Hey, On The Towners, I'm Frank Licari here at the Pride Streetscape in Northwood Village.

And today we're exploring some of Palm Beach County's LGBTQ favorites.

We'll discover the musttry spots for food, fun and experience.

I'm about to saddle up with the Gay Polo League.

And spicing it up with a couple that's found the recipe for love.

Then we'll hit the road to burn it all off with the Night Runners.

On your mark, get set, let's go On The Town in The Palm Beaches with Frank Licari.

[announcer] This program is brought to you by Discover the Palm Beaches.

Visit thepalmbeaches.tv for more information.

Palm Beach County is a welcoming and safe destination for the LGBTQ community.

From food, to shopping, to sports, you'll find something for everyone to enjoy.

The Gay Polo League is the only LGBTQ polo organization in the world and you'll find it right here in our backyard.

I'm ready to train with the pros for the International Gay Polo Tournament.

You're a person that liked to do something, wanted to do it, and said, you know what?

I'm gonna start my own.

How does one start their own polo league?

I started the Gay Polo League purely out of a selfish motive.

I had wanted to increase my social life within the LGBT community.

[frank] Right.

And I wanted to do something around an activity.

I took a polo lesson by myself, in Santa Barbara, California, and halfway through the lesson I pulled up and I said to the pro, you know, I've decided I'm gonna start a Gay Polo League.

And that's how it started in 2006.

[frank] It's an international polo league now?

Yeah, it started sort of as a rag tag informal group.

I would invite my friends and invite their friends, and then literally it just caught on and we started getting members in other states and other cities and now we are in 14 countries.

Incredible.

And we host three international events a year.

If I wanted to join, can I join?

You can, you can, because we're gay identified, but we're inclusive, not exclusive.

And we also, as a league, understand the importance of allies is very real.

We're very inclusive of all levels of players as well.

We have blended teams.

[frank] Right.

[chip] But in our higher events, like Palm Beach, our level of polo play is higher.

[frank] Sure.

I think we are brand ambassadors for our community, but we're really a highend sporting event within the LGBT space.

[frank] Somebody like me shows up.

[chip] Yeah.

[frank] All right, maybe he doesn't have the pedigree, the experience.

[chip] Any sport is a sport of confidence, more so when you're dealing with a 1400 pound animal.

[frank] Right.

[chip] Right, so we would put you on a gentle horse.

A horse that has a calm demeanor.

I'm very excited to pick my horse, here's a cute one.

Very.

Yeah.

okay.

Yeah.

Nothing, no.

Where, do you have a horse for me?

I do, I have a great horse for you, his name is Woody.

Okay.

Very safe, I promise you he's calm.

Ah, you sure I'm gonna be safe on this?

I think you'll be fine, I promise.

'Cause it feels a little timid.

The more you relax, the better he'll be.

You're okay, you look a little nervous?

I'm okay, yeah, it feels okay.

Okay, good.

Well, this is Woody.

Ah.

Woody is my favorite horse because I don't have to clean up after him, he doesn't cost me any money.

Okay, so.

First thing we'll just hold our mallet just like this.

Okay, yeah.

And relax.

So, it does a little break in the wrist.

Yeah, and we're gonna let everything swing back.

Okay.

All the way to the top.

Yeah.

And make a 90 up there.

Yeah.

Then you're wanna to come down and hit the ball.

And then I come down, I'm gonna try it all in one, here we go.

All right, ready?

All right, let's go.

Good job your natural man.

Wow, wow!

I'm gonna have you on my team.

Wow!

Palm Beach County residents can walk with pride at the three Pride Streetscapes in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and in Northwood village, just north of West Palm beach.

The crosswalks feature the six colors of the traditional rainbow flag.

It took us two and a half years to get this project through in West Palm Beach.

Last summer, we dedicated the first LGBTQ public art here in Palm Beach County.

Since then we've had two other dedications.

So, Pride is busting out all over here in Palm Beach County.

I love it.

Now why a crosswalk?

Now I used to serve on the art and public places committee.

