You work hard for the money all week. Spend some on your well-earned downtime with Atlanta’s LGBT events set for Friday through Sunday guaranteed to help you get your gay on.
Friday, Nov. 2
AIDS Vaccine 200 Registration Kickoff Party (top photo) brings together the riders who plan to bike 200 miles and raise money for Emory’s AIDS Vaccine Center research in May. Before that, sign up, hang out and enjoy beer @ Sweetwater Brewery, 5:30 p.m. Last year’s main event photos, and how the AV200 crew parties.
The Other Show debuts a new concept in drag with Edie Cheezburger (second photo) leading a high-concept, shake-things-up drag experience in the all new, dinner theater-style Cabaret Room @ Jungle, 10:30 p.m. Taste our Cheezburger interview. DJ Thomas Byrd in the adjacent dance hall after the show.
Day of the Dead Party is a day off the date, but you’ll be glad they waited until Friday so you can costume and party it up off the school night. The deceased come back to life in this traditional Mexican holiday. $500 to best Day of the Dead costume, four course prix fixe meal, drinks and DJ Allisah Brooks benefit Armorettes PWA and Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence @ Las Margaritas.
Wet Ink reception presents the works of newly signed artists by the highly regarded gay-owned contemporary fine art gallery @ Alan Avery Art Company, 7 p.m.
Pancakes & Booze Art Show gathers the alterna-queers and the gay-inclusive hipsters for the L.A.’s traveling art exhibit and music showcase with, you guessed it, syrupy breakfast foods and alcohol – if you BYOB. Open pancake bar, eight live bands and underground art @ Gallery 1526, 8 p.m. Saturday night, too.
Día de Los Muertos Feista. That’s how you say Day of the Dead en Espanol, y’all. Yes, the Got Leche? weekly gay Latin Night crew does up the traditional Mexican holiday with guest drag diva Savannah Leigh (third photo). Yes, she’s that drag queen.
“The Divine Sister” continues serving nun fun with the gay-run Process Theatre Co. Topher Payne stars as Mother Superior in playwright Charles Busch’s send-up of every Hollywood nunnery ever @ OnStage Atlanta, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays through Nov. 27. Interview: Topher Payne’s unlikely road to become Atlanta’s cross-dressing go-to.
Banjee Girl Friday kicks lesbian Atlanta’s weekend into gear with a different DJ each week, bottle service areas and the bevy of women that Traxx Girls attracts @ My Sister’s Room, 10 p.m.
Atlanta Bucks First Friday is the monthly party with those hot, burly men of Atlanta’s gay rugby team. Go “Buck Wild!” with their $10 beer and wing party @ Heretic, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov.3
Southern Softpaw League (fourth photo) pits Atlanta’s gay fall softball teams against each other each Saturday through Nov. 17 @ Southside Softball Complex, 10 a.m., followed this week by the Game Day Beer Bust with SSL’s Rubber Ducks team @ Frogs, 4 p.m.
MEGA Family Project Family Conference is the annual gathering of gay-parented familes with Atlanta’s statewide gay group for LGBT parents, couples, prospective parents, their kids and extended families. Workshops, discussions, a resource fair and children’s programming @ St. Mark UMC, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Art For Impact 2012 brings on a biennial art exhibit to benefit Positive Impact, Atlanta’s HIV/AIDS mental health agency. Browse and buy great art by students, faculty and alumni of GSU’s art school, munch, cocktail and maybe win some prizes in the gay-owned spaces @ the Granite Room Gallery, 7 p.m.
Charis 38th Birthday Party celebrates another year for Atlanta’s stalwart lesbian-feminist bookstore and its queer inclusive women’s programming. Author signings with the likes of Theresa Davis (fifth photo) and more, a big fat book sale, snacks and cake, plus a release party for the local Southerners On New Ground book @ Charis Books & More, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Chastain Park Arts Festival is just the latest in a year-round slate of events from the gay-run Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces. LGBT-inclusive fun outside with artists, vendors and more @ Chastain Park, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. All day Sunday, too.
Dance Partaaaay is the weekly getdown of hot men, sexy dancers, strong drinks and Hip Hop and House beats with two dance floors, plush VIP sections and DJs Angel X and Eclipse @ XS Ultra Lounge, 10 p.m.
Rebecca Loebe (sixth photo) and opening act Seth Geir are set to rock the women who love women who love women with folksy guitars. Its Loebe’s “Circus Heart” CD release party, too @ Eddie’s Attic, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Drag Races 3 & Daylight Savings Time Party brings on the kings and queens competing in the latest round of the elimination competition, then winds back the clock for an extra hour of drinking and ass-shaking with DJ Liz Owen, emcee Pink Inkd and a boatload of lesbians @ My Sister’s Room, 9 p.m.
Early Country & Late Night Dance offers line dancing and two stepping after the sun goes down, then DJ Mike Pope picks up the pace until close @ Heretic, 8 p.m. and 12 midnight.
DJ Bill Berdeaux brings his local legend clout to the booth and all the men you can rub up against on Atlanta’s favorite gay dance floor @ Jungle, 10 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 4
We Want You Hotlanta Softball League Recruitment Party holds true to the one motto of Atlanta’s gay softball league: Beer bust early and beer bust often (seventh photo). They get things started for spring season even before winter comes with a new member-old member-everybody else bottomless beer and Jell-O shot fest @ BJ Roosters, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. How they do on the field and how they roll off the field.
Chastain Park Arts Festival is the latest in a year-round slate of artsy park fests from the gay-run Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces. LGBT-inclusive fun outside with artists, vendors and more @ Chastain Park, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Lost N Found Beer Bust takes advantage of the predicted warmer temps to pour all-you-can-drink beer to the gays to benefit Atlanta’s non-profit group exclusively helping LGBT homeless youth get off the street. $10 bottomless cup and a boatload of queers on the patio @ Joe’s on Juniper, 12 noon – 4 p.m.
For the Foodie in All of Us presents an afternoon of culinary and cocktails with Chef Shane Devereaux, mixologist Justin Hadaway, and the gays of For The Kid In All Of Us. They bring you gay Atlanta’s biggest holiday celebration, Toy Party next month to benefit Georgia kids. Mix, mingle, drink, eat and learn @ Cook’s Warehouse Midtown, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Annual Armorettes Turnabout Show is one of the most popular by Atlanta’s veteran camp drag crazies (bottom photo) raising money to fight AIDS. Each beloved troupe member takes on the persona of another more as a roast than a compliment @ Burkhart’s, 8 p.m.
