The Pink Palm - Vol 8

The LGBTQ+ Travel Insider for Greater Miami & Miami Beach

© Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau – The Official Destination Sales & Marketing Organization for Greater Miami & Miami Beach. CS-04025

04

If you already thought Miami was hot, just wait until you experience Rainbow Spring. Make plans now to attend the celebration.

08 THE LOCAL LESBIAN INSIDER

For women who love women, Greater Miami & Miami Beach offers countless reasons to make you glad you’re here – and queer – every day of the year.

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MIAMI’S GAY BEACHES

Miami boasts two semi-official gay beaches: 11th/12th Street Beach, with its rainbow flags and lifeguard station, and Haulover Park Beach, which has a designated clothingoptional area.

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QUEENS BEHIND THE ART!

From drag brunches to dance clubs, drag queens are out in full force across Miami. Get to know four Miami queens you’ll want to meet.

Photo by FotoNoggin, courtesy of Lincoln Road BID

WELCOME…

Spring has sprung in Greater Miami & Miami Beach and with it come all sorts of exciting things. This year we welcome Rainbow Spring, a program that highlights all things LGBTQ+ that take place between March and June and is slated to become an annual tradition. In this issue, we’ve paired up with fashionista George Coronado to highlight trends in Miami — so take a look at Dreaming in Deco and start planning the wardrobe for your next visit to our tropical paradise. For our fabulous Ls, we’ve updated our Local Lesbian Insider, serving up countless reasons to make you wish you were here with us in sunny Miami! And then we take a deep dive into Miami’s gay beaches, those beautiful and welcoming places to spend the day soaking up the sun. And we close it out with a chat with four of Miami’s drag queens who you’ll definitely want to meet. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your next visit to Miami. See you soon!

CHAIRMAN

Bruce Orosz

PRESIDENT & CEO

David Whitaker

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Rolando Aedo, CDME

LGBTQ+ MARKETING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Dan Rios

DIRECTOR, CONTENT & CREATIVE SERVICES

Janel Blanco

SENIOR EDITORIAL MANAGER, PUBLICATIONS

Robert Franzino

MARKETING COORDINATOR

William Abreu

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Gino R. Campodónico, Liz Cepeda, George Coronado, A.M. De la Torre

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHY

Karli Evans, All Seeing Media; FotoNoggin for Lincoln Road BID; Laura Paresky Gould; Dale Stine

Stop by the LGBT Visitor Center for local and visitor information.

LGBT Visitor Center

1130 Washington Ave., 1st Floor North, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305/397-8914 • GoGayMiami.com

PLEASE CALL FOR HOURS.

The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) is the largest not-for-profit corporation in the county for gay and lesbian businesses. MDGLCC offers the Pink Flamingo Hospitality Certification by training and certifying hospitality service professionals on issues related to gender and orientation and giving them tools to respond appropriately to all people. This is essential for creating environments where all visitors and employees are welcome.

The Pink Palm is produced by the Greater Miami

&

of the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. 701 Brickell Ave., Suite 2700 Miami, FL 33131 USA 1901 Convention Center Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139 USA

T: 305/539-3000; 800/933-8448

Advertising inquiries should be directed to Ali@GMCVB.com or 305/539-3076.

Editorial inquiries should be directed to Dan@GMCVB.com or 305/503-3245.

305/673-4440

GayBizMiami.com

For a list of Pink Flamingo Certified Hotels and Businesses in Greater Miami & Miami Beach, please visit GayBizMiami.com

For information about Greater Miami & Miami Beach, please visit MiamiandMiamiBeach.com

04250

The LGBTQ+ Travel Insider for Greater Miami & Miami Beach

Convention

Visitors Bureau with the support

© Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau –The Official Destination Sales & Marketing Organization for Greater Miami & Miami Beach. // CS

LGBTQ+ Annual Events

For dates and information about all events in Greater Miami & Miami Beach, go

WELCOME TO RAINBOW SPRING

If you already thought Miami Beach was hot, just wait until you experience Rainbow Spring. Starting in March and running through June, this seasonal event welcomes LGBTQ+ locals and visitors with highly anticipated parties and other events. Make plans now to attend the celebration and take advantage of great deals on accommodations while you’re here.

