Issue 4102: Florida Aids Walk & Music Festival Edition

2026

BENEFICIARY

EDITION

NYE Pics around South Florida | Winter Reads Antoni Porowski of Queer Eye HOTSPOTSMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 15 - 28, 2026 • VOL.41 • ISSUE 02

41st Year

Hotspots magazine is published alternate Thursdays (26 issues/year).

Jeff Sterling & Darren Loli Co-Chief Executive Officers Scott Holland President, Media Jameer Baptiste President, Events Al Ferguson VP - Community Development

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ART & DESIGN Art Director | Frank Mendez • Graphic Designer | Abhay Thakur DIGITAL & TV Director | Steve Loli • Digital Manager | Hansel Dcosta ACCOUNTING Art Henneberger ADVERTISING & DEVELOPMENT Account Executives Anthony Verrico — (754) 333-0886 • Dale Stine — (754) 333-0849 Frank Mendez — (754) 333-0185 Outreach Manager | Adi Ravinath • Development Executive | Nivid Bisen CONTENT & MARKETING Marketing Director | Hansel Dcosta Content Manager | Hemangi Gokhale TRAVEL Travel Coordinator | David Hopkins Travel Manager | Shubham Harwani NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chris Azzopardi Romeo San Vicente | Scott Holland | Leo Harley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS J.R. Davis | Dale Stine | Dennis Dean | Robert Hadley CELEBRITY HOST Shawn Palacious (“Kitty Meow”) Copyright 2025, Hotspots Media Inc. All rights reserved.

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Publication of the name or photograph of any person, living or dead, is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organizations.

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HOTspots! Happening Out represents a dynamic alliance of 501(c)(3) nonproft organizations united in their commitment to enhancing the well-being of South Florida's LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing events, television programming, print media, captivating video content, and engaging social media, we channel all resources and funding towards advancing the social, cultural, and educational facets of our mission, serving our wonderfully diverse community.

Our unifed partnership of non-proots include Stonewall Pride, HOTspots Magazine, Happening Out Television Network, Wilton Manors Entertainment Group - WMEG, Pride Fête, Art Walk Wilton Manors, Taste of the Island Wilton Manors, Black Pride Cookout, Queer News Tonight, Pride Skate Night, Happening Out Travel, Sculpture Walk Wilton Manors, The Fay What Show, and Pride on the Drive.

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Vol. 41 • Issue 02 January 15 - 28 , 2026

O N T H E INSIDE

Cover

Florida Aids Walk and Music Festival Edition

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When You Think No One is Watching Our Journey to Florida Aids Walk:

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Pix: NYE Around South Florida • Feature: Queer Winter Reads • Feature: The Pet Project Launches Mobile Wellness Van • Feature: Antoni Porowski Wants You to Talk About Sex and PrEP — Like You Talk About Food • Pix: R House Wynwood Drag Race Season 18 Premiere Party • Feature: Create a Cozy, Inviting Living Room This Winter Out with Scott / What’s Hot | Scott Holland’s Guide to Events Hot Bodies eep Inside Hollywood Hot Puzzle

CLASSIFIEDS ON PAGE 85

R House

Las Olas Arts Fair

New Years Eve was exciting all-over South Florida. To check out all the fun, look at the double pic page in this mag!!

Howard Alan Events (HAE), the nation’s largest producer of outdoor art festivals. The Fair featured sculpture, jewelry, woodwork, paintings, wearable art and much more.

On Friday, January 2, R House Wynwood and Athena Dion presented the Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 18 R House Premiere party. The event was hosted by Athena, along with season 18 cast members Juicy Love and Mia Starr, and surprise guest Vita Vontesse Starr. It was a packed house as south Florida showed up to support our girls.

On Saturday, January 3 and Sunday Jan 4 was the return of the Las Olas Art Fair (Part I) where they welcomed over 200 local and visiting fine artists from around the country, lining Las Olas Boulevard with “pop-up” galleries of exquisite works. The free outdoor art walk was presented by

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On Thursday, January 8, 3 events took place. The first was the Arsht Centers Theater Up Close which presented the premiere of

Arsht Center_The Inheritance

The Inheritance, Part 1, playing until Sunday, January 25. This is a masterful story of love, loss and the generations that shape us. The most honored American play in a generation won “Best Play” awards in London and New York, including Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League awards. The play reimagines E. M. Forster’s Howards End as “a wry portrait of New York’s gay community,” with gay men from different generations standing in for Forster’s straight people from different classes. This is an amazing adaptation!

The second was when Empire Stage presented "The Golden Girls Gone Wild Stan is Back," direct from NYC – which is a

hilarious interactive show based on the hit TV Series, and plays through Jan 18.

The third was the South Beach Jazz Festival, presented by local non-profit Power Access, which celebrated its 10th anniversary over 4 days. The four-day festival featured Grammy Award-winning and internationally acclaimed artists, and local legends performing throughout Miami Beach at venues including Faena Theater, The Bass Museum of Art, Collins Park, Lincoln Road, and the Miami Beach Bandshell.

On Sunday, Jan 11 was the grand opening of Jimmy Cohens Boutique Spa in the Cabana’s Guesthouse. It was a full circle moment as Jimmy started at the spa at Cabana’s and now has taken it over as his second spa. Lots of people came out to wish Jimmy well, and I would personally like to tell my friend Jimmy that I am so proud of him and wish him continued success!!

Empire Stage

South Beach Jazz Festival

Jimmy Cohens Boutique Spa

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January 15 - 27

Front Runners and Walkers FTL

Thursday, January 15th Front Runners & Walkers Fort Lauderdale is starting a monthly 2 Mile Run (called thirsty Thursday) with Free Beer or Soda for all Participants at Voodoo Brewing Company in Downtown Oakland Park at 6:30pm.

For more info go to frwfl.org Outshine Film Festival presents their Cocktails & Cinema January Event Screening, which is “Jimpa” playing at the Gateway Fort Lauderdale at 7:30pm. In Amsterdam, a mother (Olivia Coleman), her nonbinary teen, and a larger-than-life gay grandfather (John Lithgow) explore identity, love on your own terms and rediscovering what it means to be family. Post-Film Cocktail Hour with FREE DRINKS held in the Gateway Lobby!

For more information or to purchase tickets

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Plays of Wilton

go to outshinefilm.com Plays of Wilton (POW!) is thrilled to kick off 2026 with its first production of the year, “Museum,” the inventive and joyful comedy by acclaimed playwright Tina Howe. This site-specific, interactive theatrical experience invites audiences of all ages to step inside an art gallery where creativity, curiosity, and comedy collide. Bring the kids, bring your parents, bring your co-workers, this is a fun, accessible night out for everyone. Often described as Tina Howe’s most beloved

Friday, January 16 The Lakeworth Playhouse presents: “KISS ME, KATE” from today through February 1. The battle of the sexes takes center stage as former spouses feud onstage and off during a musical presentation of The Taming of the Shrew. Sophisticated, romantic, and delightfully hilarious, Kiss Me, Kate boasts a sparkling Cole Porter score and a brilliant book from Sam and Bella Spewack. With romance, comedy, sophistication, and behind-the-scenes high jinks, Kiss Me, Kate combines the irreverent humor and the music of Cole Porter.

Musical numbers include “So In Love,” “Wunderbar,” “Tom, Dick or Harry,” “Too Darn Hot,” “Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” “I Hate Men,” “Always True to You (In My Fashion)” and “Another Op’nin, Another

Show.” For more information or to purchase tickets, go to Lakeworthplayhouse.org Saturday, January 17th The Pride Center invites you to join them for The Pickleball Classic, a day of fierce competition and downright delightful chaos! This event takes place at Hagen Park (2020 Wilton Drive) from 8am to 4pm, and the price is $150 per 2-player team. Think you’ve got what it takes to handle the heat?

