Sharon Needles of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4

Something glamorous and twisted this way comes and her name is Sharon Needles. The Pittsburgh drag queen is one of thirteen contestants vying for the coveted title of America’s Next Drag Superstar on the fourth season of RuPaul’s “Drag Race.” See the deliciously dark queen and her peers on the 90-minute premiere Monday, January 30, at 9 p.m. on Logo. In the meantime, check out our exclusive interview with Sharon Needles.

Fenuxe: Why did you audition for Drag Race?
Sharon: I auditioned because every drag queen in the world apparently wants to be on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and I want a piece of the action, too.

Fenuxe: What did you like most about being on the show?
Sharon: Making life-long friendships with a lot of the girls. I didn’t expect to make such good friends. It’s a competition and you put yourself first but it really wasn’t that way. I genuinely cared about everyone in the competition.

Fenuxe: Who is your favorite drag queen from a previous Drag Race season?
Sharon: Anyone who has ever walked that runway is my favorite drag queen. I love the commercial beauty of Raven. I love the awkwardness of Tammy Brown. I love the comedy of Mimi Imfurst. I love them all. Anyone who has ever walked that runway I’m the biggest fan of.

Fenuxe: How did you get into drag?
Sharon: I don’t know. I don’t remember. It was so long ago. I grew up on a farm in Iowa in the middle of nowhere, and I was pretty much raised by a television. I was always obsessed with beauty pageants and femininity with people like Elvira and Peggy Bundy. The Halloween box in my house was never put away. I always liked the manipulation of beauty. I started performing when I was really young in the basement of a Des Moines nightclub. I guess I’ve always been in drag.

Fenuxe: How would you describe your look and persona?
Sharon: Sexy, bitchy, scary and approachable. A lot of people call me “goth.” I knew I had an opportunity with RuPaul’s Drag Race to be a remembered entertainer. Some of the girls who have had this opportunity on the show in the past didn’t take their branding very seriously. I wouldn’t call myself a “goth”; I’d call myself a genius for creating a character and sticking to it and never breaking it.

Fenuxe: Do you have acting experience?
Sharon: No. Just being a compulsive liar. And a drama queen.

Fenuxe: Where do you perform?
Sharon: I perform in Pittsburg mostly. I have a show bar called Blue Moon which I absolutely love because I get away with murder. It’s a cast of queens that have been kicked out of every other drag bar in the city. So we’re just a family of misfits that love making a mess and making people laugh. I also do a monthly show at the Brillobox, which is a straight bar. But they love our antics, and we have a really good time there.

Fenuxe: What do you do when you’re not doing drag?
Sharon: I’m usually thinking about drag in a dive bar with a shot of well whiskey. It’s after 5 somewhere, right?

Fenuxe: What’s next for you?
Sharon: Next for Sharon Needles, that is the question. As of now I woke up hung over, and I’m about to take off last night’s face and spackle on another one for a photo shoot. But for the long run I don’t know. I basically want to base my career on Elvira’s career. I want to be relevant forever and never change my clothes.

In fact, last year the veteran dancer portrayed a high school student in the locally filmed “Footloose.” With a flash of his genial smile he said, “I’m 48.”

Maybe all the dancing kept him young or maybe it’s simply amazing genes. Possibly it was all his close contact with Cher. He first met the ageless gay icon while auditioning for her music video “I Found Someone.”

“I danced my ass off, and that night I got a call from the choreographer’s assistant who said, ‘Cher wants you at her house tomorrow.”

The next day he was dirty dancing with the diva in her wicker-covered kitchen. After that rehearsal he filmed the video and spent nearly 20 years on tour with her.

“I grew up on stage with Cher,” he said. “That was a good long run. She took me around the world.”

Before Cher, he danced on the final season of the TV series “Fame,” which was one of his goals when he moved to LA in 1984. Shortly after relocating to the West Coast, Bubba landed a touring gig with another of his idols—Mitzi Gaynor. Eventually Bubba toured with Porno for Pyros and Jane’s Addiction, where the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle finally snagged him.

