Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 464
Featuring content from the hottest gay and gay-friendly spots in New York, each (free!) issue of Get Out! highlights the bars, nightclubs, restaurants, spas and other businesses throughout NYC’s metropolitan area that the city’s gay a population is interested in.
Featuring content from the hottest gay and gay-friendly spots in New York, each (free!) issue of Get Out! highlights the bars, nightclubs, restaurants, spas and other businesses throughout NYC’s metropolitan area that the city’s gay a population is interested in.
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photos / GET OUT! MAGAZINE >> GETOUTMAG.COM
BILLY PORTER @ PRIDEFESTIVAL
PHOTOS BY BILLY HESS
ISSUE #464
COVER:
EILEEN SHAPIRO
PHOTOGRAPHER:
BILLY HESS
PUBLISHER MICHAEL TODD
MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM
DESIGN AGOTA CORREA
AGOTA@GETOUTMAG.COM
CONTRIBUTOR IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON
@IANMICHAELINWONDERLAND
CELEBRITY INTERVIEWER EILEEN SHAPIRO
@EILEENSHAPIRO3
NIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER WILSONMODELS
JEASO86@HOTMAIL.COM
The publications of MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT, getoutmag.com or any
other related print or Web publications or social media accounts, their images,
quotations or articles should not be construed to be an indication of the sexual
orientation of anyone portrayed therein.
All Content © Copyright 2019
MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT
25-21 45TH STREET ASTORIA, NY 11103
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HOST:
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BY NATHAN JAMES
CELEBRITY JOURNALIST
EILEEN SHAPIRO’S
NEW TELL-ALL IS WHAT
WE’RE ‘WAITING’ FOR
If you’re a habitué of the nightclub
scene in and around New York City,
you’ve probably rubbed elbows with
Eileen Shapiro, the doyenne of nightlife
reporting in the Big Apple. Eileen has
covered her starlit beat for decades,
interviewing luminaries from every
corner of the entertainment industry
while becoming a rock star among
celebrity journalists along the way. Her
work as a publicist with World Star PR,
a top media-relations group, has further
enhanced her bona fides.
Eileen’s knowledge of pop culture and
the glitterati is encyclopedic, and her
engaging prose has earned her a byline
in over 40 entertainment, music, and
LGBTQ+ magazines and websites spanning the globe (including Get
Out). Her ongoing support of LGBTQ+ artists and causes is also wellknown,
far beyond the five boroughs. Over the epic course of all that
reportage and publicizing, Eileen has accumulated plenty of fascinating
tales about her experiences with the famous and infamous, the outgoing
and the outrageous, ranging from iconic R&B/pop diva Diana Ross to the
one and only Adam Ant.
As the title of Eileen’s new book, Waiting For Adam: Interviews
And Obsessions, suggests, it’s a compendium of her talks with and
observations about the notables she’s met and written of throughout her
distinguished career. The tome is not her first literary work, as Eileen’s
bibliography began in 1977 with The Star Trek Medical Reference Manual,
which is still a sci-fi fan classic today. Get Out! had the opportunity
to speak with Eileen about her work, the book, and how her journey
through the nightlife world got started. The interview is slightly edited
for clarity.
INTERVIEW
GET OUT!: What inspired you to
write Waiting For Adam?
Eileen: Originally, the idea came
from Adam (Ant)’s publicist, who
suggested it almost as a joke.
Although things didn’t end well
between us, she was still the one
responsible for me procuring the
interview. In addition to Adam--
whom I pursued an interview with
and became credible enough to
be considered--I was very fortunate
to meet some
of the most
amazing
celebrities
through Get
Out Magazine
(as everyone
wants to have
an LGBTQ fan
base)! I felt that
these superstars
gave me their
time and
deserved to have
further mention. I
also thought that
people might
like to have an
entrance into
fandom all in one
place.
GO: Which
celebrity was the most
memorable?
Eileen: Well, of course, Adam. I
have incredible memories of nearly
all my interviewees. Those that
stand out right away are Brooke
Shields, Rick Springfield, Cyndi
Lauper, Billy Porter, Emma Stone,
Dionne Warwick, CeCe Peniston,
Michael Musto, and OMG....don’t
get me started, we will both be here
all day!
GO: Tell us how you became a
celebrity journalist.
Eileen: When I was in LIU studying
nursing, I became involved in writing
for various Star Trek publications.