One day we had a session and they said we have roughly 60 crosswalks that need to be repaired.

And we're thinking about having them painted, and I raised my hand and said, I want a rainbow crosswalk.

Everybody kind of laughed.

So, I explained the significance of the rainbow crosswalk.

And every once said it's great that's what we're going to do.

[rand] Northwood, this is an older community in terms of the businesses.

This is the heart historically of the LGBTQ business community in West Palm Beach.

So we have an intersection with four Pride crosswalks, [frank] Yeah [rand] The original Pride flag, the other two art installations we have with the Progressive Pride flag.

[frank] So, tell me about the growth that's happened here.

[rand] In the 1980s, this was a relatively distressed area.

[frank] Right.

[rand] It's really been quite an effort by the local residents.

[frank] Yeah.

To make their neighborhoods something special.

It's really been a wonderful improvement here to see there's a place where our community can feel at home and others can come and visit.

And it's such a unique vibe here, even as compared to other parts of Palm Beach County.

[rand] It's a little bit edgier.

[frank] Yeah.

[rand] A little bit more creative.

[frank] Yeah Now tell me a little bit about the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, and sort of what your role in that, and how that works.

I'm an attorney.

And when I was applying for jobs as an attorney, I got discriminated against because I'm openly gay, I didn't hide it from anybody there.

So I said, when I come back to Palm Beach County, we're gonna do something about that.

Back in 1988, I founded the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.

We exist to change laws so that LGBTQ people have the same rights, the same benefits and the same protections as women, minorities, and for that matter, everybody else.

And from there, you can walk on over to DayByDay, a funky little shop on Northwood Road.

If you're looking for something for the person who has everything, I promise you can find it here at DayByDay.

We have repurposed, refurbished items, we have gift items, you know, we have something for everyone and everything for someone.

Hence why we even named a shop DayByDay, because we figured it was going to be changing day by day, Right.

What inspired you to open a shop like this?

Is this your personality coming out is that something.

It's a bit of my personality, you know, my creativity this year, specifically, little by little, we started making more items for those unique things that nobody's really going to have.

And people are gonna find out, 'cause wow this person truly thought about me when they bought this gift, from our fun sassy, Kitchen towels, pouches and stuff.

[frank] Here it feels like you can get something that kinda becomes uniquely your own voice, and you almost give them a style, right?

[william] I try to tone the visuals, this is your style, this is your element.

This is an interpretation of you, your home, your sanctuary, whatever little bubble you're gonna have, make it your own.

And it's all gonna mix in and blend it together as who you are.

[frank] To source this type of material I would imagine you have to go to many different sources.

I'm blessed to have some of my vendors, other items, I go on my estate sales, yard sales, go to thrifting myself, and I go salvage yards, pickup a couple of items that are unique, one of a kind pieces.

Right.

[william] A lot of individuals they already know about us by word of mouth, or they find us by accident here in the village.

What you're creating here is you're creating such a unique experience an environment that people wanna go talk about.

We're working up an appetite.

And because there are so many places to try in Palm Beach County, we've asked concierge, travel consultant, Todd Stone, to share some of his favorite hotspots.

Concierge and travel advisor how does one get that title?

[todd] There kind of people that I usually help out, and they're looking to get a little deeper into the destination they're going to.

I'm with them all along to make sure that they're going to the right places based on their preferences.

You're doing like Alist celebrities and Broadway Performers.

And normal people like you.

And normal people?

A lot of those needs are shared by everybody.

[frank] Sure.

Nobody wants to go into an unknown restaurant or a question mark, and then feel uncomfortable when they're there.

So, I make sure that things are comfortable before they get there.

You're omnipotent, you're everywhere.

I'm everywhere.

That's pretty amazing.

I have to be everywhere.

If I'm coming here for the first time, somebody like you is who I wanna talk to.

Name me some hotspots, but I think we're in one right now as a matter of fact.

We are, we're lucky to be hosted by the Malakor Cafe, which has been about 10 years now.

