in Hollywood, California.

Nick’s character, drag queen Alexis Gillmore, finds herself wrapped up in a battle between two drag bars. Even amid the flashy numbers and catty lyrics, it is really about the sense of family that exists in the drag world and the LGBTQ community. What made Nick say

yes to the project?

Originating something and being part of the process from the beginning – I think actors love to do that because you get to contribute, you get to be the help with the creation of something. It’s so much different than coming in as a replacement, which I’ve also done. It’s a little bit easier when you have a structure to follow and then bring your own flavor spice.

I think I’ve crafted, without intentionally doing it, a very queer forward career where I’ve never really had a moment of coming out and I’ve never shied away from it. So, I thought oh, a new musical that’s going to be part of our catalog. I said to myself, do I do another musical in drag? This is my fourth musical as a drag queen. But, this is what the industry is asking me to do right now. I do it well, so I’m going to do it. The last time was 12 years ago when I was in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. After that show, I was very resistant to doing anything drag related because I was afraid of being pushed into a category. But now I just figure, I’m good at acting like that, so lean into it. Enjoy it. Do it. So just say yes.

In looking back at his varied career, Nick notes the biggest change that he has gone through personally throughout his career.

My approach has changed. I’ve been centered around being in the present moment without tying any expectations to my work. There is so much freedom in that for me which has allowed me to fully be available to the work and experience the joy in real-time. I remove the need to impress or prove something and that unlocks a new level of enjoyment and artistry.

Looking forward, what is his biggest wish for his career?

I recently saw a play that shook me to my core. The Inheritance had me reeling with emotion, hanging on every word. I want to be a part of that kind of storytelling. I want to work in this industry as I age. I want to be financially secure as I do it. I want peace. ■

GROOMING

GET INTO THE HOLIDAY GROOMING GROOVE

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US AND IF GROOMING GIFTS AREN’T ON YOUR RADAR, IT’S TIME TO MAKE YOUR LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE! WHILE THE ZOOM MEETINGS OF 2022 ARE ENDING, THE BLUE LIGHT FROM YOUR SCREEN CONTINUES AND THE AIR IS ONLY GETTING DRIER. We’ve inves tigated a wide range of kits, sets, duos, and even a variety of Advent calendars to not only get you in the groove of the holiday spirit but pamper you along the way. Regardless of whether you’re shopping for friends, family, lovers, or yourself, we’ve got you covered.

BLACK WOLF

WUSH + Charcoal Body Wash Bundle $69 www.blackwolfnation.com

Any guy can be a “Black Wolf Guy,’’ and they’re offering some great holiday bundles this season. The WUSH + Charcoal Body Wash Bundle retails at $69 and includes their Charcoal Body Wash, a manly body scrubber with 100% antibacterial silicone bristles, and a WUSH Ear Cleaner. The Ear Cleaner is a new safe and effective way to remove unwanted earwax. This limited-edition, full-sized cleansing solution bundle will give you (almost) everything you need to look and feel your best. Black Wolf uses powerful, high-quality ingredients that work as hard as you do. The bundle, a $113 value, includes their Charcoal Body Wash, Charcoal Face Wash, shampoo, conditioner, a body scrubber, and chic toiletry bag.

CHAPSTICK

12 Days Calendar $24 www.chapstick.com Pucker up, ChapStick’s 12 Days Calendar which includes twelve assorted fla vors of both classic and holiday favorites to countdown to the holiday of your choice. This lip balm Advent calendar allows you to get in the holiday season with Candy Cane, Sugar Cookie, Pumpkin Pie, Holiday Cocoa, Vanilla Latte, Clover Honey, Vanilla Mint, Cake Batter, Cotton Candy, Passion Fruit, Classic Cherry, and Classic Original. Each holiday lip balm tube is perfect for stashing in your coat pocket, backpack, desk drawer, or man purse so you have it ready whenever your lips feel dry. Tuck this fun Christmas-themed box right under the tree with a big bow or let it make a stocking pop this holiday season. Bonus: this set comes in a festive box so no need for gift wrap with this one!

CODEX BEAUTY LABS

Holiday Soaps $12 each www.codexlabscorp.com

Get fresh and clean this winter with Codex Beauty Labs’ festive scented soaps. Their colorful and fragrant holiday soaps are plant-based, cold processed and formulated to cleanse without stripping moisture. Codex Beauty Labs offer plant-based biotech skincare that’s suitable for all skin types. Soaps include up cycled scraps from other Codex Beauty Labs soaps to ensure there is no waste, and are packaged in sustainable, biodegradable materials, with the soap carton being made from renewable fresh fiber originating from forests that are sus tainably managed. Take care of your skin while also looking out for the planet.

ILLUMINATE

4-Step Radiance Regimen $110 www.imageskincare.com Looking to add some lux to the holidays? IMAGE Skincare is offering a four-step regimen with savings that will make it feel like Black Friday is lasting through the new year. Catch a holiday glow and boost your radiance to moisturize, brighten, and nourish dry skin. This set includes the MAX facial cleanser with advanced peptides and plant extracts, ILUMA intense facial illuminator to reduce the ap pearance of pigmentation and dark spots, I MASK hydrating hydrogel sheet mask featuring mineral-rich volcanic waters, and PREVENTION+ daily matte moisturizer SPF30 to keep you hydrated while protecting you from the sun.

DR. BARBARA STURM

Advent Calendar 2022 $560 www.drsturm.com

Why not dabble in excess this holiday season? Dr. Barbara Strum’s Advent Calendar 2022 features a literal beauty armoire-inspired gift box chock full of Dr. Strum’s most loved products including their cleanser, lip balm, face cream, face mask, eye cream, brightening serum, night cleanser, anti-pollution drops, balancing toner, and more. Open a gift box each day leading up to the big day! This calendar retails at $560 but contains $1,500 worth of products. If you need serum to last you through 2023, Dr. Barbara Sturm is offering a limited-edition Serum House ($470) this holiday season. This is legitimately one of the most coveted holiday sets on this list. The curated kit contains the Hyaluronic Serum, Super-Anti-Aging Serum, Night Serum, and Glow Drops in both deluxe and full sizes. Plan on hydration and the perfect glow for the new year.

We love Jack Black’s holiday gift sets and are especially pumped about this year’s Jack & Carry gift set, which includes an exclusive Jack Black Travel Bag with their high-quality Black Reserve hits including Black Reserve Body & Hair Cleanser, Hydrating Body Lotion, Body Spray, Nightmode Lip Treatment and an Exclusive Jack Black Travel Bag. This $90 value is available for just $65 this year. It’s offered exclusively at Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com and it’s going to move like hotcakes. If you’re a Jack Black fanatic (we are) their Jack Black The Clean Team is also a must for under the tree. This set (just $25) includes their Turbo Washing Energizing Cleanser for Hair & Body, All-Over Wash for Face, Hair &

KIEHL’S SINCE 1851

Limited Edition Holiday Advent Calendar $105 www.kiehls.com

Kiehl’s Since 1851 is ringing in the holidays with their exclusive 2022 Holiday Advent Calendar. In keeping with their tradition of collaborating with extraor dinary international artists, this year’s collection highlights illustrations created by London and Cape Town-based animation studio MadeByRadio inspired by the message of spreading care for the loved ones in our lives. Open a door from December 1st through December 24th to reveal a small gift inside. This year’s $105 calendar is a $261 value, and includes 24 serums, cleansers, and other sur prise formulas behind each door. Their Midnight Recovery Concentrate ($79), a fan favorite, has a glorious holiday box. Give the gift of rest and relaxation with this top-rated facial oil made to replenish the skin overnight for a smooth and hydrated appearance by sunrise. For even more Midnight Recovery, check out their Midnight Must Haves set ($65), featuring the Midnight Recovery Concen trate as well as their heavenly Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream.

OFFCOURT

Deep Cleaning Body Wash Trio Pack $25.50 www.offcourt.com Deck the walls of your shower with OffCourt this season. Their Exfoliating Body Soap Trio Pack is such a joy. This soap truly does it all, and then some. We’re talking about exfoliating, hydrating, nourishing, cleansing, even the dishes (well, maybe not that). Check out their three different scents: Fresh Citron + Driftwood, Fig Leaves + White Musk, and Coconut Water + Sandalwood. Turn on the water and experience their rich-lathering, medium-grit formula to re move dead skin, bacteria, and sweat while replenishing the right nutrients to keep your skin healthy and fresh.

LA CHATELAINE

La Chatelaine Soap Supply For Men $78 www.lachatelainebeauty.com

We have literally become obsessed with La Chatelaine’s soaps. To crack open a box of these and choose your bath time adventure, paired with a little mulled wine would be sheer holiday bliss. La Chatelaine soaps are 100% pure vegeta ble-based soaps crafted in Provence with ethically sourced natural and organic ingredients. Blended with organic shea butter, organic calendula, organic argan oil, and Vitamin E, these soaps will protect and nourish the skin. Fragrances include Deep Blue Sea, Sandalwood, Citrus Zest, Moroccan Mint, Vetiver Cedar, and Bourgon Vanilla for any kind of mood. You might want to plan for two baths a day when you have La Chatelaine in the house.

PAYOT PARIS

PAYOT Advent Calendar $90 www.us.payot.com

We are suckers for French beauty products, and it’s no secret that PAYOT Paris is a favorite of ours. This year’s PAYOT Advent Calendar will awaken the spirit of the season and get you in the mood for ice skating and hot cocoa while protect ing your skin from the harsh winter elements. Open the adorable, dated doors to find 24 mini PAYOT surprises nestled inside the calendar, including a Bubble Mask for peeling, Cleansing Micellar Milk, My Payot Sleep & Glow Mask, Col lagen Eye Patches, 24 Hours Moisturizing Day Cream, and more! With over $260 worth of products for just $90 this calendar is one that moves quickly!

RAW SUGAR

Raw Men Smell Good Gift Set $10

Raw Sugar’s gift set includes four body washes packed with plant-derived in gredients and cold pressed extracts. Co-founders Ronnie Shugar and Donda Mullis created the lifestyle brand back in 2014 with a commitment to provid ing high quality, earth friendly hair and personal care products at an affordable price. Their gift set, a perfect stocking stuffer, includes four 3 fl. Oz. washes (Eucalyptus + Cedar Leaf, Charcoal + Bamboo, Black Coconut + Sea Salt, Citrus

SNOW FOX

Three-In-One Hair, Face & Body Treatment Bar $26 www.snowfoxskincare.com

While we’re on the subject of stocking stuffers, Snow Fox has an outstanding Three-In-One Hair, Face & Body Treatment Bar. This all-round nourishing concentrate of eight botanical oils, multiple Australia native botanical extracts and naturally clarifying minerals are perfectly balanced to be able to work ef fectively on skin, hair, and scalp. Ditch the bulky plastic containers and opt for a truly eco-friendly product that is perfectly good for all skin types. Channel your inner minimalist and use it to wash your face, shampoo and condition hair while cleansing your whole body. Do you really need all those shampoo and conditioner bottles when traveling? Cut through the clutter this holiday season.

VOESH

Limited Edition Peppermint Swirl Duo $10 www.voesh.com

Hopping on a plane to somewhere beachy after the 25th? Don’t forget to pamper those toes! Spread the holiday joy with the festive Voesh Peppermint Swirl Duo, which includes their Peppermint Swirl Pedi in a Box Deluxe 4 Step and matching Velvet Luxe Vegan Hand & Body Crème. Your feet will naturally be overworked from ice-skating, last-minute shopping, dancing at the office work party and that holiday pub crawl. Treat yourself to this duo, which in cludes one Peppermint Swirl Pedi in a Box Deluxe 4 Step Spa Pedicure and one Peppermint Swirl Velvet Luxe Vegan Hand & Body Creme. Cleanse, ex foliate, and moisturize your skin for silky-smooth, minty-fresh results. Sandy beach not included.

