OMD interviews with Seattle Gay News

Holy, alligator shirts! The 80s are back.

One of that decade's biggest hitsmakers, OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) is featured this week in the Seattle Gay News. The band, who rose to fame by penning the song "If You Leave" for the teen classic Pretty in Pink, has reunited for both an album (History of Modern) and tour with its original lineup - Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Malcolm Holmes, Martin Cooper.

Humphreys spoke to Seattle Gay News by phone shortly before the start of OMD's tour outing, sharing details about the tour and about writing that nostalgic hit single.

Pick up a copy of the SGN within metro Seattle this week or go online at http://sgn.org/ to read our interview with OMD. And, catch the group live at The Showbox SoDo (http://showboxonline.com) on September 29.

Seattle Gay News travels to the Dominican Republic, Oahu, Baltimore

Not sure whether to vacation in the Caribbean or Hawaii on your next tropical getaway? Try a little of both.

Seattle Gay News explores the blistering temperatures, local scenery, regional delicacies and unique culture of two hotspots - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and Oahu, Hawaii - in our newest special travel section, part of our September 23 weekly issue.

In Punta Cana, a two-hour flight from Miami, we savor the crystal blue beaches and magnificent all-inclusive Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe resort (http://www.barcelo.com/BarceloHotels/en-GB/Hotels/DominicanRepublic/PuntaCana/BavaroPalaceDeluxe/Home) in this coastal area, and go daytripping to nearby Sanoa Island, Higuey and the artist village of Altos de Chavon.

On Oahu, the most populous island of Hawaii and only five-to-six hours from the West Coast, we check out the North Shore's Turtle Bay Resort (http://www.turtlebayresort.com) - where the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall and TV show Cougar Town were filmed - and we then venture to another part of the island for a stay at The Kahala Hotel & Resort (http://www.kahalaresort.com).

Baltimore, an hour by train from Washington DC and forty minutes by plane from New York City, delightfully surprised us with its big city-small town feel, visitor-friendly public transportation, hip neighborhoods like Mt. Vernon and Federal Hill, and its rather interesting (yet oddly cool) American Visionary Art Museum (http://www.avam.org).

You'll find travel articles on Punta Cana, Oahu, Baltimore, plus Ottawa, Puerto Villarta and Minneapolis in the September 23 issue of Seattle Gay News, available throughout Metro Seattle this week in print and online at http://sgn.org/ .

From us to you, safe travels wherever you're off to next!

(Pictured: Sanoa Island, Dominican Republic)

Nirvana's "Nevermind" turns 20 years old today

Seattle Gay News joins the local music community and Nirvana fans around the world in celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the band's groundbreaking album, Nevermind.

The album, released on September 24, 1991, would prove to be a pivotal recording in rock music and would soon create superstars in the form of Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic.

Songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Come As You Are" and "Lithium" became instant classics and are still listened to regularly to this day.

When I lived in Europe some time ago, the thing most people connected to Seattle was "Nirvana" and often people would tell me how many times they listened to Nevermind. I remember going into a bar in Paris' 5th arr. and the bartender asked where I was from, and when I said "Seattle" he immediately played "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on the pub's stereo system.

It has been an amazing 20 years telling people I come from the same city as Nirvana.

Happy Anniversary, Nevermind!

Minus the Bear to give special 'cantina' performance in Seattle

Margaritas and bears? One bear, actually. A big one. Minus the Bear.

Seattle indie rock band Minus the Bear is set to appear at Little Water Cantina (http://littlewatercantina.com/), in the Eastlake district of their home city, on Tuesday, September 13 to help kick off the restaurant's extended hours and latest 'happy hour' additions.

The event, co-sponsored by 103.7 The Mountain radio station and Mt. Gay Rum, is open to the public and seating is based on availability. The party runs from 6:30-8:30pm.

Minus the Bear, who recently performed at the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival, released an album last year entitled Omni that includes their latest single, "Hold Me Down". The music video for the song can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG5n4swskec&ob=av2e. The group - Jake Snyder, Dave Knudson, Alex Rose, Cory Murchy, Erin Tate - will play at the HFStival in Columbia, Maryland on September 17 and will then embark on a month-long tour across the United States.

Aside from the special performance by Minus the Bear, Little Water Cantina will offer carnitas tacos and cocktail deals, including Mt. Gay mai tais and daiquiris.

Little Water Cantina is located at 2865 Eastlake Ave. East.