Last Monday was the annual Miss Fort Lauderdale Illusion pageant produced by Shardee Ross, and held at Steel. There was 6 contestants; 1 plus contestant, 1 Classic and 4 regular. In the end the new Miss For Lauerdale Illusion is Yasmine Bonet Iman, 1^st runner up was Jada Iman, 2^nd runner up was Nicollete, and 3^rd runner up was Chanel Devine Sherrington. The new Classic is Lady Fancy, and the new plus is Milani Couture.  

Last Tuesday was a night to remember at Score's weekly Latin event, Planeta Macho. It was all hands on deck for owners Luis & Billy and the entire crew at Score as Cuban sensation Albita performed. Albita and her seven person band routinely sell out arena's and this week, they packed Score, wall to wall. The performance lasted over an hour and a half and included her #1 hits Ta' Bueno Ya, El Chico Chevere, and El Cumbanchero among others. Before the performance, members of the press were invited to a meet & greet where Albita was presented the key to Miami Beach by City Commissioner Michael Gongora.  Later, during the show another presentation was made by Johnny Gonzalez representing GLAAD and Joe Granda of Granda Entertainment.  

Saturday was a busy day for me as I started the evening early at Bill and Terry’s 10^th anniversary party at the Manchester Room at the Alibi. It was a gathering of their family and close friends, and was a nice relaxing change to my normal hectic schedule. 

Around Midnight I went to Steel for their “Hard Core Leather” party which was a benefit for Bound South and starred DJ’s Herbie James and Larry Monteleone with performances by Noel Leon & Rod Stephens. 

After that I went down to Discotekka in Downtown Miami for  their “China Party” which starred Vegas Dion, TP Lords, Gina DiAngelo and special guest Mizz Cori, with DJ Jarel turning it out on the turntables. The Club was decorated so unbelievable that words cannot describe it, it was just something you needed to see!! It was a jam packed party as can be seen by this pic of the dance floor. Congrats to Wendy, Joe, Danny, Vegas and the entire staff of Discotekka.

The new Fall issue of noiZe magazine is out now. This issue includes features on RuPaul, South Florida, and Ultra Nate, plus photos of recent events: Wonderland L.A. Pride, IndepenDANCE Fire Island, Colossus San Francisco, Prism Toronto Pride Babylon Party, and Gay Days Disney.  The guys at noiZe are currently on a hunt for noiZe boyz. Pick up a copy at clubs and LGBT friendly businesses all over America and get in on the noiZe.
 

On Saturday September 1^st from 2 to 4pm the Pride Factory presents Titan Men exclusive Francois Sagat live and in person. They invte you to come by and bring your camera and have your picture taken with Francois by GAYVN hall of fame director Bruce Cam. They are also offering (on Sept 1^st only) a free 2008 Titan Men Calendar with any purchase of a Titan Men DVD. You can also catch Francois performing at the Boardwalk on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. In Addition he will be the Host of Black Wear T Dance at Voodoo Lounge. 

Sidelines Sports Bar features Indoor sports with Mondays featuring Texas Hold em poker at 7:30pm, Tuesdays featuring Q Ball Pool League at 8pm and Wednesdays featuring a Dart Tournament at 8pm. Don’t forget that Sidelines always features 16 flat Screen TV’s, 3 pool tables, 3 dart boards, Free WiFi, and free foosball.

Click expands to 2 parties for Labor Day Madness. On Sunday September 2, Click at Dek 23 presents DJ’s Bill Kelly, Roxx, Connie Caserole and T-Promix spinning, with special guest performances by Alan T and Jo Jo Infiniti, as well as house queens Elaine Lancaster and Adora. They will also present a free CD giveaways of “Here In Spirit” featuring Alan T. Click AM takes place on Monday September 3 at Discotekka, and starring DJ’s Kidd Madonny and Connie Casserole with special performances by Daisy D, TP Lords, Ebonee Excell, and Chyna Girl. Doors open at 4am.

G.I.R.L. AID 2007, a first of its kind in Fort Lauderdale, will run thirty two consecutive hours and showcase eleven spectacular DJ's at one of Fort Lauderdale's newest clubs, Uncle's Night Club - 1000 State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale, FL  on Friday, September 14th at 7:00PM thru Sunday, September 16th at 3:00AM. The event will be simulcast live on Gay Internet Radio Live and as an added bonus to guests, Uncle's backyard Bar-B-Q will be offered on Saturday. General Weekend Admission: $15 Advance ($20 at the Door) includes access to full 32 hour event. Re-entry allowed during event times (original wristband must be in place and photo ID must be presented to receive re-entry, VIP upgrades available at door). VIP Admission: $50 includes private VIP Lounge with Entertainment meet and greet, and no waiting in line for re-entry.

