Q-Seattle Events: Tacky Tourist Clubs

Still not sure where to show off that fabulous costume you're preparing on the long weekend/week of Halloween. Well, be sure to add another destination -- or even your main destination down in Belltown at Jai Thai [get directions], 2132 First Ave. at Blanchard.

That's where Seattle Black Pride will present this year's Halloween Carnivale from 9:30 pm until 2 am on Saturday, October 27.

SBP urges you to "Be Creative, Be Sexy, Be Scary. Just Be There." And, of course, there will be prizes for the most creative costumes with cash prizes of $150, $100, and $50 for the top three contestants.

But to really get an idea of what the party is likely to be like, check out SBP's great gallery of party pics from last year's Carnivale. We can't link to the gallery directly, but you can find it on the SBP home page at the bottom of the "Events" menu.

To further confuse yourself with the wealth of Halloween options, be sure to check out Bill W's typically comprehensive Halloween listing in the left column at GaySeattle.blogspot.com.

Note: This post is mirrored from seaQwa.com.

Labels: Gay events, gay party, Gay Seattle, org:SBP, photos, Seattle, shirtless hunk

Seattle's LGBT community band, Rainbow City Band, is going to the movies on Thursday. "So what?" you might respond. "The Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival is in full swing, so a lot of folks are going to the movies."

True, but this is something else entirely. The Band's fall concert on Thursday, October 18th at 7:30 pm is a tribute to the music that sets the mood of any film, good or bad. They've picked the best of the good. The one-night concert, called A Night at the Movies, is at Broadway Performance Hall [get directions]. Tickets are $16.36 for general admission or $11.24 for seniors, students, or children.

There's precious little information on the band's website about the concert, but band-member jarrow272 comes to the rescue with this informative post on LiveJournal:

Allow me to casually mention our program list *ahem*

• Star Wars
• Harry Potter
• Lord of the Rings
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Schindler's List
• The Simpsons
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• and a medley of Danny Elfman pieces that's basically a snapshot of Tim Burton's career including:
  • Beetlejuice
  • Edward Scissorhands
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • and the non-Burton Spiderman and Tales From the Crypt

He assures us that the concert will be "awesome" and a "fandom concert". So... pull yourselves away from the festival schedule for an evening to enjoy movie music without the movie.

Labels: Gay events, Gay Seattle, Seattle

Yes, we're too late mentioning this (as we have been with just about everything) for you to get to the rally, but it's still worth noting that Seattle's activist groups have joined with almost all of their national cohorts to oppose a Congressional bargain that would move forward next week with a version of ENDA -- the Employment Non-Discrimination Act -- that would offer job protection based on sexual orientation.

The activist groups object to the legislation because it would exclude job protections based on gender identity. It's a compromise being pushed by the chamber's only out gay male member, Rep. Barney Frank, and by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi because they claim it's the only way to get the long-delayed rights bill passed.

A rally will be held this afternoon at the Seattle LGBT Center at 2pm. It's sponsored by Ingersoll Gender Center, Seattle LGBT Center, and Equal Rights Washington. Its purpose:

THIS RALLY IS FOR YOU! WE ARE MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD

Hundreds of organizations from around the country have joined the UnitedENDA.org coalition. Togeher in a matter of days we have generated tens of thousands of constituebnt contacts. The Democratic leadership is listening. Now we must prove that we can deliver votes, remained unified and educate the public about the importance of passing ENDA that includes gender identity.

This is a classic battle between activists and politicians. The politicians insist that a compromise is necessary if something important is to get done. The activists insist the the political compromise makes the whole effort meaningless.

You can pick your side on this one, but if you would like to add your voice to those of the activists, you can do it by visiting this link. which will help you send an email on the issue to your congress-critter.

Labels: activism, ENDA, Gay events, org:ERW, org:Ingersoll, org:SLGBTC, politics, rights legislation

Tickets for the more than 165 movies and videos that will be shown during the 2007 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival are now on sale. Buy them online (click the "Buy tickets" button on the schedule) or at Ticket/Ticket locations.

