Little Italy’s “5 Star Restaurant”
Hello everyone and thanks for checking back in this week. Before beginning I would like to ask for your friendship on Facebook. In the search box type in Frank Lechner and my mug will pop up. I have created an album and will be adding photos of places we visit.
Thanks again for your continued support.
This week my guest was John Woodgate, a long time friend and wonderful man. Our destination BENCOTTO – Italian Kitchen in Little Italy, created by owners Guido Nistri and his lovely bride Valentina Di Pietro. I think this is about as Italian as it gets.
Website Quotes: The word BENCOTTO, means and refers to a meal “done well” or perfectly cooked. Our core belief is that high quality food can be simple and supremely delicious. Combining differ…
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Monday, August 19, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Playing my part in making life for fellow LGBT countryfolk bearable.
The State-sanctioned homophobia and transphobia in Malaysia, my country of origin, is breaking my heart. What can I do as a currently overseas citizen to make things better for my fellow LGBT folk back in Malaysia, particularly in raising awareness of the issue internationally? I left Malaysia for various reasons, but one core reason was escaping the various persecutions and micro/macro-aggressions I felt for who I am. Most of this has to do with race (my parents are Bangladeshi migrants) and citizenship/residency, but I also felt that I wouldn't be safe exploring my sexuality in a country that so deeply vilifies sexuality that "sexy" is a slur and politicians get run out of Parliament for what they wear (or don't) in their sleep. It took me until I had been in Australia for a few years that I felt safe and able to explore my sexuality and gender without having to look behind my back to see if I will get screwed over by the Malaysian Government. I have had friends and acquaintances who cannot go back to Malaysia because they will face persecution, and one person whose Government scholarship was revoked and who was forced to come back home because her ex outed her as a trans woman.
I am trying to get the word out about the situation in Malaysia, especially this ridiculous propaganda musical, but I am facing a few roadblocks:
1. I am overseas and am not likely to return to Malaysia anytime soon, so my ability to organise something back home is limited. If I did try to do something in Malaysia, I'd be dismissed as a "foreign Zionist agent" of some fashion.
2. Incorporated into the musical is a plot point about how LGBT people who protest are being paid a handsome sum by the Opposition party and are merely reacting against the advice of "reasonable Malay Muslims". This makes any show of protest difficult to be taken seriously - especially when the main sexuality rights event in the country gets shut down for "threatening to disrupt public order" - pretty much the main excuse for arresting any protestor ever.
3. I am trying to get the word out in the Bay Area (where I live right now), especially with the Queer People of Color circles I am heavily involved with. Not many people have really picked up on this though - most people get stuck on "a musical about anti-gay sentiment! ISN'T THAT IRONIC" and don't move on from there. Also it seems that Malaysia doesn't quite have the White/Western Savior Cred of places like Uganda or India, where people seem to care more about LGBT issues there.
4. Even when there are people that DO care, I'm at a loss for what they could do. Petitions are pointless, because the Malaysian Government isn't going to pay attention (the whole paid-by-the-Opposition thing). International attention would be handy, but then it becomes "Foreign Zionist Agents". Tying this in to the United Nations may be useful, but I'm sure there will be a stack of countries who will take Malaysia's side.
5. People often bring up voting, but Malaysia has arcane voting laws that make it near impossible for overseas residents to vote. I technically am allowed to vote overseas because I'm an international student (one of the few classes of overseas residents allowed to vote), but I have to register in Malaysia first - not overseas. Gah! (Besides, it's not like there is anyone to vote for in my district that isn't Ruling Party, and there's a lot of electoral fraud.)
I want Malaysians to see that the so-called deviants are people like everyone else, diverse and unique and part of their community, and not a danger or scrounge to society. My current idea is to organise a performance of monologues, ala Yoni ki Baat (semi self link) or The Vagina Monologues, about Malaysians dealing with the stigmatization of sexuality. Not just in terms of being LGBT, but also slut-shaming, ageism against young people, and misogyny - one does not have to do much to be branded a sexual deviant in Malaysia. I have been and am currently involved in these sorts of This requires being back in Malaysia for a substantial amount of time, which I am not able to do right now. I'm also reminded of how the Vagina Monologues are banned in Malaysia and how anything of this nature would have to be underground...which then leads to the issue of preaching to the choir, the people who already know that LGBT people are not evil...rather than the people who will be affected by this propaganda. Something along the lines of the Pussy Riot worldwide protests would be awesome, but I'm not sure how to get people to care.
Any ideas of what I can do to get international support? I'm reaching out super slowly, one person at a time, but I really don't want Malaysia to get away with it and continue being an unsafe hostile space for people like me.
