Second protest at NE gay bar
Supporters of the House of Blaze, an LGBT club situated above Albert’s Café and Sports Bar, 3180 Grant Ave. in the Northeast, will protest outside the bar from 5:30-9 p.m. July 24 to speak out against on ongoing dispute with the building’s owner.
Blaze Waters, who runs the second-floor establishment, said owner Albert Buoncristiano has tripled his rent since the bar first opened two years ago and, when Waters recently objected, Buoncristiano locked the doors to the club.
Waters has been looking at other venues, but said all of his sound and lighting equipment is locked inside the bar.
About 50 people turned out July 14 for the first protest outside the bar.
LGBT film fundraiser at Tavern
Representatives from ImFromDriftwood.com, a site that publishes personal stories from LGBT community members, will stage a fundraiser next week in Philadelphia to support the company’s upcoming national tour.
The IFD fundraiser — from 6-9 p.m. July 28 at Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St. — will raise money for the 50-State Story Tour that kicks off in September. IFD creator Nathan Manske and video director and editor Marquise Lee, a Philly resident, will visit all 50 states this fall to collect video, audio and written stories from LGBT people in an effort to provide an in-depth look at the lives of LGBTs in all corners of the country.
The fundraiser will feature drink specials and raffle prizes, with 10 percent of all sales donated to IFD. There is a $5 suggested donation.
For more information about IFD, visit www.imfromdriftwood.com.
Awarding the Gayborhood
The fourth annual Philadelphia Rainbow Awards will return to the Gayborhood next month.
The awards ceremony, to be held 9-11 p.m. Aug. 1 at Venture Inn, 255 S. Camac St., will honor the community’s choices for best area businesses, individuals and organizations.
The event will be hosted by Sandy Beach and feature music by DJ Dutch and door prizes.
— Jen Colletta