The Manor Restaurant and Entertainment Complex will be the scene for an evening of music, merriment, and tripping-the-light-fantastic on Monday, April 8, as Dancing with the South Florida Stars (DWTSFS) returns to the popular venue to benefit the Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation, a Greater Fort Lauderdale-based service organization that supports fitness and nutrition programs for individuals with HIV and non-HIV-related life-threatening conditions.

The Foundation assists financially-challenged people living with HIV/AIDS through free group workouts and ongoing lifestyle education classes which cover all aspects of living a healthy, balanced lifestyle: from diet and exercise, to physical and emotional well-being, including making productive life choices, and providing mentoring and life coaching services.

Using a format familiar to fans of the hit television program “Dancing with the Stars,” teams comprised of local business and community leaders and other celebrities partnered with drag performers will train for over a month to ensure their peak performance for the event.

According to Foundation founder Brian Neal, the teams—culled from a Who’s Who of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s LGBT A-Listers—will include local business and community leaders competing for the crown previously held by Bruce Bogan and his partner, celebrity drag entertainer Electra (DWTSFS, Season 1), and winning partners Gary Santis and 2001 Miss Gay USofA Erika Norell (DWTSFS, Season 2).

More than 300 guests enjoyed special live performances from the “Dreamgirls” ensemble of Nicole T. Philips, Déjà Devonier, and Velvet Lenore, as well as by Special Guest Pepper MaShay, R&B performer Philip Alexander, and others.

This year, Reigning Champion Gary Santis will take his place on the Judges Dais, joined by local business legend Reece Darham, who will be honored for his contributions to advancing Greater Fort Lauderdale’s LGBT community, and panelist Misty Eyez, who, like Darham, is a DWTSFS/S1 contestant.

Hosting “Dancing with the South Florida Stars/Season 3” is Miss State of Florida Continental Elite, the fabulous Diva, and at press time the producers are waiting for confirmation from the scheduled co-host, drag performing legend Tiffany Arieagus.

The red carpet event is the premier annual fundraising gala for the Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation, which this year revised the curriculum of services offered to its clients, a group that exceeded 200 in number last year.

“This is something we all look forward to every year,” said Felix DeBruin, Executive Director of the Foundation. “It is not only a chance for the best and brightest of our community to show their stuff and reconnect with old friends and associates, it’s an opportunity for the Foundation to show just how much the support of our benefactors means to so many people who are affected by HIVAIDS and other life threatening conditions.

Richard Hack, New York Times best-selling author and longtime fitness and wellness advocate, agreed. “All of my years working for publications and writing in Hollywood there was always a huge excitement and buzz around Oscar-time and whenever important community gatherings were called. ‘Dancing with the South Florida Stars’ has become a local tradition where business superstars and local entrepreneurs can let their hair down and their talent fly, and help out a cause that is putting its contributors’ money where it is doing a great deal of good.”

DeBruin added that a complete list of financial information for the Foundation, including where and how contributions are utilized, is available online at briannealfitness.org.

He also noted that while an air of festivity and celebration always attends DWTSFS, the Season 3 gala holds a poignant place for the Foundation, since it will mark the passing of board member Patrick Campbell, who died earlier this year of complications related to HIV/AIDS.

“There wasn’t a person who was more diligent or passionate about the work of the Foundation,” DeBruin said of Campbell, a native of the Republic of Ireland and an early inspiration for the Foundation’s namesake, Brian Neal.

“Patrick was among those who most motivated me to take my passion for personal fitness and wellness and turn it into a non-profit organization that benefits some of the most challenged members of our community,” Neal recalled. “He was always available with sound advice and to provide inspiration and motivation.”

“I can’t remember a time when Patrick wasn’t close by me,” added Bobby Blair, Publisher of the Florida Agenda and Guy Magazine. “It was a pleasure for him to serve others, and the work of the Foundation is a tribute to his spirit and the legacy of better lives he leaves behind.”

