Peach Magazine 48 Giving It Your All

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Contents

DECEMBER 11, 2019

V3-48 PEACH ATL MEDIA, LLC 925b Peachtree St. NE #168 Atlanta, GA 3030

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MANAGING PARTNER Brian Sawyer brian@peachatl.com

OPERATIONS Jeff Anderson Sales and Development Director

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jeff@peachatl.com

EDITORIAL Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director

From the Editor

mikkel@peachatl.com

I may be a little stressed out from all the parties and events in December, not to mention the extra workload of finishing up the year, but once I make it to the Toy Party, I am filled with pure holiday spirit, devotion, and gratitude. And here’s why.

The Toy Party is the highlight of my holiday season because it allows me to connect with friends and acquaintances, look them in the eyes, and sincerely wish them a happy holiday season. And then there is the magic of the party; watching the toys pile up year after year never loses its enchantment, and never fails to fill me with warmth and hope for all the good in this world.

Check out our Q&A (page 10) with For The Kid Board President, Jeff Mayhew, who will disclose even more of the magical entertainment they will have lined up for us this year’s Toy Party.

Brian Sawyer Graphics

Jessica Watson Graphics

SALES | DISTRIBUTION Andrea Dwyer andrea@peachatl.com

CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Assam Chris Azzopardi

Hope to see you there!

Jamie Kirk

Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director Follow my IG @hyldebrandt

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The content of Peach ATL Media is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. The opinions expressed by any writer, advertiser, or other person appearing in the Peach ATL Media are not necessarily those of this publication, its management or staff. The information and materials appearing in the magazine are not guaranteed or warranted as to accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness, or suitability of the information and materials found or offered for a particular purpose. It shall be your responsibility to ensure that any products, services, or information available through Peach ATL Media meets your specific requirements. Peach ATL Media is not responsible for claims made by advertisers, content of information, changes, events, and schedules. The magazine contains information and material which is owned by or licensed to Peach ATL Media, including but not limited to articles, advertisements, design, layout, graphics, and logos. No part or portion of Peach ATL Media may be reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of the publisher.

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Following last year’s successful Holiday spectacular, Out Front Theatre stages the hilarious Christmas With The Crawfords based on the actual Christmas Eve live radio broadcast from Joan Crawford’s Brentwood mansion in 1949.

WHAT Christmas With The Crawfords

WHEN Playing now until December 21

WHERE Out Front Theatre Company 999 Brady Ave. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30318

Tickets available at outfronttheatre.com

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Out Front Theatre’s staging of Christmas With The Crawfords is a Georgia premiere. Filled with exaggerated silver screen icons, this mash-up musical parody is a loving homage to Hollywood’s “Golden Age” and features appearances of Tinsel Town divas such as Judy Garland, Carmen Miranda, Gloria Swanson, Hedda Hopper, Ethel Merman, and the Andrews Sisters. Christmas With The Crawfords is a delightful alternative to the usual sugary fare offered during the holidays and is guaranteed to make audiences feel better about their own family during the holidays. Initially created by Richard Winchester and written by Mark Sargent, the Out Front adaptation is in the careful and capable hands of Jennifer Alice Acker, while Out Front’s musical director, Nick Silvestri, will provide the perfect score to all of the dysfunctional holiday cheer.

www.peachatl.com

The Toy Party - Reinventing a Holiday Favorite

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

As a highlight of the Holiday season and one of the biggest fundraisers of the year, For the Kid’s Toy Party only seems to surpass itself year after year. Peach spoke to FTK’s Board President, Jeff Mayhew, about this year’s party, and how they aim to make it even bigger and better yet again.

Tell us about a little bit about the work that For the Kid does.

For the Kid in All of Us (FTK) is a local 501(c) (3) that acts as a “pass-through” organization to help Georgia’s children in need. What does that mean exactly? Well, FTK makes fundraising efforts to raise money, backpacks with school supplies, and toys, and then we pass through those backpacks and toys to organizations that represent underprivileged children. Most of this is accomplished through its two biggest fundraising events: Backpack in the Park in July (we raised 3,950 backpacks and school supplies this past summer!), and Toy Party in December.

We also work with the beneficiary organizations we have partnered with to volunteer for their efforts, as well.

The Toy Party is a holiday favorite and quite the institution - what elements are familiar this year, and which are new?

