By Dr. Karla Koch

’Tis the season to barbecue. As much as people love the aesthetic and sociability of cooking outside on the grill, there are some good reasons to avoid making it a daily habit. Cooking foods at high temperatures, and with low water content, creates something called the Maillard reaction. This happens when sugar and protein are exposed to high heat, sparking a chemical reaction in our bodies that produces advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Have you ever met someone who is so fabulous thatthey deserve a plaque, a street name or perhaps even their own day? Ihave. Thus, I give you — drum roll please — the Fabü Hall of Fame! It gives me immense pleasure to announce the first inductee: Estevan Apodaca, owner of Estevan’s Salon de Belleza and Elan Academy of Cosmetology and Barbering.

By Lisa VanDyke

Have you been waiting on pins and needles to find out about my next adventure? Save some of those needles; they might come in handy after you read this prickly review.

There’s a chic little spa/salon in the Downtown area that’s cultivated an impressive number of devotees. Located in an unassuming casita on the corner of 14th and Lomas, 14th St. Spa and Salon (501 14th NW, 505.244.8744) has “best-kept secret” written all over it. Sorry to spill the beans, devotees. Don’t hate! You can always flaunt the “I was there first” card.

By Lisa VanDyke

Oh my gay! The second weekend in June is always one of my favorite weekends of the year. Break out the short-shorts, feather boas and magnums of champagne; it’s Albuquerque Gay Pride!

Gay pride isn’t just a one-weekend-a-year thing. So, what exactly is it? I consulted Roderic Montrece, publisher/editor-in-chief of the new, uber-hot, national gay men’s magazine, Zeus (zeusmagazine.com), for an eloquent answer. He did not disappoint.

By Lisa VanDyke

I’m shocked and saddened by the death of former Givenchy and more recently, Gucci designer, Alexander McQueen. Suicide is never, ever the answer, dahling. WWGD? (as in, what will Gucci do?).

Being happy and maintaining a healthy self-image should be among your top priorities. Some great ways to stay happy and healthy: regularly block out some time to exercise, volunteer, spend time with quality friends and family, keep a journal and… hit the spa, salon, barber shop, etc.

By Lisa VanDyke

Fantastic news, dolls. I’m in love with Mary Poppins! Not the nanny, the Pomchi. This Mary Poppins is a two-year-old Pomeranian/ Chihuahua cross that I recently adopted. She’s eight pounds of pure sass, and I’m hopelessly head-over-heels in love with her.

I met Mary through Enchantment Chihuahua Rescue, a division of Quixote Humane, Inc. She was found as an injured stray, and her time was up at the pound. Nobody wanted her because her injuries were too severe. If it wasn’t for ECR, she would have been a goner. They took her in, coughed up nearly a grand for medical expenses and nursed her back to health.

If you’re like most women out there, you’re more familiar with menstrualcramps than you’d care to admit. Whatever your cycle, it either gives fair warning or may sneak up on you, sometimes with a knock-out punch toyour uterus. But don’t give up and feel relegated to Advil, as if it’s your only friend in the world. There are many options to reduce or eliminate cramps, and the ones listed here have the side benefit of improving your overall health.

Ah, springtime! According to poet Alfred Tennyson, spring iswhen a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love. According to yourstruly, this is when everyone’s (at least those with decent groominghabits) fancies should turn to hair removal. Time to shear that winterwool, lambs. Spring has officially arrived!

This year, I decided to boldly go where I hadn’tgone before: sugarville. Have you tried body sugaring yet? Fantastic!Five stars!

Many of our readers have children or are planning to have children, so Ihave asked Dr. Josip Gazic, assistant professor of Child and AdolescentPsychiatry at the University of New Mexico, to shed light on the complicated issue of psychiatric illness in children.

Until recently, many of us thought mental illness afflicted only adults. This isn’t the case anymore. Who hasn’t seen the news about school shootings? Who doesn’t know a child that had a terrible reaction to Ritalin? What are psychiatrists doing with our children? What are all these pills for?

Isn’t the Smart List awesome? Thanks to all those who submittedtheir faves. Congrats to the winners! You are the crème de la crème,dahlings. Our fair city is lucky to have you.

In the spirit of superlativeness, I’ve decided toshare a few pages from my personal “best-of” book. Retrieve your mindfrom the gutter, please. These selections are, in my oh-so-humbleopinion, among Albuquerque’s best resources for all things fabulous.