On Saturday December 1st the Waterside Landing presents a World Aids Day Luncheon from 11am till 2pm starring Faith, Melanie Minyon, and Montrese Love. To attend you must RSVP by calling 727-841-7900. 

On Saturday December 1st the Parliament House presents the “Winter Party” where they will light up the courtyard. They will also feature the Hope & Help charity fashion show at 7pm and the VarieTEASE: XXXmas Spectacular at 8pm. They will also feature the Mistletones Chorus and photos with Santa at 11pm, and the popular Footlight Players holiday shows at 10 and midnight. Rainbow Cafe' will be open until 3am for a late night snack. 

G-Bar presents the US release of Scissors Sisters on DVD on Saturday Dec 1 featuring DJ Greg Anderson and VJ Lu in the video Lounge. 

Sawmill Campgrounds presents their famous Blacklight Body Paint Weekend from Nov 30 thru December 2. Get over to Woody’s and get painted. They supply the paint, and brushes and you supply the body. They will feature a $75 cash prize for the best painted body, $25 for 2nd place and a $25 bar tab for third place. The body panting starts at 8pm when Wood’s opens and the contest will take place inside Woody’s at 11pm. DJ Rob will play hot dance hits and their country crock pot of music will be in the courtyard.  

On Wednesday Dec 5th Georgie’s Alibi St Petersburg presents singer Richard Cortez live at 7pm; joining him will be Lexie Pierson and Lorna Bracewell. 

On Sunday December 9th at 9pm is the Miss Gay Ocala Pageant at The Night Zone (9360 S US Highway 441, Ocala). The theme will be “Beautiful in Blue” and star the current reigning Miss Gay Ocala Tiffany McRae, along with Coco Montrese, Daphne Ferraro, and Kori Stevens. Categories include Presentation, Talent, Evening Gown and Q&A. For more information contact Kori at koristevens@aim.com.

Revolution Nightclub Orlando

Revolution Nightclub Orlando, the hottest new club in Orlando presents “Caffeinated Sundays” Orlando’s newest brew of “T.” This new T Dance will debut for the first time in Central Florida the boys of the world famous Boardwalk. They also feature no cover, $2 Iced Teas, Free BBQ on the patio from 5-7pm, $7 Beer Bust fro 5-9pm, 2 DJ’s, and shows in the Majestic Theatre at 9, 11 an 1am. For VIP Bottle Service or reservations call 407-228-9911.

2606, Tampa’s Levi/Leather cruise bar features $3 well drinks until 11pm every Friday and Saturday.

Friday Night in Ybor City

Ybor City Development Corporation Inc., is now accepting applications for its Special Events Co-Sponsorship Program for Fiscal Year 2008. This grant program is designed to assist the funding of new or existing special events happening in Ybor City’s CRA 1 area from January 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008. Events must address at least one of the following components to be considered for funding: 1. Reinforce Ybor City’s cultural roots and/or historical attributes, 2. Be family-oriented and attract daytime/early evening crowds, 3. Maintain and improve Ybor City’s traditional events and/or, 4. Promote the Arts. To find out more about this program and apply for these funds, please download an application packet from the Ybor City Development Corporation’s web site at: http://www.tampagov.net/YCDC. Completed applications for the FY2008 Grant Program must be returned to the Ybor City Development Corporation office by Thursday, December 6, at 5 p.m. Applications received after that date and time will be disqualified. For more information about this program, please call Brenda Thrower with the Ybor City Development Corporation, at (813) 274-7917.