We are constantly trying to make tweaks to Toy Party to keep it interesting and fun, and this year is no different. We are super excited about the venue this year! The main building at 1150 Crescent Avenue (Domaine ATL) is the same place we had the event last year, but it has been totally remodeled inside, and we’re anxious to see everyone’s eyes when they walk in for the first time. On top of that, we are utilizing The Wimbish House next door for a new VIP happy to spice it up and thank our biggest donors. The Wimbish House actually connects through its ballroom to the Domaine building, so we have a lot more room for people to enjoy Toy Party. The entertainment that we lined up this year is certainly going to make it an event that people will remember. Oh, and we really beefed up our Silent Auction this year, and you’ll notice a ton of artwork from local artists and several good trips.

This completes your first year as Board President of For the Kid – what valuable lessons have you learned?

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It’s certainly been an exciting year for FTK, and I would love to say it’s something that I did, but it’s 100% the result of the other 17 Board members we have and an amazing group of volunteers. One of the lessons I had to learn was to lean on them and utilize their expertise and drive. FTK would not have had the year that we had if I tried to do too much on my own, and I’m glad that I’m surrounded by a tremendous group of people.

Looking ahead into 2020: what’s in for For the Kid? Earlier this year, we were presented with a couple of opportunities to branch out from our core fundraising efforts, but we made the decision that we would really focus on improving what we already do because there was definitely room for improvement! As a result, we were able to raise enough funds to help send 60 kids to camp, collect nearly 4,000 backpacks and school supplies, and we are on pace for a record number of toys this holiday season. So as I enter the second year of my Presidency, I’m looking forward to making some tweaks to our big events and branching out on our fundraising events with some of the local businesses and corporations that are right in our back yard!

In closing, how do you attend the Toy Party?

Tickets for this year’s Toy Party & Silent Auction can be purchased at ToyParty2019.givesmart. com. We’ve got general admission tickets for $35 and VIP tickets for $250—both require an unwrapped toy worth $25 or more for us to pass along to the kids. In addition, for the first time, we have a separate add-on ticket ($50) to attend an intimate meet and greet with Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O’Hara at the event. As for attire, we do not have a formal dress code!

It’s an evening cocktail party, so that’s what you’ll see most people dressed in. But we want you to wear what you feel comfortable wearing it’s a judgment-free zone! And don’t think that you’re only allowed to bring one toy…I’d say the vast majority of people really get into it and bring several toys. We want 5,000 this year!!

Get your ticket to the Toy Party or donate to FTK at ToyParty2019.givesmart.com. www.peachatl.com

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By Kevin Assam

Billy Kearins is the LGBTQ+ allied founder of the lifestyle brand and concert promoting outfit, Coast Projects (COAST). On the eve of his 3rd Annual COAST Is Clear Music & Arts Festival December 5-7th in Key West’s Bahama Village – Billy explores the origins of his festival and this year’s lineup. Learn more at CoastProjects.com.

Just how many glorious beards have you cycled through at this point?

Wow, hitting me with the beard right off the bat.

Bold. I was pretty late to the facial hair game. I was one of those kids who didn’t grow until late in high school and really didn’t have facial hair until my mid-20s. Ever since it was an option, it’s been almost a constant in my wardrobe.

Throughout the past 15 years, I usually do an annual shearing where I get it down pretty short and let it go until I need to clean up my act. I don’t trim or tidy it. It’s all or nothing because I hate shaving. I actually think I look better without it.

Why create the COAST Is Clear Music & Arts Festival three years ago?

At the core of the festival is a celebration of the end of hurricane season — when the “coast is clear.” Officially, that day is November 30 or December 1, but wanting to keep it on a weekend, we decided it will always be held the weekend following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, which this year is December 5–7. The impetus for starting it in 2017 was Hurricane Irma and wanting to raise funds for relief in the Lower Keys. I didn’t want to do something right away because there wasn’t much to celebrate.

But waiting a few months and being confident another hurricane wasn’t heading our way, we felt better about getting folks together to celebrate in the wake of a disaster. We still use the festival to raise funds. This year we will have donation boxes at most events raising money for Key West Cares, which has been at the forefront of the relief effort in the Bahamas since Dorian hit in September.

What brought musician Rayland Baxter to the 3rd Annual COAST Is Clear Music & Arts Festival?

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I met Rayland when he played the Songwriters Festival in 2017. He was playing a show at San Carlos with another friend of mine, Langhorne Slim. We all met up around the corner at Green Parrot. One thing led to the next and I got in touch with him — and Slim — after Irma to see if they could come down to play the first COAST Is Clear Festival. They both agreed and since then Rayland has played a couple of other shows at COAST. Last year, we spent Christmas together in Key West. He helped me move out of our old space on Stock Island during that last week of 2018. I count Ray as a good friend. It’s a huge bonus that he’s an amazing artist with his heart in the right place. That’s really why he’s down here for the festival.

Tell me more about the musicians and strong beards that are part of the lineup. Any new discoveries to to our Lizzo and Sufjan Stevens inspired playlists?

