Contributors

Alisa Weldon & Lynn Yeldell, Founders

Chantal Outon, Editorial Director & Executive Editor
Editor Chantal Outon has always been a great appreciator of enchanting, unusual and preposterous things. As a writer, Chantal is captivated by words and their origins, and even enjoys creating new words from existing ones, much to the irritation of her English teachers. From a young age she began exploring other odd talents. At five years old her godfather taught her how to tie a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue, and the skill went far with impressing her friends. Later in life, while studying in Ireland, Chantal became apt at faking an Irish accent, an ability that came in handy most often while charming free cocktails from nice foreign boys. Chantal’s greatest life aspiration is to become a Great American Writer, though she concedes that her unnatural affinity for reality television may have stunted her advancement in that area. In fact, Chantal has had a TV habit for as long as she can remember. At the age of eight, her grandmother told her, “Chantal, you’re addicted to television. Do you know what the word ‘addicted’ means?” Chantal responded with a terse “Shh!” and promptly increased the volume on the remote. These days, she also enjoys taking in the occasional Coen Brothers movie (“The Big Lebowski” is her favorite), checking out a good comedy show, dining at her favorite gay-owned establishment in Austin – 34th Street Café – and periodically getting tattooed. Chantal’s favorite gay hero is also one of her favorite writers: the incomparable Oscar Wilde.

Michael Thad Carter, Photographer
Michael Thad Carter wasn’t always headed for a career in photography. This Renaissance man went country in Nashville as he explored a possible music career, and he got granola as a mountain adventurer for a stint in the Rocky Mountains. Then there was the time he won six gold medals at the 1994 Mississippi state gymnastics championships. But it was behind the lens that Michael met his match. With a degree in graphic design, the self-taught photographer set out on a freelance career. He has photographed everything from glamorous fashions in the nooks of Hamilton Pool to the faces of rockabilly culture in Austin, taking insightful portraits of everyone in between along the way. Michael’s diverse list of clients includes AIDS Services of Austin, the American Institute of Architects, Central Market, D Magazine, Four Season Hotel Austin, Kiplinger’s and many others.