Interested applicants for the Foundation’s program are invited to contact the Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation about enrollment. To qualify, individuals must be HIV positive and/or living with a potentially life-threatening illness. Applicants must be able to show they cannot afford to pay for the Foundation’s services without assistance. A physician’s letter must also be provided to clear all approved recipients to participate in an exercise program. To contact Brian Neal: BrianNealFitness@me.com or call (954) 816-0237.

Tickets for Dancing with the South Florida Stars/Season 3 at The Manor are $10 for General Admission, $40 for VIP and dance floor seating. Tickets can be purchased online at guymag.net.

Broward House is Broward County’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS community service organization. Founded in 1988, it has 15 locations throughout South Florida.

As previously reported, (Florida Agenda, November 14, 2012, SUNSHINE STATE: “Broward House CEO Resigns amid Child Sex Abuse Accusations”), this month, CEO Michael McGuigan resigned his position following an agonizing consideration by the agency’s board. Stacy Hyde has stepped in to serve as interim CEO. She has been with Broward House for 10 years this month, and has held a variety of positions in the organization.

“I have been in a leadership position here for 10 years in some capacity or other,” she noted. “So really I am continuing to do everything I have always done: I continue to focus on the staff, our clients and the community.”

Hyde says that the focus at Broward House is on the clients’ needs, and forging a path for future service. “We have staff that has been here for anywhere between two to 20 years, their passion doesn’t change due to one cloud,” she explained. “Our clients are our inspiration. We use their grace and strength to continue to move forward because they rely on us.”

Broward House helps over 6,000 people and Hyde says that every client is a unique opportunity to make a difference. “A client came here after suffering a lot of physical and sexual abuse,” she recalled. “He completed our substance abuse program, got better, and is now employed and happy.”

She says that the assistance the agency offers its clients come in all forms. “[There was] a gentleman who came here, but he died. He affected me because he died with grace and dignity, and without us I know he would have died on the street,” she related. “What also impacts me is the people we haven’t reached yet. In a way they affect me more because we haven’t reached them, and that is also what drives me: We have to reach them.”

Hyde says that she and Broward House plan to focus in 2013 on building upon the solid foundation the agency has set. “I always believe you can continue to strengthen your core,” she said. “I want to continue to grow our outreach and prevention programs. For example, we have an ‘MPowerment’ program that targets young MSM [men-who-have-sex-with-men] between the ages of 18 to 30.  It is crucial to reach the vulnerable.”

“We continue to strengthen our main offering,” Hyde noted, “because I believe if we expand the existing the services we can reach more individuals who are not in treatment. I also will be focusing on counselling and testing and reaching those who are HIV positive and don’t know it. That in itself is a big prevention component.”

Hyde says that no matter what services Broward House unveils, community support is “vital.”

“It takes the entire community to make changes,” she explained. No individual can do it all. It requires agencies, people, and business to do it. In any area HIV affects every single person, so it takes every single person to achieve change.”

For more information, visit browardhouse.org.

Gordon moved to South Florida from Washington, DC in October 2009.  “I started at the old Pride Center when I first moved to Fort Lauderdale. In DC, we have a great LGBT community but there was nothing like this. I was so impressed with the fact that there was a community center locally that was like this,” he recalls. “I joined the Pride Center, and on Sundays I would play Bridge,” he adds. It was—to use a Golden Age of Hollywood axiom—the start of a beautiful friendship, one which would benefit future clients of the Pride Center, and others who might not even know the extent of his help or generosity.

“I have always believed in giving back,” Gordon explains, “and while I couldn’t make a huge donation to the [Pride Center] Capital Campaign, it did mean a great deal to me that I would be able to contribute,” he says, with sincerity and understatement.

“It is so important for the upcoming generations to have a place to go, especially the younger LGBT community,” says Gordon, who has also seen the good works of other groups that are working towards that good and welfare. “I am also impressed with Equality Florida, and the work that they do.”

Gordon says that Greater Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors’ thriving LGBT community needs a thriving community center to support it, nurture it, and help foster leadership, fellowship, and a sense of belonging. “I am very happy to be here in this setting. If we don’t support an organization like the Pride Center, what will happen to it?” he asks.