EVENTS TO ATTEND

Kick off the fun in March at the Winter Party Festival, a weeklong LGBTQ+ celebration of music, dance and community. Don’t miss the marquee event: a seven-hour beach bash and massive dance party featuring DJs from around the globe. If the gym is more your scene, check out Miami Beach Live!, which features fitness and wellness events – including fitness classes, tennis matches and obstacle courses. This series of events will entertain, inspire and get you moving.

In April, mix and mingle at Miami Beach Pride, one of the largest Pride festivals in the country. The two-weeklong celebration culminates in a 50-float Pride parade. Later in April, tap into your artsy side at the OUTshine Film Festival, featuring viewings of films by established and emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers as well as panel discussions, happy hours and after parties.

In mid-May, check out SweetHeat Miami, a day-to-night party created by women for women and featuring events in Miami Beach, Wynwood and Hialeah. And June brings the always-amazing Wynwood Pride music festival, No Fear, We’re Queer Comedy and Arsht Center’s CommuniTea Dance.

EXPERIENCES TO ENJOY

Take a break from the Rainbow Spring scene to get in touch with your other wild side – your wildlife side. Join a Pine Rocklands Kayak Tour at Zoo Miami and explore a hidden lake by kayak, then take a leisurely hike around the zoo’s grounds and learn about conservation efforts. During a Wild Night Out adults-only program in Greynolds Park, explore the park after hours and look for nocturnal creatures, including raccoons, owls and foxes. Finish the night with s’mores by the campfire.

GREAT DEALS TO GRAB

The best part about visiting Miami Beach during Rainbow Spring is that you can experience all the fun while staying true to your budget. Miami-area hotels are offering deals to accommodate guests who want to be in the middle of the action without breaking the bank. For example, the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden offers 25% off your stay in historic Coconut Grove. If you want to stay just steps from the beach, the Beacon South Beach Hotel offers 20% off your stay as well as complimentary breakfast and coffee.

For the latest information, visit RainbowSpring.com.

Photo by FotoNoggin, courtesy of Lincoln

A SELF-GUIDED RAINBOW TOUR!

The Magic City is filled with beautiful, brightly colored delights. Coupled with Miami’s gorgeous sunlight and frequent deep-blue skies, these rainbow structures are a photographer’s dopamine dream! All photos #shotoniphone by

DREAMING IN

DECO

24 HOURS IN SOUTH BEACH

Creative Director: George Coronado / @georgecoronadodesigner

Photographer: Dale Stine / @dalestinephotography

Makeup: Ade Castañeda / @makeupbyade

Hair Stylist: Joel Balmaceda / @joelbalmaceda

Production Assistant: Melba DeLeon / @bklynrican19

MODELS

Diana Manimog / @swashbuckler581

Diego Robles / @diegoblesss

Latrice Perry / @djlatrice

Resort

ESPAÑOLA WAY

Oversized black straw hat. GeorgeCoronado.com / Jersey cotton blend in exclusive print by Lady Belty. Belty.es / Vintage Valentino Gold emblem leather belt. Private Collection. / One of a kind black patent leather graffi ti bag by Tiago Magro, represented by Mad As Hell People @madashellpeople / Black strap open toe shoe with oversized gold heel. Michael Kors Collection.

THE LOCAL LESBIAN INSIDER

Greater Miami & Miami Beach is a “wish-you-were-here” social media star. But nothing beats it IRL.

by A.M. De la Torre

People visit Greater Miami & Miami Beach to unwind, celebrate and bask in the destination’s beauty. For women who love women, Miami offers countless reasons to make you glad you’re here – and queer – every day of the year.

DAYTIME’S PLAYTIME, BEACHSIDE

The beaches here are world-class, and at the official LGBTQ+ beach at 12th Street and Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, you can begin your day like a sun goddess. Follow the rainbow-striped street and find a sandy spot facing our warm, aquamarine waters, then relax and laze away the day among family.

GET THE 411 FROM LOCALS

One of the first in the country, the LGBT Visitor Center is a few blocks west of the gay beach and situated within Miami Beach’s historic Old City Hall building (an attraction in itself). You can pop in here to get the latest on local happenings and hangouts.

HIPSTER OR BOHO STYLE “GAYBORHOODS”

West of Miami Beach, Wynwood is known for its street art and galleries, breweries, restaurants and hipster vibe. Colorful and buzzy at night, a daytime visit spotlights this urban neighborhood’s casual, urbane side.

