Shenell Edmonds and Love Out Loud VII

If you look in the dictionary for future international super star you will see pictured the schoene punim of Shenell Edmonds. This Hampden, CT native had her first official paid acting gig in a Lowe’s Home Improvement National Radio Commercial. Shenell joined One Life to Live in 2009 as scene stealer Destiny Evans, her first major television role. Before that life changing adventure in 2008, Miss Edmonds played Casey in the short family filmCouples Only. In addition to acting, Shenell enjoys dancing, listening to music, traveling, swimming and volunteering. If that doesn’t leave her breathless, she is honing her skills as a cook and hopes to be very good at it some day. In the meantime we are very proud to announce that she has volunteered to attend Love Out Loud VII, something which will make her many fans very happy.

Sunday Stud

Giovanni, Thank You for asking me to be part of Love Out Loud VII the AIDS Walk New York benefit once again. It is a commemoration of hope, unity, determination, love, and a celebration of so many people selflessly joining together and giving from the heart to not only raise awareness, but also to make changes and touch the lives of so many others who may need hope and support--and to keep fighting for a cure. Being part of this force means so much to me, and lending my voice and performing makes me feel like I'm part of something so big, important, and wonderful. All my life I dreamed of being on stage singing; this opportunity allows me to share that which is most dear to me while at the same time representing the strength of never giving up, and that anything is, in fact possible when perseverance is combined with intent and a heart full of love. Looking forward to May 16th! Gregory Nalbone



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Thank You and Goodnight Beefcake

Saturday Beefcake Foreplay

Saturday Beefcake Main Course: Richie Nuzzolese

Cajun Meatballs and your Saturday Beefcake Appetizer

1 pound ground meat (veal and/or beef)
1/4 pound chopped turkey bacon
1 1/2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup Apricot preserves (all fruit)



Pre-heated oven 350F/175C
Lightly grease a medium baking sheet.



In a large bowl, mix thoroughly the ground meat, hot pepper sauce, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, onion, bread crumbs, milk, and egg.
Form the mixture into golf ball sized meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until there is no pink left in the middle.
In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the soy sauce and preserves.
When meatballs are done, Put small amount of sauce mixture on bottom of a serving dish, place meatballs on top with remaining sauce on side. Or you can toss to coat.



Stolen and modified from Allrecipes.com

Euphemistically Yours: Saturday Beefcake Past, A Greatest Hit

From the Library of Congress:


Although yams and sweet potatoes are both angiosperms (flowering plants), they are not related botanically. Yams are a monocot (a plant having one embryonic seed leaf) and from the Dioscoreaceae or Yam family. Sweet Potatoes, often called ‘yams’, are a dicot (a plant having two embryonic seed leaves) and are from the Convolvulacea or morning glory family.


Yams are closely related to lilies and grasses. Native to Africa and Asia, yams vary in size from that of a small potato to a record 130 pounds (as of 1999). There are over 600 varieties of yams and 95% of these crops are grown in Africa. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams are starchier and drier.


Sweet Potatoes: The many varieties of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are members of the morning glory family, Convolvulacea. The skin color can range from white to yellow, red, purple or brown. The flesh also ranges in color from white to yellow, orange, or orange-red. Sweet potato varieties are classified as either ‘firm’ or ‘soft’. When cooked, those in the ‘firm’ category remain firm, while ‘soft’ varieties become soft and moist. It is the ‘soft’ varieties that are often labeled as yams in the United States.




Why the confusion? In the United States, firm varieties of sweet potatoes were produced before soft varieties. When soft varieties were first grown commercially, there was a need to differentiate between the two. African slaves had already been calling the ‘soft’ sweet potatoes ‘yams’ because they resembled the yams in Africa. Thus, ‘soft’ sweet potatoes were referred to as ‘yams’ to distinguish them from the ‘firm’ varieties.




Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires labels with the term ‘yam’ to be accompanied by the term ‘sweet potato.’ Unless you specifically search for yams, which are usually found in an international market, you are probably eating sweet potatoes!