I’m stoked to get Justin (SUSTO to play solo sets. SUSTO’s an indie-folk rock band playing huge festivals including Newport Folk Fest this summer and previously opening for The Lumineers and Band of Horses. I met him at Songwriters in 2018. No big beard for Justin but some punk rock knuckle tattoos that say ACID BOYS. Tim Reynolds and TR3 are playing at The Green Parrot. I grew up listening to him with Dave Matthews so that’s another one I’m looking forward to. Electric Blue Yonder has rad sound — trippy space folk with a cool aesthetic.

And then, Chris Kasper is a fantastic songwriter who has toured with Amos Lee, The Wood Brothers, and my buddy G. Love. We’ll round it out with my favorite local performers — Jerrod Isaman, Cayman Smith-Martin, Turner Harrison, and Sam Carlson. It’s always cool to see them play in a proper concert rather than in the corner of a bar.

Will COAST be throwing its support behind any candidates running for political office in 2020?

I think everyone knows where I stand politically even without being too vocal. I chip in a couple bucks a month on a personal level to a wise old man who thinks healthcare is a human right. www.peachatl.com

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By Chris Azzopardi Photos: Lionsgate

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Thirteen minutes with Jamie Lee Curtis was not quite enough time to find out why, even though it was “very important to me” to investigate the sexuality of one of her characters, she’s never considered the sexuality of her most enduring, Laurie Strode. I’m still curious. I still want to know. Jamie, if you’re out there, if you’re reading this, call me.

The day we spoke, Curtis, in signature no-nonsense mode, was fully immersed in a whirl of action at the media junket for her new whodunit film Knives Out, which left precious time for contemplative states, Laurie Strode gay talk and cheeseburgers.

The esteemed “Scream Queen” is completing her order as she calls me, though “the last thing I’m thinking about is what I’m gonna eat.”

Eventually, however, I’ve got Jamie Lee Curtis thinking about that time she decided to make a character gay and no one ever really knew.

Minutes into our twisty chat, Curtis, best known for roles in A Fish Called Wanda, Trading Places and some movie called Halloween, is reflecting on a role she seems very proud of: her portrayal of the school principal in a film she says “no one saw” called Spare Parts.

Based on a true story, the 2015 film centers on a group of Latino students who win first place over the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 2004 MATE ROV robotics competition.

Those who didn’t see it, and perhaps even those who did, missed what Curtis calls a “subtle reference” to her character’s late wife, who she says is pictured in a photograph in her character’s office. “I very specifically wanted the backstory – that you will never know – that she moved to that place because of her wife and her wife died,” Curtis says.

Knowing that the actress used her ally powers to queer one of her characters, I’m curious if Curtis delved similarly into Laurie Strode, who is stalked by madman Michael Myers in Halloween, both the original and its recent 2018 sequel – asking you to forget all Halloween sequels in between. Released in 1978, the horror classic jump-started her career; exploring the effects of lingering trauma in the latest installment lured Curtis back to fictional Haddonfield, Illinois, where the story takes place (Curtis will return for two more entries in the undying saga, Halloween Kills, due in 2020, and Halloween Ends, set for 2021).

I point out that one Tumblr page I discovered recently is called “Laurie Strode is gay!!!” (The site even features Pride Laurie Strode icons, with a cartoon Laurie in front of a rainbow backdrop.) Curtis tells me she hasn’t considered Laurie’s sexual identity at all. “No, no,” she says, firmly. Quickly moving on, she leads the conversation into a discussion about the sexuality of public figures, including her own. “I don’t think it’s anybody’s business what people’s sexuality is, to be perfectly honest,” she says. “I

find it like a reverse discrimination.”

Going beyond the scope of the question, she explains that, “People’s private lives are their private lives and whether I’ve ever kissed a girl – have not – is irrelevant to whatever advocacy I participate in.” Curtis thinks it’s “sort of destructive cocktail party fodder what people’s sexuality is,” but that ultimately it’s “nobody’s business, it doesn’t matter” – unless, she insists, “you legislate anti-gay legislation but are gay. I fully accept outing those people for the hypocrisy.”

Though not gay herself, Curtis has been a longtime LGBTQ ally since the AIDS epidemic hit close to home, claiming the lives of her good gay friend Rick Frank, whom she starred with in the early ’90s ABC sitcom Anything But Love, and his husband George Lowe, who both succumbed to complications from the virus and, she says, died one year apart. “Rick became, honestly, one of my best friends,” she says, warmly. “That experience with both Rick and George was a galvanizing moment for me, and I have tried to honor him more than anything with trying to keep that focus.”