Heading south and delving into Miami’s past, Coconut Grove is a lush neighborhood along Biscayne Bay that’s always been a home to originals. Bahamians and bohemians, hippies and artists created a vibrant area tolerant of all kinds of lifestyles. Sidewalk cafes and unique boutiques attract LGBTQ+ locals who come to “the Grove” for brunch, shopping, romantic al fresco dining and the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival.

GET READY FOR A NIGHT OUT (OR A STYLISH NIGHT IN)

Some destinations make it hard for lesbians to feel welcome. But feeling at ease is a breeze in Miami and even more so at two LGBTQ+ fave hotels.

queer night merging drag, bingo and music. Although it’s not considered a gay bar, Blackbird Ordinary’s Tuesday ladies’ night has become a low-key (and low-cost) lesbian hangout, appealing for its dive bar/dance club atmosphere and drink specials.

LGBTQ+ EVENTS IN MIAMI

Miami is legendary for its energetic parties. You can enjoy lesbian-focused soirees at trending venues with awesome DJs and entertainment organized by Pandora Events. The wife & wife-owned AmaviMiami combines great times with good deeds with events at locations throughout Greater Miami & Miami Beach that often give back to local LGBTQ+ causes and organizations. The non-profit Aqua Foundation for Women creates opportunities for community-minded LGBTQ+ women to come together, have fun and do good.

AxelBeach Miami in South Beach is part of an international hotel chain focusing on the LGBTQ+ community (and anyone without prejudice) and features an Art Decostyle exterior, posh interiors and several bars, including a poolside bar that hosts weekly LGBTQ+ parties.

The Vagabond Hotel, across Biscayne Bay in Miami, is a woman-owned boutique hotel in the trendy Biscayne corridor that spotlights Miami Modernism (MiMo) architecture. It has a fun, retro-luxe vibe channeling its glamorous past as a Rat Pack-era hangout plus designer and tech-savvy finishes. It also offers a laid-back poolside bar and a Mediterranean restaurant.

STAY HYDRATED AT LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY BARS

Miami is keen to cater to the queer community’s thirst at bars such as Bar Gaythering (hotel bar with drinking and dancing), Palace (home of a legendary drag brunch) and R House (restaurant with drag shows). Gramps in Wynwood is a no-judgment zone that fits into many categories (as does its diverse crowd) with weekly jazz/indie/dance bands, an outdoor patio and a Thursday “Double Stubble”

BEAUTY AND BRAINS: CULTURE THRIVES IN MIAMI

All year long, Miami stimulates the creative spirit. O Cinema (located in the same building as the LGBT Visitor Center) features art film screenings with films for LGBTQ+ audiences very well represented. The yearly Film Festival offers a weeklong celluloid celebration of the LGBTQ+ experience. Performance art stands proud, too, during the annual Out in the Tropics series featuring LGBTQ+ artists in music, dance, comedy and film at venues throughout Greater Miami & Miami Beach. With its bayfront views and thought-provoking art exhibitions, the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) elevates any experience, be it lunch, drinks, a first date or even a marriage proposal.

MAKE A PLAN TO VISIT MIAMI

Greater Miami & Miami Beach is special. The feeling is palpable. Whenever you’re here, whether it’s during large annual LGBTQ+ events or at any other time of year, know that the rainbow-colored carpet is always rolled out for you. There’s plenty of fun to be had every ordinary, extraordinary Miami day.

MIAMI’S GAY BEACHES

With its vibrant nightlife, bars and party scene, Greater Miami & Miami Beach has long been a hot spot for the LGBTQ+ community.

by Liz Cepeda

It’s no wonder the beaches here are equally inviting. Miami Beach boasts two semi-official gay beaches: 11th/12th Street Beach, with its rainbow flags and lifeguard station, and Haulover Park Beach, which has a designated clothing-optional area. Of the two, 11th/12th Street is known for having more of a party vibe, but both are welcoming and beautiful places to spend the day soaking up the sun.

11TH/12TH STREET BEACH

In Miami Beach, few beaches are more popular with the LGBTQ+ crowd than 11th/12th Street Beach. It’s adjacent to Lummus Park, a green space that runs along Ocean Drive with volleyball courts, sculptural workout equipment and public restrooms. The 11th/12th Street Beach is also home to the famous beach party thrown each year as part of the Winter Party Festival. Miami Beach Pride uses the park around 11th/12th Street for its Pride Festival, which has grown into one of the largest celebrations of LGBTQ+ pride in the region.