Caldwell Theatre Company has a reputation for staging award-winning, provocative theatrical presentations, and it lives up to its professional standards by inaugurating its new Count de Hoernle Theatre this December 2 with the four-time Tony Award-Winning Doubt, A Parable, by John Patrick Shanley. Making its South Florida Premiere, Doubt kicks off Caldwell’s season (the theater’s 33rd season in Boca Raton) in its permanent home with John Patrick Shanley’s story about a nun at a grade school in the Bronx who suspects that a priest is abusing a student.  Doubt illustrates a spiritual and moral dilemma for Sister Aloysius, whose name, Aloysius, from the Old German, means famous warrior.  Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and four Tony Awards (nominated for eight), including Best Play in 2005, Doubt takes its audience on Sister Aloysius’ moral rollercoaster ride that raises the ethical question, What do you do when you’re not sure? Doubt, features a cast of Carbonell-Award worthy performances.  Pat Bowie (recipient of the just announced United States Artists Fellowship Grant Award for 2007) as Mrs. Muller, Terry Hardcastle as Father Brendan Flynn, Amy Montminy as Sister James and Pat Nesbit as Sister Aloysius Beauvier, will be directed by Michael Hall, with Scenic Design by Tim Bennett and Lighting Design by Thomas Salzman.  Doubt Previews on Decmber 2 (2PM & 7PM), December 4 (8PM), December 5 (2PM & 8PM), and December 6 (8PM), and then it opens on December 7, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8PM with Matinees on Wednesdays and Sundays at 2PM. There will be additional performances on Saturday matinees at 2PM on December 22, December 29 & January 5, Sunday evenings at 7PM on December 2, December 9 and December 16. Student Rush Tix are $10, based on availability, one-half hour prior to curtain with a valid, fulltime student ID, The  Box Office number is 877-245-7432 or 561-241-7432 or for  Group Sales call 561-995-2333. Tickets are:  Previews:  $32 & $36.  Regular Tickets:  $36 & $42.  Opening Night Gala on December 7:  $55 New Year’s Eve on December 31, 2007 at 8PM:  $42 & $48. Buy tickets on line 24 hours a day by going to www.caldwelltheatre.com and click on the blue box “buy tickets online.”  There will be no performances on December 24, December 25, or January 1. www.caldwelltheatre.com

Lesbians and gay men are a dream market for the tourism industry. 94.1% of the 6,700+ U.S. survey respondents to Community Marketing’s 12th Annual LGBT Tourism Study stayed in a hotel at least one night in the last twelve months, with the median respondent staying 14 nights in hotels during that period. A hotel’s reputation for gay-friendliness was cited as the top influence for choosing a hotel, followed by location near tourist attractions, location near a gay neighborhood, and free high-speed internet access.

77% of respondents said they shop for hotels and book online, while 29% said they book accommodations by phone or in person through a travel agent or directly with the supplier. As found in Community Marketing’s recent Gay Consumer Index™ and Lesbian Consumer Index™ studies, lesbians and gay men notice companies that advertise in the LGBT media, and are more likely to purchase products and services from those companies. 86% of respondents took at least one flight (up slightly from 2006) with a median of six flights in the last 12 months. 81% said they shop and book their flights online. 34.3% of respondents said they took at least one cruise in the last three years, with 62% of respondents reporting interest in cruise travel. According to Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), only 34% of their “target” market has ever taken a cruise. Only 17% took a cruise vacation in the last three years, less than half of the gay traveler comparison. CLIA’s target market is 25 years or older with a household income of $40,000 or more. “Clearly, the cruise industry should be taking a closer look at the gay and lesbian markets,” commented Thomas Roth, president of Community Marketing.

Other key findings from the study include gay and lesbian interest in: adventure travel (41.8%), spa vacations (36.1% ), educational tours (31.6%), culinary trips (29.7%), eco-travel (26.2%), casinos (22.8%). 25% attended a Gay Pride celebration where they stayed overnight, making it one of the most prominent “gay motivators” for taking a trip.
76% of respondents have a valid passport (more than double the mainstream percentage).

65% of respondents are gay men, 28% are lesbians, and the remaining 7% identify as bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex. The median age of respondents is 46. Survey results will be presented at Community Marketing’s 8th International Conference on Gay & Lesbian Tourism, December 2-5, 2007, in Fort Lauderdale.

Award-Winning Performance Art Group Presents Reality Theater For Hanukkah At Miami's Camposition Studio: On the Edge in Little Havana. In a culture and time that demands more in-your-face reality than anything else in the media, The Feldman Dynamic is reality in realtime and real space. Truly reality-based, the group – which is made up of an actual family – sits down to dinner and has an unscripted conversation as they dine and celebrate the Jewish winter holiday of Hanukkah which marks the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after its destruction during a rebellion led by the liberation party of Maccabee against a Hellenistic state banning the practice of Judaism. The audience is privy to their familial banter and discussion of the holiday as they take on the traditional foods, candle-lighting, and game-playing of the holiday.

In addition to witnessing the boundary-bashing of reality theater, audiences will also be treated to the exquisite desserts , Art by Ben Weinberg and Hanukkah gifts courtesy of the Feldmans. The Feldman Dynamic had its world premiere in August 2003 as part of FringeNYC (The New York International Fringe Festival) where it was featured on NBC's Today Show and deemed "the reason the Fringe exists." The group was subsequently presented as part of the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival in May 2004 where it was deemed "reality way more real than what you see on TV" by the Orlando Sentinel, the Montreal Fringe Festival where it was called a "one-of-a-kind" show by the Montreal Gazette. Conceived and Directed by Brian Feldman, The Feldman Dynamic: Hanukkah in Little Havanaka stars Adrienne Feldman, Brian Feldman, Edward Alan Feldman and Marilyn Wattman-Feldman - as themselves. To spend Hanukkah with the Feldman's, from Dec 4 to the 11, call Camposition Studio at 786.399.7375.