Though her compassion for the LGBTQ community stems from Rick and George, Curtis’s ties to it go back even further, thanks to the passel of gay friends and colleagues surrounding her legendary mother, Psycho actress Janet Leigh (Curtis’s also-legendary father, Tony Curtis, star of early-drag romp Some Like It Hot and featured in The Celluloid Closet, was also noted for having close friendships with gay men).

“Her make-up artist was gay, the playwright that she did a play with was a great friend of our family who was gay,” she says. “I did not know any gay kids growing up, but I was propositioned in school once by a girl. I was at boarding school and I remember I rejected her advance and, you know, that didn’t go well. She made a point of making that an issue for me at school a little bit.”

But even as a straight woman, who has been married to Best in Show filmmaker Christopher Guest since 1984, “You don’t have to have your own experience in order to feel compassion and the need for justice and equality. In the LGBTQ world, certainly I have friends and family, but I don’t have to have the direct experience in order to feel the compassion that I truly feel for acceptance and equality in all areas.”

She has acted accordingly, participating in a variety of LGBTQ causes and projects. In 2012, alongside Brad Pitt and Martin Sheen, Curtis portrayed Sandy Stier, one of two women who went to the Supreme Court to defeat Prop 8, in Dustin Lance Black’s play 8. Four years later, in 2016, Curtis was one of many stars who shared stories of the people killed in the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting for a Human Rights Campaign-produced video. And earlier this year, | 17

Curtis appeared in another video for the HRC’s launch of the Americans for the Equality Act public awareness and advertising campaign.

Her LGBTQ advocacy will soon translate to screen, as Curtis has purchased the rights to author Sara Cunningham’s self-published memoir How We Sleep at Night. The book tells the journey of Cunningham, a Christian mother, as she learns to accept her gay son. Cunningham is now the executive director of “Free Mom Hugs,” a non-profit offering LGBTQ outreach and support to LGBTQ youth, an organization she founded. As for the movie: “We’re in the final script,” Curtis told me, otherwise tightlipped, “and then hopefully we will be making it next year.”

On TV, she’s also defended the LGBTQ population with her bare fist. Her role as Dean Cathy Munsch in Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens featured the actress in a politically charged moment, her character beating up an attacker dressed in a Justice Antonin Scalia mask. While Curtis throws a steady stream of punches at his face, she gives him a piece of her mind, insisting with fiery conviction that, “The homosexual lifestyle is not destructive to the fabric of American society!”

As for using her art as activism to spur social and political change, Curtis says, “I’m happy to represent whatever aspect of hope someone will take from anything I do, be it something I write, something I say, a part I played or, most importantly, the ‘being Jamie’ in the world. If that ends up being something that is helpful, that is then a reason to be alive; to be hurtful would be a tragedy for me. It would kill me to think that I’ve hurt someone with an action or a word or a deed.”

If you take away anything from Knives Out, a feel-good murder mystery featuring Curtis as real-estate mogul, bullshit-calling Linda Drysdale-Thrombey, whose father Harlan (Christopher Plummer) is murdered at his 85th birth-

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day bash, it’s who the film’s real gay icon is.

Some on the internet have already given the title to Toni Collette’s high-camp character Joni, the widowed step-sister to Linda and Walt (Michael Shannon), because she speaks in Valley Girl uptalk and owns a silly lifestyle and wellness brand called Flam, which, according to a branding video, is “more than a word, it’s a way of living.”

But Curtis wants to redefine the very broad qualifications of a gay icon, it seems – beginning with taking a good, hard look at why women with children fall into that category. (This would exclude, of course, famous moms like Madonna, Cher, Britney Spears, Judy Garland, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé and Mariah Carey.) “Why does Toni Collette’s character have to be a gay icon?” Curtis objects. “I don’t understand that. She’s a heterosexual woman who has a child. She’s not gay. Because she’s flamboyant?”

Passionately speaking on the subject, Curtis posits that the true gay icon in Knives Out is Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), Harlan’s devoted caregiver, “because she’s kind.”

“You see, embracing LGBTQ issues, the root of it is kindness,” she explains. “Not clothing or lifestyle. The root of acceptance of a human being is kindness and the kindest person in Knives Out is Marta Cabrera. I would hope what LGBTQ people focus on is whether someone is kind and loving and inclusive and expansive versus rigid, cold, judging and hateful, and that is, to me, the dividing line.”

Gay icons of the world, Mama Jamie has her eyes on you.

-As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.

