Getting The Right Shots

November 28, 2006

Juliano Corbetta is the brains and brawn behind two sexy productions: a blog called “Made in Brazil” that highlights the best in Brazilian culture (especially the simple, human beauty of men), and Butch, a fashion line. Butch is a super-sexy sportswear collection with an extra emphasis on unique, sexy -- and butch -- swimwear.

When invited to blog here for a week, my lovely editor asked me to write about how I put a collection together (I design swimsuits out of Brazil), but I thought it would be more interesting to write about bringing it to life in images.

I am not sure what my creative process is, or if I even have one. Drawing figures in swimsuits is certainly not the most difficult task on the planet, but I would like to think that I do it well. Fittings for swimwear certainly do not require a Sayville row internship, but keep in mind everything needs to be in the right place and stay there when all that is covering you is a small piece of Lycra.

For the third season in a row I came up with a selection of tiny outfits to make a trip to the beach more interesting. For the first time this year though, I had the opportunity to explore new shapes and dare a little more, while keeping in mind that a guy actually needs to put the swimsuit on and feel comfortable in it. For the first time this year, I also had the opportunity of bringing my vision to life by shooting a catalog at the beach with a talented photographer who gets what I am about.

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Some Like It Scott: Blech Friday

November 27, 2006

Since the invention of the Internet, I have not gone to a mall or store on the infamous “Black Friday” and frankly I really don’t understand why others put themselves through any of it. The crowds are enough to counteract any bargain that might be out there. There seemed to be less of the crazy ads this year -- the ones that promise 6 plasma screen televisions for $6 at Wal-Mart if you get there first.

You know -- those items that make people line up and have their Thanksgiving dinner in the line just so they can be the first person to run to the electronics department when the store first opens? It’s enough already, considering that people are already killing each other over Play Station 3s (and those are certainly not on sale). But for me, the only sale I was interested came in an email from my salon.

That’s right, the email came telling me that all of my favorite Bumble and Bumble hair care products were going to be on a 30% off sale for one day, Friday! I know you’re shocked, I couldn’t believe it myself. There I ran, arms outstretched, tears in my eyes to load up on the products. The good news, there was no line, no craziness, just a bunch of people trying to build their self-esteem they’d lost from putting on that 6 pounds of Thanksgiving.

(You know you’re supposed to make any dessert items at least four days in advance, to make sure the recipe is right and eat all of it yourself and then make it again before the big day for everyone else, right? What? Doesn’t everyone do that? Eat an entire pie or batches and batches of cookies before making the “real” ones for the guests?)

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Some Like It Scott: Not At All Like Reindeer Games

November 26, 2006

In his fourth blog, Scott talks about the joys of being a jew at the dinner table. YOu can always read more of Scott at his blog "Some Like it Scott."

As if you didn’t already know, my family is Jewish so you have to understand that we were never like the Kennedy family at Thanksgiving, playing touch football in the front yard or even watching football games on television.

I think my mother was afraid we’d get hurt just by watching sports. Her mantra, “Sports bad, shopping good.” For us, it’s all about sitting together; retelling old family stories (much to the amazement of my brother who apparently had a completely different childhood than I did). My brother remembers nothing that I remember or that my parents do, it’s the strangest thing but apparently quite common. Although you would think we would have some of the same memories considering we’re only 22 months apart. The games we play are not reserved just for Thanksgiving and they are not at all similar to reindeer games.

My family has mastered the art of talking backward. Now I know a lot of Jews do it but I dare say we could take any of them on and win the gold medal at the Olympics! I’m not talking some version of pig Latin here, I mean our phrasing is different than normal people and we always end everything with a question. For example, while you might say something like, “The cake is good.” We would say, “It’s good, the cake, no?” I have no concrete answers as to why we’ve always spoken this way, it is just tradition and so it continues on through the ages. Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about, traditions? (See the opening number from Fiddler On The Roof if you’re confused)

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Some Like It Scott: Why You Should Be Thankful

November 24, 2006

When you look at things historically (or at least … as I understand them) it was pretty amazing that the Indians were so gracious as to have dinner with the pilgrims altogether that first Thanksgiving. This just goes to show what every Jew knows, whether there’s going to be good or bad news, great or troubled times, “Eat, bubbeleh, eat.” Breaking bread, as it were, is one of the few civilized customs we have left in America today.

