Did you ever see a trimmed palm tree? Just askin’… since I’m welcoming christmas in Tel Aviv this year. So if you are there, you have to eat yummy bites, enjoy shopping tours, and cultural events for me as well! “I’ll be home for christmas… if only in my dreams.”

“Last christmas… ” …I was in Budapest.

I know, I know… Hungary is freaking cold trough the wintertime. That’s why we, Huns love to warm up with a little booz – such as mulled wine from the Vörösmarty square. Enjoy December’s cheerful and fun event, the traditional Christmas Market near Váci utca, the heart of the city. Try kürtőskalács, aka chimney cake, a classic Hungarian favourite, and spy on the local fashionistas. Budapest is a real fashion hotspot, the most important shopping area in Budapest is Váci street and the side streets, Kígyó street, Petőfi Sándor street, and the historical avenue, Andrássy út. With it’s fancy Armani, Bubery and Gucci stores you surely will love it’s posh charm. Allee Shopping Centre is the „it girl” in town, in Buda. It has all the important shops and apperantly Hungary’s largest book shop, Libri. If you come here, you can avoid the most typical and most stupid gifts in Hungary, the white peasant blouse, tablecloth with tulips or a doll with Hungarian costume… kinda boring, right?

Well, nor for me. To be honest, I miss my home, I miss my friends and I miss everything… even the bad things, what used to make me really angry or upset about my country. I miss the trashy underground, Metro, I miss the short days and rainy nights and I truly miss some stupid fights and misunderstandings with my loved ones. I miss some Euro-culture. Close to the museum you can visit Gödör, a famous club, coffe place and exhibition centre. The program between Christmas and New Year includes thematic nights: Christmas – Chanukah, Jazz extra, Balkan Beats, and New Year’s Eve. It gives the essence of Hungary’s music, showing a wide range of world music, pop-rock, jazz and electric music performed by famous Hungarian performers. If you prefer words over music, meat Hungary’s English speeking theatre groups. „The audience should think about the way we live and what we are. Otherwise why do it? I’m interested in the possibility of redemption, however tiny that possibility is, and I know that forgiveness is very difficult.”
says Simon Stephens who’s story, Pornography is kind of a self-reflection for all of us.

After a deep impact of drama the best way to relax is going out. Alterego’s, Glam’s and Underground’s events are  listed in the petite calendar of the free Na Végre! and Company magazines – you can find them at the gay-friendly clubs and restaurants. And even if there is no special theme night, you can spin around the pole or grab glass of Hungarian wine – u decide if you wanna be a slut or a sophisticated gentleman. Whatever you choose, play safe, and come back soon. Maybe I’ll be back by then.

Marry Xmas and Happy New Year, Santa baby.

Hungary’s jucy celebrity magazine, HOT! recently published a two page article on my Kabbalah studies. If you’re interested in the technology of soul what changed my way of thinking, talking and living, go for it! I do know secret now: the main importance is not in fame on wealth, but what I do with it.

That’s our secret… and yours as well…

The magazine says: Kristóf Steiner left a glamorous life in the spotlight, when he moved to Tel Aviv half a year ago with Matan, his loved one. Now he is sharing with the Hot! magazine readers what changed in his life. „My dad and mum were really spiritual people and they had kabbalah books back in the 80’s, when no one knew about this cosmic wisdom in Hungary. For me, since I was a kid, the main thing was getting famous, to be on tv, go to VIP parties and be in movies. After I got all these, I realized how empty is the channel between me and the people who are looking at me: I don’t give anything for the fame what I got.”

While Kristóf was dealing with being a celebrity – what he always wanted – he lost his own, real personality: he stopped taking care of people and causes what he did before and he developed a serious eating disorder.

„I realized that being famous is a responsibility. I have to do and say things what has meaning and can guide others. When I came to Israel, I already knew I am going to visit the Kabbalah Centre, since I already finished most books which has been published in Hungary, and I found it very helpful and inspirational. When I met my instructor, David Zakin, I knew this the right way to the light.”

Kristof says being spiritual and finding God in himself does not mean he won’t go out or party again: he loves to have fun, but as he says, our material interests are in a certain 1 percent of our true nature, all the rest, what brings us closer to be filled up with satisfaction is in the 99 percent.

„My teacher called me a few times while I was in Hungary for 2 weeks, and if I get destructed he is giving me advices what meditation should I do or which book should I read and I truly trust him.” Says Kristóf, and he thinks, no one should be sarcastic about people looking for spiritual paths. „I know some people will say I’m following a fashion line by Madonna or Demi Moore, but I know how serious I am about becoming a better person, who can share the light what he experiences. Reacting on the sarcasm is never a wise thing. It’s time for us to do actions, not re-actions.”

