What's HOT South Florida :: 9/11 - 9/15

Friday night SAVE presented their annual Young Guardians Luminaries of Equality honoring our community's best and brightest young professionals at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens. The event, sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation and many others, honored seven deserving honorees.

Later that night Wet Bar in South Miami celebrated the birthday of the Queen of their casa, Marytrini. She celebrated her birthday with special guests Solange Fernandez and La Radison, as well as a couple hundred of her closest friends. Also on Friday night I stopped by Johnny's to catch up with my friend Sean David. While there I saw lots of cute boy dancers.

When I left Johnny's, I stopped by Hunters as I haven't seen my "sista" Diego in awhile and needed a Diego hug. On Saturday, Village Pub presented the Dallas Divas Turnabout hosted by Nicolette which was World Series fundraiser for the Village Pub Underdogs. Later that night, The Ramrod presented Pig Dance #73 with special guest DJ Doug st Jackson.On Sunday, Flip Flops Dockside presented their monthly Sunday T Dance (1 Sunday of the month) from 4-7 pm, hosted by Amanda Austin with DJ Silvio. This month's special guests were Saphyre L'Sweet Cardoza, Misty Eyez and birthday girl Angie Ovahness. It's always fun to eat, relax and see a great show on the Intracoastal at Flip Flops.

Thursday, September 11

You are invited to attend the MDGLCC-U Education Series and Networking Breakfast on "The New Marketing" presented by Dr. Carmen Delia Ortiz (Lesbianbusinesspoject.com) to be held at Soyka Restaurant (5556 4th Court, Miami) Dr Caremen Delia Ortiz will present the "Foundations of The New Marketing Paradigm," where you will discover the principles of how to attract ideal prospects and convert them into raving fans of your business. Also, you will learn about the 15-step road map to growing your business in 2014 by leveraging the power of the internet and digital marketing tools and strategies. Admission: $30 (members) / $40 (others). RSVP at www.gaybizmiami.com, [email protected] or 305-673-4440.

The Pride Factory presents a sale from today until September 17 where the more you spend, the more you save. Spend $50 and get $5 off and if you spend $100 you get $15 off.

Friday, September 12

Starting tonight, and going all weekend long, is the Ramrod's 20th Anniversary with special event each night. Tonight if you wear a vintage Ramrod T shirt, dog tag, club pin, wristband or hankie with the Ramrod logo you get a free shot.

Filthy Gorgeous Fridays at Score presents the official Erasure after party starring DJs AB and Mac with the Penny Back Boyz and hosted by Elaine Lancaster.

Saturday, September 13

Bigger Saturdays at Score presents Erotic Taboo featuring DJ/Producer Alain Jackinsky with an opening set by Carlos Rojas.

Epic Saturdays at the Manor presents a DECS South Beach Fashion Show with some of the hottest models in South Florida. The night will also celebrate the birthday of DJ Oren Nizri. In the Ivy Lounge and Patio, Noche Latina Saturdays presents special guest Saphyre L'Sweet Cardoza along with hostess Viva Mirage and DJ Nena. 11 pm to 4 am with hot Go-Go Papi's and NO Cover.

Ramrods 20th anniversary continues with Titan and Colt Video model, Sam Colt, live in the cage at midnight.

Yo Bailo Saturdays at Bailo Nightclub presents special guests Adora and Noel Leon along with hostess Marytrini and DJs Delma and Otto.

Sunday, September 14

Ramrods 20th anniversary caps off with the main event with $1,500 in cash and prizes in a balloon drop at midnight. The countdown will be by film star Sam Colt. In addition, they will be giving away the much sought after anniversary pins.

Monday, September 15

The Stable present a night of spectacular entertainment and silent auction from 7-11 pm for Tony Campbell. This benefit will be hosted by Jessica Channing and Russell with Ricky and Andy and many other amazing performers. All proceeds go directly to Tony!

