THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Oct. 8, 2008 • vol 24 no 4 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Two Icons, Two Stories VP Debate
Fallout page 4
Ladies’ Night page 7
Lauper’s View page 10 Nate Berkus. Elton John. Photo courtesy of Joseph Carozza. Nate Berkus Elton John: He’s still standing EXCLUSIVE TO WINDY CITY TIMES talks life and love BY MARK SEGAL, GAY HISTORY PROJECT By Ross Forman As part of GLBT History Month, Philadelphia Gay News Publisher Mark Segal nightspots talked with gay icon Elton John, who discussed everything from his own foun- October 8, 2008 #965 Nate Berkus has gone to a lot of sports-memorabilia conventions over n dation to his personal take on the phrase “gay history.” the years. But he’s not a collector or a dealer, and doesn’t even like Close To You pick it up Zach and Charis gettin’ it on in this year’s Carpenters Halloween, by Scooty & JoJo at Mary’s Attic. Mark Segal: Oscar Wilde wrote “Anybody can make history. Only a great page 14 sports: He’s just a loving, supportive son. inSIDE The fur flies at Big A Palin the ass. Chicks’ Formerly page 22 Known As. take it home page 8 You see, his dad, Mike, is a lifelong sports-memorabilia collector, man can write it.” Your new musical Billy Elliott certainly fits that realm, dealer and card-show promoter. He is a co-founder and current co-exec- and at the same time takes on homophobia. Was that one of the issues utive director of the annual National Sports Collectors Convention, set that brought you to this project? for its 30th annual gala next summer in Cleveland. Elton John: The main attraction to me for Billy Elliott was the deep con- “Growing up, I spent a lot of time behind tables at [trading] card and nection I felt with the film. Billy’s artistic and social journey had parallels memorabilia conventions,” Nate Berkus said. “I was always interested in with my own life and wanting to be a musician. Having said that, I find
Turn to page 22 Turn to page 17 www.WindyCityQueercast.com
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index TOP 10 Das Auto.TM Reasons To Love News The Fall Season VP debate fallout 4 McCain talks with gay paper 5 Nat’l roundup 5 10. Cubs Folding in Tackling gay elder issues 6 ason Latino/a LGBT confab 7 the Post-Se Equality IL women’s party 7 Chicago House gala pics 7 9. Retiring the Lynch, ‘Sweet Tea’ 8 ” DP event, Center’s auction 8 “Summer Scarf World roundup 9 e Lattes Quotelines 9 A puppy was among the items at the 8. Pumpkin Spic Views: Lauper, Day 10 Center on Halsted’s auction on Oct. 5. See Boots more on page 8. 7. Debuting Winter ENTERTAINMENT Photo by Yasmin Nair Football Season Levi Kreis interview 11 6. Dancin’ Feats; theater 12 5. Skimpy Halloween Bent Nights: Tina Turner 17 Elton John interview 17 Costumes Books: The Black Tower 18 Knight at the Movies 20 4. Wearing Jackets Nate Berkus & his life 22 3. Finding The Wishbone OUTLINES Apples Pets 18 2. Bobbin’ For Real estate; classifieds 19 Calendar 21 Sports briefs 22 Evette Cardona (left) and Mona Noriega 1. ERS! were among the couples at a party to LEFTOV celebrate the fifth anniversary of Cook County’s domestic-partnership registry. See more on page 8. ‘08s at Photo by Yasmin Nair elievable Prices Web-only Unb www. features include: Windy —Media Watch —Janet Jackson City concert pic/roundup Media —Bent Nights: Lindsey Bucking- Group ham profile (right) .com Photo by Vern Hester Sleek. Sexy. Affordable. Available on n in g h t s p o t s 2008 models CLOSE TO YOU Zach and Charis APR** in stock! gettin’ close in **O% Thru VW Credit with approved financing. Offer ends 10/31/08. See dealer for details. Scooty & JoJo’s Plus tax, title license and doc fee. *Through VW credit with approved financing. Offer ends 9/02/08. See dealer for details. www.WindyCity Carpenters
October 8, 2008 Queercast.com Halloween at Mary’s #965 on the web at www.fjchicago.com Attic. Close To You Zach and Charis gettin’ it on in this year’s Carpenters Halloween, by Scooty & JoJo at Mary’s Attic. inSIDE page 14 Photos by Kirk Williamson The fur flies at Big A Palin the ass. Chicks’ Formerly page 22 Known As. page 8 FLETCHER JONES
3%04 s 6/, ./ THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN,nnn%N`e[p:`kpD\[`X>iflg%Zfd BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 VOLKSWAGEN becoming FYXdXkXcbj#o treat all I think people are tinuing to evolve.ware of the need t orientation. would not more and more aegardless of sexual ith that, m—proba- ;FNECF8;K?@J lear that McCain mpaign put people equally r ople who disagree w bout this Once it becamen. Barackc Obama’s ca spoke to There are some pee folks—many of the participate, Se the interview. Obamadio version but frankly thos de their minds up a DZ:X`eYXcbjGO www.epgn. bly have already ma any gay no conditions on one Sept. 16; an au EXCLUSIVE IN CHICAMES Mark Segal by ph will be posted at gay press election earlier. ked about yourbe m comfort- ceremo- TO WINDY CITY TI of the interview interview with theatic nomina- Segal: You’ve talyou and Michelle BY MARK SEGAL com. In his first took the Democr friends. Would their commitment FlkXe[ gX^\/ iendly GAY HISTORY PROJECT ory Project since he officiallyt Obama had to say. able attending st with you Gifl[ ason, the Gay Hist of both the tion, here’s wha the most LGBT-frn history. nies? d. But I’ll be hone the as used for presi- Mark Segal: You are for president i Obama: We woul can’t go anywhere. In this election seing you the views John McCain and attempted to br ublican candidates you the candidate runninged that sive issue that, these days, I t President Bush h From AnywhereYou Call Home... KliekfgX^\+ Democratic and Repe attempted to bringor the Demo- Are you concern use this as a divi Segal: The curren wo candidates f pring pri- Republicans might 4? try, but I >fkfnnn%N`e[p:`kpD\[`X>iflg%Zfdkf dent —just as w views of the top t omination for the swas to be as they did in 200 I think they canof reasons. cratic presidential forn both candidateso follow-up Barack Obama:ill No. work for a couple n peoples’ “Come in and mary. The format e questions, with n And since don’t think it w that the America are con- the same: the sam same time limit. t to Repub- Number one, I thinkpect to LGBT issues questions and theepeatedly reached ouentative Jill attitudes with res C>9KH8jZ_ffc All Roads Lead To Fletcher Jones! April, we have r cCain’s press repres il. gX^\)) lican Sen. John M e, letter and e-ma d\\k`e^Zfm\ij Hazelbaker by phon dXep`jjl\j gX^\(. ;i`m\ BY AMY WOOTEN uestions [fnecfX[Zfdgc\k\`jjl\jf]N`e[p:`kpK`d\j ask for me, Omar” ople had specificcago q public Fe Although many pesed LGBTQA Chi forum, most about the propo ecent community of such a high school at a r to support the idea present appeared PS) Of- school. o Public Schools’ (Cforum at On Sept. 18, Chicagls held a communityhe proposed fice of New Schoo Halsted regarding t Campus, a the Center on gh School—Pride ughly 150 Social Justice Hir LGBTQA students. Ro BT activ- oliticians, local LG Xe[E`^_kjgfkj% public school fo resent. There, people, includingnd p students were p sed LGBTQA ists, teachers a well as the propo d the pro- CPS officials, as sign team, discusse questions. C`cpKfdc`e# gX^\(( high school’s de ails and answered d open in KXb\Knf cess, presented det if approved,ot woul been chosen. The Pride Campus,10. A location has n replicate the the fall of 20 d, in many ways, awndale :fd\ The school woul ents of the Greaterstice, L which successful componhool for Social Juger strike. Little Village Sc a community hun he Pride was born out of Social Justice, t paratory nightspots Like the School forplement college ovide pre LGBTQA 1111 N. Clark Street n Campus would im overall goal is to pr d far g`Zb`klg curriculum. The KliekfgX^\. Kf^\k_\i Ishaug (far left an Connor kXb\`k_fd\ d Munar and Markctivist Michael O’ Grant K_\eZc`ZbfeXepX[Xe[Y\kXb\e[`i\Zkcpkf d at n of Chicago’s Davi from left) and a k held Sept. 20 in ediaGroup.com an AIDS FoundatioGreg Harris (second g AIDS Run & Wal t www.WindyCityM AND A group includingvely); State Rep. at a record-settin right, respecti ) was among those ore on page 22, a (third from right Fitzgerald; see m. Park. Photo by KatesPhotography.com A DESK AWARD \\iZXjk%Zfd www.MysticImag WINNER! 2008 DRAM nnn%N`e[p:`kpHl {ÓΰÈÈ£Ó k_\X[m\ik`j\iËjN\Yj`k\ ÀÕ«Ê/ i>ÌiÀÊ/Ý\ÊΣӰ NEW YORK OM Y LIMITED ENGAGEMENT /ViÌ>ÃÌiÀ°VÊÊUÊÊ STRICTL Y! OCT. 2 - NOV.ÊÊ "\ÊΣӰnn°ä 30 ääÊÊUÊÊ DIRECT FR 1-800-IMPORTS 8 WEEKS TRONEÊÊUÊÊ£È{£ÊL Ê>ÃÌi`ÊÊU BARET THEA ROYAL GEORGE CA
4 Oct. 8, 2008 friends,” said Palin, suddenly smiling and ap- right unhappy—she holds the same position on The veep debate: pearing more comfortable. “And even within marriage as Obama/Biden, so that was off the that group, you would see some who may not table.” Did they agree Sen. agree with me on this issue, some very dear Jimmy LaSalvia, director of program and poli- Joe friends who don’t agree with me on this issue. cy for national Log Cabin, said, “They agreed to on marriage? Biden “But in that tolerance also, no one would ever agree.” By Lisa Keen propose, not in a McCain-Palin administration, Evan Wolfson, head of the national Freedom Keen News Service to do anything to prohibit, say, visitations in a to Marry group, applauded Biden for his support hospital or contracts being signed, negotiated that gay couples be treated equally under the To hear debate moderator Gwen Ifill sum it up, between parties. law but dinged him, too. the two vice-presidential candidates “agree” on “But, I will tell Americans straight up that I “His comments garbled the distinction be- gay marriage. But that’s not what all LGBT view- don’t support defining marriage as anything but tween religious rites of marriage, properly left to ers concluded during Thursday night’s nationally tion, we should be granted —same-sex couples between one man and one woman, and I think religions to decide, and the legal right to marry, televised debate at Washington University in St. should be able to have visitation rights in the through nuances we can go round and round regulated by the government, which should not Louis, Mo. hospitals, joint ownership of property, life in- about what that actually means. discriminate,” said Wolfson. And Wolfson chided After getting six questions on the economy surance policies, etc.,” Biden continued. “That’s But I’m being as straight up with Americans Biden for “using the anti-gay forces’ false talk- and three questions on the environment, the only fair. It’s what the constitution calls for.” as I can in my non-support for anything but a ing point—introduced by Gov. Palin—that end- vice-presidential nominees were asked about “And so we do support, we do support mak- traditional definition of marriage.” ing gay couples’ exclusion from marriage is ‘re- legal rights for same-sex couples. The ques- ing sure that committed couples in a same-sex In one of her rare attempts during the debate defining’ marriage; marriage is not ‘defined’ by tion was awkwardly worded, but in the end, marriage are guaranteed the same constitutional to pin the candidates down on a position, mod- who is denied it.” most LGBT viewers seemed impressed with the benefits as it relates to their property rights, erator Ifill followed up: “Let’s try to avoid nu- And while Palin, said Wolfson, apparently “felt strength of Democrat Sen. Joe Biden’s answer their rights of visitation, their rights to insur- ance,” she said to Biden. “Do you support gay obliged to go out of her way to proclaim her- and underimpressed with that of Republican ance, their rights of ownership as heterosexual marriage?” self ‘tolerant,’ her position against gay marriage Gov. Sarah Palin. couples do.” “No,” said Biden. “Barack Obama nor I sup- “raises the question of why the law should then PBS Moderator Ifill asked the two candidates: Ifill then directed the question to Palin, with port redefining from a civil side what constitutes discriminate against those Americans.” “Do you support, as they do in Alaska, grant- a slight tweak: “Governor, would you support marriage. We do not support that.” He then made ing same-sex benefits to couples?” She probably expanding that beyond Alaska to the rest of the a somewhat muddled statement about leaving Final score? meant “benefits to same-sex couples,” and she nation?” “the decision” to “faiths and people who prac- Various focus groups and polls conducted by should have noted that those benefits are avail- “Well, not if it goes closer and closer towards tice their faiths” to decide “what you call it.” CNN, CBS and other mainstream broadcast media able only to state employees in Alaska and are redefining the traditional definition of marriage Biden then said that his interpretation of Pa- immediately after the debate all indicated that a available only because the state supreme court between one man and one woman,” said Palin, lin’s remarks indicated that “she thinks there majority of viewers felt Biden had “won” the de- ordered the state to provide them. “and, unfortunately that’s sometimes where should be no civil-rights distinction, none what- bate but that Palin had gone a long way toward She tossed the question first to Biden, who those steps lead.” soever, between a committed gay couple and a repairing some of the damage to her reputation answered as if the moderator had asked about “But I also want to clarify,” continued Palin. committed heterosexual couple.” that she had inflicted during the previous week’s equal protection for gay and straight couples. “If there’s any kind of suggestion at all from “If that’s the case,” said Biden, “we really interview with CBS News anchor Katie Couric. “Do I support granting same-sex benefits?” my answer that I would be anything but toler- don’t have a difference.” In that interview, Palin seemed ill-prepared to repeated Biden. “Absolutely, positively.” ant of adults in America choosing their partners, Ifill asked Palin if that was, in fact, what she answer even simple questions, like what news- “In an Obama-Biden administration,” he said, choosing relationships they deem best for them- said. papers she reads. She seemed to have no famil- “there will be absolutely no distinction from a selves, you know—I am tolerant.” However, her “Your question to him was whether he sup- iarity with Supreme Court decisions beyond Roe constitutional standpoint or a legal standpoint body language—a brief shaking of the head with ported gay marriage,” said Palin, “and my answer v. Wade, and appeared to get lost while answer- between a same-sex and a heterosexual…” her eyes closed each time she pronounced what is the same as his, and it is that I do not.” ing more complex questions. The $700 billion Interestingly, at this point, C-SPAN provided a “they” chose as best for “themselves”—seemed “Wonderful,” concluded Ifill. “You agree.” “bailout” bill, she said, helps healthcare reform. split screen, and viewers could see Palin raising to signal a level of discomfort or disagreement Then, looking down frequently, she started rat- her eyebrows briefly. with those choices. Do they agree? tling off “job creation,” “reduces taxes,” “rein- “Fact of the matter is, under the constitu- “I have a very diverse family and group of Some LGBT viewers saw the answers much as ing in spending” and “trade as opportunity.” Ifill did. About gay people, the Republican vice-pres- Michael Stara, chairman of the Pennsylvania idential nominee reiterated that she has gay Log Cabin Republican chapter, said he was de- friends and doesn’t judge gay people. lighted to see that both candidates appeared to “As for homosexuality,” said Palin to Couric, be supportive of civil unions. “I am not going to judge Americans and the de- Others felt the distinctions were at least mud- cisions that they make in their adult personal dled. relationships. I have ... one of my absolute best Political blogger Pam Spaulding said Biden friends for the last 30 years who happens to be “hit it out of the park,” given, she said, that the gay, and I love her dearly. And she’s not my gay political bar on gay marriage this year has been friend—she is one of my best friends who hap- set at marriages is between a man and a woman pens to have made a choice that isn’t a choice but gay couples should have the same rights that I would have made but I am not going to and benefits. Spaulding said she thinks Palin’s judge people.” answer “probably left her supporters on the far ©2008 Keen News Service 1 ' ( " 1 ' ( 4 ( 1 . 1 2** 1 ! 1 " " # " " # # 1 " $% & )- ( " " 1 ! " #$' # " % (&#$# / / , ! " #$# % &#$# 22 3 4 ) * ! " ! FALL FOX ! VALLEY" SHOW # $# ' &#$ +*# ! ( ! " #$# ' &#$# OCTOBER5 6 18-19, 2008 , - &# ,. # !&&# ,/ 0 1 ) +/ ! 2 / ( , + ( ( ! . ANTIQUES • DECORATIVE ARTS , 1 / + 4 , ! ' ** 1 ( ( ( Produced by: , ! + '& Chicago Suburban Antiques Dealers Association / / + ( 1 & ! 1) +- 1 ! ( ! " #$( # %& #$# + ' & ! " #$ # %& #$# !"!#" $$ %!&'& (&#''' $ '& ( - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. !!Saturday, "" October ! ! " ! 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But Naff said Kapfer has not giv- McCain talks “What I can say now,” said McCain, “is I will filiated with any campaign and has not donated en money to the campaign and is not affiliated give careful consideration to any legislation that money to anyone running for president.” There with it. reaches my desk, and confer with Congress be- was no similar disclaimer included with the Mc- ©2008 Keen News Service with D.C. fore making decisions.” gay paper “It’s interesting that John McCain thinks that 1977. Schwarzenegger said that he vetoed the being civil is going to win us over,” said a state- NATIONAL bill because Milk’s contributions “should con- By Lisa Keen ment from HRC President Joe Solmonese, “but it tinue to be recognized at the local level.” Keen News Service doesn’t make up for the fact that he is against A Presbyterian pastor who was in danger of every single policy that would protect and pro- ROUNDUP BY AMY WOOTEN being defrocked for performing a marriage cer- Republican presidential nominee John McCain mote equality for the LGBT community. emony for two women in 2005 has been cleared told the Washington Blade this week that he “It’s 2008,” said Solmonese, and “‘some of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Jer- of all charges. During her second church trial in appreciates the Log Cabin Republicans’ endorse- my best friends are gay’ doesn’t work anymore. two years, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ment and hopes that gay voters will consider Sorry, we’ve already had one ‘compassionate rold Nadler recently announced a resolution that urges recognition of the need for stable found Rev. Janet Edwards not guilty of vio- voting for him. But he also implied that he is conservative’ in the White House for eight years, lating its constitution. Under its constitution, skeptical about supporting the Employment we aren’t interested in another.” housing for those living with HIV/AIDS. The concurrent resolution, which is supported by pastors can’t perform same-sex marriages, but Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the Mat- Naff acknowledged that he can’t be certain can bless other “holy unions.” thew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, and he dodged McCain answered the questions himself. Some other congressional leaders such as Reps Hen- ry Waxman, Barbara Lee, Joseph Crowley and One of the world’s largest airlines, American a question about anti-gay nominees to the U.S. responses reflect his language and tendency Airlines, wrote Congress a letter of support Supreme Court. toward terse replies. Others—such as when he Christopher Shays, stresses that nationwide HIV/AIDS housing is necessary in order to keep for the passage of the Employment Non- The Human Rights Campaign issued a state- provided a Web link to the full eulogy he deliv- Discrimination Act (ENDA). ENDA is currently ment soon after the interview appeared on the ered at gay 9/11 hero Mark Bingham’s funeral— those living with HIV/AIDS safe, healthy and off the streets. under consideration. American Airlines, which newspaper’s Web site, saying McCain’s responses suggest he had help, given that his campaign employs over 80,000 people, was the first California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ve- “do nothing but insult the intelligence of the has acknowledged he’s unfamiliar with the use major airline to implement domestic partner toed a bill that would have honored gay civil LGBT community.” of Google, if not internet technology. benefits and to include both sexual orientation The interview between the Washington Blade Interestingly, the Obama interview included a riots pioneer Harvey Milk. The bill would have marked the activist’s birthday, May 22, as Har- and gender identity in its non-discrimination and McCain took place on paper—just as did an disclaimer that said Window Media Co-Publisher policy. earlier Blade “interview” with Democratic presi- William Kapfer—who submitted the questions vey Milk Day. Milk was assassinated, along with dential candidate Barack Obama. News Editor to both campaigns on behalf of the Blade and then San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, in Kevin Naff said the questions were submitted to the campaign Sept. 15 and were returned Oct. 1. He also acknowledged there was no way to be absolutely sure the answers came from McCain himself. In fact, an Obama staffer later clarified that 0GGV6GZCPFVJG&KV[UVCT the Democrat’s answers, published Sept. 10, had been prepared by someone in the campaign au- thorized to respond for the senator. The Blade asked McCain all but one of the same &[PVJKC1KZQP questions as it did Obama but, noted Naff, got $1' back more responses from McCain. For instance, 7+( McCain said he supports the U.S. Supreme Court 6(; &,7< decision that the Boy Scouts can bar openly gay leaders. (The paper did not ask McCain if he *WGUV6RGCMGTCV would support a move by the D.C. City Council to approve same-sex marriages. The district’s legis- lation is subject to Congressional approval.) 