“I was a raging drunk on tour,” he said. “I was partying way too much. There were alcohol and drugs and debauchery everywhere. That’s just the way you went about your business. It really was an alternate universe. You’re kind of like in this bubble that moves from city to city.”

Many gigs and years later, Bubba—now eight years sober—continues building his impressive resume. He will be seen dancing on the film “Rock of Ages,” starring Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin and Mary J. Blige. It is tentatively set for release in June 2012. Recently he choreographed three numbers in the show “27” at Atlanta’s Fabrefaction Theater. The show was based on the music of Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse, who all died at age 27. He is currently in talks to choreograph a Broadway show in China this year.

Yet with all his success, Bubba has found himself in a unique position.

“I just started my first normal job, which is weird,” he said. “I’m working as a receptionist at a hair salon. I’ve never had a job outside of dance.”

About a year ago he quit as artistic director of Dance 101 off Briarcliff Road. The job required more than he was willing to offer, although he continues to teach a class there.
“It was a tough choice,” he said. “It was a great salary but I’d have to give up me and my creativity and freelancing. I want to get back to why I danced in the first place. I never danced to make money. Dance made me a lot of money but I never wanted to do it to make money. However, I found myself dancing to make money. It kind of chipped away at the passion aspect of it.”

That passion arose at the age of 10 after his sister started taking acrobatics. Her backbends and cartwheels piqued his interest, and Bubba soon enrolled in a dance class in a strip mall in Daleville, Alabama.

“I was the only boy in the studio so I got my classes for free.”

He soaked up various forms of dance, all while studying karate. Like many gay boys growing up in the Deep South, Bubba attracted slurs like “sissy” and “fag,” but he always brushed them off.

“I was taking karate so I knew if you got too close I could kick your ass and then run away,” he said.

When it came to his family, Bubba did not want for acceptance and support.

“My parents were incredible,” he said. “They loved me. They’d go to dance recitals and then go to karate tournaments. They never expected me to do whatever everyone else did. Maybe that’s what made it OK for me to be different and not do what the other boys were doing.”

His family brought Bubba to Atlanta. He originally moved here from LA in 2004 to have easier access to them. He ping ponged back and forth over the years between gigs and tours and finally settled here around 2007 when he accepted the Dance 101 job.

Maybe “settled” isn’t the right word. Bubba remains torn between the city near his Alabama relatives and the city full of connections. Long-time friends within LA’s dance community continue to ask Bubba why he stays in Atlanta when his family would only be a flight away if he moved.

“I still ponder that every day,” he admitted. “I want to make sure that if I move it’s for the right reasons. I like the low-key aspect of living in Atlanta. But if I’m going to be here I need to transition into another career.”
While Atlanta offers some gigs, it doesn’t quite provide the same dance opportunities as LA. If Bubba remains here, he must choose a career path away from dance. One thing is clear: he wants to dance for the love it. Dancing to pay bills doesn’t appeal to him, which poses an internal conflict.

“I’m in idle position right now,” he said. “For right now I’m here. I do want to figure out what I’m going to do for the rest of my life. I don’t necessarily want it to be dance. Although, I’ll always dance. I have a vision of me croaking on stage. If I did a leap and croaked in midair and dropped, I wouldn’t mind that.”

Until then, the handsome man with tattoos and kind eyes answers phones at a Buckhead salon. He spends too much time at the Ansley Starbucks, eats a lot of sushi and enjoys going to the movies. But mostly he thinks about dance.

I’m so glad everyone has been so supportive. One of my friends shared two great tips with me I’ve been using with great success. First is to drink two full glasses of water before every meal. Second is to drink a protein shake within an hour of working out. Since the beginning of January, I’ve lost 10 pounds.