The beach is dotted with rainbow flags near each lifeguard station, including the most Instagrammable 11th/12th Street Lifeguard Tower. It’s both painted in rainbow stripes and delightfully inspired by Art Deco. Bring your towel, SPF and flip-flops – or rent an umbrella and chairs – as that powdery white sand gets toasty. And when it’s time to refuel, you’ll find many restaurant and bar choices nearby, like the famous Palace Bar, just a couple of blocks down Ocean Drive, and Twist, which is a couple of blocks west at 11th Street and Washington Avenue.

The best parking option for 11th/12th Street Beach is the city garage at 13th Street and Collins Avenue. There are a few metered spots along Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th streets, but you’re more likely to find parking in a lot or garage.

HAULOVER PARK BEACH

Haulover Park Beach, about 10 miles north of South Beach, is famous for being the only beach in Miami with a clothing-optional area. The park is known as one of the best naturist beaches in the world. On this nearly half-mile stretch of pristine sand, baring it all is legal and the vibe is very relaxed and welcoming. Gay beachgoers often gather in the northernmost section of the nude area.

On the weekends, the shore is packed with locals and visitors alike

working on their all-over tans. Don’t worry if you aren’t ready to disrobe to the max – there are plenty of people who prefer leaving Haulover with tan lines.

Take advantage of chair and umbrella rentals (best to bring cash) as well as food and beverage service provided by on-site vendors. In the southern section of the park, you’ll find bike rentals, a skate park, a dog beach (open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. between lifeguard towers #2 and #3) and a charter fishing fleet. You can also

rent a boat from nearby outfitters. On Tuesday evenings, food trucks gather at Haulover Park, providing a variety of dining options.

To be near the gay beach, park in Lot 1, where you can pay via app or on-site machines. The park is open from dawn until dusk, but the lot fills up quickly – especially on weekends –so get there early. Bring a cooler, an umbrella and snacks … leave floatation devices (including rafts, tubes and noodles) at home; they aren’t allowed at Haulover Park Beach.

Biz

/ Stainless steel charm necklace and black crystal clustered bracelet. GCo Collection. / Sterling silver pentagon ring with black crystals. @madashellpeople

Ray-Ban sunglasses, classic private collection. / Lavender iridescent long sleeve jersey shirt. GeorgeCoronado.com

/ Floraland skull-patterned swimming shorts. @Wswimwearmiami.

QUEENS BEHIND THE ART

From drag brunches to dance clubs, drag queens are out in full force across Miami. Here are four Miami drag queens you’ll want to meet.

by Gino R. Campodónico

As drag icon RuPaul says, “We’re born naked, and the rest is drag.” Drag, the act of subverting and exaggerating traditional gender expression, is a popular performance art form. Greater Miami & Miami Beach, which is home to some of the world’s top drag performers, offers opportunities to experience exciting performances at the destination’s top venues.

At drag bingo at Hôtel Gaythering, iconic drag brunches at Palace Bar and R House Wynwood, and nightly shows at Twist South Beach and Azucar NightClub, Miami’s fiercest drag queens are getting booked and staying busy. Other popular places to find the queens include Nathan’s Bar, Gramps Miami and Sweet Liberty. Watch for them at annual queer events as well, including Wigwood Miami, Miami Beach Pride and Celebrate ORGULLO.

Miami celebrates all forms of drag, and its drag queens represent the diverse, multicultural melting pot that makes Miami so special. We spoke with four local drag queens about their art and what Miami means to them. Shantay, you stay!

TIFFANY T. FANTASIA

Tiffany T. Fantasia, aka Ebony Legs of South Beach, has been a local institution for decades and a Miami resident since she was two years old. As an emcee, comedian, actor and singer, Tiffany is perhaps best known for her storied performances at the famous Palace Bar drag brunches, where she has worked for the past 19 years. “People are on Ocean Drive and unexpectedly walk into a drag show happening for the whole world to see. I mean, how amazing is that?” she says.

Voted Best Drag Performer by the Miami New Times in 2021, Tiffany has even appeared on “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen. “I feel like I’m like a melting pot of drag: You’re gonna get the funny. You’re gonna get the dancing. You’re gonna get a little bit of camp … a little bit of everything,” she says.

