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Last Weeks
Wrap Up |
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 This
past Sunday Ruff Riders opened there new showroom in
Wilton Manors. Located across the street from Georgie's Alibi
and Boom, the store has now been conveniently
relocated into the heart of Gay Fort Lauderdale. Stop in and say
hello to owners Juan and Val.
 Greg
Louganis
and several other medal winning Olympic champions signed autographs
Fort Lauderdale
Aquatic
Center
on Saturday. After the meet and greet spectators were able to watch the
Speedo Grand Prix World Diving Championship. The world's elite divers were
on hand competing in springboard and platform diving events.
On Saturday night Bill’s Filli ng
Station presented their annual Gay Chicken Party with over $6000
in prizes and the place all decked out in Pink. Kudos to GM Chad for
doing a great job decorating and producing this event!!!
 The new
Sidelines Sports Bar had a "soft" opening last Friday. On hand were many
local business owners and a surprising number of customers! Word spread over the
weekend and by Sunday the new business was packing 'em in. Our congratulations
and thanks to Marty and Jeanette for bringing a unique new
addition to the drive. |
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Calendars |
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Largest
Lesbian/Gay/bisexual/transgender broadcasting brand now available online 24/7 |
Instinct
Publishing, LOGO Founder Matt Farber’s Wilderness Media & Entertainment,
and AOL announce the launch of Radio With A Twist, a free 24 hour
music, information, and lifestyle radio station for the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgendered audience, as well as their friends and family, to be featured
on the AOL Radio Network. The radio show with a twist brand, which
premiered in January 2006, is a two hour weekly program syndicated on
terrestrial FM stations. It is currently available to over 60 million
listeners via distribution on some of the most popular local radio stations in
the United States, including stations in eight of the 12 largest markets.
With today’s
 announcement,
the radio with a twist is now available nationally to anyone via the AOL Radio
Network, one of the largest internet radio networks. “Our properties
already reach a larger audience than any other gay media”, commented
Instinct Publisher JR Pratts, “and with today’s announcement we are
pleased to see that reach extended even further to AOL’s sizeable GLBT community”.
Radio with a twist on AOL Radio features music popular with the LGBT community
by gay and “gay friendly” artists, as well as information and lifestyle talk
features from the FM radio program. Like the two hour radio show, radio
with a twist on AOL radio will be hosted by out television personality Will
Wikle (also host of LOGO’s Round Trip Ticket), Melissa Carter (out
lesbian who hosts popular Atlanta morning show), and Dennis Hensley
(acclaimed out journalist and television fixture). Instinct Magazine, the
number one national magazine for gay men, will provide exclusive expert advice
and editorial for many of the talk features on the station. Additionally,
Instinct Magazine and Wilderness Media & Entertainment, who recently announced
the first major gay music label in partnership with Sony Music, will work
closely with AOL’s Gay & Lesbian community area to create exclusive programming
and marketing opportunities via radio with a twist on AOL Radio. “I am very
excited that the RADIO WITH A TWIST brand is now available to anyone, anytime
via AOL Radio”, commented Instinct Publishing partner Matt Farber.
“With Instinct Magazine, Music With A Twist, TWIST on FM radio, and now TWIST
on AOL, we are thrilled to have a company that reaches the LGBT audience across
multiple platforms with fresh new brands.” About Instinct Magazine:
Instinct Magazine, in its 8th year, is the #1 gay men’s publication in the U.S.
with an audited paid circulation of 85,000, is a lifestyle magazine distributed
monthly by Curtis. Instinct is available at major newsstands and bookstore
nationwide. About Wilderness Media & Entertainment: Wilderness Media &
Entertainment (WME) has created a portfolio of independent gay and lesbian
businesses, brands and media working together and supporting each other in the
marketplace and the community. Through the Wilderness portfolio, allied
companies representing the diversity of the LGBT community benefits from
enhanced visibility among this audience. The portfolio includes new brands
created and operated by Wilderness, such as radio with a twist, the largest gay
broadcasting brand via distribution on FM radio and AOL Radio; Music with a
twist, the first major music label for LGBT artists in partnership with Sony
Music; along with best of breed companies developing brands in the LGBT arena
such as MTV Networks, America Online and Instinct Publishing.
The mission of WME is not only a business one, but also a social one – to
enhance the visibility of the LGBT audience by authentically representing the
diversity of the community through media and entertainment initiatives.
Research indicates that 15 million adults in the US currently self-identify as
LGBT, an intensely brand loyal demographic with an estimated $610 billion
in annual buying power. WME reaches the LGBT audience through top-tier
entertainment, media and business prospects, providing quality outreach and
initiatives for its portfolio entities, as well as exceptional offerings to this
diverse, growing audience. |
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here!
