Curve articles from October 2007

Curve archives from October 2007

We love Cho business: I didn't think about what it would mean to watch Margaret Cho's racy routine with my mom by my side. Turns out I shouldn't have worried. My mom wasn't the least bit shocked by her.(Frankly Speaking)
October 1, 2007... When Margaret Cho last graced our cover, five years ago, I wrote about having just taken my mom and stepfather to the GLAAD Media Awards, where Margaret performed. I was a GLAAD board member at the time, so proud to have my folks by my side,...

Will there ever be a lesbian American Idol winner?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia. We love the gals of American Idol, but we asked readers, will we ever see a lesbian winner? 28.3% Who says we haven't already? 27.9% Maybe (it's about talent, not sexuality) ...

Big love.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... My eyes love shadows and I thought the second option for the July 2007 (Vol. 17, #7) CURVE cover had predominance. The first article mentioned on the cover was the most ethical to me. The intentions of Katherine Moennig seemed most involving....

Readers want more.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... I love your magazine, really. Your articles are informative and I enjoy them. But there is a part of me that wants to be indulged in mindless pursuits. Could you maybe add one recipe every month? And some actual fashion that isn't just for the...

Heavenly review.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... Your review of my novel Like Son (Vol. 17, #6) was so completely lovely, thoughtful and beautifully phrased. And to be reviewed on the same page as Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party... I swear, I'm in heaven. Thank you! --Felicia Luna...

Ball-kicking babes.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... The page heading, "Babes Kicking Balls" over the photo of the Tractor Tramps (Vol. 17, #8) has so grabbed my attention that I can't free myself of your power. That photo and the heading speak brilliantly of lesbian empowerment, and nurtured my...

Ok, crazy dudes alert.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... Your magazine has interested me for some time. Every time I'm up at the Watertown Borders, I always look through CURVE, and, increasingly more often than not, buy it. And, I love lots of the women I see every month in CURVE. As is reflected in...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
October 1, 2007... In our September issue (Vol. 17, #7), the article "Why Lesbians Love La Lucha" should have used the term "Zapatista movement." The error was no fault of the author. In the same issue's Astro Grrl column, we incorrectly cited Joan Jett's age;...

A cantor in training.(OutinFront)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Only six short months ago, Marisa James became the first openly gay student, female or male, to be accepted into the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Conservative movement's school for ordaining rabbis and cantors. "I've always loved going...

Lesbian reality maven.(OutinFront)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... When most people embark on a new venture they keep focused on one business endeavor, but not Donna Mete--she's taken on three. Perhaps it goes back to her enormous earlier business success founding a privately held conference and trade show...

Still Chasing Amy.(OutinFront)(Chasing Amy Social Club)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Hard to believe a gay woman could move to San Francisco and feel a little on the outs. But if that same woman happened to identify as a bisexual, as did Amy Larson, even the queer capital of America can be a little daunting. So Larson set...

Sheryl McDougald: painter.(OpenStudio)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... While a student, Sheryl McDougald recognized that Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo and Donatello "were all basically homosexual and the way that they were seeing things was that the combination of male and female was closer to...

Cheaper than a hotel.(Curvatures)(Website overview)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Adventurous travelers (read: broke) will get a kick out of CouchSurfing.com. This creative take on the social-networking site boasts over 260,000 members who sleep on each other's couches or meet up for a coffee. It's also a great chance to...

New breast cancer detection.(Curvatures)
October 1, 2007... In September 1999, Carole Conway, then 32, found a lump in her left breast but because there was no pain, she didn't take any action. After some discomfort, she had a biopsy in October that revealed a malignant tumor. "I remember the tears...

Buy for the Cure.(Curvatures)(Crosley Radio donates for cancer awareness)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The best part of October is all the pink products that come out in support of breast cancer awareness. Pink ribbons, pink bags and pink shirts. Crosley Radio is no exception to this bandwagon. During the month of October, Crosley is donating a...

A simply divine site.(Curvatures)(review of www.DivineCaroline.com)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... It was a summer night (skirt season) and I was suffering from major high-heel regret when I received my first subscription digest from DivineCaroline.com. The letter had teasers linking to stories with titles such as "The Gift of Cancer"...

Briarcrest tales.(Curvatures)(Briarcrest Chronicles by Anna Furtado)
October 1, 2007... Coming from Fall River, Mass.--home to Lizzie Borden and the legendary murders of her parents--one might expect author Anna Furtado, who's lived in the San Francisco Bay Area nearly all of her adult life, to specialize in horror. Instead, she...

