LGBT Health
- December 29, 2014 - 11:30am
As we celebrate the beginning of a spectacular New Year with resolutions on our mind, we wanted to place an emphasis on health in our January “Improvement Issue.” Health is a very broad category that can encompass a lot of things from diet, fitness, mental, dental, vision, medical and so on. LGBT Health is a category all on its own.
MENTAL HEALTH
Most research suggests that LGBT people are at higher risk for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. One study found that LGBT groups are about two-and-one-half times more likely than heterosexual men and women to have had a mental health disorder, such as those related to mood, anxiety, or substance use, in their lifetime.
As a gay man who personally struggles with mental health conditions on a daily basis, I am constantly looking for ways to inform and help others who have similar struggles. One important key to coping is having a strong support group of family, friends and community members who can help you through the difficult times. One of the important steps to building that support group is opening up to your loved ones and seeking professional help with any medical conditions you may have.
Although my father struggles from similar mental health problems, I never thought it could happen to me. Many people go undiagnosed with mental health problems for years sometimes self medicating their conditions with drugs and alcohol. A great LGBT or LGBT friendly and informed doctor can be a very crucial asset in your health prevention and treatment. I recommend finding a physician who is educated in LGBT health.
SPORTS & FITNESS
There are many great ways to stay active and participate in healthy LGBT social activities in Las Vegas. There are a multitude of seasonal LGBT sporting groups in Las Vegas that meet for recreational activities including volleyball, pool, tennis, soccer, softball, hiking and camping. Some of these organizations include Nevada Outdoors, Betty’s Outrageous Adventures, LVGA3, the Las Vegas Gay Softball League, the IBL pool league started by The Phoenix owner Landon Heins and some independently planned gatherings such as Volleyball with Johnny Trivi Espinosa.
Joining a fitness workout program is a great way to stay in shape and lose weight with a group of like minded people, who can help boost moral support. One of the latest more popular exercise workouts is Crossfit. CrossFit workouts incorporate elements from high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, girevoy sport, calisthenics, strongman and other exercises.
VACCINATIONS
I wish there were more programs in place to inform youth, especially LGBT youth, the importance of early vaccinations. Many LGBT individuals become sexually active at an early age and are at a very high risk of contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases that are preventable with a simple vaccination. For this reason, the Center for Disease Control recommends the following vaccinations for LGBT community members.
The Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended by CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine are needed for lasting protection and the doses should be given at least six months apart.
The Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended by CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). A series of three or four doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine are usually given providing long-lasting protection.
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is also available to prevent genital warts and other HPV-associated diseases and conditions. The HPV vaccine is given as a three-dose series over a six month time period. It is best to be vaccinated before the first sexual contact, but later vaccination will protect those who have not been exposed to HPV. Most doctors will not administer this vaccination to people who are 26 years of age or older.
15va Entrega de los Latin Grammy
- December 29, 2014 - 10:34am
Las Vegas fué la ciudad designada para celebrar la noche mas importante de la música latina, Los Latin Grammy, y Gay Vegas estuvo presente para traerte un recuento de todo lo ocurrido.
Empezamos con la celebracién de la Persona del Año, evento celebrado un día antes de la noche oficial. Este año se rindió homenaje a Joan Manuel Serrat, donde Jarabe de Palo, Calle 13, Miguel Bose, Pepe Aguilar y Natalia Jimenez entre otros, le rindieron homenaje interpretando sus más famosos temas. El día de la premiación, la arena del MGM Grand se llenó de celebridades latinas, como Ricky Martin, Juanes, Chris Brown, Marc Anthony, Pitbull, Camila y más. Jacky Bracamontes y Eugenio Derbez hicieron una divertida dupla como anfitriones de la noche, además de contar con la presencia del comediante Adrián Uribe. Hay que resaltar que René de Calle 13, cantó su tema ‘Aguante’ portando una camiseta con la leyenda: “Ayotzinapa, faltan 43”, provocando inmediatamente reacciones en las redes sociales. También Pepe Aguilar dedicó su premio a México, el cual está pasando por un gran momento de tensión. Angelique Boyer y Sebastián Rulli presentaron juntos un premio y fueron ovacionados ya que aparecieron en el escenario representando a la pareja del año. Como sabemos, tiene una linda historia de amor.
Felicidades a todos los galardonados.
MLB’s ‘Ambassador for Inclusion’ hits a grand slam
- December 20, 2014 - 8:30am
During his entire baseball career, Billy Bean says he lived in a “tiny, dark closet.”
In 1995 he walked away from the sport he loved. He felt he could no longer hide his sexuality. But he also believed he could not be out as a professional athlete.
Bean went on to successful careers in radio, television, restaurants and real estate.
Then last year – while he was attending the Nike-sponsored LGBT Sports Coalition meeting in Portland – Major League Baseball came calling. A high-ranking official admitted, “This phone call probably comes 15 years too late.”
A month later, MLB made it official: Bean was named its first Ambassador for Inclusion.
Underlying its importance, the announcement came on a big stage: during the annual All-Star game in Minneapolis.
Bean’s new job highlights Major League Baseball’s evolution on LGBT issues, and its confidence in that path. A year ago, the organization formulated a policy prohibiting players from harassing and discriminating against others based on sexual orientation. Now they’ve named an openly gay former player to a league-wide position and given him wide latitude to figure out exactly what his job entails.
