Last Tuesday Hotspots presented the second annual Holiday Celebration, a 100% benefit for the GLCC/Pride Center at Equality Park, at the Embassy Suites. Hundreds of business and community leader showed up to raise thousands for such a important organization. Highlights of the night were the speech from Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, the performance by Christopher Peterson and the live and silent auctions. Johnny’s presented a VIP party for the Peters Twins on Thursday that was off the chain. For fear of self incrimination I am not going to tell you what happened… just make sure you are at the next VIP party. Hotspots team members were in Tampa last Friday taking in all of the excitement as hundreds of revelers roamed the GAYbor District dressed in holiday attire to participate in one of the biggest pub crawls in recent memory. It was very evident that a lot of people planned their costumes well in advance as there was no shortage of creativity. We stopped for dinner at the newly opened Hamburger Mary’s on 7th Street. The décor was truly unique and very inviting with spectacular views from the balcony. Did we mention that the food was great? With our bellies full like the hundreds of Santas roaming the streets, we started our own pub crawl. First up was Steam Fridays at the Honey Pot, where the place was jammed with hot dancers and a special live performance by the cast of Wonderland. Next we headed over to the YBOR EAGLE to witness a live performance of their version of The Little Drummer Boy and his Master (not the way I remember the story), which was very hot… Saturday morning we started the day at The Bunker chatting over breakfast then toured the shops on 7th Avenue, all decorated in spectacular holiday fashion. We had to check out the new store AGORA and couldn’t help but purchase a few Christmas gifts with such a great selection of cool stuff. And what would a trip to GAYbor be without stopping by MC Filmfest to chat with Mark and Carrie and of course Amber, their furry pooch. Thanks to Mark, Carrie, Steve, Scott and everyone else for being such great hosts! Sunday Afternoon the Twins made appearance at Bottoms & Tops. Sunday night I went down to Club Sugar for their first Cabaret Sundays starring Amanda West and guests. The guests were Erika Norell, Ebony Excell and Naomi. Check this show out every Sunday at 11 pm.
Thursday – December 17th
Sidelines Sports Bar presents Mrs. Claus Stocking Auction from 7 to 9 pm, a silent auction of stockings filled with fabulous items donated by businesses, celebrities, individuals and more to benefit Broward House.
They also invite you to come meet Mrs. Claus and her sexy elves.
Cho-Liang Lin in concert with the Key West Symphony Orchestra at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts at 8 pm. For tickets call the box office at 954-462-0222 or go to BrowardCenter.org.
Creme and Sugar Thursdays at Score presents the Crème & Sugar sessions CD giveaway starring DJ Pride.
From today through Wednes-day, December 23rd the Pride Factory is featuring 50% off all regularly priced shorts and 15% off already reduced shorts.
Friday – December 18th
The Mix on the Drive presents their grand opening.
The 9th annual GayMart USA XXXMas party with very merry go-go elves and tons of surprises takes place at Atomic.
The Ramrod presents the Muscle Bear Man Dance with DJ Herbie James.
The Boardwalk, in association with ManHunt.net and OnTheHunt.com, presents video star Trevor Knight tonight and Saturday with 2 shows each night.
Noche Latina Fridays, now in Miami at La Casa De Tula, presents Gloria Klein’s 50th birthday extravaganza. In addition, they will be celebrating AJ Kline’s (Mr. Noche Latina’s) graduation. The night features some of the hottest Latin DJs spinning Salsa, Latin House, Merengue, Reggaeton and all your Latin favorites. For more info visit NocheLatinaFridays.com
Saturday – December 19th
Bill’s December birthday celebration takes place tonight as they celebrate staff member Travis’ birthday. In addition, anyone who celebrates a birthday in December gets a free drink! They will also be featuring a very special Christmas Show starring Nikki Adams, Cashetta and Miss Kitty at midnight.
Joe Watkins, Mr. Ramrod 2009, and the South Florida Boys of Leather host the annual Kids in Distress Holiday Toy Drive, from 10 pm until 2 am at the Ramrod Bar. Come sit on Leather Santa’s lap and bring an unopened/unwrapped toy for children between the ages of 6 and 17. A $1.00 donation will buy you a black boot ornament to be placed on Leather Santa’s Holiday Tree. All proceeds go to Kids In Distress Broward County.
The Atomic/Boom holiday party takes place tonight with lots of surprises.
Bigger Saturdays at Score introduces to Miami DJs Dave and Gerardo together!
Sunday – December 20th
Catch my good friend Howard Merritt (of Fire Island fame) spinning at Scandals from 5 to 9 pm.
Monday – December 21st
Scandals presents Customer Appreciation Day, where you can redeem your stocking and free drink coupons, enjoy free hors d’oeuvres and a pot luck dinner.
