Mother’s Day Las Vegas
- April 4, 2015 - 9:15am
Mother’s Day is approaching, so it’s time to honor Mom! If your mother loves and accepts you for who you are, there’s no better feeling in the world. So let’s show Mom a little love. Why not take her for a night out in Las Vegas? Believe it or not, there are plenty of Mom-appropriate activities here in Sin City. Here are just a few:
Let’s Start With Dinner:
Vegas is a dining destination. From celebrity chef-owned restaurants to funky, hole-in-the-wall eateries, there’s something for everyone, and as a food writer and restaurant critic, I’ve tried some of the best. Do you want to go old-school? Try Hugo’s Cellar, downtown at The Four Queens. The classic decor features exposed brick walls and warm wood accents. Tuxedoed waiters serve up French-inspired food, along with expertly grilled steaks and seafood. Lovely personal touches include classic desserts like Cherries Jubilee and Bananas Foster, flambéed at your table, and a long-stemmed red rose for every woman diner. Would you prefer something with a view? More than 800 feet above street level, on the 106th floor of the Stratosphere Tower, is Top Of The World, a sleek, elegant restaurant that revolves 360 degrees every 80 minutes, providing diners with spectacular views of the Las Vegas valley. Add to that amazing dishes like Pan Seared Foie-Gras with Cocoa Nib Fleur De Sel, a perfect Lobster Bisque, or Rack of Lamb with Moroccan Flavors, and Mom will be suitably impressed. How about fine Asian food served in a refined, fairy tale ballroom-like setting? Take Mom to Jasmine, at the Bellagio! Traditional Cantonese, Szechuan, Hunan, and Hong Kong style offerings will please your palate, and the amazing view of the Bellagio fountains make a beautiful backdrop for a Mother’s Day celebration.
Next, a Show...
Vegas is an entertainment destination. Headliners like Celine Dion. Broadway-style shows like Jersey Boys. One-of-a-kind spectacles found only in Las Vegas. You’re sure to find something that will delight Mom and maybe even put a nostalgic smile on her face. If Mom likes Broadway, she’ll love Steve Wynn’s ShowStoppers, a bright, shiny new revue at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Casino, that highlights the best of classic Broadway - numbers from Gypsy, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, Chicago, Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line and more, presented by a cast of 66 performers backed by a 30 piece orchestra. Want to show her something that can’t be found anywhere but Vegas? Try one of the 8 different Cirque du Soleil shows playing on the Strip. Over at the Bellagio, “O” is a dreamlike fantasy set in a magical water world, and still one of the hottest tickets in town, with high divers, a trapeze act in a rainstorm, and a fire act that has to be seen to be believed! Two of the most popular Cirque offerings are Michael Jackson “ONE”, featuring four misfit kids who discover their inner powers after acquiring Michael’s iconic hat, shoes, sunglasses and glove, and The Beatles “LOVE”, a revue that mixes Cirque’s unique staging and imagery, with the Beatles’ legendary music. High-concept French Canadian circus isn’t your thing? Well, if you think Mom might like a bit of camp, check out Divas-Starring Frank Marino, a fun, energetic show featuring some of the best female impersonators portraying icons like Madonna, Liza, Cher, Tina Turner, Britney Spears, Lady GaGa and more. With host Frank Marino as the legendary Joan Rivers, Mom will be dazzled - if not by Marino’s galaxy of “stars”, then certainly by the abundance of sequins on his many, many gowns!
Finally, a Cocktail!
Vegas is a cocktail destination, too! With award winning mixologists using exotic ingredients like yuzu, elderflower liqueur, matcha powder, and various flavor-infused liquors, you’ll find amazing, hand-crafted libations at every turn. How lovely, then, to round out the evening with Mom, over a one-of-a-kind cocktail, in a one-of-a-kind Vegas location. One of my favorite spots is Chandelier at the Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino. With three separate levels swathed in hundreds of strands of shimmering crystals, this gorgeous bar/lounge makes you feel as though you’re sitting inside an enormous chandelier! The pinkish-purple lighting creates a glamorous, yet comfortable mood and the noise level never gets in the way of conversation. Each level has it’s own specialty cocktails, and there are even a few choices that aren’t listed - if you know what to order, though, they’ll be happy to whip them up. Try the Forbidden Fruit, the Bruce Tea, or the Verbena; an Asian take on a Margarita, garnished with a Sichuan Button - the center of a dried flower, which, when chewed, changes the drink’s flavor profile from tart, to sweet, then back again! Science!! Over at the Wynn Resort, you’ll find Parasol Up and Parasol Down. With colorful curtains, bright red banquettes, and gorgeous chandeliers tucked into parasol-like, frosted glass domes, Parasol Up is a classy, quiet spot for drinking, chatting, and people watching. To one side, this lobby bar looks out on the hotel’s garden-like entryway and casino, to the other side, over Wynn’s enchanted Lake Of Dreams. Across the Esplanade, down a spiral escalator, is Parasol Down, where you’ll sit at quaint little tables under multi-tiered parasols, and watch as the Lake Of Dreams comes alive after dusk, with whimsical sound and light shows. Sip on specialty drinks like the Lychee Blossom Martini, the Sinatra Smash, or their signature cocktail, the Pear-A-Sol, while a giant frog croons from atop a 40 foot waterfall. Hey! Only in Vegas!
One last tip. Remember that Vegas is a 24-hour town, so if you’re having fun painting the town with Mom, and you’re both out a little later than usual, you might be in need of a pick-me-up the following morning. Luckily, there are plenty of places where you’ll find nice, strong coffee... and even stronger Bloody Marys!
The fight for rights for female coaches
- April 4, 2015 - 8:40am
The story is current, but you can be forgiven for thinking it’s from 10 years ago. Or 50.
Shannon Miller was one of the most successful coaches in college athletics – any sport, both genders. She won five women’s ice hockey NCAA national championships at the University of Minnesota Duluth (and a medal with the Canadian Olympic team).
Just before New Year’s, though, she was fired. The reason? Her salary was too high.
Facing budget problems, the athletic direct and chancellor let her go. They axed her entire staff too. They did not, however, fire the men’s hockey coach – a man who was less successful than Miller, but earned more.
Interestingly, Miller – and all her assistant coaches – are lesbian or bisexual.
This is not the first curious dismissal of a female college coach in recent years. Last year, veteran University of Iowa field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum was fired, despite being cleared of charges that she had been verbally abusive. Griesbaum’s partner – a woman who was an athletic administrator at Iowa – was reassigned to other duties, soon after Griesbaum’s dismissal.
The year before, University of Texas woman’s track and field coach Bev Kearney was offered a choice – resign or be fired – for having a consensual sexual relationship with an athlete on her team.
These are just three of nearly a dozen gender-related incidents reported by Pat Griffin in a Huffington Post story called “College Athletics’ War on Women Coaches.” All occurred within the past decade. And all cause LGBT activists like Helen Carroll to wonder why male and female coaches are treated so differently, in so many ways.
