In and Out
Paradise Lounge on Mills has changed names yet again. The once-upon-a-time Cactus Club was recently sold and is now known as Orlando Nights. That’s not all. It is said to be marketed as a straight bar. While one bar is going straight, another endeavor, keeping the gays in mind, is opening. Jason Lambert, part-owner of Stardust Lounge, has confirmed that he has signed the lease as of Nov. 1 for the space that used to be Lava Lounge on Orange Avenue. “It’s going to be a neighborhood bar that’s obviously super gay friendly,” says Lambert. “I don’t want to put a label on it as just a ‘gay bar,’ as I have a lot of straight friends too from working in the downtown bar scene for the last 15 years.” He says that depending on permitting and remodeling, he hopes to open by January at the latest. “Having been part owner of Stardust Lounge for the last 4 1/2 years, I hope to make it similar to that, where everyone – LGBTQ and straight – feel comfortable!”
Orlando Better Work!
So far in almost every season of the popular Logo series RuPaul’s Drag Race, a Florida contestant has placed in the top three. In Season 5, which launches in January, local eyes are again turned to Florida and to talent from a number of Florida cities, including bubbly and funny with a bite, Jade Jolie from Gainesville, Serena Cha Cha from Tallahassee, the drag baby of the group, fresh out of art school and brimming with enthusiasm and Orlando’s own Roxxxy Andrews. A pageant girl through and through, Roxxxy has big hair, big makeup, and isn’t afraid to show off her thick and juicy curves. On any given night of the week, you can catch her strutting at Pulse. These “girls” follow the traditions of Fort Lauderdale’s Rebecca Glasscock, second runner up in Season 1, Orlando’s Tyra Sanchez, who won Season 2, and Tampa’s Alexis Mateo, who was second runner up in Season 3.
Local Deals
Catch any of those Wal-Mart commercials lately? You may recognize the over-the-top, super-helpful Wal-Mart employee as local actor and comedian John Connon. Beginning earlier this fall and continuing through the holidays, he appears in a series of ads for the mega-store. Even Connon has noticed a number of them receiving a lot of air play. “They have really been running this current one a lot,” he says. “We shoot them on Tuesdays and they are on the air on Thursdays.”
CFL honors Singletary posthumously
The Central Florida Softball League celebrated its annual awards banquet on Nov. 18, and also remembered a player they lost by inducting Larry Singletary into its Hall of Fame. Singletary, who passed away in 2010 following a rafting accident, played for the Ranger’s Heat. He was toasted by Rick Merrifield, owner of Yuppy Puppy during the banquet. The poignant moment brought silence to the Sheraton Downtown as softballers remembered their fallen friend. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame was Bonnie Marsh.
