Finding Sanctuary
According to flogger (food blogger) Scott Joseph, the spaces on the first floor of the Sanctuary condominiums left empty when the restaurants Graze and Sanctuary Diner closed may be the potential site of two new concepts from restaurateurs, Eddie Nickell and Nick Olivieri. Joseph reported that The Sanctuary is in negotiations to house The Prickly Pear, which will offer a Southwestern fare and Nick's Place, an Italian eatery. HRC Board member Jason Lambert may be also getting his piece of the pie and opening a gourmet pizza place where Beacon was located. Nickell rebuffed the rumors saying, â┚¬Å”We are looking at several locations all over town. I will make an announcement soon. But no, we are not in the Sanctuary.â┚¬Â Nickell and Olivieri recently held the grand-opening of The Funky Monkey Vault, a wine and gift shop located in the Mills-50 District and second Bananas Diner is already under construction at Pointe Orlando. Last weekend, Funky Monkey Wine Co.'s Executive Chef Matthew Slattery was awarded Quickfire Champion at the COOK Orlando 2011 Event.
Seeing Stars
If you were at Mr. Sisters on Friday, March 25, you may have noticed a famous face. Actor and star of the hit TV series, Modern Family, Jesse Tyler Ferguson along with sexy boyfriend Justin Mikita experienced Orlando's latest nightlife concept. Earlier in the day, the two were hosted by Universal Orlando Resort and reveled at both of Universal Orlando's theme parks while on vacation.
Donating for DOMA
RipTide at Typhoon Lagoon will honor gay and lesbian military members this year. Let's Go Play, the producers behind the event which takes place during Gay Orlando Week, along with OutServe announced that in celebration of repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell this past year, they will donate 250 free tickets to service men and women who are serving or have served our country. OutServe.org, an underground network of LGBT men and women actively serving in the military, played a very public role in the repeal of DADT. â┚¬Å”We want to pay tribute to our active, retired and â┚¬Ëœunfairly discharged' service men and women,â┚¬Â said Michael Christ of Let's Go Play. â┚¬Å”We want them to enjoy a night of revelry along with 6,000 other men and women from around the world without having to worry about who is watching.â┚¬Â This year's event is on June 3, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
