Blair St. Clair Talks ‘Drag Race’ Season 10, Releases New Single

Episode 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10 started out with a mini challenge where Ru had the girls blindfolded and they had to identify items by sitting on them. The winner was Asia O’Hara who won a $2,000 hair care package at Art Lab Salon. During the Maxi Challenge, the nine remaining contestants had to work in groups of three and present their own “Drag Con” panel, which needed to include a panel discussion, a demonstration and a Q&A segment. On the runway the category was “Hats Incredible.” Eureka won her second challenge in a row and the bottom two were Vixen and Blair St. Clair, who sashayed away. 

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We caught up with Blair St. Clair to dish on her time on Drag Race:

Q: At what age did drag become an interest, and how did you pick your name?

Drag became an interest to me when I was around 18-19 and was cast in a musical as a drag queen in “La Cage aux Follies.” My name was actually from my mom. I told her that I liked the name Blair, and there’s a street downtown in Indianapolis named St. Clair St., and she came up with the idea to go by Blair St. Clair.

Q: How many times did you apply to be on RuPaul’s Drag Race? How did it feel when you found out you had been chosen?

I auditioned for RuPaul’s Drag Race twice. The first audition was a good experience for me to prepare myself for Season 10. I think that you should take every chance you get in life, and I’m really glad that I took this chance and was able to get on the show. When I found out that I was chosen I was ecstatic. I was so excited, and there were no nerves. I felt like a new chapter had opened up for me.

Q: Is there additional pressure now that RuPaul’s Drag Race has been on for nine seasons plus three seasons of All Stars?

I think there’s a lot of pressure today, because now there’s an expectation on what drag is and should be.

Q: Tell us about your Drag Race experience?

I had a really amazing time on Drag Race. I wish I had been on for a few moments more, but I’m really proud of what I did on the show while I was there.

Q: What’s your marital status? If single, what are you looking for in a man?

I’m currently dating someone, and I see marriage coming down the line with this person. The main quality that I look for is integrity. I look for someone I not only love, but value, appreciate and am thankful for. And I’m lucky because I found that.

Q: Who do you want to win and why?

You know, there are so many talented girls on the show, but I have to say that Miz Cracker would be my top pick if I had to choose just one. She’s a huge contender and one of my best friends. I just love her so much. I’m also really close with The Vixen and think that she also brings something special to the show.

Q: What’s does the future have in store for you?

I’m going to be releasing a new song and music video called “Now or Never.” It’s so personal to me, and I’m really proud of it. I’m excited to share it with the world. It’s about me looking through life in black and white haze and finally making that choice to finally look at things in color.

WATCH:

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/30/blair-st-clair-talks-drag-race-season-10-releases-new-single/

WATCH: The 4th Annual Diversity Honors – Red Carpet Highlights

Hotspots Live! takes you on the scene for The 4th Annual Diversity Honors at the Hard Rock Event Center presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/30/watch-the-4th-annual-diversity-honors-red-carpet-highlights/

What’s Hot Central Florida: May 2018

Friday, April 27

Timberly presents Bare Beef at Stonewall Orlando with hot dancers and DJs Jay Skinner and JB Burgos. This week you can also expect a live appearance by video star Owen Powers plus giveaways all night from Paul Morris’ Treasure Island Media! Bare Beef is a new event at Stonewall the last Friday of each month from 9pm to 2am. This party is for men, by men. Leather and fetish gear of all types is welcome. Wait, did we say welcome? Make that encouraged.

Sunday, April 29

Orlando Unicorns presents “One Mighty Night,” a steamy male revue at Southern Nights Orlando. Doors open at 7pm. Show’s at 8pm. Come watch these studs take it off! Admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. VIP couches available. This is an 18+ event! (Duh.)

Friday, May 4

Bill Bellamy sets up shop at the Tampa Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant from tonight through Sunday, May 6. Using his experiences growing up in Newark, Bellamy started doing stand-up while he was a student at Rutgers University and quickly discovered how much he enjoyed making people laugh. Bellamy began honing his skills at small comedy clubs around the country and was soon making waves in New York City clubs like The Improv and The Comic Strip as well as at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. He’s been doing comedy now for three decades. Must be 21+ to enter; except on Fridays at 10:30pm, which is 18+. Tickets start at $25.

 Saturday, May 5

Southern Nights Tampa’s Savage Saturdays presents Taco Bouta Party, a Cinco De Mayo fiesta featuring Scott Robert and DJ Ace Vedo. Midnight is showtime with your stars, Roxxxy Andrews and Jade Embers. This is an 18+ event. No cover before 10pm for 21+.

 Wednesday, May 9

James Taylor — and special guest Bonnie Raitt — are playing two Central Florida arenas this week: Amway Center tonight, and then the Amalie Arena on Saturday, May 12. Taylor and Raitt’s highly acclaimed tour, celebrating their decades-long friendship, played to sold-out crowds across the U.S. last summer. As a recording and touring artist, James Taylor has touched people with his warm baritone voice and distinctive style of guitar-playing for more than 40 years, while setting a standard to which countless young musicians have aspired. Over the course of his songwriting and performing career, Taylor has sold more than 100 million albums, earning gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards. Bonnie Raitt is more than just a best-selling artist, respected guitarist, expressive singer, and accomplished songwriter, she has become an institution in American music. The ten-time Grammy winner, who Rolling Stone named to both its “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” and “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” lists, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Friday, May 11

Dr. Phillips Center presents Patti LaBelle, the soulful songbird whose name is synonymous with grace, style, elegance, and class. Whether she’s belting out pop standards, classic rhythm-and-blues jams, or uplifting spiritual, Ms. Patti is sure to display the versatility she is known and revered for. Show starts at 8p.m. with tickets starting at $40.

Tim Meadows will be appearing at the Tampa Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant tonight and tomorrow, Saturday, May 12. One of the longest-running cast members in the 41-year history of Saturday Night Live, versatile comedian Tim Meadows crafted some of the series’ most memorable characters during his 10 years on the popular late-night show. Since leaving SNL, Meadows has appeared in numerous films and made countless TV guest appearances. 21+ to enter; except on Fridays at 10:30pm, which is 18+. Tickets are $20.

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts presents Nick Swardson at 8pm. Comedy Central staple and star of Netflix’s The Ridiculous Six and The Do-Over, Swardson delivers his highly popular, low-brow boy-amok shtick to worldwide audiences who just can’t get enough of this BMOC of the Adam Sandler school of comedy. Don’t miss him in this exclusive, uncensored night of outrageous stand-up. Tickets start at $35.

Saturday, May 12

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts presents Always & Forever: An Evening of Luther Vandross, starring Ruben Studdard at 8pm. Luther lives on in this soulful, imaginative tribute by American Idol champion Studdard, who was dubbed “the next Luther” during his Idol run. Studdard transports audiences back in time to when Vandross reigned as the king of R&B, delivering swooning testimonials such as “Endless Love,” “A House is Not a Home,” “Superstar” and “Power of Love.” Studdard’s show-stopping staging and uncanny Luthericiousness makes Always & Forever an unforgettable concert experience. Tickets start at $35.

Also at The Straz Center tonight: Darci Lynne and Friends Live at 7pm. From the moment they stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage, singing ventriloquist Darci Lynne and her puppet Petunia stole the hearts of millions with their jaw-dropping rendition of “Summertime.” Now the youngest person to ever win AGT, 13-year-old Darci Lynne brings her eclectic, endearing cast of characters to stages around the country. Catch this uplifting, dazzling young star on her first tour and meet the delightful friends who melt hearts, turn strangers into pals, and take utter joy in putting smiles on people’s faces. Tickets start at $30.

 Monday, May 14

Global superstar Justin Timberlake is making his highly anticipated return to the stage with The Man of The Woods Tour, which touches down twice in Central Florida this week: at the Amway Center tonight, and the Amalie Arena on Tuesday. In his latest tunes, Timberlake reflects on his recent journey into fatherhood and offers up personal insights into his layered life experiences.

Tuesday, May 15

Dr. Phillips Center presents August Greene at 8pm. The perfect marriage of jazz, hip hop and soul, August Greene is the newly formed supergroup featuring Grammy-, Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning MC Common; Houston-born, Grammy Award–winning pianist and composer Robert Glasper; and world-renowned percussionist and producer Karriem Riggins. The synthesis of each artist’s talents into one cohesive project and the culmination of years of mutual respect and friendship, August Greene is fluid in terms of sound and a meditative offering that speaks to those pushing through the dark for brighter days. Tickets start at $50.

Thursday, May 17

The Flamingo Resort presents their annual Bear Soup Mix, starting today and running through Sunday May 20. This weekend-long event features: Drag Queen Bingo, Underwear Night, the Bear Soup Mixer, Country Line Dancing, Bear and Leather tents, a Bear and Leather party, Bear in Drag, Bear Soup Pool Party, Bear Bingo, Mr. Bear Soup Contest, and much more. For more information: bearsouptampa.com.