No matter, what your family is like, when you finally get to the table -- all you really have to say is, “Would you pass the gravy, please?” I’m convinced this is why everyone eats so early on Thanksgiving, everyone is thinking, “if we can just make it to the meal it will all be okay.”

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Some Like It Scott: The Thanksgiving Meal

November 23, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving! Today our guest blogger Scott tells us all about the meal itself. And other things he has to be thankful for.

Our Thanksgiving meals have always looked like Calvin Klein’s collection from the 1970’s Everything on the table is beige, not a green vegetable in sight. I think that growing up we all thought that whatever is done in our home is pretty much what everyone else is doing. (Unless of course you’re doing human sacrifices for Thanksgiving).

Our family’s philosophy was always that the more starch you could put on the table, the better for all involved (this is also good for your table cloth). I didn’t know that this wasn’t normal until my guy pointed it out to me.

Here’s a quick briefing on my guy and me – we are the poster children for hate crimes. He’s a six foot black man that was an altar boy and I’m a short Jewish guy who was bar mitzvah. On paper there’s no reason this relationship should work but it does and has for the past eighteen years. I was six when we started dating – (I’m kidding – what? ya think he’s a congressman?).

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Some Like It Scott: The 311

November 22, 2006

In Scott's second installment, he walks you through the latest in safety regulations from the Transportation Safety Authority. You can always read more of him at somelikeitscott.com.

As most of us know, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year. I know that you’re all shocked it isn’t Passover. (God knows I was.) I want to help all of you world weary travelers avoid a carry-on calamity this holiday season. And so I’ve taken the liberty of being your Jewish mother and reading all the Travel Security Administration rules in legalese about liquids in your carry on and I’ve translated it here in Gayman’s terms.

3-1-1 -Now you’re going to have no idea what these numbers stand for or why they’re choosing them for their new campaign to supposedly educate and make security lines go faster. Prepare yourself – the 3 stands for 3 ounces, the first 1 stands for 1 quart sized clear plastic bag and the other 1 stands for 1 bag per person. Like a basement sale at Filene’s -- as many 3 ounce bottles as you can cram into that quart sized bag is just fine just don’t let any individual bottle be more than 3 ounces. They go even further to say the bag has to zip at the top (enter the marketing tie-in with Ziploc).

I’m not proud that it takes several products to make me look the way I do every day but I’ve also resigned myself to the fact. I used to love shopping for all of those “travel sized” products but now I just find them expensive and never the real products I use. However, for the sake of 3-1-1 and your benefit, on a recent trip I decided to sacrifice my brand of designer shave cream (among other things) and go for the drugstore equivalent due to the fact it came in a 2.5 ounce size. All told I think I had a total of 32 ounces in my bulging baggie.

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Some Like It Scott: Relative Preparation

November 22, 2006

In blog #3 from our Thanksgiving guest blogger, Scott Rosenzweig at "Some Like It Scott" discusses dealing with family.

Preparing yourself for Thanksgiving is so much more than shopping for those holiday foods, picking which sweaters to pack and trying to get that Prozac prescription refilled. You must prepare yourself emotionally as well as physically.

The trick is that no matter how much you talk to yourself prior to the greeting of guests, (or being a guest) you must remember that line from The Wizard of Oz: “I do believe in spooks, I do believe in spooks!” There’s no stopping the freight train that is coming your way.

You can say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I looove the holiday and having my family around me.” But I would say to you, “Yeah, right.” I love my family too and if you ever Google the word, “co-dependent” you’ll find our picture. When you’re forced to be in the same house with one another for an extended period of time there’s no way you’re not going to get on one another’s nerves.

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Reba Epstein's Turkey Stuffing

November 21, 2006

Scott Rosenzweig was "The Ultimate Fan Blogger" for "Project Runway Season 3" on Bravotv.com. He was recently voted one of The Advocatemagazine's reader’s top ten blogs, Scott spent most of his life on stage, behind the scenes and now in the equally make believe world of corporate America. He lives in Las Vegas with his partner of eighteen years, Michael and their two cats, Elphaba and Fiyero. For more on Scott, visit his site at www.somelikeitscott.com!

