Like almost every other city and town, Toronto pulls out the stops for the holiday season. The Village is like every other place, but just a little different. There aren't many religious symbols (okay, none that I've ever seen), and there aren't too many lights because it isn't residential. Unlike many other areas, the commercial space isn't geared toward selling products, it's geared toward lifestyle.

There are quite a few bars, cafes and restaurants (although 4 big restaurants -- Il Fornello, Zelda's, George Bigliardi's and Statlers -- are all gone now), and specialty food shops. We have a cheese shop in between the high-end eyeglasses store and the butcher shop -- not exactly the mall-style shops geared toward impulse buying. "OMG! I love those $900 frames, they'll look great on Betty, let's by them! Do you have her glasses prescription handy?"

Without the same kind of commercial trade, the holiday season takes on a somewhat different tone in the gay village: it becomes more about socializing and people than about the latest gadget or must-have toy. Who knew the gay village would be so traditional!

It's a wonderful, bright place to walk hand-in-hand with your sweetie, or with your best 4-legged friend, your gaggle of gals, or stroll cheerily by yourself. You can say hello to your friends, pick up an invitation or two to an upcoming party, catch up on the latest gossip and stop for a hot chocolate or a hot toddy. I sincerely hope you have a place like this near your home, and that you take full advantage of the natural camaraderie that comes around this time of year.

Radio: Janis Joplin

I have long been a fan of Janis Joplin. In the very early days of my obsession, before things like images on the Internet (oooh, I am aging myself, aren't I?) I ran a Janis Joplin fanzine. It was cut-and-paste, photocopied and very much loved by subscribers. 

Janis was, at the height of her career, the highest paid female singer, although that might be hard to believe as she doesn't have the same selling power and legacy as her contemporaries (Hendrix and Morrison, for example). But Janis' voice is still quite extraordinary, and I play her songs often on the radio station.

Janis was born January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. She grew up an outcast and frankly, having visited Port Arthur to see their Museum of the Gulf Coast, which housed Janis memorabilia, I have to say she's still not well-embraced by the town. But I do own a piece of brick from her childhood home! What a geek I can be ;P

Although Janis had been singing for years, she made her mark at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, and her performance was captured by filmmaker DA Pennebaker. It's still electrifying. I love the cut to Mama Cass Elliot who is in the audience. She has a trippy plastic ring on and she just keeps saying how awesome Janis is.

TIME magazine called Joplin "probably the most powerful singer to emerge from the white rock movement," and Richard Goldstein, in Vogue magazine, wrote that Joplin was "the most staggering leading woman in rock... she slinks like tar, scowls like war... clutching the knees of a final stanza, begging it not to leave... Janis Joplin can sing the chic off any listener."

Janis overdosed on October 4, 1970 (although if you're looking for a good conspiracy theory, you need look no further than her death and those of Hendrix and Morrison). If you haven't found the magic and mystery of Janis Joplin, tune into  LesbianFunWorld Radio and listen for yourself. And yes, that's a portrait of Janis that I painted, and you can purchase prints online if you'd like

T-Shirts: Satisfy My Sugar Tongue

Satisfy My Sugar Tongue is inspired by the lyrics of Amy Ray, of the Indigo Girls. Written in a stamped "grunge" style, it's sexy, ragged and a great shirt to wear to any IG concert! Okay, so it also makes a romantic bedtime t-shirt too! 

Lifestyle: Art

Many people have a hard time understanding abstract art, and I’d like to help you not only understand but appreciate abstract art. The four paintings you see here are on display at Starbucks Cafe, on Church St in Toronto, until January 1. It's my final (planned) show there, and I wanted to go out with a bold statement. 

These paintings comprise the Playing With Fire series, and represent 4 key aspects of my life. Fire # 1. Think about how literature and fire go together. Usually, not so well. Book burning has been going on for as long as the word has been written, and continues today. It is a mob’s way of trying to stop progress, to prevent change. By capturing the flames of a book burning, I am conveying to you cautionary message about rejecting ideas, preventing change, and fear mongering.

Fire # 2. This leads to the political use of fire. From burning homes to burning land, fire has been used by corrupt political and military leaders to oppress and retaliate. Facing the political firestorm of oppression allows you to see the need for change.

Fire # 3. From about 1550 to 1650, in Western Europe, religious leaders began a pogrom to rid themselves of heretics. These were the Burning Times. Midwives, healers, witches, social misfits and religious rebels were all targets. If you worshipped the “wrong” deity, you were a target. This painting conveys memory and secrecy, and a will to stay alive.

Fire # 4. As a lesbian, I am aware of the impact of the fires of the Holocaust. Among the targets for extermination were gays and lesbians. Marked with pink or black triangles, gays and lesbians were rounded up, shipped off and, in many cases, gassed and burned. This painting speaks of remembrance, pride and tolerance.

I hope you have the opportunity to see these pieces for yourself, but if not then I hope you take with you an idea, however, abstract, about any of these topics.

Lifestyle: Wine

Even if you aren't a drinker, you probably know someone who would appreciate a nice bottle of wine over the holiday season (and they can always exchange it at the LCBO!). E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone is available both in red and white, although I prefer red on a cold winter's evening. It fits well into the holiday spirit with scents of spice, plum, berry and pepper. The taste of course is not far off that.

You will find hints of white pepper, black cherry and black currant and a full body. It's perfect with grilled Portobello mushrooms which are a meal unto themselves (great as a thoughtful gift for vegetarians -- marinate mushrooms into an eco-friendly reusable plastic container, and put the container, the wine and some fragrant Basmati rice together into a gift basket and voila! ), and it matches nicely with various meats (with turkey, try the white or Blanc version of the wine not because white meat goes with white wine, but because this red might overpower your traditional turkey flavours). 

At under $18 a bottle, it makes a great host/hostess gift, and it good to enjoy all on its own, too!

Recipe for Grilled Portobello Mushrooms:

• 1/4 cup canola oil, 3 TBSP chopped onion, 4 cloves of garlic (minced), 2 TBSP balsamic vinegar - mix
• Put 2-3 cleaned portobello mushroom caps gill-side up into a container, pour above ingredients over top
• Let sit for 1 hour. Pack up, take to friend's home, turn on the electric grill or fire up the bbq, grill for 10 minutes and you're done!
• Add a bit of crumbled blue cheese on top if you're eating cheese. Yummy!

And here's a romantic little idea for you and your beloved: think about a special winter breakfast picnic! Forget the alcohol (especially if you're driving to your chosen picnic grounds), but pack warm foods (muffins and gingerbread cookies for those who love sweets, hot potato soup in a thermos, banana bread, sliced fruits, and don't be afraid to include chicken or turkey for people who want to dig into some meat). Pack up a warm blanket, and find a spot to enjoy the quiet that often comes with early winter mornings.

Thanks! I'll be back next month with another newsletter. But until then remember...

 Love Women, Have Fun, Wear T-Shirts! And Happy Holiday Season!

-- Sue