Watermark's Holiday Guide 2014 by Watermark Publishing Group

A M E R I C A’s FA M O U S F I N E F U R N I S H I N G S AU C T I O N C O M PA N Y

ANNO UNCES

E HOLIDAY EVEN G U H O TS TW L L I I O M N 1/4 U IN O

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CONTENTS

07 16 24 INTRODUCTION

TIPS ON ENTERTAINING

HOLIDAY-THEMED THEATER

11 19 29

COCKTAILS AND DRAG QUEENS PUBLISHER | Rick Claggett

EDITOR | Steve Blanchard

ART DIRECTOR | Jake Stevens

CREATIVE ASSISTANT | Patrick O’Connor

ADVERTISING SALES | Mark Cady, Sam Rennels, Danny Garcia, Bill Jeffries

2014 HOLIDAY MUSIC

LGBT-AFFIRMING CHURCH SERVICES

Contents of this Holiday Guide are protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the publishers. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles, advertising, or listing is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or members or organizations. Opinions expressed in articles generated by Watermark do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial or advertising staff. Watermark cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers.

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FIREWORKS

PA R T Y FAV O R S

(Left) David Rathman, Untitled, 2008, ink and watercolor on paper, 18 x 26 in., Private Collection, Minneapolis, Minnesota; (Right) Lamar Peterson, Bliss, 2013, oil on canvas, 73 x 59 in., Courtesy of the artist and Fredericks & Freiser, New York. These exhibitions are organized by Rochester Art Center, Rochester, Minnesota.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS Give your holiday season a unique LGBT flair STEVE BLANCHARD

HOA. WHAT HAPPENED TO 2014? YES, IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS SQUARELY UPON US AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, GIFT EXCHANGING PARTIES, HOLIDAYTHEMED DINNERS AND PACKED SHOPPING MALLS WILL BE A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES ONCE AGAIN. It’s an exhilarating and exhausting time of the year. But there are plenty of reasons to feel festive and we LGBTs

loved ones. So why not make the most of this season with those closest to you? So whether you celebrate Christmas,

tend to do our celebrating with a little

Hanukah, Kwanzaa or Canada’s

more flair than the rest of the community.

Boxing Day, there are options aplenty

So to help keep our celebrating

to make your 2014 holiday season in

reputations up to par, we offer

Florida the most spectacular one yet.

Watermark’s Annual Holiday Guide. This year we have a different format

New music and theater productions are planned this season and services at

we’re excited to share. We welcome

places of worship are already scheduled

both returning and some amazing new

across the state to keep LGBTs and

advertisers to the 2014 edition of this

our allies in a festive spirit this holiday

guide. So take a look at what they

season. You just have to know where to

offer for unique gift ideas this season.

look—and that’s within these pages. That’s because, fortunately,

In conjunction with their ideas and products, we decided to

Watermark is on top of it and we’ve

take a new look at the holidays

spent the last month or so reaching

from an LGBT perspective.

out to local organizations, combing through holiday-themed press releases,

In 2014, there is no shortage of LGBT-specific holiday entertainment.

and even listening to holiday music

Theaters, music, churches and more

albums in anticipation of the Most

reach out to us as equality pushes

Wonderful Time of the Year. Enjoy your holiday and please

full-steam ahead across the country. And while we can’t get married to our

celebrate safely. And Merry

same-sex partners in Florida—yet—we

Christmas, Happy Hanukah and

have our own families made up of close

Happy Holidays from the team

friends, significant others and “adopted”

here at Watermark Media.

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CHEERS TO THE HOLIDAYS Drag performers offer their favorite drink recipes in a new book out in time for the holidays STEVE BLANCHARD

HE HOLIDAYS MEAN A LOT OF THINGS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. BUT FOR A MAJORITY OF US, HOLIDAY GREETINGS MEAN FOOD AND, WELL, LOTS OF DRINKS. So who better to give us the perfect holiday drink

“I just couldn’t decide,” Sanchez writes. “Adrian slyly told me to, ‘Just try them all.’ Never one to take

tips than world-renowned drag performers? “”It’s in a drag queen’s best interest to know her

a friend’s advice lightly, I did! I was about halfway

cocktails,” explains Lady Bunny in the introduction

down the menu when I felt them all kick in and I

to the new book The Harlot’s Guide to Classy

started to feel good!”

