Peach v2i44

WE’RE ALL FOR

Bohemian Rhapsody’s

Rami Malik Rocks You

Out Front and The View Upstairs

Fashion Faves Cool Layers

Fall Getaways & Escapes

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CONTENTS OCTOBER 31, 2018

V2-44

PEACH ATL MEDIA, LLC 1874 Piedmont Ave NE Suite 580-E Atlanta, GA 30324 (404) 814-3014

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EDITORIAL

Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director mikkel@peachatl.com Rodney Belcher Graphic Designer

rodney@peachatl.com

EVENT MARKETING

34 Even though I love summer and sun, there is something about fall that makes it a close favorite season runner-up. Yes, there’s a chill in the air, but the season also calls for cozy get-togethers and activities. And sure; you get actually to dress up a little more in different layers.

So, this issue celebrates Fall by offering you ways to really enjoy the season.

We guide you to cute getaways, and if you’d rather cozy it up on the couch, may we suggest a scary movie so that you can snuggle up a little closer?

We also have an extensive interview with Rami Malek and other members of the cast of the Queen bio-pic Bohemian Rhapsody, which is one of the fall’s must-see movies. If you’re a musical lover, we recommend The View Upstairs playing now at Out Front Theatre – we spoke to both lead actors about the relevance of the musical today.

So, happy Fall y’all – and enjoy this autumnal edition of Peach!

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CONTRIBUTORS Scott King Branden Lee Mirza Muftic Gregg Shapiro

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NATIONAL AD REP Rivendell Media 908.232.202

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Rikke Falck-Larsen

Mikkel Hyldebrandt Editorial Director

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From the Editor

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Thomas Le tomthomas@peachatl.com

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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.

Unauthorized use of Peach ATL Media may give rise to claims for damages and or criminal offenses. Your use of the information or materials in Peach ATL Media is strictly at your own risk.

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Frenchie Davis One Night Only

The diva powerhouse had her start on American Idol and The Voice but has since proven she is so much more than that. See her one-woman concert event at Out Front Theatre.

Frenchie Davis first came into focus as an American Idol contestant, and she kept the reality competition momentum going with a stint on The Voice. The chanteuse has since taken on Broadway, starring in Rent, Dreamgirls, and Cinderella, Enchanted. She also starred in a production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ alongside Idol winner Ruben Studdard, a performance that earned a Grammy nod.

Now you can hear Davis perform a pop/soul cabaret – One Night Only - that’s described as “one part Bach with a dash of Britney (Spears, that is), a sprinkle of Fetty Wap and a pinch of Claire Huxtable.

About Out Front Theatre Company Out Front Theatre Company exists to tell stories of the LGBTQIA+ experience and community, through theatre and the performing arts, to the greater Atlanta area. Learn more and purchase tickets at outfronttheatre.com.

The What, When, and Where What: Frenchie Davis – One Night Only When: November 7, 2018, 8 pm Where:

Out Front Theatre Company 999 Brady Ave NE NW Atlanta, GA 30318

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!

E R E I M E R P N R E ST A E H T U SO

Journey back to the Upstairs Lounge and see what has been gained and lost in the ďŹ ght for equality.

Oct. 25 - Nov. 10, 2018

Tickets: $15 and up Out Front Theatre Company 999 Brady Avenue, Atlanta

Sponsored by Jay Reynolds, Michael Barnett, Reuben Reynolds & Bill Casey

www.OutFrontTheatre.com

BOO’D UP BAECATIONS

By Branden Lee Branden Lee is a writer and actor living in Atlanta. Follow Branden on Instagram and Twitter @Brandensss. Watch Branden on his YouTube channel SexxxPerTease.

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There are so many gay vacation destinations besides Fire Island, Mykonos, and Provincetown. Fall is in full swing, and cuffin Season is now. Taking your first vacation together is a huge deal in a new relationship, and making trips together is a great way to solidify your bond in an existing relationship. All couples need vacations.

Here are some recommendations for some fantastic fall getaways for you and your new boo.

MINNEAPOLIS Gays are always drawn to coastal cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, or Seattle. There’s an entire middle section of our huge country with a thriving gay populous. Minneapolis always ranks highest on cities that are the gay-friendliest and where gays are happiest in their lives.

It may feel extremely random, but clearly, they’re doing something right! Go see what the hype is about, and why gays are so happy in Minneapolis while exploring the city with your boo.

MONTREAL Montreal is a city like no other.

You get an international vacation with this destination. Although Canada may not seem that fo-

reign, the primary language in Montreal is still French, so you’ll get the foreign land feel.

Plus Montreal has more gay clubs per capita than any other city. Take a baecation to this Canadian francophone city, and check out the thriving gay nightlife.

BOSTON Never forget that Massachusetts is the most liberal state in the country, and was the very first to legalize samesex marriage. Boston is a tiny city that many may not think about unless it relates to sports or picking a college.

Boston has its beauty and offers

the quaint New England feel. See the leaves change, explore historical sights, and enjoy a city where you can easily walk from one end to the other without getting exhausted.

SAN FRANCISCO Nowadays San Fran may be associated with tech startups and overpriced real estate, but San Francisco is a gay mecca. So much gay history has occurred in San Francisco, and it’s a city that every gay man should make a pilgrimage to at least once. San Francisco is basically gay Jerusalem. A fantastic place to not only take your boyfriend that’s not only holy, but you can get your holes filled wholly.