THERESA HEREDIA

BY JAMES DELYEA

THIS TALENTED LADY HAS MADE QUITE A NAME FOR HERSELF IN THE MALE-DOMINATED WINE INDUSTRY, WHERE ONLY ABOUT 10% OF ALL WINEMAKERS ARE WOMEN. Along with the team at her winery, they are proving that diversity and inclusion are just good business – along with producing world-class wines of course.

Theresa Heredia hails from the San Francisco Bay Area town of Pittsburg, just a stone’s throw from the famed Napa and Sonoma Wine Country. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and was a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry with an emphasis on enol ogy at U.C. Davis, before leaving to pursue her passion of becoming a hands-on winemaker. Her travels to Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Rhône Valley certainly furthered her love of wine. After contributing to many press accolades for

vinification accomplishments as a winemaker at Freestone Vineyards & Winery, Theresa moved to Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery in 2012 to advance her career. She was recently promoted in 2021 to director of winemaking, after a long list of honors for her creations by well-respected wine authorities including Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, Wine & Spirits, to name a few.

Now 20 years after entering the business and making her mark, Theresa is using her star power and influence to help the wine industry break

Specializing in cool-climate single vineyard Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from iconic growers in the Russian River Valley, Theresa has recently earned some high marks for Gary Farrell Wines from the internet’s most comprehensive wine buying resource, Ken’s Wine Guide, as well as these ratings from industry authority Wine Enthusiast:

2019 Chardonnay - Durell Vineyard: 95 points

2019 Chardonnay – Russian River Selection: 94 points

2018 Pinot Noir - Rochioli Vineyard: 95 points • 2018 Pinot Noir - Fort Ross Vineyard: 95 points

down barriers for others. In addition to her work and support with national organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, she has become more involved locally by contributing her talent and vision to the Sonoma County Vintners Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She has demon strated a commitment to work with others in the industry to bring about positive change. Theresa was recently honored with the North Bay Business Journal’s Pride Leadership Award which recog nizes local professionals for their contributions to the Pride movement.

The LGBTQ+ community feels a sense of inclu sion at every touchpoint at Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery. From the Equality Symbol and Rainbow Flag on their website and advertising material, to the diverse models used in their advertising to the welcoming team at their breathtaking ‘tasting salon’ in picturesque Healdsburg, California, it has one envisioning a world where acceptance is the norm. We can’t wait to see what Theresa has in store for us over the next 20 years. ■

Learn more about Theresa Heredia and Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery at www.GaryFarrellWinery.com

Furthering their commitment to the community, Gary Farrell became an early supporter and member of the newly formed LGBT+ Wine Society. This group brings together wine lovers, LGBT-friendly wineries, restaurants, ho tels and retailers in Sonoma County for a welcoming community experience.

One of the key outputs from this group is the hot-off-the-press Sonoma County LGBT+ Wine Map.“What a great resource for our community,” exclaimed Gary Saperstein, local business owner of Out in the Vineyard and promoter of Gay Wine Weekend. With over 425 wineries in Sonoma County, the LGBT+ visitor can hone in on those establishments that are gay-owned, gay-operated or have demonstrated a commitment to the com munity through their support and actions. Charter Sonoma County businesses in cluded:

• Eco Terreno Wines & Vineyards

• Equality Vines

• Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery

• Iron Horse Vineyards

• Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery

• Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery

• Roadhouse Winery

• Sophie’s Cellars

• Duncans Mills House - Lodging

In West Sonoma County on the windy West side Road that meanders through the scenic Russian River Valley AVA, you’ll find Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery. Perched high on a leafy hilltop, this vintner has created a legacy of elegant wines in its rich 40-year history. Som meliers, wine critics and oenophiles alike hold their pinot noir and chardonnay offerings in the highest regard.

We think the optimal way to introduce your self to these wines is right on site in one of Gary Farrell’s tasting areas, either indoors at ‘The Salon’ or outdoors on ‘The Terrace.’You’ll expe rience an elevated tasting of pinot noirs and

chardonnays paired with artisan cheeses while enjoying the breathtaking territorial vistas.

For the out-of-towers, Gary Farrell is located between two of the most appealing gay tourist destinations in the county; gay-friendly ubercasual Guerneville with its rustic woodsy charm and the alluring Healdsburg with its bevy of upscale dining, shopping and hotel options.

To reserve a tasting experience, visit www.GaryFarrellWinery.com

• The Woods Cottages & Cabins

• Lo & Behold Bar + Kitchen

• The Spinster Sisters Restaurant

• The Girl & The Fig Restaurant

Exclusive events, discounts, and spe cial offers throughout the year are planned by the LGBT+ Wine Society. If you love wine and live in the San Francisco Bay Area, or plan to visit Sonoma and would like a complimentary wine map, indi vidual membership is currently free – just provide your name and e-mail.

Visit: www.LGBTwinesociety.com Follow on FB/IG/Twitter: @LGBTwinesociety

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE NYC OUTING

BY MEGAN VENZIN

HOLIDAY SEASON IS IN FULL EFFECT, BUT THOSE WHO HAVE GROWN TIRED OF EGGNOG AND YULETIDE CHEER ARE LIKELY CRAVING VARIETY THIS TIME OF YEAR. Lucky for you, New York City has something for everyone, and it NEVER discriminates against the naughty ones on its list (it favors them, come to think of it.) Break up the monotony that accompanies of fice Christmas parties and dinners with the extended fam by giving yourself the gift you so deserve: a care free night out on the town that has it all! Catch a sassy musical helmed by Emmy Award-winning tal ent, meet your favorite drag icons, or count down to 2023 with sexy thrill seekers who share your undying desire for a damn good time. Take comfort in know ing that none of the events on our list involve fruit cake or dreaded questions from nana like, “why are you still single?” In fact, a few picks might be able to help in that department, too. So come on, let’s cele brate you and all the memories you’re soon to make!

JANE LYNCH AND KATE FLANNERY: A SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS

December 2 - 4

The Library at The Public 425 Lafayette St. (at Astor Place) New York, NY

Funny gals Jane Lynch (Glee, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Kate Flannery (The Office) bring their Billboard Chart-topping holiday album A Swingin’ Little Christmas to life during a limited run at one of the Lower East Side’s most festive and intimate cabaret spaces. Accompanied by singer and longtime friend, Tim Davis, as well as the Southern California’s jazz legends, The Tony Guerrero Quartet, the hilarious TV-famous twosome will lend their inimitable sass to a handful of evening and matinee shows that just may be the perfect way to convince the in-laws they don’t need to visit 42nd St. to experience the city’s best live theatre - ever again.

Get tickets at https://publictheater.org/productions/ joes-pub/2022/j/jane-lynch--kate-flannery/

photo courtesy of YouTube

A Swingin Little Christmas

THE JINKX AND DELA HOLIDAY SHOW

December 2nd & 3rd

The Town Hall 123 W. 43rd St. New York, NY

The “Queens of Christmas” are back and ready to give whole new meaning to “stockings filled with cheer!” Join the divas Jinkx and DeLa for their internationally renowned holiday show that The New York Times says is “sure to lift your spirits and make you howl with laughter.” Expect new songs, fastpaced comedy, and a few old classics to keep things kosher. Superfans can spring for the VIP meet-andgreet which includes prime seating, an exclusive gift package and bragging rights for years to come. Get tickets at http://thetownhall.org/event/ the-jinkx-dela-holiday-show-live-12-2

NY SCOPE

NEW YORK

POST-PANDEMIC BURLESQUE WITH TALLULAH TALONS

December 8, 15, 22, 29

Club Cumming 505 E. 6th St.

New York, NY

Every Thursday in December the masks are coming off … along with a few other garments at a truly tantalizing Manhattan nightspot. Join Tallulah Talons,“the 6’1” giantess of burlesque,” as she hosts a revealing evening of panty-dropping performance art at Club Cumming. While you’re there, plan to laugh and throw back the cocktails with abandon because this venue continues to request proof of vaccination for added peace of mind.

Learn more and check out the full schedule at https://clubcummingnyc.com/

M.E.A.T: HO FOR THE HOLIDAYS

December 10th

3 Dollar Bill + Yard

260 Meserole St.

Brooklyn, NY

It may be December, but the outer boroughs are still sweltering! Swing by 3DB in Bushwick and see for yourself. Ahead of Christmas, M.E.A.T. will host a dance party that promises to make all your naughtiest dreams come true with a little help from Brazil’s Anne Louise, who is back for the first time in three years with support from J. Warren. Get tickets at www.meatnewyork.com

Tallulah photo by Kevin Jackson

DOM WE NOW OUR GAY APPAREL

December 17th

The Cutting Room 44 E. 32nd St. New York, NY

The wide-eyed dreamer Dominick Pupa showed us how things could have played out if only gays had ruled the world in TWIRLED HISTORY, and now the popular warm-up comedian for shows like The View and Live With Regis and Kelly revives his one-man holiday extravaganza complete with parodies and pokes at 2022’s best and worst moments. As always, he’ll be decked to the nines as he shells out “a sleighful of jokes” and “a stocking full of songs.” Be warnedno shelf can contain this elf.

For more on Dom visit https://www.dommentary.com/

NEW YEAR’S EVE SPEED DATING

The Malt House 9 Maiden Lane (between Broadway and Nassau) New York, NY

Are you still seeking out that special someone with whom to share your countdown kiss? The team at My Cheeky Date NYC has you covered with a New Year’s Eve Speed Dating event set for early Saturday evening, leaving you plenty of time to find a cohort for the year-end parties on your calendar. The vibe is “cheeky-chic,” which means you won’t have to worry about cheesy whistles or name-tags at this casual and comfortable hang. Helpful hosts will get you all set with your Date-Mate scorecard, so be assured, if you don’t experience love at first sight, your Date-Mate results will be ready within 24 hours. That should provide you with plenty of time to find a partner who fits just right, and if time limits aren’t your thing, know that My Cheeky Date offers personalized blind-date matchmaking packages too. Find love at https://www.mycheekydate.com/ speed-dating-new-york-city

Dominick Pupa photo by @perrystrongfilmphoto

photobyDrewBeamer/Unsplash

NY SCOPE

NEW YORK

UNITE 2022

December 31st

HK Hall

605 W. 48th St. New York, NY

Ring in the new year with beats, boys and brews at UNITE’s annual end of the year bash taking place this go-around at the legendary HK Hall. The venue’s state-of-the-art soundsystem and climatecontrolled glass rooftop will have you dancing under the stars with New York’s hottest partygoers and world-renowned DJs. Doors open at 10pm, so arrive early for high-octane tunes leading into an epic countdown you won’t want to miss. Plan to go extra hard? No problem! Book a room at the nearby Kimpton Ink48 Hotel so you have a place to regroup before the party rolls right into New Year’s Day (more on that next!)

Beat the line with express entry tickets at https://www.gaytravel4u.com/event/ unite-party-new-york-new-years-eve

SUNRISE ALLEGRIA - NEW YEAR’S DAY

January 1st

Hudson Terrace

621 W. 46th St. New York, NY

Prepare to party like it’s 2023 because the drinks and beats continue flowing well into New Year’s Day at Ric Sena’s annual Sunrise Alegria party - an iconic hang for queer revelers who refuse to comply with last call. This edition will take place at Hudson Terrace in Hell’s Kitchen, so you’ll be right in the heart of the action, but well after all the Times Square tourists have boarded their trains and planes home. With multiple rooms devoted to DJs, dancing and full-blown debauchery, this is the most proper way to start the next 12 months on your terms. Sena’s legendary production design will transport you to fresh realms with even fresher co-pilots, but pace yourself - this daytime rager promises to keep poppin’ until after the sun goes down yet again. Get updates at www.ricsenapresents.com

Unite Party NewYork NewYears Eve

photobyAntoineJ/Unsplash

SunriseAlegria NewYears Day

Sunrise Alegria New Years Day

The Magician

SPECTACULAR FACTORY

Through January 8th

ARTECHOUSENYC® @ Chelsea Market

439 W 15th St

New York, NY

Surround yourself in magic this season at ARTECHOUSE with Spectacular Factory, a jolly exhibition that packs a heaping helping of holiday joy into one immersive experience. The renowned interactive art space invites guests of all ages to step into a “wintry multiverse” decked from wall to wall with cheerful bells, a thousand nutcrackers, verdant wreaths, and other familiar visuals, wrapped up in the trappings of projection mapping like never before. This energizing outing is perfect for sharing with loved ones of all ages, but if you’re hanging out with the 21+ crowd be sure to imbibe at the XR Bar for cozy themed cocktails that will add a hint more merriment to any brisk evening.

