Florida Agenda

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

A funny thing happened on the way to J. Alexander’s—the outlet of the chain restaurant that’s been a fixture on Federal Highway for decades. My houseguest, who apparently is a J. Alexander’s aficionado of sorts, had just traveled into town from Tennessee, where the restaurant has its corporate headquarters and where he had “the worst piece of prime rib that ever once grazed.”

I heard this tale of his disenfranchised taste buds at least three times before I finally offered to take him to our local branch, hoping that he might find succor for his continuing disappointment.

Admittedly, we approached the place on a Saturday night—a time when J. Alexander’s normally is SRO. Perhaps it was the “hurt-puppy” look on his face, but we were seated immediately upon entering.

Having eaten in this particular establishment with some regularity over the years, I knew the drill and kept pace as my guest dismissed a glance at the menu and ordered a drink (Manhattan, no rocks, double cherry), an appetizer (fire-grilled artichoke with herb butter rémoulade) and an entrée (the aforementioned slow-roasted prime rib with smashed potatoes).

I rallied with tap water (plenty of ice), a bowl of soup (chicken pasta), and a veggie burger (made in-house and topped with Monterey jack cheese)—all ordered as one long sentence. My houseguest was not about to get one up on me.

He had downed his Manhattan and ordered another in the ten-minutes it took for his artichoke to arrive—long enough apparently for the liquor to set in and his voice to rise just loud enough to be heard several booths away.

Fortunately, it was praise he was spouting, as he dipped the delicate artichoke leaves into the rémoulade and smiled as he savored the succulent flavor.

He barely had time to wipe the butter from his lips, when a second server, new to the table, delivered my burger and what appeared to be half a cow drizzled with au jus—so big was his prime rib. Any suspicions that he may have harbored disappeared as his knife cut through the healthy portion of beef like the proverbial warm butter.

I would like to say that he immediately hailed “Hallelujah” upon first bite, but such was not the case. In fact, he said nothing until he had consumed nearly three-quarters of the serving—which, you may remember, was large enough to feed four mortal men. Only then did he push his plate away from his expanding stomach and said, “Now that’s prime rib.” This was a good thing.

For the record, my veggie burger was as moist and flavorful as it usually is, with my side order of string fries perfectly crisp and seasoned as if from a Tex-Mex ranch house. So too the soup, which was far too generous in size to consume.

The prime rib is priced at $26, which was a bargain compared to the pricey $12 artichoke appetizer. The homemade veggie burger runs $12 as well, with the bowl of soup adding another $6 to our tally- -which, I’m happy to report, my houseguest paid when yet a third server delivered it to the table. Not however before my guest ordered a “small taste” of Key Lime pie ($8), muttering something that sounded like “well this is Florida, after all,” under his breath.

When he finally slid from the booth, doggie bag in hand, he turned to look at the open-beam ceiling and attractive art hanging along one brick wall. “Now this is everything J. Alexander’s should be,” he said. Tell them Guy Magazine said so.

FORT LAUDERDALE – A new report from the Florida Department of Health shows that the rate of infections for HIV/AIDS in South Florida rose last years. The numbers reflect the nation’s worst incidents of HIV/ AIDS in spite of efforts to control its spread.

The rate of new HIV infections was greatest in Palm Beach County, which saw a 30 percent increase from last year, followed closely by Broward County with a 25 percent increase.

Statewide, that number rose more than onein- five, or 21 percent. New AIDS cases rose 6 to 8 percent in Broward and Palm Beach.

Officials say artificially inflated stats reflect part of the increase, the results of changes to the counting methodology now being used by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They likewise note that approximately half of the new reported cases came from MSMs (men who sleep with men).

In Broward County, there were more than 1,000 new reported HIV cases in 2011, which translates to 59 cases per 100,000 people, an increase from about 55 cases per 100,000 the previous year. Since 2008, Broward has had the highest per-capita infection rate in the U.S. Last year, CDC officials met to outline the elements of a major new and well-funded anti-AIDS campaign.

There were 407 new HIV cases reported in Palm Beach County last year or 30.7 per capita. It is one of a dozen metropolitan areas with the highest infection rates. Miami- Dade County has the nation’s second highest rate of infection.

FORT LAUDERDALE – This month, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) sent representatives to attend the annual ITB Travel show, in Berlin, Germany. Keith Blackburn, president and CEO of the GFLGLCC reports that more than 113,000 trade visitors and nearly 60,000 consumers were in attendance at the Messe Berlin Convention Center.

The attendees had come to see 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries, including those representing Greater Fort Lauderdale and its LGBT community. The chamber reps had set up an exhibition area in coordination with the Greater Fort Lauderdale-based International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), a stand that ranked Number 13 among NGO/Non-Profits by the Cologne Business School for their annual ITB “Best Exhibitor Award.” Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit paid an official visit to the booth.

The GFLGLCC was formed last year by members of Broward County’s LGBT business community, with a mission that includes promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBTfriendly community, promoting tourism with a unified approach, and serving as an advocate and resource for all equalitypromoting member businesses. It is a 501c (6) non-profit organization.

The GFLGLCC’s mission to Berlin was endorsed by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). For more information about GFLGLCC, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

FORT LAUDERDALE/WILTON MANORS

ALIBI
2266 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
Gayborhood tradition since 1997. Comfortable,
inviting atmosphere with indoor video bars, outdoor
drinking and dining. Drink specials all week, with
mammoth 22-ounce Long Island Iced Teas for $3 on
Thursdays.

BILL’S FILLING STATION
2209 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
Videos, pool tables, dart boards, dance floor, happy hour,
live shows, Tuesday and Thursday karaoke
- and great burgers, to boot.
Fun and friendly truck-stop-themed bar.

BOARDWALK
1721 N Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Over 100 of the sexiest men from all over the world.
Go-go dancers, cages, billiards, 2-4-1 Happy
Hours. Drag emcees and did we mention the Boys?

BOOM
2232 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
The bar with two names features a dance club and
Gay- borhood bar. Drag Bingo on Mondays, karaoke
Mondays and Tuesdays, dance music Fridays and
Saturdays, and (indoor) Sunday T-Dance.

