In Issue 17
Last week was all about Miami. On Wednesday the MDGLCC presented its monthly networker at the Sky Bar at the 5 star Shore Club hotel in South Beach. MDGLCC artist extraordinaire Noel joined Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and the City of Miami Beach Commissioners for an evening celebrating the first Miami Beach Gay Pride event. Speaking of Pride Saturday was the inaugural Miami Beach Pride and the first pride Miami has seen in over 10 years. The parade was fabulous with kudos going out to Azucar, Discotekka and Score for their incredible floats. The festival was packed (with a crowd estimate of 20,000 people) from the moment the parade ended until it closed at 7 pm. It featured many booths, delicious foods and drinks, FABULOUS entertainment produced by Joe Granda of Granda Entertainment, DJ Maximus keeping the dance floor hoping all day, many hot men and the beautiful sun that only South Florida can bring. A heartfelt wish of congratulations goes out to Operations Director Cindy Brown and the Board of
Miami Beach Pride. We can’t wait for next year!! Although we were all wiped out and sun burnt from Miami Beach Pride, we got up super early Sunday morning so we could be at AIDS Walk Miami by 8 am to support the event. The event drew over 3,000 walkers and many others came out just to support the event. What is truly amazing is that in this uncertain economy AIDS Walk Miami raised more money than last year. This just goes to show what a caring and generous people Floridians are and we here at Hotspots Magazine are privileged to be a part of this community!
Friday, April 24
If you like reading you can go to the Gay Literary Festival with Andrew Holleran, Karin Kallmaker and Felice Picano, featured among the dozens of gay and lesbian authors who will be participating in the first annual Gay and Lesbian Literary Arts (GALLA) Festival tonight and tomorrow. The two-day festival will include free workshops, seminars, panels, presentations and a book fair at the new Stonewall Library & Archives and ArtServe facilities. For more information, go to GALLAFestival.org or by calling Stonewall Library at 954-763-8565.
The Boardwalk presents Hot House exclusive Vince Ferelli live tonight and tomorrow with 2 shows each night.
Starting tonight and continuing through the entire weekend help Scandals thank Kmart for letting them use their parking lot by donating generously to the March of Dimes. For every $5 donation you will receive a ticket for a liquor basket worth over $500. The drawing will be on Sunday at 9:30 pm (must be present to win).
Saturday, April 25
Just when we thought football was over until the fall, much to the chagrin of die-hard football fans, the NFL brings a cherished off-season event for fans around the globe. The 2009 NFL Draft takes place tonight and tomorrow at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Teams select college players in seven rounds spread out over two days. Each team’s draft position is determined by reverse order of finish and is broadcast on NFL Network. Fans gather in the infamous auditorium to make their wishes known by cheering on their team’s eligible picks. In the draft’s back war rooms coaches, owners, agents and scouts study in-depth analysis on prospective draft choices, breakdowns of each team’s needs, and finally emerge to announce their choice within the time-limited selection process. Sidelines Sports Bar will show all the excitement LIVE today and tomorrow. “This is a time-honored tradition for football fans everywhere. It’s terrific we can offer it to our gay and lesbian football fans, too!” commented, Laurie Whittaker, co-owner of Sidelines.
Jackhammer presents “Men of Tribal” starring DJ Phoenix and no cover!
G-Bar in Tampa Bay presents Circuit DJ Eddie Baez.
The Alibi presents a car wash fundraiser for the Alibi Angels from 11am to 4pm.
Join the Metropolitan Community Church of the Palm Beaches as their annual outreach fundraiser “The Rainbow Ball” goes Hollywood. The event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with fabulous food, entertainment, dancing, silent and art auction and is promising to be the most exciting Rainbow Ball ever. For more info or to buy tickets, contact Michael Trueblood or Gail Gill at 561-691-9124, Michael@RainbowBall.com or gail@RainbowBall.com
Wednesday, April 29
The next PBA Mixer will be held at Anthony’s Auto Body at 6:30 pm. Over 30 people attended their Pride month mixer at Washington Mutual. The Pride Business Alliance mixers are a great opportunity to reconnect and network with many professionals from other gay and gay-friendly businesses in the county. So mark your calendars for this great mixer, and bring plenty of business cards with you. Admission is free. Light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be available. For more information on how to become a member or host a mixer, please call 561-533-9699 or email eric@CompassGLCC.com
Hot Stuff
Congratulations go out to Ernie D., the winner of the Scandals/Stable economic stimulus package. The drawing was held on April 6th and Ernie received a check for $1,000. Tickets for the next mortgage/rent promotion will go on sale early May.
