The Bears of South Florida

10/06/2026

🐻🍻 BOSFL Give Back Monday at Funky Buddha Brewery!
RESERVATIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED - BOSFL tables reserved*

Monday, October 12th • Funky Buddha Brewery, Oakland Park
https://funkybuddha.com/location/tap-room/ **rbears

Bears, Cubs, Chubs, Otters, and Admirers — it’s time to come together for a night of community, craft b**r, and giving back!

Join BOSFL at Funky Buddha Brewery for our Give Back Monday fundraiser, where every pint, bite, and good vibe helps support our mission of connection, service, and brotherhood.

⭐ What’s Happening
🎁 Gift Basket Raffle
Win BOSFL goodies, local treats, and a few surprises from Funky Buddha.

💵 Round Up Your Bill
Simply round up your tab — those extra cents go directly to BOSFL’s community programs.

🍺 Craft B**r & Seasonal Releases
Funky Buddha is known for bold, playful brews like Floridian Hefeweizen, Hop Gun IPA, and their famous dessert‑inspired specialties. Perfect for Bears who love flavor.

🍔 Great Food & Chill Vibes
From burgers to Buddha Bowls, their kitchen is legit — and the taproom is spacious, comfy, and perfect for a Monday hangout.

🐻 Meet the Bears
Connect with BOSFL members, make new friends, and enjoy a relaxed night out supporting a cause that matters.

❤️ Why It Matters
Every rounded‑up bill, every raffle ticket, and every b**r you enjoy helps BOSFL continue hosting events, supporting local charities, and building the bear community in South Florida.

Come thirsty. Come hungry. Come generous.
Let’s show Funky Buddha what the Bears can do on a Monday night.

* Through a special arrangement with Funky Buddha, they are setting aside family-style tables for our BOSFL family. If you've made reservations already, these have been transferred to the BOSFL family tables automatically.

**rBears

10/06/2026

Steak, chicken and eggplant were on the menu Monday, October 5, at Dine and Discover: Apretude Injectable PrEP with ViiV Healthcare, and the catered dinner was delicious.

While we ate, ViiV Healthcare's brand ambassadors shared information about Apretude, the long-acting injectable PrEP option. Thank you to ViiV Healthcare and the ambassadors for spending the evening with us.

Keeping the community informed goes hand in hand with the fundraising The Bears of South Florida does for local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. See what's coming up at bosfl.org/calendar/ and get the newsletter at bosfl.org/join/.

10/04/2026

A 249 took first place at Bowling with the Bears on Saturday, October 3, at Manor Lanes. Jamie Gregory rolled it, and Ricardo Otero came in second with a 212. Congratulations to both of you!

Pizza, fries, tater tots and cake were plentiful, and a lot of the faces were new to us. Thank you to Manor Lanes Bowling/ Sports Den Pub for hosting.

Find the next event at bosfl.org/calendar/ and get the Weekly Update newsletter at bosfl.org/join/.

10/01/2026

🐻 Dine & Discover: Apretude Injectable PrEP
Presented by ViiV Healthcare

Space still available: https://buytickets.at/thebearsofsouthflorida/2435715

📅 Monday, October 5, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 The Pride Center at Equality Park

Join us for a free catered dinner and an informative evening focused on Apretude, the long‑acting injectable PrEP option, hosted by ViiV Healthcare.
Space is limited to 50 Bears, so reserve your spot early!

Event Schedule
6:00 PM – Doors Open
6:30 PM – Dinner Served
7:00 PM – Apretude Presentation by ViiV Healthcare

What You’ll Learn
ViiV Healthcare brand ambassadors will share key information about Apretude, the long‑acting injectable PrEP option designed to support HIV prevention.

Staff from Wellness at The Center will also be available to discuss their new PrEP/PEP/DoxyPEP Clinic, including:
- Access to oral and injectable PrEP
- Options with minimal or no out‑of‑pocket costs
- Support for uninsured community members

This will be a relaxed, welcoming evening for our Bear community — great food, meaningful conversation, and health information that matters.

📍 Location: The Pride Center at Equality Park, Wilton Manor

09/28/2026

🐻🍻 BOSFL Give Back Monday at Funky Buddha Brewery!
Monday, October 12th • Funky Buddha Brewery, Oakland Park
https://funkybuddha.com/location/tap-room/ -info

Bears, Cubs, Chubs, Otters, and Admirers — it’s time to come together for a night of community, craft b**r, and giving back!

Join BOSFL at Funky Buddha Brewery for our Give Back Monday fundraiser, where every pint, bite, and good vibe helps support our mission of connection, service, and brotherhood.

⭐ What’s Happening
🎁 Gift Basket Raffle
Win BOSFL goodies, local treats, and a few surprises from Funky Buddha.

💵 Round Up Your Bill
Simply round up your tab — those extra cents go directly to BOSFL’s community programs.

🍺 Craft B**r & Seasonal Releases
Funky Buddha is known for bold, playful brews like Floridian Hefeweizen, Hop Gun IPA, and their famous dessert‑inspired specialties. Perfect for Bears who love flavor.

🍔 Great Food & Chill Vibes
From burgers to Buddha Bowls, their kitchen is legit — and the taproom is spacious, comfy, and perfect for a Monday hangout.

🐻 Meet the Bears
Connect with BOSFL members, make new friends, and enjoy a relaxed night out supporting a cause that matters.

❤️ Why It Matters
Every rounded‑up bill, every raffle ticket, and every b**r you enjoy helps BOSFL continue hosting events, supporting local charities, and building the bear community in South Florida.

Come thirsty. Come hungry. Come generous.
Let’s show Funky Buddha what the Bears can do on a Monday night.

