from the editor Welcometo the first issue ofthe year! We have had lots of discussions about this coming year and how we can improve Hotspots Central to serve you, the reader,evenmorethanitalreadydoes. You will notice focal points in each issue, starting with "health and fitness" this month. Nearly everyone at least thinks of improving their health at the start of each new year, and in this issue we give you the tools to pursue your goal, whether you live in Tampa Bay, Orlando metro, or points around or in between. You will also notice that a lot of things have stayed the same: the columns you love, such as "Backstage", "Genre Latino Hit List", "Need Wood", "Small Business Spotlight", "Food for Thought", as well as our renowned celebrity interviews, will all be featuredasoftenaspossiblein2017. Finally, I'd like to ask you once again for your input. E-mail me and give us your suggestions for Hotspots Central: mike@hotspotsmedia.com. Happynewyeartoallofyou!
Central Florida Edition January, 2017
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on the inside
Central Florida Edition January, 2017
Central Florida 2016 Year in Review All of us in Central Florida finished the year closer than ever before, and as we move into 2017, we continue the long healing process. We'll survive. We're "Orlando strong."
photo: white house
content: • • • • • •
From the Editor Backstage Genre Latino Hit List Hollywood Small Business Spotlight What’s Hot Central Florida
• • • • • •
Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy Equality Florida Gala Gasparilla Health & Fitness Interview with Lily Tomlin Quench Lounge
this month’s features:
hot shots • Tampa Bay AIDS Walk & 5K Run • Parliament House • St. Pete Pride Red and Green Party
What’s HOT ...everything you need to plan your month
Tampa Bay
Gasparilla!
Beloved Pirate Festival Returns Jan. 28th by mike halterman
I
If you're a resident or visitor to Tampa Bay, chances are you know and love the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. It has been held annually since 1904, and every year it gets bigger and grander. If you haven't celebrated Gasparilla in Tampa, here's what happens: a pirate ship and flotilla arrives in Hillsborough Bay, then the citizens celebrate with a large parade, live music, and a festival. This year, the celebrations are brought to you by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and will beheldonSaturday,January28. To start off the day of the pirate invasion, there is an optional brunch that morning, starting at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Convention Center. The brunch menu features a continentalstyle selection, including biscuits, jams and cheeses, plus an entrée of fluffy scrambled
eggs, bacon, sausage, and ham (via a special ham-carving station). To buy your tickets for the brunch, visit gasparillatreasures.com. The much-awaited “pirate invasion” will start at 11:30 a.m. At that time, a large pirate ship, the “Jose Gasparilla,” will appear at the southern end of Hillsborough Bay. The ship, maintained by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, is the world's only fully-rigged pirate ship. The Jose Gasparilla will put on a reenactment of a pirate battle that ends with a mock “invasion and conquest” of Tampa. The ship and the flotilla will sail through SeddonChannel(betweenDavis Islands and Harbour Island) and will finally dock at the Tampa Convention Center at 1 p.m. At that time, the mayor of Tampa, BobBuckhorn,willgivethekeyto thecitytotheKrewe,andanhour after docking, a large parade with floats will traverse Bayshore Boulevard in honor of the pirates'“victory.”
The Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates starts at 2 p.m. The parade startsattheexactsamepointaslast year. ItstartsatthecornerofBayto Bay Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard. The parade route this yearislonger,at4.5miles. Therewill alsobeentertainmentstagessetup at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park (at the corner of Ashley and Twiggs), MacDill Park (Ashley and Whiting), theTampaConventionCenter'sSail Pavilion, and Fergs Tampa (JeffersonandChannelsideDrive). Gasparilla has been broadcast live on Tampa Bay television since 1954 when WFLA-TV, NBC News Channel 8, first aired coverage of the festival and parade. Since then, every TV station in the Tampa Bay area airs live coverage of Gasparilla all morning and afternoon. Gasparilla and its daughter events are sponsored by Hard Rock Seminole Hotel and Casino TampaandBudweiser.
For more information on Gasparilla, visit gasparillapiratefest.com.
hot shots photos by russ martin
Tampa Bay 13th Annual AIDS Walk & 5K Run
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Noted actress, comedienne, singer and producer Lily Tomlin has been a part of American popular culture for nearly fifty years. She first rose to fame as a regular participant in the NBC comedic variety series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. From there she continued on to critically-acclaimed movie roles in films such as Nashville, The Late Show, 9 to 5, and many more, which earned her multiple nominations, including nominations for a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award. She won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a play for her one-woman show The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. Now, Tomlin stars alongside Jane Fonda in the Netflix original comedy series Grace & Frankie, which netted her two Emmy Award nominations in a row. This month she will receive the Screen Actors GuildLifetimeAchievementAward. Central Florida audiences will have the chance to see Lily Tomlin in person as she performs a new one-woman show, "An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin", at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando on Saturday, February 4. Showtime is at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $35. To buy your ticket, visit drphillipscenter.orgorcall(844)513-2014. It was a tremendous honor to speak withLilyTomlinabouthershowandabout her storied career in an exclusive interviewforHotspotsCentral.
Welcome back to Florida! What are some of the things you like most about the Sunshine State?
Hotspots Exclusive Interview by Mike Halterman
I like the weather, unless it's really oppressive, so I've picked a good time to come down. I'm from California so I feel like there is a similarity between there and Florida. Is it bad that I don't remember where I go? My friends take me out when I'm here and the thing that I do remember is that I have a good time, so I really do love that I associateFloridawithfriendsandfun.
You will be arriving in Orlando for the first time since the Pulse shooting. How did you feel when you first heard about what had happened, and how doyoufeelnow?
Jane [Wagner] and I were terribly shocked, and doubly so when we realized it was an attack against gay people. It was just horrific. But then we move forward and accept that these things are possible now, andit'sasadrealization. But I was so proud that everyone came together and helped each other, no questions asked. It reinforced unity in our LGBT community. It reminded me of the 1980s in New York City, when AIDS was a big terror, and the women stood up and helped the sick men. Events like these just prove our strength and that we won'tbevanquishedbyanybody.
This month you will be receiving the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award. How does it feel to receive such an honor? I've been getting more than one "lifetime achievement" at this stageinmylife. Thehonorispreeminent in the industry, for sure, b u t re c e i v i n g " l i f e t i m e achievement" awards...feels creaky and it makes me a bit cranky. [laughs] It's great to be acknowledged, of course. SAG has produced a lot of great press for me as a result of the award, andI'mgratefulforthehonor.
Please tell us about your February 4 show at the Dr. Phillips Center. What should Florida audiences expect? Thebulkoftheshowwillbebuilton characters I've made up, or characters that people relate with me. Different character types, different culture types, I run the gamut. Iuseafairbitofvideoinmy show, but all in character: perhaps thevideowillshowcasesomething a "character" I'm playing did, and now the character has to discuss that moment! But it's very much a show that's driven by character comedy.
I asked readers to tell me which
“The bulk of the show will be built on characters I've made up, or characters that people relate with me. Different character types, different culture types...�
roles they've loved you in the most, and I've noticed that regardless of the generation, many responses circled back to Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Are you surprised at the show's enduring popularity? I am surprised, but also not. The show really permeated the culture at the time, and many of the people who watched were kids. They were imprinted by the show and its humor, and then it took them a little while to grow up and pass the memoriesdowntotheirchildren. Recently I was on Jimmy Corden's show and I promoted the release of all five years of Laugh-In on DVD. I am so thankful to the show for the opportunities it gave me, and to George Schlatter for thinking to cast me. It was the perfect show for me, and I didn't know when I first got into it, but it ended up being such a great fit. Every Monday when the show aired, all of a sudden the U.S. became a small town. Everyone watched and everyone had something to say when they saw
me. You just can't forget great timeslikethat.
I've asked other comedians and actors this question and they have not agreed on the answer. Do you feel there are any topics or jokes that should be "off-limits" in comedy? No, I don't think so. I think it depends on the hand that is on the humor. Also, what's the u l t i m at e v a l u e o f t h e commentary? If it's just to shock or tittilate, then that can still work, as long as there's a valuable message to be gleaned from the humor. It's all in the presentation. Any good comic's gottaknowwhatthey'redoing.
