Minnesota Star Tribune

Pride Guide

From "Macho Man" to the Miss City of the Lakes drag pageant, there's something for everyone on Twin Cities Pride weekend.

By Tom Horgen

July 10, 2008 at 8:23PM

Billie LaTease Austin, who is running for Empress of the Imperial Court of Minnesota, danced at the opening of the GLBT Pride Week celebration. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

This is going to be one packed Pride weekend. While Loring Park is always ground zero for the annual GLBT celebration, events will be spread across the Twin Cities. The parties run the gamut, from concerts (the Village People!) to block parties to alcohol-free bowling. Let this guide show you the way.
FRIDAY

Here's one for the ladies: The folks behind the lesbian night Twilight have a special Pride party at Trocaderos, with music by DJs Shiek and Ajent Orange.

8 p.m. Friday. 107 3rd Av. N., Mpls. $10. 21 and older. 612-465-0440. Twilightgirl.com

The Minnesota GLBTA Campus Alliance (the "A" is for Ally) presents its first Pride Revue at the Whitney Fine Arts Center, just off Loring Park. The alcohol-free event features music by Sick of Sarah, folk singer Ellis, comedy writers Curt Lund and Laura Bidgood, and more.

7:30 p.m. Friday. Whitney Fine Arts Center, 1501 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $10. 16 and older. MNcampusAlliance.org

Here's one more alcohol-free party: the Fruit Bowl at Elsie's in northeast Minneapolis. Organizers have rented out all 16 lanes at the popular bowling alley. Games are free and there will be food and karaoke. The Rainbow Health Initiative and Tobacco-Free Lavender Communities of Minnesota are behind the party, which makes it tobacco-free, too. Prizes will be given out for everything from high score to "most fabulous bowling attire." 6:30-11 p.m. today, 729 NE. Marshall St., Mpls. 612-378-9701. 612-710-2019.

FRIDAY-SUN.

The Bolt/Eagle will celebrate Pride with its ninth Scorch Fireball weekend. The outdoor tent opens at 5 p.m. today and goes through the weekend. There's also live music all weekend in the Underground: Floggapalooza at 8 p.m. today, Chi Chi LaRue at 9 p.m. Sat. and Boogie Wonderland at 6 p.m. Sun., 513 Washington Av. S., Mpls. $5 for shows. 612-338-0896. BoltBar.com

Blue-eyed-soul/rocker Tina Schlieske headlines tonight's Bryant-Lake Bowl Pride Block Party. Other acts include Venus DeMars & All the Pretty Horses, Black Blondie, Dykes Do Drag and Foxy Tann. Expect beer, locally produced food and a flea market. Part of the proceeds go to OutFront Minnesota. 6-10:30 p.m. Friday, 810 W. Lake St., Mpls. Free. 612-825-3737. BryantLakeBowl.com

Now in its third year, "Queertopia" is a cabaret night by Outward Spiral Theatre that features nine acts from multiple disciplines at Intermedia Arts. Expect a little bit of everything, including break dancing, spoken word, ballet, a drag king, a youth theater group and even a hula troupe. A mock newscast called "YXY News" will host the night, reporting life from the scene of this utopia. 7 p.m. today and 8 p.m. Sat. 2822 Lyndale Av. S. Mpls. $12-$15. 612-871-4444. OutwardSpiral.org

While the Gay 90s' new owner is still mapping out remodeling plans, the club has spruced up the sidewalk patio with new trees and flowers, and is hosting the popular Miss City of the Lakes drag pageant tonight in the La Femme room. 8 p.m. today, 408 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 612-333-7755. Gay90s.com

The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus has two concerts at Ted Mann called "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing." 8 p.m. today and Sat. 2128 4th St. S., Mpls. $23-$43. 612-624-2345, Northrop.umn.edu

SATURDAY

The headliner for this year's official Pride festival in Loring Park is En Vogue, the female quartet that dominated R&B in the early 1990s. One of its signature songs, "Free Your Mind," is this year's Pride slogan. While the ladies have split and reunited more times than Pam and Tommy, Pride organizers said three of the four original members will be on hand. Another '90s R&B singer, Deborah Cox, opens.

5:30 p.m. Sat., Loring Park, Mpls. $8 advance/$10 gate. 18 and older. 612-305-6900. TCPride.org

It wouldn't be a Pride party without "Y.M.C.A." You can hear it live this weekend when the Village People play the second annual Splash Bash at Trocaderos. Three of the original guys are supposedly still in the mix. As if the Village People weren't enough, RuPaul is performing, too.

9 p.m. Sat., 107 3rd Av. N., Mpls. $35. 612-465-0440. Trocaderos.com

With a prime spot facing Loring Park, buzz bar Nick and Eddie jumps into the Pride fire with its own shindig. New York nightlife luminaries Chi Chi Valenti and Johnny Dynell will host the two-day event, with music by All the Pretty Horses, Faggot, Jean Bardot, Le Cirque Rouge, Foxy Tann and more. It all goes down in the funky Loring alley alongside the bar. A Summit beer truck will be on hand, too.

Starts at 2 p.m. Sat. and Sun. 1612 Harmon Place, Mpls. Free. 612-486-5800. NickAndEddie.com

If you're looking for leather this weekend, check out the Leather Pride event at Innuendo in St. Paul. The Minnesota Storm Patrol and the rest of the leather community will be there, with music by DJ Naughty Boyy.

10 p.m. Sat., 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul. Free. 651-225-4528. Rumours-StPaul.com

SUNDAY

Make sure you save some energy for Sunday's annual Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade. The mammoth endeavor attracted 125,000 spectators last year, Pride officials say.

11 a.m. on Hennepin Av., from 3rd St. to Loring Park.

The Saloon's big Pride bash is its annual post-parade block party. This year the nightclub has Taylor Dayne, who rose to dance-pop stardom in the late '80s with hits "Don't Rush Me" and "Love Will Lead You Back."

2:30 p.m. Sun., 830 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $7. 612-332-0835. SaloonMN.com

thorgen@startribune.com • 612-673-7909