By Donna Sachet–
In keeping with our established reputation for willingness to cut ribbons wherever requested, we recently attended the grand opening of Gyros & Tzatziki on 24th Street at the invitation of owner Cem Bulutoglu and Gary Virginia who lent his considerable party skills to the business. It is already a bustling eatery with a tempting menu for both lunch and dinner in a brightly lit and welcoming environment. The opening featured a variety of original art by Kurt Stoekel displayed throughout and lively music from DJ Isaiah Bishop. Assisting with the ribbon-cutting were City Supervisor Hillary Ronen and Susana Rojas, Executive Director of Calle 24 Latino Cultural District. With so many businesses shuttering their stores these days, it was a joyful occasion to welcome this new restaurant to the Mission neighborhood. And that honey-soaked baklava was divine!
As the sad news of Harvey’s closing detailed in this publication’s last issue spread over the city, one person sprang to action, quickly organizing one final day of fundraising to support the suddenly unemployed staff. Jason Seneca (aka Christina Ashton) sounded the alert, immediately getting Manager David Facer on board for this event the following Saturday and securing entertainment from the Harvey Harvettes, Kelly Rose, Olivia Hart, and Kip Yanag, and invaluable organizational support from Gary Virginia.Anyone associated with community fundraisers knows the avalanche of preparations involved, but to organize such an event in a few days? This team did it! For over seven hours, bartenders poured cocktails, volunteers greeted and collected donations, DJ Sampson Utley spun music, friends applauded and tipped generously, and performers gave their all with gorgeous costuming and heartfelt numbers, including Grand Duke Gregg Star, Tawdry Hepburn, John Weber, Carly Ozard, Alexis Miranda, Lulu Ramirez, Kipper Snacks, and many more. Nearly $15,000 was raised and will be split between the staff to assist with their transition. This was community at its very best!
On Sunday, January 29, we were honored to participate in Rich Armstrong’s Life Pageant, a beautiful musical celebration of the life of a friend and accomplished musician at SF Jazz. Performers included Carmen Milagro, Harrison Stafford, Cold Blood, Jazz Mafia, Choral Syndicate, Lugman Frank, Dan Parenti, and Tony Lindsay, closing with a rousing all-cast finale and brass band parade into the lobby. Rich was a part of Harry Denton’s Starlight Room when we started Sunday’s a Drag nearly 20 years ago, managing the sound technicalities and sometimes even sharing his talent on the trumpet during the show. At the SF Jazz event, we sang an arrangement of I Am Beautiful that Rich had given us to perform in our weekly show. Eight instrumentalists and three back-up singers joined us in the spectacular Robert N. Miner Auditorium and it was every singer’s dream. Huge thanks to Carmen Milagro, Adam Theis, and Katherine White for this rare opportunity and kudos to all involved for remembering Rich with this very special night.
Rounding out our calendar, we returned to an actual movie theatre for the first time since the COVID scare first surfaced to see 80 for Brady with the amazing cast of Lily Tomlin, Sally Fields, Jane Fonda, and Rita Moreno. Despite less than enthusiastic reviews, this movie gave us an afternoon of simple pleasure with hilarious dialogue, farcical situations, sly sports parodies, and gentle life lessons, especially about aging, all in the excellent company of five great friends. We relished every minute with this dynamic quartet of mature but by no means old actresses, obviously having a great time together. See it for yourself soon!
If it is not yet obvious, this is Imperial Coronation month, including campaigns for Emperor and Empress, public voting for the new Monarchs, and a host of events surrounding the formal Coronation on Saturday, February 25. Complete details can be found in our adjacent calendar of events and at the Imperial Court of San Francisco website. We will soon congratulate Reigning Emperor Brent Daddy Munro, Reigning Empress Ehra Amaya, and their Court of the Starlight Scepter and the Golden Hearton a successful year of fundraising, community engagement, and event productions at Coronation 58: Rise of the Golden Gods.
Yes, this will be the 58th such event, the signature moment for one the oldest continuously operating charitable organizations in San Francisco! We wish Emperor candidate Michael Anthony Chua and Empress candidate Cameron Stiehl-Munro great success as they canvas for votes and we encourage you to attend as many of this month’s events as possible, perhaps finding your home among this philanthropic group. As always, we will be present as Absolute Empress XXX throughout and particularly joining the Brotherhood of Emperors to emcee the festivities for the Annual Pilgrimage to Colma on Sunday, February 26, to visit the gravesite of Our Beloved Founder José Sarria and her husband Joshua Norton. This event contains all the history, hilarity, and hair-raising irreverence that José represented and that help make San Francisco the unique place that it is. So, dust off that tuxedo, spruce up that gown, polish up that jewelry, and get ready for Imperial Coronation in San Francisco!
Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com
Thursday, February 9
Divas & Drinks @ The Academy
Bay Times & The Academy sponsored monthly party
Celebrating Black LGBTQ+ Women Leaders & Valentine’s Day
Renée Lubin, Dr. Dee Spencer, DJ Rockaway, LaTonya Lawson
The Academy, 2166 Market Street
6–10 pm
$15
www.academy-sf.com
Monday, February 13
REAF’s One Night Only with the cast of Mean Girls
Cabaret benefit emceed by D’Arcy Drollinger & Shawn Ryan
Benefiting the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation & Broadway Cares
Marine Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter Street
7:30 pm
$45–100
www.reaf.org
Saturday, February 18
Imperial Voting Day
Public vote for Emperor & Empress
Open to San Francisco, Marin & San Mateo residents
The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street, 11 am–4 pm
The Powerhouse, 1347 Folsom Street, 1–5 pm
Castro Muni, Castro & Market Streets, Noon–6 pm
Free!
Wednesday, February 22
In-Town Show & Awards
Entertainment by local stars
The Lookout, 3600 16th Street
6–8:30 pm
Free!
Thursday, February 23
Anniversary Monarchs’ Reception
Honoring anniversary celebrants
The HaRa Club, 875 Geary Street
6:30–8:30 pm
Free!
Friday, February 24
Out-of-Town Show
Entertainment by visiting courtiers
Hyatt Regency SOMA, 50 Third Street
7 pm
$25
Saturday, February 25
Imperial Coronation 58: Rise of the Golden Gods
Hyatt Regency SF Downtown SOMA, 50 Third Street
Doors at 5 pm
$70
www.sfimperialcouncil.org
Sunday, February 26
Annual Pilgrimage to Colma
Hosted by Brotherhood of Emperors, emceed by Donna Sachet
Woodlawn Cemetery
Bus departs Hyatt Regency at 8 am
9 am
Free!
Sunday, February 26
Victory Brunch
Hyatt Regency SOMA, 50 Third Street
11:30 am
$30
Donna’s Chronicles
Published on February 9, 2023
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