Friends come together
When word spread of Christopher Pruitt’s boating accident that severely injured his spine, Orlando’s LGBT community quickly banded together to help him with medical expenses. Pruitt, known for his avid pool playing skills in bars around Orlando, has friends in many areas and LGBT establishments On Sept. 18, Southern Nights kicked off the fundraising endeavors and Savoy and Stonewall Bar will follow suit on Sept. 26 and 27, respectively. The Parliament House is also in the charitable mood and will hold a fundraiser for him on Sept. 29. Last we heard, Pruitt was doing better and had regained movement in his arms. We wish him a speedy recovery.
The center of attention
Speaking of fundraising, The Center is getting a lot of attention by charitable souls these days. On Sept. 22, several local celebrities guest-barte4nded at Savoy to raise cash for the LGBT Center and on Sept. 17, the “gal with the balls,” Addison Taylor, hosted the popular Drag Queen Bingo. She is also set to guest host on Oct. 15. For those wanting to break out the black tie, prepare for The Center’s third annual Black and White Gala at the Orlando Museum of Art. Organizers say there are a number of announcements coming, including the reveal of the Center’s new executive director and other big changes.
Passing the Tako
Tako Cheena is a one-man operation now. The local, favorite Asian-Latin fusion taco place, which was a joint venture between Edgardo Guzman and Pom Moongauklang, opened three years ago and has supported local LGBT causes. Recently, Pom sold her half of the restaurant to Guzman, leaving him as the sole proprietor. We’ve been reassured, however, that Tako Cheena will continue supporting the LGBT community while serving up great food and great service.
Be the next star of Fringe Festival
If you’ve been dreaming up the next big theatrical smash since last year’s Fringe Festival, your chance has finally arrived. Applications are now available for the 24th annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival at OrlandoFringe.com. You can submit your application right to the website or download a copy and send it in. You can also submit it the old-fashioned way and hand deliver the application to their offices. Don’t miss out. The deadline for applications is Nov. 21 and the public lottery will be held at 6 p.m., Dec. 8, at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center’s Margeson Theater. Good luck!
A first for downtown
Get ready for a new LGBT night in downtown Orlando. Club 369 Orlando will launch its LGBTQ First Saturdays beginning Oct. 4. The night is described as a “sexy, monthly party for mature LGBTQ and friends.” Details say the night features R&B and Hip Hop, Top 40 music and other classics. The club is located above Club Parallel in the heart of downtown Orlando.
