Florida Agenda

BY BOB KECSKEMETY

Halloween, the unofficial gay national holiday, is upon us.

Your costume is all ready. Each stitch has been crafted with the care of Susan  B. Anthony or Martha Stewart. The BeDazzler is all but worn out making sure all the bling is in the right place. Each feather has been carefully placed in the proper position and correctly fluffed. And, if you’re planning on showing a lot of flesh, you’ve already visited your favorite tanning salon for “just the right look.”

You may even have accidently glued your glue gun to the coffee table. You’ve been planning your costume for this year since November of last year and now it’s all come together nicely. The best part of Halloween? The more trailer-trashy you look, the more fashionable you are so put away those designer labels for the weekend.

There has been much confusion this year as to when Halloween will be  celebrated – or if Halloween will be celebrated at all. For the last two years, Halloween has fallen on a weekend evening but this year, it’s falling on a Monday. Some places are celebrating on Saturday, others are Sunday, some more are celebrating on both nights. However, a party is a party so many are celebrating all three nights which means three nights of costume contests.

Then there are the other pertinent questions. Will there be a large block party? The answer is yes. Will Wilton Drive be closed? The answer is no. However, as last year proved, you can have a great and safe time on Wilton Drive without closing down the street.

WilMa’s finest will be out in force making sure the traffic yields to the ghosts and goblins and peacocks that are certain to line “The Drive.” (But it is still your responsibility to cross the street with care.) The WilMa City Commission even voted NOT to charge for parking on Monday night. The city has also extended drinking hours to 3 a.m. It can’t get any sweeter than that.

The following is perhaps the most complete list of parties, costume contests, and themes available anywhere.

THE PRIDE CENTER

Halloween at The Pride Center will be held on Saturday, October 29 with both day and night time events.

During the day will be a Sheriff’s Department Community Outreach Day and a Kid’s Costume Contest. The Broward Sheriff’s Office will be out to show off their finest equipment to the kids from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be a fire truck, snow cones, a bounce house, MacGruff the Crime Dog, music, food and a sketch artist. Come out to meet BSO personnel and Quiggley, the BSO mascot.

Free child fingerprinting will be provided by Crime Stoppers of Broward.

While BSO activities are being held outdoors, a Kid’s Costume Contest will take place inside the Main Hall. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes at 2 p.m!

From 7 p.m., to 11 p.m., there will be a Halloween Youth Bash titled “Halloween Madness.” In addition to the dance, there will be a costume contest, food and drinks, music, prizes and more. Admission is $10 per person, $15 per couple ages 14 – 21.

“A LITTLE NAUGHTY”

“A Little Naughty” is the annual art exhibit and fundraiser to be held at the Broward Art Guild Gallery, 3280 NE 32 Street in Fort Lauderdale, FL. “A Little Naughty” is a one-night-only, multi-discipline erotic art event, with alluring art and installations, tantalizing treats, provocative performances, and an audacious raffle to benefit the programs of ArtsUnited on Saturday, October 29 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Costume contest judging starts at 9 p.m. with a $100 prize for Best Naughty Costume sponsored by LeatherWerks.

MANORS MASQUERADE

Two Halloween events are being held on Sunday, October 30 in Hagen Park in Wilton Manors.

From 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., “HOWL-O-Ween,” a Halloween party for your pets and their best friends. Include a pet expo, various pet activities, entertainment, trick or treat bags for people and their pets, food and beverages plus the highlight of the afternoon, a HOWL-o-Ween pet costume contest starting at 2:30 p.m. Admission and parking in Hagen Park is free for this event.

From 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Hagen Park is transformed into “OUTrageous Fantasy,” this year’s Manors Masquerade theme with DJ Roland Belmares. Includes dancing, a lounge tent with food, beverages, raffle and café seating, trick or treat bags. The costume contest will be judged by celebrity host and judge, fashion designer Jay Carroll, the winner of the first season of the television series, “Project Runway.” Admission is free, closed-in VIP parking in Hagen Park is $10.

“WICKED WEEKEND”

Alibi – Proving that you can’t have too much of a good thing, Alibi’s Halloween festivities begin on Thursday and continue through Monday. That’s five full days of fun using the theme “Horror High.” Thursday night, Alibi is having a theme party called “Guy Spy.”

