Top Festively Gay Things to Do This Week (June 15 – 21, 2015)

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Every week I will spotlight five fabulously fun and gay happenings that you may be interested in doing in and around NOLA. This week’s choices are:

 

#1. Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Come out to Café Istanbul in the Healing Center (2372 St. Claude Avenue) for the Generations Forum sponsored by NOAGE (New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders) and the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. This forum will feature a presentation on New Orleans’ LGBT+ history, followed by a panel of speakers representing multiple generations of the LGBT community who will share their experience and perspectives. Refreshments will be provided. Admission is free, and open to the public. The event is from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

 

bizsocial

#2. Thursday, June 17, 2015

The Gulf South Chamber invites you to the Business Pride Summer Social to help kick off New Orleans Pride at Fraques (821 Baronne Street) from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Join the celebration of LGBT pride and build relationships within the LGBT business & non-profit community.

 

ringling

#3. Thursday, June 18, 2015

Yes this one made my list because who does not want to feel like a kid again at the circus. Behold the living legends at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey as they deliver the unbelievable to children of all ages in an all-new show at the Smoothie King Center starting at 7 p.m. Experience unimaginable fun, as amazing performers from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring, spectacles of strength and thrills of wonder to summon the mythical and mysterious creatures of the past! For tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.com.

 

pride

#4. Thursday through Sunday, June 18 – 21, 2015

Welcome to New Orleans pride which is celebrating five years. There are so many events associated with this year’s festivals that my top five would be in the double digits. Here is just a brief listing of the various festivities associated with this year’s New Orleans pride. For more information, go to www.NewOrleansPrideFestival.com.

Thursday, June 18, 7:30PM: Patrick McDonald in “Poly Cockit and Her Pocketbook, Barbara The Bourbon Pub (Upstairs), Tickets $12.50 at NewOrleansPrideFestival.com, 21years and older

Poly Cockit and Her Pocketbook, Barbara tells the tale of a sweet, southern girl with hair from the heavens and a heart made of gold. After a decade of basking in the bright lights of Hollywood and enduring two, back-to-back public breakups that were more dramatic than a Real Housewives Reunion Show, Poly Cockit packed up her hair, her heels and her Pomeranian Bodhi to embark on the adventure of a lifetime: a four month hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Join Poly for an enchanted evening of storytelling as she recounts the biggest milestones, meltdowns and mishaps from her whimsical walk through the wilderness. From mountain lions, magical purses and mysterious male suitors to hailstorms, hawk attacks and a whole farm full of hippies, she found everything she didn’t know she was looking for… including herself. After all… what doesn’t kill you only makes you blonder. It’s Poly Cockit, y’all!

Friday, June 19th, 8PM-11PM: Pride Kick Off Party, Harrah’s Hotel Ballroom, Tickets $22 NewOrleansPrideFestival.com includes buffet style foods. Cash bar. Under 16 areas of age must be accompanied by an adult

PRESENTED BY GE CAPITAL: Join Keynote Speaker, Ryan Sallans, along with Rikki Redd, Crystal Little, Dillon King, and Caroline L’Huillier as we “Celebrate the New Orleans Transgender Community”. Ryan Sallans is a transgender man, International Speaker, Activist, Publisher and Author of the book, Second Son.

Stick around after the Keynote speech for live entertainment by the Big Easy Buddies and a meet and greet with Ryan, and Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, Celebrity Grand Marshals 2015.

Friday June 19th, 10pm: Pride Girl Party Presented by Dykedence, The Always Lounge

As part of the New Orleans Official Pride Festival 2015 Dykeadence is hosting a queer variety show at Allways followed by a dance party! Variety show is $10, Doors at 9, show at 10. Tickets can be purchased at the door. We have an amazing DJ who will be playing all night long!

