HOTspots Magazine: November 23, 2023 (Issue 3824)

38th Year

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

Jeff Sterling Chief Executive Officer

HOW TO REACH US MAIN OFFICE The Sterling Building 2435 N Dixie Hwy., Wilton Manors, Florida 33305 Phone (754) 200-2979 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Call (754) 200-2979 x 625 or e-mail Classifieds@HotspotsMedia.com

Scott Holland VP - Operations/Associate Publisher

DISPLAY ADVERTISING Call (754) 200-2979 x 605 or e-mail Ads@HotspotsMedia.com

ADMINISTRATION VP - Development | Jamie Forsythe Business Manager | Alyson omas

WHO WE ARE

Events Manager | Jameer Baptiste DIGITAL & TV VP - TV & Digital | Darren Loli Digital Manager | Troy Maillis ART & DESIGN Art Director | Frank Mendez Designer | Maria Espinal ADVERTISING Account Executives Anthony Verrico — (754) 333-0886 Dale Stine — (754) 333-0849 Cooper Hipp — (754) 200-1581 NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chris Azzopardi | Maria Espinal S. Elfman | Andreus Quinones CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Coco Alarcon | Dale Stine Dennis Dean | Robert Hadley | J.R. Davis CELEBRITY HOST Shawn Palacious (“Kitty Meow”) LOGISTICS Juan Manzano & J.R. Davis Copyright 2023, Hotspots Media Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part by any means without written permission by the Publisher is prohibited.

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.

Non-Profit Leader in LGBTQ+ Events and Media

HOTspots! Happening Out represents a dynamic alliance of 501(c)(3) nonpro t 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 uni ed partnership of non-pro ts 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, Pride on the Drive, and Hotspots Happening Out Art Gallery with Dennis Dean.

OUR AUDIENCE Hotspots magazine is available at more than 200 locations from West Palm Beach to Key West and reaches an audience exceeding 300,000 monthly across our print and digital networks.

We offer comprehensive and cost-effective advertising programs on multiple platforms including:

• Print Magazine • Web Advertising • E-mail Marketing

• Streaming Video Advertising • Event Marketing • Social Media Marketing • Television Marketing

WMEG Inc., is a Community Marketing and Events organization incorporating Hotspots magazine and Happening Out Television Network.

Our mission as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit is to promote South Florida, and especially Wilton Manors,as a welcoming LGBTQ+ destination through marketing and events. WMEG produces about 50 events a year, including the annual Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival in Wilton Manors. Other events include Art Walk on Wilton Drive and Vibes On The Drive. Visit WMEG.org for more info.

WMEG also manages the Sculpture Walk project which is responsible for the installation of sculptures in public spaces in Wilton Manors.

u Watch Queer News Tonight streaming live

Monday through Thursdays at 7 p.m. at HappeningOut.com

Issue 24 • Nov. 23 - Dec 6, 2023

O N T H E INSIDE

Cover URGE Miami Festival Returns!

“It will be a fun, uplifting experience for everyone to enjoy and also they get to see the best that South Beach has to offer.”

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Cover Model: DJ Dan Slater Photographed By: Dale Stine

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Pix: Equality Florida Broward Gala • Feature: Hurricane Showdown Blows Into South Florida • Feature: Amy Schneider, In Her Own Words. The “Jeopardy” Champ on Fame, Activism and Book Bans • Feature: Culture Club Darryl Stephens Returns as “One of the Boys” in this Sequel to this Gay Classic • Feature: Holiday Parties Celebrate Your Way • Feature: The Women In Our Orgs, Lisette Garcia Out with Scott / What’s Hot | Scott Holland’s Guide to Events Pix: Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival • Feature: Top 10 • Pix: Taste of The Island, An Evening of Food & Libation • Pix: Twist South Beach Circuit Fridays • Feature: Hot Places Pix: Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida Chic & Unique Ball Gala • Feature: Palm Beach Improv Premieres at Kravis Center with Jeff Ross • Hot Puzzle

CLASSIFIEDS ON PAGE 133

OUT WITH SCOTT

Twist

On Friday, November 10, we headed down to South Beach as we realized we hadn't been to Twist in a minute and needed our Twist fix. Once again, it never disappoints being packed in every room and hearing the music of my friend, DJ Sushiman, in the main room.

On Saturday, Sat Nov 11, 3 events happened around town.

They were: The 17th Annual Mutts & Martinis at Esplanade Park in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Th is was a free event featuring a doggie fashion show, a peanut butter eating contest, a variety of vendors, food trucks and great music. Congrats to Domino (pictured) who won Congeniality

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By Scott Holland

Award.

Also on Saturday, Equality Florida presented their 2023 Broward Gala at The Westin Resort Convention, which was Emceed by Jamie Guirola and Steve 17th Annual Mutts Martinis Maclaughlin, with the keynote speaker being Nadine Smith; and the Voice of Equality Award going to Tatiana Williams, and the Equality Means Business Award going to NBC 6. As always this is an amazing event.

That same night Gulfstream Park Village featured 'Symphony in Lights” kick-off event. This community celebration will feature DJ Chris Cruz and music from the Valerie Tyson 8-piece band, and Santa Claus posing for selfies along with elves, dancers, and Nutcracker stilt walkers.

Wicked Manors

Equality Florida Broward Gala

Gulfstream

Miami Book Fair

Taste of the Island

Equality Garden Club

On Sunday, November 12, the Miami Dade College's (MDC) 40th Miami Book Fair (MBF) premiered and went for week. This year's Miami Book Fair once again featured some of the world's top authors, influencers, and celebrities.

On Monday, Nov 13 – The City of Wilton Manors along with Hotspots Events presented the 18th annual Taste of the Island at Richardson Historic Park. This is Wilton Manors Food and Wine festival which was once again sold out. This is always one of my favorite events of the year!

Equality Garden presented their annual two-day Tropical Plant Fair, on Sat and Sun Nov 18 and 19 at Richardson Park where more than 40 plant vendors from around the state showcased outstanding plants and related accessories. Once again this was a successful event; congrats to Bob and his team!

The weekend of Nov 16-18, was the annual Smart Ride, and what a successful way to end the last SMART Ride! Raising a total of $1.2 million, which goes 100% directly to local Florida not-for-profit organizations that help fight and raise awareness towards AIDS/HIV. Congrats to Glenn and his team for 20 AMAZING years!

Smart Ride

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WHAT’S HOT WHO • WHAT • WHEN • WHERE

By Scott Holland

Urge Thursday, November 23 Pub on the Drive opens at 9am and features Thanksgiving Dinner all day from 12 noon till close. For only $19.99, you get Turkey, Cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, green bean casserole or creamed corn with peppers and onions, Yukon gold mashed potatoes or candied sweet potatoes, a dinner roll and a slice of pie.

They will also be streaming the Macy's Day Parade.

Friday, November 24 The annual URGE Miami Festival returns tonight for three massive nighttime events and two sizzling daytime fetes including the Royal Palm Pool Party and the legendary Beach Party on the sands of South Beach.

Produced by Luis Morera, Billy Kemp, and Hilton Wolman. For more information or to purchase tickets go to

Twist Urgemiamifestival.com (you can also see the 5-page feature in this issue).

Each year, in partnership with the GMCSF, BOSFL collects teddy bears for the Broward Health System. Every child admitted to the hospital receives one of their bears, and the family is told that the bears come from those two organizations. They will be collecting new bears at Hunters from 5-8pm. They will also purchase bears on your behalf with donations; the cost of each bear is $5.

Hunters is supporting the bear drive with free drink tickets for a beer, glass of wine or well drink to help encourage donations.

Hunters is also generously donating hot teddy shots to sell with all proceeds going to the cause.