I must admit, it is so inspiring to see what Jennifer Hudson has accomplished. I realize she is a celebrity with access to anything she needs, but when it comes down to it, she has to do the work and make the decision to eat healthy and work out. I can’t wait to debut my new body. I’ll keep you all posted on my progress.

I’m also really excited to announce on Saturday, March 3, actress Ann Walker, who played Lavonda Dupree from the movie and LOGO TV series “Sordid Lives,” will be emceeing “One Sordid Night,” a benefit for Jerusalem House at the Jungle Night Club from 6 to 10 p.m. Purchase your tickets at www.onesordidnight.eventbrite.com. Several of Atlanta’s most talented entertainers will be performing, including Gunza Blazin, Erica Lee, Monica Mitchels, Regina Cartier, moi and others. I hope you’ll come out to support Jerusalem House.

Finally, I received some emails regarding my column on forgiveness, and I want to elaborate just a bit. One reader asked, “Do you let people who you forgive back in your life?” My answer is it’s up to you. Just keep in mind while you forgive the person, you don’t forget. That is to say don’t put yourself in the same situation with that person to get hurt again. Remember, “Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different.” Forgiveness lets us move forward without carrying the baggage of the past. Thank you for the emails.

Love and lashes,

Mary Edith Pitts

After years of heating up various Atlanta dance floors, DJay McCracken will pack up his music and head for the West Coast. Before he leaves on February 1, he will spin one last time as an official Atlantan for his farewell party “ATL to LAX First Class” at the Jungle on Friday, January 27, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. DJ Vicki Powell and DJ Mike Pope will also spin. Partial proceeds from the $5 cover will benefit MISTER and GO Atlanta.

DJay McCracken took a few moments to speak with Fenuxe about his career in Atlanta and his swiftly approaching move to Los Angeles

Fenuxe: Why are you leaving?
McCracken: I feel like I need to explore and see what else the world has to offer. A change of pace would be kind of nice.

Fenuxe: What will you be doing?
McCracken: I’m basically moving my company to the West Coast and expanding. So Spiked Entertainment will be on both sides of the US. From there I’ll attempt to go to New York and Chicago and keep on with it.

Fenuxe: What will you miss most about Atlanta?
McCracken: The people. I’ll miss everybody. Everyone is really great here. It’s hard to leave, but I feel like it’s the best thing for me to do as far as progression is concerned.

Fenuxe: Where are you originally from and what brought you to Atlanta?
McCracken: I was born in Winter Park, Florida, but have been in Georgia spontaneously since the age of 3.  While living on the outskirts of the city the majority of my life, my career was only going so far. So by the time I had hit 20, I knew it was time for me to move on to bigger and better things.

Fenuxe: How did you became a DJ and what attracted you to that career?
McCracken: It all began with a Chemical Brothers cd “Brothers Gonna Work it Out” a friend had given me. I was only 11 years old but I immediately fell in love with the unique five-track, hour-long cd. Growing up in my teens I played guitar, wrote music and had jam sessions with friends on a regular basis. At that time it was all mostly rock music, but I certainly had my Paul Oakenfold “Tranceport” and Sasha & Digweed “Global Underground” jams to keep going. By the time I hit 16 I was obsessed with drum and bass artists like AK1200 and Dieselboy. Other artists like Keoki were a part of the mix as well, while his “Keoki Klash” CD is still one of my all-time favorites. While working at various restaurants and bars I would always push the limits of my efforts and eventually ended up providing set music playlists for venues such as BED Atlanta and Noir Lounge. From there came the WETbar days where I went from bartender in the VIP lounge to house promoter for VIP Thursdays. On the night of my 24th birthday, which happened to land on a Thursday, I had my first full-on DJ experience with friend and Blake’s resident DJ, Bill Berdeaux.

It’s so funny to me how life gives you what you need when you need it. For some time now I’ve heard the saying “Forgiveness is for yourself more than the other person.” Intellectually, I understood this and even lauded the statement to my friends. I understood that as long as we hold on to the pain or disappointment of our past, we are the only ones we hurt. It’s like we’re stuck! Yet understanding this and putting it into practice are two totally different things.