She said, she said.(quotations from celebrities regarding lesbian issues)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... "I've been called a bitch--and a lot worse--for years. And you know what, so what? People who think that aren't going to change their minds. And I wouldn't dream of sending them to therapy to 'rehabilitate' their feelings. How absurd....

How gay are your clothes?(Curvatures)(SEW GAY clothing company)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Take SEW GAY with you to Milan, Tokyo, Fuji or anywhere you're traveling this season and feel gay/les/bi/trans down to you threads. With slogans on duds from undies and bandanas to T-shirts, SEW GAY sets off gaydars no matter where you are....

Reinventing the Globe.(Curvatures)(involvement of Mujeres Advancing Culture History and Art Theater Co. founder Odalys Nanin in rescuing West Hollywood's Globe Playhouse from closing)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... It's kismet that a Renaissance woman with a resume that includes actor, director, playwright and founder of Mujeres Advancing Culture History and Art Theater Co. has rescued West Hollywood's Globe Playhouse from possible obscurity. The...

Calling all sirens.(Curvatures)(Siren National Festival)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... For those mourning the end of the Michigan Womyn's Festival in August, a journey to the Siren National Festival (Nov. 1-4) in Portland, Ore. should provide a much-needed post-Pride infusion of women-centric music, film, art and entertainment....

No more overpriced tuition.(Curvatures)(Med School in a Box and Law School in a Box teaching aids)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Thinking of toiling away to become a doctor or lawyer? Know someone on the brink of dropping out of med school? Here's the perfect gift: Med School in a Box and Law School in a Box. First, compare prices and save: Duke: $145,000; Yale $155,000;...

A festival for all seasons.(Curvatures)(Brief article)(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... Now that Pride season and its inescapable liver-destroying, heart-breaking activities have ended, hitting up another fest may be the last thing on your mind. But, while you missed Missoula, Montana's famed Annual Testicle Festival (which is...

Dyke-friendly dude ranches.(Curvatures)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... If you're sick of the spa yet in dire need of a respite from your hectic life, two new guides aimed at getting you off your bum and into a saddle prove that dude ranches are a wonderful option for active gals looking for a less conventional...

Designs of the rich and famous: is everyone gay (or a clothing designer) these days?(Lesbofile)(Lindsay Lohan's relationship with Samantha Ronson; plans between Beth Ditto and New Look to release a clothing line; doubts regarding Kyra Sedgwick's sexual orientation)
October 1, 2007... MySpace... and Then My Place Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, they say. While Lindsay Lohan checked herself into rehab, one of her 75 "friends" on her private MySpace profile--which includes the likes of Nicole Richie and...

A camcorder revolution.(Curvatures)(Suzanne Moe's documentary Barbara and Tibby: A Love Story in the Face of Hate)
October 1, 2007... Suzanne Moe is a tattoo artist known for leaving memorable, lasting impressions on skin. She never planned on becoming a documentary filmmaker responsible for leaving her mark on the LGBT community, much less on the Constitution. Despite...

Scene.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... 1 Portland Pride cuties who love CURVE 2 Hotties at the Garden Party, a benefit for New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center 3 Amy Alonzo and Alison Burgos of Pandora Ultra Events got together with CURVE to throw the...

My memory box.(Lipstick & Dipstick)(Column)
October 1, 2007... Dear Lipstick and Dipstick: My girlfriend of four years recently stumbled upon a box of old letters, cards and pictures from previous relationships. She was very hurt and upset about the finding, and after she read through all of it demanded I...

Sugar mama blues.(Ask Fairy Butch)
October 1, 2007... Dear Fairy Butch: First off, this is my first time reading your article and I must say, you give good advice. Your column is not only touching and true to the heart, but it is very entertaining. OK, I am in my first lesbian relationship and I...

Fall-ing in love?(Astro Grrl)
October 1, 2007... Libra (Sept. 24-Oct. 23) Sex: You are the apple of her eye this October. Heck, you are her entire pie! Do you feel the same hunger? If so, invite her over for dinner. Career: Libras have the oomph to push through and triumph in corporate...

Coming out to your parents: try these essential strategies when outing yourself.(Relationships)
October 1, 2007... Whether your parents are conservative, Bible thumpers (like, say, the vice president of the United States) or ultraliberal, planet huggers (like, say, the previous vice president of the United States), coming out is never easy. For many of us,...

Is your dramamobile a two-seater? So your sex life is boring, and you are thinking of having an affair.(Dyke Drama)
October 1, 2007... I was never so happy to be the third wheel in my life. I guess they had been having some problems in the bedroom. I suppose that is why they came to the club that night looking for someone to bring home. All I knew was that two reasonably...