Sweeney Todd a Musical Thriller from January 1-6. Stephen Sondheim’s musical masterpiece is set in darkest Victorian England and tells the infamous tale of Sweeney Todd, the demon barber who forms an enterprising business relationship with Mrs. Lovett, the proprietress of the downstairs pie shop. In this chilling and truly unique production -- a vision of director and designer John Doyle -- no one leaves the stage and the players are also the show’s musicians, with each of the actors playing at least two instruments. It’s a theatrical event that’s not to be missed!

Monty Python's Spamalot takes place from March 11- 16, 2008. Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic "Monty Python and The Holy Grail." Directed by Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up Spamalot. Call today to reserve best seats at for either of these 2 shows at  800-647-6877

The "Furr Ball" is the Pet Project's biggest fundraising event of the year. This is an elegant attire event that is going to be held at the Island City Park Preserve on Thursday, December 6th at 7:30 PM. They will feature a selection of local restaurants from the area showcasing their menus. There will be a silent as well as a live auction with some magnificent items. They will also have a Pet Project Vendor showcase featuring local pet related business where they will display some of their services and products. There will be complimentary Hors d'Ouevres, champagne, wine and drinks at the ball. They will have live music and performers at the ball. There will be a doggie fashion show, Polynesian Flame Dancers and a New World String Quartet for entertainment. The admission will be $75 for a single ticket, $70 for 2 or more persons and $500 for a table with assigned seating for 10. Please contact Felix at the office at 954-568-5678 or his cell at 954-483-9925 if you want to join the Furr Ball volunteer team. Your participation will be greatly appreciated.

Last August, two members of the Board of Trustees of Palm Beach Community College killed a proposal which would have granted the college's full-time employees the ability to purchase health insurance for their domestic partners. But soon, the college's employees will be able to purchase health insurance for their pets. On November 16, Dr. Ellen Grace, PBCC's Director of Human Relations notified the college's full-time employees that "the college has added pet insurance as an available option to employees through payroll deduction." "When it comes to providing health insurance, Palm Beach Community College prefers puppies to partners," said Rand Hoch, President of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. The Council, a local nonprofit civil rights organization, has been encouraging the college to provide domestic partnership benefits since 2005. "While many pet owners consider their dogs and cats part of their families, there is a basic disconnect when an employer will insure an employee's pet but not an employee's partner”, said Deidre Newton, a PBCC graduate who serves as Vice President of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. "The college's offer to insure pets within months of denying insurance for domestic  partners  is  unbelievably  insensitive," said Hoch. "Last summer's decision not to offer domestic partner health insurance is irrational, since the college does not have to pay any portion of health insurance premium to insure an employee's partner," said Newton. "The cost to PBCC of covering a domestic partner is the same as covering a pet," Newton added. "Neither costs the college a single dollar since the employee is responsible for the cost to add their partner or pet." In response to the college's pet insurance announcement, Hoch sent a letter to PBCC President Dennis P. Gallon. "While the Council understands that both you and Dr. Grace have been - and remain - strong advocates for domestic partner benefits, the fact remains that the reluctance of two trustees, Kenneth Kirby and Carolyn Williams, prevented PBCC employees from purchasing health insurance for their partners for the current school year." Hoch wrote. Hoch requested that "the issue of domestic partner benefits, including, but not limited to health insurance, continuation of health insurance coverage and family medical leave, be brought before the Trustees at the January 15, 2008 meeting." PBCC's pet insurance is provided through one of the nation's largest pet insurers, VPI Veterinary Pet Insurance. Coverage includes everything from office visits and prescriptions to surgeries and hospitalization. VPI is no stranger to controversy involving companies who insure pets, but not domestic partners. Several years ago, two Fortune 500 companies -- Home Depot and Sprint -- were outed by a national gay rights organization for offering pet insurance, but not domestic partner insurance. It did not take much time for the companies to admit their mistakes and extend health insurance to the domestic partners of their employees. Stephen Gray, a records specialist at Palm Beach Community College, told Hoch that he was hopeful that health insurance benefits would eventually be extended to include availability for domestic partners. "Hopefully, the college's trustee's will act promptly to address this absurd inequity," said Hoch.