Human Rights Campaign Mobilizes Over 220 Businesses & More than 43,000 Supporters to Rally Behind Respect for Marriage Act Senate Vote

With Congress now back in session and passing the Respect for Marriage Act a top priority in the Senate, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, is mobilizing 226 major businesses representing over 8.5 million employees, its more than 3 million highly engaged members and supporters, and the nation’s 62 million “Equality Voters” to call on the U.S. Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA). The legislation that would nationally codify federal marriage equality by guaranteeing the federal rights, benefits and obligations of marriages in the federal code; repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA); and affirm that public acts, records and proceedings are recognized by all states.

 

“As we lead up to a Senate vote for the Respect for Marriage Act, we are so close to codifying marriage equality as the law of our land — so close to ensuring that everyone will have the freedom to love who they love without fear that their right to do so may be taken away in the future,” said Joni Madison, Human Rights Campaign Interim President. “When we rally our individual voices into one united roar, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. I celebrate the thousands of people who have picked up the phone or written a letter to their senator. And I thank the 226 businesses who have joined the fight for LGBTQ+ equality on behalf of their employees and customers, for whom this is entirely personal. But we cannot let up; we must continue to dig in, do the hard work, and demand that the Respect for Marriage Act is passed and signed into law.”

 

In the aftermath of Dobbs, it is more important than ever that Congress enshrine court-protected civil liberties into law. In July, the Respect for Marriage Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives 267-157, garnering 47 Republican votes — proving that support for marriage equality is widespread and bipartisan. In August, HRC announced that 173 businesses had signed on to a letter calling for passage of the bill. That number of businesses has now increased to 226.

 

“IBM, joined by more than 220 other companies, proudly signed this letter urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act to protect marriage equality for the purposes of federal law,” said Carla Grant Pickens, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, IBM. “No American should fear the legality of their marriage or adoption, and this legislation gives Congress a chance to affirm our American values of equality and fairness for all.”

 

“We must fight to ensure marriage equality remains the law of the land. Aligned with our inclusive values and longstanding support of the LGBTQ+ community, KIND proudly supports the Respect for Marriage Act and urges the Senate to vote in favor of protecting marriage equality nationwide,” said Russell Stokes, CEO, Kind.

 

“It’s time for leaders to demonstrate conviction for the fair and equitable treatment of everyone. At Logitech, we stand up for equality in all its forms and are proud to continue our support of HRC and its efforts to pass the Respect for Marriage Act,” said Bracken Darrell, CEO, Logitech.

History in the Making: Kansas and its Capital City Topeka Host First Statewide Pride Festival Sept. 24

This September, Kansas will host its first-ever statewide Pride festival in the capital city of Topeka. In partnership with Visit Topeka and Pride Kansas, the day-long celebration will take place on September 24, with festivities including a historic rally outside the Kansas Capitol and a celebration in the downtown district, with several national activists in attendance.

“I am proud to help kick off this historic event in Topeka,” said Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla. “It’s our mission to become a leading city for inclusivity. Most recently, our Municipal Equality Index score — demonstrating how cities support the LGBTQ+ people who live and work there — received the highest total in the state, tying only with Overland Park. But we don’t stop here. We continue to increase our efforts year after year, and this inaugural Pride parade represents that.”

The festival will include a foot procession through downtown Topeka and a celebration at the city’s Evergy Plaza. Attendees can enjoy live music from regional indie rock band Oceanside Hotels and Lawrence country singer Ryan Manuel, as well as diverse comedy acts, food trucks and a beer garden. The celebration will conclude with an inaugural Pride Kansas Drag Night at the Topeka Performing Arts Center, showcasing some of the state’s most exciting drag queens.

“Pride Kansas is committed to showing the world the true character of our state and the people who live here,” said Shawn Zarazua, director of Pride Kansas. “Kansas is filled with artists, activists, politicians and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to creating a destination full of acceptance and love. This celebration will further enhance LGBTQ+ pride in our community and hopefully snowball into future events, initiatives and resources for underrepresented groups.”