I am trying to get the word out about the situation in Malaysia, especially this ridiculous propaganda musical, but I am facing a few roadblocks:
1. I am overseas and am not likely to return to Malaysia anytime soon, so my ability to organise something back home is limited. If I did try to do something in Malaysia, I'd be dismissed as a "foreign Zionist agent" of some fashion.
2. Incorporated into the musical is a plot point about how LGBT people who protest are being paid a handsome sum by the Opposition party and are merely reacting against the advice of "reasonable Malay Muslims". This makes any show of protest difficult to be taken seriously - especially when the main sexuality rights event in the country gets shut down for "threatening to disrupt public order" - pretty much the main excuse for arresting any protestor ever.
3. I am trying to get the word out in the Bay Area (where I live right now), especially with the Queer People of Color circles I am heavily involved with. Not many people have really picked up on this though - most people get stuck on "a musical about anti-gay sentiment! ISN'T THAT IRONIC" and don't move on from there. Also it seems that Malaysia doesn't quite have the White/Western Savior Cred of places like Uganda or India, where people seem to care more about LGBT issues there.
4. Even when there are people that DO care, I'm at a loss for what they could do. Petitions are pointless, because the Malaysian Government isn't going to pay attention (the whole paid-by-the-Opposition thing). International attention would be handy, but then it becomes "Foreign Zionist Agents". Tying this in to the United Nations may be useful, but I'm sure there will be a stack of countries who will take Malaysia's side.
5. People often bring up voting, but Malaysia has arcane voting laws that make it near impossible for overseas residents to vote. I technically am allowed to vote overseas because I'm an international student (one of the few classes of overseas residents allowed to vote), but I have to register in Malaysia first - not overseas. Gah! (Besides, it's not like there is anyone to vote for in my district that isn't Ruling Party, and there's a lot of electoral fraud.)
I want Malaysians to see that the so-called deviants are people like everyone else, diverse and unique and part of their community, and not a danger or scrounge to society. My current idea is to organise a performance of monologues, ala Yoni ki Baat (semi self link) or The Vagina Monologues, about Malaysians dealing with the stigmatization of sexuality. Not just in terms of being LGBT, but also slut-shaming, ageism against young people, and misogyny - one does not have to do much to be branded a sexual deviant in Malaysia. I have been and am currently involved in these sorts of This requires being back in Malaysia for a substantial amount of time, which I am not able to do right now. I'm also reminded of how the Vagina Monologues are banned in Malaysia and how anything of this nature would have to be underground...which then leads to the issue of preaching to the choir, the people who already know that LGBT people are not evil...rather than the people who will be affected by this propaganda. Something along the lines of the Pussy Riot worldwide protests would be awesome, but I'm not sure how to get people to care.
Any ideas of what I can do to get international support? I'm reaching out super slowly, one person at a time, but I really don't want Malaysia to get away with it and continue being an unsafe hostile space for people like me.
Coverboy: Rich: Rhode Island-Raised
Coverboy Interview:
If you like a Coverboy who's physically active and has a green thumb, not to mention a compelling life story, 30-year-old Rich is the one for you. Born and raised in North Providence, R.I., Rich initially followed his passion for meteorology, something that he continues to be interested in to this day. ''Most guys have their favorite actor, musician or sports hero,'' he says. ''My idol was the local weatherman.'' He eventually switched his career path, working in a senator's Capitol Hill office for four-and-a-half years before becoming the communications manager at the Hemophilia Federation of America. A hemophiliac himself, Rich spent a year-and-a-half in a wheelchair and was told he'd never walk again. Now, he's an avid jogger who's run marathons. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and tending to his container garden.
What's on your nightstand?A picture of my family, rosary beads, and ChapStik.
Coverboy: Rich
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
What's in your nightstand drawer?A journal, an array of pictures and The Golden Girls Season 5 box set.
Where do you keep the condoms and lube?At CVS.
What are your television favorites?Grey's Anatomy, Glee, House of Cards, and anything T.G.I.F. – old-school stuff like Family Matters.
What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?Scooby-Doo. I always related to him on a philosophical level, because I'm laid-back, I go with the flow, and I'm a little goofy, but I'll always make you laugh. I even slept with a 4-foot Scooby-Doo in college.
So what happened to the 4-foot Scooby-Doo?I brought him home after college. My mom had an intervention with me and told me it was time to give him up.
Who's your greatest influence?My parents, because they taught me to never take ''no'' for an answer.
Are you a go-getter?I am. You can put anything in front of me, and I won't say no. My first full marathon, I pushed myself so hard that I actually ended up in the hospital.
