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queerVOICE
Shared Services Could Help Too
James Duggan
copyright 2009 |
Last week I wrote about how some of our nonprofits should consider merging with either compatible or complimentary nonprofits in order to achieve such benefits as an increased effect and outreach with fewer redundancies in service areas, and less competition for funds, while developing an organization with greater efficiency in order to achieve their common mission. The majority of comments submitted supported this supposition. However while the majority of the comments were very supportive of my wiliness to raise such a question, just as many where doubtful that such mergers will ever take place citing the conflict of ego and personalities as the biggest barrier.
It's true, none of us like to be told what to do . . . just ask my closest friends . . . and many of us take a profound sense of ownership of "their" organizations. We all know this to be true. Sometimes it's a good thing and other times it's bad, and we all know this to be true as well. We hear the stories; weather in Philly, Palm Springs, Worcester, or London the stories of egos and personalities are always the same. As hard as we try we'll never be free of the conflicts that egos and personalities always bring.
That being said I would like to add some additional thoughts to last week's topic of the merging of nonprofits. While I clearly support the merging of nonprofits I also believe that there are other options that nonprofits need to beginning looking at; primarily the mutual sharing of common services and expenses.
Like many of us, almost ever nonprofit is trying to stretch their dollars a little further this year. An effective way for some would be to develop partnerships with other nonprofits or organizations for the sole purpose sharing services like office space, staffing, supplies, etc.
While I believe there is a need for mergers and partnerships among our nonprofits I'm not opposed to the development of new non-profits or organizations, provided there is a clear and justifiable need. For example . . . there seems to be a large number of nonprofit arts groups in the city, each in a sense competing against each other. What if we had one nonprofit, for lack of a name . . . The Queer Arts Council . . . which brings together, under one roof, all the individual nonprofits? In this scenario everyone would keep their individual non-profit status, primarily for the purpose of grant proposals, while working together on a common mission to queer arts . . . by, for, or about queers.
"The Queer Arts Council" could act as a back office management group helping each organization by providing staff and leadership to assist each organization in archive their goals. This practice is common in for-profit organizations where companies often outsource services or develop strategic partnerships with other companies in order to reduce operating cost while developing stronger more resourceful organizations.
What ever action or direction our nonprofits take it will require both courage and determination by leaders who are willing to make the really hard decisions. This is a lesson I learned as a youth when I was taught that true leadership sacrifices personal needs and desires while seeking to perpetuate itself through the development of new leadership for the common good of the organization and its mission. Good luck to all the directors and board members of our nonprofits . . . may you have the strength and courage to continue the mission of your organization.
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What It Looks Like From Here
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2009 |
 I've always been seduced by the projected image, by the photograph, from the early and modest beginnings, with Philadelphia having a rich and experimental heritage, to the present day image makers capturing everything from the everyday to the whimsical.
Next month, Philadelphia photographers take over some of the turf that is usually relegated to the home of museums and galleries that have claimed the likes of native Memphian William Eggleston to native New Yorker Franceso Scavullo.
While New York City remains the undisputed art capitol of America despite any economic downturn, it's totally reassuring that there are, every so often, Philadelphia roots that can create a presence in the Big Apple.
Philadelphia native, transplanted New Yorker, Robin Rice is celebrating her city roots by presenting The Philly Salon, a group show featuring nine Philadelphia-based photographers including Andrea Modica, Eric Mencher, Jenny Lynn, Kass Mencher, Keith Sharp, Laurence Salzmann, Robin Rice, Ron Tarver and Ted Adams.
 Her Robin Rice Gallery, 325 West 11th Street, in Manhattan will host the opening night reception, 5:30-8:30 p.m., March 11, and running through April 26.
Who is this group of photographers and how are they connected? "Back in Philadelphia, these photographers have created a loosely knit group centered on an artists' salon held at the South Philly home gallery (also known as Southwark Gallery). Over the years, with its quirky themes, abundant food and drink and inspired curating, the salon has developed into something of a cult happening," said Ted Adams.
