Is Sister’s a Tease?
Don’t hold anyone to this, including the source, but it appears that the long-awaited Mr. Sisters just may open in time for Come Out With Pride the weekend of Oct. 9. “We’re going to try and open in time for Pride,” says owner (and hunk) Brian Humphries. “But honestly, I don’t know if that’s realistic or not.” One good sign: When you ask him how things are going, Humphries now says, “Come on down and look!” He has been renovating the 12,000-square-foot site at 5310 E. Colonial for more than a year now. (For evidence, check out the video on YouTube.) He promises “decadent and eclectic surroundings, a friendly atmosphere and cutting edge nightlife.” And that’s just inside. Outside is a 6,000-square-foot deck overlooking Lake Underhill and Herndon Airport.
Time to Shine Again
The intimate commercial space on Shine Avenue just north of Robinson St. holds a fond place in the hearts of many in the local LGBT community. For a brief time it was home to Union, Orlando’s first out-and-out LGBT restaurant. The food was uneven, the service was slow, but the atmosphere was electric. Since Union closed in the late 1990s, several restaurants have claimed the space, most recently Bravissimo. But the most promising incarnation may be the Shine Neighborhood Kitchen, which opened for dinner only last week. The owners also operate Graffiti Junktion in a Thornton Park space that thwarted several previous owners. They’ve remodeled the Shine Ave. space trendy-casual, and it feels right. Just ask members of the Human Rights Campaign Orlando Chapter, which held a Federal Club gathering there on Sept. 18. And overheard at the HRC event: Jason Lambert is in talks to reopen The Beacon on the ground floor of The Sanctuary.
Take a Load Off
Have you noticed the growing number of single chairs chained to Bus Stop signs near downtown Orlando? We’re not allowed to divulge the secret identity of this superhumanist, but he’s an inventive artist/activist who just happens to be gay. He finds the chairs in all sorts of locations—friends, garage sales, by the side of the road—and fixes them up. The final coat of paint includes the word “SIT”… an invitation or order depending on your perspective. You go!