Kansas representative Brandon Woodard, who was elected to the Kansas State Legislature in 2018 as one of the state’s first openly gay state representatives, will be in attendance along with Kansas native and national LGBTQ+ activist, Stacy Lentz. She is the co-owner of the Stonewall Inn, a national historic landmark and site of the 1969 riots that launched the gay rights movement and CEO of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative.

“As someone who grew up being LGBTQ+ in Kansas, I know how affirming and impactful the first-ever statewide Kansas Pride will be,” Lentz said. “I am thrilled to be a part of this historic event and gathering of community members and allies to show visibility. Even in 2022, the LGBTQ+ community is still under attack, stigmatized and often feels isolated, so we know being seen and celebrated for our authentic selves can save lives.”

Aside from the event, attendees are encouraged to explore local venues like North Topeka Arts and Entertainment (NOTO) District, Studio 62, an eclectic art bar that hosts weekly drag shows, and Equality House, one of Topeka's best-known monuments of Pride, where visitors can sign the outside and take pictures in front of the home’s rainbow backdrop.

"From the statehouse to sports and everything in between, LGBTQ+ representation is essential in all aspects of life," said Kansas representative Brandon Woodard. "It's wonderful to see my home state prioritizing our community by adding to its list of LGBTQ+ resources, events and offerings year after year."

“Topeka is the perfect destination for Kansas’ first-ever statewide Pride celebration,” said Sean Dixon, president of Visit Topeka. “From Pride-themed monuments like the rainbow-covered Equality House to initiatives like ‘Inclusive Topeka,’ which encourages businesses throughout the city to show their dedication to inclusivity — LGBTQ+ representation is a priority in our community. We can’t wait to welcome visitors from near and far who are curious about what Topeka and the state have to offer.”

Change the Pattern: Sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt Honoring Black and Brown Lives Lost to AIDS will Travel throughout the South in the Fight to End the Epidemic

The National AIDS Memorial is bringing sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to communities throughout the Southern U.S to highlight and honor Black and Brown and lives lost to HIV and AIDS as part of Change the Pattern, a new initiative to reimagine the response to the epidemic in the region.
 

Partnering with Southern AIDS Coalition, the multi-city initiative will address opportunities to take action and support communities in the fight to end the southern epidemic.  Funded by a $2.4 million grant by Gilead Sciences, Change the Pattern will focus on reaching, engaging and sharing the experiences of marginalized communities disproportionately impacted by HIV and AIDS.  The program will bring an opportunity for learning through immersive Quilt displays, educational programming, advocacy and quilt-making.

 

“The National AIDS Memorial is honored to partner with Southern AIDS Coalition and Gilead Sciences to bring the Quilt to the South as a touchstone to actively engage communities most impacted by HIV/AIDS,” said CEO John Cunningham. “By creating an empowering message and safe spaces for conversation, we can uplift, inspire, and make progress toward ending the HIV epidemic, challenge cultural stigmas, and continue the legacy of advocacy that the Quilt represents.”

 

The first major Change the Pattern Quilt display will take place in Jackson, Mississippi from September 28 to October 4 with a week of free events and programs drawing multigenerational audiences for community activities and fellowship. More than 500 hand-stitched Quilt panels, many from the local area, will be displayed for the first time at various locations in Jackson and surrounding communities. It will be the largest display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt ever in the state.

 

Accompanying the Quilt displays will be powerfully curated stories that share the love, remembrance, pain, and celebration sewn into Quilt panels of lives lost from within the Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Transgender and other marginalized communities, providing historical reflections on the issues of stigma that still persist today in the long struggle for health and social justice in the South. 

