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In the face of an annoying downpour, Scandals hosted one of their last major live events before the world stopped turning, their second annual turnabout. General manager Alex Amarosa emceed the event, which saw most of the audience watching from the covered area of the patio, and a few watching under umbrellas. Bar staff from neighboring bars, including The Pub in Wilton Manors, filled in for Scandals’ staff so everyone could participate. The event was on January 23.
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Out R&B/pop-singer Ari Gold performed at The Pub in Wilton Manors last Friday. Gold, who’s a robust entertainer, performed an approximately 45-minute set that consisted of several props and two backup performers. He also made use of the space of the venue by weaving among the patrons and standing on the bar. Gold is based in New York City.
You grew up in the Bronx. What’s special about the Bronx that’s not common knowledge? It’s the only borough with a “the” in front of it. It also has more parks than any other borough. Growing up, it was great being in such close proximity to black and latino people, which greatly impacted my musical tastes toward R&B, soul and dance music. What New York venue do you miss that’s gone? The Palladium! It was such a beautiful space, with such a huge dome ceiling. I will never forgive my alma mater, NYU, for tearing it down to build an ugly brick box dorm. Where do you hang out in New York in your down time? I love going out to eat. I don’t hang in the clubs like I used to, but there also isn’t the same club culture like there was when I was coming up in the 90s. That was a heyday. I just did a big concert in New York at The Cutting Room, which is a great music venue. I’m always going to the theater! Do you live in New York? I live on the lower east side of Manhattan, and I’m a fourth generation Lower East Sider. My mom grew up there. I’ve lived in New York City my whole life except for some stints in L.A., which I love, and my brother Elon lives there with his wife and kids. I would move there if my life allows.
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If you had to live somewhere other than New York, where would you live? I’ve always wanted to live in the UK or Berlin, so who knows? Which collaboration was the most special to you? I was particularly touched when Peppermint asked me to sing the George Michael cover for “Too Funky,” especially knowing how important George was to me as an openly-gay artist. I love working with Kevin Aviance, getting to write, record and be styled and photographed by Boy George, working with RuPaul in Starbooty, my ex Billy Porter, and my collabs with Adam Joseph. But my favorite has been writing and recording my album, Soundtrack To Freedom, with Bob Sandee, a.k.a. Subgroover. It was the most magical time I’ve ever had recording an album. Collaborating with both my brothers as a child can also never be rivaled. I guess I can’t choose one. If you could collaborate with anyone, who would you pick? There are producers like Jam and Lewis and Babyface that I’ve always wanted to work with, but I’d have to say the craziest dream come true would be to work with Madonna, because I’ve spent so much of my life worshipping her—and I still do. If you had to choose one of your songs to launch into space, which one would you choose? “Space Under Sun,” cause’ its spacey! Since you’ve toured all over the world, what was your favorite destination so far? Overseas, the audience in Switzerland was awesome. In America, performing at SummerStage in Central Park was pretty damn cool.
What’s your favorite movie? Just because it’s the gay bible, The Wizard of Oz. What drives you crazy? Being asked to choose my favorite! How would you feel if your pet was the master in heaven, and you were the pet? I co-parented an English Bull dog with my first boyfriend—the Lady Bully J. Blige—named after Lady Bunny and Mary J. Blige. Lady Bully, RIP, was a pass-around butch party bottom, so I don’t think that would work. Do you like zoos? My Mother would take me to the Bronx Zoo as a child all the time, and I loved it. I like aquariums now because they’re environmentally conscious and do work to help the animals and Mother Nature. Would you give a kidney to a relative or close friend? If I was healthy enough to do so, I’m sure it would be a huge gift for me to be able to do that. My percussionist, Hector, just did that for his sister, and they’re both doing great—it’s so beautiful to see how a human can sacrifice for another human like that. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? First, as a loving son, brother, uncle, and, most importantly, as a good friend. After that, as someone who sacrificed a lot in order to heal communities with music and storytelling in ways that hadn’t been done before.
What do you want to live long enough to see? Peace on earth, LGBTQ freedom and equality, and Trump going to jail. Will you ever retire? I don’t think that I’ll every stop being an artist. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? I had a fan tell me that when I wanted “alone time” he wanted to be there to share it with me. What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? I remember being 19 and meeting Madonna’s back-up singer, Niki Harris, at a club in L.A. I told her that I don’t usually go up to celebrities, but that I was a huge fan, and she sassed back, “I’m not a celebrity, honey. I’m a real person!” So thanks to her I now fangirl all the time to everyone I meet and love, and I’ve met almost everyone I’ve been a fan of. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? My new music video for NGOR Radio! What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? I never knew how much an 80s TV theme song would speak such deep truth. “You take the good, you take the bad, you take em’ both and there you have the facts of life.” Life is a paradox, so practice cognitive dissonance. Balance is key. What did you learn from your parents? It’s always an opportunity to learn something, and it’s never too late. Who’s your favorite performer? Madonna. Who’s your favorite singer? Brandy.
What’s your best characteristic? I’m a talker, but I think I’m even a better listener. How do you enjoy spending your time? With friends and family, and doing anything cultural. Celebrity or not, who do you have a crush on? I had a big one on out-actor Brian J. Smith, but I’ve gotten over it, thankfully. Well, I at least stopped torturing myself by following him on Instagram. Who do you admire? Oprah, and Michelle Obama. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Mr. Rogers. Where would you go in a time machine? To the 70s pre-AIDS disco era. What would your last meal be? Something Japanese. Maybe scallops with foie gras. What do you worry about? My parents getting older, and this country falling apart. What are you afraid of? Trump’s power and stupidity. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A piano. It’s my favorite instrument and the one that I wished I played well. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A fierce golden Daniel lion. “Ari” means lion, “Gold” is my last name, and “Daniel” is my middle name. So there. Who depends on you, and for what? My parents depend on me to keep them growing, on their feet, and never getting too comfortable or set in their ways. Who are you closest with? God. Where can we see you? On my website or at The Pub this Friday!