A lot of our readers really like your show Grace & Frankie. What's the one thing you like about being reunited with Jane Fonda? It was meant to be. It was so easy and lucky, and we get along so well and we have so much fun. I love Jane, she is an exceptional person and she has been a great friendtomealltheseyears.
Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
We didn't even know this was coming. My agent called me and said, "Are you and Jane Fonda looking to do something together?" I could tell something was cooking. I answered, "We are now!" It felt so right for us, and everythingfellrightintoplace.
What are some of the things you like most about the series that set it apar t from other productions you've worked on? I like that it's a hit, and I like that it discusses issues that are pertinent to women of our age. We have sexual drives still, we're not all dowdy...it's important to just dispel those notions right away, and I'm glad that the show gives a voice to women of a
certain age who are still out there living life. I know I'm not going anywhereanytimesoon!
Dolly Parton recently performed in Florida. I had the chance to interview her and I asked her about the possibility of a 9 to 5 reunion on Grace & Frankie. Is that something youwanttoseehappen,andwhatis the likelihood that it might happen inafutureseason? We're all pushing for it! We want it so much. Obviously I can't promise it, the writers are off creating the arc for the next season, but I know all three of us want it to happen. Jane (Fonda) andIaresohopeful.
What is your one wish for America in the new year?
I wish we could get rid of all the division, hate and negativity that one [specific] group has for another. Negating other people to push a belief system is so insane to me. Why can't we come together to solve problems? Republicans obstructed Obama for eight damn long years. I don't know what's going to happen in the future, I can only hope with each day that there will be less animosity, because I know I'm willing to stand up and fight for ourpeople.
For more information on Lily Tomlin, visit lilytomlin.com. Follow her on Twitter @LilyTomlin.
what’s hot bymikehalterman
everything you need to know
to plan your month
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Hello, Hotspots Central readers! Welcome once again to the What's Hot column, where we keep you in the loop with lots of important nightlife events in Tampa Bay, Orlando, and points in between. We're also your connection to many activities and events organized by local LGBT service organizations and chambers of commerce. Want to know What's Hot in January? Readmoreandfindout!
Sunday January 1 Come on out for the first tea dance of 2017 at Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg. The dance party will be going on all day, with music by DJ Johnny Cruz and DJ Reagan. Also, enjoy the go-go dancers, the drag queen Olympics, and pool games from 3 to 5 p.m. with Jaeda Fuentes. Want to reserve a room for the night? Call the Flamingo directly at (727) 3215000.
Happy 2017! Tuesday January 3
The Citrus Club
(255 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando) is hosting a fundraiser mixer called Cocktails for a Cause, which will benefit Two
Spirit Health Services.
Your donation entry (ranging from $10 for members to $20 for nonmembers at the door) entitles you to free hors d'oeuvres and one drink ticket. For more information on advance ticket purchases, visit citrusclubyeb.com. The mixer begins at 5:30 p.m. and the dress codeisbusinesscasual.
Wednesday January 4
Enigma in St. Petersburg continues
its talent contest night in January, with Jaeda Fuentes once again serving as hostess! The show begins at 11 p.m. and $175 in cash and prizes will be given out to participants, including the week's winner. Can't come tonight? The contests will be held every Wednesday this month. Don't be shy: if you think your talent can entertain a crowd, you should enter!
Friday January 6
NeiBEARhood Takeover
celebrates its fifth anniversary tonight at Southern Nights Tampa! This special night (doors open at 9
p.m.) will feature adult film star Deviant Otter as the guest of honor! Stay for the NeiBEARhood new dancer contest beginning at 1 a.m., sponsored by Hamburger Mary's Pub House. Music by DJ Rob.
Saturday January 7 Party this weekend and do your part to end bullying at the same time! Parliament House Orlando presents "Purple!": wear purple and drink purple all night long. Cover is $10 and proceeds raised this evening will benefit The Trevor Project. Axel Andrews will join the
House's new trivia night, "100 People Said"! The games begin at 8 and 9 p.m., and are modeled after the popular TV show "Family Feud". It's free to play, and $25 in prizes are given out to winners every hour! Service industry workers get extra points. For more information, call (813) 2485777. Wednesday January 11 Chhoy Sutimek presents Punk + Privilege, a fierce club experience you won't soon forget, at Lux Downtown St. Pete. Kori Stevens and Miah VanCartier are your show hosts (showtime 11:30 p.m.), with Conundrum and Adriana Sparkles appearing as featuredperformers. MusicbyDJ Power Infiniti. There is no cover charge. For VIP reservations, call (727)316-4203.
Footlight Players for two shows, at 10 p.m. and midnight. Music by DJ PowerInfinitiandDJBrianna.
Monday January 9 "Florida's Leading Lady", Leigh Shannon, is takinghershow Illusions in Revue out on the road again! Tonight she will be performing at the Savannah Theater inTheVillages as Bette Midler, and she will be bringing her friends who will also serve you fierce celebrity impersonations! To get your tickets,visitleighshannon.com.
Tuesday January 10 Check out
Hamburger Mary's Pub
and great '80s music! Day and evening passes are available. Want to stay longer and reserve a cabin? Call them directly at (352) 583-0664. Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg hosts "Deviants Den" Weekend, presented by Fantasy Fetish Fest, starting today and going on through Sunday. Attendees can enjoy events this weekend such as fetish bingo, live demos, a kinky cocktail social, and beer bust social areas each night. If you'd like to reserve your room, mention promo code "DD17" when you call (727) 321-5000 or visitflamingofla.com.
Saturday January 14 Tribeca Color Salons, The RITZ Ybor and SQUARE ONE Events present Cocktails and Couture 2017: A Fashion Odyssey. The popular Ybor City event will begin tonight at 7 p.m. when the doors
Friday January 13 Do you love the '80s? I know I do! Sawmill Resort in Dade City is hosting an "I Love the '80s Throwback Weekend", starting today and featuring amazing costume contests, drag shows,
open at The RITZ Ybor, and fashion shows will be presented at 8 and 10. Participants will include Elizabeth Carson Racker, Halle Elizabeth, Juliet Retro, and more. There will be three rooms of art and fashion to peruse as well. To p u rc h a s e t i c k e t s , v i s i t cxc2017.eventbrite.com.
Sunday January 15 Dumarr International Pageant Systems presents the 2017
Dumarr International M.I. and Femme pageants. Doors open at 7 p.m. at Southern Nights Orlando. Judged Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
categories include interview, presentation, creative talent, and formal wear. If you are interested in entering the pageant, call Goldie Buchanan at (404) 2027947. Skin Tampa presents their semiannual Full Nude Male Revue night. Doors open at 9 p.m., and remember that it isn't just a stage show:themenarealsoavailablefor
(321)319-0600.
Saturday January 21 The Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber of Commerce holds its yearly awards gala, called "Diamonds in Diversity", tonight at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront . A VIP reception for sponsors will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by general admission at 7:30. To purchase tickets, go online to diversitytampabay.org.
Sunday January 22
private dances and champagne rooms. Tickets are $15 for men. Want a $5 off coupon? E-mail liquid@skintampa.com. There will be a free shuttle to and from Liquid Tampathroughoutthenight. It's here, for one night only! Resurrection's Retro Reunion will take things back in time at Southern Nights Tampa. Partygoers will take a journey back to the dark dance hits of yesterday, like '80s new wave, darkwave, post punk, goth, industrial, synthpop, and '90s alternative. The party is hosted by DJ Nemesis. Doors openat9p.m.!
Join Miss Tampa Pride 2016 Alexis Mateo as she crowns the next Miss Tampa Pride! Honey Pot hosts the pageant, which begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door; if you'd like to attend and support Ta m p a Pride, visit tampapride.org. For interested
Ifyou'reafanofWicked,you'llneed tocometo The Abbey inOrlandofor "Wicked After Dark", a fundraiser for The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. There is a VIP reception beginning at 8:30 p.m., featuring former Wicked star and recording artist Rachel Potter, with her band Steel Union. Then, at 10 p.m., after the show is over at the Dr. Phillips Center, the current cast will perform numbers from the show. Tickets are $35 for general admissionand$75forVIP. Tolearn m o r e , v i s i t facebook.com/thecenterorlando.
