I was in Tampa this weekend for the 2 year anniversary of Steam at Honey Pot that starred DJ Johnny Vicious and a fab performance by the newly crowned Miss Gay America, Coco Montrese. I arrived with Scott Spar (Hotspots’ Central Florida Director of Marketing and Sales) at about 11:30 pm and there was a long line down the block to get into the club. Of course Steve Moss and Steve Donahue’s people ushered us directly in and the club was already packed. Mark of Mark & Carrie immediately bought me a drink and made sure my glass was never empty. In the middle of the night Steve Moss walked us across the street to Reservoir Bar where I met the infamous Mama. She was so nice and insisted we all do a shot together. The 2 year anniversary of Honey Pot is a party Tampa will soon not forget. Saturday afternoon we decided to tour GaYbor and visited Hamburger Mary’s, Streetcar Charlie’s, Ybor Resort and Spa, Agora, JJ’s, Centro Cantina and we ate dinner at Fresh Mouth, where the sliders were delish. Saturday night I was off to G.Bar to hear the fabulous music of DJ Greg Anderson, and once again he did not disappoint. The club, as always, was wall to wall men, and included some of the hottest dancers (a couple of them will be featured on next week’s Hotspots cover as pirates).
Sunday I got to meet the owner of Crowbar, Bonnie, who was as sweet as sweet can be. I also went around GaYbor to make sure everyone had enough copies of Hotspots Magazine. I went to Hamburger Mary’s for chicken quesadillas and a cocktail and a lot of the business owners I met over the weekend were hanging out around the beautiful center bar networking and just having fun socializing with each other. This was great to see and be a part of. While there I had a wonderful conversation with Carrie (Mark & Carrie) who gave me another lesson on GaYbor history and told me what’s coming up in the future. A shout out to Esmee Russell for being the hostess with the mostest. That evening was the annual Miss Florida Gay USofA and classic pageant being held at the Honey Pot. The space transformed itself from nightclub to pageant hall wonderfully. The pageant, which was produced by Bob Taylor, was fun and in the end congrats goes to Hotspots’ own Amy Demilo (Miss Florida USofA 2010) and Danielle Hunter (Miss Florida USofA Classic 2010).
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the GaYbor members for treating me like family again this past weekend. I felt so welcome, it was heartwarming! Stay tuned next week for updates on other activities around Florida!
Thursday – Jan 28th
Beginning today through February 3rd Pride Factory will be offering free gift cards toward future purchases with pre-tax purchases of $50 ($10 gift card) to $100 ($25 gift card).
Tonight is the return of Electra to Smarty Pants. She will be there tonight, February 11th and February 25th at 9 pm.
Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will hold their Business Builders Luncheon at Hard Rock Miami (401 Biscayne Blvd., R-200 Bays). MDGLCC presents their monthly networking program held on the last Thursday of each month. For more info call 305-377-3110; registration is at 11:30 am with luncheon/net-working from noon to 1:00 pm. Cost is $30 per person including seated style lunch. Limited to 30 persons; RSVP to 305-573-4000 or via email to MDGLCC@bellsouth.net
Friday – Jan 29th
The Manor presents live on stage Amanda Lepore and Cazwell in the Epic Nightclub.
FacheArts & Amy Alonso Gallery are pleased to announce Art Exhibition: “Made In Chile,” featuring Chilean artists Victor Mahana and Carla Fache. Victor Mahana and Carla Fache, two Chilean young painters, show us through their paintings that behind the Andes Mountains talent remains and evolves through textures, strokes and technique. Abstract and surrealism, defined by the artists vision and their unique technique, are the gateway to a journey of imagination and nutrition of the senses. Captured in silence, the vivid energy flow of their paintings reminds us of the heritance of the Chilean Nobel Poet, Pablo Neruda most known verse: “I like you when you are silent because you are as though absent,” as their works penetrate the viewers minds and souls. The right use of light, shadow and color, and the relationship between the unconscious and conscious, surreal and abstract, puts us on a ride towards visual harmony and sense provocation. “My painting has always been the vision of vivid dreams. In simple words, I define it as figurative, concrete, detailed images of an unconscious, symbolic and irrational world. My work stands in that threshold, it is the paradox of two incompatible and sometimes opposite worlds: The real (the way of represent things) with the unreal (the subject of representation)…-Victor Mahana. “My imagination travels to non-existing dimensions that I best describe through a process of layering. When I paint, I feel as if I am hypnotized by colors and textures, all of which will create soft, thin layers that hide or reveal a mark of an unspoken feeling, emotion, or thought…” -Carla Fache. FacheArts & Amy Alonso Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting abstract art by Carla Fache as well as national and international artists, focusing on modern and contemporary artists from Latin America, North America and Europe. The gallery program challenges the traditional views of art and showcases the great range of styles, materials and themes in artistic production from this diverse art world. The gallery is located in the MOCA Plaza and is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 6 pm. For more information visit FacheArts.com, CarlaFache.com or email Amy@Alonsored.com
Saturday – Jan 30th
Rentboy.com presents the Hookies, the international escort awards regional contest, Mr. Florida 2010 Escort of the Year live awards ceremony at Johnny’s at midnight. The winner will travel to NYC for the International Escort Awards Show and BPExpo. The first 100 guests will receive a Swiss Navy gift bag.
