Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride coming June 12-20, 2010; 20+ events planned

[Update, May 28: corrected the location of the youth Pride dance to Kenney (not Fuller) Park.]

The folks behind this year's Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride have outdone themselves and scheduled 20+ events for this year's celebrations. There's bound to be something (if not many things) to get everyone involved, so get these all on your own calendars, now!

There's a "fan page" on Facebook if you'd like to follow the news, or as usual, I'll cover developments, here on The Valley's Other Fruit.

Additionally, Saturday, June 5 (10a-2p) there's a carwash fundraiser at Compadres to bring in money to fund all these amazing rainbow events.

Saturday, June 12

• 4p-9p: Tee Up Your Pride at Vintner's Golf Club
  
• 7p-11:30p: Youth Pride Dance at Pelusi Building/Kennedy Park
  

Sunday, June 13

• 9:30a-10:30a: Reconciling Sunday Service, "Creating Sanctuary for All" at First United Methodist Church
  
• 12p-4p: Pride Family Picnic at Fuller Park
  
• 4p-5:30p: "Fish Out of Water" film Screening, God & Gays, Some Perspectives at First United Methodist Church
  
• 4p-9p: Ben & Jerry's Fundraiser
• 6p-9p: Panchas of Yountville invaded by Guerilla Gay Bar
  

Monday, June 14

• 11a - 10p: Mary's Pizza Shack PFLAG Pfundraiser

Tuesday, June 15

• no events yet planned, visit napavalleypride.com for late breaking updates

Wednesday, June 16

• 2p-9p: Gott's Roadside Tray Gourmet Relay for Life Fundraiser

Thursday, June 17

• The Napa Valley Toy Company 10 & 10 Day, fundraiser for PFLAG
• 5p-9p: Chef's Market Pride Night
• 7:30p-9:30p: Downtown Joe's invaded by Napa Guerilla Gay Bar

Friday, June 18

• 6p-midnight: "You Can Leave Your Hat On!" Pride celebration, dance, food at Made In Napa Culinary Centre
  

Saturday, June 19

• 10:30a-2:30p: Pride Hike at Skyline Park
• 7p-10p: Family & "Family" bowling night at Napa Bowl
• 11p-1a: Mamma Mia sing-a-long at Cameo Cinemas

Sunday, June 20

• 10a-1p: Recovery Brunch at Characters, Napa Valley Marriott
  
• 4p-9:30p: Art Show and Poetry Reading, "Showing Our True Colors" at Bloom
  
• 4p-sunset: Ibiza Chill-Out in the Napa Valley at Bardessono
  

"Sin" LGBT club night debut in Rohnert Park, Sep 10

From the net, I just got word of a new LGBT club night opening in Rohnert Park--"Sin" at JK's Ultra Lounge. This looks to be not just an "ultra lounge" but ultra-new. Turns out JK's by day is "JK's Four Season Chinese Buffet". Has JK's done anything similar for the straight crowd?

Sin @ JK's Ultra Lounge

(JK's Four Season Chinese Buffet)

595 Rohnert Park Expressway W

Rohnert Park, CA

Debut Night: Thursday, September 10
Running every Thursday

9p-1:30am

Hip-hop, latin and house

$3 drink specials

$5 cover after 10p

Anyone think they'll go check it out? Looks like Santa Rosa's Glam might have some competition coming. And, is it a Sonoma County thing to convert Days Inn's and Chinese Buffet's into club nights? I'm okay with multiple identities if the night life is hot.

Click here for Sin's myspace page.

Drag Show Sat May 23 Napa Billiards

Yup, the ladies are back at it this Saturday night, May 23 at Napa Billiards. For those who don't read Spanish:

Napa Billiards Presents
Lupita and her Queens
Saturday May 23, 2009
After 9pm
988 Lincoln Avenue, Napa, CA 94559
707-227-4059
all open-minded people welcome

Even though the flier claims 9pm, the ladies aren't usually ready to roll until after 10 or so. Give Napa Billiards a call if you want to make sure, however. The usually charge a $5 cover, too (or donation, depending on the beneficiary).

Latin drag show & Napa Pride fundraiser this Sat, April 25

Napa Billiards is having another of their famous latin drag shows this Saturday, April 25. The flyer says after 9p, but the ladies aren't ready until closer to 10:30p if you ask me. Cover is $5 and proceeds fund permits for Napa Valley Pride's parade and picnic this June.