 

“Just as the Quilt was founded thirty-five years ago as a visual representation of the need to end stigma and provide equitable resources to communities most impacted by HIV and AIDS, Change the Pattern is a call to action and change in the South,” said Dafina Ward, Executive Director of Southern AIDS Coalition. “Quilt-making has such a deep cultural connection in the Black community and in the South.  We recognize that the disproportionate impact of HIV and AIDS on our communities is woven together by systemic injustices and historic wrongs that must be corrected. The sharing and telling of these powerful stories through the Quilt, coupled with advocacy and open dialogue, can help end HIV-related stigma and bring the stories of those we’ve lost to light.”

 

The Change the Pattern initiative was announced in honor of Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day during the Southern AIDS Coalition’s annual Saving Ourselves Symposium (SOS), a conference attended by hundreds of attendees from across the South and focused on the Black LGBTQ+ community. Nearly 100 Quilt panels were on display and attendees participated in quilt-making workshops to make new Quilt panels representing their loved ones.

 

During the conference, the National AIDS Memorial and Southern AIDS Coalition joined Gilead in announcing that as part of Change the Pattern, interested Southern-based organizations will be invited to apply for funding to support local quilt-making workshops in their communities to ensure that the legacies of stories of Black and Brown lives lost are captured through newly-sewn panels on the Quilt through the Memorial’s Call My Name program. The application process will open September 15, 2022, with up to 35 eligible organizations receiving up to $5,000 to support hosting local workshops. 

 

Dr. Shanell McGoy, Director of Corporate Giving at Gilead Sciences, who attended the SOS conference and helped make a Quilt panel during one of the quilt-making workshops said, “Gilead is so proud to support this innovative program that will use the Quilt as a powerful teaching tool and connector to raise greater awareness and help change these statistics. To end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we must continue to examine new ways to reach and actively engage communities that continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV.”

 

The statistics speak to the importance of the Change the Pattern initiative in the South.  In 2020, the South comprised 38% of the U.S. population but represented over half (52%) of new HIV diagnoses.  According to AIDSVu, the disproportionate burden of HIV in the South is experienced among certain populations, such as Black women, Black and Latinx gay and bisexual men, and Black and Latinx transgender women. Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina, Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennessee rank in the top 15 with the highest rates of HIV in the country. Racism, HIV stigma, homophobia, poverty, and barriers to health care continue to drive these disparities.

 

In the coming weeks, the National AIDS Memorial and Southern AIDS Coalition will announce additional Quilt displays, programming, and Quilt-making workshops in these states and other southern communities most impacted by HIV today.  More details and information can be found at www.changethepattern.org.

 

The AIDS Memorial Quilt is considered the largest community arts project in the world, now surpassing 50,000 individually sewn panels with more than 110,000 names stitched into its 54 tons of fabric that honors lives lost to AIDS.  Its first panels were created 35 years ago when a group of strangers, led by gay rights activist Cleve Jones, gathered in a San Francisco storefront to document the lives they feared history would forget. This meeting of devoted friends, lovers and activists would serve as the foundation for The NAMES Project’s AIDS Memorial Quilt.  Each panel made measured 3 ft by 6 ft, the size of a human grave. They saw the Quilt as an activist tool to push the government into taking action to end the epidemic.  In 2020, the National AIDS Memorial became the permanent steward of the Quilt.  Learn more at www.aidsmemorial.org.

RuPaul’s Drag Race 2022 World Tour, WERQ THE WORLD, Comes to Denver September 24 & 25

The queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race are turning it — turning outfits, performances and even turning time! — in an all new 2022 production of WERQ THE WORLD, taking place in over 50 major cities throughout the USA and Canada.  An experiment gone wrong has sent audiences spiraling through time with no way of returning to 2022!  Join RuPaul’s Drag Race favorites Kim Chi, Rose, Vanjie, Yvie Oddly, Naomi Smalls, and Jaida Essence Hall, and season 14 finalists Willow, Lady Camden, and Bosco* on a journey through iconic periods of history in hopes of returning fans to 2022. Produced by Voss Events, World of Wonder and VH1, the Official RuPaul’s Drag Race World Tour, WERQ THE WORLD, has taken place at some of the continent’s largest theaters including Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium and New York City’s Radio City Music Hall!  Tickets on sale now at VossEvents.com. 