Cocktails. “After all, the most common line that every

Royale shares a similar story of “feeling good”

emcee has used for decades is encouraging the

in her section of the book, where she tells a story

audience to guzzle a-plenty because ‘The more you

of a night in Albuquerque, where she mysteriously

drink, the prettier we look.’”

woke up out of drag, with no recollection of how it

The new book, written by drag performer Jeza Belle, is a compilation of some amazing cocktail

happened. “The good news is that the limo driver was my

recipes partnered with some hilarious drinking

eyes and ears and let me know that I didn’t make

stories told from the drag performers themselves.

a fool of myself, as I’m a very ‘happy’ drunk,”

Florida’ drag personalities Tyra Sanchez of Orlando

Royale explains. “But just as importantly, he carefully

and Latrice Royale of Hollywood, Fla., pictured

dropped me off at my room and didn’t see me

above, are among those included.

naked!” And who among us doesn’t have a good drunken

Sanchez shares a story of an “experimental night” in Orlando, when she tried most of the items

story to share—especially around the holidays?

offered on a specialty cocktail menu.

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CONTINUED ON PG. 13 |  | H O L I D A Y

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DISCO DIVA DUET 2 OUNCES VODKA 2 OUNCES POMEGRANATE JUICE 1 TEASPOON AGAVE NECTAR 1 LEMON WEDGE BASIL SPRIG

Fill shaker with ice. Add vodka, pomegranate juice, and nectar. Shake and strain into glass. Squeeze in lemon wedge. Garnish with a basil sprig.

SWEET CHEEKS

|  | Drag Cocktails FROM PG.11

This book is the beginning of an ultimate collection. “Jeza Belle (pictured above) has spent countless years researching alcoholic beverages—and from the looks of her, much of her dedicated ‘research’ was conducted while applying her make-up,” Lady Bunny explains. “Any of you who’ve seen her perform will know that alcohol is one of her biggest influences. And it’s infectious. Anyone in her audiences will swear that her ‘singing’ drove them to drink.” Ah, the sisterly love of drag queens. So to help make your holiday as festive as possible, the kind folks behind this book— namely publisher Outskirts Press—offered a preview to Watermark and we’ve selected a few of our favorite and funniest-named cocktails. If you want to see more cocktails, the book is available

PINK PANTY DROPPER

3 CUPS CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM 1 CUP IRISH CREAM LIQUEUR, SUCH AS BAILEYS 3 CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 1 CUP MILK 1 CUP OF ICE

Add ice cream, liqueur, 2 cookies, milk, and ice to a blender and mix. Pour into a large glass. Garnish with extra crumbled cookie.

12 OUNCE CONTAINER FROZEN PINK LEMONADE CONCENTRATE 12 OUNCES VODKA ICE LEMON TWISTS

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Pour container of frozen lemonade concentrate into a blender filled with ice. Fill the empty container with vodka and add to blender. Cover and blend until the consistency of a slushy. Pour into glasses and garnish with lemon twists. Serve immediately.

2 OUNCES BOURBON 2 SCOOPS VANILLA ICE CREAM ROOT BEER WHIPPED CREAM

COS-HOEPOLITAN 1½ OUNCES VODKA ½ OUNCE TRIPLE SEC ½ OUNCE LIME JUICE ¾ OUNCE CRANBERRY JUICE 1 LIME WEDGE

Fill shaker with ice. Add vodka, triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice. Shake and strain into chilled glass. Garnish with lime wedge.

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Place ice cream in glass. Add bourbon then fill with root beer. Top with whipped cream

MISS THANG MOJITO 1½ OUNCES WHITE RUM ¾ OUNCE LIME JUICE 6 OUNCES CLUB SODA MINT LEAVES 1 TABLESPOON GRAIN SUGAR

Place grain sugar and mint leaves into a glass and muddle using a spoon. Fill glass with ice. Add rum, lime juice, and club soda. Garnish with fresh mint leaves 2 0 1 4

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ENTERTAINING EXPERTLY Use these tips as you plan your holiday dinner parties S TA F F R E P O R T