Buy advance tickets at https://www.artechouse.com/ program/spectacular-factory-nyc/

THE MAGICIAN ELSEWHERE

January 28th

599 Johnson Ave Brooklyn, NY

Known for his genre-bending productions and beloved “Magic Tape” mixtape series, Belgian artist Stephen Fasano, aka The Magician, returns to Bushwick to kick off the year with a mesmerizing club set. He will be casting a spell on the always inclusive multi-room venue known as Elsewhere with support from Dusk II Dawn w/ Hai Lai and an array of special guests. Trust when we say this lineup has the magic touch. Get tickets at www.elsewherebrooklyn.com

Spectacular Factory

TRAVEL NEW YORK

COURTESY OF ZAGREB TOURISM BOARD

Ledeni Park

Photo by M. Mehulić

ZAGREB, CROATIA

A GLITTERING, MAGICAL PLACE IN WINTER

CHRISTMAS CAN UNLEASH YOUR INNER CHILD AND ALL THE HOLIDAY TRAPPINGS THAT GO WITH IT. They’re an easy bunch to identify, with their Santa hats, gingerbread houses, peppermint stick cock tails, and decorations designed to outshine Rockefeller Center. If this describes you or someone you know, consider Christmas in Croatia.

BY MARK A. THOMPSON

THE CITY WITH A MILLION HEARTS

Island-hoppers know Croatia is actually 1,244 little land masses - strung like emeralds along the Adriatic coast. It’s familiar terrain to fans of Game of Thrones and Star Wars. Dubrovnik has served as locations for both, securing its reputation as one of the most beautiful desti nations in Westeros and the glories of a galaxy far, far away. Croatia also claims seven UNESCO Heritage Sites and eight national parks. But, at Christmastime, it’s all about Advent in Zagreb.

Some years ago, my father spent an aca demic sabbatical in Zagreb. Then, in a move that initially confounded the rest of the family, he returned there for another year-long sab batical a short time later. Clearly he had fallen under the city’s spell. That certainly includes the winter holiday season when Zagreb celebrates Christmas in ways that evokes my father’s own childhood.

Anyone who wanders the Croatian capital during winter will recall Zagreb’s signature licitar hearts. The omnipresent sweet honey dough confections adorn Christmas trees and provide the sobriquet“city with a million hearts.” Situated in the northwest of Croatia, Zagreb is notable for its 18th- and 19th-century archi tecture from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Its medieval center, known as Upper Town, perches atop a hill overlooking Lower Town. During the height of the Yuletide, Upper Town resembles an enchanted Christmas village, not unlike the one depicted in Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales.

MORE THAN A MARKET

Zagreb has consistently won the title as Europe’s Best Christmas Market. The appella tion is something of a misnomer for a citywide celebration that transforms Zagreb into a sixweek street party. Consider, for example, what the locals refer to as Fooling Around (Fuliranje), a music and culinary festival held in the heart of the city that attracts international DJs, perform ers and bands complemented by food from top Croatian chefs and restaurants.

Then consider that this is but one part of the city’s annual Advent festival. Commencing on the last day of November and continu ing through the first week of the New Year, Zagreb transforms itself during Advent into a winter wonderland that shimmers in the glow of illuminated trees and twinkling lights — all thrumming with their own distinctive Croa tian beat.

Advent u Zagrebu Photo by M. Gašparović

Ledeni park

Photo by J. Duval

TRAVEL

NEW YORK

LGBTQ CROATIA

Each year, nearly a quarter of a mil lion LGBTQ travelers visit Croatia, which has been designated as one of the EU’s more progressive societies in its regard for equality. Homosexuality was removed from the list of medical disor ders in 1973 — nearly 20 years before the World Health Organization followed suit. Comprehensive anti-discrimination laws have been on the books in Croa tia for more than 15 years and LGBTQ+ people serve openly in the military. As the Croatian Minister of Tourism asserted in 2012, all LGBTQ+ visitors are welcomed in Croatia.

In 2002, Zagreb hosted its first Pride festival in Zrinjevac Park, one of the city’s most romantic retreats - complete with a music pavilion, numerous fountains and monuments, and an allée of more than two hundred plane trees. Throughout the holiday season, the park’s plane trees are illuminated with thousands of white lights, while the 19th-century music pavilion rings with Christmas standards and waltzes. On the nearby King Tomis lav Square, a massive ice park fronts the city’s majestic Art Pavilion that becomes a winter palace in the crystalline night.

FOLLOW YOUR NOSE

Regardless of where you roam during the holidays in Zagreb, it’s best to follow your nose. The city’s numerous cafés and coffeehouses serve peppery ginger bread cookies, vanilla crescents, walnut and poppy seed rolls — delicious with coffee, perhaps even better when con sumed with mulled wine with ginger, herbal schnapps and hot since 1926, Dolac Market has been Zagreb’s major marketplace for farmers from surround ing villages. Adjacent to the city’s bustling Ban Jelačić Square, the market offers a covered food hall for butchers, fishmon gers, and florists. According to Zagreb local Nena Komarica, one of the best ways to enjoy a winter’s day in Advent is to “mingle with the locals at the Dolac farmers’ market fragrant with spices and mulled wine and music.” When you’re ready to warm up, duck into Palace Hotel Zagreb for a cappuccino and croissant amidst the Art Nouveau splendor, which dates back to 1891.

Advent na Zrinjevcu Photo by J. Duval

TRAMS, FUNICULARS AND QUEER CAFES

Weary after walking? From Zagreb’s central square, take the Merry Christmas Tram for a 25-minute jaunt through the city’s Yuletide plea sures. Or try Zagreb’s funicular, which started service 1890 and is one of the world’s shortest at 220 feet.

Although Zagreb attracts nearly a million visitors annually, Advent in Zagreb maintains civility. While many European capitals are overcrowded and overpriced in the run-up to Christmas, Advent in Zagreb offers room to move as well as value for money.

The icing on the Christmas cookie? Zagreb is home to a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene that includes cafés, clubs, and bars. Queer Zagreb also spon sors such cultural events as the documentary film festival ZagrebDox in February and a Fes tival of Lights in March.

Advent u Zagrebu

Photo by M. Gašparović

Ledeni park

Photo by J. Duval

Advent u Zagrebu

Photo by J. Duval

Advent u Tunelu

Photo by M. Gašparović

IT’S CHRISTMASTIME IN THE CITY

BY BEN RIMALOWER

WELL, SHE DID IT. LEA MICHELE OPENED IN FUNNY GIRL (AUGUST WILSON THEATRE, OPEN ENDED) ON BROADWAY. AND I DID IT, I SAW HER! Was she everything I hoped she would be? In a word, yes. In this old-fashioned musical comedy, Lea Michele is giving a galvanizing, bring-downthe-house, old-fashioned musical comedy star performance, the likes of which I have rarely seen in my four plus decades of Broadway the atergoing. The experience of watching her hold the audience in the palm of her hand reminded me of the great star turns I have seen from the likes of Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, and Christine Ebersole. I kept thinking to myself, “Am I really enjoying Lea Michele in Funny Girl more than I enjoyed Idina Menzel in Wicked?” The answer to this question is also yes. My one caveat, though, is that it’s not a fair compari son. Think of Lea’s big Funny Girl showstop per, “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” She stands downstage in the center belting out her most comfortable money notes to show the orches tra who’s got bigger lungs. We hold our breath in the audience marveling at how long and loud she can go as the band plays faster and faster whipping our heartbeats into a frenzied climax and we crumble into our seats gasping for air so we can hoot and holler as the lights go down on Act One. Compare that to Idina’s big barn burner in Act One of Wicked, “Defying Gravity.” She has to riff some crazy high notes while suspended high in the air and painted green. It’s literally a death-defying act and it’s all she can do to survive the moment. This is by design, as modern mega musicals, since the ‘80s onslaught of Phantom and Les Miz, are in tentionally star proof. The producers want you to see your friends wearing the T-shirt and buy ing tickets in a town near you to see the show with the iconic logo. It’s not about the human being on stage. The old musicals were different, Funny Girl just wasn’t the same without Barbra Streisand, or even in the case of something like Hello, Dolly!, where a parade of stars rotated into the role, you went to see the individual tal ent. And individual talent is what Lea Michele is delivering in Funny Girl. Run, don’t walk.

Lea Michele in Funny Girl

Photo by Bruce Glikas

Jason Veasey, James Jackson, Jr., Jaquel Spivey, L Morgan Lee, and Antwayn Hopper in A Strange Loop

Photo by Marc J. Franklin

Run even faster to catch A Strange Loop (Lyceum Theatre, closes January 15) before the Pulitzer Prize winner shutters for good. It’s a sad comment on the stupidity of mainstream audiences that the best new musical since (at least) Hamilton could only find an audience for nine months. On the other hand, we should be grateful this “big, Black, and queer-ass” musical made it to Broadway at all.

You have even less time to catch the smash hit revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods (St. James Theatre, closes January 8). Sara Bareilles is long gone, but Tony winner Stephanie J. Block gives the performance of her career as the Baker’s Wife, oozing heart and brains and the most exciting vocals ever heard in the role. Different actors have stepped in and out of the other parts, but a special treat is to catch Broadway favorite Ann Harada as Jack’s Mother, giving the most impressive belter repurposing of a character voice role since Patti LuPone in Sweeney Todd. If this whets your appetite for a deep dive into the classic fairy tale mashup musi cal, might I recommend my new limited series on the Broadway Podcast Network, Giants in the Sky: How Sondheim and Lapine Went Into the Woods, chronicling the making of the masterpiece through candid conversations with members of the original cast and creative team.

The Collaboration (Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, open ended) Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope are Warhol and Basquiat. What else do you need to know?

Ain’t No Mo (Belasco Theatre, previews November 9) 27-year-old Obie-winning actor/ writer/wunderkind Jordan E. Cooper (Pose, The Ms. Pat Show) makes a very auspicious Broad way debut.

Between Riverside and Crazy (Helen Hayes Theatre, previews November 30) Ste phen Adly Guirgis’s 2015 Pulitzer Prize winner finally makes it to Broadway featuring much of the original cast and Common.

Ohio State Murders (James Earl Jones Theatre, previews November 11) Adrienne Kennedy’s memory play comes to Broadway star ring six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald.

(New York Theatre Workshop, previews November 21) Stephen Sondheim’s heart breaking flop featuring some of his best songs is given yet another chance to make it, this time Off-Broadway starring Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez and Daniel Radcliffe, directed by Sond heim expert Maria Friedman.

The cast Into the Woods

Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman.

Ain’t No Mo’

Photo by Joan Marcus

Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany in The Collaboration Photo by Marc Brenner

From left, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Victor Almanzar and Ron Cephas Jones in Between Riverside and Crazy Photo by Carol Rosegg

Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe will star in Merrily We Roll Along

Ohio State Murders

Staring Audra McDonald

Photo by Allison Michael Orenstein

And if you’d rather be entertained at a table with drinks, check out all the fabulous offerings from New York City’s world-class cabarets:

• Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery: A Swingin’ Little Christmas December 2-4

TV comedy legends deck the halls and blow your mind with their im pressive bonus musical talents.

• Bridget Everett & The Tender Moments December 5-14

The juggernaut star of HBO’s Some body Somewhere returns to her artistic home.