A few weeks ago, As I was headed off to bed I watched an On Demand show that has profoundly changed the way I think. As a result of watching that program, a huge weight has been lifted. I heard “forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different.”

Sounds pretty simple but I spent some real time thinking about it. In that simple statement was the realization that I cannot change the past and as long as I keep reliving it, I will remain stuck. I also realized I had not truly forgiven past and was still carrying the baggage. Furthermore, as long as I chose to carry that baggage I would never be fully engaged in the present and be my best.

I went to sleep with all of this on my mind and when I woke up the next day, I felt so much better but continued to mull it over. I took a quick assessment and realized there’s not a person out there who has hurt me that I can’t forgive. Instantly, it felt like a huge weight was lifted. For the first time in my adult life, I felt free from the past. I kind of got mad at myself for taking so long to realize such an elementary concept. It’s scary to think this wielded so much control in my life. But sometimes you just get it when you get it.

My wish for the New Year is that we all forgive the past and live our best lives now. I love you all and look forward to an incredible New Year!

Love and lashes,

Mary Edith Pitts

Please send your questions or feedback to maryedith99@gmail.com.

Predictions of the world ending in 2012 may or may not prove true. Only time will tell. Whether or not you spend the year in style, however, is entirely up to you.

He may not be able to foresee Doomsday, but celebrity wedding and event planner David Tutera does have his own forecast of what to expect from parties and fashion in 2012. After all, the snappy dresser is the star of “My Fair Wedding” on WE tv, has penned numerous event planning books and has styled events for countless celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Elton John, Barbara Walters and Kenneth Cole.

Fenuxe recently snagged some precious time with David at the Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead to get his thoughts on upcoming style trends.

David advised hosts to keep it simple and not go over the top. He also said to avoid having so many guests that you can’t enjoy them and your guests can’t enjoy themselves. He said he expects hosts to embrace the feeling of home and keeping their events more about the heart rather than the drama.

As far as colors go, David suggested anything but simple.

“I’m so over seeing white sofas and all this loungy, sleek white and silver,” he said. “I did that 10-12 years ago. Please, everybody, let it go. My prediction is that we’ll embrace red, burgundy, and copper. We’re going to see deep, rich tones of bold, dramatic colors.”

When it comes to formal menswear, David likes to stick with the 1950s-1960s-inspired look and a classic tuxedo jacket. He said he loves a simple, white or color handkerchief. Ties should match your shirt color-wise, and don’t be afraid to play with prints on ties.

And what about the shirt?

“I try to get guys to not wear traditional tuxedo shirts,” he said. “I think Robert Graham has great ways of taking boring, basic men’s clothing and making it sexy and chic and very unique.”

David also encouraged men to embrace jewelry and accessories.

“Men have very few opportunities to make fashion statements,” said David, who suggested to play around with stylish shoes, watches and glasses. “Tom Ford is a perfect example. How he dresses—perfect.”

Now for what David does best: planning parties.

“The pace of a party is important,” he said. “I know from going to other people’s home parties that everyone tends to over-plan and over-execute and then when they get to the start of the party they bail out on the execution. The host has a couple of drinks, and they wind up becoming a guest.”

A successful event requires a certain flow, and regardless of the number of guests, there should be a beginning, middle and end to your party.

“You can’t have all the food out at the beginning,” David said. “You can’t have all the same drinks being served. It has to change.”

David suggested serving a variety of specialty cocktails at different times throughout the evening. Maybe change the ambience or serve each course of the meal in different parts of the house.

“That keeps the party unique and memorable.”

David said one way he adds a twists to a wedding (or a party) is to change the formula.

“The cake gets cut at the beginning of the night,” he said as one example. “Sometimes it’s fun to have the dessert served at the beginning and not the end. Have unexpected ways of letting guests be aware this is not a typical party.”

