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Good day;
West Palm Beach LGBTQ institution H.G. Roosters is turning 42, and the party isn't over yet. We look back at the bar's remarkable comeback after the fire that nearly ended its run — and have the lineup for the rest of anniversary weekend.
Also this week: Connor Blais' family and friends return to the intersection where he was killed to install a memorial sign, plus plenty to do around Palm Beach County this weekend.
And before you go: How is President Trump doing? Take our quick reader survey below and tell us what you think.
Have a great weekend!
— Jason Parsley
Publisher, OutPBC
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HOW IS PRESIDENT TRUMP DOING?
We want to hear from OutPBC readers. Take our presidential approval survey and tell us how you think the president is doing.
This is an informal reader survey and is not a scientific poll. |
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'Justice for Connor’Family to Install Memorial Sign at Intersection
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Nearly three months after Connor Blais was killed in a hit-and-run on his way home from work, his family and friends will return to the West Palm Beach intersection where he died — this time to make sure he isn't forgotten.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, at noon, loved ones will gather near South Olive Avenue and East Lakewood Road to dedicate a memorial “Slow Down” sign in Blais' honor and continue calling for #JusticeForConnor.
Blais, 28, was killed July 6 while heading home after working a shift at O'Shea's Irish Pub. Police said the driver fled without stopping to render aid or report the crash.
Connor's partner, Lawrence Cassenti, said Connor's mother Janet, father Doug and brother Derek will join him Sunday for the memorial.
“I would love for our friends and everyone who loved Connor to come out, stand with us, and rally for #JusticeForConnor,” Connor's partner, Lawrence Cassenti wrote on social media.
Attendees are encouraged to wear red, Connor's favorite color, and bring signs, painted rocks or other items to leave at the memorial site. And in keeping with the way friends have celebrated Connor's life since his death, glitter is encouraged.
The gathering is the latest effort by Connor's family and friends to keep his memory and in the public eye as the police continue their investigation.
In July, friends, family, coworkers and members of the LGBTQ community packed O'Shea's for a memorial, many wearing red and glitter. Connor's mother, Janet, said at the time that hearing stories from people whose lives her son touched had helped her heal.
Following Sunday's gathering, attendees are invited to continue remembering Connor at O'Shea's Irish Pub.
The memorial gathering begins at noon Sunday, Sept. 27, near S. Olive Ave. and E. Lakewood Road in West Palm Beach. |
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WHAT'S HAPPENING
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FRIDAY
Beehive: The '60s Musical
Take a musical trip through the 1960s with hits made famous by Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin and other powerhouse women. @ Delray Beach Playhouse. Shows all weekend. Tickets start at $49.
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SATURDAY
Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival
Browse handmade art, crafts and creations from local and regional makers along NE Fourth Avenue, just north of Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach. Saturday & Sunday. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m..
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SUNDAY
Brick Planet — Last Chance
Catch the final day of Sean Kenney's Brick Planet The exhibition features elaborate ecosystems built from LEGO bricks, plus hands-on building activities. @ the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach.
Leather Night @ Mad Hatter
Leather, gear and nightlife collide where the dress code is bold and the energy is unapologetically kinky. Free to attend. @ Mad Hatter in Lake Worth Beach. Starts at 8 p.m.
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MONDAY
Night Runners @ Howard Park
Join Night Runners for its twice-weekly run/walk. @ Howard Park in West Palm Beach. Mondays and Thursdays. 8 p.m.
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TUESDAY
Good Orderly Direction AA
A supportive and welcoming AA group offering fellowship and support for individuals in recovery. @ Compass Community Center in Lake Worth Beach. 6:45 p.m.
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Roosters: The Celebration Continues 42 years, one devastating fire and a remarkable comeback
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Jennifer McClain performed at H.G. Roosters on Wednesday, Sept. 23, as part of the bar’s 42nd anniversary celebration. |
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Forty-two years after H.G. Roosters first opened its doors — and six years after a devastating fire nearly ended its run — the West Palm Beach LGBTQ institution is still here and still celebrating.
A.J. Wasson first stepped behind the bar at Roosters in 1984. Today, he owns the bar alongside Randy Christensen.
“Many of our current patrons weren't born when I started bartending here in 1984,” Wasson said.
The anniversary carries extra meaning after a May 2020 fire destroyed the longtime bar, launching a five-year, roughly $2.5 million rebuilding effort. Without insurance coverage, the reconstruction relied on personal funds, a $1 million loan, city assistance and more than $75,000 raised by the community.
One donation still sticks with Wasson.
Former Compass leader and Roosters bartender Scott Fox donated $250 despite being out of work during the COVID pandemic. Wasson tried to return it, but Fox refused.
Fox told Wasson that years earlier, as a young gay man, he spent months circling Roosters and parking across the street while trying to summon the courage to enter his first gay establishment.
“When another young impressionable, lost person is out there trying to find themselves, I want there to be a Roosters for them to come to,” Fox told him. “It might save a life — it saved mine.”
Roosters finally reopened May 19, 2025 — five years to the day after the fire.
Its history at 823 Belvedere Road stretches back even further. The location was once home to My Apartment, a private lesbian key club, and later Turf West. In 2021, West Palm Beach added Roosters to its local register of historic places.
“We're just one chapter in a much longer story, and we work hard to be a good one,” Christensen said.
For Wasson, the enduring appeal remains simple: Roosters is “a place where nobody asks you to be anyone but yourself.”
Check out the anniversary celebration schedule below.
📝 story by Jason Parsley
📸 photo by Jason Parsley
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H.G. ROOSTERS: 42ND ANNIVERSARY WEEK
H.G. Roosters is celebrating 42 years in West Palm Beach with a week of special events, wrapping up this weekend with an open bar, drag shows and brunch.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 25
Open Bar + Kash for the Crown
Celebrate 42 years with an open bar from 9–10 p.m., followed by the Kash for the Crown finale at 11 p.m. Drinks $9 or less are included during the open bar.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 26
Anniversary Drag Shows
Melissa St. John hosts two special anniversary drag shows at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 27
Roast & Toast Drag Brunch
Close out anniversary week with a Roast & Toast Drag Brunch roasting Melissa St. John. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Seating is limited.
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