• Murray Hill: A Murray Little Christmas December 13-17

It just wouldn’t be the holidays with out the never not enjoyable “hardest working middle-aged man in show biz” who’s only gotten more fun as he’s gotten more famous.

• Justin Vivian Bond: Oh Mary, It’s Christmas! December 16-23

The downtown deity delivers the goods.

• Sandra Bernhard: Soul’d Out December 27-31 She comes, she sings, she conquers. A trip to Sandyland is really the only way to end the year.

• Patti Harrison

January 11

The beguiling actor, writer, and co median continues to conquer all.

• Nicole Henry: When I Think of Home December 10-11

The Soul Train Award winning, Billboard charting jazz pop musical theater chameleon flexes her consid erable musical muscle.

• Vanessa Williams December 13-18

It’s worth paying any price to see this star in such an intimate environment.

• Patti LuPone: Songs from a Hat December 20-January 8 Who do you think you are?

• Tony Yazbeck

January 9-10

The smooth as silk triple threat trips the light fantastic.

• John Lloyd Young: Broadway’s Jersey Boy January 11-14 He’s just too good to be true.

• Jennifer Simard: Can I Get Your Number?

January 20-21

The hilarious standout from Com pany and Hello, Dolly! steps into the spotlight.

THE GREEN ROOM 42

• The Fairlee Twins: The Even Better Show December 4

Two cabaret studs are better than one!

• Leola’s Lady Lounge December 5

The BroadwayWorld-Award winning “senior redneck lesbian” hosts her monthly LIVE talk show.

• Margaret Josephs: Marge in Charge December 6

The Real Housewives of New Jersey yenta spills the Tre – I mean tea.

• Paige Turner: Drag Me to Christmas December 8, 15, 22

The lovechild of Barbie and Pee-wee Herman unleashes her showbiz spitfire on the yuletide.

• Mark William: Technicolor Dreams December 10

The golden boy with the buttery voice is back.

Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery

Bridget Everett

Murray Hill

Justin Vivian Bond

Sandra Bernhard

Patti Harrison

Nicole Henry

Vanessa Williams

Patti LuPone

Tony Yazbeck

John Lloyd Young

Jennifer Simard

The Fairlee Twins

Leola

Margaret Josephs

Paige Turner

Mark William

December 14, January 17

Hilarious murder mystery spoof meets Mad Libs, with a rotating all-star cast!

• Broadway Sessions December 1, 15

Broadway hottest nerd Ben Cameron welcomes talent from current shows.

• Lindsey Alley: Christmas in New York December 16

The former Mouseketeer with more talent than Britney, Christina and Justin combined.

• Kiki Ball Change: Deck the Balls December 17

The Broadway Bimbo of NYC drags Christmas.

• Jumaane Smith

January 14

Bublé’s sideman takes center stage.

CHELSEA TABLE & STAGE

• The Boy Band Project December 11

It’s exactly what it sounds like and it’s delicious.

• The Skivvies: Sleigh My Name December 17-18

The harmonious hardbodies are here for the holidays.

• Randy Edelman December 23

An opulent live piano show from the acclaimed film composer.

• Carole J. Bufford: Vintage Pop December 9-11

They don’t make ’em like Carole J. Bufford anymore (except they did make Carole J. Bufford and thank God).

• Edmund Bagnell: Home for the Holidays December 12

The talented twink from Well-Strung continues his successful slew of solo stints.

• SCUNGE! A Mobbed-Up

Christmas Carol!: Matt Bogart, Andy Karl, Dominic Nolfi, and Dominic Scaglione, Jr. December 16-18

Hey, bada bing, it’s Charles Dick ens, but you know, wise guys style. Capiche?

• A Swinging Birdland

Christmas: Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso, and Billy Stritch December 20-25

A Nora Ephron fantasy of Christmas come-to-life.

• Marilyn Maye December 29-January 1

She’s the Godmother of Song and you simply must kiss her ring.

• Villain: DeBlanks

Ben Cameron

Lindsey Alley

Kiki Ball Change

Jumaane Smith

The Boy Band Project

The Skivvies: Randy Edelman

Carole J. Bufford

Edmund Bagnell

Matt Bogart

Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso, and Billy Stritch

Marilyn Maye

NEW YORK BAR SOURCE

CHELSEA

BARRACUDA

This Chelsea lounge features cool music, cute crowds, wild drag shows, and talent competitions hosted on the tiny stage in the rear. Rumor has it RuPaul visited to “scout” Bob the Drag Queen at this classic watering hole. 275 W. 22nd St. at Eighth Ave., NYC 212-645-8613

BOXERS CHELSEA

A big gay sports bar outfitted with flat screens broadcasting all manner of games, multiple counters, pool tables and a smoking patio out back. A long bar faces a pizza oven dispensing mouth-watering pies to munch on while watching “the game”. Hottest bartenders in town? See for yourself! 37 W. 20th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., NYC 212-624-5942. boxersnyc.com

THE EAGLE

This dark and cruisy leather bar to end all leather bars boasts a great rooftop deck and some of the sexiest, burliest guys in NYC. 554 W. 28th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-473-1866. eagle-ny.com

GYM

At this popular after work sports bar, a team of plasma-screen TVs broad casting the hottest games, a pool table, and a basement dugout. Who are those cuties behind the bar? Pop in to get to know them (Admit it, you already follow them on IG). 167 Eighth Ave. between 18th and 19th Sts., NYC 212-337-2439. gymsportsbar.com

EAST VILLAGE/LOWER EAST SIDE

THE BOILER ROOM

A throwback to the days when the East Village was a haven for the punky and funky, this dark and comfy no-frills lounge is popular with the college set, attitude-free, and rocks with an eclectic mix of music and scruffy pool players. 86 E. 4th St. at Second Ave., NYC 212-254-7536

OSCAR WILDE

Acclaimed mixologist Johnny Swet sets the scene at this clever cocktail lounge. Ironically situated at the former headquarters of NYC’s Bureau of Prohibition, this glorious tribute to Ireland’s great writer is the gastropub to end all gastropubs. Marvel at relics such as their Belgian piano from the late 1890s, antique clocks, and intriguing bronze statues celebrating the late great Portrait of a Dorian Gray scribe. 45 W. 27th St. at Sixth Avenue., NYC 212-213-3066. oscarwildenyc.com

REBAR

Sexy Chelsea hangout where G Lounge (may she rest in peace) used to be. This neighborhood bar has a masculine industrial décor, a hot staff, and draws all kinds of men (especially local muscle bears) and boasts not distractions – sports, porn, dancers or otherwise. Their concept is simple: people meeting people. 225 W. 19th St. between Seventh and Eighth Aves., NYC 212-929-1085. rebarchelsea.com

EAST VILLAGE

CLUB CUMMING

Willkommen, Bienvenu, New York! Alan Cumming opened the swank new East Village performance-based club, and everyone’s invited. Cumming teamed up with Benjamin Maisani, Darren Dryden and Daniel Nardicio for this sassy adventure. Think backstage of an actual Berlin Cabaret where anything goes. Drag Race viewing parties, Drink & Draw, knitting (yes, knit ting), and Cabaret (of course!) 505 E. 6th St. between Aves. A and B, NYC 212-777-2555. clubcummingnyc.com

THE COCK

Longtime late-night haven for naughty go-go boys and those in search of debauched shenanigans. Late nights are the infamous and the ever-popular Monday nights culls an elite yet shameless crowd of naughty boys and nightlife glitterati. 29 Second Ave. between First and Second Sts., NYC. thecockbar.com

NOWHERE

Ultra-mellow East Villager with distressed rustic décor, a pool table and what may be the smallest back room ever. 322 E. 14th St. between First and Second Aves., NYC 212-477-4744. nowherebarnyc.com

PHOENIX

The typically crowded Phoenix holds video games, a pool table, a jukebox, and a diverse crowd in an exposed-brick space as uncomplicated as its vibe. Daily Happy Hour runs from 4-8 and Saturday nights Wrecked party brings all kinds of cute boys (& Queens) to the East Village. 447 E. 13th St. at Ave. A., NYC 212-477-9979. phoenixbarnyc.com

HELL’S KITCHEN/MIDTOWN WEST

ATLAS SOCIAL CLUB

Josh Wood, Benjamin Maisani, Pablo Raimondi, and Asi Mazar hit a home run with the starry opening of the Hell’s Kitchen hotspot. When celebs like Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, and Cher start making cameos the neighborhood definitely takes a closer look. 753 9th Ave. between 50th and 51st Sts., NYC 212-262-8527.

FAIRYTAIL LOUNGE

Glittery centaurs and other enchanted-forest motifs distinguish this cozy lounge in way-west H.K. Theme parties, specialty cocktails and guest DJs add interest. 500 W. 48th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC 646-648-3897

FLAMING SADDLES

When they’re not mixing up vodka sodas in glass steins, bartenders jump up on the bar to do choreographed boot-scootin’ to Achy Breaky-type tunes at this one-of-a-kind Hell’s Kitchen tavern. Red saloon décor and a small selection of down-home nibbles add to the authentic Western feel – call it Coyote Pretty. 793 Ninth Ave. at 53rd St., NYC 212-713-0481. flamingsaddles.com/nyc

HARDWARE

Cheap drinks are poured at the front bar and fun tunes are spun for the rear dance floor at this easy-breezy neighborhood haunt. In the summer, a ga rage door swings up, letting the scene spill onto the street. When DJs aren’t doing their thing, live performers like Shequida, Lagoona Bloo, Brita Filter, Boudoir Lefleur & Kimmi Moore hit the stage. Opens at noon daily. 697 Tenth Ave between 47th and 48th Sts., NYC 212-924-9885. hardware-bar.com

HUSH

Missing Therapy? Hush! There’s a naughty new bar in town and there’s never been a better time to check it out. Well, if you stop by before 9:00 p.m. you can get $3 off all drinks. The space is cute, hennies. We’ll see you on the dancefloor. 348 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves. NYC hushhk.com

INDUSTRY

The owners of Barracuda and Elmo opened this capacious venue features couch-filled nooks, a game room with a pool table and an industrial design that’s a nod to its parking-garage past. Holly Dae, Egypt, Pixie Aventura, and Kizha Carr shake things up on a weekly basis at this popular hotspot. 355 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC 646-476-2747. industry-bar.com

THE Q NYC

Alan Picus and Frankie Sharp joined forces with Billy Porter, Zachary Quin to, Charlie Carver, and Jake Shears to open one of the most epic nightlife spaces in NYC. Think four floors right smack in one of the biggest gaybor hoods in the world. Pop in any night of the week and dance you’re a** off. 795 8th Ave. between 48th and 49th Sts., NYC theqnyc.com

RISE BAR

Kings of NYC nightlife royalty joined forces for a tres fabuleux yet unpre tentious Hell’s Kitchen watering hole right in the middle of everything. Dance all night every Friday and Saturday, you deserve a little R&R, don’t you? 859 9th Avenue., NYC 646-892-3313. risebarnyc.com

THE RITZ BAR & LOUNGE

This upscale boy boîte boasts plenty of places to perch on multiple levels inside and outside — although the kickin’ sound system makes it hard to settle down. 369 W. 46th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC 212-333-2554.

THE SPOT

Happy Hour happens every day until 9:00 p.m. at The Spot. Pop in for weekly parties and catch local nightlife celebs like Ariana Trenta, Brenda Dharling, Pissi Myles, and more. Looking for Drag Brunch? Look no further! Seating happens at 12:15 and 2:30 every Sunday. Bring your dollars! 599 10th Avenue, NYC thespotbarnyc.com

EAST SIDE

THE TOOL

BOX

This two-level dive bar hosts dance parties with a DJ and cute go-go boys on Friday and Saturday nights on the main floor, while the downstairs is a cozier lounge. 1742 Second Ave., between 90th and 91st Sts., NYC 212348-1288. thetoolboxnyc.com

THE TOWNHOUSE

Two levels of mature gents and their younger fans humming along to dance tracks and swaying to songs from Chicago and everything in the Jerry Herman oeuvre. 236 E. 58th St. between Second and Third Aves., NYC 212-754-4649.