Friday January 27
Florida Leather and Fetish Pride Weekend begins today and goes on through Sunday at Sawmill Resort in Dade City. Come spend the weekend with like-minded kinky individuals! There will be a dungeon, vendors, demos, a fox hunt, and more! Reserve your cabinbygoingtoflsawmill.com.
Saturday January 28
participants, the entry fee is $100 and paid bookings are guaranteedforthewinner.
Friday January 20
Wednesday January 25
Hamburger Mary's Orlando hosts Facebook Fridays, Florida's first
Balance Tampa Bay
interactive drag show! The queens won't know which number you selected for them until the music starts playing! Anything can happen when fierce and funny queens like The Minx, Nicky Monet and Aysia Black are put on the spot! Seating begins at 7:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 8:30. To reserve your table, call
Thursday January 26
hosts its first social of the year this evening. Learn more about the organization and how you can support their charitable works in the community. The event will be held at Sea Salt St. Pete (153 2nd Ave. N.) from 6 to 8 p.m. Complimentary appetizers will be s e r v e d . V i s i t facebook.com/balancetampab ayformoreinformation.
The Gulf Coast girls invade the Space Coast for a special Spectacular Saturdays show at The Ultra Lounge in Cocoa. Ava DeAmor and De Delovely will perform for the Brevard LGBT crowd at 11:30 this evening. As always, The Ultra Lounge never has a cover. For more information,call(321)690-0096.
By Peter Jackson
1. Drink a Gallon of Water Water is always a crucial element for proper bodily functions, and even more so when fat loss is your goal. The con version of fat into energy takes place in your liver, and this process requires that you be well hydrated. Drinking a gallon of water over the course of your day is a wonderful goal to aim for. This goal is easily met when you get into the habit of sipping water throughout the day, coupled with drinking a full glassbeforemeals,uponwakingandbeforebed. 2. Cut out Alcohol This fat loss tip is always met with groans, but despite its unpopularity it remains one of the most effective. The first reason that alcohol should be cut out in order to lose fat is that it's filled with empty calories. These are simple sugars that taste great but add up quickly as stored fat in all the wrong places. The second reason that alcohol should be cut out is that the simple energy that your body derives from the alcohol will be used as energy long before your fat stores are tapped, making it impossible to reduce body fat on days when alcohol is consumed. That should be incentive enough for you to put down your glass and reach for somewater.
3. Do a Variety of Aerobics Variety is key when it comes to the aerobics side of your routine. Getting in calorie-burning activities is crucial to quickly eliminating fat stores. We no longer believe that long cardio sessions are the holy grail of fat loss – but getting your body moving with calorie-burning activities is a wonderful way to intensify your fat loss results. The great thing about aerobic activities is that these can and should be fun! Hiking, biking, swimming, surfing, jogging, brisk walking on the beach or in your neighborhood – any activity that requires you to move your body for a decent duration of time and break a nice sweat in the process will be effective. 4. Cut out Processed Junk Thisisoneoftheeasiestwaystoquicklyandeffectivelyreducebodyfat, and yet it is met with such resistance. Why? Why is it so difficult for us to give up our packaged, processed snacks and treats? This is one obstacle that prevents most people from achieving the body that they want. The best tip for success- fully getting processed junk food out of your life is to have wholesome alternatives on hand while removing the junk food from your home. If you are a late night snacker, then be prepared by having fresh fruit, sliced veggies, plain Greek yogurt or other wholesome snack replacements on hand. When your belly is full of wholesome snacks, it's hard to care too much about the processed junk you missed out on. And soon you'll learn to love how lean and energetic these healthier foods make you feel. Sandor proves you can befitandtrimatanyage. 5. Lift Weights You might consider this to be pretty obvious, but many people are still resistant to the idea that resistance training leads to fat loss. The act of lifting weights causes those targeted muscles to stimulate new muscle tissue growth. Now this doesn't mean that your muscles are going to get noticeably larger, but it does mean that your muscle tissue will becometighterandmoretoned. Theincreasein muscletranslates toa higher metabolism, which means that your body will naturally burn fat fasterandmoreefficiently. 6. Use HIIT High Intensity Interval Training is a method that has been quite popular in the past decade – and for good reason. This advanced form of aerobics, when done correctly, is one of the most effective methods for burning fat. HIIT is achieved by performing short, intense burst of aerobic intervals between less intense bouts of aerobics. For example, 2 minutes of walking followed by a 30 second sprint, done for 20 minutes. 7. Work with a Fitness Professional When your car needs new brakes, you take it the mechanic. When you wake up with a fever and sore throat, you go to the doctor. When your hair gets too long, you go to get it cut. When you need to reduce body fat, you...try to do it all on your own? That makes no sense. The investment is a fitness or aerobics class or some kind or even private personal training is well worth it to get in shape safely and quickly. Manyfreeorinexpensiveoptionsexist,sogetmoving!
Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
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The groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed Broadway hit Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy will heat up Central Florida once more, taking two cities by storm! The show will first stop in Lakeland at The Lakeland Center on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 p.m. The next night, the curtain will rise on Cirque Dreams as the cast performs at The Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, January 11,alsoat7:30p.m. Created and directed by renowned theatrical and circusimpresarioNeilGoldberg,CirqueDreamsJungle Fantasy is an exotic encounter inspired by nature's unpredictable creations, brought to life by an international cast of soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists,acrobats,jugglersandmusicians. The astounding feats performed in this actionpacked production are enhanced with spectacular costumes nominated for an American Theatre Wing Best Costume Design award. The journey comes to life in a fantastical jungle setting filled with flowers,
magical trees and a variety of special effects. From the Butterfly Ballet and Flipping Monkeys to Hopping Frogs and Stretching Lizards, this worldclass explosion of imagination, athleticism and Broadway theatrics will exhilarate and entertain audiencesofallages. Tickets start at $29.50 per person and can be purchased by going online to the venues' websites d i re c t l y : t h e l a k e l a n d c e n t e r . c o m a n d themahaffey.com.
Beau Sargent is only 22 years old, but this gifted Australian dancer, gymnast and acrobat has found his niche performing in the main cast of Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy. The former Australia's Got Talent hopeful has been in the Cirque Dreams family for four years now, and continues in the "family business" (many past generations have excelled in gymnastics). I spoke with Beau about Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy and his experiences in the show for this exclusive interview in Hotspots Central.
“...Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy is an exotic encounter inspired by nature's unpredictable creations, brought to life by an international cast of soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, acrobats, jugglers and musicians.�
Hotspots Exclusive Interview by Mike Halterman
lot. I've been practicing for roles like ones in Cirque DreamsJungleFantasymyentirelife.
Which number is your favorite to observe? I love watching the contortion acts. Two Mongolian girls twist and bend all over each other and it really is a sight to behold. In this show, they play lizards, so watchoutforthem.
What would you say to audiences to ensure that they buy a ticket and see the show? For those who may not know, Dream Studios, where Cirque Dreams shows are conceptualized, is based right here in Florida. Did you rehearse there? Yes, Dream Studios is located in South Florida, down in PompanoBeach. Wedoallofourrehearsalsthere.
How long does it take to rehearse before debuting a show either for a limited engagement or for touring?
There's something for everybody in this show. If you like the circus, there are aspects that you will like, such as aerial work and contortion, and if you like Cirque productions, you won't be disappointed...the costumes, the lighting, the scenery, everything is so visually appealing. On top of that, all of the performers are bringing their best talents to the audience,soeveryonewillbeentertained.
Everyone has their own specific acts that they excel in and then from there, the show is crafted around each person's talents by Neil Goldberg. I'm an aerialist, and I've perfected my aerial acts since the age of fifteen. In thisproduction,you'llseealotofmyaerialworkasabird flyingthroughhoopsabovethearena.