They were in this area, before this area really became Northwood.

[frank] Yeah.

[todd] And helped kinda build this area out, amazing Thai food.

[frank] Give me another spot.

[todd] I love Hullabaloo on Clematis Street.

It's very kind of alternative a little bit, it's eclectic.

They have a Drag Show on Saturday and the food there is amazing.

And one of the bartenders there has been a bartender in the LGBT community for probably 20 years.

There's also Sassafras at the other end of the block, which is a kind of a French, New Orleans kind of style.

They have a Brunch Drag Show.

And the unique thing about that drag show is it spills right out onto Clematis Street.

It's just that kind of community where everybody just enjoys it.

It's just another sense of entertainment.

The Haus Lounge is our most diverse and inclusive establishment in downtown Lake Worth, open for lunch and dinner.

And it's really somewhere where, anybody who's not felt inclusivity for any reason can really go to and totally be themselves, because that's the kind of atmosphere that they really built.

And then there's the Mad Hatter, which is kind of our local pub.

It's almost like a cheers crowd more, it's a little bit more laid back, they just redid it, and it has a nice outdoor patio.

It's just a comfortable place, all ages, all sorts.

Palm Beach night has been so diverse for so long, we're spread out.

There's great places at Boca Delray, all along the coast.

But the community is still there and we still promote each other, even though we're farther apart.

We have just a town that you can have fun with no matter who you are or what you bring.

Okay, now I'm officially hungry and headed to Riviera Beach to check out Chunkay.

An authentic Trinidadian restaurant that is built on a true love story.

The restaurant is the creation of Chef Wendy and her wife and business partner, Evita.

And lucky me today I get to sample some tasty dishes.

I may even try my hand in making some Trinny street food.

So, what came first, the love or the food?

How did that happen?

Both.

Both came at the same time?

Simultaneously, yeah.

[frank] How do you figure out, okay, we're not only together, but now we're gonna start this.

[evita] Chunkay.

We were like, oh, everybody has to eat.

[frank] They do.

And we mix my business experience on knowhow with her chef skills, and this is really how Chunkay was born.

Now let's talk about the name Chunkay.

where does that come from?

What is that?

Chunkay means saute and Trinidadian dialect.

Is that right?

Yes.

Saute?

Yes, saute.

So it's a process of heat in the oil, add in the spices and the garlic, and 'cause we Chunkay everything.

This is one of our rotis we do, it's called dhalphuri.

[frank] And you make all of this inhouse?

[evita] Yes, everything inhouse.

Yap, yap.

What are these paddles called?

Is there a name for these?

These are called addlers, my brother actually made them from Trinidad for me.

He made them?

Yeah.

Oh my God.

Look at that, I like, I wanna do what you did, like this?

Yeah, that's fine.

Is that all right?

Yeah!

Okay.

[wendy] Lovely, yay.

Not bad, not bad, my first one.

[wendy] Very good.

[evita] Customers find us a lot of word of mouth.

[frank] Yeah.

[evita] Seeing them enjoy the food and all, it just really, it's an amazing experience.

[wendy] It keeps us going.

[evita] Yes.

[frank] Sure.

[evita] It inspires us.

It's a labor of love.

[evita] Yes.

It's all about passion.

You got to share it together.

Yes.

That's exciting.

Yes, we are getting better between but.

Of course, well, that's what I was getting at before you working with this it can be a little.

Yeah, of course no but I stay here.

[frank] Sure.

Out here and she stays in, so... [frank] Right, so she's got the kitchen.

Were separated yeah.

So, now we're gonna make Trinidad's number one street food.

These are the doubles.

Yup.

Very exciting.

[frank] What is that one?

[wendy] It's two fried flatbread infused with saffron, topped with Curry chickpeas, tamarind sauce and cucumbers and some hot sauce, which we all make inhouse.

Pinch, it's gonna fry really quickly.

[frank] All right I'm gonna keep pinching.

And we're gonna press, spin as thin as possible.

How are we doing there?

I think I'm alright.

[wendy] Yeah, nice.