His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

www.peachatl.com

50 TH ANNIVERSARY ATLANTA PRIDE CELEBRATION

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This riotous camp classic is based on the actual Christmas Eve live radio broadcast from Joan Tickets: $15 and up Crawford’s Brentwood mansion in 1949, filled with exaggerated silver screen icons such as: Out Front Theatre Company Judy Garland, Carmen Miranda, Gloria Swanson, 999 Brady Avenue, Atlanta Hedda Hopper, Ethel Merman, the Andrews Sisters, and more!

www.OutFrontTheatre.com

About eight years ago, I had the pleasure of being asked and accepting a role as a Board Member in the organization For the Kid. Yes, I am fully aware that our minds go to the Toy Party and Backpack in the Park, but the organization is so much more than that. These two social events should not overshadow the efforts throughout the year that contribute to these events going off without a hitch.

Being part of the mission of the organization taught me about how ANYONE can give. To be honest, when we think about giving, we think of money, not time. We think of worldly possessions, not effort. We think of excess, not attention. Ironically, all six of these descriptions are true and equally important. Not one carries more weight than the other. Giving is about what you decide to do with what you have.

It’s the Giving that Matters

By Jamie Kirk

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.

Help others without any reason and give without the expectation of receiving anything in return.

It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into our giving.

A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.

These are more than just words. Each one of those sentences is filled with meaning beyond our understanding. Our hearts cannot handle or comprehend the importance of giving and the impact it can have on another person’s life.

When we give and are genuinely giving in the spirit of unselfishness, without the desire for recognition and only focused on the amount of joy it gives, the recipient is the ONLY way we experience the reward.

When I talk about the reward, I mean taking the analogy of reaping what you sow. When you sow kindness, you will reap kindness. When you plant a peaceful heart, you will reap a peaceful heart. When you sow seeds of friendship, you reap seeds of friendship. That is simply the law of reciprocity. It is pretty easy to have abundance and not lack. We have to continually align our lives and the people in our lives in situations that do not create lack.

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An example is that a single mother working two jobs in two different parts of town, six days a week, may not have the luxury of time but may have the luxury of contributing. That contribution can be toddler clothes, maybe a used playpen. My point is giving is giving, and no one else should be deciding the levity or importance of the gift.

For the Kid taught me that in many cases, people are doing the best they can, with what they have. Obviously, not everyone is doing this; if so, this little article would be focused on the importance of what you do with your gifts and not attempting to highlight that we all should be giving; even if we think the gift is too small.

Too small for whom? I am convinced that a giving heart does not wonder about “what” will be done with the gift or “how” the gift will be received; a giving heart does not wonder. There are no second thoughts. There are no attempts to segregate who gets why and why. A giving heart, with a giving spirit, only is concerned about how much more than can give.

The intention behind our giving and receiving is the most important thing. When the act of giving is unconditional, when the giving is joyful, and from the heart, then the energy behind the giving increases many times over. However, to that end, if we give grudgingly, there is no energy behind that giving. Not good or bad, just nothing. No feeling of accomplishment, no sense of fulfillment, nothing, just zero. Zilch.

Not to go down the Bible-thumping route and I am by no means a saint, but scripture does come to mind, that I feel most appropriate, especially around this holiday season: “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed won, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

- Luke 6:38 www.peachatl.com

NITRO HANKINSON Photo: Trevor Ott, Li Su

Nitro has lived in Atlanta since 2006, and he has produced kink, leather, and BDSM events in the city since 2008. He has helped create significant kink & fetish events like the Atlanta Leather Pride, Southeast Black and Blue, Hotlanta Rubber and Gear Club, and Leather & Lace ATL. He also enjoys music, movies, and playing video games. He loves spending time with good – perhaps over a good meal as he is a self-proclaimed foodie and loves savoring different cuisines.

@ nitroatl

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THANKSGIVING EVE @ MIDTOWN MOON PHOTOS BY SNOW

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As a part of our mission to help friends keep friends, we are opening our doors in 2018 to anyone needing to get their pet vaccinated and heartworm tested.

Not only is this a great deal for you, it is also a fundraiser for PALS Atlanta!!

Vaccine Clinic Pricing Full veterinary exam - FREE Dog or Cat Rabies Shot - $15 Dog or Cat Combo Shot - $15 Bordatella vaccination (dogs only) - $15 Heartworm testing (dogs only) - $25 Full year supply of heartworm medication AND a full year of flea/tick preventative - $100 (requires current negative heartworm test)

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December 11 – December 18

MAAP’s Annual Holiday Party

Glitz! Thotty or Nice

The Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals will celebrate December’s installment of Glitz! has everyone asking the the holidays with a festive networking event that is also a toy same question - thotty or nice? Sexy Xmas costume and drive benefiting For The Kid In All Of Us. performances featuring Molly Rimswell, Channing Taint, Jaque Strap, SHI, TJ Maxxx, and Miss He. Thursday, December 12, 6-9 pm Alexan on 8th

STAFF PICK!