Get in on the action in either the advanced or intermediate divisions. Grab your partner in crime, but don’t dilly-dally. Each division is capped at 16 teams, and every player will score some fabulous shirts and swag bags that’ll have you looking good on and off the court. Plus, they are serving up medals for all champions and finalists because who doesn’t love a little bling? Every penny from this event goes to The Pride Center’s AHF Florida AIDS Walk Team. For more information or to register, go to Pridecenterflorida.org Move, stretch and recharge with Galleria Fort Lauderdale’s new Get Fit 2026 series of yoga, Pilates and Zumba classes. Beginning at 9am today, guests can enjoy complimentary classes offered in partnership with Powerhouse Gym and Be YogaFit Studio. It’s

Credit_Mark Senior

works, “Museum” has been praised by critics as “an enchanting show…full of wit and humor,” The New Yorker, and “a comedy of absurdities with a serious and human message,” The New York Times.

Plays through February 1 at Arts United Gallery (2401 N Dixie Highway). Tickets are available at https://tickettailor.com/events/ronnielarsenpresents/200436

Art Walk Wilton Manors

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the perfect way to stay active or get started, joining friends and neighbors to exercise and meditate for increased energy, reduced stress and relaxation. Participants of all ages and fitness levels are welcome to join.

Registration is required at bit.ly/galleriafitness2026, and attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable attire, bring water, a yoga mat and towels. For details on the class schedule and additional upcoming events at Galleria Fort Lauderdale, call (954) 564-1015 or visit Galleriamall-fl.com.

Art Walk Wilton Manors takes place tonight (and every 3rd Saturday from October to May) from 6pm to 9pm up and down Wilton Drive and Dixie Village. For more information or to reserve a vendor space, go to AWWM.org Arts United Gallery presents their January Artist showcase starting at 6pm. The night will feature “Wilton Manors Live” featuring “The Ill-Manored Players: Mark Erson, Scott Jordan, Harry Redlich, Jeffrey Roach, and Jack Stein.” This is Wilton Manors’ newest variety show inspired by the Carol Burnett show. For more information or to purchase the limited seats for $20, go to Artsunitedflorida.com Gamma Mu Foundation celebration East 2026 presents “An Evening at Palm Royale” from 6:30-10pm, where glamor gives back.

Slip on chic shades, a flowing kaftan, or soft pastels and enjoy dinner and cocktails benefiting the LGBTQ+ community. The night will Star, from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17, Lucky Starzzz, Mesmerizing cabaret and burlesque performer Phoenix Hurtz and Zak Azoury, who captivates audiences with a vibrant fusion of modern pop, classic jazz and bossa nova. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to gammamufoundation.org/events Lantera, a South Florida–based nonprofit dedicated to mental health awareness and community connection, will host the return of its popular winter fundraiser, Wilton Onesie Wonderland, starting at 6pm. The

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free-to-attend bar crawl invites attendees to “come as you are” — onesies encouraged — for a night of fun, inclusion, and purpose.

The evening begins with an opening party and Onesie Contest at Lit Bar from 6-8pm, followed by stops at Spencer’s Corner Bar, Gym Bar, Tap That Ash, and a closing party at Hunters Nightclub. Participants may choose to purchase a Lantera VIP Impact Bracelet, which unlocks exclusive perks during the crawl and supports Lantera’s mission. Bracelet benefits include drink specials throughout the evening, a free shot at Spencer’s Corner Bar, 10% off food and regular-priced drinks at Gym Bar on the night of the event, and a signature cocktail called The Pink Onesie at Hunters Nightclub. In addition, VIP Impact Bracelet holders receive 2026 year-round discounts at participating businesses. For more

Gamma Mu

Lantera

information or to purchase a Lantera VIP Impact Bracelet, visit: GiveButter.com/WOWBarCrawl2026.

Wednesday, January 21 Front Runners & Walkers Fort Lauderdale starts their annual Couch to 5K Training at 6:30pm. This is a free 9-week training for new or aspiring runners to prepare for the goal race on March 29th. Participants will receive free registration for the race. Info at frwfl.org/couchto5K Friday, January 23 ArtServe will open “Journey to Mount Athos,” a compelling cultural exhibition that brings the artistic and historic traditions of Greece to South Florida. The exhibition runs through March 6, and launches with a free, public opening reception today at 6pm. The exhibition features a curated collection of cultural artifacts that reflect the depth and diversity of Hellenic tradition, including framed poetry, musical instruments and objects from South Florida’s Orthodox churches and schools. Among the highlights are two authentic traditional Greek costumes from different regions, generously provided

by Anastasia Kastrenakes Merkel. ArtServe is located at 1350 East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale and admission is free. For more information about these events, please visit Artserve.org or email membership@artserve.org.

The Seminole Hardrock Hotel and Casino Hollywood presents Jerry Seinfeld at Hard Rock Live tonight and tomorrow night at 8pm.

Jerry Seinfeld’s comedy career took off after his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1981. Eight years later, he teamed up with fellow comedian Larry David to create what was to become the most successful comedy series in the history of television: Seinfeld. The show ran on NBC for nine seasons, winning numerous Emmy, Golden Globe, and People’s Choice awards, was named the greatest television show of all

time in 2009 by TV Guide, and in 2012 was identified as the best sitcom ever in a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to: seminolehardrockhollywood.com/events Sunday, January 25 The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival (SASIFF), presented by MorseLife, is returning to Palm Beach County from today through February 6 with multiple hot, new, award-winning movies: thrilling, powerful dramas and comedies and thought-provoking documentaries from all over the world.

For more information about SASIFF including a complete list of scheduled screenings or to purchase tickets, please visit Sasiff.org.

Liquid Portrait presents a Photography workshop featuring male model @Aruba1992. The workshop will be at Haulover Beach at approx. 3pm (depending on weather) and the cost is $80 and it is open to all. Amateurs are welcome and there is no need for professional equipment — you can use your camera or phone. Learn About: Working with daylight, Model

Jerry Seinfeld

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angles and positions, and Storytelling. Event signup link: https://www.liquidportrait.com/shop/photography-workshop Tuesday, January 27 The Pride Centre’s Wellness & Active Aging Programs present “Wellness Hero 50+ Townhall from 6 to 8:30pm, and lite bites and refreshments will be served. You can attend in person or virtually. Register at Heroth5.eventbrite.com My Hollywood Pride 2026 My Hollywood Pride has 3 days of events.

The first is the Pride 100 Brunch on Saturday, January 17 at 11am at the Doubletree Resort (4000 S Ocean Dr., Hollywood) and honors Lisa Tuminello with the Trailblazer Ally Award and Spencer Battiest with the Trailblazer Award. On Friday, January 23, they present their VIP Kickoff party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino from 7-9pm. This will be a night of love and unity featuring a spectacular Guitar Lighting Ceremony celebrating pride. Then the main event happens on Saturday Jan 24 (this year moved to Saturday not Sunday) from 1-10pm at its new location Arts Park at Young Circle. They are proud to lead the way each year as the first Pride anywhere in the world — and that’s why they say Pride Starts Here!

