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He will have a shot at winning $10,000 for his selected charity, the Dayton LGBT Center.
Ford presented a Tongue Pop cocktail to a panel of judges and voting spectators during the contest Wednesday evening at MJ’s.
He explained that the “tongue pop” is a symbol of gay pride and meshed with the competition’s theme, "Visibility: Making it Loud and Clear."
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The theme of the 2019 LGBT bartender competition is meant to honor the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, a pivotal series of protests in the Gay Right’s Movement.
He and David Michael Baker, a fellow bartender at MJ’s, squared off in a shot-making tie-breaker after scoring evenly in the contest.
Ford pulled ahead.
Credit: Amelia Robinson
Credit: Amelia Robinson
The other competitors were Dana Thompson of the Right Corner Bar in downtown Dayton and Molly Mormen (Michael Wilson), who represented Below Zero in Cincinnati.
ORIGINAL STORY: (March 11, 2019) Cocktail Classic at MJ’s On Jefferson to celebrate LGBT bartenders and life of reigning champ
Transport yourself somewhere warm and sunny, complete with cocktails, this week without leaving Dayton.
On Wednesday, March 13, Stoli will host the 6th Annual Key West Cocktail Classic (KWCC) at MJ's On Jefferson, 20 N. Jefferson St. This event is for ages 21 and older.
The event begins at 9 p.m.
LGBT and LGBT-allied bartenders will compete to be crowned Dayton’s champion, win seven days in sunny Key West and have a chance to win $10,000 for their chosen charity at the KWCC Pride Week Finale in Key West.
The Cocktail Classic celebrates the role that gay bars have played as original community centers and the LGBT and ally bar stars who continue to raise the bar for equality today, event organizers said in a news release.
This year’s event, hosted by Stoli LGBT Ambassador Patrik Gallineaux and Dayton Drag Star Soy Queen, will feature the newly crowned “Miss MJ’s,” the infamous “MJ’s Hostesse” and the “Dirty Boys of MJ’s.”
The event will celebrate the life of reigning champion Tim Stone.
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The first 100 RSVPs to check in at 9 p.m. will have the opportunity to try each competing cocktail and participate in the audience vote, as well as receive a Stoli drink ticket.
New this year: all audience members get to participate in "text to vote" audience voting with the chance to win additional drink tickets as well as to sample cocktails throughout the show.
Co-hosts Dayton Drag Star Soy Queen and Global LGBT Ambassador for Stoli Patrik Gallineaux
Judges: Dayton.com reporter Amelia Robinson, Jackie O, Century Bar’s Joseph Head, and representing reigning Ohio Champion Mr. Tim Stone, Cassie McKinnon.
Special Guests: the newly crowned "Miss MJ's", the infamous "MJ's Hostesses", and the "Dirty Boys of MJ's".
WANT TO GO?
What: 6th Annual Key West Cocktail Classic
When: Wednesday, March 13, 20 N. Jefferson St., Dayton, from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Where: MJ's On Jefferson, 20 N. Jefferson St.
Cost: No cover charge with RSVP. Click here.
More info: Facebook
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