LGBT

Definitely hot topics for any gay man.

What’s your favorite? Can you tell the difference between an Arabian Mocha Sanani and a French Roast? Bejoulais, or Merlot? Spagos or Eat.?

In this blog entry, I will highlight one very, very cool, cutting edge, and “in” to the over extreme – SLS by Starwood.

The atmosphere is clearly upscale industry. I, myself, am in a hipster t-shirt, sporting Calvin Klein black slacks, and comfortable shoes of the same name. All around me is upper class action! Every furn ishing is original to the piece. I absolutely love it when a locale can take you away from an entire around the world historic viewpoint, and be it’s own thing. Clearly, SLS does this. It’s decor is from every place, every time, and totally works together in an original manner.

The couch I am sitting in is, in form, from the neo classical era. However, it has a really awesome photographic print of an Asian hipster scene adorning the cushions. The clear chair on the other side of my table is ala Jetson’s clear plastic. Wonderful! See. Be seen. I just realized that my booth is surrounded by mirrors. Is this a fun house? A Hollywood fun house, for sure! If you’re lucky to spot the psychic, you can even get your cards read. Man, I wish more places were like this!

In their restaurant, I am currently dining at “The Bazaar” by Jose’ Andre’s. The cuisine is a tapas style – small, little bites, and is from Spain. Take traditional tapas, add a humongous amount of creativity, and you hav e SLS. I have been here several times, and am constantly surprised.

Tonight, it’s all about CAVIAR!!!

I have decided on the Avgotaraho, from Greece. It’s a Greek cured and pressed mullet caviar. Very different. Very interesting. As well, I am doing a presentation of American caviar with the traditional steamed blinis, creme fraiche, and lemon air?

My drink – a very tasteful selection of Sake. Tokubetsu Junmai Old Mountain (Housui Yamahai). Super dry, with premium yeast mash sourness, giving way to pleasant and mild sweetness is the description from the menu. I couldn’t agree more! Wonderfully “tannic”, and pairs perfect with the eggs. And, if I may, a detail that is impeccable… They served it in a Riedel glass. Truly masterful. So often the “nose” of sake is missed, because of what it’s served in. Here, since it is served like a Chardonnay, you get it. It’s gorgeous. $14.

The American just arrived. It is served on a small stone square. The bun, warm. The lemon air – fine lemon bubbles. Cute! This presentation was extremely well thought out. For the price, admittedly, you wouldn’t get a caviar that rivals some that are more fine. However, the way the bun pops in the mouth, and how the lemon air adds an extra zing makes it all worth it! $10.

So, the Avgotaraho isn’t what I expected. It is very small, thinly sliced pieces of egg (NOT the traditional caviar kind), with little bits of wax on top, and what look like some kind of tiny herb. Lets try….

It does have these delightful bits of lemon on top. This dish is incredibly complex. Let’s have some fishy fish, wax, and scale it way, way up. If you enjoy sardines, and anchovies, than you will love this, because it has a similar strong taste. I would say that your palette should be nicely complex, and open minded. The finish with the sake should be wildly applauded. Again, a clear surprised from Mr. Andres. $15.

Admittedly, it was trippy to look up while drinking, and see myself in the mirror above!

This is only the tip of the culinary food chain in terms of description. So, come. Be entranced! Bring a date! Find out your future, with alcohol coursing through your system! And spend hours!

Gay marriage. Such a hot topic today! I must admit, I never thought it would have happened to me. We have a son. An adorable miniature Italian Greyhound named Prince. Trust, the names fits well.

My other half, Ralph is 43, and I am 31. He’s black, while I’m white. He a Jesus centered upbringing, while mine was a healthy mix of Jewish and Wiccan. Does he have a body of Herculean proportions? Maybe not to others, but to me, he’s perfect. And me? Well, I’m a thin stick!! So what? We love each other.

So often, in the gay world, age differences can mean the world. But, luckily for us, we both saw past that upon our eyes meeting for the first time.

Where did we meet? Would you believe, myspace? Traditionally, the gay personals area of myspace is nothing more than a hook up board. And, for only one nighters at that. From someone who has been to at least five different dating sites, I honestly did get the most from myspace!

I wasn’t really expecting us to get past the first date. It was quite traditional. We went out to a movie at the ArcLight Cinemas, and had a great time. For food, we enjoy the same kinds, so going out to eat at restaurants is often not much of a battle.