What began as a bold community vision has grown into a signature South Florida tradition — a vibrant, family-inclusive celebration of LGBTQ+ life, culture, and visibility that brings together people of all ages and identities. This year’s theme, “Out and Proud: 5 Years Young,” celebrates how far they’ve come and the vibrant future we’re building together. Rooted in the heart of one of South Florida’s most diverse and welcoming cities, My Hollywood Pride is a place for everyone — where art, culture, and LGBTQ+ history take center stage, and affirming spaces for youth and families help foster a true sense of belonging. Don’t miss the party as My Hollywood Pride turns 5 Years Young! For more information, go to Myhollywoodpride.com

My Hollywood Pride

My Hollywood Pride

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NYE around South Florida

>> For more, visit us at HotspotsMagazine.com

Photos: JR Davis and Scott Holland

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Saturday E DATE , Feb. 7, 20 26 1pm-6pm

www.Cookout.Hotspots.lgbt Sponsorship Opportunities Contact Jameer Baptiste at pe@hotspots.lgbt Location: Mickel Park 2675 NW 7th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33311

When You Think Nobody Is Watching

By Jameer Baptiste We are proud to announce that we at Hotspots Happening Out are a Florida AIDS Walk 2026 Beneficiary! An opportunity we are gracious for and overwhelmingly excited about as it will help us in our continuing nonprofit mission.

However, one might ask, who, what, where, when and how? And that’s ok. We totally get it! We haven’t done the best job communicating who we are, partly because most everyone only know us to be a magazine that once upon a time was for-profit. And then there’s our drive, we’ve been so focused on executing our nonprofit mission that we haven’t stopped to clearly share it with the world.

So, before we begin our journey with the Florida AIDS Walk and start asking for your support, we’re coming out of the closet to share all that we do in the community.

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Unbeknownst to many, we have always been a nonprofit. And here’s the backstory about it. In December of 2020, a relatively unknown local LGBTQ+ events nonprofit called the Wilton Manors Entertainment Group (known today as Hotspots Events) purchased Hotspots Magazine.

The nonprofit, whose goal in life was to produce social and cultural safe space events for the LGBTQ+ community, might not have been well-known but what we produced reverberated across Florida and beyond. Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival was our crown jewel attracting over 50,000 attendees annually to Wilton Manors in celebration of LGBTQ+ joy in the Pride Month of June. Our events didn’t stop there; because of Stonewall Pride’s success we were able to produce other local LGBTQ+ monthly and annual events.

After our purchase of Hotspots Magazine, we converted the for-profit gay male entertainment magazine into a nonprofit LGBTQ+ entertainment and lifestyle publication committed to giving back to the community. Now, not only did we produce safe space LGBTQ+ social and cultural events, but we also gave media sponsorships to other LGBTQ+ nonprofits in a publication with a history of over 35 years in Florida - the money we receive for paid Ads go directly into funding the completely free media sponsorship ones.

But we didn’t stop there. We combined forces with Happening Out, a not-for-profit LGBTQ+ television network, to amplify the

absolutely free media support we provided to other community nonprofits giving them coverage in a circulated print publication with a substantial digital presence as well as free streaming views on shows like Queer News Tonight and the FayWhat?! Show.

Our dynamic alliance of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations unified our mission by enhancing the well-being of South Florida's LGBTQ+ community and its allies through our 11 pillars of commitment, the LGBTQ+ Black and Latin/Spanish Community, Lesbian and Queer Women, the Transgender Community, Students and Youth, Seniors, Business and Faith Community, Social Justice, and HIV/AIDS and Healthcare.

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By the end of 2021, just a year after purchasing Hotspots Magazine, we were giving back to the community roughly $100,000 in media sponsorships. We were also able to add to our event roster creating a LGBTQ+ Family-friendly Black History Month event, The Cookout and PrideFête, a LGBTQ+ Caribbean Festival, currently the only one across the nation.

We have increased our media sponsorships to $500,000 annually over the years supporting organizations like Transinclusive Group, PRISM, Bowtie Kids, Ujima Men’s Collective, The McKenzie Project, Equality Florida, Outshine Film Festival, National LGBTQ Task Force, World AIDS Museum, The Men’s Wellness Conference, Palm Beach Pride, Miami Beach Pride, My Hollywood Pride, and the list goes on.

We continue to produce Stonewall Pride, celebrating the 25th Anniversary last year and we’re excited to announce that our 5th Anniversaries for our Cookout and PrideFête events will take place this year.

Now that you have the backstory of who we are, I’m sure there are still questions about our connection to Florida AIDS Walk, produced by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).

What links us to the charitable 30 | HotspotsMagazine.com

organization is our unwavering work in HIV/AIDS/STI prevention, treatment and education.

A longstanding initiative of our events division is our HIV Testing Initiative, which assures that we have HIV testing at all our annual events throughout the year. We’re also excited to announce that the MSM Advisory Group, a monthly community-based HIV/STI advocacy group for men who have sex with men, has become part of our family along with their Men’s Wellness Conference. It’s a natural fit as we have worked with the MSM Advisory Group to produce the Men’s Wellness Conference for the 2 years it was produced.

The group was left abandoned by the former governmental organization that housed it. For the better part of 2025, we have rebuilt the group with the help from its committed members. The dollar-for-dollar match that we receive from the Florida AIDS Walk will guarantee that the group can continue to operate in its vital mission to facilitate activities and meetings with the community in order to provide recommendations and suggestions for improving and achieving greater accountability for sexual health inclusive of the general well-being and the prevention, treatment and education of HIV/AIDS and STI programs. The match will also help to bring back the Men’s Wellness Conference this year!

No

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ia Me d

Support & Donate Dollar For Dollar Match

hotspots.click/HSHOMagFAW2026

40+ Safe Space LGBTQ+ Social & Cultural Events Yearly

Testing At All Our Events

500K+ In Annual Media Sponsorships

HIV/STI Prevention, Treatment & Education

COZY UP WITH THESE

QUEER WINTER READS

From poetry and memoir to magical realism and graphic novels, these LGBTQ+ books offer something for every reader

By Sarah Bricker Hunt and Chris Azzopardi

As winter settles in and the year winds down, there's no better time to curl up with a book that speaks to the complexity and beauty of queer life. This season's reading list spans poetry and memoir, experimental nonfiction and graphic novels, offering stories that challenge, comfort and celebrate the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ experiences. From Andrea Gibson's final collection of transformative poetry to Nicholas Boggs' sweeping biography of James Baldwin, from Charlie Jane Anders's magical family drama to Sand C. Chang's therapeutic workbook for queer healing, these titles reflect both the joy and struggle of living authentically.

Whether you're drawn to Gaar Adams's decade-long journey through Gulf States queer communities, Rose Dommu's chaotic trans wedding weekend or Alejandro Varela's meditation on polyamorous heartbreak, you'll find something that resonates. These books remind us that queer stories are as varied as we are — tender and fierce, grounded and fantastical, deeply personal and universally human. So grab a blanket, brew some tea and settle in for a cozy read that honors who we are and who we're becoming.

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‘Middle Spoon,’ Alejandro Varela A finalist for the National Book Award for his 2022 debut novel “The Town of Babylon,” which followed a gay Latinx professor confronting his past, Alejandro Varela’s latest continues his keen, compassionate observations on queer life.

This time, he turns to the pains of polyamorous love — what happens when a married father of two has his heart broken by another romantic partner. Through a series of letters to his ex-boyfriend Ben, the unnamed narrator lays bare his tangled emotions as he grapples with rejection and wonders whether a world still uneasy with poly relationships could ever understand it.

If you’re the kind of person who buys their books based on the covers, the simplicity of the image on this one — just three stacked pillows — will certainly pique your curiosity about the quiet emotional mess you’re about to tumble into.