Pick up a paper version of the schedule at many locations including the LGBT Center, Changes in Wallingford, Bailey/Coy Books, Broadway Video, Kaladi Brothers Coffee, On 15th Video [most of which are on our map]. But the festival's website offers superb schedule tools that make a paper version almost superfluous.

The festive festival opens Friday October 12 with a gala premier showing of The Walker followed by a party in SLU (which is, of course, one of several names for the new neib in the South Lake Union area.) It's one of four movies+parties that are part of the festival. You can get privileged access to all of them with a $70 Party Pass.

Read more about the Festival. PlanetOut offers this summary.

And if you'd like to work for your tickets to festival shows, consider becoming a volunteer. An online form allows you to pick your shifts. Volunteers serve as ushers, setup and breakdown events, staff the will call and membership tables, greet guests at the hospitality center and festival receptions, and more.

Labels: Gay events, gay party, Gay Seattle, movie, Seattle

Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus are now selling season tickets to their 2007-2008 seasons that are kicked off with the traditional Holiday concerts by each group.

The much-traveled choruses celebrate their love of excursions to places and moods near and far with this season's concert series, collectively entitled Wanderlust.

Singer/songwriter Judy Collins and another so-far unnamed "special guest" will join the Men's Chorus at Benaroya Hall [get directions] for their first concert called Home for the Holidays. There will be six performances starting December 1 and concluding December 22.

PBS travel host Rick Steves is special guest of the Men's Chorus for its spring concert on March 29 and 30 as create A Foreign Affaire at McCaw Hall [get directions]. The concert will take its audience "across Europe with folk songs, classical music, and cultural postcards."

The men of Flying House promise to offer songs, skits, and surprises during their Pride Week shows on June 27 and 28, also at McCaw Hall. Called Comedy Tonight!, the concert will feature material from Shakespeare, Gilbert & Sullivan, Sondheim, Mel Brooks, and more. Leslie Jordon, who played Beverley Leslie on Will & Grace will join the chorus for the rollicking show.

Season tickets for the Men's Chorus concerts range in price from $179 for prime seats to $69 for "Seating Plan D".

For its holiday concert, Celestial Greetings, Seattle Women's Chorus welcomes glass-harmonica virtuoso Dennis James. With tongue firmly in cheek, the chorus warns that "resistance is futile" as they offer "carols from galaxies far, far away and carols from terra firma." The three shows at Meany Theater [get directions] will be staged December 14-16.

Vixen Fiction/Siren Song is the alluring double theme of the Women's Chorus's springtime concert held April 12 and 13 at Meany Theater. The women of the chorus will take a fond and hilarious look at the "spicy novels that captured the attention of the underground lesbian community in the 50s and 60s." Chris Williamson will join the Chorus for an exploration of the early women's music scene.

Season tickets for the Women's Chorus concerts range in price from $100 to $35.

Labels: Gay events, gay organization, Gay Seattle, music, Seattle

The 21st Annual Seattle AIDS Walk will be held on Saturday, September 29. An opening ceremony hosted (as it has been since the first walk) by KING5 News anchor Jean Enersen will begin at 9 am. The AIDS Walk will begin and end at Volunteer Park [get directions], rain or shine. The one-mile walk will take a circular route from the park starting at 10 am, heading south on the wide and hill-free pavement of 12th Ave. to Thomas St. and then north on Broadway, returning to the park via the hill at Prospect St.

The Walk is both a way to remind folks of the still-daunting needs of people living with AIDS and HIV, and a major fundraiser for the area's primary AIDS service organization, Lifelong AIDS Alliance.

Whether you'll walk as an individual or as part of a team, pre-registration on the Walk website is encouraged. On-site registration for those who prefer standing in line opens at 8 am at the park.
On its impressive event website, Lifelong provides fundraising suggestions for walkers and creates a webpage and other virtual tool for pre-registered walkers to help them solicit donations. You can walk as an individual, join an existing team, or form your own team. A wide array of non-profit groups, and ad-hoc groups, along with companies large and small have formed teams (and, remember, many of the companies will match donations raised by an employee).

If you won't be in town or can't walk for other reasons but still want to raise funds, you can sign up as a virtual walker. You'll have access to all the same fundraising tools as physical walkers. Or consider making a donation directly to LLAA or sponsoring a walker or team.

