What's HOT South Florida :: 05/14 - 05/20

A week ago Monday, Oscar A presented the return of Miss Fort Lauderdale F.I. after being gone for over a decade. It was a fabulous pageant at the Ramada on State Road 84, and in the end the new Miss Fort Lauderdale F.I. is Velvet Lenore and the 1st Alternate was Sapphire Bleu. Congrats to Oscar on a fabulous inaugural pageant.

The bi-monthly Mack Power Lunch, Fort Lauderdale's most popular gay/straight-friendly professional networking lunch, took place on Tuesday at Beauty & The Feast, and was once again hugely successful.

On Cinco De Mayo, Rumors featured not only a taco bar, but, for the second year in a row, a live mariachi band, which was great fun. On Thursday, Sharde Ross presented the annual Mr. Village Pub contest which was once again a fab time. Congrats to the new Mr. Village Pub, Jose Manuel Vega, and the 1st Alternate Steve Soto.

The ninth annual SAVE Champions of Equality Reception was held on Friday at Briza on the Bay. The honorees this year were Arianna Lint, transgender services director for SunServe; Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, local and national transgender advocate; and Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg, president of Florida International University, one of the fastest-growing public universities in the state of Florida.

On Saturday night. the Harvey Milk Foundation and the Pride Center at Equality Park presented the inaugural "Diversity Honors" at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, which featured close to 400 community members. It was an amazing night! This collaborative event celebrated the achievements of those who have had a transformational effect on the lives of others by promoting inclusion and acceptance. The event was hosted by Craig Stevens, WSVN news anchor, with special presenter Stuart Milk, and featured performer, the iconic Joey Arias, whose performance was AMAZING!

The annual Beach Bear Weekend went on all weekend long, with events in the host hotel and all over town. Hunters had a few official parties, and was packed with bears!

Thursday, May 14

Sidelines Sports Bar will be celebrating its 9th anniversary all weekend long. Tonight stop in all day/night to see some familiar faces from the day Sidelines Sports Bar opened its doors on Friday, May 12th, 2006. You will find the much-missed peanuts back on the bars for one night only! Behind the bar you will find Lori Tanner, Chris Knapp, Ryan Deutscher, along with some familiar faces who have been around all 9 years, and you can continue to see many days and nights at Sidelines including Dean, Debbie, Evan, Keith Allen, Keith Richards, and Rusty!! It's a true #TBT Throwback Thursday! On top of the peanuts making a return for the night, you will find some old photos and memorabilia from the opening days, as well as the foosball game will make a return for the evening. So go out and catch up with some friends from the days of Sidelines Grand Opening in 2006!! Sidelines will be celebrating the anniversary all weekend long through Sunday May 17th, 2015. The entire Hotspots Media Group would like to wish Laurie and Jennifer and the entire staff a very happy 9th anniversary!

Shardee Ross presents the annul Miss Village Pub Pageant, an official Preliminary to Miss Florida F.I. 2015, contest starting at 8 pm at Village Pub. The contest features $1,500 in prize packages and the winner will be debuting in Shardee's show on May 21. To register contact Shardee at [email protected] or see Mark or Greg at Village Pub.

South Beach Chamber Ensemble presents Brahms and Faur� with 2 performances. The first is tonight at 8 pm at the Coral Gables Museum (285 Aragon Avenue) and the second is on Sunday, May 17 at 6 pm at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden (2000 Convention Center Drive). In their final concerts of the season they will dazzle the audience with Brahms Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60 (1875). They will contrast the Brahms with Faur�'s Piano Quintet #2 in G minor, Op.45 (1886). Tickets online or at the door: $25 adults and $15 students and seniors. For more information go to SobeChamberEnsemble.org or call 305 673-2183.

In a community-wide collaboration with more than a dozen local non-profit organizations, ArtServe presents "Inside/OUT, Art as Healing Therapy" until May 29 in the J.M. Family Gallery. The multi-media exhibit explores the many ways art heals the soul as both a means of expression and as a therapeutic tool. "Inside/OUT, Art as Healing Therapy" is curated by ArtServe Program Manager Allan Baldwin and also features works by ArtServe members and local artists. The free gallery reception is Thursday, May 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. Artworks are available for purchase at ArtServe.org.

Zoetic Stage and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County are proud to present the Miami premiere of Harold Pinter's "Betrayal," a shattering dissection of marriage and infidelity inspired by the author's real-life, clandestine extramarital affair in the 1960s. Playing until May 31 in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House), "Betrayal" closes Zoetic Stage's 2014-2015 season and the Arsht Center's highly acclaimed Theater Up Close Series, which features artistic collaborations from stellar local theater ensembles and nationally acclaimed theater companies. Tickets to Betrayal are $45* and may be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722 or online at ArshtCenter.org.