Q&A With David Tutera

Fenuxe: How did “My Fair Wedding with David Tutera” get its start?
David: I had done television on the Discovery Channel for one season and I swore to myself I’d never do television again. It’s a brutal business. The network came to me with this concept, and I did not take the phone call the first time. The second time I had my publicist take it; the third time I didn’t want to go for the meeting. The fourth time went to their office. “I went in, they pitched me the concept, I loved it and here we are.”

Fenuxe: What is your favorite part of doing the show?
David: My favorite part is stepping into these people’s lives that truly need help. I’ve been doing this for 25 years and the time leading up to this I’ve always worked for people who have astronomical amounts of money to host big celebrations. These are people [on the show] who truly don’t have any money that need help. They are kind, caring people. I love the fact that we can step into their lives and change their lives and make their dreams come true. It’s a breath of fresh air for me. Think about how much positive programming there is—not a lot. We are one that is positive programming and entertaining and doing well.

Fenuxe: When did you know you wanted to be an event planner?
David: I drove my family crazy. We talk about this all the time. I was the kid that when [my parents] would go out I would rearrange the house; I’d paint a room; I’d start baking. During the summer I’d go outside and dig up the shrubs and move them somewhere else around the house. I would redo everything. So when my parents came home they never knew what they’d come home to. But the funny thing is they’d like it. My dad tells this story every Christmas. My mom and dad went out and got this Christmas tree. One night they came back and I had taken the tree down, went out and bought a tree that was twice as big. I took the tree that they bought and put it in the basement and put the big tree up in the living room. [Also] I always got involved with my mom on decorating for our birthday parties. We don’t come from a lot of money at all. Every year my mom would do these themed birthday parties. So she’d go out and buy the table cloth, and the napkins, and the wallpaper, streamers, piñatas, whatever it was, and I started getting really interested in doing it. I would help her every year with my sisters’ birthday parties.

Fenuxe: When did you get your big break?
David: I started my business in 1986. I’d say probably 1994-1995 I got a call from Prince Charles’ office at the royal palace in London. I thought it was a joke. They called me to do a party for Prince Charles and Nancy Reagan in Bel Air. The phone call after that was from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to do the official Grammy party. It started trickling in.

Fenuxe: If you could plan the wedding of any celebrity (living or dead) who would it be?
David: I would freak to do Cher’s wedding. I will meet and be best friends with Lady Gaga, and I will do her wedding. I’m obsessed with that woman. Obsessed. Literally, I’ve never been obsessed with a celebrity before except her. I wish I could have done Grace Kelly’s wedding. I’m too young but that would have been a good one. I’m on a mission to do Gaga.

Fenuxe: What type of wedding would you plan for Gaga?
David: I would have to compose myself first. What I would do for her is what everyone would expect her not to have. She’s so out there that I think her wedding would be true—because I’m Italian and she’s Italian—mainstream, very classic, very traditional wedding with a little twist to it. I think everyone is expecting her to do something at some point, something so over the top ridiculous. I don’t think she’ll do that.

Fenuxe: How do you add your own twist to a wedding?
David: I change the formula. The cake gets cut at the beginning of the night and not the end of the night. Sometimes it’s fun to have the dessert served at the beginning and not the end. People are like “what’s going on?” Having unexpected ways of letting guests be aware this is not a typical party. Recently, I gave advice to Sharon Osbourne who was planning a dinner party. I was explaining that in the middle of the table you have designed into your centerpiece questions that are designed for the people sitting at that table; it strikes up some interesting conversation. It’s a way to be an icebreaker and add energy to what sometimes can be a boring dinner party.