UMD’s retention of the less successful, more costly men’s hockey staff is not an isolated incident. Carroll – the sports project director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights – notes that Iowa’s Griesbaum was held to a different standard than male coaches. “Guys say aggressive things all the time, without being fired,” Carroll says. “The consequences here were really severe. Can you imagine Jim Harbaugh being fired for something like that?”
At Texas, according to Griffin, Kearney’s sex and race discrimination lawsuit says that “male coaches who had sexual relationships with female students were either not disciplined or received lighter punishments and retained their jobs.”
“Sexism and homophobia are intertwined,” Carroll claims. “You can’t separate the two.”
And the twin forces of discrimination affect all women, regardless of their sexual orientation. “Every woman in sports faces stereotypes,” Carroll says. “There’s a certain standard of appearance that the people in charge want to put forth.
Almost always, of course, the people in charge are males. Carroll points with chagrin to the University of Tennessee. For decades, she says, that school had a superb women’s athletics program. Run by Joan Cronan – and separate from the men’s department – it achieved renown in a number of sports. Cronan battled for equality in pay, sponsorships and facilities with men’s athletics.
But when she retired in 2012, the men’s and women’s departments were merged. The combined athletic director – a male – dismissed a number of very experienced, successful women from positions in athletic training, sports information and health and wellness. He replaced them with men. Lawsuits are ongoing.
Taken together, Carroll says, the effects are devastating. Women are being eliminated from positions of leadership, and leadership tracks. Further, the consequences of being let go are different than for men. Males, Carroll says, are quickly hired for new jobs. The stigma against fired women – some of it related to perceptions (real or imagined) about sexual orientation – prevents them from finding new jobs in their profession.
“These are experienced, strong coaches,” Carroll says. “They’re not novices. But once they’re gone, they never coach or work in athletics again.”
It happens, she reiterates, because of “sexism in sports. Look at the leaders. It’s guy athletic directors making decisions, lots of times backed by their college presidents. It’s all because men’s athletics bring in the big money. I’d like to think this doesn’t happen in 2015. But it does.”
There are signs of progress. The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association has set up strong support systems. Nevin Caple just launched Coaches Corner (www.mycoachescorner.org), an online networking platform and comprehensive resource center for coaches and athletic administrators – male and female – at all levels of women’s and girls’ sports.
Will men find the site, and utilize it? They should. Right now they hold positions of power – and thus seem to hold the key to women’s sports.
But Carroll is not pinning all her hopes on men.
“I’m optimistic, because there’s a group of strong young women coming up,” she says. “They’re interested in athletics. They’re coaches, and members of the LGBT Sports Coalition. They’re willing to fight.”
And – so long as they’re all not fired – they’ll fight for women in sports for decades to come.
Exclusive Interview: Melissa Etheridge
- April 3, 2015 - 2:56pm
Melissa Etheridge is an American legend. A Grammy and Academy-award winning singer-songwriter, she came out as a lesbian in 1993 and has been one of our favorite celesbians ever since. Gay Vegas recently chatted with the rock star.
So Melissa, when was the last time you were in Las Vegas?
I go there a couple of times a year. My wife loves Las Vegas. Loves it, loves it.
I’ve been there so many times I don’t remember exactly when the last time was.
What is one of your favorite casinos?
We like to go to the Wynn. That’s usually where we end up is the Wynn. And I’ve always loved the Hard Rock.
Speaking of your wife, you and Linda got married in May of 2014. Do you call her wife or partner?
You know, I call her wife. She fits wife very well. Now she doesn’t call me wife very often because that doesn’t quite fit. Unfortunately in our community we don’t have the words. I wish we could create the words for what we are as partners.
How did you and Linda meet?
Linda and I met years ago. We met in 2001. She was working, doing a television show at the time called “That ‘80s Show”.
She called me into that. She wanted me to work with her. I’d never met her prior. The show didn’t work out, but our new friendship did.
We were friends for eight, nine years, best friends, before my last relationship fell apart and she actually started helping me out as a best friend and that soon blossomed into what was obviously, “Wait a minute, this is my partner.” I’ve never done it that way. I usually had done it where you meet someone and you’re physically attracted to them and sexually attracted to them, and then hopefully you can be friends with them. To do it the other way, where you’re best friends with someone for years and years and then realize that you are intimately attracted to them and sexually attracted to them, that’s a charge.
Your one year wedding anniversary will be in May. Any plans?
We have another thing between us that’s pretty unique. We share a birthday. May 29th is her birthday and my birthday. We were both born in the same year. Hours apart. We decided to get married on that weekend.
We usually give each other a vacation. We go somewhere – just her and I. Each of us dedicating our time to each other is our gift to each other. Time is the greatest gift we have.
Speaking of great gifts, you have a beautiful family – four children. Did you ever imagine yourself having such a big family?
No. No. No. I was a gay rock star. There wasn’t going to be any children or anything. That was not in my plans. When you discover you’re gay in the ‘70s, you don’t think about kids at all. It meant that you weren’t going to have children. It wasn’t until the ‘90s and the relationship I was in then, that my partner at the time, Julie, started talking about kids and I went, “Well I suppose we can have kids. Yeah, if there’s a way to do it, sure.” Certainly the greatest thing that ever happened to me was my four kids. I love them, insanely.
You mentioned the ‘70s. How old were you when you realized you were a lesbian?
I think it really started becoming obvious to me when I was about 15, 16. I mean I didn’t know what it was before then. You don’t realize you’re different and there wasn’t an option back then.
There was nobody out then. It was a whispered, awful thing. “Lesbian! She’s a lesbian.” I remember hearing that in like ninth grade and going, “What does that mean?” And then hearing what it meant and you get that feeling deep inside, “Oh oh, that might be who I am.”
It wasn’t until I first kissed a girl when I was 17 that I said, “Oh yes, this is it. There is no turning back.”
What was your family’s views and reaction to your orientation? Did that shape you into who you are today?
I was the closest with my father. He was just my best friend. Amazing. And when I finally came out to him before I left home – I sat him down and said, “I have to tell you something,” and I would never get around to it and he was just all worried. By the time I said it, he was like, “Oh, is that all? Yeah, I figured as much.” Basically he looked at me and said, “Look, I don’t understand it, but as long as you’re happy.” And that, just that solid base that I came from meant the world. That’s the sort of thing that helped me come out publicly.
You’re also a cancer survivor. You were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, and you’ve played a huge role in supporting breast cancer awareness. You even rocked a baldhead during your Grammy Awards’ night tribute to Janis Joplin. What was that all like for you?
The whole experience of being diagnosed with cancer was just a major wake up and a big change in my life. By the time I got up on the stage at the Grammys, I had been through an incredible change. A spiritual awakening actually.
I had to stop making music because I thought other people wanted to hear something and I needed to make the music that I love. It set me on a whole path about my life and about my journey. So getting the opportunity to perform at the Grammys, I knew I’d be bald. It was a very personal experience for me. I wanted to present myself again to the world. Now I am 10 years cancer free!
I know you are a big supporter of medicinal marijuana and that you used it during your chemo treatment. In fact, it has helped a lot of people who are in pain and dealing with the adverse reactions of chemo therapy. Any day now medical marijuana dispensaries will begin selling marijuana in Nevada. Can you tell me about your experience?