3GTUQPCN3$&¶U Concerning his controversial campaign state- ments against gays adopting children, McCain suggested he thinks his remarks have been “mis- 15th Annual interpreted” and said he respects gay people who are raising adopted children. But he repeated his belief that a heterosexual couple is “best.” “I hope my comments are not misinterpreted,” $YCTFU wrote McCain. “I respect the hundreds of thou- sands of gay and lesbian people who are doing their best to raise the children they have ad- opted. As someone who adopted a child, Cindy /WPEJGQP and I know better than most couples the amaz- ing satisfaction that comes from providing love to an unwanted child. I believe a child is best raised by a mother and father because of the unique contributions that they make together to October 20, 2008 the development of a child.” McCain dodged some questions, too. Asked whether he would nominate a Supreme Court Hilton Chicago justice who had issued anti-gay rulings, McCain said only that he would nominate judges who in- 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago terpret the Constitution, not legislate from the bench. Like Obama, he called for a national strategy 12:00 PM to combat HIV in the United States, but unlike Obama, seemed to put greater emphasis on ab- stinence. He repeated his understanding that military commanders still believe “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is working but said he is “willing to have the policy reviewed to make sure that’s the case.” He said he continues to oppose an amendment to the federal constitution to ban same-sex mar- riage but emphasized clearly this time that he does so because “this should be a state mat- ter, and not one for the federal government.” +QPQTGGU 3J[NNKU*NKPM(UVJGT6CMU'QTQVJ[5QDGTVU And he reiterated an earlier campaign statement that indicated he would continue to oppose a federal amendment “as long as no state is forced to adopt some other state’s standard.” McCain said he supports the “concept” of 7QRWTEJCUGVKEMGVURNGCUGIQVQYYYRGTUQPCNRCEQTIQTECNN ENDA but expressed concern the legislation could “lead to a flood of frivolous lawsuits or 6 Oct. 8, 2008 shifting attitudes about LGBT issues, the Chi- NY confab to cago Task Force on LGBT Aging has really helped Illinois make a large amount of progress. Many involved have been able to bring ideas back to confront gay their own agencies in order to create change. The task force has also helped those involved elder issues build connections and relationships with other By AMY WOOTEN local agencies, enabling them to create innova- tive programming. In the next 20 or so years, the nation’s senior “I think a lot of people are starting to look at population is expected to grow substantially. By these issues, not just within their own agency’s 2030, elder advocates anticipate that the num- perspective, but also knowing that we need to ber of LGBT seniors will jump from 2.5 million to create a community where we can all age with roughly 4.7 million. dignity,” Worman said. While the mainstream aging community has But it hasn’t always been easy. Not all current overlooked this special segment of the senior seniors feel safe utilizing programs out there for population for decades, the times are changing. LGBT elders. Funding is always a hurdle. Also, In less than a week, the national organization while being ignored by the mainstream for years, Services & Advocacy for GLBT Seniors (SAGE) will LGBT seniors have also had to battle ageist hold its 4th National Conference on LGBT Aging thinking within their own community. in New York. This year is special for two reasons. “The real challenge that our community has First, it will help mark SAGE’s 30th anniversary. not looked at is the ageist thinking, like ‘I’m not But more importantly, it is also the first time going to end up like that,’” Taylor said. “Well, a mainstream aging organization is sponsoring we don’t know that. I’d like to think I won’t end the event. AARP is sponsoring the conference, up like that, too, but truth is, I don’t have kids, titled “It’s About Time: LGBT Aging in a Chang- either.” ing World,” which will take place Oct. 12-14. Having programs like SAGE—which build Although seniors, both straight and LGBT, bridges within the LGBT community to help deal with many similar issues, there are several eradicate the isolation many gay and lesbian unique issues that LGBT elders face. According seniors feel—is important. to SAGE, LGBT seniors are twice as likely to live “To really be advocates to raise that visibility One of SAGE’s advertisements. alone; half as likely to have life partners or sig- is crucial,” Taylor said. nificant others; half as likely to not have close Worman feels that the LGBT community is relatives to call for help; and four times less “These aren’t even necessarily unique needs, ty for a number of years now, their sponsorship starting to be a little more realistic about ag- likely to have children to help them than their but the needs we have are at much higher rates,” of the upcoming event sends a powerful public ing. However, many Americans, both gay and heterosexual counterparts. said SAGE’s director of advocacy and training, message. straight, aren’t keen on thinking about growing Many senior services assume that elders have Karen Taylor. “They aren’t so foreign that they One of the reasons for this shift, according to older. ongoing caregivers and family members on hand can’t be applied across the board in aging ser- Taylor, is that people can’t help but pay atten- “When you watch TV and see ads, you see we to help, which impacts both LGBT and hetero- vices.” tion to the astronomical growth of the senior very much have a youth culture,” Worman said. sexual seniors who don’t have such a support For decades, the needs of LGBT elders have population. Because of baby boomers, in the Many people, Worman added, still react neg- system. Additionally, because a large number of been overlooked by the mainstream aging com- next 20 years, seniors will make up 20 percent atively when they turn 50 and start receiving LGBT seniors might not have anybody to help munity (and often times, the larger LGBT com- of the total population. They currently make up AARP magazine in the mail. care for them, they are less likely to go to the munity). In recent years, the mainstream com- 12 percent of the population. But when Worman sees the programming done doctor or seek medical attention. They are also munity started paying attention to the needs of “And one thing we know about baby boomers APF_5x6.625.qxd:Layout 1 9/18/08 9:18 AM Page 1 by Center on Halsted, Howard Brown, Affinity, more likely to be unnecessarily institutional- the gay and lesbian community. While AARP has are that they are not a silent generation,” Tay- Amigas Latinas and others in terms of LGBT se- ized. been quietly reaching out to the LGBT communi- lor added. “This is a generation that has worked niors, it’s a sign that we are taking steps in the hard to make a difference and has become very right direction. interested in civil rights and continuing to pur- “It shows we are willing to at least start hav- sue those rights. They aren’t planning to age ing these conversations,” Worman said. 2008 FALL AntiqueS quietly.” Within that population are leaders of the LGBT Show & Sale community as we know it today, or as Taylor put it, the first generation of the Post-Stonewall at Arlington Park generation. These are people that helped create our local organizations and centers. As they age, 1994 murder of they remind the LGBT community that we can’t leave our seniors behind. Chicago activist Taylor added that as the mainstream aging community faces unique challenges, they have still unsolved become more interested in the LGBT aging com- By AMY WOOTEN munity because “We’ve been very good at creat- ing unique ways to address those challenges.” The mid-’90s murder of Chicago gay rights ac- Mainstream agencies can borrow from the les- tivist Jon Simmons remains an unsolved cold sons learned by the gay and lesbian community case, according to Los Angeles’ City News in order to create more innovative, inclusive Service. programming. In October 1994, Simmons’ naked body was Taylor applauds the innovative work that AARP found in Beverly Hills. He was vacationing in OCTOBER 10-12, 2008 has been doing for populations “on the edge” Southern California. He was killed by a single and populations that don’t follow the norm. “We bullet wound to the head, and his rental car Friday & Saturday: 11am - 7pm have to become creative and flexible, and the was found burned 20 miles away. Sunday: Noon - 5pm reality is it’s the creativity and flexibility that’s In 1989, Simmons became former Chicago really going to have the most effect on people,” Mayor Eugene Sawyer’s liaison to the gay and Arlington Park Racetrack she said. lesbian community. When Sawyer lost his 2200 West Euclid Ave. at Route 53 A number of Chicagoans will be presenting at election to Mayor Richard M. Daley, Simmons Arlington Heights, IL 60006 and attending this year’s conference. According stayed on as liaison until June 1991. to Taylor, Chicago is a model city when it comes Police told City News Services that they Weekend Admission $8 to the work being done to help protect LGBT have been pursuing new leads, but haven’t seniors. In Chicago, there is a real collaborative found any new, significant evidence. Dolphin Promotions, Inc. effort between traditional agencies and the LGBT LGBT-crime victim advocate and former For advance information, call (708) 366-2710 or for info during show (847) 870-6747 community to ensure there are ongoing dialogue police officer Bob Zuley told Windy City Times, and program services. New York is also “ahead of “The Simmons homicide investigation in Los www.arlingtonparkantiques.com the curve,” as well, Taylor said. The voices of gay Angeles reminds us of the many unsolved and lesbian elders are regularly included in the LGBT-victim murders across the U.S., including state’s ongoing planning. here in Chicago.” FURNITURE • SILVER • JEWELRY • PORCELAIN • CRYSTAL • PAINTINGS • POSTERS Terri Worman of AARP Illinois and the Chicago Zuley added that periodic reminders of TEXTILES • CERAMICS • WATCHES DOLLS • MILITARIA • AMERICANA • ADVERTISING Task Force on LGBT Aging has been a key leader these crimes are a useful tool to the commu- PEWTER • MINIATURES • ORIENTALIA • TOYS • FOLK ART • QUILTS • RUGS • BRONZES over the years in building collaborative relation- nity and help ensure that such crimes are not ships between mainstream and traditional aging forgotten and are successfully concluded. service agencies and the LGBT community. Worman feels that in addition to nationwide Oct. 8, 2008 7 sentations was the importance of preserving local gay Latino history. In a moving speech, Association of Latino Men for Action President Julio Rodriguez talked about his experience marching in this year’s Puerto Rican Parade: “We were scared, we didn’t know how the crowd was going to react. It was great to see the face of the kids and all the people we passed by. Friends who we knew couldn’t or didn’t have the cour- age to march alongside with us.” Organizers of the conference are planning on inviting other Julio Rodriguez at the “Nuestras Raices” Latino/a organizations to participate in future conference. Photo by Emmanuel Garcia panels. The four organizations highlighted at this years conference were Amigas Latinas, Associa- Latino/a LGBT tion of Latino Men for Action, Chicago Metro- politan Battered Women’s Network and Orgullo conference en Accion. stresses history By EMMANUEL GARCIA YPC to host ‘Our View’ The “Nuestras Raices/Our Roots” conference was held Saturday, Oct. 4, at DePaul University’s Stu- in Lakeview dent Center, 2250 N. Sheffield, with one of the Youth Pride Center, along with several sup- highlights being a keynote address by Center porting community groups, will host “Our View: on Halsted’s Latino Services Coordinator Karen Young, Black and Gay in Chicago” Thursday, Oct. Rothstein-Pineda. 9, at 7 p.m. at Lakeview Lutheran Church, 835 W. The meeting introduced and highlighted the Addison. history of four Latino LGBT organizations. Roth- Invited guests include Joe Hollendoner of stein-Pineda expressed the need to create dia- Broadway Youth Center, Lora Branch of the Chi- logue about past organizations, such as LLEGÓ, cago Department of Public Health and 44th Ward the national Latina/o LGBT organization that Alderman Tom Tunney. dissolved in 2004: “I think it’s important to ask why [past organizations] don’t exist any more, ‘Coming Out Ball’ figuring out where we are as a community and being able to ask for support.” Alicia Tellez-Vega Oct. 10 at IIT addressed the issue of creating separate orga- The “Coming Out Ball” will be held Friday, Saluting LBT women niations within the LGBT community in order to Oct. 10, in the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Equality Illinois hosted “Women for Equality: An Event for LBT Women and Friends” Oct. 4, meet unique needs. “I always felt like I had to (IIT’s) Herman Union Building, 3300 S. Federal, at Flourish Studios, 3020 N. Lincoln. Attendees at the fundraiser noshed on hors d’oeuvres leave a part of me at the door. The female of me, 7 p.m.-12 a.m. Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Anita Alvarez and Equality Illinois Executive Director the lesbian of me, the Latina in me,” she said. Among the scheduled performers are Tajma Amy Bloom were among those making speeches. In addition to funds raised by ticket prices, Tellez-Vega was able to find her niche at Amigas Hall, DJ Laura B and go-go dancers. Tickets are Flourish, which doubles as a store, donated a portion of that night’s proceeds to Equality Latinas, where she currently serves as treasurer. $5 for IIT students and $8 for everyone else. Illinois. Photos by Kat Fitzgerald; see more at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com and www. A recurring message throughout the four pre- E-mail [email protected] for more MysticImagesPhotography.com. information. Y UIC’s Gender & Sexuality Center presents... 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If you need disability accommodations to participate in this event, please contact us. 8 Oct. 8, 2008 Caro asked Lynch about her continued success, E. Washington. Among the attendees were doz- which started late in her career, and how dif- ens of invited couples and various city and state ficult Hollywood makes it for older women to officials, including Metropolitan Water Reclama- get work. tion District Commisioner Debra Shore (an out “I really started to work when I turned 40,” lesbian whose partnership is among those regis- Lynch said. “I think a lot of actresses peak tered); Bill Greaves, LGBT liaison to the mayor’s when they are younger, and either they won’t let office; and State Rep. Greg Harris, the House’s themselves grow older or Hollywood won’t let sponsor of HB1826, the civil-union bill. them grow older.” The event was largely a social reception, with She added that if one loves what they are do- brief speeches to mark the occasion. Orr thanked ing, he or she will just keep at it. his supporters for making the registry possible The actress attributes most of her success and made a point of commending former Cook to being in the right place at the right time. County Deputy Clerk Brandon Neese for getting Jane Lynch. “Everything is a happy accident,” Lynch said. the ball rolling in the first place. Neese was “Nothing was planned.” honored with a plaque honoring him for “his She later added, “The best thing I did was to dedication to gay rights and his leadership in Dwight McBride (left) and E. Patrick Johnson. take my hands off my own life.” creating the Cook County Domestic Partnership Photo by Yasmin Nair Jane Lynch gets Lynch also spoke about working with actress Registry.” back to her roots Meryl Streep in the upcoming film Julie & Julie, where Lynch plays Julia Child’s sister, Dorothy. ing artist. He brings this background to the By AMY WOOTEN Lynch described Streep as being “spontaneous publication of Sweet Tea: His book tour is ac- Center’s auction and odd” and “not of this world.” companied by performances of some of the oral goes to the dogs Celebrated Chicago actress and comedian Jane During a portion of the evening when the histories of the book. Sweet Tea was officially By YASMIN NAIR Lynch recently stopped by the Chicago History audience was able to ask Lynch questions, one launched Oct. 2 at Northwestern University with Museum, 1601 N. Clark, for an intimate chat individual asked the actress how difficult it is such a performance and book-signing. The Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, recently Sept. 30 with Chicago Tribune columnist Mark being openly lesbian in Hollywood. Dwight McBride, dean of liberal arts at the Uni- hosted a silent and live auction-events that had Caro about her Chicago roots and her experience Lynch said that she has never encountered versity of Illinois at Chicago, introduced John- previously been part of its annual Human First in Hollywood. any problems, and doesn’t believe she was ever son. According to McBride, Sweet Tea “takes on Gala. This year, according to Leslie DeMonte, di- Lynch is best known for her roles in various turned down a role because of her sexuality—at the myriad assumptions about Black gay men in rector of special