Friday, May 18

Orlando Ballet presents “Fast Forward” at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. See the award-winning repertory’s favorites by Robert Hill as well as new works by Gonzalo Espinoza and Olivier Munoz. “Fast Forward” showcases Orlando Ballet’s professional second company and pre-professional trainees. Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra (FSYO) provides the accompaniment for this energetic production at the Bob Carr Theater. The show starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are just $15.

Saturday, May 19

Southern Nights Tampa presents G.I. Joe’s Bootycamp: Armed Forces, a military celebration featuring Scott Robert and DJ Ace Vedo. Be sure to stick around till midnight for showtime with Jade Embers, Roxxxy Andrews and guests. This is an 18+ event. No cover before 10pm for 21+.

Sunday, May 20

Latin music’s youth idol and box-office phenomenon, Maluma, who’s been selling out concerts throughout the world, brings his F.A.M.E. U.S.A. Tour to the Amway Center at 8pm.. At just 23 years of age, Maluma has taken the world by storm with his live shows: He’s sold more concert tickets in 2017 than any other Latin artist throughout Latin America, Europe and Brazil. The young phenom racked up seven 2017 Latin Grammy® nominations and is the first artist to garner three nominations in each of the the Latin Grammy top categories, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. His highly-anticipated new album, “F.A.M.E.,” drops this month. Tickets start at $81.

Saturday, May 26

Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with Eureka O’Hara (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10) at the Parliament House! General admission tix available at the door. VIP admission is $25, which includes a meet & greet/photo op. Expect shows by the Footlight Players at 10pm and 12am. DJ Brianna turns it out in the main room till 3am. Doors at 8pm. Seating starts at 9:30pm. 18+ welcome!

Wednesday, May 30

Superstar, icon, and one of the most successful artists in Latin American history, Luis Miguel, brings his ¡México Por Siempre! Tour to the Amway Center at 8:30pm. Tickets start at $77.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/26/whats-hot-central-florida-may-2018/

Deep Inside Hollywood: Adam Rippon Brings Charm & Sass to ‘DWTS’

Your Olympics Crush is Dancing with the Stars

No, we didn’t say which Olympics crush. That’s because the upcoming all-athletes season of Dancing with the Stars features several recent popular Olympic athletes, and one of them is America’s Queer Sweetheart, the witty and fierce figure skater Adam Rippon.

The other two, though not LGBT, are just as swoon-worthy, depending on your orientation: There’s softball power pitcher Jennifer Finch Daigle to entice the lesbians, and Chris Mazdzer, the stud-muffin luger whose scruffy appeal has been clocked by virtually all gay men with internet access.

They’ll be joining problematic faves like Tonya Harding and fave-faves like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In other words, the competition is poised to rival the best seasons of the beloved (and, come on, really corny) series in terms of sheer physical power. Finally, we know Adam won’t disappoint, given his patented brand of charm and sass, so that’s reason enough to watch. Catch DWTS on ABC.

Kate McKinnon Is Currently in Talks for a Film with No Name

“In talks” is what they call contract negotiations over salary, and while those are being hammered out, let’s all agree that whatever amount SNL superstar Kate McKinnon is being offered should, just on principle, be doubled. She’s that appealing, even in films that aren’t (and she’s had a few of those).

Good news, then, that the film she’s in talks to star in is from Love, Actually creator Richard Curtis and acclaimed director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting), so the chances of it being pretty good are, well, pretty good. The project has no title, but it does have Downton Abbey’s James (and EastEnders mainstay), Himesh Patel, as well as the most vague idea of a plot that involves music of the 1960s and/or 1970s, depending on whose rumors you believe. Doesn’t matter, you had us at Kate.

It Is a Bad Idea to Mess with Gay Kid and Fat Chick

TV comedy director Amy York Rubin (Grown-ish, Fresh Off The Boat) has signed on to direct the next film from comic actor Bo Burnham (his debut feature as a writer-director, the already-acclaimed Eighth Grade, hits theaters this summer). It’s called Gay Kid and Fat Chick, at least for now, and we don’t dislike that title at all. Not only is it instantly memorable, it takes dismissive language and uses it powerfully in a story of teenage outsiders who create costumed superhero identities in order to get revenge on bullies, kind of like a queer Kick-Ass.

At the moment this one is in development — at Paramount — so there’s no cast, but hear us out when we say that J.J. Totah (Champions) is the only choice to play “Gay Kid.” That young man is practically already a queer superhero in real life. Anyway, we hope the script doesn’t involve them having to learn lessons about the futility of revenge. If you’ve seen Heathers, you know there’s no satisfaction in that.

Follow Kimberly Reed’s Dark Money

Transgender director Kimberly Reed’s documentary Prodigal Sons was the kind of indie success story every filmmaker hopes for: critically acclaimed, crowd pleasing, and award winning. Then her profile rose when she co-produced the moving documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. And now her latest, Dark Money, hits arthouse theaters this summer before airing on PBS.

This time around, the subject matter is less queer specific and more urgently universal: the influence of untraceable corporate money and the way it influences not only American elections but also our democracy itself, thanks to the infamous Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United. It’s the kind of activist filmmaking that’s sure to depress audiences — but only in an effort to make them rise up. Here’s hoping it pushes the national conversation toward breaking the grip corporations have on American politics and life. (Cue group sing-along of “The Internationale.”)

Romeo San Vicente doesn’t hate Mondays, just capitalism.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/26/deep-inside-hollywood-adam-rippon-brings-charm-sass-to-dwts/

LaToya London Talks ‘Idol’ Experience, Diversity Honors Performance

LaToya London first caught our eye on Season Three of American Idol, where she was one of what viewers dubbed The Three Divas (in very good company, with Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia Barrino). But London will be the only diva Friday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for Diversity Honors, The Pride Center’s annual hot-ticket gala.

OK, maybe the only diva performing on stage.

Since Idol, where London’s rendition of Eric Carmen’s “All by Myself” earned a standing ovation from all three judges (including Donna Summer), her career has developed very nicely along two separate tracks. One is in the recording studio, of course. London released her debut album Love & Life in 2005 and continues to record as both a solo artist and a member of the hip-hop/Europop act Urban Punk.

But where London has really garnered acclaim is on the stage. She received rave reviews for her turn as Nettie, the spirited and infectious sister of Celie, in Broadway’s first national tour of The Color Purple. That musical has been especially kind to London, who won a 2012 Ovation Award as Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Shug Avery. Since then, she’s picked up Entertainer of the Year awards in 2013 from both the Bay Area Music Awards and the Oral Lee Brown Foundation.

Before her star turn at the Hard Rock, we took a few minutes to catch up with LaToya.

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Were you always a singer, even as a child?

I’ve been singing on stage since the age of 7 and recording in professional music studios since the age of 12.

What was your first paid professional gig?

Unfortunately, I can’t remember my first paid professional gig, but I’m sure I was like, “Oh yeah, I can get used to this!”

How did you end up auditioning for American Idol?

I learned through a friend that auditions were going to be held in L.A. the same weekend I was planning to move there to enroll in Musicians Institute in Hollywood. So, I drove five hours from Oakland to Los Angeles. My cousin and I camped out in sleeping bags on the ground at the Rose Bowl Theater for three days and two nights. I auditioned, got through, and on Monday, I enrolled in school. But eventually I had to drop out to compete on the show.

How was your Idol experience?

Great, scary and surreal — all at the same time! It’s hard to relax and take in the experience because you’re busy learning songs and choreography, interviewing, singing in front of the world, and living 24/7 with your fellow competitors — and praying you’re not going to be voted off that week! LOL.

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Are you still friendly with any of the other Season Three contestants?

Yes, some of us do keep in touch. And now social media has made that even easier.

How has your life been since Idol?

My life has been awesome since American Idol. I’m doing what I love for a living because of that platform. I’ve traveled to many places, both within the U.S. and abroad, performing, having new experiences, and meeting new people.

Are you excited to be performing at the annual Diversity Honors gala for the Pride Center?

Yes, I’m so excited to be performing at this event. We’re all going to have a great time honoring accomplished people, all in the name of love and diversity. I’m really looking forward to it.

What does the future hold for you?

I can’t say exactly what the future holds for me. But I do know I will continue to bless the world with the gifts I have been blessed with, and through this I can say: Whatever the future holds, it will be bright!

For more on Latoya London, go to latoyalondon.com.

For Diversity Honors tix (from $200): diversityhonors.com.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/26/latoya-london-talks-american-idol-diversity-honors-performance/

Sandra Bernhard Still Has Her Blunt AF Opinions

Before unloading her candid thoughts on TV co-star Roseanne Barr’s alt-right politics and fellow comic Kathy Griffin’s viral Trump-beheading pic (“It just wasn’t funny”), Sandra Bernhard proclaims herself, quite aptly, to be “no-nonsense.” That has been, after all, her way since the ’70s, when lambasting Hollywood’s who’s-who first became a calling card for the fearless comedian, actress, and musician.