Yes. I still use cannabis as a medicine. I’m actually very connected with medicinal marijuana in the state of California. I’m connected with a dispensary here because I really believe that it’s future as a medicine is huge and also recreationally - eventually.
I know medicinal marijuana is not for everyone, for example, my aunt Nani has stage four cancer and had to crawl into a ball in a corner from how it made her feel.
Indeed marijuana is not for everyone, but, as a medicine, I would tell your aunt there are strains being grown of cannabis that are low THC and high CBD’s. The THC is the euphoric part that can get people all paranoid and go, “Whoa! I don’t want to lose my mind!” So we grow plants that are low to none of THC and high CBD’s providing the pain and anxiety relief without that psychotropic effect. So, they are medicines and I hope to be connected with some of the dispensaries that are going on in Nevada.
We invited our readers to ask questions over social media. Jamie Cothran asks, “Who do you most want to collaborate with?”
Oh gosh, I’m the kind of artist that’s open for business. I love any musicians that want to collaborate. It’s such a wonderful art. Right now I’m collaborating with Jerry Wonda from The Fugees. He worked on the last album and we’re doing some more now. I love to write with people. I love to sing with people. I still want to sing a song with Steven Tyler from Aerosmith. That would be epic. Then I want to collaborate with people all the way from the other end. Come on Miley Cyrus, let’s sing something! I’m up for anything.
I purchased your latest album “This Is M.E.” and I felt like I really needed some Melissa Etheridge in my life!
Awwww
Your album is amazing, the songs are incredible! You have a song called “Take My Number” and there were some very emotionally charged lyrics. What was this song about for you?
It’s a song about a transition time. I am both characters in the song, one who is divorced with a couple of kids thinking love is not for me. And I am also the other character saying, “No, don’t give up.” You never know what’s going to happen in the next moment, so just hang on. All of that is wrapped up into a lovely fictional story about seeing someone that is at a critical point and reaching out a hand. It’s about a sweet, helping thought, but sweet thoughts can start fires.
In the music video for Take My Number, there is some nostalgic imagery and I wanted to ask about that and the guy who is in it a few times.
That’s my dad!
That’s your dad?
Yeah, I found some old home video footage. Up until I was five or six years old, my father took those old movies with no sound. We had a flood in our house and it destroyed everything so I took these old damaged films to the UCLA Film and Television Archive and they were able to save some footage so I used some of that.
Well you have nothing to worry about now because it’s on YouTube forever!
Yes! Forever! Yay!
The Who Are You Waiting For song was that a song intended for Linda?
Yes! I started writing about our relationship and then, halfway through the song, realized this is our wedding song and these are my vows and performed it at our wedding.
All the Way Home – very sexy song! I feel like I have had those drives home when I haven’t seen my partner for a long time. Tell me about that song.
(Laughs) Well that’s it! We unfortunately spend a lot of time apart, Linda and I, because of our work and sometimes when I am coming back, It’s like, look out! I have no reason to not celebrate that I am alive and on fire for my wife. I want to celebrate that, so I do!
In the song, A Little Bit of Me, you reference that we are all a little bit of each other. Can you expand on that?
It’s the basis of spirituality and the basis of all religion. Namaste means the spirit in me recognizes the same spirit in you. It’s that oneness – do unto others as you would have them done unto you. If we can tap into that universal truth, that there’s a little bit of all of us in each other, it can change the world. I believe it is changing the world on a quantum and spiritual level. We are connected energetically.
So tell me, any plans of coming to Vegas on your tour?
Yes, yes! August 7th at the Pearl Concert Theater inside Palms Casino Resort.
Melissa’s latest album “This Is M.E.” is available on iTunes and Amazon, as well as big and small retailers. Pick up a copy and visit www.melissaetheridge.com to check out her tour dates and locations.
Check out Melissa Etheridge's post on Facebook giving Gay Vegas a shoutout!
Pick up the latest issue of Gay Vegas Magazine to read Melissa's interview on marriage, cancer, Marijuana, Vegas, and more! You can also read it online here: gayvegas.com/medirect
Posted by Melissa Etheridge on Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Check out Melissa's video "Take My Number."
Interview with DJ Bad Gyrl
- April 3, 2015 - 1:48pm
Imani Ortiz is the woman behind Las Vegas radio personality DJ Bad Gyrl. She currently hosts The Bad Gyrl Show on Vegas All Net Radio and co-hosts The Party Zone on KLAV.
Gay Vegas recently got the chance to ask the DJ some questions.
What led you to start a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize “this is it”?
I wish I could say I had this long broadcasting career in radio, but that’s not the case. I came into Bruce Garrett’s office at the KLAV radio station looking for a commercial for my business because a friend of mine told me I could get one produced for a good price. After meeting with him for a few hours, Bruce mentioned he was looking for a co-host for his Nights Over Las Vegas third hour segment – The Party Zone. After convincing me to come on his show as a guest I signed on three weeks after meeting him. It was very natural for me to entertain the audience. I got the radio bug. After that day I stayed on his show. I am just very blessed. When I am presented with an opportunity I take it and run with it. Bruce played a big role in convincing me to do my show The Bad Gyrl Show. And 15 months later here I am on their sister station VANR. My show launched March 6th of this year and I plan to do big things with it. You will have to stay tuned to see what new things unfold.
How can people listen to you and do they have to live in Las Vegas to tune in?
No, absolutely not. It’s very easy to listen – just download the Vegas All Net Radio (VANR) App on your Android or iPhone. If you don’t have a phone – but I think almost everyone does – you can always listen from your computer as well from my website, www.djbadgyrlvegas.com. Internet radio is the future. Look at Pandora. It has 14 million registered users. It has satisfied music lovers all over the world. I love the idea that you can listen to me anywhere just by downloading the app on your phone. I have Google Analytics on my website and my site gets hits from different states and countries, such as Greece, Italy, South Korea and Russia. I have a decent audience in Russia. Who would have thought that? It’s nuts, but I love it.
So what does “Bad” mean in the name DJ Bad Gyrl?
Almost everyone assumes the name Bad means something negative, as in naughty behavior. It’s not like that. The name Bad Gyrl was given to me while I was attending personal training school in Chicago by a friend of mine. He knew what a prankster I was – I would prank my roommates. I was known for throwing ice on my roommates while they were in the shower, breaking eggs on their heads and smearing chocolate pudding in their hair for no reason. I love to make people laugh and have fun.
Tell me something interesting about you
I remember, one time, I printed the application to be cast on the show Bad Girls Club. I filled it out and sent it to the casting director. I was shocked that they called me back and left a message on my mother’s voicemail at home. They were interested in meeting with me in person. I interviewed with them at Joe’s Bar in Chicago early in the morning. I answered a few questions, but I never got picked. I think I wasn’t crazy enough for the show. I was sure I would get picked. It’s a good thing I didn’t because my mother was absolutely against me being on the show. I would have definitely acted a fool anyways.
What do you like to do for fun when you are not in radio mode?
