Boardwalk

On Thursday February 14 (Valentines Day) famed bartender Vickie Bennett presents The Birdcages Grand Opening which is their new 100 seat front patio restaurant featuring casual and sexy food. Then on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (15, 16 and 17) Boardwalk features Falcon Studios exclusive Roman Heart performing live!

My Friend Scott Lapin is producing an event entitled “Dances From The Heart” which is a Pre Valentines Evening of Dance, Music & art, and is a benefit for his loving mother Gloria LaBarge in her fight against Mesothelioma Cancer on Saturday Feb 2 from 7:30 to 11pm at the Gold Coast Ballroom. There will be performances by Grammy nominated Broadway and recording artists Danny & Lauren Kosarin, Singer, songwriter and recording artist Veronika Sandor, Salsa Sensations Isaac & Laura Altman, Tango Stylings of Michael Vincitorio and Fridalitz, Ballroom showstoppers Claude & Ginnette Guay and David & Kaye Lines, Amazing Latin kids Gian & Brianna and many more. Admission is $20 and includes all the above entertainment, dancing to the sounds of DJ Adrienne, Fine art auction and Chinese Raffle, lite menu with gourmet desserts by Joy, and a Wine Bar by D’Vine Wine. They will also be featuring a $2000 CASH Money Tree where there will only be 1000 tickets sold! Pre-sales are throughout the month of January, and Tickets are $20 each or Six for $100. If you play the Lotto you know that these are some GREAT odds! Send your personal check, made out to Gloria LaBarge, for the number of tickets you wish to purchase, including your address and phone number to Scott Lappin’s 890 SW 20th St. Boca Raton, FL  33486. At approximately 10:45pm on February 2, 2008, the night of “Dances from the Heart” your ticket stubs will be placed in the raffle basket along with all of the other guest’s tickets there that evening. They are expecting over 400 people! There will be designated “ticket watchers” who will have your ticket numbers right in front of them when the winning number is drawn.  If you are the lucky winner, your name will be announced and your personal “ticket watcher” has been instructed to shriek with joy, jump up on their table, cartwheel across the floor, hug multiple people, run to the podium and KISS the MC, and accept the CASH envelope in your name.  You will be called immediately and, if possible, your comments will be passed on to the audience, right then and there!  You will receive your money through the mail within the next few days.  For more information call Scott at 561-901-6711 or visit www.dance4life.biz

A group of AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) advocates have launched an ADAP federal funding awareness campaign throughout the Unites States, including in Broward County. Spearheaded by The AIDS Institute, volunteers are being recruited to obtain signatures on postcards asking the U.S. Congress to support needed full funding for ADAP and other Ryan White services for fiscal year 2009.  The Institute is a national HIV/AIDS advocacy organization originally established in Florida before relocating offices to Washington, DC, and set a deadline of March 14 for return of signed postcards by the volunteers.  Supporting the Postcard Advocacy Project is the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP). Once collected, the cards will be distributed in person to leaders of the House and Senate health-related appropriations subcommittees, along with copies to the constituents’ own Representative and Senators.  The goal is to make a significant impact to improve reduced funding by Congress for fiscal year 2008 which has had a serious negative impact upon thousands of people with HIV/AIDS in the United States who need ADAP and Ryan White assistance. Plans are being made now to enlist support for the postcard project from Broward County  organizations and businesses, including bars and restaurants, so a wide cross-section of citizens affected in any way by lowered ADAP and Ryan White funding or are concerned about inadequate funding will have their views expressed. Volunteer to help make this project successful by contacting Tom Rouland at Tom@Rouland.org or leave a message on 954-812-3469 with your name, email address and/or telephone number. 