events and volunteer services, Christopher Guest comedies such as Best in least not to her face. the south and the all-too-facile characteriza- the decision was made to separate the two func- Show and For Your Consideration, as well as her “I’ve had people before me—trailblazers— tions of the south as anti-gay” and provides us tions so that the gala could draw more focus to regular appearances on Showtime’s The L Word. so I haven’t had to think about it,” she said. with “an incredible new archive.” With no props itself. Other films she has done include the comedies “Thank you, Ellen. Thank you, Rosie. Thank you, other than the chair he sat on, a lectern and a The live auction was facilitated by Michael Da- Talladega Nights and The 40 Year Old Virgin. She Melissa.” nearby table for his water, Johnson re-enacted was also host of the recent PBS documentary Out the narratives of six of his subjects, whose ages vis and included an eight-week-old female bea- & Proud in Chicago. ranged from 24-93. They included Chaz/Chas- gle puppy (putting the “live” in “live auction”), Lynch was born and raised in Dolton, Ill. She Johnson’s ‘Sweet’ tity, a trans individual; Stephen, a student at donated by Let’s Pet and Critter Central, which revealed to Caro and the audience that when she message about the University of Alabama; and Duncan Teague, remained the center of attention throughout the was growing up, she loved Shakespearean the- a “southern diva” who proudly proclaimed to three-hour Oct. 5 event. The beagle was sold to ater and The Sound of Music, and aspired to be- southern Black gays the author: “I am Black. I am the South. MISS Brett Locascio for $450. come “a diva-type theater person.” She quickly By YASMIN NAIR South.” According to DeMonte, the auction’s “great- quipped, “But there is no money in that, so I est accomplishment is that we reached out to went in the total opposite direction.” E. Patrick Johnson’s recently published book, many different businesses and donators that The actress discussed her Second City expe- Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South, is an Event marks had never been connected with the Center … 80 rience, where she cut her theatrical teeth. Al- oral history of people who, according to popular five years of percent of our donations came from people who though her roles in the Guest films required a wisdom, only live where they do because they had never even heard about the Center before large amount of improvisation, Lynch said those have nowhere else to go even though they’d DP registry and want to be more involved.” Silent-auction two life experiences were “very different.” much rather much be somewhere else. In Sweet By YASMIN NAIR items included a Basil Hayden-inspired gown by With Guest’s movies, there is no script and Tea, Johnson provides evidence to the contrary, Nick Verreos; a painting titled “The Italian” by no rehearsal. “They are the longest takes you’ve showing that Black gay men who live in the Five years ago, the Cook County Clerk’s Office es- Dan Gentle; and an obedience-training course ever imagined,” she said. “You’ve thought about South often choose to do so and that they have tablished a domestic-partnership registry, with for dogs. it for three or four months, and in 25 minutes, a complex relationship with the region of their John Pennycuff and Robert Castillo being the Proceeds are slated to go towards the Center’s you are done.” birth despite its racial history. first to register. Since then, 1,500 couples have various programs and services, including the During the interview, Lynch said that she felt Johnson is a professor of African-American registered for domestic partnership benefits, AIDS hotline, the youth center and the cyber her real “breakthrough” was playing the role of studies at Northwestern; chair and director of with the most recent (as of Oct. 1) being Jim center. a lesbian dog trainer in Guest’s 2000 mockumen- graduate studies; and a professor in the Depart- Konold and Tim Hackett. tary Best in Show. It wasn’t until then that she ment of Performance Studies. His first book was Both couples were present at a fifth-anniver- started to receive recurring roles on national Appropriating Blackness: Performance and the sary celebration hosted by Cook County Clerk Da- television shows. 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Chip Jones 2-375x4-5 Ad.indd 1 3/27/2008 1:19:55 PM Oct. 8, 2008 9 just basically violate driving laws. Should we be worried for the 199 million people whose safety WORLD we must be concerned about or the one million violators? The law is the law and it’s law. And it must be enforced. Of course, we do pay atten- QUOTELINES ROUNDUP tion that in Iran nobody interferes in the private BY REX WOCKNER by Rex Wockner lives of individuals. We have nothing to do with the private realm of people. This is at the (level Larry King quizzes of) not-private, public morality. In their own Q house, nobody ever interferes with people.” gay press newsletter Press Pass Q. Frank, D- Ahmadinejad on Last year, during a speech at Columbia Uni- “Oh, I don’t—I don’t know, but I’m not Mass., and Baldwin, D-Wis., are Congress’ two gays in Iran versity in New York City, Ahmadinejad also was one to judge and, you know, I’m from a fam- openly gay members. The comment was made at asked about the nation’s treatment of gay peo- ily and from a community with many, many the recent convention of the National Lesbian U.S. TV interviewer Larry King quizzed Iranian ple. members of many diverse backgrounds and I’m and Gay Journalists Association. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his nation’s He responded: “We in Iran ... don’t have not going to judge someone on whether they treatment of gays Sept. 23. hamjensbaz (a derogatory term for homosexu- believe that homosexuality There have been persistent, though uncon- als) like you have in your country. In our coun- is a choice or genetic. I’m firmed, reports for years that Iran hangs men for try, there is no such a thing. In Iran, such a not going to judge them.” the crime of engaging in gay sex. thing does not—in Iran, in Iran, absolutely such — Republican vice-pres- I am not King said: “People (are) protesting that they a thing does not exist as a phenomenon. I don’t idential candidate Sarah somebody who don’t have the same rights as other people. Ho- know who told you otherwise.” Palin to ABC News, Sept. mosexuals—you said last year, you denied there promotes Iran is known to have executed several teens 12. Interviewer Charles were homosexuals (in Iran). There’s homosexuals same-sex and men accused of engaging in sodomy, al- Gibson asked, “Homosexu- everywhere.” though in nearly all the cases that have been ality: genetic or learned?” marriage but I Ahmadinejad replied: “I said it’s not the way publicized in recent years the individuals were it is here (in the U.S.). In Iran this is considered do believe in accused of other crimes as well, such as rape. “I believe that mar- a very—obviously most people dislike it. And civil unions. The International Gay and Lesbian Human riage is the union we have actually a law regarding it and the law —Sen. Barack Obama Rights Commission has said it suspects that oth- between a man and a is enforced. It is a law that was passed. It was er charges often are tacked onto sodomy cases woman. Now, for me, as a legislated. And it is an act that is against human to prevent the public outrage that would accom- Christian ... it’s also a sa- principles. A lot of things can happen. It can pany executions carried out solely for the crime cred union. God’s in the mix. ... I would not “I have to agree. (While) very bright, cause psychological problems, social problems of consensual adult gay sex. The group also has (support a constitutional amendment with articulate and knowledgeable, for whatever that affect the whole society. Remember that said it believes executions solely for gay sex are that definition) because historically ... we reason she (Baldwin) does not seem to like God’s rules are to improve human life. In our taking place out of the public eye. have not defined marriage in our Constitution. press interviews.” — Veteran Washington Blade religion, this act is forbidden and the Parliament “Our suspicions (are) that their current prac- It’s been a matter of state law that has been reporter Lou Chibbaro Jr. responding to Keen. has legislated about it. Not now, 70 years ago. tice really is to rid society of lesbians and gay our tradition. Let’s break it down. The reason This is something that happened 70 years ago, men,” the organization said last year. that people think there needs to be a consti- “I think there’s a really good chance before the Islamic Republic became --” Human Rights Watch, on the other hand, has tutional amendment, some people believe, is that Sarah Palin could be president, and I King interjected, “So what happens to gay said it cannot fully document any executions in because of the concern that about same-sex think that’s a really scary thing. ... I think the people?” Iran in recent years carried out solely for the marriage. I am not somebody who promotes pick was made for political purposes, but in Ahmadinejad replied: “Well, of course, nobody crime of consensual adult gay sex. same-sex marriage but I do believe in civil terms of governance, it’s a disaster. You do the has held protests. You are—are you concerned Read more world news at www. unions. I do believe that we should not—that actuary tables, you know, there’s a one out of for 70 million Iranian people or a few homosexu- WindyCityMediaGroup.com. for gay partners to want to visit each other in three chance, if not more, that McCain doesn’t als? Let’s assume in Iran—let’s assume in the the hospital, for the state to say: ‘You know survive his first term and it’ll be President Pa- United States that 200 million people drive cars what? That’s all right’ I don’t think in any way lin. ... It’s like a really bad Disney movie. The and a million violators are rounded up and they inhibits my core beliefs about what marriage hockey mom, you know, ‘Oh, I’m just a hockey are (sic). I think my faith is strong enough and mom from Alaska’ ... and it’s like she’s facing my marriage is strong enough that I can afford down Vladimir Putin and using the folksy stuff those civil rights to others even if I have a she learned at the hockey rink. It’s absurd. different perspective or a different view.” — It’s totally absurd and I don’t understand why Barack Obama, speaking at Saddleback Church more people aren’t talking about how absurd it in Lake Forest, Calif., Aug. 16. is. It’s a really terrifying possibility. The fact that we’ve gotten this far, and we’re that close “If elected, I would call on Congress to this being a reality is crazy. Crazy. I need to to enact legislation that would repeal DOMA know if she really thinks dinosaurs were here (the Defense of Marriage Act) and ensure that 4,000 years ago. That’s an important—I want the over 1,100 federal legal rights and benefits to know that, I really do. Because she’s go- currently provided on the basis of marital sta- ing to have the nuclear codes. I want to know tus are extended to same-sex couples in civil if she thinks dinosaurs were here 4,000 years unions and other legally recognized unions.” ago, or if she banned books, or tried to ban — Barack Obama to the Washington Blade, books. I mean, you know, we can’t have that.” Sept. 10. — Actor Matt Damon on Sarah Palin to the As- sociated Press, Sept. 10. “This may surprise people, but I find Barney Frank to be very accessible and Tammy Baldwin not.” — Veteran gay press journal- —Assistance: Bill Kelley ist Lisa Keen, former editor of the Washington Blade, as quoted in the September issue of the
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VOL. 24, No. 4, Oct. 8, 2008 viewpointS The combined forces of Windy City Times, founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, fulfilling its destiny. bigotries. They believe you can change the world founded May 1987. In particular, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and one person at a time. And so do I. PUBLISHER & Executive EDITOR transgender community is closer than ever to Simply look around, and talk to every young Tracy Baim CYNDI gaining full equality. We are teetering back and voter you meet. Then vote because you care forth right now, and we need to act together to what happens to them and you care what hap- Assistant Publisher Terri Klinsky LAUPER push us in the right direction. What we are ask- pens to the world and this country. We all de- MANAGING Editor Andrew Davis Business manager Cynthia Holmes ing for is only fair and right. We, as a society— serve better. Director of New Media Jean Albright LGBT or straight—can show that civil rights are Lastly, I implore you to share your lives with ART DIRECTOR Kirk Williamson important and discrimination is wrong across the people you love and care about. Your vote account managerS: Amy Matheny, Kirk the board through our vote. I believe by voting is powerful, but the work cannot end there. Williamson, Terry Wiegel, Shawn Murray Hope Promotions director Kathleen Ulm for Barack Obama we will do just that. Americans are mostly fair-minded people, but NIGHTSPOTS MANAGING Editor Kirk Williamson Like Obama, I grew up with a loving, hard- are disconnected from the everyday struggles of As I toured all over the country this summer with SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Amy Wooten working single mom, in a neighborhood mixed your life. We are one society and if we are dis- National Sales Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 True Colors, I saw something in the eyes of the with all races and different backgrounds. And connected we fall—but connected we stand tall. TheatER Editor Jonathan Abarbanel audience I have not seen in a very long time; Cinema WRITER Richard Knight, Jr. like Obama, I knew that was our strength and If you want people to understand the reality of it was hope. Each night as I talked about the BOOKS WRITER Yasmin Nair not our weakness. being LGBT in society today, you need to share power of voting, it was evident through their SENIOR WRITERS Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner, Marie I see in Barack Obama a real fighter for fair- your story. J. Kuda, David Byrne, Cathy Seabaugh, Tony reactions that the crowd wanted to change how ness and inclusion, a person who overcame ev- If you are LGBT, share with them the discrimi- Peregrin this country is run. That is the one good thing ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS ery obstacle growing up to achieve an education nation you still face in America, and if you are that President Bush has done in the past seven Mary Shen Barnidge, Jim Edminster, Steve Warren, and to become the leader he is today. He battles a straight ally, share with them the discrimina- years—he has created a movement within the Lawrence Ferber, Mel Ferrand, Tim Nasson, Scott against discrimination of all kinds, from race tion you have seen inflicted upon your friends Morgan, Catey Sullivan, Zachary Whittenburg, country to change how things are done in Wash- and gender to sexual orientation and gender and family. Explain that discrimination not only J. S. Hall ington, D.C. But, what mattered to me the most Columnists/Writers: Yvonne Zipter, Susie Day, identity. He is the most inclusive candidate who affects the one it is directed towards, but it af- is that everyone cared enough about their own Jorjet Harper, Lee Lynch, Steve Starr, Joe Rice, has a real chance at the White House that we fects us all. Show through your example what lives and the future to register and vote. Dan Woog, Marie-Jo Proulx, Lisa Keen, Chris Crain, ever have had. He is a true American who com- LGBT people truly are like and break down the Charlsie Dewey, Michael Knipp, Karen Dixon, Mark I believe we are at a crossroads, and the mands respect and more importantly respects misconceptions and stereotypes that fuel the Corece, Sabine Neidhardt next 10 years will determine the future of this PHOTOGRAPHERS Kat Fitzgerald, Mel Ferrand, Americans—all of us. prejudices that have plagued our community country. Like I said from the stage, this is not Steve Becker, Steve Starr I believe that a President Obama would de- and society for far too long. voting for the American Idol; it is much more ARTISTS/CARTOONISTS Alison Bechdel, Mikeoart liver on the promises that have been made to I am an example of what can happen when important—this is voting for the United States CIRCULATION the LGBT community for so long, like inclusive you share your story. When my sister Elen came Circulation director Jean Albright president. And now that I’m home again, and workplace non-discrimination legislation, the out to me and told me about her life, my eyes Distribution: Ashina, Allan, Crystal, Dan, Jack, off-stage, I wonder: Will we become the coun- John, Sue and Victor end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and finally the were opened to the fact that I needed to be a try that respects the diversity that is our back- passage of hate crimes legislation that includes part of changing this country for the LGBT com- bone, or will we continue down this path of the everyone, not just some. It saddens me in ways I munity and have taken that responsibility very few ruling the many? I wonder to myself if we cannot begin to describe just to know that hate seriously. are gonna make that change in a big way—and crimes still occur in our society. Under President So, the time has come to stand up and use when I think about it, I believe that the change Obama, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act your voice. It is time that we push ourselves can happen in the form of Sen. Barack Obama. will finally become law. over the edge towards full equality. It is time Copyright 2008 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media Because, America is a quilt of many fabulous When I talk to young people I believe the time that we have a President who will work for us Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. fabrics and we have a sorted history that has not Back issues available for $3 per issue (postage included). has come. It reminds me of my generation in the and not against us. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, always respected that. And because, for far too 1960s who made a promise to make the world Cyndi Lauper is a champion for human and and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and long groups of people have been singled out and no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. better. The young people today have dedicated LGBT rights, as well as a Grammy and Emmy discriminated against simply because of such All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy themselves as well to this goal and have truly award-winning singer, songwriter and actress City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned things as the color of their skin, their religious for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing embraced change. They are working harder than in film, television and theater. Lauper has beliefs or whom they love. And, that these very and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, ever to elect Barack Obama president because he sold more than 25 million albums worldwide cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own acts undermine the basic principles this country is a voice of a new and more imaginative genera- and just finished the second annual True Col- and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City was founded on, the time has come to finally Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of tion. They are hungry for new ways of thinking, ors Tour in support of LGBT equality. a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy break down the barriers that keep America from City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the and to put away old labels, fears, prejudices and sexual orientation of such person or organization. While we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make don’t like my hat. them.” Because I am so sick of all the snide lit- this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept It’s too “mannish,” isn’t it, lady? Too “unfemi- tle glances “you people” give off when I pass. responsibility for advertising claims. nine”? My hat subtly tells you that, if my girl- But I have a large soul. I can forgive. I forgive (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 e-mail: [email protected] friend and I were to get married, I would be the you, lady. My hat gives me this power. SUSIE DAY groom. That the night before, there would be a So, if you have a problem with my hat, if my www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com lesbo stag party with whips and spike heels and choice of chapeau oppresses you, please tell me. radio: WindyCityQueercast.com hairy, tattooed bulldykes throwing their babes Go for it, lady. Share. It will bring peace. over Harley-Davidsons—and everybody would be Our time on this planet is limited and short- WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640 USA wearing these hats. Isn’t that what you think, ens, even as you glare. And yet, would your (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) Sappho wore a lady? Oh, SHUT UP, little puggie. life improve if I actually took off my demented All I’m doing is wearing this hat, lady. Big or- Sapphic headgear? I think not. That’s the whole Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. dinary deal. But I can see it bugs you. You hate point, isn’t it? Nightspots Deadline every Wednesday. ‘right on’ hat Identity (BLACKlines and En La Vida): Now my hat. I mean, hat hatred is a terrible thing. I can’t explain it, but your life, would, in fact, online only Hey, lady—you got a problem with my hat? I So many hats suffer needlessly. Compared to the be somehow diminished if I removed this hat. Deadline The 10th of month prior. mean, look. I was just walking down the street, war on Iraq or the acquittal of those cops for And so I shall wear my hat—for you, lady. I shall OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE minding my own business on my way to the A the murder of Sean Bell, my hat, for you, is real wear my hat as I walk past you and your yappy www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Train, and you—an ordinary, middle-aged white pain. I’m trying to empathize, here, lady, how’m dog. lady in a blue plaid housedress—stop to glare at I doing? For you, I shall wear this hat as I ride the A www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com my hat. How friendly is that? It’s hard being a middle-aged lady in a blue Train downtown to a demonstration against the www.WindyCityQueercast.com This is a good hat, lady, a cool hat. My girl- plaid housedress, with no hat and a yappy dog, war on Iraq. Perhaps I will not be taken seri- friend got it for me. Yeah, my girlfriend, see? isn’t it? There are no blue plaid Pride Marches for ously because of my hat—but that will be the She got me this tough, proletarian, newsboy’s your kind, no special bookstores, no blue-plaid- fault of homophobia. Perhaps the US will remain cap. Says to the world, “I may be cute, but I’m pug-dog issues to defend on The O’Reilly Factor. in Iraq and even bomb Iran—but that will be still a dyke.” You got a problem with that? You You face ever-increasing food prices, your Medi- the fault of greed, George Bush, and late capi- don’t like that I am wearing a lesbian hat? care won’t pay for your mammogram, and you talism; not the fault of my hat. So I shall wear Oh, I see I’m scaring your little pug dog. Yap, carry, deep within your subconscious, the chron- this hat, lady. I shall wear it in the wind and the yap, yap—well, so what? Maybe little puggie, ic awareness that the Indian Point nuclear power rain and in paddy wagons and on sunny days at Windy City Times here, is afraid I’ll tear off your blue plaid frock, plant supplying our city’s electricity could, any the beach. And someday, lady, someday—I shall is Chicago’s only afraid I’ll sweep you into my arms and rain ar- day, send out radioactive plumes that would kill maybe even wear this hat at my own wedding. dent kisses upon your upturned, horrified face. us all within a week. Yet you, for some reason, Copyright Susie Day 2008 gay publication with That would teach her to support gay marriage, decide to fixate your existential malaise on my independent, outside wouldn’t it, little puggie? hat. audit verification of I’m sure you are aware that homosexuality is I suppose, because you are relatively power- not a disease, lady. We queers may be going to less, I enjoy venting at you. I should be grate- circulation by the hell, but we’re going there with a certificate of ful that you are not a gang of frat jocks who nationally recognized mental health from the American Psychiatric As- would do more than merely sneer at my hat. firm, Verified Audit sociation. For what that may be worth. Plus, I And I admit that, while I have nothing against have very good personal hygiene. There’s noth- your housedress, I do see you as a stereotype. Circulation. ing wrong with me, other than the fact that you It’s hard for me not to think of you as “one of Oct. 8, 2008 11 GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION
Photo by Michael Brosilow THE SHORE THING Kafka on the Shore (above) is one of the theatrical productions reviewed this week. See page 12. MUSIC MOVIES THEATER Simply the best? Chad, bad and Their ‘Turn.’ Page 17. dangerous to know. Page 14. Page 20. Photo by Liz Lauren
Kreis sat down with Windy City Times after a remember hearing as a kid was “Great Balls of ing new material and doing this show? It has rehearsal to chat about the show, being true to Fire.” When I was 12 years old, I was already to be crazy! himself and more. playing that song, so that is very much a part LK: Yeah, I sort of feel like I just don’t stop! Windy City Times: I can imagine how it’s a of my story. As far as personally, I guess who I I did actually, for the first time, got to spend lot of fun to be involved in this production. can relate to the most is maybe Johnny Cash, some time at home this summer. I got a good Levi Kreis: Oh, yeah! There are less fun jobs. only because he ... had a conviction about going three or four months where I got to chill out. I [Laughs] back to gospel music. Coming from the church, had just finished over 300 cities in 16 months, WCT: What is your favorite song to perform and also being a singer-songwriter in my own so I needed a break. during Million Dollar Quartet? right, it’s very important to me—having cut WCT: What made you first consider acting, LK: “Peace in the Valley,” which is a group my teeth on gospel music—to make music that because I know music is your thing? number. We all perform that together. It’s one makes a difference and inspires people. I can LK: I never considered acting. It absolutely of those few moments in the play where ev- see a little bit of that, at least in the story line just happened. I had a friend in Los Angeles, eryone gets to reflect on their past. The great they created. who happened to be Southern, which is proba- thing about these four characters is they come WCT: Is it hard to relate to Jerry Lee Lewis bly why we were friends, because I needed some from that religious background, so there’s a still at times because of his fall from grace? He Southern friends there. She ended being a man- sacredness that they all know from growing up was a great musician, but his career was re- ager for some actors, and got a great job for this Levi Kreis. with this reverence for family who is God-fear- ally marred by this one thing [marrying his independent film Rockabilly, strangely enough. ing, going to church. It’s one of those reflective 13-year-old cousin]. It was the lead in an independent film, and I moments where I think they all had an inner LK: There’s a lot of enjoyment playing him dur- randomly auditioned for fun. I ended up getting Levi Kreis steps conflict about rock ‘n’ roll and what that means, ing this period in time. the role, and the film won some awards. Short- versus [slips into a thick Southern drawl] what WCT: Because it is before all that? ly after, I was like, “Wow, I kind of dig this.” back in time the Bible says about rock ‘n’ roll. It’s a really LK: Yes. I don’t have to factor that stuff in. Then, I ended up doing Roger in Rent for a little BY AMY WOOTEN nice, tender moment that happens, where we all He’s a new guy, and just playing the piano dur- while. Then I got an agent, and landed a role as can come together and have that moment. Plus, ing this session. He auditioned that day, and Matthew McConaughey’s brother in Frailty. It’s Award-winning, independent musician and ac- it’s my granddaddy’s favorite song. all of that blossomed from there. It’s fortunate not like I’ve really done a lot of acting, but it’s tor Levi Kreis will be spending some time in the WCT: That, right there, seems like some- I get to keep him light and cocky, and not too something that sort of keeps coming back to me, Windy City, helping Chicagoans relive a legend- thing you can relate to so much, given your intense. and I’m grateful for that, because over time, I’ve ary moment in rock ‘n’ roll history. background. [Kreis grew up in Eastern Ten- WCT: Does this show make you miss back fallen very much in love with it. The openly gay singer-songwriter, who just nessee and was raised by a deeply religious home a little bit, because it’s touching on WCT: Would you say music is still your first finished a tour promoting his last two albums family. He got his start as a Christian singer- your roots? love, or have they evened out? (One of the Ones and The Gospel According to songwriter, and even put himself through six LK: It does make me miss back home, but LK: They are sort of getting even. They are Levi), is starring in the Chicago production of years of reparative therapy before becoming my mom and dad come often to see the show. getting equal at this point, even though music the new musical Million Dollar Quartet. Million true to himself and moving to Los Angeles]. They’ll be coming from Tennessee, and it’s even is what pays my bills and keeps me on the road. Dollar Quartet is about Sam Phillips’ 1956 leg- LK: My background is the background of these closer than Seattle, which was where last year’s The love is pretty equal. endary jam session featuring Johnny Cash, Jerry characters. I was one of a graduating class of run was. Yeah, it does, it does. When you get to It’s been nothing but a positive experience. Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. This five people. I was actually a singing Evangelist a certain age, you start to see that your family WCT: We are an LGBT publication, so we spur-of-the-moment recording session embodied by the time I was 12 years old, and touring dif- is growing older and you really should be there think it’s really cool that you are out and the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. The musical, inspired by ferent churches every weekend and having altar more often, but you can’t. It is a definite con- open. At this point, do you think it’s more this historical moment, brings the audience back calls—that whole thing. I stayed in that world nection to home, and I think it’s actually influ- difficult to be out and completely yourself in to that December night through memorable ‘50s until evil rock ‘n’ roll got a hold of me! [Laughs] enced my own music. I spent all last summer the music scene or in Hollywood? tunes such as “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Great My parents are fundamentalists, and being back working on a new album, which is coming out in LK: Undoubtably, acting. This is where I could Balls of Fire.” in the country like that, I had a very similar January. I found during the last run of the show launch into having lived in Los Angeles for eight Kreis, who starred in the original Seattle pro- upbringing to these guys. that all this roots and stuff was finding its way or nine years. I’ve seen, not only casting direc- duction, plays the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in this WCT: Of these four legends, which musician in my own music, which was probably the most tors, not only producers of films, but actors, limited engagement and Midwest debut, which do you think you relate to the most? important bleed over from doing this role into Turn to page 20 runs through Sunday, Oct. 26, in Goodman’s LK: Musically, I relate to Jerry Lee more, be- my own life. Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn. cause I grew up playing him. One of the 45’s I WCT: Where do you find the time to be writ- 12 Oct. 8, 2008 Circle in the Square series since 2006. Circle in —The program that Trisha Brown brings here Dancin’ Feats the Square: New Works in Dance Theatre at is as thoughtfully constructed as her dances, giv- BY ZACHARY WHITTENBURG Voice of the City, 3429 W. Diversey, Ste. 308, ing audiences a chance to look for throughlines Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 3 p.m.; in her choreography through the evolution of In looking over this fall’s dance harvest, a trend $12/$10 students and seniors. her style over decades. The show includes 1971’s of globalism emerges. (Granted, there’s little —Asimina Chremos and Fred Lonberg-Holm Accumulation and 2003’s PRESENT TENSE; two these days that doesn’t underline how it’s more started Microgig with the intent to take their works from the ‘90s bridge the gap. Dance Cen- the rule than the exception.) Dance forms from cello/dance duets to spaces not intended for ter at Columbia College, 1306 S. Michigan Ave.; Southeast Asia, Japan, France, Africa, Iran, Mex- performance. It’s a good thing, too, because Oct. 23-25. ico and India are all on the calendar this month. they’re both artists with whom you want to get —Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago presents Cel- Seeing an indigenous dance style for the first up close and personal, and there’s nothing to ebrate Life at the Harris Theater for Music and time is to relearn everything about the body and stop you at Pilsen hangout Skylark. Killer com- Dance, 205 E. Randolph; Oct. 24-25. how it relates to music—the way the knowledge fort food only sweetens the deal. Skylark, 2149 —Thodos Dance Chicago debuts a slew of of generations coalesces in simple moments of S. Halsted, Oct. 12 at 9 p.m.; free. See www. brand-new pieces in their fall program at the logic and beauty can take your breath away. This myspace.com/microgig. Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport; Oct. 24- experience is possible in the most casual of intro- —DanceWorks Chicago bookends a week with 26. ductions to world dance, but becomes even more Banafsheh Sayyad of NAMAH with ZARBANG. another Dance Chance choreographer showcase —For ESENCIAS, The Essence of Mexico, the powerful when the practitioner brings talent and Photo by Andre Elbing Oct. 13 and a lunchtime work-in-progress show- Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago experience of the highest order. NAMAH, led by ing of San Francisco-based Alex Ketley’s latest will team up with both Sones de Mexico Ensem- Iranian-American Banafsheh Sayyad, is one such vestigating experiences of the visually impaired. on Oct. 17. More information at www.dance- ble and the Chicago Mariachi Real Guadalajara. expert, as are Priya Govind of India—presented Rooms Gallery, 645 W. 18th, Oct. 8-11 at 8 p.m.; workschicago.org Olympic Theater, 6134 W. Cermak, Cicero, Oct. here by local Indian dance company Natya—and $15 cash. —Long an exemplary technician with New York 25, 7 p.m.; $20-25. Evidence, an American African dance company. —Bellyqueen is to belly dancing what Burn City Ballet, expect Edwaard Liang to contempo- —FOURS: Quartets & Solos lets Rachel Thorne As ambassadors from time-honored techniques, the Floor was to ballroom, and stops here for rize Austen’s period restraint with the unex- Germond celebrate the fourth anniversary of her you couldn’t do better than these ensembles, as one night only at St. Patrick’s Performing Arts pected for world-premiere ballet The Age of In- company, RTG Dance, with new works sharing a well as many others appearing around town in Centre, 5900 W. Belmont, Oct. 8, 8:30 p.m.; $25 nocence. The Joffrey Ballet, at the Auditorium relationship with the number four. Link’s Hall, the coming weeks. Read on for details on these presale, $30 door. Theatre of Roosevelt University, 20 E. Congress 3435 N. Sheffield, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 8 p.m., and other performances. —For this month’s About Dance, critic Lucia Pkwy., Oct. 15-26. More info at www.joffrey. Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.; $12-15. —In the proto-feminist Victorian short story Mauro hosts Same Planet Different World for com —November opens in the western suburbs The Yellow Wallpaper, a physician’s wife is se- a preview and discussion about works on their —Toulouse, France-based Cie Heddy Maalem with a diverse pair of performances: The Song questered after childbirth, her mental state de- November program. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 brings contemporary and African dance to Stra- and Dance Ensemble of West Africa performs volving as she stares, hallucinating, at the wall. E. Washington, Oct. 9, 6 p.m.; free. vinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps. Museum of Con- Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., and The New Philharmonic Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble adapts the —Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is going temporary Art, 220 E. Chicago; Oct. 17-19. and Hubbard Street 2 share the stage Nov. 7 at story for the stage, and each night welcomes quarterly—their first of four series this season —NAMAH & ZARBANG are a dance and per- 8 p.m. McAninch Arts Center at the College of a guest performer for a second act aimed at ex- includes Alejandro Cerrudo’s Extremely Close cussion collaboration steeped in the traditions DuPage, 425 Fawell, Glen Ellyn; $25-38. panding the conversation. Gorilla Tango Theatre, and Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16. Fold, by Japanese of Iran, spinning them out to touch on current —Natya hosts storied Indian solo dancer Priya 1919 N. Milwaukee, Oct. 3-12 at 8 p.m. Fridays choreographer Toru Shimazaki, receives its world concerns. Dance Center at Columbia College, Govind at Triton College for the Performing Arts, and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays; $15. premiere. Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 1306 S. Michigan; Oct. 16-18. 2000 N. Fifth, River Grove, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.; —Blushing Poppy Productions is the butoh 205 E. Randolph, Oct. 9-12. More info at www. —Ronald K. Brown/Evidence is African dance $25/$25 students and seniors. Call 312-212- brainchild of Nicole LeGette. Her latest work, hubbardstreetdance.com so pristine and passionate it’s like a massage for 1240 or e-mail [email protected]. Landscapes of Uncertainty, enlists the help of —A casual atmosphere welcomes audiences to the eyes. McAninch Arts Center at the College of guests Carol McCurdy and David Danyluk in in- meet or revisit pieces shown at Winifred Haun’s DuPage, 425 Fawell, Glen Ellyn; Oct. 18.