Saturday, November 25 Georgie's Alibi/Monkey Bar presents a

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PHOTO: soundcloud.com/djbugie

NOV.23 - DEC.06

The Inter-American Choreographic Institute presents the 4th annual “Men Who Dance” festival taking place today and tomorrow at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to: Browardcenter.org.

Twist presents, one of their original DJs back for one night only, legendary DJ Bugie taking you back and forth and upside down and as always, no cover!

As part of the RESIST FESTIVAL weekend, the Manor presents DJs Aaron Aanenson and Karsten Sollors in the Main Room, along with novelty acts and beautiful dancers. The night will also feature The Latin Dance Room and Patio with Latin Divas and Sexy Go-Go papi's performing and DJ Gio in the Windsor Lounge. For this special event festival cover is $15 from 11pm to Midnight and $20 after.

Thursday, November 30 Galleria Fort Lauderdale's BBX Capital Men of Style presented by Signature Grand and CAN Community Health, presents one of the most fashionable social events of the season, taking place today from 6 to 9 pm, and hosted by WPLG Local 10 Anchor Jacey Birch. This premier high energy fundraising event showcases a stellar roster of 12 prominent leaders who will rock the runway to make a positive impact in our community. For the past 16 years, Galleria Fort Lauderdale has proudly hosted this sold-out event. Tickets are $150 per person including complimentary valet parking and are available through the participating charities and online at www.galleriamallfl.com/events/men-of-style-2023. Online

The Manor voting is $25 per vote.

Shops at Merrick Park, Coral Gables' pristine destination for fine shopping and dining, is thrilled to usher in the holiday season with “Santa on the Green.”

Beginning today, and continuing every Thursday evening until December 21, from 6 – 9pm, the center's garden area will be filled with lively music and Santa himself, ready for photo opportunities. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early with a blanket or chair to reserve the perfect spot on the green and indulge in the variety of dining and shopping options. For more information about Shops at Merrick Park, call (305) 529-1215, or visit: Shopsatmerrickpark.com.

Image: facebook.com/karstensollorsmusic & facebook.com/DJAaronAanenson

Hurricane Showdown Glow Block Party from 8 to 11pm, starring DJ Gusttavo and Go-Go's Ever and Luis.

Friday, December 1 (World AIDS Day)

uEmail our NEW address WhatsHot@Hotspots.lgbt to have your items considered for What’s Hot HotspotsMagazine.com | 13

Hamburger Mary’s CAN Community Health and Galleria Fort Lauderdale have joined forces to commemorate World AIDS Day through an official public event aimed at raising awareness and providing a collective voice for global health. The public is invited at 8:30 am, to participate in “Rock The Ribbon,” an official kickoff ceremony in honor of World AIDS Day at Galleria Fort Lauderdale (2414 E. Sunrise Blvd.). For more information, call 941-300-4440 or visit Cancommunityhealth.org.

Compass presents a World AIDS Day ceremony and a chance to view the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt from 6-8 pm.

This is the 35th anniversary of the largest folk art in the world and in addition to the 20 panels you will see at Compass there are another 15 panels located at partner locations around the county.

Hamburger Mary's Wilton Manors presents from RuPaul's Drag Race and from The Boulet Brothers Dragula, the #1 Taylor Swift impersonator in the world, Jade Jolie with two seatings at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. If you can't make it on Friday, no worries as she will be performing on Saturday as well, same seatings. Book your reservations by

Michael Connell going to: Hamburgermarys.com/wiltonmanors.

Saturday, December 2 A tribute service for Michael Connell (CoOwner of Pub on the Drive) will be held at United Church of Christ Fort Lauderdale (2501 NE 30th St, Fort Lauderdale) at 2pm.

Following the service, Pub on the Drive will feature a Celebration of Life for Michael at 3:30pm featuring special guest performers.

Aqua Foundation presents their annual Aqua Affair celebrating their scholars and mentors from 7-9pm at a home on Fort Lauderdale beach. The returning scholars are Jett Porter, Misty Alicea, and Steph Frosch and the new scholars are Peyton Sibert, Ryan Hires, Cass Zangwill, and Nia Williams. To purchase tickets for this very important event, go to: https://tinyurl.com/aquaaffair23.

The Rapha Center presents the 5th annual “Code Red Gala: The Promise Of Healing” starting at 7:30pm at The Venue Fort Lauderdale. The night will be honoring DJ Gavin, Latonya Hopson, Adrianna Tender, Terry Dyer, Thomas Donall, DJ Dias, Richard Johnson, and David L. Jackson. The attire is

uEmail our NEW address WhatsHot@Hotspots.lgbt to have your items considered for What’s Hot 14 | HotspotsMagazine.com

formal rainbow and tickets are available at: Theraphacenter.org The Miami Gay Chorus presents the “Big Gay Holiday Show” featuring music, dancing, sing-alongs and love at Sandrell Rivers Theater (6103 NW 7th Avenue) at 7:30pm. Tickets are $30 in advance at Unitycoalition.org and $40 at the door.

Bears of South Florida presents their last Pool Party of the year, being held at Solstice at Wilton from noon to 4pm. BOSFL events raise money to help support LGBTQ+ organizations. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to: Bosfl.org.

Sunday, December 3 Dance NOW! Miami's Program I is called “Random Patterns of Falling Leaves.

Performances take place today at the Broward Center's Amaturo Theater, and again on Sunday, December 10 at Coral Gables Sanctuary for the Arts both at 6pm.

These evenings also include the world premiere of Tethered and a trademark classic piece, “Chronicles.” Dance NOW! Miami (DNM) is one of Florida's leading contemporary companies. For more info or to purchase tickets, go to: dancenowmiami.org.

Monday, December 4 Start off Miami Art Week at WEAM with the opening reception for their new show,

Tuesday, December 5 Ronnie Larsen presents “Jennifer McClain's Quirky Christmas Cabaret Sing-ALong” (a Christmas show you will not forget filled with fun sing-a-longs) tonight and tomorrow at 8pm. The show will feature musical direction by Eric Alsford with special guests. For tickets, go to Ronnielarsen.com.

Image: Jenny Abreu

Dance Now! Miami

“Bettina Rheims: Everything All At Once,” today at 7pm, produced in collaboration with the Kinsey Institute! Bettina Rheims, born in France in 1952, is a contemporary fine art and commercial photographer known for her portrayals of the nude body and her exploration and transformation of ideas about femininity, the male gaze, sexuality, and power in her work. For more information or to RSVP, go to: Weam.com.

Wednesday, December 6 Fridge Art Fair is pleased to announce The Rainbow Popsicle Edition, celebrating 10 years of the Miami edition of Fridge from today through December 10 at Courtyard Miami Coconut Grove The "little fair that could" first landed in Miami from New York's Lower East Side in December of 2013. The 10th anniversary edition will bring back many Fridge Favorites such as The Imaginary Fridge Art Fair Marching Band, Rainbow Popsicles, and more. Artist submissions are ongoing and members of the LGBTQ+ community are specially encouraged to apply. For further information, contact Eric Ginsburg at 202590-1357or go to fridgeartfair.com Artechouse, a pioneer in innovative, experiential art and the leading contemporary art space dedicated exclusively to technology-based art, is proud to announce its upcoming collaboration and digital art exhibition in Miami Beach titled “Future Sketches / Code

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Hot Stuff Last month, The World Luxury Awards announced the 2023 winners of the top hotels, spas, restaurants, and travel establishments. Rock Spa & Salon at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood earned three World Luxury Spa Awards including Best Luxury Casino Hotel Spa – Global, Best Luxury Hotel Spa in North America, and Best Luxury Resort Spa in North & Central Artechouse America. Rock Spa & Salon is one of the spa's we featured in this years Spa Poems” by renowned artist, researcher, and Edition and is a state-of-the-art facility and educator Zach Lieberman. The exhibition luxury oasis that spans 42,000 square feet, marks the next chapter in Lieberman's redefining tranquility for guests seeking journey, exploring the poetry within relaxation and rejuvenation. The computation and pushing the boundaries of picturesque co-ed atrium includes three creative coding as an expressive medium. The 800-square-foot couples treatment suites exhibition will open to the public during and a Himalayan salt room, perfect for Miami Art Week today and remain on display guests to bring friends and family. For more through May 2024. For tickets and more information about Rock Spa & Salon or information, visit Artechouse.com.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, visit HardRockHolly.com.