[frank] Looks pretty good?

[wendy] Yeah.

Putting me to work, putting me to work, I like this.

[wendy] Nice.

Oh.

Double.

[frank] Oh, you know what?

I'm gonna give you a little secret.

I may have made that back there.

I may have made this one.

Then it's gonna be so terrible.

No, what do you mean it's gonna be terrible?

Oh no.

How'd I do?

Come on.

Okay, you did all right.

You're welcome ladies, you're welcome.

Now we're headed to one of Palm Beach County's, iconic spots for the LGBTQ community.

H.G.

Roosters, devastated by fire in 2020.

The community quickly responded by opening up their hearts and their wallets to help them rebuild.

In fact, H.G.

Roosters is so revered, it's been placed on West Palm Beaches local register of historic places.

What it was, was a gathering place.

The guy who first opened it was a guy by the name of Bill Composer and his business partner was guy by the name of Tom McKenzie.

Back when Roosters first opened, which was in the early 80's, it was the onset of the AIDS pandemic.

Roosters has provided so much to the community, and it's such an iconic place.

[frank] Now, there's a rooster here.

[a.j.]

Yes.

A big rooster.

A big rooster.

A big, heavy rooster.

Yes.

Are we doing anything with this rooster?

What are we gonna do with this rooster?

The rooster is gonna stay here.

The rooster has been here for gosh, 15, 20 years.

[frank] Well, that's a sign, right?

[a.j.]

Absolutely.

[frank] Well the rooster makes it through.

It was still warm when I came in the morning after the fire, it was still warm from the fire.

[a.j.]

On the morning of May 19th, there was a spontaneous combustion.

Then it just created this five alarm fire, so, it was pretty devastating.

[frank] When the fire happened, the community sort of rallied around.

Through all of the various efforts we've raised over $80,000 for the rebuild, which was absolutely amazing.

Incredible.

[a.j.]

West Palm Beach embraces their LGBTQ community.

That was proven when they designated as historic.

[frank] Sure.

[a.j.]

Because to me that said to us, we see you, we embrace you, and your history is our history.

And it's not because of the architecture, as you can see.

Right.

It's because of our cultural contribution to the city.

So, back when the AIDS pandemic started, there was no Compass, there was no community center.

There were just the bars, and we had fundraisers for all kinds of organizations.

What kind of events do we have in here?

Bingo on Mondays, Drag Shows on Saturdays.

There's something for everyone.

[frank] Something for everyone.

[david] Any day of the week.

We have people that come from all over the country and even all over the world, really.

People oftentimes tell me that we should have a couples night where people that met at Roosters, 'cause there's so many people that met here.

So, you were like a dating app before the date app right?

Exactly.

[a.j.]

we've always loved our community and our customers, and we appreciated them 'cause they kept us in business, but we never realized how much they loved us back.

[frank] For more than two decades Palm Beach Pride has served as the county's largest LGBTQ festival.

The two day event features a parade, live performances, and entertainment for all ages and draws, in businesses and people from the county and beyond.

The event is presented by Compass.

Compass is a community center located in Lake Worth with educational programs and resources for all ages across the county.

Let's speak to Julia Murphy and learn a little bit more.

As community centers go, this is really nice, so tell me a little bit about Compass.

So we've been around since 1988, we started as a stop AIDS project to address the HIV and AIDS crisis, and expanded to Compass Community Center in 1992.

We are a community center at its heart.

This actual area, it was created to be an exhibit for the community.

So this is all work donated or contributed from community members.

We are the direct service provider for the LGBT community here in Palm Beach County.

We provide HIV and AIDS services and then youth services as well.

We actually provide the largest cultural event here in Palm Beach County called Palm Beach Pride, and we started that in 1992.

And it started at Howard Park and it was a little picnic.

And then now we're at Bryant Park in Lake Worth.

We're about 30,000 people annually.

What!

Yeah, each year we bring out and march.

[frank] Where do they come from?

All over?