Town & Country,’ Brian Schaefer In his first novel, journalist Brian Schaefer — whose bylines span The New York Times and The New Yorker — drops us into Griffin, a fictional rural town where an influx of stylish, big-city gay weekenders collides with deeply rooted, church-going locals. If that sounds like an American fantasy (or fever dream), that’s exactly the point. Set over one election season, “Town & Country” watches these unlikely neighbors circle each other with suspicion, curiosity and the occasional spark of connection, revealing just how chaotic — and unexpectedly intimate — community becomes when everyone’s idea of “home” is up for debate.

Count Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Less,” as one of the book’s biggest fans: “‘Town & Country’ is so thoughtfully and beautifully written I could read it over and over again. A rumination on who we think we are versus who we really are, on loyalties and betrayals, family and politics, and, above all, love, it is a book to bring us together.”

‘Best Woman,’ Rose Dommu Author Rose Dommu’s coming-of-age

debut novel is already being called a book that feels “destined to be optioned” by Vogue — or, more specifically, “the trans ’90s rom-com update we deserve.” A former senior staff writer at Out and contributor to Paper and Vice, Dommu puts a queer and trans spin on the chaotic wedding-weekend story in “Best Woman.”

The novel follows Julia Rosenberg, a bisexual trans woman who leaves behind her hard-won New York life — drag brunches included — to return home to Boca Raton as her brother’s “best woman.”

She has to survive the pressure of her divorced parents, her controlling sister-in-law, a hookup buddy she can’t quit, and a family still figuring out how to talk about her transition.

Then there’s the twist: the maid of honor is Kim Cameron, her devastatingly cool high-school crush. One small white lie to impress Kim quickly spins into a full-blown rom-com disaster, threatening Julia’s relationships with her family, her crush, and herself — all while delivering laughs, heart and an unapologetically trans take on love, family and the chaos of weddings.

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‘Uncanny Valley Girls,’ Zefyr Lisowski Lambda Award-winning poet Zefyr Lisowski turns her eye to the strange, sometimes terrifying intersections of life, gender and desire in this memoir-in-essays. At 27, Lisowski found herself in a locked psych ward after a mental breakdown, where she turned to horror films — the very movies that scared her — as a source of comfort and connection. Across essays on films like “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and “Saint Maud,” she explores fears about illness, identity, class and the often-hidden violence in the world around us.

Moving from a trans childhood in the South to the sweaty dancefloors of Brooklyn, Lisowski mixes intimate storytelling with cultural insight, weaving family, friends and lovers into a reflection on fear, longing and survival. Deeply felt and full of care, “Uncanny Valley Girls” shows how moments of strangeness and terror can illuminate the most human parts of our lives.

‘Ultimate Oz Universe: The Lost Lands,’ Cullen Bunn, Larry King, Mike Deodato Jr. The world of Oz gets a modern twist in this sprawling graphic novel from AWA Studios, taking readers beyond Emerald City to hidden corners, forgotten lands and characters you’ve never met before.

Co-written by comics veteran Cullen Bunn and songwriter Larry King, with art by Mike Deodato Jr., “The Lost Lands” is packed with adventure, imagination and a love for

36 | HotspotsMagazine.com

everything that made Baum’s world magical in the first place.

Elton John, whose own life and music were shaped by Oz, wrote the foreword — and even pops up alongside his husband, David Furnish, in a fun illustrated cameo. With “Wicked: For Good” fueling a new wave of Oz-mania, this is the perfect pick for longtime fans and first-time readers alike: a story full of magic, danger and enough surprises to make you want to follow that yellow brick road all the way home.

‘Taylor’s Version,’ Stephanie Burt In “Taylor’s Version,” Harvard poet Stephanie Burt mines Taylor Swift’s songs for the girlhood she never lived. A trans woman reflecting on longing, queerness and emotional reclamation, Burt shows how Swift’s music validates what society often dismisses: teenage desire, intimacy and “ambition — about making awesome works of art that not only endure and speak to a small number of people deeply, but that obviously endure, get noticed and speak to a large number of people,” the author told Pride Source.

From “Fifteen” to The Eras Tour, Burt explores Swift’s artistic evolution and subtle politics — not as celebrity spectacle, but as proof that visibility, authenticity and dreaming big are revolutionary acts.

Centered on Taylor, the book ultimately celebrates artistry, selfdiscovery and the power of being seen.

‘Baldwin: A Love Story,’ Nicholas Boggs A New York Times Notable Book of 2025.

An Amazon Best Book of the Year. A Time Must-Read Book of 2025.

“Baldwin: A Love Story” is the first major biography of James Baldwin in three decades — and it’s as iconic as Baldwin himself.

Nicholas Boggs digs into newly uncovered archives, original research and interviews to show how Baldwin’s closest relationships shaped his art. From his mentor, painter Beauford Delaney, to his lover and muse, Swiss painter Lucien Happersberger, and collaborators like Turkish actor Engin Cezzar and the French artist Yoran Cazac — whose long-overlooked role as Baldwin’s last great love is explored here for the first time — Boggs traces the love, lust, friendship and creative sparks behind Baldwin’s brilliance.

Following Baldwin across Harlem, Paris, Switzerland, Istanbul, Africa and the American South, the biography shows how he turned the personal into the political, the erotic into the revolutionary, leaving a mark on Black and queer literary history that still burns bright today.

'Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success,' Jeff Hiller If you've spent 25 years doing improv in a grocery store basement and still haven't "made it," what do you do? For Emmy Award-winning actor Jeff Hiller, star of HBO's beloved "Somebody Somewhere," the answer was simple: Keep going. This national bestseller chronicles his journey from growing up "profoundly gay" in 1980s Texas through decades of struggle in Hollywood's lower middle tier — temp jobs, guest spots on "30 Rock" and "Law & Order," and the slow realization that success might never come.

Hiller's essay collection balances heartbreak and hilarity as he details what it means to age without laurels, to keep chasing a dream that keeps receding. Then, at 40, how everything changed when he landed the role of Joel on "Somebody Somewhere," the kind of best friend everyone wishes they had. Tina Fey calls Hiller "a human crocheted blanket," and this warm, vulnerable memoir proves exactly that. For anyone who's ever felt like a late bloomer or wondered if their dreams were foolish, Hiller offers hope, humor and, as he puts it, "three stories about buttholes."

‘Guest Privileges: Queer Lives and Finding Home in the Middle East,’ Gaar Adams When journalist Gaar Adams moved to the Gulf States — where penalties for queer acts include deportation, imprisonment, torture and death — he arrived with what seemed like a simple question: Isn't it harder for you to make a life here? Over a decade of risky reporting, he discovered thriving clandestine queer communities across the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia, in a region where four out of five residents are migrants with no path to citizenship.

HotspotsMagazine.com | 37

In “Guest Privileges,” Adams weaves an intimate memoir with unprecedented reportage, documenting secret drag parties thrown

by Filipino salon workers, parkour athletes cruising the Corniche promenade after midnight and a Pakistani wrestler in love with his coach.

As he begins his own clanvdestine relationship, Adams confronts his Western assumptions about where queer joy and belonging are possible.

Published by Ann Arbor's Dzanc Books, this widely acclaimed memoir challenges readers to reconsider what home means — not as a fixed place, but as community forged against impossible odds.

‘All Parts Welcome: The Queer and Trans Internal Family Systems Workbook,’ Sand C. Chang You've probably seen Internal Family Systems therapy all over your social feeds lately — and there's good reason for the buzz. IFS, which views the mind as containing multiple "parts" (like 38 | HotspotsMagazine.com

an inner critic, a protector or a wounded child), has resonated with millions seeking to understand their internal conflicts.