How did you first become involved in aerial work? My dad was a trampolinist and a gymnast when he was younger, and I've always been enthralled with it. I've been involved in aerial work and gymnastics since the age of eleven, so the sustained level of performance I've been a part of over the years is a
For more information on Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy and other Cirque Dreams shows, visit
cirqueproductions.com. Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
that at least for the next 12 weeks, the improvement of your health and quality of life will be your numberonepriority. 2. CREATE A
GAMEPLAN:
By Peter Jackson
It's a new year and you have made the commitment to get in shape. If you are a doit-yourselfer and plan to get fit and healthy on your own, here are some tips to help you getstarted:
1. MAKE THE COMMITMENT: Get a notebook and write down on the first page all the reasons you have to lose weight, get fit and live a healthier life. Imagine how you will look and feel when you achieve your goals. Write down a big reward you will give yourself at the finish line. Now make a contract with yourself
Be specific. Where, when and at what times are you making the commitment to exercise? (Choose a commercial gym over a home gym to give you access to more equipment and motivation by being around others with similar goals.) At a minimum, you should plan 45 minutes of exercise three times a week. On two other days, allocate the same amount of time or more for cardio activity such as speed walking, running, biking, etc. Each gym workout will comprise 15 to 20 minutes of high intensity cardio to elevate the heart rate followed by 25-30 minutes of strength training. Include a day ortwotorestandrecover.
3. PLAN YOUR WORK,
WORK YOUR PLAN: Do a little homework. Research new strength training routines online or in reputable fitness magazines and watch YouTube videos. It's easy and fun to improve your knowledge and important to vary workouts. Know in advance of each session exactly which exercises must be done. It's essential to have a plan – and follow it. In your notebook or phone app, plan and date each workout and note the number of repsandweightyouexecuted. 4. DO THE WORK: It's no exaggeration to say that upwards of 50% of people at your typicalcommercialgymarefooling themselves if they believe they will see meaningful results from what they call a workout. Subtract the time they spend chatting with others,hangingatthewatercooler, resting between sets, and/or eyeing some hot body, and their actual exercise time amounts to verylittle. Youmustgivethis110%. Squeeze out one or two more reps each time, push a little harder, lift a little heavier, and your determination will power success. Failureisagoodthing– inthiscase, being unable to complete safely one more repetition of the exercise. Efficientworkoutslasting 30-45 minutes are better than 90 minutes spent haphazardly wandering from one machine to thenext. 5. WHAT ARE YOU
Make the time to eat breakfast, don't skip meals, and enjoy healthy snacks between meals. Drink more water, cut way back on alcohol or, better still, abandon hard liquor and all sodas and sugary fruit drinks for the duration of your 12-week plan. Supplement with a quality multivitamin and whey protein powder. It's a personal choice, but considerapre-workoutsupplementaswell. 6. IT'S ALL ABOUT VOLUME: Volume can be measured by the total number of reps and sets completed during each workout – and is a measurement of how hard you're working and forecasts how rapidly results will come. For example, a set of 5-6 different exercises would be considered low volume and 8 or more sets would be considered high volume. Repetitions are referred to as “Load”, so you have “High Volume, Low Load” (example, 10 sets, 4-8 reps each) as well as “Low Volume, High Load” (5-6 sets, 12-15 reps). There are advantages to both training techniques,butstartyourprogramwithLowVolume,HighLoad.
EATING? You know this one. A healthy body starts in the kitchen. Ditch the junk food, say no to fast food and put on your grocery list the essentials to a healthy diet: lean red meat, turkey, chicken and fish,fruit,vegetables,nuts,grains and legumes. Cut most or all carbs from your evening meal.
7. GET YOUR GROOVE BACK: As your body is conditioned and strengthened, it's time to work on what's going on inside your mind. Attitude is everything when it comes to accomplishing meaningful goals in life. Make an attitude check. It's said, “The way things lookwon't change until we change the way we look at things.” Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night, relax, meditate or try yoga, ridyourselfofthenegativepeopleandinfluencesaroundyouandstrive tobehappy. Revelinaccomplishingyourfitnessgoalin12weeks– then chooseanotherone. Fitnessisalifestyle.
Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
by mike halterman
C
Can you believe it's been four full years since Quench Lounge (13284 66th St. N., Largo) first opened its doors? The staff and employees of Quench want to thank everyone for being a part of their success these past four years by inviting everyone to their "Winter Wonderland"themed "white party". It will be heldonSaturday,January28at8 p.m. and will feature music and liveentertainment. I spoke with manager Gary Miller about Quench's fabulous four years serving the Tampa Bay community in this exclusive interviewforHotspotsCentral.
How does it feel to celebrate four years in business? It's so great that we've come this far! Before I was the manager, I was the marketing coordinator, and for years before that I was a
Quench Lounge Celebrates
Its 4th Anniversary! loyalcustomer,soI'vehadthechancetoseethegrowthfromallangles. Nobody thought this place would make it a full year, so to get to the pointwherewearecelebratingfouryearsinbusiness,itisveryawesome indeed.
Quench has become a very popular bar for LGBT patrons in Pinellas County. Why do you think customers have embraced Quench the way they have? Quench has a unique vibe. It isn't necessarily a nightclub, although you can dance and listen to music here. I think what people like about this place is that it's fun and relaxed and offers something for everyone. It's like a gay "Cheers". Everyone knows who you are and you're welcomed with open arms. We host events for so many different LGBT organizations here too...we just want to bring everyone together and peoplelikethat.
I saw that you all have a "Boys of Quench" 2017 calendar on sale. Tell us a little bit about that. For twelve weeks we had a "calendar boy" contest, and from there we selected the twelve guys we wanted to be photographed inside the calendar. After a successful presale, we are currently selling calendars at the bar for $20. In addition to the calendar, you will get discounted or free drink coupons, as well as coupons for discounted underwear, swimwearandnoveltyitems.
Quench Lounge is open from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. to midnight on Tuesdays and noon to midnight on Sundays. For more information, visit facebook.com/quenchlounge.