Thursday, December 12, 11 pm Mary’s Toy Party 2019

Atlanta’s can’t-miss Holiday event offers you a grand party, one of the best silent auctions, and the chance to meet and greet with Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O’Hara in a private setting inside The Wimbish House. Get your tickets or donate at ToyParty2019.givesmart.com.

Friday, December 15, 6-11 pm The Wimbish House & Domaine Atlanta

Heretic’s 28th Anniversary

GlowHoHo Stoplight Party

The Heretic celebrates its 28th anniversary, and what better way to ring a new year than with DJ Joe Gauthreaux at the turntables.

Atlanta’s own DJ Neon the Glowgobear brings you a special “GlowHoHo” edition of the Stoplight Party.

Choose RED for “Just here to dance,” WHITE for “Give it a shot” and GREEN for “on Santa’s naughty list, so let’s GO!”

Saturday, December 14, 10 pm – 3 am The Heretic

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Saturday, December 14, 10 pm – 3 am The Atlanta Eagle

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4th St. NE

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13

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

4

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

BARS 1 2 3 4

Amsterdam Blake's Bulldogs Friends

6 My Sister’s Room 7 Ten Atlanta

Dining 502 Amsterdam Ave NE 227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 66 12th St NE 990 Piedmont Ave NE

991 Piedmont Ave NE 980 Piedmont Ave NE 1077 Juniper St NE 931 Monroe Cir NE

clubs 13 Atlanta Eagle

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

fitness

retail 8 Barking Leather

9 10 th & Piedmont 10 Campagnolo 11 Einstein's 12 F.R.O.G.S

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

spa/bath 15 Flex Spa

32 | follow us @ peachatlmag

76 4th St. NW

16 G’s Midtown 17 Henry’s 18 Joe's on Juniper 19 La Hacienda

219 10th St NE 132 10th St NE 1049 Juniper St NE 900 Monroe Dr NE

billards/Darts drag dancers leather non-smoking area Patio

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When the world throws you Let be your savedandgay.com

Cheshire 23

ansley 21

rid

ge

Rd

tC ir .

NE

Piedmont Park BARS 2043 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Cir NE 2425 Piedmont Rd NE 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd

32 Midtown Moon 33 Felix's 34 The Hideaway 35 Mixx 36 Oscar's

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd

Fitness 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

Spa / bath 2135 Liddell Drive NE

1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE 1544 Piedmont Ave NE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

Dining 38 Eclectic Bistro

clubs

30 Gravitee Fitness

e. nt ed Pi

.

Retail

28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

39

36 38

Dining

26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

41

mo

20

BARS

24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

Av

ge Rd Brid hire Ches

28

25 B ire

E

.

r.

.N

Rd

Dr

26 35

24

20 BJ Roosters 21 Sequel 22 Tripps 23 Woof's

42 The Den

40

32

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36

nr

on

es

er

Mo

dm

Ch

ll D

kn

27

33

. NE

Pi e

29

idde

ul

31

IX

34

x Rd

Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

22

42 L

Fa

BL

Le no

30

Lambert Dr.

PU

St.

.

A l co

1600 Piedmont Ave NE 1425 Piedmont Ave NE

Retail 39 Boy Next Door 1447 Piedmont Ave NE 40 Brushstrokes/Pleasures 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

Fitness 41 Equilibrium Fitness

1529 Piedmont Ave, Suite L

NOT SHOWN

Mary's Sister Louisa’s Church Swinging Richards Lips Atlanta The T

1287 Glenwood Ave SE 466 Edgewood Ave SE 1400 Northside Dr NW 3011 Buford Hwy NE 465 Boulevard SE

| 33

A snapshot of Gay Atlanta’s favorite destinations. View their ads in Peach ATL & visit their websites for weekly event listings.