My first interview was with Leonard
Nimoy, Mr. Spock. However, years
later, after three kids and a couple
of husbands, Colin Hogan and
I managed to somehow buy an
LGBTQ bar on Long Island. The
publisher from Get Out, Mike Todd,
came in one day asking us to buy
an ad. Instead, I offered to write
an interview with
Amanda Lepore.
After that, I did
some interviews
with RuPaul Drag
Race guests that
I had at my bar.
About a year later,
I started writing
for HuffPost and
Louder Than War.
The rest is history,
some still unwritten,
as I continue to
write conversations
with the coolest
superstars on the
planet.
GO: What has
your experience
with Adam Ant
been like?
Eileen: I actually met Adam
several times in England before I
interviewed him. I was even hugged
by him. It’s always surreal to meet
your idol! Adam is a very kind and
gentle man. He’s an awesome
storyteller and most definitely the
most creative person I’ve ever met.
To date he is still one of the best,
most intelligent interviews I’ve ever
penned. It’s exhilarating when you
actually get to meet your idol and
he is actually a fabulous human.
GO: Does anyone spill some real
tea in Waiting For Adam?
Eileen: Oh yes....love this question!
It includes anecdotes and tales
never divulged and features some
secrets from some very cool people.
So watch out, Billy Hess, and all
of you queens....many of you are
included!
GO: Do you have any artistic
influences?
Eileen: I do. My literary gurus are
Michael Musto and Howard Bloom.
Musically, of course, Adam, but also
Billy Idol and Scott Page from Pink
Floyd, Toto and Supertramp. My
favorite photographer is Billy Hess,
who taught me things you can’t
even imagine. I love creative people
and I’m blessed to be surrounded
by them. I live in the best possible
world. My biggest artistic inspiration
comes from my soulmate
Colin Hogan and my business
partner Jimmy Star.
O’Donnell, Jordan Leslie, Ross
Mathews, Melissa Etheridge, and so
many more.
GO: When will the book come
out, and where can we find it?
Eileen: The U.S. release date is
July 23rd, 2020. It’s now available
for pre-sale on Amazon and
distributed everywhere. There
is a British pre- sale link, The
link is www.waterstones.com/
book/waiting-for-adam/eileenshapiro/9781912587322.
GO: Where can people follow
you on social media?
Eileen: It’s best to find me at
www.eileenshapiro.rocks. I’m
on Facebook as Eileen Shapiro,
and on IG and Twitter as
eileenshapiro3 I’m also on Tik Tok
as eileenshapiro3.
GO: Tell us about the
“Obsessions” part of your
book’s title.
Eileen: I love obsessions.
When passion meets
inspiration, an obsession
is born. There are secret
obsessions all throughout the
book, and a lot of them aren’t
mine.
GO: How many notables
appear in Waiting For
Adam?
Eileen: I haven’t counted,
but they include those I’ve
mentioned above, plus artists
including Diana Ross, Fred
Schneider from the B-52’s,
Mary Wilson, the ladies from
Absolutely Fabulous, Joe
Alwyn, Lizzo, Bianca Del
Rio, Michelle Visage, Rosie
PHOTO CREDIT: BILLY HESS
COCKTAILS
TO GO
$10
SPECIALS
691 Tenth Avenue Off West 47 th Street NYC
Across from Hell’s Kitchen Park
WWW.NANOBARNYC.COM
MONSTER BAR LAUNCHES
MONSTER TO GO-GO TAKEOUT.
WEEKENDS FROM 2PM-6PM
In our 39-year history,
there has never been
a been a reason or an
opportunity to operate
our business by serving
up a menu of food items
and signature cocktails
out of an open window.
Amended rules from
the SLA in these trying
times have paved the
way for this reinvention
of “normal” and entered
the Monster and many
of our neighboring
businesses into this
uncharted territory. We
all face the challenge
of reimagining our
traditional business
models in order to
persevere. And even
when the city grants
permission to reopen,
the bar scene as we
have known it will not
resemble its former self
for many months to
come. In the meantime,
our goal is to keep the
doors open in whatever
altered capacity
allowed by the city,
so the safe spaces for
our community do not
disappear.
