What’s HotIn Issue 32
This past weekend was filled with special events. Summerfest 09 started Friday evening at the Tides and continued all weekend. This inaugural year was filled with very successful events that raised money for Equality Florida and the National Task Force. Stay tuned for information on next year’s events. Saturday night was Ramrod’s Pig Dance 12, their monthly Saturday dance party, and it was filled with leather men and their admirers. Voodoo Lounge presented the Tracy Young moving away party and was wall to wall with hot, shirtless men and a lot of hotties that weren’t shirtless. YUMMY! Sunday I started the afternoon at the 5th anniversary of Peter Burke’s T Cruise, which featured entertainment by Nikki Adams and Erika Norell as well as 3 sexy dancers. After the cruise I went to Mona’s for their 12th anniversary and wished Jerry and one of my favorite bartenders, John “Mary” Lyons, congratulations on such a monumental event. After I left Mona’s I headed to Scandals for my good friend Howard Merritt’s return to the turntables. Howard was one of the hottest DJs in New York back in the day and it was nice to see that he hasn’t lost it – as he was keeping the crowd entertained all afternoon/evening. While there it was nice to run into owners Ken and Lloyd. After Scandals I started driving home, and realized I was starving so I stopped by Bill’s for one of the best burgers in town. If you haven’t had a Bill’s burger yet, you really don’t know what you are missing. Once satiated it was time to head over to Boom for the 8th anniversary of Jackhammers T Dance. Needless to say the club was packed with leathermen, bears, twinks, circuit boys and everything in between to dance to the music of DJ Marc Scott. Congratulations to Tim, Craig, Chris, Russ and the entire Boom and Jackhammer staffs.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7th
Matthew McGee stars in the hilarious “Nunsense A-Men!” which runs through September 13th at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson, Fl, 34667. “Nunsense A-Men!” begins as the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 fellow sisters and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show. They take over the school auditorium, which is set up for the eighth grade production of “Grease.” Here we meet Reverend Mother, Sister Mary Regina (Matthew McGee), a former circus performer; Sister Mary Hubert (Carbonell Winner Reggie Whitehead), the Mistress of Novices; a streetwise nun from Brooklyn named Sister Robert Anne (Joey Panek), Sister Mary Leo (Michael Titone), a novice who is a wannabe ballerina; and Sister Mary Amnesia (Show Palace Musical Director Michael Ursua), the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. This hilarious all-star cast is the highlight of this exciting new production. Doors open two hours before each show for dinner and cocktails. On Sundays, the doors open at 1 pm and show starts at 3 pm Friday and Saturday night performances begin at 8 pm, and doors open for dinner and cocktails at 6 pm Matinees are available on some Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and doors open for dinner and cocktails at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $46, plus tax, for dinner and show. Show only is $34.95 plus tax. Call 727-863-7949 or 888-655-7469 to reserve tickets.
Saturday, August 8th
The 19th annual Poverello Bowl-a-thon takes place at Manor Lanes starting at 12 pm. For more info go to Poverello.org or HotspotsMagazine.com and see the story in last week’s magazine.
The Sidelines and Poverello Bowl-a-thon after party takes place starting at 6 pm with food, fun and drink specials!
Voodoo Lounge Saturdays presents a tribute to the king of pop, Michael Jackson, with a special performance by the world’s greatest Michael Jackson impersonator, direct from Las Vegas, Carlo Riley. The main room features DJ Bill Hallquist with DJ Nena in the Noche Latina Lounge and DJ Miik in the open format and hip-hop lounge. The night will also feature performances by Kitty Meow and Alyssa Kartiar.
The Depot presents a Luau kickoff party at 8 pm to help send the Blue Ice to the gay softball world series in Milwaukee. The night will feature a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and much more!
G-Bar in Tampa Bay presents “Boys of Cell Block G,” a themed event where they invite you to get handcuffed by Wwarden Arica Love for your chance to win major prizes. The night features DJ Greg Anderson in the main room and VJ Blake in the video lounge.
Art Expressions is pleased to present “HEAT.” An existential exhibition where artists are asked for their interpretation of HEAT: a temperature, a feeling, a state of mind, a color, a landscape, threatening or friendly, moist or dry. The exhibition also offers a space for discourses of social, political and cultural concern. “HEAT” will present works by the gallery’s core group of artists, while also introducing the work of other local and emerging artists. Please go meet, mix and mingle with the artists and their art at the opening reception tonight from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday 12:00-8 pm, closed Sundays and Mondays. The exhibit runs through August 28th.