S AN AUTHOR, CO-HOST OF THE CHEW AND A VETERAN OF WHAT NOT TO WEAR, CLINTON KELLY HAS SHOWN AMERICA THAT HE KNOWS HIS STUFF WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THINGS ELEGANT. But you don’t have to live in a mansion or make a fortune to throw one heck of a dinner party, especially around the holidays. The festive atmosphere lends itself to social gatherings. The best way to enjoy these gatherings as a host is to be prepared, according to Kelly, who penned Freakin Fabulous to help those of us without the natural knack for entertaining throw a memorable event. In his book, available at ClintonKelly.com, the openly gay host master has a few simple tips for making sure your

parties held on two sawhorses and wooden planks,” Kelly shares. “If it can hold your food and can be covered with a tablecloth, who the hell cares what’s underneath?” You can also skip the seated dinner and host a party with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. That allows guests to mingle and keeps you from having to find seats for every single guest at the table.

HAVE ENOUGH

holiday gatherings go off without a hitch.

DON’T OVERCROWD Yes, we all love to be popular, but having too many people at a party can just make for an uncomfortable night. Add the warmth of Florida’s climate and your holiday party can quickly turn into a sweat lodge. Kelly has a formula for determining how many guests should be invited to your cocktail party. Divide the square-footage of your home by five (the approximate number of feet each guest needs for personal space). That’s the number of people that should be on your guest list. “Unless you have a gigantic room,” Kelly warns, “avoid the urge to go gigantic. I’ve been to many parties where the homeowner’s dining room was so packed with the table, the chairs, the armoire, the credenza that moving around the room was nearly impossible.” After all, there’s a difference between accommodating guests and hosting them.

DINNER EYE CONTACT When it’s time for dinner, make sure your guests are comfortable and able to easily interact. That means your fabulous centerpiece may need to take a reprieve during dinner. “A centerpiece and/or candles should not block the view across the table,” Kelly says in his book. “Yes, you can have a large centerpiece or tall candlesticks, but move them off the table once people sit down!” Of course, the centerpiece is supposed to be the focal point of any table, but if your guests can’t hold a conversation because of it, the beautiful conversation piece becomes an annoyance. Relocate it to a corner somewhere until after the feast. He also advises that the arrangement stay in proportion with the size of the room.

HAVE FUN

GET CREATIVE Okay, not everyone has a huge dining room table that can seat 30 guests. Get creative, Kelly suggests. “I’ve been to Thanksgiving dinners held on folding card tables and dinner

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Drinks will be the first thing your guests want and expect when they arrive. In Freakin’ Fabulous, Kelly suggests hiring a bartender for parties with more than 30 guests. He also suggests putting the bar in a corner, which keeps the thirsty crowd from blocking the natural flow of traffic through the party. “Anticipate that your guests will down two drinks apiece in the first hour, then one drink per hour for the remainder of the party,” he says. “As for food, allot 10 appetizers per person for cocktail parties and six per person for dinner parties. Whether you’re passing hors d’oeuvres or arranging them on a buffet, having plenty keeps guests happy.”

The whole point of gathering family and friends together over the holidays is to enjoy their company. So keep stress levels down. If you’re well organized, you should be able to enjoy the party and catch up with everyone on your guest list. It’s important to relax and react rather than overreact to any unexpected surprises at your gathering. Whether or not they admit it or not, your guests are relying on you to set the tone of the party. After all, Kelly explains, “A host who worries too much throws a tense party.”

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MOOD MUSIC

Get in the holiday spirit with new music from some LGBT-friendly artists STEVE BLANCHARD

ACH YEAR A NEW STRING OF ARTISTS RELEASE HOLIDAY ALBUMS—MEANING THERE IS ALWAYS A NEW REASON TO GET EXCITED FOR THE RETURN OF HOLIDAY MUSIC. This year is no exception, and with big voices that are welcoming to the LGBT community leading the pack in 2014, there is an opportunity to revamp your holiday music collection with a whole new group of CDs and downloads to keep you festive throughout the month of December.

the lead on an “O Come All Ye Faithful/ Angels We Have Heard on High/Hark The Herald Angels Sing” medley that transitions into a faster, jazz dance medley.