CORNER PUB
1915 N Andrews Ave., Wilton Manors
Friendly atmosphere, unpretentious
clientele and staff. Next to Island City
Pizza (so you can get  your drink AND
your slice on).

CUBBY HOLE
823 N Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale
Butch bar and grill with a rockin’ daytime crowd
(and a fun nighttime one, too). Fifty cent pool,
2-for-1 drinks all day every day, video games,
hot movies on HDTV and DirecTV. Thursdays it’s Bare
Bear Chest Night, and every Friday and Saturday the
fur flies with Hot Bears on Poles (where their
Grizzlies Grind)!

DEPOT CABANA BAR AND GRILL
2935 N Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale
Adjacent to the America’s Best Inn and Suites. Pool open
daily – No Cover or Day Pass. Great food,
daily happy  hour, Sunday afternoon T-Dance Poolside.
Karaoke and live music.
Open daily at 11:30 a.m.

DUDES
3270 NE 33rd St., Fort Lauderdale
Men dancing for men. Hot go-go boys in an upscale
atmosphere, piano lounge for more quiet
interludes. Steamy shower shows.

JOHNNY’S
1116 W Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Club, bar, lounge. Male dancers and the men who love
(to ogle) them. Sunday amateur strip contest
(and karaoke!).

LIPS
1421 E Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park
The Ultimate in Drag Dining. Dinner and shows six nights
a week. Sunday Gospel Brunch with  the
Sisters of Sequins.

THE MANOR
2345 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
WeHo vibe (think: LA’s The Abbey) in the heart of the
Gayborhood. Dine, drink, dance, play, mingle.
Theme rooms (salsa and merengue every weekend in the
Latin Quarter!). Live dancing and dining.

MATTY’S ON THE DRIVE
2426 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
Drink specials, billiards, and a chill gayborhood vibe.
75  Cent drinks on Wednesdays.
No Drama, No Smoking.

MONKEY BUSINESS
2740 N Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Cozy neighborhood  bar. Karaoke, drag shows,
Patio Bar –  and open at 9 a.m. daily.

MONA’S
502 E Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Cocktail Lounge in the heart of Searstown. Fun customers,
fun bartenders and fun proprietor (the  Legendary Jerry).
Outside patio. Wednesday karaoke,
Thursday Speedball Tournament.

NAKED GRAPE
2163 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
Relaxing, friendly, hip, unique – the alternative gathering
place on Wilton Drive. Wine tastings  and events.
Tuesday and Wednesday Late Night In the Biz.

PJ’S CORNER POCKET
924 N Flagler Dr., Fort Lauderdale
Friendly neighborhood  interracial bar with drinks specials
every night of the week including, “In
the Biz Mondays” at 9 p.m. with 2-4-1 drinks
and $3 Cosmos and Apple Marti- nis, “Splash Friday’s”
wet underwear  contest, and Sunday’s pool tournament,
both with a $50 cash prize!

RAMROD
1508 NE 4th Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Voted World’s Favorite Leather Bar. Pig Dance first
Saturday of the month – South Florida’s
Busiest, Craziest Monthly Party (with caged hunks at
Midnight  on Saturdays  – is there a downside to this?).

ROSIE’S BAR & GRILL
2449 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors
Nexus of the A-Gay List. Be Seen in the Scene (without
making one). Food, folks, libations, and a  killer Sunday Funday.

SCANDALS SALOON
3073 NE 6th Ave., Wilton Manors
A line-dancin’, tight blue jeans-wearin’ good time.
Country and western music, two-steppin’,
three-steppin’, pool tables, and themed events year
‘round. Cowboys and Indians was never this much
fun, Pilgrim.

SIDELINES
2031 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
Where Sports come first. Nationally known destination
sports bar with TVs streaming  NFL, MLB, NBA
and college games. Pool tables, dart boards and
large indoor (and  now smoke-free) facility. Outdoor patio
features area for smokers. Mixed crowd of gay men and women
(who would have thought?).  Featured in Bloomberg
Businessweek and recommended by LOGO.

STABLE
205 E Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Levis-and-leather neighborhood bar, where the bears line
dance and the cowboys  are VERY friendly.

SMARTY PANTS
2400 E Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Cozy
neighborhood bar with daily happy hour, and
regular patrons. Show night Thursdays at 9 p.m.
Karaoke Friday and Saturday nights, and with
matinee on Sunday afternoon.

TORPEDO
2829 W Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Dance, shoot pool, drink til 4 a.m., 7 nights a week.
Doors open at Midnight; dance til Dawn.

WHISKEY BLUE
401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
In the W Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach, downstairs it’s the
elegant Whiskey Blue, upstairs the  luxe Living Room: hot dance and
social settings in a distinctive atmosphere with signature
cocktails and upscale patrons.
Indoor and outdoor lounges.

WILTON’S BIER GARDEN
2245 Wilton DriveWilton Manors
German cuisine meets Der Gayborhood, in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
Upstairs dining, downstairs  outdoor patio and bar, DJ music, and
a fun staff make one of Wilton  Manors’ newest venues a good  time
to be had by all.

MIAMI/MIAMI BEACH

CLUB BOI
777 NE 79 St., Miami
With an urban vibe on the weekends, a diverse crowd and
a diverse musical format, including Hip  Hop, R&B, House,
Reggae, Soca, Latin and Old School.
Go-go bois and drink specials.

CLUB SUGAR
2301 SW 32nd Ave., Miami
Gay Latin scene, with  Salsa, Merengue,  Reggaeton,
Hip-Hop and House music always playing.

DISCOTEKKA
950 NE 2nd Ave., Miami
Hot music, hot scene, hot bartenders, and hot patrons in
the hot heart of Downtown Miami.

JOHNNY’S MIAMI
62 NE 14th Street, Downtown Miami
Club, bar and lounge. Johnny’s Miami boasts the best sound
system in town!  Plenty of safe, secured  parking.
Open 5pm to 5am daily.
Hot male dancers and daily drink specials.

MOVA LOUNGE
1625 Michigan Ave., Miami Beach
On Miami Beach’s famed Lincoln Road, never a cover.
Drink  specials all week  long,  live DJs, high energy music and
a fun crowd getting their dance on  til late.