Tuesday – December 22nd
Doug Lowerre presents a benefit for The Pet Project at Johnny’s. The night will feature hors d’oeuvres, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, an outdoor patio for your pets and much more. For more info call Doug, the fundraising coordinator for the Pet Project, at 954-336-9536.
Hot Stuff
Receive passes to the advance screening of “The Young Victoria” on December 17th at the Cinemark Palace in 
Boca or December 22nd at the Regal South Beach by e-mailing InvitationalMovies@ live.com and letting them know which screening you would like to attend. They will e-mail you back your free certificate. In “The Young Victoria,” Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) delivers an incredibly appealing performance as Queen Victoria in the turbulent first years of her reign. Rupert Friend (“Pride & Prejudice”) portrays Prince Albert, the suitor who wins her heart and becomes her partner in one of history’s greatest romances. This love story, set amongst all the intrigue of the court, also features Paul Bettany (“Iron Man,” “The Da Vinci Code”), Miranda Richardson (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”), Jim Broadbent (“The Damned United,” ”The Chronicles of Narnia”), Thomas Kretschmann (“Valkyrie”), and Mark Strong (“Sherlock Holmes,” “Tristan & Isolde”). Rated PG and in theatres December 25th TheYoungVictoria Movie.com.
“A Single Man” opens on December 25th. Set in Los Angeles in 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, “A Single Man” is the story of George Falconer, a 52 year old British college professor (Colin Firth) who is struggling to find meaning to his life after the death of his long time partner, Jim (Matthew Goode). George dwells on the past and cannot see his future as we follow
him through a single day, where a series of events and encounters ultimately leads him to decide if there is meaning to life after Jim. George is consoled by his closest friend, Charley (Julianne Moore), a 48 year old beauty who is wrestling with her own questions about the future. A young student of George’s, Kenny (Nicholas Hoult), who is coming to terms with his true nature, stalks George as he feels in him a kindred spirit. “A Single Man” is a romantic tale of love interrupted, the isolation that is an inherent part of the human condition and ultimately the importance of the seemingly smaller moments in life.
Kudos to Houston voters who chose Annise Parker to become the city’s first openly gay mayor, Annise had a contentious, hard-fought campaign but she always focused on the brick-and-mortar realities of running the country’s fourth largest city.
Katharine McPhee, one of my favorite American Idol contestants of all time, warmly laughs as she confesses she’s been in “artistic hiding” for the last few years. “It took me a long time to figure out where I wanted to go and be as an artist,” she says. “I needed time to learn who I was as a musician.” Once she discovered the answer, however, her path was sure and swift. On “Unbroken,” her Verve Records debut, listeners will discover a glorious side of McPhee previously untapped. Poignant, vital lyrics swell over full, lush melodies. McPhee’s supple, clear voice, resonating with emotion and confidence, caresses each note on this collection of soon-to-be pop classics. Fans first met McPhee in season five of American Idol. The runner-up could seemingly sing any style of music, but especially mesmerized millions with her heart-stirring rendition of “Over the Rainbow.” Her first solo album, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 in early 2007, only hinted at the extent of her talent—not only as a singer but as a songwriter—that “Unbroken” reveals. Unlike that first effort, McPhee co-wrote the majority of the songs on “Unbroken,” collaborating with fellow singer/songwriters Paula Cole, Ingrid Michaelson and Rachael Yamagata. 
“This record is definitely more personal to me,” McPhee says. “I have more stories to tell. It’s more of an artistic look at me as a person. Coming from a reality show, it’s hard to know the depth of somebody. This record gave me that opportunity to show that. That’s what Verve wanted from me: to make a record I was proud of. It was a huge blessing to give me that.” Her vocals also display a new vulnerability and maturity that make “Unbroken” compelling listening. While sounding utterly contemporary, McPhee also drew from the tremendous voices that have guided her throughout her life, ranging from Nina Simone to Sarah McLachlan. “I wanted some older influences on here,” she says. “My mom is a cabaret singer; I grew up with the Great American Songbook. That’s why I know all the standards, but I always had a want and a need for pop music.” McPhee paired with producer John Alagia, best known for his work with John Mayer, Dave Matthews and and Jason Mraz, to record Unbroken in studios throughout Los Angeles. Along with her musical rebirth comes a stunning physical change: McPhee recently transformed from a long-haired brunette to a sultry blonde. “I’ve never done anything crazy like this,” she says. “I didn’t think I would cut my hair off or go this blonde, but I’m going through changes. Searching for lyrics and meaning in the record just sort of forced me to examine inside and out.” And yet come through to the other side, as McPhee does, Unbroken. Unbroken [Verve Records] will be available January 5, 2010. Check out the video “Had It All” taken from Unbroken on YouTube.com. You can also check out her website at KatharineMcphee.com