Bars & Clubs

EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD

Retail

MIDTOWN

MARY’S

MIDTOWN

amsterdamatlanta.com

1287 Glenwood Ave SE

AMSTERDAM

502 Amsterdam Ave. NE

ATLANTA EAGLE

marysatlanta.com

SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH

BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

sisterlouisaschurch.com

CHESHIRE

SWINGING RICHARDS

SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO

1400 Northside Dr NW

ANSLEY

BULLDOGS

Dining

BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR

FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

MIDTOWN

1447 Piedmont Ave NE

736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

10thandpiedmont.com

atlantaeagle.com

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

BLAKE’S ON THE PARK

blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE

893 Peachtree St NE

friendsonponce-atl.com

466 Edgewood Ave SE

swingingrichards.com

10TH & PIEDMONT

MY SISTER’S ROOM

991 Piedmont Ave NE

66 12th St NE

einsteinsatlanta.com

mysistersroom.com

TEN ATLANTA

tenatlanta.com

990 Piedmont Ave NE

THE T

modeltatlanta.com

EINSTEIN’S

1077 Juniper St NE

GCB & PLEASURES

brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

BARKING LEATHER barkingleather.com

1510 Piedmont Ave Suite A

Fitness

931 Monroe Dr

MIDTOWN

frogsmidtown.com

G’S

CHESHIRE

219 10th St NE

gsmidtown.com

HERETIC

HENRY’S

2069 Cheshire Bridge Road

132 10th St NE

henrysatl.com

BJ ROOSTERS

JOE’S ON JUNIPER

2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

1049 Juniper St NE

bjroosters.com

boynextdoormenswear.com

FROGS CANTINA

465 Boulevard SE

hereticatlanta.com

2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

joesonjuniper.com

URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com

500 Amsterdam Ave NE

CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

SEQUEL

LA HACIENDA

Spas/Baths/Adult

TRIPPS

900 Monroe Dr NE

MIDTOWN

CHESHIRE

FLEX SPA

LAS MARGARITAS

76 4th St NW

1086 Alco St NE 1931 Piedmont Circle N

WOOFS

woofsatlanta.com

2425 Piedmont Road NE

lahaciendamidtown.com

lasmargaritasmidtown.com 1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

flexspas.com

CHESHIRE

ANSLEY

ROXX

MIDTOWN MOON

1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

THE DEN

DEKALB

2135 Liddell Drive NE

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

FELIX’S

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

THE HIDEAWAY

LIPS ATLANTA

thedenatlanta.com

atldragshow.com

3011 Buford Hwy NE

1544 Piedmont Ave NE

MIXX

mixxatlanta.com

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

OSCAR’S

oscarsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

34 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

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10 WAYS TO GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Tis’ the season for doing good!

Donate even if you aren’t going Can’t attend a charity event?

Donate online instead

Overtipping Up to %50 or even %100

Purchase with power Choose companies that make charitable donations

Drive-thru surprise Pay for the person behind you

Volunteer at an animal shelter Dogs need company too

Double your donations Find out if your employer will match a donation

Make your Donations recurring Even a little each month makes a difference

Bring cookies to a nursing home Double the recipe and make a friendly visit

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Volunteer at an animal shelter Dogs need company too

36 | follow us @ peachatlmag

www.peachatl.com

WE'RE HIRING Playmates and Playmates and soul mates... soul mates...

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5 Incredible Nights of Fun

| 37

Text your Peach Pits to 540-30-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com

Flight attendant: Is there a doctor on board?

DAD: That could’ve been you

I’m the useless gay friend: Can’t do hair Can’t do makeup Can’t help you find a man

ME: Not now, dad DAD: Not asking for a Berlin DJ are they?

ME: Dad, there is a medical emergency happening now!

It’s not easy being a mutant superhero

DAD: Go ask if putting them on the guest list helps

It’s impossible to drink all day unless you start in the morning

ASKING FOR A FRIEND Is it bad to contemplate a pain killeer, xanny, and champagne chaser?

For the record: I’m not a bottom. I’m a power vers: “I’m not a bottom” doesn’t mean “I do not bottom”

May the last weeks of 2019 be the plot twist you have been waiting for.

Thanks for nothing autocorrect – I will never get a date being a “homeless romantic”

DADDY JOKE ALERT My therapist told me to write letters to the people I hate, and then burn them. Did that, but now what do I do with the letters?

TAURUS (Apr. 20 - May 20) Expect your well laid plans for the day to change overnight. The romantic drive with your partner could be in jeopardy as the two of you begin to fight like Krystle and Alexis. Hopefully things will calm down by this evening. You hate eating dinner alone.

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun. 20) You may be thinking too much about finding the perfect relationship. Perhaps it’s time you realize that’s there’s no such thing. Perfection may be ideal but it’s the little flaws and quirks that make people interesting. So get out today and find yourself Mr. Slightly Imperfect, warts and all.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) The outcome of a stormy relationship will be up to you today. You could hang in there and face even more heartache and humiliation. Or you could grow a pair and walk out the door. You’re looking at a choice of being a prisoner or liberator. Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn’t it?

CANCER (Jun. 21 - Jul. 22) You’ll have to accomplish a lot today, but details will compromise your time. Try to get as much done as you can before noon, then give yourself time to relax and recharge.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)

LEO (Jul. 23 - Aug. 22)

You may have a thing for men in uniforms of authority, but don’t go too far with that. Speeding down the freeway in the hopes of being pulled over by a macho cop may give you a temporary turn-on. But the thousands in fines and possible jail time…say, maybe it will be worth it!