On September 30, the Pride Center held an invitation-only brunch, to say “Thank You” to the board of directors and community patrons of the agency. Boo praised Gordon and the other benefactors of the Capital Campaign, noting that if not for their generous contributions, “so much of the service we provide would have to be curtailed.”

For more information about the House that Gordon and other community leaders have built, as well as its many community services, visit pridecenterflorida.org.H

When you hear the words “barber shop,” most people (my age, anyway) think of Floyd, from the old “Andy Griffith Show,” with an old rotating red, white and blue barber pole outside a sleepy little shop. You’ll still find the pole, but nothing that’s remotely “sleepy” at a “cutting edge” (pun intended) salon that has turned the Gayborhood on its ear, MoJo’s Men’s Room on Wilton Drive.

Owner Joe Sansone is the spark that has set his little corner of Wilton Manors’ main drag—at 2348 Wilton Drive—ablaze. For over ten years, Sansone, 33, owned a very successful salon in Boca Raton. “Boca is a very lucrative area, and I did very well. But it just wasn’t what I wanted,” he relates.

“One day, I happened to be in Wilton Manors,” he recalls, “which, by the way, I love this town. Belle Isle [townhomes] had been here for a couple of years, and several things had gone in and out of this location. I drove by and saw the ‘for rent’ sign in the window, made the call, and the next thing you know, I am signing on the proverbial dotted line.”

“The atmosphere here in Wilton Manors is so different from the vibe in Boca Raton,” Sansone says. “That’s not to say anything negative about Boca, but here you have a much younger demographic. It’s sort of—” he pauses for a moment, before adding with a charming, almost rakish smile, “a barber shop surrounded by eye candy.”

He also says that there is more synergy in the Gayborhood among local businesses. “They actually work to promote and support each other here, which is a far different world.”

About his own business, Sansone offers proudly that “MoJo’s is the sort of salon that a man can enter and not feel intimidated. We want everyone to come in and feel relaxed. We have great music and videos, and the staff is amazing.”

Sansone says he comes from a long line of barbers. “My grandfather and his brother moved here from Italy. They opened in Brooklyn, and were a great success. One day my great-uncle turned to my granddad and said, ‘I want to buy you out.’ That was at lunchtime, and by one o’clock the deal was done with a handshake. Then, my grandpa found this space in Manhattan which he really liked. It was in this place called 30 Rockefeller Center, the home of General Electric and NBC—where they film the ‘Today Show.’

“One day, the Chairman of General Electric, then the parent company of NBC, came in for a haircut. Grandpa impressed him so much with the care, the cut and just his general business style that, next thing you know, he had the likes of Jack Parr from the ‘Tonight Show,’ the members of the Rat Pack, and Ronald Reagan as part of his clientele.” We can assume the sense of style and showmanship runs in the family, as does the pride in his craft.

“I am a third generation barber— you notice I said ‘barber,’” said Sansone, as we wrapped things up. “I am proud to be called a barber.”

The Men’s Room is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 to 5, and closed on Sunday. Call for an appointment at (954) 566-1350, and know you will not be disappointed.

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Velvet Lenore is a Florida girl, beginning her career up the coast in West Palm Beach, and she still calls the place home to this day. To be a drag sensation in the Orchid City is no small achievement, since this is the place that’s a hop, skip and a bridge away from the mansions and blue bloods of Worth Avenue, the Mara- Lago Club, and the Biltmore. Very posh and very conservative.

Velvet got her start through another local ingénue of sequined gowns and bouffant wigs—the lovely Melissa St. John, who plucked her off the dance floor and (suggested through some sort of drag ESP) that Velvet had a future in female impersonation. The Diva of Palm Beach, as St. John is known, backed up her prediction with dress, wig, jewelry and music for Velvet to transform into Janet Jackson for a night–a debut that found her “scared to death.” The fright was overcome quickly enough however in the form of tips that very first evening. “I must say I did make a lot of money—and in cash,” Velvet remembers.

It’s been 19 years last month since that debut and Velvet has never looked back. “Even though it was all purely accidental, I had been trained as a dancer and I just took to drag.

First, through contests—I won Miss Hollywood in 1999, and then I went on to win Miss Illusion. Eventually, I began to do shows”—the last five of those years as a member of the popular Lips team of regulars.

