By Brad ‘Scoop’ Casey
New Times has come out with its yearly Best of Broward/Palm Beach awards and four gay owned businesses have made the list.
Congrats to Le Patio, that little cozy restaurant off Wilton Drive at 11th Avenue who won the Best Restaurant in Which to Close the Deal award. Small, cozy and cool, Le Patio is slowly making a name for itself, one customer at a time. Proud owners, Chef Vero and partner Jean, have worked very hard to make this restaurant a success.
Best Bloody Mary award went to Rosie’s Bar & Grill. Rosie’s needs no description and continues to pack them in every day. We like their frozen Strawberry Margaritas, thank you, and especially on weekends. Congrats to Cliff and John for making our community proud.
Antonio Dumas’ To the Moon took the Best Gift Shop award and we agree. If you can’t find something in this store, then stop shopping, ‘cause you won’t find it. This is Wilton Drive’s most unusual, eclectic business. If you haven’t gone in, do so – you will enjoy! Congrats, Antonio!
LIPS continues to dazzle South Florida. They won the Best Drag Show category. New Times describes LIPS this way: “Hips will swivel, pelvises will thrust, lines will be crossed, wigs will be thrown across the room, dollar bills will be wedged into bustiers and you will go home with glitter in your hair, frozen cosmos churning in your blood, and a smile on your face.” Congrats to GM Mitch and the girls.
Footnote: What we found unusual in this year’s New Times Best of Awards Broward/Palm Beach, they neglected to have a Best Gay Bar award! Hmmmm …
Community Turns Out
The retirement party for Mona’s John ‘Mary’ Lyons was awesome and heartwarming. Hundreds and hundreds of well-wishers gathered at Mona’s on Saturday, the 11th, to send John into retirement after at least 20 years serving thirsty customers at some of Fort Lauderdale’s busiest bars … can we say the infamous 825, Bus Stop, Haymarket and, finally, 12 years at Mona’s.
John was recently diagnosed with bone and lung cancer … damn it.
Jerry Schultz, one of Fort Lauderdale’s great people, wanted to help John, not only spiritually, but financially, as well.
Thus, the retirement party and John’s friends heard the call.
From my perch I spotted many movers and shakers, like Joe McCallion and Jim Rapherty, former owners of 825, Scandals owners Lloyd and Ken, real estate guru Larry Rowe, famed attorney Arthur Smith, my good friend Rich LoPrimo of Hotspots!, Mike Terrazzi, master mixologist from Tropic’s Restaurant and Lounge and that handsome man from Monkey Business, Gus Sanchez, helped raise money for the raffle. David Snyder of the classic Marlin Beach Hotel was also there, as were so many, many good people of Fort Lauderdale – the ones who paved the way for the rest of us.
It was a pleasure and honor to help a friend.
Thanks for picking us up this week and remember: To have a friend, you must first be a friend.
If you have a “scoop” for Brad Casey, please e-mail your information to BradC@jumponmarkslist.com