We all understand the
strong desire to socialize
and mingle with friends,
but now is not the time
for a street party or to
forget what this city
has endured and the
continued challenges
ahead. The message we
hope to convey to our
customers is a simple
one. Follow the rules
regarding masks and
distancing, respect our
residential neighbors
by keeping noise to a
minimum, and do your
best to be responsible
humans.
We’re hoping you’ll
stop by the bar the
next time you decide
to venture out for some
fresh air. If the weather
is warm, we’ll probably
have a bit of a line, but
it moves fast and the
sidewalks are marked
with distancing guides.
While you wait for your
order, you can peer
into the open windows
and say hello to your
favorite bartenders and
nightlife personalities
from a safe distance.
Enthusiastic waves and
glimmering eyes are
the new substitute for
hugs and smiles-–but
the sentiment remains
the same. We miss all of
you and a friendly hello,
even from afar, goes a
long way these days.
This new normal will
only remain possible
for us and neighboring
businesses if you, our
customers, work hand
in hand with us to
follow some strict, but
manageable guidelines.
The local 6th Precinct
asks that there are
NO GROUPS, NO
CLUSTERS, and NO
PARTIES, so don’t forget
to put the GO in “to go”
and keep moving! (Our
security team will be on
hand if anyone needs a
gentle reminder about
the rules.)
We are encouraging
you to plot out a
neighborhood pub
crawl. Map out a plan to
support the businesses
you love and make an
afternoon out of it.
Visit our local parks
and outdoor spaces.
Walk down a street
you may not have
frequented before.
There may not be an
official Pride parade
this year, but we can
certainly show off the
best of our community
as we walk through
the neighborhood and
support each other. We
are all in this together,
and when the time is
right, we will be here
to welcome you back
through our doors.
BY LARRY OLSEN
JUSTIN UTLEY’S
AMERICAN NIGHTMARE
HIS ACTIVISM IN UTAH
HELPED TO BAN CONVER-
SION THERAPY IN THE STATE.
NOW, JUSTIN UTLEY AND HIS
GUITAR HAVE SIGHTS SET ON
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
“American Nightmare” is Justin Utley’s
first single release since his activism work
in Utah helped to ban conversion therapy,
the discredited practice that aims to change
a person’s sexual orientation or gender
expression, in the state.
PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN BAKERINK
“The win was not only cathartic, but rewarding and empowering,” he reflects. Utah
is now the 19th state to ban conversion therapy, and once the pandemic has ended,
Utley has plans to take his fight to the other 31 states.
“I’ll take my guitar wherever I need to in order to keep this conversation going and
get this horrific, shame-based sham of therapy banned. It’s unethical, it’s disproven,
and yet so many are caught in its web of lies, inevitable failure, and suicide.”
He blames the lawmakers who blindly follow their party lines and church leaders
instead of the will of the constituents who elected them. “Finding candidates who
will work to unite the country rather than divide us is top priority this election
cycle,” Justin says. “I have my sights set on November when hopefully, this
nightmare will end.”
We spoke with Justin from his home in Utah.
INTERVIEW
It’s ironic that you’re releasing a song
called “American Nightmare” during a
pandemic, wouldn’t you say?
Justin Utley: The timing couldn’t be more
impeccable, for better or worse. Most of
my spring and summer gigs have been
cancelled or postponed, so right now I’m
focusing on getting the additional music
videos released and writing some new
material.
The song is really about conversion
therapy, which unbelievably, is still legal
in 31 states.
Justin Utley: It’s both surprising and notso
when you think of the polarization of
politics and religion that’s been boiling.
Surprising in the sense that submitting
a child to that kind of torture is even
legal would surprise most Americans.
Not-so when you throw in the fanatical
conservative base, who still believe being
gay is a choice, an illness, or something
to be fixed. They’re out there, and their
voices are louder than ever. Conversion
therapy is not only disproven and
fraudulent, it’s abusive and goes against
the oaths and ethics of the medical
profession as a whole.
Tell us about your
experience with
conversion therapy and
the impact it had on your
life.
Justin Utley: I went through
conversion therapy for
two years, both in a group
setting and through oneon-one
talk therapy with a
so-called licensed specialist.
At first it was elating to
know that I was not alone
in my struggle with my
sexuality. But soon, I was
stripped of any identity and
dignity I could have had
as a gay man, and instead,
was told I suffered from an
abnormality, a disorder, and
they treated my actions as
some kind of addiction or
illness. It was one of the
most excruciating times of
my life.