Favorite Turkey Stuffing from My Grandmother

I’m a Jew, we eat out, I don’t cook. I have a Jewish mother that does that. I’m a born defroster who can barely make oatmeal come out right using the directions off of the box.

But here you go...my grandmother (my Mom’s mom) Reba Epstein’s recipe for turkey stuffing that I think is just the best. Every year she would make the holiday meals and say to all of us, “You know, this could be my last year making this.” By saying this we always thought she would be around forever, that by somehow kvetching and saying it was her last year would give her immortality. Unfortunately several years ago was her last year but she has gained a kind of immortality by always being in our hearts and now my mother and all of us say, “This could be my last year making this.” And so far, God help us, we’ve made it to another Thanksgiving.

Disclaimer
This is from a recipe book my mother put out a few years ago for the family. (Yes, my family is very literate, well at the very least we own a lot of books because they look so nice on the shelves.) It was discovered that some of the recipes were not 100% accurate but I think that this one might be -- use at your own risk.

Turkey Stuffing
(Makes 6 servings)

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Brazilian Cheese Bread and Sakeritas

November 21, 2006

Juliano Corbetta is the brains and brawn behind two sexy productions: a blog called “Made in Brazil” that highlights the best in Brazilian culture (especially the simple, human beauty of men), and Butch, a fashion line. Butch is a super-sexy sportswear collection with an extra emphasis on unique, sexy -- and butch -- swimwear.

Cheese Bread and Strawberry Sakeritas

As most of you probably know, we do not celebrate Thanksgiving in Brazil. As a matter of fact, we tend to have turkey and ham for Christmas for some odd reason (sans cranberry sauce or gravy of course). At this time of the year it is spring down south, and a traditional Thanksgiving meal could easily ruin someone's swimsuit figure for the rest of the season.

Thanksgiving is an odd holiday when you did not grow up in America. I have been in this country for seven or eight of them, and every year I end up as the outcast in someone's party where I stuff myself with as much food as I can, and then dilute it with sugary apple cider, which
I found I loved from the very first sip.

Many times, when all American friends migrate to spend the holiday with their families I have gotten together with my fellow Brazilian ex-pats, and put a twist on the Thanksgiving meal to suit our needs. That usually includes more booze in the shape of caipirinhas, and tons of cheese bread for appetizer.

Cheese breads (which we would refer to as pao de queijo) are originally from Minas Gerais (the West of Brazil), but because of their national popularity they seem to be the one thing that all Brazilians crave when they live abroad. Making them from scratch is no easy task, but I thought it would be a great snack to be served while some of you are enduring a football game in the living room with your families prior to the food extravaganza.

Cheese Breads

INGREDIENTS:

16 ounces of manioc starch (a.k.a. polvilho, usually available at
Latin groceries)
1/2 cup of sunflower seed oil
3/4 cup of low-fat milk
3 large eggs
1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1 3/4 cups of grated mild cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:

The recipe in Brazil would be made with a special cheese, queijo de Minas, but the combo above usually produces a similar consistency and taste.

Bring milk and oil to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, and add the manioc starch, stirring constantly. Allow to cool a little. Incorporate the eggs, mixing them one at a time. Add the cheese to the mixture in a bowl, and blend well.

Divide the resulting dough into pieces the size of a walnut or small plum. Place a little oil on your hands, and round the dough into small balls. Arrange them on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees until done, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Serve warm.

Too time consuming? There are several sites from which you can order a mixture for cheese breads, which is almost ready to go in the oven. I will not be disappointed if you resort to that (check out Brazilianshop.com or Amigofoods.com and look for pao de queijo).

As for the drinks, although I would rather stick to hot cider, here is a sake strawberry caipirinha (also known as sakerita) recipe to jazz up your holiday:

Sakerita

INGREDIENTS:

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Bring Back Sungas

November 15, 2006

Juliano Corbetta is the brains and brawn behind two sexy productions: a blog called “Made in Brazil” that highlights the best in Brazilian culture (especially the simple, human beauty of men), and Butch, a fashion line. Butch is a super-sexy sportswear collection with an extra emphasis on unique, sexy -- and butch -- swimwear.