“This is the biggest, most spectacular drag show on earth,” says Brandon Voss, the show’s producer.  “Audiences will be in awe as their favorite queens from past seasons and the newest stars of season 14 come together on some incredible numbers.  The music, sets, fashion, choreography and lighting in the 2022 production are the largest to date and like nothing fans of drag have ever seen before.”

“Werq The World is the official Drag Race tour for a reason,” continues Jon Norris of Voss Events.  “The theatrical production is of the highest caliber.  The 2022 show, in particular, is not-to-be-missed as this journey is whisking fans from their seats on a journey through space and time!”  He recommends purchasing tickets soon as shows will sell out quickly. 

Voss Events is a multidisciplinary creative agency specializing in event design and production, promotions, tour management, talent management, influencer relations and content creation. The company builds unique share-worthy experiences for brands and consumers through lifestyle, entertainment and nightlife programs.

Tickets for RuPaul’s Drag Race‘s WERQ THE WORLD 2022 are on sale now at VossEvents.com.   Fans can snatch their favorite queen's merch to wear to the show with FREE shipping at https://shop.vossevents.com.

EPA community meeting to present update on ethylene oxide risk in Lakewood, Colorado

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a virtual community meeting on Thursday, September 22, at 6:30 p.m. to share information about health risks from the chemical ethylene oxide, or EtO, near the Terumo BCT sterilization facility at 11308 W. Collins Ave. in Lakewood, Colo. EPA will present new information on lifetime risk levels for those who live in the immediate vicinity of the facility and hear from community members and other stakeholders about their concerns. Staff from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will also join to share information.

REGISTER HERE and learn more about the Terumo BCT facility.  

EPA recently completed air quality modeling and risk assessments for sterilization facilities across the United States, including the Terumo BCT facility in Lakewood.  EPA’s analysis indicates that the air near the facility does not exceed short-term health benchmarks. However, the modeling results indicate that a lifetime of exposure to EtO emissions could lead to long-term health impacts if risk levels are not reduced. EPA’s modeling information builds upon previous air quality monitoring data and a risk assessment completed for the Terumo BCT facility by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment and presented at a community meeting in 2018.  

The September 22 meeting is part of EPA’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions of EtO from commercial sterilizers, including activities with state partners and facilities to evaluate concerns and take appropriate steps to reduce emissions. Specifically, EPA aims to improve public understanding of risk; help states, Tribes, communities and industry reduce risks from EtO in the near-term; and hear input as the agency continues to take steps to reduce air pollution. Later this year, EPA expects to propose an air pollution regulation to protect public health by addressing EtO emissions at commercial sterilizers. 

Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted to Write About Denver's Gay Community

Are you a new or experienced writer or blogger? Do you want to be? Or maybe you're just some gay guy with something to say? Well, what better forum for you than MileHighGayGuy?

MileHighGayGuy is looking for regular and guest bloggers to write about local news and events, do music and movie reviews, or write opinion or feature pieces from a gay perspective.

These are unpaid positions but offer the opportunity to be published in Colorado's Best Gay Blog (2010, 2011, 2012 OUTstanding Awards, Denver 2012 #WebAwards), expand your audience and gain valuable experience. There's also swag available in the form of free movie and concert tickets, music, books and other cool stuff.

If interested, shoot an email over to Drew Wilson at drew@milehighgayguy.com. And if you've got column or story ideas to pitch, this is the place to do it.

Meet The Queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 4!

It’s official, mate! The highly anticipated series “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” is returning to WOW Presents Plus on September 22nd, and World of Wonder has now Ru-vealed the next set of fabulous drag queens about to make their Werk Room debut.