You’ll appreciate the diversity of our unique culture today as you see that guys come in all races, body shapes and personalities. You’re not fussy, so you could be like a kid in a candy store at the neighborhood watering hole. You’ll have so many choices you won’t know where to start!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sep. 22)

You may have been the one to initiate a romance, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be the one to end it.

Holding the short end of the stick may leave you with pie on your face, especially when you swore that this one was forever. Look for the warning signs today. They’ll be painfully obvious.

You may have trouble communicating with guys in social situations today. So it may be best to just listen. It could give the illusion that you’re thoughtful and introspective, not tongue-tied, stammering and prone to saying all the wrong things.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) You may make a public spectacle of yourself today as you get caught up in a frivolous new romance.

Making out in the middle of brunch with friends won’t seem so bad, but all eyes will be on you when the pants come down, and it becomes painfully obvious that you forgot to put on underwear.

ARIES (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Socializing may be a good way to shed some of the stress you’ve been feeling lately. But keep yourself under control; you never know what might happen after you’ve had a few. You may have to call in sick tomorrow when you wake up in a strange bed in an even stranger part of town.

40 | follow us @ peachatlmag

LIBRA (Sep. 23 - Oct. 22) You’ll project positive energy today. Some guys will pick up on your sunny vibe, while others will retreat from you like vampires from the light. Trying to convert those people will be a waste of your time. You only have so much energy to throw around, so share the love only to those who appreciate it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) Gambling with your feelings will be a losing proposition today. There will be guys who toy with them and treat them like dirt. So it’ll be best to keep them buried deep inside. They can’t be abused if you don’t show them, although you may soon find yourself a prisoner in your own shell.

www.peachatl.com

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt Trouble in the love department? With sex? Or just people in general? Send us your queries, questions, and problems, and you’ll get answers served straight up and with a little ice.

Me and my boyfriend are monogamous, but I have a profile on one of the apps from before we met, and recently, I’ve chatted and exchanged photos with some guys there. It’s all for fun, and I couldn’t dream of meeting with any of these guys. But my boyfriend found out, both from me spending extra time on my phone and from seeing a few notifications from the app on my phone, and now he’s pissed and saying I’m cheating on him. I’ve tried to convince him that it is all just a little mindless fantasy and that my profile even says that I’m in a relationship. How do I assure him that I’m not doing something wrong? Am I doing something wrong?

I am seeing this guy, and he is really great and very sexy. Well, sexy to look at because we haven’t had sex yet, and it’s been three months now. We’ve made out a lot and done a bunch of on ‘top of clothing’ touching, but we haven’t even come close to going to the next level! I’m sexually pretty liberated, so this waiting game and shyness was initially a turn-on, but now it is becoming really frustrating. I don’t want to be too forward with him and scare him off, because I really like him, and I want him to be comfortable with me. How do I create that safe space for him where we can finally be intimate with each other?

Sincerely Appy Go Lucky

Sincerely Pushing Past Shy

Dear Appy Go Lucky

Dear Pushing Past Shy

In this digital day and age, this problem is recurring, and it can be difficult to place any blame because it is all about what boundaries you set up mutually. And it seems that’s where you’re both in the wrong here. Obviously, for you, it is okay to talk to other guys on apps, and it could be a deal-breaker for your boyfriend.

So, now that you have these two sides of the spectrum, use it to have a conversation about the boundaries in your relationship – and while you’re there, ask some pretty obvious questions, like why you feel the need to be on a hook-up app while in a monogamous relationship? Are things going a little stale in your relationship?

Does he have deep-rooted trust issues with you?

Maybe you should start sending naughty pics to each other instead? Either way, talk it out – and then kiss and hook up!

Even though the lack of sex and intimacy is frustrating to you, it is really good that you are not pushing it with him. There are many things to consider. Did he come out late? Does he have a job that keeps him from being open and honest about his sexuality (they still exist, you know), or has he had bad experiences opening up and pushing past the shyness? You are doing the exact right thing with this guy by sticking to it and not applying pressure, so keep that up. Switch things up to create an environment that makes him more comfortable. Invite him to your house for a homemade meal or delicious takeout and verbalize to him that you are very attracted to him, but you want to wait for him to overcome his shyness. Sometimes hearing that someone is willing to create that space for you can be healing and comforting. If he is going through some issues with insecurity, you could be the person that he could open up to in more ways than one.

NEED ANSWERS? REACH OUT TO US, AND YOU WILL GET THEM! SEND YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS TO OUR EDITOR AT MIKKEL@PEACHATL.COM.

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