Now there's a workbook specifically designed for queer and trans people.

"All Parts Welcome" by Sand C. Chang offers a compassionate guide to IFS techniques tailored to LGBTQ+ experiences. Chang, a nonbinary, queer clinical psychologist and certified IFS therapist, helps readers build self-compassion while honoring the complexity of intersecting identities — race, ethnicity, religion, class, ability, sexuality and gender expression. The workbook includes meditations, reflections and guided prompts for befriending the parts of yourself you've lost touch with.

As Richard Schwartz, developer of IFS, notes in his foreword, queer and trans people often carry "exiles" — wounded parts created by a culture that has marginalized or persecuted them.

This workbook offers tools for welcoming all those parts back home.

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The Pet Project Launches Mobile Wellness Van

To Bring Veterinary Care Directly to Seniors and Underserved Communities The Pet Project for Pets, one of South Florida’s largest pet-retention organizations, is proud to announce the launch of its Mobile Wellness Van, a transformative initiative designed to bring essential veterinary and wellness services directly to pets and their owners who are unable to travel for care.

Through years of direct service to low-income seniors and vulnerable individuals, The Pet Project recognized a growing and urgent need: many clients lack reliable transportation or are completely homebound or immobile. Faced with this 52 | HotspotsMagazine.com

reality, the organization reached a simple but powerful conclusion — if clients cannot get to the veterinarian, then the veterinarian must come to them.

“Our mission has always been about keeping pets and people together,” said Sue Martino, Executive Director of The Pet Project. “When we realized that transportation barriers were preventing some of our most vulnerable clients from accessing basic veterinary care, we knew we had to change the model. The Mobile Wellness Van allows us to remove that barrier entirely.”

The Mobile Wellness Van will provide on-site services including wellness exams, vaccinations, preventative care, basic medical treatment, and referrals for additional veterinary services as needed. In addition to serving existing Pet Project clients, the van will travel to underserved neighborhoods and low-income senior living communities throughout Broward County and Miami-Dade County, expanding access to care for pets whose owners may otherwise go without.

For many seniors living on fixed incomes, companion animals are a primary source of emotional support and stability. Without access to affordable veterinary care, those bonds are often put at risk. By delivering care directly into communities, The Pet Project’s Mobile Wellness Van helps prevent unnecessary pet surrender while supporting both animal welfare and human well-being.

“This van is more than a vehicle — it’s peace of mind,” Martino added.

“It means a senior doesn’t have to choose between their own limitations and the health of a beloved pet.”

The Mobile Wellness Van is expected to begin regular service in 2026 and will operate as part of The Pet Project’s broader commitment to long-term pet retention, senior support, and community-based solutions.

About The Pet Project for Pets Founded in South Florida, The Pet Project for Pets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping pets and people together forever. The organization provides pet food, supplies, wellness care, medical assistance, and emergency support to low-income seniors and underserved individuals, helping them retain their beloved companion animals and avoid unnecessary shelter surrender.

For more information about the Mobile Wellness Van or to support The Pet Project’s mission, visit www.ThePetProjectFL.org.

HotspotsMagazine.com | 53

Leo Harley

TRY SOMETHING NEW NEW YEAR, NEW MOVES

If your workouts are starting to feel like déjà vu—same gym, same routine, same playlist. Then 2026 is your invitation to switch it up. Trying a new type of exercise isn’t just about changing how you sweat; it’s about re-energizing your body, refreshing your mind, and upgrading your lifestyle.

Think of it as pressing “reset” on your fitness journey.

Your Body Needs Variety Your body is incredibly adaptable, which is great… until it gets bored.

Repeating the same workouts can lead to plateaus, tight muscles, and overuse injuries.

Adding something new like yoga, swimming, cycling, dancing, or martial arts, activates muscles you didn’t even know you had. Yoga improves flexibility, mobility,

and joint health, while swimming builds endurance with minimal impact. Cycling boosts leg strength and cardiovascular health, and martial arts sharpen power, balance, and coordination. Variety keeps your body strong, resilient, and injury smart.

A Mental Reset New forms of movement challenge your brain as much as your body.

Learning poses in yoga, mastering dance choreography, or practicing martial arts techniques strengthens focus, patience, and body awareness.

Yoga in particular enhances the mind-body connection, calming the nervous system while improving concentration.

These mental benefits spill into everyday life: better decision-making, sharper focus, and increased confidence.

bike rides replace screen time, and martial arts build discipline that carries into work and relationships. Fitness stops being something you squeeze in and starts becoming part of who you are.

Mood, Energy, and Stress Levels Upgrade Trying something new can be a powerful mood lifter. Novelty releases dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical linked to motivation and pleasure. Sports and group activities add social connection, Yoga and swimming help regulate stress and anxiety, while rhythmic activities like cycling or dancing can be meditative and stress-reducing.

You’re not just sweating, you’re smiling more, stressing less, and carrying that energy into the rest of your day, and the new year.

Fitness That Shapes Your Lifestyle When exercise becomes enjoyable, it stops feeling like a chore and starts blending naturally into your life. A morning yoga flow sets the tone for a calmer day. An evening dance class doubles as social time. Weekend

Fun Ways to Move in 2026 • Yoga for Flexibility, strength, breathwork, and mental clarity • Dancing with Salsa, hip-hop, or Zumba, is really cardio disguised as fun.

• Swimming for Full-body strength, breath control, and joint-friendly movement.

• Cycling for Endurance, exploration, and mental clarity.

• Martial Arts for Strength, confidence, and stress release.

• Team Sports for Competition, connection, and community vibes.

Final Rep In 2026, fitness doesn’t need to be harder - it needs to be new. Adding a different type of exercise can transform not just your body, but your mood, daily rhythm, sharpen your mind, and reshape your lifestyle. Step out of autopilot, explore a new way to move, and let fitness feel exciting again. Your body, mind, and spirit thank you.

Let me know your results by sharing your story and help me inspire more readers into shaping their HOTBODIES. Get in touch with me at Hotbodies@hotspots.lgbt and/or check out my Instagram.com/the.leonator.

Antoni Porowski Wants You to Talk About Sex and PrEP — Like You Talk About Food The ‘Queer Eye’ food expert on destigmatizing sexual health and finding intimacy in the kitchen

By Chris Azzopardi For Antoni Porowski, conversations about self-care aren’t complete without talking about sex. The “Queer Eye” food-and-wellness expert — who's helped audiences around the world nourish their bodies and minds through vulnerability and a really good vinaigrette — is now helping to destigmatize sexual health through Gilead's Healthysexual campaign. Porowski joins a growing roster of LGBTQ+ public figures who’ve lent their voices to the campaign, including actors Lukas Gage, Julian Walker and Daniel Franzese.

In our conversation, Porowski opens up about how taking PrEP has deepened his sense of empowerment, why normalizing sexual health discussions is essential for community wellness, and how intimacy — whether it's cooking dinner with his partner 66 | HotspotsMagazine.com

or simply talking honestly about sex — can be one of the most nourishing acts of all.

You have always been open about growth and self-discovery through “Queer Eye.” It's inspiring to see you extending that openness to sexual health.

Well, thank you for saying that. And I do think that you can't really have one without the other. I think wellness, self-care, taking care of ourselves — whatever we want to call it — is a tree and it has a lot of branches, and along with mental health and watching what we eat and sense of community, sexual health falls into that category. They're all integrated and they all affect each other.