I am not sure about how I became obsessed with swimsuits -- sungas, as we call them in Brazil, Speedos, bikinis, or even snug square-cuts in America. It is not a fetish I have because it does not turn me on sexually, but considering I design them, wear them to the beach, and tend to showcase them on my blog, Made in Brazil, on a weekly basis, swimsuits play a major role in my life.

Guys in swimsuits are not a big deal in Brazil. My five-year-old brother wears them to the beach or the pool, and so does my 54-year-old father. If you have been to a Brazilian beach, you know I'm not kidding, and you know you probably bought a few swimsuits to wear while on vacation but then got embarrassed to wear them upon your return to America.

I wonder why is it that only gay men (and swimmers of course) wear swimsuits in the United States. A few years ago when I still had a six pack, I noticed that playing kadima in a swimsuit was not the norm in East Hampton as it is in Rio, and from then on I tried to stick to wearing board shorts to the beach, and then taking them off while
tanning so that I didn't get a line from the shorts tattooed across my legs permanently.

Now why the hell am I writing about that when there are many other things that really matter?

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Juliano Corbetta Is Made In Brazil

November 14, 2006

Juliano Corbetta is the brains and brawn behind two sexy productions: a blog called “Made in Brazil” that highlights the best in Brazilian culture (especially the simple, human beauty of men), and Butch, a fashion line. Butch is a super-sexy sportswear collection with an extra emphasis on unique, sexy -- and butch -- swimwear.

(Not Juliano, but one of his Butch models.)

When people think of Brazil, Rio is obviously the first city that comes to mind. I can understand why. Rio sums up all of the things people encounter when they visit the country: beautiful beaches, tall and tanned boys, sex appeal, and a little romance.

There is very little of these things in Sao Paulo, and yet that city hosted the biggest Gay Pride Parade in the world last June.

Why?

Because Sao Paulo is cosmopolitan, modern, and edgy. There you will find as many great hotels, restaurants and stores as you would in New York.

And there, in Sao Paulo, you will also find The Week, the city's biggest gay nightclub, which I am going to be bold enough to say is not available (or comparable) to anything in New York, LA, or Miami.

The Week opened its doors two years ago and has quickly become the nightclub mecca for gay men in the country. Its parties on Saturday nights now attract boys from the Northeast to the South, with a list of national and imported DJs including Peter Rauhofer and Tony Moran.

On the past month, the club created by promoter André Almada celebrated its second year in business with a major renovation (as if that were necessary in a space which already features two dance floors, a garden, pool deck, and valet service) and special guest performers from Deborah Cox and Kristine W.

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Rice, Rice Baby

November 08, 2006

I once spent $43 for a $1.50 bowl of soup. I wasn't going to let the fact that I was in San Diego and the soup I craved was clear across the country in New York City get in my way. Thus the sticker shock.

I discovered this wonderful soup while prowling Greenwich Village. The place is "Mama Buddha" and the soup to die for is called "Seven Spice Pepper Soup." They should call it crack cocaine.

One day while I was feeling blue I thought to myself "I will have the soup, that soup will be mine," so I called in an order. I told the very startled woman who barely spoke English that I needed to have it over-nighted Federal Express to California. The waitresses were confused and amused but by golly they made it happen… twice!

Now I am legendary there. They know me as the California crazy man soup addict. There is nothing better than this
simple luxury. It arrives on my doorstop packed in dry ice. I pop it in the microwave and few minutes later my craving is calmed and my tummy's full.

Who cares that my wallet's empty?

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Kitchen Confidential

November 06, 2006

A Modern update on a great Mid-Century Home (Check out the Video for this blog here)

My idea of a dream house is not the Spanish one I currently own. Don't get me wrong. It's nice and I like it. But if I won the lottery I'd rush out and get something pure 50's.

Picture a ranch style bungalow with low ceilings and big windows. I'd look out over my pool, a bunch of Kartel patio furniture and glimpse either the ocean or a desert with mountains in the distance.