THEATER REVIEW By the time Colonel Sanders shows up (a walking, talking replica of the chicken-bucket Kafka on the Shore icon) and reveals that in real life he’s a pimp, Playwright: Adapted by Frank Galati Kafka on one thing is confoundedly clear: In Murakami’s from the book by Haruki Murakami the Shore. worlds, there are more things than you may have Where: Steppenwolf Theatre, Photo by dreamt of in your philosophy. 1650 N. Halsted Michael Lighting designer James F. Ingalls bathes the Telephone: 312-335-1650; $20-$70 Brosilow story in shades of aquamarine and white rain, Runs through: Nov. 16 giving even a brutal cat killer shadings of ethe- real beauty. And James Schuette’s minimalist BY CATEY SULLIVAN sets complete the mood of abstract, whimsical grace. At first read, Haruki Murakami’s novels are pure, prose delirium—beautiful, baffling fantasias layered with riddles and teasing puzzles. Talking CRITICS’ PICS cats, skies that rain fish, wrinkles in time where Like James Joyce’s equally challenging Ulysses, because you won’t, it’s best to just let Galati’s the lives of plain-spoken truck drivers and ghost- every action, character, place and object within searing stage pictures and the dreamy elegance Chiaroscuro (A Study In Shadow), Baili- ly soldiers merge and diverge—Murakami creates Murakami’s densely, double-plotted story sym- of his adaptation just wash over you. wick Repertory, through Oct. 19. You can places and entities that are both instantly rec- bolizes something else. Scratch the surface and It’s fitting that there are two plots in Kafka, sit back and enjoy the nudity in this “erotic ognizable and seemingly unknowable. you find your peering down endless, twisting since early on, the piece invokes Plato’s Sympo- thriller” (inspired by 17th-century Italian So it goes in Steppenwolf Theatre’s alternately rabbit holes of myth, legend and subtext. sium. In that bit of ancient storytelling, Plato artist Caravaggio), but the experience will be maddening and gratifying Kafka on the Shore. And like Joyce, Kafka requires that you suc- describes how humans were once male and fe- much more satisfying if you don’t leave your Adapted for the stage and directed by Frank Ga- cumb to what you don’t understand. You’ll never male in the same body, both sexes joined in one brains at the door. MSB lati, Kafka is gorgeous, poetic and enigmatic. get it all. So rather than fretting and frowning being in perfect unity. Eventually, the gods grew odin’s Horse, Infamous Commonwealth angry and used lightning bolts to split everyone Theatre at Raven Theatre, through Oct. 19. in two. The result was a race composed of indi- Playwright Robert Koon finds lovely poetry in viduals destined to roam the world seeking their his even-handedly exploration of the conflict lost other half. between tree-sitting environmentalists and There are two seekers in Kafka on the Shore. blue collar loggers in this award-winning pre- The first is the 15-year-old title character (Chris- miere. SCM topher Larkin, a perfect mix of vulnerability and The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lifeline The- CLICKJust TO email yourWIN answer to this question: head-strong determination ), a runaway who atre, through Nov. 2. Nick Vidal is pure youth- takes flight in an attempt to escape a prophecy ful beauty and stone-cold soulless as Dorian, “What’s your favorite place to that he will kill his father and sleep with his while an ensemble that includes Don Bender hang out in Chicago?” mother. On his Oedipal wanderings, young Kafka and Sean Sinitski capture both the sublime is mirrored by Crow (Jonathan Michael Hill), a and scary elements of Oscar Wilde’s gorgeous- to [email protected] your chance to win manifestation of his inner self, whose stream- ly grotesque fable. CS of-consciousness contemplation provides some The Threepenny Opera, The Hypocrites at Think you got her figured out…THINK AGAIN! of the production’s most sexually graphic prose. Steppenwolf Garage, through Oct. 12. It’s the The second story centers on Nakata (David final week to see this not-quite-successful MICHELLE WILLIAMS Rhee), an elderly, manchild left mentally im- but adventurous and visually rich version of “Unexpected” paired by an inexplicable childhood accident. Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s classic 1927 In addition to leaving his mind damaged, the socialist musical, the Mack the Knife show. Featuring the first single “We Break The Dawn” accident left Nakata with the ability to talk to JA Expect the UNEXPECTED in stores October 7th! cats, and so he spends his days seeking out lost —By Abarbanel, Barnidge, Morgan felines—and secret stones that will allow him and Sullivan entry to vast, unknown worlds. Oct. 8, 2008 13
R.U.R. Photo by Chris Ocken
THEATER REVIEW R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) Playwright: Karel Capek At: Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway Phone: 773-528-9696; $20 Runs through: Oct. 25
BY SCOTT C. MORGAN
Any science fiction aficionado worth his or her salt must pay an immediate pilgrimage to Straw- dog Theatre’s Rossum’s Universal Robots (or R.U.R., for short). After all, it’s not too often that anyone produces the play that introduced the word “Robot” to the world. Don’t be surprised if R.U.R.’s 1921 plot of altered robots revolting against their human masters to take over the world feels cliché. The reason for that is because so many other sci-fi writers have stolen their ideas from pioneering Czech playwright Karel Capek. You realize what a futuristic visionary Capek was in R.U.R. from the arguments he puts forth regarding mankind’s relationship with technol- ogy. Capek’s writing remains very relevant for to- day, from Rebekah Ward-Hays’ religiously fanatic Nanna condemning scientific advances (sound- ing a lot like those who rail against stem cell re- search) to Ryan Bollettino’s extremely droll mo- gul manufacturer Henry Domin, who just shrugs when his technological advances put millions of workers out of jobs. Where Capek isn’t advanced is the sexism in the way men treat women (both human and ro- bot) and how Capek portrays his lead heroine, Helena (played by an entrancing and excitable Michaela Petro). Initially as fiery as a die-hard Peta activist from today, she later becomes an easily swayed and materialistic airhead (yet the easy and inordinate wealth and luxury offered up to Helena would be hard for anyone to re- fuse). The folks at Strawdog are well aware of sexist undercurrent, and director Shade Murray encour- ages his actors to present the material with more than a self-conscious wink at the behaviors of a bygone era. Strawdog also gets plenty of laughs in the way they present the socially awkward scientists comically played by Brennan Buhl, Carmine Grisolia, Noah Simon and John Henry Roberts, who each resemble male sci-fi-loving geeks of today in more ways than one. Director Murray also manages to steer R.U.R. and its large cast on a course that encompasses rolled-eye camp at outmoded thinking to true terror as the robots start closing in for attack. Though there is a glimmer of hope at the end, R.U.R. remains as bleak and disturbing as it should be. The Strawdog production team has even more fun fleshing out the look of this historic arti- fact, incorporating lots of art deco looks to Dan Stratton’s elegant sets to Alison Greaves’ period costumes. Underscoring the mood as it switches from comic to tense is Mikhail Fiskel and Miles Polaski’s eclectic sound design, much of it per- formed live on odd items like wine glasses or a gutted piano. R.U.R. may be creaky for most sci-fi fanatics, but its importance and relevance to the genre are monumental. Strawdog does everyone a favor by producing such a fun and timely reminder. 14 Oct. 8, 2008 and Dixie (a original purpose-written number by ten seems sculptural. One wonders what director Daryl Waters). Talented Rachel de Benedet and Tommy Tune’s over-all influence might be. Tune Chicagoan Rebecca Finnegan lack opportunity in always has strong ideas about shaping shows, so supporting female roles. Their characters need one assumes Turn of the Century is as he wants musical numbers. it right now, and that he knows precisely where Dona Granata’s varied costumes offer silky he wants to take it next. This world premiere is 1999 party clothes and 1900 homages to Ed- entertaining, but it’s a high concept that needs wardian black-and-white and beaded red gowns. more depth. Scenic designer Walt Spangler’s deceptively sim- ple raked stage and seamless cyclorama provide an asymmetrical playing space that defers to Natasha Katz’s animated high-tech lighting that moves, dissolves and replaces traditional flown scenery. Noah Racey borrows cakewalks, kick lines, soft-shoe, ballroom and boogaloo in choreogra- Turn of the Century. Photo by Liz Lauren phy that pleases rather than surprises, and of-
THEATER REVIEW ballads, discover their time warp secret? When the 100-minute show ends, Dixie and Turn of the Billy are ready for marriage, but it’s an emotion- al resolution tacked on late in the show. Char- SPOTLIGHT Century acter development needs to start earlier and go Playwrights: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice deeper. Turn of the Century feels truncated, with At: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn little attention to secondary characters and sub- Phone: 312-443-3800; $25-$82 plots, or how Billy and Dixie return to the pres- Runs through: Nov. 2 ent. The clever and sound basic premise needs filling out. BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL The show offers songs by four dozen writers, from Stephen Foster to Phil Spector. The open- Turn of the Century—conceived and written by ing improbably pairs Rodgers and Hart’s Where the creators of Jersey Boys—gives a new spin or When with Prince’s 1999. But for all the quan- to the jukebox musical comedy. At midnight on tity of music, there are few complete numbers Dec. 31, 1999, pianist Billy Clark and singer Di- intrinsic to character and story. Instead, song xie Wilson are transported back to Jan. 1, 1900, snatches make merry musical anachronisms: a their heads stuffed with all the pop, rock and vaudeville quartet does “As Time Goes By” and Cubs fans who blame their team’s losing streak on the “Curse of the Goat” might want to catch Broadway music yet to come. They quickly be- scantily-clad chorus girls sing “I Am Woman,” No, No, Nanette. The 1925 musical comedy features classic song standards like “Tea for Two” come Tin Pan Alley musical sensations, miracu- etc. and “I Want to Be Happy,” but is more famous in baseball circles for bringing on the Boston Red lously “writing” hit after hit. But Billy and Di- Turn of the Century is headlined by dazzling Sox’s 84-year “Curse of the Bambino.” Since the reigning Red Sox were able to shake their curse xie’s personal relationship causes complications, flexible-voiced Rachel York as Dixie and Jeff in 2004, superstitious Cubs fans might want to catch North Riverside Players’ production. Who as does their friendship with 12-year -old Irving Daniels, in a good song-and-dance turn, as mer- knows? Maybe the theater gods will talk to the baseball gods next season. North Riverside Play- Berlin. Do they regret stealing songs he hasn’t curial Billy. The supporting ensemble features ers’ No, No, Nanette finishes its run Sunday, Oct. 12, at the North Riverside Village Commons, written yet? Does Billy feel anything for Dixie? Chicagoan Kevin Gudahl as Van Deusen, bringing 2401 S. Des Plaines, North Riverside. Tickets are $13-$15; 708-447-1297 or nrrct.com. Will Harry Van Deusen, composer of sentimental down the house with a vaudeville expose of Billy Oct. 8, 2008 15 THEATER REVIEW were industrial entrepreneurs. When their paths converged during the aftermath of World War II, Drip Sumi was a divorcée, scorned by her kinfolk, and Playwright: Gloria Bond Clunie James was a GI stationed overseas. “PURE, UNADULTERATED…ENTERTAINMENT.” At: eta (sic) Creative Arts, Oh, doesn’t romance always end with “they 7558 S. South Chicago lived happily ever after”? And what could be “YORK IS STARRY…A GREAT BEAUTY Phone: 773-752-3955; $30 more romantic than two young people from, lit- Runs through: Nov. 9 erally, worlds apart, meeting and falling in love? WITH TERRIFIC VOCAL RANGE.” But Philip Kan Gotanda’s play reminds us that —Chicago Sun-Times BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL “happily ever after” is never as easy as the fairy tales would have us believe. Now both in their This world premiere is the first part of a trilogy sixties, this couple must take stock of their ac- about the central female character, Cora Burton, complishments and reassess their goals. (Sumi @;<<:7D?;BIH79>;BOEHA and Gloria Bond Clunie’s elegantly simple sto- wants to get her college degree, while James rytelling makes me eager to see parts two and wants to coach athletics for underprivileged three. The basic premise of Drip isn’t unique, but children.) Even more disquieting, they must de- Clunie handles it with a good sense of theater termine whether they can still be a part of each and with heart. One of the better eta Creative other’s lives. Arts productions of the last few years, Drip is a Since the play’s chronological setting is 1986, universal story that doesn’t rely on Afrocentrism before the widespread popularity of introspec- for its appeal. tion-fueled confessions, their self-examination Drip is a marriage tale, told in the past and takes several months, its progress narrated in present by a gaggle of townsfolk as a Greek cho- slightly over an hour, divided into four scenes. rus. They introduce young Charlie Burton and But while the first three episodes proceed at Cora, his wife-to-be, and show how they met, a smoothly integrated pace, the last suddenly 8OC7HI>7BB8H?9AC7D7D:H?9A;B?9;r:?H;9J;:8OJECCOJKD; courted, married, shared life, had three children introduces provocative questions, only to leave and watched one die. Charlie and Cora are hon- them unexplored. The clumsiness engendered by est, likeable, caring and hard-working North the author’s haste to wrap up his text leaves di- Carolina farm folks. They aren’t rich, but they rector Steve Scott and actors Cheryl Hamada and M>;DJ>;9BE9A employ a couple of farmhands and own a couple Ernest Perry, Jr. no recourse but to crank up the IJH?A;IC?:D?=>J"J>; of cars, a fishing boat and Red Thunder, a motor- emotional intensity until the action stumbles to cycle. But after 24 years of marriage, they take a soapy and disappointingly inconclusive end- ?CFEII?8B;>7FF;DI$ each other for granted, life has become a rou- ing. tine rut and Charlie—who is not a man of fancy “Yohen” is a term in pottery, referring to a words—still hasn’t fixed the leaking faucet. So “lucky accident” during the firing process that Cora leaves him, riding off on Red Thunder just makes for a one-of-a-kind piece that may be as Charlie prepares to renew his attentions. discarded as ugly and useless, or treasured as Drip has several theatrical precedents, such a gift from the gods. Gotanda’s play may be as as The Fourposter and The Marriage of Bette imperfect as the marriage it portrays, but its and Boo, which follow married couples across theme is so universal as to raise the question the decades. Even Thornton Wilder’s Our Town of why its discussion within an inter-ethnic does so to some extent, and Drip matches the context is nowadays confined almost exclusively folksy feel of Our Town more than it matches to “minority”-focused producing companies like the tone of the other plays. Clunie makes the the Silk Road Project. How different, after all, commonplace situation her own by creating two are Sumi and James’ concerns from those of, say, people who are genuinely decent and in love, a middle-aged Abie and his Irish Rose? and by her simple but colorful turn-of-phrase. Who could resist a menu of “slay-me cole slaw” and “praise-Jesus pecan pie?” And who can ar- gue with Cora’s assertion that she and Charlie “lost kissin’ and holdin’ and seein’ and words?” Clunie also succeeds in laying on the details— often about food—that make Cora and Charlie’s daily life come alive. A vehicle such as Drip could just lay there in—well—a puddle, but the eta Creative Arts production flourishes under the skilled directo- rial hand of Cheryl Lynn Bruce, who has assem- bled an engaging and ingratiating cast, most of whom also have been seen on the North Side. Wide-eyed Ebony Wimbs seems an ideal Cora, at- tractive but demure, as Kelvin Roston, Jr., as Charlie flashes a vulnerable smile but looks un- Wicked’s Kristoffer Cusick, Jacqui breakable. Together, they exude charm without Graziano and Peter Ermides (from left) on any posing. Their five supporting players—the the cruise. Photo by Jerry Nunn townsfolk—change hats and roles with ease as church ladies, a doctor, store clerks, a bank tell- Wicked: The tour, er, and so on, all of them distinct personalities EXTENDED BY POPULAR that help create the sense of a close-knit town. the witch DEMAND THROUGH THEATER REVIEW and the wardrobe Tuesday evenings this September, the cast NOVEMBER 2! Yohen of Wicked sailed with fans on an architectural Playwright: Philip Kan Gotanda cruise in Chicago. Chicago First Lady Cruises At: Silk Road Theatre Project at described the history and cityscapes along the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington the lakefront and even gave a sneak peak Phone: 866-811-4111; $30-$34 into the Trump Tower. Runs through: Nov. 2 Afterwards, passengers eased on down the road to the Ford Center of the Performing GoodmanTheatre.org BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE Arts to take another journey back to Oz. Sadly, Wicked will be closing its successful 312.443.3800 In traditional marriages, after the breadwinning run on Jan. 25, 2009. They will have played husband retires, it’s not uncommon for his wife to exactly 1,500 times at that time and have LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE MUSICAL EXPERIENCE? ASK ABOUT OUR LUXURY PACKAGE. look at her spouse lounging in front of the tele- grossed over $200 million with their box of- Get premium seats, access to our Patrons’ Lounge, free parking and more! Call 312.443.3800. vision with his beer in hand and wonder, “Where fice. So, tap your ruby slippers and your key- did the years go, and who is this man?” The board before it’s too late to www.wickedthe- SPECIAL GROUP SAVINGS FOR 10 OR MORE. E-mail [email protected] or call 312.443.3820. phenomenon this time, however, is complicated musical.com for tickets and information. by several factors: for one, Mrs. Washington is Photos and text by Jerry Nunn Turn of the Century is the recipient AMERICAN AIRLINES, Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre. of an Edgerton Foundation New KRAFT, Principal Sponsor of the free Student Subscription Series. Japanese and Mr. Washington is African-Ameri- American Plays Award PETTERINO’S, Promotional Partner for Turn of the Century. Photo Major Corporate Sponsors can. Her parents were educated and affluent, his Lead Corporate Sponsor by Todd Rosenberg. Image design and direction by Kelly Rickert. 