Coverboy: Rich
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
What's your greatest fear?As an ice-cream addict, I fear there will be no more ''free cone days'' at Ben & Jerry's.
Pick three people, living or dead, who you think would make the most fascinating dinner guests imaginable.A pinch of Mother Teresa, a splash of Wanda Sykes and a dash of JFK.
What would you serve?Traditional Italian fare, from one of my grandmother's recipes. Definitely some homemade pasta with gravy – it's not sauce, it's gravy. I'd probably serve cannoli, too.
Define good in bed.Firm on the back, soft when it needs to be and all night long. Oh, wait, I thought we were talking about my therapeutic mattress.
Who should star in a movie about your life?Ellen DeGeneres. She's very qualified to dance like me.
Who was your first celebrity crush?Mark-Paul Gosselaar. He was – and still is – a dreamboat.
Who gets on your nerves?Anyone who has a weak handshake.
If your home was burning, what's the first thing you'd grab while leaving?My gratitude journal. I write down every day five things I'm grateful for or that challenge me.
What's your biggest turn-on?Hillary Clinton, in a pantsuit, with a bowl of Ben & Jerry's vanilla ice cream.
Coverboy: Rich
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
What's your biggest turn-off?Rush Limbaugh, in Hillary Clinton's pantsuit, with an empty bowl.
What's something you've always wanted to do but haven't yet tried?Taken a road trip cross-country.
What's something you've tried that you never want to do again?Propose to a girl. I was engaged for six months. Clearly, that didn't work out.
What's your favorite website?Weather.gov. I'm a weather nerd.
What position do you play in the big baseball game of life?The receiver. That's a term in baseball, right?
What's your favorite retail store?Jackthreads.com. I don't always buy, but I love to look at the site.
What's the most you'll spend on a haircut?$21, including tip. I will still only get my hair cut in Rhode Island, if I can help it. I still go to the same barber, Mickey.
What about on shoes?Right now, I'm limiting myself to $70, because I'm looking to buy a house next year.
Coverboy: Rich
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
What's your favorite food to splurge with?Ben & Jerry's vanilla with two scoops of Jif chunky peanut butter.
What's your favorite season?Fall. There's nothing like opening the windows on a cool, crisp night and snuggling into a comforter cocoon.
What kind of animal would you be?A llama. They're intelligent, they're gentle, and you'd get to spit and not get in trouble.
What kind of plant would you be?Bamboo. It bends, but doesn't break.
What kind of car would you be?A Lamborghini. Because it's Italian, fast and has character.
What are you most grateful for?My health. Despite how I look right now, my body has been through a lot, and I will never take it for granted.
What's something you want more of?Mi famiglia. I'm Italian. That's how we roll. If someone's in trouble, the entire extended family will come running to your side.
State your life philosophy in 10 words or less.Comparing yourself to others makes you lose who you are. ...more
If you like a Coverboy who's physically active and has a green thumb, not to mention a compelling life story, 30-year-old Rich is the one for you. Born and raised in North Providence, R.I., Rich initially followed his passion for meteorology, something that he continues to be interested in to this day. ''Most guys have their favorite actor, musician or sports hero,'' he says. ''My idol was the local weatherman.'' He eventually switched his career path, working in a senator's Capitol Hill office for four-and-a-half years before becoming the communications manager at the Hemophilia Federation of America. A hemophiliac himself, Rich spent a year-and-a-half in a wheelchair and was told he'd never walk again. Now, he's an avid jogger who's run marathons. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and tending to his container garden.
What's on your nightstand?A picture of my family, rosary beads, and ChapStik.
Coverboy: Rich
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
What's in your nightstand drawer?A journal, an array of pictures and The Golden Girls Season 5 box set.
Where do you keep the condoms and lube?At CVS.
What are your television favorites?Grey's Anatomy, Glee, House of Cards, and anything T.G.I.F. – old-school stuff like Family Matters.
What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?Scooby-Doo. I always related to him on a philosophical level, because I'm laid-back, I go with the flow, and I'm a little goofy, but I'll always make you laugh. I even slept with a 4-foot Scooby-Doo in college.
So what happened to the 4-foot Scooby-Doo?I brought him home after college. My mom had an intervention with me and told me it was time to give him up.
Who's your greatest influence?My parents, because they taught me to never take ''no'' for an answer.
Are you a go-getter?I am. You can put anything in front of me, and I won't say no. My first full marathon, I pushed myself so hard that I actually ended up in the hospital.
Coverboy: Rich
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
What's your greatest fear?As an ice-cream addict, I fear there will be no more ''free cone days'' at Ben & Jerry's.