Then, from 1991 to 1997, she famously put a face to bisexuality not just as herself — Bernhard was out from the get-go — but also as Nancy Bartlett on ABC’s hit sitcom Roseanne. Introduced in Season Four as the estranged lesbian wife of Arnie Thomas (Tom Arnold), Nancy, who later came out as bisexual, gets chummy with Roseanne Conner and Roseanne’s younger sister, Jackie Harris (Laurie Metcalf).

Bernhard, 62, will revisit her groundbreaking character during the show’s revival. As for the controversy regarding Roseanne and her TV alter ego’s support for President Trump? “Roseanne is gonna be another round of really fun and really smart television,” Bernhard tells me. “Roseanne has never turned on the gay community. Roseanne likes to stir the pot. She always has. So, I guess that’s the way she’s doing it now, and I don’t agree with any of the Trump shit, but I think she’ll transcend that, and the show will still be amazing.”

What can we expect politically from the Roseanne reboot? 

I think they’re gonna do a deep dive into where the working class is at right now. I mean, maybe not as deep as you would need, considering that half of the working class who don’t have their industrial-ass jobs anymore are strung out on opioids. That’s not very much fun; I don’t think they’ll go there. [Laughs.] But I think we’re in a real crossroads in this country, and Roseanne has always been good at revealing that — and at the same time making it funny and moving and insightful. I’m only in the last episode, so I don’t know exactly how they’re approaching it. I know there will be very personal stories like there always were, as opposed to globalizing it. I think that’s what makes the show special.

I imagine you’ve been hearing about the backlash Roseanne’s politics have ignited since the reboot was announced. 

I was hearing about that way before they announced the reboot, and I just dropped out of the conversation because I don’t want to get into that on Twitter. You can’t do that; it goes nowhere. And everybody who makes political decisions also has to live with the fallout. That goes for famous, successful people and for people on the street. If you voted for Trump and you thought it was gonna be a lark and funny, the results are right there in front of you every day.

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My hope is that it might bridge some severe societal gaps, perhaps open some minds, maybe even my own. But it’s been very difficult for people who didn’t vote for Trump to even begin to understand or empathize with someone who supported him.

I don’t have any empathy for people who voted for him. Honestly, I really don’t. It’s obvious that he didn’t know anything about the working-class population; he just exploited it, and [his supporters] were naive and unwilling to read or to know what was really going on. He played them — and to a certain extent, the few people who are still in his corner. He still plays them. So it’s just kind of a bummer.

A lot of people have strong opinions about the liberal-minded cast returning to a show led by a Trump supporter. 

I’m glad they do. She should hear it. And it’s better for her to hear it from the people that have supported her and watched her show than it is from me. I mean, we’re friends, we’re friendly, and I’ll continue to do the show. But it gets underneath your skin when 20 million people who used to watch your show are like, “What the f*ck?”

She seems to know how people feel about her politics. At the Golden Globes, presenting with co-star John Goodman, she said, “I’m kind of known for creating some great drama.”

Of course she knows.

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Well, I’m excited to have Nancy Bartlett back. You told me in 2013 that you didn’t think Nancy would have a place on the show if it ever returned. 

It’s not that she didn’t have a place. But I didn’t think they’d be able to fit her story back in because of all the new characters, and the family, and reestablishing what’s been going on politically. So, when they added the extra episode and wrote me in, I was thrilled.

Nancy was one of the earliest portrayals of bisexuality on TV. What surprised you most about how her sexuality was treated on the show in the ’90s? 

I mean, she was fun, and it was a fun concept that she ran from being married to Tom Arnold into the relationship with Morgan Fairchild. It was sort of a lark at first, and of course it evolved. They wouldn’t let me kiss Morgan Fairchild under the mistletoe — we had to cut the kiss — so that’s how far we’ve come in terms of what you see sexually on TV.

But yeah, she was a funny, kooky, free-spirited character who got to do things and say things that were part of the evolution of sexuality on TV. It wasn’t intentional — it wasn’t like we were trying to do something groundbreaking. But that is how Roseanne is and was. She just did things that felt organic and authentic. She ended up having the actual kiss with Merle Hemingway [at a gay bar that Nancy took her to]. But nonetheless, Nancy’s fun, and if they picked up the show again, they’ll expand her story.

We’ll get more Nancy if there’s another season?

Oh yeah, absolutely. For sure, yeah.

Roseanne will have a genderfluid grandson, Mark, played by newcomer Ames McNamara, on the show as well.

Yes.

What are your thoughts on the show continuing to be inclusive?

I just think there has to be a little bit of everything in all the shows now, and I don’t know. I’ve gotta see the show before I can comment. He’s in my episode, but to the extent of what they’re trying to do with that character, we’ll have to see.

Speaking more generally, how do you feel about representation as far as LGBTQ people go on TV?

It’s certainly gotten a helluva lot better than when Nancy first came on the scene. And I think with each year that goes by, especially with the advent of Hulu and Netflix and Amazon, there’s been major breakthroughs.

Are you currently enjoying any shows with LGBTQ characters?

I watch 9-1-1 just because I think it’s a ridiculous show. Everywhere you turn there’s new, interesting gay characters. But I don’t go to a show for that. For me, my life has never been informed by that. I’ve always been comfortable with who I am sexually. I’ve been sexually fluid, I’ve broken all the ground rules since I was 17 years old. So, I’ve never had any need for somebody to be my role model. I’ve been my own role model. So, it’s a non-issue. But I think for the public at large it’s been a great time and a revolutionary time for people to see all kinds of characters — racially, sexually, women, men — come to life in a new way.

Have you heard of the very gay-centric Schitt’s Creek?

Honey, I was one of the first people to be hip to it!

Oh, snap.

[Laughs.] I know, yes. But yeah, of course. Love it. Dan Levy is terrific — super funny and smart.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’ve got three scripted projects I’m trying to get off the ground right now, so that’s a lot of my focus, and it’s a lot of hard work. So, I’m chipping away at that and, of course, continuing to go up for roles as an actress and do my live performing.

What kind of scripts are you working on? 

They’re all comedic. One is based on my early years in L.A., when I started off as a manicurist. One is a project with [performance artist] Justin Vivian Bond. We wrote a musical about six years ago called Arts & Crafts, and we’re trying to make it into a TV series.

I remember you telling me you’d never stoop so low to do a reality show. Still out of the question?

Yeah, listen, if I haven’t done it by now, I’m certainly not gonna do it at this late date.

How do you feel about the way comedy has addressed the Trump era?

Everybody’s speaking about it and being funny and creative about it. And, obviously, people like Bill Maher and those types do it in a more political way. I think it’s been really interesting.

Has your recent comedy reflected current politics?

Sort of, kind of through the back door. I don’t hit people over the head talking about that stuff because so many people are good at doing it verbatim, so I try to keep it more global than just obvious.

Did you think Kathy Griffin went too far with the picture of her holding Trump’s decapitated head?

It’s not about going too far — it just wasn’t funny. And she’s not political. Why is she suddenly jumping on the bandwagon? That’s not what she does. And it wasn’t smart enough or interesting enough. That was the biggest crime.

But Kathy Griffin has been politically engaged and an activist for the gay community.

She’s an activist? I don’t know. I don’t think she’s an activist, frankly. I mean, that’s — she certainly takes advantage of the gay population in her own way, but I don’t think she’s done anything earth shattering for… I mean, I don’t agree.

Who would you consider an entertainer and an activist?

I mean, I’m an activist for being a human being. There’s bigger fish to fry, and my work is inherently political, and it’s been inherently LGBTQ-informed because it’s who I am; it’s what I’ve done from the beginning. I don’t call my audience “my gays.” My audience is my audience, and everybody in it forms an alliance every night. You perform for the entire crowd — it’s not about singling anyone out. And if your work is very, very daring and interesting, then smart people come to it, whether they’re gay, straight, black, white, men, women. I mean, you gotta be able to get underneath what’s really going on culturally, and then you’re always gonna have a smart audience sitting in front of you.

Who else in the comedy world can really dig into the cultural zeitgeist?

I don’t have a litany of people I’m sitting here thinking about. I’m sorry. It’s, like, too hard to do that. Right now the people who are impressing me the most are all these kids from the school in Florida. They’re activists. Went through a terrible trauma, and they’ve been able to transform it into total activation, and that to me is really impressive and exciting. To talk about entertainers and people — it’s easy for all of us to do all that stuff because we’re not under duress. But when you’ve been practically severely injured or murdered [and you speak out about it], yeah, that’s something to really applaud and stand by.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/26/sandra-bernhard-still-has-her-blunt-af-opinions/

Hot Tag Team Action: WWE’s Finn Bálor Hooks up with GLAAD

Who Needs More Enemies? 5 Reasons You Should Stay Friends with Your Ex(es)

I have had some relationships, y’all. None of them went super great (as you might have guessed since we’re no longer together). But I’ve managed to make friends out of all but one of those boys — four out of five ain’t bad — and I take a certain amount of pride in that. Staying pals with your ex(es) isn’t necessary — sometimes, if it’s toxic, you need to make a clean and final break — but there are benefits to ending things amicably. Here are five of the biggest. 

