Best Day Spa: The Grand Resort and Spa
Everyone likes to be pampered every now and then and no one does it better than The Grand Resort and Spa located near Fort Lauderdale Beach. Lay back and relax as you receive one of their specialty facials, body wraps, body scrubs, massages, manicures and pedicures, waxing, derm-abrasion or hair styling. You can also enjoy their oversized heated pool which is great for lap swimming or carelessly floating on mats soaking up the South Florida sun. The hotel also boasts a fully-equipped fitness center.
Favorite Clothing Designer: D & G
Dolce & Gabbana, also known as D & G, is a famed Italian fashion house started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy. Their clothing designs are usually black in color and geometric in shape. Dolce & Gabbana actually includes two fashion lines: Dolce & Gabbana and D & G. Dolce and Gabbana specializes in luxury items more influenced by designers and is more formal and “timeless,” responding to long-term trends rather than seasonal changes. The D & G line is the more casual line and attempts to set trends. The line includes jackets, pants, denim, swimwear, underwear, eye glasses and fragrances.
Sexiest Underwear Brand: 2(X)ist
It’s not surprising that 2(X)ist hit the top of the list as it was one of the first underwear designers to target the gay community. (About the same time that Marky Mark showed us his tighty-whities for Calvin Klein.) Known for its cutting-edge fashion, contoured shapes and superior comfort, 2(X)ist creates fashion-forward designs to fit men’s lives. Since its founding in 1991, 2(X)ist has grown to become an iconic men’s lifestyle brand with a style and fit for every occasion and leads the evolution of fabrics, materials and technology to create better fitting underwear, apparel and accessories for the fashion-forward.
Best LGBT Boutique: Bottoms & Tops
Bottoms & Tops has two stores – the main boutique in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors and its outlet store a few blocks down Wilton Drive next to Sidelines. Both stores offer the top trends in fashion at the lowest prices on denim, shirts, swimwear, underwear, watches, jewelry and gift items. Owner Jon Anthony knows the value of a dollar and negotiates the best possible prices when purchasing for his stores and passes those savings on to his loyal customers. There are also great sales always going on, so keep an eye out for the sales racks. Of course, Bottoms & Tops also includes the D & G and 2(X)ist brands along with dozens of other designers.
Best LGBT Guest House: Royal Palms Resort (Fort Lauderdale) and Island House (Key West)
We don’t think anybody realized the impact Richard Gray would have on Ft. Lauderdale when he opened the Royal Palms Resort in 1991. Gray and his Royal Palms turned Fort Lauderdale into a major gay destination and one of the most desirable places for the LGBT community to live, work and play. Now, 20 years later, Gray is reinventing and greatly expanding his property by adding several additional locations in the same area, which will include a bar, full gym, spa, a café and much more, all within a few steps from Ft. Lauderdale’s famed Sebastian Street Gay beach.
Imagine a place where everyone is gay – and you have the Island House in Key West. Island House is a very tropical and a not-so-far away all-male compound that’s safe from the influences of the outside world. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner poolside and is one of the most complete resorts in Key West offering a steam room, sauna, weight room and both an indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi.
Florida’s Most Entertaining Pride Festival: Miami Beach Gay Pride
Though only looking toward its third year, Miami Beach Pride has become the most-anticipated gay pride festival in the state. A spectacular parade moves north along Ocean Drive with plenty of floats, marching bands and walking groups. After the parade is finished, take a few steps east to the beach and enjoy the festival with live entertainment, food, drinks and more “pride” than anyone can imagine. Learning how to dance in the soft sand does takes a little getting used to but you will catch on rather quickly. If people watching is more your thing, muscle boys with their shirts off (it’s Miami Beach, after all), walk along proudly displaying their physics. Plenty of costumes and other gaiety can also be expected. Check out the exhibition booths on the dunes while the DJ’s keep the crowd and excitement levels high.
It’s also a full day of family activities as tourists bring their children out to enjoy the excitement of this all-encompassing community event.
Best Gym: Island City Fitness (Wilton Manors) and David Barton Gym (Miami Beach)
After a day of tanning your body on the beach, you’re ready to tone that body, and there are two fitness gyms that were voted the best by our readers.
Island City Health & Fitness in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors on Wilton Drive is the choice in Fort Lauderdale. Here you can transform your body, mind and spirit in their state-of-the-art facility. They offer experienced trainers and professional equipment. This spacious club offers incomparable amenities in a comfortable atmosphere which makes becoming fit a truly inspiring adventure.
The David Barton Gym won out in South Beach, and you have your pick of three locations. The first step to a healthy body is just walking through the door — any of their three doors. The equipment is top notch: a huge selection of free-weights, top-shelf equipment from Hammer Strength and Cybex (among others) and the cardio equipment, such as elliptical trainers and treadmills.
Best Abs: Brady Frost
Brady Frost
Are they real? Has this been photoshopped? These two question come to mind when hearing abs and Brady together. Well, after 3 years of using silver, blue, purple, and all the gay flag colors to showcase his abdominals, Brady has achieved the REAL look. There’s no more faking them now that he’s got ‘em. Showing off those abs with the 2(x)ist line, you can truly see why the voters have chosen Brady Frost.