Monday, August 31, 2009

Bring It! August 31, 2009

I’m a Pollyanna of the gay dance circuit. In my eyes, all is glittery and love under the disco ball, a community coming together to move their bodies and spirits.

Which is why it warms my gay heart when the community also comes together behind the scenes, with party producers/promoters joining forces to deliver a disco double-whammy.

Take Sundance, the Russian River circuit revival brought to us by Gus Presents, along with some help from DJ Luke Johnstone’s Dig-It-Talent. After a 5-year hiatus, the event made a hugely successful comeback, bringing the boys together for an unforgettable day of dancing in the sunshine.

From my perspective on the dancefloor – which is somewhere in between work and play, somewhere between promoter and party girl - collaboration and cooperation produce better results than competition.

Take Black XXXmas, another event Gus and Luke come together to produce each year. It’s unique and huge, and we look forward to it each year. Can we get some more of that, please?

I know it sounds idealistic (Pollyanna), but my take is that our nightlife scene is really working when we’ve got the best of our producers and promoters working together.

With all the fun parties/scenes in San Francisco, it’s hard enough out here for a promoter. Party people are moody and fussy. We’re skeptical of new events, even though our favorite complaint is that that there aren’t enough of them. We always want more but we don’t want to pay more, and we have short memories when the essentially thankless job of producing goes well.

That just means we’re no different than any other city, but I like to think of San Francisco as a city that transcends.

Like at this year’s Pride, when the Wunderland team threw its support to the boys behind The Disco. The party surpassed expectations and was the hit of the weekend. Gay Day Great America brings together Fresh’s Janine Shiota and DJ Luke Johnstone, and the result is an event that consistently overflows with talent.

The power to have more partnerships and less drama lies within us. We vote by showing up, and we can easily encourage our nightlife scene to be less war-torn and more like a gay United Nations.

The Folsom Street Fair couldn’t be what it is today without promoters and producers rallying together. It’s now a worldwide model of what can happen when a simple party transcends, having grown up into not just a San Francisco icon, but a massive fundraiser as well.

Why wouldn’t we want more parties backed by more people who know how to give us the goods? If my gays have taught me nothing, it’s that more is more and less is a bore, so to all the promoters who are willing to tag-team to give us more, I say “Bring it!”

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Bring It! August 18, 2009

Life is precious, and short, and there’s no better city than San Francisco to seize the gay day and live to your loudest and proudest.

Some might call it hedonism, but I would say it’s just making the most of our time. We squeeze every last drop out of this life while we can, because when you’re living over the rainbow, that’s just how we roll.

Sure, devotion to pleasure as a way of life can have some pitfalls (sleep deprivation and spending beyond one’s means come to mind), but living the dream is what our nightlife scene is all about. Whatever faggotry you fancy, we’ve got it. San Francisco is the ultimate enabler.

For a small town, our parties are impressively larger than life. Big holiday weekends always remind me that we take the concept of lifestyle to the extreme here in our beautiful little bubble by the bay, and I personally wouldn’t want it any other way.

Here’s where I’ll be bringing it while the bringin’s good…

Friday, August 28

Trannyshack Bjork Night
The annual salute to the Ice Princess
Featuring a midnight show with peformances by Heklina, Putanesca, Peggy L'eggs, Glamamore, Kiddie, Fauxnique, Raya Light, Syphilis Diller, Ambrosia Salad, Vivianne Forevermore, Elijah Minnelli, and many more.
10pm-3am at DNA Lounge, 375 11th Street, $12

AND

DJ Jamie J Sanchez at Trigger, 2344 Market Street, www.clubtrigger.com

Saturday, August 29

The Return of Big Top, A Homo Disco Circus
A party for fags, dykes, and tranimals
With DJ Juanita More and DJ Goldblooded, plus a drag show dedicated to Michael Jackson featuring performances by Charisma Glitteratti, Ambrosia Salad, Hoku Mama Swamp, and from Ru Paul's Drag Race, Miss Tammie Brown.
9pm-3am at Club Ei8ht, 1151 Folsom between 8th and 9th, free before 10pm, $5 after

