Kick Off Pride Season in Miami with Miami Beach Gay Pride!

As one of the first Pride events of the year, Miami Beach Gay Pride will expand to a week of celebrations for 2013, announced Babak Movahedi, chairman of the Pride board of directors.  Kicking off with a rainbow flag raising ceremony at Miami Beach City Hall and culminating with a loud and colorful parade and festival on Sunday, April 14, the schedule of events promises something for everyone.

Movahedi said the expanded line-up of Pride activities speaks to the rising popularity of the event.  “Pride is a celebration for the whole community,” he said.  “It’s gratifying to realize that after only five years, Miami Beach Pride has grown so exponentially and attracts both locals and visitors.”

The expanded schedule of events starts with a rainbow flag raising ceremony on Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m. at Miami Beach City Hall, followed by a reception honoring Miami Beach Pride’s original founders and Pride’s Legacy Couples, partners who have been together for 20 years and longer.  The reception will also unveil the Miami Beach Police Department’s “rainbow” painted squad car.  This event is free and open to the entire community.

On Tuesday, April 9, the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will host a “Spotlight Reception” fundraiser for Pride at the Shore Club Hotel.  Tickets are $10 for chamber members and $20 for non-members with a portion of the proceeds being donated back to Miami Beach Gay Pride.

“Soundscape: Outdoor Movie Night with the Family” will present the film “The Princess Bride” on Wednesday, April 10, at 8 p.m. at the New World Center, 17^th and Washington Avenue.  The movie night is free and open to the public.

The following night, Thursday, April 11, beginning at 7 p.m. Miami Beach Pride will honor its Angel and Archangel donors – those who have given $500 and $1,000, respectively – at a cocktail reception at the W Hotel.  Tickets are $125 each, but Angel and Archangel donors will be admitted free.

Start the Pride weekend off on Friday, April 12, at the “Mova Block Party” beginning at 8 p.m. in front of Mova Lounge on Michigan, just south of Lincoln Road.  The street will be closed and international DJ Brett Henrichsen will spin until 2 a.m.  No cover.  After the “Mova Block Party,” Pride presents “Sense,” a dance party at Nikki Beach, 1 Ocean Drive, featuring DJ Joe Gauthreaux and GRAMMY-nominated DJ Tony Moran.  “Sense” starts at 11 p.m. and gets senseless until 5 a.m.  Tickets are $35, $40 and $45 in advance and $55 at the door.

On Saturday, April 13, beginning at 9 a.m., Oleta River State Park will be the site of the “Out-Fit Challenge” where participants traverse a 5K to 7K cross-country trail run, dotted by 10–15 military-style obstacles that may include mud, water, ice and fire. Survivors will be treated to a post-race party that will include a DJ, cocktails and contests.  Registration is $85 before March 15 and is available at www.out-fitchallenge.com.  A portion of the registration fee will be donated to local and national LGBT charities.

If sand is more your thing than mud, Miami Beach Gay Pride will present its first-ever “Beach Party” from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Lummus Park with international DJ/Producer Theresa and DJ Manny Lehman.  The “Beach Party” is free and open to the entire community.

The big day of Pride, Sunday, April 14, starts at 9:30 a.m. when the new “Grandstand VIP Area” opens.  Enjoy the parade and all the people watching from a reserved grandstand seat that features bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys and continental breakfast buffet.  Grandstanders will have a front-row seat for the Parade, which this year is emceed by Univision radio’s Enrique Santos.  The grandstand is located on Ocean Drive between 11^th and 12^th Streets.  Advance tickets are $30, $35 and $40 with tickets at the door $50.

At 11 a.m. on Sunday, Miami Beach Gay Pride Festival opens with more than 125 LGBT-friendly vendors and businesses, exciting celebrities, musical performances, refreshments, food and a family-friendly play area.  Fireworks will light up the sky above the Festival at 9 p.m. while the concert keeps going until 11 p.m.

More details after the jump!

Nice to See StevieB: Captain America

By StevieB

As I walked up my front sidewalk last night, I carried my backpack filled with my school books that were as heavy as my head filled with Dayquil and thoughts of the seven more pages needed for my term paper. My head cold had moved into my chest and as my class let out so did my lungs.

As I moved like a zombie up my sidewalk I encountered a ten-year-old Captain America. He had obviously attempted to claim his reward for looking so damn cute by asking for Kit-Kat donations from my front door. “I’m sorry, I didn’t have any candy for you this year.” I shrugged my shoulders as the mini-Captain of all that is right in America tilted his head, not buying my story. “See… I had to go to school with a cold… and I have a really hard homework.” Suddenly I started in telling Captain America why I failed to have the proper tariff of candy. “ See… I have really hard homework, and I start a new job on Monday…and...”

Captain America’s Mom, Mom America, was down the sidewalk and didn’t hear me whine about how hard my life seems. Nor did she see what happened next. Captain America reached into his loot bag and pulled out a full sized Snickers bar and handed it to me.  Just like a true hero, he called out “I hope you feel better!” as he ran down the street.

And that’s how Captain America saved my life.

This post originally appeared on Steven Bennet's website Nice to See StevieB. Republished with permission.

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