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History Repeating from a View Upstairs

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

The View Upstairs – playing now at Out Front Theatre Company – follows a young, aspiring fashion designer Wes (performed by Kyle Larkins) who finds himself taken back in time to 1973 to the Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans. Here he encounters fun, crazy characters; each with their own story and lesson for Wes to learn.

Peach had the opportunity to talk to Kyle Larkins and Byron Wigfall who play the two leading characters in The View Upstairs.

Tell us a little about The View Upstairs Byron Wigfall: The View Upstairs is a musical about the liveliness and vibrancy of the people who called The Upstairs Lounge home, in New Orleans, 1973. It follows Wes, a semi-instafamous Z-list celeb, from the future back in time to meet the queers that used to frequent the bar he’s just bought.

Kyle Larkins: The twist to this show is that it takes us into the same bar of the first LGBTQ+ massacre in American history. A bit of a heavy premise, however, this show serves as a testament to those who have passed in the event rather than the fire itself. It’s about the patrons of the bar and what they have to teach us about how much has changed over the past 45 years in LGBTQ+ history. For the better and for the worse.

Why do you think it is essential to have theater that is specifically for the LGBTQ community?

KL: Having a theatre that specializes in LGBTQ+ pieces is pretty profound if you think about it. Many would worry that it may be too to focused on one community; however, I feel like there’s so much to tell (or should I say share?). Out Front Theatre has become a great source for LGBTQ+ artists, playwrights, composers, actors (the list goes on) to band together and inform audiences about topics they may not have been previously informed of, much like the Upstairs Lounge Fire.

BW: Taking into account the history of attempted and successful erasure of the queer community in the media it’s necessary to have a place that is dedicated to queer stories. Where community members can feel safe around others that share their experiences.

What are some of the biggest strengths of the musical genre?

BW: I think music really rests at the core of emotion and singing for me is definitely a very vulnerable craft. I think by combining music, singing and acting you can’t help but connect to the story being told.

Photos: Tyler Ogburn Photography

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were cast, three months ago, we found each other on social media and started discussing the details. We’re that ridiculous, ha.

Secondly, our cast is so amazing and comprised of people of all ages, races, sexual orientations, and genders; making some real informative bonding moments backstage. To be honest, there’s a lot of random factoids passed around that I find interesting. For instance, I now know what skin care regimens really work, where the best Pho in town is, and I’ve even glimpsed into the world of building furniture.

This is the Southeastern premiere of The View UpStairs. Why is it important to tell this story in today’s world?

KL: It’s like an Easter egg hunt of little details like in each dance step, or an emotion that moves a singer from singing the melody into a riff, or even a plot twist that leaves a character so shocked that the building orchestrations from a live band could be the only remedy for their situation.

What can the audience expect of The View UpStairs?

What can they learn?

KL: This show has a lot of heart for every individual that’s within our community; so, I’d have to say the importance of inclusiveness. (And lots of alcohol; I mean, it is set in a bar.) From drag queens to religious figures, to mothers, or even to those who suffer in the closet, The View Upstairs really respects what it’s like to be any person in this world. The show takes its time to let us see how these people approach life, rather than have them explain it to you. So, in its way, it’s a learning experience for everyone about everyone. Myself included.

BW: If The View Upstairs had a subheader, it’d say, “the story of glitter and ruin.” It’s really fun, with dancing and drag and awesome music, but also very thought-provoking. If the audience takes anything away from this show, I want it to be hope for the future. We’ve already come so far in our visibility as a community in just the differences in how the country responded to The Upstairs Lounge in 1973 versus Pulse in 2016. We have to continue to fight as a community, tell our stories and remain visible.

Tell us a little bit about the cast of the musical BW: The cast of The View Upstairs is one of the most talented musical casts I’ve had the opportunity to work with. We had to get pretty close as characters because we’re on stage with each other for most of the show, so there’s a lot of interaction that we needed to find a basis for, but it kinda happened naturally, and I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone.

KL: Well, first off, I have one of the best co-stars ever, Byron Wigfall. He’s such a talented performer and is so dedicated to his craft. The minute we found out we

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KL: Our show is set in New Orleans, 1973; leading our show to cast an ironic shadow over the hate that the LGBTQ+ community faced 45 years ago in this specific region. With that in mind, there’s definitely a sense of pride in being a part of the progress for equal rights in Southern history, theatrically speaking. It’s truly intriguing to think about because this is a show that would’ve been deemed a crime to act or even be associated with in that era, which makes me (as a millennial) really appreciate the rights that I was born with. It gives me hope for every community struggling to have their voices heard and rights re-established.

BW: It’s important because, although it’s gotten better, a lot of what was happening in 1973 is still happening now. Peoples’ entire identities are being swept under the rug, their humanity being lessened by law. People need to be reminded that there are people behind these decisions, people that are being affected. So, once again, we have to continue to tell our stories and push who were are to the forefront, always.

What drew you to this production?

BW: I actually didn’t know about the production at all until I was invited to audition. But once I was enlightened to this piece of queer history that I’d been ignorant to for so long, I couldn’t help myself, and I dove in. And I made it part of my mission to pass the story on.

KL: I remember when I was first informed about Out Front Theatre’s fall season. I saw “The View Upstairs” listed and was like, “... Has anyone even heard of this?”