What were some of the
specific methods they
employed in the therapy?
Justin Utley: At one
point, the therapists had
me convinced that I had
been molested as a child
in order to explain how I
“learned” my behavior/
response to the same sex.
They teach that gay is a
verb, and that you are only
gay by action. It put a lot of
pressure on me spiritually
and emotionally. It put my
parents through the ringer
as well, since they were
used as an excuse as to why
I was gay.
What have you done to
reverse the damage?
Justin Utley: It took seeing
a licensed therapist who
was unaffiliated with my
(Mormon) church and
culture to help get me get
onto a path of healing, to
learn how to cope with
what had happened, to
reclaim my identity and
move forward in healthy
relationships and dating.
Do you remain in therapy?
Justin Utley: My music is
definitely a type of therapy
for me. It’s cathartic, it’s
somewhat of a journal, and
it helps me to express my
feelings, thoughts, and
emotions in a way that
reminds me (and those who
listen) that even if you can’t
see a silver lining, you can
make one. I also keep to
a decent workout routine.
That’s been very therapeutic
for me, especially during
this chaotic time in
quarantine.
What’s your relationship
like with your family
today?
Justin Utley: Things
couldn’t be better with
my family now, other than
having to stay at least six
feet apart from them. It took
a while to repair the hurt
and chaos the conversion
therapy had caused. It
took my little brother even
longer. He was pretty upset,
not for religious reasons,
but because he had crushes
on most of my girlfriends,
and he couldn’t believe that
I wasn’t into them the way
he was.
Have you fully woken
up from your “American
Nightmare”?
Justin Utley: No. It’s still
happening now. There are
still many states who have
not banned conversion
therapy, and I’m eager to
help get the issue on the
discussion table however I
can.
Can we apply the same
tactics you used in Utah in
other states like Arizona,
Iowa, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
and Texas, where bills to
ban conversion therapy
on minors have been
introduced?
Justin Utley: We had
overwhelming public
support when the Utah
legislature introduced our
bill. At the last minute, it
was hijacked by a religiously
conservative political group.
The matter was then taken
to the DOPL (Department
of Professional Licensing),
who held a public hearing
on the issue that included
mental health professionals
and survivors of conversion
therapy. I participated in a
lot of outreach, education,
and public awareness
campaigns, and testified
at a number of meetings
and hearings during the
time the matter was being
decided on by DOPL. In
my view, DOPL was the
most appropriate way to
go, since they aren’t held
hostage by legislators and
aren’t subject to religious
lobbyists and political
parties. Using medical
science, they dealt with the
issue directly and made the
appropriate decision to ban
the practice in the state.
Justin Utley’s “American Nightmare” is available on Apple Music, Spotify
and all digital platforms, along with the entire Scars album. Visit Justin
Utley’s website @ Justinutley.com. Follow him on Instagram @ justinutley
and Facebook @ justinutleymusic.
D’EVA
LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2009
REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT
KEEP
SHINING.
Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used
to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.
Featured patient compensated by Gilead.
Watch D’Eva’s story at BIKTARVY.com
IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about
BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare
provider about your condition and your treatment.
(bik-TAR-vee)
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side
effects, including:
Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV)
infection. If you have both HIV-1 and
HBV, your HBV may suddenly get
worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY.
Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without
first talking to your healthcare provider,
as they will need to check your health
regularly for several months.
ABOUT BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill,
once-a-day prescription medicine
used to treat HIV-1 in adults and
children who weigh at least 55 pounds.
It can either be used in people who
have never taken HIV-1 medicines
before, or people who are replacing
their current HIV-1 medicines and
whose healthcare provider determines
they meet certain requirements.
BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.
Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take
a medicine that contains:
dofetilide
rifampin
any other medicines to treat HIV-1
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side
effects, including:
Those in the “Most Important Information
About BIKTARVY” section.
Changes in your immune system.
Your immune system may get
stronger and begin to fight infections.
Tell your healthcare provider if you
have any new symptoms after you
start taking BIKTARVY.
Kidney problems, including kidney
failure. Your healthcare provider
should do blood and urine tests to
check your kidneys. If you develop
new or worse kidney problems, they
may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.
Too much lactic acid in your blood
(lactic acidosis), which is a serious but
rare medical emergency that can lead
to death. Tell your healthcare provider
right away if you get these symptoms:
weakness or being more tired than usual,
unusual muscle pain, being short of
breath or fast breathing, stomach pain
with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue
hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded,
or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.