UNCLE CHARLIE’S

This effervescent lounge, tucked on top of an unassuming store on a quiet block, boasts a patio and piano room, which hosts live entertainment. 139 E. 45th St. between Third and Lexington Aves., NYC 212-661-9097. unclecharliesnyc.com

UPPER WEST SIDE

SUITE

This adorable lounge attracts Columbia gays with their leopard-print lamps, cozy leather banquettes and the occasional drag star entertaining on the small stage. 992 Amsterdam Ave. between 109th and 110th Sts., NYC 212-222-4600. suitenyc.com

UPTOWN

ALIBI LOUNGE

This popular Harlem bar & lounge is a great spot for after work. Everybody need an alibi, right? Choose from their selection of spe cialty cocktails and order a little nibble, while you’re at it. 2376 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. at 139th St., NYC 917-472-7789.

WEST VILLAGE

CUBBYHOLE

Called home by the local lesbian crowd (though a few boys are usually thrown in for good measure), this small, unpretentious West Village bar features a capricious décor that’s heavy on the fish. 281 W. 12th St. at Fourth St., NYC 212-243-9041. cubbyholebar.com

THE DUPLEX

The Duplex is the city’s oldest continuing cabaret/piano bar. Downstairs, the staff performs in between bouts of serving. Upstairs is a more tradi tional boy bar and an intimate room that books cabaret acts. 61 Christo pher St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-255-5438. theduplex.com

THE HANGAR

Neighborhood guy’s guy bar that attracts a diverse crowd grooving to classic gay tunes. 115 Christopher St. between Bleecker and Hudson Sts., NYC 212-627-2044

HENRIETTA HUDSON

Jam-packed lesbian club/lounge with a multicultural crowd that’s gay-boy friend ly. 438 Hudson St. at Morton St., NYC 212-924-3347.henriettahudson.com

JULIUS’

Once the Village’s oldest continuously operating bar went gay in the 1950s, it would go on to become the city’s oldest gay bar. On a normal night, it’s a comfy place for cheap drinks, burgers, and fries, but once a month, the party Mattachine turns it into a crowded, rowdy dance affair with excellent vinyl music. 159 W. 10th St. at Waverly Pl., NYC 212-243-1928. juliusbarny.com

MARIE’S CRISIS

Old-school sing-alongs are on tap at this long-running piano bar. There’s no fuss and no frills at this late-night theater queen hot spot. Stop in and “sing out, Lou ise!” 59 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-243-9323. mariescrisis.us

THE MONSTER

A Sheridan Square stalwart where fabulous guys and dolls sing along to their show tunes upstairs while legendary DJs play to the fun crowd downstairs. 80 Grove St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-924-3558 Open Mon-Fri, 4pm-4am; Sat & Sun, 2pm-4am.

PIECES

You’ll either be singing to retro dance tracks or laughing at the antics of drag queens at this longtime West Villager. Ms. Vodka Stinger’s B-Movie Mondays are always worth a stop. Show starts at 8:30 sharp. 8 Christo pher St. at Sixth Ave., NYC 212-929-9291. piecesbar.com

ROCKBAR

For boys who prefer fur over sheen, there’s this butched-up bar with a fistpumping soundtrack and cheap drinks. Things get steadily burlier and beef ier as the night goes on…attend one ROCKSTRAP and you’ll be more than hooked. If you’re on GROWLr there’s a good chance your notifications will start to flutter inside. 185 Christopher St. at Weehawken St., NYC. rockbarnyc.com

STONEWALL

Daddies, faux thugs, and girls who like girls rule the roost at this two-story birthplace of gay pride. Every night of the week offers a different theme, from drag-hosted game shows to karaoke to beer blasts. 53 Christopher St. at Seventh Ave. South, NYC 212-488-2705. thestonewallinnnyc.com

TY’S

This Ye Olde Boy Bar serves a loyal and friendly Christopher Street clientele — young, old and everything in between. NYPD and Firemen especially welcome. 114 Christopher St. between Bleecker and Hudson Sts., NYC 212-741-9641. tys.nyc

OUTER BOROUGHS & BEYOND

3 DOLLAR BILL

Self-declared as “Brooklyn’s Premiere Queer Bar & Performance Venue”, 3 Dollar Bill is known for their legendary parties and literally brining all the fine boys & gurls to the yard. They are the largest queer venue in Brooklyn and ready for your visit. Go ahead & live your life at 3 Dollar Bill (but be sure to look cute!) 260 Meserole St. Brooklyn 3dollarbillbk.com

ALBATROSS

Homey Astoria bar with a pool table and jukebox. Sultry bartender/host Dean Dante heats things up with his now legendary parties where every one has a chance to explore their fantasies. 36-19 24th Ave. at 38th St., Astoria, NYC 718-204-9045. albatrossastoria.com

C’MON EVERYBODY

Popular Brooklyn Queer space, known for great cocktails, fun parties, and hot live music shows. C’mon Everybody is a queer owned and operated bar and independent venue that was founded by the desire to amplify the underserved creative voices of the LGBTQ/QTPOC people (and allies). 325 Franklin Ave. Brooklyn cmoneverybody.com

FRIEND’S TAVERN

This bar seduces the large Latino gay community with theme nights and daily drink specials. 78-11 Roosevelt Ave. at 78th St., Jackson Heights, Queens 718-397-7256. friendstavern.net.

GOOD JUDY

Good Judy is a lounge, dance floor, piano bar, patio, and home for Queers + allies to join together in unity and solidarity. Meet your Good Judy for happy hour and plan on closing the joint! 563 5th Avenue, Brooklyn goodjudybk.com

ICON ASTORIA

Fasten your seatbelts because you’re in for an unexpected ride at this hot NYC bar nestled into the backyard of Astoria. Beefcake dancers and NYC nightlife legends flock to this unassuming watering hole for great beats, impressive drag performances, and all-around friendly faces. 31-84 33rd Street., Astoria, NY 347-808-7592. iconastoria.com

GINGER’S

Especially popular with lesbians, this long and dark bar has a popular jukebox and an outdoor garden. 363 Fifth Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn 718788-0924

METROPOLITAN

This B-burg bar is comfy and cozy with a fireplace, jukebox, and a sprawl ing warm-weather patio. 559 Lorimer St. at Metropolitan Ave., Williams burg, Brooklyn NYC 718-599-4444. metropolitanbarny.com

MUSIC BOX

Fun neighborhood bar great if you’re in Jackson Heights and looking for a pint or a little fun. 40-08 74th St. at Roosevelt Ave. 718-457-5306

THE ROSEMONT NYC

Sexy mixed Williamsburg cocktail bar with a great happy hour and fun weekly entertainment. Looking for Mr. Right, Mr. Right for tonight or just a fun gurls night out? They’ve got you covered. 63 Montrose Ave., Brooklyn, NYC 347-987-3101. therosemontnyc.com

ACCOUNTING – COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY

ACCOUNTING

Dikman, Bernard L , C P A 37 W 20th St, Ste 703, NYC 212 929-4299

Woloshen, Robert A CPA 29 W 15th St, Ste 1 NYC 212 843-3486 www rawcpa com

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture-NYC 80 Fifth Ave, Ste 906 NYC 212 874-0898 www acupuncture-nyc com

ADOPTION SERVICES

Friends in Adoption NYC 800 982-3678 www friendsinadoption org

AESTHETIC SERVICES

Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC ........................................... 212 262-2500 NYC 212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com

Lexington Plastic Surgeons 113 E 39th St, NYC 646 374-2410 www try lexingtonplasticsurgeons com/metrosource

Sexual Health Men 290 Madison Ave 6th Fl NYC 973 493-7607 www sexualhealthmen com

Stoller, Roy B , D O 515 Madison Ave, Ste 1205 NYC 212 920-4499 www hairdoctornyc com

ALLERGIES

Aziz, Michael, M D , FRSM Midtown Integrative Medicine 509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC 212 906-9111 www michaelazizmd com

ARCHITECTURE

David Stern Architecture www davidsternarchitecture com

Torre, Martin B RA AIA Architecture + Planning PLLC 605 E 14th St, #8 NYC 646 257-9081

ATTORNEYS

Bing, Steven E 276 5th Ave, Ste 1008 NYC 212 286-1666

Chianese & Reilly Law, P C 122 E 42nd St, Ste 3900 NYC 212 953-6447 100 Merrick Rd, Ste 103E Rockville Centre, NY 516 599-2020 www awclawyer com

Chou, Luna, Esq NYC 212 226-2610 www lunachoulaw com

Goldman, Jeffrey E , Esq 501 Fifth Ave #1900 NYC 212 983-8999 NYC 212 949-5085 www jgoldmanlaw com

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC 44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC 212 495-0317 www sciaccalaw com

Long & Associates NYC 212 360-0394 www landapllc com

Parker | Waichman LLP 6 Harbor Park Dr Nationwide 800 JUST-CALL www yourlawyer com

Tesler, Richard, Esq 41 W 72nd St NYC 212 362-6961

CATERING

Li-Lac Chocolates

West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC 212 924-2280 www li-lacchocolates com

Paul Evans Catering 20 W 20th St NYC 212 321-1822 NYC 212 243-4494 www paulevanscatering com

CLOTHING

Dave’s New York 581 Ave of the Americas, NYC Toll Free 800 543-8558 www davesnewyork com Jackson Boutique www jacksonboutiquenyc com

CONTRACTORS/CONSTRUCTION

ABS Design & Construction NYC 212 731-0642 www abs-construction-nyc com

COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY

Angers, Marc E , M A Oxon, L C S W /L P Licensed Psychoanalyst, NCPsyA NYC 917 678-7929

Barneson, Jeff, LCSW 119 Washington Place NYC 212 252-2314 www jeffbarneson com

Blatter, Andrew, LCSW NYC 917 442-5213 www andrewblatter com

metrosource.com/print-subscriptions

COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY – DENTISTS

Bloom Psychotherapy NYC 19 W 34th St, PH NYC 347 921-0431 www nycbloomtherapy com

Campbell, Robert D , LCSW Psychotherapy for Individuals & Couples NYC 646 783-8155 www robertdcampbell com

Davies, Ann Conant, M S W , L C S W 740 West End Ave, Ste 1 Cell 917 923-2257

Dicker, Phyllis D , L C S W , A C S W , B C D NYC 718 855-5171

Factor, Rhonda J , PhD 85 5th Ave, Ste 912 NYC 347 834-6057 www rhondafactorphd com

Jarratt, Kent, L C S W 19 W 34th St, NYC 212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ 917 686-6179 www kentjarratt com

Johnson, Thomas E , L C S W Chelsea 212 645-3952

Kingan, Peter L , Ph D 99 University Pl, 4th Fl NYC 917 428-2431

Koetting, Michael E , L C S W NYC 212 741-2606 www koettingpsychotherapy com

McFadden, Stephen, LCSW SEP 435 W 23rd St NYC 212 627-8419 www smcfadden com

Nelson, Joshua, Ph D 71 W 23rd St, Ste 1115 NYC 646 512-0043 www jnelsonphd com

Rayhill, Daniel, Ph D 276 Fifth Ave #1101 NYC 212 683-2454

Ross, Steven, LSCW Union Square 917 406-7900 www stevenrosstherapy com

Schuetz, Volker, PsyD 1133 Broadway #913 NYC 212 470-9024 www nychangemanagement com

Schwartz, Alan, M D , Psychiatrist West Village/Chelsea NYC 212 727-0923

Tallent, Marc, Ph D 51 Fifth Ave NYC 212 645-5795 http://therapists psychologytoday com/rms/33692