So, I think it's one that not enough people talk about.

ANTONI POROWSKI

When I first started thinking about taking PrEP, my friends described it as a kind of anxiety drug. And it has actually functioned in that way for me because it has made me feel more empowered sexually. For you, how has taking PrEP empowered you in your own sexual life and given you a newfound sense of confidence?

I really like what you just said about it being sort of tied to anxiety, not in literal terms, but a lessening of. Because of this partnership, what's interesting is I've had a lot of conversations with friends of mine and it's interesting to see the groups that really talk about it versus the ones that don't.

I think this pertains mostly to my gay friends but applies to everybody who has open conversations with not only their friends but their physicians and their families, but they have a lot more information and are a lot less shy or reticent to talk about it. There's something about normalizing it through that practice and through talking about it that sort of alleviates [the anxiety]. But in terms of your experience of lessening the anxiety, where does that come from? Knowledge is power or…?

Yeah, knowledge is power and trusting science. I grew up during a time when being a gay man meant sex was tied to fear and risk, and that stigma really shaped how I viewed intimacy.

Taking PrEP has helped me feel more confident and less anxious about sex.

That's great. I mean, I can definitely relate on that front, but it's also even more than that. I think for me, from my experience, it's really about information. And coming from a family of physicians, there are a lot of things that, as a family, we struggled with. Just communication, overall. But in terms of sexual health, wellness, trusting science, all those kinds of conversations were really ingrained in me since I was very young and whatever questions I had, I was always encouraging my friends to reach out to my dad, who's a physician, who is really good with bedside manner. When you have that information, when you start to learn about the statistics, it gets a little less scary.

And the second part of it is, I think it's important, if you are sexually active, to speak to a physician about your options because PrEP obviously helps prevent HIV to a really high point, but there are obviously so many other STIs and STDs that need to be considered as well. So, I certainly don't want people thinking that this is a one [and done]. Hopefully this opens the doors to more conversations. And I think the more you talk about it, it just breeds more curiosity and more opportunity for knowledge. And again, it's speaking to a physician, but also just reaching out to your friends. You never know who needs to hear about it.

Whether it’s PrEP, open relationships or even just honest conversations about sex, what’s one thing in queer intimacy that you think still carries too much stigma?

Good question. Not to answer your question with what you brought up, but I do think that it’s just sex in general. I think there are a lot of assumptions that are made in general about our community, about how we're having a lot of sex, versus how we're actually not. The stigma kind of lies in the assumption — and I'll speak for myself — that I have historically made about what it's like to be in a gay relationship: HotspotsMagazine.com | 67

about how much and what kind of sex people are having, when the more people you speak to you realize that it exists on a really massive spectrum, and it's a lot more complex than we actually realize. And what works for somebody may not work for you.

Open relationships, zero judgment might work for somebody, but might not work for the person next to them.

What really drew me to this collaboration is the fact that it was an opportunity to advocate for leaning into modern medicine and for reaching out to your physician and speaking to somebody who knows. I have a lot of faults, but I'm good at asking for directions. I'm very quick to be like, “Hey, this is something I don't know about.”

There are so many physicians in my family.

I'm definitely not one. Terrified of needles, always have been, do not like getting my blood drawn. I'm definitely the black sheep in my family on that front. But that's why I have people who are really, really good at that and more knowledgeable and are able to sort of break it down in a more palatable way. And when I have the information, I feel more equipped and more confident.

And to your point earlier, it lessens the anxiety when you know you have those options and the more that you talk about it, it desensitizes any kind of taboo or preciousness we have around it.

Over time, I’ve realized that straight people are often having the same kinds

68 | HotspotsMagazine.com

of sex that gay people have. If our communities talked more openly about that — like, yes, some straight people have anal sex too — we might start to break down a lot of stigma.

Imagine if we just communicated more, you know? That's what it boils down to. And I think there are a lot of misconceptions. I know a lot of couples who are in monogamous gay and straight relationships who take PrEP; they trust their partner. It's not a matter of that. It's just a matter of having that extra safety and that security and that confidence.

I want to connect your love of food to all of this by saying you have made food look downright seductive for over 10 years on “Queer Eye.” What's your ultimate sexy food fantasy?

Ooh, a sexy food fantasy. I would say, honestly, at this stage of life that I'm in right now it’s very different than it was a couple of years ago. For the first time, I'm in a relationship where I can't even believe I'm saying it, we actually cook together. This has never happened, except in one relationship a long, long time ago — but in this one, it's something that we sort of collaborate on together, and cooking for me at home has become less performative and has become more of a collaborative conversation where we will literally sit down and discuss what the meal is going to look like — what's our fantasy? What do we want to play out? And then doing it together.

There's something really beautiful and there's an intimacy there that I, working in food for so long, can't believe I've never really experienced, but it's sort of like, wow, this is really hot and really amazing. When you get to do that together, it makes it less of a single man performance and makes it more of a dance, if you will.

I'm sure that people tell you this, but the way that you talk about food is erotic.

It's the language that you use and it’s the way that you talk about it, but you love it.

I love it. I can be having a meal and talking about what the next one is going to be like, and I've been like that through my entire life, and that's a product of my upbringing. For all of our differences in my family, we were always deeply obsessed with food, whether it's going to a restaurant and having something and figuring out how to make it better, faster.

Was the fish right Was it cut too thin or thick And then my mother would go and recreate it, and that's just been kind of part of our narrative growing up, and it's something that I continue to do today and I love to do it with friends because there’s nothing more exciting than leaning into my type-a control freak and having friends over for a communal dinner and being like, no, this is going to be the perfect bite. I love watching it.

How has your new connection to Michigan — where your boyfriend Zacharias Niedzwiecki is from — f home, balance or even creativity?

Well, it certainly helps that he was basically raised learning how to hunt for animals and getting cherries at peak season and all of the wonderful stone fruit and tapping his family's maple trees and processing it. He understands food. And so that's a level of connection, like the respect for food. And especially in those parts of Michigan, I mean, you have people who have farm stands in front of their house where people just leave money and pick up farm eggs or whatever fresh fruit they have.

It's very community-driven. At this stage in my life, since I turned 40 — and it wasn't really planned find myself, with the state of the world and with everything that's going on and all the things to be afraid of,

leaning into things that bring me comfort, and that's always been community. And sometimes it's with my biological family, sometimes it's with my logical family, my chosen family, now it's with my partner and his, who I had a chance to spend time with, which was amazing. And so food has always been that connective fiber for me. It's always been the easiest way for me to connect with other people. I think especially now, I'm looking for ways to connect with people, whether it's an opportunity like this with Gilead, or whether it's having my buddies over for a nice communal dinner after a yoga class in the afternoon, or even just going out with friends. I think it's something that's been really important to me that's helped me fall asleep a little better at night.

It looked like you were enjoying a really good sandwich in Traverse City think she makes the sandwiches, but it's Zac's sister and she has a sourdough bakery, and you can literally go to her kiosk and pick up sourdough scones with maple glaze from their own maple trees. It's crazy.

T eason of “Queer Eye” takes place in D.C. For you, knowing that the city has been the epicenter of so many political and cultural tensions right now, how did it feel to bring joy and connection to people in D.C.?

The epicenter of it, if you will. I mean, we certainly didn't plan that the person who was in office was going to be in office our first season and was going to be in office for our 10th. That was definitely unexpected, for a lot of people. In terms of planning to film in D.C., I'm going to make an assumption that there was an intention there. It would be a really strange coincidence if there weren’t. I've been there visiting during various different political administrations, and it is surprising to see how the energy of that district shifts based on who's there. It definitely brings a little bit of tension. But with that tension, I think And not to bring us full circle, but again, it's like an opportunity to have conversations and to understand where people are at.

