This is an exciting column for me because it’s the first time Offline is running on New Year’s Day. As we all begin the transition from the frenetic social pace of the past few weeks to a more relaxed scene in January and February, this is the perfect opportunity to begin planning for the special events that will make 2010 memorable and meaningful.
To help populate your calendar, I’ve assembled my top recommendations for the upcoming year. These are the events that will have LGBT Philadelphians buzzing in 2010, and that will help make the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection one of the best places to live, visit and socialize. I guarantee that if you engage in the diversions listed below, you’ll look back a year from now with no doubt that 2010 was one of the best years ever!
Starting on Feb. 24, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, will debut its new exhibit, “Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris.” Always brilliant but occasionally misunderstood by critics and fellow creators, Picasso is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Featuring a wide collection of his greatest works, this promises to be one of the hottest tickets in Philadelphia. The exhibit runs through April 25, but you should plan far in advance to secure your tickets. For more information on the exhibit and ticketing details, visit philamuseum.org.
On April 17, Nightlifegay.com will present the fourth annual Mr. Gay Philadelphia competition at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St. This live contest to crown Philly’s Mr. Gay titleholder has grown more popular each year, but the 2010 competition will bring even more excitement, as Philadelphia is in the running to host the national Mr. Gay U.S.A. competition next fall. In addition to the main event on April 17, many local businesses and organizations will conduct preliminary contests to select their representative for Mr. Gay Philadelphia, including Q Lounge on Feb. 11, Voyeur on Feb. 19, Woody’s on Feb. 21, Stir Lounge on March 19 and Shampoo Nightclub on March 26. Visit Nightlifegay.com for more information on the citywide contest and a complete schedule of preliminary events.
Equality Forum is arguably one of Philadelphia’s best-known annual LGBT events. Featuring a week of programs, panel discussions and parties from April 26-May 2, Equality Forum is a truly unique combination of political action, community building, networking and social extravagance. Each year, Equality Forum culminates with an amazing block party, Sunday OUT. In a bold move by event organizers, the 2010 edition of Sunday OUT will take place at The Piazza in Northern Liberties. Visit equalityforum.org for more information.
Beginning on June 5, the Franklin Institute, 22 N. 20th St., will premiere “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt.” Presented by National Geographic and Arts and Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology, the Cleopatra exhibition will feature over 250 artifacts from sand and sea. The show is scheduled to run through the end of 2010. For more information, visit www.fi.edu/cleo.
In addition to these events, make sure to keep an eye out for Festivus, the Traverse Arts Project’s LGBT arts festival. This was one of the “sleeper” events last year, which got rave reviews from critics, patrons and fans alike. The second annual arts festival will take place at venues throughout the city later this year. Check out www.traversetheater.org for new information on this year’s event.
As you begin building your social calendar for 2010, don’t forget about Gay Pride in June (phillypride.org), OutFest in October, the Pink Pub Crawl on March 20 and Thanksgiving Eve in November and the Liberty Bell Classic Softball Tournament on Memorial Day weekend. If I missed an event that you’re looking forward to in 2010, please e-mail [email protected] and share your recommendation.
’Til next time, get offline and see what your community has to offer!