Since President Obama began his campaign last year, “change” has arguably been the most popular word in our lexicon.
While Obama has not yet fulfilled his promises to the LGBT community, it’s undeniable that exciting changes are coming to LGBT Philadelphia. In a few short weeks, there will be several new restaurant openings and upgrades to some of the city’s most popular gay nightspots. Here’s a rundown of the new developments that I’m excited about most:
— Beginning this evening, Voyeur Nightclub (1221 St. James St.) will usher in a new era of nightlife with the renovation and rebranding of Pure. With tonight’s opening reception and the Gayborhood Games tomorrow night, you’ll have two chances to experience Voyeur in all its glory. Visit www.voyeurnightclub.com for information.
— In a few short days, the southeast corner of 13th and Locust will reopen for business as Q (1234 Locust St.). Q’s new owners are injecting a fierce style and aesthetic upgrade to the former Bump, one of the city’s trendiest LGBT bar/restaurants.Trust me when I say this is going to blow you away!
— Stephen Carlino and Dennis Fee, owners of über-popular Tavern on Camac, have just completed an exquisite renovation and rebranding of their restaurant space. Located in the basement level at 243 S. Camac St., the new restaurant, terra, provides unparalleled quality and service in a comfortable, intimate environment at a reasonable price. Carlino and Fee have clearly surrounded themselves with the right experts, from chefs to kitchen designers to wait staff. Terra will prove to be one of Philadelphia’s best new restaurants, period. Congrats on a job well done!
— The Westbury, 261 S. 13th St., is one of the Gayborhood’s longest-running locations. A “neighborhood-style” bar, The Westbury is known for its happy-hour prices, excellent bar food and friendly staff. Having just completed a surprising renovation, the owners can add “beautiful space” to the list. Stop by and check it out soon!
In addition to these renovations, a few new LGBT special events are scheduled for the next several weeks. Here are my top two recommendations:
As you’ve likely heard, tomorrow evening is Philadelphia’s first-ever Gayborhood Games at Voyeur. This live competition is the only one of its kind in the city, and it’s shaping up to be one great event. Hosted by Chumley and Carlota, 40-plus contestants will compete for prizes in the categories of vocalist, comedian, drag performer, hair salon/hair fashion show, bartender and chef. And there’s a star-studded panel of judges taking part in the competition — most notably the ever-controversial Christopher Ciccone, Madonna’s brother and author of the bestseller “Life with My Sister Madonna.” Other celebrity judges include Josh from indie music group Oh My Josh; Derek Hartley of “The Derek & Romaine Show”; adult film star Bobby Rail; Sirius OutQ radio jock Tim Bennett and New York City celebrity stylist Jaisohn. Visit www.Nightlifegay.com for tickets.
The following weekend, on Oct. 2, local charitable organization Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance will host a lunchtime program at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St., to honor Dr. Mehmet Oz (“The Dr. Oz Show”) for promoting healthy living through good nutritional choices. This event will likely sell out, so get your tickets now at www.drozmanna-ewp.eventbrite.com or by calling (215) 496-2662 ext. 138.
Looking beyond the next two weeks, there are more great events to consider for fall: — Indigo Ball: The William Way LGBT Community Center’s annual black-tie fundraiser, Oct. 9 (www.waygay.org). — Philadelphia Fashion Week: Featuring local design students and world-famous international designers, Oct. 8-10 (www.PhiladelphiaFashionWeek.org). — OutFest: Block party in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood to celebrate National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11 (Phillypridepresents.org). — Gay Community Night at Eastern State Penitentiary: First annual LGBT event for Terror Behind the Walls, Oct. 21 (www.Nightlifegay.com).
This should be enough to keep you busy for the next several weeks. If I missed any events, e-mail [email protected]. ’Til next time, get offline and see what your community has to offer!