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Puppeteer Jerry Halliday debuted his new gay puppet, Twinky Boy, at The Pub in Wilton Manors last night. After flirting on the fringes of gayness with his characters for many years, Halliday, who’s now a South Florida resident, decided to make the dive into full gayness with his latest creation. And a labor of love it was, as the puppet took over two years to make. Check out some pics of Halliday’s packed show, which was MC’d by local singer, Doug Blevins.
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New York-based drag performers, Sherry Vine and Jackie Beat, performed a special Halloween show, Battle of the Witches, at The Pub last Sunday. Vine and Beat first matched raunch-for-raunch in several solo numbers, before culminating with a reading battle in the song “I Got You Bitch,” set to the tune of the Sonny and Cher’s, “I Got You Babe.” The show was at 9:00 p.m., and it was precipitated by Lady Fancy’s monthly Gospel Jubilee.
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Like a wilder and more realistic version of the nightclub scenes in The Birdcage—and with a queen always at arm’s reach no matter where you went in the club—the House of Condeghi hosted their Turnabout Ball at The Pub, to celebrate the venue’s first anniversary. The ball, which was hosted by local drag performer Sharde Ross, went from 9:00 p.m. to midnight and featured many of The Pub’s staff in the competition. The tips were donated to The Smart Ride.
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Baked by blistering temperatures, which were possibly the hottest the event has ever seen, the Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival happened last Saturday. The event saw a reduced vendor area as well, with—to some people’s chagrin—an entry fee of $5. Nevertheless, it was well-attended. Unlike other years, the event didn’t have any official entertainment. However, local drag performer Misty Eyez hosted a show on a stage that was in between Southern Nights and The Pub, and Crystal Waters, a.k.a. the “Queen of House,” performed at Hunters. Several other clubs also had stages set up near their venues, including a pulsing DJ set at The Manor. This was the 19thyear for the Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival. The grand marshal was local resident and Styx bassist, Chuck Panozzo.
Where did you grow up? In Indiana. How long have you lived in South Florida? For 17 years. Why did you move here? For the weather, but mostly because South Florida is such a gay-friendly place. What part of South Florida do you live in? In Oakland Park. What do you like most about living here? The winters. If you’ve ever lived in Indiana, you could relate (laughs). What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone, and why? Costello’s (it was called the Gin Mill when we first moved here). It was small, nice and we made a lot of friends there. Where do you hang out in South Florida? We’re pretty much home bodies now, but it looks like I’ll be hanging out at The Pub a lot more often.
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What’s your claim-to-fame? I guess that would have to be The Gospel Jubilee Show. How did you come up with your name? I was given that name because of Nancy Ross. We were getting ready to do our first show, and I didn’t have a name yet. So someone said, “Nancy and Fancy,” but I don’t remember who stuck the “Lady” part in front of it. What was your first gig, ever? It was in Bob (Nancy Ross) and Paul’s back yard. What was your first gig in South Florida? It was at Monkey Business Bar. What’s the strangest thing that’s happened to you onstage? I took one step too far to the right once, and I fell of the stage. Talk about humbling.
If you could only do one anymore—play the piano or MC—which would you choose, and why? That would have to be, play the piano. It’s always been my favorite thing to do. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? I don’t have an “old job.” I’ve been a hairdresser since I was 17. It’s been a long time (laughs). Will you ever retire? My standard answer to that is that I’ll be working up until the lunch of my funeral. What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Liza Minnelli. What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why? New York City, because Ron and I got married there. It’s just a wonderful, exciting and magical place.
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What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? To forgive and forget. Life is too short to hang on to so much stuff that is over and done with. What’s your best characteristic? My sense of humor. At least I think so, but I may be the only one. How do you enjoy spending your time? With my husband and our dogs. What celebrity do you have a crush on? There are too many to name. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why? I’d bring back my best friend, Denise. She was a drag queen trapped in a woman’s body. We could finish each other’s sentences. Where would you go in a time machine, and why? I’d go to the 1940s because of the music, the clothes and the cars.
What would your last meal be? That’s easy—pizza! What do you worry about? Being left alone after you’ve lost a partner. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why? The piano, just because it’s my favorite. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A sheep. Who are you closest with? Ron, my husband. What would your autobiography be called? Oh What a Journey. What music do you listen to when you’re upset? Gospel music. What’s on your bucket list? To have my face pulled back up to where it used to be (laughs). What’s something that you never told anyone else? Well I certainly can’t tell it now in this interview (laughs). Where can we see you? At The Pub!
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The Pub hosted their monthly “leather and kink party,” Menergy Leather, last Friday, featuring a demonstration from adult performers and couple, Dirk Caber and Jesse Jackman.
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Although Cinco de Mayo technically celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French Empire with the Battle of Puebla in 1862, in the USA it’s morphed into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. The Pub had a double lineup to commemorate the holiday, with South-Florida based Company B performing first, followed by Nicole Halliwell’s Drink N Drag, featuring Angie Ovahness, Calypso Monroe Lords, Sasha Lords, and the birthday girl herself, Missy Meyake Le Paige.