16 Oct. 8, 2008 THEATER REVIEW piction of this imperfect universe. But while Al- the beautiful (despite extensive surgical altera- many shadowy corners and alcoves provided by bright often hints at compassion for his all-too- tion) Veronique, the dashing mercenary Cocka- C.W. Van Baale’s serpentine scenery and Dan Ta- Frankenstein human victims, Barker revels in misanthropy of too, the usual gallery of corrupt public servants markin’s noiresque lighting, their lurid menace the cruelest kind. Eventually, he would ration his and our guide, the undead gypsy clairvoyant Ma- heightened by Rachel Sypniewski’s wardrobe of in Love shockers out to alternate with intervals of narra- ria. bloody bandages, Amanda Fox’s vivid array of Playwright: Clive Barker tive calm, but in this literally “heart-wrenching Even with the abridged text utilized by this skin lesions and, of course, our imaginations. At: Will Act For Food Productions at romance,” the horror and disgust come as fast Will Act For Food production, our orientation “Fasten your seat belts ... until the ride comes Chemically Imbalanced Theater, 1420 W. and thick as one could ask of a novelist attempt- is hindered by the storefront auditorium’s con- to a complete stop” warns a note in the play- Irving Park ing his first play. figuration into a sort of double-circle promenade bill. This brand of neo-Grand Guignol spectacle Phone: 773-327-9725; $18 Our story is set in a South American country (similar to that of the currently-running Three- is difficult to pull off, especially given Barker’s Runs through: Nov. 1 during—what else?—the overthrow of a totali- penny Opera at the Steppenwolf Garage, but in affinity for schoolboy humor that could eas- tarian regime. One of the rebel leaders is Cesar much, much smaller quarters), with the physi- ily topple the suspension of disbelief into Mel BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE Guerrero—called “El Coco,” or “bogeyman”—a cal action swarming around audience members Brooks farce. But though the plot doesn’t kick in hideously scarred field officer said to walk isolated in small groups throughout the space. until the second-act entrance of the icy Doctor The aesthetic of British author Clive Barker has through flaming infernos unharmed. His person- Lest this intimate visual proximity diminish the F, the play’s grotesquely-upbeat ending justifies been likened to that of American artist Ivan Al- al quarry is Dr. Joseph Frankenstein, in whose mystery, however, director Gregory Gerhard and any vertigo we may have endured on our way bright: death, disease, decay, body fluids, scabs, government-funded laboratories terrible experi- “violence director” Greg Poljacik have located there. pimples—all the icky naturalshocks that flesh is ments are conducted. Other characters include the more stomach-churning atrocities in the heir to—are graphically represented in their de- CULTURE CLUB
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Oct. 8, 2008 17 JOHN from cover ment access programs in the Caribbean, the sec- ond-most HIV/AIDS affected region in the world Billy’s friendship with his gay friend Michael to after sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007 alone, 17,000 be genuinely touching, so that was a focus for people in the Caribbean were newly infected me as well. with the virus, and as many as 230,000 Carib- MS: Part of your history is the Elton John bean residents are currently living with HIV. It is AIDS Foundation (EJAF). Each year you tour a also a region where there is tremendous stigma country where the EJAF has a program. What around HIV/AIDS. are your most memorable thoughts from those In 2007, EJAF invested more than $1.6 million trips? in grants to this region and nearly $1.4 million EJ: For the past few years, my partner, Da- so far in 2008, addressing the specific challenges vid Furnish, and I, along with friends and col- of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on a variety of levels. From left: Congressman Barney Frank, Sir Tina Turner in 2000. Photo by Vern leagues from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, To ameliorate prejudices and reduce stigma faced Elton John and Philadelphia Mayor John Hester have gone to South Africa every January. And, by people with HIV/AIDS, EJAF partnered with as you say, we make a point to visit projects and the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Ford Foun- Street July 4, 2005. Photo courtesy of Mark CONCERT REVIEW organizations that are supported by EJAF. These dation to help establish the Caribbean Broadcast Segal annual trips have become not only an activity Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS (CBMP). Since Bent Nights: to which I look forward but, in fact, give me its launch in May 2006, the CBMP has grown my own civil partnership with my partner, David. Tina Turner at much energy at the beginning of each year. I am to include more than 80 leading broadcast- When civil partnerships became possible in the always overwhelmed by the hopeful spirit that ers from 25 Caribbean countries and territories United Kingdom, it was very important for Da- the United Center surrounds all the people with whom we come across the region in an unprecedented collabo- vid and I to be able to do this on the first day by vern hester in contact—and these are people whose lives ration to develop a coordinated media response it was possible. I really felt part of something have been ravaged on so many levels by HIV/ to AIDS. CBMP broadcast members have made genuinely progressive and groundbreaking, and Everybody loves an underdog. Take Michael AIDS. They are children whose parents have died HIV/AIDS a business priority, and they air HIV we were also so totally overwhelmed and heart- Phelps. The eight gold Olympic medals hang- from AIDS. They are heads of households at 10. content across all programming genres, deliver- ened by the positive support we received across ing around his neck have made the 6’4” They are wives whose husbands have died. The ing important messages about tolerance and HIV the board from the press, my fans, the people of swimmer with the protruding ears and drunk- stories go on and on and yet they carry on with prevention to an estimated audience of some 40 Great Britain and, literally, the world over! en altar-boy grin the hottest dude-babe on such hope and dignity. It is a true inspiration million people. With the new grant just awarded MS: On a light note, how does it feel to be a the planet. But the all-time underdog title and is something that helps focus my energy to in early September, the CBMP will be expanding married man? goes to Tina Turner, the ultimate hard-luck continue to raise money for the Elton John AIDS its efforts into Haiti, the country most affected EJ: Wonderful! As I said, David and I deliber- story with a happy ending. Nutbush Tenn., Foundation to support such work all around the by HIV/AIDS in the Western Hemisphere. ately chose to have our civil partnership on the Ike Turner, the 60’s chitlin circuit, the smash world. So, I am very pleased that EJAF can not only very first day that this became legal and possible comeback, the multiple Grammys, the hit Os- Last year, I also traveled to the Ukraine, where maintain its commitments to funding projects in Great Britain; however, after all the excite- car-nominated movie of her life, the tons of EJAF supports a number of projects. In fact, at the front lines here in the U.S., but can also ment died down, we both felt incredibly content platinum records, the friendship with Oprah during the summer of 2007 I played an outdoor expand to areas in desperate need such as the and secure in the knowledge that mainstream and the record-breaking concert attendences: concert in Kiev to raise money and awareness Caribbean region. British society now supported our relationship. It’s a rags-to-riches cliché. But Turner is such for our work and HIV/AIDS in general. It was MS: If I’d ask someone from the U.S. about Editor’s note: Mark Segal is publisher of a vivid personality and presence that she so gratifying and energizing to play before such gay history, he or she most likely would men- the Philadelphia Gay News and, in 2005, pro- makes the cliché something entirely new. enormous and enthusiastic crowds. Earlier this tion the Stonewall riots in 1969. Many in duced Philadelphia’s official July 4th concert Now, at age 67, she’s at the start of her year, David traveled to India with EJAF staff and Britain might think of Oscar Wilde’s trials in that starred Sir Elton John, Patti LaBelle and (supposed) final tour. With much of the U.S. other board members to view projects we sup- 1895. When I say “gay history,” what comes Bryan Adams. The concert raised $1000,000 half sold-out [they’re adding dates where port there. David and I are very proud of the to your mind? for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and they can] and every seat on the Europeon work that we are supporting in that country. EJ: For me, I would have to say that when $100,000 for local HIV/AIDS organizations. leg long gone, Turner is hot all over again. This year, we look forward to traveling to Cam- I think of gay history I immediately think of Read the entire Elton John interview at With zero advertising, no new recordings, no bodia to visit projects in that country. www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. renewed interest, no press build up, this last MS: Are there any new projects in the pipe- hoohah is one of the only arena shows this line for EJAF? year that’s already headed into the black. EJ: Well, I am happy to report that since 2005, (Big-ticket acts like George Michael, R.E.M. EJAF has met with ever greater fundraising suc- and Janet Jackson couldn’t sell out a single cess and has increased its grant making here in night at either the United Center or the All- the U.S. by 140 percent. We have expanded not state Arena while Turner has nearly sold out only the amount of money given but also stra- both for three nights. With a higher ticket tegically targeted key regions and populations price, Madonna will top Tina’s gross but Tina that are poorly served by current prevention will play to a far larger audience]. efforts and [are] most at risk of infection, in- The new show, held Oct. 4, was a blatant cluding: critically under-funded communities of “greatest hits” bash: more polished, cho- the Southern United States, the Caribbean, and reographed, glitzed up, blown up than any- Latin America; highly marginalized populations thing I’ve ever seen her in. In fact, it was such as injection drug users, men who have sex so polished that the sheen nearly cancelled with men, and incarcerated individuals; and un- out Tina’s unique roughhouse charm. But derserved populations such as African Americans the important questions: Did she look great? and young people. (Yes...) Did she burn down the house? (In To use a specific example, many of the grants spots...) Was it worth it? (Well...) that EJAF has made over the last couple of years Read the entire Tina Turner concert re- reinforce and enhance our commitment to HIV/ view at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. AIDS awareness-raising, prevention and treat-
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Windy City Times 1/6 5x3.25 18 Oct. 8, 2008 BOOK REVIEW cause. But many of us still find ourselves nostal- and the smells of human and animal waste per- gically sympathizing with overthrown royalty. meate the atmosphere. Vidocq interacts with the The Black Tower For years after his death, stories circulated forgotten underbelly of society and life here is Written by Louis Bayard that the dauphin Louis-Charles, son of Marie- cheap, nasty, brutal and short. But there’s also $24.95; William Morrow; Antoinette and Louis XVI, had survived his in- not much nostalgia for glorious times past. At 352 pages ternment in Temple Prison. Louis Bayard’s rivet- one point, the Baroness de Préval turns to Vid- REVIEW BY YASMIN NAIR ing new historical novel, The Black Tower, picks ocq with the words, “I wish I could tell you how up the story at this point. Here, the dauphin beautiful it all was.” To which he responds, “Not In 2007, Russian forensic experts confirmed that plays a minor role in comparison to one of the for everyone.” the remains of bones found near a bonfire site central characters, the famous detective Vidocq, Bayard, who writes frequently on gay and other near Yekaterinburg were indeed those of Anasta- who is based on an actual historical character matters for publications like Salon and The New sia, daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia. De- of the same name, a former galley slave-turned- York Times, is also the author of The Pale Blue spite such evidence, it’s unlikely that the myth sleuth. Eye, a historical novel featuring Edgar Allan Poe of Anastasia’s survival will disappear any time Vidocq’s reputation spawns numerous tales of and set in West Point in the mid-19th century. soon. The idea that a royal heir might have sur- his superhuman powers, but in Bayard’s skillful This latest story comes vividly to life because he vived and might eventually bring a lost dynasty hands he’s not as much a heroic figure as he is doesn’t try to render it in archaic terms. The dia- to life resonates even in the most supposedly a weathered man who’s seen too much of the logue is effortlessly contemporary without seem- egalitarian societies. dark side of humankind. His sidekick of sorts, back again, and bodies literally fall by the way- ing artificial, and without the needless curlicues Stories about lost royals allow us to navigate for the duration of the events related here, is side. and stilted cadences that often ruin historical our uneasy feelings about royalty. We’re dis- Hector Carpentier, who stumbles upon an old The tale gets murkier, and the two men must novels. And the mystery of the dauphin remains trustful of the unlimited power of monarchs, but family secret after being mistaken for his dead ascertain whether or not a young and mentally riveting, with twists and turns that continue to we love the trappings and romance of monarchy. father—the physician entrusted with the care of challenged gardener is, in fact, the lost dauphin. take the reader by surprise till the very end. We’re aware that kings and queens can be brutal the dauphin in prison. The two find themselves Bayard’s recreation of 1818 Paris is devoid of Yasmin Nair may be contacted at welshzen@ and dictatorial, and that the tides of insurgents locked together in a series of adventures that sentimentality. This is not a pretty city; it’s vis- yahoo.com. She also blogs at www.bilerico. that rise against them may well do so with just take them outwards into the city’s suburbs and ible to us only through the dank fog of reality, com.
ings. Live entertainment includes a jazz band; Pets are welcome. There will be goody bags for Howl-o-ween Party. This event will take place resident animal interaction; and a live and silent the first 500 participants, pet massage and CPR, at Uncommon Ground, 1401 W. Devon, at 7 auction in a fun and festive setting. Call the with rows and rows of pet-related booths. See p.m. There will be a doggy costume party, a hotline at 312-751-5507 or see www.anticruelty. www.anticruelty.org. square-dance performance, music and more. Call org. —Friday, Oct. 31, Bark Bark Club Annual 773-989-8807 or visit www.Barkbarkclub.com. WE —Saturday, Oct. 18, 1-4 p.m. The 8th Annual Puptown Howl-O-Ween Party & Costume Con- test, at Lawrence and Marine, is a benefit to raise funds for fencing and park maintenance. BOWSER BEER The raffle’s grand prize is $300, with additional A non-alcoholic, non-carbonated beer raffle prizes including gift certificates to area for dogs. restaurants, dog stores and more. Judges will Try include Alderman Mary Ann Smith. There will be Beefy Brown Ale prizes for the top three for best homemade and or chicken flavored store-bought costumes. See www.puptown.org. Cock-a-Doodle —Saturday, Oct. 18, Tree House Animal Foun- Brew. dation’s 1st Annual Hair Ball Spin Nightclub, 100% American 800 W. Belmont, 7-10 p.m. It’s a wild theatrical made. PETS Cats in Space-themed hair fashion show, with tunes from DJ Demchuk, and it will be emceed www.3busydogs.com by Miss Foozie. A $35 entrance fee includes a drink and door-prize ticket. See www.treehouse- By TERRI KLINSKY animals.org. From Halloween events to benefits, the fall —Saturday, Oct. 25, 12:30 p.m. The 4th An- PET FOR ADOPTION: CHESTER seems to have it all for pet lovers. nual Howl-o-Ween Dog Parade and Costume will take place at Ravenswood and —Thursday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m. “It’s Contest Carmen. Sponsored by the Andersonville South Raining Cats & Dogs” at The Anti-Cruelty Soci- Chester is a flat-coat retriever/bor- ety, 510 N. LaSalle. The cost is $125 per person Neighborhood Association, there will be cash der collie; he’s a 1-year-old, 45-lb. in advance and $140 at the door, with a reserved prizes. There is an entry fee of $5 per dog. Call altered male. He’s housetrained and table for four with parking costing $600. There 773-989-4514 or see www.howl-o-ween.org. current on shots. Chester is a great big will be a variety of tastings from top Chicago —Saturday, Oct. 25, Anti-Cruelty’s Howl-o- sweetheart of a guy who gets along chefs, along with wine, beer and other bar offer- Ween will happen 10 a.m.–7 p.m. at Festival well with other dogs and everybody Hall B at the east end of Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand. he meets. He’s playful and happy, and would make a good addition to any household. Chester is a real charmer! Contact ARFhouse Chicago NFP at 773-305-1960 or linda@arfchicago. org.
1,500 square feet
of necessities, accessories and natural foods!