Ladies, latins and artic babylon: threesome of events at Faces Sacramento

Been paying attention to "the MySpace" and recently these three upcoming events popped up:


Arctic Babylon: March 5th


Octopussy: March 20th


Club Papi: April 3

Visit Faces' MySpace page or click through on the flyers for more information.

Drag Night at Napa Billiards Sat - magic of the 80s

In case you are manic for some Madonna (impersonation) or craving some costumed Cyndi Lauper, Napa Billiards is hosting another of its almost-monthly drag nights, TONIGHT, January 31st. The Theme tonight is 80s, and the typically latin pool hall will be featuring more than a few american pop wonders from that time as well as some latino 80s hit makers.

The flyer claims they start "after 9:00PM (despues de las 9:00PM)", but we all know the ladies take a little extra time to pamper, so if you get there between 9 and 10 you should be fine.

Napa Billiards
988 Lincoln Ave
Napa, CA 94558

If they're doing 80s, who would be worth seeing?

Drag show this Saturday @ Napa Billiards: Celebrate national drag history month

So maybe the timing is just pure coincidence, but it does happen to be National Drag History Month (so study up and honor your local drag queen!). That means it's time to celebrate!

...and it just happens that the Drag Show at Napa Billiards is this Saturday, January 17th. The flyer says after 9pm, but you know those ladies, they primp and prep for the show until at least 10p. But show up anytime and support Napa's only drag venue and mixed gay/straight pool hall. The ladies deserve good tips, too!

You'll probably recall from our previous reviews and write-ups about Napa Billiards that the gay/straight (and many bicurious) mix isn't exactly mapped out, but our best estimation is that the folks hanging out closer to the bar are more likely to be queer (or gay friendly) and the further away from the bar and towards the back of the billiards you get the straighter you probably are. Who knows, by the end of the night everyone's dancing, having fun and exploring the blurry lines between straight and gay and everyone in between. Plus, it's National Drag History Month, so let's celebrate not being confined to limiting genders and orientations. Everyone should queer it up!

Drag Show this weekend at Napa Billiards

Yes, the ladies are at it again. This weekend is the (almost monthly) drag show at Napa Billiards. As soon as I find out if it is on Friday or Saturday, I'll post here.

Club Papi Sacramento this Friday

This Friday, January 16, 2009, Faces Nightclub in Sacramento hosts Sac's Club Papi celebration. The club is big (4 rooms, 3 dance floors and TONS of bars, including a backyard swimming pool and patio) and I almost always have fun there. It must be amazing when Club Papi visits.

Drag show (holiday themed) for tonight @ Napa Billiards

Late breaking news, so I don't have tons of details:

There will be another of the (almost monthly?) drag shows at Napa Billiards tonight, probably around 10:30p. (It really depends on how long it takes the queens to primp and prepare in their dressing room!)

If you go, let us know!

Drag show tonight at Napa Billiards, Saturday Nov 22

That drag show I told you about the other day? It's actually tonight, Saturday, November 22nd at Napa Billiards (988 Lincoln Ave, Napa, CA‎ - 707-258-2188‎). I got the flyer to confirm these details. Rumor has it that the owner will also be joining in on the Cabaret this time, and there might be a couple other surprises, too.

If you go, please tell us all about it.

Drag show this weekend, Supreme court to hear Prop 8 case: Quick Juicy Bits

I'm right in the middle of it for a HUGE event at work, so I only have time (as the subject line of this post highlighted) for some quick, juicy bits. Use the comment section and the tipline to share more info and commentary:

• The Supreme Court, after urging from many, has declared it will take up the Prop 8 case. Some are guessing that we'll get a ruling in December. In the meantime, gay weddings have stopped in California.
  
  
• Drag show is scheduled for this weekend at Napa Billiards. (I've been so busy at work that I haven't been able to confirm the date.) The fun shows are usually held on Friday nights, after 10p. Cover is usually $5. Please us the comments to share more details if you have 'em.
  

R Bar and North Bay gay Halloween happenings

Add R Bar in Vallejo to the list of North Bay gay spots hosting a Halloween Party...

Here are the others that we know of:

• Napa Billiards
• Faces in Sacramento
• Infusions in Petaluma (but it was held on Thursday)
  

Gay Halloween

In the midst of all the latest on Proposition 8, both locally and throughout the state, Halloween has been creeping up on us, as well as invitations to costume balls and parties. Here's a rundown of what I've heard of:

• Noche de Brujas (Witches Night) @ Napa Billiards in Napa on Halloween night. Come in Costume! Drag Show after 10p.
  