Fun to me is working on conducting business. I am a businesswoman first. I am a certified spray tan technician. When I am not working on formats for radio, I am out promoting my radio show and learning nightclub promoting from my good friend VIP host Will Miller. I’m always thinking of new designs for my t-shirt line Marilyn Junkie that launches end of April. I am an artist at heart. I love art.
How interactive are you with your audience via your website or social media, such as Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter?
I am very interactive. I try to answer all the emails and messages I get daily. I love to thank those who support what I do. Without the audience there’s no reason to do radio. I love when I get messages that make me smile – that’s always a great feeling.
So the ladies want to know– are you single or taken?
Well, depends who’s asking. LOL Yes, I am single. Ready to mingle. See you ladies at Dinah Vegas!
What are some of your favorite celebrity interviews?
I don’t have a favorite really because each interview is different. I really loved interviewing Sandy Sachs, the founder of Dinah Vegas. Who doesn’t know her? I loved her. She was great in person. I am covering Dinah Vegas this year again – hope to see everyone there!
By the way, I don’t have a program manager at the station. I book every single interview I get. I literally do the job of two people, but I love it. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have some big, big interviews coming up. You guys will have to tune in.
What are you plans for the rest of 2015?
First, make The Bad Gyrl Show the baddest radio show on VANR! Bring the best celeb interviews, music and funniest on-air pranks. I want to entertain my audience and make it the best music show there is.
I also just got the call the other day from representative Janice Lipnisky – she wants me to be the face of Clique Vodka. It’s a blessing to get a call from a company such as Clique Vodka and I look forward to doing big things with them.
Second is to launch my clothing line Marilyn Junkie. I am a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe. I can’t give away too many details, but it’s centered around her. I personally designed each design for the line. Hope you guys love it. You will be able to buy it directly from my website.
I will be donating a percentage of the proceeds to the Scleroderma foundation. My father passed away a year ago from this rare form of cancer. I came to Vegas with my father’s blessing. I didn’t want to leave him back home, but he told me, “go to Vegas.” A month after I arrived he passed away. So I am on a mission to make him proud.
Third – it’s a long shot, but I would love to bring The Bad Gyrl Show to XM Radio or Sirius. Anything is possible with hard work and determination. I want to show people that with this recipe dreams do come true. I am just going to do what I do best and that is entertain audiences through music and my big mouth.
You can tune into The Bad Gyrl Show every Friday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Vegas All Net Radio. You can also catch Imani co-hosting The Party Zone on KLAV from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays.
Visit www.djbadgyrlvegas.com for more information on Imani and her work.
Rosana: De España Para el Mundo
- April 3, 2015 - 1:34pm
Aunque no es muy conocida en Estados Unidos, Rosana, de nacionalidad española es una excelente cantautora.
A pesar de tener una vida muy privada, y tener un muro amigable acerca de su vida íntima, sabemos que muchos de los temas de los que ella escribe van dedicados a viejos amores, y se rumorea que en su exactitud a mujeres. Será verdad?
Estos temas también han sido galardonados y reconocidos por multitudes de premios tal como “Pa’ ti No Estoy,” “ Hoy” y “Si Tu No Estas Aqui” entre otros.
El pasado Noviembre, en la última entrega de Los Latin Grammys en Las Vegas, tuve el placer de conocerla y me encantó! Fué un momento mágico. Pense que nunca llegaria a conocer a una personalidad como ella. Que, como mencionado anteriormente, no muy conocida aquí, en su continente y en muchos otros lugares de habla hispana, es un ícono de la música pop/rock en español.
Es por eso que ella es un ejemplo de la comunidad latina y Gay Vegas quiere reconocerla por todos esos años de dedicación, que de seguro no fueron tan fáciles!
We LOVE YOU ROSANA! espero nos sigas deleitandonos más con tu música!
10 Ways to Gayify Your Honey Bunny’s Easter Basket
- April 3, 2015 - 8:28am
Even if you’re not religious, you can still celebrate a fluffy pagan Easter with someone you love. But instead of the tiny trinkets and cavity-inviting candy that monopolize kids’ baskets this time of year, put together a wicker-handled surprise that’s decidedly more adult with these 10 LGBT-minded finds.
1. Beekman 1802 Hand and Body Wash
Those Fabulous Beekman Boys – husband-and-husband team Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge – are still at it with Beekman 1802 (you’ve probably seen them hard at work in their very own American Express commercial recently), a lifestyle brand born on their sprawling Upstate New York farm. To give your partner a skincare pick-me-up this spring, pack his basket with the delightfully perky Honeyed Grapefruit Body Wash and Honey & Orange Blossom Hand Wash. $20-$25; beekman1802.com
2. Blooming Crayons
Pride season is just around the corner – June will be here before you know it, gurl – and it’s never too early to start one-upping yourself from last year’s celebration. If you’re the kind of couple who likes to bring your own signs to the big parade, Blooming Crayons’ “Pride Flag” and multicolored rectangle crayons will help get the party started with its ROYGBIV brand of chromatic diversity. $6; etsy.com
3. FattyCakesNY Cookies
While you’re trying to avoid building a basket overloaded with empty calories – oh, to be a kid again – you don’t have to shun sugar altogether. Satisfy his sweet tooth with FattyCakesNY’s Sweet n’ Salty Trio, six each of its three best-selling cookies, including Old Salt (triple chocolate with sea salt), The Norm (chocolate chip with sea salt), and PBCC (peanut butter with chocolate chips, pretzels and sea salt) – which, if it’s possible, sound just as delicious as they taste. $38; fattycakesny.com
4. Bettyville: A Memoir
Chilly days and nights still linger this time of year, and it’s perfect weather for a new novel. Bettyville: A Memoir, author George Hodgman’s literary debut, chronicles the former Vanity Fair columnist’s journey home to care for his quick-tempered mother, who, despite her boisterousness, has never fully accepted that he’s gay. The duo is forced to confront their past, present and future in this intimate but colorful look behind a family’s closed doors. From $11.99; amazon.com
5. Menage A Trois Vodka
Two’s company, but three’s a night to remember with Ménage à Trois. This gluten-free vodka (it’s made from American corn) is distilled six times for a clean, smooth liquor, the high proof of which is brought down to 80 using pure mountain spring water. Flavors include original, citrus and berry, and cocktail recipes are available on the Ménage à Trois website. $22.99; menageatroisvodka.com
6. Elizabeth W Bath Fizz
A gift for both of you to kick back and relax – considering you have a tub suited for two – Elizabeth W aromatic bath-time effervescents include six foil-wrapped tablets in assorted scents. To color coordinate with the other holiday goodies in your basket, opt for the Leaves, Rose, & Sweet Tea fizz or the special-edition fizz in the shape of festive eggs. $20; elizabethw.com
7. CelebriDucks
Rub-a-dub-dub, bring a duck to the tub (that otherwise ordinary soak is officially an event now) with CelebriDucks, collectible rubber fowl of the greatest icons of film, music, athletic and history. If your boy’s a friend of Dorothy – and whose isn’t? – his house will start to twitch with Wizard of Oz-themed selections, including the Wicked Witch, Scarecrow, Lion, Tin Woodman, Glinda and, of course, that little girl from Kansas and her little dog, too. $11.99; celebriducks.com
8. aussieBum Swimwear
Heat waves are on the horizon, and that can only mean one thing: Time to hit the beach. You’ll want him to look his best when he’s sopping wet with surf and sweat – and aussieBum’s got what he needs. Its Las Vegas short-leg boardie covers the junk but shows just enough leg to keep you excited, while the Speedo-style Superhero collection makes no bones about taking you up, up and away. $28.40-$31.95; aussiebum.com
9. Illinois Nut & Candy
Illinois Nut & Candy offers a bevy of sweet selections (and plenty of nuts, too), but he’ll go gaga for its LGBT-friendly personalized chocolate options, available in dipped pretzels rods and peppermint patties. Other put-it-in-my-mouth confections include taffy apples, popcorn balls, English toffee and Jordan almonds. From $1.75; illinoisnut.com
10. The Way He Looks DVD
End Easter on a high note with an LGBT DVD and a cuddle sesh. A new release of note, The Way He Looks – from LGBT film distributor Wolfe Video – is a coming-of-age story about friendship and young love set to the music of Belle and Sebastian. Plus, the boys are cute. Do you need a better description? $19.95; wolfevideo.com
The Unbreakable Mo’Nique
- April 1, 2015 - 5:10pm
Mo’Nique isn’t one to hold back. Take her ongoing clash with Lee Daniels, who directed her Oscar-winning performance in 2009’s Precious. Daniels said the 47-year-old’s behavior got her “blackballed”; she, on the other hand, says Hollywood isn’t “playing fairly.”
