Christmas is a week away, and gay Atlanta couldn’t be more ready. Hit the holidays running with soirees and shows for both the naughty and the nice. Come do up the season with these local LGBT events.
Friday, Dec. 18
Mary XXX-Mess (top photo). It only comes once a year, and that may be enough. Come do the inappropriate holiday party everybody wishes theirs could be with Dirty St. Nick, Santa’s little Radical Faeries and DJs Sam Rothstein and Ree De la [email protected] Mary’s, 9 p.m.
“The Danish Girl.” This buzzed-about film hits Atlanta with the true story of transgender artist and pioneer Lili Elbe, starring Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne as Elbe with Rooney Mara as her wife @ Phipps Plaza and Midtown Art Cinema theaters, all week.
“Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays” Closing Weekend. LGBT Atlanta favorite Libby Whittemore returns to the stage to croon us into the season. “A Connie Sue Day Christmas” is also on tap @ Actor’s Express, 7:30 p.m. Through Sunday.
“A Very Merry Craigslist.” Husband-and-wife cabaret duo Candler and Emily Budd do the holidays hilariously based on real Craigslist ads @ Serenbe Playhouse, 8 p.m. Through Sunday.
“Santaland Diaries.” David Sedaris’ hilarious play about a snarky department store elf returns for its 17th season with Harold Leaver in the starring role @ Horizon Theatre, 8 p.m. Runs through Dec. 31.
“Let Nothing You Dismay” Closing Weekend. Local gay playwright Topher Payne turns the season on its ear in this comedy about a young couple trying unsuccessfully to dodge their families. Eight actors in 22 roles @ Stage Door Players, 8 p.m. Through Sunday.
Ugly Sweater Party. Dig up that ratchet holiday top you love to hate and wear it with pride for prizes as you toast cocktails to the season @ Oscar’s, 8 p.m.
Bad Santa & Naughty Mrs. Claus. A lap-sit doesn’t get more naughty than this. Get your photo taken assuming the position and proceeds go to Lost N Found Youth @ Atlanta Eagle, 10 p.m.
Pump Friday: Naughty or Nice. A seasonal salute to the weekly man-on-man dance party, this week with DJ Duo Travis & Eric @ Heretic, 10 p.m.
The Other Show. A weekly drag cabaret with an eclectic cast tries to keep you guessing @ Jungle, 9:30 p.m
Deadly Vixens puts the grrls on display for your entertainment and your dollars, plus Second Level beats upstairs @ Blake’s, 9 p.m.
Glitz & Glam Dinner Theater. Charlie Brown, the undisputed Bitch of the South and her gurlz entertain with dinner and a show amid the fancy theater experience of Atlanta’s premiere drag restaurant and bar. Make Reservations @ Lips Atlanta, 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and the Taboo Show at 11:30 p.m.
Femme Fatale puts the drag glamazons on display each week. Get your singles ready for premiere Atlanta queens @ Burkhart’s, 11 p.m.
Friday Night Dance Party. Another weekly way to kick off your weekend just hit 10th Street. See what you can get into @ G’s, 10 p.m.
Ladies Lounge. Get your lesbian weekend started with a DJ-driven dance party, live performances and scores of women in the new Midtown home of Atlanta lesbian nightlife @ My Sister’s Room, 9 p.m.
Chaparral Night turns up the volume on its weekly gay Latin party with stage shows and dancing into the wee hours @ Club Rush, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Heretic 24th Anniversary (middle photo). DJ Joe Gauthreaux hits the decks at the place to be for burly boys and dancing queens for nearly two-and-a-half decades. Celebrate another successful year of theme parties and fun with a toy drive @ Heretic, 10 p.m. Get there early for An Armorette Christmas Carol: Wild Cherry Sucret joins the cast of the monthly backroom fundraising show with of course a holiday theme for December @ Heretic, 8 p.m.
#Daydrunk. Drink specials put you to bed early or make you the life of tonight’s party @ Mary’s, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. Do it, and you may not remember what you did during the regularly scheduled shenanigans, 9 p.m.
Charis Holiday Party with Virginia Willis. Cookbook author and TV chef Virginia Willis cooks from her “Lighten Up Y’all” book, with an indie crafts fair, cookie and of course shopping with the lesbian feminists @ Charis Books & More, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
DJ Stan Jackson. A gay Atlanta favorite takes charge of the dance party @ Jungle, 10:30 p.m. Get there early for the Fantasy Girls show, 9 p.m.
Panther L/L Bar Night. Get with the local Levi-Leather group for fundraising drinks in the side bar during your regularly scheduled prowl and dance party @ Atlanta Eagle, 10 p.m.
Glitz & Glam with Charlie Brown. The self-titled Bitch of the South and her girls entertain with dinner and a show in the theater experience of Atlanta’s drag restaurant and bar. Make reservations @ Lips Atlanta, 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and the Taboo Show at 11:30 p.m.
Synergy turns up the volume on Saturday night and blows your ever-loving mind with glamazons working for your dollars @ Burkhart's, 11 p.m.
GlitterBomb werqs Saturday night with a drag show hosted by Edie Cheezburger, a cast of premiere queens and special guests @ Blake’s, 10 p.m.
Ladies Night. Atlanta’s lesbian dance party puts on a show to supplement its weekly womyn ways in a new Midtown location @ My Sister’s Room, 9 p.m.
DJ Corey David All Nighter moves you all the way to sunrise, just steps away from BJs, Heretic and Jungle. Saturday never really ends @ Xion, 3 a.m. – 7 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20
Beer Pong Birthday Extravaganza. When bartender Jim Smith and favorite patron Lynn Barfield (bottom photo) turn another year older, everybody wins. It’s a whole new meaning for Sunday Funday @ Blake’s, 2 p.m.
Not Another Holiday Concert. The annual holiday concert with the LGBT instrumentalists of Atlanta Freedom Bands plays @ Druid Hills United Methodist Church, 4 p.m.
Yoga in the Church of Lavonia Elberton. This bearded drag fave leads you through your stretches and poses on your way to a better you @ Nirvana Yoga Studio, 7 p.m.
Sunday Funday. DJs Rob Reum and Robert Ansley give you the inside-outside weekend closing party that you so deeply desire @ Ten Atlanta, 5 p.m. – midnight.
Drag Gospel Brunch presents the Sisters of Sequins with Bubba D. Licious at the wheel while you eat @ Lips, 12:30 p.m. Walk-ins welcome. Or sleep in and do Dinner with the Divas, 6:30 p.m.
High Energy & Cell Block Sunday. Get to gettin' with DJ Bill Berdeaux, 3 p.m., then the Cell Block drag show with Raquell Lord, Shawnna Brooks, Nicole Paige Brooks and Taejah Thomas @ Blake's, 8 p.m.
The Armorettes. Those local camp crazies throw down their weekly show for tips against HIV/AIDS in Atlanta @ Hideaway, 8 p.m.
Tossed Salad. The magic and madness masterminded by Brigitte Bidet, her left-of-center queens, and DJ King Atlas rock this weekly drag show and dance party @ Burkhart’s, 9 p.m.