HotspotsMagazine.com | 69

Because while I am really afraid and I'm terrified of so much that's happening to so many people, at the same time, I still maintain a sense of hope and optimism for the future. I think to quote David Attenborough, maybe not his intention for this specifically, but maybe it was, “We always have to have hope no matter what.”

And it was definitely very emotional. I mean, the season was sort of compressed and stressful to get it all done. You're dealing with the area of Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. and with different laws and where to film. And so that made it a little more challenging for our producers. There would be just random moments where I think it would sort of catch up with everybody where it was like, “Oh, this is the last one.

This is going to be my last field trip. This is the last time I get to cook with someone.”

And that would just kind of hit us all over the place. So, emotions were zigzagging from joy and excitement to meeting new people and having them have epiphanies about their own lives or realizations or moments of acceptance or really embracing who they are to all of the other stuff in between. So it was just this amalgamation of every emotion possible.

And by the time it all ended — I can't disclose too much about the episodes — but the last scene was set up in a way where it

70 | HotspotsMagazine.com

was really celebratory and we were celebrating the hero or heroes in question.

And there was this moment of joy and accomplishment, but also a profound sadness to think, oh, we're not going to be doing this, for now. Though never say never to anything. Who knows what's going to happen in a little bit. But there's going to be no shortage — and I say it all the time, but it really is true — of emotions. I mean, we have Jeremiah [Brent] on board, so there's plenty more tears added just because of that alone. But everybody cried at some point or another.

This show has changed our lives and allowed us to have so many opportunities beyond our wildest dreams. I never speak for the group, but I think I can say that confidently. And it's something that we're really proud of and that we're really excited to share with everybody whenever it comes out. Strong assumption: 2026. But that's all I got.

Chris Azzopardi is the Editorial Director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate, the national LGBTQ+ wire service. He has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

Image: Martin Kraft (photo.martinkraft.com

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Hari Nef enters ‘Situation #64’

Tig Notaro: Action Star When Tig Notaro stepped into a pivotal role in the film “Army of The Dead,” she hadn’t been in an action-based movie before. Now she’s going to lead one. After pitching an all-lesbian action film to Zack Snyder by saying the tagline would be “hot lesbian action,” he was sold on it, of course (straight men usually are). Per Notaro herself, the film will 72 | HotspotsMagazine.com

be called “Deviants” and set in the closeted past.

Notaro also states that the plan is that all the characters will, in her words, be “hot lesbians.”

Will it all work out the right way? Will this project make sure that “Bros” has company and isn’t the only example of a major studio film with an all-queer cast?

Will every lesbian in Hollywood want to be in it?

And, most importantly, how fast can this get to theaters? Stay tuned.

We’ve been a fan of charismatic trans actor Hari Nef (“Barbie,” “The Idol”) for some time now and we’re thrilled to see her take a lead role in the upcoming psychological drama “Situation #64.” The drama stars writer-director Oliver Edwin (“LBJ,” “Divorce”) and Louisa Jacobson (“The Gilded Age,” “Materialists”) and Nef as a performance artist rehearsing a piece with her ex, played by Edwin.

When Jacobson’s character arrives, tension and long-standing secrets arrive with her, upsetting the balance between making art and living real life. Nef’s profile rises here, too, as she takes on the role of producer (which, frankly, is how lots of personal projects and starring roles get done, so cheers to her for making a power move).

The film just wrapped so look for it to hit film festivals in 2026 before what should be a well-positioned arthouse release.

wikimedia.org - PhilipRomanoPhoto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4

www.flickr.com/Walt Disney Television

Kelly Marie Tran takes a trip to ‘Rock Springs’ Can’t get enough spooky stuff? You’re in luck (at least if you’re going to the Sundance Film Festival in early 2026). Queer “Star Wars” franchise alum Kelly Marie Tran is about to hit the fest in a starring role with “Rock Springs,” the latest from queer writer-director-actress Vera Miao (“Expats,” “Two-Sentence Horror Stories”). In it, a grieving girl moves to a new town into an isolated house with her mother and grandmother.

But there’s mystery involving the town and perhaps something sinister living in the woods behind their new house. The film co-stars MCU mainstay Benedict Wong, as well as “Silicon Valley” actor Jimmy O. Yang and Fiona Fu (“Dear Stranger”) and after that Sundance moment, keep an eye out for its landing in theaters sometime next year. And stay out of the woods.

Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers try to get into Berghain Bowen Yang (“SNL,” “Wicked: For Good”) and Matt Rogers (“No Good Deed”) are known separately for their work but as comedic partners their powers multiply. From hosting the popular podcast “Las Culturistas” to the Hulu comedy “Fire Island,” they’re a queer power team on a roll. Now they’ll team up with Searchlight to develop a comedy based on a multi-part episode of the podcast “Search Engine.”

The episode series is called “Why didn’t Chris and Dan get into Berghain?”

Berghain, for the uninitiated, is an extremely popular and exclusive nightclub in Berlin with idiosyncratic reasons for allowing or denying entry, aka queer catnip. All of that to say that it’s exactly in this duo’s comedy wheelhouse, and short of watching “Party Girl” over and over — and we do — we’re all in need of a queer clubland comedy. This beat can’t drop soon enough.

Romeo San Vicente naturally walked right into to Berghain with no trouble.

HotspotsMagazine.com | 73

R House Wynwood

Drag Race Season 18 Premiere Party

>> For more, visit us at HotspotsMagazine.com

Photos: Art Henneberger

Create a Cozy, Inviting Living Room This Winter By: Family Features Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Turning your living room – the hub of seasonal entertaining – into a winter retreat can be simple with a few thoughtful updates.

From the color palette and textiles to lighting and subtle seasonal accents, these ideas can help you create a space that feels warm and inviting, even on the chilliest of days.

Embrace a Winter Color Scheme Start with a warm, neutral color palette featuring creams, taupe, ivory, beige and soft grays then layer in deeper greens, muted 80 | HotspotsMagazine.com

blues or charcoal for contrast. Accent pieces such as pillows, throws and vases in matching rich tones or muted metallics can help the room feel like a cozy retreat from the cold outside without overwhelming your existing decor. Stick to your chosen color palette but vary texture and mix solids with subtle patterns like stripes or checks.

Photo: Freepik.com

Layer Cozy Textiles One of the easiest ways to dial up winter comfort is layering textiles. Drape knit or faux fur throw blankets over sofas and chairs,

stack extra blankets in a basket or on a ladder shelf near the seating area and switch out lighter pillow covers for winter-friendly fabrics such as velvet, wool or sweater knit.

On the floor, layer a smaller, softer rug over your existing area rug for extra warmth underfoot.

Create a Seasonal Focal Point Your coffee table is the perfect focal point for winter decor. Start with a tray or shallow bowl then mix in a candle or two and other decorative elements such as books, wooden beads, pinecones or glass jars filled with fairy lights. Keeping the arrangement simple allows the table to remain functional for everyday use while still feeling seasonally intentional.

Add a Touch of Nature Bringing a touch of the outdoors in can give decor a fresh, grounded feel.

Consider incorporating evergreen branches, pinecones, bare twigs, eucalyptus and dried stems for an understated nod to the landscape beyond your windows. Pair these natural elements with a grouping of houseplants in woven baskets, wood trays or stone pots to complete the organic, wintery look.

Visit eLivingtoday.com for more seasonal decorating inspiration.