Sweet Potato Salad

Sweet Potatoes, three pounds (one and a half kilos) baked, cut into half inch cubes
Plain Yogurt, one and a half cups, low fat, go for the creamy Greek style
Fresh Cilantro, two tablespoons, minced
Shallots, two tablespoons, minced
Fresh Lime Juice, one tablespoon
Coarse Salt
Pepper, freshly ground
Yellow Bell Pepper, one, seeded and chopped
Fresh Fennel, one small chopped
Chopped Chilies, of choice, amount to taste




1. For the dressing: mix yogurt, cilantro and shallots with the lime juice. Salt. Chill for an hour.
2. Toss potatoes with bell pepper, fennel and chilies
3. Add dressing to potato mixture.



Yams, on the other hand, are best when yanked.

Saturday Beefcake: Afternoon Delights

Saturday Beefcake Lunch

Stuffed Artichokes a la Connie Stevens

4 Artichokes
2 cups bread crumbs (Progresso herb Italian, if available)
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
Parsley flakes
Salt and pepper
Olive Oil



1. Cut off the artichoke stems very evenly so they stand up alone. Cut off the top fourth of the artichoke leaves; spread the leaves so they resemble a rose and wash them; turn the artichokes upside down to dry.

2. In a bowl, mix the remaining ingredients except the olive oil. Pour a little olive oil over the mixture to make a paste. Put some of the paste mixture in between every leaf and layer of the artichokes.

3. With a little water at the bottom of a large pot, steam the artichokes for approximately 1 hour; add additional water as it evaporates.



Danish Cheese Buns Served With Fruit a la Connie Stevens

Ingredients

2 egg whites
3.5 ounces grated Gruyere or Cheddar Cheese
Dash Paprika
Vegetable oil, for frying
Dash celery salt
Assorted sliced cheeses, for serving
Assorted sliced fruits, for serving



Beat the egg whites until stiff. Add the grated cheese and paprika. Form into buns. Using a spoon, carefully place them in a pot of hot oil and fry them until they become golden brown. Lay them out on double paper towels; sprinkle with celery salt. Serve hot on a tray surrounded by the slices of cheese and fruit.

Yields 4 to 6 servings.



These recipes were stolen from www.DavidMunk.com -- a thoroughly enjoyable writer with a great web log.

Saturday Beefcake: Midmorning Respite

Good Morning Saturday Beefcake Fans

Friday Feature: Chase Coleman

With talent and looks to burn Chase Coleman has been keeping busy in New York City, most recently on the sets of Gossip Girl and One Life to Live. A product of the Deep South, he comes furnished with all of its charm and passions, the kind of young man that might have inspired Tennessee Williams. Nevertheless, he appears to stay away from cats and hot roofs; he’s no Brick, for this young man seems to know what he is about.



And he is about acting and music. In a recent reading for an off-Broadway play, he handled multiple roles with aplomb, including that of the elephant head Hindu god, Ganesh.




His first lead role in independent film, Catahoula, helped him realize that acting was his true love. Signing with a Baton Rouge agency, he won several awards and accolades at the Mike Beaty Talent and Model Exposition in Dallas. Abrams Artists and Suzelle Enterprises are the agencies that are guiding this young man to what might very well be a bright future.



No slouch, Chase has written, directed, produced and starred in Into the Rose Garden. He has started up his own Bloodstone Productions. We were blessed when he read the role of Tommy Avalon in the reading/workshop for Center City, a role he made his own. He is currently starring in Four Dogs and a Bone on stage. This weekend is its last.

Wild Project
195 East Third Street
New York,
Cost:$ 18.00
Ovation Tickets at 866.811.4111

We are honored to have Chase join us for Love Out Loud on May 16 at Prohibition. Come say hi and see what the fuss is all about.

Gay Thursday: Michael Lucas

From Michael Lucas on Huffington Post

But nice guys do do porn, and Dror was one of them. "He had such a gentle soul," recalls Sam, his last boyfriend. "He was the most affectionate person I've ever dated. He loved really hard." Dror was devoted to animals (he dreamed of leaving the city and starting a rescue service for Labrador Retrievers) and intensely protective of the people in his life. "He always wanted to create a world for us inside this Chelsea gay world," his boyfriend says. "He wanted us to be sheltered and safe: our own thing, inside a bubble."