Networks |
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here!
Networks,
America's first gay television network, announced today it had completed its
acquisition of Hyperion Interactive Media (H.I.M.) Corporation, a major
aggregator of gay and lesbian web-based outlets with a network of over 20
portals and websites serving gay and lesbian online consumers. H.I.M., which
will be renamed here! Interactive Media, has over 2 million unique
visitors a month through sites including Gaywired.com, GayMonkey.com,
LesbiaNation.com and GaySports.com. Additionally, the acquisition will
include H.I.M.'s print magazine, GayWebMonkey. "The H.I.M. Corp. properties
will reinforce here! as a vital entertainment destination to millions of gay and
lesbian consumers," said Paul Colichman, here! Networks Founder and
CEO. "H.I.M. Corp. is the on-line bridge by which here! will connect to the
infinite places and pathways where the LGBT community finds one another."
here! Networks' Executive Vice-President, Mark Reinhart, facilitated the
acquisition bringing here!'s new on-line presence to include an expansive
network of over 20 web portals and over 50 partner sites including H.I.M.'s
flagship websites GayWired.com and GayMonkey.com with an extensive global
membership. GayWired.com is one of the most popular LGBT consumer online
destinations offering news, shopping, entertainment, health, travel and
lifestyle information. GayMonkey.com is a major network for local communities
and one of the most frequently used gay & lesbian personals/matchmaking portals.
Other properties in the transaction include several Gay niche portals including
news (247gay.com), travel (QTMagazine.com and Navigaytion.com),
lesbian interest (LesbiaNation.com) and sports (GaySports.com), as
well as its print magazine GayWebMonkey Magazine. "here!'s dedicated following
of LGBT consumers is well served by its unmatched entertainment content, premium
programming and unabashed brand identity. H.I.M. is proud to join its members
and portals with the unrivaled prestige of here! which takes its audience
seriously not only as a consumer segment but as a community of unique
individuals and aggregates," said Matt Skallerud, founder of H.I.M. Corp.
Matt will continue in his capacity managing the various properties as it is
incorporated into the here! Networks family. Additionally, H.I.M.'s
award-winning staff will remain intact under Skallerud's direction. "H.I.M.
Corp's flagship Web sites, as well its various portals and print magazine are
well matched to here!'s premium content. The acquisition connects H.I.M. Corp's
proven gay and lesbian marketing platform with here!'s growing audience of
viewers. It also addresses our marketing goals of targeting the LGBT consumer
with web-based marketing and sponsorship programs," said Mark Reinhart.
here! offers a wide variety of groundbreaking and acclaimed original movies and
series plus the world's largest collection of gay and lesbian films appealing to
the broad and diverse LGBT audience. Recent and upcoming original films, series
and specials include: John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You,
the heralded film series hosted by the legendary director John Waters from his
hometown of Baltimore, MD; the much anticipated second season of here!'s hit
supernatural soap opera Dante's Cove; and Shock To The System: A
Donald Strachey Mystery, the second installment in the series of original
films starring Chad Allen as a gay private investigator. here!, America's first
gay television network, was established in 2002 and is currently available to
more than 50 million households nationwide. here! offers a wide variety of
groundbreaking and acclaimed original movies and series plus the world's largest
collection of gay and lesbian films appealing to the broad-based, diverse LGBT
audience. here! is available across the U.S. via satellite and is offered by all
major cable providers nationwide increasingly as a subscription video on-demand
(SVOD) service. here! is also available to broadband homes via major Internet TV
providers. For more information, please visit here!'s website at
www.heretv.com . |
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Wilton
Manors says Goodbye to “Will & Grace” |
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On Thursday,
May 18, residents of the City of
Wilton Manors
will be throwing a farewell party for the breakthrough show that started the “Gay
Revolution” on Television, and all are welcome. Now in its eighth and final
season, the Emmy Award-winning comedy series has remained one of television's
highest-rated and most upscale comedies throughout its network run. In 2002 and
2003, it had more Emmy nominations than any other comedy series. Plus, in 2005 "Will
& Grace" was tied as one of the most-nominated series and also scored its
highest number of Emmy nominations in a single year with 15. "Will & Grace" has
also won eight GLAAD Media Awards, two TV Guide Awards, and one
Directors Guild Award. Additionally, the show has been nominated for six
American Comedy Awards, seven Television Critics Association Awards,
and five Producers Guild Awards. Will & Grace came along at a time