Sunday, August 30

Mr. and Miss Golden Gate Gaymes and Picnic
BBQ, buffet, beer and beverage bust presented by the Imperial Council of San Francisco
Noon – 5pm at the Eureka Valley Rec Center Main Field, at 18th and Collingwood in the Castro, $20
Streetcar procession immediately following to the Golden Gate finale at Triple Crown, 6pm-9pm

Saturday, September 5

SF Leather Daddy boy XXVII Contest
Benefiting the AIDS Emergency Fund
9pm-midnight at The Eagle Tavern, 398 12th at Harrison

AND

Wunderland with DJs Eddie Elias and Hawthorne
10pm-6am at Mezzanine, 444 Jesse Street @ Mint, $15 before midnight, $25 after

AND

Underworld with DJ Kevin Lee
Drop your pants and dance!
10pm-6am at 550 Barneveld, $20
www.guspresents.com/underworld

Sunday, September 6

Fresh with DJ Manny Lehman
Benefiting AIDS Project LA
6pm-midnight at Ruby Skye, 420 Mason Street at Geary, $20 advance/$25 door
www.freshsf.com

AND

Sanctuary with DJs John LePage and Alexander
Men. Music. Muscle.
10pm-6am at 1015 Folsom, $20 advance/$30 door
www.guspresents.com/sanctuary

Friday, September 11

Nasty: A filthy fun-raiser for the AIDS Emergency Fund
With Suzan Revah as your Nasty Girl host, and Nasty Boys playing STICK IT IN!
10pm-1am at The Powerhouse, 1347 Folsom between 9th and 10th
www.powerhouse-sf.com

Friday, August 7, 2009

Bring It! August 7, 2009

I don’t care nearly as much about Britney Spears as I do about, say, Bebe Sweetbriar, and these days I spend more time looking through photos on Facebook than I do looking through the pages of Us Weekly.

I attribute this behavior to a phenomenon known as “sublebrity” (some call it “localebrity”), and it’s yet another reason why I love living in San Francisco. We have our own unique vibe in all that we do, and our local talent is rich and revolutionary. All the entertainment and amusement I could possibly need resides right here in our beautiful bubble by the bay.

I love to hate Facebook, but I also hate to love it. More and more, it seems like “social networking” is everyone’s favorite version of reality TV. As citizens of the action-packed Castro, it’s easy to feel better about ourselves when we compare to our “peers,” especially those bored and boring souls from our former lives who aren’t privileged enough to live here. (Bless their hearts.)

We feel validated, and our sublebrity status is confirmed, when our hundreds of “friends” and “fans” recognize, appreciate, and support our colorful, quirky little lives on the glittery stage of the San Francisco scene. Keeping this in mind motivates me to go out even more, and to bring it even harder.

Here’s where me and my sublebrity pals will be acting up next, creating the next episode in the days of our fabulous lives. Come on out and make for some good Fagbook TV with me!

Friday, August 14

Lick It: What Do You Have a Taste For?
Benefiting the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund and the Positive Resource Center. Come get satiated at this event hosted by Lance Holman. Featuring lickable gogo dancers, decadent raffles, and Ms. V at the bootblack stand.
10pm-1am at The Powerhouse, 1347 Folsom Street (between 9th & 10th)
www.powerhouse-sf.com

AND

SF Grand Ball: An Old-School Vogue Ball Competition
Part of Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory’s residency at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Push Play Festival
The House of Glitter challenges all of the Bay Area's Houses of Queens, Kings, Butches and every Queerity in between to compete, every Friday in August, leading up to the Battle at Ground Zero Championship on September 11 and a $200 prize for Best in Show. Tommy LaBeija from NYC's Legendary House of LaBeija oversees the judging, so get your house in order!
8pm at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission Street
http://groups.google.com/group/sfgrandvogueball

