It’s June and Pride is only nine weeks away. What’s that thing bothering you in the back of your mind? It’s that you haven’t sent me your Pride listings or Pride pictures! Don’t wait another day. If you have anything associated with Pride, a party, AGM, march, dance, group or get together, send it along to me at oitc.vancouver@dailyxtra.com. Don’t be one of those people who remembers the day after your event!
Thursday, June 8
Together Alone: A Conversation About Loneliness In Queer Men
You’d think Pride would be all about parties, people and fun, but to some shy and introverted men, it can be the most difficult time of year. Why are many queer men so lonely? And how does loneliness contribute to depression, drug use and suicide? Discuss these trends and how to help men in our own circles in a panel discussion with Michael Hobbes, author of the recent Huffington Post article “Together Alone: The Epidemic of Gay Loneliness.”
6:30–8pm. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. Free. Donations to HIM and Still Here are welcome. facebook.com/events/419558658429425/
LOUD Gala 2017
LOUD — one of the most important programs around as it supports our youth — says it saw four times more scholarship applications this year, demonstrating a growing need for support. The LOUD Foundation is the philanthropic arm of BC’s LGBT business association, and gives scholarships to budding community leaders. This year, the eighth annual gala will recognise some outstanding young people for their volunteering and community activism.
7–11pm. Queen Elizabeth Salons, 630 Hamilton St. Tickets $60–$70, including tasty canapés from catering sponsor The Lazy Gourmet, and a welcome drink, available online at loudbusiness.com/networking/events/#event|loud-gala-2017|705.
Friday, June 9
Nanaimo Pride
Need some practice before Vancouver Pride, or just an excuse to go see hotties from another city? Friday is the Pride flag raising ceremony as well as the Pride art show opening. Saturday is the Pride parade down the centre of town as well as the Pride festival and after-party dance. And you don’t even have to stand in line. Just watch out for any glory holes you find; this is Conni Smudge’s old stomping grounds.
5pm, Friday. Pride art show, 78 Wharf St. Show. Runs until Sunday.
6–8pm, Friday. Flag raising, Nanaimo City Hall, 455 Wallace St.
12pm, Saturday. Pride parade, downtown Nanaimo. Trust me you will find it.
1–4pm, Saturday. Pride festival, Maffeo Sutton Park, 100 Comox Rd.
10pm–2am, Saturday. Pride after-party, Evolve Nightclub, 241 Skinner St. $20 at the door. nanaimopride.org/
To The Movies
Remember the old days — the really old days — when you planned your Saturday night around the drive-in movies? But you never saw a movie because you were given head all night? Relive those moments with the Vancouver Men’s Chorus Goes to the Movies. It will blow your mind. Just don’t blow anything else; it’s in a roomful of people. Unwind and reel-lax at their Technicolor cabaret salute to the silver screen. Tonight is the first of six concerts.
Doors 7:15pm, show 8pm. Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright St, Granville Island. Show runs Friday to Sunday this week and Thursday to Saturday next week. Tickets $37 and $77 available online. vancouvermenschorus.ca/
Eva & Friends
Drag queen birthdays are so unfair to the rest of us. With the products, makeup and hair pieces, they always look much younger than we ever could. Take Del Stamp and Raye Sunshine; you’d never know they were both 21. Come out and help celebrate the birthday of Eva Scarlett, Vancouver’s Bratz doll. They’ll be partying the night away with music, friends, goodie bags and amazing queens. Hosted by Alma Bitches with performances by Eva Scarlett, Ilona Verley, LUX, Molly Poppins and more.
8pm–3am. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. No cover. facebook.com/xyvancouver/
Finish
A novel concept for a night with a bit for everyone. Combining drag, installation and off-beat performance art, Finish is inspired by the European nightlife scene and various installation artists of New York City. Finish will create spaces that last for one night only with lighting, motion, sound and materials.
9pm–3am. The Odyssey, 686 W Hastings St. Cover $8. facebook.com/TheOdysseyBar/
Queen Please
Joan-E is away this month (pleasure, not rehab, people) so Valynne Vile will be trying to steal — I mean host — the show along with Misty Meadows and Celestial Seasons. A drag queen named after a tea company sounds so calming; maybe she should rebrand as “Dirty Chai” with her backup dancers “the Tea Bags.”
9:30pm. The Junction, 1138 Davie St. Cover $5. junctionpub.com/events/queenplease-2017-06-09/
Reunion: Dickey Doo & Todd Omanti Underground
Reunions always sound good until you start to get ready to go and then the panic sets in. How do I look? How do they look? But a reunion of two DJs you used to get down and party with brings a whole lot of other questions. Who is he? Did I sleep with him? Did I dance like that? My only advice is start drinking at lunch. Tonight is a reunion 10 years in the making. If you went out clubbing in the 1990s and 2000s you were definitely one of the many moving bodies that got down to the swinging house sounds of the legendary duo of Dickey Doo and Todd Omotani. This is a night for a dance floor family reunion that is not to be missed.
