Tastings Corked
Orlando Tastings Wine Bar in downtown Orlando quietly closed its doors May 30. The Tastings Facebook page posted a Comment that reads, “Orlando Tastings would like to thank all of our Facebook fans for your patronage and support but unfortunately we have closed our doors for business. We will miss you all!” Watermark hosted their Third Thursday Social networking event there in April and owners gave no inclination that the business was in trouble. The wine bar, which used a dispenser system that allowed guests to taste wines using a special debit card, was barely three years old. No reason was given behind the closure but the real question remains, what'd they do with all that wine?
Parliament House: South Beach?
The Orlando institution is reported to be in works to open a South Beach property. Owner, Susan Unger's daughter Marla confirmed that they are scouting locales but “no location has been confirmed.” Owner Don Granatstein says they are hoping to aggrandize the brand on Miami's uber chic and gay-adored Ocean Drive, “close to where The Birdcage was filmed.” The Birdcage, the club centered on in the film, is actually the Carlyle Hotel at 1250 Ocean Drive. Currently, there is only one gay bar on Ocean Drive; Palace Food Bar. This venture could prove extremely timely as South Beach has been picking up its gay momentum again. For the past three years, Ocean Drive has played host to Miami Beach Gay Pride.
Humpries in the House
Less than a month after his “wrongful dismissal” from Mr. Sisters, former part-owner, Brian Humphries was out and about this Gay Days weekend and at his alma mater, Parliament House. Onlookers say he was in good spirits, shirtless as always and enthusiastically posing for pictures with friends and acquaintances. He even posted a comment on Facebook the next day, “p house was off the chain last night.” Many others posted on his Wall, including Darcel Stevens, thrilled that they saw him. Don and Susan, the club's owners, who were also in attendance Saturday night also seemed happy to welcome the return of their Parliament prodigal son. Humphries had been a bartender at Parliament House for more than 10 years before they parted ways in December of 2009.