As the actress’ latest film Blackbird hits theaters, Mo’Nique discussed how the back-and-forth feud wouldn’t stop her from working with Daniels again; her belief that if she doesn’t have to come out as straight, nor should LGBT people; and the childhood mantra that brings her comfort when the media is on her back.
Blackbird tells the story of someone who’s looking for acceptance from the outside world but also from within. Have you been there? Do you know what it feels like to be an outsider?
I think every human alive understands what it means to be an outsider. We’ve all been outsiders in one situation or another, so of course I’ve felt like an outsider before. But it’s OK to be an outsider.
What situation did you find yourself in that made you feel like an outsider?
Baby, when I wanted to be a high school cheerleader and they didn’t think I could wear the little small skirts and do the kick.
As an LGBT ally, where do you go internally to play someone like Claire, the homophobic mother in this film?
I go to honesty, because I know those mothers and I know those fathers that have and are having a really difficult time accepting the babies that they brought into the world. They can’t understand, “How can my baby be born that way?”
What do you hope Blackbird conveys to those parents?
That it’s OK to love your baby through it. That it’s OK to love your baby because your baby has done absolutely nothing wrong. It’s OK to let your baby be who they were born to be and who they were made to be with no apology. Claire really feels like this is a sin, and we’re hoping that for our brothers and sisters who are really having a rough time because of their religion, that they walk away and see the devastation it can do to human beings, because you have no control over that. It’s a message that says it’s OK to walk in your truth. It’s OK when it’s not popular or no one understands. It’s OK. To have the chance to play with a fearless director (Patrik-Ian Polk) that’s so willing to tell the truth in its rare form – I really thought I would never get that opportunity again.
Why do you say that you never thought you’d have that chance again?
Because I think oftentimes we can be afraid to tell the real story. When I was so fortunate to do a movie called Precious, it was such a raw story – those people truly exist and truly get treated in that manner – and I just never thought I would get the opportunity again to be able to play with someone who was so fearless, so that’s what I mean when I say that.
You mention Precious, which you worked on with director Lee Daniels. You and he are currently entangled in a “he said, she said” back-and-forth, and I’m wondering: Do you feel like the media is taking sides? Well, do you feel like the media is taking sides?
I’ll say this: I just read a story that claims your Precious co-star Gabourey Sidibe “slammed” you with a tweet that said, “It’s sad to see a project like Precious, that was made with such love, be dragged through the mud by selfishness and lies.” How do you process stories that make you out to be the problem? You know, I really don’t. When you know the truth, you don’t have the energy to process that kind of media. And this is coming from Mo’Nique’s mouth – there is absolutely nothing the media could write or say that would stop me from loving that beautiful young lady the way that I love her, because I was there on that set with that baby and I watched her do things that were just breathtaking and mind-blowing. I watched that young lady be fearless. I watched her do it with no judgment of herself. I watched that woman shine. So, regardless of what people write and what people say, I love that sweet, beautiful baby.
So you don’t find it difficult to brush off media slams?
Remember when we were kids and parents would say, “Sticks and stones, they break your bones but names...” – I mean, we’re nothing but kids with grown-up faces. If you can still hold onto those things, then you don’t get affected by it.
Would you ever work with Lee Daniels again?
I’m gonna say of course I would, because Lee Daniels is a brilliant director, a brilliant writer, and he is absolutely fearless when it comes to telling that story on the screen.
You had said that the scripts never stopped coming after Precious, but aside from 2009’s Steppin: The Movie and now Blackbird you haven’t appeared in a movie since Precious. Were you just passing on them?
I passed on most of them because the offers didn’t make sense. When you speak to Tyler Perry and he says to you, “If you get nominated, your next film is gonna be between $3 and $5 million, and if you win it, it’s between that and $8 million” – well, I appreciated the information he gave to my husband (Sidney Hicks) and I. We appreciated that. But there have been no offers that have come in from the studios that have appeared that way. The offers that were actually coming in were lower than what I made before I won an Oscar.
Why do you think that is?
That’s the big question. I can’t answer why that is, but when you hear our beautiful sisters Patricia Arquette and Gwyneth Paltrow say we need wage equality and they’re our white sisters, well, what do you think we’re getting being women of color? What I will say is, while there are those people out there who just believe (they) can play unfair, there are also those people out there who say we are going to play fair – it’s a company called HBO. I did a movie with HBO called Bessie (premiering May 16) and it’s amazing. Queen Latifah plays Bessie Smith and she is, hands down, absolutely brilliant in her performance (Mo’Nique plays the openly bisexual Ma Rainey). When HBO called, they played fair. The offer that they gave was more money than I’ve ever been offered before and after this Oscar, so I say that everybody that buys into the game of “let’s just see if we can get them for whatever we can get them for,” there are those that do play fair, so I have to applaud HBO for playing fairly when they called for me to do the movie Bessie.
Are black women treated unfairly in Hollywood?
Let me ask you this, Chris: When have black women ever been on the totem pole to be paid the highest? When has that time happened? Never. So do you think it’s happening right now? It’s not something that’s happening. Our (white) sisters say we want wage equality – and they’re absolutely right, and it got applause that night (at this year’s Oscars) as it should have. But if they’re saying it, once again, what do you think we’re getting?
What the gay community has always appreciated about you, Mo’Nique, is the ease with which you speak your mind.
That’s what Blackbird is about, because even though we’re discussing this situation – and there are people who are saying, “Mo’Nique, aren’t you afraid to say it out loud?” – that’s the same thing that people are telling our babies who were born the way they are, and they’re saying, “Aren’t you afraid to say you’re gay out loud?” We’re hoping this movie stops the coming-out announcement. I never had to come out to say, “I’m a heterosexual.” Never had to go on anybody’s show. Never had to write a book. Never had to apologize. Never had to say, “Guess what, Chris, I’m a heterosexual!” Let people be.