PALACE BAR
1200 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
This bar and restaurant  in the heart of South Beach’s Art
Deco District. Mouth-watering  burgers,  boys (and girls!).
Weekend cabaret shows Thursday through Sunday.

SCORE
727 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach
Dance, drink, party all night on Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road.
Tons of events throughout  the year,  including fundraisers for
Winter Party, White Party, and Miami Beach Gay Pride.

SPACE
34 NE 11th St., Miami
Mingle and mix with gays and str8s in the heart of Down-
town Miami. Indoor dance floors and  outdoor rooftop bar,
spectacular light show.

TWIST
1057 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Great music, friendly staff, hot tourists and locals. Never a cover,
always a groove. Bungalow Bar = Hot Men.
In SoBe’s Art Deco District.

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA

HANKS
5026 Edgewater  Dr., Orlando, FL
Friendly local bar with a cruisy attitude.  One of Orlando’s
oldest and friendliest Gay bars. Beer  and Wine. Pool Tables,
Video Games and a Large Patio area.

HAMBURGER MARY’S BAR & GRILL
110 W Church St., Orlando, FL
Eat, Drink & Be Mary! Tuesday BINGO with  Miss Sammy
& Carol Lee, Wednesday Trivia with Doug Bouser and Leigh
Shannon’s Cabaret Dinner Show is every  Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

PARLIAMENT HOUSE
410 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL
All gay entertainment complex with 130 newly-remodeled
hotel rooms. Cruisy Hotel, Nightclub, Pool  Bar,
Bear/Leather Bar.

NEW PHOENIX
7124 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, FL
Winter Park’s ONLY Gay & Lesbian Bar.
Been There Forever!
Karaoke every Tuesday and Friday at 9
p.m. Drag shows every Saturday night.
Home of the $1 Jello shots.

PULSE
1912 S Orange Ave., Orlando,  FL
Orlando’s Premier Gay Bar & Nightclub with Ultra Lounge,
Jewel Box Dance Floor, and Adonis Dancers.
Twisted Tues- days with $10 All-U-Can Drink, College
Wednesdays (18+) and 2-4-1 every Friday for  Happy Hour.

SAVOY ORLANDO
1913 N Orange Ave., Orlando, FL
“The hottest” gay bar and nightclub in Orlando.
The MEN OF SAVOY Dancers from 6 p.m. til 2 a.m.
every night in the main bar! Video Bar, Pool Tables.

WYLDE’S
3557 S Orange Ave., Orlando,  FL
Neighborhood bar South of Downtown Orlando.
Jukebox, Video Games, Pool Tables and Dancers.

PARADISE ORLANDO
1300 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL
Orlando’s casual Gay & Lesbian bar and nightclub.
Patio, Tiki Bar and Pool Tables. Happy Hour 4 til
9 p.m. and drink specials every day til 9 p.m.

BAR CODES (Formerly Bear Bar)
4453 Edgewater  Dr., Orlando, FL
Friendly Bar, Real Men and Bears… Oh My!
Beer and Wine. Tends to attract the after work Happy
Hour crowd.

TAMPA BAY

2606
2606 N Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL
Tampa’s favorite Levi/leather bar has two floors (dimly lit),
with  the upstairs being the more  cruisy. There’s Hog House
shop on-premises, and the 2606 is home to the Tampa Leather Club.
Monday  is Underwear Night, Tuesdays are $1 drinks and
on Wednesdays, Longnecks are just $1.50.

AZALEA LOUNGE
1502 N Florida Ave., Tampa, FL
Exposed brick, cold beverages and friendly staff are the
mainstays of the recently bloomed Florida Avenue flower!
Neighborhood bar, pool tables.

BAXTER’S LOUNGE
1519 S Dale Mabry, Tampa, FL
Tampa Happy Hour Tradition. Serving up some of the hot-
test dancers Wednesday thru Saturday nights  at 10PM.

FLIRT NIGHTCLUB & SHOWBAR
1909 N 15th St., Tampa, FL (Ybor City)
Get that hometown feeling. Amazing lazer shows, big
headliners and has been around for 6 years.

CITY SIDE
3703 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, FL
Tampa Bay’s “Best  Happy Hour”  til Midnight
every night of the week.

GBAR
1401 E 7th Ave., Tampa (Ybor City), FL
Dance Club & Video Bar. Open Tuesday through  Saturday,
4 p.m. til 3 a.m. No cover before 10 p.m., $5 after with ID.

VALENTINES NIGHTCLUB
7522 N Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL
Voted #1 Nightclub in Tampa. Open 7 days a week 3 p.m. to
3 a.m. Monday, Latin Night, Tuesdays are
Boys Night Out, Wednesdays are Karaoke Night, Thursdays,
No Cover Dance Party, Fridays feature Hot
Go-Go Girls, Saturdays are Latino Night “Uncut”  and
Sundays are Hip Hop Night.

KI KI KI III
1908 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL
One of The Oldest Bars (beer and wine). A plain bar with-
out pretention with its share of young  regulars.

RAINBOW ROOM
421 S MacDill  Ave., Tampa, FL
A mix between a neighborhood bar and a community cen- ter.
Main bar with pool, darts, jukebox.
Outdoor Tiki patio has a full volleyball court and live bands.
Beer & Wine.

ST. PETERSBURG

GEORGIES ALIBI
3100 3rd Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL
One of the most popular gay bars in St. Pete. It’s always busy!
Great VJ’s play Top 40 music.
Mondays are Drag BINGO and Talent contest, Pool tourney
Wednesdays, and the legendary Long Island
Iced Tea nights on Thursdays. Ages 21 and over, never a cover!

FLAMINGO RESORT
4601 34th St. South, St. Petersburg, FL
Florida’s “largest, luxury all gay resort.” Non-stop enter- tainment,
great menu, and drinks served  poolside at the Cabana.
Weekly events and 2-4-1 Happy Hour daily from
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday Happy Hour ($1 off) 11 a.m to  9 p.m.

