(Find out why the Dance Centre’s Shall We Dance event is one of Tom Coleman’s favourite fundraisers of the season./thedancecentre.ca)
Thursday, Sept 10
11th Annual Boldfest Lesbian Weekend
How come older gay guys don’t have something great like this? This four-day conference for Bold, Old(er) Lesbians and Dykes kicks off tonight with registration, followed by programs, workshops, walking tours, a boat cruise, plus they have Clara Shandler, Sheila Norgate, Sandy Scofield and Lisa Koch as performers. Boldfest’s mission is to raise the visibility of older lesbians, and to provide a venue to meet and to share information and opportunities for learning, networking and organizing. Info, schedules, tickets of various prices and more at boldfest.com.
Daily Xtra Candidates Debate
Election time is near, which means countless phone calls from every party trying to convince me, endless wasteful flyer propaganda filling my mailbox and the dreaded poster fairies covering the West End each night. This debate, however, could sway me to attend. Not only is it in the newest nightclub in town, it has a shower stall and stripper pole which could provide some much needed entertainment if the debate goes wrong. Maybe even a pole performance by the moderator, Daily Xtra’s own Robin Perelle — that woman is tiny but she has some moves. Check it out for yourself, either in person or stream it live on dailyxtra.com. And tweet your questions for the candidates to #XtraDebate. 7–9pm. The Odyssey, 686 W Hastings St. Free admission. Click here for more info on Facebook.
Vancouver Fringe Festival
I am like every other gay man. You tell me there is a night called Wonderhead and immediately thoughts of the glory holes at 8×6 or the blackout night at Steamworks pop into my mind via my penis. But alas for me this is the opening night fundraiser of the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Join their VIP reception with an exclusive evening with Wonderheads, a mask performance and visual storytelling experience, and also with a concert by Tanga and Tonye Agnaba. Tickets for tonight are $50. The festival runs until Sunday, Sept 20. Click here for Daily Xtra’s queer picks of the 2015 Fringe Fest. All shows, info, venues, times and tickets at vancouverfringe.com.
Friday, Sept 11
Forplay
By now you know that if there is some type of sexual connection in the name of an event I am most likely going to check it out. The main reason this one caught my attention is the sexier than fuck, bearded, muscle DJ (really isn’t that the only reason to go?) who’s spinning. DJ Dubbuldee is in the house and there will be more gays surrounding the DJ booth than on the dancefloor. 8pm. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. Cover $5 after 10pm. Click here for more info on their Facebook page.
Night Of A Thousand Divas
A lot of guys bitch about drag queens, showtunes and disco, but time after time I see all of them at every show — probably secretly wishing they were the ones up on stage. (Especially when they see the hunky groupies the queens all have.) Tonight check them all out for yourselves at 1181, and feel free to belt out all the words to each song along with the crowd. 6–9pm. 1181, 1181 Davie St. No cover. www.facebook.com/ShowtunesYVR
Saturday, Sept 12
Buy Me Dinner First
Who are we kidding? Dinner? Hell, I’ve been known to drop to my knees just because you shook my hand. This play delves into the unpalatable world of dating. Feel used, abused, forgotten and alone? This sketch comedy promises to explore every aspect of dating culture, gay and straight. We’ve all been there at least once, so enjoy. The play is part of the Fringe Festival and runs various nights until Sunday, Sept 20. The Cultch, 1895 Venables St. Tickets $14, show times and info at vancouverfringe.com.
Shall We Dance
It’s fundraiser season. Not that I avoid them, but I can be as picky as the next person. After all, how many bloody times can you be asked at the checkout of every grocery store or liquor store “would you like to add $2 to your bill for blah blah blah blah blah?” Enough already. Not one place has proven to me that my constant flow of toonies ends up anywhere it’s supposed to. That’s why I recommend nights like this. Not only do you get entertained by a multitude of our people but you see firsthand where the money is going. Shall We Dance puts the fun in fundraiser. Tonight features the best party DJs, prizes, a smorgasbord of tap and ballet stars, contemporary dances, circus acts, wild urban styles, classical Indian, passionate Flamenco, contortionists and jugglers. Be prepared to be amazed and surprised, and to have fun. 9pm. Scotiabank Dance Theatre, 677 Davie St. Tickets $150 with open bar (I’m in), at eventrbrite.ca or thedancecentre.ca
Sunday, Sept 13
A Quiet Place
There are many choices for the Vancouver Fringe Festival but this is one of my personal favourites, probably because I could see myself in this situation with any number of my dear so-called friends. “Two amnesiacs in a room with no door attempt to solve the puzzle of their own existence while trying not to kill each other or fall in love. A great reckoning in a little room, this play will take you from mystery to comedy to tragedy — all with just two men, one chair and a light bulb.” Simplistic, just like quiet, mundane me (no letters, please)! Tonight is their half-price show at 9:50pm. The Cultch, 1895 Venables St. Tickets, further showtimes and full listing of events at vancouverfringe.com.
Monday, Sept 14
West End Darts
Oh god, dart season is upon us. I was a member of this dart league for quite a few years and yes, there are many tales to tell. All in all, it is a lot of fun. Thankfully the dart boards are now in a corner of the bar. In the old days they were out in the open and I cannot tell you the times that my dart went flying in the wrong direction because an amazing ass walked by or I saw a potential husband out of the corner of my eye. Hand to god, one night I was so distracted, and tipsy, that the steel dart I was throwing actually ended up piercing the cowboy hat of a guy 10 feet away. Thankfully he was not hurt, and yes, he punished me later . . . repeatedly. Tonight is the first night, so drop by the bars and register, or register ahead of time at westenddarts@telus.net. Two locations start tonight, 7pm at the Fountainhead Pub, 1025 Davie St, and 7:30pm at Numbers, 1042 Davie St. mydavievillage.com/DartsWeb.html
Wednesday, Sept 16
Unleash Your Inner Diva
I bet this is how Carlotta Gurl started: she saw a listing title like this and the poor thing let loose and was never the same again. Cartwheel after cartwheel down Davie Street. Can’t blame me, though. I wasn’t around — that gurl is older than dirt. Just kidding, Gurrrl! Tonight is all about a different type of diva, the Vancouver Men’s Chorus type, although some of them are wild enough as well. The stories I hear from their retreats cannot be published here — and I usually say anything. So if you want to be part of a great, fun-loving, road-trip travelling, tight knit bunch of singers, now is your chance. Auditions are being held Wednesdays on Sept 16, Sept 23, and Sept 30. Jump on board and sail into their 35th season, and maybe next time I’ll have some stories to tell about you. 7:15pm. Vancouver Academy Of Music, 1270 Chestnut St (just over the Burrard Street bridge). vancouvermenschorus.ca
Think there’s an upcoming event I should attend? Click here to list your event on dailyxtra.com or send me a note at oitc.vancouver@dailyxtra.com.
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