I’m happy and grateful for my new mission what I got from the Light: building and editing the kabbalah.com’s Hungarian website. If you thought that it’s all about a red bracelet and a bottle of water, visit us on the other side of the curtain. Join our Facebook group and if you are in Tel Aviv, here is a hint… there is a new English language class starting really soon. “I think you wanna come over…”

Greg Gorman – a name that may not have been written in giant letters on film advertisements, yet many memorable posters are connected with him. In addition to Tootsie, The Big Chill, Tomorrow Never Dies, Pirates of the Carribean, Italian Job,Pearl Harbor and King Arthur, he has caught moments of several actors, musicians, dancers and models which over the years have become acknowledged as well-known portraits. Jimmy Hendrix, Alfred Hitchcock and Andy Warhol – only a few of the legends who remind you that Greg recalls the golden days of Hollywood and the dawn of pop art, while still being absolutely fresh, current and up-to-date. No wonder that the world’s trendiest advertising and fashion photographers want to learn tricks from the living legend, and thanks to Greg’s workshops they can do so without plagiarism. My article for Horizon, MALEV – Hungarian Airline’s in-flight magazine.

Joshua Smith’s photo of us on Greg’s shooting

“The whole thing’s about wine,” laughs a photographer, who took part in the master’s one-week workshop in California held at his own country house. Besides photography Greg is obsessed with fine wines. He himself makes and bottles the drink in containers of his own design. During the workshop Greg’s own cook made sure that photographers studying on the sand of the beach house would be in need of nothing, while deciding whether to take a portrait, a nude or a landscape. Yet, the devil of Vogue, Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone has recently decided it was time he toured the old continent and naturally, as everywhere, he has found followers here, too.

The stars who are out of our reach are not only Greg’s close colleagues but also true friends. For example, during our talk the star of The Blue Lagoon, Christopher Atkins, was mentioned. Greg took nude photographs of him when young as well as some decades later. “Chris carries his age very well. He still looks great.” Greg shows the black and white photographs which truly amaze me – Atkins is really in fantastic form but Greg’s work is also captivating. He knows exactly where to turn the reflecting screen by half a centimetre so that someone would look not only quite well but perfect in the pictures.

During his three-day workshop in Budapest, in addition to the art of photography Greg also introduced the magic world of post-production. Many may hear the news with regret, others with malice, that Hollywood celebs are not as perfect as they seem on their photos. Gorman is able to do the impossible: he can turn sloppily drooping shoulders into an athletic shape at a stroke, a badly tucked-in shirt on Richard Gere becomes properly done at once and instead of the stylist he himself worked on Lionel Richie’s hairdo – on the computer screen. Naturally there are some who hardly require any changes. “Sharon Stone looks fantastic. In her case fine touches are barely needed. I’ve also had models who were worked on by the plastic surgeon instead of me,” he says laughing.

After adventures in Moscow, Prague, Barcelona, Vienna and several other European cities, in Hungary Greg photographed his models in the derelict mansion of Tura. The captivating atmosphere of its hunting lodge designed by Miklós Ybl, architect of the Hungarian State Opera House, recalls the enchanted world of Beauty and the Beast. Greg, who has already seen a great deal, practically bathed in the beauty of the romantic building. “It’s an amazing place. I was already excited just having seen the pictures,” he says, and while a summer storm is raging outside and a silver sun is shining at the edge of black clouds he is taking photographs of stark-naked girls and guys of statuesque beauty. He is not bothered at all that the old mansion has no running water or electricity – at lunchtime, free of star-like poses and conduct, he enjoys eating the goulash soup made by an elderly woman in the village. “I’ve put on five kilos since I came to Europe. Local specialities are so tasty it’s difficult to resist the temptation,” he comments, biting into a thickly cut slice of white bread.

Asked which star he was most pleased to photograph Greg answers: “Bette Davis. She was a true Hollywood star in the best sense of the word, who despised women and adored men.” Her photograph shows an elegant, meticulous vamp who as an ice queen looks at the viewer with her famous glance, which was even sung about. Greg’s photos are far from being reserved. For instance, his album Just Between Us focuses on a single male model who shocks readers with various provocative positions – mostly of course naked. The legendary actor John Waters says that Greg’s photographs are elegant, dirty and breathtaking all at once.

“The title of my next book is In Their Youth,” says Greg, while showing the newly printed samples from his soon-to-appear album. Besides the pictures of stars and models in their youth – including Leonardo Di Caprio, Johnny Depp and Kevin Bacon – there is also a photo of himself in his early teens. With a sardonic look Greg is sneering at the camera while holding a huge trout as if sending the message: in the next fifty years I will catch all the big fish.

Indeed, today Greg Gorman at the age of 60 is not only unstoppable and unique, he really has caught all the big fish.

Kristóf Steiner