Thursday, December 7 Tonight, is the monthly Pride Skate (first Thursday of the month) at Xtreme Action Park (5300 Powerline Road, Ft laud) from 710pm. The night will star Velvet LeNore, Rianna Petrone, DJ Tpro, and a full liquor bar and lots of fun!

Pride Skate Nights are a benefit for Stonewall Pride.

Pig Week The 10 days of events starts today and goes through December 3. With tons of events, many of them taking place at the Ramrod (including the 195th Pig Dance on Saturday, Dec 2…check their ad in this mag for more events), they also have events at: Slammer 321, Alibi, Pool Parties, Clubhouse II, Wilton Social, Tropx, Gym Bar, Ed Lugo Resort, Eagle Wilton Manors, The Manor, Leather Werks, and Crunch Gym. Congrats to Chad and his team for taking a small 3day concept into a 10-day super successful festival. For more info, go to: Pigweek.com

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Pride Skate

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

>> For more photos, visit us at HotspotsMagazine.com

Photos: JR Davis

Equality Florida

Broward Gala

>> For more photos, visit us at HotspotsMagazine.com

Photos: JR Davis

Hurricane Showdown Blows Into South Florida

By S. Elfman

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For three days every year, the popular Hurricane Showdown has blown into town on Thanksgiving weekend in South Florida. It is the perfect time for locals to hunker down to watch some of the best LGBT softball players in the world compete.

Now in its 29th year, the event draws LGBT teams from all over the country to participate in this epic softball tournament. This year's games will happen on Friday, Nov. 24; Saturday, Nov. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 26.

The event is hosted by the South Florida Amateur Athletic Association (SFAAA), which was founded in 1994, for LGBT athletes. SFAAA is associated with the North America Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) and follows the rules of the United States of America Softball (USA).

This is Josh Yeager's first year as codirector of the SFAAA/Hurricane Showdown and his 8th year playing and/or volunteering. He said that there are 70 teams participating in this year's tournament.

“They are coming in from all over the country – and even Canada,” he said. “There are 5 divisions/levels of play, which include Upper, C, D, E, and Legends D.” Yeager said that the tournament has grown to be one of the largest of its kind in the country.

“We have grown to play at four different softball complexes,” he said. “There are 1,100 players and probably another 250 spouses, friends, and family members.

The four complexes include Mills Pond Park in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach 4 Fields Park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, and South County Park in Boca Raton.

The teams are composed of players of all ages — 18 is the minimum age but there are players in their 60s and 70s.

Yeager said that this year will have the addition of the Legends Division – for players age 50+ only. It was formerly known as the Master's Division.

The Hurricane Showdown is always an exciting event in South Florida. The host hotel for the players is Courtyard by Marriott on Fort Lauderdale Beach and

several parties will be held to celebrate the players.

On Wednesday, there will be a party at Lit Bar from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday is the annual Thanksgiving Day registration afterparty at Alibi. Alibi will also host a party on Friday as well as the SFAAA's ever Glow Party on Saturday. On Sunday, Hamburger Mary's will host the closing/awards ceremony. There will also be a Long Ball Derby for the players.

“It's a safe place for the LGBT players to come over a Holiday Weekend,” Yeager said of the annual event. “Many players' families don't support them and the camaraderie of a team event and all the social events we have makes for a great weekend.”

So, if you were bummed out about not having any family plans over the holiday these festivities may be the perfect solution for you to have a joyful Thanksgiving weekend.

For more information, visit hurricaneshowdown.net and if you have any questions, email showdown@sfaaasoftball.com

Pub On The Drive

Miss, Mr. and At Large Pageants

>>For more photos, visit us at HotspotsMagazine.com

Photos: Coco Alarcon

By Scott Holland

facebook.com

LEE – DARREN CRISS

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URGE MIAMI FESTIVAL

Rthis festival returns this Thanksgiving weekend with three massive nighttime events and two sizzling daytime fetes including the Royal Palm Pool Party and the legendary Beach Party on the sands of South Beach. Produced by Luis Morera, Billy Kemp, and Hilton Wolman.

Various Venues; Friday, November 24 through Sunday November 26; urgemiamifestival.com

Celebrate the holidays with award-winning actor, singer, and songwriter Darren Criss as he performs songs from his recent holiday album, A Very Darren Crissmas, ranging from big band Christmas classics to novelty tunes to modern-day folk-pop ballads. A Very Darren Crissmas showcases delivers both thrillingly unpredictable moments and a timeless sense of Christmas magic.

The Parker; Tuesday, November 28; 8pm; Tickets start at $49; Parkerplayhouse.com +++++++++++++++++

CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE

This annual tradition wraps a Broadway-style production around an infusion of contemporary circus arts. Audiences will have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads as a fantastical cast of holiday storybook characters come to life on stage. With an original musical score, this ultimate holiday gift for the entire family is sure to put a twinkle in your eye! Kravis Center; Friday and Saturday Nov 24&25; Tickets start at $29; Kravis.org +++++++++++++++++

BROADWAY *2

Pretty Woman: The Musical springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots). This show will lift your spirits and light up your heart. Arsht Center; Tues-Sun, Dec. 5-10; Tickets start at $35; Arshtcenter.org.

Mean Girls, is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey, composer Jeff Richmond, lyricist Nell Benjamin and original director & choreographer director Casey Nicholaw. Kravis Center; Tuesday through Sunday, December 5-10; Tickets start at $34; Kravis.org. +++++++++++++++++

BACHATA HITS

This show is filled with some of the hottest Bachata musicians including: Raulin Rodriguez, Elvis Martinez, Zacarias Ferreira, Luis Miguel del Amargue, Alex Bueno, Alex Sensation, and Alexandra.

Kayesa Center; Friday, November 24; 7pm; Ticket starts at $59; Kaseyacenter.com 40 | HotspotsMagazine.com

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

Fonseca

DUO - NE-YO & ROBIN THICKE

Ne-Yo is an R&B singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer, most notably recognized for his songwriting abilities.

Robin Thicke is a GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his 2013 hit single, “Blurred Lines.”

Hard Rock Live at The Seminole Hardrock Hotel and Casino Hollywood; Sunday, November 26 at 7pm; Tickets range from $55-$305; Seminolehardrockhollywood.com

HURRICANE SHOWDOWN

The South Florida Amateur Athletic Association (SFAAA) an LGBT softball league committed to providing an opportunity for both gay and non-gay participants to compete in an environment welcoming and open to the gay community presents their 29th Annual Hurricane Showdown over Thanksgiving Weekend.

Various Locations; Friday November 24th to Sunday November 26th; hurricaneshowdown.net. +++++++++++++++++

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Broward Center and The Performance Project present A Christmas Carol, The Musical. Join Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and a host of colorful characters for a traditional holiday tale. Especially adapted for family audiences, this musical production of the Charles Dickens classic is a wonderful way to celebrate the season with the entire family.