Saturday, June 20th, 11AM-4PM: Pride Fest 2015 Presented by Delaney & Robb

This is a picnic style event; bring your chairs and blankets and spend the day at this family friendly event with live music from local and national acts as well as over 50 vendor booths including food, drinks, crafts and more. NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR ICE CHESTS ALLOWED IN PARK

Saturday, June 20th 4pm-7pm: Pride Pre-Parade Party, Mags 940

Saturday, June 20th, 7PM: Pride Parade

Winding through the Historic French Quarter and ending at Washington Square Park led by the Broadway Boyfriends and Survivor: Blood vs.Water stars, Reed Kelly and Josh Canfield as Celebrity Grand Marshals (official parade route at NewOrleansPrideFestiWval.com)

Saturday, June 20th, 10pm: Pride Dance Party with DJ Blacklow, Oz New Orleans

Join us for the Official New Orleans Pride Dance Party with DJ Blacklow presiding! Hosted by Pride Grand Marshal, Persana Shoulders, and former celebrity Pride Grand Marshal, Jaymes Vaughan of Amazing Race fame! GAA DJ of the Year, JRB, keeps the party rolling for late night. The sexy Men of Oz dancing on our bar tops. Weekend lights by the fabulous Johnny Eubanks.

Sunday, June 21st, 4pm: Pride T-Party with Billy Francesca, The Bourbon Pub and Parade, $10 cover includes Drink and Drown from 6-8PM

#5. Saturday, June 20, 2015

Come out to Dod-Fest, a family-friendly “back yard” fundraiser to benefit Anna’s Place, a program envisioned by St. Anna’s Episcopal to inspire local kids through performing arts training, community service, and environmental awareness. This fundraising event will be held at the Dodwell House, 1519 Esplanade Avenue, a restoration project that will be the new home of a primary school for young artists and musicians, grades K-4. OUR Goal is to raise proceeds for Anna’s Place, and we will be hosting a raffle and silent auction on the day of the event.

 

ADMISSION: Open to the public. We are asking for a $3 suggested donation at the gate OR a donation of school supplies / art supplies for the kids. NOONE will be turned away for their inability to fulfill the suggested donation. They will have live “roving” entertainment by local musicians and marching krewes. Local artisans and vendors will also be present, and we have plenty of arts and craft opportunities for the little ones as well. For those who like to do some rummaging on the weekends, check out the rummage sale St. Anna’s will be hosting inside the Dodwell House. Additionally, the St. Anna’s Mobile Mission bus will be on site available for free health screenings, prevention, and education. Entertainment will feature The Missing Links, Margie Perez, Swingaroo, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, Skinz N Bonez, Krewe of Rolling Elvi, Blue Biscuit, Stuart McNair and the Treme Kids and the Tremé Community Choir. A “Bone Appetit” area with food and dessert vendors will be on the premises. There will be adult beverages available as well as soft drinks and water. They are planning a kids’ mural space, craft area, bouncy house, face painters, and an area for kids to do some planting/gardening. The event takes place from 1 – 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.stannanola.org.

This week we have a little lagniappe for you on the top five list this week:

 

lords

#6. Saturday, June 20, 2015

Calling all Daddy’s. The Lords of Leather are having an event just for you “Father Figures” with their infamous “Who’s Your Daddy” contest on Father’s Day weekend. This very special event takes place at the Phoenix (941 Elysian Fields) starting at 9 p.m.   The Lords will be having a beer bust that night as well. Come out and find your Daddy. Rocco Steele from Raging Stallions Studios will be the guest emcee. So come out for some unique Daddy/Son time

Tony Leggio

Tony Leggio

Tony Leggio is a born and raised New Orleanian. He has over 20 years of event management experience having produced over 5,000 events locally and nationally. Tony has received numerous awards for his outstanding achievements in the hospitality industry. Besides his professional career, Anthony has played an active role in the community.He has served Event Chair of Art Against AIDS for the No/Aids Task Force for the past ten years and was honored as Humanitarian of the Year in 2010 by the organization. He is also a freelance writer who has written for USA Today, as well as several local publications.He also writes a column regularly In Ambush Magazine, plus is part of Gambit’s Big Easy Theatre Committee.Tony is a social butterfly of New Orleans that not only knows how to put on a great event but also knows how to enjoy one.
Tony Leggio

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