COUNSELING/SUBURBAN

Kingan, Peter L , Ph D 31 Oak St Patchogue, NY 631 447-6425

DATING SERVICES

SEE ALSO INTRODUCTION SERVICES

ManMate NYC 212 564-4025 www manmate com ManMate Dinners For 8 NYC 212 564-4025 www manmate com Wheaton, Grant Dating Coach NYC 212 564-4025

DENTISTS

Babushkin, Howard, D D S , L L C 525 West End Ave #1G, NYC 212 874-2880 www manhattanoasisdentistry com

Cassidy, J R , D D S West 10th Dental P C 45 W 10th St NYC 212 982-5883 www west10thdental com

De Bonis, William B , D D S World Wide Plaza Dental Associates 370 W 50th St NYC 212 333-2650 www wwpdental com

NEW YORK DIRECTORY

DENTIST (CONTINUED) – HAIR REMOVAL

Lew, Spencer, D D S 30 E 40th St #706 NYC 212 286-1717 www nycdental com

LuxDen Dental Center 2579 E 17th St, Ste 11 Brooklyn 718 382-3444 www luxden com

Rosa, John D , D D S , P C 40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ 201 626-2700

Sengos, Demetrios, D D S West 10th Dental P C 45 W 10th St NYC 212 982-5883 www west10thdental com

DENTISTS/PERIODONTISTS

Bizzell, Steven J , D M D , D A B P 50-02 5th St Ste B, Long Island City 718 530-6539 www licdentalassociates com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

DENTISTS/SUBURBAN

Rosa, John D , D D S , P C 40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ 201 626-2700 Dermatology

Advanced Dermatology Associates

200 Central Park South #107 NYC ........................................... 212 262-2500 NYC 212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com (SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)

Arora, Navin, DO, FAAD Arora Dermatology 115 Broadway, Ste 1800 NYC 212 244-1252 www aroraderm com

Goldman, Barry D , M D 150 Broadway #111 NYC 212 962-1115

Juva Skin & Laser Center 60 E 56th St #2 NYC 212 421-9501 www juvaskin com

Lumos Dermatology

Peter Chien, MD, PhD 37 E 28th St, Ste 304 NYC 646 820-1716 www lumosdermatology com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

EMPLOYMENT

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) 1700 Stadium Way LA 213 847-LAFD www joinlafd org

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) 700 E Temple St, B-38 LA 866 444-LAPD www joinlapd com

EVENT PLANNING & EVENT SPACE/RENTALS

SEE ALSO CATERING, WEDDING SERVICES

Elite Private Yachts NYC 866 862-7245 www eliteprivateyachts com www entertainmentcruises com/new-york

Hornblower Cruises & Events Pier 40, NYC 646 832-2805 www hornblowerny com/metrosource

Houston Hall 222 W Houston St NYC 212 582-2057

Patina Events - Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn 718 307-7133 www patinaevents com

The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr NYC 212 870-6762 www trcnyc com

Yachts for All Seasons NYC 212 534-6380 Cell 917 864-7670 www y4as com

EVENT SERVICES

Big Apple Event Audio Visual 519 8th Ave, Ste 815 NYC 212 518-3175 www avnycrentals com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Ameriprise Financial Services Lance R Kash, Financial Advisor, CFP® 122 E 42nd St #2215 NYC 646 964-9400

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC 44 Wall St, 12th Fl, NYC 212 495-0317 www sciaccalaw com

New York Life/NYLIFE Securities

Marlon J Altoe 420 Lexington Ave, 15th Fl NYC 646 227-8605 Cell 646 761-4372 www newyorklife com/agent/maltoe

Peloso-Barnes, Julia A , CFP, CPM, CRPC Purchase, NY 914 225-6391 www advisor morganstanley com/the-pelosobarnes-group

FITNESS/GYMS/PERSONAL TRAINERS

Mercedes Club 550 W 54th St NYC 212 265-1111 www themercedesclub com

FLORISTS

la Fleur d’Harlem 203 W 144th St NYC 646 850-5973 www lafleurnyc com

FRAMING

14th Street Framing Gallery 225 W 14th St NYC 212 691-8156

GIFTS

Li-Lac Chocolates West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC 212 924-2280 www li-lacchocolates com

GUEST HOUSES/B&B’S

Chelsea Pines Inn 317 W 14th St NYC 212 929-1023

Colonial House Inn 318 W 22nd St NYC 212 243-9669

Incentra Village House

32 8th Ave @ W 12th St NYC 212 206-0007 www incentravillage com

MisterBandB www misterbandb com

HAIR REMOVAL

Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC 212 262-2500 NYC 212 246-0800 www adv-derm com

NEW YORK DIRECTORY

HAIR REMOVAL – PHARMACIES/DRUGS

Brisk N Posh

132 Crosby St, Ste 8E NYC 212 433-4477 www brisknposh com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

HAIR REPLACEMENT/REPLICATION

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

Stoller, Roy B , D O 515 Madison Ave, Ste 1205 NYC 212 920-4499 www hairdoctornyc com

HOTELS

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Atlantic City, NJ 609 317-1000 www outatborgata com

Foxwoods Resort & Casino www foxwoods com

The Graham & Co Phoenicia, NY 845 688-7871 www thegrahamandco com

Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Ave - Chelsea 125 W 26th St NYC 212 430-8500 www hi-nyc com

Hotel Hayden 127 W 28th St NYC 844 423-6004 www hotelhaydennyc com

Hotel Henri 37 W 24th St NYC 844 277-9123 www hotelhenrinyc com

Opus Hotel Vancouver 322 Davie St, Vancouver, BC Canada 604 642-6787 www opushotel com

Sandman Suites on Davie 1160 Davie St Vancouver, BC Canada 604 681-7263 www sandmanhotels com

Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel 1088 Burrard St Vancouver, BC Canada 604 331-1000 www sheratonvancouver com

Sunset Marquis 1200 Alta Loma Rd West Hollywood CA 800 858-9758 www sunsetmarquis com

VIVE Hotel Waikiki 2426 Kuhio Ave Honolulu, Hawaii 808 687-2000 www vivehotelwaikiki com

INSURANCE

HealthSherpa Toll Free 844 346-9476 www metrosource healthsherpa com

INTRODUCTION SERVICES

SEE ALSO DATING SERVICES

ManMate NYC 212 564-4025 www manmate com

LASER VISION CORRECTION

SEE ALSO OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

Coad, Christopher T , M D , F A C S Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC 212 220-0066 www chelseaeyeophthalmology com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

LIPOSUCTION

Marfuggi, Richard M D , D M H, F A C S 50 E 69th St, NYC 212 317-1188 Denville, NJ 973 377-8950 www askdrm com

OMNI Aesthetic MD Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St, NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

MARKETING SERVICES

Brand2Fly San Jose 408 763-7924 www brand2fly com

GayVan com Travel Marketing www gayvan com

OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

Coad, Christopher T , M D , F A C S Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC 212 220-0066 www chelseaeyeophthalmology com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

OPTOMETRISTS

Coad, Christopher T , M D , F A C S Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St, NYC 212 220-0066 www chelseaeyeophthalmology com

OMNI Aesthetic MD Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

West Village Eyecare Associates 10 Sheridan Square NYC 212 242-6592 www eyecarenyc com

PAIN MANAGEMENT

Samuelson, Stefan T , MD 44 E 12th St, Ste MD1 NYC 212 993-8573 NYC 212 594-1600

PERIODONTISTS

Bizzell, Steven J , D M D , D A B P Periodontist 50-02 5th St Ste B Long Island City 718-530-6539 www licdentalassociates com

PET SUPPLIES

Nulo Pet Foods nulo com/love

PHARMACIES/DRUGS

Ansonia Pharmacy 446 6th Ave NYC 212 477-0762 www ansoniapharmacy com

Apthorp Pharmacy 2201 Broadway, NYC 212 877-3480

Arrow Pharmacy 883 Ninth Ave NYC 212 245-8469 www arrowpharmacy com

Avalon Chemists 7 2nd Ave, NYC 212 260-3131

Bigelow Chemists 414 Sixth Ave, NYC 212 533-2700

Chelsea Specialty Pharmacy 171 Seventh Ave NYC 212 255-9900

NEW YORK DIRECTORY

PHARMACIES/DRUGS (CONTINUED) – PLASTIC SURGERY

CVS Specialty 126 8th Ave NYC ........................................... 212 807-8798 (SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)

Mayfair Chemists 21 Seventh Ave, NYC 212 242-1444

New London Pharmacy 246 Eighth Ave, NYC 212 243-4987

New York Chemists 77 Christopher St, NYC 212 255-2525 www newyorkchemists com

Thompson Chemists & Thompson Alchemists 137 Thompson St 449 West Broadway NYC 212 598-9790 www thompsonchemists com

Village Apothecary 346 Bleecker St NYC ........................................... 212 807-7566 www.villageapothecary.com (SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Galán, Antonio, PT, DPT, MBA, CHC RestoreRehab Physical Therapy 664 10th Ave NYC 212 245-5259 www restorerehabpt com

Symbio Physio Therapy 214 W 29th St, Ste 901 NYC 917 338-6268 www symbiopt com

PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES

Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC 212 262-2500 NYC 212 246-0800 www adv-derm com

Amida Care NYC 855 462-6432 www amidacareny org

Astor Medical Group 67 Irving Place, 5th Fl @ E 18th St NYC 212 253-2968 www astormedical com

Central Park Medical Associates

200 Central Park South #107 NYC 212 262-2500 NYC 212 246-0800 www.centralparkmedicalassociates.com

Coad, Christopher T , M D , F A C S Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC 212 220-0066 www chelseaeyeophthalmology com

Dillon, Stephen, M D Int Med , Inf Dis 314 W 14th St NYC 212 620-0144

Dormer, Anita L , M D , F A C C P 22 E 72nd St, 5th Fl NYC 212 535-5905

Fonville, T W , Int Med 29 Fifth Ave @ 10th St NYC 212 674-1020

Goldberg, Edward S , M D Int Med , Gastr 121 E 60th St, 3rd Fl NYC 212 980-8800

Hsu, Ricky K , M D 154 W 14th St, 4th Fl NYC 212 627-7560

Icochea, Rosendo S , M D 117 E 18th St NYC 212 387-9199

Jaeger, Lawrence D , D O 200 Central Park South #107 NYC 212 246-0800 NYC 212 262-2500 www adv-derm com

Jarratt, Kent, L C S W 19 W 34th St, Penthouse Ste NYC 212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ 917 686-6179 www kentjarratt com

Leach, Eric G , N P 154 W 14th St, 4th Fl, NYC 212 627-7560

Lexington Plastic Surgeons 113 E 39th St NYC 646 374-2410 www try lexingtonplasticsurgeons com/ metrosource

Mandell, William, M D Infectious Diseases 31 Washington Sq West NYC 212 475-8833

Marfuggi, Richard A , M D , D M H , F A C S 50 E 69th St NYC 212 317-1188 Denville, NJ 973 377-8950 www askdrm com

Maze Sexual & Reproductive Health

Maze Men’s Health Maze Women’s Health Maze Labs Maze Cord Blood 633 Third Ave, Ste 9B NYC 646 585-8980 www.mazehealth.com (SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)

Midtown Integrative Medicine

Aziz, Michael, M D , FRSM 509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC 212 906-9111 www michaelazizmd com

Namdar, Isaac, M D

Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist 425 W 59th St NYC 212 262-4444 1090 Amsterdam Ave NYC 212 663-2210 www newyorkentspecialist com www namdarmd com

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St, NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

Pearl, Alan, M D , Psychiatrist 135 W 70th St, NYC 212 724-5188

Samuelson, Stefan T , MD 44 E 12th St, Ste MD1 NYC 212 993-8573 NYC 212 594-1600

PLASTIC SURGERY

Dr WW Med Spa and Laser Clinic 85-16 Queens Blvd, 2F, Elmhurst, NY 139 Centre St #224, NYC 718 457-0707 www drwwmedspa com

