Overheard in Orlando: ‘Beard’ be gone

Overheard in Orlando: ‘Beard’ be gone

Hair today, gone tomorrow
Lee Vandergrift, WAVE award winner for favorite local photographer & LGBT artist, is taking the clippers to his Beard Envy project. He’s wrapping up the series next month. The project started a little over a year ago and was intended for fun, but resulted in a Facebook fan page, calendar and—soon—a book. Vandergrift’s goal is to shoot a few last “big” beards and then he will be done by April 1. So if your facial bristles are bustling to be immortalized, you better hairy up.

If a tree falls in Orlando
Recently, out environmentalist Eric Rollings and others held a rally for Constitution Park, which houses quite a few old trees in the city of Orlando. The property is privately owned by the Caruso family and it’s been said that the family is looking to develop the property. With an estimated 200 people in attendance, 5,200 signatures via the online petition and the support from Mayor Buddy Dyer, Commissioner Patty Sheehan and area neighborhoods, the group may have a fighting chance to convince the family to save the park. If you want to help, sign the petition on the Constitution Green Park, Save our Orlando Treasure Facebook page.
Say it saint so
During the Project Nunway show at the annual conclave of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Embellish F/X’s Ben Johanson was tearful when he was anointed as a saint. Johanson, who’s alter ego is Eureka Fish, was named Guardian of Glamour by the Sisters for his contributions to several charities and his willingness to volunteer.

Queen of Versailles judges queens
The attempt at a reality show based in Orlando is nothing new. Remember the Lou Pearlman pop-group, O-Town? Or the Real Housewives knock-off parade around Thorton Park where the pilot went nowhere. Now, a new show will star local mild-mannered housewife, socialite and former beauty queen Jackie Siegel, best known for the documentary The Queen of Versailles, which featured her and her wealthy husband, David Seigal of West Gate timeshares. Jackie was a guest judge at a recent pageant, but the contestants weren’t necessarily the stars. She was there with her camera crew and personal hair fluffer in tow.

Front porch chug
Randy Ross is expanding his empire once again. Ross, who recently filmed a talk show from his front porch, is now expanding into wine. He recently announced his product line of wine and accessories will soon be available. Should his talk show get picked up, we are ready to peruse the line of products and accessories for a whole new kind of drinking game.

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