Your donations and sponsorships will go directly to Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Lifelong is a comprehensive AIDS service organization (ASO) located in Seattle, offering a spectrum of care services, advocacy, and prevention education for people in Seattle/King County.

Care programs include information and referrals, case management, nutritional support including meals and groceries, housing, and medication adherence. Our insurance program is statewide, and helps people with HIV/AIDS pay their insurance premiums. The prevention education team works with some of the highest-risk populations in our area: men who have sex with men, transgendered women, and young people.

As Lifelong is the only ASO in the Northwest with a full-time advocacy team, our national advocacy also includes work on behalf of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. The advocacy team works at the local, state, and national levels to ensure that legislators and policy makers consider the unique needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in their decisions.

Lifelong hopes to raise $800,000 with this year's event. According to the fund thermometor on the site, they're at 43% of the total now with pledges of over $340,000.

Labels: activism, fundraisers, Gay events, gay organization, Gay Seattle, Seattle

The weather in the past few days reminds us that we're moving again toward the indoor season when a nice warm dry movie house becomes a welcoming cacoon.

Each October, the creative folks at Three Dollar Bill Cinema fully satisfy that urge with the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. This year's fest runs October 12 through 21 featuring a schedule packed with filmic presentations from first- and only-run features, to shorts, to retro TV shows.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on September 25 online and at Ticket/Ticket locations, but you can jump to the front of the line by becoming a Three Dollar Bill member for at little as $33. Members can buy tickets to any showing right now.

The festival opens Friday, October 12 at The Cinerama on with the gala west coast premier of the Paul Schrader's new film, The Walker starring Woody Harrelson as the black sheep of a blue-blood American family and gay best friend to DC society matrons. The all-star ensemble cast of Schrader's political drama/noir thriller includes Lily Tomlin, Lauren Bacall and Kristin Scott Thomas as wealthy DC grande dames, along with Ned Beatty, Willem Dafoe, and Mary Beth Hurt.

Your $27 ticket to the premier also includes a spectacular party following the screening at the soon-to-be-repurposed Naval Reserve Building on Lake Union [get directions]. The party kicks off the festival in high style with beverages, delicious offerings from some of Seattle's finest restaurants and chefs, and dancing into the night to the DJ's beats. And you don't even need to drive. Round trips on a big bus between the Cinerama and the Naval Reserve Building will be provided.

The challenge, of course, is figuring out which of the films you want to see and are able to see. This is a Seattle-style festival, so you'll have to pick your faves since won't be able to see all of the 121 presentations on the busy schedule. Most of the films are split among four venues: the Cinerama downtown [get directions] and -- on Capitol Hill -- the Harvard Exit [get directions], Northwest Film Forum [get directions], and Broadway Performance Hall [get directions]. But the geographic challenge increases with other shows at SIFF Cinema at Seattle Center [get directions], Central Cinema on 21st Ave. [get directions], and the downtown library [get directions].

Films are scheduled from noon to night on weekends and from 5 pm into the night on weekdays.

Print out the schedule or pick one up at many places around town. The nifty festival website this year lets you not only buy tickets and see capsule summaries of the films, but also helps you make your decisions with a very nice personal calendar feature.

And there's more than just films to keep you busy. The schedule also includes parties, panel discussions, free workshops more to to choose from.

Labels: Gay events, gay organization, gay party, Gay Seattle, movie, Seattle

Q-Squared's annual retreat for gay, bisexual, and transgendered men, CAMP, is this weekend, Friday August 31 through Monday September 3, 2007. Registration is still open for the "Let Your Colors Shine" weekend. The $185 registration fee includes lodging, meals and personal growth for the weekend. For another $20, you can ride on a bus with other campers to the retreat site in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington.

CAMP stands for "Come and Meet People" which is the goal of the weekend that's been an annual event since 1995. The weekend offers a variety of activities modeled on a classic summer camp that allow participants to "connect with each other during a drug and alcohol free event where participants are encouraged to take risks, shed attitudes and dissolve boundaries." Campers are encouraged to join together in campfire sing-a-longs, hiking trips, outdoor games, a dance, and a talent show.