Bigger Saturdays at Score presents DJ/Producer Escape.
Discotekka presents Pro Ball, a themed party in honor of the Super Bowl, with DJs Jarell, Carlos G and MDW and performances by Vegas, TP, Gina, Teresita and Victoria Sky.
Sunday – Jan 31st
Scandals Saloon proudly presents Gospel Jubilee with the Lady Fancy and her Jubilettes. Show starts promptly at 6:00 pm and offers the best in Southern gospel music and inspiration.
Scandals presents the Saloon Revue produced and choreographed by Two Guys On A Mic and presenting the best in local talent. A variety show like no other with a different theme each week.
HOT STUFF
Bottoms and Tops is having a huge sale in all 3 stores. In the main store at 2258 Wilton Drive take 30 to 50% off almost everything. In the Icon Shoe Outlet they are featuring 50% off all shoes. The outlet is featuring 70% off all clothing.
The 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards were announced last week, and AARP.org is proud to be nominated for their Outstanding Digital Journalism for “The Stonewall Riots: 40 Years Later” produced by Dave Singleton (AARP.org). AARP recognized the opportunity to mark Stonewall’s 40th anniversary and revisit the riots that were considered an integral part of the gay-rights movement in June of 1969. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.
The Rimmer Magazine is proud to announce that the 7th Annual Sleazy Awards will be held on Monday, March 8, 2010 at the Sea Monster located at 2 South New River Drive West. The theme for this year is “Sleazy Slumber Party.” Added to this year’s festivities will be a pool party at the Cheston House on Sunday, March 7th and a Sleazy Sea Cruise on Friday March 6th from 7 to 9 pm leaving from the Sea Monster. Proceeds from this year’s event will be going to The Wellness Center of South Florida. Past events from the Rimmer have raised over $90,000 for local charities. Awards such as Sleaziest Bartender, Sleaziest Bar Manager, Sleaziest Sales Clerk, Best Top in Town and 14 other categories will be awarded. Winners are chosen through ballots online at RimmerMag .com and paper ballots provided at participating bars. The show will be hosted by Russell from Stables and Daisy Deadpetals with DJ Mllk, Daddy-O, Ritchie Rich and a host of other local entertainers. Funds raised at this event will be from the door charge of $2.56, silent auctions, live auctions, and a 31/69% raffle. If you want a table at this event you will have to bring your own. There will be a Sleaziest Table Award given out the evening of the awards. If you have any questions please contact either Guido at 954-240-9054 or Co-Chair Kevin Wright at 954-600-8575.
Gay and lesbian couples are invited to Commit 2 Love on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010 on Jungle Island. The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is offering gay and lesbian couples the opportunity to honor and celebrate their relationships with a special ceremony and reception. Couples will formalize their unions in a romantic group ceremony complete with classic wedding traditions. The evening will begin with a welcome reception and passed hors d’oeuvres followed by the group commitment ceremony. After the ceremony, the celebration continues in the elegant Treetop Ballroom with a commemorative toast, dining and dancing. Guests will enjoy a variety of food stations highlighting some of the Treetop Ballroom’s signature creations, featuring carving stations, pasta selections and an array of sushi. And of course, the celebration would not be complete without a traditional wedding cake. After their first dance, the couples are invited to dance the night away with their friends and family. Having affirmed their commitment to one another, each couple will receive a Certificate of Commitment to honor the occasion. Miami Dade County Domestic Partnership Declarations will be available upon request with a notary present to officially document their union.
Each commitment couple will also be entered to win a variety of gifts including travel and hotel arrangements and wonderful dinners at local restaurants, including Escopazzo, Da Victorio, Emeril’s Restaurant and Nikki Beach Club. For additional information on how to be a part of this special day, please visit Commit2Love.com
Smart. Outspoken. Opinionated. Three-time Emmy Award winner Wanda Sykes is back! Reigning over everything from television sitcoms to feature films, this comedienne extraordinaire has returned in her second solo HBO comedy special, “I’ma Be Me.” Live from Washington D.C. (aired October 2, 2009) and edgier than ever, Wanda holds nothing back as she riffs on the perks of having a black President, coming out, getting married, motherhood, aging and twenty-first century pirates. With her trademark wit, Wanda shocks and astonishes at every turn in this feature-length special, her first to fully address sexual orientation. “I’ma Be Me” will be released February 2, 2010 and is available for pre-order now at TLAVideo.com for only $17.99!