See you there, fam.
**rBears

09/27/2026

October Pool Party
Sunday, October 11, 2026, NOON - 4:00 PM
Solstice at Wilton

*** TICKETS ON SALE NOW ***
https://buytickets.at/thebearsofsouthflorida/2432415

We expect to sell out very quickly.

Tickets are $35 and will not be available for sale at the gate.
Tickets include food and a snack.
Bar & beverage service available - cash donations accepted.
50/50 raffle
Bring a towel, a chair, and some sunscreen.
Clothing is optional. Sexual activity is prohibited.

09/27/2026

Thank you, David, for teaching our CPR/BLS Training on Saturday, September 26. We held the class in memory of Jan Carpenter, and every member who took it walked out certified.

If you missed this one, get on our weekly newsletter at bosfl.org/join/ to hear when the next class is scheduled, or check bosfl.org/calendar/

Our thanks to The Pride Center for the space. It's one of the nonprofits The Bears of South Florida supports through Grizzly Giving, and we were proud to hold this class there.

09/24/2026

🐻 Dine & Discover: Apretude Injectable PrEP
Presented by ViiV Healthcare

📅 Monday, October 5, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 The Pride Center at Equality Park

Join us for a free catered dinner and an informative evening focused on Apretude, the long‑acting injectable PrEP option, hosted by ViiV Healthcare.
Space is limited to 50 Bears, so reserve your spot early!

Event Schedule
6:00 PM – Doors Open
6:30 PM – Dinner Served
7:00 PM – Apretude Presentation by ViiV Healthcare

What You’ll Learn
ViiV Healthcare brand ambassadors will share key information about Apretude, the long‑acting injectable PrEP option designed to support HIV prevention.

Staff from Wellness at The Center will also be available to discuss their new PrEP/PEP/DoxyPEP Clinic, including:
- Access to oral and injectable PrEP
- Options with minimal or no out‑of‑pocket costs
- Support for uninsured community members

This will be a relaxed, welcoming evening for our Bear community — great food, meaningful conversation, and health information that matters.

👉 Seats are first come, first served. Reserve yours today!
https://buytickets.at/thebearsofsouthflorida/2435715

📍 Location: The Pride Center at Equality Park, Wilton Manor

Dine and Discover: Apretude Injectable PrEP with ViiV Healthcare – The Pride Center at Equality Park, Mon Oct 5, 2026 - Join us for a free catered dinner and educational evening hosted by ViiV Healthcare at The Pride Center at Equality Park. Space is limited to 50 Bears, so reserve your spot today...

09/23/2026

🎳 Bowling Night at Manor Lanes!
Saturday, October 3rd

Join us for a fun night out with the Bears!
Get your tickets here:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thebearsofsouthflorida/2381094

🍻 Check‑In & Happy Hour: 5:00 PM
📍 Sports Den Pub (on‑site)

🎳 Bowling Starts: 6:00 PM sharp

Bowling Bears — $38 per person
Includes:
• Two games
• Shoes
• Pizza
• Soda
• Munchies & sweets

Non‑Bowling Bears — $18 per person
Includes:
• Pizza
• Soda
• Munchies & sweets

Come out, have fun, and spend the evening with your bear family!

09/21/2026

Twenty-plus BOSFL members traveled 930+ miles to Roseland Resort And Campground in Proctor, West Virginia for Bear Fair, an annual themed weekend for the gay bear community.

There's a reason this place was the number one gay campground last year. The views were amazing. The drive up the mountain (and back down) was nail-biting the first time, and it was totally worth it.

A few things to know about camp. It's 222 acres, so there are a lot of hills and a lot of walking. Bring good shoes, your legs will get a workout. There's a heated pool on the side of a hill, two hot tub locations, and 11 miles of hiking trails in the West Virginia back country. You check in at Town Hall, where you can also grab essentials at the General Store or order a pizza and appetizers from the Pizza Shop. The Walnut Tree served buffet style breakfast and dinner all weekend. Pro tip: set up a tab when you check in so you can leave your wallet in the cabin.

There are plenty of cabins to rent. The camp also has seasonal campers who were very kind and friendly.

We spent most of the weekend at the pool and the bar, AKA The Pool Shed. Every day Bunny would blast Tennessee Wh***ey to let the camp know the bar was open.

Most of us got in on Thursday, which turned out to be the right call. We met so many people before the party even started.

Friday we woke up to fog covered mountains. Breathtaking. That afternoon the Bears of South Florida threw a Shot Party for all the guests and seasonal residents. Afterward, several of us got invited to one of the seasonal residents' decks for happy hour.

Happy hour location needs explaining. Almost all the seasonal plots have a camper or fifth wheel surrounded by a deck with a roof, fully decorated, overlooking the forest.

Then we all headed to the pool, where they convert the Pool Shed into a dance club with a DJ.

Saturday was Bear Fair. After breakfast and several very tasty bloody marys, it was time for the main event: the pool party. We figure there were 300+ people at camp this weekend between travelers and locals. The weather was perfect. The bears were beautiful. Especially the beefy boys from Columbus, Ohio. The Flamingo United Church of Kindness served ice cream poolside. There were games, prize baskets and a 50/50 raffle that grew past $2,000, with all proceeds going to the Upper Ohio Valley AIDS Taskforce.

The evening went the same as the night before. Happy hour at a campsite, DJ and dancing at the bar. Fun trips to the barn.

Thank you to the owners Matt, Troy and Ben Clooney, and to the staff who took care of us all weekend. You made it memorable.

If you want to go to Bear Fair next year, or any of Roseland's other event weekends, check out their website. Book in January.

Photos below.