Watermark’s 2021 WAVE Award Winners – Central Florida

FAVORITE LOCAL POLITICIAN

First: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

Second: Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan

Third: State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani

FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVIST

First: Dr. George Wallace, LGBT+ Center Orlando

Second: State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani

Third: Dr. Irene Pons, attorney and UCF associate lecturer

FAVORITE LOCAL ALLY FOR EQUALITY

First: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

Second: State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani

Third: Dr. Irene Pons, attorney and UCF associate lecturer

MOST EFFECTIVE LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

First: LGBT+ Center Orlando

Second: Zebra Coalition

Third: Harmony Healthcare Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS LEAGUE/ORGANIZATION

First: Orlando Pride

Second: Orlando City SC

Third: Central Florida Softball League

FAVORITE LOCAL WRITER/JOURNALIST

First: Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel

Second: Jeremy Williams, Watermark

Third: Matt Palm, Orlando Sentinel

FAVORITE LOCAL WEBSITE

First: WatermarkOnline.com

Second: Bungalower.com

Third: BounceBackOrlando.com

FAVORITE VIRTUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT

First: Come Out With Pride’s Pride in the House

Second: Zebra Coalition’s 5K Drag Race Virtual Run

Third: Equality Florida Virtual Orlando Gala

MOST PRIDEFUL LOCAL EVENT (IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL)

First: Come Out With Pride

Second: April Fresh Comedy Brunch

Third: Drag Queen Story Hour at LGBT+ Center Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS NOT A BAR/CLUB (OVER ONE YEAR OLD)

First: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria

Second: MojoMan Swimwear & Clothing

Third: Rock Hard Fitness

FAVORITE NEW LOCAL BUSINESS (LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD)

First: HÄOS on Church

Second: Harmony Healthcare Orlando

Third: Estefan Kitchen Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY

First: Orlando Health

Second: Harmony Healthcare Orlando

Third: Bliss Healthcare Services

FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON

First: Floyd’s 99 Barbershop in Mills50

Second: Steven Dorsagno’s Bella Capelli Studio

Third: Copperhead Salon

FAVORITE LOCAL FITNESS CENTER

First: LA Fitness in Colonial Marketplace

Second: Rock Hard Fitness

Third: Crunch Fitness in Belle Isle

FAVORITE LOCAL VETERINARIAN CLINIC

First: Animal Hospital at Baldwin Park

Second: Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

Third: Animal Medical Clinic in Hourglass District

FAVORITE PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PET

First: Ranger’s Pet Outpost and Retreat

Second: All 4 Pets Winter Park

Third: Best Friends Pet Hotel, Walt Disney World Resort

FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR

First: Scott Benson, Green House Realty

Second: David Dorman, CENTURY 21

Third: Eddie Cooper, Mainframe Real Estate

FAVORITE LOCAL ATTORNEY

First: Dr. Irene Pons

Second: Dyer & Blaisdell

Third: LeRoy Costner, The Umansky Law Firm

FAVORITE LOCAL CPA/ACCOUNTANT

First: Rose Marie Gamba, CPA

Second: Gecko CPA Firm

Third: Dreamline Accounting

FAVORITE PLACE TO BUY A CAR

First: Carmax

Second: Fields BMW

Third: Holler Honda

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPPING/ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

First: Disney Springs

Second: Mills50 District

Third: Ivanhoe Village

FAVORITE LOCAL GEEK SPOT

First: Player One

Second: The Geek Easy

Third: Gods & Monsters

FAVORITE LOCAL WEDDING VENUE

First: Leu Gardens

Second: Paradise Cove

Third: Celebration Gardens

FAVORTE LOCAL FAITH-BASED ESTABLISHMENT

First: Joy Metropolitan Community Church (MCC)

Second: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

Third: First Unitarian Church of Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL FLORIST

First: Lee James Floral Designs

Second: Lee Forrest Design LLC

Third: Flower No. 5

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSEUM/GALLERY

First: Orlando Science Center

Second: Orlando Museum of Art

Third: CityArts

FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL/B&B

First: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando Downtown

Second: The Alfond Inn

Third: EO Inn

FAVORITE LOCAL FRAMING SHOP

First: Colonial Photo & Hobby

Second: Sam Flax

Third: Michaels Winter Park

FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST

First: Chad Booth

Second: Nick Smith

Third: JEFRË

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

First: Loc Robertson

Second: Erika Wagner

Third: Dylan Todd

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT

First: Hamburger Mary’s Orlando

Second: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria

Third: The Hammered Lamb

FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH

First: April Fresh Comedy Brunch

Second: The Hammered Lamb

Third: Diva’s Dining at Estefan Kitchen Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL LATE NIGHT DINING

First: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria

Second: Gringos Locos

Third: Tako Cheena

FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER

First: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria

Second: John Michael Exquisite Weddings & Catering

Third: Little Lamb Catering

FAVORITE LGBTQ BAR/CLUB

First: Southern Nights Orlando

Second: Stonewall Bar

Third: Savoy Orlando

FAVORITE ALLIED BAR/CLUB

First: The Hammered Lamb

Second: Ember

Third: St. Matthew’s Tavern at the Orlando Beer Garden

FAVORITE LOCAL HAPPY HOUR

First: Savoy Orlando

Second: District Dive

Third: Stonewall Bar

FAVORITE LOCAL KARAOKE, TRIVIA OR BINGO NIGHT (IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL)

First: RuPaul Viewing Party, Lacie Browning, Stonewall Bar

Second: Taffy’s Virtual Bingo Bonanza, Doug Ba’aser

Third: Horror Movie BINGO, Tora Himan, Cocktails & Screams

FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER/SERVER

First: Jeff Munzing, Stonewall Bar/District Dive

Second: Travis Whitt, Savoy Orlando

Third: Joel Gran, District Dive

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG

First: Gidget Galore

Second: Tora Himan

Third: Lacie Browning

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: STAGE (NON-DRAG)

First: Blue Star

Second: Doug Ba’aser

Third: Bobby Iman

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: MUSICIAN

First: Orlando Gay Chorus

Second: Kelly Richards

Third: Central Florida Sounds of Freedom

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DJ

First: DJ Scott Robert

Second: DJ Joanie

Third: DJ Cap’t Kirk

FAVORITE LOCAL RADIO SHOW

First: Johnny’s House, XL106.7

Second: Chad & Leslye In The Morning, Magic 107.7

Third: The News Junkies, Real Radio 104.1

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS VENUE YOU CAN’T WAIT TO OPEN BACK UP

First: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Second: Orlando Shakespeare Theater

Third: Amway Center

FAVORITE LOCAL THEATRICAL SHOW (IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL)

First: TV Land Live’s “The Golden Gals: A Christmas Musical”

Second: Wanzie presents “Ladies of Eola Heights, Episode 6 – Zoom Reunion”

Third: TV Land Live’s “Rozanne”

FAVORITE LOCAL ADULT NOVELTY STORE

First: Fairvilla

Second: MojoMan Swimwear & Clothing

Third: The Store @ Barcodes

FAVORITE LOCAL COVID-19 TESTING SITE

First: Curative Inc. at Southern Nights Orlando

Second: Orange County Convention Center

Third: Bliss Healthcare

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