[julia] All over, it's more of a family friendly environment, and I think that's what Palm Beach County represents as well.

Entertainment, vendors, on the intercostal, and then Sunday we kick off the parade.

Children, families, but you can come as your authentic self, and it's a really welcoming environment.

[frank] How did they find out about Compass and about your events?

[julia] People talk, you know, and the LGBT community, people are there to help you find the things and connect you.

We take care of our community and it's really important to make it feel welcoming and authentic.

What other things happen here in the building?

In the evening we lend a space to groups that want to meet here.

So, we're hosting events constantly, we have groups every single night.

And all around, you really just wanna open a welcoming environment for people to come in.

And change the minds of what it means for an LGBT Community Center.

It really is impactful when people come together and show support and solidarity, it makes everyone feel accepted.

[frank] The fact that you have a place where everybody feels like home, feels safe, included, it's a beautiful thing.

[julia] There's so much to be done, but creating spaces like this is what matters for people to have a safe space.

[frank] And speaking of making sure that everyone has a place to feel comfortable.

The welcome mat is always open at Justin and Greg's Beauty Loft in downtown West Palm Beach.

[frank] How does someone like you get into the beauty business the salon business?

Tell me about the history of you, Justin.

Well, I was going to school to be a chiropractor.

Makes sense.

Makes sense, right?

I know, and so as soon as I came out, I was like, I'm done.

You know like, yeah I'm going to beauty school.

You shed the chiropractor.

Yeah.

[frank] How long have you been at this?

[justin] Over 30 years now.

[frank] Wow, tell me how the business and how you have grown over the years now.

[justin] Everything changes, in this industry, you never really get bored.

[frank] Right.

[justin] Because it's always progressing into something new.

[frank] Also, I think people don't realize how creative of an environment it is, right?

[justin] Right, and sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

[frank] Right.

[justin] And so we're always offering a client change.

Right, tell me about the relationship between that and how a person feels about themselves.

Well, the first thing is you have to have a great consultation.

We figure out your lifestyle and we ask the questions, what is your target goal?

We structure our look and we try to talk to them into something that will work for them and their lifestyle.

If I want in here, what would you do with this?

Is there anything like, well, what do I need?

'Cause I know I need a lot.

What would I need from your expert opinion?

Well, from my expert opinion.

Be nice.

You look amazing.

Oh stop, this guy, this guy.

[justin] Every year, we get the pleasure of doing an event for Compass, and it's their Pride Business Alliance mixer.

We really focus on local charities.

A lot of animals, just different rescues, obviously Compass, you know, that's a huge one, I've been with them for gosh, 25 years.

Right, you open up a new space in Tequesta, tell me a little bit about that.

Yes, so we took over this space up in Tequesta and our clients range from Orlando to Miami.

Wow.

So we could take care of our North County clients up there, spread out our team and offer all of Palm Beach County coverage.

That's incredible.

You know, we really made a name for ourselves.

The biggest way is word of mouth.

So, you've created a place that's got a little buzz to it.

Yeah, definitely.

That's good, that's good.

Definitely.

[frank] When you enter the doors of Nomad on Antique Row in West Palm Beach, prepare to be transported.

Artist Sean Rush combines art, wine, and home to create a moving atmosphere for all who visit.

Immediately as you walk in here, it's the most unique place.

A tapestry here of different influences.

[sean] Well, this is Nomad.

A mixture of an art gallery, an interior design firm.

I have an interior design firm and art gallery for 10 years.

I was able to take over the space next door to it.

I didn't wanna just have more retail space.

I wanted to have something more experiential.

And then also it's about wine and the moment and being a part of an experience.

[frank] When you drive up, it doesn't scream what you're about to see... [sean] Oh my God, yeah.

[frank] When you come through the door.

[sean] It almost smacks like a speakeasy.

'Cause I love to travel and I get quite a bit of my stuff from like Morocco and Bali.

And I infuse this space, but it doesn't look like that on the outside at all.

[frank] Tell me what I can expect when I come through the door.

[sean] Well, primarily it's an art gallery.