Care Resource announced today that Anthony Hernandez, Director of Human Resources for Masada Health Division of Jewish Community Services, was appointed to Care Resource’s Board of Directors. “Anthony brings an important perspective and expertise to the board. Human Resource is a complex and ever changing field. We are pleased to have him lend his volunteer time, experience and skills to the agency,” stated Rick Siclari, Executive Director for Care Resource.
The Board of Directors of Stonewall Pride, Inc announces the 2009 Rosco Dies Grant recipients. This year’s benefactors will be Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC), Gay & Lesbian Community Center of South Florida (GLCCSF), The Poverello Center and The Stonewall Library & Archives.
Club 11 is in the planning stages to bring South Florida PLEDGE College night on Wednesdays starring Daisy Deadpetals. Stay tuned for more info soon!
Starting Thursday, May 7th the Sea Monster premieres its new Thursday night promotion 3D Thursdays. The night will star DJ D. Roller and feature a $100 in cash Wet Jockey contest hosted by Nikki Adams.
Inspirationally HOT
When Kerry Westfall was diagnosed at age 16 with a rare neurodegenerative disease that had no treatments or cures, the news was devastating. But 15 years later with the debut of his own exercise DVD, he couldn’t be more optimistic. That’s because, at 31, Westfall did the unexpected when he decided to videotape himself exercising. Confined to a wheelchair with the genetic disorder Friedreich’s ataxia, Westfall was faced with a future of muscle weakness, a loss of arm and leg coordination, curvature of the spine, vision impairment, hearing loss, slurred speech and early death. He overcame the depression of his situation and got active instead. With the help of personal trainer Ed Ferrell, who owns a Fitness Together studio in Temecula, Calif., the two put together a fitness schedule that has helped Westfall maintain maximum control over his body in spite of his medical condition. According to Ferrell “It was produced to raise funds for the Westfall Foundation (WestfallFoundation.org ), which plans to aid research for neuromuscular diseases and assist others with the diagnosis. “Really, I just ask for a donation to help my cause,” Westfall said. “The DVD is free.” While Friedreich’s ataxia affects one out of 50,000 people worldwide and usually results in death by the age of 40, Westfall is convinced that his exercise regimen has helped him stay fit and stabilize the symptoms that others succumb to much earlier. Entitled “Commit to Your Health” (CommitToYourHealth.org ), the DVD includes detailed footage of Westfall’s workout routine with Ferrell. It also includes interviews with doctors for segments on nutrition, neurology, cardiology and osteopathic medicine. Westfall said the DVD was the answer to many questions: “How can I show people what I care about – fitness, health and overcoming my disease? What can I do to educate everyone on the secrets I have learned and been taught by my mentors? How can I show people that the fact that I use a wheelchair has very little bearing on achieving my personal goals?” For a copy of the DVD, visit CommitToYourHealth.org
Mulligans
Sweet, smart, and funny, Mulligans is more than a poignant family drama; more than a coming out movie. Straight college jock Tyler brings his best friend Chase to his family’s lakeside home for summer vacation. The Davidson family welcomes Chase but as the summer blossoms, unexpected attractions flare. Tyler’s Mom Stacey tries to keep it all together while Tyler’s Dad Nathan valiantly struggles with his long suppressed sexuality. Exceptionally well-written and packed with great performances from a strong cast that includes Charlie David (Dante’s Cove, A Four Letter Word), Thea Gill (Queer as Folk), Dan Payne (Watchmen), Derek James and newcomer Grace Vukovic. Mulligans, which is only 90 minutes, came out on DVD this past week and can be purchased from Wolfe video at WolfeVideo.com and is on sale for only