So, I did what any curious actor would do; I found the album on iTunes to silently judge. The minute I heard Some Kind Of Paradise I remember thinking to myself, “I NEED to do this show. Like, for the sake of my creative soul.” (I’m an actor; I’m allowed to be dramatic.)

The View Upstairs plays November 1-10 at Out Front Theatre Company. Tickets through their website at outfronttheatre.com.

Fall Faves & Cool Layers

Fall is here which also means you get to wear more than a t-shirt and shorts! The season of layers is here, so here are a few picks that will keep you stylish well into winter.

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt A sweater is a great way to add a pop of color while still being presentable.

Wear it outside and inside for a bit of structured style.

Uniqlo Men Extra Fine Merino Crewneck Long-Sleeve Sweater Mustard, $40

Zara Bomber Jacket, $90

It pays to invest in soft, quality t-shirts – after all, they will be closest to your skin.

Ah, the hoodie! The ideal layer to keep both warm and cool in the chill.

Lululemon City Sweat Zip Hoodie, $110

Buck Mason Pima Tee Port, $28

Pants that you can wear to work, for a night out and to the gym.

Vuori Clothing Cosmos Performance Lounge Pant, $112

Cool sneakers keep you comfortable and looking good.

Vans SK8-HI Desert Sage, $65 16 | 10.31.18

Photo: PR

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They Will Rock You

An interview with Bohemian Rhapsody stars Rami Malek, Joseph Mazzello and Gwilym Lee

By Gregg Shapiro

First things first, for all of those concerned about the way that Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality is depicted in the Bryan Singer’s Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, you can relax. From the minute you first see Mercury, played brilliantly by Rami Malek (complete with prosthetic teeth), there is no doubt that the king of Queen was, in fact, a queen.

Yes, his relationship with “fiancée” Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton) gets a fair amount of screen time.

But, so do his same-sex attractions, from being cruised by a trucker outside of a men’s room to his relationships with manager Paul (Allen Leech) and later his lover Jim (Aaron McCusker).

Now that that’s settled, it’s safe to say that, as biopics go, Bohemian Rhapsody does a respectable job of telling both Mercury’s story and giving the audience insight into the history of the band itself. The backstory of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You” are worth the price of admission alone. I had the honor speaking to Malek, as well as Joseph Mazzello and Gwilym Lee (who play Queen band members John Deacon and Brian May, respectively) while they were in Miami shortly before the movie opened in theaters in November 2018.

Continued on pg. 20 >>>> Photos: 20th Century Fox

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I’d like to begin by getting the obvious questions out of the way first. Would you each please name your favorite Queen song and favorite Queen album?

Jospeh Mazzello: “Somebody To Love” is my all-time

favorite, and this is a boring answer by A Night at the Opera is such a masterpiece that, all told, I’d have to say it’s my favorite album.

Gwilym Lee: Yeah, probably the same. But I really like

Queen one, the first album, just because you hear them working out who they really are. You hear them as a really young, slightly naïve band that sounds a lot like other bands of that time because they’re still trying to find their unique sound. There’s a lot of Led Zeppelin influence. But there’s something quite pure about it as a rock band.

Rami Malek: As an album cover, maybe to flip this a

little bit, I like News of the World.

The robot!

RM: Yes, the robot, which they’re currently touring

with. We watched so much archival footage and to hear them talk about “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions” (both from News of the World) as something they always thought about as a pair, and a true audience participation song that features so heavily in the film; I’ve got to pay homage to that.

Yes, there’s that great scene in the studio where we see the genesis of the song. Prior to making Bohemian Rhapsody, where did Queen rank on each of your lists of favorite bands?

GL: It’s pretty high up there. Their songs are so

universal. You hear them everywhere growing up.

Sometimes you have to remind yourself that they wrote the songs that they did. I think people are going 20 | 10.31.18

to watch this film and be shocked to learn, oh, they wrote that one, as well. What’s been lovely about doing this project is going back to the origins of their songs. Seeing how they evolved and the imagination that it took to come up with such unique songs.

JM: I made a little student film when I was in high

school and I put “Another One Bites the Dust” at the end of it over the credits. It was like “final cut one” or something. Then Queen just started popping up for me. I directed a film and everyday before going to the set, to pump myself up I’d listen to “Somebody to Love”. Then it was in college where I feel like I found a new level of appreciation for them and I became a Greatest Hits fan. Every new song I heard by them was my new favorite song. Doing this movie changed everything. There were songs I didn’t think about too much or seemed like one of their mediocre songs. When you learn how to play it, the intent behind it, why they wrote it, how all four of them wrote hits – when you get all of that knowledge it takes on a whole new meaning to you. I literally walked in the room singing.

Yes, I heard you singing “Somebody To Love”.

RM: That doesn’t get old.

JM / GL / RM: [all laugh] RM: No, no. We love it. We got this question on set

a lot. We’d be playing a song, take after take, by the end of the day…I was a production assistant on a music video once where I was like, “If I ever hear that song again, I’m going to do bad things”. But that never happens with Queen. Collectively we’ve all said this without talking about it. We’ve been listening to Queen non-stop in a way that some might think is odd or some might think is totally understandable.

That speaks to the power of the music.

RM: It does. Hearing Bowie with Queen and Freddie

doing those kinds of operatic warm-ups that he ended up incorporating into the music was revolutionary to me. Then you get involved in the story behind the making of “Under Pressure” and how things come about with them. How inspired and spontaneous they were together is something I find so fascinating.