hollywood
by billy masters
Teemu Roivainen
Inside & Out
A
"Andy and I were first set up on a blind date, which never happened 'cause we had a phone call and after two minutes I said, 'I'm not dating this guy.' He broke my cardinal rule, which is he mentioned my mom within the first four sentences of meeting me. If somebody does that, it's a deal-breaker. And we're never going on a date." —Anderson Cooper talks about his aborted romantic relationship with Andy Cohen. Imagine how shocked Coop would have been if Cohen showed up for their date in a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans...or withapetswan! A few weeks ago I was in New York City. Because I know many of you travel so, I'll tell you which shows to see, and which ones to skip. Atthetopofthelistofanyone
readingthiscolumnistherevivalof "Falsettos". It is the best production and cast of this show you'll ever see, although what was once edgy and groundbreaking is somewhat dated today. Rather than play it as a period piece, the show is time-ambiguous, which worksifyoudon'tthinkaboutittoo much. Along with the illness which is never named, the pitfalls of coming out, relationships and parentingarestillsalient. Holdingit all together is a masterful performance by Christian Borle whose deflated arms prove that nothinglastsforever. AsMarvin,he is never less than captivating vocally and dramatically. StephanieJ. Blockplaystheroleof his ex-wife with enormous color and nuances. This made her "I'm Breaking Down" less schticky and
more devastating. I was less enthralledbyAndrewRannells,who plays Borle's lover. I'm surely in the minority of people who felt that his very specific talents were not a natural fit here. Throughout the show, I kept thinking how wonderful hemusthavebeenin"Hedwig"! There's no doubt that the hit of this Broadway season will be "Dear Evan Hansen", a new musical about teen angst, suicide, social media, and coming of age. The show created quite a buzz last season offBroadway, and that built-in audience has led to a frenzy reminiscent of the lead-up to "Hamilton". The preview performance I attended was like a rock show, with palpable electricity in the audience from the moment the curtain rose. The
Dear Evan Hansen
Baltimore asks, "What do you know
about Tom Ellis from 'Lucifer'? He looks so familiar. Or maybe it's just becausehe'sSOhot.�
show speaks to anyone who has felt like an outsider. Major kudos toBenPlatt(from"PitchPerfect"), who is a shoo-in Tony winner. Truth be told, there's nary a misstepintheentireproduction. The best show on TV is "The X Factor UK". In the past, I'd been a devoted "X Factor UK" fan. But once Sharon Osbourne left, I slowly lost interest. It was clear that the magic of the show was the chemistry between Sharon, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh. Happily, the three are reunited this season (joined by Nicole Scherzinger), and I couldn't be happier. One of the contestants is Saara Aalto, from Finland. From the time she was 15, she was dating (and later engaged to) one of Finland's biggest pop stars, Teemu Roivainen. That all changed in 2012, when she was on the Finnish version of "The Voice". She started getting fan letters from a girl named Meri Sopanen. A year later, they met at a concert. Shortly thereafter,
Christian Borle
Saara dumped her boyfriend of nine years and started dating Meri! The two are now engaged. On "The X Factor UK", the host mentioned the engagement. Saara matter of factly referred to the fiancĂŠe as a woman, and nobody blinked an eye. We couldlearnalotfromtheBrits. After a long story about a British reality show, why not a story about a British reality star with a really long penis? Brandon Myers is a very hot 19-year-old who's been featured on MTVUK's "Ex on the Beach". He's also posted photos of his enormous penis. SoIwasn'tsurprisedwhen he posed nude for FitYoungMen.com, saying "Everyonewastalkingaboutiton 'Ex on the Beach'. It's nine and a half inches, and it's a bit like having a tripod, or a third leg." The site charges $57 to see his "9.5 inches of uncut beauty". It's farlessonmysite! We can squeeze in a very short "Ask Billy" question. Thomas in
Tom Ellis
You may remember the handsome Welsh actor from when he played Robin Hood on "Once Upon a Time". Nope, not the Robin ofSeanMaguire. Ellisplayedtherole first, but had to bow out when the character became a regular the followingseasonbecausehe'dbeen castintheUSAseries"Rush"-which was swiftly cancelled. But you're in luck. During our research, we learned that Ellis appeared nude in theBritishseries,"TheFades". And in the spirit of giving, you can check himouton BillyMasters.com.
Brandon Myers
When we're delivering one helluva drumstick, it's definitely time to end yet another column. And you'll be mighty thankful when you check out www.BillyMasters.com, the site that delivers a horn o' plenty to plenty o' horny fans. If you've got a question, send it along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Donald goes to see a Broadway show and is hissed at by "Cats"! Until next time, remember, one man'sfilthisanotherman'sbible.
Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
Equality Florida Presents The First Gala of 2017 The Greater Jacksonville Gala by mike halterman
T
Equality Florida's gala season begins this year with the Greater Jacksonville Gala, rescheduled from last autumn due to Hurricane Matthew. The gala will be held at The River Club (1 Independent Dr., Suite 3500, Jacksonville) on Saturday, January 14, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Organizers ask that you dress in cocktailattire. At the Gala, attendees can expect hors d'oeuvres, an open bar, a silent auction, and dancing with music provided by Jason Lamar and The Rig. Also at the event, Equality Florida co-founder and CEO Nadine Smith will give her “State of the State� address, outlining Equality Florida's achievements in 2016 and what needs to be done to secure full LGBTequalityinthefuture. At the Greater Jacksonville Gala, Equality Florida will launch its Legacy Society Program.
They describe it as "an initiative aimed to ensure the future of LGBT equality is strong by enabling supporters of our mission to leave a legacy of equality for generations to come." If you are interested in leaving money to Equality Florida in your will, you can learn more by calling them directly at (813) 870-3735, or by visiting eqfl.org/legacy. Two people and one corporation will be honored by Equality Florida at the Greater Jacksonville Gala. The first award honoree is Frieda Saraga, who will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in the Jacksonville LGBT community. She started Jacksonville's first HIV/AIDS support group in 1991 and founded Jacksonville's chapter ofPFLAGin1992. Hope McMath will be given the Voice for Equality Award. A strong ally, Ms. McMath was the former director of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and a
proponent of the human rights ordinance Jacksonville has yet to pass. "Hope has used her voice and her important leadership role in the Jacksonville community to help advance the rights of LGBT people, promote diversity and inclusion and to move forward the goal of passing and LGBT inclusive Human Rights Ordinance for Jacksonville," Equality Florida said in a statement. CSX will be given the EqualityMeansBusinessAward. Tickets are available for purchase right now and cost $125 per person ($35 with a valid student ID). Sponsorship opportunities begin at $500 and include complimentary tickets. For more information on how you can purchase your ticket, visit eqfl.org/jacksonvillegala or call (407) 462-9692. Your names will be held at the door for verification uponarrival. Equality Florida is the state's largest civil rights organization dedicatedtofullLGBTequality. For
moreinformation,visiteqfl.org.
backstage by mike halterman
&
Arts Entertainment
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Happy New Year! January is one of the most exciting months of the year for me because there are fun shows to attend nearly every single night! Whether you want to see a Broadway show, or a stand-up comic, or live music, Tampa Bay and Orlando metro both have the hookup in the first month of the year. Let me tell you about a few acts coming to CentralFloridainJanuary2017.
Tue. Jan. 10 & Wed. Jan. 11: N at u re ' s u n p re d i c t a b l e creations are brought to life in an exotic show called Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy. Enjoy the grace of the butterfly ballet, the acrobatics of the hopping frogs, and the choreography of the stretching lizards! The show comes to The Lakeland Center on
Jan. 10, followed by a performance at The Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg the next night. (7:30 p.m. both nights; starts at $25 in Lakeland and $29.50 in St. Petersburg; thelakelandcenter.com and themahaffey.com. Read our feature on Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasyinthisissue.)
Tue. Jan. 10-Sun. Mar. 12:
"The funniest show in New York", Forbbiden Broadway is the longest-running musical revue in the world, sending up showtunes, characters and stories from classic and contemporary Broadway shows. A completely updated show will be presented at Tampa's Straz Center this winter. (2 and 7:30 p.m. showings; starts at $40; strazcenter.org)
Wed. Jan. 11-Sun. Jan. 29: Long before Dorothy Gale arrives in the Land of Oz, two girls meet and grow up, eventually becoming two distinctly different witches. The Broadway phenomenon Wicked will be
starts at $29.50, VIP options available, rutheckerdhall.com and plazaliveorlando.com. Rescheduled dates due to HurricaneMatthew.)
