What’s Hot March 25, 2010

On Wednesday, March 17th the Boardwalk celebrated the start of a 2 week celebration in honor of their 25th anniversary with a VIP/invitation only party that featured open bar and hors d’oeuvres. Almost all the bar owners in the South Florida area were there to wish Victor and Jim a happy anniversary. Check out this week’s cover or the feature to find out more about their big party at the end of the month. Thursday was the grand opening of Cozmos and Club Oz. Congratulations to Anthony Diaz and Vito for a fabulous grand opening filled with cute young dancers. Friday was the big celebration (after a week filled with events) of the Depot’s 2 year anniversary. The night featured songstress and fabulous performer Jennifer McClain as well as sexy erotic underwear model Levi. Congrats to Jim and the entire Depot staff on 2 fabulous years and here’s hoping they have many more to come! Afterwards I headed down to Miami for the grand opening…

On Wednesday, March 17th the Boardwalk celebrated the start of a 2 week celebration in honor of their 25th anniversary with a VIP/invitation only party that featured open bar and hors d’oeuvres. Almost all the bar owners in the South Florida area were there to wish Victor and Jim a happy anniversary. Check out this week’s cover or the feature to find out more about their big party at the end of the month.

Thursday was the grand opening of Cozmos and Club Oz. Congratulations to Anthony Diaz and Vito for a fabulous grand opening filled with cute young dancers. Friday was the big celebration (after a week filled with events) of the Depot’s 2 year anniversary. The night featured songstress and fabulous performer Jennifer McClain as well as sexy erotic underwear model Levi. Congrats to Jim and the entire Depot staff on 2 fabulous years and here’s hoping they have many more to come! Afterwards I headed down to Miami for the grand opening of Club Waterfront. The club was packed and there was a long line to get in. It was so busy some people didn’t get in the club. This only goes to show you how much this club was missed. There was also a fabulous show starring hostess Teresita and guests. Congrats to all!

Saturday was Bill’s Turn-A-Bout which was a benefit for Florida AIDS Walk. It was definitely a hoot seeing some of the manliest bartenders in town dress in drag. Afterwards I headed to the Ramrod where they held a benefit for Joe Watkins, Mr. Ramrod 2009, to send him to MR IML in Chicago Memorial Day weekend. Afterwards I headed down to Score for DJ/producer Abel’s birthday celebration and he packed Score like only he can. Congrats to Billy and Luis for another fabulous party. Sunday there were 2 great events as the GLCC/Pride Center at Equality Park presented the annual fundraiser Stars of the Rainbow held this year at the Hyatt Pier 66 and the Equality Florida Miami Gala held at the River Lounge. WOW, there were so many events this week I need to take a small coma nap!

Thursday – March 25th

Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Builders Luncheon – Downtown Location is a networking program for the downtown membership group. Member Michael Wallman of Wallman Financial is the moderator. Held on the last Thursday of each month, this month’s meeting location is at Hard Rock Café Bayside Restaurant (401 Biscayne Blvd #R200) behind the Bayside Marketplace/305-377-3110; registration 11:30 am with luncheon/networking 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 by email to MDGLCC@BellSouth.net

Check out the fabulous play “Reefer Madness” at Rising Action Theatre. The hit madcap 30’s musical based on the anti-marijuana propaganda movie (now a cult film) of 1936! Winner of 3 Best Musical Awards: The LA Ovation Award, Backstage West Garland Award and LA Drama Critics Award for Best New Musical! As the play opens, the Lecturer, a severe authority figure, informs the audience of the new drug menace “Marihuana,” which threatens the American way of life! His warnings are reinforced by the Placard Girl who — throughout the play — holds up large signs that clearly state the moral of what we’ve just seen. From his podium, the Lecturer warns us that action must be taken immediately, before the Good Ol’ USA succumbs to the Demon Weed! The play runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through April 11th. For more information call 954-561-2225 and mention code: Hotspots for $5 off.

Friday – March 26th

Score presents the one and only DJ Danny Tenaglia with special performances by Anthony Lamont and Vivacious.

From today until Sunday Bottoms and Tops features a Crazy Huge Denim Sale with all jeans in the store only $29.99.

Saturday – March 27th

Compass Palm Beach presents their annual Pridefest today and tomorrow from noon to 6 pm. For more information see their ad or the feature in this issue of Hotspots Magazine or visit CompassGLCC.com

Tonight and tomorrow is the grand opening and Pridefest celebration at iRock (2650 S. military Trail) in West Palm Beach. They are “Pride”ly offering free admission both days along with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, free pool and much more. For more information call Sean at 561-543-3533 or Jovy at 561-729-6294.

Catch the queen of comedy, Sandra Bernhard, with her band live in concert at the Parker Playhouse at 8 pm to benefit Broward House. Tickets are available by calling 954-462-0222 or by going to ParkerPlayhouse.com

Bravissimo 2010 celebrating the artistry of music presents Symphony and Song, an evening to benefit the Sunshine Community Foundation, tonight at 8 pm at the Sunshine Cathedral campus (1480 SW 9th Avenue). For more information or tickets call 954-462-2730 or visit Bravissimo2010.org

The Manor presents Capital Recording star Lolene performing her hits “Rich” and “Sexy People.”

