Bill's Filling Station did a magnificent makeover and now they're revamping their weekly lineup and giving us more reason's to stop by. Last Tuesday was the first official week of Drag Factor. The show began at 9 PM and featured three drag Queens along with karaoke. The show was hosted by Melissa and went non-stop well into the late night. Stop by next week, sing along, sing a song or just sit back and enjoy the show.  

On Thursday South Beach's world famous Lincoln Road added another luxury store to its already incredible lineup. VF Outdoor Inc, a division of Vanity Fair magazine, opened Napapijiri Adventure Store  Featuring an extremely fashionable line of clothing that will look good not only in the club and on the street, but in the wild outdoors as well. On hand were stars from Telemundo and Univision all decked out and playing in the snow. That's right, it snowed on South Beach! It's amazing what money can buy! 

The Mark's List team was on South Beach every day this week and Friday was no exception. Edison Farrow, the creator and vision behind the South Beach Social Club began his new night at Funkshion. The night began with the new Drag show called "Cabaret." Performing was a number of South Beach's elite queens including, Chyna, Ebonee Excell and others. Also seen in the crowd were Elaine Lancaster and artist Nestor Paz (whose work is currently showing at Items2Envy). After Cabaret, Funky Fridays immediately kicked in with DJ Leo spinning an open format to a jam-packed building. Out went the tables and chairs; in came the disco ball and light show. The crowd would make any bar proud and can only be described as beautiful, fabulous and amazingly fun! Congratulations Edison. 

New Jersey’s highest court ruled on Wednesday that gay couples are entitled to the same legal rights and financial benefits as heterosexual couples, but ordered the Legislature to decide whether their unions must be called marriage or could be known by another name.

In a decision filled with bold and sweeping pronouncements about equality, the New Jersey Supreme Court gave the Democratic-controlled Legislature 180 days to either expand existing laws or come up with new ones to provide gay couples benefits including tuition assistance, survivors’ benefits under workers’ compensation laws, and spousal privilege in criminal trials. All seven justices agreed that the state’s Constitution demands full legal rights for same-sex partners. But its ruling, 4 to 3, revealed a split in how to proceed. The majority said that lawmakers, not the court, should decide whether to call those arrangements a marriage, a civil union or something else. The three dissenters went further, asserting that gay couples, like their heterosexual counterparts, must be allowed to wed.

The New Jersey court did not go as far as Massachusetts, which in 2003 became the first state to permit gay marriage. Instead, it could be considered the new Vermont, which created civil unions for gay couples in 2000, in the politically, legally and culturally charged world of same-sex marriage. “Our decision today significantly advances the civil rights of gays and lesbians,” Justice Barry T. Albin wrote for the majority. “We have decided that our State Constitution guarantees that every statutory right and benefit conferred to heterosexual couples through civil marriage must be made available to committed same-sex couples.” But the ruling passed along the thorniest question, of whether true equality demands the same name, to the Legislature, saying such change must come from the crucible of the democratic process.

The 21^st Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) presents their highly anticipated mid-festival event … The Reel Magic Centerpiece Gala on November 3.  The evening begins at 8:00 p.m. with the Southeast Premiere of PITTSBURGH, at Parker Playhouse.  The Gala, just a magical walk away at the historic War Memorial Auditorium, begins directly after the film at 9:30 p.m. The Centerpiece Gala is produced annually by Entre Nous, a group of some of the most talented and energetic ladies whose mission is fundraising and who serve as emissaries at FLIFF events throughout the year.  Each year the Gala is distinctively themed. This year it's Reel Magic and in keeping with the theme and fun of the evening, guests are asked to dress like a star in Hollywood Glam attire…which translates to glitzy, sophisticated, or even daring; and for the men…ties are optional.  Guests will enjoy cocktails and bidding on wonderful silent auction items including a ride on the newest Goodyear Blimp, The Spirit of Innovation.  As the night continues there will be dinner and dancing to the music of Euphoria. Will there be “reel” stars?  You bet!  Attending are Robin Cowie - Producer of the Blair Witch project, director of HOOT Will Shriner, Dennis Cole (The Young and The Restless), Cindy Morgan (Caddyshack), and those in premieres of their films at FLIFF… Angela Aquino star of DONSOL, Ana Lucia Dominguez star of GRINGO WEDDING, Geri Jewel (Facts of Life) star of THE NIGHT OF THE WHITE PANTS, Richard Wilson (The Proposition) a young up and coming star from Australia who stars in the fest film 48 SHADES, Director of SHARKWATER Rob Stuart, Jeff Branson (All My Children) from the comedy BIG BAD SWIM, David Wall and Kerry Wall stars of MRS. WORTHINGTON’S PARTY which has its World Premiere at FLIFF. And what about the Centerpiece Film?  PITTSBURGH stars Jeff Goldblum, Ileanna Douglas, Ed Begley, Jr, Moby, and Conan O'Brien, and has got to be one of the funniest, and totally bizarre films of the year.  You can say it's a mockumentary but, it actually happened…not all of it…as it has been viewer enhanced.  Start off with Goldblum falling Tom Cruise Crazy in love with a dancer less than half his age and finagling a way to keep her (a Canadian) in this country by auditioning for the part of professor Harold Hill in a regional production of The Music Man…and from there, the circumstances just grow even more wacky.  It is a wonderfully 80 minutes of fun before the big Entre Nous Reel Magic Gala at Memorial auditorium. ADVANCE TICKETS: For the Film and Reel Magic Gala is $55 and includes cocktails and dinner.  Discounts apply for members of Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.  Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.FLIFF.com or by calling 954-525-3456 ext 106.