“My career got a real push when I met Marvin Nathan at a little restaurant club called 502 that Gene Conti owned in West Palm Beach. It was one of my first jobs, and Marvin joined the show. He was already established in drag and he took me under his wing, giving me tips about improving my act. I’ll always love Marvin for that.”

Velvet performs from Melbourne to Fort Lauderdale, traveling to find opportunities to entertain. That job has become more involved now that she’s expanded her act to include a group of dancers whose intensity is nothing short of aggressive and whose talents are exceptional.

“I’ve always loved to dance, and I have my own dance group now (R. Nielsen, Krya Kennaugh, and Danny G.). These are a group of dedicated kids who give up there own time to rehearse for the love of dance,” Velvet says, obviously proud of her “babies.”

“I’m known as the Production Queen and for being on time,” Velvet says. “So when I come in, it’s a complete package.” The music, the choreography, the costumes—look out. Experience Velvet Lenore at Lips (2021 E Oakland Park Blvd.) in performance every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and see drag at its best.

One of the things to know about John Zieba and Cliff Mulcahy, the owners of Wilton Manors’ popular Rosie’s Bar and Grill, is that success did not come for them overnight. When Zieba and Mulcahy first met, they were students at the University of Miami. At the time, they were working for the same software company, but each possessed that entrepreneurial drive.

“We initially looked at Subway,” recalls Zieba, “because they have a very strong franchise system. We really wanted something more than just subs and chips, and then we heard about Hamburger Mary’s.” The themed gay eatery was worth a look for the professional pair.

“We did our due diligence, and decided we liked the look of the menu, and we moved forward,” adds Mulcahy with a smile. After an extensive search, they found an abandoned Burger King location [at 2249 Wilton Drive] in the little community of Wilton Manors, and in December 2002 they opened their Hamburger Mary’s franchise on Wilton Drive.

“At the time it was the right way to go,” Zieba remembers. “It has what we call an ‘instant market,’ something built-in to drive customers in.”

But, adds Mulcahy, “We just didn’t see that much support from the franchisor, so we chose to temporarily close and to shuffle the menu, remodel, and rename and rebrand as Rosie’s Bar and Grill. It’s been a great decision.” Beginning with their time as a Hamburger Mary’s franchisee, the two understood the importance of giving back to the community.

“If you want to really make a statement of your commitment, you have to lead,” Zieba explains. “We got involved with many organizations. [For instance], we have been major donors for the Smart Ride, which raises money for several Florida HIV/AIDS service organizations, with 100 percent of the funds raised going right back into the community.

“We provide breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as supporting the Smart Ride with staffing for the 176-mile ride from Miami to Key West,” Zieba notes. “We make a stop at Hawks Cay, and then up the next morning and on to Key West. I have to say it is amazing to see the amount of love and support once arrive in Key West,” he adds.

Mulcahy notes that, “In addition, we also provide support for the Poverello Center and their annual Bowl-A-Thon, and many other community groups.”

The pair says they welcome the addition of new eateries and watering holes in the Gayborhood. “The more businesses that open, the more likely people will come and spend an afternoon or evening on the Drive,” says Mulcahy, as he jumps up to bus a table in the soon-to-be-packed dining room.

Mark your calendar now for Rosie’s 10-Year Anniversary weekend, December 7, 8, and 9, and help these great guys celebrate an amazing decade of making a difference in our community. Tell them Florida Agenda sent you.

“I chose to move along with Paula, because we had a great working relationship. I worked with Chef Ernesto Rand, who was the chef at Las Olas Café, for over 10 years. As a matter of fact, “Chef” is our chef at Wilton Wings.” Really? A wings joint with its own chef? “You wouldn’t think that a simple wings restaurant would have a chef,” Dion acknowledges. “But we are so proud to have him on staff.” The quality of the food reflects that hiring decision.

Dion describes the restaurant’s journey to ringing (winging?) reviews and raves. “When ‘Wings and Things’ on Wilton Drive closed, we purchased all of the owners’ recipes. We knew they had a terrific business, and we wanted to continue that tradition. I purchased the business in November 2011, and my entire goal has been to make money and to give back to a community that I love,” he adds.