Following the triumphant success of last season’s production of King Lear, the award-winning Classical Theatre of Harlem returns to Carnival Center for the Performing Arts’ Studio Theater with two powerful and radically different productions directed by Alfred Preisser - Romeo and Juliet (October 10-13) and Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death (October 17-20). Lauded by The New York Times for “locating the most challenging works in the canon and knocking them off as if with a slingshot," The Classical Theatre of Harlem presents its rendition of Romeo and Juliet – the most famous romantic tragedy of all times – as an urban musical set in contemporary Harlem to a score filled with hip-hop, soul, R&B and rap. While this

staging is infused with the immediacy of hip-hop and the violence of contemporary racial tensions, Shakespeare’s poetry is kept intact, adding an additional layer to the culture clash that tears these young lovers apart. A huge hit on Broadway in its original inception in 1971, Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death is a lusty and gutsy spoken word musical, created by pioneering African-American screenwriter and composer Melvin Van Peebles, about life on the mean streets of a sprawling urban ghetto. The work garnered seven Tony nominations, including Best Musical, and was described by The New York Times as “...A funky assault on the senses. Van Peebles is a revolutionary talent...a genre-bending milestone musical.” For this engagement, Carnival Center’s Studio Theater will be transformed into Studio Cabaret with cocktail tables arranged around the stage and food and drinks available for purchase during the performance. This performance is funded in part by a grant from the Southern Arts Federation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and Florida Department of State - Division of Cultural Affairs. The Classical Theatre of Harlem is a dynamic and unique theatre company dedicated to producing the classics for a new, young and culturally diverse audience. Their numerous awards and honors include five OBIE Awards, off-Broadway’s most prestigious honor, and a 2004 Drama Desk Award as well as 12 AUDELCO Awards and 77 nominations for Excellence in Black Theatre. For a video clip, audio samples and additional information about The Classical Theatre of Harlem, visit www.classicaltheatreofharlem.org.  To help fulfill Carnival Center’s mission to provide affordable tickets to as wide and diverse an audience as possible: All tickets for The Classical Theatre of Harlem are $25 and are available through the Carnival Center box office at (305) 949-6722 or online at www.carnivalcenter.org. Groups of 15 or more receive discounts up to 50%. Contact (786) 468-2326. H.O.T. at Carnival Center offers full-time students and seniors (65 and over), and members of the military Half-Off Tickets purchased on the day of performance. One must present current picture I.D. on day of show at the Carnival Center Box Office Window; 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Downtown Miami (Subject to availability of seats at time of purchase, Limit 1 ticket per purchase). The Carnival Center Box Office is open 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; beginning at noon on weekends when there is a performance scheduled; and two hours before every performance.

Pride South Florida Board Member and Lube Lady, Ellen Friedman (formerly Hotspots and Buzz Magazine) had to go into emergency surgery to have 3 large masses removed from her lower abdomen. She will miss approximately 6 weeks of work, which she will not be compensated for. Her medical bills will be costly and her bills will begin to pile up if we do not pull together and help her out. A benefit to help with her living and medical expenses will be taking place on Wednesday August 29^th at Steel Multiplex nightclub from 9pm till midnight. Ellen has been a part of the GLBT Community for many years and has always been there for fundraiser's and charities, as well as local sports groups and is a proud member of PSF.  This event is being sponsored by Hotflyers.com, Channel One Releasing, The Club Ft Lauderdale, Pride Factory, Pride South Florida, Cheston House, Floridamen.com, Noche Latina Fridays, OUT, Poplife Designs, Ramrod, Swiss Navy Lube, New Moon, Georgie’s Alibi, The Buzz, and Hotspots Magazine. There will be performances by many local divas, Raffles, Silent Auctions and Live auctions. Please come give back to someone who has given so much in the past. To help out in any way please call the Pride Line at 954-561-2020. 