As gay couples struggle in trying to build a family, many are turning to surrogacy as opposed to the route of adoption, as a way of making their dream of creating a family come true….Tonya Collins & Holly Kahle of SurroGenesis USA, run the largest surrogate and egg donation company in the country, as President/ CEO & Vice President/CFO, respectively. Holly and Tonya have come to understand infertility from a different view, in that these women are both experienced surrogates themselves…For instance, Tonya Collins, is not only the President/ CEO of SurroGenesis USA, in early 2005, Tonya gave birth to her first surrogate daughter.  She has stated, “There are strong personal relationships with couples and their surrogates.  These relationships are what helped us decide together to create and agency that is more affordable than most and that brings forth a true emotional connection with our surrogates like.” Vice President/CFO, Holly Kahle of SurroGenesis USA oversees all egg donor and gestational surrogate arrangements, not to mention, Holly also gave birth to surrogate triplets in March 2006. Of her experience in surrogacy,  Holly Kahle has stated she has seen, “a dramatic growth in gay couples looking to use a surrogate as an alternative means in building a family, both domestically and now internationally too.”  Kahle says “About one-third of gay couples looking to start a family, or one out of every three are turning towards surrogacy to achieve their dreams of having a child.” She continues with, “Gay Couples that struggle to build a family, just like infertile couples are acknowledging that surrogacy is the last hope in having a child that is biologically linked to both or at least one parent.” With corporate offices located in Central California and throughout the United States, SurroGenesis USA was designed to assist infertile couples to have a baby through third-party assisted reproduction.  The goal at SurroGenesis USA is to help guide couples through each step of the delicate process, and making the journey to parenthood an enjoyable experience.     

Fresh from its standing-room-only “JUDY: A Celebration of the Music & Legend of Judy Garland” musical revue on Oct. 27, the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus is now beginning work towards its Dec. 19 “Holly Jolly Holidays” concert and will hold auditions for singing members on Saturday, Nov. 4. Auditions will be held in the music suite (second floor, education annex) of the Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 SW 9^th Ave. Persons interested in auditioning should arrive no later than 1 p.m. and bring a piece of sheet music with which to audition — anything from a simple folk or pop song to as complex as an Italian aria. An accompanist will be provided. Pre-registration is not required. “As we begin rehearsals for the holiday concert, it is truly energizing to build off of the enthusiasm and excitement of chorus and audience members alike from our recent ‘Judy’ revue,” said Todd Wiley, FTLGMC director. “It shows that the professionalism of the chorus — and its support by the community at large — continues to grow. And it certainly ‘pumps us up’ as we proceed with our 21^st season with ‘Holly Jolly Holidays’!” The chorus rehearses weekly on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Sunshine Cathedral. Wiley stated that everyone is welcome to audition for the chorus. “Our mission is to build community through quality musical performances that promote a world that accepts and values diversity. We welcome singers with virtually all ranges of musical skills and experience, and throughout our season our repertoire is as diverse as are our members. Everyone is welcome.” The FTLGMC director also noted that non-singing members are encouraged to join the chorus at any time. “Those who serve behind the scenes — in the crews, administrative roles, our governing board or as donors — also play a critical role in the chorus’ ongoing success. We welcome the active participation of community members — gay or straight, male or female — at any time.” Persons interested in joining the chorus as a singing member but who are unable to attend the scheduled audition Nov. 4 should immediately call the chorus’ voice mail at (954) 832-0060. Special arrangements will be made when possible. In addition to its Dec. 19 holiday concert and many upcoming community performances, other major chorus scheduled events include “Imagine This,” the fifth-annual South Florida Choral Festival, on Feb. 24; and the “Time to Take Our Place” musical revue on June 16-17. All of these performances will begin at 8 p.m. in the 590-seat Amaturo Theatre of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5^th Ave., downtown Fort Lauderdale. For a complete listing of upcoming chorus events or for more information on the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus, see its web site at www.ftlgmc.org. Discounted season tickets for the three remaining main concerts of the chorus’ 2006-07 season are available through the chorus’ web site. This organization is funded in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Division. The chorus’ 21^st season is also sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Pride South Florida.

With the "season" kicking off again in South Florida, Laffing Matterz (219 S. Andrews Avenue) will resume their Wednesday evening performances beginning Wednesday, November 1st.  Their Sunday twilight performances will also resume as the demand arises.  Please call to inquire. Book your holiday party now!!! They already have several sold out dates in December and January and they want to make sure that your preferred date is available!  For information on Party Packages, call Jon Peterson at 954.763.LAFN (5236). Laffing Matterz  gift certificates are available in increments of $50 and $100 and they make a perfect holiday gift!!  They may be purchased by calling their Box Office at 954.763.LAFN (5236) or by visiting their Box Office from 10am-5pm Tuesday thru Saturday. Because you asked for it, Laffing Matterz  has recorded its first Live Recording CD so you can "laff" at home, in the car or anytime you need a pick-me-up.  It is currently being edited in the studio and will be available for purchase in time for the holidays. Call 954.763.LAFN (5236) now to take advantage of our 10% pre-release discount!!  This offer is only good until the CD's hit the "stores!" Laffing Matterz  is the Perfect Venue for Large Parties, Corporate Events, Bachelor/ette Parties, Birthdays, Anniversaries or a Romantic Night on the Town!!!