Hardcore Leather Productions presents Sin at Atomic/Boom.

Club Sugar welcomes Terisita La Caliente as their new Saturday hostess.

Sunday – March 28th

Club Aqua presents a poolside T dance from 4 to 8 pm as part of Winter Music Conference. The party will feature performances by Pepper Mashay and Vanessa Conde and also star DJ Amy Alderman. For more info call them at 305-448-2214.

Jackhammer T Dance at Atomic/Boom presents DJ Marc Scott’s birthday bash with a special performance by national recording artist Pepper Mashay.

You are invited to join Executive Director Kevin Cathcart and hundreds of Lambda Legal supporters for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the historic Bonnet House Museum and Gardens (900 North Birch Road) from 5 to 7:30 pm. This year Lambda Legal is honoring Mayor Ken Keechl for his tireless work towards equality, not just for the LGBT community, but for all of Broward County. To purchase tickets please contact Rick Hill (rhill@lambdalegal.org) at 786-473-6126 or you can purchase them online at LambdaLegal.org/fortlauderdale10

Scandals Saloon presents their monthly Gospel Jubilee (good ole fashioned southern gospel music at its best) starring the Lady Fancy and friends.

Hot Stuff

The 12th Annual Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF), April 23rd through May 2nd, is proud to announce the official selections for Opening Night (“I Killed My Mother”), Centerpiece (“The Four Faced Liar” and “Bear Nation”) and Closing Night (“LA Mission”) films. With over seventy-five films, special events and parties, the ten day event promises to showcase the best of LGBT cinema on the East Coast. “We are thrilled with the selection of films for our gala screenings,” says Kareem Tabsch, program director of MGLFF. “The timing is very important, especially in Florida, to present LGBT films dealing with themes of community and family delivered as mature, thoughtful and creative entertainment.” The complete program can be seen at the festival’s official website, MGLFF.com

East Gate Events is proud to announce that the second annual Let’s Go Play! at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon has been set for Friday night, June 4th, during the world famous Gay Days weekend held each year in Orlando. Last year’s Let’s Go Play event was given the honor of being listed as #2 in the “Top Ten Moments of 2009” by GayPartyBlog.com. This one night amazing event will once again bring together over 5,500 men and women from around the world for a night of dancing under the stars to the sounds of world renowned DJ extraordinaire Lydia Prim, surfing in the thunderous wave pool and plunging down the parks many water slides. This night is a private event inside Disney’s premier water park. Some of last year’s attendees have posted online that Let’s Go Play at Typhoon Lagoon is “One of the best and most anticipated events of the weekend.” Tickets are available for a limited time for only $69.00 at LetsGoPlay2010.com

Let’s Go Play! is honored to donate a portion of the events proceeds to the Hope and Help Center in Central Florida and Broward House in South Florida, two of Florida’s largest HIV and AIDS community service organizations. Sponsorships are available by contacting sponsors@LetsGoPlay2010.com

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) advocated for continuation of the storyline of characters Kyle and Fish on “One Life to Live” and spoke out on the importance of bringing fair and accurate media images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to Americans. “Last summer, “One Life to Live” brought a ground-breaking relationship into the homes of millions with Kyle and Fish’s story, one that built acceptance and understanding of gay people. While we understand that the close of storylines is a frequent occurrence on daytime dramas, canceling this story just as it gains momentum is a step backward in ABC Daytime’s representation of the lives of gay Americans.” When news reports broke yesterday, GLAAD spoke to ABC Daytime to voice concerns over the cancellation and advocate that the storyline continue. “We remain disappointed that ABC Daytime has chosen to stop sharing this powerful story with viewers of “One Life to Live.” GLAAD will continue to advocate that in the near future producers and writers at ABC Daytime incorporate gay and transgender characters in their programming.”

Wolfe Video is celebrating their 25th anniversary as the world’s largest exclusive distributor of gay and lesbian films with the $25,000 Wolfe DVD Giveaway Contest. 25 years ago movies like “Brokeback Mountain” and “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire” could not and did not exist, let alone garner nationwide distribution. Films depicting gay and lesbian lifestyles were largely under the radar. “Wolfe’s vision 25 years ago was that gay and lesbian people would be empowered if they could see positive images of themselves in the media,” says Founder and CEO Kathy Wolfe. “As a result, Wolfe has been in the business of creating change for a quarter century, seeking out stories about gay and lesbian experiences from around the world.”

Wolfe’s library distributes some of the most renowned gay and lesbian movies and series of all time, including, “Desert Hearts,” “Big Eden,” “Were the World Mine,” “Loving Annabelle” and the newly acquired “The Undertow (Contracorriente),” which won the 2010 Sundance Audience Award. “You have to remember what gay and lesbian entertainment looked like 25 years ago — essentially closeted — to get an idea of just how far the industry has come. Wolfe was one of our earliest pioneers,” explains actress and comedian Lily Tomlin, whose landmark film, “The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,” was one of Wolfe’s first mainstream crossovers. To celebrate, Wolfe is hosting a “$25,000 Wolfe DVD Giveaway Contest.” Every month in 2010, Wolfe awards two contest entrants one Wolfe Gay DVD Library and one Wolfe Lesbian DVD Library, each valued at more than $1,000. Contestants can enter monthly to win at WolfeVideo.com