Now in its 23rd year as the first and only gay bar/restaurant on Ocean Drive, Palace is saying “Thank You” to the community — in a big way! On Thursday, February 3rd beginning at 7 pm, get ready for non-stop entertainment, complimentary cocktails until 8:30 pm and a few surprises.
Located at 1200 Ocean Drive in the heart of the Art Deco District, Palace has entertained countless men and women for decades. Their legacy of infamous weekend drag shows, luscious libations and mouth-watering burgers prevails today. Whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual or straight, it is the place to be on South Beach.
When asked why they are having a “23rd” Anniversary celebration, Palace general manager Ivan Cano responded by saying, “We didn’t want to wait another two years – our 25th year – to thank the community for their support through the years. The past year has been an especially challenging one for many, and Palace has continued to be a place to just get away from it all; to laugh with friends, enjoy the show and, of course, enjoy a few cocktails!”
February 2011 also marks the 3rd anniversary of Palace’s acquisition by Thomas J. Donall, a Miami Beach resident who has continued to maintain and enhance Palace’s place as one of the most successful gay-owned establishments on South Beach.
In commemoration of the anniversary, Palace has commissioned the creation of a Rainbow Pride flag, which will be presented to the City of Miami Beach GLBT Business Enhancement Committee. The 50-pound flag, measuring 20 feet by 80 feet, will be made available for use in citywide events, including Miami Beach Gay Pride, of which Palace is a major sponsor.
“Miami Beach is such a diverse and welcoming community, that it is only appropriate that the city should own their own piece of the rainbow,” adds Cano.
In addition to complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 7 to 8:30 pm, Palace will have an extraordinary showcase of drag queens strutting their stuff, singing and dancing.
The event will also mark the launch of “Palace Boys,” Palace’s unprecedented online reality show, found at www.PalaceBoys.com. For the past several weeks, nearly 100 young men from all over the country have submitted videos and profiles in order to be considered for one of 10 spots in the Palace Boy competition.
The 10 semifinalists will be announced and introduced to the crowd that evening, as well as to a worldwide audience watching the live broadcast on www.PalaceBoys.com and on USTREAM at http://www.ustream.tv/user/palaceboys.
Created by Ivan Cano and produced by Palace, Andrew Richardson Creative and Toni Gonzalez, Palace Boys will combine a wide range of innovative and interactive technology, including all social media platforms, USTREAM, Skype, Stream Box and live mobile broadcast. More than 16 live cameras will be focused on the contestants for the entire world to see. Tiffany Fantasia and Noel Leon, Palace’s legendary drag queens, will host the show, in which participants will live together, play together and work together at Palace, while competing for votes in challenges. They will use social media, provide video updates and live video chats, even recording and broadcasting each other.
On February 12, the kingdom (or queendom) will be whittled down to six finalists, based on votes from the online community and a panel of judges. Palace Boy 2011 will be announced on April 30, and the winner will receive the opportunity to continue working at Palace for the next year. The winner also will receive more than $8,000 in cash and prizes, including an electric bicycle, a professional photo shoot by Image 1st and a cover story on a local LGBT publication.
Palace Boys sponsors include Absolut, Patron Tequila, Bud Light, Image 1st, NY20 Water, Passport Magazine, The Electric Bicycle Store and more.
Palace Boys is introducing their own USTREAM channel on PalaceBoys.com, where viewers can log on and watch segments with the Palace Boys contestants, along with live streaming video of the action taking place direct from Palace every Saturday evening.
The 23rd Anniversary Celebration begins at 7 pm on Thursday, February 3 at Palace, 1200 Ocean Drive . Watch the celebration live on PalaceBoys.com!
To learn more about Palace, go to www.PalaceSouthBeach.com; for Palace Boys, www.PalaceBoys.com. 305.531.7234.