Severe liver problems, which in rare
cases can lead to death. Tell your
healthcare provider right away if you
get these symptoms: skin or the white
part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “teacolored”
urine, light-colored stools, loss
of appetite for several days or longer,
nausea, or stomach-area pain.
The most common side effects of
BIKTARVY in clinical studies were
diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and
headache (5%).
These are not all the possible side effects
of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider
right away if you have any new symptoms
while taking BIKTARVY.
You are encouraged to report negative
side effects of prescription drugs to the
FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or
call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Your healthcare provider will need to
do tests to monitor your health before
and during treatment with BIKTARVY.
Continued on next page.
Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, continued on the
next page and at BIKTARVY.com.
REAL BIKTARVY
PATIENTS
ZACH
D’EVA
HUGO
CHAD
NIKKI
DIMITRI
Meet a few of the extraordinary people who take BIKTARVY.
Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com
Featured patients compensated by Gilead.
IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY® (CONTINUED)
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
Have or have had any kidney or liver
problems, including hepatitis infection.
Have any other health problems.
Are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY
can harm your unborn baby. Tell your
healthcare provider if you become
pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.
Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to
breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can
be passed to the baby in breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all
the medicines you take:
Keep a list that includes all prescription
and over-the-counter medicines,
antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal
supplements, and show it to your
healthcare provider and pharmacist.
BIKTARVY and other medicines
may affect each other. Ask your
healthcare provider and pharmacist
about medicines that interact with
BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to
take BIKTARVY with all your
other medicines.
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY
Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or
without food.
GET MORE INFORMATION
This is only a brief summary of important
information about BIKTARVY. Talk to
your healthcare provider or pharmacist
to learn more.
Go to BIKTARVY.com or call
1-800-GILEAD-5
If you need help paying for your
medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for
program information.
Please see Important Facts,
including important warnings
above and at BIKTARVY.com.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, KEEP SHINING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD
Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020
© 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0229 04/20
BY PAUL HUTNICK
ROCK OF
AGES
MICHAEL FAIRMAN
SAYS IT’S NEVER TOO
LATE TO ROCK OUT
PHOTO CREDIT: BRIAN KAMINSKI
MICHAEL FAIRMAN IS AFTER WHAT HIS NAME IMPLIES: A FAIR
CHANCE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.
“FOR YEARS NOW, I HAVE BEEN TOLD, ‘YOU’RE DOING MUSIC? YOU
SING?’ WHEN WHAT WAS REALLY MEANT WAS ‘GOOD LUCK WITH
THAT, BOOMER. YOU’RE TOO OLD FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY,’” HE
LAMENTS.
IN HIS LATEST SINGLE, “OTHER SIDE,” A TRACK HE WROTE WITH KYLE
MANGELS, FAIRMAN SINGS ABOUT AGEISM, PERSONAL STRUGGLES,
AND FINDING ONE’S INNER STRENGTH TO FACE ADVERSITY AND
ULTIMATELY TRIUMPH. IT’S A SONG FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER FELT
DISCONNECTED OR ALONE OR IS TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH
BREAKING OUT OF A RELATIONSHIP. “IT’S MEANT AS A REMINDER
THAT IT IS OK TO FEEL DOWN, TO HURT AND CRY,” HE EXPLAINS,
“BUT EVENTUALLY, WE ALL NEED TO RISE UP AND FIGHT WHATEVER
LIFE THROWS OUR WAY.” WE SPOKE WITH MICHAEL FAIRMAN FROM
HIS LOS ANGELES HOME.
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to write and
record “Other Side”?
I wanted to write a universal-themed
fight song that says no matter what
you’re going through right now, you
will get through to the other side of
it. It’s important to weather storms--
whether it be someone leaving you
for a younger, slicker model or your
body not doing what it used to do as
you grow older or people telling you
that you will never attain what you
want….I hope my song lifts people
up in their darkest times. Listen, we
need a song like this, especially now,
as we fight to get to the other side
of the coronavirus pandemic that has
changed life as we knew it.
Most people don’t feel like their
chronological age. What age do
you feel like you are?
