Liquor Store at Ivanhoe, a go?
The owners of Savoy Orlando have their fingers crossed as they wait for two final inspections to pass so they can to open the Ivanhoe Wine and Spirits. The new venture will be a fully stocked liquor store in the heart of the Ivanhoe district that promises competitive pricing on a very good selection of beers, wine and liquor. If all goes as planned a grand opening will be set for some time mid-July.
Cock of the walk
The Peacock Lounge opened as one of the first ambiguous unofficial gay bars in town followed by Lava, Sip, the Hammered Lamb and now St. Matthews Pub. Never really claiming to be an LGBT establishment, the lounge originally had a primarily large Gay following with its original drink menu consisting of trendy martinis and lots of great art on the walls, It certainly brought a different vibe to the Orlando nightlife. Now, after 14 years of hard work, David Rich sold his share of the bar to his business partner Carmen. The Peacock Lounge still offers great drinks, fabulous art but certainly a more diversified crowd that in its early years. No feathers were ruffled in the transition and we wish David all the best in his future endeavors.
Man of the hour
Mikael Audebert wears many hats, among them President of the MBA and executive director of Come Out with Pride. On June 30 he wore a different kind of hat, a party hat, as he celebrated his birthday at the Venue. The party was packed with a wild assortment of entertainment and a who’s who of Orlando, including Miss Sammy, Blue Star and a French-speaking Mime! Mikael requested his guests donate to the Barber Fund, which was created in the memory of John “Tweeka” Barber. More than $1,500 was raised to assist those living with cancer.
“Family” Photo Time
Tatiana Quiroga, the Southern Regional Manager at The Family Equality Council, recently notified us of an app that will allow you to help raise money for LGBT Parents’ rights with just a snapshot! The “Donate a Photo” app by John & Johnson can assist LGBT parents by providing resources and family rights in their states. With every photo uploaded, Johnson & Johnson will donate a $1 to the Family Equality Council. The app is available for iOS & Android devices.
Ride with Pride
The folks at Come Out with Pride are strategizing to see if they could have the SunRail system operate the day of the festival and parade. Operating the SunRail during COWP will provide the attendants and volunteers with an alternative mode of transportation and will certainly alleviate many headaches regarding parking in downtown Orlando. It would increase foot traffic from the SunRail station at Church Street to Lake Eola, allowing for the downtown businesses to profit on the record numbers of attendants. The SunRail operates only Monday-Friday. If this gets approved, this will be the first time the SunRail operates on a Saturday.