Performing for so many years in and around Miami has inspired her art. “I think growing up in this culture has given me a more diverse portfolio than the average entertainer. You can put me in any type of genre, and I’m going to make it work for me.”

Catch Tiffany at Palace Bar on Wednesday and Saturday nights and, of course, at the aforementioned Sunday drag brunch.

Photo Courtesy of Tiffany T. Fantasia

CC GLITZER

CC Glitzer moved to Miami from Germany in 2018. Since then, she has become one of Miami’s reigning queens. “This beautiful city has made a lot of icons in our community who are known all over the world,” she says. CC met her now-husband in Germany, and he inspired the move. “I would say love brought me to Miami.”

The drag art form inspires every aspect of her performances, and she hopes the audience feels the same way. “I think drag gives our community, and especially our LGBTQIA+ community, a huge platform for conversation. It’s a way to express ourselves and to show other communities how fabulous our community is and that we don’t mean any harm,” she says.

CC says she gets the first C in her name from German supermodel Claudia Schiffer and Glitzer from the German word for glitter. “I am CC Glitzer, the German sensation in Miami. Don’t ever forget –if the world is bitter, put on some GLITZER!”

Catch CC at Palace Bar on Monday for brunch, Tuesday through Thursday for the New Ladies Who Lunch and Friday night for Drag Madness. Also, every Thursday and Friday night at Twist South Beach

Photo Courtesy of CC Glitzer

KARLA CROQUETA

The self-proclaimed “Miami Drag Machine,” Karla Croqueta rose to fame as one half of the “Juleisy y Karla” drag comedy duo. Popular on YouTube, Juleisy y Karla would playfully mock Miami’s Latinx culture with their distinctive and flamboyant bearded drag looks. Now performing solo, Karla continues to redefine drag. “I’ve explored different realms artistically, but drag itself is the art form where I can encapsulate every single practice, theory, idea and modality,” she says.

When Karla performs, it’s important for her to feel a connection with the audience and help create a sense of community. “I really invite the audience to be a part of the experience. I have a way of drawing people in and really getting them to engage with what’s happening on the stage – really breaking that fourth wall. Because in all of my shows, there is no fourth wall. We are in this together,” she says.

That is why Karla feels such a deep connection to Miami. “Miami is so much of who I am. Miami influences me in so many ways. It’s so vibrant and tropical, and it’s a melting pot. It’s a place where people come to really just let loose and be free.”

Every Thursday, Karla produces and hosts the queer “Double Stubble” party at Gramps in Wynwood. On the first Sunday of every month, look for Karla at the Fruit Cocktail Brunch at Sweet Liberty in Miami Beach. Once a month on Monday nights, she hosts drag bingo at Better Days bar in Brickell.

Photo Courtesy of Karla Croqueta

ATHENA DION

Known as the “Greek Goddess,” Athena Dion has become a local icon as the resident host and producer of R House Wynwood’s drag brunches. She’s also the creator of Dream Queens, a Miami-based drag entertainment company, and she’s the house mother to more than 20 drag queens as part of House of Dion.

Miami played a huge role in inspiring Athena to pursue drag. “I was a child of the ‘90s, so I watched ‘The Birdcage,’ the movie with Robin Williams that took place in South Beach, and they had a drag bar in the movie – a total classic. After watching that, I was just so obsessed with the duality of being a drag queen,” she says.

Her drag brunches at R House Wynwood have become legendary, frequently welcoming high-profile celebrities. “We recently had Billy Porter visit. He was dancing salsa with me, and that was amazing. Ana Navarro from ‘The View’ is a regular. We had Gloria Estefan there, and I did the conga with her ... a lifetime achievement.”

Athena, who took her name from Greek mythology, describes her drag style as the ultimate in glamour. “I am a glamour goddess. I like big, over-the-top drag.” See her at R House Wynwood on Friday nights as well as at brunch on Saturdays and Sundays

Photo Courtesy of Athena Dion

/ Silverand crystal-encrusted overscaled link choker by Hector Albertazzi. @madashellpeople

Deco-inspired halo and waterfall chandelier earrings. @madashellpeople

/ The Heart has it All. Micro mini skirt Mikado silk. Dion Atelier exclusive. @dionatelier.

/ Turquoise bodysuit in spun silk charmeuse. Dion Atelier exclusive. @dionatelier