JM: After I was done shooting, I was like “What songs

didn’t we cover? What songs didn’t I get to know?”

That was the rabbit-hole I went down. You’re loving so much of it that you want to learn more and more and be able to take it in as a fan of the music rather than having the responsibility of performing it.

You hope that that’s what a movie like this will do, to get people to go and do the research.

GL: So many people that we’ve spoken to who have

seen the film say that the first thing they do is go back home and watch the Live Aid footage which I think is great. Everyone needs to see it. It’s such an iconic and historic moment. We watched it hundred and hundreds of times in preparation for the film. I still watch it to this day.

There’s a scene where Freddie plays piano upside down and backwards which made me wonder if each of you plays a musical instrument.

JM: Only upside down.

RM: I looked at piano and it’s

been a mystery to me my whole life.

That’s the one thing people forget about Freddie. The guy was a virtuoso. Taking piano lessons, it took quite a while for me to learn how to play “Bohemian Rhapsody” or “We Are the Champions” But at one point I saw in the script, oh he’s playing upside down as well. I felt like, “If you’re going to make my story from his point of view, I’m going to throw everything at you”.

GL: I played a little bit of acoustic guitar, but nothing

to the level of Brian May’s genius. We all put in a lot of work. We got grafted pretty hard trying to play our instruments.

Joseph and Gwilym, what were the challenges of playing living people, as in the case of John Deacon and Brian May, respectively?

job giving it your absolute all and everything. It just feels like there’s this extra motivation when you have this intense responsibility to the actual person you’re playing. To their family and, in this job, to the Queen fan-base, which is massive. We hear from them all the time, they’re so invested in this. Every day you walk on set, it doesn’t matter if you’re tired or what’s going on in your personal life, you always keep that in the forefront of your mind and it focuses you in in a way you can’t even imagine.

GL: You have to stay on guard. You have to stay on

your game. It can be overwhelming, but it forces you to put in the hours.

RM: I looked forward to knowing when Brian May was

going to come (to the set). It just elevated me.

It didn’t make you nervous?

RM: It could have. But he stepped on the scene and

he was warm. He was taking pictures of it. There’s such humility and class in the man. He made us feel like it was a privilege to have us telling his story.

He was taking videos on his cellphone of us doing Live Aid. It was like, “That’s not how this works [laughs]. We’re trying to impress you.” It was a cool moment for us.

JM:

What do you think Freddie Mercury would think of Bohemian Rhapsody?

RM: It’s hard enough emulating him in any way or trying to fill those shoes.

It took me quite a while to come close in this film. To begin to ponder what this man was thinking.

Ultimately, I think what the film does really well, it doesn’t spend too much time going into the darker places, the illicit places. We do that just so we can show just how grand and big his life was.

Full.

RM: Rich and complex and full. I think celebrating the

magnificence of the man was all we hoped to achieve.

I just hope there’s a moment where he’s like, “Well that was colorful and enjoyable. I hope you all had a real good time.”

GL: It’s nice to be reminded of him. He was a

celebrator of life; an incredible individual. It’s nice to remind the world of him. We need people like Freddie Mercury.

JM: It literally never leaves your mind every time you play a real person. As an actor, you want to go into any

peachATL.com | 21

YAPPY HOUR AT TRIPPS PHOTOS: Andrea Dwyer

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PAPA HERO PARTY PHOTOS:MPack “Man Flavor” Photography

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BLAKE'S Photos: Sher Pruitt

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Thank You, Atlanta!

Our mission is to bridge communities to brighten the lives of Georgia's children in need.

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December 2018! & Happy Pride from your friends at forthekidatl

Marlon has called Atlanta home for the past ten years, but he is originally from Warner Robins, GA. He is a Resource Coordinator for a Fortune 500 company here in the Atlanta area, and his hobbies include weightlifting, traveling and firing up the grill. Also, if it involves frozen margaritas, count him in! He loves spending time with his longtime husband, his adorable Pomeranian named Leo, and his close group of friends. Check him out on Instagram @marlon_tomm.

Marlon Thomie

30 | 10.31.18

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Get Out!

By Scott King

Weekend getaways for the price of a movie ticket I want to live in a scary movie. Everybody sitting around, huddled under blankets, waiting for the cops to take their statement or for that Friday night party to begin.

The girl usually gets the guy. He’s cute, he’s sensitive, and he doesn’t die. Unless he’s the killer...

A bunch of sexy 17-year-olds played by a gaggle of still hot 27-year-old actors who are somehow never caught chain-smoking between takes. What could BE more fabulous?

Scott King’s milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. He could teach you, but he’d have to repeal and replace. Scott King is, like, a really smart person.

THE BIRDS Bodega Bay, where the men are handsome, and the women are gay. So much hot lesbian foreplay in those quiet interior scenes. Beautiful ladies smoking cigarettes, exchanging ambiguous eye contact, and talking about the way things are. You can find me hanging out at the diner, sipping coffee, enjoying the view, waiting for the terror to come in.

ROSEMARY’S BABY Did you know that Courtney Love named her production company Tannis Root in homage to this film and the mysteriously delicious pudding that causes Mia Farrow to have all those lucid dreams? It’s true. MF’s due date is June 28. That’s my birthday, bruh! I would be upstairs with Harold and Maude, smoking cigarettes and planning invitation lists for post-apocalyptic Williamsburg orgies.