  
• Faces Nightclub in Sac is having a Zombie Ball on Halloween night. Also a Three Category Costume Contest with $1k in prizes: best zombie, best "traditional" and best group costumes. $5 cover before 10p, $15 after. (They're also having special parties on Thurs and Sat...check out their myspace for more info.)
  
  
• Infusions in Petaluma hasn't hosted Glam for a short while now, but they're coming back strong for Halloween Night: Wicked LGBTQ Halloween on Thursday, October 30 (NOT Halloween night, which is Friday) Costume Contest!

What are you up to for Halloween? Getting into or staying out of trouble? Anything else that's devlishly fun that we should know about?

Good amount of cash raised for No on 8 @ Napa Billiards

After all was said and done--and thanks to a matching contributions opportunity--Napa Billiards (and yours truly, w/ my boyfriend) raised $610 for the No on 8 campaign.

Thanks to all who came out and had a great time, thanks for the great tips at the bar (those were donated, too) and thanks to the ladies for a fun show! If only raising money for good causes were always that fun and relatively easy...

If you didn't make it out there, you can still donate or help with the phone banks.

Did you notice the Billiards' fresh coat of paint and new lights?

Drag Show Friday Oct 17 @ Napa Billiards, fundraiser for No on 8

Clear your calendars! This Friday, October 17th (around 11p), Napa Billiards is hosting another of its (locally) famous Drag Shows. This time, a substantial amount of the proceeds will be going to the No on 8 campaign--and it's needed! Yes on 8 has been flooding the TV, airwaves and even internets with their dishonest advertising. In these last 22 days before the election we need to make sure people know the truth about Prop 8, and vote NO! So why not have a great time while we're raising money? Get a group to come and enjoy: cabaret, good people, pool and The Valley's Other Fruit behind the bar serving beer.

In similar news, they haven't yet launched their monthly Noche Chueca (literally, noche chueca is Spanish for "crooked night"--and is playing around with the idea that the night is for all of us who aren't straight), but it's probably because they are giving a much needed face-lift to the Billiards. You'll see a sneak preview this Friday night.

Coming up for the LGBTQ and queer friendly

• Thursday night, September 18 is the next meeting for the LGBT Catholics in Berkeley at Newman Hall/Holy Spirit Parish. They meet every other week.
  
• Saturday, September 20 is "Out in the Park", Discovery Kingdom's first ever gayday. The park will be open from 10:30a - 8p, the "official" after-party is at R Bar in Vallejo
• This weekend (Sep 20/21) and next (Sep 27/28) are Open Studios, with dozens of local artists opening their studios for free to showcase their work in many different mediums. Free.
• There are mumblings that Napa Billiards will have their first "LGBTQ night" (noche chueca) on Sunday, September 28. No exact time yet, but rumors say there will be a good mix of music and they'll clear away a couple pool tables to make room for a dance floor. If you have any other advice for the owner, Fernando, use the comments section (he's a reader of the blog). If I see a flyer, I'll post it here.

Hear something else? As always, let us know what's going on and we'll pass it on.

Napa Billiards sticking around, Gay film in Vallejo

Just two local gay news quickies since I have to head in to work early today:

• 
  
  Napa Billiards' owner is having second thoughts about selling and has decided to put his energy into keeping the place and making some positive changes. Yes, that probably means the rainbow flags are going back up and possibly a gay night. More info as we get it. Also, I'll be sure to find out what suggestions you all might have for the Billiards as their makeover gets underway.
  
  To celebrate their stay and Mexican Independence Day, there will be another upcoming drag show on Saturday, September 13th. It will for sure include the usual interesting mix of people, with a fight on TV earlier in the evening sure to draw more of the straight (and DL) crowd and then the show at 10p pulling in the gays and gay friendly.
  
