By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Sister Dana sez, “Valentine’s Day is cumming! Unfortunately Congressional Repugnicans cannot celebrate Valentine’s Day because they were tragically born without hearts. They are heartless, while Democrats are ‘bleeding heart’ liberals with a heart on for the less fortunate. Gotta love that!”
Very, very sad news. San Francisco drag queen extraordinaire, extremely talented actor, former Grand Duchess, and highly successful impresario Ed Bell passed away on January 29th at age 52 having succumbed to complications from meningitis at Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco. As mentioned in the obituary on this page, Cookie Dough (her drag persona) had fallen into a coma while staying in Puerto Vallarta along with the rest of the cast of the live drag version of The Golden Girls, playing the part of Sophia Petrillo. Cookie had a brain edema and fell into a coma. She was then medevacc’ed back to San Francisco where her condition remained catastrophic, and physicians at Kaiser were unable to help. She had been hosting her own fabulous drag show, “The Monster Show,” Thursdays at The Edge in the Castro for years. Social media is sending an astounding outpouring of fond remembrance, of grief, and especially love to her surviving husband, Michael Chu – also known as DJ MC2 when working the turntables. Friends are going to gofundme.com/kppdgo to donate and help with extensive hospital and funeral expenses. Rest in peace, beautiful Cookie. I know you are on heaven’s stage performing with the rest of the glorious drag angels!
MAGNET, the Castro hub of health and wellbeing, brought in the new year by hosting a big launch party for BEST GAY EROTICA 2015 edited by Rob Rosen and published by Cleis Press, an LGBT publisher. Rosen and three other authors from the book compilation – Xavier Axelson, Dale Chase, and Simon Sheppard – read from their short stories. Among the hot topics was a discussion on the emerging trend of female authors of gay male erotic fiction. Erotic food and drink were served.
CUMMING UP!
We’re having a ball for Valentine’s Day when producer Marc Huestis presents ROMEO & JULIET with Leonard Whiting (who played handsome Romeo and showed his beautiful bare butt) live on The Castro Theatre stage! It will be a masked ball theme overflowing with romance – so expect men in tights, ladies in masks, and other special surprises. Whiting caused a sensation when he starred in Zeffirelli’s all time 1968 classic – nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture and winning 2 (Cinematography & Costume Design). Roger Ebert called this version “the most exciting film of Shakespeare ever made.” Also featured will be tribute performances, rare film clips, Romeo & Juliet Look-alike and Best Mask contests. Costumes are encouraged. The romance starts at 8pm, Saturday, Valentine’s Day, February 14th at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street.
castrotheatre.com
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY at GOOD VIBRATIONS? They’re celebrating 50 shades of sex education this Valentines month, both kinky and not so much! Whether or not you’re going to see the notorious movie, catch up with real BDSM knowledge and safety with expert Cléo Dubois in San Francisco and, at their Brookline store, brush up on your rope skills with Midori! There’s even a class separating 50 SHADES OF GREY’s fact from fiction! Plus a sensual class to warm you up for Valentine’s Day from Shara Ogin; Amy Jo Goddard’s “9 Elements for Your Sexually Empowered Life,” and yoga teacher Kimmy Carter’s class on exercises for pelvic floor health and greater pleasure; Also in Brookline: Megan Andelloux’s perennially popular workshop shop “Fabulous Fellatio” returns! And Sister Dana sez, “If you want to give a great V-Day present to your man (or to yourself, sir), get the returns! And Sister Dana sez, “If you want to give a great V-Day present to your man (or to yourself, sir), get the Sure Grip Vibrating Stroker. Soft and stretchy, with an easy-grip ribbed exterior plus a removable 10-function bullet vibrator that allows you to explore pulsation and escalation as well as a multi-level buzz. Keep track of your favorite sensations with the LED push-button controller, and if you like, replace the bullet vibe with another model via the plug-in jack. Whether you savor the stroking sensation or prefer to enjoy focused vibration, you’ll love the options you have with this versatile toy.” More V-Day gift ideas can be found at goodvibes.com Happy shopping!