when the public was interested and ready for a show about a gay man and his
friendship with a straight woman. In the year leading up to its 1998 premiere,
there were at least four films featuring stories about straight women and the
gay men in their lives: Julia Roberts and Rupert Everett starred
in the successful My Best Friend's Wedding; As Good As It
Gets paired up Helen Hunt with Greg Kinnear; Jennifer
Aniston and Paul Rudd starred in The Object of My Affection;
and Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow appeared with Martin
Donovan in The Opposite of Sex. The cultural and political
climate certainly has changed since Will & Grace premiered in 1998. Over
the past eight years, while anti-gay extremists promoted prejudice and
discrimination against LGBT people, Will &Grace introduced gay characters that
audiences welcomed into their homes each week — along with one of network
television's first gay kisses and discussions of gay parenting, marriage
equality and more. The success of Will & Grace demonstrated that there is
an audience hungry for well-told stories about LGBT people and, with its
passing, there is room and a demand for television programming that shares our
stories on the broadcast networks. At the end of a remarkable eight season run,
Will & Grace not only managed to entertain audiences, but it also opened
America's
hearts and minds. Everyone is invited to come say goodbye to all the characters
we fell in love with over the past 8 seasons – Will, Grace, Jack, Karen,
oh yea, and the members only jacket wearing Rosario who has become the
maid every gay man wants to come clean his home. The event will take place on
Thursday, May 18th from
8 PM till
10 PM in
Hagen
Park,
2000 Wilton Drive. It will be a picnic atmosphere, and all attendees are
encouraged to bring a blanket that they will be able to lay out in front of the
two huge TV’s and a picnic dinner. No RSVP’s are needed, just a sense of wanting
to laugh, reminisce with friends about all the episodes gone by, and to say
goodbye. |
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Lavender
Writes
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Lavender Writes
kicks off Gay and Lesbian Pride Month with an Open Mic reading by local
authors. South African writer, Glen Retief, will MC this event. The
event will be held at on Saturday, June 3 at 8 pm
at Borders Books and Music in Fort Lauderdale. All writers are
invited to participate in this Open Mic event. To them, Pride means
celebrating who we are and honoring gay and lesbian writers, whatever they
write. Participating writers are invited to read quality fiction or poetry
on any topic, in any style. Anyone who wishes to read can sign up in advance at
LWrites@mindspring.com. Audience members can just show up. After the
reading, writers and audience members are invited to mingle over coffee and
dessert at the Borders Cafe. Borders is located at 2240
East Sunrise
Boulevard,
Fort Lauderdale.
954-566-6335. For more information or to sign up, contact Lavender Writes
at LWrites@mindspring.com. Funding for this program is provided in
part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended
by the
Broward Cultural Council. Lavender Writes, Inc., a not-for-profit
501(c)(3) organization, provides service and support to lesbian and gay writers
by sponsoring writing workshops, developing public forums for writers to present
their work and offering assistance with publication. Non-gay writers and readers
are also welcome to participate. |
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Featured Events |
 This
Sunday May 21stth,
Babylon T
and Noche Latina T at Voodoo Lounge
presents for one night only the Bi-Annual Membership Drive. The night
will be starring DJ Angelo Kortez in the main room, DJ Miik on the
Patio and DJ Nena spinning the Hottest Latin tunes in the beautiful Envy
room as well as shows by Vegas Dion. Also in The Latin Room they will
feature in conjunction with Granda Entertainment and Sony BMG the
single CD release of Jeans “Playing With Fire” with Free CD
singles with exclusive remixes as well as posters. Don’t forget they feature
FREE DRINKS from
5-7pm.
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Other
Upcoming Events |
Actors' Playhouse
in conjunction with CoralGaybles.com presents: FIVE
COURSE LOVE on May 18th.
This special event includes a private pre-show social
from
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.00
and include admission to the play plus a complimentary drink
voucher and free hors d'oeuvres. All reservations must be made
through group sales and paid in full prior to show date. The
special $20.00 price will not be available at the box office.
Please redeem all free drink vouchers before
7:30 p.m. CALL 305-444-9293 EXT 613.
GROUPS@ACTORSPLAYHOUSE.ORG
Voices of Pride,
The Gay Men’s Chorus of the Palm Beaches,
will present its spring concert Not the Boyz Next Door!
on Friday May 19, at
8:00PM. The concert will be held at
Duncan
Theatre,
on the campus of the
Palm Beach
Community College
in Lake Worth. Tickets prices are $30.00 and $40.00. To order
tickets call 561-868-3309 for more information go on line at
www.voicesofpride.com.