Chicago’s spa Newest clothes Pet Boutique food toys treats & more 1342 E. 55th St., Chicago right off Lake Shore Dr. 773-643-PETS (7387) www.parkerspets.com Oct. 8, 2008 19 REAL ESTATE FOR SALE cases. The master bedroom area has oversized cedar- CONDO FOR RENT lined closets with fantastic views of the lake. The mas- OPEN HOUSE SEPTEMBER 28TH AND OCTOBER 19TH!: OUT OF TOWN ter bath is Travertine marble with a large jetted tub and 3bd/2bth Lakeview Loft – 1601 W School #303: STUDIO the main bath is custom ceramic tile. The exterior of the CONDO SOUTH HAVEN, MICH 3BR/3BA: Sharp 1-1/2 Complete rehab w/high-end finishes, 16ft ceilings, 1525 W. ESTES AVE. - EDGEWATER STUDIO: Sunny studio home offers seclusion, custom made deck area and your story unit best location steps to beach, finest owner corner unit w/tons of sunlight, fabulous 625 sqrft with HWF & heat included. Laundry in building. Close to own fire pit to enjoy on fall nights. Some of the other care. $439,000 Call Genie for listing info, pics, map. private deck off living room. Garage Parking included. lake & transportation. Credit check required. $565/mo fine features of this home include hardwood French co- HomeFinders Realty 269-637-3775 homefinderssh@ Call Karen, Rubloff, 312-933-0370 or visit www. w/ no dep. Fall Special: 1 Month Free! 773-392-4550. lonial doors on the interior, second floor laundry area, comcast.net (09/03/08-4) chicagorealestateliving.com (10/08/08-4) www.landstarrealty.com. (10/29/08-4) and slate foyer. $249,900. Tommy Sunn, Century 21 FABULOUS HARBOR COUNTRY COTTAGE: Near Down- HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: $135,000 - below market for 1st Team, Inc. 219-575-0881 www.tommysunn21. town New Buffalo. Hand crafted Arts and Crafts cottage. quick sale! Not your usual “English Garden” condo! This ONE BEDROOM com (3/12/08) 2 Bdrm w/ Studio. Private retreat. Please contact for 1-bed loft-style unit in Rogers Park features chestnut GREAT FLAT TO RENT: 1 bdr, Roscoe Village, Brown GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY! LAKE GENEVA WIS- details and photos. 602-295-8331 traveleer@mac. hw fls, exp. brick in l/r and b/r, c/t bath w/terrazo fl, Line, bus, double glazed windows, private deck, large CONSIN: Approximately 1 acre property. Vintage brick com for photos (9/03/08-8) new granite/stainless kit, recessed lighting, 3 closets storage/workspace, on-site washer/dryer, shared Victorian. Approximately 2,700 Sq. ft with luxury guest NEW BUFFALO BLOWOUT SALE WALDEN WOODS!: Four + storage. For more info contact Nina Gaspich, C-21 yard, A/C. $900/mo. Available now. 312-307-9237 house. 2.5 new garage, 1 vintage garage. Totally updat- remaining cottages reduced to less than cost. Buy as Sussex & Reilly, 773-255-1294, ngaspich@srchi- [email protected]. (10/08/08-1) ed. 2 blocks from lake, 4 blocks from downtown. Many is and finish yourself or we will finish. Custom built, cago.com. (09/17/08-1) uses, business zoning. Now used as B&B. $649,000 charming, and private with upscale ammenities. 3 bed- EDGEWATER PENTHOUSE FOR SALE: 2BR/2BA 5855 N. TWO BEDROOM for sale by owner. Call toll free 1-877-249-0632. rooms, 2 baths, all cedar with huge screened porches. Sheridan - Highly desirable 26th Floor penthouse unit, 2 BR/ WICKER PARK: Sunny, heated, six room apt in (3/26/08-4) Reduced $55,000 to $345,000. Call Sue/Joe @GPS most exclusive tier in building “A” W/views of lake, West Wicker Park. Newly rehabbed. Walk to Blue Line, Realty 269-469-3700. (2/27/08-4) beach, and skyline from 3 private balconies. SS Appl dining, nightlife. $1250/mo. 773-772-5479 (if ONE HOUR DRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN CHICAGO - HOUSES kitchen, braz cherry floors, granite bathrooms, custom leaving message, please repeat name and number. EVANSTON NEW CONSTRUCTION: Two New Construction LaPORTE, IN: Great home on quiet lake in Laporte. This paint and lighting - turn key condo - steps to beach! (10/15/08-2) Homes. High-end Finishes, Gourmet Kitchen, house has been professionally painted through out, Priced to move at $384,750, includes 1 parking Hardwood Floors, Rooftop terrace, and Master Suite with the kitchen having its own unique decorative look. spot and 1 year of free assessments! Please call THREE BEDROOM with Balcony. Four Bedrooms, 3 full & 2 Half Baths. It includes one of a kind concrete counter top on cabi- 847-833-.4955 to set up a private showing...you 3 BR 2 BA EDGEWATER: 1279 West Early (Hollywood/ Heated attached Garage. Short walk to Central street nets. There is even a custom-made faux-patina copper will not be disappointed. (09/17/08-4) Ridge), 2nd floor unit in Victorian 2 flat with own cen- shopping & Metra train. Great opportunity to customize. top on bar area. Hardwood floors on main level were 34TH-FLOOR EDGEWATER STUDIO: Spectacular west tral air/heat, dishwasher, washer/dryer in unit. 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20 Oct. 8, 2008 she’s confronted with a houseful of indifferent Also great is Save Me, the story of Mark (Chad family friends focused on the wedding at hand Allen) a drug- and sex-addicted party boy who instead of her arrival. Old wounds are almost is offered a last chance at redemption after an KNIGHT immediately trotted out: The father (Bill Irwin, overdose by his brother—via an ex-gay halfway in a masterful performance) fusses over her too house run by the firm, no-nonsense but com- AT much, Rachel (Mad Men’s Rosemarie Dewitt, who passionate Gayle (Judith Light), a conservative THE is graceful and steely at the same time) is jeal- Christian missionary, and her gentle mannered ous of the attention Kym’s addiction has gotten, husband, Ted (Stephen Lang). “We specialize in MOVIES etc. When Debra Winger (in a welcome return to ‘sexual brokenness,’” Gayle tells Mark. Seeing a the screen as the mother who keeps herself at lifeline, Mark enters the program. The other “pa- a pleasant but icy distance) shows up, it’s ap- tients” espouse the party line, doing their best parent from her first interaction with Kym that to rationalize the innate gayness out of their there’s much more complicated stuff ahead. souls while watching each other for “inappropri- Demme, working with a marvelously detailed ate touching.” script by first-time screenwriter Jenny Lumet, Nevertheless, Mark, who has never had a re- shot the movie with a handheld camera, like in lationship, finds himself drawn to Scott (Queer TV’s Cops or a cheesy reality show, and the jerki- As Folk’s Robert Gant)—who is also attrated to ness takes some getting used to. But slowly, the Mark—but Gayle also sees the growing attrac- Rachel Getting in-your-face style pays off, and the movie gets tion and is determined to keep the two from to such an intimate place you feel like another regressing to their former sinful “lifestyle.” Married, family member witnessing the emotional explo- Save Me covers the same territory explored sions and scabs being picked over. As in life, from the lesbian point of view in the darkly com- Save Me, film notes some of the problems get addressed while many ic But I’m a Cheerleader! (with the two making Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married. By Richard Knight, Jr. go back underground to be revisited again at a very entertaining double feature), but its nu- a later date. The improvisatory feel to many of anced approach and excellent, complex perfor- Rehabilitation and its success and misuse are the scenes brings out the best in the wonderful mances by the three leads (who also produced) for the post-party. Proceeds from the event will at the center of two illuminating, performance- cast, a catch-as-catch-can approach that har- help elevate the familiarity of the ex-gay move- help finance postproduction on the documen- driven indies opening this week. Rachel Get- kens back to Demme’s pre-Silence of the Lambs ment material. Light is especially compelling as tary. Tickets and further information are at www. ting Married is director Jonathan Demme’s an- pictures that electrifies material that, in other Gayle, so emotionally damaged by the loss of brownpapertickets.com/event/43642. ticipated return to feature films after a series hands. would have been mundane. (A confronta- her gay son that she’s channeled it all into this —Chicago-born jazz legend Anita O’Day— of documentaries. Save Me, from gay director tion between Hathaway and Winger is unforget- ex-gay halfway house and a constant flow of re- whose troubles with heroin and offstage hijinks Robert Cary, stars openly gay actors Chad Allen table.) Like Demme’s early pictures—Something ligious psychobabble. Save Me is a moving char- earned her the nickname “The Jezebel of Jazz” and Robert Gant as well as a longtime friend Wild, Married to the Mob, etc.—Rachel Getting acter drama that tackles a controversial subject and whose fiery rendition of Is You Is Or Is You of the GLBT community, Judith Light of the TV Married is interwoven with a seductive succes- with compassion and insight. Here, after a long Ain’t My Baby? provided the soundtrack for the show Ugly Betty. sion of diverse cultural touches involving music, dry spell, is an example of queer filmmaking at memorable opening sequence in gay direc- In Rachel, Anne Hathaway of The Devil Wears dress, food and fashion. Demme’s approach is its best. Hallelujah, my gay brother! tor John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus—is now Prada and The Princess Diaries plays Kym— that of a sensualist and, with this mixture of the subject of Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz and gives a career-altering performance. Kym’s familial drama and embrace of cultural richness, Film notes: Singer. The film, a walk on the wild side through a struggling drug addict coming out of a five- Rachel at the Wedding captures what has to be —A sneak-peek preview party is being held for O’Day’s extraordinary life (which combines thrill- month rehab stint to attend her sister’s wed- one of the coolest and most emotionally en- Fish Out of Water, a documentary by Chicagoan ing retro footage of O’Day in performance, and ding. Kym is immediately introduced as a cranky thralling wedding celebrations ever. It’s simply Ky Dickens that focuses on homosexuality and interviews and recording sessions with the leg- bundle of nerves, quick with the biting retort a great movie. religion. The sneak peek, which includes compli- end shortly before her death in 2006) opens for while proclaiming her “Victim” status. Arriv- mentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment an exclusive engagement at Chicago’s Landmark ing at the Connecticut home of her father (Bill by cabaret performer Miki Greenberg and a meet- Century Centre Friday, Oct. 10. Irwin) and stepmother (Anna Deavere Smith), and-greet with Dickens will take place Saturday, Check out my archived reviews at www. Oct. 11 (National Coming Out Day), 6:30-9 p.m. windycitytimes.com or www.knightatthemov- at Mary’s Attic (5400 N. Clark, above Hamburger ies.com. Readers can leave feedback at the Mary’s). An after-party with DJ Stinky Pink fol- latter Web site, where there is also ordering lows from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Tickets for the film information on my book of collected film re- GAY PHONE SEX preview party are $40 in advance and $50 at views, Knight at the Movies 2004-2006. You want it. We’ve got it. the door while a $5 suggested donation is asked Live, One-On-One • Bulletin Board KREIS from page 11 of that?” That’s why I went back to cutting my teeth on gospel music. I had a passion to say as well, who, when it gets right down to it, something that makes a difference. I couldn’t there is still that wall. I know of actors who readily to that and pretend to be something are successful in Hollywood right now, who un- else. That’s why with $200 in my pocket and a fortunately, except for three or four people in favor from a friend, recording One of the Ones, their lives, have to have a girl by their side for and just sat down at a piano and played from the paparazzi. But music, it seems, has really beginning to end and hoped that it happened. opened up a lot. It doesn’t surprise me that’s And thousands of CDs later, it did! I think the the case, because rock ‘n’ roll was birthed out reason it is because it was such an outburst of of rebellion. So, it just seems like it would make honesty from me. That had been bottled up for sense to happen earlier in music, whereas mov- a while, waiting to come out. To just say, “This ies have always had a reputation to uphold, at is who I am, and I finally embrace it.” least in Hollywood. We all want that for ourselves, so I think WCT: You decided to go independent, anyone in life who exhibits that, we are at- which allows you be completely be yourself. tracted to and inspired to do the same. What brought you to that decision? Was it WCT: For young LGBT aspiring musicians your move to Los Angeles? and actors out there, what is your advice? LK: I had just been released from Atlantic LK: If you hide your journey, you have noth- Records in early 2005. I had realized at that ing to say. That’s number one. And two, it ain’t point, that the reason I had gone though so about you. I believe we all have very specific many record labels is they really didn’t know gifts, whether it be music or like my mom, who what to do with me, which is because I wasn’t is an amazing caregiver. That is what we are letting them know who they were working intended to do—to just serve the world around with. I was guarding myself and presenting to us. It is our service. When we approach our career from that way, we find that everything Call now. Guys are waiting… them what I thought they wanted—and what they said they wanted, which was “Let’s make that we need begins to just be there and sup- this guy into a new MTV heartthrob singer- port us in that endeavor. If you really want to songwriter.” In actuality, I wasn’t being honest know the secret, it’s not about us. 1-800-PROMALE See www.levikreis.com. Million Dollar 1-800-776-6253 with anybody, so nobody knew what to really do with me. When I left Atlantic Records, I said Quartet runs through Sunday, Oct. 26, in $1.99/min. 18+ Discreetly billed to your Visa/MC to myself, “You know, I am never going to get Goodman’s Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn; anywhere and own my journey, unless I can say call 312-443-3800 or visit www.good- this is important. These experiences are here mantheatre.org. 1-900-825-4500 for a reason. I am who I am, and as an individ- $1.49/min. 18+ Discreetly billed to your phone. $2 connect fee. ual expression of God. Who am I to be shameful © 2007 npp productions, reno, nv customer service (888) 283-3331 Oct. 8, 2008 21 WHAT TO DO? Thursday, Oct. 9
Wednesday, Oct. 8 edu or 312-413-8619 for info, RSVP to Sunday, Oct. 12 Baton Show Lounge 2008 Dream Girl Uncommon Ground 4 Women Only se- [email protected] by Oct. 7 Chicago Lesbian Brunch Group Sunday Continental Plus. Featuring Tahjee ries. Each Wednesday, four female per- Women and Children First Bookstore Social Ride: Skokie North Branch Chan- Iman, Mercedes and more. Over $1,500 formers showcase their talents. 1401 Reading of The Smell of Old Lady Per- nel Trail. 10:30 a.m., Totem Pole (3600 in cash and prizes. Contestant advance W. Devon, 773-465-9801 fume by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez. N. Recreational Dr.), pphd1226@ registration $75, $125 after Oct. 1. Call 7:30 p.m., 5233 N. Clark St., www. yahoo.com, http://gaypros.meetup. Antonio at 773-373-2686 or Tajma Hall womenandchildrenfirst.com com/283 at 773-885-4645 for more info Thursday, Oct. 9 Chicago Theatre Kathy Griffin performs; Center on Halsted Women on Wednes- Saturday, Oct. 11 through Oct. 16 at various times. www. Tuesday, Oct. 14 days meets on Thursdays: Oktoberfest. Affinity First Annual Girls Weekend Re- thechicagotheatre.com/tickets Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Cham- 5:30-9:30 p.m., $20, 3656 N. Halsted treat. Through Oct. 13 at Mystic Lake Debbie Halvorson for Congress LGBT ber of Commerce B2B Networking. 7-9 St., www.centeronhalsted.org Casino Resort in Minneapolis. See reception for Congressional candidate a.m., Ann Sather’s, 909 W. Belmont, Elmhurst College Second annual GLBT PROFILE OF ‘COURAGE’ www.affinity95.org. Debbie Halvorson. 4-6 p.m., The Hearty $10 members/$20 non-members Lecture: “Remembering Matthew W. Borders Signing of the new book Out & Boys Kitchen, 3819 N. Broadway, RSVP Gerber/Hart Library Lesbian Book The program “Remembering Matthew Shepard: The Necessity of Historical Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the to Allison Osborne at 708-672-4130 Group: Cavedweller by Dorothy Allison. Memory and the Virtue of Ordinary, Ev- Shepard: The Necessity of Historical Memory City’s Gay Movement, edited by Tracy or [email protected] or at 7:30-9 p.m., 1127 W. Granville Ave., eryday Courage.” 4 p.m., Illinois Hall in and the Virtue of Ordinary, Everyday Courage” Baim. Hear from many writers, includ- www.debbiehalvorson.com/lgbt www.gerberhart.org the Schaible Science Center, corner of ing Marie Kuda. 2-4 p.m., 1144 Lake St. POW-WOW “For Colored Girls Who Have will take place at Elmhurst College. Prospect and Elm Park Avenues, www. in Oak Park, 708-386-6927 Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Wednesday, Oct. 15 elmhurst.edu, 630-617-3033 is Enuf” LGBT community staged pro- Chicago Area Women’s History Council Allstate Arena 2008 World Tour of Gy- Lincoln Lodge Stand up comedy show- duction. Pre-reception pays tribute Documenting the Women’s Movement mastics Superstars featuring Olympic case features Jessica Halem and oth- to Renae Ogletree (3-4 p.m.), perfor- in Chicago: Preserving and Sharing the champion Paul Hamm, world medalist Tuesday, Oct. 14 ers. 9 p.m., $10, 4008 N. Lincoln, mance 4-6 p.m., $50 reception and Sources. Keynote: Stephanie Gilmore, Nastia Liukin and more. 7:30 p.m., www.thelincolnlodge.com performance, $25 general admission, editor of Feminist Coalitions, Historical $29.50-$79.50, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd. Women and Children First Bookstore DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th, tick- Perspectives on Second-Wave Feminism in Rosemont, 312-559-1212 or www. Reading of Lake Effect: Two Sisters and ets at http://powwowsforcoloredgirls. in the United States. 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., ticketmaster.com a Town’s Toxic Legacy by Nancy Nich- eventbrite.com The Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St. Chicago NOW 2008 Women Who Dared, a ols. 7:30 p.m., 5233 N. Clark St., www. TownHouse Books & Cafe Booksigning Chix Mix Chix That Rock women’s music, cocktail reception and silent auction. womenandchildrenfirst.com of Out & Proud in Chicago: An Overview artists and comedian event monthly. This year honors Gail H. Morse. New- of the City’s Gay Movement, edited by Features Kelsey Montanez, Crystal Bow- berry Library, Ruggles Hall, 60 W. Wal- Tracy Baim. 2-4 p.m., 105 N. 2nd, St. Friday, Oct. 10 ersox and Julie Goldman. $10 cover, ton St., [email protected], www. Access Living Gawking, Gaping, Staring: Charles, 630-584-8600 Kinetic Playground, 1113 W. Lawrence, chicagonow.org Living in Marked Bodies, An Evening of Velvet Rope House of Homopalooza and 21+ Howard Brown Health Center “Our La- Words and Pictures with Eli Clare. 7-9 Elegant Touch Entertainment’s Sunday Living Well Ministries “Choose Life” tino Open House,” a free workshop/ p.m., 115 W. Chicago Ave., free, RSVP weekly showcase. Showtime at 9 p.m., Coming Out Retreat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., mixer in recognition of Latino Heritage with Riva at 312-640-2119 $5 cover, 728 W. Lake St. in Oak Park $90, 6554 N. Rockwell, www.livin- Month and National Latino AIDS Aware- Association of Latino Men for Action Windy City Gay Naturists M2M gwellministries.net to register ness Day. An open house for the LGBT Dancing with ALMA. 7-11 p.m., $30 Group Massage. 5:30 p.m., fee $12 Mary’s Attic The creators of the docu- Latino community. 5-8 p.m., 4025 N. includes open bar and more, National members/$15 guests, BYO towel, RSVP mentary Fish Out of Water host a pre- Sheridan, www.howardbrown.org Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th 773-764-1204 view party. 6:30 p.m. cabaret and cock- Uncommon Ground 4 Women Only se- St., tickets at www.almachicago.org Women and Children First Bookstore tails followed by 20-minute sneak peek ries. Each Wednesday, four female per- and at door StepSister Press Nigh featuring contrib- of the film and an after party hosted formers showcase their talents. 1401 Congregation Or Chadash Shabbat Ser- utors of Submerged: Tales of the Basin by Think Pink Radio’s DJ Stinky Pinky W. Devon, 773-465-9801 vices every Friday at Chicago’s GLBT and Bitchin’ Bodies: Young Women Talk NONE BUT THE ‘CAVE’ at 9 p.m., $40 advance (www.brownpa- Windy City Gay Naturists Club Night synagogue. 8 p.m., 5959 N. Sheridan About Body Dissatisfaction. 4:30 p.m., pertickets.com/event/43642), $50 at at Touche. 7:30 p.m., fee $12 Rd. (Emanuel Congregation building), 5233 N. Clark St., www.womenandchil- Gerber/Hart Library’s Lesbian Book Club will door, 5400 N. Clark St. members/$20 guests, RSVP 312-494- 773-271-2148 or office@OrChadash. drenfirst.com discuss Dorothy Allison’s book Cavedweller Spina Bifida Association Sweet Chic 2654 org. See www.OrChadash.org for details benefit featuring fashions made out of Women and Children First Bookstore at 1127 W. Granville. (Note: Allison will not and other programs. candy. 7-9 p.m., Museum of Contem- Monday, Oct. 13 Reading of Maybe Baby: An Infertile be present.) University of Illinois at Chicago LGBT porary Art, 209 E. Chicago, 9:30-11:30 Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt Uni- Love Story by Matt Miller. 7:30 p.m., Heritage Month event: Kellogg Rain- VIP after party at 22 E. Hubbard, 773- versity An Evening with David Sedaris. 5233 N. Clark St., www.womenandchil- bow Merit Scholarships Luncheon. 1-3 Photo of Dorothy Allison by Andrew Davis 444-0305 8 p.m., 50 E. Congress Pkwy., www. drenfirst.com p.m., Cardinal Rom, Student Center ticketmaster.com, 312-902-1500 or at East, 750 S. Halsted St., www.glbc.uic. the Auditorium Theatre box office
Come meet writers, photographers and editors from the groundbreaking new book, presenting an overview of more than 150 years of GLBT Chicago.
