Men’s Grooming Made Easy

The Dean Anthony Men's Salon brings metrosexual awareness to Long Beach

BY KEN KNOX

For Dean Anthony Men's Salon owner Scott Shelton, running an establishment that offers a bit of pampering to the men of Long Beach and Orange County is an opportunity to bring a little bit of metrosexuality to the community. “Long Beach was the only city that didn't have anything like this,” he notes, “so we definitely could be the pioneers in bringing a men's-only salon to Long Beach.”

Shelton opened the spa with his wife, hairdresser and Bella Salon co-owner Michelle, after receiving some inspirational feedback from their female clients. “A lot of them said they wished their husbands had something like Bella,” Scott recalls. “So we made a trip to New York City, where we found that there were tons of men's-only salons. That was pretty much our inspiration, so we went gung-ho after that.”

Recognizing the need in Long Beach for a full-service men's salon, they opened the doors to Dean Anthony (named for their son) in October, 2007. The salon offers a wide array of services, from facials and deep tissue massages to body waxing, nail clips, and a wildly popular straight-edge shave, and has attracted both gay and straight clientele. “Our regulars come back anywhere from weekly to bi-weekly for that,” Shelton reports. “This is such a treat for men because it's all about them. From the moment they walk in the door, they're offered a cold glass of beer and complimentary nuts and pretzels. Anyone who's been here says it's like nothing else they've experienced, so we've done our best to gear the services toward what men want.”

Shelton cites makeover shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy as contributing to the male grooming boom. “Men feel more comfortable about wanting to be taken care of like this. Movies and TV make them feel like it's not something they have to hide or be ashamed of.” And even though some of the men are intimidated when they first walk into the salon, it doesn't take them long to succumb. “We've found that it takes men at least three visits to the salon before they try an additional service, but once they get going on it, it kind of snowballs from there into getting it all.”

The clientele aren't the only ones walking away happy. “Running this place is a job, but with this place, it's fun,” Shelton says. “We're in the taking-care-of-people business. It doesn't feel like I'm working. I consider myself very lucky.”

Bella Men's Salon is located at 5287 Second Street, Long Beach. To make an appointment, call 562/434-DEAN, or visit www.deananthonylb.com.

SCENE

Karaoke Queens, Unite!

Sanjayas of the world: Sing your way to fame and riches by entering Long Beach Pride’s Pride Star!

BY JONATHAN RIGGS

All right you aspiring David Archuletas and Nikki McKibbins out there, Long Beach Pride’s Pride Star competition is gearing up for another fantastic year!

You won’t have Paula Abdul seal-clapping you (or offering you a sip of her special “Diet” Coke), but you could go on to receive fabulous prizes including:

• Riding in the Long Beach Pride Parade on Sunday, May 18

• Moolah!! ($2500 for the winner, $750 for the runner-up, and $400 for third prize)

• The chance to represent Long Beach Pride and the community throughout your reign

Warm up those vocal chords and practice your Mariah Carey hand-flutter—the competition’s starting now!

From March 24 through May 16, competitions will be held at:

• Club Ripples, Tuesdays, 9 p.m.

5101 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

562/433-0357

• Silver Fox, Wednesdays, 9 p.m.

411 Redondo Ave., Long Beach

562/439-6343

• Hot Java, Fridays, 8 p.m.

2101 E. Broadway, Long Beach

562/433-0688

Simply go to the blog on www.myspace.com/pridestarlong beach to print out an entry form. Bring it, $10, and a photo of yourself to the venue where you want to compete. Don’t forget to pack your purse full of double platinum dreams and some Pitchy-B-Gone spray!

The complete rules are on the website, but keep in mind, my little Fantasia Barrinos, that you must:

1. Be at least 21 years old.

2. Be able to perform on a 10x10 foot stage.

3. Sing along to the music track without the use of lyrics or sheet music.

4. Be ready with a second song if there’s a tie.

And, lest you unleash your trashy inner Trenyce, keep in mind that you absolutely mustn’t:

1. Exceed five minutes with your performance.

2. Include nudity or any inappropriate language or gestures.

3. Use instruments, stage effects, or pyrotechnics.

Each preliminary contest will have one winner, who will sashay on to the quarterfinals. These winners will face off during the semifinals on the main stage at Long Beach Gay Pride on Saturday, May 17, and the three top winners of that competition will get to emote their little Céline-loving hearts out for the final competition that Sunday, May 18 on the main stage.

Whew! Nobody ever said it would be easy to climb the glittering slope of the music industry, so get to singing, sparkling, and standing out!

To add a twist to the immortal warbling of the twin poetesses/muses of our times, “it’s just you against the music!”

Sing it, baby!

For all the official rules and the entry form, visit www.myspace.com/pridestarlongbeach

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Poetry is for the dogs

Honor your furry friends by writing a poem about them at the 6th annual Haute Dog Poetry Contest on Saturday, April 12. Haute Dog, a dog-lovers network with a strong gay contingent, will award $100 cash prizes for the three best original poems. “It's open to everyone,” says organizer Justin Rudd. “Each contestant can read two original poems. It's not necessary to memorize them. Just come and honor your pets.” The canine event starts at 2 p.m. at Belmont Shores' three-acre off-leash Dog Beach Zone, between Roycroft and Argonne avenues. For more information, visit www.hautegogs.org, or e-mail Justin@JustinRudd.com.

Hills are alive with the sound of Harleys

A caravan on Harleys will cruise into the San Gabriel Mountains when the LifeRide 10 Motorcycle AIDS Ride roars into town on Sunday, April 20. The ride starts at 8 a.m. in L.A.'s Elysian Park area, then goes into the mountains, ending in Soledad Canyon for lunch at Classic Route 66 Grill. A contract dispute forced them to downside and move out of Dodger Stadium as was initially advertised. “It won't be the festival event we'd originally planned, but it'll be a fun ride nonetheless,” says Garry Bowie, executive director of Long Beach AIDS Foundation, one of the sponsors. The nation's first motorcycle AIDS ride, the 10-year-old event benefits local AIDS service organizations. For more information, call 562/987-5200.

Place your bets at Casino Night

Tongues will likely be wagging once again as Long Beach AIDS Foundation's much anticipated “Cirque d'Esprit” Casino Night returns. A high-energy affair with gaming, food, auctions, prizes, music and dancing, plus entertainment by Cirque Berzerk, the evening has turned into one of Long Beach's most talked about events. “It's the wildest thing. You'll sit there and go, 'Wow, that was an event!'” brags LBAF executive director Garry Bowie. Casino Night is Saturday, April 26 from 6:30-11:30 p.m. at the Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave. The event is expected to sell out, so Bowie advises getting tickets early. Proceeds benefit AIDS Walk Long Beach. For more information, call 562/987-5200.

South Bay Women gatherings

Even though the South Bay Center is “between homes” while they search for a new location, their groups are still going strong. Their Women's Groups meet on the first and third Mondays of each month. “We've done book discussions, poetry writing, discussion groups, dining out. It varies each time depending on what the group wants to do,” reports Center executive director Dottie Wine. The April 21 gathering will be dining out at Curry House, 21215 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance. While the groups are intended for lesbians, “all women are welcome, even the curious and questioning,” says Wine. For more information, call 310/328-6550, or send an e-mail to womensgroup@southbaycenter.org.