Lexington Plastic Surgeons

113 E 39th St NYC 646 374-2410 www try lexingtonplasticsurgeons com/ metrosource

Marfuggi, Richard A , M D , D M H F A C S 50 E 69th St NYC 212 317-1188 Denville NJ 973 377-8950 www askdrm com

PLASTIC SURGERY (CONTINUED) – RETAIL

OMNI Aesthetic MD

Eviatar, Joseph, M D , F A C S 5 W 19th St, NYC 212 257-0007 www omniaestheticmd com

Sexual Health Men 290 Madison Ave 6th Fl, NYC 973 493-7607 www sexualhealthmen com

Skintology

Cosmetical Aesthetics 157 E 57th St, NYC 181 7th Ave, NYC 212 989-6555 www skintologyny com

PODIATRISTS

Ciment, Ethan J , D P M Collins, Michael, D P M Chelsea Foot & Ankle Center 37 W 20th St, Ste 308, NYC 646 929-4149 www chelseafootandankle com

REAL ESTATE

Bonavita, David Compass NYC 212 501-8281 www davidbonavita com

Chroughan, Judy Julie B Fee Sotherby’s 49 Purchase St Rye, NY 914 262-5323

Coldwell Bank Residential Brokerage

JC Waterfront – Team Francesco Robert G Harris 1 2nd St, Ste 1 & 4 Jersey City, NJ 201 604-4200 Cell 646 334-0559

Enzo Morabito Team

Douglas Elliman Real Estate Bridgehampton 631 537-6519 Cell 516 695-3433 www theenzomorabitoteam elliman com

Hendler, Lisa E Berkshire Hathaway Blake Realtors Kinderhook, NY 518 929-4519

McGrotty, Amy, JD Castelli Luxury Real Estate Services Fort Lauderdale, FL 954 347-1732 www amy castellihomes com

Powell, DeWayne A

Town Residential NYC 917 748-5100 www townresidential com

Prince, Keith A Brown Harris Stevens NYC 917 826-3451 www brownharrisstevens com

TF Cornerstone www tfc com

Wright, Daniel Compass NYC 917 304-4270

REAL ESTATE/SUBURBAN

Habeeb-Clark, Deborah Keller Williams Hudson Valley, NY 845 800-5413

Perasso, Matt Prominent Properties/Sotheby’s International Realty 2 Main St, Edgewater, NJ 201 840-8898 Cell 917 834-0454 www goldcoastcribs com

RETAIL

Eva’s Supplements

11 W 8th St (bet 5th & 6th Aves) NYC 212 982-2500 www evassupplements com

NEW YORK DIRECTORY

SCHOOLS– WINE & SPIRITS

SCHOOLS

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School

185 Court St, Brooklyn 718 858-5100 www bhmsny org

Rudolf Steiner School 15 E 79th St NYC 212 535-2130 www steiner edu

SPA/SALON SERVICES

Brisk N Posh 132 Crosby St, Ste 8E NYC ........................................... 212 433-4477 www.brisknposh.com (SEE AD THIS ISSUE)

TRAVEL

Bucks County Pennsylvania www visitbuckscounty com

Kennedy Travel 130 W 42nd St #401 NYC 212 398-0999 Toll Free 800 237-7433 www kennedytravel com Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce 36 Main St Ogunquit, ME 207 646-2939 www visitogunquit org

Sullivan Catskills Catskills, NY 800 882-CATS www sullivancatskills com

TRAVEL/GETAWAYS

Foxwoods Resort & Casino www foxwoods com

Visit Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA 215 599-0776 www visitphilly com

WEDDING SERVICES

Bespoke Matchmaking 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 8th Fl NYC 888 422-6464 www bespokematchmaking com

Elite Private Yachts NYC 866 862-7245 www eliteprivateyachts com www entertainmentcruises com/new-york

Feinstein’s/54 Below 254 W 54th St, Cellar NYC 212 302-5559 x114 www 54below com

Gatherings Floral Design www gatheringsfloraldesign com

Hornblower Cruises & Events Pier 40, NYC 646 832-2805 www hornblowerny com/metrosource

Houston Hall 222 W Houston St, NYC 212 582-2057

Li-Lac Chocolates

West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC

Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC

Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC

Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC 212 924-2280 www li-lacchocolates com

Make My Cake NYC 212 234-2344 www makemycake com

Manhattan Penthouse NYC 212 627-8838 www manhattanpenthouse com

New York Zoos and Aquarium

NYC 718 741-3836 www nyzooevents com

Oheka Castle 135 West Gate Dr Huntington, NY 631 659-1400 www oheka com

Our Wedding Officiant NYC Peter Boruchowitz NYC 917 523-1438 www nyc-gay-weddings com

Patina Events - Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn 718 307-7133 www patinaevents com

Paul Evans Catering 20 W 20th St NYC 212 321-1822 NYC 212 243-4494 www paulevanscatering com

The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr NYC 212 870-6762 www trcnyc com

Yachts for All Seasons NYC 212 534-6380 Cell 917 864-7670 www y4as com

WILLS

Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC 44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC 212 495-0317 www sciaccalaw com

WINE & SPIRITS

Cork Wines & Spirits 1450 Washington St Hoboken NJ 201 942-9964 www corkwines net

FIRE ISLAND PINES – CHERRY GROVE BARS

Blue Whale Pines 631 597-6500 www bluewhalefireisland com

Cherry’s

Cherry Grove 631 597-6820

Cultured Elephant Pines 631 597-6500 www thepinesfireisland com

Harbor Club Pines 631 597-6500 www thepinesfireisland com

Sip n Twirl 36 Fire Island Boulevard Pines 631 597-3599

The Pavilion Pines 631 597-6500 www pavilionfireisland com

CLOTHING/GIFTS

Gostoso Pines 646 262-1910

Summer Solstice Harbor Walk Pines 631 597-4200

CONTRACTING

Walter Boss, Custom Builder Pines 631 597-6262

Pines and Pools Pines 631 597-6262

Pines Propane Pines 631 597-9191

GROCERIES

Grove Market Main Walk Cherry Grove 631 597-6239

The Pines Pantry Harbor Walk Pines 631 597-6200

GUEST HOUSES/HOTELS

Belvedere Guest House Bay View Walk, Cherry Grove 631 597-6448 www belvederefireisland com

Carousel Guesthouse 185 Holly Walk Cherry Grove 631 597-6612

Cherry Grove Beach Hotel Cherry Grove 631 597-6600

Dune Point Cherry Grove 631 597-6261

Horizon Beach House

Cherry Grove 631 597-6278 NYC 212 689-2699 www horizonbeachhouse com

SeaBreeze Rentals Cherry Grove 917 763-9029

GYM

Steel Gym Pines www steelgym com

HARDWARE

Pines Hardware & Sundries Bay Walk Pines 631 597-6237

LANDSCAPING/FLORAL

Beachscapes Pines 631 597-3746

LIQUORS/WINES

The Pines Liquor Shop Harbor Walk Pines 631 597-6442

POOL MAINTENANCE

Dependable Pools Pines 631 597-7748

REAL ESTATE

A Summer Place Main & Bayview Cherry Grove 631 597-6140

D Katen Fire Island Properties, LTD Pines 631 597-7000 www fireislandpines com

Pines Harbor Realty 36 Fire Island Blvd Pines 631 597-7575

RESTAURANTS

Blue Whale Pines 631 597-6500 www bluewhalefireisland com

Cultured Elephant Pines 631 597-6500 www thepinesfireisland com

Grove Pizza & Restaurant Cherry Grove 631 597-6766

Pines Bistro & Pizza Pines 631 597-3597

TRANSPORTATION

Sayville Ferry River Rd NYC 631 589-0810

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

ATHLETIC

ATHLETIC

BIG APPLE SOFTBALL LEAGUE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10011 212 696-7482

BIG APPLE SOFTBALL LEAGUE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10011 212 696-7482

CHEER NY CHEERLEADING Felipe Hernandez 888 671-7312 www.cheerny.org

CHEER NY CHEERLEADING Felipe Hernandez 888 671-7312 www.cheerny.org

NORTH JERSEY G&L BOWLERS Belle Aire Lanes West Caldwell, NJ 201 823-2250

NORTH JERSEY G&L BOWLERS Belle Aire Lanes West Caldwell, NJ 201 823-2250

NY GAY POOL LEAGUE PO Box 1502 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 496-4585

NY GAY POOL LEAGUE PO Box 1502 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 496-4585

NY RAMBLER’S SOCCER CLUB, INC. 917 767-9789 www.nyramblers.com

NY RAMBLER’S SOCCER CLUB, INC. 917 767-9789 www.nyramblers.com

CITY CRUISERS MC Old Chelsea Station PO Box 1614 New York, NY 10011 www.citycruisers.com

CITY CRUISERS MC Old Chelsea Station PO Box 1614 New York, NY 10011 www.citycruisers.com (gay men’s motorcycle club)

EZRYDERS SNOWBOARDING 445 W 46th St #4D New York, NY 10036 www.ezryders@ondbdx.com

EZRYDERS SNOWBOARDING

445 W 46th St #4D New York, NY 10036 www.ezryders@ondbdx.com

FAST AND FABULOUS CYCLING P.O. Box 23008, Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 567-7160

FAST AND FABULOUS CYCLING P.O. Box 23008, Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 567-7160

FRONT RUNNERS NY P.O. Box 87 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 799-8781 www.frny.org

FRONT RUNNERS NY P.O. Box 87 Ansonia Sta New York, NY 10023 212 799-8781 www.frny.org

GARDEN STATE GAY BOWLING LEAGUE www.gsgbo.com

GARDEN STATE GAY BOWLING LEAGUE www.gsgbo.com

GOTHAM VOLLEYBALL

GOTHAM VOLLEYBALL P.O. Box 961 New York, NY 10034 212 388-8208 info@gothamvolleyball.org

P.O. Box 961 New York, NY 10034 212 388-8208 info@gothamvolleyball.org

KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUB P.O. Box 720161 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 815-3244

KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUB

P.O. Box 720161 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 815-3244

LONG ISLAND RAVENS MC CLUB c/o Long Island Eagle 94 Clinton Ave Bayshore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org

LONG ISLAND RAVENS MC CLUB c/o Long Island Eagle 94 Clinton Ave Bayshore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org

MONDAY NIGHT FOURPLAY BOWLING LEAGUE Syosset Bowl 631 842-5166

MONDAY NIGHT FOURPLAY BOWLING LEAGUE Syosset Bowl 631 842-5166

NYC GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE www.nycgaybasketball.org

NYC GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE www.nycgaybasketball.org

OUT OF BOUNDS NYC & TEAM NEW YORK PO Box 372, Times Sq Station New York, NY 10108 www.oobnyc.org

OUT OF BOUNDS

NYC & TEAM NEW YORK PO Box 372, Times Sq Station New York, NY 10108 www.oobnyc.org

PINK PONG NY Sunnyside, Queens 718 623-2926 www.pinkpongfoundation.org

PINK PONG NY Sunnyside, Queens 718 623-2926 www.pinkpongfoundation.org

SUN/MON/TUE NIGHT TEAMS c/o Chelsea Piers AMF Bowl Pier 60, New York, NY 10011 212 835-2691

SUN/MON/TUE NIGHT TEAMS c/o Chelsea Piers AMF Bowl Pier 60, New York, NY 10011 212 835-2691

SUNDANCE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SOCIETY www.sundanceoutdoor.org sundanceoutdoor@yahoo.com

SUNDANCE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SOCIETY www.sundanceoutdoor.org sundanceoutdoor@yahoo.com

TEAM NEW YORK AQUATICS 212 691-3440 (hotline)

TEAM NEW YORK AQUATICS 212 691-3440 (hotline)

CULTURAL, ETHNIC & SOCIAL

CULTURAL, ETHNIC & SOCIAL

APICHA 400 Broadway New York, NY 10013 212 334-6029 www.apicha.org

APICHA

400 Broadway New York, NY 10013 212 334-6029 www.apicha.org

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY 5001 Angel Canyon Rd Kanab, UT 84741 435 644-2001 www.bestfriends.org