Broward Center; Thursday, Nov 30 – Saturday dec 2; Tickets start at $25; Browardcenter.org. +++++++++++++++++

COMEDIAN – RANDY RAINBOW

Randy Rainbow is a four-time EMMY and GRAMMY-nominated American comedian, producer, actor, singer, writer, satirist, host, and New York Times best-selling author known for his popular web series, The Randy Rainbow Show. His debut memoir, Playing with Myself received rave reviews by such venerable outlets as The LA TIMES, which noted that Rainbow "vividly recollects the alienation so many LGBTQ+ youth experience." Broward Center; Sunday, December 3; 8pm; Tickets start at $39.50; Browardcenter.org.

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VIVA COLOMBIA - FONSECA: VIAJANTE USA TOUR

Seven-time Latin Grammy Award-winner, Colombian artist FONSECA has become one of the top Latin Music artists on the 2023 music scene, delighting fans with his enchanting vocals and stage presence. A unique musical experience is in store as he performs hits from his award-winning album Viajante.

Kravis Center; Wednesday, November 29; 8pm; Tickets start at $39; Kravis.com.

HotspotsMagazine.com | 41

Taste of The Island, An Evening of Food & Libation

at Richardson Historic Park in Wilton Manors

Photos: KeansLlamera.com Photos: JR Davis

HotspotsMagazine.com | 53

Twist South Beach

Circuit Friday

>>For more photos, visit us at HotspotsMagazine.com

Photos: JR Davis

Interview by Scott Holland Photos of Dan by Dale Stine

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URGE Miami Festival returns this Thanksgiving weekend with three massive nighttime events and two sizzling daytime fetes including the Royal Palm Pool Party and the legendary Beach Party on the sands of South Beach. Produced by Luis Morera, Billy Kemp and Hilton Wolman, the LGBTQ+ festival weekend will take place November 24-27 and will feature a list of the world's most famous circuit DJs including Grammy Award winning DJ and producer Roger Sanchez playing at the city's most prestigious venues.

In addition to helping to usher in tourist dollars to the area, a portion of the proceeds from URGE Miami Festival will benefit Miami Beach Pride, an organization that celebrates the unique spirit and culture of the city's LGBTQ+ population.

URGE Miami Festival kicks off Friday, November 24 at 10pm with LA LECHE at M2 nightclub. The event marks Barcelona's Matinee Group return to the magic city and producers are promising a level of production that has not been seen before in Miami. DJ's Orel Sabag, Jerac and Ivan Gomez will man the decks. Dancers from Spain and Europe will keep the milk pouring on the dancefloor into the wee morning hours. Guests are encouraged to arrive dressed in white.

At 2pm on Saturday is the Royal Palm South Beach pool party, presented by Mexico's premiere party producer, ARENA. DJs Alexis Tucci and Brazil's Rick Braile will raise the temps with their high energy beats, making extensive use of the incredible facilities offered by Royal Palm.

Expect plenty of splish-splash fun and gorgeous men in skimpy bikinis.

The revelry continues Saturday night with an 80's revival theme party at the recently remodeled MAD Live, located in the heart of the Wynwood arts and fashion district. DJs Alex Lo and Mor Avrahami will whisk music fans back in time to the era of Pac Man and the Rubik's Cube, when MTV introduced the music video and launched the careers of many iconic artists. It leads to the signature event of the weekend: the longestablished Sunday Beach Party on the sands of South Beach.

This year's sandblast will take place at Ocean Drive at 13th Street. The Sunday afternoon event will feature a cabana stripe theme that pays homage to the mod fashion movement of 1960's Miami. There will also be interactive activities, music by DJs Dan Slater and Joe Gauthreaux and a grand firework show. “Our beach party is one of America's biggest LGBTQ beach parties and attracts fans from all

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over the world,” Wolman explains. “It is an experience in itself!”

We took the opportunity to photograph for the cover and interview DJ Dan Slater, who is 41, a Leo, and is originally from Sydney Australia (on a side note…has a very sexy accent).

When did you realize you wanted to be a DJ?

I grew up in dance and did a lot of musical theater. My last show was Chicago, before I decided to go to university. While there, I needed some creative outlet, so I decided to DJ. I didn't tell anyone, but I really enjoyed it. Music has always been in my family so it was a natural progression.

What was your rst residency, and how did that feel?

My first ever job was an opening set at Mardi Gras, but my first residency was Sunday afternoons at a bar called Hugos in Sydney. That ran for 2 years every Sunday.

What separates you from other DJs?

I love interacting with the crowd and my music is very upbeat and has a lot of vocals. I take inspiration from what I want to hear.

What are some memorable moments from the DJ booth?

The most memorable happened recently when I DJ'd at Sydney Pride for the “Domain Dance” party, and I saw my mom was dancing and enjoying my set. It was so amazing!

Describe yourself in 3 words?

Loyal, supportive, and fun

Other than DJing, what do you like to do for fun?

I love going to the beach, riding my bike, going to the gym, and watching trashy reality television.

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What should the South Florida audience expect from your set at the Iconic Beach Party on Sunday, November 26?

It will be a fun, uplifting experience for everyone to enjoy and also they get to see the best that south beach has to offer.

What does the future hold for you?

I'm very excited to be teaming up with THK to release a limited edition of swimwear and jockstraps, which we featured on the cover and in this editorial.

THK stands for Thirsty Male, and is cofounded and owned by Ryan Jude Tanner, Jay Krottinger & Jesse Burgess.

THK is a playful, affirming, sexy, inclusive, and thoughtful, Gay Menswear brand, of which I feel I am very much aligned with and proud to be releasing the swimwear and jockstraps together. The first THK + DAN SLATER release has vibrant colors with a classic fit that I hope helps everyone feels included and sexy.

In addition, we also featured pieces from another project I've been developing, DNDS Lifestyle: From go to show, DNDS is a lifestyle experience into the world of Dan Slater. Finding the balance between a fast paced, hectic, non-stop world, and the peaceful, calming, and tranquil moments in life. DNDS is Australianowned. I have developed a range of candles, beauty products and jewelry collection, DNDS Jewelry which we also featured in this issue of Hotspots Magazine.

For more information on sexy DJ Dan Slater, you have many choices…they are:

DJDanSlater.com; Merchandise: DanceNowDanSlater.com; DNDS Lifestyle: www.dndslifestyle.com;THK x DAN SLATER: thirstymale.com; facebook.com/DJDanSlater; instagram.com/danielsl8r; open.spotify.com/artist/2vPomR7qUAlp 61XOVdFmWy; twitter.com/danielsl8r; Bookings: info@djdanslater.com

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The weekend's Main Event takes place Sunday night at M2 nightclub. This year's party is titled URGE-Verse and will be headlined by the Grammy Award winning DJ and producer Roger Sanchez along with Tom Stephan, flying in from the UK, and Cesar Hernandez. The décor will be avant-garde and guests are encouraged to arrive in yellow.

This year's host hotel is the Royal Palm South Beach. With 400 rooms, more than a quarter of which are suites, the Royal Palm is one of South Beach's largest hotels, superbly located directly on the beach on Collins at the end of Ocean Drive. It offers superior experience and will serve as the location of URGE Miami Festival's Welcome Center and Saturday Pool Party.

Complimentary transportation will be provided from/to Royal Palm South Beach for all weekend events.

Tickets for URGE Miami Festival are available now at urgemiamifestival.com.

GA and VIP tickets are available, as is the popular 24-hour pass that includes the Sunday Beach Party and the weekend's main event URGE-Verse.