GEMINI LOUNGE
2315 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL
Gemini Lounge aims to serve a variety of tastes; music,
karaoke,  Internet  access, poetry readings
and sports on TV.

OAR HOUSE BAR & LIQUOR STORE
4807 22nd Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL
Fun, friendly, laid-back atmosphere where you can get
great drinks at cheap prices! Drama free! Happy Hour daily
from 2 p.m. til 9 p.m.

HAYMARKET PUB
8308 4th St. North, St. Petersburg, FL
More of a Men’s bar. Showing hot videos, beer specials,
Saturday Underwear Night, and different  events each week.

HIDEAWAY
8302 4th St. North, St. Petersburg, FL
The oldest Womyn’s bar in the country. Where music is always the
main entree! Coldest selection of  beer in town.

DETOUR
2612 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL
The hottest club in St. Pete. Daily specials, karaoke nights and
gogo boys from Rico’s Men.
Noted  for it’s Saturday Drag shows and Karaoke nights.
Full liquor bar.

MELBOURNE/COCOA

COLD KEG NIGHTCLUB
4060 W New Haven Ave., Melbourne, FL
Largest Gay Club in Melbourne Florida and the Premier
Gay Bar & Nightclub in Brevard County.

ULTRA LOUNGE
407 Brevard Ave., Cocoa, FL
Nestled in Cocoa Village, this bar has a full coffee bar,
serving espresso, lattes, cappuccinos as well as draft beers
& wine.

JACKSONVILLE

THE METRO
2929 Plum St., Jacksonville, FL
The Metro Entertainment Complex has been serving the
GLBT community for 17 years. Features a total of 7 different
venues under one roof to choose from. Lesbo-A-Go-
Go, monthly Tea Dances, special quest performers, female
impersonators and live musicians.

BOOT RACK SALOON
4751 Lenox Ave., Jacksonville, FL
Your Neighborhood Gay Bar – the place for men. Cold beer,
music and a warm and cozy atmosphere. Hot men and
cheap beer… We all know where that leads!

AJ’S BAR & GRILL
10244 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, FL
Annie and Janie invite you to stop by and see some old
friends and meet some new ones! Great food, awesome
service, delicious mixed drinks and live entertainment.

PARK PLACE LOUNGE
931 King St., Jacksonville, FL
A fun and comfortable gay bar that’s accommodating to
both gays and non-gays. A great place to watch your favorite
game, or enjoy playing Wii while the liquor flows!

THE NORM
2952 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville, FL
A neighborhood bar. Everyone is welcome, but remember it
is a girls bar! Beer and Wine only.

616 BAR
616 Park St., Jacksonville, FL
A warm and friendly atmosphere with a Patio bar. Karaoke
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Thursdays the Jax Bears are
here for happy hour. Fridays and Saturdays enjoy the “Beer
Blast.”

THREE LAYERS CAFE
1602 Walnut St., Jacksonville, FL
The name Three Layers comes from their large variety
of delicious three layer cakes. An inviting loft style cafe
located in Springfield. Enjoy a bistro style lunch or just stop
in for your morning coffee.

BO’S CORAL REEF
201 5th Ave. North, Jacksonville Beach, FL
There are great shows Thursday through Sunday with the
best of female impersonators. Pool tables, video games,
and a large outdoor patio. The only gay bar on the beach!

INCAHOOTS
711 Edison Ave., Jacksonville, FL
This club offers good crowds every night. Recently remodeled
with three bars and a friendly staff. Everyday is a different
special. A fun place anytime. Full Liquor bar. Closed
on Mondays and Tuesdays except for special events.

KICKBACKS GASTROPUB
910 King St., Jacksonville, FL
This is a top class venue serving over 600 different bottled
beers, 84 beers on tap, breakfast, lunch and dinner 20hrs a
day 7 days a week!

PENSACOLA

THE ROUNDUP
560 E Heinberg St, Pensacola, FL
A neighborhood gay men’s bar… Pensacola’s Cowboy Bar.
Open 2 p.m. til 3 p.m. daily.

CABARET
101 S Jefferson St. #E, Pensacola, FL
Not strictly a gay bar, the charming and friendly Cabaret
is very much a fixture in Pensacola’s GLBT community,
drawing a mixed bunch each evening for happy hour,
karaoke, videos, comedy shows, live music, and all-around
hobnobbing and socializing.

KEY WEST

BOURBON STREET PUB
724 Duval St., Key West, FL
Opened in October of 1995 and has continued to grow
ever since, it is now part of the larger collection of gay
action in The Bourbon St. Pub Complex. Hot Go-Go boy
dancers and a busy crowd. “Where the boys are!”

801 BOURBON BAR
801 Duval St., Key West, FL
Cabaret shows upstairs with nightly performances by
famed performers Sushi, Kylie, RV Beaumont, Margo, and
others. This legendary establishment has been around for
over 30 years, and host Happy Hour specials daily from 11
a.m. – 8 p.m.

AQUA NIGHTCLUB
711 Duval St., Key West, FL
Aqua features the “Reality is a Drag” show six days a week,
followed by dancing. Monday is karaoke night and don’t
miss the great happy hour specials from 3 to 8 p.m. daily.

KWEST
705 Duval St., Key West, FL
Daily Happy Hour from 3 to 8 p.m., and a piano sing-along
every Wednesday night. Men dancing for men after
10 p.m. Weekly drink specials and “Wet Jockey” contests
on Fridays.

SALOON ONE
801 Duval St., Key West, FL (Behind 801 Bar)
This is the only gay leather bar in Key West. Conveniently
located behind 801 Bourbon Bar.

LA TE DA
1125 Duval St., Key West, FL
An upscale hotel complex with 3 bars, cabaret and
restaurant.

PEARL’S PATIO BAR FOR WOMEN
525 United St., Key West, FL
Tropical themed women’s bar for gay women and gayfriendly
women alike. Patio bar with a full bar featuring
drinks like “Cosmopearlitans” and “Pearl’s Passion”.

BOBBY’S MONKEY BAR
900 Simonton St., Key West, FL
The gay Cheers style neighborhood bar of Key West. Happy
Hour from Noon to 7pm, Karaoke on Sunday nights, pool
tournaments on Tuesday nights at 7pm. Free Wi-Fi access.