Fenuxe: Did you ever have something go terribly wrong? How did you fix it?
David: I had a wedding where the bride’s ex-boyfriend showed up bombed off his butt at an extremely high-end black tie event on the beach. I called the cops and had him removed in handcuffs because he was uninvited and extremely drunk. The bride and groom never knew about it. I did a wedding where the older sister of the bride was the maid of honor and she was very drunk and wasted on something. She became belligerent and I had her walk outside on the street with me in New York, I hailed a cab and I put her in the cab with her friend and sent her on her way. The bride never knew about it. You can’t think too much. You have to react. You have to make it happen. Years ago I had the biggest wedding I’d ever done in my career at that point, which was 20 years ago. I had a centerpiece fall, the candles fell, the table centerpiece ignited and the linen caught on fire the minute before the doors opened at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. So I, like a magician, yanked everything off the table, got a waiter, set the whole table back up and had this beautiful haze of smoke filling the room. It looked like it was an effect. I had two choices: scream and cry and run or fix it. I fixed it.

Singer-songwriter and rapper Colette Carr recently spoke with Fenuxe about her career and what makes her tick. The soon-to-be 21-year-old (as of January 6) is part of the Cherry Tree Pop Alternative Tour, which finished its Canadian tour in December and travels to Europe in March. Other artists in the tour include Far East Movement, LMFAO, Frankmusik, Natalia Kills, Rye Rye and Kay.

FENUXE: Since it’s your first tour, what are you looking forward to the most? What are you most nervous about?

COLETTE: Well, the shower situation is probably what I am most nervous about and the laundry situation. So basically everyone is going to smell really bad, but I’m bringing lots and lots of perfume. It’s going to be like the Brady Bunch, but if the Brady Bunch were a bunch of Cherry Tree artists.

FENUXE: What are you going to be performing—new material from the album?

COLETTE: Yes! It’s funny, because I have new fans and old fans, so they have all discovered my music at different times. So some people still think the old stuff like “Back it Up” is new, and I’m like, “It’s like three years old.”

FENUXE: You know you have to get used to that. Britney Spears must still perform “Baby One More Time” on every tour!

COLETTE: I know. I haven’t really decided for the European leg of the tour what I am going to sing, because I get a lot more time. But for this tour I want to come out with a bang and leave with a bang. I’m going to be doing “f16,” “No ID,” “Go Ape” with Far East Movement and “Shots” with LMFAO.

FENUXE: Are you going to release “f16” anytime soon as a single?

COLETTE: You wish! I don’t have dates and stuff like that. You know what I mean? I like to keep it spontaneous. If people are anticipating too much it takes the fun out of it.

FENUXE: Well that’s a good thing, but we fans are anxiously waiting for it!

COLETTE: That’s good! That’s what I want! It’s exciting isn’t it? It’s like when you don’t know when a boy’s going to call you back and it drives you nuts!

FENUXE: Speaking of men and relationships, do you have a boyfriend right now?

COLETTE: Ew, no! No, I have no time for it; no time for it at all. Nope!

FENUXE: Who did you work with on your upcoming album?

COLETTE: I worked with Cherry Cherry Boom Boom, Space Cowboy, Frankmusik, and I’ve worked with so many people

FENUXE: I want to back up a little bit, tell us your claim to fame story.

COLETTE: It started at the Game concert. My sister and I found out about it, because one of the Game’s bouncers was hitting on my sister’s friend, and he told us to come to this secret show that he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about. We got there and realized it was way too hard to get in; it was a super closed event. So we figured it out and a guy at the gate slid some tickets our way and told us not to tell anyone. The Game was late, so the host asked if anyone could rap. I knew I could rap, and my sister pushed me up on stage. When the time came, I spit my flow and then, in that moment, seeing everyone’s reaction, being on stage and being louder than everyone and being able to say whatever I wanted to say, I was like, “OK, this is what I want to do.”

FENUXE: Wow, that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience! So, what would you say makes you different as an artist?