Isaiah Washington is a close friend of yours, and actually brought the role of Claire to you. He also stars as your husband in the film. Though he’s since apologized, Isaiah upset many people in the LGBT community after calling his Grey’s Anatomy co-star T.R. Knight a “faggot.” Considering his controversial past with the gay community, did it surprise you to know he was involved with a film about the same community he once offended?
Because I know Mr. Washington personally, it was an honor when he called to say, “Please do this,” because, again, I know him personally and that’s a good brother. So I don’t believe there was a problem that he had with the gay community – I don’t believe that. Because again, I know him and he’s good in his heart. He plays the father, and the father that he plays, that’s who Isaiah is when it comes to people having equality and being who they are. As executive producers of this piece of work, (my husband and I) truly believe it will change people’s hearts and minds and will open us up to loving each other.
From your experience with black gay culture, do you think it’s more difficult for black gay men to be out?
I think that it’s hard for any man to be out. See, there was a time I did feel that way until I started doing the festivals for Blackbird, and at those festivals we were being approached by white men, Asian men, black men. They were all saying the same thing – that’s my story. So there was a time I did feel that way, and the reason I felt that way was because that was the only community I was in to see it. I think it’d also be beautiful if (there’s not) just a white gay pride and a black gay pride – it’ll be beautiful when it’s just pride and it’s not separate. Again, what this movie says is equality, but what this movie also says is love is so powerful and so beautiful. You don’t get caught up in, “Oh my goodness, it’s two men”; you get caught up in, “Oh my goodness, they’re so in love.”
You have Blackbird out soon, and then HBO’s Bessie. But do you see yourself ever taking on a role in a big-screen film for a major studio?
You know what, I am in a big major screen film and it’s called Blackbird, and it’ll be in theaters April 24, 2015. (Laughs) If you accept the perception people put out there, then you buy into it. For us, for my husband and I, to see this movie make it to the big screen – you’re talking about friendship since we were 14 years old, in the 10th grade – so for us, baby, we have a big motion picture film, and it’s called Blackbird.
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- March 30, 2015 - 1:32pm
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Our Lives Would Suck Without Her
- March 29, 2015 - 5:39pm
Before catapulting to pop stardom, Kelly Clarkson was one of us. In many ways, she still is.
The original American Idol, who memorably erupted into waterworks when she won the first season of the reality show in 2002, wasn’t always able to muster the willpower she’s instilled in the gay community through her uncompromising persona and liberating pop anthems, including those on her latest album, Piece by Piece.
That’s just the charm of Clarkson, who opens up in our new interview about overcoming teen inferiorities, diehard lesbian fans who call themselves “Kezbos,” driving Bette Midler to “suicide,” and that night she sipped some wine, felt “sad” for our generation and wrote a powerful song about it.
OK, Kelly, take my hand. I wanna go back with you.
The imagery!
Tell me the moment in your career you first knew gay people worshipped at your altar.
(Laughs) Oh my god – that’s amazing! It was the Breakaway World Tour (in 2005) – the first tour for the Breakaway record – and it was so awesome. One girl on tour came up and just introduced herself and was like, “I’m a Kezbo,” and I was like, “What?!” She was like, “A Kezbo – your lesbian fans.” And I was like, “Wait – there’s enough of you to have a group? That’s amazing! Awesome! Go me!” And she was like, “Yeah, we just love you. We’re gonna bring you to the other side.” And I was like, “All right, well, keep trying!”
Then, on the same tour, I had this guy, and he was so funny! Because, you know I’m a huge fan of Bette Midler and have been since I saw For the Boys when I was a kid, and he’s like, “You’re our new Bette!” (Laughs) I was like, “You need to aim higher. Bette Midler just shot herself! I’m not that cool, but I will work on gaining the respect of that compliment.”
Is it hard to fathom yourself a gay icon?
I guess it’s hard to fathom you can be an icon in general. I don’t consider myself an icon at all, but no – I have a lot of gay and lesbian friends and they like my stuff, so I guess it’s not so hard for me to think (the gay community) might like my music. But I don’t know ... I’m not an icon. I’ve only been doing this for 13 years. You’ve gotta be doing it for a good 20 to gain that status.
When it comes to your strong bond with the gay community, how do you explain that connection?
I have a connection, but I don’t look at it differently. I don’t ever look at a fan as a gay fan or a lesbian fan or a straight fan – I don’t ever look at that. Fans are fans, and no matter what our lives are like, no matter what path we’re on, music is the one thing that connects us. I mean, I had so much fun at this club recently. It’s called G-A-Y – this club in London – and everybody knew all the words to every song. Even the new one! And they were gay and straight and lesbian – everybody was there. It didn’t matter, and it was just really cool. It was a cool event, and it was fun. And it’s what I love about music – that it doesn’t matter. That’s what connects us.
What was your very first time at a gay bar like?
Oh gosh – that would’ve been in LA, and I was probably 22. I went with some of my friends and a couple of my gay friends, and they were like, “You’re gonna love this! But you’re gonna need to wear a hat.” They played “Since U Been Gone,” and it was so funny because nobody knew I was there. I had a blast!
The awesome thing, for girls especially: Because most gay bars that I’ve been to – and I guess I’ve been to four or five – are all gay men and not lesbians, and being a straight female, you don’t get hit on the whole time, you don’t get people grabbing you or, like, being gross. There’s no judgment, and it’s just fun. You’re not worried about going, “No, thank you, I can buy my own drinks.” It’s the most fun club and fun time you’ll ever have in your life.
The song “Invincible” alludes to overcoming self-doubts and insecurities. In your own life, when did you most experience those hurdles, and when did you finally accept yourself for who you are?
In high school, and you know, I was having a hard time. I guess all people go through it – it’s just a different time period for all of us. When I was a sophomore in high school, it was the one time (in my life) I felt like I was insecure. It was just an awkward stage for me. Well, as was junior high, but I just wasn’t aware of it yet. (Laughs)
I’ve always been different. I’ve never been the girl that has to feel like she has to get all dolled up every day. I’ve always been kind of a tomboy. I’ve always been very outspoken, and, you know, my mom is too. I don’t know any other way to be. It’s just my personality.
In my sophomore year of high school, I got a little insecure about (my personality), because girls can be mean and I got the lead in this role in choir. No sophomore was ever supposed to get it, so people were just really mean about it. And, like, mean. Worse than the movie! (Laughs)
It made me insecure, and not so much (in regard to) my music or as a singer or an artist – just me as a person. I was like, “Is there something wrong (with me)?” I would go, “But I think I’m a good friend.” That was the only time that I was really doubtful of my person. But I got over that real quick!
Growing up in small-town Texas, when did you get your first taste of gay culture? Did you even know gay people then?
Oh yeah. Yeah! Nobody was outspoken like they are now. I think it’s a more comfortable – well, I don’t know. A couple of friends of mine just recently came out to their parents and one was just about the most horrible situation ever. So I think that still happens, unfortunately. But when I was a kid, I had a couple of my friends in choir with me. I think everybody knew (they were gay), but it wasn’t talked about or anything.