Here are five that have us the most excited:

HOLIDAY WISHES:

IDINA MENZEL

CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK:

Prayer.” But it’s not all ballads on this CD. She does a duet with Michael Buble on “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and does her rendition of the Mariah Carey hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

RENEE FLEMING

THE 25TH OF DECEMBER:

DAVE KOZ LGBTs are always ahead of the trend when it comes to entertainment, so we knew about the amazing voice that is Idina Menzel from her iconic Broadway roles as Elphaba in Wicked and Maureen in RENT before that. It seems the rest of the world didn’t discover her amazing talent until her role as Elsa in the Disney blockbuster Frozen. The film’s hit song, “Let It Go,” earned an Academy-Award and Menzel became a household name across the country. Now the artist is trying her hand at a holiday album. Holiday Wishes dropped in October and solidly landed on the Billboard 200 album chart around No.13. This made Holiday Wishes one of the highest-charting Christmas albums by a Jewish artist. Track selections include classic songs like “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Silent Night” alongside newer offerings “River” and “December

If you like a touch of jazz during the holiday, Dave Koz’s newest offering is right up your alley. The openly gay jazz performer has teamed with some famous friends (Stevie Wonder, Eric Benet, Johnny Mathis, Richard Marx, Fantasia, Gloria Estefan, BeBe Winans) to bring us The 25th of December. Koz is a staple during the holidays, both in the CD player and at local venues. He has toured during the month of December for almost 20 decades and has commented that he makes the stage his “living room” with each stop. This 2014 album mixes classics with a few new pieces, like the title track, which features Winans. And remixes appear on the album too, with Fantasia taking

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A new holiday collection from worldrenowned soprano Renee Fleming pairs the Broadway diva with a host of notable performers. According to a press release explaining Christmas in New York, the album invites fans to “come in from the cold, snuggle up by the fire and let these intimate renditions of holiday classics fill your home with Christmas cheer.” This is the American soprano’s first ever holiday album and her guests add several styles of music, from jazz and pop to classical. Guests appearing with Fleming include Rufus Wainwright, Gregory Porter, Wynton Marsalis and Kelli O’Hara. Combined, Fleming and others featured on this album have received 16 Grammy awards in multiple categories. This is a perfect collection for New Yorkers or those who are just fans of the Big Apple.

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HOLIDAY FOR SWING:

SETH MACFARLANE

|  | Holiday Music FROM PG.19

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS:

TOM WOPAT AND JOHN SCHNEIDER

The men who made “The Duke Boys” a family favorite back in the 1980s are together again—and this time on a holiday album. Tom Wopat and John Schneider released an 18-track album of mostly duets, with a few solo moments thrown in for each actor-turned-singer. Most of the songs are recognizable classics, but Wopat penned the brand new “Johnny, It’s Cold Outside,” specifically for Home for Christmas. Wopat told Music Times that jazz musicians will especially like this album, but so will fans of 50s and 60s music, thanks to arranger John Oddo. The “Good Ol’ Boys” could have a new spot in pop culture history, and in your holiday music collection.

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Yes, this is an album by that Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy. As many of that show’s fans know, music is a big part of the adult cartoon’s success, and MacFarlane has the pipes to sing along with a 65-piece orchestra, which he does on his first-ever holiday album. Holiday For Swing is produced by Joel McNeely and offers classic, orchestral and jazz-infused versions of classic holiday songs like “Let It Snow,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “Snow,” made popular by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. It’s not a comedy album by any means. MacFarlane actually recorded during the holiday season of 2013, making it one of the few holiday offerings that wasn’t recorded during the summer months. MacFarlane told Billboard Magazine the schedule worked out that way because he didn’t want to try to do an album while filming the sequel to his hit film, Ted.

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FESTIVE THESPIANS Local LGBT theater offers a hilariously twisted look at the holidays COMPILED BY STEVE BLANCHARD

AYBE IT’S THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER OR PERHAPS THE MULTI-TALENTED FOLKS WHO LAND HERE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE, LIVE THEATER THRIVES IN FLORIDA. As the holidays approach, don’t let the beach-perfect weather

keep you from enjoying the season. Find a local theater to get you in the yuletide spirit. Almost every venue has at least one holiday-themed show this time of year. The Nutcracker, versions of

relationship and vacation already has Lena on edge and her only hope is that Walter’s involvement can salvage this one last night in paradise!