I have to say, if there was any aspect, or angle that I attribute the longevity of our marriage to, it is the fact that we both come from similar background. His family lives in Palos Verdes Estates, and mine in Beverly Hills. It is true when you hear that “rich folks hang out with rich folks”. I can imagine that the same is true with all other groups. It is an innate, and inherent understanding that we both have, and grew up with.

If I can illuminate further, at one point, while discussing past men that he has dated, and questioning why our marriage is successful, Ralph mentioned, “You know how to act around my mom and dad – around rich people.” Then, it hit me. We were going to be together forever. I know, strange, eh?

His parents happened to have owned a Budweiser distributorship, serving an incredibly large sector of Southern California. My grandparents owned Beverly Hills Sound Company who rented walkie talkies and sound equipment to the entertainment industry. For all of you Lucy fans out there, David Wolpa was my grandfather’s name, and he worked with the cutting edge Glen Glenn sound on the show, as well as many other t.v. shows, and motion pictures at the time.

A large part of our relationship is our dog. We spoil him, and treat him like a child. Wherever we go, if possible, we bring him. Whenever we are out, and purchasing something for us, it is often that we buy for him first. He licks our plates clean at the dinner table, even after we have fed him his regular dog food! Princee-pooh!

I find that our work lives are even interesting, as we are both always learning something from each other’s professions. He works at the Gay and Lesbian Center in Hollywood, and while servicing the entertainment industry with small projects, I am quite happy working with Staples in their Copy and Print Center. Oh, and I must say, for those whom may think that a “copy monkey” isn’t creative work, clearly, you have never worked in a copy and print center! It is enormously creative, and each job and client is different. This is how I view it. The full service copy and print center is in it’s own little world, doing jobs for clients. Then, there is the self serve world, which is it’s own ball of wax, but works with the full service world. Then, there is the rest of the store at large that works with the other two departments. Then, there is the team that you work with to smoothly tie it all together.

What makes it incredibly creative are the challenges. When a customer asks you to do something that is normally outside of the “normal boundaries” of the center, it’s how you solve that customer’s solution that makes you valuable.

In terms of Ralph’s work – to say the least, don’t know how he does what he does on a daily basis. He is a true angel. He works in a beautiful homeless shelter for primarily LGBT youth, ages 18-24. Ralph says that it is rewarding work and very challenging. As well, he is very passionate about his work.

Do our families know each other? Not yet. No marriage is perfect. In this case, it is about protecting our marriage. We are hoping for a meeting of the two forces as soon as possible. And, you know what? That’s o.k. Ultimately, you have to do what you have to do to keep the love between you strong. Is it selfish? Well, that depends upon how you look at that. On the surface, perhaps. When you look deeper into it, if, only once in your life, you find that perfect other, than maybe it isn’t so much so.

Heavens, what do we do for fun??!!!! Lots of things! We enjoy Disneyland, Santa Monica beach and pier, Pasadena, Palm Springs, many places. Being in California definitely provides it’s fair share of eclectic activities. All in all, the ideal city for us to live, and my personal favorite would have to be Pasadena. I call it the “Paris of Los Angeles”. It’s rich history, culture, and good natured people are grossly under estimated.

We can enjoy a lavish dinner at the Ritz Carlton hotel castle just as easily as a seven dollar lunch at King Taco. For fast food mexican in the area, you can’t beat it. We often go for various reasons. One thing’s for sure. The Gamble House in town will keep anyone coming back! This is an Art’s and Crafts masterpiece, and was created around the turn of the century by Greene and Greene. Today, it is owned by the University of Southern California, and architecture students live and study there. In addition, they do give public tours.

Pasadena is also home to the world famous Art Center College of Design. They are known for their automotive design, but excel in all of their areas. For myself, I have taken classes both at Art Center, and Pasadena City college in graphic design. Both have propelled my career forward.

When Ralph and I are browsing around the streets, we enchant ourselves by walking in and out of different alleyways, seeing interesting little shops, arguing over what is expensive, and what isn’t, and by the end of the day, we are drinking tea, and driving home. The rich diversity of places we go out to, and activities we enjoy can not only be defining, but certainly enhance our already strong marriage.

I could fill ten books with this information. This is but a taste. A first go at this exciting blog! Thank you, and we hope to see you back soon!