Honestly, I grew up in such a creative environment. Even in our choral group – even with my friends – nobody really talked about it, nobody was against or for it. There were no flags of any kind – of race, of who liked who. I feel like I grew up in a really incredibly good bubble. I never experienced people hating – no hate crimes or anything like that – until well into the industry. With Idol, people would say hateful things about certain contestants on the show, and I was like, “What in the world?!” I, fortunately, grew up in a world where that wasn’t a huge issue.
But you were raised Southern Baptist, a denomination that condemns homosexuality. What was the journey like to get to where you are now – a staunch supporter of gay marriage?
At my church, whenever I did attend Sunday service, that was never talked about. I know that is what the doctrine of Southern Baptist is, but they also said don’t drink and dance, but we drank and danced! (Laughs) I don’t think I grew up in some hardcore community where people were like that. I grew up in a very accepting household. I was taught to accept everybody how they are, and I admire my mom for that. She’s never taught me hate.
I gotta ask about your baby girl, River Rose.
Because she’s magical. She’s a magical unicorn.
You know, in some circles, the unicorn is a gay symbol.
Oh, I didn’t know that! But I love it. That’s what I call my baby!
Speaking of which, how might you and your hubby handle it if River turned out to be lesbian?
Oh, I don’t care. I mean, here’s what I hope for her: I just hope she finds love. It took me a while, man. And there was a lot of heartache throughout those years. You know, as long as she’s happy, I don’t care either way, and neither does my husband. And we have two other kids as well, and we don’t care either way for all of them.
If one of them were to come out to you, what would you say?
I’d be like, “Awesome! When do we meet him or her?” Honestly, it’s so funny, it doesn’t even register in my world as different. I don’t know why. But yeah, it doesn’t. I’m glad it doesn’t!
During the song “I Had a Dream,” which you wrote about setting an example for future generations, you say, “Spreading your legs instead of using your words.” Older generations often criticize the industry for peddling so much sex. When you look out at pop culture currently, where do you stand concerning its use of sex? And how satisfied are you with the examples these artists are setting for people like your kids and future generations?
There’s a reason why women have been revered as long as we have been – even back in the day most statues are of us; most paintings are of us – (and it’s because) we’re a beautiful form, and I get it. I get that that is sexy and I’m so in support of that. I love a sexy video. I don’t even mind raciness. I don’t mind that at all.
I just mind when people use that as the entire basis of their career. The only reason that I say that is because I feel those people are short-sighting themselves. I’m like, “You’re far more talented than that.” Yes, you can be sexy and risqué, but some of these women have these amazing voices and these amazing ideals, and they have more to offer than just that.
The song actually came about because I was sitting around with some friends – we were all drinking some wine – and I was like, “Man, when you were 10 were you not just so excited about our generation and what we were gonna accomplish?” And then you look now and we’re still talking about race and we’re still talking about equal rights for everyone – didn’t you think we’d be past that? Didn’t you think we’d be more? I ended up writing a song about that because it’s just kind of a sad thing. I just felt like our generation – I think we could’ve been more. It was just a sad moment for me, reflecting.
Gosh. That’s real deep, Kelly.
(Laughs) I can go dark real quick!
Why was it important for you to include a gay couple getting engaged in the “Heartbeat Song” video?
What’s funny is, I wasn’t even actually the one who picked all the people! Marc (Klasfeld), the director, and his team did. But it was funny, because I was doing an interview here in Nashville at one of the radio stations and one of the DJs there was like, “I’m gonna be in your video tomorrow!” And I was like, “Whaaaat?” And he was like, “Yeah! I asked if I could bring my boyfriend and they said yes.”
We had no idea that his boyfriend – I mean, he didn’t know either – was gonna propose to him on the set! At first he thought it was part of the video. He didn’t get it at first, and that’s why he was like, “Are you for real? I don’t get it.” But it was the coolest thing that ended up happening, but none of that, honestly, was planned. It just kind of happened, and it was a beautiful thing.
And it’s sending an important message, don’t you think?
I think it’s silly that we’re still talking about gay rights. I just live in this world where people are accepted, so it’s very hard for me to even realize that that still exists. It’s hard for me to wrap my brain around it. That (gay couple) was a no-brainer, and I didn’t even think, “Oh, I’m making a statement for gay rights.” I was making a statement for the loss of love and the hope that you can still find it, regardless of what form that comes in. It wasn’t a purposeful thing. Love is love in whatever relationship it may be in.
Charleston, South Carolina
- March 2, 2015 - 4:58pm
There aren’t many places in the United States that suggest romance more palpably than the jewel of southeastern lowcountry, Charleston. This beautifully preserved bastion of pre-Colonial commerce lies at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers and is flanked by barrier islands famed for gated golf resorts and swanky condo complexes. Inland, you’ll find some of the most over-the-top plantation homes, many of them now open for tours. But it’s the city’s historic heart, with its palm-shaded lanes and pastel-hued 18th- and 19th-century residences, churches and converted shipping warehouses that provide visitors with the uncanny sensation that they’re strolling through a fairy tale.
What may surprise, either if you’re a first-time visitor or you haven’t been in the past decade or so, is that this rather button-down, traditional city of about 120,000 – the cultural heart of one of the country’s most politically and socially conservative states – has a pronounced gay scene. Since same-sex marriage was legalized statewide in November 2014, the wedding-centric city has also hosted more than its share of gay nuptials and honeymoons.
Perhaps even more surprising is the recent ascent of Charleston (charlestoncvb.com) among the ranks of farm-to-table foodies, craft-beverage aficionados, edgy artists and hipsters. The northern end of downtown, particularly along Upper King Street, contains one of the coolest concentrations of chef-driven, locavore-minded bars and restaurants of any small city in the country. If you’re in town for the weekend, do make a point of visiting the traditional attractions: the opulently decorated house-museums, antebellum churches and prominent military historic sites. But also set aside time to check out the new, independent-spirited side of this dynamic metropolis.
Friday Night
Stick around downtown your first night, supping at one of the dozens of superb restaurants in the central core, many of them set in historic homes. One favorite for both the stunningly prepared modern Southern fare and the gorgeous location inside a glorious 19th-century mansion is Husk (huskrestaurant.com), the domain of James Beard–winning chef Sean Brock. The farm-to-table menu changes often but has included buffalo-style pig’s ear lettuce wraps with spiced peanuts, and slow-cooked heritage pork with red peas, farro and smoky tomatoes.
If it’s late in the evening, and you’re more in the mood for an expertly poured craft cocktail and some lighter snacks, venture into the cozy and hip Gin Joint (theginjoint.com), which serves delish cheese plates and tasty snacks like duck empanadas and hoisin-glazed pork buns. The Card Shark cocktail, with Mata Hari Absinthe, Fernet and smoked honey will warm your soul on a cool evening.
Saturday
Spend the better part of your first full day in town touring the downtown historic district. You might begin with a visit to the Historic Charleston Foundation, which sponsors several renowned events, including late spring’s famed Spoleto Festival, and operates such noteworthy museums as Aiken-Rhett House and the Nathaniel Russell House. From the latter you can stroll to nearby Waterfront Park, with gardens and a promenade overlooking the Ashley and Cooper rivers.