The long awaited fierce queens of Season 4 are: Baby, Black Peppa, Cheddar Gorgeous, Copper Top, Dakota Schiffer, Danny Beard, Jonbers Blonde, Just May, Le Fil, Pixie Polite, Sminty Drop, and Starlet.

Over the past three seasons, the series has become an international smash hit! Now returning for a fourth, RuPaul will preside as these twelve queens compete over ten weeks to be crowned the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar. Each week, the queens face challenges that test their drag race prowess, uniqueness, and nerve to the max. They compete in the hope that they have impressed enough to avoid being one of the bottom two queens facing a lip sync for their life and elimination from the competition.

Similar to previous seasons, Mama Ru will be joined on the judging panel by the beloved Michelle Visage and, on a rotational basis, Graham Norton and Alan Carr. Last week, World of Wonder also announced the line-up of extra special celebrity guest judges including Hannah Waddingham, Boy George, Mel B, Dame Joanna Lumley, Alison Hammond, Lorraine Pascale, Leomie Anderson, Olly Alexander, FKA Twigs, AJ Odudu, Tess Daly, Giovanni Pernice, Aisling Bea and Cathy Dennis. 

MY POLICEMAN starring Harry Styles | Official Trailer Out Now

 

My Policeman follows three young people—policeman Tom (Harry Styles), teacher Marion (Emma Corrin), and museum curator Patrick (David Dawson)—as they embark on an emotional journey in 1950s Britain. Flashing forward to the 1990s, Tom (Linus Roache), Marion (Gina McKee), and Patrick (Rupert Everett) are still reeling with longing and regret, but now they have one last chance to repair the damage of the past. 

Based on the book by Bethan Roberts, director Michael Grandage carves a visually transporting, heart-stopping portrait of three people caught up in the shifting tides of history, liberty, and forgiveness.

Ging - We're Here, My Dear

Ging, the solo project of the artist formerly known as Frank Dukes, confirms his debut album today. We’re Here, My Dear is set for release November 4 and a new song, “Miracles,” is out today. Listen to the track here and watch the visualizer here.

“‘Miracles’ is a life affirming psychedelic disco banger about the magic of the universe,” says Ging. “We’re Here, My Dear is about a love that is free. The type of love with space to begin as one thing and become something new altogether.”

We’re Here, My Dear is Ging’s first ever artist project. A wildly acclaimed producer since his teen years in Toronto for artists including Drake, Rihanna, SZA, Kanye, The Weeknd and many more, Ging began to ponder what his own art might sound like. Turning inward, he started to create songs purely for his own enjoyment—taking a hard turn away from his hip hop and pop productions and experimenting with ambient and avant garde instrumentals before landing on the album’s folkier structures. At the same time, great changes were happening in his personal life—a split from his longtime partner and the mother of this children. We’re Here, My Dear is a document of this time and a love letter to his family, particularly his young children, as they navigate(d) these shifts together. Growing up in Toronto, Ging was always known by his middle name—King, pronounced Ging, returning to his childhood identity felt most fitting for this new phase of his life and career.

Stonewall Dems Kickoff 8th Annual Sock Drop Sock Hop Donation Drive for UrbanPeak LGBTQ+ Youth

It's September and that means time for Stonewall's 8th Annual Sock Drop Sock Hop donation drive for homeless LGBTQIA+ youth who use the resources provided by UrbanPeak in Denver and Colorado Springs.

In addition to online donations, Stonewall has partnered with the Democratic Party of Denver and the Arapahoe County Democratic Party and will have donation boxes in their offices throughout the month of September!

Want to Connect with Denver's Gay Community? Advertise With MileHighGayGuy!

Denver's gay community is the 7th largest in the United States - and growing all the time! And the best way to reach them is by working with MileHighGayGuy – Colorado’s Best Gay Blog.

Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.

