Let’s start right off with the incentive. Use code GOALLOUT when you register at 2014GayGames.com by May 31 and save $30 off your registration. All registration ends July 15. The games start in almost exactly four months. I’ve been telling you to get prepped for over a year now, so maybe no one needs this information, but I bet otherwise.
It’s time to make preparations for accommodations and travel — don’t wait until after Pride and then hope you can get a room near the stadium or fields or pool at the last minute. Here are a couple links for getting direct info for some things without surfing the entire website: Event schedules: gg9cle.com/plan-my-visit/event-schedule Lodging: gg9cle.com/plan-my-visit/lodging. Planning for a group of 10 or more? Grab a block of rooms with no financial obligation! Contact Casey Gwin at [email protected] or call 800-321-1001 ext. 6621.
There are also some gg9 special events that have limited space. The Cleveland Skyline Cruise (goodtimeiii.com/site) takes guests on a sunset cruise along Lake Erie with the Cleveland skyline as a backdrop. The trip is $25 with a cash bar, multiple decks and top DJs. The dock is near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which rightly should have been in Philadelphia, but now’s your chance to see it.
A couple events engage some culture. “My Mother’s Lesbian, Jewish, Wiccan Wedding” is being performed by Actors Summit Theatre at Greystone Hall, 103 High St. in Akron, every weeknight during the games. The Friday night before the opening ceremonies is a spectacular “Night Before 9; Out in Art” gala at the Cleveland Museum of Art. For $25, you get in for this private museum-wide party with food and drinks.
More than 20,000 participants and visitors are expected from more than 40 countries to join in the competitions, parties and events. The next time it will even be possible to have the games in North America is 2022, so go and take pride in welcoming athletes and allies this August. It’s going to be THE sports-event week of the year, so get out and play!
Got Soul?
Another Philadelphia sports team is going for the rainbow with LGBT night, “Out with the Soul.” Indoor-football team Philadelphia Soul is hosting a colorful evening of gayness May 10, including rally towels distributed in a stadium rainbow manner and having the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus perform the national anthem.
Your $20 ticket gets you all this plus the game and pre-game flag-football exhibition games featuring our own Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League in 15-minute matches. After the Soul finishes off the visiting team, hit the parking lot for a GPFFL and Gay Bowl tailgate party!
Order tickets online at philadelphiasoul.com for this first-time event. Portions of the proceeds will go to the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
Out to the ballgame
Gay Community Night has been announced. Get your tickets for this annual event early to ensure the best seats and price. Game night is Aug. 5 this year, meaning you have gay night at the Phillies on Tuesday and then take off for Cleveland on Thursday or Friday.
This year the Phillies are playing the Astros, so we have a decent chance of improving the Gay Community Night record of 1-10. Tickets for sections 201-206 are $26 and sections 301-305 are $17. Promotion code GCN gets you these seats at this price only until July 5 or until the seats are sold out. If you’re going with friends, buy them together and pick your own seats.
It’s also Country-Western theme night at the ballpark so grab your boots and let’s see some hot cowboys and cowgirls!
Short stops • Inclement weather and an overpopulated field house mean the QPenn annual PATH Pride Games are still on for April 6. Same plot, less mud. • Liberty Belle Invitational Tournament’s next gay roller-skating party is April 21 at Cherry Hill Skating Center, 664 Deer Road, Cherry Hill. For directions, go to www.cherryhillskatingcenter.com • Philly Roller Girls host a double-header night of fierceness 5 p.m. April 12 at Class of 1923 Ice Rink, just off South Street Bridge in University City. • Falcons soccer moves back outside to Edgely Fields mid-April for pick-up play, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays until dark. Countdown to Gay Games 9: 126 days, Got a spring fling? Share it with everyone. Email [email protected].