Hurricane Michael caused widespread damage in Panama City, Fla., when it made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Oct.
Michael also devastated portions of southern Georgia as it moved inland. The hurricane caused widespread destruction in Florida’s Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Liberty and Jackson Counties. Michael had winds of 155 mph when it made landfall in Mexico Beach, which is roughly 20 miles southeast of Panama City, on Oct. “We want to be able to get things back up to the way they were, but it will take time.” Drag queen, partner, friends evacuated to Ala. “We want to get the center up as fast as we can,” said Crim. She also said one of the LGBTQ Center of Bay County’s leaders held a youth group meeting at their home on Monday. “Our center really took a hit,” she said.Ĭrim told the Blade she and her colleagues have “salvaged everything that we could” from the church. Pictures that Crim sent to the Blade also show several large trees fell into the side of the church during the hurricane. Michael destroyed a portion of the church’s roof. The LGBTQ Center of Bay County, which board secretary Cherie Crim described to the Washington Blade on Monday during a telephone interview as Bay County’s “first safe space” for LGBT youth, rented a room at an Episcopal church in Panama City. Guys, this is the west-facing side of South Florida – it's made for sunsets! The sunsets are one of the best we've ever seen in all our travels.Members of the Florida Panhandle’s LGBT community are trying to pick up the pieces from Hurricane Michael that devastated the region earlier this month. Obligatory key lime pie for dessert of course! Overall a fantastic meal: delicious food and attentive staff. For Seby he went ga ga over linguine with clam sauce, and for me, it was all about the fillet mignon. They are famous for their pasta dishes, fresh fish and steaks. It's set in a pretty outdoor patio with beautifully sculptured Instagrammable fountains and a few resident tropical birds that pose for pictures. We found the New York Pasta Gardens completely by accident when searching on Tripadvisor for a highly rated restaurant close to Duval Street. We've put together this detailed gay guide to Key West to include our experience trying out the best gay hotels, partying in the bars/clubs, inspiration for things to do, and more. We've been to Key West several times and always had a ball on each visit. There are so many things to do here with a really exciting gay scene along Duval Street. Key West even has an official motto of “ One Human Family“. It has also been a bedrock for artistic talent with the likes of Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway and Judy Blume all making this unassuming island their home base. This has allowed Key West to thrive as a mixed haven for an eclectic blend of people ranging from Native Americans, Spanish, freed slaves, pirates, and of course, the LGBTQ community. Historically it's always been different, helped by the fact that it is the southernmost point of the USA mainland, slightly cut off from the rest of Florida. Key West is famous for its relaxed, tolerant and queer inclusivity.
And this bunch of conchers sure know how to live life to the fullest! Giggles aside, over in the gay island mecca of Key West, a conch is a legit nickname given to the locals. Discover the best of the gay scene: gay bars, clubs, drag shows, and more!Ĭonch!It's quite a quirky word, satisfying, yet it sounds like you're cursing… “you CONCHhead!” or “ you're such a CONCH!”… Our gay travel guide to Key West from our FIRST-HAND experience.