Tag Archives: venue

Queer Bingo gets new home

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The Houston GLBT Community Center’s First Saturday Queer Bingo moves into new digs for this month’s venture. The long running fundraiser starts its residency at Don Julio’s (322 Westheimer) Saturday, January 7, at 4 pm. Tim Brookover, president of the Community Center, says that the new venue provides much needed off-street parking for the event adding that the second story space is easily accessible by elevator. Additionally, bar service will be available from Don Julio’s along with their full menu.

Queer Bingo is hosted by drag performers Tanya Hyde and Lana Blake and features food, fun and a 50/50 auction. All proceeds benefit the center’s John Lawrence & Tyrone Garner Scholarship Fund. “We are very excited to move into the new home of Queer Bingo,” says Brookover. “We hope everyone can join us.”

—  admin

Local briefs • 10.14.11

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RCD hosts ‘The 5 Factor’

Resource Center Dallas, in partnership with Dallas Modern Luxury, presents the third annual “The 5 Factor” event on Thursday, Oct. 20, at eM the venue by Marc, 1500 Dragon St. in Dallas.

“The 5 Factor” event recognizes five of Dallas’ finest in areas such as cuisine, fashion, media and literature.

This year’s “5 Factor” honorees are journalist and award-winning author Jenny Block; Emmy Award-winning journalist Ron Corning, who recently joined WFAA Channel 8 as the host of News 8 Daybreak; Dallas restaurant owner Monica Greene of Monica’s Aca Y Alla in Deep Ellum and BEE in Oak Cliff, who recently began providing commentary on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars for WFAA; award-winning fashion designer Prashi Shah who created her own label, Prashe, and recently opened a showroom in Dallas’ Design District; and Bronwen Weber, executive chef and general manager of Frosted Art Bakery and Studio in Dallas who is perhaps best known to many for her appearances on television’s Food Network Challenge programs.

The evening will be hosted by Angela Betasso, with state Rep. Eric L. Johnson and his wife as co-chairs and last year’s honorees serving as the honorary host committee.

General admission is $50 per person, available online at The5Factor.org. Proceeds benefit the programs and services of Resource Center Dallas.

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GLAAD holds ‘Get Amped’ 5K

The local chapter of GLAAD presents Get Amped, a 5K run/walk on the Katy Trail on Thursday, Oct. 20, in conjunction with similar chapter events around the country.
Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Center.

The starting gun goes off at 7 p.m. The celebration takes place at the finish line, also at the arena, at 9 p.m.

An after-party takes place at 9:30 p.m. at the Round-Up Saloon.

Each runner has a goal of raising $250. The money raised will benefit the national organization.

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VNA holds Service of Remembrance

The Visiting Nurse Association will host a Service of Remembrance on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Preston Hollow United Methodist Church, 6315 Walnut Hill Lane in Dallas.

The event is open to the public and will feature special music, readings and the opportunity to light a memorial candle.

Attendees of all faiths are welcome to attend the service.

For more information call Sue Rafferty, bereavement coordinator with the Visiting Nurse Association, at 214-689-2922

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 14, 2011.

—  Michael Stephens

Sia tonight at the Granada Theater

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‘Clap your Hands’ and say yeah

Even though Sia hasn’t quite made into the big time on the pop charts, she’s developed a strong following. The lez singer recalls the vein of Robyn, with smart pop music that keeps us coming back. She’s sold out here, but the venue has been releasing tickets so keep an eye out.

DEETS: With Oh Land and Ximena Sarinana. Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. 8 p,m. $24. GranadaTheater.com.

—  Rich Lopez

Sons of Hermann Hall celebrates 100 years

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Who can blow out a 100 candles?

The legendary venue Sons of Hermann Hall celebrates a century this weekend and as part of the vast music lineup, LGBT faves Patrice Pike and Kathy & Bella join in on the celebration. Two days of Texas music in this Dallas gem is pretty much the equivalent to heaven.

DEETS: SOHH, 3414 Elm St. $25­–$45. SonsOfHermann.org.

—  Rich Lopez

Financial troubles led to closure of Jack’s

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Jack’s Backyard owner Kathy Jack has not returned calls from Dallas Voice about the venue’s abrupt closing 10 days ago. But Marla Custard, one of the property owners, alerted us to some of the details behind the closure.

According to court records, Jack filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Dec. 16, 2010, for the business, Jack Out of the Box LLC. Documents show the business owed hundreds of thousands of dollars to investors including Custard, as well as the IRS, the state comptroller’s office and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Considering that business seemed to be good at Jack’s Backyard, Custard said she’s still unclear about why the bills weren’t being paid.

Days before the club’s final Sunday on June 26, a judge dismissed the bankruptcy filing, saying the numbers didn’t add up in Jack’s plan to get out of the debt.

“That’s when it became clear Jack’s Backyard would have to close,” Custard said. Custard is one of about 15 people listed as creditors who invested in the venue, including recognizable names in the LGBT community such as Howard Okon, Laura McFerrin and Matt Miller.

