HAPPENINGS OUT OF TOWN
It’s definitely a New Year and already my resolutions have gone to pot— literally! My most important promise to myself, to restart my exercise program at the gym, was immediately put on hold in favor of a long weekend trip to Las Vegas. Of course, the pounds that I intended to lose at the gym, were supplemented by pounds gained at the buffet table! About the only place that I did lose weight was in my wallet. On January 11th I packed up my boyfriend, Jason, and my best friend, Sharon, and armed with antihistamines, nose spray, and ear plugs, off we went for a long weekend in “Lost Wages.” What more appropriate hotel to stay in than The Four Queens? There were three of us from Kansas City along with the nine Canadians who joined our party, having flown in from Winnipeg just for the weekend.
Talk about luck, it was so cold the four days we were there that I doubt if it got above freezing. Apparently all weather records were shattered. On the second day in town, we were blessed with a blizzard of sorts to accompany our trip down Las Vegas Blvd. The cab driver was ecstatic—he had never seen snow before. We were over it.
When you go to Las Vegas, be sure to take in the Fremont Experience, which occurs nightly downtown on the old strip. The city fathers made a wise decision about ten years ago to cover Fremont St. for about four blocks with a semi-roof complete with a grid of lights that are computer-driven into a spectacular show of animation and lighting. Unfortunately, the roof provides no protection from the elements, and we found ourselves able to shiver in the cold only for the five-minute light show, which occurs every hour. Because of the inclement weather, I was prohibited from visiting the rather new gay resort, Blue Moon Resort, that boosts a clothing optional pool area as well as asauna and steam room. I can just imagine the hearty souls who would have been sitting by the pool in this frigid weather, shrinking anatomy and all!
We did manage to take in a T & A show at Bally’s Hotel and it was fabulous. It is sad that this is one of the last visages of the Old Las Vegas where feathers, g–strings, and cod pieces and beautiful show girls and boys were the standard. Unfortunately, unless you hit it big at the tables, the star-studded shows that are standard now are out of price range for most of us.
The burden of our return to Kansas City on the 15th was eased when we realized that even while we were freezing our asses off, we escaped the horrible ice storms that you all suffered through.
The next weekend found Jason and I again traveling to our sister city, Des Moines, Iowa, for the 70th birthday party of my dear friend Patty L. Patty, for those who have been around as long as me, owned a bar in Des Moines during the 80s named Our Place. Thanks to OP I forged many lasting friendships and still consider Des Moines my second home. We spent time at the bar wtih Patty, her daughter Jean, and my dear sister Mitch helping her to acknowledge all the friends and family who honored her on the occasion. Many of her close friends then ventured downtown to the Blazing Saddle Bar to continue the partying long into the night. The picture with this column shows some of the pretty boys we encountered at the Saddle before they threw me out for being a “dirty old man.” Only kidding, I know Stinky the manager and he gave me a free pass to be old and go to his bar any time!
Speaking of the Blazing Saddle, all you leather queens should take note of the upcoming Mr. Iowa Leather Contest to be held there over the weekend of Feb 9 thru 11. Believe me there are some hot leather boys and men in Iowa, and some of them are just fresh off the farm, ripe for picking. It’s only a short jaunt over the border and the fun is guaranteed.
HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN
Just a few quick remarks and then I will cut this column short to save some banter for the next issue of Camp, which will be available on Feb 16th. Happened by Outa Bounds on Saturday to take in the Texas Holdem Poker Tournament Benefit for AIDS Walk. These are some serious gamblers. I understand from Mike L. that they raised over $3,000 for AIDS Walk and one lucky card player won a trip for two to Las Vegas (hopefully when the weather’s more normal). According to Allen, one of the owners of Outa Bounds, these Texas Hold ‘em No limit card games are really catching on and it’s becoming harder to get a seat on Monday, Thursday, or Sunday evening at the poker tables—so you all better spend less time in front of the mirror and get your butts down to Outa Bounds.
My good friend Jimmy W. tells me that Good Samaritan Project is sponsoring a conference on AIDS to be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel on the Plaza on February 9th. It promises to be quite informative. Check out the details on the Good Samaritan Project Website www.goodsamaritanproject.org.
Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, so grab that special someone and take in a dinner at one of our fine dining establishments. You can have a wonderful dinner for two at Sharps Restaurant in Brookside, Outa Bounds Sports Bar and Grill on Broadway, or take in the evening’s entertainment at Bar Natasha and indulge in one of Missie K’s special appetizer trays. After dinner, take your valentine to Out There Cards and Gifts for just the right gift that says I love you. Perhaps some rubber goods might do the trick. (Notice how cleverly I mentioned some of our wonderful advertisers?) If you don’t have a special someone, just ask me, I’d be happy to accompany any of my readers on Valentine’s Day. Oops, I guess I should check with my boyfriend first! Remember to tune in same place in two weeks. Until then, stay warm and find someone to cuddle up with on these cold winter nights.
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.