1. It’s easier to rekindle the flame. 

Sometimes we break up because we’re not interested in being with our partners anymore, but other times we “break up” because we need some time and space to figure out what’s best for us individually as well as for the relationship. I recently separated from my boyfriend of two years; our cohabitation situation wasn’t heading in a positive direction, so I asked him to leave. But I only wanted him to vacate my house, not my life. After a few weeks of arguing, a bit of brutal honesty, and a whole lot of heartache, we were able to come back to why we fell in love with each other in the first place. We’re not moving in together again anytime soon, but the relationship is on the mend because we put in the work to salvage it. We’re both hopeful that we’ll be a stronger couple in the future since we’ve worked through these issues — and because of our dedication to being decent human beings to one another throughout the turbulence. 

2. The kids, if you have them, will appreciate it. 

I don’t have kids myself — though I do share custody of my dog with my ex-husband (never an issue because we’ve remained friendly) — but many gay couples these days are parents, and it’s easy to use the kids as chips in their breakup games if they’re trying to hurt one another.

“I’ve watched children be used as pawns between parents who hated each other, and they weren’t willing to try and reach a compromise and realize that at one time this was a person they cared about, loved, planned a future with,” says Patricia Bubash, a licensed professional counselor and author of the book Successful Second Marriages. “Revisiting the reasons, the qualities that initially attracted you to your ex, is a good way of seeing them as a person versus just an ex. Keeping animosity and negative feelings toward an ex only hurts the person hanging onto those feelings. It creates inner turmoil, emotional distress — and for what? The other person either ignores it, goes on their way, or confronts it in the same angry way, leading to embattled, embittered adults.”

She continues, “Children, especially young children, often feel they are in some way to blame for their parents’ breakup. The few parents I’ve worked with who choose to remain friends — and even attend weddings, showers, and social events with the ex’s new love — have a better relationship with their children. It’s win-win for everyone.” 

3. It’s a sign that you’re a great catch. 

One could argue that if you’re not friendly with any of your exes, it might be you who’s an asshole — at least according to Amica Graber, resident relationship expert for TruthFinder, a website that specializes in providing background checking resources for online daters.

“Typically, we don’t stay on friendly terms with exes who were horrible people or treated us like garbage, and it’s a huge red flag in the dating world when all your exes hate you,” she explains. “Being on friendly terms with an ex usually means you didn’t act like a complete jerk throughout your relationship.”

Relationship expert David Bennett, co-founder of men’s lifestyle blog The Popular Man, doubles down on that sentiment.

“Keeping a good relationship with your ex shows maturity and perspective,” he says. “I would consider someone who got along well with their ex — but [was] not still secretly attracted to them! — a keeper. It shows they have the qualities necessary to be stable in a relationship.” 

4. They can provide honest feedback on your current relationship problems. 

Every relationship will hit a few snags along the way, and who better to help you work through them than an ex who knows who you are and how you approach and react to personal conflict? When my current boyfriend and I were having serious trouble, my ex-husband called to make sure I was OK, and we discussed the degradation of the relationship at length. It was helpful for me because he’s one of a few who know what it’s like to be in a relationship with me and, therefore, able to provide sometimes hard-to-swallow advice. And that’s what I needed. I didn’t want someone blowing smoke up my ass just to make me feel better. Rather, I needed a swift kick in it to wake up and accept my part in the relationship’s failure so I could start to effectively pick up the pieces and patch up the cracks. 

5. You don’t have to break up with mutual friends and favorite places. 

For the most part, my partners and I have largely kept separate friends, but there are friends that we’ve met as a couple and who have an equal investment in each of us. If the relationship is so sour that you two can’t be in the same room together anymore, somebody will have to sacrifice those relationships too, which only adds insult to injury considering that your romantic relationship is already kaput.

“The end of a long-term relationship usually means a custody battle, even if you don’t have any kids,” Graber says. “Turning an ex into a friend means that you can still share those mutual friends, and even go to the same sushi joint on a Friday night without all hell breaking loose.”

That’s probably not the best course of action while the wounds are still fresh, of course. But over time, like when you’ve both moved on with new partners, you can start to forge a friendship together that perhaps has hints of your old life.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/26/who-needs-more-enemies-5-reasons-you-should-stay-friends-with-your-exes/

Q&A: Mark Your Calendars For GayDays 2019

The very first GayDays at Walt Disney World was really just a GayDay: On the first Saturday in June 1991, hordes of LGBT folks and friends — proudly decked out in red t-shirts for visibility — descended on The Magic Kingdom for a day of fun and celebration.

This spring’s event will be the 28th GayDays! And everybody knows the now nearly week long extravaganza touches down in Orlando every year at the same time, the week of the first Saturday in June. But for the last few weeks, we’d been hearing rumors that both the date and host hotel for GayDays 2019 might be changing, so we went straight to Chris Manley, who owns and produces GayDays with his partner Tommy, to get the skinny. 

How did you get the idea to start GayDays?

Actually, it was a grassroots effort 28 years ago by the community, and it took off the first year in the parks. It slowly grew every year. Tommy, my partner, bought the domain name, and we decided to start a full weekend.

From the idea, how long did it take for you to produce the first year?

That first year we did a host hotel and parties.

How long did it take for the weekend to become successful?

It took a few years for the GayDays weekend to really become what it is. In my opinion, it grew so big for several reasons: our dedication to delivering a quality product, the fact that Orlando was already a popular destination, and, believe it or not, other promoters popping up to host their own events also helped — that brought more people, which only made GayDays weekend even bigger.

RELATED: Gay Days 2017 Photos

What’s the most successful part of GayDays?

The support that we give to nonprofits. Most attendees aren’t aware of us giving back, but I am definitely most proud of that because, in addition to a fun weekend, we are helping those in need. Another thing I’m proud of is the increased exposure we’ve given Orlando as a fantastic LGBTQ vacation destination. 

How did you come to the Doubletree Hotel at Universal, and how long have you been there?

We were originally at the Summerville Suites. That was very small, so we moved to the Palace and then the Hotel Royal Plaza, where we were for nine years. In 2004 Hurricane Charley damaged the Royal Plaza, and it was closed for renovations, so we went to the DoubleTree in 2005, and sold it out in 3 months. It’s centrally located for all of Orlando’s attractions. After that, the management at DoubleTree got greedy, so we went back to the Royal Plaza. A couple years later, they went bankrupt, and DoubleTree wanted us back. And the rest is history.

I hear you’re switching hotels next year. Why the change?

Our weekend was booked right out from under us by the DoubleTree, so we had to move. We looked around the city, and we settled on the Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive, which we believe our guests will love. It’s in the heart of Orlando’s tourist area. In addition to the restaurant in the hotel, there are five or six other restaurants on the same block. Also, there’s free parking, and 2/3 of the rooms have private balconies or, on the first floor, patios. 

I hear the dates are also changing. Why?

In 2019 we are moving to August 13–18. The traditional week for GayDays was originally one of the weakest tourism weekends of the year for Orlando, so we could always get our guests good deals from the hotels. Today, that first week in June is one of the city’s busiest, and it’s hard to find a deal. Also, over the years we’ve gotten lots of feedback from educators and students who couldn’t come that first weekend of June. So, we thought the middle of summer would be better. The date change will open it up to more people. The later date will also allow us to market to more Floridians at St. Pete Pride and the Stonewall Street Festival — and to Californians, too, at both L.A. and San Diego Prides.

So, you believe the schedule and hotel changes will make GayDays better?

We try and improve the events and increase customer satisfaction every year. I think the hotel’s location — with all the shops, restaurants and shows so close — will really take the weekend to the next level. There are so many fun things to do, just steps away.   

What does the future hold for GayDays?

Hopefully, 28 more years! We’ll be opening reservations for GayDays 2019 on the Saturday of this June’s event. Beyond that, we are looking at a second city!

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/26/qa-mark-your-calendars-for-gaydays-2019/

Diva in Disguise: Florida Grand Opera’s ‘Florencia en el Amazonas’

A word of warning to any opera queens who might be reading: Keep your voices down when you’re dishing a performer, because you never know who might be listening.

And don’t think that just because you’re far off the beaten path it’s safe to spill!

In Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas, one of the most celebrated new operas of the past 30 years, legendary soprano Florencia Grimaldi sets off down the Amazon by boat from Colombia to Brazil, where she’s to perform at the grand reopening of an opera house in Manaus. The steamboat she’s on is, of course, filled with opera lovers en route to the concert, none of whom realize the beloved diva is in their midst — not even Rosalba, a young journalist working on a biography of Grimaldi, or Paula and Alvaro, a middle-aged couple hoping the diva’s Manaus performance will rekindle the spark of their marriage (no pressure!).

WATCH:

Deeply unhappy with her own life, Florencia, too, is on a voyage of self-discovery — and pining for a past love, Cristóbal, a butterfly hunter who’s gone missing in the jungle while searching for the elusive Emerald Muse.

Did I mention that our steamship is named El Dorado?

It seems everyone on this river cruise is desperately seeking something, even if it’s not the mythical South American city of gold. Will they find what they’re looking for? Or is it, like the diva they’re on a pilgrimage to see, already right there beside them?