The first thing Bean did was put together an “all-star team” of experts. Representatives from GLAAD, Athlete Ally, You Can Play, PFLAG and other groups made themselves available to help educate players.
But as a former player himself, Bean knows that the demands on athletes’ time are great. So he’s reaching out further, to each MLB team and to their fans as well.
He’s doing it like the singles hitter he was. Bean is not going for a dramatic home run; he’s spraying hits around the field.
During the World Series, for instance, he met with San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer. In the midst of so many distractions – “the whole world was watching the team,” Bean notes – the executive listened, and told Bean how important his work was.
Then, Bean traveled to Phoenix for the annual meeting of all 30 MLB general managers. Later this winter he will be part of the Rookie Career Development Program, educating professional baseball’s youngest athletes about LGBT issues.
He’s opening up dialogues with every team. Each has its unique culture. Teams like the Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs have created inclusive environments, and done outreach to LGBT fans. Many other teams, though “don’t discuss the subject much,” Bean says. “My job is to bring positive attention to it.”
These days, people are willing to listen. “That’s the greatness of baseball,” says Bean. “They understand it’s not fair for one (gay) player to shoulder the burden of this new frontier. It’s important for an organization to understand that these issues impact and involve everyone.”
Bean was not hired to work with the one or two MLB players who may be in the process of deciding whether to come out. His job is to help the sport understand that there are gay players, executives, broadcasters and fans – in varying stages of “outness” – and to embrace everyone in the wide baseball community.
Baseball has come a long ways from 1995, the year Bean retired. “If things were like this when I was playing, my life would’ve been very different,” he says.
He points with pride to the New York Yankees. One of his first initiatives this summer was to take general manager Brian Cashman and assistant GM Jean Afterman to the Hetrick-Martin Institute – the nation’s largest social services agency for at-risk LGBT youth. The executives showed off their 2009 championship rings, then encouraged the teenagers to be true to themselves and follow their passions – wherever those might lead.
“That’s the power of baseball,” Bean says. “It can be very exciting and inspiring. Our job now is to even the playing field, so that everyone feels they can participate.”
A few months ago, at the LGBT Sports Coalition meeting in Portland, Bean met four college baseball players. Thrilled at the chance to talk with a former Major Leaguer, they described their fulfilled, exciting lives as gay athletes today.
“Ten years ago,” Bean says, “if you met people like that they’d be in dire circumstances. But the arc of the conversation has changed. I feel really grateful to be part of it.”
MLB commissioner Bud Selig acknowledged the past when he introduced Bean to the media. “I wish our game had someone in place” to whom Bean could have turned as a player, Selig says. “A friend, listener, a source of support.”
Billy Bean is doing exactly that today – not just for players, but coaches, managers, executives and fans as well. As a player he was not a home run hitter, but as “Ambassador for Inclusion” he’s definitely a grand slam.
Ho, Ho, Homo: 9 Affordable Ways to Make the Yuletide Gayer
- December 8, 2014 - 8:52pm
All that money you’ve saved for the better part of a year so you can celebrate the holidays in style moves quickly when you’re buying gifts left and right and planning your warm-weather escape as soon as the tree is tossed out onto the curbed. Since you’ve already got a sizable chunk of cash allocated, it’s not a bad idea to find ways to save some coin this season while still fitting in a ton of festive fun. Take a look at these nine ways you can make the yuletide gayer without breaking the bank.
1. Host a Holiday Potluck Dinner
Who doesn’t like to go out for a fancy dinner around the holidays to indulge in life’s tasty pleasures? I do, but I can’t always afford a $100-or-more restaurant or bar tab when Christmas is just around the corner. (It would be quite selfish to cheapen the gifts I planned to buy my friends and family because I wanted eat like a Trump.) As an alternative, consider hosting a potluck where each of your guests will bring a dish for everyone to enjoy. You can make this a sit-down dinner or you can keep it informal by using the potluck idea to host a small cocktail party where everyone can chat, drink, and dig into the expansive buffet.
2. Attend an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party in Town
Ugly Christmas sweater parties have become somewhat of a tradition over the past few years, and I can almost guarantee that there’s one in your area. Check your local LGBT bar calendars online to see if any are on the schedule this season. If you come up short in that area, widen your search to include other establishments. If you settle on a place that isn’t particularly gay, gather your gaggle for a guerrilla effort to make a night to remember. Find the ugliest Christmas sweaters imaginable at your local thrift shops or at UglyChristmasSweater.com.
3. Schedule an At-Home Holiday Movie Marathon
When the weather outside is frightful, a night on the couch is so delightful. Pick up a few snacks and drinks, and invite your besties over for a holiday movie marathon. Some of my favorites include classics like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; the Home Alone series; A Christmas Story; and Make the Yuletide Gay, the adorable coming-out-at-Christmas story by gay filmmaker Rob Williams. You may be able to find these movies – or whichever flicks suit your fancy – on streaming services to which you subscribe, or you can find them on the regular TV schedule and record them on your DVR in advance of the movie marathon.
4. Start a Secret Santa Program Among Your Friends
If you’re strapped for cash this year, quell some of the anxiety by suggesting a Secret Santa gift exchange among your friends instead of a free-for-all that can quickly spiral your budget out of control. If you currently only exchange a gift or two with a couple friends, this might not be for you, but if you have a large group of comrades, it’s an easy-on-the-wallet avenue to explore.