Most Philadelphians actually are familiar with works by many of the photographers participating in the group show even if the public doesn't necessarily know their names. For example, Eric Mencher's images have appear regularly in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Kass Mencher was formerly a regular contributor of images for the Philadelphia Gay News and Jenny Lynn just completed the photographic installation for the facade and the vestibule of The Independence Hotel in the heart of the city's Gayborhood, adjacent to Bump.
 Adams said that "Rice used the group as a starting point, and assembled a show that highlights photography's potential to create communities from diverse groups of people and ideas." Of the exhibition, each participating artist in the group show is exhibiting only two of their photographs. Adams said that the influences behind the works are as varied as the artists themselves, but it is Rice's aesthetic that imbues the show with a smooth visual consistency.
"Her [Rice's] instinctive eye for imagery, which skirts easy definition yet produces an emotionally laden atmosphere, is well-displayed," said Adams. Each photographer in the group show rings their own world view to the images that they have submitted capturing everything from the real to the surreal, from the natural to the dreamlike, from the hyper-real to the fantastic, from the everyday to the unusual.
For more information, call 212.366.6660; visit robinricegallery.com
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Thoms' Table
A Qt Exclusive
Thom Cardwell
Copyright 2009 |
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We've argued for a long time that Philadelphia has become a "dining destination" and that Philadelphians have developed a distinctive palate for fine food and joyous cuisines, way beyond their locally colorful culinary roots with pizza, Southern Italian food, Tastykake, pretzels, Philadelphia cream cheese and the city's signature Philly cheese steak!
Another sign of the times is that the City of Brotherly Love keeps going and going and going. This year, after two weeks of a very successful and exciting Center City Restaurant Week, there seems to be more and more food events of all kinds for those who love to dine out or pair a beverage with dishes. They can continue to attend all kinds of special food events all year long.
So, go ahead, enjoy the rest of February and all of March, eating your way through the winter!
Opening Tap
 The second-annual Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2009 will kickoff at 7 p.m., March 6, in the Comcast Center Lobby and Winter Garden, 17th S. and JFK Blvd., Philadelphia, with the Opening Tap, a celebration honoring over 30 regional breweries whose beer help make Philadelphia "the best beer-drinking city in America."
The region's beer lovers will congregate at the Opening Tap to mark the beginning of PBW with a ceremonial 'first tap' using the official PBW Keg Mallet, followed by a strolling beer tasting and a festive awards ceremony. "The Opening Tap is a one-of-a-kind event featuring our local breweries and their beers, as well as the men and women who create them," said Don Russell, who with Tom Peters and Bruce Nichols, are the founders of PBW.
Participating breweries for the Opening Tap include: Appalachian Brewing, Barley Creek Brewing Company, Brew Works, Dock Street, Dogfish Head, Earth + Bread, Erie Brewing Company, Flying Fish, General Lafayette, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Lancaster Brewing Company, Legacy, Lion, Manayunk Brewpub, McKenzie's, Nodding Head, Penn Brewery, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Porterhouse, Reading Brewing Company, Riverhorse, Rock Bottom, Roy Pitz, Sly Fox, Triumph, Stewart's, Stoudts, Troegs, Twin Lakes, Victory, Weyerbacher, Yards and Yuengling.
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online or pay $50 at the door.
The big event, PBW will feature more than 50 of the biggest names in the brewing industry with more than 400 events, March 6-15, at what is truly becoming the "nation's largest beer event of the year."
Hotel packages, including accommodations, public transportation and other incentives are available at The Philadelphia Radisson and Philadelphia Park-Hyatt at the Bellevue online here.
For more information, visit phillybeerweek.org
Foodies rejoice!
 There's a Restaurant Crawl at four restaurants in the charming town of Collingswood, New Jersey, on February 22, with a prix fixe, four course special dinner (in a dry town) for an all-inclusive price of $72 per person, including bus transportation to each restaurant, tax and gratuity.
The progressive dinner will be served at Blackbird, The Tortilla Press, The Pop Shop and Bistro di Marino with a choice of seatings, beginning at 4:30 p.m., ending around 7 p.m., and 6 p.m., ending around, 9 p.m.