Catán was inspired by the writings of Gabriel García Márquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude), so it’s no surprise that Amazonas is seasoned with more than a dash of magical realism. The result is a heady brew — of river spirits, tempestuous card games, an actual tempest, and lovers called back from the brink of death — that pushes the operatic form to new limits of imagination.

Florida Grand Opera’s production, which bows this week at the Arsht Center in Miami, has in Ana María Martínez — a Grammy winner who’s become quite a staple at The Met in New York City — a most promising Florencia. If anybody can make a ride on a slow boat to Manaus entrancing, she can. Throw in a lost Lepidopterist and a river spirit or two, and I am so on board.

Florencia en el Amazonas runs for five performances April 28 to May 5 in the Ziff Ballet Opera House at Adrienne Arsht Center (1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami). For tix ($16–$249) and info: fgo.org.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/26/diva-in-disguise-florida-grand-operas-florencia-en-el-amazonas/

WATCH: This Week’s All-New Hotspots Live!

This week’s episode of Hotspots Live! with host Shawn Palacious features comedians Jeff Dunham, Kevin Nealon and Robert Klein, Taste of Oakland Park, Static & Ben El, ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ ‘DWTS: Athletes Edition,’ and the Top 3 of the Week!

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/25/watch-this-weeks-all-new-hotspots-live-2/

What’s Hot South Florida: Apr. 26 – May. 2

Thursday, April 26

Broward House presents their annual Dine Out For Life, where if you dine at participating restaurants, a percentage of your check will be donated back to Broward House. The legacy restaurants that are (participating 6 years) are: Rosies, The Over Easy Café and Mojo Restaurant and Lounge. The restaurants that are giving 50% back are: Georgie’s Alibi/Monkey Bar, Wilton Creamery, Mini Pita and Maria’s Cantina. For all other restaurants visit their website at: Broward House.org. The Official after Party host is Hunters, who will be donating 100% classic cocktail proceeds. Be sure to stop by after you dine out for a great experience at Hunters Fort Lauderdale!

Friday April 27

Diversity Honors, presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, has announced featured special guest artists La Toya London and DJ Kidd Madonny as part of the prominent gala to benefit Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park at 7 p.m. at the Hard Rock Event Center. The globally renowned celebration serves as a kick-off to Harvey Milk Day events around the world and spotlights those who are transforming lives by living authentically and advancing inclusiveness. This year’s Diversity Honors gala, emceed by WSVN’s Lynn Martinez, will celebrate international, regional and local leaders who have made a significant impact on improving the quality of life for the LGBTQ community. Dolores Huerta, will receive the Harvey Milk Foundation Honors Medal. Fort Lauderdale Mayor and LGBTQ Advocate Dean Trantalis will be the recipient of the first-ever Pride Center at Equality Park “Alan Schubert Award of Excellence.” Craig Stevens, WSVN-TV anchor, David Richardson, Florida State Representative serving District 113 and current primary candidate for Congress in Florida’s 27th District and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Gay-Straight Alliance will also be recognized for their effort in promoting equality and inclusiveness. Tickets are $200 per person, plus a service fee, for the black-tie optional event. To reserve tickets or for more information, please visit DiversityHonors.com.

The Pub presents Thirsty Burlington and her incredible Cher impersonation show ay 9:30p.m. If you cannot attend tonight, you can catch Thirsty for one more show on Sunday at 9:30p.m.

Taste of Oakland Park takes place from 6-9p.m.at Jaco Pastorius Park (4000 N. Dixie Highway). Admission tickets are $15 per person and include food and beverage samples from all participating vendors. FREE for children under 12. For more information, please visit: oaklandparkfl.gov.

Saturday, April 28

My favorite male ventriloquist, Jeff Dunham, returns to the BB&T Center on at 5 p.m.. Jeff has some of the most iconic puppet characters ever (Achemd, Walter, Bubba J, Peanut, Jose Jalapeno, and many more) that we can’t help to laugh with and about. Tickets start at $48.50.

The Manor Complex presents, a theme party entitled “Chains Of Love,” starring DJ Joe Gauthreaux in the ballroom. Noche Latina Saturdays, inside the Ivy Dance Room and Patio, presents special guests former Miss Florida, and former Miss Continental, Danielle Hunter and current reigning Miss Noche Latina, Estephania St Lords along with resident DJ Larry Larr and sexy Latin go-go papi’s. Saturdays at the Manor feature NO COVER before midnight (FL res) and only $7 after for members and $10 for non-members (18-20 – $12 all night).

Tuesday, May 1

If you have become a huge fan of the Dynamic Duo, or haven’t had the chance to see them the last two Tuesday, this is your last chance before they leave town., Catch Gerianne and Eric live at 8p.m.

Something Rotten comes to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts from today through May 6. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first MUSICAL! But amidst the scandalous excitement of Opening Night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self … and all that jazz. Tickets start at $28.

Wednesday, May 2

The Miami Backgammon Group has moved to Fritz and Franz Bierhaus (60 Merrick Way, Coral Gables). Play live games and tournaments with a friendly bunch of South Florida backgammon fans. Players of all levels welcome every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Tournaments start at 7p.m. No costs or membership dues, but tournaments are subject to $10 entry fee. For more information, go to: MiamiBackgammon.com. 

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts presents An Evening with James Comey. In his book, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership, the former FBI director shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader. Each $45 ticket includes a copy of his book.

This is HOT

It’s got a groove, it’s got a meaning…and it’s still a cultural phenomenon 40 years after its original release.  The iconic celebration of high school life in the 1950s, Grease is the way you’ll be feeling with a new 40^th Anniversary Edition on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital out now from Paramount Home Media Distribution.

Featuring an explosion of song and dance, as well as star-making performances from John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Grease made an indelible impact on popular culture.  40 years later, the film remains an enduring favorite as legions of new fans discover the memorable moments, sensational soundtrack and classic love story.  Boasting unforgettable songs including “Greased Lightnin,” “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Summer Nights,” “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” “Beauty School Drop Out” and, of course, “Grease,” the film is a timeless feel-good celebration.

WATCH:

Paramount worked with director Randal Kleiser to restore Grease to its original vibrancy with the highest quality sound, picture resolution and color.  The original negative was scanned and received extensive clean up and color correction using previously unavailable digital restoration tools such as high dynamic range technology.  In addition, the audio was enhanced from a six-track mix created for an original 70mm release, giving the music more clarity.  The resulting picture and sound create an exceptional home viewing experience.

The Grease 40^th Anniversary Edition 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Combo Packs include the fully restored version of the film plus an all-new, in-depth exploration of the little-known origins of what would become a Broadway play and then a feature film and worldwide phenomenon.  “Grease: A Chicago Story” features new interviews with writer Jim Jacobs and original cast members of the Chicago show.  In addition, the discs include the original song the title sequence was animated to and an alternate ending salvaged from the original black & white 16mm work print discovered by director Randal Kleiser.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/25/whats-hot-south-florida-apr-26-may-2/

Five Common-Sense Steps to Better Nutrition

Often the most daunting part of getting and staying in shape is managing your diet. Time and time again, clients ask me what they should eat — and when to eat it! — and puzzle over how they can eat to stay lean and still have energy for an active lifestyle.

There’s good news! Devising a sound nutritional plan is not so difficult if you keep a few basic principles in mind. Here are my five rules of performance nutrition. These apply to everyone, whether you’re young or old, sedentary or active, in or out of shape.

1. Eat More Often, But Eat Less. Always eat at least four or five times a day. Instead of two or three monster meals late in the day, eat smaller meals or snacks every two or three hours. It’ll stabilize your blood-sugar and insulin levels, and you’ll have more energy all day long. Your muscles will get a steady supply of protein to support growth, and instead of being stored, body fat will be mobilized as an energy source.

2. Measure Calories 1-2-3. As you plan daily meals, strive for a caloric ratio of one part fats, two parts protein, and three parts carbohydrates. Fats are not the enemy! Your body needs them for insulation and for producing critical hormones. Just make sure to favor unsaturated fats, such as canola and olive oil, and keep your consumption of saturated fats (animal fats) low. Carbs are your friends! You need these for energy. And high-quality protein from poultry and fish supports muscle growth and recovery.

3. Use Carbs for Fuel. Before you sit down to eat, ask yourself, “What am I going to be doing for the next three hours?” If you’re going to be taking a nap or sitting in front of the computer, eat fewer carbs (so they will not be stored as fat). If you’re planning to exercise, eat more carbohydrates to fuel your body for the work ahead.

4. Eat for the Day’s Activity Level. To lose fat, you must take in fewer calories than you would need to stay at that same weight. To gain lean muscle, you need to take in more calories than you’d need to maintain your current weight. So how do you lose fat and gain muscle at the same time? Clearly, you need to alternate periods of positive calorie balance with periods of negative calorie balance. On sedentary days, cut back on your calories, especially carbs. Drink plenty of water, and stick with higher protein meals and snacks. On workout days, remember to eat to support your activities: Try to eat carbs early in the day and protein after workouts.