Are we really ready for Hillary? Fantasies come and fantasies go, but reality always bites.(Politics)(Hillary Clinton)
October 1, 2007... I was going to write about travel for this issue. I had some things I wanted to say about women and borders and the freedom to move from place to place safely. It would have been pithy and political, as I strive to be. Then I read yet...

Who's that girl?(Margaret Cho)(Interview)
October 1, 2007... With fame under her belt, queer comic turned tattoo aficionado is now directing (Two Sisters), acting (in the big-budget thriller One Missed Call), making videos (for trans artists like Joshua Klipp and the Cliks), hitting off-Broadway (with...

On the plaza: two real-life divas--and life partners--take stage at Lincoln Center in New York City this month.
October 1, 2007... It's the stuff of lyrics and librettos, the story of how two American opera stars, soprano Patricia Racette and mezzo-soprano Beth Clayton, met. It goes like this: In 1997, both were at the Santa Fe Opera rehearsing La Traviata. Their worlds...

Paradise lost and found: from airline delays to riding the waves--two girls venture to Hawaii.(NEW ADVENTURES)(Travel narrative)
October 1, 2007... The plan for our trip to paradise seemed infallible. My partner and I, heading home to Australia from North America, were stopping to luxuriate for five nights at a resort that routinely wins prizes for most beautiful view on Oahu. We wanted,...

A trip fit for a queen: get a taste of the good life in Victoria, British Columbia.(NEW ADVENTURES)(Travel narrative)
October 1, 2007... I tend to bring a bit of ambition on trips. With so little time and so much to see, I'm often running around a city, making sure I fit it all in. Years ago, my friend Fay and I were racing through the streets of Edinburgh with nary a look at...

House swapping: save money and see the world in the comfort of someone else's home.(NEW ADVENTURES)
October 1, 2007... Timing and flexibility are hallmarks of successful house swapping. When you are on a limited vacation schedule, date ranges are the most important consideration. However, if you are a lady of leisure, well, then dates (on a calendar at least)...

10 ways to travel for $50 a day: forget Rachael Ray, we have advice that you can actually use.(NEW ADVENTURES)
October 1, 2007... As a starving artist, I am an expert at pinching my pennies, especially while on the road. Here's a nifty checklist of things you can do to make your money last and travel comfortably on $50 a day. 1 Book smart: Myriad cheap airline ticket...

U.S. by rail: riding the rails from Chicago to Los Angeles.(NEW ADVENTURES)(Travel narrative)
October 1, 2007... Coming from a country so small that you can cross from east to west in less than an hour, I've always been awed by the vast dimensions of America. You can whisk right across Scotland, from Edinburgh to my hometown of Glasgow, in just 46...

Hit the spa: get pampered like a princess and leave feeling as sexy as a post-rehab rockstar.(NEW ADVENTURES)
October 1, 2007... Though not always the most budget-friendly of choices, a destination spa can be well worth the cost when it's really time to get away from it all. If you're attached, a spa weekend with the missus is totally romantic, but feeling all healthy...

Swimming with the dolphins: the ultimate mammal experience.(NEW ADVENTURES)
October 1, 2007... Imagine being propelled at 40 mph... no, not in a car, not on your bike or even on your motorcycle, but through the aqua waters of the Caribbean by two energetic dolphins. Yes, you read it right. Welcome to the ultimate mammal experience, the...

Vocation vacation: test drive your dream job.(NEW ADVENTURES)
October 1, 2007... You're trundling through the trivialities of the daily grind, dreaming of being a restaurant reviewer, choreographer or bar owner. As you slog through the traffic, the morning meetings or the lunch rush, you're fantasizing about a more...

Always turned on: welcome to the AC.(NEW ADVENTURES)(Atlantic City)(City overview)
October 1, 2007... New Jersey has been a national leader enacting laws that improve the quality of the lives of the state's LGBT community for more than three decades. Issues surrounding adoption, custody and visitation, hate crimes, bullying and abuse in...

The babes of poker: watch out for cardshark-infested waters.(NEW ADVENTURES)
October 1, 2007... In a game predominantly played by men, women are storming the poker scene with plenty to bring to the table. Unlike slots, keno or roulette, poker requires some serious skill and personality to boot, as opponents compete against one another for...

Quick looks at books for traveling women.(NEW ADVENTURES)(Book review)
October 1, 2007... Toronto: The Essential Guide to the Best of the City (NOW City Guide): Toronto's NOW magazine has published a guide to their beloved hometown full of restaurants, cafes and things to do. The guide includes mainstream tourist traps as well as...