> DJ Dan Slaters Top 10 • Dua Lipa, Dance The Night Away • Troye Sivan, Rush • Purple Disco Machine, Bad Company • Loreen, Tattoo • Miley Cyrus, Flowers • RÜFÜS DU SOL, Treat You Better (Purple Disco Machine Remix) • Joanne, Jackie (Mind Electric's 25th Anniversary Remix) • Taylor Swift, Cruel Summer Stephen Jusko & DJ Blacklow with Debby Holiday, Love Lift Me Up (Dan Slater Disco Remix) • Disco Dom, Be The One (ft. Yung Bae)

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photo: Sean Black

Amy Schneider, In Her Own Words

The “Jeopardy!”

Champ on Fame, Activism and Book Bans

By Chris Azzopardi

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Amy Schneider has made at least one thing clear: she is the person you want on your trivia team. The Ohio native ruled the “Jeopardy!” stage this year like a queen in her castle and it was historymaking big, as she became the most successful woman ever to compete on the ultimate quiz competition show.

Schneider left “Jeopardy!” $1.3 million richer, and she left the world at large with something even more valuable — an invitation, for all the families watching, to understand her life as a trans person.

“So, when did I know I was trans?

Always. Never. In 1986, or 1993, or 1996, or 2011, or 2016, or 2017, or any and all years in between,” she writes in her debut memoir, “In the Form of a Question: The Joys and Rewards of a Curious Life.” “I've come to realize that I don't much care when I knew I was trans, or even if I know it now. All I care about is that you know. And now you do.”

Now that Schneider has the world's attention, she's using her platform to

Congratulations on the book. What is going through your mind right now as you promote it?

The Mattachine Society

Oh, I mean, it's just been a blur. I've been in New York for four days, and I did “CBS Mornings” and “The View” today and I just barely have time to stop and think about it.

But yesterday I did go to a Barnes & Noble a couple blocks away, and indeed there it was.

It's really real, so it's pretty exciting.

What was it like seeing your book at Barnes & Noble for the �rst time?

Pretty great. The real moment was when I got my author's copies; that really hit me. I just remember looking at it being like, "It's got an ISBN number. It's official. It's part of the record now."

If ever there was a time for a trans activist, especially one such as yourself with a universal, beloved platform, it's now. But what's so unique

“I am legitimately the world's expert on my own mind and my brain and what's going on inside of it.

How can anyone else even think that they know better than me and what my own internal truth is?”

about your platform is the audience you attracted just by being a “Jeopardy!” contestant. How do you think being on “Jeopardy!” helped you reach an audience who may not understand trans people or are just blatantly anti-trans?

I certainly knew going in that it's an older demographic that watches “Jeopardy!”

And so those are people that are less likely to know trans people or to be supportive of trans rights, so I was definitely bracing myself for a lot of negative feedback from the “Jeopardy!” audience. The fact is that that was really minimal. Instead, what I heard from so many different people was usually talking about their parents or people in their family who had seen me and were like, “You're the first trans person that I ever heard them gender correctly and use the right pronouns [for]. It really changed the way I think about trans people's place in our society.”

I think that there is a loud minority of people that are motivated by hatred and othering and hierarchies. But I think most of the people that they get their votes from that end up supporting these policies aren't doing it out of that motivation. They're doing it because they were raised in an America that taught that trans people were frightening and scary and weird and laughable, as I was.

I was raised with all those same messages,

photo: facebook.com/jeoprady

open up about the intimate parts of what a trans life can look like. It may be eyeopening for some outside the queer community and, even for those within it, surprising and affirming: her newfound fame (and zealousness for the free touchscreen toaster fame afforded her), having ADD, being pro-polyamory (not so popular in the Midwest, she admits), her touching experience with a prostitute and how doing theater was critical in helping her understand who she is. I spoke with Schneider at the end of September, the same week her book hit shelves.

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and if you have never encountered an actual trans person, you're just not going to question what you've always been told. And so for all those people, it was just once they saw me — and I just obviously am not any of those ridiculous things — then that was all that needed to happen for them to change their mind, which I was not expecting.

With this book, instead of writing just about your “Jeopardy!” experiences, you've decided to present an in-depth look at your full life as a trans person.

At the time I was pitching the book, I just spent a few months doing nothing but talking about “Jeopardy!” I just was tired of it, so that was part of why I didn't want to just make it about that. But then there were two things I was thinking of. One was those people who had gotten to know me. They had seen my most presentable, likable, normal self. While that wasn't inauthentic, it's a big simplification of who I am and what my life has been. So if those same people were to encounter trans people in real life and not just on TV and see the complexities and not necessarily as relatable things that have happened to them, then maybe they're just like, "Oh, why can't they just be like that Amy from TV?" It was something I felt a responsibility to do — to show my full self in that sense, so that you could see that those things about me aren't incompatible with being successful and being nice and smart. And so that I shouldn't be written off for them, and neither should other people.

“When you shield yourself from information, you make yourself less knowledgeable, and ultimately you're going to be less powerful if you know less.”

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Then the other audience I was thinking of was just other trans people specifically like me, the younger version of me. What are the things that I wish I had known a lot sooner about what it really means to be trans and what that internal experience is like? And the simplified version that I understood and that some trans people have lived up to?

I've known trans people in childhood who were fighting with their parents over what clothes to wear from age 4. That was my understanding of what counted as a real trans person, and [I thought] since that didn't apply to me, I couldn't be a real trans person. I can only tell my own story, but it is a story that I sure would've liked to have heard when I was younger.

In the beginning of the book, though, you do say that this is not a book for kids. Was it difficult for you to decide between writing a book that could reach a younger LGBTQ+ demographic given how a book by you could in�uence them, but ultimately opting to write a book that is more adult-oriented?

Well, actually, the good news is that I didn't really have to choose because in the deal that I signed, the agent that originally reached out to me mostly does children's literature. She was just going to make sure that any deal I signed had an option for a children's version of it as a middle-grade version. And so that is something that we're in the early stages of.

I love that there's a chapter about polyamory.

Again, I feel like it will be one in which people may read your book because they loved you on “Jeopardy!” and they'll get to that chapter and their mind might be blown. Why did you decide to express that side of yourself in the book?

It's something that I feel strongly about, and here's this platform. I get the chance to write a book, and it's something that I think is so misunderstood. I feel like in retrospect, I could have gotten this point across slightly more clearly. But to me, it's more about sexual monogamy being the one and only definition of a relationship. I find [it] baffling, to be honest. I think that it partly comes from patriarchal types of ownership. I think that certainly I know that when I was living as a man in a

polyamorous relationship, it was other men who were extremely hostile to me for it.

Really, it made them angry that "I would allow my wife to have sex with other people." So it is just something that I feel strongly about, and I also know that I'm in the extreme minority with that viewpoint.

Trans rights have a decent following, but polyamory is still pretty niche. It is going to surprise people, and just let people know that there are rational people out there who believe in that.

are just people who deserve the same dignity as everyone else. When somebody does that, that's a one-way street. They don't end up going back on that.

So the people that are targeting us right now, it's this backlash because they see themselves losing, and they will. It doesn't mean that there's not a lot of hardship and suffering being caused by them now, and that's awful, and we should resist as much as we can, but there is a legitimate reason not to despair.

Keep fighting is all that you can do. I think that the thing that I would say is, first of all, when it comes to medical care, there is some reason for hope in the course that these things won't be enforceable. That's no guarantee either, of course. The other thing is to comfort ourselves with the fact that time is on our side on this. Every day somebody sees a trans person on TV or something happens where they get it, and they realize that trans people

This is what's so crazy to me about people who say negative and hateful things to me, saying, "Oh, you're really a man." I am legitimately the world's expert on my own mind and my brain and what's going on inside of it. How can anyone else even think that they know better than me and what my own internal truth is? That's something that anyone can remind themselves of. You may not be a “Jeopardy!” champion, you may not be these other things, but the one thing you are truly an expert in is yourself. You can

What would you tell a kid that makes them not feel like the "deviant subhuman" that some consider trans people to be?

photo: facebook.com/amyschneider

You �ew home to your home state of Ohio on the day you were attending the Out100 Gala to testify against a bill that would restrict genderaffirming medical care for minors. That bill is still in committee. What do we do if and when it potentially passes?