5. Food Is Not Enough. It’s impossible to get all the nutrients you need to remain healthy and active from food alone — especially when you’re on a weight-loss program or heavy training regime. That is where supplements like vitamins and protein powders can help. But before trying any new products, it’s always a good idea to do some online research and consult your doctor.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/24/five-common-sense-steps-to-better-nutrition/

MassResistance Gets Banned From This Year’s CPAC

I’m writing this column on my birthday. My present? John Bolton taking office as Trump’s National Security Advisor. Bolton, who was ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, really wants to go to war with North Korea and Iran. Like, bad. And now we’ve got him whispering into the ear of our dangerously impulsive president. Which should make all of us fear that we won’t make it to our next birthday.

And yet, in the face of potential annihilation, there are still people who think that men kissing men is much worse than men killing men. (Spoiler alert: It isn’t.)

Such are the concerns of MassResistance.

No, MassResistance isn’t when you pretend you’re sleeping and cannot hear your mom hollering that it’s time to go to church (something I spent much of my formative years doing, which must be why I’m gay). Rather, MassResistance is a group battling the so-called homosexual agenda. Because priorities.

It’s all the same rhetoric, and many of the same faces, we’ve been subjected to for decades. In fact, MassResistance just welcomed notorious homophobe Peter LaBarbera to its staff. LaBarbera is president of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, an organization that does everything but tell the truth about LGBTQ people.

“It goes without saying that Pete is despised and vilified by the LGBT movement,” crowed MassResistance President Brian Camenker. Which is true! Here I am, vilifying him now: Peter LaBarbera is a villain.

MassResistance prides itself — not in the gay way — on being different from other anti-LGBTQ groups. For one thing, they’re based in Massachusetts, a den of sin and hellfire ever since 2004, when it became the first state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage. As you might imagine, in Massachusetts there are no signs on restroom doors, and you have to get gay-married to own property or vote. Only straight people pay taxes.

MassResistance brags on its webpage that the organization’s been described as a “hardcore pro-family group.” They are very clear that they aren’t like those mainstream pro-family groups: “Too many pro-family groups are more interested in being viewed as ‘reasonable’ and ‘not extreme.’”.

MassResistance is so extreme that it managed to get banned from this year’s Conservative Political Action Convention (CPAC) — even though CPAC is a notorious den of hateful filth — after 2015 remarks Camenker made about LGBTQ people came to light. He said it was totally fine to be “insulting and degrading” toward LGBTQ people because this was a “war” not a “church service.”

So be on the lookout for MassResistance creeps as they pop up in places like public libraries in Texas to fight God’s war against LGBTQ book displays.

And Jesus wept (after the earth was destroyed by nukes because Trump wanted to distract from his incompetence and corruption).

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/24/massresistance-gets-banned-from-this-years-cpac/

AIDS Walk Miami 2018

The 2018 AIDS Walk Miami benefiting Care Resource celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a march along many streets on Miami Beach. View the full gallery: AIDS Walk Miami 2018

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/24/aids-walk-miami-2018/

OUTshine Film Festival’s Opening Night After Party

The 2018 OUTshine Film Festival hosted their 20th Anniversary Opening Night After Party at the Scottish Rite complex in Miami, which featured wedding theme in honor of “My Big Gay Italian Wedding.” View the full gallery: OUTshine Film Festival’s Opening Night Party Photos

RELATED: OUTShine Film Festival Opening Night Screening

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/24/outshine-film-festivals-opening-night-party/

Stonewall Gay Skate Nights – April 2018

Stonewall Street Festival hosted Gay Skate Nights at Xtreme Action Park in Oakland Park. Sponsored by Hunters and Hotspots Media Group, Gay Skate Nights helps raise money for the Stonewall Street Festival in Wilton Manors. View the full gallery: Stonewall Gay Skate Nights – April 2018 Photos

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/19/stonewall-gay-skate-nights-april-2018/

GFLGLCC’s April Mixer at J.Mark’s Restaurant

The GFLGLCC (Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) helps promote business and economic opportunities for the LGBT community. They recently hosted their monthly April Mixer at J. Mark’s Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. View the full gallery: GFLGLCC’s April Mixer at J.Mark’s Restaurant 

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/20/gflglccs-april-mixer-at-j-marks-restaurant/

Q&A: The Pub Welcomes The Dynamic Duo

Are you up for a little midweek DP action? You are? Well, then get your butt over to The Pub in Wilton Manors this Tuesday (or next) and prepare to be deeply touched by the hot-and-heavy tag teamwork of dueling pianists Eric Swanson and Gerianne Ditto-Harvey, better known as The Dynamic Duo. Eric and Gerianne are touring North America, on a mission to expand people’s musical horizons. We sat down with Eric to find out what to expect from the Duo’s totally interactive new show — audience participation is strongly encouraged! 

Were you always a performer, even as a child?

Both Gerianne and I grew up making music with our parents. Gerianne’s mom and dad were in barbershop quartets and were both instrumentalists: piano, guitar, and trumpet. Gerianne was performing in choir and band very early on. My mom was a singer in the then-famous group Up with People, and my dad was a pianist. He was self-taught, and he taught me how to navigate a piano!

My mom was a single mom who thought that, since I was a boy, I should do “boy things.” She put me in baseball in 6th grade. After a few games, I got in the car one day, and my mom asks, “You don’t really want to play sports do you, honey?” I told her: “Not really. Why do you ask?” Her reply was priceless: “Because I saw you out in left field singing something. I walked down the fence line and heard you singing Barbara Streisand’s ‘People.’” The next day she enrolled me in voice lessons.  

What was your first professional gig?

Gerianne and I both had professional gigs, separately, during and after our college years: Gerianne used to sing with Michigan Opera Theatre, and I toured professionally in shows. Early in our thirties, we wanted to focus on building a home base, so we secured our first professional gig together back in 2007. Our parents were very supportive of our careers. Now, our spouses push us even further, allowing us to perform, travel, and be crazy creatives.

When did you know performing would be your career?

When I was 13, I saw my first Broadway show in New York City: It was 42nd Street starring Christine Ebersole. After the show, I knew I wanted that. I knew I would become part of that culture.

You both work behind the scenes at the Detroit Actor’s Theatre Company. Do you like that work as much as you do performing on stage?

I founded the theater company back in 2011 with my business partner Michael Johns, Gerianne, and our current artistic director, Mindy Grissom. We wanted to create opportunities for artists to grow, create something they cared about, and have a conversation in the process — particularly about social-justice issues. Gerianne and I feel like we get the best of both worlds: running a theater company that serves its artists, and having a cabaret act to give us our personal performance fix. We are so lucky that our lives are truly lived on stage.

How long have you two been friends?

Ha! Depends on whom you ask. We met our sophomore year at Adrian College. Gerianne was a transfer student from a community college majoring in Performance, and I was in Music Education. I thought Gerianne was way talented, and I didn’t know how to talk to her; she was too cool for me. Gerianne would say we were friends almost instantly, but I was stressed out for the first six months — about having such a talented musician among my friends. Who am I kidding? I still am! I’m her biggest fan. It has been an amazing friendship for 16 years and counting.

What made you create the Dynamic Duo?

It was a combination of Gerianne’s idea and my own travel to NYC for a wedding. I went to Marie’s Crisis, the famed [West Village] piano bar, where I met the fabulous host Kenny Green. I loved his energy — and his ability to get a whole bar to belt out “Evita!” I thought to myself, “This could work in Detroit.” I came home and the next day — I’m not kidding — Gerianne says, “You know, we should finally bite the bullet and just do our own thing: We could totally jam with our pianos and make it a thing.” The rest is, as they say, show business!  

What should The Pub’s customers expect from your show? 

First, they should expect to sing along. We really do encourage it! We try to perform a variety of songs, to please as many in the crowd as possible. We’ll cover everything from Oklahoma to Hamilton. We also toss a bit of Disney in there — though, sometimes on our Florida stops, everyone is a bit Disney’d out.

We’ll sing a few showstoppers and tell stories that go along with certain numbers. Each show is different because each audience is different. We chat with people, get a vibe for what they may want to hear, and move with them. Many audience members have a cocktail in one hand and their phone in the other — with lyrics to a song pulled up on it! Others simply sit back and enjoy the variety.

The Dynamic Duo is at The Pub (2283 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors) at 8pm on both Tuesday, April 24 and Tuesday, May 1, Admission is free.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/23/qa-the-pub-welcomes-the-dynamic-duo/

WATCH: This Week’s All-New Hotspots Live!

During this week’s episode of Hotspots Live!, host Shawn Palacious is joined by special guest Susan Renneisen, VP of Community Affairs at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This week’s show features all the deets on “A Chorus Line,” Drag Superstar Trixie Mattel, the OUTshine Film Festival: Miami Edition, David Foster: The Hitman Tour, The Kinsey Sicks, “Rampage” starring Dwayne Johnson, Diversity Honors and the Top 3 of the week!

