With the exception of New Year’s Day, the weeks immediately following Labor Day are filled with more “new beginnings” than any other time of year. Students return to school, summer beach shares expire and the intensity of work schedules and professional obligations accelerate rapidly. It’s a great time of year to challenge yourself by establishing new goals, resetting your priorities and exploring innovative social diversions.
As for the latter, there are numerous fun and original events taking place in Philly over the next few weeks. So let’s get to it.
Over the last two months, I have divulged details for Nightlifegay.com’s first annual Gayborhood Games on Sept. 26 at Pure Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. The games are a live competition to select Philadelphia’s best local dance crew, vocalist, comedian, drag performer, bartender and chef. It’s a battle for a year’s worth of bragging rights and prizes for the winner of each category. I’m thrilled to announce that Nightlifegay.com has secured many LGBT celebrity judges for the competition, most notably is Christopher Ciccone, Madonna’s brother and the author of New York Times bestseller “Life With My Sister Madonna.” Other gay celebrity judges include Josh from indie-music group Oh My Josh, Derek Hartley of Sirius OutQ’s “The Derek and Romaine Show,” adult-film star Bobby Rail, Sirius OutQ radio jock Tim Bennett and New York City celebrity stylist Jaisohn.
For a number of years, Lucky Lounge was one of Philadelphia’s most popular events. A monthly party started by life and business partners Tony Sparacino and Mark Toscani, Lucky Lounge went through a number of iterations over the years, but it always drew an attractive, engaging and entertaining crowd. After Sparacino’s death a few years ago, Toscani reintroduced Lucky Lounge as a monthly fundraiser. Though Toscani officially retired Lucky Lounge a couple months back, he is still working hard to support the community and its members in Tony’s memory. From 6-9, this evening, the Sapphire Fund will host a fundraiser for the Tony Sparacino Memorial Scholarship at the Pressed Gallery, Piazza at Schmidt’s, 1050 N. Hancock St. The scholarship benefits a student enrolled at a local college or university who is studying the arts and who has a history of LGBT community service. A donation of $25 per person is recommended. If you can’t attend the event, please consider pledging an online donation to the Tony Sparacino Memorial Scholarship at sapphirefund.org.
Shortly following the Smile Happy Hour I hosted at Tavern on Camac on Sept. 3, I was pleasantly surprised when a group of 30-plus guys arrived around 9:30 p.m. to have cocktails at the piano bar on Tavern’s first floor. As I quickly discovered, these men are part of the new Bike Stop Drinking Team. This club is composed primarily of employees, patrons and friends of local leather bar The Bike Stop. On the first and third Thursdays of the month, participants gather at The Bike Stop at 8 p.m. After an hour or so, they head off to a pre-selected “bar of the week” for a couple rounds of drinks. The evening wraps up at The Bike Stop between 11 p.m. and midnight. The next Drinking Team event will take place Sept. 17, and it’s open to anyone who is interested. Learn more on the group’s Facebook page.
One of the things I like most about Philadelphia is the way in which our local artistic and cultural institutions, such as the Philly Pops and the Pennsylvania Ballet, develop programs that make their performances accessible to a broad cross-section of residents and visitors. A wonderful example of this will take place Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. as the Philadelphia Orchestra presents the first-ever Fallen Heroes Tribute Concert at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave. As part of the Orchestra’s United We Serve campaign, the concert will raise funds for the Fraternal Order of Police’s Survivors’ Fund. The event promises to be an uplifting tribute to the Philadelphia police officers killed in the line of duty. To reach their goal of $500,000 for the FOP’s Survivors’ Fund, the Orchestra will collect donations during the free concert on Sept. 20, and generate support from local businesses and philanthropists. To secure tickets, visit www.philorch.org.
I also want to let everyone know that IHOP has just opened a new location at 1320 Walnut St. Openly gay owner Steve Lee is a longtime supporter of Philadelphia’s LGBT community, nonprofit organizations and special events. He’s thrilled to finally have a business in the neighborhood and I’m thrilled to welcome him. Steve is an exceptional businessperson, and each IHOP he owns makes a measurable contribution to the local area. Check out IHOP’s ad in this week’s PGN for more information.
If I missed any important events in the coming weeks, or if you have something you’d like me to consider including in my next column, please send the details to [email protected].
’Til next time, get offline and see what your community has to offer!