5. Plan a Gay-Themed White Elephant Party
There are different names for this type of party – aside from White Elephant, it’s also referred to as a “Yankee Swap” in various regions – but the concept is the same… and simple. Each participant brings one wrapped gift to the gathering – the price of which is usually capped at reasonable price, like $20 or so – and the group decides in which order participants will select from the pile of gifts, generally by numbers randomly drawn from a hat. Once a gift is opened, it can be stolen by the next in line if they don’t particularly like their gift or, in most cases, just like any of the previous gifts better. This practice continues until the last person has opened the last gift, which ultimately gives that lucky duck the pick of the litter. Lots of fun and laughter at this inexpensive, home-based holiday event.
6. Baked Holiday Goodies for Your Neighbors and Co-Workers
Get into the spirit of the season by dusting off those cookie sheets, muffin tins and loaf pans. Turn up the holiday tunes and get cookin’ with a few batches of your signature baked goods (I’m rather partial to Carolyn’s Chocolate Chip Cookies from Martha Stewart), package them in holiday-themed containers with nicely tied ribbons or bows, and deliver them with a note of holiday greetings.
7. See a Special Holiday Performance at Your Local Gay Bar
Hundred to one there’ll be a jolly drag show taking place at your favorite gay hangout between now and New Year’s. But if that’s not on the calendar, see what else is happening that’ll help you jingle all the way. Maybe it’s an ugly Christmas sweater party like I mentioned before, but there also may be toy drives; holiday-themed go-go boy nights; or game-based events, like trivia or bingo.
8. Round Up Your Group of Friends and Volunteer
Not everyone is as fortunate as we are, and those circumstances really start to take their toll on people around holiday time. That’s why it’s important to give some of your time and energy to show you care about your fellow Americans by volunteering. You could try to locate an LGBT establishment that needs a few helping hands this season, and there are plenty of other options in your community. The important part is that you and your friends are getting out there and giving back.
9. Snap Up Post-Holiday Clearance Deals for Next Year
One of my all-time favorite parts of the holidays is the post-Christmas clearance deals on décor and other holiday paraphernalia. I generally wait until about five days after Christmas when Target has slashed prices from the starting discount of 50 to 75 percent, but it tends to be heavily picked through by that point. Nonetheless, you can still walk away with a bunch of incredible deals. Wait a little longer and the discounts delve into the 90 percent-off range at certain stores, and that’s just a no-brainer. The shelves will look like the apocalypse has started, but you’re literally paying a few cents for whatever’s left to enhance your holiday home in the future.
Puerto Vallarta
- December 1, 2014 - 12:44pm
It's hard to name a gay resort destination in North America that has more going for it than Puerto Vallarta, a fast-growing city on the Pacific Coast's fabled Mexican Riviera. PV's historic downtown (El Centro) is hemmed in by the verdant slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Just south of El Centro, in Zona Romantica, you'll find a bustling gay scene comprising trendy cocktail bars, hopping dance clubs, scene-y open-air restaurants, and inviting hotels and condo rentals just steps from the beach. Despite its growing popularity, the city is still a relative bargain compared with the United States, the Caribbean, and even some other resort areas in Mexico. On just about any budget, you can eat well and stay in a comfortable room near the beach in this inviting, friendly destination that’s now one of the hottest LGBT resort communities in the world – a favorite place both to vacation and retire to.
With a population of roughly 255,000, Puerto Vallarta (visitpuertovallarta.com/travel-guide/lgbt-friendly) no longer bears much resemblance to the carefree and isolated fishing port that provided the 1963 filming location for the critically acclaimed film adaptation of Tennessee Williams’s play The Night of the Iguana. In recent years, PV has developed into a world-class gay mecca. Resources for LGBT visitors are many, including GayGuideVallarta.com and GayPV Magazine (gaypv.mx).
Zona Romantica is a compact patchwork of hilly lanes tucked beneath the Sierra Madre foothills. The neighborhood fringes Los Muertos Beach, and narrow auto and pedestrian bridges connect the district with El Centro. The beachfront location of Zona Romantica, as well as its elegantly faded veneer and historic charm, accounts for its ever-increasing draw among gay visitors and bohemian types. It’s a neighborhood that celebrates its diversity – everyone is welcome, but especially during the bustling high season (from about December through April), certain blocks of Zona Romantica seem about as gay as any in North America.
There are a few more general attributes that further enhance Puerto Vallarta's standing. Again, it’s reasonably priced. Dinner entrées at top restaurants rarely cost more than $20 and often run for $10 to $15. Hotel rates, cab rides, cocktails, fashionable clothing and handcrafted gifts also tend to come at fair prices, although it’s definitely possible to find high-end exceptions.
It helps to understand Spanish, but you can get by easily in PV speaking only English. And finally, this city set stunningly in the center of Bahia de Banderas (the largest natural bay in Mexico) enjoys a spectacular climate. The city is generally dry and breezy with temperatures in the 80s, the exception being the summer rainy season (generally June through September), when highs often reach the low 90s and humidity can sometimes be oppressive. Puerto Vallarta receives far fewer visitors off-season, and some businesses close for extended periods in summer.