[frank] Yep.

[sean] So, the art is constantly changing because I do horses, figures, and abstracts.

There's a whole safari series that I do.

So, the art constantly changes.

The place is entirely shopable, so like every chair, every table, literally everything in here, you can purchase and walk out with, which then forces me to like redevelop that space.

Right, cause someone could walk in here and go, I want all the chairs.

Yeah.

And that's it.

[sean] What I celebrate in the wine is the same thing as I celebrate in my design and in my work.

When you put your love and attention into something then it shows.

We do wine tastings every other Wednesday, and then our food, our gourmet charcuterie and then we're doing tapas.

And the tapas are constantly changing, going to a new place.

Like your art work, Yeah.

Like your furniture.

Yeah It's great.

[sean] On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, we have live performance.

What was the biggest surprise to me was to see the atmosphere of Nomad change.

This place is awesome.

Oh thank you.

Do you need a partner?

Is there anyway for me to get in on this?

'Cause I feel like I need a change, and this might be the one for me.

Next, we're breaking a sweat with a group of walkers and runner.

Promoting health, diversity, and comradery with their twice weekly gatherings.

I'm gonna see if I can keep up with the Night Runners West Palm Beach.

Welcome to Night Runners.

We started with four friends all LGBT who decided that we didn't love running on our own.

If we ran together, it might be more fun for us to get out and run.

And we thought about running at night because it's Florida and it's hot.

I was gonna say.

There was also this conversation about the LGBT community and not having a place to really meet other people, make friends, gather as a community.

We did a Monday night, 8:00 P.M. started and word's started to get out.

People brought friends, and here we are five years later, we've had up to 70 people, join us for one night of running.

What!

So.

Really?

We've come a long way.

Alrighty y'all, let's go!

[frank] It's not always the same kind of route you take, right?

[rudolph] Over the years we add new routes.

We always do a three mile run and a two mile walk.

It changes all the time.

So, people get a chance to see different parts of the city.

Do something different out of their comfort zone.

We run now Monday and Thursday at eight o'clock.

So, two different nights people can choose which one, there's no commitment.

[frank] Really it's just a group of friends now?

[rudolph] Absolutely.

[frank] That's fun.

How long have you been part of the group?

Actually, in the beginning, when he used say almost 20 people, we almost had 20 people.

[frank] Right, right.

And now we have way more than that so.

[frank] That's crazy.

I'm brand new.

Brand new?

I've only been here two months.

I moved from Chicago and I was looking for a running group, and to meet people and I found them and they've made me feel welcome.

I've been here about three years now.

I showed up one night and I felt very included.

It was a great feeling.

We're a running group, we're an LGBT group, but we're really about getting involved, not just in the days that we walk and run.

We also participated in the Pride Festival, some volunteer events, we don't have to run all the time.

[frank] Sure.

[rudolph] So we also like to do social events.

[frank] So yeah, so you've created this sort of mobile club for yourselves.

How great is that?

[rudolph] Everybody's welcome, and we wait for everybody to finish.

We cheer as everybody crosses the finish line, up until the last person.

And then we take a group photo at the end with everybody.

[frank] Every night?

[rudolph] Every night.

We're out averaging about 40 runners that come out and run with us.

To still have that number of people coming out and excited to come out.

It's just motivating, it's inspiring.

Today we learned about the rich LGBTQ history in Palm Beach County.

Through its people, the nightlife, and places of design.

We watched the Pride Streetscape in Northwood village.

We learned how to make Trinidadi and street food.

And we ran with the Night Runners in West Palm Beach.

We hope you'll come experience and celebrate the growing LGBTQ community in Palm Beach County.

I'm Frank Licari, and we'll see you the next time we go On The town in the Palm Beaches.

But we can agree that I'm number one.

Oh, absolutely, 100%.

Say it again.

You're number one, buddy.

Thank you very much I appreciate that.

Thank you.

[announcer] This program was brought to you by Discover The Palm Beaches.

Visit thepalmbeaches.tv for more information.