If you’re anything like me, you’ve had just about enough of this harsh winter weather: We’ve had plenty of reasons to stay cooped up in our homes over the last few weekends. Although it’s tough to tell, springtime is coming, and I think it’s high time we all start acting like it. My challenge to you in the next few weeks is to get off the couch, throw on your winter gear and hit the town. Here are some ideas to get you going.
Tonight at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St., the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will host its annual bachelor auction. Starting at 9, this raucous evening of hot guys and drink specials is the perfect way to kick-start your Valentine’s Day weekend. In addition to the auction featuring some of Philly’s hottest eligible men, the event will feature a karaoke contest, dancing with DJ Michael DeCero and a number of special surprises. Tickets are available for $10 if you purchase them online in advance or $15 at the door. Visit www.pgmc.org for more information.
If the bachelor auction gets you go-go-going, you can maintain that momentum the following weekend as preliminaries begin for the “Mr. Gay Philadelphia” competition. Although you’ll have to wait until April 17 for the main event at Voyeur Nightclub, a number of LGBT businesses and organizations will hold preliminary contests to select their representatives for Mr. Gay Philadelphia in the coming weeks. Here is what’s scheduled so far:
— Mr. Gay Q Lounge, 10 p.m., Feb. 18 at Q Lounge, 1234 Locust St. — Mr. Gay Woody’s, 10 p.m. Feb 20 at Woody’s Bar, 202 S. 13th St. — Mr. Gay Voyeur, 9 p.m. Feb. 26 at Voyeur — Mr. Gay Shampoo, 11 p.m. March 19 at Shampoo Nightclub, 417 N. Eighth St. — Mr. Gay Stir: 11 p.m. March 19 at Stir Lounge, 1705 Chancellor St.
Looking past the next two weeks to the beginning of spring, Nightlifegay.com is set to celebrate the season in a big way with the Pink Pub Crawl. After a sold-out event last fall that drew close to 300 attendees, Nightlifegay.com is planning an exciting evening guaranteed to make this the best one yet! Sponsors of the spring 2010 Pink Pub Crawl include P.I.N.K. Vodka and the 12th Street Gym.
On March 20, the first “official” Saturday evening of the spring season, the Pink Pub Crawl will take hundreds of revelers to a variety of Philadelphia’s most popular LGBT bars and social establishments. Beginning at 9 p.m., crawlers will assemble at Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St., for registration and the evening’s first stop. At 10:30 p.m., the Pink Pub Crawl will hit its second venue of the evening, 12th Air Command, 254 S. 12th St. Next, crawlers will move to Philly’s most historic gay bar, Woody’s, at 11:30 p.m. After an hour of drinks and dancing, the Pink Pub Crawl will head to its final stop at Voyeur at 12:30 a.m.
Tickets for the crawl are $20 for those wearing one prominent item of pink clothing, such as a shirt, pants, a jacket or even a boa. For those not in pink, tickets are $30 per person. A ticket is good for one free drink at each of the first three stops, free admission to the dance floor at 12th Air Command and to a private entrance of Woody’s dance floor, and free admission to Voyeur Nightclub. All together, it’s a $50 value. Remember that anyone who can’t make the first stop is welcome to join the Pink Pub Crawl at 12th Air Command.
In addition, Nightlifegay.com has some surprises in the works for attendees. P.I.N.K. Vodka will provide limited-edition Pink Pub Crawl T-shirts and signature cocktails designed exclusively for this event. 12th Street Gym will give the first 100 crawlers a free one-week membership. One lucky crawler will win a three-month membership to 12th Street Gym and dinner for two at a popular area restaurant. For more information, visit www.nightlifegay.com.
That’s everything I’ve got for this week. If you have any events to add to the list, e-mail me at [email protected]. ’Til next time, get offline and see what your community has to offer!