GARDEN OF EDEN
224 Duval St., Key West, FL
A Rooftop Bar with the BEST VIEWS in the city & “BEST
Long Island Ice Teas made by Melinda!” Gay, straight, fat,
or skinny… Doesn’t matter! Clothing optional – gay friendly!

WEST PALM BEACH
H G Roosters
823 Belvedere Rd., West Palm Beach, FL
Dark bar that attracts a fun party crowd. Camp is in at
H.G.’s, where drag shows and bingo nights pack in crowds
looking for laughs and fun.

THE LOUNGE
517 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, FL
Sushi, tropical views and tasty cocktails are accompanied
by acclaimed resident DJ Daisy DeadPetals.

FORT DIX BAR & CLUB
6205 Georgia Ave., West Palm Beach, FL
Mostly local crowd looking to mingle and relax. The bar is a bit on
the dark and dingy side, but who knows–that could be a plus.

FORT MYERS

OFFICE PUB
3704 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL
Oldest gay bar in South West Florida with a festive
attitude. This bear-friendly Office likes to have fun with
underwear parties, drag shows, Wii bowling! Check out
their country and western music night on Saturdays.

TUBBY’S
4350 Fowler St., Fort Myers, FL
Where men come to compete (in tournaments). “Never a
cover… always a smile” Tubby’s is a no-frills video bar with
a total of 10 TVs and two projection screens available for
patrons to use as they wish. Add a six-hour 2-4-1 Happy
Hour during the Wii tournaments on the big screen!

THE BOTTOM LINE
3090 Evans Ave., Fort Myers, FL
This gay entertainment complex is one of the longest
running clubs in southwest Florida at over 20 years, The
Bottom Line features 7 bars, pool tables, drag shows and
occasional guest appearances by porno stars.

TOTI: Tavern on the Island in Venice
127 Tampa Ave. East, Venice, FL
This South Beach inspired gay bar, boasts a dance floor
and a game room with pool tables and dart boards. It’s
clean, the music is mixed and the staff are friendly. A
mixed crowd can be found most nights… younger, older
(duh, this is Venice), gay and straight. Did you know that
in the Caribbean, TOTI is slang for a beloved male appendage?
How apropos.

GAINESVILLE

SPIKES
4130 NW 6th St., Gainesville, FL
It is a laid-back kind of place, with friendly bar staff. The
crowds vary depending on the night. The bar has a nice
open air patio area that is rarely used, but would be nice
if it was.

UNIVERSITY CLUB
18 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL
This is a fairly average small college town gay bar. It is
usually busy and crowded on Thursday nights.

The Florida Agenda wants you to
have fun while you are out with
your friends and family,
but remember:

DRINK RESPONSIBLY…
DON’T DRINK & DRIVE

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

When Oscar Wilde said, “After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relatives,” he must have been channeling Market 17. This elegant eatery located in the Portside Yachting Center is the brainchild of siblings Kirsta and Aaron Grauberger, who in any other life would have been born in a vineyard, such is their expertise around bottles of wine.

While this may help explain the extensive wine menu with a selection numbering in the hundreds, it hardly prepares the hungry patron for the assortment of items on a dinner menu that changes nightly.

That’s right—nightly. Never one to rest on her laurels, executive chef Lauren DeShields recreates your assortment of unusual offerings as if playing pickup- sticks. You just never know exactly how the palate will play.

On a recent outing with diet guru and society hostess Nikki Haskell, we took the plunge without checking the evening’s menu—though it is available mid-afternoon online at www.market17.net/menus.htm. The concept at Market 17 is farm fresh food…so fresh in fact that what’s plattered tonight was alive and growing this morning.

While it may be tempting to skip the appetizer section and save your appetite for the entrees, part of the fun at Market 17 is the adventure of eating new foods. Translation: antelope satay ($15), served on a bed of soba noodles with a peanut dipping sauce. “You had what for dinner last night, dear? Antelope?” The look on your friends’ faces is worth the risk alone. Far less trendy, but just as delicious: Market Vegetable Tempura ($12), featuring baby broccoli, snap peas, avocado and fennel with a spicy kimchi aioli. A winner, no matter how you clean the plate. (We used our index fingers when no one was looking.)

Our server Brittany Peterson, otherwise known as the perkiest blonde since Gidget, recommended that I try the Grilled Florida Hereford Boneless Pork Chop ($23 in a petit portion; $36 for entrée size)— “you just can’t go wrong with Hereford pork, honestly.” Of course she was right.

It was tender and pink and, when combined with my new favorite l e g u m e – - s m o k e d beluga lentils—may just win the taste prize of the night.

Mrs. Haskill disagreed, casting her vote firmly in favor of her perfectly cooked and flakey Pan Seared Wild Florida Red Snapper ($23/$36). She pointed out that if the fish were any fresher, we would have had to scale it ourselves.

It wasn’t on the plate that long, of course. Nikki is tiny, but she knows her way around a fish fork. It was served crusted in something created by God herself, and served with herbroasted sunchokes.

On our next visit, if it’s on the menu, I intend to try the Pan Seared Duck Breast And Duck Confit ($23/$39). This particular evening, while it was listed as an entrée, the ducks apparently were smarter than the hunters for none arrived in the kitchen despite it being on the shopping list.

Happy Hour runs 5 to 7 p.m. nightly with half-priced drinks and appetizers at the bar. That includes the housemade sausages, the Market Ceviche, the Florida Middleneck Clams and Pork Belly, the Cornmeal Crusted Pigtails (if you have to ask, you don’t want to know), and yes, Antelope Satay—on any given day.

Dining in the Dark is another Market 17 fave. In this test of skill and taste buds, you consume your food in a blackedout room with your fingers.

There are night-vision goggles, but only for the servers. Clever Market 17. Tell them Florida Agenda sent you.

Market 17
1850 SE 17th St.
Fort Lauderdale FL 33316
954-835-5507

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

As a friend of mine loves to say, “you’re a shucker for oysters,” after which she usually supplies a mock drum roll by tapping her hands on the table and smiling her toothy grin.