That bubble was important because Dror was far from the drug-addled party stud that his posthumous attackers imagine. "I don't go out much, I don't drink, I don't do any drugs," Sam says. "Not that many other people have that lifestyle who are gay and living in New York. We really connected over that." Friends remember Dror as intelligent and well-informed about world events. He was an official at the Israeli consulate until the New York Post exposed him as a porn actor in 2007 (before his films had even come out); he had a degree in Middle Eastern studies, spoke Arabic, and subscribed to the public-policy journal Foreign Affairs





Dror Barak Dead at 38

2.27.2012

By Out.com Editors


Model and personal trainer reportedly dead from apparent suicide

According to reports on Facebook and Twitter, Dror Barak, aka Roman Ragazzi, has died of an apparent suicide on February 25 at the age of 38. Barak most recently appeared in a fashion story in the February issue of Out, titled "New York's Finest," photographed by Marcelo Krasilcic (pictured left).

The former Israeli military trainer was outed in 2007 by New York Post’s "Page Six" while working at the Israeli consulate, the ensuing scandal caused him to resign. Later that year, he started a personal training and fitness company called Freedom Fitness.

According to this blog, Raging Stallion head Chris Ward (who named Roman Ragazzi Raging Stallion’s Man of the Year in 2008) said, “He was probably the hottest man I have ever filmed—a massive man of pure beauty, intelligence and kindness. He was perfect in every possible way.”

This gentleman graced this Web Log in the past, mainly because he frequents the gym of a good friend. Well, Tom Bacchus [go here] has de-briefed "Roman Ragazzi" for all to see. Here's the whole story from Page Six (New York Post) ...



Israeli Aide Quits In Sex Flap

An Israeli consulate official quit his job Monday moments after Page Six asked him if he was involved in a gay porn site.

Dror Barak, a k a Roman Ragazzi, worked in the administrative offices of the Israeli consulate while moonlighting as a "model" and gay porn star.

In e-mails to an interested party looking to hire Barak for "modeling" work abroad, Barak - who at first identified himself as Ragazzi - said, "I am single. I work at the United Nations in New York. They don't know about my other job, and that's how it should stay."

Barak told the party, "I need to know that I am not wasting my time here. And this is for real. I will need you to purchase a ticket for me online with American Airlines."

Barak directed the source to messenger tickets to his office at the U.N.

The e-mails got more personal, and Barak wrote, "I am openly gay . . . just to put the record straight. I just started doing porn movies. None of my movies is out yet. I know you mention 'escort.' I never did escort, and I don't do it."

On Barak's page on bigmuscle.com (under the name gymscle), Barak writes, "I find focused, career-minded and successful individuals sexy."

On romanragazzi.com, "Roman" is decribed as, "beyond a shadow of any doubt, the sexiest, hairy, muscled stud to turn up in the porn world in years." After a gushing description of his genitals, the Web site urges, "Look for him in upcoming scenes."

When contacted by Page Six on Monday, Barak said, "I don't know [Roman Ragazzi]. I will call you back." Soon after, he left the consulate and tendered his resignation.

David Sarenga, the consulate's press rep, said, "[Barak] worked in the administrative offices for over a year before leaving our employ earlier this week. He was a local hire." Sarenga refused to go into the consulate's background-search policy.

Israel has been rocked by several recent scandals. Israeli President Moshe Katsav has been on leave of absence since August, when he was accused by more than five women of sexual harassment. In March, Israel recalled its ambassador to El Salvador, Tsuriel Raphael, after he was found two weeks earlier outside his residence tied up, gagged and drunk while wearing bondage equipment.

Here's the Website

The Wednesday Word: Love Out Loud VII

Go here to make a donation to our team.

I was born with bugle horns and trumpets in my heart,
Mandolins & accordions & voices in three parts
Pounding drums and guitar strums
And choirs singing out
I was born to love, love out loud

From 2001 to 2005 with the help of Chris Meloni's participation in eBay auctions it was, needless to say, rather easy to raise funds as an individual. Meloni provided an identity for the process that was an extension of his own personal generosity. It seemed a natural progression as a member of the Smart + Strong family to raise the bar as far as fund-raising was concerned. It was gratifying that Ilene Kristen of One Life to Live was the very first to step up when the idea was formulated. When All My Children's Thorsten Kaye came on board the first event started to take shape because loyal fans stepped up to give it life, especially in New York. Fund-raising as a team, as an entity, if you will, with individuals using their personal resources to do so can utilize events with other fund raising opportunities so easily accessible in New York City, Los Angeles and other urban centers.