If you're a fan of outdoor activities or are interested in some of the many side excursions available from this area, book a trip through the gay-friendly outfitter Vallarta Adventures. One excellent tour option is the company's thrilling Extreme Zip Line Adventure, which is a tree-top canopy tour, off-roading trip and waterslide experience in a high-jungle adventure park. The company also offers tours of secluded beaches like Yelapa and Las Caletas, as well as whale-watching, scuba and snorkeling, sailing trips, and up-close encounters with bottlenose dolphins and sea lions.
Where to Eat
PV has dozens of outstanding restaurants as well as a slew of hip bars, and the scene is continuously evolving. At the upper end, don't miss Cafe Des Artistes (cafedesartistes.com), a sumptuous spot with refined service and deftly prepared contemporary cuisine. For authentic regional Mexican food served in a charming, warmly furnished dining room, try lesbian-owned El Arrayan (elarrayan.com.mx), where you can sample everything from duck carnitas in an orange-guajillo chile sauce to roasted crispy Oaxacan crickets sautéed with tomatillo-avocado salsa.
Along the beachfront, Daiquiri Dick’s (mdi.ddpv.com) is a picturesque spot for a leisurely brunch or lunch, with or without a potent cocktail, and overlooking the water on the north side of El Centro, open-air El Barracuda (elbarracuda.com) serves superb, fresh-caught seafood, such as shrimp al pastor tacos and blacked rare-seared tuna steak.
Just inland from Zona Romantica, the less-touristy Colonia Remance has a few wonderfully romantic restaurants, including the famed Red Cabbage Cafe (redcabbagepv.com), an art-filled dining room that’s known for some of the best moles and other classic Mexican dishes in the city, and dapper Casa Naranjo, which serves consistently delicious and inventive Nuevo Latino fare.
You’ll find dozens of mostly casual, affordable spots in the heart of Zona Romantica, many along the “restaurant rows” of Basilla Badillo and Olas Altas, which intersect a block from the beach. Reliable options along the latter street include Café San Angel for burgers and tapas, Kabuki Sushi Bar for Japanese food, and The Swedes Bar & Bistro for European classics with a Scandinavian flair. Along Basilla Badillo, check out intimate and lively Joe Jack’s Fish Shack (joejacks-fishshack.com) for first-rate seafood, El Mole de Jovita for expertly prepared regional Mexican cooking, and Boccon di Vino for modern Italian fare in a romantic dining room.
Puerto Vallarta’s Gay Nightlife and Beach Scene
When the mood to socialize strikes you, keep in mind that dance clubs don’t get going until late, and they keep pulsing into the wee hours. Socializing over beer or cocktails begins for many visitors quite early in the day at, for instance, one of the beach clubs along scenic Playa Los Muertos (a few blocks south of Zona Romantica’s stunning pier, which glows at night with colorful lighting). At three très gay spots along here – Blue Chairs (bluechairs.com), Mantamar (mantamarvallarta.com), and Ritmos Café (ritmoscafe.com) – you can enjoy hobnobbing, dining and eating while lazing under a thatched beach umbrella overlooking the sea.
Early in the evening, head to one of lounges and cocktail bars along Olas Altas and the surrounding blocks. These include convivial lesbian-owned Apaches bar, the jazz club and piano cabaret Garbo, trendy Sama bar, festive La Cueva Cantina and friendly Los Amigos. One of the swankiest and trendiest bar options, La Noche is a gorgeous bi-level lounge with a highly popular upstairs patio. Across the street, CC Slaughters is a hot spot for late-night dancing, and Spartacus Spa is the top gay sauna in the city. And within a few steps of this bustling intersection, you’ll also find Paco’s Ranch, a fun option for late-night drinking and dancing; and Wet Dreams, which, as its name suggests, showcases buff dudes stripping in showers. Fans of male strippers should also be sure to check out the hot roster of talent at Antropology club, which is a few blocks north.
Other nightlife highlights include one of the campiest bars in town, Reinas, which is decorated as an homage to the British royal family; the Act II Stages complex (actiientertainment.com), which includes a theater, piano bar,and cabaret that presents both local and internationally renowned touring acts, musicals and concerts; Diva’s, with its well-attended, dishy drag shows; and Club Enter, which is arguably the top PV venue for late-night dancing, with an emphasis on electronica.
Where to Stay
In Zona Romantica, visitors can choose from a nice mix of gay-friendly options. If you're on a budget and seek a clean, comfortable and friendly gay property in the center of the action, check into the 28-room Hotel Mercurio (hotel-mercurio.com), which is just steps from many gay bars and restaurants (and two blocks from the beach), and offers compact but pleasant rooms and a youthful, social vibe – there's always plenty of frolicking going on around the pool, and the staff is super-friendly. A handsome, contemporary property that’s also in the center of the action, Olas Altas Suites (olasaltassuites.com) has three types of reasonably priced units, all of them with full kitchens, flat-screen TVs and attractive, well-chosen furniture. The best units have balconies. A short walk north of Zona Romantica in the historic Old Town, gay-owned Villa David (villadavidpv.com) is the only clothing-optional men’s property in PV. This historic hacienda with a tree-shaded pool and courtyard has 10 beautifully appointed rooms – the vibe here very much captures the city’s Spanish Colonial heritage.