And so it was recently at G & B Oyster Bar, the sister restaurant to its more famous sibling Coconuts snuggled next door on the Intracoastal near the Bahia Mar. The restaurant opened last January and has been on our must-visit list of eateries since that point. All the anticipation was rewarded with flavor and excitement when the evening finally arrived.

The oyster bar itself is an industrial affair in stainless steel surrounded by glass-tiled walls that give the place an artsy feel, and a perfect backdrop to the oyster shucker, whose hand and wrist action is a marvel in motion. There are seven kinds of oysters on display and all are imports, including Malpeques from the cold waters of Canada’s Prince Edward Island. They are a sweet, salty and bold in flavor—more akin to Long Island Blue Points than the local Gulf oysters, which are harvested from Florida’s Apalachicola Bay, but only served here fried.

The smaller but flavorful Kusshi (Japanese for “precious”) oysters are raised off the west coast of North America in a style that deepens their shells and gives them a dense and meaty texture.

Both Malpeques and Kusshis arrive like tourists, fresh each day and very much alive, delivered by plane, not boat. This fact is reflected in the price–$2.50 to $3.50 per. It’s a premium you’ll soon be happy to pay when you savor the flavor.

There’s an amazing fresh seafood smell about G & B, which gets its name from Elliot Wolfe’s children Gates and Bennett. Wolfe owns the restaurant (as well as Coconuts) with partners Luc Limage and Merv Jonota, and the trio plays well off one another, each contributing special expertise. But it’s chef Steven Shockey who deserves much of the credit for the wonderful combination of unexpected items that round out the menu.

Case in point: A Lobster Cheese Steak ($16) that bears no resemblance to anything that originated in Phillie. This version of the original is served on a fat loaf of crusted bread that is overflowing with lobster, cheese, onions, peppers and bacon. While we passed on the G&B Hoppers ($9), the local name for frogs legs, we did observe them being eaten with the gusto of chicken wings on Super Bowl Sunday, and apparently just as finger-lickin’ good.

We can attest to the rich mixture of aromas and flavors that made up the Cioppino ($22), a dish that originated in the Italian and Portugese fisherman from the North Beach section of San Francisco. As translated at G & P’s, it’s a stew of shrimp, crab, clam, mussels and scallops simmered to elegance in a broth of tomato-fennel.

For those in the mood for Steamers ($13), the middle-neck clams served here are stacked high and dripping in a white wine broth. The staff claims that we missed the mood entirely by G & B’s inclusion of Alligator Ribs ($12) on the menu of an oyster bar. We’ll take their word that the Aji Amarillo-honey glaze is “to die.” It took less to convince us to sample the Grilled Oysters ($12), if only because they’re Elliot’s favorite. He’s smiling and so are we. Oh, and in case you haven’t heard, we’re a “shucker for oysters” and this O bar as well.

FORT LAUDERDALE – Last year, members of Broward County’s LGBT business community formed the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC), with a mission that includes promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community, promoting tourism with a unified approach, and serving as an advocate and resource for all equalitypromoting member businesses.

The Chamber, a 501c(6) non-profit organization, has an ambitious agenda: to partner with local LGBT organizations to mutually promote the sunshine and fun of Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, as well as partnering with those businesses who are looking to form a beachhead in the LGBT market. The organization’s president and CEO, Keith Blackburn, went to Berlin, Germany this month to attend the ITB convention, the world’s largest travel trade show, with an anticipated 170,000 attendees representing over 180 countries.

“This is an amazing opportunity to promote all that Greater Fort Lauderdale has to offer to a virtually captive audience,” reported Blackburn. “The ITB-Berlin event is the largest travel trade show on the planet, and a real chance to showcase what we love about where we live,” added Blackburn, whose own business credentials include operating Fort Lauderdale’s successful Mary’s Resort and gay guest house.

Blackburn and the GFLGLCC are also promoting, both locally and abroad, the new Rainbow Hospitality Alliance (RHA). In 1997, the Rainbow Alliance (RA) was launched to build gay and gay-friendly tourism in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Because of legal issues, the RA was limited in its ability to expand its mission statement, and so the group was officially disbanded in 2011. This paved the way for the formation of the RHA, with a stated mission to build alliances and bridges that market the area as the premier LGBT travel destination. In aid of this, the group will launch the southfloridafun.com Website this month.

Blackburn notes that the GFLGLCC’s mission to Berlin enjoyed the support of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), as well as businesses with a stake in the effort’s overall success. “The Berlin trip was made possible by our hotel sponsors,” Blackburn noted.

Those sponsors included the Atlantic Hotel, Cheston House, Elysium Resort, Inn Leather, La Casa Del Mar, and the Best Western Oakland Park Inn, in addition to his own Mary’s Resort. Long term, GFLGLCC has also partnered with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), which sponsored last year’s international convention of travel professionals in Greater Fort Lauderdale, and the FunMaps media group.

“Their support enabled us to create a unique brochure, showcasing Greater Fort Lauderdale as a world-class LGBT tourist destination,” emphasized Blackburn.

 For more information about GFLGLCC, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

Stephen Jerome

By BOB KECSKEMETY

FORT LAUDERDALE – Officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of local attorney Stephen D. Jerome, who committed suicide on Friday, March 9, after leaping 11 stories from the rooftop of his Pompano Beach office located in the BankAtlantic building at 1600 South Federal Hgwy., less than 24 hours after authorities executed a search warrant at his Fort Lauderdale home for materials related to child pornography (Florida Agenda, March 15, 2012).

Documents indicate that police were looking for specific videos containing potentially explicit and illegal materials. Jerome, who graduated from University of Miami School of Law in 1977, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, oxycodone, and marijuana, which investigators found at the scene.

When Jerome, 61, posted $1,000 bond the following morning, he went to his law office where, excusing himself, he leapt from the roof, three floors above. According to Broward County acting Medical Examiner Dr. Darin Trelka, Jerome, Jerome died at the scene “from multiple blunt force injuries.”

Jerome’s suicide came just a day before his scheduled opening night performance at the Pembroke Pines Theater of the Performing Arts’ musical production of Mel Brooks’ play “The Producers.” The attorney, who loved the musical theater form, according to friends, was known to break out into song while in court.