s h a r i n g B ro a d w a y a n d performance memories with Morrison, as he sings his favorite songs as well as tried-and-true standards. (8 p.m.; starts at $21; vanwezel.org)
Thu. Jan. 12: One of the most popular R&B couples of all time, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., previouslyofThe5thDimension, is ready to perform at The Lakeland Center, featuring backing vocals by "The Next Dimension". The duo will be singing some of their greatest hits, such as "Wedding Bell Blues", "Aquarius/Let the
Thu. Jan. 12-Mon. Jan. 16 & Wed. Jan. 25-Sun. Jan. 29: 2017 is a banner year for Feld Entertainment's Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Xtreme. For the very first time, the
arriving in Central Florida for a two-month stay, with the first stop being the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando. Wicked is part of the Fairwinds Broadway in Orlando series. (evening and matinee performances; starts at $42.75; drphillipscenter.org)
Wed. Jan. 11 & Sun. Jan. 15:
Henry Rollins has been described as a "renaissance man", and it's hard to disagree! The former lead singer of Black Flag and Rollins Band is a radio host, an author, and a committed social activist
Sunshine In", and the #1 smash "You Don't Have to Be a Star (to Be in My Show)". (7:30 p.m.; s t a r t s a t $ 3 6 ; thelakelandcenter.com)
Thu. Jan. 12: Mark Cortale presents Matthew Morrison, star of TV's Glee, in a special Broadway Concert Series show at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, hosted by Seth Rudetsky. In this format, Rudetsky plays the piano while
circus will be led by a female ringmaster, Orlando native Kristen Michelle Wilson! Circus Xtreme showcases the best of the best, and this month you will have two chances to go, first at the Amway Center in Orlando and then at Amalie Arena in Tampa. (evening and matinee performances; starts at $18; amwaycenter.com and amaliearena.com)
Wed. Jan. 18 & Sat. Jan. 21:
(including LGBT rights activism). You'll have the chance to see him perform live twice, at Capitol Theatre in Clearwater and then at The Plaza Live Orlando four nights later. (8 p.m. for both dates,
Start with a 12-piece band, add a fabulous lead vocalist (China Forbes), and then throw in musical selections which range from pop to showtunes to eclectic "world music" and you have Pink Martini,agroupthatcan produce a true musical
Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
Sarasota. (evening and matinee performances; $35-$150; rutheckerdhall.com, p e a b o d y a u d i t o r i u m . o rg , vanwezel.org)
Sat. Jan. 21:
Tue. Jan. 24-Sun. Jan. 29: Welcome to Berlin's infamous Kit Kat Klub, where the Emcee, Sally Bowles and a raucous
Lisa Lampanelli,
comedy's lovable "Queen of Mean",returnstoCentralFlorida after performing a sold-out
whirlwind. Watchthemperformat The Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach and then at the Straz Center in Tampa. (7:30 p.m.; starts at $29 in Daytona Beach and $45 in Tampa; peabodyauditorum.org andstrazcenter.org)
Fri. and Sat. Jan. 20-21, Sun. Jan. 22 & Tue. and Wed. Jan 24-25: What would eventually become the phenomenon Riverdance was first performed at the Eurovision Song
show at Hard Rock Live Orlando duringGayDisneyWeekin2015. Her new show, at the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, will definitely make you laugh until you cry, but don't cry because you're offended -- her humor is very much "equal opportunity" offensive! (8 p.m.; $45-$55; rutheckerdhall.com)
Sat. Jan. 21 & Mon. Jan. 23: Mark Cortale and Chris
Contest in Dublin in 1994. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the show's first world tour, and the awe-inducing Irish folk dancing spectacular comes to Ruth Eckerd Hall in C l e a r w at e r , T he Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach, and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in
Marchant devised the all-gay string quartet Well-Strung, which has wowed audiences around the world with their mashups of pop songs performed in the classical style. Edmund Bagnell (1st violin), Chris Marchant (2nd violin), Daniel Shevlin (cello), and Trevor Wadleigh (viola) will perform for Central Florida audiences at The Abbey in Orlando and then two nights later at The Sharon in The Villages. (8 p.m. in Orlando and 7 p.m. in The Villages; $15-$55; VIP options available; abbeyorlando.com and thesharon.com)
ensemble take the stage nightly so everyone can leave their troubles behind. Of course I'm referring to the plot of the smash Broadway musical Cabaret, which is coming to the Straz Center in Tampa. (evening and matinee performances; starts at $67; strazcenter.org)
Sat. Jan. 28, Sun. Jan. 29 & Mon. Jan. 30: Atlanta native
Gladys Knight started a music group, The Pips, with her brother and their friends, and the rest was history. Listen to the Songbird of the South perform some of her greatest hits, such as "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "If I Were Your Woman". She will be making three stops: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, the King Center in Melbourne, and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, in that order. (7 p.m. in Melbourne, 8 p.m. in Sarasota and Clearwater; starts at $47.50; vanwezel.org, k i n g c e n t e r . c o m , rutheckerdhall.com)
genre latino hit list
con scrappy pérez
¡resoluciones de aÑo nuevo!
H
H ¨ a llegado el momento para que nos engañemos pensando que vamos a hacer todos estos cambios positivos en nuestras vidasquesemantendránalolargo del año. Todos queremos un cambio. Todos tenemos la mentalidad de "año nuevo, nuevo me" cuando no podemos ni siquiera cambiar carriles en la carreteracorrectamente. Algunas de las resoluciones de año nuevo máspopularessonlassiguientes:
Ponerse en forma: Todos nos lo hemos propuesto. Decimos "voy a conseguir en una dieta y unirse a un gimnasio para ir todos los días y me voy a ver fantástico porque tengo... Oooh, ¿ya no te vas a comer el resto del pastel? Realmente terminamos llendo al gimnasio, pero el levantamiento de pesas es algo
comoesto... "Uno, dos,tres... Oh mi Dios, me quiero morir" – Entonces un chico muy guapo camina frente a ti – "cuarenta y ocho, cuarenta y nueve, cincuenta!Grrrrr..."! Solía tener un entrenador, pero no tiene mucho sentido para mí tenerunoporqueunentrenadores alguienaquienlepagodineropara hacerme ir a un lugar que ya estoy pagando por utilizar las máquinas queyasesuponequeutilize. Estoy seguro que algunos son muy buenos, pero el que me entrenaba no se callaba la boca. Me habló tanto sobre su vida privada que se sentía como que estaba pagando para yo mismo convertirme en su terapeutadengratis. Viajar: Todos hemos pensado en tomar unas vacaciones para ir a ese lugar que siempre hemos querido visitar. Mi
vida es tan aburrida, que fantaseo con ir a Taco Bell para no tener que cocinar ese día. Siempre he queridovisitarEspaña(dedondees mi familia). Incluso tengo el acento para comprobarlo. Cuanto más bebo, más grueso se pone. Le digo amicamareroquedejedeservirme bebidas alcohólicas si le parece estar hablando con el gato con botas de Shrek. "¡Una bebida puede servirme, 'pero si os pido un trrrrrrago'... Llámameauntaxi”! MeencantaríairaItaliatambién. Tienenbuenacomida. Otalvezael Caribe. Tienen platos sorprendentes. O tal vez Japón ya que me encanta el sushi. Parece quecadapaísquemegustasebasa en la comida que tienen. Con eso ya se que voy a fracasar miserablemente en la primera resolucióndeestalista. Amor: Todos queremos
encontrar el amor. Yo Ni siquiera puedo encontrar donde dejé mi billetera, pero sería bueno tener a alguien al lado que me ayude a buscarla. Es difícil encontrar el amor en nuestra comunidad hoy en día, pero yo mantengo la esperanza. ¡Si Donald Trump puede casarse con modelos, pues yo también! Solo necesito una cuenta de banco del tamaño desuego. ¿Usted quiere hacer otras resoluciones que la mayoría de nosotros no cuenta, pero son tan importantes? Estan son las mías... Pasar más tiempo con la familia, llamar a un amigo en lugar de darle al botón de “LIKE” en el Facebook o asegúrese de tener los pantalones puestos la próxima vez que voy a hacer cola en el banco para hacer un depósito. Y ¿por qué esperar para que un nuevo año tener las resoluciones? ¿Quieren cambiar ymejorarsuvida?¡Hazlohoy! ¡Felizañonuevo!
New Year's Resolutions The time has come for us to fool ourselves into thinking we are going to make all these positive changes in our lives that will be kept all year long. We all want change. We all get that “new year, new me” mentality when we can't even process changing lanes on the road correctly. Some of the
most popular New Year Resolutions are the following: Fitness: We've all been there. We say “I'm going to get on a diet and join a gym to go every day and I'm going to look fantastic because I have… Oooh, is that cake?” We actually manage to join the gym, but our weight lifting goes something like this… “One, two, three…Oh my god, I want to die”! – Then a hot guy walks by you – “Forty-eight, fourty-nine, fifty! Nailed it! Grrrrr…” I actually thought I had made a magical connection at the gym once. I walked by this very attractive guy because he was smiling at me while he lifted heavy weights (which is extremely friendly at a gym) only to realize he was just grinding his teeth. Awkwaaaaaaaard! I used to have a trainer but didn't make much sense to me to have one because a trainer is someone you pay money to make you go to a place you are already paying for to use the machines that you are already supposed to be using. I'm sure some are great, but mine talked so much about his life it felt like I was paying him for me to become his free therapist. Traveling: We all have thought of taking that vacation to go to that place we've always wanted to visit. My life is so uneventful, I fantasize about going to Taco Bell so I don't have to cook that day. I've always wanted to visit Spain (which happens to be my family's background). I even have the accent to prove it. The more I drink, the thicker it gets. I tell my bartender to cut me off if, instead of me ordering libations from him, it sounds like he's talking to the
Puss in Boots from Shrek. “A drink you may serve me, 'bot if I ask yu forrrrr a drrrrink'…call me a cab!” I'd love to go to Italy also. They have great food. Or maybe the Caribbean. They have amazing dishes. Or perhaps Japan since I love sushi. It seems every country I
like is based on the food they have which already tells you I will fail miserably at that first New Year's Eve resolution. Love: We all want to find love. I can't even find where I left my wallet, but it would be nice to have someone there beside you to help you look for it. It's hard to find love in our community nowadays, but I remain hopeful. If Donald Trump can marry models, so can I! Al I need is a bank account the size of his ego. You want to make other resolutions that most of us don't consider, but are as important? You can borrow some of the ones I thought of for myself… Spend more times with family, call friends rather than liking their posts on Facebook or make sure I wear pants next time I go stand in line at the bank to make a deposit. And why wait for a new year to have resolutions? You want change and improve your life? Do it today! I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year!
Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
hot shots photos by tony fowler
St. Pete Pride Presented Red & Green Party
By Mike Halterman
T ¨ his past year, Central Florida suffered an immense tragedy with the June 12 shooting at Pulse on Orlando's Orange Avenue. Most of us had been to Pulse at least once, and many of us knew at least one person who died in the senseless violence. The days, weeks and months after the tragedy saw the Orlando community come together to support each other. All of us in Central Florida finished the year closer than ever before, and as we move into 2017, we continue the long healing process. We'll survive. We're "Orlando strong." Here is a sampling of stories involving LGBT people, LGBT allies, and the LGBT rights movement, that impacted Central Florida in 2016.
WINTER January 17 - Alexis Mateo wins the Miss Tampa Pride pageant, heldatTheHoneyPot. January 22 - Quench Lounge in Largo celebrates its third anniversary in business with a winter wonderland-themed party. February 20 - Ed Lally is given the Voice for Equality Award at the Equality Florida Tampa Gala at TPepin's Hospitality Centre. February 24 - Lorraine Langlois and Russell Rhodes are honored at the Tampa Pride grand marshal gala, held at Cristino's Coal Oven Pizza. Joe Redner is also given the LGBT CommunitySupporteraward. March 4-5 - Bradley's on 7th in Tampa celebrates its fifth anniversary, with two nights of special performances featuringformerMissFloridaF.I. TiffanyArieagus. March 16 - Governor Rick Scott endorses Donald Trump in the November presidential election, two days after Attorney GeneralPamBondididthesame.
SPRING March 19 - St. Pete Pride's fundraiser Taste of Pride is held at theDaliMuseumindowntownSt. Petersburg. March 26 - The second annual Tampa Pride is held in Ybor City, welcoming large crowds for the festival and parade. Russell Rhodes and Lorraine Langlois serve as grand marshals, with photographer Mike Ruiz participating as "celebritygrandmarshal."
Gala, held at the Mahaffey Theater. May 7 - Enigma in St. Petersburg celebrates two years in business withaglowparty.
March 26 - BarCodes in Orlando c e l e b ra t e s i t s s e v e n t h anniversary. April 16 - The 21st annual AIDS Walk Orlando is held at Lake Eola, benefiting the Hope and HelpCenterofCentralFlorida. April 16 - Liquid Tampa celebrates its fourth anniversary with special performances by TP LordsandWildChild. April 23 - The LGBT-friendly fundraiser Pride & Passion is presented at the Tampa Museum ofArt. April 28- Dining Out for Life, a day in which restaurants and bars donate proceeds to HIV/AIDS
service organizations, takes place in North Florida, benefiting NFAN. Tampa Bay (with ASAP/Empath Health as beneficiary) observes Dining Out forLifeonMay19. May 7 - Mayor Rick Kriseman, Christopher Rudisill and Ashley Brundage are honored at the Equality Florida St. Petersburg
May 13
- Alan Grayson, Central Florida representative in Congress, uses the word "cisgender" for the first time on the House floor, disapproving of the "cisgender bigots" in North Carolina who support the divisiveHouseBill2. May 31-June 5 - The 26th annual Gay Disney Week welcomes over 200,000 people to Orlando. Singer Erika Jayne and comedienne Sandra Bernhard performatParliamentHouse. June 3-5 - O n e M a g i c a l Weekend's events are held at the B Resort and Spa and at Walt Disney World theme parks.
During the main event on June 4, singer Kesha pulls Joseph Negrelli on-stage, where he proposes to his longtime boyfriendNaveed. June 12 - 49 people die and 53 people are injured after a lone shooter, Omar Mateen, storms Pulse nightclub in Orlando and spends hours inside the bar, shooting anyone who crosses his path. Mateen is killed by
police officers three hours after entering Pulse. As news continues to reach the area and the world into the morning, thousands of people line up at Orlando blood banks to donate blood. Both President Obama and Hillary Clinton speak to the nation and give messages of support to the Orlando LGBT community. The President orders flags to be flown at halfstaff. Stonewall Inn in New York Cityhostsavigilforthevictims. June 13 - Anderson Cooper, reporting live from Orlando, pays tribute to the 49 people who died
at Pulse, reading their names during his program's telecast. He would go on to grill Attorney General Pam Bondi in the next episode of his telecast, bringing up her anti-LGBT record while in stateoffice. June 13 - At a vigil at the Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announces the creation of the OneOrlando
Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
Fund, which would raise money for Pulse shooting victims and theirfamilies. June 15-19 - Polk County celebrates their annual pride festivities with various events in andaroundLakeland. June 16 - President Obama visits thePulsememorialandtheGLBT
celebratesitsfirstanniversary. June 19 - Over 50,000 people attend a Pulse memorial vigil at
LakeEolaindowntownOrlando. June 20 - Dozens of Broadway stars release a benefit single, "What the World Needs Now is
Community Center of Central Florida, taking the time to speak tofamiliesofthevictims. June 17- The FBI becomes "increasingly skeptical" that the Pulse shooter, Omar Mateen, was gay or closeted and moves to rule out such a possible motive. June 18- Orlando City SC, Central Florida's major league soccer team, takes the field for the first time since the Pulse shooting to the tune of The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love", all the while wearing specially-made shirts to honorthevictims. June 18 - Southern Nights Tampa
Love", with proceeds going to the GLBT Community Center of CentralFlorida.
SUMMER June 23-26 - Over
150,000 people come out to St. Petersburg's Central Avenue to participate in the 14th annual St. PetePridefestivities. June 30 - Hotspots introduces its newest venture, a monthly magazine dedicated to Central FloridacalledHotspotsCentral. June 30 - Anderson Cooper and AndyCohenpresentaspecialnight of conversation at the Dr. Phillips Center, with the proceeds benefitingtheOneOrlandoFund.
July 2 - Singers Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato surprise the staff of Pulse with tickets to their Orlando show, and also hosted a meetand-greetbackstageafterwards. July 3 - Orlando Weekly and Hamburger Mary's Orlando present a Pulse fundraiser called United Orlando, which takes place at Cheyenne Saloon in Church Street Station. Half of the proceeds go to the OneOrlando Fund and half go to the Pulse employeerecoveryfund. July 9 - Parliament House Orlando hosts a community-wide benefit concert for Pulse victims and their families, featuring
Frenchie Davis, Mýa, Jonny McGovern,UltraNatÊ,andmore .July 11 - GLAAD and Interscope Records announce the benefit single "Hands", sung by 25 different artists including Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Lopez, and FloridanativeJasonDerulo.