Puerto Vallarta is also home to one of the most alluring, dramatically situated gay resorts in the world, the stellar Casa Cupula (casacupula.com), which excels as much at its stylish accommodations as it does at its staff, who are friendly, knowledgeable and charming. The 20 rooms range from cozy, more economical rooms to ultra-plush suites with magnificent ocean views and private soaking pools. The on-site restaurant Taste (taste.com.mx) serves outstanding Latin-Asian-Mediterranean–fusion fare and is popular both with hotel guests and visitors staying in town. Facilities include a well-stocked gym, a pool and a large open-air lounge with adjacent computer room. The property tumbles down a hillside high above Zona Romantica, a 15-minute walk from the gay beach.
Most gay travelers opt to stay in or near Zona Romantica, but if you'd prefer to chill out at a large mainstream resort that's a bit far from the fray, you’ll find plenty of swanky options north of downtown, around the marina. The stylish Westin Resort & Spa (starwoodhotels.com/westin) occupies a gorgeous stretch of beachfront. A 45-minute drive up the coast in a once-sleepy fishing village that’s now a chic resort, the Four Seasons (fourseasons.com/puntamita) is one of the most luxurious getaways on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. This secluded compound of beautifully appointed casita-style rooms is perfect for a special getaway. Amenities include an inviting spa, two outstanding golf courses, plus tennis, uncrowded beaches, stunning pools and fine restaurants.
The Four Seasons is still close enough to Puerto Vallarta to venture in for dinner or clubbing, and it’s just a quick 30-minute hop down the coast from the laid-back surfing village of Sayulita, a bohemian, artsy community with a growing LGBT following and even a couple of gay-owned vacation retreats, including chic Casa Brava (casabravasayulita.com) guest house and inviting, eco-conscious Xocotla (xocotla.com), a bluff-top hideaway with four inviting apartment.
The Gift Guide
- December 1, 2014 - 12:24pm
FOR THE NOSTALGIA
Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Complete Series
For queers of every kind, Pee-wee's Playhouse was a place to hang without feeling weird about being weird. Subverting heteronormativity with its groundbreaking portrayal of a wildly cartoonish man-boy in a bow tie, actor Paul Reubens’ iconic ’80s character smiled and winked at gay culture (Pee-wee once “married” a fruit bowl), and he had a diverse cast of friends who made every kid feel like they fit in. There was Tito, his buff, shirtless, hot-pants-wearing “Playhouse Lifeguard,” and Jambi the Genie – because everyone knows a gossip queen. Beyond the characters, kids tuned in for the “secret word,” the catchphrases (“I know you are, but what am I?!”), the zippy Cyndi Lauper-sung opening and that inimitable Pee-wee giggle. Before Reubens brings his alter ego back to the big screen, as he recently announced, the entire Emmy-winning series – all five seasons of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, spanning eight discs – lands on Blu-ray with over four hours of wonderfully wacky features. Explore the production design, delight in Playhouse fandom, and get reacquainted with the Pee-wee performers who would forever change childhood.
Sleeping Beauty: Diamond Edition
Elsa may be able to turn nothingness into fabulous ice castles with the fling of a finger, but Sleeping Beauty... she... she... yeah, so maybe Sleeping Beauty got the short end of the fairies’ sticks. But now, Aurora is getting some much-deserved respect as Disney awakens her from the vault. One of Walt’s oft-overlooked underdogs – Aurora was always second to Snow White and Cinderella and Ariel and Belle and Jasmine – finally rises from the shadows of her Disney sisters for this dolled-up Diamond Edition, which includes deleted scenes and the bonus “The Art of Evil: Generations of Disney Villains.” Yup, sorry, girls; she woke up like this.
MERRY… HALLOWEEN?
Halloween: The Complete Collection (Deluxe Edition)
The Halloween franchise has had so many reincarnations – and John Carpenter’s original is such timeless cinema – it’s hard to remember when the bludgeoning began. It was 36 years ago when the classic slasher saga first introduced the freakiness that is Michael Myers and made a star out of Jamie Lee Curtis, who played the resilient Myers’ sister, Laurie Strode, and put up a good fight all the way through 2002’s Resurrection (the film was a hot mess and starred Busta Rhymes, so she probably didn’t fight that hard). Other people didn’t stand a chance against the masked maniac (RIP Joseph Gordon-Levitt and your pretty face). Over the years, from 1978 to 2009, nine films – and the bizarrely Michael-less Season of the Witch – have emancipated the unburnable, unstabbable, unshootable, unstoppable Myers to work his knife on Tyra Banks, Michelle Williams, even comedy king Paul Rudd, who’d probably like to forget Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers as much as the rest of us. Undeniably fierce, however, is Curtis’ comeback in H2O, a reliably creepy anniversary affair that’s arguably the best of the sequels. From Starz/Anchor Bay, the 10-film franchise, including Rob Zombie’s divisive reboots, is together at last on 14 Blu-ray discs (one DVD) with a spate of whatnots: endless hours of special features, a new commentary track with Curtis on H2O and the never-before-released producer’s cut of Halloween 6.