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/20/watch-this-weeks-all-new-hotspots-live/

The 6th Annual Red Hot Party: Meet the Bachelors

The State of the Market: 9 Local Realtors Answer the Big Question

OUTshine Film Fest is Back with its 20th Miami Edition

Film lovers, rejoice! In most places in the U.S., you’d be lucky to have even one local LGBT film festival. But here in South Florida, we’ve got two.

A few years ago, the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival merged with the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and last year the two fests were rechristened as OUTshine. But while the organizations merged, the events themselves did not. OUTshine Film Festival produces two major cinematic events every year: a Miami festival each spring, and one in Fort Lauderdale in the fall.

Perhaps at OUTshine’s Fort Lauderdale edition last October you caught the biopics Tom of Finland or Battle of the Sexes (with Emma Stone as Billie Jean King, and Steve Carell); or the critically acclaimed French paean to the ACT UP years, 120 Beats Per Minute; or one (or both) of the sexy coming-out-and-coming-of-age features Beach Rats and God’s Own Country. Then, no doubt, you focused your attention on the Oscar race from November until the Gay Super Bowl (the Academy Awards broadcast) last month.

Well, now it’s April, and Hollywood is taking its l-o-n-g, annual break from awards-caliber films, so your local cineplex is featuring The Rock battling giant mutant alligators with the help of giant mutant apes (or is it the other way around?), that bomb of a Tomb Raider re-boot (Don’t worry, we still love you, Alicia Vikander!), and Pacific Rim-jobs.

Well, OUTshine’s got your back, cinéastes! Its 20th Miami edition is here this week and next to entertain you, touch you, challenge you, give you a refresher course in LGBT history, and provide the perfect date-night activity for that new crush you want to impress.

The Miami festival boasts dozens of films: features, foreign flix, comedies, tearjerkers, documentaries, and several full slates of shorts — plus panels, an awards brunch, and, of course, parties, parties, parties!

You can bone up on all the important festival details below. Then check out our Hotspots Hot Picks to help you select a film — or two or three. For the full lineup of films, panels and parties, go to outshinefilm.com.

OUTShine Film Festival Miami

Festival dates April 20–29

Regular screening tix Advance ($11 members/$13 guests) and day-of tix ($12 members/$14 guests) are available at outshinefilm.com or 877-766-8156. (Prices shown do not include ticketing fee.)

Special-event tix Tickets for Opening Night, the Centerpiece Film, Closing Night, Ladies Night, Men’s Spotlight and the Award Brunch are also available at outshinefilm.com or 877-766-8156. Prices range from $30 to $70 (plus ticketing fee).

Rush tix 10 minutes before any sold-out show, a very limited number of unclaimed and unused tix may be made available ($15 regular screening/$25 special events; cash only). First come, first served!

Venues All screenings are held at the Regal South Beach (1120 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach) except for the Opening Night Film, which is at the Scottish Rite Temple (471 NW 3rd St, Miami). Panels and parties are held at various locations; for details: outshinefilm.com/events.

OUTshine Miami: Hotspots’ Hot Picks

THE GALA SCREENINGS

My Big Gay Italian Wedding (Puoi Baciare lo Sposo, Italy)

Opening Film Fri Apr 20, 8pm

Antonio and Paolo live happily together in Berlin and are finally getting married. They decide to celebrate in the small village in Italy where Antonio grew up. While his mother immediately supports his intentions, her husband Roberto, the town’s mayor, is not pleased. Paulo, whose conservative mother hasn’t spoken to him since he came out to her, must get her to the wedding as a condition of the marriage. Throw in a couple of wacky roommates and the aisle to the altar is paved with hilarity, hijinks and lots of love!

The Marriage (Martesa, Kosovo)

Centerpiece Film Wed Apr 25, 7pm

In a rare gay-themed film from Kosovo, Anita and Bekim are adding the final touches to their big wedding day which is only two weeks away. Despite expecting news about Anita’s parents, declared missing since the 1999 Kosovar War, and having to deal with Bekim’s controlling family, the couple seems to manage all the preparations. But when Nol, Bekim’s secret gay lover, returns unexpectedly from abroad, the situation becomes complicated, especially since Bekim realizes that a spark still exists.

1985

Closing Film Sat Apr 28, 7:30pm

Shot in luscious black and white, 1985 follows Adrian (Cory Michael Smith, Gotham), a closeted young man returning to his Texas hometown for Christmas during the first wave of the AIDS crisis. Burdened with an unspeakable tragedy in New York, Adrian reconnects with his younger brother and estranged childhood friend as he struggles to divulge his dire circumstances to his religious parents (Virginia Madsen and Michael Chiklis).

TRANS TALES

Transformer

Sun Apr 22, 3pm

From self-proclaimed white-trash kid to decorated U.S. Marine to bodybuilder to world record powerlifter, Matt Kroczaleski now faces his most daunting challenge: becoming a woman. In the summer of 2015, Matt was publicly outed as being transgender. She was abandoned by sponsors and her parents and banned from competition. Now as Janae, she must find her place in society, unable to lose the muscle she once so desperately gained and living between an alpha male and a gentle woman. Will Janae’s transformation bring her the peace she’s looking for?

Beyond the Opposite Sex

Sat Apr 28, 12:45pm Free Community Screening

In this follow-up to Showtime’s 2004 documentaries The Opposite Sex: Jaime’s Story and The Opposite Sex: Rene’s Story, we learn how the lives of Jaime (male-to-female) and Rene (female-to-male) have changed over the past thirteen years.

PLUS Matt Bomer stars as transsexual neighbor Freda in the unlikely L.A. love story Anything. (Sat Apr 21, 5:15pm)

COMING OF AGE AND COMING OUT

My Best Friend (Mi Mejor Amigo, Argentina)

Sat Apr 21, 7pm

Lorenzo lives in rural Patagonia. He’s a quiet teenager, a good student, curious, and more skilled in music and literature than sports. When Lorenzo’s father decides the family will temporarily take in his best friend’s son, Caito, Lorenzo is intrigued by this tough guy from Buenos Aires. As the boys’ friendship evolves toward something deeper, Caito reveals a secret that changes everything.

A Moment in the Reeds (Finland/UK)

Mon Apr 23, 6:45pm

Having moved to Paris for university, Leevi returns to his native Finland for the summer to help his estranged father renovate the family lake house. Tareq, a recent asylum seeker from Syria, has been hired to help. When Leevi’s father must return to town, the two young men establish a connection… and spend a few days discovering one another.

Mario (Swiss)

Sat Apr 21, 9:15pm North American Premiere

Star soccer player Mario has fallen in love for the first time. The object of his affection is Leon, the team’s new striker. When their teammates discover the budding relationship, rumors begin to spread beyond the locker room. Mario fears the professional soccer career he’s dreamed of is in jeopardy. Will he risk it all for the only man he has truly loved?

Postcards from London

Fri Apr 27, 6:45pm

Buff and beautiful teenager Jim (Harris Dickinson, Beach Rats) moves from the London suburbs to Soho where he falls in with a gang of unusual high-class male escorts — The Raconteurs — who specialize in intelligent post-coital conversation. From shy novice to sought-after escort and eventually artist’s muse, Jim would be the toast of the town if it wasn’t for his annoying affliction — Stendhal Syndrome — a rare condition that causes him to hallucinate and faint.

F-F-F-F-FASHION

Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex, Fashion & Disco

Thu Apr 26, 6:45pm

Mentored by Karl Lagerfeld, friends with Grace Jones, roommate to model Jerry Hall, fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez was the toast of the NYC and Paris fashion scenes in the 1970s. His colorful work, inspired by street life, people of color, and a particular take on transgressive sexuality, took the then-sedate world of fashion illustration by storm. This revealing documentary by Douglas Crump is a heady cocktail of fashion, glamour, and disco that’s impossible to resist.

McQueen

Sat Apr 28, 3pm

Alexander McQueen’s rags-to-riches story is a modern-day fairy tale. An unremarkable working-class boy, he harnessed his demons to become a global fashion brand and one of the most iconic artists of the century. How did this punk rebel conquer the silver-spoon world of Paris haute couture, and why, at the height of acclaim, did he shockingly put an end to it all?  McQueen is an intimate revelation of a radical and mesmerizing genius.

QUEER HISTORY

Cherry Grove Stories

Wed Apr 25, 9pm North American Premiere

In an era when it was illegal for two men to hold hands in public, the pristine beachfront hamlet of Cherry Grove on Fire Island, NY was a safe haven for gays who were often targeted for arrest and prosecution. Michael Fisher’s oral history of the enclave uncovers long-hidden secrets and exposes little known stories that are more relevant than ever today.

To a More Perfect Union: U.S. v. Windsor

Sun Apr 22, 2:30pm

A story of love, marriage and the fight for equality, this inspiring doc chronicles two unlikely heroes — octogenarian widow Edie Windsor and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan — on a quest for justice that would lead all the way to the Supreme Court.

