We are right here in the middle of summer. It’s such a busy time of year and exciting to get outdoors and away from home. Some recent news about home break-ins got me thinking about how easy it is to forget the basics in the hurry to get out of town. I searched around and …
If you are visiting the Florida Panhandle, you will be pleasantly surprised at all there is to do. This little beach town has a lot of neat attractions and is very LGBT friendly. There are a ton of specialty stores as well as a shopping mall. Many people do make it a point to head …
High season in Gulfport is my favorite time of year. Gulfport is a whirlwind of fun just about any time of year, but I love to witness my small town of only 12,000 residents come together as a community to produce several large non-stop events each spring. Houses, pets, art, rainbows, and fairies are all …
If you are planning a trip to the Florida Keys one the many highlights of your trip will be great places to eat. We’ve got you covered from breakfast to dessert. Most people think of seafood when traveling to the Keys but there are so many tasty options. This area is a foodies paradise. Of …
Ben Johansen, the founder of the Pulse Ribbon project in Orlando, is refocusing his efforts and promising to make a million rainbow ribbons before he decides his next moves. Johansen, a costume maker and business owner, was inspired to start making rainbow ribbons the day of the shooting, June 12, 2016, when 49 people were …
Orlando’s Pulse Ribbon Project founder: I’ll make a million ribbons Read More »
Gulfport city council member Paul Ray has some advice on where to find the man of your dreams if you are single this Valentine’s Day. Shop at Walmart. A transgender friend who worked at Walmart introduced Paul to his husband, Wesley Ray, at a store in Gainesville, Florida in 1999. Paul had stopped into Walmart …
Sprouting up from the charming colorful cottages that make up a large portion of the housing in Gulfport, Florida is the high-rise 55-plus community of Town Shores. It’s a bit of an anomaly in many respects including that it was built 40 years ago before Gulfport put into place zoning that forbid upward development. Perhaps …
Lesbians Have Strong Presence in Gulfport’s Town Shores Read More »
The Resort on Carefree Blvd, in North Fort Myers, Florida, has come of age. Twenty-one years young, the resort is a vibrant and thriving community of women who are happy to testify about the magic of living in a predominately lesbian, gated community. This sprawling and beautiful mixture of stylish manufactured homes and high-end RV …
This Fall, my wife and I embarked on a month-long road trip through the United States. Being Canadian, we’ve spent plenty of time down in the US, although it’s mostly been in the PNW and on the northern East Coast. This was our first time travelling to the South together. We drove from Ontario down …
Our Central Florida Road Trip: Full-Time Lesbian Travelers Read More »
The foodie scenes in St. Petersburg and Tampa are sizzlin’ hot—with a global menu of cuisine that could rival any big city like NYC or L.A. Yes, that’s right; whether you’re craving Asian fusion, Cuban, Portuguese, Mexican or even just good ol’ fashioned American classics, to name just a few, you’re sure to find it …
Even if you aren’t a big fan of architecture and don’t know much about Frank Lloyd Wright, checking out the unique campus buildings at Florida Southern College in Lakeland is cool, and quite an education. Wright, widely considered the most famous American architect in history, designed a dozen structures of the campus starting in 1938. …
Historic Architecture at Florida Southern College is a Little-Known Lakeland Treasure Read More »
MBA Orlando, the Orlando area’s LGBT chamber of commerce, is working to expand networking opportunities and government contract work for its members. The group has about 275 member businesses and is one of the oldest such chambers in the nation, now in its 27th year. Besides monthly gatherings in different locations around the Orlando area, …
MBA Orlando — Orlando’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce Read More »
The holiday season isn’t always the “gayest”time of year for LGBTQ people. Although our society is seemingly coming around to be more accepting of LGBTQ people, many still face family hurdles during the holidays. Unfortunately, there are still several churches openly opposed to those with sexual orientations or gender identities that oppose the religious norms. …
Home for the Holidays: Gulfport Dons Its Gayest Apparel Read More »
“I was certain that my passion, 25-plus years of experience and the ability to throw down one of the best cups of coffee around town would allow me to create a destination spot,” says Sheila Smith, owner of Southside Coffee Brew Bar in St. Petersburg, Florida. “Where people would be served the best coffee drinks …
Southside Coffee Brew Bar Serves Up a Queer-Friendly Cup Read More »
Though it has the corporate brand name, this is no run-of-the-mill hotel: The Holiday Inn Express & Suites St. Petersburg – Madeira Beach is a family-owned and run business. “I’ve been in the industry for years. The fact that we work for owners that we can get on the phone is just amazing and unique,” …
For something more authentic than theme park rides and gift shops in the Orlando area, try the Tibet-Butler Preserve, a county park about seven miles north of Disney Springs and almost 20 miles southwest of Downtown Orlando. This is one of the best little nature preserves in Central Florida. The best thing about it is …
Tibet Butler Nature Preserve: Nature Gem in Orlando Read More »
One of the best things about culture in Central Florida is the world’s most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany items at a museum in Winter Park. Yes, that Tiffany — as in, Tiffany lamps, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, etc. There’s more than just lamps too. The museum is the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American …
Museum near Orlando Offers Extensive Tiffany collection Read More »
South Florida is a region where cultures collide and subcultures become countercultures, but in a really good way. The uniqueness of this region of Florida lends itself well to many different types of food that really are not found anywhere else except in the countries of origin of the people that first inhabited this area. …
Whether you’ve just come out, are recovering from a break-up, or have been single for a while, if you’re an older lesbian, looking for love can be challenging. Most older lesbians are no longer interested in hanging out in the bars where young people meet. Many of us have grown past the over-drinking stage and …
If you and your partner want to visit several places during a short vacation without constantly unpacking and repacking your luggage, a cruise may offer you the ideal vacation. Cruises can be luxurious or budget-friendly, allowing for many vacation options, from relaxing to exciting, from three days to two weeks, from European river cruises to …
The real estate market is hot right now, especially in Florida. Currently, there are not enough homes on the market, so sellers are not willing to give buyers the great deals they got during the years following the market crash. But real estate can still be a winning proposition for you as an investor if …
Entertainment in Northeast Florida (AKA “the First Coast”) is abundant. From restaurants to bars to nightclubs, you can easily find plenty of places to feel right at home in the 904. This community is one that likes to gather together and stay active. They appreciate everything from soul to smiling divas to jazz over coffee. …
I am a parent. I have a gorgeous 3 month old baby, Hadley Rose, and yes, I change diapers, I give bottles, and I cherish every moment of her snuggly beginning months. What I am not, however, is a “mom” or a “dad” in the way our society assigns roles to parents. I am beyond …
Written by Karen Izzi We learned about the opportunity to adopt a newborn from a young couple on February 24th, my father’s birthday of all days. Phyllis and I proceeded with bells on. We have been on an emotional roller coaster with this young couple – quite a lot of ups and downs, yes’ and …
How My Wife and I Surrendered to the Realities of Adoption Read More »
For the vast majority of the country, the winter months equal cold, snowy mornings and high heating bills. If you’ve ever lived through this season, you know that after the beauty of the first snow fall, the appeal of winter dwindles quickly, and you hope spring arrives as soon as possible. For those of you …
Follow the Birds & Fly South for the Winter: Consider Owning a Winter Home in Tampa Read More »