It really happened!

SCREAM Oh, Drew! You should be more careful. Popcorn is so easy to burn. I remember seeing this movie in the theater in 1996. At the end I was like oh my god those dudes are gay together! My friends were like why do you want a bunch of serial killers to be gay? I was like, “We are everywhere!”

Honestly, I would not be hanging out with the characters in this movie. I would be at home by myself watching USA’s Up All Night or the Howard Stern Show on the E! Network. Trust me it’s better this way.

GET OUT So many cuties, so little time. You’re telling me they’re not men but actually robots? Isn’t that statement a bit redundant? We are all pre- programmed by our desires.

I was a little upset that this movie didn’t feature a gay best friend. I think I could fill this role nicely, like Woody Harrelson did in Friends With Benefits. I would play basketball with the boys and talk non-stop about my crush on some guy at the gym. But since I was living in a

32 | 10.31.18

We’ve got Moby or The Ramones or N.W.A. on the soundtrack. We’ve got Michael Myers with his stoic determination. We’ve got Jordan Peele giving us something we haven’t seen before. We’ve got Alfred Hitchcock with his winking subversiveness. What is not to love?

Below are the scary movies where I would most like to take a quick vacation. fantasy and still single, I would be free and available to go help with the rescue.

Let’s get em, kween!

TRUE BLOOD Sookie is mine!

I would fit in very well in this world. I have years of experience waiting tables, facial hair, and a lighthearted take on being queer. Lafayette and I would get along well. We would probably even hook up every once in awhile. Yum yum. Jason Stackhouse would appreciate my sense of humor, but he would often leave our conversations looking puzzled. Sam would appreciate my work ethic, and Tara would pick me as the person to ask where Sookie is all the time.

Eric and Pam, however, are the ones to watch. They would spot me and smell me from a mile off as a born sucker, no pun intended. They would try to trick me into being some sort of gopher zombie slave errand boy. Sookie and Bill would save me though, with compassion and grace that would be oh so finely wrought.

Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a winner.

HALLOWEEN (1978) Hey honey can I help you carry your books? Nah. I don’t need no man. Except for that sheriff. He’s got a cute ass.

And gravitas. You can find me on the soft lawn, hanging the laundry and then disappearing into thin air.

HALLOWEEN (2018 - SPOILER ALERT!) Could anything be more beautiful than the nighttime world of this movie? Does anyone not look their best in relaxed pumpkin light? I want to hang out with that kid and his babysitter. That kid is so badass!

Something tells me I’ll be back ...

Happy Halloween!

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MVPB October 30th marks “Power Bottom Appreciation Day.” It’s that wonderful time of year where you give your favorite taker some extra love. And don’t wait until they’ve had their share of Halloween candy the next day! This week’s thot of inspiration is to every Power Bottom who goes above and beyond their call of doodie. I like to call them “Most Valuable Power Bottoms.”

A few days ago, I was enjoying my pre-Halloween colonic. I do one every time I’m about to watch the classic John Carpenter film “Halloween.” It has a tendency to spook me shitless. And with the 40year follow-up film of the same name coming out, I was in store for some turbulent times if I didn’t get my turds out. While I was at the pooh spa, I had a conversation with a man in the room next to me. He was having an emotional episode, and I was feeling extra nosey. It turns out, his colonic brought to the surface more than just the last couple of meals. The water rushing in and pressing on his stomach reminded him of an orgy he went to where he saved someone’s life. He reminisced how, as he was bouncing up and down on what appeared to be the most-endowed top he’d ever met, the top went into cardiac arrest. It was the aggressive bounding, the paramedics later told him, that kept the top’s blood flow going to the heart just long enough until help arrived. I probed him with some questions to figure out why the top had the heart attack, and it turns out it was a simple mistake of taking alcohol while tripping on “G.” I always felt bottoms went to good lengths to prepare for their share of the sex, but his story took this man to a whole different status. As I sipped my post-colonic electrolyte drink, I congratulated him on being such a valuable power bottom. He’d never heard such an expression. He opened my eyes to the harsh reality that the world tends to look down on bottoms more than they look up. How do we as a culture change this view? I didn’t know the answer, and I was too strapped for time to care. I left the dookie daycare and met up with my friends to watch “Halloween.”

Without spoiling the movie, I have to say Michael Myers’ death at the end left me feeling satisfied.

There were moments in the film that reminded me of the MVPB I spoke with earlier in the day. I realized Michael was looking for his own MVPB. There’s a scene in which he takes a hammer and bludgeons an elderly woman’s head, only to take her unnecessarily large kitchen knife and leave.

Talk about hittin’-it-and-quittin’-it. It took him almost two hours and about a dozen murders to find the cavernous hole he desired, nay, needed! Jamie Lee Curtis was his MVPB, and she gave him more than just a body to poke his blade into, she gave him the sweet release his psycho-ass needed: the release from life.

I don’t think it was a coincidence that “Halloween” was released right around “Power Bottom Appreciation Day.” This movie is clearly a metaphor on how MVPBs can not only pleasure their top; they can save lives. Who knows how many more people Michael Myers would have killed had it not been for Activia spokeswoman and proud grandmother stepping up to the plate? So to all the Power Bottoms out there, if you ever feel unappreciated, know your skills and willingness to ride out any situation, no matter how bumpy, are not going unnoticed! Happy Power Bottom Appreciation Day!

