Wow. The last couple weeks have been crazy, right?
It started off on such a high note with all the fun of Halloween weekend in the Gayborhood, but then there was the horror of watching Hurricane Sandy completely fuck the Eastern seaboard, especially New York and the Jersey Shore. And right on the heels of that, the presidential election and another nor’easter.
That’s a hell of a lot to go through in less than two weeks.
As I sit here typing, I’m on the edge of my seat wondering who will win the election and how bad the new storm will be.
If all goes well, we’ll be celebrating four more years with a president who respects us as a community, and we’ll be happy that the new storm gave us only a glancing blow.
If not, then I don’t know. I mean, I love Toronto and all, but do I really want to move there?
If you haven’t done so yet, please consider making a donation to storm-relief efforts. The American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) is providing necessary services to communities across the entire region.
If you’d like your donation to have a direct impact on our community, consider helping the Ali Forney Center (www.aliforneycenter.org), which has to completely rebuild its LGBT youth drop-in center.
Kinky Karnival
Looking to blow off a little steam? Then join the men of Philadelphians MC for a Kinky Karnival from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Nov. 9 at The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.
Your $5 suggested donation at the door gets you a fistful of tickets you can trade for fun on a variety of adult-themed carnival rides. They’ll also have great music and hot videos on the big screen, all up on the third floor.
The event is part of Philadelphia Leather Pride Weekend, and all proceeds from the Karnival go to the Mazzoni Center Holiday Drive for kids.
Philly Leather Pride Weekend
The main event of the weekend is the fourth annual Leather Pride Night, from 7 p.m.-midnight Nov. 10 at Voyeur, 1221 St. James St.
Entertainment will include Bruce Michael Gelbert, burlesque and drag-king performers and Lady Marisa from Asbury Park. Jill Carter and Onyx Rod will share the emcee duties, while the one and only Jo Arnone will be back as the auctioneer.
There will also be a silent auction by NDDs, a traveling exhibit on The Art of Drummer from the Leather Archives, a pup zone, the Bootblack Brigade, the Jersey Amazons and more.
Tickets are $25 at the door or $20 in advance. Advance tickets are available at Sexploratorium, 620 S. Fifth St.; Le Chateau Exotique in New Hope; or William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., up to an hour before the event.
All proceeds from the main event go to William Way, the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago, the Carter/Johnson Leather Library, Leather Leadership Conference Philly (2014) and By the Grace of George.
For more details about the weekend and a complete list of sponsors, visit www.plpn.org.
Underwear Party
No shirt, no pants, no problem!
Get ready to strip down and jump around from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 10 at Stir Lounge, 1705 Chancellor St. There will be raffles, T-shirts, giveaways, reps from Philly VAX on hand to discuss the HIV vaccine trial, plus the opportunity to get fast and free confidential HIV testing. There will also be lots of hot guys and girls running around in their drawers and panties, as well as drink specials from 9-11 p.m. All this for no cover!
The KIDD Show
From 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 17, DJ Kidd Madonny will be at Voyeur. Kidd will bring his unique blend of performance art and DJ skills to present a unique night of circus acts, lasers, hot dancers and more.
Get there early to take advantage of drink specials until 11 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and are available online at www.nightlifegay.com.
Diabolique Ball
Don’t miss the 16th annual Diabolique Ball, “Agony and Ecstacy: A Religious Experience,” 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 17 at Shampoo, 417 N. Eighth St. There will be amazing DJs, hot fashion shows with leather, latex, rubber and corsets, dungeon play spaces and an army of special guests.
As always, proceeds go to local charities, so come out and be bad for a good cause.
Pink Pub Crawl
The Pink Pub Crawl returns Nov. 21. The crawl starts at iCandy at 9 p.m., moves on to Tabu at 10:15 p.m., Woody’s at 11:30 p.m. and finally to Voyeur at 12:30 a.m.
Tickets are $25 if you wear lots of pink (shirt, pants, etc.) or $30 if you don’t, and are available at the first two stops of the night. Ticket-holders get a free drink at the first three stops and free dance-floor admission at iCandy, Woody’s and Voyeur.
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