Dillon Francis Unveils His "Goodies"

Superstar producer, songwriter and DJ Dillon Francis shares a new track today, “Goodies,”—listen here and watch the visualizer here. A rework of the 2004 song by Ciara, the new track is taken from Dillon’s forthcoming This Mixtape Is Fire TOO, a sequel to 2015’s This Mixtape Is Fire that will arrive via Astralwerks, and follows the first offering, “Don’t Let Me Let Go,” with Illenium and EVAN GIIA.

The new track continues a successful year for Dillon, who recently shared one-off singles “Move It” with Valentino Khan and “Once Again” with VINNE following a collaborative EP with longtime friend Yung Gravy, Cake and Cognac. His last house LP Happy Machine, which includes the #1 “Love Me Better” with Shift K3Y and Marc E. Bassy and more, was released to widespread acclaim in 2021. Additionally, he’s currently on the road across North America, with a recent sold-out show at Brooklyn Mirage.

Provincetown’s Secret Season is the Second Summer that Brings LGBTQ+ Events, Food & Literary Festivals, & Gorgeous Cape Cod Weather

Those who love Provincetown's incredible beaches, alfresco restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques know that summer doesn’t end on Labor Day. Ptown has a secret season, a second summer that extends through October. Insiders consider it the very best time of the year to visit. They come for the warm sands, glorious Cape Cod weather, vibrant queer life celebrations, and a bevy of art, literary, and food festivals. Provincetown’s legendary Fall season is the ideal time for visitors from all walks of life.

35th Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, September 10, 2022

The Swim is about community and renewal and reuniting with family and friends, an annual tradition that anchors Provincetown’s year. The Swim has raised $6 million since it debuted in 1988, and its beneficiaries include The AIDS Support Group, OuterCape Health Services, and Helping Our Woman. Join swimmers, volunteers, kayakers, and cheerleaders from around the country for this high-spirited weekend.

Tennessee Williams Weekend, September 22-25, 2022

The 17th season of this festival features a lineup of plays written by Tennessee Williams. Entitled “Tutti Frutti Tennessee Williams,” which translated to all the flavors of Williams, it’s the first all-Williams festival since 2006, ranging from the 1930s to the 1980s. They range from his Broadway hits like “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” to more radical works such as “One Arm.” As Williams would have put it, the selection includes “the strange, the crazed, the queer.”

Mates Leather Weekend XXV, September 29 - October 3, 2022  

The 25^th edition of Mates Leather Weekend (NSFW) promises a kick-back, have a good time, and meet some new friends kind of weekend. It’s aimed at those who want to hang out, socialize, relax or party with other like-minded people in leather and rubber gear and uniforms.

ArtProvincetown Festival, October 7-9, 2022

The second annual ArtProvincetown Festival will include museums, galleries, studios, and a marketplace for artists and artisans. The festival welcomes artists, collectors, designers, and art fans of all forms, and it will feature exhibitions, receptions, and parties. The mission of the ArtProvincetown Festival is to highlight the diverse and beautiful art that Ptown has to offer.

Washashore Music & Arts Festival, October 7-9, 2022

The Washashore Music & Arts Festival takes place the same weekend as ArtsProvincetown and is an annual gathering celebrating live music, queer artists, beer, and the singularity of Provincetown. Calling itself “A 3 Day, Town-Wide, Genre-Bending Queer Music Festival,” the event is presented by Provincetown Brewing Co., Crown & Anchor, and Tangle-Made Productions.

Women’s Week October 10-16, 2022

Women’s Week is the ultimate festival in the US to celebrate women. There are more than 150 events scheduled for the week. The highlights include shows, film screenings, dance parties, music, comedy, dune tours, sailing excursions, food events, and sports events. Women’s Week brings thousands of women together—singles and couples alike. As an added attraction, Fox Fest will run October 14-16.

