QueerQuotes

"It is better to be hated for what one is than to be loved for what one isn't." -Andre Gide

Brief Encounter

Theatrical magic mixed with sentimentality is what makes Brief Encounter, currently playing at Roundabout Theatre Company’s Studio 54, such an emotional, clever and for sentimentalists like me, breathtaking piece of theatre. The production, Based on a 1945 film penned by Noel Coward and beautifully re-imagined for the stage by Emma Rice, makes use of music, projected images and live performance to tell the story of a forbidden love affair between an unhappily married housewife and the handsome doctor that falls in love with her. I originally saw this show a few years ago on a visit to London and was blown away by the inventiveness, quirkiness and shear theatricality of the storytelling. Being based on a 1945 film about adultery the show could feel dated, overly sentimental and lacking relevance. However, just the opposite is true of the show. Because of how cleverly the production draws the audience in you really feel transported, and the heightened emotionality somehow begins to seem real…necessary even. I would assume this would be a tough sell to Yankee audiences as the production is quintessentially British. However, I was very happy to see that they didn’t culturally “dumb” it down for the American audience. The accents were in full force, as were the English references. I truly hope Brief Encounter finds an audience and has a life here on Broadway as I feel the production is extremely well deserving for the fact that it is striving, and succeeding, to keep theatrical storytelling alive!

What I'm Listening To...

Tenderoni - Kele - The Boxer
Love Kills - Robyn - Body Talk Part 2
All The Lovers (Michael Woods Remix) - Kylie Minogue - All The Lovers EP
Songs Remind Me of You (The Swiss Remix) - Annie - SRMOY Single
You Gonna Want Me - Tiga - Sexor
Spaghetti Circus - Still Going (Juan MacLean DJ-Kicks Mix) - DJ Kicks
Tu Vou’ Fa L’Americano (Remix) - Renato Carosone
Invisible Light (Nita & Sammy Jo Invisible Strings of Light Remix) - Scissor Sisters
After Dark - The Count & Sinden Ft. Mystery Jets - Mega Mega Mega
Changes (Dimitri from Paris is Night Dubbin’ Remix) - Imagination - Night Dubbin’

Phierce Photography

Herb Ritts

Neith w/ Shadows

1995

Yummy!

Last night I did something I almost never do. I wanted to try a new restaurant and as I strolled down 20th and 7th after work I passed this charming bistro called Periyali. I decided to just walk in, without even looking at the menu. I was feeling adventurous, the place was packed and I figured taking chances is a good thing. They were booked with reservations so the host (with the most) asked if I minded dining at the bar, something I’m usually not very fond of doing. However, I decided to continue on with my adventure seeking attitude and agreed to dine at the bar (eating a meal at the bar might not sound that adventurous to you…but trust me, it is in the urban jungle I live in!). The host was very accommodating and made up a lovely little place setting for me. However, in a cruel trick of fate, as I opened the menu that was placed in front of me, the first entree I noticed was mousaka, then, grilled lamb…tzatziki…this was a GREEK restaurant! Having just returned from twelve days in the Mediterranean I had to laugh at this ironic twist. I decided to stay anyway since the surroundings were so comfortable and host had been so accommodating. The bartender who served me was incredibly attentive, charming and, of course, Greek…a happy reminder of the lovely people I met during my trip. Of course I had to tell him about my travels and as it turns out he was very familiar with the island of Paros that I visited, and said that he traveled to Paros after he graduated high school. After the host heard I had just returned from Greece he also regaled me with stories from his childhood in Greece and how he dreamed of getting back there soon. It was all very charming. But let’s get back to the real focus…the food. I decided to start with the stuffed eggplant special…to die for! Delicious grilled eggplant stuffed with tomatoes, capers and feta. For my entree I opted for the Souvlaki Fileto, a delicious charcoal grilled filet and vegetable kebab served with a scrumptious Greek rice. I washed it all down with a Greek wine suggested to me by the bartender. The dinner actually ended up being a really great finish to the end of a lovely two weeks of Grecian experiences. My server was charming and curious, the food was absolutely delicious and the quaint space was comfortable and very welcoming. I will definitely be back to Periyali, probably in mid-winter when I’ll need a reminder of island warmth, great food and the welcoming Greek spirit.

Periyali
35 W. 20th St.
New York, NY 10011
212.463.7890

http://www.periyali.com/index.htm

Mediterranean Memories - Jackie O'

Where oh where does one go out in Mykonos?? The first time I visited Mykonos I was kind of disappointed…in the gay scene that is. Granted, I didn’t do my research beforehand, so it was partly my fault. However, I didn’t go to the right beaches, bars or clubs. So, this “gay mecca” that Mykonos had always promised to be, in my mind at least, wasn’t really all that...gay. Well, boy did that all change on this trip! Not only did I find the gay beach to out-gay all gay beaches, I finally found where the party was…and it was of course, appropriately, hosted by Mrs. Jackie O’! Jackie O’ is an amazing gay bar in Mykonos Town. It is right on the water and right next door to another gay bar called…are you ready…Babylon (how original). Anyway, Jackie O’ is obviously the more popular of the two. However, I learned something else on this trip. The party does not get started until late, late, late. I passed by this bar around 11pm one night and no one was there. There were a few waiters milling about and a gay flag flapping in the island wind…but no patrons. It was a little sad. I decided to head back into town to shop, walk around and grab a sweet. A few hours past and around 1am I figured I might as well pass by Jackie O’ again just to see if maybe one or two homosexuals happened to find their way to what looked like a potentially really cool bar. There were indeed a few more peeps there the second time around, enough for me to decide to hang for a few drinks at least. However, as the minutes past more and more and more people started showing up. The more I drank the more the crowd multiplied…it was nuts. Come 2am the place was PACKED! You couldn’t move! One of the funniest things about the experience, and this is so Greece, was the fact that, as I mentioned before, the two gay bars were literally right next to each other. However, each one had its own DJ…and all the action was outside. Therefore, if you found yourself hovering too close to the middle of the two bars you kind of had to listen to a clusterfuck of music. It didn’t make sense at all…but alas, so Greece. I spent many a drunken night drinking, dancing and cavorting with Mrs. Jackie O’ and her island gays…a super fun, super crazy and super gay hot spot.

Warning: Be careful of the winds and the water! When the sea gets rough the waves crash over the stone barrier separating the bar from the water and needless to say there were a few very unhappy, saltwater drenched causalities…but a good laugh was had by my drunk ass.

Wherefore ART thou...

Gilbert & George
Dream - 1984
243.8 x 254 cm, gelatin-silver prints with handcolouring