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rely on that and know that other people, if they disagree, they're just definitively wrong because how could they know?

It's an interesting time to release a book as a trans person, given that books with queer content are under attack. It is possible your book could be banned from libraries. What do you say to the people who want to get rid of our literature and our books and potentially your book?

I would say that people that believe in banning books are unlikely to become “Jeopardy!” champions. When you shield yourself from information, you make yourself less knowledgeable, and ultimately you're going to be less powerful if you know less.

Young people will �nd that knowledge no matter what you take away from them. They have other ways to be connected. There is TikTok. There is YouTube.

photo: Sean Black

Yeah. I mean, even before the internet that

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was always the case. Certainly, I was raised in a family and community that did their darndest to keep me from learning anything about sex, but I figured it out.

Since your fame happened and wasn't something you were expecting, was there ever a moment where you had to wrestle with being the major trans activist that you have become?

Yeah, it certainly is. I mean, it is an ongoing thing that I continue to wrestle with. Since I testified in Ohio, I haven't really done anything like that again. There's a part of me that feels somewhat guilty about that.

Not overwhelmingly, but I wish I had continued more of that specific type of activism. It's also, I've got this book to write and I've got to balance my own mental wellbeing, and how much I'm willing to take on and all of those things.

This platform is extremely lucky but lucky doesn't mean undeserved. I'm fortunate to have this opportunity, but that doesn't mean I don't have the right to take advantage of it and to use the platform that I have. That's something that took me a while to start to accept.

But just today, one of the crew on one of the shows I did during this press run pulled me aside to say that they had a trans daughter that had just come out, and that was very meaningful to her to have seen me. I do hear those stories, and it's the best thing ever to hear a story like that.

Because I feel so passionately about the trans kids out there and what they're up against, and it makes me so sad at times.

To hear that I'm helping some of them is just the very best feeling.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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.

By Maria Espinal

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1. Miami Wonderland

Tropical Park • 7900 SW 40th St. • Miami, FL 33155 Friday, Nov. 17th - Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 Holidays are already around the corner and the doors have opened at Miami's Tropical Park for the newest Holiday themed park in Florida, Miami Wonderland (not the same as Santa's Enchanted Forest). Plan to enjoy a collection of the finest attractions, including roller coasters and the largest traveling Ferris wheel in North America. Come with family and or friends and enjoy carnival food and treats as you explore the amusement center. Free parking is available at TP and trolleys will be available in parking lots. Adults Tickets are $39 online; kids 3-10yr $29 only.

2. Flamingo Flea

flamingoflea.com This is a great event to go shopping, eat and have fun.

The Flamingo Flea, Handmade Market & Pop Ups, curates recurring markets of eclectic talents created throughout South Florida. Furthering growth and sustainability for local artists and innovators. Check out vendors, live music or enjoy craft beer or brunch. The next events for the Flamingo Flea will take place in Fort Lauderdale (Nov 25th & Dec 6th at various locations) and Boca Raton on Sunday, Dec 16th at Crazy Uncle Mikes, 6450 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton 12PM-4PM. Stay connected on social media or website to check locations.

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3. Golden Girls Kitchen

301 NW 23rd St.• Miami, FL 33127 bucketlisters.com The Golden Girls-themed restaurant has already landed in Wynwood, starting at $34 per person, and will be running through end of the year. Pull up a chair to The Golden Girls Kitchen. This custom, detailed dining experience is inspired by the girls' favorite iconic Miami hangouts, as well as other memorable moments from the beloved franchise.

Your ticket includes a 90-minute reservation as well as your choice of a Golden Main + Slice of cheesecake. There will be a drag show every Sunday and multiple areas for photo opps.

3. Holiday In Paradise

100 N. Clematis St. • West Palm Beach, FL 33401 wpb.org • 561.822.1515 The City of West Palm Beach will officially mark the start of the holiday season on Thursday, November 30, from 6-10 p.m., with the Clematis by Night Holiday Tree Lighting. Sandi, the world's only 700ton holiday sand tree, will take center stage. Other sand sculptures will also be on display along the West Palm Beach Waterfront, collectively making up 100 tons of sand. And back by popular demand, Cousin Ferris will give fans the thrill of enjoying Holiday in Paradise from an aerial view. This will take place through December 31st.

Culture Club

Darryl Stephens Returns

as “One of the Boys” in this Sequel to this Gay Classic

By Paul Hutnick Photos By Matthew Rettenmund

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“Boy Culture” was a landmark in queer cinema. Released in 2006, it told the story of a male escort and his two roommates in Seattle as they navigated love, sex, and complicated relationships. The film was celebrated for its candid portrayal of queer life, offering a nuanced and authentic narrative that resonated with many.

Now, nearly two decades later, Darryl Stephens returns to reprise the character for the film's long-awaited sequel, “Boy Culture: Generation X.” The new film aims to capture the essence of the original while exploring the new challenges gay men face in a changing world. We spoke with Darryl Stephens from his home in Los Angeles, where he expressed his gratitude in taking on the role again, for the opportunity it offered in continuing the conversation around queer representation, love, and acceptance in today's society.

You've starred in Noah's Arc, Another Gay Movie, Circuit, Boy Culture, and now Boy Culture: Generation X. Are you the king of gay cinema?

I'm sure some white dude has already laid claim to that title, but I do get around. Or I did back in the day. I think back then, a lot of gay actors were worried that doing gay projects would limit their access to non-gay roles in mainstream projects, whereas I saw each project as an opportunity to work and be seen. Even if gay indie films were the only gigs I was getting, the roles I was playing were so varied! It was a helluva time!

How has gay cinema evolved over the last twenty years?

It seems like "gay" has gotten more "queer" in cinema and our stories are moving past "blond boy meets brunette boy" to include characters who are trans and gender expansive and from cultures of the global majority. We're exploring more complicated and nuanced characters as well.

Melodramatic coming out stories have made way for comedies about high school lesbians who start all-girl fight clubs to bag cheerleaders. I think we've firmly established that “we're here and we're queer” and now

we're finally getting to explore the messiness of what being queer in the world right now actually entails. And we're getting to see queer characters who are empowered and exercising their agency instead of victims and tragic closet cases.

Would you say audiences have changed? Or perhaps what viewers want from gay cinema has changed?

Audiences have evolved along with the culture itself. Queer kids today are standing up in the face of conservatives and making it clear that they are no longer interested in

conforming to the patriarchal white cis heteronormative bullshit we've all been stuck in. And hopefully, cinema is reflecting that as well. I think it's important to note that for a long time, for a gay film to be successful, there was an expectation that someone would be naked and having graphic gay sex. Now, with the internet and the countless porn sites at our fingertips at all times, gay films no longer carry the burden of providing that singular glimpse into our sex lives. So now we have more space to explore our emotional lives in film.

The new lm is even more diverse than the

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rst and talks a lot more about race.

Well, the first film took place in Seattle, which at the time felt very white. Director Allan Brocka insisted on making my character black, even though he was a cornfed white boy in the book. Allan's always been about pushing the envelope and expanding the aperture of gay cinema to include more diverse characters. But he and Matthew Rettenmund (author of the book and co-writer of the new film) were very intentional this time about discussing race, and more specifically, the blind spots inherent in interracial relationships. I think both writers probably have insights into how challenging it is to navigate conversations around race in an intimate context and it really makes for original and bold storytelling.