Monday, August 10th
Bartenders’ Boxers & Briefs Auction, a benefit for Tuesday’s Angels, takes place at Bill’s Filling Station at 8 pm. See your favorite bartenders from around town strutting their stuff in their skivvies and selling them to the highest bidder! Every penny raised goes directly to help Tuesday’s Angels clients. This annual event brings the community together for lots of fun and some friendly competition to see who can raise the most money for a great cause. Auctioneers include Miss Kitty, Russell of Stable, Nikki Adams, Misty Eyez and special guest Toni Barone from the Sea Monster. If the bidding gets too high for you there is also a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction. Want to get involved? Contact Don Clark at Bill’s at 954-567-5978 or 954-296-0618 or at don@BillsFillingStation.com
Hot Stuff
Justin Reed Early’s childhood was marked with abuse, street life, alcoholism and drug use. From age 10, Justin was on and off the streets of Seattle, moving to San Francisco at age 19. Now a successful businessman and activist, Justin authors his memoir as a nod to those he loved, those he lost and those he has forgiven. He launches his book tour with private book readings and signings at various homeless youth shelters, young men’s groups and drug programs, going “home” to encourage others and inspire better lives. Renowned photographer Mary Ellen Mark captured his life on the streets in a Life Magazine photo essay. Justin can also been seen in those days in the now cult classic-status, Academy Award nominated documentary, Streetwise (1984). This true-life journal was directed by Ms. Mark’s husband, Martin Bell, and produced by Life writer Cheryl McCall. Now a public speaker and businessman, Justin was a founding board member of the popular youth agency BAY Positives in San Francisco. He served on several youth committees and remains a dedicated advocate for homeless youth and human equality. He recently served on the board of directors of the Washington D.C. based National Network for Youth, and that agency has endorsed his book. A portion of the proceeds from StreetChild will benefit life enhancing non-profit organizations, including many of those that helped Justin while on the streets. For more information, go to www.StreetChildMem-oir.com.
Statement Stationery: say it with style! Art of Possibility Studios’ elegant notepads features fine artwork by the award-winning blind painter Ketra Oberlander. Her acclaimed works of art have been reproduced on lovely notepad gift sets that will uplift and inspire the lucky recipient each and every day. Because proceeds from the sale of these notepads also support a handicapped artist striving to earn an independent living through her craft rather than charity, this fine quality stationary shows that good deeds are also good taste! At just $19.95 for a set of three (50 pages per), these notepads are perfect for those who want to adorn their lives – and the lives of others – with goods that truly help create a better world without breaking the bank. Notepad designs are available at www.AOPStudios.com.
This is Hot
First came the emancipation, then came energy and power, and now come Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, the new album by international superstar Mariah Carey, scheduled to arrive on August 25th. Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, the 12th studio album of Mariah’s career, is the eagerly anticipated follow-up to her RIAA platinum-selling album E=MC² (released April 15, 2008), and her worldwide 10 million selling The Emancipation Of Mimi (released April 12, 2005). Both were Soundscan #1 debut albums that made chart history for Mariah in the U.S. and numerous territories around the globe. The Emancipation Of Mimi generated three Grammy awards (including Best Contemporary R&B Album), two #1 singles, and countless more honors during its 18-month chart stay. The album debuted at #1 on first week sales of 404,000 copies, Mariah’s highest first week sales total (until E=MC²). Soundscan’s biggest-selling album of 2005, Mimi featured “We Belong Together” (Grammy winner for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song) and “Don’t Forget About Us,” Mariah’s 16th and 17th #1 career singles respectively. They tied one of the most enduring chart records in Billboard Hot 100 history, Elvis Presley’s 17 #1’s. Three years later, E=MC² debuted at #1 on first week sales of 463,000 copies, which now stands as the highest first week sales total of Mariah’s career. The album’s success brought total sales of Mariah’s albums, singles and videos to more than 160 million worldwide, distancing her even further from the pack as the top-selling female recording artist in history. E=MC² spun off four singles: Touch My Body,” “Bye Bye,” “I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time” and “I Stay In Love.” Of these, “Touch My Body” made history when it became Mariah’s 18th #1 Hot 100 hit, thus surpassing Elvis Presley. “Touch My Body”s two weeks at the top also marked Mariah’s 78th and 79th cumulative career weeks at #1, which tied Elvis’ long-standing all-time high of 79 weeks at #1, as calculated in Billboard.com. At the same time, Mariah is now positioned as the only active recording artist in the 50 years of the Hot 100 (which began in 1958) with the potential to surpass the Beatles’ all-time high of 20 #1 hits.