GuySpy.com is the newest cross-platform, all male location-based mobile social networking app for iPhone and Android. Users who download the free mobile gay dating app are able to find, meet and chat with men seeking men faster, easier and with more features than any other dating app. Friday night is the “Pep Rally from Hell.” Saturday is “Horror in the Halls,” costume contest at 10 p.m. hosted by Nichole Halliway as Elvira, 1st place $500, 2nd place $300, 3rd place $200. Sunday night’s theme is “Detention” with a costume contest at 10:30 p.m. hosted by Nichole Halliway again as Elvira. Finally, on Monday, Halloween night is “Prom Night,” with a costume contest at 8 p.m. hosted by Florida’s own Dame Edna, 1st place $500, 2nd place $300, 3rd place $200.

Bill’s – Bill’s on Wilton Drive will be celebrating Halloween for four nights, Friday through Monday with the blanket theme, “Cirque de Freaks” where anything can happen. Friday night is “Growl O’Ween” in conjunction with GuySpy.com. Saturday night is “Sideshow Freaks” with a costume contest at midnight. Grand prize $350, 1st runner up $250, 2nd runner up $150. Hosted by Nicole Halliway as Elvira. Sunday is Misty Eyez’s “Trannie Palace – Nightmare on the Drive.” Show and costume contest at 11 p.m. Grand prize $250, 1st runner up $150, 2nd runner up $100. The big night, Monday is “Cirque de Freaks” hosted by Jennifer McClain. Show and costume contest at 10:30 p.m., Grand prize $250, 1st runner up $150, 2nd runner up $100.

Boardwalk – Friday through Monday is “Angel Rock” at Boardwalk presented by JetSetMen.com. On Monday, Halloween night, is a fundraiser for Bernadette from 7 p.m. to midnight with a drawing for the Allure Cruise at midnight.

Boom – Boom will be celebrating Halloween on Monday, October 31 with a “Haunted Forrest” theme and a costume contest at 8 p.m.
The Depot – “Hallo-Bear-Ween” T-Dance/Costume Contest poolside as special guest DJ Barry Thomas Huffine spins the spooky hits for our first “Hallo-Bear-Ween T-Dance” on Sunday, October 30 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with the only poolside costume contest in Ft. Lauderdale with cash prizes. Hosted by guest Anita Barr.

Johnny’s/Ft. Lauderdale – Friday, October 28 is a “Scorpion Halloween” hosted by Cire Citron, Mr. Situation, Sushiman and others. Free admission before midnight, free drinks 11 p.m. to midnight, $5 drinks all night, $69 Moscato Bottles, DJ TPromix spinning. Sunday, October 30 is “Super Hero Halloween Event,” no cover all night long, MC Gemini Stone, $5 Margarita Madness midnight to closing, Florida’s largest strip contest, $1,000 prize.

The Manor Entertainment Complex – The Manor is planning their own block party which includes their newly paved parking lot on the west side of the building. On Friday, October 28 at 10 p.m., “Lost in the Devil’s Triangle,” $1,000 cash & prizes for best costume contest, DJ JPS, M.C. Daisy Deadpetals, $3 drinks 10 p.m. to midnight, $100 Rokk Vodka VIP bottle service all night, live band at 9 p.m. in the lounge. Saturday, October 29, it’s “Mutiny” with DJ Oren Nizri. Sexy pirate dancers with big shows and surprises. Noche Latina Room hosts Salsa music and drag shows. Live band entertainment at 9 p.m. No cover, extended liquor hours. Costume contest at 1:30 a.m., $500 in cash and prizes. Free raffle for a basket valued at $500 with DJ Larry Larr. For Sunday, October 30 at 9 p.m., it’s “Survivor Island” with DJ David Knapp, no cover. Finally on Halloween, Monday, October 31, 6 p.m. it’s “Pirates of the Manor” an indoor/outdoor block party. $2,500 cash and prizes, best costume contest, MC Daisy Deadpetals, DJ Kidd Modonny, no cover, extended liquor hours.