Is it why you decided to be a part of Boy Culture: Generation X? Quite honestly, I was excited to work with Allan again. As a director, he pulls

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something out of me that I rarely get to explore in my work. Andrew's very thoughtful and a lot of what he's experiencing is in his head. He's not the funny one or the sassy one. He's the thoughtful one. He's the one who is struggling to figure out what he wants to do with his life. And Allan gives me space to find that quiet uncertainty.

Was it easy to jump back into the role of Andrew?

Most of my scenes are with Derek Magyar, so Andrew came pretty naturally. I feel very lucky that Derek was able to do this project because he initially had a scheduling conflict and they thought they would have to recast the role. Fortunately, it all worked out because working with him all those years ago, we created a shorthand, and a real appreciation for what the other actor was bringing.

When we last saw Andrew in the rst Boy Culture movie, he and Magyar's character, X,

were together at last. Where is Andrew ten years later in Boy Culture: Generation X?

Well, they've broken up but they're still living together in LA. X has decided after all this time to return to sex work just as Andrew is realizing he has no idea who he is or what he wants. It's that late 30s existential crisis of "am I just my job or is there more to me than this?"

Who is to blame for the predicament in which Andrew and X nd themselves?

X apparently broke up with Andrew, but by the time this story begins, the details of the breakup aren't really the focus. They're trying to navigate living together as their lives take them in different directions.

Newcomer Jason Caceres joins the BC mix as Chayce. What was it like working with him?

Jason is a delight; truly. He's got killer comedic timing, and he knows exactly what he's doing on set. He seems young but he's a pro.

Does Chayce represent the new gay? It's crazy to realize that the rst movie came out before Grindr!

Chayce represents a new gay. In many ways, he could just as easily be a straight guy teaching X how to monetize sex in the digital age, because if you look at who is dominating sites like OnlyFans, it's straight dudes who have learned how to market their bodies to gay men. Kids these days, I'll tell ya...

What's next for you, Darryl?

Kyle Puccia and I have written a pilot that we're producing this winter. It's a comingof-age comedy about a trans athlete finding his tribe in a new school. As you know, Hollywood has been rocked by labor strikes these past few months and we've all had to confront the reality of what streamers and studio execs think of the artists that keep the industry going. It's been disheartening, to say the least.

Several streamers have also recently been canceling queer shows and then taking them down so viewers can't even revisit the series. It has all really highlighted the need for production companies that value our work and our stories. So that's what I'm working on. Telling stories and creating platforms that allow us to see ourselves.

You know, changing the world type stuff.

Boy Culture: Generation X is available for TVOD rental across numerous platforms including Apple, Amazon, Google.

For more information, visit dekkoo.com.

Sex work has also changed so much in the last few years.

The shroud of mystery that X used to his advantage during the first film isn't what sells these days. Now, everyone is selling sex. During the pandemic, actors and fashion models had to pay their bills somehow. Suddenly everyone was naked on the internet.

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Gay Men s Chorus of South Florida

Chic & Unique Ball Gala

>>For more photos, visit us at HotspotsMagazine.com

Photos: JR Davis

Photo by: Mathieu Bitton

Palm Beach Improv Premieres at Kravis Center with Jeff Ross Dec 8th - 9th

By Scott Holland

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The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce a new collaboration with the Palm Beach Improv.

A comedy staple in downtown West Palm Beach for more than 20 years, the Palm Beach Improv will join with the Kravis Center to continue their tradition of presenting the best live comedy to South Florida audiences.

The new collaboration, Palm Beach Improv at the Kravis Center promises weekends of uproarious laughter in an up close and personal setting featuring nationally renowned Improv artists.

The side-splitting line-up kicks off with Jeff Ross, AKA “The Roastmaster General” December 8 & 9 at 7pm & 9:45pm and continues with Carlos Mencia, December 29 & 30 at 7pm & 9:30 pm, Emmy and SAG-nominated actor and comedian, Kevin Nealon January 19 & 20 at 7pm & 9:30pm and fan favorite Preacher Lawson February 9 & 10 at 7pm & 9:30pm.

Additional artists to be announced throughout the season.

Palm Beach Improv at the Kravis Center

is reserved theater style seating. A full bar and light bites are available for purchase in the lobby for each show.

Jeff Ross (AKA “The Roastmaster General”) is a one-man verbal assault unit.

For years, his name has been synonymous with Roasting. As a staple on the Comedy Central Roasts, Jeff has anchored the roasts of the industry's most famous people including Justin Bieber, Alec Baldwin, Bruce Willis, James Franco, Charlie Sheen and more. His newest work, Take A Banana For The Ride is a hilarious and touching oneman show celebrating the lives of his grandfather, his best friends, and his dog.

This intimate and revealing show offers a glimpse underneath the thick skin of America's Roastmaster. It was a pleasure to sit down with Jeff Ross just a few weeks before his performance at the Kravis Center.

Did you always perform, even as a kid?

I am from New Jersey from a family of ball busters, and we all kind of performed. It's just kind of how we talked. We talked in comedy and insults. It's a jersey thing.

Do you remember your rst stand-up set and how was it?

OMG it was in 1989 it was April fool's day, and it was a place on 54th street called the “Ye Old Tripole Inn.” I went on after a juggler. It was exciting and titillating. I loved it right away. I did jokes about the catering business, as my family owned a catering business.

What was your rst paid gig, and how much did you get paid?

It was $20, and it was at a comedy club in NYC. And that's how much spots paid. They don't pay that much more now…LOL! When you are working out new material, it was cab far. It was probably around 199-‘91. I probably have that 20 bill somewhere in a scrapbook. You never forget your first paid gig!

When did you know stand up/performing would be your career?

I never thought of it as a career. I still only think of it as a hobby as I love it so much. I think of it as life's mission. Its why I am here on this earth.

How did you get the title of “Roastmaster General”?

One day Jimmy Kimmel introduced me that

way, and it stuck. I don't know who made it up. It's a homage to the Toastmaster general.

In your long career is there one performance or city that stands out to you?

WOW, I am coming down to south Florida soon, and one thing that stands out is the diversity of my audience in Sofla; I love that. They all fit into my world and get my sense of humor. South Florida's environment feels like a homecoming even though I don't officially live there. I don't even stay at a hotel; I stay with friends.

What has been your favorite roast, and why?

Whomever is next, it is so much fun.

Is it hard being on the road a lot?

No, I love it. I have friends everywhere I go. I am lucky enough in my career to only take gigs in the cities that I enjoy.

Describe yourself in 3 words?

Too much pasta!

What do you do for fun?

I write jokes and tell them to people…everyone should try it. Don't leave laughter out of your daily vitamin regimen.

What should our readers expect from your show at the Kravis Center?

It's about How I became a comedian and it's a tribute to the men and women who made me who I am. Towards the end of my show I bring people on stage to get roasted. I have even had people on stage who start roasting me, and those are great moments; I love them. Short of taking medicine, roasts are the most healing thing you can do. I want it to be a communal cathartic experience.

In addition, this is a new show that I have been work-shopping, and the Florida audience will be one of the first to see it.

It's about life and death. There is music and song, and roasting. It's a multimedia experience. My shows are very therapeutic.

Follow him at: c/therealjeffreyross Tickets for Palm Beach Improv at the Kravis Center are on sale at Kravis.org. To purchase by phone or in person, call 561.832.7469 or visit the Box Office MonSat, 12pm to 5pm.

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Holiday Parties Celebrate Your Way

By S. Elfman

Some of us dread the holidays while some of us live for them. A good way to connect both sides is to start a holiday tradition that everyone can look forward to. Why not put a twist on the tried and true? Here are some ideas that may jingle your bells.

