Krewe de Kinque Bal Masque XXIII at The Café

Photos by Rink

The social/charitable club Krewe de Kinque, founded by Gary Virginia, held Bal Masque XXIII at The Café on March 15. The event, benefiting Openhouse, was the largest LGBTQ+ party in the Bay Area to celebrate the 98th annual Academy Awards.

Co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Times (along with The Café, Gay Club TV, and Sparky’s Balloons), the event included music by DJ Spazatron, a welcome by Virginia, Oscars’ predictions with Bay Times columnist and drag legend Donna Sachet and playwright Adam Sandel, a performance by Bay Times columnist and the “King of Strings” Kippy Marks and more than a dozen other live performances from other artists throughout the night, an array of delicious foods and drinks, and 12 screens running the Academy Awards broadcast.

There was also a Red Carpet Best Dressed Contest, a Second Line Parade led by Grand Marshal Queen Cougar, and an After Party with DJ Victor, go-go dancers, drink specials, and interactive photos by Daye Casper (David Wong).

The hosts for the event were King & Queen XXII John Brett and Olivia Hart along with Andrew Shaffer, who is the Development Director for Openhouse.

Watch for future Krewe de Kinque events at the group’s Facebook page: https://bit.ly/40M7xYb