A Christmas Carol and holiday-inspired concerts are everywhere

DAYTONA

(pull out your Watermark Fall Arts Guide for a long list of options). But what if you want something a little off the “traditional” path with an LGBT bent? There are several options, as you can see:

CENTRAL FLORIDA WANZIE’S ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL LIVING NATIVITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR NOV. 29-DEC. 22 AT THE FOOTLIGHT THEATER AT THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE RESORT TICKETS ARE $18-20 AT WANZIE.COM

Local celebrity and Watermark columnist Michael Wanzie is at it again, and this time he’s tackling Christmas and the businesses along Orange Blossom Trail. This holiday spectacular, described as “a twisted musical parody of Biblical proportions,” stars local favorites Doug Ba’aser, Eric Desnoyers, Robby Drennen, Jessica Hoehn, Rich Kuntz, Blue Star and Douglas White. Wanzie, of course, also makes an appearance, and the choreography is done by Star and White.

THE EIGHT REINDEER MONOLOGUES NOV. 23-DEC. 6 AT THE HISTORIC STATE THEATRE, EUSTIS TICKETS ARE $7-12 AT EUSTISBAYSTREETPLAYERS.ORG OR 352-357-7777

Have you ever wondered what those reindeer really think about their boss?

In Eight Reindeer Monologues, a dark comedy by Jeff Goode, it turns out the North Pole is an epicenter of scandal. One of the reindeer accuses Santa of harassment and makes headlines, which prompts the other seven to share their horrifying tales of life on top of the world. This show is not for the young. There are adult themes and language, so leave the little ones at home.

ST. PETERSBURG WHO TOOK THE LAST KETCHUP? ONE HELL OF A HOLIDAY VACATION! DEC. 4-21 AT THE BLU ROOM THEATRE AT THE FLAMINGO RESORT TICKETS: $20-$25 AT 727-321-5000

Who Took the Last Ketchup is an original comedy written by Tampa Bay Playwright Michael Matteo, widely know for his play An Evening with Mr. Johnson: It’s Hard Being A Dick! In collaboration with Artistic Director Trevor Keller, they have transformed this hysterical comedy into a holiday experience that no one will forget! On the last night of Max and Lena’s annual holiday vacation to Florida, Walter, a homeless drag queen, enters their world. Their strained

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BAH HUMBUG RADIO DEC. 19-21 AT THE DAYTONA PLAYHOUSE TICKETS ARE $21 AT DAYTONAPLAYHOUSE.ORG OR 386-255-2431

Enjoy the retelling of a classic Christmas story from the inside of a radio station! In Bah Humbug Radio, the cast tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim, but adds sound effects from the stage—just like in a 1930s/1940s radio broadcast. Expect a lot of caroling and surprises—was Tiny Tim really that good of a kid?—in addition to funny anecdotes of this behind-the-scenes-style presentation of A Christmas Carol.

SARASOTA A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL DEC. 3-14 AT THE PLAYERS THEATRE TICKETS ARE $25-$30 AT THEPLAYERS. ORG OR 941-365-2494

Everyone grew up with A Christmas Story—whether it was on the big screen or on repeated play in the VCR. The beloved, inappropriate and hilarious film set in 1940s Indiana became a cult classic. Now, the story of Ralphie and his quest for a Red Rider BB gun is a stage musical. And remember that hideous leg-lamp? Expect to see plenty of that from the stage in this production.

G U I D E

2 0 1 4

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6th Annual

Peace on Earth~ Hippy Holidays Sale & Psychic Faire

Peace & Love on Earth! Saturday December 6th

IN STORE: Everything on Sale 11AM–7PM Psychic Faire 12–6PM OUTSIDE: Enchanted Craft Vendors, Henna Tattoos, Massage, Entertainment and more…

Avalon 1211 Hillcrest St. • 407.895.7439. • www.AvalonBeyond.com

December 19-21

Family Series: December 20 & 21*

y the

b O IC AND ORL RMON RA HA PHIL RCHEST O

The

Nutcracker Luncheon

A Magical Holiday Tradition for All Ages!

Sunday, December 21, 2014 12:00-2:00 p.m.

the grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando Visit OrlanDOBallet.Org for Details

Join us for the beginning of our inaugural season at

407-426-1739 OrlanDOBallet.Org *Family Series performances do not include Live Orchestra.