Cookie Swap

This popular tradition involves asking around eight friends to each bring a dozen cookies with them so you can all swap the sweets, and leave with a variety of delicious baked goods.

Make it yours: Ask each guest to bring beer or wine that pairs well with their cookies and make it a Cookies and Wine Swap.

Note: Darker wines go with darker, heavier desserts and lighter wines go with lighter, fluffier ones.

Ugly Sweater Party

We tend to don our sweaters when it hits a temperature below 75, so this tradition does work for Floridians. For this party, guests wear an ugly holiday sweater and 112 | HotspotsMagazine.com

hang out, drink and eat.

Make it yours: Make it an Ugly Underwear Party – holiday-themed undies a plus.

Ornament Exchange

Another popular traditional activity is an Ornament Exchange. This is a great way to gather friends. Everyone gets a new ornament for their tree and a new memory for their hearts, Aw! Guests bring ornaments with them and display them next to a number. Then numbers are picked from a hat and guests are presented with the ornament that matches up.

Make it yours: Make it an Ugly Ornament Exchange. Or an Sexy Ornament Exchange.

You can also get crafty and have everyone make ornaments together.

common is White Elephant. To play, guests bring a wrapped gift and each gift is assigned a number. Each person picks a number out of a hat and their number will correspond to a gift. Then, they get a chance to either keep it or swap it for another gift (that's already been opened) from someone in the group. Each gift can be stolen three times and there is typically a price limit assigned.

Make it yours: Choose a theme. It can be joke gifts, X-rated gifts, edible gifts, etc.

Have fun with it.

Re-live Your Childhood

Gather your loved ones, wear matching pajamas and watch your favorite holiday movies. Sleepover parties should not be only for kids. It can be just as fun for adults – but perhaps with plusher sleeping bags (our aching backs!). Gather and exchange gifts either that night or in the morning.

Don't forget to take photos!

Make it yours: Make boozy hot cocoa and really amp up that breakfast spread. You're an adult now, you can do better than a bowl of cereal. Have a mimosa!

Give Back

Dreidel Games/Hanukkah Party

A good Hanukkah party involves lots of latkes, chocolate gelt and a game or two of dreidel. A dreidel for the uninitiated is a spinning top game. Each side of the top has a Hebrew letter on it. Players put tokens or coins in the middle or in “the pot.” If you land on the Gimmel: the player takes all the tokens in the pot, on Hey: they take half the pot, on Shin: the player adds coins to the pot and the letter nun: nothing happens. The winner is the player who wins the whole pot.

Make it yours: Coins or tokens? That's child's play. Raise the stakes! You can make this a full-on fun gambling situation and add actual money to the pot. Of course, it would be extra nice to donate the winning money to charity, but you do you.

There are several ways to give back. Start a collection of toys for kids in need, donate time at a soup kitchen, visit a senior home, foster a pet. Check your favorite non-profit organization's website for ideas on how to help this holiday season.

Make it yours: This is one tradition that does not need to be improved upon.

White Elephant

This tradition has many names, but the most HotspotsMagazine.com | 113

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“

...the changes exist as women and women-identified people in general are looking for one another to create a network of support. I believe this is a positive change but one that we need to foster more opportunities for and believe MDGLCC has a platform to help in this arena.”

The Women in Our Orgs: Lisette Garcia

Director of Programming and External Affairs at the Greater Miami LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce

By Maria Espinal

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As we start a new series of features in which we will highlight the valuable women who are part of our LGBT local and national organizations, some you may know and others you will get to know. Allow me to introduce you to lovely Lisette Garcia, the Director of Programming and External Affairs at the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) since December 2021.

A native to Miami, Lisette brings over 25 years of business development, marketing, management and external affairs experience to MDGLCC. In the 90's, Lisette worked at Sony Latin as Marketing and Promotions Manager on Lincoln Road. From there,

she decided to move to Boston to finish her education. She attended Simmons University and graduated with a Bachelors in Management. She lived in Boston for over 11 years and while there worked with three start ups, one of which was as a co-founder of the first Gay Wedding Planning business in the state and the other was co-founder of Color Magazine, an all-inclusive publication.

In 2010, Lisette moved back home to be closer to her family and continued her journey with start ups that included car2go and Lime. She has an advocacy heart for all things LGBTQ that revolve around equity and inclusion.

Do you have any female LGBT icons who have left a mark on you and/or motivated you to be part of an LGBT organization?

All women that have paved the way before me are iconic. Within my circle of friends, I have been motivated by several women such as Marta Neira, who encouraged, motivated, and taught me to be involved in the LGBT community.

How did the opportunity to be part of MDGLCC come about for you? Was it something you looked for or did it find you?

general and how important it is to be connected in person. Safety first, we always provide masks and opportunities for virtual events to ease people into a full in person networking programming experience.

Do you think women's needs within our community have changed, if any?

Yes, I believe they have in a way. We need places where younger women can find their voice and I believe there are organizations that cater to them well, but there are those that are older that are looking for ways to gather in a more intimate setting/environment. Either way, the changes exist as women and womenidentified people in general are looking for one another to create a network of support. I believe this is a positive change but one that we need to foster more opportunities for and believe MDGLCC has a platform to help in this arena.

How big is the women's base of members and/or supporters at MDGLCC?

We have a wide array of member organizations and representatives at

The opportunity found me via a good friend of mine. I am here thanks to her and to Steve's willingness to accept me as part of the MDGLCC team.

What did you see as your biggest challenges, especially after COVID?

I was not around during Covid so I can't really say. However, I can share that I experienced shifts in how people network in

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MDGLCC. We don't obtain demographic information from our members but can share that our membership base of organizations and their representatives are 60% allied and 40% LGBTQ with a wide array of gender identities.

With the whole "all-inclusive" term, do you see the women-oriented programs at LGBT organizations staying for much longer?

I hope women-oriented programs stay around as they are needed but perhaps what you might be referring to is the shift that is occurring with folx in our communities becoming more fluid and less siloed in their humanness. Either way, I do believe that there are those that will be leading the way to create opportunities for women to always have a place in our communities. I remain hopeful.

What's ahead for the Women's Empowerment Council at MDGLCC?

We are planning more curated experiences such as art gallery/museum tours, classes (such as dance, cooking, archery, golf), quarterly Women's Dine Out series and some social mixers. Our Chair, Lexi Goza, and Co-Chair, Jessica Stadelmann, are working alongside us to make sure we create a robust and empowering 2024 programming calendar…so stay tuned!

“

We here at MDGLCC have been fortunate in our staffing choices. After the retirement of our Director of Programming, who was with us for 12 years, I thought finding a replacement would be a very difficult (and long) process. It was by good fortune that Lisette Garcia was looking for a change in her professional circumstances, and we connected shortly after. The connection was immediate, and MDGLCC could not have found a more perfect person for this role. Lisette is a friendly, thoughtful, and hard-working professional who loves what she does...and we love her back. Sometimes the stars do align, and they sure did for us in bringing Lisette into the Chamber.”

—Steve Adkins, President & CEO

Greater Miami LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce

MDGLCC - Greater Miami LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce 1130 Washington Avenue - 1st Floor North Miami Beach, FL 33139 • 305-673-4440 • gaybizmiami.com

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HOT PUZZLE

Our Guy at Hallmark >>>>>> To see answers, visit hotspotsmagazine.com/crossword

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29 1998 Broadway musical 34 Mystery story pioneer 35 Striped shirt wearer 36 Like a love triangle 37 Pampering, briefly 38 Israeli author Oz 40 Drop from a duct 142 | HotspotsMagazine.com

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