COLETTE: To be able to spit naturally is what sets me apart from some girls who do it now because it’s trendy or whatever. It’s just me. It’s exactly who I am, and I’m not trying to be anyone I’m not. I keep it real, and I tell it how it is and I do that in hopefully a fun and very creative way. I’m different than the others because I don’t have the perfect, sweet little girl voice. I have a deeper voice, and I sing with my heart and I rap like 20 times the speed that these bitches can go.

FENUXE: Do you have a large gay following?

COLETTE: I honestly think it’s so weird getting asked these kinds of questions, because everyone is a human being who deserves to be treated equally. I don’t really see any type of segregation whatsoever. I was raised to see everyone as equal, so I don’t get why there has to be a difference. I am supportive of love in any way. We should celebrate love and do it “Primo.” Life is too short.

FENUXE: Whats your quote to live by?

COLETTE: I believe in “Don’t die wondering,” “Live every day to the fullest” and “Don’t hold yourself back.” We all have incredible potential; we just need to reach for it.

FENUXE: What is your guilty pleasure?

COLETTE: Mint chip ice cream in the rain

FENUXE: Who is your celebrity crush?

COLETTE: J-Splif from Far East Movement

FENUXE: What is the best joke you have ever heard?

COLETTE: Snooki

It’s really hard to believe another year has come and gone. Every two weeks we’ve brought you the latest trends, fashions, gay-friendly destinations and entertainment coverage and had a ball doing it! It’s been a jam-packed year for Fenuxe and what a ride it’s been. I thought I would take a moment to share with you our highlights, both good and bad.

THE FUN

We started the year with an event benefitting charity with our first Best Bachelor’s Party and Auction. Last February the community voted via fenuxe.com for the top ten most eligible bachelors, who we then auctioned for a sweet date package. The best part of all is the proceeds benefited one of the most deserving non-profits in the city – AID Atlanta. Through a combination of the Bachelor Auction and the Bachelor AIDS Walk team, more than $15,000 was raised in donations! In 2012 we look forward to completely blowing that number out of the water.

Later, in April of last year, we rocked Atlanta with our annual Fire Party, complete with fire breathers, dancers and all those sexy ROKK Vikings! In all, 748 people turned up the heat at The Bill Lowe Gallery, creating quite a challenge for the air conditioning, but, nonetheless, it was a great way to kick off the warmer months.
Just this past November we held our second annual Ice Party, which gave us the distinct privilege of honoring those individuals who work tirelessly for our community–the 2011 Fenuxe 50. Five-thousand pounds of sculpted ice created a delightfully frozen world set against a 360 degree view of Atlanta’s sparkling skyline. The night was truly magical!

THE REALITY

I’ve enjoyed working in my community, working for my community and getting to know our community on a much deeper and intimate level. I also look forward to serving our community for many more years in new and exciting ways. There are some truly amazing individuals and some incredible progress being made behind the scenes. However, at the same time, I can’t help but notice some of the in-fighting, pessimism, complacency and back stabbing that also takes place. What would happen if we stood together in 2012 instead of fighting amongst ourselves?

Have you ever taken a moment and noticed the intricacies of the world around us? Our solar system is composed of huge shapes swirling around imaginary planetary routes. Sometimes I marvel at their beauty but at the same time I can’t help but look deep within our own world at the staggering array of fauna and creatures. I then look even deeper into the micro-world of organisms and bacteria surrounding our every move. It’s fascinating to find all these components working cohesively from the largest to the very smallest and all in-between, and it’s beautiful.

Think about our community in this same sense: A world that is composed of many different parts, many different people, many different beliefs and opinions, and many differing ways of life, but we are still one community. It is important that we all keep working together as a community. If the system breaks down we can’t have progress.

Take bullying for instance, one of the hot button issues of today. This sensational topic has created such a frenzy within our community we are now arguing with each other over which way to best handle this issue. Bullying is a horrible situation that must be dealt with, but let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture: our equal and human rights.