The odds are on my side: Reno rolls out the red carpet to fulfill one writer's champagne wishes and caviar dreams.(NEW ADVENTURES)(Reno, Nevada)(Travel narrative)
October 1, 2007... I'm in my luxury suite at the famed El Dorado Hotel in Reno being massaged by an attractive woman who assures me that even though this is Nevada--home of legalized prostitution--there will be no "happy ending." Not that I need it; there have...

What happens here: two days, three shows, many, many strippers. Vegas is my kind of town.(NEW ADVENTURES)(Las Vegas, Nevada)(Travel narrative)
October 1, 2007... Forget showgirls, how to play craps and that cute-the-first-time-but-tiresome-the-bazillionth-time-you-hear-it slogan about what stays in Vegas. Here's what you will really need to know about Las Vegas, the extravagance capital of Nevada....

Milwaukee's best, hidden in plain view: you don't have to like beer to enjoy this Midwestern charmer.(NEW ADVENTURES)(City overview)
October 1, 2007... This is not about dispelling the stereotype of Milwaukee as frostbitten, Laverne & Shirley beer town/cheese land. It is about exploring real Milwaukee, a Midwestern charmer that's so regularly overshadowed it creates its own sunshine. The...

Buffalo or Ohio? This lesbian rocker takes readers inside her crazy life on the road.(NEW ADVENTURES)(Travel narrative)
October 1, 2007... It all sounds so glamorous doesn't it? The rock and roll tour bus, the post parties, the screaming girls? Truth is there is no tour bus... There are, however, after-hour parties and several screaming girls and some occasional free drinks....

I want my queer TV: tune into Logo's lineup and the Brits' take on Buffy.(Television program review)
October 1, 2007... Available online for download, through cable broadcast or On Demand, these three shows prove the queer revolution has not only begun to be televised, it's got a sense of humor. The Big Gay Sketch Show (Logo) Clutching a glass of wine,...

Cathy DeBuono: actor.(Q+A)(Interview)
October 1, 2007... Sexy actor Cathy DeBuono plays the hot dyke that two sisters end up fighting over in Out at the Wedding. Perhaps a bit of typecasting? We asked the real-life lesbian about playing Risa, the Jewish lesbian artist, electrician and double love...

Hot shorts for chicks: it might be fall, but we still can see women in short shorts.(Movie review)
October 1, 2007... Women filmmakers are shaking up the LGBT film festival scene with their unique short takes on the humor and drama of lesbian life. Our picks for best women's shorts this year are below. Best Comedy Shorts Commitment Ceremony (Smithy...

Jen Austin: author, radio personality.(Q+A)(Interview)
October 1, 2007... Though Jen Austin, radio personality at Mix 102.9 and Pride Radio in Dallas, Texas, didn't "officially" come out until she was 22, she admits that there was never a straight moment in her life. Her experience of soul searching, church searching...

Diversity rules: these artists offer a wide spectrum of musical styles.(Sound recording review)
October 1, 2007... This month's featured CDs are spread out along the spoken word to hip-hop, queer to straight continuums. Lenelle Moise, a fiercely out dyke of color, is obviously influenced by the jazz and hip-hop canons, but presents her material in more of a...

Denise and Donna: podcasters.(Q+A)(hosts of the GayInternetRadioLive.com program The Lesbian Lounge)(Interview)
October 1, 2007... Blogging fans have a new duo to love: Denise and Donna, hosts of The Lesbian Lounge on GayInternetRadioLive.com. A year-old weekly show that covers "all things lesbionic," Lounge goes from gossipy news to interviews with Hollywood celebs and,...

Katrina: riding the waves.(Katrina Leskanich of Katrina & the Waves)
October 1, 2007... Songs move us for different reasons. In some cases, we appreciate a song for the composition itself while in others it's more that a song takes us back to a specific place and time that we remember fondly. "Walking on Sunshine," the 1985 smash...

High-definition Hollywood: these players give the clearest, sharpest view of your favorite leading ladies.(Tech Girl)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2007... High-definition video will eventually send standard DVDs the way of the laser disc, but there's still the question of whether to go with Blu-ray or HD DVD discs. The most important differences? Blu-ray discs hold more information than HD DVDs,...

Takeout, take a hike: kick the takeout habit, learn to cook.(I Tried It)
October 1, 2007... I used to survive on frozen dinners, boxed macaroni and takeout. The only vegetables I ate came covered in cheese on the top of a pizza, and fruit was a luxury to be found only in Sunday brunch buffets, never in my fridge. Then I got...

Top ten: reasons we love Paige Braddock.
October 1, 2007... Creator of the popular dyke drama comic Jane's World, Paige Braddock has been drawing comics since she was old enough to hold a pen. She recently released volume seven of the series, in which heroine Jane, who bears a not-so-slight resemblance...