PLUS: Queerama weaves together fantastic archival images and a soundtrack by John Grant and Hercules & Love Affair to lyrically portray a century of persecution, liberation and pride. (Sat Apr 21, 9:45pm)

DRAG

Alaska Is a Drag

Sun Apr 22, 7pm

Tough, but diva fabulous, Leo is an aspiring drag superstar stuck working in a fish cannery in Alaska. He and his twin sister are trapped in the monotony of fist fights and fish guts and spend their days figuring out how to escape to a better place. Out of necessity, Leo learns to fight back, which catches the attention of the local boxing coach. When a new boy moves to town and wants to be his sparring partner, Leo must face the real reason he’s stuck in Alaska.

SHOW BIZ

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

Sun Apr 22, 4:45pm

This cinema-vérité feature, an alternate pre-Stonewall history of Hollywood from director Matt Tyrnauer (Valentino: The Last Emperor), reveals the deliciously scandalous story of Scotty Bowers, a handsome WWII marine who landed in Hollywood after the war and became confidante, aide de camp and lover to many of Hollywood’s greatest stars. An unsung Hollywood legend, Bowers would cater to the sexual appetites of celebrities, straight and gay, for decades.

Still Waiting in the Wings

Sat Apr 28, 5pm

Follow the trials and triumphs of actors waiting tables in Times Square as their dreams of Broadway stardom meet the harsh reality of slinging hash under fluorescent lights. With cameos from: Nick Adams, Ed Asner, Carole Cook, Lee Meriwether, Patricia Richardson, Chita Rivera, Seth Rudetsky, Sally Struthers, Bruce Vilanch, and Cindy Williams.

PLUS: Every Act of Life tells the story of Terrence McNally, one of the world’s most renowned and risk-taking playwrights. (Sun Apr 29, 5:15pm)

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FLIX

Nobleman (in Hindi)

Wed Apr 25, 9:15pm World Premiere

Struggling with adolescence and sexuality, 15-year-old Shay is terrorized by a gang of bullies in his posh boarding school. Shay and best friend Pia are the studious theater kids. Arjun and Baadal are the jocks and bullies. Events take a sinister turn when Shay walks in on Arjun, Baadal, and their cronies on a debauched night, unleashing a chain of events that leads to tragic consequences. Based on The Merchant of Venice!

Last Days in Havana (Cuba)

Fri Apr 27, 9:15pm

Two mid-forties friends are neighbors: Miguel, a dishwasher who dreams of settling in New York waits for a visa that never seems to arrive, and Diego, a gay man with AIDS who is determined to enjoy every single day of his life from his bed. This odd couple is surrounded by an oddball set of characters from all walks of life.

SAPPHIC STORIES

Daddy Issues

Tue Apr 24, 7pm

Maya, a talented, queer artist, is desperate to attend art school in Italy but lacks the funds to do so. Instead, she spends her days escaping into her drawings and social media, where she pines for the enigmatic Jasmine, an aspiring designer in an emotionally charged, co-dependent relationship with her neurotic sugar daddy. All three become implicitly connected, though none of them realize it, and their respective relationships blossom. Daddy Issues is for the misfits, the dreamers, the lovers, and the loners in all of us.

Disobedience

Fri Apr 27, 7pm

Sebastián Lelio’s (A Fantastic Woman) mesmerizing film follows Ronit (Rachel Weisz), a New York photographer who returns home to mourn her father’s death in the community that shunned her decades earlier for an attraction to a female childhood friend (Rachel McAdams). Once back, their passions reignite as they explore the boundaries of faith and sexuality.

Kiss Me (Embrasse Moi, France)

Sat Apr 21, 7:30pm

Océanerosemarie’s life is full of energy and friends, but mainly of ex-girlfriends: 76, to be exact — but who’s counting! Things change when she meets Cécile. Can Océanerosemarie grow up enough to win the heart of this very special woman?

FAMILY DANCING

Anchor & Hope (Spain)

Sat Apr 28, 5:15pm

Eva and Kat enjoy a carefree existence on their houseboat on a London canal. After the death of their beloved pet, Eva’s dream of becoming a mother is reignited. Kat just wants to get a new cat, but when her best friend Roger visits from Barcelona, they decide in a moment of drunkenness that he can be Eva’s sperm donor. Anchor and Hope is a fresh and funny rom-com with a twist.

Funny Story

Sun Apr 22, 7:15pm

After years of being a neglectful father, a womanizing TV star unknowingly crashes his estranged daughter’s same-sex destination wedding. This delightfully dark comedy takes us on a California coastal road trip full of dreams, love, disillusionment, and tequila-fueled karaoke.

In Between Seasons (South Korea)

Mon Apr 23, 9pm North American Premiere

Though a mother has a close bond with the high-school-age son she is raising alone, she doesn’t realize he is gay, and only finds out after he is critically injured in a car accident. When Mom takes out her confusion and anger on her son’s close friend, the young man deals with the situation more calmly and with greater wisdom than she does. Brought to vivid emotional life by an excellent cast, the film confronts Korean homophobia and depicts a mother-son relationship with searing clarity.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/19/outshine-film-fest-is-back-with-its-20th-miami-edition/

Home Staging: There’s No Business Like Show Business

A staged home is a sold home. That’s what I always say.

Now, I may be a little biased since I am in the business: My company, Florida Stage Hands, currently has 15 homes staged across South Florida.

But I’m not the only one who sees the value in staging a property. The National Association of Realtors estimates that for every $100 invested in staging, the potential return is $400.

Why does staging make a difference? Well, most buyers can’t visualize what an empty space could or should be, and “virtual staging” can often leave buyers disoriented when they actually come to see a property.

I like to think of staging as “Show time!” It provides an opportunity to show a property to its best advantage, highlighting positives and minimizing negatives. It can also entice a buyer by giving them a taste of what it might be like to live in a particular home. We have four different designers, with styles from traditional to very contemporary, who are expert at creating a vision of what life in a property for sale could be like.

They must be doing something right because the average listing time for one of our staged homes is just 47 days — and it’s not unusual for a home buyer to purchase all the furniture and accessories in one of our projects!

Now, it’s not every buyer that can shop like that. And not every seller can afford to hire a professional staging company. But every seller can do a few things around a property to speed the sale and boost the sale price. Here are some of my go-to staging tips. 

Curb Appeal

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Whether the property you’re staging is a condo or a single-family home, a few potted plants will add a pop of color by the door and say “welcome.” Speaking of that door, when’s the last time you took a good look at yours? If the finish is beat, consider painting it or sanding and re-staining. Is the hardware worn out, rusty, or dated? Swap it out for something new. Same thing goes for your mailbox: If it’s dented, damaged, or looks worn out, consider a replacement.

Entryway

Curb appeal doesn’t stop at the curb — or even at the front door. You want to impress a prospective buyer the moment they enter your home. Whether or not you have an actual foyer, make the entryway a focal point. A console table topped with a vase of fresh flowers will delight both the eye and the nose (I like lilies, both for their glamour and fragrance). An arrangement of colorful glassware in different shapes and sizes is also great on a console or shelf. Got a cramped entryway? Expand the space with a tall, framed mirror propped against the wall.

Living Room

Declutter, declutter, declutter! And that goes for the whole house. A fresh coat of paint will get you the most bang for your buck. Then add a few pieces of unique art. Thrift stores and discount department stores can be good sources. We love Home Goods!

Dining Room

If your dining table is wood, polish it up. For glass or chrome, just keep it spotless. Add table settings and a colorful centerpiece to showcase your home as a place to entertain. 

Kitchen

Everybody knows kitchens and bathrooms can make or break a sale. If a kitchen remodel is not in the cards (or budget!), change out dated cabinet knobs and pulls. Paint the walls, backsplash, or ceiling with a natural color that will complement the cabinets. Decluttering is again key: Limit countertops to just one or two nice-looking appliances. 

Bathrooms

Think: boutique-hotel bathroom. Think: spa. First, hide all your personal lotions and potions. Nobody wants to see that. Paint the walls a color that enhances the bathroom tile, and put out towels that match the color scheme. If the caulk around the tub or shower is dirty or damaged, consider recaulking. Swap out dated vanity hardware. Got a large bathroom with plenty of counter space? Splurge on some candles and potpourri. 

Master Bedroom

Paint the entire room, with maybe a pop of color to just one wall. Spring for a new comforter set for the bed. Clean out that closet, and make it look like a true walk-in (if it is one). Donate or consign any clothes or accessories you haven’t used in the last year. Consign your things, and they might even help cover some of your staging expenses! 

The Grounds

Keep your yard as neat and tidy as the house now is. If you’re too busy to stay on top of things yourself, hire someone to help out while your property is on the market. If you have the budget, add some special color to the landscaping. 

If you’re not handy in all the skills we’ve covered (landscaping, painting, etc.), ask the broker listing your home to recommend help. Remember, your home is probably one of the largest investments you’ll make in your lifetime. As you prefer to sell that valuable asset, make sure you’ve got the right professionals working to maximize your return. 

Robert Geary MacKilligan is the owner of the home-staging company Florida Stage Hands (floridastagehands.com) and Designs of Wilton Manors. He is also Executive Vice President of Galleria International Realty (galleriarealtors.com).

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source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/04/18/home-staging-theres-no-business-like-show-business/