(BOOB) TUBE FAVES
True Blood: The Complete Series
After leaving the funeral business behind and burying Six Feet Under well, six feet under, creator Alan Ball was desperate to sink his teeth into something less grave. True Blood was a breather for Ball. He would use the show as a platform for timely cultural commentary on the LGBT landscape, equal rights, violence against gays and the quest for identity and build those issues into an insatiable glut of blood, boobs and butts. You couldn’t turn away, and you likely didn’t – the show, which launched in 2008, lasted for seven sexy seasons. So, as if that nude standoff between Eric and Alcide – or the shower fantasy, or the time Eric seduced Talbot, or every shirtless Joe Manganiello scene – isn’t already preserved in all the horny fibers of your head, you now have the power to deploy freeze-frame on 33 discs of vamp camp, Blu-ray beefcake (hi-def abs!) and ample extras. Supplements are season-centric, with faux commercials and episode-specific commentaries. If you make it all the way through the final season’s candid, 15-minute long farewell feature, “True Death: The Final Days On Set,” you’ll know more than you ever cared to about one of TV’s bloodiest, boobiest shows.
The Sopranos: The Complete Series
Look at just about any legit “TV That Changed Our Lives” list and there’s The Sopranos, HBO’s celebrated series that has become so part of the pop-culture zeitgeist you can’t say you haven’t seen it without hanging your head in shame. Because even those who’ve been sleeping since 1999, when the show premiered to overwhelming and enduring praise, know this gritty crime drama is about an Italian-American family of mobsters, and that the great, late James Gandolfini created a TV icon. Effortlessly transcending his fictional role, Gandolfini was Tony Soprano. As head of the Soprano household, and in addition to his complicated relationship with his wife (a terrifically memorable Edie Falco), he finds himself at odds trying to maintain dual roles as family man and ass-kicker. The Sopranos had a successful 86-episode run through 2007, fetching gobs of awards, rebranding HBO as a destination for original, cutting-edge drama and, years later, still carrying a legacy indicative of its cultural influence. And, for all its alpha-male machismo, it was queer-inclusive: In season 2, we meet Vito Spatafore, a gay gangster. This boxed set marks the Blu-ray debut of The Sopranos, and commemorating this hi-def experience is “Defining a Television Landmark,” a new in-depth featurette on the show’s transformative effect on TV.
CLASSICS
The Audrey Hepburn Collection
Screen legend Audrey Hepburn was spirited, charming and beautiful, and every scene moment – particularly during the height of her film career in the mid-20th century – brought infinite joy to all those hopeless romantics basking in her glow. That divinity (and smile) radiates through these three romantic gems culled for a special Blu-ray set: Sabrina, a warmhearted, Cinderella-hued romance where two men pine for the titular character, played by Hepburn; Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the winsome classic that inspired generations of college women to turn their dorms into NYC-inspired, ’60s-centric pads; and Funny Face, the posh 1957 musical that delightfully pairs the actress with Fred Astaire. Even if there are no new extras – they’re carryovers from a previous DVD release – the films look as ravishing as Hepburn herself.
Eraserhead
The fear-triggered horrors of fatherhood have never quite seen anything like Eraserhead, birthed from the freakish sensibilities of David Lynch and popular among midnight-movie crowds. Turning heads within the cult circuit since 1977, the Mulholland Drive surrealist’s full-length debut feature descends into the twisted mind of a young man, Henry (Jack Nance), suddenly faced with not just any child but one that appears to have fought its way out of Sigourney Weaver’s stomach. Are we hanging in Henry’s subconscious the whole time? That ugly baby can’t be real, right? Who knows. This is Lynch doing what he does best: working your mind and haunting your thoughts. Finally, Eraserhead is resurrected on Blu-ray thanks to Criterion Collection’s meticulous rendering of the film’s striking black-and-white aesthetics. Included among the extensive extras are new restorations of six shorts directed by Lynch, an illustrated booklet, and archival interviews and footage dating back to the film’s original release.
FOR A LAUGH
22 Jump Street
Next Jump Street, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum will inevitably tie the knot, adopt babies and inspire a whole world of bros to become LGBT activists. How could they not? 22 Jump Street is so gay the only thing gayer would be if they made their penises kiss. In this sequel to the original reboot, doofus duo Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) are college-bound and facing the challenges of bromance, sassy roommates (please cast Jillian Bell in everything) and words (Jenko confuses “carte blanche” for “Cate Blanchett” – easy mistake). With a seriously funny couple’s-therapy session, a Harvey Milk namedrop and Tatum teaching gay lingo, 22 Jump Street is just two cowboy hats away from being the gayest movie of 2014. Their love affair sustains throughout the special features, which, among them, are a fun, irreverent commentary; the film’s “Dramatic Interpretation”; and “Janning and Chonah,” a look at the actors’ bromantic chemistry.
Neighbors
Here’s an early Christmas gift, and it’s already unwrapped: Zac Efron’s ripped, frequently shirtless body in Neighbors, a comedy about a frat (led by Efron and a butt-baring Dave Franco) whose hard-party shenanigans drive their quiet neighbors to react in ridiculous ways. The married couple – Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne – go to awkwardly desperate measures to coax the raucous brats into curbing the noise so they can put their baby boy down. Buffoonery unravels. Robotic boners happen. And stay through the credits to see said tot emulate each cast member, some in drag (the kid does an impressive Lisa Kudrow). Fun with prosthetic penises – based on Efron’s “real cast molding,” according to Christopher Mintz-Plasse – can be found on the bonus feature “On the Set With...”