The first Love Out Loud took place in 2006 due to the generosity of Rich Herschenfeld and Ian Duke in affording the opportunity at Prohibition on Columbus Ave at 84th, the locale that had been the site of events and fund-raisers for years. Experiencing the AIDS crisis from the early days is a life changing experience. It was homage to friends and others who are no longer with us—having a party in their honour prior to AIDS Walk New York.




Michael Clay of Austin, TX provided the theme, his signature song, the incomparable "Love Out Loud," a paean to loving as one’s nature dictates, an autobiographical sketch of how the emotional struggles of youth brought the singer to musical expression a metaphor/simile for loving and living. Michael could tell many a tale of close friends from his Nashville years and more than one has inspired his original material. They were years full of creativity and connecting personalities.



Michael came to New York with his band and filled Prohibition with a joyous noise along with Ilene Kristen. In 2007, Ken Lundie, Musical Producer, became part of the entertaining tapestry. John Kouri and Tremors eventually became the band of the hour, so to speak, with Ilene Kristen, cabaret chanteuse Barbara Porteus and Mr. Lundie once in following years. In 2008, there were even more celebrities in attendance with CBS shows coming on board with Marj Dusay of Guiding Light taking stage to address the attendees. By that time it had become an Upper West Side tradition. In 2009 the musical experience achieved new heights with the addition of John Pagano who graced Love Out Loud ’s Bacharach to the Future.





Actors from ABC, NBC, CBS, Logo and here! TV have come together at POZ‘s annual fund-raisers for AIDS Walk New York and AIDS Walk Los Angeles. Thorsten Kaye (Zach) of All My Children continues to be there has been joined by fellow cast members Alicia Minshew (Kendall), Billy Miller (Richie), Jeff Branson, (Jonathan),Melissa Claire Egan (Annie), Adam Mayfield (Scott) and Brittany Allen (Marissa); One Life to Live’s “Foxy Roxy" Ilene Kristen has been accompanied by talented co-workers, Jason Tam (Markko), John Brotherton (Jared), Mark Lawson (Brody), Bree Williamson (Jessica), Farah Fath (Gigi), John Paul Lavoisier (Rex), Brittany Underwood (Langston), Brandon Buddy (Cole) and Daphnee Duplaix Samuels (Rachel); As the World Turns has been represented by Wolé Parks (Dallas), Davida Williams (Jade), Meredith Hagner (Liberty), Mick Hazen (Parker), Van Hansis (Luke), Billy Magnussen (Casey), Trent Dawson (Henry) and Evan Alex Cole (Hunter). Guiding Light past and present has been represented by Murray Bartlett (Cyrus), Jennifer Roszell (Eleni), Zack Conroy (James) and POZ’s good friends Mark Dobies (Noah), and Brian Gaskill (Dylan), who came in from the West Coast in 2009. Project Runway's Jack Mackenroth and Kevin Christiana helped us out in 2008. Thom Christopher, “Hawk” of Buck Rodgers in the 21st Century fame, has been there more than once to add his smiling face to the cause. Soap Opera legend Laurence Lau (All My Children’s Greg Nelson, Another World‘s Jamie Frame) was in the good company of his gift-bearing fans in 2009. Actors Colton Ford and David Moretti from The Lair were on hand to add some spice to the proceedings. Fan favourite Matt Walton (Optimum and One Life to Live)and good friend to POZ has been on hand more than once. Law &Order: SVU’s Christopher Meloni greeted his many fans and lent his special presence. Christopher Meloni of NBC’s Law & Roder: SVU taking time out of a very busy schedule to greet his many fervent fans in 2009.



The year that Alicia Minshew of All My Children came was the same year she announced her engagement to long time love, Rich Hershenfeld of Prohibition. The fan response was immense and intense. It was best year for funds!




POZ publisher Megan Strub took stage in 2009 to speak words of encouragement to help mark POZ’s 15th year and its efforts for AIDS Walk New York following in the footsteps of Editor-in-Chief Regan Hofmann in previous years.