Pick three people, living or dead, who you think would make the most fascinating dinner guests imaginable.A pinch of Mother Teresa, a splash of Wanda Sykes and a dash of JFK.
What would you serve?Traditional Italian fare, from one of my grandmother's recipes. Definitely some homemade pasta with gravy – it's not sauce, it's gravy. I'd probably serve cannoli, too.
Define good in bed.Firm on the back, soft when it needs to be and all night long. Oh, wait, I thought we were talking about my therapeutic mattress.
Who should star in a movie about your life?Ellen DeGeneres. She's very qualified to dance like me.
Who was your first celebrity crush?Mark-Paul Gosselaar. He was – and still is – a dreamboat.
Who gets on your nerves?Anyone who has a weak handshake.
If your home was burning, what's the first thing you'd grab while leaving?My gratitude journal. I write down every day five things I'm grateful for or that challenge me.
What's your biggest turn-on?Hillary Clinton, in a pantsuit, with a bowl of Ben & Jerry's vanilla ice cream.
Coverboy: Rich
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
What's your biggest turn-off?Rush Limbaugh, in Hillary Clinton's pantsuit, with an empty bowl.
What's something you've always wanted to do but haven't yet tried?Taken a road trip cross-country.
What's something you've tried that you never want to do again?Propose to a girl. I was engaged for six months. Clearly, that didn't work out.
What's your favorite website?Weather.gov. I'm a weather nerd.
What position do you play in the big baseball game of life?The receiver. That's a term in baseball, right?
What's your favorite retail store?Jackthreads.com. I don't always buy, but I love to look at the site.
What's the most you'll spend on a haircut?$21, including tip. I will still only get my hair cut in Rhode Island, if I can help it. I still go to the same barber, Mickey.
What about on shoes?Right now, I'm limiting myself to $70, because I'm looking to buy a house next year.
Coverboy: Rich
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
What's your favorite food to splurge with?Ben & Jerry's vanilla with two scoops of Jif chunky peanut butter.
What's your favorite season?Fall. There's nothing like opening the windows on a cool, crisp night and snuggling into a comforter cocoon.
What kind of animal would you be?A llama. They're intelligent, they're gentle, and you'd get to spit and not get in trouble.
What kind of plant would you be?Bamboo. It bends, but doesn't break.
What kind of car would you be?A Lamborghini. Because it's Italian, fast and has character.
What are you most grateful for?My health. Despite how I look right now, my body has been through a lot, and I will never take it for granted.
What's something you want more of?Mi famiglia. I'm Italian. That's how we roll. If someone's in trouble, the entire extended family will come running to your side.
State your life philosophy in 10 words or less.Comparing yourself to others makes you lose who you are. ...more
Analysis of Supreme Court marriage decisions Aug. 22
"What the Supreme Court Rulings on DOMA and Prop 8 Mean for You" is the subject of a free event at the Center on Halsted Thursday. Aug. 22, 3656 N. Halsted St. The event is presented by James E. Elvord, first vice president-financial advisor with RBC Wealth Management and co-sponsored by Windy City Times and Center on Halsted.
(10) Back From Hiatus
Thanks Nadya, for Babkas Bikini Wax Messages, Back from Techno-challenges, Child Abusers, Vibrating i-Phones, Pseudo-Lesbians have babies, Joe Walsh as a cure for insomnia, Combi-Christ for adults, Hilary for president, but only because she has a vagina.
Chantilly Trek: Go the distance for the air-and-space rewards at the Udvar-Hazy Center
Feature Story:
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
Depending on traffic, where you're coming from, and a few other variables, getting to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center can be a bit of a trek. But if you're in any way a fan of the Air and Space mother ship downtown on the National Mall, it's a trek worth taking. If you don't have a car, rent one. Take Metrobus to Dulles International and transfer to a Virginia Regional Transit Association bus for the short hop to the center. And how many museums offer directions to visit by air?
''Welcome Pilots!'' reads the Udvar-Hazy greeting. ''Fly your own plane into Washington Dulles International Airport, Leesburg Executive Airport, or other nearby fields.''
Seriously? Yes. This is a far-out complex – roughly 30 miles from downtown Washington – that takes everything related to flight very seriously. It's evident the moment a visitor pulls into the parking lot, where inscribed airfoils create the ''Wall of Honor,'' recognizing great names of aviation and space exploration, along with those who've helped make the center a reality.
Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
Of course, the real treats are inside.
Greeting visitors -- just past security and the elaborate gift shop -- is arguably the Udvar-Hazy showpiece, the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, featured as part of the Cold War Aviation exhibit. It's certainly got that testosterone edge that brings plenty to look at the amazing array of military planes. Like its downtown parent, however, this is by no means a military museum.