One clear example of self destruction comes from a local chicken house. We should not be forced to live in a world where a corporation like Chick-fil-a can spew hate against our community and still make record profits. This company does not have our community’s best interest in mind. Chick-fil-A, as tempting as the Polynesian sauce may be, should not be able to enjoy our hard-earned dollars. If we are serious about our rights when these type of issues come to light, we should be much more aggressive as a community in either changing their behavior or completely boycotting their services. I’ve heard some of my peers tell me they just cannot help themselves and make the choice to eat there. If you make the choice to spend your money with companies who do not support you then you also missed an opportunity to spend money with companies who support you. These businesses need our dollars to continue giving support. 2011, unfortunately, marks a year in which we have seen gay staples of our community being forced to close up shop. This shouldn’t happen, not while Chick-fil-A sells billions of dollars worth of unhealthy chicken.

THE FUTURE

New young blood is needed in our community. We see it all around us, the same ideas and minds we’ve had for years behind our largest non-profits, like The Atlanta Pride Committee. It is time for the younger generation to start to take responsibility for the freedoms, privileges and conveniences we have within our community. I encourage every single person younger than 25 to get involved on some scale with their favorite non-profit organization. Great things happen when everyone chimes in.

So what will you change in 2012? What will you do to make our community stronger? Fenuxe is excited to make an even more determined effort in 2012 to publicize the amazing accomplishments of our community. Our newest member of the Fenuxe Family is associate writer Shannon Jenkins, who has made it his personal goal next year to tell more of your stories! We want to hear those stories. We want to hear your reactions. We want to know about your own obstacles and where you’re headed. Are you planning a wedding or starting a family? Creating a new business or passing a milestone? Let us know.

I want to personally thank you, our loyal readers, for all of your support, for your time and for everything you do for our community. Let’s have an amazing 2012 together!

Tyler Calkins, Publisher

Dino: Palmer, how long have you been in business?

Palmer: 22 years as of November 01, 2011. We opened in 1989.

Dino: Have you always served food?

Palmer: Since the beginning, we use to have a successful buffet on Fridays.

Dino: What are some of your personal favorites on the menu?

Palmer: The Ribeye Steak is only $7.75 and it comes with a vegetable and choice of french fries, taters, mashed potatoes with gravy or baked potato while they last. Another fantastic choice for dinner is the seafood. I highly suggest the Seafood platter; it has shrimp, scallops, and fillet of grouper served sautéed, fried or broiled and it is only $11.75.

Dino: The prices on your menu are amazing! How do you do it?

Palmer: It is important for us to provide our clients an affordable and delicious meal. Our kitchen breaks even at best but we don’t cut corners. Our beef is never frozen; we go to the market several times a week to buy fresh, high quality ingredients and we prepare our fried food using trans-fat-free canola oil. We have been serving the LGBT community for many years and they know though our kitchen is small we are waiting with a delicious meal and welcoming atmosphere.

Dino: What are your hours for food service?

Palmer: Monday through Thursday 4:30 pm – midnight. Friday, Saturday and Sunday 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm. We need to stop at 10pm because the staff can’t get through the crowd.

Dino: Do you offer specials?

Palmer: Definitely! We design the specials so that folks have the opportunity to taste something different. As an example, currently we have a sautéed grouper topped with crab meat on a bed of asparagus served with a salad for only $9.75. You can’t beat that!

Dino: Palmer & Mary, what is your secret to keeping so many loyal clients?

Palmer: We nurture a culture of politeness and consideration – We encourage everyone to be themselves and come hang with their friends. We also think the set up attracts people. We have a great patio, the pool room and a variety of bar areas upstairs and downstairs. There is something for everyone. We also have live entertainment on various nights.

I did have dinner and took Palmer’s advice on the Seafood Platter. It was delicious and filling and I still can’t believe the prices. The bartender/server couldn’t have been sweeter; the large flat screen TV was on a game show and everyone in the room was playing along. It was like being in your own living room with a bunch of friends except I didn’t have to do the dishes!