Matty’s on the Drive – Saturday, October 29 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., don’t miss DJ/comedian, “Cazwell Live!” performing his hits, “Ice Cream Truck” and “I Seen Beyonce at Burger King.” With DJ Jared Michael, mixing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday, October 30 and 31, costume contests both nights at 10 p.m., $250 cash and prizes each night.

Mona’s – For Halloween, Monday, October 31, Mona’s presents its “Halloween Extravaganza,” karaoke with Freak Boy Freddy at 9 p.m. “Burlesque or Cabaret,” dig into your closets and put together your most fabulous outfit. “Hallow Weenee Cookout” from 6 p.m. 11 p.m.

New Moon – Saturday, October 29, 8 p.m. don’t miss “Night of the Living Dead,” get your Zombie on or any other costume your rotting little brains can come up with Saturday night for a down right creepy Halloween Weekend. $500 in cash and prizes. Sunday, October 30, another costume contest with $500 in cash and prizes.

Ramrod – Monday, October 31, costume contest at midnight. Two categories: best costume and butchest costume.
Rosie’s Bar and Grill – Monday, October 31, “Villains & Vixens.” Costume contest at  9 p.m.

Royal Palms Resort – For fun on the beach, the new Royal Palms Resort will be celebrating on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, October 28 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. they are having a “Best of Rio Headdress Contest.”  Bring your best headdress and you can win $200 cash. With DJ Jason Gonzalez and hosted by Nikki Adams. Giveaways all night long. Saturday, October 29, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., don’t miss “Zombie Lane” hosted by Twat LaRouge with DJ Lydia Prim and giveaways all night long. Enter their costume contests and you can win a two-night stay at The Royal Palms.

Scandals Saloon – On Saturday, October 29 don’t miss “Muppet Ranch” with your favorite bartenders dressed as your favorite Muppets. Lady Fancy will be holding her “Gospel Jubilee” on Sunday, October 30 starting at 6 p.m.

Shoppes of Wilton Manors – The parties at Boom and Alibi spill into the parking lot with music and shows on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights. The block party includes outdoor costume contests, bars and food and all the great stuff as Java Boys, Humpy’s and the other stores and restaurants in the shopping center join in the fun. Festively decorated, outdoor stage and plenty of good times.

Sidelines Sports Bar – Sidelines typically enjoys a “Parade of Costumes” for Halloween and his year will be no different. This year is no different as, Sidelines presents “A Ghoulish Weekend at Sidelines” on Sunday and Monday, October 30 and 31. Costume contest on Sunday, October 30 at 10 p.m. Don’t miss out on the prizes and games and drink specials.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The new Royal Palms Resort and Spa started their new Sunday T-dance last weekend, picking up where the likes of the Marlin Beach Hotel and the Club Caribbean Resort left off years ago. Both former locations perfected the Sunday T-dance, but have long since been demolished.

Beach Place is where the former Marlin Beach once stood and the Harley Davidson dealership on N. Federal Highway is in the location of the former Club Caribbean. Both T-dance locations drew crowds from the tri-county area.

Hundreds of people lined around the block to attend the first of what will become a weekly event. The Royal Palms Resort and Spa T-dance will be held every Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Royal Palms Resort & Spa, 717 Breakers Avenue near Fort Lauderdale Beach. The T-dance features a full service bar and grill on premises, live deejay and ample parking. Cover charge, $5.

Construction has begun on the new Royal Palms Resort on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Richard Gray, proprietor of the original Royal Palms when he purchased the property in 1991, is in the process of adding two more properties to the Royal Palms legacy.

The original Royal Palms is located on the corner of Terramar Street and Birch Road, while the new property spans from Breakers Avenue to Birch Road on Vistamar Street. The two properties are not connected geographically, but are connected in their commitment to quality and living up to the tradition of the Royal Palms.

Gray says the new addition to the Royal Palms will make it the largest luxury gay resort in Fort Lauderdale with 62 rooms, three pools, a jacuzzi, bar, café, spa and gym. “We’ll be spoiling everybody here,” said Gray.

The two new properties will match and be seamlessly connected, giving the impression that they were built together.

The “front building”, the two-story property located on Breakers Drive, will have a pool area that will be an unparalleled experience for guests. Pool boys will be on hand to assist guests with everything from applying suntan lotion to providing them with cold towels with eucalyptus, lavender and chamomile.