On Friday May 19th the Coliseum in
presents the official launch party of Madonna’s “Confession
Tour” starring DJ Miik on the main room and
Daisy D spinning in the Hip Hop lounge.
On Saturday May 20th the Jackie Gleason
Theater presents the JVC Jazz Festival featuring the
Diva, the Puuuuurfectly delicious Eartha Kitt and John
Pizzarelli. For more info call the Theater at 305-358-5885.
Tickets are still available for the Flamingo Freedom Band’s
sure-to-be-terrific concert, Cruisin’—A Musical
Voyage,
this Saturday May 20, at 8 pm at Religious
Science Fort Lauderdale, 1550 NE 26 Street. Florida’s only
gay and lesbian concert band will present an international
musical voyage, featuring such locales as Scotland, Australia,
Spain, Africa, Russia, and of course, the U.S. As guests
of the band, Lambda Chorale will perform four songs—two of them
with the band. Other guests will include the Palm Beach
Pipes and Drums and the Didg Revolution.
Tickets are $15 to Friends of Lambda Chorale by Emailing
president@flamingofreedomband.org
or calling 561-213-4703.
 Starting Sunday May 21st BOOM
presents Domingo Latino from
9pm till close with DJ Bryan Reyes and VJ Oliver.
On Sunday May 21 SeaEscape presents a day
Gay Cruise from
11am till
4:30pm. The cost is $49.95 with reservation by May 17th
and $55.95 after that. The cruise will include Private
continental breakfast with Mimosas, Exclusive VIP 5 course lunch
with white glove service, free “Fun Sheet” with $10 matchplay &
valuable coupons, free drinks while gaming in the casino,
private party in LaParranda & Disco with host Fabio,
Performances by Electra, and
2-4-1 tickets to Peter Burke’s Tea Cruise. For
information call Peter at 888-211-3266. For reservations call
954-453-3333 or 877-SeaEscape (fare Code: Gay439).
The Stonewall Library & Archives presents Girls Movie Night Out on Friday, May 26, at
7 pm (Suggested Donation $2). The movie they will be showing is
JADE. The director of The French Connection puts together
a stylish, crisp suspense thriller featuring Linda Fiorentino
and David Caruso. The film is bold and uninhibited
with some of the most spectacular car chases ever filmed. It's
advertised as "Some Fantasies Go Too Far."
On Friday May 26th, Noche Latina
Fridays at Elements in conjunction with Granda
Entertainment and Universal Music Latino present the
CD release of Christian Castro’s “Dias Felices”
with exclusive remixes of “Sin Tu Amor” as well as
Posters.
The show
stars house diva
Champagne Bordeaux
(Miss Florida 2005/6), and special guests
Maite West
(Miss Noche Latina 2006),
Latrice Royale, Viva Mirage,
and Victoria Michaels.
DJ George Valdez
spins
the best mix of Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, Raggaeton and
top 40 all night long!! In addition they feature
FREE DRINKS
(well and Domestic) from
9-11pm and the hottest Latin
Go-Go Papi’s.
For more info visit
www.nochelatinafridays.com
 On
Friday and Saturday May 26th and 27th
Cupids in West Palm Beach presents newest Raging
Stallion exclusive, Tag Adams live and in the flesh
in his first Florida appearance. He has multiple GayVn Awards
and promises to put on a show that we will all be talking about
for months. He will be performing 2 shows nightly at
11pm and
1am.
On Friday May 26th Torpedo presents
the “Uniform Ball” with free admission to men in uniform,
and DJ Power Infinity spinning. On Saturday, May 27
they present “Young Guns” with DJ Oliver and the
party is 18 and over. Then on Sunday May 28 they present
the Warsaw Pack with DJ Henry Rodriguez spinning
the best of the 90’s house tracks.
On Sunday May 28th Smarty Pants
presents Sally West and Friends at
7pm for a Memorial Weekend show. Then at
9pm Sally will be calling charity Bingo.
On Sunday June 4 (first Sunday of every month) is
Peter Burkes next Tea Cruise aboard the Musette
yacht. Boarding is at
2:30 with the boat sailing from
3pm to
6pm. The Tea Cruise will feature Hot dancers, hors d’oeuvres,
DJ Marcio Santos, Live Entertainment and much more!! Cost is $25
with reservations and $30 day of cruise.