Jerome’s arrest prior to his suicide was not his first. The attorney was charged in 1990 with sexual performance by a child after police found child pornography magazines in his bedroom closet. He pled no contest and was sentenced to probation and community service, and the Florida Bar Association temporarily suspended his license to practice.

Jerome’s Condom Man character was part of his community service for the 1990 arrest. In the guise of superhero named Condom Man, Jerome donned a cape and mask and would go to local gay clubs and bars on weekend evenings passing out condoms in addition to educating and extolling the virtues of safer sex practices to the patrons He had since built his practice back into a successful bankruptcy law practice.

With additional reporting by Rory Barbarossa.

By Cliff Dunn

Don’t tell the tourists: South Florida locals already know that some nights are busier than others (well, duh!). The same cannot be said of Miami-Dade and Broward’s gay Happy Hours, where friends and familiar faces blend with the out-of-town set to form a perfect blend of post-work and pre-night-out. To accommodate the multiple “crowds” (Baby Boomers and Gen X’ers, as well as Rat Packers and Brat Packers) that descend their watering holes, from South Beach to North Andrews Avenue, local saloonkeepers and restaurateurs have set up a clock-work timetable to keep the most budget-conscious, driest boy or girl well-lubricated (in Happy Hour libations, at any rate).

Our tour of Happy Hours starts in Broward’s Gayborhood, Wilton Manors.  At Tropics (2000 Wilton Drive), Happy Hour starts at 4 p.m. and runs through 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. Drinks are two-for-the-price-of-one (hereinafter, 2-4-1), which—in keeping with Gayborhood tradition–involves paying for a round all at once, and getting a chip for  your second drink. In this case, that chip can be used at any time, even during the wee small hours when drinks are full pop.

Across the way is Sidelines Sports Bar (2031-A Wilton Drive), “where sports come first” and where Happy Hour runs daily—for the first time!—from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. with half-price drinks (the other popular Gayborhood-variation on the split-level-drink-price), followed by a back-half Happy Hour from Midnight-to-close, also with (according to their Web site) half-price libations. (Rumor on the Drive has it that a few kind words about FSU gets you in good with the effervescent publicans.)

Just a few doors down is the southwestern-themed Rodeo Restaurant and Bar (2033 Wilton Drive), with a select Happy Hour specials menu: 50% off bottles of wine, Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; half-price martinis on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursday Ladies Nights, with half-price well drinks, beer, and wine glasses.

One of the Drive’s most recent offerings is Pinché Taqueria (2045 Wilton Drive), a NYC-by-way-of-Tijuana-transplant, offering great outdoor atmosphere and a daily 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Happy Hour with $4 well drinks, $5 Pinché margaritas, and $20 margarita pitchers, as well as half-priced appetizers from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fans of the hip ambience and charming environs of the Naked Grape Wine Bar (2163 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors) followed owners and partners Caleb ben-Avram and Tim Slivinski when they relocated from just down the Drive, and both new and regular patrons enjoy their daily “Social Hour” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with $5 glasses of house wine, and $5 bar bites. On Thursdays, get social with an expanded 5-to-close Social Hour, including $5 house wine glasses and bar bites, and the wine bar’s for-pets-and-their-human-companions  “Yappy Hour,” hosted by Naked Grape’s Brett and his canine companion, Penny, and featuring a menu of ‘Tapas for Pets,’ courtesy of Lola’s Healthy Pet Café in Wilton Manors. As Caleb and Tim like to remind friends and guests, Naked Grape is “pet-friendly for friendly pets.” Bring yours, and enjoy a round or two together.

The perennial (and perennially-busy) Bill’s Filling Station (2209 Wilton Drive), includes Happy Hour of half-off drink prices from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, with an additional half-price “Bear Necessities” Happy Hour on Friday nights from Midnight to close.

Another new Drive-arrival is Wilton’s Bier Garden (2245 Wilton Drive), with a continental flair and a new full-liquor bar, and a Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Happy Hour including 2-4-1 domestic draft beer, 2-4-1 well drinks, and 2-4-1 Coastal Vines house wine selections.

Just down (or is it up?) the Drive, is The Manor Restaurant and Nightclub complex (2345 Wilton Drive), which is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but open for biz the rest of the week, with Happy Hour Wednesday through Friday from open ‘til 9 p.m., 2-4-1 drinks and $5 tapas (and  what tapas!).

Did somebody say Rosie’s Bar & Grill (2249 Wilton Drive)?  A Gayborhood fave for years rolls out its Happy Hour Mondays through Fridays from 11
a.m. to 7 p.m. with half-priced premium well, beer, and house wines and $1 off all other cocktails (excluding  premium wines).

Matty’s on the Drive (2426 Wilton Drive) has a new New York deli, and a 2-4-1 Happy Hour that runs Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., and a drink chip that’s good through 10 p.m.! (Is there a downside to this?)

What could we possibly say about Georgie’s Alibi (2266 Wilton Drive) that hasn’t been said before? The heritage Manors bar (open since 1997) runs its popular 2-4-1 Happy Hour Monday through Friday, with great food, friends, and faces (same as it ever was).

Boom (2232 Wilton Drive) has a friendly, all-day vibe, with half-priced drink Happy Hours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., as well as $7 premium  martinis all day long.

On the south side of the Gayborhood, where Wilton Drive turns into NE 4th Ave., you will find Fort Lauderdale’s oldest gay bar under the same ownership, Ramrod (1508 NE 4th Ave., Fort Lauderdale), a leather, Levis, and uniform bar with hot men and a 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily 2-4-1 Happy Hour (weekends included!). Voted the Number One Leather Bar in the World, Ramrod also hosts a Thursday “Bear Happy Hour” hosted by the Leather Scene Daddy Chad Bush.

Mona’s Cocktail Lounge (and its adjoining Lisa’s Backyard, 502 E Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) has been a favorite of locals since the first drink was served in 1997. Happy Hour is celebrated seven days a week from noon till 9 p.m., with $2.50 domestic beers and well drinks, and  $1.25 drafts.

