FORT LAUDERDALE
Oktoberfest isn’t just for Germans anymore!
People have flocked to Germany from all parts of the globe to participate in the world’s largest annual festival for more than 200 years. Here are some historical and fun facts about Oktoberfest that you can share over a beer with your friends:
• The first Oktoberfest was held on October 12, 1810 for the marriage celebration of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.
• Munich’s annual celebration is still held on the original site, Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s fields”), in front of the city gates.
• In 1872, the start of the Oktoberfest was officially moved to September because October was often quite cold, which negatively affected attendance.
• Oktoberfest is the largest public festival in the world with almost 7 million visitors a year in Munich (and festival halls can seat 100,000 people).
• The largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany is in Blumenau, Brazil (attendance: 700,000+). Other cities claiming to have the largest Oktoberfest include Kitchener- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (700,000+), Cincinnati, Ohio (500,000+), and Denver, Colorado (450,000+).
• Oktoberfest is not only an event—it is also a style of beer. An Oktoberfest beer is brewed very much like the reddish-amber Märzen beer that was served at the Crown Prince’s wedding in 1810.
FRENCHIE DAVIS AT BILL’S
Wednesday, October 10, at Bill’s Wilton Manors, Wilton Drive. Frenchie Davis, the recently-out sensation from “American Idol”
Season 2 and Fox’s “The Voice,” will perform her new dance track, “Love’s Got a Hold of Me,” and other hits.
For more information, visit billsfillingstation.com.
GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Saturday, October 6, at 8 p.m. As a show of appreciation for the Sunshine Cathedral’s support of both the chorus and the LGBT community, the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida will present a cabaret-style show, at the Sunshine Cathedral (1480 SW 9th Ave., Fort Lauderdale). Held in conjunction with the Cathedral’s 40th Anniversary Celebration Weekend, the performance will feature the chorus’ Ensemble (an elite group of approximately 20 singers from within the 150-member chorus) as well as individual members of the chorus.
Tickets, at $20 each, will be available at the door. For more information, contact John Burch at (954) 563-8658 or (305) 409-0939.
4th ANNUAL FORT LAUDERDALE GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL (FLGLFF)
October 4 to 7. Presented by HBO Latin America, in its fourth year, FLGLFF will spotlight 19 feature films and 17 short films. This year, FLGLFF will move its host theater to the historic Classic Gateway Theatre. In addition, moviegoers will now be able to purchase cocktails during all screenings. Tickets are now available for Festival members (and will be available to the general public on September 10).
MIAMI
MDGLCC BUSINESS BUILDERS LUNCHEON
Thursday, October 4. The Miami- Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce presents its monthly networking program at Anacapri Restaurant, 2530 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Coral Gables. Registration 11:30 a.m. with luncheon/networking from noon to 1:30 p.m. Cost: MDGLCC members ($30), Potential Members ($40, $10 applied to new MDGLCC membership). Includes seated style lunch limited to 25 persons. Please bring a friend. RSVP requested at rsvp@gaybizmiami.com or (305) 673- 4440.
MIAMI MDGLCC GALLA LUNCHEON
Wednesday, October 10. Monthly networking program for the Gay and Lesbian Lawyer’s Association, tailored for attorneys, judges and legal professionals held on the middle Wednesday of each month. Morton’s Steakhouse, 1200 Brickell Avenue. Registration 11:30 a.m. with luncheon/ networking from noon to 1:30 p.m. Guest Speaker: TBD. Cost: MDGLCC members ($35), Potential Members ($50, $10 applied to new MDGLCC membership). Includes seated style lunch limited to 20 persons. RSVP requested at rsvp@gaybizmiami.com or (305) 673-4440.