Walk north along Meeting Street, known as Charleston's "Museum Mile," and you'll find one iconic attraction after another. The Charleston Museum, which opened in 1773, is a must, as are the gallery-hopping and shopping along Meeting, King and Bay streets. For a high-octane caffeine pick-me-up, drop by Collective Coffee (collective-coffee.com), a sleek, contemporary café serving single-origin pour-over coffees, along with a good variety of sandwiches, wraps and salads.
As sun falls over Charleston, plan an evening of exploring the city’s emerging restaurant row along Upper King Street. You’ll find some cool touring and tasting opportunities in this part of the city, too, including High Wire Distilling, where you can sample acclaimed spirits, like Silver Rum, Hat Trick Extraordinarily Fine Botanical Gin and Quarter-Acre Sorghum Whiskey. And at the upper end of the neighborhood, two craft breweries are worth a visit, Palmetto Brewing Co. (palmettobrewery.com) and Revelry Brewing Co. (revelrybrewingco.com).
A fun way of approaching the novel food scene on Upper King is by making a progressive meal out of the evening, stopping at a few hot spots, and enjoying an appetizer or two – along with drinks – at each one. Start at Kudu Coffee and Craft Beer (kuducoffeeandcraftbeer.com), which specializes in two of Charleston’s favorite artisan beverages. Then move up King Street to O-Ku Sushi (o-kusushi.com), which serves both inventive sushi rolls as well as sashimi, crudo, green tea soba noodles and other izakaya-inspired treats; and the amusingly named Closed For Business (closed4business.com) “draught emporium,” another top spot for interesting brews as well as decadent snacks, like poutine, beer-battered fish-and-chips and fried pork-cutlet sandwiches.
At see-and-be-seen Macintosh (themacintoshcharleston.com), sample the exceptional farm-to-table cooking of talented chef Jeremiah Bacon. The artful plates include a salad of fried duck skin with Asian pears and candied-ginger vinaigrette, and sautéed scallops with sunchokes and Brussels sprouts. Located in a landmark bank building, The Ordinary (eattheordinary.com) is a gorgeous space serving beautifully arranged portions of fresh seafood. Consider the Jonah crab toast with lemon and basil, and shad roe with bacon, potato and oyster mushrooms. Right next to High Wire, the Butcher & Bee (butcherandbee.com) is fun both for lunch or late-night (open on Friday and Saturdays only) snacking and drinking. This high-ceilinged space turns out addictively tasty fare from pulled-squash barbecue sandwiches to fried chicken with roasted tomatoes, garlic mayo and dill-verde sauce.
The neighborhood is also home to a pair of popular gay nightspots, the intimate and friendly Dudley's Pub (dudleysonann.com), where you can watch videos, shoot pool and mingle at a conversation-friendly decibel level, and nearby Pantheon (clubpantheon.net), a pulsing dance club open on weekends only. Although not specifically gay establishments, urbane and trendy bars like the retro-cool Belmont (thebelmontcharleston.com) and the endearingly dive-y Recovery Room Tavern (recoveryroomtavern.com) are fun hangouts for kicking off or winding down the evening, and they both draw diverse crowds.
Sunday
Start the day by crossing the modern Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to Mount Pleasant, a suburb just east of the city with a lovely historic district. Enjoy brunch at Charleston’s Cafe (charlestonscafe.com), which is set in a prosaic shopping center but serves anything-but-ordinary morning edibles, including lowcountry shrimp and grits with eggs, and a Southern Benedict with fried-green tomatoes and smoked bacon.
Mount Pleasant is a good jumping off point for exploring Boone Hall, one of the prettiest of the region’s grand plantation museums and gardens, as well as the beaches of Sullivan’s Island and historic Fort Moultrie, which is part of Fort Sumter National Monument. If plantation touring is high on your list of priorities, you might consider an alternate Sunday plan of driving northwest of the city along Hwy. 61 (Ashley River Road), where you can tour such legendary antebellum estates as Ashley Hall, Drayton Hall, Magnolia Plantation, and Middleton Place, which boasts the oldest formal gardens in the nation.
If you’ve spent the afternoon at Boone Hall or Sullivan’s Island, backtrack to downtown Mount Pleasant for a stroll through the relatively new Shem Creek Park, a stunning wetland sanctuary traversed by more than 2,000 feet of boardwalk. Adjacent to the park, Vickery’s (vickerys.com) is an enjoyable place to wrap up your walk. This gay-friendly bar and grill has stunning water views, making it a favorite spot for watching the sunset and sipping a cocktail accompanied by, perhaps, a bowl of Vickery’s signature oyster bisque.
The historic village of Mount Pleasant is also home to one of the most romantic restaurants in the region, the Old Village Post House (mavericksouthernkitchens.com/oldvillageposthouse), which is part of the same illustrious group behind stellar eateries like High Cotton and Slight North of Broad. This handsome old inn also contains six charming, reasonably priced guest rooms. Weekend brunch and nightly dinner are both outstanding here, with dishes like Memphis dry-rubbed, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, and salt-and-pepper fried shrimp with smoky-blue sauce.
Where to Stay
One of Charleston’s most playful and interesting accommodations, the Vendue Inn (thevendue.com) occupies a few connected 18th-century warehouse buildings near Waterfront Park and bills itself “Charleston’s Art Hotel” – there’s even an artist-in-residence program. The distinctive rooms feature original, often abstract contemporary works; many have large walk-in showers and gas fireplaces. Be sure to pop up to the sunny Rooftop for a cocktail, and to soak up some of the best views in the city.
The stately mid-19th-century Mills House–A Wyndham Grand Hotel (millshouse.com) is a pink beauty that rises seven stories above the central intersection of Meeting and Queen streets. The classic but contemporary rooms sparkle with Charleston-inspired reproduction antiques and modern perks like 36-inch LCD TVs and ergonomic work desks and chairs; some rooms have balconies, and others have French doors that open to the stunning hotel pool and sundeck. Enjoy breakfast in the sunny Fountain Courtyard of the Barbadoes Room restaurant, which is also a romantic venue for dinner and drinks.
The city has a few gay-owned B&B, including 4 Unity Alley (unitybb.com), a gem hidden down a tiny alley off historic Bay Street. This 18th-century former colonial warehouse contains airy, light-filled rooms with fine antiques. Keep in mind that the four guest rooms here often book up quickly, so it's wise to book well in advance.
Another of the swankiest addresses in town is the romantic Market Pavilion Hotel (marketpavilion.com), which is close to the riverfront and abounds with cushy furnishings and fine artwork. Grill 225 turns out delicious lowcountry steak and seafood. Around the corner, the five-story Harbourview Inn (harbourviewcharleston.com) is a handsome property with soaring ceilings, exposed-brick walls and four-poster beds (many accommodations overlook the Cooper River). The complimentary perks are many: Continental breakfast delivered to your room, afternoon wine and cheese, evening milk and cookies, local walking tours and Wi-Fi.