The pool area will feature three cabanas and a lounge with furniture described as “very trendy, very streamlined and very sleek.” The front building will have 23 king-size bedrooms with the second floor featuring two additional rooms with an ocean view. It will also house a complete gym and fullservice spa offering massages, treatments, manicure/pedicure area and more.

The three-story back building will feature an additional 27 king and double queen rooms plus another pool. Both buildings will be white with lushly landscaped grounds. Guests will also find the Royal Palm’s traditional orchids scattered throughout the property.

Gray describes the guest rooms as being “minimalist” with gray tiled floors, gray walls, 42-inch televisions and beds with white leather headboards running from floor to ceiling. Shag carpet around the beds and Dennis Dean images on the walls give the rooms an added flare. The contemporary bathrooms will feature rain showers.

“They will be very sleek, very stylish, very sexy, very minimalist and very different for Fort Lauderdale and the gay market,” said Gray. “There’s going to be nothing like this in the United States for the gay traveler.” Gray also hopes that the new room décor will attract a slightly younger demographic to his properties.

After the new properties are completed, Gray will be remodeling the rooms in the original Terramar location. One of the rooms in the original location is decorated with the new theme as a “model” where Gray has been able to test out his vision for the new rooms. Gray also will unveil a redesign of the Royal Palms logo, which he described as being sleeker with a stainless steel look, moving away from the current copper logo.

Gay tourism is an integral part of Fort Lauderdale. Approximately 1 million LGBT tourists come to Fort Lauderdale every year, spending approximately $1 billion. Gray, who also sits on the Greater Fort Lauderdale Visitor and Convention Bureau, says the gay travel market is no longer a niche market but a market in its own right.

“Unquestionably, Fort Lauderdale is known in the U.S.A.,” said Gray, “but we want Fort Lauderdale to be equally known in Europe. And I think we’re on our way to doing it.”

Hotelier Richard Gray gives us a guided tour of the construction of

the new addition to the Royal Palms Resort in Fort Lauderdale.

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.

Richard Gray Adds 53 Rooms to Property

(Photo: Richard Gray at the Royal Palms Resort)

By Bob Kecskemety

When Richard Gray opened the original Royal Palms Resort in 1991, the property set a new standard for gay guest houses in our area. Now, with Gray back at the helm, he plans to combine a couple of neighboring properties adding 53 new rooms to his current 12 making a total of 60 rooms and it becoming the largest gay resort in Fort Lauderdale.

“There are some very exciting changes going to be happening here at the Royal Palms,” said Gray, “changes that will definitely make an impact on the property and the entire destination.”

After a two-year absence from The Royal Palms, Gray’s goal is to start rebranding and renovating The Royal Palms. The rooms, current and new, are going to be more “contemporary, more stylish, more European,” said Gray. “I think the rooms are lovely now but they’re a little bit stodgy. People like edgy.

Young people like edgy and more and more younger people are coming to Fort Lauderdale. I think edgy is the way to go.” The last time The Royal Palms was remodeled was in 2001. Changes will begin within the next few weeks.

All three buildings will be totally remodeled and with the addition of the two additional properties and rooms, other new amenities will include a spa, gym, ocean-view sundeck, full liquor bar and indoor/outdoor café. Gray is also looking forward to landscaping the new properties. “Our new hotel will embrace the tropical setting while showcasing a clean, boutique design and a European sensibility. It will be gay but definitely heterofriendly.”

“I like to be one step ahead of the curve,” said Gray. So I’m hoping that with this next chapter I will be right there.”

However, as usual, Gray looks beyond his own property to see the impact the new Royal Palms will have assisting to keep Fort Lauderdale a world-class gay destination. Gray sits on board of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Visitors and Convention Bureau.

“It’s all about branding,” said Gray, “and it’s very competitive out there. Gay travel is not a shoe anymore. You’ve got tweak and tweak your marketing tools and come up with different hooks. We’re not just competing with other Florida destinations; we’re competing with other European cities. We’re competing with Mexico and we’re competing with every place else.

It’s all about reinventing yourself and value.”