10pm–3am. Celebrities Underground, 1024 Davie St. $15 cover. facebook.com/CelebritiesNightclub/
Saturday, June 10
Red Umbrella March
Our community has its fair share of sex workers and this march lets them stand together with allies, family and friends in the fight against unjust prostitution laws in Canada. As in previous years, dress up. The theme is red, so bring your red umbrellas. And learn the lyrics to Rihanna’s “Umbrella” (okay, that part isn’t true but it would be funny to march to.) The march will end at Crab Park again this year where refreshments will be served.
2:30–5pm. Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby St. facebook.com/TripleXWorkers/
A Wet Summer Night’s Dream
Get ready for the summer heat wave with the fabulous femmes of Boutique Cabaret, a whimsical troupe inspired by Bob Fosse and Broadway Musicals with a heavy sprinkling of sex appeal. With performances by Miss Georsha Cutie Pie, Ann Narky, Manda Stroyer, Scarlet Delirium and many more the room is going to get humid! A lesbian dream come true.
8–11pm. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. $20 at door. facebook.com/boutiquecabaret/
Myria & Friends
What is it they say about putting something past its prime out to pasture? This show may be out in the middle of hundreds of pastures, but this gal is definitely not past her prime. She’s just warming up and will be going strong into her 70s, just like the original. Myria Le Noir does one of the best impersonations of Cher you’ll ever experience. Tonight is a return to the Disco era featuring special guests Spencer Justice, Hailey Adler, Silvana Fox and a surprise guest that will knock you dead. OMG, maybe Cher herself!
8pm. Wilde Oscar’s Pub, 45886 Wellington Ave, Chilliwack. Cover $20 at the door. facebook.com/wildeoscarspub/
Pump
With all the estrogen around the Village, I bet you thought I forgot about the guys. Never! Tonight is Pumpjack’s signature Vancouver Men In Leather night. Dress up, strip down and everything in between, as long as leather is involved you are in to stay. Spinning the decks is the DJ we’d all like to see in leather and less, Landon James.
9pm. Pumpjack Pub, 1167 Davie St. Cover $5. pumpjackpub.com/
Lick Queer Jam
Sounds more like a night at Steamworks than a once-a-month community queer bar. Free pool, arcade games, board games and pub vibes on the upper level with dancing and party vibes on the lower level. Sounds by DJs T and Skylar Love spinning house, hip hop, top 40 club, ’90s and more.
10pm–3am. The Hindenburg, 23 W Cordova St. Cover $8. facebook.com/groups/lickclub/
Sunday, June 11
Italian Day On The Drive
You can probably tell by looking at me that I love this day. For me, this is like Christmas but with much better food. And the hot Italian soccer players filling the streets don’t hurt either. Italian Day on the Drive represents the largest one-day cultural street festival in the city, drawing over 350,000 attendees of all cultures and ages. This year’s theme is amore, which means love.
12—8pm. Commercial Drive, which will be closed to traffic all day. italianday.ca/
Kegger Madness
The best place to go after a day of Italian fare and just relax with hot, hairy, muscle bears having fun and cocktails. You may have found an Italian Stallion at Italian Days but bring him here and they will eat him up like prosciutto on a cracker. The beer is cold, the men are hot and the DJ is Nick Bertossi. Need I say more? See you there. Ciao Bello.
1pm. Pumpjack Pub, 1167 Davie St. No cover. pumpjackpub.com/
Queers & Beers: Summer Edition
It’s been a while, but they’re back and with their very first summer edition. If you want all-day-drinking dreams come true, they are here to provide. There aren’t just 26 BC beers on tap but also a full bar plus ciders. Now I have your attention. Special casks, exclusive brews, pool, pinball, video games, food trucks, and vintage-vibes spinning, all just for you. Plus, afterwards there is dancing and drag with the Man Up crew at the after party.
5pm. The Cobalt, 917 Main St. Entrance sliding scale $6–$15 but nobody turned away for lack of funds. facebook.com/queersandbeersYVR/
Tuesday, June 13
Lights!
Twelve of Vancouver’s hottest improv comedians present back-to-back short sketches that have never been rehearsed or performed for an audience before. Sounds just like two virgins going at it for the first time; I’m not sure which would be funnier, but I’m always game to watch and find out. Comedy is born here. Funny. Weird. Best. Worst. Unforgettable. Killer Karaoke follows.
7:30–9pm. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. $10 at door gets you into both Lights and Killer Karaoke. facebook.com/LIGHTSimprovisedsketchcomedy/
Wednesday, June 14
Bear Hump
The tastiest, juiciest meat there is has to be bear meat. This afternoon, find out for yourself. You deserve a mid-week bit of pampering, pounding and penis — the three P’s of bear hump. Every Wednesday, Steamworks is flooded with furry men and the guys who crave them. Get in, get off, get out or stay and have some fun, workout naked or find a cub to soap you up in the shower.
3–9pm. Steamworks Baths, 123 W Pender St. Rates start at $15. steamworksbaths.com/event/bear-hump-38
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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