Dion says that the food at Wilton Wings must stand out, something he is proud to have accomplished in less than a year. “I wanted to make sure that our wings were our signature, since it’s in our name. Without a doubt they are the best. And all of our sauces are homemade— fresh and never frozen.” For specials, the prices are as much a value as the portions.

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“We offer a half rack of ribs and wings for lunch for only $9.50,” Dion notes. “On Friday, we offer our Fish and Chips, which features an 8-ounce portion with homemade coleslaw and fries. Saturday, you will find me in the kitchen making homemade New England clam chowder,” he adds proudly. “We also feature fresh tuna and fresh tilapia—the only way it could be fresher is if I were on a boat and caught it myself.” After a momentary thought, he adds “I am way too busy to do that, although it sounds pretty good,” flashing a grin.

“One of the things that I am so proud of is our service. I am proud of all of my staff. They are dedicated. We grind our own hamburgers, and we always try to have as much on the menu that is homemade. Chef Ernesto really puts his heart and soul into every meal that we prepare,” Dion says.

About his hands-on style, “I am the sort of owner that you may find me bussing tables or helping to serve the food. It always makes me smile when I watch people come in and look at the Specials Board: Their eyes literally light up when they see something that they didn’t expect.”

For more information, visit wiltonwings.com, and stop in to Wilton Wings, at 1428 NE 4th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tell them you read about them in Florida Agenda. You won’t be disappointed.

Caleb Ben-Avram and Tim Slivinski

“It’s hard to believe,” recalls Ben- Avram of that day in 2007. The partners knew that success would bring changes. “We used to listen to people who would stop in for a glass of wine. We’d hear, ‘We’re going to grab a bite to eat and we’ll be back.’ Of course, most times they never did come back after dinner,” Slivinski recalls. That oft-repeated scenario motivated the duo to find a location where they could offer food service to their patrons. That brought them—and their successful operation— up the Drive a few hundred feet, to 2163 Wilton Drive, next to Karl Grace Insurance (and the old offices of Guy Magazine). It was a wise decision.

“We consistently get four-and-a-half [out of a maximum of five] stars on Yelp.com,” notes Ben-Avram. “Our food is always fresh. I go to green markets throughout the area. I refuse to use anything that is prepackaged. That’s one of the things that set us apart,” he adds.

Slivinski says that they are regularly fine-tuning The Naked Grape to better serve their regulars and new patrons. “We have reduced the amount of bottles from our retail area. We do sell lots of bottles near the holidays, and of course for dinner parties as hostess gifts, but we are really concentrating on our food.

Of their addition of an alfresco outdoor dining and conversation area, he adds, “People enjoy being able to sit outside with a book and sip their wine or one of our gourmet beers.”

The oenophiles (look it up) have lots to offer wine-lovers who can’t get enough of the juice of the grape. “In addition to our Tuesday and Wednesday half price bottles for on-premise consumption, we are offering ‘Pairings’ on Thursday night: Three food items and three wines for one price. Sometimes we will pair desserts with wine, and other times it may be cheeses,” Slivinski explains. “We always have one of the wine reps at these tastings to answer questions. We call it ‘Wine with No Pretense.’”

As for the rest of the year, “Every year around Thanksgiving we have a Holiday Tasting. This year the date is November11, from 3 to 5 p.m.,” notes Ben-Avram. “It’s always well-attended and a great time. I may even bake one of my blue cheese cheesecakes,” he adds—teasing palates and threatening waistlines across the Island City. The same as it ever was.

For more anniversary specials, visit nakedgrapewinebar.com, and tell Caleb and Tim you read about them in Agenda. Cheers!

Once upon a time, there was a legendary little watering hole near Sears Town called Lester’s Bar (it had first been called SyLa’s, after the original owners, but it underwent a name change in 1949). Around 1990, the landmark lounge was purchased by a customer, John Hitchcock (who was a big fan of the joint’s freshly-made hamburgers). Re-christening it the Cubby Hole, Hitchcock was the steward of the heritage establishment for 15 years before deciding to put it on the market.