I feel like I have the mind of someone
in their late twenties. Physically, that’s
another story. I do try to stay in as
good shape as possible, and working
out has always been a part of my life,
but it’s no joke that as you get older,
you feel every ache and pain along
the way.
Are you happy with the man that
you see in the mirror?
You’re talking with someone who is
very hyper-critical of himself, but that
being said, I can look in the mirror
and be happy with the man I am
today. I am learning to embrace my
outward imperfections.
If you could give advice to your
younger self, what would it be?
Don’t let others derail you from your
aspirations and dreams.
You were pursuing a singing
career in your twenties. Was is it a
mistake to give up on it?
Yes, it was. I worked tirelessly and
was single-minded in my efforts in my
teens, twenties and early thirties. It
was exhausting, and I needed a break
to decompress, but I should have
taken a short break, not a several
decades break! Things happened
that drew me towards TV producing
and journalism, and I thought I could
be happy and fulfilled with it all. I was
wrong, because I could not squelch
the desire to sing and write.
What made you decide to go for it
now?
I found the right collaborators to
bring my music and the sound I
wanted to life.
What have been some of your
biggest obstacles along the way?
Getting people who follow me on
my social media platforms to accept
and understand me as an artist. Many
people have told me that due to my
age, I will never stand a chance at
being played on pop radio.
What do you want people to think
when listening to “Other Side”?
“Hey, this guy is really good!”
Beyonce, Billie (Eilish), Barbra
(Streisand)….Who is the real
queen B?
Queen Bey is amazing: her voice,
her beauty, her live performances,
just her. Queen Billie is the youngest
reigning Grammy queen and has
a bright future ahead of her with a
very unique sound. But I would pick
Barbra. When you watch all of what
she has done-–now there’s a star!
Also, one of the greatest nights of my
life was seeing her in concert at the
Staples Center. She has that voice
that is so rare and remarkable in its
range and substance.
What do you say to those who
would have expected you to
answer Barbra?
They were right! Yup! I went with
Babs. And it has nothing to do with
age.
As much as Beyonce has
it all going on, Barbra,
to me, is still the true
reigning all-time queen.
What is something fans
would be surprised to
know about you?
That I am sports junkie
and you can test my
knowledge of NBA, NFL,
MLB, College hoops and
football. Bring it on!
What superstitions do
you believe in?
Every time I see a ladder, I
am afraid to walk under it.
Who is the unlikeliest
person that you follow
on Twitter?
New Orleans Saints
quarterback Drew Brees. I
love Drew. He is a fantastic
quarterback, and look, he
just donated five million
dollars for coronavirus
relief efforts in Louisiana! I
have a crush on him.
What makes you smile?
A great acceptance
speech from anyone who is being
recognized for an achievement they
deserve.
What makes you angry?
When people say something can’t
be done instead of trying to find
solutions to make it work.
Who are your heroes?
When I was nine, I met Reggie
Jackson, the former Oakland A’s and
New York Yankees slugger. He posed
for a photo with me for the Milwaukee
Sentinel and it was that moment where
the person you idolize turns out to be
just as you imagined. Everyone always
says that he was a jerk, but to me, he
was the kindest guy.
Which celebrity would you most like
to slide into your DMs?
Dua Lipa. I love her voice and I would
love to sing a duet with her.
You find a magic genie bottle.
What are your three wishes?
Get my music on the charts and kick
this career into high gear. Second:
Stop the bullying of our LGBTQ youth
and put an end to the murders of trans
people. Third: Rid the world of the
coronavirus so that we can all go back
to our lives.
Michael Fairman’s “Other Side” is
being distributed independently
and is available on all major music
digital platforms. Follow Michael
Fairman on Instagram
@michaelfairmantv.
Visit michaelfairmantv.com
BY IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON
@ianmichaelinwonderland
Simple Summer
A collection of essays from quarantine
March 17 is a date I believe I will remember
for the rest of my life.
It was a Tuesday—I think I’ll remember
that, too. I just looked it up on my phone’s
calendar to be sure I’m correct: March 17
was St. Patrick’s Day. I had no idea until just
now. I don’t remember if I wore green or
not.
My subway ride in to work was different
that day. Maybe the subways had been
different for a while, and I just hadn’t
noticed. I haven’t seen so few people on
public transit in my life, certainly not during
rush hour on a weekday. A group of four
men got onto my car and pulled off their
caps for tips, harmonizing on a barbershop
quartet version of “Over the Rainbow.” I
nearly burst into tears.