There are several events planned for the launch of the Chicago Gay History Project Web site (www.chicagogayhistory.org) and companion book, Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City's Gay Movement (Agate/Surrey, 224 pages, $30).
There will be co-authors at each of these events, depending on their own schedules. All events are free.
Oct. 11, 2008: National Coming Out Day is the occasion for this signing in Oak Park 2-4 p.m. at Borders, 1144 Lake Street, 708-386-6927. Hear from Oak Parker Marie J. Kuda, Tracy Baim and other writers about Coming Out Day, the 10th anniversary of the Matthew Shepard murder, and its impact on Chicago.
Oct. 12, 2008: A special far west suburban booksigning in St. Charles 2-4 p.m., at the TownHouse Books & Cafe, 105 North 2nd Avenue, St. Charles, Ill., 630-584-8600. Women and Children First Books Oct. 16, 2008: A booksigning, 7 p.m. at Borders, 2817 N. Clark St., Chicago, 773-935- Available now at: 3909. 5233 N. Clark St. Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore Unabridged Books 7419 W. Madison St. 3251 N. Broadway Forest Park, IL
www.ChicagoGayHistory.org And other area bookstores 22 Oct. 8, 2008 WCR’s debut at their new home, the UIC Pavilion, tional costs through Herron-Chicagoland Bicycle SPORTS BRIEFS Gymnastics stars 235 S. Racine. Federation scholarships. Chicago Marathon at Rosemont Oct. 15 The Oct. 25 bout celebrates the WCR’s growth The ride portion of the event will extend The 2008 World Tour of Gymnastics Super- as a league, and subsequent upgrade in venue 15 miles from North Avenue to Soldier Field set for Oct. 12 stars—featuring past and present Olympics and attendance capacity. WCR “alumni”—veter- and back. The walk will be a five-mile stretch The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is set champions Shawn Johnson, Paul Hamm and an skaters, referees, and league volunteers from through Lincoln Park. for Sunday, Oct. 12. Marathoners will start at 8 Nastia Liukin, plus the men and women of Team the early days of the WCR—are invited to the For more, see www.biketraffic.org/content. a.m. in Grant Park. (The elite runners will begin USA’s gymnastics team—will be at the Allstate bout as guests of honor. php?id=1688_0_8_0. at 7:55 a.m.) Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim, Rosemont, on Wed., Visit www.windycityrollers.com. Runners from all 50 states and more than 100 Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Urbanathlon and countries will participate. Participants will com- Ticket prices are $29.50-$79.50. Call Ticket- Memorial bike and pete in age groups, and engraved medals will be master at 312-559-1212 or visit www.ticketmas- festival Oct. 18 awarded to the top five finishers in each group. ter.com. walk Oct. 19 Men’s Health magazine has announced that The 26.2-mile course covers the North, West The fourth annual Dick Herron Memorial Bike chef Rocco DiSpirito will host the Men’s Health and South sides of the city, traveling through 29 and Walk, which honors fallen bicyclists and pe- Urbanathlon & Festival in Chicago Saturday, Oct. neighborhoods. Rollers to play destrians, will take place Sunday, Oct. 19, at 9:30 18, at 8 a.m. Registration is still open. For participants, The Bank of America Chicago Carolina a.m. in Lincoln Park at the North Avenue pedes- The Urbanathlon event combines traditional Marathon/Hilton Pasta Dinner Buffet will take On Saturday, Oct. 25, Chicago’s Windy City trian bridge. The event is named for Herron, who road-race elements with obstacle course com- place on Saturday, Oct. 11, 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Rollers (WCR) All-Stars women’s flat-track roller was killed while riding his bike in 2004. ponents against the backdrop of city landmarks. at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan. derby team will be playing a favorite rival in the Donations will fund Herron-Chicagoland Bicy- See www.menshealthurbanathlon.com. See more at www.ChicagoMarathon.com. Eastern Region—Carolina Rollergirls All-Stars, cle Federation scholarships that will help young ranked #5 in the country. This game marks the people pay for textbooks, tuition and educa-
BERKUS from cover Berkus said he is not nervous for the launch … ing in a beachfront cottage at Arugam Bay on feel like you genuinely have a relationship with at least not publicly. Sri Lanka’s eastern coast when he heard a loud your parents because you’re hiding something. “With any creative person, you put your heart noise and the roof was ripped off. I believe that you have to live your life true to the collectibility aspect of [memorabilia]; I was and soul into a process and you want it to be as A tsunami struck and the two were swept into who you are. I don’t define myself as strictly be- fascinated that somebody on a limited income successful as possible,” he said. “I think it will the sea along with debris, animals and other ing gay, but I’m completely comfortable talking would come and spend $1,000 on a baseball be a success if people respond to the designs, people. The two grabbed a telephone pole, about it; it’s an aspect of who I am. card because they had to have it. the color combinations, the textures, the ideas, Berkus said, but lost their grips when a second “Like almost everyone, I went through [a dif- “But I felt the same way about furniture, plus the quality and pricing of the line. large wave hit. Berkus climbed onto the roof ficult] phase of coming-out where, I didn’t know paintings and things for the home.” “I think the [the new product line] is really of a home; Bengoechea was missing, presumed what relationships in my life would survive. Mike Berkus talks knowingly about the T206 geared for everybody. The nice thing about it dead. Knowing that you’re about to take that risk [by Honus Wagner baseball card from 1909 that has is, the whole focus behind the line is very solu- “I sort of have reached a stage with that [trag- coming out] is really a horrible situation to be sold for more than $1 million. He knows about tion-oriented. The launch is going to start with edy] where I do still reflect on it quite frequent- in. To this day, gay teenagers are still driven Mickey Mantle’s rookie baseball card, prized Mi- two bedding collections, some furniture, mirrors ly, but I tend to reflect more on who I’ve become to suicide at the thought [of coming out], and chael Jordan cards and also some of the valuable [and] furniture as well as different accessories and what I’ve learned since that day,” Berkus that’s got to change.” 2008 cards. and things like that. said. “I would never wish for that to happen; I Berkus said he considered not coming out. Nate Berkus knows none of that. He, instead, And aspects of Chicago also have had key would never wish for anyone to experience what “I think the fantasy was, I’ll just hide [being is attracted to interior decorating. While his dad roles in molding Berkus—including Lake Forest I experienced, the personal loss I experienced gay], get married, have kids, and it’ll just be the can talk freely and knowledgeably about Hall of College in the northern suburbs, which he at- with Fernando dying and also witnessing what I one thing that I have to deal with. But that’s an Famers from every sport, Nate can talk about tended. witnessed, including the deaths of so many. But intensely selfish reaction; it robs you of honest furniture, textiles and bedding sheets. “Lake Forest [College] is a fantastic school and the truth is, the lessons that I’ve learned from relationships with everyone who loves you and it “I never had any interest [in sports],” he said, it really gave me a lot of opportunities that a that changed me so profoundly as a person, thus also starts to affect other people’s lives, such as laughing. “I can honestly say never.” larger college wouldn’t have offered, such as the I wouldn’t recognize myself before the tsunami. the person you marry, your children. And I’m not And Nate still is not a trading card collector or two semesters I spent in Paris as an intern,” “When you go through a life-altering experi- a selfish guy,” he said. “When I came out, both autograph hound. Berkus said. “My last year of college, I lived in ence, you can come out [of it] in one of two of my parents said to me, ‘At the end of the day, But Nate has been every bit as successful in Chicago and concentrated all of my classes into ways. You can come out as a stronger version we love you, and that’s what you need to know. his field as his Hall of Fame-caliber dad. three days. There were small classes and some of the person you were before, or you can let it But we need to work through this on our own.’ “[Sports memorabilia] is a fascinating indus- amazing professors, plus flexibility with curricu- destroy you. Even through my grief, and truly for And they did. try. My dad used to sell sports memorabilia on lum, thus it was a perfect fit for me.” the first time ever understanding what grief was, “I think, for a parent, they want their kid to HSN [the Home Shopping Network]. In some Chicago also is Oprah. Or, Oprah is Chicago. I knew on some level that I would make myself a have the best of everything; they want their ways, [we’ve] sort of gone full-circle,” Berkus The daytime talk-show diva is as much Chicago better person as a result of that, that it wouldn’t kid to have the easiest life possible,” he added. said. as Michael Jordan, maybe more. And Berkus has be the one thing in my life that defined me. “And even though that’s unrealistic and can On Monday, Oct. 13, HSN will launch an ex- been aboard the Oprah Express since 2001. For me, a lot of things define [me]; I’m not just have nothing to do with sexuality, when you clusive new line of home décor and furniture “It is an incredible experience [working with defined as being on TV. Nor am I just defined as come out to your parents—even if they’re the from Berkus. Of course, that’s famed designer Oprah,]” Berkus said. “I don’t think anybody just being Jewish, or being gay or being the eldest most liberal, most wonderful, warm people— Nate Berkus, known for the work he’s done for wakes up one day and thinks, ‘Wow, today I’m son. Rather, I’m all of those things. they still have to be allowed a period to mourn both high-profile private clients and well-known going to be on Oprah.’ It wasn’t any different for “I know I was given a second chance and with the life that they thought you would have. Their public spaces. And, yes, that’s the same Berkus me. that chance, I have some choices, and the first little baby has gone on a different course from of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” fame. (He first ap- “One thing about the Oprah experience that choice I have to make is whether or not I’m go- what they predicted, or hoped, for you. I was peared on Winfrey’s show in 2001 and, in 2008, I still really admire is how organic it is. A pro- ing to let it take me out too. And I chose to not very respectful of my parents and acknowledged he hosted a home-makeover show for ABC-TV ducer asked me to come on [the show] after she let that happen.” it was a surprise to them and very hard for them called “Oprah’s Big Give.”) had seen my work. We did a small space makeup Berkus has been dating Brian Atwood, a shoe to accept. My father had no idea, for instance. Berkus will debut his new collection during the about six years ago, and Oprah really appreci- designer who lives in Milan, Italy, for about But it didn’t make me want to back down and premiere of HSN Home Design Event Presented ated the design and my work-ethic, staying up one and a half years. Their relationship, though not tell them this information. Instead, what I by ELLE DECOR, a five-week series of one-hour all night with the producers to make sure every- strained by distance, is anchored by communi- told them is, ‘I’m going to give you guys time trend-driven shows running through Nov. 15. thing was perfect. And the audience loved it, cation. They see each other every two weeks or and be here to answer whatever questions you The show will combine ELLE DECOR’s editorial too. I just thought right then and there that I so. may have, no matter how crazy you think the authority with HSN’s newest home designers and was doing exactly what I was supposed to be “I was very, very happy this [past] spring question is.’” brands. doing at that exact time. when non-stop flights from Chicago to Milan Berkus will be speaking to college-aged stu- “I’m really looking forward to [the launch]. “My relationship with the show is something were added; that shaved about four and a half dents in Toronto this fall, detailing his tsunami I have been flying all around the world over that is as exciting to me now as it was when I hours off the travel experience,” he said, laugh- experience and his business success, etc. the past year or so with my creative team at started.” ing. “Our long-term plan is not [to be living so “After the tsunami segment aired on The HSN to develop what I think is a really excit- Berkus, 37, now runs the Chicago-based Nate far apart]. We eventually will be spending more Oprah Winfrey Show, I received literally thou- ing, new and fresh collection, things that have Berkus Associates. He is the eldest of six sib- time in the U.S., but for now he’s based in Milan sands of letters and e-mails from gay teenagers never [previously] been sold at this price, with lings. and I’m based in Chicago. from around the country, some of whom were this much quality, especially not on TV,” Berkus “One thing that’s a personal philosophy of “We have a great relationship; it’s complete- moved to come out of the closet because they said. “What’s interesting about this opportunity mine is, ‘You have to figure out what you’re re- ly worth it to me, the effort [of maintaining a viewed a really open, honest, happy relationship for me is, with HSN, I’m able to actually be the ally passionate about, what you really like to long-distance relationship.]” [between me and Fernando], and it was the first voice of my own products and really be able to do,’ That to me is how I feel about design. In my Berkus came out while a sophomore at Lake time they ever witnessed it, and it happened on explain and talk on live television with the peo- spare time, I do the same thing that I do in my Forest College. television,” Berkus said. “And it was presented ple who are facing different design issues and work time,” he said. “I think there’s a level of forced dishonesty as two people in love, not just as two gay peo- have questions for me. And, I can explain the when you don’t come out of the closet, whether ple.” inspiration for the first time behind this line, as Life-changing moments that’s your decision or your circumstances that Read the entire Nate Berkus interview— opposed to designing something and sending it Berkus was vacationing in Sri Lanka on a fate- prevent you from doing so,” he said. “That lev- and find out some little-known items about out onto store shelves somewhere and just hop- ful December day in 2004. He was with his part- el of dishonesty can start to sort of seep into him—at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. ing people like it.” ner, photographer Fernando Bengoechea, sleep- other areas of your life in time, where you can’t Oct. 8, 2008 23
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1 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077 For more information and sale hours, call (847) 329-2866.
NO INTEREST, NO DOWN PAYMENT 12 MONTHS WHEN YOU USE YOUR MACY’S CARD†
†NO INTEREST FOR ONE YEAR IF FULLY PAID BY PAY-OFF DATE. FINANCE CHARGES accrue on the promotional balance from the transaction date and all accrued FINANCE CHARGES for the entire promotional period will be added to your account if the promotional balance is not paid in full by the end of the promotional period or if you fail to make a required payment on your account when due. Minimum monthly payments of the greater of $5.00 or 3.25% of your promotional balance (which calculation is rounded up to the nearest dollar) are required plus any minimum payment otherwise due. Making the minimum monthly payment will not pay off your promotional balance in time to avoid FINANCE CHARGES. See below for details.†† ††NO INTEREST FOR ONE YEAR IF FULLY PAID BY PAY-OFF DATE. Requires a minimum purchase of $1000 from qualifying departments charged to your Macy’s Card. NO PAYMENTS & NO INTEREST FOR 3 OR 6 MONTHS WHEN YOU USE YOUR MACY’S CARD. Charge a minimum purchase of $500 (3-month plan) or $750 (6-month plan) in the area rug department to your deferred payment and interest account. After your 3- or 6-month deferred period, you will be billed under the terms of your Major Purchase Account. All credit plans subject to credit approval. For all credit plans described above, any FINANCE CHARGE will be determined by applying an ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE of up to 24.9%, based on your credit history, to the account’s Average Daily Balance, with a minimum monthly FINANCE CHARGE of $1.00. Deferred offers good through October 13, 2008. Coupons and other discount offers not valid for Tent Sale. ORIG. PRICES ARE OFFERING PRICES, AND SAVINGS MAY NOT BE BASED ON ACTUAL SALES. *SOME ORIG. PRICES NOT IN EFFECT DURING THE PAST 90 DAYS. INTERMEDIATE PRICE REDUCTIONS MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN. SALE PRICES IN EFFECT THROUGH OCTOBER 919, 2008. Closeout, clearance, permanently reduced, new reduction and Special Purchase items are not available by phone order and are available only while supplies last. Shipped orders are subject to a delivery fee. Ask your sales associate for details. All items subject to prior sale. Selection includes slightly damaged or discontinued items. Some merchandise may be irregular or imperfect. Examples shown are representative of selection and are for display only, unless otherwise noted. Macy’s is not responsible for defects or repair. Purchaser assumes all risks as to quality and repair costs. Prices and merchandise may differ on macys.com.