  
• 
  
  In the tipline just yesterday: Vallejo's newly renovated Empress Theatre will be showing the gay romance, "Chris & Don: A Love Story", for their September installment of Out at the Empress, their monthly queer film series. I had never heard of either the Empress or the film, but both look intriguing. The Theatre looks gorgeous and the film has great reviews and sounds endearing. Here's a synopsis for you:
  

  A sleeper hit at the Telluride Film Festival, Chris & Don: A Love Story is the true-life story of the passionate three-decade relationship between British writer Christopher Isherwood (whose Berlin Stories was the basis for all incarnations of the much-beloved cabaret) and American portrait painter Don Bachardy, thirty years his junior. From Isherwood’s Kit-Kat-Club years in Weimar-era Germany (the inspiration for his most famous work) to the couple’s first meeting on the sun-kissed beaches of 1950s Malibu, their against-all-odds saga is brought to dazzling life by a treasure trove of multimedia. Bachardy’s contemporary reminiscences (in the Santa Monica home he shared with Isherwood until his death in 1986) artfully interact with archival footage, rare home movies (with glimpses of glitterati pals W.H. Auden, Igor Stravinsky and Tennessee Williams), reenactments, and, most sweetly, whimsical animations based on the cat-and-horse cartoons the pair used in their personal correspondence. With Isherwood’s status as an out-and-proud gay maverick, and Bachardy’s eventual artistic triumph away from the considerable shadow of his life partner, Chris & Don: A Love Story is above all a joyful celebration of a most extraordinary couple.

  The evening will begin at 6:30p with a cocktail reception and the film will play at 8p, both (of course) on Friday, September 19th at the Empress Theatre at 330 Virginia Street in downtown Vallejo. The cost for the film is $10.
  

Out on the scene: Napa's latin queens in all their glory for last(?) night

August 29th might have been Napa Billiards last big night under it's current ownership, and with that, maybe the last night for it's famous underground drag shows. The Valley's Other Fruit was there:

Friday started off slow--most of the crowd didn't show up until after 10:30p, but it was a really fun night. Maybe just because it was my first time "bartending"...maybe because not many in attendance new that a change of ownership most likely was coming very soon...maybe the ladies had an extremely good energy...and maybe it was because more than a handful of my friends showed up. I'm sure it was a mix of all of the above.

The show was fabulous, the costumes more extravagant than usual (surprise ending with Santi as "La Cher"--pic is in the slideshow, above), the room wasn't as packed as their winter shows (maybe 75+ people?) but they were good people (if not a little inebriated) and most everyone had a great time. About 9 of the 12 pool tables were full and the usual mix and spread (gays near the bar, straights towards the back wall and the curious somewhere in the middle) filling the hall with talk, singing and dancing. This time the stage wasn't up high, just on the floor level, but a disco ball streamed flickering glamour around the curtains and floor near the bar. Yours truly was behind bartending--or as my friends mocked: serving beers. I think I did a pretty good job. Dish your reviews in the comments section if necessary.

In spite of my apprehensions (mentioned in one of my very first "reviews") when I first walked in their double glass doors, I've grown to love hanging out at the Billiards. I've met friends there that I never would have come across in my normal, semi-boring "Napa" life. If Napa Billiards is sold soon, I hope that the new owners keep building on the great community that has been enjoying the place for the past couple of years. Older, soccer-watching mexican men, younger guys looking for some attractive women, pretty latin girls, drag queens, gay guys, bi-curious guys that would never admit a thing (the ladies call them mayates in Spanish), and even a handful of white folk looking to meet some new people or for an inexpensive (free even, lately) table of pool. And, most of the time, its a mix of all of the above.

In the beginning I might have called it an "awkward" mix of people, and at times it can be. But it does work, and I'm going to miss it--and the great people--if it goes away.

I'll keep you posted on any updates I hear.

Comments about your experiences at Napa Billiards? Any other great gay-friendly latin places in the Valley (or nearby) that we should know about? Use the comments, or as always, our tipline.

Changing owners at gay-friendly Napa Billiards

The background story has come in:

Napa Billiards will most likely be changing ownership in the next month or so. Although the potential new owners have stated that they are supportive of an open-minded clientele, only time will tell regarding their actual commitment.

While at times awkward, the mostly respectful mix of straight, gay, trans and everything in between has found a place to come together over the last couple of years at Napa Billiards--which has been Napa's most openly gay-friendly spot, especially for the latino community. Napa Billiards is one of a few of Napa's gay-owned businesses, they are also one of the only known spots in Napa that continually has displayed the rainbow flag (up until recently, that is).

For now, this Friday's drag show will be the last at Napa Billiards. Come to mourn the changing ownership, come for beer specials and--if you're into hot ladies that are really latin dudes putting on a spectacularly fun show--a guaranteed good time. Plus, I'll be helping out behind the bar. ;)