Obvious Child
Suddenly single, Donna Stern (Jenny Slate) is just your average dumpee, self-medicating with wine and casual sex. But when a drunken night of hanky-panky leads to bigger breasts, which leads to a check-up at Planned Parenthood, she finds herself preggers. It’s not your everyday setup for a rom-com, even though it is one (a very cute one, at that), but therein lies its allure: It’s a refreshing spin on a tried-and-true formula. With former SN-er Slate taking lead (this needs to be a thing more often, FYI), even a pro-lifer couldn’t resist the adorable, empathy-inducing candor she brings to Donna. But, also, who doesn’t like a good vagina joke? The 2009 short film that inspired the full-length, a commentary and a making-of are among the extras.
LGBT Favorites 2014 / Editor's Pick
- November 28, 2014 - 10:59pm
Gay Vegas gathers vital LGBT marketing data via the thousands of phone calls, emails, page clicks, trending keywords and our magazine distribution analysis to determine some of your 2014 LGBT favorites, with a little help from our editor.
Top 10 Hotels & Casinos
Encore Las Vegas (tied in group 1)
Wynn Las Vegas (tied in group 1)
Hands down, Encore and Wynn have had the highest LGBT interest for 2014. These exquisite hotels have been openly targeting the LGBT market and have offered a “Pride Concierge.” John Arnos, an openly gay concierge manager, focuses on specialized customer service training when providing for their high demographic of LGBT guests. Wynn and Encore have also received a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
The Mirage Hotel & Casino
Standing alone in second place, The Mirage Hotel & Casino has been voted as a leading LGBT hotel & casino. We were initially surprised when Vince Chu, concierge supervisor of The Mirage Hotel & Casino, informed us that in very little time, the hotel had run out of our publication and needed us to overnight more. In the following months, we would receive word that copies of Gay Vegas were needed for an employee named Miranda in The Mirage call center who has been dedicated to providing her LGBT guests with relevant information. With an amazing Cirque Du Soleil show ‘The Beatles LOVE’, a dedicated LGBT Sunday night party at Revolution Lounge, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat, and incredible deals on hotel rooms and swimming pool cabanas, it’s no surprise that LGBT guests have been making it a point to stay at this casino that Vince describes as a “soothing and relaxing tropical environment.”
Bellagio (tied in group 3)
Cosmopolitan (tied in group 3)
Treasure Island (tied in group 3)
Venetian (tied in group 3)
Caesars Palace (tied in group 4)
The Palms (tied in group 4)
The Tropicana (tied in group 4)
Leading Concierge Representative
Danni Bostrom
Palazzo Las Vegas
Danni is truly a one-of-a-kind person and an exceptional concierge representative with an endearing personality, a kind heart and an unwavering dedication to her LGBT guests and co-workers. We congratulate Danni as she has accepted a new position at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.
LGBT Community Leader
Mya Reyes
A long-time advocate for gay tourism in Southern Nevada, Mya is dedicated to bringing international Gay and Lesbian travelers to Las Vegas. Her most recent endeavor, Evolve Vegas NYE, is an LGBT New Year’s Eve event hosted by the MGM Grand. Its major New Year’s Eve event is located at Havana Nightclub in The New Tropicana Las Vegas hotel.
LGBT Vegas Show
Britney Spears - Piece of Me
Spears’ show, Piece of Me, has attracted LGBT travelers from all over the world. The pop princess who has arguably one of the largest gay followings, has recently signed a new contract giving her an additional 140 shows during a 2-year residency.
LGBT Ride or Attraction
The High Roller
This 550-foot tall Ferris wheel, which opened this past spring, is one of the strip’s latest attractions. On the day that Nevada received Marriage Equality, it was lit up in rainbow colors in tribute to the historic event.
LGBT Special Event
Life is Beautiful Festival
This event is like no other festival, aside from the music and the fun, this event hopes to change your life. A.J. Makibbin, attendee of the 2014 Life is Beautiful Festival says, “People think they are just coming to a festival, but you leave with new knowledge [...] and it changes your life [...] It’s an amazing experience!”
LGBT Personality
Brendan Jordan
Viral sensation, Brendan Jordan, became one of Vegas’ leading LGBT personalities. In an instant, an internet star was born by an impromptu vogue performance behind two Las Vegas reporters on live TV. Brendan’s fierce clip took the internet by storm and Lady Gaga even mentioned him on Twitter.As a result, the LGBT youth was launched further into fame, appearing on the Queen Latifah show, among others. Visit Jordan on instagram at instagram.com/jordvnhaus
VeGoss - Year in Review and In With The New
- November 28, 2014 - 10:43pm
Our Gay Vegas Year in Review takes a look back at the top stories, searches, images, people, moments and places that mattered most in 2014.
Laverne Cox became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy in an acting category: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sophia Burset in Orange Is the New Black.
Meghan Stabler became the first openly transgender woman to be named Working Mother magazine’s Working Mother of the Year.
The Las Vegas Grease Monkeyswon the C Division Tournament of the Gay Softball World Series in Dallas, TX this past September.
Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams and thus became the first openly gay player to be drafted into the National Football League.
Cosmopolitan Magazine, a women’s magazine, offered sex advice to lesbians for the first time in its history.
Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple Inc., came out as gay, thus becoming the first openly gay CEO on the Fortune 500 list.
Nevada received Marriage Equality on October 9th 2014 making it truly, “the marriage capital of the world.” In tribute to the historic event, the SLS Las Vegas Hotel sported a rainbow flag being held by their front entrance sculpture and Vegas’ latest attraction, the High Roller Ferris wheel, performed a rainbow-themed light show.