And like the classic summer camp, you can choose from a number of workshops during the weekend. Past workshop topics allowed campers to investigate life drawing, nature photography, massage for gay men, the art of flirting, creative harmonizing, easy bake oven cake decorating, and drag 101.

Labels: Gay events, gay organization, Gay Seattle

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan hold a pet-friendly party this Sunday, August 19, at the Volunteer Park amphitheater [get directions] starting at 3 pm. It's called WoofStock. Pets, and their friends are welcome. The event is a benefit for the Pet Project, a volunteer service of the Seattle/King County Humane Society that helps people with AIDS keep and care for their pets.

Pets and their parents will be entertained "by the Sisters and local queens" on the stage and with activities on the grass that are sure to provide a diverting afternoon even for those of us without an animal companion. And hey, start stitching now because there will also be a pet costume contest and a photo booth for pet portraits. (Would that be a "petrait", perhaps? Dunno.)

The Humane Society and other groups will be on hand with information about caring for a pet, adopting animals and about the programs and services offered by the Humane Society. There will also be a tent set up where you can get an identification microchip embedded in your pet.

Brenda Barnette, CEO of the Seattle Humane Society, told us that the group recommends that all dogs and cats should be identified with the microchip. "It is a safe and relatively easy way to inject a tiny numbered chip under the skin for permanent identification. Within this last year, we were able to reunite a person with her dog who had been missing for 2 years. There are many stories of cats who have been returned home because of the microchip information," she said.

The event is free for both pets and their companions, but the Sisters will collect donations for Pet Project, and there will be other donating opportunities at the various tents for the pet portraits, microchipping, and so on.

There will be more surprises that the Sisters are, for now, keeping close to the vest (or -- more appropriately -- close to the scapular).

The Pet Project helps those disabled by AIDS to keep and maintain their pets.

Because studies show that the companionship of a pet can greatly improve the quality of life, we responded by initiating Pet Project, a program that services people disabled by AIDS.

In addition to providing economic relief, the program supports the unique power and healing that comes from the connection between people and pets, especially since clients may be housebound and have limited social contact or energy for daily tasks.

Pet Project matches volunteers one-on-one with clients, handling most of their pet care needs on a monthly basis, and enables clients to keep their pets while spending their limited resources on food and other living expenses for themselves. All services and supplies are donated or purchased with donated funds.

Note: Post updated at 11:55 with more information.

Labels: Gay events, gay organization, Gay Seattle, Seattle

What has become one of the major drag shows of the year returns September 8 when Seattle Counseling Service presents its major annual fundraiser, ICON 4, A Celebration of Drag, Art & Life. The event will be held this year at Town Hall on First Hill [get directions], beginning at 6:30pm.

It's worth mentioning this now because the $50 tickets to ICON generally sell out long before the night of the show. Make your reservations by calling SCS at (206) 323-1768 or emailing info[at]seattlecounseling.org.

The lovely Aleksa Manila [MySpace page] once again hosts the evening with an all-star lineup. Arnaldo! Drag Chanteuse makes a "special appearance" along with "Las Vegas sensation" Miss Toni James. Sara & The Rhythm Knights will offer what is billed as a "surprise performance".

But there's far more, including performances by local stars Sylvia O?Stayformore [MySpace], The Queen Bees [MySpace], Nina Maxwell, Rosita, Miss Gay Latina Chica Boom [MySpace], Miss Gay Seattle Regina King. Kristina Kash and Empress Jaylene travel from Vancouver to join in the evening's festivities.

And that really is an all-star-drag lineup.

It's notable, too, that the name of the even, Icon, now gains greater significance in the event's fourth year because SCS will lit its iconic signs yesterday.

[Gawd, how we hate the need to post those MySpace links, but that barely-working non-web News Corp/Fox site has the numbers. There may be more, but we can take only so many "Server busy" messages.]

Labels: drag show, fundraisers, Gay events, gay organization, Gay Seattle

It might not yet be a familiar name among local LGBTQ groups, but Q-Squared is doing its best to make its name better known.

They'll host a fundraiser this Thursday, August 9, to introduce the group to anyone interested and to help those who are interested in it introduce themselves to each other. And they've picked, once again, an intriguing location for the get-together that they're calling Raise the Roof -- because, well... they're holding it in a large garden without a roof. The venue for the fundraiser is, in fact, "the largest private outdoor garden in the city" located in the sunset-shadow of the Space Needle at 500 Wall Street.