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY

5001 Angel Canyon Rd Kanab, UT 84741 435 644-2001 www.bestfriends.org

FIRE ISLAND PINES – CHERRY GROVE

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

BIG GAY MEN OF NEW YORK 9111 Liberty Ave #662 Ozone Park, NY 11417 631 780-2807 www.convergence.nyc

EMPIRE CITY MEN’S CHORUS P.O. Box 1017 New York, NY 10185 empirecitymenschorus.org

GAY & BI FATHERS FORUM OF GREATER NY PO Box 1321, Midtown Sta New York, NY 10018 212 721-4216 (recording) 718 728-0476

GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION (GLAAD) 150 West 26th St New York, NY 10001 212 807-1700 www.glaad.org

GAY FATHERS OF NY 245 Eighth Ave #897 New York, NY 10011 212 388-2618

GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300 www.gmad.org

GAY MEN OF THE BRONX PO Box 511, Bronx, NY 10451 www.gmob.org

IMPERIAL QUEENS & KINGS OF NY 70-A Greenwich Ave #120 New York, NY 10011 212 229-5900 x3655

IN OUR OWN WRITE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 x305 (monthly readings)

IN THE LIFE 30 West 26th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 255-6012

JERSEY CITY LESBIAN & GAY OUTREACH (JCLGO) 113 Pavonia Ave #247 Jersey City, NJ 07302 201 333-5725

LATINOS & LATINAS DE AMBIENTE/NY (LLANY) 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 367-1092

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 www.gaycenter.org

LESBIAN & GAY NATURAL HISTORY GROUP OF NY 80 Garfield Pl Brooklyn, NY 11215 718 965-0013

LESBIAN HERSTORY ARCHIVES PO Box 1258 New York, NY 10116 718 768-3953

LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF GAY AND LESBIAN ART 26 Wooster St New York, NY 10013 www.leslielohman.org

LIVE OUT LOUD 45 West 36th Street, 6th Fl New York, NY 10018 212 378-4095 www.liveoutloud.info

THE LOFT-LOWER HUDSON VALLEY LGBT CENTER 252 Bryant Ave White Plains, NY 10605 914 948-2932 www.loftgaycenter.org

THE L.I. GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL ORG P.O. Box 360 East Northport, NY 11731 www.liglff.org

LONG ISLAND GAY & LESBIAN YOUTH 34 Park Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 665-2300 www.ligaly.org

LONG ISLAND RAVENS M.C. c/o The Long Island Eagle 94 North Clinton Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org

MALES AU NATUREL (MAN) MEN’S NUDIST GROUP 347 704-0704 www.males.org

MEN OF ALL COLORS TOGETHER NEW YORK PO Box 1518 Ansonia Station, NY 10023

NYC GAY MEN’S CHORUS 561 Seventh Ave, Ste 803 New York, NY 10018 212 344-1777 www.nycgmc.org

NYC PRIDE 154 Christopher St, Suite 1D New York, NY 10014 212 807-7433 www.nycpride.org

PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS (P-FLAG) PO Box 553 New York, NY 10021 212 463-0629

THE POINT FOUNDATION 5757 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 370 LA, CA 90036 866 33-Point www.pointfoundation.org

PRIME TIMERS c/o Don Hargus 208 Anderson St, Suite 8DS Hackensack, NJ 07601 201 488-4839

QUEENS L&G PRIDE COMMITTEE PO Box 580445 Flushing, NY 11358 718 460-4064

QUEENS PRIDE HOUSE 76-11 37th Ave Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 429-5309

QUEENS RAINBOW COMMUNITY CENTER 30-74 Steinway St, 2nd Fl Astoria, NY 11105 718 204-5955

SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR GLBT ELDERS (SAGE) 305 Seventh Ave New York, NY 10001 212 741-2247 www.sageusa.org

SOUTHERNERS/L&G MEN IN NY PO Box 881 New York, NY 10008-0881

STONEWALL CHORALE Box 920, Old Chelsea Sta New York, NY 10011 212 971-5813

STONEWALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 119 West 24th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 367-1155 www.stonewallfoundation.org

TRI STATE LG&B STUDENT COALITION 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014

HEALTH/ COUNSELING

AIDS CENTER OF QUEENS COUNTY 97-45 Queens Blvd #1220 Rego Park, NY 11374 718 896-2500

AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP) 800 542-2437

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION 475 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 637-2970 888 AIDS-CARE www.ahfpharmacy.org

AIDS HOTLINE/NYC DEPT OF HEALTH 311 Broadway, 4th Fl New York, NY 10007 800 TALK-HIV

AIDS RELATED COMMUNITY SERVICES 2269 Saw Mill River Rd Elmsford, NY 10523 914 345-8888

AIDS SERVICE CENTER NYLIVEC 64 West 35th St New York, NY 212 645-0875 www.ascnyc.org

THE ALLIANCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE

64 West 35th Street, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10001 212.645-0875 www.alliance.nyc (SEE AD PREVIOUS PAGE)

AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH 120 Wall St New York, NY 10005 212 806-1600

ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT 240 West 35th St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 714-1184 212 714-1141 (Hotline)

BAILEY HOLT HOUSE 180 Christopher St New York, NY 10014 212 337-3000

BAILEY HOUSE 275 Seventh Ave, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 633-2500

BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER AIDS CLINICAL TRIAL UNIT DIV OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 350 East 17th St, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10003 212 420-4519

BODY POSITIVE OF NY 19 Fulton St Suite 308B New York, NY 10038 212 566-7333 800 566-6599

BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS 165 West 46th St #1300 New York, NY 10036 212 840-0770

BROOKLYN AIDS TASK FORCE 465 Dean St Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 783-0883

CALLEN LORDE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER 356 West 18th St New York, NY 10011 212 271-7200

CHEST (CTRHIV/AIDS EDUCATION STUDIES & TRAINING) 250 West 26th Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 212 206-7919

DESIGN INDUSTRIES FOUNDATION FOR AIDS (DIFFA) 200 Lexington Ave #1016 New York, NY 10016 212 727-3100

F.E.G.S. MANHATTAN COUNSELING CENTER 80 Van Dam St New York, NY 10013 212 366-8289

FRIENDS HOUSE IN ROSEHILL PMB#248 50 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10010 212 995-5000 www.friendshousenyc.org

GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300 www.gmad.org

GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS 446 West 33rd St New York, NY 10001 212 367-1273 212 367-1489 800 243-7692 www.gmhc.org

GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER 166 Ave of the Americas New York, NY 10013 212 294-8142 212 294-8100 www.godslovewedeliver.org www.racetodeliver.org

GREENWICH HOUSE 80 Fifth Ave New York, NY 10011 212 691-2900

HEALTH EDUCATION AIDS LIAISON PO Box 1103 New York, NY 10113 212 873-0780

HETRICK MARTIN INSTITUTE 212 674-2400 www.hmi.org

HEALTHSHERPA 844 346-9476 www.metrosource. healthsherpa.com

HISPANIC AIDS FORUM, INC. 213 W 35th St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 868-6230 www.hafnyc.org

HIV STOPS WITH ME www.hivstopswithme.org

INSTITUTION FOR HUMAN IDENTITY 322 Eighth Ave, Suite #802 New York, NY 10011 212 243-2830 www.ihi-therapycenter.org

LI ASSN FOR AIDS CARE (LIAAC) 631 385-AIDS (hotline) 631 385-2451

MEN OF COLOR AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM (MOCA) 125 Worth St, Box 67 New York, NY 10013 212 788-4402

MEN’S HIV SUPPORT GROUP 212 877-8227 x214

MINORITY TASK FORCE ON AIDS 475 Riverside Dr New York, NY 10115 212 870-2691

NAMES PROJECT NJ P.O. Box 716 New Brunswick, NJ 732 249-3933

NAMES PROJECT NYC 75 Varick St #1404 New York, NY 10013-1917 212 226-2292

NYC DEPT OF HEALTH OFFICE OF G&L HEALTH 125 Worth St, Suite CN67 New York, NY 10013 212 442-6944

PROJECT ACHIEVE New York, 212 305-2201 Project ACHIEVE (Union Square) New York, 212 388-0008 www.nycvaccine.org www.hopetakesaction.org

THE SAMARITANS OF NEW YORK SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE PO Box 1259 New York, NY 10159 212 673-3000 (24 Hours)

TALK SAFE + PLUSES 203 West St #408 New York, NY 212 604-1500

TREVOR PROJECT 9056 Santa Monica Blvd #100 West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 271-8845

VILLAGE NURSING HOME DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM 133 West 20th St, Ground Fl New York, NY 10011 212 633-1616

LEGAL

LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND 120 Wall St #1500 New York, NY 10005 212 809-8585

LEGAL (L&G LAW ASSN OF GREATER NY) 799 Broadway #340 New York, NY 10003 212 459-4873

LESBIANS

LESBIANS ABOUT VISUAL ART 118 Fort Greene Pl Brooklyn, NY 11217

LES HERSTORY ARCHIVES PO Box 1258 New York, NY 10116 718 768-3953

LESBIAN MOTHERS @ THE LOFT 180 East Post Rd Lower Level, White Plains, NY 914 948-4922

POLITICAL

LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS OF NY Radio City Station PO Box 2321 New York, NY 10101 212 202-6431 www.newyork.logcabin.org

NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

PRIDE DEMOCRATS 70 Greenwich Ave New York, NY 10011 212 613-6039

STONEWALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

119 West 24th St, 6th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 367-1155

STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB 212 561-9008 www.stonewalldems.com

STONEWALL REPUBLICANS PO Box 650052 Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 718 357-7075

PROFESSIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF LESBIAN AND GAY AFFIRMATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPISTS 250 West 15th St New York, NY 10011 212 517-1722

FSIX FINANCIAL SERVICE INDUSTRY EXCHANGE www.fsix.org

GAY OFFICERS ACTION LEAGUE PO Box 2038, Canal St Sta New York, NY 10013

NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NY 340 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10108 646 964-5027 www.nglccny.org

OUT PROFESSIONALS

332 Bleecker St #149 New York, NY 10014 212 462-9255

THE PUBLISHING TRIANGLE

332 Bleecker Street #D36 New York, NY 10014 www.publishingtriangle.org

REFERRALS/ SWITCHBOARDS

G&L SWITCHBOARD P.O. Box 693 New York, NY 212 989-0999

THE GAY PARENTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUND New York, NY 10011 www.menhavingbabies.org

TREVOR PROJECT 212 545-0081 www.thetrevorproject.org

RELIGIOUS

BROADWAY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 263 West 86 St, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10024 212 316-5700 www.bwayucc.org

CHURCH OF ST PAUL & ST ANDREW 263 West 86th St New York, NY 10024 212 362-3179

COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NY 40 East 35th St New York, NY 10016 212 683-4988 www.ccny.org

CONGREGATION BEIT SIMCHAT TORAH 130 West 30th St New York, NY 10001 212 929-9498

DIGNITY NEW YORK

PO Box 1554 New York, NY 10150 646 418-7039 Brooklyn - 718 565-2171 Metro NJ - 973 857-4040 New Bruns. - 732 968-9263 Nassau - 516 781-6225 Suffolk - 631 654-5367

INTEGRITY/NEW YORK (LBGT EPISCOPALIANS) PO Box 20067 New York, NY 10011 212 691-7181

MARBLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH 1 West 29th St New York, NY 10001 212 686-2770 www.marblechurch.org

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NY 446 West 36th St New York, NY 10018 212 629-7440 www.mccny.org

MIDDLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH 112 Second Ave @ 7th St New York, NY 10003 212 477-0666 www.middlechurch.org

NOT SO CHURCHY www.notsochurchy.org

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH Reverend Mark Erson 81 Christopher St. New York, NY 10014 212-242-5737 www.stjohnsnyc.org