2015 NYE Celebrations
Celebrate the end of a groundbreaking year and ring in 2015 with the numerous LGBT New Year’s Eve events going on in Las Vegas. Champagne toast your way into the new year at the Garage, FreeZone,Phoenix, Quadz, The Eagle, or watch the strip fireworks from Hawks Gym. Charlies is having a New Year’s Black and Platinum party hosted by Fantasia Saxton and Michelle Holliday, while Piranha has a $5000 balloon drop, Goodtimes is having a NYE raffle and the all new LGBT Evolve Vegas NYE party will feature Jujubee & Raven of RuPaul’s drag race.
Hidden Gems of Las Vegas
- November 28, 2014 - 9:49pm
Marché Bucchus
This romantic French bistro is located beyond an extensive wine cellar and features a gorgeous lake view. This hidden gem has an incredible ambiance that you would never expect by the typical commercial center store front.
Rest assured, the dining experience at Marché Bacchus is anything but typical. When the weather permits, I have always preferred to dine on their patio and with a breathtaking view of Lake Jacqueline, who in their right mind would not?
The patio feels alive with vine-covered lattice, graceful swimming swans and if you’re lucky, a family of turtles known to rest on rocks along the lake shore will visit your patio table. This Summerlin hideaway offers some of the finest wines, an outdoor fireplace, familiar faces, and outstanding customer service.
I have often envisioned a lovely wedding reception at this location and have confirmed that many do take place at Marché Bacchus with the assistance of a wedding planner.
The food selection is top-notch! Chef de Cuisine, Jose Aleman, Chef Alex Stratta, and award winning pastry Chef Megan Romano provide a delicious menu.
One of my personal favorite lunch menu items is the lobster salad croissant sandwich with tomato, avocado and tarragon citrus aioli ($12) and for dinner recommended is the red wine braised beef with candied shallots and butter whipped potatoes ($27) which goes great with a bottle of Anderson’s Conn Valley Right Bank 2010 ($44.99), accurately described by Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media as “a pretty wine laced with small red fruits, flowers, licorice and spices.”
Whatever your pleasure, be sure to visit the Marché Bacchus, you will not be disappointed. www.marchebacchus.com
La Cave
Tucked away in the Wynn Las Vegas, this beautiful wine cave serves savory small plates by Chef Billy DeMarco and features a wine list so extensive, it might feel like the options are endless. This 3,000 square foot wine and food hideaway provides three distinct environments - the main dining room, the “Garden Room” and an area called the “cellar.”
The Sunday Brunch is absolutely divine with endless butler-style table side items such as Eggs Benedict with your choice of Chorizo, Canadian Bacon or Filet, Mushroom Grits, Angus Mini Burgers and the list goes on from there. Additionally, for only $20, you can enjoy endless drinks from the Bottomless Brunch Cocktails menu including mimosas, caipirinhas, sangria and more. The brunch is from 10:30am to 2:30pm costing $48 for adults and $28 for children (under 12).
When dining at La Cave, I prefer sitting on the patio which has a delightful view of the Wynn gardens and pool. As far as the food, you really can’t go wrong. The menu is separated into several sections such as; from the sea, farm, grill and oven. For a quick bite, I enjoy a flatbread with Chicken, Thai Basil, Sweet and Sour Chili and a Garlic Aioli ($17). For something more substantial, I would order the Beef Filet Crostini topped with caramelized Blue Cheese, a port wine reduction and a truffle cream sauce ($21) with perhaps a bottle of the Heitz Napa Cabernet ($178), which is also available by the glass.
La Cave is located off the main casino floor next to the Terrace Point Café on your way to Wynn’s beautiful golf course.
www.lacavelv.com
Gay Vegas en Español - ¡Felices Fiestas!
- November 28, 2014 - 9:43pm
Diciembre es nuestro mes de glamor y celebraciones decembrinas y te traemos nuestras mejores recomendaciones para tener un mes lleno de eventos y celebraciones a lo grande, pero sobre todo con mucho estilo.
Este año será la primera celebración anual de Evolve Vegas, una experiencia gay de año nuevo de tres días que reunirá a hombres de más de 30 países y 6 continentes la cual tendrá lugar del 30 de diciembre de 2014 al 1 de enero del 2015, ofreciendo espectáculos, recepciones, fiestas, cenas, compras, recorridos y más. Y para aquellos que deseen continuar divirtiéndose, un fin de semana en West Hollywood, California, del 2 al 4 de enero.
También, no se olviden que pueden brindar con champaña y recibir el año nuevo en nuestros amados establecimientos gays locales como Las Vegas Eagle, FreeZone, Quadz Video Bar, Hawks Gym, The Garage Las Vegas y The Phoenix. Piranha Nightclub tendrá una lluvia de globos de $5000; Goodtimes Bar & Nightclub celebrará con una rifa de año nuevo; y Charlie’s Las Vegas tendrá un evento con Fantasia Saxon y Michelle Holliday así que no se olviden de planificar sus celebraciones a tiempo.
Encontrarás todos los datos de estas grandes celebraciones a través de las publicidades de nuestros anunciantes en esta edición de Diciembre.
Celebremos a lo grande como lo hacemos siempre en Las Vegas! Felices Fiestas departe de todos nosotros en Gay Vegas Magazine.