Friday, May 15

The Ramrod presents Mandance (third Friday of the month), which is a leather/fetish event starring DJ Herbie James.

Saturday, May 16

Noche Latina Florida will be celebrating their 17th anniversary. The Party will take place at Noche Latna Saturdays at the Manor Complex in the Latin Lounge and Patio. The theme for the anniversary will be "Candyland," and will star hostess Erika Norell, who was the original hostess of Noche Latina and is the current Miss Noche Latina Elite, Kalah Mendoza, Miss Noche Latina 2015, and returning to the stage for a special guest appearance is Estephania St. Lords. They will feature over $1,700 in cash, raffles, prizes and giveaways. This will be the only day to get the new commemorative Noche Latina Florida Baseball cap. The night will also feature DJ Nena spinning some of the hottest Latin tunes, as well as hot Latin Go-Go Papi's. In The Ballroom they present "Eyecandy" starring DJ Daniel Kristopherre with specialty acts, dances and performers. 11 pm to 4 am with NO COVER!

Hunters Nightclub presents WOOF! Fort Lauderdale (3rd Saturday of the month). A night of dancing to Sexy House Beats by Doug Jackson and Roke Cabrera from 9 pm - 3 am with No Cover!

The Pet Project for Pets presents "A Night Out For Pets," hosted by Wilton Manors Animal Hospital (2201 Dixie Highway). Admission is $25 and includes a buffet dinner and drinks. The night will also feature a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. All funds raised at this event will be matched dollar for dollar. To purchase tickets by credit cards visit PetProjectForPets.org.

Monday, May 18

Wilton Manors Stonewall Street Festival presents a benefit at Boardwalk entitled "Casino Night." There will be Black Jack tables, Texas Hold-em, Roulette, and Crap tables as well as Las Vegas shows all night long.

Tuesday, May 19

The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) presents its Spotlight Mega-Mixer Networker from 6-9 pm aboard the spectacular "Lady Windridge" Yacht. Cocktails will be served courtesy of Bacardi & GREY GOOSE Vodka. Complimentary wine and food courtesy of our host Corporate Chamber member Windridge Yacht Charters.

Mingle and network with over 200 Chamber members, guests and the community at large. Leverage of the "Business Cards Bulletin Board" and Chamber Ambassadors who will be present to answer inquiries and make introductions / connections. Music by DJ Double ii and photography by Juan Saco Mironoff. Free Drawing for great prizes. The yacht will be docked behind the Hard Rock Cafe at Bayside Marketplace at 301 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL. From 6 pm - 8 pm the yacht will remain in dock, at 8pm it will embark on a short cruise returning to the dock at 9 pm. Admission: $10 (Chamber members) / $20 (others). RSVP at GayBizMiami.com, [email protected] or 305-673-4440.

Wednesday, May 20

Twist presents the 1st anniversary of Josefina La Globos being in Bar 5 on Wednesdays. They will feature special guests all night with a show by Josefina at 2 am.

For the third year in a row, the sexiest bachelors and bachelorettes in South Florida's LGBT community will be getting together to auction themselves off and raise the most money they can for a very good cause. The Red Hot & In Style benefit event will be held at Village Pub in Wilton Manors starting at 7 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the non-profit organization Deliver the Dream. This event is free to attend and open to the general public. For more information go to DeliverTheDream.org

Directly following Red Hot & In Style, Village Pub presents the semifinals of Village Voice at 10pm.

This is HOT

Written and directed by Jean-Claude LaMarre, the sexy urban drama "Chocolate City" is a steamy, fun ride filled with drama and redemption. The film features an irresistible ensemble cast, including Robert Ri'chard, Tyson Beckford, DeRay Davis, Michael Jai White and Vivica A. Fox. "Chocolate City" will have a limited theatrical release in the U.S. and will debut On Demand on Friday, May 22, 2015, followed by its arrival on home entertainment platforms, including Digital and DVD.

Film Synopsis: Welcome to Chocolate City, where the music is hot, the mood is magical, and the dancers are simply delicious. Women go wild when the arrival of a young, new dancer (Robert Ri'chard) has the spot sizzling like never before. Michael, a college student, is struggling to help his mother (Vivica A. Fox) make ends meet. When his part time job doesn't pay the bills, he begins to find success at the nightclub dancing as "Sexy Chocolate." As the money starts rolling in, Michael must deal with the unexpected pressure of being the new favorite flavor while hiding his "job" from his mother and girlfriend.