Does this make me look fat?
An Orlando gay couple will battle over a bad wardrobe on the Thursday, May 13 episode of The Marriage Ref on NBC. Robert Crawford and Don Smith celebrate their 21st anniversary next month, but that doesn’t stop them from arguing about Crawford’s questionable party clothes. Apparently Crawford likes to wear camouflage gear, tie-dyed shirts and Hawaiian shirts—at the same time. This embarrasses Smith at that most fashion conscious of places—the bowling alley, where Smith is a member of the Saturday night Gay and Lesbian Bowling League. We can’t tell you who won, but they certainly got at least one good judge of what’s tacky: Miss Bette Midler. Tune in.
Late night craving
It’s a common lament in Orlando: “Everything closes so early! There’s no place grab a late night bite!” But things are about to change. The owners of the Funky Monkey Wine Company, with locations downtown and at Pointe Orlando, are planning to open a casual drop-in restaurant that will stay open—get this—from Friday at 6 a.m. through Sunday at 11 p.m. “Bananas—a Modern American Diner” will be open weekdays from 6 a.m. until Midnight. Partners Eddie Nickell and Nicholas Olivieri plan to serve comfort food like hamburgers 18 ways, fish-n-chips and country fried chicken and waffles. “It’s all the best food and sense of community that a good diner can provide,” says Nickell. “We hope it will be the kind of place where people become regulars.” Watch for Bananas to open thus summer at 924 N. Mills Ave., just north of Colonial Dr.
Politics and musical chairs
Commissioner Mildred Fernandez’ campaign to be Orange County Mayor ended recently when she was charged with accepting bribes and other forms of corruption. Gov. Charlie Crist abruptly removed her from office, creating a scramble to fill her District 3 County Commission seat and setting up a possible domino effect amongst local office seekers. One of the first to throw his hat in the ring was State Rep. Scott Randolph, whose downtown District 36 is left—and gay—enough to re-elect an inspiringly unabashed progressive to Florida’s legislature. If Gov. Crist appoints Randolph to the County Commission, it will open up one of the most appealing offices for liberal elective aspirants in the region. Has anyone asked Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan about her plans lately?