Single Women’s Weekend October 12-15, 2022

The annual Single Women’s Weekend has emerged as a fast, fun way for single lesbians to meet other single lesbians – live and in person, and it’s now a vital part of Woman’s Week.

Fantasia Fair, October 16-23, 2022

Launched in 1975, Fantasia Fair (a.k.a. Fan Fair) is the original transgender event. It offers anyone who identifies as trans (as well as those who don’t) a place to gather. Daily keynote speakers and workshops are features of the busy week-long schedule, filled with fashion shows, formal banquets, lunches, and a cabaret/talent show. It’s an immersive event, considered the longest-running transgender event in the world.

Spooky Bear Halloween Weekend, October 28-30, 2022

Spooky Bear Weekend features parties, dances, a haunted house, a costume ball, and shows. It ushers in the town-wide celebration of Halloween, which may well rank as the most festive and colorful night of the year on Commercial Street.

Provincetown Food & Wine Festival, November 2-6, 2022

The second annual Provincetown Food & Wine Festival has “Celebrate Portugal” as its theme, acknowledging the origins of the town's Portuguese fishermen and their families. Yet it also salutes the varied tastes and wines found on the entire Iberian Peninsula. Many restaurants will be offering specials and prix fixe menus. Events include an Uncorked Opening Reception, a Gallery Sip & Stroll, Across the Pyrenees Fine Wine Tasting, Spanish Wine Dinner at Tin Pan Alley, Iberian Fine Wine Dinner at Strangers & Saints, The Grand Tasting, and the Cava & Sangria Drag Brunch. The festival also includes a daily Tea Dance at The Boatslip and the welcome news that the ferries from Boston will be running that weekend. Details at Provincetown Food & Wine Festival.

For more on fall in Provincetown, visit Provincetown Tourism.

SANTA KOZ IS BACK WITH A ROMANTIC NEW HOLIDAY ALBUM - CHRISTMAS BALLADS - DUE OUT 9/23/22

Dave Koz & Friends will release Christmas Ballads (25th Anniversary Collection) on September 23. The chart-topping, GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist is joined on the album by pianist David Benoit, trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Peter White – the friends who accompanied him on the road in the earliest years of the Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2022 and holds the record as the longest-running, jazz-based Christmas tour. Rebecca Jade is the featured vocalist on the album’s gorgeous medley of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over) / Imagine.”

 

In creating a beautiful companion piece for the 25^th anniversary, Koz’s vision was very different than any of his previous seven holiday sets. Unlike his earlier, rhythmically eclectic mixes of buoyant funk and soulful slow-jams, Christmas Ballads is designed as an exploration of the romantic side of the season, setting a gentle, laid back mood for a quiet night by the fireside with a glass of wine.

 

“As much fun as I have creating a party atmosphere live, if you ask me my favorite part of the holidays, it’s taking the time to relax and enjoy the quiet moments, reflecting and feeling gratitude,” explains Dave Koz. “These ballads are the kind of music I want to be listening to after the big festivities are over and the sleigh bells fade into the night.”

 

To keep a flow of fresh magic, Koz’s main criteria for Christmas Ballads was putting new spins on songs he had never recorded before. There’s also one original – “Wrapped Up In Your Smile,” a classic-styled Koz power ballad co-written with the album’s producer and arranger, Philippe Saisse.

 

“He’s so French and brings a different, worldly approach, sensitivity and beauty to these tunes,” says Koz, who recently topped Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Airplay chart with “Summertime in NYC” – the fourth consecutive No. 1 single from his 2020 album, A New Day.

The Polaroid Book

The Polaroid Book from Taschen offers shots from the world’s greatest collection of Polaroid images.

The unique tones and spontaneity of Polaroids have made them a beloved photographic format for decades. Brimming with all the warmth and nostalgia of a family album, this ode to the instant camera presents hundreds of images from the Polaroid Corporation’s own collection. A chronicle of the experimental and innovative ways Polaroids have defied the digital age.