The community at large is always asking for something unique and fun to do outside of the ordinary.   Rosie’s starts it's weekend long celebration of it's 1 year anniversary on Labor Day Weekend by answering this call as well as continuing it's commitment to supporting local and national non-profits.  The following events cover the map so that everyone will find something that they might like to try or do and all of it with no cover charge - Just look for the BIG TENT.  They start the party with a movie that made a mark in all of our hearts with a little bit of "Summer Lovin" - GREASE!  Come out and sing in your best and worst voices and if you dress up as one of your favorite characters you just might win a prize too! Friday Night Martini Movie Madness benefiting The Smart Ride Starting time 8:00! The Sing Along Theme – 50’s Prizes for best look – a – like. The weekend of events continues with an afternoon of B-I-N-G-O on September 1st.  It's the game that everyone loves and we will of course put our usual twist on it!  Benefiting the PALS Project (a program of the GLCC) Beach Blanket Bingo will make you laugh and hopefully yell that one thing we would all like to yell - BINGO! 1st session starting time 2:00 30 minute intermission 2nd session starting around 4:15 Theme - anything beach! - Beach balls, blankets, swimsuits, Great prizes will be awarded for each bingo culminating of course to one grand prize.  Remember the entire event is a fundraiser so bring your game on and do some good too.  Prizes will also be awarded for Best Beach Ensemble, Beast Beach Blanket Table Decoration, and Best Group Effort The Day continues into night and with what else!  Names Names Names Darling - Couture!  That's Right – Rosie’s brings a night of Sex on the Island City - Drag, Divas and Designers! The night will be filled with comedy, costumes, and clothing all answering the ever present questions What Should I Wear?  With a large runway, plenty of room, and of course plenty of laughs – people will be talking about this “episode” for years to come.  Saturday Night Sex on the Island City - Drag, Divas and designers! Starting time 8:00 Benefiting Poverello Clothing Store and Treats for Troops. Featuring fashion and models from Honey and Zoo14 with Drag Show by Deserea, Misty Eyez, and the entire Rosie Cast.  Rosie’s 1 year anniversary weekend doesn't end there - oh no no – Rosie’s Famous T-Dance is back and fiercer than ever with a Royal Spin Off between Two DJ Legends, DJ Wendy Hunt and DJ Warren Gluck.  Get your groove back with more than enough time to recover before having to go back to work on Tuesday and of course no cover charge. Sunday Day - T-Dance Starting time 11:00 with Rosie’s own DJ James with the Main Event starting at 1:00. Feeling a little tired darling? whew a weekend of events need a recovery day and we have just the thing for you.  Mondays Recovery Lunch starting at 11:00 gives you enough time to sleep in and just late enough to make it fashionable.  Sit on our fantastic patio with a Bloody Mary and marvel at just how fabulous you are - it will be a Labor Day that is truly a work of love.

Gary Santis in association with Voodoo Lounge and Scott Holland present Blackwear Fort Lauderdale 2007 on Sunday September 2. Blackwear T Dance starts at 4pm (with Free Drinks from 4-6pm) and is hosted by Erotic Star Francois Sagat with a performance by Mizz Cori. The T Dance also stars DJ’s Bill Hallquist in the main room, DJ Miik on the Patio playing Classic Disco, and DJ Roque in the Latin Room with performances by Vegas Dion. Then at 10pm Tracy Young and Tony Moran take over the turntables for an indoor/outdoor event as Voodoo Lounge takes over the Revolution Patio (all entries through Voodoo Lounge). The décor will be by RKM Futureboys, and there will be a special Life’s A Drag show at midnight starring Daisy D, TP Lords, Poison Ivy and Gina D’Angelo. Admission is only $7 for member and $15 for Non Members until 8pm, $15 Members and $20 non members from 8pm till 11pm, and $30 Member and $40 non members the rest of the night. VIP Package includes admission and unlimited liquor, water and juices all night and is only $75.

Wicked Manors Block Party October 31^st

 The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida (GLCC), Wilton Manors Business Association, Wilton Manors Main Street and the City of Wilton Manors announced today a combined effort in putting on a Halloween extravaganza. The GLCC, already known for hosting a successful Halloween event join forces for the Wicked Manors Block Party to be held on Wilton Drive between 7^th and 11^th Avenues.  This year’s event will start at 7:00pm with lots of festivities planned throughout the evening. Co-chair Bobby Kyser, owner of Petals Panache said “Not only will this be a very fun evening but the proceeds of this event will benefit the programs and services of the GLCC and the revitalization of Wilton Manors.” The GLCC serves the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community providing information, education, advocacy, support, human services, cultural experiences and social opportunities. The center works to foster personal development and quality of life for the entire community embracing individuality and diversity, promoting awareness, acceptance, celebration and pride.  Wilton Manors Main Street is a nonprofit group made up of residents, business owners, property owners and organizations that creates an environment on Wilton Drive where commerce, art and housing enthusiastically coexist. “This event will benefit the community and all the businesses on the drive with much needed exposure.”  Co-chair Doug Cureton, owner of What’s the Scoop went on to say, “we are hoping to establish this into an annual block party to rival that of other cities nation-wide.” This year’s theme “HELL ON HEELS” will feature businesses along the drive in a storefront decoration contest voting will take place online beginning on Wednesday, October 24^th and lasting until Halloween Night; informal trick or treating for youth and adults from 5-7pm; music by G.I.R.L. (GayInternetRadioLive.com); Mistress of the Dark – Misty Eyez as hostess/emcee; street food vendors, bars and Halloween themed booths and souvenir items for sale, including an official event T-shirt. The evening will include a Lord and Lady of Wicked Manors contest.  Participants must submit an application on the website www.wickedmanors.com by Tuesday, October 23^rd and voting will begin on Wednesday, October 24^th lasting until Halloween Night. The Lord and Lady will preside over the evening’s event. All winners will receive fabulous cash and prizes. Other contests that evening include a Pet Costume and Pet/Owner Look-a-like Contest; a Tattoo and Body Art Contest; a Celebrity Look-a-like Contest; a FIERCE WALK OFF Contest called “Drag on the Drive”; and a Costume Contest with Scariest and Overall Best Costumes.  Cash and Prizes will be awarded. Would you like your business and logo listed on the website, on the promo cards, in all press releases and receive an ad in the event program, or be listed as an “official site location for a pre-party/event” and receive a booth on the street that night? The committee is looking for sponsors to assist in underwriting the expenses such as decoration, printing of the Hallo-Guide, security, lighting, permits, advertising and more.  For information on how you can be an event sponsor, contact Bobby Kyser at (954) FLOWERS (356-9377). Volunteers interested in helping with the event before, during and after should contact Nicole at the GLCC at 954-463-9005 or nicole@glccsf.org.  For more information please visit www.wickedmanors.com or www.glccsf.org