Contributing Writers

	Lynn Yeldell Columnist Lynn Slayton Yeldell is no stranger to accomplishment. As a student at the University of Alabama, Lynn was the first female elected president of the Student Government Association, despite an onslaught of protests from her opposing male candidate. With her incredibly curious personality, Lynn has adopted many hobbies in her life, including practicing yoga and globetrotting. In fact, Lynn has traveled to dozens of countries including New Zealand, Greece, Venezuela, Cambodia and Germany. She’s even dined at the award-wining French Laundry, where she spent five hours devouring haute cuisine. Lynn’s current passion is cooking, particularly entertaining for friends at home. Her next challenge is to sharpen her cutlery skills. She says: “While others may watch ‘Iron Chef’ in amazement over how one can create a four-course meal with a secret ingredient such as lychee nuts, I am captivated on the prep and mastery of good knife skills.”
	Cristin “Moxy” Castro Columnist Cristin “Moxy” Castro is always thirsty, so it’s a good thing she ended up going in to the liquor business. The national sales manager for Charbay Winery and Distillery, and a trained sommelier, Moxy admits an addiction to fine Italian wines. Her favorite Italian wine is Barolo, which she prefers to consume from only the finest Italian stiletto heels! Moxy travels often, but when in Austin, one of her favorite haunts is Pasta and Company on Kerby Lane. It’s the laid-back and accommodating nature of the place she digs, along with greetings from house dog Stella every time she enters. As for her favorite gay hero, Moxy confesses a fondness for that comic book superhero Green Lantern, who dons a flashy, magical power ring. Talk about fancy accessories! “I can’t help it,” says Moxy. “Where else can you combine a power ring with tights and get super power out of it?”
	J. Ivan Figueroa Product Photographer Photographer J. Ivan Figueroa has been consumed with the visual arts for as long as he can remember, and was a painter before discovering the power of a beautiful magazine image. After a high-school photography class, he was hooked. He finds much inspiration in music and most enjoys photography because it allows Ivan to challenge himself artistically and intellectually while producing something he can be proud of. Though photography is Ivan’s love, he professes a skill for navigation and says he has a photographic memory. “But don’t expect me to remember your name,” he jokes. Historical gay figures Ivan admires include Lord Bryon and Virginia Woolf because “they both lead tumultuous lives, but in spite of their turmoil – or because of it – were able to create extraordinary work that still moves and inspires us today.”
	AJ Mistretta Originally from New Orleans, it was Hurricane Katrina that brought A.J. Mistretta to Austin. It was difficult for A.J. to leave New Orleans, a place he loves dearly. Additionally, moving to a city where he knew no one, particularly other gay men, was very difficult. However, after spending a little more than a year in Austin, A.J. is finding his place. Austin’s greenbelt is where A.J. feels most at home. “I find serenity in nature, especially in moving water,” A.J. says. “It soothes me like nothing else can.” While A.J. concedes that he is romantic in theory, he says love at first sight hasn’t really existed in his experience. Love is something that takes work, he says. As for his favorite gay hero, A.J. points to Alexander the Great. “Hey, he conquered the known world, had a hot lover and managed to maintain his own looks the entire time,” A.J. laughs. “Not bad for a kid with an alcohol problem!”
	Medea Lee Fashion columnist Medea Lee has a passion for projects. Having attended just about every art class imaginable, she is well versed in the skills of sewing, knitting, crocheting, hand-building ceramics, painting, welding, making jewelry and sketching. Though she’s never taken a class in screen-printing or nude drawing, Medea says those are next on her list. Medea insists that she is terribly shy, but those who know her might beg to differ. In fact, it is her fatuous sense of humor that her friends say is one of her most defining characteristics. “I’m a huge fan of bathroom humor,” Medea admits. “I always love a good fart or poop story! If you’ve got a good one, send it my way.” When she’s not cracking jokes, Medea also enjoys spending time outdoors (One of her greatest life accomplishments was hiking the 17-mile trail at Half Dome in Yosemite Park.) and keeping up with the latest trends in fashion, of course. Readers can view some of Medea’s more recent fashion designs in Helmut Lang’s spring shoe collection.
	Laurie Aroch Growing up in Israel, Laurie Aroch developed an appreciation for community and arid landscapes.  Her formative years were spent in New York where she nurtured her love of art, food, and music. Laurie moved to Austin in 1994 motivated by Texas’ wide open spaces, “every wannabe cowgirls dream.”  Among many of her endeavors, she is a Pharmacist and Clinical Nutritionist at Peoples Pharmacy, co-owner of Viva Day Spa and successful entrepreneur. Laurie is passionate about creating aesthetic spaces, exploring deep connections and educating people about health. “I believes that anything is possible with the right people behind you, and am proud of the fact that I live in a progressive and creative community.” She secretly desires to be a DJ – "DJ Tel Aviv"; coming soon!
	Lorri Anderson Lorri Anderson is a great example of someone who practices what she preaches. A licensed homeopathy practitioner, Lorri was long a homeopathy client and home prescriber before completing her master’s degree in the field and earning her credentials in certified classical homeopathy. In her practice, she loves that she’s able to help people get healthier and, first-hand, view great changes that are achieved gently. Though she considers Chicago home, Lorri has enjoyed the three years she’s spent in Austin, and can often be found reading, gardening, painting, cooking and hanging with her dog, who, she admits, tends to offer criticism when she belts out a song. “I have always wished I could sing,” she says, “but, alas, my musician friends assure me I’m tone deaf. And if I sing in the shower, the dog cries!”
	Tracy Hinson Tracy Hinson lives life unapologetically to the extreme. Her most death-defying activities include skydiving, hang-gliding, flying in open-cockpit airplanes and paragliding off a mountain in France. When she’s not gallivanting around the world performing daring feats, Tracy enjoys spending time at her favorite Austin establishment, Uchi Restaurant, which she loves because of the tasty food, warm and friendly environment, and attentive service. To work out some tension, Tracy regularly plays kickball for The Cherries, a girls’ kickball team she started last year. Her favorite gay hero is author and political activist Urvashi Vaid, who has tirelessly worked for GLBT equality. Tracy’s biggest life aspiration is to make her mark on the world in some shape, form or fashion. And when asked to discuss something odd most people don’t know about her, Tracy’s humorous side shines through. “I’m in the witness protection program,” she says. “Wait! Don’t print that!”

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