Enter Teri Galardi and Gary Edmiston. “We looked at large clubs in Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale, and Oakland Park,” recalls Edmiston. “We heard about Cubby Hole, so we stopped in to have a drink and check the place out. We really liked it, and so we put the wheels in motion, and next thing you know Teri bought the place.”

There was a lot to attract Galardi and Edmiston to the location. “We really liked the ‘friendly, local watering hole.’ We wanted the bar to be laid back, comfortable feel,” explains Edmiston. He acknowledges there were concerns when they first over. “Local drug dealers were hanging out in the back alley. Teri started going to city council meetings, and we spoke to the local police about more patrols. We also installed more security cameras.” Eventually, the bad element got the message that they weren’t welcome.

Despite those changes for the better, some things have stayed exactly same— including the bar’s reputation for great food (including the burgers that helped “give birth” to it). “Our burger is 1/3-pound of fresh ground sirloin,” Edmiston justifiably brags. “I personally go out and purchase the sirloin every day. Every Friday is hot dog day, so many times I will make a Sloppy Joe sauce to go on the dogs. We really try to show our customers that they are number one to us,” he adds.

“We also have the longest happy hour in town. Seven days a week and customers can use their [free drink] chips anytime. Our philosophy is you should be able to use that chip when you want to use it,” says Edmiston.

Edmiston’s emphasis on service and quality date back to his days in uniform, military and culinary. “In 1975, I left the United States Air Force and joined Big Boy Restaurants. I was a manager for years,” he remembers. “I then went to work for a private club in Las Vegas, and then became Assistant Executive Chef at Vegas World Casino.” In Las Vegas, Edmiston began his professional association with Galardi.X

“I went to work for Teri at the Back Door Club, which was one of the largest gay clubs in Vegas. It was typical for us to have 500 patrons on any given night. Then Teri and I found Cubby Hole, and this has been home for me for the past three years,” says Edmiston. “I’ve had one day off in that time,” he adds with a smile, “but this has been a labor of love, so it makes it worthwhile.”

The Cubby Hole Bar is located at 823 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit thecubbyhole.com, and tell Gary and his staff that you read about them in Guy Magazine.

Closer to home, Darrow says, “One thing that I have to say about Lipton Toyota is they are reaching out to the LGBT community, and they are sensitive to our issues.”

In addition, “Toyota has a special nationwide program called ‘Celebrating Volunteers,’ which has a goal of maintaining our natural, cultural, and historical sites. All of the teams at every location across the country are encouraged to participate.”

The master salesman, and Chicago native, says that his odyssey from the Land of Lincoln to the Land of Lipton wasn’t a straight line. “I had a solid career in real estate in Chicago, and then, of course, the market collapsed,” he recalls. “My partner, Steve, had an offer on South Beach—he’s a property manager for a 700-unit complex—and we both loved to be near the ocean.” (This may help explain his Facebook-posted motto: “I’d rather be sailing.”)

“We were tired of cold and snow, and so we located a home, and packed up last April 11—and here we are,” he adds. “I first took a position with Keller-Williams real estate in Fort Lauderdale, and then one day I received a phone call from a head hunter. I took a drive to Lipton Toyota, and I was taken around the entire facility. I was very impressed, and when they made me an offer, I accepted. ‘Sales’ is ‘sales,’” says Darrow, “whether you are selling cars, appliances, or whatever. If you have a passion for sales, you can sell ice to Native Alaskans, it just doesn’t matter,” he offers, while noting that the sales cycle in car sales is much quicker than it is in real estate.

The car answer man has some suggestions for people considering a new—or “preloved”— automobile purchase. “Come out Tuesday through Thursday, because those are less busy days, and you will get much more individual attention. Treat the salesperson as a source of information—we have so many specialized programs to help people get into a car and drive away,” he offers.

Robert Darrow

Like the cars he sells, Darrow comes fully loaded with great advice on leasing and buying, and invites you to take advantage of his expertise and experience. To set an appointment, call Robert Darrow at Lipton Toyota at 954-446-9001, and tell him you read about him in Agenda Newspaper.