And while I'm dreaming I'd have cool cats like Sammy Davis, Jr. and Peggy Lee around my piano, singing and downing martini's with lots of olives. While that part of my dream's impossible, it's easy to turn some other design dreams into reality.

My inspiration for this is my friend Jill. She's a fabulous designer who is a VP at 3-form, which makes amazing modern building materials. Whenever I am with Jill we laugh our asses off. And one time her ass was literally the reason.

My partner is a TV reporter who was doing a story called "The Nice Test" to see if people will help others caught in embarassing situations. He needed someone to walk the streets of upper crusty La Jolla, California with her panties tucked in her dress. Jill volunteered without reservation. She is blond and stunning and it was a hoot watching her shamelessly strut the streets with her granny panties showing. We learned that in this situation women will run to
the rescue but men are too embarassed to point out the problem.

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Confessions of an Underwear Aficionado

November 01, 2006

Designer, writer, creative personality: Bryan Thompson is also OUTzonetv.com first Guest Blogger. And we couldn't be happier that he agreed join us on this virgin voyage. Bryan is a design wunderkind (that means star) in the automotive field (Nissan, Airstream, etc.) but he designs all kinds of other stuff, too. You should see the new lamp he showed us. Bryan lives with his partner and their "son," a Rat Terrier-Shih Tzu named Loup-Garou in San Diego. Okay, now on with the show...

Boxers or briefs? How many of you say, "Nothing at all!?"

I hear you. I used to be just like you. In fact I always used to go "commando." When I threw on a pair of jeans, I also threw caution to the wind.

It's a habit that more than once left me hanging in embarrassing ways.

My worst experience with this was when I was working on a concept car for the Detroit Auto Show. Getting it done right and on deadline meant my schedule was very hectic. I had to make nightly visits to a facility that was building our concept car in a top-secret environment.

One night, I was asked to come in to look at the seats. I jumped out of bed, fumbled around my dark bedroom for a pair of jeans and a tee shirt and off I went. I made the 60-mile trip at a frantic pace and when I got there I was immediately escorted to the car to take a look at the seats.

I sat down in the driver's seat and proceeded to blurt out decisions to a group of workers surrounding the partially built car. I was on fire, directing them left and right.

But as I spoke and moved around the inside of the car I noticed a tension in the air. People were clearly feeling awkward and their eyes were fixed on the ceiling. At the end of my speech I glanced down and noticed that one of my very private appendages had fallen through a hole in my jeans and was resting in plain sight on the seat. I was
mortified but I kept talking. I nonchalantly crossed my legs and everyone did their best to pretend it never happened.

The incident changed my life. I am now an underwear fanatic.

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Dolly Parton Saved My Halloween

November 01, 2006

Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love how it brings out so much creativity in people and turns our society upside down for the day. On Halloween you can be in traffic and look into the car next to yours and see Santa Claus driving or a group of Paris Hiltons sticking their tongues out at you. You're just minding your business and a Dolly
Parton with stubble and hairy legs saunters down the sidewalk.

My fascination with drag dates back to when I was a kid. I was seven years old. I put on a blond wig, a giant bra that I stuffed with socks to become Dolly Parton. Then I lip-synched "Islands In the Stream" on a low wall in front of the neighbor's house. Around this same time my Mommalou figured out a way to use my interest in drag to keep me calm so she could finish her housework. She put me in her best Easter Dress, sat me in the middle of the living room and spread the dress all around me. She told me that I was a giant cake and that cakes can't move or they'll fall apart. I bought it hook line and sinker. I was so happy to be in the center of that pink chiffon "frosting" that I sat there perfectly still while she vacuumed the room around me.

This just goes to show that it doesn't matter if you're seven or seventy, male or female. Just throw on that party dress, live it up and have a Happy Halloween!

Another reason I love Halloween so much is every year me and my partner and two of our best friends throw a bitchin' house party. It's a monster that gets bigger every year.

The first year was somewhat manageable. A couple hundred people came, a few stayed all night and there were some pretty strange hook-ups. Before the night was through Frankenstein got it on with a naughty nurse and a Phantom of the Opera in our living room. We didn't want to know.

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