March 17 would be my last day of work
for the foreseeable future. I went into the
office, did what accounting needed to
be wrapped up, and went to visit one of
the restaurants I worked for. It would be
their last day too—dining in at restaurants
was already banned, they were just
doing delivery and pickup to get through
inventory. Most of the food in the kitchen
was donated later that evening.
It was such a weird feeling, being out of
work. I’ve worked hard my entire life, always
writing but always having a side hustle. I’d
been working in the restaurant industry
consistently for seven years—I figured if
a restaurant went under or downsized, I
would always find work somewhere else.
The streets were quiet, the people looked
uneasy. It felt like the whole world was
shutting down, maybe because my entire
world was.
I took some food when I left, but I passed
by a homeless man on my way home. I
saw him nearly every day, sitting where he
always did, back against a bright red brick
wall, and he asked—quietly, as he always
did—“Change?” I shook my head no and
kept walking. “It’s OK,” he replied kindly.
How will he eat when there’s no one on the
streets?, I wondered. How will he survive?
I dug through my bag and turned around.
“Would you like some bread?” I asked,
and gave him a six-pack of fresh rolls. He
looked at it like it was solid gold.
When I got home, I wasn’t ready to go
inside. My boyfriend, James, lost his
job the Friday before: we were both
unemployed. I haven’t been unemployed
since I took my first job cleaning the salad
bar at Godfather’s Pizza in Knoxville, Iowa.
I’ve washed dishes, made food, folded
sweaters, cleaned apartments…but I’ve
never been unemployed.
I finally turned my key in the door and went
inside. James was bright eyed and feeling
positive: “I’ve made a list of things I want
to accomplish,” he told me, “books I want
to read and things I want to write down and
online classes I want to take.”
“That’s all great for you,” I said in a low,
hushed voice, “but I don’t get to think
about all the fun, creative things I can do. I
have to figure out a way to support us.”
I don’t know why I said that. I was still in
shock. I felt like I had failed somehow.
“You know we’re in this together,” he said,
“right?” But I didn’t feel like that in the
moment: I felt alone. I felt lost.
Of course, I know I wasn’t really alone. By
April 1st, I could count the number of New
York friends that still had a job on one
hand, all working from home. By May, even
my mother in Iowa would be working from
home.
“This doesn’t feel real,” I kept saying.
Some days, it still doesn’t.
I keep thinking about the “Over the
Rainbow” quartet. Growing up, I loved
The Wizard of Oz more than anything.
Of course, the movie is iconic (as is the
underrated sequel, Return to Oz starring a
young Fairuza Balk), but my love didn’t stop
there. We painted my childhood bedroom
emerald green, the walls lined with framed
pictures from The Patchwork Girl of Oz, a
pair of stuffed stockings donning a pair of
ruby red slippers sticking out from under
my bed. I had a jar filled with broken yellow
bricks–-chunks of broken brick my father
spray-painted yellow, but insisted were real
pieces of THE yellow brick road-–and the
top shelf of my bookshelf held every Oz
book by L. Frank Baum. My most recent
additions to the collection include a set of
graphic novels written by Eric Shanower,
with art by Skottie Young, and a bag from
Coach’s Oz collaboration. It was a gift from
my boyfriend for my 30th birthday.
I was wearing the bag that morning, on
the subway, while the quartet sang. I held
onto the dangling bag charm, a small ruby
red slipper, my lucky rabbit’s foot. “Birds fly
over the rainbow, why then, oh why can’t
I?”
The bag has been hanging on a hook since
March 17.
How long would we be quarantined? When
could we go back to work? Would there be
work to go back to?
James and I didn’t know what to do. The
world bought up all the toilet paper and
pasta. From their mansions, celebrities
urged us to stay inside, losing their sanity
with every Instagram post.
My mother wondered if I wanted to come
home for a while: I saw my fellow New
Yorkers flocking to their humble beginnings
to wait things out. I talked to James about
it, but we wanted to stay in our apartment,
surrounded by books and movies and
clothes and cats and all of the things that
remained unchanged by the outside world.
James and I did the only thing we could
do: figure things out one day at a time. We
stocked up on food, stashed a six-pack of
toilet paper under the bed, and prepared
ourselves for a simple summer.
PHOTO BY STEVE BRENNAN