LOOKING: THE MOVIE

Looking: The Movie premiered at the Castro Theater in San Francisco, California, on June 26, 2016 as the final film shown at the San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, Frameline 40.

Celebrating Patrick's return to San Francisco. Photo: HBO.

Last night, I watched it on HBO and was happy to once more be in the San Francisco inhabited by the characters created by Michael Lannan.

The film, which serves as a form of closure for the two seasons of the HBO series, was written by Michael Lannan and director Andrew Haigh.

No spoilers here, but I will say I teared up at the end, when two characters walk up Castro Street after a night of drinking to join friends in the 24-hour diner, Orphan Andy's. I've done that more than a few times over the years.

As I wrote here on my blog, I regret there's no gay-themed film or television series set in 1990's San Francisco to remind me of that era in my life. I'm glad Looking captured its take–if all too briefly–on today's LGBTQ experience in the City by the Bay.

Sabrina Carpenter on the Cover of the France Issue of 360 Magazine

Volume 28 of 360 Magazine is now available at Magzter and Blurb!

The France Issue features Sabrina Carpenter, Prince, Terrie M. Williams, ANGE, RJ Word, Detroit's Comeback, Excavating Experience: the Presence of LGBTQ People of Color in Cook County, Illinois, Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, a (stunning, two-page) photograph of Christina Grimmie, photographs of Marilyn Monroe presented by Andrew Weiss, Lamborghini Centenario, and much more.

In this issue, Girl Meets World actress Sabrina Carpenter discusses her TV character, Maya Hart, her plans for releasing her second album, and what motivates her as an artist.

STRANGER THINGS on Netflix

On July 15, 2016, Netflix knocked another one out of the ballpark with its original series, Stranger Things, created by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, and starring Winona Ryder, Matthew Modine, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton.



I watched all eight episodes almost in one sitting.

If you like strong female leads, '80's nostalgia, horror and sci-fi, with a heaping helping of teen romance and paranormal goings-on, then stop what you're doing and clear your calendar so you can binge-watch Stranger Things.

No spoilers here, but it was astonishing in its freshness and nods to so many great films from the 1980's.

Laura Vandervoort, the female lead of the Canadian TV network Space's Bitten, finished watching Episode 8 a day before me. We both gushed over the series on Twitter. I even had a brilliant idea for next season's villain.