By Nancy Ford
Pretty Pictures. Changing Lives features artwork from the Art League Houston’s Healing Art program. Now in its 20th year, the Healing Art program provides free art instruction, creative expression, and a supportive community to adults living with serious disease and disability, including HIV/AIDS, cancer-related illnesses, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and physical disabilities. Through August 11. JPMorgan Chase’s Heritage Hall, 712 Main St. • www.artleaguehouston.org • 713/523-9530.
HIV Talk. Houston GLBT Community Center provides a free weekly support group for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, offering roundtable discussions, educational forums, socials, potlucks, and more. Chris Escalante facilitates. Thursdays, 6 p.m. 3400 Montrose Blvd., Suite 207 • www.houstonglbtcommunitycenter.org • 713/524-3818.
Life Is a Fabulous Banquet. Auntie Shameka!—a “ghetto fabulous” parody of Auntie Mame—is presented by Vincent Victoria and Larry Banks Productions. Through July 18. Midtown Art Center, 3414 La Branch St. • www.vincentvictoriaproductions.com • 281-989-2347.
Out of Austin. Houston Women’s Music Festival veteran Suzanna Choffel performs with her band. July 1, 7:30 p.m. McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk St. • www.mcgonigels.com • 713/528-5999.
And Homo Was His Name-oh! First Saturday Queer Bingo got off to a well-attended start last month, with as many as 60 participants. You and your big, thick markers might want to arrive early to grab your lucky seat this month. July 3, 4:30 p.m. Benefits Houston GLBT Community Center. One’s A Meal, 812 Westheimer Rd. • www.houstonglbtcommunitycenter.org • 713/524-3818.
She Charges, Laughing. Singer/songwriter and Houston Women’s Music Festival favorite Ginger Leigh and her full band rock Houston in a special pre-Independence Day concert. July 3, 11 p.m. Continental Club, 3700 Main St. • www.gleigh.com.
Play Ball. At Pride in the Park, the Houston Astros play the St. Louis Cardinals with Bayou City Chorale singing the National Anthem, and Mayor Annise Parker throwing the opening pitch. Tickets start at $10. Benefits Bayou City Performing Arts, Bering Omega Community Services, Bunnies on the Bayou, Legacy Community Health Services, Out and Equal Houston, PFLAG Houston, and Pride Houston. July 10, 6 p.m.• www.astros.com/pride.
Femme Fete. Girl Jam Music Event 11 rocks out The Usual with girl jammers Paige Lewis (4:30 p.m.), Heather Knox (6 p.m.), and headliners Grrlz Will Be Boiz. The daylong affair also offers hamburgers and hot dogs, drink specials, and a “big, bad raffle” benefiting Healthcare for the Homeless–Houston, according to producer Julie Mabry. July 11, 2 p.m., 5519 Allen St. • www.theusualpub.com • 281/501-1478.
Oy, Gay! Meaning “rainbow” in Hebrew, Keshet Houston aims to enhance the social and spiritual needs of the gay Jewish community in Houston and beyond. Join them as they launch the new group with a picnic. July 11, 5 p.m. Memorial Park • Email: [email protected] or call 832-429-5392.
A2-40-Euphoria.com presents Living Gay (Happy) by Truth: An LGBT Prom “for those who wanted to take someone else to the prom or didn’t go at all,” featuring a buffet, open bar, dancing to DJ LoQi of A.B.E. and Brown & Swerve Band, and more. Reception on July 16 at 7 p.m., with prom on July 17 at 9 p.m. Hotel Sorella, 800 W. Sam Houston Prkwy • www.A2-40-euphoria.com • 713/973-1600.
Minty Fresh. The Mint Julep Pageant crowns Miss, Ms. & Mr. Mint Julep, with entertainment by Shy Anne, Holly Redwood, Ginger Grant, members of Krewe of Olympus and ERSICSS, and former Mint Julep titleholders. July 18, 3 p.m. Benefits Legacy Community Health Services. Brazos River Bottom, 2499 Brazos St. • www.legacycommunityhealth.org.
Trans-ferring Campus Rights. The Second Annual Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit is a strategy-sharing summit for Texas colleges and universities wishing to gain transgender rights in institution policies. Participants learn what works and what does not work in changing policy on campuses to protect transgender faculty, staff, and students. July 20–21. Sponsored by Houston GLBT Community Center at Rice University • [email protected].
It’s Fabulous, Darling! Wear your feather boa to a special performance of Rent as Masquerade Theatre kicks off “Fabulous Friday.” Benefits AIDS Foundation Houston’s Camp Hope. July 30, 8 p.m. Hobby Center’s Zilka Hall, 800 Bagby St. • www.masqueradetheatre.com • 713/861-7045.
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Planning Ahead
Diamond Life. Acqua, a “one-of-a-kind, overnight fundraiser” at La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa, offers everything you’d expect from an AAA Four Diamond facility. Features a 3.5-acre water park, videos from Aurora Picture Show, gay movie shorts from the Museum of Fine Arts, more than 12 hours of DJ’d music, golfing, boating, shopping, access to the fitness center, a beachfront BBQ reception, midnight buffet, and poolside Sunday brunch. $100ish per person (with shared suite accommodations). A portion of the proceeds benefits Legacy Community Health Services. August 21. La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa, 600 La Torretta Blvd., Montgomery • latorrettalakeresort.com • www.legacycommunityhealth.org.
Pearl Saturday. Kindred Spirits Foundation celebrates the 30th anniversary of the opening of the club with its annual reunion dance, August 28, 7 p.m., preceded by a donors’ reception with entertainment by Bayou City Women’s Chorus, Stewart Zuckerbrod, Nancy Ford, and Rawslyn Ruffin, at 6 p.m. SPJST Ballroom in The Heights, 1435 Beall St. • www.facebook.com/kindredspirits. n
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