If you'd like to become a part of the evening in the garden, RSVP through their website.

Q-Squared is an all-volunteer group without paid staff that grew out of a number of programs, including the annual Labor Day CAMP outing, now in its 12th year.

CAMP is a place to connect with fellow Gay, Bisexual and Trans men; the place to shed attitudes and dissolve boundaries. It is a place to learn about yourself, to forge lasting friendships and develop a deeper sense of community. ...

It provides an escape from the pressures of the city and a place where you can accept new challenges, experience personal growth and just relax and have fun.

Q-Squared, as an umbrella organization, holds similar values:

We are one of Seattle's newest community organizations. Q-Squared was born from the needs of CAMP to become a year long on-going community building organization. Q-Squared is dedicated to bringing new and exciting programs to the community and we look forward to you being involved with Q-Squared by attending any of our events or volunteering! ...

Q-Squared?s plans are ambitious. We plan to have at least one event per month available to the community. Watch for posters in your neighborhood and announcements in local publications as well as updates on our web site. Each event is designed with you and the community in mind. By empowering volunteers with the task of building community, each individual will have a greater stake in the outcome. We are committed to serving a constituency that is reflective of the diversity of our community.

If that sounds interesting, then Thursday's event is a great place to get to know more about the group.

Labels: events, Gay events, gay organization, Gay Seattle, Seattle

The multi-night 'Rapture' parties that had been scheduled for Vancouver's long Pride Weekend have been cancelled by their promoter, TBB Productions. But it remains a major party weekend nonetheless.

Vancouver's daily, the Sun, offers this brief guide. The Pride Society has a more complete calendar of official events. The parade is Sunday followed by a festival at Sunset Beach.

The three parties produced by BNO Productions -- Nocturnal on Friday night, Freedom Sunday night, and Re-Charge Monday from 7 am until 2 pm -- will take up much of the slack, although the producers website says only limited quantities of individual tickets are available for Nocturnal and Re-Charge. Seattle DJ Brian Gorr is the opening act at Nocturnal from 10 pm until midnight. DJ Tony Moran spins through the night until 7 am.

It's a three-day holiday weekend in Canada, so there's a wealth of activities for all three days.

Brian Gorr will also spin for Cabana Daze on Saturday, a pool party that benefits Loving Spoonful, Vancouver's HIV/AIDS service group that provides meals and food (similar to Lifelong's Chicken Soup Brigade here). It's at the Pacific Palisades Hotel, 1277 Robson -- "rain or shine." Online tickets are available -- $25.

There are a few cruises on Saturday and Sunday to choose from (although, really, now... if you're looking for a real cruise party... Just sayin')

Cream is a Sunday night party at Richards at 1036 Richards (which becomes, of course, "Dicks on Dicks), that goes on until 3am.

And, of course, way more...

Labels: Gay events, gay party, gay pride

Now, this sounds like fun -- something (forgive us) that we don't usually say about karaoke.

Three Dollar Bill Cinema and Northwest Film Forum jointly issued a challenge to local filmmakers to "take a stab at creating goofy, tongue-in-cheek karaoke videos for their favorite songs, then belt it out loud in front of a live audience -- all while enjoying their favorite libations, of course."

It's their second annual Karaoke Film Challenge. The results will be on display Tuesday, July 31 at the Film Forum auditorium at 1515 12th Ave [get directions] at 8 pm. The evening is hosted by DJ KY Jelly "in one of his final Seattle appearances."

Tickets are $6.12 for Film Forum members and $9.70 for the general public. Advance purchase is recommended.

This could be a great preview for a new summer film series from Three Dollar Bill Cinema coming soon to the heart of Capitol Hill. Features From the Black Lagoon offers free outdoor screenings in the unique setting of Cal Anderson Park [get directions]. The three features in the series will be shown using film projectors rather than the DVD projection typically used for similar outdoor movie events. All programs are free and fun for the whole family, starting at 8:30 pm.

The series kicks off Saturday, August 11 with Creature From the Black Lagoon. The creepy classic will be shown the way it was originally produced and meant to be seen: in 3-D.