Former President Bill Clinton will visit Books & Books on Thursday, September 6, as part of his national book tour for Giving.  President Clinton will be signing copies of his new book for readers beginning at 9:00am. Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World (published by Alfred A. Knopf) is an inspiring look at how individual endeavors can save lives and solve problems, and it offers compelling examples of citizen activism at work in the world today.  A portion of President Clinton's proceeds from the book will be donated to charities and nonprofits that are doing their part to change the world.  President Clinton's appearance is a signing only, not a talk or reading. It will take place at 9am at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables. All Books & Books locations (Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Bal Harbour Shops) will be selling vouchers for the book, beginning at the time of this announcement and you must go into one of their stores to purchase this voucher.  They WILL NOT be taking reservations for the voucher by phone or online.  This voucher must be presented (along with a copy of the receipt) to enter the autographing line.  Books & Books has printed a limited amount of vouchers and has every expectation that you will be able to have your book signed, however, this voucher DOES NOT guarantee that you will be able to have your book signed by President Clinton.  Because of the huge demand, they CANNOT promise that everyone's book will be signed.  The voucher guarantees that you will receive one (1) copy of his new book, GIVING, on the day of the event, and a very good chance of having it signed by the President.  This voucher (with attached receipt) allows you entry into the autographing line.  Once in the line, wristbands will be issued, on a first-come, first-served basis.  You must show your voucher (with attached receipt) in order to receive a wristband. No photography of any kind will be allowed.  This means no cameras, video recorders, or cell phones will be allowed in the store for the duration of the visit.  President Clinton will not be personalizing any books. They strongly suggest that you do not bring purses, bags, cellphones, cameras, pens, photos, other books, gifts, or any other personal items to the signing, as these items will need to be held at our bag check station. They are not responsible for lost or stolen items.  “I’ve done my best in this book to demonstrate what I’ve seen firsthand through my Foundation's work in Africa and around the world: that all kinds of giving can make a profoundly positive difference,” said President Clinton. “The amount of good that so many individuals and NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] have been able to do has proven to me that almost everyone—regardless of income, available time, age, and skills—can do something useful for others and, in the process, strengthen the fabric of our shared humanity.”  To coincide with the release of the book, readers are being asked to share their personal stories of giving both at this event and at a special Web site, www.clintonfoundation.org/giving.  In Giving, President Clinton highlights the work of a number of extraordinary people and organizations that shows that giving time, skills, objects, and ideas can be just as important as giving money.  President Clinton writes about the life-changing aspect of giving—of men and women who traded in their corporate careers and the fulfillment they now experience through their new efforts and associations.  President Clinton also examines, in a chapter on organizing markets for the public good, progressive companies that do well by doing good: going green, opening markets for the underserved in disadvantaged communities, hiring people who were once on welfare, and promoting fair wages and decent working conditions for all.  He addresses the role of government, suggesting that when it works well, citizen service can reinforce and supplement its efforts; when it doesn’t, citizens need to harness time, money, knowledge, and skills in an effort to change, improve, or protect government policy.  President Clinton outlines what we as individuals can do, the steps we can take, how much we should consider giving, and why our giving is so important. President Clinton’s previous book, My Life, was published by Knopf in 2004.  It remains one of the best-selling memoirs of all time.