Florida Agenda

Aqua Foundation for Women Awards Scholarships

MIAMI, FL – The Aqua Foundation for Women awarded twelve women with scholarships, recognizing their academic success and commitment to giving back to the community. Recipients of the scholarships came from Broward, Miami-Dade and, for the first time, Palm Beach County. Scholarships ranged in size from $2,500 to $4,000, with a total of $40,000 dollars granted by the foundation.

The Aqua Foundation for Women is an organization dedicated to increasing the wellness and equality of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women.

Sidelines’ Teams Headed to Gay Softball World Series

WILTON MANORS, FL – Sidelines Sports Bar’s two softball teams, the Sidelines Cyclones (“C” Division) and the Sidelines Eagles (“B” Division), will be heading to Chicago to play in the 2011 Gay Softball World Series.

Over 160 teams from around the country, such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Montreal and Vancouver, will converge on Chicago from August 29 to September 3, 2011, in hopes of coming home with the 1st Place Championship Trophy and year-long bragging rights.

White Party  Finds New Digs

MIAMI, FL – Care Resource has announced that the annual White Party will move this November from its long-time home at the Vizcaya to a new location, the Miami Sequarium. The 2011 White Party begins 7 p.m. Friday, November 25, and ends 6 a.m. on Saturday, November 26.

For over 24 years, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was the location of the annual fundraiser. In the fall of 2010, however, due to increasing rental costs, it was decided that the 2010 White Party would be the final one held at that historic location.

Each year, the White Party draws thousands of guests from around the world wanting to attend the “Crown Jewel” of HIV/AIDS fundraisers and is recognized as one of the oldest and largest HIV/AIDS fundraisers in the world.

Get your tickets to the new White Party at Miami Seaquarium and world-renowned Muscle Beach Party at half the price. Florida Resident Passes are now on sale for $75 and includes the all new White Party and Muscle Beach parties. The pass offers a 50% savings off door prices and is only available for a limited time to Florida residents with a valid ID. This pass offers an opportunity to experience the two headline events of the week at a discounted price. This is a limited time offer with limited quantities and at these prices the pass will sell out.

For tickets and more information on this year’s White Party, visit the website at www.WhiteParty.org.

Pride South Florida Elects New Board

FORT  LAUDERDALE, FL – Pride South Florida, the producers of the annual PrideFest held each spring in Oakland Park, have elected a new board of directors. The new board consists of Marc Hansen (President), Roger Handevidt (Vice President), Rocky Bowell (Secretary) and Sonia Mitchell (Treasurer). Board Members-at-Large include John Fugate, Michael Rohrs, Marc J. Scharphorn and Michael Tisdale.

Island House Key West Marks 35th Anniversary

KEY WEST, FL – Island House Key West, touted as the longest continuously operated gay guesthouse in the world, is celebrating its 35th anniversary in business and its 10th anniversary under its current owners, Jon Allen and Martin Kay, who transformed it into a leader among the world’s premier gay guesthouses.

To mark this milestone, Island House is offering all 39 rooms at $13, the price it charged when it opened in 1976, for the night of June 25, 2012. The special offer is available exclusively through a special sweepstakes. 39 winners will be chosen randomly among those who complete the entry form at http://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/141910. Sweepstakes participants are also encouraged (but not required) to “like” Island House Key West at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Island-House-Key-West-Gay-Hotel-Resort/56402142064 and post a comment with the phrase “35 and fabulous.” The offer is valid through midnight on Labor Day (September 5, 2011).

Island House Key West began operating as a modest, 16-room all-men’s guesthouse in 1976. When Allen and Kay took possession in the late ‘90s, the ramshackle 39-room guesthouse sprawled languidly across several dilapidated buildings, sorely in need of repair.

“We are honored to have served more than 125,000 guests in more than a third of a century,” said Allen, “”We’ve never rested on our laurels. We pride ourselves on our focus on customer satisfaction and professional, attentive service. We’ve invested well over two and a half million dollars since purchasing the property.”

After a massive investment of capital and time, they unveiled the new and much improved Island House Key West in 2001, transforming it into Key West’s most luxurious and pampering oasis for men. Having spent so much on award-winning upgrades over the past decade, Island House is unmatched in its class.

To book, call (800) 890-6284 or visit www.IslandHouseKeyWest.com.

“Angels in America”

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – The famed play “Angels in America” will be playing at Andrews Living Arts, 23 NW 5th Street in Fort Lauderdale with a preview on August 11 and opening on August 12, playing Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. through September 12.

“Angels in America” is set in New York City during the mid-1980s and follows the interconnected lives of several people affected by the AIDS crisis.

From the tragedy of AIDS to the camp comedy of drag queens, “Angels in America” transports us from NYC to Washington, the Kremlin, the South Bronx and Salt Lake City,  while dealing with Jews, Mormons, WASPs, mixed ethnic cultures and switching between realism and fantasy.  There are intense spiritual experiences and frequent references to the Reagan Administration.

“Angels in America” first appeared on Broadway in 1993 and was included in Harold Bloom’s controversial list of what he considered to be the most important works in literature published in 1994.

Tickets on line at www.andrewslivingarts.com – click on Brown Paper Tickets – or by phone at (800) 838-3006. Limited seating. Tickets in advance: $24.95; at the door $29.95.

Bachmann to Speak at Anti-Gay Group Dinner

ORLANDO, FL – The Florida Family Policy Council has invited Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann to headline its annual policy awards dinner.

According to Think Progress, the FFPC raises hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to oppose abortion rights, “the gay agenda,” and Islam. In 2008, they successfully led the charge to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in Florida’s state constitution.

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.