On Saturday, August 18, gay icon Carmen Miranda performs The Man in the Tutti Frutti Hat and other fruity numbers in the must-see Busby Berkley musical The Gang's All Here.

On Saturday, August 26, Supergirl will swoop into the park to save the planet from the evil clutches of Mommie Dearest's Faye Dunaway.

Those many who find karaoke more enjoyable than us should know that Three Dollar Bill continues to sponsor its regular Cinaoke nights at Jewelbox Theater at Rendevous, 2322 Second Ave [get directions]. You can be the star of your favorite movie musical. Just like regular karaoke, you pick a song from a list of hundreds, but these are all tunes from musicals, so you'll sing along while the movie and lyrics are projected onto the screen. The next Cinaoke performance is Monday, August 13 starting at 8 pm. Door opens at 7 pm. $5 cover.

Labels: Gay events, gay organization, Gay Seattle, movie

Art of and by artists from South Asia will be on display starting Friday at the LGBT Center's gallery [see map]. The new show features paintings, photographs, and sculpture from the members of Trikone NW, the local LGBTQ group for South Asians. (Trikone's website appears to be down, at the moment.)

Everyone is invited to the opening reception for the show this Saturday, July 28, from 6 to 9 pm. The reception features native foods of the region, beverages, and music native to the region. The reception is free.

The art installation will hang in the gallery through August 31. Getting to the Center can be tricky these days because of the buildings under construction on all sides of the Center's building, but it is, indeed, possible. The gallery is open to the public based on volunteer staffing at the Center and availability of the gallery/meeting room. The hours they try to keep are Monday through Saturday: 10 am to 9 pm, and Sunday: 11 am - 8 pm. (Call 206-323-5428.)

Trikone describes itself as

A diverse group of individuals creating a social, supportive, educational, and political space for "differently oriented" South Asians and their family, friends and community. The group serves those individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and those who choose not to accept a label or prefer other identities such as hijra, kothi, meti, men who have sex with men (MSM) or women who have sex with women (WSW).

The show is presented by Q Arts, the arts committee of the Seattle LGBT Center.

Labels: Gay events, gay organization, Gay Seattle, Seattle

"Take Out" describes itself as "a new context for connecting" and "a brand spankin' new gay social space." (Warning: the link is on MySpace, so it makes noise.)

And a nifty space it is, judging by the pictures. The space owned by Pravda Studios, called Lightroom, is located in one of Capitol/First Hill's many old auto showrooms at 1406 10th Ave. at Union, Suite 200 [get directions]. Connect this Thursday, July 26, starting at 7pm.

TakeOut promises to incorporate gay people, organizations, and that interesting social space in a unique way. The evening will include music and dinner provided by a variety of local restaurants.

You'll be able watch watch local chefs cook up some of Seattle's best cuisine, sample the edibles, or wander around to explore some of the LGBT projects and resources represented at the event. They also offer this intriguing hint: "But don't miss a surprise when things get messy at the end of the night." (Dunno...)

Tickets to all that are just $10 and are available in advance (recommended) at Brown Paper Bag.

The evening is co-hosted by Q-Squared, Gay City, Dunshee House, the LGBT Center, and Pravda Studios.

Labels: Gay events, gay organization, Gay Seattle

OneDegree Events, Egan Orion's company that is producing an array of Pride Weekend activities in and near Seattle Center, has announced that it has signed on with local festival management experts Festivals Inc to help with production of PrideFest, the free-admission Seattle Center festival that will be held Sunday afternoon, June 24 from 11 am until 7 pm, with main programming from 2 pm until 6 pm.

New Growth Event Solutions, a division of Festivals Inc., will serve as the production management team for PrideFest 2007. Festivals Inc. produces Bite of Seattle each summer at Seattle Center and Taste of Tacoma. According to OneDegree's press release, Festivals and New Growth were chosen "for their familiarity with Seattle Center, both at the administration and operational level."

"We have many years of experience producing high-profile events at Seattle Center," noted Bjorn Estlund, the lead on the New Growth Events production team. "We have always enjoyed working in conjunction with the Center and look forward to building this partnership with PrideFest to be a part of this important event."