Yours internally,

Mitzi Pennington is the self-proclaimed sex symbol and advice-giving-guru alter ego of Mirza Muftic. She came from humble roots of middle America and married into money shortly after dropping out of college. Her late husband’s fortune allows her to travel the world and have a sense of enlightenment one normally gets from actually working for their money. Mirza has had none of those experiences in his life. On occasion, Mirza will perform as Mitzi around Atlanta. His other interests/day job include film editing, retouching, and stop-motion animation.

34 | 10.31.18

You deserve Personalized Care & Individual Attention – that’s what we deliver at Family Health Care of Atlanta • Participating in many clinical trials • Certiied HIV Specialist, American Academy of HIV Medicine • 20+ years experience in Family & HIV Care SPECIALIZING IN DERMATOLOGY, STD’S, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, UROLOGY, PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

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Oct 31 – Nov 7

Guac y Margys Halloween Party

TAYLOR ALXNDR Album Release Party

Troy, Sebastian and David have been celebrating Halloween together for years, and are VERY excited to be hosting a party at Guac y Margys! Drink specials, costume contest, and other spooky surprises!

Celebrate the release of TAYLOR ALXNDR’s debut album. TAYLOR ALXNDR is a queer performance artist, DIY musician, community organizer, and curator based in Atlanta. Tickets through tayloralxndr.com.

Wednesday October 31, 6-10 pm

Friday, November 2, 9 pm – 2 am

Guac y Margys

529 Flat Shoals Ave SE

STAFF PICK!

Chomp & Stomp 2018 Join the annual Chomp & Stomp Chili Cook-off and Bluegrass Festival benefitting Cabbagetown parks, green spaces, and community center.

Saturday, November 3, 11 AM – 6 PM Cabbagetown

Atlanta Oddities & Curiosities Expo

Bearracuda One Night on Folsom Street

The ultimate expo for lovers of the strange and unusual. Get out your harnesses, leather, jocks and gear and show Experience oddities like taxidermy, wet specimens, an- off what you feel sexy in! San Francisco’s Matt Consola tiques, odd jewelry, unusual art, bones, curiosities and all spins sexy beats all night. around creepy, strange and bizarre items. More info at Saturday, November 3, 9 pm – 3 am odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com

Saturday, November 3, 11 am – 6 pm Atlanta Exposition Center 38 | 10.31.18

The Heretic

FRIENDS NEW FACES PHOTOS: Keith Bailey

40 | 10.31.18

MIDTOWN 1

Monroe Dr. NE

14

Amsterdam Ave.

NE ve . tA

Piedmont Park

on

11

dm

6 12th St. NE

18

Pi e

Juniper St. NE

14th St. NE

7

9

2

10th St. NE

10

. NE

19

oe Dr

e. NE Piedmont Av

Juniper St . NE

Peachtree St. NE

3

Monr

Charles Allen Dr. NE

12 W. Peachtree St. NW

15

16

4th St. NE

8

13

BARS Amsterdam Blake's Bulldogs Friends The Model T My Sister’s Room Ten Atlanta

5

Dining 502 Amsterdam Ave NE 227 10th St NE 893 Peachtree St NE 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 699 Ponce De Leon Ave NE 66 12th St NE 990 Piedmont Ave NE

9 10 11 12

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

clubs 13 Atlanta Eagle

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

306 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

14 Urban Body Fitness 500 Amsterdam Ave NE

spa/bath 15 Flex Spa

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

fitness

retail 8 Barking Leather

4

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Ponce De Leon Pl. NE

Spring St. NW

17

76 4th St. NW

16 17 18 19

G’s Midtown Henry’s Joe's on Juniper 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

When the world throws you Let be your savedandgay.com

Cheshire 23

ansley 21

37

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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 33 34 35 36

Midtown Moon Felix's The Hideaway Mixx Oscar's

805 Lambert Dr. NE, Suite A 2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd 1739 Cheshire Bridge Rd 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

Spa / bath 2103 Faulkner Rd NE 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 37 Cowtippers 38 Eclectic Bistro

Fitness 30 Gravitee Fitness

NE

.

clubs 28 Heretic 29 Tokyo Valentino

e. nt mo ed

39 38

Retail 26 Barking Leather 27 Southern Nights

41

Pi

28 20

Dining 24 Las Margaritas 25 Roxx

Av

ge Rd Brid hire

r.

E

Ches

.N

.

25

BJ Roosters Opus 1 Tripps Woof's

31 Manifest 4 U 42 The Den

35

24

id Br

Dr

Rd

BARS 20 21 22 23

40

32

oe

hir

36

nr

dm

es

ll D

31 er

Mo

Pi e

29

Ch

idde

kn

27

33

. NE

Manchester St. NE

Piedmont Rd. NE

22

42 L

ul

IX

34

x Rd

Fa

26

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

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

peachATL.com | 43

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

BARKING LEATHER

1400 Northside Dr NW

805 Lambert Dr NE

BULLDOGS

Dining

2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

MIDTOWN

736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

communitashospitality.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

MODEL T

991 Piedmont Ave NE

699 Ponce De Leon Ave NE

einsteinsatlanta.com

modeltatlanta.com

EINSTEIN’S

MY SISTER’S ROOM

1077 Juniper St NE

66 12th St NE

frogsmidtown.com

mysistersroom.com

TEN ATLANTA

tenatlanta.com

990 Piedmont Ave NE

CHESHIRE

SOUTHERN NIGHTS VIDEO

ANSLEY BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1447 Piedmont Ave NE