As florists, jewelry stores, candy and chocolate manufacturers gear up for the big V, some say that love can never be sufficiently expressed by gifts and fancy dinners, and that receiving a heartfelt expression of love from one’s lover is still the most memorable experience. Yet Valentine’s Day could very well be one of the most stressful days of the year for us. Bestselling author and relationship expert Hellen Chen puts the focus on how to make a relationship last with one of her many books or courses at matchmakerofthecentury.com
This Valentine’s Day you might consider giving a different type of gift that gives back. A new classical album with the world’s most renowned classical music stars is titled, AN AIDS QUILT SONGBOOK: SING FOR HOPE, as a wonderful new musical tribute and gift idea to help find, and fund, a cure for HIV/AIDS. SING FOR HOPE is a New York City based national nonprofit organization that helps artists give back to their community. Sales benefit AMFAR, THE FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH. Available for purchase ($19.95) via iTunes, Amazon, retail stores, etc. in the U.S. and Canada. singforhope.org
If you’ve got a partner, dump ‘em now, and especially if you don’t have a lover, come commiserate with LESBIAN/GAY CHORUS OF SAN FRANCISCO during their 12th Annual LOVE BITES anti-V.D. cabarets at Martuni’s! Valentines Schmalentines: Sunday, February 8th at 4pm and Monday, February 9th at 7:30pm, Martuni’s Piano Bar, 4 Valencia Street, $10 at the door! Cheap, like your ex-lover! lgcsf.org
At the IMPERIAL COURT 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA come celebrate 50 years of continuous public service of THE IMPERIAL COUNCIL OF SAN FRANCISCO, INC. as they gather for cocktails, seated dinner, formal program, dessert, and dancing, all in the spectacular setting of San Francisco’s City Hall, February 15, 5pm. They promise gowns & crowns, memories & goals, pageantry and a bit of fun along the way. imperialcouncilsf.org
Join ACADEMY OF FRIENDS and MERCEDES-BENZ of San Francisco as they launch the 2015 Gala Weekend with a VIP Pre-Party at the dealership, Thursday, February 19th, 6:30pm, 500 8th Street. All those who purchase or have purchased their ticket for the February 22nd ACADEMY AWARDS NIGHT GALA will receive free admission to the pre-party. If you are not attending the Gala, they suggest a $20 donation at the door for this special event. Wine, cocktails, food, music – mix, mingle, and enjoy an incredible kick-off for Academy of Friends’ 35th Annual Gala weekend, which will raise money to support HIV/AIDS services throughout the Bay Area. You’ll also have the chance to win a 2-Year Lease on a 2015 Mercedes GLA-Class from Mercedes-Benz San Francisco with the purchase of a raffle ticket. academyoffriends.org
Don’t miss the critically acclaimed musical on the life of legendary “Disco Queen” Sylvester. Direct from New York City comes MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, running February 11th through March 1st at Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street. Broadway star, Anthony Wayne (Pippin, Priscilla) brings the legendary disco diva to vivid life. Joining Mr. Wayne are Broadway Divas, Anastacia McCleskey & Jacqueline B. Arnold as The Two Tons of Fun/Weather Girls. brava.org
Juggling some angry Russians, the British Mi5, his impossibly leggy wife, and an international terrorist, debonair art dealer and part time rogue Charlie Mortdecai (Johnny Depp) must traverse the globe armed only with his good looks and special charm in a race to recover a stolen painting rumored to contain the code to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold. MORTDECAI (Lionsgate Films), a very funny film, stars Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor & Olivia Munn.
Get on da “Mardi Pardi” Bus! Join KREWE DE KINQUE for our ANNUAL FAT TUESDAY BAR CRAWL aboard the KdK Mardi Gras party bus! Call off work on Wednesday, put on your finest Mask and Costume and Beads, and join us for a Kinky Night on the Town! Tuesday, February 17th, 6pm to12am (and beyond!) starting at the Edge in the Castro, ending back in the Castro. DON’T drink and drive on this fun night. Hop on our bus. We want everyone alive and well on Ash Wednesday. sfkinque.com
Sister Dana would like to send a special valentine to President Barack Obama for getting his swagger back during the State of the Union speech! THIS is the prezzie I voted for! Especially with the President’s off-the-cuff response to a group of Repugnicans who sarcastically applauded the line, “I have no more campaigns to run.” “I know,” the President retorted, “because I won both of them!” Let’s hope he keeps up the butch front and does not cave to the RepubliCAN’T Congress!
Sister Dana sez, “Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern introduced the so-called “Freedom to Obtain Conversion Therapy Act,” which would allow therapists the unrestricted right to engage in the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy on vulnerable LGBTQ children. Kerns previously made national news by claiming that the ‘homosexual agenda’ poses a bigger threat to our country than terrorism. Jeesh! This bill has taken the attacks on our youth taking place across the country to a new extreme!”
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