For more information, or to make reservations, please call 856.979.3333.
Chocoholics and wine lovers unite!
 Winery proprietors Eric and Lee Miller have teamed with master chocolatier Christopher Curtin of Éclat Chocolates to create a series of pairing events at Chaddsford Winery, 632 Baltimore Pike, at 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00 p.m., at just $25 per person, including the gift of a souvenir tasting glass of your very own, February 21, 22 and 28.
"Wine and chocolate are natural partners, because of the richness and complexity of flavors that each brings to the table," says Eric Miller. Fourteen year veteran Master Chocolatier Curtin is behind Philadelphia magazine's "Best Chocolate, 2008," Éclat Chocolate.
For information, call (610) 388-6221; visit
chaddsford.com
Foodies Get Chef's Tasting
 Philadelphia Magazine will present the ninth annual Philly Cooks Chef Week, February 23-27, by offering diners two different options this year at some of the leading restaurants with many of the city's most celebrated chefs.
Diners can indulge with a "Chef's Tasting" for a $75 prix fixe menu for two where you choose the restaurant, the chef chooses the meal or at "Chef's Tables" where area foodies can share a meal at a group table, designed and prepared by one of the city's award-winning chefs with proceeds benefiting Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House.
Sponsors will include: Mercedes-Benz, Gallo Family, Da Vinci, Frei Brothers, Bancho Zabaco, The Restaurant School and 95.7BEN FM.
For information, visit phillymag/phillycooks
More Beer Here!
 Beer lovers really might have more fun these days with all the events cropping up that pair food with brew. The fifth annual Brewer's Plate 2009, a gourmet food and craft beer showcase that explores the possibilities of pairing 25 great local dishes with world-class local beers, will return to Penn Museum, 3260 South St., University City, Philadelphia, for one day only on March 8.
Organizers promise that despite the economy, the event will be even bigger and better than previous years at this always sold-our in advance food-and-brew fabulous feast!
Sponsors will include: Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, CityPaper, Event Navigators, Victory Brewing Company, Di Bruno Bros., MugShots, Fair Food, Imbibe and the Echo Group.
For more information, visit thebrewersplate.org
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Thom's Featured Arts Event
copyright 2009 |
A Conversation with Stephen Sondheim
Saturday, February 21 @ 8 p.m.
Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
I'm sorry but I have to say it! Drama queens--it's definitely your night out in Philadelphia!
Our own city's dynamic, premier cultural center, Kimmel Center, is offering a truly once-in-a-lifetime evening with Frank Rich, former chief theater critic and current columnist for the New York Times, in a conversation with legendary award-winning composer and lyricist for stage and screen Stephen Sondheim about his "Life in the Theater," 8 p.m., February 21.
And one helluva impressive lifetime career it has been. Like let's simply list the titles of his highly acclaimed shows, (not in chronological order) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, West Side Story, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeny Todd, Company, Assassins, Follies, Pacific Overtures and Merrily We Roll Along, the latter two to some "his failed masterpieces" if there really is such a thing.
Described by many as "the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theatre," Sondheim is no stranger to critical accolades and awards of all kinds, from an Academy Award, more Tony Awards (seven, more than any other composer), Grammy Awards, and also the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
Sondheim himself admits that he was truly destined to his vocation, due to his genuine passion in composing music for the stage.
He fondly remembers at the early age of nine, he saw a production of "Very Warm for May," his first Broadway show. "The curtain went up and revealed a piano," Sondheim recalled. "A butler took a duster and brushed it up, tinkling the keys. I thought that was thrilling." He was hooked from that moment on. But the very next year, his father abandoned the family and his parents' marriage quickly ended in divorce.
In a fairy tale-like twist of fate, Sondheim became friends with Jimmy Hammerstein, son of the well-known lyricist and playwright, the world-famous Oscar Hammerstein II, who ended up acting as both a surrogate father as well as mentor to the young, eager and talented future composer and lyricist. From there, the rest is history as they say, cliché though it might be, never truer than in the case of the legendary Sondheim.
