MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

ANTHONY TIMIRAOS

With a new career photographing men in stylized states of nature, Anthony Timiraos—one of main founders of South Florida’s Our Fund—is always on the go.  But he still has time to do this every week with his 92-year-old mother. 

Where did you grow up?  In Cuba.  I left in 1962, when I was eight—don’t bother doing the math, I’m 65.  My family was part of the Pedro Pan Exodus.  Me and my 11-year-old brother came to the U.S. first, and my parents and younger brother came two years later.  Me and my brother lived in several locations during those two years, including a catholic orphanage in upstate New York.  What do you miss about Cuba?  I was too young when I left, so I can honestly say that I don’t miss anything.  How long have you lived in South Florida?  Since 2003.  Me and my husband moved here from Connecticut.  Why did you move here?  For the lifestyle and weather, but not necessarily in that order. 

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Almost two years in the making, “expose” is a rich collection of 246 pages of full color nude photos by photographer Anthony Timiraos of nearly 40 different models.  The artists’ collection of nude photographs provides a diverse look at the (mostly) male bodies positioned in classical poses.  The author introduces you to each model with a short narrative providing the reader enough facts to connect the art to the individual on the page.

What do you miss about New England?  Living close to New York allowed us to drive into the city anytime we pleased.  It’s hard to replace what New York has to offer.  What part of South Florida do you live in?  Fort Lauderdale.  What do you like most about living here?  I love the weather and the sense of community in the LGBT community.  Where do you hang out in South Florida, and why?  At home, in the photo studio, on the beach during sunrise, at that gym, and at tai chi lessons.  What’s your claim-to-fame?  I don’t have any specific “claim-to-fame,” but I’m hopeful that through my philanthropy, including Out Fund, that I’ve helped to make this community a better place to live.  Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?  Newspaper delivery at 5:00 a.m. during my early teens.

WITH HUSBAND, ARTHUR CRISPINO

How would you like to be remembered?  I’m a member of the Legacy Society at Our Fund, and me and my husband have designated an endowment there from our estate.  I hope the endowment will continue to help our South Florida LGBT community, forever, and I hope that others will do the same.  Will you ever retire?  Probably not, as long as my health allows me to remain active.  I consider that photography is my new job, but, unfortunately, the financial rewards are minimal at best.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  My Instagram page.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why  Barcelona and Madrid, because the quality of life in both cities is impressive. 

WITH ARTHUR CRISPINO (LEFT) AND MICHELLE OBAMA

Who would you like to be for a day, and why?  President Obama, because he taught this country many lessons, but, unfortunately, many were not paying attention.  Do you believe in an afterlife?  It’s hard to believe in anything that I don’t understand.  Do you think that this is the most amoral time that’s ever existed?  Yes.  Who or what is the greatest love of your life?  My husband, Arthur.  How long have you been married?  We’ve been together since May 8, 1970, and we got married in New York in 2013.  What’s your recipe for success in a relationship?  Hard work and honesty.  What talent would you most like to have?  Concert pianist.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  That life’s too short. 

WITH MOTHER, MARIA, AND BROTHERS

What did you learn from your parents?  Hard work and honesty.  What’s your best characteristic?  Patience.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  Doing photography.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  There’s too many to list.  Who do you admire, and why?  The Obamas, because they’ve set a new standard for honesty, service to our country, and compassion.  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why?  Everyone who died from AIDS, because they were all taken away from us too soon.  Where would you go in a time machine, and why?  I would turn the machine off and walk the other way.  What would your last meal be?  Tapas in Barcelona.  What do you worry about?  A constitutional crisis in the USA.

What are you afraid of?  A constitutional crisis in the USA.  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why?  The fiddle, because of its simple and playful sounds.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  A sheep on one end, but a wolf on the other.  You decide which end is which.  Who depends on you, and for what?  My 94-year old mother depends on me and my husband for her Saturday lunch at a local restaurant.  Who are you closest with?  My husband.  What would your autobiography be called?  Move Along.  I’ve lived in 26 different locations during the past 65 years.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  Classical music.  Where can we see you?  On my website!

 

 

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Restaurants

ONLYWOOD

SHADE-O-METER RATING

4 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “SHE GAVE GOOD FACE – SHE SERVED IT”

What’s Onlywood?  It’s an Italian “trattoria” (Notably, there are three Italian-dinning styles.  Osteria, which is tantamount to American take-out, is the least formal.  Trattoria, which is casual but still consists of table service.  And ristorante, which is the most formal and emphasizes haute cuisine) in Key West.    The restaurant is right off of Duval Street, but it’s rather easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for.  Hence, there’s a slight air of the “hidden gem” going on with it.

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Was there an age restriction?  No.  What time did we go?  Around 9:30 p.m.  How was the maître d’?  No complaints.  What was the décor like?  The lighting is low in the alley that leads to the restaurant, so there’s a haunted-house vibe that exudes as one enters.  The décor of the restaurant itself is done in typical Key West style.

What was the seating like?  The inside seating is more illuminated and less quaint than the al fresco area.  What was the atmosphere like?  Casual.  In addition, many of the staff speak Italian.  What was the crowd like?  Mostly tourists.

How was the cruising?  The days of Key West as a gay mecca are long gone.  No cruising.  When’s happy hour?  Daily, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  What libations were ordered?  One glass of white wine, which was $9.  Were they served timely?  Yes.

How were the drinks?  There was nothing great, but nothing bad, about the wine.  What was ordered?  An Alla Caprese salad for $13.50, Fettucine alla Bolognese for $17.50, Fettucine Parma e Parmigiano for $15.50, and a 4 Maiali pizza for $18.50.  Was the food served timely?  Yes.

How was the food?  The mozzarella in the caprese salad was advertised as homemade, and possessed a wonderful richness to it.  The tomatoes in the dish were less impressive.  The fettucine in the bolognese was homemade and egg-based.  The noodles were excellent, but the meat was a bit bland. The noodles were the same kind in the parmigiana dish, and the sauce in this dish was authentic and first-rate.  Regarding the pizza, the restaurant has an imported brick oven, and if there’s one standout to the place, it would likely be their pizzas. The sauce in the pizza pops in the mouth on the first bite, and the prosciutto and pepperoni in it was delicious.  However, the pizza’s crust was bit of a disappointment, as there was no required crunch.

How was the service?  Fine, but there was nothing special about it, either.  What stands out about the place?  The pizza and the al fresco dinning.  What could be improved?  The food needs to be a little more consistent.  In addition, the plant on the table with the price tag kind-of blew the “trattoria” bucolic theme.

What was surprising?  The music.  It was all Italian, but each song was basically a rip-off of non-Italian artists.  The music went from an early-rock Buddy Holly-ish song, to The Stones, to Bob Dylan and then to Abba.

Onlywood is located at 613-1/2 Duval St., in Key West, Florida.  Consult the website for the restaurant’s hours, which are seasonal. 


 

 

 

 

 

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Events

2018 CINCO DE MAYO AT THE PUB

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Although Cinco de Mayo technically celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French Empire with the Battle of Puebla in 1862, in the USA it’s morphed into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.  The Pub had a double lineup to commemorate the holiday, with South-Florida based Company B performing first, followed by Nicole Halliwell’s Drink N Drag, featuring Angie Ovahness, Calypso Monroe Lords, Sasha Lords, and the birthday girl herself, Missy Meyake Le Paige.