Village Pub presents Absolut Art Pop Ball at 7pm. They invite you to join them as they judge the most creative videos and painted bottles designed by your favorite bars in Wilton Manors. Every vote counts. This event will be hosted by Nikki Adams. RSVP to [email protected] as seating is limited.

The Passing of Icon Joan Rivers

For those of you who read this column on a regular basis, you know that I generally never write about people who pass away. However, this time I had to make an exception. There are plenty of stars who pass away that we all like, but then there is a category of star that Joan was in, and that's the category of people who have really affected our lives.

I still remember, like it was yesterday, the first time I saw Joan host "The Tonight Show," and in her monologue she was talking about her mother-in-law and she said, "May she rest in peace...[dramatic pause]...soon." I couldn't stop laughing, and I became an instant fan. In 1988 she was on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Broadway Bound," and I went to see it with my friend Claudia. After the show, we waited by the stage door to meet Joan and when she came out, she was so nice. She chatted with us and took pictures with us as if we were the only people who mattered to her at that moment. She had to be tired, as it was close to 11 p.m., but you wouldn't know it from her actions. She was funny and endearing and we could instantly see what a wonderful human being she was. It's amazing how little gestures in life can affect people.

In the last 24 hours since Joan passed, it is obvious how she positively affected millions of people. I am sure she looks beautiful in her angel wings, and I wish her family (Melissa and Cooper), all her close friends and all her fans peace during this very hard time.

This is HOT

"Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek" is available for pre-order. The second track to be released from the album, the jazz standard "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields, is available now on iTunes, Amazon and other retailers. Also just revealed are the standard and deluxe album covers for "Cheek To Cheek," shot by fashion photographer Steven Klein.

The standard version of "Cheek To Cheek" features 11 tracks, and the deluxe version features 15 tracks. A 180-gram vinyl edition of "Cheek To Cheek" will also be available for pre-order at Amazon and select retail outlets. The debut song from "Cheek To Cheek," Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," released at the end of July, debuted at #1 on Billboard's Digital Jazz charts, becoming their second duet track to hit the top spot on the jazz charts, having done the same with "The Lady Is A Tramp," from Duets II.

"Cheek To Cheek" features classic jazz standards sung by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett in a combination of vocal duets and solo performances. From the title track to "But Beautiful" to "I Won't Dance," the record's duets showcase the chemistry between the two artists, who span 60 years in age. As Bennett says, "What I really love about being a jazz singer is that jazz artists are very creative, very honest, from phrase to phrase" and Lady Gaga adds, "We wanted to make something that sounded perfect because of the quality of the emotion...the honesty."

"Cheek To Cheek" also features the Lady Gaga solo, "Lush Life," accompanied by Tony Bennett's solo of "Sophisticated Lady." The two songs complement each other, as Lady Gaga explains, "I loved making 'Lush Life,' Tony mentored me emotionally through the process," and Tony Bennett adds, "I sang 'Sophisticated Lady' to answer her on 'Lush Life,' and because Duke Ellington wrote it, who collaborated with Billy Strayhorn, the writer of 'Lush Life.' "

On Saturday, September 13 at 11 pm (EST) leading entertainment and lifestyle retailer HSN will broadcast "Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek." This one-hour, HSN Live music special will offer fans an exclusive look behind-the-scenes at the making of their new album, while featuring never-before-seen footage of the two artists collaborating in the recording studio. Throughout the special, fans will be able to pre-order an HSN exclusive deluxe version of "Cheek To Cheek" that includes two bonus tracks -- "TheLady Is A Tramp" (from Tony Bennett's Duets II) and "Lady's In Love With You" (Tony Bennett Solo, Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center). There will be an encore airing of the broadcast on Sunday, September 14 at 7 am and fans can pre-order the HSN exclusive deluxe version of Cheek To Cheek now at HSN.com.

Exclusive bundles for "Cheek To Cheek" are available via Cheektocheek.ladygaga.com and Cheektocheek.tonybennett.com.