HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN
Remember my last column when I lamented that I probably would not have enough to say to write every two weeks? Well, you can forget that!
Starting things off with a bang the weekend of March 24 and 25 was the Heartland Men’s Chorus spring concert Global Destinations at the Folly Theater. Joseph Nadeau and his boys really showcased their talents to the fullest in this musical romp around the world. From the opening number, “Past Life Melodies” -- in which only sounds were utilized, not words -- to the final notes of “Turn the World Around,” this was an outstanding effort by a group of talented gay men who have accomplished what many would have called impossible 20 years ago. I can’t wait for the next offering, The Pink Carpet, narrated by actor Leslie Jordan, which will portray gays and lesbians in Hollywood through the ages. Mark your calendars, girls, for June 9-10; this concert promises to bring the house down.
After that dynamite concert, I was privileged to have snagged an invitation to a trendy benefit for the now-defunct Late Night Theater held in honor of DeDe DeVille’s combination birthday and bar mitzvah held at Ron Megee’s fashionable loft apartment. What a fun party, complete with typical Late Night Theater gender bending and all taking place in Ron and John’s fabulous 5,000-square-foot loft with décor taken straight from the scenery and props at Late Night. There were many local celebrities, including our very own Melinda R., her lovely husband Kirk and Lilly White. The guest of honor looked fabulous as usual as she opened one of the many presents she received throughout the night (see photo). Ron has installed a complete stage with lighting and sound, and I can tell you Ron’s apartment was really rocking that night, with a crowd I would estimate at well over 200 people. I hope a lot of money was raised to help pay off the accrued debt from a loan for the improvements to the theater. John and Ron, you guys really know how to throw a party! Please include me on your guest list next time.
On March 30 yet another AIDS Walk benefit was held in the Crossroads District, hosted by Shawn M. and her company. Shawn is an integral part of the steering committee and really knows how to throw a party, complete with great food, drink and entertainment all in another wonderful loft environment. Michael L., chairman for AIDS Walk, joked with me that I must be tired of the AIDS Walk benefits that seem to crop up hourly, but I can say that every one of them that I have attended has been thoroughly entertaining and well planned and executed.
On April 1, a celebration of life of Monty Lemrick was held at Bootleggers, which is on the second floor of Missie B’s. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to one of the LGBT community’s most colorful characters, but a fitting tribute was given to Monty by all his friends from the old Dixie Belle Saloon, including one from Johnny Parks that brought tears to everyone’s eyes, including yours truly. Congratulations to Missy Koonce for putting everything together and to all who participated. Monty, you will be missed.
Finally, to conclude the festivities, the MAKIT Bowling Tournament was held over Easter weekend, complete with costumes and Easter bonnets. The tournament crew led by Julie R, did a fantastic job of coordinating over 135 bowlers who came from as far away as Milwaukee to help celebrate the 25th year of MAKIT. Please see my comments in the “Changes Around Town” segment for more on the bowling tournament.
RUMOR HAS IT
Talk about change. This last two weeks has seen more rumor and change than the last 12 months! First, and this is not a rumor, ownership of the Fox Bar on the Kansas side will change hands on May 1 with on-again, off-again owner Butch G. turning over the keys to Bernardo and his partner, Tim. Bernardo apparently will be the front man for what promises to be some dramatic changes for the bar. They will be keeping Marcia as bar manager, and that would be a good thing, folks, and promise to update the bar with many innovations ahead. My hat goes off to Butch, who took that first step over 20 years ago to venture where no queen had gone before, Johnson County. We wish
him well and also the new bar owners.
CHANGES AROUND TOWN
It seems our local brew masters, John K. and John P. have hired former bar manager, George, fresh off a rather dramatic and abrupt departure from Outa Bounds Sports Bar last week. George will make a fine addition to the Miller Lite distributorship, which also recently merged with the Coors distributorship and moved to Overland Park to become Central States Beverage Company. We support anything that John K. and John P. are involved in, as they are two mainstays in the LGBT community. Best of luck with this new venture.
Sadly, Easter weekend marked the 25th anniversary of the MAKIT Bowling Tournament in Kansas City and also the last. The MAKIT board of directors voted to disband and not continue another year. Julie R, president of the tournament, made the announcement at the awards ceremonies Easter Saturday night. For those of us who remember the first tournament to be held at Mission Bowl with a banquet upstairs of the old Arabian Knights Bar, this marks the passing of an event that shall forever remain a part of LGBT history in Kansas City. MAKIT represented one of the first attempts at organized sports activities for LGBT men and women. Bowling began with Pete’s League in the early ’80s with 48 bowlers and now we have four operational leagues with more than 1,000 bowlers each season. My hat goes off to Julie R. and her board members who over the years have done a marvelous job with not only MAKIT but also bringing the International Gay Bowling Organization Tournament to Kansas City last year. They deserve a break and apparently no one has stepped up to fill their shoes, so we say goodbye to 25 years of great bowling competition and a lot of fun.
IN CONCLUSION
Well, that is all from here. I hope I will see many of my readers at the AIDS Walk in Theis Park on April 28. The pre-walk festivities are scheduled to start at 9 a.m., so drink plenty of coffee or other stimulants and let’s hope the weather cooperates. I have worn out my electric blanket from taking it on and off the bed every other day. Why, that blanket has seen more action in my bed than I have in the last three weeks, that is for sure! Please refer to the Gay Pride announcement in this edition to see who the national acts will be this year. I think you will be pleasantly surprised as I was in what John K. and his Pride committee has in store for the LGBT community for June 1, 2 and 3. Thanks for tuning in, and I will see you all at AIDS Walk ’07.
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.