GCB & PLEASURES

brushstrokesatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave. NE

FROGS CANTINA

Fitness

931 Monroe Dr

MIDTOWN

G’S

communitashospitality.com 219 10th St NE

HERETIC

HENRY’S

2069 Cheshire Bridge Road

132 10th St NE

BJ ROOSTERS

JOE’S ON JUNIPER

hereticatlanta.com

barkingleather.com

henrysatl.com

URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbodyfitness.com

500 Amsterdam Ave NE

CHESHIRE GRAVITEE FITNESS graviteeatl.com

bjroosters.com

joesonjuniper.com

2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

1049 Juniper St NE

OPUS 1

LA HACIENDA

Spas/Baths/Adult

900 Monroe Dr NE

MIDTOWN

1931 Piedmont Circle N

CHESHIRE

FLEX SPA

WOOFS

LAS MARGARITAS

76 4th St NW

2425 Piedmont Road NE

1842 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

CHESHIRE

ANSLEY

ROXX

MANIFEST 4U

MIDTOWN MOON

1824 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

ANSLEY

FELIX’S

COWTIPPERS

1086 Alco St NE

TRIPPS

woofsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

lahaciendamidtown.com

lasmargaritasmidtown.com

cowtippersatlanta.com

THE HIDEAWAY

1600 Piedmont Ave NE

1544 Piedmont Ave NE

DEKALB

MIXX

LIPS ATLANTA

1492 Piedmont Ave NE

3011 Buford Hwy NE

mixxatlanta.com

OSCAR’S

oscarsatlanta.com

1510 Piedmont Ave NE

44 | 10.31.18

atldragshow.com

2201 Faulkner Rd NE

flexspas.com

manifest4u.org

2103 Faulkner Rd NE

THE DEN

thedenatlanta.com

2135 Liddell Drive NE

Georgia Body Works.com Mobile Fitness and Massage “I come to you, so let’s get started!”

678-557-1780

Personal Training • Massage • Entertainment georgiabodyworks.com

BUTCH Rubdown • Model Kink/BDSM • Master/Slave Nude Pics in (My Place) only to discuss call 24/7

In Midtown off Cheshire Bridge Rd CALL NOW ! Butch 404.494.6696

HELP WANTED

FULL TIME DESK CLERK POSITIONS AVAILABLE

8-4pm and 12-8am

Please apply online at Flexspas.com

Hot Tub and Swim Spas

60% OFF RETAIL AquaLivingStores.com 404-382-5329

peachATL.com | 45

10 FALL GETAWAYS – LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL VISTAS, LEISURE, AND A CHANGE OF SCENERY

l

Loca

l

Loca

l

Loca

Savannah, Georgia

Blue Ridge, Georgia

Asheville, North Carolina

nal

Natio

Chateau Elan, Georgia Napa Valley, California

nal

Natio

nal

Natio

Int’ l

Sedona, Arizona Int’ l

Isla Mujeres ,Mexico

nal

Natio

’l

Montreal, Canada

Jackson Hole, Wyoming 46 | 10.31.18

Int

Berlin, Germany

Sunday Funday = Playmates and soul mates...

MISERABLE MONDAY

MAKE MONDAY YOUR B#TCH! feel better faster with Intravenous (IV) Therapy

20% Off Your first visit Promo code: davidmag 404.939.7666 | replenishIV.com | Hours: 10am-6pm 549-6 Amsterdam Avenue NE | Atlanta, GA 30306

Atlanta:

678-528-2525

18+ MegaMates.com

11pm Thursdays

peachATL.com | 47

Text your Peach Pits to 256-60-PEACH, or e-mail mikkel@PeachATL.com Illustrations by: Jerel Ely

Adulting is a soup, and I’m a fork Asking for a friend: why is the day before vacation starts always the most ridiculous?

Him: Can we wake up together?

Me: yes, we can, sweetie Him: Get up together?

Me: Yes, love Him: Make breakfast together?

I tried to embrace my inner child today, but the little bastard bit me

Me: Of course!

Him: Or you make it?

Me: Or no more blow jobs?

Him: together it is!

The only way to win with a toxic person is not to play. Just leave their playground.

I wish I could make the google assistant on my phone sound like Timothy Strong.

Oooooh, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode is pissed off, juiced up on Activia, and ready for revenge!

What doesn’t kill you makes you weird at parties.

I’m sorry, I think I rolled my eyes out loud at you.

48 | 10.31.18

friday november 9th

saturday november 10th

no cover 10pm - 3am 306 ponce de leon ave, ne, atlanta, ga 30308

50 | 10.31.18

ARIES (MAR. 21 - APR. 19)

LIBRA (SEP. 23 - OCT. 22)

You’ll bustle about like a drag queen in a wig store, and then throw a hissy fit when no one pays waits on you in a timely manner. Keep a check on your aggressions today. Losing your temper won’t get you the things you want any faster, or have people paying attention to you.

Make yourself available to gentlemen suitors today.

Accept all invitations to dinner, coffee, the movies or whatever public activities they suggest. But turn down offers to take things further. You’re a respectable gentlemen after all, and you don’t jump into the sack with just any Tom, Dick or Harry.