Just around the corner, at PJ’s Corner Pocket (924 N Flagler Dr., Fort Lauderdale), you will find a Monday through Friday Happy Hour with $1 off every drink, as well as an everyday five 7 oz. Bud Lights for $5 special.

Nestled between gay-friendly Victoria Park, Wilton Manors, and Downtown Fort Lauderdale on US 1, you’ll find the Cubby Hole (823 N Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale), the “Best Little Butch Bar” in town, with a Levis-and-and leather vibe, serves up Happy Hour—and this should be easy to remember—with 2-4-1 drinks all day every day.
The scenic route that loops north around US 1winds its way to The Depot Cabana Bar and Grill (2935 N Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale), with a neighborly, poolside Happy Hour that features half-price drinks, Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. til 8 p.m.

South Florida’s “busiest neighborhood bar,” Smarty Pants (3038 N Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale) has locals and visitors starting early, in Times Square Plaza, has Happy Hour seven days a week, starting at 9 a.m. and continuing through 8 p.m., with daily specials and discounts off their low drink prices.

Still on the east side of Greater Fort Lauderdale, nestled between the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway (thank you, hunky Army Corps of Engineers!) and the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach, Dudes on the Beach (3270 NE 33rd St., Fort Lauderdale), the “home of Fort Lauderdale’s best happy hour,” features a seven day a week 2-4-1 special from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.—just in time for some of SoFla’s hottest dancers!

For those men making their way towards I-95 and points westward, The Stable Country Western Bar (205 E Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) sits right at the gateway to the Gayborhood, with a friendly LGBT attitude without all the attitude, and a Happy Hour that spans Monday through Thursday 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, noon through 9 p.m., with at least $1 their regular prices on libations.

Scandals Saloon (3073 NE 6th Ave., Wilton Manors) has a happening Levis, leather, and Country flair, and a Happy Hour at the main bar that runs Monday through Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., with $1-to-$2 drink special discounts, depending on what beverages you’re enjoying. Don’t forget to tie off your horse and mosey in for their all-day Happy Hour on Sundays, pard’ner.

The friendly regulars at the Corner Pub (1915 N Andrews Ave., Wilton Manors) always have a smile on their faces for a newcomer, and there’s a full menu from the next-door and adjacent Island City Pizza. Catch their seven-day Happy Hour, that soldiers on from 11 a.m. til 9:30 p.m., with $1.75 domestic drafts, $2.50 domestic bottles, $2.75 imports, $2.50 well drinks, $2.75 calls, $3 premiums, and $4.75 Jaeger shots.

Monkey Business (2740 N Andrews Ave., Wilton Manors), the bar that never seems to close its doors has an 8 a.m. kickoff to its Happy Hour, which runs through 9 p.m., seven days, with drinks specials that average about $1-$1.50 off per mixed drink or brew.

The world-famous Boardwalk (1721 N Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale) is introducing its new 5-Star Signature Dancer Series, and invites you to sample its seven day Happy Hour, from  4 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with 2-4-1 mixed drinks and brew, and eye  candy to soothe (or stimulate) the savage breast.

At the busy juncture of Downtown Fort Lauderdale and I-95, Johnny’s Club, Bar, and Lounge (1116 W Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) has more than 60 sexy dancers, and a weeklong Happy Hour that runs seven days, Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., with varying drink specials depending  the day, and discounted drinks  starting at $4.

Never one to be left out of the fun, Miami-Dade County has its own share of the Happy Hour excitement. There’s never a shortage of people to watch (and cruise) from the patio of Score (727 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach). It’s a great break from the two-story disco where Happy Hour runs 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Saturday. The drinks are strong, priced two-for-one.

Johnny’s Miami (62 NE 14th St., Miami) serves up $5 drinks all night, Wednesday through Sundays, right along with 30 hot dancers performing on stage. The baby cousin to Johnny’s Fort Lauderdale, the Miami location makes muscle your newest accessory as dancers hang on your every word.

Drag envy blushes to perfection at Palace Bar & Grill (1200 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach), across from the gay beach, rain or shine. Though every night’s a party where the fun never ends, check out Friday’s Happy Hour from 5-9 p.m. where drink specials make it all the more fun.  Or dress in drag on Monday nights and demand your due: $4 Absolut drinks.

Miami’s piano bar, Magnum Lounge (709 NE 79th Street, Miami), puts a smile on Happy Hour 5 p.m.-8 p.m. with $4 margaritas and drink specials every night of the week. You’ll be in the mood to sing along.

Twist (1057 Washington Ave., Miami Beach) is the granddaddy of all South Beach clubs, and rewards its regulars and tourists alike with 2-for-1 drink specials Friday through Wednesday, 1 p.m.-9 p.m. and all day Thursday. Eat and be merry with a free barbeque on Fridays and Sundays, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

MOVA Lounge (1625 Michigan Ave., Miami Beach), a distant cousin of the famed Washington, D.C. MOVA, spreads its drinks specials in shotgun fashion. Show up on Thursdays and expect $4 Miller Lites and $6 Finlandia Vodka. Friday Happy Hour runs 6 p.m.-9 p.m. with half-priced cocktails. On Saturday, Grey Goose is bargain priced at $9. And look for half-priced drinks all night long on Karaoke Mondays, just to keep you in the mood.

Club Sugar (2301 SW 32nd Ave., Miami) brings noche latina to sizzling Miami, and adds $5 well drinks and $4 domestic beer to keep you very Happy, Friday-Sunday, 10:30 p.m. til closing. Muy caliente.

For those up late needing a special night on the town, look no further than Discotekka (950 NE 2nd Ave., Miami). This hot club with hot bartenders and super hot music gives the best deals of the week on Sunday nights with “Drag’s a Bitch.” Look for $3 Bud Lights and $5 well drinks, and a drag show at midnight hosted by Daisy Deadpetals.

Vlada Lounge (3215 NE 2nd Ave., Miami) has a bar that ices over to keep your drinks freezer fresh. That comes in particularly handy during the daily Happy Hour two-for-one specials, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Included in the bargain: the club’s 17 special organic infused vodkas.