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and a national leader in the struggle for equal rights and social justice, will step down in April to lead the Gay & Lesbian Program at the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Foreman has led the Task Force for five years and helped propel the organization to national prominence as an outspoken and unwavering advocate of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. The Haas, Jr. Fund, located in San Francisco, provides more grant support to LGBT organizations than any non-gay-identified foundation in the nation. “We cannot adequately express our gratitude to Matt for his exceptional leadership over the last five years,” said Mark Sexton, Task Force board co-chair. “During his tenure, our staff grew to 54 full-time positions and our budget more than doubled to nearly $10 million. Our programming expanded strategically, our public profile increased dramatically, we’ve granted nearly $5 million to state and local partners. And most importantly, the Task Force has played an essential role in building our community’s grassroots strength. He has truly been an inspiration to so many who believe in equality for the full breadth of our LGBT community.”  Foreman called working for the Task Force “the greatest honor of my life.”  “I will always love the Task Force, our work, our board, and our staff,” he said. “Having served for 18 years as the executive director at three LGBT organizations, I’m incredibly privileged to be able to continue to work in and for the movement in a new role at the Haas, Jr. Fund. I have no doubt that the Task Force will continue to be the uncompromising progressive voice of the LGBT movement and to thrive and help lead our community to complete equality.” Alan Acosta, Task Force board co-chair, said a national search would begin immediately to find Foreman’s successor. Foreman will work with his senior executive staff in the interim to ensure a smooth transition to new leadership. “We are blessed to have an extraordinarily strong and deep management team,” Acosta said. “Working with Matt, the senior leaders of the team have built a dynamic and well-run organization that is respected inside and outside the movement. We are in great shape to keep pushing our mission of building our community’s political power and continuing the outstanding successes of the Task Force over the last few years.”  Acosta said the Task Force’s programmatic priorities for next year include building congressional support to pass an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in 2009, defeating an expected anti-marriage constitutional amendment in California and launching the organization’s new Academy for Leadership and Action, designed to support skills and leadership development for state and local activists. Foreman’s direct speaking style and incisive critiques have helped raise the profile of Task Force and garnered significant media attention. In speeches, panels and op-eds, he has assailed right-wing leaders for homophobic actions and opposition to LGBT rights and challenged allies to fight for LGBT equality. At the same time, he has earned a reputation of working collaboratively with other groups and led the organization in building broad coalitions. Most recently the organization’s leadership was evident in its instrumental role in the formation and growth of United ENDA, a coalition of more than 350 national, state and local organizations opposing efforts to strip protections for transgender people and others from a federal nondiscrimination bill. “Matt Foreman’s leadership solidified the Task Force as a home for the entire LGBT community,” said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “As LGBT people, we might not all look the same, think the same, act the same, or need the same things — but we all know the Task Force respects all of us, fights for all of us and cares about all of us in the LGBT community. I look forward to continuing to work with the Task Force that Matt has built, as it continues to fight on for uncompromised equality for all of us.” “The Task Force has been a significant partner for us in no small measure because of Matt’s leadership,” said H. Alexander Robinson, executive director/CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition. “The Haas, Jr. Fund will have a leader who is unwilling to compromise his principles and fully committed to inclusion. More importantly his firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the LGBT civil rights movement and our communities will be an asset in his new role.” Roey Thorpe, former executive director of Basic Rights Oregon and current director of state services at Equality Federation said, “Matt has been in the trenches, working for change on every level from local to national and his leadership reflects that. He understands the power of grassroots organizing as few others do. What I admire most about Matt is that as a leader he never flinched, consistently bringing a clear, courageous voice for nothing short of full equality for our entire community. That’s the kind of leadership our movement needs.”  Foreman has the relatively unique distinction of serving as the executive director of a local, statewide and national LGBT organization — the New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (1990–1996), the Empire State Pride Agenda (1997–2003), and the Task Force (since 2003). When he steps down, Foreman will have served as Task Force executive director longer than any prior director.

Please join the Naked Grape Wine Company on Wednesday, February 6, for a tasting event featuring the Two Hands "Picture Series" portfolio of wines. The Two Hands series of wines hails from South Australia's Barossa Valley, and they are gorgeous and exquisite wines. Wine Spectator has called the Two Hands winery the "finest operation south of the equator." This tasting will offer everything from a light and crisp Pinot Grigio to a powerful and seductive dessert wine. The majority of the Two Hands portfolio is built on Shiraz and Shiraz blends. These wines have wonderful bouquets, luscious fruits, exotic spices, and long and pleasing finishes. Not only are these delectable wines, but the labels on the "Picture Series" are also whimsical and fun. Cindy Woodman from Trans-atlantic Wines will be our host for this tasting event. Many of you know Cindy from past tasting’s and from the help she has occasionally given Naked Grape behind the wine bar. This tasting will run from 7:00PM until 9:00PM. You may begin making advance reservations by calling the wine bar at 954-563-5631 and reserving with a major credit card. Or, let them know you want to attend the tasting the next time you come in to the wine bar. The cost of advance reservations is $10.00. Walk-ins at the door will be $15.00, but many past tasting’s have sold out before the date of the event. So, reserve a place for you and your friends today so that you do not miss out on the opportunity to sample these exquisite wines. Remember, February wine tasting on Wednesday, February 6.

One Tea Lounge, located on Wilton Drive, is under new ownership.  Local businessmen David Mayer and Howard Elfman have taken the helm and have many ideas on how to take the cozy tea spot to the next level. The first plan is to educate the public on the health benefits of drinking tea. Studies have shown that certain teas can help lower cholesterol, raise metabolism and help with erectile dysfunction. Educational workshops are planned for the future, as well as tags of information on each of the 70 canisters of tea from China and South Africa now available at One Tea Lounge. Tea tastings are also being planned. Another idea is a makeover of the interior. What now is a minimalist yet cozy look will soon be transformed into a more colorful space with lots of plush seating and bigger tables so customers can spread out with their laptops and enjoy the complimentary Wi-Fi. "We want to make it fun, whimsical and cheery," stated Mayer. There will be a few changes to the menu, but regulars need not worry – favorites items like their asparagus coconut potato soup, Pho soup bowls and baguette sandwiches will still be available. An eclectic mix of sandwiches and fresh salads will be added, plus many other sweet and savory surprises. An exceptional line of coffee will be served at One Tea Lounge that is locally roasted daily and served fresh to each customer in their own French press. Mayer and Elfman are overflowing with ideas and enthusiasm. They are interviewing their customers to find out what they like and take their opinions very seriously. The business partners said they want to make this hidden gem the best it can be. "There will be changes and improvements, but we will continue to have a very peaceful and Zen atmosphere," said Elfman.

The fifteenth Winter Party FestivalSM, runs from February 27 through March 3,  From family picnics to fashion shows, cocktail receptions, interfaith services, and pool parties to dancing on the beach, the festival delivers something for everyone.  Programs include a jazz brunch, exhibits on LGBT history and civil rights, youth events and a dinner for the transgender community.  The climax of the Festival is the famous Winter Party Beach Party, which will attract more than 6,000 attendees to North America's largest gay beach party the afternoon of Sunday, March 2.  Ticket prices range from $5 for single events to $500 for a pass that allows entry to most of the nearly two dozen events.  For information, tickets and a complete list of events, visit