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

You may hate it when your friends become successful, but it’s better to be happy for them than to resent them. Don’t let jealous feelings towards others derail your relationships today. Perhaps your envy is a manifestation of anger towards yourself for not doing as well as them.

Men will be mysteriously drawn to you today. They will stare at you and look you up and down in knowing ways. You’ll be flattered by all of this attention at first, until you realize that your fly is unzipped. How embarrassing is that?

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN. 20)

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

Stop thinking only of yourself today and start doing things for others. There are hundreds of men in your own community who could use a helping hand, or just someone friendly who’ll have compassion for their plight. It doesn’t take much to help, just a little time and basic human understanding.

Building towards the future of a relationship takes more than looking at the big picture. Focus on the grand scheme of things today, but pay attention to the little details, as they are just as important. Achieving this balance should put you on the road to unlimited devotion.

CANCER (JUN. 21 - JUL. 22)

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

A profound session of illicit intimacy has you wanting more today, but you probably won’t get it. Such are the pitfalls of getting involved with someone who’s already involved. This will really drag you down today.

It’s easy to advise you to get over it, but we all know how hard that can be.

You may feel detached from your friends today, and you’ll wonder why they never call. But communication goes both ways, and perhaps you’re the one who isn’t good at staying in touch. Pick up the phone and call some of them today. They’ll be glad to hear from you after all this time.

LEO (JUL. 23 - AUG. 22)

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Take a deeper look at some of your relationships today. You may be carrying a lot of excess baggage that’s weighing you down. Relinquish unneeded ties to the past, and jettison anyone who’s not adding anything positive to your life. You’ll be surprised at how much you throw away.

An urge to feel socially useful will have you pitching in where you can today. Whether at an AIDS hospice or a homeless shelter, your selflessness will be welcome and much needed. The looks of sincere gratitude and thanks are all the reward you’ll need.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEP. 22)

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20)

The call of the wild may have you feeling restless today. So heed it! Head into the great outdoors -- perhaps a long hike, playful swim or leisurely bike ride are in order? Pick something fun and frisky you can enjoy with a very special friend.

Don’t let others use you as a doormat today. Stand up for yourself and show them you’re stronger than they think. They may gain newfound respect for you, and you’ll never have to worry about having sand kicked in your face again.

WHAT happened was . . .

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.

I have been a relationship for over two years. It’s a great and committed relationship, but the issue is that our sex drives are completely different.

Sometimes, I feel he wants more of a friend/ companion than a romantic partner. We did agree about six months ago that we were to have sex twice a week – it has now been seven weeks since we had sex. He says stress affects his sex drive and makes up all these excuses for not being intimate with me. And when I bring it up, he gets angry and very defensive with me. What is happening to us?

Sincerely Getting Off-Set Dear Getting Off-Set It is pretty clear that you are experiencing two sides of the same relationship “battle.” On one side, there’s you with a functioning sex drive and a need for a fulfilling sex life. On the other hand, there’s him with another notion of how intimacy is played out between two people where the togetherness of the union more than makes up for a little roll in the hay. So how do you achieve a compromise between you, so you get your sexual needs fulfilled, and he doesn’t feel obligated to get it on? How do you not let it reflect on your sexual attractiveness? How does he let his lack of sexual drive not be a reflection of a lack of involvement? Maybe you need to rebuild the intimacy between you because it somehow got lost in the day to dayness of life? This represents an opportunity to examine your relationship which, in turn, can rekindle your spark. Maybe he is indeed overly stressed at work, or his libido is simply ebbing instead of flowing right now? Create an environment where you can talk it out without anger or getting defensive – maybe the key to the lack of physical intimacy lies in rebuilding that emotional intimacy first? As for yourself, don’t rely solely on sexual experiences with your partner. Explore a little ‘self-love’, and create a sexual environment where you can get a release for your sexual desire, so you are not inadvertently pressing your partner for sex all the time. Either way, compromising on when and 52 | 10.31.18

how many times to have sex is not the compromise you should make! When you learn about each other’s priorities instead, you’ll get a clearer picture of the state of your relationship. It’s a tough one, but if you are both committed, you can definitely make it work.

The other day when I was at the gym, I jumped in the shower there, and the guy across from me engaged in the good old ‘gap in the shower curtain’ game. I was feeling frivolous and played along, and soon we were jerking off across from each other. Hot and all, but since I was so focused on his body parts and not his face, I failed to realize that I know this guy – I recognized him as he stepped out of the shower. It is the husband of my boss, and I met him briefly at the company Christmas party where she introduced us. He’s a total dish, which is why I remember him, and now I don’t know what to do with this knowledge.

What if he knows who I am? What if I see him again at the gym? Should I let him know that I know who he is? Can we do this again (he was HOT)? So many questions. Please help.

Sincerely Boss Manhunt Dear Boss Manhunt Sure, you had a hot encounter at the gym. I think everyone with a gym membership has had something likely happen to them. Except for the part with your straight boss’ husband – that’s pretty damn unique!

And I think you know what to do here too. Even though this is clearly an indiscretion on the husband’s part, you should in no way pursue this. Not even if he did recognize you and started to actively pursue you. So if you find yourself in that same shower stall and he starts easing that curtain open, I suggest you close your curtain tight, rinse off (in cold water!), and leave the premises as fast as possible.

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