Love Out Loud West has been happening in Los Angeles since 2007, first at The Abbey, followed by East/West Lounge and then h.wood for AIDS Walk Los Angeles. Sherri Lewis (Divas Simply Singing), Ted Detwiler (Sordid Lives),Kristoff St. John (The Young and the Restless), good friend, Patrika Darbo (Days of Our Lives), Kate Linder (The Young and the Restless), Thom Bierdz(The Young and the Restless), Lisa LoCicero and Brandon Barash of General Hospital, heartthrobs David Moretti of The Lair, Brandon Beemer of The Bold and the Beautiful with Nadia Bjorlin (Days of Our Lives), Brian Gaskill, who has been on both coasts and, of course, Ilene Kristen an inspiration on every coast.





Los Angeles affords the opportunity for a large crowd of celebrities, among them: Taylor Spreitler (Days of Our Lives), Amanda Baker (All My Children), Lexi Ainsworth (General Hospital), Jai Rodriguez (Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!!), Greg Vaughan (General Hospital), Adam Grimes (General Hospital:Nightshift), Carrie Southworth (General Hospital:Nightshift)and Matt Borlenghi (General Hospital.

Singer John Pagano (Pure Imagination)gave an exceptional performance in 2009 that porved that he has a very special talent.

The gracious personal support on the part of members of the entertainment industry to help those with HIV/AIDS and its awareness helps make POZ events in Los Angeles get brighter every year. Michael Maloney (Soaps In Depth), Michael Fairman (Soapside: Advocate's Guide to Daytime) and Tammie Arroyo (Steven Bergman Photography) as members of the media did their part for awareness. It’s grand when the beautiful people do something beautiful.

Fairman was instrumental in making the 2008 fund-raiser for AIDS Walk Los Angeles quite a fête with Kristoff St. John, Michelle Stafford, Bradford Anderson, Billy Miller and many others.



Strong mention needs to be made of the media participation and support of Kimberly Roots of Soaps in Depth, Roger Newcomb of We Love Soaps and the energetic photographer Steven Bergman.





In 2008 the advent and subsequent friendship of Kevin Spirtas, well known on Broadway and on television, helped bring the World AIDS Day event Bacharach to the Future to fruition. It was more than a memorable evening with many of the best and brightest performers giving life to Burt Bacharach’s compositions highlighting his early contribution to the AIDS struggle with the song “That’s What Friends Are For,” the pioneering recording that benefited The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985.



Katie Adams (Wicked), John Bolton (Curtains) BethAnn Bonner (One Life to Live), Terry Burrell (The Threepenny Opera) Liz Callaway (Miss Saigon), Franc D’Ambrosio (Phantom of the Opera), Ted Detwiler (Sordid Lives), Kevin Earley (A Tale of Two Cities, Les Miserables), Natalie Hiatt (Leading Ladies) Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot, Sunset Boulevard), Ilene Kristen (Grease, Ryan’s Hope, One Life to Live), Sherri Lewis (Divas Simply Singing), Jill O’Hara (Hair, George M!, Promises, Promises), John Pagano (Burt Bacharach Concert Orchestra), Billy Porter (Angels in America, Jesus Christ Superstar), Linda Purl (Tom Sawyer), Julie Reiber (Wicked, Rent), Tony Roberts (Promises, Promises, Xanadu, Victor/Victoria) Kevin Spirtas (The Boy from OZ), Matt Walton (Hair, Burn After Reading), Pearce Wegener (Gypsy) Director, Bruce Kimmel (The First Nudie Musical, The Brain From Planet X) and Musical Director, Alex Rybeck.

This event not only introduced us to Mr. Spirtas’ very capable producing abilities but also brought some good friends and performers into our life, viz. John Pagano, Sherri Lewis and Ted Detwiler. It was a milestone in the life of Love Out Loud. We are looking forward to similar stellar events in 2010 in collaboration with LIFEbeat and Housing Works.



None of these events would have any meaning without the participation of generous souls like Charlotte Walton, Diane Nilsen, Amy Beard, Kay Gordon, Trudi Bills, Daiva Keys and many others.



Last years' event at Prohibition was exhilarating and this year's promises to be even more so. Check it out here. Teaming up with We Love Soaps has been a blessing.