Custard said she’s personally out more than $600,000, between her investment in the bar and loss of rent payments.

“We love this place,” Custard said. “I’m so mad at her [Jack] for this. It’s heartbreaking, but at the end of the day, it all rests in Kathy’s lap.”

The landowners are now looking for a new tenant.

In an email to the Dallas Voice, Custard forwarded documents from the case and gave us her breakdown of the events that transpired before the closing. Read a portion of her email after the jump.

Continue reading “Financial troubles led to closure of Jack’s” »

—  Rich Lopez

Jack’s Back Patio with Ciao Bella at Woody’s

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Confused? Don’t be

Although it’s hardly a backyard, Jack’s Backyard is setting up shop in Woody’s. The venue shut its doors last weekend but their first day as Jack’s Back Patio is today and that the originally scheduled band, Ciao Bella, will perform. Not bad for a quick turnaround. By the sounds of it, even former JB employees will be helping out with the drinks.

DEETS: Woody’s, 4011 Cedar Springs Road. 8 p.m. DallasWoodys.com.

—  Rich Lopez

Concert Notice: Janet to play Verizon April 2

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Well Verizon Theatre is kicking it up a notch this Spring. Just yesterday we posted Kylie Minogue will be hitting the Verizon stage in May and now “Miss Jackson If You’re Nasty” comes to town. LiveNation announced on their Twitter feed and Facebook than Janet Jackson Number Ones tour comes to the venue April 2. And she’s only performing the hits so this show should be just as exciting as this one.

But Verizon? JJ is an American Airlines lady at best. Well, LiveNation says she wants to get “up close and personal” on this tour:

This tour will differ from her previous concert schedules in that she will perform music exclusively from her chart topping CD NUMBER ONES. There will also be a focus on venues that will allow Janet to be up close and personal in a much more intimate setting. In each selected city JANET will offer something different to her performance so no show will be the same. This tour is JANET more revealed, more intimate, and more personal than ever before. Don’t look for special effects. Just listen to and look at Janet, as you have never seen her before.

OK, I’m kinda bummed about the no special effects cuz “Rhythm Nation” is da bomb when played out. But whatevs. Tickets are $49.50–$125 and go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m.

—  Rich Lopez

WATCH: Big Freedia at The Loft on Saturday

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Walking into The Loft at a little after 11 p.m., I was stunned how empty the place was. With the DJ at full throttle onstage playing some nice high-energy hip-hop, I had high hopes that Big Freedia had more of a following outside New Orleans. The crowd dug the DJ and bounced to the tunes and it was pretty much just a night at a dance club. Before Freedia was about to go on, the place began to fill up. Although I’m not sure all were totally Freedia fans, it was definitely a hip-hop crowd.

The gay contingent was hard to decipher. I loved how JW Richard of the new Groove Loves Melody music blog described some of the hard-to-read peeps as “undercover candy.” So true. But otherwise, a mixture of gay and straight, white, black, Latino, old and young — although definitely more young.

With just a handful of songs, Freedia threw down one pretty sweet party. Despite the fans being outnumbered by non-fans (because fans knew the words and responses),  his music is infectious and the crowd didn’t care about his frankness of being the Queen Diva of Bounce (they applauded, actually) among other things. Freedia had energy to spare and worked his dancehall calls to no end. But really, I learned a Freedia show is about that ass shaking and when the boys were besting the girls up there, it was a sight to behold. Some of the straight peeps had the “what the hell?” look, while everyone just went with the party flow and whooped and hollered.

It’s funny, because there wasn’t anything overly spectacular about the show. Freedia showed up, rapped, dance and that was it. But it was him and his music’s pumped up vibe that just flung its energy across the small venue and everyone caught it. I would dare to say that he probably won a few new fans that night who, like me, had no idea what to expect.

Here’s a glimpse of the show.

—  Rich Lopez

GIVEAWAY: 4 pairs of tickets to see Big Freedia bounce it out at The Loft on Saturday

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In Friday’s Dallas Voice, you can read about my little chat with gay sissy bounce star Big Freedia on what the hip-hop subgenre means to the LGBT community. But for now, you can win a pair of tickets to Saturday night’s show at The Loft. Courtesy of the venue, we have four pairs of tickets to give away to the show which will also feature Rusty Lazer, DJ Sober and Dayta.

E-mail us here with “Gimme that bounce” in the subject line, and your full name for your chance to snag tickets. Winners will be announced at noon Friday. Good luck.

Here’s a clip of Big Freedia performing his song, “Azz Everywhere.” It might also make for some good practice.

—  Rich Lopez

Restaurant’s closure forces Toast to Life to go fish for a new Happy Hour date in January

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Resource Center Dallas’ Rafael McDonnell sends along word that tonight’s Toast to Life Happy Hour has been canceled and will be rescheduled for sometime in January. Turns out the venue where the Happy Hour was to be held, Go Fish Ocean Club on Alpha Road just north of the Galleria, closed abruptly over the weekend. Read more about the closure at City of Ate.

—  John Wright