Sure, there's the Enola Gay, remembered this month for the plane's role in delivering the atomic bomb to Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 6, 1945, and plenty of other warplanes. But that's just scratching the surface, because if there's an advantage to being in the fields of Chantilly, it's space. Lots of it. And Udvar-Hazy is filled to the brim.
Udvar-Hazy Center: Space Shuttle Discovery
(Photo by Todd Franson)
Balloon mania: Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
Stand within feet of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Study the belly from beneath an Air France Concorde, or climb to a higher perch and examine this unique plane from above. These are just a few of the heavy-hitters filling these enormous halls.
Do not, however, forget the interesting bits off to the side. Hugging the wall behind the Concorde, for example, just past the cup and saucer recovered from the Hindenburg, learn about ''Balloonmania,'' which reportedly had balloons taking over popular culture after a French balloon flight in 1783. Along with exhibits of balloon-inspired furniture, fabric and souvenirs, etc., Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying in France, ''All the conversation here at present turns on the balloons, and the means of managing them so as to give men the advantage of flying.''
Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
The Udvar-Hazy Center is a glorious confirmation that men – and women – indeed have managed the means of flying. So much so that this temple dedicated to human achievements in air and space need not feel like hallowed ground. The center is also up for some fun, with flight simulators, an observation deck – for peering on Virginia flatlands and Dulles in the distance – and the Airbus Imax Theater, offering beer and wine in all classes, along with both documentaries and blockbusters.
The Udvar-Hazy Center is located at 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, Va. The museum is open year round, except Christmas Day. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but parking is $15, free after 4 p.m. For more information, call 703-572-4118 or visit airandsapce.si.edu.
Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
...more
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
Depending on traffic, where you're coming from, and a few other variables, getting to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center can be a bit of a trek. But if you're in any way a fan of the Air and Space mother ship downtown on the National Mall, it's a trek worth taking. If you don't have a car, rent one. Take Metrobus to Dulles International and transfer to a Virginia Regional Transit Association bus for the short hop to the center. And how many museums offer directions to visit by air?
''Welcome Pilots!'' reads the Udvar-Hazy greeting. ''Fly your own plane into Washington Dulles International Airport, Leesburg Executive Airport, or other nearby fields.''
Seriously? Yes. This is a far-out complex – roughly 30 miles from downtown Washington – that takes everything related to flight very seriously. It's evident the moment a visitor pulls into the parking lot, where inscribed airfoils create the ''Wall of Honor,'' recognizing great names of aviation and space exploration, along with those who've helped make the center a reality.
Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
Of course, the real treats are inside.
Greeting visitors -- just past security and the elaborate gift shop -- is arguably the Udvar-Hazy showpiece, the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, featured as part of the Cold War Aviation exhibit. It's certainly got that testosterone edge that brings plenty to look at the amazing array of military planes. Like its downtown parent, however, this is by no means a military museum.
Sure, there's the Enola Gay, remembered this month for the plane's role in delivering the atomic bomb to Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 6, 1945, and plenty of other warplanes. But that's just scratching the surface, because if there's an advantage to being in the fields of Chantilly, it's space. Lots of it. And Udvar-Hazy is filled to the brim.
Udvar-Hazy Center: Space Shuttle Discovery
(Photo by Todd Franson)
Balloon mania: Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
Stand within feet of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Study the belly from beneath an Air France Concorde, or climb to a higher perch and examine this unique plane from above. These are just a few of the heavy-hitters filling these enormous halls.
Do not, however, forget the interesting bits off to the side. Hugging the wall behind the Concorde, for example, just past the cup and saucer recovered from the Hindenburg, learn about ''Balloonmania,'' which reportedly had balloons taking over popular culture after a French balloon flight in 1783. Along with exhibits of balloon-inspired furniture, fabric and souvenirs, etc., Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying in France, ''All the conversation here at present turns on the balloons, and the means of managing them so as to give men the advantage of flying.''
Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
The Udvar-Hazy Center is a glorious confirmation that men – and women – indeed have managed the means of flying. So much so that this temple dedicated to human achievements in air and space need not feel like hallowed ground. The center is also up for some fun, with flight simulators, an observation deck – for peering on Virginia flatlands and Dulles in the distance – and the Airbus Imax Theater, offering beer and wine in all classes, along with both documentaries and blockbusters.
The Udvar-Hazy Center is located at 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, Va. The museum is open year round, except Christmas Day. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but parking is $15, free after 4 p.m. For more information, call 703-572-4118 or visit airandsapce.si.edu.
Udvar-Hazy Center
(Photo by Todd Franson)
...more
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