Saturday, August 15

Industry San Francisco DJ Showcase with DJs James Torres, Russ Rich, Frank Wild and Jamie J Sanchez
Plus, performances by Suzan Revah Original Fag Hag and the Pussy Posse, including Steven Satyricon and Joanna Parks on the gogo box!
10pm-5am at Mighty, 119 Utah Street at 15th, $15 advance/$25 door
www.industrysf.com

AND

The 14th Annual Drag King Contest
The biggest drag king competition in the world, benefiting P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Wonderful Support)
8pm to 2:30am at DNA Lounge, 375 11th Street, $15 in advance/$20 door (general admission); $25 VIP, $35 limited balcony seating
www.dnalounge.com

AND

Bearracuda 3-year Anniversary
With DJs Tony Ruiz, BoyShapedBox, and Medic, plus a 10:30pm show with Fruitbomb, Hoku Mama Swamp, Glitterella, and Glamamore
Hot and cold snacks in the pool room, heavy petting all over
9pm-3am at Deco at 510 Larkin @ Turk, $8
www.bearracuda.com

Sunday, August 16

Flagging in the Park with DJ Luke Johnstone
Benefiting Larkin Street Youth Services
Enjoy sun, music, flagging, friends, and fauna at this event, a tradition that started in 1996 as a celebration of life. Open to all of the flow arts - fan dancing, flag dancing, poi - and their supporters.
1pm-4pm in the AIDS Memorial Grove, Golden Gate Park

AND

Fresh with the Perry Twins
Benefiting AIDS Walk
6pm-midnight at Ruby Skye, 420 Mason Street at Geary
$20 advance or before 6pm, $25 after
www.freshsf.com

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY:

Thick with DJ Luke Johnstone
11pm-3am at Club Ei8ht, 1151 Folsom Street between 7th and 8th, $10
www.eightsf.com

Friday, August 21

Meat Packin’ Contest, Benefiting Under One Roof and the AIDS Emergency Fund

Your chance to show your pride for what you're packing! Don your favorite jock, boxer, or brief to show what you've got, then battle with your bulge for a $100 cash prize. (Contestants need to arrive by 10:30pm.)
Sponsored by Colt Studios, and featuring Suzan Revah the Original Fag Hag on the judging panel (lucky me!).
10pm-1am at The Powerhouse, 1347 Folsom, $5
www.powerhouse-sf.com

All weekend long: August 21-23

Sundance: Russian River Party Weekend
All-day outdoor dancing in the sun under the mighty redwood trees of western Sonoma County. Like one big, gay summer camp!
Saturday:
Daylight Pool Party with DJs Lee Decker and Jason G, 11am-6pm at the Russian River Resort; followed by Moondance Men on the Moon with DJ Matt Consola, 9pm-6am at River Space
Sunday:
Sundance Russian River Morning Party with DJ Phil B, Noon-6pm at a private Guerneville Estate; followed by Sunset Massive Tribal Closing Dance with DJ Luke Johnstone, 6pm-3am at River Space, featuring a special performance by Suzan Revah, the Original Fag Hag, and Travis Creston, Mr. SF Leather 2007.
www.guspresents.com/sundance

ALSO:

Saturday, August 22

Shangri-La August Moon Festival Party with DJs Dan De Leon, Kevin Lee, and Alan Bentley
10pm-6am at The Endup, 6th and Harrison Streets
Free before 11pm, $15 until 2am, $20 after
www.theendup.com

Sunday, August 23

Endup T-Dance with DJ Frank Wild
Sunday “church” begins at 6am, Frank Wild spins at noon. Resident DJs keep the beats going until 8pm.
The Endup, 6th and Harrison Streets
www.theendup.com

Tuesday, August 25

Chaser & Electronic Music Bears Present… The Miss Grrrrrrl Pageant
A night devoted to our plump and furry friends and their lovers.
9pm-late, show at 11pm at The Endup, 401 6th Street at Harrison, $10
www.theendup.com