Of course, there's much more to tell but that's why you'll want to be, like me, sitting on the edge of your seat, listening to this fascinating artist who has given us so many wonderful songs. What a perfect way to spend the evening before the Oscars!
For more information, visit kimmelcenter.org
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What They Said:
copyrighted 2009 |
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 Drag diva RuPaul has a lot to talk about on her/his favorite topic, RuPaul. Are you surprised? I wouldn't think so! In her entertaining and totally readable autobiography, warts and all, "Letting It All Hang Out," (Hyperion, 1995) RuPaul summarizes the art of drag to being a drag performer. She writes, "Drag for me is showtime. That's entertainment! I don't go shopping in a bra and panties, and I don't vacuum the apartment in high heels. So when I go to work, it's no different from a businessman wearing his three-piece suit on Wall Street. I'm like a nurse, a fireman, or a cop on the beat--they all wear their uniforms to work, and I'm no different. And, like all professionals, I love my uniform. After all, whether we are at work or at play, we are all wearing masks and playing roles all the time. Like I've always said, 'You're born naked and the rest is drag.'"
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 Queer beat Allen Ginesberg, the best-known American poet of the postwar generation, mother of the Beats, and walking embodiment of Western counterculture, definitely had a "thing" for the sexy, handsome and legendary Neal Cassady. In "Screaming with Joy: The Life of Allen Ginesberg," (Broadway Books, 1999) biographer Graham Caveney recalls the passionate, genuine and intense two-month affair between the homosexual Ginesberg and the heterosexual Cassady. "[Jack] Kerouac was quick to sense the potential affinity of Ginesberg to his new friend, and introduced the two men early in 1946. Again, he records their meeting in 'On the Road': 'Two keen minds that they are, they took to each other at the drop of a hat. Two piercing eyes glancing into two piercing eyes--the holy conman with the shining mind, and the sorrowful poetic conman with the dark mind . . . Their energies met head-on. I was a lout compared; I couldn't keep up with them.'"
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 Diana Vreeland was definitely, as we all agree, one of a kind. In her autobiography, simply titled, DV. (Alfred A. Knopf, 1984), of course, a fashion icon like Vreeland knew that her initials, her "monogram," was more than enough and everybody who was anybody (as that big lesbian Gertrude Stein taught us, would know that those two letters of the alphabet, "D" and "V" could and would only stand for her! This snippet of her writing, her retelling of moments in her life, both large and small, public and intimate, reveal herself, in her own unique voice, without sentiment or melancholy or moodiness (things that she fervently disavowed): "Someone once told me that Pavlova learned 'The Dying Swan' from watching a swan die in Southampton. I've since learned that Pavlova came to the United States after the choreography of 'The Dying Swan'. But it's a nice story, and I could very well believe it. I spent so many years of my life on that Southampton beach in the marvelous summer air. Every rainy day, when I couldn't be on the beach, I'd walk around the lake, where I used to watch the swans by the hour. The beauty of those swans! Of course, they're angry beasts, like peacocks; but where peacocks are common, they're nothing common about swans. The silence of their swimming . . . you don't hear it, but you feel it. All I' hear would be the sound of the rain, but I'd feel that wonderful salt and brine that's as strong just inland as it is on the beach."
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Events on the Qt! |
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 Sunday (February 22)
 The Red Carpet Party
OscarÒViewing Event and Fundraiser
- Large Scale OscarÒCeremony Projection
- Two Floors of Fun
- Open Bar
Sunday, February 22, 2009
7:30 - 11 PM
Oscar Ò Broadcast begins at 8PM
@
The Ethical Society Building
1906 South Rittenhouse Square
Center City Philadelphia
Save 25% on two tickets . . . NOW just @ for $75
Students $30 at door with valid ID's
TICKET PRICE INCLUDES OPEN BAR & GOURMET FOOD SELECTION!
Cuisine by Chef Amanda MacWilliams, of Striped Bass Restaurant fame.
ATTIRE: Black Tie to Blue Jeans
For more information, visit traversetheater.org/oscar
Coming in March
Kiss Me I'm Irish and Gayä
Shut Up & Dance 2009 | |