Photo: Freepik.com

: Freepik.com Photo

Set the Mood with Lighting Shorter winter days mean less

natural light floods your living space.

Soften the glow with warm white bulbs in floor and table lamps then layer candles – real or flameless – on the mantel, coffee table or console for a cozy atmosphere.

HotspotsMagazine.com | 81

HOT PUZZLE

More Than a Meathead >>>>>> To see answers, visit hotspotsmagazine.com/crossword

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1 Catwoman portrayer Eartha 5 Drinks like a pussycat 9 County festivals 14 Morales of “Mi Familia” 15 "She" to Bonheur 16 Coming soon 17 Uses the mouth casually 18 Long, long time 19 Switch positions 20 Start of a quote from Rob Reiner 23 Abercrombie & Fitch event 24 Genre for Eazy-E 25 "Scram!" to Gomer 27 Gay guy, in Brit slang 30 Explorer Vasco 35 Words before about 37 Put ___ fight 38 In no particular key 84 | HotspotsMagazine.com

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61 Soup pasta 62 Come together 64 Pinball Wizard foul 65 Little chirper 66 Woman without a woman, e.g.

67 “A Room of ___ Own” 68 Letter enc.

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1 F, in the orchestra pit 2 Confession of a Peeping Tom 3 Rustle cattle?

4 Campbell of “Martin” 5 Fail to include 6 Protected, to seamen 7 Novel idea 8 Mister of La Mancha 9 Walk this way 10 “Tales of the City”'s Madrigal 11 "Like ___ lump it" 12 Rubber vessel, perhaps 13 Lotion letters at South Beach 21 "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" mountain 22 Mideast peacemaker 25 Cattleman's tool 26 Pre-Columbian Peruvian 28 Artist Catherine 29 Imagines a little nookie 31 Billy Porter's facial hair style 32 Preceding in time 33 Large openings 34 Britten's beers 36 Chemical experiment stuff 40 Stroke your boa, e.g.

41 Toothy swimmer 46 River bends 48 Regret not spitting 49 Sci-fi author Le Guin 50 Mapplethorpe work 51 Haul to the station house 52 “Dirty Dancing” director Ardolina 53 Land of Caligula 55 Carafe size 56 Smelling a rat 58 Who deserves malice, to Lincoln 63 No to Rimbaud

TO ADVERTISE IN CLASSIFIEDS Call 754-333-0185 Email Classifieds@Hotspots.LGBT HotspotsMagazine.com | 85

u ACCOUNTING

u ELECTRICAL

STERLING ACCOUNTING

Friendly, engaging and specialized expertise for individuals and those with small businesses and real estate.

Contact Sterling Accounting at Tax@SterlingAccounting.com

ADVERTISE IN CLASSIFIEDS

Call 754-333-0185 Email Classifieds@Hotspots.LGBT

u AIR CONDITIONING CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING

Repairs, installations, indoor air quality.

Residential/Commercial. Proudly serving the tri-county area. Quality and experience.

Free service calls for all A/C makes and models. Lic/Ins CMC1249558 Call 954-274-8287 for your free estimate. **10% off your first repair**

u AUTO REPAIR

ADVERTISE IN CLASSIFIEDS

Call 754-333-0185 Email Classifieds@Hotspots.LGBT

u COMPUTERS **OPTIMA** COMPUTER REPAIR 954-817-3883

IN-HOME SERVICE. Cell phones, printers & Internet issues. Proudly serving our community for over 25 years. *Get the BEST performance, protection & value from your computer investment. *A+ Hardware & OS certified. *Friendly, professional, RELIABLE service. Reasonable rates.

Call: Mike 954-817-3883”

HELPMEERIC.COM ! TECH SUPPORT

u BARBERS

Your Personal Tech Assistant. BEST RATES in the tri-county area. Specializing in Android & iPhones. PC/Mac-Training, Installation, Clean-up & Repairs. Friendly, In-Home and remote Srvc. Call/Txt 954-903-4383.

u CLEANING SERVICES

86 | HotspotsMagazine.com

ADVERTISE IN CLASSIFIEDS

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u HANDYMAN L.H.P. HANDYMAN SERVICES

Reliable, honest, affordable general home repairs, pressure washing, painting, tile, light plumbing, light/fan fixtures installs. Good troubleshooting. Insured. L.H.P. Handyman Services- Al (954) 683-3754 ADVERTISE IN CLASSIFIEDS

Call 754-333-0185 or Email Classifieds@Hotspots.LGBT

u HEALTHCARE HEALTH CARE AID NEEDED

For older disabled gentlemen. Must have drivers license, car, light cooking, general household, cleaning. Have previous experience. Victoria Park area/East Fort Lauderdale. Call Jeffrey at 954-523-6757 or 954-804-3174. Please call both numbers.

u HELP WANTED P/T “H O U S E B O Y” WANTED

pick up palm leaves, mow, clean pool, house, cars. Computer and phone savvy a plus. Non smoker with a vehicle. $16/hour cash. Flexible hours afternoons/evenings.

We’re located in Coral Ridge/Victoria Park, Fort Lauderdale. Please live close. Call/text after 12 noon 954 803 0318.

ISARAT’S MEN’S SPA NOW HIRING

Male nail technicians and male esthetician. If interested please text tom at 603-540-4699 or send resume to thoml33305@gmail.com.These are contract positions HotspotsMagazine.com | 87

ADVERTISE IN CLASSIFIEDS

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u LAWYER

u LAWN MAINTENANCE / IRRIGATION

88 | HotspotsMagazine.com

u LICENSED MASSAGE

u PERSONALS YOU WERE MOVING FROM JACKSONVILLE TO FORT LAUDERDALE

when we met in a Sanford diner. You wore a bridge logo T-shirt. I wore my university T-shirt. We talked for a while, but we didn’t get a chance to exchange numbers/ names because you left so soon. Bob PO Box 333 Sanford, FL 32772

u PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RED BOX MOVING COMPANY

Affordable, Reliably, & Careful. Licenced & Insured (MV#567) Norbert 954-305-9176 www.redboxmoving.com

u PERSONAL TRAINER NAKED FITNESS - GET NAKED, GET FIT!

Nude Certified Personal Training (1 on 1, small groups). Nude Aqua Aerobics. Sensual Full Body Massages. Private Gym, Pool (Wilton Manors). Personalized Programs after 2-hour assessment. All Goals.

Free Consult. Affordable. http://naked. beyondfitness.info BJ (323) 270-7121

u SEWING/ALTERATIONS ALTERATIONS

Clothing repair, trouser hem, sleeve hem, zipper change, clothing adjustments, cushions, curtains, pillows. Everything related to sewing. Exclusive swimwear are made to suit the client, tank tops, t-shirts, shorts, sports wear. Text me at 407-732-1756.

Instagram: @Nicolo_Bivona.B

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u RENTALS - VICTORIA PARK VICTORIA PARK

Nice area 2 bedroom apartment end unit east of US-1 near beach. Walk to all needs. Washer/Dryer in unit. Private off street parking at your door. Kitchen with stainless steel appliances and D/W. Private rear patio. Same building: Nice studio efficiency with full kitchen. Call 954-523-6757

Call 754-333-0185 Email Classifieds@Hotspots.LGBT

u TAX PREPARATION HAROLD J BLOTCHER, EA

Tax preparation and resolution for individuals and small businesses. Help with samesex marriage issues and IRS matters. Call 781-363-5519 or 561-429-3592 www. haroldjblotchertaxes.com HotspotsMagazine.com | 89

90 | HotspotsMagazine.com