New Growth will be responsible for general festival operations including mapping the grounds, laying out booths, contracting all service providers, and on-site management.

One Degree will run free shuttles from PrideFest to Capitol Hill starting at 4 pm on June 24. Shuttles will leave every half hour between 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and will drop guests off at clubs and bars that sponsor buses for PrideFest.

Later in the evening, One Degree, will also provide shuttle service from the Hill to Level 5 for the company's Sunday party, Revival, which will be held at Level 5 across the street from EMP from 5 pm to 2 am.

Entertainment lineup for the festival is still developing, but OneDegree has already booked entertainment from every corner of the gay community. DJs includes DJ Bryan Pfeifer (LA), Wasabi and LA Kendall from Re:Launch-Hitgirl! Productions and DJ Kyler (c89.5). National performing talent includes Inaya Day, Reina, and Abigail. They're saying, coyly, that the lineup will "likely feature at least one comedian." PrideFest has confirmed State Senator Ed Murray and will announce more speakers as agreements are made.

Orion offers this reflection on the busy weekend: ?Pride Weekend has important events going on in every corner of the city," Orion said, "from house parties to bar and club events to special events like our big Saturday night party at EMP Sky Church, One Mighty Pride Party, and Festivals like PrideFest and QueerFest."

"There is enough business to go around for everybody to be successful," he said. "Pride can be on both Capitol Hill and Downtown. It's bigger than any one person or one event. Pride is about community, and at the end of the weekend, hopefully we?ll be able to forget the politics that have divided us and embrace that which connects us all in this very vibrant gay community."

OneDegree has also hired sponsorship consultant Cindy Baccetti, who had previously worked with SOAP, a local group that had tried and failed to sponsor a Center festival this year. She is quoted as noting that "Wide spread support and excitement from the business community about PrideFest continues to strengthen as we approach the event." Eleven corporate sponsors are named in the press release.

Labels: Gay events, gay party, Seattle, Seattle Pride

For the fourth year, Seattle's LGBTQ Center [see map] will present a Portraits of Pride exhibit in its gallery space at the back of the Center on Pike Street. Cody Blomberg, curator of the show, asked artists this year to create self-portraits, a favorite theme of many artists. The show features work of Chris Rollins, Mike Curato, Cody Blomberg, loti, John Tozzi, Holly Senn, Thomas Wurst, Tennessee Loveless, Michael Strangeways, Matt Wencl, and others.

The exhibit opens on Friday, June 1 with an artists reception from 7 to 10pm in the gallery. The reception is open to the public. The Portraits of Pride exhibit runs through the month of June and can be viewed during regular Center hours (which are irregular and dependent on volunteer staffing and occupancy of the gallery for other scheduled events).

There will be even more queer-themed art to view as Dunshee House displays work of local artist Andrew Grant Stone. He will be hanging various collections reflecting on strength and courage of facing the unknown, as well as lighthearted and inspiring never-before-seen works from the artist's studio. Dunshee House is normally open from 3 pm until 9 pm weekdays.

Some of Andrew's work was seen in limited engagement at Glo's in May and a notable hanging in April at Rosebud Restaurant, but the Dunshee exhibit will be his largest and longest local showing. Works will be viewable throughout the summer.

Dunshee House, located at 303 17th Avenue East in Seattle [get directions], offers over 20 peer-facilitated groups each week includingboth HIV/AIDS-related and non-HIV/AIDS related groups, such as our growing program for gay/bisexual/queer men, lesbian/bisexual/queer women, transfolks, and LGBTQ folks inclusively.

Labels: Gay events, gay pride, Gay Seattle, Seattle, Seattle Pride

If you don't have them already, you've missed the steepest discounts for pre-sale tickets to the big downtown Pride weekend parties, One Mighty Pride at EMP and Tribe at Level 5, but hefty discounts are still available on the ticket price.

Tickets to "The Party", One Mighty Pride are available until June 1 for $40. The price then rises to $45 until June 21. Cost will be $55 at the door. Tickets to Tribe, the after-hours party at Level 5, are $25 before June 21 and $30 at the door.

