Tampa Bay: Detour closed

A two-fer
For the first time in its eight year history, a Talent Quest Florida performer won his respective category two years in a row. Tampa resident Jeremiah Pagan took the top Men's Pop spot at Talent Quest Florida July 8. He won the same category in 2011. Pagan, who placed in the Top 20 on the FOX show X Factor last year, also performs throughout the state as â┚¬Å”Mia,â┚¬Â a live vocalist. The competition, owned by Watermark editor Steve Blanchard and his partner, Phil Garris, brought more than 300 singers from throughout the state of Florida to the Tampa Westshore Marriot July 5-8. There contestants sang in three categoriesâ┚¬â€Pop, Country and Mastersâ┚¬â€divided by gender. The first and second place finishers will now move onto the national competition in Laughlin, Nev., this September, where they will compete for cash prizes and a chance to record their own album. For more information visit TalentQuestFlorida.com.

Detour no more
There was one obvious tradition missing at St. Pete Pride this yearâ┚¬â€the incredibly long lines and packed groups of sweaty, shirtless men that congregate inside Detour, a club on Central Avenue. That's because the club closed its doors the night before St. Pete Pride took over the Grand Central District. The reasons surrounding the closure vary, depending on who you ask, but it was no secret that the club struggled financially and was embroiled in lawsuits involving its former ownersâ┚¬â€who called the club Grand Central Station. The club closed with little fanfare, but regulars did show up before it was locked for good for a final goodbyeâ┚¬â€which included draining what was left of the full liquor bar.

Party in a garage?
Speaking of clubs in St. Petersburg, a new one has sprouted up just a block away from the old Detour location in the Grand Central District. The Grand Central Garage had a very quiet soft opening shortly after St. Pete Pride and promises to offer a new happy hour for the area's LGBTs. Details are still vague, but the bar is open at 2729 Central Avenue from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. seven nights a week, according to its website at GrandCentralGarage.com. Other LGBT bars in the areaâ┚¬â€including Georgie's Alibi and the Lucky Star Loungeâ┚¬â€are still going strong.

Patriotic honor
The men of the St. Petersburg Twirlers were invited to participate in the City of Philadelphia's July 4 Paradeâ┚¬â€and the guys were quick to jump at the opportunity. The group, which also performed at St. Pete Pride June 30, flew to Philadelphia to celebrate the nation's birthday in one of the country's largest parades. The group performed its rifle-twirling, flag-waving routine as it marched down the streets of Philadelphia while thousands upon thousands of fans clapped and waved along with the music. This is the first time the group has performed at Philadelphia's July 4 celebration.

Love-ly documentary!
It looks like popular, charitable performer Arica Love has another title to add to her list of credentialsâ┚¬â€that of documentary producer. Love, who hosts bingo in Lakeland, Cream Thursdays in Sarasota and performs in Ybor City and New Port Richey (among many, many other places) announced on Facebook that she and director â┚¬Å”Jamalâ┚¬Â have started working on a documentary together. She hasn't released too many details yet, but we do know that it will be filmed in Sarasota and that production is already underway. We hope the lovely Miss Love will give us details very soon!