Presidential visit
While Watermark was going to press for this week’s issue, the White House sent an email letting us know that President Barack Obama will be in Ybor City on Thursday, Oct. 25â┚¬â€Âthe same day this issue hits the streets. The President is fresh off of a well-received, final debate with GOP challenger Mitt Romney and is hoping to swing Florida back into the blue column by Nov. 6. Currently the president trails the former Massachusetts governor by three percentage points. Obama will appear at The State Museum and Gardens early on Thursday and tickets will more than likely be snapped up way before then.
All Hallows Ball’s ‘Small World’
Since 1981, LGBTs of Tampa Bay have celebrated Halloween in spectacular style, and 2012 will be no different. The All Hallows Ball returns to the Tampa Convention Center on Oct. 27, and this year’s theme is “It’s A Small World.” The many ethnicities and nationalities to choose from will no-doubt offer a plethora of entertaining, wild and very sexy costumes. We’re expecting a lot of loin cloths, some tight-fitting lederhosen and more than just a few Roman guards. The invitation-only party continues to grow each year, and past guests have included county commissioners, city councilmen and well-known business owners. It’s definitely come a long way from that first year all those years ago.
Pride MIA?
While celebrating Sarasota Pride, two things were noticed by several passersby in the vendor areaâ┚¬â€Âgay-owned nightclub Throb and representatives of St. Pete Pride were noticeably absent. According to Pride organizer Cindy Barnes, the last she had heard from Throb was an e-mail asking about what it took to be a vendor. The ball, in essence, was left in the club’s hands and there didn’t appear to be much follow through. Currently, Throb is the only exclusively LGBT bar in Sarasota, and several Pride attendees were overheard asking for directions to the club’s booth and details about a non-existent Sarasota Pride-themed after party at the club. It’s unclear why Throb didn’t participateâ┚¬â€”You’re asking the wrong person,” Barnes said. But she is hopeful for its participation in the future.
St. Pete Pride had a booth space ready to be occupied, but by the time the festival was in full swing, it still sat empty. Eventually the space was given to another vendor. It’s unclear as to why St. Pete Prideâ┚¬â€Âan organization that’s typically a regular at neighboring pride eventsâ┚¬â€Âwas absent.