VIP passes are available for $150. That will get you priority access to those two parties as well as a Friday night Military Party also produced by OneDegree at Neumo's and to Revival, OneDegree's post-festival Pride version of its Sunday party at Level 5.
The parties are produced by Seattle's master empressario Egan Orion and associates at OneDegree Events. One Mighty Pride will be held Saturday, June 23 from 8 pm until 2 am in Seattle's best party venue, EMP Sky Church [get directions]. The party features DJ Joe Gauthreaux from New York City and performances by Frenchie Davis [plays music] of American Idol, Rent, and Dreamgirls. That's inside SkyChurch.

Outside on the plaza, you'll enjoy another party with DJ Funky Bear and Ladyjane DJ. Tired of dancing? Take an amusement park ride. The Fun Forest Rides adjacent to EMP will be open Saturday night exclusively to One Mighty Pride guests.

At midnight, Frenchie will be accompanied by the Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus in a special homage to the gay rights movement.

25% of net proceeds from the parties will be donated to non-profits in the community: Gay City, Verbena, Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus.

The music, dancing, and partying doesn't have to stop at 2 am because the all-night party, Tribe, kicks off at 1 am and continues until 8 am across the street from EMP at Level 5 [get directions].

DJ Escape from New York City mixes. Rascal Video's Johnny Hazzard [link not safe for work] will entertain and titillate with go-go dancing.

OneDegree still isn't finished when Tribe disbands because their free-admission PrideFest at Fisher Pavilion and the lawn next to the Fountain kicks off at noon and runs until 6 pm in Seattle Center. The festival boasts a beer garden, booths (for-profit and non-profit), a mainstage with DJ Bryan Pfeifer from LA, performers and speakers, and food booths.

The party then moves across the street again to Level 5 where a special Pride Sunday edition of OneDegree's weekly Revival T-Dance starts at 5 pm and continues to 2 am. DJ Bryan Pfeifer moves over to provide the early mixes until 7 pm. Seattle's own DJ Brian Gorr [music] spins from 8 pm until close. The party is included in OneDegree's $150 VIP Pass. Individual tickets are available at the door only. Entry before 7 pm will cost $5 with a $10 cover after 7.

Labels: Gay events, gay party, Gay Seattle, Seattle, Seattle Pride

Matthew Browning has posted his usual collection of great shots from the May Gay Bingo night which had the entertaining Mother's Day theme, "Come As Your Mother."

It looks like Glamazonia's mother is ready to shove a Pop-Tart into the toaster and send the kids on their way.

It's sold out, but there is still one more game: Rocky Horror Gay Bingo on June 9. Lifelong offered a few last minute tickets at their thrift store this month, so there's still a slight hope that you could get in there to do the Time Warp again. Matt's MySpace blog offered a warning for this month's rush tickets. You might watch and hope again this month. (That link goes to Murdoch's closed MySpace world, so it may not work from the unprivileged web.)

Labels: drag show, fundraisers, Gay events, gay party

Seattle Out & Proud (SOAP) is now taking online applications for their Seattle Pride 2007 parade downtown.

These are the entry fees:

• $35 for "community and non-profit groups (suggested donation)
• $500 for "local businesses" (You are considered a local business if you only have offices located in the Puget Sound area.)
• $1500 for "national businesses"

The group encourages entrants who want to help pay off the group's debts of at least $110,000 to pay more. Their website lists recent contributions to the debt payoff at $2130.



Floats can be up to 12 wide, 25 feet long, and up to 12 feet high, measured from the street to highest point.

Entries are encouraged to display their identity through a variety of visual media such as signs, banners both in front of and to the sides of the entry, balloons, flags or T-shirts so that judges and spectators can easily identify the entry.

Some of the rules:

• No articles of any kind may be thrown from the float.
• No one may enter or exit the float once the float is in motion on the Parade route.
• Trailers must be towed by an accompanying vehicle and have a turning radius of not less than 90 degrees.

The parade kicks off "at exactly 11am" at 4th and Union. It marches through the Regrade to Denny where it will disband.

Email SOAP (volunteer[at]seattlepride.org) is you would like to volunteer as crowd controller, parade monitor, or to help with check-in.

Labels: Gay events, Gay Seattle, Seattle, Seattle Pride