July 18-24
- Parliament House Orlando celebrates its 41st anniversary with a week of events, culminating in a performance by Ginger Minj and anappearancebyLanceBass. July 22 -HillaryClintonmakesan
impromptu trip to Orlando and visitsthePulsememorial. August 1 - The TV show Killer Instinct with Chris Hansen profiles the 2013 murder of Anthony Lee, better known as "SouthBeachWanda." August 5 - Stonewall Bar Orlando hosts a grand re-opening party to reveal the product of 18 months ofrenovations. August 6 - Balance Tampa Bay's secondannualMasqueradeBall
takes place at District 3 in downtownTampa. August 8 - Orlando performer Shantell D'Marco is crowned Miss Florida F.I. at the Deauville Beach ResortinMiamiBeach. August 12-14 - SAVOY Orlando
celebrates its 12th anniversary withaweekendofevents.. August 15 - MTV's True Life airs an episode called "We Are Orlando", documenting the lives of some of the Pulse shooting survivors. August 18-20 - Southern Nights Orlando celebrates its second anniversary with a weekend of promotionsandevents. August 19 - MBA Orlando hosts their annual Pride in Business
Awards Gala at the Sheraton OrlandoNorthinMaitland. September 6 - The last survivor of the Pulse shooting is released from Orlando Regional Medical Center. September 10 - The fourth annual Metro Wellness and Community Centers gala, this year titled the "Homecoming Gala", is presented at the Morean CenterforClayinSt. Petersburg. September 17 - The 27th annual Headdress Ball, benefiting the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, is held at Marriott OrlandoWorldCenter.
AUTUMN September 27 - It is announced that OneOrlando Fund will give $350,000 each to the families of
thePulseshootingvictims. September 29 - The Tampa Pride 2017 launch party is held at Southern Nights Tampa. The theme for 2017 is revealed to be "Superheroes". September 30-October 8 - The 27th annual Tampa Bay
International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival screens dozens of filmsinTampaandSt. Petersburg. October 1 - Ybor City Barbering Company and Bar in Tampa celebratesoneyearinbusiness. October 3 - Hamburger Mary's St. Petersburg celebrates its official grandopening. October 7 - Due to Hurricane Matthew, Orlando Pride's festival and parade, scheduled for October8,ispostponed. October 18 - Orlando and St. Petersburg are two of the sixty
municipalities nationwide that scored a perfect 100 on the latest Human Rights Campaign MunicipalEqualityIndex.
Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT
October 20-23 - The 26th annual Bear Bust is held at Parliament
House, featuring special guests like the cast of the Internet series "WheretheBearsAre". October 26 - A banner printed with the names of the Pulse nightclub shooting victims and "49," the number of people who died in the shooting, is unveiled atOrlando'sAmwayCenter. November 4 - The Orlando community, Orlando Health, and Orlando's LGBT and Latino "second responders" are honored at the Equality Florida Orlando Gala at the Orlando MuseumofArt. November 5 - The sixth annual Amazing Race Orlando sees teams scurry through downtown Orlando, performing tasks along the way, all the while raising moneyforTheCenter. November 8 - Statewide elections: The initiative
legalizing medical marijuana passes a public vote. Marco Rubio defeats Patrick Murphy to win another term in the Senate. David Richardson wins another term to the Florida House of Representatives; he will be joined by a new openly gay legislator, Carlos Guillermo Smith. November 8 - The City of Orlando announces its intention to buy the Pulse nightclub and site for $2.25million. November 11-13 - City Side in Tampa celebrates its 26th anniversary with a "royal court" show featuring past Miss City Side titleholders, as well as a turnaboutshow. November 12 - A record crowd turns out for the Orlando Pride Festival and Parade at Lake
Eola. The parade, the longest ever, takes participants and floats into Downtown Orlando proper for the first time and clocksinatnearlythreehours. November 20 - Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy L. Wilson is honored with a Voice for Equality Award at the Equality Florida Suncoast Celebration,heldatMichael'son
EastrestaurantinSarasota. November 26 - Country music legend Dolly Parton performs at Amalie Arena in Tampa. It is her first American arena tour in 25 years. Parton grants an interview to Hotspots Central's Mike Halterman in the run-up to the concertdates. November 30 - Gay icon Barbra Streisand embarks on a limited tour of Florida, in which she performs her greatest hits and songs from her album "ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway". She performs at Amalie Arena in Tampa, one of three concert datesintheSunshineState. December 2 - Central Florida performer and former Miss Gay
USofA and Miss National titleholder Natasha Richards passesawayattheageof44. December 3 - The annual Red & Green Party fundraiser for St. Pete PrideisheldatSunkenGardens. December 5 - Pulse owner Barbara Poma pulls out of a possible deal which would have sold Pulse nightclub to the City of Orlando. December 10 - The 13th annual AIDS Walk Tampa Bay and 5K Run, benefiting the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas (ASAP), is held in and around Vinoy Park in downtownSt. Petersburg. December 15-18 - Punky's Bar and Grill in St. Petersburg celebrates its first full year in business with a weekend of special events and the unveilingofamuralonitsroof.
hot shots photos by pat the bear
Parliament House National Review
small business spotlight by mike halterman
T
The Club Orlando (450 E. Compton St.) is a very popular place for men to meet and to relax. So popular, in fact, that staff and employees will be celebrating 20 years in business in 2017. Last time we spoke to Chip Braxton, manager at The Club Orlando, the venerable business had finished a yearlong remodel. Now, just eighteen months later, even more changes are occurring. Don't be sad, though: these changes are ensuring that everything is fresh andup-to-date. One thing Braxton likes about The Club Orlando is that the experience is what you make of it. "People hear 'bathhouse' and think it's just a place for sex, but a lot of our clients come here to meet friends, and they also have the chance to make new ones. Some people come during the
lunch hour and bring their lunches to the pool deck. You can get whatever you like out of The Club," he told me the last timewespoke. I'm happy I had the chance to catch up with Chip Braxton and discuss The Club Orlando with him. He talked to me about what customers can expect from the business in its 20th year in this exclusive interview for Hotspots Central.
What do you think is the secret to The Club Orlando's success? Everyone really gets along here, allthedifferentgroupsofpeople. It doesn't matter what race you are, whether you're in shape or out of shape, whether you're youngerorolder,everyoneisjust very chill and laid-back and the prevailing sense of acceptance makeseveryonefeelgood.
I also think the high level of customer service we provide makes the business successful. We want to make sure everyone has a great time, and we make sure we exceed everyone's expectations. Wealsomakesure we exceed expectations in the realm of cleanliness. You may hear "bathhouse" and not think of high standards in that regard, but we place a very high priority on that. We want people to enjoy themselves and to come back, andtheydo.
Tell us a little more about the diversity of your clientele. What types of customers do you see in a given week? It varies by time, honestly. In the morning, the crowd is more mature, but as the day goes on, the crowd gets younger. By the evening, there are a lot of young
“...a lot of our clients come here to meet friends, and they also have the chance to make new ones. Some people come during the lunch hour and bring their lunches to the pool deck.�
people of all different body types. Then after the bars close, there will be lots of people coming in from the clubs. It's amazing to me how everyone is friendly to one another and everyonecoexists.
Last time we talked, The Club Orlando was finishing a year-long renovation. Tell us once again what was replaced, and how customers liked the changes. We added three new rooms. One of the rooms is a TV viewing room with four 55-inch televisions, and two dark rooms behind that, and all of the rooms have been very well-received. We also added a maze, behind the theater, and it
can get crowded in the evening hours, so people have really takentoit.
Are there any updates coming our way in 2017 that you'd like to tell us about? We're going to completely redo the cubicle area. We're going to replace wall coverings and redo the lighting. We're also going to revamp the hallway and also replace the tile in the showers. By the end of February, it's going to look like a brand new place. Our goal is to ensure our customers always have something to look forward to whentheyreturn.
What do customers have to say
about their overall experience at The Club Orlando? We have people who come in, who haven't been around in a while, and they tell me how surprised they are at how much has changed lately. Not only have we changed a lot in terms of the interior, there's been an attitude change -- for the better. It's only helped to make everyone's experiencesevenbetter.
For more information on The Club Orlando, including locker and room prices, visit club-orlando.com. For immediate assistance, call The Club Orlando directly (407) 425-5005. Press "0" for an attendant. Hotspots Central Florida HotSpotsCentral.LGBT