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Till The End Of Time |
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Jason and deMarco return with their highly anticipated LP
release, Till The End Of Time, on June 27. The album is
produced by Alan Lett, with additional production from Grammy and Dove
Award winning producer, Joe Hogue (LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith,
Carmen), Rhys Fulber (Sinead O'Connor, Josh Groban, Conjure
One), and Eddie X and Luigie Gonzalez pda L.E.X. (Ricky
Martin, Barbara  Streisand,
etc.). While seven of the album's twelve songs are written by Jason and deMarco,
additional writing credits on the disc include the two-time Academy Award,
Grammy and Golden Globe nominee songwriter, Allan Rich, who has penned
hits for artists including Whitney Houston, Backstreet Boys, and Patti
LaBelle. Till The End Of Time
and maxi-single Trying To Get To You
are being distributed by Centaur Music for Jason & deMarco's
RJN Music. Till The End Of Time
takes the listener on a journey through the depths and plateaus of
relationships, and their many emotional landscapes. The songs take you from
discovering love, to losing it, then rediscovering it and then holding onto it
and trusting that it will last forever, 'till the earth stops turning'. deMarco
says, "Our new music is romantic rock pop with big vocals and lots of
harmonies". The title track represents the infinite power of love that you
experience once you find 'the one you've been waiting for', Jason says. "We
feel this new album is taking us to new places musically and artistically".
Jason & deMarco are Trying To Get To You
on the nation's dance floor this Summer
 Trying
To Get To You
is the first single to be released off the upcoming LP
Till The End Of Time, and includes
remixes produced by Tracy Young (Madonna) and L.E.X.
Trying To Get To You has already been delivered to
Billboard DJs around the country and will be shipped to retailers May 30th.
Jason & deMarco recently performed the new single at the Task Force's Winter
Party in Miami with Tracy Young and they also premiered the new L.E.X. remix of
the single at the White Party in Palm Springs during the opening night Inferno
party in April. In 2005, Jason and deMarco played at numerous high profile
venues including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Awards in Los
Angeles (with awards presented by K.D. Lang and Carson Kressley
of Queer Eye For the Straight Guy), and at the Matthew Shepard
Foundation's annual gala in Denver, Colorado alongside singer-songwriter
Randi Driscoll, commemorating the death of the organization's namesake, and
attended by Matthew's mother, Judy Shepard. The duo ended 2005 performing
at the Equality California Awards in Palm Springs and in February
launched the New Year with a musical performance at the
Human Rights Campaign Gala
at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, opening the evening premiering their
new album's title track "Till the End of Time", where honorees included Ang
Lee and Jake Gyllenhaal from the Golden Globe Winning Film "Brokeback
Mountain". The musical duo was also part of the Human Rights Campaign
star-studded benefit two-pack CD album celebrating marriage equality, entitled,
Love Rocks which also includes tracks from Christina Aguilera,
Pink, The Dixie Chicks, Melissa Etheridge, Dolly Parton, Dido, and Cyndi
Lauper, among others. |
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Pride of Greater Fort
Lauderdale
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 Pride
of Greater Fort Lauderdale
is pleased to announce the addition of Paul Lekakis to the entertainment
lineup at the Stonewall Street Festival & Parade on Sunday June 18th!
Paul will be performing his hits “Boom Boom Boom” and “I Need a
Vacation” on the main stage at the festival and then again Sunday night at
the official after party at Steel Nightclub. There is no charge for
festival admittance and no cover at Steel! For more information on Paul Lekakis
visit
www.paullekakis.com. Also scheduled to
appear is
Atlanta’s
comic drag sensation Lily White! China White/Revolution will be
hosting the official Stonewall Festival pre-party on Saturday June 17th
with 100% of the door charge to benefit Pride of Greater Fort Lauderdale. |
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Miami-Dade
Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce |
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The Miami-Dade
Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, in association with Pelaez & Etury Studio
(fine & decorative art), Kozlowski Law Firm, Elizabeth Schwartz, P.A.
Councilor at Law, Books & Books, the Cafe at Books & Books and
Design Within Reach, invite you to the June Business Networker, a
"block party" on Lincoln Road, on Friday, May 19th, from 7:00 p.m. to
9:00 p.m. Free for MDGLCC members with membership card - $10.00 for all future
members. Pelaez & Etury Studio creates and sells fine and
decorative art. We offer murals, trompe l’oeil, custom paintings and innovative
yet affordable artistic wall finishing. Kozlowski Law Firm, P.A.
is a Business, Arts/Entertainment and Litigation law firm with locations in
Miami Beach and Key West, Florida. Books & Books, an
independent bookstore -- a place that offers you a unique shopping experience
when you're looking to find just the right book for yourself or to buy a special
gift for a family member or friend. Design Within Reach
provides easy access to well-designed furnishings traditionally found only in
designer showrooms. A one-stop resource for some of the most exciting furniture
designers internationally. |
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